A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard evidence on its 22nd day regarding Graham Dwyer, aged 42, who is charged with murdering Elaine O'Hara at Killakee, Rathfarnham on August 22nd, 2012. Mr Dwyer has pleaded not guilty. A former partner testified that Mr Dwyer had expressed a fantasy involving stabbing during sexual activity and subsequently brought a kitchen knife into their bedroom. She also described receiving a birthday card from Mr Dwyer in November 2014 containing references to forensic evidence and acquittal. Detective Garda Bríd Wallace of the Computer Crime Unit gave evidence regarding examination of Ms O'Hara's laptops, identifying documents concerning methods of killing and online searches for stabbing-related content and specific knives. Email communications and user profiles on websites associated with Mr Dwyer were also discussed. The trial continues before a jury of five women and seven men.
The trial of Graham Dwyer, who is alleged to have murdered Elaine O'Hara at Killakee, Rathfarnham on August 22nd, 2012, hours after she was discharged from a mental health hospital, continued in the Central Criminal Court. Detective Garda Bríd Wallace of the Garda Siochana's Computer Crime Unit testified that she examined Ms O'Hara's Apple laptop as part of the investigation. She found a number of adult pornographic and BDSM movie files, as well as images of mutilated bodies from a website. Additionally, she discovered images of Ms O'Hara, some of which appeared to be self-taken and others taken by a different person. The detective also found documents on the laptop, including a book on serial violence, letters written by Ms O'Hara, and a document titled 'Outline of Slave' which detailed a fictional scenario involving slavery and domination. Another document, titled 'Private,' described a harrowing experience involving torture. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of five women and seven men. Graham Dwyer has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. Brid Wallace has not entered a plea.
During the 20th day of the murder trial of Graham Dwyer, evidence was presented that a text message reading "Must get fit for the murder" was backed up onto Elaine O'Hara's laptop. Computer crime experts examined O'Hara's Apple Mac, which had been synced with an iPhone, and extracted hundreds of SMS messages from a forensic copy of the hard drive. The messages were traced to a number 083 1103474, which was also found in O'Hara's calendar as "Graham's phone number." The jury saw screenshots of messages sent from this number, including one dated March 31 2011 that referenced a child's name, and another from November 15 2011. Additional testimony detailed the purchase of Nokia phones and mobile top‑ups linked to the number, but no definitive link to the murder was established in the court record. The trial proceeded before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of five women and seven men.
During the Graham Dwyer trial, evidence was presented that Elaine O'Hara had experienced persistent, obsessional thoughts and fantasies from the age of 12. She had sought psychiatric care from 2007 until her disappearance in August 2012, when she was discharged from a mental health hospital. Dr Matt Murphy testified that O'Hara had been treated for borderline personality disorder, with a history of self‑harm and masochistic behaviour, and that she had been on a reduced dose of medication and receiving cognitive‑behavioural therapy in 2012. He reported that she had no indication of suicidality at discharge and was planning to return to work. The trial also heard that O'Hara's skeletal remains were found at Killakee in September 2013, with the cause of death undetermined. The case remains in court before Mr Justice Tony Hunt. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Graham Dwyer at Dublin Central Criminal Court heard that on the night before Elaine O'Hara's murder, a nurse suggested she report a man who was repeatedly visiting her apartment. A friend warned O'Hara that she was "playing a dangerous game" by allowing an architect she met online to cut her. Witnesses gave evidence on the 15th day of the trial. Dwyer, 42, is charged with the murder of the 36‑year‑old childcare worker on 22 August 2012, hours after she was discharged from a mental‑health hospital. The court heard that O'Hara had been in a relationship with a man who liked to cut her, that she had not reported him to Gardaí because he had children, and that she had been physically hurt by him. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
During the 14th day of Graham Dwyer's murder trial, Dr Matthew Corcoran, Elaine O'Hara's GP, testified that her depression had improved in the years before her death. He treated her mainly for asthma, noting she also had low Vitamin B12, mild diabetes and was on a cholesterol tablet. Corcoran confirmed he had not managed her depression but received discharge letters from her psychiatric hospital and sometimes renewed her prescriptions. He described her last visit on 10 July 2012, when she had sinusitis and mild respiratory symptoms, and prescribed antibiotics and steroids. Under cross‑examination, he acknowledged she had been admitted to hospital 14 times, some involving self‑harm, and that she had a history of depression and anxiety. He did not comment on the circumstances of her death, which remains undetermined. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury.
The trial of Graham Dwyer at the Central Criminal Court heard testimony from two men who met Elaine O'Hara on the alternative‑sexuality website alt.com. Robert Cullen Jones, who met O'Hara in March 2011, described their meetings in Dundrum Shopping Centre and at her apartment in Stepaside, noting her interest in bondage and the presence of handcuffs and vibrators. He also recalled receiving texts from her and later deleting her number. Seán Guerin SC presented items recovered from Vartry Reservoir, including a butt plug, and questioned the witness about her sexual fantasies. Mark Guerin, another alt.com user, recounted meetings with O'Hara in Blackrock and Stepaside, describing her restraints and references to self‑harm. The jury heard that O'Hara was last seen on 22 August 2012, her remains found at Killakee on 13 September 2013, with no cause of death determined. The case remains before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury.
In the 2015 trial of 42‑year‑old Graham Dwyer, the jury was shown video footage of him flying a model aeroplane at a family day on 19 August 2012, three days before the alleged murder of childcare worker Elaine O'Hara. The footage was presented by John Flynn, a member of the Roundwood Model Aeronautical Club, who confirmed Dwyer's participation in a 2011 competition and his flying of a blue and black Extra 300 electric plane on 24 June 2012. Flynn also verified that no club event occurred on 22 August 2012. Additional witnesses from the Shankill Radio Flying Club discussed a dead sheep found near the club and Dwyer's use of various cars. The trial also examined Dwyer's work records, confirming he worked a normal eight‑hour day on 22 August 2012, and noted that O'Hara's skeletal remains were found at Killakee on 13 September 2013.
The trial of Graham Dwyer, a 42‑year‑old architect, has heard that he worked a normal eight‑hour shift on the day he is alleged to have murdered childcare worker Elaine O'Hara. Testimony from Siobhán McKevitt, manager of the Baggot Street firm, confirmed that Dwyer's office records show he worked a standard 40‑hour week in the weeks ending 19 and 26 August 2012, and that he worked a normal eight‑hour day on 22 August 2012, the day of the alleged murder. No record indicated he left early that day. The jury also heard that O'Hara's skeletal remains were found at Killakee on 13 September 2013, with no cause of death determined, and that her glasses, keys, and other personal items were recovered from the Vartry Reservoir. The case is proceeding before Mr Justice Hunt and a jury of five women and seven men.
During the 42‑day trial of 42‑year‑old Graham Dwyer at the Central Criminal Court, a detective presented a hand‑drawn map supplied by Dwyer's solicitor that led Gardaí to two knives in the basement of A&D Wejchert Architects. The map, titled 'Items of Interest', identified a shelf and two file boxes where the knives were found. One knife was a Buck Special 119, delivered to the office on 21 August 2012, and the other a flick knife. Dwyer is charged with the murder of 36‑year‑old childcare worker Elaine O'Hara, who disappeared on 22 August 2012 after leaving a mental health hospital. The trial also heard evidence of a spade found near O'Hara's remains and other items linked to Dwyer, but no verdict has yet been reached.
In the Graham Dwyer murder trial, the jury heard that a search of Dwyer's home and workplace on 17–18 October 2013 yielded 219 exhibits, including computers, hard drives, and financial documents. Among the seized items were letters from A&D Wejchert Architects informing Dwyer of pay cuts: a 10 % reduction from €87,350 to €78,615 in December 2010, and a further cut to €70,000 in June 2011. The prosecution argued the pay‑cut documents were relevant, while Dwyer's defence counsel noted no instruction to seek such documents. Other seized items included a jacket, a wetsuit, and a two‑drawer filing cabinet containing the pay‑cut letters. The trial also covered CCTV stills from Ms O'Hara's apartment block and the discovery of her skeletal remains at Killakee, but the focus of this hearing was the evidence of the pay cuts and the breadth of the search.
During the 42‑year‑old Graham Dwyer's trial, the Gardaí presented CCTV stills from Elaine O'Hara's apartment block to his son, Sennan McShea, to determine if he could identify anyone in the footage. The stills depicted a man the prosecution had already identified as the architect accused of O'Hara's murder. The trial, held in the Central Criminal Court, heard from Garda Paul Corcoran, who showed the stills to McShea on 18 October 2013, and from Garda Keith Gantly, who explained that only one camera was operational in the Shangannah area on the night of O'Hara's disappearance and that it was pointed in the wrong direction. The court also heard that O'Hara's skeletal remains were found at Killakee on 13 September 2013, with her glasses and keys recovered from a lake. The proceedings continue before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of five women and seven men. The unnamed 42-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a jury examined CCTV footage from Belarmine Plaza in Dublin that appears to show Graham Dwyer, aged 42, with Elaine O'Hara, aged 36, outside her home in the months before her murder. The footage, covering January to August 2012, includes several instances where Dwyer is seen entering and leaving the building, sometimes accompanied by O'Hara, and carrying a backpack that matches a bag recovered from Vartry Lake. The prosecution highlighted these clips to suggest a relationship between Dwyer and O'Hara. Dwyer is charged with O'Hara's murder, which occurred on 22 August 2012 after she was discharged from a psychiatric hospital. The trial also covered the discovery of her skeletal remains at Killakee and the subsequent search of Dwyer's home and workplace, where various items were seized. The case is proceeding before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with a jury of twelve.
The trial of Graham Dwyer, a 42‑year‑old architect, is in its tenth day at the Central Criminal Court. He is charged with the murder of 36‑year‑old Elaine O'Hara, who was found dead in the Dublin Mountains at Killakee, Rathfarnham on 22 August 2012, shortly after she was discharged from a psychiatric hospital. Dwyer, a Cork‑born father of two, lives on Kerrymount Close in Foxrock, Dublin, and has pleaded not guilty. The jury heard that a dog walker discovered O'Hara's remains on 13 September 2013, and that glasses found in a Wicklow lake matched her prescription. Gardaí testified that they searched Dwyer's home and office on 17 October 2013, seizing an Audi, a Land Rover, and various computers from his workplace on Lower Baggot Street. The accused was arrested by Detective Sergeant Peter Woods when he answered the front door shortly after 7 a.m. on the day of the arrest.
The Central Criminal Court adjourned the seventh day of evidence in the trial of 42‑year‑old architect Graham Dwyer, charged with the murder of Elaine O'Hara, because a juror could not attend. Justice Tony Hunt sent the remaining jurors home, noting that the parties had already scheduled a day of work in their absence for Monday, giving the absent juror an extra day. He also warned the jurors not to discuss the case over the long weekend. Dwyer is accused of killing the 36‑year‑old childcare worker in the Dublin Mountains at Killakee, Rathfarnham, on 22 August 2012, hours after she was discharged from hospital as a psychiatric patient.
The trial of 42‑year‑old architect Graham Dwyer, charged with the murder of 36‑year‑old childcare worker Elaine O'Hara, has heard evidence that items recovered from a Wicklow lake in October 2013 matched O'Hara's personal belongings. Glasses found in the lake were shown to have the same prescription and frames as those prescribed to O'Hara, and a set of keys recovered from the water matched keys to her car and home. The items, which included bondage cuffs, a leather mask, a ball gag, a blindfold, a knife, a rope, a chain, a Nokia mobile phone, a white vibrator, a black anal plug, a red battery‑operated device, a red kidney‑shaped object, a ski mask, a gold bracelet, a Tesco Mobile SIM card, a metal band, a pair of sunglasses, a pair of glasses, a pair of shorts and a Real Madrid dressing gown, were presented to the jury.
In the Central Criminal Court trial of 42‑year‑old architect Graham Dwyer, the jury was shown a photograph of a punctured, blood‑stained mattress found in Elaine O'Hara's apartment at Belarmine Plaza, Stepaside. The mattress, removed by Detective Garda Brian Barry, displayed multiple puncture cuts and blood staining. The trial also presented evidence that O'Hara's remains were discovered in a forest in the Dublin Mountains on 13 September 2013, where forensic anthropologist Laureen Buckley testified that the skeleton was largely recovered and that the body had decomposed for about a year. Dwyer is charged with O'Hara's murder on 22 August 2012, after she was discharged from hospital as a psychiatric patient. The case continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of five women and seven men.
In the trial of 42‑year‑old architect Graham Dwyer, the jury heard that a document titled "The Gorean Lifestyle: A Woman's Right is Slave" and two large metal chains were found in Elaine O'Hara's home shortly after her disappearance in August 2012. The document, read by the prosecution, describes a "slave" lifestyle for women, detailing how a woman's identity is subsumed under a master and how refusal to obey can lead to punishment or death. Garda James Codd testified that he seized a black plastic bag containing a PVC dress, a lubricant bottle, a rope, a gas mask, and a printout of the document. He also reported finding bloodstains on the mattress when the bed was stripped. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, continues with a jury of five women and seven men. The case remains ongoing.
During the fourth day of the 42‑year‑old Graham Dwyer's trial at the Central Criminal Court, the jury was shown two large metal chains found in Elaine O'Hara's bedside locker shortly after her disappearance in August 2012. Retired Detective Garda Ultan Sherlock identified the chains from the witness box. Mr Dwyer, an architect, is charged with the murder of the 36‑year‑old childcare worker in the Dublin Mountains on 22 August 2012, hours after she was discharged from hospital as a psychiatric patient. The case involves the discovery of Ms O'Hara's skeletal remains at Killakee, Rathfarnham, on 13 September 2013, and the finding of her keys in an almost‑dry reservoir in Wicklow. The unnamed 42-year-old pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Graham Dwyer, a 42-year-old architect accused of murdering Elaine O'Hara in August 2012, continued with testimony from family members. Dwyer, who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of the 36-year-old childcare worker at Killakee, Rathfarnham, faces charges related to her death hours after her discharge from a psychiatric hospital. Her brother, John O'Hara, testified that he found printouts of hunting knives and a notebook containing the URL for the fetish lifestyle website FetLife in her apartment. He reported finding a profile named 'Chained Brunette' on the site. Sheila Hawkins, the deceased's father's partner, described recoiling from oily latex found in the home and clarified that her knowledge of O'Hara's BDSM interests came from conversations with her father. Ann Charles, O'Hara's sister, described her as naive and trusting, noting a miscarriage in 2011. Conor Gilfoyle, the last person to see O'Hara alive, testified to giving her directions near Shanganagh Cemetery. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, is ongoing and expected to last up to eight weeks.
During the Central Criminal Court trial of 42‑year‑old Graham Dwyer, the partner of Elaine O'Hara's father, Sheila Hawkins, testified that she "recoiled" when she found oily latex in O'Hara's apartment on August 24, 2012. Hawkins, a psychologist, described how she and O'Hara's father were searching for a passport and that she had put her hand into a straw basket on a shelving unit, feeling an oily rubber substance that she identified as black latex. She did not inform O'Hara's father at the time because he was "very distressed." Hawkins also discussed her knowledge of O'Hara's interest in BDSM, which she said came from a conversation with O'Hara's father, and her recollection of O'Hara confiding that she had had sex for the first time in 2011. The trial, which is scheduled to last up to eight weeks, continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of five women and seven men. Graham Dwyer pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Graham Dwyer, 42, for the murder of 36‑year‑old Elaine O'Hara, began on the second day of the Central Criminal Court hearing. O'Hara's father, Frank O'Hara, testified that his daughter had been in good health on the day she disappeared, had a history of psychiatric illness, and had been seen by a married Foxrock architect who allegedly refused her request to kill her. He described her routine, her medical conditions, and her relationship with the architect, noting that she had asked him to kill her but he refused. The jury heard that the cause of death could not be determined from skeletal remains found in a forest, and that no evidence of trauma was found. The trial is scheduled to continue for up to eight weeks. The unnamed 42-year-old pleaded not guilty.
The trial of 42‑year‑old architect Graham Dwyer, charged with murdering 36‑year‑old Elaine O'Hara on 22 August 2012, is being heard in the Central Criminal Court. The State alleges Dwyer killed O'Hara for sexual gratification, citing an "unusual sexual relationship" that involved stabbing. Evidence presented includes 400 pieces of evidence, eight key exhibits, and text messages between Dwyer's number and O'Hara's phones. The prosecution claims the texts reveal a BDSM relationship, with Dwyer expressing sadistic desires and threatening O'Hara to cooperate. DNA from semen on O'Hara's mattress matched Dwyer, and data extracted from her phones linked her to Dwyer's number. The jury was shown photographs of O'Hara's skeletal remains and her mattress, which had been pierced. The trial is scheduled to continue for six to eight weeks. Graham Dwyer pleaded not guilty. Elaine O'Hara pleaded not guilty.
The trial of 42‑year‑old Graham Dwyer, charged with the murder of 37‑year‑old Elaine O'Hara on 22 August 2012, was adjourned to Thursday. Dwyer was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court and pleaded not guilty. A jury of five women and seven men was sworn in for an eight‑week trial that was set to begin that morning. Judge Anthony Hunt announced the delay, apologised, and thanked the jurors for their service on a long and difficult case. He noted that the jurors would not receive payment, unlike other participants, and that they should not discuss the case with anyone, including family. He also warned that media coverage might be biased and that the jury's role as judges of fact was paramount. The prosecution was scheduled to give an opening statement on Thursday.
A 41‑year‑old man, Graham Dwyer of Foxrock, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of 37‑year‑old Elaine O'Hara, who was killed on 22 August 2012 in Kilakee, Rathfarnham. Dwyer was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court and stood in a navy suit, pleading not guilty. Judge Paul Carney warned potential jurors about the case's graphic nature and that anyone connected to the website www.alt.com should not serve. A jury of five women and seven men was sworn in to hear the trial, which will begin tomorrow morning.
Li Zhongbo, a 33-year-old Chinese national from Rathfarnham, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm at Sin Nightclub in Temple Bar on March 25, 2013. The court heard that Li swung a glass jug during a melee between groups of men, striking an uninvolved bystander, Adam Cleary, who suffered facial and chest injuries requiring 29 sutures. Judge Patrick McCartan noted that Cleary had graciously told Garda Eoin Carroll he did not want Li jailed, viewing the act as out of character. The judge highlighted Li's lack of previous convictions, his sincere apology, and his offer of €1,000 in remorse. Consequently, the court applied the Probation of Offenders Act, allowing Li to walk free. The judge described the victim as generous and fair. Li, a married father of two who has worked legally in Ireland for ten years, shook hands with Cleary after the sentencing. The matter was finalised with this disposition.
In a High Court decision on 17 December 2014, Justice Aileen Donnelly ordered the trustees of Victory Christian Fellowship (VCF) to disclose their income, assets, and the funding sources for ongoing litigation against the Bank of Scotland (BOS). The order also requires the trustees to provide details of how the VCF's litigation is financed and to identify third parties contributing to the case. BOS and appointed receivers sought these orders to enforce an €18.7 million judgment against VCF. The trustees, including senior pastor Brendan Hade, his wife Shelia Hade, and Gerry Byrne, contested the orders, claiming VCF activities had ceased after receivers took possession of three church premises in June 2013. Justice Donnelly noted that clarification was needed on whether VCF remains operational, the nature of its congregations, and the extent of third‑party funding, including donations from a company called Victory Conference Centre Ltd.
A 41‑year‑old woman, Mercy Peters, originally from Sierra Leone, faces trial for the murder of her former partner, 42‑year‑old Tyrone McKenna, who was killed on 17 July at their shared home in Marlay Court, Rathfarnham. The case was heard before the Central Criminal Court, and Mr Justice Paul Carney set the trial for 20 June 2016.
Stephen Cummins, aged 23, was sentenced to three years in prison after being caught with €70,000 of stolen cash from two separate cash‑in‑transit robberies. He was found in a park with blue dye on his trousers and runners, and earlier a man was seen running along garden walls with money falling from his pockets. In the first incident, an empty cash box was discovered at the back of Crumlin Children's Hospital; a follow‑up search of a nearby home revealed the stolen cash stained with blue/purple dye. Cummins later admitted responsibility for the cash. He pleaded guilty to possession of €40,000 at Curlew Road in Drimnagh on 16 July 2012 and €30,000 at Landen Road in Ballyfermot on 16 August 2012. He has 28 prior convictions for road traffic offences and one for unlawful possession of drugs.
The High Court has reserved judgement on Bank of Scotland's application to examine the trustees of Victory Christian Fellowship over their assets. BOS and its receivers seek examination because the trustees allegedly failed to provide a statement of affairs and proposals to discharge the €18.7 million debt owed to the bank. The trustees, Brendan Hade, Sheila Hade and Gerry Byrne, oppose the claims, asserting that all church activities ceased after receivers took possession of the three premises in June 2013. BOS argues that activities have continued, citing meetings and services held at Dublin hotels and social‑media posts described as "phoenix‑like." The court has ordered that the trustees be orally examined regarding the debt and assets, and that they provide a statement of current and anticipated income and expenditure, as well as disclose the identities of third parties funding their litigation. The trustees are prepared to be examined on church assets but not on personal assets.
In a High Court hearing on 7 October 2014, the liquidator of Vino Classico Ltd, Mr Myles Kirby, argued that the company's directors, Mrs Pia Bang Stokes and Mr Georgio Casari, were in contempt of court for failing to file the firm's annual returns for 2010‑2012 with the Companies Registration Office. The court had ordered the returns to be filed in September 2013 and, after a further four‑month extension in May, the directors still had not complied. Mr Kirby said the directors' continued non‑compliance was unacceptable and that the court could impose sanctions ranging from fines to imprisonment. Mr Casari was represented by a solicitor who claimed he was doing everything possible to file the accounts, while Ms Bang Stokes said she had not been contacted by Mr Casari and was unhappy with the un‑audited information she had received.
Swords District Court heard multiple matters. Charges against Shane Langan and Kieran Kennedy for mutual assault were withdrawn following an agreement on the division of blame. Sean Cullen, alleged to have breached a protection order, was remanded on continuing bail with strict conditions, including residing at his father's house and remaining sober. Thomas Nicholson, charged with stealing an €18,000 mini digger, was remanded on bail for DPP directions. Luke Nestor pleaded guilty to theft; the judge ordered 200 hours of voluntary work before considering conviction. Jason Mitchell pleaded guilty to cannabis possession and was convicted and fined €200. Mateusz Sniezek pleaded guilty to drink driving and was disqualified for three years, with the ban postponed until December 1st. Oksana Smirnova pleaded guilty to failing to provide a sample; she was convicted, fined €650, and disqualified for four years. Brendan Hill pleaded guilty to public order offences and was fined €300 in total.
In a High Court hearing on 16 May 2014, Mr Justice Paul Gilligan warned directors Pia Bang Stokes and Georgio Casari of Vino Classico Ltd that they risk imprisonment for contempt if they fail to file the company's outstanding annual returns for 2010‑2012 with the Companies Registration Office. The court had previously ordered the directors to file these returns by the end of 2013, a deadline they missed. Stokes, who represented herself, cited inaccuracies in the accounts and her long business experience as reasons for non‑compliance, while Casari, also self‑represented, claimed he could not afford an accountant and was not qualified to prepare the returns. The judge granted an additional four‑month period, extending the deadline to early October, but warned that any further failure would lead to a motion for their attachment and committal to prison. The case remains pending, with the court's order still in force.
The High Court has ruled that the criminal offence of 'offending modesty' under Section 18 of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 1935 is unconstitutional. Mr Justice Gerard Hogan declared the provision 'hopelessly vague' and inconsistent with Articles 15 and 40 of the Constitution, effectively striking it down. This decision impacts two applicants, Kevin McInerney and Brendan Curtis, who challenged the State and the DPP. Mr Curtis, of Martry, Kells, Co Meath, was awaiting trial for allegedly exposing himself at Camden Place, Dublin, in May. Mr McInerney, of Rathfarnham, Dublin 16, was convicted by the District Court in 2013 for allegedly masturbating in his car at Rathfarnham Shopping Centre in 2011 and sentenced to three months imprisonment. His appeal was adjourned by the Circuit Court pending the outcome of this High Court action. The judge agreed with the applicants that the offence lacked clear standards and invited arbitrary application. While the ruling invalidates the current statute, the judge noted that the Oireachtas may still legislate new offences addressing such conduct, provided they meet constitutional requirements for legal certainty.
In the murder trial of Eugene Cullen, a 30‑year‑old from Derry Road, Crumlin, the jury has heard evidence from a radio frequency engineer, Eamon O' Gairbhith, who worked for Meteor. O' Gairbhith testified that on 16 February 2011 he visited several mobile cell sites with Gardaí, producing maps that show cell site locations, coverage directions and the best server coverage. He explained that when a cell is full of traffic the handset is assigned to a different server, and that signal strength weakens the further one moves from a site, causing hand‑over to other cells. The prosecution, represented by Alex Owens SC, maintains that Cullen was not the gunman but one of four men involved in planning the murder of Seamus O' Byrne, who was shot dead on 13 March 2009 in Tymon Park North, Tallaght. The trial is proceeding before Justice Barry White and a jury of five men and seven women. The case remains ongoing. Eugene Cullen pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin court on 29 January 2014, architect Graham Dwyer, originally from Cork and residing in Foxrock, was served with an eight‑volume book of evidence in connection with the murder of childcare worker Elaine O'Hara, aged 37, who was last seen on 22 August 2012 and whose remains were found on Killakee Mountain in September 2013. Dwyer, who had been charged on 18 October 2013, pleaded not guilty, was denied bail, and appeared again at Cloverhill District Court. Judge Victor Blake informed him that the book of evidence would be served and that any alibi must be communicated to the prosecution within 14 days. Dwyer was ordered to be sent forward for trial to the Central Criminal Court on the single charge listed in the book. The court noted that the evidence comprised one volume of statements and seven volumes of exhibits, with over 300 statements and 800 exhibits collected by Gardaí.
The State has been granted a two‑week adjournment to finish the book of evidence for the trial of architect Graham Dwyer, accused of murdering childcare worker Elaine O'Hara. Dwyer, originally from Cork and now residing in Foxrock, Dublin, was charged on 18 October 2011. O'Hara, aged 37, was last seen on 22 August 2012 near Shanganagh cemetery; her body was found on Killakee Mountain in September 2013. Dwyer pleaded not guilty, was denied bail, and appeared via video‑link before Judge Victor Blake at Cloverhill District Court. The prosecution cited a large file—eight volumes, over 300 statements, and more than 800 exhibits—to justify the adjournment. Dwyer's solicitor confirmed consent to the two‑week period, and the defendant remains in custody until 29 January, when he will appear again. The inquest into O'Hara's death remains adjourned pending criminal proceedings.
In a New Year's morning attack in Tallaght, a young man, Dale Creighton, suffered serious injuries and later died. Two people, Graham Palmer (24) and Aisling Burke (20), were charged with violent disorder in connection with the incident. They appeared at Dublin District Court, where Judge Michael Walsh heard that further serious charges could be brought. Garda officers alleged that Palmer was seen on CCTV striking the injured party, fled the scene, and was found with blood believed to be the victim's on his face and hands. Burke was also alleged to have been seen on CCTV and was found with blood on her shoes. Both were granted conditional bail with €750 bonds, €300 cash lodgement, and independent sureties of €2,000. Conditions included residence at specified addresses, staying out of Tallaght, curfew, daily sign‑in at local garda stations, and no contact with witnesses or alleged participants. They will face their next hearing on 16 January.
An architect, Graham Dwyer, aged 41, from Cork but living in Foxrock, Dublin, is charged with the murder of childcare worker Elaine O'Hara, aged 37, whose remains were found in the Dublin mountains. Dwyer was charged on 18 October 2012 and has pleaded not guilty. He appeared via video link before Judge Grainne Malone at Cloverhill District Court, confirming his presence and consent to a four‑week adjournment for the preparation of a book of evidence. The prosecution said the file comprises eight volumes, and the defence noted that a further two weeks may be required. Judge Malone set the service of the book of evidence for 15 January, to which Dwyer agreed. Earlier hearings revealed Gardaí had taken over 300 statements and more than 800 exhibits. Dwyer was denied bail by Justice Paul Butler in the High Court on 4 November and is expected to appeal to the Supreme Court.
Graham Dwyer, a 41‑year‑old architect from Cork living in Foxrock, has been charged with the murder of 37‑year‑old childcare worker Elaine O'Hara, whose decomposed body was found in the Dublin mountains. The court heard that Gardaí have taken over 300 statements and collected more than 800 exhibits. Dwyer was remanded in custody for another four weeks after the judge confirmed he was entitled to free legal aid. He appeared via videolink before Judge Grainne Malone at Cloverhill District Court, where the judge accepted his statement of means and granted legal aid. Dwyer confirmed he wanted solicitor Jonathan Dunphy to represent him. The case remains at an advanced stage, with a file expected to go to the DPP in the next two weeks. The inquest into O'Hara's death has been adjourned pending criminal proceedings.