Patrick O'Driscoll, aged 22, was convicted in March 2019 by a Central Criminal Court jury in Cork of raping a sleeping woman on 10 May 2016. The sentencing judge, Mr Justice Michael White, noted O'Driscoll's denial of the charges, lack of remorse, extreme drunkenness that night, and mitigating factors of his young age and personal circumstances. The judge set a headline sentence of ten years, reduced to seven years. O'Driscoll has now appealed both his conviction and the severity of the sentence in the Court of Appeal. His barrister, Siobhan Lankford SC, argues the headline sentence was too high and that a portion should have been suspended given his age and circumstances. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Tim O'Leary SC, supports the judge's 30 % reduction. The Court of Appeal will decide in September.
Two men, David Duffy, 33, and Douglas Glynn, 35, were charged at the Special Criminal Court for their involvement in the attempted murder of James 'Mago' Gately, a target of the Kinahan cartel. Gately was shot multiple times on May 10, 2017, while seated in his car at the Topaz filling station on Clonashaugh Road, Dublin 17. The charges, under Section 72(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, allege that between December 7, 2016, and April 6, 2017, both men, aware of a criminal organisation's existence and intending to aid its members, participated in or contributed to activities connected with the murder. Duffy was arrested at his home on July 16 and taken to Irishtown Garda Station, while Glynn was arrested at Alfie Byrne House and also taken to Irishtown. Both were remanded in custody and will reappear on July 31, with bail and free legal aid applications to be made.
In a High Court hearing, the State's counsel argued that Ireland has become a "safe haven" for Ian Bailey, who faces a 25‑year prison sentence in France for the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier. The counsel said the court had a prima facie obligation to surrender Bailey, citing a strong public interest and the risk of losing sight of the case. Bailey, 63, was convicted in absentia by a Paris court in May 2019 and denied any involvement. He was arrested in December 2019 under a European Arrest Warrant and remanded on bail. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Burns, reserved judgment, to be delivered on 12 October, and Bailey remains on continuing bail until that date. The hearing highlighted the procedural status of the extradition request and the State's obligation to comply with the warrant.
During an Irish High Court extradition hearing, Mr Justice Paul Burns expressed condolences to the family of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, whose body was found outside her holiday home in Schull 24 years ago. The judge noted that extradition proceedings can feel "dry" but should not suggest the tragedy has been forgotten. Mr Ian Bailey, 63, is wanted in France for a 25‑year prison sentence for the murder of Ms du Plantier. He was convicted in absentia by a Paris court in May 2019, after French authorities had sought his surrender in 2010 and 2017, the latter being dismissed as an abuse of process. Bailey denies involvement, describing the proceedings as a "farce," and has been living openly in Ireland since his arrest under a European Arrest Warrant in December 2019. The hearing, the third attempt by France, continues to address the legal and procedural aspects of his extradition.
In a High Court hearing on 15 July 2020, Mr Ian Bailey, aged 63, defended his right not to be extradited to France for a third time over the 1996 murder of filmmaker Sophie Toscan du Plantier. His counsel, Ronan Munro SC, argued that the 2012 Supreme Court decision in Minister for Justice v Tobin, applying section 44 of the European Arrest Warrant Act 2003, gave Bailey an "ironclad right" against surrender because the offence was committed outside France and Irish law did not allow prosecution for it abroad. Munro contended that the 2019 Criminal Law (Extraterritorial Jurisdiction) Act did not materially alter this right and that the repeated extradition attempts constituted an abuse of process. The case, which had previously seen a 2017 extradition request dismissed as an abuse of process, was set to continue for three days in the Irish High Court. Ian Bailey was convicted.
A Cork farmer, George Ross, has appealed a High Court ruling that allowed a second prosecution for the death of a 14‑year‑old boy, Micheál 'Haulie' Murphy, who fell from Ross's defective tractor on 23 August 2013. The High Court had previously ruled that the Health and Safety Authority could pursue a prosecution under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act. Ross, 68, had already been convicted under the Road Traffic Act and fined €700 in 2014 for allowing the tractor to be driven when it posed a danger to the public. Ross argues that the second prosecution is essentially the same offence and seeks a prohibition order to prevent it. The Court of Appeal, with Justices John Edwards, Patrick McCarthy and Aileen Donnelly, has reserved judgment on the appeal. The Director of Public Prosecutions, represented by Gráinne O'Neill BL, maintains that the two charges are distinct in law and fact. The case remains pending.
John Cullen, aged 61, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to making a gain for himself by deception by lodging €155,724.68 into his own Bank of Ireland account on 1 December 2014. The money had been stolen from University College Cork and was described by the court as "undoubtedly fraudulently obtained." Cullen's role was to provide a bank account for the funds to be channeled, and he was said to have been "used by others" for a very small reward. Judge Melanie Greally characterised the offence as a "very serious lapse in judgement" and noted that the full restitution to UCC and the lack of actual loss were mitigating factors. She sentenced Cullen to three years' imprisonment, suspended in full on the condition that he keep the peace and be of good behaviour for three years.
John Murphy, aged 46, was sentenced to ten years in prison for the repeated rape and sexual abuse of his younger brother over a decade, from 1988 to 1997, in a Cork town. He pleaded guilty to twelve counts, including three of oral rape, at the Central Criminal Court. Justice Micheal White set a headline sentence of 13 years, reduced to ten in consideration of Murphy's admissions and guilty pleas, and suspended the last two years on conditions. Murphy appealed the severity of the sentence to the Court of Appeal, arguing that the judge had overemphasised the breach of trust and the length of abuse as aggravating factors. The State, represented by Tim O'Leary SC, maintained that the 10‑year period justified the more serious category and that the headline sentence was appropriate. The Court of Appeal reserved judgment. The victim, now in his 40s, waived anonymity and testified that the abuse had a devastating impact on his life.
The Central Criminal Court will resume jury trials from the end of August across multiple venues in an effort to address the significant backlog of cases suspended during coronavirus lockdown restrictions. Mr Justice Paul McDermott announced that trials will be listed in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, and Castlebar, with Dublin and Cork hosting proceedings for five weeks from August 31st, while the other locations will accommodate trials for shorter periods. Two pilot trials are scheduled to commence in Dublin on July 20th to test safety protocols and social distancing measures. Justice McDermott acknowledged that although resumption of trials represents progress, the capacity will address only approximately 25 per cent of adjourned cases. He noted the impact on complainants, families, and bereaved persons, as well as the continued custody status of numerous accused persons awaiting trial. Courts were adapted with screens and safety measures to facilitate jury proceedings while maintaining public health requirements.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal against the severity of the sentence imposed on Donal Billings, a 70-year-old pensioner from County Longford. Billings was found guilty by the Special Criminal Court in 2016 of possessing an explosive substance at Longford railway station car park on May 16, 2011, during Queen Elizabeth's state visit. He was also convicted of making false reports that bombs had been placed at Busáras, Sinn Féin's headquarters, Cork airport, and Dublin Castle. The court upheld his eight-and-a-half-year sentence, describing it as "very lenient." Presiding Judge George Birmingham, sitting with Justices Marie Baker and Patrick McCarthy, stated there was no merit in the appeal and declined to increase the term. Billings, who attended remotely from Portlaoise Prison, had previously lost an appeal against his conviction regarding Irish language rights. His barrister, Gerard Humphreys SC, cited his client's age, health difficulties, and cooperation during the trial. The court noted that the explosive device, comprising gunpowder and petrol, was placed on a public transport vehicle, recklessly exposing passengers to significant risk. The judges concluded that while the sentence was lenient, they would not intervene to increase it. The matter was not adjourned; the appeal was dismissed.
Larry McCarthy Jr., 43, of Tower Lodge, Old Cork Road, Limerick, was denied bail by the Special Criminal Court on 1 July 2020. He is charged with providing a vehicle to the McCarthy‑Dundon gang for the attempted murder of Christy Keane at the University of Limerick car park on 29 June 2015. The court heard that the State, represented by State barrister Ms Anne‑Marie Lawlor SC, objected to bail on the grounds that McCarthy could commit a serious offence while on bail, was a flight risk, and might interfere with witnesses. Garda evidence from Detective Garda Donnacha Coakley and Chief Superintendent Gerard Roche cited Sections 2 and 2(A) of the Bail Act. Judge Mr Justice Alexander Owens refused bail and remanded McCarthy in custody until 14 September. Two co‑accused, Noel Price, 42, and John Costello, 39, were also remanded to the same date.
Brandon Abrahams, a 28‑year‑old South African, had pleaded guilty in Cork Circuit Court to selling fraudulently acquired high‑end mobile phones online. In June 2018 Judge Gerard O'Brien sentenced him to five years, suspending the last four years on the condition that he leave Ireland within three months of release. Abrahams failed to leave, so Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin re‑activated the suspended sentence and sent him back to jail in November to serve the remaining four years. His appeal to the Court of Appeal was dismissed, with the court agreeing that the activating court had little choice.
A 47‑year‑old man, Jason Warrington, pleaded guilty in the Central Criminal Court to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Tadgh O'Shea at Warrington's home on 23 December 2018. He was remanded in custody to appear for sentencing on 9 November. Warrington's counsel, Mr Ronan Munro SC, noted that the defendant was in a radically different situation at the time of the offence and has addressed his drug issues.
Junaid Manzoor, an Indian national, and Tara Wrenne, an Irish citizen, have brought High Court judicial review proceedings against the Registrar of the Civil Registration Service, Cork, the HSE, and the Registrar General. The couple, represented by Colm O'Dwyer SC and solicitor Wendy Lyon, claim the Civil Registration Service has unlawfully failed to permit them to marry or make a decision on their application, which was lodged in November 2018. They allege that the requirement for a second interview to determine if their union constitutes a marriage of convenience, triggered solely by Mr Manzoor's non-EU status, is discriminatory. Mr Manzoor, who arrived on a student visa that expired in 2015 and faced a deportation order in March 2020, and Ms Wrenne deny any such intent. The Civil Registration Service stated it could not proceed until the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service resolved Mr Manzoor's status. The applicants seek an order compelling the Registrar to make a decision, along with declarations that the service acted unlawfully and in breach of their rights. Mr Justice Charles Meenan granted permission to bring the challenge on an ex-parte basis and made the matter returnable to a date in July.
The High Court has allowed Heritage ICAV and Kilmaloda Ltd, landlords of Debenhams' Henry Street and Patrick Street premises, to commence proceedings against Debenhams Retail Ireland Ltd. The landlords seek declarations that the leases have been terminated and orders for unpaid rent. The Irish arm of Debenhams, which operated 11 stores and employed 1,500 people, entered liquidation after its UK parent, Debenhams Plc, went into administration. The leases were originally held by the UK parent and then subleased to the Irish subsidiary. The landlords' counsel stated that the quarterly rent for the Henry Street store was €1.4 million and €814,000 for the Cork store. The liquidators, Kieran Wallace and Andrew O'Leary of KPMG, are maintaining a neutral stance. The landlords intend to regain control of the premises and make them available for commercial use as soon as possible.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, William Dollard, a 30‑year‑old homeless man, was convicted of sexual assault and attempted anal rape of a 61‑year‑old homeless man on 30 May 2017 in County Cork. The incident, lasting 11 minutes, was captured on CCTV and involved Dollard assaulting the victim while he lay on blankets on the street. Dollard pleaded not guilty and maintains his innocence. The court noted his 26 prior convictions, mainly for drink‑related offences, and his alcohol abuse. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a headline sentence of six years for the attempted rape, but, after mitigation, sentenced Dollard to five years and six months with the final 18 months suspended for two years. A concurrent two‑year sentence was imposed for the sexual assault. Conditions include not approaching or contacting the victim. The court heard the victim suffered flashbacks and expressed a desire to move on with his life.
A father has appealed his conviction for the sexual assault of his 19-year-old daughter, which allegedly occurred on Christmas morning in 2018. The appellant, who cannot be named to protect his daughter's identity, was found guilty by a jury at Cork Circuit Court last year. Judge Brian O'Callaghan sentenced him to two years in prison. He had no previous convictions or allegations of sexual assault. His barrister, Sean Guerin SC, argued before the Court of Appeal that the trial judge erred in refusing to allow the defence to put a diary found in the complainant's room to her. The diary contained the words 'Hate Dad', which counsel contended evidenced 'pre-existing malice' and a potential motive for a false allegation. Mr Guerin further submitted that the judge erred in his treatment of corroboration, specifically by failing to warn the jury of the weakness of corroboration based on the complainant's demeanour. He noted she had consumed alcohol and that her upset could be explained by other factors. The DPP's counsel, Imelda Kelly BL, countered that the judge's ruling on the diary was preliminary and that the issue of corroboration was not raised with the trial judge after the charge. The appeal was heard by Court President Mr Justice George Birmingham, presiding with Mr Justice John Edwards and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy. The matter was adjourned, with the court to deliver its judgement at a later date.
The Special Criminal Court denied bail to John Costello, 39, of Hennessy Avenue, Kileely, Co Limerick, who is accused of facilitating the attempted murder of Christy Keane at the University of Limerick car park on 29 June 2015. Mr Costello is charged with knowledge of the existence of the McCarthy-Dundon criminal organisation and providing transport to persons with the intention of facilitating the offence. State counsel Anne-Marie Lawlor SC submitted Garda objection to bail under Section 2 of the Bail Act, citing a risk of further serious offences. Mr Justice Alexander Owens refused the application and remanded Mr Costello in custody until September 14 for the preparation of the Book of Evidence. Two co-accused were also remanded to the same date. Larry McCarthy, 42, of Tower Lodge, Old Cork Road, Limerick City, is charged with making a vehicle available to the criminal organisation between 27 and 29 June 2015. Noel Price, 42, of Kileely Road, Kileely, Limerick City, faces the same charge under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment. The matter was adjourned for the preparation of the Book of Evidence.
The High Court, under Mr Justice Tony O'Connor, issued injunctions against former HSE IT worker Mr Neill Bradley to prevent the distribution of highly confidential patient data he accessed during his employment with a third‑party IT contractor. Bradley allegedly posted screenshots of HSE servers on three Twitter accounts he controlled and threatened to release sensitive information to Wikileaks. The court orders bar Bradley and anyone who received the data from publishing, disseminating, or destroying it, and require him to hand over all documents and devices containing the information for forensic analysis. He is also restrained from leaving Ireland until he complies with the order and hands his passport to An Garda Síochana. The HSE's solicitors may notify relevant authorities of the injunctions. Bradley did not attend the hearings and has not yet presented a defence. The injunction remains pending a full hearing.
Two men appeared before the Special Criminal Court on charges relating to an alleged attempted murder in Limerick in 2015. John Costello, aged 39, of Hennessy Avenue, Kileely, County Limerick, faced charges of knowledge of the McCarthy-Dundon criminal organisation and providing transport to facilitate the attempted murder of Christy Keane at University of Limerick car park on 29 June 2015. Larry McCarthy, aged 42, of Tower Lodge, Old Court Road, Limerick City, was charged with making a vehicle available to the same criminal organisation in connection with the alleged incident between 27 and 29 June 2015. Both charges fall under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. McCarthy was arrested in Buncrana, County Donegal. The court heard an application for medical attention regarding an injury sustained by McCarthy. Both men were remanded in custody, with the cases adjourned to 12 June.
Daniel Wyse, 36, has appealed his conviction for the alleged possession of drugs for sale or supply at Halfway Crossroads, Rathduff, Co. Cork. Wyse was originally charged in February 2014 after Gardaí attempted to stop his vehicle, which subsequently collided with a patrol car after mounting an embankment. A package of heroin, valued at over €37,000, was found in the jeep. Wyse claimed he was unaware of the drugs and was travelling to Limerick to obtain identity papers for his pet Chihuahua. A jury found him guilty, and Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin sentenced him to 10 years in prison in February 2016, suspending the final 18 months. In the current appeal before the Court of Appeal, his counsel, Seamus Clarke SC, argued that the trial judge should have directed an acquittal if it was reasonably possible Wyse did not know of the drugs. He further contended that the judge's charge insufficiently addressed circumstantial evidence and the chain of custody, specifically citing errors in the labelling of the drugs. Clarke also argued that the trial judge should have granted a second senior counsel given the minimum sentence. The State's counsel, Imelda Kelly BL, countered that no requisition regarding circumstantial evidence or labelling was made at trial and that the appointment of senior counsel was discretionary. The matter was adjourned, with the court reserving judgment to be delivered as soon as possible.
Gavin Sheehan, aged 33, was convicted of shooting Ciara Sheehan in the neck through a house window in Cork on 15 May 2016. He was found guilty of possession of a firearm and ammunition, reckless discharge of a firearm and assault causing serious harm. Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin sentenced him to 14 years' imprisonment on 14 February 2017, suspending the final three years. Sheehan appealed, arguing the case relied on circumstantial evidence, lacked forensic links between the bullet and the gun, and that a bullet casing was found several houses away. He also cited time discrepancies on CCTV, a 999 call and Garda arrival, and claimed the trial judge wrongly refused his lawyers to speak off‑record. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice John Edwards, found no miscarriage of justice, upheld the conviction and dismissed the appeal, noting only an error in the trial judge's refusal to allow off‑record counsel. The conviction remains affirmed.
In a High Court hearing on 18 May 2020, Mr Justice Paul Burns dismissed two letters from French authorities that sought access to Ian Bailey's legal submissions regarding his extradition. The judge ruled the correspondence was not from the Issuing Judicial Authority and therefore irrelevant to the proceedings, describing the request as "a storm in a teacup." Bailey, 63, faces a 25‑year sentence for the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier and is scheduled to contest the extradition on 15 July. Counsel for the Minister, Robert Barron SC, noted the State had brought the letters to the court's attention, while Bailey's solicitor, Ronan Munro SC, argued the request was non‑justiciable and outside statutory procedure. Mr Justice Burns emphasised that proper communication should have been with the Issuing Judicial Authority, and the court would treat the letters as a matter of caution until further instruction.
In a High Court hearing, French authorities requested to view Ian Bailey's legal submissions regarding his extradition to France for the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Bailey faces a 25‑year sentence in France and will contest the extradition at a three‑day hearing scheduled for July 15. His counsel, Ronan Munro, said the submissions are about 40 pages and will be finalised in two weeks. French officials sent letters on March 18 and April 14 requesting the documents, a move Munro described as unprecedented and outside normal statutory procedure. The Minister for Justice will not release the submissions without a court ruling. Bailey, who denies involvement, is remanded on bail and will not attend the next court session. The case follows two prior French extradition attempts that were dismissed in 2012 and 2017. The hearing will address whether the French request is permissible under Irish law. The unnamed 63-year-old was convicted.
A 23‑year‑old man, Christopher O'Callaghan, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with 18 months suspended, for the manslaughter of his 66‑year‑old grandfather, Joseph O'Callaghan, who was found dead in his own blood on the morning of 2 July 2018. The Central Criminal Court heard that the defendant had "snapped" after his grandfather admitted sexually abusing two individuals. O'Callaghan claimed he had no intention to kill or seriously injure his grandfather, but he struck him up to four times, kicked him twice and stomped on him, causing blunt‑force trauma to the head and extensive bruising. The judge noted the defendant's consumption of alcohol, his early guilty plea, remorse and efforts to address alcohol abuse. The suspended portion requires abstinence from alcohol, attendance at treatment and continued employment or study. The case remains a manslaughter conviction, not a murder conviction. Christopher O'Callaghan pleaded not guilty.
In 2020 the Court of Appeal upheld the conviction of Ger Hehir, a stable owner, for raping and sexually assaulting a teenage girl between 2010 and 2013. Hehir, aged 59, had pleaded not guilty to the rape and four counts of sexual assault at his home and at horse events. The Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty after a seven‑day retrial and sentenced him to seven years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended. Hehir appealed, arguing that the trial judge failed to warn the jury about uncorroborated evidence and confused the issue of consent. The Court of Appeal rejected these arguments, stating that the judge's charge was clear enough to leave no doubt that the complainant had not consented and that the defence's case was that no sexual activity had occurred. The appeal was dismissed, leaving the original conviction and sentence intact.
The High Court appointed Paul McCann of Grant Thornton as provisional liquidator for Mahalo Ltd, the company behind the Bamboo app that lets users order meals from over 100 restaurants in Galway, Dublin and Cork. Launched in 2018, the app charged a small commission on each order. Mahalo's revenue fell sharply after 95% of its partner restaurants closed during the Covid‑19 pandemic, and most users—primarily professionals—began working remotely or stopped working altogether. A rival firm offered €37,000 to acquire Mahalo's assets and hire its six employees, but the company's debts, including €460,000 owed to investor Joseph Elias and €30,000 to Revenue, far exceeded that offer. Directors Luke Mackey and Stefanos Focas sought a provisional liquidation to protect creditors and preserve the company's servers. Judge Senan Allen, satisfied that Mahalo was insolvent, appointed the liquidator despite concerns that a court‑appointed process might not yield the best price for the assets.
At the Central Criminal Court, jurors have viewed CCTV footage documenting events preceding a fatal robbery at Lordship Credit Union in County Louth. Detective Garda Gareth Kenna testified regarding surveillance material from January 2013, depicting a BMW 5-Series at a service station near the border, with subsequent footage tracking a similar vehicle southward through County Louth locations including Monasterboice and Clogherhead. A Volkswagen Passat stolen from the Clogherhead area was later discovered burned out in Armagh. Aaron Brady, aged 28 from Crossmaglen, County Armagh, has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe on 25 January 2013, and to robbery of approximately €7,000 and cheques from the credit union on the same date. The court also heard evidence concerning fuel laundering activity in the Armagh area, where a witness reported pursuing a white Transit van dumping diesel waste near Castleblayney in 2012. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury.
Rhys Moran, 24, of Cabra, Dublin, pleaded guilty to robbery on Charleville Road (10 May 2018), robbery on D'Olier Street (9 May 2018) and to perverting the course of justice and criminal damage at Bridewell Garda Station (10 May 2018). He had 18 prior convictions, including a juvenile robbery. At sentencing, Judge Melanie Greally described him as "clearly out of control" and noted his urination in his cell as a "self‑defeating act of defiance". She imposed a six‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending the final two‑and‑a‑half years on strict conditions, including 12 months of probation supervision. The judge considered his guilty pleas, insight, extensive difficulties and youth. The case also involved a broken golf club that Moran ripped open during an interview, destroying evidence, and a €69.46 damage claim for cell cleaning.
Liam Brannigan, 37, was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years' imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for conspiring to murder Gary Hanley. Mr Justice Paul Coffey described Brannigan as having a central role in the Kinahan Cartel plot, noting his culpability was high due to his management and oversight of the plan. The sentence includes a suspension of the final six months, conditional on Brannigan completing his degree at UCD or a vocational course in prison. The sentence was backdated to November 6, 2017. Brannigan was the fifth person jailed for this conspiracy. Previously, Luke Wilson pleaded guilty to conspiracy and unlawful possession of a Beretta, receiving 11 years; Alan Wilson pleaded guilty to conspiracy, receiving six years; Joseph Kelly pleaded guilty to conspiracy and a weapons charge, receiving 12 years; and Dean Howe pleaded guilty to conspiracy, receiving six years. The court found that Brannigan was at the centre of the plot, which was foiled when gardai intercepted a vehicle containing a loaded pistol near Hanley's home. The judge highlighted the elaborate nature of the plan and the imminent danger to Hanley. Detective Superintendent David Gallagher praised the convictions as significant successes against organised crime.
In a remote hearing of the criminal side of the Court of Appeal, Judge John Edwards reduced the sentence of Romanian national Mihai Tache, 31, who had been jailed for four years for handling 67 stolen mobile phones worth just over €17,000. The original six‑year headline sentence was deemed excessive; the court set a headline of four‑and‑a‑half years, applied the one‑third mitigating discount, and imposed a net sentence of three years. The court declined to suspend any portion of the sentence, noting Tache's significant record and prior reoffending. The decision was made after submissions by Ms Kitty Perle BL on Tache's behalf and was delivered by the Court of Appeal President, Mr Justice George Birmingham, and Ms Justice Una Ni Raifeartaigh. The hearing was the first of its kind to involve the judges and lawyers via video link. Mihai Tache pleaded guilty.
A 17‑year‑old boy was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 13 years for the murder of 20‑year‑old Cameron Blair, a college student, outside a house party in Cork city. The boy stabbed Blair in the neck with a kitchen knife on 16 January 2020. He pleaded guilty and the judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, described the killing as deliberate, extreme violence and "shocking". The sentence will be reviewed in November 2032, with the earliest possible release in January 2033, subject to the boy's behaviour in custody. The boy will be detained at Oberstown Children Detention Campus until he turns 18, when he will be transferred to an adult prison. The sentence was back‑dated to 24 January 2020. The judge emphasised that the use of knives by young people must be deterred and the public protected. The sentence was delivered at the Central Criminal Court on 20 April 2020.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 20‑year‑old Cameron Blair, a biochemistry student at Cork Institute of Technology, was stabbed in the neck by a 17‑year‑old teenager at a house party on Bandon Road, Cork, on 16 January 2020. Blair, who had been monitoring the party's entry, was not aware of the knife until he collapsed. The defendant, who pleaded guilty to murder, had earlier that night invited Blair and his friends into the party and had acted as a peacemaker, according to witnesses. Blair's mother, father and younger brother read victim impact statements describing the loss as "unnatural" and "unbearable grief." The court heard that the knife was 21 cm long, and that the defendant had no prior convictions. The defendant was remanded in custody at Oberstown Children Detention Centre pending sentencing.
In a High Court case, environmental activist Peter Sweetman successfully challenged the State's decision to remove protections for the freshwater pearl mussel from the Munster Blackwater Special Area of Conservation. Sweetman sought to quash any legislation or administrative act that would remove the species as a "qualifying interest" and also to invalidate the 2018 EU Environmental Objectives (Freshwater Pearl Mussel Amendment) Regulations issued by the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. He argued that the regulations breached EU directives, including the Habitats Directive, by eliminating obligations such as setting ecological quality objectives for the entire Blackwater river, enforcing emission limits for discharges, and investigating pressure sources on the mussels. The court granted Sweetman permission to proceed, agreed to quash the statutory instrument on the basis of a breach of the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive, and ordered the State to pay his legal costs. The orders were formally perfected by Mr Justice Charles Meenan.
Interlink Ireland Ltd, trading as DPD, secured temporary High Court injunctions against two agents, Mr Joe Corcoran and Mr Bernard O'Brien, who sought to terminate their agreements amid the Covid‑19 emergency. The agents claimed they could no longer fulfil their duties, but Interlink argued no evidence was provided that the pandemic had materially affected their businesses. The agency agreements require six months' notice for termination, and Interlink has seen a surge in demand for essential deliveries during the pandemic. The court granted interim injunctions preventing the agents from ending the agreements and requiring them to continue operating as agreed. Interlink contended the agents were attempting to exploit the health crisis for commercial advantage, and the judge found the injunctions justified based on the evidence presented. The case will be revisited in a subsequent court session.
In March 2020 the High Court confirmed the removal of former deputy primary school principal Brian Fitzgerald from the teaching register after his conviction for child pornography offences. Fitzgerald, a 50‑year‑old former teacher, pleaded guilty in 2017 to possession of 555 images and 1,162 videos of children under 17, and to distributing over 50 images of child pornography. He also possessed 529 category two images and 1,018 videos of children under 18 with exposed genitalia. He was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, to be served at Midlands Prison. The Teaching Council, following an investigation, imposed a disciplinary order removing him from the register and barred him from applying for reinstatement for 15 years. Fitzgerald had initially denied the allegations but later admitted the offences. The High Court upheld the council's sanction as appropriate.
Helen Jones, aged 52, of Cahergal Avenue, Mayfield, Cork, is charged with aggravated burglary and the murder of her brother Paul Jones, aged 55, at his Bandon Road home on 4 September last year. She was denied bail by the High Court after objections from Gardaí. Her brother Liam Jones, who travelled from Cork to Dublin despite ill health, testified that he feared his sister would "come after me next" and that she had threatened to petrol‑bomb his girlfriend's house – allegations she denied. Helen Jones, who has emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, said she had not seen Liam for three and a half years and would have no contact if released. The judge, Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty, expressed sympathy for her medical conditions but found no bail conditions could assure safety. The case remains at the High Court stage, with a book of evidence to be served next week.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed appeals by professional landlords Paddy McKeown and Adelaide McCarthy against High Court orders restraining them from interfering with four properties in Cork. The couple, who reside at Villa Nova, Douglas Road, challenged injunctions secured in 2017 by receiver Ned Murphy, appointed by AIB after the defendants allegedly defaulted on loan agreements. AIB claims to have obtained judgments exceeding €1.4m against the couple. The High Court, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Gilligan, had previously granted the receiver's orders and dismissed the couple's cross-applications to restrain the disposal of the properties. In a detailed written judgment, the three-judge panel, led by Mr Justice Brian Murray, upheld the High Court's decision. Mr Justice Murray stated that the defendants failed to establish any basis for concluding the High Court erred. He rejected allegations that the High Court judge was biased or unfair, describing the proceedings as scrupulously fair. The court also dismissed the argument that the receiver used an alias, deeming it utterly without merit. The only remotely arguable ground regarding the validity of the receiver's appointment was noted for consideration at the full trial of the action. The appeal was formally dismissed, leaving the original restraining orders in place.
Petronel Pal, 36, faces extradition to Romania for an alleged murder committed in Meath in 2014. He was arrested in Dublin in 2019 and is wanted for creating an organised crime group and for the aggravated murder of Virgil Busa, who died three days after being assaulted. While in Ireland, Pal and others are alleged to have formed a group headed by a relative of Pal. The High Court has considered surrendering him, but a formal order has not yet been issued. Pal's lawyers have applied to the High Court for leave to appeal, arguing that the case raises a point of law of exceptional public importance and that the High Court's approach to extraterritoriality may be incorrect. The appeal will be decided on March 30, with Pal remanded in custody. The case hinges on whether Irish law allows prosecution for crimes committed abroad by non‑Irish citizens.
Liam Brannigan, 37, of Bride Street, Dublin 8, had his sentencing adjourned at the Special Criminal Court due to the presiding judge's illness. Brannigan was found guilty of conspiracy to murder Gary Hanley in 2017. The court remanded him in custody and adjourned the sentence to April 24 at 2pm. Four co-accused—Joseph Kelly, Luke Wilson, Alan Wilson, and Dean Howe—previously pleaded guilty to the same charge. The prosecution alleged that Kelly and Wilson were intercepted near Hanley's home with a loaded semi-automatic pistol, silencer, and ammunition. Evidence included covert audio recordings, phone data, and CCTV footage showing Brannigan discarding an illuminated item, identified as the PB3 phone, before his arrest. The judge noted the overwhelming evidence connecting Brannigan to the conspiracy, including his central role in managing the plot via the PB3 phone. The matter was adjourned and not concluded.
Garda Kevin McNulty, a nearly 30‑year‑old officer, has obtained High Court permission to challenge a disciplinary finding that he breached regulations by accessing the PULSE system for matters unrelated to his duties. The alleged breach concerns information about individuals linked to the Kinahan/Hutch feud. McNulty claims the internal investigation lacked fair procedures, denied the allegations, and was not given a reasonable opportunity to respond. He argues that the investigation was based on a misunderstanding of an incident on 8 July 2017, when he was stopped by another Garda while off‑duty and driving with a journalist. McNulty maintains he had no evidence of breaching confidence, communicating information, or using his position for personal gain. He seeks an order quashing the finding and the imposed sanction, and has been represented by Mark Harty SC. The case is set for a May hearing.
The High Court heard that European countries most active in issuing European Arrest Warrants (EAWs) are no longer accepting suspected criminals surrendered from Ireland because of travel restrictions aimed at curbing the coronavirus outbreak. Poland and Lithuania have closed their borders to almost all incoming travel, effectively suspending EAWs. Other countries, including Latvia and the United Kingdom, have adopted similar measures, though official confirmation is pending. Mr Justice Paul Coffey, overseeing several international extradition cases, adjourned all unheard matters to 18 May and all part‑heard matters to 6 July, allowing the Minister for Justice to apply for earlier dates if circumstances change. He noted that Poland and Lithuania are not accepting surrender at present and that the EAW mechanism is effectively suspended until further notice. Bail conditions remain in force, with a relaxed requirement for sign‑on at Garda stations but a mandatory provision of a mobile phone number and continuous availability for Gardaí.
The High Court has confirmed that the hearing on the proposed extradition of Ian Bailey to France will take place on May 5, 2020, as a three‑day proceeding. The case concerns Bailey's alleged involvement in the 1996 murder of filmmaker Sophie Toscan du Plantier, for which he was convicted in absentia in Paris and sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment. Bailey, aged 63, denies any role in the death and has described the French proceedings as a "farce." He has not appeared in the French court and has no legal representation there. The Irish court has noted that Bailey's senior counsel will oppose the extradition on grounds of fundamental rights, citing previous extradition attempts that were dismissed as abuses of process. The hearing will be mentioned on April 20 to confirm whether it will proceed, following a general practice direction to limit court attendance amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Diarmuid Keane, a Garda based in County Cork, has filed a High Court challenge against the Garda Commissioner's decision to dismiss him from the force over alleged "discreditable conduct". The conduct in question relates to events that allegedly occurred at Mallow on 15 April 2017. After an internal disciplinary process, Keane admitted to four counts of discreditable conduct contrary to Garda Disciplinary Regulations. A three‑person board of inquiry recommended a fine of a week's wages, but the Commissioner chose to impose a dismissal instead, citing the need to maintain public confidence and protect the Gardaí's reputation. Keane's counsel, Kieran Kelly SC, argued that the Commissioner's decision was not in line with the appeal board's recommendation of a reprimand and a nine‑week pay deduction, and that the dismissal violated natural and constitutional justice.
A 17‑year‑old boy, whose name is withheld because he is a minor, pleaded guilty to the murder of 20‑year‑old Cameron Blair, a second‑year chemical engineering student at Cork Institute of Technology. The killing occurred on 16 January 2020 on Bandon Road, Cork, when Blair was stabbed in the neck at a student party. The boy was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court on 13 March 2020, wearing a grey shirt and black trousers. Brendan Grehan SC defended him, noting the boy was present in court with his father and two aunts. Anne Rowland SC for the Director of Public Prosecutions requested that the accused be remanded in custody at Oberstown Children Detention Centre for 28 days and that a probation report be prepared.
A 23‑year‑old man, Christopher O'Callaghan, has admitted killing his grandfather, Joseph O'Callaghan, aged 66, on 2 July 2018 in Douglas, Cork. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The plea has been accepted by the State. O'Callaghan, who lives at Woodview, Pinecroft, Grange, Douglas, remains on continuing bail. He will appear again before the Central Criminal Court on 11 May for a sentence hearing, where evidence of the killing and reports by relatives will be considered, and probation and welfare reports will be presented to the court.
Anne Dunlea, mother of the 36‑year‑old murdered in Passage West, said she was relieved after the Court of Appeal dismissed the latest appeal by Darren Murphy, 42, who had been convicted of murder in 2018. Murphy had admitted killing Olivia Dunlea and setting fire to her home, but denied it was murder. He had been found guilty in 2014, had that conviction quashed, was retried in 2017 with a hung jury, and was convicted again in 2018. The appeal was dismissed on 10 March 2020, ending a six‑year legal saga that included three trials and two appeals. Anne Dunlea, present at all proceedings, expressed relief that the case was finally concluded and that she could begin to grieve properly. The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction and rejected the defence's arguments about provocation and character. The decision was announced by Mr Justice George Birmingham, with Mr Justice John Edwards and Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly.
Bernard Ring, 31, of Kilbarry Place, Farranree, Cork, was found guilty of assaulting John Joe Nevin and of false imprisonment at his mother's house on St Mary's Avenue on 21 September 2016. He also pleaded guilty to possessing a dumbbell, a gas canister, a glass mirror and a knife in a manner likely to intimidate. The court sentenced him to ten years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, on 12 July 2017. The Court of Appeal upheld the sentence on 9 March 2020. Ring was under the influence of benzodiazepine and had consumed alcohol. He had previously been convicted eleven times, including two assault convictions that carried two‑year and four‑year terms. The judge described the incidents as extremely serious and noted that Ring offered no explanation for his actions. The appeal was dismissed. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
John Heaphy, a 64‑year‑old from Kerryhall Road, Fairhill, Cork, died in February after a prolonged illness while serving a 10‑year prison sentence for the sale or supply of heroin worth €37,000. The sentence, imposed in October 2015 by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin, was described by the judge as "tragic" that a man of Heaphy's age and health had to be dealt with in this way, yet the judge noted that Heaphy had "given his life to drug sale and supply and this is the harvest he will do." Heaphy had previously been convicted of drug offences with a street value exceeding €13,000, for which he served six years and was released less than a year before the second conviction. The unnamed 64-year-old pleaded guilty.
Dean Howe, 34, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for conspiring to murder Gary Hanley. Mr Justice Tony Hunt described Howe as occupying a supervisory role in the plot, acting as a conduit for orders from higher up the chain of command. Howe pleaded guilty in December to conspiring with others to murder Mr Hanley between September 15 and November 6, 2017. The judge noted that while Howe's active contribution ceased five hours before the intended attack, he remained part of the conspiracy until the end. The headline sentence was eight years and six months, reduced to six years and six months due to his early guilty plea and low-level previous convictions. The final six months were suspended contingent on his engagement in prison. The sentence was backdated to May 30, 2019. This follows previous sentences for Luke Wilson, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy and unlawful possession of a Beretta and was jailed for 11 years; Alan Wilson, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy and received six years; and Joseph Kelly, who admitted conspiracy and a weapons charge and was jailed for 12 years. Liam Brannigan, also convicted of conspiracy, is due to be sentenced on March 23.