In the Special Criminal Court, evidence was presented that the six discharged cartridges found at the scene of Peter Butterly's shooting matched a Beretta semi‑automatic pistol located almost a kilometre away. Butterly, aged 35, was killed outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston on 6 March 2013. Two Dublin men, Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (46), are charged with his murder and have pleaded not guilty. McGrath also pleaded not guilty to firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24), failed to appear and has not been located. The court heard from Detective Garda David O'Leary, who examined the scene, and from Detective Sergeant Ciaran Murphy, who provided testimony about a meeting concerning a potential plea by State witness David Cullen. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, continues after a previous trial collapsed. The accused's barristers challenge the admissibility of Cullen's evidence and the alleged deal to drop the murder charge.
Raymond Malone, aged 33, was stopped by gardai on the Tallaght by-pass on 6 June 2015 after driving a van from London that he had flown to collect. The van contained 25,300 diazepam tablets, worth €25,300, and 23.7 kg of benzocaine, a mixing agent used to bulk cocaine, worth €11,850, hidden in a false compartment. Malone pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of diazepam and benzocaine. He had previously been convicted of 11 road‑traffic offences. Judge Pauline Codd found Malone had acted with "wilful blindness" and that his role was that of a courier with little profit. She imposed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspended for four‑and‑a‑half years, citing his early plea, lack of drug habit, and testimonials. The case highlighted the use of benzocaine as a cutting agent in the drug trade.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, the court decided to proceed with the trial of Peter Butterly's alleged murderers, Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly, after a third accused, Dean Evans, failed to appear. Both McGrath and Kelly pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, and McGrath also pleaded not guilty to firearms offences. The court heard from Adriana Skorus, who lived opposite the Huntsman Inn where Butterly was shot. She described hearing two gunshots, seeing a man with a small black handgun in the carpark, and observing a vehicle leave the premises. Skorus also noted a second car entering the carpark minutes later. The defence had previously applied to exclude evidence of the accused men's arrests, arguing the detentions were unlawful, but the court rejected that application. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, continues after the earlier trial collapsed in January 2015. The hearing took place on 3 February 2017.
In a 2017 court hearing, detectives investigating the 2013 murder of Peter Butterly denied that any offer was made to drop a murder charge against an accused who later became a prosecution witness. The case involves Edward McGrath, Sharif Kelly, and a missing third accused, Dean Evans. McGrath and Kelly have pleaded not guilty to murder and firearms offences. The Special Criminal Court proceeded with McGrath and Kelly after Evans' absence. Lawyers challenge the admissibility of evidence from state witness David Cullen, who was originally accused of the murder. Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Maguire testified that he received a call from Cullen's solicitor on 6 June 2014, who sought immunity, witness protection, and financial assistance for Cullen. No commitment was made, and the detectives reported the matter to authorities. Subsequent meetings with Cullen's solicitor and the DPP were held, but no formal deal was confirmed. The judge requested details of any decision to drop the charge.
Jane Fay, 64, of Tallaght, Dublin, was sentenced at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for social welfare fraud. The defendant pleaded guilty to making a fraudulent claim at AIB, Main Street, Tallaght, on April 22, 2010, and admitted to 38 similar charges related to fraudulent claims made between April 2010 and September 2014. The total loss amounted to €34,781. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a three-year sentence, which was suspended in full. The court noted that the majority of the funds have been repaid, with over €22,000 returned by Fay and her family, and ordered the release of frozen funds from a bank account in the name of her late cousin to the Department of Social Protection. Fay had no previous convictions. The judge acknowledged Fay's difficult personal circumstances, including health issues and family tragedies, and accepted that her actions were at odds with her general conduct. The matter was finalised with the imposition of the suspended sentence.
In the Peter Butterly murder trial at the Special Criminal Court, the admissibility of evidence from state witness David Cullen was contested. The trial, now in its second session after the original collapsed, heard cross‑examination of former chief superintendent John Gilligan, who oversaw the Witness Protection Program. Gilligan was questioned about a June 2014 meeting with Detective Superintendent Alf Martin and other Gardaí, during which it was alleged that Cullen might plead guilty to a lesser charge and that the murder charge could be dropped. Gilligan denied any deliberate omission of that possibility, stating he only noted Cullen's desire to provide information. The court considered whether the notes from that meeting, previously privileged, could be used to assess Cullen's evidence. The case continues under Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly still pleading not guilty to the murder and firearms offences. Dean Evans, the third accused, remains missing and was not present at the hearing.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly, who have pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Peter Butterly and firearms offences, continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt. A third accused, Dean Evans, failed to appear and has not been located, prompting the non-jury court to proceed with the two co-accused. The proceedings currently focus on a voir dire, or trial within a trial, to determine the admissibility of evidence from state witness David Cullen, who was originally accused of the murder. Defence counsel for Mr Kelly challenged Detective Superintendent Alf Martin, the senior investigating officer, suggesting he deliberately withheld information regarding how Cullen became a prosecution witness. The detective denied deliberately concealing facts, stating there was no deal to drop charges, though he acknowledged a phone call where a solicitor's notes referenced a dropped murder charge. Former Witness Protection Program chief superintendent John Gilligan testified that he was informed of Cullen's potential application in June 2014 and arranged his transfer for safety. The court is assessing these testimonies to decide whether Cullen's evidence should be admitted. The trial remains ongoing, with no final verdict or sentence issued.
Warren Brennan, 25, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for robbing a 71‑year‑old pensioner at Alderwood Park, Tallaght, on 27 October 2015. Brennan, wearing a motorcycle helmet and armed with a claw hammer, demanded €5,000 from the victim after the man had withdrawn the cash from a bank. When the pensioner refused and called him a "scumbag", Brennan struck him repeatedly with the hammer, punched him, bit his thumb, and then fled with the money. The victim was knocked to the ground, suffered a broken thumb and later reported flashbacks whenever he saw a hammer or helmet. Brennan pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He has 54 prior convictions, including firearms possession, theft, burglary and assault, and was previously jailed for three years in 2011 for an attempted robbery involving a gun. The court noted that Brennan had been given many chances to reform but had not changed his criminal behaviour.
In a dissident republican murder trial, defence counsel for Edward McGrath, Sharif Kelly, and the absent Dean Evans challenged the admissibility of evidence from State witness David Cullen, who had originally been an accused. Cullen, a 35‑year‑old former suspect, agreed to testify for the prosecution in exchange for immunity from the murder charge and a lesser offence. He provided information on the car, gun, and planning of the shooting, and also on another high‑profile murder. Cullen was in Portlaoise Prison when the deal was struck, later moved to Midlands Prison, and gave a statement on 27 June 2014. He was sentenced on 2 July 2014 to seven years' imprisonment for possession of a firearm, with three and a half years suspended. Defence argued that procedural failures made Cullen's testimony unreliable, and the court will decide on its admissibility. The trial is presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt. Edward McGrath pleaded not guilty. Sharif Kelly pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 27 January 2017, the legality of the detention of two men accused of murdering dissident republican Peter Butterly was contested. The 35‑year‑old victim was shot outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanstown, Co. Meath, on 6 March 2013. Edward McGrath (35) of Springfield, Tallaght, and Sharif Kelly (46) of Balbriggan pleaded not guilty to the murder charge; McGrath also pleaded not guilty to firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24) of Raheny, Dublin, failed to appear and has not been located. The court proceeded with McGrath and Kelly in Evans's absence. Defence counsel argued the men were unlawfully detained by the National Surveillance Unit, citing an unacceptable delay and questioning the invocation of Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. Prosecution counsel countered that Garda evidence and CCTV showed the men understood the reasons for their arrest and that Section 30 was properly invoked.
Gary Fitzgerald, aged 19, received a three‑year sentence for arson at Green Hills Court Apartments, Tallaght, on 26 March 2015. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and had seven prior convictions, including road traffic and assault. The fire, which caused €45,000 in damage, occurred in an unoccupied bedroom; Gardaí could not determine the cause. Gary lived next door to the burning apartment with his cousin Graham Fitzgerald, who also pleaded guilty to arson on the same occasion and to attempted robbery in February 2016. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned Graham's case for two weeks and imposed a suspended six‑month portion on Gary's sentence, ordering one year of post‑release supervision. The court noted Gary's extreme youth and drug use but accepted his early plea. No residents were in immediate danger, and the complex was evacuated. The case was heard with evidence from CCTV and police reports.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, the barristers for Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly argued that the two men, accused of murdering 35‑year‑old Peter Butterly outside The Huntsman Inn in 2013, were unlawfully detained on the side of the road. The men were allegedly held by National Surveillance Unit officers before being formally arrested. Mr Kelly's barrister, Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha, claimed an unacceptable delay and that the officers failed to take contemporaneous notes, questioning whether Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act was invoked. He argued the prosecution had not proved the delay was justified and that Mr Kelly should have been arrested within minutes of Garda arrival. Paul Greene, representing Mr McGrath, agreed, citing a policy that led to unconstitutional roadside detention. The case is the second trial for both men, following a collapsed first trial in 2015. The court is presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges John O'Hagan and Anne Ryan. Edward McGrath pleaded not guilty. Sharif Kelly pleaded not guilty.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, Derek Corr, aged 31, was jailed for attempting to attack neighbour Gary Dargan with a knife in June 2015. Corr had previously lived peacefully beside the Dargan family but on the day of the incident he entered Dargan's living room, claiming he was looking for Dargan's sister. He brandished a large kitchen knife, made threatening remarks, and lunged at Dargan, who managed to escape and call the Gardaí. Corr fled, later being arrested with additional knives. No motive was given. Judge Pauline Codd described the act as a "moment of madness" and, considering mitigating factors such as Corr's guilty plea and remorse, imposed a three‑year sentence with the final two years suspended. The case is distinct from the unrelated 2015 shooting of Dargan's mother by James Redmond, who was found not guilty by reason of insanity and remanded to the Central Mental Hospital.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 25 January 2017, evidence was presented regarding the 2013 murder of Peter Butterly, a 35‑year‑old who was shot dead in the carpark of The Huntsman Inn, Gormanston. Two men, Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (46), were on trial for his murder and had pleaded not guilty. McGrath also pleaded not guilty to firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24), failed to appear and was not located. The court proceeded with the two co‑accused in Evans's absence. Detective Sergeant Daniel O'Driscoll of the Special Detective Unit testified that he had been part of a surveillance operation that day. He discovered a silver Toyota Corolla involved in the shooting, stopped it and another car on Flemington Lane, and found a white plastic bag containing a black semiautomatic pistol, which he left in situ.
The Special Criminal Court is currently hearing the second trial of Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly, who have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Peter Butterly and, in McGrath's case, firearms offences on the same occasion. The court is proceeding with the two accused in the absence of co-accused Dean Evans, who failed to appear and remains unlocated. Evidence presented during a voir dire, or trial within a trial, includes testimony from Garda Damien Broughall regarding the arrest of Evans and McGrath on Flemington Road following the shooting at The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, Co Meath, on March 6, 2013. Broughall described stopping a silver Toyota Corolla, where surveillance officers had detained the occupants. He alleged that Evans was involved in the shooting and was arrested for IRA membership and firearm possession, while McGrath was dealt with by a colleague. Items found in the vehicle included a petrol can, gloves, a wig, and glasses. This evidence will assist the judges in deciding a legal issue. The original trial collapsed after 55 days in January 2015, leading to this retrial. The proceedings continue before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judge John O'Hagan and Judge Anne Ryan.
In a Special Criminal Court murder trial, a Garda National Surveillance Unit officer recited the Act of Contrition to Peter Butterly, who was found with massive gunshot injuries to his head in a Meath carpark on 6 March 2013. Butterly, a dissident republican, was shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanstown. The trial excluded the public while the officer and colleagues gave anonymous evidence. The accused, Edward McGrath (35) of Springfield, Tallaght, and Sharif Kelly (46) of Balbriggan, pleaded not guilty to Butterly's murder and to firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24) of Raheny, failed to appear and was not located. The court heard that the gunman's car was monitored by the National Surveillance Unit; an officer, identified only as Member B, described spotting a suspicious black Laguna in the carpark, finding Butterly lying on the ground, and holding his hand while reciting an act of contrition.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 50‑year‑old Augustin Ion was sentenced to six months' imprisonment for sexually assaulting a young woman in his taxi. Ion groped the victim's breast and tried to force her into the back seat after she had taken a taxi home from a pub. He later claimed she was drunk and abusive, but a jury rejected his allegations. The judge described the offence as opportunistic and predatory, noting it breached public trust in taxi services. Ion was also ordered to pay €3,000 to the victim for counselling costs, which she declined. He was registered as a sex offender and will never be granted another taxi licence. Ion's counsel accepted the verdict and expressed remorse, offering the victim financial compensation for her trauma. The case highlighted concerns for young women's safety in public transport. Augustin Ion pleaded not guilty.
A mother‑of‑one, Aisling Burke, originally charged with murdering Dale Creighton, began a one‑year jail term for violent disorder during the fatal attack on a Tallaght footbridge. The 14‑minute assault on the 20‑year‑old Creighton started after Burke's mobile phone was stolen as she walked home from a night club. Burke had been sentenced to five years with four suspended last week, but was given a week to arrange care for her child. She returned to the Central Criminal Court today. The court found that Burke did not inflict any physical violence on Creighton and sentenced her to five years in prison, suspending the final four years for two years on condition of good behaviour, keeping the peace and probation supervision. She was not required to enter a bond in court but will do so before the governor or a deputy of the governor in prison.
In a Special Criminal Court murder trial, the public was excluded while three Garda National Surveillance Unit members gave anonymous evidence. The case concerns the 2013 shooting of dissident republican Peter Butterly outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanstown, Co. Meath. The accused, Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (46), plead not guilty to the murder and McGrath also pleads not guilty to firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24), failed to appear and remains missing. The court proceeded with McGrath and Kelly in Evans's absence. The trial is a retrial after the original collapsed in 2015. Evidence from the surveillance unit involved tracking a silver Toyota Corolla and a green Opel Zafira, with witnesses identifying Kelly and describing the pursuit and arrest. The trial continues before Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges.
Declan Tynan, 27, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his role in a violent disorder incident at a Ladbrokes bookmakers in Tallaght, Dublin, on December 13, 2012. Tynan was found guilty by a jury of one count of violent disorder after three men attacked a customer and his brother, with one assailant using a blade. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a four-year sentence, suspending the final year on strict conditions. Tynan, who has 25 previous convictions, maintained his innocence through defence barrister Eoghan Cole, BL, who argued Tynan did not possess the knife. Co-accused Jamie Griffin, 20, pleaded guilty to affray and received a three-year sentence with the final year suspended. A third co-accused received a four-year sentence with the last two years suspended. The court noted that victims refused to cooperate with gardaí, meaning there was no evidence regarding the extent of their injuries. Prosecution barrister Maurice Coffey, BL, highlighted that staff continued serving customers during the attack. The sentencing concluded the procedural stage for these named defendants.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence that Peter Butterly, 35, died of multiple gunshot wounds in a Meath car park on 6 March 2013. The post‑mortem report, read by Caroline Cummings BL, described entry wounds to his neck and trunk and exit wounds to his neck and head, a sternal fracture, cardiac tamponade and traumatic brain injuries. Two witnesses, Sean Brennan and Francesco Macari, described seeing a silver vehicle, a chase, a gunshot and a bang from the Huntsman Inn area. The trial concerns two Dubliners, Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (46), who pleaded not guilty to murder and firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24), failed to appear and has not been located. The court proceeded with McGrath and Kelly in Evans's absence. The case is the second trial for the pair after the original collapsed in 2015. The hearing is before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge John O'Hagan and Judge Anne Ryan.
Mark Davis, aged 27, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for dangerous driving after a high‑speed chase in Tallaght on 27 March 2015. He had 207 prior convictions, including 20 for dangerous driving, 21 for failing to show a licence and five for driving while disqualified. The court heard he drove between 80 and 100 km/h in a 50 km/h zone, repeatedly ran red lights, and nearly collided with a Luas tram, endangering passengers, children and other road users. Judge Melanie Greally described the incident as "terrifying" and noted Davis's fascination with cars and a drug habit as contributing factors. She imposed a four‑year sentence, suspended the final two years, and ordered one year of probation supervision. Davis is already serving a separate sentence for a similar offence that ends next June and remains under a 20‑year driving disqualification. Mark Davis pleaded guilty.
In a 2017 hearing, the Special Criminal Court heard the second trial of Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (46) for the murder of Peter Butterly (35) on 6 March 2013 at The Huntsman Inn car park, Gormanstown, Co. Meath. Both pleaded not guilty to the murder and to firearm offences at the same address. The trial proceeded after the third accused, Dean Evans (24), failed to appear and was not located by the gardai. The court considered prosecution claims of privilege over information relating to a protected witness. A secondary school student, Sean Brennan, testified that he saw a man raise his arm and shoot another man while waiting for a bus opposite the Inn, and that he later called 999. The hearing continued under Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges John O'Hagan and Anne Ryan.
The Special Criminal Court has ruled that evidence from eleven Garda National Surveillance Unit members in the retrial of Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly must be given anonymously with the public excluded. McGrath (35) and Kelly (46) have pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly, a 35-year-old father of three, who was shot dead in Gormanston, Co Meath, in March 2013. McGrath also denied unlawful possession of a Beretta pistol and ammunition. The court is proceeding with the trial in the absence of third accused Dean Evans, who has not been located. This is the second trial for McGrath and Kelly, following the collapse of the original proceedings in January 2015. Prosecuting counsel stated that protected witness David Cullen would testify that Kelly instructed him to collect and hide the gun, and that Kelly's role was to pick up McGrath and Evans after the deed was done. Cullen was previously sentenced to seven years imprisonment, with three and a half years suspended, after pleading guilty to firearms charges in July 2014. The court accepted that surveillance of alleged paramilitaries is a dangerous aspect of policing, justifying the exclusion of the public and the use of initials for witness identities. The trial is continuing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges John O'Hagan and Anne Ryan.
Five men were sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for the killing of Dale Creighton, who died from blunt force injuries after a 14-minute assault at a Tallaght footbridge in 2014. The defendants, originally charged with murder, changed their pleas to guilty of manslaughter. Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy described the attack as prolonged and vicious, noting that the victims were 'pretty normal, average young people.' Graham Palmer (26) was jailed for five years; Ross Callery (23) and Jason Beresford (23) each received six-year sentences; David Burke (28) was sentenced to seven and a half years; and Gerard Stevens (27) received three years. Aisling Burke (23), who pleaded guilty to violent disorder, was given a five-year sentence with the final four years suspended for two years, though the imposition of this sentence was adjourned for one week to allow her to arrange childcare. James Reid (26), who pleaded guilty to possession of a knife, received a fully suspended two-year sentence and entered a €1,000 bond to be of good behaviour for two years. The victim's family expressed disappointment at the leniency of the sentences, particularly regarding the suspended portions.
A homeless family of seven, represented by Cormac Ó Dúlacháin SC, has filed a High Court challenge to regain emergency accommodation at the Abberley Court Hotel in Tallaght after claiming they were unlawfully evicted on 22 December. The family, including Gareth Phelan, Lisa Murphy, their three children and two from a previous relationship, argue that their current accommodation at the Regency Hotel in Drumcondra is unsuitable and that they received no written notice explaining the withdrawal. They allege that the eviction was linked to complaints Phelan made about the hotel's conditions and a health‑and‑safety incident involving a sock on a smoke detector. The family seeks an order quashing the withdrawal, declarations that the decision was irrational and a breach of constitutional and European Convention rights, and damages. Mr Justice Seamus Noonan adjourned the hearing to Friday morning.
The Special Criminal Court will decide tomorrow whether eleven Garda National Surveillance Unit members can give evidence anonymously and whether the public must be excluded from the re‑trial of Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (46) for the 2013 murder of Peter Butterly. The court has been told that the gun used was monitored by the unit and that a protected witness will testify against the two men. McGrath denies unlawful possession of a Beretta pistol and ammunition and denies intent to endanger life. A third accused, Dean Evans (24), was absent and not located, so the trial will proceed without him. The case is the second trial for McGrath and Kelly after the original collapsed in 2015. Prosecuting counsel said David Cullen, a protected witness, will testify that Kelly instructed him to collect and hide the gun, and that Cullen was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment with three and a half years suspended for firearms charges. Edward McGrath pleaded not guilty. Sharif Kelly pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court heard that the car used by the gunman in the murder of Peter Butterly was under Garda surveillance. Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly, who have pleaded not guilty to the murder of the 35-year-old father of three, are currently on trial. The prosecution alleged that McGrath drove a silver Toyota Corolla into the Huntsman Inn car park in Gormanston, Co Meath, on March 6, 2013, where Butterly was shot dead. A third accused, Dean Evans, who allegedly fired the shots, failed to appear and has not been located; the court proceeded with the trial in his absence. Prosecution counsel stated that a protected witness, David Cullen, would testify that Kelly directed him to dispose of the weapon and that Kelly's role was to pick up McGrath and Evans after the incident. Cullen was previously sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with three and a half years suspended, after pleading guilty to firearms charges in July 2014. The court was told that surveillance units intercepted the vehicle, leading to the arrest of McGrath and Evans, while Kelly was arrested upon arrival in another car. The trial before Mr Justice Tony Hunt continues on Monday.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing in Dublin, three men—Dean Evans (26), Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (46)—were scheduled to stand trial for the murder of Peter Butterly, a 35‑year‑old father of two, who was shot dead in the car park of the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co. Meath, on 6 March 2013. McGrath and Kelly appeared in court and were remanded on continuing bail until Friday. Evans, however, failed to attend the hearing. The court noted that Evans had not been seen since Sunday and that his family were "concerned" about his whereabouts. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges John O'Hagan and Anne Ryan, issued a warrant for Evans's arrest and remanded Kelly and McGrath on continuing bail until the following day. The case remains at the trial stage, with no further outcomes reported in the article.
Evan Metcalfe, a 22‑year‑old boxer from Crumlin, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to making threats to kill on two occasions. The first threat was made at a house in Walkinstown on 19 August 2013, when he allegedly pointed a gun at a former Russian soldier, though no weapon was recovered. The second threat occurred on 6 July 2015 at the Ashleaf shopping centre, where he told a mobile‑phone shop manager that he would "get" him after work and threatened to "brain" him. Gardaí found €340 worth of cannabis in Metcalfe's home during a search. Judge Petria McDonnell imposed an 18‑month suspended sentence, requiring payment of €2,000 in compensation to the victim. The sentence was given on the condition that Metcalfe does not reoffend, with the judge warning that further offences would result in full custodial time. The case highlights the court's concern that his conduct was inconsistent with the discipline of boxing. Evan Metcalfe was convicted.
John McDonald, aged 58, was sentenced to 18 months in jail in May 2015 for stealing nearly €10,000 from the life savings of his 74‑year‑old friend, Matthew Murphy, while Murphy was hospitalised. McDonald had befriended Murphy, who was 80 at the time of the theft, and had given him an ATM card and PIN to manage his errands. When Murphy was admitted to hospital, McDonald withdrew €9,843 in 29 transactions. After Murphy's discharge, his account held only €15. McDonald pleaded guilty in 2012 and sought a postponement to repay the victim, claiming he had inherited €20,000 and needed time for the cheque to clear. He fled to Northern Ireland until 2015. He has 15 prior convictions, mainly for forgery and larceny.
Seven defendants appeared before the Central Criminal Court for sentencing following the death of Dale Creighton, who died from blunt force injuries sustained during an assault on a Tallaght footbridge on New Year's Day 2014. Originally charged with murder, the group pleaded guilty to lesser offences on the 15th day of their trial. Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, Gerard Stevens, Jason Beresford, and David Burke each pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Jason Beresford also pleaded guilty to violent disorder, as did Aisling Burke. James Reid pleaded guilty to possession of a knife with a blade or sharp point. The court heard victim impact statements from Creighton's parents, who expressed their enduring grief and stated they would never forgive those responsible. Counsel for the defendants submitted mitigation, noting that most expressed remorse and had no prior convictions. Aisling Burke's counsel highlighted her status as a mother and her early plea. Graham Palmer's counsel noted his cooperation with Gardaí and admission of involvement in punching and slapping the deceased. David Burke's counsel argued he did not cause serious harm and attempted to stop others. The judge is now considering appropriate sentences for these admitted offences.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 21 December 2016, Terence 'Terry' Connors, aged 42, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for the death of Peter Conroy, aged 25, at Palmerstown Lodge B&B on 9 June 2015. Connors had pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter, but the prosecution rejected his plea. The jury, composed of seven women and five men, deliberated over five hours and returned a verdict by a 10‑to‑two majority. Connors was also convicted of a second count of assaulting Elaine Blunt on the same night. The court experienced violent scenes as family and friends of the deceased shouted and surged toward Connors; police and Gardaí in stab vests contained the crowd. The case was adjourned for mention on 17 January. The prosecution's case relied on CCTV footage and a witness statement from Blunt, who claimed to have seen Connors stab Conroy.
Anvar Ghambari, 39, was sentenced to a suspended three‑year prison term after stabbing Majid Suhrabi four times in the head during a school run in Tallaght on 1 March 2016. The attack, carried out with a metal stabiliser from a child's bicycle, was motivated by alleged comments about Ghambari's wife. School children witnessed the assault and were frightened. Ghambari pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. He had spent almost two weeks in custody before the sentencing. The judge, Martin Nolan, deemed the incident a one‑off lapse, noting no prior convictions and a positive probation report, and therefore suspended the custodial sentence in full. The court ordered that neither man bring their sons to school to avoid a repeat incident. No further incidents have been reported since the assault.
A jury will return to the Central Criminal Court tomorrow to decide the verdict in the trial of Terence 'Terry' Connors, 42, of Drumcairn Avenue, Tallaght, Dublin 24. Connors has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Peter Conroy, 27, at Palmerstown Lodge B&B on 9 June 2015. His manslaughter plea was not accepted by the State. He also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Elaine Blunt on the same date at the same location. Justice Paul Butler explained that the jury has three possible verdicts: not guilty if he acted in self‑defence with no more force than necessary; not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter if he used more force than necessary; or guilty of murder if the prosecution proves beyond reasonable doubt that he was not acting in self‑defence and intended to kill or cause serious injury.
Terence 'Terry' Connors, aged 42, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of Peter Conroy, 27, at Palmerstown Lodge B&B on 9 June 2015. He also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Elaine Blunt on the same day. Defence argued Connors was defending his partner Brigid when he used a knife after being provoked by a vodka bottle thrown at him or his son. The barrister highlighted CCTV showing a fight in the hallway and Connors' involvement only after the provocation. Prosecutor Paul Carroll countered that Connors brought a concealed knife, used it to stab Conroy, and that the natural consequence of such an act is death. He urged the jury to consider Connors' claim of self‑defence and to decide on the appropriate charge. The case was presented to a jury of twelve at the Central Criminal Court, with the judge to charge them tomorrow.
The sentence hearing for seven accused in the 2014 death of Dale Creighton was adjourned, with Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy indicating sentences will be announced in January. The accused, originally charged with murder, pleaded guilty to lesser offences after their initial not-guilty pleas were withdrawn during trial. Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, Gerard Stevens, Jason Beresford, and David Burke pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Jason Beresford and Aisling Burke pleaded guilty to violent disorder. James Reid pleaded guilty to possession of a knife. Evidence presented included CCTV footage and testimony from Sergeant Brian Cagney, who stated Creighton was found unconscious on a Tallaght footbridge without a mobile phone, despite an allegation he had stolen one. Creighton died from blunt force injuries. The court noted prior convictions for David Burke, James Reid, and Gerard Stevens. A letter from Beresford, read by counsel, apologized to the Creighton family. The matter remains pending final sentencing.
In a sentencing hearing that began on 19 December 2016, five Dublin men who had admitted killing a 20‑year‑old on a Tallaght footbridge on New Year's Morning 2014 were sentenced. The men, all in their twenties and from Tallaght, had originally been charged with murder but the charges were dropped on the 15th day of the trial after they pleaded guilty to lesser offences. The victims' death was caused by blunt force injury to the head and face. The defendants – Aisling Burke (23), David Burke (28), Graham Palmer (26), Ross Callery (23), James Reid (26), Jason Beresford (23) and Gerard Stevens (27) – had all pleaded not guilty to murder but later pleaded guilty to manslaughter, violent disorder or possession of a knife. The court heard CCTV footage and Garda interview memos during the hearing.
Conor Clarke, 24, was released on bail after pleading guilty to burglary, theft and criminal damage at Tessa House, a homeless shelter in Dublin. He admitted breaking into the shelter on 21 November 2015, smashing a cash register and causing damage costing just over €2,600, including €2,122 for repairs and a €500 new register. Clarke, who has 47 prior convictions, was in custody since February and has undergone drug counselling in prison. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned finalisation to March 28, allowing Clarke to remain on bail for several months to see if he can maintain the progress he has made in prison, citing his recent fatherhood as motivation. The case will return to court for finalisation on 28 March.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, Terence 'Terry' Connors, aged 42, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of Peter Conroy, 27, at Palmerstown Lodge B&B on 9 June 2015. The State did not accept the manslaughter plea. Connors also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Elaine Blunt on the same day. He testified that he had been at the B&B with his partner Brigid, had taken a small amount of cocaine and been drinking, and that men were "roaring and shouting" at his children. He claimed he "blanked" when he heard his boys and took a knife he had bought a week earlier, saying he did not intend to kill anyone and was sorry the incident occurred. CCTV footage was cited by both sides, with defence arguing it showed Connors only intervening after a glass was thrown at his children. The trial continues before a jury of twelve.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Keith Byrne, aged 32 and with 44 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to possession of €300 worth of cannabis and to making threats to kill or seriously harm staff at Bewleys Hotel, Sandyford, on 15 February 2014. Byrne, who had threatened staff with a screwdriver and said he would "murder" them, is now in a residential rehabilitation program at New Hope in Tallaght. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the matter to 3 October 2017, stating that if Byrne continues to make progress in treatment and engages in services, the court would consider a non‑custodial resolution. The judge noted Byrne's current rehabilitation and the possibility of a non‑custodial outcome if he maintains his progress. The case remains pending, with no jail sentence imposed at this stage.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Terence 'Terry' Connors, aged 42, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of Peter Conroy, 27, who was stabbed at Palmerstown Lodge B&B on 9 June 2015. Professor Marie Cassidy testified that Conroy suffered four knife wounds, including one to the neck that severed a major artery. Connors also faced a not‑guilty plea for assaulting Elaine Blunt at the same address. During the trial, Blunt was warned by Judge Paul Butler that she could be removed and held if she did not behave after a confrontation with defence counsel Garnet Orange SC. Blunt testified that she had been at a wedding that night, that she had a fight with Connors' partner Brigid over stolen jeans, and that she saw Connors stab Conroy with a knife. The trial continues before Justice Butler and a jury.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 14 December 2016, Terry (Terence) Connors, aged 42, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of Peter Conroy, 27, who was stabbed at Palmerstown Lodge B&B on 9 June 2015. Connors also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Elaine Blunt, Conroy's partner, at the same address. The prosecution presented mainly oral evidence and CCTV footage from the B&B, showing the early‑morning events, a fight between two women, and Connors' presence on the premises. The court heard from Garda Sharon Hanly, who described the scene with Conroy lying on the footpath and a male holding a towel to his neck, and from Chief State Pathologist Marie Cassidy, who attributed Conroy's death to hemorrhage and shock from a knife wound to the neck and stab wounds to the head and neck. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Butler, was expected to last three to four days.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Christy Connors, aged 27, was given a suspended three‑year sentence after pleading guilty to producing a rod‑like device for burglary in Dun Laoghaire on 28 January 2015. Connors had 162 prior convictions and was caught with house‑breaking tools within 24 hours of his release on 9 January 2015. He had previously received a four‑year sentence in 2013, with the final year suspended, for assaulting an off‑duty Garda and stealing a handbag in 2011. Judge Melanie Greally, after hearing evidence and a probation report, imposed a suspended sentence and ordered 18 months of probation supervision. Garda Neill Doyle recounted spotting Connors with a whip‑like implement used to fish out car keys, leading to his arrest and pepper‑spray restraint. The court noted Connors' difficult background, his recent desire to reform, and his lack of family contact since 2008.
A jury of five men and seven women was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the trial of Terry (Terence) Connors, 42, of Drumcairn Avenue, Tallaght, Dublin 24. Connors pleaded not guilty to the murder of Peter Conroy, 25, at Palmerstown Lodge B&B on 9 June 2015. The trial is set to begin Wednesday afternoon and is expected to last three to four days.
A man who pleaded guilty to robbing an Apache Pizza outlet in Tallaght in September 2015 appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Craig Dempsey, aged 25, admitted the robbery of the restaurant in Oldbawn Shopping Centre, where €2,535 was taken. He also pleaded guilty to a separate robbery of a Spar store in Ballycullen in July 2015, during which he produced a broken bottle. Gardaí recovered his DNA from a blood-stained till and clothing found at the scene. The court heard Dempsey had relocated from Dublin to Mayo to distance himself from negative influences and had engaged with local boxing and community activities. His defence counsel cited a significant drug debt as the motivation for the offences and referenced personal trauma. Judge Melanie Greally expressed concern about his non-engagement with probation services previously but offered one final opportunity for him to comply with such services in Mayo. Sentencing has been adjourned to April 2017.
Thomas Kinsella, 37, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by reason of self‑defence after stabbing John Murdoch in Tallaght on 27 August 2011. The Central Criminal Court jury accepted that Kinsella believed he was acting in self‑defence and used no more force than he thought necessary. He was originally sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment, with the final five years suspended. On appeal the Court of Appeal held that the 14‑year starting point was "seriously out of line" with comparable manslaughter cases and re‑sentenced him to 11 years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years. The judge noted Kinsella's progress in custody, including attendance at AA meetings and being free of drugs and alcohol, and expressed hope that he will avoid re‑offending after release.
In a High Court case, the O'Reilly family, who bought a three‑bedroom duplex in Saggart in 2005, claim that the property was defective, with condensation, mould and poor ventilation causing respiratory infections in their seven‑ and nine‑year‑old sons. After medical tests in 2010 revealed a lung mass in one son, the family left the house and have lived in rented accommodation since. They sued the builders and developers, alleging negligence and breach of duty for failing to ensure the property was defect‑free. The defendants, based in Co. Wexford, deny the claims and say they offered repairs, which the O'Reillys refused. The court heard evidence of leaks, mould, water ingress and a collapsed bath, and that the mould was deemed toxic by experts. The case is pending before Mr Justice Donald Binchy.
Augustin Ion, a 49‑year‑old taxi driver, was found guilty of sexually assaulting a young woman while transporting her from a city centre pub to her home on the night of 20 November 2014. During the ride Ion groped the woman's breast, held her head back against the car seat, and asked her to sit in the back seat and to allow him to enter her house with her. He also attempted to kiss her on the side of the face and rubbed the back of her head. The woman, who had been drinking, told Ion she was uncomfortable and tried to leave. A jury, after a single day of evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, returned a guilty verdict in just under three hours. Ion was released on bail pending sentencing on 23 January, with conditions that he not drive a taxi or apply for a new passport until the outcome of the case. Augustin Ion pleaded not guilty.
Judge Melanie Greally addressed legal teams at a pre-trial hearing in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court regarding the upcoming trial of Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy, Dublin Councillor Kieran Mahon, and four other men. The defendants face charges arising from the alleged false imprisonment of then Tánaiste Joan Burton during a water protest in Jobstown on November 15, 2014. The judge warned that jury selection would be a "difficult exercise" due to potential sympathies for either side, instructing counsel to identify unsuitable jurors by the next pre-trial hearing on January 26. Prosecuting counsel Tony McGillicuddy noted that all defendants sought a second pre-trial hearing to reach consensus on these matters. The trial is scheduled to proceed as planned on April 24. The accused include Michael Murphy, Frank Donaghy, Ken Purcell, Michael Banks, and Scott Masterson. Additionally, the court noted that a second trial of six people accused of false imprisonment is due for October 2, 2017, with a pre-trial hearing on June 8, 2017. A final trial of five people accused of violent disorder is set for April 9, 2018, with a pre-trial date of December 13, 2017. The matter was adjourned to the next pre-trial date.