A 45-year-old man from Carndonagh has received a suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of firearms. Stephen O'Connor was convicted of holding two semi-automatic pistols and ammunition concealed in a Henry Hoover vacuum cleaner at his home on 7 September 2019. During sentencing, the court heard that O'Connor, described as vulnerable and struggling with mental health difficulties, had been approached repeatedly by a criminal acquaintance and agreed to store the weapons to "get them off his back". A search of a van behind his residence uncovered the loaded handguns, which were found to be in working order. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a four-year sentence, suspended in full for four years, subject to strict conditions. The judge acknowledged O'Connor's vulnerabilities and lack of previous convictions while noting the offence occurred during significant gangland activity in Dublin. He was ordered to sever all contact with persons involved in criminal activity.
Two Dublin men, Robert Redmond, 32, and Bernard Fogarty, 33, were charged with attempting to murder Barry Wolverson on 17 January 2020 at Madigans Yard, Swords, Co. Dublin. The Special Criminal Court has served them with Books of Evidence for the attempted murder charge. Mr. Wolverson died on 21 February 2021 after a prolonged hospital stay. The prosecution, represented by Ms. Maddie Grant BL, noted that the trial could last up to four weeks and that a six‑week adjournment was requested because the deceased's long hospitalisation complicated matters. A pathology report is being prepared by Dr. Heidi Okkers. In addition to attempted murder, Redmond and Fogarty face assault charges against Gerard Wildman on the same day, and possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life.
Three men appeared before the Special Criminal Court at an out-of-hours sitting charged in connection with the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in Dublin in February 2016. Patrick Dowdall, Paul Murphy, and Jason Bonney, all from the Dublin area, faced charges under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act relating to alleged participation in activity intended to facilitate a serious offence by a criminal organisation. Dowdall is accused of making a room available at the hotel, whilst Murphy and Bonney are alleged to have provided access to motor vehicles. Gardaí objected to bail for Bonney, indicating he was part of a well-organised crime gang, citing strong evidence including CCTV tracking and mobile phone data. The court granted Bonney bail pending further financial inquiries. Murphy and Dowdall were remanded in custody with bail applications to follow.
Two Dublin men, Robert Redmond (32) and Bernard Fogarty (33), are charged with attempting to murder Barry Wolverson in a January 2020 shooting at Madigans Yard, Swords, Co Dublin. They are also accused of assaulting Gerard Wildman on the same day, possessing a firearm and ammunition (.38/.357 calibre) with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury. The Director of Public Prosecutions applied on 5 January 2021 for the cases to be tried before the Special Criminal Court under Section 49 of the Offences Against the State Act, citing that ordinary courts were inadequate for effective justice. Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges Gerard Griffin and Flann Brennan, granted the order.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Bernard Fogarty, 32, was sentenced to five years and three months imprisonment for possession of a RAK PM‑63 submachine gun. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, noted the weapon was not in immediate use but was intended for future use, and that Fogarty's conduct was linked to organised crime. Fogarty pleaded guilty, which led to a 25 % reduction from the headline seven‑year sentence, resulting in the final term of five years and three months, with the last three months suspended and backdated to his time in custody. He must keep the peace, be of good behaviour and undergo one year of probation supervision after release. The case was based on DNA evidence linking Fogarty to the gun recovered from a vehicle in the Shankill area. The judge emphasised that the damage caused by gun crime cannot be ignored.
Bernard Fogarty, 32, known to Gardaí as heavily involved in organised crime, will be sentenced at the Special Criminal Court for possession of a RAK PM‑63 submachine gun. The weapon was found in the passenger footwell of a white Nissan Pulsar that was intercepted in the Shankill area of County Dublin. Fogarty was a passenger in a second vehicle, a silver Hyundai jeep, and was not involved in the hand‑over of the gun. DNA from Fogarty matched DNA on the gun, and a red baseball cap he wore on 7 March was recovered at his Donaghmede address. The gun was not loaded, was in poor condition, and had been heavily gummed. Fogarty pleaded guilty at a non‑jury court and has 40 prior convictions, including criminal damage, assault and burglary. He has been remanded in custody until his sentencing next Monday. The court will consider mitigating factors such as his drug difficulties and cooperation with the investigation.
In the Special Criminal Court, former employee Martin Byrne, aged 53, testified that Jim Mansfield Jnr wanted him to attend the funeral of murdered Real IRA leader Alan Ryan in September 2012 on Mansfield's behalf. Byrne denied being solely employed by convicted fraudster James O'Gorman and claimed he worked mainly for Mansfield, though he also worked for O'Gorman. He said Mansfield had arranged meetings with the New IRA and INLA to help recover family property assets, and that Mansfield had set him up for false imprisonment. Byrne also recounted being taken prisoner by a gang including former INLA man Dessie O'Hare and Declan "Whacker" Duffy, and that he was later robbed of money and documents. The court heard Byrne's evidence about Mansfield's alleged conspiracy to falsely imprison him and attempts to pervert the course of justice. Mansfield pleaded not guilty to both charges.
On 7 March 2020, Bernard Fogarty, 32, of Hole in the Wall Road, Donaghmede, Dublin 13, pleaded guilty to possessing a RAK PM‑63 submachine gun at his residence. The offence contravenes Section 27A(1) of the Firearms Act. The registrar read the single charge and Fogarty answered "Guilty." Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned the case to 14 December to allow a prison governor's report and a urinalysis report to be completed. The case was subsequently brought before the Special Criminal Court under Section 49 of the Offences Against the State Act. The sentencing will take place next month.
Bernard Fogarty, 32, of Donaghmede, Dublin, faces trial in the Special Criminal Court for unlawful possession of a submachine gun. He is accused of holding an RAK PM‑63 at his Hole in the Wall Road address on 7 March 2020, an offence under Section 27A(1) of the Firearms Act. The state solicitor applied for a non‑jury hearing, which was granted by Justice Tony Hunt. Fogarty and his counsel were not present at the ex‑parte application. The case is scheduled for a hearing on 9 November, under Section 49 of the Offences Against the State Act.
Four men were arrested and brought before the High Court for alleged contempt of court orders to vacate repossessed properties at Fairview Avenue, Dublin 3. The properties, acquired by businessman Jerry Beades in 2002, are subject to lengthy proceedings. Everyday Finance DAC, which holds the loans, obtained orders in November 2019 for vacant possession by January 31. In March, the company alleged persons remained in breach. Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds heard the cases of Eamon Hunt, Dean Gilroy, and Polish tradesmen Aleksander Jerzy Wianowski and Michal Grochowicki. Mr Hunt, who had lodged an appeal with the Court of Appeal that was refused a stay, admitted he was aware of the deadline. Mr Gilroy stated he had lived there since February. The two tradesmen, who claimed ignorance of the legal issues, were found in dilapidated conditions. After the judge outlined the seriousness of the situation and the possibility of incarceration, all four men gave sworn undertakings not to return to the properties. Arrangements were made for the return of their personal belongings, and the tradesmen were relocated to Co Meath. The matter was effectively resolved through these undertakings. Separate contempt proceedings against Mr Beades, who denies breaching orders, were previously adjourned due to the pandemic and will return before the court at a later date.
In a High Court hearing on 20 February 2020, Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds questioned whether the injunction sought by Belwall Limited was intended to "facilitate a dog". Belwall, part of the Townmore Group, alleged that Mr Darren Cummins, who had purchased the property for €2.4 million, was repeatedly trespassing after the sale closed. Cummins reportedly told an agent that he would "have to do things his way" because his calls to Townmore were not returned, and an associate shouted at the agent to "tell him to transfer the rest of the money". A sign reading "private property keep out", a padlock and chains were installed, and an agent discovered a dog inside the house. Belwall claimed the dog was being cared for by Cummins and sought orders to allow safe removal of the animal, to prevent any animals or vehicles from being placed on the property, and to compel Cummins to deliver up vacant possession.
James Brady, 25, was found by Gardaí at his parents' home in Donaghmede, Dublin, with several bags of cannabis hidden in a punching bag and a tracksuit top. He pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply on 29 September 2017. Garda James Mulhern reported that Brady admitted to holding the drugs and selling some to friends, receiving payment in cannabis rather than money. The seized cannabis was valued at €4,492, while a small amount of cocaine worth €40 was deemed for personal use. Brady has five prior drug possession convictions and a 2019 sentence that was fully suspended on condition of engaging with Probation Services. Judge Melanie Greally noted Brady's sister's death in 2012 as a factor in his drug use and indicated she would consider a non‑custodial sentence if he complies with the probation regime, with the matter adjourned to 30 April.
Sean Howard, aged 32, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment for arson after a fire he claimed was started to keep warm spiralled out of control. The blaze began when he lit a piece of cardboard in a bin behind the Temple Bar Hotel in Dublin on 28 April 2019 while intoxicated and under the influence of drugs. The fire melted the bins, damaged the hotel's back wall, boiler and double metal doors, and forced the evacuation of 236 guests. Howard pleaded guilty to arson at the hotel and to a prior arson on 3 April 2019, which caused €3,000 of damage and required the evacuation of two rooms. He has 132 previous convictions, including three for arson, and the judge cited his substance use as a major problem. The sentence was three and a half years, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions.
Robert Lawlor, a 35‑year‑old father of three, was acquitted of five charges, including attempted murder, after a trial where his ex‑girlfriend Rachel Kirwan recanted a statement to the Gardaí that alleged he had threatened to kill her new partner Derek Mitchell and his mother Fiona Mitchell. The jury found him not guilty on all counts. On 16 December 2019, the Central Criminal Court struck out the sole remaining charge against Lawlor – assault causing harm to Kirwan on an unknown date in December 2014 – by entering a nolle prosequi. Judge Michael White declared Lawlor fully discharged, no longer in custody, and free to leave. The court proceedings followed earlier acquittals in May 2018 of attempted murder of Fiona Mitchell, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, and shooting of Ms Mitchell's dog Chopper. No further charges were pursued.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Robert Lawlor, aged 35, was found not guilty on all five charges, including threatening to murder his ex‑girlfriend's partner and attempting to murder the partner's mother by firing shots into her home. The jury, after two hours and forty minutes, returned a verdict of not guilty. Lawlor, who had pleaded not guilty to each charge, was represented by barrister Patrick McGrath SC, who challenged the reliability of witness testimony, particularly that of Fiona Mitchell, who claimed to have seen Lawlor with a gun. The prosecution maintained Mitchell's account was consistent, but the court accepted the defence's arguments. The judge thanked the jury and exempted them from further service for five years. No sentence was imposed as the verdict was a not‑guilty finding.
In a case of attempted murder, the jury was cautioned by Mr Justice Paul McDermott to scrutinise the identification evidence presented by a woman who claimed to recognise the gunman. The woman, Ms. Mitchell, alleged that she saw Robert Lawlor holding a gun in her garden before shots were fired into her home and that a dog was also shot. Mr McDermott warned that even multiple witnesses can err, urging jurors to consider the duration and clarity of Ms. Mitchell's view from her lit kitchen into a dark garden. He reminded them that the defence argued her testimony was dishonest. The jury must decide whether the shooting constituted attempted murder or intimidation, and each of the five charges against Lawlor must be judged separately with unanimous verdicts. Lawlor has pleaded not guilty to all charges, including attempted murder, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, a threat to a third party, and shooting a dog.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 4 December 2019, Robert Lawlor (35) faced five attempted‑murder charges for an attack on Fiona Mitchell on 26 May 2018. Defence counsel Patrick McGrath SC argued that Mitchell's identification of Lawlor was unreliable, citing inconsistencies and the difficulty of seeing in a dark garden. He warned of the dangers of identification evidence and urged the jury to reject Mitchell's testimony. Prosecution counsel John O'Kelly SC countered, presenting Mitchell's consistent statements, CCTV showing two men entering her garden, and bullet trajectories that matched her account. He highlighted the damage to the house, the presence of a dog that was killed, and the absence of DNA or fingerprints. O'Kelly also detailed prior threats by Lawlor toward Mitchell's ex‑girlfriend and her partner, framing the attack as a response to those threats. The case remained at the trial stage, with the judge scheduled to charge the jury the following day. Robert Lawlor pleaded not guilty.
In the trial of Robert Lawlor, a 35‑year‑old from Laytown, the State's closing speech highlighted the circumstances leading to the shooting on 26 May 2018. Lawlor was seen by the alleged victim, Fiona Mitchell, in her back garden holding a gun moments before shots were fired into her home. The prosecution argued that the incident was triggered by Lawlor's ex‑girlfriend, Rachel Kirwan, refusing to end her relationship with Derek Mitchell, whom Lawlor demanded she break off. Lawlor pleaded not guilty to attempted murder of Mitchell, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, a threat to Kirwan to kill or seriously harm Mitchell and her son, and shooting a dog. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, continues before a jury of seven men and five women.
The trial of 35‑year‑old Robert Lawlor, who denies threatening to murder his ex‑girlfriend's partner and attempting to murder Fiona Mitchell's mother, is in its final day of evidence. Lawlor, of the Rise, Laytown, Co Meath, pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of Ms Mitchell at Moatview Avenue, Priorswood, Dublin on 26 May 2018. Ms Mitchell returned to the stand for the third time and denied that Kane McCormack, who was shot dead in 2017, had slept in her garden shed, a claim the prosecution had previously alleged. She described the night of the shooting, noting she heard two men in black, saw a gun, fled to her front door and heard shots, and that her German shepherd was found dead on the back decking. The prosecution also heard from Lawlor's former girlfriend, Rachel Kirwan, who initially claimed he threatened to kill Derek Mitchell's mother but later retracted that statement and said she had lied.
In a court hearing on 2 December 2019, Robert Lawlor, aged 35, pleaded not guilty to several charges, including attempted murder of Fiona Mitchell, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, and a threat to kill or cause serious harm to Fiona Mitchell and her son Derek Mitchell. Lawlor denied threatening to kill Derek Mitchell or shooting at Fiona Mitchell's kitchen. He claimed that Derek Mitchell had allowed Kane McCormack, whom he alleged was linked to the Hutch‑Kinahan feud, to hide in his garden shed before McCormack was shot dead in December 2017. Lawlor also accused his former partner Rachel Kirwan of being a "dirty, smelly knacker" and described her as a "sick woman." He said he had no involvement in the shooting and that the allegations were "crazy." The case was before Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of seven men and five women.
In the Central Criminal Court trial, 35‑year‑old Robert Lawlor denies attempting to murder Fiona Mitchell on 26 May 2018 and denies threatening her son Derek. Mitchell, who confirmed her son's childhood friend Kane McCormack was shot dead 18 months earlier, says she does not know if McCormack was involved in the Hutch‑Kinahan feud. She also denies claims that her home is a "half‑way house" of partying and drug use. Witnesses include a taxi driver who met Lawlor on the night of the alleged shooting and a Garda who observed Lawlor's agitation at his home. Lawlor has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, a threat to Rachel Kirwan, and shooting a dog. The trial proceeds before Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of twelve.
During the attempted‑murder trial of Robert Lawlor, the Central Criminal Court heard that Garda Cathal Hickey recovered four bullets from the Mitchell residence after the shooting on 26 May 2018. One bullet lay on the kitchen floor, another in the hallway, a third was found in the dog basket of the shed, and a fourth was on the decking outside the back patio. Hickey also traced a line of blood from a bullet in the dog shed to a decking area where a dead German Shepherd, Chopper, was found. He reported bullet holes in the front door at 79 inches and in the kitchen‑hallway door at 64 inches. Sergeant Noel Smith admitted moving a bullet from outside the house to inside the property at about 8 am, citing concern that it might be removed by someone else. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, continues with a jury of seven men and five women. Robert Lawlor pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, Robert Lawlor, 35, pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, firearm possession, a threat to Rachel Kirwan, and shooting a dog. Detective Sergeant Noel Smith testified that Lawlor was seen in black clothing, agitated and aggressive on the evening of the shooting. Smith described Lawlor's erratic behaviour, his confrontation with Gardaí, and his departure from home, prompting Smith to contact Kirwan and the Armed Support Unit. Kirwan, who had been in a relationship with Lawlor and later with Fiona Mitchell's son Derek, broke down during questioning about photographs of Derek. She refused to answer questions about the photos, stating her life was worth more than the images. The trial remains before a jury.
Rachel Kirwan, a mother of two, testified that she had lied to Gardaí about former partner Robert Lawlor's threats to kill Fiona Mitchell's mother and harm Derek Mitchell. She claimed she fabricated the story to portray Lawlor negatively after learning he was the gunman who fired two shots at Mitchell's home on 26 May 2018. Kirwan said she changed her statement after discovering she had been misled. She also denied that Lawlor had threatened her regarding Mitchell's mother and that he had shown interest in her children only after she began dating Derek Mitchell. Kirwan's testimony, which includes details of her relationship with Lawlor and Mitchell, was presented to the jury on the day of the trial. The case remains at the trial stage with no verdict yet. Robert Lawlor pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Laurence Murphy and Ray Kennedy, who have pleaded not guilty to IRA membership charges dated March 6, 2013, and April 2010. Mr. Kennedy also faces a charge of perverting the course of justice by destroying a SIM card. Prosecution witnesses described a meeting at Bewleys Hotel, Dublin Airport, on May 22, 2010, where Mr. Murphy was observed with Marian Price, Alan Ryan, and Anthony Ryan. The group entered a private function room, though the Ryans did not. Other testimony detailed Mr. Kennedy's presence at a 2011 meeting in Mulhuddert and at a 2012 bail hearing. The court also heard about a 2012 funeral for Alan Ryan, where three shots were fired over the coffin. While four men have already received life sentences for the murder of Peter Butterly, and Michael McDermott and Frank Murphy have been jailed for their roles in the killing, the current proceedings against Murphy and Kennedy remain at the trial stage. The matter was adjourned and continues before Justice Tara Burns, Judge Sarah Berkeley, and Judge Michael Walsh.
A man charged in connection with the 2013 murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly was observed on multiple occasions with slain Real IRA leader Alan Ryan, the Special Criminal Court heard. Laurence Murphy, aged 62, of Bettystown, Co Meath and Ray Kennedy, aged 40, of Blanchardstown, Dublin have pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the IRA on 6 March 2013. Mr Kennedy faces an additional charge of perverting the course of justice. Detective gardaí gave evidence they saw Mr Ryan and Mr Kennedy together in Donaghmede, Dublin on separate occasions in 2011 and 2012. The court heard garda interviews wherein Mr Kennedy stated he and Mr Butterly had arranged to meet at the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co Meath at 2.30pm on the day of the shooting. Mr Murphy was interviewed and denied IRA membership. Four men have already received life sentences following convictions for Mr Butterly's murder, with two others imprisoned for roles in the killing. The trial before Ms Justice Tara Burns continues.
In the trial of Robert Lawlor, accused of attempting to murder Fiona Mitchell on 26 May 2018, Mitchell denies that she misidentified Lawlor. She says she saw him through her kitchen window holding a gun, ran out, locked the door, and heard two loud bangs before her dog was later found dead. Lawlor's counsel, Patrick McGrath, argued that Mitchell was "obsessed" with him and had stalked him online, but Mitchell insists she never messaged him and that she did see him that night. Rachel Kirwan, a former partner of Lawlor, recounts their relationship, their children, and a 2018 garden incident where she told Lawlor to leave. Kirwan also recalls a phone call from Mitchell before the shooting. Lawlor has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, a threat to Kirwan, and shooting a dog. The judge will not require the jury until Thursday.
In the Special Criminal Court, the prosecution presented evidence regarding the March 6, 2013, shooting death of Peter Butterly at the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co Meath. Laurence Murphy and Ray Kennedy, both accused of IRA membership on that date, have pleaded not guilty. Mr Kennedy is additionally charged with perverting the course of justice by destroying a SIM card. Prosecutors read witness statements from Mr Kennedy, who alleged he met Mr Butterly to discuss false car logbooks and claimed he destroyed his phone's SIM card in panic when a garda requested the device. Mr Kennedy denied IRA membership, stating he attended marches with slain Real IRA leader Alan Ryan because he was "nosy." He also denied luring Mr Butterly to the scene. The court heard that Mr Kennedy knew David Dodrill, who was convicted of IRA membership in April 2010, and acknowledged knowing Dermot Gannon, jailed for IRA membership in 2001. The matter is at the sentence stage, with the accused maintaining their not guilty pleas to the alleged offences.
In a trial held on 18 November 2019, Fiona Mitchell testified that on 26 May 2018 she was in her garden when a man named Robert Lawlor, whom she recognised from social media, appeared at her patio door holding a gun. Mitchell said she heard two gunshots as she fled, locked the kitchen door, and ran to her neighbour's house where she hid. She described seeing two men on a wall outside her home, but confirmed only one man was in her garden and house. Mitchell also stated that her German Shepherd, Chopper, was shot dead that night. She claimed to have heard a threat from Lawlor to kill her mother and to "take her out of misery." The case is before Mr Justice Paul McDermott. Robert Lawlor pleaded not guilty.
A 35‑year‑old man, Robert Lawlor, pleaded not guilty to attempted murder of Fiona Mitchell, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, a threat to Rachel Kirwan, and shooting a dog. The Central Criminal Court heard that the attempted murder occurred on 26 May 2018 at Moatview Avenue, Priorswood, when Lawlor, armed, entered Mitchell's garden, fired a shot that shattered the patio door, and fired again as she fled. Mitchell escaped through the front door; Gardaí arrived but the gunman and a second man had fled. A dog that had been barking and raising the alarm was shot dead. Lawlor's alleged motive was that Mitchell's son, Derek, was in a relationship with Lawlor's former partner, Rachel Kirwan, a relationship Lawlor could not accept. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
Seven men were sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for violent disorder on a LUAS tram at Chancery Street, Dublin 7, on February 6, 2016. Sean Kindillon, Jamal Garamanli, Ian Baker, Patrick Dunne, Michael Farrell, Jamie Whelan, and Andrew Byrne each pleaded guilty to the offence. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced all seven to two years' imprisonment, but suspended the sentences in their entirety on strict conditions. The court ordered six of the men to pay €2,500 each within 18 months, while Byrne was ordered to pay €1,500, with funds directed to charity. The incident involved an altercation with members of a far-right anti-Islam organisation travelling to a demonstration. Prosecution evidence included CCTV footage showing Dunne striking a man with an umbrella and Byrne aiming a kick. The judge noted the defendants were working, had good prospects, and expressed remorse, deeming imprisonment unjustified. Kindillon and Garamanli stated they intervened to defend themselves or friends against perceived attacks. None of the far-right group members were charged. A separate co-accused, who pleaded guilty in the District Court, was sentenced to 140 hours of community service in lieu of 14 months' imprisonment for striking a man with an iron bar.
The High Court has ordered the extradition of Gerard Lagan, 35, to Northern Ireland in connection with the 2007 double murder of Edward Burns and Joseph Jones in Belfast. Lagan, of Dunleer, Co Louth, faces charges alleging he lured the victims from their homes via telephone calls to be killed. The prosecution case, based on circumstantial evidence including cell site data, suggests Lagan was an organiser of the events and enlisted the assistance of Declan Smith and Gerard Mackin. Mackin was previously convicted for Burns' murder in 2008, a conviction later quashed on appeal, while Smith was murdered in Dublin in 2014. Lagan opposed extradition citing delay, previous non-prosecution decisions, and alleged rights breaches regarding mobile phone data analysis. Mr Justice Tony Hunt rejected all grounds, finding that fresh PSNI investigations and telephone data superseded earlier decisions. The judge determined there was no evidence of inappropriate data retention or examination, though he noted it remained unclear why such evidence was not analysed before 2015. Despite Lagan's family circumstances, including children in Irish schools and his role as a registered carer, the court found the public interest in extradition outweighed these factors. Lagan's legal team indicated they would consider the judgment to determine next steps.
Catherine Gaffney, 53, of Donaghmede, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft and two of money‑laundering after running a fake property company, Hamilton Aherne Partners, that lured buyers into paying deposits for non‑existent or already‑sold houses. The company claimed to offer lower prices by dealing directly with banks, but the buyers were told to ignore official prices and pay a deposit. Gaffney opened a bank account for the company, withdrew the deposits, and was caught on CCTV. She was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions. The case highlighted pre‑planning, loss of money to victims, and Gaffney's guilty plea and personal circumstances as mitigating factors.
Two men, Paul O'Beirne (36) and Jeffrey Morrow (37), pleaded guilty to helping a criminal organisation murder 25‑year‑old Vinnie Ryan. They were charged with facilitating a serious offence under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. O'Beirne was also charged with providing and destroying a motor vehicle used in the murder, while Morrow's indictment did not mention the vehicle. The court accepted the pleas and remanded both men in custody until a sentence hearing on 26 July. Mr Justice Michael White said he would not pass sentence that day and would set a date for sentencing. The trial included evidence that Ryan was shot three times, one bullet passing through his head, and CCTV footage linking O'Beirne to the disposal of a seat cover from a car used in the murder. The prosecution also presented DNA evidence linking a dog's hair to the cover recovered from O'Beirne's garden.
Robert Lynch, aged 32, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a total of three and a half years' imprisonment for two robberies. He pleaded guilty to the robbery of taxi driver Alan Thompson on Malahide Road on 4 September 2016 and to the robbery of a Spar shop on 15 October 2017. Lynch, who has a history of drug addiction, was described by Garda Alan Roach as having changed significantly since the offences. Judge Pauline Codd imposed consecutive terms of three years and three and a half years, suspending the final three years on the condition that Lynch participate in drug rehabilitation programmes and keep the peace. The court noted Lynch's 54 prior convictions, including robbery, knife possession and threats to kill, and that he had been identified on CCTV before the taxi robbery. No weapons were used in either robbery. The sentence reflects the judge's assessment of Lynch's efforts at rehabilitation and the seriousness of the offences.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Paul O'Beirne and Jeffrey Morrow, who are charged with murdering Vincent Ryan, continued before Mr Justice Michael White. Both defendants, aged 36 and 37 respectively, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of the 25-year-old victim at McKee Road in Finglas on February 29, 2016. Prosecution counsel Paul Burns SC called Kelly Smyth, the victim's partner, who testified that she heard five loud bangs after taking their five-week-old daughter inside her home. She discovered Mr Ryan seriously injured in his car with smashed windows. Her brother, Keith Smyth, corroborated the account, describing the sounds as gunshots and noting a grey car fleeing the scene. Dr Edmund Carton stated that Mr Ryan was pronounced dead at the Mater Hospital at 21:10. Neighbour Lorcan Buckley reported hearing approximately 12 or 13 gunshots, while Dublin Fire Brigade officer Stephen O'Reilly described finding bullet holes in the vehicle and multiple wounds on the victim. The trial is ongoing with a jury of four women and eight men, and no verdict or sentence has been recorded.
Two Dublin men, Paul O'Beirne (36) and Jeffrey Morrow (37), are on trial for the murder of 25‑year‑old Vincent Ryan on 29 February 2016. The prosecution relies on circumstantial evidence, including CCTV footage from O'Beirne's home and mobile phone traffic, to argue that the men planned and executed the shooting. Ryan was shot in broad daylight while seated in his car on McKee Road, Finglas, after dropping his partner and baby at her home. A silver Volkswagen Golf fired the fatal shots; the vehicle was later found burning near Naas. The court heard that the men attempted to conceal their involvement, including disposing of a car seat cover from the vehicle. The trial, heard by the Central Criminal Court, is expected to last five to six weeks. Paul O'Beirne pleaded not guilty. Jeffrey Morrow pleaded not guilty.
A 32‑year‑old Dublin man, Gary Watson, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for assaulting Philip Woodcock and for producing a knife on 16 January 2010. Watson was acquitted of the murder of former soldier Warren O'Connor, who died from a stab wound that night. The Central Criminal Court heard that a noisy house party in Donaghmede led to a fight between two groups of men. Watson, who had a knife and was "prepared to use it", stabbed Woodcock in the shoulder after Woodcock had earlier punched him. The judge noted Watson had been subjected to "extreme provocation" and that Woodcock had acted "very badly". Watson's sentence of three years for each offence runs concurrently and was back‑dated to 18 December 2017. The court also directed compensation to Woodcock for the assault. The case was heard by Mr Justice Michael White. Gary Watson pleaded not guilty and was convicted.
Shane Craig, 21, was caught in 2015 carrying over €140,000 worth of cocaine in a rucksack while homeless. Gardaí searched his residence and found drug paraphernalia. He pleaded guilty to possession of €142,761 worth of drugs at Foxhill Park, Donaghmede. In 2019 Judge Melanie Greally suspended a five‑year prison term in full, imposing strict conditions: engagement with the Probation Service for five years and random drug testing. The judge noted six Probation Service reports and a prior one‑year probation bond. Craig's probation officer confirmed he no longer used drugs and had made "extremely positive changes." Both Craig and his mother were homeless at the time, and the judge highlighted his vulnerability, addiction, drug debt and mental health problems. The suspended sentence reflects the judge's view that Craig's circumstances placed the case in the narrow category of a fully suspended sentence.
In a Dublin trial, Gary Watson, aged 35, was acquitted of murdering former soldier Warren O'Connor, aged 24, who died from a single stab wound to the neck on 16 January 2010. The jury, after four hours and eleven minutes, found Watson not guilty of the murder charge. However, they convicted him of assaulting Philip Woodcock, aged 34, and of producing a knife on the same occasion. Watson denied these charges. The case involved a fight between two groups of men at a noisy house party on Hole in the Wall Road, with witnesses describing a white‑hoodie wearer stabbing O'Connor. No forensic evidence linked Watson to the knife or to O'Connor's body. The trial concluded with Watson remanded in custody pending sentencing for the assault and knife charges, scheduled for 7 March. The judge thanked the jury and expressed condolences to O'Connor's family.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court returned on Monday to consider a verdict in the trial of Gary Watson, 35, who is accused of murdering former soldier Warren O'Connor, 24, on 16 January 2010. Watson pleaded not guilty to the murder, to assaulting Philip Woodcock, 34, on the same occasion, and to producing a knife to intimidate another person. The two‑week trial included evidence that a fight broke out after Woodcock cut power to a neighbour's apartment to end a noisy house party. The jury asked to view CCTV footage again in the courtroom, and the judge allowed it. They also asked whether fingerprints were found on the knives; the judge confirmed that no fingerprints belonging to Watson were found on the blade removed from O'Connor's body or on other knives recovered by Garda Damien Carroll. The jury deliberated for less than an hour before deciding to suspend deliberations for the day and return on Monday morning.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Gary Watson, 35, was charged with murdering former soldier Warren O'Connor, 24, in 2010. O'Connor died from a single stab wound to the neck, with the knife blade partially impaled in his body. Watson also faced charges of assault causing harm to Philip Woodcock, 34, and of producing a knife to intimidate another person. The judge, Mr Justice Michael White, instructed the jury to treat each charge separately and warned that a verdict of guilty on the assault or intimidation charges would not automatically imply guilt for murder. He emphasized the need for caution regarding identification evidence, noting that the sole witness, Gary Foy, saw a man in a white hoodie make a stabbing motion. The judge also cautioned that the nine‑year delay could affect witness memory, urging the jury to give the accused the benefit of doubt. Gary Watson pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, the prosecution, led by James Dwyer SC, argued that all evidence points to Gary Watson (35) as the murderer of Warren O'Connor (24) in 2010. Watson, who lives in Dublin 13, pleaded not guilty to the murder, an assault on Philip Woodcock (34), and intimidation with a knife. The prosecution presented a narrative of a fight at a Dublin apartment where Watson was one of four men. Witnesses, including Gary Foy, claimed to have seen a man in a white hoodie stab O'Connor, and other testimony linked Watson to that hoodie. Watson denied the allegations. The case was set for jury deliberation, with no forensic or CCTV evidence presented. The judge would continue charging the jury the following day.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Gary Watson (35), who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of former soldier Warren O'Connor (24) in north Dublin, heard evidence from former Deputy State Pathologist Dr Khalid Jaber. Dr Jaber stated that a stainless steel kitchen knife was found partially impaled in Mr O'Connor's neck during the post-mortem examination conducted on January 17, 2010. The blade, measuring 22.5cms, had penetrated 13cms into the body, perforating the left ventricle artery and left internal jugular vein. Dr Jaber concluded that the cause of death was a single stab wound to the lower anterior of the left neck, noting the blade was bent toward the anterior midline. He indicated the perpetrator likely held a height advantage and that the victim was probably taken by surprise. No defence-type wounds were found on Mr O'Connor's hands. Prosecution counsel James Dwyer SC confirmed Dr Jaber was the final witness, closing the State's case. Earlier, Garda Damien Carroll testified to recovering a black-handled knife near Grattan Wood apartments and three knives from a Honda Civic, though no fingerprints belonging to Mr Watson were found on them. Mr Watson also denies assaulting Philip Woodcock and producing a knife to intimidate another person. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury.
During a 2010 altercation on Hole in the Wall Road, a man named Warren O'Connor was stabbed. A nurse, Alison Boyd, who lived in Newgrove Estate and worked nearby, heard a loud bang and saw a Ford Focus and a dark car involved. She observed about ten people gathered and heard shouting, including the name 'Warren' and a phrase that sounded like 'get it into him.' Boyd ran outside, found O'Connor lying on his back with a knife embedded in his chest, the handle snapped off. She attempted to check his pulse and called an ambulance. Another witness, Rachel Foy, also heard the commotion and saw a gang of people on the footpath. The incident is part of a murder trial against Gary Watson, who denies the charges. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Michael White.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Gary Watson (35), who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of former soldier Warren O'Connor (24) in January 2010, continued with witness testimony. Gary Foy (32) testified that he observed a man in a white hoodie make a stabbing motion toward another man's chest while saying, "get that into you." Foy stated the incident occurred on Hole in the Wall Road, Donaghmede, Dublin 13. Under cross-examination, Foy maintained his recollection of the initial incident was accurate despite acknowledging some haziness regarding the aftermath. Emma Cooney, a witness at a nearby house party, reported hearing a bang and someone shout, "Smiley I think you killed him," though she agreed this specific phrase was not in her previous statements. Susan Ford, who was walking home from a party, described seeing a man in a black leather jacket grab railings, claim he had been stabbed, and fall forward with a rusty object protruding from his chest. The court previously heard that the fatal altercation followed a dispute over a noisy house party. Watson also denies assaulting Philip Woodcock and producing a knife to intimidate. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury.
During the murder trial of Gary Watson, a witness, Emma Cooney, testified that she heard a shout of "Smiley I think you killed him" the night a former soldier, Warren O'Connor, was stabbed to death on Hole in the Wall Road, Donaghmede. Cooney, who was at a restaurant in Swords on the evening of January 15, 2010, later drove to Louise Kinsella's apartment on the same street. She described a gathering that was not chaotic and had no loud music. Cooney observed that Mr. Woodcock, his partner Suzanne Martin, and their son entered the apartment with a take‑away. She reported a scuffle between two groups of men, knives being waved, and a "bang" heard a few minutes later. The witness stated she had spoken to the Gardaí before returning home that night. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael White, continues on Wednesday. Gary Watson pleaded not guilty.
In the murder trial of Gary Watson, Richard Grant, a witness, testified that he and his friend Warren O'Connor were at a party on 15 January 2010 when they entered Philip Woodcock's apartment. Grant described seeing knives and a red‑haired man, and he says he grabbed knives in a reflexive act, later giving one to a friend. He recounts a chaotic scene involving a Honda Civic and a Ford Focus, a fight with Woodcock, and a black‑haired driver. Grant claims he saw O'Connor lying on his left side with a snapped knife between neck and collarbone, and that he wrapped his top around the knife to stop the bleeding. He says he tried to keep O'Connor awake by reassuring him and holding his hand, but O'Connor had no pulse. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury. Gary Watson pleaded not guilty. Warren O'Connor pleaded not guilty.
During the murder trial of Gary Watson for the 2010 killing of Warren O'Connor, witness Philip Woodcock testified that he had intended to "beat the bollocks out" of the driver of a Honda Civic that rammed his Ford Focus. Woodcock, aged 34, said he had cut the power fuse in his apartment building to end a noisy party and then drove to a garage. He later returned with four friends, including O'Connor, and a fight broke out when the Honda Civic attempted to overtake the Focus. Woodcock claimed he was not trying to cause serious trouble, denied firing bottles, and admitted he had lied to Gardaí about a knife in the car, calling himself a "scumbag" for that night. He also denied assaulting Watson and producing a knife to intimidate others. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury. Gary Watson pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, 35‑year‑old Gary Watson is accused of killing 24‑year‑old Warren O'Connor on 16 January 2010. Watson, who lives on Millbrook Avenue, Kilbarrack, pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. He also denies assaulting 34‑year‑old Philip Woodcock and using a knife to intimidate another person. Woodcock, an apprentice electrician and former soldier, gave evidence describing the events on the night of 15 January. He said he heard shouting and music from a neighbour's apartment, cut the building's power, and later met with friends who were allegedly waiting for him. Woodcock claimed that a man in a Russell Athletic hoodie struck him, and that he and his friends were attacked by men in a Honda Civic who tried to run him over. Woodcock testified that Warren O'Connor was stabbed, bleeding from the chest, and died after failing to respond to attempts to make him blink.