Dubliner James Maughan (36) was given a four-year suspended sentence for endangerment, dangerous driving and driving without insurance at locations around Blanchardstown and Mulhuddart on February 27, 2020. The matter was heard at the sentence stage in court. Maughan pleaded guilty to the charges. Judge Pauline Codd noted that Maughan had already served time in custody on this matter and imposed a four-year sentence suspended in full for four years from today. The sentence is subject to two years of probation supervision. Maughan was also banned from driving for life. His defence highlighted that he suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and that his 20-year-old nephew was in the car and allegedly threatened him with a Taser during the chase. The court heard that gardai abandoned the high-speed chase due to the danger it posed. Judge Codd acknowledged Maughan's background, vulnerabilities and the support he has from his family and the probation service. The case was finalised at the sentence stage with no adjournment. Maughan has a history of road traffic offences, including 10 for dangerous driving, 23 for driving without insurance and 21 for driving without a licence. His defence also noted that his nephew was a ringleader in many of these offences and has a history of convictions dating back to his juvenile years.
In a High Court hearing, Garda Orlaith Fahy, who had successfully challenged her dismissal in 2021, remains without duty. Fahy, a probationary Garda from Finglas and Blanchardstown, failed a fitness test after an injury and was dismissed by the Garda Commissioner in February 2020. Mr Justice Max Barrett ruled the dismissal unlawful, but Fahy has not been reinstated. Her counsel, Mark Harty SC, informed Mr Justice Charles Meenan that despite the July ruling, the Commissioner has not acted, and that the only response received is a letter stating the matter is "with the legal department". Fahy has been out of work for two years and seeks fresh judicial review to order immediate reinstatement, salary, allowances, pension contributions, arrears and other benefits, and declarations that the Commissioner unlawfully interfered with her career and breached her employment and constitutional rights. Mr Justice Meenan agreed to allow new proceedings and noted Fahy's situation as "left in limbo.".
During a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former Permanent TSB commercial head Sean Alger denied that the bank had ignored a repayment condition on a €1.9 million loan to Michael Lynn. Alger said the bank had robust credit procedures and that any delay in repayment would normally raise a red flag, but he was not aware of any error. He rejected claims that the bank had turned a blind eye, stating there was no culture of ignoring conditions. Alger also noted that the borrower was primarily responsible for meeting loan conditions, with the bank's role being to ensure compliance. The trial, which continues next week, involves 21 counts of theft against Lynn, who has pleaded not guilty. The case is before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
During a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, is accused of stealing about €27 million from seven financial institutions. The prosecution alleges that Lynn secured multiple mortgages on the same properties while banks were unaware of each other's financing. Evidence was presented that Lynn had a €1.9 million borrowing with a bank when he applied for a €4.9 million loan in 2007 to buy eight residential investment properties. A bank manager, Ciaran Farrell, emailed that the outstanding €1.9 million was cleared only a week later due to a "clerical" error, and that Lynn was "embarrassed and annoyed" by the delay. Documents relating to Lynn's overseas investment company, Kendar Global Properties, were shown, and a €3.7 million loan was drawn down, though a subsequent €5.5 million refinancing offer was not pursued. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
Sean William O'Rourke, 21, an apprentice electrician, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering after he answered a Snapchat advertisement offering a "couple of thousand euro" for handing over his bank card. He admitted giving his card to a money launderer, who used his account to transfer €52,186 into a wrong account. The fraudulent sum was traced to O'Rourke's account, which was frozen, and the €50,000 was returned to the company. O'Rourke had no prior convictions. At a sentencing hearing in November, Judge Martin Nolan noted the prevalence of similar cases involving young people with no criminal record. The judge decided not to jail O'Rourke and instead ordered 100 hours of community service, subject to suitability by the Probation Service. The Probation Service confirmed his suitability, and the sentence was confirmed today. The case highlights the involvement of criminal gangs in Tallaght, Blanchardstown and Coolock in money‑laundering operations.
In the trial of Michael Lynn, a 53‑year‑old former solicitor accused of stealing about €27 million from seven banks, a witness named Jim Madden denied claiming that "all of the banks felt collectively they had no choice but to move against him." Madden, a former senior business manager at Bank of Ireland, explained that his role involved meeting prospective clients but that loan approval rested with the bank's group credit section. He recalled meeting Lynn in 2005 and 2006 regarding mortgages for eight investment properties, noting that Lynn signed a loan offer and accepted its terms. Madden also stated he had met Lynn at least twice, once in a non‑working setting, and could not remember any conversation about banks' collective stance. The court heard that Lynn has pleaded not guilty to 21 theft charges covering October 2006 to April 2007, and the trial is ongoing.
Leon Travers, 25, was on bail for a 2017 criminal‑damage offence when he bit a garda and threw a fan at another after threatening to kill her. He had earlier pleaded guilty to threatening a garda at a hospital and assaulting a garda at a station in October 2018, and to criminal damage at a service station in September 2017. At the sentencing hearing Judge Martin Nolan noted Travers had no prior convictions and was deemed unsuitable for community service. He was sentenced to nine months imprisonment for each offence, the sentences running consecutively for a total of 18 months, which was fully suspended. The judge highlighted Travers' aggressive conduct in hospital and court, his lack of remorse, and his status as a first‑time offender and father of three. No victim impact statements were made. The suspended sentence means no custodial time is imposed.
In April 2016, builders Stuart Cromer (43) and Michael Jones (27) attacked a street clamper at Dublin Street Parking Services after Cromer's van was clamped for illegal parking. Cromer, the main instigator, pushed and shoved the worker, threatened to "put a grenade in your mouth," and then allowed the men to empty the van of its tools before leaving. Both men pleaded guilty to assault; Cromer also pleaded guilty to making a threat to kill. Cromer received a six‑month suspended sentence and was ordered to pay €5,000 to the victim, while Jones received a four‑month sentence. Jones is already serving a five‑year sentence for dangerous driving causing death and will be released in September. The court noted Cromer's leadership in the assault and the victim's terror. The other four men involved were not before the courts. The incident was captured on CCTV and reported by staff. The defendants' prior convictions were also mentioned.
The Court of Appeal heard arguments regarding the admissibility of evidence in the case of Richard Dekker, who was convicted in 2017 of murdering Daniel McAnaspie. Dekker, a prisoner at Mountjoy Prison, is appealing his life sentence, arguing that his right to reasonable access to a solicitor was breached during questioning at Cabra Garda Station. His counsel, Sean Gillane SC, contended that Dekker was not properly cautioned and was pressured to answer questions without legal advice, rendering subsequent statements inadmissible. The prosecution, represented by Brendan Grehan SC, countered that Dekker was cautioned twice and understood his rights, noting he had previously been advised by his solicitor not to speak if inference provisions were invoked. The court heard that Dekker had initially been acquitted in 2013 due to a lack of evidence, but the Supreme Court later permitted a retrial under the Criminal Justice Procedure Act 2010. Co-accused Trevor Noone admitted manslaughter and blamed Dekker for the murder. Dekker also received a two-year and six-month sentence in 2010 for unlawful possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. The matter remains under appeal consideration.
Kevin Lappin, 37, and his partner Jemma Dinnigan, 35, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of drugs for sale or supply on 9 January 2019. They claimed they had €28,000 worth of cannabis to make cannabis oil for Lappin's mother, who had cancer in 2018 and later died. Garda Paul Nolan stopped Dinnigan's car after detecting a strong cannabis smell; she was found over the driving limit and later searched, revealing €28,360 of cannabis in the house and €224 in the car. Lappin was arrested the following month and admitted ownership of the cannabis. Judge Pauline Codd noted the unusual aspect of attempting to produce cannabis oil for personal use, accepted their early guilty pleas, and, citing low reoffending risk, imposed a three‑year suspended sentence on both, with conditions.
A Chinese national who lived under an assumed identity for eight years has received a fully suspended four-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Wenzi Wang, aged 39, of Blanchardstown, Dublin, obtained a legitimate Northern Irish birth certificate belonging to another person in 2009 and used it to secure an Irish passport under the name Sau Kee Lee. He subsequently acquired a driving licence, taxi licence, Public Service Card and mortgage using the false identity. Wang pleaded guilty to providing a false birth certificate in connection with a passport application at a Garda station in County Donegal in May 2009, and to six counts of deception between October 2010 and April 2017. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of providing false information to a registrar and to possessing an air rifle and garda-style apparel. Judge Pauline Codd noted Wang had paid taxes and committed no offences whilst using the false name. His wife remained unaware of his true identity until 2017. The judge imposed strict conditions on the suspended sentence.
In 2014, a Central Criminal Court jury found Andrzej Benko, 50, guilty of attempting to murder his wife Joanna Benko by striking her with a lump hammer while she slept. He was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy. Benko appealed, arguing that his cooperation with Gardaí after arrest warranted a shorter term. The Court of Appeal, in a written judgment delivered on 13 January 2022, rejected the appeal, affirming the 15‑year sentence. Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh, sitting with Mr Justice George Birmingham and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, noted the case's "alarming features" and the severe, lifelong injuries inflicted on Mrs Benko, who now requires full‑time care and cannot care for her son. The court also recorded that Benko had admitted striking his wife's head at least three times and that he had intended to kill her that morning. The appeal was dismissed, leaving the original sentence intact. Andrzej Benko pleaded not guilty.
In a 2019 murder at Castlecurragh Heath, Mark Whelan, aged 48, stabbed Noel "Noelie" Whelan, aged 22, 18 times while under the influence of a cocktail of drugs. The wounds included eight stab and seven incised injuries to the head and neck, and three to the upper trunk, one severing the carotid artery and another penetrating the lung. A jury found Whelan guilty of murder. In December 2021, Justice Tara Burns sentenced him to the mandatory life term, backdated to the date of arrest. The judge highlighted that Whelan's drug‑induced psychosis was the sole cause of the crime, noting that the case demonstrated the danger of drugs turning a "gentle giant" into a "demonic hulk." The sentence was imposed without hesitation, and the judge expressed sympathy for the bereaved family. The case remains a murder conviction with a life sentence.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard the case of Dubliner James Maughan, who pleaded guilty to endangerment, dangerous driving, and driving without insurance at locations around Blanchardstown and Mulhuddart on February 27, 2020. Prosecution evidence detailed a high-speed incident where Maughan drove straight at a garda, forcing the officer to jump aside, before continuing at speed through red lights and into oncoming traffic. Gardaí ultimately abandoned the pursuit due to the serious risk posed to the public. Maughan claimed his 20-year-old nephew, who was a passenger, threatened him with a Taser, compelling him to drive. Defence counsel highlighted Maughan's diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia and argued the nephew was the ringleader. The court noted Maughan's extensive criminal history, including 174 previous convictions and prior driving bans in 2011 and 2018. Judge Pauline Codd described the record as horrendous but adjourned the matter to February 14 to allow time for an assessment by the Probation Service. No sentence was imposed at this stage.
Sean William O'Rourke, a 21‑year‑old apprentice electrician, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering after he answered a Snapchat advert that promised a few thousand euros for handing over his bank card. The advert was part of a scheme that led to a fraudulent €52,186 payment being sent to the wrong account. Gardaí traced the money to O'Rourke's account, which was frozen, and he was found to have used his phone's tap function to access the account. He did not profit from the operation, and the €50,000 was returned to the company. In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan imposed 100 hours of community service in lieu of a 20‑month jail sentence, pending suitability assessment by the Probation Service. The case was adjourned to March 1 to confirm the sentence. The court noted the prevalence of similar cases involving young people with no prior convictions.
Anita Gallagher, 54, worked as a receptionist for Dr John Peters' practice in Clonee, Dublin 15, from 2001 until September 2019. In 2019 Dr Peters noticed irregularities and, after an internal investigation, discovered that Gallagher had been diverting the €60 fee paid by private patients into her own pocket. Between 2013 and 2019 she had taken an average of €8,000 a year, totalling over €55,000. Gallagher resigned after admitting the thefts, pleaded guilty to eight charges, and was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally to 15 months' imprisonment, suspended on the condition of keeping the peace for that period. She was ordered to engage with the Probation Service, attend a mental‑health review, and receive therapeutic and budgeting support. Gallagher's father later repaid the full amount stolen. The case was remanded on continuing bail for further consideration.
Derek Moore, 49, a bookkeeper who had worked for Energy Saver Insulations Ltd for 22 years, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended. He pleaded guilty to five counts of stealing just over €92,700 from the company between February and November 2018 and to one count of falsifying accounts. Moore admitted colluding with three customers who paid cash for discounted materials, which he deposited into his own account. He claimed the money was to fund his child's scoliosis operation, but the judge noted evidence of substantial spending on eating out and an off‑licence. He has repaid €33,000 and will transfer an additional €7,000 to the victims. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Anita Gallagher, 54, worked as a receptionist at Dr John Peters' practice in Clonee from 2001 until her resignation in September 2019. In 2019 the doctor noticed irregularities in the practice's income and discovered that Gallagher had been diverting the €60 fee paid by private patients into her own pocket. Between 2013 and 2019 she had taken an average of €8,000 a year, totalling over €55,000. Gallagher admitted the thefts, resigned, and apologized, but requested that her family remain unaware of the matter. She was arrested in June 2020 after the doctor reported the thefts. She pleaded guilty to eight counts of stealing from the clinic. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the sentencing to 17 November, remanded her on continuing bail, and noted that Gallagher was under no financial pressure and that the crime was one of opportunism over a sustained period. The case remains pending.
Stephen Penrose, 38, of Coolock, Dublin, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Philip Finnegan, 24, who was found decapitated in a shallow grave in Rahin Woods, Kildare, on 2 September 2016. Penrose testified that he witnessed Finnegan being stabbed in the back by a group of men on 10 August 2016. He claimed he had no involvement in Finnegan's death and that he had been attacked in a black car, sustaining a stab wound to his left arm. Penrose's DNA was found on a left‑handed gardening glove near the grave, and a bloodied glove was recovered from the site. He has repeatedly denied any role in the murder, stating he was not in the woods and that he only witnessed the attack. The trial is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court.
In November 2021, a 24‑year‑old man named Leon Travers was sentenced to 150 hours of community service, subject to suitability, for threatening to kill a Garda and assaulting Garda officers in October 2018. Travers was arrested for an alleged public order offence and, while being taken to hospital for a broken nose, he behaved aggressively, kicking a trolley, attempting to free his handcuffs, and threatening a female Garda with a bullet. He also bit a Garda's hand when they tried to calm him. He pleaded guilty to one count of threatening to kill a Garda at James Connolly Memorial Hospital and one count of assaulting a Garda at Blanchardstown Garda Station. He had no prior convictions. The judge, considering his remorse and lack of previous offences, imposed the community service sentence in lieu of a six‑month prison term, with the case to return to court in February 2022 for suitability confirmation.
During the Central Criminal Court trial of Stephen Penrose, a 38‑year‑old from Coolock, evidence was presented that his phone made a data connection at a cell site near Rahin, where the body of 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan was found. The phone also connected to several other sites in Edenderry and surrounding areas on the afternoon of 10 August 2016, including Liffey Valley fitness centre, Edenderry water tower, Monasteroris, Russellswood, Moyvalley and Enfield. The last outgoing call from Penrose's phone was at 6:09 pm, connecting to a cell site in Enfield. The prosecution also noted that Finnegan's phone was last used in Edenderry at 3:44 pm, and that his mother's call at 4:40 pm was unanswered. Additional testimony included a text sent from Penrose's phone at 4:07 pm and a call at 4:53 pm to a site covering Rahin Woods. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty.
Phillip Kavanagh, aged 35, was convicted of assaulting Garda Conor Mohan on 7 January 2017 after an incident at a Focus Ireland supported housing complex. He was acquitted of a separate assault on Garda Theresa Moore. Kavanagh had pleaded not guilty to both offences. At a sentencing hearing in July 2021, Judge Martin Nolan had intended to impose 240 hours of community service in lieu of four months imprisonment, but the court found Kavanagh unsuitable for community service. Kavanagh refused to accept the jury's verdict. Judge Nolan sentenced him to four months imprisonment. The case involved conflicting accounts from the two gardaí, with Garda Moore alleging Kavanagh lashing out and Kavanagh denying assault. The court did not consider any later evidence or outcomes beyond the sentencing.
Paul Penrose gave evidence at the Central Criminal Court in a murder trial concerning his son, Stephen Penrose, aged 38, of Coolock, Dublin. Stephen Penrose has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Phillip Finnegan, aged 24, at Rahin Woods, County Kildare on August 10, 2016. The father described meeting Mr Finnegan on August 8, two days before the alleged killing, and stated that the two men appeared friendly towards each other. Paul Penrose testified about subsequent events, including his son's hospitalisation with stab wounds, the discovery of bloodstains on a vehicle, and an attempt to purchase cleaning products. The trial heard that Mr Finnegan's decapitated remains were discovered in a shallow grave in Kildare woodland. The prosecution has indicated that a bloodied glove found at the scene matched DNA belonging to the accused. The trial continues before Justice Alexander Owens and jury.
The jury in the trial of Stephen Penrose, 38, accused of murdering 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan, watched a montage of CCTV footage showing a blue saloon car's movements on the day of the killing. The footage, presented by Garda Shauna Nolan, shows Finnegan leaving a filling station in Edenderry at 3.46 pm, entering the car with Penrose, and the vehicle driving toward Rahin Woods. The car is seen passing Kinnefad at 4.05 pm, arriving at Grange West at 4.10 pm, and later at a house in Balrinnet at 5.13 pm. At 6.21 pm the car stops at Browne's filling station in Kilcock, where a man in dark clothing is seen with a bleeding left wrist. The final clip shows an ambulance outside Connolly Hospital at 7.39 pm, with a paramedic treating a patient's left forearm injury. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty.
In 2010, Andrzej Benko, aged 50, attempted to murder his wife Joanna by striking her with a hammer while she slept. He was arrested, pleaded not guilty, but a jury convicted him and the Central Criminal Court sentenced him to 15 years. Benko appealed, claiming the sentence was too long and that he had cooperated with Gardaí after his arrest. The Court of Appeal considered mitigating factors such as his drug‑addicted wife, concern for their toddler, and a low risk of re‑offending. The prosecution argued that the case remained ongoing 11 years after the attack and that Benko had shown no remorse. The court noted Joanna's severe injuries, her need for lifelong care, and the marital problems that preceded the assault. The appeal was heard on 21 October 2021.
At the Central Criminal Court on 14 October 2021, Angela Finnegan, mother of the missing 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan, was cross‑examined by Stephen Penrose, the man accused of murdering her son. Ms Finnegan confirmed that Philip had been in contact with Penrose on the morning of 10 August 2016, the day he disappeared, and that he had been "in good form" when she last saw him. She stated that Philip had been looking for directions to Cloverhill Courthouse and that she had tried to reach him again at 4.40 pm, but his phone was off. Ms Finnegan also agreed with the prosecution that a named man in Portlaoise Prison had threatened Philip and that this man was present in the prison at the time of Philip's disappearance. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty. Angela Finnegan pleaded not guilty.
A Dublin man, Mark Whelan, aged 48, was found guilty of murder by a unanimous jury at the Central Criminal Court after he stabbed Noel Whelan, 22, to death on 30 March 2019. Whelan was intoxicated with a mixture of cocaine, cannabis and benzodiazepines at the time of the offence and claimed he was psychotic through intoxication, not knowing the nature or wrongness of his actions. The jury rejected this defence and returned a guilty verdict in two hours. The judge, Ms Justice Tara Burns, confirmed that the prosecution and defence had accepted that Whelan killed Noel Whelan and that the evidence did not meet the threshold for diminished responsibility or not‑guilty by reason of insanity. The case was adjourned to 15 November for sentencing and victim impact statements. The trial included expert testimony from Dr Francis Kelly and Professor Harry Kennedy, who found no underlying mental disorder. Mark Whelan pleaded not guilty.
In a trial held on 6 October 2021, Mark Whelan, aged 48, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Noel Thomas Whelan, the partner of his daughter, on 30 March 2019. The prosecution suggested that Whelan might be found not guilty by reason of insanity or diminished responsibility. A defence psychiatrist, Dr Francis Kelly, testified that at the time of the offence Whelan was voluntarily intoxicated with cocaine, cannabis and benzodiazepines, and that his psychosis was caused by intoxication rather than a pre‑existing mental disorder. He argued that Whelan did not know the nature or wrongness of his act and could not refrain from stabbing Noel Whelan. The state rebuttal psychiatrist, Prof Harry Kennedy, maintained that Whelan's symptoms were fully explained by substance misuse and that he had no underlying mental disorder. The case was set to continue before Justice Tara Burns and a jury.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, 31‑year‑old Ronan Byrne was acquitted of manslaughter, assault and possession of a bat after a dispute with his mother's partner, James Marren, who died on 31 October 2013. Byrne testified that he feared Marren and had never struck back. He claimed Marren had repeatedly abused him and that the altercation began when Marren called him a "scumbag" and threatened his daughter. Byrne said he used a wooden bat to try to stop Marren from attacking, striking him a few times, but not with intent to kill. Marren was taken to hospital with a fractured leg, casted, and died days later from a pulmonary embolism caused by a deep vein thrombosis in the injured leg. The jury found Byrne not guilty on all charges after deliberating over three and a half hours. The case highlighted the alleged abuse and the medical chain of causation presented by the pathologist.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, 31‑year‑old Ronan Byrne pleaded not guilty to the unlawful killing of 57‑year‑old James Marren, who died on 31 October 2013. Byrne is accused of fracturing Marren's leg with a bat during an altercation on 26 October 2013. The defence argued that Marren's death resulted from a "freak event" – a blood clot that formed after the leg was cast and travelled to his heart – rather than Byrne's actions. The defence counsel, Padraig Dwyer SC, emphasised that the clot was a rare complication of deep vein thrombosis and that Byrne's strike was "reasonable and proportionate" to stop Marren from rising. Dwyer also highlighted the long relationship between Byrne's mother and Marren, and that Byrne had never retaliated before. The jury was instructed to consider these points before delivering a verdict. The trial continues before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.
Mark Whelan, aged 48, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Noel Thomas Whelan on 30 March 2019. He claimed a vision of his daughter's partner killing and eating her unborn baby prompted him to stab Noel to bits. Whelan left the scene, turned himself in at Finglas Garda Station, and was held overnight. During the trial, he described hearing his mother's voice and a vision of Noel murdering his daughter, leading him to stab Noel with two knives. He also admitted cutting himself while stabbing and later fighting two men in Blanchardstown Village. Gardaí noted Whelan's self‑harm behaviors in custody, including attempts to gouge his eye and eat toilet paper. The prosecution presented evidence of psychosis medication, painkillers, and an empty methodone bottle found at the scene. The case was concluded by the State, with the defence planning to call medical evidence at the next hearing.
During a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, the prosecution argued that the alleged victim, James Marren, was "unlucky" to die from injuries sustained in an altercation with Ronan Byrne, but that this does not absolve Byrne of liability. Byrne, 31, is accused of fracturing Marren's leg with a baseball bat on 26 October 2013, an act that the prosecution says was intended to cause serious harm. The jury heard that a blood clot formed after Marren's leg was cast, travelled to his heart and proved fatal. Byrne denies both the use of the bat and the assault. The prosecution, led by Philipp Rahn BL, emphasized that the causal chain from Byrne's actions to Marren's death is clear and that any medical treatment or Marren's refusal to seek further care does not mitigate Byrne's responsibility. The case remains before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury. Ronan Byrne pleaded not guilty.
A manslaughter trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard evidence regarding the character of the deceased man in the case. Ronan Byrne, aged 31, of Lohunda Downs, Clonsilla, Blanchardstown, Dublin, pleads not guilty to the unlawful killing of James Marren, aged 57, at that address on 31 October 2013. He also denies producing a baseball bat during a dispute and assaulting Mr Marren on 26 October 2013. The prosecution alleges Mr Byrne fractured the victim's leg with a bat, leading to complications including a fatal blood clot. During the sixth day of trial, the court heard a statement from the deceased man's son describing the victim as heavily drinking and abusive towards the accused and his family members. The witness stated he had not seen his father for four years prior to his death due to the pattern of abusive behaviour. The prosecution formally closed its case before the jury. Judge Patricia Ryan presides over the trial, which continues.
During a manslaughter trial, 31‑year‑old Ronan Byrne pleaded not guilty to the unlawful killing of 57‑year‑old James Marren on 31 October 2013. Byrne claimed he feared for himself and his child after Marren, who had returned home drunk, shouted abuse, pushed him and threatened him. Byrne said he grabbed a baseball bat from the hallway, struck Marren a few times—once or twice to the head and once or twice to the legs—then fled the house, later returning to bring his child to her mother. He denied that he had used the bat in a full swing or that he had previously hit Marren with a bat. The court heard that Marren's leg was cast after the assault, a blood clot formed, travelled to his heart and proved fatal. The trial continues before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.
During a manslaughter trial, the court heard that a direct chain of causation links a leg injury to a fatal blood clot. Ronan Byrne, 31, is accused of fracturing James Marren's leg with a bat on 26 October 2013. Marren, 57, was later found dead on 31 October 2013. Byrne pleaded not guilty to unlawful killing and denies using a baseball bat or assaulting Marren. Dr Stuart Hamilton, a forensic pathologist, testified that Marren's right leg was fractured, immobilised in a cast, and developed a deep vein thrombosis that led to a pulmonary embolism. Hamilton stated that the clot travelled from the leg to the heart and then to the lungs, causing death. He described this as a rare medical condition that can cause sudden death. The trial continues before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.
A manslaughter trial is ongoing with medical witnesses and emergency personnel providing evidence regarding the death of James Marren. Ronan Byrne (31) is accused of fracturing Mr Marren's leg with a bat during an altercation. The jury heard that a blood clot developed in Mr Marren's leg after it was placed in a cast, leading to his death. Byrne has pleaded not guilty to the unlawful killing of Mr Marren on October 31, 2013, and to assault and the use of a bat on October 26, 2013. Medical evidence showed Mr Marren had a fractured leg, excessive bruising, and alcohol in his system. Doctors testified that immobility can lead to deep vein thrombosis, but no issues with the cast were noted. Mr Marren was found unresponsive at home, and paramedics performed CPR before he was pronounced dead at the hospital. The trial continues before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, 31‑year‑old Ronan Byrne pleaded not guilty to the unlawful killing of James Marren, 57, who died on 31 October 2013 after a blood clot from a fractured leg travelled to his heart. Byrne is alleged to have fractured Marren's leg with a bat on 26 October 2013, days before the fatal clot. He denies both the assault and the use of a baseball bat. Byrne's mother, Mairead, testified that Marren had been in a relationship with her for at least 13 years and that Marren had verbally abused her son, but she did not witness the fight. Neighbour Hugh Kenny described a commotion at the house on 26 October, noting Marren was lying on the bathroom floor with a large forehead wound and that an ambulance was called. The trial continues before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.
Joseph Smith, 36, was jailed for three years after he fired a shotgun twice at his partner's Ford Focus during a heated argument. The incident occurred on Whitechapel Road, Blanchardstown, where Smith had taken the shotgun from his home and discharged it, smashing the car's windows. Gardaí found a double‑barrel sawn‑off shotgun and cartridges in a Mazda parked at Smith's address, linking the weapon to him. Smith pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances. The court noted his prior drug‑related difficulties and his efforts at rehabilitation, but also his role as a father to three children. Judge Martin Nolan described the offence as a "fit of anger" and imposed a three‑year sentence, crediting any time already served.
In 2017, Richard Dekker (34) of Blanchardstown was convicted of murdering 17‑year‑old Daniel McAnaspie, a teenager who had been in HSE care. The murder took place at Tolka Valley Park on 26 February 2010, when Daniel was out socialising and drinking. Dekker pleaded innocence, but a jury found him guilty after a trial at the Central Criminal Court. The body was discovered two months later in a deep drain in Rathfeigh, County Meath, and a post‑mortem revealed a stabbing. Dekker had previously been acquitted in 2013 when a judge found insufficient evidence for a jury trial; the State later sought a retrial under the Criminal Justice Procedure Act 2010. At the Court of Appeal, counsel Eoghan Cole BL argued the appeal was "dispositive", meaning a successful appeal would preclude a retrial. The appeal hearing was set for 21 January 2022.
In a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Phillip Kavanagh (34) pleaded not guilty to assault charges against Garda Theresa Moore and Garda Conor Mohan. The incident occurred on 7 January 2017 at a Focus Ireland housing complex. Kavanagh, described as drunk and without a top, allegedly resisted officers' entry and became aggressive. Garda Moore recounted that after Kavanagh was arrested and cuffed, she attempted to restrain him in a patrol car. Kavanagh reportedly lunged, striking her hand, causing a sprain, broken knuckles, and a fractured wrist. He claimed the officers "battered" him, while Garda Moore denied any injury caused by her. The case is set to continue before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
A man has been sentenced to eighteen months imprisonment at the Special Criminal Court for perverting the course of justice during the investigation into a 2013 murder. Ray Kennedy, aged 40, was found guilty of destroying a mobile phone SIM card on the day Peter Butterly was fatally shot in a car park at Gormanston, County Meath. Kennedy had arranged to meet Butterly the previous day and arrived at the scene shortly after the killing. Gardaí had requested he remain for interview, but while waiting, he removed and disposed of the SIM card, which prosecutors described as evidentially significant. Justice Tony Hunt imposed a four-year headline sentence but suspended two and a half years on humanitarian grounds, citing Kennedy's daughter's serious health condition. The judge rejected Kennedy's account that he had panicked, finding instead that his actions were calculated. Kennedy must enter a good behaviour bond of one hundred euros for two and a half years following release. Ray Kennedy pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin pigeon club shooting, Christopher McDonald, 36, was convicted of murdering 36‑year‑old Keith Walker after firing 18 bullets from a sub‑machine gun. McDonald, who was dressed in women's clothes and wearing a black wig, was found guilty by a unanimous jury in 2017. He appealed, arguing that a witness, Jason O'Connor, who lunged at him in court, should have caused the jury to be discharged. The three‑judge Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, rejected the appeal, stating that O'Connor's outburst, though "unacceptable," would not have prejudiced the jury. The court also dismissed claims about DNA sampling and witness discussions, affirming the trial's fairness and the verdict's validity. The decision confirms McDonald's murder conviction and the jury's unanimous verdict.
Ray Kennedy, aged 41, of Blanchardstown in Dublin, has been found guilty of perverting the course of justice at the Special Criminal Court following his destruction of a mobile phone SIM card on 6 March 2013. The card was considered of significant evidential value to the Garda investigation into the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly at Gormanston, County Meath. Kennedy's defence counsel argued against a custodial sentence, citing his young daughter's serious health condition requiring round-the-clock care and his previously unblemished background. The prosecution contended that Kennedy's actions were calculated to conceal his involvement in the incident. Presiding Judge Tony Hunt noted that a custodial sentence remained under consideration whilst granting bail due to Kennedy's family circumstances. Sentencing has been adjourned to 12 July. Four men have previously received life sentences for Butterly's murder, with two others also imprisoned for roles in the killing.
At a sentence hearing in the Central Criminal Court, the court heard that David Fortune, 33, of Rutland Grove in Crumlin, was jailed for eight years in 2006 for manslaughter after he fatally stabbed 31-year-old Michael Murphy outside the 'Buddha Bar' in Dublin west. The court also heard that Fortune was re-arraigned following legal discussions and pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the killing of his father, Gerry Fortune, 62, on August 19, 2018. The Director of Public Prosecutions accepted the plea. Sean Gillane SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, told Ms Justice Eileen Creedon that the killing of Gerry Fortune in 2018 falls in the upper end of seriousness for manslaughter and the defendant should be jailed for up to 15 years. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC said his client had a 'very close bond and friendship' with his father and had 'no animus whatsoever' towards him. He asked the court to place the offence in the mid-range and to consider suspending a portion of the sentence to allow Fortune to continue his education and rehabilitation. Leona Lambe, David Fortune's half-sister and daughter of the deceased, told the court that there are 'no winners' regardless of the sentence imposed. She added that David will have to live with what he did for the rest of his life, knowing he took the life of a man who only ever showed him love, and that is worse than ten life sentences. Ms Justice Creedon adjourned sentencing until June 28.
A man has been found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of disrupting the garda investigation into the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly in 2013. Ray Kennedy, aged 41, from Blanchardstown, Dublin, was convicted of destroying a mobile phone SIM card on the day of the killing at Gormanston, County Meath. The court heard Kennedy had arranged to meet Butterly that afternoon and arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting. Evidence showed Kennedy's phone had contacted a burner phone connected to the murder. Kennedy claimed he panicked when approached by gardaí and destroyed the SIM card, but the judge rejected this account as not credible and found his actions were a calculated attempt to obstruct the investigation. Four men have already received life sentences for Butterly's murder, with two others also convicted and jailed for their roles. Kennedy was granted bail pending sentencing on 21 June. The unnamed accused was acquitted.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Derek Moore, 48, admitted stealing just over €92,700 from his employer, Energy Saver Insulations Ltd, over a period from February to November 2018. He also pleaded guilty to falsifying company accounts on 15 February 2018. Moore claimed he collaborated with three customers who paid cash for discounted materials, which he deposited into his personal account. He said the theft was to fund his child's scoliosis operation, citing a US cost of €30,000 and travel expenses, though the child was ultimately treated in Ireland. He has repaid €33,000 and used some of the proceeds for medical costs. No charges were brought against the customers, though civil cases remain pending. The judge adjourned the case to 26 July for finalisation.
During a sentencing hearing in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan warned that young people who allow criminal proceeds to be laundered through their bank accounts could face jail. He spoke about Arina Jersova, who was 18 when €11,000 of illicit money was transferred into her account. Jersova was allegedly recruited by criminals via social media, taken to three locations to withdraw the money, and her bank card was later found by Gardaí. She pleaded guilty to laundering €11,098 at Bank of Ireland Main Street, Blanchardstown, on 9 April 2018. Jersova, now 21, had no prior convictions, cooperated fully, and had saved €8,000 to repay the defrauded company. Judge Nolan said he would consider custodial sentences for such offences and imposed a two‑year suspended sentence on Jersova, warning that future cases could lead to prison.
Wenzi Wang, 38, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to charges including providing a false birth certificate for a passport application in Co Donegal in May 2009, six counts of deception in Co Dublin and Co Meath between 2010 and 2017, two counts of giving false information to a registrar in Co Dublin, and possession of an air rifle, ammunition, and Garda Síochána-resembling apparel at his address in November 2017. Prosecution evidence alleged Wang lived under the false name Sau Kee Lee for eight years after purchasing another person's Northern Irish birth certificate to obtain an Irish passport and other documents. Defence counsel submitted that Wang was a model citizen who paid taxes and committed no other offences while using the alias. The court heard that an investigation began after Wang registered his second child's birth under his real name, leading to a search of his home where false documentation and the disputed items were found. Wang admitted to gardaí that he bought the apparel for a Halloween costume and the air rifle from a friend, never using it. Judge Pauline Codd ordered a report from the Probation Service and adjourned the matter for finalisation to July 5. The matter was adjourned and not concluded.
Lisa Geoghegan, aged 34, was convicted of assault causing harm to Aidan Kenna and assaulting Garda Anthony Sugrue in 2017. She pleaded guilty to criminal damage to a prison cell wall at Blanchardstown Garda Station. During her detention, she wrote the word "PIGS" in menstrual blood on the cell wall, an act that cost €150 to clean. The court heard she was extremely intoxicated and in a difficult relationship at the time. She was found not guilty of producing a knife, of assaulting two other gardaí, of damaging a garda ballistics vest, and of intimidating a witness. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced her for the biting only, suspending a one‑year prison term on the condition of two years' good behaviour and engagement with probation services for anger management and alcohol abuse. The judge noted her lack of prior convictions and the difficult period she was experiencing.
Ahmad Majeed, 26, was jailed for his role in a violent mob that attempted to force entry into Lost Lane nightclub on 7 July 2019. He pleaded guilty to violent disorder and possession of weapons intended to cause injury. The mob, about 20 men, carried hatchets, a hammer, a wheel brace, a towing eye, and two petrol bombs made from a beer bottle and a brandy bottle. A doorman was punched and kicked, and the incident caused the victim to leave security work due to flashbacks and panic attacks. Majeed was arrested at his home and denied knowledge of the bombs. The court, after considering his low risk assessment, imposed a three‑year, four‑month prison term, suspending the final year on the condition of good behaviour and peacekeeping.