Former 2FM DJ Nikki Hayes, aged 44 and real name Eimear Black O'Keeffe, was found guilty of possessing €15,000 as proceeds of crime in a Permanent TSB account on 5 November 2020, with two further counts of €2,600 and €2,400 on 6 November 2020. The money was transferred to her account after a victim received a text from a fraudulent source and followed a link, leading to withdrawals of €15,000 that were later moved to Revolut and via ATMs in Liffey Valley. The remaining funds were blocked and returned to the victim, leaving the bank a loss of about €2,000. O'Keeffe was in debt of €53,000, had six prior minor traffic convictions, and had struggled with mental health, including bipolar and borderline personality disorder, which her defence cited as vulnerability.
A senior barrister, Diarmuid Phelan, aged 54, is seeking a variation of his bail conditions to return to his 170‑acre farm in Tallaght and to his 54‑acre farm in Wexford. He was charged with the murder of Keith Conlon, 36, who was shot at Hazelgrove Farm on 22 February 2022 and died two days later. Phelan was remanded after appearing at Tallaght District Court on 25 February 2022, and a High Court bail refusal was overturned by the Court of Appeal, allowing him to be released on two €50,000 bonds. His trial is set for 29 May next year before the Central Criminal Court. In the bail variation hearing, agricultural consultant Jeff Barry testified that Phelan's Tallaght farm, which had been accepted into an organic scheme in January, has suffered from halted fencing and maintenance work, leading to serious welfare concerns for the livestock.
During the Ashling Murphy murder trial, Garda Detective Sergeant Brian Jennings recorded that accused Jozef Puska admitted he committed the murder, saying "I did it, I murdered, I am the murderer" and expressed regret, stating "I feel guilty and I say I regret it." Puska, aged 33, was a person of interest and had been questioned at St James's Hospital after the victim's death on 12 January 2022. He claimed he had been attacked by two men in Blanchardstown, sustaining stomach injuries, and that he had no memory of the murder. Puska also said he had been planning to meet a woman in Dublin and that he had been told he was a suspect. The trial has not yet reached a verdict. Jozef Puska pleaded not guilty.
In a High Court hearing on 24 October 2023, Mr Simon Healy, a 25 % shareholder and former Executive Chairman of Navicorp Limited (trading as Navi Group), applied for a temporary injunction to prevent the company's directors and other shareholders from transferring his shares. He alleged that his dismissal in September 2023 was wrongful and that the defendants were acting oppressively to benefit Mr John Carroll, the 75 % shareholder and CEO of Navicorp. The company denied the claims, calling Healy a "bad leaver". After extensive negotiations, the parties reached an accommodation: the disputed meeting was postponed, a valuation of Healy's shares was to be undertaken, and the injunction application was to be rescheduled for 19 December. Mr Justice Mark Sanfey adjourned the case to that date, praising the parties' efforts to resolve the dispute.
Daniel O'Neill, 27, of Dublin 8, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of possession of cocaine for sale or supply on June 18, 2020, at Malachi Road, Dublin 7. Prosecution evidence indicated that Garda Deirdre McDonald observed O'Neill and another male behaving suspiciously near a car. After the men fled, gardai seized the vehicle, where they recovered 400g of cocaine valued at over €29,600, €300 in cash, O'Neill's passport, and a gym bag containing clothes with his name. O'Neill was arrested in October 2021. Defence counsel Garnet Orange SC acknowledged O'Neill's 31 previous convictions, including 16 drug-related offences and a five-year suspended sentence imposed in 2014 for possession of a controlled drug for sale or supply. While noting O'Neill's difficult background and addiction issues, the judge rejected the defence application for a probation report. Judge Martin Nolan stated that the aggravating features balanced out the mitigating factors, noting O'Neill's involvement in the lower levels of drug transport and dealing. The court imposed a sentence of three years and nine months, backdated to January 23, when O'Neill entered custody.
Sean Cole, aged 52, of Donnycarney, Dublin, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for indecent assault and sexual assault of a girl who was a child at the time. The offences occurred between January 1987 and December 1991 when Cole was aged 16 to 20 and the victim was seven years younger. The girl was described as being in a vulnerable situation, with siblings suffering serious illness and parents often in hospital. Cole's conduct involved digitally penetrating the girl and forcing her to masturbate him. The court noted the victim's difficult childhood and the impact of the abuse. Cole had previously been convicted of sexual assault and had left school without exams. Judge Orla Crowe set a headline sentence of ten years, reduced to five years, and suspended the final year on conditions. Sean Cole pleaded guilty.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, Martin Hayes, aged 34, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Amadea McDermott, aged 27, who died on or about 20 July 2017. Hayes testified that he had helped McDermott, who was holding a knife, to insert it into her stomach by placing his hands on hers. He claimed the knife was used by McDermott to defend herself after a heated argument. Hayes also alleged that he had confronted McDermott about messages on her daughter's phone and chased her to retrieve it. Niamh Higgins, a former partner of Hayes, testified that Hayes had admitted to holding the knife on Christmas Eve 2018 and that he had been abusive that night. The jury heard evidence from Garda Jason Flynn and the case continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
Ruth Lawrence, a 42-year-old Dublin woman extradited from South Africa, will stand trial at the Central Criminal Court on October 7, 2024, on charges of murdering Anthony Keegan and Eoin O'Connor. The bodies of both men were discovered wrapped in plastic on Inchicup Island on Lough Sheelin, which borders Meath and Cavan, in May 2014. Mr Justice David Keane scheduled the trial, which is expected to last three weeks, following a hearing at the Central Criminal Court. The case has been adjourned to January 12, 2024, for case management. Ms Lawrence was arrested at Dublin Airport in May 2023 following her extradition from Bloemfontein and charged with two counts of murder. A South African national also faces extradition proceedings in connection with the deaths, though he is currently serving a prison sentence in South Africa.
A 77‑year‑old former school caretaker was sentenced to eight and a half years' imprisonment for raping and sexually abusing his daughter over a seven‑year period from 1991 to 1997. He pleaded guilty to one count of oral rape and three counts of sexual assault, with the victim aged between six and thirteen during the offences. The court described the abuse as the ultimate betrayal of trust and noted the daughter's decision to break her silence as a courageous act. The judge set a headline sentence of 14 years but reduced it to eight and a half years, citing the defendant's guilty plea, remorse, advanced age and medical issues. The defendant had no prior convictions and was married to the victim's mother, who supported him in court. The sentencing took into account the severe impact on the victim's life and her relationship with her mother.
Antoinette Keegan, 18 at the time of the Stardust fire, gave evidence at the Dublin District Coroner's Court. She recalled holding her sisters Martina (16) and Mary (19) as the blaze spread, saying, "We said we'll all hold onto each other and then we'll all get out together." Keegan described the fireball falling from the ceiling, the locked exits (Exit 5 and Exit 4), and the panic that ensued. She was pulled out by Thomas Larkin, who later told her family he had saved her. Keegan's testimony included her memory of the fire's intensity, her own burns, and the loss of at least seven close friends or relatives. She also spoke of the guilt she felt after surviving while her sisters perished, her subsequent hospitalisation, and her long‑term post‑traumatic stress. The inquest heard other survivors' accounts, but the focus remained on Keegan's detailed recollection of the night.
The trial of Jozef Puska, 33, who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Ashling Murphy at Cappincur, Tullamore, Co Offaly, on January 12, 2022, continued before Mr Justice Tony Hunt. Prosecution evidence included Fitbit data from Ms Murphy's watch, which recorded erratic or violent movements at 3.21pm before her heart rate ceased. Witness Rostislav Pokuta testified that Puska visited his home around 9pm on the night of the alleged incident, appearing wet, frightened, and covered in scratches. Pokuta stated he initially withheld this information from gardai due to fear for his family's safety amid an "ugly atmosphere" in Tullamore, but later reported the meeting. Puska was driven to Mucklagh and identified on CCTV. Defence counsel suggested Puska had suffered stab wounds to his stomach. Det Gda Ciaran Byrne presented the Fitbit data, while Det Sgt Paul McDonnell described interviewing Puska at St James's Hospital, where Puska alleged he was stabbed in Blanchardstown by two men. The trial is ongoing.
Three founders of a Longford-based start-up have brought discrimination complaints against Enterprise Ireland at the Workplace Relations Commission, alleging they were told by a funding panel representative that their venture "didn't have enough diversity" when seeking backing under the Competitive Start Fund. Mark Keenan, Michael O'Reilly and Robert Yorke, owners of sharing economy platform LendRB Ltd, are pursuing claims under the Employment Equality Act 1998 and the Equal Status Act 2000. At a preliminary hearing, Enterprise Ireland contested jurisdiction, arguing the matter had been previously ruled upon and that no employment relationship existed between the parties. The company also contended that only one founder's name appeared on the funding application form. The complainants maintained they experienced discrimination as individuals and that their relationship with Enterprise Ireland extended beyond a simple funding application. The case has a history before the tribunal, with an earlier complaint concerning the rejection of the funding application in May 2022.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Chang Teng Wang, 58, admitted to the manslaughter of his 10‑month‑old grandson, Séan, who died on 15 August 2019. Wang told Gardaí he had shaken the baby vigorously in an attempt to calm him, an action that caused head and neck trauma leading to death. The child had been in Wang's care before being taken to Temple Street Children's Hospital, where he was found unresponsive and in cardiac arrest. Despite initial thoughts of choking, CT scans revealed severe injuries. The parents, who had been out with friends, rushed Séan to the hospital after finding him pale. Gardaí found no evidence of punishment or other causes for the injuries. Judge Martina Baxter adjourned sentencing to 6 November pending the Director of Public Prosecution's view, with a plea of mitigation to be heard then. Chang Teng Wang pleaded guilty.
In October 2023, Dublin City University (DCU) and developer Kinwest Ltd lodged judicial review actions in the High Court challenging the inclusion of their properties on the map of sites subject to the Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT). DCU, represented by Joe Jeffers SC, seeks to quash the board's decision to list two sites—Griffith Avenue, Glasnevin, and Albert College Park—arguing they are exempt because they are used for education, a provision in the Taxes Consolidation Act. Kinwest, represented by Martin Hayden SC, contests the board's upholding of Fingal County Council's rulings that it must pay the RZLT on three sites in Auburn, Streamstown, and Malahide. The developer also challenges the constitutionality of the Act's amendment and the ministerial guidelines, claiming they were made outside the minister's powers. Both parties' applications will return before the High Court in December, with DCU also seeking declarations that the board erred in law and made unreasonable decisions.
Thomas Neville, 59, of Railway Avenue, Inchicore, Dublin 8, was found guilty by a jury of one count of rape, one count of child exploitation and 20 counts of sexual assault against a girl aged 14 to 20 between 2010 and 2020. He was sentenced to eleven and a half years in prison, with a headline sentence of thirteen years reduced for minimal mitigation, and three years of post‑release supervision. Neville, who has 35 prior convictions, denied all allegations. The victim, who was 14 when the abuse began, described the sexual acts, including forced oral sex, forced touching, and the showing of pornography, and stated she still suffers from nightmares and mental health issues. The court heard that Neville had been arrested and interviewed in November 2020 and that the victim's impact statement highlighted her need for justice.
The trial of former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 55, is set to begin this week at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He faces 21 counts of stealing property from various financial institutions between 2006 and 2007 and has pleaded not guilty. An extended panel of 15 jurors, comprising seven men and eight women, has been selected. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, is expected to last eight weeks.
Francis Fennell, Christopher Mellon, Alan Fagan, Paul Fagan, and Aaron King were sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for their roles in an international cocaine smuggling ring. All five defendants pleaded guilty to various charges, including conspiracy to commit serious offences, money laundering, and conspiracy to bring proceeds of criminal conduct into the state between 2012 and 2016. Judge Pauline Codd described the enterprise as a "get rich quick scheme" exploiting price disparities in Australia and New Zealand. Fennell, identified as the mastermind, received a ten-year sentence with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. Mellon, a first-time offender, had his three-and-a-half-year sentence suspended in full and was ordered to pay €10,000 to the Anna Livia project. Alan Fagan, described as a trusted lieutenant, was sentenced to six years with the final four and a half years suspended. Paul Fagan received a six-year sentence with the final three and a half years suspended on conditions. Aaron King, the youngest defendant, was sentenced to four and a half years with the final 18 months suspended on conditions. The judge noted mitigating factors such as guilty pleas, remorse, and evidence of rehabilitation for all defendants.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 20 October 2023, a 30‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to five years for reckless endangerment and child cruelty after being accused of raping his partner's toddler. He pleaded guilty to one count of reckless endangerment of the 23‑month‑old girl between 29 March and 5 April 2018, and to two counts of child cruelty towards her and two counts towards her brother on 5 April 2018. The boy was aged two to three at the time. The court accepted the guilty pleas and dismissed the rape and sexual assault charges. The judge noted the children's vulnerability, the serious injuries sustained, and the man's history of offending and substance abuse. The sentence was back‑dated to the man's September 2021 custody entry. The children, now seven and eight, were placed in foster care and are receiving support for their recovery.
Paul Clarke, 41, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for robbing a Lidl supermarket on Malahide Road on 13 November 2019. CCTV showed him entering the store, firing a handgun into the ceiling, then demanding money from two open tills. He took about €1,000, placing the cash in a bag he had brought. When he struggled to leave, he forced the manager to open the doors by threatening him with the gun and demanded the other tills be opened, but the manager refused. Clarke then fled in a getaway vehicle driven by an accomplice. Garda patrol stopped the car, seized drug paraphernalia and cash, and found gunshot residue on Clarke's jacket and the vehicle. He has 115 prior convictions, including robbery, false imprisonment and threats of serious harm, and had previously been sentenced to five years for an attempted robbery in 2021.
A 39-year-old woman from Granard, County Longford, has been sentenced to twelve months in prison following an assault on a prison officer at the Dochas Centre in Mountjoy Prison on 29 September 2021. Stephanie Martin pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The court heard that Martin grabbed food aggressively from the officer, placed her in a headlock, and pulled her hair, causing significant injury. The officer required hospital treatment and subsequently took a year off work, reporting ongoing anxiety and trauma. Judge Orla Crowe noted the seriousness of assaulting an officer in the course of duty and Martin's twenty-two previous convictions. However, the judge considered mitigating factors including Martin's early guilty plea, apology, and remorse. Martin has not come to garda attention since the incident. The headline sentence was set at eighteen months before reduction to twelve months.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Brandon Brooks, 25, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for assault causing harm to nightclub bouncer Sean Owens at Buzz nightclub on 9 November 2019. Owens, who was working to save for a wedding, was repeatedly punched and stabbed by an attacker other than Brooks during a mob attack that included Brooks. Owens now suffers from PTSD, insomnia, flashbacks and nightmares. Judge Orla Crowe noted the seriousness of Owens' injuries and the harrowing victim impact statement. Brooks, who had 49 prior convictions and was on bail at the time, pleaded guilty early and was described as an enhanced prisoner. The judge suspended the final six months of the sentence, imposed a 12‑month probation supervision period, and allowed the remaining term to be served in custody. The court considered letters from Brooks' mother and other family members as mitigating factors.
A woman has been found guilty of indecently assaulting a 13-year-old boy in the 1980s following a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Jacintha McSherry O'Connor, aged 63, of Donegal Town, was convicted on two counts of indecent assault by majority jury verdict after 11 hours of deliberation. The offences allegedly occurred between June and September 1985 while she worked as a student teacher at a Dublin secondary school. The complainant, now in his fifties, told the court the abuse occurred during tutoring sessions at his home and on a family holiday to Spain. McSherry O'Connor, who had pleaded not guilty, maintained she never engaged in sexual conduct with the boy. Judge Elma Sheahan remanded her on continuing bail pending sentencing on 8 November 2023.
The family of a young girl who underwent spinal surgery at Temple Street Children's Hospital has initiated High Court proceedings to obtain all her medical records from Children's Health Ireland (CHI). The girl, one of 19 children involved in a report on Spina Bifida surgeries, was operated on last year despite a 50% risk of complications and death. The family claims the surgery was "botched" and "inappropriate," leading to serious post‑operative complications and a split spine that will require further procedures. They argue CHI delayed providing the full suite of records and have received only partial documentation. The court granted the family permission to serve notice of the injunction, and the case will return next week for further hearings. The family seeks an order for CHI to supply all management plans, risk assessments, and to appoint an independent expert to review the case.
Linda Finnegan, 51, of Stamullen, was found guilty of fraud under the Companies Act for withdrawing €35,601 from her family's Waldorf Barbers shop in Dublin. The shop, founded by her father Liam Finnegan, had been run successfully for many years, with Liam owning 75 % and Linda 25 %. After a falling out in 2016, Liam's share was bequeathed to two employees. Following Liam's death in February 2019, Linda withdrew €4,950 and €28,000 in March 2019 without permission, and later €2,651. Gardaí seized cash from her home and CCTV captured the withdrawals. The company was liquidated, but the employees continue trading under a new name. Linda has no prior convictions and has expressed remorse; the case was adjourned for sentencing to 2 November.
An Irish celebrity, aged 40, was acquitted by a jury of three counts of engaging in sexual acts with a 16‑year‑old girl between August and December 2010. The trial, held at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, lasted eight days and the jury deliberated for just under six hours before returning not‑guilty verdicts on all counts. The accused, who could not be named, appeared anxious and emotional during the proceedings. The complainant, aged 29, testified that she met the man at the Oxegen festival in July 2010, that she initially claimed to be 18 but later revealed she was 16, and that alleged incidents of oral sex and masturbation occurred at the accused's workplace and home. The prosecution's case relied on the complainant's testimony and text‑message evidence, while the defence argued the incidents did not occur before the complainant's 17th birthday. Judge Pauline Codd thanked the jurors for their time and noted the case's historic nature. The unnamed 16-year-old pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court heard that Ashling Murphy died before paramedics could attempt resuscitation after she was found with 12 sharp force wounds to her neck in the undergrowth by the Grand Canal in Tullamore. CCTV footage showed a garda believing he could see the accused, Jozef Puska, moving in the same direction as two women, reaching into his pockets and appearing to have something in his hand before returning it to his pocket. The prosecution presented footage of Ashling's movements from leaving work at Scoil Naomh Colmcille at 2.37 pm to arriving at the Daingean Road car park at 2.50 pm and walking to the towpath. Puska, aged 33, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ms Murphy on 12 January 2022. The trial continues next week before Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court will resume deliberations tomorrow in the trial of a teacher accused of indecently assaulting a male student decades ago. Jacintha McSherry O'Connor, aged 63 and from The Mullins in Donegal Town, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecent assault on a child allegedly occurring between June and September 1985. The alleged victim was 13 years old at the time, while Ms McSherry O'Connor was aged 24 or 25 and working as a student teacher at a Dublin school. The prosecution alleges the assaults took place in the boy's home during private tuition sessions. The court also heard evidence regarding alleged sexual contact between the parties during a family holiday in Spain prior to the period covered by the charges. The jury had deliberated for over seven hours when Judge Elma Sheahan adjourned proceedings for the evening.
In a trial of a 40‑year‑old Irish celebrity accused of defiling a 16‑year‑old girl, Judge Pauline Codd told the jury that the case relied solely on the complainant's word, as no corroborating evidence existed. She warned that, over time, such cases often hinge on "one person's word against another." The judge explained that the jury must assess the truth and reliability of the complainant's testimony. The defendant, aged 27 at the time, pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual acts with a child under 17, alleged to have occurred in Dublin between August and December 2010. The State's case claimed he inserted his penis into the girl's mouth on three occasions, once at his workplace and twice at his home. The jury had deliberated for just over three hours on the eighth day before the judge paused proceedings for the evening, with a return the next day to continue deliberations.
During the 1981 Stardust fire, a survivor, Mark Swaine, testified that he tried to use his hands to extinguish flames on people escaping the nightclub. He described being trapped against a van at exit three, pushing his girlfriend off a wall, and attempting to break windows to allow people to escape. Swaine said he saw people's hands pressed against the windows and that he was trying to put out the fire. He confirmed that a chain on the main door was preventing people from exiting. Other witnesses described a van obstructing the exit and a brass padlock on the door. The inquest heard that the chain and lock were indeed in place, and that Swaine's actions were an attempt to help those on fire. The hearing continues next Tuesday.
The trial of four Dublin men accused of raping and sexually assaulting a woman at her home in December 2018 has collapsed at the Central Criminal Court. All charges against the accused were dropped via a nolle prosequi after the complainant, who is undergoing psychiatric treatment, was deemed unable to continue giving evidence. The State's application to allow her to testify via video link was unsuccessful. Mr Justice David Keane addressed the jury, noting the trial did not reach a natural conclusion after three weeks, and exempted them from jury service for 15 years. Reporting restrictions apply to all participants. The first accused, aged 25, had pleaded not guilty to oral rape and sexual assault. The second accused, also 25, pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault. The third accused, aged 23, pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape, one oral rape, and a sexual assault. The fourth accused, aged 24, pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape and sexual assault. The complainant alleged the men entered her home uninvited, forced her into sexual acts, and that one accused recorded the incidents on social media. She stated she was bleeding and sore when the men left. The matter was adjourned and concluded with the dropping of charges, not a conviction.
E W Technologies was fined €50,000 at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after its former managing director, David Ford, pleaded guilty to failing to provide adequate fall prevention measures. The charge related to a workplace accident on January 15, 2021, at a warehouse in Blanchardstown Corporate Park. The court heard that Ludovic Tanfin, a 58-year-old employee, fell over two metres from an improvised platform constructed on a forklift while attempting to repair a damaged shutter door. Judge Orla Crowe noted that Mr Tanfin suffered a fractured skull, inter-cranial bleeds, and multiple rib fractures, resulting in a year-long absence from work and ongoing cognitive difficulties. The judge described the incident as a one-off event, highlighting the company's impeccable safety record and lack of systemic failures. The company, which has since been sold to a US firm, was fined €50,000 to be paid forthwith. Prosecutors from the Health and Safety Authority stated that staff should have left the repair to experts, but their efforts to fix the door created the serious risk. Defence counsel noted the company's early plea and full cooperation with the investigation. Mr Tanfin is currently pursuing a separate personal injury case.
The jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has begun deliberations on the trial of a 40‑year‑old Irish celebrity accused of defiling a 16‑year‑old girl between August and December 2010. He has pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual acts with a child under 17, alleged to have occurred at his workplace and twice at his home. The State claims he inserted his penis into the complainant's mouth on each occasion. The judge, Pauline Codd, delivered her charge this morning, and the jurors retired at 11.05 am to consider the verdicts.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has continued deliberations in the trial of a Donegal woman accused of indecently assaulting a male student nearly four decades ago. Jacintha McSherry O'Connor, aged 63 and from The Mullins in Donegal Town, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecently assaulting a child between June and September 1985. The alleged offences occurred while Ms McSherry O'Connor worked as a student teacher at a Dublin school, with the incidents said to have taken place during home tuition sessions. The complainant was thirteen years old at the time. The court also heard evidence of alleged sexual contact between the accused and the boy during a family holiday to Spain prior to the period covered by the charges. Following more than four and a half hours of deliberation on the trial's fifth day, Judge Elma Sheahan directed jurors to adjourn for the evening. Deliberations are to resume the following day.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Katarzyna Wsiubiak, aged 34, was found not guilty by reason of insanity after she threw a cup of acid at workers in the One Asian Kitchen in Tallaght on 13 December 2020. The jury heard that Wsiubiak was paranoid and delusional when she entered the restaurant, and that she had known the main target, a woman who had previously provided translation services for her. The attack left the first victim with severe burns covering 16 % of her body, including her face, neck, chest and left upper arm, and caused permanent eye damage; the second victim suffered second‑degree burns to her neck, left arm and fingers while helping the injured colleague; the third victim sustained first‑degree burns to her ankle.
In a trial in Dublin, a 40‑year‑old Irish celebrity faced three counts of sexual activity with a 16‑year‑old girl between August and December 2010. The defence counsel, Morgan Shelley, urged jurors to focus on the girl's age claims, arguing she initially told the man she was 18 and later admitted she was 16. Shelley contended that no sexual acts occurred before her 17th birthday and that the prosecution relied on unavailable text messages and memory. He highlighted alleged alibis, such as the man's presence at a hotel in June 2012, and questioned the girl's recollection of visits to his house on 14 December 2010. Shelley asked the jury to find the man not guilty on all counts, stressing the importance of the legal age of consent and the need for impartial deliberation. The judge reminded jurors to consider only the evidence presented and to apply the law that a child under 17 cannot give valid consent.
At the ongoing inquest into the Stardust nightclub fire of February 1981, witnesses have testified that emergency exit doors were secured with chains and padlocks on the night of the blaze. A former employee stated that this practice of locking exits had been in place for up to two years prior to the fire, which occurred in the early hours of 14 February. He recalled hearing patrons cry out that doors were locked as the fire spread, and described how the crowd forced one door open to escape. Inside the premises, he heard sounds of people attempting to break through locked toilet windows without success. Another witness confirmed seeing a chain and lock wrapped around panic bars on an exit door that night. A third witness described the chaotic evacuation, recounting how she heard shouts that exits were locked as flames and thick smoke filled the venue. The inquest, taking place in Dublin District Coroner's Court, continues to examine the circumstances surrounding the disaster.
During a murder trial, the sister of Amadea McDermott, who died from a stab wound, testified that she punched the accused, Martin Hayes, after he smirked at her outside a hospital resuscitation room. She described arriving at the apartment, seeing Hayes sitting on a bed, and hearing her sister in cardiac arrest. She later saw paramedics working on Amadea and was told the victim had a puncture wound to the abdomen. The sister said she had given the accused's phones to Gardaí after the incident. Hayes, 34, pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of eight men and four women. The case involves allegations of domestic abuse and a violent relationship. The court has heard that Hayes was a grave digger at the time of the death.
A banking professional who worked at a Dublin pub for nearly three decades has alleged he was unfairly dismissed and denied a redundancy package because the pub owners did not want to pay him. Alan Ecock, who has worked for AIB since 1994, told the Workplace Relations Commission that his co-workers at the bank were unaware of his second job as a bar manager at Kavanaghs in Stoneybatter, where he started as a lounge boy in the late 1980s. His solicitor, Setanta Landers, claimed the pub owners' assertion that Ecock was self-employed was a 'parade of fiction.' Ecock stated he worked at the pub four nights a week throughout his college years after losing his father as a teenager and felt obliged to support his mother. He continued working there even after signing a full-time contract with AIB in 1994, reducing his hours to two nights a week when he married in 2013.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the jury has begun deliberations in the trial of a teacher accused of indecently assaulting a male student nearly four decades ago. Jacintha McSherry O'Connor, aged 63, from Donegal Town, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecent assault on dates between June and September 1985, when she was a student teacher at a Dublin school and the boy was thirteen years old. The alleged incidents reportedly occurred during private tuition at the boy's home and on a family holiday to Spain. In closing speeches, the prosecution argued the evidence of the complainant, now in his fifties, was reliable and consistent, describing patterns of grooming behaviour. The defence contended there were significant inconsistencies in the complainant's account and that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. The jury will continue its deliberations the following day.
In a trial for defilement of a 16‑year‑old girl, the 40‑year‑old defendant pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual acts with a child under 17 at locations in Dublin between August and December 2010. Prosecuting counsel, Eilis Brennan SC, told the jury that the defendant's account was "unbelievable" and "riddled with inconsistencies". She contrasted the defendant's version with the complainant's, describing the latter as coherent and the former as lacking sense. Brennan highlighted specific discrepancies, such as a claimed lunch meeting in January 2011 that the complainant denied, and the defendant's assertion that he had shown her pictures of his home after discovering she lied about her age. She urged the jury to weigh the credibility of both parties, noting that the defendant had denied all wrongdoing and that consent was not a defence under the legislation. The defence's closing speech was scheduled for the following day.
During the Stardust inquest, a 17‑year‑old witness, Sharon O'Hanlon, recounted that she and friends were among the first to leave the club after a small fire appeared in a partitioned area. She described how a piece of ceiling fell onto their table minutes after the fire was first seen. O'Hanlon said the heat from the blaze caused the ceiling to collapse, though she could not recall if the material was burning or melted. She noted that the fire was near the back of the seating bank, not under the ceiling where they sat. She and her friends reacted quickly, gathering belongings and exiting through the front door. The doors were open when they left, and doormen later attempted to close them. The witness confirmed the incident occurred within three to six minutes of smelling smoke. The testimony was given to the Dublin District Coroner's Court.
Mr Justice Oisin Quinn granted Dr Fiona Grant an interim injunction at the High Court, restraining Gradual Investments Limited from repossessing the medical clinic premises at The Village, Stepaside, Dublin 18. The case, involving Dr Grant and Tuesday Dr Grant as applicants, was adjourned to a date later this month. The dispute centres on alleged unpaid rent, interest, and service charges claimed by Gradual Investments, which acquired the unit in 2015. Dr Grant denies these claims, asserting that she has consistently paid rent in advance except for one instance in March 2020 during the pandemic. She contends that Gradual Investments is not entitled to forfeit the lease, which she entered into in 2009, particularly while her defence to a summary judgment application for over €140,000 remains pending. Counsel for Dr Grant argued that the landlord's issuance of forfeiture notices, with the latest set to take effect on October 18, was unjustified. The judge noted that Dr Grant had raised a serious question requiring trial and that maintaining the status quo was in the interest of her patients. Both parties were granted permission to return to court before the adjourned date if necessary.
Soren Constantin Gavrila, a 42‑year‑old Romanian national, was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison, with the last six months suspended, for raping a sex worker in Dublin on 1 September 2018. Three weeks after arriving in Ireland, Gavrila and two men approached the victim in a car after midnight, offering €50 for oral sex. The victim, who was intoxicated and struggled to understand him, performed oral sex with a condom, but Gavrila removed it and forced her to perform oral sex without a condom. He then pushed her to the ground, raped her, bit her back and arm, and cut her lip. The victim's boyfriend confronted the men, leading to a 999 call and Gavrila's arrest. DNA evidence linked Gavrila to the assault. He pleaded guilty, offered €5,000 as a token of remorse, and the judge noted his apology and prior good character in imposing the sentence.
During the opening of Martin Hayes' murder trial, the prosecution presented evidence that Hayes, a 34‑year‑old grave digger, called emergency services after Amadea McDermott, a 27‑year‑old mother of two, died at her Rathvale Drive home on 20 July 2017. Hayes claimed McDermott had stabbed herself, a claim the court heard from paramedic witnesses who described a woman lying on the floor with a stab wound to the right abdomen. A post‑mortem by Dr Marie Cassidy confirmed the fatal wound and identified a knife from the living area as the likely weapon, with DNA matching McDermott's blood on the blade. The prosecution also noted that Hayes had entered a new relationship after McDermott's death and that the new partner would testify about an argument on Christmas Eve 2018. The trial will continue before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury. Martin Hayes pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, Jozef Puska, aged 33, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 23‑year‑old Ashling Murphy, who was stabbed 11 times on the right side of her neck near the Grand Canal in Tullamore on 12 January 2022. Prosecutor Anne‑Marie Lawlor SC presented evidence that Y‑STR DNA from under Murphy's fingernails matched Puska's DNA, that a bright green Falcon Storm mountain bike belonging to Puska was found beside the body, and that CCTV footage showed Puska cycling in the area hours before the killing. Puska was interviewed at St James's Hospital after being admitted with stab wounds he claimed were from an attack in Blanchardstown; he later admitted in the hospital to having murdered Murphy, saying "I did it, I murdered, I am the murderer." The jury will consider whether the evidence shows Puska intended to kill or cause serious injury. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
An Irish celebrity, aged 40, pleaded not guilty to three counts of engaging in sexual acts with a 16‑year‑old girl between August and December 2010. During cross‑examination on 16 October 2023, he agreed that the complainant, who is described as "someone who doesn't have a grudge," had been upset after a meeting at a Spanish festival in 2012. He said he had left his phone at the complainant's house and later sent an apology message. He denied that the alleged sexual acts occurred in the stairwell of his workplace, claiming he used a different staircase, and disputed the complainant's detailed description of the location. He also denied that the restaurant where they supposedly had lunch in January 2011 was open, but admitted they had eaten in the area. The trial is ongoing.
Jacintha McSherry O'Connor, a 63-year-old teacher from Donegal, is currently on trial at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. She has pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecently assaulting a child on dates between June 1 and September 1, 1985. The prosecution alleges that the accused, then aged 24 or 25, indecently assaulted the 13-year-old complainant on two occasions in his home while giving him grinds, and that further sexual contact occurred during a holiday in Spain. Ms McSherry O'Connor took the stand and denied having any sexual relations with the boy, stating she did not indecently assault him in his home or in Spain. She testified that the complainant followed her home to discover her address and that she was disappointed he knew where she lived. Prosecution counsel alleged she groomed the boy, a claim she rejected. She stated she has had no contact with the complainant since 1985 and suggested he may have been pushed into making the allegations. Defence witness Doreen Maher Ritchie, a teacher who holidayed in Spain with the accused, testified that they were together constantly and did not interact much with the boy's family. She expressed being appalled by the allegations and recalled no uncomfortable behaviour. The trial continues before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury.
In a Dublin rape trial, a 24‑year‑old woman denies that she invited four men upstairs to have sex with them. She says she invited the first accused to her home on the night of the alleged rape because her mother and sister were not home and she feared being alone. She met the first accused through a friend, had communicated with him before, and had met him previously. When he arrived, three other men were present. She says she asked what they were doing there, and they discussed "weed" and drinks. She moved to the upstairs area because it was warmer. She denies that she invited the men because she had agreed to sex, although she admits she dressed to impress the first accused. The four accused, aged 25, 25, 23 and 24, have all pleaded not guilty to various counts of rape and sexual assault.
A man, who is the husband of the boys' aunt, was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of raping an eight‑year‑old boy in Dublin between March 1996 and May 1997, and of sexually assaulting and anal raping the boy's younger brother, aged six or seven, between February 2000 and June 2001. The older brother first reported the abuse in 2005 but was told the case could not proceed; the younger brother reported abuse in 2016. The defendant was arrested but made no admissions in subsequent Garda interviews. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs set a headline sentence of ten and a half years but, after considering mitigating circumstances, imposed concurrent terms totalling eight and a half years' imprisonment, effective from June when the defendant entered custody.
A Dublin garda, Mark Doyle, 38, who is currently suspended, pleaded guilty to six assault charges. He admitted assault causing harm to a woman on four occasions between 8 May 2010 and 28 August 2019, to a male on 3 September 2017, and to a second male on two occasions between 2008 and 2009. The pleas were accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Judge Orla Crowe set a sentencing hearing for 29 January 2024, ordered victim impact statements for that date, and remanded Doyle on continuing bail.