In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Sadie Douglas, 39, pleaded not guilty to child neglect leading to the death of her two‑year‑old daughter Heidi Douglas, who died on 19 April 2016 after ingesting methadone. The post‑mortem found acute brain inflammation most likely caused by methadone. Douglas's partner, Christopher O'Reilly, had pleaded guilty last July to the same charge. O'Reilly, a recovering heroin addict, was taking daily methadone prescribed by a local chemist. The court heard that Douglas was grieving her four‑year‑old daughter Sophie, who had died earlier that year from a brain haemorrhage. Douglas described being in a "little world" and emotionally distressed. DNA evidence linked O'Reilly to a measuring cup containing methadone residue, and a large plastic bottle of methadone was found in the house. The trial continues before Judge Orla Crowe and a jury.
The Special Criminal Court has listed a Section 4E application for July 8 regarding Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch, who is accused of the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in 2016. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC stated that Mr Hutch is seeking a pre-trial hearing and an application to dismiss the charge due to insufficient evidence. The court must first determine its jurisdiction under Section 4E of the Criminal Procedure Act 1967. Additionally, a preliminary trial hearing application under Section 6 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2021 is being pursued, with Jonathan Dowdall's counsel joining this application. Jonathan Dowdall is also accused of the murder of Mr Byrne. His father, Patrick Dowdall, is accused of facilitating the murder by making a hotel room available to a criminal organisation. Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney are both accused of facilitating the commission of a serious offence by providing access to motor vehicles to the organisation. All five accused are due to stand trial on October 3, with the trial expected to last 12 weeks. The matter was adjourned to allow for these preliminary applications, and the court will rule on the jurisdiction issue shortly after the July 8 hearing. Information regarding the applications is subject to publication restrictions.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, the neglect trial of Sadie Douglas, charged with wilful neglect leading to the death of her two‑year‑old daughter Heidi, was presented with evidence that Heidi suffered a severe brain injury after ingesting methadone. Chief State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan testified that a scan taken two days after Heidi was admitted to Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin on 14 April 2016 showed a "devastating brain injury" with swelling that pressed onto the spinal column. Dr Mulligan concluded, based on a post‑mortem, that acute cerebellitis—most likely caused by methadone ingestion—led to Heidi's death on 19 April 2016, after she had been clinically dead for several days. The trial also noted that Heidi's partner, a recovering heroin addict, was taking daily methadone doses from a local chemist, with the medication supplied in a child‑proof bottle and a warning that 5 ml could kill a child. Sadie Douglas pleaded not guilty.
Sadie Douglas, aged 25, stood trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for wilful neglect after her two‑year‑old daughter, Heidi, died on 14 April 2016 from methadone toxicity. Heidi, born 8 August 2013, was found unconscious in the bed at the family home on Rathsallagh Drive, Shankill, Co. Dublin. Douglas and her partner had stayed up late on 13 April, looking at photographs on an old phone. On 14 April, Douglas allegedly placed Heidi beside her on the bed and fell asleep, while the father slept at the foot of the bed. Heidi ate crackers with her brother, then remained in bed until discovered unconscious. An ambulance took her to Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, where she died. A state pathologist found methadone in Heidi's system, concluding death was due to methadone poisoning. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch, 58, accused of murdering Kinahan gang member David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in 2016, has a bid to dismiss the charge adjourned to next week by the Special Criminal Court. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC told the three‑judge court that the application could proceed, but one judge was unavailable, so the hearing was postponed to Monday. The court must first decide whether it has jurisdiction under Section 4E of the Criminal Procedure Act 1967, which allows dismissal where evidence is insufficient. Hutch, who is in custody, was present for the brief hearing. Jonathan Dowdall (43) and Patrick Dowdall (64) are also charged with the Regency Hotel murder and are due to stand trial on 3 October. The trial, if it goes ahead, is expected to last 12 weeks. The matter was adjourned until 10.30 am Monday.
Stephen Ennis, 32, of Crumlin, was sentenced to a four‑year prison term for stabbing a foreign‑national doctor at St James' Hospital on 7 March 2020. The original one‑year sentence was quashed and the Court of Appeal, applying a 40 per cent premium for attacks on medical staff, increased the term to four years. The judge reduced the term by one year to account for Ennis' attempts to address his drug addiction after a recent return to custody, and suspended the final six months of the three‑year custodial period. Ennis, who has 72 prior convictions and a history of drug use, was warned that the outcome would depend on probation reports. He had been detained on drugs and shoplifting charges and had suffered a relapse during the intervening period. The doctor, who had moved to Ireland to become an emergency medicine consultant, was left "shattered" by the assault. Stephen Ennis pleaded guilty.
Stephen Phelan, 37, was jailed for two and a half years after threatening to kill his female neighbour with a knife and attempting to break her door down in August 2021. He pleaded guilty to making a threat to kill, producing a knife and trespassing likely to cause fear. Phelan had previously been convicted 67 times, including aggravated sexual assault with a knife, multiple assaults and violent disorder. He had been in custody since the incident. The victim, who now lives with her mother, said she had to leave her home and lives in constant fear. Phelan had been watching her for three years and claimed she had "set him up." He was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to four years, with the last 18 months suspended and conditions preventing contact with the victim for ten years and restricting his residence within a mile of her address.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear appeals by Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch and Jonathan Dowdall aimed at preventing their trials before the Special Criminal Court from proceeding. Both men are charged with the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in Dublin in 2016. In a related development, defence counsel for Mr Hutch asked the Special Criminal Court for permission to make an application under Section 4E of the Criminal Procedure Act 1967 to dismiss the charge due to alleged insufficient evidence. Ms Justice Tara Burns agreed to hear a preliminary application on June 15 to determine if the court has jurisdiction to hear this request. Mr Hutch, who is in custody, was not present for the brief hearing. A trial date has been fixed for October 3, 2022, when Mr Hutch is expected to go on trial alongside four other co-accused. Mr Dowdall, the third man charged in connection with the killing, is also scheduled to stand trial with three other co-accused on the same date. The shooting occurred during a boxing weigh-in when armed men, some disguised as gardaí, stormed the venue. Mr Hutch was extradited from Spain after his final appeal against extradition was rejected. Any evidence heard during the preliminary application cannot be published or broadcast.
Joseph Curran, aged 22, was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years' imprisonment for a series of robberies targeting elderly women in Crumlin, Walkinstown and Beechwood in 2021. He stole bags from four women, including a 76‑year‑old, a 67‑year‑old, an eight‑year‑old and a 72‑year‑old, causing injuries to the 76‑year‑old who was pushed to the ground. The robberies were aggravated by the victims' age and vulnerability. Curran pleaded guilty to robbery and theft at three locations and had a prior burglary conviction in 2019. He has 65 previous convictions. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a suspended two‑and‑a‑half‑year portion of the sentence, subject to strict conditions, after noting his negative drug test and a probation report indicating motivation to cease offending. The case was prosecuted by Aideen Collard BL and defended by Marc Thompson BL. The court considered the impact on the victims and Curran's addiction history.
Arderin Distillery Ltd, based in Tullamore, has brought a judicial review to the High Court claiming it was treated unfairly by Revenue when the company sought tax relief on alcohol used to produce hand sanitiser for hospitals during the Covid‑19 pandemic. The distillery argues that it purchased 50,000 litres of ethanol in March 2020, after receiving assurances from a Revenue official that it would not have to pay Alcohol Products Tax (APT). It asserts that it complied with all required forms and that Revenue had previously granted relief for up to 80,000 litres. Revenue denies ever approving the relief, stating it never made a decision to grant or refuse the company's request and that the company's claim is unsupported. The case is pending a decision from Justice Siobhan Phelan, who has reserved judgment following submissions from both parties. The distillery seeks orders to quash Revenue's alleged refusal, prevent an APT assessment, and declare the relief unreasonable.
In a High Court ruling on 21 March 2022, the court ordered An Garda Síochána to provide investigative materials to a Dublin woman who is suing Conor McGregor and an associate for personal injuries arising from a December 2018 incident. The order, made by Ms Justice Emily Egan, requires the Garda to disclose statements given to them by the defendants and witnesses, CCTV stills and photographs from various Dublin locations between 8 December 2018 and 10 December 2018, and data from mobile phones obtained during the investigation. The data must be limited to that generated between 31 October 2018 and 10 December 2018, with further restrictions on material relating to the plaintiff and defendants. The Garda must also disclose results of medical toxicology, technical, or forensic analysis. The discovery must be completed within ten weeks, and the defendants' lawyers will receive copies of the material disclosed to the plaintiff.
Lee O'Brien, 35, was sentenced to three years and nine months imprisonment after a jury convicted him of attempted robbery at Centra, Drimnagh Road, Crumlin, and robbery at Spar, Walkinstown Roundabout, Crumlin on 23 April 2018. During the first incident he threatened staff with a butter knife, which was removed by the staff, and he failed to steal the till. In the second incident he entered Spar with a small knife, threatened a staff member, jumped over the counter, stole the till containing €260–€300, and fled in a car that was later traced to his girlfriend's house. O'Brien had 175 previous convictions, including robbery, theft, drug possession, and criminal damage. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. Judge Martin Nolan noted no actual violence but the threat of violence in both offences, and gave credit for his cooperation in the trial process. The judge also considered his desire to rehabilitate and his drug treatment history.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 15 February 2022, a senior judge warned Stephen Ennis, 32, that the "ball was in his court" if he wished to avoid a prison term after a one‑year sentence was quashed. Ennis had stabbed a hospital doctor three times in the back with a needle taken from his own arm during the first wave of the pandemic in St James' Hospital, Dublin. The doctor, a foreign national who had moved to Ireland to train as an emergency medicine consultant, was left "shattered" and later gave up that career. Ennis had 72 prior convictions, including violent disorder, drug possession, knife possession, burglary and begging. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed the original sentence, arguing it was unduly lenient, while Ennis' counsel argued he was a drug‑addicted, mentally detached offender who had been drug‑free for six months. Stephen Ennis pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, the trial of taxi driver Sinead Roche (43) collapsed after Judge Elma Sheahan ruled that evidence was insufficient to convict her of careless driving causing serious bodily harm to 77‑year‑old Margaret Rooney. Roche had pleaded not guilty to the careless driving charge and three related offences – failing to offer assistance, failing to stay at the scene and failing to report to gardaí – after her car struck Rooney on Sundrive Road, Crumlin, on 4 December 2016. Rooney suffered serious head and ankle injuries, was hospitalised, and now has dementia, preventing her from giving evidence. Roche's lawyer argued that no evidence showed she was driving carelessly, that she had her eyes on the road, and that circumstances of the collision were unclear. Judge Sheahan found no evidence of carelessness, directed the jury to find Roche not guilty, and later declared the return for trial invalid, ending the case.
A 43‑year‑old taxi driver, Sinead Roche, denies careless driving after her car struck an elderly woman on December 4, 2016, at Sundrive Road, Crumlin. She is charged with careless driving causing serious bodily harm, failing to offer assistance, failing to remain at the scene and failing to report to Gardaí. Roche pleaded not guilty to all four counts. The trial heard that at about 7.15 am she was carrying a passenger when a bang was heard; she claimed to have slowed, looked in the rear‑view mirror and saw nothing. She continued to the passenger's destination, then returned to the scene, where she found a woman lying on the road and other people nearby. Roche later approached Gardaí, stating she panicked and did not know what had happened. The prosecution argued she drove without due care and failed to stop after causing injury.
Ken Costello, 49, pleaded guilty to copyright infringement and dishonest computer operation for a 'dodgy box' scheme that streamed premium TV via altered set‑top boxes. He acted as a "customer service" agent on social media, offering support to users of the illegal service. The court found he provided unauthorised access to Sky Sports and Sky Cinema between March and September 2018, and that money from sales was funneled through a PayPal account belonging to his wife and then to his bank. Costello had no prior convictions. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a 15‑month prison term, fully suspended on strict conditions, after noting his cooperation and the confiscation of €22,000 he had received. The case highlighted the operation's use of social media advertising and the role of a secondary player in the enterprise. The sentence was delivered in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In January 2022, Judge Paul McDermott re‑activated 18 months of the five‑year suspended portion of Jason Paget's 15‑year sentence for aggravated burglary and sexual assault committed in 2003. Paget, 34, had been released in 2018 after serving ten years and had returned to the UK. He had failed to comply with Probation Service requirements, citing lack of a UK system and COVID‑related issues. The judge noted Paget's earlier remorse, good behaviour and limited contact with victims, and decided not to re‑activate the full suspended term. The case remains at the stage of a suspended sentence adjustment, with the court acknowledging Paget's partial compliance and the absence of a UK probation arrangement. No further convictions or outcomes are reported in the article. Probation Service pleaded guilty.
In 2021 the Court of Appeal upheld a suspended sentence for Robert Traynor, a 54‑year‑old former bank IT worker, who pleaded guilty to possessing 1,938 images and 183 videos of child pornography and to producing 1,650 computer‑generated images. The original March 2021 judgment by Judge Pauline Codd imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year wholly suspended sentence, with no custodial period. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was too lenient, but the three‑judge panel, led by Justice Isobel Kennedy, dismissed the appeal. The court noted Traynor's early guilty plea, lack of prior convictions, expressions of regret and participation in counselling as mitigating factors. It concluded that continuing his rehabilitation in the community was in society's interest, and that the suspended sentence fell within the judge's margin of appreciation. The appeal hearing included arguments from both sides, but no change to the sentence was made. The case remains a non‑custodial outcome.
Nikkita Brogan, 24, of Letterkenny, Co Donegal, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for her role in a violent taxi hijacking. The validated procedural stage for this report is an appeal, as the case was previously sent to the Court of Appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions to clarify a procedural matter regarding the service of books of evidence. Brogan pleaded guilty to the unlawful seizure of a vehicle at Rutland Grove, Crumlin, on May 6, 2019. She admitted to unbuckling the taxi driver's seatbelt and assisting in reattaching the gearstick knob while two men assaulted the driver. Judge Melanie Greally handed down a 32-month sentence, suspending the final 12 months on conditions. Brogan has been in custody since January. The court noted her remorse and rehabilitation efforts. The two male accomplices, Peter and Jason Collins, were sentenced in December 2019 for robbery, assault causing harm, and unlawful seizure of a car. Peter Collins received four and a half years' imprisonment, while Jason Collins received three and a half years, with the final 12 months suspended. Brogan has 76 previous convictions, mainly for shoplifting, and was on bail for theft offences at the time of the incident.
Michael McGuinness, a 61‑year‑old former army driver, was found guilty of indecent assault on three boys aged seven to thirteen between 1979 and 1990. The victims, who waived anonymity, described how McGuinness used his trusted military reputation to lure them, often disguising himself as a friend and forcing them to masturbate him in his car or home. The abuse was revealed when one victim reported McGuinness to Gardaí after meeting him through work. McGuinness pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault, admitted his actions as a "dark dirty secret," and expressed remorse. He had no prior convictions. The court noted the repeated nature of the offences and the lasting impact on the victims, ordering reports and remand pending sentencing on March 15 next year. The maximum sentence for each count is two years, except the final count, which carries a maximum of ten years.
Robert Traynor, 54, of southwest Dublin, was convicted of possessing 1,938 child pornography images and 183 videos and of producing 1,650 computer‑generated images. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 2 February 2018. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to two‑and‑a‑half years, suspended in full, after noting his counselling and low re‑offending risk. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the judge was too lenient and omitted a custodial period, citing the large number of images, the use of a Tor browser to conceal tracks, and foreplanning. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment. Traynor's case involved a Garda operation linking his home to a peer‑to‑peer network of child pornography; he claimed the material depicted adults posing as children, a claim rejected by the court. The appeal focuses on whether the suspended sentence was appropriate given the aggravating factors.
A High Court pretrial motion in a personal injury claim brought by a young woman against mixed‑martial‑arts fighter Conor McGregor has been adjourned to March 2022. The motion, a common‑law request for discovery of documents that the plaintiff says will support her claim, was listed before Mr Justice Mark Heslin on Monday. McGregor, 32, denies all wrongdoing. The case is one of two initiated against the sportsman over alleged incidents in 2018; the woman has also sued an associate of McGregor and her mother has lodged a separate personal‑injury action. All allegations in both actions are fully denied. The incident was investigated by An Garda Síochána, but the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution decided no criminal charges would be brought. The women are represented by Coleman Legal Partners, while McGregor is represented by Michael J Staines & Company.
Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch, 58, was further remanded in custody by the Special Criminal Court during a mention hearing where no application was made. Justice Tony Hunt ordered the remand, noting that a further date could be set if the accused wished to make an application. Mr. Hutch, who pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in February 2016, is scheduled to go on trial on October 3, 2022, alongside four other co-accused. He was extradited from Spain after his final appeal was rejected. The trial will also involve Jonathan Dowdall, 43, who was charged with the murder of Mr. Byrne. Patrick Hutch, 28, previously pleaded not guilty to the same alleged murder, but charges against him were dropped in 2019. The court proceedings remain at the trial stage, with the current procedural step being a remand in custody rather than a finalised disposal.
Gerard Hutch, 58, appeared before the Special Criminal Court following his extradition from Spain, where he was charged with the alleged murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in 2016. The court, presided over by Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Berkeley and McHugh, fixed a trial date for October 3, 2022, where Hutch will stand trial alongside four other co-accused. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC reserved Hutch's position regarding the lawfulness of his arrest, the charge, and the court's jurisdiction. The court remanded Hutch in custody until October 15, 2022. This proceeding is distinct from the 2019 case of Patrick Hutch, who pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Mr Byrne but was acquitted after charges were dropped. Additionally, Jonathan Dowdall was previously charged with the alleged murder of Mr Byrne and is scheduled to go on trial alongside other co-accused on the same date. The trial date represents a procedural step in the ongoing prosecution, with ancillary matters such as bail and potential applications for separate trials to be addressed in the coming weeks.
Joseph Keegan, a 79-year-old former Franciscan friar from Crumlin, Dublin 12, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for two counts of indecent assault. A jury found him guilty of anally raping a boy aged nine or ten in 1986 or 1987 at a Church property, and sexually assaulting him after football training in 1985 or 1986. Judge Pauline Codd noted aggravating factors including the breach of trust, grooming, and the lack of remorse or admission of guilt. She also considered Keegan's previous 1999 conviction for gross indecency involving five boys. Despite his frailty and low risk of reoffending, the judge imposed a six-year sentence for the rape and a four-year sentence for the sexual assault. These sentences were ordered to run concurrently. The final year of both terms was suspended, resulting in an effective custody period of five years. Keegan, who was seated in a wheelchair throughout the proceedings, was taken into custody after entering the bond.
Keith McDonnell, 32, of Tallaght, Dublin, appeared before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing. He pleaded guilty in April this year to burglary at St James's Road, Walkinstown, on October 14, 2013, and violent disorder at a Maxol garage on the Crumlin Road on February 3, 2014. Judge Elma Sheahan noted that McDonnell was on bail during the violent disorder incident and had 58 previous convictions. While acknowledging his guilty pleas, remorse, and addiction issues, the judge highlighted the seriousness of breaking into a family home with a hammer. Considering the 18 months already served and other charges on the indictments, Judge Sheahan sentenced McDonnell to 12 months imprisonment for the violent disorder and two and a half years imprisonment for the burglary. Both sentences were suspended in full for their respective durations. The conditions of the suspension include probation supervision and the completion of a residential drugs treatment programme. The court also noted that his co-accused received a three-year suspended sentence after pleading guilty.
Nikkita Brogan, a 24-year-old woman from Letterkenny, Co Donegal, appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court regarding her role in a taxi hijacking. She pleaded guilty to the unlawful seizure of a vehicle at Rutland Grove, Crumlin, on May 6, 2019. Prosecution evidence, including dashcam footage, alleged that Brogan, seated in the back, released the driver's seatbelt to allow two men to drag the 60-year-old driver from the vehicle and assisted in reattaching the gearstick knob. The men, who have already been sentenced for robbery and assault, allegedly choked and punched the driver. Brogan admitted to unclicking the seatbelt but denied threatening the victim. Her defense counsel, Paul O'Carroll SC, noted that the case had been delayed by a procedural matter referred to the Court of Appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions to clarify the service of books of evidence. He also highlighted Brogan's 76 previous convictions, primarily for shoplifting, and her current three-month term for theft. Judge Melanie Greally observed that past leniency had not improved Brogan's conduct. The matter was adjourned until November 12 to allow a probation report to be prepared, with the balance of the plea in mitigation to be heard on that date.
In a High Court decision on 16 July 2021, Mr Justice Brian O'Moore lifted a Lis Pendens that had been registered over three Dublin development sites: Glebe House and Lands on St Agnes Road, Crumlin; Annesley House, Rathmines; and the former Europa Motors site on Newtown Avenue, Blackrock. The notice had been placed by builder Mr Johnny O'Loughlin and Mount Pleasant Development Ltd (MPD) against Mr Michael Moran and several companies in which he is a director. The plaintiffs claimed the Lis had stalled development plans, including financing, sales of over 20 units in Annesley Gardens and a joint venture for 150 apartments in Crumlin, and had also impacted plans for 100 apartments in Blackrock. The defendants, represented by Garry McCarthy SC, sought to vacate the notice, arguing it was not bona fide and had hindered their development objectives. Mr O'Moore agreed to grant the defendants' request to vacate the Lis Pendens, with full reasons to be given later.
Paediatric nurse Deirdre Morley, aged 44, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murders of her three children—Conor (9), Darragh (7) and Carla (3)—in January 2023. A Central Criminal Court judge, Mr Justice Paul Coffey, ordered her commitment to the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) in Dundrum for further inpatient care under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act. The order follows a jury verdict that accepted psychiatric evidence showing Morley was unable to appreciate the moral wrongness of her actions and could not refrain from them. The CMH will conduct a psychiatric assessment, and her condition will be reviewed every six months by the Mental Health Review Board. The case was adjourned to allow time for the psychiatric report, which was then considered by the court. The order effectively disposes of the case.
The Special Criminal Court has sentenced Lee Canavan to life imprisonment for his role in the murder of David 'Daithí' Douglas, who was shot at Shoestown in Dublin 1 on July 1, 2016. Canavan, who pleaded not guilty, was found guilty of murder based on his active participation in a shared intention to kill, though the court did not find sufficient evidence to conclude he was the triggerman. He was concurrently sentenced to five years for criminal damage to a stolen Suzuki Swift used as a getaway vehicle. Both sentences were backdated to May 2020, when Canavan was taken into custody following a European Arrest Warrant. The court noted that Canavan's prior drug possession convictions were not aggravating factors. This conviction marks the fourth individual jailed in connection with the killing. Previously, Frederick 'Fat Freddie' Thompson was jailed for life in 2018; Nathan Foley pleaded guilty and received six years in 2019; and Gareth Brophy was jailed for ten years in 2020 for acting as a getaway driver. The judge extended free legal aid to cover any potential appeal.
Remigivsu Piotrowski, a 44‑year‑old Polish national, was given a two‑year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to assaulting his partner, Beata Iwaska, and her friend, Monika Wilt, on 5 October 2019. The attacks occurred at his Walkinstown Park home after he returned drunk from a work function. Piotrowski pushed Iwaska onto a couch, punched her, and pulled her hair; he also punched Wilt in the head after she intervened. Gardaí arrested him at the scene, and he later head‑butted a garda van while being transported to the station. He had no prior convictions. Judge Karen O'Connor accepted that he had lost control that night, noted his remorse, and ordered him to pay €5,000 to Iwaska and the remainder to Wilt. The sentence is suspended on strict conditions, including staying away from both women, engaging with the Probation Service for two years, and completing anger‑management and victim‑focused work as recommended.
A hearing in the Deirdre Morley case was adjourned to 8 June to allow lawyers to review a psychiatric report. The court had been awaiting a report from a consultant forensic psychiatrist at the Central Mental Hospital. Mr Justice Paul Coffey, hearing via video link, said he had only received the report after 11 am and would consider it before the next hearing. Both defence and prosecution were to review the report. Ms Morley, 44, had been found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murders of her three children. The adjournment was to give time for the report to be prepared and for both sides to consider its contents before the next hearing. The case remains at the Central Criminal Court.
At a sentence hearing in the Central Criminal Court, the court heard that David Fortune, 33, of Rutland Grove in Crumlin, was jailed for eight years in 2006 for manslaughter after he fatally stabbed 31-year-old Michael Murphy outside the 'Buddha Bar' in Dublin west. The court also heard that Fortune was re-arraigned following legal discussions and pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the killing of his father, Gerry Fortune, 62, on August 19, 2018. The Director of Public Prosecutions accepted the plea. Sean Gillane SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, told Ms Justice Eileen Creedon that the killing of Gerry Fortune in 2018 falls in the upper end of seriousness for manslaughter and the defendant should be jailed for up to 15 years. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC said his client had a 'very close bond and friendship' with his father and had 'no animus whatsoever' towards him. He asked the court to place the offence in the mid-range and to consider suspending a portion of the sentence to allow Fortune to continue his education and rehabilitation. Leona Lambe, David Fortune's half-sister and daughter of the deceased, told the court that there are 'no winners' regardless of the sentence imposed. She added that David will have to live with what he did for the rest of his life, knowing he took the life of a man who only ever showed him love, and that is worse than ten life sentences. Ms Justice Creedon adjourned sentencing until June 28.
The Special Criminal Court has found Lee Canavan guilty of the murder of David 'Daithí' Douglas, who was shot at Shoestown, Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 1, on July 1, 2016. Canavan, 31, had pleaded not guilty to the charge, alleging he was part of a joint enterprise to murder Mr. Douglas, who died from injuries to his chest, neck, back, torso, elbow, and jaw. The court ruled that while it could not be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Canavan was the gunman, he was guilty due to his active participation in the shared intention to kill. He was also found guilty of criminal damage to a Suzuki Swift on July 4, 2016, an act intended to destroy evidence. The prosecution, led by Sean Gillane SC, argued the murder was meticulously planned and that Canavan's actions were inextricably linked to those of co-defendants. Frederick 'Fat Freddie' Thompson was previously jailed for life for the murder. Nathan Foley pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal organisation and was jailed for six years. Gareth Brophy was jailed for ten years for his role as a getaway driver. The court emphasized the coordinated use of four vehicles and the removal of the pistol's serial number. Canavan's conviction completes the prosecution of the entire group involved in the killing.
Mr Justice David Barniville admitted a dispute between builder Johnny O'Loughlin and Mount Pleasant Development Ltd (MPD) against Michael Moran and his associated companies to the fast-track Commercial Court list. The applicants seek declarations that they hold interests in three Dublin development sites—Glebe House in Crumlin, Annesley House in Rathmines, and the former Europa Motors site in Blackrock—and that the defendants hold these properties in trust. They also claim damages for alleged breach of contract and intentional interference with economic interests. The defendants deny these claims. Counsel for the defendants, Gary McCarthy SC, argued for the commercial listing, stating that a registered lis pendens has paralysed development plans. He noted that the lis pendens is preventing the completion of sales for five units at Annesley Gardens, valued at €7.36m, and is blocking further finance for the site. It also halts a proposed joint venture for over 150 apartments in Crumlin and a forward sale of the Blackrock site, which is intended for 100 apartments. The applicants, represented by Andrew Walker BL, consented to the application. The court will return later this year for further proceedings.
Paediatric nurse Deirdre Morley, 44, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murders of her three children, aged 9, 7 and 3. Two forensic psychiatrists testified that she suffered a mental disorder at the time of the killings and could not appreciate the moral wrongness of her actions or refrain from them. The jury accepted the defence's claim that the case was a "tragedy of enormous proportions" and returned three verdicts of not guilty by reason of insanity. The court ordered Morley to be committed to the Central Mental Hospital for psychiatric assessment, with a hearing scheduled for 31 May. No other verdicts or sentencing details were given in the article.
In the Deirdre Morley trial, two psychiatrists testified that the accused, a 44‑year‑old nurse, suffered from a mental disorder at the time of the killings. Dr Brenda Wright, for the defence, described her as having bipolar affective disorder and believed she thought it morally right to kill her children, who were aged 9, 7 and 3. Dr Mary Davoren, for the prosecution, said she had a severe depressive disorder and, although she knew she was killing the children, her depression impaired her ability to appreciate the wrongness of her actions. The jury, after an hour and 28 minutes of deliberation, will return tomorrow to decide whether a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity applies. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey.
In the Central Criminal Court, Dr Brenda Wright testified that 44‑year‑old Deirdre Morley, a renal‑specialist nurse, was suffering from bipolar affective disorder and believed it was morally right to smother her three children, whom she claimed had been irreparably damaged. She had attempted to drug them with morphine and codeine the night before the killings, but the children resisted. The next day she used tape, plastic bags and cushions to suffocate them, two of whom died in a play tent. Dr Wright said Morley did not know her actions were wrong due to her psychotic state and was unable to refrain from them, meeting the criteria for a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The trial continues with the jury hearing evidence of her mental state on 24 January and her belief that ending their suffering was necessary.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the jury heard that 44‑year‑old nurse Deirdre Morley attempted to poison her three children on 23 January 2021 and then suffocated them on 24 January 2021. She used thick brown tape and plastic bags to smother the children, two of whom were killed in a play tent. Morley's husband, Andrew McGinley, discovered the bodies: two upstairs in his bedroom and one downstairs in the play tent. Two notes left by Morley warned anyone entering the house not to go into the front room or upstairs and to call 911. Prosecutors said Morley was suffering from a mental disorder and pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murders of her sons Conor (9), Darragh (7) and daughter Carla (3). The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and a jury.
Thomas Doyle, 26, was arrested after a high‑speed chase in Crumlin where he drove a disqualified vehicle, smashed a Garda patrol car's windscreen, and punched Garda John Ryan in the face. Doyle accelerated away from the patrol car, causing smoke from the rear wheels, and later tried to ram the vehicle. The chase ended when Doyle pulled over outside his home on Cashel Avenue, smashed the windscreen, and attempted to block the patrol car's driver from exiting. He then fled back into his house, returned with a bicycle tyre, and struck Garda Ryan, who was then treated for broken teeth at St James's Hospital. Doyle pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and assaulting a Garda on 8 August 2018. He was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment, with a five‑year driving disqualification and a suspended portion of the sentence. The court noted his 66 prior convictions, primarily for traffic offences, and his low cognitive functioning.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Graham Whelan, a 38‑year‑old father of four, was charged with ten non‑scheduled offences, including drug trafficking and money‑laundering. Gardaí alleged that he had received €1,275 in cash from "up his Swiss roll" and €2,140 for a hotel stay, both allegedly proceeds of criminal conduct. They also seized an Audemers Piguet watch valued at €28,000, a tick list with drug code names, several mobile phones, and cocaine and cannabis. Whelan was arrested on a warrant in Walkinstown and later released without charge. The court granted bail with conditions: an independent surety of €20,000, surrender of his passport, curfew, daily reporting, and a requirement to remain at his family home. The judge noted his flight risk but cited the recent death of his partner and his responsibility for four children as mitigating factors. The case is scheduled for trial by September.
Robert Traynor, 54, a former IT worker, pleaded guilty to possessing 1,938 images and 183 videos of child pornography and to producing 1,650 computer‑generated images that violated the 1998 child trafficking pornography act. He claimed the material depicted adults posing as children, but the court found the images showed girls aged six to twelve in sexual situations. Traynor's possession was discovered during a Garda operation that linked his home to a peer‑to‑peer network. Judge Pauline Codd described the material as "gross exploitation" and "abhorrent", noting Traynor had undergone counselling and shown low risk of re‑offending. She imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, fully suspended, with conditions including three years of probation supervision and continued sex‑offender therapy. The sentence was handed down on 12 March 2021 at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
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 sentencing hearing on 24 February 2021, Judge Melanie Greally imposed a four‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term on 65‑year‑old burglar Patrick McCann, with the final 12 months suspended. McCann, who had 73 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to breaking into a family home on South Circular Road on 21 May 2020. The homeowners, who lost heirlooms and personal items, testified that their sense of security had been severely damaged, describing an "acute sense of violation" and a heightened vulnerability. McCann, a heavy drug user, had been unable to attend a drug‑services clinic due to Covid‑19 restrictions and admitted taking a large number of tablets on the day of the burglary, claiming limited recollection. The judge accepted a letter of apology from McCann and noted his engagement with prison education and art. The suspended period is conditional on probation engagement for 18 months and good behaviour for two years.
A beauty therapist from Dublin has received a suspended prison sentence following an assault on her ex-partner's mother. Edel Lovett, aged 33, of Raphoe Road, Crumlin, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at Wainsford Manor Crescent, Terenure on 14 August 2019. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Lovett attended the victim's home intending to confront her former partner but encountered the man's 65-year-old mother instead. The assault resulted in the victim being pulled to the ground, struck, kicked and having hair pulled from her head. The victim reported suffering profound effects from the attack and was unable to leave her home for four months thereafter. Judge Elma Sheahan suspended a 14-month prison sentence conditional on Lovett engaging with the Probation Service's mental health and anger management programme. The judge noted mitigating factors including Lovett's psychiatric ill health at the time and her guilty plea. Lovett was ordered to pay €3,000 immediately and a further €5,000 within twelve months, with any remainder after the victim's medical costs to be donated to charity.
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.
A 44‑year‑old Polish national, Remigivsu Piotrowski, was arrested after returning home drunk from a work function and attacking his partner, Beata Iwaska, and her friend, Monika Wilt, on 5 October 2019. Piotrowski, who had no prior convictions, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to two women and to resisting a peace officer at two locations on the same date. He was also charged with assault causing harm to a third person. During the assault he pushed Iwaska onto a couch, punched her, and pulled her hair; Wilt was punched in the head and knocked to the ground. After the attack, Piotrowski became aggressive towards Gardaí, head‑butting a van door while being transported to a station. He was remanded on bail pending a final hearing scheduled for 22 March, with a probation report ordered and the possibility of a custodial sentence not ruled out.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Robert Traynor, 54, pleaded guilty to possessing 1,938 images and 183 videos of child pornography, and to producing 1,650 computer‑generated images that contravened the 1998 child trafficking pornography act. Traynor claimed the material depicted adults posing as children, a statement rejected by the court. Gardaí linked his home to a peer‑to‑peer network through his internet provider, and seized an external drive containing 65 video files and hundreds of images of girls aged six to twelve, as well as encrypted computer‑generated images of young girls with sex toys or beside naked males. The judge, after hearing Traynor's defence that the images were "skirting the boundaries", found the material to be clearly child pornography. With no prior convictions, the judge ordered a probation report and adjourned sentencing to March 12 of the following year.
Cameron Malcomson, 21, received a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to possession of drugs for supply. Gardaí found €17,332 worth of cannabis hidden in a washing machine at his Tallaght flat. Malcomson claimed he was holding the drugs for someone else but did not disclose the person, citing fear for his life. He had no prior convictions at the time of the charge, but had since accumulated three convictions for possession of drugs and knives. The court considered his traumatic childhood, including his mother's alcohol addiction and his father's suicide when he was 11. Judge Pauline Codd, noting his young age and early guilty plea, imposed a suspended sentence of four and a half years under strict conditions. The sentence includes a three‑year term for the drug offence and an 18‑month term for an attempted car‑jacking on 27 October 2019, for which he had been out on bail.
The Special Criminal Court sentenced Jonathan Harding to five years and three months' imprisonment for laundering over €342,000 for a serious criminal organisation. Harding, 48, pleaded guilty to five offences under the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act 2010. Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed a headline sentence of six years and nine months, suspending the final 18 months on all charges, with all sentences running concurrently. Harding signed a bond to be of good behaviour for three years post-release. The judge noted Harding's prior conviction for possessing nine revolvers, four pistols, a sub-machine gun, an assault rifle, and ammunition, for which he received a ten-year sentence in January 2018. Co-accused Carol Davis, 45, pleaded guilty to three offences under the same Act, admitting she was reckless in allowing Harding access to her accounts but denying involvement in underlying criminality. She received a three-year suspended sentence on all offences, signing a bond to be of good behaviour for that duration. The court found that accounts linked to both were used as a travel service for the organisation. Separately, Declan Brady, 54, was previously sentenced to 11-and-a-half years' imprisonment in July 2019 after pleading guilty to possessing the same weapons cache, having been tasked by senior criminal figures to supervise it.