Court archive
Court reports mentioning Brittas, Dublin
2025-02-19 · Clare
Patrick Harty, 51, was sentenced to five years in prison, with the final year suspended, for a seven‑month crime spree in which he stole about €20,000 worth of property from weddings and other social settings. He pleaded guilty to five counts, including four thefts and one unlawful use of a car, and was found to have committed the offences between 31 May 2023 and 1 January 2024 in various locations across Leinster, such as a hotel in Co Kildare, Brittas Bay in Co Wicklow and Dublin City Centre. The court heard that no property was recovered and that Harty's offences caused "great inconvenience" to his victims. He has a history of theft, burglary and traffic offences, and the judge noted his personal circumstances, including a brain injury and a background of neglect. Harty was directed to undergo one year of post‑release supervision by the Probation Services.
2024-04-16 · Wicklow
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the Director of Public Prosecutions is investigating whether assets linked to Michael Lynn are benefits of crime. The DPP alleges Lynn stole just over €18 million from six financial institutions in 2006 and 2007. He was convicted of 10 of 21 theft counts and jailed in February for five-and-a-half years. The investigation targets three bank accounts containing €2.8 million, a house in Brittas Bay purchased by a corporation strongly linked to Lynn, and €3 million confiscated by Portuguese authorities. Prosecution counsel Joe Mulrean BL stated the DPP is engaged in enquiry under sections 9, 10, and 11 of the Criminal Justice Act 1994. Defense counsel Paul Comiskey O'Keeffe BL required proof of service before adjournment. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the matter, noting it is likely to be contested. The case returns to court on July 8. Separately, the Court of Appeal recently required Lynn to provide a statement of financial means before legal aid could be granted for his appeal against conviction. Lynn has recently changed solicitors and intends to apply for further legal aid.
2023-05-25 · Dublin
Anthony Larkin, 46, and Gerard Windrum, 38, were sentenced to a combined 13 years in prison for moving almost €1.2 million in cannabis resin. Larkin pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of just over 92 kg of the drug, worth about €556,800, seized at a storage unit in Mount Seskin, Tallaght on 1 April 2022. Windrum pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of 105 kg, worth just over €630,000, found at the same unit. Larkin had no prior convictions, while Windrum had 103, mainly traffic offences, including a heroin sale conviction. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Windrum to eight years and Larkin to five, citing their roles as couriers and the influence of debt. Gardaí had been surveilling the unit after a tip, discovered the drugs, and followed the vans to the transfer site in Brittas. Both men were arrested, questioned, and Larkin claimed his life was in danger due to drug debt.
2021-06-15 · Wicklow
At a sentencing hearing in the Central Criminal Court, the sister of Stephen 'Apples' Kavanagh, Stephanie Kavanagh, described her brother's death as 'brutally and viciously robbed' after a row over missing crack cocaine. She stated that her 37-year-old brother had 40 stab wounds on his body and was 'left to die like a dog'. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC for Darren Houlden, who was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, stated that it had not taken 'Sherlock Holmes' to solve the case as his client had walked into a garda station covered in blood and admitted stabbing the deceased. The judge remanded Houlden in custody until July 6, when he will be sentenced. The jury accepted the defence case that Houlden had 'lost control and snapped' when he stabbed Mr Kavanagh in a 'frenzied attack'. The defence contention was that 'fear' was at 'the heart of the case' and the accused was afraid for 'his own skin' as the victim had threatened his family. Houlden had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The matter was adjourned and never described as concluded or finalised.
2021-01-18 · Dublin
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 26 July 2017, Ian Kidd, aged 54, pleaded guilty to criminal damage after pouring diesel on the altar of St Agnes' Church in Crumlin. Kidd had received a letter from Catholic Church solicitors offering €30,000 for abuse he claimed to have suffered from a priest. He found the offer "derisory" and, upset, filled a can with €5 of diesel and set it on the altar, damaging the Carrara marble surface, a monstrance, a crucifix and a Paschal candle. He shouted at parishioners to leave. The court noted he had a cigarette and may have had the means to ignite the diesel but did not. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a fully suspended two‑year prison term, conditional on Kidd continuing treatment for alcohol addiction, and acknowledged his remorse and mental fragility at the time. The case was part of a broader High Court settlement in 2018 involving multiple abuse complaints.
2020-01-14 · Dublin
In 2018, 53‑year‑old Ian Kidd settled a High Court case with the Catholic Church over clerical child sex abuse. In July 2017 he received a €30,000 "final offer" from the church's solicitors, which he deemed derisory. In response, Kidd poured a small amount of diesel onto the floor of St Agnes' Church in Crumlin, damaging the Carrara marble altar, a monstrance, a crucifix and a Paschal candle. He shouted at parishioners to leave and threatened to ignite the fuel, though he did not. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found him guilty of one count of criminal damage. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to a 12‑month probation bond, requiring engagement with the Probation Service and any recommended addiction or mental health services, and adjourned the case to 18 January 2021. The incident caused an estimated €100,000 in damage.
2019-05-14 · Dublin
The Court of Appeal has reduced the sentence of David Burke, who was found to have the greatest culpability in the fatal assault on Dale Creighton in Tallaght in 2014. Burke, along with four others, pleaded guilty to manslaughter after murder charges were dropped during trial. The original sentencing judge, Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy, imposed a ten-year term on Burke with the final two-and-a-half years suspended, citing his role in setting the agenda. However, President of the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, re-sentenced Burke to ten years imprisonment with the final three years and three months suspended. This results in a net jail term of six years and nine months, a reduction of nine months. The court determined that the original divergence from the next most culpable offender, Ross Callery, was excessive. Callery, who was also found to have high culpability, received a ten-year sentence with the final four years suspended, leaving a net term of six years. Other participants included Aisling Burke, jailed for one year for violent disorder; James Reid, given a wholly suspended two-year sentence for possession of a knife; Graham Palmer, sentenced to ten years with five suspended; Jason Beresford, sentenced to ten years with four suspended; and Gerard Stevens, sentenced to ten years with seven suspended. The appeal focused on parity and relativity among the multiple defendants.
2019-02-01 · Dublin
Ian Kidd, 52, pleaded guilty to one count of criminal damage after pouring diesel inside St Agnes' Church in Crumlin on 26 July 2017. The diesel was spilled on the altar, a Carrara marble surface, and damaged a monstrance, a crucifix and a Paschal candle that belonged to Father Paul Tyrell. The damage is estimated at €100,000. Kidd appeared before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to 12 April and ordered a victim impact statement for that date.
2017-05-09 · Wicklow
The Court of Appeal ruled that Shillelagh Quarries Ltd must stop all quarrying works on a 3.27‑hectare area of its 25‑hectare site near Brittas, Co. Dublin, on the north‑facing slope of Butter Mountain, a 465‑metre peak. The site lies within an area of exceptional public amenity and close to two Special Areas of Conservation. The court upheld a High Court order that required the company to cease works by the following Friday and confirmed a two‑month stay on the cessation, allowing the firm to seek to regularise its planning status and give employees notice to find alternative work. The appeal concerned only the length of the stay, not the substantive finding that the quarrying was unauthorised. The court found the company had continued commercial activity despite a 2010 refusal of planning permission, creating a discordant landscape in a protected area. The ruling was made by Justices Mary Finlay Geoghegan, Michael Peart and Gerard Hogan.
2017-04-05 · Dublin
Kevin McCarthy, aged 23, was sentenced by Judge Pauline Codd to four years' imprisonment, with two and a half years suspended, for dangerous driving that caused the death of 21‑year‑old Thomas Carroll on the N81 near Brittas on 29 May 2014. McCarthy, who had 73 prior convictions including careless driving and driving without insurance, pleaded guilty. He was driving at an estimated speed of 100‑120 km/h, well above the 60 km/h limit signposted 300 metres before the crash. The vehicle spun into trees, flipped twice and travelled 115 metres, ejecting Carroll who died shortly after. McCarthy expressed remorse, apologising to Carroll's family, and the judge noted his lack of respect for road law and the severe impact on the victim's relatives. The sentence was described as a deterrent and a reflection of McCarthy's criminal recklessness.
2017-03-28 · Dublin
Kevin McCarthy, aged 23, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of 21‑year‑old Thomas Carroll on the N81 near Brittas on 29 May 2014. The sentencing hearing was delayed because the court may not have received a complete record of McCarthy's 73 prior convictions, including 14 for failing to produce insurance proof and 18 for failing to produce a licence. Prosecutor Diarmuid Collins requested time to obtain a full record, citing possible incomplete or inaccurate information. McCarthy, who was 20 at the time of the crash, drove the vehicle at an estimated 100‑120 km/h, although the speed limit was 60 km/h. The crash involved the car flipping twice and spinning about ten times before stopping on the wrong side of the road. McCarthy expressed remorse, stating he had no intention to harm anyone and that Thomas was a best friend.
2017-03-20 · Dublin
Kevin McCarthy, aged 23, pleaded guilty to one count of dangerous driving causing the death of 21‑year‑old Thomas Carroll on the N81 near Brittas, Co Wicklow, on 29 May 2014. McCarthy, who had 73 prior convictions including 14 for failing to produce proof of insurance and 18 for failing to produce a licence, was driving at an estimated 100‑120 km/h, well above the 60 km/h speed limit signposted 300 metres before the crash. The vehicle, carrying McCarthy and Carroll, spun out, flipped twice and rolled about ten times before stopping on the wrong side of the road. Carroll, a father‑of‑one, suffered massive head injuries and died shortly after the crash. McCarthy has been sentenced on 28 March, wearing a necklace with a picture of Carroll to remind him of the loss.
2017-01-17 · Dublin
Five men were sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for the killing of Dale Creighton, who died from blunt force injuries after a 14-minute assault at a Tallaght footbridge in 2014. The defendants, originally charged with murder, changed their pleas to guilty of manslaughter. Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy described the attack as prolonged and vicious, noting that the victims were 'pretty normal, average young people.' Graham Palmer (26) was jailed for five years; Ross Callery (23) and Jason Beresford (23) each received six-year sentences; David Burke (28) was sentenced to seven and a half years; and Gerard Stevens (27) received three years. Aisling Burke (23), who pleaded guilty to violent disorder, was given a five-year sentence with the final four years suspended for two years, though the imposition of this sentence was adjourned for one week to allow her to arrange childcare. James Reid (26), who pleaded guilty to possession of a knife, received a fully suspended two-year sentence and entered a €1,000 bond to be of good behaviour for two years. The victim's family expressed disappointment at the leniency of the sentences, particularly regarding the suspended portions.
2016-12-22 · Dublin
Seven defendants appeared before the Central Criminal Court for sentencing following the death of Dale Creighton, who died from blunt force injuries sustained during an assault on a Tallaght footbridge on New Year's Day 2014. Originally charged with murder, the group pleaded guilty to lesser offences on the 15th day of their trial. Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, Gerard Stevens, Jason Beresford, and David Burke each pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Jason Beresford also pleaded guilty to violent disorder, as did Aisling Burke. James Reid pleaded guilty to possession of a knife with a blade or sharp point. The court heard victim impact statements from Creighton's parents, who expressed their enduring grief and stated they would never forgive those responsible. Counsel for the defendants submitted mitigation, noting that most expressed remorse and had no prior convictions. Aisling Burke's counsel highlighted her status as a mother and her early plea. Graham Palmer's counsel noted his cooperation with Gardaí and admission of involvement in punching and slapping the deceased. David Burke's counsel argued he did not cause serious harm and attempted to stop others. The judge is now considering appropriate sentences for these admitted offences.
2016-12-19 · Dublin
The sentence hearing for seven accused in the 2014 death of Dale Creighton was adjourned, with Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy indicating sentences will be announced in January. The accused, originally charged with murder, pleaded guilty to lesser offences after their initial not-guilty pleas were withdrawn during trial. Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, Gerard Stevens, Jason Beresford, and David Burke pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Jason Beresford and Aisling Burke pleaded guilty to violent disorder. James Reid pleaded guilty to possession of a knife. Evidence presented included CCTV footage and testimony from Sergeant Brian Cagney, who stated Creighton was found unconscious on a Tallaght footbridge without a mobile phone, despite an allegation he had stolen one. Creighton died from blunt force injuries. The court noted prior convictions for David Burke, James Reid, and Gerard Stevens. A letter from Beresford, read by counsel, apologized to the Creighton family. The matter remains pending final sentencing.
2016-12-19 · Dublin
In a sentencing hearing that began on 19 December 2016, five Dublin men who had admitted killing a 20‑year‑old on a Tallaght footbridge on New Year's Morning 2014 were sentenced. The men, all in their twenties and from Tallaght, had originally been charged with murder but the charges were dropped on the 15th day of the trial after they pleaded guilty to lesser offences. The victims' death was caused by blunt force injury to the head and face. The defendants – Aisling Burke (23), David Burke (28), Graham Palmer (26), Ross Callery (23), James Reid (26), Jason Beresford (23) and Gerard Stevens (27) – had all pleaded not guilty to murder but later pleaded guilty to manslaughter, violent disorder or possession of a knife. The court heard CCTV footage and Garda interview memos during the hearing.
2016-11-07 · Dublin
At the Central Criminal Court, Ross Callery and Gerard Stevens were remanded in custody to await sentencing for their part in the killing of Dale Creighton. The seven accused, originally charged with murder and violent disorder, had their pleas changed on the 15th day of the trial. Callery and Stevens pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Jason Beresford pleaded guilty to manslaughter and violent disorder. James Reid pleaded guilty to possession of a knife. Aisling Burke pleaded guilty to violent disorder. Graham Palmer and David Burke pleaded not guilty to manslaughter. All murder charges were dropped. The court granted Aisling Burke bail until sentencing. Callery and Stevens, who had been on bail, were remanded in custody after answering their bail. The other accused, including Palmer, Beresford, Reid, and David Burke, were remanded in custody for sentencing on December 19th. The court noted a medical report might assist regarding Stevens. The incident occurred on New Year's Morning 2014 at a footbridge in Tallaght, where Creighton was assaulted and died the following day from blunt force injuries.
2016-11-01 · Dublin
At the Central Criminal Court, the jury was discharged after five accused changed their pleas from not guilty to murder to guilty to manslaughter, while two co-accused admitted to lesser charges. The case concerns the death of Dale Creighton, who was assaulted at a Tallaght footbridge in 2014 and died from blunt force injuries. Aisling Burke pleaded guilty to violent disorder. James Reid pleaded guilty to possessing a knife. Ross Callery, Jason Beresford, David Burke, Graham Palmer, and Gerard Stevens all pleaded guilty to manslaughter. The court granted Aisling Burke bail until sentencing. Ross Callery and Gerard Stevens were remanded on bail until next Monday. Jason Beresford, David Burke, Graham Palmer, and James Reid were remanded in custody. The court directed probation reports for Callery, Stevens, Beresford, Aisling Burke, David Burke, and Palmer, as well as a victim impact report. The matter was adjourned, with sentencing scheduled for December.
2016-10-28 · Dublin
The Central Criminal Court trial of seven Dubliners accused of murdering Dale Creighton and violent disorder is ongoing. Creighton was assaulted on New Year's Morning 2014 at a Tallaght footbridge and died the following day. All seven accused initially pleaded not guilty to both charges. However, Jason Beresford later changed his plea, admitting to the violent disorder charge while maintaining his not guilty plea to murder. The other six accused—Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, and Gerard Stevens—continue to contest both allegations. On the 14th day of the trial, the jury reviewed CCTV footage showing five accused running from the scene as gardai arrived. Sergeant Brian Cagney described specific actions, including kicks by Callery and Beresford, and strikes by Stevens, Palmer, and Beresford. The footage captured Beresford, Callery, Palmer, Aisling Burke, and David Burke fleeing simultaneously upon seeing police lights. James Reid and Gerard Stevens were seen moving separately. The matter was adjourned, with the prosecution case expected to conclude on Tuesday.
2016-10-27 · Dublin
The Central Criminal Court trial of seven Dubliners charged with the murder of Dale Creighton has heard expert evidence regarding his cause of death. Creighton, 20, was assaulted on New Year's Morning 2014 at the footbridge over the Tallaght bypass and died the following day. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that Creighton sustained extensive blunt force trauma to the head and face, resulting in brain swelling, diffuse axonal injury, and brain stem compression. He identified a fractured skull, broken nose, dislocated thumb, and a stab wound to the thigh, noting the latter was likely inflicted by an implement other than a knife. Toxicology revealed modest alcohol and trace cocaine levels. Dr Curtis concluded the cause of death was blunt force injury, stating that axonal injury could result from direct violence or prolonged coma. Under cross-examination, he acknowledged that injuries from an earlier assault by a man not before the court could have contributed to the fatal brain damage. The accused are Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, Jason Beresford, and Gerard Stevens. All pleaded not guilty to murder. While all initially pleaded not guilty to violent disorder, Jason Beresford later changed his plea to guilty for that specific charge. The trial continues before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy and a jury.
2016-10-27 · Dublin
The Central Criminal Court trial of seven accused individuals charged with the murder of Dale Creighton and violent disorder is ongoing before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy. The defendants, Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, Jason Beresford, and Gerard Stevens, have all pleaded not guilty to murder. While initially pleading not guilty to violent disorder, Jason Beresford subsequently changed his plea to guilty on that specific charge. On the 13th day of the trial, the jury reviewed CCTV footage of the fatal assault, which occurred on New Year's Day 2014 at a footbridge over the Tallaght bypass. Sergeant Brian Cagney provided commentary, identifying specific actions attributed to the accused, including David Burke striking the deceased and Ross Callery punching him. The sergeant also noted that James Reid was seen holding a knife and phone, and that Gerard Stevens slapped the deceased. Additionally, the jury heard evidence regarding James O'Brien, who was charged with assault causing harm after allegedly kicking and punching the victim. The matter remains at the trial stage and has not been finalised.
2016-10-26 · Dublin
The Central Criminal Court trial of seven accused in the 2014 murder of Dale Creighton continues before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy. The defendants, including Jason Beresford, Gerard Stevens, Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, and James Reid, face charges of murder and violent disorder. While all initially pleaded not guilty to both counts, Beresford subsequently changed his plea to guilty on the violent disorder charge. The remaining six accused maintain their not guilty pleas to both murder and violent disorder. Evidence presented includes garda interviews with Stevens, who admitted to kicking, punching, and slapping the victim on the Tallaght bypass footbridge. Stevens stated he did not know why he acted and described the incident as a moment of madness. Cross-examination highlighted that Stevens became distressed while reviewing CCTV footage. Additionally, testimony regarding Aisling Burke confirmed she was arrested shortly after the assault and examined for injuries, though no probative evidence emerged from her interview. The trial is ongoing, with no final verdict or sentencing recorded at this procedural stage.
2016-10-25 · Dublin
The Central Criminal Court trial of seven accused individuals for the murder of Dale Creighton and violent disorder is ongoing before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy. The defendants, Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, Jason Beresford, and Gerard Stevens, have all pleaded not guilty to murder. While all initially pleaded not guilty to violent disorder, Jason Beresford subsequently changed his plea to guilty on that specific charge. The jury is currently hearing evidence regarding garda interviews with David Burke, who was arrested in Tallaght on January 2, 2014. Mr. Burke alleged that the deceased pulled a knife on him and stole his sister's phone, prompting him to strike the victim. He denied participating in the fatal assault, claiming he attempted to stop others and protect the deceased. However, when shown CCTV footage, he admitted to hitting and kicking Mr. Creighton, stating he did so in self-defense. The trial continues with further evidence to be presented to the jury.
2016-10-24 · Dublin
The Central Criminal Court trial of seven Dubliners accused of the murder of Dale Creighton continues before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy. The accused, Jason Beresford, Ross Callery, Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, James Reid, and Gerard Stevens, have all pleaded not guilty to murder. While each initially pleaded not guilty to violent disorder, Jason Beresford subsequently changed his plea to guilty on that specific charge. The jury is currently hearing evidence regarding garda interviews with Ross Callery, who allegedly assaulted Mr Creighton on New Year's Morning 2014 at the Tallaght bypass footbridge. Mr Creighton died in hospital the following day. Detective Garda Kieran McGrath testified that Callery admitted to kicking the victim while he was on his hands and knees, describing the force as a seven out of ten. Callery stated he was protecting himself by not identifying other participants and expressed shock upon learning of the death, stating he did not intend for the victim to die. The trial is ongoing, with no final verdict or sentence recorded at this procedural stage.
2016-10-21 · Dublin
The Central Criminal Court trial of seven Dubliners accused of murdering Dale Creighton, who died after being assaulted on New Year's Morning 2014 at a Tallaght footbridge, continues before Justice Deirdre Murphy. The accused are Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, Jason Beresford, and Gerard Stevens. All initially pleaded not guilty to murder and violent disorder; however, Jason Beresford later changed his plea to guilty for violent disorder. The others maintain their not guilty pleas to both charges. Evidence heard included garda interviews with Graham Palmer, who alleged the victim was already injured before he arrived. Palmer admitted punching the victim in the stomach and face, stating he did so to get his attention, while denying causing the fatal injuries. He expressed regret for his actions. The trial is ongoing and was adjourned to continue on Monday.
2016-10-17 · Dublin
The trial of seven Dubliners charged with the murder of Dale Creighton and violent disorder is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Creighton, a 20-year-old Tallaght native, died in hospital on January 2, 2014, after being assaulted on New Year's Morning 2014 at the footbridge over the Tallaght bypass. The accused are Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, Jason Beresford, and Gerard Stevens. All pleaded not guilty to murder. While all initially pleaded not guilty to violent disorder, Jason Beresford later changed his plea to guilty for that specific charge. During cross-examination, Beresford admitted to kicking Creighton in the head and punching him in the stomach, stating he was "stupidly drunk and furious." He denied stamping on the victim. The court also heard that James O'Brien, who was seen on CCTV punching and kicking Creighton, was charged with the lesser offence of assault causing harm. O'Brien pleaded not guilty to this charge. The jury was dismissed to allow the court to address a legal issue, with proceedings scheduled to resume on Wednesday.
2016-10-14 · Dublin
The trial of seven accused individuals for the murder of Dale Creighton and violent disorder is ongoing before the Central Criminal Court. The defendants, Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, Jason Beresford, and Gerard Stevens, all pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. While all initially pleaded not guilty to violent disorder, Jason Beresford changed his plea to guilty on Wednesday. The court heard evidence that the deceased, who died on January 2, 2014, sustained a penetrating stab wound to his right leg in addition to being beaten. James Reid identified himself in CCTV footage holding a knife, claiming he took it from the deceased after it was swung at him, while denying any involvement in the assault. He described the footage as "horrific" and stated he regretted being present. Garda testimony confirmed Reid was arrested and interviewed, where he denied kicking, punching, or stabbing the victim. The trial continues under the direction of Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy.
2016-10-13 · Dublin
The trial of seven Dubliners charged with the murder of 20‑year‑old Dale Creighton began on 13 October 2016. The defendants – Aisling Burke (23), David Burke (28), Graham Palmer (26), Ross Callery (23), James Reid (26), Jason Beresford (23) and Gerard Stevens (27) – all pleaded not guilty to murder and violent disorder, though Beresford later pleaded guilty to the disorder charge. Evidence from Garda Jennifer Walsh and Garda Avril Sharpe described a New Year's Day incident at the Tallaght footbridge where Creighton was found unconscious and badly beaten. The garda saw blood on the clothing of Palmer and Burke, and the footage showed the group leaving the bridge. The trial, before Justice Deirdre Murphy and a balanced jury, will continue on Friday morning. The court heard that Palmer was arrested at the scene and Reid was arrested the next day in Tallaght. The case remains at the Central Criminal Court.
2016-10-12 · Dublin
The trial of seven Dubliners accused of murdering 20-year-old Dale Creighton is ongoing before the Central Criminal Court. Creighton died on January 2, 2014, following an incident at the footbridge over the Tallaght bypass on New Year's Day. While all seven defendants initially pleaded not guilty to murder and violent disorder, Jason Beresford (23) pleaded guilty to violent disorder on January 1, 2014, during the trial. The remaining six accused—Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, and Gerard Stevens—maintain their not guilty pleas to both murder and violent disorder. The matter was not adjourned; the trial proceeded as normal. Witness Carl O'Leary testified that he saw Creighton holding a knife on the footbridge after hearing a commotion about a phone robbery. His girlfriend, Shannon Downes, identified a white jacket belonging to a woman who claimed she was assaulted and robbed. Another witness, Sophie Percy, described seeing men at the bottom of the bridge, with footage showing one passenger punching a man not before the court. The trial continues with the jury hearing further evidence.
2016-10-11 · Dublin
The trial of seven Dubliners charged with the murder of 20-year-old Dale Creighton is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. All defendants, including Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, Jason Beresford, and Gerard Stevens, have pleaded not guilty to murder and violent disorder. Prosecution counsel Seán Gillane SC alleged the group acted together to inflict serious injury or death during a 'vicious, prolonged' attack on New Year's Day 2014. Evidence presented includes CCTV footage and testimony from witness Síle McCarthy, who described seeing six or seven individuals surround, kick, and punch Creighton on the footbridge over the Tallaght bypass. The prosecution stated Creighton was thrown 'like a rag doll' down steps before being returned to the bridge, suffering blunt force injuries to the head and face that caused his death on January 2, 2014. The matter is currently at the trial stage before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy and a jury; it has not been finalised and is expected to last approximately six weeks.
2016-10-10 · Dublin
The trial of seven accused individuals for the murder of Dale Creighton is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy addressed the jury, warning them against conducting internet searches or discussing the case, emphasizing that their verdicts must rely solely on evidence presented in court. The accused, Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, Jason Beresford, and Gerard Stevens, are charged with murdering Mr. Creighton, who died on January 2, 2014, following an incident at the Tallaght bypass footbridge. All seven defendants have pleaded not guilty to the murder charges. Additionally, each accused pleaded not guilty to violent disorder at the same location on New Year's Day. The court highlighted the gravity of the proceedings, noting that murder is the most serious offence in the criminal calendar. The trial is currently at the trial stage, with no findings, sentences, or finalizations recorded. The matter was adjourned and will continue the following morning.
2016-10-07 · Dublin
The trial of seven Tallaght residents accused of murdering 20‑year‑old Dale Creighton on 2 January 2014 has been adjourned to Monday. All seven, aged in their twenties, pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and to violent disorder at the footbridge over the Tallaght bypass. The accused are Aisling Burke (23), David Burke (28), Graham Palmer (26), Ross Callery (23), James Reid (26), Jason Beresford (23) and Gerard Stevens (27). A jury of six men and six women was sworn in to hear the case, which was scheduled to open that morning but was postponed because no judge was available. The court expects the trial to last up to six weeks. The incident occurred on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day, and the victim and all accused were from Tallaght. The trial will resume on Monday.
2016-10-06 · Dublin
In a Tallaght court hearing on 6 October 2016, a woman and six men, all in their twenties and residents of Tallaght, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 20‑year‑old Dale Creighton, who died on 2 January 2014. The alleged killing took place at the footbridge over the Tallaght bypass between Saint Dominic's Road and Greenhills Road, about two days after an incident on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. The accused—Aisling Burke (23), David Burke (28), Graham Palmer (26), Ross Callery (23), James Reid (26), Jason Beresford (23) and Gerard Stevens (27)—were charged with murder and violent disorder on the same occasion. All seven were arraigned before the Central Criminal Court, and the judge, Justice Patrick McCarthy, swore in a jury of six women and six men, noting that no juror should be from the Tallaght area. The trial was scheduled to begin the following day and could last up to six weeks.
2016-02-16 · Dublin
This report details five notorious Irish murder cases, including the sentencing of Malcolm McArthur. McArthur pleaded guilty to the murder of Bridie Gargan and was sentenced to life in jail. The article also covers the Grangegorman killings, where Mark Nash was found guilty of the murders of Sylvia Shields and Mary Callinan in 2015, receiving a second life sentence. Although Dean Lyons initially confessed to these crimes, charges against him were dropped in 1998 after psychological testing suggested he was highly suggestible. Additionally, the report notes that Geoffrey Evans and John Shaw were sentenced to life in jail for the murders and rapes of Elizabeth Plunkett and Mary Duffy. Colin Whelan was sentenced to life in 2005 for the murder of his wife, Mary Gough, after faking his death and being extradited from Spain. Finally, Graham Dwyer is described in relation to the murder of Elaine O'Hara, though specific sentencing details for this case are not provided in the text. The validated procedural stage for the highlighted subjects is sentence, with findings of guilt and life imprisonment imposed for the proven charges.
2015-02-18 · Kildare
Raymond Quinn, 46, a Kildare businessman, was convicted in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stealing his elderly mother's credit card and using it to make unauthorised purchases, including hotel stays and flights, totalling €14,153. He pleaded guilty to six charges of theft at AIB and Ulster Bank branches and one charge at Brittas. Quinn had no prior convictions. The judge noted the breach of trust and the fact that his mother, now in a nursing home with dementia, had been defrauded. A three‑year suspended sentence was imposed, and Quinn was ordered to pay €8 a week for three years to repay the debt. He receives a weekly social welfare payment of €188 and has been urged to begin repaying the money to his mother. The case highlighted his financial difficulties and the impact of his actions on his family.
2015-01-16 · Kerry
Tom O'Connor, 47, former director of O'Connor Plant Hire & Ground Works, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to handling a stolen Volvo A25D dumper truck in Brittas, Co. Dublin, between December 2009 and April 2010. He admitted possession of the vehicle, which had its chassis, VIN and engine numbers altered, but denied involvement in its theft or cloning. O'Connor had five prior convictions, including a 2011 offence for possessing a stolen John Deere tractor. He resigned as director in 2013 and was declared bankrupt in 2012. Judge Desmond Hogan imposed a four‑year sentence, suspended in full for five years, and ordered O'Connor to complete 240 hours of community service and to keep the peace for five years. The judge noted O'Connor's moderate risk of re‑offending but accepted that he had not participated in stealing the truck. The case was prosecuted by Gerardine Small BL and defended by Tony McGillicuddy BL.
2014-12-15 · Dublin
In October 2016, the Central Criminal Court will hear the trial of eight Tallaght residents charged in the murder of 20‑year‑old Dale Creighton, who died on 2 January after being injured on a footbridge on Saint Dominic's Road. Seven defendants—Aisling Burke (21), David Burke (26), Graham Palmer (24), Ross Callery (21), James Reid (24), Jason Beresford (21) and Gerard Stephens (25)—are charged with murder. A eighth defendant, James O'Brien (22), is charged with assault causing harm. The trial is expected to last eight weeks, with the first hearing set for 3 October 2016.
2014-11-05 · Westmeath
Eoin Maughan, 37, a Westmeath member of the Travelling Community, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to endangerment, dangerous driving and criminal damage after a high‑speed chase that began in Dublin and ended in Wicklow. The chase started when Maughan's grey Renault Laguna failed to stop at a roundabout in Tallaght, then drove the wrong way around a roundabout, overtook cars on a blind bend and on the wrong side of the road, and entered Brittas village where he attempted to ram a garda patrol car. He drove through the village, was pursued by a garda helicopter, and tried to escape by crashing through a stone wall near the waterworks at Bohernabreena. The pursuit ended when gardai arrested him. During questioning he became aggressive, was pepper‑sprayed, broke an interview table, and punched a garda. The court found the damage to garda vehicles cost €10,874, and that gardai suffered whiplash, facial injuries and one required surgery.
2014-10-30 · Kerry
Tom O'Connor, 47, former director of O'Connor Plant Hire & Ground Works in Listowel, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to handling a stolen Volvo A25D dumper truck that had been stolen from a quarry in Scotland. He admitted buying the truck in Holland for €62,500 and selling it to a buyer, but denied involvement in the vehicle's cloning or theft. O'Connor had five prior convictions, including possession of a stolen John Deere tractor in 2009, and had resigned as director in 2013 to protect the company's reputation. He was declared bankrupt in 2012 and is now unemployed and on social welfare. Judge Desmond Hogan remanded him on continuing bail pending sentencing, ordered a probation report, and noted his health issues. The court heard that the truck's chassis number had been altered and that O'Connor had no part in the alteration. The insurance company paid £75,000 for the vehicle. The case remains pending sentencing.
2014-07-07 · Wicklow
The Supreme Court has dismissed Catherine Nevin's bid to appeal her conviction for murdering her husband, Tom Nevin, at Jack White's Inn near Brittas Bay, Co Wicklow, in 1996. Nevin, a 61-year-old who has always denied involvement, was jailed for life in 2000 and received a concurrent seven-year sentence for soliciting William McClean, Gerry Heapes, and John Jones to kill her husband in 1989 and 1990. Having previously lost an appeal in 2003 and a miscarriage of justice application in 2010, Nevin argued that the Court of Criminal Appeal incorrectly applied the rule against the contradiction of collateral matters regarding witness credibility. Her legal team contended that undisclosed garda "Suspect Antecedent History" forms, later revealed by journalist Niamh O'Connor, should have been available to the defence at trial. Mr Justice Adrian Hardiman, presiding, rejected this argument as a "fundamental and pretty radical misconception." He stated that the forms were not evidence but working papers, and that the disclosure via a newspaper leak did not entitle the defence to them retrospectively. The Court found the application contained "absolutely no points of any merit whatsoever" and dismissed it, noting the case had been entertained at "patient and perhaps excessive length."
2014-05-29 · Wicklow
Catherine Nevin has applied to have her murder conviction appeal heard by the Supreme Court in July. The Court of Criminal Appeal confirmed a hearing on 7 July, expected to last one hour, and granted a production order for Nevin to present her case. Nevin, 61, was convicted in 2000 of murdering her husband Tom Nevin at Jack White's Inn near Brittas Bay, Co Wicklow, and also received a seven‑year sentence for soliciting men to kill him in 1989 and 1990. She has denied any involvement and lost a prior appeal in 2003.
2013-12-09 · Wicklow
Catherine Nevin, aged 61, has requested that her appeal against a life sentence for the murder of her husband Tom Nevin be heard by the Supreme Court. She argues the case raises exceptional points of law and is in the public interest for the Supreme Court to decide. The Court of Criminal Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice Adrian Hardiman, will hear the appeal in the next court term, starting 13 January 2014, with a hearing expected to last one hour. Nevin has previously denied any involvement in the murder and lost a 2003 appeal.