Court archive
Court reports mentioning Kenmare, Kerry
2026-06-22 · Kerry
Almost 200 witnesses are involved in the case of Michael Kelley, a former US soldier charged with the murder of Co Kerry sheep farmer Mike Gaine. A nine-week trial is set to begin in the Central Criminal Court in Dublin in January 2027. Kelley, 54, is charged with murdering Gaine, 56, at Carrig, Kenmare, Co Kerry, between March 20 and 21, 2025. The court was told that there are 191 witnesses in the book of evidence, and the case is estimated to last up to nine weeks. Kelley is currently in custody in Cork Prison, and video arrangements have been made for his appearance on video-link. His defense team has informed the court that his solicitor, Patrick Mann, is applying to cease acting for him, and Frank Buttimer has been retained as his new solicitor. The trial was set for January 11, 2027, in the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, as the court could not allocate a case of this length to Cork.
2023-11-09 · Dublin
In an appeal-stage matter before the High Court, Patrick Halpin and Ann Keane, operators of Aberdeen Lodge Hotel in Sandymount, Dublin 4, alleged that the sale of the property by Everyday Finance DAC to Stairway Property Company Ltd under the 1881 Conveyancing Act was unconstitutional and breached the European Convention on Human Rights. The couple, represented by John Kennedy SC and Peter McKenna BL, instructed by solicitor Eugene Carley, sought declarations that the sale was null and void and that the property constitutes their family home. Stairway, represented by Padraic Lyons SC, disputed the family home claim and initiated separate proceedings seeking an injunction for possession, alleging the couple's action was an abuse of process. The State, represented by Brian Conroy SC, and Everyday Finance, which stated it did not understand why it was sued and sought to be let out of the action, also participated. Mr Justice Mark Sanfey agreed to establish a timetable for the exchange of legal documents in both actions. The matter was adjourned and will be next mentioned before the court later this month. The property has been subject to lengthy legal proceedings regarding possession, following the sale of an alleged €24m debt to IBRC to Kenmare Property Finance and subsequently to Everyday Finance.
2023-11-03 · Dublin
Fresh High Court proceedings concerning the Aberdeen Lodge hotel in Dublin 4 were heard before Mr Justice David Nolan. Stairway Property Company Limited, which claims to have purchased the property from Everyday Finance, is seeking possession orders against Patrick Halpin, Ann Keane, and related entities, including Elektron Holdings Limited and Madison Manor Limited. Conversely, Halpin, Keane, and Elektron have initiated separate proceedings against Stairway, Everyday Finance, Ireland, and the Attorney General. They seek a declaration that the property is their family home and aim to challenge part of the Conveyance Act. Stairway's counsel, Padraic Lyons SC, described these actions as an abuse of process intended to delay lawful possession. Stairway also seeks declarations confirming its ownership and has moved for directions on document exchange to expedite the determination of the opposing action. The court noted the property's history of litigation, including previous High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court battles over repossession, and the appointment of receivers following an alleged €24m debt to IBRC, which was subsequently sold to Kenmare Property Finance and then Everyday Finance. After considering submissions, Mr Justice Nolan granted Stairway ex-parte permission to serve short notice of its applications. The matter was adjourned to a date later this month.
2023-06-26 · Kerry
A 68‑year‑old woman, Josephine McMahon, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for sexually assaulting two brothers in Kerry between 1992 and 1996. The younger brother, aged four or five at the time, was abused in the house's bathroom with a wooden spoon, while the older brother, aged eight to twelve, was assaulted on several occasions, including being threatened with a wooden spoon and exposed to the perpetrator's genitals. McMahon pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. The judge, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, noted the maximum sentence for the offence at the time was five years and imposed a suspended 12‑month period, ordering McMahon to remain under probation supervision for a further year after release. The sentence reflected mitigating factors such as her deteriorating health, diabetes and kidney disease, and the need for dialysis. The court heard the victims' impact statements, describing lasting depression, anxiety, addiction issues, and family effects.
2023-06-09 · Kerry
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 9 June 2023, 69‑year‑old Josephine McMahon pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault against two brothers aged four to five and eight to twelve, committed between 1992 and 1996 at her house in Kenmare, Co Kerry. McMahon admitted using a wooden spoon to assault the younger boy in a bathroom, threatening him and later assaulting him again in a bath, and a third assault in a bedroom. She also exposed herself to the older brother and threatened him with the spoon. The younger brother's victim impact statement described ongoing depression, anxiety, addiction, suicidal thoughts and lasting shame, while the older brother cited deep emotional scars and family impact. McMahon, a wheelchair user with diabetes and kidney disease, has no prior convictions and will be placed on the Sex Offenders Register. The case was adjourned to 26 June for sentencing, with a request for a suspended sentence.
2022-10-17 · Dublin
Donal Kelly, 60, was sentenced to 18 months in jail, with the final six months suspended, for possessing 120 videos and 303 images of child sexual abuse. The court heard that Kelly claimed the material showed a "loving interaction" between children and abusers, a claim met with disbelief by Judge Elma Sheahan. She noted the material's depravity, describing it as grotesque and offensive, and highlighted aggravating factors such as a video of an abused infant being force‑fed urine. Kelly admitted guilt, cooperated with Gardaí, and has begun therapy. He lost his taxi licence, will be placed on the sex offender register, and has no prior convictions. The sentencing reflected the seriousness of the offences and the court's view of Kelly's limited insight into his wrongdoing. Donal Kelly pleaded guilty.
2022-02-16 · Dublin
Sean McCarthy, aged in his 60s, lost over €26,000 when a fraudulent email replaced a legitimate invoice from Lauragh Construction, leading him to transfer money to a scammer's account. The fraud involved two young men, Jack Ward (22) and Kelvin Kleinovis (21), who acted as money mules. Ward transferred €9,700 to his account and €9,600 to a third man, while Kleinovis received €26,400 and later transferred €9,700 to Ward. Gardaí traced the transactions, and the bank returned €16,580, leaving McCarthy still short €9,820. McCarthy expressed that the loss delayed his holiday‑home project and that he and his wife no longer trust electronic transfers. Ward was sentenced to an eight‑month prison term, suspended, and Kleinovis received a two‑year term, also suspended, after expressing remorse and attempting restitution. The court noted that neither man was suspected of setting up the bogus email. Jack Ward pleaded guilty. Kelvin Kleinovis pleaded guilty.
2020-10-13 · Dublin
Ben Merriman, aged 22, was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a fully suspended two‑year imprisonment for assault, trespass and criminal damage committed on 27 March 2018 at a house in Flemington Lane, Balbriggan. The offence involved Merriman and a co‑accused who entered the home in search of the co‑accused's former partner. They threatened the woman's parents, shouted that they would kill her, and forced the door down with a metal bar. Merriman spat in the mother's face, kicked the father while he was on the ground, and the other man struck the father with the metal bar. The court noted Merriman's full‑time employment, stable relationship, and compensation offered to the injured parties. The sentence is suspended on the condition that he keeps the peace and behaves well for two years. No prior convictions were recorded for Merriman. Ben Merriman pleaded guilty.
2017-06-23 · Dublin
In a High Court ruling on 23 June 2017, Mr Justice Paul Gilligan ordered that all residents of 24 Mountjoy Square, a Dublin city centre property subject to a fire safety notice issued in August 2016, vacate the premises by 9 July. The judge, while expressing sympathy for the Polish family of 12 who had lived there and wished to remain, stated that the court could not ignore the fire safety risk. The order also required up to a dozen students living in the building's windowless basement to leave. Fire wardens were to remain on site until the vacate date. The receiver, Ms Anne O'Dwyer, sought vacant possession, citing non‑compliance with the safety notice, while the owner, Mr Christopher Singh, contested the receiver's appointment and claimed work had been done to address the issues. The case was adjourned to a July hearing.
2017-06-15 · Dublin
In a High Court hearing on 15 June 2017, the court was told that a Dublin city centre property at 24 Mountjoy Square, which includes the premises known as 24 Charles Lane, is a fire safety risk and must be vacated immediately. The building houses a textile business and is being used for residential purposes, a use that is not permitted under a Fire Safety Notice issued by Dublin City Council in August of the previous year. The receiver, Ms Anne O'Dwyer of Duff & Phelps, represents the property owner, Mr Christopher Singh, and TWI Textile Machinery and Fabric Company Ltd. The receiver has been unable to access the premises since her appointment, and the building is still being used for residential purposes, contrary to the notice. Dublin City Council, after a recent inspection, has urged the receiver to vacate the building immediately.
2016-05-25 · Kerry
Anthony Hussey, 24, pleaded guilty to raping a 74‑year‑old woman in her home on 20 September 2014. He broke in wearing a balaclava, claimed his boss forced him, and forced the victim to the floor, removing her clothing and assaulting her vaginally and anally. He later told the victim she enjoyed it and covered her with a duvet before leaving. The victim's impact statement described her as sobbing, terrified, and feeling "broken" and "humiliated". Hussey was remanded in custody until 7 June for sentencing. He had no prior Garda record, was a bar manager, and had been registered as a sex offender when he entered his plea. The article reports the victim's emotional state and Hussey's apology letter, but no sentencing outcome is given.