During the murder trial of Brandon Gavin, the State Pathologist Dr SallyAnn Collis testified that 19‑year‑old Marius Mamaliga suffered a fatal neck stab wound that caused severe blood loss, leading to cardiac arrest and hypoxic brain injury. The post‑mortem revealed a 9 cm wound 1.9 cm long and 7.5 cm deep, angled downwards from the left side of the neck, damaging the left common carotid artery, left jugular vein, and upper windpipe. The injury also caused diffuse haemorrhage on the right side and damage to the left side of the voice box and both sides of the esophagus. Dr Collis confirmed the knife recovered by Gardaí had a single cutting surface, 9.5 cm long, matching the wound tract. She described the force as moderate, noting no hilt wound. Brandon Gavin pleaded not guilty. SallyAnn Collis pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court is currently hearing the trial of Noah Musueni, David Amah, and Michael Andrecut, who are charged with the murder of Tristan Sherry at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown on December 24, 2023. All three accused pleaded not guilty. Wayne Deegan, also charged with murder, is awaiting a neuro-psychological report and will be tried later. Jonas Kabangu and Brandon Hennessy, the son of shooting victim Jason Hennessy Snr, are on trial for violent disorder arising from the same incident; both pleaded not guilty. Jaures Kumbu previously pleaded guilty to removing the sub-machine gun used in the killing, a weapon that has not been retrieved. During the trial, the court viewed CCTV footage allegedly showing Sherry being disarmed and beaten to death by a group. Prosecution counsel described the attack as involving savage violence, including kicking and striking with chairs. Defence counsel objected to the prosecution providing a narrative of the footage, arguing the visuals are self-evident. While five of the six accused accepted their identification in the footage, Brandon Hennessy's legal team raised an objection to his alleged identification. Garda witnesses testified to arriving at the scene to find a male with multiple injuries. The trial continues before a three-judge panel.
In the third day of evidence at a High Court civil trial, a woman named Nikita Hand testified that Conor McGregor and James Lawrence allegedly raped and battered her in a Dublin hotel on 8‑9 December 2018. Hand, who was intoxicated after a night of drinking and drug use, claimed she was pinned down and choked by McGregor in a penthouse suite at the Beacon hotel. She said she had been "brutally raped" and that a doctor later assessed her injuries as moderate to severe. Both McGregor and Lawrence denied the allegations. Hand's testimony included references to CCTV footage that she said contradicted her account, and she described her state as "drunk and very vulnerable." The case remains before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury.
Gerard Nevin, 41, of Grove Park, Rathmines, was sentenced to four years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sexually abusing his two step‑daughters, Catalina and Alexa Grancea, over an eight‑year period. Nevin pleaded guilty to 22 counts of sexual assault committed between 2012 and June 2020 at locations in Clondalkin, Lucan and Palmerstown. The abuse began when Catalina was aged eight to sixteen and Alexa was aged seven to fifteen. The court imposed a global sentence of six years, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. The victims, who waived anonymity, reported the abuse to Gardaí in June 2020. Nevin was arrested in 2021 and had previously indicated he would plead guilty to avoid further trauma to the complainants. The case highlighted the prolonged nature of the abuse and its impact on the victims' mental health.
Trade unionist Brendan Ogle has filed a notice of appeal to the Labour Court following the Workplace Relations Commission's (WRC) rejection of his discrimination claim against Unite. Ogle alleged he was discriminated against as a cancer survivor and sidelined after returning to work in summer 2022. He claimed that Tom Fitzgerald, a senior official in Unite's Dublin office, directed him to write himself out of the union's strategic plan for Ireland. The WRC adjudicator, Elizabeth Spelman, dismissed these complaints under the Employment Equality Act 1998, finding Ogle's account of the meeting with Fitzgerald not plausible. She determined that Unite's shift from political to industrial matters was applied across the union and unconnected to Ogle's disability. The adjudicator also rejected the claim that Fitzgerald had assumed Ogle's political duties, noting that removed tasks were minor. Ogle's legal team argued his senior role was decimated, while Unite maintained the claims were artificial and that witness evidence held sway. The WRC decision was described by Unite as clear and unambiguous. Ogle stated the decision was not consistent with the evidence and not good law. The matter is now adjourned to the Labour Court for a de novo hearing, where the entire case will be heard afresh. Ogle also has separate defamation proceedings against former chairman Tony Woodhouse.
In a criminal trial, solicitor Cahir O'Higgins, aged 49, faces charges of theft and attempting to pervert the course of justice. He is accused of withdrawing €200 from a Spanish national's bank card to pay a court fine, then making additional withdrawals totalling €600 from an ATM and pocketing €400. The prosecution alleges he provided Garda Tao Yu with false notes and a prepared statement admitting the €600 withdrawal. O'Higgins recorded a conversation with Garda Yu in May 2020, unaware of the recording, in which he expressed concern that other Gardaí might influence the evidence. He denies all allegations. The case is before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury, with O'Higgins pleading not guilty to all counts. The trial continues.
Two men, a former Soviet fighter pilot and a former construction company owner, were sentenced to a combined 18 years in prison for smuggling 60 kg of heroin into Dublin. The pilot, Zoltan Nemeth, flew a Cessna 210 that landed at Weston Airport with 120 packages of heroin, each about half a kilo, valued at €8.4 million. Nemeth claimed he was unaware of the cargo, believing it to be prohibited metal for microchips, while the co‑accused, Aradi Ignac, admitted transporting the drugs and said he had fallen into debt to dangerous individuals. Ignac had ten prior convictions, including theft and fraud, and had been involved in planning the operation. The court imposed headline sentences of 13 years for Ignac (actual term ten years) and 10 years for Nemeth, with both sentences backdated to the day they were arrested. Both men have been in custody since December and are on 23‑hour lock‑up for their own protection. Aradi Ignac pleaded guilty. Zoltan Nemeth pleaded guilty.
Charles Darcy, aged 35, was sentenced to two years in prison for possession of .38 special calibre Sellier and Bellot ammunition and for criminal damage after throwing a fire extinguisher through the window of an Applegreen Service Station. The court heard that Darcy had 59 prior convictions, including attempted murder, robbery, assault, possession of a realistic firearm, violent disorder, public order, assault on a police officer, breach of bail and violent behaviour in a Garda station. He pleaded guilty to the ammunition offence on 26 May 2018 and to the fire extinguisher incident on 13 October 2018. The judge noted his long history of offending, his membership of the Travelling community, his mental health and drug‑addiction struggles, and that he is currently drug‑free and willing to undertake an intensive probation programme. The sentence was suspended for six months and back‑dated for time already served.
Wayne Fairhurst, a 33‑year‑old former teaching assistant from Warrington, was sentenced to four years in prison for acting as a 'drugs mule' by transporting €251,000 worth of cannabis from Los Angeles to Dublin. He was caught with 12.5 kg of cannabis in 28 plastic packages in his suitcase at Dublin Airport's Terminal 2. Fairhurst had been offered £10,000 to carry the drugs, after initially refusing £7,000, and accepted the offer after being told to book the trip himself and paying £1,400. He claimed he was threatened and felt compelled to comply. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court he pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs for sale or supply. The judge, citing his background of poverty, domestic abuse, ADHD, dyslexia and recent personal losses, imposed a five‑year sentence with the final year suspended, noting he would serve the term in another jurisdiction.
During the murder trial of law professor Diarmuid Phelan, a ballistics expert warned that mixing different types of ammunition in a Smith & Wesson revolver is extremely dangerous. Evidence showed that the revolver used to kill Keith Conlon contained three spent rounds, possibly hollow‑point or pest‑control bullets, and that the fatal bullet was a hollow‑point projectile. The prosecution argued that Phelan fired a third shot at Conlon's back, intending to kill or seriously injure him. Phelan, 56, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Conlon, 36, who died on 24 February 2022 at Tallaght University Hospital. The trial, presided over by Justice Siobhan Lankford, continues with a jury hearing the forensic and eyewitness evidence presented by the state and defence.
In a High Court damages case, Ms Nikita Hand, the complainant, testified that she cannot recall the CCTV footage from the Beacon hotel showing her and co‑defendant James Lawrence after the alleged rapes on 9 December 2018, and that she was "very drunk" at the time. The footage, shown to a jury, depicts Mr Conor McGregor, Ms Hand, and Ms Hand's friend exiting the hotel in a black BMW at 6.15 pm, with Ms Hand and Mr Lawrence remaining in the car park. Later, at 6.18 pm, the pair return, appearing inebriated and barefoot. The footage also shows them carrying drinks, hugging in the lift, and eventually leaving the hotel in a taxi. Ms Hand repeatedly stated she had no memory of these events. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Alexander Owens, continues with a jury of eight women and four men. The defendants deny the allegations.
The trial of 22‑year‑old Brandon Gavin, accused of murdering 19‑year‑old Marius Mamaliga, is ongoing. Gavin, who lives on Brookdale Road, Rivervalley, Swords, walked into Swords Garda Station with his father on 23 February 2023, where his father told officers that Gavin wanted to "hand himself in." Gavin told the garda that he had stabbed Mamaliga in the neck while sitting behind him in a car, claiming the deceased "came at" him and that he was in fear for his life because he owed €2,500 for drugs. He also said he had thrown the knife away after the incident. Garda David Durnin, who was on duty that day, gave evidence that Gavin had told him he was in panic after the stabbing. Detective Garda Conor Tumbleton reported that when Gavin was cautioned, he repeated that he had defended himself. Brandon Gavin pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Daljeet Singh, a 52‑year‑old British delivery driver from Oldbury, West Midlands, pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis herb for sale or supply at Dublin Port on 3 April 2021. Customs officers stopped his van after a routine search following a ferry from Holyhead. They found 50 brown cardboard boxes containing 55 kg of cannabis, valued at roughly €1 million, hidden in the back of the van. Singh had claimed he was transporting food and bottled water to Cork and had not inspected the van. During a series of seven Garda interviews, he eventually admitted knowing he was carrying cannabis, though he insisted he believed it was only one bag. He said he was to be paid £1,000 sterling to clear an overdraft and that he had been pressured by third parties. Singh has no prior convictions and lives with his elderly parents in the UK.
In a High Court civil damages trial, Ms Nikita Hand testified that on the early hours of 9 December 2018 she was at the Beacon Hotel in Dublin with Conor McGregor and James Lawrence. She alleged that McGregor pinned her to a bed, choked her, and then raped her, describing the assault as lasting a long time and leaving her physically bruised and emotionally devastated. Hand said she had been drinking and had taken cocaine that night, and that she had tried to fight back but was unable to move. She reported that McGregor had told her he had felt the same way in the Octagon, which she found odd. After the incident, Hand made a statement to Gardaí in January 2019, but the Director of Public Prosecutions decided not to prosecute McGregor or Lawrence, citing no reasonable prospect of conviction. The case is before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury of eight women and four men.
The Special Criminal Court heard that Tristan Sherry was subjected to 'savage levels of violence' at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown on December 24, 2023. Prosecution counsel Fiona Murphy SC alleged that after Sherry fatally shot Jason Hennessy Snr, he was disarmed and attacked by a group using chairs and kicks. Sherry died from blunt force trauma, while Hennessy died from gunshot injuries. Noah Musueni, David Amah, and Michael Andrecut, all charged with murder, entered not guilty pleas. Their lawyers admitted their clients were present, that Sherry died from the violence, and that they were correctly identified on CCTV. Wayne Deegan, also charged with murder, is awaiting a neuro-psychologist report and will be tried later. Jonas Kabangu, Diarmuid O'Brien, and Brandon Hennessy, charged with violent disorder, also pleaded not guilty. Their counsel accepted Sherry's death resulted from the incident's violence. Jaures Kumbu previously pleaded guilty to removing the sub-machine gun used to kill Hennessy, which remains unretrieved. The trial, presided over by Justice Kerida Naidoo, Judge Elma Sheahand, and Judge James Faughnan, was adjourned to continue tomorrow.
Serhat Aksakal, a commis chef at the Odeon Bar and Restaurant in Dublin 2, appeared before the Workplace Relations Commission regarding a statutory complaint under the Employment Equality Act 1998. The applicant alleged that a senior colleague, identified as MR Z, touched his body with his genital area while he accessed a low fridge. Aksakal stated he used ChatGPT to prepare his formal complaint, attributing similar phrasing in witness statements to translation tools rather than collusion, a suggestion raised by the respondent's representative. The tribunal heard that Kivaway Ltd, the venue's operator, dismissed MR Z in August following the complaint, while Aksakal and a third witness remain employed. The respondent characterized the incident as crass horseplay, whereas the adjudicator noted the complainant was entitled to feel his dignity was affronted. Aksakal also alleged he was rostered to work alone with MR Z after his initial complaint. The matter was adjourned for a further hearing in January or February to address additional evidence and a second statutory complaint under the Payment of Wages Act concerning tip distribution.
Cesar Fernandes Borges Filho, 34, was sentenced in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to seven counts of deception. The charges related to dishonestly inducing individuals to take out purported motor insurance policies at an unknown location in the State during 2019 and 2020. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Filho targeted members of the Brazilian community who were unfamiliar with the Irish insurance system, collecting approximately €12,500 for policies that were not valid. The judge stated that Filho had taken advantage of a situation, leaving trusting people at a loss. In passing sentence, Judge Nolan acknowledged excellent mitigation due to Filho's cooperation with gardaí and his guilty pleas, noting he was unlikely to reoffend. The court imposed a three-year prison sentence, suspending the final year on specific conditions. These conditions require that Filho's motorbike be sold and the proceeds divided among his victims to provide compensation. The matter was finalised with this sentencing order.
In a High Court civil damages action, Nikita Hand alleges that Conor McGregor and James Lawrence raped her at the Beacon Hotel penthouse in Dublin in December 2018. Hand says she walked away when McGregor told her "suck on that" referring to his penis. A doctor testified that Hand had bruises on her neck, hands, arms, knees, thighs, back and a nine‑centimetre scratch on her right breast. Hand also claims oral, vaginal‑digital and vaginal penetration by McGregor, all non‑consensual. McGregor and Lawrence deny the allegations. The case is set to continue before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury of eight women and four men, with the trial expected to last two weeks.
During a murder trial, a jury examined CCTV footage showing Brandon Gavin, 22, entering and briefly exiting a car before fleeing the scene. The footage captured Gavin's movements in the estate, his brief presence in the back seat of the deceased's black Audi, and his subsequent run across the road. Audio from the clip included the sound of a car door closing and opening, followed by voices shouting "call an ambulance." The prosecution argued that Gavin, armed with a knife, stabbed Marius Mamaliga, 19, in the neck, claiming self‑defence. A folding penknife found in River Valley Park contained the deceased's blood and DNA matching Gavin's. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, continues the following day. Brandon Gavin pleaded not guilty.
Andrew Jordan, a 71‑year‑old former GP and director of the National Association of General Practitioners (NAGP), was fined €10,000 for failing to keep adequate accounting records for the NAGP, a lobbying group that went into liquidation in 2019. Jordan pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to keep proper accounts for a company that wound up and could not pay its debts, creating uncertainty about its assets and liabilities. The offence took place between January 2017 and December 2018. Jordan, who worked voluntarily for the NAGP and was not paid, had been due about €60,000 from the organisation to cover expenses he incurred by hiring a locum to cover his practice days. Judge Martin Nolan described Jordan as "derelict in his duties as secretary and director" but noted he did not profit from the offence and had no prior convictions. The judge ordered the fine to be paid within six months.
At the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, a murder trial heard that Dean Caffrey (38) made enquiries about renting a storage unit shortly after the death of Sean McCarthy (28). Mr Caffrey, of Beaucort, Achill Road, Drumcondra, denies murdering Mr McCarthy, whose body was discovered in a wardrobe at the accused's apartment four days after he went missing in August 2022. Prosecution counsel Kathleen Noctor SC told the court that the accused had told gardaí the deceased arrived armed and threatened him over a suspected heroin theft, and that a struggle ensued during which he discharged a firearm fatally. Emma Flynn, an employee of a Dublin storage company, testified that on 3 August 2022, a man identifying himself as Dean Caffrey submitted an online request for a storage unit at the Charlestown depot. Ms Flynn confirmed she subsequently spoke with the customer by telephone. The trial, before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury, continues. Dean Caffrey pleaded not guilty.
In a murder case heard at the Central Criminal Court, the accused, Robert Murphy, was stopped by Gardaí after a hostel resident was found dead with four stab wounds. Gardaí seized a bag containing two large knives, a balaclava, blood‑stained clothing and a mobile phone. The prosecution, led by Paul Greene SC, presented evidence that the incident occurred in the early hours of 19 April 2023 at a bedsit on Harrington Street, where the deceased, Jamie Kavanagh, was staying. The prosecution argued that Murphy, who lived next door, admitted to stabbing Kavanagh, causing his death. The defence, represented by Brendan Grehan SC, highlighted Murphy's admission and focused on the circumstances and intent at the time. The trial, scheduled to last six to seven days, will continue before Justice Melanie Greally and a jury of twelve. The case remains at the State's opening stage. Robert Murphy pleaded not guilty.
A High Court civil jury trial is currently underway involving Nikita Ní Laimhín, the applicant, and defendants Conor McGregor and James Lawrence. Ms Ní Laimhín alleges that on December 9, 2018, at the Beacon Hotel in Dublin, she was subjected to a 'vicious and violent' sexual assault by Mr McGregor, which she claims amounted to rape. She states she was left 'weeping and shivering in pain' and required medical intervention to remove an embedded tampon. The plaintiff seeks €1 million in lost earnings and compensation, alleging lasting psychological trauma and career disruption. Mr McGregor and Mr Lawrence deny all allegations, maintaining that any sexual contact was consensual. The defence characterises the claim as malicious and 'tantamount to extortion.' Counsel for the plaintiff, John Gordon SC, argued that the defendant's assertion of consent in the face of alleged physical restraint and injury is implausible. The jury, comprising eight women and four men, is tasked with determining the facts based on the balance of probabilities. The matter remains at the trial stage, with evidence ongoing and no final judgment or sentence issued.
The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial of former rugby star Brendan Mullin, aged 61, focused on a €500,000 transfer from Bank of Ireland Private Bank to Spice Holdings in 2011 that has never been recovered. Mullin faced 15 charges, including nine theft counts, five false accounting, and one deception count, but the jury was directed to find him not guilty of deception. The prosecution alleged Mullin, as managing director of the private bank, stole €573,281 between 2011 and 2013, comprising the €500,000 transfer and about €61,000 in personal legal fees paid by the bank, plus smaller payments to Grant Thornton and Beechwood Partners. Mullin claimed the €500,000 was a payment to his company Quantum to settle a future debt, while the bank argued it was a processing error.
The trial of six men accused of offences relating to the murder of Tristan Sherry was adjourned at the Special Criminal Court. The proceedings, presided over by Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo, were originally scheduled to begin on Monday but were postponed to allow the prosecution time to consider a series of admissions prepared by defence counsel. Prosecution counsel Fiona Murphy SC informed the court that these admissions would shorten the trial process, and she stated she would prepare her opening speech accordingly. The court agreed to adjourn the opening until the following day. Four defendants are charged with the murder of Mr Sherry, who allegedly shot a man dead at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown on 24 December 2023. The accused are Noah Musueni, Wayne Deegan, David Amah, and Michael Andrecut. Jonas Kabangu is charged with violent disorder at the same location and date. A sixth defendant, a minor from Blanchardstown, is also charged with violent disorder but has not been identified in the media. All charges remain alleged or contested, and no pleas, findings, or sentences have been recorded. The matter was adjourned and is not concluded.
Former rugby international Brendan Mullin, aged 61, was found guilty by a jury of 12 of 14 charges in a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial. He was accused of stealing more than €570,000 from Bank of Ireland Private Bank between 2011 and 2013, and of five false accounting offences. The jury returned not‑guilty verdicts on a deception charge involving a payment authorisation letter and on two charges relating to Beechwood Partners. Mullin denied all allegations. The trial, lasting three weeks, examined evidence of payments to McCann Fitzgerald, Beechwood, and Grant Thornton, and the transfer of €500,000 to Spice Holdings in the British Virgin Islands. The judge remanded Mullin on bail ahead of sentencing, ordered him to surrender his passport, and set a sentence date for 25 November. No further details of the sentence were provided in the article.
A jury was sworn in for the High Court civil trial involving Mixed Martial Arts star Conor McGregor and a co‑defendant over an alleged "in effect, rape" of a woman at a Dublin hotel in December 2018. Mr Justice Alexander Owens explained to the jury that the plaintiff, hair‑colourist Ms. Nikita Ní Laimhín, claims the defendants sexually assaulted her, an act he described as "in effect, amounted to a rape." The case is a civil action seeking damages from both defendants. Mr McGregor, aged 36, appeared in court wearing a dark blue suit, navy tie and white shirt, accompanied by his father and the co‑defendant. The judge instructed the jury of eight women and four men to remain impartial, avoid external research, and not act as private detectives. The trial is expected to last two weeks, with the jury available for a possible three‑week extension.
The jury in the €570,000 theft trial of former rugby international Brendan Mullin will resume deliberations on Tuesday after having spent about five and a half hours on the case before being sent home. Mullin, 61, of Stillorgan Road, Donnybrook, Dublin 4, is accused of stealing more than €570,000 from Bank of Ireland Private Bank between 2011 and 2013 while serving as managing director. He denies all charges. The trial continues.
A 50‑year‑old man was sentenced to a fully suspended term of three months and two weeks for kicking his partner in the head and breaking her jaw while she held their two‑year‑old toddler. He pleaded guilty to common assault, a lesser offence than the original assault‑causing‑harm charge, and the Director of Public Prosecutions accepted the plea. The incident occurred on 10 September 2010 in their home; the victim later required surgery and has since had sole custody of the child. She reported the assault in 2021, and the man was arrested in 2022. A safety order remains until May 2026. The judge, citing the victim's injuries, the lack of apology, and the aggravating circumstances, imposed the suspended sentence and ordered the defendant to pay €500 for medical costs, with an option to accept the remaining €1,500 or have it directed to a women's refuge.
Innocent Aigbekaen, 31, of Dundalk, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two money‑laundering counts involving €75,816 and €60,989 between April 2016 and October 2017. Garda detective Jennifer Connolly described a scheme that ran for 18 months and laundered about €331,000. Judge Pauline Codd said Aigbekaen was a "mule herder" who recruited people, including his wife and co‑workers, to use their bank accounts for the illicit proceeds. He was sentenced to four years in prison, with the final three years suspended for three years on strict conditions. The sentence was reduced from an initial headline of five years because of his guilty plea and long employment history. Aigbekaen's defence noted he had not been involved in any other offences since the offence, apart from a cannabis case that was struck out. The court accepted that he had taken responsibility for his role in the scheme.
In the Central Criminal Court, 22‑year‑old Brandon Gavin pleaded not guilty to the murder of 19‑year‑old Marius Mamaliga, who was stabbed in the neck on 23 February 2023. The prosecution argued that Gavin entered the back seat of a car behind Mamaliga and, without warning, stabbed him with a knife, claiming the act was an attempt to kill or seriously injure the victim. Gavin's father, Eddie, testified that his son had called him in distress, saying "Dad, I f**ked up," and that Gavin had been shaking and hysterical. He also said that Gavin wanted to hand himself in and that the son had no intention of hiding. The court heard that Gavin's mother, Jacqueline, had known of his long‑standing mental health problems and that he had used marijuana and cocaine. The trial is proceeding before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
Arslan Cheema, 29, received an 18‑month suspended prison sentence for sexually assaulting a 19‑year‑old student outside her accommodation in Dublin in April 2021. The victim, who had been on first‑name terms with Cheema and had ordered takeaways from him, described the assault as a profound violation of trust that left her emotionally devastated, requiring hospital treatment and medication. Cheema pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault. Judge Orla Crowe imposed the suspended sentence on strict conditions for three years, noting the breach of trust and the victim's impact statement. Cheema will be listed on the sex offenders' register and warned that any negative Garda attention during the period could lead to a different view. He has no prior convictions and had lost his Bus Eireann job following the case's publicity.
A 42‑year‑old man, Robert Murphy, has admitted killing but denies murder in the death of Jamie Kavanagh on 19 April 2023 at a hostel on Harrington Street, Dublin 8. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter when arraigned before the Central Criminal Court. The court noted that Murphy was residing at the hostel at the time of the alleged events and had previously lived in Blanchardstown. Justice Melanie Greally swore in a jury of seven men and five women; the trial will start tomorrow and is expected to last six to seven days.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, 18‑year‑old Jaures Kumbu pleaded guilty to removing a sub‑machine gun from a Christmas Eve party at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown, where Tristan Sherry shot Jason Hennessy Senior. Kumbu was holding a toddler in his arms when the shooting occurred. CCTV showed Hennessy placing the child in a booth before a struggle with Sherry, after which Hennessy was shot. The firearm fell to the ground and was later taken by another man. Kumbu, who had not brought the gun to the scene, picked it up and hid it in his tracksuit. The court considered a headline sentence of seven to ten years, with a presumptive minimum of five years, and adjourned sentencing to 2 December. The gun remains missing. Six men are to be tried tomorrow for Sherry's death. The case highlights the chaotic nature of the incident and Kumbu's lack of intent to use the weapon.
Herbert Kilcline, a 62‑year‑old former solicitor, was found guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of eight counts of property fraud involving two Dublin City properties on Phibsborough Road and St Marys Road. The charges included failing to apply required measures as a designated person, using a false instrument and fraudulent procurement of entry to the land registry between September 2016 and June 2018. Kilcline had previously been jailed in May 2021 for a €120,000 social welfare fraud. The jury deliberated for four hours and 15 minutes. Co‑accused Matthew Murphy, aged 52, was acquitted of four counts, including money laundering, theft and failing to keep records between April 2017 and April 2018, with two counts dismissed by the judge's direction. Philip Marley, 53, pleaded guilty to three counts of fraudulent procurement of a false deed, fraudulent entry into the land registry and deception. All counts relate to the two properties.
Driver Margaret Casey, 73, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm. On June 17, 2023, at Orwell Road, Rathgar, Dublin 11, Casey's vehicle mounted a kerb and struck a pedestrian on the footpath. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge. Judge Orla Crowe noted that Casey had a momentary lapse in concentration following a difficult hospital visit to her brother. The court accepted that no aggravating factors, such as intoxication or speed, were present, and Casey's conduct at the scene was exemplary. The victim, a man in his sixties, suffered a fractured jaw and injuries to his skull, ribs, and neck, requiring five days in hospital. He has since significantly recovered and did not wish to make a victim impact statement, stating Casey had been through enough. Judge Crowe set a headline sentence of two years imprisonment. However, considering the mitigating circumstances and Casey's personal situation, including her care for her ill brother, the judge imposed a 12-month sentence fully suspended for two years. Additionally, the offence carries a mandatory four-year driving disqualification.
During the murder trial of Brandon Gavin, an eyewitness described a brief, seconds‑long episode in which Gavin, described as "calm and collected," entered the back seat of a black Audi, slowly drew a knife and stabbed Marius Mamaliga on the left side of his neck before fleeing. The witness, David Octavian, testified that he saw Mamaliga's hand on his throat, that he called an ambulance, and that Mamaliga was unconscious for about ten minutes. Octavian also confirmed that Gavin and Mamaliga had previously met over drug matters, with Gavin owing Mamaliga €2,000 for cocaine. The prosecution argued that Gavin intended to kill or seriously injure Mamaliga, while Gavin claimed self‑defence, stating that Mamaliga had attacked him. The trial is ongoing before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury. Brandon Gavin pleaded not guilty.
Evidence heard at the Central Criminal Court on Monday has revealed that modified blank-firing pistols are becoming increasingly prevalent, with one such weapon used in a 2022 fatal shooting in Dublin. Detective Garda Janette O'Neill testified that a converted Zoraki blank pistol was recovered during the investigation into the death of Sean McCarthy. The firearm had been deliberately altered with a new barrel and had its serial number removed, making it capable of firing .32 calibre ammunition. Det Gda O'Neill stated that such modifications are illegal under the Firearms Act and that these weapons appear to be arriving from Europe with growing frequency. Dean Caffrey, aged 38, of Achill Road, Drumcondra, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to Mr McCarthy's murder between August 2 and 7, 2022. The prosecution contends Mr Caffrey intended to kill or cause serious injury when discharging the firearm. The trial, heard before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury, continues.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 1 November 2024, Feliks Andrianov, 54, was found guilty of assault causing harm after an incident at a McDonald's restaurant near Dublin Airport on 5 July 2019. The case involved a security guard, Michael Norris, who had clamped Andrianov's taxi after the driver left the car to visit a nearby Circle K. Andrianov returned, confronted the guard, and grabbed him, resulting in a dislocated left shoulder for Norris. Andrianov claimed he had been struck first, but CCTV and body‑cam footage showed no contact from the guard. The prosecution presented a victim impact statement detailing Norris's injuries and subsequent employment loss. Judge Elma Sheahan, noting the seriousness of the offence and mitigating factors such as Andrianov's good character and family ties, sentenced him to 18 months' imprisonment, suspended in full for 18 months. Andrianov represented himself at the sentencing hearing.
Former Ireland rugby international Brendan Mullin, 61, of Donnybrook, Dublin 4, is on trial in the Central Criminal Court, accused of stealing over €570,000 from Bank of Ireland Private Bank between 2011 and 2013. He has pleaded not guilty to one count of stealing €500,000 on December 16, 2011, eight other counts of stealing just over €73,000, one count of deception, and five counts of false accounting. The jury was instructed to find him not guilty of one specific count of deception relating to a payment authorisation letter. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC argued in closing submissions that Mullin never intended the bank to suffer a loss, noting that the bank was made whole by payments made in 2013 and 2015. Grehan described the decade-long delay in bringing the case to trial as a "Sword of Damocles" hanging over Mullin, asserting there was no good reason for the delay and that the bank prioritised recovering funds over investigation. The defence contended that the €500,000 transfer involving Spice Holdings resulted from a processing error and that Mullin arranged for his company, Quantum, to repay the sum under pressure to clear his name. Grehan further stated that legal fees paid by the bank were returned by Mullin in April 2013. The jury is due to begin deliberations.
David Williams, 68, and co-accused Crystal Talia, 46, pleaded guilty to multiple charges at the pretrial stage. Williams admitted to multiple sample counts of deception between January 2019 and June 2020, as well as defrauding a Galway woman in her 80s by dishonestly inducing her to buy a Kuboto U27 mini-digger for €7,841. Talia pleaded guilty to impeding an investigation by allowing Williams to use her bank accounts. The court heard allegations that Williams, who is not a qualified barrister, operated bogus legal firms to scam approximately 1,200 people. In the separate mini-digger case, Williams allegedly directed the victim to a vendor and provided his own bank account details, though Gardaí traced the machine to a third party and fully refunded the victim. Judge Orla Crowe refused a request for a probation report but granted time for Williams to gather character references. The matter was adjourned, with both defendants remanded on continuing bail for finalisation on December 13.
The jury in the trial of barrister Diarmuid Phelan, accused of murdering Keith Conlon on his farm, was sent home for a second day after Judge Siobhan Lankford announced a difficulty because the next prosecution witness was unavailable. Phelan, 56, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Conlon, 36, which occurred on 24 February 2022 at Hazelgrove Farm in Tallaght. The judge said the jury had heard a lot of evidence but not all, and that more would come. She warned the twelve jurors, nine men and three women, against discussing the case or using social media and instructed them to refrain from independent research. The trial, expected to last six weeks, will resume on Monday at 2 pm. The case continues before Judge Lankford and the jury.
The trial of Brendan Mullin, a former Ireland rugby international and former managing director of Bank of Ireland Private Bank, focuses on allegations that he stole over €570,000 from the bank between 2011 and 2013. Mullin denies all charges. Prosecutor Dominic McGinn argues the case boils down to dishonesty, emphasizing that repayment of money does not negate theft if the intent was to deprive the owner. McGinn outlines how Mullin allegedly arranged for bank funds to be paid to McCann Fitzgerald Solicitors and other firms, then had those payments refunded to the bank, suggesting an attempt to conceal the theft. He also highlights Mullin's role in transferring €500,000 to Spice Holdings and later repaying it in 2015, arguing this demonstrates his central involvement. Mullin has pleaded not guilty to one count of stealing €500,000 and eight counts of stealing smaller amounts, as well as counts of deception and false accounting. The trial continues.
Katie Farrell, 27, of The Orchard, Ardee, Co Louth, was arrested at Dublin Airport on 16 January 2024 after a search of her luggage revealed 14.9 kg of cannabis with a street value of €299,626. She had travelled alone from Alicante, Spain, and was stopped when her luggage was screened. Farrell made no admissions during her interview and was described by the Garda detective as a courier acting under the instruction of a third party. She has no prior convictions but has a history of drug addiction and low self‑esteem. In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Elva Duffy noted her cooperation, voluntary surrender, and personal circumstances, describing her as a vulnerable person who was manipulated. The judge imposed a four‑year prison term, suspended the final twelve months for two years, and ordered twelve months of probation upon release. The sentence was back‑dated to the day she entered custody.
A 43-year-old Dublin man has pleaded guilty to possessing approximately €3.9 million worth of cannabis for sale or supply at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Justin McCormack, originally from Boyle, Co Roscommon, was arrested on October 11th last year after gardaí stopped a white transit van and discovered a large quantity of drugs wrapped in plastic bags. A further 1,174 kg of cannabis was subsequently recovered from a business unit on Esmond Avenue in Fairview. Defence counsel described McCormack, a cabinet maker of over twenty years, as an "ordinary, hard-working man" who transported the drugs due to financial desperation and impaired judgement arising from substance misuse. The court heard McCormack had accumulated significant legitimate business and personal debts at the time of his arrest. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the case until November 14th to allow time for consideration of extensive documentation, including psychological and prison governor reports. McCormack has remained in custody since his arrest.
The Court of Appeal upheld a ruling that the Department of Transport must allow a learner driver, Osama Elsharkawy, to inspect the legal advice it received when changing the penalty points regime. Elsharkawy, who had a provisional licence from 2012 and a full licence from 2021, was disqualified for six months after accumulating seven penalty points in 2021. He argued that the new seven‑point threshold should only apply to those who entered the licensing system on or after 1 August 2014, and that the Department had applied it to those who entered earlier without providing a legal basis. The High Court found that the Department had used the legal advice for its advantage, waiving privilege. The Court of Appeal held that the Department must disclose any documents referred to in its pleadings, whether oral or written, and that there is a prima facie right to inspect them.
Carl Armstrong, who had been serving a suspended portion of a 10‑year sentence for a similar offence, was caught in December 2022 with €400,000 worth of cocaine and heroin at an apartment in Dublin. He was charged with possession of cocaine and diamorphine for sale or supply. Armstrong had been released from the custodial part of his earlier 10‑year sentence 18 months before the offence, and the judge reactivated the suspended portion. The court found that he had carried out the offence for financial gain, citing pressure from his family. He pleaded guilty, showed remorse and had undertaken rehabilitation. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a 13‑year sentence, suspended the final three years, and set conditions for the suspended period. The sentence was back‑dated to the day of the search, with the suspended portion running concurrently with the custodial term.
At the Central Criminal Court, the jury heard that the family of Dean Caffrey became fearful when three men visited their parents' home in Achill, County Mayo, seeking information about the accused. Alan Caffrey, the defendant's brother, testified that he received a concerning phone call four days after drug dealer Sean McCarthy was last seen, with the caller asking if his brother had "answers to questions" and making reference to "dead bodies". Alarmed for his family's safety, Alan Caffrey resolved to locate his brother and bring him to gardaí. Dean Caffrey subsequently attended Ashbourne Garda Station in County Meath, where he informed officers that Mr McCarthy's body could be found in a wardrobe in his apartment. Mr Caffrey has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Sean McCarthy between 2 and 7 August 2022. The prosecution contends he discharged a firearm with intent to kill or cause serious injury. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
A 22‑year‑old man, Brandon Gavin, is on trial for the murder of 19‑year‑old Marius Mamaliga, who died from a neck stab on 26 February 2023. The jury heard that the incident lasted about 14 seconds, during which Gavin entered the rear passenger seat of Mamaliga's black Audi, reached forward and stabbed him once in the neck. Gavin allegedly dropped his mobile phone and two HSE appointment cards in the rear footwell, which were recovered by gardaí. He claimed he stabbed Mamaliga in self‑defence, fearing for his life because he owed €2,500 for drugs. Gardaí also recovered a knife with Gavin's DNA on the handle and the victim's blood on the blade. Gavin has pleaded not guilty. The trial is before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
The trial of Prof Diarmuid Phelan, a barrister and law lecturer accused of murdering Keith Conlon, was adjourned until Friday morning. Phelan, 56, pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering Conlon, 36, at Hazelgrove Farm in Tallaght, Dublin 24, on February 24, 2022. Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford sent the 12 jurors away for the day, stating there was no work for them due to reasons outside her control. She noted the trial is ahead of schedule and expected to conclude within the estimated six-week timeframe. In her opening address, Roisin Lacey SC outlined the State's case, alleging that three men, including Conlon, trespassed on Phelan's land while hunting. Phelan told gardai he shot a loose dog with a Winchester rifle, after which the men threatened him. He claimed he fired a Smith & Wesson revolver in the air in self-defense, but Conlon was struck in the back of the head. The State asserts Phelan intended to kill or cause serious injury. The defense is expected to argue the shooting was an accidental result of a legitimate act of self-defense. Conlon died at Tallaght University Hospital two days after the incident. The matter was adjourned and continues before Ms Justice Lankford on Friday.