A 27‑year‑old man, Ciaran Moran, was charged with the murder of Gerard Donnelly, a man believed to have been from Tallaght who was found dead in Phoenix Park after a fire near the Wellington Monument. Donnelly, who had a fractured skull and was identified by dental records and DNA, had been sleeping rough in the park. Moran, who had a bruised eye and cuts on his head, was arrested and detained under Section Four of the Criminal Justice Act. He was charged at Cabra Garda Station and made no reply after caution. The court remanded him in custody for one week to appear again at Cloverhill District Court on 10 December. Legal aid and continued medical attention were granted for Moran during his remand.
A 42‑year‑old woman, Gail O'Rorke of Tallaght, was charged under Section 2 of the Criminal Law (Suicide) Act 1993 for allegedly assisting the suicide of Bernadette Forde, a 51‑year‑old multiple sclerosis sufferer, between March 10 and June 6, 2011 in Dublin. O'Rorke was arrested at Donnybrook Garda Station and pleaded not guilty. The DPP directed that she face trial on indictment, with the book of evidence already completed. Judge Michael Walsh ordered her to be sent to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where her next hearing is scheduled for December 13. Bail was not opposed and could be set at €100. O'Rorke was remanded on bail, and the defence solicitor requested legal aid, which was granted. A conviction for assisted suicide can carry up to 14 years' imprisonment.
Eight men from Dublin were arrested on Good Friday after a Garda search of a commercial premises in Clondalkin, part of an investigation into dissident republicans. They were charged on March 29, 2013, before the Special Criminal Court with membership of an unlawful organisation, namely Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The accused – Kevin Braney (38), Des Christie (49), Eamon McNamee (32), Hubert Duffy (45), William Jackson (53), Declan Phelan (31), John Brock (40) and Darren Murphy (42) – were all brought before the court on Easter Sunday. Counsel for the State, Vincent Heneghan, said evidence had been served and the trial was expected to take about six weeks. Judge Paul Butler set the trial for January 13, 2015, and instructed the men that any alibi defence must be notified within 14 days, with witnesses only allowed to appear with 21 days' notice. The court would adjust its schedule to accommodate the case.
Seven men from Dublin were charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) at a Special Criminal Court hearing in July 2013. The accused – Peter Burns (39), Kevin Braney (39), Michael Barr (33), Brian Nick McBennett (54), John Brock (41), Declan Phelan (31) and Desmond Christie (49) – were all charged on the same date, 3 July, with membership of an unlawful organisation. Four of them – Braney, Phelan, Brock and Christie – had also been arrested on Good Friday following a Garda search of a commercial premises in Clondalkin, and were charged again on 29 March 2013. Mr Vincent Heneghan BL for the State announced that books of evidence could be served on all accused. Judge Paul Butler scheduled the case for mention again on 11 December and noted that the next hearing could be conducted via video link, though he would adjourn if the matter turned into something else and required the accused to appear in person.
A garda, Damien Dempsey, who admitted using a missing motor tax disc from his station on his own car, had theft and fraud charges dismissed by a judge. However, he was fined €500 for not having his car taxed. Dempsey, who had previously been found guilty of stealing the tax disc, fraudulently using it, and not having motor insurance, had his remaining charges dismissed. The judge ruled there was no evidence of intent to permanently deprive someone of the disc or a demand for an insurance certificate. Dempsey, who has over 20 years of service, admitted not having his car taxed but pleaded not guilty to the other charges. He explained that he took the disc when his car's tax ran out and faced financial difficulties, including a broken marriage and monthly expenses of €2,500. He stated he never intended the act to be theft and was struggling with financial stress and anxiety.
A 31‑year‑old Limerick man, Gary Yeung, was granted bail by the Special Criminal Court after being charged with unlawful possession of two handguns – a .455 Colt "New Service" revolver and a .455 Webley Mark 6 revolver – and with possession of ammunition at his home. He was also charged with possession of a .22‑250 calibre Sako round and a .357 Mag CBC round. Yeung's co‑accused, 65‑year‑old Patrick Kennedy, was charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styled the Irish Republican Army. Yeung's bail conditions include an independent surety of €20,000, a personal bond of €100, curfew from 11 pm to 7 am, surrender of his passport, prohibition on travel outside the jurisdiction, residence at his Limerick address, and restrictions on communication with witnesses and other offenders. He must also provide a mobile phone number to the Gardaí and keep it in use at all times.