Tony McInerney, a 27‑year‑old former resident of Glenina, Gort Road, Ennis, Co Clare, has admitted to two new offences after previously pleading guilty to attempted murder. He was arraigned on a charge that on 18 January 2020 at Pound Street, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare, he intentionally or recklessly discharged a firearm, creating a substantial risk of death or serious harm to another. He was also arraigned on a charge that between 1 January 2019 and 18 January 2020 at Inis Eagla, Shannon, Co Clare, he threatened to kill or cause serious harm to Daniel Harty Snr, intending Mr Harty Snr to believe the threat would be carried out. McInerney pleaded guilty to both charges. He had previously pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Daniel Harty Jnr on 18 January 2020 and was jailed for 12 years, later reduced to ten years by the Court of Appeal. The judge set a sentencing hearing for 16 October.
An 80‑year‑old grandfather, whose name is withheld to protect victims, has appealed six rape convictions for repeatedly raping his eldest granddaughter between 2014 and 2018. He was sentenced in June 2022 to ten years' imprisonment with one year suspended, and to five years for 81 other sexual assaults on the girl and her two younger sisters when they were aged five to fourteen. The appeal argues that the trial judge's charge to the jury was erroneous, claiming the defence failed to fully question the complainant on details from specialist Garda interviews that were shown on a DVD. The Court of Appeal will decide on 11 July. The case highlights the grandfather's abuse of trust and the impact on the three girls, who were present at the hearing. The judge noted the defendant's age but stressed the seriousness of the offences.
Killer Farmer Michael Scott, who drove over his elderly aunt Christina 'Chrissie' Treacy (76) outside her home in Derryhiney, Portumna, Co Galway on April 27, 2018, has been jailed for six years. The judge, Ms Justice Caroline Biggs, noted that Scott showed 'no compassion' to his aunt in the immediate aftermath of the killing and told 'fundamental, self-preserving lies' about their relationship. Following a trial earlier this year, a jury found Scott not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter on the basis of gross negligence. The prosecution case was that Scott deliberately reversed over Ms Treacy following a long-running dispute over land. The judge set Scott's headline sentence at eight years but reduced that to six years having taken into account a number of mitigating factors. Scott had pleaded not guilty to murdering his aunt. The judge also noted that Scott has more recently expressed genuine remorse and reports from the probation services suggest he has insight into the impact the killing has had. He had no previous convictions and the judge described him as a hard-working family man who was responsible in his business affairs. The judge also noted that Scott has indicated that he accepts the jury's verdict.
Gerry Connors, aged 26, had his original four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for false imprisonment and robbery reduced by one year on appeal. In April 2020 he and a companion unlawfully entered a home on Ballyogan Road, repeatedly punched the victim, threatened him with scissors, forced him to strip, and robbed him of his car keys. The incident lasted 20‑30 minutes. In November 2018 he also robbed Aaron Campbell on Kilcross Estate, taking headphones, €150 and cigarettes after threatening him. Connors pleaded guilty to both offences and showed remorse. The Court of Appeal, citing his drug‑free status and rehabilitation efforts, quashed the original sentence and re‑sentenced him to six years' imprisonment, with two‑and‑a‑half years suspended, allowing him to continue his rehabilitation work. The appeal focused on balancing punishment with rehabilitation, not on any new facts beyond those presented in the trial.
The High Court struck out legal actions against the State brought by the late Peter Pringle following his death in January. Mr Pringle, of Glenicmurrin Costelloe, Co Galway, was originally convicted at the Special Criminal Court in 1981 of the murders of Gardai John Morley and Henry Byrne during a 1980 bank robbery in Ballaghadreen, Co Roscommon. He was sentenced to death, later commuted to 40 years, and served 14 years and 10 months before his convictions were quashed in 1995 as unsafe. Counsel for the applicant, Mr Pringle Paul Carroll SC, instructed by Siuna Bartels, stated that no family member wished to continue the proceedings, which included a damages claim alleging state negligence and constitutional breaches regarding undisclosed evidence. The State, represented by Robert Barron SC, did not object to the strike-out. Mr Justice Rory Mulcahy agreed to strike out the cases, noting that costs orders previously made in Mr Pringle's favour by the Court of Appeal would remain in place. The matter was brought to a finality, ending proceedings that had been remitted to the High Court for fresh consideration after the Court of Appeal set aside a 2019 dismissal based on delay.
A 51‑year‑old Galway man pleaded guilty to one count of anal rape, one count of sexual assault and one count of sexual exploitation of his teenage nephew, aged 14‑15, between June 2016 and June 2017. The offences occurred at the defendant's home, a horsebox, his car and the victim's home. The abuse began with inappropriate touching and masturbation, escalating to oral and anal rape. The nephew's behaviour changed from "happy‑go‑lucky" to misbehaving, prompting his family to notice the abuse in 2017. The man voluntarily admitted to the Gardaí and was arrested in November 2018. He pleaded guilty in March 2024 after a jury was empanelled. He has no prior convictions. The court heard a victim impact statement describing the abuse's effect on the nephew's mental health and family relationships. The judge thanked the victim for his statement and noted the nephew's support network.
Michael Scott, aged 59, was convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence after driving an agricultural teleporter over his 76‑year‑old aunt Chrissie Treacy outside her home in Derryhiney, Portumna, on 27 April 2018. The Central Criminal Court heard that Scott had been involved in a long‑running land dispute with Ms Treacy and had driven the teleporter across her yard while reversing. He claimed he had felt a "thump" and thought he had hit a trailer, then moved the machine forward, after which he discovered his aunt lying on the ground. A friend of Ms Treacy's, Regina Donohue, testified that Scott had subjected her to verbal abuse and mental torture before the incident. At the sentencing hearing on 12 June 2023, the Director of Public Prosecutions said the offence falls in the mid‑category for manslaughter, recommending a headline sentence of four to ten years. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
The High Court approved a Personal Insolvency Arrangement for Thomas Fahy, a 58‑year‑old self‑employed electrical contractor from Cortoon, Claregalway. Under the arrangement, Fahy's unsecured debts of about €2.5 million will be written off in exchange for a payment of €2,300 to creditors. He will keep his family home, with the mortgage restructured and partially written down by €230,000 over time. The scheme will be funded by a €7,900 lump‑sum payment, of which €5,600 covers the Personal Insolvency Practitioner's fees and the remainder goes to unsecured creditors. The arrangement is 24 months long, with monthly payments of approximately €1,094.29 to Pepper Finance and interest‑only payments of €190 for the first year. No objections were raised, and the court found the proposal met insolvency criteria.
The High Court has set a date for the State's bid to halt a constitutional challenge brought by Independent Senator Gerard Craughwell. The applicant alleges an unlawful and unconstitutional 'secret arrangement' exists between Ireland and Great Britain, permitting the Royal Air Force to intercept aircraft in Irish airspace. Senator Craughwell claims this purported agreement, allegedly introduced following the 2001 attacks, was never approved by the Dáil or the Irish people via referendum, rendering it fundamentally incompatible with the Constitution. The Government and the State, which do not confirm or deny the existence of the alleged agreement, have filed a defence denying any improper or unconstitutional conduct. Before Mr Justice Brian O'Moore, the judge fixed two days in early October for a hearing on a preliminary issue raised by the State. The respondents argue the claims are not justiciable, submitting that courts cannot review matters of external security falling within executive power, as disclosure could endanger State security and international relations. Should the State succeed in this pre-trial application, Senator Craughwell's case will fall. His legal team is opposing the motion. The senator seeks declarations that the alleged agreement breaches the Constitution and that the Government's failure to control airspace violates Article 5. He also seeks an order restraining the government from legislating to give effect to the agreement without a referendum. The matter is currently at the hearing or decision stage regarding this preliminary application.
A man convicted of murder in Northern Ireland was arrested in the State on an extradition warrant following his disappearance from custody seven months earlier. James Meehan, aged 53, with addresses in Derry city and Kells, Co Meath, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2009 for the murder of a man in Derry in 2007. He had absconded while on home leave in October 2022 and was declared unlawfully at large by the Northern Ireland Prison Service. Gardaí arrested Meehan by arrangement at a garda station in Dublin this morning. At the High Court, his defence counsel submitted that he had moved to live with his brother in Kells to work and had notified the Department of Justice of his whereabouts in December. The judge noted Meehan was living openly and had engaged with authorities. Bail was granted on condition of a €2,000 deposit, daily signing-on, provision of a mobile phone number to gardaí, and surrender of any travel documents. He was remanded to appear again on 12 June.
A High Court dispute over the estate of the late Galway farmer Margaret Hernon, valued between €2.5m and €9m, was settled. The parties agreed that half of the estate will go to Peter O'Toole, the main beneficiary of a 2006 will, and the other half will be divided among more than 40 children of Mrs Hernon's first cousins. Mr Agustus 'Gus' Kelehan, one of those cousins, had challenged the 2006 will's validity and sought it set aside. The estate includes a farmhouse at Barnacranny, 13 acres of farmland, lands in Athenry, and cash. The settlement also confirmed that the 2006 will will not be formally proven, that the estate will be administered by the parties' solicitors, and that legal costs will be borne by the estate. The judge praised the parties for resolving the dispute without a court decision on the will's validity.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 53‑year‑old Galway farmer pleaded guilty to sexual assault and oral rape of his nephew, aged five to thirteen, between 1989 and 1996. The nephew, now 39, described how the abuse, which began with unwanted touching during "games" and progressed to masturbation and oral rape, was carried out at the farm, in the yard, outbuildings or a caravan. He said he was told not to speak out, fearing his uncle would be in trouble, and that the abuse left him with lasting pain, flashbacks and sleepless nights. The farmer denied the offences at his arrest but later pleaded guilty. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon adjourned sentencing to July to allow reports to be finalised. The case was brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions, who viewed the offences as "more serious" with a headline sentence of 10 to 15 years imprisonment.
Independent Senator Gerard Craughwell, the applicant, brought proceedings against the Government of Ireland, Ireland, and the Attorney General, alleging a 'secret arrangement' allows the Royal Air Force to intercept aircraft in Irish airspace. He claims this purported agreement is unconstitutional, unlawful, and was never approved by the Dáil or a referendum. The State, which neither confirms nor denies the existence of the alleged arrangement, filed a defence denying any improper or unconstitutional conduct. The State brought a pre-trial motion arguing that matters of external relations and security are not justiciable and cannot be reviewed by the courts. Senator Craughwell's legal team opposed the motion, asserting the case is urgent and of public importance. The matter was heard before Ms Justice Eileen Roberts at the High Court, where counsel for the respondents estimated the hearing would take two days. Ms Justice Roberts stated she was not in a position to fix a hearing date for the motion and adjourned the matter to a date in June. The case remains at the pre-trial motion stage, with a hearing date to be fixed when the matter returns before the court.
Tony McInerney, 27, a former drug dealer from Glenina, Gort Road, Ennis, admitted to attempting to murder Daniel Harty Jnr on 18 January 2020 at Pound Street, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare. He pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. McInerney had previously been convicted of running a cocaine factory and was sentenced to 12 years in prison in May 2021, a term later reduced by two years on appeal. He also pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply and to possessing crime cash on 23 September 2020. The judge described him as "at the top of the pyramid" of the Clare drug scene and noted his status as a target of the divisional drugs unit. The case is set for mention on 10 July, with McInerney remanded in custody. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon ordered a victim impact statement to be prepared by that date.
Tony McInerney, a 27‑year‑old drug dealer from Ennis, was sentenced to 12 years in prison in May 2021 for possession of cocaine for sale and for possessing €4,500 in proceeds of crime. The judge imposed an 11‑year term for the drug offence and a three‑year term for the cash offence, with the final two years of the cash sentence suspended. McInerney was caught "red‑handed" at a property in Kilfilum where he was mixing cocaine, wearing orange gloves and holding a bag of the drug. Gardaí seized mixing agents, a weighing scale, a knife, a blender, €2.5K in cash and an estimated €50K worth of cocaine. In September 2020, he pleaded guilty to both charges. On appeal, the Court of Appeal quashed the original sentence and re‑sentenced him to a total of 10 years' imprisonment, with no portion of either sentence suspended, back‑dated to the date of his first arrest.
In a High Court decision on 12 May 2023, Mr Justice Garrett Simons dismissed Regina Fitzpatrick's appeal against a Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) ruling that a Galway landlord, Sinead Brett, could lawfully terminate her tenancy. Fitzpatrick argued that the RTB should not have upheld the termination notice because Brett had later refused to accept rent via Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). The judge noted that Brett's refusal was communicated months after the tenancy had already ended in September 2021, and that the RTB's tribunal had not considered this point of law. Fitzpatrick's appeal was rejected on the basis that it raised a new legal issue not before the RTB tribunal, and her request for a three‑month adjournment on medical grounds was also denied. The case remains at the RTB level, with no further action taken by the High Court.
A 38-year-old Sligo man has pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to directing a 20-member criminal organisation that operated across the northwest between October 2019 and January 2022. Barry Young coordinated drug dealing, intimidation and money laundering across Sligo, Donegal, Leitrim and Galway through a hierarchical command structure. Garda investigations uncovered drug seizures totalling over €628,000 linked to the gang, alongside €40,000 in cash recovered from Young despite his stated income being social welfare payments. Evidence presented during the sentencing hearing showed Young dispatched debt collectors to private homes to commit criminal damage and extort money. The court heard Young had 81 previous convictions and had been twice sentenced for drug dealing, most recently in 2006. His defence counsel noted Young had expressed suicidal ideation over his significant drug debts and described his arrest at Dublin Airport in January as a relief. The non-jury court adjourned sentencing to 31 July. The offence carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
In a claim under the Employment Equality Act 1998, solicitor Orla Howe alleges that her former firm, Healy Crowley Ahern, terminated her employment in a sham redundancy after she disclosed her pregnancy. Howe says the firm's principal solicitor, Colm Kelly, stopped assigning her new files and excluded her from meetings before giving her redundancy notice, and that the firm's financial difficulties were overstated. She testified that she had not been compelled to work from the office during her pregnancy and that she had concerns about pandemic safety. During cross‑examination, Howe admitted attending a 50‑person wedding in Galway on 20 August 2021, where she danced, but she said the venue observed Covid guidelines and she was not mingling. The firm maintains the redundancy was genuine, citing a drop in conveyancing work and profits. The adjudicating officer is considering a decision, which will be issued in writing before being made public.
Alan Leech, 38, was jailed for two years for extortion after he was hired by Bryan Kennedy to murder a couple with whom Kennedy's wife was having an online affair. Leech demanded money from Kennedy and Kennedy's wife on three occasions in January 2020, threatening violence and claiming he had third‑party killers. Kennedy, who had already been sentenced to four and a half years for soliciting Leech, paid €8,000 but failed to pay an outstanding €2,000, prompting Leech to send more threatening messages. Leech never contracted any third parties and had no gang connections; he was described as a "local junkie" with a history of drug addiction and 43 prior convictions. The court noted Leech's remorse and reduced the headline sentence of three years to two years, citing mitigating factors. The case highlighted the threats and intimidation faced by Kennedy's wife, who reported ongoing fear and PTSD after the incidents. Alan Leech pleaded guilty.
A High Court judicial review challenge against a proposed waste transfer station in East County Galway has been withdrawn because the planning permission for the development expired in January. The proceedings were brought by a group of local residents, including Fine Gael Senator Aisling Dolan, against Galway County Council's decision to grant a permit to Bruscar Bhearna Teoranta, trading as Barna Recycling. The applicants alleged that the council failed to carry out a screening for an Appropriate Assessment or determine if an Environmental Impact Assessment was required. They claimed the development, located at Poolboy in Ballinasloe, posed risks to the River Suck Callows, a designated Special Protection Area, and that the council did not properly consider EU Habitats directives regarding emissions. Counsel for the residents, Evan O'Donnell BL, informed the court that the case was now moot due to the permission's expiration. The presiding judge agreed to strike out the proceedings. The developers were a notice party to the action. This follows a history where a 2019 permit was quashed by the High Court and remitted for reconsideration; the council subsequently refused permission in 2020 before granting a new permit in March 2022, which was the subject of this withdrawn challenge.
Adrian Heller, a worker at Floortech Industries Ltd, claimed he was unfairly dismissed for gross misconduct after throwing a helmet at a colleague. He said the incident occurred on a Thursday in 2021 at a Limerick client site, after a resin mix error forced a floor to be re‑laid. Heller argued the act was a one‑off frustration and not gross misconduct, citing a stressful job and a supervisor's threat to report him. The company, represented by Hallisey & Partners, presented evidence of aggressive, intimidating behaviour, including a hotel incident in Galway and a prior warning in 2019. The Workplace Relations Commission found the dismissal procedurally unfair, noting no written complaint, no right of reply, and an ambush disciplinary meeting. The adjudicating officer awarded Heller €2,500 in compensation, comprising €1,211.20 for lost earnings and €1,360 for two weeks' notice pay. The dismissal was deemed substantively fair but procedurally flawed.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Alan Leech, 38, pleaded guilty to extortion after being approached by Bryan Kennedy to murder a couple with whom Kennedy's wife was having an online affair. Leech claimed he was paid €10,000 and that he had arranged for third parties to carry out the murder, but the court found he had not contracted any killers and had merely exploited Kennedy's belief that he had criminal connections. Kennedy, who had paid Leech €8,000 and later failed to pay an outstanding €2,000, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for soliciting the murder. Leech, who has 43 prior convictions, was scheduled for sentencing on May 2, 2024. The case highlighted threats, intimidation and the impact on Kennedy's wife, who reported ongoing fear and PTSD after the incidents.
Stephen Silver, aged 46 and a resident of Aughaward, Foxford, County Mayo, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 40 years at the Central Criminal Court following his conviction for the murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan on 17 June 2020 at Castlerea, County Roscommon. Justice Tara Burns imposed the sentence, noting she had no discretion in light of the jury's guilty verdict on the capital murder charge. The court heard that Silver had initially pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. With standard remission for good behaviour, Silver will become eligible for parole consideration after 30 years, when he will be aged 74. Justice Burns emphasised the importance of mental health treatment maintenance, noting evidence that Silver had ceased medication for bipolar affective disorder prior to the shooting. Members of Garda Horkan's family delivered impact statements describing their profound loss and the ongoing trauma caused by his death.
The Roscommon eviction assault trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has been adjourned until Monday, April 17, following the Easter break. Defendants Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor have each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges. These include false imprisonment, assault causing harm to four security personnel, aggravated burglary, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. The alleged incident occurred on December 16, 2018, at Falsk, where a group of armed men attacked security guards at a repossessed property. On Day 19 of the trial, evidence was presented regarding a search warrant executed at Mr. Beirne's home in Co Roscommon on December 19, 2018. Gardaí seized electronic devices and keys to a Volvo lorry, which was later impounded. Mr. Beirne was arrested under section 30 of the Offences against the State Act and detained at Castlerea Garda Station. Testimony detailed his refusal of food and medical attention, leading to a doctor's visit for indigestion. The matter remains ongoing and was adjourned, not concluded.
Michael Scott, 58, of Gortanumera, Portumna, was found guilty of manslaughter but cleared of murder after a jury heard that he ran over his 76‑year‑old aunt, Chrissie Treacy, while reversing an agricultural teleporter across a yard outside her home in Derryhiney, Portumna, on 27 April 2018. The jury, after nearly 15 hours, concluded that Scott's death of his aunt was caused by gross negligence rather than intent to kill. The prosecution had argued that Scott deliberately reversed over Treacy amid a long‑running land dispute, but his lawyers maintained it was a tragic accident. The trial detailed that Scott had been reversing the machine when he felt a "thump," thought he might have struck a trailer, and only later discovered Treacy lying on the ground. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Michael Scott, accused of murdering his aunt Chrissie Treacy by running her over with an agricultural teleporter, ended with an acquittal. The jury, after nearly 15 hours of deliberation, rejected the prosecution's claim that Scott deliberately killed his 76‑year‑old aunt out of entitlement and revenge. Instead, they found that Scott's actions were grossly negligent, describing the incident as a tragic accident. Scott, 58, had previously denied any intent to kill and had stated that he was simply reversing when he saw his aunt on the ground. The judge noted Scott's inappropriate remarks toward a witness but allowed him to remain on bail pending further proceedings. No conviction or sentencing was recorded in the article. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
In the trial of Michael Scott, who denies murdering his aunt by running over her in an agricultural teleporter, the jury was deliberating for 11 hours and 18 minutes when the court registrar asked if they had reached a unanimous verdict. The judge, Ms Justice Caroline Biggs, offered the option of a majority verdict if ten of the twelve jurors agreed, while encouraging them to continue striving for unanimity. The jury has gone home for the evening and will return tomorrow for the fifth day of deliberations. Mr Scott, 58, of Gortanumera, Portumna, Co Galway, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ms Treacy outside her home in Derryhiney, Portumna, on 27 April 2018. The prosecution alleges that he deliberately reversed over Ms Treacy following a long-running land dispute. Mr Scott's lawyers have stated that her death was a tragic accident.
The jury in the trial of Michael Scott, aged 58, will return to the Central Criminal Court for a fourth day of deliberations. Scott denies murdering his 76‑year‑old aunt, Christina 'Chrissie' Treacy, by driving an agricultural teleporter over her outside her home in Derryhiney, Portumna, on 27 April 2018. The prosecution alleges that Scott deliberately reversed over Ms Treacy following a long‑running land dispute. Scott's lawyers claim the death was a tragic accident. Justice Caroline Biggs told the jury that while there is no doubt that Scott caused the death, a murder verdict requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt that he intended to kill or seriously injure her at the time or the instant before. If intent is doubtful, the jury must acquit of murder and consider manslaughter, requiring proof of gross negligence. If the prosecution fails to meet either standard, the jury must acquit. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
Michael Small, a 56‑year‑old former solicitor from Galway, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for deception and false accounting offences that occurred between 2008 and 2009. While practising in Limerick, Small gave undertakings to a mortgage lender that the loan proceeds would be used to purchase specific properties. The money was drawn into an account, but the properties were never bought. Small admitted the money was dispersed to clients, mortgage brokers and other parties, and that he had misled his accountant. He pleaded guilty and cooperated with investigators. The court noted that although Small did not receive a large personal benefit – €88,000 was attributed to him – he was the principal cause of the offences. The judge accepted his guilty pleas and cooperation, and ordered the sentence to be adjourned for custody. The case was investigated by the Law Society and Gardaí after Small self‑reported a "secret client account.".
The jury in the Michael Scott murder trial was told by Justice Caroline Biggs that it is too early to return a majority verdict and that a unanimous verdict is required at this stage. She explained that a majority verdict could be considered later, after a number of days, but the case is not yet at that point. Justice Biggs outlined the legal principles, noting that the accused enjoys the presumption of innocence and the prosecution must prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. She stated that there is no doubt Mr Scott caused his aunt's death, but for a murder verdict the jury must be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that he intended to kill or cause serious injury. If the jury has reasonable doubt about intent, they must acquit of murder and consider manslaughter, which requires proof that Mr Scott was driving in a grossly negligent manner. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
The High Court approved a Personal Insolvency Arrangement for former Fianna Fáil councillor Thomas 'Eddie' Mulligan, allowing him to write off more than €4.4 million in debt while retaining his family home. Mulligan, 55, contributed just over €9,000 to creditors and fees for the arrangement. He had served on Waterford City and County Council from 2014 until his resignation in August 2022 and had run unsuccessfully for Fianna Fáil in the 2020 General Election. The court heard that his financial difficulties stemmed from the 2008 recession, when he borrowed money and gave personal guarantees for loans used to invest in property assets. Those assets, including retail and commercial units, lost value and rental income fell, leading to a need to sell them to repay debts. Mulligan's main creditors are Pepper Finance, Everyday Finance DAC, Bank of Ireland, and a local Credit Union. He entered insolvency and engaged Personal Insolvency Practitioner Mitchell O'Brien.
A jury has begun deliberating on the trial of farmer Michael Scott, who denies murdering his 76‑year‑old aunt Chrissie Treacy by running over her in an agricultural teleporter. The trial, which began in January and was expected to last three months, had an enlarged panel of 15 jurors to accommodate possible absences. Three jurors were discharged and exempted for life, leaving 12 to continue. The jury will return to the Central Criminal Court on Monday to resume deliberations after spending a little over an hour today. Justice Caroline Biggs instructed the jurors that if they find the prosecution has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr Scott intended to kill or seriously injure his aunt, they must return a murder verdict. If they find a reasonable possibility of accident, they must find him not guilty of murder. If not guilty of murder, they must consider manslaughter by gross negligence.
In the trial of Michael Scott, a farmer accused of murdering his 76‑year‑old aunt, Judge Caroline Biggs has continued her charge for a second day. She has spent about eight hours explaining the evidence and the legal principles the 15‑person jury must apply. The judge clarified that to find Scott guilty of murder, the jury must be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that he intended to kill or seriously injure his aunt when he ran over her. If they are not satisfied, they may return a verdict of manslaughter by gross negligence, or acquit him if an accident is reasonably possible. Scott, 58, has pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleges he deliberately reversed over his aunt following a long‑running land dispute, while his lawyers claim it was a tragic accident. The judge will resume her charge on Friday, after which three jurors will be discharged, leaving 12 to decide the verdict.
In the trial of Michael Scott, a 58‑year‑old from Gortanumera, Portumna, the jury is instructed that they may return a manslaughter verdict if they find he was grossly negligent in reversing his agricultural teleporter over his 76‑year‑old aunt, Ms Treacy, on 27 April 2018. The judge explained that to convict of murder the jury must be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Scott intended to kill or seriously injure Ms Treacy. If that standard is not met, the jury may consider manslaughter by gross negligence, which does not require proof of intent. The judge also clarified that a single lie by Scott is not automatically evidence of guilt; it must be deliberate and intended to conceal guilt. He further explained that evidence of prior misconduct, such as failing to remove rubbish or turning off her heating, is not proof of a propensity to kill but provides context for the relationship. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, Michael Scott, 58, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his 76‑year‑old aunt Chrissie Treacy on 27 April 2018. Prosecutor Dean Kelly SC argued that Scott deliberately reversed an agricultural teleporter over Treacy, citing evidence of clear threats, a history of cruelty, and a dispute over 140 acres of land. He described the teleporter's impact as geometrically precise, crushing Treacy's body and removing flesh from her left hand. Defence counsel Paul Greene SC contended that the evidence suggested an accidental death, questioning the absence of disturbance at Treacy's home and the lack of evidence that she had entered the yard. He urged the jury to consider the prosecution's failure to prove beyond a reasonable doubt and to assess Scott's intent at the time of the incident. The case remains at the jury's deliberation stage.
During the trial of Michael Scott for the murder of his 76‑year‑old aunt Chrissie Treacy, engineer Dr Mark Jordan testified that he is not a "hired gun" and that his duty is to the court and to the oath. He explained that he provides technical advice using the scientific method and that he would inform a client if his advice conflicted with their instructions. Jordan defended a statement in his report that a jury might find it difficult to persuade that a driver of a teleporter would not know they had driven over a large woman, arguing that it was a reasonable observation. He also described the impact that caused Ms Treacy's death, noting that her injuries suggested she was upright when struck by the rear left wheel of the teleporter, and that the front wheel had already passed her when she fell. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
During the trial of Michael Scott, a 58‑year‑old engineer from Gortanumera, Portumna, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 76‑year‑old Chrissie Treacy outside her home in Derryhiney, Portumna, on 27 April 2018. Dr Mark Jordan, a mechanical engineer hired by Scott's defence, testified that the claim that Ms Treacy was run over twice by the teleporter was "unsupported" and that all her injuries could have been caused by a single movement. He argued that only one clear imprint was found on her trousers and that the other marks were difficult to interpret. Dr Jordan also disagreed with a Garda report that Ms Treacy should have been visible to Scott as he reversed across his yard, citing blind spots, dirty windows and glare. He maintained that the injuries were consistent with one motion of the vehicle and that no unusual use of the teleporter was required to cause her death.
During the trial of Michael Scott for the 2018 murder of 76‑year‑old Ms Treacy, accident investigator John Hayes presented evidence that Ms Treacy was likely walking away from the teleporter as it approached, attempting to escape impact. Hayes argued that a pedestrian in a light‑blue cardigan would have been clearly visible through the back window, though visibility was reduced by grime. He described two distinct tracks on Ms Treacy's body, suggesting two passes by the teleporter, and reconstructed the scene with a garda standing one metre behind the vehicle. Hayes noted that the teleporter's left rear view mirror was missing and that the driver would have needed to rotate 90° to see behind while reversing, a normal action for an agricultural vehicle. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, Garda investigator Eoin O'Connor admitted he erred in his collision report concerning the fatal incident involving Chrissie Treacy, who was run over by an agricultural teleporter driven by her nephew Michael Scott. O'Connor had stated that an experienced operator would leave the machine in gear after turning it off to prevent rolling, but he acknowledged that another operator's evidence showed this would not stop the teleporter from moving. He explained that his mistake stemmed from his lack of experience with such machinery. The trial, which has heard that Mr Scott, aged 58, pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Treacy on 27 April 2018, continues before Justice Caroline Biggs and a 15‑person jury. The prosecution maintains that Mr Scott deliberately ran over Ms Treacy amid a long‑running land dispute, while his lawyers argue the death was a tragic accident.
Conor O'Flaherty, 25, of Spiddal Park, Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two burglaries in Chapelizod on 17 July 2022 – one at a private home and one at a medical centre. The first burglary involved a kitchen window smashed at 4 am, with homeowners finding a man holding car keys outside. O'Flaherty was later found at the medical centre, filling his pockets with supplies, after gardai followed an alarm sound. DNA from blood linked him to the earlier crime. He apologized and offered to pay for the broken window. O'Flaherty has two prior convictions and was in custody after missing a court date. The court considered his work record and remorse, and Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to two and a half years, suspended in full under conditions. The sentence was imposed today.
Michael Scott, 58, of Gortanumera, Portumna, Co Galway, pleaded not guilty to murder after his 76‑year‑old aunt, Ms Treacy, died when he allegedly ran her over with a JCB on 27 April 2018. In court, Scott said he did not realise he could call 999 for an ambulance and that he thought his aunt would survive. He denied deliberately rolling over her a second time and claimed the incident was an accident. Scott said he did not help her up because he needed someone with him and that he had called his friend Francis Hardiman for help. He denied any intent to kill and said he did not want his aunt to die. The trial, hearing the prosecution's case that the run‑over was deliberate, continues next week before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury.
Micheal Scott, 58, of Portumna, Co Galway, is on trial for the alleged murder of his aunt, Chrissie Treacy, outside her home in Derryhiney on April 27, 2018. Mr Scott has pleaded not guilty, with his defence arguing the death was a tragic accident, while the prosecution alleges he deliberately ran her over following a long-running land dispute. During testimony, Mr Scott told gardai that his relationship with Ms Treacy was "fine" and that he gave a "deaf ear" to solicitor's letters seeking to partition their jointly owned land because he did not understand how it could be divided. He described Ms Treacy as "decent" and denied serious arguments, stating they only disagreed over minor issues like leaves or dirt. He claimed he did not see Ms Treacy when reversing a JCB teleporter, believing he might have hit a trailer tow bar. Witnesses included Detective Sergeant Paul Duane, who detailed the arrest and interviews, and agricultural consultant Declan McHugh, who testified that Ms Treacy instructed him to lease land and prevent Mr Scott from claiming farm payments for portions of the Derryhiney holding. Expert witness Robin Acheson explained the mechanics of the JCB, noting the handbrake was broken and that sudden direction changes could cause wheel tearout. The trial continues before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury.
During the Central Criminal Court trial, Detective Garda Eoin O'Connor testified that Michael Scott, 58, who denies murdering his 76‑year‑old aunt Chrissie Treacy, would and should have seen her if he had turned his head while reversing an agricultural teleporter. O'Connor explained that Ms Treacy's age and mobility made it unlikely she could have appeared at the point where her body was found, and that she would have been observable moving across the yard. He described the teleporter's sight‑lines, noting a large blind area to the right and rear, and argued that a driver would normally look over the left shoulder when reversing. O'Connor also examined tyre marks, the teleporter's speed in second gear, and the yard's slope, concluding that the vehicle could not have rolled over a hitch 0.48 m above the ground. The evidence will continue tomorrow before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury of eight men and seven women. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Michael Scott, 58, who denies murdering his 76‑year‑old aunt Chrissie Treacy by reversing an agricultural teleporter, heard that a person the same height as Ms Treacy would have been visible from the vehicle's cabin. Garda Eoin O'Connor, a forensic investigator, analysed sight lines for a 1.62‑metre tall person in the cabin and found that such a person would have been visible to the front, left and rear left, with no complete blind spot. He noted that the boom to the right reduced visibility on that side. O'Connor also mapped the yard, described the teleporter's layout, and placed a mannequin to investigate blind spots. He reported that Ms Treacy's height was 1.62 metres (5'4"). The trial continues with further evidence before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
Paul Storey, a 36-year-old civil servant from Clondalkin, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of cocaine and diamorphine for sale or supply. The charges relate to an incident on April 24, 2021, at Baronrath, Straffan, Co Kildare. Gardai discovered 3.3kg of cocaine and 560g of diamorphine, valued at over €310,000, inside a Honda Accord located in a container at a property subject to a search warrant. Although Storey was not present during the search, he was arrested later and initially denied knowledge of the drugs. Prosecution evidence indicated he was holding the substances for a third party, a characterization agreed upon by the investigating garda, who noted Storey was low down the chain and lacked trappings of wealth. Defence counsel Anne Marie Lawlor SC argued that Storey's involvement stemmed from a desire to help a partner with a drugs debt, describing it as a serious misjudgement rather than primary criminal intent. She highlighted his early guilty plea, remorse, full-time employment, and support for his parents as mitigating factors. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged Storey's reduced culpability due to acting on behalf of another, while noting his previous convictions for minor drug and road traffic offences. Taking into account his early plea and good work history, the Judge imposed a four-year prison sentence.
Michael Scott, 58, denies murdering his 76‑year‑old aunt Chrissie Treacy. He was said to have been "enraged" when a letter from her solicitor suggested a land division at their jointly owned farm in Derryhiney, Portumna. Witness Joseph Carty testified that Scott reacted angrily, saying "this will end badly." Scott later told Gardaí he was "in fair debt," having spent about €120,000 on sheds, a silo and fencing. State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan testified that Treacy died almost instantaneously, within seconds, of being run over by an agricultural teleporter, with no evidence of assault before the crush injuries. The trial heard that the farm was held as tenants in common, with each party owning 50 % of every blade of grass. The case continues before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
Michael Scott, aged 58, denies murdering his aunt Chrissie Treacy after a land dispute. He had been renting 40 acres at Kiltormer from Treacy and jointly owned 140 acres at Derryhiney. In early 2017, agricultural consultant Declan McHugh was hired by Treacy to lease the Kiltormer land. Two weeks before Treacy's death in April 2018, McHugh instructed Scott not to request farm payments for three portions of the Derryhiney land, which Treacy intended to claim. McHugh warned that losing 110 acres would reduce Scott's herd by 110 cows and cut EU single farm payments, causing significant financial hardship. The prosecution alleges Scott deliberately ran over Treacy in a tractor; his lawyers claim it was a tragic accident. The case is heard before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs with a jury of 15. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, solicitor Brendan Hyland testified that he had represented Chrissie Treacy and her brothers for decades, and in 2017 he wrote to Michael Scott urging him to stop threatening and intimidating Treacy over a 42‑acre farm she rented to Scott. Hyland described how Scott had interfered with the letting of the land, damaged fencing, and threatened Treacy's home help, and warned that legal action would follow if he did not cease. He also detailed a dispute in which Scott's solicitor claimed an agreement that Treacy's land would pass to Scott upon her death, which Hyland denied. Treacy's death in 2018, allegedly by Scott's alleged deliberate running over her, is the subject of the trial, with Scott pleading not guilty. The court heard Hyland's evidence on the land dispute and the threats he had documented. The hearing will continue before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury.
In a 2023 decision, the Workplace Relations Commission awarded €7,500 to taxi driver Daniel Asari for discrimination after he was denied diesel and called the n‑word by an attendant at Sweeney Oil on Galway's Headford Road. The tribunal found a pattern of humiliating treatment over two nights in March and April, and that the company's failure to investigate or respond to Asari's complaints reflected an "attitude of inherent racism." The attendant, identified only as Mr P, allegedly refused to unlock the pump, filmed Asari, and used racial slurs. The company's manager, Liam Killeen, claimed no altercation over a sandwich order, but the tribunal noted Asari's active dispute. The ruling required the company to amend policies, establish a complaints procedure, and train staff on discrimination. The decision was made under the Equal Status Act 2000.
Stephen Rabbitte, 36, was sentenced to 16 years in prison with the final year suspended for the attempted murder of his partner, Audrey Reddin, on 10 April 2021. The court heard that Rabbitte strangled Reddin in bed, then stabbed her in the neck with a knife, leaving the tip embedded in her spine. He also used a slash hook to strike her, causing a broken arm and other injuries. Reddin suffered a broken nose, broken teeth, a stab wound to her left hand, and ongoing pain and PTSD. Rabbitte had pleaded guilty and had a letter of apology. He had 51 prior convictions, including assault and knife possession, and was on a suspended drug sentence at the time of the attack. The sentence was back‑dated to 12 April 2021 and he will appear in Galway Circuit Court on 7 March for reactivation of his suspended sentence.