In 2008, Perry Wharrie, aged 56, was convicted in a Cork Circuit Criminal Court for his role in a failed €440m cocaine smuggling operation off the Irish coast. He received a 30‑year sentence, the longest for a drug offence in the State, which was later reduced to 17½ years on appeal. Wharrie's conviction was upheld after a 42‑day trial, and his appeal was dismissed. He now seeks a new appeal to the Supreme Court, arguing that he should not have been charged with sale and supply because the drugs were not destined for Ireland. The Director of Public Prosecutions opposes the application, contending that Wharrie did not admit the drugs were intended for another jurisdiction and that the prosecution must prove intent to supply within Ireland. The Court of Criminal Appeal has reserved judgment on the application, with no decision date announced. Wharrie was not present in court but observed proceedings via video link from prison.
Michael Collins, aged 34, was convicted of murdering Packie Hogan, aged 42, on 10 February 2011. Collins pleaded not guilty and denied owning a rifle or ammunition. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty on all counts and he received a mandatory life sentence on 29 November 2012. Collins appealed, arguing the shooting was accidental and that he intended only to frighten Hogan. His defence cited a defective firearm with a hair trigger and no safety mechanism, and claimed he had no intent to kill. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, dismissed the appeal, stating that any trial unfairness had been rectified and that the defence did not raise manslaughter. The appeal was rejected, leaving Collins' conviction and life sentence intact. The court noted no unusual circumstances required a different jury instruction. The case remains at the conviction stage.
The Court of Appeal ordered a retrial for Romanian national Ciprian Grozavu (42) after finding that the trial judge should have simply answered "yes" to a jury question. Grozavu had pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Duke on 12 November 2011 and was convicted of that murder by a jury at the Central Criminal Court, receiving a mandatory life sentence on 17 July 2013. During the trial, the jury asked the judge whether they could find one defendant guilty of murder without prejudicing the verdict in the case of the other defendant, referring to his girlfriend Catherine O'Connor (40). The judge replied that he was only concerned with Grozavu's case, a response the Court of Appeal deemed "of concern" and likely to have confused the jury. The Court therefore set aside the murder verdict and directed a retrial. Grozavu has also appealed his conviction for the murder of John Forrester.
Martin McBride, 47, of Enniscorthy, pleaded guilty in 2011 to possessing €97,000 of cannabis for sale in Cork. He was later caught with €40,000 of cannabis in Wexford. The Cork Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to seven years, and the Wexford Circuit Criminal Court imposed a mandatory minimum of ten years, consecutive to the Cork offence. McBride appealed in February, arguing he had been hit with a statutory "double whammy" and had no prior convictions. The Court of Appeal, exercising its inherent jurisdiction, found the overall sentence unduly harsh and quashed the original seven‑year Cork term, replacing it with a four‑year term. McBride's final sentence was reduced to 14 years imprisonment, with the Wexford ten‑year term remaining consecutive. The decision was made in the interests of justice and to uphold constitutional principles.
A book of evidence was served on Larry McCarthy, 37, of Tower Lodge, Crossgalla, who is accused of threatening to kill Noel Moore and damage Moore's house on 28 July 2015. He also faces separate charges of threatening unlawful violence with two others and assaulting David Foran on 25 November 2014. At the Special Criminal Court, State Solicitor Michael O'Donovan confirmed the evidence was ready, while McCarthy's counsel Patrick O'Neill BL said the case would likely take two weeks. Mr Justice Paul Butler remanded McCarthy in custody until 26 July for a further mention.
Donal Ryan, 49, of Kingsfort Avenue, Mallow, pleaded guilty in 2014 to possessing almost €100,000 worth of cannabis for sale or supply at Annakissa, Co Cork. He was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. Ryan appealed the sentence, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, ruling that the eight‑year term was within the available range. The court noted that Gardaí had conducted a surveillance operation targeting Ryan, who was observed at an isolated church and later arrested when cannabis worth €96,000 was seized from a van. Ryan claimed he was a "collector and store man," a role the judge deemed higher than mere storage. His barrister argued that the Criminal Assets Bureau had returned his Q7 jeep and that his partner was working, but the court found no error in the sentencing decision. The appeal was dismissed by Justices Birmingham, Sheehan and Edwards.
During a funeral in Dublin, Liam O'Connell, aged 26, attacked Seamus Mooney, 58, after attempting to kick one of Mooney's dogs. O'Connell punched Mooney between six and ten times while Mooney lay on the ground, and also kicked the dog. Mooney defended himself with a walking stick, which he carried after a recent hip replacement. O'Connell pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Witnesses observed the assault, and a passing motorist stopped the attack before O'Connell and his family left in a taxi. Gardaí later identified O'Connell and arrested him. Mooney was taken to hospital for swelling, bleeding, cuts and facial numbness. O'Connell was sentenced to 14 months' imprisonment, with no compensation or community service imposed. The case highlighted O'Connell's 16 prior convictions, including violent disorder. The judge noted his drunken state and mourning as mitigating factors but still imposed the jail term.
In July 2016, a 69‑year‑old man, a trusted figure in Cork, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for sexually abusing two boys between January and May 1991. The younger victim, now 30, was five at the time and was lured into a camper van by the offender, who performed oral sex and masturbated him. The older victim, now 40, was 14 and was forced to steer the van while the offender ripped his trousers and molested him, causing the boy to lose control of the vehicle. Both victims described the offender as a trusted community member. Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed consecutive terms of four years, citing the severity of the abuse and the victims' impact statements. The offender had 48 prior convictions and had been arrested in Portugal in 2014 after a European Arrest Warrant. The court noted his guilty pleas and the offender's health and prior absence from Ireland.
In a Cork case, Jaroslaw Kupper, a 39‑year‑old Polish carpenter, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a woman on 28 September 2013. The assault began with kissing outside a pub after midnight, then moved to a laneway where Kupper became pushy, grabbed the victim's arm, pushed her to the ground, and pulled down her jeans and underwear. The victim screamed for help, a neighbour heard and called the gardai. The incident lasted a considerable time before police arrived. Kupper, who had been working in Ireland for ten years and was fluent in English, was sentenced by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy to three and a half years in prison. The victim, who was intoxicated, described the assault as frightening and said it had severely impacted her social life and mental well‑being. The court noted her victim impact report and Kupper's lack of prior convictions. The sentence was imposed with no mention of a suspended portion.
A 69‑year‑old man, a trusted figure in his Cork community, was remanded pending sentencing after pleading guilty to three counts of sexual abuse of two boys between January and May 1991. The younger victim, now 30, was five at the time and was abused in a camper van where the accused lured him with treats and performed oral sex. The older victim, now 40, was 14 when the accused asked him to drive a van home from a pub; while the boy sat on his lap, the accused ripped his trousers and molested him, causing the boy to lose control of the van. Both victims described the accused as a trusted community member. The court noted the accused's 48 prior convictions, including a four‑month sentence in England, and he remains in custody until a sentencing hearing on 2 July 2024.
Ciprian Grozavu, a 42‑year‑old Romanian, was convicted of murdering Jonathan Duke in Bandon on 12 November 2011 and received a mandatory life sentence from Mr Justice Paul Carney on 17 July 2013. He has now filed an appeal in the Court of Appeal. His barrister, Thomas Creed SC, argued that the trial judge failed to give the jury a clear option to return a manslaughter verdict, potentially prejudicing another case, and that the judge incorrectly addressed the jury on common design and did not discharge them at the end of the prosecution's case. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel, Timothy O'Leary SC, maintained that the trial was never a murder/manslaughter trial and that the defence had always claimed Grozavu did not commit the murder. The three‑judge panel, consisting of Mr Justice George Birmingham, Mr Justice Alan Mahon and Mr Justice John Edwards, has reserved judgment on the appeal. Ciprian Grozavu pleaded not guilty.
In a June 3 hearing at the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy ordered Johanna Kelly, 43, back to prison for one year to serve part of a suspended sentence. Kelly had earlier pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of her 60‑year‑old grandfather, Patrick O'Brien, in December 2013, and received a six‑year sentence with two years suspended on the condition of abstaining from alcohol and engaging with probation services. The judge was informed that Kelly had failed to meet those conditions, including a failed attempt to attend a rehab clinic where she was removed after becoming violent. She also had a one‑week sentence for theft. Kelly pleaded for another chance, but the judge imposed a 12‑month custodial term, reducing the suspended portion from two to one year, and backdated it from May 28. The decision was presented as a final opportunity for rehabilitation.
In 2016 a man who was sexually abused by Garda Jack Dunne when he was 12 years old in the late 1950s and early 1960s settled a High Court action against the Garda Commissioner and the State. The abuse took place at Pearse Street Garda Station in Dublin, where Dunne was stationed. The claimant sought damages for personal injury, distress and upset caused by the abuse and alleged negligence and breach of duty of care by the Garda Commissioner, the Minister for Justice and the Attorney General. The defendants were found vicariously liable for Dunne's conduct. The case was settled before trial, with a statement read by the defendants acknowledging the abuse and committing to prevent and prosecute such offenders. No further settlement details were disclosed. The claimant expressed satisfaction with the outcome. Jack Dunne was convicted.
A 39‑year‑old Polish man, Jaroslaw Kupper, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to sexually assaulting a woman on 28 September 2013. The assault took place after the pair had met briefly a few weeks earlier in a Cork pub. On the night of the offence, Kupper and the woman kissed before moving to a nearby laneway where he became pushy and aggressive, grabbing her arm and pushing her to the ground. While she was on the ground he pulled down her jeans and underwear, and she screamed for help. A neighbour heard her cries and called the gardai. The victim described seeing Kupper's erect penis rubbing against her vagina for a few seconds before she managed to push it away. Kupper, a carpenter from Millbrook, Middleton, Cork, had no prior convictions and is married. The court heard that both he and the victim had been drinking.
Anthony Kelleher, 42, of Macroom, Cork, was found guilty of assault causing serious harm to his wife Siobhán on 12 June 2014 and sentenced to eight years in prison by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin in May 2016. He pleaded not guilty and his wife refused to testify against him. Kelleher applied for bail pending an appeal, but the Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, declined to grant bail because the State had not provided any grounds for it. The court set a hearing for 29 July and ordered the expedited preparation of trial transcripts. Kelleher's appeal will focus on the use of section 16 statements and the judge's directions to the jury. The State will have two weeks to respond after Kelleher files his submissions. His sister, who travelled from Bantry, offered surety for a potential bail.
In a hearing at the Central Criminal Court, Justice Patrick McCarthy considered whether to remand Johanna Kelly, 43, who had been released on conditions of sobriety and probation after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of Patrick O'Brien, 60, in December 2013. Kelly had been sentenced to six years in prison with two years suspended, contingent on compliance with the judge's conditions. Probation officer Katherine Lambert reported that Kelly had failed to meet those conditions, citing an incident at a rehab clinic, Cluain Mhuire, where she was removed after becoming violent while intoxicated. Lambert also noted that Kelly had previously pleaded guilty to theft and received a one‑week sentence. Kelly pleaded for another chance, expressing remorse and a desire to remain sober. Justice McCarthy described her breach as "egregious" and indicated he would consider sentencing her to serve the remaining two years of her sentence, but remanded her in custody until 20 June.
James Maughan, 38, was identified by facial‑recognition software after a photo was taken for a public services card. He had been claiming disability benefit under his own name and had also fraudulently claimed €438 of Jobseeker's Allowance in July 2015 using the false name "Terence Maughan." The Department of Social Protection discovered the deception and the case was brought to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Maughan pleaded guilty to inducing another to submit a false application and to stealing the allowance. He has 11 prior social‑welfare fraud convictions from 2013, for which he received a six‑month sentence. At the last hearing, evidence was presented that €689 of the €1,674 repayment due for the 2013 fraud remained outstanding. The judge adjourned the sentencing to 15 June to allow further investigation of the repayment issue. The case remains pending, with no final sentence yet imposed.
The High Court confirmed the appointment of Mr Kieran Wallace of KPMG as interim examiner for Debenhams Retail (Ireland) Ltd (DRIL). DRIL, which employs over 1,400 staff directly and 800 staff in concessions and cosmetics across 11 stores, has been seeking examinership after sustained losses since the 2007 recession and the withdrawal of support from its UK parent, Debenhams Retail plc. The court noted that DRIL has a reasonable prospect of survival if it follows a scheme of arrangement approved by the High Court, which would involve court protection and cost reductions, particularly rent, which the company claims are above market rates. Mr Wallace has up to 100 days to propose a scheme of arrangement with creditors. No objections were raised to the application, though Dooroy Ltd, landlords of DRIL's Dublin and Cork stores, expressed concerns that the parent company should be involved in the process.
Larry McCarthy, 37, of Limerick, was charged with threatening to kill Noel Moore and threatening to damage Moore's house on 28 July 2015. The State had objected to his temporary bail application, arguing that bail could prevent further serious offences. McCarthy's sister, Laura, told the court that Moore, her father‑in‑law, would not attend the confirmation. Judge Paul Butler, with Judges Alison Lindsay and Flann Brennan, weighed the danger to life and well‑being against McCarthy's liberty. He found McCarthy's application to be bona fide and that McCarthy intended to attend the confirmation. Bail was granted for 28 May from 9:30 am to 5 pm, with the condition that McCarthy not attend a licensed premises. McCarthy remained remanded in custody until 2 June, when his case was listed for mention again.
The High Court ordered the extradition of Simeon Cosmo Langford, a 33‑year‑old from Bristol, to the UK on four charges: attempted murder, grievous bodily harm, theft and alleged breach of release conditions after a prior conviction for grievous bodily harm. A European Arrest Warrant issued in August 2015 led to his arrest in Cork in August 2015. Langford was released on licence on 6 May 2015 and is alleged to have committed the offences between 2 and 11 June 2015, after which he allegedly absconded and travelled to Ireland on 13 June 2015 using a passport under the name Luke Gillespie. His barrister submitted an affidavit alleging ill treatment in UK prisons, but the judge found no evidence of inhuman or degrading treatment and rejected the appeal. The court therefore ordered his surrender to the UK, refusing leave to appeal. The decision was delivered by Justice Aileen Donnelly.
Jonathan O'Sullivan, 36, of Barrett's Building, Cork, was convicted of burglary at a city address on 22 July 2013. After a two‑day trial, a jury found him guilty and Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin sentenced him to three years' imprisonment on 27 July 2015. O'Sullivan appealed the conviction. The Court of Appeal, sitting with Justices Garrett Sheehan, George Birmingham and Alan Mahon, dismissed the appeal. Justice Sheehan held that the prosecution was not required to notify the defence of rebuttal evidence before the trial. The prosecution's case relied mainly on the occupier's testimony, who saw O'Sullivan in her kitchen at about 7.40 am, claimed he had taken €100 and had gone through bags and jackets, and later identified him in a formal parade. O'Sullivan's alibi that he was in Little Island with his girlfriend was rebutted by evidence placing him at his mother's house at the same time. Jonathan O'Sullivan pleaded not guilty.
A 52-year-old man from Cork has been served with a book of evidence at the Special Criminal Court following his arrest in December as part of an investigation into dissident republican activity. Martin McHale stands charged with possession of an explosive substance, namely ten sealed bags containing white prills of ammonium nitrate and calcium carbonate, allegedly found at Mall Road, Tirkeenan, County Monaghan on November 1st, 2013. He is also charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. The State Solicitor confirmed the book of evidence had been served on the accused. Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding with Judge Alison Lindsay and Judge Flann Brennan, remanded Mr McHale on continuing bail. The case is scheduled for mention on June 10th.
A 44‑year‑old Cork man was sentenced to a three‑year prison term, with the last year suspended, for sexually assaulting a friend's daughter on three occasions between January and November 2013. The offences occurred at addresses in Limerick and County Clare while the victim was aged 11 and 12. The man pleaded not guilty but a jury found him guilty on all counts. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed the suspended sentence on the condition that he keep the peace for three years after release and placed him on the sex offenders register. The court heard the victim's interview, describing the assaults, and a victim impact report detailing her fear of older men and the effect on her life. The judge noted the defendant's position of trust and the victim's young age as aggravating factors, while his lack of prior convictions was a mitigating factor.
Simeon Cosmo Langford, 33, was brought before the High Court in Ireland after being arrested in Cork in August 2015. He is wanted in the UK on charges of attempted murder, grievous bodily harm and theft, and for allegedly breaching the conditions of his release from a UK prison sentence. A European Arrest Warrant issued in August 2015 alleges that Langford absconded and travelled to Ireland on 13 June 2015 using a passport in the name of Luke Gillespie. He was handcuffed and accompanied by five officers in full riot gear during the hearing. His barrister, Ronan Munro BL, argued that Langford is a "special category" person who would face inhumane and degrading treatment if returned to the UK, citing his alleged "appalling experiences" in British prisons. The Minister for Justice and Equality, Vincent Heneghan BL, countered that the allegations were subjective and that there were no reports of abuse in UK prisons.
Judgement has been reserved in a pre-trial application brought by RTÉ to dismiss the action of businessman Sean Gallagher, which arose from the 'Tweetgate' incident during the 2011 presidential election. RTÉ argued that the case should be halted because Gallagher allegedly failed to comply with discovery orders, specifically regarding emails and documents generated during his campaign. Alternatively, the broadcaster sought an order compelling full compliance. Gallagher opposed the application, with his counsel, Niall Buckley BL, stating that he had largely complied with discovery obligations and that the remaining material was unavailable, irrelevant, or peripheral. RTÉ's counsel, Douglas Clarke BL, countered that the discovery was essential to their defence and that Gallagher's failure was manifestly prejudicial. Mr Justice David Keane reserved his decision, noting he would carefully study the submissions, without indicating when the judgement would be delivered. In his underlying action, Gallagher seeks a declaration that the October 2011 RTÉ Frontline debate was deliberately and unfairly edited to damage his electoral prospects. He claims damages for alleged breach of statutory duty, negligence, and misfeasance in public office, including exemplary damages for comments allegedly made by Pat Kenny. RTÉ denies these claims, asserting that Gallagher damaged his own prospects through his responses to specific assertions. The matter remains at the hearing or decision stage, with no final determination yet issued.
James Maughan, 38, was caught after facial‑recognition software matched his photo taken for a public services card to his true identity. He had already been claiming disability benefit in his own name and then fraudulently applied for Jobseekers Allowance under the false name "Terence Maughan", stealing €438 and an emergency payment of €100 in July 2015. The Department of Social Protection investigators discovered the deception when staff ran the image through facial‑recognition software. Maughan has 11 prior social welfare fraud convictions dating back to 2013 and a total of 55 convictions, most of them theft‑related. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and the case was adjourned to next month to await urine‑analysis results. A plea in mitigation will be presented by his defence lawyer on 26 May. The sentencing is scheduled for next month.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 55‑year‑old Cork man was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for raping and sexually assaulting his niece between 1977 and 1985. The victim, aged eight to thirteen at the time, was the daughter of the accused's older sister. The man pleaded not guilty but was found guilty of two counts of rape and one count of indecent assault. Judge Isobel Kennedy imposed a ten‑year sentence for the rapes, six years suspended, and a six‑year sentence for the indecent assault, four years suspended; both sentences run concurrently. The court noted the accused's medical issues, including a leg amputation, and his lack of prior convictions, yet deemed custodial imprisonment necessary. The judge highlighted aggravating factors such as abuse of trust and threats, and mitigating factors including the man's ill health and age at the time of the offences. The sentence was delivered with the victim's impact report read with "great dignity.".
The High Court will decide on Friday whether to extend an injunction that prevented disruption of an auction of 1,000 cows and calves belonging to Peter and Tracey Kingston of Craden Hill Farm, Kinsale. The injunction was granted by the Cork County Sheriff, Solicitor Sinead McNamara, after concerns that members of the Land League and New Land League, including spokesman Jerry Beades, might interfere with the sale. The auction took place on 12 April and the cattle were sold, but two bidders failed to pay, raising the possibility of resale. McNamara seeks further orders to protect the collection of animals from the farm and to prevent bidding that could frustrate the sale. Beades, representing himself, disputed the injunction's validity, claiming no connection to the Kingstons and that the protest was peaceful. During the hearing, heated exchanges occurred between Beades and Judge Gilligan, who warned that further derogatory remarks would result in his removal from the court.
Anthony O'Sullivan, 29, of Togher, Cork, had pleaded guilty to robbery and attempted robbery at a shop in Cork City on 13 January 2014. He was originally sentenced by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin to five years' imprisonment, the final year suspended. On appeal, Judge Garrett Sheehan re‑sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended. Sheehan noted that O'Sullivan entered the shop with a wheel brace and a scarf covering his face, shouted at the shop assistant for money, and when she refused, seized a purse from a nearby student. The items taken were worth €320. O'Sullivan, who had 423 prior convictions, was 28 at sentencing, lived with his father, was addicted to heroin, and was a father to a young child. The Court of Appeal found problems in the original sentencing process, including a lack of a proper summary of his criminal record and an unsatisfactory assessment of mitigating factors.
In a High Court case concerning the auction of more than 1,000 cattle owned by Peter and Tracey Kingston of Craden Hill Farm, the action was adjourned. The Kingston farm had entered receivership last year, and a receiver was appointed. The Cork County Sheriff, Sinead McNamara, secured an injunction to prevent protesters from disrupting the sale, which was held on 12 April and resulted in the cattle being sold. Two bidders who had won about 500 animals failed to pay, raising the possibility of resale. The Sheriff's counsel, Frank Callanan SC, requested an extension of the injunction, citing urgent developments, including an expiring export licence. Jerry Beades, representing himself, challenged the injunction's validity, claimed he was not involved with the Kingstons, and sought to have the order set aside. He also accused the judge of unfairness and requested recusal, but Justice Paul Gilligan denied the request and rejected the accusations.
Jerzy Broszczack, a 25‑year‑old Polish drug dealer, lost an appeal against a condition imposed by the Cork Circuit Criminal Court that he must depart Ireland upon release from a seven‑year sentence, of which three years were suspended. He pleaded guilty to possession of €18,000 worth of cannabis in Crookstown, Co Cork, and was sentenced on 4 November 2014. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, rejected the appeal, citing evidence that Broszczack had no meaningful ties to Ireland, spoke mainly Polish, had no family in the country, and had been present for only eight months. The judge noted that the condition was reasonable and proportionate, and that Broszczack had voluntarily entered the bond. The appeal was dismissed on all grounds.
Jordan O'Donovan, aged 20, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm after striking a man with a glass in the Savoy nightclub on 27 December 2013. He was sentenced by Cork Circuit Criminal Court to three years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. The Director of Public Prosecutions sought a review, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient, but the Court of Appeal rejected the application, finding the balance of the sentence was not so wrong as to be unduly lenient. Judge George Birmingham noted the assault resulted in a very serious eye injury to the victim, who had not fully recovered sight at sentencing. O'Donovan, an 18‑year‑old first‑time offender with no prior convictions, had shown genuine remorse and had engaged with Gardaí. The court upheld the original sentence, refusing the DPP's request for a review. The case highlighted the serious impact of glass‑assaults on victims.
Michael Collins, aged 34, has lodged an appeal against his conviction for the murder of Packie Hogan, aged 42, which occurred on 10 February 2011. Collins, who lives in Upper Kilmona, Grenagh, Co Cork, had pleaded not guilty to the murder, to possession of a rifle and to possession of ammunition with intent to endanger life. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty on all counts and he was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment by Mr Justice Paul Carney on 29 November 2012. Collins now argues that the trial judge's directions to the jury on manslaughter were defective. He maintains that the shooting was accidental, that the firearm was defective and that he had no intention to kill, only to scare the deceased. The appeal is pending, with the court reserving judgment. The article does not report any further developments.
Martin Doyle, 25, of Mount Eden Rise, Cork, pleaded guilty to burglary and arson at the home of an 81‑year‑old widower on Blarney Street on 15 October 2014. He had previously received a three‑year robbery sentence that was fully suspended to encourage treatment for heroin addiction. The Circuit Court reactivated that sentence and, on 17 June 2015, imposed a seven‑year term with the final two years suspended, giving Doyle a net ten‑year sentence with two years suspended. The Court of Appeal upheld the sentence, ruling it could not be described as excessive. The burglary and arson were deemed "extremely serious"; the victim, now 85, was left homeless for seven months and suffered loss of personal memorabilia. Doyle had 25 prior convictions and had been imprisoned eight times. The appeal was dismissed.
The High Court granted an injunction to stop any interference with the auction of 1,000 cattle belonging to Peter and Tracey Kingston, winners of RTE's 'Ireland's Fittest Family'. The auction, scheduled for Tuesday morning at the Kingston farm in Cradenhill, Nohoval, Co. Cork, was threatened by the Land League and the New Land League, whose spokesman Mr Jerry Beades had posted on Facebook indicating an intention to disrupt the sale. The Sheriff of County Cork, Sinead McNamara, sought the injunction after attempts to secure an undertaking from Mr Beades failed. Mr Justice Paul Gilligan ordered that members of the two groups and Mr Beades could not interfere with or attend the auction from midnight on Monday for several days. The injunction, made ex‑parte, is returnable next week and may be applied for on 24‑hour notice. The order also applies to anyone with knowledge of it.
The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on whether to return Jordan O'Donovan, 21, to jail for a nightclub glass assault. O'Donovan pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm to another man in a Cork nightclub on 27 December 2013. He was sentenced at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to three years imprisonment, with the final two years suspended by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin on 28 October 2014. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) appealed, arguing the sentence was "unduly lenient". DPP counsel Donal O'Sullivan BL said O'Donovan struck a young man with a glass, causing severe facial injuries that required surgery, and that the Circuit Court judge erred in not stating the offence's severity on the scale. He claimed the custodial element was "significantly out of kilter" and that a starting point of four to seven years is required for mid‑range serious assaults.
Larry McCarthy, 37, of Limerick, was denied bail by the Special Criminal Court on 8 April 2016. He faces charges of threatening to kill Noel Moore and threatening to damage Moore's house on 28 July 2015. The State objected to his bail application, citing the seriousness of the offence and the maximum ten‑year sentence. Chief Superintendent David Sheehan argued that Section 2A of the Bail Act required bail to be refused to prevent a serious offence. Judge Paul Butler, with Judges Alison Lindsay and Flann Brennan, accepted the objection and refused bail under Section 2A. McCarthy also faces separate charges of threatening unlawful violence and assaulting David Foran on 25 November 2014. He was remanded in custody until 11 May, when his case was listed for mention again.
The Court of Appeal has reserved judgement on the appeal of Kevin Mulcahy, a 57‑year‑old former Cork GP, who was convicted of indecently assaulting a 15‑year‑old girl in 1989. Mulcahy pleaded not guilty to the single charge and was found guilty after a retrial at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, where the jury deliberated for 39 minutes. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin on 25 November 2015. In December 2015 he was granted bail pending appeal. Mr Blaise O'Carroll SC argued that Mulcahy's trial was unfair because the judge failed to give a corroboration warning and because Mulcahy's right to silence was infringed when he declined to answer further questions after his initial statement to the Gardai. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, has reserved judgement and Mulcahy remains on continuing bail.
The Special Criminal Court dismissed a case alleging that a Cork man, Kevin Power, was a member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The court was informed that the State would not proceed with the charge and that no further evidence would be presented. Power, aged 39 and residing in Railway Street, Passage West, had previously pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation on 19 December 2011. He had been arrested on 19 January 2011 on suspicion of IRA membership and released without charge, and again on 19 December 2011 for the same suspicion. Judge Paul Butler ruled the second arrest unlawful, citing Section 30(A) of the Offences Against the State Act, which prohibits re‑arresting a person for the same offence without a warrant after release. Consequently, the charge was dismissed.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 8 March 2016, the arrest of Kevin Power, 38, of Railway Street, Passage West, County Cork, was declared unlawful. Power had been arrested twice on suspicion of IRA membership: first on 19 January 2011 and again on 19 December 2011, the latter without a warrant. The court considered Section 30(A) of the Offences Against the State Act, which requires a warrant for a second arrest after release without charge. Evidence from Detective Sergeant Patrick Murphy confirmed both arrests. The judge noted no evidence linking Power to the hoax bomb threats that had been reported to Garda stations and to the UCC campus. Consequently, the court ruled the December arrest unlawful. The case remains pending, with further proceedings scheduled for the following day. Kevin Power pleaded not guilty.
A hearing has been scheduled for Simeon Cosmo Langford, 32, who is wanted in England for attempted murder, grievous bodily harm, theft and assault, and for allegedly breaching the conditions of his release from a prison sentence for grievous bodily harm. The European Arrest Warrant, issued in August 2015, states that Langford was released on licence on 6 May 2015 and is alleged to have committed the offences between 2 and 11 June 2015. He is believed to have fled to Ireland on 13 June 2015 using a passport under the name Luke Gillespie. Gardaí arrested him in Cork in August 2015 and he was brought before the High Court. In that proceeding, Langford denied the extradition request. In the most recent hearing, counsel Ronan Munro BL sought discovery of documents relating to Langford's prison security status, but the court refused. Justice Aileen Donnelly noted that Langford had only provided a general statement about prison conditions.
Reginald Arnold, 58, of Cork, was convicted of sexual assault, attempted rape and restricting a child's liberty for abusing his step‑daughter between April 2008 and August 2010. A jury found him guilty and he received an 11‑year sentence, with the final two years suspended, imposed by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy on 19 June 2014. Arnold appealed his conviction and sentence, but the Court of Appeal dismissed both appeals. Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan and Mr Justice Alan Mahon, upheld the conviction, noting that the trial judge had exercised discretion appropriately and that no corroboration warning was required. He also rejected the sentence appeal, stating that the 11‑year term, with two years suspended, fell within the range of sentences the trial judge could impose. The step‑daughter, who waived anonymity, testified of repeated touching, masturbation, being tied to a bed and attempted rape, beginning when she was 12. Reginald Arnold pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Kevin Power, 38, pleaded not guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army. The court heard evidence that on 19 May 2011, between 1:55 and 2:05 a.m., a caller with a Northern accent warned of bombs at University College Cork and the Rock of Cashel, noting the Queen's visit the next day. Security officer David Maher testified that he received the call and called the gardai. A Samaritan volunteer also received a call at 1:59 a.m., receiving the codeword "Heather Bay." Detective Sergeant William Blaney confirmed a warning about the Rock of Cashel. The prosecution presented evidence that a grenade, deemed non‑viable and for training, was found in UCC's car‑park, and that a plastic bag containing the device had three fingerprints linked to Power.
Derek Lynch, 38, was jailed for nine years for robbing the Friar's Road Post Office in Cork on 20 May 2012, with the final year suspended. He was convicted of robbery and possession of a firearm. The conviction was overturned by the Court of Appeal because evidence that he owned the motorcycle used in the robbery was taken from the Garda PULSE system and was deemed hearsay. The Court held that the PULSE system requires human input and therefore could not be admitted as evidence of ownership. The judge noted that the robbery involved a raider who used a sledgehammer to break into the cashier area, stole about €2,000, and fled on a motorcycle. The Court quashed Lynch's conviction and ordered a retrial, remanding him on bail with conditions to the Cork Circuit Criminal Court. Derek Lynch pleaded not guilty.
A priest who was jailed for hiring men who claimed to be from the Continuity IRA to issue death threats and intimidate his nephew into dropping legal action against him has lost his appeal against his sentence. Francis Kelleher (60), from Cloughduv, pleaded guilty to four counts of coercion in relation to compelling his nephew to abstain from doing an act he had a lawful right to do between June 2012 and January 2013. He was sentenced to four years imprisonment by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on April 30, 2015. Dismissing Kelleher's appeal against the severity of his sentence today, Mr Justice Alan Mahon stated that an attempt to stop an individual from pursuing legal proceedings was a very serious matter, even where the threats may be mild. The judge noted that the threats were 'particularly nasty' and caused significant fear for Kelleher's nephew and his family. The use of the Continuity IRA's name to instill maximum fear was described as 'particularly reprehensible'. Kelleher's barrister, Thomas Creed SC, argued that his client was a 'broken man' and that a portion of his sentence should have been suspended. However, Mr Justice Mahon stated that the sentence imposed was within the sentencing judge's discretion, given the number of offences and their nature. The appeal was dismissed by Mr Justice Mahon, who sat with Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice Paul Butler.
Trevor O'Sullivan, 40, of Curraheen Drive, Bishopstown, Cork, pleaded guilty to attempted aggravated burglary at the home of businessman Pat Glavin in Glanmire on 11 August 2013. He was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended, by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin on 25 February 2014. O'Sullivan's appeal against the severity of the sentence was dismissed by Mr Justice George Birmingham in the Court of Appeal. Birmingham noted that the offence involved an intended invasion of a family home by armed men, that Gardaí had been forewarned and had observed a reconnaissance operation on 29 July 2013, and that a Remington shotgun was recovered with live ammunition. O'Sullivan had prior convictions for public order offences, criminal damage and a drug‑related offence. The judge upheld the sentence as severe but necessary. The appeal was dismissed.
Larry McCarthy, 37, appeared before the Special Criminal Court in Limerick on 26 February 2016. He is charged with threatening to kill Noel Moore at Windsor House, Donoughmore, on 28 July 2015, and with threatening to damage Moore's house on the same day. McCarthy also faces separate charges of threatening to use unlawful violence with two others, and of assaulting David Foran at Cornmarket Villas on 25 November 2014. Judge Paul Butler remanded him in custody until 6 April, noting he may apply for bail.
The High Court refused to order discovery of documents relating to the security status of Simeon Cosmo Langford, a 32‑year‑old British man wanted in England on charges of attempted murder, grievous bodily harm, theft and assault. Langford, who is also alleged to have breached the conditions of his release from a previous grievous bodily harm sentence, was released on licence on 6 May 2015 and is accused of committing offences between 2 and 11 June 2015. He allegedly fled and travelled to Ireland on 13 June 2015 using a passport under the name Luke Gillespie. Gardaí arrested him in Cork in August 2015 and he was brought before the High Court. In the present hearing, counsel Ronan Munro BL sought documents about Langford's prison conditions in England, citing complaints of inhumane treatment. Justice Aileen Donnelly declined the request, stating that Langford had not provided sufficient evidence that the documents were necessary for the court's functions.
In February 2016, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal of Indian national Dileesh Soman, 33, who had been sentenced to four years' imprisonment with the final 12 months suspended for sexually assaulting a 30‑year‑old postgraduate student in Cork City on 11 November 2013. Soman, who had lived and worked in Ireland for over six years, had used the alias 'Aaron' and entered the victim's apartment after she had advertised a room on daft.ie. During the assault he forced her to expose parts of her body, touched her breasts, opened her jeans, and inserted his hand into her vagina, while making remarks such as 'nothing bad is going on' and 'it's okay, we're not going to have sex here.' The victim, who had never advertised for a flatmate before, later reported the incident to the Gardaí. Dileesh Soman pleaded guilty.
This report details five notorious Irish murder cases, including the sentencing of Malcolm McArthur. McArthur pleaded guilty to the murder of Bridie Gargan and was sentenced to life in jail. The article also covers the Grangegorman killings, where Mark Nash was found guilty of the murders of Sylvia Shields and Mary Callinan in 2015, receiving a second life sentence. Although Dean Lyons initially confessed to these crimes, charges against him were dropped in 1998 after psychological testing suggested he was highly suggestible. Additionally, the report notes that Geoffrey Evans and John Shaw were sentenced to life in jail for the murders and rapes of Elizabeth Plunkett and Mary Duffy. Colin Whelan was sentenced to life in 2005 for the murder of his wife, Mary Gough, after faking his death and being extradited from Spain. Finally, Graham Dwyer is described in relation to the murder of Elaine O'Hara, though specific sentencing details for this case are not provided in the text. The validated procedural stage for the highlighted subjects is sentence, with findings of guilt and life imprisonment imposed for the proven charges.