A man from Drumlish, County Longford, has been sentenced to eight and a half years imprisonment following his conviction by the Special Criminal Court on charges relating to the placement of an explosive device on a passenger bus and the making of bomb threats during Queen Elizabeth's State visit in May 2011. Donal Billings was found guilty of unlawful possession of an explosive substance at Longford railway station car park and four offences under the Criminal Law Act of 1976 involving false reports of bombs at multiple locations including Busáras, Sinn Féin headquarters, Dublin Castle, and Cork airport. A suspicious object containing gunpowder and petrol was discovered in the luggage compartment of a Dublin-bound bus. The investigation utilised mobile phone records and CCTV analysis to identify the accused. Billings maintained his innocence during trial and claimed to have found the SIM card used to make the calls. Mr Justice Tony Hunt noted the dangerous nature of the offences while acknowledging mitigating factors including the accused's age and cooperation with proceedings.
In a High Court hearing on 13 December 2016, Canada Life Assurance (Ireland) Ltd secured a €1.199 million judgment against former tied agent Martin Reilly, aged 60. Reilly, who had worked for the insurer from 1997 to 2011, admitted in 2015 to 80 counts of stealing money from clients between 2002 and 2011. He had been jailed for four and a half years for the thefts, which amounted to over €832,000. The insurer's counsel, Cian Ferriter SC, presented the case without contest, arguing that Canada Life was entitled to damages for Reilly's fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of contract and deceit. The judgment was granted by Mr Justice Seamus Noonan, recognising the insurer's right to recover compensation for the defrauded clients and the additional costs incurred from investigating Reilly's activities. Reilly was not present at the hearing and remains in custody at Shelton Abbey. The judgment confirms the insurer's claim for the full €1.199 million.
A 39‑year‑old man from Cork, whose name is withheld for legal reasons, was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of 23 counts of sexually abusing his younger sister between 1991 and 1997, when he was aged 14 to 20. He had been tried on a 43‑count indictment but was acquitted of the remaining charges. Mr Justice Paul Carney sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, on 29 October 2014. The man appealed against the severity of the sentence, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, finding no error in principle. Mr Justice John Edwards noted that the victim was four years younger than the offender and that the offender had literacy and numeracy difficulties at school, leaving without educational achievements. He had expressed remorse at sentencing, and the judge gave a 20% discount when suspending the final year.
A waitress named Aisling O'Brien, who had worked at the Gresham Hotel for over a decade, was dismissed after a customer left without paying a €63.55 drinks bill. On 5 July 2014, a party of six, including a former colleague, enjoyed cocktails in the hotel's Writer's Lounge. When the credit card of Ms O'Brien's friend failed, she chose not to embarrass the guest and agreed the bill would be paid the next day. Instead, she called in the following day, provided the order details to a colleague, and paid the amount with her own card. The hotel's food and beverages manager, Greg Forrestal, suspended her with full pay and later referred the matter to HR. Sharon Coleman met with O'Brien twice; on 6 August 2014 she was dismissed for gross misconduct, effective 8 August. O'Brien appealed, but the dismissal was upheld by Roger Russell, the appeals officer.
In a Cork case, Hungarian national Tamas Vecernyes, aged 29, was found guilty of raping a woman in her apartment on 9 September 2009. The original 11‑year sentence, with three years suspended, was reduced to eight years with the same suspension after an appeal. The victim, a woman in her 20s, had invited Vecernyes for drinks; after she went to bed, he followed her and raped her while she was intoxicated. She described being unable to breathe and feeling paralyzed. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, ruled that the original 11‑year headline was "unusual" and "out of kilter" with similar offences, citing the lack of premeditation and extra violence. The judge noted Vecernyes' good behaviour in prison and a positive letter from authorities, and imposed an eight‑year term with a three‑year suspension, requiring a good‑behaviour bond for the suspended period. Tamas Vecernyes pleaded not guilty.
James Maughan, 38, was sentenced to three years in jail with the final two years suspended after a repeat social welfare fraud conviction. He had previously claimed disability benefit in his own name and then fraudulently applied for Jobseeker's Allowance under the false name 'Terence Maughan', stealing €438. Facial‑recognition software used by Department of Social Protection staff linked his public services card photo to his true identity. Maughan had 11 prior social welfare fraud convictions dating back to 2013 and a total of 55 convictions overall, most theft‑related. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, was remanded in custody since November 1, and had attended rehabilitation at Cuan Mhuire in August before leaving in September. Judge Melanie Greally noted his drug‑free status, work while remanded, and repayment of the debt to the State, and imposed the suspended sentence. The case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Patrick O'Rourke, aged 63, was sentenced by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy at the Central Criminal Court to nine years' imprisonment for attempting to murder his partner, Donna Foster, on 11 August 2015. The sentence was back‑dated to the date of his arrest. O'Rourke also received a concurrent three and a half year term for assault causing harm to a minor who witnessed the attack. The judge described the assault as an extremely serious attack, noting that Foster had suffered two serious lacerations and a severe wound to her ribs with her intestine protruding, and that a minor was injured while intervening. O'Rourke pleaded guilty, was described as cooperative and remorseful, and was considered a well‑behaved prisoner. Foster expressed relief that the case was concluded and that she could move on with her life.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence on 30 November 2016 regarding bomb threats and an incendiary device discovered during a state visit by Queen Elizabeth in May 2011. Donal Billings, aged 66, of St Bridget's Court, Drumlish, County Longford, was convicted last month of unlawful possession of an explosive substance at Longford railway station car park on 16 May 2011, and four offences under the Criminal Law Act 1976 of making false reports. He was found guilty of falsely reporting bombs at Busáras and Sinn Féin headquarters in Dublin, at Dublin Castle, and at Cork airport. A suspicious device containing gunpowder and petrol was discovered in a bus luggage compartment. Phone calls made by the accused coincided with Queen Elizabeth's presence in the State. Gardaí traced the calls through mobile phone analysis and CCTV evidence. The court rejected a bail application. Billings was remanded in custody pending sentencing on 15 December 2016.
During a sentencing hearing in the Special Criminal Court, Donal O Coisdealbha, a 25‑year‑old Dublin man, pleaded guilty to membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). He was arrested on 13 May 2015 after a Garda investigation that had followed him for months. The investigation uncovered explosive device components in his Maynooth University locker and in a house at Harbour Court, Courtown, Wexford. Items seized included improvised rockets, semtex, detonators, a time‑power unit, a broken circuit board, and a PIC chip. DNA evidence linked O Coisdealbha to the devices. Garda audio surveillance revealed discussions about building an artillery rocket and a planned event around the time of Prince Charles's visit. O Coisdealbha denied IRA membership during detention. He has no prior convictions and was remanded in custody until 6 December for sentencing. The maximum sentence for belonging to a dissident republican terrorist organisation is eight years.
On 11 August 2015, Patrick O'Rourke, aged 63, attempted to murder his former partner Donna Foster at their home in Cooline Drive, Ballyvoloon, Cobh, Co Cork. He pleaded guilty to the attempted murder and to assault causing harm to a minor on the same day. At a hearing in the Central Criminal Court, Justice Patrick McCarthy heard evidence and adjourned sentencing until the following Friday. Foster delivered a victim impact statement, describing the "continuous, vicious and frenzied attack" that left her with serious stab wounds, ongoing medical supervision, loss of her hairdressing business, fatigue, concentration difficulties, panic attacks and a changed outlook on life. She credited the intervention of the minor who was also injured for her survival. The court also heard from Detective Garda Michael Dillane, who noted that the relationship had broken down two weeks before the attack and that there had been no prior violence. The hearing concluded with the judge postponing sentencing to the next Friday.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 16 November 2016, Patrick O'Rourke, aged 63, pleaded guilty to attempting to murder his former partner Donna Foster after a violent attack on 11 August 2015. He admitted repeatedly stabbing Foster, exposing her airway and causing severe abdominal injuries that required a four‑hour operation. Foster's injuries were described as life‑threatening, and she was discharged from hospital two weeks later. O'Rourke also pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to a minor present at the scene. He apologized to Foster and the minors, wishing her health and success, and expressed remorse for the harm caused. O'Rourke was remanded in custody pending a sentence hearing on 25 November 2016. The court noted that a jury was not required due to his guilty plea. The unnamed 63-year-old pleaded not guilty.
John Paul O'Driscoll, 29, from Fairhill, appealed a 12‑year sentence imposed by Cork Circuit Criminal Court for 17 offences including burglary, unlawful van taking, reckless endangerment and criminal damage. He was driving a stolen van drunk, pursued from one end of Cork to another, and deliberately struck Garda Michael Twomey on a motorbike, throwing him a considerable distance. O'Driscoll had 168 prior convictions, was disqualified from driving, and had been on two sets of bail. Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin gave consecutive sentences totalling 12 years, suspending the final two years. O'Driscoll's counsel, Elizabeth O'Connell SC, argued the judge erred in imposing consecutive sentences and that the guilty plea should have earned more credit. The appeal was filed on 15 November 2016. The court expected a decision within a month.
Businessmen Michael and John O'Flynn, along with O'Flynn Construction Ltd, have sued NAMA, NALM, and former employee Enda Farrell for damages over an alleged leak of confidential information. The Co Cork-based plaintiffs claim that the unlawful dissemination of commercially sensitive data materially impacted asset disposal prices between 2010 and 2014. They seek damages for breach of confidence, statutory duty, and misfeasance in public office, alongside orders compelling the defendants to produce documentation regarding the leak and identifying recipients. The plaintiffs state they cannot quantify their claim until further investigations are conducted, requiring discovery of specific documents from the defendants. NAMA has indicated it is seeking guidance from the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation before providing these materials. In a related criminal matter, Enda Farrell, who resides in Belgium, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Court last May to eight counts of unlawfully disclosing information and received a two-year suspended sentence. The civil proceedings were briefly mentioned before Mr Justice Brian McGovern at the Commercial Court on Monday. The judge agreed to adjourn the matter for one week, questioning whether the action is appropriate for the fast-track commercial court list. He directed the lawyers to consider this issue before the case returns to court next week.
Patrick O'Rourke, 63, of Cooline Drive, Ballyvoloon, Cobh, Co Cork, pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of his partner, Donna Foster, at their home on 11 August 2015. A jury was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court today to hear his trial, with Justice Patrick McCarthy asking the panel to select a foreman and return on Wednesday.
Brian Veale, 31, was sentenced to life imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Graham Johnson in the kitchen of Cork Prison on 16 May 2015. Veale stabbed Johnson through the heart with a carving knife after an argument over television channels. The jury found him guilty after deliberating for 1 hour 56 minutes. Victim impact statements were read by Johnson's sister, Vivienne, and his 13‑year‑old daughter, describing the loss and emotional toll. Veale, originally from Dungarvan, had 105 prior convictions and was already in custody on a robbery charge when the murder occurred. The judge imposed the mandatory life sentence, consecutive to a previous offence imposed on 28 February 2015. The court heard that the knife used was available to kitchen staff and that the incident followed a brief confrontation over a horse‑racing channel. The case concluded with the judge's sentencing and no further legal proceedings reported. Brian Veale pleaded not guilty.
During a week‑long trial at the Central Criminal Court, a jury found a 41‑year‑old man guilty of raping his teenage daughter 61 times. The victim, who was 16 when the first rape occurred, described how her father tied her arms behind her back, placed a pillow over her face, and raped her in their parents' bedroom. She testified that the abuse continued weekly from 2008 to 2009, while she was confined to home duties and denied schooling. The man had pleaded not guilty to 84 rape counts; the jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on 61 counts and found him not guilty on the remaining counts as directed by Mr Justice Paul Butler. He was remanded in custody for sentencing on 19 December. The judge thanked the jury and exempted them from service for ten years.
Michael Cawley, aged 24, received a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for acting as a distraction in four burglaries and one attempted burglary of elderly homes in Dublin between February and May 2010. He was 17 at the time of the offences. The court noted he had returned to the UK after the crimes and was now a married father of two living in Clondalkin, Dublin. Cawley had seven prior convictions and was serving a two‑year sentence with nine months suspended for similar offences in Cork. Judge Martin Nolan described the crimes as "atrocious" and said they exploited the trust of elderly victims, but noted there was no real violence. The judge imposed the sentence, stating it would have been longer had Cawley not been a minor when the offences occurred. Cawley claimed he was forced by an accomplice and had no knowledge of the burglary plan. Michael Cawley pleaded guilty.
A 66-year-old man from Drumlish, County Longford has been convicted at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin of possessing an explosive substance and making bomb threats during a state visit in May 2011. Donal Billings was found guilty of unlawfully possessing an explosive device at Longford railway station car park on May 16th, 2011, and of four counts under the Criminal Law Act of 1976 relating to false bomb reports. He was convicted of making false reports claiming bombs had been placed at Busáras and Sinn Féin headquarters in Dublin, at Dublin Castle, and at Cork airport. The court heard that an improvised explosive device was discovered on a passenger bus following one of the telephoned threats. Evidence established that phone calls making the threats were made using a SIM card purchased by Billings in Longford and traced to his mobile phone's unique identifier. The three judges rejected his claims of coincidence and found him an unreliable witness. Billings was remanded in custody pending sentencing on November 30th.
A Central Criminal Court jury found Brian Veale, 31, guilty of murdering fellow inmate Graham Johnson, 41, at Cork Prison after a dispute over television channels. The trial heard that the argument began around 3 pm on 16 May 2015, ended briefly, but later that evening Veale entered the kitchen with a carving knife and stabbed Johnson in the chest. Witnesses, including Ming Feng Chen and prison officer Brian Forde, described the altercation and Veale's subsequent smile and remark that a life sentence would not matter. Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy testified that Johnson died from a single stab wound that perforated the heart and aorta. DNA evidence linked Veale's clothing to Johnson's blood. The jury deliberated 1 hour 56 minutes and returned a unanimous verdict of murder. The case was adjourned for sentencing until 7 November, with Veale remanded in custody. Brian Veale pleaded not guilty.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court heard closing arguments in the trial of a man charged with murder at Cork Prison. Brian Veale, 31, of Dominic Street, Cork, denies murdering fellow inmate Graham Johnson on 16 May 2015 at the prison on Rathmore Road. Defence counsel Tom Creed SC argued that fear is central to the case and urged the jury to consider a manslaughter verdict rather than murder, drawing comparison to the 2005 trial of Mayo farmer Padraig Nally. He submitted the prosecution had failed to rule out self-defence. Prosecutor Tim O'Leary SC countered that self-defence was "conjured up" and presented eyewitness evidence of the stabbing. He emphasised that Mr Johnson died from a single chest wound that penetrated his heart and spine. Detective evidence disclosed that Mr Veale declined to comment when questioned about a blood-stained knife and bloodstains on his clothing and shoes. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy began her charge to the twelve-person jury, which will conclude tomorrow morning. Brian Veale pleaded not guilty.
Kevin Mulcahy, a 57‑year‑old GP from Cork, was found guilty of indecently assaulting a 15‑year‑old female patient in 1989. He had pleaded not guilty but was convicted after a retrial at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, where a jury deliberated for 39 minutes. Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin sentenced him to two years' imprisonment on 25 November 2015. Mulcahy was released on bail pending appeal, and the conviction aspect of his appeal was dismissed earlier in the month. On 24 October 2016, the Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, reduced his sentence to 12 months, citing mitigating factors such as his first‑time offender status, good character, and the impact on his family. He was placed on the sex offenders register and ordered not to practice medicine. He was taken to serve the remainder of his sentence.
A 37‑year‑old Limerick man, Larry McCarthy, faces trial at the Special Criminal Court on charges of threatening to kill Noel Moore and to damage Moore's house on 28 July 2015. The court set a trial date of 19 June next year. McCarthy applied for bail, but the court heard objections from Garda Niall Fitzgerald, citing concerns that he might commit further serious offences, and from Chief Superintendent David Sheahan, who invoked Section 2A of the Bail Act to argue that bail should be refused to prevent a serious offence. The court will decide on the bail application on Thursday morning. McCarthy also faces separate charges at the Special Criminal Court for threatening to use unlawful violence and for assaulting David Foran on 25 November 2014, with a trial date of 3 July next year. He has been remanded in custody until Thursday morning.
A 52-year-old man from Cork will stand trial at the Special Criminal Court in 2017 on charges relating to membership of an unlawful organisation and possession of an explosive substance. Martin McHale, of Blackwater Grove, Togher, is alleged to have been a member of the Irish Republican Army on November 1st, 2013. He is also charged with possessing an explosive substance—ten sealed bags containing ammonium nitrate and calcium carbonate—discovered at Mall Road, Tirkeenan, County Monaghan, on the same date. The Special Criminal Court set a trial date of February 13th, 2017, with proceedings expected to span two weeks. McHale was remanded to face trial on the charges brought against him.
In a Cork Prison murder trial, 31‑year‑old Brian Veale pleaded not guilty to the killing of fellow inmate Graham Johnson on 16 May 2015. Witness Ray Cummins testified that Veale and Johnson argued over a television remote in the kitchen, that Veale was calm when speaking to Cummins at 3.30 pm, and that he later told Cummins not to return to his cell because he feared Johnson might harm him. Cummins also recalled Johnson confronting Veale after the argument, calling him "out the back" and walking away while Johnson continued watching TV. Detective Sergeant Vincent O'Sullivan reported that Veale's kitchen clothing was seized from a bin in his cell, and forensic scientist Dr Edward Connolly examined the clothing and a knife recovered from the kitchen. Connolly found heavy blood‑staining on the knife's blade that matched Johnson's DNA profile, and blood on Veale's t‑shirt, trousers and shoes also matched Johnson's DNA.
During a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, a witness testified that on 16 May 2015, in the kitchen of Cork Prison, an argument over television channels escalated between Brian Veale (31) and Graham Johnson. Johnson, who wanted to watch a horse race, threatened Veale that he would "batter" him and told him to leave. Veale allegedly approached Johnson with a kitchen knife, inserted it into Johnson's chest, causing a 6‑cm stab wound that penetrated the sternum, sliced the heart and aorta, and resulted in fatal haemorrhage. The knife was then thrown onto the counter. State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy confirmed the post‑mortem findings, describing the wound trajectory and the heart's perforation. The case is proceeding before Justice Isobel Kennedy with a jury of twelve, and the trial is expected to last five days. Brian Veale pleaded not guilty.
Seamus Buckley, aged 57, was jailed for 12 months for 26 counts of indecent assault on a girl aged 6‑13 in the early 1980s. The sentence was imposed by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin on 2 February 2016 at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. The Director of Public Prosecutions applied for a review, arguing the term was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal, hearing the case on 21 October 2016, decided not to extend Buckley's custody. Justice George Birmingham noted Buckley's relationship with the victim's family, his lack of prior convictions, and his cooperation after the complaint in July 2014. He also cited mitigating factors and the fact that Buckley had already served most of his term. The court therefore substituted the original sentence with a new term of three years imprisonment, of which two years were suspended, leaving the effective custodial period unchanged. The decision was made by Justices Birmingham, Seán Ryan and Garrett Sheehan. Seamus Buckley pleaded guilty.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Brian Veale, aged 31, pleaded not guilty to the killing of Graham Johnson, a 42‑year‑old inmate, at Cork Prison on 16 May 2015. Chief State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that Johnson died from a single stab wound to the front of his chest, which penetrated the sternum, sliced through the ribs, and went straight through the heart from front to back, causing haemorrhages to the heart and aorta. The wound was 12 cm below the breastbone, 6 cm wide, and extended onto the left side of the chest. Veale and Johnson were known to each other and were working in the prison kitchen when a verbal altercation over a television channel occurred around 3 pm. After the quarrel ended, Veale allegedly returned to the kitchen with a knife and stabbed Johnson sometime after 5 pm.
Brian Veale, 31, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Graham Johnson, 31, at Cork Prison on 16 May 2015. The prosecution alleged an altercation over a television channel in the kitchen, after which Veale allegedly obtained a knife and stabbed Johnson in the chest. Witness Ming Feng Chen, an inmate, testified that Veale approached Johnson, stabbed him, then smiled and said, "If I get a life sentence it doesn't matter." Chen also claimed he feared Veale might harm him and picked up the knife. Prison officer Brian Forde recounted hearing a heated argument about the channel, seeing Johnson in distress, and observing a knife with blood on it. The case is before Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy with a jury of seven men and five women.
In a Cork Prison kitchen on 16 May 2015, Brian Veale (31) allegedly stabbed fellow inmate Graham Johnson after a verbal altercation over switching television channels. Prosecutors told a Central Criminal Court jury that the dispute arose around 3 pm between the two men while they were preparing food. After the quarrel ended, Veale reportedly entered a kitchen area with a knife and stabbed Johnson in the chest. State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy described the wound as a single downward thrust that perforated the heart, sliced the aorta and oesophagus, and caused rapid death. Witnesses were to testify about the incident, the kitchen staff's observations, and forensic evidence linking blood on Veale's clothing to Johnson. Veale pleaded not guilty to murder, and the trial was set to continue before Justice Isobel Kennedy and a jury.
A 66-year-old man from Drumlish, County Longford has denied five charges relating to bomb threats made during a state visit in May 2011. Donal Billings stands accused of unlawful possession of an explosive substance at Longford railway station car park and of making four false reports under the Criminal Law Act, allegedly threatening bombs at locations including Dublin and Cork airport. The Special Criminal Court heard closing arguments on Wednesday. The prosecution submitted that circumstantial evidence, including a SIM card found in Mr Billings's possession and mobile phone records, proved his guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Prosecuting counsel described the defendant's testimony as "utterly incredible" and "completely implausible". The defence disputed the reliability of phone evidence and argued insufficient direct proof connected Mr Billings to explosives found on a bus. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with two other judges, will deliver a verdict on 26 October. Mr Billings was remanded on continuing bail.
A 66-year-old man from Drumlish, County Longford has told the Special Criminal Court that he was visiting his brother in hospital on the night an improvised explosive device was discovered on a Dublin-bound passenger bus on the eve of a royal state visit in May 2011. Donal Billings denies unlawful possession of an explosive substance at Longford railway station car park and four charges under the Criminal Law Act of 1976 relating to false bomb reports made to gardaí, including threats involving Busáras, Sinn Féin headquarters, Dublin Castle and Cork airport. The prosecution alleges Mr Billings placed the device on the bus and made threatening calls during the Queen's visit. Giving evidence through an interpreter, the accused stated there was no forensic evidence, witnesses or fingerprints linking him to the charges and characterised the case against him as entirely circumstantial. He told the court he found a SIM card in a carpark and picked it up. The trial continues.
Trevor O'Donoghue, 34, pleaded guilty to robbing €750 from a 61‑year‑old man at Cork City Bus Station on 29 June 2014. The original sentence was five years' imprisonment with the last 18 months suspended. On appeal the Court of Appeal reduced the term to four years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months still suspended, after finding the Circuit Court had incorrectly been told O'Donoghue had a prior conviction he did not possess. The victim, who used a walking stick, did not give a victim impact statement and asked that O'Donoghue not be sent to jail. O'Donoghue's associate, who was present that night, had died of heroin before the case reached court. The appeal judge noted O'Donoghue's history of drug use and his efforts to address his addiction while in prison. The final sentence remains four years' imprisonment with 18 months suspended.
A 65-year-old man from Drumlish in County Longford has pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of an explosive substance at Longford railway station car park on 16 May 2011. The prosecution alleges he placed an improvised explosive device in the baggage compartment of a Dublin-bound passenger bus on the eve of a State visit. He is also charged with four offences under the Criminal Law Act 1976, relating to false reports made to gardaí on separate dates claiming bombs were placed at various locations including Busáras, Sinn Féin headquarters, Dublin Castle, and Cork airport. Before the Special Criminal Court, defence counsel submitted that evidence for the explosives charge was "highly doubtful" and argued there was no connection between the accused and the device found on the bus. Prosecution counsel contended the charges must be viewed together. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with two other judges, indicated the court would deliberate on the defence application to have the charge dismissed. The trial resumes the following morning.
A jury of six men and six women was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the trial of Brian Veale, 31, who is accused of murdering 41‑year‑old Graham Johnson in Cork Prison on 16 May 2015. Veale pleaded not guilty. The trial is scheduled to begin the following day and is expected to last five days.
Donal Billings, aged 65, of St Bridget's Court, Drumlish, County Longford, has pleaded not guilty to five charges before the Special Criminal Court. He is accused of unlawful possession of an explosive substance at Longford railway station car park on May 16th, 2011, and of making four false reports under the Criminal Law Act 1976 alleging bombs at multiple locations during the state visit of Queen Elizabeth in May 2011. An improvised explosive device was discovered on a Dublin-bound passenger bus during the visit. Sergeant Adrian O'Neill told the court that during gardai interviews, Mr Billings denied being at the railway station that evening, stating he had driven to Mullingar to meet his brother. He also disputed allegations regarding a SIM card found after his arrest in a Longford supermarket car park on May 20th, claiming he had found a purse containing it. The court heard Mr Billings expressed political objections to the British monarch's association with Northern Ireland security forces, though he denied involvement in any disruption. He characterised the allegations as "nonsense".
Kevin Mulcahy, a 57‑year‑old GP from Creggan, Lombardstown, Mallow, Co Cork, was found guilty of indecently assaulting a 15‑year‑old female patient on 23 December 1989. He pleaded not guilty to the single charge, but a jury convicted him after 39 minutes of deliberation at the Cork Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin sentenced him to two years' imprisonment on 25 November 2015. Mulcahy had been granted bail in December 2015 pending an appeal against conviction, which was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on 13 October 2016. Justice John Edwards ruled that Mulcahy had regularly visited the patient's home to treat her mother, who had terminal cancer, and that during one visit he touched the patient's vagina on the outside of her clothing. He was arrested and interviewed in 2011 following a complaint of indecent assault.
A telecommunications engineer gave evidence at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin regarding mobile phone mast data from County Longford during the state visit of Queen Elizabeth in May 2011. Donal Billings, aged 65, of St Bridget's Court, Drumlish, faces five charges under the Criminal Law Act 1976, including making false reports of bombs at locations including Busáras, Sinn Féin headquarters, Dublin Castle, and Cork Airport on dates spanning May 16th to May 20th, 2011. He is also charged with unlawful possession of an explosive substance at Longford railway station car park. Mr Billings has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Evidence indicated that phone calls made to Longford Garda Station from an 086 number were routed through masts at Edgeworthstown and near Longford town. The trial continues.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 12 October 2016, Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Karl Brennan, 36, to six years' imprisonment for transporting €400,000 worth of heroin in his car while his one‑year‑old daughter was present. Brennan pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs at Tower Road, Clondalkin, on 10 December 2015. The judge imposed a six‑year term, suspending the final two years on strict conditions. Brennan, who has a heart condition and had previously worked for Coca Cola, was described by his family as a caring father. He admitted he had acted as a drug courier to earn money for Christmas. Garda surveillance had tracked his movements, revealing the heroin concealed in the door panel of his Nissan Micra. No prior convictions were recorded, and the person who had deposited the drugs was not apprehended. The court heard that Brennan cooperated fully with Gardaí and that he had no intention to re‑offend.
A trial at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin has heard evidence concerning a mobile telephone number allegedly linked to bomb threats made during the State visit of the Queen in May 2011. Donal Billings, aged 65, of St Bridget's Court, Drumlish, County Longford, has pleaded not guilty to four charges of knowingly making false reports under the Criminal Law Act 1976, and one charge of unlawful possession of an explosive substance at Longford railway station car park on 16 May 2011. The allegations include false reports of bombs at Busáras and Sinn Féin headquarters on 16 May, mortars at Dublin Castle on 18 May, and bombs at Cork airport toilets on 20 May. Detective Garda Enda Daly testified that Mr Billings was arrested on 20 May in a LIDL carpark in Longford whilst seated in a white Seat Ibiza. Two mobile phones and a SIM card were recovered. Telecommunications data established that the phone number associated with the SIM card called Longford Garda Station on both 16 and 20 May.
The trial of Donal Billings, aged 65, of St Bridget's Court, Drumlish, County Longford, continues before the Special Criminal Court in Dublin. Mr Billings has pleaded not guilty to possessing an explosive substance at Longford railway station car park on 16 May 2011, and to four charges under the Criminal Law Act 1976 relating to false reports of bomb threats made to locations including Busáras, Sinn Féin headquarters, Dublin Castle, and Cork Airport. During proceedings, Sergeant Philip Coffey of Roscommon Garda Station described searching a white Seat Ibiza vehicle on 20 May 2011, during which he recovered transparent gloves, a mobile phone SIM card pack, a homemade funnel, and a five-litre water bottle containing a yellowish liquid with a petrol odour. CCTV footage from Longford train station was presented to the court. The trial continues.
A man from County Longford is on trial at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin accused of making false bomb threats during a state visit in May 2011. Donal Billings, aged 65, of St Bridget's Court, Drumlish, has pleaded not guilty to four charges under the Criminal Law Act 1976 of knowingly making false reports tending to show that offences had been committed. He faces separate allegations of making false threats concerning explosives at Busáras and a political party headquarters on 16 May, at Dublin Castle on 18 May, and at Cork Airport on 20 May. He is also charged with unlawful possession of an explosive substance at Longford railway station car park on 16 May 2011. During proceedings, a garda told the court that a caller to Longford Garda Station claimed membership of the "Republican Brotherhood, Squad A" and stated mortars were positioned at Dublin Castle. A detective inspector outlined the investigation, which involved surveillance and resulted in an arrest at a Longford supermarket car park. The trial is ongoing.
Anthony Kelleher, 42, was given an eight‑year sentence for seriously assaulting his wife, Siobhán, in Macroom on 12 June 2014. He pleaded not guilty, but a jury found him guilty of assault causing serious harm. Kelleher was released after a successful appeal, but the Court of Appeal ruled he did not receive a fair trial and ordered a retrial. The appeal focused on the admission of two statements made by Siobhán while she was a patient in hospital, which were allowed under an exceptional provision of the Criminal Justice Act. The Court found that the trial judge failed to intervene when Siobhán refused to answer questions, preventing effective cross‑examination, and that the presentation of Prof. Cusack's evidence was unfair. Kelleher remains on bail and is due to appear again on 25 October at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.
A 65-year-old man from Drumlish in County Longford has pleaded not guilty to charges of making false bomb threat reports during Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Ireland in May 2011. Donal Billings faces four counts under the Criminal Law Act relating to alleged threats made on three separate dates, and one count of unlawful possession of an explosive substance. The Special Criminal Court in Dublin heard evidence concerning a mobile phone number allegedly used to make calls to Longford garda station threatening attacks on locations including Dublin Castle and Cork Airport. An O2 shop employee testified that a customer purchased a SIM card on 16 May using the disputed phone number, providing the name Paul Brennan. CCTV footage from the shopping centre was examined by gardaí to track the individual's movements. The trial continues.
A bench warrant was issued after James Maughan, 38, failed to appear for sentencing. Maughan had previously been caught using facial‑recognition software in July 2015 when he applied for Jobseeker's Allowance under the false name "Terence Maughan." He had already been claiming disability benefit in his own name and had stolen €438 in Jobseeker's Allowance. He had 11 prior convictions for social welfare fraud dating back to 2013, the most recent of which carried a six‑month sentence. Maughan pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, admitting he induced another to submit a false application and stole the allowance. Sentencing had been adjourned to allow him to attend rehabilitation at Cuan Mhuire, where he attended in August but left in September. The court noted no communication had been received from Cuan Mhuire and issued the bench warrant, requesting a representative from the centre to explain why the notification requirements were not met.
The Special Criminal Court in Dublin is currently hearing the trial of Donal Billings, a 65-year-old man from County Longford, who has pleaded not guilty to five charges. The prosecution alleges that Billings unlawfully possessed an explosive substance at Longford railway station car park on May 16, 2011, and made four false bomb reports under the Criminal Law Act of 1976. These alleged false reports included claims of bombs at Busáras, Sinn Féin headquarters, Dublin Castle, and Cork airport, with the latter threat allegedly made by an anonymous caller who stated the device was "for the Queen." Evidence presented includes testimony from a bus driver who identified a man placing an item on a vehicle, and gardaí who responded to the threats without finding devices. The court rejected a defence application to adjourn or defer the trial due to translation concerns, ruling that Billings is adequately supported by legal and linguistic experts. The trial is ongoing, with no findings, sentences, or finalisations recorded at this procedural stage.
A Special Criminal Court trial has heard that gardaí discovered an improvised explosive device on a passenger bus bound for Dublin on the eve of a royal visit in May 2011. Donal Billings, aged 65, of Drumlish, County Longford, is charged with unlawful possession of an explosive substance at Longford railway station car park on May 16th, 2011, and with four offences of making false bomb reports under the Criminal Law Act 1976. The charges allege he made false reports claiming bombs were positioned at Busáras Dublin, Sinn Féin headquarters, Dublin Castle, and Cork airport between May 16th and 20th. Mr Billings has pleaded not guilty to all five charges. Garda evidence established that the device, located in a Tesco bag beneath a Corduff Travel bus at Straffan Road rail station in Maynooth, contained a two-litre bottle of flammable liquid, copper piping filled with explosive material, a mechanical timer, battery, and firework components. An Army Bomb Disposal Unit member disabled the device, confirming it possessed capability to cause serious injury. The trial continues.
A man charged in connection with bomb threats made to Longford garda station during a state visit by Queen Elizabeth II in May 2011 has pleaded not guilty to all charges before the Special Criminal Court in Dublin. Donal Billings, aged 65, of Drumlish, County Longford, faces one charge of unlawful possession of an explosive substance at Longford railway station car park and four charges under the Criminal Law Act of making false reports. The prosecution alleges Mr Billings made threatening calls on three separate dates claiming bombs had been placed at locations including Busáras in Dublin, Sinn Féin headquarters, Dublin Castle, and Cork airport. Evidence is expected to show that a suspect device was recovered from a bus stopped in County Kildare. The court heard that phone records and CCTV footage from a shopping centre in Longford will form part of the prosecution case. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt alongside two other judges, is expected to last four weeks.
A 69‑year‑old Cork pensioner was sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment for raping and sexually abusing his step‑daughter between 1974 and 1979. The victim, now 53, gave birth to two of his children after being raped from the age of 11. She reported the abuse to Gardaí in 2013, after her father's death, when the defendant had moved in with her mother and siblings and later married her mother. The abuse included weekly sexual intercourse, rape in the garden shed, and a pregnancy at 15, which she concealed by claiming a work colleague was the father. The defendant had no employment and was an alcoholic. He pleaded guilty to 18 counts of rape and sexual abuse. Judge Tony Hunt imposed an 18‑year sentence, suspending the final six years; the defendant is currently serving a four‑year term for earlier indecent assault offences against the victim's siblings.
In a Central Criminal Court case, a 38‑year‑old man from Cork pleaded guilty to raping and sexually assaulting his 19‑year‑old daughter in July 2014. He claimed that an evil spirit, allegedly sent by his brother, possessed him and compelled him to commit the offences. After the assault, he reported the incident to Gardaí and later admitted the crime to a psychiatrist, describing an overwhelming sense of energy and possession. The court heard that the daughter was forced into sexual acts, threatened with a knife, and coerced into removing her clothing. The defendant had no prior convictions and denied any psychiatric illness. Judge Tony Hunt sentenced him to ten years, suspending the last four, resulting in a six‑year custodial term.
Anthony Kelleher, 42, of Macroom, was convicted in May 2015 of assault causing serious harm to his wife Siobhán and sentenced to eight years. He had pleaded not guilty and his wife refused to testify, though her earlier statements to Gardaí were admitted under section 16. Kelleher's appeal, heard by the Court of Appeal, was allowed by Justice Garrett Sheehan, who noted that the appeal was largely based on the handling of the section 16 statements and the judge's directions to the jury. The appeal decision will be formalised in a forthcoming judgment, and the court will decide whether a retrial is required. Kelleher will be released from prison following the successful appeal.