During the Central Criminal Court hearing, Detective Sergeant Mark Looby explained that Daniel Blanaru, a 37‑year‑old from Rathmore, Athboy, Co. Meath, repeatedly deflected questions during his August 12, 2022 interview at Ashbourne Garda Station. Looby described how Blanaru would shift from the questions asked, often speaking about unrelated matters. The detective also denied the defence's claim that Gardaí had "pushed" a narrative onto Blanaru. He stated that Blanaru's statements about the knife and the victim's injuries were his own free narrative, not imposed by the Garda. Looby noted that Blanaru had admitted to being guilty and wanting to be locked up, but had not agreed to any statements for the sake of agreement. The trial continues before Justice Eileen Creedon and an enlarged jury. Daniel Blanaru pleaded not guilty.
The High Court has ruled that Michelle Keane, an unsuccessful Independent Dáil candidate in Kerry, is out of time to challenge the November 2024 General Election result. Ms Keane, of Talbot Bridge, Knocknagoshel, claimed she witnessed ballots being torn from boxes at the Toureencahill polling station. She sought an order to release the marked register of electors and halt the destruction of election documents, naming the Clerk of the Dáil, the Irish Government, and Returning Officer Padraig Burke as respondents. Mr Justice Garrett Simons refused leave to present the election petition, noting that the 14-day limit under the Electoral Act 1992 had expired. The election was declared on November 30, 2024, but Ms Keane's application was not moved until March 7. The judge stated that Ms Keane was aware of her complaint on the night of the poll and that this was not a case of concealed fraud. He described her as "entirely unsuccessful" in the proceedings. Separately, last December, Ms Keane was jailed at Listowel Circuit Civil Court for refusing to comply with an injunction order prohibiting her from posting online about Listowel Garda Sergeant Melanie Walsh. She was released by Killarney Circuit Civil Court on December 13 after signing an undertaking to desist from such postings.
During the Central Criminal Court trial of Daniel Blanaru, a 37‑year‑old accused of murdering his partner Larisa Serban, Detective Sergeant Mark Looby rejected the defence's claim that the interview was tainted by the accused's tiredness. Looby told the jury that Blanaru had changed his account three times and that the detective did not accept that the accused's statements about being tired raised any concern. The detective noted that Blanaru had admitted to being drunk and unable to remember everything, but he insisted that the interview was conducted properly. Looby also stated that the accused had not introduced the word "knife" into his narrative and that any mention of a knife was a new account given during the interview. The trial continues tomorrow before Justice Eileen Creedon and an enlarged jury. The unnamed 37-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Michelle Keane, an unsuccessful Independent candidate in the Kerry General Election, appeared before the High Court to seek the setting aside of the election result. She alleged that she witnessed ballot papers being torn from boxes at a polling station on November 29, 2024, and requested access to the marked register of electors under the Electoral Act 1992. Mr Justice Garret Simons noted that any petition against an election should have been initiated within 28 days of polling day, which had passed. He reserved his judgment until Tuesday. Separately, regarding a distinct matter, Ms Keane was jailed at Listowel Circuit Civil Court on December 11 for refusing to comply with an injunction order prohibiting her from posting online about Listowel Garda Sergeant Melanie Walsh. This followed a July order from Ennis Circuit Civil Court requiring the removal of such posts. Although Ms Keane submitted an affidavit claiming she was not in breach, the court found otherwise. She was subsequently released by Killarney Circuit Civil Court on December 13 after signing an undertaking to desist from making further online statements about the sergeant.
In a County Meath murder case, Daniel Blanaru, 37, pleaded not guilty to the stabbing death of Larisa Serban, 26, on 12 August 2022. During his fourth and final Garda interview, Blanaru admitted to killing Serban, saying, "I am guilty, I killed her. Please lock me up." He denied seeing Serban with another man before her death and claimed he had found her with her brother and a "tall guy." Gardaí presented statements from his sister and her husband, who alleged Blanaru had beaten and cut Serban. Blanaru also described throwing a knife he had found in his car onto the floor, which he could not recall removing. The trial heard video of Blanaru crying while viewing crime‑scene photographs and his refusal to return to the scene or retrieve the knife. The case proceeded to the Central Criminal Court with an enlarged jury.
In a murder trial, a 37‑year‑old man from Rathmore, Athboy, Co. Meath, pleaded not guilty to the killing of his 26‑year‑old partner, Larisa Serban, on or about 12 August 2022. He told Gardaí that he might have stabbed her with a very sharp kitchen knife, but he could not say how deep the wound was. Gardaí reported that the stab wound to Serban's chest was 12 cm deep, penetrating the rib and left lung, and that defensive wounds were present on her hands, forearms, arms and legs. The State argued that the victim could not have inflicted the wound herself. The jury heard the accused's statements, the pathologist's report, and the Garda interview footage, and the trial will continue before Justice Eileen Creedon and an enlarged jury.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 37‑year‑old man named Daniel Blanaru, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of his 26‑year‑old partner Larisa Serban, told Gardaí that it was possible he had put a knife into her body during a pushing and shoving argument. Blanaru, from Rathmore, Athboy, claimed that after an argument in their Co Meath home, Larisa had a knife in her hand and that he had taken it from her. He said the knife was already in his hand when he turned with her and that it was "possible" he had put it into her body, indicating the left side near the heart. He said he struck her once when trying to take the knife away. Gardaí questioned him about his reaction to her being stabbed and his subsequent taking of cocaine, to which he replied that he had taken the cocaine before the knife was in her chest.
In a Rathmore murder case, Daniel Blanaru, 37, denied killing his partner Larisa Serban, 26, who died from stab wounds. During an August 2022 interview at Ashbourne Garda Station, Blanaru claimed that Serban had a knife in her bag to protect herself and that she had approached him with it during an argument. He said the knife accidentally struck her as he turned, and that she had been upset. Blanaru also admitted to pushing and hitting Serban, and to being drunk and smoking that night. He stated he could not remember the exact time he left the house and that he had called his brother to check on a party. The Central Criminal Court heard this testimony and video footage, and the trial continues before Justice Eileen Creedon.
A man accused of murdering his partner at their County Meath home in August 2022 told gardaí during interview that he pushed and hit her following a dispute over a gathering at their residence, the Central Criminal Court has heard. Daniel Blanaru, aged 37, from Rathboy, Athboy, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Larisa Serban, aged 26, on or about 12 August 2022. During his first interview at Ashbourne Garda Station on 12 August 2022, Mr Blanaru stated through an interpreter that he discovered his partner hosting a party with her brother and another man when he returned home from Navan. He described an altercation in which physical contact occurred, claiming the other man intervened. Mr Blanaru told detectives he subsequently travelled to Drogheda and contacted gardaí, learning thereafter that Ms Serban had died. The trial, before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of fifteen, continues.
Mairead Hanlon, a physical‑activity project worker at North Kerry Day Centre Ltd, earned €15 an hour for a 20‑hour week. In October 2023 she testified at an employment tribunal that she did not intend to return to work, while she was on sick leave for significant stress. The centre had asked her to transfer to a care home for elderly dementia patients for two weeks to cover staff absences caused by Covid‑19. Hanlon argued the instruction was a fundamental change to her contract, which required her to work in the community. The centre's grievance process upheld the complaint, but the WRC rejected it on preliminary grounds because the complaint was filed too late. In a second WRC case, the centre accepted her resignation after she had not formally resigned. The adjudicator found the dismissal was unfair, awarding Hanlon €6,500.
Nathan McDonnell, former chief executive of Ballyseedy Garden Centre, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to 12 years imprisonment for facilitating an organised crime group and 6 years concurrently for drug importation, backdated to his custody. The judge found McDonnell, aged 44, had been "committed to and invested in" a €32 million crystal‑meth operation linked to the Sinaloa Cartel. He stored a machine containing the drugs at his premises, paid shipping charges, and arranged export to Australia, receiving no payment. McDonnell admitted to Gardaí that he was unaware of the machine's contents. The court noted his financial hardship, family responsibilities, and the impact on his three sons. The sentence reflected the international reach of the criminal organisation and the large quantity of drugs involved. The judge also considered McDonnell's cooperation, good character and lack of prior convictions in mitigation.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 37‑year‑old man named Daniel Blanaru, accused of murdering his 26‑year‑old partner Larisa Serban, appeared at a Garda station with blood on his clothes and was described as crying hysterically. Blanaru told officers he had drunk half a bottle of whiskey the night of the stabbing at their Co Meath home. He also claimed he had begged the deceased's brother for cocaine that night. Garda John Wallace recounted seeing Blanaru pacing, handing over his licence, and later crying while in custody. Garda Rachael Carr observed him crying repeatedly in the cell. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, will continue next Monday with an enlarged jury. The State maintains that Blanaru was a jealous and controlling partner who stabbed Larisa on or about 12 August 2022. The accused has pleaded not guilty.
David Williams, 68, was sentenced to six years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to multiple counts of deception, providing legal services while unqualified, and acting as an unauthorised personal insolvency practitioner between January 2019 and June 2020. The court found that Williams, who was not a practising barrister, defrauded hundreds of foreign nationals through bogus firms including THL Legal and Moore, Barrington and Walters. In a separate bill, he admitted to defrauding a Galway woman in her 80s by dishonestly inducing her to purchase a Kuboto U27 mini-digger for €7,841. Co-accused Crystal Talia, 46, pleaded guilty to impeding an investigation by allowing Williams to use her bank accounts. Talia, who has no previous convictions, was previously given a one-year suspended sentence. Judge Orla Crowe described Williams as an "endemic recidivist fraudster" who breached the trust of victims seeking to regularise their status in Ireland. Williams had previously failed to attend a sentencing hearing, resulting in two bench warrants. Defence counsel cited Williams' cardiac condition and employment history in mitigation, while noting his multiple prior convictions dating back to the 1970s. The matter was finalised with the imposition of the custodial sentence.
In the Central Criminal Court, the jury heard that Daniel Blanaru (37) begged his brother, David Serban, for cocaine on the night Larisa Serban (26) was found stabbed in her home. Blanaru, from Rathmore, Athboy, Co Meath, pleaded not guilty to her murder. The State argued that Larisa was killed by her jealous, controlling partner. Serban testified he left the house at about 1 a.m. on 12 August 2022, with no arguing, and that he had stopped at a bank to withdraw money for rent. He denied planning to buy cocaine or return to Rathmore after. He claimed he was the last person to see Larisa alive and that he would have been present if a struggle had occurred. Garda evidence showed Blanaru presented himself at a station at 6 a.m., shouting in a foreign language and saying "my wife, my wife, we fight." The trial continues tomorrow.
During the murder trial of Daniel Blanaru, the father of the victim, Larisa Serban, testified that his daughter had hidden the fact that her partner was physically abusing her. He also claimed that Blanaru had threatened to kill Larisa, saying he would "hear about" it. The father, Ronet Serban, stated that he had advised Larisa to "get rid" of Blanaru because he was violent. He recalled Blanaru's threat that one day Larisa would lose everything and that he would kill her. The father said he did not take the threat seriously at the time. Larisa's sister, Sarah Serban, also testified that she had advised Larisa to break up with Blanaru because of his jealousy and possessiveness. The trial continues before Justice Eileen Creedon and an enlarged jury. Daniel Blanaru pleaded not guilty.
During the trial, Georgeta Serban, mother of the 26‑year‑old Larisa Serban, testified that her daughter's partner, Daniel Blanaru (37), threatened to kill Larisa if her family interfered in their relationship. She described Blanaru as extremely possessive, paranoid and controlling, noting that he had no stable employment and that his jealousy intensified after Larisa's children were born. Serban said Blanaru would dictate what Larisa wore, forbid her from wearing tight clothing, and accuse her of infidelity whenever she spoke to other men. She recalled that a month before Larisa's death, Blanaru warned that he would kill her if the family intervened. Serban also recounted that Larisa lived a controlled, depressed life and that she had spoken to her daughter on the night before her death. The case is proceeding before Justice Eileen Creedon with an enlarged jury. Daniel Blanaru pleaded not guilty.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing on 20 February 2025, Raul‑Cosmin Tache, the brother‑in‑law of Daniel Blanaru, gave evidence about statements he made to Gardaí on 12 and 16 August 2022. Tache confirmed that he had recorded Blanaru's claims that the accused had "beat her" and "cut her with a knife" and that he had been "desperate and crying" when he arrived at the house. Tache also stated that Blanaru said he had "beat up his wife" and was unsure whether he had killed her. Tache admitted he could not recall all the words spoken at the time, citing stress and panic, but acknowledged the statements were written down. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, continues with an enlarged jury. Daniel Blanaru pleaded not guilty.
During the Central Criminal Court trial of Daniel Blanaru, 37, accused of murdering his partner Larisa Serban, 26, his sister Simona Terezia Ciurar gave evidence. She stated that she does not remember her brother saying "I killed her" or "I put a knife in" the victim, despite earlier statements to Gardaí on 12 and 16 August 2022. Ciurar explained that she was crying and stressed when she made those statements and could not recall all the words. She confirmed that she had signed the statements and that she had called her brother Leon to check Serban's house after an argument. The jury heard that Ciurar's memory of the brother's words was uncertain, and the trial will continue tomorrow before Justice Eileen Creedon and an enlarged jury. Daniel Blanaru pleaded not guilty.
In the Rathmore murder trial, Narcisa Serban, sister of the victim Larisa Serban, denied that her husband Marcus Cranus had any sexual or violent involvement with Larisa. She called the defence's suggestion that she was "covering up" for her husband "nonsense" and described the claim of a prior sexual relationship as "disgraceful." Marcus Cranus, through a Romanian interpreter, denied any sexual relationship with Larisa and denied having performed chest compressions on her, stating he had only attempted cardiac massage because he was trained in first aid. He also denied any physical or violent struggle with Larisa. Witness Simona Terezia Ciurar confirmed that Daniel Blanaru had come to her house on the morning of the murder, claimed an argument with Larisa, and later tried to jump out of the car, an action stopped by her husband Raul. The trial continues before Justice Eileen Creedon and an enlarged jury. Daniel Blanaru pleaded not guilty.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, Daniel Blanaru (37) was described as sounding "desperate" and "panicked" when he spoke to his brother on a phone call, telling him to "go quick" to his home because he believed he had stabbed his partner, Larissa Serban (26). The court heard that the accused had also mentioned catching Larissa in bed with someone else. Narcisa Serban, Larissa's sister, testified that she arrived at the scene with her partner at about 5:30 am, finding Larissa in a "pool of blood" with "foam" at her mouth and a stiff body. She reported that Gardaí initially denied entry and later searched the house. The evidence will continue before Justice Eileen Creedon and an enlarged jury. Daniel Blanaru pleaded not guilty.
Martin Burke, 28, of Ballinorig Estate, Tralee, was on bail when he strangled a woman at 3 am on 18 December 2022 and then repeatedly raped her. He pleaded guilty to four counts – rape, oral rape, anal rape and sexual assault – and was sentenced by the Central Criminal Court to 17 years, with the final two years suspended. The sentence was reduced from an initial headline of 22 years after mitigation. Burke is to remain under Probation Services supervision for five years post‑release, must keep the peace and be of good behaviour, and is prohibited from any contact with the victim. The victim, who wishes to remain anonymous, described the attack as an unspeakable ordeal and expressed ongoing fear and trauma. The judge noted Burke's history of 17 prior convictions and that he was on bail for similar offences at the time of the attack.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, Daniel Blanaru (37) denied murdering his partner, Larisa Serban (26). A witness, Adriana Kovaciu, testified that she overheard Blanaru on a phone call with his brother, claiming he had caught Serban in bed with another man and stabbed her. She and her family rushed to the Athboy house where Serban lived, finding her on the floor with a large blood pool and a chest cut. Serban was declared dead after no pulse was found. Kovaciu also recalled a prior argument where Serban had a bruised elbow and was frightened. Blanaru has pleaded not guilty to the murder, and the trial continues before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury. The prosecution maintains that Blanaru intended to kill or seriously injure Serban.
Tracy Kelliher, 49, of Tralee, pleaded guilty to three counts of theft for withdrawing €56,217 from her deceased mother's Department of Education pension between 2014 and 2016. Her mother, a retired teacher, died in January 2014, but Kelliher failed to inform the Department, allowing the pension to continue until June 2016. The judge noted that Kelliher had previously withdrawn money with her mother's consent for funeral costs and that she had no lavish lifestyle or other income. Kelliher had no prior convictions and was described as a pro‑social person who expressed remorse. The court directed her to complete 120 hours of community service within one year, imposed concurrent 18‑month sentences suspended for three years on strict conditions, and required her to be supervised by Probation Services for six months. The order was intended to allow her to repay some value to the community and to address her financial difficulties.
In a murder trial in County Meath, the State presented a case that Daniel Blanaru, 37, stabbed his partner Larisa Serban, 26, to death on 12 August 2022. Prosecutor Eilis Brennan described the relationship as turbulent, jealous and controlling, citing a violent incident on 31 July 2022 at a house in Balbriggan where Serban called emergency services. Brennan said Serban was found early that morning with heavy bleeding from a chest laceration and that a stab wound caused fatal injury to her heart, lung and aorta. She noted that Blanaru's Gardaí interview was confusing and that blood at the scene could link to him. The trial will continue before Justice Eileen Creedon and an enlarged jury. The prosecution maintains that Blanaru intended to kill or seriously injure Serban. Daniel Blanaru pleaded not guilty.
A jury has been empanelled to hear the trial of Daniel Blanaru, 37, who is accused of murdering his partner, 26‑year‑old Larisa Serban, in Rathmore, County Meath, on 12 August 2022. Blanaru pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. The trial will begin tomorrow before Justice Eileen Creedon, with a jury of seven men and five women. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions is Eilis Brennan SC, and Blanaru's counsel is Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC.
Nathan McDonnell, a former chief executive of Ballyseedy Garden Centre, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to importing methylamphetamine and directing a criminal organisation. The trial heard that McDonnell was to be paid €150,000 to store a machine containing 564kg of crystal meth, valued at €32.4 million, before its export to Australia. Prosecutors alleged the drugs were imported from Mexico via the Sinaloa Cartel. While the State asserted McDonnell facilitated the operation, it was noted that a different individual was charged with directing the criminal organisation. McDonnell admitted to storing the machine and arranging its shipment but claimed he was unaware of its contents. He has no previous convictions. Ms Justice Melanie Greally, presiding with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Grainne Malone, remanded McDonnell in custody. The court stated it hoped to finalise the case by the end of the month. Co-accused James Leen was also present. The matter was adjourned for sentencing.
John O'Brien, aged 31, challenged a decision that denied him access to a State Claims Agency compensation scheme for the "slopping‑out" regime he endured while imprisoned in Cork between March 2013 and April 2014. He alleged that he was forced to urinate and defecate into a bucket in his cell, sometimes in front of other inmates, and then "slop out" the contents in the morning when the cell door opened. O'Brien claimed this practice breached Articles 3 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights and was unconstitutional under Irish law. He applied for compensation in November 2020 and formally in March 2021, but the respondents rejected his application in May 2021 as statute‑barred. In his judicial‑review application, Mr Justice Micheál O'Higgins rejected the claim, stating that O'Brien had not shown that the limitation period was contrary to his rights or that his exclusion was oppressive or unfair.
Edmund O'Sullivan, 32, was sentenced to 15 years in prison with an eight‑year post‑release supervision order after the Central Criminal Court heard that he had stabbed and raped a woman in her bedroom just ten days after his release from a three‑year sentence for a knife attack. The court noted O'Sullivan's 108 previous convictions, including four for assaults on women, and that his prior partly suspended sentences had failed to change his behaviour. The judge emphasised the need for close monitoring and protection of society, particularly women, and highlighted the victim's traumatic impact statement. O'Sullivan pleaded guilty to rape, anal rape and threats to kill, and the court set a headline sentence of 23 years before imposing 16 years, suspending the final year on strict conditions. The case was placed in the 15‑years‑to‑life category.
Dan O'Connor, a Kerry coroner and solicitor, has obtained High Court permission to pursue a judicial review against the Minister for Justice. He argues that the December 13, 2024 decision to amalgamate the four Kerry coronial districts—North, West, South, and East—was unlawful and that the appointment of Aisling Quilter as coroner for all four districts was invalid. O'Connor was appointed deputy coroner for West Kerry in November 2020 and for North Kerry in November 2024. He claims that the Minister, after confirming his appointment as coroner for North and West Kerry, informed him on December 16, 2024, that the South and East Kerry coroner would become sole coroner for all districts, citing a "vacancy" that he says was fabricated. He seeks a High Court order quashing the amalgamation decision, the appointment of Quilter, and a declaration that he is the legitimate coroner for North and West Kerry.
In a High Court decision on 17 January 2025, James Thomas Maher, a motorcyclist, was awarded €122,000 in reduced damages for a collision at a Co Kerry junction that left him with complete amnesia. The collision, which occurred on 1 August 2017 between Maher's Suzuki Bandit and a Ford Transit van driven by Keith Moriarty, was deemed to have been caused by equal fault. The judge found that while Moriarty was likely cutting the corner, Maher also contributed by failing to stop at the junction's stop sign. The court awarded general damages of €232,500, reduced by 50% for contributory negligence, and special damages of €11,823, totaling €122,000. The van's owner, Patrick Moriarty, was awarded costs for a counterclaim. The decision was based on evidence of both parties' negligence and the resulting injuries to Maher, including head injury, amnesia, wrist fractures, and soft‑tissue damage. The judgment was delivered by Mr Justice Liam Kennedy.
In a Workplace Relations Commission hearing in June, Wix Online Platforms Ltd conceded it breached the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 by dismissing Courtney Carey. The adjudicator determined that Ms Carey was fired over social media posts regarding the conflict in Palestine. The WRC subsequently convened a hearing to determine compensation for this unfair dismissal. During the proceedings, Ms Carey was questioned by the company's lawyers about her job search following what her solicitor described as a "very public sacking." She testified that she lost her flat, relied on social welfare, and accepted a lower-paid position as an An Post clerk. Ms Carey stated she felt blacklisted from the tech sector, noting that multiple tweets and LinkedIn posts characterized her as supporting terrorism, which caused potential employers to withdraw offers. The validated procedural stage for this specific matter is a hearing or decision regarding compensation, following the company's admission of the breach.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Philip Griffin, aged 37, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment with the final six months suspended, after pleading guilty to manslaughter on the basis of gross negligence for his role in a house fire that killed Anthony O'Brien, 30, and his five‑year‑old daughter Nadine. Griffin, who had 41 prior convictions, did not start the fire but saw it lit and left without raising the alarm or attempting to extinguish it, despite knowing people were inside. He admitted his involvement ten years after the incident, when he was already in prison for another offence. The judge noted that the fire had been treated as accidental until Griffin's statement, and that the sentence reflected mitigating factors including his remorse. The O'Brien family, led by mother Kelly O'Brien, expressed shock and grief, describing the sentence as a "joke" and demanding justice for the loss of her husband and child.
A sentencing hearing for former garden‑centre owner Nathan McDonnell, 44, was adjourned to 13 January after he pleaded guilty to importing crystal meth and facilitating an organised crime group. McDonnell admitted that between 16 October 2023 and 12 February 2024 he helped a criminal organisation import, sell and supply controlled drugs, knowing of its existence. He had earlier pleaded guilty to importing one or more controlled drugs, namely methylamphetamine, on 16 October 2023 at Cork Port, Ringaskiddy, in breach of the Misuse of Drugs Act. The State's case alleges the drugs were imported from Mexico, stored at a garden centre, then transported to Cork for export to Australia. The seizure of 564 kg of crystal meth, valued at €32.8 million, occurred on 16 February 2024 at Cork Port, leading to McDonnell's arrest after follow‑up searches in Kerry and Cork.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Philip Griffin, 37, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Anthony O'Brien, 30, and his five‑year‑old daughter Nadine after a house fire in Tralee on 12 May 2012. Griffin, who had no fixed abode and was originally from Tralee, had previously been convicted of 41 offences. He voluntarily approached Gardaí in May 2022, admitting that he and another man had entered the O'Brien home, set fire to a couch with a lighter, and fled. The fire caused the deaths of Anthony and Nadine; Kelly O'Brien survived but fractured her heel. Griffin, who appeared by video link from prison, said he could not live with the guilt and wants to be locked up. The court heard that the case had been closed after a 2013 inquest that found no evidence of a criminal act.
Patrick Murphy, 52, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Joseph Brosnan, 53, who was stabbed to death in Abbey Court, Tralee, on 22 May 2022. Murphy had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, yet the jury found him guilty of murder after a two‑hour deliberation. The judge described the attack as a "cowardly" and "vicious" knife assault carried out in a "drunken rage" against a "defenceless and unarmed" man. Murphy had been drinking and had brought a large kitchen knife to the apartment where he and Brosnan had shared drinks with a Polish friend, Kamil Lisowski. The victim's family delivered emotional impact statements, describing Brosnan as a beloved son, father and grandad, and expressing profound grief and anger at the loss. The court noted Murphy's 15 prior convictions, mainly for traffic, public order and drug offences. The judge thanked the family for their statements and emphasised the seriousness of the crime.
Judges at the Special Criminal Court granted legal aid to James Leen, a 41‑year‑old from Listowel, who is accused of importing over €30 million worth of crystal meth. Leen filed a statement of means claiming zero income and zero assets, but the Director of Public Prosecutions, John Berry SC, presented evidence that Leen owns a property and has bank accounts, indicating a lifestyle inconsistent with his claim. Berry asked the court to consider this evidence before deciding on legal aid. Morgan Shelley BL argued that the money involved is alleged proceeds of crime and cannot be used to pay lawyers. Justice Kerida Naidoo noted that the State could address any special circumstances through other means and, finding no evidence that Leen could fund his own trial, approved legal aid.
A 38‑year‑old child psychiatrist, Amirul Arif Bin Mohd Yunos, was sentenced to eight and a half years' imprisonment for sexually abusing a 15‑year‑old girl in 2023. Yunos, who worked at a CAMHS centre in Clonskeagh, had been approached by the girl's parents to help their daughter with mental health difficulties. The victim was not formally his patient. Between May and September 2023, Yunos engaged in a series of sexual acts with the girl, including inappropriate touching, oral sex, and penetration of her vagina and anus, at locations such as a car, his home, her home and his workplace. He pleaded guilty to six counts of sexual activity with a child under 17, one count of sexual exploitation of a child and one of meeting a child for the purpose of sexual exploitation.
Patrick Murphy, 52, was convicted of murder after stabbing his friend Joseph Brosnan, 52, three times in Brosnan's Abbey Court apartment. The jury rejected Murphy's claim of provocation, noting that he had been kicked out of the apartment and later returned armed with a large kitchen knife. Witnesses reported that Murphy had been drinking and taking tablets, and that a scuffle had escalated when he was slapped in the face by Kamil Lisowski. Murphy admitted to bringing a knife to the scene and to stabbing Brosnan, but denied intent to kill. The jury deliberated for two hours and two minutes, returning a unanimous verdict of murder. The case was adjourned to December 16 for victim impact statements and sentencing, with Murphy remanded in custody. Patrick Murphy pleaded not guilty.
A Central Criminal Court jury has begun deliberations on the case of a 52‑year‑old man, Patrick Murphy, who says he was in fear and defending himself when he stabbed his friend and neighbour, Joseph Brosnan, with a knife after being kicked out of an apartment. Mr Murphy has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Mr Justice Paul Burns outlined evidence from residents, a waitress and a friend of the deceased, describing arguments, shouting, and a chaotic scene with a knife and a rock. Witnesses reported that Mr Murphy was beaten, that he had a knife, and that he later returned to the apartment and stabbed Mr Brosnan. Mr Murphy told Gardaí he was in fear, had the knife, and did not intend to kill.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, Patrick Murphy, 52, admitted to Gardaí that he had a knife and had stabbed Joseph Brosnan, a lifelong friend, during a fight. Murphy claimed he was "jabbing back" and did not intend to harm Brosnan. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Garda James Fairbrother testified that Murphy first denied seeing a weapon, later stating he had been assaulted and then took a knife to defend himself. Murphy also admitted drinking Baileys and taking anxiety tablets before the scuffles. Witnesses described a chaotic scene at Brosnan's home, with a large kitchen knife used in a rapid attack. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Burns, continues the following day.
Patrick Murphy, 52, who has no fixed abode, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of Joseph Brosnan at Abbey Court, Tralee, on 22 May 2022. According to the Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel, Murphy had been invited to Brosnan's home around 3 pm, where a drinking session led to an insult between Brosnan's friend Kamil Lisowski and Murphy. After Lisowski slapped Murphy, the situation calmed but later escalated. Murphy was asked to leave, returned around 6:45 pm, and was pushed out of the apartment. He then entered the front door, armed with a large kitchen knife, and stabbed Brosnan. Lisowski testified that Murphy did not hesitate and stabbed Brosnan "like rapid fire" to "revenge" for being hit. The jury heard that the knife was a black‑handled kitchen knife, 20.5 cm long, with blood traces matching both Murphy's and Brosnan's DNA. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns.
David McCullagh, an IT manager dismissed by Ballyseedy Restaurant Ltd, has been awarded €77,848 by the Workplace Relations Commission for unfair dismissal and employment rights breaches. The company, linked to the Ballyseedy Garden Centre, ceased trading in February following the arrest of its chief executive, Nathan McDonnell. Mr McDonnell pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court in September to drug importation and facilitating an organised crime gang, and is due to be sentenced in December. McCullagh alleged he was forced out after raising a grievance over unconsented pay cuts and short-time working. The adjudicator found his dismissal unfair, noting that his job search may have been curtailed by the company's collapse and the association with the criminal case. The award includes €50,000 for unfair dismissal, €24,000 for unpaid leave and wages, and €3,848 for the absence of a written contract. Ballyseedy Restaurant Ltd was placed into liquidation by the High Court this month. The court report confirms the procedural stage for McDonnell is sentence, with his guilty plea to the specified charges admitted.
Patrick Murphy, aged 52 and without a fixed abode, was tried for the murder of Joseph Brosnan in Tralee on 22 May 2022. The prosecution, represented by Senior Counsel Patrick Gageby, argued that Murphy unlawfully killed Brosnan and that the intent to kill or cause serious injury was clear. The case centred on an evening in late afternoon when Murphy, who had been pushed out of Brosnan's apartment, returned and allegedly used a large kitchen knife to stab Brosnan twice – once in the hand and once in the back. The second wound penetrated the pericardial sac, causing fatal bleeding. Murphy had previously claimed to be a "peacemaker" and denied knowing who stabbed the deceased, but the prosecution contended he brought the knife to the scene. The trial was set to continue before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury of eight men and four women. Patrick Murphy pleaded not guilty.
Patrick Murphy, 52, who lives without a fixed address, has been arraigned in the Central Criminal Court for the killing of Joseph Brosnan in an apartment complex in County Kerry on 22 May 2022. He admits manslaughter but denies murder. A jury of eight men and four women has been sworn in, and the trial will commence this afternoon before Mr Justice Paul Burns, expected to last six days. Patrick Murphy pleaded not guilty.
David McCullagh, a former IT manager at Ballyseedy Restaurant Ltd, claims he was dismissed on 13 January after the company's CEO, Nathan McDonnell, was arrested for a multi‑million euro drug seizure. McCullagh says he was paid €50,000 for a three‑day week while studying, and that his hours and pay were cut unilaterally in August 2023 without explanation. He alleges the company failed to update contracts, denied him annual leave, and cut his email access in October 2023. McCullagh filed a grievance and was told he was being made redundant, with a severance package based only on statutory entitlements. He estimates he is owed over €21,000 in unpaid wages and leave, plus a statutory redundancy payment of about €3,000. The Workplace Relations Commission will decide on his claims by the end of the week, while the Revenue Commissioners plan to wind up the company next Monday. Nathan McDonnell pleaded guilty.
In a decision published on 23 October 2024, the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) ruled that it was reasonable for Centric Mental Health to require its Kerry‑based employee, Rafael Jorge, to travel to the Dundrum office in Dublin once a month. Jorge had accepted a fully remote contract in August 2022 after turning down a job offer. In January 2024, Centric's HR officer notified him that, due to changing business needs, he was required to attend the Dundrum office a minimum of two days per week. Jorge objected, citing his remote status and residence in Tralee, and raised a grievance. The HR director subsequently reduced the requirement to one day per month. Jorge sought a pay rise, lunch allowance and travel expenses; the company offered the latter two.
Paul Murphy, a father-of-two who survived a fatal crane incident at Thomond Bridge in Limerick in 2015, reached an undisclosed settlement with multiple parties, including Palfinger Ireland Ltd and Limerick City and County Council, the High Court heard. Counsel for Murphy stated that liability was conceded by the named defendants, allowing the case to proceed solely for the assessment of damages before the settlement was finalized. The incident claimed the lives of Murphy's co-workers, Bryan Whelan and TJ O'Herlihy, who drowned after the crane fell into the River Shannon. Murphy, who suffered PTSD and physical injuries, was rescued by lifeboat. In related proceedings, Palfinger Ireland Ltd was fined €25,000 at Limerick Circuit Court on October 7, 2022, after pleading guilty to breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act. Additionally, Nationwide Crane Hire Ltd pleaded guilty to similar breaches and was fined €200,000. The prosecutions, brought by the Health and Safety Authority, cited a failed safety mechanism and a missing chapter in the crane manual supplied by Palfinger. The High Court judge acknowledged the trauma Murphy endured, noting he had to relive parts of the tragedy during the proceedings.
Philip Griffin, 37, pleaded guilty to manslaughter for the deaths of Anthony, 30, and his five‑year‑old daughter Nadine O'Brien in a house fire at Killeen Heights, Tralee, on 12 May 2012. The case was heard in the Central Criminal Court via video‑link from prison. Griffin denied murder but admitted manslaughter on both charges. The Director of Public Prosecutions accepted the pleas; a third charge for arson was dropped. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for 16 December, with a probation report and victim impact statements requested by the judge.
Nathan McDonnell, a 44-year-old businessman from Ballyroe, Tralee, pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court to two charges related to the largest crystal methamphetamine seizure in Irish history. He admitted to importing methylamphetamine at Cork Port on October 16, 2023, and facilitating a criminal organisation between October 2023 and February 2024. The State alleges the 564kg haul, valued at €32.8 million, was imported from Mexico and destined for Australia. Roisin Lacey SC, for the DPP, requested a sentencing hearing for the week of December 16, a date accepted by defence counsel Caroline O'Connell BL. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Elma Sheahan and Marie Keane, remanded McDonnell in custody until December 17 for sentencing. Co-accused James Leen, 41, of Listowel, also appeared. Facing five charges, including directing a criminal organisation and possession of drugs, Leen's defence, led by Brendan Grehan SC, requested a trial date. Mr Justice Hunt allocated a trial date of October 6, 2025, and adjourned the matter to November 11 for mention.
Nathan McDonnell, 44, a garden centre owner, has been granted legal aid by the Special Criminal Court for charges related to the largest ever crystal meth haul in the State. He appeared briefly to receive formal notice of trial before a three‑judge, non‑jury court, and the matter was adjourned to 14 October. His co‑accused, James Leen, 41, also appeared and was formally served notice of trial before the Special Criminal Court, with his custody remanded until 14 October. Leen faces five charges, including directing a criminal organisation's activities, importing crystal meth at Cork Port, and possessing the drug at Ballyseedy Garden Centre. McDonnell faces five charges, including possession of crystal meth at Cork Port and Ballyseedy Garden Centre, and an alleged participation in activities that could facilitate the importation, sale and supply of a controlled drug by a criminal organisation, contrary to the Criminal Justice Act 2006.