The jury in the trial of Stephen Penrose, 38, who is accused of murdering 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan, watched a montage of CCTV footage from August 8 to 10, 2016. The footage shows Finnegan leaving a blue saloon at Sweeney's filling station in Edenderry at 3.46 pm, entering a shop wearing a grey hoodie and a blue top, and Penrose entering the shop wearing a dark‑coloured top and trousers. The prosecution argues Finnegan was killed shortly after the footage. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Alexander Owens, continues with 12 jurors. Penrose, who has pleaded not guilty and represented himself, has hired new lawyers but declined to attend the trial. The prosecution also presented a bloodied glove found in the woods that DNA matched Penrose.
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.
Stephen Penrose, aged 38, accused of murdering 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan in Kildare woods, has declined to attend his murder trial in person. The Central Criminal Court jury was informed that proceedings would continue without him. Penrose had previously represented himself after dismissing his legal team, but has now hired new counsel: solicitor Michael French and barristers Anthony Sammon SC and Eoghan Weldon BL. Judge Alexander Owens warned Penrose that continued disruptive behaviour could lead to his removal from the courtroom. Penrose had previously shouted at a Garda Inspector in the witness box, accusing him of lying. The trial, which began on 13 October, will proceed with the jury hearing CCTV footage and evidence, including a bloodied glove DNA‑matched to Penrose, while the body of Finnegan was found decapitated in a shallow grave in Kildare woods. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty.
In September 2020, Michael Quinn (30) of Louth attacked Ruth O'Rourke, known as Izzy Kamikaze (58), during an anti‑lockdown protest on Kildare Street, Dublin. Quinn swung a wooden plank with a tricolour nailed to it, striking O'Rourke's head and knocking her to the ground. After the assault, a crowd of masked men and unmasked protesters shouted homophobic slurs and threatened the victims. Video of the attack and the mob's behaviour was released online, prompting O'Rourke to say it made many people realise the danger of ignoring far‑right protests. Quinn pleaded guilty in June 2021 to assault causing harm and was sentenced to a three‑year prison term, with the final year suspended on conditions. The case highlighted the violent conduct of the attackers and the hostile environment faced by O'Rourke and her friends.
In the Central Criminal Court, 38‑year‑old Stephen Penrose, accused of murdering Philip Finnegan, is representing himself in his trial. During cross‑examination of Inspector Aidan Hannon, Penrose repeatedly accused the witness of lying under oath, shouting "you're a liar" and demanding Hannon be dismissed. Judge Alexander Owens warned Penrose that if he continued to "abuse" and "ballyrag" witnesses he would be taken to the cells and barred from participating in his own trial. Owens also cautioned that barristers may not call witnesses liars under oath. Penrose's outbursts included shouting at the jury and threatening to have the witness's statement taken. The judge called the behaviour contempt of court and ordered Penrose to sit down or face removal. The trial, expected to last five to six weeks, continues with the judge and 12 jurors present. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
At the Central Criminal Court on 14 October 2021, Angela Finnegan, mother of the missing 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan, was cross‑examined by Stephen Penrose, the man accused of murdering her son. Ms Finnegan confirmed that Philip had been in contact with Penrose on the morning of 10 August 2016, the day he disappeared, and that he had been "in good form" when she last saw him. She stated that Philip had been looking for directions to Cloverhill Courthouse and that she had tried to reach him again at 4.40 pm, but his phone was off. Ms Finnegan also agreed with the prosecution that a named man in Portlaoise Prison had threatened Philip and that this man was present in the prison at the time of Philip's disappearance. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty. Angela Finnegan pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Stephen Penrose, 38, for the murder of 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan, began on 13 October 2021. The prosecution, led by Brendan Grehan SC, presented evidence that Finnegan's decapitated body was found buried in a shallow grave in Rahin Woods, Kildare, after attempts to cut and burn it. A bloodied glove recovered from the woods matched Penrose's DNA. Penrose had been seen in a blue Alfa Romeo on CCTV near a fast‑food restaurant in Kilcock on the day of the murder and had claimed to have been attacked by men, a story the court said was inconsistent with the evidence. The prosecution argued that Penrose had killed Finnegan in the woods, disposed of the body, and then lied to Gardaí to conceal the location. The trial is scheduled to continue for five to six weeks. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty.
Maura Keogh, 60, former accounts manager at CS Construction Spares Ltd, stole €23,366 from her employer by forging bank lodgement slips. She pleaded guilty to 18 theft charges and three false accounting counts for the period 31 December 2015 to 6 September 2016. Keogh, the sole breadwinner of her household, admitted the theft after a discrepancy was discovered in August 2016 and was dismissed in September 2016. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced her to two‑and‑a‑half years imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions, after noting her remorse, repayment of the stolen amount, lack of prior convictions and low risk of reoffending. The case caused a restructuring of the company's Dublin premises and job losses for several colleagues. The judge described the offence as a serious aberration from an otherwise law‑abiding life.
A 38‑year‑old man named Stephen Penrose, who lives on Newtown Court, Malahide Road, Coolock, Dublin 17, is set to go on trial for the murder of Philip Finnegan, a 24‑year‑old man, in Rahin Woods, Rahin, Co Kildare, on 10 August 2016. Penrose was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court and pleaded not guilty. The judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, noted that Penrose is from west Kildare and Finnegan was from the south inner city of Dublin, and that most of the Gardaí involved are from the Leixlip area of Co Kildare. He mentioned that there is substantial CCTV footage, telecommunication experts and technical witnesses. A jury of eight men and four women was sworn in, and the trial, to be heard by Mr Justice Alexander Owens, is expected to last between five and six weeks.
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.
During the Special Criminal Court hearing, Patrick Byrne testified that Jim Mansfield Jr. instructed him to destroy a digital recording device that stored CCTV footage from Finnstown House hotel. Byrne, who worked in security with Mansfield's brother Martin Byrne, said Mansfield asked him to remove the device from the system and then to bring it out the back and smash it. Byrne had already viewed the footage, which showed two men attempting to access Martin Byrne's car and both Mansfield and Byrne leaving the hotel in a black Audi A6. Mansfield, 55, denies conspiring to falsely imprison Martin Byrne, 53, between January and June 2015, and denies attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing Byrne to destroy the footage. The case is ongoing at the non‑jury Special Criminal Court presided by Justice Alex Owens.
Matthew Cummins, aged 27, was released after serving seven years for a murder conviction that was quashed by the Court of Appeal. The appeal found no evidence that Cummins and James Davy were part of a joint enterprise with Sean Davy, who struck Thomas 'Toddy' Dooley eight times with a baseball bat. Cummins admitted responsibility for burn marks on Dooley's legs and the armchair, having tried to set fire to the body to destroy evidence. Mr Justice Michael White sentenced Cummins to nine years, with two years suspended, to run consecutively with a two‑year arson term. Cummins has been in custody since 2014 and is now eligible for release. The judge noted his exemplary prison behaviour but warned of a high risk of reoffending. The article reports only the procedural outcome and Cummins' admission of the fire‑setting attempt.
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.
Four men have been sentenced to a combined 33 years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court following their convictions in connection with a gangland murder conspiracy. Wayne Ryan, aged 41 and with an address in Longford, pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Wayne Whelan at Griffeen Glen Park, Lucan, on September 4th, 2019, and received 15 years. Three others—Cailean Crawford, Darren Henderson, and Charles McClean—pleaded guilty to conspiracy to murder Whelan between May and November 2019. McClean received eight years, whilst Henderson and Crawford each received seven years with the final two years suspended. Mr Justice Michael White noted the "callous indifference" demonstrated in the broad daylight attack outside the victim's home. Whelan survived the initial shooting but was killed in a second attack in November 2019. The judge backdated sentences according to custody commencement dates and imposed good behaviour bonds on Henderson and Crawford regarding their suspended portions.
James Davy, originally convicted of the murder of 64‑year‑old Thomas 'Toddy' Dooley, had his conviction overturned by the Court of Appeal and replaced with a conviction for assisting an offender. Mr Justice Michael White at the Central Criminal Court sentenced Davy to nine years, noting he had served his sentence and should be released after entering custody in November 2014. Matthew Cummins, whose murder conviction was also quashed, will be sentenced for his role in an attempted cover‑up; his barrister said he accepts responsibility for attempting to set fire to the deceased after Dooley had been beaten to death by Sean Davy. Cummins' behaviour in prison has been described as "quite exceptional" and the judge is considering suspending part of his sentence and running it concurrently with sentences for other offences.
In 2021 the Court of Appeal quashed the 2003 murder conviction of Yusuf Ali Abdi, a 48‑year‑old father, and ordered a retrial. The original verdict had been based on a majority of jurors accepting a prosecution psychiatrist's view that Abdi did not suffer from paranoid schizophrenia. In 2019 new evidence showed that Abdi's diagnosis had changed to paranoid schizophrenia, a fact that could have altered the jury's decision. The retrial, held in 2019, resulted in a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice George Birmingham, declared the original conviction a miscarriage of justice, noting that both defence and prosecution experts agreed Abdi was mentally ill at the time of the offence. The case involved the death of Abdi's 20‑month‑old son, Nathan, who suffered fatal head injuries on 17 April 2001. The court found no evidence of prosecutorial irregularity or perjured testimony.
In August 2021 the High Court granted bail to James Davy, 30, after the Court of Appeal quashed his murder conviction for the 2014 killing of 64‑year‑old Thomas 'Toddy' Dooley. The appeal replaced the murder verdicts of Davy and Matthew Cummins, 27, with convictions for assisting an offender under Section 7(2) of the Criminal Law Act 1997. Davy was released on a €100 bond with conditions including a daily curfew, a mobile phone requirement, and a prohibition on travel to Edenderry. Cummins was denied bail and must remain in custody until his September 2 sentencing hearing. The High Court noted the two men had different circumstances and that Cummins had a larger record of post‑murder offences. The decision reflects the court's assessment that Davy's case warranted bail while Cummins' did not. The DPP was considering whether to appeal the Court of Appeal's decision to the Supreme Court.
Caroline Teltsch, a UK businesswoman, has taken the High Court to claim she was defrauded by former business partner James Buckley and his wife Paula. She alleges that between 2010 and 2018 the Buckleys engaged in confidence trickery, emotional manipulation and financial exploitation, causing her to advance over €2 million in loans that were never repaid. Teltsch says the money was used for a range of ventures, including the purchase of Jessbrook Stables (now Emerald Stables) for just under €450 000, refurbishment of stables in Co. Carlow, and personal expenses such as cars, medical bills and flights to New York. She seeks a judgment of just over €1 million, damages for breach of contract, and a declaration that the partnership with the Buckleys has been dissolved. Teltsch also applied for a Mareva injunction to prevent the Buckleys from reducing their assets below €1 million, but the court dismissed the application, noting that the defendants had not yet moved overseas.
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.
Alan Melia, 27, was arrested by Gardaí on a stakeout in Tallaght Village after being caught with a stolen BMW 520. He had pleaded guilty to possession of the vehicle on 29 September 2020. Melia had 92 prior convictions, including theft, vehicle‑related offences, burglary, criminal damage and arson. The BMW was found in the New Bancroft Apartments car park; officers observed him approaching the car, taking items from behind the rear bumper, and entering it. He was taken into custody with a key, pliers and gloves. The car was damaged and written off by the insurer. Melia's defence cited his ADHD and oppositional defiant disorder diagnoses and a difficult upbringing. The court imposed a two‑year imprisonment sentence for handling the stolen car, activated 18 months of a suspended sentence, and left 12 months suspended for a year. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
Wayne Ryan, aged 41, with an address in Longford but originally from Limerick, has pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Wayne Whelan at Griffeen Glen Park, Lucan on 4 September 2019. Three Dublin men—Cailean Crawford, Darren Henderson and Charles McClean—pleaded guilty to conspiracy to murder Whelan at that location between May and November 2019. McClean and Whelan had previously been business partners in a car sales enterprise that ceased trading in 2016. Evidence presented to the Central Criminal Court detailed how Whelan was shot eleven times as he sat in his vehicle, struck by four bullets. A badly damaged handgun was recovered from a burnt-out van minutes after the attack. Firearms residue found on Ryan's clothing offered extremely strong support that he had discharged the shots. The four men were remanded in custody pending sentencing on 2 September 2021.
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 Court of Appeal has quashed the murder convictions of Matthew Cummins and James Davy, substituting them with convictions for assisting an offender under the Criminal Law Act 1997. In a written judgment, the court found no evidence of a joint enterprise to murder 64-year-old Thomas 'Toddy' Dooley, whose death resulted from eight blows to the head and two to the torso. While the court described the defendants' subsequent conduct—attempting to burn the body and disposing of a baseball bat—as 'reprehensible,' it ruled this did not prove a prior agreement to kill. The appeal court rejected arguments for separate trials, noting the jury was entitled to hear the facts in totality. It determined that the trial judge erred in failing to direct the jury to return not guilty verdicts for murder but found overwhelming evidence of guilt regarding the post-offence conduct. The matter was adjourned and sent back to the Central Criminal Court for sentencing. Seán Davy, who had previously failed in a bid to have his conviction overturned in 2018, remains a convicted person in this case, though the current judgment specifically addresses the substitution of verdicts for Cummins and James Davy.
The Court of Appeal has quashed the murder convictions of Matthew Cummins, Seán Davy, and James Davy regarding the 2014 death of Thomas Dooley in Edenderry, Co Offaly. Presiding with Justices John Edwards and Isobel Kennedy, Court President Justice George Birmingham substituted the verdicts with convictions for impeding the apprehension or prosecution of a person under Section 7(2) of the Criminal Law Act 1997. The court ordered that the men be sent back to the Central Criminal Court for sentencing on these substituted verdicts, with a written judgement expected later. The three men had previously been found guilty of murder by a unanimous jury in 2016 and sentenced to life imprisonment. During the appeal, counsel for Cummins argued that the trial judge failed to properly explain the law regarding joint enterprise and that Cummins should have been directed to plead guilty to impeding. Counsel for James Davy argued that the judge's directions were confusing and that his client's fear constituted a reasonable excuse. The DPP argued that all three men were intrinsically involved in the savage killing. The appeal court accepted the arguments for quashing the murder convictions but substituted them with the lesser offence, leaving the matter for sentencing rather than concluding it.
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.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Hazel Fitzpatrick, 25, pleaded guilty to posting a photo of Boy A, one of the boys convicted of Ana Kriégel's murder, on her Facebook account in contravention of the Children's Act 2001. The court noted she had no prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally ordered a Probation Service report and, uncertain about victim impact implications, directed a victim impact statement on a non‑prejudice basis. Fitzpatrick was remanded on continuing bail, with sentencing scheduled for November 4.
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.
Michael Lawrence, aged 40, was sentenced to nine months in jail after stabbing his brother Thomas four times in the upper arm during a dispute that followed a card game. The incident occurred on 13 June 2020 at Thomas's estate in Tallaght. Lawrence, who had no driving licence and no motor insurance, drove to the estate, exited his car with a knife, and attacked Thomas, who was inside his car with his wife and six children. He struck Thomas six or seven times, causing four stab wounds that were treated at a hospital. Lawrence pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and driving without insurance. The court noted the injuries were relatively minor and that the brothers had since mended fences. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑year sentence, suspending the final 15 months, and disqualified Lawrence from driving for three years.
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 Court of Appeal hearing on 24 June 2021, Calvin Cullen, aged 22, withdrew an appeal against his murder conviction, despite his lawyers' advice. Cullen, convicted in September 2020 for the November 2018 murder of David Boland, 34, had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not to murder. The appeal, based on a single ground that the trial judge had refused to allow the jury to consider provocation as a partial defence, was now abandoned. Cullen, represented by barrister Brendan Grehan SC, confirmed he no longer wished to proceed. Judge John Edwards, hearing the case via video link from Mountjoy prison, asked Cullen if he was "completely certain" about the withdrawal; Cullen affirmed his certainty and satisfaction with the legal advice. The judge permitted the withdrawal. Cullen's original conviction was obtained at the Central Criminal Court in Kilkenny, where Judge Tara Burns sentenced him to life imprisonment following a unanimous jury verdict.
Sean Dunne and an Isle of Man trust have applied to the High Court to set aside freezing orders that were obtained by his children. The orders, granted last month, prevent the defendants from selling or dissipating the proceeds of sale of two valuable properties at Churchfields, Straffon, Co Kildare, and from dealing with the proceeds of one of those sales, which was sold for about €1 million. Traviata Ltd, a company registered in the Isle of Man and fully owned by the SD Trust, and Bessilton Holdings Ltd, the registered owner of the properties, are the parties subject to the injunctions. Mr Dunne, who now lives in the UK, argues that the injunctions are fraudulent and that the assets belong to the trust, not to him.
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.
Enda Holmes, 38, received a fully suspended sentence of two‑and‑a‑half years for a campaign of harassment against a woman he met on an escort website. Holmes repeatedly called and texted the victim, set up an account on the same website displaying her phone number and her daughter's name, and sent messages that linked to her location. He also paid her €200 by direct debit and continued to contact her after she blocked his number, including visiting her workplace. The victim reported the incidents to Gardaí in February 2020, after which Holmes ceased contact. Judge Melanie Greally imposed the suspended sentence on strict conditions, ordering Holmes to avoid the victim's residence and workplace for ten years and to refrain from any contact. A breach of this order is a separate offence punishable by up to 12 months imprisonment. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
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.
Maura Keogh, 55, pleaded guilty to 42 counts of theft from CS Construction Spares Ltd, stealing €23,366.55 between January and September 2016, and to three counts of producing false accounting documents. She was the accounts manager at the Clondalkin machinery firm until the theft was uncovered. Garda Linda Ryan reported that a discrepancy was found when a colleague noticed that cash and cheques recorded did not match the actual lodgements. A sting operation revealed that the cash had not been deposited. Keogh admitted the theft at a meeting on 16 September 2016, was dismissed four days later, and a Garda investigation commenced. The owner, Joseph O'Reilly, said the breach shattered trust and caused a ripple effect, leading to the closure of the Dublin premises and restructuring that resulted in several colleagues losing their jobs.
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.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal by Séamus Morgan, who was found guilty of the murder of Laurence 'Bomber' Keane. The three-judge panel, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, ruled that there were no grounds to find the trial unfair or the verdict unsafe. Morgan, a 53-year-old from Athy, Co Kildare, was sentenced to life imprisonment in January 2016 for beating Keane to death in a laneway near the Greenhills estate in July 2013. He had previously served an eight-year jail sentence after being found guilty of the manslaughter of James Hand in 2002. Defence counsel Seán Gillane SC argued that the trial judge erred regarding the admissibility of previous convictions and misdirected the jury on identification evidence. The Court of Appeal rejected these claims, finding the trial judge's approach on prior convictions and witness recognition evidence to be legally sound. The court also noted that while the judge's warning on street lighting was not strong, it was adequate given the focus on witness honesty. During the proceedings, the presiding judge and Mr Justice McCarthy recalled potential prior involvement in Morgan's earlier case. Both parties confirmed no objection to the original panel proceeding, and the appeal was ultimately lost.
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.