A man accused of perverting the course of justice in connection with a dissident republican murder has been remanded on bail pending judgment. The Special Criminal Court hearing concerns Ray Kennedy, who is charged with deliberately destroying a mobile telephone SIM card on the day Peter Butterly was shot dead at Gormanston, County Meath in March 2013. The prosecution contends the SIM card would have been of significant evidential value to the murder investigation. Mr Kennedy's defence counsel argued his client had plausible reason to panic after arranging to meet Mr Butterly that afternoon about an illicit matter, and that the State has failed to prove the charge beyond reasonable doubt. The three-judge court, presiding Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Gerard Griffin and Flann Brennan, will deliver judgment on May 17th. Four men have already received life sentences for Mr Butterly's murder, with two others jailed for roles in the killing. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
The getaway driver, Alan Graham, 49, was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment with the final year suspended, after pleading guilty to facilitating an attempted murder of 26‑year‑old Lee Boylan. Boylan was shot three times at close range in a highly populated area of west Dublin on 6 March 2019, sustaining life‑changing injuries. The judge described the attack as well‑planned, involving sophisticated surveillance and a stakeout of a car wash. Graham's role was to drive the BMW that carried the gunman, who fired the shots. He had 20 prior convictions, mainly for drug offences, and was believed to have been under pressure to repay a drug debt. The sentence was set at 14 years, reduced to 11 with one year suspended, backdated to 17 June 2019. The prosecution sought to drop the attempted murder charge. Boylan survived due to a rare arteriovenous fistula that prevented fatal bleeding.
Ray Kennedy, aged 40, has pleaded not guilty at the Special Criminal Court to a charge of perverting the course of justice. The prosecution alleges that Kennedy deliberately destroyed a mobile phone SIM card on 6 March 2013, the day dissident republican Peter Butterly was shot dead in the carpark of the Huntsman Inn at Gormanston, County Meath. Kennedy had arranged to meet Butterly that afternoon and arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting. The State contends that Kennedy's phone had been in contact with a burner phone connected to the killing, and that destroying the SIM card was intended to hamper the garda investigation. Kennedy, attending his trial remotely, is accused of deliberately destroying evidence of significant value. Four men have already received life sentences for Butterly's murder, and two others have been imprisoned for their roles in the killing. The trial, before three judges, is expected to last four to five weeks.
During a sentence hearing in the Central Criminal Court, the court heard that Alan Graham (49) was the getaway driver in a gang‑planned attempted murder of Lee Boylan (26) on 6 March 2019. Boylan was shot three times in the shoulder and neck while seated in his van in a busy area of Mulhuddart, Dublin. He survived because the gunshot wounds created an arteriovenous fistula that stopped the bleeding. Boylan suffered life‑changing injuries, including a severe neurological injury, and remained in hospital and rehabilitation until 30 August 2019. The three bullets remain in his body. Graham pleaded guilty to knowledge of the criminal organisation and participation in the attempted murder, but the State will not prosecute the first count of attempted murder after sentencing.
David Fortune, 33, of Crumlin, was re‑arraigned on the fifth day of his trial for the murder of his father, Gerry Fortune, 62, on 19 August 2018. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The trial judge, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, adjourned the sentence hearing to allow a psychiatric and forensic psychological assessment, as recommended by probation services. The hearing is scheduled for 26 April. During the trial, witnesses described a day of drinking and drug use in a granny flat, a confrontation with half‑brother Gerard Lambe, and the alleged administration of black‑market diazepam tablets to Fortune. Fortune stabbed his father in the neck with a knife after a quarrel, then fled, hijacked a car, and was arrested after receiving Valium in hospital. The post‑mortem found an 8‑cm stab wound that severed the carotid artery and jugular vein, causing haemorrhage and shock.
In a first for Irish courts, Mr Justice Tony Hunt granted an accused the right to attend a criminal trial remotely via video‑link. Ray Kennedy, charged with perverting the course of justice in the murder of Peter Butterly, will be allowed to participate in his Special Criminal Court hearing from March 1, 2021. Kennedy, 40, is accused of destroying a SIM card on the day of Butterly's shooting. The court found Kennedy had exceptional family circumstances: his 35‑year‑old father of two, Peter Butterly, was killed in a car‑park in Gormanston on 6 March 2013, and Kennedy's daughter has a serious congenital condition requiring regular hospital visits. Imelda Kelly, Kennedy's counsel, argued that travel would heighten risk to the child. The three‑judge panel, including Judges Griffin and Brennan, accepted the application, noting no substantive objection from the State. The trial, expected to last four to five weeks, will begin on Monday.
In a 2021 Court of Appeal decision, the Special Criminal Court was affirmed as having the authority to rely on the belief evidence of Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard in convicting Conor Metcalfe, a 30‑year‑old from Clondalkin, of IRA membership. Howard had claimed privilege over the material used to form his opinion, citing state security concerns. The conviction was based on Metcalfe's refusal to answer numerous material questions during a Garda interview under Section 2 of the Offences Against the State Act, which allows courts to draw inferences from such refusals. The Court of Appeal upheld the trial judge's reliance on these inferences, finding no procedural unfairness. Metcalfe was sentenced to four years and six months' imprisonment, backdated to his arrest in December 2018, after the Special Criminal Court had imposed a headline sentence of five years for the offence of membership in an unlawful organisation.
Ahmad Majeed, 26, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and possession of weapons at a 2019 brawl outside Love Lane nightclub. He admitted bringing a hatchet, hammer, wheel brace, and a towing eye from a Brown Thomas shopping bag, and a rucksack containing two petrol bombs. CCTV showed him gathering with about 20 men on Clarendon Street, passing the bag to another, then retrieving it before heading to the club. He also moved a traffic cone to reveal the rucksack. The mob, about 30 masked men, attempted to force entry, injuring a doorman who was punched and kicked. Majeed denied involvement in the assaults and claimed ignorance of the bombs, stating he would have stayed home if he had known. The court adjourned sentencing to March 12 and remanded him on bail.
In 2015, Christopher McDonald, 36, was convicted of murdering Keith Walker, 36, at the Blanchardstown Pigeon Racing Club. McDonald was found wearing a black wig and a transparent latex glove, and a 9mm Makarov sub‑machine gun was recovered in a handbag near the club. CCTV showed a person pulling a gun from a handbag and firing 18 shots at Walker, who died from head and body wounds. McDonald was found guilty by a unanimous jury at the Central Criminal Court in 2017 and sentenced to life imprisonment. His lawyers now appeal to the Court of Appeal, arguing that DNA swabs were taken before he received adequate legal advice and that the jury was prejudiced by hearing McDonald's remark to the arresting sergeant. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment. Christopher McDonald pleaded not guilty.
Daniel Kane, 52, was sentenced to ten‑and‑a‑half years in prison for coercive control, intimidation, assault and 12 counts of assault causing harm. The offences occurred between May 2018 and January 2020 in Dublin and included repeated physical attacks such as burning the victim's foot, cutting her with a pizza slicer, head‑butting her after nasal surgery, stamping on her arm and strangling her. Kane also threatened to send explicit images to the victim's family if she withdrew charges and attempted to pervert the course of justice by pressuring her to change her statements. He pleaded guilty to the perverting the course of justice charge. The judge imposed a twelve‑and‑a‑half year sentence, suspended the final two years on strict conditions, and ordered that Kane follow all directions of the Probation Service for two years after release.
Graham Lynch, 41, was jailed for two-and-a-half years after he stored almost €40,000 worth of heroin in the attic of his home to pay a drug debt. He told Gardaí he would receive a call when a certain person "needed stuff" and would then pass the drugs on. Lynch delivered small quantities locally and stored the rest until instructed. He admitted in a Garda interview that he was storing the drugs on behalf of others. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court he pleaded guilty to possession of heroin for sale or supply at his home on 20 August 2019. He had six prior convictions for minor road traffic offences. Judge Melanie Greally noted his limited offending history and that his urine analysis was negative for drugs. She sentenced him to four years imprisonment, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions, including following all directions of the Probation Service for 12 months after release.
A 38-year-old Romanian man has been sentenced to five and a half years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his role in an aggravated burglary targeting two women working as escorts. Ioan Galben of Blanchardstown pleaded guilty to the offence at a premises on Parnell Street, Dublin 1, on 12 November 2019. Judge Pauline Codd found the crime was aggravated by involvement in gang racketeering aimed at exploiting vulnerable women. The court heard Galben facilitated entry for two armed accomplices who brandished a knife and blade, threatening to cut one woman's throat whilst demanding cash, phones and cigarettes. Gardaí established the women were not acting under duress. Galben admitted his involvement during interview and expressed remorse. Judge Codd suspended the final six months of the sentence on condition he leaves the jurisdiction upon release. Galben is currently serving a concurrent five-year sentence for a similar offence in Roscommon.
In a Dublin trial that began in August 2018, David Fortune, aged 33, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his father, Gerard Fortune, aged 62, who was stabbed in the neck at their family home in Crumlin. On the fifth day of the trial, the prosecution accepted a plea of manslaughter, and the jury was discharged. The judge ordered a probation report and a sentencing hearing for February 26, 2021, with victim impact statements to be heard then. The court heard that the fatal assault occurred after a day of drinking and drug taking in a granny flat, with witnesses describing the accused as paranoid and hallucinating after taking tablets. The post‑mortem showed an 8 cm stab wound that cut the carotid artery and jugular vein, causing haemorrhage and shock. Fortune was remanded in custody until the sentencing date.
In the trial of 33‑year‑old David Fortune, the court heard that after his father Gerard was stabbed in the neck on 19 August 2018, Fortune allegedly hijacked a car on Rutland Grove, drove across Dublin, and fled into James Connolly Memorial Hospital with one shoe on. Witnesses described him as "out of it" with black eyes, and he was seen running frightened through the hospital, claiming he was being followed and that his father was trying to kill him. He was later given Valium in the emergency department and was arrested by Gardaí for murder after learning his father had died. The trial continues on Monday. David Fortune pleaded not guilty.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, David Fortune, aged 33, is charged with the murder of his father, Gerard (Gerry) Fortune, who was 63 when he died. The incident occurred on 19 August 2018, the day of the All‑Ireland final, in the family home on Rutland Grove, Crumlin. According to the prosecution, the house was crowded with relatives and friends who were drinking and using drugs. On that day, the accused allegedly behaved erratically, shouting threats and eventually brandishing a knife. He swung the knife at his father, who fell and was stabbed in the neck. The victim was taken to hospital but died from haemorrhage and shock. The accused has pleaded not guilty and the trial is set to continue for three weeks before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
Wojciech Strojek, 37, was sentenced to five‑and‑a‑half years in prison after he held a knife to the throat of his then‑girlfriend in her Dublin home, threatening that she would never see her children again. The incident, which lasted about 30 minutes, also involved Strojek cutting her left wrist and pouring water over her trousers. Earlier that year he had pleaded guilty to false imprisonment, assault causing harm, production of an article and making threats to kill at Barnwell Lane, Ongar, and to assault causing harm at James Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown. He had also assaulted the victim's ex‑husband and a paramedic in the months leading up to the attack. Strojek had no prior convictions in Ireland but had ten convictions in Poland for assault, threats, intoxicated driving and public order. The court noted his history of alcohol abuse and his claim of memory loss regarding the incident. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the sentence.
Olusegun Olusanya, aged 24, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to an 18‑month suspended sentence for his role in a €10,000 transfer that was part of a larger $950,000 phishing fraud. He was 19 when he allowed his bank account to be used by others to receive €10,000, which he then withdrew in six transactions and handed to two individuals. Olusanya pleaded guilty to converting, transferring, handling, acquiring or possessing the €10,000, which was the proceeds of crime. He admitted he was not the organiser of the fraud and that he had been asked by someone staying with him to use his account. The judge noted he had no prior convictions and that he had been offered money, but he had not profited greatly. The court imposed an 18‑month suspended sentence as his first and last chance.
Paul Keating, aged 25, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for unlawful possession of firearms, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. He pleaded guilty on 27 October 2017 to possessing broken shotgun parts that could not be assembled or fired. Gardaí found the parts during a drug search for cocaine at his home in Brookhaven Grove, Blanchardstown, Dublin. Keating had agreed to hold the parts in exchange for a €1,000 reduction of a €2,000 drug debt, which he later paid off with family help. He claimed he had not used the parts or attempted to fire them between February and October 2017. The court noted he had not reported the offence to the Probation Service and had subsequent convictions for road traffic and theft offences. The judge emphasised the seriousness of the offence and urged Keating to be ashamed of his actions.
Peter Brazil, 41, was convicted of stealing six kegs of beer from The Great Wood Wetherspoons Pub in Blanchardstown on 7 September 2016. The stolen goods, valued at €800, were not recovered. Brazil, who has 268 prior convictions, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Pauline Codd, after hearing evidence in July, sentenced him to 18 months in prison, suspended in full for two years on the condition that he engage with the Probation Service. The judge noted Brazil's long‑term drug addiction and its impact on his health, stating that continued thieving must stop. Garda Terrance Nevin had identified Brazil from CCTV footage showing him driving a white transit van that carried the kegs. Keith Spencer BL defended Brazil, noting his client's efforts to address his drug addiction. The case was adjourned to allow Brazil time to work with the Probation Service.
Christopher McDonald, 37, from the East Wall area of Dublin, appealed his murder conviction to the Court of Appeal. He was found guilty by a unanimous jury at the Central Criminal Court three years ago for the murder of Keith Walker, 36, at the Blanchardstown Pigeon Racing Club on June 12, 2015. McDonald had pleaded not guilty to the charge, which was proven, and was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment by Justice Patrick McCarthy. His barrister, Michael Bowman SC, argued that the trial judge erred in refusing to discharge the jury after witness Jason O'Connor allegedly threatened McDonald. Counsel also contended that the jury was prejudiced by hearing McDonald's reply to his arrest, 'Go F**k yourself,' which Bowman suggested indicated a hardness associated with a professional hitman. Additionally, Bowman submitted that the judge erred in ruling that McDonald was unlawfully detained between 5.40 a.m. and 6.10 a.m. on June 13, 2015, and in admitting evidence from an informal identification and forensic samples taken during that period. Justice John Edwards questioned whether the jury would have been so undiscerning as to be prejudiced by the reply to the garda. Court President Justice George Birmingham, presiding with Justice Edwards and Justice Brian Murray, adjourned the hearing of the rest of the appeal to allow both parties to submit further written submissions on the ground regarding the forensic samples and detention.
In a coercive control trial, a 43‑year‑old woman accused a 52‑year‑old Dublin man of holding a knife to her throat and of multiple assaults. She said she would kill herself first "before I let him do it to me". The accused is charged with coercive control, intimidation, endangerment and 13 counts of assault. The endangerment charge involves an incident on a Dublin bridge where he allegedly pushed her toward the railings. Assault allegations include burning her foot, pushing her down stairs, head‑butting, punching, standing on her head, stamping on her arm and strangling her. The trial is before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury, with the accused pleading not guilty to all counts. The case continues at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
The High Court has appointed provisional liquidators to two fashion retail companies that operated thirteen Pamela Scott stores across Ireland. Arzac Developments Ltd ran ten stores while Richard Alan & Co operated three, with outlets in locations including Sligo, Dublin, Limerick, Tralee and Cork. The firms, employing 104 people, sought winding up orders citing challenging market conditions, rising operating costs and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which rendered them insolvent. Mr Justice David Keane appointed insolvency practitioners Eamonn Richardson and Ian Barrett of KPMG as joint provisional liquidators. The court heard the companies faced pressure from landlords, reduced footfall and changes to wage subsidy schemes. Both firms were dependent on their parent company, Flairline Fashion Ltd, for administrative and financial support, which was no longer available. The judge made the cases returnable to November.
In a murder trial, the State presented a circumstantial case against Sebastian Barczuk, 32, for the death of Polish national Michal Kurek, 33, found on 4 August 2017 in Ballyboughal, north County Dublin. Kurek's body lay face‑down in a country lane with over 60 stab wounds and blunt‑force trauma to the head. The prosecution argued that the victim was murdered and that Barczuk was the perpetrator, citing their long‑standing friendship and shared addresses. Evidence included mobile‑phone records showing limited contact between the men on the day of the murder, a Nokia phone found in Kurek's pocket, and witness testimony from a cyclist who first spotted the body. The case relied on technical and circumstantial evidence, with no CCTV footage or recovered weapon, and the trial was set to continue before a jury and Mr Justice Tony Hunt. Sebastian Barczuk pleaded not guilty.
Andrzej Benko, a 48-year-old Polish national from Mulhuddart, is appealing his conviction for the attempted murder of his wife, Joanna. Benko was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court in April 2014 and sentenced to 15 years for striking his sleeping wife on the head with a lump hammer on July 5, 2010. At the Court of Appeal, Benko's legal team argued that the conviction is unsafe, claiming the trial judge failed to properly guide the jury on inferring that death was a natural and probable consequence of the assault. They contended that while Benko admitted to intending to kill his wife at various stages, it was unclear if he held that specific intent during the physical attack. Defence counsel also noted that a request to add a charge of assault causing serious harm, to which Benko would have pleaded guilty, was refused by the DPP. Prosecutors countered that it was common sense that striking a sleeping woman three times on the head with a heavy weapon intended to kill. The court heard that Benko had alerted emergency services and presented himself to gardaí. The panel, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, reserved judgement in the appeal.
Rebecca Coates, aged 45, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to arson at Avondale Park, Mulhuddart, on 10 March 2019. She set fire to her sister's camper van after a verbal disagreement at a hen party in the city centre. Coates used an empty bottle of Prosecco and nail polish remover as an accelerant, intending to frighten her sister. The fire was discovered by her nephew, who extinguished it, and the damage amounted to €800. Judge Pauline Codd noted Coates' mental health decline following her daughter's suicide in 2017 and her history of domestic violence. She sentenced Coates to four years' imprisonment, suspended in full, with strict conditions including compliance with the Probation Service for two years and payment of €800 to the prosecuting Garda within six months. The injured party may nominate a charity to receive the money.
Graham Lynch, a 41‑year‑old roofer from Castlecurragh Vale, Mulhuddart, was remanded on bail pending sentence after police found almost €40,000 worth of heroin in his home. Gardaí discovered a small amount in the sitting room and bedroom and, upon searching the attic, uncovered more heroin hidden behind insulation. Lynch admitted in a Garda interview that he was storing the drugs for others, describing himself as a "cog in the machine of supply." He had been abusing cocaine and had built up a drug debt, which he said had pressured him into storing the heroin for two or three weeks. Lynch pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 20 August 2019 to possession of heroin for sale or supply at his home. He has six prior convictions for minor road traffic offences. The judge adjourned the case to 6 November, ordering a probation report and urine analysis.
In July 2020, a 24‑year‑old father of three, Devon Hennessey, was charged after he punched a man outside Blanchardstown District Court, prompting a volatile scene that required the assistance of 20 Gardaí to restrain him. Hennessey had previously pleaded guilty to violent disorder in November 2017 and had five prior road‑traffic convictions. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Melanie Greally acknowledged that Hennessey's role was limited and that some provocation had occurred. She sentenced him to 18 months' imprisonment, suspended in full on conditions including 12 months' engagement with the Probation Service. The case highlighted the Gardaí's intervention and the defendant's claim that a comment about his disabled son had sparked the incident. The court noted no further hostility between the parties.
A man has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison following a series of attempted car thefts in a Dublin housing estate while under the influence of crack cocaine. Thomas Cahill Donohue, aged 35, pleaded guilty to twelve charges including burglary, attempted robbery, criminal damage, unlawful use of a vehicle, threatening behaviour and assault on gardaí at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. On 25 October 2019, Donohue approached multiple residents in the Whitethorn Walk estate in Lusk, making threats and attempting to take their vehicles while holding his pet chihuahua. Residents reported that he made violent threats towards them. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the sentence on Thursday, noting that whilst Donohue expressed a desire to reform and seek drug treatment, the seriousness of his conduct and the trauma caused to civilians and gardaí necessitated custodial punishment. The judge stated that substance abuse was no defence. The sentence was backdated to 1 January last.
Stephen Fowler, 61, of Blakestown Cottages, Clonsilla, Dublin 15, was charged with involvement in the attempted murder of James 'Mago' Gately, a target of the Kinahan cartel. The offence, under Section 72(1A) of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, alleges that between 7 December 2016 and 6 April 2017, Fowler, knowing of a criminal organisation, participated in activities that would enable the murder of Gately. Gately was shot multiple times on 10 May 2017 at the Topaz filling station on Clonashaugh Road, Dublin 17. Fowler was arrested on 1 July 2020 at Blanchardstown Garda Station on a warrant. Despite objections from Garda Suzanne Lyons, Mr Justice Alexander Owens granted bail under Section 2 of the Bail Act, ordering a €20,000 bond, residence at his daughter's address, daily reporting to Blanchardstown Garda Station, and restrictions on travel and contact with co‑accused Peter Keating.
Peter Brazil, 41, was caught on CCTV stealing six kegs of beer from The Great Wood Wetherspoons Pub in Blanchardstown on 7 September 2016. He pleaded guilty to theft of €800 worth of Fosters and Beamish kegs. Brazil, who has 268 previous convictions, was identified by Gardaí and is the driver of a white transit van that transported the stolen kegs. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and sentencing is adjourned to 2 November, with a court order for him to engage with the Probation Service on methadone.
Two men, Peter Keating, 39, of Rowlagh Green, Clondalkin, and Stephen Fowler, 61, of Blakestown Cottages, Clonsilla, were charged at the Special Criminal Court on 1 July 2020 with involvement in the attempted murder of James 'Mago' Gately, a target of the Kinahan cartel. Gately was shot multiple times while seated in his car at the Topaz filling station on Clonashaugh Road, Dublin 17, on 10 May 2017. The charges, under Section 72(1A) of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, allege that between 7 December 2016 and 6 April 2017, both men, knowing of a criminal organisation, participated in or contributed to activities connected with the murder of Gately, thereby enhancing the organisation's ability to commit serious offences. Keating is also charged under Section 71 of the Act with directing the activities of a criminal organisation between 7 December 2016 and 4 April 2017, both within and outside the State.
Ricardo De Freitas Correia, a 34-year-old Portuguese national with an address in Dublin 15, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to deception and theft offences. The charges related to incidents in May 2019 at retail locations in Blanchardstown, Clondalkin, Swords and Tallaght. Gardaí established that Correia had exploited a debit card processing vulnerability, removing cards when machines prompted him to do so, then swiping them again to complete purchases without entering PINs. He acquired approximately €400 worth of goods including a watch, video games, perfume and an electric toothbrush through this method. All property was recovered. The court heard Correia was acting under direction from another person. Judge Elma Sheahan described the offending as organised and noted Correia's considerable knowledge of circumventing security measures. She imposed a two-and-a-half-year sentence, fully suspended on condition of Probation Service supervision following completion of a sentence he was already serving.
Jamie McMahon, 19, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and to making threats to kill or cause serious harm on 23 October 2018. The attacks occurred at Snugboro Road Extension and West Way View, where he repeatedly punched and bit his foster mother, Anne Hogan, and threatened to kill her. McMahon had been in Hogan's care since infancy and had no prior convictions. The court, hearing Hogan's letter urging the court not to incarcerate him, imposed a fully suspended three‑year sentence on strict conditions, including 12 months of probation and limited, mediated contact with the victim. He remains in a residential care centre following the offence. The judge described the assault as very serious and noted Hogan's long‑term care of McMahon.
A Dublin man, Ray Kennedy, 40, is charged with perverting the course of justice for destroying a SIM card on 6 March 2013, the day Peter Butterly, a 35‑year‑old father of two, was shot dead in the car park of the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co. Meath. Kennedy faces trial at the Special Criminal Court on 11 January 2021, a hearing expected to last four to five weeks. The case is presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh.
Brian Reilly, aged 23, was denied bail by the High Court on 24 March 2020 after being charged with three counts of criminal damage, three counts of dangerous driving, endangerment, driving without a licence and failure to remain at the scene. The charges stem from a collision on 29 January that allegedly caused a woman's finger to be amputated and left her with a broken collar bone and a suspected broken pelvis. Reilly was observed driving a Honda in suspicious fashion, breaking a red light, driving through traffic, mounting a roundabout, travelling in the wrong direction and colliding with a van and a Peugeot. The Peugeot's occupants suffered injuries, with the female passenger requiring amputation. Reilly fled on foot towards Ashbourne, was later arrested in a field, and the court found no bail conditions that would satisfy the prosecution. He may apply for bail again in four months if the prosecution's case cannot be progressed.
A 24‑year‑old father of three, Devon Hennessey, punched a man outside Blanchardstown District Court on 9 November 2017, an act that required the intervention of 20 Gardaí to calm the volatile scene. Garda Richard Finan, who was standing at the main entrance, saw Hennessey approach the victim and strike him in the face without warning. Finan attempted to restrain Hennessey, who resisted and shouted threats at both the victim and the Garda. Additional officers were needed to continue the restraint, and other bystanders tried to intervene. Hennessey pleaded guilty to violent disorder and has five prior road‑traffic convictions. His defence lawyer, Oisin Clarke, argued that a comment about Hennessey's disabled son triggered the incident, and that Hennessey was acting in the heat of the moment. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to 5 May and ordered a Probation Service report to assess suitability for community service. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
Thomas McGuinness, aged 33, appeared before the Special Criminal Court charged with four non‑scheduled offences relating to an incident at a Louth farmhouse on 2 December 2017. He is accused of falsely imprisoning Edward McAndrew by detaining him without consent at One Ferry Hill, Cornamucklagh, Omeath, and of assaulting McAndrew, causing him harm, at the same location and date. McGuinness is also charged with robbing McAndrew of car keys, a travel bag, a wallet, a briefcase, two mobile phones and an Irish passport, and with demanding £50,000 from McAndrew with menaces. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Gerard Griffin and Dermot Dempsey, remanded McGuinness on bail subject to conditions until 9 March. Two other men, William Twomey (56) and Anthony Finglas (49), are also charged with the same offences; Twomey was granted bail, Finglas' application was denied.
Lisa Geoghegan, aged 34, was found guilty by a jury of one count of assault causing harm to Aidan Kenna and one count of assaulting Garda Anthony Sugrue. She also pleaded guilty to one count of criminal damage to a prison cell wall at Blanchardstown Garda Station. The jury found her not guilty of five other counts, including producing a stanley knife in the course of an assault, two counts of assault causing harm to two gardaí, one count of damaging a garda ballistics vest and one count of intimidating a witness. The trial, held at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, described how Geoghegan assaulted Kenna's brother, stabbed him with a knife, bit his hand, and later kicked a garda in the groin during her arrest. After being detained, she wrote the word 'PIGS' on the cell wall using menstrual blood, an act that cost €150 to clean.
Patrick Murphy, 43, of Cabra, Dublin, pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to an assault on the Navan Road on June 23, 2016. The court heard that Murphy, who has longstanding mental health issues and 20 previous convictions including two for assault, grabbed a child he mistakenly believed was his kidnapped niece. Garda Jennifer Connolly testified that Murphy ran across the road with a "crazy look in his eyes," seized the child around the waist, and stated he thought someone had her for ransom. He released the child after her grandmother held on tightly. The court noted Murphy had been discharged from Connolly Hospital the day prior and was taken to the Mater Hospital psychiatric department by gardaí the morning of the incident, where he was discharged to attend a GP clinic. He was holding his hospital referral letter during the event. The family expressed concern for Murphy's mental health rather than seeking imprisonment. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a one-month sentence of imprisonment, which she deferred until May 15. She indicated she will strike out the sentence on that date, leaving Murphy without a conviction.
Eoin McKinley, aged 22, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm after smashing a glass into Andris Slalina's face at Weatherspoon's, Westend Retail Park, on 30 May 2016. The incident followed Slalina's criticism of a group's loudness, which McKinley overheard. McKinley threw a glass that struck a fence and later struck Slalina's face, leaving a broken nose and a scar on his left eyebrow. Slalina suffered €1,000 in medical and lost‑wage costs. McKinley, who had no prior convictions and was 19 at the time, had paid €2,700 in compensation. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to 240 hours of community service within 12 months, replacing a two‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term. The court noted McKinley's intoxication and the alleged involvement of cocaine, though no drug charges were brought. The case was prosecuted by Diarmuid Collins BL and defended by Mark Lynam BL.
The High Court has authorised the sale of the last property linked to John Gilligan, a three‑bedroom house at Willsbrook, Lucan, for €380,000. The house had been rented to long‑term tenants after seizure by the Criminal Assets Bureau. Justice Carmel Stewart granted the sale, allowing Gilligan's daughter Tracey to receive 20 % of the net proceeds. REA McDonald estate agents secured a buyer; they argued the €380,000 price reflects fair market value due to required repairs and noise from a nearby road, which had reduced interest over the past three months.
The Special Criminal Court directed not guilty verdicts for Laurence Murphy and Ray Kennedy, who had pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh Na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA on March 6th, 2013. Ms Justice Tara Burns ruled that Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard's "belief evidence" was inadmissible due to "issues of unfairness" arising from a "blanket" claim of privilege over underlying material. The judge noted that without this evidence, the case was "inherently tenuous." The ruling also highlighted "worrying aspects" regarding the handling of statements by State's-witness David Cullen, who claimed Murphy was "never a member of the IRA." The court found that the refusal to release secret material to the prosecution or defence prevented meaningful cross-examination. A further charge against Mr Kennedy of carrying out an act intending to pervert the course of justice, by destroying a SIM card on March 6th, 2013, has been adjourned until January 13 next.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 3 December 2019, defence counsel Hugh Hartnett SC and John D Fitzgerald SC challenged the admissibility of a senior Garda's "belief evidence" that Laurence Murphy (62) and Ray Kennedy (40) were members of the IRA. They argued the evidence was "valueless" and that the Director of Public Prosecutions had treated the court's rulings with "casualness", making the process "impossible to understand". The defence noted that no prosecution for IRA membership has relied on belief evidence since 1972 and that the Garda's belief was formed from material held by the Gardaí in December 2017, which had not been disclosed to the prosecution, defence or judges. They also highlighted that the Garda's claim of privilege was broad, that cross‑examination was "sterile", and that the Assistant Commissioner had not made the Garda aware of a statement by David Cullen that Murphy was "never a member of the IRA". Laurence Murphy pleaded not guilty. Ray Kennedy pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Dean Fitzsimons, aged 19, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for multiple firearm offences, including possession of a semi‑automatic pistol, a silencer and seven rounds of ammunition on Waterford Road, Blanchardstown, on 28 May, and for being a passenger in a stolen car on 23 June. His father, Kenneth Fitzsimons, aged 39, received a five‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for two counts of firearm possession, dangerous driving, driving a stolen car and resisting arrest, all committed on 23 June. The court noted that Kenneth had been stabbed earlier that year by individuals threatening Dean, and that he had driven a stolen vehicle at high speed, narrowly missing a Garda, before being stopped and arrested. Both men were arrested and have remained in custody since. Dean has a one‑year‑old child and five prior convictions; Kenneth has two other children, including a newborn, and one prior larceny conviction. Dean Fitzsimons pleaded guilty.
During the Special Criminal Court trial of Laurence Murphy and Ray Kennedy for the murder of Peter Butterly, Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard testified that his belief that the accused were members of the IRA was not affected by information that a key witness, David Cullen, had said he would deny IRA membership if called to testify. Howard, head of the Special Detective Unit, had formed his belief based on material he claimed privilege over, gathered in December 2017. He confirmed that no one in the investigation, including the DPP, had informed him of Cullen's statement, and he insisted the statement had no impact on his belief. Howard also denied any formal protocol or coaching on how to express such beliefs, and the defence will apply to exclude his evidence tomorrow. The trial continues. Laurence Murphy pleaded not guilty. Ray Kennedy pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court has adjourned proceedings involving Laurence Murphy and Ray Kennedy, who have pleaded not guilty to alleged membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh Na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA on March 6th, 2013. Mr Kennedy is also charged with carrying out an act intending to pervert the course of justice by destroying a SIM card on the same date. The procedural stage remains at charge or pretrial, with the trial set to continue on Monday. Ms Justice Tara Burns stated the court would not review sensitive material after the Director of Public Prosecutions failed to comply with a ruling to view it. The judge expressed shock at the DPP's refusal to disclose a letter from Assistant Commissioner Michael O'Sullivan to the defence, questioning the office's thought process. Defence counsel argued that the court viewing the material would create perception problems and depart from judicial norms. The DPP maintained security concerns regarding the material. No findings, sentences, or finalisations were recorded, as the matter was adjourned.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Judge Tara Burns considered whether the court should review sensitive material that Gardaí have refused to hand over to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The material concerns two men charged in connection with the 2013 murder of Peter Butterly. Gardaí cited security concerns for senior and junior counsel, claiming that disclosure could expose them to danger. Defence counsel for Laurence Murphy and Ray Kennedy objected to the court viewing the material, arguing it could create a conflict of interest. Judge Burns noted that the DPP was unable and unwilling to provide the material, but the court retains a supervisory role over disclosure. She ruled that the prosecution must ensure proper disclosure, but the court would not compel Gardaí to release the material. The trial is set to resume tomorrow at 10:30 am. Laurence Murphy pleaded not guilty. Ray Kennedy pleaded not guilty.
Emer Roche, aged 46, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five fraud and forgery offences committed between July and December 2014. She forged approval letters for the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists (ISCP) and used a computer to facilitate the fraud, stealing €500 and forging documents on multiple dates. Roche had three prior theft convictions. The judge, citing the seriousness of the offences and Roche's prior record, imposed a three‑year imprisonment sentence, fully suspended for three years under strict conditions, including 12 months of probation. Roche had repaid €9,000 in full and had shown remorse, early cooperation, sobriety and repayment of the loss. The case involved a potential public health risk as forged letters enabled unqualified physiotherapists to practice. The ISCP had refunded applicants' fees, and Roche's actions caused a €9,000 loss to the society. The court noted her previous short‑term contract with the ISCP and her admission of the fraud to Gardaí.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 27 November 2019, Ms Justice Tara Burns ruled that prosecution counsel must view sensitive material relating to two men charged with the murder of a dissident republican. The material, held by An Garda Siochana, concerns Peter Butterly, a 35‑year‑old father of two, who was shot dead on 6 March 2013 at the Huntsman Inn car park in Gormanston, Co. Meath. Laurence Murphy (62) and Ray Kennedy (40) are charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, the IRA, and Kennedy with destroying a SIM card. Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard, head of the Special Detective Unit, claimed the material was essential to his belief that the men were IRA members, citing security concerns. Garda Siochana cited fears for the safety of prosecution counsel as the reason for withholding the material, but the court found no legal basis for that claim. Laurence Murphy pleaded not guilty. Ray Kennedy pleaded not guilty.
A Detective Chief Superintendent has given evidence at the Special Criminal Court regarding two men charged in connection with the fatal shooting of Peter Butterly in March 2013. The victim, aged 35, was killed in a car park at Gormanston, Co Meath. Laurence Murphy, aged 62, of Bettystown, Co Meath, and Ray Kennedy, aged 40, of Blanchardstown, Dublin, have pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. Mr Kennedy faces an additional charge of perverting the course of justice. Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard, head of the Special Detective Unit, told the three-judge court of his belief that both men were members of the IRA. He declined to disclose the material upon which his belief rested, citing security concerns and the protection of life and property. Evidence was also heard of items recovered from the scene. Four men have previously received life sentences for Mr Butterly's murder, with two others also imprisoned for roles in the killing.