During a Special Criminal Court hearing, David Foran, aged 33, testified that he does not know who stabbed him. Foran, who was cycling to his mother's house on 14 November 2014, was knocked down by a motorcyclist. Two days later the motorcyclist offered to settle the incident out of court, proposing €5,000 compensation. Foran met the motorcyclist's associate at Cornmarket Villas on 25 November 2014. He described being surrounded by six or seven people, receiving a slap to the back of his head with a baseball bat, falling, and then being stabbed in the leg. Foran could not identify the assailant or describe his appearance. The prosecution alleges that Larry McCarthy, aged 37, was among those who threatened to use "unlawful violence" and assaulted Foran, but McCarthy has pleaded not guilty. The case remains before Justice Isobel Kennedy, Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Gerard Haughton.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, a Limerick man, Larry McCarthy, 37, pleaded not guilty to assaulting David Foran on 25 November 2014 at Cornmarket Villas. The prosecution alleged that McCarthy, along with two others, threatened to use "unlawful violence" and that McCarthy stabbed Foran in the leg while he was beaten. Foran, who had been knocked down by a motorcyclist earlier that month, had initially refused a €5,000 compensation offer from the motorcyclist but later agreed to meet at Cornmarket Villas. McCarthy allegedly challenged Foran over the money demand. Foran was wearing a bullet‑proof vest at the time of the assault. The trial is presided over by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy with Judges Gerard Griffin and Gerard Haughton. The case remains pending.
In a High Court action filed in 2015, convicted murderer Graham Dwyer seeks to challenge the use of his mobile phone records in his 2015 murder trial. Dwyer, charged in October 2013 with the killing of Elaine O'Hara and convicted in March 2015, argues that the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011 violated his constitutional privacy rights, the European Convention on Human Rights and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. He cites the 2015 European Court of Justice ruling that struck down the directive underpinning the Act, claiming that Irish legislation implementing the directive was illegal and that data collected on his phone was therefore invalid. The State's request for disclosure of phone records was granted by service providers and the data was admitted as evidence, despite Dwyer's lawyers' objections.
The High Court will give judgment on July 24 on a second extradition request for Ian Bailey, 60, to France over the 1996 death of Sophie Tuscan du Plantier. Bailey denies any involvement. French authorities first sought his surrender in 2010, but the Supreme Court refused in 2012, ruling that Section 44 of the European Arrest Warrant Act barred extradition because the alleged offence was committed outside French territory and Irish law does not allow prosecution for the same offence abroad by a non‑Irish citizen. The 2016 warrant was issued again, prompting the State to ask the High Court to refer the Supreme Court's 4‑1 interpretation of Section 44 to the European Court of Justice. Counsel for Bailey argues the Supreme Court decision is an absolute jurisdictional bar, while counsel for the Justice Minister seeks a reference to correct the interpretation. The High Court will consider whether any matters remain for further hearing.
The jury in the trial of Darren Murphy, who admitted killing his girlfriend Olivia Dunlea, could not reach a verdict on whether he was guilty of murder or manslaughter. After 7 hours and 13 minutes of deliberation, the five women and seven men were unable to overcome their disagreement. Murphy, 40, of Dan Desmond Villas in Passage West, pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter, but the plea was rejected. He has been on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the past two‑and‑a‑half weeks. Justice Patrick McCarthy thanked the jury and remanded Murphy until 26 June, when a new trial date may be set. The trial heard that Murphy and Dunlea had been in a relationship for about four months. In interviews with gardai, Murphy admitted stabbing her during an argument, saying he "lost it" and "snapped" after she told him to leave because another man was calling over. Darren Murphy was convicted. Olivia Dunlea was convicted.
Lawyers for the Minister for Justice have asked the High Court to refer a 2012 Supreme Court decision that placed an absolute bar on the extradition of Ian Bailey to France to the European Courts of Justice. The case concerns Bailey, 60, who denies involvement in the 1996 death of Sophie Tuscan du Plantier, found dead outside her holiday home in Schull. French authorities sought Bailey's surrender in 2010 and again in 2016, but the Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that Section 44 of the European Arrest Warrant Act created an absolute jurisdictional bar because the alleged offence was committed outside French territory and Irish law does not allow prosecution for the same offence abroad by a non‑Irish citizen. Counsel for the Minister, Robert Barron SC, argues that the Supreme Court's majority interpretation was incorrect and that the dissenting judge's view should be examined by the European Courts.
An experienced Waterford nurse, Angelah Machekanyanga, was found guilty of professional misconduct by a fitness‑to‑practice inquiry. The case concerned a patient (Patient A) who underwent a hip‑replacement surgery on 26 November 2014 at the private Whitfield Clinic. Machekanyanga began her shift that evening and provided care to the patient and others throughout the night. A pain assessment at 10 pm recorded a pain level of 8/10, but no further assessment was documented until 6 am the next morning. The patient reported no relief until 3 am, when a doctor discovered a bleed in the buttocks, requiring a return to surgery. The inquiry found that Machekanyanga failed to perform the required Colour, Movement and Sensation assessment and failed to record the care she provided, amounting to professional misconduct and non‑compliance with the nurses' code of conduct. The hearing, which began in November 2016, was held at the Talbot Hotel in Dublin.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has requested to view footage of Darren Murphy, 40, demonstrating to Gardaí how he stabbed his girlfriend, Olivia Dunlea, who lay face down on her bed. Murphy, who lives in Passage West, Co. Cork, pleaded not guilty to murder but had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter, admitting he stabbed Ms. Dunlea in the neck and set fire to her home. His plea was not accepted, and the jury is now considering a verdict. During Garda interviews, Murphy showed how the assault occurred; the interviews were recorded. After more than two hours of deliberation, the jury asked to see the footage again and requested Justice Patrick McCarthy repeat the definition of provocation. McCarthy explained that provocation must be a sudden, unforeseen onset of passion that deprives the accused of self‑control.
A 73‑year‑old retired priest, Tadhg O'Dalaigh, whose conviction for indecently assaulting a schoolboy in the 1970s was quashed, has been awarded legal costs for his successful appeal. The Catholic Church had funded his legal representation, a fact that the Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel argued should preclude a costs award because O'Dalaigh was not out of pocket. The Court of Appeal quashed the conviction after the trial judge failed to warn the jury about the dangers of convicting without corroboration. The three‑judge court also refused a retrial, citing the defendant's full sentence, the case's antiquity and his age. Justice Alan Mahon ruled that awarding costs was appropriate, noting that O'Dalaigh had not benefited from state‑funded legal aid and that no blame could be attributed to him for the alleged offence. The decision was made without any application to recover the costs of the original Circuit Court trial. Tadhg O'Dalaigh pleaded guilty.
A jury will begin deliberations tomorrow on the case of Darren Murphy, 40, who has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of Olivia Dunlea. The trial is at the Central Criminal Court. Justice Patrick McCarthy instructed the jury to consider Murphy's state of mind and whether he was provoked by Ms Dunlea's actions, which could lead to a manslaughter verdict if the prosecution fails to prove lack of provocation. The jury will return tomorrow to consider a verdict.
The Minister for Justice has sought to re‑open an extradition case for Ian Bailey, a 60‑year‑old former resident of Schull, who was denied surrender to France in 2012 by a Supreme Court panel. Lawyers for Bailey argue that the Supreme Court's 2012 decision, based on section 44 of the European Arrest Warrant Act, creates an absolute jurisdictional bar to his extradition for alleged voluntary homicide of Sophie Tuscan du Plantier, who died in 1996 outside her holiday home. Bailey denies any involvement and claims Gardaí attempted to frame him. His counsel, Garrett Simons SC, contends the Minister's new application is an abuse of process, undermining the Supreme Court's judgment and the sovereignty of Irish courts. The Minister's counsel, Robert Barron SC, maintains that the Minister has no power to refuse a warrant and will continue to submit to the High Court. The case remains pending before Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
Keith Murphy, aged 41, was sentenced by the Central Criminal Court to 12 years for 64 counts of rape, with the final two years suspended. He also received seven‑year sentences for 26 counts of sexual assault and two attempted rapes, all running concurrently from his conviction date. The offences occurred between May 2008 and November 2015, mainly in the family home when the victim, now 18, was aged nine to fifteen. Murphy denied all charges. The victim, who waived anonymity, described the abuse as devastating, affecting every part of her life and leaving her nervous around men. The court noted the abuse spanned seven years, making him a repeat offender. The judge imposed the sentences accordingly, with the suspended portion reducing the custodial term to ten years. The case was prosecuted by Marjorie Farrelly SC.
During a murder trial, prosecution barrister Thomas Creed SC argued that Darren Murphy, 40, stabbed his girlfriend Olivia Dunlea to death because he did not want anyone else to have her. Creed said Murphy had been cheated on once before and was determined not to be cheated on again, leading him to kill Dunlea on 17 February 2013. Murphy denies the murder charge but pleaded guilty to manslaughter, a plea that was not accepted. Creed described the events: after a night of drinking, a dispute over a taxi driver led Murphy to stab Dunlea, who died from a knife wound that penetrated her spinal canal and five other stab wounds to the neck. Murphy then set her house on fire, drove her car to the inn, threw her keys into a river, and returned to the burning house pretending ignorance.
Keith Aherne, 23, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, with one year suspended, for aiding and abetting the rape of a woman in a Cork city park on 28 June 2013. He held the victim down while another 22‑year‑old man raped her. Aherne denied the charge but was found liable as a principal offender. The court noted his young age, history of addiction and 41 prior convictions, but also considered his refusal to have sex with the victim as a mitigating factor. The victim, who lost confidence and suffered depression and hair‑pulling after the assault, testified that Aherne held her down and that the other man had invited him to rape her. The sentence was imposed on condition of no contact with the victim and keeping the peace. The other man died before his sentence hearing.
The Catholic Church paid for the legal representation of retired priest Tadhg O'Dalaigh, who successfully appealed a conviction for indecently assaulting a schoolboy in the 1970s. O'Dalaigh, aged 73, had been found guilty by a jury and sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended by Judge Donagh McDonagh on 18 December 2014. He had already served the full term when the Court of Appeal quashed his conviction on Monday, citing the trial judge's failure to warn the jury about the dangers of convicting without corroboration. The Court also refused the Director of Public Prosecutions' application for a retrial, deciding it would not be in the interests of justice to order one for someone who had served the sentence. Counsel for O'Dalaigh, Patrick Gageby SC, applied for legal costs for the appeal, arguing that the source of the funding was irrelevant.
Three men from Cork—Joseph Walsh (36), Michael Gilmartin (46), and Sean Walsh (50)—are set to stand trial at the Special Criminal Court for alleged membership in the Irish Republican Army. Walsh and Gilmartin face additional charges of possessing firearms, including a 9mm pistol, a sawn‑off shotgun, and ammunition, seized from Chestnut Drive, Cluain Ard, Newtown, Cobh, on 14 December 2016. All three were arrested in December 2016 and remanded in custody. The court scheduled their trial for 12 February 2018, expecting it to last four weeks.
A hearing to decide whether Ian Bailey should be extradited to France to face a voluntary homicide charge over the death of Sophie Toscan du Plantier will take place next Wednesday. Bailey's legal team has finished their submissions and is ready to proceed. The hearing follows a European Arrest Warrant issued by French authorities. Bailey, 60, denies any involvement in the 1996 murder of Ms du Plantier, who was found beaten to death outside her holiday home in Schull, west Cork. French officials have already served him with an indictment and may try him in absentia.
John Fitzsimons, 50, of Old Tower Crescent, Clondalkin, Dublin, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment with two and a half years suspended after pleading guilty to possession of a semi‑automatic pistol, ammunition and a silencer in suspicious circumstances. The court found that Fitzsimons had agreed to store the handgun for a third party to pay off a debt, but had never actually handled the weapon. He had no prior convictions and was described as a "prisoner in his own home" after the agreement. Judge Karen O'Connor noted his lack of criminal history, his work background, and his cooperation with Gardaí, yet emphasised that storing firearms facilitates serious offences. The sentence was back‑dated to 29 October 2016, and the judge considered the public interest and safety in imposing the penalty. The court also acknowledged his past substance abuse and his productive use of time in custody.
Catherine Callanan, 51, of Ballinroad, Dungarvan, was convicted of two counts of deception for hiring a bouncy castle and a minibus for her son's 21st birthday through the Waterford Vocational Education Committee (VEC). The jury found her guilty in 2015 and Judge Melanie Greally imposed a wholly suspended four‑month sentence. Callanan appealed, arguing that the jury should not have considered the deception. The Court of Appeal, in a three‑judge panel, upheld the conviction. Justice Alan Mahon held that the jury was correctly left to decide whether Callanan intended to deceive the VEC by invoicing the costs to the committee and whether she had sought authorisation. The appeal was dismissed, confirming the original verdict and the suspended sentence. The case highlighted the role of the VEC and the responsibilities of its staff in authorising purchases. The Court referred to a 1837 precedent on implied deception. The decision was delivered by Justice Mahon, with Justices Birmingham and Edwards presiding. Catherine Callanan pleaded not guilty.
In a 2017 court hearing, Detective Garda James Nagle denied allegations that he had refused to allow murder suspect Darren Murphy to see a solicitor and that he had instructed Murphy on what to say during his interview about his girlfriend's death. Nagle said he had followed standard procedure, asking suspects if they were ready to proceed before questioning, but admitted he did not ask that question at the start of Murphy's final interview. He denied knowing Murphy was unwilling to proceed and insisted that if Murphy had requested a solicitor he would have been granted access. Nagle also denied that Sergeant Anthony Harrington had told Murphy what to say or that he had been told there was no time to see a solicitor. The judge postponed the case to May 30 to resolve an evidence issue. Darren Murphy pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Darren Murphy, 40, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Olivia Dunlea but pleaded guilty to manslaughter. He admitted stabbing her twice in the neck after an argument that began at the Rochestown Inn and continued at her home. Murphy said Dunlea asked, "What about my kids?" before he stabbed her. He claimed he did not intend to kill her, describing the act as a snap. Garda interviews revealed he was aware of the wounds and that a post‑mortem found six stab wounds, which he admitted he must have inflicted. He denied setting the house on fire to destroy evidence and said he only wanted to prevent children from discovering the body. The trial proceeds before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury.
In a murder trial, a 36‑year‑old woman found dead in her burning home may have died from a stab wound to her neck or from inhaling fire fumes. The court heard that the victim, Olivia Dunlea, was discovered face‑down on her bed in Passage West on 17 February 2013. State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that she saw two deep stab wounds behind the victim's right ear, one penetrating the upper cervical spinal canal, and four shallow wounds on the front of the neck. She also found soot in the lungs and a high carbon monoxide level, indicating inhalation of toxic smoke. Cassidy concluded the cause of death was a neck stab wound combined with inhalation of fire fumes, noting that the spinal injury could have caused paralysis and rapid collapse. The accused, Darren Murphy, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter and is on trial at the Central Criminal Court.
In a High Court hearing on 23 May 2017, Gerardine Scanlon, a resident of Bruhenny, Churchtown, Mallow, Co Cork, denied allegations by Grant Thornton that she had retained confidential material from a computer disk mistakenly sent to her in September 2015. Scanlon claimed the firm had made "fairly scandalous" remarks about her, including accusations that she demanded €1m to drop a case or had breached prior court orders. She presented herself as a whistleblower, asserting that Grant Thornton had breached data‑protection duties and that she possessed evidence of another breach in 2013. Grant Thornton, represented by Maurice Collins SC and Joe Jeffers BL, argued that the firm had notified the Data Protection Commissioner and complied with its directives. The firm sought to strike out Scanlon's defence and counter‑claim on the basis that they were legally unfounded. Scanlon opposed the motion, stating her defence might need amendment but should remain.
Faizan Ahmed, aged 26, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 10‑year‑old girl in Limerick on 5 October 2014. The court heard that Ahmed had sent the child messages via Viber asking about sex and a "sexy movie", then asked her to sit beside him so he could show her a film on his phone. He claimed he had tried to kiss her and, according to the victim, placed his hands on her private parts and rubbed her. The girl reported the abuse to her mother the next day. In court, Ahmed admitted he might have touched her vagina "accidentally when I was tickling her tummy". He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Karen O'Connor described the messages as inappropriate and disturbing, noted the profound impact on the victim, and highlighted the breach of trust.
In 1979 a retired priest, Tadhg O'Dalaigh, was convicted of indecently assaulting a 16‑year‑old boy at a boarding school in County Cork. He was found guilty by a jury and sentenced to five years, with two years suspended. O'Dalaigh appealed, arguing that the trial judge failed to warn the jury about the danger of convicting without corroborative evidence. The Court of Appeal, in a three‑judge panel, agreed that the judge erred by not giving a corroboration warning in a case lacking corroboration. The appeal was allowed, the conviction was quashed, and the court will consider whether a retrial is appropriate. O'Dalaigh had previously pleaded guilty in 1999 and 2014 to similar offences at the same school, but denied assaulting the complainant in the present case. The case highlighted the importance of jury warnings when evidence is limited. Tadhg O'Dalaigh pleaded not guilty.
A 30‑year‑old Cork man was sentenced to ten years in prison for raping his former partner, a sentence to be served consecutively to a term he is already serving for a separate rape. The Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of one count of oral rape and assault causing harm after he raped the woman at their home on 8 September 2013. He had pleaded guilty to the offences. The victim, who could not be named, gave a lengthy impact statement describing the fear she lived in for three years after the rape and the ways the man tried to regain control over her while she was under a barring order. She recounted how he moved close to her, called Gardaí falsely, and made her feel trapped. The court noted the profound effect of the offences on her life.
At the High Court, Gerardine Scanlon denied allegations that she attempted to blackmail accountancy firm Grant Thornton into paying €1 million to resolve actions over an alleged data protection breach. Mr Justice Paul Gilligan heard that Grant Thornton mistakenly sent confidential data to Ms Scanlon in September 2015. The firm obtained orders preventing her from releasing this information, which she agreed to return in December 2015. Grant Thornton's counsel, Maurice Collins SC, alleged Ms Scanlon failed to comply with the order, retained confidential data, and demanded €1 million to make related cases disappear, characterizing this as extortion. Ms Scanlon, representing herself, denied breaching the court order or retaining information. She stated the meeting with Grant Thornton was on a non-prejudice basis and rejected the blackmail claim as an attempt to smear her name. She also asserted she did not have the power to drop cases brought by the Data Protection Commissioner. The court considered pre-trial motions where Grant Thornton sought to strike out Ms Scanlon's defence and counterclaim, arguing they have no legal basis. Ms Scanlon opposed this and sought to join Danske Bank, the Data Protection Commissioner, and the Attorney General to the action. Those parties opposed being joined. The hearing was adjourned and resumes next week.
Darren Murphy, aged 36, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Olivia Dunlea, 36, in Passage West, Cork, on 17 February 2013. He admitted to stabbing her in the back of the neck after a heated argument, but his plea of guilty to manslaughter was not accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Gardaí interviewed him the day after the body was found in her burning home. He claimed he had been drinking with Ms Dunlea at the Rochestown Inn, that a dispute arose when she mentioned another man, and that he "snapped" and stabbed her. He also said he set the house on fire to prevent her children from finding her body. The trial was scheduled to continue before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of seven men and five women.
In the Central Criminal Court, Darren Murphy, 40, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Olivia Dunlea, 36, but admitted to killing her. The prosecution, represented by senior counsel Thomas Creed, argued that Murphy was Dunlea's boyfriend and that he wanted to be with her "24 hours a day", describing the relationship as suffocating. Ann Power, Dunlea's sister, testified that she felt Murphy wanted her sister all to himself and that he was "besotted" with her. Power recounted a night‑time call from Dunlea that she could not answer, and that Murphy told her the house was on fire and shouted at her to "fuck off". Witnesses described a tense taxi ride from the Rochestown Inn to Dunlea's home, where Murphy appeared upset. Garda John Forde reported that Dunlea's body lay face down in a double bed, with two separate fires at the house that were unrelated.
During a trial in the Central Criminal Court, Darren Murphy, aged 40, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Olivia Dunlea, aged 36, but admitted to killing her. The prosecution, represented by senior counsel Thomas Creed, outlined that on 16 February 2013, Murphy and Dunlea had been drinking at the Rochestown Inn before taking a taxi home. Taxi driver Michael Ahern testified that Murphy entered the cab, appeared upset, and that Dunlea was in a cheerful mood. Ahern described Murphy as "boiling up inside" and noted tension in the vehicle. He also mentioned that Dunlea had spoken about another driver supposedly picking them up. The trial proceeded with a jury of seven men and five women under Judge Patrick McCarthy. The Director of Public Prosecutions had not accepted Murphy's guilty plea to manslaughter.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Darren Murphy, aged 40, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Olivia Dunlea, aged 36, but admitted killing her. The prosecution, represented by senior counsel Thomas Creed, outlined that on 16 February 2013, Murphy and Dunlea had been drinking at the Rochestown Inn, then returned to her home where a fight reportedly occurred. Murphy allegedly left Dunlea at her front door and later returned, claiming he had "snapped." He allegedly grabbed a knife from a bed and stabbed Dunlea multiple times. Firefighters found a body with six stab wounds; the State Pathologist concluded Dunlea died from a neck wound or inhalation of toxic fumes. Murphy's clothing at the scene did not match his statement, and he was arrested on suspicion of murder. The trial continues before a jury of 12.
In a Central Criminal Court case, Keith Aherne, aged 23, was found guilty of raping a woman in a Cork city park on 28 June 2013. The victim, who had been drinking with friends, fell asleep and was later held down by Aherne while another man raped her. Aherne denied the charge. The court heard that the other man, aged 22, had pleaded guilty but had died before sentencing. Aherne, who has 41 prior convictions including robbery, assault and drug possession, was remanded in custody and the case was adjourned to 29 May. The victim's impact statement, read by Garda Sergeant Katrine Tansley, described her post‑rape depression, hair‑pulling condition, loss of confidence and the distress caused by Aherne's actions. The court noted that Aherne attempted to comfort the victim after the assault, but the victim remained in tears. The case is set for sentencing later this month.
A 41‑year‑old Cork man was convicted by a jury of 26 counts of sexual assault, two counts of attempted rape and 64 counts of raping his step‑daughter between May 2008 and November 2015. The offences, almost all committed in the family home while the girl was aged nine to fifteen, included forced masturbation, an attempted rape during a holiday and repeated rapes at the house. The abuse ended when the girl left the home after a November 2015 rape, disclosed the events to her aunt, and a semen swab taken from her body tested positive for the man's DNA. The court adjourned finalisation until 29 May to allow the judge to consider an appropriate sentence. The victim's impact statement described the abuse as devastating, profoundly affecting her confidence, self‑esteem and daily life. The defendant denied the allegations and claimed his semen could have come from a bed where he had sex with the victim's mother.
A jury was sworn in for the trial of Darren Murphy, 40, of Passage West, who is charged with murdering Olivia Dunlea, 36, at her home in Pembroke Crescent, Passage West, on 17 February 2013. Murphy was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court and pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Tom Creed SC, rejected the plea. Judge Patrick McCarthy directed the jury to return to the Central Criminal Court in Dublin for a two‑week trial expected to begin tomorrow.
In 2013, a 30‑year‑old man raped his former partner in their Cork home. He was found guilty in February 2014 and later jailed for raping another woman. The victim, who remains unnamed, described living in fear for three years after the assault, during which the man tried to regain control without breaching a barring order. She recounted moving to a new apartment, the man working nearby, and repeatedly crossing a bridge at the same time as her for six weeks. He also called Gardaí with false claims, causing alarm at her family home. The victim endured physical injury, emotional trauma, and a sense of imprisonment in her own home. She sought counselling and support after the incident. The court considered whether to impose a consecutive sentence to his existing term, with counsel arguing for or against it based on his prior convictions and background.
In a High Court hearing on 12 May 2017, William Thompson secured a temporary freezing order over €30,000 that had been awarded to Kevin Buckley, a teenager who assaulted Thompson on 24 August 2016 in Cork city centre. Thompson, a University College Cork student, was knocked to the ground and repeatedly kicked, sustaining injuries including a fractured eye socket. Buckley had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting Thompson and to false imprisonment of a woman, for which he was sentenced to four years' detention and is currently incarcerated. The €30,000 award, lodged in court for Buckley's benefit until he turned 18, was to be released to him after that date. Thompson's lawyers argued that the only way he could enforce a damages award against Buckley is to have the court‑lodged monies frozen until his personal injuries claim is decided.
In December 2015, Damien Klasinski, a 29‑year‑old Polish driver, struck and killed Kildare councillor Willie Crowley, 56, while walking home from a pub. Klasinski fled the scene, later confessing to Gardaí and pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing death. He was arrested after passengers reported him. The court found him had no licence or insurance, had previously been convicted for driving offences, and had driven at speeds up to 80 km/h on a wet, poorly lit street. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to five and a half years, suspended the last 18 months, and imposed a ten‑year driving disqualification. The sentence reflected the seriousness of his failure to remain at the scene and the lack of insurance, while acknowledging his guilty plea and remorse. The ruling was delivered at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
The Special Criminal Court has heard evidence that two "very well-made" and "viable" improvised explosive devices were discovered in a vehicle stopped by gardai on the N52 in County Meath. Michael Connolly, aged 44 and from Grange Drive in Dundalk, County Louth, has pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, on 16 December 2014. The prosecution alleges Mr Connolly was observed driving in convoy with a man who was later found with the two devices. A retired army captain and a detective garda gave expert testimony describing the IEDs as cylindrical plastic containers powered by nine-volt batteries, each containing a timing unit programmed for approximately eight hours and pyrotechnic material. Both devices were confirmed as completed and viable. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judge John O'Hagan and Judge Flann Brennan.
A hearing has been scheduled to decide whether Ian Bailey should be extradited to France to face trial for the death of Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Justice Tony Hunt of the High Court set the hearing for two days and instructed Bailey's legal team and the Minister for Justice to prepare their arguments by May 31. Bailey, aged 60 and from The Prairie, Liscaha, Schull, is required to attend. Robert Barron SC, representing the justice minister, confirmed receipt of Bailey's objections. Bailey's barrister, Ronan Munro SC, raised a potential issue regarding the validity of the European Arrest Warrant issued by a French prosecutor, questioning whether it constitutes a valid judicial authority. French authorities have already indicted Bailey and seek to try him for the alleged voluntary homicide of Ms. Toscan du Plantier, who was found beaten to death outside her holiday home in Schull in December 1996.
Gardaí forcibly removed a man from his vehicle during a roadside stop on the N52 in County Meath in December 2014, the Special Criminal Court heard. Michael Connolly, aged 44, of Dundalk, County Louth, has pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. The prosecution alleges that Connolly was observed driving in convoy with another vehicle. Detective Sergeant Daniel O'Driscoll told the court that gardaí became suspicious the cars may carry firearms or explosives and moved to stop them at Mitchelstown Cross. When Connolly did not comply with orders to turn off his ignition, another detective broke the car window and removed him forcibly. A brown paper bag recovered from the second vehicle contained two items wrapped in bubblewrap and black tape, which Detective Sergeant Padraig Boyce described as resembling improvised explosive devices. The court also examined CCTV footage from a petrol station on the N52. The trial, before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges, continues.
A man convicted of sexually exploiting a child online has had his sentence reduced on appeal at the Court of Appeal. The defendant, aged 23, with an address in County Cork, had pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court to five counts of child exploitation occurring in April 2012. He was originally sentenced to seven years imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, in February 2016. Following his appeal, Mr Justice Alan Mahon reduced the sentence to five-and-a-half years, with the final two years suspended. The court heard the defendant was nearly 19 when he engaged in online sexual contact with a 12-year-old victim via video conversation. He accepted continuing contact after learning the victim's true age and requiring her to remove clothing and engage in sexual acts. The judge noted the defendant had previous convictions for sexual assault of an adult woman, describing him as "a significant threat to women" at a young age.
Maurice O'Donnell, a 48‑year pigeon‑racing veteran from Dungarvan, secured a temporary High Court injunction that bars the Irish Homing Union (IHU) Southern Region and its Management Committee from suspending his membership of the Irish Homing Union National Flying Club. O'Donnell claims he was suspended without notice or explanation, and that the suspension breaches IHU rules and harms him personally. The injunction, granted ex‑parte by Mr Justice Paul Gilligan, also prevents the defendants from holding a meeting about the suspension or related matters. O'Donnell has previously served on the club's Management Committee, resigned after disputes over disciplining a member and over the use of fundraiser money, and has been involved in disputes over alleged threats. He was briefly reinstated in March, elected club President, but the suspension was reinstated in April without reasons, affecting his ability to race pigeons. The case is set for a return hearing next week.
A 22‑year‑old Roma man pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault against a 16‑year‑old girl in Cork. The victim was told to drink alcohol or he would kill her, then he attempted to have sex with her and left her unconscious and undressed on a footpath. He was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, by Judge Gerard O'Brien on 7 July 2016. On appeal the Court of Appeal reduced the jail term by one year, citing the judge's failure to mention the victim's €10,000 compensation payment, a token of the man's remorse. The Court of Appeal left the seven‑year sentence in place but suspended the final two years, and ordered 12 months of post‑release supervision. The man had 29 prior convictions, including theft, burglary and public order offences. The case was heard by Mr Justice George Birmingham, Mr Justice Alan Mahon and Mr Justice John Hedigan.
In a High Court case, Merrion Property Group Limited sued Shelton Investments Limited, trading as River Medical, over alleged rent arrears for a cosmetic surgery business at 114 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin. Merrion claimed River Medical owed more than €161,000 after acquiring the premises in 2014. River Medical denied the arrears, citing a rent reduction agreed with the previous landlord in 2013 due to the economic climate, and sought a declaration that it could remain in possession. The lawsuit was scheduled before Mr Justice Paul Gilligan. After negotiations, the parties reached a settlement: River Medical will vacate the premises by the end of June and pay €130,000 to Merrion, resolving the dispute over the lease and rent claims. The cosmetic surgery business also operates from other locations in Kildare, Belfast, and Cork.
In December 2015, 29‑year‑old Damien Klasinski, a Polish native, was driving on Eyre Street, Newbridge, when he struck and killed 56‑year‑old Kildare councillor Willie Crowley. Klasinski was speeding, did not brake or sound his horn, and fled the scene. He was later arrested after hiding in a friend's house. Crowley died from head injuries at Naas Hospital a few days later. Klasinski pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and faces a custodial sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The court heard that Klasinski had 13 prior traffic convictions, had been disqualified from driving in 2016, and had a history of drunk driving. Witnesses described the impact as sending Crowley airborne, and the road was wet with poor lighting. The judge noted Klasinski's speed was far above the 50 km/h limit, possibly up to 80 km/h, and adjourned sentencing to 12 May.
Joseph Walsh, Michael Gilmartin, and Sean Walsh, all accused of membership in an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army (IRA), appeared at the Special Criminal Court. Walsh (36) of Glengarriff Road, Fair Hill, and Gilmartin (46) of Chestnut Drive, Cluain Ard, Newtown, Cobh, were freshly charged with possession of firearms and ammunition. The new allegations state that on December 14, 2016, they possessed a 9mm parabellum pistol, a suitable magazine, a double-barrel sawn-off shotgun, 14 rounds of 9mm ammunition, and eight shotgun cartridges at the Chestnut Drive address. These charges follow earlier allegations of IRA membership against all three men, including Sean Walsh (50) of St John's Well, Fair Hill, who was arrested in Cork in December 2016. No pleas were entered, and no findings or sentences were recorded at this procedural stage. The court remanded the men in custody until May 26, when their case is listed for mention again. The matter was adjourned and is not concluded.
Angelique Arundel, 31, of Shannon Lawn, Mayfield, Co Cork, and John O'Donnell were convicted of aggravated burglary at a home in Churchtown, Mallow, on 28 and 29 August 2015. Arundel pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years' imprisonment by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on 2 February 2016. She appealed the sentence, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal today, holding that a five‑year term was appropriate for an aggravated burglary involving an armed intrusion into a family bedroom. The Court noted that the victim, a man in his 70s, his partner and a two‑year‑old son, awoke to glass breaking; a man with a sledgehammer and Arundel with an iron bar entered the bedroom. The co‑accused demanded €3,000 the next day and threatened the victim with violence and a gun. Arundel had 63 prior convictions, mainly for public order and road traffic offences.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal against sentence lodged by Paul McCarthy, a 40-year-old man from Cork city. McCarthy had previously pleaded not guilty to charges of making a threat to kill or cause serious harm and producing a broken bottle to intimidate someone at N Square restaurant on Camden Quay on December 6, 2014. He was found guilty by a jury at Cork Circuit Criminal Court and sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, by Judge Gerard O'Brien on May 5, 2016. In its judgment, the Court of Appeal, comprising Mr Justice John Edwards, Mr Justice George Birmingham, and Mr Justice Alan Mahon, found no error in principle in the original sentence. The court noted that McCarthy allegedly stormed into the restaurant with a woman, knocking over table settings and making racist remarks. When the owner, Nabil Cherif, retrieved a box of beer, bottles broke, and McCarthy allegedly picked up a shard, made a punching motion, and threatened Cherif's life. The court highlighted aggravating factors, including the use of a weapon, the xenophobic nature of the threats, and the impact on the victim. It also noted McCarthy's history of 129 previous convictions and long-standing substance abuse issues. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed, and the original sentence stands.
Peter Jackson, aged 42, was convicted of murdering David Hamilton, aged 31, during a heroin injection dispute on 4 May 2012. The Central Criminal Court found Jackson guilty and imposed a mandatory life sentence on 23 November 2015. Jackson, a former heroin addict, and Hamilton were both users who had bought two bags of heroin earlier that day. An argument erupted after Jackson struggled to inject Hamilton, leading to a fight that culminated in Jackson striking Hamilton with a knife. Jackson appealed his conviction, arguing a lack of evidence for the mental element of murder and that the judge failed to address rebuttable presumptions. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Birmingham, rejected the appeal, affirming the conviction and the life sentence. The appeal was dismissed. Peter Jackson pleaded not guilty.
Frederick "Freddie" Thompson, aged 36, will be tried at the Special Criminal Court for the alleged murder of David Douglas, aged 55, who was shot dead on 1 July last year. Thompson was charged at Cloverhill District Court and is currently in custody. The Director of Public Prosecutions has applied for a non‑jury trial, arguing that ordinary courts are inadequate for effective administration of justice. The order was made by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges John O'Hagan and Ann Ryan presiding.