Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced three individuals for their roles in covering up the murder of Patricia O'Connor. The court found Stephanie O'Connor (22) guilty of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Kieran Greene. She was sentenced to two years in prison, with the final six months suspended. Her mother, Louise O'Connor (41), was also found guilty of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Greene and sentenced to three years in prison, with the final six months suspended. Family friend Keith Johnston (43) of Tallaght, Dublin 24, was found guilty of the same charge and sentenced to three years in prison. The judge described the victim as a person whose life and future were ended by Kieran Greene. Earlier this week, Kieran Greene (35) was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering the retired grandmother in her Rathfarnham home on May 29, 2017. Additionally, the deceased's husband, Augustine 'Gus' O'Connor, was sentenced to 18 months for reporting his wife as a missing person when he knew she was already dead. The sentences for the three cover-up participants total seven years.
Graeme Burke, aged 34, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment after he was found storing over €1.3 million worth of cocaine in a rented storage unit. He had leased the unit in his own name and used his personal documents to secure the lease. Two encrypted mobile phones were discovered in his possession; Garda Redmond O'Leary explained that such devices are costly to run and are typically used by organised crime gangs, making the information on them inaccessible to law enforcement. Burke pleaded guilty to possession of 19 kg of cocaine, valued at €1.336 million, at a storage facility on the N2 in Ashbourne. He had three prior convictions, including a four‑year suspended sentence for robbery in 2005. The judge noted that Burke's role involved storing, transporting and distributing the drugs and that he had been equipped with the encrypted phones. He was jailed for eight years.
Dermot Whelan, 67, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of child pornography on two computer devices at his Tallaght address on 21 July 2014, and to knowingly distributing child pornography at the same address on an unknown date between 20 October 2012 and 21 July 2014. He had no prior convictions. The case began when an undercover FBI agent, monitoring internet chat rooms suspected of hosting child‑pornography users, placed an advertisement that attracted a response from an email address that sent 25 child‑pornographic images. The FBI agent notified Yahoo, which identified the address as Irish. Gardaí obtained a search warrant, seized a laptop and a desktop, and found three explicit child‑pornographic videos, 53 explicit images, 182 child‑exposure images on the laptop, and further images on the desktop.
In a Central Criminal Court sentencing hearing on 22 June 2020, Kieran Greene was given a mandatory life sentence for the murder of 61‑year‑old Patricia O'Connor, who was bludgeoned to death with a hurley in her Rathfarnham home on 29 May 2017. The sentence was back‑dated to the date of her death. Four other defendants – Louise O'Connor (41), Stephanie O'Connor (22), Keith Johnston (43) and Augustine 'Gus' O'Connor (76) – were remanded on continuing bail pending their own sentencing. The court heard victim impact statements from Patricia's son Richard and sister Collette Barry, who expressed disbelief at the brutality of the murder and the alleged cover‑up by family members. The hearing also included evidence that Patricia's body was dismembered into 15 parts found at nine sites across the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. Louise O'Connor pleaded guilty and was found guilty. Gus' O'Connor pleaded guilty. Kieran Greene pleaded not guilty and was found guilty.
The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed the entirely suspended sentence given to Eddie Farnan for a 'terrifying attack' on his partner, Lisa Power, which left her unable to lift her child and suffering whiplash. Farnan, 37, had pleaded guilty to assault and domestic violence on June 2, 2017, and was sentenced by Judge Karen O'Connor to two years and nine months, suspended in full under conditions. The DPP argued that the full suspension was unduly lenient, citing the severity of the assault, the presence of a child, the domestic setting, Farnan's continued violence and resistance to arrest, and changes in societal attitudes to domestic violence. The appeal was heard by the Court of Appeal, with Justice George Birmingham, Justice Patrick McCarthy and Justice Úna Ni Raifeartaigh reserving judgment. The case highlights the DPP's stance that a fully suspended sentence is insufficient for such domestic violence.
John Carlos, 32, of Tallaght, Dublin, was sentenced at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for money laundering. The defendant pleaded guilty to the possession of €17,000, identified as the proceeds of criminal conduct, which was deposited into his Ulster Bank account on October 6, 2017. Prosecution evidence indicated the funds resulted from a fraudulent email sent to an English company, directing a payment for bulbs to Carlos's account. Carlos admitted the account was his and stated he did not know the source of the money, claiming he found it while checking for wages. He withdrew €4,900 to pay college fees and transferred €12,000 to a savings account before contacting the bank to alert them to the transaction. The bank subsequently froze the remaining €11,200. Carlos has no previous convictions and cooperated with gardai. Judge Martin Nolan considered the defendant's guilty plea, his cooperation, and the fact that he has not re-offended in the three years since the incident. The judge noted Carlos was working and contributing to the country. Judge Nolan imposed a two-year suspended sentence, stating: "You are getting your first and last chance."
A trial date has been set for the Special Criminal Court to hear the murder case of gangland figure Eamon Kelly, who was shot on 4 December 2012 at Furry Park Road, Killester. The accused are Kenneth Donohoe, 43, of Hazelgrove Estate, Tallaght, and Darren Murphy, 49, of Rory O'Connor House, Dublin 1. Both men face charges of murder and a connected firearms offence for unlawful possession of a Glock pistol with intent to endanger life. Mr Justice Tony Hunt fixed the trial for 10 June 2021, with an expected duration of six weeks.
Thomas Stokes, aged 30, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for a high‑speed pursuit that left Garda Thomas Bialkowski seriously injured. Stokes pleaded guilty to two counts of endangerment, one count of assaulting Garda Bialkowski, one count of dangerous driving, and a separate count of criminal damage. The judge imposed four‑and‑a‑half years for endangerment and two‑and‑a‑half years for criminal damage, to run consecutively, giving an effective term of seven years. The final two years were suspended on strict conditions. The pursuit began when Gardaí approached Stokes' car at Dublin Port; after a brief attempt to stop him, Stokes fled, driving at up to 180 km/h, swerving across lanes, and eventually crashing into a wall on Cookstown Way, Tallaght. The crash caused the Garda's firearm butt to strike him, injuring his teeth, eye, arm and shoulder.
In a Dublin court hearing, Thomas Stokes, aged 30 and with 171 prior convictions, was charged after a high‑speed chase that ended with a Garda car crashing into a wall. Stokes, who drove at speeds up to 180 km/h and swerved aggressively, was attempting to flee from Gardaí who had approached his vehicle at Dublin Port. The pursuit resumed on the M50, where Stokes braked hard and crashed, causing the Garda car to swerve into a wall. The impact forced the Garda's firearm butt into his face, resulting in severe eye and facial injuries, soft‑tissue damage to his arm and shoulder, and damage to his teeth. Stokes was arrested nearby and has remained in custody, except for a brief compassionate bail in March. He pleaded guilty to two counts of endangerment, one count of assaulting a Garda, one count of dangerous driving, and one count of criminal damage. He will be sentenced on Wednesday.
A man convicted of stabbing a friend seventeen times with scissors in Letterkenny has failed in his appeal against an eight-and-a-half year prison sentence. Kenneth Broe was found guilty of assault causing serious harm following an incident on October 9, 2008, in which the victim sustained multiple wounds to the neck, head, and chest and required two life-saving operations. The Court of Appeal dismissed Broe's challenge to the sentencing decision, upholding the original ten-year term with eighteen months suspended imposed by the Circuit Court in May 2018. The court found the sentencing judge had properly exercised discretion in opting for part-suspension rather than outright reduction, citing rehabilitation efforts as justification. Broe had fled to County Monaghan following the attack and was apprehended with cocaine in his possession. The three-judge panel noted his continued progress in custody and encouraged further reformation.
Denise Bergin, aged 50, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment after pleading guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of drugs for sale or supply, firearms and ammunition. On 18 July 2019 Gardaí seized two semi‑automatic pistols and ammunition hidden in a dog‑food box under her kitchen sink, 37 packages of cannabis, six small bags of cocaine and about 40,000 prescription tablets, totalling €758,000 in value. Bergin claimed she had been asked to hold the items for €400 to pay a drug debt and to visit her sick mother in the UK. She was described as a vulnerable person with a diagnosed emotionally unstable personality disorder, and her mother died two weeks after her arrest. The court noted the exploitation of her vulnerability and imposed the five‑year sentence with mitigation considered.
A 19‑year‑old teenage burglar, Martin Connors of Cloonmore Park, Tallaght, was arrested again after Gardaí noticed a damp patch on the back of his trousers, indicating he had climbed over a wet wall at a house he had just broken into. Connors had previously pleaded guilty to burglary and possession of a chisel on 11 January 2019, and was already serving a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for a separate burglary and robbery in August 2018. Judge Martin Nolan, hearing the case in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, ordered Connors to serve an additional six months after his current sentence ends. The burglary in question involved an empty house, and no items were taken. Connors' defence lawyer, Sarah Jane O'Callaghan, highlighted his difficult upbringing, drug addiction, and the impact of his parents' prison sentences on his life. The owner of the home declined to give a victim impact statement. The other two burglars involved were not identified.
A man has brought an appeal against his eight-and-a-half year sentence for stabbing his friend seventeen times with scissors in Letterkenny, County Donegal, in October 2008. Kenneth Broe was convicted by jury of assault causing serious harm following an incident in the early hours of the morning on Main Street. The victim sustained multiple wounds to the neck, head and chest, requiring two life-saving operations and two weeks in intensive care. At the Court of Appeal hearing on 8 May 2020, Broe's counsel argued that the sentencing judge had erred by suspending eighteen months of the sentence rather than reducing the overall term, given mitigating factors and rehabilitation efforts made during the significant delay between offence and trial. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel contended that mitigating circumstances and rehabilitation were appropriately addressed through the suspended portion, whilst maintaining public protection. The Court of Appeal reserved judgment.
James Fagan, 27, of Cushlawn Park, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to a robbery at Merchants Quay on 14 July 2017. He was one of three men on the steps of a Franciscan church when a victim passed by with his partner. Fagan struck the victim first with a pen, then with a beer can that hit the victim's head, and later struck him in the face while the victim was held. The victim suffered a hairline fracture to the nose and bruising to the eye socket. The court noted Fagan's history of drug‑related convictions and his addiction's influence on his behaviour. Judge Melanie Greally considered his guilty plea, family circumstances, mental health issues and a remorseful letter. She sentenced him to five‑and‑a‑half years, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions, including 12 months of probation after release.
A construction worker from Sligo has been sentenced to three years' imprisonment for his involvement in a tax fraud scheme at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Martin Stokes, aged 35, pleaded guilty in April 2016 to charges under the Theft and Fraud Offences Act, including forgery and deception, relating to offences committed in 2006, 2008 and 2011. He was one of five people who registered as contractors while falsely undertaking to remit tax payments on behalf of sub-contractors. Revenue issued approximately €107,000 in tax refunds and credits to bank accounts controlled by another individual, which were subsequently withdrawn via ATMs. Stokes failed to appear for sentencing in June 2016 and was arrested abroad before being returned to Ireland. Judge Martin Nolan described the scheme as relatively sophisticated and noted it exploited weaknesses in the contractor tax system. Stokes, who has previous convictions for dangerous driving, deception and counterfeiting, was credited with character references and community contributions, resulting in a reduction from an indicative sentence of five years.
William Nolan, 30, was sentenced to eight‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment for a spree of offences in Tallaght. He pleaded guilty to burglary, criminal damage and endangerment at several sites, including a petrol station, a supermarket, a residential home and a shop. The most serious offence was the crash of a stolen van into the front of a Maxol petrol station, which caused €68,000 in damage and endangered two Gardaí. Nolan also stole a van, a vape machine and other items, and had 127 previous convictions. He was on bail for an earlier burglary when the later offences occurred. The judge described the offences as a "tsunami of criminality" and imposed a sentence of eight years, with the final six months suspended on strict conditions. The one‑year sentence for the March burglary runs consecutively to the eight‑year term.
A 19‑year‑old Dubliner was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for stabbing his uncle in the chest with a kitchen knife on 27 August 2018. The teenager, who had threatened the uncle earlier that day, stabbed him once in the chest, causing a collapsed lung and serious injury. He had followed the uncle after the attack and attempted to finish him off, and had also beaten the victim with his crutch. The court noted the defendant's history of carrying knives, drug addiction, alcohol use, ADHD, dyslexia and being on the autism spectrum. He pleaded guilty in January 2020 and had a prior conviction for assault. The judge reduced the headline sentence from six to four years, citing the early guilty plea and remorse, and imposed a suspended year on conditions of abstaining from drugs, attending education and addressing anger management. The victim fully recovered and forgave the nephew.
A Facebook analyst, Abed Benchenna, aged 25, was sentenced to two years in prison without any suspended portion after failing to return from France for several months. He was found in possession of €7,500 worth of cannabis and had previously been convicted six times, including for obstructing a drug search. Benchenna had been given two opportunities by the court, including a chance to plead guilty early and provide negative urine samples, but he did not engage with probation services or notify authorities of his return from France. He claimed injuries from insect bites and a dislocated shoulder prevented his return, but the judge deemed these excuses insufficient. The court noted his failure to cooperate wasted the court's time and the probation service's resources, and he is now in custody following the bench warrant.
Mark Taylor, aged 30, was driving a stolen VW Golf at a fuel pump in Newcastle, Co. Dublin, on 22 February 2019 when Gardaí noticed he had not paid for fuel and was driving at high speed. He overtook two vehicles dangerously, then drove off without Gardaí being able to keep up. The next day he was again seen in the same car and, after a high‑speed chase, he reversed at speed, smashed into another car, mounted a traffic island, crossed the road, drove the wrong way down the carriageway, broke a red light, mounted a footpath and drove away at speed, losing Gardaí in pursuit. Later that day Gardaí in Naas were alerted to a VW Golf driving dangerously on the N7; the car pulled into a service station on the M7 where an armed unit arrived and approached Taylor. He became aggressive and abusive and was arrested. Mark Taylor pleaded guilty.
Kieran Greene, 35, who was found guilty of murdering Patricia O'Connor in Rathfarnham in May 2017, has had his sentencing adjourned until June 22 due to Covid-19 restrictions. Mr Justice Paul McDermott stated that the court could not proceed with the mandatory life imprisonment sentence at this time. Greene, who pleaded not guilty, was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of inflicting catastrophic injuries on the retired hospital worker. His sentence hearing was originally scheduled for today but was postponed as part of reduced court sittings. Four other defendants—Louise O'Connor, Stephanie O'Connor, Keith Johnston, and Augustine 'Gus' O'Connor—were also excused from attending their sentence hearings today. Louise O'Connor and Stephanie O'Connor were found guilty of impeding the apprehension of Greene, with Louise specifically found guilty of acquiescing in Stephanie disguising herself as the deceased to conceal her death. Johnston was found guilty of assisting Greene in purchasing implements to conceal the remains. Augustine 'Gus' O'Connor, the deceased's husband, pleaded guilty to reporting his wife as missing while knowing she was dead. All four were previously remanded on continuing bail. The court indicated that parties may not need to appear in person if restrictions remain in place on June 22.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, an 18‑year‑old Dubliner pleaded guilty to intentionally causing serious harm to his uncle after a dispute over heroin. The nephew stabbed the uncle once in the chest with a kitchen knife on 27 August 2018 in Tallaght. The uncle survived, made a full recovery, forgave the nephew and declined to give a victim impact statement. During treatment for the stabbing, doctors discovered a tumour in the uncle's chest that required medical attention. The court noted the nephew's prior convictions for assault and knife possession, his troubled upbringing, and his expressed remorse. The judge was instructed to consider the nephew's age, remorse, and the uncle's recovery when determining the sentence, which was to be delivered on 27 April. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
Two men, Nathan Benson (22) and Harry Walsh (19), were sentenced to four years each in prison for a violent robbery that took place on Wellington Quay on 22 October 2017. The robbery involved the victim's Rolex watch, valued at €7,500, which the men seized after spotting the watch in a Dublin nightclub. During the assault, the victim was kicked, punched and left with physical injuries and lasting psychological impact. Judge Melanie Greally described the robbery as "extremely violent and vicious" and noted the defendants' histories of violent offending and drug addiction. Benson's case was influenced by his upbringing and mental health struggles, while Walsh's record included numerous prior convictions for extreme violence. Both men pleaded guilty and were given sentences with the final 12 months suspended. The court also considered their behaviour in custody and potential for rehabilitation. The sentencing highlighted the seriousness of the offence and the defendants' personal circumstances.
In a 31‑page Court of Appeal judgement, Mr Justice Aileen Donnelly dismissed Tezaur Bita's challenge to the constitutionality of the offence of urinating in public under section 5 of the Summary Jurisdiction (Ireland) Amendment Act 1871. Bita, who was arrested after relieving himself on Old Nangor Road at 3.45 am on 27 August 2015, had argued that the 1871 offence was too vague and uncertain, and that he could not have known his conduct fell within the section. The court rejected his arguments, finding them irrelevant, and noted that the offence was not applied to him simply for urinating but for the circumstances in which it occurred, which the respondents contended were indecent. Bita's comparison of urinating to breastfeeding in public was described as an "extraordinary comparison" and was not considered relevant to the appeal. The court also rejected his claim that the section was arbitrary or conferred excessive power on Gardaí.
Lisa Comerford, 46, and her partner robbed a homeless man on a Dublin city street. Comerford approached the man, demanded €5, and when he refused, she grabbed his feet and forced him to the ground. The victim, who was homeless, later reported that he was kicked, punched, and had his throat squeezed by Comerford. She then searched his pockets and took his rucksack, which contained his phone and clothes. A nearby security guard intervened and called the Gardaí. Both Comerford and her accomplice were present when the police arrived. Comerford was arrested, and the victim's belongings were returned. She pleaded guilty to robbery at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for an incident on Winetavern Street on 16 March 2019. She has 80 prior convictions, including theft and robbery. The judge adjourned her case to 11 June, revoked her bail, and remanded her in custody, ordering a probation report. The case remains pending.
Samantha Irwin, 36, was convicted of robbing a shop in Dublin on 20 September 2018, stealing €55 from a shop assistant while armed with a syringe. A bloodstained note found in her pocket, containing numbers for out‑of‑hours homeless accommodation, was identified by CCTV and matched to her DNA. She pleaded guilty to robbery and to possession of two shotgun cartridges found in her accommodation in April 2019. The court, hearing that she had no history of violence and was in a severe addiction episode, imposed a headline sentence of seven and a half years but reduced it to five and a half years with the final 18 months suspended. Conditions include residential drug treatment. She also received a nine‑month term for the cartridge offence, to run concurrently with the robbery sentence. The judge noted her remorse, drug‑free status, and steps taken in rehabilitation.
Peter Maguire, 41, a father of four from Tallaght, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to cultivating cannabis at his home on 2 October 2017. He had set up a grow house in the attic to produce cannabis oil for pain relief from Barrett's disease, a chronic heartburn condition that can increase cancer risk. Maguire, a former heroin addict who had become reliant on painkillers, said he chose cannabis oil to avoid relapse. He admitted to learning how to grow and extract the oil online and provided Garda Robert Whitty with detailed information about the process. Judge Melanie Greally noted his full admissions, his past efforts to reduce re‑offending risk, and the positive steps he had taken. She suspended a two‑year jail term on strict conditions, deciding it was not in the community's interest to return him to custody.
A Dublin man, Anthony McNamara, aged 27, received a five‑and‑a‑half‑year prison sentence for taking part in an "animalistic" attack on a family home in Ardmore Park, Tallaght, on 9 October 2018. The gang, about ten men, most wearing balaclavas and hoods, broke a wooden fence and smashed the house's front window, with McNamara armed with a machete. He also threw a child's scooter at a female resident, who was struck on the head and later could not open her mouth for eight months. The court found McNamara guilty of violent disorder, possession of a machete during a dispute and criminal damage. Judge Pauline Codd noted the violence continued after the homeowners retreated, and she suspended the final six months of the sentence on the condition he keep the peace. The sentence runs concurrently with a three‑year term imposed in December 2018 for a separate assault, both back‑dated to October 2018.
Keith Johnston, 43, was found guilty of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Kieran Greene, knowing or believing Greene had murdered Patricia O'Connor on May 29, 2017. The jury accepted that Johnston, a handyman and ex-partner of the victim's daughter Louise O'Connor, assisted Greene in purchasing DIY tools intended for the dismemberment of Mrs O'Connor's remains. Louise O'Connor, 41, and Stephanie O'Connor, 22, were also found guilty of impeding justice. Augustine 'Gus' O'Connor, the victim's husband, pleaded guilty to reporting his wife as missing while knowing she was dead. Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded Johnston on continuing bail until April 20, when he will be sentenced alongside the other convicted defendants. Greene, who was found guilty of murder, will receive a mandatory life sentence on that date. The court noted that Greene had altered his account of the killing, initially claiming self-defense and later alleging Gus O'Connor was responsible. The matter was adjourned for sentencing on April 20.
A jury of six men and five women returned to the Central Criminal Court to continue deliberating the verdict in the trial of Keith Johnston, a 43‑year‑old accused of impeding the investigation into the death of his former partner's mother, Patricia O'Connor, who was 61 when she died on 29 May 2017. The forewoman confirmed to the registrar at 4 pm that no further verdict had been reached on the count against Johnston. The jury had spent 11 hours and 17 minutes on the case before retiring for the evening and was instructed by Mr Justice Paul McDermott to return tomorrow at 10.30 am, with no regard to newspaper articles. The trial had also seen Louise O'Connor, aged 41, found guilty of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Kieran Greene, 35, who was found guilty of murdering Patricia O'Connor and inflicting catastrophic injuries. Keith Johnston pleaded not guilty.
A Central Criminal Court jury convicted Louise O'Connor, 41, of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Kieran Greene, 35, for the murder of her mother Patricia O'Connor, 61, on 29 May 2017. The State alleged that Louise agreed to a ruse in which her daughter Stephanie, 22, disguised herself as her grandmother to create CCTV footage showing the grandmother leaving the house at 9.34 pm, thereby concealing the murder. The jury found Louise an integral part of the charade, having supported Stephanie's actions and given misleading statements to Gardaí. Stephanie was also found guilty of dressing as her grandmother and pretending to leave the house. The trial lasted seven weeks; the jury deliberated 10 hours and 25 minutes before reaching a unanimous verdict in Louise's case. No verdict was reached on the remaining count against Louise's ex‑boyfriend Keith Johnston, 43. The trial concluded with the jury suspended for lunch and scheduled to resume later. Louise O'Connor pleaded not guilty. Keith Johnston pleaded not guilty.
At the Central Criminal Court, a jury convicted Stephanie O'Connor of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Kieran Greene, who was found guilty of murdering Patricia O'Connor on May 29, 2017. The jury accepted the State's case that O'Connor disguised herself as her grandmother to conceal the death, creating a false CCTV record that Mrs O'Connor had left the house. The jury took eight hours and 36 minutes to reach this unanimous verdict. However, they did not reach verdicts on the remaining counts against Louise O'Connor and Keith Johnston. Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned the matter, directing the jury to resume deliberations on these two counts tomorrow morning at 10.30am. Louise O'Connor, who pleaded not guilty to agreeing to or acquiescing in the disguise, and Keith Johnston, who pleaded not guilty to assisting Greene in purchasing implements for concealment, remain awaiting verdicts. The trial heard that Greene changed his account of the killing, initially claiming self-defense before alleging that Johnston and others were involved. The court has not yet finalized the proceedings for the remaining accused.
Kieran Greene, 35, was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of murdering Patricia O'Connor, 61, at her Rathfarnham home on May 29, 2017. The jury unanimously rejected Greene's self-defence claim, accepting the prosecution's case that he inflicted catastrophic blunt force trauma to her head with a hurley. Greene had pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The trial also involved three co-accused: Louise O'Connor, 41; Stephanie O'Connor, 22; and Keith Johnston, 43. All three pleaded not guilty to charges of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Greene, knowing or believing he had committed an arrestable offence. Specifically, Louise O'Connor was charged with acquiescing in her daughter Stephanie disguising herself as the deceased to conceal her death, while Stephanie was charged with the act of disguising herself. Johnston was charged with assisting Greene in purchasing implements for concealing the remains. The jury was directed to continue deliberations on these three defendants, meaning the matter regarding them was adjourned and not concluded. Augustine 'Gus' O'Connor, the deceased's husband, had previously pleaded guilty to reporting his wife as missing while knowing she was dead. The court will resume at 10.30am to hear verdicts on the remaining accused.
The jury in the trial of a 35‑year‑old man accused of murdering a 61‑year‑old grandmother has requested an easel and flip‑chart to aid their deliberations. The defendant, Kieran Greene, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Patricia O'Connor at her home in Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, on 29 May 2017. The body was dismembered into 15 parts found at nine sites across the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. The trial also involves three co‑accused – Louise O'Connor (41), Stephanie O'Connor (22) and Keith Johnston (43) – charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Greene, knowing or believing he committed an arrestable offence. The jury can return up to four verdicts: for Greene on murder, for Greene on manslaughter, and for each co‑accused on the impeding charge. The judge has instructed the jury to consider Greene first, then the co‑accused, and to record any verdicts in the box on the issue paper.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Kieran Greene, 35, accused of murdering 61‑year‑old Patricia O'Connor, is set to begin jury deliberations on Monday. Greene has pleaded not guilty. The case involves the dismemberment of Mrs O'Connor's body into 15 parts found across nine sites in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. Evidence includes blunt‑force trauma to the head and the discovery of tools such as hacksaws and a hatchet. Greene's defence has highlighted inconsistencies in his statements to Gardaí, citing a change in his account from June to December 2017 and alleged Garda follow‑up failures. The prosecution presents circumstantial evidence linking Greene to the murder. Three other defendants—Louise O'Connor, Stephanie O'Connor and Keith Johnston—are charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Greene, each pleading not guilty. The jury will consider separate verdicts for the murder charge and the ancillary offences. The judge will finish charging the jury on Monday.
During a robbery at Real Brazil on 20 September 2018, 36‑year‑old Samantha Irwin, armed with a syringe, stole €55 from a shop assistant. A bloodstained post‑it note fell from her pocket while she was being recorded on CCTV; the note listed out‑of‑hours homeless accommodation services. Detective Garda Michelle Fitzpatrick identified the note and matched DNA from the blood on it to Irwin. The shop assistant, who managed to pull her arm free, later stated she now works only day shifts and feels anxious about being alone in the shop. Irwin pleaded guilty to robbery and to possession of two shotgun cartridges found in her accommodation in April 2019. She has 19 prior convictions, mainly for traffic offences, and has sought help for drug addiction. The court adjourned sentencing to 5 March 2020 for a full plea in mitigation.
In a 2020 trial, Judge Paul McDermott instructed the jury that self‑defence could be considered in the murder case of Kieran Greene, 35, accused of killing 61‑year‑old Patricia O'Connor, whose dismembered body was found across the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. Greene pleaded not guilty. The jury was told to focus on facts, not emotions, and to treat each accused's statements separately. The judge explained that Greene's defence hinged on whether he used only necessary force after being attacked with a hurley, which could reduce a murder charge to manslaughter. He also clarified that the separate offence of impeding the investigation, charged against Louise O'Connor, Stephanie O'Connor and Keith Johnston, had its own possible verdicts. The judge emphasized that the jury must decide on each charge independently, based on the evidence presented.
The State's case against Keith Johnston, accused of assisting Kieran Greene in the purchase of items used in the concealment of the remains of Patricia O'Connor, has been described by defence counsel as 'clutching at straws' with no evidence of 'concealment, lies or secrecy'. The trial has heard that the body of Mrs O'Connor was dismembered into 15 parts found at nine different locations in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains between June 10 and 14, 2017. Keith Johnston has pleaded not guilty to assisting Kieran Greene in the purchase of various implements on June 9, 2017, which were to be used in the concealment of the remains of Mrs O'Connor. Louise O'Connor and Stephanie O'Connor have both pleaded not guilty to charges of disguising themselves as Mrs O'Connor and agreeing to or acquiescing in the disguise to conceal the fact that Patricia O'Connor was dead. Keith Johnston has been acquitted on some charges. The trial is ongoing with the jury to be charged by Mr Justice Paul McDermott tomorrow.
Aidan Keane, aged 22, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for robbing a student, Kieran Flynn, at a McDonald's in Grafton Street on 3 April 2019. Flynn, a 20‑year‑old student, had entered a basement cubicle when a man began banging on the door and shouting "Gardaí open up." Keane seized Flynn's mobile phone while the victim was in a chokehold and fled. He was later found with the phone by Garda Ruth Finnegan, who told him he had taken it from the ground after it fell out of Flynn's pocket during the robbery. Keane has 27 prior convictions, including a 7‑year sentence in 2015 with 3½ years suspended, which was partially reactivated after later offences. The judge noted Keane's efforts to stay drug‑free and his 14‑month‑old son, and imposed the 18‑month suspended term on strict conditions. Aidan Keane pleaded guilty.
In the trial of Stephanie O'Connor, a 22‑year‑old accused of disguising herself as her grandmother to conceal the latter's death, the defence argued that no direct evidence proved she was absent from the house on the night of May 29 2017. The prosecution claimed a lack of a "smoking gun" and alleged that the CCTV footage was incomplete, suggesting that the defendant's actions were a ruse. The case also involved Louise O'Connor, 41, and Keith Johnston, 43, charged with impeding the apprehension of the alleged murderer, Kieran Greene, 35. Evidence presented included dismemberment of the body into 15 parts found across a 30 km range, blunt‑force trauma to the head, and conflicting statements from Greene. The defence highlighted the absence of hard evidence and the possibility of false testimony, urging the jury to acquit the accused. The trial concluded with the defence's closing remarks, and the prosecution's case was deemed speculative. Kieran Greene pleaded not guilty. Louise O'Connor pleaded not guilty. Stephanie O'Connor pleaded not guilty. Keith Johnston pleaded not guilty.
Businessman Jim Mansfield Jnr was refused permission to vary his bail to travel to Spain for his mother's 75th birthday. Mr Justice Paul Coffey at the Special Criminal Court denied the application, noting that the celebration could have been held within the jurisdiction and criticizing the timing of the booking changes after Mansfield had surrendered his passport. Mansfield, of Saggart, Co Dublin, is charged with conspiring to falsely imprison Martin Byrne between January 1 and June 30, 2015, and attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing Patrick Byrne to destroy CCTV footage. His trial is scheduled for April 20. The court noted that Dessie O'Hare and Declan Duffy, who are alleged to have conspired with Mansfield, have already pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and assault charges related to the same incident. O'Hare was sentenced to ten years in prison, with three years suspended, for falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne and assaulting John Roche in Saggart on June 9, 2015. Duffy was jailed for six years after pleading guilty to falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne and assaulting John Roche at The Towers, Garter Lane, Saggart, on the same date. The judge emphasized the seriousness of the offences and the proximity of the trial date in refusing the bail variation.
The trial of Kieran Greene, Louise O'Connor, Stephanie O'Connor, and Keith Johnston is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Greene, 35, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Patricia O'Connor at her home in Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, on May 29, 2017. The other three accused have pleaded not guilty to charges of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Greene, specifically involving concealing the deceased's body. Louise O'Connor is accused of acquiescing in her daughter Stephanie disguising herself as the victim; Stephanie is accused of that disguise; and Keith Johnston is accused of assisting Greene in purchasing implements to conceal remains. Defence counsel Conor Devally SC argued in his closing statement that Greene, who has a developmental difficulty, was portrayed inconsistently as both a "moron" and a "Machiavelli" mastermind. He contended that Greene's initial June confession was coerced to protect his children and that his later December account, which implicated the deceased's husband Augustine 'Gus' O'Connor, contained the truth. Devally urged the jury to acquit Greene, noting that Gus O'Connor had previously pleaded guilty to falsely reporting his wife missing. The trial has heard evidence that the victim's body was dismembered and found across Dublin and Wicklow. Stephanie O'Connor's defence counsel is scheduled to deliver his closing speech tomorrow.
The Central Criminal Court heard the prosecution's closing submissions in the trial of Kieran Greene, 35, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of Patricia O'Connor, 61, at her home in Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, on May 29, 2017. Three co-accused, Louise O'Connor, 41, Stephanie O'Connor, 22, and Keith Johnston, 43, all pleaded not guilty to charges of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Greene. The prosecution alleged that Stephanie O'Connor disguised herself as her grandmother to create a false CCTV record that Mrs O'Connor was alive, while Louise O'Connor acquiesced in this ruse. Additionally, the State contended that Keith Johnston assisted Greene in purchasing DIY tools, including hacksaws and axes, on June 9, 2017, which were allegedly used to dismember the body. Evidence presented indicated that Mrs O'Connor's body was found in 15 separate parts across Dublin and Wicklow between June 10 and 14, 2017, with the cause of death determined to be blunt force trauma to the head. The prosecution invited the jury to return guilty verdicts for all four defendants. The matter remains at the trial stage, with defence counsel scheduled to deliver closing arguments. No findings, sentences, or finalisations have been recorded.
A trial in the Central Criminal Court is ongoing regarding the murder of Patricia O'Connor (61) at her home in Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 on May 29, 2017. Kieran Greene (35), the accused, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mrs O'Connor and has changed his account of the events six months later. The prosecution has stated that there was no evidence of a single defensive wound on Mrs O'Connor's body and that Greene bore an 'ill-will' and 'a particular animus or bad feeling' against her. The trial has heard that Mrs O'Connor's dismembered remains were found scattered in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. Louise O'Connor (41), Stephanie O'Connor (22), and Keith Johnston (43) have also pleaded not guilty to charges related to impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Kieran Greene. The prosecution has presented evidence, including forensic findings and receipts from DIY shops, to support their case. The trial is in the closing stages, with the prosecution's case being presented by Ms Lacey, who has emphasized the lack of defensive injuries and the coherent narrative of the accused's actions. The trial is expected to continue with Ms Lacey's closing speech to the jury tomorrow.
James Gallagher, aged 33, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm and recklessly discharging a firearm at Cullen's Yard, Greenhill Road, Walkinstown on 4 August 2018. He fired a single‑barrel shotgun at a man, John O'Connor, who was buying car parts at the scrapyard. O'Connor was not the intended target; he was struck by multiple pellet wounds, knocked to the ground, and later taken to Tallaght Hospital. Another man received minor injuries but did not require hospital treatment. The shotgun was never recovered. CCTV identified Gallagher, and a discarded tracksuit bottom linked to him was found. Gallagher has 42 prior convictions, including theft, criminal damage, drug possession for sale, and traffic offences. He has two children. The judge imposed a five‑year concurrent sentence, effective from 4 December 2018, after noting his efforts to overcome drug addiction.
Stephen Byrne, 46, of Tallaght, was jailed for 18 months after pleading guilty to burglary at Pandora Jewellers on 3 March 2019. Garda James O'Donnell reported that a staff member saw Byrne stooped over a safe in the back office, claiming he was looking for tissues. Byrne denied this and said he had taken tablets and blacked out. No items were taken. Byrne has 108 prior convictions, including 53 burglaries, 16 thefts and two robberies. He has a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia and a long history of drug addiction. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending the final year on strict conditions, including compliance with his probation officer and mental health team. The sentence aimed to break his cycle of offending.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Kieran Greene, Louise O'Connor, Stephanie O'Connor, and Keith Johnston is ongoing. Greene, 35, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Patricia O'Connor, 61, at her home in Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, on May 29, 2017. The other three accused have pleaded not guilty to charges of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of an offender. The jury was told that Augustine 'Gus' O'Connor, 75, originally part of the trial, pleaded guilty on the first hearing date to reporting his wife missing on June 1, 2017, while knowing she was dead. Evidence presented includes Detective Inspector Brian O'Keeffe's testimony regarding Greene's initial statements and subsequent retraction, where Greene alleged he was set up. The prosecution closed its case, and defence counsel made applications in the jury's absence. The court heard that Mrs O'Connor's remains were found dismembered in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned the proceedings, instructing the jury to return the following morning at 12pm.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Kieran Greene, Louise O'Connor, Stephanie O'Connor, and Keith Johnston continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott. All four accused have pleaded not guilty to charges relating to the alleged murder of Patricia O'Connor (61) at her Rathfarnham home on May 29, 2017. Greene is charged with murdering Mrs O'Connor, while the other three face charges of impeding apprehension, including disguising the deceased and assisting in the purchase of implements to conceal remains. Evidence presented includes testimony from Dr Michael Curtis, who stated blunt force trauma to the head caused death, and Garda Roisin Rowley Burke, who detailed CCTV footage showing Mrs O'Connor's last appearance at 3.08pm on the day of the alleged murder. Irish Prison Service manager Walter Burke confirmed that Louise O'Connor visited Greene at Cloverhill Prison on June 17, 2017, where she was recorded as his girlfriend. Keith Johnston visited on September 2, 2017, and both visited together on October 14 and November 16, 2017. The court also heard that Greene initially told gardai he dismembered the body alone, but later claimed he was set up. The trial is ongoing and has not been finalised.
David Murphy, 29, of Belfry Green, Tallaght, was sentenced to nine months in jail after pleading guilty to assault causing harm at Slade Road, Saggart, on 21 March 2015. The incident involved Murphy breaking a beer bottle over a taxi driver's head and threatening the driver with a knife. Murphy had previously been convicted 41 times, including assault, violent disorder and criminal damage. He failed to attend a victim awareness course and is considered a medium risk of re‑offending. The judge, Pauline Codd, imposed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending the final two years and nine months, leaving Murphy with a nine‑month custodial term. The assault left the taxi driver cautious and caused him to lose about €800 in earnings. The court noted Murphy's plea of guilty and his personal circumstances, including a history of homelessness, sobriety, drug‑free status and employment.
The trial of Kieran Greene, 34, and three co-accused continued at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Paul McDermott. Greene, who pleaded not guilty to murdering Patricia O'Connor, 61, at her home in Rathfarnham on May 29, 2017, is alleged to have dismembered her body, with remains found across Dublin and Wicklow. Louise O'Connor, 41, Stephanie O'Connor, 22, and Keith Johnston, 43, all pleaded not guilty to charges including impeding the apprehension of Greene, disguising themselves as the deceased, or assisting in the concealment of evidence. Evidence presented included CCTV footage of Greene dropping his children at school on May 30, where a witness described him as a "lovely parent" who showed no unusual behavior. The prosecution alleged Stephanie O'Connor disguised herself as her grandmother to create a ruse that Mrs O'Connor had left the house. Defense counsel highlighted that Greene initially confessed to the killing but later claimed he was set up. The court also heard testimony regarding items found in the residence, including a black suitcase. The trial was adjourned to Monday afternoon.
The trial of Kieran Greene, Louise O'Connor, Stephanie O'Connor, and Keith Johnston continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court. Greene, 34, has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Patricia O'Connor, 61, at her home in Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, on May 29, 2017. The other three accused have also pleaded not guilty to charges including impeding the apprehension of Greene, disguising the deceased to conceal her death, and assisting in the purchase of items to conceal her remains. The jury has examined CCTV footage showing Greene and Johnston purchasing DIY items in Tallaght on June 9, 2017, and Johnston redecorating the bathroom at the scene. Evidence presented includes testimony that the deceased's remains were dismembered and scattered across nine locations in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. The prosecution alleges Johnston assisted Greene in destroying evidence, while defense counsel highlighted inconsistencies in Greene's changing accounts to gardai. The matter is ongoing, with the trial continuing before a jury of six men and six women.