A 32‑year‑old man was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for three counts of assault causing harm against his partner in a Dublin suburb between July and September 2023. The court heard that the defendant repeatedly attacked the woman, including on the day their baby died and after the funeral. He kicked her in the head and legs, threw bottles and plates, and hit her with a bottle of bleach. The victim fled but was tripped and fell, sustaining injuries that required hospital treatment. The defendant had 29 prior convictions, including assault and endangerment of the same woman. He pleaded guilty, denied the allegations during questioning, and has been in custody since his arrest on 16 September 2023. Judge Orla Crowe described the attacks as "nasty, heartless" and sentenced the defendant to three years on each count, to run concurrently and back‑dated to his custody date.
Brian Wildman, 41, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing €293,313 in cocaine and cannabis for sale and €19,130 in cash proceeds, after gardaí raided his Clonsilla home on 1 August 2020. He was caught attempting to flush a bag of cocaine down the toilet; authorities seized drugs worth €158,047 and cannabis resin worth €135,266. Wildman's co‑accused, Keith Banks, 45, had been jailed for five years in June 2022 for the same offences. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Wildman to three years' imprisonment, a lesser term than Banks, after hearing extensive evidence of Wildman's medical difficulties. He has neurosarcoidosis, chronic seizures, and requires chemotherapy and immunosuppressants; medical reports described him as "fragile" and not medically fit for prison. The court ordered all medical reports to be forwarded to the prison service and urged Wildman to inform prison authorities of his condition.
Two men, David Amah (18) and Michael Andrecut (22), and a 17‑year‑old minor were charged with the murder of gunman Tristan Sherry (26) in Blanchardstown on Christmas Eve. Sherry shot and fatally injured Jason Hennessy Senior at Browne's Steakhouse on 24 December 2023; Hennessy died 11 days later. The three appellants appealed a High Court refusal of bail. At the Court of Appeal, Seamus Clarke SC for Andrecut argued that the judge's Section 2 bail objections were based on conjecture about future offences and a "feud" that was not supported by hard evidence. Michael O'Higgins SC for Amah highlighted the chaotic circumstances of the night and the lack of evidence that Amah might flee. Michael Bowman SC for the minor contended that the judge erred by treating the youth as a "lightening rod" for danger, ignoring the presumption in favour of bail.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, John McDonagh (36) was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for endangerment after he drove his van over his father‑in‑law, Daniel O'Reilly (58), following a row at a family christening party. The incident began when McDonagh, his wife and a third man left the house, only to return when the third man fired two shots from a starter pistol. McDonagh, claiming he was in "absolute terror and fear," reversed his van, striking O'Reilly, who was behind the vehicle, and then drove over him again while he lay on the ground. O'Reilly suffered cardiac arrest and died from traumatic injuries. McDonagh had six prior minor convictions and pleaded guilty to one count of endangerment, a charge carrying a maximum of seven years. The judge, noting McDonagh's state of terror, reduced the headline sentence of six years to three, citing mitigating factors. The sentencing elicited protests from O'Reilly's family.
Conti Birali (28) was sentenced to nine years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to assault causing serious harm and violent disorder. The offences occurred on July 31, 2022, at the Old Navan Road, Dublin 7. Birali admitted to instigating an unprovoked attack on victim Austin Doherty, who suffered severe head injuries and brain trauma, leaving him a wheelchair user with lifelong disabilities. Birali, of Parlickstown Drive, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15, had previously left the jurisdiction but returned and was arrested in November 2022. He expressed remorse, describing his actions as a "stupid alcoholic decision" and accepting global responsibility for the joint enterprise. Judge Martin Nolan noted Birali was the "author of the entire incident" and categorized the offence in the higher range of seriousness. The court also heard that co-accused Craig Maples (28), of Green Briar, Verdemont, Blanchardstown, Dublin, was jailed for seven years last month after pleading guilty to violent disorder and assault causing serious harm on the same occasion. Maples was identified as one of the three men who participated in the assault. The judge accepted Birali's expression of remorse and assessed a low risk of reoffending, but emphasized the severe, permanent impact on the victim, who can no longer work or care for his children.
Paula Doyle describes the lasting physical, mental and emotional damage she suffered after a violent assault on 6 September 2019. She recounts living with extreme fear, anxiety and paranoia for four and a half years, feeling that her future no longer mattered. Doyle says the perpetrator, Aidan Kestell, sent harassing texts, photos, videos and stalked her for three and a half years before the rape, and that he drove around her cul‑de‑sac after the attack. She calls for more than vigils, urging action, education and better legislation to protect women. Doyle thanks the Gardaí, the DPP, the legal team, the Rape Crisis Centre, her family and the jury for their support. She declares that the ordeal is over and she is now a survivor ready to rebuild her life. The article focuses on her experience and her plea for change, not on any legal outcome.
Mark Doyle, a former Garda and soldier, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for a series of assaults on his wife, Meav McLoughlin‑Doyle, and their two stepsons over a 12‑year period. The court heard that Doyle repeatedly punched, choked, and kicked his wife, threw a chair at her while she was pregnant, and used an airsoft gun against a stepson. He also verbally abused the children, calling them names such as "fat cunt" and "retard." Doyle admitted five counts of assault causing harm to his wife and two counts of assault causing harm to the children. He had been suspended and later resigned from the Gardaí before pleading guilty. The judge noted the pattern of violence and the impact on the victims, describing the home as oppressive and a place of fear. Doyle's sentence was back‑dated to the day he entered custody.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former Garda and soldier Mark Doyle, aged 38, admitted five counts of assault causing harm to his ex‑wife Meav Doyle and two counts of assault causing harm to her sons, covering incidents from September 2007 to August 2019. The court heard that Doyle repeatedly punched, choked, and kicked his wife, threw a chair at her while she was pregnant, and pulled her by the hair. He also shot a stepson with an airsoft gun and verbally abused both stepsons. Doyle had been suspended and later resigned from the Gardaí before pleading guilty in October. He was remanded in custody overnight pending a finalisation of his sentence hearing on Friday. The hearing focused on the 12‑year period of violence and the impact on the family.
A 35-year-old Brazilian man pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court today to the murder of his wife at their home in Dublin in November 2021. Diego Costa Silva is charged with the killing of Fabiola Camara De Campos Silva at Charlestown Place, Finglas. The trial, which opened before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and a jury, is expected to last approximately five days. The court will consider the question of insanity as a special verdict. The prosecution's case will be supported by evidence from gardaí, emergency service personnel, and two consultant forensic psychiatrists. Both the accused and his wife had emigrated from Brazil, with Mr Costa Silva having worked at a public house in Blanchardstown.
David Hackman, 24, was jailed for four and a half years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to purchase a firearm in suspicious circumstances between 31 March and 28 May 2019. Gardaí observed a silver Ford Focus near a Spar in Waterville, Dublin 15, where Hackman and three other occupants, including his mother, were found. A search revealed a 9mm firearm, orange latex gloves, and evidence of a €4,000 cash transaction between Hackman and his mother. Hackman's mother was charged but the case against her was dropped following his guilty plea. Hackman has prior convictions for assault and drug possession. The court noted his youth, addiction issues, and the mitigating circumstances of his background, and rejected a post‑release drug treatment condition. The sentence reflects the offence's mid‑range sentencing guidelines of seven to ten years.
Stephen Corbally, a 28‑year‑old hairdresser, was sentenced to 27 months in prison and disqualified from driving for four years after a series of hijackings and vehicle thefts in April 2023. Corbally pretended to test‑drive cars advertised for sale on Facebook Marketplace and Done Deal. On 5 April he drove off a 2008 Volvo after a test drive; on 20 April he took a 2012 Renault from a seller in Mulhuddart, brandishing a kitchen knife while the seller was in the car, and fled the scene. The next day he offered to swap the Renault for an Audi in Carpenterstown, claiming the car belonged to his late mother, and was caught by Gardaí driving the Audi. He had no licence and had been disqualified for 12 years. Corbally pleaded guilty to hijacking, taking a vehicle, dangerous driving and deception.
Craig Maples, 28, of Green Briar, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for violent disorder and assault causing serious harm after he kicked and stamped on Austin Doherty's head during a 45‑second attack in Mulhuddart on 21 July 2022. Doherty, who was left in a coma with a traumatic brain injury, now has limited mobility, requires a wheelchair for long distances and suffers significant impairments. He described his life as being in his own prison and missing key moments with his children. The court heard that the assault began after a dispute in a casino, with Maples arriving in a car and joining two other men who continued the attack. Maples pleaded guilty, showed remorse, and had no prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan set a headline sentence of 12 years, reduced to seven years after mitigating factors such as early guilty plea and cooperation.
Patrick McDonagh, aged 52, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 73‑year‑old neighbour Peter McDonald on 25 July 2020. McDonagh used a machete and a knife to stab, slash and chop McDonald inside his own home on Whitechapel Road, Blanchardstown. The Central Criminal Court judge, Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, described the killing as merciless, ferocious and sustained, noting the shock and trauma to neighbours, paramedics and gardai. McDonagh pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter, claiming diminished responsibility due to a mental disorder. The defence presented psychiatric evidence of schizophrenia, while the Director of Public Prosecutions argued the symptoms were likely due to cannabis use and malingering. A jury unanimously rejected the defence and found McDonagh guilty of murder. The judge imposed a mandatory life sentence, citing the brutality of the attack and the victim's quiet, kind nature.
Patrick McDonagh, aged 52, is on trial for the murder of his neighbour Peter McDonald, aged 73, who died on 25 July 2020 after a brutal machete attack. The prosecution, represented by Philipp Rahn SC, argues that the multiple slash, chop and stab wounds inflicted with a machete and knife prove beyond reasonable doubt that McDonagh intended to kill or cause serious injury, and therefore the appropriate verdict is murder. McDonagh has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the State has rejected. The defence, led by John Fitzgerald SC, contends that McDonagh was suffering from schizophrenia at the time of the attack, and that his mental disorder substantially reduced his responsibility, arguing for a manslaughter verdict. The case is being heard at the Central Criminal Court, with the judge to charge the jury tomorrow.
During the Central Criminal Court trial, Dr Mary Davoren, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, testified that Patrick McDonagh's mental health difficulties are more consistent with long‑term substance misuse than schizophrenia. McDonagh, 52, is charged with murdering his neighbour Peter McDonald, 73, on Whitechapel Road on 25 July 2020, and has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the State has rejected. Dr Davoren reviewed McDonagh's psychiatric history, noting initial diagnoses of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder but later conclusions that substance misuse—particularly benzodiazepine dependence—was the primary issue. She recounted McDonagh's admissions of cocaine use beginning at 24 or 25 in London, heroin use from 19, and extensive cannabis consumption prior to the death, while denying other drug use in that period. Her evidence will continue before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and a jury tomorrow.
Kacper Koszarski, 23, faced a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing after a series of violent burglaries and high‑speed car chases. He pleaded guilty to 17 charges, including four counts of dangerous driving, four of trespass, one of endangerment, four of criminal damage, two of burglary, one of knife production and one of unauthorised vehicle taking. The court noted his 39 prior convictions, seven of them theft, and warned that a "sentence of some significance" would be imposed. Judge Elva Duffy adjourned the case to 22 March for a probation report, urine analysis and governor's report, remanding Koszarski in custody. The hearing covered incidents from a Maynooth burglary where a Renault Megane was taken and chased, to multiple garden trespasses in Dublin where knives were found. Koszarski's partner testified about their son with additional needs, and he expressed remorse and a desire for rehabilitation. The court considered his young age, addiction history and willingness to cooperate. The case remains pending.
The State applied to transfer the trial of Jason O'Connor, 45, accused of attempting to murder Charlie Cooper on 5 December 2016 at Parslickstown Green, Mulhuddart, to the Special Criminal Court. O'Connor also faces charges for possessing a 9mm firearm and 12 rounds of ammunition with intent to endanger life at the same place and time. At a non‑jury court hearing, State solicitor Michael O'Donovan secured a successful ex‑parte application, and Judge Caroline Biggs granted the transfer, adjourned the case to 7 February, and the trial will now be heard by a three‑judge Special Criminal Court.
Mark Kelly, 26, of Blanchardstown, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three and a half years in prison. Kelly pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply and possession of cash believed to be proceeds of crime, both alleged to have occurred at his home on June 29, 2022. The court heard that Gardaí found cocaine with an estimated street value of €285,000, along with €3,575 in cash, weighing scales, knives, and baggies during a warrant search. Kelly admitted to officers that he was holding the drugs to settle a €3,000 debt incurred through his own cocaine use, stating he had been threatened and was in debt for approximately six months. Defence counsel Tony McGillicuddy SC submitted that Kelly had no previous convictions, had lost his job, and immediately took responsibility for the drugs to protect others. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged that Kelly acted at the lower end of the enterprise and had "got in over his head" due to addiction, but noted he was a "vital cog" in the supply chain. The judge jailed Kelly for three and a half years.
A 52‑year‑old man, Patrick McDonagh, who admits killing a 77‑year‑old pensioner in west Dublin on 25 July 2020, will go on trial for murder. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The plea was rejected by the Director of Public Prosecutions, and Mr Justice Paul Burns assigned a jury of nine men and three women. The case may run until 7 February, with the trial set to begin Wednesday at 11 a.m. before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath. Witnesses include civilian observers and forensic psychiatrists Dr Mary Davoren and Professor Patricia Casey.
Derek Byrne, 40, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court to eight years and six months in prison for facilitating the attempted murder of Noel Boylan. The court found Byrne guilty of participating in the activities of a criminal organisation with the intention of facilitating the offence, which occurred between May 27 and June 1, 2019. He was identified on CCTV footage purchasing the Toyota Avensis used to transport the gunman. The judge noted that the shooting only became an attempted murder because the weapon jammed. Byrne, who has a history of drug abuse and 78 previous convictions, was already serving a seven-and-a-half-year sentence for unlawful possession of a firearm, having been in custody since December 3, 2019. The new sentence includes a suspended portion of 12 months for three years, conditional on engaging with probation services. The court determined the new sentence should run concurrently with the existing one. Separately, Alan Graham, 51, was previously jailed for 10 years after pleading guilty to facilitating the attempted murder of Lee Boylan, Noel Boylan's son, in a related incident on March 6, 2019.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 15 December 2023, the State argued that a man acquitted of attempted murder in February 2021 was the shooter. State counsel Eilis Brennan SC presented evidence that gloves seized from the accused less than 30 minutes after the shooting contained 19 particles of firearm residue matching those found at the scene. She cited three hours of CCTV tracking two cars before, during and after the incident, including a black Hyundai hatchback that left the scene at 10.55pm and a BMW that was later stopped on the M50. Brennan claimed the CCTV and forensic evidence strongly linked the younger man, aged 28, to the shooting. The appeal court, led by Mr Justice Birmingham, was instructed to review the CCTV footage and transcripts and reserve judgment. The defense argued that the trial judge had erred by directing acquittals, but the appellate judges were to determine whether the evidence was sufficient for a jury. The unnamed respondent pleaded not guilty.
Michael Lynn, a former solicitor from County Wicklow, has begun giving evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in his trial on charges relating to approximately €27 million in alleged theft from seven financial institutions. Mr Lynn, aged 55, outlined his professional background to the jury, describing his career path from qualification in 1994 through to establishing his own practice in 1997, which eventually expanded to 15 staff members. He also detailed his involvement in property investment and development, including projects in Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim, and Portugal. The prosecution alleges Mr Lynn obtained multiple mortgages on identical properties without the knowledge of participating banks. Mr Lynn has pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of theft occurring between October 2006 and April 2007. The trial, before Judge Martin Nolan and jury, continues with Mr Lynn's evidence ongoing.
Derek Byrne, 40, of Swords, appeared before the Central Criminal Court at the sentence stage for his role in the attempted murder of Noel Boylan. Byrne pleaded guilty to intentionally facilitating a serious offence by a criminal organisation, specifically the attempted murder of Boylan between May 27 and June 1, 2019, with knowledge of the organisation's existence. He also admitted to participating in the activities of a criminal organisation during a pre-trial hearing. Prosecution counsel Sean Gillane SC noted that Byrne's guilty plea acknowledged his previous false statements to gardai regarding the purchase of a Toyota Avensis used by the gunman. The court heard that the shooter's weapon jammed while pursuing Boylan into a Lidl supermarket, where CCTV captured frightened shoppers, including children, running for cover. Boylan made a full recovery. Byrne, who has 78 previous convictions, is currently serving a seven-and-a-half-year sentence for unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol. His defence counsel, Giollaiosa O'Lideadha SC, highlighted Byrne's severe cocaine addiction and requested the court consider backdating the new sentence to his initial custody date. Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded Byrne in custody until next Monday, when he will be formally sentenced. Separately, Alan Graham, 51, was previously jailed for 10 years in 2021 after pleading guilty to facilitating the attempted murder of Lee Boylan, Noel's son, in a related incident on the same road in March 2019.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, 55‑year‑old Michael Lynn stands trial for 21 counts of theft, accused of siphoning roughly €27 million from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. Lynn maintains that the mortgages he secured on the same properties were "undertaking‑only" mortgages, not first legal charges, and that banks were unaware of overlapping financing. Suzanne Bainton, a practising solicitor and member of the Law Society's conveyancing committee, testified that she has never encountered a solicitor's undertaking‑only mortgage where a bank could claim against a solicitor's professional indemnity insurance. She explained that such undertakings are intended to reduce lending costs and rely on implicit trust in solicitors, noting that insurance coverage for solicitor fraud does not exist. Bainton also clarified that the undertaking is not meant for commercial lending, though banks may accept it. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
Two brothers, Ian (34) and Daniel (43) Connaghan, were sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for a 2019 attack that killed 55‑year‑old Michael 'Mick' Mulvey. The jury found them not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter (Ian) and assault causing serious harm (Daniel). Ian received a nine‑year sentence with the final year suspended for three years; Daniel received five years with the final year suspended for three years. The court described the assault as "savage, cold‑blooded and cowardly," noting that Mulvey was a slight, unarmed victim who offered no resistance. The sentencing judge highlighted the brothers' lack of remorse and the brutal nature of the attacks, while acknowledging mitigating factors such as Ian's lack of prior convictions. No verdict was recorded on the assault charges for either brother.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Gerry Daly, 57, was found not guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of Jacqueline Griffin, 39, in a fatal M50 collision on 24 January 2019. The jury, after six hours and fifty minutes of deliberation, accepted the defence's argument that Daly's type‑one diabetes had severely impaired his judgment, preventing a conscious decision to drive. Expert testimony from a consultant endocrinologist who had supervised Daly for over a decade confirmed that his blood glucose was well below normal, likely causing confusion and a loss of consciousness. Evidence indicated Daly's vehicle was travelling between 138 and 151 km/h at the time of the crash, which involved a high‑speed collision with a truck and a subsequent roll‑over of Griffin's car, resulting in catastrophic head injuries and her instant death.
During the multi‑million euro theft trial of former solicitor Michael Lynn, the court heard that two members of the legal department of Permanent TSB (now PTSB) attended the proceedings to provide "moral support" to witnesses. Ciaran Farrell, a former branch manager and current business development manager at the bank, told the court that the two attendees were present at the evidence of his colleague John O'Brien. Farrell said he did not know the purpose of the accompaniment, adding that he presumed it was simply support. He also stated that he had not discussed the evidence with his colleagues, noting that their conversations had been about fantasy football. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan and heard by a jury, continues with Mr Lynn accused of stealing around €27 million from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
In a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Gerry Daly, 57, pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Jacqueline Griffin, 39, in a fatal M50 collision on 24 January 2019. Sergeant Patrick McElroy, a forensic collision investigator, presented evidence that Daly's Toyota Auris had been travelling at 138‑151 km/h, struck a Scania lorry, then collided with Griffin's VW Polo, causing her head to be severed. McElroy's report detailed the sequence of impacts and the vehicle's continued movement. Garda Aidan McHugh testified that Daly had a voluntary interview on 28 January, described checking his blood sugar, and had a phone call at 10:30 am that morning. Professor Simon Heller, a diabetes specialist, testified that Daly's glucose levels fell from 9.3 to 3.3 mmol/L during the morning, potentially causing hypoglycaemic episodes and "in and out of consciousness." The trial continues before Judge Elma Sheahan.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, the jury heard that the death of 39‑year‑old Jacqueline Griffin on the M50 on 24 January 2019 was caused by catastrophic head injuries after her vehicle was struck from the rear by a black car travelling at high speed. The accused, 57‑year‑old Gerry Daly of Kildare, pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing death. A doctor's report read at the hearing described the scene: a vehicle on its side, a decapitated head on the road, and a body in the rear. A post‑mortem confirmed the head injuries. Witnesses, including truck driver Joseph Dunne and passenger Judith Ryan, described the collision and Daly's hypoglycaemic episode. Daly was treated on scene for low blood sugar, given glucose, and taken to hospital. The case remains before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Gerry Daly, 57, pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the instantaneous death of Jacqueline Griffin, 39, on the M50 on 24 January 2019. Witnesses described Daly's vehicle as travelling at high speed, weaving in and out of traffic, and veering across the hard shoulder before colliding with Griffin's car. The prosecution argued that the collision was ferocious, causing Griffin's vehicle to roll over and her immediate death. Daly was also reported to have been a type‑one diabetic with a related medical condition that impaired his control of the vehicle. CCTV footage and multiple motorists' testimonies were presented, all indicating that Daly's driving was dangerous and that the accident caused Griffin's death. The case remains before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court adjourned the sentencing of Eimear Black O'Keeffe, known professionally as Nikki Hayes, until April 11, 2024. The defendant, 44, pleaded guilty to possessing €10,000 as proceeds of crime in a Permanent TSB account on November 5, 2020. Two further counts involving €2,600 and €2,400 on November 6, 2020, were taken into consideration. Judge Martina Baxter ordered an updated probation report and urine analysis. Defence counsel stated O'Keeffe now accepts she has an alcohol problem and is seeking support from Tiglin. He noted she intends to repay the bank's outstanding €2,000 loss when her financial situation improves. The judge expressed concern that rehabilitation efforts began only after the previous sentencing date but agreed to the adjournment. Prosecution evidence indicated €15,000 was withdrawn from an injured party's account via a scam and deposited into O'Keeffe's account. Gardaí observed a blonde woman making ATM withdrawals in Liffey Valley but could not confirm it was O'Keeffe. The remainder of the funds was returned to the victim. O'Keeffe, who has six previous minor road traffic convictions, was remanded on continuing bail.
In the trial of Jozef Puska, the prosecution presented evidence that Puska stalked and murdered Ashling Murphy on the Grand Canal towpath on 13 January. Puska allegedly dragged Murphy into briars, stabbed her 11 times in the neck and slashed her once, causing fatal blood loss. Witnesses, including teacher Jenna Stack, described seeing a man crouched over Murphy, holding her down, and Puska's DNA was found under Murphy's fingernails. Puska was arrested in Tullamore, questioned in hospital, and during the trial he repeatedly denied involvement, later claiming he had been stabbed elsewhere and that he had confessed to the murder. The court heard conflicting statements and the prosecution urged the jury to reject Puska's lies and convict him of murder.
During a multi‑million euro theft trial, former Ulster Bank manager Stephen McCarthy testified that there was no covert or side arrangement between the bank and former solicitor Michael Lynn. McCarthy, who was involved in a €3.65 million loan application for Lynn's purchase of 11 residential investment properties, described a meeting in September 2006 where Lynn requested an undertaking from the bank's solicitor firm. McCarthy said the bank complied only after a different partner would provide the undertaking. He denied any knowledge of hidden information or regulatory inquiries and stated he was unaware of any "flexible lending" or dual approach. McCarthy also clarified that the bank's interest was not in Lynn's €55 million European development plan, which was unrelated to the loan for the apartments. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, continues with a jury. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
In her closing speech to the jury, Anne-Marie Lawlor SC for the Director of Public Prosecutions described Jozef Puska as an 'inveterate liar' and said that his account of trying to save Ashling Murphy was a 'structure of lies and mistruths' that were 'foul and contemptible in their nature'. She pointed to evidence, including DNA found under Ms Murphy's fingernails and Mr Puska's admission to gardai that he killed her, to argue that the only rational conclusion is that he murdered her. Mr Puska's defence, led by Michael Bowman SC, urged the jury to be cautious in interpreting the evidence and suggested that the alleged confession made by Mr Puska may not be reliable due to medical factors. The trial continues with the jury considering the evidence presented by both sides. Jozef Puska pleaded not guilty.
Jozef Puska, aged 33, gave evidence at the Ashling Murphy trial claiming he was a witness to her murder. He testified that he was stabbed three times by the same attacker who killed the 23‑year‑old teacher. Puska described being pushed off his bike, stabbed in the stomach, and later seeing the attacker assault a woman before fleeing. He said he tried to help Murphy, using her shawl to cover injuries, but left after a few moments. Puska admitted lying to Gardaí about being stabbed in Blanchardstown and apologized, citing fear for his family. He denied confessing to murder in St James's Hospital and said he could not recall such admissions. The trial continues with further witnesses to be called. Jozef Puska pleaded not guilty.
Former 2FM DJ Nikki Hayes, aged 44 and known as Eimear Black O'Keeffe, had her sentencing hearing adjourned after a fall that left her with a concussion. She pleaded guilty to possessing €10,000, €2,600 and €2,400 as proceeds of crime in a Permanent TSB account on 5 and 6 November 2020. The €15,000 was withdrawn from a victim's account and deposited into hers, then withdrawn via Revolut and ATMs in Liffey Valley. Gardaí said the money was later blocked and returned, leaving the bank a loss of about €2,000. Hayes had six prior minor traffic convictions and was in debt of €53,000 at the time. She has been diagnosed with bipolar and borderline personality disorder, and her defence argued she was vulnerable and pressured into the transactions. Judge Martina Baxter adjourned the case to 10 November and remanded Hayes on continuing bail.
In a trial held on 26 October 2023, retired National Irish Bank (NIB) business manager Noel McCole testified that the bank discovered other financial institutions had interests in four apartments that solicitor Michael Lynn (55) had purchased with a €1.38 million loan from NIB. McCole, who managed the Blanchardstown branch in the 1990s, explained that Lynn's solicitors had business accounts there, which were later closed. He described the loan application process, noting that Lynn initially proposed an 85 % loan‑to‑value ratio, which was rejected because NIB's guideline was 80 %. Lynn's assistant, Liz Doyle, emailed the bank in December 2006 seeking lending criteria, and an application was submitted in early 2007. NIB issued a facility letter on 13 February 2007, and Lynn signed it on 2 February. The bank drew down €1.38 million electronically on 16 March 2007, with a €5 000 charge deducted. Repayments were made between April and September 2007. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
Former 2FM DJ Nikki Hayes, aged 44 and real name Eimear Black O'Keeffe, was found guilty of possessing €15,000 as proceeds of crime in a Permanent TSB account on 5 November 2020, with two further counts of €2,600 and €2,400 on 6 November 2020. The money was transferred to her account after a victim received a text from a fraudulent source and followed a link, leading to withdrawals of €15,000 that were later moved to Revolut and via ATMs in Liffey Valley. The remaining funds were blocked and returned to the victim, leaving the bank a loss of about €2,000. O'Keeffe was in debt of €53,000, had six prior minor traffic convictions, and had struggled with mental health, including bipolar and borderline personality disorder, which her defence cited as vulnerability.
During the Ashling Murphy murder trial, Garda Detective Sergeant Brian Jennings recorded that accused Jozef Puska admitted he committed the murder, saying "I did it, I murdered, I am the murderer" and expressed regret, stating "I feel guilty and I say I regret it." Puska, aged 33, was a person of interest and had been questioned at St James's Hospital after the victim's death on 12 January 2022. He claimed he had been attacked by two men in Blanchardstown, sustaining stomach injuries, and that he had no memory of the murder. Puska also said he had been planning to meet a woman in Dublin and that he had been told he was a suspect. The trial has not yet reached a verdict. Jozef Puska pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Jozef Puska, 33, who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Ashling Murphy at Cappincur, Tullamore, Co Offaly, on January 12, 2022, continued before Mr Justice Tony Hunt. Prosecution evidence included Fitbit data from Ms Murphy's watch, which recorded erratic or violent movements at 3.21pm before her heart rate ceased. Witness Rostislav Pokuta testified that Puska visited his home around 9pm on the night of the alleged incident, appearing wet, frightened, and covered in scratches. Pokuta stated he initially withheld this information from gardai due to fear for his family's safety amid an "ugly atmosphere" in Tullamore, but later reported the meeting. Puska was driven to Mucklagh and identified on CCTV. Defence counsel suggested Puska had suffered stab wounds to his stomach. Det Gda Ciaran Byrne presented the Fitbit data, while Det Sgt Paul McDonnell described interviewing Puska at St James's Hospital, where Puska alleged he was stabbed in Blanchardstown by two men. The trial is ongoing.
E W Technologies was fined €50,000 at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after its former managing director, David Ford, pleaded guilty to failing to provide adequate fall prevention measures. The charge related to a workplace accident on January 15, 2021, at a warehouse in Blanchardstown Corporate Park. The court heard that Ludovic Tanfin, a 58-year-old employee, fell over two metres from an improvised platform constructed on a forklift while attempting to repair a damaged shutter door. Judge Orla Crowe noted that Mr Tanfin suffered a fractured skull, inter-cranial bleeds, and multiple rib fractures, resulting in a year-long absence from work and ongoing cognitive difficulties. The judge described the incident as a one-off event, highlighting the company's impeccable safety record and lack of systemic failures. The company, which has since been sold to a US firm, was fined €50,000 to be paid forthwith. Prosecutors from the Health and Safety Authority stated that staff should have left the repair to experts, but their efforts to fix the door created the serious risk. Defence counsel noted the company's early plea and full cooperation with the investigation. Mr Tanfin is currently pursuing a separate personal injury case.
In the Central Criminal Court, Jozef Puska, aged 33, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 23‑year‑old Ashling Murphy, who was stabbed 11 times on the right side of her neck near the Grand Canal in Tullamore on 12 January 2022. Prosecutor Anne‑Marie Lawlor SC presented evidence that Y‑STR DNA from under Murphy's fingernails matched Puska's DNA, that a bright green Falcon Storm mountain bike belonging to Puska was found beside the body, and that CCTV footage showed Puska cycling in the area hours before the killing. Puska was interviewed at St James's Hospital after being admitted with stab wounds he claimed were from an attack in Blanchardstown; he later admitted in the hospital to having murdered Murphy, saying "I did it, I murdered, I am the murderer." The jury will consider whether the evidence shows Puska intended to kill or cause serious injury. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 11 October 2023, Ludovic Tanfin, who fractured his skull after falling from an improvised forklift platform at E W Technologies' warehouse in Blanchardstown, was reported to still suffer cognitive difficulties more than two years later. Tanfin had stood on a wooden pallet placed on the forklift's prongs after the company's roller shutter door collapsed when he tried to remove damaged panels. He fell over two metres, sustaining skull fractures, inter‑cranial bleeds and rib fractures, and spent eight days in hospital. The company, represented by former managing director David Ford, pleaded guilty to failing to provide adequate fall‑prevention measures and faces a potential fine of up to €3 million or a prison term of up to two years. The court noted that the incident occurred after the company had been sold to a larger US firm and that the company had an otherwise impeccable safety record.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, brothers Ian (34) and Daniel (43) Connaghan were found not guilty of murder after a jury deliberated 14 hours. The jury, however, convicted Ian of manslaughter and Daniel of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to 55‑year‑old Michael 'Mick' Mulvey, who died 13 days after the November 14, 2019 assault. The brothers had pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and to the serious harm charges. The State's case alleged that Ian attacked Mulvey near The Halfway House Pub, leaving him on the ground, and that Daniel joined him in a subsequent beating on a traffic island. The jury accepted that the brothers' actions substantially contributed to Mulvey's death but did not find the intent required for murder. No verdicts were recorded for the two assault‑causing‑harm charges, and Daniel was granted bail pending a probation report.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 21 July 2023, Karl Core, aged 34, was sentenced to two years in prison for an unprovoked knife attack on his friend David Fox on 19 June 2021. Core, who was high on crack cocaine at the time, swung a 15‑inch kitchen knife over a garden gate and stabbed Fox's right cheek, creating a hole that penetrated into Fox's mouth cavity. Fox was treated at hospital and received stitches. Core pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm. Judge Orla Crowe described the assault as very serious, noting the severe facial injury and potential lifelong scarring. She imposed a headline sentence of four years, then reduced it to three years with a 12‑month suspended portion, and ordered Core to remain under probation supervision for 12 months after release. Core's guilty plea, family support, adherence to bail conditions, and prior minor convictions were considered mitigating factors.
During the Central Criminal Court trial, Ms Anne Rowland SC presented evidence that Ian Connaghan, aged 34, threatened a 55‑year‑old man, Michael Mulvey, with the words "I'm gonna f**kin kill ya" at a pedestrian crossing on the Navan Road. The witness, Ms Pauline Matthews, described how the man was approached by a medium‑built individual who shouted aggressively and walked out in front of her car. She recounted that Mulvey was later severely beaten by Ian and his older brother Daniel Connaghan, who arrived in a car. The brothers have pleaded not guilty to murder, to causing serious harm, and to assault. The trial continues with further cross‑examination of Ms Matthews by the defence counsel, Mr Garnet Orange SC, and the prosecution will focus on medical evidence regarding Mulvey's injuries and death.
In a murder trial, the State presented the case that Michael Mulvey, a 55‑year‑old builder, died two weeks after a severe beating by brothers Ian (34) and Daniel (43) Connaghan. The prosecution argued that the injuries sustained on 14 November 2019, including fractured ribs and a severe chest trauma, substantially contributed to his death, though not the sole cause, citing medical evidence from pathologists and doctors. The brothers were charged with murder, intentional or reckless causing serious harm, and assault causing harm. The State highlighted a history of conflict between Mulvey and Ian Connaghan, a confrontation at a pedestrian crossing, and CCTV showing the brothers' movements. Text messages sent by the Connaghans after the assault were presented as evidence of intent to cause serious harm. The trial, before Mr Justice Paul Burns, is set to continue for up to three weeks.
Fayed Azeez, 20, of Lucan, was remanded in custody until 10 July after pleading guilty to one count of assault causing harm at Blanchardstown District Court on 6 September 2022. The incident occurred when a security guard warned that youths were fighting outside the courthouse. Azeez arrived with a hammer and a metal gas canister, raised his fists threateningly, and moved toward another male. The injured party, who was assisting a colleague, intervened, took the hammer, and placed Azeez under arrest. Azeez resisted, grabbing the victim's arm and attempting to pull her hands away, resulting in bruising on her left arm. No victim impact statement was available. Azeez had no prior convictions. The Director of Public Prosecution sought summary disposal, but the District Court refused jurisdiction. The investigating Garda and defence lawyer agreed that Azeez had not used or threatened the victim with the hammer and that he was attempting to help a cousin.
Kayode Falade, 37, of Phibsboro, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty to five counts of money laundering committed between June 27 and 29, 2017. The charges include converting proceeds of crime into Nigerian currency at a Blanchardstown post office, possessing up to €5,000 in proceeds from ATMs in north Dublin, and transferring proceeds into a bank account. The court heard that hackers intercepted a €125,702 invoice payment intended for Cobec Engineering, diverting it to an EBS account linked to Falade. Although €114,621 was recalled, IPUT suffered an unrecovered loss of €11,091. Falade, who has 31 previous convictions, was arrested in March 2018. Defence counsel Simon Matthews BL stated Falade was not involved in the hacking and was easily identified via the bank account. He noted Falade works full-time, pays maintenance for a son, and has complied with bail conditions. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned sentencing until Friday, June 23.
Terry Jackson, a 72‑year‑old from Leixlip, was sentenced to nine months in prison after pleading guilty to possessing 2,887 images and 669 videos of child pornography. The material, seized from a hard drive at his home on 17 April 2018, included images of children aged five to 15 and 13 hours of footage. Jackson claimed he collected the material to prevent others from distributing it, stating he was "appalled and enraged" by its online availability and was willing to go to prison to stop its spread. The judge, Orla Crowe, set a headline sentence of two and a half years, reduced to 18 months with nine months suspended, and ordered Jackson to comply with Probation Services for two years upon release. He had no prior relevant convictions and was noted to have health issues including arterial fibrillation and Crohn's disease.