In a landmark case, Daniel Kane, aged 54, was convicted by a jury of coercive control, intimidation, assault and 12 counts of assault causing harm after a 20‑month abusive relationship in which he repeatedly attacked his partner, burned her foot, cut her face with a pizza slicer, head‑butted her after nasal surgery, punched her and stamped on her arm causing fractures, and strangled her. He also threatened to send explicit images to her family if she withdrew the case. Kane was sentenced to 10.5 years in January 2021. On 30 March 2023 the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal, finding no error in the trial judge's sentencing. The court noted the prolonged, oppressive, domineering and violent conduct, the significant physical and emotional harm inflicted, and that the sentence was within the mid‑to‑upper range of penalties available. The appeal was dismissed, leaving the 10.5‑year sentence in place. Daniel Kane pleaded not guilty.
Daniel Kane, the first man convicted by a jury of coercive control in Ireland, is appealing his 10.5-year sentence at the Court of Appeal. Kane, 54, pleaded not guilty to charges of coercive control, intimidation, assault, and 12 counts of assault causing harm arising from a 20-month relationship between May 2018 and January 2020. He separately pleaded guilty to intending to pervert the course of justice between March and July 2020, allegedly by threatening to send intimate images to the victim's family to force her to withdraw her statements. At the appeal hearing, Kane's counsel, Padraig Dwyer SC, argued the cumulative sentence was excessive and disproportionate for a first-time offender with no relevant prior convictions, citing his alcohol issues and current remorse. The State, represented by Anne Marie Lawlor SC, countered that the sentence was proportionate given the severity of the violence, including burning, cutting, and strangulation, and the continued coercive control exercised via 250 prison phone calls. The trial judge had noted Kane's lack of remorse and the brutal nature of the attacks. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, has adjourned the matter, with a judgment expected on Thursday of this week.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 16‑year‑old victim of rape by two older boys disclosed that the assaults led her to develop an eating disorder as a means of self‑harm. The older defendant, 17 at the time of the offence, was convicted of one count of rape, one of oral rape and two of sexual assault; the younger, 15, was convicted of one count of oral rape and one of sexual assault. The attacks occurred over two‑and‑a‑half hours on the night of 26 July 2020 in a remote lane near a Co Kerry town, while the victim was intoxicated. Justice Michael McGrath sentenced the older offender, now 19, to five years and five months' imprisonment, suspending the final year on condition of good behaviour and probation. The younger offender, now 17, received a three‑year detention order, back‑dated to 31 July.
In a High Court case, the County Kerry Coursing Club and Ballybeggan Park Company Limited resolved a dispute over access to the former Tralee Racecourse grounds for hare coursing. The club had been locked out of Ballybeggan Park since 18 June after new locks were installed, prompting the club to sue the company. The court heard that the club, the largest shareholder, claimed the company had no right to deny sporting access and alleged a sale of the land for €5 m was undervalued. The company denied wrongdoing, citing security concerns and a desire to frustrate the sale. After negotiations outside court, Mr Justice Brian O'Moore was informed the parties had settled amicably. The settlement was based on conditions to be fulfilled, and the court adjourned the case generally, allowing re‑entry if needed. No further details were disclosed.
A woman giving evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has described being moved between rural towns weekly while allegedly trafficked for sexual exploitation. The complainant, who cannot be named, told the trial she was relocated from locations including Portarlington, Enniscorthy and Tralee, and kept a knife for protection following violent incidents with clients. She said she received instructions via phone and messaging apps from two women regarding services to be provided and payment collection, with no option to refuse work or relocation. Natalia Nogueira Da Silva, aged 32, of Drumlish, County Longford, has pleaded not guilty to human trafficking between March and May 2019, but guilty to organising prostitution, facilitating illegal entry to the State, and money laundering charges. Ivanilce Vailones Fidelis, aged 46, of Roscommon, denies all eighteen counts against her, including two counts of human trafficking and fourteen counts of money laundering. The prosecution alleges both defendants exploited vulnerable Brazilian women through debt bondage. The trial continues at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Two women have gone on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on charges relating to the alleged trafficking of Brazilian nationals for sexual exploitation across rural Irish towns. Natalia Nogueira Da Silva, aged 32, of Drumlish, Co Longford, has pleaded not guilty to human trafficking but guilty to organising prostitution, facilitating illegal entry, and money laundering offences. Her co-accused, Ivanilce Vailones Fidelis, aged 46, of Roscommon, has pleaded not guilty to all charges against her, including two counts of human trafficking, organising prostitution, and money laundering. The prosecution alleges the two women trafficked vulnerable women between December 2018 and May 2019, moving them between towns including Portarlington, Thurles, and Tralee for sexual work. The State contends the women were controlled through debt bondage and threats. The trial, before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury, is expected to last six weeks.
Patrick Dooley, 35, of Arbutus Grove, Killarney, Co Kerry, remains in custody after the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal against the High Court's refusal of bail. Dooley is charged with murdering his brother, Thomas Dooley, on 5 October at Rath Cemetery, Rathass, Tralee, under Common Law. The High Court denied bail on 26 October, citing community risk and flight risk. Justice John Edwards agreed with the High Court's concerns and upheld the bail rejection, leaving Dooley in custody.
The Court of Appeal upheld a 12‑year sentence for John Faulkner, a getaway driver in a burglary gang that targeted elderly homes during mass. Faulkner, aged 40, was convicted of burglary, dangerous driving and endangerment. The judge imposed 12 years for burglary, two years for endangerment and six months for dangerous driving, and disqualified him from driving for 20 years. The appeal argued the sentence was disproportionate compared to co‑accused sentences of nine years with two suspended, but the appellate court held the 12‑year term reflected the totality of offences. The case involved a robbery at a home in Freemont, Charleville, where Faulkner drove the getaway vehicle, pursued by Gardaí, before crashing into a Garda car. The appeal was dismissed. John Faulkner pleaded not guilty.
Two couples, Margaret Webster and Keith Rollo, and Ross Shorten and Joan Carty, have filed High Court damages actions against Meenacloghspar (Wind) Limited, the operator of the Ballyduff Windfarm near Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. They allege that since the windfarm began operating in 2017, the turbines have produced constant noise, vibration and shadow flicker that has disrupted their sleep, increased anxiety and harmed their mental health. The plaintiffs claim the noise has devalued their homes, which are 369 metres and 359 metres from the turbines, and that the windfarm is operating in breach of its planning permission. They seek orders to cease operation, decommission the windfarm, and restrain future operation until noise and vibration are reduced, as well as damages for nuisance, negligence, breach of duty and constitutional rights. The defendant denies all allegations and argues the windfarm is compliant with its planning permission. The case is scheduled to be heard over several weeks before Ms Justice Emily Egan.
Brian Shaughnessy, aged 56, was convicted in March 2013 of raping a 17‑year‑old employee at his Loughrea Hotel and Spa. He received a six‑year sentence with one year suspended, imposed by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan on 10 June 2013. Shaughnessy appealed, claiming his defence counsel was incompetent and that a missing 1 hour 15 minutes in the timeline undermined the victim's account. The Court of Appeal rejected the appeal in April 2020. He then applied to the Supreme Court, which remitted the case back to the Court of Appeal in March 2023. The Court of Appeal today reserved judgment, noting that the evidence presented did not establish incompetence of his legal team. Shaughnessy must now await the final decision on his appeal.
Sean Lane, aged 29, was convicted and jailed for nine years for a brutal baseball bat assault on Eamon Sheehy at St Stephen's Park, Castleisland, on 14 January 2018. The court found the attack went far beyond self‑defence, and Lane also received a concurrent three‑year sentence for producing the bat during a dispute. A second defendant, Jason Keane Broderick, aged 21, was sentenced to three years with one year suspended for possessing the bat. Lane appealed, arguing that his case should have been tried separately from Broderick's and that Broderick's statements about Lane's temper and prior offences had prejudiced the jury. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, ruling that the trial judge's decision to try the cases together was lawful and that the evidence presented was not gratuitously prejudicial. The appeal was rejected on 7 November 2022. The article reports the court's findings and the appeal decision, without mentioning any subsequent developments.
The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal brought by local residents against a lower court's finding that certain parts of a Co Waterford-based wind farm did not amount to unauthorised development. The decision concerns an 11-turbine wind farm at Ballyduff operated by Barranafaddock Sustainable Electricity Limited, allowing the facility to continue operating. The residents, acting as applicants, claimed under Section 160 of the 2000 Planning and Development Act that the wind farm was unauthorised development, specifically alleging that the developer deviated from planning permission by increasing rotor blade diameter from 90 to 103 meters. While An Bord Pleanala ruled the change was not exempted development, the High Court initially restrained the turbines' use. That decision was overturned by the Court of Appeal, which found in the operator's favour. The Supreme Court, comprising five judges, upheld the Court of Appeal's findings. Mr Justice Woulfe stated that the increase in rotor blade diameter had been agreed in writing with the planning authority. The court also determined that the applicants were not entitled to challenge the board's act on EU law grounds and that the board's finding did not extend to a determination of unauthorised development. The Supreme Court had agreed to hear the appeal due to issues of general public importance regarding the 2000 Act and Environmental Impact Assessment requirements.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Helen Sheehy, daughter of the victim, said the death of her mother Susan Dunne, who was bludgeoned with a hatchet by her autistic son Patrick Dunne, might have been avoided with better supports. She expressed hope that Patrick knows his mother still loves him and that he deserves help. Patrick Dunne, aged 28, was found not guilty by reason of insanity after a jury heard psychiatric evidence that he had little understanding of the act and was unable to refrain. The court ordered him to continue treatment at the Central Mental Hospital. The case involved six fatal hatchet wounds to Susan's head, with Patrick admitting to striking her without lawful justification. The trial highlighted the son's perception of control and his desire for independence. The court noted the tragic outcome and the need for ongoing support for Patrick.
Patrick Dunne, a 28‑year‑old autistic man from Ballingeragh, Lixnaw, was found not guilty of murdering his mother Susan Dunne, aged 62, by reason of insanity. The Central Criminal Court heard that Dunne admitted killing his mother but denied it was murder, claiming he was unable to understand or control his actions on the night of 26–27 November 2013. Psychiatric evidence presented by both prosecution and defence psychiatrists agreed that Dunne was mentally disordered and incapable of appreciating the nature or consequences of his act. He had argued with his mother over an expensive iPhone, lost control, and struck her with a hatchet, causing six wounds to her head. The jury returned a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, and Dunne was remanded to the Central Mental Hospital for a medical update and victim impact statement preparation. The case was described as difficult by the judge.
The Central Criminal Court jury has begun deliberations on the case of Patrick Dunne, 28, who denies murdering his mother, Susan Dunne, 62, with a hatchet in 2013. The jury paused to inspect the hatchet and received expert testimony that Dunne, an autistic man with an intellectual disability, was legally insane at the time of the killing. Both prosecution and defence psychiatrists agree he could not understand or control his actions. Dunne admits to killing his mother but claims he had no lawful justification. He has pleaded not guilty. The judge instructed the jury to consider a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity if they find him legally insane. The jury will continue deliberations tomorrow. The unnamed 28-year-old was acquitted.
A 41-year-old man, Maciej Masznic, has failed in his appeal to have his conviction and seven-and-a-half year sentence for drugs offences overturned. Masznic had pleaded not guilty to five charges contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. A jury found him guilty of being in possession of cannabis and methylamphetamine for unlawful sale or supply at his home address on February 18, 2015, with the drugs valued at over €13,000. He was later jailed by Judge Thomas E O'Donnell in July 2019 following a five-day trial. Masznic appealed, arguing that the judge did not instruct the jury on the concept of possession. However, the three-judge court, comprising Mr Justice John Edwards, court President George Birmingham, and Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, dismissed the appeal. The court acknowledged the trial judge's failure to provide specific instructions on possession but noted that no complaint was made during the trial about the adequacy of the charge. The court stated that the trial was not unsafe or unsatisfactory and that the jury had received a clear explanation of possession from prosecuting counsel, which was endorsed by defence counsel in his closing speech. The appeal was dismissed, and the conviction remains in place.
Patrick Dunne, 28, admitted to killing his mother Susan Dunne, 62, on 26–27 November 2013, claiming he had no lawful justification. He said he had argued with her over an iPhone's price, became "out of control" and "lost it". He described striking her with a hatchet, stating it was accidental and not intended to harm. Forensic evidence found six hatchet wounds to her head, blood and hair matching Dunne, and a majority DNA profile for him. A pathology report confirmed multiple blows to the skull, brain swelling and laceration as the cause of death. Dunne was arrested in Listowel after leaving the family home, locking his mother's bedroom door and taking her social protection card. The case is before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring with a jury of five men and seven women.
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.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Patrick Dunne, aged 29 and autistic, admitted killing his mother Susan Dunne, 62, with a hatchet, inflicting five fatal blows to her head while she lay in bed. The prosecution and defence psychiatrists agreed he was insane as defined by law at the time of the murder. The trial, described as unusual, will focus on evidence of the assault, the hatchet found in the kitchen with Dunne's DNA, and the circumstances leading to the killing. The case also involves testimony about Dunne's routine of collecting her son's disability allowance and his unaccompanied driving. The jury will consider whether Dunne was not guilty by reason of insanity based on the psychiatric assessments. The trial will resume on Tuesday before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury of five men and seven women.
A 29‑year‑old man, Patrick Dunne of Ballingeragh, Lixnaw, Co Kerry, is charged with the murder of his mother, Susan Dunne, which occurred between 26 and 27 November 2013 at their family home. He was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court, pleaded not guilty, and a jury of five men and seven women was sworn in. The trial, scheduled to begin later that week and expected to last three days, will focus on the issue of insanity. Judge Paul Burns instructed the jury that all witnesses and Gardaí are from Lixnaw and that they should not research the case or its participants. He also advised the jurors to remain available for the duration of the trial, which may extend beyond the initial day. The case will be heard in the Central Criminal Court.
Brian Shaughnessy, a former hotelier aged 55, was convicted in March 2013 of raping a 17‑year‑old employee at his Loughrea Hotel and Spa. He was sentenced to six years' imprisonment with one year suspended. Shaughnessy appealed, claiming his defence counsel had not adequately presented his version of events, particularly a two‑hour period he alleged the victim spent in the room after the assault. He argued that key card and phone records, which he supplied to his lawyers, were not examined by the jury. His appeal was rejected in April 2020, but he successfully applied to the Supreme Court, which sent the case back to the Court of Appeal in March 2023. At the Court of Appeal, Shaughnessy reiterated that his defence was not put to the jury and that the two‑hour claim had been raised repeatedly with his legal team, yet was not pursued during the trial.
In a High Court hearing on 20 July 2022, the County Kerry Coursing Club, represented by David Sutton SC and Elizabeth Murphy BL, alleged that Ballybeggan Park Company Limited had wrongfully and aggressively locked them out of Ballybeggan Park, the former Tralee Racecourse, since 18 June. The club, the largest shareholder in the defendant company, claims it has no right to be denied access to the grounds or its sporting rights. It argues the lockout is linked to the company's plan to sell the land for €5 million, a figure it deems undervalued and unsupported by any proposal for accommodating coursing. The club seeks an injunction preventing further obstruction, an order for access to the land for coursing activities, and a prohibition on any adverse actions regarding the property.
The Workplace Relations Commission ruled that Jordan Motors Ltd, trading as Martin Barrett Car Sales, had unfairly dismissed mechanic Shane Barry. The company had cited Barry's "patchy" performance, including alleged failure to secure wheel bolts and a slow fuel‑pump replacement, as grounds for dismissal. Barry denied any wrongdoing, claiming he had tested the vehicle and found no loose wheels. He also argued that he was not given fair procedures, no written allegations, and no opportunity to respond before being fired. The Commission found that Barry was called to a disciplinary meeting without prior warning or representation, and that the company had not complied with the code of practice under the Industrial Relations Act. Consequently, the Commission ordered the company to pay Barry €17,472 in compensation for his financial losses, deeming the dismissal unfair.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal of Conor Quaid, upholding his conviction for rape. Quaid, 27, of Monaree, Dingle, Co Kerry, had pleaded not guilty to raping a family friend at a place in the county on June 10, 2018. A jury at the Central Criminal Court in Cork found him guilty by a 10-to-1 majority verdict in September 2020, and he was sentenced to six-and-a-half years' imprisonment by Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty. Quaid appealed on the grounds that the trial judge erred in defining recklessness regarding consent and placed undue pressure on the jury to reach a verdict. In a judgment delivered by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, the Court of Appeal rejected all grounds. The court found that the jury was not advised that drunkenness equates with recklessness and that the judge merely informed them that a new trial would be required if they failed to reach a verdict. The appeal hearing was presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with Mr Justice John Edwards and Ms Justice Kennedy. Counsel for Quaid, Michael Bowman SC, argued alcohol was a feature of the case, while Vincent Heneghan SC for the Director of Public Prosecutions maintained the judge's charge was practical. The court concluded the jury was not under confusion regarding the issues, thereby sustaining the original conviction and sentence.
Five men aged 17 to 19 were convicted of gang‑rape and sexual assault of a 17‑year‑old Leaving Cert student on 27 December 2016. The victim was taken from a midlands town to a remote dry dock in Co Westmeath where the men raped her one after another, filmed the assaults, and later forced her into a car where further sexual acts occurred. The court heard the victim's impact statement, describing how the men stripped her of dignity and left her in shock. Ms Justice Tara Burns sentenced the men to a combined 66 years: 15 years for Marcos Vinicius De Silva Umbelino, 18 years for Eduardo Dias Ferreira Filho, 20 years for Gabriel Gomes Da Rocha, 12 years for Conor Byrne, and 7 years for Ethan Nikolaou. All sentences had a suspended year, and additional concurrent sentences were imposed for other assaults. Conor Byrne pleaded guilty.
Patrick Dunne, a 29‑year‑old from Ballingeragh, Lixnaw, Co Kerry, has been in the Central Mental Hospital since he was charged with murdering his mother Susan Dunne on 27 November 2013. In 2014 a court ruled he was not fit to be tried after a consultant psychiatrist's report. In 2022 Dr Anthony Kearns, who has treated Dunne since early 2016, reported to Mr Justice Paul McDermott that Dunne is now fit for trial. The judge remanded Dunne to Cloverhill Prison, then transferred him back to the Central Mental Hospital, with the trial set to begin on 10 October.
Five men were convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of sexually assaulting and raping a 17-year-old Leaving Cert student in December 2016. The defendants are Gabriel Gomes Da Rocha, Eduardo Dias Ferreira Filho, Ethan Nikolaou, Marcos De Silva Umbelino, and Conor Byrne. Byrne entered a guilty plea to rape, while the other four men denied all charges but were found guilty of various counts of sexual assault, rape, and false imprisonment. The jury reached unanimous verdicts after a four-week trial. During the proceedings, the victim addressed the court, expressing her trauma and PTSD. She specifically addressed Byrne, acknowledging his admission of guilt and asking him not to let this be the defining moment of his life. She stated she would not forgive the other four men, who she said showed no remorse. The defence lawyers for all five men stated they accepted the jury verdicts and highlighted their clients' remorse. Ms Justice Tara Burns adjourned the case to 2pm on Thursday for finalisation. The five men were remanded in custody pending that finalisation.
Gerard O'Riordan, 37, a former convicted killer who spent much of his 20s and 30s in prison, was not ordered to return to jail for threatening to kill gardai. In May 2021 he was brought before the Central Criminal Court after breaching a suspension bond by making such threats. Judge Michael White had adjourned the case for a year to monitor his behaviour. At the recent hearing, Detective Sergeant Ernest Henderson testified that O'Riordan had not attracted adverse attention from gardai in the last year and that he was still serving a portion of his suspended sentence. Judge Paul McDermott agreed, noting that the retired Judge White had intended not to order a return to custody if O'Riordan behaved. O'Riordan had become a father, attended 24 anger‑management sessions, and had been cleared of murder but found guilty of manslaughter in 2007, receiving a 14‑year sentence with an 18‑month suspended portion.
In the trial, the 17‑year‑old victim recounted a night of repeated sexual assault by six men. She was lured into a car after a taxi wait, where she was forced into the back seat and subjected to molestation and rape by Gabriel Gomes Da Rocha, Marcos Vinicius De Silva Umbelino, Conor Byrne, Ethan Nikolaou, Eduardo Dias Ferreira Filho, and a fifth unnamed man. The victim described being coerced into touching a man's genitals, forced oral sex, and being prevented from leaving the vehicle. She reported feeling shocked, paralyzed, and crying throughout the assaults. The court heard CCTV footage of her running to a friend's house after the final assault. The defendants were convicted of various sexual assault and rape charges, with one defendant pleading guilty before trial. The case highlighted the victim's lack of escape options and the men's coordinated abuse.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a jury convicted four men of multiple sexual assaults during a gang rape of a 17‑year‑old girl on 27 December 2016. The girl was taken in a car by five men after she was separated from friends. While traveling, she was repeatedly groped and molested. The car was parked at a remote spot where two men raped her consecutively, then the car returned to town and was parked again. The girl attempted to leave; two men prevented her, one raped her again, and another orally raped her. After nine hours of deliberation, the jury found Marcos Vinicius De Silva Umbelino (22), Eduardo Dias Ferreira Filho (24), Gabriel Gomes Da Rocha (24) and Ethan Nikolaou (23) guilty of various charges, including rape and sexual assault. A fifth man, Conor Byrne (24), pleaded guilty to rape. All verdicts were unanimous.
Conor Quaid, 27, of Monaree, Dingle, was convicted of raping a family friend in Kerry in 2018. A jury found him guilty by a 10‑to‑1 majority after a seven‑day trial in Cork in September 2020. He was sentenced to six‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment by Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty. Quaid appeals, arguing that the judge erred by failing to define recklessness for the jury and by implying that drunkenness equates with recklessness. The judge had told the jury that Quaid had been drinking before visiting the victim, who had not been drinking and had gone to bed early. The Court of Appeal heard arguments from Quaid's counsel, who said alcohol was a feature but not a total loss of control, and from the Director of Public Prosecutions, who said the judge's direction was practical and clear. The judgment is reserved. Conor Quaid pleaded not guilty.
David Keegan, 43, known locally as the "Del Boy of Cabra," was found in possession of over 229,000 untaxed cigarettes and €135,000 worth of counterfeit luxury goods during a joint Gardaí and Revenue raid on his rented lock‑ups. He also had 19 stolen televisions. Keegan pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to evasion of excise duty on cigarettes, offering for sale goods resembling trademarked items without authorisation, and handling stolen property, all at The Rise, Glasnevin, on 2 August 2017. He had seven prior convictions, including drink driving. In December 2019 Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to 18 months' imprisonment for the cigarette offence. At the 2022 hearing, Nolan, after hearing evidence on the counterfeit goods and stolen TVs, suspended the 18‑month sentence in its entirety on strict conditions, deciding not to impose further custodial time.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a claim that parts of an 11‑turbine wind farm at Ballyduff, operated by Barranafaddock Sustainable Electricity Limited, were built without proper authorisation, making them an unauthorised development. Local residents argue that the wind farm should be shut down because the turbines exceed the dimensions approved in the 2011 planning permission. The operator had originally applied for turbines with a 90‑metre rotor blade diameter, but in 2013 consultants submitted a change to increase the diameter to 103 metres, while the tip heights remained as in the 2011 permission. The council's response was a letter stating "noted and agreed" without explicit approval of the diameter increase. The turbines were built and became operational in 2015. Residents brought High Court proceedings, and Mr Justice Garrett Simons ordered a restraint on the turbines that were not authorised. The operator appealed to the Court of Appeal, which ruled in its favour.
In 2019, a judge jailed Maciej Masznic, 41, for seven‑and‑a‑half years after a five‑day trial in Tralee Circuit Criminal Court found him guilty of possessing cannabis and methylamphetamine for unlawful sale or supply at his home. The drugs, valued at over €13,000, were seized during a Garda raid. Masznic appealed, arguing that the judge failed to instruct the jury on the legal concepts of possession and knowledge, which he claimed were fundamental to the case. His counsel, Dean Kelly SC, contended that without proper instruction, no reasonable jury could convict. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel, Thomas Rice BL, countered that the jury was adequately informed and that the prosecution's case of guilty knowledge was clear. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, noted the dispute and reserved judgment. The appeal remains pending. Maciej Masznic pleaded not guilty.
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.
In a High Court hearing on 25 January 2022, Kerry Fish Ireland Unlimited Company lost its challenge to the re‑introduction of traffic calming measures in Tralee town centre. The measures, which had been temporarily lifted between March and May 2020 to aid local businesses during the Covid‑19 pandemic, were reinstated by Kerry County Council. Mr Justice Anthony Barr dismissed the case, describing it as an "opportunistic collateral attack" on the council's 2017 decision to impose the measures. He found no breach of the EU Habitats Directive, noting that restricting traffic for a few hours could not significantly affect any environmentally protected site. The judge also rejected the claim that the council's decision to lift the suspension was a new decision, stating it was merely the end of a temporary suspension. The court therefore dismissed the action.
John Greene, 24, was sentenced to two years in prison for dangerous driving during a high‑speed Garda chase on June 5, 2019, near the old Naas road. He pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous driving, criminal damage to a road sign, resisting a police officer, driving without insurance and without a licence. Greene drove over 90 km/h in a 50 km/h zone on wet roads, repeatedly used handbrake turns, skidded across traffic lanes and Luas lines, and at one point spun 180 degrees before colliding head‑on with a patrol car in pursuit. He later crashed into an electronic road sign, after which Garda officers used an ASP baton to break his window, removed his keys, and restrained him, with pepper spray deployed. A warrant was found for his arrest; his real address was in Bluebell, Dublin. John Greene was convicted.
Kevin Lappin, 37, and his partner Jemma Dinnigan, 35, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of drugs for sale or supply on 9 January 2019. They claimed they had €28,000 worth of cannabis to make cannabis oil for Lappin's mother, who had cancer in 2018 and later died. Garda Paul Nolan stopped Dinnigan's car after detecting a strong cannabis smell; she was found over the driving limit and later searched, revealing €28,360 of cannabis in the house and €224 in the car. Lappin was arrested the following month and admitted ownership of the cannabis. Judge Pauline Codd noted the unusual aspect of attempting to produce cannabis oil for personal use, accepted their early guilty pleas, and, citing low reoffending risk, imposed a three‑year suspended sentence on both, with conditions.
A Chinese national who lived under an assumed identity for eight years has received a fully suspended four-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Wenzi Wang, aged 39, of Blanchardstown, Dublin, obtained a legitimate Northern Irish birth certificate belonging to another person in 2009 and used it to secure an Irish passport under the name Sau Kee Lee. He subsequently acquired a driving licence, taxi licence, Public Service Card and mortgage using the false identity. Wang pleaded guilty to providing a false birth certificate in connection with a passport application at a Garda station in County Donegal in May 2009, and to six counts of deception between October 2010 and April 2017. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of providing false information to a registrar and to possessing an air rifle and garda-style apparel. Judge Pauline Codd noted Wang had paid taxes and committed no offences whilst using the false name. His wife remained unaware of his true identity until 2017. The judge imposed strict conditions on the suspended sentence.
The High Court, by Mr Justice Charles Meenan, granted a temporary stay on an ethics investigation into Kerry County Councillor Breandan Fitzgerald of Dingle, who represents the Castleisland‑Corca Dhuibhne area. The investigation, initiated by a complaint earlier in the year, concerns Fitzgerald's vote on a draft local area plan for Corca Dhuibhne. Fitzgerald denies wrongdoing, claiming no interest in the lands and that he had previously abstained on related votes due to family connections. The investigation was originally conducted by the council's Cathaoirleach Jimmy Moloney and Chief Executive Moira Murrell, but the court found the Cathaoirleach's involvement conflicted with the rules. Fitzgerald's counsel, Elizabeth Murphy, intends to seek judicial review to halt the investigation, arguing the CEO's continued participation breaches fair procedure. The stay will remain until the matter returns in two weeks, with the option for the respondent to apply to lift it on 48‑hour notice.
In a 2021 appeal, Sean Lane, aged 28, contested his nine‑year conviction for a "brutal and savage" assault with a baseball bat that left victim Eamon Sheehy with life‑changing injuries. The original trial, held in January 2018, found Lane guilty of assault causing serious harm and of producing the bat during a dispute, the latter carrying a concurrent three‑year sentence. Lane denied the charges, claiming self‑defence after Sheehy allegedly attacked him with a golf club, but the court ruled the attack went "way beyond" self‑defence. A second defendant, Jason Broderick, 21, received a three‑year sentence with one year suspended for possessing the bat. The appeal argues that prejudicial material from Broderick's statements at trial should have led to a severance of the cases, a request the defence failed to make at the outset. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice George Birmingham, has reserved judgment on the appeal.
Conor Emerson, 20, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis for sale or supply after a search of his Cabra garden shed revealed almost €20,000 worth of cannabis and €888 of cocaine. He had 15 prior convictions, including drug possession and assault, and was 18 at the time of the offence. Judge Melanie Greally noted his severe dependence on cannabis and cocaine, his early guilty plea, and his efforts to change his life, such as distancing from a negative peer group and addressing his addiction. Although a presumptive mandatory minimum of ten years existed, the judge considered the circumstances exceptional and imposed a suspended sentence of two and a half years, with 12 months of intense probation supervision. The sentence aimed to allow Emerson to continue rehabilitation and seek employment. The court did not impose any custodial term.
Joseph Smith, 36, was jailed for three years after he fired a shotgun twice at his partner's Ford Focus during a heated argument. The incident occurred on Whitechapel Road, Blanchardstown, where Smith had taken the shotgun from his home and discharged it, smashing the car's windows. Gardaí found a double‑barrel sawn‑off shotgun and cartridges in a Mazda parked at Smith's address, linking the weapon to him. Smith pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances. The court noted his prior drug‑related difficulties and his efforts at rehabilitation, but also his role as a father to three children. Judge Martin Nolan described the offence as a "fit of anger" and imposed a three‑year sentence, crediting any time already served.
Gerard O'Riordan, a 37-year-old father from Killarney, appeared before the Central Criminal Court in an appeal regarding the potential revocation of the suspended portion of his 2009 manslaughter sentence. O'Riordan was previously convicted of the manslaughter of James Brazier in 2007, receiving a 14-year term with the final 18 months suspended. After his release in June 2019, he entered a good behaviour bond. However, he was subsequently convicted of threatening to kill gardai, an allegation where he allegedly threatened to stab officers who entered his home. He also faced a separate fine for trespass and public order offences after threatening staff at an off-licence. Defence counsel Dean Kelly SC highlighted O'Riordan's rehabilitation, noting he has attended 24 anger management sessions and become a father. Mr Justice Michael White acknowledged these efforts but expressed concern over O'Riordan's history as a 'violent and dangerous' individual. The court did not revoke the suspended sentence immediately. Instead, the matter was adjourned for one year to monitor O'Riordan's behaviour. He agreed to return to court in May of next year, with the judge noting that the delay allows him to continue confronting the issues that have blighted his life.
Wenzi Wang, 38, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to charges including providing a false birth certificate for a passport application in Co Donegal in May 2009, six counts of deception in Co Dublin and Co Meath between 2010 and 2017, two counts of giving false information to a registrar in Co Dublin, and possession of an air rifle, ammunition, and Garda Síochána-resembling apparel at his address in November 2017. Prosecution evidence alleged Wang lived under the false name Sau Kee Lee for eight years after purchasing another person's Northern Irish birth certificate to obtain an Irish passport and other documents. Defence counsel submitted that Wang was a model citizen who paid taxes and committed no other offences while using the alias. The court heard that an investigation began after Wang registered his second child's birth under his real name, leading to a search of his home where false documentation and the disputed items were found. Wang admitted to gardaí that he bought the apparel for a Halloween costume and the air rifle from a friend, never using it. Judge Pauline Codd ordered a report from the Probation Service and adjourned the matter for finalisation to July 5. The matter was adjourned and not concluded.
Conor Quaid, 26, received an eight‑year prison sentence with 18 months suspended for raping a young woman while she slept in her own bedroom. The Central Criminal Court heard that Quaid, a trusted family friend from Monaree, Dingle, had entered the victim's home after a night out drinking in a nearby town. He raped her while she was asleep, and she later reported the assault to Gardaí. Quaid denied sexual intercourse but claimed consent to "a certain level of sexual activity." The prosecution, led by Tom Rice SC, argued that Quaid had no express permission to enter the home and had abused the trust placed in him. The court noted that Quaid had not shown remorse and imposed the sentence, suspending 18 months on the condition of good behaviour for three years and permanent distance from the victim. The victim's impact statement described lasting psychological harm, including panic attacks, guilt, shame, and difficulty returning to studies. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty and was found guilty.
Independent Councillor Charlie Farrelly has brought a High Court action against Kerry County Council and the North, East and West Kerry Development Partnership, challenging the method used to select two councillors for the Partnership's board. Represented by Elizabeth Murphy BL, Cllr Farrelly claims the Council's selection procedure was flawed and unlawful. He alleges that the Council should have used the Group Voting System to ensure minority representation, rather than individual voting, which he contends allowed a majority of councillors to appoint both members while rendering minority votes ineffective. Cllr Farrelly seeks declarations that the procedures were contrary to statute, void, and unlawful, along with an order quashing the November appointments and directing the Council to reselect members. Permission to bring the action was granted on an ex-parte basis by Mr Justice Charles Meenan, who also placed a stay on the Council's appointments. The judge noted he would entertain any application by the respondent to lift the stay once made on notice to Cllr Farrelly's lawyers. The matter was adjourned to a date in March.
Caroline Donovan, a former resident of Bessborough House in Blackrock, Cork, has initiated a High Court personal injuries claim against the State, the HSE, and the Congregation of Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Ms Donovan, who resided at the facility in the mid-1980s and early 1990s, alleges she was subjected to physical and emotional abuse, constituting a breach of her constitutional rights. She claims she was forced to work unpaid for the facility and a local family under harsh and unsafe conditions. Additionally, Ms Donovan alleges that her baby girl, born in the early 1980s when Ms Donovan was 15, was wrongfully adopted without her consent following undue influence. The defendants include the Minister for Health, the HSE, Ireland, the Attorney General, and the nuns who ran the home, which closed in 1999. Represented by solicitor Siobhan O'Neill and barristers Frank Callanan SC and Conor Duff BL, Ms Donovan intends to formally lodge the proceedings in the coming days. This action is understood to be among the first brought following the publication of the final report by the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes. The matter is at the hearing_or_decision stage, with the case expected to come before the courts at a later date.
Daniel Kane, 52, was sentenced to ten‑and‑a‑half years in prison for coercive control, intimidation, assault and 12 counts of assault causing harm. The offences occurred between May 2018 and January 2020 in Dublin and included repeated physical attacks such as burning the victim's foot, cutting her with a pizza slicer, head‑butting her after nasal surgery, stamping on her arm and strangling her. Kane also threatened to send explicit images to the victim's family if she withdrew charges and attempted to pervert the course of justice by pressuring her to change her statements. He pleaded guilty to the perverting the course of justice charge. The judge imposed a twelve‑and‑a‑half year sentence, suspended the final two years on strict conditions, and ordered that Kane follow all directions of the Probation Service for two years after release.
Two High Court challenges have been launched against the proposed 32‑km South Kerry Greenway, which would run from Glenbeigh to Caherciveen along the former Southern and Western Railway. The first challenge is brought by farmer James Clifford and environmental activist Peter Sweetman, who argue that An Bord Pleanala's approval of the greenway, including a 3‑metre paved surface, violates EU directives on Environmental Impact Assessments and Habitats. They claim the board failed to protect the Kerry slug and the Lesser Horseshoe bat, and seek an order quashing the decision and a declaration that the 2000 Planning & Development Act does not meet EIA obligations. The second challenge is filed by the Greenway Information Group, representing local landowners whose properties would be compulsorily purchased for the route. They also seek to quash the council's permission.