Ibrahim Lawel, a 36‑year‑old Nigerian resident of Marina Court, Athy, pleaded guilty in Naas Circuit Criminal Court on 25 May 2011 to possession of cocaine for sale or supply in County Kildare. The cocaine, worth €1.4 million, had been delivered in a green bag marked "Diplomatic Mail" and falsely addressed to a fictitious South African consul, Tony Tuto, at his own address. Lawel accepted the parcel, signed for it, and later left the premises in his car. He claimed he was unaware of the drugs and had signed as a favour for a friend, a plea based on recklessness. The original 10‑year sentence, with the final three years suspended, was quashed by the Court of Appeal, which found the mitigating discount inadequate. Lawel was resentenced to six years imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, after the Court of Appeal reversed a prior discharge and reinstated the charge.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Joseph Beacom, aged 34, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for discharging a shotgun into the bedroom of his neighbour, Patricia Weldon, after a dispute with his brother over childcare. The incident occurred on 3 April 2016 at Kilmahuddrick Lawn, Clondalkin, when Beacom, enraged that his children had witnessed a fight with his brother, returned to Weldon's home with a shotgun and fired through a bedroom window. The shot shattered glass and caused Weldon to seek refuge in her bathroom, where she called the Gardaí. Beacom had previously pleaded guilty to the offence and had 36 prior convictions, including six threats to kill. The court noted his history of alcohol misuse but also his participation in a residential treatment programme at Chuain Mhuire, and imposed a five‑year sentence with the final 18 months suspended.
The Court of Appeal has rejected claims that prosecutors improperly handled plea negotiations during the murder trial of Darren Wynne. Wynne, aged 23 from Ballyroe, Athy, County Kildare, was convicted of murdering Jamie Lindsay at Coney Green, Athy on 6 April 2013 and received a mandatory life sentence in July 2014. Two co-accused, Quentin Monaghan and James Seery, both aged 23, pleaded guilty to manslaughter during proceedings and received eight and seven years' imprisonment respectively, with portions suspended. Wynne's appeal argued that the timing of his co-accuseds' pleas—entered after gardaí interview memos were admitted—prejudiced his defence and warranted a retrial. Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with two colleagues, dismissed the appeal, characterising the allegations of prosecution misconduct as an "unsupported assertion". The court found no evidence of improper conduct and upheld the conviction.
The Court of Appeal heard an appeal by Darren Wynne, who was found guilty by a jury of murdering Jamie Lindsay at Coney Green, Athy, on April 6, 2013, and sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan in July 2014. Wynne's counsel, Damien Colgan SC, alleged that the Director of Public Prosecutions ambushed his client by allowing co-accused Quentin Monaghan and James Seery to plead guilty to manslaughter only after key evidence was admitted. Colgan argued this timing prejudiced Wynne's provocation defence and requested the conviction be quashed for a retrial. Monaghan was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment with two suspended, while Seery received seven years with three suspended. Counsel for the DPP, Alex Owens SC, rejected these claims as wild allegations, stating there was no evidence of misconduct and that the evidence against Wynne was overwhelming. The court, comprising Mr Justice John Edwards, Mr Justice George Birmingham, and Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, reserved its judgment. The matter was adjourned pending the decision.
A 44‑year‑old man, James Lammon, was found guilty by unanimous verdict of a "brutal and pre‑meditated" murder of Jason Doogue on 21 August 2015 in Green Hills, Athy. The jury, after just over two hours and thirty minutes, concluded that Lammon, masked and hooded, rode a bike to Doogue's garden, fired a Makarov pistol with a silver silencer three times, and then cycled away. The State's evidence was circumstantial, relying on witnesses who heard Lammon threaten to kill Doogue, forensic DNA and gun‑residue on cloths in a black toolbox, and the discovery of the gun, a bike and gloves in the River Barrow area. Lammon had 20 prior convictions, including a four‑year drug sentence in 2011. Justice Butler handed down a mandatory life sentence, back‑dated to 21 August 2015, and exempted the jury from duty for ten years. The verdict was met with tears and gratitude from Doogue's family.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court began deliberations on the murder trial of James 'Jimmy' Lammon, 44, of Athy, Kildare, who is accused of fatally shooting 22‑year‑old Jason Doogue in the Green Hills area on 21 August 2015. Lammon pleaded not guilty. Justice Paul Butler instructed the jury that their task is to determine whether the prosecution has proven beyond reasonable doubt that Lammon was the shooter. He noted that Doogue's death was intentional and that the evidence shows the victim was shot three times by a masked, hooded gunman on a bicycle, using a silenced gun later recovered by the Gardaí. The key issue is the identity of the shooter, with witnesses describing a thin, below‑average‑height man. Butler emphasized that the jury must reach a unanimous verdict and that the burden of proof lies with the prosecution. The jury commenced deliberations at 10:49 a.m. on 27 October 2016.
In a ten‑day trial, a 44‑year‑old man, James 'Jimmy' Lammon, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 22‑year‑old Jason Doogue, who was shot three times in the Green Hills area of Athy on 15 August 2015. Prosecutor Kerida Naidoo SC presented 14 facts, describing a masked, hooded shooter who used a bike, a silenced gun, and a black toolbox. He alleged that the gun was buried near Lammon's home and that evidence such as a yellow‑stringed bike, latex gloves, and cloths with Lammon's DNA was found. Defence counsel Mary Rose Gearty SC argued that the evidence was circumstantial, that Lammon was an "easy suspect", and that the prosecution's narrative was inconsistent. She challenged the reliability of witness descriptions of the bike and the gloves, and questioned whether the forensic evidence could be linked to the shooting. Justice Paul Butler was to address the jury the following day.
In the Central Criminal Court, DNA on latex gloves and cloths with firearms residue matched James 'Jimmy' Lammon, 44, accused of murdering 22‑year‑old Jason Doogue on 21 August 2015. Forensic Science Ireland scientist Kristen O'Connor identified Lammon's DNA on the gloves, found by gardai near his home, and on two cloths from a black toolbox in a house belonging to Paul Day, partner of Lammon's sister. Dr Thomas Hannigan confirmed firearms residue on the gloves and cloths. Lammon pleaded not guilty. Defence counsel Mary Rose Gearty called his brother Johnny, who described a dog‑shooting the day before Doogue's murder and noted Lammon wore green latex gloves that evening. A neighbour, Anthony Keogh, testified seeing Lammon in his yard that night. Justice Paul Butler ended the evidence session, with the trial to resume before a jury tomorrow.
During the Central Criminal Court trial, forensic expert Dr Thomas Hannigan presented evidence that a sports top and gloves found near the home of James 'Jimmy' Lammon (44) contained firearms residue. Lammon, accused of the fatal shooting of Jason Doogue (22) on 15 August 2015, pleaded not guilty. The gloves were recovered from a ditch and the top from another location; both showed positive traces of gunpowder particles. Dr Hannigan explained that such particles cling to the hands, gloves, and clothing of a shooter when a gun is fired, indicating that the wearer was present during a discharge. He agreed with defence counsel that the residue only proves presence, not the specific firearm used. Additional residue was found on cloths in a black toolbox at a house on Dooley Terrace, linked to a neighbour's account of the toolbox's movement. The trial proceeds with a jury hearing tomorrow before Mr Justice Paul Butler.
James 'Jimmy' Lammon, aged 44, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jason Doogue, 22, in Athy on 21 August 2015. At the Central Criminal Court, Lammon told the court that Gardaí would never be able to charge him and that they had "nothing" to prove. He claimed that the shooter was a fully covered rider on a bike who matched his height and build, and that the bullet was intended for Jamie Quinn. Lammon also denied being in the Green Hills area that day and said he had used latex gloves to pick up a dead dog, not to conceal a crime. The trial heard that a witness would not be available until Monday afternoon, and the prosecution's evidence was nearly finished. The case remains at the trial stage.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing on 20 October 2016, the court heard that a Makarov 9mm pistol, buried in Shaw's Wood 750 metres from the home of 44‑year‑old James 'Jimmy' Lammon, was matched to the bullets that killed 22‑year‑old Jason Doogue on 21 August 2015. Detective Garda Shane Curran, a ballistics expert, fired the pistol and compared the recovered bullets with two taken from Doogue's body, concluding that the same gun had fired them. Curran explained that the unique grooves left on a bullet by the barrel matched those of the pistol. Garda Mairead Lacey had found the gun, a silver silencer and ammunition after following a foot‑worn trail from Lammon's house to the wood, where she also discovered a small hole in the ground. The pistol, of Russian origin, was in good condition but its serial number had been removed. Jimmy' Lammon pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 22‑year‑old man named Jason Doogue died of blood loss after being shot on 21 August 2015 in the Green Hills area of Athy. State pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that Doogue had four bullet wounds: two that entered his chest and back, damaging his heart, liver, lungs and a subclavian artery; a third that entered his forearm, fracturing bones; and a fourth graze across his buttocks, possibly from the same bullet that entered his arm. Cassidy noted Doogue was healthy before the shooting and that his death resulted from the combined injuries to his vital organs and the artery. The accused, James 'Jimmy' Lammon, 44, of Cardington Way, Athy, pleaded not guilty. The judge instructed the jury to consider the evidence in their absence and to refrain from discussing the case with anyone.
During the Central Criminal Court trial of James 'Jimmy' Lammon, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jason Doogue, Garda Mairead Lacey testified that she was part of a search team that located a handgun with a silencer and a magazine in a wooded area near Mr. Lammon's home. She described following a foot‑worn trail from a gap in the hedge at the back of the garden, through a field and into Shaw's Wood, where she found a small circular hole containing a navy bag with a handgun, a magazine holding three bullets, and a silver silencer. Lacey noted the distance from the house to the discovery site was about 750 metres. She also reported finding plastic pipes with pills, a pipe with rifles, and two leaves she believed were stained with blood during subsequent searches.
During a murder trial, a witness, Eva Maher, testified that she heard the accused, James Lammon, threaten another man less than two hours after the shooting that killed Jason Doogue. Maher, who was at a house in Castle Park, Athy, said she heard Lammon shout "tell Jamie he's next" at about 6.30pm. Another witness, Stacey Flynn, confirmed that Lammon's green van had pulled into the estate and that he was shouting about Jamie Quinn. A third witness, a minor, also heard Lammon say "Tell Jamie Quinn I'm coming for him next." Garda Paul O'Shea reported that after seeing two men near Lammon's home, he waited for an armed unit and later arrested Lammon at 7.34pm on suspicion of Doogue's murder. No firearms were found on Lammon or in his van. The trial continues before Justice Paul Butler and a jury at the Central Criminal Court. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
During a murder trial, a witness reported hearing the accused, James 'Jimmy' Lammon, threaten Jason Doogue hours before Doogue's death. Lammon, 44, pleaded not guilty to the murder of the 22‑year‑old in Athy's Green Hills on 21 August 2015. Witness Calvin Cullen, then 17, described an argument at Emily Square where Lammon, in a green van, shouted threats such as "You're getting whacked tonight." Doogue responded, "I'll get you before you get me." After the confrontation, a cyclist in a black hoodie with a balaclava approached the group, pulled a handgun with a silver silencer, and shot Doogue twice, killing him. The trial is ongoing before a jury and Justice Paul Butler at the Central Criminal Court.
During a murder trial, a jury was shown photographs taken by Detective Garda Caroline Hughes of a semi‑automatic pistol with a silencer, a striped bag, and an ammunition magazine with three rounds removed. The images were taken at Shaw's Wood in Athy, Co Kildare, where a 22‑year‑old man was shot dead. The photographs were part of the evidence presented against James 'Jimmy' Lammon, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jason Doogue. The judge informed the jury of pending legal matters and sent them home, with a return scheduled for the next day.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution presented evidence that James 'Jimmy' Lammon (44) of Cardington Way, Athy, was the gunman who killed 22‑year‑old Jason Doogue in Greenhills on 21 August 2015. According to the prosecution barrister Kerida Naidoo SC, Doogue was sitting on a wall with friends outside a house at about 5 pm when a hooded individual on a bicycle approached. The attacker, wearing a balaclava and hood, drew a gun from his waistband, possibly with a silencer, and fired twice at Doogue's chest. Doogue attempted to flee toward the house, but the attacker shot him a third time in the back before leaving on the same bicycle. Lammon has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The trial will continue the following day before the jury and Mr Justice Paul Butler.
A jury of eight men and four women was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the murder trial of James Jimmy Lammon, 44, of Cardington Way, Athy, Kildare. Lammon pleaded not guilty to the killing of 22‑year‑old Jason Doogue in the Greenhills estate on 21 August 2015. The trial is set to start on Wednesday and is expected to last four weeks.
James O'Donovan, aged 30, of Athy, Co Kildare, was found guilty of dangerous driving causing the deaths of his girlfriend Rosanna Potts (22) and Teresa Kiely (49) on 27 December 2012. He had pleaded not guilty and was originally sentenced to seven years' imprisonment by Judge Leonie Reynolds on 2 March 2015. On appeal the Court of Appeal deemed the sentence "unduly severe" and ruled that O'Donovan's defence, which sought to attribute blame to Ms Potts, was not an aggravating factor. The Court therefore resentenced him to five years' imprisonment with the final year suspended, reduced his 30‑year driving disqualification to 12 years, and required a good‑behaviour bond. The case involved expert testimony that the Mitsubishi Pajero he was driving entered the wrong side of the road and collided with a Toyota Prius, killing Ms Kiely and injuring her daughter.
James O'Donovan, 30, of Athy, Co. Kildare, is appealing a conviction and seven‑year prison sentence for dangerous driving that caused the deaths of his girlfriend Rosanna Potts, 22, and Teresa Kiely, 49, on 27 December 2012. The case was heard at Naas Circuit Criminal Court, where a jury found O'Donovan guilty of causing the fatal crash on a straight, dry stretch of road in daylight. The car veered into a ditch, travelled along it, then zig‑zagged back onto the road, spinning three times before colliding with a second vehicle carrying Kiely and her daughter. O'Donovan claimed his girlfriend was arguing with him and that she had pulled at his hoodie, but the court described his attempt to blame her as "utterly reprehensible." In the appeal, his counsel argued that conflicting forensic collision expert opinions left the exact cause of the accident uncertain and that the jury should have chosen the version most favourable to the accused. James O'Donovan pleaded not guilty.
Zoltan Almasi, a 44‑year‑old Hungarian national, was sentenced to life imprisonment on 16 March 2016 for the murder of 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne, who was struck with a baseball bat at their shared Harbour View address in Naas on 16 May 2014. Almasi pleaded not guilty, but a jury of twelve found him guilty after four days of deliberation. He had been in custody since the offence and had three prior traffic convictions. The court heard CCTV footage of Almasi raising a bat and fleeing the scene, and forensic evidence of a single fatal blow to Dunne's head. Almasi's wife and step‑son had previously lived in Naas but had moved to Canada; his three children live in Hungary. The sentence was back‑dated to his arrest date. The Dunne family delivered victim impact statements describing Joseph as a kind, gentle, family‑loving young man who loved horses and was a devoted son, brother and friend.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution presented evidence that Zoltan Almasi, a 44‑year‑old Hungarian national living in Harbour View, Naas, attacked 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne with a baseball bat after Dunne hit a van. The jury heard that on 16 May 2014 Dunne, who lived in Athy with his family, had gone out with friends to Naas, where they met girls and drank near the harbour. While returning to Kildare, Dunne struck a parked van, prompting Almasi to pursue him with a bat. Almasi struck Dunne on the head, causing blunt‑force trauma that led to his death. CCTV footage showed Almasi raising his arm and later running away with the bat. Almasi was arrested, the bat seized, and he pleaded not guilty. The trial continues.
In a High Court hearing on 21 January 2016, Mr Justice Paul Gilligan struck out contempt of court proceedings against Ben Gilroy and Dermot Murphy. The proceedings had been brought by receiver Mr George Maloney, who was attempting to take possession of and sell lands owned by Paul O'Shea in Castledermott, Co. Kildare, to satisfy a €1.29 million judgment from Danske Bank. Maloney had obtained injunctions restraining O'Shea and others from interfering with his work as receiver. Gilroy and Murphy were alleged to have interfered with Maloney's attempts to secure the property. The judge, following an application by Maloney's lawyers, decided not to continue the contempt action, citing the alleged contempt as historical, the lack of recent incidents, and the receiver's need to "pick and choose his battles." No order was made on legal costs, and Gilroy was allowed to claim travel expenses to the Four Courts. The case was therefore dismissed.
Seamus Morgan, 49, of Athy, Co Kildare, was sentenced to life imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Laurence Keane, 56. A jury of three men and nine women returned a unanimous guilty verdict after deliberating for three hours and six minutes. Mr Justice Robert Eagar imposed the life sentence, backdating it to April 23, 2014, the date Morgan entered custody. Morgan had previously pleaded not guilty to the charge. The court heard that Keane was beaten in a lane-way in Athy on July 18, 2013, suffering severe blunt force trauma to the head, and died the following day. Evidence included witness testimony of a scuffle and forensic analysis of blood stains on the accused's runners, which matched Keane's DNA profile. Morgan has eight previous convictions, including a 2005 manslaughter conviction for the stabbing death of James Hand outside a Dublin pub, for which he received an eight-year sentence. The victim's family read a statement describing Keane as a disabled man and expressing the lasting impact of his death. The judge exempted the jury from service for four years.
A Central Criminal Court jury found 49‑year‑old Seamus Morgan, of The Hollands, Athy, guilty of murdering 56‑year‑old Laurence Keane in Athy on 19 July 2013. Morgan had pleaded not guilty. The jury, consisting of three men and nine women, deliberated for three hours and six minutes before delivering a unanimous verdict. Judge Robert Eagar thanked the jury for their concentration and thought, then exempted them from service for four years.
The jury in the Kildare murder trial of Seamus Morgan, 49, will resume deliberations tomorrow after a brief pause. Morgan, who lives at The Hollands, Athy, is charged with the murder of Laurence Keane, 56, on 19 July 2013. He pleaded not guilty last week at the Central Criminal Court. The jury began deliberating at 11:52 am this morning and had been discussing the case for two hours and 16 minutes when Justice Robert Eagar instructed them to suspend and reconvene at 11 am tomorrow, prohibiting any discussion with outsiders.
In a Kildare town, Seamus Morgan (49) is charged with murdering Laurence Keane (56) on 19 July 2013. At the Central Criminal Court, Morgan pleaded not guilty. Prosecution counsel Orla Crowe BL delivered a closing speech, asserting that the evidence—witness statements, post‑mortem findings of blunt‑force trauma, and accounts of a scuffle—would allow the jury to be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt of Morgan's guilt. She highlighted admissions from Morgan, observations by witnesses Nathan Robinson and Ricky Moriarty, and the post‑mortem report of ten significant blows to Keane's head. Defence counsel Sean Gillane urged the jury to scrutinise the credibility of witnesses and to consider the possibility of false testimony. The trial was scheduled to continue with the judge's instructions on Monday.
In a 2016 murder trial, forensic evidence showed that blood stains on a pair of runners owned by Seamus Morgan (49) matched the DNA profile of the deceased, Laurence Keane (56). The DNA match was derived from stains on the toe and tongue areas of the runners, with a probability of less than one in a thousand million that the profile came from anyone other than Keane. Morgan was charged with Keane's murder on 19 July 2013, pleaded not guilty, and was re‑arrested on 23 April 2014 after new evidence emerged. The prosecution presented witness statements from Keane's niece and others who observed Morgan and Keane together in the days before the murder. The trial was ongoing, with the judge scheduled to address the jury the following day.
During a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, evidence was presented that CCTV footage from Athy on 18 July 2013 showed Seamus Morgan (49) and the deceased, Laurence Keane (56), walking together in the town centre. Garda Declan O'Dwyer supplied 23 clips, with the first showing Keane entering an off‑licence at 18:50 wearing a hat, a t‑shirt and a stick. Subsequent clips placed the two men on Leinster Street, Barrow Bridge, and St John's Lane between 20:57 and 23:33, with Morgan identified as the man closer to the road and Keane as the one holding a stick. The prosecution argued the fatal attack occurred shortly before midnight on 18 July, between 23:30 and 23:45, and that Morgan was seen entering Marcari's chip shop at 23:33. The trial was scheduled to continue the following day. Seamus Morgan pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial in Athy, a witness, Nathan Robinson, testified that he saw the accused, Seamus Morgan, swing an object about 12 inches long at the victim, Laurence Keane, three times on the night of the killing. Robinson, who was cycling with friends around 10 pm on 18 July 2013, described a scuffle at the top of the hill on St John's Lane where Morgan and Keane were fighting. He claimed to have seen Morgan swinging the object and heard the victim being struck on the head. The defense argued that Robinson could not have seen the act because he had not reached the corner of the lane. A second witness, Ricky Moriarty, also on his bike that night, reported hearing noises and seeing Keane struck by a bar. The trial is ongoing. Seamus Morgan pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Seamus Morgan (49) of Athy, Co. Kildare, pleaded not guilty to the killing of Laurence Keane (56) on 19 July 2013. The prosecution presented evidence from Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis, who examined Keane's body at Nass General Hospital. Curtis reported that Keane suffered ten significant blows to the head, with full‑thickness lacerations on the right scalp and fractures on the left side of the skull. He described severe blunt‑force trauma as the cause of death, noting extensive bruising of brain tissue. Witnesses, including Jamie Flynn Quinn, Garda Seamus Muldowney, and Garda Alan Kavanagh, recounted seeing Keane on Barrow Bridge and later in a lane‑way near St John's Lane, where blood was found and a 999 call was made. The case remains in progress.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Seamus Morgan (49) pleaded not guilty to the killing of Laurence Keane (56) on 19 July 2013. The prosecution argued that Keane was badly battered in the head with an iron bar in a lane‑way near St John's Lane, Athy, between 11.30 and 11.45 pm on 18 July 2013, and died the next morning at Naas General Hospital. A post‑mortem found blunt‑force trauma and four skull fractures. Witnesses, including young men on bicycles, testified they saw Morgan assault Keane. DNA evidence linked blood on a pair of Adidas runners found at Morgan's home to Keane's post‑mortem sample. CCTV and other evidence showed Morgan and Keane together that night, and a motive of long‑standing ill‑will was presented. Morgan was arrested on 25 July 2013, rearrested in April 2014, and the trial continues.
A jury was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the trial of Seamus Morgan, 49, who is accused of murdering Laurence Keane, 56, on 19 July 2013 in Athy. Mr Morgan pleaded not guilty. Judge Patrick McCarthy informed the jury of three men and nine women that the trial would last about two weeks and would begin at 2 pm before Judge Robert Eager.
In a High Court hearing on 5 November 2015, Richard Butler, aged 48, resolved a damages action against McSuils pub owners Noel and Ken Walker and his assailant Joseph Phillips. Butler had lost his left eye when Phillips struck him with a pool ball during an altercation at the pub on 17 July 2012. Butler, a former tiler, now wears a prosthetic eye. He alleged that the pub owners should have evicted Phillips after learning of his intoxication and violent propensity, and that the pub had served alcohol to him when it was dangerous, showing reckless disregard for Butler's safety. The owners denied the claims and the assault was not deemed foreseeable. The court entered judgment against Phillips in default of a defence and asked for damages. No settlement details were disclosed in open court. The pub is now closed. The hearing was presided over by Mr Justice Kevin Cross.
In a High Court hearing on 4 November 2015, a 48‑year‑old man named Richard Butler sued Joseph Phillips, the pub owner Noel Walker and his son Ken Walker after Butler lost his left eye when struck by a pool ball during an altercation at McSuils public house in Castlehill, Carlow on 17 July 2012. Butler, a former ceramic tiler, was injured after he tried to hold back Phillips, who had been drinking for several hours and was described by Butler as "loud, aggressive and a troublemaker." Butler claims Phillips had threatened to "escape from Shelton Abbey prison" and called himself a member of the IRA. Butler alleges the pub failed to control Phillips, served him alcohol when it was dangerous, and should have evicted him. The pub owners deny the claims, arguing the assault was unforeseeable. Phillips is currently serving a prison sentence for the assault and is representing himself in the action.
James O'Donovan, 29, of Athy, County Kildare, was convicted of dangerous driving that caused the deaths of his girlfriend Rosanna Potts, 22, and Teresa Kiely, 49, at Youngstown, Athy on 27 December 2012. The crash occurred when O'Donovan's Pajero SUV appeared to drive into a ditch on its own side of the road before swerving into the middle of the road at high speed and striking Teresa Kiely's Toyota Prius. Teresa died at the scene; Rosanna was taken to Naas Hospital and later to The Mater Hospital, where she died three weeks later. O'Donovan pleaded not guilty, claiming that Potts was pulling on his hoodie and arguing with him, causing him to lose control. A Garda forensic investigator found no evidence of braking and said the crash was caused by O'Donovan attempting to manoeuvre at too high a speed. He had been previously convicted for dangerous driving that caused spinal injuries to another driver two months earlier.
James Brophy, 46, of The Swan, Athy, was found guilty of excise duty evasion for importing over four million illegal cigarettes. A jury convicted him on 25 August 2010, and he was sentenced to 240 hours of community service in lieu of three years imprisonment on 12 October 2012. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, and the Court of Appeal imposed a new three‑year suspended sentence and a €5,000 fine. The fine was described by Mr Justice George Birmingham as "designed to sting." If the fine is not paid within 12 months, Brophy would serve 12 months imprisonment in lieu of the fine. The case involved customs officials finding the cigarettes at Brophy's warehouse, with a potential loss of €1.5 million in duty, tax and VAT. Brophy had no prior convictions and had previously completed community service. The appeal was successful, resulting in the suspended sentence and fine. James Brophy pleaded not guilty.
Adiodan Kamoru Kareem, 36, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for possessing €1.4 million worth of cocaine with intent to sell or supply. He pleaded guilty in May 2011 and was convicted by Judge Michael O'Shea at Trim Circuit Court on 17 February 2012. The appeal against the sentence was dismissed by Mr Justice Seán Ryan on 24 November 2014. Ryan described Kareem as a "devoutly religious" man who had no history of drinking or smoking. He was "caught red-handed" when Gardaí seized a false diplomatic package that had been delivered to a car park in Navan, from which Kareem collected a car and drove to an apartment where a search uncovered the cocaine, €100,000 in cash, mixing agents, a pharmaceutical drug, plastic bags and other paraphernalia. The Court of Appeal confirmed that the mandatory minimum of ten years was justified and that the circumstances did not render the sentence unjust.".
Darren Wynne, 21, of Athy, Co. Kildare, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court to 12 years imprisonment for possession of a sawn-off shotgun and ammunition with intent to endanger life. He had previously been convicted by a jury of murdering Jamie Lindsay, 20, in April 2013, for which he is serving a life sentence. Wynne had also pleaded guilty to possession of a sawn-off shotgun and cartridges in suspicious circumstances, an offence for which he received an eight-year sentence. Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan suspended the final two years of each firearms sentence, conditional on Wynne's compliance with his sentence management programme. Both sentences were backdated to April 12, 2013, and run concurrently with the life sentence. The judge considered Wynne's young age, good character, and cooperation with gardai. Two other men, Quentin Monaghan and James Seery, who were tried alongside Wynne, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and possession of a sawn-off shotgun and cartridges in suspicious circumstances. Monaghan was sentenced to eight years imprisonment with two suspended, while Seery received seven years with three suspended for the killing. The court heard evidence that Lindsay was shot in the right eye at point-blank range, and that Wynne claimed he intended only to injure him.
Two men have received sentences totaling 15 years for their part in the killing of a man in Co. Kildare last year. Last week, Darren Wynne (21) was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his best friend Jamie Lindsay (20) who he shot in the face. Wynne of Ballyroe, Athy, Co. Kildare had pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to murdering Mr Lindsay at Coney Green, Coneyboro, Athy on April 6, 2013. Quentin Monaghan (21) of Tullamoy, Stradbally, Co. Laois and James Seery (21) of Canal Side, Athy who were also charged with the murder and were tried alongside Wynne but pleaded guilty to manslaughter during the trial. Today Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan sentenced Monaghan to eight years imprisonment with two suspended for the manslaughter. Mr Justice Sheehan sentenced Seery to seven years imprisonment with three suspended for the killing. Monaghan was sentenced to four years for firearms offences to run concurrently with the manslaughter sentence. Seery was sentenced to three years to run concurrently for firearm offences. Last week Mr Justice Sheehan sentenced Wynne to life in prison for the murder and adjourned sentencing for the firearms offences until November next when probation and psychological reports will be before the court. Although Wynne pleaded guilty to manslaughter during his trial the plea was not accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Darren Wynne (21) of Ballyroe, Athy, was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Jamie Lindsay (20) at Coney Green, Athy, on April 6, 2013. Wynne, who pleaded not guilty, was found guilty by a unanimous jury after a trial at the Central Criminal Court. He was also convicted of possession of a sawn-off shotgun and ammunition with intent to endanger life. Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan adjourned sentencing for these firearms offences until November, pending probation and psychological reports. Although Wynne pleaded guilty to manslaughter during the trial, the plea was not accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Quentin Monaghan (21) of Stradbally and James Seery (21) of Canal Side, Athy, were tried alongside Wynne. Both men pleaded guilty to manslaughter and possession of a sawn-off shotgun and cartridges in suspicious circumstances. Their pleas were accepted by the DPP. Mr Justice Sheehan remanded Monaghan and Seery in custody, and their sentencing is scheduled for July 31. The court heard evidence that Wynne shot Mr Lindsay in the face with a sawn-off shotgun. Monaghan and Seery were alleged to have been part of a joint enterprise, with Seery texting the victim to approach the scene. A victim impact statement from the deceased's sister described the family's heartbreak.
Darren Wynne, 21, of Ballyroe, Athy, Co. Kildare, was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Jamie Lindsay, 20, at Coney Green, Athy, on April 6, 2013. Wynne had pleaded not guilty to murder but was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court. He was also convicted of possession of a sawn-off shotgun and ammunition with intent to endanger life. Although Wynne pleaded guilty to manslaughter during the trial, the Director of Public Prosecutions did not accept the plea. Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan sentenced Wynne to life for the murder and adjourned sentencing for the firearms offences until November next, pending probation and psychological reports. Two co-accused, Quentin Monaghan, 21, of Stradbally, Co. Laois, and James Seery, 21, of Athy, were rearraigned during the trial. Both pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, and also pleaded guilty to possession of a sawn-off shotgun and cartridges in suspicious circumstances. These pleas were accepted by the DPP. Monaghan and Seery will be sentenced later. The court heard evidence that Wynne shot Mr Lindsay in the right eye at close range. Wynne claimed self-defence, alleging threats over missing cannabis and threats against his grandmother. The State argued the group intended to scare Mr Lindsay. Wynne's defence raised provocation and accidental discharge. The matter regarding the firearms charges remains adjourned.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has found Darren Wynne guilty of murdering Jamie Lindsay in Athy, Co. Kildare on April 6, 2013. Wynne (21) of Ballyroe, Athy was convicted after the jury deliberated for almost five hours. He was also convicted of possessing a sawn-off shotgun and ammunition with intent to endanger life. Two co-accused, Quentin Monaghan (21) of Stradbally, Co. Laois and James Seery (21) of Athy, pleaded guilty to manslaughter during the trial and to possessing a sawn-off shotgun in suspicious circumstances. All three men will be sentenced on July 22. The court heard evidence that the twenty-year-old victim was shot at close range. Wynne had claimed the shooting was accidental and raised provocation as a defence. Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan thanked the jury and adjourned proceedings for sentencing.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has begun deliberations in the trial of a man accused of murdering his best friend in County Kildare in 2013. Darren Wynne, aged 21, of Athy, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, though prosecutors rejected the plea. He also pleaded guilty to possession of a sawn-off shotgun in suspicious circumstances. Two co-accused, Quentin Monaghan and James Seery, both aged 21, had their manslaughter pleas accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions and will not face trial. The prosecution case centres on the fatal shooting on 6 April 2013. The defence relies on provocation, claiming the victim made threats. Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan directed the jury that provocation, if reasonably possible, would reduce murder to manslaughter. The jury comprises eight men and four women.
At the Central Criminal Court, Darren Wynne (21) of Ballyroe, Athy, County Kildare was re-arraigned on charges relating to the death of Jamie Lindsay (20) at Coney Green, Coneyboro, Athy on April 6, 2013. Wynne pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The Director of Public Prosecutions did not accept the plea. Evidence was heard from the deceased's former partner regarding a prior incident in March 2013, and from a witness who testified that Wynne attended his house after the shooting, stating he had fired a weapon and later mentioning he had shot his friend. Wynne also pleaded guilty to possession of a sawn-off shotgun and cartridges in suspicious circumstances. Two co-accused, Quentin Monaghan (21) of Tullamoy, Stradbally, County Laois and James Seery (21) of Canal Side, Athy, were re-arraigned and pleaded guilty to manslaughter and to the same firearms offence; those pleas were accepted by the DPP. The trial continues before Justice Garrett Sheehan.
At the Central Criminal Court, the trial of Darren Wynne, Quentin Monaghan, and James Seery for the alleged murder of Jamie Lindsay in Athy, Co. Kildare, continued before Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan. Wynne, 21, of Ballyroe, Athy, initially pleaded not guilty to murder but changed his plea to guilty for manslaughter. However, the Director of Public Prosecutions did not accept this plea. Wynne also pleaded guilty to possession of a sawn-off shotgun and cartridges in suspicious circumstances. Co-accused Monaghan, 21, of Tullamoy, Stradbally, and Seery, 21, of Canal Side, Athy, were rearraigned and both pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, pleas which were accepted by the DPP. Both men also pleaded guilty to possession of a sawn-off shotgun and cartridges in suspicious circumstances. The State alleged the defendants were part of a joint enterprise and that Lindsay was shot in the right eye at point-blank range. Wynne allegedly told gardai he shot Lindsay in the shoulder to kneecap him after Lindsay threatened him over missing drugs and his grandmother. The trial was adjourned and continues on Monday.
Two men have changed their pleas at the Central Criminal Court in relation to the death of a man in County Kildare in April 2013. Quentin Monaghan, aged 21, and James Seery, aged 21, initially pleaded not guilty to murder but today pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Both men also pleaded guilty to possession of a sawn-off shotgun and cartridges in suspicious circumstances on 6 April 2013. The Director of Public Prosecutions accepted both pleas. The charges relate to the death of Jamie Lindsay, aged 20, who was shot at Coneyboro estate in Athy. The State's case alleged that Monaghan and Seery provided material assistance to a third accused. A third man, Darren Wynne, remains on trial for murder. The trial is currently in legal argument, with the jury to return on Friday.
Three men were arraigned at the Central Criminal Court, where all pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Jamie Lindsay (20) at Coney Green, Coneyboro, Athy, Co. Kildare, on April 6, 2013. Darren Wynne (21), Quentin Monaghan (21), and James Seery (21) face charges including possession of a sawn-off shotgun and ammunition with intent to endanger life. While Wynne pleaded guilty to possessing a sawn-off shotgun and cartridges in suspicious circumstances, he and the other two defendants maintained not guilty pleas regarding the murder and other firearm offenses. The State alleges Seery and Monaghan were part of a joint enterprise. Prosecution evidence includes garda interview memos in which Monaghan stated Wynne pointed a gun at his head and forced him to drive, claiming he did not know Lindsay was to be shot. Wynne allegedly told gardai he intended only to injure Lindsay, who he described as his best friend, over a dispute involving missing drugs and threats. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that the cause of death was a shotgun wound to the head, with the right eye destroyed and extensive skull fractures, indicating the weapon was discharged from a couple of feet away. The matter is currently in legal argument, with evidence continuing on Wednesday.
The trial of Darren Wynne, Quentin Monaghan, and James Seery continues before the Central Criminal Court, with Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan presiding. All three defendants, aged 21, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jamie Lindsay (20) at Coney Green, Coneyboro, Athy, Co. Kildare, on April 6, 2013. Mr Wynne also pleaded not guilty to possessing a sawn-off shotgun and ammunition with intent to endanger life, though he pleaded guilty to possessing a sawn-off shotgun and cartridges in suspicious circumstances. Mr Monaghan and Mr Seery pleaded not guilty to possessing a sawn-off shotgun and cartridges with intent to endanger life, as well as possessing such items in suspicious circumstances. Prosecution evidence includes garda interview memos where Mr Wynne alleged Mr Lindsay threatened to rape his grandmother and burn his house. Mr Wynne stated he intended only to injure Mr Lindsay over a dispute regarding missing cannabis. The court heard that Mr Lindsay was shot in the right eye at point-blank range. The State alleges Mr Seery and Mr Monaghan were part of a joint enterprise. The matter is ongoing before a jury of eight men and four women.
Three men faced murder charges at the Central Criminal Court following the death of a twenty-year-old in County Kildare in April 2013. Darren Wynne, Quentin Monaghan, and James Seery all pleaded not guilty to murdering Jamie Lindsay at Coneyboro, Athy. Wynne additionally pleaded not guilty to possession of a sawn-off shotgun with intent to endanger life, though he admitted possession of the weapon in suspicious circumstances. Monaghan and Seery pleaded not guilty to related firearms charges. During proceedings, the prosecution presented garda interview notes in which Wynne told officers the deceased had threatened him over missing money and made threats toward his grandmother's home. Wynne stated he obtained a sawn-off shotgun from a graveyard and claimed he only intended to shoot Lindsay in the kneecap. He told gardai he fired a single shot believing it struck the shoulder, and that he did not mean to kill him. The State contends Monaghan and Seery were part of a joint enterprise in the incident. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, continues before a jury.