A 66‑year‑old Dublin man, Donal Colgan, was arrested on 19 August 2014 after a fatal stabbing outside Luigi's chip shop on North Strand Road. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not guilty to murder of 44‑year‑old David Sheridan. Colgan claimed he acted in self‑defence after two young men attacked him. Garda Sergeant Chris Cahill testified that Colgan told the police it was self‑defence. Detective Sergeant Mark Waters found Colgan's clothes and a knife at his home, both bearing the victim's blood, and noted that Colgan behaved normally the day after the incident. Teresa Marcela, a Luigi's employee, described a fight between Colgan and the victim, after which Colgan allegedly stabbed Sheridan with a large vegetable knife. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis confirmed multiple stab wounds, including a 20‑cm abdominal wound, and identified the knife as the likely weapon.
In the trial of Jason O'Driscoll, a 34‑year‑old Dublin man charged with the murders of Anthony Burnett, 31, and Joseph Redmond, 25, on 7 March 2012, a CSI named Belinda Kennedy gave evidence to the Central Criminal Court. Kennedy, a crime scene investigator with the PSNI in Belfast, examined a silver Mercedes that had been abandoned on the northern side of the border the morning after the killings. She photographed the vehicle, noted damage, tested for firearms residue and DNA, lifted fibre tape, and collected soil samples. Kennedy reported that she had swept the entire car for fingerprints but found none, and that a smell of cleaning fluid suggested the car had been cleaned. She also noted that the car had been driven through Dublin City after being stolen that early morning. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of eight men and four women. Jason O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty.
In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Melanie Greally ordered that Eve Doherty, 50, be remanded in custody next Monday ahead of her sentencing on January 19. Doherty, a detective sergeant with An Garda Síochána, was found guilty by a jury of harassing State solicitor Elizabeth Howlin between September 2011 and March 2013. The jury found her not guilty of two counts of making false statements in March 2012. The trial heard that Doherty sent abusive letters and emails to Ms Howlin, her workplace, and her GP, using anonymous accounts from an internet café. Judge Greally stated that a custodial sentence is "inevitable," citing Doherty's lack of a guilty plea and evident remorse. The judge rejected the defence's request for a community service sentence, despite character references and a psychological report detailing Doherty's severe work-related stress, depression, and anxiety. Doherty has no previous convictions and was suspended from the force but remains a serving member. She was ordered to organise her affairs before being placed into custody on Monday morning.
Two men, Glenn Murray, 28, and Frank Dunne, 50, pleaded guilty to possessing €95,000 worth of cocaine. They were arrested after a tip led Gardaí to a car‑park at Dunnes Stores, Saggart, on 15 September 2016. Murray was seen entering a blue Ford Focus, opening the passenger door, and carrying a black shopping bag that contained over 1,000 g of cocaine valued at €70,126. Two additional bags with 369 g of cocaine, worth €25,877, were found in a bedside locker at Dunne's house. Murray claimed he had no knowledge of the quantity, was promised €700 for transport, and described the operation as a "once‑off" job to earn extra money. Dunne said he had been promised €500, had a debt from cocaine use, and had no idea who the main organiser was.
In Dublin City Centre, on 23 November 2016, Bernard McGrath, aged 27, punched pregnant Barbara O'Beirne, 23 weeks pregnant, in the stomach during an unprovoked attack. McGrath, who shouted at passing cars and then struck O'Beirne hard, also told her "Boo hoo, you're pregnant." O'Beirne was left in shock, unable to feel her baby, and later sought medical care at Holles Street hospital. She described the assault as a pregnant woman's worst nightmare and, despite the trauma, gave birth to a healthy baby girl a few months later. McGrath, a heroin addict with a troubled childhood and schizophrenia, had 21 prior convictions. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final nine months suspended, on the condition that he fully engage with probation services. The judge called the incident "deeply cowardly and bizarre.".
In a Dublin Central Criminal Court trial, Egyptian national Mohamed Okda, aged 31, was found guilty of two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault after a 2014 incident in a city centre flat. The jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts after a seven‑day trial. Judge Michael Moriarty sentenced Okda to eleven years for each rape and five years for the assault, with all terms running concurrently and the final year suspended. The judge noted the difficulty of imprisonment for foreign nationals and acknowledged Okda's claim of threat while in custody. The victim, a married mother, described panic attacks, depression and a "broken" life in her impact statement, and the judge highlighted her ongoing struggle to rebuild her life with family support. Okda has 16 prior non‑sexual convictions in Ireland. Mohamed Okda pleaded not guilty.
A High Court challenge to Dublin City Council's plans to convert Aisling House, a former guest house at 19 and 20 St. Lawrence Road, Clontarf, into accommodation for homeless families, has been struck out. The application was brought by local resident and artist Aidan Hickey, who alleged that the development constituted unauthorised works on a protected structure without planning permission or public consultation. Mr. Hickey claimed that the Council's August 2 order under section 179 of the Planning and Development Act, which permitted repair and renewal works, was flawed and represented a retrospective attempt to cure proceedings threatened by residents. He sought to quash the Council's decision and obtain declarations that the development was null and void, unauthorised, and a material contravention of the Dublin City Development Plan. Additionally, he alleged the works amounted to unauthorised alterations to protected structures and that the Council failed to comply with building regulations. The matter was heard before Mr Justice Charles Meenan. Counsel for Mr. Hickey, Arthur Cush BL, indicated that the matter could be struck out. The judge agreed to strike out the application. The case subjects identified include Aisling House and the Development Act, both acting as applicants in the procedural context. No plea, finding, sentence, or custody conditions were recorded, as this was a civil judicial review matter resulting in the striking out of the challenge.
In a High Court ruling on 11 October 2017, Mr Justice Donald Binchy quashed Dublin City Council's decision to convert Carman's Hall, Francis Street, into a hostel for homeless people. The council had authorised the change of use and refurbishment on 28 October 2016, arguing it was a response to an emergency humanitarian crisis. Local residents, represented by the Carman's Hall Community Interest Group, Michael Mallin House Resident's Association and community worker Elizabeth O'Connor, claimed the conversion contravened the area's local development plan and was unlawful. The judge accepted that the building had been used as a shelter to address an emergency but found the council's decision materially breached the development plan's objectives, particularly regarding concentration of facilities and local economic impact. The orders were quashed, and the hostel remained open pending a further court decision on 8 November 2017. The ruling highlighted the council's lack of proper consideration of planning objectives.
Ann Byrne, aged 34, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and attempted robbery after attacking a female colleague on Burlington Road on 25 August 2015. Byrne kicked the victim in the head, stood on her mouth when she screamed, and left a footprint on the victim's head. Garda John Cahill reported finding the victim in a distressed state with blood on her face and a swollen lip, cheekbone and eye. Byrne initially denied the assault, gave a false name, and claimed she was tipsy, but later admitted the offence. She has 17 prior convictions, including theft and traffic offences. The court heard she has a young child and wishes to improve her future. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed an 18‑month suspended sentence, noting the assault was violent and unprovoked, and that the victim's medical report showed serious impact. The sentence was suspended on conditions intended to encourage Byrne to build a better future.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, Egyptian national Mohamed Okda, aged 30, was found guilty of raping a woman he met in February 2014 after she became lost and upset during a night out in Dublin. The woman, a married mother, had been visiting Dublin with two female friends, became drunk and tired, and lost contact with them. Okda approached her, offered help, and after she returned to his flat, he raped her. The jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault after a seven‑day trial. Okda's defence, led by Ciaran O'Loughlin SC, requested an adjournment of the sentencing hearing to obtain a psychological report, citing concerns that two other men were present in the flat and had not been interviewed by Gardaí. The judge agreed to adjourn the sentencing to 23 October, and the victim was not present at the hearing. Mohamed Okda pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court has denied Frederick "Freddie" Thompson's request to dismiss the murder charge against him. Thompson, 36, is charged with the July 1st, 2016 killing of David Douglas, 55, who was shot dead in a shop on Bridgefoot Street, Dublin. Thompson's barrister, Michael O'Higgins SC, argued for dismissal under Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act 1999, while Seán Gillane SC represented the prosecution. Justice Isobel Kennedy, presiding, stated that the three‑judge panel had reviewed all evidence and submissions and found sufficient evidence to proceed with a trial.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Detective Sergeant Eve Doherty, aged 49, was found guilty of harassing State solicitor Elizabeth Howlin. Doherty had pleaded not guilty to the harassment charge and to two counts of making false statements alleging Howlin was perverting the course of justice. The jury convicted her on the harassment charge but acquitted her on the false statements. The court heard that Doherty sent abusive letters and emails to Howlin's home, workplace and GP, calling her a "corrupt bitch" and other slurs, and that she also distributed A4 posters claiming Howlin was a political appointee who would "pull" files. Doherty was remanded on continuing bail until 27 October, with conditions prohibiting contact with parties in the proceedings and no social‑media postings about the case. The trial lasted just over three hours and involved 15 days of evidence. The judge thanked the jury for their careful assessment of the evidence.
Jonathan Doran, a 26‑year‑old barber from Artane, was convicted of violent disorder after a row outside Krystal nightclub in Dublin in 2013. He claimed he acted out of "misguided loyalty" because he mistakenly believed his friend, Republic of Ireland footballer Jeff Hendrick, had been struck. Doran admitted chasing Darren McDermott down a laneway and sitting on him, but denied any assault. The jury found Hendrick not guilty and convicted Doran. Judge Martin Nolan, noting no evidence of assault and Doran's good record, imposed a two‑year suspended sentence and ordered him to pay €6,000 within a year, to be given to charity if McDermott declined. Doran had no prior convictions and had cooperated with the investigation. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the trial lasting 29 minutes before the verdict. Jonathan Doran was acquitted.
In a victim impact statement at the Central Criminal Court, a married mother described how she is now a "broken person" after being raped by Mohamed Okda in February 2014. She said she suffers from panic attacks and depression, feels her trust and belief in people have been shattered, and that she has lost friends and feels unable to talk about the night. Okda, 30, was found guilty by a jury of two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. The jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts after a seven‑day trial. The case will return to court on 9 October. The mother thanked her husband for support and said she is working to repair their relationship. Okda has 16 prior convictions in Ireland, none for sexual offences, and has been in custody since his conviction.
Ryan Lee Thomas, aged 25, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment for three counts of sexual assault in Dublin's city centre and two counts of possessing the controlled drug GBL. The assaults occurred on 30 December 2016, over an hour‑and‑a‑half, while Thomas was under the influence of GBL, which he had purchased online. He was found guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty. Thomas had previously been convicted in Melbourne, Australia, for sexual offences while under the influence of the same drug. The court noted that Thomas had apologized to each victim and had a good employment history, but he was also ordered to undergo two years of post‑release supervision by the Probation Service. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the repeated assaults and the risk of re‑offending. The court did not alter the custodial term for the drug possession charges.
The trial of Garda Eve Doherty, aged 49, for alleged harassment of State solicitor Elizabeth Howlin, has shown that none of the fingerprints found on abusive material matched Doherty's prints. Doherty denies harassing Howlin between September 2011 and March 2013 and denies making false statements in March 2013 that Howlin was perverting the course of justice. Howlin, a directing officer with the DPP, received letters and emails calling her a "corrupt bitch" and "incompetent useless hobbit", and falsely claiming she was a political appointee who would "pull" files. Detective Garda Conor Kiely presented evidence that fingerprints on four posters, a letter to the DPP, a letter to Howlin's home and a letter to the DPP's office did not match Doherty's prints.
Ryan Lee Thomas, 25, was found guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of sexually assaulting three women in the city centre on 30 December 2016 while under the influence of the party drug GBL, which he had purchased online. The assaults occurred over an hour‑and‑a‑half at a house party on Lower Gardiner Street and involved repeated attempts to touch and kiss the victims, who were all young women. Thomas also pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing a controlled drug. Gardaí recovered additional GBL from his home the following day. Thomas has ten prior convictions in Melbourne for sexual offences committed while under the influence of the same drug. He will be sentenced on 27 July. The court heard that Thomas admitted possession of GBL but could not recall the events of that night. He has expressed regret and wishes to apologise to each victim.
Ryan O'Driscoll, aged 20, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving after he stole a motorbike and drove it through Dublin city streets on 6 March 2015. The bike, with incorrect plates, was pursued by Garda patrol cars that eventually boxed it in. O'Driscoll was arrested and later sentenced by Judge Patricia Ryan to three and a half years' imprisonment, backdated to 20 February, with the balance suspended and a four‑year driving disqualification. He had previously been convicted 84 times, 64 for road traffic offences, and was serving a six‑month sentence for minor traffic offences at the time of sentencing. The court noted his history of drug use and prior sentences at Oberstown, and his stated intention to become a mechanic after release.
Alan Foley, a 46‑year‑old bouncer at Colossus Casino in Dublin, was convicted of assault causing harm after he kicked Robert O'Donnell, a casino member, during a verbal altercation. CCTV showed Foley flicking his leg at O'Donnell, who had been denied entry for his friends. Foley pleaded guilty to the assault on 16 December 2015. The judge, Karen O'Connor, deemed the offence a reckless act and imposed a one‑year sentence, which was suspended in full. Foley was ordered to pay €3,000 to O'Donnell, who suffered a ruptured left testicle and was hospitalized for pain but later recovered. Foley, who has no prior convictions and 20 years of security experience, expressed remorse and accepted the apology and payment as a token of contrition. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Ryan O'Driscoll, aged 18 at the time of the incident, was found guilty of dangerous driving after he operated a stolen motorbike on Dublin city streets. The motorbike, which had been stolen the previous month and bore incorrect plates, was pursued by Garda patrol cars after it was spotted on Malahide Road. O'Driscoll drove at high speed, overtaking stationary cars, weaving through traffic on Fairview Strand, and even using a footpath. He managed to escape onto Clontarf Road, collided with a second patrol car, and was eventually boxed in by the Garda. He was arrested and later pleaded guilty to the charge. O'Driscoll has 84 prior convictions, 64 of which are for road traffic offences, and is currently serving a six‑month sentence for minor road traffic offences. The court heard that he is now 20, wishes to train as a mechanic, and has expressed a desire to avoid future criminal activity.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court acquitted Republic of Ireland footballer Jeff Hendrick of violent disorder after a four‑day trial. The case stemmed from a 2013 incident at Krystal nightclub where Darren McDermott alleged Hendrick pulled him from a taxi and was later chased into a laneway, where McDermott claimed he was assaulted and suffered multiple jaw fractures. Hendrick's lawyers argued he could not have run due to a leg injury and that McDermott had a civil case against him. Hendrick (25) and co‑accused Jonathan Doran (26) pleaded not guilty. The jury found Hendrick not guilty but convicted Doran of violent disorder, while Judge Martin Nolan withdrew an assault charge against Doran. Hendrick remains free pending further proceedings.
In February 2014, Mohamed Okda, a 30‑year‑old Egyptian national, was convicted by a jury of raping a woman who had become lost during a night out in Dublin. The woman, who was drunk and disoriented, had been staying with friends and had lost contact with them. Okda approached her, offered help, and invited her to his flat. While she was unconscious, he allegedly forced sexual acts upon her, including rape. She later testified that he had taken her glasses and phone, coerced her into oral sex, and threatened her. After the incident, she fled the flat, was found by a taxi driver, and reported the assault to Gardaí. Okda was remanded into custody for sentencing on 28 July. The trial lasted seven days, and the jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on all counts within just under three hours. The court rejected a bail application, citing flight risk concerns. Mohamed Okda pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin court, a 30‑year‑old Laois man is on trial for two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, alleged to have occurred in February 2014 at a flat in the city centre. The defendant, who was staying in a friend's flat, met a married woman who had become lost and upset during a night out. He claims the encounter was consensual, stating the woman initiated contact and that he did not do anything she did not want. The woman testified that she was drunk, exhausted, and had blacked out after lying on a sofa bed. She said the defendant forced her to perform oral sex, was aggressive, and ultimately raped her. She attempted to leave, was disoriented, and later told a taxi driver she had been raped. The unnamed 30-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A Dublin man, Darren McDermott, told a jury that he suffered three fractures to his jaw and several broken teeth after an assault by a group of men led by professional footballer Jeff Hendrick. The incident occurred on 12 October 2013 at Harcourt Street, when McDermott was in a nightclub and later in a taxi that stopped at traffic lights. McDermott claimed Hendrick and his associates forced him out of the taxi, threatened him, and then attacked him, delivering kicks to his head, face, chest and back. McDermott fled, was struck by the attackers, and was later rescued by bystanders. He received emergency surgery at James's Hospital and remains under medical care. Hendrick pleaded not guilty to violent disorder and assault causing harm, while co‑accused Jonathan Doran also pleaded not guilty to the same charges. The trial is ongoing before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
Dublin City Council has initiated High Court proceedings to close a newly-opened bar/restaurant, Roberta's, located on the first floor of Dollard House at Wellington Quay and Essex Street East Dublin 2, until it complies with building regulations. The action, brought under the 1990 Building Control Act, targets Workman's Club Ltd and Keywell Designated Activity Company, alleging they operate the premises without necessary certificates and approvals. Dublin City Council claims the restaurant poses a risk to staff and customers due to non-compliance with fire safety and disability access requirements. Counsel for DCC, Stephen Dodd BL, stated that the restaurant opened after extensive building works and that inspections revealed gaps in fire-resistant coatings, raising concerns about structural integrity. The judge, Mr Justice Seamus Noonan, granted DCC permission to serve short notice on the respondents and adjourned the matter to Friday's sitting of the court. No pleas, findings, sentences, or other finalisations were recorded in the procedural stage of the hearing_or_decision.
The High Court appointed Mr Declan de Lacy of PFK O'Connor, Leddy & Holmes as provisional liquidator for Decobake Limited, a cake‑decorating and baking product company. The appointment followed a request from Dublin City Council (DCC), which sought to wind up the company over an unpaid commercial rates bill of about €102,000. DCC argued that Decobake was insolvent and that a provisional liquidator was needed to protect its assets from being removed from creditors' reach. The court noted that Decobake had offered to pay the rates but DCC rejected the offer. Mr Justice Paul Gilligan declined to set aside the liquidator appointment and said the company could appeal to the Court of Appeal if it wished to vary the order. The liquidator was granted powers to take possession of, control, and identify the company's assets, books, records, and bank accounts.
Stephen Bollard, aged 35, was jailed for a series of thefts committed in 2016, described by the court as a "one man crime wave." He pleaded guilty to two burglaries, one attempted burglary, three thefts and one act of criminal damage across Dublin. The offences, all non‑violent, caused financial loss to businesses and increased security costs. Bollard had 118 prior convictions, including 27 for theft, 33 for burglary and nine for attempted burglary. The judge noted his lack of violent history and his reduced methadone intake while in custody. A consecutive sentence of four years and four months was imposed, with the final 18 months suspended. The case highlighted the impact of repeated non‑violent thefts on victims and the broader community.
In a High Court ruling on 23 June 2017, Mr Justice Paul Gilligan ordered that all residents of 24 Mountjoy Square, a Dublin city centre property subject to a fire safety notice issued in August 2016, vacate the premises by 9 July. The judge, while expressing sympathy for the Polish family of 12 who had lived there and wished to remain, stated that the court could not ignore the fire safety risk. The order also required up to a dozen students living in the building's windowless basement to leave. Fire wardens were to remain on site until the vacate date. The receiver, Ms Anne O'Dwyer, sought vacant possession, citing non‑compliance with the safety notice, while the owner, Mr Christopher Singh, contested the receiver's appointment and claimed work had been done to address the issues. The case was adjourned to a July hearing.
The Central Criminal Court heard that 33‑year‑old Seán Ducque, charged with murdering Kieran Farrelly, tried to urinate on his hands before forensic samples were taken for firearms residue. Garda Aaron Hoey testified that after the accused was detained the next day, bags were placed on his hands to preserve residue that could be removed by friction or washing. Hoey said Ducque removed the bags and attempted to wash the residue away, and that he was uncooperative, requiring restraint by four officers. Despite this, samples were obtained. Forensic scientist John O'Shaughnessy examined Ducque's jacket and found residue matching that from the shotgun cartridge recovered at the scene, supporting the view that Ducque discharged the shotgun. CCTV footage showed the accused, the victim and two women walking together at 11:30 pm, with the victim no longer present ten minutes later.
Mark Bissett, 31, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to making a threat to damage Michael Maher's house. The incident occurred on May 27, 2016, at Central Bank Plaza, Dame Street, where Bissett allegedly threatened to burn down Maher's home. Bissett, who previously served a six-year sentence for manslaughter, was reportedly angry that Maher's charity, "You're not alone," was assisting a relative with whom he had fallen out. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a two-year sentence, which she suspended on strict conditions. The judge described the behavior as disgraceful and warned Bissett that he faced two years in prison if he reoffended. She ordered him to stay away from the charity, Mr. Maher, and his home. Bissett has 60 previous convictions, including assault and public order offences. Defense counsel submitted that Bissett had significantly turned his life around and addressed risk factors related to substance misuse. The court noted Bissett remains at high risk of re-offending and ordered him to be brought back before the judge if further trouble arises.
In the trial of 33‑year‑old Seán Ducque, charged with the 2014 murder of Kieran Farrelly, former partner Laura Dempsey testified that she was in a relationship with Ducque at the time and that they had a child. She said she had been selling heroin with Farrelly's partner that evening and that they later met Ducque and Farrelly, walking toward Summerhill. Dempsey claimed she heard a shot immediately after Farrelly crossed railings and that Ducque fired twice, once in the chest or head. She said she shouted "stop" after the first shot and that Ducque handed her a bag containing a gun after the second. Dempsey described being crying, the gun being disposed of in a bin on Mabbot Lane, and the Gardaí arriving to arrest them. She also admitted to being a heroin addict and taking methadone, valium and alcohol that night, but insisted she was not heavily intoxicated. Seán Ducque pleaded guilty.
During the murder trial of 33‑year‑old Seán Ducque, a witness, Leon Fay, testified that he heard two bangs and two women shouting "Seán Don't" on the night of 26 October 2014. Fay, who lived across the street from Killarney Court, recalled hearing what he thought were fireworks, then hearing the women's distressing cries. He also heard a male voice say "I'll meet you around the back" before seeing the women run together. Fay went to the scene, saw a body lying on the ground, and called an ambulance. The body was that of Kieran Farrelly, who was found shot with a shotgun. The state pathologist confirmed two fatal shotgun injuries, one to the eye and one to the chest, and the prosecution argued that Ducque's use of a shotgun at close range constituted an intent to kill. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Butler, is expected to last two weeks. Seán Ducque pleaded not guilty.
A 33‑year‑old man, Seán Ducque, is on trial for the murder of Kieran Farrelly, who died in Dublin City in 2014. Ducque pleaded not guilty, but his barrister, Hugh O'Keeffe SC, admitted that Ducque fired two shotgun shots on 26 October 2014, shots that killed Farrelly. The prosecution, represented by Dominic McGinn SC, argued that the shots were fired from a sawn‑off, double‑barrelled shotgun found in a wheelie bin on Mabbot Lane. Farrelly's body was discovered on Killarney Street with two gunshot wounds – one to the chest and one to the left eye socket – and the State Pathologist confirmed death from these injuries. The court must decide whether Ducque intended to kill or seriously injure Farrelly, a key element for a murder conviction. The trial is scheduled to continue for two weeks before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a 12‑person jury.
In a High Court hearing, it was ordered that a family and other residents of a Dublin City Centre building at 24 Mountjoy Square, which also houses 24 Charles Lane, must vacate the premises over the coming days and weeks. The building, deemed a potential fire safety risk, had received a fire safety notice from Dublin City Council in August of the previous year. Ms Anne O'Dwyer of Duff & Phelps, acting as receiver since March, had initiated proceedings to secure vacant possession, citing non‑compliance with the notice and the danger posed to residents, neighbouring buildings and the public. The receiver's case was directed at the owner, Mr Christopher Singh, and TWI Textile Machinery and Fabric Company Ltd, which partially occupies the property. Mr Singh, a director and sole shareholder of the company, opposed the receiver's appointment and hired an expert to address the fire safety issues. The court adjourned the matter to allow the parties to negotiate.
In a High Court hearing on 16 June 2017, the court was told that up to 20 people were living at 24 Mountjoy Square, Dublin, a premises that had been subject to a fire safety notice issued in August of the previous year. The notice had not been complied with, and the building was described as a potential fire safety danger and a risk to the public. Lawyers for Ms Anne O'Dwyer, who had been appointed receiver of the property in March, sought vacant possession of the premises and an injunction against the owner, Mr Christopher Singh, and TWI Textile Machinery and Fabric Company Ltd, which partially occupies the site. The receiver's counsel reported that an inspection had found eight people, including four adults and four children, in an upstairs bedsit, and up to 12 people in the basement, which may have been offered as Airbnb accommodation.
A new jury of six men and six women was sworn in to hear the trial of 33‑year‑old Seán Ducque, who is charged with murdering Kieran Farrelly on 26 October 2014 at Killarney Street. Ducque, who has no fixed abode, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment. The trial, now in the legal argument stage, will open before the jury on Wednesday and is expected to last two weeks. Prosecutor Dominic McGinn SC also indicated that evidence may be presented regarding a taxi robbery and a separate incident involving Hugh Gildea.
John Gavin, 29, had his prison term extended by one year after he was found in possession of €1,454 in coins taken from a cash‑in‑transit robbery and after threatening Gardaí while on bail awaiting a rape trial. He was convicted of possession of stolen property and of making threats to Garda Karen Caswell and Sergeant Noel Smith, and of assaulting Smith, who was injured when Gavin punched him. Gavin, who has 103 previous convictions and was already serving a six‑year sentence for a 2012 rape, was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to a consecutive one‑year term for the new offences. The judge noted Gavin's mental difficulties and that he had been surprised by the Gardaí, but confirmed he understood his actions were wrong. The sentence was imposed as consecutive to his existing term. John Gavin pleaded guilty.
In a High Court hearing on 15 June 2017, the court was told that a Dublin city centre property at 24 Mountjoy Square, which includes the premises known as 24 Charles Lane, is a fire safety risk and must be vacated immediately. The building houses a textile business and is being used for residential purposes, a use that is not permitted under a Fire Safety Notice issued by Dublin City Council in August of the previous year. The receiver, Ms Anne O'Dwyer of Duff & Phelps, represents the property owner, Mr Christopher Singh, and TWI Textile Machinery and Fabric Company Ltd. The receiver has been unable to access the premises since her appointment, and the building is still being used for residential purposes, contrary to the notice. Dublin City Council, after a recent inspection, has urged the receiver to vacate the building immediately.
A Medical Council fitness to practice inquiry has found Dr Salah Aziz Ahmed, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, guilty of one count of poor professional performance. The finding relates to his care of Patient C, specifically his failure to decide that immediate delivery by emergency caesarean section was required. Dr Aziz was found not guilty of poor professional performance regarding six other allegations that were proven as to fact, and he was cleared of professional misconduct on two counts. The inquiry examined his care of three women at Cavan General Hospital between 2012 and 2014. In relation to Patient A, the committee found he increased syntocinon administration despite evidence of hyperstimulation, performed an unjustified episiotomy, and failed to catheterise her before surgery. Regarding Deirdre Clarke, who waived anonymity, the committee found he directed syntocinon increases and maintained infusion levels while she was in labour, increasing the risk of uterine rupture. For Patient C, the committee found he failed to decide on immediate surgery and failed to attend the hospital within an adequate timeframe to assess her. Dr Aziz admitted as to fact the single allegation found to amount to poor professional performance. His legal counsel argued for a sanction on the lower end of the scale, noting he demonstrated insight and that no allegation claimed the outcome for Patient C's baby would have differed with earlier delivery. Sanctions will be determined at a later date by the Medical Council.
Frontier Entertainment Ltd has initiated a High Court challenge against Failte Ireland over the refusal to include its tourism project, 'the Vaults,' in the Grant Scheme for Large Tourism Projects 2016-2020. The company, which operates the Vaults at the Old School House building in St John's Lane Thomas Street, Dublin 8, claims the refusal was flawed. The application was rejected due to the project scoring 52 out of 60 points, falling short of the required 55. Frontier Entertainment alleges the decision breached legitimate expectations, fair procedures, and was irrational, citing the application of a bias/negative weighting against Dublin-based projects. Counsel for Frontier, Des O'Neill SC, stated that the weighting was applied after the application deadline and not communicated to applicants. The company seeks a declaration that its application should be reconsidered and the refusal quashed. Permission for the challenge was granted by Mr Justice Seamus Noonan on an ex-parte basis, with the matter returnable to a date in July.
Gary Kearney, 25, a serial offender with 160 prior convictions, was found guilty of robbery, false imprisonment and theft after he and an accomplice posed as undercover Gardaí, quoting sections of law, and handcuffed a man on Millennium Bridge in Dublin. The victim feared being pushed into the Liffey while handcuffed. Kearney's history includes assault, animal cruelty, robbery, theft, burglary, criminal damage and public order offences. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally, after hearing evidence, noted Kearney's "appalling record of offending" and his need to address addiction issues. She suspended a four‑year sentence on strict conditions, including attendance at AA meetings, and ordered two years of probation supervision. The accomplice fled and was not charged. The victim accepted Kearney's apology and expressed no desire to see him in custody.
Thomas Conlon, a 38‑year‑old psychiatric nurse, sued taxi driver Frank Daly after an incident on 25 April 2014. Conlon claimed he had called a taxi to take his mother, aged in her 80s, to St Stephen's Green. He said the driver's radio was extremely loud and that he asked to be let out of the car twice. Conlon alleged that when the taxi pulled in, the driver shouted at him about money, and then, while Conlon had one foot out of the car, the driver put the car in gear and drove off, running over Conlon's left foot. Conlon said he fell, dislocated his shoulder, and the taxi left with his mother still inside. Daly denied the claims, saying he was listening to football results and that he had stopped near a dangerous bend. The High Court case was settled after talks between the parties, and the judge welcomed the settlement.
Sean FitzPatrick, former chairman of Anglo Irish Bank, spoke outside the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin after Judge John Aylmer announced that he would direct the jury to acquit him of all charges. The judge cited flaws in the investigation into alleged refinancing of loans between 2002 and 2007, including witness coaching and contaminated statements. FitzPatrick said the prosecution had been a long, tiring, and difficult time for him and his family, and expressed relief that the trial was over. He thanked his legal team and the media for their restraint, and requested that his privacy and that of his family be respected in the coming days. The case was a retrial following the first trial in May 2015, which ended after legal arguments over the investigation's flaws. FitzPatrick was charged in December 2012 after being arrested at Bridewell Garda Station and faced 12 charges of making false or misleading statements to Anglo's auditors from 2002 to 2007.
In a High Court hearing, Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy adjourned proceedings involving Rev Obinna Ulogwara and Archbishop Michael Jackson to May 25th, urging the parties to resolve their dispute outside of court. The judge suggested that Rev Ulogwara accept a pre-litigation offer to meet the Archbishop in a non-legal atmosphere, noting that both are members of the Church of Ireland and that there is no complaint regarding the Reverend's dedication to his ministry. She expressed hope that this adjournment would allow sense to prevail. Rev Ulogwara, a Bishop's curate who worked at the Parish of St George and St Thomas in Dublin's north inner city since 2010, is seeking an injunction to prevent the Archbishop from terminating what he claims is his employment. This dispute arose after the parish was amalgamated with the neighbouring North Strand parish due to a lack of funds. Rev Ulogwara alleges that the absence of assurances regarding his future damaged his well-being and breached his contract of employment, claiming he cannot be removed as a curate without an equivalent position. The Archbishop, represented by Tom Mallon BL, opposed the application, arguing that Rev Ulogwara is not an employee of the Archbishop or the church and did not have tenure at the former parish. While Rev Ulogwara's counsel cited a sworn statement from the Archbishop's predecessor, Dr John Neill, asserting the position was permanent, the Archbishop's legal team strongly contested this, stating the Reverend was not an incumbent. The case remains adjourned pending the proposed meeting.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Irish international footballer Anthony Stokes was found to have not paid the €30,000 "practical expression of remorse" he had pledged to Anthony Bradley, the victim of a head‑butt at Buck Whaleys nightclub in 2013. Stokes, who had pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, received a two‑year suspended sentence in February 2017. The judge, Patricia Ryan, clarified that the payment was not a condition of the sentence and that compensation matters fall under civil courts. The prosecution, represented by Diarmuid Collins, requested the court to revisit the sentence because the payment had not been made. Judge Ryan made no order, noting that the suspended sentence remained in place and that the case could be re‑entered if payment issues arose. The hearing reiterated that Stokes had expressed remorse and that the victim, Anthony Bradley, had suffered significant physical and psychological harm, including extensive dental work and chronic neck pain.
Reginald O'Donnell, 64, was sentenced to a suspended two‑year jail term after pleading guilty to three counts of theft from the Department of Social Protection. The offences, dated 2002, 2007 and 2011, involved him claiming pension payments on behalf of his deceased father, Thomas O'Donnell, who had died in 1988. Social welfare inspectors discovered the fraud when they attempted to present a Presidential Bounty cheque to Thomas in 2009. O'Donnell admitted the theft, repaid the €597, and the judge noted his age, cooperation and prior admissions.
In a High Court case involving Lynam's Hotel on Upper O'Connell Street, Theresa Andreucetti, who had operated the hotel under a lease since 2008, and Mr Aiden Murphy, the receiver appointed by NAMA over the landlords' assets, reached a settlement. Andreucetti had secured a temporary injunction in April 2016 to retain possession after the receiver's agents entered the hotel, claiming she owed €528,000 in rent arrears. She denied the arrears and counterclaimed for costs of roof repairs and damages from water‑damaged rooms, which the receiver rejected. The injunction was lifted when an agreement was reached that Andreucetti would vacate the premises by August 2016. The dispute resurfaced when Mr Justice Paul Gilligan vacated a lis pendens notice that Andreucetti had registered, which the receiver said was blocking the hotel's sale. After the notice was removed, the judge directed the parties to schedule a hearing.
Jordan McGuinness, aged 19, and Craig Smith, aged 20, together with two other men, attacked two students while attempting to break up a fight between two women in Dublin's city centre on 23 May 2016. McGuinness punched Lee Whelan, knocking him to the ground, and struck Dylan Campbell with a hammer. Smith used an iron bar and a hammer against Campbell. CCTV footage showed the assaults. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced McGuinness to a one‑year prison term, suspended for 18 months, and ordered one year of probation supervision. Smith's sentencing was adjourned to December, with the judge noting his use of a weapon. Both men offered €500 each to the victims as a token of remorse. The court heard that McGuinness and Smith pleaded guilty to violent disorder and that the men had no prior convictions. The case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Thomas Roberts, 23, of Carrow Road, Drimnagh, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a series of violent offences committed between November 2012 and April 2013. Roberts pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm, two counts of robbery, one count of attempted robbery, and one count of possessing cannabis. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a total of six years in consecutive sentences. She suspended the final three years on strict conditions and backdated the sentence to February, when Roberts entered custody on these bills. The court heard that Roberts, who was 19 at the time of the offences, was involved in attacks on two Italian men, Francisco Brescia and Andrea Pelle, as well as the robbery of a woman. Prosecution evidence detailed that Roberts smashed a glass bottle over Mr. Brescia's head during an attack on O'Connell Street, while he placed Mr. Pelle in a headlock on Westmoreland Street. Victim impact statements highlighted the lasting trauma, with one victim stating he no longer felt safe in Ireland and another leaving the country. Defence counsel Fiona Murphy, BL, noted Roberts' remorse, his history of homelessness, and his dysfunctional childhood. The court also noted Roberts had 20 previous convictions and was on bail during some of the offences. The matter was finalised with the imposition of the custodial sentence.
Craig Maloney, aged 21, and an accomplice stole bikes from two barmen at the George Bernard Shaw pub in Dublin. When confronted, Maloney kicked one barman in the eye and fled back to the bar, where they smashed glass bottles and he attacked a barman with a barstool. He pleaded guilty to theft and assault causing harm to Kevin Mangan in 2011. The court noted his prior convictions for minor offences, his epilepsy‑related withdrawal from football, and his involvement in drug and alcohol problems. Maloney also pleaded guilty to a robbery at Spar on Clogher Road, where he and an accomplice stole €358 and were confronted by Gardaí who used pepper spray. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced him to 18 months for the assault and 2½ years for the robbery, suspending both terms on the condition that he remain out of trouble and maintain good behaviour. She highlighted his charity work and cooperation with probation services.