During the murder trial of Zoltan Almasi, witness Michael 'Mikey' McDonagh testified that he placed his jacket under the head of his best friend, Joseph 'Jojo' Dunne, after Dunne was struck with a baseball bat. McDonagh described seeing the bat hit Dunne's back of the head once, though he believed Dunne had been struck twice. He recounted that Dunne was drunk, shouting, and had challenged a "big, tall hairy" man to a fight. The man, later identified as Almasi, allegedly struck Dunne with a bat, causing blood to come from Dunne's ears and mouth. McDonagh said people from a nearby restaurant performed CPR for 20 minutes before Gardaí arrived. The witness left the court during cross‑examination, later returning after a break. The trial continues under Mr Justice Michael White. Zoltan Almasi pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury heard CCTV footage of Zoltan Almasi, a 49‑year‑old Serbian‑born man, running after Joseph Dunne, a 20‑year‑old victim, with his hand raised above his head. The footage also shows Almasi leaving the scene carrying a baseball bat. The evidence was presented on the day of the trial, which is the third hearing in the case. Almasi has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Inspector Dara Diffily described the footage as showing the incident shortly after 10.15 pm, with Dunne running away and Almasi chasing him. The footage also depicts Almasi holding a bat in his right hand. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael White, is expected to last four weeks.
The jury in the third trial of Zoltan Almasi, a 49‑year‑old Serbian‑born man, examined maps and aerial photographs of Naas and the surrounding area where the murder of 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne occurred. Almasi, who lives at Harbour View, Naas, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The case had already been tried twice. Judge Caroline Biggs SC opened the trial for a jury of seven men and four women, noting that Dunne lived in Athy with his family and was attending Fás. On the night of the incident, Dunne was with friends heading for a bus at about 10.30 pm when he had a brief altercation with another man. Almasi's parked Mercedes van was hit by Dunne as he passed. Almasi then emerged from his house, armed with a baseball bat, and pursued Dunne.
The Central Criminal Court heard the third trial of Zoltan Almasi, a 49‑year‑old Serbian‑born man, charged with murdering 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne in County Kildare. Almasi pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The State argued that Almasi intended to kill or seriously injure Dunne, citing the post‑mortem finding of a comminuted, depressed skull fracture caused by a baseball bat. The prosecution described the incident: Dunne was on his way to a bus at 10.30 pm when he collided with Almasi's parked van, after which Almasi pursued him with a baseball bat and struck him on the head, causing death. The defence accepted that Almasi caused the death but disputed the intent. The jury, composed of seven men and four women, heard the case on Wednesday, with the trial set to continue before Mr Justice Michael White for an expected four‑week duration.
A 49‑year‑old Hungarian man, Zoltan Almasi, will be tried again for the murder of Joseph Dunne, a 20‑year‑old man, in Harbour View, Naas, on 16 May 2014. Almasi, who lives at Harbour View, was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court and pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The jury, composed of seven men and four women, has been informed that this is the third trial in the case. The trial is scheduled to last four weeks and will commence on Wednesday afternoon.
A man from Longford has admitted attempting to murder gangland figure Wayne Whelan in a shooting in west Dublin in September 2019. Wayne Ryan, aged 41 and with an address in St Michael's Road, Longford, pleaded guilty to the attempted murder at Griffeen Glen Park, Lucan on September 4, 2019. Three co-accused, including Darren Henderson of Dublin, also entered guilty pleas to conspiracy to murder Whelan within the State between May and November 2019. The men were arraigned before the Central Criminal Court on May 24, 2021. Whelan survived the initial attack but was fatally shot two months later in November 2019. The four defendants were remanded in custody pending a sentence hearing scheduled for July 12.
At a sentence hearing in the Central Criminal Court, the court heard that David Fortune, 33, of Rutland Grove in Crumlin, was jailed for eight years in 2006 for manslaughter after he fatally stabbed 31-year-old Michael Murphy outside the 'Buddha Bar' in Dublin west. The court also heard that Fortune was re-arraigned following legal discussions and pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the killing of his father, Gerry Fortune, 62, on August 19, 2018. The Director of Public Prosecutions accepted the plea. Sean Gillane SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, told Ms Justice Eileen Creedon that the killing of Gerry Fortune in 2018 falls in the upper end of seriousness for manslaughter and the defendant should be jailed for up to 15 years. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC said his client had a 'very close bond and friendship' with his father and had 'no animus whatsoever' towards him. He asked the court to place the offence in the mid-range and to consider suspending a portion of the sentence to allow Fortune to continue his education and rehabilitation. Leona Lambe, David Fortune's half-sister and daughter of the deceased, told the court that there are 'no winners' regardless of the sentence imposed. She added that David will have to live with what he did for the rest of his life, knowing he took the life of a man who only ever showed him love, and that is worse than ten life sentences. Ms Justice Creedon adjourned sentencing until June 28.
The Court of Appeal has heard appeals from Matthew Cummins and James Davy against their convictions for the murder of Thomas Dooley. Sean Davy, the third convicted person, previously failed in a 2018 bid to overturn his conviction. All three men were found guilty by a unanimous jury at the Central Criminal Court in 2016 and sentenced to life imprisonment for the 2014 killing of the 64-year-old Offaly man. During the trial, the accused offered conflicting accounts, with Cummins and Davy blaming each other for the fatal blows, while Davy denied involvement. In the current appeal, counsel for Cummins argued that the trial judge's directions on joint enterprise were biased and that the indictment should have been severed. Counsel for Davy similarly contended that the judge's directions were confusing and that his client's reasonable excuse of fear was not properly addressed. The prosecution, represented by Patrick Treacy SC, maintained that all three men were intrinsically involved in the savage attack. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice George Birmingham with Justices John Edwards and Isobel Kennedy, reserved its judgment on these applications.
James Lammon, aged 48, was convicted in 2016 of the brutal, pre‑meditated murder of Jason Doogue in Athy, Co. Kildare, and received a mandatory life sentence. He is appealing on the ground that his legal team failed to challenge a disputed statement attributed to him by Garda Daniel O'Shea, who claimed Lammon had spoken about the murder in a Garda station exercise yard. Lammon denies the conversation ever occurred and says he never authorised the admission of excerpts from O'Shea's memo. His counsel argues that no clear instruction was given by Lammon to allow the evidence, and that the legal team's strategy was not supported by any record of his consent. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on the appeal, noting the case remains at the trial stage.
The Special Criminal Court sentenced Sean Ruth, a former mid-tier Kinahan Cartel member, to four years and six months for two money laundering offences. Presiding Judge Tony Hunt suspended both sentences for six years and ordered Ruth to repay €9,900 within 12 months. Ruth pleaded guilty to concealing or disguising the source of funds in his Allied Irish Bank account between 2016 and 2017, knowing or being reckless as to whether they were proceeds of criminal conduct. The court noted he had paid over €20,000 to the Criminal Assets Bureau, with his parents assisting with the remaining balance. Judge Hunt reduced a headline six-year sentence by 25% due to Ruth's guilty plea and mitigation, including his reformation and education since his 2019 release from a separate firearms conviction. Ruth was previously jailed for three years for possessing a .38 Special revolver and ammunition. The report also details that Jonathan Harding and James Walsh were previously sentenced to 10 and nine years imprisonment respectively, with the final year of each suspended, after pleading guilty to possessing nine revolvers, four pistols, a submachine gun, an assault rifle, and ammunition at the Greenogue Unit.
In a case heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Jaroslav Nowakowski, a 36‑year‑old resident of Kildare, pleaded guilty to assaulting Noel Conway on Moore Street in Dublin on 3 November 2019. Nowakowski claimed he had mistaken Conway for a bike thief, believing he was stealing his bicycle. The court found Conway to be completely blameless and merely going about his business when the attack occurred. Nowakowski's defence, represented by Gerardine Small BL, argued that his reaction was a split‑second decision and that he had remained at the scene, showing genuine concern for the victim. The court accepted that the incident was isolated and that Nowakowski was unlikely to reoffend. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed an 18‑month suspended sentence, noting the defendant's remorse and his willingness to offer €1,000 to the victim, who had agreed to accept the payment. The sentence was suspended on a number of conditions.
The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment on the appeals against conviction lodged by Jason Bradley and Dean Bradley. The brothers were sentenced to life imprisonment in July 2018 after being found guilty of the murder of Neil Reilly in Lucan, Dublin, on January 18, 2017. Their co-accused, Ryan Bradley, was acquitted of murder by direction of the trial judge but pleaded guilty to impeding the investigation, receiving a fully suspended five-year sentence. Their father, Paul Bradley, was acquitted by the jury. Counsel for the appellants argued that the trial judge erred in refusing to discharge the jury after Ryan Bradley's counsel sought a directed verdict, leaving the appellants with a tactical dilemma regarding the testimony of witness Danielle Cusack. They further contended that the admission of Cusack's evidence, derived from enhanced cognitive interviewing, was flawed. The prosecution rebutted these claims, asserting the trial judge's rulings were impeccable. The court, comprising Mr Justice John Edwards, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, heard the arguments and indicated the matter is complex, with judgment to be reserved.
Calin Scintei, aged 28, was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his role in a €1.5 million money‑laundering scheme run by a Romanian organised‑crime gang. He pleaded guilty to 25 charges covering the period August 2018 to January 2020, including participation in organised crime, fraud, criminal damage, theft and possession of the proceeds of crime. Scintei helped defraud Tesco of €12,400 through a gift‑card scam and caused €18,000 of damage to AIB ATMs while stealing €7,690 in cash. He also set up 27 bank accounts with false documents and five fake companies, laundering about €780,000. The court noted he was paid a modest reward and was not a master criminal, but a busy participant in the gang's operations. The judge, Martin Nolan, considered mitigating factors before imposing the sentence. The case involved 12 prior convictions for theft and fraud.
In 2016, James Lammon, aged 48, was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of the brutal, pre‑meditated murder of Jason Doogue in Athy, Co. Kildare, on 21 August 2015. The jury found Lammon to be the masked gunman who shot Doogue three times before cycling away. He received a mandatory life sentence, back‑dated to the day of the murder. Lammon is appealing, arguing that his counsel failed to challenge a disputed statement attributed to him by Garda Daniel O'Shea. O'Shea had recorded a conversation in which Lammon allegedly said the bullet was meant for another man and that he would never be charged. The defence and prosecution reached an agreement allowing O'Shea's testimony to be admitted unchallenged, a decision Lammon claims he did not consent to. The Court of Appeal will consider whether Lammon had agreed to this arrangement and whether it was proper.
Declan Brady, Deirdre Brady, and Erika Lukacs appeared before the Special Criminal Court, where Brady pleaded guilty to concealing €268,940 in cash in the attic of a Naas property on January 24, 2017. Prosecutors indicated that additional pleas from all three accused are required. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Sarah Berkeley and David McHugh, remanded Brady in custody for a sentence hearing scheduled for June 14. The matter was adjourned to that date. Previously, in July 2019, Brady was sentenced to 11.5 years for possessing an arsenal of firearms and ammunition at a Dublin business park. Deirdre Brady and Erika Lukacs, who were originally charged with 52 money laundering offences, each pleaded guilty to one count on April 13. Deirdre Brady admitted to concealing the source of funds in a Permanent TSB account between 2014, while Erika Lukacs admitted to similar offences regarding an Allied Irish Bank account in 2012. Both women were remanded in custody for the June 14 sentence hearing. The court proceedings remain at the sentencing stage, with final disposals pending the upcoming hearing.
Two judges on the Court of Appeal heard Seamus Morgan's appeal against his murder conviction for killing Larry 'Bomber' Keane. During the hearing, President of the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice George Birmingham, realised that he had defended Morgan in Morgan's earlier murder trial, while his colleague, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, had prosecuted him. Birmingham said that if either side had a qualm, the appeal would be reheard by a different panel. Morgan, aged 53, had previously been found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for the killing of 29‑year‑old James Hand in 2002. The appeal is now pending, with lawyers for Morgan and the Director of Public Prosecutions to decide whether to proceed with a new panel. The court has reserved judgment.
Seamus Morgan, aged 53, seeks to overturn his 2016 murder conviction for killing Laurence 'Bomber' Keane, a 56‑year‑old former bomb‑maker. Morgan was jailed for life after a jury found him guilty of murdering Keane in a dark laneway near Greenhills, Athy, on 18 July 2013. He had previously served eight years for the manslaughter of 29‑year‑old James Hand in 2002. In the Court of Appeal hearing, Morgan's lawyer argued that the trial judge erred by allowing the prosecution to introduce evidence of Morgan's earlier manslaughter conviction and by failing to properly warn the jury about the reliability of witness identification. The appeal judges reserved judgment. The case remains at the appeal stage, with no outcome yet announced. Seamus Morgan pleaded not guilty and was acquitted.
In a High Court ruling, Justice Mary Irvine ordered the temporary suspension of Dr Gerard Waters, a GP in Celbridge, following a patient complaint that he had told the patient that Covid‑19 was a hoax and that government measures were harmful. The patient, who had sought treatment for a suspected chest infection, claimed Dr Waters had denied a Covid‑19 test, spread misinformation about masks and the virus, and suggested that deaths were not caused by Covid‑19. Dr Waters admitted expressing his views but said he did so professionally and only to patients seeking his opinion. The Medical Council, after receiving the complaint, requested assurances that he would follow HSE guidelines; when these were deemed insufficient, it applied to the High Court for suspension under the 2007 Medical Practitioners Act. Justice Irvine found the allegations serious enough to justify a temporary suspension pending further disciplinary proceedings. The order remains in effect until the outcome of those proceedings.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 13 April 2021, Deirdre Brady (53) and Erika Lukacs (37) pleaded guilty to one count each of money‑laundering offences under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice Act 2010. Brady, wife of Declan Brady, admitted to concealing or disguising the true nature of money credited to a Permanent TSB account between 1 January and 31 December 2014, knowing or believing the funds were proceeds of crime. Lukacs admitted similar conduct with an Allied Irish Bank account between 1 January and 31 December 2012. Both were remanded on continuing bail until 14 June for a sentence hearing. Declan Brady, appearing by videolink, was granted legal aid and remanded in custody until 23 April. The court received evidence from the National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and served books of evidence and USB keys to the defendants.
Sean Ruth, 32, of Portlaoise, Co Laois, was remanded on continuing bail until May 17 for sentencing after pleading guilty to two money laundering offences at the Special Criminal Court. Prosecutors alleged that Ruth, described as a mid-tier Kinahan Cartel member, allowed his bank accounts to be used to launder over €50,000 in crime proceeds between 2016 and 2017 while claiming State benefits and paying no tax. He has paid the Criminal Assets Bureau over €20,000, with his mother assisting to discharge the remaining €9,000 liability. Defending counsel argued that Ruth has reformed since his 2019 release from a previous three-year firearms sentence and requested the court consider whether imprisonment was necessary. The court heard that Ruth was previously linked via DNA evidence to a revolver found at a Greenogue business park, an arsenal that also contained weapons seized from James Walsh and Jonathan Harding. Walsh, 36, and Harding, 48, were previously sentenced to 10 years and nine years imprisonment respectively, with the final year of each sentence suspended, after pleading guilty to possessing nine revolvers, four pistols, a sub-machinegun, an assault rifle, and ammunition at the same location. Ruth's current matter remains adjourned for final sentencing.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Dubliner Gareth McCarton to two years' imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. The offence occurred at his address in Tallaght on April 13, 2020. Prosecution evidence alleged that McCarton dragged his partner, Shannon Mahon, from bed, threatened to kill her, and subjected her to a sustained episode of violence involving punching, choking, and biting. Gardaí intervened after receiving reports of screaming; Ms Mahon was later diagnosed with a fractured nasal bone and extensive bruising. McCarton, a father of three, admitted the charge. His defence counsel noted that McCarton claimed he had taken crack cocaine for the first time prior to the incident and expressed remorse, stating the act was out of character. The judge acknowledged his previous convictions, including possession of a realistic firearm, and noted that his bail had been revoked for failing to stay away from his partner. Judge Melanie Greally described the incident as a vicious and extreme breach of trust. She emphasised the need for McCarton to address his drug difficulties while recognising his desire to maintain family responsibilities. The court imposed a custodial sentence of two years imprisonment.
In a High Court case, Mr David Allen, a 70‑year‑old farmer from Johnville, Rathdangan, sued Start Mortgages and its appointed receivers, Mr Ken Fennell and Mr James Anderson of Deloitte, over his apartment at Atlantic Coast Apartments, Tramore. Allen had bought the unit in 2000 after borrowing €125,000 from Irish Life and Permanent. He alleged that Start's conduct after acquiring the loan was aggressive and that the receivers entered the apartment, changed the locks, and threatened his planned sale to repay the remaining €82,000 owed. Allen sought injunctions to prevent the receivers from entering or interfering with the property. The case was settled a few weeks ago, with the only remaining matter being the legal costs. Mr Allen's counsel, Hugh O'Flaherty BL, informed Justice Leonie Reynolds that the parties had consented to strike out the action without a costs order. The court had previously criticised the defendants' handling of the case.
In a High Court hearing, counsel Hugh O'Flaherty BL represented 70‑year‑old farmer David Allen, who owns an apartment at Atlantic Coast Apartments, Tramore. Allen claimed that Start Mortgages and its receivers, Ken Fennell and James Anderson of Deloitte, had been appointed without legal entitlement and behaved "disgracefully." He alleged the receivers entered the apartment, changed the locks, and jeopardised his plan to sell the property to repay a €82,000 debt. Allen had secured a buyer that would cover the debt and had informed the parties of his intention to sell months earlier. The receivers' appointment was said to be aggressive and illogical, especially as the loan was performing. The court adjourned the case to allow the defendants' representatives to attend a remote hearing, with the judge noting the defendants' lack of timely response and the need to resolve costs and key provision. The matter was set to resume the following Monday.
In March 2021, John Roche, a 57‑year‑old barber from Bridgefoot Street, Dublin, lost an appeal against the severity of his seven‑year prison sentence for possessing 152 kg of homemade explosives. The appeal argued that Roche had no prior convictions, was well‑known for charitable work, and had not previously attracted Garda attention. The Court of Appeal upheld the Special Criminal Court's decision, noting that Roche's sentence had been reduced from a headline ten years to seven after considering mitigating factors such as his good record and community standing. The court found no rational basis for suspending any part of Roche's sentence, unlike co‑accused John Brock, whose 18‑month suspended portion was tied to a condition of dissociating from the IRA. John Brock pleaded not guilty.
David Berney, a 39‑year‑old from Tallaght, was convicted of looting a Centra store in Jobstown during Storm Emma in March 2018. He pleaded guilty and received an 18‑month suspended sentence, which the Court of Appeal later deemed unduly lenient. The court set a three‑year term but suspended the entire period, subject to conditions such as maintaining employment and engaging with probation services if he loses his job. The suspension was back‑dated to November 2019. Berney also faced a separate 2014 burglary of a private home, for which he received a two‑year sentence and an additional 18‑month suspended term, contingent on staying out of trouble and participating in addiction and reintegration services. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed the original sentence, arguing it was too lenient. The court warned that if Berney fails to stay "on the straight and narrow," he will be sent to prison.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Adetola Jimoh, aged 53, was sentenced to 240 hours of community service over 18 months instead of prison for his role in a €362,810 invoice redirect scam. Jimoh admitted to accepting €10,000 that had been transferred to his account as part of the fraud, claiming he believed the money was for buying a car for a friend. He pleaded guilty to one charge of money laundering on 25 August 2015 and had no prior convictions. The court noted that the €10,000 was withdrawn through ATMs and point‑of‑sale transactions. Judge Melanie Greally accepted his plea as based on recklessness, acknowledged the Garda evidence, and ordered the community service sentence. The case involved a fraudulent payment to a construction firm, Rhatigans, by Maynooth University, which was never received. The university was the victim of an invoice redirect fraud originating from a server in America.
David Berney, a convicted burglar from Tallaght, was found guilty in 2018 of looting a Centra store in Jobstown during Storm Emma. He had previously pleaded guilty to a 2014 burglary of a private home. At the Circuit Court, a two‑year sentence was imposed for the 2014 offence and an additional 18‑month term for the 2018 looting, which was suspended on the condition that he remain law‑abiding and engage with addiction and social reintegration services. The Court of Appeal, after reviewing positive probation reports, deemed the original sentence unduly lenient but chose to increase the suspended portion rather than impose further custodial time. Berney, who could not attend the appeal hearing because he was starting a plumbing apprenticeship, will receive a new sentencing date at a later time. The appeal was brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions, who argued that Berney's prior conviction and bail status warranted a harsher penalty.
In February 2021, a judicial review challenge against An Bord Pleanala's decision to grant planning permission for a €70m, 12‑turbine wind farm in County Kildare was admitted to the fast‑track commercial court list. The challenge, brought by Ms Lorraine Quinn of Drohid, Carbury, and the environmental NGO Eco Advocacy CLG, argued that the board's decision was flawed because it did not comply with the Wind Energy Guidelines of the 2000 Planning and Development Act and failed to conduct an appropriate EU‑directive‑compliant assessment. They also contended that the impact of a nearby solar power project was not considered and raised concerns about noise levels from the turbines. The developer, North Kildare Wind Farm Group, sought fast‑track admission to avoid delays that could harm the project's commercial viability, noting that the wind farm would cost €70m to build, connect to the national grid, and create about 160 jobs over an 18‑month construction period.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Declan Brady (54), his wife Deirdre Brady (53), and Erika Lukacs (37) were charged with 68 cash‑laundering offences under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice Act 2010. The charges cover a five‑year period from 1 January 2012 to 24 January 2017 and involve amounts ranging from €2,000 to €269,000. Brady faces 16 non‑scheduled offences, Deirdre 36, and Lukacs 16. Allegations include concealing €2,000 and £10,000 in a breadbin and €268,940 in an attic at The Dairy, Naas, on 24 January 2017, and manipulating funds in Ulster Bank, Allied Irish Bank and Permanent TSB accounts between 2012 and 2016. Detectives from the National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau presented evidence of arrests, warrants and the charge sheets. All three accused were remanded in custody until 24 March, with bail conditions for Deirdre and Erika, and Brady also remanded until that date.
In a High Court case, Integrated Environmental Solutions Ltd (IES) and its subsidiary IES R&D Ltd have sued four former Irish employees—John Gleeson, Stephen Earle, Darren Jordan, and Sean O'Riordan—alongside the company Building Performance Consulting Engineers (BPCE). IES alleges that the defendants, all senior staff at its Irish branch, resigned between December and January of the previous year and, while still employed, diverted business to BPCE, a rival firm they are said to have set up. The claim further states that the ex‑employees took IES's proprietary "Virtual Environment" software and created models for BPCE's benefit. IES seeks injunctions to prevent the use of its software and to recover any revenue earned by the defendants from solicited business during their employment. Justice Leonie Reynolds granted IES permission to serve short notice of the proceedings, with the case scheduled to return next week.
The High Court has been asked to amend the grounds of a legal challenge brought by Thomas Reid against An Bord Pleanala's decision to allow Intel Ireland to proceed with a €3.76 billion expansion of its Co Kildare plant. The action was brought by Thomas Reid, who resides near the Intel Campus in Collinstown, outside Leixlip. The proposed expansion, if approved, would be one of the largest construction projects in the country's history. Reid claims that the board's 2019 decision permitting the expansion was contrary to EU Council directives, lacked sufficient reasoning, and violated fair procedures. Intel Ireland and An Bord Pleanala have applied for the court to amend the action and exclude certain material from the case, arguing that Reid failed to raise specific issues before the board. Intel's application is supported by the board, which asserts that Reid missed the opportunity to present these arguments during the initial proceedings. Reid, represented by James Devlin SC, opposes the motion, arguing that he should be allowed to present his case in full. The application was heard by Mr Justice Richard Humphreys, who reserved his decision. The full hearing of the action will take place later this year.
Przemyslaw Goska, 33, a Polish national, was sentenced to six years in prison for possession of MDMA worth €506,000 and cocaine worth €68,300. The drugs were found in his rented Kildare home and in a car he was driving. Goska admitted to transporting the drugs from "point A to point B" and claimed he was promised money for holding them. He said he had no intention of bringing the cocaine into the house, only to pick up clothes. Gardaí interviewed him ten times; he cooperated but was too afraid to give further information. He had no prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally took into account his cooperation, guilty pleas, and family hardship, and imposed a seven‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence with the final 18 months suspended on the condition of good behaviour and leaving Ireland within 14 days of release.
Bernard Maguire, aged 29, was sentenced to a one‑year jail term for orally raping his younger half‑sister, Bethany Maguire, when she was six to seven and he was fifteen to sixteen. The offences occurred between September 2006 and September 2008 at their father's home. Maguire pleaded guilty before the Central Criminal Court. The court noted the serious nature of the offence, the breach of trust by an older sibling, and the age gap as aggravating factors, while also considering Maguire's immediate admissions, remorse, and youth at the time. The judge imposed a two‑year sentence with the final year suspended, subject to conditions including participation in the Better Lives program. Bethany waived her right to anonymity, allowing the parties' names to be published. The case was heard under the Children Act, with the victim's impact statement highlighting lasting trauma and fear of her brother. The sentence reflects the court's assessment of the offence's gravity and the defendant's circumstances.
The High Court granted former Fianna Fail TD Frank O'Rourke permission to add 'persons unknown' to defamation proceedings concerning social media posts made during the 2020 General Election. Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds issued the order, allowing O'Rourke to formally join unidentified individuals before the statutory 12-month limitation period expires. O'Rourke has previously obtained Norwich Pharmacal orders against Twitter International Company and Facebook Ireland Ltd to identify the posters. His counsel, Declan Doyle SC, argued that despite efforts to identify the Facebook poster, the individual remains unknown, and joining them as 'persons unknown' was necessary to preserve his right to sue. Facebook, represented by Rossa Fanning SC, raised no objections. O'Rourke alleges that wholly untrue statements posted in February 2020 were designed to cause professional damage during his campaign and a personal marriage breakdown. He claims these posts, which included defamatory remarks about his family and finances, negatively impacted his supporters in North Kildare. A tweet calling for voters not to support him was also cited. O'Rourke, who lost his North Kildare seat in the February election after finishing fifth, seeks to amend the proceedings' title once the alleged defamer's identity is established. The court noted the unusual nature of the application but found the justice of the matter favoured joining the unknown party.
Four men are to stand trial at the Central Criminal Court in June 2021 on charges of attempting to murder Wayne Whelan in a shooting at Griffeen Glen Park, Lucan, Co Dublin on September 4, 2019. Darren Henderson, Cailean Crawford, and Charles McClean, all with Dublin addresses, face the charge alongside Wayne Ryan of Longford. The four are also accused of arson relating to a Ford Focus set alight at the Old Bog Road in Kilcock, Co Kildare on the same date. At a hearing before Mr Justice Michael White, the Director of Public Prosecutions applied to consolidate the trials, which was granted. The trial, expected to last six weeks, is scheduled to commence on June 21, 2021. Whelan survived the initial shooting but was killed in a separate incident two months later.
Noel Purcell, a 45‑year‑old truck driver from Tullyvoheen, Clifden, was sentenced to two years in prison after transporting €1.287 million in criminal cash. He admitted to gardaí that he had agreed to move the money to Holland after meeting a man on a boat, who offered him €4 000 to do so. Purcell, who was struggling with mortgage and credit‑card debt, claimed he was vulnerable and easily led. Gardaí had pulled him over on Naas Road, where they found two large bags of cash wrapped in duct tape. He pleaded guilty to possessing proceeds of crime. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a seven‑year term, suspending five years on the condition of good behaviour, and noted the need for general deterrence. Purcell had no prior convictions and was described as extremely remorseful.
In a High Court judicial review, Keshmore Homes Ltd (KHL) challenges An Bord Pleanala's refusal to grant planning permission for a 64‑unit housing development in Kildare Town. The proposed site, adjacent to an existing residential estate, would include detached, semi‑detached, terraced houses and eight apartments in a two‑storey block. KHL had previously applied for permission, which was denied by Kildare County Council and upheld by An Bord Pleanala in November. KHL argues that the board's decision was flawed, citing failures to consider the developer's submissions, lack of reasons, and an alleged invalid variation of the 2017‑23 Kildare County Development Plan. The developer seeks an order to quash the refusal. Mr Justice Charles Meenan granted permission for the challenge and adjourned the case to March. The hearing is part of ongoing judicial review proceedings.
A High Court challenge has been brought by Emma Kelly against the Attorney General regarding the refusal to order a fresh inquest into the 2008 drowning death of her brother, John Kelly, at Britain Quay in Dublin Docklands. The case, heard before Mr Justice Charles Meenan, concerns the AG's October decision to decline the family's request under the 1962 Coroner's Act for a new inquest. The applicants allege the original 2009 inquest, which found the death a misadventure, was flawed by procedural irregularities, including a failure to call eyewitnesses and a denial of the option for a jury trial. They further claim the decision to refuse a new inquest is unfair, irrational, and contrary to public interest, citing a 2018 report by retired Mr Justice Daniel Herbert that criticized the Garda response as "confused, inappropriate, and inadequate." Emma Kelly, from Athy, Co Kildare, seeks orders quashing the AG's decision, directing a new inquest, and declaring the refusal unlawful and in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights. The application was made on an ex-parte basis. Mr Justice Meenan directed that the application for permission to bring the challenge be heard on notice to the respondents. The matter was adjourned to a date in March.
Thomas Griffin, 26, of Croftwood Park, Ballyfermot, Dublin, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for his role in a high‑speed Garda chase that exposed multiple cars and a pedestrian to "very considerable danger." He pleaded guilty to two charges of endangerment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 17 June 2018. The judge, Melanie Greally, described the driving as "very extreme in nature" and noted that Griffin was intoxicated with drugs and alcohol during the incident. Griffin had 46 prior convictions, including assault, road traffic and public order offences. The judge suspended the final 12 months of a three‑and‑a‑half‑year term, citing his demonstrated potential and confrontation of his demons while on remand. The chase involved speeding over 140 km/h in a 100 km/h zone, running red lights, driving on the hard shoulder, and forcing other traffic to take evasive action.
A jury acquitted a 21‑year‑old defendant of raping a 14‑year‑old girl in a derelict building in County Kildare on 14 May 2016. The defendant, who was 17 at the time of the alleged assault, pleaded not guilty to counts of sexual assault, anal rape and defilement of a child. The complainant testified that they played truth or dare, during which the defendant allegedly dared her to touch his penis and later to let him hug her, during which he reportedly rubbed his penis through her clothes and inserted it into her anus. She reported pain and later sought medical treatment, where a doctor noted lacerations consistent with forced anal penetration. The jury returned not‑guilty verdicts on all three counts, with majority verdicts on sexual assault and anal rape and a unanimous verdict on defilement.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 21‑year‑old defendant, who was 17 when the alleged offence occurred, pleaded not guilty to sexual assault, anal rape and defilement of a 14‑year‑old girl. The incident took place in a derelict building in Co. Kildare on 14 May 2016 during a game of truth or dare. The mother of the accused testified that two girls had repeatedly asked her son to play with them, describing them as "adamant" and claiming they had "bad intentions" and "bitterness" in their hearts. She said she had reluctantly allowed her son to go because the girls were insistent. The prosecution presented a doctor's findings of recent lacerations to the complainant's anus, while the defence argued the accused was unaware of the girl's age and that the allegations were false. The trial was set to continue before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
During a trial in the Central Criminal Court, a 21‑year‑old defendant, who cannot be named, pleaded not guilty to sexual assault, anal rape and defilement of a 14‑year‑old girl. He was alleged to have assaulted the girl in a derelict building in County Kildare on 14 May 2016, when he was 17. In a Garda interview, the defendant initially denied the allegations, but after his father spoke to him in another language, he said that everything the girl had said was true. He later claimed he had hugged the girl and removed his trousers, but denied that his penis entered her. A second interview saw him deny knowing her age, claiming she was 15 or 16. A doctor examined the girl 21–23 hours after the incident and noted lacerations on her anal margin and canal, which were consistent with forced anal penetration but could have other explanations.
In a trial for a 21‑year‑old accused of raping a 14‑year‑old girl in a derelict building during a game of truth or dare, the complainant denied any suggestion that she sought the accused out or encouraged further sexual activity. She stated she was shocked when the accused allegedly pulled down his trousers and exposed his penis, and she rejected claims that she had taken her own trousers down or that she had agreed to further acts. The complainant also denied any promise to keep the incident secret and denied being terrified of her father or mother discovering the assault. A friend testified that the girl had been with her on the day of the incident and later described the assault, while a Garda confirmed that no semen was found on swabs or clothing and that the medical examination occurred about 22 hours after the alleged event. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
A 21‑year‑old man, who cannot be named, is on trial in the Central Criminal Court for anally raping and sexually assaulting a 14‑year‑old girl in a derelict building in Co. Kildare on 14 May 2016. He pleaded not guilty to one count each of sexual assault, anal rape and defilement of a child. The complainant, now 18, said she and a friend were roller‑skating when they called the accused's house. She had previously shown the boys a derelict site. During a game of truth or dare, the accused asked her uncomfortable questions, dared her to touch his penis, and later dared her to let him hug her. He allegedly forced her to hug from behind, pulled her clothes, and inserted his penis into her anus. She reported severe pain, bleeding, and shock, and later told her mother and went to a Garda station. The trial continues tomorrow before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
In a High Court hearing, Facebook Ireland Ltd argued it would face difficulties complying with a Norwich Pharmacal order sought by former Fianna Fail TD Frank O'Rourke. O'Rourke's application, following a successful order against Twitter, seeks details of an account he claims posted defamatory content about him, including the holder's name, email and IP address. Facebook's counsel, Rossa Fanning, explained that the company lacks a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) for the alleged defamatory post, which is necessary to identify the poster. The company also cited concerns about handing over information on a common name that could lead to the wrong account being disclosed. Justice Leonie Reynolds directed Facebook to submit a sworn statement detailing the steps it has taken to locate the account. The case was adjourned to January, with O'Rourke alleging that the posts were intended to damage his political career during the 2020 General Election. The court noted that O'Rourke had lost his seat in February's election.
The Special Criminal Court sentenced Jonathan Harding to five years and three months' imprisonment for laundering over €342,000 for a serious criminal organisation. Harding, 48, pleaded guilty to five offences under the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act 2010. Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed a headline sentence of six years and nine months, suspending the final 18 months on all charges, with all sentences running concurrently. Harding signed a bond to be of good behaviour for three years post-release. The judge noted Harding's prior conviction for possessing nine revolvers, four pistols, a sub-machine gun, an assault rifle, and ammunition, for which he received a ten-year sentence in January 2018. Co-accused Carol Davis, 45, pleaded guilty to three offences under the same Act, admitting she was reckless in allowing Harding access to her accounts but denying involvement in underlying criminality. She received a three-year suspended sentence on all offences, signing a bond to be of good behaviour for that duration. The court found that accounts linked to both were used as a travel service for the organisation. Separately, Declan Brady, 54, was previously sentenced to 11-and-a-half years' imprisonment in July 2019 after pleading guilty to possessing the same weapons cache, having been tasked by senior criminal figures to supervise it.
Mihai Adrian Hofman, a Romanian chef who has lived in Ireland since 2010, has filed a High Court challenge against the State's decision to stop his Covid‑19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) after he temporarily left the country for a family emergency in late June. Hofman began receiving PUP payments in late March, but when he returned to Romania in June, the Minister for Social Protection unilaterally ceased his payments. He returned to Ireland on 21 July, having been prevented from returning earlier by a flight cancellation. Hofman argues that the cessation was unreasonable, unlawful, and that he was denied notice and an opportunity to address the Minister's concerns. He seeks an order quashing the Minister's decision, back payments, and declarations that the Minister erred in law and failed to provide notice. The case was granted ex‑parte permission by Mr Justice Charles Meenan and is set for a January hearing.
In a High Court hearing, counsel for Freddie Sherry argued that the 2020 Leaving Certificate standardisation process would not have discriminated against students from disadvantaged schools, even if historical school performance data had been used. He compared the Irish system to those in England and Scotland, noting that the latter had faced criticism for disproportionately downgrading students from poorer areas. The counsel highlighted that Irish authorities had incorporated safeguards to prevent such bias and that the Minister had decided in August 2020 to exclude historical data from the calculation, despite assurances that this would not harm disadvantaged students. Sherry, a fee‑paying student from Belvedere College, claimed the removal of school data led to a 55‑point downgrade, affecting his CAO points and his application to Trinity College Dublin's Pharmacy programme. The Minister and the State denied any unlawful interference, asserting that the process was fair and that Sherry was treated like all other students.
In a High Court hearing, Mr Freddie Sherry, a student from Dublin's Belvedere College, argued that changes to the calculated Leaving Certificate grades model unfairly disadvantaged him. His counsel, Feichín McDonagh SC, presented expert evidence showing that the Minister's decision to exclude historical school performance data disproportionately lowered Sherry's grades, reducing his estimated CAO points from 542 to 487. Sherry claimed the reduction of 55 points in five subjects prevented him from gaining a place in pharmacy at TCD. The State and Minister countered that the model was lawful, that no unfair treatment occurred, and that the changes were necessary due to the Covid‑19 cancellation of exams. They also argued that reinstating historical data would be inappropriate and could undermine the results of many students. The case remains before Mr Justice Charles Meenan.
In a High Court hearing on 8 December 2020, lawyers for Freddie Sherry argued that the Minister for Education unlawfully interfered with the 2020 Leaving Certificate calculated‑grades process by excluding historical school performance data. Sherry, a student from Belvedere College, claimed the minister's August 2020 directive to omit such data caused his estimated CAO points to fall from 542 to 487, a 55‑point downgrade that prevented him from gaining a place in pharmacy at Trinity College Dublin. Counsel described the minister's action as a "top‑down intervention" that produced inflated grades and breached commitments to fairness and comparability with previous years. The minister and state lawyers denied the allegations, asserting that the exclusion was justified and that reinstating historical data would be inappropriate after CAO offers had been issued. The case, part of a broader challenge by about 50 students, is set to continue for two weeks before Mr Justice Charles Meenan.