Stephen Penrose, 35, of No Fixed Abode, was charged with attempted robbery and possession of a screwdriver after an incident in a supermarket car park in Kilcock, Co Kildare on 14 May. He had been remanded in custody following a 17 May appearance at Naas District Court and sought bail in the High Court on 26 June. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Barry Ward BL, argued that the State objected to bail on several grounds, citing the O'Callaghan principles and Section 2A of the Bail Act. Ward cited concerns that Penrose was a flight risk, might commit further offences, and could interfere with witnesses. He referenced statements from Chief Superintendent Gerard Roche and Detective Sergeant Aidan Hannon of Leixlip Garda Station. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy considered the evidence and, under Section 2 of the Bail Act, refused the bail application, stating the refusal was necessary to prevent the commission of a further serious offence.
A 42‑year‑old man was convicted at Naas Circuit Criminal Court of defilement of a child and sexual assault against a 14‑year‑old schoolgirl who was staying for a sleepover at her friend's house. He pleaded guilty to five counts in January and February 2014. Judge Michael O'Shea imposed an effective eight‑year sentence on 4 December 2015. On appeal, the Court of Appeal suspended the final twelve months of that term, citing the early guilty plea as a mitigating factor that should have been specifically addressed in the original sentence. The appeal judge, Mr Justice George Birmingham, noted the victim's Asberger's Syndrome and the severe impact of the offence, but upheld the eight‑year term with a suspended year, leaving a three‑year post‑release supervision period in place. The case involved a significant age gap and grooming elements, with the offender's partner being the victim's friend's mother.
In December 2015, Damien Klasinski, a 29‑year‑old Polish driver, struck and killed Kildare councillor Willie Crowley, 56, while walking home from a pub. Klasinski fled the scene, later confessing to Gardaí and pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing death. He was arrested after passengers reported him. The court found him had no licence or insurance, had previously been convicted for driving offences, and had driven at speeds up to 80 km/h on a wet, poorly lit street. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to five and a half years, suspended the last 18 months, and imposed a ten‑year driving disqualification. The sentence reflected the seriousness of his failure to remain at the scene and the lack of insurance, while acknowledging his guilty plea and remorse. The ruling was delivered at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Mark Taylor, aged 27, of Rossfield Green, Tallaght, had his prison sentence increased on appeal after driving a stolen Lexus into a Garda car on 19 June 2013, injuring an officer who required surgery and was out of work for a year. Taylor also drove a Subaru Legacy at high speed on 29 June 2013, colliding with another vehicle and driving off. He pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful use of a vehicle, damage to property and two counts of endangerment. Initially sentenced to three years in Naas Circuit Criminal Court, he was to serve a four‑year term in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The Director of Public Prosecutions sought a review, and the Court of Appeal imposed a net sentence of eight years imprisonment, with the final three years suspended. The suspended portion is back‑dated to June 2015.
In December 2015, 29‑year‑old Damien Klasinski, a Polish native, was driving on Eyre Street, Newbridge, when he struck and killed 56‑year‑old Kildare councillor Willie Crowley. Klasinski was speeding, did not brake or sound his horn, and fled the scene. He was later arrested after hiding in a friend's house. Crowley died from head injuries at Naas Hospital a few days later. Klasinski pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and faces a custodial sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The court heard that Klasinski had 13 prior traffic convictions, had been disqualified from driving in 2016, and had a history of drunk driving. Witnesses described the impact as sending Crowley airborne, and the road was wet with poor lighting. The judge noted Klasinski's speed was far above the 50 km/h limit, possibly up to 80 km/h, and adjourned sentencing to 12 May.
Jackie Lavin's High Court action against her partner Bill Cullen and Glencullen Properties Ltd over an alleged failure to complete a €1m deal for the sale of Killegy House in Co Kerry to the businesswoman has been scheduled for a hearing in October. Ms Lavin, of Osberstown House Naas Co Kildare, has brought proceedings against Glencullen Properties Ltd and Mr Cullen, also of Osberstown House, Naas. Mr Cullen is the firm's sole shareholder and a director of the company. The case was briefly mentioned before Mr Justice Paul Gilligan at the High Court on Thursday, who was informed that the matter would take five days to hear. The judge said that because of the volume of cases waiting to be heard, the court would not be able to hear a five day action between now and the end of July when the legal year ends. Noting that witnesses in Ms Lavin's action have to travel to Dublin from abroad, the judge said he was listing the case for hearing on October 25th next. In her proceedings, Ms Lavin claims she has been a longtime resident of Killegy House which she says is her home. She claims Ulster Bank created a charge over Glencullen's assets in 1999, including Killegy House. In 2009 Glencullen sought additional credit facilities from Ulster Bank to allow it continue to trade during the downturn. The bank, she claims, was unwilling to do this unless €1m was invested in the company. Following the sale of a property they had in Florida for US$7.25m, Ms Lavin said she agreed to advance Mr Cullen €1m so he could pay down Glencullen's liabilities. As part of the arrangement, Killegy House would be sold to her, it is claimed. She said she paid over €757,000 to the company but it has failed to complete the sale of the property to her. She claims she has suffered loss and damage as a result of being deprived of the opportunity to buy the house. After the company was placed in receivership, it secured an order from the Residential Tenancies Board requiring her to leave Killegy House. In her action, she seeks an order for the specific performance directing the sale of Killegy House to her. She also seeks an order prohibiting the defendants from entering into any contract for sale of the property other than with Ms Lavin. Glencullen Properties denies the claims and argues that she is not entitled to any of the orders she seeks. In its defence, the company says it accepts Ms Lavin agreed to advance Mr Cullen €1m so he could loan Glencullen funds to reduce its liabilities. The company denies the monies were advanced as part of an agreement to sell Killegy to Ms Lavin. Glencullen says it never agreed to sell her the premises for any sum of money nor is there any contract of sale between the parties. It also says that at no time prior to May 2013 did Ms Lavin mention any agreement involving her buying the property from Glencullen. The company also says Ms Lavin has failed to comply with the order it obtained requiring her to leave Killegy and has brought enforcement proceedings before the Circuit Court. Mr Cullen has not delivered a defence to the action.
Michael Breen, 41, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to transporting almost €80,000 worth of cannabis. Gardaí stopped his car following a tip, and a search revealed nearly four kilograms of cannabis hidden under the carpet in the wheel well. Breen admitted to having the drugs for sale on 16 May 2016 at Bluebell Mews, Old Naas Road, Dublin 12. He has 40 prior convictions for theft and road traffic offences and three drug offences involving the sale of small amounts to undercover officers. During the interview, Breen claimed he was told he would receive €200 for his role, which was to drop off the drugs, and he accepted that he was operating at a low level. Judge Melanie Greally, noting his guilty plea and full cooperation, imposed the sentence and ordered him to engage with Probation Services upon release. Mr.
Jackie Lavin and Osberstown House Naas Co, acting as applicants, are involved in High Court proceedings against Bill Cullen and Glencullen Properties Ltd regarding an alleged €1m property deal. Ms Lavin claims she advanced funds to Cullen to reduce company liabilities, with the understanding that Killegy House in Co Kerry would be sold to her. She alleges she paid €757,000 but the sale was not completed, causing her loss. She seeks specific performance of the sale and an injunction preventing the defendants from selling the property to others. The defendants deny the existence of a sale agreement. Glencullen Properties Ltd argues that while it accepts the loan was advanced, it never agreed to sell the premises to Ms Lavin and asserts no contract of sale exists. The company further contends that Ms Lavin signed a statutory declaration disclaiming any interest in the company's assets, including Killegy House, and failed to comply with a Residential Tenancies Board order requiring her to vacate the property. Cullen has not delivered a defence. The matter was heard before Mr Justice Tony O'Connor, who addressed a preliminary issue concerning the timing of document discovery from Ulster Bank, which is not a party to the case. A timetable for exchanging materials was agreed upon. The case was adjourned and will be mentioned before the court at the end of April.
In March 2017, Richard O'Reilly, aged 32, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment after Gardaí seized a Glock semi‑automatic pistol and ammunition from his vehicle during a surveillance operation. O'Reilly, who had been grieving the death of his close friend David Byrne, pleaded guilty to possession of the weapon in suspicious circumstances. He claimed the loss of Byrne was the sole trigger for his possession of the gun, stating he had no financial motive and that the offence was not gang‑related. The judge noted O'Reilly's lack of prior convictions, good work record and cooperation with Gardaí as mitigating factors, but inferred from the evidence that he intended to use the weapon if the opportunity arose. The sentence was back‑dated to the date of his arrest. O'Reilly had previously been convicted of possession of stolen property and had been in custody since his arrest. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Damien Klasinski, 29, of The Oaks, Newbridge, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving that caused the death of Kildare councillor Willie Crowley, 56, on 15 December 2015. Crowley died a few days later at Naas Hospital. Klasinski was remanded in continuing custody until 3 May, when a summary of the evidence will be heard. Judge Martin Nolan ordered a victim impact report to be prepared by Crowley's widow.
Slawomir Gierlowski, 32, of Galtymore Road, Drimnagh, was denied bail by Judge Melanie Greally at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He faces charges of false imprisonment and sexual assault of a woman in September 2016 in Clondalkin, assault causing harm and false imprisonment of another woman in May 2016 near Naas Road, and false imprisonment and assault causing harm to a third woman in September 2011. Gierlowski has not entered a plea. He remains in custody until March 20, when a sentencing date will be set. The court has not released further details of the hearing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former soldier Jonathan McSherry (34) was jailed for a brutal assault on his ex‑partner, Jessica Bowes. McSherry, who was high on cocaine, breached a barring order and attacked Bowes at her home, repeatedly punching and kicking her until she lost consciousness twice. The attack left Bowes with fractures to her skull, eye sockets and cheekbone, permanent scarring, nerve damage and a metal plate in her face. She described the violence as "merciless" and said she feared for her life. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced McSherry to three and a half years, suspended the final year on the condition of sobriety, drug‑treatment participation and no contact with Bowes. The sentence was back‑dated to March to account for time spent in custody and treatment. McSherry had previously been remanded on bail to attend a drug‑treatment programme. Jonathan McSherry pleaded guilty.
A 34-year-old Mauritian man has been sentenced to two months in custody at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his guilty plea to three counts of deception. Resen Modeley facilitated marriages of convenience between Irish residents and European Union nationals, charging €7,000 per arrangement. He admitted to securing false employment letters submitted with three separate intention-to-marry applications filed with civil registrars in Monaghan, Dublin, and Naas in May 2015. Judge Pauline Codd suspended the remainder of a two-year sentence on condition that Modeley depart Ireland upon release and remain outside the country for five years. A deportation order was granted. The investigation, initiated following the discovery of the bogus marriages, led gardaí to arrest Modeley at his home in November 2015. He cooperated during questioning and was assessed as having no entitlement to remain in the jurisdiction.
Trevor Gleeson, a 36‑year‑old prison officer from Monasterevin, Co. Kildare, successfully appealed a conviction for possessing drugs. In 2009 he was charged with simple possession of controlled drugs and possession for sale or supply at Grey Abbey Road, Kildare Town. A jury found him guilty of five possession counts but could not reach a verdict on the sale or supply charge; a retrial on that charge ended with a jury discharge after late disclosure of CCTV footage. Gleeson received a wholly suspended 18‑month sentence in 2014. The Court of Appeal ruled that the trial judge erred in instructing the jury on the defence of duress and that CCTV footage, which had existed at the time of the first trial, was improperly withheld. The appeal was allowed on those grounds, with no further determination on other issues such as the Garda investigation. The case remains at the appeal stage. Trevor Gleeson pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Melanie Greally ruled that a prison sentence was inevitable for Jonathan McSherry (34) after he pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on Jessica Bowes on 20 December 2015. Footage showed McSherry repeatedly punching and kicking Bowes, leaving her unconscious twice and causing fractures to her skull, eye sockets and cheekbone, as well as permanent scarring and nerve damage. Bowes, a mother of three, described the attack as merciless and said she feared she would die. She reported ongoing anxiety, nightmares and physical impairments, including difficulty closing her lips and memory loss. McSherry was remanded on continuing bail until 21 December to allow him to attend the Coolmine residential drug treatment programme. The court noted a prior barring order and that McSherry had two children with Bowes. The judge emphasised the severity of the assault and the injuries when stating that jail was inevitable.
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.
Richard Molloy, 45, of Naas, was convicted in 2015 for possessing equipment to produce counterfeit €50 notes and was sentenced to six years' imprisonment. He had sold €20,000 in counterfeit bills to a suspected IRA member and was found to have €2 million worth of counterfeit currency in preparation. On appeal the Court of Appeal found the original judge had not explained the overall rationale for the sentence and had not recorded the mitigating discount. The appeal court re‑sentenced Molloy to five‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended. He was required to enter a good‑behaviour bond for the suspended period. The case involved the discovery of two Heidelberg colour offset printers, various powders, guillotines, digital printers and paper, and a large quantity of completed and partially completed counterfeit notes. The court noted Molloy's financial difficulties, his partner's illness and death, and his alcohol problems as mitigating factors. Richard Molloy pleaded guilty.
Richard Molloy, 45, of Naas, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of equipment for producing counterfeit €20,000 in bills sold to an alleged IRA member, and was found to have prepared an additional €2 million. He was sentenced to six years' imprisonment by Judge Patricia Ryan on 6 November 2015. Molloy's counsel, Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC, has appealed, seeking a reduced sentence and a suspended portion, arguing that the judge did not consider Molloy's rehabilitation prospects, his alcohol‑related mental state, and his role as a caring father to a 12‑year‑old child. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Vincent Heneghan BL, noted that the counterfeit money was exchanged with "members of the IRA" and that a follow‑up search uncovered €189,000 in complete notes and an additional €2 million in preparation. Judge Garrett Sheehan, sitting with Justices Alan Mahon and John Edwards, said the Court of Appeal would decide next Thursday.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Catherine Murphy sentenced 20‑year‑old Buti Sashi to nine months' imprisonment for robbing a taxi driver on 23 August 2014. Sashi, a former Blackrock College rugby player, beat the driver, stole his iPhone, SatNav and €220, and left his passport, mobile phone and a necklace in the taxi before reporting the passport lost at a Garda station. He pleaded guilty to the robbery, failed to attend probation and restorative justice conferences, and tested positive for cocaine and speed. Sashi had not completed a Rathmines College course or an anger‑awareness course, and his employer reference was deemed unsatisfactory. He apologized to the court, calling himself an "idiot" for taking drugs, and Judge Murphy urged him to use his custodial time constructively. The sentence reflects the court's view that Sashi had been given many opportunities to improve his situation.
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.
John Roche, 53, was charged on 13 April 2016 with possession of 57 kg of homemade explosives and thirty‑eight 2.5 kg rolls of Kemegel industrial explosives, and with membership of an unlawful organisation styled the Irish Republican Army. The Special Criminal Court granted him bail, with a €1,000 personal bond and a €20,000 independent surety. Conditions include surrendering his passport, daily reporting to Kilmainham Garda Station, a curfew from 11 pm to 7 am, staying within the jurisdiction, avoiding contact with charged or convicted persons, and providing a phone number to the Gardaí.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 26 May 2016, John Roche, 52, was ordered to secure an independent surety before bail could be granted. Roche, arrested by the Special Detective Unit, faces charges of possessing 57 kg of homemade ammonium nitrate fuel mix and thirty‑eight 2.5 kg rolls of Kemegel industrial explosives, and of membership in an unlawful organisation identified as the Irish Republican Army. The court accepted the State's demand for a €12,000 cash deposit and an independent surety of €8,000, and Judge Tony Hunt confirmed the requirement.
Kenneth Cummins, aged 28, was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Thomas Horan, a 63‑year‑old man described as mentally challenged. Cummins initially pleaded not guilty but changed to guilty after four weeks of trial. The prosecution presented evidence that Horan was strangled and suffocated, with injuries consistent with a severe beating, and that Cummins and his sister Sabrina were involved in the assault. Cummins had 77 prior convictions, including 46 for public order offences, and a history of alcohol dependency and psychiatric treatment. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, imposed a life sentence backdated to 8 January 2014, noting Cummins' guilty plea and the violent nature of the killing. No further legal actions were mentioned in the article.
Trevor Gleeson, 36, of Monasterevin, Kildare, was convicted of possessing €5,791 worth of controlled drugs and was found guilty of possession at Naas Circuit Criminal Court. The jury did not reach a verdict on the charges of possession for sale or supply and dangerous driving, which were later dropped during a retrial. Gleeson was given a wholly suspended 18‑month sentence by Judge Leonie Reynolds on 31 January 2014. His barrister, Damian Colgan SC, has now opened an appeal, arguing that the State suppressed evidence that would have supported Gleeson's claim of acting under duress from associates of a well‑known criminal gang. Colgan cites a CCTV footage that was not provided to the defence in the first trial and claims the State's failure to disclose it led to the dropping of the remaining charges. Trevor Gleeson pleaded not guilty.
John Brock, a 43‑year‑old Dublin resident, was charged on 13 April 2016 with possessing 57 kg of homemade explosives—ammonium nitrate fuel mix—and thirty‑eight 2.5 kg rolls of Kemegel industrial explosives found at Naas Road, Dublin 12. He was also charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, the Irish Republican Army (Oglaigh na hEireann). The Special Criminal Court granted him bail, allowing release on a €1,000 personal bond and a €20,000 independent surety. Conditions of his bail required surrender of his passport, daily reporting at Tallaght Garda Station, a curfew from 11 pm to 7 am, prohibition from leaving the jurisdiction or travelling to Northern Ireland, avoidance of contact with charged or convicted persons, and prohibition of contact with proposed prosecution witnesses. He must also provide a phone number to the Gardaí. His co‑accused, John Roche, 53, was granted temporary bail from 9 am to 7 pm on 22 April.
In 2016 the Court of Appeal dismissed Brian Meehan's application to have his 1999 conviction for the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin declared a miscarriage of justice, ruling it an abuse of process. Meehan, 47, had sought to quash the conviction on the basis of alleged new evidence from the 2001 Special Criminal Court trial of John Gilligan, who was acquitted of Guerin's murder. The court found no new facts had emerged and that all material Meehan cited had been available since the Gilligan trial. It held that Meehan's attempt to revive arguments years later, without proper disclosure or new evidence, was unacceptable. The appeal was refused and Meehan remains serving a life sentence in Portlaoise prison. The decision was upheld by the panel of judges, including Justice George Birmingham. The family expressed relief at the outcome.
Two Dublin men, John Brock, 43, and John Roche, 52, were charged at an out‑of‑hours sitting of the Special Criminal Court on 15 April 2016. They face possession of 150 kg of explosives, including 57 kg of homemade ammonium nitrate fuel mix and thirty‑eight 2.5 kg rolls of Kemegel industrial explosives found at Naas Road, Dublin 12, on 13 April 2016. Both men are also charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Brock was arrested by the Special Detective Unit on St Ronan's Avenue, Clondalkin, and Roche on Rossmore Avenue, Ballyfermot. Each was detained at a Garda station before being taken to the Special Criminal Court, where they were shown the charge sheet and made no reply. The court remanded them in custody until 21 April, when bail applications are expected.
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.
Zoltan Almasi, 44, a Hungarian national living in Harbour View, Naas, was found guilty of murdering 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne with a baseball bat on 16 May 2014. The Central Criminal Court jury deliberated for 11 hours 13 minutes before returning a majority guilty verdict. Almasi had pleaded not guilty. The prosecution presented CCTV footage showing Almasi raising a bat and running away, finger‑print evidence from a white Mercedes van, and eyewitness testimony from Mikey McDonagh, Gavin Breen and nurse Anita Ryan. The post‑mortem confirmed Dunne died from a single blunt‑force blow to the head, consistent with a baseball‑bat strike. Almasi was remanded in custody for sentencing on 16 March 2024. The judge thanked the jury and exempted them from service for 15 years. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
The jury in the murder trial of Hungarian national Zoltan Almasi, aged 44, continues its deliberations. Almasi, who lives at Harbour View, Naas, Co. Kildare, is charged with the murder of 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne at the same address on 16 May 2014. He pleaded not guilty two weeks ago at the Central Criminal Court. The jury retired to deliberate on Monday at 12.44 am and has spent 9 hours 19 minutes so far. After 4 hours 48 minutes of deliberation yesterday, Justice Margaret Heneghan offered the option of a majority verdict. Today, after 8 hours 56 minutes, the foreman asked for a definition of a "terminal collapse." Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that a deep abrasion on Dunne's right knee was typical of a person collapsing onto a rough surface. At 4 pm the foreman reported that at least ten jurors had not agreed on a verdict and requested more time.
The jury in the trial of Hungarian national Zoltan Almasi, 44, accused of murdering 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne at their shared address in Harbour View, Naas, Co. Kildare, will continue deliberations. Almasi pleaded not guilty two weeks ago. The jury began deliberations at 12:44 am, spent five hours and 55 minutes, and after four hours and 48 minutes the judge offered the option of a majority verdict. At 4 pm the foreman reported that at least ten jurors had not agreed on a verdict and requested more time. Deliberations will resume at 11 am tomorrow.
Jason Rowe, a 40‑year‑old father of four, was sentenced to eight years in prison for possessing over €3 million worth of drugs, three sub‑machine guns and two pistols. Gardaí seized the contraband during raids on his home and a leased unit in the Bluebell Industrial Estate on 9 and 10 February 2015. The drugs included 18 kg of heroin (valued at €2.69 million) and 3 kg of cocaine (worth €210 567). Rowe also admitted possession of a Heckler & Koch MP5, a Steyr AUG, a GSG5 sub‑machine gun, a 9 mm handgun, a .45 handgun and 23 bullets. He had eight prior convictions for traffic offences. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the last three years of the sentence on strict conditions, noting that the firearms were "serious weapons that have the capacity to mutilate and kill.". Jason Rowe pleaded guilty.
The jury in the trial of Hungarian national Zoltan Almasi, 44, accused of murdering 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne in Naas, Co. Kildare, will resume deliberations tomorrow at 11 am. Almasi, who pleaded not guilty, was charged with the murder that occurred on 16 May 2014 at the same address. The jury had been deliberating for two hours and eight minutes before retiring at 12:44 am this morning.
At the Central Criminal Court, the jury in the trial of Zoltan Almasi, 44, of Naas, Co Kildare, has been told the central issue is whether the death of Joseph Dunne constitutes murder or manslaughter. Mr Almasi, who pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Mr Dunne at the same address on May 16, 2014, faces a charge that carries a potential life sentence. Prosecution counsel Bernard Condon SC argued that the evidence, including a depressed skull and shattered bones, demonstrates an intentional killing with a baseball bat, asserting that the accused was the aggressor and that regret does not defeat intent. Conversely, defence counsel Colm O'Briain SC contended that the blow was a reckless swipe rather than a deliberate strike, arguing that the prosecution has not proven the specific intention required for murder beyond reasonable doubt. The defence highlighted that the accused did not dispose of the weapon or evidence, suggesting the act was not a cold-blooded murder. The court heard that the cause of death was a single blow to the head. Justice Margaret Heneghan is scheduled to finish charging the jury on Monday morning, with the matter currently at the stage of closing submissions prior to the verdict.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, Zoltan Almasi, a 44‑year‑old Hungarian national, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Joseph Dunne, a young Kildare man, at their shared address on 16 May 2014. Almasi told Gardaí that he had brought a baseball bat that night, believing it might be needed for self‑defence against men he considered "not kids" and "bigger" than him. He claimed he was about 2–3 metres from Dunne when the latter fell and denied that he struck him with the bat, saying the distance was too great. When questioned whether he had swung the bat, Almasi said he could not remember doing so and that it "looks like I did but I didn't reach him." He maintained that any contact would have been accidental and that he had no intention to hit anyone. Almasi has three prior convictions for road‑traffic offences. The trial continues.
In the Central Criminal Court, 44‑year‑old Zoltan Almasi pleaded not guilty to the murder of Joseph Dunne, who died at their shared Harbour View address on 16 May 2014. Almasi told Gardaí that he had lived there for three years and owned a white Mercedes van, which he parked in front of his garage that night. He claimed to have heard a banging noise from outside his bedroom window and saw several men, including two males, shouting at him. Almasi said he grabbed a baseball bat to scare them away, chased two men down the street, and that one fell to the ground. He denied striking Dunne with the bat, stating he was "not capable" of doing so. Garda evidence noted only general wear on the van and a baseball bat found behind a hallway door. The trial continues.
In a 2016 case, Zoltan Almasi, 44, of Harbour View, Naas, was charged with the murder of Joseph Dunne, also at Harbour View, on 16 May 2014. Almasi pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. Prosecutor Bernard Condon SC called Garda Stephen Flaherty to testify. Flaherty reported arriving at the scene at 10:20 pm, seeing a man lying on the ground and a group of people nearby. He described the alleged offender's appearance and was directed to a house by a friend of the deceased. Flaherty approached the house but received no response, then returned to preserve the scene outside the Vie de Châteaux restaurant. At 11:20 pm, a male approached, matching the offender's description. The man gave his name as Zoltan Almasi and an address in Naas.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that a young Kildare man, Joseph Dunne, died from severe traumatic head injury consistent with a blow from the tip of a baseball bat. Zoltan Almasi (44), of Harbour View, Naas, Co Kildare, is charged with murdering Mr Dunne at the same address on May 16, 2014. Mr Almasi pleaded not guilty to the charge. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that the post mortem examination revealed thirteen injuries to the deceased's head and neck, including a large area of bruising and a significant bleed in the skull. The cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma to the head. A toxicology report indicated that Mr Dunne was intoxicated with alcohol at the time of his death, but no drugs were detected. Dr Curtis stated that the injury was consistent with a blow from a baseball bat. Witness Donal Dockery described seeing two men agitated around a vehicle and a man with a baseball bat. Ms Mary Bergin O'Connor testified that she heard someone shout 'drop the baseball bat' and saw a man running away. The trial continues.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that a young Kildare man was struck twice with a baseball bat by a man identified as Zoltan Almasi (44) of Harbour View, Naas, Co Kildare. Almasi is charged with murdering Joseph Dunne at the same address on May 16, 2014. On Monday, Almasi pleaded not guilty to the charge. The prosecution called Alana Piercy, who testified that she witnessed the incident. She described seeing a man with a baseball bat strike Joseph Dunne on the back and then on the side of his head. The witness also described the man as small, skinny, baldy-haired, and wearing glasses. Richard Conway testified that he encountered two youths who attempted to provoke him and heard the sound of someone kicking or thumping a car more than twice. Anita Ryan, a nurse, stated she saw a man holding a baseball bat and heard him say, 'I've seen what you have done to my car.' She administered first aid to Joseph Dunne before making a 999 call. Derek Ryan, a member of the Naas Fire Service, testified that he observed a large lump on the deceased's head. Detective Garda Niall Lennon provided evidence regarding finger and palm marks found at the scene and on the deceased, as well as a baseball bat recovered from a house in the Harbour View area. The trial continues.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that a young Kildare man was 'smacked' at the back of his head by a man wielding a baseball bat after the deceased hit a parked van 'a thump'. Zoltan Almasi (44), of Harbour View, Naas, Co Kildare, is charged with murdering Joseph Dunne at the same address on May 16, 2014. On Monday, Mr Almasi pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Dunne. Today, prosecution counsel Bernard Condon SC called witness Mikey McDonagh, a 20-year-old from Kildare, who testified that he met Mr Dunne and another friend, Gavin Breen, on the night in question. The group met three girls at the harbour in Naas before walking home. Mikey McDonagh stated that Mr Dunne hit the van once with his fist, making 'a noise', and then ran as a man with a baseball bat chased him. The witness described the man as bald and wearing glasses. Mr Dunne was struck at the back of his head and fell to the ground. In cross-examination, Mikey McDonagh agreed that Mr Dunne struck the van more than once. Gavin Breen, 21, also testified, stating that he saw the man strike Mr Dunne with a baseball bat at the side of his head. A teenage girl from Naas testified that she saw the man hit Mr Dunne once on the head, causing him to fall to the ground. The trial continues.
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.
A 44‑year‑old Hungarian man, Zoltan Almasi, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne, who was killed at Almasi's Harbour View, Naas address on 16 May 2014. The plea was entered at the Central Criminal Court. Judge Patrick McCarthy informed the jury that the trial could not commence until Wednesday and would be presided over by Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan. He added that the case should be concluded by the end of the following week, though the jury might be required for the first few days of the week after that.
At the Special Criminal Court, Robert Day (44), of Cabra, Dublin 7, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for the unlawful custody of 400 counterfeit €50 notes at Monck Place, Phibsborough, on February 2, 2014. Day pleaded guilty to the charge. His co-accused, Hubert Duffy (49), of Temple Street, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to possessing a stolen BMW motorcycle at Phoenix Park Racecourse Apartments, Navan Road, between November 11, 2013, and February 2, 2014. Duffy received an 18-month suspended sentence. Detective Superintendent Thomas Maguire of the Special Detective Unit told the court that the counterfeit money was allegedly used to "finance the activities of the IRA." The court heard evidence that Richard Molloy, previously jailed for six years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for selling €20,000 in counterfeit bills, was involved in the transaction at Clarke's pub. Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding over the non-jury court, stated that the sentencing ignored allegations that the money was part of an IRA fund-raising operation. Day's sentence was backdated to August 10, 2014. The court noted Day had one prior conviction for assault causing harm, while Duffy had no prior convictions.
Christpher Dunne, 29, of Kilcronan Court, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to burglary at Old Chapel Wood, Naas, on 15 March 2011. He was sentenced on 25 July 2014 to five years imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended. Dunne had 125 previous convictions, 97 of which pre‑dated the offence, and was a father of three and an addict of heroin at the time. During the burglary he threatened to behead a garda while escaping, and had a baseball bat that he swung at the officer. The Court of Appeal, in a three‑judge panel, held that the sentence was proportionate and just, dismissing Dunne's appeal. The judge noted the offence was an "egregious burglary" involving baseball bats, screwdrivers and vice grips, and that the maximum sentence for burglary is 14 years. The suspended year was intended to incentivise rehabilitation. The appeal was dismissed.
In 2016, the Director of Public Prosecutions sought a review of sentences for three Vietnamese nationals convicted of cannabis offences, arguing the sentences were "unduly lenient." The Court of Appeal, hearing the case on 8 February 2016, found that the Circuit Court judge had properly weighed the seriousness of the offences and the personal circumstances of the defendants. The judge had imposed six years' imprisonment with three years suspended for Choung Vu (45), four years' imprisonment with two‑and‑a‑half years suspended for Kham Tu (61), and four years' imprisonment with three years suspended for Tuan Cong Le (53). The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, concluding the sentences were not excessive and were proportionate to the harm and culpability involved. The court noted the defendants were legally present in the jurisdiction and did not fall into the comparative cases of illegal migrants or trafficked individuals. The decision reaffirmed the original sentencing as appropriate and justified. Kham Tu pleaded guilty. Tuan Cong Le pleaded guilty.
Gary Flynn, of Rossfield Drive, Tallaght, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court, having pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne at Tymon North Park on March 13, 2009. Prosecuting counsel Alex Owens SC stated it is the prosecution's case that Flynn was part of a "murder gang" that plotted the killing. Detective Garda Michael McGrath testified that gardai trawled through days of CCTV footage from south and west Dublin to investigate the incident. He presented footage tracking a Ford Transit Van, a red Honda Accord, and a white Nissan on March 12. The evidence showed Eugene Cullen arriving in the Ford Transit to purchase petrol, while Garret O'Brien arrived in the Honda Accord wearing a New York Yankees cap and blue hoodie. A second man in a grey Nike jumper was also observed. Footage from the Red Cow Hotel area indicated an interaction between the vehicles. On the day of the alleged murder, a speed camera captured the Nissan Micra with a driver wearing similar attire to O'Brien. The trial continues before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of nine men and three women.
In a 2016 Central Criminal Court hearing, Detective Garda Janette O'Neill presented a Webley & Scott revolver found in a car near the site where Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne was shot dead in 2009. The gun had been decommissioned by the Birmingham Proof House museum, but O'Neill noted that the firing arm had been replaced and the barrel refilled, restoring its functionality. Five spent cartridges were recovered, and State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy confirmed five bullets in O'Byrne's body, though they were of the wrong calibre for the revolver. Gary Flynn, 31, pleaded not guilty to the murder. The court also heard CCTV evidence from a local Spar showing a nervous man purchasing items on the day of the shooting, and additional surveillance from petrol stations and a Topaz shop. The trial proceeded before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury.
In February 2016 the Director of Public Prosecutions applied to the Court of Appeal for a review of the prison sentences handed to three Vietnamese nationals convicted of cannabis offences in 2011. Choung Vu, aged 45, was found guilty of cultivation, possession and possession for sale of cannabis at Ballinlough, Kells, Co. Meath. He was sentenced on 8 July 2015 to six years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended. Kham Tu, aged 61, pleaded guilty to cultivation and received a four‑year sentence, the last two‑and‑a‑half years suspended, consecutive to a sentence imposed a day earlier in Naas Circuit Court. Tuan Cong Le, aged 53, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession and was sentenced to four years, with the final three years suspended. The DPP argued the sentences were "unduly lenient", citing that the defendants were legally resident in the jurisdiction and not under duress, unlike comparable cases involving illegal migrants or trafficked individuals.
Jason Rowe, aged 40, will be sentenced on 3 March after pleading guilty in District Court to possession of heroin and cocaine worth over €13,000 for sale and supply, and to possession of a Heckler and Koch MP5, a Steyr AUG, a GSG5 sub‑machine gun, a 9mm handgun, a .45 handgun and 23 bullets. The drugs were estimated at €360,000 street value. He faces a maximum life sentence, a mandatory minimum of ten years for the drugs and a mandatory minimum of five years for the firearms, and remains on bail until sentencing.