A driver who crashed a car into an articulated lorry at high speed and walked away from the scene while his friend lay dead in the passenger seat was jailed for six and a half years. Jake Kelly, who was driving at 162km/h on a road with a 60km/h speed limit, was helped out of the car by the truck driver but then left the scene. The body of his friend, Ross Rice, was discovered hours later. The court heard that Kelly had no idea if Rice had survived the crash and later told gardai he thought Rice might have been in the fields nearby. The victim's family described the loss as devastating, with Rice's mother having died in 2020 and Rice having an 11-month-old baby with his partner. Judge Martina Baxter noted the tragic circumstances and the irony that Rice had been banned from driving, yet Kelly drove his car without a licence. Kelly was found to be remorseful and has been diagnosed with a major depressive disorder. Jake Kelly pleaded guilty.
Lee Byrne and Sam Garvey, who committed a 'senseless and violent' robbery in Dublin, have been jailed for one year after reoffending despite being given a chance by a judge. Both pleaded guilty to the robbery, which involved a victim being attacked and robbed on Phibsborough Road. Judge Elva Duffy initially adjourned the case for 12 months, giving them an opportunity for rehabilitation, but after they reoffended, she imposed a custodial sentence. Byrne and Garvey were involved in assaults and criminal damage, with Byrne serving a two-year sentence and Garvey in custody until next May. The victim suffered serious injuries and continues to feel the emotional impact of the attack. Both men expressed remorse and sought to address their addiction issues, but the court ruled that their reoffending made a custodial sentence necessary. The case highlights the challenges of rehabilitation for individuals with substance abuse issues.
A money mule who allowed scammers to channel almost €3,000 through his Revolut account during two "smishing" frauds has been directed to the Restorative Justice Programme. Josh Pope (22) of Priorsgate, Tallaght, Dublin 24, pleaded guilty to two counts of engaging in handling the proceeds of criminal conduct. The court heard that two separate "smishing" scams in April 2023 resulted in €2,946 being lodged into Pope's Revolut account. One injured party lost €711, while a second victim lost €2,235 after receiving fraudulent text messages and supplying their bank details. Pope had been offered €200 to allow his account to be used and had shown "sympathy" for the victims in his victim impact statement. He is currently studying culinary arts at Maynooth and has no previous convictions. Judge Karen Dowling directed Pope to engage with the Restorative Justice Programme and adjourned the matter to 3 April for an updated report, when the matter is expected to be finalised.
A 29-year-old woman from Coolaney, Sligo, has been sentenced to 21 months in prison after pleading guilty to making a false criminal complaint at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Nicole Chambers alleged that a male prison officer had sexually assaulted her in a hospital cubicle whilst escorting her for medical treatment in August 2020. Hospital CCTV footage, corroborated by the officer's female colleague and medical staff, established that the officer never entered the cubicle and remained outside in accordance with protocol. When confronted with the footage, Chambers initially maintained her account before later retracting the allegation and apologising to the officer and prison service. Judge Martin Nolan described the allegation as malicious and self-serving, noting it had caused profound harm to the victim and could have resulted in a trial absent the camera evidence. The judge acknowledged Chambers' complex psychiatric history and functional neurological disorder but found she understood the distinction between right and wrong. She has 34 previous convictions, including an earlier custodial sentence for making false reports.
A jury has unanimously convicted Christopher Devine of murder, rejecting his claim that he suffered from a substance-induced psychotic disorder due to heavy cocaine and alcohol use. Devine, who shot Michael Tormey five times in the victim's front garden, argued that his mental state diminished his capacity to control his actions. However, the court accepted the prosecution's argument that Devine acted deliberately. The trial revealed that Devine had no psychiatric history and had never taken psychiatric medication. The jury rejected the defense's claim that he was too intoxicated to form an intention to kill. The judge, Ms Justice Melanie Greally, adjourned the case until December 19, when Devine will face a mandatory life sentence. The Tormey family will be invited to make statements on that date. Devine had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The trial heard conflicting expert opinions on whether Devine met the criteria for diminished responsibility or cocaine intoxication. The jury deliberated for over four hours and found Devine guilty of murder.
A bride who fell from a second-storey hotel window on her wedding night, suffering serious injuries, has resolved her personal injury claim at the High Court. Jackie Sexton (nee Tyrrell) brought a case against Deebert House Hotel Ltd, Kilmallock, Co Limerick, following the incident that occurred in the early hours after her February 29, 2020, wedding. The hotel denied liability, claiming that windows had been properly fitted with restrictors in 2014 and were in compliance with building standards. Ms Sexton alleged negligence and breach of duty, arguing that the hotel failed to ensure her safety. She told the court that she and her husband returned to the hotel around 3:30am and went to room 217. She said she was smoking a cigarette at the window when she fell, and the next thing she remembered was waking up in hospital the following day. Her husband found her missing from the bedroom and heard her moaning from below the window. Ms Sexton suffered multiple fractures, a collapsed lung, and other injuries, which significantly impacted her life and career.
A man who admitted to killing but denied murdering his relative with a submachine gun was not found to be suffering from a mental disorder, according to the prosecution. Christopher Devine (44) pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not guilty to murder in the 2022 shooting of Michael Tormey (49) in his front garden. The prosecution argued that the killing was murder and that the accused was under the influence of cocaine, not suffering from a mental disorder. Evidence suggested that Devine had consumed significant quantities of cocaine before the incident. The prosecution will call two psychiatrists as expert witnesses, with one claiming that Devine had a substance-induced psychotic disorder and the other stating that he met the criteria for cocaine intoxication. The trial will continue with the jury considering the issue of diminished responsibility.
Jake Kelly, 22, was sentenced to seven years in prison for dangerous driving that resulted in the death of his friend, Ross Rice, in a crash in July 2023. Kelly was driving at a speed of 162km/h on a road with a 60km/h speed limit when his car crashed into the back of an articulated lorry. The passenger side of the car was covered in tarmacadam, which poured out of the lorry upon impact. Ross Rice died instantly from blunt force injuries. Kelly was helped out of the car by the truck driver and then walked away from the scene. He later told gardaí he was unsure if Rice had gotten out of the car and thought he might have been in the fields nearby. Kelly pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, failing to report an accident, and driving without insurance. He was on bail for other offences at the time. The court heard that Kelly had a history of addiction in his family and had been severely depressed since the incident.
Michael McDonagh, a 49-year-old banned roads offender with over 200 previous convictions, was jailed for three years after driving the wrong way down the hard shoulder of the Naas dual carriageway. McDonagh pleaded guilty to endangerment, dangerous driving, and driving without a licence or insurance. He stole a car and evaded gardai by speeding at high rates, breaking red lights, and driving on the wrong side of the road. The pursuit lasted seven minutes, with McDonagh reaching speeds of up to 120km/hr in a 60km/hr zone. Gardai broke off the chase due to the danger. McDonagh was extradited from the UK in 2024 and has been in custody since. Judge Martin Nolan noted the dangerous and reckless nature of the driving and imposed a three-year sentence, along with a five-year driving disqualification.
Sean McGovern has been granted legal aid to cover a team of four barristers in his trial for murder and directing a criminal organization. The Special Criminal Court approved the application after the State did not make any observations. McGovern, who was extradited from the United Arab Emirates, faces charges related to the murder of Noel Kirwan and directing a criminal organization. The court noted that the matter was likely to be complex and emphasized the need for the trial to proceed. McGovern's legal team requested the same representation as the Director of Public Prosecutions, which was granted. The court adjourned the matter for mention in the New Year and directed that video link facilities be made available for McGovern. The court previously expressed concerns about the lack of detail in McGovern's application and emphasized the need for due diligence in the use of public funds.
A 24-year-old man, Valeriu Melnic, has been jailed for eight years for the manslaughter of his sister's partner, Ion Daghi, following a fatal stabbing in Co Kildare in May 2024. Melnic told gardai he was so drunk he couldn't remember the incident, but the court found his self-induced intoxication was an aggravating factor. The jury rejected the defence's claims of intoxication and provocation as mitigating factors, though they found him not guilty of murder. During the trial, evidence showed that Melnic had threatened to kill Mr Daghi before stabbing him in the chest with a kitchen knife. The judge noted that Melnic had armed himself with a knife and initiated the altercation. He also acknowledged the victim's mother's heartrending impact statement, describing the loss as irreplaceable. Melnic had pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not guilty to murder. The judge considered his guilty plea and cooperation with gardai as mitigating factors but noted his lack of insight into his wrongdoing.
Conor Meyler, a Tyrone senior inter‑county footballer and 2021 All‑Ireland winner, has filed a defamation claim against the Irish Post and its parent company, The Color Company (TM) Ltd. The High Court heard that the Irish Post published an article in January 2025 containing untrue details about Meyler. He alleges the article caused him loss, damage, inconvenience, expense, distress, embarrassment, annoyance and anxiety. The court allowed the Color Company to join as a co‑defendant and adjourned the case for a later hearing.
The Special Criminal Court has adjourned Sean McGovern's legal aid application to November 24, stating it remains unsatisfied with the documentation provided. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor emphasized that the court is not a rubber stamp and must exercise due diligence regarding taxpayers' money, noting that instructions received were scant. McGovern, aged 39, with a previous address at Kildare Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12, is charged with the murder of Noel Kirwan on December 22, 2016, at St Ronan's Drive, Clondalkin. He also faces charges of directing a criminal organisation in connection with that murder, facilitating a criminal organisation in the murder of Mr Kirwan, and similar offences related to a conspiracy to murder James Gately and the surveillance of Gately. Counsel Seán Guerin SC argued that the legal team could not travel to Portlaoise to take instructions without legal aid being assigned, claiming the necessary forms were completed. However, the court ordered that further instructions be taken from McGovern. The matter was previously adjourned on several occasions, and McGovern was extradited from the United Arab Emirates to face these charges, with his lawyers having previously raised concerns about the legality of his return.
Ryan Carroll, 29, and two men broke into a man's Dublin home on 9 August 2022 after a littering dispute. They entered the house, shouted "chop his hand off," and used a blade to slash the victim's arm, chest, back, head and hand, cutting three fingers to the tendons. The victim suffered severe lacerations and required surgery. The attackers fled after a neighbour called Gardaí. Carroll, who had 37 prior convictions and was on bail for another offence, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, criminal damage and trespass while armed. He was sentenced by Judge Sinead McMullen to three years' imprisonment, with the court noting the attack was savage, unplanned and grossly disproportionate to the initial altercation. The sentence was imposed today.
In a Dublin nightclub on 17 August 2019, Jason Aquino (29) smashed a pint glass into another man's face during a verbal dispute. The victim suffered serious eye injuries, requiring six days in hospital and ongoing treatment. Aquino was arrested, initially denied the incident, but accepted responsibility after CCTV evidence. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, violent disorder and production of an article. The court, hearing the victim's impact statement, imposed a headline sentence of eight years, reduced to four years, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. Aquino was ordered to pay €20,000 to the victim within three months. The judge noted Aquino's lack of prior convictions and his remorse, but emphasised the reckless nature of his conduct and the lasting harm to the victim. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the assault and the victim's life‑changing injuries.
Marcus Hannon, 29, of Carlow, pleaded guilty at Carlow Circuit Criminal Court to threatening to kill his sister Lauren Hannon and assaulting her partner Cian Comerford during a family row on 13 March 2024. He doused the three of them in petrol, causing Lauren to swallow some liquid; none sustained injuries. Hannon, previously convicted of violent disorder, criminal damage and production of an article, had been on remand since the offence. He had earlier been acquitted of the manslaughter of his father, Marcus "Murt" Brennan, after a 2018 trial. The court set a headline sentence of five years, reduced to three years and nine months, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions, including 18 months of Probation Service engagement upon release. The sentence was back‑dated to March 2024. The case highlighted the family's troubled background and ongoing psychological support for Hannon in custody.
Sean McGovern, 39, previously of Kildare Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12, appeared before the Special Criminal Court to address his legal aid application. The accused is charged with the murder of Noel Kirwan on December 22, 2016, at St Ronan's Drive, Clondalkin, Dublin. Additional allegations include directing a criminal organisation in connection with that murder, facilitating a criminal organisation in the conspiracy to murder James Gately, and directing surveillance of Mr. Gately. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, sitting with Judges Sarah Berkeley and David McHugh, stated the court was not satisfied with the statement of means provided, describing it as containing "at best, scant detail." The judge noted the document offered no information on how McGovern funded his lifestyle in Dubai over the past eight years. Defence counsel Seán Guerin SC stated he could provide no further assistance beyond the instructions received. The prosecution, represented by Maddie Grant BL, indicated the State had no observations. The court adjourned the matter for mention next week to allow the defence to provide further answers regarding the defendant's financial position. McGovern was previously extradited from the United Arab Emirates, where his lawyers had raised concerns about the legality of his return.
Christopher Oshodin, 48, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to theft and dishonestly inducing a Department of Social Protection employee to act for a gain. He had claimed over €145,000 in social welfare payments while pretending for 21 years to be Zimbabwean, using the alias "Christopher Umar." The offence spanned from 2001 to 2022. Oshodin, the sole carer of three children, admitted the fraud and sought to regularise his status. Judge Martin Nolan, noting the seriousness of the theft and the impact on the children, imposed a four‑year sentence fully suspended. He acknowledged Oshodin's cooperation, admissions, lack of prior convictions and the fact that he was paying back small amounts weekly. The court considered the effect on the children and the need to avoid depriving them of their guardian, leading to the non‑custodial outcome. The case was heard on 7 November 2025.
Patrick Lynch, 45, from Naas, Co Kildare, appealed the severity of a five‑month jail sentence imposed for driving without a licence, insurance or tax and for failing to produce a licence, offences under the Road Traffic Act 1961. Lynch had previously received three driving disqualifications in 2018, lasting six, ten and twenty years, and had 194 prior convictions, about 100 of which were road‑traffic matters. The appeal was heard by Judge Deirdre Browne in the District Court Appeals Court. Lynch's defence counsel, Seosaimhín Ní Chathasaigh BL, argued that Lynch had an early guilty plea, had been born into poverty, had struggled with alcohol and drug misuse, and was now seeking community rehabilitation rather than custody. Judge Browne noted that the offence was "particularly egregious" and that no evidence linked the offence to Lynch's addiction issues; she adjourned the case to 13 November, pending further evidence from the defence. The appeal remains pending.
In a tragic incident at Kildare Chilling Company on 14 May 2020, 54‑year‑old Binak Cokaj, an Albanian national, was inspecting a vacuum‑packing machine when it crushed his head, causing fatal skull fractures and brain injuries. His wife, Shkurte Cokaj, filed a personal injury claim under the Civil Liability Act on behalf of herself and their two 11‑year‑old twin children. The claim alleged negligence, breach of duty and breach of contract by Kildare Chilling Company, Momentum Capital Projects Ltd and Sealed Air Limited, the machine supplier. After mediation, the parties agreed to a €700 000 settlement, including €17.5 k earmarked for each child. The High Court, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Coffey, approved the settlement without admitting liability and approved costs incurred by the plaintiff. The judge described the case as "very tragic.".
Cristan Turbat and Dorina Turbat, of Maynooth, Kildare, were sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for social welfare fraud. The couple pleaded guilty to sample charges representative of an indictment of over 570 charges covering April 2017 to January 2019. Cristan Turbat admitted to 10 charges of stealing cash from the Department of Social Protection and one charge of making a false statement. Dorina Turbat pleaded guilty to 10 similar theft charges and one false statement charge. Judge Martin Nolan jailed both defendants for 18 months, reducing a headline sentence of three years due to their guilty pleas, cooperation, and remorse. The court found they conspired to defraud the State of over €114,000 by having Cristan work under a false identity while Dorina claimed jobseeker's allowance, working family payment, and rent supplement. Michael McMahon, their employer, was previously sentenced to a 14-month suspended term for aiding and abetting the fraud. His sentence was suspended in full on the condition he repay €55,215. €21,350 found in the Turbats' home will be confiscated, leaving a balance of just over €13,000 to be repaid. The matter was finalised with the imposition of these custodial sentences and repayment conditions.
Ross O'Shea, a former army captain, was found guilty by a General Court Martial in October 2022 of sexually assaulting a female non‑commissioned officer at a barracks social function on 25 June 2020. He was convicted of two charges – sexual assault and a Section 2 assault under the Non‑Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 – and was dismissed from the Defence Forces. A custodial sentence of six months at the Curragh Camp was imposed but suspended for one year. O'Shea had pleaded guilty to five of 18 charges, was acquitted of seven, and four were withdrawn. In a Court of Appeal hearing on 4 November 2025, Mr Justice John Edwards upheld the dismissal, noting the conduct was "corrosive of discipline" and that the psychological impact on the victims was significant. The victims welcomed the decision. The appeal argued the offences were an aberration in an otherwise glittering career, but the court found the dismissal justified.
DJ Carey, a former Kilkenny hurler aged 54, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five and a half years in prison for defrauding over 20 people of almost €400,000 by falsely claiming to have cancer. Between 2014 and 2022, he obtained €394,127 and $13,000 from victims, promising repayment but never fulfilling it; only €44,200 was repaid, leaving €349,927 and $13,000 outstanding. Carey pleaded guilty to ten counts of dishonestly inducing payment, eight further charges of dishonesty, and two counts of using a false instrument. The judge described the fraud as "very low" yet "reprehensible" and imposed a global sentence of five and a half years, comprising a four‑year term followed by a consecutive one‑and‑a‑half‑year term. Carey had no prior convictions and had cooperated with Gardaí, but the court noted his reputation as a celebrated hurler had been destroyed by the case.
In a sentence hearing for 24‑year‑old Valeriu Melnic, the court heard a victim impact statement from the mother of the deceased, Mr. Ion Daghi, who described the loss as "irreplaceable" and said it would always stain her heart. Melnic, who admitted to being "so drunk" that he could not remember stabbing Daghi with a kitchen knife, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by a jury in July. The hearing reiterated that Melnic's intoxication and the fact that he had no intent to kill were key defence arguments. The court noted that Melnic's relationship with his sister was "somewhat gone" and that he had tried to write to her but could not find the words. The judge remanded Melnic in custody until his sentencing on 17 November.
In a decision by the Workplace Relations Commission, Marina Szatmari's claim of gender discrimination against County Kildare FM Radio Ltd, trading as KFM Radio, was dismissed. Szatmari, who worked on the station's traffic desk from September 2023 to April 2025, alleged discrimination, bullying and gossiping, and that she was pressured to resign. She cited an erroneous email from CEO Clem Ryan that she believed showed male management discussing her personal life, and claimed that her request to work remotely was initially denied. Ryan defended himself, stating he treated all female staff with respect and consideration, and highlighted salary increases and support he had provided. The adjudicator, Bríd Deering, found no evidence sufficient to shift the burden of proof to the respondent and therefore rejected the complaint. The case remains at the tribunal stage.
A judge warned that a custodial sentence is inevitable for former hurler DJ Carey, who defrauded nearly €400,000 from 13 complainants, including Denis O'Brien, by pretending to have cancer. Carey, 54, was remanded into custody pending sentencing. He pleaded guilty to 10 counts of dishonestly inducing people to pay money, with an additional 10 counts considered. The court heard that Carey obtained €394,127 and $13,000 US dollars, repaid €44,200, leaving €349,927 and $13,000 outstanding. He claimed to need funds for treatment in Seattle and a HSE medical claim, but investigations found no evidence of cancer treatment or HSE claims. The judge noted the victims' generosity and said the sentence would be "inevitable.".
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Kevin O'Riordan, 40, of Rathcoole, Moone, Co Kildare, was found guilty of failing to stop at the scene of a collision and of careless driving. The incident occurred on 21 September 2023 when O'Riordan, while turning left onto Meath Street, struck an elderly man who was crossing the road. O'Riordan stopped his car and remained for four minutes before driving away, later telling the gardai that he did not realise he had hit the victim. The court noted that the driver had ample time to see the pedestrian but did not. O'Riordan received a suspended prison sentence of 18 months, was banned from driving for two years, and was required to keep the peace. The victim, who suffered a fractured hip and now requires assistance to walk, has expressed that the incident has severely impacted his independence and mental health.
DJ Carey, aged 50, was due to be sentenced for 10 counts of dishonestly inducing people to pay him money after fraudulently claiming to have cancer. The sentencing hearing was adjourned to Friday because Carey did not appear in court; he is currently at Portiuncula University Hospital in Ballinasloe, awaiting a bed. He presented a medical note to the court, and Gardaí confirmed his presence but could not verify his inpatient status. The prosecution, led by Dominic McGinn SC, noted that one count of deception was struck out, while the remaining counts, including two for using a false instrument, would be considered by the judge. Carey's case involves 13 complainants and was originally set for a four‑week trial. He has a history of significant health issues, including heart surgery last summer, and has requested legal aid and a psychological report for sentencing. Dj Carey pleaded guilty.
In a case brought under the Employment Equality Act 1998, Swylwia Szuba, a Polish care‑home worker, won €1,800 after her line manager at Hazel Hall Nursing Home in Clane made remarks linking her nationality to a supposedly poorer attitude and compared Polish people to Irish people, calling the latter "nicer and kinder." Szuba, then three months into probation as an activities coordinator, complained that the manager's comments were discriminatory. She raised an informal grievance, received an apology, but the matter was closed without any action against the manager. Later, on 8 April 2024, her probationary employment was terminated on grounds of performance issues. The tribunal found the manager's remarks amounted to racial discrimination and ordered the employer to pay compensation and review its dignity‑at‑work policy within six months. The decision was made by adjudicator Elizabeth Spelman.
In a Workplace Relations Commission ruling, William Gallagher, a tenant in County Kildare, was awarded €23,000 after landlords Jenny Brennan and Matthew Hannigan unlawfully refused to sign the State housing assistance payment (HAP) form. Gallagher had been denied HAP, which the council had approved in December 2023, and had paid €15,000 of rent out of pocket. He sent a formal discrimination notice under the Equal Status Act, after receiving eviction notices eight days later. The tribunal found the landlords' refusal and delay constituted serious housing‑assistance discrimination, awarding Gallagher €15,000 for loss and €8,000 for penalisation, totaling €23,000. Gallagher's evidence was deemed credible, and the landlords were ordered to pay the compensation. The case highlights the legal protection against discrimination in housing assistance.
Philip Ogbewe, a 61-year-old man from Drogheda, Co Louth, appeared at the Court of Appeal to challenge his sentence for performing illegal circumcisions on seven boys between January 2018 and October 2019. Ogbewe pleaded guilty to seven counts of endangerment and seven counts of assault causing harm. In July 2024, Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a four-and-a-half-year sentence on each endangerment count, with one running consecutively and the rest concurrently. After applying the principles of totality, the effective sentence was reduced to seven and a half years, with the final 12 months suspended. Ogbewe's counsel, Giollaosa Ó Lidheada SC, argued the headline sentence was too high and that Ogbewe was not given sufficient credit for his remorse and reformation after "seeing the light." He contended that Ogbewe's prior three-year sentence for a separate 2015 offence, which expired just before these charges were laid, should have influenced the totality calculation. The Director of Public Prosecutions, represented by Shane Costelloe SC, maintained the sentence was sound, citing grave aggravating factors including the number of victims and Ogbewe's knowledge that his actions were illegal. The court reserved its judgment, meaning the matter was adjourned and not concluded.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 80‑year‑old Desmond Walsh was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for sexually abusing a child aged five to nine between 2011 and 2015. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted the repeated nature of the abuse and the victim's young age as aggravating factors, but also cited Walsh's guilty plea, remorse, lack of prior convictions, long work history and low likelihood of re‑offending as mitigating factors. Walsh had been extradited from Spain after leaving Ireland in 2018 and was returned to face the charges in November 2022. The victim, who remained unnamed, gave an impact statement expressing a desire to return to normal life. The judge urged Walsh to feel ashamed of his actions. The sentence was reduced from an initial headline of eight years to four years, with credit given for time already spent in custody.
Stephen Penrose, a 42‑year‑old serving a life sentence for the murder of Philip Finnegan, dismissed his legal team before his scheduled appeal hearing. Penrose had represented himself in the 2021 trial after earlier dropping two legal teams. The jury found him guilty of murdering Finnegan, 24, at Rahin Woods on 10 August 2016, after CCTV and forensic evidence linked him to the crime. Penrose had previously been found not guilty of murder in a 2010 trial for a different killing. Ahead of the appeal, Penrose notified the court of his decision to dismiss his solicitors and counsel, a move confirmed in a video consultation. The Court of Appeal, noting the lack of communication from the former team, adjourned the hearing to 24 October to verify the dismissal and allow a new solicitor to appear. The case remains pending.
Sean McGovern, who was extradited from the United Arab Emirates last May to face charges of murder and directing a criminal organisation, has been served with a second book of evidence at the Special Criminal Court. McGovern (39), with a previous address at Kildare Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12, is charged with the murder of Noel Kirwan on December 22, 2016 at St Ronan's Drive, Clondalkin in Dublin. He was served with a book of evidence in relation to this charge earlier this year. Dominic McGinn SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, stated that a second book of evidence was now ready to be served, covering further offences with which McGovern is charged, including directing the activities of a criminal organisation in connection with the same murder between October 20, 2016 and December 22, 2016. He is also charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation in connection with the surveillance of James Gately in preparation for the commission of an indictable offence between October 17, 2015 and April 6, 2017. Another charge alleges that between October 20 and December 22, 2016 he contributed to or participated in activity intending or being reckless as to whether such activity would facilitate a criminal organisation in the murder of Mr Kirwan. He faces a similar charge of facilitating a criminal organisation in a conspiracy to murder James Gately. Seán Guerin SC, for McGovern, raised an issue with disclosure relating to the lawfulness of McGovern's extradition which has been 'outstanding for a while'. He said the prosecution has now indicated that this would be ready by Friday. Mr McGinn requested that the matter be put back for two weeks. Mr Guerin asked that his client appear by video link on that occasion. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor set a further hearing date of Friday, October 17 and directed that McGovern appear by video link on that date.
Christopher Farrell, 69, of Tallaght, was fined €750 for dangerous driving after a police chase. He pleaded not guilty to two counts of dangerous driving. The court dismissed the charge relating to an incident on Fortunestown Way but convicted him of a second count involving a pursuit outside his home. Garda David Sheehan reported that Farrell drove behind an unmarked patrol car, flashed his headlights, shouted abuse, and accelerated away, causing dust to rise from the median. He later turned into the Suncroft estate, sounded his horn, and drove into his driveway. Garda Sheehan described Farrell as "extremely aggressive," throwing his keys and handing his phone to a woman. The court noted Farrell's claim of panic was not credible once the patrol car's blue lights were activated. He was fined €750 with a five‑month payment period. The case was heard at Tallaght District Court by Judge Patricia McNamara.
Ryan Kearney, 39, was sentenced to ten years in prison with one year suspended for three years, following a nine‑year custodial term that was reduced by mitigation. The sentence was imposed after a jury found him guilty of manslaughter, not murder, for stabbing Jeffrey Jackson, 50, 16 times in a "frenzied knife" attack on 8 February 2024. Kearney claimed he acted in self‑defence, citing a dispute over alcohol and Jackson's intoxication. The judge described the violence as extreme and sustained, noting Kearney's 152 prior convictions, including a 10‑year drug‑supply sentence with three years suspended. Victim impact statements highlighted the brutality of the attack and the lasting pain felt by Jackson's family. The court emphasised that the defendant's alcohol‑related history and lack of remorse were factors in the sentencing decision. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty and was acquitted.
A 41‑year‑old man, Andrew Leigh, was convicted of historic sexual assaults on three girls and sentenced to four years in prison by Mr Justice David Keane on 18 December 2023. Leigh now appeals to the Court of Appeal, arguing that the trial should have separated the charges. His counsel, Michael Bowman SC, contended that two of the counts were only linked by occurring in a car, one involving touching a girl's genital area and the other involving self‑touch and inserting fingers into a girl's mouth. Bowman also challenged the prosecution's claim that Leigh knew his actions were "gravely wrong", noting no evidence of deliberate creation of an environment or isolation of the girls. Mr Justice John Edwards instructed the court to reserve judgment on the appeal. The case remains at the appeal stage. The unnamed 41-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the brother of cancer‑survivor Jeffrey Jackson said the defendant, 39‑year‑old Ryan Kearney, showed no respect or remorse for the family when the verdict was read. Kearney, who had 152 prior convictions, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter after a jury rejected the prosecution's claim that he had intentionally stabbed Jackson from head to toe. Kearney claimed he acted in self‑defence during a "frenzied knife" attack that left Jackson with 16 stab wounds, two fatal chest wounds, and a death caused by alcohol‑related impairment. The court heard that Kearney had previously been convicted of drug possession, theft, and other offences, and that he had been on bail for several matters at the time of the incident. The sentencing hearing was scheduled for Thursday, with Kearney remanded in custody. The victim impact statements highlighted the family's grief and the brutality of the attack.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 25 July 2025, Mr. Osgur Breatnach, aged 75, sought a declaration that his 1978 conviction for the Sallins train robbery was a miscarriage of justice. The robbery, which occurred on 31 March 1976, involved the theft of an estimated £200,000 from a Cork‑to‑Dublin mail train near Sallins, County Kildare. Breatnach, one of five members of the Irish Republican Socialist Party, was initially found guilty and sentenced to 12 years by the Special Criminal Court. His conviction was later quashed in May 1980 after the Court of Criminal Appeal ruled that his confession had been obtained under "oppression." During the case‑management session, Mr. Breatnach's solicitor, Kevin Winters of KRW Law, presented an application under section 9 of the Criminal Procedure Act 1993, asserting that newly discovered facts indicate a miscarriage of justice.
A 24‑year‑old Moldovan national, Valeriu Melnic, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by a Central Criminal Court jury after he stabbed his sister's partner, Ion Daghi, to death with a kitchen knife on 12 May 2024. Melnic told Gardaí he was "so drunk" that he could not remember the stabbing, and he had earlier said "I will kill you" to Daghi. The jury rejected the prosecution's murder case, accepting the defence of intoxication and provocation. The judge, Mr Justice David Keane, noted the graphic evidence and the jury's service, and remanded Melnic in custody until a sentencing hearing on 3 November. The Daghi family will be able to give a statement at that hearing. The case was listed for mention on 20 October. The trial detailed the night's events, including multiple bottles of whiskey, a dispute, and the fatal stab wound to Daghi's chest.
Gerry Cash, 33, was convicted of trespassing on a vulnerable 88‑year‑old pensioner's home in County Kildare. The original sentence was nine months' custody with the final six months suspended. Cash appealed only the severity of the sentence, not the conviction. The appeal court, hearing evidence from Garda Padraig Murphy and a victim impact statement, found the original sentence too lenient. Judge Dara Hayes increased the effective custodial term from three to six months, suspending only the final three months for a twelve‑month period on the condition that Cash does not contact the victim or his family again. The appeal did not alter the conviction or the suspended portion; it merely doubled the effective custody from three to six months. The case remains at the appeal stage, with no further outcome reported.
A jury of eight men and four women is set to return to the Central Criminal Court to continue deliberating the verdict in the murder trial of Moldovan national Valeriu Melnic, aged 24, who is accused of fatally stabbing Ion Daghi, aged 39, with a kitchen knife on 12 May 2024. Melnic pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The jury has spent five hours and 52 minutes over two days considering the case and has not yet reached a unanimous verdict. Judge David Keane has advised that they may seek a majority verdict, requiring at least ten jurors to agree, and has asked them to return tomorrow for further guidance on the defence of provocation. The jury is also instructed to consider whether intoxication could negate intent, and whether provocation could reduce the charge to manslaughter. The case remains at the deliberation stage, with no verdict yet announced.
The jury heard that the 24‑year‑old Moldovan national Valeriu Melnic, who stabbed Ion Daghi to death with a kitchen knife, was heavily intoxicated after drinking three bottles of "firewater." Melnic pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The defence argued that intoxication and provocation should reduce the charge to manslaughter, citing Melnic's memory loss and the alleged assault by Daghi. The prosecution countered that Melnic's statement "I will kill you" and the circumstances of the struggle showed intent to kill, making murder the appropriate verdict. Judge Keane explained that intoxication is not a full defence to murder and that provocation must be a sudden, complete loss of self‑control. The jury was instructed to decide between guilty of murder or guilty of manslaughter. Valeriu Melnic was acquitted.
The High Court trial concerning a disputed €15 million agreement for the 17th-century Barne Estate in Tipperary continued before Mr Justice Max Barrett. Applicants John Magnier, Richard Thomson-Moore, and Century Barne Estate are parties to the litigation, where Mr Magnier seeks to enforce an alleged handshake deal. Mr Thomson-Moore, giving evidence in defence, stated he was "shocked" by an "untoward" offer of two envelopes containing €50,000 in cash, described by the Magnier side as a "luck penny" or token of appreciation. The defendants deny a binding agreement existed, noting that estate trustees ultimately accepted a higher offer from Maurice Regan, who is not a party to the case. Mr Thomson-Moore testified that while a price was agreed, a final deal was not, and that the cash was later returned. Cross-examination focused on lists of the mansion's contents, with the Magnier side suggesting an intent to withhold high-value items from trustees, an allegation Mr Thomson-Moore denied. The matter remains at the trial stage and has not been finalised.
During the trial, 24‑year‑old Moldovan national Valeriu Melnic pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of Ion Daghi, 39, who was stabbed with a kitchen knife at The Close, Sallins Park, on 12 May 2024. Melnic, who was heavily intoxicated, told Gardaí that he could not remember the stabbing but later said that "all the evidence pointed" to him being "the only one responsible." He described a drunken argument with Daghi, a brief moment of choking, and a fight that escalated to the use of a knife. Melnic admitted he had caused the fatal wound but could not recall holding or stabbing the knife. The jury heard his statements, the prosecution's case that he armed himself with a kitchen knife, and the defence's claim of intoxication and lack of memory. The trial is set to continue before Mr Justice David Keane and a jury of eight men and four women.
The sister of Valeriu Melnic, accused of murdering Ion Daghi, testified that her evidence to the jury last week was the opposite of what she had said in her Garda statement. In the statement, she described her brother as the aggressor who had a knife and threatened to kill her husband. In court, she denied that she was trying to protect him and said she had not seen the earlier part of the fight. She admitted that she had described her husband as the one armed and that her brother had wanted to leave the house. She also said she had only seen the leg of a chair in his hand and did not see them fighting. The trial continues tomorrow before Mr Justice David Keane and a jury of eight men and four women. Valeriu Melnic pleaded not guilty.
A 41‑year‑old man who sexually abused his eight‑year‑old cousin while babysitting her in the summer of 1999 has not had his one‑year jail term reduced on appeal. He pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault at an address in Co Kildare. The court noted that at the time of the offence he was 15 and the victim was eight. Four incidents occurred in the family home where he was staying. The victim's impact statement said the abuse changed her life, leaving her with shame and guilt, and that she was celebrated by others who knew of the abuse. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three years, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, affirming the sentence as proportionate and noting the aggravating factors of repeated offending, breach of trust, and the victim's secondary traumatisation.
In a High Court settlement, Christopher Miley's family will receive €185,000 after his death on 28 October 2021 when a loader shovel at Behan Quarry in Rathcoole, Dublin, struck and crushed him. Miley, 31, was refuelling vehicles for Shannon Valley Plant Hire while employed by Euro Oil. His partner, Shelly Keating, brought a personal injury claim against five defendants: Shannon Valley Plant Hire Unlimited Company, Laurence Behan Senior, L Behan and Sons Ltd, L Behan Aggregates and Recycling Ltd, and MPM Oil trading as Euro Oil. The claim alleged negligence, breach of statutory and contractual duty, and failure to provide a safe work environment, including inadequate lighting after dark. No defendant admitted liability. The court approved the settlement, waiving claims from Miley's sisters and mother, and expressed sympathy for Keating and the children.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing on 10 July 2025, a witness described how Valeriu Melnic (24) of Calliaghstown Lower, Rathcoole, attempted to protect his head while Ion Daghi (39) of The Close, Sallins Park, held a chair leg and threatened to beat him. The witness, Moldovan Alexandru Beccieu (24), testified that the two men had been drinking heavily, with Melnic allegedly consuming a "colossal amount" of whiskey. Melnic had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. A pathologist told the jury that Daghi died from a single 13‑cm stab wound to the chest, causing rapid death. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice David Keane, continues with a jury of eight men and four women. The witness's testimony focused on the altercation, the drinking, and the fatal stabbing, without providing any further legal conclusions.
Valeriu Melnic (24), of Rathcoole, Co Dublin, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the alleged murder of Ion Daghi (39) at The Close, Sallins Park, Sallins, Co Kildare, on May 12, 2024. Mr Melnic has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster testified that Mr Daghi died from a single stab wound to the left chest, which measured 13cm in depth and penetrated the heart's right ventricle. She stated that death would have been rapid due to hemorrhage and shock, with 250ml of blood found in the pericardial sac. Dr Bolster noted blunt force injuries to the deceased's hands, consistent with offensive or defensive actions during an altercation, and confirmed that 73mg of ethanol was detected in his system. A knife blade recovered from the scene measured 19.5cm, consistent with the wound. Prosecuting counsel Carl Hanahoe SC alleged that Mr Melnic armed himself with a kitchen knife and stabbed Mr Daghi following a dispute after they spent the night drinking together. The trial continues before Mr Justice David Keane and a jury.