In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former Tanaiste Joan Burton recounted a frightening encounter with anti‑water‑charge protesters on 15 November 2014 in Tallaght. She said she and her adviser, Karen O'Connell, were moved from a garda car to a waiting jeep amid a hostile crowd that shouted abuse and threw eggs. Burton described being struck twice in the back of the neck—first by a ball‑like object and later by a water bomb that drenched her hair and jacket. She recalled the crowd's violent surge, the loss of her shoe, and the fear of nearby children. The incident led to charges of false imprisonment against Paul Murphy, Kieran Mahon, Michael Murphy and four others, all of whom denied the allegations. The trial, presided over by Judge Melanie Greally, is ongoing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Solidarity TD Paul Murphy (34) and six other water‑charge protesters were accused of "plainly involving" themselves in restricting the liberty of then Tánaiste Joan Burton and her adviser Karen O'Connell on 15 November 2014. The prosecution alleged that the men, including councillors Kieran Mahon (39) and Michael Murphy (53), had surrounded a garda jeep carrying Burton and O'Connell, preventing its movement and effectively trapping the two women for about two hours. The case was presented by Sean Gillane SC, who described the incident as an intentional or reckless restriction of liberty without consent, a form of false imprisonment under the 1997 Non‑Fatal Offences Act. All seven men entered not‑guilty pleas; the trial continues before Judge Melanie Greally. The prosecution's narrative focused on the alleged obstruction of the jeep and the failure of gardaí to move the vehicle, while the defendants maintained their innocence.
The trial of Solidarity TD Paul Murphy, aged 34, and six other men has commenced in Tallaght. They face charges of falsely imprisoning former Tánaiste Joan Burton and Karen O'Connell on 15 November 2014 at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown. The defendants, including councillors Kieran Mahon (39) and Michael Murphy (53), and four other men, have all entered not‑guilty pleas. Prosecutor Sean Gillane SC addressed the jury, urging them to set aside prejudice and sympathy and to focus on the evidence presented. He explained the investigative process: Gardaí investigate, secure evidence, and forward a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who decides whether to bring charges. Gillane emphasized that the prosecution bears the burden of proving the case beyond a reasonable doubt and that his role is to present the evidence clearly, not to pursue a conviction at all costs. The defendants are currently arraigned and awaiting further proceedings.
The trial of Solidarity TD Paul Murphy and six other men for falsely imprisoning former Tánaiste Joan Burton and her advisor Karen O'Connell was postponed because a juror could not continue. Judge Melanie Greally informed the eleven jurors that one had been lost and that a replacement would be selected the next morning. The jury, composed of five women and seven men, had been empanelled after a three‑and‑a‑half‑hour selection process that called over 100 potential jurors. The defendants – Paul Murphy (34), Kieran Mahon (39), Michael Murphy (53), Frank Donaghy (71), Ken Purcell (50), Michael Banks (46) and Scott Masterson (34) – had all entered not‑guilty pleas at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Greally reminded the jurors not to conduct independent research or discuss the case with family or friends.
Michael Daly, aged 18, was sentenced to 18 months in jail for his role in an unprovoked attack on Jack Serole, who was stabbed 20 times and pushed into the Royal Canal on 18 May 2015. The court found that Daly pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. He was one of three teenagers charged; the other two received 18 months and three‑and‑a‑half years respectively. Serole, originally from Botswana, suffered 20 stab wounds, hypothermia and broken front teeth, and later reported anxiety and bodily pains. CCTV footage identified Daly as one of the assailants; he admitted to hitting and kicking Serole but denied pushing him into the canal. Daly had four prior convictions and was in custody for two weeks before sentencing. Judge Martin Nolan described the offence as gravely reprehensible and extremely serious. The final nine months of the sentence were suspended.
Gerard Lawlor, 67, of Balrothery, Tallaght, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 11 counts of fraudulently claiming €167,873 in social welfare payments from 2005 to 2015. The fraud was uncovered during a Revenue audit of his former wife's dieting company, revealing that Lawlor had claimed pre‑retirement payments for himself and adult dependent allowances for his estranged wife. He failed to declare self‑employment, property sales, and work in a garage with his father and brother. Lawlor has no prior convictions and is now receiving a state pension of €183 a week, reduced by €28 to repay the debt. He has paid €11,000 to the department as a token of remorse and has no assets. Lawlor, who lives rent‑free in his sister's home after selling investment properties at a loss, has asked for a non‑custodial sentence to continue caring for his disabled sister.
In a 2015 incident at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Blanchardstown, a 28‑year‑old man named Keith Hearne tied up and raped a 24‑year‑old woman who was volunteering at the ArcadeCon gaming convention. Hearne threatened her with a prop knife, bound her hands with a tie, and forced her to submit to sexual assault. He was arrested on the scene after a conference worker entered the room with a key card. Hearne pleaded guilty to two counts of rape, one count of oral rape and one count of false imprisonment. He also admitted to possessing a bag containing a prop knife, handcuffs, condoms, a mask and sadomasochistic items, which was found at the scene. The Central Criminal Court adjourned sentencing to June 19 to obtain further medical reports. The victim, who has suffered ongoing depression, PTSD, self‑harm and suicidal thoughts, has chosen to waive her anonymity.
A jury of five women and seven men was selected after a three‑and‑a‑half‑hour process that called over 100 potential jurors. The jury will hear the trial of Solidarity TD Paul Murphy (34) and six other men, including South Dublin councillors Kieran Mahon (39) and Michael Murphy (53), on charges of falsely imprisoning former Tánaiste Joan Burton and Karen O'Connell at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght on 15 November 2014. All defendants have entered not‑guilty pleas. Judge Melanie Greally informed the panel that the case is expected to last six weeks and that the trial will begin at 2 p.m. tomorrow. She set strict criteria for juror eligibility, excluding those with personal connections to the parties, substantial knowledge of the events, employment with Irish Water or related agencies, or strong public positions on water charges.
Two Dublin men, Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (47), were sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly (35), who was shot dead on 6 March 2013 outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, Co. Meath. The Special Criminal Court described the killing as "premeditated slaughter". McGrath was also convicted of firearms offences related to the same incident and received an additional seven‑year sentence for each offence. Kelly's role involved dropping a co‑accused, David Cullen, outside Gormanston College to dispose of the gun and then driving McGrath and the gunman away. The court noted that neither McGrath nor Kelly had prior convictions and highlighted the shock of their involvement in a planned, callous murder. Mrs. Eithne Butterly, the victim's wife, delivered a victim impact statement describing her husband's love for his children and the lasting pain of his death. Mr. Justice Tony Hunt imposed the life sentences on both men.
Robert Jones, 27, of Glenview Park, Tallaght, was convicted in 2016 of assault causing harm to medical student Brian Murphy after striking him with a pint glass at Palace Nightclub on 20 July 2014. The original 18‑month sentence was wholly suspended. In 2017 the Court of Appeal reviewed the sentence, finding it unduly lenient, but did not impose jail time because the review was delayed and Jones had no prior convictions, was employed, married and had a child. The judge noted that the glass hit Murphy's left eye, causing permanent blindness, scarring and psychological trauma, and that Murphy had resumed medical studies. Jones admitted the assault, expressed remorse and claimed he was unaware he was holding a glass. The appeal was dismissed, leaving the suspended sentence in place. Robert Jones pleaded guilty.
Kevin McCarthy, aged 23, was sentenced by Judge Pauline Codd to four years' imprisonment, with two and a half years suspended, for dangerous driving that caused the death of 21‑year‑old Thomas Carroll on the N81 near Brittas on 29 May 2014. McCarthy, who had 73 prior convictions including careless driving and driving without insurance, pleaded guilty. He was driving at an estimated speed of 100‑120 km/h, well above the 60 km/h limit signposted 300 metres before the crash. The vehicle spun into trees, flipped twice and travelled 115 metres, ejecting Carroll who died shortly after. McCarthy expressed remorse, apologising to Carroll's family, and the judge noted his lack of respect for road law and the severe impact on the victim's relatives. The sentence was described as a deterrent and a reflection of McCarthy's criminal recklessness.
Des Kavanagh, 39, a former youth worker, was found guilty of possessing and distributing child pornography after he pretended to be a 15‑year‑old boy in an online chat group. Gardaí, acting on Interpol information, seized his laptops and recovered 240 images and two short clips, all classified as child posing or sexual activity between children, with no material in the most serious categories. Kavanagh had no prior convictions and had cooperated fully with the police, admitting his actions and expressing remorse. The court, noting his long‑suppressed sexuality, low risk of re‑offending, and lack of profit motive, imposed a two‑year suspended sentence, requiring good behaviour and no probation service involvement. The judge highlighted that the offence was serious but deemed a custodial sentence unfair given the circumstances. The case ended with Kavanagh's guilty plea and the suspended sentence.
Seven water charge protesters, including Paul Murphy TD, Kieran Mahon, Michael Murphy, Michael Banks, Frank Donaghy, Ken Purcell, and Scott Masterson, appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court regarding their upcoming trial. The defendants are accused of falsely imprisoning then Tánaiste Joan Burton and Karen O'Connell during a protest in Jobstown on November 15, 2014. The case was listed after the Director of Public Prosecutions raised concerns about a campaign and a rally scheduled for the weekend. Counsel for the accused informed the court that their clients would undertake not to speak about the trial at the rally. Judge Melanie Greally noted relief at this responsible position. The trial is scheduled to begin on April 24, with a jury to be selected. The court discussed the possibility of an enlarged jury panel if the trial exceeds the scheduled six weeks. The defendants face charges of false imprisonment, and the matter is currently at the pre-trial stage ahead of the scheduled hearing.
Adam Gear, a 25‑year‑old first‑time offender from Castle Lawns, Tallaght, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to possessing nearly 500 g of heroin and 2.5 kg of cannabis at his grandparents' house in Tallaght on 30 January 2016. The drugs, valued at about €74,000 for heroin and €49,000 for cannabis, were found outside the house following a confidential tip‑off and inside Gear's bedroom. Gear admitted he was keeping the drugs for people to whom he owed a significant debt and claimed he did not reach the downstairs storage in time before Gardaí seized them. The judge, Martin Nolan, accepted that Gear was under pressure but held him responsible for his actions, noting he had no prior convictions and was a father. Despite defence arguments citing exceptional circumstances and a desire for a non‑custodial sentence, the judge imposed the custodial term.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has raised concerns that the constitutional process of trial by jury may be interfered with in the upcoming trial of water charge protesters. Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy (33), Dublin Councillor Kieran Mahon (39), Anti Austerity Alliance Councillor Michael Murphy (53), and four other men are due to stand trial next month on charges related to the alleged false imprisonment of then Tánaiste Joan Burton three years ago. The trial was discussed in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where Sean Gillane SC, prosecuting, highlighted concerns regarding literature and a campaign surrounding the trial, which could potentially interfere with the jury process. The court heard that an event being billed as a national event was to be held in the capital this weekend, with activists and journalists expected to attend. Various lawyers for the defendants requested clarification from the DPP regarding any orders sought from the court. The matter was listed for further hearing tomorrow afternoon. The accused include Frank Donaghy (71), Ken Purcell (50), Michael Banks (46), and Scott Masterson (34), each facing charges arising from a water protest in Jobstown on November 15th, 2014. A second trial of six people accused of false imprisonment is scheduled for October 2, 2017, with a pre-trial date set for June 8, 2017. The final trial of five people accused of violent disorder is set for April 9, 2018, with a pre-trial date set for December 13, 2017.
A 17‑year‑old youth was convicted of robbing Joseph Benson, a Liberian man who had spent 22 days at sea to reach Ireland, on 17 April 2015 in Tallaght. The original sentence of two years and six months, with nine months suspended pending placement at Cuan Mhuire rehabilitation centre, was increased by the Court of Appeal to seven years, with three and a half years suspended. The appeal was brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions after the teenager failed to take up the rehabilitation place. The Court of Appeal, citing the "particularly atrocious" nature of the assault, deemed a longer headline sentence necessary. The new sentence includes 18 months of post‑release supervision and a good‑behaviour bond for the suspended period. The victim, who suffered head and neck pain, had no recollection of the incident. The teenager had 15 prior convictions, including theft and violent behaviour. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Gary Howard, a 29‑year‑old convicted double murderer serving two life sentences, to an additional four‑year term for stabbing a fellow inmate with a stainless steel spoon fashioned into a knife. The attack left the victim with neck stab wounds and a punctured lung. Howard's four‑year sentence will run concurrently with his life terms, so he will not serve extra time. Howard, who pleaded guilty to violent disorder in 2014, had previously been jailed for life in 2012 for the murders of Patrick Mooney and Brendan Molyneux. The court noted Howard's serious criminal record and described the assault as savage. The victim was taken to Tallaght Hospital and later to St James's Hospital for surgery. The case was prosecuted by Derek Cooney BL, with defence counsel Tony McGillicuddy BL representing Howard.
Kevin McCarthy, aged 23, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of 21‑year‑old Thomas Carroll on the N81 near Brittas on 29 May 2014. The sentencing hearing was delayed because the court may not have received a complete record of McCarthy's 73 prior convictions, including 14 for failing to produce insurance proof and 18 for failing to produce a licence. Prosecutor Diarmuid Collins requested time to obtain a full record, citing possible incomplete or inaccurate information. McCarthy, who was 20 at the time of the crash, drove the vehicle at an estimated 100‑120 km/h, although the speed limit was 60 km/h. The crash involved the car flipping twice and spinning about ten times before stopping on the wrong side of the road. McCarthy expressed remorse, stating he had no intention to harm anyone and that Thomas was a best friend.
Robert Jones, 27, of Glenview Park, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at Palace Night club, Camden Street, on 20 July 2014. He was sentenced on 24 February 2016 by Judge John Aylmer to a wholly suspended 18‑month term. The Director of Public Prosecutions has applied to the Court of Appeal to review the sentence, arguing it was "unduly lenient". The appeal was heard by a three‑judge panel, including Mr Justice George Birmingham, Mr Justice John Edwards and Mr Justice John Hedigan, who reserved judgment until 6 April. Fiona Murphy BL, representing the DPP, argued that custody and actual time served were necessary, citing the seriousness of the offence and the victim's loss of sight in one eye. Jones' counsel, Dominic McGinn SC, contended the attack was spontaneous, provoked, and that Jones had an impeccable character, and that a custodial sentence would have a devastating effect.
Thomas Garvan, aged 64, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for sexually abusing an 11‑ to 14‑year‑old boy between December 1996 and October 1999. Garvan, a trusted family friend, regularly stayed overnight at the boy's home and was described by the victim as a "monster". He pleaded guilty to seven charges of sexual abuse at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The victim, now 32, reported severe emotional damage, claiming the abuse ruined his life and destroyed his prospects for work and relationships. Garvan had previously received a two‑year suspended sentence for a different sexual offence, which was partly re‑activated after he failed to cooperate with the Probation Service. Judge Martin Nolan noted the maximum sentence was five years but gave credit for Garvan's guilty plea, reducing the term to four and a half years. The court also heard the victim's impact statement, describing the abuse as traumatic and life‑altering.
Kevin McCarthy, aged 23, pleaded guilty to one count of dangerous driving causing the death of 21‑year‑old Thomas Carroll on the N81 near Brittas, Co Wicklow, on 29 May 2014. McCarthy, who had 73 prior convictions including 14 for failing to produce proof of insurance and 18 for failing to produce a licence, was driving at an estimated 100‑120 km/h, well above the 60 km/h speed limit signposted 300 metres before the crash. The vehicle, carrying McCarthy and Carroll, spun out, flipped twice and rolled about ten times before stopping on the wrong side of the road. Carroll, a father‑of‑one, suffered massive head injuries and died shortly after the crash. McCarthy has been sentenced on 28 March, wearing a necklace with a picture of Carroll to remind him of the loss.
Ruzmond Muwaniri, a 27‑year‑old Zimbabwean man with schizophrenia, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for two separate assaults in March and May 2015. The first involved punching a 67‑year‑old pensioner off his bicycle on Cheeverstown Road, Tallaght, causing the victim to lose consciousness and suffer a broken eye socket, cuts and bruises. The second assault was a punch to the face of a man named Aidan Green, breaking his top front teeth; Muwaniri claimed he believed Green was racially abusing him. Muwaniri had missed several medication appointments before the incidents. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a total sentence of 42 months, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions, including regular psychiatric treatment and adherence to prescribed medication. He has 60 prior convictions, including a 2013 two‑year sentence for assaulting his partner. The court noted his history of missed medication appointments and the need for multidisciplinary support upon release. Ruzmond Muwaniri pleaded guilty.
Jonathan McSherry, 35, a former soldier, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for threatening to kill Nicola Nugent and her partner Barry Horan. He had already been serving a term for a sustained assault on Nugent, which left her with fractures to her eyes, face and skull. On 19 March 2013, McSherry confronted Nugent and Horan in the car park of The Belgard Inn, Tallaght, where he ran at their car, punched and kicked it, and shouted threats, including "I'm going to kill you." He was found guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge suspended the last two years of the sentence on the condition that he keep the peace, attend anger‑management and addiction treatment, and refrain from contact with the victim. McSherry's prior convictions and his engagement in treatment were noted in the sentencing. The court also referenced his earlier 2015 assault, for which he had received a suspended sentence.
Stephen Murphy, a 45‑year‑old taxi driver from Tallaght, was found in possession of €273,859 worth of illegal drugs, including ketamine, ecstasy tablets and cannabis, after a Garda surveillance operation. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply on North Road, Finglas, and was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally to four‑and‑a‑half years in prison. The judge cited mitigating factors such as Murphy's previous good character, his guilty plea and remorse, his limited role in the offence and his respectable background, allowing a departure from the ten‑year mandatory minimum. Murphy's case was supported by a letter from Gail O'Rorke, who had been acquitted in 2015 of assisting a suicide, and her husband Barry, who highlighted his friendship with Murphy and his son's Crohn's disease.
A jury heard that Mr Vesel Jahiri, 35, has dismissed his legal team and will represent himself in the murder trial of Anna Finnegan, 25, who was found dead at Allendale Glen, Clonsilla, Dublin 15 on 21 September 2012. Jahiri, originally from Kosovo and without a fixed address, pleaded not guilty to both the murder of Finnegan and the assault of her brother Karl, who was harmed at the same location and date. Mr Justice Paul Coffey informed the jury of nine men and three women that Jahiri had exercised his right to self‑representation. Prosecution counsel Mr Patrick Marrinan SC called Garda Ryan Breen, who answered a 999 call at 9.22 pm on the day of the incident, and Brian Conlon, a first cousin of the deceased, who identified Finnegan's body at Tallaght Hospital's mortuary on 22 September.
Two Dublin men, Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (47), were found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of the callous, brutal and pre‑meditated murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly (35) on 6 March 2013 outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanston. The court described the killing as an ambush carried out in the carpark, with Butterly shot by a handgun held by Dean Evans (24), who was absent from the trial. McGrath was also convicted of firearms offences from the same incident. The trial, lasting 31 days, relied on forensic evidence from a stolen Toyota Corolla, a green Opel Zafira, and a bag seized from the Corolla, which contained a black semiautomatic pistol. DNA and residue tests linked the men to the shooting. The court remanded McGrath and Kelly in custody pending sentencing. The case did not involve any subsequent verdicts or appeals.
Maria Muntean, 28, a mother of four who is expecting a fifth child, pleaded guilty to the theft of two iPhone 6s mobile phones from Three Ireland Phone Stores in Tralee and Killarney on 7 November 2015. CCTV footage showed her with two men: one removed the phones from the display case, the other watched staff while Muntean blocked the view with a brochure, which she then placed over the cradle. The phones, each valued at €699, were not recovered. Muntean had 54 previous convictions under two identities, including 17 thefts, one robbery, casual trading and road traffic offences. She was arrested but made no admissions during the Garda interview. The court, noting she was the least culpable of those arrested and had engaged with the Probation Service, imposed a two‑year sentence, which was suspended in full on strict conditions. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 34‑year‑old man, Robert Maguire, was found to have falsely imprisoned and violently assaulted his 30‑year‑old ex‑girlfriend after learning she had a new partner. The court heard that the woman woke to find Maguire standing over her, spitting and threatening to kill her, before he kicked her in the genitals and beat her until she became unconscious. She and her nine‑year‑old son were left severely traumatised, and she expressed a need for safety and trust in the law. Maguire pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and false imprisonment on 14 January 2012. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Butler, ordered the Probation Service to assess whether Maguire is suitable for community service, noting the false imprisonment was at the lower end of the scale. He remanded Maguire on continuing bail until 22 May, when a sentence will be imposed.
In March 2017, Gail O'Rourke, who had been acquitted in 2015 of an attempt to assist a friend's suicide, appeared in court to support taxi driver Stephen Murphy, who faces a mandatory ten‑year minimum sentence for drug dealing. O'Rourke, who recently published a book about her experiences, and her husband Barry wrote a letter to Judge Melanie Greally stating that Murphy had "lost so much of his life" because of the offence and that his son suffers from Crohn's disease. Murphy, 44, was caught with €273,859 worth of drugs—including ketamine, ecstasy tablets and cannabis—in the boot of his taxi after a Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau surveillance operation. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply on North Road, Finglas, on 13 May 2015 and is scheduled to be sentenced on 10 March. The Garda investigation began after a tip‑off that drugs were being moved in the Finglas area.
Ian Quinn, a 35‑year‑old chronic crack cocaine and heroin addict, was sentenced to five years in prison for robbing Paddy Powers Bookmakers in Castletymon, Tallaght, on 29 September 2015. He smashed the security glass with a stool, stole €980, and was caught after staff ran to the back office and triggered a panic alarm. Quinn pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and had 44 previous convictions, including robbery and possession of an imitation firearm. He is currently serving a sentence for those offences and is due for release in 2021. The judge, Melanie Greally, noted Quinn's dire health and chronic addiction, suspended the final 12 months of the sentence on strict conditions, and required him to engage with the Probation Service for two years after release. The case highlighted Quinn's repeated relapses and the impact on staff who suffered anxiety and lost work time.
Judges in the Special Criminal Court will deliver a verdict on March 9th in the murder trial of Peter Butterly, a 35‑year‑old dissident republican shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, on March 6th, 2013. Two Dublin men, Edward McGrath (35) of Springfield, Tallaght, and Sharif Kelly (47) of Balbriggan, are charged with the murder and have pleaded not guilty. McGrath also pleaded not guilty to firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24) of Raheny, failed to appear and has not been located. The court heard evidence from a protected witness, David Cullen, who was originally accused of the murder and implicated McGrath and Kelly. The trial also considered surveillance testimony and DNA evidence found on a vehicle near the scene. Both accused remain on continuing bail until the verdict.
In the Special Criminal Court, two Dublin men, Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (47), pleaded not guilty to the murder of Peter Butterly (35), who was shot outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, on 6 March 2013. McGrath also denied firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24), was absent. The court accepted evidence from protected witness David Cullen, who implicated McGrath and Kelly. Prosecutor Paul O'Higgins highlighted extensive evidence against McGrath, including DNA on a silver Toyota Corolla and gun residue on his jacket, and evidence against Kelly, such as his arrest in a green Opel Zafira and a bag of clothes with Evans' fingerprints. Defence counsel Giollaíosa Ó'Lideadha dismissed Cullen's testimony as unreliable, citing contradictions and lack of independent corroboration. The trial's closing speeches concluded before a hearing on Monday before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge John O'Hagan and Judge Ann Ryan.
In 2016, Michael Finlay, 37, of Maplewood Road, Tallaght, and Dean Byrne, 25, of Drumcairn Park, Tallaght, were convicted by the Special Criminal Court of unlawful possession of a loaded 9mm semi‑automatic pistol and magazine, and of 9mm ammunition, after a surveillance operation on a Renault Kango van. The van, previously stolen, was being followed when a Garda approached with a firearm drawn. Finlay was seen holding the pistol and complied with the Garda's request to drop it. Both men wore false beards and sunglasses; Finlay wore an An Post jacket. They pleaded not guilty, no contest, and the court entered not‑guilty pleas on their behalf. They were sentenced to five years' imprisonment. The Court of Appeal upheld the sentence, noting that the men's cooperation, lack of use of the firearm, and good character justified a reduction from the original eight‑year headline. The appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions was dismissed.
Derek Corr, 31, was convicted in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for orchestrating a passport fraud scheme that involved persuading his GP, Dr Lewis Regan, to sign a false identity certificate. The court found Corr was the main person behind an attempt to obtain a passport for an unknown individual, though the intended recipient remains unidentified. Corr received a five‑year sentence, with four years suspended, to run concurrently with a one‑year term he is already serving for a knife attack on a neighbour. Judge Pauline Codd described the offence as "at the higher end of the mid range." Corr pleaded guilty to providing false information in a passport application in January 2015. The case also involved a third defendant who was still at large, and Dr Regan had previously been sentenced under the Probation Act for filling out the false form, with no conviction recorded.
The Special Criminal Court has heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly, who are accused of the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly and associated firearms offences. Both men have pleaded not guilty to all charges. A third accused, Dean Evans, failed to appear and has not been located; the non-jury court decided to proceed with the trial for McGrath and Kelly in his absence. Forensic scientist Sandra McGrath testified that DNA samples matching the profiles of the two accused were found on a balaclava and a black wig seized from a Toyota Corolla stopped near the scene of the shooting. The court heard that the car was being monitored by the National Surveillance Unit. The witness stated that DNA matching Evans' profile was found on the balaclava, gloves, and clothing recovered from a second vehicle, an Opel Zafira. Conversely, DNA matching McGrath's profile was identified on the black wig. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judge John O'Hagan and Judge Anne Ryan. The matter remains at the trial stage, with no findings, sentences, or finalisations recorded for the accused to date.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, forensic evidence was presented that strongly supports the view that Dean Evans, a 24‑year‑old Dublin man, was the gunman who shot Peter Butterly, a 35‑year‑old dissident republican, outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston on 6 March 2013. Dr John O'Shaughnessy, a forensic scientist, examined a grey knitted sweater seized from Evans and found firearm discharge residue on the cuffs and sleeves, indicating that Evans had fired a weapon. Residue was also found on a jacket taken from co‑accused Edward McGrath, suggesting that the jacket wearer was near the discharge. Evans has not appeared for trial and remains unlocated. The court is proceeding with the trial of co‑accused Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (47), both of whom pleaded not guilty to the murder and, in McGrath's case, to firearms offences. The hearing was presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges John O'Hagan and Ann Ryan.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 20 February 2017, a defence barrister argued that the court had been misled regarding the evidence of a protected witness in the Peter Butterly murder case. Butterly, aged 35, was shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston on 6 March 2013. David Cullen, originally accused, turned State witness over a year later and gave evidence implicating his former co‑accused. Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (47) pleaded not guilty to the murder; McGrath also pleaded not guilty to firearms offences. Dean Evans (24) failed to attend and was not located. The court proceeded with McGrath and Kelly in Evans's absence. Cullen testified for over four days in a voir‑dire, and his evidence will be reviewed by the judges. Defence counsel Giollaíosa Ó'Lideadha SC contended that omissions in police note‑taking deprived the court of essential material, alleging a deliberate policy of not recording conversations.
At the Central Criminal Court, December Connors (42) was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the last two suspended, for the manslaughter of Peter Conroy (25) during a brawl at Palmerstown Lodge B&B in Dublin 20 on June 9, 2015. Connors was also sentenced to two months' jail for assaulting Elaine Blunt during the same incident, though this sentence was fully suspended. The case was at the sentence stage, with Connors having pleaded guilty to manslaughter and not guilty to murder. The jury found Connors guilty of manslaughter but not guilty of murder. The victim's parents, Frank and Marion Conroy, expressed their anger and frustration with the sentence, calling the justice system a 'joke'. Connors had previously been charged with murder but was convicted of manslaughter after a one-week trial. The judge noted that Connors had returned to the scene of the brawl with a knife and had made a downwards motion towards the deceased on CCTV, but ruled that the killing lacked the intention required for a murder conviction. Connors expressed remorse during the trial and in court, and the judge acknowledged his background and expressed remorse. The sentence was backdated to October 1, 2015. The court had to adjourn the hearing due to emotional outbursts from the victim's family and others present.
A man deliberately damaged clothing in Penneys stores and obtained cash refunds by exploiting the retailer's returns policy, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard on 17 February 2017. Patrick Quinn, aged 36, of Drumlish, Co Longford, pleaded guilty to inducing refunds totalling €392 across eleven transactions at Penneys branches in Blanchardstown during April and May 2015. Garda Stephen Walsh told the court that security staff provided CCTV footage showing Quinn damaging a jacket before presenting it for a refund without a receipt. Quinn admitted to deliberately tearing items including suit jackets after discovering the stores did not require receipts for damaged goods. His defence counsel outlined Quinn's struggles with gambling addiction, which intensified following his father's death in 2000, and noted his previous convictions related to theft. The court heard Quinn had undertaken residential treatment in 2013 without sustained improvement. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing until May to permit preparation of a probation report.
The Special Criminal Court heard a second day of arguments about whether the evidence of a protected witness, David Cullen, could be admitted in the murder trial of Peter Butterly. Butterly, 35, was shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston on 6 March 2013. Cullen, who had been accused of the murder, turned State's witness after more than a year and has implicated his former co‑accused, Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (47). Both men pleaded not guilty to the murder, and McGrath also pleaded not guilty to firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24), failed to appear and has not been located. The court is considering Cullen's testimony as part of a voir‑dire, and the counsel for Kelly argued that admitting it would amount to the court turning a blind eye to numerous failures to convey the truth. The prosecution countered that Cullen's statements were well‑documented and uncontroversial.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly, who are accused of murdering dissident republican Peter Butterly in 2013, is currently at the procedural stage of a voir dire. Both men have pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder, with McGrath additionally pleading not guilty to firearms offences on the same occasion. A third accused, Dean Evans, failed to appear and has not been located by gardai, leading the non-jury court to proceed with the remaining two defendants. The central issue involves the admissibility of evidence from David Cullen, a former co-accused who became a State witness. Defence counsel for Kelly, Giollaíosa Ó'Lideadha SC, submitted that Cullen's testimony should be excluded because the court cannot properly assess the process by which he turned witness. Citing a Supreme Court judgment, the barrister argued that omissions in gardai note-taking mean the court lacks essential material to verify if Kelly's right to a fair trial is upheld. He contended that Cullen's access to the book of evidence created particular dangers regarding the integrity of his statements. The legal submissions regarding the exclusion of this protected witness evidence continue before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge John O'Hagan, and Judge Anne Ryan.
Ruzmond Muwaniri, 27, a Zimbabwean man with schizophrenia, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to two men in separate incidents on 9 March 2015 and 21 May 2015. He had missed several medication appointments around the time of the assaults. In the first incident, he punched a 67‑year‑old pensioner on Cheeverstown Road, Tallaght, knocking him off his bicycle and causing a broken eye socket and other injuries. In the second, he punched a man named Mr Aidan Green in the mouth, breaking his top front teeth. Muwaniri claimed he believed the victims were racially abusing him. He has 60 prior convictions, including a 2013 two‑year sentence for domestic violence. The case was adjourned to seek guidance on a care package for Muwaniri before sentencing next month.
In a non‑jury trial for the 2013 murder of Peter Butterly, the court heard that Garda Joe Doyle, a PSV examiner, inspected a green Opel Zafira on 6 March 2013, six days after the shooting. Doyle reported that the vehicle showed "no faults" at the time of his examination, although the car's Engine Control Unit had recorded three historic faults previously. The car had reportedly "conked out" on the day of the shooting, but Doyle found no faults that would have forced it to stall or prevent it from starting. The trial involves two accused men, Sharif Kelly (47) and Edward McGrath (35), who both pleaded not guilty to the murder and, in McGrath's case, to firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24), failed to appear and has not been located. The court also heard legal arguments regarding the admissibility of forensic samples taken from the accused after their detention.
The Special Criminal Court is currently hearing a voir dire to determine the admissibility of evidence from David Cullen, a former accused who turned State's witness in the trial of Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly. Both men, who have pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Peter Butterly and, in McGrath's case, firearms offences, are contesting Cullen's testimony. During cross-examination, Cullen admitted his motivation to provide evidence was to "save" himself. He acknowledged lying in a bail affidavit to deny knowing McGrath and admitted reviewing the book of evidence before making his statement. The court also heard from DPP officer David Gormley, who confirmed the DPP agreed to Cullen's offer to plead guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for a statement, with an understanding that his words would not be used against him, though no immunity was granted. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, continues with the judges assessing the reliability of the witness's account.
Charles Farrell, aged 44, was convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for theft of two historic gates from Convent Cottage, Firhouse Road, on 4 April 2015, and for unlawful use of a car and dangerous driving on 25 June 2015. He received an 18‑month jail term, followed by a consecutive three‑year sentence for driving a stolen car dangerously through Tallaght. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final two years of the four‑and‑a‑half‑year term on strict conditions and disqualified Farrell from driving for six years. Two co‑accused, James Spellman Junior (40) and Trevor Matthews (41), each received two‑year suspended sentences for their roles in the gate theft. The judge noted Farrell's long‑standing drug addiction and his efforts to address it, while the Gardaí described the theft and subsequent dangerous driving incidents in detail. Charles Farrell pleaded guilty.
In the Peter Butterly murder trial, a protected witness, David Cullen (32), testified that he was warned he would be removed from the Witness Protection Programme if he refused to give evidence. Cullen said he had been contacted a few months earlier to return from his host country to testify against two men accused of the murder. When he declined, he was told he would be removed from the programme. He also agreed under cross‑examination to seek a written assurance that he would receive €10,000 for his testimony. Cullen, originally accused of the murder, turned State's witness over a year after the shooting and has implicated his former co‑accused, Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (47), both of whom pleaded not guilty. A third accused, Dean Evans (24), failed to appear and has not been located.
In the Special Criminal Court, David Cullen, an accused who became a State witness, denied that he had lied about the alleged roles of Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly in the 2013 murder of Peter Butterly. Cullen, who was originally charged with the murder, had turned State witness after the shooting and testified that he had waited at Gormanston College's gate to pick up and dispose of the gun, and that Kelly was to pick up McGrath and Dean Evans. During cross‑examination, the counsel for Kelly, Giollaíosa Ó'Lideadha, accused Cullen of telling lies, to which Cullen replied that he had not been told about Kelly's role and that he had made a deal with the Director of Public Prosecutions to drop the murder charge. The court is hearing Cullen's evidence as part of a voir‑dire to determine its admissibility, while the accused men's counsel objects. Edward McGrath pleaded not guilty. Sharif Kelly pleaded not guilty.
Laurence Bryan, 36, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four robberies and two attempted robberies committed at shops in the Tallaght area between March 31st and April 8th, 2016. The defendant, who has 132 previous convictions, was taken from Cloverhill Prison to be interviewed after being identified on CCTV. He admitted to using knives during the offences to fund a drug habit, stating he did not intend to hurt anyone. Judge Melanie Greally revoked the 18-month suspended portion of a previous five-and-a-half-year sentence imposed in 2014. The matter was adjourned until October 2018 for sentencing on the new offences, with the court ordering an updated probation report regarding residential treatment options. Judge Greally noted that previous imprisonment had not broken the cycle of offending, suggesting an alternative approach was needed. Defense counsel Sarah Jane O'Callaghan BL highlighted Bryan's drug-free status upon release before relapsing following a family argument, and requested multifaceted supports for his release. The court heard the offences were spontaneous and without premeditation.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, a former accused who became a prosecution witness in the Peter Butterly murder case was informed two days before he gave a statement to the gardai that his murder charge would be dropped. The case involves two Dublin men, Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (47), who pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of 35‑year‑old Peter Butterly, who was shot outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston on 6 March 2013. McGrath also pleaded not guilty to firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24), failed to appear and has not been located. The court also heard cross‑examination of David Cullen, who had previously offered statements on several IRA‑related cases, including Butterly's shooting. Cullen claimed he was told the murder charge would be dropped before he gave his statement, a claim that his counsel, Giollaíosa Ó'Lideadha SC, used to question the admissibility of Cullen's evidence.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence from David Cullen, a former accused who turned State's witness, regarding the alleged murder of Peter Butterly outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, in 2013. Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly, both accused of the alleged murder and firearms offences, have pleaded not guilty. A third accused, Dean Evans, failed to appear and has not been located, while the court proceeded with the trial for McGrath and Kelly. Cullen, who previously pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol, described being asked to pick up a gun and dispose of it at Gormanston College. He testified that he witnessed a gun thrown from a vehicle and was arrested while retrieving it. This testimony is part of a voir dire, or trial within a trial, to determine the admissibility of Cullen's evidence, to which defence counsel for Kelly objects. This is the second trial for McGrath and Kelly, following the collapse of the original proceedings in January 2015. The matter is currently at the trial stage before a non-jury court presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt.