Court archive
Court reports mentioning Killygordon, Donegal
2026-02-16 · Donegal
A man from Killygordon in Donegal has been sentenced to 12 years imprisonment, with the final six months suspended, following his conviction at the Central Criminal Court for a series of sexual offences. Eunan Merritt, aged 56, was found guilty by jury after an 11-day trial of eight counts of rape, four counts of oral rape, and two counts of sexual assault committed between June 1999 and September 2003. The offences were perpetrated against a woman who waived her anonymity, detailing in her victim impact statement how the abuse had fundamentally altered her life trajectory and ongoing mental health. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo noted that Merritt had exploited his victim's vulnerability over an extended period and rejected limited cooperation with gardaí as mitigation. The judge observed that the defendant presented contrasting versions of himself to his victims and the public. Merritt maintains he does not accept the jury's verdicts.
2023-05-22 · Donegal
Richard Burke has been sentenced to fourteen years' imprisonment by the Central Criminal Court for the manslaughter of Jasmine McMonagle. The 32-year-old from Killygordon, County Donegal, was found guilty of manslaughter following Ms McMonagle's death on 4 January 2019 at Forest Park, Killygordon. Mr Justice Paul Burns determined that Burke's responsibility was substantially diminished by mental disorder, though he retained considerable culpability for the killing. The judge imposed a sentence of fifteen years with the final twelve months suspended for five years, backdated to Burke's initial custody. Burke must undergo psychiatric assessment before release and comply with prescribed medical treatment and probation requirements or face serving the suspended portion. Ms McMonagle, aged 28, was discovered deceased in her home following a three-hour standoff with gardaí. Her two young daughters were present in the house at the time but unharmed. The trial, held in Monaghan earlier in 2023, heard evidence from two psychiatrists regarding Burke's mental state at the time of the offence. The unnamed man was acquitted.
2023-04-18 · Donegal
At the Central Criminal Court in Monaghan, victim impact statements were heard in the case of Richard Burke, who pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Jasmine McMonagle on 4 January 2019 at Forest Park, Killygordon, County Donegal. The 28-year-old was found dead in her home following a three-hour standoff with gardaí. Burke, aged 32, had initially pleaded not guilty to murder but accepted responsibility for manslaughter. A jury unanimously returned a manslaughter verdict last month after hearing psychiatric evidence that Burke was suffering from a mental disorder substantially diminishing his responsibility. During today's hearing, Ms McMonagle's mother, Jacqueline, described the devastating impact on her family, whilst her daughter spoke of ongoing trauma and separation from her sibling. The court heard Burke has 23 previous convictions. Justice Paul Burns remanded him in custody pending sentencing on 22 May.
2023-04-17 · Dublin
The Court of Appeal has issued a ruling in the case of Patrick Dowdall, the appellant in the Regency Hotel shooting trial. Dowdall had previously pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of facilitating the shooting of David Byrne. The specific allegation was that he participated in activity intending to facilitate a serious offence by a criminal organisation, namely the murder of Byrne, by making a room available at the Regency Hotel in Drumcondra, Dublin 9, on February 4, 2016. Following his initial conviction, Dowdall was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment. However, after successful appeals, he was re-sentenced to seven years and 11 months. The current appeal resulted in a further reduction, with Dowdall now sentenced to four years' imprisonment. The procedural stage is an appeal, and the matter has been finalised with this revised sentence. Co-accused Jason Bonney was also involved in the proceedings, though specific details of his plea or sentence are not detailed in this summary. The court emphasized that the allegations against Dowdall were based on his admission of guilt to facilitating the crime, rather than direct participation in the shooting itself. The decision reflects the appellate court's review of the sentencing and charges, resulting in a reduced term of custody for the appellant.
2023-03-23 · Donegal
Richard Burke, aged 32, of Killygordon, County Donegal, has been found guilty of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility at the Central Criminal Court. He was acquitted of murder in connection with the death of Jasmine McMonagle at Forest Park, Killygordon on January 4, 2019. The jury unanimously agreed on the manslaughter verdict following evidence from two psychiatrists that Burke's mental disorder substantially diminished his responsibility at the time of the killing. The trial judge noted that all evidence pointed toward the manslaughter conclusion, and neither prosecution nor defence disputed the psychiatric findings. Burke had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for April 18, at which the court will hear victim impact statements from Ms McMonagle's family.
2023-03-23 · Donegal
A man has been convicted of the murder of a woman in County Donegal in January 2019. The victim, a 28-year-old mother, was fatally beaten and strangled in her home in Killygordon following a distressed emergency call. Gardaí from Lifford attended the property within twenty minutes of the call. Armed response units conducted a forced entry after observing a child at an upstairs window. The accused was subdued with a taser after confronting officers with a hammer and refusing to comply with instructions. During subsequent garda interviews at Letterkenny station, the man admitted to the killing. He claimed he had lost control after becoming aware that the woman had contacted gardaí. Forensic psychiatric evidence presented at trial indicated the accused had experienced psychotic illness, auditory hallucinations, and persistent delusional beliefs about the victim's behaviour. The court heard evidence of his extensive history of substance abuse and previous psychiatric intervention. Two young children were present in the property at the time but were found unharmed.
2023-03-22 · Donegal
The Central Criminal Court in Monaghan heard testimony on 22 March from two psychiatrists who both concluded that Richard Burke was suffering from a mental disorder that substantially diminished his responsibility at the time of the alleged killing. Mr Burke, aged 32, of Killygordon, County Donegal, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in relation to the death of Jasmine McMonagle at Forest Park, Killygordon on 4 January 2019. Forensic psychiatrist Dr Anthony Kearns told the jury that Mr Burke reported persistent delusional beliefs about Ms McMonagle's infidelity and claims she had given drugs to her children, beliefs found to be entirely false and without foundation. Dr Kearns also noted Mr Burke's history of substance abuse beginning in adolescence and periods of homelessness. Consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Dearbhála Duffy stated Mr Burke was acutely psychotic at the time of the alleged offences and shortly thereafter. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns and jury.
2023-03-21 · Donegal
Richard Burke, aged thirty-two and from Killygordon in County Donegal, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in connection with the death of Jasmine McMonagle at Forest Park on January 4, 2019. The Central Criminal Court trial, sitting in Monaghan, heard evidence that Mr Burke told gardaí during interviews at Letterkenny Garda Station that he punched and strangled Ms McMonagle with a rope after discovering she had contacted gardaí for assistance. He described losing control of his temper, stating his mind went blank during the assault. A post mortem examination confirmed Ms McMonagle died from ligature strangulation with blunt and sharp force injuries as contributing factors. The court heard gardaí responded to a 999 call within twenty minutes and encountered Mr Burke at the scene holding a meat cleaver, which he used to strike an officer's clothing. Ms McMonagle's two young daughters were found unharmed in the property. The trial continues.
2023-03-20 · Donegal
A murder trial opened at the Central Criminal Court in Monaghan on 20 March regarding the death of Jasmine McMonagle at Forest Park, Killygordon, County Donegal on 4 January 2019. Richard Burke, aged 32, of Killygordon pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The State outlined that Ms McMonagle, a mother of two, died from strangulation and blows inflicted by her former partner. Gardaí from Lifford responded to her emergency call that morning and discovered her body after a three-hour standoff during which Burke wielded a meat cleaver. Her children were found unharmed. The trial will focus on Burke's mental state at the time of the killing rather than the circumstances of death, which he acknowledges. Two consultant psychiatrists will give evidence that Burke suffered from a mental disorder substantially diminishing his responsibility. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns.
2023-03-20 · Donegal
A jury has been sworn in at the Central Criminal Court in Monaghan to hear the trial of a 32-year-old man charged with the murder of Jasmine McMonagle in County Donegal in January 2019. Richard Burke, with an address in Killygordon, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The alleged offence occurred at Forest Park, Killygordon on 4 January 2019. Mr Justice Paul Burns informed the jury panel of twelve that the trial is expected to last approximately two weeks. The prosecution will open its case this afternoon. Both the accused and the deceased were resident in Killygordon at the time of the alleged incident.
2022-12-13 · Dublin
In the ongoing appeal proceedings concerning the murder of David Byrne, ex-Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall, a State's witness who pleaded guilty to facilitating the killing, denied being a "master manipulator" during cross-examination. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC alleged Dowdall told "two big lies" regarding Gerard Hutch's alleged confession and the collection of hotel keys. Dowdall, who admitted to falsely imprisoning and threatening Alexander Hurley, stated he deeply regretted torturing Hurley. He clarified that his father, Patrick Dowdall, was sentenced to eight years for the same offences, later reduced to four years on appeal, while Jonathan was re-sentenced to seven years and 11 months. The court heard that Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, who pleaded not guilty to charges of participating in or contributing to Byrne's murder by providing access to motor vehicles, remain defendants in the case. Dowdall denied involvement in moving AK-47s or bomb-making, describing such claims as lies or bravado. He asserted that the feud between the Hutch and Kinahan families stemmed from an alleged attempt by the Hutch brothers to steal money from Daniel Kinahan, not from the Kinahans initiating violence. The matter remains at the appeal stage, with no finalisation recorded.
2022-12-12 · Dublin
At the Regency trial, Jonathan Dowdall testified that Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch claimed he and another man, 'Mago' Gately, shot David Byrne during the 2016 incident at the Regency Hotel. Dowdall also stated that Hutch expressed regret over the killing. The trial involves the murder of David Byrne, who was killed during a boxing weigh-in at the Regency Hotel on February 5, 2016. Patrick Dowdall (65) was previously jailed for two years before the trial started after admitting his role in booking the hotel room for the incident. Paul Murphy, Jason Bonney, Jonathan Dowdall, and Patrick Hutch Junior are currently on trial, with all pleading not guilty. The case is in the sentence stage, with no finalisation yet. The trial has heard evidence about the feud between the Hutch and Kinahan families, including the involvement of the New IRA and the discovery of assault rifles linked to the murder scene. The matter remains ongoing with no conclusion reached.
2022-11-01 · Dublin
A surveillance garda testified in the Special Criminal Court that he saw Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch, accused of the murder of Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne, riding a motorcycle out of former Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall's home on February 12, 2016. Gerard Hutch (59), last of The Paddocks, Clontarf, Dublin 3, denies the murder of Mr Byrne (33) during a boxing weigh-in at the Regency Hotel on February 5, 2016. Jonathan Dowdall (44), a married father of four with an address at Navan Road, Cabra, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty in advance of the trial to a lesser charge of facilitating the Hutch gang by making a hotel room available ahead of the murder. Jonathan Dowdall has been jailed by the Special Criminal Court for four years for facilitating the Hutch gang in the notorious murder of Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne. The former Dublin councillor is currently being assessed for the Witness Protection Program after agreeing to testify against former co-accused Gerard Hutch, who is charged with Mr Byrne's murder. The Special Criminal Court has already viewed CCTV footage of what the State says is Gerard Hutch making two separate journeys to Northern Ireland with Dowdall on February 20 and March 7, 2016. A garda known as Member BZ testified that he observed Jonathan Dowdall's grey Toyota Land Cruiser parked opposite Forest Park in Killygordon in Co Donegal at 11am on February 20 2016 and that it was beside a silver Renault Megane Scenic. The Megane left the area at 2.35pm with two males in the vehicle. Another officer called Member BU told Ms Murphy that at 3.51pm on March 9 2016, Shane Rowan was observed carrying a long cardboard box as he walked down the escalator of Clarehall Shopping Centre before entering Carphone Warehouse. In July 2016, Rowan from Forest Park, Killygordan, in County Donegal was jailed for seven and a half years for possession of assault rifles and ammunition. He was also sentenced to a concurrent sentence of four years in prison for IRA membership, backdated to March 9 2016. Evidence has also been given that bullet cases found at the Regency Hotel murder scene were fired by the three AK-47 assault rifles. Gerard Hutch's two co-accused – Paul Murphy (59), of Cherry Avenue, Swords, Co Dublin and Jason Bonney (50), of Drumnigh Wood, Portmarnock, Dublin 13 have pleaded not guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder of David Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. The evidence of the NSU members continues tomorrow before Ms Justice Tara Burns, presiding, sitting with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Grainne Malone.
2020-10-27 · Donegal
A trial date has been set for a man accused of murdering a Donegal woman. Richard Burke, aged 28, of Forest Park in Killygordon, is charged with the murder of Jasmine McMonagle at her home in the same area on January 4, 2019. Ms McMonagle, also aged 28, was found dead at her residence on that date. The Central Criminal Court has scheduled the trial to commence on July 5, 2021, before Mr Justice Michael White. Burke has been granted free legal aid in connection with the proceedings.
2019-04-29 · Donegal
The Central Criminal Court has scheduled a trial for June 10, 2020, in the case of Richard Burke, who faces a charge of murder in connection with the death of Jasmine McMonagle. Ms McMonagle, aged 28, was discovered deceased at her residence in Forest Park, Killygordon, County Donegal, on January 4. Burke, also aged 27 and from the same address, was brought before Sligo District Court on January 5 and charged with murder contrary to common law. At a hearing before Mr Justice Michael White in Dublin, the court was informed the trial is expected to extend over three weeks. Burke remains remanded in custody pending trial.