Keith Murphy, aged 42, was convicted of repeatedly raping his step‑daughter over a six‑year period from May 2008 to November 2015. He pleaded not guilty to 26 counts of sexual assault, two counts of attempted rape and 64 counts of rape. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty after just under four hours of deliberation. He was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended by Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy on 29 May 2017. The offences largely occurred in the former family home in Cork while the victim, now 19, was aged nine to 15. She waived anonymity and described the abuse as having a devastating, profound and far‑reaching effect on her life. The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction, dismissing Murphy's appeal. The appeal was heard by Mr Justice George Birmingham, Mr Justice John Edwards and Mr Justice John Hedigan.
Lawyers for Frederick 'Freddie' Thompson, accused of murdering David Douglas, expressed concern to the Special Criminal Court about the delay in delivering a verdict. Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges Patricia Ryan and Michael Walsh, had earlier indicated that the court would not be able to issue a judgment until 1 October, despite the trial concluding at the end of May. The case, involving complex legal issues and a "heavy trial," required a detailed, reasoned verdict. Thompson, 37, pleaded not guilty on 1 July 2016 after being shot six times at his partner's shop on Bridgefoot Street. The prosecution did not allege Thompson fired the shots but presented DNA evidence linking him to two "spotter" cars and CCTV footage identifying him as a driver. The court heard that four vehicles, including a Mercedes, a Ford Fiesta, a Mitsubishi Mirage and a Suzuki Swift, operated in concert on the day of the murder.
The daughters of Jerry O'Keefe, who was sentenced to ten years in prison for repeatedly raping and sexually abusing them between 1980 and 1993, expressed relief that his appeal was dismissed. O'Keefe, 69, had pleaded guilty to nine counts of rape and sexual abuse after a jury was sworn in. He received consecutive sentences of seven years for raping one daughter and three years for abusing the other, totaling ten years. The Court of Appeal upheld the sentence, stating it was not lenient. Amy Barrett, the eldest daughter, said she was relieved the case was finally over and that the judges showed zero tolerance for child abuse. She urged other victims not to lose hope and to come forward. The appeal was dismissed by a three‑judge panel, including Mr Justice John Hedigan, Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice John Edwards.
John Stokes, aged 30, was found guilty of 343 counts of theft related to a sophisticated social welfare fraud that spanned from April 2008 to December 2013. He had originally received a wholly suspended four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence from Judge Michael O'Shea on 30 June 2017. The Director of Public Prosecutions argued that the sentence was unduly lenient, and the Court of Appeal agreed. Judge Patrick McCarthy, sitting with Judges George Birmingham and John Hedigan, imposed an 18‑month custodial term, with the remainder of the four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence suspended. The fraud involved €55,000 in Jobseekers Allowance and €47,000 in Rent Allowance, and Stokes had rented a house in Sallins, Co. Kildare, to facilitate the scheme. He had also provided €4,000 in restitution and an additional €2,000 through withheld child allowance, and was paying €28 a week in restitution from social welfare payments.
Michael Lynch, a 26‑year‑old from Cork, had his eight‑year jail term for false imprisonment upheld by the Court of Appeal. He was found guilty of false imprisonment of a woman he had been seeing for three weeks and was sentenced to 10 years, with the final two suspended. Lynch had a history of violent offences, including torturing a pregnant ex‑girlfriend by pouring boiling water over her after adding sugar to raise the temperature, and assaulting another ex‑girlfriend. The Court of Appeal, citing his record of violence against women, held that the sentence had to be significant. The appeal against the severity of the sentence was dismissed, and the eight‑year term remained in force. The case was heard by a three‑judge panel, including Mr Justice George Birmingham. The decision was made on 19 July 2018. Michael Lynch pleaded not guilty.
Brian O'Grady, 32, of Finglas, pleaded guilty to possessing 20 kg of cannabis resin worth €122,000 in February 2016. He had delivered the drugs to pay off his step‑brother's €2,000 debt. The original court gave a wholly suspended five‑year sentence, a decision the Director of Public Prosecutions challenged as unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal, in a three‑judge panel, imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year jail term, with the remaining two‑and‑a‑half years suspended. O'Grady had 11 prior convictions and had lost his job six months before the offence. He is now in Britain working in construction. The appeal court found his decision to commit the crime was a conscious choice, not merely a product of addiction or family pressure, and therefore the suspended sentence was too lenient. The new sentence will run from the date he first goes into custody.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, Ivan Peev, a 34‑year‑old Bulgarian circus worker, pleaded guilty to defiling a 15‑year‑old girl in a town in County Cork in February 2015. Peev's work involved travelling with a circus for nine months a year and then returning to Bulgaria. The victim, who was intoxicated and "three quarters asleep," was taken by Peev to a tent or caravan where he lifted her onto a bed, undressed her and had sex with her. She described the experience as a "bad feeling" and said it still haunts her. Peev has no prior convictions and has been in custody since his return to Ireland under a European Arrest Warrant. He remains remanded until the court finalises his sentence on 30 July.
A trial date has been set for Nathan Foley, an 18‑year‑old from Rosary Road, Dublin, at the Special Criminal Court. Foley is accused of murdering 55‑year‑old David Douglas on Bridgefoot Street on 1 July 2016 and of damaging a car on Strand Road on 4 July 2016. The prosecution, led by Tony McGillicuddy, noted that Foley's defence had raised a fitness‑for‑trial issue and that a consultant psychiatrist had been requested but the accused has reportedly obstructed the process. Paul Greene, Foley's solicitor, expressed concern that the professional witness had not been properly facilitated and that Foley was anxious for the case to proceed. Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges Patrician Ryan and Michael Walsh, set the trial for 5 December 2016, expecting it to last up to three weeks, and remanded Foley in custody. The case was listed for mention again on 31 July.
Brian O'Grady, 32, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing cannabis resin for sale, valued at €122,000, after agreeing to deliver 20 kg to help pay his step‑brother's €2,000 drug debt. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a wholly suspended five‑year sentence, departing from the mandatory 10‑year term, citing O'Grady's low moral culpability and his intent to protect family. The Director of Public Prosecutions seeks a review, arguing the sentence is unduly lenient and that the judge erred in suspending the whole term. Counsel for O'Grady highlighted his upbringing, employment history, and family dynamics as mitigating factors. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment. Gardaí surveillance linked O'Grady to two men from Cork who were later arrested; O'Grady admitted the delivery but refused to name the men. O'Grady has six prior convictions and is a qualified electronic technician. The other two men received seven‑year and two‑year sentences.
Declan Harris, 59, pleaded guilty to possessing €2,830 worth of heroin at the Dunkettle Interchange on 2 February 2016. He was sentenced by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to five years imprisonment on 23 July 2017. Harris appealed the severity of the sentence, but the Court of Appeal, in a decision delivered by President Mr Justice Birmingham with Mr Justice John Edwards and Mr Justice John Hedigan, held that there was "no question" of a reduction. The court considered whether the sentence should be increased but ultimately declined to intervene. The judges noted Harris's significant prior record, including an eight‑year sentence for a previous offence, and described him as a "professional" drug dealer with a calculated operation. Harris remains in Loughan House open prison, and the Circuit Court sentence was left in place.
In a case pending in October, convicted murderer Graham Dwyer, who denies killing Ms Elaine O'Hara, seeks to have provisions of Ireland's 2011 Communications (Retention of Data) Act struck down. He argues that data from his work phone, which placed him at a specific location at a specific time and linked him to another mobile phone used to contact Ms O'Hara, was unlawfully used at his 2015 trial. Dwyer claims the Act violates his rights under the EU Charter and the European Convention on Human Rights, citing the European Court of Justice's 2014 and 2016 rulings that found a 2006 EU directive on data retention invalid. The State rejects his arguments, stating the application to exclude the data was dismissed by the trial judge and that such laws are essential for serious crime detection. After submissions by counsel for both parties, Mr Justice Tony O'Connor has reserved judgment, to be delivered in October.
Keith Murphy, aged 42, is awaiting the outcome of an appeal against his conviction for repeatedly raping his step‑daughter over a six‑year period. He pleaded not guilty to 26 counts of sexual assault, two counts of attempted rape and 64 counts of rape between May 2008 and November 2015. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty after just under four hours of deliberation, and he was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended by Justice Deirdre Murphy on 29 May 2017. The offences largely took place in the former family home in Cork while the victim, now 19, was aged nine to 15. She waived anonymity and reported the abuse's devastating impact. The appeal, opened today, focuses on alleged due‑process failures, including the judge's handling of DNA evidence and jury instructions. The Court of Appeal will reserve its judgment.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, the panel of Judges Tony Hunt, Patricia Ryan and Michael Walsh announced that they would not deliver a verdict in the murder case of Frederick 'Freddie' Thompson until 1 October, despite an earlier expectation of a July 24 decision. Judge Hunt explained that the case was complex and the court had been continuously in session, leading to the delay. Thompson, 37, residing on Loreto Road, Maryland, Dublin, pleaded not guilty to the murder of David Douglas, who was shot six times on 1 July 2016 at Shoestown shop on Bridgefoot Street. The prosecution did not allege Thompson fired the shots but presented evidence that his DNA was found in two 'spotter' cars and that CCTV footage identified him as a driver.
In a Cork city park on 28 June 2013, Keith Aherne, aged 24, was found guilty of raping a woman while he held her down. He denied the charges. The other perpetrator, who pleaded guilty but died before sentencing, is alleged to have committed the rape. Aherne was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, and was deemed a principal offender for aiding and abetting the offence. The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction. Mr Justice Alan Mahon, sitting with Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice John Edwards, dismissed all of Aherne's grounds of appeal, noting that none had succeeded. Aherne's barrister, Brendan Grehan SC, argued that the trial judge erred in admitting certain evidence and in handling cross‑examination, but these arguments were rejected by the appellate court. The appeal was therefore dismissed. The conviction remains in force.
In a 2018 incident, Gardaí used remote control of street cameras to track Shane Pollard (41) after he stole €500 from a shop. The cameras captured him taking money from the till, and Garda Patrick Fallon monitored his movements as he fled into a nearby café. Pollard was arrested there, breathing heavily and sweating, and all the stolen money was recovered. He later pleaded guilty to theft of €510 at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally noted no force or violence was used against staff, though Pollard had armed himself with a blade or scissors. She imposed a two‑year sentence, backdated to February to account for time already spent in custody. Pollard, who has 27 prior convictions including seven for robbery, had relapsed into cocaine use after a family bereavement. The defence highlighted his long history of drug use and his current health conditions. The court accepted his guilty plea and cooperation.
Larry McCarthy, aged 39, was convicted by a non‑jury Special Criminal Court of assaulting cyclist David Foran, 33, on 25 November 2014 and of threatening to use unlawful violence with two others. The court sentenced him to six years' imprisonment on 31 July 2017. McCarthy appealed, arguing that the admission of Foran's initial statement was improper under section 16 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, agreeing that the statement was admissible. On a subsequent sentence appeal, the Court of Appeal suspended the final 15 months of McCarthy's six‑year term, citing errors in the original sentencing court's weighting of a 1999 violent‑disorder conviction and the exclusion of mitigating factors such as positive testimonials and difficult family circumstances. McCarthy was required to enter a two‑year good‑behaviour bond after release. The case remains at the sentencing‑appeal stage. Larry McCarthy pleaded not guilty.
The Court of Appeal upheld a total prison sentence of 22 years for a 31‑year‑old Cork man, who was convicted of raping and assaulting his former partner on 10 July 2013 and a woman he barely knew on 4 January 2014. He pleaded guilty to the first offence and was found guilty of the second after a trial. Sentencing on 29 February 2016 gave a 12‑year term for the January 2014 rape, and on 19 May 2017 a consecutive 10‑year term for the July 2013 rape, bringing the total to 22 years. The appeal, brought by the defendant, was dismissed by Mr Justice John Hedigan, who said the judge's approach was meticulous and proportionate, noting the gravity of the offences and the defendant's status as a serial rapist. The court confirmed that the sentences should not merge or run concurrently, maintaining the 22‑year total.
Journalist Michael Clifford told the Charleton Tribunal that he was initially shocked when he first learned of allegations of sexual abuse against Sergeant Maurice McCabe in early 2014. Mr Clifford said he heard the allegations on three separate occasions from different sources and investigated them, concluding they were without foundation. He told the tribunal that former garda superintendent David Taylor had indicated that text messages seized during a garda inquiry contained evidence of a smear campaign against the whistleblower. However, Superintendent Taylor subsequently told the tribunal that no such text messages existed and that any negative briefings about Sergeant McCabe were given verbally. Former garda commissioners Martin Callinan and Nóirín O'Sullivan have denied a smear campaign occurred. Three journalists, including former Irish Examiner editor Tim Vaughan and RTÉ correspondent John Burke, testified they did not receive negative briefings about Sergeant McCabe. The tribunal, examining allegations that senior gardaí smeared the whistleblower, continues its proceedings.
Cian Walsh, 30, from Cork, pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing a firearm and three counts of threatening to kill in September 2016. He was originally sentenced to six years in prison, with two years suspended, by Judge Gerard O'Brien. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal, in a three‑judge panel headed by Mr Justice George Birmingham, re‑sentenced Walsh to five years in prison, adding an extra 12 months. The appeal was based on the fact that Walsh had a loaded sawn‑off shotgun with the safety off, was intoxicated, and threatened a woman. During the incident, one round discharged when he "tripped over the family dog". After the incident he fled in a vehicle, left the gun at St Joseph's Cemetery, and was apprehended shortly thereafter.
The Court of Appeal found a 44‑year‑old man's wholly suspended three‑year sentence too lenient and sentenced him to 18 months in jail. He had pleaded guilty in 2012 to assaulting his wife and in 2015 to five counts of threatening to kill her and each of their four children. The judge described the 2015 threats as a "truly awful offence" and noted the man's history of mental health problems. The Court of Appeal imposed a three‑year custodial term with the final 18 months suspended, a 12‑month concurrent term for the 2012 assault, and required the man to enter a good‑behaviour bond, maintain contact with mental health services and have no contact with his wife or children for three years unless invited. The sentence was imposed on Friday afternoon.
The Court of Appeal has adjourned the appeal of Dónall Billings, a 67-year-old from Drumlish, County Longford, to a future list in July. Billings was previously found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of possessing an explosive substance at Longford railway station car park on May 16, 2011. He was also convicted of making false reports on May 16, 18, and 20, 2011, alleging bombs were placed at Busáras, Sinn Féin headquarters, Dublin Castle, and Cork airport during Queen Elizabeth's state visit. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Martin Nolan and Cormac Dunne, sentenced Billings to eight-and-a-half years' imprisonment, noting he was not entitled to express low opinions of the Queen through criminality. Concurrent terms were imposed for the false reports. Billings has lodged an appeal against his conviction and sentence. During case management, his barrister, Lyndsay Duffy, formally applied for the appeal to be heard in Irish by three Irish-speaking judges. President of the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice George Birmingham, stated the court faces an "immediate crisis" due to a judge shortage, leaving only five judges available to sit unrestrictedly. He remarked on the difficulty of finding three English-speaking judges, let alone Irish-speaking ones. The matter was adjourned to allow time for the court to reach full composition and determine its linguistic capacity. No final decision on the appeal has been made.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, the prosecution argued that all evidence should lead to a guilty verdict for Frederick 'Freddie' Thompson in the 2016 murder of David Douglas. Thompson, 37, pleaded not guilty. The prosecution highlighted DNA found in two alleged 'spotter' cars, CCTV footage identifying Thompson as a driver, and fingerprints linking him to a Ford Fiesta and a Mitsubishi Mirage. They also cited his history of breaking mobile phones. The defence contended that without proof Thompson was in the Fiesta at the time of the shooting, there was no case. The court rejected a defence application for a not‑guilty verdict, noting the CCTV evidence met the minimum admissibility standard. The judge remanded Thompson in custody until a judgment is delivered on 24 July. The case remains at the trial stage.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, the defence of Frederick 'Freddie' Thompson, aged 37, applied for a not‑guilty verdict in the murder of David Douglas. The court rejected the application. Thompson, who pleaded not guilty on 1 July 2016, was accused of being involved in a shooting that killed Douglas on Bridgefoot Street. The prosecution presented evidence that Thompson's DNA was found in two cars used in the shooting and that CCTV footage identified him as a driver. Thompson's counsel argued that the evidence was scant, that there was no forensic link to the vehicles, and that the CCTV footage was blurred and flawed. The court upheld the admissibility of the CCTV evidence and declined to alter its earlier decision, with both sides expected to present closing arguments later that day.
Larry McCarthy, aged 37, was convicted by a non‑jury Special Criminal Court of assaulting cyclist David Foran, aged 33, on 25 November 2014 at Cornmarket Villas, Limerick. McCarthy pleaded not guilty but was found guilty of assault and threatening to use unlawful violence. He was sentenced to six years' imprisonment on 31 July 2017. McCarthy appealed in April 2018, challenging the admission of Foran's initial statement under section 16 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. The appeal argued that Foran's identification of McCarthy was unreliable and that the statement should not have been admitted. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice Alan Mahon, rejected the appeal, affirming that the admission of the statement was correct and that McCarthy's conviction remained upheld. No further procedural developments were reported in the article.
Jack Walsh, 19, was sentenced to five years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his role in an 11-hour disturbance at Oberstown Children's Detention Campus on August 29, 2016. Walsh pleaded guilty to violent disorder and two charges of criminal damage, admitting he was present during the incident which caused €3 million in damage. Judge Martin Nolan suspended the final two and a half years of the sentence, ordering Walsh to be of good behaviour for that period. The sentence was backdated to May 2. Three other youths, Clayton Brennan, Nathan Ginty, and Luke Cronin, also pleaded guilty to arson, criminal damage, and violent disorder. It was accepted that Cronin's plea was based on adding fuel to the fire rather than starting it. Brennan had seven previous convictions and was on remand; Ginty had 22 previous convictions. A 17-year-old defendant, who also pleaded guilty to the same charges, had 22 previous convictions and was on remand. The cases of Brennan, Ginty, Cronin, and the 17-year-old were adjourned for sentence to Friday, June 1. The court noted the youths had destroyed or attempted to destroy the institution, with the judge describing the event as a frightening rampage.
The prosecution has closed its case in the Special Criminal Court murder trial of 37‑year‑old Frederick "Freddie" Thompson, who pleaded not guilty to the July 2016 killing of 55‑year‑old David Douglas on Bridgefoot Street. The 10‑day trial heard that Douglas was shot six times shortly after 4 pm while taking a break at his partner's shop, Shoestown. A semi‑automatic pistol with its serial number removed was found beside Douglas's head. The prosecution did not argue that Thompson fired the shots, but the judges heard that his DNA was found in two alleged "spotter" cars used in the shooting and that CCTV footage identified him as the driver of one of those cars. Witness testimony described a silver Mercedes and a silver Suzuki involved in the escape, and CCTV footage showed Thompson leaving a Ford Fiesta on Meath Street and handing a key to a woman at a stall.
Patrick O'Driscoll, a 42‑year‑old father from Codrum, Macroom, was convicted by a jury of 61 counts of raping his eldest daughter, aged 16 to 17, between 2008 and 2009. He had denied the charges. The jury's unanimous verdict was upheld by the Court of Appeal, which found the trial satisfactory and the conviction safe. Mr Justice Paul Butler sentenced O'Driscoll to ten years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended on conditions including no contact with his daughter. The appeal was dismissed after the Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, considered the evidence presented by the complainant and the defence. The court concluded that the jury had the authority to assess the credibility of the complainant's testimony and that the verdict was not perverse. The case remains at the conviction stage.
Conor O'Hora, 41, of Portmarnock, was sentenced to three years in prison for harassing RTÉ newsreader Sharon Ní Bheoláin and for three counts of possessing child pornography. He pleaded guilty to harassing Ní Bheoláin between March 2013 and January 2014, which involved posting over 30 altered photographs of her on a website and engaging in 40 sexually explicit and violent online conversations. He also pleaded guilty to knowingly possessing child pornography on a mobile phone and a computer hard drive, with 93 images of children aged eight to 17 found on his devices. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending the final 18 months, and ordered O'Hora not to contact Ní Bheoláin. He was also required to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for 18 months under probation supervision. The court noted his cooperation with Gardaí and his efforts at rehabilitation. The co‑accused received an 18‑month suspended sentence earlier this year.
In the Special Criminal Court, Frederick 'Freddie' Thompson, 37, pleaded not guilty to the 2016 murder of David Douglas. The court heard that Thompson had been warned that his refusal to explain his presence in two alleged 'spotter' cars could lead to inferences used as corroboration. He gave a 'no comment' reply to questions about his possession of a silver Ford Fiesta, a key, a mobile phone, DNA evidence on an air freshener and hand sanitiser, and his presence in a blue Mitsubishi Mirage. The judges rejected a defence application to exclude private CCTV footage, stating that the cameras did not breach his constitutional right to privacy. The trial continues before Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Flann Brennan and Judge Gerard Griffin.
Conor O'Hora, 41, of Heather Walk, Portmarnock, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to harassing RTÉ newsreader Sharon Ní Bheoláin between 27 March 2013 and 7 January 2014 and to three counts of knowingly possessing child pornography. The harassment involved posting over 30 modified photographs of Ní Bheoláin on a website reachable via a Google search of her name. The child‑pornography charges concerned roughly 100 images of children in sexually explicit activity and 40 explicit online conversations between O'Hora and a co‑accused. The images were found on O'Hora's HP Pavilion laptop and iPhone, depicting children aged eight to 17, including three identified children. O'Hora was remanded overnight pending sentencing; Judge Martin Nolan warned that he would certainly face jail for his "debasing behaviour" and "insidious harassment." The court heard that the co‑accused had received an 18‑month suspended sentence earlier this year, now being appealed by the DPP for undue leniency.
The Special Criminal Court ruled that Frederick 'Freddie' Thompson's claim of a constitutional right to privacy over CCTV footage was "bordering on the absurd." The court was hearing a defence application to exclude private CCTV footage that the State said linked Thompson to the murder of shoe shop manager David Douglas on 1 July 2016. Thompson, 37, pleaded not guilty. The prosecution presented evidence that Thompson's DNA was found in two alleged 'spotter' cars used in the shooting and that CCTV footage identified him as a driver and as walking across Meath Street that afternoon. The court rejected the argument that the footage breached Thompson's privacy, noting that the cameras merely recorded eye‑witness activity and that the State's interest outweighed any expectation of privacy. The judges declined to rule the evidence inadmissible, and the trial continues before Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Flannan Brennan and Judge Gerard Griffin.
Patrick O'Driscoll, 42, of Codrum, Macroom, was found guilty by a jury of 61 counts of raping his eldest daughter, Ellen, aged 16 to 17, between 2008 and 2009. He denied the charges. Mr Justice Paul Butler sentenced him to 10 years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended on conditions including no contact with his daughter. The judge noted that O'Driscoll had otherwise led a "blameless life" and was rearing the rest of his family properly. Ellen, 24, had waived anonymity. O'Driscoll has moved to appeal the conviction in the Court of Appeal, where the judge has reserved judgment. His barrister, Ronan Munro SC, argued that the jury's verdict was perverse due to infirmities in the complainant's evidence, citing inconsistencies about the address of abuse, school attendance and other matters. The Court of Appeal will decide on Thursday.
In a Cork case, a 70‑year‑old man was convicted of raping his step‑daughter from age 11 to 16, impregnating her twice in the 1970s. He pleaded guilty to 18 counts of rape and sexual abuse between 1974 and 1979. The victim, now 53, testified that the man forced her into sexual acts three or four times a week, often when her mother was away, and that he abused her on Sunday evenings. He was also an alcoholic who spent his mother's money. The Court of Appeal upheld a 12‑year sentence, with the final two years suspended, after the man's appeal against a 14‑year sentence was dismissed. The appeal was rejected on the basis that the judge's assessment of the offence's severity was justified and that the mitigating factors had been adequately considered. The man had already served four years for indecent assault of the victim's siblings. The appeal was dismissed by a three‑judge panel.
A 67-year-old man from Drumlish, County Longford, has sought to have his appeal heard in Irish at the Court of Appeal. Donall Billings was convicted by the Special Criminal Court of possessing an explosive substance at Longford railway station car park in May 2011, and of making false bomb reports during Queen Elizabeth's State visit to Ireland that same month. He was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years imprisonment. The charges included placing a device on a Dublin-bound bus and making hoax threats targeting Busáras, Sinn Féin headquarters, Dublin Castle, and Cork airport. Mr Justice George Birmingham indicated the case would return to a management list to facilitate proceedings conducted in Irish. Billings was not present at the hearing to fix dates for his appeal.
Christopher Twohig, aged 24, was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15‑year‑old girl at a house party in Cork in 2011 and a 19‑year‑old girl at another house party in Cork in 2014. In the first incident, the victim had gone to sleep on the couch; Twohig partially removed her clothing, touched her breasts and penetrated her vagina for about fifteen minutes. In the second incident, the 19‑year‑old had gone to sleep alone in a room; Twohig was found beside her and digitally penetrated her. Twohig pleaded guilty early, admitted full involvement, and was described as genuinely remorseful. He was sentenced to four years' imprisonment with the final year suspended, plus a concurrent 12‑month term for the first offence. His appeal against the sentence was dismissed by the Court of Appeal, which found the sentence "arguably lenient" but not disproportionate. The Court upheld the three‑year effective custodial period.
Frederick 'Freddie' Thompson, aged 37, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of shoe shop manager David Douglas, who was shot six times on Bridgefoot Street on 1 July 2016. The Special Criminal Court heard that Thompson's DNA was found in two alleged 'spotter' cars used in the shooting and that he was identified in CCTV footage as the driver of one of those cars. Thompson's barrister, Michael O'Higgins SC, argued that the private CCTV footage used by the State was unlawfully created by property owners who had not registered their systems with the Data Protection Commissioner and had no warning signs. He claimed the footage breached Thompson's right to privacy and should be deemed inadmissible. Prosecutor Sean Gillane SC countered that no legal authority supports such an argument and that there is no reasonable expectation of privacy in the circumstances. The judges will decide tomorrow.
During the Special Criminal Court trial of 37‑year‑old Frederick 'Freddie' Thompson, Detective Garda Seamus O'Donovan gave recognition evidence that Thompson was the driver of a "spotter" vehicle in the 2016 murder of shoe shop manager David Douglas. O'Donovan identified Thompson in three CCTV clips taken on the day of the shooting, showing a bearded driver of a Ford Fiesta, one of the alleged spotter cars. The prosecution does not claim Thompson fired the shots; instead, his DNA was found in two spotter cars. O'Donovan also recounted his prior investigation of Thompson in a 2013 violent disorder case at Morrissey's Pub and his involvement in Thompson's extradition from Holland. The defence, led by Michael O'Higgins SC, challenged the admissibility of the CCTV evidence, arguing the footage was insufficient for reliable identification. The court heard the dispute and will consider submissions before Judge Tony Hunt and the other judges. The unnamed 37-year-old pleaded not guilty.
During the non‑jury Special Criminal Court hearing on the murder of David Douglas, Detective Sergeant Adrian Whitelaw identified Frederick 'Freddie' Thompson, 37, as the man in one of four alleged 'spotter' cars used in the shooting. Whitelaw testified that he had seen a photograph of himself with Thompson a few months earlier and that Thompson's DNA had been found in two of the cars. He also identified Thompson in CCTV footage from Little Caesar's Restaurant and from a stall on Meath Street, describing him as wearing a dark top and a black baseball cap. Whitelaw could not identify the two females in the footage. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Flannan Brennan and Gerard Griffin presiding. Thompson has pleaded not guilty to the murder.
During the fifth day of the 37‑year‑old Frederick 'Freddie' Thompson's trial in the Special Criminal Court, the judges were shown CCTV footage of the shooting that killed 55‑year‑old David Douglas on Bridgefoot Street. The footage captured Douglas moving toward the shop entrance at 4.11 pm, a dark figure approaching, and Douglas being shot. It also showed Douglas's daughter arriving to help. Additional footage displayed a man leaving a Ford Fiesta on Meath Street, speaking to a woman at a stall, and breaking a mobile phone to hand parts to her. Garda Ciaran Byrne presented the clips, while the prosecution argued that Thompson was a spotter in the vehicles used in the shooting, with DNA found in two cars. The defense did not contest Thompson's identification in the footage. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges. The unnamed 37-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A 31‑year‑old Cork man, David O'Loughlin, is scheduled for a retrial on 15 January next year for the murder of 59‑year‑old Liam Manley, who was killed on 12 May 2013 at Garden City Apartments, North Main Street, Cork. The case was set by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy.
In the 'Freddie' Thompson murder trial, forensic evidence showed Thompson's DNA on a hand sanitiser and an air freshener recovered from alleged spotter cars used in the shooting of Dublin shoe shop manager David Douglas. Douglas, 55, was shot six times while eating at the shop counter and died from concussion, brain haemorrhage, facial injuries and obstructed breathing. The prosecution argues Thompson was in one of the spotter cars, not the shooter, and that four vehicles operated together that day. Professor Marie Cassidy testified to Douglas's injuries and cause of death, noting half the shots came from different directions, indicating movement by one or both parties. Forensic scientist Sarah Fleming matched Thompson's DNA to items in a Mitsubishi and a Ford Fiesta, estimating the chance of a coincidental match as less than one in a billion. No DNA was found on the gun or cartridges. The trial continues with a legal issue on admissibility of evidence. The unnamed 37-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Jason Heaphy, 33, of Dunmanus Park, Knocknaheeny, Co Cork, lost a challenge to the terms of a good‑behaviour bond he had entered into after breaching a suspended sentence. Heaphy had been caught with €5,000 worth of heroin and cocaine on Kerryhall Road, Fairhill, during the May bank holiday weekend of 2015. Judge David Riordan activated his suspended sentence and added a consecutive three‑year jail term in November 2015. Heaphy had previously received a 10‑year sentence in March 2007, with the final three years suspended for possession of a large quantity of cocaine. He argued that no valid written record of the 2008 sentencing order existed and that the good‑behaviour bond should run from his imprisonment, not his release.
The trial of Freddie Thompson, 37, for the alleged murder of David Douglas on July 1, 2016, continued before the Special Criminal Court. Mr Thompson, of Maryland, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to the killing of the 55-year-old shoe shop manager on Bridgefoot Street. Prosecutors allege that four vehicles operated in concert during the incident, which resulted in Mr Douglas being shot six times. While the prosecution does not argue that Mr Thompson physically fired the weapon, they seek to infer he was one of the 'many fingers on the trigger.' On the third day of the trial, witnesses Deivydas Kukanavza and Iveta Sutkote testified regarding a separate incident on Strand Road on July 4, 2016. They described a Mitsubishi repeatedly crashing into a parked silver Suzuki Swift before an occupant poured petrol over the vehicle and set it alight. Ms Sutkote identified the Mitsubishi's registration number, which was later provided to gardai. The court heard that the Mitsubishi was subsequently stopped by police, with a smell of petrol detected inside. Mr Thompson's fingerprints were found within the vehicle. The prosecution characterised the silver Suzuki as the 'ultimate getaway car,' noting it had been stolen from Greystones. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Flannan Brennan, and Judge Gerard Griffin, with proceedings scheduled to continue on Tuesday.
During the second day of the 37‑year‑old Frederick "Freddie" Thompson's murder trial, a fingerprint expert presented evidence that Thompson's prints were found on two cars the prosecution says were linked to the killing of Dublin shoe shop manager David Douglas. Thompson, who lives on Loreto Road, Maryland, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Douglas on 1 July 2016. Douglas was shot six times in the head, neck and throat while eating a curry in his partner's shop, Shoestown, on Bridgefoot Street. A semi‑automatic pistol with its serial number removed was found next to Douglas's head. The court heard that four vehicles and their occupants, including Thompson, were operating in concert that day. Detective Garda Raymond Kane testified that fingerprints from a blue Mitsubishi Mirage and a silver Ford Fiesta matched Thompson, and that a finger mark on the Mirage's rear‑view mirror was his.
In the Special Criminal Court, the prosecution argued that Freddie Thompson, 36, was one of several conspirators in the carefully planned murder of David Douglas on 1 July 2016. Thompson, who lives on Loreto Road, Maryland, pleaded not guilty. The court was presented with evidence that four vehicles operated together that day, including a Mercedes that carried the shooter and was later burned, a Ford Fiesta, a Mitsubishi Mirage, and a Suzuki Swift, the latter also set on fire. Fingerprint and DNA evidence linked Thompson to the rearview mirrors of the Mirage and Fiesta, a card in the Mirage's glove box, an inhaler in the Mitsubishi, and an air freshener and hand sanitizer in the Fiesta. Witnesses described a man in black approaching the shoe shop, firing several shots, and fleeing. The trial, presided over by Justice Tony Hunt, is expected to last up to two weeks.
Denis Harrington, 41, is wanted in the Netherlands for ten alleged fraud or attempted fraud offences relating to a roof‑repair scam involving Irish Travellers. Dutch authorities claim the Travellers approached senior homeowners, claiming roof work was needed, then began work before agreements were made, removing roof tiles and battens and causing deliberate damage and leaks. Harrington was arrested and presented before the High Court under a European Arrest Warrant. Lawyers highlighted ambiguities in the warrant and requested further information. The case was adjourned to 14 May, and Harrington is currently serving a prison sentence in Ireland.
The Special Criminal Court adjourned the murder trial of Frederick "Freddie" Thompson, 36, to Wednesday. Thompson, who lives on Loreto Road, Maryland, is charged with the July 1, 2016 shooting death of 55‑year‑old David Douglas on Bridgefoot Street, Dublin. The court had expected the trial to last two weeks. Thompson's defence, Michael O'Higgins SC, argued that most of the case would not be disputed and that the focus would be on the implications rather than the facts, but noted a significant disclosure issue. Justice Tony Hunt granted the adjournment and remanded Thompson in custody until the new date.
A 70‑year‑old Cork man, who cannot be named, pleaded guilty to 18 counts of raping and sexually abusing his step‑daughter between 1974 and 1979, impregnating her twice. The victim, now 53, testified that the man took her from her bedroom to the landing for sexual intercourse three or four times a week, and that she feared Sunday evenings when her mother was at bingo. He was an alcoholic who drank money her mother brought into the house. The Court of Appeal upheld his 12‑year sentence, originally imposed as 14 years with the final two suspended. The appeal argued the starting point of 18 years was too high, citing the 'RK' case, but the court found no error in principle. The judge noted the offender's age and medical issues justified the suspended portion and rejected rehabilitation as a relevant concept. The man had already served four years for indecent assault of the victim's siblings.
Don Duggan, aged 30, had 28 prior burglary convictions and pleaded guilty to burglary in Tipperary and a threat to kill on 23 December 2015. He received a ten‑year sentence with four years suspended, imposed by Judge Thomas Teehan at Clonmel Circuit Criminal Court on 11 May 2016. He also pleaded guilty to several burglaries between 18 and 24 August 2015 and was given a six‑year sentence with three years suspended, imposed by the same judge at Nenagh Circuit Criminal Court on 17 June 2016. The sentences were consecutive. Duggan appealed both sentences, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, holding the sentences were appropriate. The Court noted the victim's fear for her 10‑year‑old son, the threat of shooting, and Duggan's history of 115 convictions, including 28 for burglary, 13 for theft, and four for robbery with violence. The Court found no error of principle and affirmed the consecutive sentences.
Four men—Alan Wilson (39), Liam Brannigan (37), Joseph Kelly (35) and Luke Wilson (23)—are charged with conspiracy to murder Gary Hanley at a State location between 15 September and 6 November last year. Wilson and Kelly also face conspiracy to murder an unknown person at Talbot Street between 11 and 15 September. Kelly and Luke are charged with possession of a Beretta handgun and fifteen rounds of ammunition with intent to endanger life on 6 November. The court ordered the case to be tried before the Special Criminal Court.