During the inquest into the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire that killed 48 people, the jury heard that an insurance company's fire surveyor, Richard Williams, had deemed the building a "pretty horrendous" fire risk. Williams, who had worked for Hibernian Insurance from 1961 to 1997, declined to quote for fire insurance in 1979 after reading a fire survey. In 1981 he was appointed a fire surveyor and reported that the nightclub's new cold room, built with aluminium and polystyrene foam insulation, was highly combustible. He also noted that a push bar exit was chained and that walls were covered with polystyrene tiles and a false ceiling of polystyrene. Williams' testimony, read into the record, was to be continued the following day. The inquest also heard witness accounts of the fire's rapid spread, the difficulty of opening chained exits, and the chaotic crowd conditions a few weeks before the blaze.
The jury in the trial of Gerry Daly, 57, of Derby Lodge, Brownstown, The Curragh, Kildare, has begun deliberations after the court heard that Daly was charged with dangerous driving causing the death of Jacqueline Griffin, 39, at junction five of the M50 on 24 January 2019. The prosecution alleged that Daly's collision forced Griffin into crash barriers, resulting in her instant death from catastrophic head injuries. Daly pleaded not guilty. In his closing speech, defence counsel Roderick O'Hanlon argued that Daly was in an autonomous condition due to diabetes and extremely low blood sugar, which he claimed impaired brain function and awareness at the time of the crash. O'Hanlon said Daly could not have known where he was or what had happened. Prosecuting counsel Garnet Orange countered that the automatism defence was unsuitable, noting that Daly had known how to manage his diabetes and had failed to take simple precautions to avoid the danger.
Paul Farrell, 37, a former Revenue worker, was arrested after Gardaí searched his home on 7 July and seized vacuum‑sealed cannabis worth €104,572, along with scales and bagging material. He admitted owning the drugs, claiming he held them to pay a €6,000 cocaine debt that had cost him up to €200 a week and led to his job loss. Farrell pleaded guilty, stating he was not a major player and had been forced into the trade. He has 19 minor convictions, all traffic offences, and has no criminal background. The court heard character references describing him as a caring volunteer coach at Crumlin Boxing Club and a dedicated family man. He expressed remorse, citing a relative's death as a turning point, and the judge ordered him to undergo regular urine analysis until the case is finalized on 5 March.
A jury will return to the Central Criminal Court tomorrow to consider their verdict in the trial of a man with obsessive compulsive disorder who stabbed his housemate to death because he believed he would go to hell if he did not. Sean Murphy (29) with an address at Bradóg Court, St Lawrence Road, Clontarf, Dublin 3, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Olohan (35) at the apartment they shared on St Lawrence Road on August 13, 2020. Mr Olohan is originally from Poppintree in Ballymun, north Dublin. The jury of six men and six women began their deliberations this morning, having begun hearing evidence last week. The trial heard that at the time of the stabbing the accused and deceased lived together at Bradóg Court in a "step-down independent living facility" run by St Vincent's Hospital Psychiatric Services. Sean Murphy was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
A man convicted of murder has sought a stay on extradition proceedings pending the outcome of his application to transfer his prison sentence from Northern Ireland to the Republic. James Meehan (54), with addresses in Derry City and Kells, Co Meath, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2009 for the murder of Jim McFadden in May 2007 following an incident in Donegal. Meehan left Northern Ireland in October 2022 whilst on release conditions and later moved to Kells. He was arrested by arrangement in May this year on foot of extradition warrants. At the High Court hearing, his counsel argued that the punitive element of his sentence had been served and that determination of his sentence-transfer application, pending since 2017, should precede any extradition decision. The State's counsel contended he was unlawfully at large from temporary release and that court could not delay proceedings whilst a live prosecution existed in the North. Ms Justice Melanie Greally adjourned judgment to Friday, 8 December.
A jury of twelve, split evenly between men and women, is deliberating on the verdicts for Gerard Cervi, a 36‑year‑old from Dublin, who is accused of murdering Robert 'Bobby' Messett and attempting to murder coach Pete Taylor and Ian Britton at Bray Boxing Club on 5 June 2018. The jury has spent 1 hour 47 minutes on the first day of deliberations, having been called out at 2.13 pm. Justice Karen O'Connor addressed the jurors at 4 pm, urging them to pause for the evening and return tomorrow at 10.30 am to resume, and warned them not to discuss the case or use social media. She reminded them that they must consider each charge separately and that a unanimous verdict is required. The trial has heard CCTV evidence, DNA and fingerprints linking Cervi to a van used in the shooting, and the defence has alleged possible investigative misconduct. Cervi has pleaded not guilty to all counts.
The jury in the trial of a 59‑year‑old man accused of attempted rape and sexual assault of six young men, offences dating from March 1991 to November 1997 in County Dublin, was discharged after a juror said he could not continue. The defendant, who pleaded not guilty, is still named only as a 59‑year‑old. Mr Justice Alexander Owens discharged the jurors, and the trial is expected to restart with a new jury later today.
Michael Lynn, a former solicitor aged fifty-five from County Wicklow, continues his trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on charges of theft amounting to approximately twenty-seven million euro from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. He has pleaded not guilty to twenty-one counts of theft. The prosecution alleges that Mr Lynn obtained multiple mortgages on identical properties without the knowledge of the lending banks. A former Bank of Ireland official testified that loans sanctioned by him for Mr Lynn, including a Carrick-on-Shannon apartment development around 2003, could only be used for purposes specified in loan agreements. The witness stated his employment would have been at risk had he permitted unauthorised use of funds. Another Bank of Ireland witness denied allegations that he had agreed Mr Lynn could use borrowed money as he wished, and stated he had no recollection of meeting Mr Lynn. The trial before Judge Martin Nolan continues with jury present.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Gerry Daly, 57, pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Jacqueline Griffin on the M50. Defence counsel Roderick O'Hanlon argued that Daly was in an autonomous condition due to severe hypoglycaemia from his long‑term diabetes, claiming he could not consciously control his driving. O'Hanlon cited medical evidence of low blood glucose impairing brain function and described Daly as unaware of his surroundings. Prosecutor Garnet Orange countered that the automatism defence was unsuitable, noting Daly's knowledge of his condition and failure to take precautions. The jury heard a post‑mortem report stating Griffin died from catastrophic head injuries after her car was struck from the rear, CCTV footage, eyewitness accounts of a fast‑moving vehicle, and Dr Kevin Moore's expert testimony on Daly's impaired cognition. The case remains at the jury's deliberation stage.
A 59‑year‑old man, whose name is withheld for legal reasons, has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court for one count of attempted anal rape and eight counts of sexual assault committed between March 1991 and November 1997 in County Dublin. The prosecution, led by Anne‑Marie Lawlor SC, presented six complainants who claim they were each separately victimised by the accused. Four of the complainants were students of the accused's secondary school at the time, while the other two were acquaintances from his hometown. The alleged offences involved inappropriate touching, licking and oral sex, with five complainants stating they woke to find the accused performing oral sex on them and one claiming the accused attempted an anal rape after a prior oral act. The alleged incidents occurred at the accused's home, with one alleged assault taking place in a pub. The unnamed 59-year-old pleaded not guilty.
During the 1981 Stardust fire inquest, 18‑year‑old Anthony McDonald testified that the club's fuses blew "on a regular basis" because no electrician supervised the lighting and sound set‑up. He described moving 50‑60 light boxes, eight speakers, two record decks, a unit, four plugboards and an amp from a van into the venue, all routed through the plugboards. McDonald said he and Colm O'Brien assembled the equipment themselves, leaving it to operate on capacity. He recalled hearing a small flame on the stage, seeing it grow, and attempting to escape through exit three, which was locked that night despite usually being open. He also noted that the DJ van was parked against the steps, forcing patrons to jump over it to exit.
In November 2023, the joint liquidators of GTLK Europe DAC and GTLK Europe Capital DAC, two Irish subsidiaries of Russia's State‑owned leasing firm GTLK, filed High Court proceedings to stop the parent company, Joint Stock Company State Transport Leasing Company, from claiming ownership of 37 aircraft. The liquidators, represented by Stephen Byrne BL, argue that the parent's claim is based on pledge agreements signed in March 2022, before EU sanctions were imposed. They contend the agreements were intended to secure loans from the parent to GTLK Europe between 2017 and 2022, and that the parent seeks to enforce them to seize the aircraft under Russian law. The liquidators seek orders to set aside the pledge agreements, declare them void under Irish law, and affirm that the liquidators retain title to the aircraft. The case is set to return to the High Court next week.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 21 November 2023, the family of Amadea McDermott, aged 27, presented victim impact statements after her murder on 20 July 2017. The sisters, Olivia, Euphrasia, Eucharia and brother Zack, accused Martin Hayes, 34, of coercive control, physical abuse and a hidden phone tracker. They described the fatal stab wound to Amadea's abdomen and the extensive bruising found at the scene. Hayes had pleaded not guilty to murder but was found guilty of manslaughter by a majority verdict. The court heard that Hayes admitted using violence and had accessed Amadea's phone via a hidden app. He had also claimed Amadea had self‑harmed, a claim the prosecution rejected. The sentencing hearing was scheduled for 28 November 2023, with Hayes remanded in custody. The family urged the court to consider the abuse and the impact on their lives. The case remains in the Central Criminal Court. Martin Hayes was acquitted.
In the trial of Sean Murphy, 29, who stabbed his housemate Michael Olohan, 35, to death, the prosecution argues a not‑guilty‑by‑reason‑of‑insanity verdict, citing two psychiatrists who say Murphy was psychotic and unable to resist. The defence, however, maintains that Murphy has some criminal responsibility and should be found guilty of manslaughter due to diminished responsibility. Both sides agree Murphy suffered a severe mental illness, diagnosed as obsessive‑compulsive disorder with psychotic symptoms. The jury is instructed to consider whether Murphy's mental state negated all responsibility or merely reduced it. The case is set to be heard by a jury of twelve, with deliberations to begin the following day. The trial is ongoing and no verdict has yet been reached. Sean Murphy pleaded not guilty and was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
Matthew Coward, a former Swim Ireland coach aged 32, was sentenced to three years in prison for sexual exploitation and producing child abuse material. He secretly filmed three girls while they changed into swimming skins in his office, demanding they be completely naked. The court heard that the girls had "worshipped" him and that one girl's father reported her being recorded, leading to a Garda investigation and the discovery of nearly 80 videos on Coward's devices. Two videos were classified as child abuse material and seven as inappropriate. Coward pleaded guilty to six counts—three of sexual exploitation and three of producing child pornography—between September 2021 and February 2022. He received concurrent sentences of four and three years, with the final 12 months of the four‑year term suspended on strict conditions, including good behaviour for two years after release. Coward's plea of guilty and expression of remorse were taken into account by Judge Orla Crowe.
The Workplace Relations Commission dismissed a claim by Mark J Savage, who alleged that Facebook's ban of his account on 21 October 2021 was religious discrimination. Savage, an evangelical Christian, had used his Facebook page to accuse employees of a north Dublin retailer of child sexual offences and to claim that a politician was a sexual offender. He argued that the ban was a violation of the Equal Status Act and that Meta had treated a hypothetical gay comparator differently. The WRC found Savage's complaints frivolous and vexatious, noting that he had previously made 42 discrimination complaints and had admitted to being "addicted to litigation." The adjudicator ruled the claim was misconceived and dismissed it without a hearing. The decision was made by Roger McGrath.
Karl Scully, 34, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for careless driving causing the death of Devin Shepherd, 7, at St Joseph's Way, Ballymun, on September 1, 2019. Scully pleaded guilty to the charge. Judge Pauline Codd imposed an 18-month prison sentence and disqualified him from driving for 10 years. During sentencing, Scully interjected to request a lifetime driving ban. The court noted that Scully, a road sweeper, failed to check his rear-view camera while reversing, striking the child. This conviction follows a prior six-month suspended sentence imposed in June 2023 for careless driving causing the death of Anthony Hanney, 61, in December 2018. In that earlier case, Scully entered a bus lane prematurely, leading to the fatal collision. The judge considered Scully's guilty plea, remorse, and personal circumstances in mitigation, while noting his prior conviction for causing death by careless driving as an aggravating factor. Victim impact statements from Devin's family highlighted their ongoing grief. Scully has 15 previous District Court convictions, including two for failing to display tax. The court emphasized the driver's duty of care in the presence of children.
Sean Murphy, 29, was found to have a severe obsessive‑compulsive disorder with psychotic features when he stabbed Michael Olohan, 35, to death on 13 August 2020. Dr Ronan Mullaney, a consultant psychiatrist, told the Central Criminal Court that Murphy was "acutely psychotic" and could not refrain from the killing because he believed he was saving himself and the world from great harm. He had a long psychiatric history, first diagnosed with OCD at 15, committed to a hospital at 16, and later discharged from St Vincent's psychiatric ward after nine months. In a letter to his treating team, Murphy admitted having thoughts of killing for about two years and described the act as a ritual driven by a fear of eternal torment. The jury was instructed that if they were not satisfied with an insanity verdict, Murphy would still be found guilty of manslaughter due to diminished responsibility. Sean Murphy pleaded not guilty.
During the multi‑million euro theft trial of former solicitor Michael Lynn, the court heard that two members of the legal department of Permanent TSB (now PTSB) attended the proceedings to provide "moral support" to witnesses. Ciaran Farrell, a former branch manager and current business development manager at the bank, told the court that the two attendees were present at the evidence of his colleague John O'Brien. Farrell said he did not know the purpose of the accompaniment, adding that he presumed it was simply support. He also stated that he had not discussed the evidence with his colleagues, noting that their conversations had been about fantasy football. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan and heard by a jury, continues with Mr Lynn accused of stealing around €27 million from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
In the trial of Gerry Daly, 57, who pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Jacqueline Griffin on the M50, Dr Kevin Moore, a consultant endocrinologist, testified that Daly did not make a conscious decision to drive that day. Dr Moore explained that Daly, who has Type 1 diabetes, had been managing his condition for over ten years and had self‑funded a continuous glucose monitor. He argued that Daly's blood glucose levels were severely low, leading to hypoglycaemic symptoms such as confusion and disorientation. According to Dr Moore, this severe cognitive impairment meant Daly could not understand or control his actions, including driving. He further noted that Daly's recollection of the morning would be unreliable and that his behaviour after the crash was abnormal, reflecting his impaired state. The trial continues before Judge Elma Sheahan and the jury.
A 26‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for raping a 16‑year‑old girl in the grounds of a GAA club. The conviction followed a trial at the Central Criminal Court in July, where the man had pleaded not guilty to the single count of rape. He was first taken into custody on 17 July 2023, and the sentence was back‑dated to that date. The victim, who was 16 at the time of the offence, was a friend of the man's sibling and had been texting him about cigarettes. After meeting at the club grounds, the man attempted to kiss her, pushed her, and then raped her. He later smoked cannabis before leaving. The court noted the man's age difference, lack of apology, and his prior good character as mitigating factors, while recognising the aggravating factor of the age gap. The victim's impact statement highlighted her long‑term distress and lack of support.
Kingsley Auguste, former head chef at Dillingers in Ranelagh, lost his equality claim against restaurateur John Farrell at the Workplace Relations Commission. Auguste alleged that Farrell's management treated non‑Irish staff unfavourably and that he was denied a greeting and a premium rate for Sunday work. The tribunal found most of Auguste's statutory pay and working‑time complaints lacking evidence or too late, but ordered the restaurant to pay him €895 for a breach of the Organisation of Working Time Act 2004. Auguste also claimed a Christmas‑Eve incident in 2021 led to his resignation in February 2022, but the adjudicating officer noted that any unfavourable treatment was not linked to his Mauritian background. The decision did not find evidence of discrimination under the Employment Equality Act. The case remains at the WRC stage.
Sean Murphy, 29, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Olohan, 35, who died on 13 August 2020 after Murphy stabbed him in their shared apartment on St Lawrence Road. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court, where the jury was informed that Murphy was 25 at the time of the killing. Both men lived in a step‑down independent living facility run by St Vincent's Hospital Psychiatric Services, where they received medication but were otherwise free to manage their own affairs. Prosecutor Ronan Kennedy SC argued that Murphy caused Olohan's death and that the jury must decide his mental capacity. Defence psychiatrist Professor Keith Rix testified that Murphy suffered from a "most severe" form of obsessive‑compulsive disorder (OCD) at the time of the killing. Rix explained that Murphy's OCD was so severe that he lacked insight, yet he was not convinced he could not have refrained from the act.
Jimmy Fitzpatrick, a 16‑year‑old Stardust survivor, described how his friend Liam Dunne, who later died in hospital, comforted him in intensive care with the words "We made it this far, we're going to get out of this." Fitzpatrick, who suffered life‑changing third‑degree burns, recounted the night of the February 14, 1981 blaze, noting the fire's rapid spread, the chained exits, and the chaos that trapped many. He detailed his attempts to help friends, the sudden loss of power, and the overwhelming smoke that made breathing difficult. Fitzpatrick also recalled seeing other survivors, such as George O'Connor and David Morton, and the fear that the locked doors would prevent escape. The inquest, held at Dublin District Coroner's Court, heard Fitzpatrick's testimony about the fire's intensity, the "raining fire" droplets, and the desperate efforts to reach exits.
In a courtroom in Dublin, Ryan Casey, the boyfriend of the 23‑year‑old teacher Ashling Murphy, delivered a tearful statement after the jury convicted Jozef Puska of murder. Casey described his love for Murphy, their plans to marry and start a family, and the loss he feels. He accused Puska of showing no remorse and called him "the lowest of the low." The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, imposed a mandatory life sentence, noting the seriousness of the crime and the possibility of a whole‑life order. Puska, 33, was found guilty of stabbing Murphy eleven times and slashing her once before leaving her to die near a canal in Tullamore. He will be eligible for parole after 12 years. Casey's statement focused on the personal grief and the impact of Murphy's death on his life.
During the trial of former solicitor Michael Lynn, an ex‑Anglo Irish Bank manager, David Casey, testified that he did not believe the bank's chairperson, Sean Fitzpatrick, had "intimate knowledge" of any one customer. Casey, who had taken over management of Lynn's loans after the initial period, said it was common practice to refuse a loan where there was lending with other banks. He also noted that the bank had lent €11 million to Lynn in one year, a significant but not unusual amount. Lynn, aged 55, faces 21 counts of theft of about €27 million from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, continues with a jury hearing the evidence presented by both defence and prosecution. Sean Fitzpatrick pleaded not guilty.
In a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Gerry Daly, 57, pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Jacqueline Griffin, 39, in a fatal M50 collision on 24 January 2019. Sergeant Patrick McElroy, a forensic collision investigator, presented evidence that Daly's Toyota Auris had been travelling at 138‑151 km/h, struck a Scania lorry, then collided with Griffin's VW Polo, causing her head to be severed. McElroy's report detailed the sequence of impacts and the vehicle's continued movement. Garda Aidan McHugh testified that Daly had a voluntary interview on 28 January, described checking his blood sugar, and had a phone call at 10:30 am that morning. Professor Simon Heller, a diabetes specialist, testified that Daly's glucose levels fell from 9.3 to 3.3 mmol/L during the morning, potentially causing hypoglycaemic episodes and "in and out of consciousness." The trial continues before Judge Elma Sheahan.
A 17‑year‑old, Ogaga Ogheneyoma, was fined €500 and ordered to be of good behaviour in lieu of a 12‑month sentence for allowing his AIB bank account to hold €31,842 of laundered money in an invoice redirect fraud. He pleaded guilty on the day of his trial at Dublin Circuit Court on 19 November 2018. Ogheneyoma, now 22, is a fourth‑year accounting and finance student at TU Dublin, lives with his parents in Lucan, and has worked part‑time throughout college. The court noted he had no previous convictions, no evidence of involvement in the fraud, and had a pro‑social life since the offence. Judge Orla Crowe invoked Section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, imposed the fine, and deferred the sentence, ordering him to pay the fine before a mention in May 2024, after which he will be discharged.
The High Court granted a temporary injunction to RAS Medical Ltd, a Dublin‑registered cosmetic surgery practice, after it alleged that Create for the Web Limited, trading as Ireland Website Design, had failed to preserve important data, including medical information, relating to RAS Medical's websites. RAS Medical claimed that a falling out over an alleged secret recording of a Zoom call between director Dr Ahmed Salman and a representative of the website company led to the defendant's failure to retain data. The court, hearing the case ex‑parte, ordered the defendant to preserve data held by it in respect of RAS Medical's website. RAS Medical seeks further orders to compel compliance with the Data Protection Act and damages for alleged unlawful processing and dissemination of personal data. The matter will return before the court next week.
During the inquest into the Stardust nightclub fire, Yvonne Blackwell, aged 18 at the time, testified that she and four friends from Derry were trapped in a panic when flames erupted at the end of the hall. She described the scene as "raining flames," with ashtrays igniting on tables, and that she was pushed and shoved by the crowd, unable to locate exits. Blackwell could not recall seeing her friend Susan Morgan inside the club, and she later reflected on the trauma and subsequent drinking. Ann and Finola Horner also gave evidence, describing the intense heat, orange glow, and the difficulty of escaping locked exits. They recounted seeing a man named Larry outside, who was severely burned. Valerie Walsh reported that after the fire started, exit doors were closed behind her, preventing people from re‑entering the burning building. The inquest will continue tomorrow.
The Court of Appeal has overturned a trial judge's direction to acquit an unnamed 34-year-old man of rape, finding the ruling was wrong in law. The appellant, who pleaded not guilty, was originally charged with one count of rape and two counts of sexual assault, alleging that between January and September 2005, he sexually assaulted his six-year-old cousin in Dublin. At the Central Criminal Court trial in June 2022, Mr Justice David Keane directed the jury to discharge the rape charge, reasoning that the complainant had touched the accused on his invitation, meaning no assault occurred. The State appealed, arguing that any intentional touching without consent constitutes an assault. In its judgment, the Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, stated that a child under the statutory minimum age cannot legally consent to such touching. The court ruled that the invitation itself could constitute force or impact, an issue that should have been left to the jury. Consequently, the appeal was allowed, and the DPP was granted permission for a retrial. The matter was adjourned, with the DPP directed to re-enter the case in the next list to fix dates at the Central Criminal Court on December 6.
The Court of Appeal overturned a High Court ruling that had reversed a District Court judge's refusal to hear the cases of three people accused of publishing online information that identified the teenage boys who murdered Ana Kriegel in 2018. The Court of Appeal held that the District Court judge had not acted unfairly and that a subsequent judge could reconsider jurisdiction. The three accused – Edel Doherty, 48, Kyle Rooney, 26, and Declan Corcoran, 30 – had been charged with posting photos and naming the boys on social media. They had been initially told by Judge Brian O'Shea that the District Court could hear their matters, but Judge John Hughes later ruled the offences were too serious for the District Court and sent them to the Circuit Court. The High Court had quashed Judge Hughes' decision, but the Court of Appeal vacated that order and remitted the matters back to the District Court for further consideration.
In a trial for the 2018 shooting at Bray Boxing Club, defence barrister Hugh Hartnett SC argued that there is no evidence linking his client, Gerard Cervi, to the gunman. He highlighted alleged lies by Garda officers, potential investigative "corner cutting," and questioned the reliability of CCTV and forensic evidence. Hartnett noted that Cervi had no criminal background and that witnesses' descriptions of the shooter's height did not match Cervi's. He also pointed out that a known drug dealer, who admitted to using the van implicated in the case, had no evidence of drug paraphernalia in the vehicle. Hartnett concluded that the prosecution's case fell short of proof beyond a reasonable doubt and urged the jury to acquit Cervi on all four counts. The judge, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, charged the jury on matters of law. Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty.
During the trial of Michael Lynn, a former legal executive, Ms. Liz Doyle, was cross‑examined about her role in the firm and a loan of €80,000 she claimed to have given to Lynn in January 2007. Doyle admitted she was an authorised signatory on cheques and that she had forwarded emails to solicitor Fiona McAleenan. She acknowledged that the firm had a practice of signing each other's names on documents, but denied that she had ever signed a letter without permission. Doyle also said she had no knowledge of any fraud and that she was very ill at the time of the alleged civil case involving Irish Life and Permanent. The prosecution argued that Lynn had obtained multiple mortgages on the same properties, but the trial continues before Judge Nolan and the jury. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
Keith Redmond, 45, of Finglas, pleaded guilty to attempting to send sexually explicit material to a child between 30 August and 3 December 2022. He used the social media platform Kick, presenting himself as a 44‑year‑old Irishman, and was contacted by a UK‑based predator‑exposure group's decoy, 'Amber', a 14‑year‑old girl. Over three months, Redmond and the decoy exchanged 83 typed messages, initially ordinary but later sexually explicit. He sent four photographs of his penis and discussed meeting 'Amber' for sexual activity, offering to buy her a phone and to live together. The UK group located him in Dublin, and he was taken into Garda protection. Redmond, a married barman with one child, had no prior convictions. The case was adjourned for a final hearing on 26 February next year, with a request for a probation report.
During the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire, witnesses described a rapidly spreading blaze that resembled the film 'Backdraft'. Bernard Tully, 16 at the time, recalled a ball of flames racing across the ceiling, "drops of molten lead" falling onto the crowd, and the panic that followed. He attempted to open a window that only opened a few inches, then smashed a glass panel to escape. Thomas Dempsey, 19, testified that a fire extinguisher seemed to fuel the flames, which spread along walls and carpet tiles, creating orange‑black smoke and a "backdraft" effect. Anthony Preston, present that night, described a packed hallway, a locked exit with a Chubb lock, and the difficulty of moving through smoke and fumes. Anthony Kavanagh, also 19, recounted seeing a curtain open, causing flames to shoot across the floor and a substance that appeared like acid dropping from the ceiling. The inquest continues tomorrow at the Rotunda Hospital's Pillar Room.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 15 November 2023, counsel Paul Murray SC delivered a closing speech to a jury of twelve in the murder trial of Gerard Cervi, aged 36, who is accused of firing nine bullets at Bray Boxing Club on 5 June 2018. The prosecution presented CCTV footage showing Cervi travelling from his home to the club in a distinctive van, entering the club, firing in a methodical pattern, and then leaving the premises. DNA, fingerprints and other forensic evidence were also cited. The alleged victims were Robert 'Bobby' Messett, who died on the scene, and Ian Britton and Pete Taylor, who were injured. Murray argued that the evidence demonstrated Cervi's intent to kill, and urged the jury to find him guilty of murder and two attempted murders. The judge was scheduled to address the jury the following day. Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty.
Boris Barcanec, 35, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three years and nine months in prison, with the final 12 months suspended, for drug‑dealing offences. He had pleaded guilty to possessing €66,000 worth of cannabis, ecstasy tablets and amphetamines for sale or supply at his home in Whitechurch Road, Dublin 14, on 5 July 2021. Gardaí seized multiple plastic bags of cannabis (estimated street value €62,248), amphetamines (€2,527) and 156 MDMA tablets (€1,560) from his garage and living room, along with drug paraphernalia. Barcanec admitted buying around €20,000 of cannabis and about 300 MDMA tablets for €1,000, claiming the drugs were for personal use and for friends at a party. He stated he had been in Ireland for five years, was working as a garden landscaper earning €460 per week, and had no prior convictions.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, the jury heard that the death of 39‑year‑old Jacqueline Griffin on the M50 on 24 January 2019 was caused by catastrophic head injuries after her vehicle was struck from the rear by a black car travelling at high speed. The accused, 57‑year‑old Gerry Daly of Kildare, pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing death. A doctor's report read at the hearing described the scene: a vehicle on its side, a decapitated head on the road, and a body in the rear. A post‑mortem confirmed the head injuries. Witnesses, including truck driver Joseph Dunne and passenger Judith Ryan, described the collision and Daly's hypoglycaemic episode. Daly was treated on scene for low blood sugar, given glucose, and taken to hospital. The case remains before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury.
William Ye, a Chinese takeaway delivery driver, was dismissed without notice by the Emerald Court Chinese Restaurant in Ranelagh, Dublin 6, after he had been asking for a pay rise for over a year. Ye, who worked from January 2020 until March 2023, earned €5 an hour and received no petrol allowance, relying on tips to supplement his income. He had no contract, employee handbook or payslips. On 24 March 2023, the owner, Huiru Zhu, texted him that she had found a replacement and that he was no longer employed. Ye brought an unfair dismissal claim under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. The tribunal found the dismissal was unfair, likely linked to his persistence in requesting a pay increase, and awarded him €1,500 in compensation based on four weeks' pay at the national minimum wage of €11.30 an hour. The decision was published on 15 November 2023.
Jordan Keogh, a 27‑year‑old from Clondalkin, was on bail when he repeatedly moved cash, a handgun and ammunition for an organised gang. In February 2020 he was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for possession of €172,950 in crime cash, a semi‑automatic pistol, ammunition and drugs for sale. The original sentence comprised 3.5 years for two money‑laundering offences (concurrent), 2 years for cannabis possession (consecutive), and 1.5 years for the firearm offence with one year suspended, totalling seven years with 12 months suspended. The State appealed, arguing the judge had been too lenient, especially for the firearms offence. The Court of Appeal quashed the original sentences and re‑sentenced Keogh to nine years: 2 years for drugs, 3 years for the first money‑laundering offence (concurrent), 3 years for the second money‑laundering offence with 2 years suspended (consecutive), and 5 years for the firearms offences (consecutive). Jordan Keogh pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Gerry Daly, 57, pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the instantaneous death of Jacqueline Griffin, 39, on the M50 on 24 January 2019. Witnesses described Daly's vehicle as travelling at high speed, weaving in and out of traffic, and veering across the hard shoulder before colliding with Griffin's car. The prosecution argued that the collision was ferocious, causing Griffin's vehicle to roll over and her immediate death. Daly was also reported to have been a type‑one diabetic with a related medical condition that impaired his control of the vehicle. CCTV footage and multiple motorists' testimonies were presented, all indicating that Daly's driving was dangerous and that the accident caused Griffin's death. The case remains before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury.
In the trial of Michael Lynn, a former legal executive, Liz Doyle, testified that she signed another solicitor's name on documents at Lynn's instruction, citing intense pressure and fear in the firm. Doyle, who worked as a legal executive at Michael Lynn & Co, described a demanding environment with constant calls and emails, and claimed she followed Lynn's directions to sign the name of Fiona McAleenan, a solicitor in the practice, and also the signature of Kinsella Mitchell and Associates, auditors for the firm. She admitted she was aware that signing the documents was wrong but felt compelled by the pressure. Doyle also discussed personal financial strain, including her husband's business collapse and multiple mortgages. The prosecution alleges Lynn obtained multiple mortgages on the same properties, while the defence disputes the extent of Doyle's knowledge and intent. The case is before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Colin Bale, 37, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after a daytime attack at Donabate Shopping Centre on 2 February 2020. The incident began when Bale's former partner's honour was allegedly impugned, leading Bale to confront a shopper who had taken his bike. Bale punched the victim twice, causing cuts to the head and ear and a fractured finger. Garda evidence, including CCTV, identified Bale and he was arrested. Bale's defence claimed self‑defence and an apology, noting a prior minor conviction in 2013. Judge Orla Crowe, citing the victim's injuries and the aggravating nature of the assault, imposed a fully suspended 18‑month sentence for three years, hoping the suspended sentence would encourage behavioural change. No custodial term was imposed. The victim, who has facial scars and mental health concerns, was represented by a victim impact statement. No further contact between the parties has occurred since the incident.
In the 2023 inquest into the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire, witnesses recounted being trapped in toilets as smoke filled the building. Deirdre Dames, aged 18, described crawling on hands and knees, hearing people outside screaming for help, and feeling the heat and smoke close to the windows. She said she prayed the Lord's Prayer and was rescued when a fireman entered. Louise Murray, also 18, was trapped in a stage‑rear toilet, inhaled hot debris, and later prayed the Our Father before firemen broke in. Breda Walsh, 19, ran into a gents toilet by mistake, fainted from smoke, and was rescued by the brigade. Helen Henby, 18, was trapped under a table, suffered third‑degree burns, and spent four months in hospital. The testimony highlighted the chaotic escape attempts and the desperate attempts to breathe and pray for survival.
Alanna Quinn Idris, blinded in one eye after a gang of four youths attacked her on Ballyfermot Road on 30 December 2021, was described by her defence counsel as a "courageous young woman" who tried to defend a friend during the assault. The attackers, including 19‑year‑old Josh Cummins, pleaded guilty to causing serious harm to Ms Quinn Idris, violent disorder, assault on Louis O'Sullivan and the use of a hurl. Cummins also pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to O'Sullivan. Darragh Lyons, 19, was sentenced to four and a half years for assault causing serious harm to Ms Quinn Idris and similar charges against O'Sullivan. The case was heard on the principle of joint enterprise, with the four males carrying out an organised and violent attack in a residential area.
The Central Criminal Court heard the trial of Sean Murphy, 29, who stabbed his housemate Michael Olohan, 35, to death on 13 August 2020. Murphy had been released from a psychiatric ward to an independent living facility four months earlier. He pleaded not guilty to murder. The prosecution argued that Murphy had an active mental disorder and should be found not guilty by reason of insanity, while the defence contended that his responsibility was substantially diminished, seeking a verdict of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. Witnesses included a prosecution expert who described severe obsessive‑compulsive disorder with psychotic symptoms, and a defence expert who agreed on OCD but denied a psychotic illness. The jury was instructed to consider Murphy's mental capacity at the time of the killing. The trial proceeded before Justice Mary Ellen Ring with a jury of twelve.
In November 2023, a 17‑year‑old who stabbed 20‑year‑old Cameron Blair at a Cork house party appealed his life sentence, arguing the judge failed to weigh his immaturity and dysfunctional background. The Central Criminal Court had sentenced him to life detention in 2020, with a review after 13 years and an earliest release date of January 2023. The appeal court noted that a juvenile can only be sentenced to detention, not imprisonment, and that once the offender turns 18 he is transferred to an adult prison. Counsel for the appellant claimed the judge focused on age rather than maturity, and that the offence lacked aggravating factors such as premeditation or a callous attitude. The DPP countered that the judge had considered mitigating factors, including the offender's early guilty plea and lack of prior convictions. The Court of Appeal reserved judgment, with a hearing scheduled for December 5, and parties were invited to discuss the appellant's anonymity.
A man in his mid‑seventies was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended, for sexually assaulting his 10‑year‑old granddaughter in a Dublin house on 27 December 2016. He pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault. The court noted the offence was aggravated by a significant breach of trust and the age disparity. The judge, Sarah Berkeley, set a headline sentence of two years before reducing it for mitigating factors such as an early guilty plea and remorse. The victim's mother provided a victim impact statement describing the devastating effects on her daughter. The man had no prior convictions and had lost his family and social life. The case was prosecuted by Aoife McNickle, BL, and investigated by Detective Garda David Egan. The accused was arrested in November 2017 and denied the allegations. The court found the offence fell at the lower end of the spectrum for child sexual abuse.
In a High Court hearing in Dublin, Dana Kavanagh, 48, sued pop star Rihanna—identified as Robyn Fenty—over alleged malicious falsehoods in an email and a phone call. Kavanagh claimed mental distress and emotional suffering after a July 2013 email supposedly naming her partner Geoffrey Keating, who had been Rihanna's head of security, and a phone call to her sister‑in‑law. She alleged that these statements destroyed her business, Geoff Keating Media. Rihanna, absent from court, denied the allegations. Kavanagh's counsel informed Justice Leonie Reynolds that the parties had settled, allowing the case to be struck out with costs awarded to the plaintiff. No settlement details were disclosed. The case was therefore resolved without proceeding to trial, and no further legal action was taken by either party in this matter.