Marius Cristea, 56, was sentenced to 20 months in jail for fraudulently claiming €84,099 in jobseeker's allowance over seven years. He worked at a golf club under a false identity while claiming benefits under his own name from 2013 to 2020. Cristea pleaded guilty to eight counts of social welfare fraud at Dodsboro post office between December 2013 and March 2020 and one count of producing a false instrument at Naas Golf Club on 14 January 2019. Garda Anna Masterson explained that after his business failed during the recession, he assumed the identity of a former employee to work at the club and continued to claim benefits. He received cash in hand and claimed an additional €11,000 until March 2020. He has repaid €3,482 to date. Cristea has no prior convictions in Ireland but has historic convictions in Romania.
William O'Donnell, 24, of Ashbourne, Co Meath, was sentenced to five years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to falsely imprisoning and threatening to kill his former wife, Brigid Reilly, on September 20, 2021. Judge Martin Nolan described the offence as very serious, noting that O'Donnell forced Ms Reilly into his car against her will and deprived her of her liberty for 24 hours. The court heard that O'Donnell drove Ms Reilly from Naas, Co Kildare, to Enniskillen, threatening to kill them both and ruin her reputation within the Travelling community. He recorded a video taunting her father and claimed police could not reach him once he crossed into the North. Ms Reilly, who was terrified, eventually escaped briefly but was forced back into the vehicle. O'Donnell was arrested at a garda checkpoint after driving back into the jurisdiction. He has 66 previous convictions and was on bail for other offences at the time. His defence counsel described the act as immature and attributed it to impulse control issues. O'Donnell has been in custody since last September and is on an enhanced prisoner régime. The matter was finalised with the imposition of the custodial sentence.
In a 2022 court hearing, former Garda Stephen Cooper (37) and accomplice Stephen McGrath (37) were sentenced for drug‑ and alcohol‑fuelled assaults on two women. Cooper forced a woman to undergo a "strip search" after claiming she stole drugs, threatened her, and inserted his fingers into her body. McGrath then violently assaulted a second woman, kicking, punching, and tearing her hair, while both men threatened to take her to the mountains and bury her. They attempted to place her in a van, but she resisted and was ultimately left in the footwell. Cooper pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to the first woman and to threats against the second, while McGrath pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, sexual assault, and weapon production. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year sentence for Cooper's assault and a three‑year sentence for the threats, to run consecutively.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Danilo De Silva, aged 41, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for assault causing harm to a sex worker. The incident occurred in November 2020 when De Silva, who had previously worked as a professional chef, confronted the woman after they had consensual sex at her apartment in Clondalkin. He shouted at her, demanding money, and swung a large kitchen knife at her head and throat. The victim, who was operating as a sex worker, managed to shield herself with her hand, sustaining a cut on her palm and a small cut to her face. Gardaí found the palm heavily cut and covered in blood. De Silva fled but was later arrested. In June 2021 he pleaded guilty to the assault. The judge highlighted the vulnerability of the victim and the need for deterrence, noting the knife was in his backpack from his chef work. The sentence was three years' imprisonment.
Mary Kennedy, a 46‑year‑old former accounts worker at St Columcille's Hospital, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for stealing more than €670,000 over a 16‑year period. Kennedy devised a fraudulent scheme that involved issuing cheques to doctors who were not actually employed by the hospital. After the hospital's computerisation in 2019, she arranged for the money to be paid into her brother‑in‑law Paul Leeson's account, who later returned the funds to her and made a €5,000 profit. Kennedy pleaded guilty to 16 counts of theft and two counts of fraud covering 2004‑2020, while Leeson pleaded guilty to one count of possessing the proceeds of crime between June 2019 and October 2020. Judge Martin Nolan, noting mitigating factors such as Kennedy's health problems, lack of prior convictions and role as a mother, imposed a two‑year sentence, which was fully suspended for Leeson.
Jonathan Reid, 28, was sentenced to six years and six months in prison, with the final two years suspended for three years, after stabbing Greg Shiels, his mother's partner, in the neck during a drug‑induced psychosis on 6 March 2020. The attack was described as unprovoked and extremely violent, causing serious injury to Shiels, who was taken to Naas Hospital and later Tallaght Hospital for surgery. Reid pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm and to possession of cocaine and cannabis, leading the Director of Public Prosecutions to drop the attempted murder charge. He has no prior convictions, has a history of mental health problems linked to drug use, and has been offered addiction counselling through the Peter McVerry Trust upon release. The judge noted Reid's willingness to engage with his problems and his sincere remorse, which mitigated the sentence. The court emphasized the need for Reid to attend probation appointments and local drug‑addiction services.
The Central Criminal Court heard that the Peter McVerry Trust has offered addiction counselling to Jonathan Reid, 28, who stabbed his mother's partner, Greg Shiels, in the neck during a drug‑induced psychosis on 6 March 2020. Reid was originally charged with attempted murder but the Director of Public Prosecutions dropped that charge after he pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Shiels and to possession of cocaine and cannabis. The court noted Reid's history of mental health problems and that the psychosis was triggered by drug use rather than a clinical disorder. Seamus Clarke SC suggested the court could require Reid to attend counselling upon release. Mr Justice Paul McDermott said he would consider a 17‑page psychiatric report before passing sentence on 30 May. The hearing highlighted that Shiels fully supports Reid's recovery and that Reid has performed well in prison with no current symptoms. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
Abubaker Bello, 46, of Fr Peter McVerry Homeless Shelter, was found guilty of assault causing harm to Catherina White in Tallaght on 20 January 2021. The court heard that Bello approached White while she was walking with headphones, pulled her handbag, punched her face, pushed her to the ground and repeatedly punched her face. Witnesses stopped their cars and assisted White, who later received treatment at Tallaght Hospital for a fractured nose, swollen eyes and blurred vision. Bello was arrested at Tallaght Garda Station after refusing to cooperate. He denied the offence during an interview, was shown CCTV footage but did not identify himself, and has 21 prior convictions, including two for assault. He expressed remorse and presented a letter of apology. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three and a half years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, subject to good behaviour and one year of probation supervision.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 14 April 2022, Declan Brady (56) and Martin Aylmer (36) were charged with aiding a criminal gang in the murder of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan, a father of four who was shot six times on 22 December 2016 in Clondalkin, Dublin. The charges allege that between 20 October and 22 December 2016, Brady and Aylmer, knowing a criminal organisation existed, participated in or facilitated the gang's activities that led to Kirwan's death. Both men were present when the charges were read. Aylmer had previously been charged by Gardaí, and Brady had been handed a copy of the charge sheet before the hearing. Both were remanded in custody until 23 May, with legal aid applications pending for Brady and granted for Aylmer. The case is being tried under the Offences Against the State Act because the Director of Public Prosecutions deemed normal courts inadequate for effective justice.
Anthony Dunne, 61, was sentenced to one year in prison for secretly recording a female colleague while she showered at his workplace and for capturing intimate images of his partner's daughter‑in‑law in her home. The court heard that Dunne attached a camera to his phone and hid it behind boxes at the factory, recording the colleague on March 23 2021, and that he had also filmed the daughter‑in‑law between February and April 2020. He pleaded guilty to both offences, had no prior convictions, and was ordered to have no contact with the victim for two years after release. The judge highlighted the premeditated nature of the acts and the breach of trust, noting the victims' ongoing distress and the impact on their sense of safety. The case was prosecuted by Mark Lynam BL and heard by Judge Orla Crowe in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a court hearing on 5 April 2022, a 22‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the sexual assault of a child and to producing child pornography. He was 18 at the time of the offences, which involved a 15‑year‑old boy who was rendered unconscious by a pain‑relief drug (Penthrox) that the accused had stolen. The drug was administered through a modified "green whistle" and an oxygen mask, after which the accused sexually assaulted the boy. The accused also filmed the assault and the drug administration. A 31‑year‑old co‑accused pleaded guilty to oral rape of a boy, sexual exploitation, and the production of child pornography. He admitted stealing a vial of Penthrox and a carbon dioxide chamber from Naas Racecourse.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a mother of 28‑year‑old Jonathan Reid, who stabbed her partner Greg Shiels in the neck during a drug‑induced psychosis, urged the court to grant her son a second chance. Reid, from Newhall, Naas, pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Shiels on 6 March 2020, and also pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and cannabis that night. The mother described her son as deserving a second chance and pledged full support for both her and Shiels, who suffered a serious neck injury but made a good recovery. Reid had a prior drink‑driving conviction and had spent time in Lakeview Mental Health Unit. The court adjourned to 25 April to consider post‑release programmes, and a nolle prosequi will be entered on the attempted murder charge later.
Anthony Dunne, 61, secretly recorded a work colleague, Paula Jordan, while she showered at the factory where he worked, using a phone camera hidden behind boxes. He also captured intimate images of his partner's daughter‑in‑law, Leanne Daly, in her home bathroom. Dunne pleaded guilty to harassment at an address in Clondalkin, Dublin, between February and April 2020, and to recording an intimate image without consent at O'Neills Factory, Walkinstown, on 23 March 2021. He has no prior convictions. The court heard that Jordan's victim impact statement described the incident as pre‑meditated and extremely distressing, affecting her trust, sleep and use of the shower facilities. Daly reported nightmares and lasting stress. Gardaí recovered the phone, analysed the footage, and found the images of Daly. Dunne resigned from the factory and was remanded on continuing bail, with the matter to be finalised on 5 April.
An appeal by Jason Bradley and Dean Bradley against their murder convictions has been dismissed by the Court of Appeal. The brothers were originally sentenced to life imprisonment in July 2018 for the murder of Neil Reilly in Lucan, Dublin, on January 18, 2017. The appeal focused on alleged errors in the trial judge's charge to the jury and the admissibility of witness Danielle Cusack's evidence. Mr Justice John Edwards, presiding at the three-judge Court of Appeal, dismissed all grounds of appeal, stating that the trial was conducted fairly and that the jury's verdicts were safe. Jason Bradley was found guilty of murder and Dean Bradley was acquitted of murder but was previously sentenced to life imprisonment for the same offence. Ryan Bradley was acquitted of murder by the trial judge but pleaded guilty to an offence of impeding the murder investigation and received a fully suspended five-year prison sentence. The court rejected claims that the trial judge improperly charged the jury and that the use of Enhanced Cognitive Interview (ECI) with Ms Cusack was unfair. The appeal was adjourned and never described as concluded or finalised.
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.
Jonathan Reid, 27, of Newhall, Naas, pleaded guilty in the Central Criminal Court to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Greg Shiels on 6 March 2020 at New Hall, contrary to Section 4 of the Non‑Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. The State will later enter a nolle prosequi on the attempted murder charge. Mr Justice Paul McDermott fixed a sentence hearing for 21 March 2022, remanded Reid to remain in custody until that date, and ordered the preparation of a victim impact statement, a governor's report and a probation report.
Thomas Doran, 29, with 64 prior convictions, was jailed for six years after driving the wrong way on the N7 dual carriageway in the early hours of 21 September 2020. Doran, who was on bail and disqualified from driving for ten years, drove 700 metres against traffic before colliding head‑on with a Toyota Yaris. The collision killed driver Anatolie Butucel and seriously injured passenger Serghei Grigoras and Doran's uncle Patrick Connors. Doran was uncooperative at the scene, refusing to give details and telling Gardaí to "fuck off." He was found guilty of dangerous driving causing death and serious bodily harm. The judge set a headline sentence of eight years but, after considering Doran's guilty plea, remorse, €1,500 payment to Grigoras, and his poor mental health, imposed a final sentence of six and a half years with the last six months suspended on strict conditions, and a 20‑year driving disqualification.
Glassco Recycling Limited, a glass recycling firm based in Naas, has lodged a High Court challenge against a decision by An Bord Pleanala that its proposal to increase its annual intake of glass and aluminium cans is not exempt from planning permission. The board had ruled in May that the proposed increase constituted a material change of use due to intensification, and that no planning law exemption applied. Glassco argues the decision is flawed, that the board erred in law, and that the increase does not amount to development. It also claims the board failed to provide reasons, did not consider relevant factors, and made an unreasonable decision without an Environmental Impact Assessment. The company seeks orders to quash the decision and a declaration that its existing recycling permission precludes the activity from being a material change of use. Mr Justice Anthony Barr granted the company permission to proceed, and the case will return to court next month.
In a murder trial, a pathologist testified that the decapitated, skeletonised remains of a 24‑year‑old Dublin man, Philip Finnegan, were found curled in a foetal position in a shallow grave in Rahin Woods, Kildare, after he had been missing for 30 days. The remains were partially burned and evidence of multiple stab wounds, including two fatal ones to the liver and aorta, was presented. Fingerprints recovered from a finger that had slipped away from the soil confirmed Finnegan's identity. The accused, Stephen Penrose, 38, pleaded not guilty. The trial also discussed a blood‑stained glove that matched Penrose's DNA and his phone's proximity to the site. The case is ongoing before Mr Justice Owens and a jury.
During a murder trial, a dog walker recounted discovering what he believed to be a body in Rahin Woods, Kildare, on 2 September 2016. He found two dogs barking near a buried object that appeared to be flesh. He later informed two men, Ivan Pollard and Pat McGrath, who called 112. Garda inspectors Aiden Hannon and Padraig Nolan examined the site, noting almost skeletal remains protruding from a shallow grave, a stab‑proof vest, a garden fork, a shovel, a knife blade, a mobile phone, a fire‑damaged glove, and a black funnel. The remains were taken to Naas mortuary. The trial heard that the accused, Stephen Penrose, 38, pleaded not guilty to murdering 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan, whose body was found decapitated in the woods. The case is ongoing before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury.
In the Central Criminal Court, Stephen Penrose, aged 38, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Philip Finnegan, 24, who was found decapitated in a Kildare woods on 10 August 2016. A Garda officer reported finding a blue Alfa Romeo car in Kilcock on 13 August, with extensive blood splatter on the gearstick and driver's door. The vehicle, registered in Portarlington, was seized as it was believed to contain evidence of the assault. Paramedic Terry Devine treated Penrose for a stab wound to his left arm, noting blood-soaked socks. Penrose claimed five men were involved in an incident where Finnegan was stabbed and he fled in the car. Inspector Aidan Hannon recounted that Penrose was stabbed through a window while driving the Alfa Romeo, after which he stopped, removed his sock, and left the vehicle. The trial continues before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and 12 jurors.
Mark Taylor (31), of no fixed abode in the Tallaght area, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for offences committed on December 9, 2019. Taylor, who had 142 previous convictions including 24 for dangerous driving, pleaded guilty to three counts of dangerous driving, one count of endangerment, one count of criminal damage, and one count of driving with no insurance. He was already disqualified from driving for 25 years and on bail for another driving-related offence at the time. Judge Melanie Greally noted the extreme risk to road users during the high-speed pursuit, which involved Taylor allegedly attempting to run over a garda and ramming two patrol cars. The court heard that Taylor drove over 100km/h, crossed onto the wrong side of the road, and caused €12,000 in damage to garda vehicles. Judge Greally handed down an eight-year sentence, suspending the final three years on conditions. Taylor was banned from driving for life. As a condition of the suspended portion, he was ordered to enter a drug rehabilitation programme upon release and complete it. The sentence was backdated to when Taylor first went into custody on these offences.
Zoltan Almasi, a 49‑year‑old Serbian truck driver, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for the manslaughter of 20‑year‑old Joseph "Joe Joe" Dunne, who died after Almasi struck him on the head with a baseball bat. The Central Criminal Court found that Almasi had intended to cause serious injury, delivering a savage blow that caused near‑instantaneous death. Almasi had previously been convicted of murder in 2014, appealed to the Court of Appeal, and had that conviction quashed by the Supreme Court, leading to a retrial. The final trial ended with a jury disagreement on the murder charge, so the court imposed a manslaughter sentence. Almasi pleaded guilty to manslaughter, and the judge noted mitigating factors such as his lack of prior convictions and his cooperation in prison. The sentence was back‑dated to his 2014 arrest.
Zoltan Almasi, 49, appeared before Mr Justice Michael White for sentencing after his conviction for the manslaughter of Joseph Dunne. The matter is at the appeal stage, following a history where Almasi's initial murder conviction was quashed by the Supreme Court, leading to two retrials that ended in jury disagreements. Ultimately, the Director of Public Prosecutions accepted a plea of manslaughter, which Almasi had previously offered. Prosecution counsel Caroline Biggs SC stated the DPP considers the offence in the high culpability bracket for manslaughter, attracting a headline sentence of 10 to 15 years. Defence counsel Barra McGrory QC argued the incident was spontaneous, noting Almasi had no prior convictions and did not intend serious harm. He suggested the offence falls in the higher end of the middle category, citing Almasi's positive prison conduct and remorse. The Dunne family, who described the killing as murder, complained that the legal process had torn their son's character apart. Mr Justice White adjourned the matter, stating he will sentence Almasi on September 8.
Senior Kinahan Cartel lieutenant Declan Brady was sentenced to eight years and three months in prison, with the final year suspended, for laundering €268,940 of crime cash. He is already serving 11‑and‑a‑half years for firearms offences. Brady's wife, Deirdre Brady, received a fully suspended three‑year sentence for laundering €770,499, and former mistress Erika Lukacs, aged 37, received a fully suspended three‑year sentence for laundering €196,864. The court found that the laundering involved mortgage payments on a Spanish holiday property, a wedding at Druid's Glen, and transfers to other gang members. Brady's wife and Lukacs were not involved in the underlying criminality that generated the cash, and the judge considered their lack of prior convictions and good character in deciding on suspended sentences. The sentences will run from 23 April 2021, the date of Brady's guilty plea.
Zoltan Almasi, 49, has had his plea to manslaughter accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions for the 2014 killing of Joseph Dunne. Almasi, who has been in custody for seven years, had previously faced three trials for the same murder, with the first conviction quashed by the Supreme Court and the second and third trials ending in hung juries. At his last trial he pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. He was remanded in custody until September 3 for a sentence hearing, with reports ordered from his prison governor, chaplain and psychologist.
The Central Criminal Court has adjourned the third trial of Zoltan Almasi, a 49-year-old truck driver, after the jury failed to reach a verdict. Almasi, who has been in custody for seven years, was charged with murdering Joseph 'JoJo' Dunne, a 20-year-old, at Harbour View, Naas, on 16th May 2014. Almasi pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The jury heard evidence that Almasi struck Dunne in the back of the head with a baseball bat after Dunne banged on his van, causing a fatal skull fracture. Almasi's first trial resulted in a murder conviction, which was quashed by the Supreme Court following an appeal on the grounds of provocation. His second trial also ended in a disagreement. In this third trial, the jury deliberated for over 13 hours before informing the court they were deadlocked. Justice Michael White allowed them to record a verdict of disagreement. The matter was adjourned, with Almasi remanded in custody until 16th July for the Director of Public Prosecutions' further directions. No final sentence or disposal was recorded at this procedural stage.
The jury in the trial of Zoltan Almasi, a 49‑year‑old Serbian man, has been sent home after three days of deliberations. Almasi has pleaded not guilty to the murder of 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne but guilty to manslaughter. The case concerns an incident on 16 May 2014 at Harbour View, Naas, where Dunne was struck on the back of the head with a baseball bat, shattering his skull and causing death. Almasi claims he did not realise he had struck Dunne until later, when he saw an ambulance and Garda car. The judge, Michael White, initially required a unanimous verdict but later allowed a majority verdict of at least ten jurors. The jury has requested additional witness testimony and legal definitions, and will resume deliberations tomorrow. The trial is being heard in the Central Criminal Court.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, Zoltan Almasi, 49, faced charges of murdering 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne with a single blow from a baseball bat. Almasi pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The case centred on whether Almasi's use of the bat was provoked. Evidence showed Dunne had jostled Almasi's van, after which Almasi chased him with a bat. Dunne died when the bat struck the back of his head, fracturing his skull and driving bone into his brain. Almasi's counsel argued that the force used indicated loss of control, a partial defence of provocation. The prosecution contended that Dunne was retreating and posed no threat, and that Almasi struck him in anger. Judge Michael White instructed the jury to seek a unanimous verdict and to keep deliberations confidential.
A jury of seven men and five women will start deliberating on Monday at 10.30am in the trial of Zoltan Almasi, a 49‑year‑old Serbian man, charged with murdering a 20‑year‑old man named Joseph Dunne. Almasi pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for an incident that occurred on 16 May 2014 at Harbour View, Naas, Co. Kildare. The case involved a single blow with a baseball bat that shattered Dunne's skull and caused his death. The trial, which lasted more than four weeks, focused on the issue of provocation. Almasi's barrister argued that the force used might show loss of control, while the prosecution maintained that Dunne was running for his life and was not a threat. Judge Michael White instructed the jury to reach a unanimous verdict and explained that deliberations would take place in a converted courtroom due to pandemic restrictions.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Michael White instructed a jury that the key issue was provocation. The accused, Zoltan Almasi, 49, of Serbian origin, was charged with murdering 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne after a confrontation involving Almasi's van. Almasi claimed he did not realise he had struck Dunne with a baseball bat until later. His defence argued that the force used indicated loss of control, a potential element of provocation. Prosecutor Caroline Biggs countered that Dunne was fleeing and posed no threat, suggesting the bat was struck in anger. The judge explained that provocation must cause a complete loss of self‑control, beyond ordinary restraint, and that the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that this defence was rebutted. If not, the verdict would be guilty of manslaughter rather than murder. The judge's charge continued the following day. Zoltan Almasi pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial, the defence counsel for Zoltan Almasi, a 49‑year‑old Serbian truck driver, argued that the force with which Almasi wielded a baseball bat could indicate a sudden loss of control, potentially supporting a partial defence of provocation. Almasi, who pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, killed 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne in 2014 after Dunne allegedly jostled Almasi's van. Almasi chased Dunne away with the bat, striking him on the back of the head, causing a fatal skull fracture. The prosecution claimed Almasi struck Dunne in anger, while the defence highlighted that the bat's tip hit the head, a 4‑cm margin that could have missed if Almasi had been slightly farther back. The counsel urged the jury to consider Almasi's perception of the van's attack, his background, the Harbour View area's reputation, and the possibility of a sudden loss of self‑control. The judge, Michael White, would charge the jury tomorrow.
In a trial in the Central Criminal Court, a 49‑year‑old Serbian truck driver, Zoltan Almasi, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the death of a 20‑year‑old Kildare man, Joseph Dunne, on 16 May 2014. Prosecutor Caroline Biggs argued that Dunne was running for his life and was not a threat when Almasi struck him with a baseball bat in anger, causing a blow to the back of his head that shattered his skull. She urged the jury to consider CCTV footage showing Almasi raising the bat and to infer intent to cause serious injury. Biggs explained that provocation would reduce murder to manslaughter, but she said Almasi's anger was insufficient for that defence. The jury was asked to decide whether Almasi intended to kill or seriously injure Dunne and whether he was provoked. Barra McGrory QC began his defence speech later in the proceedings.
During the murder trial of Zoltan Almasi, a 49‑year‑old Serbian truck driver, the jury heard that cobwebs and dust were found on the baseball bat used to kill 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne on 16 May 2014. Almasi, who pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, claimed he had not realised he had struck Dunne until he saw an ambulance and Garda car. He said the bat had been left in the house he rented, and that he had not lifted it in the three years he lived there. The defence's barrister, Barra McGrory QC, questioned Almasi about the bat's condition, and Almasi answered that he had not used it before. The trial also considered forensic evidence about sounds from Basin Street and CCTV timings, but the defence has closed its case and the judge will explain the defence of provocation tomorrow. The trial continues before a jury of seven men and four women.
A 56‑year‑old British man, Kuldip Singh, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for aiding and abetting the possession of over €960,000 of heroin at a B&B in Dublin. Singh, who had previously lived in Spawell, Dublin 6, secured accommodation for the drugs and acted as a translator for his co‑accused. He denied possession of the drugs but pleaded guilty to the aiding and abetting charge after it was added to the indictment. The court noted his 17 prior convictions in the UK, including seven drug offences, and the large street value of the heroin. Singh's sentence was four years with the final 12 months suspended, subject to conditions that he leave the state within 72 hours of release and not return for ten years. The case involved Garda surveillance, a B&B search that recovered 14 blocks of heroin, €9,000 in cash, and several phones.
Zoltan Almasi, 49, a Serbian truck driver, denies that training in the Yugoslav army taught him how to hurt people. He is on trial in the Central Criminal Court for the murder of 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne, who died after a single blow to the back of his head with a baseball bat on 16 May 2014. Almasi pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. He claims he did not realise he had struck Dunne until he saw an ambulance and Garda car, and that he had no memory of the incident. During cross‑examination, the counsel questioned his alleged army training, to which Almasi replied that he was never taught to hurt others. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of seven men and four women.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Mr Justice Michael White ruled that Zoltan Almasi, a 49‑year‑old Serbian truck driver, need not hold the baseball bat used to kill 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne in Harbour View on 16 May 2014. Almasi pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The prosecution, represented by Caroline Biggs SC, had requested the bat be presented to Almasi during cross‑examination. Almasi claimed he did not remember the impact and refused to touch the bat, stating he did not want to handle it. Justice White confirmed that Almasi was not required to touch the bat if he chose not to. The case continues with further cross‑examination scheduled for the next day.
Zoltan Almasi, 49, a Serbian truck driver, denies knowing he had committed a terrible act when he left the scene after striking 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne with a baseball bat. Almasi, who is in the witness box for a second day at the Central Criminal Court, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the death that occurred on 16 May 2014 at Harbour View. He testified that he had gone out with a bat to chase people who were harassing his van, without intending harm, and later returned home, showered, and went to his wife's house as arranged. Prosecutor Caroline Biggs cross‑examined him, showing CCTV of his departure and questioning his route choice and why he did not call the gardai earlier. The cross‑examination continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of seven men and four women.
During his murder trial, Zoltan Almasi, a 49‑year‑old Serbian truck driver, explained that he had chased a 20‑year‑old man away from his van and struck the man's head with a baseball bat. Almasi said he had been defending his vehicle after it was attacked by several people, but he did not intend to cause serious harm. He returned home, showered, and drove to his wife's house as planned. Almasi admitted that he had hit the victim, Joseph Dunne, who died after a single blow shattered his skull. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Almasi expressed remorse, stating he did not want anyone to die, and that he had been in prison for seven years and had been seeing a psychologist for three years. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of seven men and four women.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Zoltan Almasi, 49, for the 2014 death of Joseph Dunne, heard expert testimony from retired pathologist Dr Michael Curtis. Almasi, a Serbian-born man from Naas, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The jury examined a wooden baseball bat, which Dr Curtis stated could have caused Dunne's fatal injury from a single blow wielded with severe force. Testifying regarding the post-mortem examination conducted seven years ago, Dr Curtis described a comminuted, depressed fracture on the upper back of Dunne's head, where the skull bone was shattered and driven inwards. He confirmed that the injuries resulted from one act of force, causing the brain's bridging veins to split and bleed, leading to rapid death from severe traumatic head injury. The court also heard that Dunne had struck Almasi's parked Mercedes van before Almasi emerged with the bat. The prosecution has now closed its case. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of seven men and four women. No verdict or sentence has been delivered, and the matter remains at the trial stage.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 49‑year‑old man, Zoltan Almasi, is on trial for the murder of 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne, who was killed with a baseball bat in 2014. Almasi pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Prosecutor Caroline Biggs explained that Dunne had walked past Almasi's parked van, struck it, and Almasi then emerged with a bat. Detective Garda Christine Brady, the incident‑room coordinator, testified about her role in the investigation, including the creation of a "Jobs Book" that listed 143 tasks for officers. She searched 55,000 pages of records for any prior contact between Almasi and the Gardaí, finding one entry from April 2013. Brady also addressed a witness statement about a Renault Scenic being damaged that night, noting no damage reports and that no appeal was made for the owner to come forward.
The Special Criminal Court heard that Declan Brady, his wife Deirdre Brady, and Erika Lukacs laundered approximately €1.3m in crime cash. At today's sentence hearing, Brady (55) pleaded guilty to seven further money laundering offences, Deirdre Brady (53) admitted to 17 more, and Lukacs (37) pleaded guilty to five additional offences. The court heard that Brady laundered €318,654, Deirdre Brady laundered €770,499, and Lukacs laundered €196,864. Deirdre Brady allegedly transferred over €140,000 to Thomas 'Bomber' Kavanagh and paid €138,000 towards a Spanish mortgage. The court also noted that €66,301 was paid for a wedding at Druids Glen, with €27,265 paid in cash. Declan Brady is already serving an 11.5-year sentence for supervising a weapons cache. All three defendants have paid money to the Criminal Assets Bureau. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, remanded Brady in custody until July 30, when he will be sentenced. The matter was adjourned.
In the Central Criminal Court, witnesses described a "stand‑off" involving a group of young people and a man carrying a baseball bat on the night of May 16 2014, when 20‑year‑old Joseph 'Jo Jo' Dunne was killed in Naas. Zoltan Almasi, 49, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Witnesses Natasha Kelly, Kristina Augonaiskene, Catherine Fisher, Maureen O'Neill, Ronan Flood, Maria Flood, and Michael Leonard all reported hearing shouting, seeing a man with a bat, and observing a man lying on the ground. Several described the scene as a brief confrontation that ended quickly, with the bat‑bearing man chased away. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael White, continues on Tuesday.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing of Zoltan Almasi, a 49‑year‑old Serbian‑born man charged with the murder of Joseph 'Jo Jo' Dunne, witness Alannah Piercy testified that she saw a man strike Dunne twice with a baseball bat. Piercy described the first blow to the back‑left of Dunne's head and a second strike to the same spot while Dunne was prone. She claimed the bat was black with a blue top and that she could not identify the attacker. The defense counsel, Mr Barra McGrory QC, challenged Piercy's account, arguing that her statement to Gardaí on 18 May 2014 mentioned only one strike and that she had altered her testimony. Piercy maintained that her evidence was truthful, denying the allegation that the second blow was fabricated. The court took a brief recess before proceeding with the cross‑examination. The trial, which includes a jury of eleven, is scheduled to continue for four weeks. Zoltan Almasi pleaded not guilty.
During the murder trial of Zoltan Almasi, witness Michael 'Mikey' McDonagh testified that he placed his jacket under the head of his best friend, Joseph 'Jojo' Dunne, after Dunne was struck with a baseball bat. McDonagh described seeing the bat hit Dunne's back of the head once, though he believed Dunne had been struck twice. He recounted that Dunne was drunk, shouting, and had challenged a "big, tall hairy" man to a fight. The man, later identified as Almasi, allegedly struck Dunne with a bat, causing blood to come from Dunne's ears and mouth. McDonagh said people from a nearby restaurant performed CPR for 20 minutes before Gardaí arrived. The witness left the court during cross‑examination, later returning after a break. The trial continues under Mr Justice Michael White. Zoltan Almasi pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury heard CCTV footage of Zoltan Almasi, a 49‑year‑old Serbian‑born man, running after Joseph Dunne, a 20‑year‑old victim, with his hand raised above his head. The footage also shows Almasi leaving the scene carrying a baseball bat. The evidence was presented on the day of the trial, which is the third hearing in the case. Almasi has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Inspector Dara Diffily described the footage as showing the incident shortly after 10.15 pm, with Dunne running away and Almasi chasing him. The footage also depicts Almasi holding a bat in his right hand. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael White, is expected to last four weeks.
The jury in the third trial of Zoltan Almasi, a 49‑year‑old Serbian‑born man, examined maps and aerial photographs of Naas and the surrounding area where the murder of 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne occurred. Almasi, who lives at Harbour View, Naas, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The case had already been tried twice. Judge Caroline Biggs SC opened the trial for a jury of seven men and four women, noting that Dunne lived in Athy with his family and was attending Fás. On the night of the incident, Dunne was with friends heading for a bus at about 10.30 pm when he had a brief altercation with another man. Almasi's parked Mercedes van was hit by Dunne as he passed. Almasi then emerged from his house, armed with a baseball bat, and pursued Dunne.
The Central Criminal Court heard the third trial of Zoltan Almasi, a 49‑year‑old Serbian‑born man, charged with murdering 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne in County Kildare. Almasi pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The State argued that Almasi intended to kill or seriously injure Dunne, citing the post‑mortem finding of a comminuted, depressed skull fracture caused by a baseball bat. The prosecution described the incident: Dunne was on his way to a bus at 10.30 pm when he collided with Almasi's parked van, after which Almasi pursued him with a baseball bat and struck him on the head, causing death. The defence accepted that Almasi caused the death but disputed the intent. The jury, composed of seven men and four women, heard the case on Wednesday, with the trial set to continue before Mr Justice Michael White for an expected four‑week duration.
A 49‑year‑old Hungarian man, Zoltan Almasi, will be tried again for the murder of Joseph Dunne, a 20‑year‑old man, in Harbour View, Naas, on 16 May 2014. Almasi, who lives at Harbour View, was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court and pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The jury, composed of seven men and four women, has been informed that this is the third trial in the case. The trial is scheduled to last four weeks and will commence on Wednesday afternoon.
The Special Criminal Court sentenced Sean Ruth, a former mid-tier Kinahan Cartel member, to four years and six months for two money laundering offences. Presiding Judge Tony Hunt suspended both sentences for six years and ordered Ruth to repay €9,900 within 12 months. Ruth pleaded guilty to concealing or disguising the source of funds in his Allied Irish Bank account between 2016 and 2017, knowing or being reckless as to whether they were proceeds of criminal conduct. The court noted he had paid over €20,000 to the Criminal Assets Bureau, with his parents assisting with the remaining balance. Judge Hunt reduced a headline six-year sentence by 25% due to Ruth's guilty plea and mitigation, including his reformation and education since his 2019 release from a separate firearms conviction. Ruth was previously jailed for three years for possessing a .38 Special revolver and ammunition. The report also details that Jonathan Harding and James Walsh were previously sentenced to 10 and nine years imprisonment respectively, with the final year of each suspended, after pleading guilty to possessing nine revolvers, four pistols, a submachine gun, an assault rifle, and ammunition at the Greenogue Unit.