The High Court appointed Paul McCann of Grant Thornton as provisional liquidator for Mahalo Ltd, the company behind the Bamboo app that lets users order meals from over 100 restaurants in Galway, Dublin and Cork. Launched in 2018, the app charged a small commission on each order. Mahalo's revenue fell sharply after 95% of its partner restaurants closed during the Covid‑19 pandemic, and most users—primarily professionals—began working remotely or stopped working altogether. A rival firm offered €37,000 to acquire Mahalo's assets and hire its six employees, but the company's debts, including €460,000 owed to investor Joseph Elias and €30,000 to Revenue, far exceeded that offer. Directors Luke Mackey and Stefanos Focas sought a provisional liquidation to protect creditors and preserve the company's servers. Judge Senan Allen, satisfied that Mahalo was insolvent, appointed the liquidator despite concerns that a court‑appointed process might not yield the best price for the assets.
James O'Malley, aged 26, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery and the production of a syringe after threatening a cashier with a syringe and stealing a tray from a Costcutter shop on 13 April 2019. Gardaí CCTV footage showed O'Malley and a second man attempting to empty the till before taking the tray, then changing clothes in an abandoned yard. The shop suffered a €450 loss, and the tray was recovered after O'Malley's arrest. O'Malley admitted the offence, describing himself as "out of his head and strung out," and cited a history of 66 prior convictions, including robbery, assault, and drug offences. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to four‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions, including mandatory residential drug treatment if directed by the Probation Service. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the syringe threat and O'Malley's need for comprehensive drug treatment.
A construction worker from Sligo has been sentenced to three years' imprisonment for his involvement in a tax fraud scheme at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Martin Stokes, aged 35, pleaded guilty in April 2016 to charges under the Theft and Fraud Offences Act, including forgery and deception, relating to offences committed in 2006, 2008 and 2011. He was one of five people who registered as contractors while falsely undertaking to remit tax payments on behalf of sub-contractors. Revenue issued approximately €107,000 in tax refunds and credits to bank accounts controlled by another individual, which were subsequently withdrawn via ATMs. Stokes failed to appear for sentencing in June 2016 and was arrested abroad before being returned to Ireland. Judge Martin Nolan described the scheme as relatively sophisticated and noted it exploited weaknesses in the contractor tax system. Stokes, who has previous convictions for dangerous driving, deception and counterfeiting, was credited with character references and community contributions, resulting in a reduction from an indicative sentence of five years.
During a sentencing hearing in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a 64‑year‑old man was convicted of sexually assaulting his seven‑year‑old son in 1989. The victim, who was a child sexual assault survivor himself, gave a victim impact statement in which he described how his father had taken him swimming, hypnotised him, and then sexually assaulted him. He recalled being told by his father that he was "washing him, cuddling him, sucking him" and that he was "just playing around with his penis" to bond with him. The defendant, who was a victim of abuse at Letterfrack Industrial School as a teenager, denied the offence and claimed it was false. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to four and a half years' imprisonment, suspending the last six months on the condition that he engage with the Probation Service.
Martin Stokes of Woodford Heights, Clondalkin, was arrested during the Covid‑19 lockdown after failing to appear for a sentence hearing in 2016 for tax fraud offences under the Theft and Fraud Offences Act. He had pleaded guilty in April 2016 to charges relating to tax registration on dates in 2006, 2008 and 2011. The court had adjourned the case for a week when his lawyers claimed he was an employed father of three, but he did not appear a week later, leading the judge to issue a bench warrant. The warrant was executed last Monday, and Judge Melanie Greally refused bail, remanding Stokes into custody for sentencing. His defence lawyer, Keith Spencer BL, argued that Stokes could not attend court because he was in a 14‑day quarantine imposed by the Prison Service, and that a video‑link meeting had been booked but not attended.
Conor Tarpey, a 24‑year‑old engineer working for Medtronic in Galway, has taken his planning refusal to the High Court. He seeks to build a 225‑square‑metre house with a garage on family land 850 metres from his parents' home in Ballynamangh East, near Maree. After securing permission from Galway County Council, the decision was appealed to An Bord Pleanala by a neighbouring landowner. The board refused in 2019, a decision that was later sent back for reconsideration. In early 2024 the board again refused, citing lack of demonstrable economic or social need and non‑compliance with rural stand‑alone housing policy. Tarpey argues he has a longstanding relationship with the area, having attended local schools and participated in community activities, and that the board's decision was based on errors of law and irrelevant considerations.
In a 2020 Court of Appeal decision, the court held that a District Court judge's remark that a "genuine casino" would need a liquor licence was not pejorative or prejudicial. Midnight Entertainment Ltd, which operates the 4 Aces casino in Galway, had been charged with selling drinks without a licence on 28 November 2015. The company, claiming it is a private members' club and does not require a licence, denied wrongdoing and sought to defend itself. Midnight Entertainment had previously obtained a High Court order quashing the judge's refusal to recuse herself, citing remarks made in a 2015 case where the judge found a director guilty and imposed a suspended sentence, remarking that a genuine casino must have a licence. The Court of Appeal overturned the High Court's decision, remitted the matter to the District Court, and awarded legal costs against the company.
Michael Dineen, aged 28, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for the manslaughter of Patrick 'Ginty' O'Donnell, aged 36, who died after a pub fight on 1 June 2018. Dineen had consumed 20 pints that day and repeatedly punched O'Donnell in the head and face for about a minute, delivering kicks to his body. He had previously been on bail for breaking another man's jaw. The judge noted the attack was one‑sided and unequal, with O'Donnell suffering severe injuries including loss of teeth, fractured nose and internal bleeding. Dineen pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The sentence was reduced from a headline of 12 years to nine years due to mitigating factors such as remorse, apology and psychiatric history. The suspended year will be lifted if Dineen abstains from alcohol and remains under probation supervision.
In a High Court case in Galway, a fund‑appointed receiver, Luke Charleton, obtained an injunction for vacant possession of The Coach House, Barna Demesne, Barna Road, where Mr Cormac Cleary had allegedly lived rent‑free for about three years. Mr Cleary denied the claim, asserting he had a valid tenancy with the property's owner, Mr John Hughes. The receiver, representing Promontoria Aran, argued that Mr Cleary had no entitlement to occupy the premises and that no lease existed. Mr Hughes, in a sworn statement, denied entering into any agreement with Mr Cleary regarding the Coach House. Judge Mark Sanfey, satisfied with the receiver's case and noting a lack of documentary evidence supporting Mr Cleary's tenancy claim, granted the injunction. The order remains pending until the final outcome of the action, with the matter adjourned for two weeks to allow the parties to consider the decision.
Brian Shaughnessy, a 53‑year‑old former Galway hotel owner, was convicted of raping an employee in the Loughrea Hotel and Spa's Presidential Suite after buying her drinks and asking to confide in her. The Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty on 26 July 2010, and he received a six‑year sentence with the final year suspended by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan on 10 June 2013. Shaughnessy has now lodged an appeal, arguing that his previous legal team failed to prepare or conduct his defence adequately. His new barrister, Hugh Hartnett SC, claims new evidence was omitted from the transcript and that the trial judge mis‑informed the jury about the victim's demeanour. The Court of Appeal will consider these arguments, with counsel for the former team and the Director of Public Prosecutions presenting counter‑arguments, and the court has reserved its judgement. Brian Shaughnessy pleaded not guilty.
A man accused of involvement in a violent extortion has been granted bail at the Special Criminal Court, despite garda objections. William Twomey, aged 56, from Warrenpoint, County Down, faces charges relating to the alleged attack and false imprisonment of Edward McAndrew at a farmhouse in Omeath, County Louth on 2 December 2017. He is also charged with robbery and making an unwarranted demand for €50,000 with menaces. A second defendant, Anthony Finglas, aged 49, also from Warrenpoint, had his bail application refused on the grounds that he posed a risk of committing further offences and interfering with witnesses. Twomey was released on condition that he provide a €14,000 surety, sign on daily at Ballinasloe Garda Station between 8am and 8pm, avoid interfering with witnesses, and remain outside County Mayo. Both men have been remanded in custody since their separate arrests on 11 February.
In February 2014, 16‑year‑old Michael Cawley, with two other men, attempted to force entry into a home on Brewery Road, Stillorgan, Dublin. While the couple inside held their bodies against the door, Cawley used a screwdriver to try to jimmy the lock, but the men failed and left after the door was destroyed. Later that evening, Cawley forced open a window in an empty house on Wilson Road, Mount Merrion, and stole €5,000 worth of property, including a PlayStation console, 600 cigarettes, and a family BMW. The car was later found near his home in Ballycullen. Cawley fled to the UK, where he was charged with burglary in 2016, and returned to Ireland, where he pleaded guilty to attempted burglary and burglary at the Stillorgan house.
John Keady, 45, who pleaded guilty to a sexual assault at the Heritage Hotel Killenard in December 2018, was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment, suspended in its entirety, and ordered to be placed on the sex‑offenders register for five years. He brought €5,000 to court as a token of remorse. Keady has now filed a High Court challenge, arguing that the notification requirements of the 2001 Sex Offenders Act do not apply because his sentence was wholly suspended and his victim was neither mentally impaired nor under 17. He claims the District Court lacked jurisdiction to order his inclusion on the register and seeks an order quashing that directive. The High Court granted permission ex‑parte, with the matter to be returned in April.
In a High Court case involving a dispute over shares in the Galway Clinic, a judge directed US‑based businessman and medical doctor Joseph Sheehan Senior to provide a sworn statement detailing the alleged sale of Blackrock Medical Partners Ltd (BMPL). The order was part of injunction proceedings brought by Marpole Ltd, BMD Investments Ltd and Parma Investments, who had secured a temporary injunction freezing BMPL's assets after the company allegedly owed them over €800,000 in legal fees. The three firms feared that funds received by BMPL from the sale of shares in the clinic might be dissipated. The judge, Ms Justice Teresa Pilkington, agreed to continue the freezing order, which prevents BMPL from transferring, dissipating or reducing its assets, and ordered Sheehan to swear an affidavit outlining the sale and the company's assets. The court also ordered BMPL to pay €800,000 on account, to be held until the legal fees are finalized.
Two men from Havelock Place, Warrenpoint, Co Down, Anthony Finglas (49) and William Twomey (56), appeared before the Special Criminal Court on 11 February 2020. They were charged with four non‑scheduled offences: falsely imprisoning, assaulting and robbing Edward McAndrew at One Ferry Hill, Cornamucklagh, Omeath, Co Louth on 2 December 2017, and demanding £50,000 from him with menaces. The robbery included car keys, about £200, a travel bag, a wallet, a briefcase, two mobile phones and an Irish passport. Finglas was arrested on Castle Street, Trim, Co Meath, and Twomey on Eyrecourt, Co Galway, both on warrants issued by the court the previous day. The court heard the charges, the defendants' responses, and the judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, remanded Twomey for a bail hearing next Tuesday, noting that the defendants are likely to be of substantial means.
In 2014, Garda Nicholas Keogh made a protected disclosure alleging that a senior member of the Athlone drugs unit, Garda A, had an improper relationship with a heroin dealer, Ms B, and that Garda A had tipped her off on drug searches. Keogh also claimed that in 2009 Gardaí had planted half a kilo of heroin worth €75,000 on two suspects and that a file had been prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). He further alleged evidence destruction, theft of an investigation file, non‑compliance with a court order, exclusion of a known heroin dealer from an investigation, incorrect evidence storage and improper motives for a drug operation. The DPP, after reviewing the investigation, concluded that the evidence against Garda A was circumstantial and did not reach the threshold for criminal prosecution. The Disclosures Tribunal is hearing evidence on whether Keogh was targeted or harassed after his disclosure. The tribunal is chaired by Judge Sean Ryan.
Three companies – Marpole Ltd, BMD Investments Ltd and Parma Investments – secured a temporary High Court injunction to freeze the assets of Blackrock Medical Partners Ltd (BMPL), a company controlled by US‑based doctor and businessman Joseph Sheehan Senior. The injunction was sought because BMPL allegedly owes the three firms over €800,000 in legal fees after a failed High Court action. BMPL had recently received several million euros from the sale of shares it held in Marpole Ltd to Parma, and the plaintiffs fear that these funds could be dissipated. The court, hearing the case ex‑parte, granted the freezing order, preventing BMPL from transferring, dissipating or reducing its assets, particularly the proceeds of the share sale, below €800,000. The order is returnable to a date next week. The injunction follows a prior judgment where BMPL's action to stop BMD from transferring its shares to Parma was dismissed and the three firms were awarded legal costs.
In a High Court ruling on 3 February 2020, Mr Justice Garrett Simons granted Ennis Property Finance DAC, a fund linked to Goldman Sachs, an order for possession of a house in Devon Park, Salthill, Co Galway. The fund had acquired loans of €550,000 from Bank of Scotland (Ireland) in 2003 and 2006, which were secured by the property. Ennis claimed the loans were defaulted on by Mr Henry Greally, the owner, and sought possession on that basis. Mr Greally opposed the application, arguing that the debt was not fully explained, disputing the validity of personal guarantees, and alleging procedural errors by the fund. The judge found the evidence uncontroverted, confirmed the fund's registered charge and power of sale, and noted that the property was occupied. He awarded Ennis legal costs and imposed a one‑month stay on the possession order. The decision was described as "unusual.".
In a High Court hearing on 30 January 2020, Mr Justice Brian O'Moore imposed a 14‑year and three‑month disqualification on Kevin Rabbitte, director of Westman Plant and Civils Limited, for his role in a €1.2 million VAT fraud. Rabbitte admitted to a carefully coordinated scheme that used the company's VAT number to purchase machinery from the UK between July 2014 and June 2015, then sell it in Ireland without paying the due VAT. The fraud, described as a carousel or Missing Trader Intra‑Community VAT fraud, resulted in Revenue being defrauded of €1.2 million. Rabbitte had consented to a declaration that he knowingly defrauded the company's creditors, including Revenue, and to be personally responsible for €1.5 million of the company's debts. He received a 5 % discount on the maximum 15‑year disqualification allowed under the 2014 Companies Act because of his admissions and consent to orders before the hearing.
James Daly, a former tax inspector aged 62, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment by Judge Melanie Greally at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He pleaded guilty to submitting an incorrect income‑tax return in 2005 and to failing to file returns for 2006, 2007 and 2008. Daly had worked for the Office of Revenue Commissions for about eight years before starting his own tax‑consultancy business. The judge rejected the defence of ignorance or incompetence, citing Daly's professional experience and the absence of any explanation for his conduct. She described the offences as a grave breach of trust, noting dishonesty and strategic, financially motivated behaviour. The sentence was imposed after Daly's guilty plea, which avoided a trial, and took into account his lack of prior convictions, professional credentials and the lack of remorse or cooperation with Revenue.
The High Court is being asked to impose the longest possible disqualification on Kevin Rabbitte, former director of Westman Plant and Civils Limited, for his role in a €8m VAT fraud scheme. The company, liquidated in 2017, used its VAT number to import machinery from the UK between July 2014 and June 2015, failing to pay VAT when the goods were sold in Ireland. Rabbitte allegedly acted on behalf of an unnamed third party, bidding at UK auctions, acquiring goods under Westman's VAT number, and receiving a commission. The liquidator, Mr Myles Kirby, seeks disqualification, while Rabbitte, represented by solicitor Robert Dore, has consented to orders making him personally liable for €1.5m of the company's debts and to a declaration of intent to defraud creditors. The court will decide the disqualification period after hearing the parties' submissions.
Alan Craughwell (35) of Athlone, Co Westmeath, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm following a collision with a nurse on December 24, 2017 at Taghmaconnell, Co Roscommon. He had been travelling with more than twice the legal alcohol limit and narrowly missed six oncoming vehicles before striking the victim's car. The Circuit Court imposed a fully suspended two-and-a-half year sentence in May 2019. The Court of Appeal found this sentence unduly lenient and re-sentenced Craughwell to two-and-a-half years imprisonment with the final 15 months suspended. Mr Justice George Birmingham described the driving as "sustained, rank bad driving" rather than isolated poor judgement. The victim, a nurse, sustained serious injuries including fractured ankles and experienced significant disruption to her working life and family activities. Craughwell's ten-year driving ban remained in effect, and he was required to enter a good behaviour bond for the suspended portion of his sentence. Alan Craughwell had the case dismissed.
Sean O'Neill, a 72‑year‑old liquidator from Wicklow, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing €28,530 that had been transferred into his bank account by the Department of Social Protection under the insolvency payment scheme. The money was owed to a former employee of a Galway restaurant that had gone into liquidation. O'Neill had transferred €15,000 to the employee but never passed on the remaining balance. He was charged in July and, after a guilty plea and cooperation, brought €18,000 to court. Judge Martin Nolan, noting the breach of trust and O'Neill's lack of prior convictions, imposed a two‑year custodial sentence, suspending all but the final five months. He ordered the €18,000 to be paid to the relevant party. The case highlights the duty of liquidators to act honestly and the consequences of failing to do so.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 25 November 2019, Noel Lenihan, a 67‑year‑old martial arts instructor from Galway, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for the manslaughter of Christopher McGrath, aged 38. The court found that Lenihan and McGrath had a long‑standing, "intimate" and "dysfunctional" relationship, complicated by alcohol and drug use. McGrath had been staying at Lenihan's home and, on the night of 12 March 2017, entered the house after scaling a wall and threatening Lenihan. A struggle ensued; Lenihan stabbed McGrath with a steak knife, claiming self‑defence. Pathology revealed five knife wounds, including a fatal heart wound. Lenihan pleaded guilty to manslaughter, and the judge noted his remorse, guilty plea, and lack of prior convictions as mitigating factors, reducing the headline sentence from seven to four years, back‑dated to 1 November 2019.
Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds granted possession orders to Everyday Finance DAC, requiring more than 20 adults and children to vacate three Dublin properties by January 31. The properties, originally purchased by businessman Jerry Beades in 2002 using a €1.7m loan from PTSB, were repossessed following an alleged default. The loans were subsequently acquired by Cheldon Property Finance and later by Everyday Finance. The judge rejected residents' claims of valid leases, noting no such leases were sanctioned by lenders. She refused an application by residents Tomasz and Marta Skorupinska to adjourn the matter for legal representation, stating they had previously retained solicitors and that their recent sworn statements appeared assisted. The judge emphasized that possession orders had been before the courts since 2012 and that delays were no longer acceptable. Although Mr Beades has appeals before the Court of Appeal regarding the possession orders, the current ruling mandates the residents' departure. Everyday Finance, represented by Mr Stephen Byrne BL, alleged the occupants were present without valid leases and had obstructed property inspections. The judge noted that previous offers to allow rent-free occupancy were rejected by the residents.
The State has appealed to the Court of Appeal against a High Court ruling that quashed Judge Mary Fahy's refusal to recuse herself from hearing the prosecution of Midnight Entertainments. The company, which operates the "4 Aces" casino in Galway city, is charged with selling alcohol without a licence on November 28, 2015. Midnight Entertainments denies wrongdoing, asserting it is a private members' club that does not require a liquor licence, and intends to fully defend the prosecution. The appeal stems from Judge Fahy's earlier 2015 decision in a similar case against a company director, where she found him guilty, imposed a six-month suspended prison sentence, and remarked that a "genuine casino" must hold a liquor licence. Citing these remarks, the company argued in January 2017 that a reasonable apprehension of bias existed, prompting Judge Fahy's refusal to recuse. The High Court subsequently ruled in the company's favour. The Director of Public Prosecutions is now seeking to overturn that decision. Counsel for the DPP argued that the judge's legal ruling did not necessitate recusal, while company counsel described the prosecution as unusual and a "second bite of the cherry." The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham with Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly, reserved its judgement on the appeal.
In a High Court case, Daniel Lannon (49) sought damages and declarations from the Minister for Social Protection after a former department official passed his personal data to a private detective hired by solicitors for AIB bank. Lannon claimed the data breach occurred on 22 August 2014 when Ms Caitriona Bracken accessed his address at Colpe View, Drogheda, and supplied it to investigator Michael Ryan, who was also her brother‑in‑law. Ryan was employed by a solicitor's firm representing AIB, which used the address to serve legal proceedings on Lannon. Lannon had not provided the Drogheda address to the bank, using instead a property he owned in Malahide. After AIB sent correspondence to the Drogheda address in 2015, Lannon complained to the Data Protection Commissioner. The DPC prosecuted Ryan and his company, Glen Collection Investments Limited, who admitted breaches and were fined €7,500.
In a 2019 civil action, Daniel Lannon, aged 49, sued the Department of Social Protection for a 2014 breach of his privacy, alleging that his personal data was unlawfully passed to a private investigator. The department, represented by Conor Power SC and Nick Reilly BL, denied that such data sharing was common practice, stating that it takes data‑protection breaches seriously and has implemented staff training and monitoring since 2014. It admitted that a former official, Ms Caitriona Bracken, had provided Lannon's data to a private investigator, Mr Michael Ryan, who was hired by a solicitor's firm for AIB. The department also acknowledged that four employees, including Bracken, had been dismissed for passing data to third parties, and that between 20 and 30 staff had been disciplined for non‑business data access. The court heard that the department had taken steps such as random checks and a database of private investigators' phone numbers to prevent further breaches.
The High Court heard a damages claim by Daniel Lannon against the Minister for Social Protection, alleging a breach of privacy and data protection rights in 2014. Lannon claims a department official provided his Drogheda address to a private investigator hired by solicitors acting for AIB, enabling the bank to serve legal proceedings at that location. He seeks damages, aggravated damages, and declarations that the department breached its duty of care. The department opposes the claim, arguing it is not liable for the negligent actions of its former staff member, Ms Caitriona Bracken, who was dismissed in 2017. The department also contends the proceedings constitute an abuse of process, noting Lannon previously discontinued a similar action. Ms Bracken, added as a third party, claimed releasing data was common practice, but the department stated it was no longer seeking relief against her, allowing her to be let out of the case. Lannon admitted he failed to inform AIB of his address change as required by his mortgage terms. The court noted that in October 2016, the private investigator Michael Ryan and his company Glen Collection Investments Limited pleaded guilty to certain data breaches and were fined €7,500 by the district court. The hearing continues.
Seven men were sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for violent disorder on a LUAS tram at Chancery Street, Dublin 7, on February 6, 2016. Sean Kindillon, Jamal Garamanli, Ian Baker, Patrick Dunne, Michael Farrell, Jamie Whelan, and Andrew Byrne each pleaded guilty to the offence. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced all seven to two years' imprisonment, but suspended the sentences in their entirety on strict conditions. The court ordered six of the men to pay €2,500 each within 18 months, while Byrne was ordered to pay €1,500, with funds directed to charity. The incident involved an altercation with members of a far-right anti-Islam organisation travelling to a demonstration. Prosecution evidence included CCTV footage showing Dunne striking a man with an umbrella and Byrne aiming a kick. The judge noted the defendants were working, had good prospects, and expressed remorse, deeming imprisonment unjustified. Kindillon and Garamanli stated they intervened to defend themselves or friends against perceived attacks. None of the far-right group members were charged. A separate co-accused, who pleaded guilty in the District Court, was sentenced to 140 hours of community service in lieu of 14 months' imprisonment for striking a man with an iron bar.
John Conroy, 24, was convicted of 13 counts of dangerous driving and public endangerment after hijacking a car and leading a high‑speed chase through Galway city on 31 May 2016. He was found guilty by a jury at the Galway Circuit Criminal Court and sentenced to six‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended. Conroy appealed his conviction, arguing that the car‑owner's out‑of‑court statement was inadmissible because the witness, Thomas Ackroyd, was under the influence of morphine when he made the statement and could only recall about 2 % of its contents. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on the appeal, which centres on whether the safeguards for admitting such statements were met. The appeal will be heard after the Court of Appeal's decision is announced. The case remains at the appeal stage.
The Central Criminal Court heard that Christopher McGrath, aged 38, was stabbed to death on 12 March 2017 at the home of Noel Lenihan, a 67‑year‑old martial arts instructor from Mervue, Galway. McGrath had previously been in an intimate relationship with Lenihan and had been staying at Lenihan's house after failing to secure a room at a homeless shelter. Lenihan was charged with murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter on 12 March 2017. He claimed he stabbed McGrath in self‑defence after a struggle in which McGrath had allegedly threatened to choke him. Acting State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan found five knife wounds, including a fatal frontal wound to the heart. Lenihan accepted responsibility, expressed remorse, and pleaded guilty to manslaughter. The court considered his age, ill‑health, previous good character and remorse before sentencing, which was scheduled for 25 November.
Coffey Construction Limited secured a temporary High Court injunction to stop a blockade at its headquarters in Moanbaun, Athenry, Co Galway. The blockade, set up by 15 security guards, two white vans and dogs hired by receiver Mr David O'Connor of BDO, began at 7 am on the previous Tuesday. The guards, who called themselves bailiffs, did not display the required identification or licence numbers under the Private Security Services Act, and the matter was reported to the Private Security Authority. Coffey Construction, which pays €100,000 per year for a valid lease and employs 280 people (88 in Athenry), said the blockade would damage the firm and could drive it to insolvency. The injunction, granted ex‑parte by Mr Justice Tony O'Connor, restrains the receiver and his agents from restricting access to the property. The case will return to court next week.
In a High Court case, Mr Edward McDonagh was awarded €2,000 in damages after Galway County Council destroyed his stallion, "Chief of Colours," in April 2018. The council had seized the horse on 11 February 2018, claiming it was wandering on Headford Road, and destroyed it on 13 April 2018 after Mr McDonagh refused to pay a €3,000 impounding and veterinary fee. Mr McDonagh contested the council's actions, arguing the fee was unlawful and that the council had acted beyond its statutory powers. The judge ruled that the council's destruction of the horse was unlawful, that the €3,000 demand was impaired by an unlawful €589 administration fee, and that Mr McDonagh was entitled to damages. The court awarded €2,000, noting the horse's value was modest and that the council's actions violated statutory requirements and property rights.
A 68‑year‑old Polish man was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment for raping a non‑national cleaner who lived with him in Galway. The Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of two counts of rape and four counts of oral rape committed between 2012 and 2016. The victim, who was pregnant after the first rape, described how the accused treated her as a slave, a sex object and a tool for his sexual gratification, forcing her to kneel, obey and be quiet. She said he destroyed her life and that of her partner and family. The judge, Ms Justice Tara Burns, noted the absence of mitigating factors and imposed a 15‑year term, taking into account the man's age and health. The accused denied the charges and claimed a consensual relationship. The victim's impact report was read into the record, and she was not present for the sentencing hearing. The unnamed 68-year-old was convicted.
The High Court has adjourned proceedings in a long-running family dispute concerning Claddagh Jewellers Ltd. Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds agreed to a one-month adjournment after counsel for applicant Andrew Fried reported that mediation, conducted by retired Judge Paul Gilligan, had resulted in a "resolution in principle." Although progress was noted, several steps remain to finalize the matter. Andrew Fried, of Leac Lian Barna Co, Galway, is an applicant in proceedings against his brother, Philip Fried. Andrew alleges that Philip, in conjunction with their father Laszlo, has interfered with the company's business. He seeks orders prohibiting contact with suppliers, a buyout or sale of shares, and a declaration that Philip's actions are oppressive. These claims are denied. In separate proceedings, Philip Fried claims that Andrew and Claddagh Ring Ltd breached his trademark, asserting he is the sole owner of the "Claddagh Jewellers" mark. He seeks restraining orders. Joint receivers Michael McAteer and Aengus Burns are also parties to the mediation. Additionally, Promontoria (Aran) claims it is owed €16m in separate proceedings involving Laszlo Fried and associated companies, alleging a failure to repay loans originally advanced by Ulster Bank. The court did not make a final determination on the merits, as the matter was adjourned to allow for final resolution.
A 68‑year‑old Polish man, previously convicted of rape in Poland and serving a three‑year sentence for a threat to kill in Ireland, was found guilty by a jury on two counts of rape and four counts of oral rape committed between 2012 and 2016. The victim, a non‑national cleaner who lived with the accused in Galway, was raped while she worked for him and became pregnant. She described the abuse as controlling and violent, noting that the accused demanded sex and forced her to perform oral sex on four occasions. The accused has medical problems and does not speak English; his defence argued that a full tariff would mean life imprisonment. The court adjourned sentencing to 30 October, and the victim's impact statement was read into the record. The accused does not accept the verdict.
Neil McKay, a 75‑year‑old retired primary school teacher who had lived in Ireland for over twenty years, was jailed after admitting possession of 13,557 images, 1,685 videos, 91 animations and four documents of child pornography. He pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to distributing child pornographic material via Yahoo between 26 November and 2 December 2011. Garda Johanna Doyle described documents that included Google Earth printouts with Scottish locations, boys' names and ages, and a document titled "David's story" detailing sexual activity with an 11‑year‑old boy. McKay's distribution offence involved a conversation in which he offered a folder containing 99 videos of boys in sexual activity. He had previously been convicted in Scotland for indecent photography and for failing to disclose his address to the sex offenders registrar, receiving a 14‑month sentence. After a European Arrest Warrant, he was returned to Ireland and has been on remand since.
A teenager convicted of the manslaughter of a 17-year-old boy in Claremorris, County Mayo in 2015 has had his sentencing further delayed to allow for additional brain surgery. The defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty of killing Dovydas Jenkas on 19 December 2015 following a jury trial at the Central Criminal Court in Castlebar in 2017. He had previously undergone surgical procedures to address epileptic seizures, including a left temporal lesionectomy in July 2018. Defence counsel informed the Central Criminal Court that the defendant now requires a cranioplasty, a surgical repair of a skull defect, with no confirmed date yet available. Justice Eileen Creedon acknowledged the distress of the deceased's family, noting two years had passed since conviction without sentencing finalisation. The case was adjourned to 14 February 2020, with the defendant remanded on continuing bail pending further medical evidence or completion of surgery.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a Slovakian woman, aged 68, testified via video link that she was raped by a Polish man she had met while struggling financially in Galway. The man, introduced as a "good guy" who could help her, offered her accommodation and her two daughters, with the understanding she would work as a cleaner. He demanded sex, raped her after a New Year's Eve party, and later raped her again in an abandoned farmhouse. He also forced her to perform oral sex on him on four occasions while she worked for him. The woman's partner, who was also threatened by the man, reported the abuse to Gardaí. The man was convicted on two counts of rape and four counts of oral rape between 2012 and 2016, and was remanded in custody until 25 October.
A man from Aughavas, County Leitrim, has been sentenced to seven and a half years imprisonment following his conviction on money laundering charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Simon Gold, aged 54, pleaded not guilty to charges including money laundering, theft, deception and control of false instruments relating to offences between January 2010 and October 2012. A jury returned guilty verdicts on 20 counts after over 12 hours of deliberation, following more than two weeks of evidence. The court heard Gold operated fraudulent companies under multiple identities and targeted vulnerable individuals experiencing severe financial difficulty. Judge Martin Nolan described the crimes as devious and dishonest, noting Gold exploited men in desperate circumstances. The sentence was backdated to May 2018, when Gold first entered custody. Gold has 17 previous convictions, including 12 recorded in the United Kingdom for burglary, theft and larceny.
Gheorghe Goidan, a 46‑year‑old Romanian, was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment for raping two Czech women who were working as prostitutes in Ireland. The judge described the offences as "vicious and shocking" and noted that Goidan had targeted the women because he believed they would not be believed. He met each woman separately in hotel rooms, threatened them with a knife, and repeatedly assaulted and raped them. Goidan had pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault at a hotel in Portlaoise on 7 September 2017 and had also denied rape, oral rape and anal rape of a second woman at the Maldron Hotel in Galway on the same day. A jury found him guilty on all counts. The judge imposed ten‑year terms for each sexual offence and seven‑year terms for each robbery, with the sexual terms to run consecutively, resulting in a 20‑year jail term.
Eddie Smith, 45, of Clondalkin, was sentenced by Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin to 16 months imprisonment, fully suspended for 18 months, after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation for sending explicit Facebook messages to a 15‑year‑old boy on 19 June 2015. The messages, sent at 3 a.m., invited the child to have sex, including oral sex, and contained graphic remarks. Smith had no prior convictions. The judge noted the offence appeared unpremeditated, likely a spur of the moment after alcohol consumption, and considered mitigating factors such as Smith's guilty plea, his difficult personal circumstances, and his medium risk assessment by probation services. Smith was ordered to engage in victim support work, mental health services, and the Matt Talbot Community Trust, and to be added to the sex offenders register for five years. The sentencing reflected the seriousness of the impact on the victim, who now plans to move to Australia.
A 17‑year‑old boy pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to sexual exploitation of two cousins and the anal rape of one in 2015‑2016. The judge, Mr Justice Michael White, deferred a five‑year custodial sentence for one year, keeping the boy under Probation Services supervision. He noted the boy's behaviour was "disgraceful" and "shocked" him, and that the boy had blackmailed his cousin with pornographic material to continue sexual contact. The boy had been exposed to pornography from a very young age and had engaged in non‑penetrative sexual contact with his cousin from about age nine until 2016. He also admitted to anal rape of a male cousin, who was four months younger, claiming it was consensual. The court adjourned the next hearing to July 27 next year. The boy's smartphone will be monitored but not banned. The case was described as a serious concern involving young offenders exposed to porn on smart phones.
Gerard Flannery, a former sales manager for Nutts About Pets Ltd and Speedritedog Food Limited, settled a High Court action against his ex‑employers over posts he claimed were defamatory. In January, Flannery obtained a temporary injunction ordering the companies and owner Basil Thompson to remove online statements about him. The injunction remained while parties negotiated. On Thursday, Flannery's counsel announced the case had been settled on terms and could be struck out. The settlement made the temporary injunction permanent, requiring Nutts About Pets Ltd to delete and not republish posts on its Facebook and website made about Flannery on 7 December 2018, and to refrain from further statements concerning him or his employment. Flannery had claimed he was summarily dismissed on 7 December 2018, and the posts were said to damage his reputation. The settlement was reached after out‑of‑court talks.
A dispute between brothers Andrew and Philip Fried, shareholders of Claddagh Jewellers Ltd, was adjourned to October by Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds to facilitate mediation. Andrew Fried, of Leac Lian, Barna, Co Galway, claims Philip and their father, Laszlo Fried, have interfered with the company's business and suppliers. He seeks orders prohibiting contact with suppliers, a buyout of his stake, and a declaration that Philip's actions are oppressive. These claims are denied. In separate proceedings, Philip Fried, of Thornberry, Barna, claims he is the sole owner of the "Claddagh Jewellers" trademark and seeks to restrain Andrew and Claddagh Ring Ltd from infringing it. Additionally, joint receivers Michael McAteer and Aengus Burns, appointed over the company's Galway premises, sought permission to obtain case papers. Counsel Marcus Dowling BL stated this arose from media reports and concerns regarding unpaid rent. The receivers are involved in proceedings against Laszlo Fried and related companies, where Promontoria (Aran) claims €16m is owed for unpaid loans. Judge Reynolds granted permission for the receivers' application and adjourned that matter to the following week. Previous undertakings remain in place.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 67‑year‑old man from Mervue pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the killing of 38‑year‑old Christopher McGrath in Galway city. The body was discovered at the defendant's home on 12 March 2017, with a neck wound. The Director of Public Prosecutions accepted the plea. Judge Michael White adjourned sentencing to November and remanded the defendant on continuing bail.
Barry McArdle, 33, of Drimnagh, was released from Dublin custody after the High Court declared a European Arrest Warrant issued by the Dutch Public Prosecutor invalid. McArdle had previously been sentenced to two years in the Netherlands for disposing of the body of Keith Ennis, 29, and had served that sentence while on remand. He was also convicted of manslaughter by the Amsterdam Court of Appeal in 2018, receiving a 13‑year sentence. The warrant, issued in January, led to his arrest on 3 May and remand. The High Court refused bail and, citing EU law, ruled the warrant invalid because it was issued by an authority not recognised as a judicial body. Justice Tara Burns ordered McArdle's immediate release, and he walked free from court. The Court of Appeal later upheld the High Court's refusal of bail, noting the warrant remained valid until the High Court's ruling. The case remains pending before the Dutch Supreme Court.
In a High Court case, Judge Michael White expressed concern over the link between young offenders and exposure to pornography on smartphones. The case involved a 17‑year‑old boy who sexually exploited his younger cousins. The boy's lawyer testified that the defendant had accessed porn from a very early age. The boy and his cousin engaged in non‑penetrative sexual contact from around 2011 to 2016, beginning when the cousin was about nine or ten. He pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a child in 2015 and to anal rape of the cousin in January 2016. He also admitted to consensual anal sex with a male cousin, who was four months younger, up to ten times. The court noted no coercion. The case was adjourned for sentencing, and the judge highlighted this as the fourth instance he has seen where young children's serious offences stem from early porn exposure.
Barry McArdle, 33, of Drimnagh, faced a 13‑year sentence in the Netherlands for manslaughter after a Dutch court overturned his earlier acquittal. He had previously been convicted of concealing a body, receiving a two‑year term that he had already served while on remand. After being arrested under a European Arrest Warrant on 3 May, he was remanded in Dublin and later released. McArdle intends to challenge his surrender to the Netherlands in the High Court. In May, the High Court refused him bail, and the Court of Appeal upheld that decision today. Justice John Edwards noted that McArdle, as a convicted person, does not enjoy the presumption of innocence at this time, citing his movements between Dublin and Galway and failure to collect social welfare as evidence of his flight risk. The appeal was dismissed with no error found in the High Court's approach. Barry McArdle was acquitted.