Court archive
Court reports mentioning Roundstone, Galway
2019-10-21 · Galway
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.
2016-07-08 · Galway
Brian McDonagh, aged 25, was convicted of dangerous driving causing the death of his 19‑year‑old friend Thomas McDonagh in a single‑vehicle crash near Kylemore, Connemara, on 2 February 2014. He also pleaded guilty to driving without insurance. The original sentence was 10 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, and a 20‑year driving disqualification. On appeal, the Court of Appeal found the maximum sentence excessive and noted that a psychiatric report showing McDonagh's remorse had not been considered. The sentence was reduced to eight years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, and he was required to enter a good‑behaviour bond for the suspended period. The driving disqualification remains in force. The appeal did not alter the fact that the incident involved an uninsured, unroadworthy, overloaded car and that McDonagh was two‑and‑a‑half times over the alcohol limit.
2016-07-04 · Galway
Brian McDonagh, aged 25, was convicted in Galway Circuit Criminal Court of dangerous driving causing the death of Thomas McDonagh, aged 19, in a single‑vehicle crash near Kylemore on 2 February 2014. He pleaded guilty and was also found guilty of driving without insurance. Judge Rory McCabe sentenced him to 10 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, and imposed a 20‑year driving disqualification. McDonagh's counsel, Vincent Heneghan, appealed, arguing the judge erred by imposing the maximum sentence and had not considered a psychiatrist's report indicating genuine remorse or McDonagh's background and alcohol abuse. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Sinead Gleeson, highlighted aggravating factors: McDonagh was on a pub crawl, two‑and‑a‑half times over the limit, disqualified, uninsured, driving an unroadworthy, overloaded vehicle, and was uncooperative at the scene. The appeal will be heard next Friday.