The Special Criminal Court has heard that Michael Brady, 54, is the brother of Declan Brady, who was previously caught with 15 firearms and over 4,000 rounds of ammunition. Michael Brady, of Blackrock, Co Dublin, is currently on trial for allegedly possessing €1.5 million worth of cocaine, €1.26 million worth of heroin, an assault rifle, and more than 180 rounds of ammunition at a property in Sallins, Co Kildare, on January 24, 2017. He has pleaded not guilty to all nine counts on the indictment, including charges under Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act and unlawful possession of a 7.62 x 39mm VZ 58 assault rifle and various ammunition. Prosecutors stated the Sallins property was under surveillance as part of a wider operation targeting Greenogue Business Park, where Declan Brady, Jonathan Harding, and James Walsh were arrested earlier that morning. Declan Brady pleaded guilty to possessing the firearms and ammunition at Greenogue and is awaiting sentence. Harding and Walsh were sentenced in January to ten and nine years' imprisonment, respectively, for possessing a "lethal arsenal." The trial has entered legal argument regarding the lawfulness of Michael Brady's arrest in Naas, where he allegedly provided a false name. The court is expected to rule on these issues on Friday before resuming the case.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing in Dublin, Michael Brady, aged 54, was charged with nine counts including possession of an assault rifle, ammunition and nearly €3 million worth of drugs. The indictment alleges that on 24 January 2017 Brady was found at Sallins Bridge, Co Kildare, with €1.5 million of cocaine, €1.26 million of heroin, a 7.62 × 39 mm VZ 58 assault rifle and over 180 rounds of ammunition. Brady was arrested after a traffic stop in Naas where he gave a false name, and was later rearrested under the Offences Against the State Act. He pleaded not guilty to all charges, including possession of the rifle, ammunition and the drugs for sale or supply. The case is being heard by Judges Paul Coffey, Gerard Griffin and David McHugh.
Aaron Gilsenan, 38, a crack cocaine addict, was jailed for four years after a spree of robberies and attempted robberies in Dublin between December 2017 and March 2018. He used a knife to threaten staff at five convenience stores and filling stations, robbed a taxi driver of €40, and stole a total of €760. Gilsenan was identified on CCTV and used his own car to escape each time. He pleaded guilty to four robberies and two attempted robberies, admitting the crimes were driven by his addiction and the death of his daughter. He had 87 prior convictions, including 51 for road traffic offences. The court noted he was drug‑free at sentencing and had expressed genuine regret. The sentence was imposed by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with a suspended portion of 18 months, and he was also due for sentencing in Trim and Naas Circuit Courts for other pending cases.
Bayo Olanrewaju, 48, was jailed for four and a half years after he was caught carrying nearly €200,000 worth of heroin into Dublin Airport. He had swallowed most of the drugs in pellets and claimed he would meet someone in Dublin and hand them over at a hotel. Olanrewaju said he had agreed to transport the drugs because he needed money to travel to Mozambique for his grandmother's funeral. He had previously borrowed money from people who took advantage of his financial situation. Garda Aoife Cusask reported that customs officials stopped him after his flight from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and found a plastic bag with heroin pellets taped to his inside groin area. He admitted swallowing more drugs and that he would be paid €1,000 once he delivered them. The pellets contained 1,305 g of heroin, valued at €182,700. Bayo Olanrewaju pleaded guilty.
Alan McDonagh, 33, was jailed for four years after stealing a rental car fitted with a tracking device. He pleaded guilty to burglary and unauthorised taking of a car on September 8, 2017, and was tracked by gardaí to the N7. McDonagh, who has 173 previous convictions including 31 for burglary, has spent more than half his life in custody and became addicted to heroin at 16. The court accepted his desire to become drug‑free and suspended the last year of a five‑year term on the condition he keep the peace, engage with the Probation Service for 12 months and remain drug‑ and alcohol‑free. He also admitted robbing a woman at St Stephen's Green on November 3, 2017, for which a concurrent sentence was imposed. All sentences are back‑dated to July 18, the day he entered custody.
A 23-year-old man has been sentenced to three and a half years imprisonment, with the final twelve months suspended, following a high-speed car chase across Kildare and Dublin last May. Christopher Prentice, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to unlawfully using a stolen vehicle and three counts of dangerous driving. The court heard that gardaí observed Prentice driving a jeep reported stolen on the Naas Road and pursued him as he drove at speeds exceeding 180 kilometres per hour, broke red lights, crossed lanes, and forced oncoming traffic to swerve. The chase ended when Prentice lost control, mounted a kerb, and came to a stop on Raphoe Road. Judge Melanie Greally described it as miraculous that no injuries or damage occurred. Prentice was also disqualified from driving for five years. He has thirty-three previous convictions. The sentence was backdated to May.
Patrick Lynch, 38, was found guilty of assaulting his partner and abducting her two‑year‑old son on 7 November 2016. He was originally sentenced to two years' imprisonment with six months suspended. The Director of Public Prosecutions applied for a review, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal, in a three‑judge panel, increased the sentence to three years' imprisonment with nine months suspended. Lynch had spent much of the day drinking outside a dwelling while his partner and the infant were inside. He attacked the partner with a brush handle, punched her in the face, rammed a toilet door with his shoulder and assaulted her while she sat on the toilet. He later drove away with the infant, who was handed over to Gardaí at or near Naas Courthouse. Lynch has 148 previous convictions, including violent disorder, burglary and robbery, and more than 100 road‑traffic convictions. Patrick Lynch pleaded not guilty.
Alan McDonagh, 33, was caught driving a stolen Europcar that had a tracking device. He pleaded guilty to burglary and unauthorised taking of a car on Camden Street Upper on 8 September 2017 and to robbing a young woman of her purse at Stephen's Green East on 3 November 2017. The court noted he became addicted to heroin at 16, has spent over half his life in custody, and has 173 previous convictions, 13 for Circuit Court offences. He is on bail for other offences. The court adjourned sentencing to 7 February to allow him to finish methadone treatment. He has requested to serve his sentence at Midlands prison to stay near family and avoid influences at Mountjoy. He has written apology letters to both victims. The sentencing will occur on 7 February.
In a High Court hearing on 18 December 2018, Tom Morrin agreed to comply with orders to vacate 50 acres of land at Caragh, Naas, Co Kildare. He will surrender vacant possession, remove all machinery and livestock, and will not interfere with the receiver's agents, Mr Tom Kavanagh of Deloitte Ireland. The court had previously found that Morrin was in breach of orders issued in July 2017 and dismissed his applications to have the receiver's case dismissed as frivolous, vexatious and an abuse of process. Morrin also agreed not to appeal the 2017 decision and to withdraw his appeal against the orders. A stay on the orders will remain until February, when the matter will return to court. The receiver, appointed in 2013 by Bank of Scotland Ireland, had brought proceedings for Morrin's alleged contempt of the 2017 orders. The case involves ongoing disputes over possession and the use of the land.
Kevin Braney, 44, of Tallaght, was charged with murdering dissident republican Peter Butterly in March 2013. He pleaded not guilty to the murder and was also charged with possession of a 9mm Beretta pistol and seven rounds of ammunition. The Special Criminal Court, after the prosecution's case closed, refused a defence application for a direction to acquit on the firearm charges. The court directed an acquittal on those counts. Braney's defence argued that State witness David Cullen's evidence was unreliable and that no forensic or DNA links tied Braney to the crime. The court noted the absence of any evidence linking Braney to phones or the weapons. The case remains pending, with a judgment expected early next year. Braney was remanded in custody until 18 January.
Jason Keating (27), of Rush, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to facilitating a criminal organisation in the murder of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan. Keating had previously pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, which has been the subject of a trial since October 2. The State Solicitor informed the court that the DPP directed a new charge under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, which Keating admitted. Prosecutors requested a nolle prosequi be entered on the original murder count at the sentencing stage. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Sinead Ni Chualachain and Cormac Dunne, remanded Keating in custody until November 22 for sentencing. The judge noted the court would require details on Keating's assistance and state of mind. He referenced the recent sentencing of Martin Aylmer (31) to three years and nine months for a similar offence involving the murder of Michael Barr. Mr Justice Hunt described the new charge as useful for providing sentencing flexibility in cases where defendants do not directly commit the act. The matter was adjourned until November 22.
Two men have been sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in relation to an attempted robbery at Greendale Pharmacy, Kilbarrack on January 26, 2018. Brendan Raynor (30) of Tulip Court, Darndale and Dean Slattery (28) of Briarfield Grove, Kilbarrack pleaded guilty to the charge. Both men armed themselves with knives and wore balaclavas before entering the shop and demanding Diazepam. The incident was observed by gardaí conducting surveillance in the area. Detective Sergeant Dave Ennis stated that Slattery attempted to flee and was struck with a baton, while Raynor was caught in a nearby field. Emma Smith, a shop worker who was six months pregnant at the time, provided a victim impact statement. Raynor has 103 previous convictions, including possession of knives, robbery, and burglary. He was previously sentenced to seven years with two suspended for an aggravated burglary in 2015. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a five-year sentence on Raynor, suspending the last two years and nine months. Slattery has 87 previous convictions, including robbery, drug offences, car theft, and assault. Dt Sgt Ennis was previously sentenced to four years with two suspended for a 2014 cash in transit van robbery. Judge Greally sentenced Slattery to four and a half years with the final 18 months suspended. Both men were remanded in custody.
The trial of Jason Keating, who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan, continued before the Special Criminal Court. Expert witness Professor David Last testified regarding a 'Gotek 7' electronic tracking device found under Mr Kirwan's Ford Mondeo. The prosecution alleges the tracker was placed under the vehicle to monitor movements leading up to the December 22, 2016, shooting in Clondalkin, Dublin 22. Professor Last explained that the device recorded its position 'much more frequently' from 3.13pm on the day of the shooting, indicating the owner was actively commanding location requests. He detailed the device's journey from France to Dublin Port in October 2016, noting it appeared near St Ronan's Drive on December 21 and 22. Under cross-examination, the expert acknowledged that such devices are commonly used to track spouses and that location data can contain errors. The court heard that Mr Kirwan, a 62-year-old with no connection to the criminal factions involved in the alleged feud, was shot six times while sitting in his car with his partner, Bernadette Roe. The trial is presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Sinead Ni Chualachain and Cormac Dunne. The matter was adjourned and continues tomorrow.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence that the 62‑year‑old Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan was murdered on 22 December 2016 after trading his BMW X5 for a Ford Mondeo, which was later sold at Merlin Car Auctions. Garda Stephen Hughes identified Jason Keating (27) in CCTV from the auction on 20 December, showing Keating and a woman in a green Renault Megane. Keating, who lives on Lower Main Street, Rush, pleaded not guilty to Kirwan's murder. The court also considered evidence that a 'Gotek 7' tracking device was placed under Kirwan's Ford Mondeo on 23 December, having previously tracked his BMW from 8 November. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, continues tomorrow.
In the non‑jury trial of Jason Keating for the murder of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan, the court heard that Kirwan, a 62‑year‑old former car dealer, was shot six times in his Ford Mondeo on 22 December 2016. The vehicle had been purchased from TBCS Ltd on 10 December, with a deposit paid and the car serviced before Kirwan collected it on 13 December. The prosecution argued that a Gotek 7 tracking device, originally fitted to Kirwan's BMW X5 on 8 November, was moved to the Mondeo and pinged from a Clondalkin address until 20 December, then again from St Ronan's Drive. Evidence was also presented that a Renault Megane owned by mechanic Niall Ducken was sold to Keating, and that a parcel from Gotek in Calais was forwarded to the Spy Shop in Leeds. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Sinead Ni Chualachain and Judge Cormac Dunne. Jason Keating pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court heard that Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan, aged 62, was murdered on 22 December 2016 outside his Clondalkin home after being shot six times by Jason Keating, 27, who pleaded not guilty. Kirwan was driving a Ford Mondeo when the assailant, armed with a Makarov pistol, fired at him. Kirwan's partner, Bernadette Roe, was present but unharmed. The prosecution presented evidence that a tracking device had been attached to Kirwan's car weeks before the killing, showing movements from London to Dublin and eventually to St Ronan's Drive. CCTV footage linked a Renault Megane, owned by Keating, to a car auction and a white Peugeot van used by the gunman. The case was presented as circumstantial, with the court to hear further evidence over a four‑week trial.
Two organised crime 'foot soldiers', Gary Gleeson (34) and Stephen Dunne (39), have been sentenced to 12 years each, with one and two years suspended respectively, for their involvement in a 'shambolic' and 'ill-prepared' plot to murder Dublin man Michael Frazer. The sentences were handed down at the Special Criminal Court following guilty pleas in May to possession of a 9mm Luger semi-automatic pistol and 10 rounds of 9mm calibre ammunition with intent to endanger life. The court heard that during an operation targeting organised crime in Dublin in August 2017, armed detectives intercepted the men's van, which contained a loaded firearm 'ready for use'. The court was told that the men had discussed aiming for 'head shots' or they would not get paid, and that a transcript of their conversation was described as a 'disturbing document' containing a 'graphic description' of their intentions. The judge noted that the men's drug use was clearly audible on secret recordings. Defence counsel for both men highlighted mitigating factors, including their guilty pleas, Gleeson's violent offending history, and Dunne's long-term heroin addiction and mental health issues. The sentences were backdated to August 7, 2017, when the men were arrested. The court also heard that Dunne's DNA was found on a SIM card linked to a tracking device under Mr Frazer's van, and that the men had been contracted and paid to carry out the attack by senior figures in the organised crime group.
Zoltan Almasi, a 46‑year‑old Hungarian national living in Harbour View, Naas, was convicted of murdering 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne with a baseball bat on 16 May 2014. The Central Criminal Court found him guilty after 11 hours of deliberation and imposed a mandatory life sentence on 16 March 2016. Almasi, who worked for a courier company, had previously lived alone and had moved to Ireland after becoming a Hungarian national in 2007. He appealed the conviction, arguing that the partial defence of provocation should have been left to the jury. His barrister, Dominic McGinn SC, claimed that drunken youths had damaged his van, provoking Almasi. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, dismissed the appeal, holding that the trial judge had not applied an overly rigorous standard and that the evidence did not conclusively show a total loss of self‑control.
Two brothers, Jason Bradley (20) and Dean Bradley (24), were sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Neil Reilly, a 36‑year‑old mechanic, on 18 January 2017. The murder occurred after Reilly had previously broken into the Bradley home and shot at their house. Jason inflicted seven chop wounds on Reilly with a sharp weapon before Dean drove over the deceased, causing fatal crush injuries. A third brother, Ryan Bradley, pleaded guilty to impeding the investigation and will be sentenced later. The brothers' father, Paul Bradley, was found not guilty of murder. The sentencing hearing took place in the Central Criminal Court, where Justice Paul Coffey imposed a life sentence on Jason and Dean, noting their remorse and the impact on Reilly's family. The case highlighted the violent confrontation that led to Reilly's death and the subsequent legal proceedings against the Bradley brothers.
Two Dublin men, Gary Gleeson (34) and Stephen Dunne (39), who were contracted by senior figures in an organised crime group to murder Michael Frazer, will be sentenced at the Special Criminal Court. They pleaded guilty in May to possession of a 9mm Luger pistol and 10 rounds of ammunition with intent to endanger life, offences committed on Naas Road, Crumlin on 7 August 2017. The court heard that the men were intercepted by Garda detectives in a Fiat Doblo that contained a loaded firearm, a can of petrol, a lighter, rubber gloves and a small amount of cocaine. The men had previously been charged with conspiracy to murder Frazer between 28 July and 7 August. Defence counsel highlighted the defendants' personal circumstances, including addiction and mental health issues, and pleaded for leniency. The court remanded both men in custody until 30 July when they will be sentenced.
Two brothers, Dean Bradley (24) and Jason Bradley (20), were found guilty of murdering Neil Reilly (36) after a shooting at their home. A jury reached a unanimous verdict after more than nine hours of deliberation. Both were convicted of murder and face mandatory life sentences. Their father, Paul Bradley (54), was acquitted of the murder charge. Dean and Jason were found guilty of the murder, while their brother Ryan (18) was acquitted of murder but pleaded guilty to impeding the investigation. The trial described how Reilly, who had a debt to the family, fired shots at the Bradley home, leading to a confrontation in which Jason struck Reilly with a sharp weapon, causing fatal blows. Dean's BMW later ran over Reilly, an act he claimed was accidental. The case was heard in the Central Criminal Court, with sentencing scheduled for the following Wednesday. The Bradley family was present throughout the proceedings and reacted emotionally to the verdicts.
Michael Kaiser, a 24‑year‑old Polish national, was found guilty of burglary and assault causing harm to an off‑duty Garda in Naas on 1 July 2016. He was originally sentenced to two years' imprisonment with the final six months suspended. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal agreed and increased his term to two‑and‑a‑half years, crediting time already served. The judge noted that Kaiser and a co‑offender had been drinking at the Ivy Inn, entered the kitchen without permission, attacked the head chef with a mop, and then assaulted Garda James Keating, who had come to the pub for lunch. The assault on the Garda was aggravated by the fact it was committed on an off‑duty officer. The court emphasised that Kaiser had no prior convictions, had been a good employee, and had returned to Ireland in breach of a deportation order. Michael Kaiser pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution finished presenting evidence in the trial of Paul Bradley (54) and his sons Jason (20), Dean (24) and Ryan (18), who deny murdering Neil Reilly (36) after he fired shots at their home. The prosecution alleged that Reilly fired two shots at the Bradley residence before 4 a.m., prompting a chase that ended with Reilly being beaten to death and run over by a car. A pathologist described chop wounds to Reilly's head, torso and limbs and crush injuries consistent with being run over. On the final day of evidence, the jury heard a text message from Bradley sent at 1:32 a.m. on 19 January 2017, stating, "I ran after him with his gun, I got him with no gun." The prosecution also presented testimony that Bradley had sought advice about a son's drug dealing, and that police found no knife or implement that could have caused Reilly's injuries. Paul Bradley pleaded not guilty.
Two foot soldiers, Gary Gleeson (34) and Stephen Dunne (39), were arrested in August 2017 after Garda detectives intercepted a Fiat doblo van in Dublin. The van contained a loaded 9mm Luger pistol with ten rounds, a can of petrol, tissues, a lighter, rubber gloves and a small amount of cocaine. DNA evidence linked Dunne to a SIM card in a tracking device found on Michael Frazer's van, and to the firearm's handle and trigger. A recorded conversation from 7:19 pm on 7 August revealed Gleeson demanding "head shots" to secure payment, with Dunne agreeing to approach Frazer. The men had previously been charged with conspiracy to murder Frazer. At the Special Criminal Court, they pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life. The court remanded them in custody until 13 July for further reports, with no sentencing yet announced.
During a Central Criminal Court trial, Detective Garda Ronan Lawlor presented plastic fragments recovered from the road near the alleged murder site of Neil Reilly, showing a match to the broken headlight of a Mercedes jeep seized at Paul Bradley's home. Bradley (54) and his sons Jason (20), Dean (24), and Ryan (18) all pleaded not guilty to Reilly's murder. The prosecution argued that Reilly fired shots at the Bradley residence, prompting a car chase that ended with Reilly suffering severe crush injuries and multiple chop wounds. Garda Lawlor also examined a black BMW seized from the Bradley property, noting blood‑like stains and swipe marks, but found no relevant evidence. The trial focused on whether the Bradleys acted in a joint enterprise to murder Reilly, with the jury hearing forensic evidence and the prosecution's case before a judge's instructions were given.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Joseph Rafferty, aged 38, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for a cocaine‑fuelled rampage that lasted eight hours and covered 45 km. Rafferty seized multiple vehicles at gunpoint, pursued Gardaí in a high‑speed chase, and committed false imprisonment, aggravated burglary, threats with a sub‑machine gun and reckless endangerment. He pleaded guilty to burglary at Watergate Estate, assault of a homeowner, criminal damage, two carjacking counts, three counts of possessing a sub‑machine gun, unlawful possession of 9 mm Luger ammunition and reckless endangerment. He also admitted stealing a vehicle from Carroll and Roche Subaru. The judge noted his 34 prior convictions and reduced a potential 14‑year sentence to nine years, citing guilty pleas and remorse. No serious injuries were reported, though a man sustained a head laceration during a break‑in. The case highlighted the extensive police response, including 50 Gardaí, air support and the Garda Dog Unit.
Gary Gleeson (34) and Stephen Dunne (39) pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court to possessing a 9mm Luger semi‑automatic pistol and 10 rounds of 9mm Sellier and Bellot ammunition with intent to endanger life. The offence occurred at Naas Road, Crumlin on 7 August. Dunne, who lives on Meile an Ri Drive, Lucan, and Gleeson, of Muskerry Road, Ballyfermot, had earlier faced conspiracy to murder charges involving Michael Frazer. Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges Gerard Griffin and Flann Brennan, remanded them in custody for a sentence hearing on 22 June, allowing time for report preparation.
During a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, the accused, Slawomir Gierlowski, 33, denied attacking three women in 2011, 2015 and 2016 in the Clondalkin area. The court heard that DNA evidence linked the 2016 knife attack on a woman on Knockmeenagh lane to the 2011 and 2015 incidents, and that the DNA matched Gierlowski. Detective Superintendent Colm O'Malley explained that the DNA of an unknown male was identified as Gierlowski's in June 2016, leading to an extension of his detention. Gierlowski denied false imprisonment, sexual assault and assault in all three incidents, and denied possessing a hunting knife with intent to intimidate. He also denied being the driver of a white van seen near the 2016 attack scene, although CCTV footage of a white van was shown to him. The trial continues before Judge Pauline Codd and a jury of 11 men.
During the trial of Slawomir Gierlowski, a 33‑year‑old resident of Galtymore Road, Drimnagh, Garda Warren Farrell presented evidence that the police had analysed hundreds of hours of CCTV footage to trace the movements of a white van linked to the alleged attacker. The van, identified as a white VW Crafter with black trim and three orange lights and registration 08‑D‑20729, was shown on video travelling from New Road, Clondalkin at about 5 am towards the scene of an assault on a woman on 16 May 2016, then moving towards Naas Road at 6:50 am, passing the Marble Arch pub and Galtymore Road, and finally parking near Gierlowski's home. The jury was informed that a 29‑minute gap existed in the footage between 5:12 am and 5:41 am.
During the trial of Slawomir Gierlowski, a 33‑year‑old man charged with multiple sexual assaults, Garda Niall Kenny testified that he and Garda Brian Campbell responded to a late‑night incident in Clondalkin on 3 September 2015. Kenny described arriving in a patrol car, hearing a muffled scream, and finding a woman bound with black duct tape. He observed a suspect who fled the scene, running in zig‑zag patterns to avoid street lighting, and shouted for help. The suspect was pursued but lost from view. Gierlowski is charged with false imprisonment, assault, and sexual assault against three women at different dates and locations, including a 2016 incident near Naas Road and a 2011 incident. Dr Killian Bates provided a forensic medical report detailing injuries to a 2015 victim, noting possible semen and the suspect's non‑Irish origin, which influenced the decision to prescribe anti‑HIV prophylaxis. The case remains at the trial stage.
During the trial of Slawomir Gierlowski, a 33‑year‑old man charged with nine offences including false imprisonment, assault and sexual assault, a woman testified that she believed she was about to die during one of the attacks. She described being forced to the ground by a belt‑like restraint around her neck, her hands taken behind her back, and her mouth and nose covered. She said the attacker, who she identified as having an Eastern European accent, threatened to kill her and then taped her head and face. She felt light‑headed and thought she might pass out, describing the experience as both brief and endless. The attack ended when police arrived after a witness called 999. The case is still before Judge Pauline Codd. Slawomir Gierlowski pleaded not guilty.
A 33‑year‑old Dublin man, Slawomir Gierlowski, has gone on trial at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for nine charges covering three alleged attacks on women over five years. He is accused of false imprisonment, sexual assault and assault in each incident, and of unlawfully possessing a hunting knife with intent to intimidate in the 2016 case. Gierlowski pleaded not guilty to all charges. The prosecution, led by Roisin Lacey SC, presented evidence from three victims describing attacks in September 2011, September 2015 and September 2016. Witnesses recounted being choked, punched, and sexually assaulted, with injuries such as a broken nose and swollen eyes. DNA evidence allegedly linked Gierlowski to each crime scene, and a blood‑stained jacket and cable ties were found at his home and in a white van. A jury of 12 men has been empanelled for the trial.
Zoltan Almasi, a 46‑year‑old Hungarian national living in Harbour View, Naas, was convicted of murdering 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne with a baseball bat on 16 May 2014. The Central Criminal Court found him guilty after 11 hours of deliberation and imposed a mandatory life sentence on 16 March 2016. Almasi, who worked for a courier company and had lived alone, was born in Serbia and became a Hungarian national around 2007 before moving to Ireland. He has now filed an appeal, arguing that the partial defence of provocation was improperly excluded from the jury's consideration and that the prosecution had edited certain interviews. His barrister, Dominic McGinn SC, contended that the damage to Almasi's van by "drunken yobs" outside his house may have caused him to lose self‑control, a question the jury should have assessed. The appeal will be heard by the court, which has reserved its judgment.
Paul Gill, a 37‑year‑old construction worker from Naas, pleaded guilty to assaulting Patrick "Patsy" Kelly, 58, and Martin Curtis on 22 August 2015. He admitted punching Kelly in the face, dragging him eight metres from Curtis's front door and kicking him once in the head, then attacking Curtis when he arrived. Emergency services performed CPR on Kelly, who later died. Post‑mortem found Kelly died of heart disease, with the assault's minor trauma contributing. Gill had previously pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and was acquitted after a six‑day trial. Judge Melanie Greally, noting aggravating factors such as Kelly's vulnerability and intoxication, imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year jail sentence for the assault on Kelly, taking the assault on Curtis into account. The sentence reflected Gill's guilty plea, admissions, remorse, and the impact on Kelly's family. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Paul Gill, a 37‑year‑old construction worker, pleaded guilty to assaulting Patrick "Patsy" Kelly, 58, and Martin Curtis on 22 August 2015. Gill admitted punching Kelly up to five times, dragging him to the road and kicking him once in the head, and then attacking Curtis when he arrived. Emergency services performed CPR on Kelly, who later died. A post‑mortem found Kelly died of heart disease, with the assault's minor trauma contributing. Gill had eight prior convictions, including a 2000 assault. He was acquitted of manslaughter after a six‑day trial. The judge remanded him on bail and warned that a custodial element was inevitable, with sentencing scheduled for 18 December. The case was transferred to Dublin due to Kelly's prominence in Naas. The hearing included victim impact statements and defence mitigation arguments. The court did not yet impose a sentence.
Paul Gill, a 37‑year‑old construction worker from Naas, Kildare, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Patrick "Patsy" Kelly, aged 58, and Martin Curtis on 22 August 2015. He had earlier pleaded not guilty to unlawfully killing Kelly and was acquitted of manslaughter after a six‑day trial. Witnesses said Gill confronted Kelly outside Curtis's house, punched him in the face, dragged him eight metres from the front door, and kicked him once in the head. Gill then attacked Curtis when he arrived. Emergency services performed CPR on Kelly, but he died. Post‑mortem showed heart disease as the cause of death, with the assault's minor trauma as a contributing factor. Gill has eight prior convictions, including a 2000 assault. The case is set for sentencing next Monday, with the judge warning of a likely custodial element.
Paul Gill, 37, of Naas, pleaded guilty to assaulting Patrick "Patsy" Kelly and Martin Curtis on 22 August 2015. He had earlier pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and was acquitted after a six‑day trial. Judge Melanie Greally postponed his assault sentence because the Kelly family objected to the omission of parts of their victim impact statement. The prosecution argued that the Victims of Crime Act 2017 allows family members to be treated as direct victims, but the court was still operating under the 2010 Act. The family was deeply unhappy that elements of their statement were excluded, leading to an adjournment. Gill remains on bail and the sentencing hearing has been rescheduled for December. Eye witnesses described Gill grabbing Kelly by the collar, dragging him, punching and kicking him, while medical evidence indicated heart disease as the main cause of death, with alcohol and injuries as contributory factors.
In a 2016 robbery at a Topaz service station on Naas Road, Rathcoole, Robert Patchell (37) acted as the getaway driver while two co‑accused entered the store armed with knives. Two off‑duty Gardaí, who were using the petrol station at the time, observed the robbery and restrained the robbers. Patchell remained in the driver's seat, while one robber was restrained in the passenger seat and a third escaped. The Gardaí were threatened with knives and one officer, Garda Stephen Byrne, sustained a forearm wound. Patchell pleaded guilty to robbery of cash and a till. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Melanie Greally, after noting Patchell's positive steps and a clean recent drug test, imposed a three‑year suspended sentence, with the offence considered very serious. The sentence was suspended, and no custodial time was imposed. The case was heard in the criminal court in Dublin.
Jackie Lavin's High Court action against her partner, Bill Cullen, and Glencullen Properties Ltd was adjourned to facilitate talks between the parties. The case, listed before Mr Justice Paul Gilligan on Wednesday, concerns an alleged failure to complete a €1m deal for the sale of Killegy House in Co Kerry to Ms Lavin. Ms Lavin, of Osberstown House, Naas, claims she agreed to advance €1m to reduce Glencullen's liabilities in exchange for the property, which she describes as her home. She seeks specific performance of the sale and an order prohibiting the defendants from selling the house to others. Glencullen Properties, in which Mr Cullen is the sole shareholder and a director, denies all claims. The company acknowledges the €1m advance but disputes that it was part of an agreement to sell Killegy House to Ms Lavin. The matter was adjourned and is due to be mentioned before the court on Thursday morning.
A 37‑year‑old Kildare construction worker, Paul Gill, was found not guilty of manslaughter after a six‑day trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The case involved an altercation on Sarto Road, Naas, on 22 August 2015, where Gill attacked Patrick "Patsy" Kelly over noise and late‑night drinking. Gill admitted assaulting Kelly and pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Kelly's friend, Martin Curtis. The jury, after just under two hours of deliberation, returned a verdict of not guilty of manslaughter. Gill remains on continuing bail and will be sentenced on 20 November for the assault charges. The trial focused on medical evidence that Kelly's death was primarily due to heart disease, with alcohol and injuries as contributory factors. Victim impact statements were scheduled for the sentencing date.
A jury has begun deliberating in the trial of Paul Gill, a 37‑year‑old construction worker from Naas, who is accused of manslaughter in the death of Patrick "Patsy" Kelly on 22 August 2015. Gill denies killing Kelly but admits assaulting him and also pleading guilty to assaulting Kelly's friend Martin Curtis. The incident followed seven years of complaints about anti‑social behaviour, late‑night drinking and noise between the neighbours. Witnesses described Gill grabbing Kelly by the collar, dragging him seven metres, repeatedly punching him and kicking him. Medical evidence presented by State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy identified heart disease and high alcohol levels as the main cause of death, with injuries from the assault being contributory. Dr Mary Sheppard discussed the possibility of a fatal arrhythmia caused by stress.
The trial of Paul Gill, 37, a Kildare man charged with manslaughter, heard that Kildare County Council sought to exclude the deceased, Patrick "Patsy" Kelly, from a neighbour's home due to repeated late‑night drinking and noise. Gill denies killing Kelly on 22 August 2015 but admits assaulting him and pleading guilty to assault causing harm to Kelly's friend, Martin Curtis, during the same incident. The court heard that the council had drafted an exclusion order after two warning letters to Curtis and complaints from Gill's wife, Laura, spanning 2008‑2015. The prosecution presented medical evidence that Kelly's death was caused by an enlarged heart and blood vessel narrowing, with acute alcohol intoxication and minor trauma as contributory causes. Witnesses described Gill grabbing Kelly, punching him, and kicking him, while the defence argued the assault was not the substantial cause of death. Judge Melanie Greally will charge the jury tomorrow.
The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Patrick Kelly's death was mainly caused by severe heart disease, with an enlarged heart and narrowed vessels, while acute alcohol intoxication and minor trauma were contributory. Prof. Marie Cassidy noted Kelly's blood alcohol level was 213 mg/100 ml, a toxic range, and that his liver showed cirrhosis from chronic drinking. Minor injuries included a 5 cm forehead laceration, a skull bruise, an incomplete cervical spine fracture and rib fractures likely from resuscitation attempts. The court heard that the altercation over noise and late‑night drinking led to a fight in which Paul Gill punched Kelly and later kicked him, and that Gill also assaulted Martin Curtis. Gill denied intent to kill but admitted assault, and the trial will resume next Tuesday before Judge Melanie Greally and a jury. Paul Gill pleaded guilty.
Paul Gill, 37, is on trial for manslaughter after the death of Patrick "Patsy" Kelly on 22 August 2015 at Sarto Road, Naas. Gill denies unlawful killing but admits assaulting Kelly and Martin Curtis. Prosecutor Orla Crowe SC described a dispute over late‑night drinking between the neighbours. Witness Noreen Doyle testified that Gill punched Kelly, kicked him, knocked Curtis out, then returned to kick Kelly again. Doyle also recalled hearing Gill warn Kelly that he would not be allowed into Curtis's house that night. The case is heard before Judge Melanie Greally and a jury of eight men and four women. The trial continues with the jury to decide on the manslaughter charge. The proceedings remain at the trial stage, with no verdict yet announced. Paul Gill pleaded not guilty.
Gary Gleeson, 34, of Ballyfermot, was denied bail by the High Court on 11 October 2017. He faces charges of conspiracy to murder Michael Frazer between 28 July and 7 August, possession of a 9mm Luger pistol and 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition, and intent to endanger life on Naas Road, Crumlin, on 7 August. Gleeson applied for bail on 2 October, but the State objected. Garda Val Russell and Chief Superintendent Tony Howard argued the seriousness of the charges under Section 2A of the Bail Act, leading Judge Paul Butler to reject the application and remand Gleeson in custody.
Martin Stokes, aged 37, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, false imprisonment and assault with intent to commit an indictable offence after violently breaking into the home of his estranged partner Geraldine Cummins and her son. He entered the house at 2.40am, grabbed Cummins by the neck, pressed a sharp object into her throat and threatened to kill her and her unborn child unless she returned to him. Cummins, who was five months pregnant, was dragged into the kitchen and held with a knife. The mother, aunt and two children escaped and called for help; two men wrestled Stokes to the ground. Cummins' victim impact statement described lasting trauma, especially for her young son. Stokes was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment, with the final 15 months suspended after the Court of Appeal considered his progress toward rehabilitation while in custody. The suspended period requires a good‑behaviour bond for three years post‑release.
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.
The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) has been joined as a defendant in a personal injury action brought by Aoife Bennett, who claims she suffered narcolepsy and cataplexy after receiving the Pandemrix swine flu vaccine in 2009. Ms Bennett is one of approximately 70 plaintiffs suing the Minister for Health, the HSE, and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). In a trial-stage procedural application, the Master of the High Court, Mr Edmund Honohan SC, granted permission to add the HPRA to the case. Ms Bennett's solicitor, Gillian O'Connor, stated that the application followed the discovery of 4,500 documents from GSK, which allegedly revealed that the former Irish Medicines Board possessed safety data showing Pandemrix had adverse effect rates up to seven times higher than a similar Canadian-made vaccine, Arepanrix. It is alleged that the HPRA breached its duty of care by failing to adequately monitor the vaccine's safety or inform the public of these risks, despite public brochures claiming the vaccine was safe and well-tested. The HPRA was not represented at the hearing but stated in correspondence that it does not admit any culpability. The matter remains ongoing as discovery processes continue regarding the authority's handling of the safety records.
Keith Jackson Fleming, 26, of Glenshane, Kilteel, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for dangerous driving that caused the death of his friend Dara Cottuli on 28 November 2015. The final year of the sentence was suspended. Fleming also pleaded guilty to driving without a licence or insurance and to failing to provide a blood sample. He was found to have been under the influence of alcohol and drugs, including D10s and Xanax, at the time of the crash. The vehicle veered, struck a ditch, a timber fence and a stone pillar before crossing the road again. The Court of Appeal upheld the sentence, noting that the judge had considered the seriousness of the offence and the circumstances, and found no error in the decision to suspend the final year.
The High Court appointed Mr Declan de Lacy of PFK O'Connor, Leddy & Holmes as provisional liquidator for Decobake Limited, a cake‑decorating and baking product company. The appointment followed a request from Dublin City Council (DCC), which sought to wind up the company over an unpaid commercial rates bill of about €102,000. DCC argued that Decobake was insolvent and that a provisional liquidator was needed to protect its assets from being removed from creditors' reach. The court noted that Decobake had offered to pay the rates but DCC rejected the offer. Mr Justice Paul Gilligan declined to set aside the liquidator appointment and said the company could appeal to the Court of Appeal if it wished to vary the order. The liquidator was granted powers to take possession of, control, and identify the company's assets, books, records, and bank accounts.