A 55‑year‑old Cork man was sentenced to eight years in prison, with the final two years suspended, for raping and sexually abusing his younger cousin over a ten‑year period from 1985 to 1995. He was convicted on 33 counts, including 20 of indecent assault and 13 of section 4 rape. The victim, aged between five and 15 at the time of the abuse, suffered repeated sexual assault, forced masturbation, oral and anal rape, occurring on average twice a week. The defendant, who was 18 when the abuse began, pleaded not guilty and continues to deny the offences. The court noted the significant age disparity, the prolonged nature of the abuse, and the victim's negative psychological impact, including suicidal thoughts and loss of friends, jobs and a normal life. The judge, acknowledging the defendant's serious medical condition, anxiety, mild learning difficulty and sheltered life, nevertheless placed the case in the more serious category and imposed the sentence.
John Costello, 41, of Kileely, Limerick City, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to providing transport to persons allegedly involved in an assault causing serious harm to Christy Keane on 29 June 2015. He also admitted to knowing or believing others were guilty of an arrestable offence and providing transport to impede their apprehension, contrary to Section 7(2) of the Criminal Law Act 1997. The prosecution withdrew an original charge under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, alleging Costello facilitated the attempted murder of Keane for the McCarthy-Dundon criminal organisation, replacing it with the Section 7(2) charge. Detective Sergeant Padraig O'Dwyer served the Book of Evidence on Costello regarding the new charge. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Alan Mitchell, adjourned the matter to 30 March for sentence. Co-accused Noel Price, 44, and Larry McCarthy, 44, both of Limerick City, remain charged with making a vehicle available to the McCarthy-Dundon criminal organisation to facilitate the attempted murder of Keane between 27 and 29 June 2015. Keane survived the shooting at the University of Limerick in 2015 after escaping via a running track.
The High Court heard that Mr Declan McDonald of PWC has been appointed examiner to Tower Trade Finance Ireland Limited (TTFI) and Deal Partners Logistics Ltd (DPL). TTFI has a net asset deficiency of €10.1 million and DPL €9.5 million. The companies attribute their financial difficulties to the collapse of JACC Sports Distributors and other issues, including fraud and client insolvencies. Mr McDonald has prepared an interim report and is working on a scheme of arrangement with creditors, hoping to present it before the end of the 100‑day examinership period. John Lavelle BL, representing the examiner, said creditors would benefit from a survival plan rather than liquidation. The court noted that both firms owe creditors over €13 million and that directors have committed €400 000 for the scheme. No objections were raised to extending the examinership period. The court heard that the examiner's report indicates a reasonable prospect of survival if the scheme is approved.
Douglas Glynn and his brother Anthony Glynn pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to charges related to the possession of ammunition and drugs for an organised crime gang. Douglas Glynn admitted to conspiracy to possess 335 rounds of ammunition and various calibres of ammunition, as well as conspiracy to possess cocaine and cannabis valued over €13,000 for sale or supply. Anthony Glynn pleaded guilty to possessing the ammunition and drugs for an organised crime gang. The court heard that gardaí seized 20kg of cocaine, cannabis, and ammunition from a Dublin 15 business park in March 2017. Evidence included encrypted phone messages using code words for drugs and firearms, which identified Douglas Glynn as a manager of the operation. Douglas Glynn is already serving a six-and-a-half-year sentence for his role in a foiled Kinahan Cartel plot to murder James 'Mago' Gately, for which he was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years with the final year suspended. Mr Justice Hunt adjourned the matter to March 16 for sentence finalisation.
A 49-year-old man from Westport, County Mayo has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his wife by reason of insanity at the Central Criminal Court. James Kilroy is charged with murdering Valerie French Kilroy, aged 41, at their home in Kilbree Lower between June 13 and 14, 2019. Ms French Kilroy, an occupational therapist employed by Mayo Mental Health Services, was a mother of three originally from County Cork. A jury of ten men and two women was sworn in to hear the trial before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring. The court heard that witnesses are primarily from the Castlebar and Westport areas. The trial commenced and is expected to conclude by the end of the month.
Forbidden City Ltd, trading as Translation.ie, was ordered by the Workplace Relations Commission to pay €2,000 to interpreter Angela Nagle for unfair dismissal. Nagle, who had worked for the agency since 2009 providing Eastern European language services in courts, Garda stations and hospitals, was dismissed in December 2021 after the agency shifted her from payroll to invoicing, citing new Revenue guidance on self‑employment. Nagle claimed she had been an employee, having received employment slips and tax deductions, and that the agency had failed to provide a contract. The tribunal found evidence of mutuality of obligation, noting Nagle's frequent presence where directed and the agency's payroll practices. The adjudicator concluded Nagle was an employee and had been unfairly dismissed, awarding the €2,000 compensation.
In a discrimination claim under the Employment Equality Act 1998, Sergeant David Haughney, a former public‑order trainer who lost 70% of sight in his left eye in 2014, alleges that Superintendent Adrian Gamble failed to provide reasonable accommodation and subjected him to discriminatory harassment. Haughney's complaint, heard by the Workplace Relations Commission, focuses on a fitness‑to‑work meeting in which he claims Gamble waved a medical document and that he was nearly in tears. Gamble denies being confrontational or arrogant, stating he did not see Haughney upset and that he followed the Chief Medical Officer's advice to restrict Haughney to strictly non‑confrontational duties. The hearing included testimony from retired inspectors and a discussion of internal complaints, with the commission expected to issue a decision within six weeks.
The trial of David Lawlor, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and Patrick Sweeney continues before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury. The four defendants, who have pleaded not guilty to 53 charges including aggravated burglary, false imprisonment, arson, robbery, and animal cruelty, face allegations of a violent attack on security guards at a property in Falsk, Co Roscommon, in December 2018. Witness Ian Gordon testified that he was forced at gunpoint to eat dog faeces and identified Lawlor's voice during the incident. Under cross-examination, Gordon acknowledged his former service with the Ulster Defence Regiment and admitted his security company, GS Agencies Ltd, operated without a company licence, for which he previously entered a guilty plea. Defense counsel suggested Gordon was mistaken in identifying Lawlor, but Gordon maintained he was 100% certain of the identification. The State alleges a group of approximately 30 armed men assaulted four guards, set fire to vehicles, and beat a guard dog unconscious. The defendants are charged with criminal damage, assault causing harm, and violent disorder. The matter is currently at the trial stage, with proceedings ongoing.
Four men are standing trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 53 charges arising from an alleged attack on security personnel during a property repossession at Strokestown, County Roscommon, in December 2018. Patrick Sweeney of Ramelton, County Donegal, Martin O'Toole of Claremorris, County Mayo, Paul Beirne of Boyle, County Roscommon, and David Lawlor of County Meath have each pleaded not guilty to charges including aggravated burglary, false imprisonment, assault causing harm, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery and animal cruelty. A security guard testified that approximately 30 masked individuals arrived at the property armed with weapons, assaulted four security staff, set vehicles alight and fatally injured a guard dog. The witness further told the court of previous hostile encounters with one of the defendants at other eviction sites. The trial is ongoing.
Douglas Purcell, aged 40, pleaded guilty to a single count of making a threat to kill or cause serious harm after threatening to shoot a garda's wife and children. The incident occurred on 20 August 2017 at Ballyfermot Garda Station, where Purcell, who had been arrested on a separate charge, approached the injured party, threatened to follow him home and shoot his family, and performed push‑ups on the ground. He was arrested on 11 September 2017, interviewed once, and made no admissions. A victim impact statement was read, describing the victim's paranoia, installation of CCTV, and poor sleep. Purcell apologized for calling names but denied making threats, and his defence counsel highlighted his mental health issues, drug addiction, and previous convictions for theft and criminal damage. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the case to April, ordered Purcell to engage with the Probation Service, and directed the prosecution to contact the victim regarding the expression of remorse.
The High Court appointed Ken Fennell and Andrew O'Leary of Interpath Advisory Services as provisional liquidators for Marco Polo Network Operations (Ireland) Limited, a software firm that supplies online payment platforms to corporate customers. The appointment followed the collapse of a proposed US$12 million partnership with Bank of America, which had been negotiating a strategic alliance to replace the bank's internal account automation service. The company, which has been trading since 2016 and employs 91 people, now faces debts exceeding €5.2 million, with current liabilities outstripping assets by €2.5 million. Revenue is the largest creditor, owed €2.6 million. The liquidators were granted extensive powers to sell or preserve core assets, negotiate with employees, and manage the firm's business, with directors required to submit statements of affairs within 21 days. The matter was adjourned to early March.
The Court of Appeal has increased jail sentences for two women convicted in Ireland's first human trafficking case involving alleged voodoo ceremonies. Alicia Edosa and Edith Enoghaghase, originally sentenced in September 2021 following a June 2021 trial at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court, were found guilty of trafficking women between 2016 and 2018. Evidence indicated victims underwent ceremonies in Nigeria before being coerced into prostitution across multiple locations including Castlebar, Letterkenny and Cavan. Mr Justice George Birmingham rejected their conviction appeals and found original sentences substantially inadequate. Edosa, formerly of Mullingar, has been re-sentenced to seven-and-a-half years imprisonment. Enoghaghase, also formerly of Mullingar, received seven years and one month. The judge noted the sentencing judge faced unprecedented circumstances with no comparative guidelines for this offence type. Alicia Edosa pleaded not guilty. Edith Enoghaghase pleaded not guilty.
The High Court appointed insolvency practitioner Declan McDonald of PWC as examiner to Tower Trade Finance Ireland Limited (TTFI) and Deal Partners Logistics Ltd (DPL). TTFI has a net asset deficiency of €10.1 million and DPL €9.5 million. Both companies suffered financial difficulties after the liquidation of JACC Sports Distributors, which had supplied sports kits to the FAI. TTFI provided trade finance through loans or purchasing goods and reselling them, while DPL raised funds from individual shareholders. Investors expressed concerns, with a straw poll showing a majority opposed to examinership. The judge noted that the companies owe creditors over €13 million and that an independent report suggested a reasonable prospect of survival if a scheme of arrangement is approved. The examiner has up to 100 days to prepare a survival scheme, and the matter was adjourned to early March.
Paul O'Brien, 38, pleaded guilty to three counts of copyright infringement for selling android 'dodgy boxes' that enabled cheap access to about 4,000 TV channels. He sold the boxes to 150 customers, charging €12 a month for activation codes, generating roughly €1,800 monthly. Gardaí traced him after a Sky investigator purchased a box from his website, IPTV Wizard, and seized evidence including a black Tower PC, flyers, business cards and bank details. O'Brien's bank account held €34,410, about 60 % from illegal sales. Judge Martin Nolan, noting the offence's "sneaky" nature, imposed 240 hours of community service instead of a custodial sentence, ordered forfeiture of €20,410 and destruction of seized equipment, and adjourned the case for finalisation on 27 April. The judge highlighted the potential earnings and the impact on O'Brien's personal life, including his partner's cervical cancer diagnosis and their 14‑year‑old son. The case remains at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal by developer Michael O'Flynn against a ruling that barred him from objecting to a Personal Insolvency Agreement (PIA) entered into by former business partner John O'Driscoll. O'Flynn alleges that O'Driscoll owes him more than €750,000 and that O'Driscoll was not insolvent when the PIA was granted. He claims he advanced a loan to a pub business in which O'Driscoll was involved, and that O'Driscoll became a signatory to a €2.2 million loan guarantee in favour of O'Flynn and a shareholder in the business. O'Driscoll denies the insolvency claim and insists his PIA should remain undisturbed. The High Court had previously ruled that O'Flynn lacked locus standi because he did not file a proof of debt.
In February 2023, William O'Riordan, a 48‑year‑old farm labourer from Banteer, Cork, was sentenced to one year in prison for sexually abusing his niece on three occasions between September 2001 and March 2006. He pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual abuse at a location in County Cork. The judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, noted O'Riordan's reduced cognitive function but also that he understood his actions were wrong and showed no remorse. The sentence was suspended for two years, with conditions that he keep the peace and behave well for three years. The victim, who was nine to ten at the time, described the abuse as devastating, stating she no longer wanted to stay at her grandmother's home and feared future harm to her children. O'Riordan's mother, an elderly woman in her 80s, has been affected by the case, delaying her surgery and relying on O'Riordan for care.
The Workplace Relations Commission has found that Student Facilities & Services (UCC) DAC, trading as Unisalon at the Student Centre at University College Cork, unlawfully dismissed Tracey Ring. The adjudicating officer, Lefre de Burgh, upheld complaints brought under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 and the Minimum Notice & Terms of Employment Act 1973. The tribunal determined that the employer's conduct was "entirely unreasonable" and "unlawful," finding that Ms Ring was dismissed summarily without notice or adherence to fair procedures. The respondent, represented by general manager Terry Brennan, had denied the complaints, asserting that Ms Ring was "laid off" rather than dismissed and that all owed wages had been paid. However, the adjudicating officer rejected this, noting that the employer failed to follow standard termination practices or provide a redundancy payment. The decision ordered the employer to pay Ms Ring €1,920 for unfair dismissal and €480 in notice pay, totalling €2,400. This finalisation concludes the hearing, with the tribunal's findings establishing that the dismissal was neither substantively nor procedurally fair.
The High Court ruled that legal fees can be included in a Personal Insolvency Arrangement (PIA). The case involved Mary and Michael Daly, who were ordered to pay €179,000 in damages and €77,000 in legal costs to Mae Rae after their two Rottweiler dogs attacked her in 2012. The Dalys, claiming insolvency, sought to enter a PIA and included the legal fees but not the damages in their proposal. Mae Rae, represented by Gerard Nicolas Murphy BL, appealed, arguing that the fees should be treated like the damages and excluded under the 2012 Personal Insolvency Act. Mr Justice Alexander Owens dismissed the appeal, agreeing that the legal fees could be included as a debt in the PIA, while noting no order was made regarding the parties' application costs. The Dalys' PIA will be considered by the Circuit Court later.
In a 2023 Court of Appeal decision, the State's appeal to increase the sentence for Caitlin Corcoran, an 18‑year‑old Waterford woman convicted of manslaughter for the death of her newborn Sophie Elizabeth, was dismissed. Corcoran had given birth in a toilet on 22 April 2018, placed the infant in a bin, and the child was later found dead. She was found guilty of manslaughter and child neglect in October 2021. Judge Eugene O'Kelly originally imposed a headline sentence of four years, reduced by nine months and suspended three years, leaving Corcoran jailed for three months (served five weeks). The Court of Appeal, led by Justice George Birmingham, upheld the original mitigation, noting Corcoran's psychological issues, cooperation with Gardaí, remorse, and lack of prior convictions. The appeal was dismissed, confirming the sentence remained unchanged. The case was described as "tragic" and "extraordinary" but the court found no basis for a harsher penalty. The unnamed woman pleaded not guilty.
Brian Murphy, a qualified accountant and former Deloitte audit partner, appealed a High Court ruling that permitted his criminal prosecution for alleged tax offences. The Court of Appeal heard arguments regarding whether a 2015 settlement agreement with the Revenue Commissioners created a legitimate expectation that he would not be prosecuted. Mr Murphy, of Carrigaline, Co Cork, denies wrongdoing and argued that oral representations and the absence of a prosecution reservation clause in the signed document implied immunity. He contended that the High Court judge erred by applying contract law rather than the principle of legitimate expectation. Counsel for the Revenue and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) argued that the DPP is an independent body not bound by Revenue agreements and that the omission of a non-prosecution clause was an error. They maintained that the threshold for legitimate expectation was not met. The High Court had previously found that the 2015 agreement, which involved monthly payments of €4,000 and annual lump sums, did not represent a promise against criminal proceedings. In the Court of Appeal, the panel of judges, including Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, Mr Justice George Birmingham, and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, reserved their judgment. The matter was adjourned, and no final decision was reached during this hearing.
In a murder trial held at the Central Criminal Court, a 24‑year‑old man named Oliver Doran pleaded guilty to the axe murder of Kwok Ping Cheng, a 76‑year‑old vulnerable pensioner. The victim's mutilated body was discovered covered in blood in the living room of his own home at Robinson's Court, Cork Street, Dublin 8, on 28–29 April 2021. Doran had initially pleaded not guilty but, after discussions with his counsel, chose to enter a guilty plea on the third day of the trial. He expressed remorse and requested forgiveness from Cheng's family, providing a letter to be given to them. The court accepted the plea, directed a probation report and victim impact statements, and remanded Doran in custody for sentencing. The jury heard that Cheng died from multiple traumatic injuries, including a fractured skull and arm, chop wounds, bruises and lacerations, caused by an axe.
The High Court has adjourned a preliminary jurisdictional hearing in an application by Ezeon Entertainment Limited to set aside a Personal Insolvency Arrangement (PIA) granted to shareholder John O'Driscoll. The company, whose shareholders include rugby player Ronan O'Gara and businessman Michael O'Flynn, alleges the PIA was fraudulent and that O'Driscoll misappropriated over €15,000 in company funds. O'Driscoll denies all claims, stating he withdrew the money to repay debts he was owed and that the allegations are incorrect. Counsel for the respondent's Personal Insolvency Practitioner argued the High Court lacks jurisdiction, contending the matter should have been heard by the Circuit Court which originally granted the PIA in March 2022. Conversely, Ezeon's counsel argued the High Court does have jurisdiction. Mr Justice Alexander Owens stated the preliminary issue of jurisdiction must be decided first. He adjourned the matter for one week to allow the parties to exchange documents on this issue. The judge indicated he intends to fix a date for the hearing of the preliminary jurisdictional issue when the application returns before him next Monday. The court noted that O'Flynn previously lacked standing to overturn the PIA and that his appeal to the Supreme Court remains undetermined. O'Gara, who stated he was unaware of the PIA until media reports, expressed that he felt a material breach of trust had occurred, though he denied wishing to pursue a personal dispute.
CCTV footage shows Oliver Doran entered the home of 76‑year‑old Kwok Ping Cheng at Robinson's Court, Dublin, through a rear window on 28/29 April 2021 and stayed for about an hour and thirteen minutes. He allegedly dropped an "axe‑like tool" after leaving the flat and tried to retrieve it, falling in the process. Doran, who lives at Sophia Housing, Cork Street, has pleaded not guilty to the murder. The trial heard that Doran claimed he killed Cheng with an axe he had brought from his own home, but he could not recall details due to intoxication. Witnesses, including the victim's son and a neighbour, described finding Cheng's body covered in blood and with multiple broken bones and scalp lacerations, injuries consistent with an axe blow. The case is being heard by the Central Criminal Court with a jury of nine women and three men.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, witness James Ellis testified that he discovered the body of Kwok Ping Cheng, 76, in his sheltered accommodation on 29 April 2021. Ellis said he had visited the pensioner's home several times a week to check on him, and that on that morning he entered the apartment, found Cheng "covered in blood" in the sitting room, and called emergency services. State Pathologist Dr Heidi Okkers gave evidence that Cheng suffered multiple broken bones and scalp lacerations, most likely caused by an axe, and that his death was due to hypovolemic shock from blood loss. The accused, Oliver Doran, 24, pleaded not guilty to the murder, claiming he was intoxicated and could not remember much of the incident. The prosecution presented CCTV footage and DNA evidence linking Doran to the axe used in the killing. The trial continues before Mr Justice David Keane and a jury.
The trial of 24‑year‑old Oliver Doran, charged with the murder of 76‑year‑old Kwok Ping Cheng in his own flat in Robinson's Court, was postponed on 12 January 2023 because of a minor technical issue. Doran, who lives at Sophia Housing, Cork Street, pleaded not guilty. The case was scheduled to start at the Central Criminal Court that day, but Mr Justice David Keane informed the jury that the prosecution would not open its case due to the technical difficulties. He instructed the jury not to research the case or discuss it outside the courtroom and to base their decision solely on the evidence presented. The trial was rescheduled to begin the following day at 11 a.m. The State's case is presented by Anne‑Marie Lawlor SC, while Michael Bowman SC represents the defence. The trial is expected to last about three weeks.
A 24‑year‑old man, Oliver Doran, is on trial for the murder of 76‑year‑old Kwok Ping Cheng in the victim's flat on Cork Street, Dublin, in 2021. Doran pleaded not guilty. The case is being presented by Anne‑Marie Lawlor SC for the State and defended by Michael Bowman SC. Mr Justice Paul McDermott set the trial for two weeks, possibly a third, and thanked the jury for their participation. The trial will begin tomorrow at 2 pm before Mr Justice David Keane with a jury of nine women and three men.
Ciprian Grozavu, 48, a Romanian national, was convicted of murdering John Forrester, 42, in 2011 at Bridge House, Bandon. The body was tied with cable and dumped in the River Bandon. A 10‑day trial at the Central Criminal Court ended with a unanimous jury verdict and a mandatory life sentence imposed by Mr Justice Paul Carney in March 2014. In December 2022, Mr Justice George Birmingham dismissed a motion by Lorcan Staines SC that the jury should have received a warning about circumstantial evidence. The judge held that the case was based on direct evidence, including admissions by Grozavu and witnesses, and that neither side had requested a warning. The dismissal meant the appeal was not pursued. Grozavu's co‑accused, Catherine O'Connor, also pleaded guilty to the murder of Forrester and was sentenced to life. Grozavu was later found guilty of a second murder, Jonathan Duke, and received an eight‑year sentence for impeding the apprehension of another. Catherine O'Connor was acquitted.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Tesfahannes Weldibanos, aged 50, pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman who had fled her home after a domestic attack in October 2021. The woman, who later moved to Mall House, Cork, described how Weldibanos, in a rage of jealousy, slapped, bit, and threatened her, causing head injuries and a scar to her eye. She escaped the property and called for help, eventually reaching the home of criminal barrister Lorcan Staines, who and his wife called an ambulance. Weldibanos, originally from Eritrea and a 20‑year Irish resident with no prior convictions, was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to a suspended three‑year term. The sentence includes conditions such as paying an additional €3,000 to his former partner within a year and no direct contact for three years. The court noted the assault was a one‑off incident rather than a pattern of abuse.
The High Court approved a Personal Insolvency Arrangement (PIA) for 47‑year‑old John Maloney, a project manager in a development company, allowing him to write off over €3.4 million in debt owed mainly to Cabot Financial. Maloney had secured loans in the 2000s for various property development projects, including a nursing home and land development in County Cork, using personal guarantees. He has worked with creditors to manage debts and dispose of assets. Under the PIA, which lasts 12 months, Maloney will pay a lump sum of €35,000, of which €5,000 covers insolvency application costs, to creditors. The arrangement was presented by Personal Insolvency Practitioner John Butler, represented by Deirdre Miller BL, and the court found it preferable to bankruptcy. No objections were raised, and the PIA will enable Maloney to return to solvency upon completion.
The High Court on 19 December 2022 appointed insolvency expert Shane McCarthy as interim examiner for Silverpail Dairy Ireland Unlimited Company and its related entity, Havana Company Unlimited. The appointment was made in respect of the Siverpail Dairy group, which employs 82 full‑time staff and several contract workers in Fermoy, Co Cork. The court heard that the group, a major manufacturer of ice‑cream and Irish Cream Liqueur, has become insolvent and is unable to pay its debts. It owes €4.16 million to trade creditors and €2.46 million to Revenue, with other creditors including AIB Bank, Arrabawn Co‑Op, IPL Protech Performance Plastics and Carbery Food Ingredients. The court noted that the business has traded successfully for many years but has experienced financial difficulties due to reduced sales during the Covid‑19 pandemic and increased costs such as energy and commodity prices.
The Court of Appeal upheld a 12‑year sentence for John Faulkner, a getaway driver in a burglary gang that targeted elderly homes during mass. Faulkner, aged 40, was convicted of burglary, dangerous driving and endangerment. The judge imposed 12 years for burglary, two years for endangerment and six months for dangerous driving, and disqualified him from driving for 20 years. The appeal argued the sentence was disproportionate compared to co‑accused sentences of nine years with two suspended, but the appellate court held the 12‑year term reflected the totality of offences. The case involved a robbery at a home in Freemont, Charleville, where Faulkner drove the getaway vehicle, pursued by Gardaí, before crashing into a Garda car. The appeal was dismissed. John Faulkner pleaded not guilty.
Paul Coen, 47, of Templemany, Buttevant, was sentenced in May 2021 to four years' imprisonment with the last year suspended for dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm after a head‑on collision at Quartertown Upper, Mallow, where a woman was seriously injured and air‑lifted to hospital. He also received six months' imprisonment for refusing to provide a urine or blood sample to Gardaí. The judge imposed a 10‑year driving ban, describing the crash as "like a bomb exploding." Coen's counsel argued the ban was unduly punitive, citing his mental health issues and rural employment needs. At the Court of Appeal, the ban was reduced by three years to seven, while the sentence remained unchanged. The appeal decision acknowledged the serious injuries sustained by the victim and the impact on her life, but also considered Coen's personal circumstances and the need for rehabilitation. Paul Coen pleaded guilty.
Michael Leonard, aged 63, was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering 72‑year‑old Mary O'Keeffe by burning her alive in a car fire at Doneraile, Co Cork, on 4 February last year. Leonard had met O'Keeffe at a wooded area, poured two gallons of petrol into her car and set it on fire shortly after she arrived. A post‑mortem confirmed she was alive when the fire started and that her death was caused by extreme third‑degree burns and inhalation of carbon monoxide. O'Keeffe, a widow and cook, had known Leonard since 2016 and had ended their relationship in 2019. Leonard, who had no prior convictions, was found in the River Awbeg the day after the murder and was arrested the following day. The court described the attack as the most horrific fire‑related murder and expressed condolences to O'Keeffe's family. The sentencing judge imposed the mandatory life term for murder.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, William O'Riordan, a 48‑year‑old farm labourer from Derry, Banteer, Co Cork, pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual abuse of his niece between September 2001 and March 2006. The judge noted O'Riordan's reduced cognitive function but also that he understood his actions were wrong and showed no remorse. He was sentenced to a three‑year term, with the final two years suspended on conditions of good behaviour and peacekeeping for three years. The sentence will be deferred until early next year to allow his elderly mother, who has postponed surgery, to recover. O'Riordan was remanded on bail until February 7, when he must report to begin serving his sentence. The victim, who was nine to ten at the time, described the abuse as deeply traumatic and expressed fear for her children. The case was brought to court after a formal complaint in July 2018.
In a High Court decision, French film star Dany Boon was awarded €4.8 million in damages after being defrauded by Thierry Fialek‑Birles, who posed as an "Irish Lord from an ancient family." Mr Justice Brian O'Moore found that Mr Boon's funds had been used to support Mr Birles' luxurious lifestyle. The judge imposed receivership and permanent freezing orders on assets linked to Mr Birles, including three sailing boats – the 'Erin' and 'My Fair Lady' in Co Cork and the 'Shamrock' in Genoa – a house in Youghal, Co Cork, and monies in various bank accounts. Mr Birles and several co‑conspirators, such as SSMM, Hibernian Petroleum, United Irish Estates, Hibernian Yachts, and others, were ordered to pay Mr Boon's legal costs. The court also directed the sale of the seized assets to satisfy the judgment. The case remains pending against other named parties.
Ezeon Entertainment Limited, a company that bought and refurbished the pub 'The Silly Goose' in Cork, has asked the High Court to set aside a Personal Insolvency Arrangement (PIA) granted to shareholder John O'Driscoll in March 2022. The PIA was upheld on appeal to the High Court in July. Ezeon, whose shareholders include rugby star Ronan O'Gara and businessman Michael O'Flynn, claims the PIA was fraudulent, alleging that O'Driscoll misappropriated over €15,000 of company funds and that significant stock is missing. The company also argues it was not listed as a creditor and was never properly notified of the PIA, denying it the opportunity to object. O'Gara, who invested €20,000 in 2019, said he was unaware of the PIA until it appeared in the press and that O'Driscoll had "fleeced" him. O'Flynn had previously attempted to challenge the PIA but was dismissed for lacking legal standing.
Eddie Cunningham Cummins and Erica Cunningham Cummins, residents of Heron's Wood, Carrigaline, Co Cork, have brought a High Court judicial review against the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal and the Minister for Justice. The applicants are the children of Eddie Cummins Snr, who was killed in a shooting in Ballincollig, Co Cork, in 2005. The Tribunal initially refused their compensation claim in 2021, citing that the application was made outside the statutory time limit and that the victim's conduct, including previous convictions and the nature of the killing, rendered an award inappropriate under Article 13 of the scheme. The applicants appealed this decision, arguing that Article 13 applies only to the conduct of the applicant, not the deceased victim, and that the children were innocent of their father's actions. The Tribunal upheld the refusal in 2022. In the current proceedings, the applicants seek to quash the Tribunal's decision, claiming it was irrational, breached fair procedures, and violated their rights under EU law, the Irish Constitution, and the European Convention on Human Rights. The matter was heard by Mr Justice Charles Meenan, who granted the applicants permission to bring the challenge on an ex-parte basis. The case was adjourned and made returnable to a date in February.
A 45-year-old Cork woman with extremely low intellectual ability was sentenced by Ms Justice Karen O'Connor after being found guilty by a jury of wilful neglect, sexual assault, and sexual exploitation of her child between 2010 and 2015. The defendant, who does not accept the verdicts, was convicted last June. The court heard she has high intervention needs, including heroin addiction now managed with methadone, and significant childhood trauma. The victim, now in State care, provided a statement detailing ongoing nightmares and fear. The child's father, who was charged with more serious offences, died in custody before trial, retaining his presumption of innocence. Defence counsel Ronan Munro SC highlighted the defendant's post-natal depression and lack of prior loving relationships. Forensic psychologist Dr Patrick Randall assessed her risk of sexual reoffending as low. Justice O'Connor noted the devastating impact on the victim but determined that further incarceration would not benefit society given the defendant's cognitive limitations. The court backdated a three-year prison sentence and suspended the remainder. Conditions require the woman to engage with Tusla regarding child safeguarding measures and to participate in drug and alcohol interventions as advised.
Dany Boon, a well‑known French film star, obtained High Court judgements against Thierry Fialek‑Birles, who presented himself as an "Irish Lord from an ancient family," and several companies linked to him. The court granted Boon judgement for damages of over €6 million, following earlier freezing and disclosure orders that had been secured to trace the missing funds. Boon's solicitor, Rossa Fanning SC, noted that most defendants had either chosen not to contest the claims or had never appeared in court. Judgements were awarded against Irish‑registered entities such as South Sea Merchant's Mariners Ltd Partnership, Hibernian Petroleum Limited Partnership, United Irish Estates Limited, Hibernian Yachts Company Limited, and the Samoa‑registered United Far East Oriental Holdings Ltd, as well as US‑registered American Sail & Motor Navigation Inc, Amalgamated Plantations Company Ltd (British Virgin Islands), and Sail & Motor Navigation Company Limited (Antigua and Barbuda).
In the Court of Appeal, the State maintained that the evidence against Graham Dwyer remains "overwhelming" and that the mobile‑phone call data used at trial was not essential to securing his conviction for the 2012 murder of Elaine O'Hara. Dwyer, aged 50, is appealing his 2015 conviction. His counsel argues that the retention of the call data constitutes an "opportunistic form of mass surveillance" and that the prosecution's reliance on it was improper. The State countered that Dwyer was identified through multiple independent routes: call‑data, text‑message analysis, DNA evidence, and documentary corroboration. The State highlighted that the texts sent from the phone attributed to Dwyer contained details that matched witnesses' statements and documents, including a child's birth‑certificate and a car‑repair bill. The appeal court has heard both sides and reserved judgment. The case remains at the appeal stage, with no new outcome announced.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 2 December 2022, Graham Dwyer, aged 50, was repeatedly interrupted by his legal team while he denied text messages that the prosecution claimed linked him to the murder of Elaine O'Hara in 2012. Dwyer's lawyers argued that the retention of mobile phone data used in the case was an "opportunistic form of mass surveillance" and that the evidence was not essential to securing the guilty verdict. The prosecution, represented by Sean Guerin SC, maintained that the texts, along with DNA and other documentary evidence, proved Dwyer's intent and identity. Dwyer's appeal focused on the admissibility of the phone data, citing European Court of Justice rulings that such retention breaches fundamental rights. The case remains before the Central Criminal Court.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 1 December 2022, lawyers for Graham Dwyer argued that the retention of mobile‑phone data used in his 2015 murder trial was an "opportunistic form of mass surveillance" that breached his rights under the European Charter of Fundamental Rights. Remy Farrell SC contended that the 2011 Communications (Retention of Data) Act, which required mobile‑phone companies to keep data for two years, amounted to indiscriminate surveillance of all phone users, not just suspected criminals, and that the data from Dwyer's work phone had been used to build a detailed picture of his life. Michael Bowman SC added that the trial judge's non‑verbal behaviour and the introduction of nine videos of Dwyer with various women may have unduly influenced the jury. Dwyer, 50, was convicted of murdering 36‑year‑old Elaine O'Hara in 2012 and was sentenced in 2015.
The High Court has approved a Personal Insolvency Arrangement allowing a former property developer to write off approximately €170 million in debt. The 55-year-old developer, based in County Cork, established a property investment and development company roughly two decades ago, which accumulated significant liabilities following the 2008 economic downturn. Creditors including NAMA, Ulster Bank, Pepper Finance, Link Finance, and private individuals were owed substantial sums. Under the approved arrangement, the debtor will provide €80,000 to creditors, who will receive minimal returns on unsecured debts. Two properties located in Bundoran, County Donegal, and County Tipperary will be surrendered to secured creditors. The arrangement, which lasts twelve months, was supported by the clear majority of creditors at a meeting, with only one institution opposing it. Mr Justice Alexander Owens approved the arrangement, noting creditors will receive considerably better terms than if the debtor were declared bankrupt.
In November 2022, the Workplace Relations Commission ruled that Bryan Murphy was constructively dismissed by West Cork Distillers. Murphy claimed he had been recruited for a marketing role in September 2020 but was instead assigned to the bottling line. He said the company promised a graduate marketing position, but no contract was issued until April 2020, when a draft contract was later removed by a director after Murphy pointed out missing promises. Murphy alleged that directors pressured him, belittled him in a WhatsApp group, and denied the marketing role. He resigned under what he described as intolerable pressure. The WRC found Murphy's evidence persuasive, noted a lack of employment contract, and ordered the distillery to pay €2,100 in redress and four weeks' pay for loss of earnings, acknowledging that Murphy found new work almost immediately after resigning.
Michael Leonard, 63, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to murdering 72‑year‑old Mary O'Keeffe in Doneraile, Co. Cork, on 4 February 2021. His body was found in a burning car. Leonard was denied bail and remains in custody. The court adjourned sentencing to 14 December to allow the family to give an impact statement. No evidence of the murder was heard at the arraignment. Leonard, a former Coillte employee, stated he would not approach any witness or speak to anyone about the case except his solicitor. The post‑mortem, conducted by Assistant State Pathologist Margaret Bolster, was not released. O'Keeffe, a cook from Dromahane, is survived by her three sons. The case is pending sentencing.
A 40‑year‑old man, Christopher O'Sullivan, pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of 53‑year‑old Timothy Hourihane, who died from injuries after an assault at a tented village in Cork City on 13 October 2019. O'Sullivan was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court on Friday, where he answered "guilty" to the charge of unlawful killing. The court accepted the plea to manslaughter and ordered that the matter be sent for sentencing on 30 January in Cork, with a governor's report to be prepared.
Marlies Walsh, 50, of Pedlers Cross, Clonakilty, pleaded guilty to one count of harassment at Temple Street Hospital, Dublin, after contacting a doctor and hospital staff by phone and email from December 2017 to August 2020. She sought a patient‑advocacy role for her 20‑year‑old son, a kidney‑transplant patient, but the hospital declined. Walsh repeatedly called, emailed, and visited the hospital, sending parcels that alarmed the doctor. A formal complaint was made to Gardaí in February 2019. She was charged in April 2020 and faced bail conditions to stay away from the hospital, which she initially breached. In August 2020 she complied. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a two‑year sentence, suspended on strict conditions, and banned Walsh from contacting the doctor or the hospital for 20 years. The court noted her guilty plea, good character, and the stress of her son's illness.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Laimonas Baltrusis, aged 31, was sentenced to five years and three months in prison for unlawfully possessing €280,000 worth of cocaine and a semi‑automatic pistol. Gardaí discovered the drugs and firearm in hidden compartments of two cars, accessed by a button under the steering wheel when the engine ran and lights were on. Baltrusis admitted possession of cocaine at two addresses on 19 and 20 September 2020 and possession of the pistol on 20 September 2020. He cooperated with investigators, pointing to a kitchen shelf where 22 g of cocaine and €3,250 in cash were found. The court noted his prior minor convictions, his completion of a rehabilitation programme, and his apology to the court. Judge Martin Nolan emphasised that Baltrusis had created the problems for himself by becoming involved in the drug trade. Laimonas Baltrusis pleaded guilty.
A 26‑year‑old man from Cork, Michael Mullen, pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing child pornography and had a further three counts considered. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to a suspended two‑and‑a‑half‑year term with strict conditions and ordered him to be supervised by the Probation Service for 18 months. The judge noted that the material found by Gardaí was serious and in the explicit range, and that it was not accidental. Mullen was arrested in April 2019 during Operation Ketch after a Dropbox account linked to his former address was investigated. Garda Tara Power described the material as including images and videos of children aged six to twelve, some depicting sexual acts. Mullen cooperated, handing over a phone and providing a PIN. He had held the images for weeks and had wanted to inform Gardaí.
The High Court on 15 November 2022 appointed joint provisional liquidators to LMC MEP Ltd, a mechanical engineering firm that had fallen into financial distress. The court heard that the company's difficulties were caused by the Covid‑19 pandemic and "extraordinary" price inflation in construction materials, which had increased the cost of a major house‑building project in Dublin by €1 million, making the contract "disastrously loss‑making". LMC MEP Ltd has a negative net asset position of more than €6.66 million and owes over €3.5 million to trade suppliers, with additional debts to Revenue and other group entities. The firm had entered a €10 million contract with BAM for a hotel and 412 apartments in Newmarket Square, Dublin 8, but inflation added €1 million to its costs, rendering the contract loss‑making.