Ian Maloney (37) of Cashel Road, Crumlin in Dublin, pleaded guilty to possession of a 9mm semiautomatic firearm with intent to endanger life on February 10, 2022 at an address in Crumlin. Maloney has 109 previous convictions, including two relevant ones for a robbery in 2008 and an assault causing harm in 2009. He was arrested and interviewed seven times over a number of days but made no admissions. However, while in custody in Cloverhill Prison in December of that year, his solicitor contacted gardaí to say Maloney wished to make a statement about the shooting. Maloney admitted to firing several rounds of 9mm-calibre ammunition at the house, where the occupants included a couple, their adult children, and a young child. The householder contacted gardaí to report the incident. Garda Ian Ward stated that the front door, window, and a car in the driveway were damaged with bullets. Maloney became a person of interest due to social media posts showing an ongoing feud with one of the occupants. The judge directed a probation report and remanded Maloney in custody until sentencing on May 22. Maloney was sentenced to 12 years with the last two suspended for that crime.
Martin Hayes, aged 34, was convicted of manslaughter for the 2017 death of Amadea McDermott, aged 27, after a domestic‑violence relationship. He was found not guilty of murder by a majority verdict in the Central Criminal Court. Hayes admitted using violence against McDermott and was sentenced to 12 years and six months' imprisonment. He appealed, arguing that evidence from a subsequent partner, Niamh Higgins, was highly prejudicial. Higgins had testified that Hayes had helped her stab herself and that she feared he might be released on bail. Hayes' counsel claimed this evidence should have led to a jury discharge, while the prosecution contended it was irrelevant and outweighed by other evidence. The Court of Appeal will decide the appeal at a later date.
Brad Dempsey, 24, of Crumlin, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for firing five shots at a car on Donore Avenue, Dublin 8, on 19 January 2022. He pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm, a charge reduced from an initial attempt to endanger life. The court heard that a dispute between Dempsey's associate and another person led to the shooting, which was captured on CCTV. Dempsey emerged from the scene with a firearm, fired at the vehicle, and the rear passenger‑door glass shattered. He was in custody since August 2023. The judge, citing the seriousness of the offence, set a headline sentence of 12 years, reduced to eight years and back‑dated to the time of his custody. No injuries were reported. The case reflects Dempsey's history of violent disorder and drug offences.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 19‑year‑old Scott Cahill was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the last two years suspended on strict conditions, including probation supervision. Cahill, who had been on bail when he attacked British tourists in Temple Bar on 11 August 2023, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assault causing harm. CCTV footage showed him punching three men and stamping on one's head. Two victims were taken to hospital, one with a broken nose and lacerations, the other with a cut to the back of the head. Victim impact statements described lasting physical injuries and psychological effects such as PTSD and hyper‑vigilance. Cahill has four prior convictions, was deemed high‑risk of re‑offending, and has not behaved well in custody since September 2023. The judge noted his guilty pleas, remorse, youth and reports from psychologists and probation staff as mitigating factors.
Ian Doyle, 33, was on bail for assaulting another partner when he severely beat his current partner in February 2023. He kept her in the house for almost a week, preventing her from leaving with her four‑year‑old daughter, and threatened to cut her throat and eat her liver. Doyle supplied her with paper stitches and painkillers but refused to let her go to the hospital. CCTV footage showed him forcing her back inside when she tried to escape. He also controlled her mobile phone, monitoring calls and sending messages from her account. Doyle pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and false imprisonment. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to three years and six months, suspended for six months on conditions of probation and violence‑prevention courses, to run consecutively with his current term due to expire in April 2026. The sentence reflects the prolonged, controlling nature of the abuse and the victim's fear and trauma.
Jamie Geoghan, aged 28, was one of four men who entered a Dublin boys' secondary school on 13 October 2022 and violently confronted a teenage student. CCTV showed Geoghan throwing a steel pole at the student, narrowly missing him and a staff member, while the student had taken a hammer from his bag in self‑defence and fled. Geoghan pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, back‑dated to 22 July 2024. He is already serving a six‑year sentence for another offence. The other three men – Jack Craig (21), Josh Neary (22) and Scott Purdue (25) – had already been sentenced to 16‑month terms, with Craig's sentence suspended in full. No physical injuries were reported, but the incident caused widespread fear among students and staff, leading to the retirement of one staff member. The court noted Geoghan's long history of offending, with 79 convictions since 2013, and his previous promising football career.
A 73‑year‑old man, John Dempsey Senior, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, with one year suspended, for repeatedly raping his partner's niece, Lillian Byrne, over an eleven‑year period between 1980 and 1991. Dempsey, who was 33 when the abuse began, groomed Byrne from the age of 12 and abused her throughout her teenage years, claiming to be her boyfriend and telling her they would run away together. Byrne, who was 12 at the time of the first rape, described the abuse as excruciating and said she did not realise it was sexual abuse until later. She made a victim impact statement in 2021, detailing the lasting effects on her life and family. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Burns, noted Dempsey's breach of trust and the repeated nature of the abuse, and set a headline sentence of 14 years, reduced to 10 years, with the final year suspended on strict conditions including probation supervision for three years. The unnamed 73-year-old pleaded guilty.
Michael McGuirk, aged 23, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for dangerous driving causing death after he struck 67‑year‑old Carol Seery while speeding at 96.4 km/h in a 50 km/h zone. McGuirk, who had been banned from driving for four years at the time, had 66 prior convictions, including dangerous driving, unlawful vehicle taking, and no insurance. He fled the scene and refused to answer Garda questions. The court noted he failed to activate brake lights, did not alter his course, and continued at speed before abandoning the car. Seery, a caregiver and beloved family member, was killed instantly. McGuirk pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, endangerment, dangerous driving and driving without insurance. Judge Elva Duffy imposed a headline sentence of eight and a half years but, considering mitigating factors, set a final sentence of six years and a 15‑year driving disqualification. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Chantal Johnston, 37, of Crumlin, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and dangerous driving after she attacked a Domino's Pizza delivery driver on 9 July 2022. The victim, a health and safety officer who also worked part‑time for Domino's, described the assault as "like a vicious animal" and said Johnston called him a "bloody foreigner" and a "little Paki". Johnston bit the man's leg, drove her car toward him, and threatened to kill him. The court heard she had taken large amounts of anti‑depressants and was under the influence. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced her to 18 months, suspended for three years, and imposed a mandatory driving disqualification. Johnston also agreed to pay €1,000 to the victim as a token of remorse. No prior convictions were recorded. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a June 2024 hearing, a convicted murderer, Graham McEvoy, 26, pleaded guilty to assaulting a prison officer outside Swiftcare clinic in Smithfield on 8 May 2023. McEvoy, who had just had an X‑ray and was released from handcuffs to sit in a waiting van, lunged at officers, shouting threats and slashing the officer's face with a sharpened toilet brush. He also faced charges of threats to kill and attempting to escape lawful custody. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, noting she could not impose a consecutive sentence to his life term for murder. The officer sustained a cut under his eye, received hospital treatment, and was left with a scar. McEvoy had spent a period in 24‑hour lock‑up after the assault and has 32 prior convictions. The court heard that McEvoy had expressed remorse and was receiving psychiatric care in prison.
Jonathan Kenny, 40, was found guilty of a 'psychic assault' after he pointed to his eyes and flexed his biceps in Courtroom 4 at the Criminal Courts of Justice, Dublin, during a hearing where a witness gave evidence. The judge described the gesture as a form of intimidation that caused the witness to feel fear and distress. Kenny had previously been charged with witness intimidation but pleaded guilty to assault, a plea accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions. He has 108 prior convictions, including robbery, assault and theft, and is serving a custodial sentence for other offences with an earliest release date in February 2027. The judge imposed a four‑month sentence, suspended in full for two years, to commence after the expiry of his current custodial term, and ordered him to stay away from the victim, their home and family during the suspension. The victim's impact statement was submitted but not read aloud. Jonathan Kenny was acquitted.
A 35‑year‑old chronic drug abuser with 153 prior convictions was sentenced to four years in prison, with the final year suspended for three years, for a degrading sexual assault and robbery at a Luas stop in Dublin 12 on 26 January 2023. The court heard that the victim was forced to undress, had her legs held open, and was searched inside her vagina by a female co‑accused while the defendant held her down. The victim's €200 was taken, she suffered injuries, and a local man intervened with a golf club. The defendant, who has no prior sexual convictions, was described as having mental health problems and schizophrenia. The judge noted the assault was part of a robbery and set the headline sentence at six years, but ultimately imposed the suspended term. The victim remains in treatment and has experienced severe trauma and relapse into drug use. The unnamed 35-year-old pleaded guilty.
Anthony Walker, a 54-year-old taxi driver, was sentenced at the Special Criminal Court to concurrent terms of five years' imprisonment on two charges of possessing a firearm and five rounds of ammunition. Walker pleaded guilty to possessing a .38″ special calibre Smith & Wesson revolver and ammunition on November 23, 2021. Mr Justice Paul Burns suspended the final 18 months of each sentence for three years, during which Walker must engage with probation services. The judge described Walker as a "psychologically vulnerable" man who acted in a "moment of madness" while transporting the weapon for Ryan Kelly. Kelly, who pleaded guilty to possessing the same firearm and ammunition, was jailed for six years in January for his role in a "sophisticated enterprise." Walker was intercepted by armed gardaí after receiving the gun from Kelly, who was arrested separately with three other men. The court noted Walker's history of abuse, mental health issues, and remorse, deeming him a good candidate for rehabilitation despite his involvement in a larger plan. Walker's counsel highlighted his lack of prior serious convictions and his fear for his family if he named others involved.
Craig Maloney, 28, of Cashel Road, Crumlin, was convicted after a jury trial of wilful obstruction, assaulting a Garda and producing a knife during a dispute at his family home on 11 February 2022. He had 24 prior convictions. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Maloney did not take reasonable steps to confirm the people at his front door were Gardaí. The officers were conducting a covert search unrelated to Maloney. When the Gardaí approached with breaching equipment, Maloney moved toward them with a large knife, causing one officer to step back. He slammed the door shut, was later apprehended upstairs, and the knife was found broken on the floor. Judge Orla Crowe imposed concurrent sentences of 18 months, three months and three months, all fully suspended, with conditions including good behaviour for three years.
Dwayne Stacey, 36, was sentenced to 32 months in prison for attempting to rob a cash‑in‑transit guard while riding an e‑scooter on Thomas Street, Dublin 8. On 18 November 2023, Stacey approached a Brinks van and threatened the guard, shouting, "Stop or I'll blow your fucking head off." The guard locked himself inside the van and triggered the panic alarm. Stacey struck the van with a hammer and was later found to have used a hammer that was seized from two addresses. CCTV confirmed his identity. The guard suffered no physical injuries and no victim impact statement was filed. Stacey has 17 prior convictions, including assault, robbery and burglary, and has been in custody since his arrest on 28 November. The judge noted his "terrible history" but also that no actual violence was used, and the sentence was back‑dated to the date he entered custody.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, 53‑year‑old Anthony Walker, a taxi driver, admitted possessing a loaded .38 calibre Smith & Wesson revolver and five rounds of ammunition on 23 November 2021. He claimed he was unaware the item was a gun, saying he had only realised during the trip that it was a firearm. Walker said he had been instructed by 25‑year‑old Ryan Kelly, who had been jailed for a sophisticated enterprise, to deliver the weapon. Walker's contact with Kelly had lasted 18 months, and he had exchanged texts such as "I'll be there" and "send me the number, nearly there." Walker has eight prior convictions, mainly traffic offences, and is described by counsel as a vulnerable individual with Tourette's, ADHD and OCD. The court adjourned sentencing to 29 May and remanded Walker in custody. The prosecution will decide whether to charge him with participation in a criminal organisation. Ryan Kelly pleaded guilty.
Ryan Kelly, 25, was sentenced to six years in prison by the Special Criminal Court for his role in a sophisticated enterprise involving a loaded .38 calibre Smith & Wesson revolver and stolen cars. Kelly, who was 22 at the time of the offence, pleaded guilty to possession of the revolver and five rounds of ammunition, with evidence that the weapon was found in a taxi and in a Volvo car where he was a passenger. He was seen handing the gun to a taxi driver and later dropping it into the vehicle's window. The court noted that Kelly acted in concert with others, including Anthony Walker, and that the weapon was fully loaded, indicating it was not for lawful use. The judge set a headline sentence of ten years, reduced to seven years with the last year suspended for three years on condition of probation. Kelly had nine prior convictions, mainly for public order and traffic offences.
Leon Byrne, 27, was convicted of robbing an empty cash‑in‑transit box at a Brinks‑guarded Maxol garage in Dublin on 17 February 2022. He brandished a kitchen knife, forced the guard to hand over the box, and fled to his mother's flat across the road. Gardaí followed a trail of green dye from the scene to the flat, where the dye was found on clothing and in the apartment. Byrne had previously been jailed for hijacking a taxi with a sawn‑off shotgun. He pleaded guilty to the robbery, which was valued at €3,000, and was sentenced to four years, with the final two‑and‑a‑half years suspended. He will serve an additional 18 months on top of the sentence he is already serving, having been in custody since March 2022. The court noted Byrne's difficult upbringing and urged him to seek psychological support while in custody.
Ryan Kelly (25), of Crumlin, Dublin 12, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to possessing a .38 special calibre Smith & Wesson revolver and five rounds of ammunition on November 23, 2021. He was observed handing the loaded firearm to co-accused Anthony Walker (52), of Marrowbone Lane, Dublin 8, who was driving a taxi. Walker also pleaded guilty to possessing the revolver at Tallaght Road, Templeogue, on the same date. The prosecution stated that a nolle prosequi will be entered regarding a separate charge against Kelly concerning participation in a criminal organisation. Walker's ammunition charge remains live, and he faces a further charge of facilitating a serious offence by a criminal organisation. Mr Justice Paul Burns, presiding with Ms Justice Sarah Berkeley and Ms Justice Marie Keane, remanded Kelly in custody until April 22, when he will be sentenced. Walker's sentence hearing was adjourned today until May 7. The court heard that Kelly has nine previous convictions, mostly for public order and road traffic offences, and has never received a custodial sentence. Defence counsel described Kelly as deeply ashamed and noted he had been on strict bail conditions for three years.
Daniel Martin, aged 47, was sentenced to 13 years in prison, with the final year suspended for three years, for a series of sexual offences against a teenage girl aged 15-16 between 2019 and 2020. The offences included sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, oral rape, anal rape, vaginal rape and sexual exploitation. He also received a 12‑year sentence for a child‑trafficking offence involving a second teenage girl aged 14-15, and a 10‑year sentence for the sexual assault offences. Martin was additionally jailed for two years for causing a child to watch pornography. The judge noted the deliberate, calculated nature of the campaign, the use of drugs and threats, and the significant impact on the victim. The sentences are concurrent, and Martin was not given a post‑release supervision order due to the suspension conditions. Daniel Martin was convicted.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, two repeat offenders, Cian Cleary (23) and Patrick McCarthy (28), were sentenced for a "cowardly, nasty and violent" assault on twin American tourists aged 20. The incident occurred on July 19 when the men were walking home through Temple Bar. Cleary, who had 61 prior convictions, and McCarthy, with 18 prior convictions, attacked the tourists, punching, kicking, and robbing one of them. CCTV footage showed the attackers separating the brothers, assaulting them, and stealing a wallet and mobile phone. Cleary received a three‑year, three‑month sentence with nine months suspended; McCarthy received a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence with twelve months suspended. Both were warned that the suspended portions could be enforced if they reoffend during probation. The court noted the assault's severity and the victims' injuries, including a brain scan for one and a sore, shaken condition for the other. Cian Cleary pleaded guilty. Patrick McCarthy pleaded guilty.
Ciaran Foster, 30, a former Defence Forces member, was jailed for a year after pleading guilty to a robbery on Westmoreland Street, Dublin 2, on 23 July 2019. He punched an unarmed victim, knocking him unconscious for three and a half minutes, and stole a bag, a mobile phone and a watch. Garda Sean Tully reported that the victim had stopped to chat with someone he knew when Foster attacked him. CCTV footage showed the assault and Foster's escape. Foster was arrested on 9 November 2019. He had 13 prior convictions for traffic offences, criminal damage, public order and drug misuse. Judge Elma Duffy described the attack as "callous" and "unprovoked", noting Foster's difficult childhood and Defence Forces service as mitigating factors, but also the cowardly nature of the robbery as aggravating. Foster was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions.
Nicole Donohue, 32, of Harolds Cross, Dublin, was driving an uninsured car that contained more than €130,000 worth of pills when gardaí stopped the vehicle on Armagh Road in Crumlin on 5 December 2019. The car, not owned by Donohue, had no insurance disc and its NCT had expired. Gardaí found a black bag with over 65,500 Alprazolam tablets, valued at €131,108, after a smell of cannabis prompted a search. Donohue pleaded guilty to impeding the apprehension of an offender and driving without insurance. She claimed she was unaware of the drugs. The man in the car fled and was later arrested but not charged. Donohue received a suspended three‑year sentence, with a two‑year driving disqualification and other conditions, as the judge believed she was unlikely to reoffend. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A privacy claim by Martin Foley and Sonya Foley, alongside applicant Sonya Doyle, has been struck out by the High Court. The applicants, who initiated proceedings in 2015, alleged that the defendants breached their privacy rights during a Criminal Assets Bureau search of their home in Crumlin on October 15, 2014. They claimed that the then-Dublin City Sheriff, James Barry, the Garda Commissioner, the Minister for Justice, Ireland, and the Attorney General disclosed confidential operational details to media personnel present at the scene. The applicants sought damages for alleged breaches of constitutional privacy, data protection, and European Convention on Human Rights rights, as well as negligence. The claims were fully denied by the respondents. Mr Barry, who retired in 2018, brought a pre-trial motion to dismiss the action on grounds of inordinate and inexcusable delay, arguing he was prejudiced by the lack of progress over several years. When the matter came before Mr Justice David Nolan, counsel for the applicants indicated they were not contesting the application. The court agreed with the motion, ordering that the actions against all respondents be struck out due to the delay.
Ryan Kelly, 24, of Crumlin, pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court to possessing a .38 special calibre Smith & Wesson revolver and five rounds of ammunition on 23 November 2021 at Captain's Road, Dublin 12. He answered only "guilty" when the charges were read. Kelly also faces a charge of participating in or contributing to activity that could facilitate a serious offence by a criminal organisation, knowing of its existence, on the same date. Prosecutor Anne Marie Lawlor said the State will file a nolle prosequi on this final charge when Kelly appears for sentencing in April. Brendan Grehan SC noted Kelly's full compliance with bail conditions. Judge Caroline Biggs extended his bail to 8 April, when he and co‑accused Anthony Walker will appear for a sentence hearing. Walker, 52, also pleaded guilty to possession of a revolver and ammunition on 23 November 2021, and faces a pending charge of ammunition possession, with a plea required on 8 April.
Anthony Walker, 52, pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court to possessing a .38″ special calibre Smith & Wesson revolver on November 23, 2021, on the south side of Dublin. He admitted that the circumstances suggested he had not obtained the firearm for a lawful purpose. A separate charge of possessing five rounds of .38 ammunition in similar circumstances remains active. Walker is also charged with participating in or contributing to activities that could facilitate a serious offence by a criminal organisation, knowing of its existence. The court ordered a psychological report and remanded him on continuing bail until April 8, when sentencing will occur. His co-accused, Ryan Kelly, 24, faces similar possession charges and a charge of facilitating a serious offence, with his trial date set for January 11 next year. The trial is expected to last four weeks.
Audrey McKeever, 38, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to charges of making threats to kill or cause serious harm and criminal damage at an apartment complex in Crumlin on December 20, 2022. The court heard that McKeever allegedly threatened the victim, a former partner's current girlfriend, shouting that she would kill her and "dance all over her daughter's head." She also kicked the complex's outer door, causing over €1,000 in damage, and posted threatening messages on Facebook. Judge Martin Nolan described the behavior as "nasty" and "frightening." Considering the guilty plea, remorse, and mitigating factors including health issues and detoxification, the judge determined a prison sentence was not warranted. He imposed a sentence of 18 months suspended on strict conditions. McKeever was ordered to pay a further €500 within 15 months to defray repair costs, with her initial €230 token of remorse directed toward the door repair. The judge directed McKeever to have no contact with the victim and explicitly warned her "not to go near" the apartment building.
Chantal Johnston, 37, of Clonard Road in Crumlin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm and dangerous driving. The charges relate to an incident at Domino's Pizza on the Crumlin Road in the early hours of July 9, 2022. Prosecutors alleged that Johnston racially abused a part-time delivery driver, calling him a "bloody foreigner" and a "little Paki," before pushing, punching, kicking, and biting him. She was further accused of driving her car toward the victim in a threatening manner and threatening to kill him. The victim, who described the attack as being like a "vicious animal," stated in a victim impact statement that the racially motivated incident caused him lasting physical pain, anxiety, and depression. Defense counsel Seoirse Ó Dúnlaing BL submitted that Johnston, a mother of two, had taken an excessive amount of anti-depressants and was under the influence. He offered a fulsome apology and noted she had no previous convictions. Judge Orla Crowe expressed disappointment with the apology, stating she was "utterly underwhelmed" given the personalized and racial nature of the attack. The judge agreed to defer the sentence and ordered a probation report, suggesting probation services might propose a form of restorative justice. The matter was adjourned for finalisation to March 11 next year.
Amadea McDermott, aged 27, was killed by her partner Martin Hayes, aged 34, who was sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison for manslaughter. The judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, described the killing as a clear case of domestic violence, noting that Hayes had tracked Amadea's movements with a secret app, made menacing videos accusing her of incest, and had a history of aggressive behaviour. Amadea suffered a single stab wound to the abdomen, causing substantial blood loss, and had recent bruises on her limbs and face, evidence of physical abuse. Hayes pleaded not guilty to murder but was found guilty of manslaughter by a majority verdict. The sentence was back‑dated to the date of his first custody in 2022. The McDermott family, led by Amadea's sister Eucharia, called for stricter laws on coercive control and domestic abuse, condemning Hayes as a violent, deranged monster and urging the nation to protect women from such abuse. Martin Hayes was acquitted.
David Mantle, 45, a drug addict with 111 prior convictions, was sentenced by Judge Elma Sheahan in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to six years and three months' imprisonment, with the last six months suspended for 12 months. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on 21 October 2021, when he attacked a man on St Agnes Road, Crumlin with a dog chain, and to robbery on 26 November 2022, when he and another man robbed a pharmacy in Ranelagh with a screwdriver, stealing €470 in cash, medication, headsets and a mobile phone. Garda evidence showed the assault victim had blood on his face and cuts to his forehead and back of his head, requiring stitches at St James's Hospital. The court noted Mantle's long‑standing drug problems and his attempts to detox, but also his 111 previous convictions, including assault, robbery and drug possession.
Paul Farrell, 37, a former Revenue worker, was arrested after Gardaí searched his home on 7 July and seized vacuum‑sealed cannabis worth €104,572, along with scales and bagging material. He admitted owning the drugs, claiming he held them to pay a €6,000 cocaine debt that had cost him up to €200 a week and led to his job loss. Farrell pleaded guilty, stating he was not a major player and had been forced into the trade. He has 19 minor convictions, all traffic offences, and has no criminal background. The court heard character references describing him as a caring volunteer coach at Crumlin Boxing Club and a dedicated family man. He expressed remorse, citing a relative's death as a turning point, and the judge ordered him to undergo regular urine analysis until the case is finalized on 5 March.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 21 November 2023, the family of Amadea McDermott, aged 27, presented victim impact statements after her murder on 20 July 2017. The sisters, Olivia, Euphrasia, Eucharia and brother Zack, accused Martin Hayes, 34, of coercive control, physical abuse and a hidden phone tracker. They described the fatal stab wound to Amadea's abdomen and the extensive bruising found at the scene. Hayes had pleaded not guilty to murder but was found guilty of manslaughter by a majority verdict. The court heard that Hayes admitted using violence and had accessed Amadea's phone via a hidden app. He had also claimed Amadea had self‑harmed, a claim the prosecution rejected. The sentencing hearing was scheduled for 28 November 2023, with Hayes remanded in custody. The family urged the court to consider the abuse and the impact on their lives. The case remains in the Central Criminal Court. Martin Hayes was acquitted.
Martin Hayes, a grave digger, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter after a Central Criminal Court jury returned a majority verdict of 11‑1. Hayes admitted to using violence against Amadea McDermott, 27, and to having accessed her phone via a hidden app. He claimed she stabbed herself, a claim the jury rejected. The prosecution argued that Hayes inflicted a single stab wound to McDermott's abdomen without the intent to kill, and that evidence such as the absence of DNA on the knife, toxicology reports, and McDermott's text messages indicating fear of Hayes supported this view. The jury spent 13 hours and 22 minutes over four days deliberating. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for 21 November, with Hayes remanded in custody until then. The McDermott family will be allowed to speak at that hearing.
The Central Criminal Court jury, consisting of eight men and four women, has paused its deliberations over the weekend and will resume on Monday at 10.30am. They have spent 11 hours and 39 minutes across three days considering the verdict in the murder trial of Martin Hayes, 34, who denies killing his partner, Amadea McDermott, 27, at her home in Coolock on 20 July 2017. The prosecution alleges Hayes stabbed McDermott and that she had previously been physically abused by him. Hayes claims the stabbing was self‑harm, citing a post‑mortem that the single abdominal wound could be consistent with self‑harm and that no DNA was found on the knife. The jury can return one of three verdicts: guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. Justice Paul McDermott has asked the jurors to reach a unanimous decision.
In the trial of Jozef Puska, the prosecution presented evidence that Puska stalked and murdered Ashling Murphy on the Grand Canal towpath on 13 January. Puska allegedly dragged Murphy into briars, stabbed her 11 times in the neck and slashed her once, causing fatal blood loss. Witnesses, including teacher Jenna Stack, described seeing a man crouched over Murphy, holding her down, and Puska's DNA was found under Murphy's fingernails. Puska was arrested in Tullamore, questioned in hospital, and during the trial he repeatedly denied involvement, later claiming he had been stabbed elsewhere and that he had confessed to the murder. The court heard conflicting statements and the prosecution urged the jury to reject Puska's lies and convict him of murder.
The jury for the 17‑day trial of Jozef Puska, accused of murdering 23‑year‑old teacher Ashling Murphy, began deliberations after a 25‑minute session. Judge Tony Hunt reminded jurors that a unanimous verdict is required and urged them to base their decision solely on the evidence heard. He explained that if they are not satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt of Puska's guilt, they must acquit, and if they are satisfied, they must convict. The judge highlighted the prosecution's case that Puska stabbed Murphy repeatedly, and noted Puska's own testimony that he was attacked by an unknown man who then stabbed Murphy. He also discussed the alleged confession Puska made in hospital, the reliability of that statement, and the DNA evidence linking Puska to the victim. The jury will receive transcripts of Puska's testimony, witness statements, and expert evidence before returning tomorrow for further deliberation. Jozef Puska pleaded not guilty.
The jury, consisting of eight men and four women, is set to deliberate for a third day on Friday in the trial of Martin Hayes, a grave digger accused of murdering his partner, Amadea McDermott, at her home in Coolock on or about 20 July 2017. Hayes, aged 34, has pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleges that Hayes told emergency services that McDermott had self‑harmed, but evidence from a former partner and a garda witness suggests he may have forced her to stab herself. Defence counsel Sean Gillane SC argued that the narrative of self‑harm was fabricated and that the post‑mortem indicated the single stab wound could be consistent with self‑harm. Ronan Munro SC noted no DNA from Hayes on the knife. The jury can return a verdict of guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. Judge Paul McDermott reminded the jurors that they must be unanimous.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury of eight men and four women is in its second day of deliberations over the murder trial of Martin Hayes, 34, accused of killing his partner Amadea McDermott, 27, at her home in Coolock on or about 20 July 2017. The jury has spent 2 hours 35 minutes on the verdict so far and will return tomorrow at 10:30 am to continue. Hayes pleaded not guilty. Defence counsel Sean Gillane SC argued that the narrative of self‑harm was fabricated, citing a post‑mortem that the single stab wound could be consistent with self‑harm and that no DNA from Hayes was found on the knife. The prosecution, represented by Mr Hayes' counsel, maintained that the evidence pointed to a fatal injury inflicted by Hayes, describing his contempt for McDermott.
In the trial of Martin Hayes, 34, charged with murdering his partner Amadea McDermott, 27, the prosecution argued that Hayes had inflicted the fatal stab wound and that the narrative of self‑harm was fabricated. Prosecutor Sean Gillane SC presented evidence of a single abdominal stab that could be consistent with self‑harm, but claimed the overall evidence pointed to Hayes as the perpetrator. He highlighted the absence of Hayes' DNA on the knife and the lack of any forensic link to the wound. Hayes, who pleaded not guilty, had told emergency services that McDermott had stabbed herself. Defence counsel Ronan Munro SC countered that the post‑mortem and toxicology reports were consistent with self‑harm and that Hayes' presence at the scene was evidence of innocence. The case remains at the jury stage, with no verdict yet reached.
Jozef Puska, aged 33, gave evidence at the Ashling Murphy trial claiming he was a witness to her murder. He testified that he was stabbed three times by the same attacker who killed the 23‑year‑old teacher. Puska described being pushed off his bike, stabbed in the stomach, and later seeing the attacker assault a woman before fleeing. He said he tried to help Murphy, using her shawl to cover injuries, but left after a few moments. Puska admitted lying to Gardaí about being stabbed in Blanchardstown and apologized, citing fear for his family. He denied confessing to murder in St James's Hospital and said he could not recall such admissions. The trial continues with further witnesses to be called. Jozef Puska pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 2 November 2023, 34‑year‑old grave digger Martin Hayes, accused of murdering his 27‑year‑old partner Amadea McDermott, took the stand to deny stabbing her. He claimed the relationship was "toxic" but that he had done everything to save her. Hayes said he had thrown her onto a sofa when she wouldn't let him go to work and that he had no right to hit back if someone hit him. He denied confessing to girlfriend Niamh Higgins that he had stabbed McDermott, calling her a liar. Hayes also denied that McDermott had self‑harmed, stating he had called emergency services three times and held a towel over a wound. The trial heard witnesses describing bruises on McDermott's body and alleged physical abuse. The case remains in progress before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of eight men and four women. Martin Hayes pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court trial of grave digger Martin Hayes, a toxicologist testified that Amadea McDermott, aged 27, had a post‑mortem blood concentration of 0.34 micrograms per milliliter of cocaine and an alcohol level roughly three times the drink‑driving limit. The expert explained that cocaine can be taken in various forms and that its effects depend on individual tolerance, noting that combined use with alcohol can produce unpredictable behaviour. Hayes, aged 34, denies murdering McDermott, claiming she stabbed herself and that he had left her after a fight. A woman in a later relationship with Hayes testified that he had helped her stab McDermott, while a Garda witness reported past physical abuse. The trial is set to continue before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury. Martin Hayes pleaded not guilty.
Amadea McDermott, 27, was found dead from a stab wound at her home in Coolock on 20 July 2017. A week before her death she had a black eye and a make‑up artist, Jade Deacon, who had worked with her, testified that McDermott described her relationship with the accused, Martin Hayes, as "toxic". Deacon also said McDermott had told her she loved Hayes but wished he would leave her. A forensic scientist, Dr Ciara Kelly, matched McDermott's DNA to a swab taken from the murder weapon, but found no DNA from Hayes. Hayes, 34, pleaded not guilty to the murder. He was arrested on 8 October 2020 and charged on 4 April 2022. The trial is before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of eight men and four women. The case remains an ongoing murder trial.
In the Central Criminal Court, a grave digger, Martin Hayes, 34, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his partner, Amadea McDermott, 27, who was found dead at her home in Coolock on 20 July 2017. The jury heard that Hayes claimed Amadea had stabbed herself, but evidence from a woman who later dated Hayes suggested he had helped her insert a knife into her stomach. A social worker, Ciara Lumsden, testified that Hayes told her he had found evidence on Amadea's phone that she was in an incestuous relationship with a relative. Garda emails and screenshots from Amadea's phone were presented, showing text messages in which she accused Hayes of abuse and denied being abused. Witnesses described a history of physical conflict, alcohol use, and bruises on Amadea's body. The trial also covered Hayes' statement to Gardaí, his work as a grave digger, and his relationship with Amadea, including their children and use of drugs.
During the Ashling Murphy murder trial, Garda Detective Sergeant Brian Jennings recorded that accused Jozef Puska admitted he committed the murder, saying "I did it, I murdered, I am the murderer" and expressed regret, stating "I feel guilty and I say I regret it." Puska, aged 33, was a person of interest and had been questioned at St James's Hospital after the victim's death on 12 January 2022. He claimed he had been attacked by two men in Blanchardstown, sustaining stomach injuries, and that he had no memory of the murder. Puska also said he had been planning to meet a woman in Dublin and that he had been told he was a suspect. The trial has not yet reached a verdict. Jozef Puska pleaded not guilty.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, Martin Hayes, aged 34, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Amadea McDermott, aged 27, who died on or about 20 July 2017. Hayes testified that he had helped McDermott, who was holding a knife, to insert it into her stomach by placing his hands on hers. He claimed the knife was used by McDermott to defend herself after a heated argument. Hayes also alleged that he had confronted McDermott about messages on her daughter's phone and chased her to retrieve it. Niamh Higgins, a former partner of Hayes, testified that Hayes had admitted to holding the knife on Christmas Eve 2018 and that he had been abusive that night. The jury heard evidence from Garda Jason Flynn and the case continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
The trial of Jozef Puska, 33, who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Ashling Murphy at Cappincur, Tullamore, Co Offaly, on January 12, 2022, continued before Mr Justice Tony Hunt. Prosecution evidence included Fitbit data from Ms Murphy's watch, which recorded erratic or violent movements at 3.21pm before her heart rate ceased. Witness Rostislav Pokuta testified that Puska visited his home around 9pm on the night of the alleged incident, appearing wet, frightened, and covered in scratches. Pokuta stated he initially withheld this information from gardai due to fear for his family's safety amid an "ugly atmosphere" in Tullamore, but later reported the meeting. Puska was driven to Mucklagh and identified on CCTV. Defence counsel suggested Puska had suffered stab wounds to his stomach. Det Gda Ciaran Byrne presented the Fitbit data, while Det Sgt Paul McDonnell described interviewing Puska at St James's Hospital, where Puska alleged he was stabbed in Blanchardstown by two men. The trial is ongoing.
The Central Criminal Court heard that Ashling Murphy died before paramedics could attempt resuscitation after she was found with 12 sharp force wounds to her neck in the undergrowth by the Grand Canal in Tullamore. CCTV footage showed a garda believing he could see the accused, Jozef Puska, moving in the same direction as two women, reaching into his pockets and appearing to have something in his hand before returning it to his pocket. The prosecution presented footage of Ashling's movements from leaving work at Scoil Naomh Colmcille at 2.37 pm to arriving at the Daingean Road car park at 2.50 pm and walking to the towpath. Puska, aged 33, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ms Murphy on 12 January 2022. The trial continues next week before Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
During a murder trial, the sister of Amadea McDermott, who died from a stab wound, testified that she punched the accused, Martin Hayes, after he smirked at her outside a hospital resuscitation room. She described arriving at the apartment, seeing Hayes sitting on a bed, and hearing her sister in cardiac arrest. She later saw paramedics working on Amadea and was told the victim had a puncture wound to the abdomen. The sister said she had given the accused's phones to Gardaí after the incident. Hayes, 34, pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of eight men and four women. The case involves allegations of domestic abuse and a violent relationship. The court has heard that Hayes was a grave digger at the time of the death.
During the opening of Martin Hayes' murder trial, the prosecution presented evidence that Hayes, a 34‑year‑old grave digger, called emergency services after Amadea McDermott, a 27‑year‑old mother of two, died at her Rathvale Drive home on 20 July 2017. Hayes claimed McDermott had stabbed herself, a claim the court heard from paramedic witnesses who described a woman lying on the floor with a stab wound to the right abdomen. A post‑mortem by Dr Marie Cassidy confirmed the fatal wound and identified a knife from the living area as the likely weapon, with DNA matching McDermott's blood on the blade. The prosecution also noted that Hayes had entered a new relationship after McDermott's death and that the new partner would testify about an argument on Christmas Eve 2018. The trial will continue before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury. Martin Hayes pleaded not guilty.