A Dublin man pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing a 9mm Beretta handgun and silencer following an armed garda operation in September 2017. Andrew O'Keeffe, aged 29, from Drumcliff Road, Cabra West, Dublin 7, was arrested after gardai responded to intelligence regarding a firearm at Ballyfermot. During the incident, officers pursued a white van which fled at speed towards Inchicore. The vehicle came to a stop at bollards on Kylemore Way, and as O'Keeffe and another man ran towards a parked jeep, a garda officer discharged his firearm seven times when the jeep was driven towards gardai. O'Keeffe was detained and the weapon, containing nine rounds, was recovered from a plastic bag discarded during the pursuit. His fingerprints and DNA were found on items connected to the incident. The court heard O'Keeffe has seventy-one previous convictions and a long-standing cocaine addiction. His barrister highlighted his early guilty plea and lengthy period in custody. The three-judge panel remanded him in custody pending sentencing on 31 July.
In a Dublin street incident, 23‑year‑old Donna Dineen, a homeless woman who had recently given birth in custody, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after slashing a stranger's stomach with a 25‑cm wound. The victim, Saurjan Syergaz, was found bleeding from Dorset Street to St Benedict's Gardens and later underwent surgery. Dineen claimed self‑defence, stating the man had pulled a knife on her, but she also admitted to robbing his wallet. The court noted her 17 prior convictions and her history of abuse and addiction. While her defence sought a suspended sentence to allow her to keep her infant son for 18 months, Judge Melanie Greally rejected this, citing the severity of the wound. Dineen remains in custody, with sentencing postponed to November pending further reports. The co‑accused remains unnamed as his case is still before the courts.
David Drumm, former chief executive of Anglo Irish Bank, has received a fully suspended sentence of fifteen months at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his involvement in an unlawful loan scheme. The 51-year-old from Skerries, County Dublin pleaded guilty to ten counts of authorising unlawful financial assistance to the Maple Ten group of developers and businessmen between July 2008. The loans were designed to unwind a substantial undisclosed shareholding in Anglo Irish Bank accumulated by Cavan businessman Sean Quinn through financial instruments. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed the suspended sentence to run concurrently with a six-year custodial sentence imposed following Drumm's conviction on conspiracy and false accounting charges. The judge noted Drumm's role as chief executive meant he held responsibility for ensuring legal compliance and transparency. Drumm was also disqualified from acting as a company director for five years as an automatic consequence of the conviction under the Companies Act.
David Drumm, former CEO of Anglo Irish Bank, pleaded guilty to ten counts of authorising unlawful financial assistance for the purchase of bank shares by the Maple Ten group between 10 and 17 July 2008. The loans were part of a scheme to unwind a 28 % stake that businessman Sean Quinn had built in the bank using contracts for difference (CFDs). Drumm's defence argued that he was trying to resolve a problem entirely created by Quinn, who had used CFDs to speculate on Anglo shares and whose position threatened the bank's stability. Drumm, aged 51, was transferred from Mountjoy Prison, where he is serving a six‑year term for a separate €7.2 bn fraudulent loan scheme, to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing. The court heard that Drumm had attempted to persuade Quinn to reduce his CFD position and, after other options failed, proposed that ten high‑net‑worth individuals purchase a portion of the Quinn shareholding. David Drumm was convicted.
The Special Criminal Court has adjourned a voir dire hearing to rule on the admissibility of DNA evidence in the trial of Jonathan Keogh, Regina Keogh, and Thomas Fox, who are accused of murdering Gareth Hutch. All three defendants, who have pleaded not guilty to the murder, face charges related to the May 24, 2016, shooting outside Avondale House in Dublin. Mr Fox has additionally denied unlawfully possessing a Makarov 9mm handgun. Defence counsel for Mr Keogh argued that DNA samples taken from him in October 2017 for a separate, unprosecuted offence should be inadmissible, claiming the State had no interest in prosecuting that matter. Prosecuting counsel countered that the investigation was bona fide and the samples were necessary to compare against a mixed DNA profile. The court also heard evidence regarding forensic examinations of vehicles, including a Honda Civic where Mr Keogh's fingerprints were found on a knife and other items, and a white van where Mr Fox's fingerprints were identified on a spray paint cap and plastic bag. The prosecution contends the killing was premeditated, with Mr Keogh and an accomplice acting as shooters, while Mr Fox and Ms Keogh planned the crime. The three-judge panel, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, will deliver its ruling on the DNA evidence's admissibility on Monday, after which the trial will continue.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the fifth week of the trial of Thomas Fox, Regina Keogh, and Jonathan Keogh, who are accused of murdering Gareth Hutch. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. Fox, 31, also denies unlawfully possessing a Makarov 9mm handgun. The prosecution alleges the killing was premeditated, with Fox and Keogh instrumental in planning it, while Jonathan Keogh and another man were the shooters. Evidence presented included testimony that Fox was found unresponsive in his cell at Mountjoy Garda Station on May 28, 2016, with a ligature around his neck. He was treated at Mater Hospital and discharged later that day. Regina Keogh, 41, denied involvement in the murder during interviews, stating she had no part in it and did not believe her brother was a shooter. She also denied providing rubber gloves to a key prosecution witness, Mary McDonnell, who has been granted immunity. The court heard that the Hutch family was feared by the accused. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Patricia Ryan and Michael Walsh.
The Special Criminal Court heard further evidence in the trial of Thomas Fox, Regina Keogh, and Jonathan Keogh, who are accused of murdering Gareth Hutch. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. Mr Fox, who also denies unlawfully possessing a Makarov 9mm handgun, testified that he was coerced into involvement, stating a gun was "pushed into" his hand and that Mr Keogh threatened him. The prosecution contends the killing was premeditated, with Mr Keogh and an accomplice identified as Mr AB acting as shooters, while Mr Fox and Ms Keogh were instrumental in planning. Evidence presented included transcripts of Mr Fox's garda interviews, where he claimed he was "smack-bang" in the middle of the event due to pressure from "someone." The court also heard that Mr Fox's DNA was found on a jerrycan recovered from a black BMW parked near the crime scene, though he denied placing it there or providing it for the vehicle's destruction. Additionally, Mr Fox denied spray-painting the BMW's windows despite his fingerprints being on a paint tin. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges, continues on Monday.
Former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm, aged 51, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to authorising or permitting illegal loans to ten businessmen in 2008 to purchase shares in the bank. The loans were given to the so‑called Maple 10 group, comprising Brian O'Farrell, Gerard Conlon, Gerard Gannon, Gerard Maguire, John McCabe, Joseph O'Reilly, Patrick Kearney, Patrick McKillan, Seamus Ross and Sean Reilly, between 10 and 17 July 2008. Drumm was transferred from Mountjoy Prison, where he is serving a six‑year sentence for conspiracy to defraud and false accounting, to the court. He answered "guilty" to the ten charges. The prosecution, led by Paul O'Higgins SC, announced that the remaining 21 charges would be withdrawn, including six relating to loans to the wife and children of former billionaire Seán Quinn, 14 concerning false documents, and one about breaching an EU transparency directive.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the trial of Thomas Fox, Regina Keogh, and Jonathan Keogh, who are accused of murdering Gareth Hutch. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. Additionally, Mr. Fox has denied unlawfully possessing a Makarov 9 mm handgun on May 23, 2016. The prosecution alleges that Mr. Fox was instrumental in planning the killing, which occurred on May 24, 2016, outside Avondale House in Dublin. Mr. Hutch died from four gunshot injuries. During testimony, Mr. Fox stated he went to Mountjoy Garda Station to clear his name, claiming he had no involvement in the Hutch/Kinahan feud. He denied pulling the trigger or sourcing weapons, asserting he was merely trying to distance himself from co-accused Jonathan Keogh after learning of a threat on his life. The court heard details from seven of nine garda interviews, where Mr. Fox described his relationship with Mr. Keogh and his presence near the scene. The trial continues tomorrow with the remainder of Mr. Fox's interviews.
In the Special Criminal Court, a key witness, Mary McDonnell, testified that she did not understand the seriousness of her situation when she made a statement to Gardaí about the fatal shooting of Gareth Hutch. McDonnell, who was initially charged with withholding information, had that charge dropped and was granted immunity. She made a voluntary statement on 25 May 2016, implicating Thomas Fox, Regina Keogh, and Michael Keogh in Hutch's murder. Gardaí expressed concerns for her safety, and she and her daughters were taken to Mountjoy Garda Station. McDonnell exercised her right to silence for three days. The court heard that her statement provided "very fruitful" information that significantly advanced the investigation. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Patricia Ryan and Michael Walsh presiding. Thomas Fox pleaded not guilty. Regina Keogh pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Thomas Fox, Regina Keogh, and Jonathan Keogh, who have all pleaded not guilty to the murder of Gareth Hutch, heard evidence from witness Jessica McDonnell. Ms McDonnell, whose mother Mary McDonnell was granted immunity after a charge of withholding information was dropped, testified that she never had a one-on-one conversation with Mr Keogh. Although she initially told gardaí she recognized his voice on the morning of the May 24, 2016 shooting, she stated under cross-examination that she was tired and had limited prior interaction with him. The court ruled her statement to gardaí admissible. The prosecution alleges the killing was premeditated, contending that Mr Keogh threatened the victim the previous evening, while Mr Fox and Ms Keogh planned the attack. Mr Fox also faces a charge of unlawfully possessing a Makarov 9mm handgun, which he denies. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Patricia Ryan and Michael Walsh.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Thomas Fox, Regina Keogh, and Jonathan Keogh for the alleged murder of Gareth Hutch continues. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering Mr Hutch, who was shot dead outside Avondale House flats in Dublin on May 24, 2016. Fox has additionally denied unlawfully possessing a Makarov 9 mm handgun. The prosecution alleges the killing was premeditated, with Mr Keogh threatening the victim the previous evening, while Fox and Keogh are accused of planning the crime. Mr Keogh and an accomplice are alleged to have been the shooters. Detective Sergeant Enda O'Sullivan testified regarding a protected witness, Mary McDonnell, whose statement he described as "explosive" and "unbelievable." He stated that gardaí became immediately concerned for the safety of McDonnell and her twin daughters after she provided the statement in her flat. O'Sullivan explained that McDonnell was not treated as a suspect at the time, despite CCTV footage showing suspects entering her apartment. He noted that no notes were taken during a preliminary conversation before the formal statement was recorded. The defence cross-examined the witness on procedural matters, including the decision not to arrest McDonnell. The trial is ongoing and has not been finalised.
In the Special Criminal Court, three Dubliners—Thomas Fox, Regina Keogh and Mr Keogh—are on trial for the murder of 36‑year‑old Gareth Hutch, nephew of Gerry "the Monk" Hutch. Hutch was shot dead on 24 May 2016 outside Avondale House flats on North Cumberland Street, sustaining four gunshot wounds. The defendants have pleaded not guilty. Fox also denies unlawfully possessing a Makarov 9 mm handgun on 23 May 2016. The court will decide on Thursday whether a statement made by Jessica McDonnell, daughter of key witness Mary McDonnell, is admissible. McDonnell, 19, gave video‑link evidence that she did not recall telling Gardaí she heard Mr Keogh in her mother's flat on the morning of the killing, though she admitted recognising one voice as Mr Keogh in a statement to Gardaí at Mountjoy Garda Station on 25 May 2016.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the trial of Thomas Fox, Regina Keogh, and Jonathan Keogh, who have pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Gareth Hutch. Prosecution counsel Paul Burns SC presented testimony from Detective Sergeant Enda O'Sullivan, who stated gardaí became "immediately concerned" for the safety of witness Mary McDonnell after she provided a statement regarding the shooting. Ms McDonnell was subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder with a firearm, though she was later treated as a witness and granted immunity. The court also heard from Jodie and Jessica McDonnell, who described events on the morning of May 24, 2016, including hearing noises and observing Jonathan Keogh in their flat. Jessica McDonnell acknowledged discrepancies between her earlier statement and current testimony, attributing them to the passage of time. The prosecution contends the killing was premeditated, alleging Mr Keogh threatened the victim, while Fox and Regina Keogh planned the act. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Patricia Ryan and Michael Walsh.
The Court of Appeal dismissed Eric Eoin Marques's appeal against his extradition to the United States. Marques, who is accused of running the world's largest child‑pornography facilitation site, Freedom Hosting, was arrested in 2013 on a US request. He has filed several actions in Ireland, including a challenge to the Director of Public Prosecutions' decision not to prosecute him domestically and a request that the Minister for Justice disclose the reasons for that decision before ordering his surrender. The High Court had already dismissed his application in November 2015, and the Court of Appeal had rejected it again in 2016. In its latest ruling, the Court of Appeal, with Justices Peart, Mahon and Hedigan, confirmed that extradition is an international cooperation process, not a criminal proceeding, and that Marques had no right to compel the Minister to obtain or disclose the DPP's reasons.
The trial of Thomas Fox, Regina Keogh, and Jonathan Keogh, all accused of murdering Gareth Hutch, continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt. The defendants have pleaded not guilty to the murder charges. Fox has also denied unlawfully possessing a Makarov 9mm handgun. A protected witness, Mary McDonnell, identified Jonathan Keogh from CCTV footage as one of the men involved in the gun attack on Mr Hutch, who was shot dead outside Avondale House flats on May 24, 2016. Ms McDonnell testified that Keogh, wearing a black balaclava, visited her flat the night before the shooting to clean two guns. She identified Keogh and Fox on CCTV arriving at her home at 10:45 pm on May 23. The prosecution alleges the murder was premeditated, with Keogh and an unidentified man acting as shooters, while Fox and Regina Keogh played instrumental roles in planning. Ms McDonnell, who was previously charged with withholding information but received immunity, stated she was afraid for her life. The matter is currently at the trial stage and has not been finalised.
During the Special Criminal Court trial of three Dubliners accused of murdering 36‑year‑old Gareth Hutch, it was reported that Gardaí executed a search warrant at Facebook Ireland and received armed support from the Emergency Response Unit during a high‑risk entry at a suspect's home. Hutch, nephew of Gerry "the Monk" Hutch, was shot dead on 24 May 2016 outside Avondale House flats on North Cumberland Street, Dublin, after four gunshot wounds from a single weapon. The accused—Thomas Fox (31), Regina Keogh (41), and Jonathan Keogh (32)—have pleaded not guilty. Garda Gareth Norton testified that he entered Fox's home on 24 May, seized clothing, ashtrays, glasses, memory cards, SIM packs, USB sticks, a Samsung tablet, and an iPhone 5. He also reported a high‑risk entry at a fourth suspect's house on 11 June, where the suspect was arrested and handcuffed.
During a murder trial, a witness described how he wrapped the body of Gareth Hutch, 36, in a sheet after Hutch was shot dead in the carpark of Avondale House flats on North Cumberland Street, Dublin, on 24 May 2016. The witness, Neville Mills, said he heard a commotion that morning, saw Ross Hutch holding his hands to his head and screaming hysterically, and later saw two men running out of the gate. Mills went down to the carpark, found Hutch lying on the ground, and wrapped him in a sheet. He also reported seeing a handgun in the carpark and another weapon beside a car, with spent cartridges on the ground. The trial also heard other witnesses describing the scene, the movements of the attackers, and CCTV footage of the incident. The accused—Thomas Fox, 31; Regina Keogh, 41; and Jonathan Keogh, 32—have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Gareth Hutch.
Sean Ducque, 34, a convicted murderer serving a life sentence for the 2014 killing of Kieran Farrelly, was sentenced to eight years for an escape attempt on 8 June 2017. While in a Dublin courthouse cell, he concealed a jagged perspex "shiv" in his trousers and threatened his female barrister, demanding release or she would be killed. He used her as leverage, grabbing her from behind and placing the weapon against her throat, then shouted at prison officers to drop the shiv. A violent struggle ensued, during which Ducque tried to stab an officer and bite another. Two officers and two gardai were injured; all suffered stress and trauma. The barrister, who had been discussing the case with him, escaped the cell and later gave a victim impact statement detailing panic attacks, nightmares and lasting fear. Sean Ducque pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 42‑year‑old postman David Byrne was convicted of dangerous driving causing the death of 70‑year‑old Patricia Dunne. Byrne, who suffers from Type 2 Usher Syndrome, had previously pleaded not guilty to the charge and to related offences of dishonestly inducing the National Driving Licence Service to issue a licence and making a false statement on an insurance application. The jury found him guilty on all three counts. Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, reducing the headline figure of eight years to five on the basis of mitigating factors such as his cooperation, good record and remorse. Byrne was ordered to attend his son's First Holy Communion before reporting to Mountjoy Prison. The sentence includes treatment for his medical condition while incarcerated.
The Court of Appeal has upheld the murder conviction of Mark Nash for the killings of two women in Grangegorman, Dublin, in 1997. A three-judge panel, led by Mr Justice Alan Mahon, dismissed all grounds of appeal on 8 May 2018. Nash was convicted in 2015 of murdering the two victims, whose bodies were discovered in sheltered accommodation two decades after the crimes. He received a mandatory life sentence. The court found the trial was conducted fairly and the verdict was justified by evidence. Nash's appeal centred on challenges to his admissions to gardaí, forensic evidence including DNA found on his jacket, and the lawfulness of evidence seizure. The judges concluded the scientific evidence did not prove contamination and that a jury could reasonably determine the DNA profiles were present from the time of the murders. Nash is already serving life imprisonment for two further murders committed in Roscommon in 1997.
In a High Court hearing on 1 May 2018, Mr and Mrs Gordon and Linda Smith were released from custody after apologising and agreeing to vacate their home at Hamlet Avenue, Balbriggan. The couple had been detained for contempt of court following their refusal to comply with an injunction issued by KBC Bank Ireland Plc, which had obtained a possession order for the property in 2016. KBC had sought to enforce the order in February 2018, but its security staff were forced to leave after an alleged attack. The Smiths claimed they were assaulted by armed men acting on behalf of the bank and that the bank had committed perjury. Mr Justice Tony O'Connor ruled that the couple had refused to comply with the injunction, ordered their detention at Bridewell Garda Station and directed that they be sent to Mountjoy Prison until they purged their contempt.
Richard Evans, aged 34, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment for burglary of a Dublin house at Coke Lane. He pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 6 February 2017, and Judge Petria McDonnell also imposed a separate sentence for criminal damage. Evans had 127 prior convictions, including 17 for burglary, at the time of sentencing. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has requested a review of the sentence, arguing it was "unduly lenient." DPP counsel Garrett McCormack highlighted that Evans was caught in possession of the victim's property, that the victim had identified him in an identification parade, and that CCTV footage showed his movements from the Criminal Courts of Justice to Coke Lane. The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment, with Judges Alan Mahon, John Edwards and John Hedigan to deliver it soon. Evans is currently in Mountjoy Prison, not for this appeal. The DPP described Evans as a "chronic recidivist.".
Sean Mooney, aged 26, was jailed for three and a half years after a prisoner pressured him into planning to fire a sawn‑off shotgun at a family home in Dublin. Two adults and four children, including a baby, were present when Mooney pointed the gun at the front door. CCTV footage showed him wearing black with his face covered; the weapon jammed and he walked away, later returning with the gun. A phone was thrown at the door, causing a bang, and Mooney fled. No shots were fired and no injuries occurred. Mooney claimed he was "casing" the area to find houses to burgle to pay a €5,000 gambling debt, but Garda Stephen Tierney said the footage contradicted this. Mooney had communicated with a prisoner in Mountjoy who instructed him to intimidate the occupants because of a grudge against a former resident. Sean Mooney pleaded guilty.
Gareth Carroll, 36, was jailed for one year after he brought heroin, Valium and Xanax into Mountjoy Prison on a temporary release. He was told by inmates that if he refused, his brother's leg would be broken. Carroll returned to the prison and officers found drug paraphernalia in his cell; the drugs fell out of his underwear when he was searched. He pleaded guilty to possession of €1,497 of heroin, €768 of diazepam and €286 of alprazolam on 10 May 2015 while serving a drug offence sentence. Both he and his brother were in Mountjoy at the time. The court noted Carroll's long history of drug abuse and the credible threat to his brother. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a two‑year sentence, suspending the final 12 months, and highlighted the seriousness of bringing drugs into prison.
David Marsh, 31, was sentenced to an additional 14 months in jail after he deceived a woman he met on a dating website by claiming he was anaemic and needed money for medication and a flight to the US to see a specialist. He also extracted €300 from a new girlfriend for a holiday that never occurred, and €800 from the same woman under various pretences. Marsh's criminal history includes six counts of deception, one theft from an Eir store, and possession of heroin while in prison. He had previously been jailed for two years in 2016 for fraud, including defrauding a Limerick couple of €76,000, stealing €740 from his employer, and scamming colleagues and rugby teammates out of nearly €8,000. He has 23 prior convictions, mainly for fraud. The court noted his "active fantasy life" and impulsive behaviour, but did not attribute any motive beyond his charm and confidence tactics. David Marsh pleaded guilty.
In February 2018 the High Court continued an injunction against Mr Paul Howard and Ms Una McClean, owners of several Dublin properties, after reports that tenants were forcibly removed from an apartment in Mountjoy Square. The injunction, obtained by Mr Ken Fennell, prohibits the defendants, their agents and anyone aware of the order from trespassing, damaging, or collecting rent from the tenants. It also requires them to hand over possession of all the properties to the receiver, Promontoria (Oyster) DAC, and to refrain from interfering with the receivership. Mr Fennell, represented by Stephen Byrne Bl, cited concerns for tenant safety and alleged attempts by the defendants to thwart the receivership. Ms Justice Caroline Costello agreed to continue the orders and adjourned the matter to 13 February. The defendants have agreed to abide by the injunction and to hand over any rent collected after the order.
A receiver appointed by a financial fund secured a High Court interim injunction against Mr Paul Howard and Ms Una McClean, owners of several Dublin properties, after media reports that tenants had been forcibly removed from an apartment in Mountjoy Square. The injunction, granted ex‑parte by Justice Caroline Costello, prohibits the defendants, their agents and anyone aware of the order from trespassing, damaging, collecting rent from, or taking possession of the properties. It requires them to hand over possession to the receiver. The receiver, Ken Fennell of Deloitte, was appointed by Promontoria (Oyster) DAC following unsuccessful debt negotiations over €1.4 million owed jointly by Howard and McClean and an additional €400 000 owed by Howard. The injunction was sought to prevent further interference with the receivership and to protect tenants' safety. The court will consider the matter again later this week.
Michael Royal, aged 41, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to six and a half years in prison, with the final 18 months suspended. He pleaded guilty to assaulting Prison Officer Paul Hayes at Mountjoy Prison on 27 October 2012, to trespassing and theft of a BMW, an iPhone 5s and a TV on 2 December 2013, and to a burglary that led to a car theft. Royal had previously left Ireland after a trial date for the burglary but was returned to the country. The judge, citing Royal's history of 40 convictions for robbery, burglary, assault and drug offences, described him as a "menace to society." Royal was also ordered to undergo 18 months of post‑release probation supervision. The court noted that Officer Hayes suffered fractured bones and a jaw injury requiring surgery after the assault. The case highlighted Royal's long‑term drug addiction and the impact of his criminal behaviour on the community.
Eamonn Cumberton, aged 30, was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for the murder of 35‑year‑old Michael Barr, the manager of the Sunset House pub in Dublin. On 25 April 2016, two men in "Freddy Kruger" masks entered the pub, shot Barr seven times—five to the head, one to the shoulder and one to the neck—and then fled in a grey Audi. The court found DNA belonging to Cumberton on a baseball cap and a rubber mask recovered from the vehicle, which was later found partially burnt on Walsh Road. Evidence also linked Cumberton to the getaway car and to a flight to Thailand taken shortly after the killing. The judge described the shooting as a deliberate and planned execution, and noted that Cumberton had 37 prior convictions. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, with no mention of a suspended portion or effective custody term. The court expressed sympathy for Barr's family.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Detective Garda Jonathan Brady testified that he and colleague Fergal O'Flaherty had identified a man in a photo taken outside the Regency Hotel as Patrick Hutch, a 25‑year‑old from Dublin 1. The photo, taken by a Sunday World photographer during a boxing weigh‑in on 5 February 2016, showed a man wearing a wig and holding a gun. Brady claimed he "immediately recognised" Hutch and had known him since youth, noting prior Garda records of Hutch's minor incidents. He denied that he and O'Flaherty were separated during the identification. The court heard Brady's statements and cross‑examined him on the timing and context of the identification, noting that the evidence was being considered for admissibility in the trial of Hutch's murder charge. The trial continues under Judge Tony Hunt.
In a January 2016 incident at Broadford Walk, Ballinteer, Dublin, 22‑year‑old Sam Mooney and 20‑year‑old Craig Mooney, both described as highly intoxicated, attacked a patrol car. They threatened the gardaí, undressed entirely, spat on the windscreen, and kicked and punched the vehicle for several minutes. The brothers shouted abusive language and threatened to "kick their heads in." They were arrested after the gardaí called for assistance. Sam Mooney pleaded guilty to criminal damage to a garda patrol car; Craig Mooney, already serving a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for arson, was also charged. At the hearing, Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a 14‑month prison sentence on Sam Mooney, suspended in full for 15 months, citing his "horrendous intoxication." Craig Mooney received a one‑year suspended sentence, suspended for 18 months, with probation supervision.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Eamonn Cumberton, aged 30, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 35‑year‑old Michael Barr, who was shot seven times at the Sunset House pub on 25 April 2016. The prosecution, led by Dominic McGinn SC, argued that a partially burnt Audi found near the crime scene was linked to the shooting and that a mask and baseball cap recovered from the vehicle contained Cumberton's DNA, which he could not explain. McGinn also cited Cumberton's travel to Thailand shortly after the murder, arriving at Dublin airport without luggage, as evidence of his involvement. Cumberton's defence, represented by Bernard Condon SC, dismissed the DNA and travel evidence as unreliable, arguing that the DNA could have been deposited indirectly and that the Thailand trip was irrelevant. Judge Tony Hunt remanded Cumberton in custody until the court will deliver judgement on 29 January 2018.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, defence counsel Bernard Condon SC has applied for a not‑guilty direction in the murder trial of Eamonn Cumberton, 30, who is accused of killing 35‑year‑old Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub on 25 April 2016. Cumberton was shot seven times at the bar counter. The prosecution alleges that Cumberton is "inextricably linked" to items recovered from a silver Audi, a partially burnt‑out getaway car, and that these items are linked to the shooting. Condon argues that the evidence of Cumberton travelling to Thailand the day after the murder is "incredibly weak" and that the prosecution has not proved Cumberton was not the last wearer of a rubber mask found in the car. DNA matches on a rubber mask and a baseball cap are cited by the prosecution, who say no innocent explanation has been offered. Eamonn Cumberton pleaded not guilty. Sunset House pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 19 December 2017, DNA evidence linking Eamonn Cumberton, aged 30, to a rubber mask found in a suspected getaway car was accepted. The court had earlier heard that the DNA profile on the mask was "one in a thousand million times more likely" to belong to Mr Cumberton and two unknown persons rather than to three unknown persons. Mr Cumberton, of Mountjoy Street, Dublin 7, had pleaded not guilty to the murder of 35‑year‑old Michael Barr, who was shot seven times at the Sunset House pub on 25 April 2016. The prosecution argued that Mr Cumberton was "inextricably linked" to items recovered from a silver Audi, partially burnt‑out near the scene, and that those items were "inextricably linked" to the shooting.
The Special Criminal Court has adjourned the trial of Eamonn Cumberton, who is accused of the murder of 35-year-old Michael Barr in the Sunset House pub in Dublin's north inner city on April 25th, 2016. Mr Cumberton, of Mountjoy Street, Dublin 7, has pleaded not guilty to the charge. The court previously heard that Mr Barr was shot seven times at the bar counter. The prosecution alleges that Mr Cumberton is inextricably linked to items recovered from a partially burnt-out silver Audi, identified as the alleged getaway car, which were themselves linked to the shooting. Defence counsel Bernard Condon SC objected to the admissibility of DNA evidence found on a rubber mask recovered from the vehicle. He argued that the Forensic Science Ireland method, which uses STRMIX software to calculate likelihood ratios, improperly reduces guilt or innocence to mathematical probability. Condon submitted that this case requires special rules as it is the first criminal trial in Ireland to use STRMIX. Prosecuting counsel Dominic McGinn SC countered that likelihood ratio calculations are an established scientific practice. The court has not yet ruled on the admissibility of the evidence. The trial was adjourned until next Tuesday, when Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Patricia Ryan and James Faughnan, will deliver a ruling on the matter.
Craig Mooney, 20, and Sam Mooney, 22, of Broadford Walk, Ballinteer, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to criminal damage to a garda patrol car on January 17, 2016. The court heard that the brothers, described as highly intoxicated and blood-spattered, kicked, punched, and spat at the vehicle while threatening officers. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a one-year suspended sentence on Craig, consecutive to his current two-and-a-half-year prison term for arson. The sentence was suspended for 18 months with probation supervision. Craig is currently serving his existing sentence and was due for release in October 2018. The judge adjourned Sam's sentencing until January 15, 2017, to assess his suitability for community service. Prosecution evidence detailed the brothers' abusive behavior and undressing in the street. Defense counsel highlighted Craig's ADHD, prosthetic eye, and productive custody regime, while noting Sam's intoxication, recent detoxification, and head injury from an assault. Both men have previous convictions, including affray and criminal damage. The matter regarding Sam remains pending further assessment.
During the Special Criminal Court hearing of Eamonn Cumberton, who is accused of murdering Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub, a defence expert challenged the reliability of the DNA analysis software used by Forensic Science Ireland. The court had previously heard that DNA on a rubber mask from the alleged getaway car was more likely to belong to Cumberton and two unknown individuals than to three unknown individuals. Cumberton, aged 30, pleaded not guilty to the shooting of Barr, who was 35, on 25 April 2016. Bernard Condon SC represented Cumberton and objected to the admissibility of the DNA evidence, leading to a voir dire. Allan Jamieson, a forensic scientist for the defence, testified that the software STRMIX, which calculates likelihood ratios, may be flawed because it "fits the defendant to the evidence" rather than deriving conclusions from the evidence itself.
During the murder trial of Eamonn Cumberton, accused of killing 35‑year‑old Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub, a forensic scientist from Forensic Science Ireland raised concerns about the software used to calculate the likelihood that Cumberton's DNA was found on a rubber mask taken from the getaway car. The prosecution argued that the mask's mixed DNA profile, comprising two major contributors and a trace third contributor, linked Cumberton to the car and the shooting. The scientist said the probability that the DNA came from Cumberton and two unknown persons was "one in a thousand million times more likely" than from three unknown persons. Bernard Condon, Cumberton's counsel, objected to the evidence's admissibility, and the matter is being heard in a voir dire to decide whether the DNA evidence can be admitted. The trial is before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge James Faughnan. Eamonn Cumberton pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, DNA matching the accused, Eamonn Cumberton, was found on a baseball cap recovered from the alleged getaway car in the murder of Michael Barr. Cumberton, 30, pleaded not guilty to the April 25, 2016 shooting of the 35‑year‑old manager of the Sunset House pub. The prosecution argued that Cumberton was "inextricably linked" to items from the partially burnt‑out silver Audi, including the cap and a rubber mask found in the rear. Forensic scientist Rodney Lakes presented a mixed DNA profile on the cap, with a major contributor matching Cumberton's DNA. A similar mixed profile on the mask was also reported. Cumberton's defence objected to the admissibility of the DNA evidence, leading to a voir‑dire hearing. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge James Faughnan.
The Special Criminal Court heard that Eamonn Cumberton, 30, of Mountjoy Street, Dublin 7, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 35‑year‑old Michael Barr, who was shot seven times at the counter of the Sunset House pub on 25 April 2016. The prosecution argued that Cumberton was "inextricably linked" to items recovered from a silver Audi, the alleged getaway car, which was found partially burnt near the scene and whose items were also linked to the shooting. Jonathan Gallagher, a Emirates employee, testified that on 26 April Cumberton tried to board a flight to Dubai but his passport was invalid; he later returned with a new passport and attempted to board again the next day. Garda Shane Connolly presented CCTV footage showing a car driving toward the pub, parking opposite, then moving to Walsh Road where it was set on fire.
Two men, John O'Brien, 55, and Declan McDermott, were charged at the Special Criminal Court on 8 December 2017 with knowingly possessing four kilograms of TNT. O'Brien was accused of having ten 400‑gram blocks of TNT and the explosive head of an RGD33 hand grenade at his North Great Clarence Street home on 2 June. McDermott was charged with the same items at Spring Garden Street, Dublin 3, on the same date. Detective Garda Rory Geelon reported arresting O'Brien and presenting him to the court, where he read the charge sheet and O'Brien made no reply. Detective Garda Eamonn Hoey met McDermott, handed him the charge sheet, and after caution he also made no reply. The court remanded McDermott and a third co‑accused, Martin Manning, on continuing bail until 21 December, while O'Brien was remanded in custody until a bail application is expected next Thursday.
The Special Criminal Court is hearing the case of Eamonn Cumberton, 30, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Barr, 35, who was shot seven times at the Sunset House pub in Dublin on 25 April 2016. The prosecution argues that Cumberton is "inextricably linked" to items recovered from a silver Audi, the alleged getaway car, which was found partially burnt near the scene, and that those items are "inextricably linked" to the shooting. The trial will continue tomorrow before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Patricia Ryan and James Faughnan presiding.
In the Special Criminal Court, the trial of Eamonn Cumberton, aged 30, for the murder of Michael Barr, 35, at the Sunset House pub, has progressed to evidence about a suspected getaway vehicle. Barr was shot seven times at the bar counter on 25 April 2016. The prosecution argues that Cumberton is "inextricably linked" to a silver Audi found near the scene, partially burnt, and that items recovered from the car are "inextricably linked" to the shooting. Evidence was presented by Dublin Fire Brigade members: Brian Burke reported seeing the Audi on Walsh Road, Drumcondra, with fire damage to the front seats; Peter Conroy removed an empty petrol can from the driver's seat but did not enter the rear. Terence O'Brien noted that the crew had no reason to approach the rear doors. Detective Garda Gary McDonnell observed that no one touched the car after it arrived on a tow‑truck. Eamonn Cumberton pleaded not guilty. Sunset House pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, judges ruled that the arrest of Eamonn Cumberton, 30, accused of murdering Michael Barr, 35, at the Sunset House pub on 25 April 2016, was lawful. Cumberton pleaded not guilty. The prosecution argued he was linked to items recovered from a partially burnt car near the scene, and that forensic evidence connected him to the shooting. Evidence was presented that Cumberton was arrested at Dublin Airport on an outstanding bench warrant one month after the murder and later, on 27 May, was arrested by Inspector Brian Delaney on suspicion of murder. The court found the arrest valid and proper, rejecting the defence's claim that it was a contrivance. The case continues.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, judges will decide next week whether the arrest of Eamonn Cumberton, 30, of Mountjoy Street, Dublin 7, was lawful. Cumberton has pleaded not guilty to the murder of 35‑year‑old Michael Barr, who was shot in the Sunset House pub on 25 April 2016. The prosecution argues that Cumberton is "inextricably linked" to items recovered from a partially burnt car near the scene and that those items were "inextricably linked" to the shooting. The defence challenges the legality of the arrest, citing that Inspector Brian Delaney's evidence was "unsatisfactory" and that the grounds for arrest were based on "inadequate information." Delaney had arrested Cumberton on 27 May 2015 on suspicion of murder, citing confidential information, forensic links to the getaway car, and his movements after the shooting. Cumberton travelled to Thailand two days after the incident.
A High Court dispute between Rev Obinna Ulogwara and Most Reverend Dr Jackson, Archbishop of Dublin and Bishop of Glendalough, has been settled. The application for an injunction, which opened before the High Court last May, was adjourned from time to time to allow the parties to see if the matter could be resolved outside of court. On Wednesday, when the matter returned before the High Court, counsel for Rev Ulogwara told Mr Justice Paul Gilligan that the matter had been settled and could be struck out. No details of the settlement were revealed in open court, and Mr Justice Gilligan welcomed the resolution. In his proceedings, Rev Ulogwara, a priest of the Church of Ireland and Bishop's curate, claimed his position at the Parish of St George and St Thomas was permanent and that the absence of assurances regarding his future after the parish amalgamation amounted to a breach of contract. He argued that as a Bishop's curate, he could not be removed without an equivalent position. The Archbishop, represented by Tom Mallon Bl, denied the claims and urged the court not to grant the injunction, arguing that Rev Ulogwara was not an employee of Dr Jackson or the church and did not have tenure at the former parish. The matter was adjourned previously to facilitate out-of-court resolution, which has now been achieved.
In a Mountjoy prison cell, a 25‑year‑old convicted drug dealer, Dean Reynolds, was discovered hiding heroin, cannabis and a mobile phone behind a panel above the toilet bowl. The discovery followed a search by prison officers, who found a sock containing the phone, a spare battery, €40 worth of cannabis and €360 worth of heroin. Reynolds had pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a mobile phone and heroin and cannabis for sale or supply. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced him to two and a half years' imprisonment for the drug offences, with the final fifteen months suspended on the condition of good behaviour and engagement with probation services. He also received a one‑year sentence for possession of the mobile phone, with both sentences running concurrently. The case highlighted Reynolds' prior convictions for drug dealing, assault, criminal damage and firearms possession, and his history of domestic abuse and early drug use.
In the Special Criminal Court, the trial of Eamonn Cumberton, aged 30, for the murder of 35‑year‑old Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub, has progressed to the hearing of DNA evidence. The prosecution presented a full DNA profile from a cigarette butt seized at Bridewell Garda Station, where Cumberton had been taken after his arrest at Dublin Airport on a bench warrant. Forensic Science Ireland's Rodney Lakes also analysed a rubber mask recovered from the alleged getaway car, finding a mixed DNA profile of two men. The DNA from the cigarette butt could not be excluded as a contributor to the mask's mixed profile. The court is hearing legal arguments on the admissibility of this evidence, with the trial continuing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge James Faughnan. The defence is challenging the legality of Cumberton's arrest. The case remains in the voir dire stage. Eamonn Cumberton pleaded not guilty. Sunset House pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court heard that the butt of a cigarette smoked by Eamonn Cumberton, 30, in a garda station was seized and sent to a forensic science laboratory for analysis. Cumberton, who is accused of murdering 35‑year‑old Michael Barr in the Sunset House pub on 25 April 2016, pleaded not guilty. The prosecution argues that Cumberton is "inextricably linked" to items recovered from a partially burnt‑out car near the scene, and that those items are "inextricably linked" to the shooting. The defence is contesting the legality of Cumberton's arrest. Evidence is being heard in a voir dire to determine its admissibility. The court noted that before being taken from the station, Cumberton smoked a cigarette in the back yard and discarded the butt, which Sergeant Michael Donnellan recovered along with a plastic cup from his cell. Both items were sent to the forensic lab for DNA analysis.