At the appeal stage, Gerard Cervi was found guilty of murdering Robert 'Bobby' Messett (50) at Bray Boxing Club, Bray Harbour, Co Wicklow on June 5, 2018. Cervi had pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and also to the attempted murders of Mr Taylor and Ian Britton on the same date and at the same location. However, a jury unanimously found him guilty of the murder of Mr Messett, despite acquitting him of the attempted murder charges. Following today's hearing, Mr Justice Karen O'Connor sentenced Cervi to life imprisonment. The victim's children, Demi and Gary Messett, addressed the court during the sentencing hearing, expressing their grief and frustration over the senseless nature of the crime. No motive was ever advanced for the shooting, and it was confirmed that Mr Messett was not the target. Cervi, who has been in custody for over five years since his arrest in September 2018, was convicted last week after two trials lasting a combined 17 weeks over a two-year period. The matter was adjourned at the appeal stage and was never described as concluded or finalised.
The trustees of the Retired Civil and Public Servants Association—Mary Farrell, Frank O'Dwyer and Matthew Ryan—have filed a High Court action claiming the association's governing council has refused to allow them to raise a series of motions at the upcoming AGM. The motions would address alleged financial and corporate management issues, including the level of subsistence and travel expenses paid by council members, the auditing of the association's accounts, the appointment of auditors, and the lack of audited accounts for 2022. The trustees also seek to discuss alleged unauthorised county‑level accounts, pre‑signed cheques, a €30,000 tax settlement following a protected disclosure, potential GDPR‑related data destruction, and why they were censured for questioning the 2019 accounts. They argue that the council's refusal to include these motions effectively "gags" them and could damage the organisation.
Elizabeth Theresa Mansfield, a retired nurse and full‑time carer, brought a High Court action against Pepper Finance Corporation (Ireland) DAC, its receiver Sharon Barrett of Kroll Advisory, and auctioneer Ger Carmody Auctioneers, claiming that the receiver was attempting to sell her fully paid apartment at Kings Court Apartments, Manor West, Tralee, Co Kerry. Mansfield said she had repaid the €82,000 mortgage in full in early November after retiring, yet the receiver had not withdrawn the property from sale and had failed to engage with her. She also alleged she was owed €13,000 from rental income and that the management company had not communicated with her. The case was resolved after settlement: the property would no longer be sold, the receiver discharged, and Pepper would receive rental income. The High Court struck out the proceedings, praising the parties' efforts for a sensible resolution.
In a High Court case, Garvagh Homes Limited claims ownership of several Dublin 7 properties, including a former carpet showroom and a garage, and alleges they have been unlawfully occupied by trespassers for months. The company says the occupants are using the sites for raves, gigs, Irish language classes, herbal workshops, fitness classes and selling alcohol, all advertised on social media. Garvagh also cites a recent fire safety notice from Dublin City Council that will take effect on 8 December. The company seeks injunctions to force occupants to vacate, stop trespassing and hand over possession. Named defendants, including Shane O'Brien, Jem Cleaver, Emily Martin and others, deny the allegations, claim valid agreements to reside, and contest the safety and alcohol claims. Judge Rory Mulchay granted a temporary limited injunction restraining the named defendants from activities on the properties but did not order immediate eviction, noting the fire safety notice and awaiting the full injunction application before Christmas.
In a trial before Mr Justice Alexander Owens, a 59‑year‑old complainant described feeling helpless and unable to react when he woke to find the accused man, who is unnamed for legal reasons, sexually assaulting him. The complainant said he had gone to a friend's house in early 1994 for a drink, where he unexpectedly met the accused. He later went to bed in a double bed with the accused, both in boxer shorts, and slept on the right side of the bed. He claimed he woke to his face and neck being licked, with the accused's hard penis against his bottom and a foot grappling his boxer shorts. He said the accused was gyrating against him. The complainant also stated he did not confront the accused the next morning and that he was in a state of semi‑freeze, looking down on himself and unable to react. The unnamed 59-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Darren Martin, aged 48, of Bride Road, Dublin 8, has been sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his guilty pleas to two robberies of elderly women in March 2022. The offences occurred in Dublin 8, where Martin targeted women in their 80s on consecutive days, snatching handbags and a walking stick. Judge Elma Sheahan noted that Martin had robbed the victims not only of property but of their peace of mind. Martin's previous convictions for robbery and other offences were cited as aggravating factors. The court heard evidence of the distress caused to both women. The defence noted Martin's struggles with drug addiction and mental health difficulties. Martin received credit for time already spent in custody.
Chantal Johnston, 37, of Clonard Road in Crumlin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm and dangerous driving. The charges relate to an incident at Domino's Pizza on the Crumlin Road in the early hours of July 9, 2022. Prosecutors alleged that Johnston racially abused a part-time delivery driver, calling him a "bloody foreigner" and a "little Paki," before pushing, punching, kicking, and biting him. She was further accused of driving her car toward the victim in a threatening manner and threatening to kill him. The victim, who described the attack as being like a "vicious animal," stated in a victim impact statement that the racially motivated incident caused him lasting physical pain, anxiety, and depression. Defense counsel Seoirse Ó Dúnlaing BL submitted that Johnston, a mother of two, had taken an excessive amount of anti-depressants and was under the influence. He offered a fulsome apology and noted she had no previous convictions. Judge Orla Crowe expressed disappointment with the apology, stating she was "utterly underwhelmed" given the personalized and racial nature of the attack. The judge agreed to defer the sentence and ordered a probation report, suggesting probation services might propose a form of restorative justice. The matter was adjourned for finalisation to March 11 next year.
During the inquest into the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire, a patron named Stephen Keogh testified that he saw about six male youths scuffling near the area where the blaze began. He described a small flame appearing a few minutes later, followed by the ceiling engulfing in flames. Keogh recounted seeing a girl running toward exit two in a ball of flame, and his attempt to open an exit door that failed. He later heard a youth, described as about 16‑17 years old, 5‑3 inches tall, well‑built with reddish blond hair, say, "It's alright, I know who started it." Keogh also noted that the youths and two others moved toward the main entrance searching for the person who had started the fire. The testimony was read into the record at the Dublin District Coroner's Court as part of the inquest into the fatal blaze that killed 48 people.
In November 2023 the Court of Appeal ruled that the quashing of Darren Thompson's gang‑rape conviction was not a miscarriage of justice. Thompson, 30, had been jailed for six years with two years suspended after a 2017 jury conviction for raping a 21‑year‑old nightclub patron. In 2020 the conviction was overturned when the Director of Public Prosecutions did not oppose his application, but no retrial was ordered. Thompson's lawyers sought a miscarriage‑of‑justice certificate under Section 9 of the Criminal Procedure Act, arguing that undisclosed Garda and Tusla documents – relating to unfounded child‑sexual‑abuse complaints made by the complainant – were a newly discovered fact. The three‑judge panel found the failure to disclose was a "human error", not bad faith, and that the material would not have been decisive. Consequently the court denied the certificate, stating the error did not amount to a fundamental defect in the administration of justice. Darren Thompson pleaded not guilty.
In November 2023 the Court of Appeal rejected a mother's attempt to set aside her guilty plea for harassing a doctor at Temple Street Hospital. Marlies Walsh, 51, had pleaded guilty in 2022 to one count of harassment after repeatedly contacting the doctor by phone and email between 2017 and 2020 while her son awaited a kidney transplant. She argued that she was under duress and that her lawyers had given ineffective assistance, but the appeal court found no evidence of coercion or inadequate representation. The court noted that Walsh had been under significant stress but had understood the implications of her plea. The judge also dismissed her claim that the Garda investigation was flawed, stating that such matters were for trial. Walsh will appeal the severity of her suspended two‑year sentence at a later hearing.
Paul Wells Snr, aged 55, was convicted of murder after shooting Kenneth O'Brien in the back of the head and dismembering him with a chainsaw, disposing of the torso in a suitcase found in the Grand Canal. He claimed self‑defence, arguing he shot O'Brien when the gun fell and he feared being shot. His lawyers argued the trial judge's charge to the jury was incoherent and that the burden of proof was reversed. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, stating the judge had adequately instructed the jury on self‑defence and that no fundamental injustice had occurred. Wells was sentenced to life imprisonment in November 2018, with no mention of a suspended portion or effective custody in the article. The case involved the discovery of O'Brien's torso and other body parts in the canal, and a history of financial transfers between the parties. The appeal was rejected in its entirety.
Patrick McNamee, 42, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for stealing €200 from a 69‑year‑old wheelchair user in Cork. McNamee, who has 190 prior convictions, pretended to be a home carer, entered the victim's home uninvited, forced him into a wheelchair, and took him to a local Spar shop to collect his pension. He later returned to the house, found the pension withdrawn, and took the cash from the victim's armchair. The victim did not file a victim impact statement. McNamee admitted the theft, apologized, and claimed drug addiction had influenced his actions. The judge, after considering his personal circumstances and prison conduct, reduced a headline sentence of six years to the current term, backdated to June 26.
Leeanda Farrelly, aged 49, admitted on 29 November 2023 that she posted a Facebook photo on 19 June 2019 of 'Boy A', one of the two 13‑year‑old boys who murdered 14‑year‑old Ana Kriégel in May 2018. The photo was likely to lead to his identification, contravening the Children Act's prohibition on publishing images that could identify child offenders. Farrelly will be sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 22 February next year. The case remains at the sentencing stage, with no further judicial outcome reported in the article. Leeanda Farrelly pleaded guilty.
Marie Hogan, a survivor of the Stardust nightclub fire, testified at an inquest about the moment she realised her husband Eugene 'Hughie' Hogan (24) was dead. She described the fire's rapid spread, the smell of burning, and the collapse of the roof where they had been seated. Hogan recounted being pushed through blocked exits, the smoke filling the room, and a young man pulling her out while others were trapped. She noted that the roof collapsed over the spot where Hughie had been, confirming his death. Hogan also mentioned finding Eugene's brother Bernard in hospital with burns. The inquest heard additional accounts from Doreen Desmond and Joan Melia, detailing the fire's speed, the blocked exits, and the chaotic escape. The hearing continues tomorrow at the Rotunda Hospital.
Antoinette Geoghegan, 37, of Cushlawn Park, Tallaght, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a controlled drug for sale and supply on 15 February 2022, and to possession of €2,180 as proceeds of crime. A Garda raid on her home uncovered a schoolbag near the front door containing 11 large bags and 24 smaller packets of heroin, totalling 341 g and valued at €47,782. The bag also held 41 g of crack cocaine, valued at €2,887, €2,180 in cash, weighing scales and two mobile phones. Geoghegan admitted she was holding the heroin for others and that she intended to sell the crack cocaine. She has two prior convictions, including assault causing harm in 2005. The court adjourned the case to 22 March 2024 for finalisation, with a probation report to be prepared.
During the Stardust inquest, David Browne, a 19‑year‑old DJ, recounted being trapped in the club's toilets with his girlfriend when a wall suddenly cracked open, revealing a corridor and flames. He described hearing "things crashing on top of us" as the fire closed in, and the pair hearing water from outside, likely fire‑men's hoses. They struggled through the corridor, saw light, heard ambulances, and collapsed at exit three, which was open. They were pulled over a wall onto grass, taken in a blue van, and brought to Mater Hospital. Browne's testimony, read into the record, details the sequence of events from the fire's onset to their escape and medical treatment. The inquest also heard other survivors' accounts of locked exits, falling ceiling tiles, and the chaotic escape from the blaze. The proceedings continue tomorrow.
In a trial before Mr Justice Alexander Owens, a 59‑year‑old man accused of sexually assaulting six young men pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault. A second complainant, who turned 18 in 1991 and attended college in Dublin, testified that he was asleep in a shared house when the accused performed oral sex on him. The complainant said he woke to the act, froze for a few seconds, and did not react or speak, fearing a scene. He denied consenting, stating he was asleep. The accused's defence argued the complainant's body language indicated consent, but the complainant rejected this claim. The complainant also stated he had no memory of the next day and never returned to the house. The trial continues with the jury hearing the case.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Kim Ng Swan, 59, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing the death of Deliveroo motorcyclist Jose Eduardo Silba Pereira, 36, who was killed on Kimmage Road West on 30 December 2021. Dashcam footage showed Swan turning right into the path of Pereira's motorbike, which collided with her car and threw him from the bike, resulting in fatal injuries. The court heard that the collision occurred in wet, rainy conditions and that Pereira was travelling at about 80 km/h in a 50 km/h zone. Swan was extremely distressed, remained in her car in shock until Gardaí arrived, and offered "unqualified cooperation" with the investigation. Pereira's family, including his sister and widow, expressed no anger toward Swan and spoke of forgiveness and the pain of loss. The judge adjourned the matter for finalisation and remanded Swan on continuing bail. Outside court, Swan embraced the family members of the deceased.
Keith McDonnell, aged 34, was sentenced to three years in prison for exposing himself to a female Garda and making threats to kill or seriously harm two Garda officers during an arrest in a Garda van. McDonnell pleaded guilty to two counts of making threats to kill or cause serious harm. The judge noted his history of homelessness from age eight, early substance use, and ongoing addiction, citing a letter from his partner about the impact on their family. McDonnell's behaviour was described as misogynistic, vile, and appalling, with threats that were real, credible and nasty. The judge considered mitigating factors, including his guilty plea, and imposed a three‑year sentence, reduced from a headline four‑year sentence. The case involved a Garda operation at La Touche Drive, where McDonnell had been verbally aggressive, physically threatened officers, and was ultimately arrested and transported to the station in a Garda van.
A 35‑year‑old Dublin man, Eoin Prizeman, was sentenced to a fully suspended 12‑month term for possessing child pornography after a Facebook account he managed posted a video of an adult raping a boy aged nine or ten. Gardaí discovered 276 videos of child abuse on his Samsung phone, including a disturbing clip of a six‑ to 12‑month‑old infant tied to a makeshift bed and bound. Prizeman pleaded guilty and expressed remorse, noting he had not deleted the videos because he wanted to keep contact with the sender. He had no prior convictions and was found to be at low risk of reoffending. Judge Orla Crowe accepted the mitigating factors and imposed a 12‑month sentence suspended for three years, subject to strict conditions such as keeping the peace, good behaviour and engaging with the Probation Service. The case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Court.
A 23‑year‑old Dublin man, Josh Reidy, pleaded guilty to possessing more than €19,000 as proceeds of crime in two smishing frauds that occurred in August 2021 and July 2022. Smishing involves sending text messages with fake links that redirect money to other accounts. Bank of Ireland recovered all but €900 of the first €19,421 withdrawal and €18,973 of the second €19,877 withdrawal, leaving victims with losses of €900 and €904 respectively. Gardaí traced the beneficiary accounts to Reidy, who was living on Sundrive Road and later at Landsdowne Gate apartments. He claimed a €3,000 drug debt and said he had been forced to provide his passport and mobile details to pay it off. The court accepted his cooperation and the threat he faced, and imposed an 18‑month suspended sentence with strict conditions, including continued drug rehabilitation.
In a Workplace Relations Commission hearing, Brendan Ogle, a senior Unite official in Ireland, alleges discrimination and whistleblower penalisation by the union. He claims exclusion from promotion due to his cancer, discriminatory harassment, failure to provide reasonable accommodation, and penalisation for protected disclosures under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, Health Act 2004 and Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2004. The union denies all allegations. The case is scheduled for eight days of evidence and pleadings, with over a dozen witnesses, including Unite's general secretary Sharon Graham, former general secretary Len McCluskey, former ICTU president John Douglas, and others. Ogle's legal team seeks time to submit a 16‑page legal submission and additional documents. The adjudicator has adjourned the hearing to a three‑day block in the new year, anticipating a lengthy process. Ogle is accompanied by his wife and supporters.
A mechanic, Xhevair Ibraj, aged 42, was caught by Gardaí during a routine patrol in West Dublin when he was receiving a Lidl bag from a co‑accused. The bag, later found to contain cocaine, was discovered in the footwell of his car. Gardaí also seized another package of cocaine, bringing the combined street value of the drugs to €139,132. Ibraj pleaded guilty to one count of possessing drugs for sale or supply on 17 March 2020. He had no prior convictions. His co‑accused, who pleaded guilty to a more serious drugs charge, had previously served a four‑year sentence. Ibraj was described by defence counsel as a hardworking family man with no signs of wealth. The court sentenced him to two years' imprisonment for his role in the drug handover.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 71‑year‑old man was found guilty of 28 counts of rape, oral rape, anal rape and 19 counts of sexual assault against his granddaughter between 2008 and 2012. The abuse began shortly before the girl's First Holy Communion when the man, while renovating a shed, forced her to perform oral sex on him; she was aged seven or eight. Over the next four years he repeatedly took her to a shed, a car and a mobile home to force her to masturbate, orally rape and attempt penetrative sex. He gave her money after each incident. The abuse ended when a friend informed her mother on New Year's Eve 2012, and the case was reported to the gardai in January 2013. The victim, now grown, gave a victim impact statement describing the daily abuse and the lasting trauma. The court adjourned the case for finalisation on 5 December 2023.
Amadea McDermott, aged 27, was killed by her partner Martin Hayes, aged 34, who was sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison for manslaughter. The judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, described the killing as a clear case of domestic violence, noting that Hayes had tracked Amadea's movements with a secret app, made menacing videos accusing her of incest, and had a history of aggressive behaviour. Amadea suffered a single stab wound to the abdomen, causing substantial blood loss, and had recent bruises on her limbs and face, evidence of physical abuse. Hayes pleaded not guilty to murder but was found guilty of manslaughter by a majority verdict. The sentence was back‑dated to the date of his first custody in 2022. The McDermott family, led by Amadea's sister Eucharia, called for stricter laws on coercive control and domestic abuse, condemning Hayes as a violent, deranged monster and urging the nation to protect women from such abuse. Martin Hayes was acquitted.
During the Stardust inquest, Patricia O'Connor recounted how her friend Caroline Carey, who was pregnant, was initially not allowed to attend the club but was permitted after her mother's appeal, on condition she return home after the dance competition. O'Connor described the chaos as the lights went out, flames and smoke engulfed the club, and she struggled to escape, sustaining third‑degree burns over 52% of her body. She recalled hearing frantic cries for help, the doors being locked and chained, and the eventual opening from the outside. Witnesses testified to the thick smoke, the collapse of the ceiling, and the desperate attempts to rescue trapped patrons. The testimony highlighted the terrifying conditions and the tragic loss of 48 young lives on Valentine's Day 1981.
In a sophisticated operation, Andrew Lawlor (38) was caught with €1.2 million of cocaine hidden in a modified compartment of his van. He had originally pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply and was sentenced by Trim Circuit Court to four and a half years' imprisonment, with the final two and a half years suspended. The Court of Appeal, finding the headline sentence of six and a half years unduly lenient, quashed the original sentence and re‑sentenced Lawlor to seven and a half years, of which three and a half years were suspended. The final imposed term is four years' imprisonment. Lawlor, a father of two, had pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, and had been drug‑free and training to become a drug counsellor at the time of sentencing. The appeal was brought by the State, arguing the value and sophisticated concealment of the drugs warranted a higher headline sentence.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, counsel for a 59‑year‑old man accused of attempted rape and eight sexual assaults between 1991 and 1997 argued that no assault occurred against the first complainant, who was 18 in November 1997. The complainant testified that he slept in the accused's bed and that the accused's mouth made contact with his penis. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC cross‑examined the witness, asserting that any wrongdoing was denied by the accused and that if anything happened it was "something someone was doing while asleep." The complainant disputed this, stating he had run home after the incident and later told his mother he had been raped, though he now acknowledges that his memory of the event was altered over time. The case remains before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury. The unnamed 59-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 39‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to raping a young woman after a Dublin party in June 2022. The woman, who was heavily intoxicated, was carried into a room where she awoke with the accused in bed and realized she had been raped. She described being shamed by her community, with people blaming her and claiming she was at fault. The accused denied taking advantage of her, insisting she was in a state to consent, but the garda and defence agreed she had no recollection and could not consent. The accused expressed remorse, acknowledging responsibility and promising to carry the shame of his actions. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon adjourned sentencing to February to allow further consideration of the case. The court heard CCTV footage and testimonies supporting the victim's account. The accused has no prior convictions and is assessed as low risk of reoffending.
During the trial of former Michael Lynn solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 55, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Ms Fiona McAleenan repeatedly denied any involvement in conveyancing within the firm. She was called to the stand for a third day and cross‑examined by defence counsel Paul Comiskey O'Keeffe BL. The prosecution presented internal emails and office documents suggesting Ms McAleenan received weekly conveyancing reports, which she denied remembering. She claimed she had no staff and that Mr Lynn was the principal solicitor, stating she performed her work properly and that no issues were raised with her litigation files. Defence counsel highlighted a memo from Mr Lynn in March 2007 requesting her to manage all files and a May 2007 email indicating she would take control of litigation matters. Ms McAleenan maintained she was not involved in conveyancing, offering to call witnesses who could confirm this. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, continues with the jury hearing the evidence. Fiona McAleenan pleaded not guilty.
In a 2023 appeal, Gezim Idrizi, a 38‑year‑old security provider, failed to overturn a February 2023 conviction for assault causing harm. The appeal argued that the jury had no evidence about the DNA‑extraction machine used at the scene. The court held that the DNA evidence, extracted by a liquid‑handling unit and analysed by Ms Sarah Fleming of Forensic Science Ireland, was admissible and accurate. The judge noted that the machine was merely a physical aid and that Ms Fleming personally analysed the DNA. The appeal was dismissed. Idrizi had been sentenced to three years and nine months' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended for two years. The case involved a serious assault at a GZ Security office in Dublin 11, where the victim was bound, struck, and left for a hospital. The trial concluded that the assault was prolonged and involved multiple assailants. Gezim Idrizi pleaded not guilty and was acquitted.
A homeless Afghan man has brought a High Court challenge against Waterford City and County Council, alleging unlawful treatment under the 1988 Housing Act. The applicant, who fled Afghanistan in 2019 and was granted asylum in 2022, claims he was wrongly deemed to have refused accommodation because an offer was not explained in his native language due to his limited English. He alleges the council only provides four emergency beds for single men, forcing him to sleep in his car when unavailable, and that the emergency accommodation consists of unheated rooms with pull-out beds or couches available only after 9pm. The man seeks orders compelling the council to provide suitable accommodation and to lawfully reconsider his needs. He further seeks declarations that the council's alleged policy regarding emergency beds is unlawful and that his Constitutional and ECHR rights are not being vindicated. The matter came before Ms Justice Niamh Hyland on Monday. On an ex-parte basis, the judge granted the man permission to bring his judicial review challenge. The matter was adjourned and will return before the court next month.
Dermott Brett, 56, was found guilty of raping a 20‑year‑old university student in a Dublin hotel on 11 January 2019. The victim, described as vulnerable and intoxicated, was taken from a pub to Brett's hotel room where she was raped and offered cocaine. CCTV footage showed Brett's arrival, the victim's drunken state, and the taxi incidents. Brett pleaded not guilty but was convicted in May 2023 and maintains his innocence. He has one prior traffic conviction. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon sentenced him to nine years' imprisonment, suspending the final year on strict conditions, including probation and a sex‑offender treatment programme. He was placed on the sex‑offender register. The victim suffered PTSD and academic disruption, and her impact statement highlighted profound loss of independence and trust.
In a trial held on 24 November 2023, Michael Lynn, aged 55, faced 21 counts of theft for allegedly stealing about €27 million from seven banks between October 2006 and April 2007. The prosecution argued that Lynn secured multiple mortgages on the same properties without banks knowing other institutions were financing them, and that he stole €2.7 million from Bank of Ireland in December 2006. Witness Arthur King, a Bank of Ireland employee, was cross‑examined about internal emails from March 2004 in which a head‑office official suggested Lynn should be referred to the Law Society. Lynn denied knowledge of the emails. The trial also examined testimony from former solicitor Fiona McAleenan, who resigned in 2007 and later sought advice from the Law Society after receiving letters from banks about shared property charges. The case continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Craig O'Brien, aged 28, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to social media influencer Charleen Murphy on 10 February at the Grafton Capital Hotel. O'Brien, who has ten prior convictions including two for assault, struck Murphy from behind, delivering a blow to the back of her head that caused facial injuries and a forehead wound. CCTV footage was described by Judge Orla Crowe as "absolutely shocking". The judge noted no prior animosity between the parties and highlighted the unprovoked nature of the attack. O'Brien was sentenced to two years and three months, with nine months suspended for 18 months, and ordered to remain under probation supervision for 18 months. He must also refrain from any contact with Murphy and keep a 50‑metre distance for five years after release. The court recorded Murphy's victim impact statement, detailing ongoing nightmares, panic attacks and a sense of being "a shell of herself.".
Gerard Cervi has been found guilty of murdering Robert 'Bobby' Messett at the Bray Boxing Club in Co Wicklow on June 5, 2018. The Central Criminal Court jury unanimously accepted the prosecution's case that Cervi fired nine shots into the gym, killing the 50-year-old father of three. However, Cervi was acquitted of the alleged attempted murders of boxing coach Pete Taylor and Ian Britton, who were injured during the same incident. Cervi, who has no previous convictions, had pleaded not guilty to all charges. Following the verdict, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor remanded Cervi in custody until December 1, when she will hand down the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment. On that date, the Messett family will also have the opportunity to make a statement regarding the impact of the death. The judge offered her condolences to the family, praising their dignity throughout the trial. This verdict concludes a two-year period involving two trials that lasted a combined 17 weeks. The first trial collapsed in 2021 due to juror illness, while the second trial faced significant pre-trial legal issues. In a related procedural matter, the Court of Appeal previously considered Cervi's bail application, noting the difficulty of the case but ultimately keeping him in custody as a trial date was secured.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Gerry Daly, 57, was found not guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of Jacqueline Griffin, 39, in a fatal M50 collision on 24 January 2019. The jury, after six hours and fifty minutes of deliberation, accepted the defence's argument that Daly's type‑one diabetes had severely impaired his judgment, preventing a conscious decision to drive. Expert testimony from a consultant endocrinologist who had supervised Daly for over a decade confirmed that his blood glucose was well below normal, likely causing confusion and a loss of consciousness. Evidence indicated Daly's vehicle was travelling between 138 and 151 km/h at the time of the crash, which involved a high‑speed collision with a truck and a subsequent roll‑over of Griffin's car, resulting in catastrophic head injuries and her instant death.
A man appeared at the doorway of Bray Boxing Club in County Donegal on the morning of 5 June 2018, dressed in high-visibility clothing and a balaclava, armed with a firearm. During a strength and conditioning class, he discharged multiple shots into the gym. Bobby Messett, a 50-year-old father of three, was fatally wounded. Boxing coach Pete Taylor was also shot but survived his injuries, which included a bullet wound to his chest and bicep. Witnesses described the gunman scanning the room between shots and firing in a sweeping motion across the gym. Several class participants, including a 16-year-old student and other regular attendees, were present during the incident. Taylor was taken to hospital for surgery and required extended medical recovery. The case has proceeded through the Central Criminal Court, with Gerard Cervi facing trial in connection with the shooting. The incident left multiple witnesses traumatised and the local boxing community devastated by Messett's death.
A 59‑year‑old man, who cannot be named, pleaded not guilty to one count of attempted anal rape and eight counts of sexual assault, alleged to have occurred between March 1991 and November 1997 in County Dublin. He testified that in November 1997 he stayed at his teacher's home, was told to sleep on the bedroom floor, and later woke to find the teacher touching him. He described feeling "like an out‑of‑body experience" and freezing, then attempting to flee and physically confronting the teacher. He claimed he had not consented. He reported the incident to his mother, who contacted the school principal, who later asked him to write a statement. He did not give a police statement until 2019, saying he was not mature enough earlier. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury, expected to last about four weeks.
During the multi‑million euro theft trial of Michael Lynn, a solicitor who had worked in his practice testified that Ms Fiona McAleenan was never a partner in the firm. McAleenan denied that another legal executive had been authorised to sign her name and claimed she had not consented to such action. She said she had been involved in negotiations about becoming a partner but was ultimately advised not to proceed. McAleenan also stated that she had not signed the solicitor's letters of undertaking that were presented as her work, and that any signatures on those documents were made by former executive Liz Doyle. She maintained that she had not sent an email to a bank manager claiming partnership status and suggested that someone else may have used her account. The prosecution alleges that Lynn obtained multiple mortgages on the same properties, with several banks unaware of the other institutions' financing. Fiona McAleenan pleaded not guilty.
Five family members were sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after gardaí uncovered a drug-dealing operation during raids on a Finglas home. Judge Orla Crowe handed Anthony Robinson an effective global sentence of two years for all offences, with the final six months suspended, taking into account his age and health difficulties. He had admitted possessing cocaine and heroin for sale or supply, allowing his premises to be used for drug dealing, and obstructing the work of gardaí. His son, Christopher Robinson, pleaded guilty to possessing €8,680 worth of heroin for sale or supply and obstructing a drug search. He received an effective sentence of 18 months and was ordered to be of good behaviour for three years. Caroline Robinson, who pleaded guilty to allowing her premises to be used for drug dealing, was given a two-year fully suspended sentence and ordered to keep the peace for four years. Paul Archibold, who admitted to possessing cannabis, received a 12-month suspended sentence. Kyle Cooney, who admitted to possessing drugs and obstructing gardaí, was handed a 12-month suspended sentence and ordered to keep the peace for three years. The court noted that all defendants had taken responsibility for their actions, with some citing debt clearance as a motive.
Charlie Darcy (35), of John's Lane West, Dublin 8, appeared before Judge Orla Crowe in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court at the sentencing stage. He pleaded guilty to counts of taking a vehicle without consent and possession of stolen property on separate occasions between December 14 and 16, 2021. The court heard that Darcy was on bail for the burglary of the Marble Arch pub in Drimnagh, for which he previously pleaded guilty, as well as for possession of a firearm at Longs Place, Dublin 8, on December 18, 2021. Darcy and his accomplice in the pub break-in, Jason Paget (35), were both jailed for four and a half years for those earlier offences. For the current charges, Judge Crowe imposed a consecutive two-year sentence. The court noted that Darcy is currently in custody serving the sentence for the Marble Arch burglary and will begin the new two-year term upon its conclusion early next year. Defense counsel Keith Spencer BL stated that Darcy was under pressure to repay a debt and struggling with addiction, but noted he has tried to better himself in custody. The judge acknowledged Darcy's good conduct and academic achievements while imposing the sentence.
David Mantle, 45, a drug addict with 111 prior convictions, was sentenced by Judge Elma Sheahan in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to six years and three months' imprisonment, with the last six months suspended for 12 months. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on 21 October 2021, when he attacked a man on St Agnes Road, Crumlin with a dog chain, and to robbery on 26 November 2022, when he and another man robbed a pharmacy in Ranelagh with a screwdriver, stealing €470 in cash, medication, headsets and a mobile phone. Garda evidence showed the assault victim had blood on his face and cuts to his forehead and back of his head, requiring stitches at St James's Hospital. The court noted Mantle's long‑standing drug problems and his attempts to detox, but also his 111 previous convictions, including assault, robbery and drug possession.
Michael Olohan, a former European figure‑skating gold‑medallist, was described as a "gentle soul" by his sister after a jury found Sean Murphy not guilty of murder by reason of insanity. Murphy, 29, stabbed Olohan to death in August 2020 while they shared an apartment in a low‑support step‑down centre run by St Vincent's Hospital Mental Health Services in Clontarf. The jury heard that Murphy suffered from a severe obsessive‑compulsive disorder (OCD) with psychotic features, which led him to believe that killing would prevent him from going to hell and avert a catastrophe. Two psychiatrists testified that Murphy's OCD was acute and that he could not resist the urge to kill. The jury accepted this evidence and returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. Justice Mary Ellen Ring remanded Murphy to the Central Mental Hospital for further psychiatric assessment.
The inquest into the 1981 Stardust fire, held at the Rotunda Hospital, was adjourned early because some attendees may have witnessed a knife attack on three children and a woman that afternoon. Dr Myra Cullinane told the jury that a "tragic event" had occurred near the hospital grounds and a major Garda investigation was ongoing, so it was not appropriate to proceed. The inquest had been scheduled to continue, but was postponed until 1 pm the next day. The adjournment was made to protect witnesses who might have seen the incident. The hearing will resume tomorrow in the Pillar Room of the Rotunda Hospital. The article does not report any further developments or outcomes of the inquest.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Gerard Cervi, 36, has reached the jury deliberation stage. Cervi, from Dublin 3, pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Robert 'Bobby' Messett and the alleged attempted murders of Pete Taylor and Ian Britton at Bray Boxing Club on June 5, 2018. The prosecution alleged that Cervi was the gunman who fired nine shots, citing CCTV footage of his movements and his DNA and fingerprints found in a Volkswagen Caddy van allegedly used in the attack. Defence counsel argued that a garda's retracted statements indicated investigative irregularities and asserted that there was no evidence linking Cervi to the shooting. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor charged the jury last Friday, instructing them to consider each count separately and reach unanimous verdicts. The jury, comprising six men and six women, began deliberations on Wednesday afternoon. After spending five hours and 51 minutes in discussion, the judge adjourned the proceedings for the evening. The jury was instructed to resume deliberations at the Central Criminal Court at 10.30am the following day. They were reminded not to discuss the case, conduct online research, or engage with social media regarding the trial. The matter remains ongoing as the jury continues to consider their verdicts.
A south Dublin car dealership, trading as Sandyford Motor Centre, was ordered to pay €28,000 to Abbie Walsh, a 19‑year‑old saleswoman who was dismissed in May 2023. Walsh claimed she was pregnant and that the dealership's management knew of her pregnancy after she informed her former line manager. The company had told her she was not expected to meet a target of 60 cars in the first quarter, a figure that applied to senior staff, and that she was in an apprenticeship role. An adjudicator found the management's defence uncredible, concluded the dealership had become aware of her pregnancy, and ruled that the dismissal was discriminatory under the Employment Equality Act 1998. The compensation was awarded to address the discriminatory treatment and deter future misconduct.
A bouncer at Club Lapello, a Dublin 2 strip club, was dismissed after repeatedly arriving late to shifts, costing the club and its self‑employed dancers significant income. The worker, Aybars Bayram, claimed he was often 10–15 minutes late and that the club's operations director, Ciaran O'Flynn, had issued a written warning on 8 July 2022 and dismissed him on 14 July 2022 after a 45‑minute lateness. Bayram denied any link between his dismissal and a prior incident with a Garda sergeant, stating he had no interaction with Gardaí. The adjudicator, David James Murphy, found no evidence that Bayram was given a chance to respond to the allegations and awarded him one week's wages (€680) as compensation for unfair dismissal, after reducing the claim to a month's lost earnings and applying a 75% reduction to the lost earnings.
During the multi‑million euro trial of Michael Lynn, former INBS senior manager Brian Fitzgibbon testified that he had never met or spoken to Lynn in any capacity, contradicting Lynn's earlier claim of repeated meetings. Fitzgibbon, who had the discretion to approve loan facilities when chief executive Michael Fingleton was unavailable, denied approving Lynn's €4.1 million mortgage for the Glenlion property in Howth. He said the loan was ultimately presented to Fingleton, who signed minimal documentation. Lynn, aged 55, faces 21 counts of theft for €27 million stolen from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, continues with the jury hearing evidence from INBS, Danske Bank, Ulster Bank, Rabobank and others regarding Lynn's alleged fraudulent loans. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
Soufiane Mountassir, 39, was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a violent assault on his former partner that left her with severe injuries and lasting trauma. The court heard that Mountassir, who claimed to be Moroccan, had been drinking, taking Dalmane, cocaine and cannabis during the incident. He forced the woman into a car boot, repeatedly punched and smashed her face against the vehicle's interior, and drove the car onto the footpath, damaging the wheel. Witnesses described the attack as a "blind rage" and reported blood on the car's interior and the victim's clothing. Mountassir pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and assault causing harm. He is also wanted in Germany for an arson offence and is due before the European Arrest Warrant court on Monday. The case will be finalised on 21 December 2023.