Michael Dineen, aged 28, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for the manslaughter of Patrick 'Ginty' O'Donnell, aged 36, who died after a pub fight on 1 June 2018. Dineen had consumed 20 pints that day and repeatedly punched O'Donnell in the head and face for about a minute, delivering kicks to his body. He had previously been on bail for breaking another man's jaw. The judge noted the attack was one‑sided and unequal, with O'Donnell suffering severe injuries including loss of teeth, fractured nose and internal bleeding. Dineen pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The sentence was reduced from a headline of 12 years to nine years due to mitigating factors such as remorse, apology and psychiatric history. The suspended year will be lifted if Dineen abstains from alcohol and remains under probation supervision.
In summer 2017, a family picnic in the Dublin mountains led to the discovery of dismembered remains of retired grandmother Patricia O'Connor. The body was found in 15 separate parts across nine sites within a 30km radius, including Military Road, Glenmacnass Waterfall, and other locations. Initial bone measurements suggested a male, but DNA and dental records confirmed a female. Post‑mortem examinations by Dr Michael Curtis revealed blunt force trauma to the head, with multiple scalp lacerations and bruising, indicating a violent death. The remains were likely dismembered with a power tool, with hands and wrists sawn off by hand‑held saws. Kieran Greene testified that he had buried the body in Wexford, later exhumed it, cut it up, and scattered the parts across the Dublin mountains, disposing of them in black bags at various points. The evidence presented detailed the locations and conditions of each body part, confirming the identity of Mrs O'Connor and the circumstances of her death.
In the High Court, Susan McGovern, a former prisoner at Limerick Women's Prison, brought a damages claim against the Irish Prison Service, the Minister for Justice, Ireland, the Attorney General, and the Governor of Limerick Prison. McGovern alleges that the slopping-out regime imposed on her between 2000 and 2003, and again from April 2012 to May 2013, constituted degrading treatment that breached her constitutional and European Convention on Human Rights. She claims that sleeping on mattresses in overcrowded, unhygienic cells without toilets, and using a shared bucket in plain view of cellmates, deprived her of human dignity and affected her physical and mental health. The State parties deny these allegations and argue the claim is statute-barred. Counsel for the State suggested the case be referred to a State redress board, following a Supreme Court ruling that awarded damages to former prisoner Gary Simpson for similar conditions. Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds directed the State parties to file a defence within 12 weeks and adjourned the action. Separately, a claim by Christopher Coakley regarding his detention at Mountjoy Prison in 2011 and 2012 was mentioned before the Master of the High Court. Coakley alleged he was forced to defecate into a pot or bag in the presence of cellmates. Although an application to remit the claim to the Circuit Court was pending, the Master was informed that the matter had been resolved between the parties.
Valentine Kelleher, acting as applicant for his children Laura, David, and Jack, reached a €225,000 settlement with Green Energy Supply Ltd and director Michael Murnane regarding High Court damages claims. The siblings alleged that noise, vibrations, and shadow flicker from the Knockduff Wind Farm in Co Cork caused illnesses, forcing the family to abandon their home in Donoughmore in late 2016. The defendants denied all allegations of negligence or nuisance, maintaining the wind farm was operated lawfully. Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds approved the settlement, which was reached via mediation without admission of liability. The medical evidence supporting the claim was fully contested. Laura received €125,000, while David and Jack each received €50,000. The judge described the offer as good given the disputed medical reports. Other separate but related claims brought by family members for alleged nuisance remain outstanding. Those cases were adjourned to a date in March.
Liam Brannigan, 37, was convicted by the Special Criminal Court of conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between September 15 and November 6, 2017. Although Brannigan pleaded not guilty, the court found the evidence overwhelming, including covert audio recordings and phone data. His sentencing is scheduled for March 23. In related proceedings, four co-accused pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy charge. Luke Wilson, who also admitted unlawful possession of a Beretta, was jailed for 11 years. Alan Wilson received a six-year sentence. Joseph Kelly, who also admitted a weapons charge, was jailed for 12 years. Dean Howe, who also pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder Mr Hanley, is scheduled to be sentenced on March 3. The court noted Brannigan has 28 previous convictions, primarily for road traffic matters, and has been in custody since November 2017. Defense counsel argued for a non-custodial outcome, citing his lack of prior custodial sentences and his active role as a father. The judge emphasized the cogency of the evidence linking Brannigan to the operation, which involved armed gardai intercepting a van near Hanley's home where two men were found with a loaded pistol.
In early May, a High Court hearing will consider the French request to extradite Ian Bailey to France, where he faces a 25‑year prison sentence for the murder of filmmaker Sophie Toscan du Plantier. The case is the third French attempt to secure Bailey's surrender. Bailey, 63, lives in Schull, Cork, and was convicted in absentia by a Paris court last year, receiving the 25‑year sentence. He denies any involvement, did not attend the French proceedings, and has described them as a "farce." Lawyers for the Irish Minister for Justice have received a voluminous affidavit from Bailey's solicitor, Frank Buttimer, and will need time to review it. Judge Donald Binchy set a provisional hearing date of 5 May, expected to last three days, and has remanded Bailey on continuing bail until then. The hearing will be mentioned on 30 March, but Bailey need not attend that day.
At the Special Criminal Court, Gareth Brophy was sentenced for his role in the 2016 murder of David Douglas. Brophy, who pleaded guilty to helping facilitate the murder, was jailed for ten years by Mr Justice Paul Coffey. The sentence was backdated to November 18, 2018, when Brophy entered custody. The final six months of the term were suspended on the condition that Brophy enters a vocational course while in prison. Additionally, the court ordered Brophy to enter a peace bond of €100 for three years from his release. The judge noted Brophy played a critical role as the getaway driver, describing the killing as a gangland execution-style murder. In related proceedings, Frederick Thompson was found guilty of the murder in August 2018 and sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment. Nathan Foley, who pleaded guilty in November 2018 to helping a criminal organisation carry out the murder, was jailed for six years. The court expressed its deepest sympathies to the family of the deceased.
The High Court has been informed that lawyers for the Minister for Justice need time to consider Ian Bailey's objections to extradition to France for the murder of filmmaker Sophie Toscan du Plantier. This is the third attempt by French authorities to secure Bailey's surrender. The 62‑year‑old Englishman, who lives in Schull, Cork, was convicted in absentia by a Paris court last summer and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Bailey, who denies any involvement, was arrested under a European Arrest Warrant in December and has described the French proceedings as a "farce". His counsel, Ronan Munro SC, has submitted an affidavit raising factual matters, particularly concerning Bailey's health, which the Justice Minister's lawyers must review. Bailey remains on bail until February 24, when a hearing date is expected to be set.
The Special Criminal Court has convicted Liam Brannigan (37) of conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between September 15 and November 6, 2017. Brannigan, who pleaded not guilty, was found to be the user of the PB3 phone, which the judge described as central to managing the Kinahan Cartel-linked plot. The court relied on covert audio, phone data, and CCTV showing Brannigan discarding the PB3 phone shortly before his arrest. Four co-accused previously pleaded guilty to the same offence. Luke Wilson (24) and Joseph Kelly (35), who were arrested with a loaded 9mm Beretta, silencer, and ammunition, were jailed for 11 and 12 years respectively; both also admitted weapons charges. Alan Wilson (39) was sentenced to six years. Dean Howe (34) remains to be sentenced on March 3. Brannigan's sentencing is scheduled for February 24. The judge noted the overwhelming evidence connecting Brannigan to the conspiracy, including recorded conversations identifying him as "Branner" and his role in coordinating the operation. The matter is now at the sentencing stage for Brannigan, while Howe's case is adjourned for future sentencing.
In a judicial review, the High Court quashed An Bord Pleanala's decision to grant planning permission for a 67.8‑hectare solar farm at Fiddane, Ballyhea, Co Cork. Environmental activist Peter Sweetman, represented by James Devlin SC and Margaret Heavey BL, argued that the board failed to conduct a proper Environmental Impact Assessment, rendering its permission invalid. The court also dismissed Sweetman's claims that the board's decision violated EU directives, finding the arguments were not properly made out. Sweetman's case against the State was likewise dismissed because the case against Ireland and the Attorney General was not properly pleaded. The judge adjourned the matter, allowing the parties to consider his decision, and will later decide whether the case can be remitted back to the board for a fresh consideration.
James Daly, a former tax inspector aged 62, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment by Judge Melanie Greally at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He pleaded guilty to submitting an incorrect income‑tax return in 2005 and to failing to file returns for 2006, 2007 and 2008. Daly had worked for the Office of Revenue Commissions for about eight years before starting his own tax‑consultancy business. The judge rejected the defence of ignorance or incompetence, citing Daly's professional experience and the absence of any explanation for his conduct. She described the offences as a grave breach of trust, noting dishonesty and strategic, financially motivated behaviour. The sentence was imposed after Daly's guilty plea, which avoided a trial, and took into account his lack of prior convictions, professional credentials and the lack of remorse or cooperation with Revenue.
Dean Howe, 34, of Dublin 8, pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to murder Gary Hanley between September 15 and November 6, 2017. At a sentence hearing in the Special Criminal Court, the prosecution detailed Howe's alleged role in surveillance, supervising vehicles, collecting fuel, and instructing co-accused. Evidence included secret recordings where Howe scolded Joseph Kelly for "fucking up" and instructions to cover his face while buying petrol. The court heard that tracking devices were moved to Phoenix Park on September 15, 2017, where Howe was observed with others. On November 6, 2017, Kelly and Luke Wilson were arrested near Hanley's home with a loaded pistol and silencer. Luke Wilson, 24, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and unlawful possession of a Beretta, receiving an 11-year sentence. Alan Wilson, 39, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and was jailed for six years. Joseph Kelly, 35, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and a weapons charge, receiving a 12-year sentence. Howe, who has 37 previous convictions, has been in custody since May 2019. Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned Howe's sentencing to March 3 at 10.30am.
In January 2020, a court case in Cork involved Las Vegas Balan, a 25‑year‑old Romanian national who had been sleeping rough on the streets. He was charged with sexually assaulting a woman in a laneway in May 2018. The victim, who was extremely drunk and walking barefoot around the city, was found by Gardaí in an incoherent state after Balan pushed her against a wall, groped her, and pulled her behind a van. CCTV footage showed the woman struggling to remain upright and later moving voluntarily behind the van. Balan admitted the victim was very intoxicated but claimed the encounter was consensual. He pleaded guilty, and Mr Justice Micheal White imposed a five‑year prison term, backdated to May 2018, noting the victim was "absolutely incapable" of giving consent and that Balan had taken advantage of her situation. The judge also considered the victim's prior mental health difficulties and the impact of the offence.
In a High Court hearing scheduled for February 10, 2020, lawyers for Ian Bailey will argue that the proposed extradition to France for the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier violates his fundamental rights. Bailey, 62, was convicted in absentia by a Paris court and sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment. He denies any involvement in the death of the French filmmaker, whose body was found beaten outside her holiday home in Schull in 1996. Bailey's counsel, Ronan Munro SC, will reference the two prior extradition attempts, which were dismissed by Irish courts, including a 2017 ruling that the case was an abuse of process. The Supreme Court's 2012 refusal to extradite Bailey was based on the offence occurring outside French territory and Irish law's prohibition of double prosecution for the same offence abroad. The court has remanded Bailey on continuing bail and adjourned the case for three weeks.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Kieran Greene, Louise O'Connor, Stephanie O'Connor, and Keith Johnston continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott. All four defendants have pleaded not guilty to charges including the murder of Patricia O'Connor on May 29, 2017, and impeding her apprehension or prosecution. The prosecution alleges Mrs O'Connor suffered a violent death at her Rathfarnham home, with her remains subsequently dismembered and dispersed across the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. Evidence presented by Detective Garda Janette O'Neill detailed the recovery of 15 body parts from nine locations, describing the sites as a "dumping ground." Forensic scientist John Hoade testified that DNA analysis confirmed the remains belonged to Louise O'Connor's mother. He reported finding a low-level male DNA profile in the bathroom where the alleged attack occurred, while no blood was found on seized hacksaws or the deceased's vehicle. The court heard that the defendants allegedly purchased implements to conceal the remains and that Stephanie O'Connor disguised herself as her mother to hide the death. The matter is ongoing, with the trial set to continue on Monday.
Gareth Brophy, aged 25, of Reuben Walk, Dublin 8, pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder of David Douglas at the Special Criminal Court. Mr Douglas, 55, was shot six times in Shoestown on Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 8, on 1 July 2016. Evidence showed Brophy drove the getaway Mercedes, which he subsequently attempted to set alight near Tandy Court Apartments. While burning the vehicle, his trousers caught fire before he extinguished the flames and fled to a waiting Suzuki Swift. CCTV analysis of 1,500 hours of footage, DNA evidence from the Suzuki's passenger area, and a palm print from the vehicle door linked Brophy to the crime. The court heard his involvement was assessed as more serious than that of Nathan Foley, who received a six-year sentence for the same offence. Brophy was arrested in November 2018. Sentencing was scheduled for 17 February.
Yusif Ali Abdi, the appellant, was committed to the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) for inpatient care following a retrial at the Central Criminal Court. Abdi, who pleaded not guilty to the 2001 murder of his 20-month-old son, Nathan, was found not guilty by reason of insanity. This verdict followed the Court of Appeal quashing his 2003 murder conviction after he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 2013. During the retrial, four consultant psychiatrists testified that Abdi suffered from schizophrenia at the time of the incident. Judge Alexander Owens accepted the evidence that Abdi suffers from a mental disorder and ordered his commitment to the CMH, where his condition will be reviewed by the Mental Health Review Board. Abdi's wife, Amanda Bailey, delivered a victim impact statement, stating she always believed her husband could not have known what he was doing. She described the profound grief of losing their son and expressed a sense of peace with the verdict. The court heard that Abdi had previously spent 16 years in prison for the offense. The matter was concluded with the judge's order committing Abdi to the CMH, rather than an adjournment.
Dean Howe, 34, of Oakfield, Dublin 8, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to conspiring with others to murder Gary Hanley between September 15 and November 6, 2017. The charge, contrary to Section 71 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, was admitted during arraignment. Mr Justice Paul Coffey noted that Howe's trial was originally scheduled for January 13, 2020, but he directed that the case be put up for mention on that date to fix a sentencing date. Three other men had previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder Mr Hanley. Luke Wilson, 24, of Ballyfermot, who also admitted unlawful possession of a Beretta, was jailed for 11 years. Alan Wilson, 39, of Dublin 8, received a six-year sentence. Joseph Kelly, 35, of Drimnagh, who also admitted a weapons charge, was jailed for 12 years. The court proceedings for Howe are at the sentencing stage, with the specific disposal to be determined at the upcoming mention.
In a High Court hearing on 20 December 2019, a fresh translation of the French court judgment that found Ian Bailey guilty of Sophie Toscan du Plantier's murder in absentia was returned to the State after the judge noted it was still difficult to understand. Mr Bailey, who was not present, had been previously convicted in Paris and sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment. The court endorsed a European Arrest Warrant for him, marking the third French request for his surrender. Mr Ronan Munro SC argued that the extradition should be challenged on the basis of a better translation of the judgment, citing "difficult to follow" passages. Mr Justice Donald Binchy agreed that a clearer translation was needed, and the court scheduled Mr Bailey's next appearance for 20 January 2020. The hearing was a notional one, with Mr Bailey not required to attend. The State's counsel, Leo Mulrooney BL, indicated that a new translation would be prepared.
In a High Court judicial review, JCP Powdermill Care Centre Ltd, a nursing home in Ballincollig, challenges a Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) report that criticised its fire‑safety procedures. The centre argues the report, published on 1 October, was based on an unannounced inspection in late May 2019 and that it was not properly notified of the allegations or given a chance to respond. It claims HIQA failed to follow fair procedures, did not allow the centre to make representations or to call witnesses, and did not provide reasons for its findings or reference the relevant regulatory framework. The centre seeks an order quashing the report and an injunction to remove it from HIQA's website, citing negative business impact and difficulties in raising finance. The court, after an ex‑parte decision by Mr Justice Charles Meenan, has set a February hearing date.
Ian Bailey, aged 62, was arrested in Dublin after a High Court judge endorsed a third European Arrest Warrant issued by France for the 1996 murder of filmmaker Sophie Toscan du Plantier. The warrant was endorsed by Mr Justice Donald Binchy following changes in Irish law and Bailey's conviction in absentia in France, where a Paris court sentenced him to 25 years. Bailey was taken outside the Criminal Courts of Justice, cautioned, and shown the warrant in English and French. He was remanded on bail, required to post a €15,000 bond, surrender his passport, and remain within the jurisdiction. A full hearing is scheduled for 20 January 2020; Bailey denied any involvement in the murder and described the French proceedings as a farce. The case follows earlier French extradition requests that were dismissed as abuse of process in 2017.
In a retrial held at the Central Criminal Court, Yusif Ali Abdi, aged 46, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of his 20‑month‑old son, Nathan Baraka Andrew Ali, who died on 17 April 2001. The original 2003 trial had convicted Abdi of murder after a jury rejected his insanity defence. In 2013 he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, a fact that led the Court of Appeal to quash the conviction earlier this year. During the four‑day retrial, psychiatrist Dr Damian Mohan testified that Abdi had shown early signs of the disorder at the time of the offence and that he was unable to appreciate the wrongfulness of his actions. The jury deliberated 17 minutes and returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. Judge Alexander Owens ordered Abdi to be committed to the Central Mental Hospital and to appear before the court again next Friday.
A 25‑year‑old man named Gareth Brophy pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to a lesser charge of helping to facilitate the murder of David Douglas. Douglas, aged 55, was shot six times on 1 July 2016 while taking a meal break at his partner's shop on Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 8. Brophy, who lives at Reuben Walk, Dublin 8, admitted that on that day he participated in activities with the intent to aid a criminal organisation in committing the serious offence of Douglas's murder, contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. He pleaded guilty when arraigned and will be sentenced on 13 January 2020. The court heard that Detective Garda Niall Godfrey met Brophy in the Criminal Courts of Justice, explained the charge, and served him a copy of the charge sheet. Seán Gillane SC represented the State, while Michael Bowman SC represented Brophy.
Yusif Ali Abdi, 46, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of his 20-month-old son, Nathan Baraka Andrew Ali, at The Elms, College Road, Clane, Co Kildare, on April 17, 2001. Abdi pleaded not guilty to the charge. The matter is currently at the retrial stage following an appeal in which the Court of Appeal quashed his 2003 murder conviction, citing a newly discovered diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia in 2013. During closing submissions, defence counsel Barry White SC stated that Abdi had been admitted to the Central Mental Hospital on three separate occasions during his detention. White argued that all four expert psychiatrists now agree Abdi was suffering from schizophrenia at the time of the killing, rendering him legally insane. Prosecution counsel Seamus Clarke SC contended that the proper verdict is not guilty by reason of insanity. The jury is currently deliberating, with the judge continuing to charge them. No final verdict or sentence has been recorded in this report.
Yusif Ali Abdi, the appellant, is currently on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of his 20-month-old son, Nathan Baraka Andrew Ali, at The Elms, College Road, Clane, Co Kildare, on April 17, 2001. Abdi has pleaded not guilty to the charge. His previous murder conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal earlier this year after he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 2013. The current proceedings focus on the insanity defence, with the State and defence largely agreeing on the issue. Dr Damian Mohan, a consultant psychiatrist, testified that he now agrees with other experts that Abdi was suffering from a mental disorder at the time of the offence, a view he did not hold during the 2003 trial. Mohan stated that Abdi met the criteria for a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, as he was unable to refrain from committing the act. This aligns with the testimony of Dr Alex Quinn and Dr Aggrey Washington Burke, who also concluded Abdi fulfilled the criteria for the special verdict. The court heard that Abdi was admitted to the Central Mental Hospital on four occasions between 2001 and 2013 for various psychiatric conditions, including psychotic depression and suicidal ideation. The trial continues before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury.
In a 2019 Central Criminal Court hearing, psychiatrist Professor Keith Rix testified that Yusif Ali Abdi, aged 46, suffered from paranoid schizophrenia at the time he killed his 20‑month‑old son, Nathan Baraka Andrew Ali, in April 2001. Rix cited Abdi's reports of hearing voices, disorientation, and belief that his son was a threat, as well as depressive symptoms and post‑traumatic stress indicators noted by doctors in 1998 and 2001. He argued that these symptoms meant Abdi could not appreciate the moral wrongness of his act or refrain from it, satisfying the criteria for a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The court had previously rejected Abdi's insanity defence in 2003, but his 2019 appeal led to a retrial based on newly discovered psychiatric evidence. The trial continued the following day before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury. Yusif Ali Abdi was found guilty.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that 20-month-old Nathan Baraka Andrew Ali died from head injuries caused by forceful impacts against a hard surface, likely a wall or floor. Consultant Pathologist Professor Jack Crane testified that the toddler's injuries were not accidental and involved at least three or four impacts. Yusif Ali Abdi, 46, pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering Nathan at The Elms, College Road, Clane, Co Kildare on April 17, 2001. The court heard that Abdi, who was granted refugee status in 2000 and married an Irish woman, had previously been found guilty in 2003 but had his conviction overturned in 2019 due to newly discovered evidence suggesting he may have been legally insane at the time. The trial is ongoing, with the matter currently in the appeal stage. Former Northern Ireland State and Consultant Pathologist Professor Jack are also named as accused, though their charges remain alleged or contested. The case has been adjourned and is not yet concluded.
During a 2016 protest on Cathedral Street, Garda Sean Lucey (42) was accused of striking RTÉ cameraman Colm Hand with a baton and then striking Hand in the groin. The incident occurred while RTÉ reporters Colman O'Sullivan and Hand were moving across a Garda line to avoid confrontation between anti‑racism protesters and a far‑right group. O'Sullivan testified that a Garda advanced from the line and hit Hand's camera before striking him. Hand reported being hurt and the pair left the area. Garda Michael Dibley, David Laird and others from the public order unit described the situation as hostile, with Gardaí outnumbered and under pressure from protestors. The trial heard that the Garda unit was tasked with preventing protesters from reaching supporters of the far‑right group and that batons were used only after other means failed. The case is pending in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Sean Lucey pleaded not guilty.
In a 2019 retrial, Amanda Bailey, wife of Yusif Ali Abdi, testified that her husband's treatment has been "beyond cruel." She recounted their meeting in 1998, pregnancy in 1999, and marriage to secure his legal status. Bailey described Abdi as a quiet, caring partner who later displayed signs of paranoia and depression after a 2001 arrest and a visit to Africa. She detailed an argument over their son Nathan, during which Abdi threw a phone that cut her lip, and her subsequent refusal to return home until he sought psychiatric help. On the night of Nathan's murder, Bailey heard noises, saw Abdi praying, and found the child pale, blood‑stained, and lifeless. She noted Abdi's denial of mental illness and his accusations of her poisoning him. The prosecution highlighted that Abdi was convicted in 2003, but a 2019 appeal led to a retrial based on newly discovered evidence of early signs of paranoid schizophrenia. Yusif Ali Abdi pleaded not guilty.
In a 2003 trial at the Central Criminal Court, a psychiatrist who had earlier testified that Yusif Ali Abdi was not suffering from paranoid schizophrenia now stated that Abdi displayed early signs of the condition in 2001. Abdi, a 46‑year‑old Somali refugee, was charged with murdering his 20‑month‑old son, Nathan, on 17 April 2001. He pleaded not guilty at arraignment. The prosecution argued that Abdi's mental health deteriorated after traumatic experiences in Somalia, including the death of his father, and that he became paranoid about Gardaí. Evidence was presented that Abdi had been admitted to the Central Mental Hospital from November 2001 until 2003 and was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 2013. The case was retried in 2019 after a Court of Appeal decision to order a retrial based on newly discovered facts. Yusif Ali Abdi was convicted.
A 46‑year‑old man, Yusif Ali Abdi of Charleville Road, Phibsboro, Dublin, will stand trial for the murder of his 20‑month‑old son, Nathan Baraka Andrew Ali, who was killed at The Elms, College Road, Clane, Co Kildare, on 17 April 2001. Abdi, wearing a white anorak over a grey suit, pleaded not guilty when arraigned before the Central Criminal Court. The trial, set to begin tomorrow before Mr Justice Alexander Owens, is a restricted form focused on sanity and insanity, with a jury of seven men and five women hearing medical witnesses and two psychiatric consultants.
Lewis Larkin (33) was sentenced to seven years with the final 18 months suspended for his role in robbing, falsely imprisoning, and attacking three 15-year-old boys at Fairview Park on June 27, 2018. Judge Martin Nolan described the incident as 'terrifying' for the victims and noted Larkin's 111 previous convictions and intoxication at the time. Craig Douglas (18) was sentenced to three years with the final 20 months suspended. Judge Nolan called the case 'lamentable' and expressed regret over the custodial sentence for Douglas, citing his youth, but noted the 'particularly vicious' nature of the attacks. Both Larkin and Douglas pleaded guilty to three charges of robbery, three charges of false imprisonment, and two charges of assault causing harm to the teenagers. Larkin also admitted to the theft of eight bicycles valued at €6,285. Garda Kevin Murphy stated that the boys were threatened, forced to walk with the accused, and subjected to intimidation and physical violence. The victims were walked around the area to withdraw cash from their bank accounts and were later attacked in a laneway. Victim impact reports were submitted but not read out. The case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 3 December 2019, the three‑judge panel, led by Mr Justice Paul Coffey, rejected a motion to exclude surveillance evidence on the basis that officers had not taken notes during the Kinahan cartel conspiracy‑to‑murder investigation. The court found that the lack of notes did not breach minimal standards of fairness and admissibility, and that the observations were made for intelligence gathering rather than for investigating a crime already committed. The judge also considered the evidence linking accused Liam Brannigan (aged 37) to a mobile phone (PB3) allegedly used by conspirators. After reviewing the prosecution's case, the court concluded that sufficient evidence existed to convict Brannigan of conspiracy to murder Gary Hanley, and therefore denied a direction of acquittal. Brannigan remains in custody until a judgment is delivered on 3 February. Liam Brannigan pleaded not guilty.
Adrzej Toszewski, a 36‑year‑old metal and glass installer from Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to possessing heroin for sale or supply after a police search of his car revealed a package containing €91,000 worth of heroin. He claimed he did not know what was in the package and denied being a dealer. The court heard he had been pulled over while using his phone, had a strong smell of cannabis in the vehicle, and was abusing cannabis at the time. He had no prior convictions and had not attracted Garda attention in the five years since the offence. Judge Pauline Codd, hearing the case in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, imposed a six‑year sentence, suspended in full on conditions including engagement with probation services and attendance of any directed courses. The judge cited Toszewski's lack of criminal record, his depression, his low position in the drug hierarchy, and his skilled employment as mitigating factors.
The High Court will decide later this month whether to endorse a French warrant for the extradition of Ian Bailey to France for the murder of filmmaker Sophie Toscan du Plantier. This is the third French attempt to secure Bailey's surrender. Bailey, 62, lives in Schull, Cork, and was convicted in absentia by a Paris court earlier this year, receiving a 25‑year prison sentence. He denies any involvement, did not attend the French trial, and has called the proceedings a "farce." Lawyers for the Minister for Justice presented a third European Arrest Warrant and noted that previous extradition attempts failed because the Supreme Court had ruled in 2012 that extradition was prohibited on extraterritoriality grounds. The Minister argued that new provisions in the Criminal Law (Extraterritorial Jurisdiction) Act 2019 might allow a different interpretation. Bailey's counsel, Ronan Munro SC, urged the court not to endorse the warrant, citing potential liberty loss.
Rose Mulenga, a 47‑year‑old former Turkish Airlines employee, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing €16,702 from the airline's compensation system between 5 June and 5 September 2017. She accessed the company's database to locate unclaimed compensation vouchers, then transferred the money to her mother in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who was battling cancer. Mulenga resigned shortly after the theft and admitted that she believed the refunds were unlikely to be claimed. She also claimed that she was in arrears with Dublin City Council because her ex‑husband had failed to pay rent, and that her brother had refused to help her. The prosecution noted that she had no prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan, after hearing the case, imposed a two‑year custodial sentence, which was fully suspended, and noted that Mulenga had repaid some of the stolen funds. The sentence was therefore suspended in its entirety, with no custodial term imposed.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 26 November 2019, defence counsel for Liam Brannigan, a 37‑year‑old from Bride Street, Dublin, argued that the Garda surveillance officers' policy of not taking notes during the Kinahan cartel conspiracy‑to‑murder investigation was unacceptable and should not be allowed to slide. He contended that officers had claimed to have made identifications in the witness box that were not previously recorded, and that some had referred to other sources before asserting an identification. Brannigan is charged with conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between 15 September and 6 November 2017 and has pleaded not guilty. The defence sought to exclude evidence from surveillance officers and phone charts that linked secretly recorded conversations in bugged cars to specific individuals, arguing that the lack of notes undermined the fairness of the evidence.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 25 November 2019, defence counsel Giollaiosa Ó Lideadha argued that surveillance evidence presented by Gardaí in the conspiracy‑to‑murder case against 37‑year‑old Liam Brannigan of Bride Street, Dublin 8, was unreliable and should be excluded. Brannigan, charged with conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between 15 September and 6 November 2017, pleaded not guilty. The defence highlighted that the prosecution had not shown any phone linked to Brannigan was actually used by him, and that surveillance officers had failed to take notes, undermining the integrity of the evidence. The court had previously heard that six vehicles were bugged and that conversations recorded in those vehicles were attributed to Brannigan, Joseph Kelly, Luke Wilson and Alan Wilson based on phone data.
The Court of Appeal will ask the Court of Justice of the European Union for clarification on EU fishing regulations that govern the return of fish to sea in Irish waters. The case involves Dutch skipper Klass Meijvogel, who was convicted in 2015 of operating a Dutch factory ship, the Wiron 5, that had equipment capable of returning fish to the sea within the Irish exclusion zone near Cork. The ship was boarded by the Irish Naval Service on 11 February 2015, and the boarding party found a grading machine and chute that could return pelagic fish such as herring, mackerel or horse mackerel, which EU regulations made illegal to discharge or return. Meijvogel pleaded not guilty but was found guilty by a 10‑2 jury. Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin ordered confiscation of €344,960 for the catch and €55,000 for gear.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 22 November 2019, evidence was presented that a phone attributed to Liam Brannigan, a 37‑year‑old accused of conspiring to murder Gary Hanley, was used to contact Kinahan cartel gunmen eight times on the day of Brannigan's arrest. The court heard that Brannigan's phone also communicated with Alan Wilson seven times that same night. Brannigan, who pleaded not guilty, was arrested on 6 November 2017 near Hanley's home, where police seized a Beretta. The prosecution claimed Brannigan had thrown the phone into church grounds before his arrest, a claim contested by his defence. The case also involved three other men—Joseph Kelly, Luke Wilson and Alan Wilson—who had previously pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy and received sentences ranging from six to twelve years for murder conspiracy and weapons offences. The trial remains ongoing.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Liam Brannigan, who is charged with conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between September 15th and November 6th, 2017. Brannigan has pleaded not guilty. The court examined audio from a secret listening device placed on a Volkswagen caddy on November 3rd, 2017, during an investigation into the Kinahan cartel. Surveillance officers previously identified Joseph Kelly driving the vehicle and later walking with Alan Wilson. Both Kelly and Wilson, along with Luke Wilson, have already pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder Mr. Hanley and have been jailed. The recording captured two men discussing plans to purchase vodka, Red Bull, cocaine, and Viagra. One man complained that cocaine was negating the effect of the Viagra and making him paranoid. The court also heard testimony regarding a previous incident where a man was hospitalized after a binge involving whiskey and cocaine. Luke Wilson and Joseph Kelly were arrested on November 6th, 2017, when the vehicle was stopped in Dublin 3, leading to the seizure of a 9mm Beretta pistol. The trial continues.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, audio from a covert listening device in a white Volkswagen caddy van revealed two men, Luke Wilson and Joseph Kelly, discussing a planned murder of Gary Hanley. The clip, recorded on 2 November 2017, shows the men frustrated by navigation issues and planning how to approach Hanley's home, including the possibility of shooting a woman and child if they obstructed them. One man repeatedly stated, "Baby or no baby, I don't give a fuck," and expressed willingness to shoot police if present. The court heard that the men had been arrested on 6 November 2017, with a 9mm Beretta pistol seized. The accused, Liam Brannigan, pleaded not guilty, while Wilson, Kelly and Alan Wilson had already pleaded guilty and been jailed for the conspiracy. The hearing focused on the audio evidence and the men's intent to carry out the attack.
In the Special Criminal Court, Eoin Morrissey (20) was sentenced for two counts of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of the killers of Aidan O'Driscoll. Having pleaded guilty, Morrissey received two two-year suspended sentences on each count. Mr Justice Hunt, sitting with Judges Gerard Griffin and Ann Ryan, cited Morrissey's age, positive probation report, progress since 2016, and willingness to perform community service as mitigating factors. The court ordered him to enter a €100 bond. The judge warned that this was a unique opportunity and that further offending would likely result in custody. Earlier in April, co-accused Colin Casey (32) and Daniel Hegarty (24) were convicted on four counts of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of O'Driscoll's killers. Both pleaded guilty. Casey was sentenced to four years and six months in prison, while Hegarty was jailed for four years. The court noted that Casey and Hegarty provided substantial assistance, including burning vehicles and burying evidence, whereas Morrissey's involvement was less proximate, limited to providing a fire-lighter and transport after the events. The State acknowledged it could not prove the defendants knew a murder was planned. O'Driscoll, a Real IRA figure, was shot in Cork in December 2016.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Liam Brannigan, who is charged with conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between September 15th and November 6th, 2017. Brannigan has pleaded not guilty. The prosecution presented secret recordings from vehicles bugged during a Garda investigation into the Kinahan Organised Crime Gang. Audio clips alleged to involve Brannigan discussed planning a killing, including references to using a gun and waiting for a target. The court also heard testimony regarding surveillance of Brannigan in a Renault Laguna and a Volkswagen Caddy. Separately, Luke Wilson, Joseph Kelly, and Alan Wilson have already pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder Mr Hanley and have been jailed. The trial continues.
In the Special Criminal Court, the prosecution presented an audio clip from a listening device secretly placed in a Nissan Primastar van, showing Joseph Kelly and Alan Wilson discussing a planned murder of Gary Hanley. The men talked about routes to Fairview, traffic, and how to approach Hanley, who walks to the gym at 5 pm. They also considered how to escape the area and how to handle the van after the act. Liam Brannigan, 37, is charged with conspiring to murder Hanley and has pleaded not guilty. Three other men—Luke Wilson, Joseph Kelly and Alan Wilson—have already pleaded guilty to the conspiracy and have been jailed. The trial continues with the court hearing further evidence from surveillance officers who observed Brannigan driving the van in various locations in September and October 2017. The case remains an ongoing criminal proceeding.
In the Special Criminal Court, a surveillance garda told a barrister that it was "disgusting" to suggest their evidence was unreliable. The case concerns Liam Brannigan (37) of Bride Street, Dublin 8, charged with conspiracy to murder Gary Hanley between 15 September and 6 November 2017. Brannigan pleaded not guilty. The court heard that Brannigan was arrested minutes after a loaded semi‑automatic pistol was seized during the arrest of two men near Hanley's home on 6 November 2017. Twenty surveillance officers gave evidence about observations of Brannigan and three men who had pleaded guilty to the plot and were jailed – Luke Wilson (24), Joseph Kelly (35) and Alan Wilson (39). The garda testified that on 6 October 2017 he saw Brannigan in the front passenger seat of a black Renault Laguna, but the barrister questioned the reliability of the identification and the absence of notes.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the trial of Liam Brannigan, 37, of Bride Street, Dublin 8, who is charged with conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between September 15th and November 6th, 2017. Brannigan has pleaded not guilty. The court heard that a National Surveillance Unit garda observed Brannigan driving a white Volkswagen Caddy van in the Suir Road area on October 3rd, 2017. This vehicle was later linked to the arrest of two men on November 6th, 2017, during which a 9mm Beretta pistol and silencer were seized. The defence argued that the garda's failure to record weather conditions or distance hindered the ability to test the identification. The court also noted that Luke Wilson, 24, Joseph Kelly, 35, and Alan Wilson, 39, have already pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder Mr Hanley. Luke Wilson, who also admitted unlawful possession of a handgun with intent to endanger life, was sentenced to 11 years. Joseph Kelly, who also admitted a weapons charge, was jailed for a total of 12 years, while Alan Wilson received a six-year sentence. These sentences were handed down following their guilty pleas, distinct from the ongoing trial of Brannigan.
A Special Criminal Court hearing on 7 November 2019 considered evidence that Liam Brannigan, aged 37, was driving a white Nissan Primastar van that had been fitted with a listening device by Gardaí. Surveillance officers reported seeing Brannigan in the Blackpitts area on 2 October 2017, heading toward Greenville Avenue, wearing black sunglasses and a cap, and described him as unshaven with stubble. The same van had been seen the day before, on 1 October 2017, with Joseph Kelly driving it in Fairview, and Alan Wilson sitting in the back. Brannigan is charged with conspiracy to murder Gary Hanley between 15 September and 6 November 2017 and has pleaded not guilty. The court heard that the van was used extensively as a spotter car and for surveillance of Mr Hanley. The hearing also noted that other conspirators, including Kelly and Wilson, had pleaded guilty and been jailed. The trial did not address any verdict or sentencing for Brannigan.
In the Special Criminal Court, two mobile phones were excluded from evidence in the ongoing trial of Liam Brannigan, who is charged with conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between September 15th and November 6th, 2017. Mr Brannigan has pleaded not guilty. Mr Justice Paul Coffey ruled that the phones taken from Mr Brannigan's pockets upon his arrest must be excluded due to an "irreconcilable conflict of evidence" regarding which garda searched him. The court rejected applications to exclude a third phone found in a car park and a fourth 085 phone located in church grounds. The 085 number was deemed significant by gardai based on information from three co-accused: Luke Wilson, Joseph Kelly, and Alan Wilson. These three men have already pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder Mr Hanley and were sentenced. Luke Wilson, who also admitted to unlawful possession of a Beretta handgun with intent to endanger life, was jailed for 11 years. Alan Wilson received a six-year sentence, while Joseph Kelly, who also admitted a weapons charge, was jailed for a total of 12 years. The current trial continues with surveillance evidence presented, including CCTV footage and witness testimony identifying Mr Brannigan in a vehicle and at a petrol station on the day of the alleged conspiracy.
Freddie Thompson, a 39‑year‑old Dublin man serving a life sentence for the 2016 murder of David Douglas, withdrew his High Court challenge against the prison authorities over what he described as an "extremely oppressive" regime in Portlaoise Prison's A4 wing, known as the punishment block. The withdrawal followed his transfer from the isolation block to the mainstream prison population. Thompson had argued that the regime violated his human rights, limiting his contact with other prisoners, denying regular exercise, fresh air and education, and causing mental health problems. He had sought orders to end his isolation and improve access to facilities. The court, after hearing the case, accepted that the transfer had occurred within 24 hours and allowed the action to be struck out. The State was asked to recommend legal aid for counsel, a request the court approved.