Former rugby international Brendan Mullin, aged 60, denies 15 charges of theft and false accounting against him. He told Gardaí he arranged a €500,000 repayment to Bank of Ireland Private Bank in 2015 because he could not leave allegations of that nature hanging. Mullin, who was managing director of the bank from 2011 to 2013, claims the money came from his company Quantum Investment Strategies and was transferred to the bank's solicitors, Arthur Cox, after the bank's solicitors advised that a processing error had occurred. He says he had no role in the transfer of the €500,000 to Spice Holdings, a company registered in the British Virgin Islands, and that the transfer was made by the bank's own staff. Mullin has pleaded not guilty to one count of stealing €500,000 and eight counts of stealing about €73,000, as well as one count of deception and five counts of false accounting.
Mark O'Neill, 51, pleaded guilty to possessing a loaded Smith and Wesson revolver and ammunition on 7 September 2022. He had ten prior traffic convictions. Judge Orla Crowe, after noting his remorse and that the incident was out‑of‑character, set a headline sentence of seven years but reduced it to four and a half years, suspending the final six months. O'Neill had pointed the gun at a relative during a family dispute, issuing threats and claiming the man owed him money. Gardaí recovered the revolver and six rounds of ammunition from his home, and DNA matched O'Neill. He had a history of drug addiction and intoxication, but his defence argued the event was isolated and he had since ceased drug use. The judge acknowledged his good behaviour and health issues but upheld the sentence.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the accused, law professor Diarmuid Phelan, 56, is charged with the killing of Keith Conlon, 36, at Hazelgrove Farm in Tallaght on 24 February 2022. Phelan, a barrister and farmer, pleaded not guilty. The jury heard that Conlon had previously been arrested for burglary in 2010, during which he became "extremely violent", kicked a Garda and tried to jump from a patrol car. Conlon had pleaded guilty to burglary and assault in Dun Laoghaire District Court and received a 12‑month probation order. The prosecution alleged that on the day of the shooting, three men, including Conlon, trespassed on Phelan's land while hunting, and that Phelan fired a Smith & Wesson revolver in self‑defence, unintentionally killing Conlon in the back of the head. The trial continues tomorrow before Justice Siobhan Lankford and a jury of nine men and three women.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Mark Moran, 44, received a suspended 21‑month prison sentence for possession of 782 images and 20 films of child sexual abuse material seized from his home in 2015. The court noted that no aggravating factors such as distribution were present, and that Moran had no prior convictions. He pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, and acknowledged that the material was not downloaded intentionally. Judge Martin Nolan applied a non‑custodial option in line with Court of Appeal precedent, imposing a fully suspended sentence on strict conditions. Moran's admission of guilt, lack of previous offences, and mitigating circumstances were considered, and the judge warned that any repeat offence would be treated differently. The sentence reflects the seriousness of possession of child sexual abuse material while recognising the absence of aggravating conduct.
Jamie Geoghan, aged 28, was one of four men who entered a Dublin boys' secondary school on 13 October 2022 and violently confronted a teenage student. CCTV showed Geoghan throwing a steel pole at the student, narrowly missing him and a staff member, while the student had taken a hammer from his bag in self‑defence and fled. Geoghan pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, back‑dated to 22 July 2024. He is already serving a six‑year sentence for another offence. The other three men – Jack Craig (21), Josh Neary (22) and Scott Purdue (25) – had already been sentenced to 16‑month terms, with Craig's sentence suspended in full. No physical injuries were reported, but the incident caused widespread fear among students and staff, leading to the retirement of one staff member. The court noted Geoghan's long history of offending, with 79 convictions since 2013, and his previous promising football career.
Law professor Diarmuid Phelan, 56, denies murdering Keith Conlon, 36, at Hazelgrove Farm, Tallaght, on 24 February 2022. In court, Phelan told Garda Kevin Curran that he had shot a man before pulling a Smith & Wesson revolver from his jacket pocket. Curran described how Phelan, driving a red Hilux jeep, claimed a male had been shot and that he needed help. Phelan admitted to shooting Conlon, who lay on his back with a gunshot wound to the back of the head. Phelan then surrendered the revolver, which had eight rounds, three of which had been fired. The revolver's rounds were described as possibly crow‑shot, used for shooting birds and rats. The trial continues before a jury and Justice Siobhan Lankford. Keith Conlon pleaded not guilty. Diarmuid Phelan pleaded not guilty.
During a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, a witness, Peter Gray, former head of financial control at New Ireland Life Assurance, testified that former Ireland rugby star Brendan Mullin, then managing director of Bank of Ireland Private Bank, requested in August 2011 that a €500,000 payment owed to the bank be transferred to a client account, an action Gray described as "unusual" and "not standard practice." Gray explained that the payment had initially been transferred to the private bank in July 2011 and returned to New Ireland within days, raising suspicions. In a phone conversation, Mullin suggested two possible client accounts, one possibly Spice Holdings, and claimed the transfer would be "administratively more simple." Gray noted his unease and recorded the conversation, later noting that the bank's compliance and senior management questioned the legitimacy of Spice Holdings and ultimately directed that no payment be made to a client account.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court has heard evidence concerning the day after a man's death in a Drumcondra apartment. A work colleague testified that Dean Caffrey, who is accused of murdering Sean McCarthy on August 2, 2022, appeared to be in good form while working at Dublin Airport three days after the alleged incident. The witness said Caffrey chatted about sport and women during their shift and was frequently on his phone, mentioning plans for a holiday. Separately, Caffrey's ex-girlfriend told the court she had planned to visit his home that day but changed her mind after he said he had been napping. The trial heard that Caffrey later attended Gardaí voluntarily and directed officers to McCarthy's body, which was found wrapped in plastic inside a suitcase in a wardrobe. Caffrey, aged 38, of Beaucort, Achill Road, Drumcondra, has pleaded not guilty to murder. The prosecution alleges he intended to kill or cause serious injury. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
Nebojsa Rasic, 26, was jailed for four years after a high‑speed chase in Dublin that saw him drag a garda, strike another officer, and drive through an accident scene, endangering firefighters, civilians and cyclists. Rasic, who had no licence or insurance, was caught after a pursuit that involved throwing cannabis packages and resisting arrest. He pleaded guilty to three endangerment charges, possession of cannabis for sale, three dangerous driving offences and driving without licence or insurance. The judge, citing Rasic's mental health issues, imposed the sentence and an eight‑year driving disqualification. Rasic's defence highlighted his epilepsy, recent suicide attempt and remorse, urging the court to consider a chance for rehabilitation. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Ruth Lawrence, 42, of Clontarf, faces trial for the murders of Anthony Keegan, 33, and Eoin O'Connor, 32, whose bodies were discovered on Inchicup Island, Lough Sheelin, on 26 May 2014. The trial was scheduled for 7 October 2024 by Mr Justice David Keane, but the State reported that Lawrence's lawyers had not yet received full disclosure. At the Central Criminal Court, Michael O'Higgins SC for the Director of Public Prosecutions informed Ms Justice Karen O'Connor that disclosure remains incomplete, while James Dwyer SC for Lawrence noted several outstanding matters and could not predict when the trial would be ready. Justice O'Connor adjourned the case to a mention on 21 November. Lawrence was charged in May 2023 with two counts of murder following the discovery of the bodies, which were found after a fisherman detected a smell from the island. The men were described as "inseparable" friends at their June 2014 funeral.
Diarmuid O'Brien, 18, pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court to three charges: possession of a side‑by‑side double‑barrel shotgun, possession of cannabis for the purpose of unlawful sale, and possession of 630 g of phenacetin linked to drug trafficking. The offences occurred on 7 May 2024 at Tolka Valley Park, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo, was instructed by Fiona Murphy SC to arraign O'Brien on these three counts and to seek a trial date for the remaining 12 charges, which include possession of various controlled drugs for sale, possession of 15 rounds of 9 × 18 mm Makarov ammunition and ten 12‑Gauge ELEY Olympic shotgun cartridges, and further possession of cannabis, diamorphine, cocaine and ketamine for sale. O'Brien was remanded in custody pending the later trial. The case is set to proceed in the Special Criminal Court.
In a case heard by the Workplace Relations Commission, Amir Sajad Esmaeily, a lecturer at Dublin Business School, was awarded €53,000 after the college admitted that dismissing him for logging into his college email from Iran was unfair. The college had argued that Esmaeily's access from a "prohibited" country constituted a serious breach of policy, leading to his dismissal on 3 February 2023. Esmaeily's solicitor noted that he had travelled to Iran to attend his uncle's funeral and that his wife was seriously ill at the time, factors that the tribunal considered. The college's lawyers conceded the dismissal was unfair, and the tribunal focused solely on compensation. Esmaeily's annual salary was €50,000, with additional duties bringing his earnings to €91,000. The tribunal awarded €53,000 as just and equitable compensation for the unfair dismissal.
During a theft trial, Bank of Ireland Private Bank client services director Nicola Johnston testified that former rugby international Brendan Mullin, then managing director, approached her in July 2011 and asked her to sign a €500,000 payment authorisation to Northern Trust in France, referencing a company called Spice Holdings. Johnston said she had no supporting documents and was told by Mullin that she need not know details, so she signed. She later cancelled the authorisation the next morning and informed Mullin, who did not return. Johnston raised the issue with senior bank officials, but the only evidence of the transaction came from a December 2011 compliance sign‑off. Defence counsel argued Johnston's account was fictional, citing a note from finance officer Kim Lloyd that Mullin had counter‑signed the authorisation earlier that day. Mullin denies all 15 charges, including the €500,000 theft, and has pleaded not guilty to related counts of deception and false accounting. The trial continues.
Emmett Henry, 35, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a submachine gun and silencer, and possession of various drugs for sale or supply, both occurring at an apartment block in Finglas in November 2022. The court heard that gardaí discovered a cannabis growing facility in Henry's flat, including 1,500 cannabis jellies, while a separate search of a locked storage area revealed a silenced submachine gun, ammunition, and significant quantities of cannabis and cocaine. Judge Orla Crowe noted that while the offences carried presumptive minimum mandatory sentences of ten years for drugs and five years for firearms, she departed from these minimums due to exceptional circumstances. She acknowledged Henry's role as a trusted operative in a sophisticated operation but considered mitigating factors, including his guilty pleas, difficult childhood, and rehabilitation efforts for his drug addiction. Judge Crowe imposed consecutive sentences totalling seven and a half years. She suspended the final six months of the sentence under Probation supervision to incentivise Henry's continued rehabilitation. The matter was finalised with this sentencing.
Soufiane Mountassir, 39, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for false imprisonment and assault causing harm after he forced his former partner into the boot of her own car and beat her for one hour and 40 minutes. The victim, who was his partner at the time, was subjected to repeated blows, was forced to drive to dark locations, and suffered injuries including blood on the steering wheel and gearstick. Mountassir, who was drinking, taking Dalmane, cocaine and smoking cannabis, claimed to be Moroccan and gave vague answers to Gardaí. He was also wanted in Germany for arson, for which a separate sentence of three years and one month had been imposed. The State argued the sentence was too lenient, citing the severity of the assault, the abduction, and the aggravating factors, while Mountassir's counsel maintained the judge had imposed an appropriate sentence. The Court of Appeal will reserve judgment. Soufiane Mountassir pleaded guilty.
The jury in the trial of law professor Diarmuid Phelan, accused of murdering an unarmed trespasser at Hazelgrove Farm in Tallaght, has viewed dashcam and mobile phone footage from the day of the incident. Garda Dara Kelly presented seven segments totalling 12 minutes, six from an ATV dashcam and one from the deceased Keith Conlon's phone. The mobile footage shows Conlon speaking to Phelan before being shot, with male voices saying "You're f**ked now" and "this is not the end of it mate, I'm telling you, you shot the f**king dog for nothing." The dashcam footage captures Phelan's movements, including retrieving a rifle, conversing with farm workers, and driving off. Phelan, 56, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Conlon, 36, who died two days after the February 24, 2022 shooting. The trial continues before Justice Siobhan Lankford and a 12‑member jury.
A child-rapist GAA coach has been denied leave by the Supreme Court to appeal against a four-year increase in his sentence for what a judge described as 'unusual, shocking and extremely disturbing' crimes. The man, who cannot be identified to protect the victim's identity, was sentenced in December 2021 to 10.5 years imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath. The accused pleaded guilty to 15 counts with consent to the facts of all the offences being considered as part of the sentencing process. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court, where the man had entered guilty pleas in April 2021 in relation to 15 sample counts including oral rape, attempted anal rape, sexual assault, false imprisonment, assault causing harm and criminal damage. The court heard evidence of further sexual assaults during a trip to London, but these counts were dropped as they had taken place outside the jurisdiction. The offences occurred between 2004 and 2010 at locations including the man's home, a midlands sports grounds and a hotel in Dublin. The accused had been extradited from the US to face the charges. At the Court of Appeal in March, Eilis Brennan SC, for the State, submitted that the original nine-year sentence was too low as the victim had endured a 'continuum' of sexual and physical abuse as well as 'emotional torture' over a six-year period. The Court of Appeal increased the sentence to 14 years and six months with the final 18 months suspended. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, noting that the Court of Appeal had conducted a 'thorough examination of the facts' and that there was 'nothing' to suggest that any law was mis-applied in what was a 'difficult case that was sensitively considered'. The matter was adjourned at the appeal stage.
A Russian nanny who had been employed by a company to care for the children of two directors during their acrimonious divorce was removed from the company's payroll in June 2022. She continued to work and received her net wages from a separate company account, a fact the children's mother confirmed. The nanny, who had been in Ireland since 2010 and had a work visa, argued that the payroll change was solely due to the divorce proceedings and that she remained an employee. The adjudicator found the company breached the Terms of Employment (Information) Act 1994 by failing to provide written statements of employment terms. He awarded the nanny €1,800 in compensation, ordered the company to supply the required statements within a week, and noted that the nanny was lawfully in Ireland and still employed by the firm.
In the Special Criminal Court, Thomas 'Nicky' McConnell, aged 38, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Gareth Hutch, 36, on 24 May 2016. Barrister Mark Lynam SC argued that McConnell does not match the description of the gunman given by witnesses. Key witness Mary McDonnell, who spent hours in the gunmen's apartment, could not identify McConnell from photographs and described the gunman as having a blonde hair‑lock from the forehead, whereas McConnell has closely cropped black or dark hair. Another witness also described the alleged gunman as blonde. CCTV footage cited by the prosecution, showing McConnell with the second gunman, Jonathan Keogh, was said by Lynam to depict a man of smaller build with different facial features. Lynam acknowledged that McConnell was involved in criminal activity before the shooting and was in possession of a BMW intended as a getaway vehicle, but he stressed that this does not prove McConnell was a shooter. Nicky' McConnell was acquitted.
Aaron Gumble, 28, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to eight years in prison, with the final 18 months suspended, for dangerous driving causing death, leaving the scene and theft of an e‑scooter. The offence involved the hit‑and‑run killing of 87‑year‑old Mary Bernie on Eccles Street, Dublin 7, on 20 June last year. Gumble, who had been on bail for theft offences, was also disqualified from driving for ten years. He pleaded guilty and was found to have 140 previous convictions, including theft, burglary and drug offences. The judge noted his guilty plea and substance‑abuse history as mitigating factors, but highlighted the aggravating factor of leaving the scene. Gumble's sentence will run consecutively to a three‑month term he is already serving for burglary offences, and he will remain under probation supervision for 18 months after release.
Donna Dineen, aged 28, was sentenced to five years and three months in prison for hijacking a taxi on 26 July 2023. She used a seat belt to choke the driver, who was in his late 60s, and then dragged him out, punching or kicking him before driving off. The victim was left battered and bruised and has not returned to taxi driving. Dineen pleaded guilty to unlawful seizure of a vehicle and assault causing harm. The judge noted the brutality of the assault and the victim's inability to resume work, but also acknowledged Dineen's rehabilitation efforts. The final nine months of the sentence were suspended on strict conditions, including 12 months of probation supervision. Her co‑accused, Gillian Byrne, will be sentenced separately next year after pleading guilty to the same offences. The court heard Byrne had called 999 voluntarily and expressed remorse. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
During a murder trial for the death of Keith Conlon, a video recorded by a trespasser moments before the shooting was shown to the jury. The clip captures male voices shouting threats and remarks such as "You're f**ked now" and "this is not the end of it mate, I'm telling you, you shot the f**king dog for nothing." The prosecution described a heated exchange between Diarmuid Phelan and the trespassers after Phelan shot a dog on his farm. Witness Julien Roudaut, a 24‑year‑old French farmhand, testified that Phelan fired warning shots into the air and that it was difficult to believe Conlon was actually shot. Roudaut also noted that Phelan's first shots were aimed at the air, and that the shooting occurred in a flash. The trial continues with the jury hearing further evidence of the incident. Diarmuid Phelan pleaded not guilty.
The High Court has heard arguments regarding the extradition of John Edward McNicholl and Seamus Christopher O'Kane to the UK, where they face charges related to the 1975 murder of Constable Robert John McPherson in Co Derry. Mr McNicholl is alleged to have murdered the constable and attempted to murder a second officer, while Mr O'Kane is charged with possession of firearms, including an RUC-issued weapon recovered during the ambush. Defense counsel argued that the extradition proceedings are oppressive and constitute an abuse of process, citing a nearly 50-year delay in seeking surrender. They contended that the pursuit of the men, initiated days before the UK's Legacy Act came into force, breached their rights under the European Convention on Human Rights and was driven by a change in the political climate. The State, represented by Remy Farrell SC, countered that arguments regarding abuse of process by Northern Irish prosecutors are matters for the courts in Northern Ireland, not the Dublin High Court. The court was told that previous extradition requests were refused on political grounds under the 1965 Act, but subsequent legislation removed such refusals. Mr Justice Pat McGrath deferred judgement and adjourned the matter to December 16.
A secondary school teacher from Donegal Town has appealed her conviction for indecently assaulting a 13-year-old male student in 1985. Jacinta McSherry O'Connor, now 64, was found guilty following a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial in October 2023 and sentenced to three years imprisonment on each of two counts, with the final six months suspended. At the Court of Appeal, her legal team contended that the trial judge erred in allowing the jury to hear portions of her garda interview in which she disclosed being a victim of sexual assault herself. The prosecution argued this evidence was relevant to establishing a pattern of grooming behaviour. The court heard that McSherry O'Connor had discussed sexual matters with the boy, who had developed a crush on her, during private tutoring sessions in his home. Judges expressed concern about a teacher sharing such details with a young pupil. Judgment has been reserved.
A 29‑year‑old drug dealer, Dylan Clements, was sentenced to three years in prison with the final 18 months suspended after the Court of Appeal overturned a fully suspended sentence imposed by a Circuit Court judge. Clements had been found in possession of cocaine and cannabis worth over €28,000, including a large block of cocaine valued at €26,575 and cannabis worth €2,220. He pleaded guilty to one count of possession of drugs for sale or supply under Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act and was originally sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan. The Court of Appeal, citing the legislation's presumptive minimum sentence of ten years for such offences, ruled that the original sentence was unduly lenient and that no special circumstances justified a fully suspended term. The appeal court ordered a probation report and quashed the original sentence, leading to the resentencing.
During the trial of law professor Diarmuid Phelan, an unarmed trespasser was reported to have turned his back after Phelan fired one or two shots from his revolver toward the air. French farmhand Julien Roudaut, aged 24, testified that he and Phelan were working on Hazelgrove Farm in February 2022 when they heard a dog bark and followed it into a wooded area. Roudaut said Phelan fired a shot at something on a steep bank, after which a man appeared and an argument ensued. Roudaut observed the man turn his back to Phelan after the first or second gunshot, and that the shots were fired toward the sky. Roudaut could not recall the exact number of shots or the precise direction, but he noted that Phelan was panicked and said "oh s**t" when he went to assist the injured man. The case remains before the jury. Diarmuid Phelan pleaded not guilty.
The trial of former Ireland rugby international Brendan Mullin, aged 60, continues. Mullin is accused of stealing €500,000 from Bank of Ireland Private Bank in December 2011 and an additional €73,000 in other amounts between July 2011 and March 2013. The prosecution alleges he authorised payments to solicitors McCann Fitzgerald, accountants Beechwood Partners and Grant Thornton for work for his company Quantum Investment Strategies or for himself. The €500,000 was allegedly transferred to Spice Holdings, a company incorporated in 1997 and registered in the British Virgin Islands, and later moved to a Royal Bank of Canada account in Jersey. Evidence included bank records, invoices, and correspondence from Northern Trust and Spice Holdings. Mullin pleaded not guilty to all counts, including one of deception and five of false accounting. The trial remains ongoing.
Geovane Ferrnandes, a 31‑year‑old Brazilian, was jailed for three and a half years after being caught at Dublin Airport with 6.7 kg of cocaine, worth €489,790. He pleaded guilty to possessing the drug for sale or supply at Terminal One on 18 March. Ferrnandes claimed he was motivated by the need to fund expensive medical treatment for his daughter, who suffers severe asthma and requires frequent hospital stays. He said he had no knowledge of the contents of the parcel he carried and had not received any payment for the smuggling. The court noted he was caught "red‑handed" and had no prior convictions in Ireland. Judge Orla Crowe set a headline sentence of six years but imposed a term of three and a half years, back‑dated to his March arrest. Ferrnandes has expressed remorse and intends not to return to Ireland after serving his sentence.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, a 27‑year‑old man, who was on probation, attacked his former partner in her home shortly after she ended their two‑year relationship. The victim, who was present at home alone after meeting friends, was assaulted inside the house, sustaining bruises on her face, neck, arm, abdomen and back, as well as marks on her leg caused by a knife handle. Her iPhone and a flowerpot were also damaged. The man, who has nine prior convictions, was convicted last July of assault causing harm and criminal damage. He was found not guilty of false imprisonment and production of an article capable of causing serious harm, and the jury could not reach verdicts on rape and threats to kill or cause serious harm. The Director of Public Prosecutions entered nolle prosequi on those two charges, dropping them.
In the Special Criminal Court, the prosecution presented DNA, CCTV and mobile phone evidence linking Thomas 'Nicky' McConnell to the 2016 murder of 36‑year‑old Gareth Hutch. Fiona Murphy SC argued that McConnell was involved in both planning and execution alongside Jonathan Keogh, who was already convicted. Evidence included CCTV of McConnell parking a BMW in front of Hutch's home, the car's use as a getaway vehicle, and a Skoda Octavia parked nearby. DNA from the BMW matched McConnell, and a Blackberry phone showed extensive contact with other suspects and instructions to flee to the UK. McConnell denied the charge, pleading not guilty. The court heard that McConnell's movements were misrepresented to Gardaí, and that he was "at least very similar" to the man identified by a witness. The case remains pending, with the defence scheduled to present its closing argument on Friday.
During the murder trial of law professor and farmer Michael Phelan, witness Alexandra Fernandes testified that she was "frozen to the spot" and afraid when she saw two intruders walking toward Phelan on the farm. She described seeing a rainbow and telling co‑workers to make a wish, and that one said, "I just want to stay alive for today," which astonished her. Fernandes said she had seen the intruders, described as determined, walking up the field and that Phelan fired a third shot at the same time the intruders were turning to leave. She reported hearing a noise like a firecracker and that the shots were fired quickly, with no time between them. Fernandes also stated she had not seen the first intruder reach for his pockets. The testimony was given in direct evidence on Tuesday and was cross‑examined by the defence. The trial continues before a jury.
In a decision published on 23 October 2024, the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) ruled that it was reasonable for Centric Mental Health to require its Kerry‑based employee, Rafael Jorge, to travel to the Dundrum office in Dublin once a month. Jorge had accepted a fully remote contract in August 2022 after turning down a job offer. In January 2024, Centric's HR officer notified him that, due to changing business needs, he was required to attend the Dundrum office a minimum of two days per week. Jorge objected, citing his remote status and residence in Tralee, and raised a grievance. The HR director subsequently reduced the requirement to one day per month. Jorge sought a pay rise, lunch allowance and travel expenses; the company offered the latter two.
Graham McGuinness, aged 32, was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to causing serious harm for a violent attack on Martin Reilly on 11 June 2020. McGuinness, who has 53 prior convictions, repeatedly slashed Reilly's neck, arms, torso and face with a homemade blade wrapped in tissue, shouting "I'm going to kill you" during the assault. The attack began near Busáras and continued toward Store Street Garda Station, where Reilly attempted to seek help. The court noted the severity of the injuries, including a gash exposing Reilly's jawbone, and the public nature of the violence. Mitigating factors included McGuinness's guilty plea, remorse and difficult upbringing, while aggravating factors were the viciousness, duration and weapon used. The suspended portion requires McGuinness to pay a €100 bond, remain at a listed address, provide a phone number, address drug addiction and attend all probation appointments.
Garry Gibson, 39, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply after setting up a sophisticated two‑level grow‑house in his home. The court heard that Gibson had no prior convictions and that he had been under financial pressure from rising mortgage payments. He admitted to modifying the property to create the grow‑house, bypassing electricity, and that he had already completed two or three cultivation cycles. During the search, 50 mature plants and 1.4 kg of cannabis were seized, valued at over €68,000. Gibson accepted responsibility, stating he was working but had been injured and could not work for a time. Judge Elva Duffy imposed a headline sentence of seven and a half years, reduced to five years, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. The court noted Gibson had not been a "gillie" but had engaged in the offence for profit.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former Ireland rugby international Brendan Mullin, aged 60, denied 15 charges of theft and fraud involving over €570,000 from Bank of Ireland Private Bank. Mullin testified that he had always borne personal responsibility for his legal fees and that he had not indicated the bank would pay any portion. He argued that statements suggesting the bank would cover part of his costs were inaccurate and unfair. Mullin's solicitor, Roddy Bourke, confirmed that the bank had indeed provided assistance with legal fees, but Mullin maintained he had not authorized such arrangements. The court heard evidence of Mullin's meetings with Bourke in April 2013, his claims of not seeing the bank's memorandum, and the bank's subsequent inquiries into invoicing. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, continues with a jury hearing the case.
In the murder trial of law professor and farmer Mr Phelan, French farmhand Alexandra Fernandes, aged 48, testified that on 22 February 2022 she was working on his farm when two unarmed trespassers approached. She claimed she heard Mr Phelan fire three shots from his revolver while the men were turning away. Fernandes described seeing the first man turn back as the third shot was fired, and that blood appeared on his head. She said Mr Phelan had then approached the injured man, offered first‑aid, and left in a buggy. The prosecution alleges the third shot killed Keith Conlon, 36, who died two days later. The case is being heard by Justice Siobhan Lankford with a jury of nine men and three women. The trial continues tomorrow. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
John English, 47, of Dublin 2, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, with the final three months suspended for six months, after pleading guilty to brandishing a small knife at a shop worker on South Circular Road. The incident followed English's theft of a Pot Noodle earlier that day, when he was denied service. CCTV footage showed him shouting abuse at the male shop worker while holding the knife, and a female security guard was also engaged. English has about 130 convictions, including a rape conviction from 2004, and most of his offences since 2014 are public order crimes. He is homeless, an alcoholic, and has struggled with drug use. The judge noted his guilty plea, personal circumstances and addiction issues as mitigating factors, but imposed a headline sentence of two years to deter similar conduct. The suspended portion is subject to strict conditions, including supervision by Probation Services.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Thomas 'Nicky' McConnell, who denies murdering Gareth Hutch, resumed after a more than one‑year adjournment. McConnell, aged 38, is accused of shooting Hutch, 36, outside his home in 2016. The trial had been paused in June 2023 when a judge could not continue, and was further delayed by a year while awaiting a Supreme Court ruling on the admissibility of mobile‑phone data. On resumption, Judge Alex Owens rejected arguments that McConnell's arrest was unlawful and that the Gardaí had exceeded their authority in seizing mobile phones found beside his bed. McConnell has pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleges he and Jonathan Keogh used an apartment opposite Hutch's home as a lookout, followed Hutch from his front door, and shot him dead. The final evidence will be heard tomorrow before the court's closing speech. The case follows earlier convictions of Regina Keogh, Jonathan Keogh and Thomas Fox for the same murder.
Gavin Minto, 29, pleaded guilty to possession of three controlled drugs for sale or supply at Kingswood Cross, Clondalkin on 16 July 2020. Gardaí searched a residential property on a warrant and found 151,110 MDMA tablets, 33.6 kilos of cannabis and 668.6 grams of Eutylone, plus a tablet press, weighing scales and a powder, with a combined value of €2.21 million. The court described the garage as a drugs distribution centre and imposed an eight‑and‑a‑half‑year jail term. Minto, who was homeless, in debt and had a difficult background, appealed, arguing the sentence was excessive and that a portion should have been suspended. The Court of Appeal heard arguments from counsel for Minto and the State, noting the judge had considered mitigating factors such as Minto's early plea, cooperation, rehabilitation steps and his cognitive difficulties, but also his nine previous convictions, including three drug offences.
A 48-year-old Portuguese man has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court following his conviction on charges of rape and coercive control. Sergio Correia of Front Street, Ardara, County Donegal, was found guilty by jury of two counts of anal rape and one count of coercive control. The offences occurred during 2019 against his wife, who waived anonymity to allow his identification. Justice Melanie Greally imposed nine-and-a-half years on each rape count with the final eighteen months suspended, and two-and-a-half years concurrent on the coercive control charge, backdated for time in custody. The judge ordered Correia to engage with probation services, attend domestic abuse and sexual abuse programmes, and participate in addiction counselling and Alcoholics Anonymous. A contact prohibition regarding the victim was also imposed. The court noted mitigating factors including the absence of prior convictions and some evidence of remorse, balanced against the serious nature of the offences and findings regarding his limited insight and moderate reoffending risk in relationships.
Robert Hanratty, 48, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of 15,680 zopiclone tablets, valued at €32,200, found in his home and a location in Ballymun. He claimed he held the drugs to deter attacks by "juvenile delinquents" who had targeted his residence, and that he would receive a small payment. Hanratty has four prior minor convictions unrelated to drugs and does not use drugs, though he struggles with alcohol. Defence counsel Padraig Dwyer presented a psychological report detailing Hanratty's mental health issues, low mood, and heavy alcohol consumption, describing him as a "hapless" and "sad" man. The judge, Orla Crowe, deemed the case unusual and adjourned sentencing to 8 November to consider the circumstances.
The trial of Diarmuid Phelan, a 56‑year‑old barrister and farmer, for the murder of Keith Conlon, a 36‑year‑old trespasser, is ongoing. Judge Siobhan Lankford informed the jury that a translation issue arose concerning a French‑speaking witness, Pierre Godreu, who described Phelan as "really p***ed off" before the shooting. The judge clarified that the French word "énervé" was translated as "pissed off" but is not a vulgar term and lacks the intensifier "really." The judge explained the nuances of translation and the range of meanings of "énervé." The trial resumed with evidence from a Garda mapping expert, Detective Padraig Coone, who described the terrain of Hazelgrove Farm and the trajectory of the fatal shot. The prosecution's case, presented by Roisin Lacey, alleges that Phelan fired a third shot at Conlon's head, intending to kill or cause serious injury. Diarmuid Phelan pleaded not guilty.
The trial of former Ireland rugby international Brendan Mullin and McCann Fitzgerald litigation partner Roddy Bourke continues at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. Both men, who have pleaded not guilty to all charges, face 15 counts each, including stealing over €570,000 from Bank of Ireland Private Bank, one count of deception, and five counts of false accounting. The prosecution alleges that Mullin, who was managing director of the bank at the time, authorised payments for personal legal and accounting work. Evidence presented includes emails and invoices where Mullin allegedly instructed that bills should not be sent to the office but to him personally. The court heard details regarding the manipulation of invoices for litigation costs, including handwritten alterations to change billing addresses and descriptions to facilitate payment by the bank. The matter is currently at the trial stage, with no findings, sentences, or finalisations recorded. The trial continues.
A 73‑year‑old man, John Dempsey Senior, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, with one year suspended, for repeatedly raping his partner's niece, Lillian Byrne, over an eleven‑year period between 1980 and 1991. Dempsey, who was 33 when the abuse began, groomed Byrne from the age of 12 and abused her throughout her teenage years, claiming to be her boyfriend and telling her they would run away together. Byrne, who was 12 at the time of the first rape, described the abuse as excruciating and said she did not realise it was sexual abuse until later. She made a victim impact statement in 2021, detailing the lasting effects on her life and family. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Burns, noted Dempsey's breach of trust and the repeated nature of the abuse, and set a headline sentence of 14 years, reduced to 10 years, with the final year suspended on strict conditions including probation supervision for three years. The unnamed 73-year-old pleaded guilty.
A German farmhand, Ms Hannah Felgner, testified at a murder trial that she witnessed Barrister Diarmuid Phelan shoot a man in the back on Phelan's Hazelgrove Farm in Tallaght. Felgner, who had arrived in Ireland to learn English and work on farms, described the incident as occurring on her third day. She said that after a verbal confrontation with two intruders, Phelan fired a shot into the air, after which the intruders turned and ran. A few seconds later Phelan fired a fatal shot into the back of one intruder, Keith Conlon, who fell and later died. Felgner expressed that she felt terror and was overwhelmed by the sudden gunfire. The trial is hearing Phelan's defence of self‑defence and the circumstances of the shooting. The case remains ongoing. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former McCann Fitzgerald solicitor Rosie Freeman testified that she received a couriered invoice from Bank of Ireland Private Bank in March 2013 with handwritten amendments. Freeman, who was a PA to partner Roddy Bourke, described the invoice as unusually altered: the original home address of former rugby star Brendan Mullin was crossed out and replaced with the bank's address, the description of the work was changed to "Quantum Investment Strategies," and amounts were reduced to €18,792.65. Freeman said she was alarmed by the markings and could not comply because a partner's signature was required. She also recounted a voicemail from Mullin and a handwritten note instructing her to amend and issue the invoice. The testimony is part of the prosecution's case that Mullin authorised payments to McCann Fitzgerald, Grant Thornton and Beechwood Partners for work carried out for his company or personally. Brendan Mullin pleaded not guilty.
Mark O'Neill, 51, of Knockmore Drive, Tallaght, was remanded in custody after pleading guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing a Smith and Wesson revolver and ammunition on 7 September 2022. He had ten prior convictions for road traffic offences. Gardaí were called to his relative's home after O'Neill produced a handgun and pointed it at the man, threatening to shoot him unless he paid money owed and claiming the man had stabbed him. O'Neill also threatened the man with death. A second male attempted to defuse the situation before the parties left in a car. The revolver was recovered from bushes near O'Neill's home, containing six rounds of ammunition, and his DNA was found on the firearm. O'Neill's case was adjourned to 30 October to allow the judge to consider the circumstances.
Michael Lynn, a former solicitor aged 55, faces a potential release from prison next month if his appeal against a five‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for stealing over €18 million from six financial institutions succeeds. Lynn was jailed eight months ago and his appeal is scheduled for November 4, the same day his legal team believes he could be released if the appeal is successful. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice John Edwards, clarified that grounds of appeal cannot be heard piecemeal and that the sentence appeal will be heard before the conviction appeal, an exception to usual practice. Lynn's legal team must submit their arguments by the end of next week, after which the State will reply. The judge noted that failure to comply with the timetable would halt the case. Lynn's original sentence, imposed by Judge Martin Nolan, was 13 years, reduced to 5½ years after credit for time served in Brazil.
In the murder trial of law professor Keith Conlon, the jury heard three 999 calls made on 22 February 2022. The first, by accused Mr Phelan, described intruders on his farm and a "violent situation" before the fatal shooting. The second, by Hannah Felgner, reported a man shot on the farm and provided first‑aid instructions. The third, by Robin Duggan, a trespasser, claimed a farmer had shot him. The prosecution argued that Phelan fired a gun at trespassers who had "exploded" from the woods, and that a third shot killed Conlon in the back of the head. The defence contended that Phelan acted in self‑defence, firing in the air and that the fatal bullet was accidental. The case is heard by Justice Siobhan Lankford with a jury of nine men and three women.
An ex‑Ireland rugby international, Brendan Mullin, 60, is accused of stealing more than €570,000 from the Bank of Ireland Private Bank between July 2011 and March 2013. He denies all 15 charges, which include theft, deception and false accounting. The prosecution alleges he authorised payments to solicitors McCann Fitzgerald, accounting firm Grant Thornton and accountants Beechwood Partners for work carried out for his company, Quantum Investment Strategies, or for himself. Evidence shows that a former BOI business assurance head, Schira Donnelly, testified that Mullin suggested his PA may have "swept" an invoice into a bundle of paperwork. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, continues with the prosecution presenting bank records, invoices and internal emails to support the allegations. Mullin has pleaded not guilty to each count. The case remains in court.