A 65‑year‑old Galway man, whose identity is withheld to protect his daughter's anonymity, will be sentenced on 13 November for raping his daughter and threatening her mother with a shotgun. He denied one count of rape and six counts of sexual assault that took place between August 1991 and August 1993. A jury at the Central Criminal Court found him guilty on all charges after just under three hours of deliberation. The offences occurred in the family home where the victim lived with her parents and three siblings. The complainant, who was about nine or ten when the first incident occurred, described her father entering her room drunk, using a shotgun, removing her underwear, molesting her for a few minutes, and threatening to shoot her mother if she reported the abuse. She reported similar incidents on six to eight further occasions, including a brief rape attempt, a slap, and repeated threats.
The High Court granted a summary judgment of €8.7 million to Seaconview Designated Activity Company against Mr John Lally, a former director of Brackville Holdings Limited. Seaconview claimed that in 2006 Mr Lally had entered into an Interest Shortfall Agreement, guaranteeing Brackville's interest payments on an €82.5 million loan. When the loan was later acquired by Seaconview in 2015, the company demanded €88.1 million from Brackville in 2016; after a receiver was appointed and the assets sold, the net proceeds were used to reduce Brackville's liabilities, but Seaconview alleged that €8.7 million of interest remained unpaid. Mr Lally sought to postpone the judgment to a full hearing, arguing procedural delays and disputing figures in Seaconview's demand letter. The judge found no defence from Mr Lally, rejected his objections, and ruled that Seaconview was entitled to the judgment. The decision was delivered by Mr Justice Max Barrett on 20 July 2017.
Promontoria (Arrow) Ltd is seeking a €9.68 million judgment against three former partners of the Bridgeford Partnership—Mr Pat Burke of Dunmore, Mr John Donnelly of Boyne Hill, and Mr John Fleming of Clonskeagh—over an alleged failure to repay a loan advanced in 2009. The fund claims it received a €9.4 million loan from EBS Building Society in February 2009 to restructure an existing debt and provide a capitalised facility, secured by the Bridgeford Bar & Restaurant in Drogheda and a site on Bredin Street. The loan was repayable by February 2011, transferred to National Asset Loan Management Ltd, and later acquired by Promontoria in 2015. In January the fund demanded repayment of the outstanding €9.68 million, including interest, and appointed a receiver over the secured assets.
Darren Martyn, 25, of Cloonbeggin, Claregalway, Co. Galway, was sentenced in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for hacking into News International's website in July 2011. Martyn pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal damage to data. The court heard that he and co-accused Donncha O'Cearbhaill, then members of Lulzsec, redirected users to a fake story claiming Rupert Murdoch was dead. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a nine-month suspended sentence on Martyn, citing his guilty plea, cooperation with the investigation, and his subsequent positive professional development as a security researcher and lecturer. She noted the offence involved considerable planning and premeditation. In March, co-accused Donncha O'Cearbhaill, 24, also received a nine-month suspended sentence for his part in the hacking. The judge acknowledged the serious nature of the breach, which caused significant downtime for The Sun and sister sites, but accepted mitigation regarding Martyn's maturity and current employment. The matter was finalised with the imposition of these suspended sentences.
Promontoria (Arrow) Limited has applied for summary judgment of €30.5 million against Patrick (Paddy) Kennedy of Slieverue, Athenry, Co. Galway, alleging he failed to repay loans originally advanced by AIB for land purchases between August 2006 and August 2009 and later acquired by NAMA. Promontoria, having bought the loans from NAMA in December 2015, demanded repayment and appointed receivers over Kennedy's assets, including properties in Portumna, Athenry and an apartment in Waterford. The application was heard by Mr Justice Brian McGovern, who placed the case on the fast‑track Commercial Court list, with a hearing scheduled for July.
Terence Murphy, aged 35, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for his role in a shooting at a house in Ballyfermot, Dublin. The final eighteen months of the sentence were suspended. Murphy was present when his co‑accused, Daniel Ennis, fired two shots at the house, and he was clearly visible on CCTV footage captured by Gardai. Murphy was arrested shortly after the incident. He pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances on 8 May 2015 and has 26 prior convictions. Ennis received a four‑year sentence for his part in the shooting. Murphy's guilty plea, his time in custody, and the fact that he was not the gun‑bearer were cited as mitigating factors by Judge Melanie Greally, who ordered him to meet with a probation supervisor for the 18 months following his release.
A senior nursing executive with the HSE has successfully appealed against her temporary re-assignment to a non-clinical role. The Court of Appeal found that the HSE breached the employment contract of the Area Director of Nursing for Galway/Roscommon Mental Health Services when it moved her from clinical and managerial duties in July 2015. The re-assignment occurred while a review was underway into allegations concerning mental health facilities in Roscommon, though the executive herself was not under investigation or disciplinary process. The Mental Health Commission had raised serious concerns about service-user welfare and management responses at the facilities. The three-judge court rejected the HSE's argument that an implied contractual term permitted such re-assignment in crisis circumstances. The court noted the review, which commenced in 2015, was expected to conclude imminently. The matter was adjourned to allow both parties to consider the decision.
On 4 February 2015, Robert Faherty, 63, was driving without headlights when Grainne Duncan's bicycle struck his car, leaving her in a coma for two months. Faherty, who had no prior convictions and a clean driving record, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious harm. Judge Pauline Codd, noting the absence of speed, alcohol, or road fault, described the incident as a momentary lapse rather than reckless behaviour. She imposed a nine‑month suspended sentence, citing Faherty's remorse, psychiatric report, and daily reliance on his vehicle. No driving ban was imposed. Duncan, 45, remains in a vegetative state, requiring full assistance, and her husband has pursued civil action for medical costs estimated at €540,000. The court acknowledged the profound impact on Duncan's life and her family's suffering.
Gerard Walsh, 38, pleaded guilty to burglary at a valet service he had previously worked for in Liffey Valley, Dublin, on 20 March 2015. He admitted stealing six sets of car keys and three vehicles—a Volkswagen Touran, a Volkswagen Passat and an Audi A6 Avant—to pay a drug debt. Two of the cars were recovered; the third was found a year later, resulting in an estimated loss of €3,500 to the owner. The court also noted that Walsh had previously been convicted of public order and theft offences, dealt with 15 years earlier. Judge Melanie Greally, acknowledging Walsh's difficult personal circumstances and his efforts to rehabilitate, imposed a suspended three‑year sentence and required him to pay €3,500 in compensation to his former employer. The sentence was suspended, with no immediate custodial term imposed. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 31‑year‑old Latvian man, Andrejs Krauze, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his 30‑year‑old brother, Juris Buls, who was strangled in July 2011 in Galway. The jury, after nearly five hours of deliberation, found Krauze guilty of murder. The prosecution argued that Krauze killed Buls after the victim refused to withdraw an assault complaint. Victim impact statements were read by the court, detailing Buls's role as a hardworking family provider who had moved to Ireland for better opportunities. The judge, Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan, imposed the mandatory life sentence, back‑dated to January 2016. The case highlighted the discovery of Buls's body in a drain and the subsequent investigation that led to Krauze's arrest and extradition. The sentencing was conducted without the presence of Buls's relatives, who were unable to attend in Ireland. Andrejs Krauze pleaded not guilty.
Darren Martyn, 24, of Cloonbeggin, Claregalway, Co. Galway, pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal damage to data belonging to News International in July 2011. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Martyn, then 19 and a member of Lulzsec, hacked into The Sun's website, redirecting users to a fake story claiming Rupert Murdoch was dead. Garda Marion Brennan stated the hacking caused The Sun, The Times, and The Sunday Times websites to shut down for hours, with full restoration taking three weeks. Martyn's co-accused, Donncha O'Cearbhaill, received a suspended sentence last month. Judge Karen O'Connor remanded Martyn on continuing bail to May 24 for sentence. Defence barrister Leo Mulrooney BL described the case as exceptionally complicated, noting Martyn's guilty pleas were of huge assistance. Mulrooney highlighted that Martyn, who has no previous convictions, is now a security researcher and university lecturer, using his skills to prevent cybercrime. He urged the court to impose a non-custodial sentence, arguing the risk of re-offending was very slim. Martyn apologized for his actions, stating he no longer holds the views he had at the time of the offence.
In a 2011 murder case in Galway, a 31‑year‑old Latvian man, Andresj Krauze, was found guilty of strangling fellow Latvian Juris Buls, aged 30, after Buls had lodged a complaint with the Gardaí. The prosecution argued that Krauze strangled Buls when the victim refused to withdraw his complaint. The body was discovered in a drain two weeks later. A jury of twelve deliberated for just under five hours and returned a unanimous guilty verdict after a three‑week trial. Justice Margaret Heneghan announced that a mandatory life sentence would be imposed on 26 April, pending a statement from Buls's sister. Krauze pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. The case involved a search of Funshin Wood, where Garda Sergeant Shane Birmingham found a body in a drain, and subsequent extradition of Krauze from England to Latvia and back to Ireland.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury of twelve is set to deliver a verdict on the murder trial of Latvian man Andresj Krauze, aged 31, accused of killing fellow Latvian Juris Buls, 30, whose body was found in a drain in Galway on 7 or 8 July 2011. Krauze has pleaded not guilty. The judge, Justice Margaret Heneghan, clarified that the jury must focus solely on whether Krauze killed Buls and intended to kill or cause serious injury, ignoring any prior guilty plea by Krauze's brother Sergejs. She outlined three possible verdicts: guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. The jury's deliberations, which lasted four hours, will resume tomorrow to decide among these options. The trial remains at the jury's discretion, with no further procedural developments reported.
A jury has begun deliberating on the verdict in the trial of Latvian man Andresj Krauze, aged 31, who is accused of murdering fellow Latvian Juris Buls, 30, whose body was found in a drain in Galway. The alleged murder took place on an unknown date in July 2011. Krauze pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. Justice Margaret Heneghan explained to the jury that there are three possible verdicts: guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. She outlined the criteria for each verdict, including the requirement that the prosecution prove beyond reasonable doubt that Krauze intended to kill or cause serious injury and was not acting in self‑defence. The jury, composed of six men and six women, has spent one hour and 24 minutes deliberating and will return to court tomorrow.
A former Latvian policeman, Andresj Krauze, aged 31, is on trial in the Central Criminal Court for the murder of 30‑year‑old Juris Buls, whose body was found in a Galway drain near Glenamaddy. Krauze pleaded not guilty. The prosecution presented evidence that Buls had not shown up for work on the night of 7 July 2011 and that his girlfriend reported him missing, leading to the discovery of his body weeks later. The jury heard that Buls had previously alleged assault against Krauze. In March 2012, Latvian police officer Juris Gabrens testified via video link from Latvia, describing how he was contacted by Irish authorities regarding Buls's death and how he interviewed Krauze in prison on 9 March 2012. Gabrens noted that Krauze refused a solicitor, signed the interrogation minutes, and was warned of potential consequences for refusing to answer.
The Court of Appeal has extended the freezing orders that prevent Mary Walsh, a 66‑year‑old woman from County Galway, from reducing the value of her assets until her appeal against a ruling that she must pay a one‑sixth share of a €3.3 million lotto win to her stepson, David Walsh, is decided. The High Court had ordered that Walsh could not reduce her assets below €929,000, a figure that included €65,000 for potential legal costs. The appeal court, satisfied that Walsh had "arguable grounds of appeal," has placed an unconditional stay on the judgment and reduced the frozen asset threshold to €864,000. No further action will be taken on the assets, including a €425,000 mortgage on her home and a €141,000 life‑insurance claim, until the appeal is resolved. David Walsh's lawyers have registered a judgment mortgage and secured orders against Walsh's life‑insurance policies.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 31‑year‑old Latvian named Andresj Krauze was accused of murdering 30‑year‑old Juris Buls in Galway on 7 or 8 July 2011. Buls, also Latvian, had not shown up for work at midnight and was later found dead in a drain near Glenamaddy. Krauze admitted the killing during an interview in a Latvian prison, where he demonstrated to Gardaí how he had killed Buls. He described a confrontation in which he claimed to have forced Buls' neck, found Buls dead, and then hid the body in a drain. The jury heard testimony from Garda Kevin Brennan, who had taken Buls' complaint, and from detectives Michael Kelly and Michael O'Driscoll, who interviewed Krauze in Riga. The trial is ongoing before Justice Margaret Heneghan. Andresj Krauze pleaded not guilty.
In March 2017 the High Court granted Peter Mulryan leave to sue Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to obtain information about his sister Marian Bridget Mulryan, who is believed to have died at the Tuam Mother and Baby Home. Mulryan, a retired ESB technician from Derrymullen, Ballinasloe, seeks a declaration that communications sent to his solicitor in 2016 created a legitimate expectation that Tusla would investigate all records concerning his sister. He also requests an order for Tusla to provide a printed booklet of all documentation it holds about St Mary's Home, including burial records, admission books, death certificates, adoption documents and correspondence. The court adjourned the matter for four weeks and confirmed that Tusla's offer to allow Mulryan to inspect scanned materials remains open. The case is still pending before the court.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Andresj Krauze, 31, of Glenamaddy, Co Galway, continues before Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan. Krauze has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Juris Buls at an unknown time on July 7 or 8, 2011, in County Galway. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that he was asked by gardai to examine the body, which was found largely submerged in a bog drain near Glenamaddy on July 24, 2011. Dr Curtis noted the body was in a state of putrefaction, with discoloured tissues and green foliage covering it. He reported bruising to the right side of the neck and a fracture to the left extension of the Adam's apple, while confirming no skull fractures, brain injury, or other body fractures were present. Dr Curtis attributed the cause of death to neck compression, stating this was more consistent with an armlock or headlock than a ligature. He added that while putrefaction may have obscured some bruising, any cuts or wounds would still have been apparent. The trial is ongoing, with no verdict, sentence, or finalisation recorded at this procedural stage.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 31‑year‑old Latvian man, Andresj Krauze, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 30‑year‑old Juris Buls, who was found dead in a drain near Glenamaddy on 7 or 8 July 2011. The jury heard that Buls had not appeared for work at midnight on 7 July and was reported missing by his girlfriend on 9 July. Garda Alan Sheerin examined Buls's clothing—jacket, sweatshirt and jeans—and testified that the pockets were normal‑sized and could not conceal a large knife. A forensic scientist, Dr Hilary Clarke, confirmed that a stain on Buls's bedroom floor contained his DNA, matching the blood found on the body. She also obtained a partial DNA profile from a cable tie near the body, which was accepted by the defence. The trial will resume on Monday with testimony from Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis.
During a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, a forensic scientist presented evidence that blood matching the deceased Latvian man, Juris Buls, was found in the bedroom of the accused, Andresj Krauze, a 31‑year‑old from Dudley Heights, Glenamaddy. Buls had been reported missing by his girlfriend on the morning of July 9, 2011, after failing to appear for work at midnight on July 7. Gardaí discovered his body in a drain outside the town a few weeks later. On July 9, investigators noted a stain on the floor of Buls's bedroom. Dr Hilary Clarke confirmed that DNA testing of the stain matched Buls's profile. She also tested a cable tie found near the body, obtaining a partial DNA profile that also matched Buls. The defense accepted the presence of Buls's DNA on the cable tie. The trial continues before Justice Margaret Heneghan. Andresj Krauze pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Latvian man Andresj Krauze, aged 31, at the Central Criminal Court heard evidence that he was accused of murdering Juris Buls, also from Latvia, on 7 or 8 July 2011 in Galway. Gardaí searching for a missing 30‑year‑old man found his body in a murky drain in Funshin Wood a few weeks after he failed to turn up for work on 7 July. The accused's brother, Sergejs Krauze, accompanied the search. Sergeant Shane Birmingham testified that he discovered the body by noticing a boot heel in the drain and that the remains were likely in that area. Sergeant Michael Kelly reported finding a full lunch in a lunchbox at Buls's home and other domestic details. The case remains before Justice Margaret Heneghan. Andresj Krauze pleaded not guilty.
An application by Peter Mulryan, a 73‑year‑old man from Derrymullen, Ballinasloe, seeks information about his infant sister Marian Bridget Mulryan, who is believed to have died in February 1955 at St Mary's mother and baby home in Tuam. Mulryan has brought proceedings against Tusla, requesting any material that may exist concerning his sister. Tusla claims it has provided all information it knows and has made its records available to the Commission investigating the Tuam home. The case was returned before Mr Justice Richard Humphreys, who considered whether to grant permission for a full hearing or a telescoped hearing combining the leave application and the full hearing. The judge adjourned the matter to allow Mulryan's lawyers to consider further amendments to the statement of grounds. The adjournment gives the parties time to clarify the orders sought. The court had previously adjourned the leave application several times to clarify the exact orders being requested.
During the second day of Andresj Krauze's murder trial, the jury heard that his brother, Sergejs Krauze, had been convicted of manslaughter in the death of Juris Buls. Garda Cormac Bane presented CCTV footage from Glenamaddy showing a maroon‑coloured Honda Accord, similar to Sergejs's car, arriving an hour after Buls' girlfriend left his home. The footage also suggested a black Audi, Buls' vehicle, was seen driving around four hours after Buls was last seen alive. The prosecution alleged that Buls was killed in his home by Andresj Krauze shortly after the Honda arrived, and that his body was taken to a wooded area 7 km outside Glenamaddy. The case was heard by a jury of six men and six women, and the trial continues before Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan. Andresj Krauze pleaded not guilty.
Michelle Butterworth, 56, was sentenced to one year in prison for her role in a credit‑card fraud gang that operated over three weekends in September and October 2016. The gang travelled to Ireland from the UK, using fake credit cards to purchase high‑value goods worth €8,875, including Sony Playstations, Gucci watches, Samsung and Apple smartphones, and a Claddagh ring. Butterworth admitted her involvement and identified her accomplices after one of them nearly ran her over while fleeing from Gardaí. She had 31 prior convictions for similar fraud and theft offences in the UK, plus a conviction for running a brothel. Her defence counsel argued that she committed the offences to repay a loan taken to bury her husband, who died in 2013. Judge Karen O'Connor noted her early plea and imposed a one‑year sentence back‑dated to October 2016. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Michelle Butterworth pleaded guilty.
In a 2017 court hearing, Gardaí captured live CCTV footage of a shooting at a house on Oranmore Road, Ballyfermot. The footage showed Terence Murphy, aged 35, standing near the house while his co‑accused, Daniel Ennis, 22, fired two shots. Murphy was arrested minutes later and pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances. He has 20 prior convictions. Ennis received a four‑year sentence for his role. The judge adjourned sentencing to May 22 to allow a probation report. Inspector David Harrington explained that an earlier altercation involving two men and two women had occurred before the shots were fired, and that the women had contacted Gardaí. Murphy was not present during the initial threats. He had been released on bail 13 months earlier and was on a methadone maintenance program.
In a 2017 trial, the State presented evidence that Andresj Krauze, 31, of Dudley Heights, Glenamaddy, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 30‑year‑old Juris Buls, a Latvian car enthusiast and former Titan Plastics employee. The prosecution alleged Buls was last seen by his girlfriend at 22:45 on 7 July 2011 and never returned to work. An hour later, a maroon Honda Accord owned by Krauze's brother arrived, and a man left the vehicle heading toward Buls' house. The State claimed Krauze killed Buls at his home shortly after the Accord's arrival, then transported the body to a wooded area 7 km outside Glenamaddy where it was dumped. The prosecution also noted that a black Audi appeared at Krauze's Portadown residence, suggesting a possible link. The jury heard CCTV footage of Buls driving a black Audi on 7 July and the case was heard by Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan. The trial continues.
A Latvian man, Andresj Krauze, 31, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of fellow Latvian Juris Buls, 30, in Galway on 7 or 8 July 2011. Krauze, who lives at Dudley Heights, Glenamaddy, is accused of the killing. At the Central Criminal Court a jury of six men and six women was sworn in, and Justice Patrick McCarthy announced the trial would commence on Wednesday before Justice Margaret Heneghan.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the application of an unnamed 77-year-old former professional soccer player to extend the time limit for appealing his convictions. The appellant, who cannot be named to protect his victim, was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury in May 2011 on 60 counts of sexual abuse and 14 charges of rape. The alleged offences occurred between January 2002 and September 2006 in Galway and Roscommon, when his daughter was aged between nine and fourteen. Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan rejected the request for an extension to appeal the convictions, noting the appellant's failure to lodge the appeal within the standard 28-day window. The judge stated that the appellant failed to establish that the interests of justice required an extension, emphasizing the daughter's "right to closure." Although the court considered a psychological report suggesting the appellant suffers from compulsive obsessive personality disorder, Mr Justice Sheehan deemed it of "extremely limited value." However, the court granted a 21-day extension from the date of the ruling for the appellant to lodge an appeal against his sentence. In May 2011, he was sentenced to ten years in prison on each sexual assault count and fifteen years on each rape count, with the final three years of each sentence suspended. The matter regarding the conviction appeal was dismissed, while the sentence appeal timeline was extended.
Michelle Butterworth, 56, of Stanley Street, Rochdale, faces jail after pleading guilty to 13 credit card fraud offences committed over three weekends in September and October 2016. The offences occurred in Galway, Kildare and Dublin, where she and a gang used high‑quality fake credit cards to purchase €8,875 worth of goods, including Sony Playstations, Gucci watches, Samsung and Apple smartphones and a Claddagh ring. The gang targeted Field's Jewellers, Argos and Gamestop, exploiting a loyalty scheme and manual card entry to bypass security checks. Garda James Codd reported that the gang was apprehended after staff became suspicious and a surveillance operation led to arrests at a petrol station. Butterworth admitted her role, identified accomplices and claimed the fraud was to repay a loan taken to bury her husband, who died in 2013. Judge Karen O'Connor remanded her in continuing custody on 10 March, when a sentence will be imposed.
An application for a judgment of €8.7 million has been admitted to the fast‑track Commercial Court list. The claim is brought by Seaconview Designated Activity Company against Mr John Lally, who resides at Drimcong House, Moycullen, Co Galway. Seaconview alleges that in 2006 Mr Lally, as a director of Brackville Holdings Limited, entered into an Interest Shortfall Agreement in which he unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed Brackville's obligation to pay interest on loan facilities. The agreement also required Mr Lally to pay lenders on demand any interest due if Brackville failed to pay. In September 2015 Seaconview acquired the loans, and in 2016 demanded €88.1 million from Brackville. When the demand was not met, a receiver was appointed, the properties were sold, and the proceeds were used to reduce Brackville's liabilities. Seaconview claims that €8.7 million of interest remains unpaid by Mr Lally and has demanded payment.
In February 2017 the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal in Dublin found former solicitor Eoin M Dee guilty of misconduct on three counts. The first count concerned the non‑payment of €1,691.24 in fees owed to senior counsel Aidan Doyle for a personal injury case involving an insurance company and a policy holder. The second count was the failure to respond to letters from the Law Society of Ireland in 2014 and 2015 about the unpaid fees. The third count was the failure to attend a meeting of the Law Society's complaints committee in July 2015. The tribunal noted that Mr Dee had practised as a solicitor from June 1998 until 31 January 2014 and that a High Court order in October 2016 had restricted him to practising only as an assistance solicitor.
The High Court has granted a Mareva injunction freezing assets valued at €2.37 million belonging to a County Galway man, following allegations that he provided false evidence during examination before the Master of the High Court. AIB Mortgage Bank obtained the order against Joe McCaul of Roveagh Kilcolgan and two others. The bank claims Mr McCaul denied involvement in collecting rental income of approximately one million euros from properties between January 2012 and July 2015, stating instead that agents of a private trust handled such matters. However, AIB contends this contradicts documentary evidence, including rent receipts signed by Mr McCaul and records of agreed rent reductions. Mr McCaul owns a shopping centre in Clarinbridge and properties across Galway and County Cavan. A receiver was appointed over the properties following a judgment of €2.37 million obtained in 2015. Similar asset-freezing orders were also granted against Mr McCaul's wife and another individual. Mr Justice Paul Gilligan adjourned the matter for one week.
Mary Walsh, aged 66, intends to appeal a High Court order that requires her to pay one‑sixth of a €3.3 million lotto win to her stepson, David Walsh, aged 52. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Richard Humphreys, had earlier ruled that Walsh must pay the share and legal costs to David, who claimed entitlement based on his signature on the back of the winning ticket. Walsh, who was married to David's late father Peter, denied the claim and argued the ticket was hers, citing a supposed offer of her house in lieu of €200,000. The judge rejected all of Walsh's counter‑claims, imposed an injunction preventing her from reducing her assets below €929,000, and ordered discovery to aid execution of the judgment. Walsh's lawyers argued she would not dissipate assets and that her sworn statement was meant to counter the freezing order.
The High Court ruled in favour of David Walsh, a Co Galway man, who sued his stepmother, Mary Walsh, and the estate of his late father, Peter Walsh, for a one-sixth share of a €3.38m Lotto win. Mr Justice Richard Humphreys found that David Walsh was a co-owner of the winning ticket and entitled to approximately €560,000. The judge rejected Mary Walsh's defence that she was the sole owner and that David Walsh had opted for a house instead of cash, deeming her evidence inconsistent and unreliable. He also found she had lied on oath regarding probate details to hide assets from her stepchildren. The court determined the ticket was intended to benefit three members of each family, with the prize split 50-50 between Mary Walsh and the late Peter Walsh. A stay on the order was granted pending an appeal, conditional on Mary Walsh lodging €929,000 to cover legal costs and the award. A temporary freezing order was also made to prevent her from reducing that sum, with liberty to vary the order granted.
In a High Court case, David Walsh sued his step‑mother, Mary Walsh, claiming a €560,000 share of a €3.38 million Lotto win. The dispute centred on a ticket that had six signatures, including David's, and the claim that the money was held in trust for him. Mary Walsh denied the claim, asserting she was the sole winner and that David had chosen a house over a cash offer. She said she had been offered a house belonging to her late husband, Peter Walsh, and that she had accepted it. The court heard evidence from former National Lottery manager Eamonn Hughes, who discussed the lack of formal rules for syndicate payouts and the possibility of gift‑tax avoidance. The parties had attempted out‑of‑court talks, but no settlement was reached. The case was set to conclude after the evidence was finished, with both sides preparing legal submissions.
In a High Court hearing, Mary Walsh, aged 66, claimed she was the sole winner of a €3.38 million Lotto jackpot won on 22 January 2011. She said the winning ticket was hers, not part of a syndicate, and that she had bought two tickets—one for herself and one for her late husband, Peter Walsh. Walsh explained that she discovered her win only after the draw, confirmed it with a National Lottery official, and had several relatives sign the back of the ticket to avoid tax. She denied that the ticket belonged to a seven‑person syndicate and that she held a €560,000 trust for her stepson, David Walsh, who is suing for a one‑sixth share. The case remains pending.
In a 2017 case, a 27‑year‑old man was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for raping a 54‑year‑old woman outside her home in County Galway. The man had forced entry to the house in the middle of the night, breaking a lock on an access door, and the victim, who was an alcoholic, had met him while drinking. She testified that she had been sober for several weeks before the offence but resumed drinking afterwards. The court noted that the victim and her daughter were present, with the daughter seeking safety and calling the Gardaí. The accused was acquitted of burglary.
In a High Court hearing on 26 January 2017, David Walsh, aged 52, pursued a claim against his stepmother Mary Walsh, aged 65, for a one‑sixth share (€560,000) of a €3.38 million Lotto win dated 22 January 2011. Walsh, one of six signatories on the back of the winning ticket, argues that the prize money is held in trust for him by his stepmother and the estate of his late father, Peter Walsh. Mary Walsh denies that the ticket was part of a syndicate and asserts she purchased and owned it, claiming the signatures were added to avoid tax on gifts. She also alleges that Walsh was offered a choice between €200,000 or the family home at Knocknagreena, which he allegedly declined. The court considered technical and procedural arguments, and a motion to strike out part of Walsh's claim was dismissed as "quite illogical" and lacking substance. The case was set to resume on Friday.
In a High Court hearing on 26 January 2017, Ms Justice Carmel Stewart addressed Jimmy Quinn and his estranged wife Edel Burke, who own two mortgaged properties in Galway that have had no repayments since 2008. The judge confirmed that Mr Simon Coyle of Mazars had been validly appointed as receiver over the properties at Cuirt Seoige, Grelaishtown Townparks, and Ballypoint, Salthill. She granted injunctions preventing the couple from residing in, entering, renting out, or interfering with the sale of the properties, and from obstructing the receiver's duties. Ms Burke, who still lives at Cuirt Seoige, and Mr Quinn, who run an equine business, argued the receiver's appointment was invalid, but their claim was dismissed. The judge urged the couple to confront the situation, negotiate with the bank, and noted she would place an eight‑week stay on the orders to allow an arrangement to be reached. If no agreement is made, the orders will take effect.
Edward Hanrahan faced the Court of Appeal in January 2017 following the dismissal of his judicial review proceedings in the High Court. Originally charged with three burglaries in Galway District Court in December 2009, Hanrahan absconded before his scheduled March 2010 hearing. He evaded gardaí for several years across multiple counties before being apprehended in a Donegal village in November 2014 whilst allegedly attempting to cross the border. Upon his recapture, two charges were withdrawn but one remained. The Director of Public Prosecutions subsequently directed trial in the Circuit Court rather than summarily. Hanrahan contested this decision as unfair and sought judicial review. The High Court rejected his application, finding no procedural breach. The Court of Appeal unanimously upheld this judgment, with Mr Justice George Birmingham stating the uncertainty surrounding the original District Court proceedings could not benefit Hanrahan, who bore sole responsibility for his flight and consequent circumstances.
A Medical Council inquiry has found Dr Andrea Hermann guilty of poor professional performance on 17 counts and professional misconduct on three counts. Dr Hermann, who worked as an obstetric and gynaecology registrar at Sligo General Hospital during 2013 and 2014, was found to have provided substandard care to six mothers between August 2013 and February 2014. The inquiry identified failures including an abnormal wound incision during a caesarean section, failure to obtain informed consent for a procedure on a patient from Carrick-on-Shannon, and inadequate surgical technique during uterine closure. The inquiry also heard evidence that Dr Hermann prescribed an anticoagulant to a patient at heightened risk of heavy bleeding. Additionally, Dr Hermann was found guilty of failing to disclose conditions imposed on her registration by the Medical Council, which required retraining and supervision. The inquiry chair noted a "serious lack of candour" regarding her status with the Council. The report now proceeds to the full Medical Council to determine any sanctions.
In a 2016 High Court ruling, Justice Marie Baker removed Kevin McGeever (also known as Kevin McKeever) as executor of the estate of the late Ms Siobhan O'Callaghan, who died in November 2013, and appointed solicitor Jim Trueick as an independent executor. O'Callaghan's 2006 will left most of her €525,000 estate to McGeever, but a 2014 judgment of €1.2 million against McGeever, obtained by businessman James Byrne over a failed Dubai apartment deal, prompted Byrne to seek McGeever's removal. Byrne feared McGeever might keep the estate assets beyond his reach. McGeever, who had been in a long‑term relationship with O'Callaghan, could not distribute the estate until further court orders. Medical evidence showed he suffers from stress‑related illness and high blood pressure. The judge noted that solicitors for McGeever claimed money owed from the estate, a claim to be resolved before any distribution. Trueick was empowered to address any such claims.
Paul Mason, 28, was sentenced to two years in prison with eight months suspended after pleading guilty to assaulting Keith Lynch at Lynch's home in County Louth. The offence, committed on 16 February 2014, stemmed from a 2013 campaign in Ardee that listed Lynch's name among alleged drug dealers. On the night of the assault, Mason and two others confronted Lynch at his front door, claiming to be INLA members and demanding money. They punched, kicked and kicked Lynch to the ground, striking his face and eyes. Lynch later reported that the attackers threatened him with a deadline to pay a ransom. Mason was on bail for a prior theft conviction at the time of the assault. The Special Criminal Court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, found aggravating factors in the pre‑planned nature of the attack and the extortion threat, but noted mitigating factors such as Mason's lack of prior convictions and his apology.
A rape victim's application to freeze a €17,000 award made to her attacker, Darius Savickis, was resolved. Savickis, a Lithuanian national, had orally raped a 23‑year‑old woman on 28 November 2005 while she walked home from work in Galway. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six years' imprisonment in 2009. While serving that sentence in Castlerea prison he was assaulted by a prison officer. A High Court jury awarded him €225 for that incident, but the Court of Appeal increased the award to €17,225. The victim applied to the High Court for a freezing order on that award, pending her civil action for damages against Savickis. Conor Power SC argued the order was needed to prevent Savickis from dissipating the award and to frustrate his attempts to avoid enforcement of any judgment. Savickis's lawyers opposed the application.
The trial of 58‑year‑old Offaly GP Bernadette Scully, charged with the manslaughter of her 11‑year‑old profoundly disabled daughter Emily Barut, heard evidence on the third day of proceedings. The jury listened to a 999 call made by Scully's partner, Andrius Kozlovskis, after finding Emily cold in her bed and her mother unconscious. They also heard a call from the National Poisons Information Centre in which a woman identifying herself as Dr Scully asked for the lethal dose of Prothiaden tablets for an adult female who had taken 15 75‑mg tablets. The call was recorded and played in court. Scully has pleaded not guilty. The case is before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of seven women and five men at the Central Criminal Court.
In a case heard in the Special Criminal Court, Paul Mason, aged 28, pleaded guilty to assaulting Keith Lynch on 16 February 2014 at The Saltings, Annagassan, County Louth. Mason, who had been on bail for a prior theft conviction, claimed to be a member of the INLA and told Lynch that his name was on a list of "Drug Dealers Out" that had been posted around Ardee in December 2013. According to Lynch, Mason and two other men entered his home, where Lynch was with his partner and a 14‑month‑old daughter, and began punching and kicking him. Lynch reported that Mason struck him on the left cheek and that the men were "laying into him," before they left. The court remanded Mason in custody until 2 December, when he will be sentenced. The case was presented by Detective Sergeant Peter Cooney and prosecuting counsel Caroline Cummings BL, with defense counsel Hugh Hartnett SC.
The High Court has fast-tracked a second legal challenge against An Bord Pleanála's decision to permit Apple to build a data centre in Athenry, Co Galway. Applicant Brian McDonagh, representing himself, sought to quash the board's August decision, alleging it breaches EU forestry directives. Although McDonagh opposed the fast-track application, citing difficulties in obtaining EU documentation, Mr Justice Brian McGovern admitted the case to the Commercial Court list. Counsel for Apple Distribution International, Rory Mulcahy SC, noted that McDonagh had previously been refused permission to include the forestry argument and has appealed that ruling to the Court of Appeal. The court also heard that a separate action by Sinead Fitzpatrick and Allan Daly, who claim the board failed to conduct a proper environmental impact assessment, was admitted to the list last week. The judge ordered that both cases be heard together next March. Apple describes the proposed facility as critical infrastructure for global data storage, part of an €850m plan for eight data centres in the locality intended to create hundreds of jobs.
A rape victim has applied to the High Court for a freezing order over a €17,225 award that was granted to her attacker, Darius Savickis, by the Court of Appeal. The award was originally €225, increased by the Court of Appeal after Savickis was found liable for assaulting a prison officer while serving a six‑year sentence in Castlerea Prison. Savickis, 46, is a Lithuanian‑born father of two who pleaded guilty in 2009 to orally raping a 23‑year‑old woman in Galway. The victim, who has initiated a civil action for damages, seeks to prevent the award from being dissipated if she is successful. She alleges post‑traumatic stress disorder and claims the award was obtained under circumstances that may be statute‑barred. The High Court has granted her lawyers permission to serve short notice of the proceedings on Savickis and the matter is set to return next week.
Patrick O'Brien, a former lay worker with the Church of Ireland, was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment for raping and molesting 14 boys over a 40‑year period. He pleaded guilty to 48 counts of indecent assault and three counts of sexual assault, with offences ranging from kissing to forceful anal penetration. The abuse occurred between 1974 and 2013 at locations including Kildare, Westmeath, a boat in Loughrea, and St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin. O'Brien had previously received a one‑year suspended sentence in 1989 for assaulting a ten‑year‑old boy. The sentencing hearing, held over two days, included victim impact statements from 14 men aged 7 to 16, who described the abuse as predatory and pervasive.