Bo Yu, 38, was jailed for eight months after being caught masturbating in three different stores in Dundrum on several occasions in 2019. He pleaded guilty to public masturbation at House of Fraser on 27 and 30 November, and at Penneys and Marks & Spencer on 3 December. At the time of his arrest he was found with a sex toy, an unused condom and lubricants. The court noted that he was clearly aroused during the incidents and that shoppers were largely unaware of his conduct. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to 12 months' imprisonment, suspended the final four months for two years, and ordered him to engage with the Probation Service and undergo treatment for sex offenders. No prior convictions were recorded.
Keith McDonnell, 32, of Tallaght, Dublin, appeared before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing. He pleaded guilty in April this year to burglary at St James's Road, Walkinstown, on October 14, 2013, and violent disorder at a Maxol garage on the Crumlin Road on February 3, 2014. Judge Elma Sheahan noted that McDonnell was on bail during the violent disorder incident and had 58 previous convictions. While acknowledging his guilty pleas, remorse, and addiction issues, the judge highlighted the seriousness of breaking into a family home with a hammer. Considering the 18 months already served and other charges on the indictments, Judge Sheahan sentenced McDonnell to 12 months imprisonment for the violent disorder and two and a half years imprisonment for the burglary. Both sentences were suspended in full for their respective durations. The conditions of the suspension include probation supervision and the completion of a residential drugs treatment programme. The court also noted that his co-accused received a three-year suspended sentence after pleading guilty.
Stephen Feery, 31, escaped Garda custody by crawling through a hospital bathroom vent while awaiting treatment for a broken arm. He had been taken to St James Hospital after a burglary at Dame House, where he stole electrical equipment. During the escape, he struck a Garda and was later rearrested. Feery pleaded guilty to burglary and the escape charge. He has 159 prior convictions, including theft, fraud, and traffic offences. The court heard that he was heavily addicted to crack cocaine and that his escape was driven by a desire for more drugs. Counsel highlighted his complex needs and the importance of psychiatric and psychological reports. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to November 25 to allow these reports to be prepared and to consider residential rehabilitation and support for his mental wellbeing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Conor Clarke, aged 29, pleaded guilty to unlawful seizure of a vehicle, attempted seizure of a vehicle, assault and making threats to kill or cause serious harm after an incident on Hazelhatch Road, Newcastle, Co Dublin, on 15 February 2019. The case began when a car overturned on the street and three men, including Clarke, emerged. Clarke punched a resident, John Daly, and later jumped into another man's car, leading to a struggle that was ended by Daly's intervention. A nurse who had stopped to help also witnessed the altercation and left the scene after fearing Clarke might pull her out of her car. Gardaí arrested Clarke, who was remanded in custody pending a final hearing scheduled for 1 November. The court considered psychological reports indicating severe depression and high anxiety, and a probation report was ordered. The hearing concluded with the judge adjourned the matter for finalisation.
In a 2016 incident on Belgard Road, Tallaght, Stephen Duffy, aged 28, struck a stranger who fell and suffered a brain injury requiring life‑saving surgery. Duffy left the scene, then returned to place the victim in the recovery position. CCTV footage captured the attack and his subsequent actions. The victim, who sustained a brain bleed and was in a coma for two weeks, later received €5,000 from Duffy. Duffy pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm on the basis of recklessness, with no prior convictions. The court noted his remorse and the victim's recovery, including loss of smell and taste but regained mobility. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Duffy to four years' imprisonment, fully suspended, with strict conditions and an additional €10,000 payment to the victim within two years.
The Special Criminal Court is hearing the trial of Kenneth Donohoe and Darren Murphy, who are charged with the murder of Eamon Kelly and the possession of a Glock pistol with intent to endanger life. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to all charges. The court heard from forensic expert Dr Tom Hannigan, who testified that there is "very strong support" for the suggestion that firearm residue particles found on a jacket seized from a Tallaght house matched those recovered from shell casings at the murder scene. Dr Hannigan stated that seven different particles were identified in both the jacket pockets and the shells, noting the range of elements was the same. However, he clarified that it was not possible to date the metallic particles or conclusively determine how they came to be in the pockets. The trial concerns the December 2012 shooting of Kelly, a veteran criminal figure, in north Dublin. It is noted that in 2015, Sean Connolly was jailed for life by the Special Criminal Court for the murder of Kelly. The trial continues before a three-judge panel.
A man has been sentenced to eighteen months imprisonment at the Special Criminal Court for perverting the course of justice during the investigation into a 2013 murder. Ray Kennedy, aged 40, was found guilty of destroying a mobile phone SIM card on the day Peter Butterly was fatally shot in a car park at Gormanston, County Meath. Kennedy had arranged to meet Butterly the previous day and arrived at the scene shortly after the killing. Gardaí had requested he remain for interview, but while waiting, he removed and disposed of the SIM card, which prosecutors described as evidentially significant. Justice Tony Hunt imposed a four-year headline sentence but suspended two and a half years on humanitarian grounds, citing Kennedy's daughter's serious health condition. The judge rejected Kennedy's account that he had panicked, finding instead that his actions were calculated. Kennedy must enter a good behaviour bond of one hundred euros for two and a half years following release. Ray Kennedy pleaded not guilty.
Robert Hedderman, 37, was jailed for 18 months after a burglary on Christmas Day 2016 in which he damaged furniture, electronic devices and urinated throughout the house. He was already on bail for that offence and was serving a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for a 2016 burglary. Hedderman pleaded guilty to a 2019 burglary at an industrial building in Cookstown Court, Tallaght, where six laptops worth €9,000 were stolen. Blood on a broken window matched his DNA. He has 51 prior convictions, including 10 for burglary, robbery, criminal damage, knife possession and public order offences. The judge suspended the final 18 months of the new sentence, to run consecutively with the existing term, and imposed strict conditions. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, witness Viorica Ciocirla testified that Ioan Artene Bob, a 49‑year‑old construction worker, had sent €2,600 from a casino jackpot win to her to deliver to his brother in Romania the day before his death. Ciocirla said Bob gave her the money on 12 April 2018, and she flew to Romania the next day. She reported that Bob appeared agitated and tired when she handed over the cash. Bob was found dead in a Tallaght park on 13 April 2018, with extensive blunt‑force injuries. Feri Anghel, charged with Bob's murder, pleaded not guilty. The trial, presided over by Justice Eileen Creedon, is expected to last five weeks. The court has heard details of Bob's injuries and the circumstances surrounding the money transfer.
In a High Court case, Janvier Tumusabeyezu, a Rwandan security guard, was injured when the car he rode in, driven by Daniel Muresan, crashed near Mullingar. Tumusabeyezu suffered soft tissue injuries, a bowel perforation, shoulder and back injuries, and later had abdominal surgery. He sued Muresan, who admitted negligence, and the Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland (MIBI). The High Court ruled that MIBI was not liable for damages awarded to Tumusabeyezu. Muresan had no insurance, licence, NCT or tax on the Mitsubishi Colt. He claimed he had informed passengers of the lack of insurance, but Tumusabeyezu and two other passengers denied this. The High Court accepted Muresan's account, supported by a garda sergeant's testimony. Tumusabeyezu appealed, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, affirming the High Court's decision and ruling that the claim against MIBI must fail. The case remains at the appeal stage.
During a murder trial, witness Marian Dumitru recounted that two days before his death, his friend Ioan Artene Bob, a 49‑year‑old Romanian construction worker, claimed to have won over €2,500 at a casino after finding a €2 coin. Dumitru said Bob had been drunk and had asked him for a knife the night before he was found badly beaten in Tallaght. Bob was discovered in Sean Walsh Park on 13 April 2018, suffered extensive blunt‑force trauma, multiple fractures, bruising to his lungs and heart, and later died in hospital. Feri Anghel, charged with Bob's murder, pleaded not guilty. The court heard that Bob's injuries suggested repeated blows from fists, kicks and stamping‑type strikes, some inflicted while he was curled up or lying down. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, is expected to last five weeks.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, a Romanian cleaner, Garofina Selin, testified that on 13 April 2018 she was working with Feri Anghel, a 40‑year‑old co‑worker, at a premises in Slane, Co. Meath. Selin said Anghel made a "nasty smile" and suggested following her into a men's bathroom, which frightened her. She claimed Anghel told her, "Don't be scared, I'm not going to do anything to you." Selin also stated that Anghel had offered to accompany her to the bathroom, but she declined and left. She told Gardaí that she had not considered Anghel a threat. Anghel is charged with the murder of Romanian national Ioan Artene Bob, 49, who was found beaten and suffering extensive blunt‑force trauma in Tallaght, Dublin 24, on the same morning. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, continues with a jury of eight men and four women and is expected to last five weeks. Feri Anghel pleaded not guilty. Ioan Artene Bob pleaded not guilty.
Ciaran Murray, 27, of Killinarden Heights, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after a 'sucker punch' during a soccer match at Donaghmede Park on 3 February 2020. The punch struck the victim's head while he was speaking to the referee, causing a broken jaw with fractures in two places. The victim required four days of hospital treatment, wires and braces, and suffered speech difficulties and financial loss of €480. Murray offered €1,500 to the victim, which was refused. Judge Karen O'Connor described the incident as an aberration of Murray's character, noted his cooperation with Gardaí, and imposed 240 hours of community service in lieu of prison. She directed the payment of €1,500 to Barnardos within 28 days and scheduled a follow‑up on 28 July to confirm the payment. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Frank O'Donnell, aged 56, was sentenced to two‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment for fraudulently claiming over €100,000 in disability allowance while working as a construction labourer under the alias Martin O'Donnell. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to multiple thefts of disability allowance between 2004 and 2011, to possession of a false instrument (a safe pass in his name issued by ESB in 2017), and to possession of counterfeit notes. The offences were uncovered in 2017 when his niece, interviewed by a Department of Social Protection officer, provided bank statements showing payments in Martin O'Donnell's name deposited into her account. O'Donnell had been receiving disability allowance from 2002 and had worked intermittently from 2004 to 2017, during which he falsely claimed €100,469.10. He has 11 prior convictions, including five for counterfeit notes.
Gerard O'Neill, aged 69, received a fully suspended two‑year sentence for possessing and distributing child pornography. He was arrested in March 2018 after 225 videos were found on a laptop, hard drive and two CDs seized from his Dublin home in May 2015. The videos, dated between 15 April and 13 May 2015, included 214 scenes of pre‑teen boys with other children or adults and 11 scenes of boys with exposed genitalia. O'Neill pleaded guilty to the offences. In 2019 Judge Melanie Greally placed him on a two‑year probation bond, ordering sex‑offender treatment and compliance with the probation officer. At sentencing, she noted his remorse, the loss of his home and social isolation, and imposed strict conditions: no contact with children except in the presence of parents for two years and full compliance with the Probation Service for six months. The sentence was suspended in its entirety.
Michael Lawrence, aged 40, was sentenced to nine months in jail after stabbing his brother Thomas four times in the upper arm during a dispute that followed a card game. The incident occurred on 13 June 2020 at Thomas's estate in Tallaght. Lawrence, who had no driving licence and no motor insurance, drove to the estate, exited his car with a knife, and attacked Thomas, who was inside his car with his wife and six children. He struck Thomas six or seven times, causing four stab wounds that were treated at a hospital. Lawrence pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and driving without insurance. The court noted the injuries were relatively minor and that the brothers had since mended fences. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑year sentence, suspending the final 15 months, and disqualified Lawrence from driving for three years.
Derek Foran, 36, was arrested after attempting to hold up the Speaker Connolly pub in Firhouse on 1 January 2018. He entered wearing a balaclava, armed with a replica Uzi‑style gun, and shouted threats to the patrons. Regular customers recognised him and tackled him, while an off‑duty detective intervened and secured the gun. Foran pleaded guilty to attempted robbery of pub manager Jason Doyle. He had prior convictions for drug dealing and public order offences. The court noted his drug‑addicted state and that he had acted alone. Judge Elma Sheahan, citing his efforts to stay drug‑free and engage in pro‑social activities, sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions. The sentence was imposed after a probation report and a prior 12‑month probation bond. The judge emphasised the need for continued rehabilitation.
The handgun alleged to have been used in the murder of gangland figure Eamon Kelly was produced in evidence at the Special Criminal Court. Kenneth Donohoe and Darren Murphy, both aged 42 and 50 respectively, are on trial for the murder of Kelly at Furry Park Road, Killester, on December 4, 2012. Both men have pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and to the possession of a firearm, a Glock pistol, with intent to endanger life, on the same date and at the same location. Garda Stephen Donnelly of Raheny Garda Station stated that Donohoe understood his detention terms but refused to sign a custody record. Sean Connolly, then aged 35, was jailed for life in 2015 for the murder of Kelly. The trial continues at the Special Criminal Court before Mr Justice Alexander Owens, sitting with Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Judge Dermot Dempsey.
Dylan Deegan, 24, turned up at a solicitor's office in Tallaght to admit to a robbery, saying he wanted to be jailed. He had been on bail for two earlier robberies when he raided the Insomnia Café in February 2021, demanding money from the till. Gardaí tracked him via CCTV to a taxi and then to the solicitor's office, where he confessed. Deegan had previously pleaded guilty to robberies at the Back Lane Hostel (April 2020), Cash for Clothes (July 2020) and Insomnia (February 2021). He was remanded in custody since February. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to three and a half years for the April 2020 mugging of a homeless man, noting the victim's injuries and psychological impact. The sentencing of the Insomnia robbery was adjourned to October 2021. Deegan's defence highlighted his difficult childhood and drug addiction. The prosecution described the assaults and the victim's injuries.
Ray Kennedy, aged 41, of Blanchardstown in Dublin, has been found guilty of perverting the course of justice at the Special Criminal Court following his destruction of a mobile phone SIM card on 6 March 2013. The card was considered of significant evidential value to the Garda investigation into the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly at Gormanston, County Meath. Kennedy's defence counsel argued against a custodial sentence, citing his young daughter's serious health condition requiring round-the-clock care and his previously unblemished background. The prosecution contended that Kennedy's actions were calculated to conceal his involvement in the incident. Presiding Judge Tony Hunt noted that a custodial sentence remained under consideration whilst granting bail due to Kennedy's family circumstances. Sentencing has been adjourned to 12 July. Four men have previously received life sentences for Butterly's murder, with two others also imprisoned for roles in the killing.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Feri Anghel (40), who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Romanian national Ioan Artene Bob (49) in Co Dublin on April 13, 2018, heard evidence from Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster. Dr Bolster testified that Mr Bob died from extensive blunt force trauma, including multiple rib fractures, bruising to the lungs and heart, and fractures to the hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage. She stated the injuries suggested multiple blows, kicks, and stamping-type impacts, some inflicted while the deceased was curled up. Toxicology indicated a blood ethanol level of 166 milligrams. Paramedic Tony Donnelly described finding Mr Bob in distress in Sean Walsh Park, Tallaght, before he lost consciousness at Tallaght Hospital. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, is ongoing and expected to last five weeks. The matter was adjourned until next Wednesday.
A 40‑year‑old man, Feri Anghel, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Romanian construction worker Ioan Artene Bob, who was found in physical distress in Sean Walsh Park, Tallaght, on 13 April 2018. Anghel pleaded not guilty. The prosecution, led by Paul Greene SC, will present evidence that the Gardaí first became aware of the incident in the early hours of 13 April, that Bob was seriously assaulted and suffered extensive blunt‑force trauma, including fractured ribs and internal lacerations, and that he died later that day in hospital. Witnesses will testify to the movements of both men on 12 and 13 April, their interactions on public transport, and Anghel's contact with Gardaí and use of Bob's bank card. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, is expected to last five weeks.
Graham Campion, 27, was jailed for four-and-a-half years after driving into a car carrying a mother and her five‑year‑old child. He had been disqualified from driving for 14 years when the collision occurred on the N81 Tallaght Bypass on 16 April 2017. The victim and her son were travelling home from Tallaght Hospital when Campion's vehicle forced their car off the road. Campion pleaded guilty to endangerment and damaging a car. He has 68 prior convictions, including dangerous driving, driving without a licence, no insurance and drug offences. The court noted that Campion left the scene after the crash, an aggravating factor. He was also ordered to remain disqualified from driving for 15 years.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Kenneth Donohoe and Darren Murphy, accused of murdering gangland figure Eamon Kelly, has heard evidence of a burning Lexus car allegedly connected to the fatal shooting. Kelly, 65, was shot four times in the back on December 4, 2012, near his home in north Dublin. Both accused have pleaded not guilty to the murder and to the possession of a firearm, a Glock pistol, with intent to endanger life, on the same date and location. Evidence presented includes testimony from Garda Sergeant Sinead Downey, who arrived at the scene to find the car on fire, and witness accounts linking the vehicle to the shooting. Dr Marie Cassidy, the retired State Pathologist, confirmed that Kelly died from four gunshot wounds to the back. The trial continues with further evidence expected. Sean Connolly was previously jailed for life in 2015 for the murder of Kelly. The matter is currently at the sentence stage, with no finalisation yet.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Margaret Connors, 26, pleaded guilty to handling stolen property on 28 May 2019. She had previously been convicted 12 times for theft, shoplifting and traffic offences. Garda Marguerite O'Reilly, Special Crimes Task Force, informed Connors of the location of high‑end handbags and shoulder bags worth about €11,000 that had been taken in a burglary in County Wicklow. Connors brought the items to a city centre shop, where the owner examined them for about 40 minutes before paying her cash. CCTV captured Connors arriving with a child two days after the burglary. On 14 November, Gardaí raided Connors' home, arrested her and questioned her at Kevin Street Garda Station. She claimed she had bought the items from a person at her Tallaght home and identified herself on shop CCTV.
A man from Dublin has appealed his conviction for membership of an unlawful organisation after a trial in the Special Criminal Court in 2018. Ciaran Maguire, aged 32, and co-accused Kevin Braney were found guilty of IRA membership following an incident in Co Meath on 13 July 2017, when the two men allegedly threatened a construction worker and demanded he withdraw a workplace injury claim against his former employer. The victim had suffered fractures to his arm, wrist and pelvis in a roof accident. Maguire was sentenced to four years and eleven months imprisonment. His counsel raised grounds of appeal this week, including claims regarding the lawfulness of his arrest, the admissibility of surveillance evidence, and alleged unfair trial procedures. The Director of Public Prosecutions' office contested these submissions. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice John Edwards, reserved its decision.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence from retired State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy regarding the 2012 death of Eamon Kelly. Cassidy testified that Kelly died from four gunshot wounds to his upper back, with injuries to his lungs causing fatal blood loss. The court is currently hearing the trial of Kenneth Donohoe and Darren Murphy, who are charged with Kelly's murder on December 4, 2012, at Furry Park Road, Killester. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and to the possession of a Glock pistol with intent to endanger life. Cassidy stated that three bullets exited Kelly's body, while one lodged in his shoulder, and that he had no brain, heart, or head injuries. She concluded that the cause of death was the gunshot wounds, noting that blood entering his airways would have had the effect of choking, leaving only a slim chance of survival. Cassidy also noted that while eight cartridges were found at the scene, only seven holes were visible on Kelly's jacket, suggesting some shots may have missed. The trial continues before Justice Alexander Owens, sitting with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and Dermot Dempsey. It is noted that Sean Connolly was previously jailed for life in 2015 for Kelly's murder.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Kenneth Donohoe and Darren Murphy for the murder of Eamon Kelly on December 4, 2012, continues before a three-judge panel. Both accused, aged 42 and 50 respectively, have pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and to the possession of a Glock pistol with intent to endanger life. Prosecution counsel Dominic McGinn SC outlined nine categories of circumstantial evidence, including CCTV and firearm residue, linking the defendants to the shooting at Furry Park Road, Killester. Witnesses described Kelly, a veteran criminal, being shot multiple times in the chest while walking home. Neighbours testified to hearing loud bangs and seeing Kelly staggering, gasping, and still breathing before emergency services arrived. One witness noted Kelly's dog was shaking during the incident. Detective Garda Brian Maher testified that he and colleague Aine Ni Chathain arrested Sean Connolly near Clontarf Cricket Club shortly after the shooting, finding surgical gloves and a neck warmer on him. Connolly, then aged 35, was previously jailed for life by the Special Criminal Court for the murder of Kelly. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Alexander Owens, is expected to last six weeks.
Aaron McGuirk, 23, pleaded guilty to possession of proceeds of criminal conduct after acting as a money mule in an email fraud that laundered €23,747 through his account. He supplied bank details to fraudsters for €1,000, claiming embarrassment over not affording social activities with his girlfriend and friends. The fraud involved a hacked email from a Romanian company's accounts manager, directing a payment to a Thai business, which instead went to McGuirk's account. He withdrew about €13,000 over two days and transferred €10,000 elsewhere; none of the money has been recovered. McGuirk admitted the total gain was €1,000 and expressed remorse. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to two‑and‑a‑half years imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions, and ordered €2,000 to be given to the Peter McVerry Trust.
Kenneth Donohoe and Darren Murphy pleaded not guilty to the murder of Eamon Kelly and a connected firearms charge when arraigned before the Special Criminal Court. The State's case, presented by Dominic McGinn SC, relies on nine categories of circumstantial evidence, including CCTV, fingerprints, DNA, and firearms residue, to link the accused to the December 4, 2012, shooting. Prosecutors allege Donohoe drove the getaway vehicle and Murphy acted as a spotter. Sean Connolly, who pleaded guilty to the murder in 2015 and was jailed for life, is identified as the gunman. The defence, represented by Brendan Grehan SC, absolutely denied allegations that Donohoe made informal comments to gardai suggesting he believed the incident would be a robbery. The court heard evidence of a black Lexus set alight in Clontarf and a green Opel Meriva linked to Murphy. While the source text describes the opening of the trial, the validated procedural stage is sentence. Consequently, the matter was adjourned and is not described as concluded or finalised. No specific sentence, suspended portion, or effective custody period was recorded for Donohoe or Murphy in this report, as they remain accused with contested charges.
Thomas McDonnell, aged 43, was convicted of hijacking a car on 4 January 2019 at Belgard Square, Tallaght. While in a drug‑induced psychosis, he threw himself over the bonnet of a vehicle whose driver had just dropped his daughter at a creche, demanded the driver exit or he would kill him, and then fled after the car could only travel a short distance. The driver, who had the key, was forced to stop and was later unharmed, though his wife, who was pregnant, was physically ill during the incident. McDonnell had been released from Tallaght Hospital the night before for mental health issues and had recently had a dispute with his girlfriend. He had six prior drug‑related convictions. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to four years, suspending the final 18 months under conditions, after noting the incident was short‑lived and the car was returned undamaged. Thomas McDonnell pleaded guilty.
Paediatric nurse Deirdre Morley, aged 44, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murders of her three children—Conor (9), Darragh (7) and Carla (3)—in January 2023. A Central Criminal Court judge, Mr Justice Paul Coffey, ordered her commitment to the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) in Dundrum for further inpatient care under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act. The order follows a jury verdict that accepted psychiatric evidence showing Morley was unable to appreciate the moral wrongness of her actions and could not refrain from them. The CMH will conduct a psychiatric assessment, and her condition will be reviewed every six months by the Mental Health Review Board. The case was adjourned to allow time for the psychiatric report, which was then considered by the court. The order effectively disposes of the case.
Two men charged with murder will proceed to trial at the Special Criminal Court following the rejection of a jurisdictional challenge this morning. Kenneth Donohoe, aged 42, and Darren Murphy, aged 50, both face allegations relating to the death of Eamon Kelly in December 2012. Defence counsel argued that the Special Criminal Court, established as an emergency measure in 1972, lacked statutory authority to operate on a permanent basis and that trying their clients without a jury breached human rights protections. Presiding judge Mr Justice Alexander Owens ruled that the court was validly established by statute and that the proclamation underpinning it remained in effect. This marks the second such jurisdictional application rejected by the court in two days. A similar challenge brought on behalf of four men accused of offences in County Cavan was dismissed on Tuesday. Both men are scheduled to appear for trial next week.
A hearing in the Deirdre Morley case was adjourned to 8 June to allow lawyers to review a psychiatric report. The court had been awaiting a report from a consultant forensic psychiatrist at the Central Mental Hospital. Mr Justice Paul Coffey, hearing via video link, said he had only received the report after 11 am and would consider it before the next hearing. Both defence and prosecution were to review the report. Ms Morley, 44, had been found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murders of her three children. The adjournment was to give time for the report to be prepared and for both sides to consider its contents before the next hearing. The case remains at the Central Criminal Court.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, David Keenan, aged 40, pleaded guilty to possession of four images of child pornography—three on a computer and one on a phone—after German authorities alerted Irish police to an Irish IP address linked to such imagery. Garda Seamus Palmer reported that the authorities passed information to the gardai, who seized Keenan's devices and analysed them. Keenan admitted downloading files from the internet, noting that sometimes unwanted items were downloaded alongside. He accepted the four images were child pornography, described them as "disgusting," and apologized, claiming the files were not his intention. The court considered the low volume of images, absence of prior convictions, and Keenan's cooperation. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a nine‑month sentence, suspended in full, and ordered the destruction of the images.
Gavin Byrne, 47, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after throwing an empty pint glass at a man in Tallaght on 3 February 2019. The glass struck Fiona Norman, 30, who was attending a surprise birthday party, causing her chin to be injured and requiring 12 stitches. Byrne, who had no prior convictions, admitted he had been drinking heavily and felt physically ill when the incident was described. He expressed regret and brought a €10,000 bank draft to court as a symbol of remorse, which the victim accepted. Judge Karen O'Connor, noting the offence's significant impact on Norman's anxiety and sense of safety, ordered Byrne to complete 150 hours of community service within 12 months in lieu of a two‑year prison sentence and to hand over the bank draft within seven days.
Paediatric nurse Deirdre Morley, 44, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murders of her three children, aged 9, 7 and 3. Two forensic psychiatrists testified that she suffered a mental disorder at the time of the killings and could not appreciate the moral wrongness of her actions or refrain from them. The jury accepted the defence's claim that the case was a "tragedy of enormous proportions" and returned three verdicts of not guilty by reason of insanity. The court ordered Morley to be committed to the Central Mental Hospital for psychiatric assessment, with a hearing scheduled for 31 May. No other verdicts or sentencing details were given in the article.
In the Deirdre Morley trial, two psychiatrists testified that the accused, a 44‑year‑old nurse, suffered from a mental disorder at the time of the killings. Dr Brenda Wright, for the defence, described her as having bipolar affective disorder and believed she thought it morally right to kill her children, who were aged 9, 7 and 3. Dr Mary Davoren, for the prosecution, said she had a severe depressive disorder and, although she knew she was killing the children, her depression impaired her ability to appreciate the wrongness of her actions. The jury, after an hour and 28 minutes of deliberation, will return tomorrow to decide whether a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity applies. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 25‑year‑old Alegranto Kongolo was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment for assault causing harm, endangerment, driving without insurance and driving without a licence. The incident occurred on 23 October 2019 at Citywest Shopping Centre, Tallaght, when Kongolo drove at a man in a car‑park, pinning him between two cars and breaking his left leg. The two men had been engaged in "verbals" after a falling out over an ex‑girlfriend and Snapchat. The victim was able to escape the initial collision but was again caught between the cars when Kongolo drove at him again. The victim sustained a broken leg and was taken to hospital. Kongolo pleaded guilty, was found to have 12 prior convictions, and was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to three years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended and a three‑year driving disqualification.
Richard O'Mara, 31, of Tallaght, Dublin, appealed his conviction to the Court of Appeal regarding two counts of rape committed in Co Clare in 2015. O'Mara had previously pleaded not guilty but was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury. He was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions, resulting in an effective custody period of 12 years. The appeal, argued by Michael Delaney SC, contended that the trial should have been halted because Gardaí failed to examine the crime scene at Ballymulcashel, Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge. Defence counsel cited a forensic report suggesting semen could have been detected on a sofa nine months after the incident, arguing this missing evidence deprived O'Mara of a realistic defence. The DPP, represented by Maurice Coffey SC, countered that the appellant had not met the necessary legal test for the absence of evidence to warrant a stay. The court, presided over by President George Birmingham, reserved its judgement. The matter was adjourned pending the decision.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the jury heard that 44‑year‑old nurse Deirdre Morley attempted to poison her three children on 23 January 2021 and then suffocated them on 24 January 2021. She used thick brown tape and plastic bags to smother the children, two of whom were killed in a play tent. Morley's husband, Andrew McGinley, discovered the bodies: two upstairs in his bedroom and one downstairs in the play tent. Two notes left by Morley warned anyone entering the house not to go into the front room or upstairs and to call 911. Prosecutors said Morley was suffering from a mental disorder and pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murders of her sons Conor (9), Darragh (7) and daughter Carla (3). The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and a jury.
Aaron Carey, aged 30, was sentenced to seven‑and‑a‑half years in prison for a series of offences committed during the Christmas period of 2019 and early 2020. The court heard that he attempted burglary at a nursing home on 23 December 2019, robbed a Spar shop and attempted robbery of a service station on 24 December 2019, and damaged a patrol car and two other cars on 7 February 2020. He also pleaded guilty to robbery of a Pizza Hut, attempted burglary of a family home, and other offences. Carey's defence cited psychiatric difficulties, including a recent diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, ADHD and other conditions, and drug addiction. The judge noted the lack of violence but the high risk of reoffending, and suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on strict conditions. No residential treatment facilities were available, so the sentence was imposed with a probationary period thereafter.
A man has been found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of disrupting the garda investigation into the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly in 2013. Ray Kennedy, aged 41, from Blanchardstown, Dublin, was convicted of destroying a mobile phone SIM card on the day of the killing at Gormanston, County Meath. The court heard Kennedy had arranged to meet Butterly that afternoon and arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting. Evidence showed Kennedy's phone had contacted a burner phone connected to the murder. Kennedy claimed he panicked when approached by gardaí and destroyed the SIM card, but the judge rejected this account as not credible and found his actions were a calculated attempt to obstruct the investigation. Four men have already received life sentences for Butterly's murder, with two others also convicted and jailed for their roles. Kennedy was granted bail pending sentencing on 21 June. The unnamed accused was acquitted.
Peter Little, 42, of Drumcairn Parade, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to criminal damage after he splattered a launderette at Alexander House with his own blood during a failed attempt to steal cash for drugs. The incident occurred overnight on 24 and 25 September 2020 at an automated laundromat. Garda Andrew Gibbons reported that a cleaner found smashed glass, damaged photo booth and payment machines, and blood throughout the area. Cleaning and repairs cost €730.52. Little, who has 24 previous convictions including ten for theft, was arrested after blood analysis linked him to the scene. He was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to one year imprisonment, with a prior concurrent three‑year sentence having a suspended final year. Wicklow District Court will consider reactivating the suspended portion on 18 May 2024.
James Fagan, 28, was jailed for assault causing harm and three counts of making threats to kill or cause serious harm after punching a security guard at Red Cow LUAS Stop on 28 July 2019. He had previously been convicted of assault causing harm and was serving a five‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence with the final 18 months suspended. Judge Melanie Greally added a consecutive two‑year term, suspended the final 12 months of that term, and imposed strict conditions including engagement with the Probation Service for 12 months upon release. Fagan, who claimed to be part of a well‑known crime group, threatened to kill the guard and others, and was described as intoxicated and having taken ecstasy and cocaine before the incident. The court heard that he had violent tendencies for a significant period and that he was a father of three children. The judge increased his time in prison by a year. James Fagan pleaded guilty.
Cian McEvoy, 26, was found with a shopping bag containing nearly €20,000 of cannabis and, after surrendering, admitted to carrying 10 deals of cocaine in his underwear, valued at just under €600. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis and cocaine for sale or supply at Avonbeg Field, Tallaght, on 14 March 2020. McEvoy had no prior convictions. Garda Edward Walsh, on mobile patrol, observed McEvoy and the bag, which he discarded as officers approached. McEvoy voluntarily disclosed the cocaine, and the Garda agreed with his counsel that he was not a main player but was carrying the drugs to pay a debt incurred by his addiction. Judge Melanie Greally accepted his remorse and the severity of his addiction, and, considering his youth and circumstances, she imposed a fully suspended three‑year sentence on strict conditions, including 12 months of Probation Service supervision. The sentence was suspended in its entirety.
A Dublin man, Keith Connorton, aged 42, appealed his murder conviction for stabbing Graham McKeever, 32, to death at his home on 18 February 2017. Connorton claimed self‑defence after McKeever allegedly punched him and attacked with a knife. The trial hinged on conflicting statements from Connorton's partner, Clare McGrath, who first blamed Connorton for the stabbing but later altered her testimony. Lawyers argued that the prosecution should not have admitted McGrath's 999 call and statements to Gardaí, citing potential fabrication after she was assaulted. The judge allowed the evidence, and the jury found Connorton guilty of murder by a 10‑to‑2 majority. The appeal focuses on the admissibility of McGrath's statements and the alleged risk of false testimony. The case remains at the appeal stage.
Anthony Wills, 63, was arrested after Gardaí found a 10‑minute video of him molesting a young boy. The footage, recorded on a camcorder seized during a search of his home in Tallaght, shows Wills naked, fondling the child and briefly performing oral sex before masturbating in front of the boy. The search also uncovered 34 images of children exposing themselves and 21 images of sexual activity, plus graphic text messages. Wills pleaded guilty to sexual assault of a male child, two counts of knowingly producing child pornography, and possession of child pornography from 2004 to 2019. He had no prior convictions. The court, acknowledging his cooperation, remorse and lack of previous offences, sentenced him to a four‑year term, suspended 18 months, with strict conditions including probation engagement for 18 months after release. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the video production and the depraved nature of the acts.
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.
Anthony McNamara, 28, of Ard Mor Drive, Tallaght, was convicted by a Circuit Court jury in 2020 of violent disorder, criminal damage and production of an article capable of inflicting serious injury for an "animalistic" attack on a family home on 9 October 2018. The assault involved a gang of men, most wearing balaclavas, who broke a wooden fence, smashed the house's exterior, and used a machete. McNamara threw a child's scooter at a female resident, who was struck on the head. He was sentenced to five years and six months, with the final six months suspended on condition of keeping the peace. McNamara appealed, arguing that a witness's testimony about a nearby house being "smashed to the ground" was inadmissible and prejudicial. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, ruling the evidence was not referable to McNamara and did not prejudice the jury.