Andrew Gibney, 25, of Mulhuddart, Dublin 15, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by a Central Criminal Court jury. The case, an appeal resulting in a retrial after his 2014 life sentence was overturned, concerned the alleged killing of Gerard Burnett, 28, at Castlecurragh Vale on August 21, 2012. Gibney had pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. Prosecution counsel alleged Gibney was part of a joint enterprise to murder Mr Burnett, while defence counsel argued the evidence supported a lesser intent. The jury deliberated for over seven hours before returning their verdict. Mr Justice Paul Butler adjourned sentencing until December 13 and remanded Gibney in custody until that date. Gibney had previously been convicted of the murder and sentenced to life imprisonment in January 2014, but that conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal in November last year, ordering a retrial. The court heard evidence that Gibney admitted to stabbing the deceased three times in the side. The matter was adjourned for sentencing.
Celina O'Driscoll, 47, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and resisting arrest after she threw an empty pint glass at Maria Delaney during a fight in the Greyhound Inn, Blanchardstown, on 31 July 2016. Delaney suffered a head injury that required three stitches. O'Driscoll, who had been intoxicated and claimed she was nervous about a night out with work colleagues, was described by the court as having behaved "disgracefully" towards Gardaí and was "extremely aggressive" when officers attempted to arrest her. She received a two‑year suspended sentence, was ordered to pay €500 to Gardaí and given one year to raise a similar amount for Delaney. O'Driscoll has seven prior convictions, including larceny and drug possession, and has two teenage children. She has worked as a cleaner and now as a gym receptionist, and has been drug‑free for seven years.
During the fourth day of the 25‑year‑old Andrew Gibney's trial, the court heard that he had voluntarily approached a Garda station on 28 August 2012 and told officers that he had been stabbed in the shoulder by the deceased, Gerard Burnett, with a screwdriver four years earlier. Gibney also claimed that the two men had since made amends and that he had no intention to murder Burnett, who was 28 and a father of one. He admitted stabbing Burnett three times with a knife on the night of 21 August 2012, but said he was drunk and that the incident was a "blur." Gibney said he had cleaned the knife with boiling water and that he had no knowledge of the depth of the wounds. The prosecution had charged him with murder; he had pleaded not guilty and had no prior convictions.
Michael Power, aged 22, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for a minor role in a group fight that took place on Jervis Street Upper, Dublin 1, on 24 April 2015. Power, who had 38 previous convictions, was present at the scene with his cousin and engaged in an aggressive stance, raising his fists and fighting several men. His cousin was punched by another party and suffered a serious brain injury after falling and hitting his head. Power was not directly involved in the punch that injured his cousin. He pleaded guilty to violent disorder at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge noted Power's role was not the worst but acknowledged his participation in the fight, and imposed the 18‑month sentence to run concurrently with his existing ten‑year sentence for a serious assault imposed earlier that year.
During the third day of the 25‑year‑old Andrew Gibney's trial, the jury heard that he admitted to stabbing Gerard Burnett, 28, three times in the side with a knife. Gibney had come to Blanchardstown Garda Station of his own free will, telling officers he was involved in the incident and that the man was dead and needed peace. Sergeant Patrick Traynor reported that Gibney had a knife on the night of the incident and used it on Burnett. Chief State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that Burnett's body had 30 knife injuries, six of which were deep stab wounds to the right side of the chest, causing internal injuries to the lung, heart and liver. Gibney was arrested for assault causing serious harm. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a jury of five men and seven women. Andrew Gibney pleaded not guilty.
Daniel Farrell, aged 22, was jailed for eight months after a burglary at Castlewood, Clonsilla on 5 May 2016. He fled the scene while his two accomplices were restrained by the house's residents. Garda Mark Quill identified Farrell through a fingerprint left on the window frame, matching the one found inside. Farrell pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He had three prior convictions. The court noted his difficult childhood, drug avoidance until age 19, and association with a negative peer group. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑year sentence, suspending all but eight months on strict conditions.
Jadesola Agbalade, 51, pleaded guilty on 20 July 2016 to knowingly distributing child pornography after forwarding a clip that showed a child aged between two and five being raped. She claimed she sent the video via WhatsApp to warn a friend about the dangers of leaving her children with her boyfriend. The clip was discovered during an investigation of a man arrested for credit card fraud at Dublin Airport in July 2017; the phone used to send the clip was traced back to Agbalade. She admitted to receiving and sending the clip, and also sent it to a female friend with three children, who has not been identified. Agbalade has no prior convictions, lives in temporary accommodation, and has one teenage child and two adult sons. Judge Karen O'Connor adjourned the case to 1 March 2018 to obtain a psychological report, citing that Agbalade did not understand the gravity of her actions.
In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Jason Kearney, 37, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for possession for sale or supply of drugs over €13,000. Kearney, described as a "drugs courier", was involved in the handover of nearly €250,000 worth of cocaine. Garda surveillance of co‑accused Trevor Brunton, 35, led to the interception of both men's vehicles on 28 July 2016. Eight blocks of cocaine, weighing just over three kilos and wrapped in silver duct tape, were seized. The drugs had an estimated street value of €245,000. Kearney pleaded guilty to the offence; Brunton pleaded guilty on a later court date and will be sentenced in January. Kearney's sentence follows a 2008 conviction that carried seven years with four suspended, and the law mandates a ten‑year term for a second conviction of this nature. The judge agreed to review the sentence after six years.
John Power, 28, pleaded guilty to burglary and unlawful taking of a car at Baggot Court, Dublin, on 22 June 2017. The victim used a "locator app" on his stolen mobile phone to pinpoint Power's location in a laneway off Parnell Street. Garda Enda Dowling reported that the occupiers woke to find their home burgled and car stolen while they slept. Power was found sleeping rough in the laneway, and the victim later discovered him with a Nike bag that matched his own. Gardaí recovered the stolen mobile phone, laptop, tablet and other items from the bag. CCTV showed Power opening the victim's car with the key fob, driving off, and later returning on a bike. Power, who has 75 previous convictions, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended on strict conditions. The judge noted the burglary was non‑violent and a crime of opportunity, and that Power had expressed a desire to rehabilitate.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Darren Gleeson, 35, pleaded guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on 18 May 2017. The court heard that the Special Detective Unit had investigated attempts to import explosives into Dublin. Two parties were identified on the Dark Net, one using the alias "guilleoteen" who sought two grenades and paid with Bitcoin. The grenades were intercepted and a controlled delivery was arranged to Gleeson's address, where he accepted the package. Gleeson was arrested for IRA membership and has prior convictions for knife possession, burglary and robbery. He pleaded guilty early, and the court remanded him in custody until 7 December when sentencing will occur. The case remains at the membership charge stage.
David Dowling, 49, of Sorrell Heath, Clonsilla, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for laundering €169,000 of drug proceeds for a criminal gang. He pleaded guilty in July to two charges of handling the proceeds of crime at Westend Retail Business Park and at Sorrell Heath. Gardaí seized €69,610 in a van and an additional €99,020 in Dowling's home, along with a vacuum‑packing machine used to conceal cash. The court described Dowling as a "good family man" who was an "essential cog" in the drug‑dealing enterprise, moving money to where it was needed. Judge Martin Nolan noted Dowling's 17 prior convictions but did not consider them in sentencing. The driver of the other vehicle received 240 hours of community service. No further appeals or outcomes were mentioned in the article.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Jason Halpin, 45, was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment for attempting to rob Lloyds Pharmacy in Castleknock on 9 March 2016. The offence was thwarted by an off‑duty Garda armed with pepper spray, who entered the shop at 7.30 pm after receiving a call about suspicious activity. Halpin, wearing a hoodie and a face mask, entered the pharmacy, pushed a female customer toward the till and shouted, "Give me the money." He was immediately pushed to the ground and subdued with pepper spray, which also affected two staff members and a customer, all of whom later described the incident as terrifying. No money was taken and Halpin did not produce or threaten to use a knife that was reportedly hidden in his tracksuit. He had 25 prior convictions, including robbery and drug misuse, and was on bail for another offence at the time of the robbery. Jason Halpin pleaded guilty.
Jadesola Agbalade, 51, pleaded guilty on 20 July 2016 to knowingly distributing child pornography after forwarding a clip via WhatsApp to warn a friend about leaving her children with her boyfriend. The clip showed a child aged two to five being raped by a man and had circulated internationally since about 2014. Gardaí traced the phone number to Agbalade, who admitted receiving and sending the clip. She is currently in temporary homeless accommodation and has no prior convictions. The court heard that she had one teenage child and two adult sons at university. Judge Karen O'Connor received a detailed probation report and adjourned finalisation of the case to 21 November 2017. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
At the Special Criminal Court, Darren Gleeson, 34, admitted to being a member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on 18 May 2017. He pleaded guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation. The court, presided over by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy with Judges Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Cormac Dunne, remanded him in custody until 14 November, when sentencing will occur. Paul Greene SC suggested a possible re‑arraignment on the charge.
A 51‑year‑old mother of three, Jadesola Agbalade, pleaded guilty on 20 July 2016 to knowingly distributing child pornography after she forwarded a clip of a child being raped to a friend via WhatsApp. The clip, showing a child aged between two and five, was an international recording that had circulated since about 2014. Gardaí discovered the clip when investigating a man arrested for credit‑card fraud at Dublin Airport in July 2017; the man's phone contained the clip and the sender's number traced back to Agbalade. She admitted to sending the clip to a female friend with three young children to warn her against leaving her children with her boyfriend. Agbalade has no prior convictions, lives in temporary accommodation, and will be sentenced on 9 November. The court ordered a probation report and remanded her on continuing bail.
During a Special Criminal Court hearing on 25 October 2017, the court ruled that members of the public would be excluded from the trial of Darren Gleeson, a 34‑year‑old Dublin resident accused of IRA membership. Gleeson pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation. Prosecutor Fiona Murphy applied to protect the identity of an undercover FBI agent, known as Agent Peter, citing risks to his life and ongoing operations. The court granted the application, ordering the public's exclusion while Agent Peter gave evidence. Gleeson was remanded in custody until the trial resumes next Tuesday.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 20‑year‑old Nicolae Carmen pleaded guilty to stealing €10,000 worth of jewellery from an elderly couple in Artane on 2 October 2015. Carmen, who had previously been convicted five times for theft and fraud, posed as a Spanish charity collector. She knocked on the door of an 84‑year‑old man, received €5, and asked to use the bathroom. While the man waited, she went upstairs, returned, thanked him and left. The couple's wife later found the jewellery missing from a bedroom box. The stolen items included a diamond engagement ring, charm bracelet, gold chains, an eternity ring, earrings and cuff links. A palm print from the box matched Carmen. None of the items were recovered. The judge adjourned sentencing to December to consider the couple's household income.
Nassour Saleh, a 25‑year‑old Palestinian national, was given a suspended two‑year sentence for endangering Gardaí after a high‑speed chase on Navan Road in 2008. He had been 16 at the time and was not licensed to drive. In 2010 he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving without insurance and driving under the influence of cannabis, receiving a six‑month suspended detention and a four‑year driving disqualification. The case was adjourned for a probation report, but Saleh fled to Norway, where he lived and worked as a mechanic for six years. He returned to Ireland last year, was arrested during a random Garda check, and was sentenced by Judge Terence O'Sullivan, who noted the unusual circumstances and the fact that no one was injured. The sentence was suspended on conditions including two years of probation supervision. The court emphasised the protection of front‑line services and the seriousness of the offence.
Two men, Laurence Murphy, 60, and Ray Kennedy, 38, were granted bail by the Special Criminal Court after being charged with membership of the unlawful organisation Oglaigh na hEireann (IRA) in connection with the murder of Peter Butterly, 35, who was shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, Co. Meath on 6 March 2013. Solicitor Rioghnach Corbett informed the court that the State consented to the bail applications, subject to conditions. Murphy's bail was set on a €100 bond and a €10,000 independent surety; Kennedy's bail was on a €100 bond and a €16,000 independent surety. Conditions require both men to surrender passports, not apply for new travel documents, sign daily at an agreed Garda station, reside at an agreed address, observe a curfew from 12 am to 7 am, stay within jurisdiction, avoid Northern Ireland, refrain from attending Republican commemorations, and not contact prosecution witnesses.
Four men appeared before an out-of-term sitting of the Special Criminal Court on charges arising from the death of Peter Butterly. Mr Butterly, aged thirty-five, was shot outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, County Meath on 6 March 2013. Michael McDermott, aged fifty-eight, from Ballinagh, County Cavan, faces a murder charge alongside allegations of membership of an unlawful organisation and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. Laurence Murphy, aged sixty, and Frank Murphy, aged fifty-eight, both from Bettystown, County Meath, are charged with membership of an unlawful organisation. Frank Murphy additionally faces murder and firearm possession charges. Ray Kennedy, aged thirty-eight, from Dublin, is charged with membership of an unlawful organisation. All four were remanded in custody pending their return to the Special Criminal Court on 14 September.
Darren Gleeson, 35, a Dublin father of one, was charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army on 18 May 2017. He was remanded in custody after the alleged offence and applied for bail on 31 August 2017. The Special Criminal Court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, rejected the bail application. The court cited a probable flight risk and noted that both Gleeson's daughter's mother and his own mother offered €3,000 each for bail. Gleeson remains in custody until 4 October for the production of evidence.
Ciara McGlynn, 43, of Elmwood, Clonsilla, pleaded guilty to robbing €10,700 from a health shop in Blanchardstown Shopping Centre on 29 February 2015. She disguised herself as a young man, wearing a hoodie and hat, and cycled up to the store manager, who was leaving the centre with the takings in a bag. McGlynn seized the bag and was caught by Gardaí on the scene. She has significant psychiatric issues, including post‑natal depression and post‑traumatic stress disorder, and was suffering financial hardship at the time. Judge Karen O'Connor, describing the crime as "bizarre" and "acting out of character", imposed an 18‑month suspended sentence, noting McGlynn's remorse and unlikely future court appearances. The manager, now in the UK, declined to give a victim impact statement. McGlynn has two prior convictions for road traffic offences.
A 34‑year‑old Dublin man, Christopher McDonald, was found guilty of murdering 36‑year‑old Keith Walker in a car park at the Blanchardstown Pigeon Racing Club on 12 June 2015. The jury, after a little over two hours of deliberation, returned a unanimous verdict. McDonald had pleaded not guilty. He was described as having been dressed in women's clothing, carrying a handbag, a black wig and a transparent latex glove, and had been seen by witnesses in the area. CCTV footage showed a man in a handbag entering the car park at 6.01 pm, pulling a 9 mm Makarov sub‑machine gun from the handbag and firing 18 shots before escaping. The gun, found a kilometre away, bore McDonald's DNA on the wig and glove. Justice Patrick McCarthy sentenced McDonald to life imprisonment. The court heard the victim's wife and sister describe the devastating impact of the murder on their family.
A jury will return to the Central Criminal Court on Monday to decide the verdict in the trial of Christopher McDonald, 34, accused of murdering 36‑year‑old Keith Walker with a sub‑machine gun while dressed in women's clothing. The trial, described by Justice Patrick McCarthy as a 'whodunnit', focuses on whether the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt that McDonald was the shooter. McDonald has pleaded not guilty. The jury's deliberation will consider whether the accused intended to kill or cause serious injury, given Walker was shot 18 times.
In a 2017 murder trial, defence counsel Bernard Condon SC argued that Gardaí had handled evidence with "great laxity," citing gaps and inconsistencies in the investigation of the 2015 shooting of 36‑year‑old Keith Walker. Condon highlighted unanswered questions, such as the absence of dark glasses that a detective claimed to have found, the four‑day gap between Walker's death and the discovery of a bag, gun, wig and glove, and conflicting witness statements about the identity of the man seen in women's clothing. He also questioned the forensic evidence linking the items to Christopher McDonald, noting that DNA from other sources was present and that McDonald's DNA on a glove was insufficient to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Condon urged the jury to consider these shortcomings and to avoid jumping to conclusions, advocating a fair verdict of not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, the trial of Christopher McDonald, 34, accused of a machine‑gun murder while dressed as a woman, is proceeding with the jury set to hear closing speeches. McDonald, from Dublin's East Wall, pleaded not guilty to the killing of 36‑year‑old Keith Walker in the car park of the Blanchardstown Pigeon Racing Club on 12 June 2015. The court heard limited evidence today, including testimony from Superintendent Colm Murphy, who was cross‑examined by Bernard Condon SC. Murphy confirmed that a doctor had examined McDonald after his arrest and noted the loss of his front two upper teeth, and that the arrest received significant media attention. Garda Sean Kelly testified that DNA and firearms residue samples were taken from McDonald at Blanchardstown Garda Station, though no firearms residue was found on him. DNA was found on a glove and wig that gardaí say were found next to the gun used in the attack.
Jonathan Duggan, 27, pleaded guilty to one count of theft at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He entered Tom Stanley's Newsagents in Blanchardstown Shopping Centre to buy a drink, saw €6,500 in notes on the counter, grabbed them and fled. The shop assistant chased him, alerted security, and he was apprehended and returned to the centre. Duggan later handed the money back. He claimed he had seen the cash and "took a chance", and said he had not threatened anyone. He was living in Cork, visiting his partner and their young daughter in Dublin. Duggan has a long history of heroin addiction, having started at 15, and 91 prior convictions, many linked to his drug use. His partner, a former heroin user, has been clean for four years. The court noted his remorse and the support he has. Judge Gerard Griffin sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, backdated to 9 February 2017.
During a trial on 4 July 2017, forensic evidence linked Christopher McDonald, 34, to a murder weapon and items found near a sub‑machine gun used to shoot Keith Walker 18 times on 12 June 2015. Dr Edward Connolly of Forensic Science Ireland reported DNA matching McDonald on a clear plastic glove and a black wig, with a probability of less than one in a thousand million that an unrelated person had the same profile. The DNA on the gun and a brown handbag was unsuitable for interpretation, and the ear plug carried a different DNA profile. Dr Thomas Hannigan confirmed firearms residue on the glove and wig, suggesting they were worn by the shooter, but found no residue on swabs from McDonald. He offered possible explanations for the absence of residue, including that McDonald may not have been the shooter or that residue was lost in the 12 hours after the shooting. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In a case that set a legal precedent, Richard Dekker, aged 30, was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court in March of murdering 17‑year‑old Daniel McAnaspie in February 2010. The body of McAnaspie, who had been under HSE care, was discovered by a farmer in a seven‑foot ditch in Rathfeigh, County Meath, 30 km from the murder site. Dekker's conviction followed a week‑long trial and more than eight hours of jury deliberation. The verdict was unanimous, and the court remanded Dekker in custody pending a sentencing hearing on 3 April. The case is notable because it is the first time the Criminal Justice Procedure Act 2010 was used to retry a person after an earlier acquittal. Dekker's lawyers applied for, and were granted, an extension of time to appeal the conviction, which had been lodged three weeks late, by Justice George Birmingham during case‑management procedures in the Court of Appeal.
In the trial of Christopher McDonald, a jury viewed CCTV footage of the moment 36‑year‑old Keith Walker was shot 18 times with a sub‑machine gun in the car park of the Blanchardstown Pigeon Racing Club. The footage, compiled by Garda Patricia Davey, shows Walker driving alone in a dark‑coloured car and arriving at the club at 5.31 pm. At 6 pm he is seen speaking to an unknown male; a minute later an individual in black clothing approaches, takes an item from a bag, and shoots Walker. The shooter, described as wearing black clothes, runners and long dark hair, then leaves the scene and runs away. Additional footage from a house on Sheepmoor Grove and a Lidl supermarket shows people walking by the area minutes after the shooting. A transparent latex glove was later found at a laneway near the club, but no other items were collected by the Gardaí. Christopher McDonald pleaded not guilty.
Eoin Giles, a 21‑year‑old former PC World employee, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing a quantity of Apple MacBook laptops, Apple watches and iPads from the Blanchardstown store on 15 April 2016. The judge, Karen O'Connor, described the offence as a great breach of trust and noted an element of greed. A probation report assessed him as low risk of re‑offending and suitable for community service. Giles was ordered to carry out 240 hours of community service instead of a two‑year prison term and paid €1,000 to the court as a token of remorse. He had sold the stolen goods to a man later identified as Muhammed Amjad, who received a suspended 18‑month sentence for handling stolen goods. Giles had no prior convictions and expressed deep regret for his actions.
The murder trial of Christopher McDonald, 34, from East Wall, Dublin, continued at the Central Criminal Court, where he faces charges of the murder of 36-year-old Keith Walker. Mr. McDonald has pleaded not guilty to the killing, which allegedly occurred on June 12, 2015, in the car park of the Blanchardstown Pigeon Racing Club on Shelerin Road, Clonsilla. Witness Mark Kelly testified that he was speaking with Mr. Walker when a gunman, described as wearing a wig and women's gym clothes, approached and fired a sub-machine gun. Kelly stated that children were nearby and that it was fortunate only one person died. He reported that the gunman "blew him to bits" and that Mr. Walker was already dead when Kelly attempted CPR. Another witness, Brian Duffy, said he saw the gunman reach into a bag and heard what sounded like firecrackers before the shooter fled. The trial has previously heard from State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy that the deceased was shot 18 times in the head and body. Prosecuting counsel Denis Vaughan Buckley SC presented the evidence. Justice Patrick McCarthy adjourned the proceedings, asking the jury to return on Wednesday to consider a legal issue in the trial. The matter was adjourned and is not concluded.
The murder trial of Christopher McDonald, 34, from East Wall, Dublin, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. McDonald has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of 36-year-old Keith Walker on June 12, 2015, in the car park of the Blanchardstown Pigeon Racing Club on Shelerin Road, Clonsilla. State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that Walker, a healthy individual, died quickly after suffering 18 bullet wounds to the head and body. She concluded the cause of death was multiple gunshot injuries, noting the wounds were consistent with rapid fire. Detective Garda David O'Leary presented a 9mm Makarov sub-machine gun found in a laneway off Sheepmoor Grove, along with a handbag and wig. He testified that the firearm, which had been reactivated by a skilled person, fired the bullets that killed Walker. The jury also heard from Jason O'Connor, a friend of the deceased, who stated that Walker was preparing for a pigeon racing trip to Manchester when he was shot. The trial continues before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of twelve.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Christopher McDonald (34) pleaded not guilty to the 2015 shooting of 36‑year‑old Keith Walker at the Blanchardstown Pigeon Racing Club. The State alleges that a man dressed in women's clothing, wearing makeup and a designer handbag, approached two teenage boys on the evening of 12 June 2015 and asked for directions to the club. The teens, who were unaware of the club's location, described the man as late 30s or 40s, about five feet ten inches tall, with a cut above his right eye and a pink‑striped outfit. Witnesses also reported the man's presence in the area roughly 90 minutes before the shooting. The trial, presided over by Justice Patrick McCarthy, continues with a jury of twelve.
During the trial of Christopher McDonald, a 34‑year‑old from Dublin's East Wall, a witness named Jason O'Connor was restrained by prison officers after he lunged at McDonald in front of the jury. O'Connor had been called to give evidence and, after walking behind McDonald, attacked him. Four prison officers and a Garda intervened, and Justice Patrick McCarthy warned O'Connor that he had powers to deal with people who do not act in a "civilised manner." The jury was asked to leave for a few minutes; when they returned, the judge reminded them that they must decide the case based on the evidence and that McDonald enjoys a presumption of innocence. McCarthy described O'Connor's behaviour as "disgraceful" and insisted it should not affect the jury. The trial, which also involves a witness named Stuart Kane who described a shooting at the Blanchardstown Pigeon Racing Club, continues under Justice McCarthy's direction. Christopher McDonald pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Christopher McDonald, aged 34, is charged with the killing of 36‑year‑old Keith Walker at Blanchardstown Pigeon Racing Club on 12 June 2015. According to barrister Denis Vaughan Buckley, Walker left his home with his six‑year‑old son, travelled to Whitestown, met Jason O'Connor, and later drove to the club with pigeons in a car. At about 6 pm, a man dressed as a woman—wearing a long black‑haired wig, black leggings, dark sunglasses and a handbag—entered the car park, approached Walker, removed a sub‑machine gun from his handbag and fired 18 shots, fatally wounding Walker. CCTV footage will show the shooting and a subsequent image from a Lidl in Blanchardstown of a person without a wig but otherwise similarly dressed. A post‑mortem by Professor Marie Cassidy will confirm 18 gunshot wounds to Walker's head, body and left leg. Christopher McDonald pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin gaming convention, 28‑year‑old Keith Hearne tied up, raped and falsely imprisoned 25‑year‑old Dominique Meehan in a hotel meeting room. He bound her hands with a tie, used a prop knife to threaten her, and sexually assaulted her. Hearne pleaded guilty to two counts of rape, one count of oral rape and one count of false imprisonment. He was sentenced by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy to 12 years' imprisonment, with a five‑year post‑release supervision order. The judge noted Hearne's only mitigating factor was his guilty plea and that he was caught during the act, which reduced the mitigating factor. Hearne gave no reaction to the sentence. Meehan, who waived anonymity, said the sentence was a relief but still felt it was too light and that her life has changed dramatically since the assault.
Thomas Nulty, a 21‑year‑old Dublin youth, was given a one‑year suspended sentence by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to stealing €1,653.42 worth of cosmetics and perfumes from Boots pharmacy in Blanchardstown on 8 December. He had paid for a toothbrush but placed a large quantity of mixed cosmetics in a bag and left the store without paying. Garda Clare Cronin reported that Nulty admitted the offence immediately and all stolen items were recovered. Judge Karen O'Connor warned that this was his final chance to reform or face imprisonment, instructing him to cooperate with probation services, keep the peace and exhibit good behaviour for one year. She noted his difficult upbringing, previous 25 minor convictions and that he had been in care from age 15. The court also heard that his bail had been revoked after he failed to sign on. The probation services are engaged in helping him resettle and further his education.
At an out‑of‑hours sitting of the Special Criminal Court, a 34‑year‑old Dublin man, Darren Gleeson of Corduff Green, Blanchardstown, was charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, namely the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Gleeson was arrested by Detective Garda Sean Finnegan under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act on 18 May 2017 and brought to the court on 19 May. In the court, the judge explained the charge to him; Gleeson did not respond. He was remanded in custody until 25 May, when a bail application is expected. The case was heard by Judges Tony Hunt, John O'Hagan and Flann Brennan. No further details of the proceedings or evidence were provided in the article.
Four Dublin men, linked to the drugs trade, were stopped at Dublin Airport in February 2016 and had €17,600 in cash seized. The men were preparing to travel to Malaga, Spain on one‑way tickets. Customs and Excise officials, while screening outbound passengers, confiscated the cash after hearing contradictory explanations about its use. Kieran Kelly BL, for the State, argued that the cash represented proceeds of crime or was intended for criminal conduct. Judge Karen O'Connor granted forfeiture under section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1994. The court heard that Gerard Claxton Jnr claimed the money was for buying an apartment in Malaga, while his father claimed it was for furnishing a Spanish apartment. Claxton Jnr had prior convictions for firearms possession and attempted robbery; his father had a burglary conviction. Lee Boylan and Michael Jones had no prior convictions.
In a 2015 incident at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Blanchardstown, a 28‑year‑old man named Keith Hearne tied up and raped a 24‑year‑old woman who was volunteering at the ArcadeCon gaming convention. Hearne threatened her with a prop knife, bound her hands with a tie, and forced her to submit to sexual assault. He was arrested on the scene after a conference worker entered the room with a key card. Hearne pleaded guilty to two counts of rape, one count of oral rape and one count of false imprisonment. He also admitted to possessing a bag containing a prop knife, handcuffs, condoms, a mask and sadomasochistic items, which was found at the scene. The Central Criminal Court adjourned sentencing to June 19 to obtain further medical reports. The victim, who has suffered ongoing depression, PTSD, self‑harm and suicidal thoughts, has chosen to waive her anonymity.
Trevor Noone, aged 29 and resident of Blanchardstown, was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment for his role in the brutal manslaughter of teenager Daniel McAnaspie, who was stabbed to death on 26 February 2010 at Tolka Valley Park. Noone pleaded guilty in February. Daniel's body was found in a drainage ditch in County Meath almost three months after the murder. Noone and Richard Dekker lured Daniel to a secluded area of the park under the pretense of confronting "some lads from Corduff"; instead, Daniel was stabbed multiple times with garden shears. Justice Patrick McCarthy described the offence as "quite a horrific nature" and noted that Daniel, an orphan in HSE care, had done nothing to deserve the violence. Noone's prior criminal history and psychological profile were considered, and his guilty plea and remorse led to a reduced sentence of 13 years, back‑dated for time already served.
In a murder trial, Judge Paul Coffey instructed the jury to disregard the incident where accused Vesel Jahiri punched prosecuting barrister Patrick Marrinan SC in the face during the closing stages of the hearing. Jahiri, 35, originally from Kosovo, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Anna Finnegan, 25, and to assaulting Karl Finnegan on 21 September 2012 at Allendale Glen, Clonsilla. The judge emphasized that the prosecution's case hinged on Karl Finnegan's testimony and the evidence of security officer Korill Allen, who claimed he was lifting Finnegan when she pointed at Jahiri. Coffey urged the jury to focus on determining who was the aggressor and how many knives were present, noting that the jury must be unanimous on both the murder and assault charges.
Jordan McGuinness, aged 19, and Craig Smith, aged 20, together with two other men, attacked two students while attempting to break up a fight between two women in Dublin's city centre on 23 May 2016. McGuinness punched Lee Whelan, knocking him to the ground, and struck Dylan Campbell with a hammer. Smith used an iron bar and a hammer against Campbell. CCTV footage showed the assaults. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced McGuinness to a one‑year prison term, suspended for 18 months, and ordered one year of probation supervision. Smith's sentencing was adjourned to December, with the judge noting his use of a weapon. Both men offered €500 each to the victims as a token of remorse. The court heard that McGuinness and Smith pleaded guilty to violent disorder and that the men had no prior convictions. The case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Margaret McDonnell, a 23‑year‑old single mother from Rathvilly Park, Finglas, was given a suspended 18‑month jail sentence after she spent €51,000 that had been mistakenly deposited into her account by Bank of Ireland. Between March 7 and 16, 2013, she withdrew and spent €24,946 on items for her two children and personal purchases, including crystal vases, a crystal mushroom lamp, and various clothing and food items. She pleaded guilty to 13 counts of theft of cash. The judge, citing the accidental nature of the deposit, suspended the sentence on the condition that McDonnell repay €1,000 to the bank within 18 months and complete 150 hours of community service. The Probation Service assessed her as low risk of re‑offending, and the court noted that the offences were not pre‑planned and the money was spent on mundane items.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 3 April 2017, Daniel McAnaspie's sister Nikita McAnaspie spoke on behalf of the family, expressing that the murder of their 17‑year‑old son had left their lives meaningless and that they wished the killers "rot in hell." The court had earlier convicted Richard Dekker (30) of murder and Trevor Noone (28) of manslaughter in Daniel's death. Dekker was sentenced to life imprisonment, the mandatory term for murder, with credit for time already served. Noone's guilty plea was noted, and the judge adjourned his sentencing to 24 April, allowing for consideration of his remorse. The hearing highlighted the family's grief, the brutal nature of the crime, and the defendants' prior convictions, but did not disclose any further procedural developments beyond the sentencing decisions.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Judge Paul Coffey reluctantly excluded 35‑year‑old Vesel Jahiri from his own trial after he chose to represent himself. Jahiri, originally from Kosovo, had pleaded not guilty to the murder of Anna Finnegan, 25, and to assaulting Karl Finnegan on 21 September 2012 at Allendale Glen, Clonsilla. During the trial, Jahiri was accused of abusing his position while cross‑examining witnesses and of "throwing out allegations like confetti." Prosecution counsel called Garda Patricia Davey, who presented CCTV footage from the James Connolly Memorial Hospital Accident and Emergency Department. The footage showed Jahiri arriving in a white car, driving to the hospital, and moving a person from the car to the ground. The judge explained that while a defendant has a right to be present, it is not absolute and must comply with procedure. Consequently, the jury was asked to leave, and the trial will proceed without Jahiri's presence.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Vesel Jahiri, 35, representing himself, faces charges of murdering his former partner Anna Finnegan, 25, and assaulting her brother Karl on 21 September 2012. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Coffey, criticised Jahiri for making unfounded accusations against witnesses, describing his remarks as "throwing out allegations like confetti." During cross‑examination, Jahiri questioned Sergeant Patrick Traynor about wiping fingerprints from a blood‑stained knife and alleged that the knife bore Finnegan's blood, claims the sergeant denied. He also asked Detective Garda Tom Cooney about criminal records, to which Cooney replied no. Jahiri further accused the witness of IRA membership. The judge deemed these questions irrelevant and terminated the cross‑examination of Detective Garda Bernard Connaughton. Jahiri has stated he will seek a solicitor, but the judge said it was too late to change his unrepresented status. Vesel Jahiri pleaded not guilty.
Anna Finnegan sent text messages to her former partner, Vesel Jahiri, who is accused of murdering her, saying she did not want to see him again and wanted to feel "safe without some animal beating and bullying" her. The Central Criminal Court jury heard that the texts were sent between 8 and 14 September 2012, with Finnegan describing Jahiri as a "control freak" and a "fucking drug dealer" and stating she had "had enough" and would change her number and the locks on their home. Jahiri denied sending the texts and claimed they were from Finnegan's sister and cousin. The jury also heard that a letter written by Finnegan, found in a handbag in the kitchen of Allendale Glen, alleged that Jahiri had beaten her and almost killed her. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and a jury of nine men and two women. Anna Finnegan pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Anna Finnegan's letter to her former partner, Vesel Jahiri, was presented to a jury. The letter, found in her handbag, described how Jahiri had beaten her, made her life "hell," and had almost killed her on several occasions. Finnegan, aged 25, had moved to Bray Women's Refuge with her two children before the letter was written. Jahiri, 35, pleaded not guilty to her murder and to assaulting her brother, and now represents himself. The prosecution highlighted that Jahiri had received protection, barring, and safety orders, and that the letter revealed his possessive, controlling, and jealous behaviour. The case, overseen by Mr Justice Paul Coffey, continues before a jury of nine men and two women.