In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 21 June 2022, the murder trial of AB (33) and Bernard Fogarty (34) was presented. The defendants deny murdering Barry Wolverson at Madigan's Yard on 17 January 2020. They were initially charged with attempted murder, upgraded to murder after Wolverson's death on 21 February 2021. The court heard from former paramedic Michelle O'Toole, who arrived in a rapid response vehicle and found Wolverson unresponsive with eight gunshot wounds to chest and shoulder and one to the temple. She administered adrenaline via the leg, restoring a normal heart rhythm, and transported him to Beaumont Hospital where he survived in a vegetative state for months. Another paramedic, Paul Hand, treated a second wounded man, noting a lower‑back shot with no exit wounds. Both defendants plead not guilty to murder, firearm possession, ammunition possession and assault.
The Special Criminal Court has opened a trial for two Dublin men, a 33‑year‑old referred to as 'AB' and Bernard Fogarty, 34, charged with the murder of Barry Wolverson. The alleged killing took place on 17 January 2020 at Madigan's Yard, Swords, where Wolverson was shot several times and later died on 21 February 2021 after a year in a comatose state. The men were arrested minutes after the incident and were initially charged with attempted murder, a charge upgraded to murder following Wolverson's death. They pleaded not guilty to murder, firearm possession and assault. The prosecution, represented by Paul Greene SC, presented a circumstantial case, citing evidence such as a burned Citroën C4, petrol residue on the accused, and recovered Zip fire logs. The trial, presided over by Judges Michael MacGrath, Cormac Dunne and Gerard Griffin, is expected to last six weeks.
The Special Criminal Court has listed a Section 4E application for July 8 regarding Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch, who is accused of the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in 2016. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC stated that Mr Hutch is seeking a pre-trial hearing and an application to dismiss the charge due to insufficient evidence. The court must first determine its jurisdiction under Section 4E of the Criminal Procedure Act 1967. Additionally, a preliminary trial hearing application under Section 6 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2021 is being pursued, with Jonathan Dowdall's counsel joining this application. Jonathan Dowdall is also accused of the murder of Mr Byrne. His father, Patrick Dowdall, is accused of facilitating the murder by making a hotel room available to a criminal organisation. Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney are both accused of facilitating the commission of a serious offence by providing access to motor vehicles to the organisation. All five accused are due to stand trial on October 3, with the trial expected to last 12 weeks. The matter was adjourned to allow for these preliminary applications, and the court will rule on the jurisdiction issue shortly after the July 8 hearing. Information regarding the applications is subject to publication restrictions.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Lloyd Saunders, aged 33, was convicted of assault causing harm to his former girlfriend, Kelly Evans, after a prolonged attack that began with strangulation. Saunders pleaded not guilty to additional charges of false imprisonment and threatening to kill, which the jury did not convict on. Evans testified that Saunders repeatedly slapped her, strangled her for about an hour and a half, and asked if she was "ready for round two" before ending the assault. She described severe bruising, anxiety, depression and PTSD, and noted that the trial process had a major impact on her mental health. Saunders had 10 prior convictions. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to three and a half years, suspending the final six months on strict conditions, including probation engagement. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the prolonged assault on a vulnerable woman in an intimate relationship.
Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch, 58, accused of murdering Kinahan gang member David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in 2016, has a bid to dismiss the charge adjourned to next week by the Special Criminal Court. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC told the three‑judge court that the application could proceed, but one judge was unavailable, so the hearing was postponed to Monday. The court must first decide whether it has jurisdiction under Section 4E of the Criminal Procedure Act 1967, which allows dismissal where evidence is insufficient. Hutch, who is in custody, was present for the brief hearing. Jonathan Dowdall (43) and Patrick Dowdall (64) are also charged with the Regency Hotel murder and are due to stand trial on 3 October. The trial, if it goes ahead, is expected to last 12 weeks. The matter was adjourned until 10.30 am Monday.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear appeals by Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch and Jonathan Dowdall aimed at preventing their trials before the Special Criminal Court from proceeding. Both men are charged with the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in Dublin in 2016. In a related development, defence counsel for Mr Hutch asked the Special Criminal Court for permission to make an application under Section 4E of the Criminal Procedure Act 1967 to dismiss the charge due to alleged insufficient evidence. Ms Justice Tara Burns agreed to hear a preliminary application on June 15 to determine if the court has jurisdiction to hear this request. Mr Hutch, who is in custody, was not present for the brief hearing. A trial date has been fixed for October 3, 2022, when Mr Hutch is expected to go on trial alongside four other co-accused. Mr Dowdall, the third man charged in connection with the killing, is also scheduled to stand trial with three other co-accused on the same date. The shooting occurred during a boxing weigh-in when armed men, some disguised as gardaí, stormed the venue. Mr Hutch was extradited from Spain after his final appeal against extradition was rejected. Any evidence heard during the preliminary application cannot be published or broadcast.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a construction worker, Mohamid Benchouat, aged 25, was given a suspended 12‑month prison sentence for driving without due care and attention, causing the death of Ilmars Zorge, a 33‑year‑old Latvian fruit picker, on the R125 in Swords on 24 June 2018. Benchouat failed to notice Zorge lying on the road, passed the victim and drove over him. Witnesses reported that Benchouat left the scene but later cooperated with Gardaí who traced his vehicle. The judge, Melanie Greally, noted Benchouat's remorse, character references, and previous convictions, including driving without insurance. Benchouat was ordered to keep the peace for the suspended period and pay €2,000 to Zorge's family. The court highlighted the emotional distress and financial burden faced by the victim's family, who had no relatives in Ireland. The case was presented as a serious breach of road safety, with no evidence of extreme speed or intoxication. Mohamid Benchouat pleaded guilty.
A 51-year-old UK man, Mark Nesbitt of Whitefield House, Cecil Crescent, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, has been sentenced to eight years in prison following an appeal at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Nesbitt was found guilty by a unanimous jury verdict in January of possessing cannabis for sale or supply at Stockhole Lane, Cloghran, Swords, Co Dublin on October 23, 2020. He had pleaded not guilty to the charge. Judge Martin Nolan noted that if Nesbitt had pleaded guilty, he would have received a sentence of five or six years. The court heard that Nesbitt was 'inveigled' by his co-accused, Anthony Kinghorn, who was described as being at a higher level in the drugs operation. Co-accused Kinghorn (49) of Har Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, pleaded guilty to the same offence and was sentenced last July to ten years in prison with the final two years suspended. Nesbitt wrote a letter to the judge appealing for leniency and expressing that he felt 'utterly let down' by his friend. The matter was adjourned for the appeal stage.
Anthony Kennedy, a tile‑shop employee, successfully challenged his dismissal from Total Tiles Ltd (Italian Tile and Stone) under the Unfair Dismissals Act and the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act. The company, owned by Luke Sweeney, closed its shops on 14 March 2020 due to the pandemic, kept staff on full salaries, and required them to work from home. Kennedy's complaints centred on the lack of proper dismissal procedures: no disciplinary interview, no right of representation, and no opportunity to appeal. Sweeney's emails, which Kennedy described as stressful and dismissive, included a refusal to pay a mileage claim and a threat to terminate his employment if he did not comply with new company plans. The adjudicating officer, Jim Dolan, found no procedures were followed, upheld the unfair dismissal claim, and awarded Kennedy four weeks' pay in compensation (€2,258.76) plus two weeks' pay in lieu of notice (€1,129).
In March 2022 the Special Criminal Court accepted jurisdiction to hear the cases of Bernard Fogarty, 34, and Robert Redmond, 33, who were originally charged with attempted murder of Barry Wolverston. Wolverston died in hospital on 21 February 2021 after a long illness. The State solicitor applied for the charges to be upgraded to murder under Section 49 of the Offences Against the State Act, and the court agreed. The attempted murder charges were withdrawn and replaced by murder charges. Both men were also charged with assault causing harm to Gerard Wildman, and with possession of a .38/.357 calibre firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury. The original trial date of 15 June 2022 was retained. Both defendants confirmed their names in court and were served with the Book of Evidence. The case is now set to proceed under the new murder charges.
Phillip McBride, aged 44, was arrested with a loaded semi‑automatic handgun, ammunition, gloves, a balaclava and a burner phone. He and his co‑accused Derek Byrne were both wearing two sets of clothing at the time of arrest. McBride pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition on 3 December 2019. He has six prior convictions for road traffic offences and no prior violent convictions. Byrne, aged 38, had 78 prior convictions, including drug possession and public order offences, and had previously been sentenced to seven‑and‑a‑half years with 18 months suspended. At sentencing, Judge Melanie Greally imposed a six‑year term on McBride, suspending the final three years on strict conditions, including 12 months of probation. The judge noted McBride's cocaine addiction and his efforts at rehabilitation, describing him as a pro‑social person who had fallen into debt and drug‑related pressure. Byrne's earlier sentence was not altered in this hearing.
At the Disclosures Tribunal, Chief Superintendent Mark Curran denied that he had deliberately targeted former colleague Sergeant William (Liam) Hughes. Curran, who served in Coolock in 2006, was asked by Kate Egan BL whether he had harboured animus toward Hughes, to which he replied emphatically "Never, ever." When counsel Michael Lynn SC questioned whether a four‑year delay in addressing Hughes' work‑related stress constituted deliberate targeting, Curran again rejected the claim, stating he had no animus. The tribunal is reviewing a protected disclosure by Hughes alleging a "systems failure" in the handling of the murder of Baiba Saulite in 2006.
A compelling case for an internal garda disciplinary investigation into a garda whistleblower was presented to the Disclosures Tribunal by retired Assistant Commissioner Michael Feehan. The tribunal is examining claims by Sergeant William Hughes, now retired, that he was targeted for highlighting 'systems failures' within the garda force prior to the murder of Baiba Saulite in September 2006. The tribunal has directed that the chief suspect be referred to only as 'Mr A'. The Garda Siochana deny all allegations made by Sgt Hughes, who submitted a Protected Disclosure regarding Ms Saulite and various matters related to her dealings with the gardai. Chief Supt Feehan, who was Chief Superintendent in Store Street Garda Station at the time of Ms Saulite's death, was asked by former Assistant Commissioner Al McHugh to conduct a fact-finding inquiry into the level of knowledge within the garda regarding Ms Saulite's fears for her safety. Sgt Hughes had received a draft victim impact statement from Ms Saulite, which he placed in his station locker and did not read. Chief Supt Feehan stated that he believed there was a compelling case to institute disciplinary proceedings against Sgt Hughes and Garda Nyhan. However, these proceedings were discontinued in 2009 due to a lack of evidence of a real and immediate risk to Ms Saulite's life. The tribunal continues tomorrow with further cross-examination of Sgt Hughes.
During a Disclosures Tribunal hearing on 15 February 2022, solicitor John Hennessy criticised a disciplinary inquiry against retired Garda Sergeant John Hughes, whom he said was victimised for raising concerns about systems failures before the murder of Baiba Saulite. Hennessy described the inquiry as "ridiculous" and a "trumped‑up internal quasi‑manslaughter charge," arguing it was a knee‑jerk reaction to media pressure and a distortion of the facts. He noted that Hughes had been disciplined over a draft Victim Impact Statement that Hennessy had given to the Garda shortly before Saulite's death. Hennessy also criticised a 2008 Star newspaper article that he said unfairly linked Hughes' actions to Saulite's murder. The tribunal heard that Hughes had previously worked with Hennessy on the abduction case that returned Saulite's children to her. The Garda Síochána denied all allegations against Hughes. The tribunal was scheduled to continue the following day.
In February 2022, a tribunal heard retired Garda Sergeant William Hughes claim that Garda management ignored his protected disclosures about policing failures in the unsolved murder of Baiba Saulite, a mother of two shot dead in Swords in 2006. Hughes said he had warned colleagues in 2006 about Saulite's domestic abuse history and later alleged mishandling of the case. After raising concerns, he was investigated for "failure to take appropriate action" and denied the charge. Hughes then went on sick leave from 2006 to 2009, suffered work‑related stress, and was paid half his salary during an investigation into his health. He alleged harassment, bullying and isolation by superiors, naming Assistant Commissioners Michael Feehan and Al McHugh. The disciplinary action against him was dropped in 2009, and Hughes retired in 2013 on medical grounds. The tribunal continues to examine his allegations.
In February 2022, retired Garda Sergeant William Hughes testified before the Disclosures Tribunal that disciplinary action against him should have ended sooner. Hughes had raised concerns in 2008 that the investigation into the murder of Baiba Saulite, a mother of two shot dead in Swords in 2006, had been mishandled. Shortly after voicing his concerns, he was investigated for "failure to take appropriate action on information known in respect of Ms Baiba Saulite", a charge he denied. In June 2009, Assistant Commissioner Al McHugh halted the disciplinary proceedings, declaring Hughes "completely exonerated". Hughes argued the delay was unwarranted and suggested the investigation was a form of targeting. The Tribunal noted that no information that could identify anyone arrested in relation to Saulite's killing should be reported. Hughes also highlighted that his medical retirement in 2013 was due to health concerns, and that earlier assessments of his fitness for duty were reversed after a new psychiatric evaluation.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Suzanne Danker, 48, was found guilty of deception and theft for ruining a young couple's wedding in Spain in September 2012. Danker's company, Spanish Dream Weddings, had run out of money in September 2012, yet she continued to ask the couple, Sarah Foran and Colm Moriarty, for payments. The couple had paid about €10,000 for the event, but none of the contractors—florist, DJ, videographer, singer, flamenco troupe, and church fees—were paid. Danker's chaotic management and failure to communicate left the couple in debt and emotionally distressed. She received a suspended three‑year prison sentence, with a €9,500 payment to the victims and an additional €5,000 to be paid within two years. The court noted her remorse and unlikely re‑offending.
Anthony Byrne, aged 40, was remanded on bail pending sentencing for a rental scam that cost victims €12,000. Byrne, who worked as a contractor, advertised a property on daft.ie under the fictitious name Stephen Cummings and used a doctored lease agreement from a real letting agency. He persuaded at least four women to pay €3,000 each in cash for rent and deposit, claiming it secured the property. Gardaí discovered the fraud after a victim reported the scheme; a search of Byrne's home uncovered the forged contract and other evidence linking him to the false persona. Byrne pleaded guilty to four charges of deception and false instrument use at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He has no prior convictions, has resigned from his job, and has expressed remorse. Judge Melanie Greally remanded him on continuing bail, adjourned the case to 28 February, and ordered a probation report, noting the victims' financial and psychological harm.
Derek Byrne, aged 38, was arrested in December 2019 with a loaded semi‑automatic pistol, ammunition, gloves, a balaclava and a burner phone, items he claimed were for intimidation. The firearm and ammunition were incompatible, so they could not inflict injury on that occasion. Byrne and co‑accused Phillip McBride, aged 43, were both wearing two sets of clothing when apprehended. Byrne pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition and has 78 prior convictions, including drug possession, public order and traffic offences. He was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison, with 18 months suspended, after the judge considered mitigating factors such as progress in custody for drug addiction. McBride will be sentenced on 14 January next year. The case involved a surveillance operation that led to Byrne leaving his home with a bag, driving a BMW with McBride, and a subsequent chase that ended on a grass verge where the gun was found.
An MMA fighter, Dylan Tuke, 25, was charged with assault causing harm after he punched a taxi driver in December 2018, breaking the driver's front teeth. The incident occurred when Tuke entered a taxi without asking if it was available, demanded payment upfront, and then assaulted the driver. Dash‑cam footage identified him, and he pleaded guilty to one count of assault. Judge Pauline Codd noted the aggravating factors of Tuke's threatening demeanour, pursuit of the victim, and the victim's public service role. She considered his cooperation, age, remorse, and the fact that alcohol contributed to his out‑of‑character behaviour. The judge set an 18‑month imprisonment sentence, deferred it to April 4, and imposed a €200 fine. She also ordered that €3,000 Tuke had in court be given to the victim or a charity.
Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch, 58, was further remanded in custody by the Special Criminal Court during a mention hearing where no application was made. Justice Tony Hunt ordered the remand, noting that a further date could be set if the accused wished to make an application. Mr. Hutch, who pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in February 2016, is scheduled to go on trial on October 3, 2022, alongside four other co-accused. He was extradited from Spain after his final appeal was rejected. The trial will also involve Jonathan Dowdall, 43, who was charged with the murder of Mr. Byrne. Patrick Hutch, 28, previously pleaded not guilty to the same alleged murder, but charges against him were dropped in 2019. The court proceedings remain at the trial stage, with the current procedural step being a remand in custody rather than a finalised disposal.
Gerard Hutch, 58, appeared before the Special Criminal Court following his extradition from Spain, where he was charged with the alleged murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in 2016. The court, presided over by Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Berkeley and McHugh, fixed a trial date for October 3, 2022, where Hutch will stand trial alongside four other co-accused. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC reserved Hutch's position regarding the lawfulness of his arrest, the charge, and the court's jurisdiction. The court remanded Hutch in custody until October 15, 2022. This proceeding is distinct from the 2019 case of Patrick Hutch, who pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Mr Byrne but was acquitted after charges were dropped. Additionally, Jonathan Dowdall was previously charged with the alleged murder of Mr Byrne and is scheduled to go on trial alongside other co-accused on the same date. The trial date represents a procedural step in the ongoing prosecution, with ancillary matters such as bail and potential applications for separate trials to be addressed in the coming weeks.
Former Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall, 43, and three co-accused have been fixed for trial at the Special Criminal Court regarding the 2016 murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in Dublin 9. In July, gardaí served Books of Evidence on the four men, who are all charged in connection with the killing. Mr. Byrne was shot dead on February 5, 2016, after five men, three disguised as armed gardaí, stormed the building during a boxing weigh-in. Jonathan Dowdall is charged with the murder of David Byrne, contrary to Common Law. His father, Patrick Dowdall, 64, is accused of facilitating a serious offence by making a hotel room available to a criminal organisation on February 4, 2016. Co-accused Paul Murphy, 59, is charged with supplying logistical support to a six-man team and providing access to motor vehicles. Jason Bonney, 50, is also charged with facilitating a serious offence by providing access to motor vehicles. Prosecuting barrister Fiona Murphy SC indicated an objection to Mr. Bonney's free legal aid application, with his case put in for October 7, 2021, for mention. Mr. Justice Tony Hunt fixed October 3, 2022, for a trial that could last up to 12 weeks, and put the matter in for an update on April 25, 2022.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, the Director of Public Prosecutions announced that new charges will be brought in October against Robert Redmond, 32, of Woodview Close, Donaghmede, and Bernard Fogarty, 33, of Cromcastle Court, Kilmore, Coolock, for the attempted murder of Barry Wolverson. The alleged attempt occurred on 17 January 2020 at Madigans Yard, Kileek Lane, Swords, Co Dublin. Mr Wolverson died on 21 February after a prolonged hospital stay. The court set a trial date of 15 June 2022, with the trial expected to last four weeks.
Trevor Byrne, aged 41, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to consecutive jail terms totalling 17½ years for a series of firearms offences and an armed robbery of Boylesports bookmakers in Swords on 19 March 2010. The robbery involved two men and included possession of a loaded 9 mm Luger‑calibre Radom 35 firearm, false imprisonment, a threat to kill, and hijacking a woman's car at gunpoint. Byrne had 44 prior convictions and was already serving a nine‑year sentence for a firearms offence that began in November 2019. The judge imposed eight‑and‑a‑half years for the robbery and false imprisonment, six‑and‑a‑half years for the threat to kill, and seven‑and‑a‑half years each for the firearm possession and car hijacking, with all five sentences running concurrently but consecutively to the earlier firearms conviction. The sentences were reduced by a total of 12 months for mitigation and rehabilitation considerations. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty and was acquitted.
Jonathan Dowdall, a former Sinn Fein councillor aged 43, has filed a High Court challenge against the jurisdiction of the Special Criminal Court (SCC) over his murder trial. He is charged with the killing of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel on 5 February 2016. The Director of Public Prosecutions, citing the 1939 Offences Against the State Act, has directed that Dowdall be tried before the non‑jury SCC. Dowdall argues that the SCC's existence is based on temporary emergency legislation from 1972 and that the Oireachtas has not enacted permanent law to justify it. He claims this breaches his constitutional rights and the European Convention on Human Rights, including the presumption of innocence. His lawyers seek an order to prohibit the SCC trial, declare it unlawful, and highlight the State's failure to secure permanent legislation. Judge Anthony Barr granted Dowdall permission to proceed, made the case returnable for November, and stayed the trial pending the High Court's decision.
Trevor Byrne, 41, faces sentencing for an armed robbery of BoyleSports in Swords on 19 March 2010, during which he also hijacked a woman's car and threatened to kill her. He has 44 prior convictions and is already serving a nine‑year sentence for a firearms offence. Byrne pleaded not guilty to robbery, possession of a firearm, false imprisonment, threat to kill and unlawful vehicle seizure. The Special Criminal Court found him guilty after CCTV and a mobile phone left at the scene were linked to him. Victim impact statements from the bookmaker's owner and the hijacked woman were not read aloud, as they requested. The court noted the firearms charge carries a presumptive minimum of five years, robbery and false imprisonment carry maximum life sentences, a threat to kill a maximum of ten years, and hijacking a maximum of fifteen years. Sentencing is scheduled for the following Thursday.
At the Special Criminal Court, books of evidence were served on four men charged in connection with the 2016 murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in Dublin. The prosecution also provided exhibits, including a CCTV montage. Jonathan Dowdall, 43, is charged with the murder of Mr Byrne, contrary to common law, on February 5, 2016. His father, Patrick Dowdall, 64, is accused of facilitating a serious offence by a criminal organisation by making a hotel room available on February 4, 2016. Co-accused Paul Murphy, 59, faces charges of supplying logistical support to a six-man team and providing access to motor vehicles to facilitate the murder. Jason Bonney, 50, is charged with providing access to motor vehicles to facilitate the offence. All charges are alleged or contested, with no pleas entered or findings made at this stage. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding over the non-jury court, adjourned the matter until September 31. He requested an indication on whether a trial date is required and the expected duration of the trial. The matter was adjourned and is not concluded.
Anthony Kinghorn, 48, was arrested in a derelict field in Cloghran after authorities discovered over €6 million worth of cannabis in six pallets. The drugs had been transported from abroad via Dublin Port and loaded into a van driven by a co‑accused who had travelled from London. Gardaí seized a mobile phone with encryption designed to conceal movements. Kinghorn pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply at Stockhole Lane, Cloghran, Swords, on 23 October 2020. He has 20 prior convictions in the UK, including drug supply and possession, possession of an offensive weapon and battery. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to 10 years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years on strict conditions, including leaving the jurisdiction within one week of release and not returning for 10 years. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 24 June 2021, Clive Kavanagh, aged 51, pleaded guilty to assaulting a McDonald's security guard, Kennedy Miranda, on 25 October 2018. Kavanagh used a box‑cutter to slash Miranda's hand while attempting to force entry into the restaurant. Miranda suffered a wound that required sutures and left a scar. Kavanagh also faced a second charge of producing a knife during the incident. The judge noted Kavanagh's history of offending, severe alcoholism, liver transplant, and deteriorating cognitive function. Despite the seriousness of the offence, the judge imposed a suspended sentence of two and a half years imprisonment, fully suspended, for the assault, taking the knife‑producing charge into account. The sentence was given with the expectation that Kavanagh would not reappear in court.
Trevor Byrne, 41, of Finglas West, Dublin 11, was found guilty by the Special Criminal Court on all five charges arising from the armed robbery of BoyleSports in Swords, Co Dublin, on March 19, 2010. The charges included robbery, possession of a firearm, false imprisonment, threatening to kill, and unlawfully seizing a vehicle. Byrne had pleaded not guilty to all allegations. The court accepted evidence that a mobile phone dropped at the scene belonged to Byrne, noting that texts to a contact saved as 'Ma' matched numbers on his other devices. CCTV footage identified Byrne entering the premises before two masked men emerged brandishing guns. The court also accepted testimony from Miss Helen Leigh, whose car was hijacked during the getaway, and staff who were threatened. Mr Justice Michael MacGrath stated that Byrne's claim that the phone was stolen from him did not bear scrutiny. The judge found Byrne guilty on all five charges and adjourned the case to July 19 for sentencing. Byrne has 41 previous convictions, including a nine-year sentence imposed in December last year for stashing a loaded handgun. The matter was adjourned and is not yet concluded.
Two Dublin men, Robert Redmond, 32, and Bernard Fogarty, 33, were charged with attempting to murder Barry Wolverson on 17 January 2020 at Madigans Yard, Swords, Co. Dublin. The Special Criminal Court has served them with Books of Evidence for the attempted murder charge. Mr. Wolverson died on 21 February 2021 after a prolonged hospital stay. The prosecution, represented by Ms. Maddie Grant BL, noted that the trial could last up to four weeks and that a six‑week adjournment was requested because the deceased's long hospitalisation complicated matters. A pathology report is being prepared by Dr. Heidi Okkers. In addition to attempted murder, Redmond and Fogarty face assault charges against Gerard Wildman on the same day, and possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Jackson Sije, a 31‑year‑old business graduate, received a fully suspended two‑year imprisonment sentence for money‑laundering after allowing his bank account to be used to move €21,538.30 stolen in a phishing scam. Sije claimed he was helping a fellow student receive money for tuition and living expenses, but evidence showed the funds were the proceeds of a scam uncovered by an Irish company. Gardaí found a laptop and a Nigerian passport in his rented accommodation, and Sije admitted to withdrawing the money in Dublin and transferring it to an account in Germany. He pleaded guilty to possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct. The court noted he could not repay the defrauded business and that his actions were reckless. The suspended sentence requires him to keep the peace and exhibit good behaviour for two years.
Jonathan Dowdall, 43, a former Sinn Fein councillor, was charged with the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in Dublin 9 on February 5, 2016. The Special Criminal Court heard that Mr Byrne was shot dead after five men, three disguised as armed gardaí, stormed the building. The Director of Public Prosecutions instructed that Dowdall be tried in the non-jury court. Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Justices Sarah Berkeley and David McHugh, remanded Dowdall in custody until June 14 for the service of the Book of Evidence. He is represented by solicitor Jenny McGeever. Dowdall's father, Patrick Dowdall, 64, is already before the court, accused of facilitating a serious offence by making a hotel room available to a criminal organisation on February 4, 2016. Co-accused Paul Murphy, 59, is charged with supplying logistical support to a six-man team suspected of carrying out the murder on February 15, 2016, and providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. Jason Bonney, 50, is also charged with providing access to motor vehicles to facilitate the murder on February 5, 2016. All four defendants are due to appear before the three-judge court on June 14 for the service of their respective Books of Evidence.
A Dublin man accused of facilitating the 2016 murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel has been granted bail by the Special Criminal Court. Jason Bonney, aged fifty, of Portmarnock, faces charges of participating in activity that could facilitate a serious offence by a criminal organisation. The court accepted a bail proposal comprising a personal bond of one hundred euro, fifteen thousand euro from his own account, thirty thousand euro from his wife's account, and a further two thousand euro from an independent surety. Standard bail conditions were imposed and the case was adjourned to June. A second accused, Paul Murphy, aged fifty-nine, of Cabra, Dublin, remains in custody with consent to bail pending identification of an independent surety. He is similarly charged with providing logistical support to those involved in the killing. A third defendant, Patrick Dowdall, also of Cabra, did not apply for bail at this hearing. All three cases were adjourned to June for service of the Books of Evidence before the non-jury court.
Paul Murphy, 59, appeared before the Special Criminal Court where he is accused of supplying logistical support to a six-man team suspected of carrying out the murder of David Byrne on February 15, 2016. He is charged with participating in activity intending to facilitate a serious offence by a criminal organisation by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. The State objected to bail, citing the seriousness of the alleged crime and witness intimidation risks. Justice Tony Hunt noted that a sentence north of eight years could apply in a worst-case scenario, identifying flight risk as a concern. The judge ruled that the €1,000 offered was insufficient and that bail would be granted in principle only if an independent surety could be attached. Murphy stated he had no such acquaintances. The matter was adjourned to Monday, when Murphy, along with co-accused Jason Bonney and Patrick Dowdall, will appear before the three-judge court to bring their bail applications. Bonney is accused of providing vehicle access, while Dowdall is accused of making a room available at the Regency Hotel for the alleged criminal organisation on February 4, 2016. All charges are contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006.
Three men appeared before the Special Criminal Court at an out-of-hours sitting charged in connection with the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in Dublin in February 2016. Patrick Dowdall, Paul Murphy, and Jason Bonney, all from the Dublin area, faced charges under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act relating to alleged participation in activity intended to facilitate a serious offence by a criminal organisation. Dowdall is accused of making a room available at the hotel, whilst Murphy and Bonney are alleged to have provided access to motor vehicles. Gardaí objected to bail for Bonney, indicating he was part of a well-organised crime gang, citing strong evidence including CCTV tracking and mobile phone data. The court granted Bonney bail pending further financial inquiries. Murphy and Dowdall were remanded in custody with bail applications to follow.
The Special Criminal Court heard the prosecution's closing arguments against Trevor Byrne, 41, of Finglas West, who is charged with the 2010 armed robbery of BoyleSports in Swords and the hijacking of a woman's car at gunpoint. The State presented "overwhelming" evidence, including CCTV footage that identified Byrne and a second man, both wearing masks and brandishing handguns, who entered the bookies and robbed the tills. Byrne allegedly dropped his phone at the scene, which was later found to contain a contact for 'Ma', a number linked to his mother Maureen Byrne. The prosecution argued that the phone and its contents tied Byrne to the robbery. Byrne denied all charges. The case was adjourned to May 20 for judgment.
Ms Helen Leigh gave evidence in the Special Criminal Court that on 19 March 2010 she was hijacked at gunpoint near Applewood Village, Swords. Two masked men forced her into a car, demanded proof of her address, threatened to kill her if she reported the incident, and asked if she had children. Leigh described the men as wearing dark clothing and a balaclava, one holding a small silver gun. They took a business letter containing her address, tore it, and left her with a phone that had 15 missed calls. The ordeal lasted about 20–25 minutes. The testimony is part of the trial of Trevor Byrne, 41, charged with armed robbery, possession of a firearm, vehicle seizure, false imprisonment, and threatening to kill Leigh. Byrne denies all charges. The trial is ongoing in the non‑jury court.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Dubliner Trevor Byrne, 41, of Finglas West, continues before a three-judge panel. Mr Byrne, who has denied all charges, faces five offences alleged to have occurred in 2010 and charged in 2011. He is accused of robbing BoyleSports in Swords of €1,490 at gunpoint, possessing a firearm with intent to commit robbery, seizing a vehicle by threat of force, falsely imprisoning a woman, and threatening to kill her. Prosecution evidence presented by Mr Shane Costelloe SC included testimony from manager James Robertson, who stated he believed he was going to die when a gun was pointed at his head. Deputy manager Emma O'Reilly and cashier David Coleman also testified that they were threatened with firearms. The State's case alleges that Mr Byrne and an accomplice hid in the shop's bathroom for 35 minutes before emerging with guns. They allegedly fled to Thornleigh Avenue, where they seized a vehicle driven by Helen Leigh, threatening her before abandoning her. The trial, transferred from the Circuit Criminal Court last September, is expected to last up to two weeks. Mr Byrne is represented by Mr John D Fitzgerald SC. The matter is currently ongoing and has not been finalised.
A 40-year-old man from Keshcarrigan in County Leitrim has received a fully suspended three-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for mortgage fraud. Aidan McGovern pleaded guilty to submitting false documents to a bank in Swords in 2018 whilst applying for a €120,000 mortgage. The documents included fabricated wage slips from a non-existent company, a false P60 form, and a credit union statement belonging to another person. Bank staff became suspicious after noticing discrepancies including an incorrect account balance. McGovern admitted to editing the documents himself and emailing them knowingly to the financial institution. He attributed his actions to marital breakdown and a desire to secure housing. Judge Pauline Codd acknowledged his full co-operation with gardaí and low re-offending risk but emphasised the need to protect the integrity of loan applications. The sentence was suspended in full on condition he keeps the peace.
The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) has begun new injunction proceedings against a Traveller family over land at Collinstown, needed for the airport's new north runway. The DAA seeks orders to remove several Traveller families from the site, which lies within an exclusion zone around the runway. The runway's completion date was moved from December to June, and the DAA fears further delays if the families remain. On Friday, the DAA obtained permission from Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds to bring an injunction application against Tracey and Martin McAleer, who moved onto the disputed site last week. The DAA claims the land, previously used by Fingal County Council for Traveller accommodation, was acquired and the licence expired in 2017. The DAA served a notice to quit, but four families, including the McAleers, have refused to leave. The DAA says the McAleers have no legal right to occupy the land and seeks orders to vacate and stop trespassing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, professional mixed‑martial‑arts fighter Dylan Tuke, aged 24, pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm after he repeatedly punched a taxi driver on 16 December 2018. Tuke had entered the cab without asking if it was available, called the driver a "sap" and a "fool", and after the driver demanded payment upfront, Tuke struck him in the head and face, breaking the driver's front teeth. The assault was captured on dash‑cam footage, which was circulated to Gardaí and led to Tuke's identification. The driver, who now feels defenseless and suffers from headaches and a facial scar, gave a victim impact statement. Tuke, who has no prior convictions, expressed remorse, citing his upbringing and the potential career impact of a conviction. Judge Pauline Codd adjourned the sentencing to 11 October to allow Tuke to raise further compensation.
Two men, Robert Malole (43) and Gheorghe Cocos (44), were jailed after they followed an 87‑year‑old woman who had just withdrawn €2,000 from a bank. They watched her at the bank, followed her to a shop, pharmacy and then to her car. Cocos asked her to point out a location on a map, obscuring her view of her handbag while the money was stolen. Gardaí traced the pair through CCTV and by following their rental car, which they had obtained using their real passports. The men repaid the victim in full. They pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to theft at Brackenstown Road, Swords on 20 October 2020. Malole, who has nine previous convictions, was given an eight‑month sentence consecutive to his current term, while Cocos, who has three previous convictions and is serving a two‑year sentence with the final eight months suspended, received a 20‑month sentence.
John Gossan, 40, of Castlegrange Hill, Swords, pleaded guilty to sexual assault at Wright's Cafe Bar, Malahide Road, Swords, on 22 February 2019. The court found he was in a drunken state when he grabbed a young woman's breasts and nether area over her clothes. Judge Martin Nolan described the act as shameful and frightening, noting it was a short encounter with no aggravating factors. Gossan received a fully suspended sentence of one year imprisonment, with strict conditions to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for one year. He was ordered to hand over €2,000 to the prosecuting Garda, which may be given to charity if the victim declines. Gossan has a prior 2010 drug‑dealing conviction for which he served four years. The sentencing took place at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Two Dublin men, Robert Redmond (32) and Bernard Fogarty (33), are charged with attempting to murder Barry Wolverson in a January 2020 shooting at Madigans Yard, Swords, Co Dublin. They are also accused of assaulting Gerard Wildman on the same day, possessing a firearm and ammunition (.38/.357 calibre) with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury. The Director of Public Prosecutions applied on 5 January 2021 for the cases to be tried before the Special Criminal Court under Section 49 of the Offences Against the State Act, citing that ordinary courts were inadequate for effective justice. Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges Gerard Griffin and Flann Brennan, granted the order.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Olga Maslakova, 33, was fined €400 for driving without reasonable consideration after her car struck a young woman, Ms Jodie Regazzoli, on the R132, Swords, on 17 April 2018. The collision occurred on a dual carriageway with a hedge median, where pedestrians often cut across the road instead of using the footbridge. Maslakova admitted she should not have been in the bus lane and was travelling about 58 km/h, below the 80 km/h limit. Witnesses said her view was blocked by cars to her right, and the pedestrian was struck by the front right of the car, suffering serious life‑altering injuries, including a traumatic brain injury and an eight‑week coma. The State entered a nolle prosequi on the charge of careless driving causing serious bodily harm. Olga Maslakova pleaded guilty.
Michael Geoghegan, 36, a former Crufts best dog handler, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three knife‑point muggings on Rathbeale Road, Swords, on 18 August last year. He also admitted producing a large kitchen knife to intimidate victims and an iron drill bit and knife while resisting arrest. The court heard he threatened a garda who chased him, and that he had a history of drug addiction and 52 prior convictions, including robbery with an imitation firearm in 2005. Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, suspending the final year on strict conditions, including six months of probation after release. Geoghegan had handed €2,500 to the victims as a gesture of remorse. The case involved three random women who were robbed at knife‑point in the morning, with Geoghegan demanding cash and threatening to stab them. The garda was disarmed with a baton after Geoghegan lunged at him.
A High Court judge ruled that Olaf Raetzel, a 51‑year‑old German national living in Ireland, may be surrendered to the UK to face three charges of making indecent photographs of a child. Raetzel had objected to his surrender, arguing that the UK's exit from the EU could affect his fundamental rights. The judge rejected this objection, finding no evidence that the UK's withdrawal would deprive him of those rights. Under Section 16 of the European Arrest Warrant Act 2003, Raetzel can be surrendered, and he may file a constitutional complaint before surrender.
The High Court has appointed provisional liquidators to two fashion retail companies that operated thirteen Pamela Scott stores across Ireland. Arzac Developments Ltd ran ten stores while Richard Alan & Co operated three, with outlets in locations including Sligo, Dublin, Limerick, Tralee and Cork. The firms, employing 104 people, sought winding up orders citing challenging market conditions, rising operating costs and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which rendered them insolvent. Mr Justice David Keane appointed insolvency practitioners Eamonn Richardson and Ian Barrett of KPMG as joint provisional liquidators. The court heard the companies faced pressure from landlords, reduced footfall and changes to wage subsidy schemes. Both firms were dependent on their parent company, Flairline Fashion Ltd, for administrative and financial support, which was no longer available. The judge made the cases returnable to November.