The High Court approved a Personal Insolvency Arrangement (PIA) for 60‑year‑old Patrick Reilly, a company director, allowing him to write off more than €3 million of debt owed to financial institutions and retain his family home in Dublin for a payment of just over €8 000. Under the 24‑month scheme, Reilly will sell two Dublin properties and one in Mountrath, Co. Laois, and will restructure and extend the mortgage on his family home at Clanree Road, Donnycarney. He will also pay a total of just over €8 000 toward his unsecured debts. The PIA will give unsecured creditors a dividend of 0.07 % of what they are owed. No objections were raised, and Mr Justice Alexander Owens deemed the arrangement just and equitable, noting that it will return Reilly to solvency upon completion.
In a Central Criminal Court sentencing hearing, the families of Michael Mulvey, a 55‑year‑old victim who died 13 days after being attacked, said the two brothers, Ian (34) and Daniel (43), had shown no remorse. The brothers, from Cabra, Dublin, had denied murder of Mulvey in a 2019 Navan Road attack. A July trial found them not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter (Ian) and of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm (Daniel). The court heard that Ian stepped onto a pedestrian crossing, shouted threats, and struck Mulvey with blows and kicks, while Daniel joined, wrapped his arms around Mulvey's neck, and punched him repeatedly. Witnesses described the assault as violent, with Mulvey sustaining facial fractures, rib fractures, and a hemopneumothorax that contributed to his death. The brothers' prior convictions and lack of remorse were highlighted by the prosecution, and the case was remanded for sentencing on 4 December.
A former civilian employee of An Garda Siochana, Holly Hayden, aged 27, was sentenced to three years in prison, with the final six months suspended, for disclosing confidential information from the Pulse system in exchange for cocaine and cash. Hayden admitted to providing details of a named individual, 'SN', and a person referred to as 'WD', as well as images of Garda Covid‑19 checkpoint locations, to drug dealers. She pleaded guilty to one count of disclosing confidential information and two counts of accessing confidential information for corrupt purposes. The court noted her addiction to alcohol and drugs, her lack of prior convictions, and her remorse. The suspended period is subject to strict conditions, including drug rehabilitation with the Probation Service for two years upon release. The sentence reflects the seriousness of her breach of trust as a Garda employee.
Sean Johnston, 22, and an unnamed 20‑year‑old were sentenced at the Central Criminal Court to a combined 13½ years for a pre‑meditated stabbing that left a 16‑year‑old victim with 14 wounds. Johnston pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm and to six threats to kill another teenager; his co‑accused pleaded guilty to causing serious harm and to a threat to kill or seriously injure a teenager. Both were initially charged with attempted murder but the State dropped those charges. The judge, Mr Justice Hunt, imposed a headline sentence of 16 years for Johnston and 13 years for the second youth, then reduced each by a quarter for guilty pleas. Johnston's 12‑year term had four years suspended for eight years; the second youth's 8‑year term had two‑and‑a‑half years suspended for five‑and‑a‑half years. The sentences were back‑dated to 30 September 2021 and 28 January 2022 respectively.
The Workplace Relations Commission ordered Ascot Catering Ltd, operator of Ciao Bella Roma, to pay more than €62,000 to five former staff for multiple labour law breaches. The tribunal found the restaurant had a chronic failure to honour shift breaks and other statutory rights under the Organisation of Working Time Act while it was still trading before its March 2020 closure. The staff – chefs Daniele Vito Antonetti and Ioan Cosmin Maties, kitchen assistant Darius Radu Peicu, barman Antonio Fillipo Santoiemma and bookkeeper Sandra Maties – complained of unfair dismissal, unlawful pay deductions and working‑time breaches. The employer did not appear at the joint hearing. The tribunal awarded each worker compensation ranging from €720 to €7,500, and ordered the company to pay €4,772 in unpaid wages, €9,706 in notice pay and €31,371.80 for breaches of the Act. The total orders against Ascot Catering Ltd amounted to €62,600.
During a multi‑million theft trial, Michael Lynn's defence team argued that the €4.1 million mortgage for Glenlion House in Howth was never a home loan but a development loan, citing a survey that identified potential development sites. Lynn, 55, pleaded not guilty to 21 theft counts involving €27 million stolen from seven financial institutions. Witnesses, including former INBS manager Mark Mulcahy and former National Irish Bank assistant Orla Deignan, testified about Lynn's mortgage applications between 2000 and 2002 and the 2007 application for Glenlion House, which was initially declined but later approved and subsequently written off as unrecoverable debt. Defence counsel highlighted that Lynn had been making repayments until accounts were frozen in October 2007. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, continues before a jury.
In the trial of Martin Hayes, 34, charged with murdering his partner Amadea McDermott, 27, the prosecution argued that Hayes had inflicted the fatal stab wound and that the narrative of self‑harm was fabricated. Prosecutor Sean Gillane SC presented evidence of a single abdominal stab that could be consistent with self‑harm, but claimed the overall evidence pointed to Hayes as the perpetrator. He highlighted the absence of Hayes' DNA on the knife and the lack of any forensic link to the wound. Hayes, who pleaded not guilty, had told emergency services that McDermott had stabbed herself. Defence counsel Ronan Munro SC countered that the post‑mortem and toxicology reports were consistent with self‑harm and that Hayes' presence at the scene was evidence of innocence. The case remains at the jury stage, with no verdict yet reached.
The liquidator of Protim Abrasives Ltd, Kieran Wallace, argues that Irish legislation obliges the State to pay a €6.1 million deficit into the company's insolvent defined‑benefit pension scheme. Wallace, who admitted a preferential claim of €7 million based on actuarial advice, says the figure was reached through professional consultation, not arbitrary calculation. The State, represented by a barrister, contends the claim is untimely, having been made after the company entered liquidation in November 2009, and that the €7 million figure was an "extraordinary" number not scientifically derived. The Workplace Relations Commission has rejected the claim, citing the timing and the lack of a statutory limit on such deficits. Wallace is appealing the decision under the Protection of Employees (Employer's Insolvency) Act 1984, and the tribunal remains open to further legal argument.
Fresh High Court proceedings concerning the Aberdeen Lodge hotel in Dublin 4 were heard before Mr Justice David Nolan. Stairway Property Company Limited, which claims to have purchased the property from Everyday Finance, is seeking possession orders against Patrick Halpin, Ann Keane, and related entities, including Elektron Holdings Limited and Madison Manor Limited. Conversely, Halpin, Keane, and Elektron have initiated separate proceedings against Stairway, Everyday Finance, Ireland, and the Attorney General. They seek a declaration that the property is their family home and aim to challenge part of the Conveyance Act. Stairway's counsel, Padraic Lyons SC, described these actions as an abuse of process intended to delay lawful possession. Stairway also seeks declarations confirming its ownership and has moved for directions on document exchange to expedite the determination of the opposing action. The court noted the property's history of litigation, including previous High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court battles over repossession, and the appointment of receivers following an alleged €24m debt to IBRC, which was subsequently sold to Kenmare Property Finance and then Everyday Finance. After considering submissions, Mr Justice Nolan granted Stairway ex-parte permission to serve short notice of its applications. The matter was adjourned to a date later this month.
Lesley Dyer, 40, of Constitution Hill, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty to two thefts of €1,050 from an elderly, vulnerable woman she was caring for in Bray, Co Wicklow, on 18 June 2022 and 13 August 2022. The victim, suffering from dementia, had left the money in a handbag and later discovered it missing. CCTV footage and the victim's grandchildren's testimony confirmed Dyer's admission of taking the money. Dyer had previously been convicted of drug possession and a traffic offence. Judge Orla Crowe, hearing the case at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, described the offence as "reprehensible" and a "gross breach of trust", and set a headline sentence of two years' imprisonment. Considering mitigating factors such as her early guilty plea, cooperation, apology letter and the use of the money for children's needs, the judge imposed 240 hours of community service in lieu of an 18‑month prison term.
Jozef Puska, aged 33, gave evidence at the Ashling Murphy trial claiming he was a witness to her murder. He testified that he was stabbed three times by the same attacker who killed the 23‑year‑old teacher. Puska described being pushed off his bike, stabbed in the stomach, and later seeing the attacker assault a woman before fleeing. He said he tried to help Murphy, using her shawl to cover injuries, but left after a few moments. Puska admitted lying to Gardaí about being stabbed in Blanchardstown and apologized, citing fear for his family. He denied confessing to murder in St James's Hospital and said he could not recall such admissions. The trial continues with further witnesses to be called. Jozef Puska pleaded not guilty.
A trial date of 2 July 2025 has been set for former hurling star DJ Carey, who is accused of fraudulently claiming he needed money for cancer treatment and inducing people to pay him. The 52‑year‑old, from The Drive, Newtown, Maynooth, appeared briefly at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court where the judge, Orla Crowe, set the trial to last three to four weeks. Carey denies all 19 counts of dishonestly inducing payments and two additional charges of using a false instrument. He also faces a request for a variation of bail conditions to allow him to sign at a different Garda station closer to his new address. The State's counsel, Simon Matthews, did not object to the bail variation. The case is set to proceed in 2025, with no further developments reported in the article.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 2 November 2023, 34‑year‑old grave digger Martin Hayes, accused of murdering his 27‑year‑old partner Amadea McDermott, took the stand to deny stabbing her. He claimed the relationship was "toxic" but that he had done everything to save her. Hayes said he had thrown her onto a sofa when she wouldn't let him go to work and that he had no right to hit back if someone hit him. He denied confessing to girlfriend Niamh Higgins that he had stabbed McDermott, calling her a liar. Hayes also denied that McDermott had self‑harmed, stating he had called emergency services three times and held a towel over a wound. The trial heard witnesses describing bruises on McDermott's body and alleged physical abuse. The case remains in progress before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of eight men and four women. Martin Hayes pleaded not guilty.
Michael Lynn, 55, is on trial in Dublin accused of stealing approximately €27 million from seven financial institutions. He has pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of theft alleged to have occurred between October 23, 2006, and April 20, 2007. The prosecution contends that Lynn obtained multiple mortgages on the same properties while banks were unaware of other institutions' finance. Defence counsel Mark Lynam SC suggested that former Irish Nationwide Building Society chairman Michael Fingleton acted as Lynn's "personal banker," facilitating loans through Bank of Scotland Ireland. Witness Tom Brennan, a Bank of Scotland Ireland worker, testified that an offer letter for €3.5 million was issued to Proper T Capital Ltd, a company directed by Lynn and his wife, Brid Murphy. Brennan stated he was unaware of other finance and that the bank obtained first legal charges on nine of ten properties. Retired National Irish Bank worker Nicholas Robert Hamilton denied meeting Lynn or knowing about offshore property use, contradicting defence suggestions. Arthur King, of ICS Building Society, testified that Bank of Ireland issued a €2.74 million cheque to Michael Lynn and Co Solicitors in December 2006. King noted that the bank discovered the first legal charge had not been registered and that letters of undertaking to other institutions could not be fulfilled. The defence suggested banks relied on solicitors' professional indemnity insurance rather than property security. The trial is ongoing.
A 43‑year‑old man, Neilus Cooney, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for repeatedly punching a woman in her own home and threatening to slice and kill her. He also threatened to kill two Gardaí who came to the woman's aid after she fled and called for help. Cooney, who was armed with scissors, threatened a Sergeant from the Emergency Response Unit and claimed to have a firearm. He pleaded guilty to assault, causing harm, and threatening to kill the woman and a Garda. The judge imposed a headline sentence of four years, reduced to three years with six months suspended, and ordered him to keep the peace, undergo probation supervision for one year, and attend addiction services. The court noted his significant medical issues, remorse, and early plea as mitigating factors. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the appeal of Niamh Mulreany (27) and Kirstie McGrath (32), known as the "Dubai Two", who challenge the High Court's refusal to halt their prosecution for refusing mandatory hotel quarantine after returning from the UAE. The women were arrested on 2 April 2021 at Dublin Airport and charged under the 1947 Health Act for breaching quarantine requirements that applied to travellers from the UAE. They argued that the Minister for Health's designation of states for mandatory quarantine breached the separation of powers and was unconstitutional, and that the appeals process for those refusing quarantine was unlawful under Article 37 of the Constitution. The Supreme Court panel, comprising Justices Charleton, Murray and Donnelly, will consider whether the measures violate Article 40.4, the nature of the emergency, the delegation of powers and the constitutionality of the appeals process. No hearing date has been set. The case remains at the Supreme Court stage.
Ex-IRA man Nathan Kinsella has pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to furnish tax returns, as well as two additional counts of the same offence on or before October 31, 2019, and October 31, 2020. Kinsella, who was previously jailed for two years in 2012 for membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, was sentenced to two years for that offence. The matter was adjourned to January 22, 2024, for sentencing. Kinsella was jailed by the same court 10 years ago after a garda investigation into paramilitary activity at the funeral of Dissident Republican Alan Ryan. Jennifer Dunne, Kinsella's partner, is charged with the same tax and money laundering offences. Paul Greene SC, counsel for Ms Dunne, stated that his client has three documents of interest that involve returns to the Revenue, and these are available in hard copy at the accused's home. He said the documents will be furnished to the prosecution before the weekend, and Ms Dunne's case was adjourned to next Monday. Kinsella and Ms Dunne were previously charged with money laundering offences under Section 7 of Criminal Justice (Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing) Act, 2010. The couple were charged with converting, transferring, handling, acquiring, possessing or using property, namely funds lodged to an AIB account on dates between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2019, within the State, knowing or believing or being reckless as to whether the property was the proceeds of criminal conduct. Dominic McGinn SC, for the State, said that the State would now be entering a nolle prosequi on these charges in relation to Kinsella.
During a trial for the murder of school teacher Ashling Murphy, the accused, Jozef Puska, told Gardaí that he had never seen her. He repeated this denial when questioned by detectives six days after the stabbing. Puska, 33, had earlier admitted to the murder in a hospital bed, stating "I did it, I murdered, I am the murderer" and that he had "cut" Murphy. He has pleaded not guilty. Garda detectives interviewed him five times over two days following his arrest on suspicion of the murder. In the current hearing, the prosecution presented an email from a different individual claiming responsibility for the murder, but Gardaí found no link to Puska. The trial proceeds before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of nine men and three women.
Former 2FM DJ Nikki Hayes, aged 44 and known as Eimear Black O'Keeffe, had her sentencing hearing adjourned after a fall that left her with a concussion. She pleaded guilty to possessing €10,000, €2,600 and €2,400 as proceeds of crime in a Permanent TSB account on 5 and 6 November 2020. The €15,000 was withdrawn from a victim's account and deposited into hers, then withdrawn via Revolut and ATMs in Liffey Valley. Gardaí said the money was later blocked and returned, leaving the bank a loss of about €2,000. Hayes had six prior minor traffic convictions and was in debt of €53,000 at the time. She has been diagnosed with bipolar and borderline personality disorder, and her defence argued she was vulnerable and pressured into the transactions. Judge Martina Baxter adjourned the case to 10 November and remanded Hayes on continuing bail.
Conor Dolan was sentenced to life imprisonment by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Neil Fitzgerald. Dolan, who has 32 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to the charge on July 4 of this year, having originally pleaded not guilty. The court heard that Fitzgerald was shot six times in an execution-style killing on Hills Lane, Crooksling, Tallaght, on June 5, 2016. Prosecution counsel stated that Dolan allegedly lured his friend to the location, where he was paid €10,000 to commit the act. Evidence included CCTV footage, mobile phone data, and a confession Dolan allegedly made to his ex-girlfriend while under the influence of cocaine. The sentence was back-dated to May 15, 2020, when Dolan was arrested at Dublin Airport upon his extradition from the UK. The judge noted that the only sentence open to the court was life imprisonment and extended sympathy to the victim's family. The matter was concluded with this mandatory life sentence.
The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction of a 14‑year‑old who murdered Urantsetseg Tserendorj, keeping his life sentence in force. The teenager, now 17, had denied the murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter. He was found guilty by a majority jury after two trials, the first ending in a jury disagreement. The appeal argued that the trial judge erred by allowing evidence of a prior attempted robbery and a comment by prosecuting counsel that the teenager "went for the jugular." The Court rejected these claims, stating the evidence was relevant and the comment was not prejudicial. The appeal also challenged the admission of a dying declaration by Tserendorj's husband, which the Court found met the legal test. Finally, the Court dismissed an allegation that the judge's attitude was negative toward the juvenile. The conviction and life sentence remain unchanged.
A 36‑year‑old man, on bail for a prior assault, broke into his former partner's home on 5 January 2021 and attacked her in front of her child. He claimed the victim was at fault because she had changed her phone password, which he said made him paranoid. The man pleaded guilty to criminal damage, endangerment, assault and trespass. He had previously been convicted of assault causing harm and two counts of criminal damage, for which he received a three‑year prison sentence with six months suspended. The victim's impact statement described ongoing PTSD, panic attacks and a sense that the house was no longer safe. The court adjourned the case to 6 February 2024 for finalisation of the sentence. The man was described by counsel as a model prisoner who has attended anger‑management classes while in custody.
In the €27 million theft trial of Michael Lynn, solicitor Fiona McAleenan testified that she did not sign the letter of undertaking containing her signature. McAleenan, who joined Lynn's firm in 2004 as a litigation solicitor, explained that she had been asked to sign documents from conveyancing files but had no involvement beyond signing the letter of undertaking. She recalled that the document was prepared by staff, with Liz Doyle completing the pages before she signed, and that she could not remember signing the Bank of Ireland Mortgages letter. McAleenan confirmed she was never a partner in the practice and that any other lines on the documents were added by someone else. The jury was informed that McAleenan would be recalled for further evidence later in the trial. The case remains before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
Patrick Challoner, a former AIB bank manager aged 54, was found by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to have carried out a €2.7 million fraud over 16 years by creating bogus loan and investment schemes. He did not personally profit from the scheme, which involved taking money from customers who believed they were authorising investment accounts that were never established, and then using those funds to create fake loans for other customers. The scheme included 44 fictitious loans, 22 customers whose funds were misappropriated, and €900,000 given to 33 customers without paperwork. The bank suffered a total loss of €3.2 million, including reimbursements and audit costs. Challoner pleaded guilty to five theft charges and one deception charge, and was remanded on continuing bail pending sentencing on 27 November. He has since left the bank and is now working as a pizza delivery person.
In the Central Criminal Court trial of grave digger Martin Hayes, a toxicologist testified that Amadea McDermott, aged 27, had a post‑mortem blood concentration of 0.34 micrograms per milliliter of cocaine and an alcohol level roughly three times the drink‑driving limit. The expert explained that cocaine can be taken in various forms and that its effects depend on individual tolerance, noting that combined use with alcohol can produce unpredictable behaviour. Hayes, aged 34, denies murdering McDermott, claiming she stabbed herself and that he had left her after a fight. A woman in a later relationship with Hayes testified that he had helped her stab McDermott, while a Garda witness reported past physical abuse. The trial is set to continue before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury. Martin Hayes pleaded not guilty.
During a multi‑million‑euro theft trial, defence counsel for Michael Lynn presented internal National Irish Bank documents that suggested senior management kept information "off the official record." Lynn, aged 55, is accused of stealing about €27 million from seven banks between October 2006 and April 2007, and has pleaded not guilty to 21 theft counts. The prosecution argues Lynn obtained multiple mortgages on the same properties without banks knowing other institutions were financing them. Defence highlighted a phrase "solicitors undertaking / 4 properties" in a bank document, claiming it supported Lynn's claim that the mortgages were undertaking‑only. A retired bank manager denied knowledge of such mortgages and said he had provided all relevant information. The trial continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
In a Mountjoy Prison group attack on 18 December 2018, Ross Thompson, 24, was found by the court to have kicked and stamped on an inmate in the recreation area, while the victim was stabbed up to seven times by around six individuals, including Thompson. CCTV footage showed Thompson's kicking and stamping; he was not involved in the stabbing and investigators found no evidence he knew a weapon would be used. Thompson pleaded guilty to violent disorder and to separate charges of dangerous driving, driving without a licence and driving without insurance on 18 May 2021. He has 61 prior convictions, including assault, threats to kill, drug possession and road‑traffic offences, and is currently serving a three‑year, three‑month sentence for reckless firearm discharge. The court noted that Thompson accepted his role in the prison disciplinary process, lost privileges, and that the case was delayed until this year.
Katarzyna Wsiubiak, 34, was found not guilty by reason of insanity after she threw a cup of acid at workers in One Asian Kitchen, Tallaght, on 13 December 2020. The attack left three women with burns covering 16 per cent of one victim's body, severe burns to the face, neck, chest and left arm, and second‑degree burns to a second victim's neck, arm and fingers. A third victim suffered first‑degree burns to the ankle. Wsiubiak, who had known the main target for months, claimed she was paranoid and delusional and believed the victim was part of a conspiracy against her. She was arrested, had a seizure in custody, and has since been in the care of the Central Mental Hospital, where her mental state has improved. Judge Patricia Ryan confirmed the order for her continued care. The court heard that Wsiubiak was suffering from schizophrenia and severe mental illness at the time of the incident.
Amadea McDermott, 27, was found dead from a stab wound at her home in Coolock on 20 July 2017. A week before her death she had a black eye and a make‑up artist, Jade Deacon, who had worked with her, testified that McDermott described her relationship with the accused, Martin Hayes, as "toxic". Deacon also said McDermott had told her she loved Hayes but wished he would leave her. A forensic scientist, Dr Ciara Kelly, matched McDermott's DNA to a swab taken from the murder weapon, but found no DNA from Hayes. Hayes, 34, pleaded not guilty to the murder. He was arrested on 8 October 2020 and charged on 4 April 2022. The trial is before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of eight men and four women. The case remains an ongoing murder trial.
Paschal Kelly, aged 57, has failed in his appeal against conviction for a €92,000 post office robbery committed in September 2014. The Court of Appeal dismissed his challenge on all grounds, upholding his 18-year sentence imposed by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in 2018. Kelly, with last addresses in Cootehill, County Cavan, and Castlepollard, County Westmeath, was convicted of offences including false imprisonment, robbery, burglary and threatening to kill three women during the crime. The gang entered the home of postmistress Susan Lawlor in Malahide, bound her, her daughter and a student guest with cable ties, and transported them to Bayside Post Office in Sutton where the robbery occurred. Mr Justice John Edwards upheld the trial judge's admission of CCTV evidence and garda identification testimony, finding the evidence reliable and the conviction safe. Kelly's legal team indicated a sentence appeal remains pending. He has 60 previous convictions including robbery and assault.
Nathan Kinsella (44) and his partner Jennifer Dunne (38) of Richmond, Blackrock, Co Dublin, are due to go to trial at the Special Criminal Court over alleged money laundering offences. They have been re‑charged with the six original money‑laundering offences under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing) Act 2010. In addition, they face three new counts under the Finance Act 2008 for failing to file tax returns. The charges relate to converting, transferring, handling, acquiring, possessing or using property—specifically funds deposited into an AIB account between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2019—while knowing or recklessly believing the property was the proceeds of criminal conduct. They are also charged with failing to submit full and true capital acquisitions tax returns for the periods ending 31 October 2018, 31 October 2019 and 31 October 2020, with addresses at Tasaggart House, Alpine Heights and Richmond, Newtownpark respectively.
Emily Brady, a hearing‑impaired diner, claimed that on 19 April 2023 the operator of the Dublin Mexican eatery 777 refused to lower the music volume, stating it was part of the restaurant's vibe. Brady said she and four friends were unable to speak because the music was "obscenely loud" and that the host told her the volume could not be turned down. She alleged discrimination under the Equal Status Act 2000. The restaurant's operator, JFL Ltd, denied the claim, saying it had not failed to accommodate Brady and that she had not been properly notified. The tribunal heard Brady's testimony, the restaurant's solicitor's cross‑examination, and Brady's statements that she had travelled from the UK to pursue the case. The hearing was adjourned to a remote session, with Brady allowed to introduce further witnesses on a later date. The case remains pending.
In the Central Criminal Court, a grave digger, Martin Hayes, 34, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his partner, Amadea McDermott, 27, who was found dead at her home in Coolock on 20 July 2017. The jury heard that Hayes claimed Amadea had stabbed herself, but evidence from a woman who later dated Hayes suggested he had helped her insert a knife into her stomach. A social worker, Ciara Lumsden, testified that Hayes told her he had found evidence on Amadea's phone that she was in an incestuous relationship with a relative. Garda emails and screenshots from Amadea's phone were presented, showing text messages in which she accused Hayes of abuse and denied being abused. Witnesses described a history of physical conflict, alcohol use, and bruises on Amadea's body. The trial also covered Hayes' statement to Gardaí, his work as a grave digger, and his relationship with Amadea, including their children and use of drugs.
Jake Emmet, aged 21, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a fully suspended term of two and a half years, suspended for three years on strict conditions, after pleading guilty to making unwarranted demands with menace. The offence involved Emmet threatening to burn down a family home in Glen Hostel, Gardiner Street, Dublin 1, over an alleged €500 drug debt. He had visited the victim's house twice that day, telling her he would return to torch the house, and had recorded the incident on a doorbell camera. Emmet had no prior convictions, pleaded guilty, and expressed remorse. The judge, Martina Baxter, noted his young age, lack of previous convictions, and positive changes in his life, and warned that his anti‑social behaviour must stop. The sentence was imposed as a single, fully suspended term, with no custodial period.
In the Stardust inquest, witnesses recounted the desperate attempts to escape the February 14, 1981 fire that killed 48 people. A 19‑year‑old survivor, Anthony Byrne, described trying to open exit four, feeling his skin burn off, and eventually being pulled out through exit five by a bouncer. Peter Burke, also 19, recounted smashing a window and steel frames to rescue two girls, noting the fire's rapid spread and the black tar‑like drips from the ceiling. Brian Baitson, 18, testified about failed attempts to open exit four, the chain and padlock that hindered the door, and the chaotic scene with melted plastic droplets falling from the ceiling. Siobhan McConalogue, 16, described seeing the chain and padlock on exit four and later helping a deceased person outside. Catherine Murphy, on the dance floor, recalled her friend's panic and her own fall before being pulled out through exit five. The inquest will resume on November 7.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Martin Nolan told arsonist Jason Hughes that a "significant chance of fatalities" could have occurred if the apartment's occupants had been asleep. Hughes, 20, pleaded guilty to one count of arson at Pairc Na Greine, Tallaght, on 9 December 2022, an offence punishable by life imprisonment. The court heard that the fire caused €80‑90 000 of damage and left the occupants, including Hughes' father, with nothing. Judge Nolan noted no physical injuries but described the event as traumatic. He considered Hughes' guilty plea, remorse, mental health and addiction issues, and imposed a sentence of eight and a half years, back‑dated to his custody entry. The case involved severe property damage, no established motive, and Hughes' history of arson and mental health problems. The judge emphasised the seriousness of arson and the unpredictable spread of fire.
Mark Keogh, 51, was jailed for two and a half years after a search of his Finglas home uncovered over €180,000 worth of cannabis and cocaine. He admitted selling cocaine, holding cannabis at his address and transporting drugs for others. The court heard that Keogh began dealing drugs following his wife's death from cancer in 2017, which led to a chaotic lifestyle. Keogh, who has no prior convictions, had previously pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale on 25 May 2019. Judge Melanie Greally, noting his remorse, lack of prior offences, drug‑free status, cooperation and poor health, imposed a four‑year sentence, suspending the final 18 months on conditions. Family members present at the hearing sobbed as he was taken into custody. The drugs found included cannabis, cocaine, heroin and ecstasy, with a total value of €185,385. Keogh had begun residential drug treatment immediately after the offence.
In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, 32‑year‑old Christopher Coakley pleaded guilty to an attempted knife robbery of a woman's €500 e‑scooter on O'Connell Street on 4 February 2021. Coakley held a knife to the victim's throat and demanded the scooter, but was shoved to the ground, lost the knife and fled. He was arrested and detained by gardai. Judge Patricia Ryan noted that Coakley committed the offence to obtain drugs and warned that without rehabilitation he would return to court repeatedly. She cited aggravating factors such as the robbery being part of a spree and the lasting psychological harm to the victim, and mitigating factors including his guilty plea. The judge imposed a five‑year sentence, back‑dated to his March 2023 custody, while he remains serving an eight‑year term for assault causing serious harm and a separate four‑year term for another robbery on the same day.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, Dr Lorna Flanagan presented DNA evidence linking Jozef Puska to Ashling Murphy's murder. Swabs taken from under Murphy's fingernails yielded a Y‑chromosome profile that matched the Y‑STR profile from Puska's blood and swabs collected when he was in custody at Tullamore Garda Station on 18 January. The probability of an unrelated match was estimated at about one in 14,000. Puska, aged 33, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Murphy, who was killed on 12 January 2022 in Cappincur, Tullamore. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with a jury of nine men and three women. The court has not yet reached a verdict.
A 41‑year‑old Dominican Republic national was sentenced to ten and a half years' imprisonment, with an 18‑month suspended portion, for violently sexually assaulting his former sister‑in‑law in her Dublin home on 16 July 2021. The court found that he entered her bedroom at about 2 a.m., subjected her to a five‑hour assault in which he repeatedly penetrated her, threatened to stab her 50 times with a metal turkey baster, and physically choked, pulled, and pushed her. He also took her phone when she tried to call for help. The victim, who was found with bruising and abrasions, later escaped at 7:30 a.m. and was taken to a sexual assault treatment unit. She described lasting panic attacks and a "perpetual state of fear and anxiety." The judge noted the prolonged nature of the offence, the multiplicity of sexual violations, and the threats to kill as aggravating factors. The unnamed 41-year-old pleaded guilty.
Michael Connolly (55), of no fixed abode, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for the manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility of Mark Lawlor (38), who was found dead in Cloverhill Prison on the night of Friday, November 22, 2019. Connolly was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility by a jury at the Central Criminal Court in August. The fatal attack occurred in a three-prisoner cell where both men had mental health issues and had been remanded to the prison on unconnected matters. Connolly had pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Lawlor by reason of insanity. During the sentencing hearing, Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford stated that a headline sentence of 15 years was appropriate but reduced that to 12 years' imprisonment when taking into account Connolly's mental health history, his admissions to gardaí that he killed Mr Lawlor and his expressions of remorse. She then suspended a further two years of the sentence for five years to grant Connolly an opportunity to reintegrate into society upon his release. Ms Justice Lankford also suspended the final two years of the sentence for five years during which Connolly is to attend psychiatric treatment, not use illicit drugs and be of good behaviour for that time. The matter was adjourned and never described as concluded or finalised.
In a trial held on 26 October 2023, retired National Irish Bank (NIB) business manager Noel McCole testified that the bank discovered other financial institutions had interests in four apartments that solicitor Michael Lynn (55) had purchased with a €1.38 million loan from NIB. McCole, who managed the Blanchardstown branch in the 1990s, explained that Lynn's solicitors had business accounts there, which were later closed. He described the loan application process, noting that Lynn initially proposed an 85 % loan‑to‑value ratio, which was rejected because NIB's guideline was 80 %. Lynn's assistant, Liz Doyle, emailed the bank in December 2006 seeking lending criteria, and an application was submitted in early 2007. NIB issued a facility letter on 13 February 2007, and Lynn signed it on 2 February. The bank drew down €1.38 million electronically on 16 March 2007, with a €5 000 charge deducted. Repayments were made between April and September 2007. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
On New Year's Day 2023, two homeless men, Jordan Maguire (24) and Shane McGrane (38), attacked a man at the corner of Aston Quay and Price's Lane in Dublin city centre. The victim was kicked in the head, left unconscious and bleeding, and later required a craniotomy to remove part of his skull. He lost three pints of blood, received 96 staples, and now suffers a significant skull depression, memory problems, slurred speech and difficulty sleeping. Gardaí found the victim at 12:30 pm and transported him to St James' Hospital and then Beaumont Hospital for emergency neurosurgery. CCTV footage showed the attackers changing clothes after the assault. Both men pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the judge adjourned the matter for finalisation on 9 November. The court heard that the victim's long‑term injuries have affected his employment and personal life.
During the Stardust nightclub inquest, Benny Murphy, who was 18 when the fire on 14 February 1981 killed 48 people, recounted that for 42 years he has been haunted by the image of a girl burning in exit four. He described seeing the roof ignite, lights go out, thick black smoke, and a crowd jammed at the exit door that suddenly opened. Murphy said he could see a girl burning and that no one could help her because the exit door was on fire. He added that the fire caused white tiles to melt and drip onto people and tables, and that he heard screams from inside the toilets as people sought cover. He concluded that the tragedy has left lasting trauma for survivors and families, and he called for counselling support.
Stephanie Hoey, 33, told the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that a violent attack by her former partner, Conor Murphy, left her with permanent vision loss and ongoing PTSD. Two years ago, Murphy struck her with a closed fist, causing a blow‑out fracture of her left eye socket. Hoey required surgery that used bone from her hip to repair the eye socket and cheekbone, yet she continues to suffer nerve and muscle damage, double vision, and constant flashbacks. She described her life as "torn apart," noting that her daughter has also endured trauma. Hoey said she had been unable to leave or stay in her home for a long time, and that her only sense of safety returned after Murphy's arrest. Murphy, 23, had previously pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm, burglary and possession of a knife. The case was adjourned to 20 December for mitigation and finalisation.
Annemarie Ruth, a 50‑year‑old woman from Summerhill Parade, Dublin, pleaded guilty on 24 February 2021 to possessing €50,928 worth of cannabis in her home. She has four prior convictions dating back to 2009. In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Sarah Berkeley noted Ruth's full admissions, cooperation with authorities, and her status as a vulnerable person. The judge highlighted that Gardaí had focused on Ruth's then partner at the time of the offence. Ruth entered an early guilty plea, showed remorse, and had previously attempted rehabilitation. Judge Berkeley sentenced her to five years' imprisonment, suspended in full for five years, and imposed 18 months of probation supervision with directions to follow all probation services' instructions. The court did not impose any custodial term, citing that it would serve no service to society to incarcerate a vulnerable woman. The case was prosecuted by John Quirke BL, with Garda Cillian Meyler reporting the search and arrest details.
In a preliminary application before Mr Justice Mark Sanfey at the High Court, an American woman, referred to as Jane Doe, sought permission to proceed under a pseudonym in a damages action against entities within the AYLO group, formerly MindGeek. The applicant alleges that she was drugged and raped as a minor, with recordings of the abuse subsequently uploaded to adult video sharing sites, including Pornhub, owned by the defendants. She claims these videos were distributed in violation of US laws and seeks parallel proceedings in Ireland, alleging that Irish entities hold substantial assets. The defendants, including AYLO Billing Limited and Mirmay Limited, deny all allegations of wrongdoing. The applicant seeks aggravated and exemplary damages for alleged breaches of duty, GDPR, conspiracy, and privacy rights, along with orders to remove the images, identify uploaders, and preserve Irish assets below US$630m pending the outcome of actions in Ireland and the US. Counsel Jarlath Ryan BL argued that the applicant's safety and life were at risk if her identity were publicized, and that she would face stigmatisation. Mr Justice Sanfey acknowledged the unusual circumstances and the court's inherent jurisdiction to grant anonymity, ruling that the defendants would not be prejudiced. The court granted the order, allowing the applicant to bring her proceedings under the pseudonym Jane Doe.
In a Dublin inner‑city flat complex, 18‑year‑old Brandon Kelly fired a handgun during a dispute between two groups. Gardaí described the rapid access to the firearm as a "big shock." Kelly, who had received an 18‑month suspended sentence for a robbery just 13 days earlier, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition for an unlawful purpose on 15 November 2022. His co‑accused, 26‑year‑old Jamie Byrne, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the reckless discharge of a firearm. CCTV showed Kelly and Byrne present at 4.36 pm, with Byrne later taking a motorbike to escort Kelly away after the shots were fired at 4.58 pm. The incident was initially treated as attempted murder. The court, noting the guilty pleas, ages and mitigating factors, imposed a seven‑year sentence on Kelly and a 27‑month sentence on Byrne, both back‑dated to 22 November 2023.
Monday Augustine, 52, a devoted member of the Christ Life Church in Dublin, pleaded guilty to using false documents to obtain asylum and later Irish citizenship. He originally arrived in Ireland in 2002 as a Nigerian, claiming to be a Liberian named John Augustine Sawyeer, and used a falsified Liberian birth certificate to marry an Irish citizen in 2004, apply for citizenship in 2007, and obtain a passport in 2009. After a religious experience in 2018, he wrote to the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Services in October 2019 confessing the fraud and revealing his true name, Monday Augustine. The court, noting his long community involvement and low risk of reoffending, ordered him to complete 240 hours of community service within two years in lieu of an 18‑month prison term. He has no prior convictions and has worked steadily in Ireland for over 20 years, earning €482 per week after tax.
During the Stardust inquest, Christine Carr, a 16‑year‑old survivor, described the fire as "looking into hell," noting a "rainbow of colours" that mesmerised her as flames spread across the ceiling. She said she was traumatised, having lost her friend Marie Kennedy, one of 48 victims. Carr recounted seeing a wall of fire when a partition rose, then a backdraft that vanished, leaving her in darkness. She described the smoke as hot, like burning tyres, and her struggle to breathe, feeling she would die. She was taken to hospital with her father and Kennedy's father, and a nurse brought Kennedy's jewellery. Carr also recalled panic, voices shouting "Open the door," and being carried out by the crowd. The inquest also heard testimony from Raymond English about opening exit five and the lack of visible locks or chains, conflicting with other witnesses' accounts. The hearing continues tomorrow.