The evidence phase of the trial of Andrew Shannon, aged 51, accused of illegally possessing 67 antique books including a rare 1660 King James Bible, has concluded. The books, originally from Carton House's library, were allegedly missing after storage during a restoration and later found in Shannon's Dublin home. Shannon claimed he bought them at a fair for about Irl£300 and used them as ornaments. He pleaded not guilty to possession of stolen books at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the jury set to deliberate next Monday.
Andrew Shannon, 51, was accused of illegally handling 67 antique books that had disappeared from Carton House's library during a restoration. The books, including a rare 1660 King James Bible, were found in his home during a March 2007 search. Shannon pleaded not guilty to possession of stolen property, claiming he had bought the books for decoration at a market fair for €300 and that they were of no real value. He told Gardaí he "can't read too well" when asked to identify his signature on a list of seized books. The court heard that the books were valued at about €6,000 in 2006, with a defence expert estimating £3,000. The case is pending before Judge Petria O'Donnell and a jury.
During the restoration of Carton House, 67 valuable antique books, including a rare 1660 edition of the King James Bible, went missing after being stored. Andrew Shannon, 51, stands trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for unlawfully possessing the books, having them in his home when found during a March 2007 search. He pleaded not guilty, claiming ignorance or recklessness regarding their stolen status. The prosecution, represented by Monika Leech BL, argued that the State's case was not that Shannon stole the books but that he possessed them. Conor Mallon, who has overseen the house's restoration since 1994, testified that the books were photographed before storage and identified by the Fitzgerald family crest on their spines. He noted the books dated from the mid‑17th century onward and that no family member had sold or lent them. The trial continues before Judge Petria McDonnell.
In a High Court hearing on 25 January 2016, a mother and her two children, whose names are withheld for legal reasons, argued that Kildare County Council's refusal to grant them emergency accommodation was unlawful. The family had been living in private rented accommodation with the mother's former partner until October 2015, after which they stayed with friends and relatives in a temporary arrangement. Despite applying for emergency accommodation on 6, 7 and 8 January, the council rejected their application on 8 January without providing proper reasons. The mother claimed the denial breached the council's accommodation scheme and her constitutional rights, and that the family could not secure alternative housing. She expressed fear that being forced to sleep rough would harm her children and that she was at a "cracking point." The court granted permission to bring the action ex‑parte and made the matter returnable to Thursday, noting the urgency of the case.
In a High Court hearing on 21 January 2016, Mr Justice Paul Gilligan struck out contempt of court proceedings against Ben Gilroy and Dermot Murphy. The proceedings had been brought by receiver Mr George Maloney, who was attempting to take possession of and sell lands owned by Paul O'Shea in Castledermott, Co. Kildare, to satisfy a €1.29 million judgment from Danske Bank. Maloney had obtained injunctions restraining O'Shea and others from interfering with his work as receiver. Gilroy and Murphy were alleged to have interfered with Maloney's attempts to secure the property. The judge, following an application by Maloney's lawyers, decided not to continue the contempt action, citing the alleged contempt as historical, the lack of recent incidents, and the receiver's need to "pick and choose his battles." No order was made on legal costs, and Gilroy was allowed to claim travel expenses to the Four Courts. The case was therefore dismissed.
Seamus Morgan, 49, of Athy, Co Kildare, was sentenced to life imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Laurence Keane, 56. A jury of three men and nine women returned a unanimous guilty verdict after deliberating for three hours and six minutes. Mr Justice Robert Eagar imposed the life sentence, backdating it to April 23, 2014, the date Morgan entered custody. Morgan had previously pleaded not guilty to the charge. The court heard that Keane was beaten in a lane-way in Athy on July 18, 2013, suffering severe blunt force trauma to the head, and died the following day. Evidence included witness testimony of a scuffle and forensic analysis of blood stains on the accused's runners, which matched Keane's DNA profile. Morgan has eight previous convictions, including a 2005 manslaughter conviction for the stabbing death of James Hand outside a Dublin pub, for which he received an eight-year sentence. The victim's family read a statement describing Keane as a disabled man and expressing the lasting impact of his death. The judge exempted the jury from service for four years.
A Central Criminal Court jury found 49‑year‑old Seamus Morgan, of The Hollands, Athy, guilty of murdering 56‑year‑old Laurence Keane in Athy on 19 July 2013. Morgan had pleaded not guilty. The jury, consisting of three men and nine women, deliberated for three hours and six minutes before delivering a unanimous verdict. Judge Robert Eagar thanked the jury for their concentration and thought, then exempted them from service for four years.
In the Central Criminal Court, State lawyers argued that Gary Flynn, 31, of Rossfield Drive, Tallaght, was a member of a "murder gang" that planned and carried out the killing of Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne at Tymon Park North on 13 March 2009. Prosecutor Alex Owens SC told the jury that the gang met at Moran's Hotel on Naas Road, travelled to Tallaght in three vehicles—a Nissan Primera, a Volkswagen Golf and a Mercedes Van—and left around 7.30 pm. At about 8.15 pm, a gang member shot O'Byrne, was tackled by Sharon Rattigan who was waiting outside, and the shooter fell over a wall, separating from the rest of the gang. Rattigan was wounded in the leg. Owens said the shooter returned alone to Moran's Hotel, and that Flynn's membership and involvement in the common design to murder O'Byrne were central to the State's case. Flynn pleaded not guilty.
The jury in the Kildare murder trial of Seamus Morgan, 49, will resume deliberations tomorrow after a brief pause. Morgan, who lives at The Hollands, Athy, is charged with the murder of Laurence Keane, 56, on 19 July 2013. He pleaded not guilty last week at the Central Criminal Court. The jury began deliberating at 11:52 am this morning and had been discussing the case for two hours and 16 minutes when Justice Robert Eagar instructed them to suspend and reconvene at 11 am tomorrow, prohibiting any discussion with outsiders.
In a Kildare town, Seamus Morgan (49) is charged with murdering Laurence Keane (56) on 19 July 2013. At the Central Criminal Court, Morgan pleaded not guilty. Prosecution counsel Orla Crowe BL delivered a closing speech, asserting that the evidence—witness statements, post‑mortem findings of blunt‑force trauma, and accounts of a scuffle—would allow the jury to be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt of Morgan's guilt. She highlighted admissions from Morgan, observations by witnesses Nathan Robinson and Ricky Moriarty, and the post‑mortem report of ten significant blows to Keane's head. Defence counsel Sean Gillane urged the jury to scrutinise the credibility of witnesses and to consider the possibility of false testimony. The trial was scheduled to continue with the judge's instructions on Monday.
In a 2016 murder trial, forensic evidence showed that blood stains on a pair of runners owned by Seamus Morgan (49) matched the DNA profile of the deceased, Laurence Keane (56). The DNA match was derived from stains on the toe and tongue areas of the runners, with a probability of less than one in a thousand million that the profile came from anyone other than Keane. Morgan was charged with Keane's murder on 19 July 2013, pleaded not guilty, and was re‑arrested on 23 April 2014 after new evidence emerged. The prosecution presented witness statements from Keane's niece and others who observed Morgan and Keane together in the days before the murder. The trial was ongoing, with the judge scheduled to address the jury the following day.
During a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, evidence was presented that CCTV footage from Athy on 18 July 2013 showed Seamus Morgan (49) and the deceased, Laurence Keane (56), walking together in the town centre. Garda Declan O'Dwyer supplied 23 clips, with the first showing Keane entering an off‑licence at 18:50 wearing a hat, a t‑shirt and a stick. Subsequent clips placed the two men on Leinster Street, Barrow Bridge, and St John's Lane between 20:57 and 23:33, with Morgan identified as the man closer to the road and Keane as the one holding a stick. The prosecution argued the fatal attack occurred shortly before midnight on 18 July, between 23:30 and 23:45, and that Morgan was seen entering Marcari's chip shop at 23:33. The trial was scheduled to continue the following day. Seamus Morgan pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial in Athy, a witness, Nathan Robinson, testified that he saw the accused, Seamus Morgan, swing an object about 12 inches long at the victim, Laurence Keane, three times on the night of the killing. Robinson, who was cycling with friends around 10 pm on 18 July 2013, described a scuffle at the top of the hill on St John's Lane where Morgan and Keane were fighting. He claimed to have seen Morgan swinging the object and heard the victim being struck on the head. The defense argued that Robinson could not have seen the act because he had not reached the corner of the lane. A second witness, Ricky Moriarty, also on his bike that night, reported hearing noises and seeing Keane struck by a bar. The trial is ongoing. Seamus Morgan pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Seamus Morgan (49) of Athy, Co. Kildare, pleaded not guilty to the killing of Laurence Keane (56) on 19 July 2013. The prosecution presented evidence from Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis, who examined Keane's body at Nass General Hospital. Curtis reported that Keane suffered ten significant blows to the head, with full‑thickness lacerations on the right scalp and fractures on the left side of the skull. He described severe blunt‑force trauma as the cause of death, noting extensive bruising of brain tissue. Witnesses, including Jamie Flynn Quinn, Garda Seamus Muldowney, and Garda Alan Kavanagh, recounted seeing Keane on Barrow Bridge and later in a lane‑way near St John's Lane, where blood was found and a 999 call was made. The case remains in progress.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Seamus Morgan (49) pleaded not guilty to the killing of Laurence Keane (56) on 19 July 2013. The prosecution argued that Keane was badly battered in the head with an iron bar in a lane‑way near St John's Lane, Athy, between 11.30 and 11.45 pm on 18 July 2013, and died the next morning at Naas General Hospital. A post‑mortem found blunt‑force trauma and four skull fractures. Witnesses, including young men on bicycles, testified they saw Morgan assault Keane. DNA evidence linked blood on a pair of Adidas runners found at Morgan's home to Keane's post‑mortem sample. CCTV and other evidence showed Morgan and Keane together that night, and a motive of long‑standing ill‑will was presented. Morgan was arrested on 25 July 2013, rearrested in April 2014, and the trial continues.
A jury was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the trial of Seamus Morgan, 49, who is accused of murdering Laurence Keane, 56, on 19 July 2013 in Athy. Mr Morgan pleaded not guilty. Judge Patrick McCarthy informed the jury of three men and nine women that the trial would last about two weeks and would begin at 2 pm before Judge Robert Eager.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 17 December 2015, a Dublin man, Donal O'Coisdealbha, aged 23, was denied bail for the third time after being arrested in May on charges of membership in the Irish Republican Army and possession of a component of an improvised explosive device. The court heard that seven independent sureties had been proposed, including three TDs – Mick Wallace, Clare Daly and Maureen O'Sullivan – each willing to offer €5,000. O'Coisdealbha, who has been in custody for seven months, claimed the TDs were "friends of the family". The State objected to the bail application on grounds of the seriousness of the charge, citing Section 2 of the Bail Act, and the court refused the application with great reluctance. The case remains pending in the Special Criminal Court.
Michael O'Shea, 70, of Smithstown, Maynooth, had been convicted of careless driving causing the death of Kevin O'Sullivan at Graiguesallagh, Ladychapel, in January 2013. He had pleaded not guilty at Naas Circuit Criminal Court, was disqualified from driving for four years, fined €5,000 and ordered to retake a driver competency test. In December 2014 Judge Gerard Griffin directed the disqualification and fine. On 15 December 2015 the Court of Appeal, hearing the appeal, found that the trial judge had misdirected the jury by classifying the offence as one of strict liability. The Court of Appeal allowed the appeal and directed a retrial. The appeal was argued by Damien Colgan SC, who contended that the jury had not been properly instructed on the requirement of intention or recklessness for the offence of careless driving causing death.
Three TDs, Mick Wallace, Clare Daly, and Maureen O'Sullivan, attended the Special Criminal Court today for a hearing related to the case of Donal O'Coisdealbha, a 23-year-old Dublin man charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on May 13th, 2015. O'Coisdealbha is also alleged to have possessed a component part of an improvised explosive device, a time and power unit (TPU), at a personal storage locker under his control at Protector Life Sciences, National University of Ireland Maynooth, Co Kildare, on the same date. The court was informed that O'Coisdealbha, who has been in custody since May, intends to make a renewed bail application this week. A previous bail application in May was refused, and the decision was upheld by the High Court. The bail application is listed for Thursday, December 17th. The case is currently at the trial stage, with no pleas, findings, sentences, or finalisations recorded for the accused, Donal O'Coisdealbha, or the other accused, Mick Wallace TD, who faces similar charges of IRA membership and explosives offences.
In a 2015 High Court ruling, Mr Justice Raymond Fullam declared a 2‑litre VW Golf bought in 2014 for €17,000 and €6,000 in a Dundrum Credit Union account belonging to Thomas Connors to be proceeds of crime. Connors, a married man in his mid‑thirties, had purchased the car under a fictitious name and only sought to register it in his own name after Gardai seized it. CAB presented evidence that Connors was involved in multiple burglaries across South Dublin, Kildare and Meath, and that he had not worked between 2001 and 2013, receiving social welfare. A financial expert noted that €279,000 had been deposited into several of Connors' accounts between 2000 and 2015, mainly in 2008 and 2009, and could not be explained. Connors did not appear in court or submit a defence.
Adrian Doyle, 35, of Lakelands, Naas, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to cultivating cannabis and possessing cannabis herb at a rented property in Church View Lawns, Prosperous, Co Kildare, in May 2014. Garda Eoghan O'Neill stopped Doyle's car at a checkpoint on St Johns Road, Dublin, where a cannabis smell was detected. Cannabis herb worth €4,428 was seized from the vehicle, and a subsequent search of the Prosperous address uncovered 24 early‑stage cannabis plants valued at €19,200, almost 2½ kg of dried herb worth €48,886, books on cultivation, bank slips, Doyle's phone, and €26,000 in cash in a laundry basket. Judge Martin Nolan noted the cash may include redundancy payment residue and profit from cannabis sales, and imposed a three‑year jail sentence. Doyle had no prior convictions, was described as remorseful, and had worked in financial services before losing his job during the downturn.
The Commercial Court heard that the occupation of Ballyburn House in Castledermot, Co Kildare, by Philip Morrissey Jnr and his pregnant wife is delaying a proposed €5.6m sale by AIB-appointed receivers. AIB seeks to sell the property to reduce a €26.9m debt owed by Dan Morrissey (Ireland) Ltd, the company allegedly owning the house. The bank and receivers dispute Mr Morrissey's claim of an ownership interest, asserting the property was security for a 2009 loan. They seek orders for vacant possession and a declaration that Mr Morrissey has no legal or equitable interest. Mr Morrissey, representing himself, opposed the application for fast-track admission, citing his unemployment and his wife's pregnancy, and requested an adjournment pending a Legal Aid Board decision. Mr Justice Brian McGovern admitted the case to the fast-track list, noting it met the necessary criteria. The judge acknowledged the Legal Aid Board's indication that a decision would take at least four months but stated that a long adjournment would be unfair to AIB, given the risk to the sale. He balanced the parties' rights, ruling that the matter must proceed. The case was adjourned to a date in December.
The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on Brian Meehan's appeal to have his 1999 conviction for the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin declared a miscarriage of justice. Meehan, 47, is serving a life sentence in Portlaoise prison after a 31‑day trial by the Special Criminal Court in July 1999. His appeal is based on new evidence that emerged during the 2001 Special Criminal Court trial of John Gilligan, who was acquitted of Guerin's murder. The new evidence concerns the identification parade of Russell Warren, the "admitted accomplice" and protected witness, who was not identified by Ms Marion Finnegan, a witness who saw someone on the steps of Naas courthouse on the day of the shooting. Meehan's counsel, Hugh Hartnett SC, argues that this failure to identify Warren was unknown to the defence, the court and the prosecution, and therefore constitutes a new fact.
Brian Meehan, 47, serving a life sentence in Portlaoise prison for the 1996 murder of journalist Veronica Guerin, has applied to the Court of Appeal to quash his 1999 conviction on the basis of new evidence. The new evidence concerns facts that emerged during the 2001 Special Criminal Court trial of John Gilligan, who was acquitted of Guerin's murder. Meehan's counsel, Hugh Hartnett SC, argued that the Special Criminal Court had relied solely on the testimony of an "admitted accomplice" and protected witness, Russell Warren, whose credibility was later undermined by a failure to identify him on an identification parade involving witness Marian Finnegan. Hartnett contended that this new fact, unknown to the defence and the court at the time of Meehan's trial, should invalidate the conviction. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Thomas O'Connell SC, opposed the application, asserting that the material was already available to Meehan's lawyers and that the appeal should be dismissed.
A 51‑year‑old man was jailed for sexually exploiting a 15‑year‑old special needs student. He had pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a child at a known location on 23 December 2010. The original sentence was six years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. On appeal the Court of Appeal found the six‑year starting point "simply too high" and re‑sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, again with the final two years suspended. The judge noted that the victim had Asperger's syndrome and a special needs assistant, and that the offender had contacted her through an adult dating website in October 2010, grooming her via phone calls and text messages. They arranged to meet on 23 December 2010 during the victim's lunch break. The offender drove her to a roadside location, forced sexual contact, and later threatened her not to report the incident.
Michael Moran, 78, of Oldtown, Nurney, pleaded guilty in the Central Criminal Court to three charges of raping his grandniece between October 2003 and June 2009 and to seven charges of raping his niece between January 1983 and March 1989. Judge Margaret Heneghan sentenced him to ten years, suspending the final three years on conditions. The court noted that the victims, aged 41 and 23, had suffered repeated sexual assault, with the older victim recalling assaults beginning when she was eight and the younger beginning when she was eleven. Moran admitted to the assaults and claimed the victims had instigated intercourse, but the judge described his actions as causing great suffering and trauma. He had entered an early guilty plea, expressed remorse, and had been of previous good character. The sentence reflected the seriousness of the repeated rapes and the impact on the victims.
Howard Kelly, aged 41, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 48‑year‑old Margot Seery, who was strangled in her Kenilworth Square flat in Dublin on 7–8 October 1994. Kelly walked into a Garda station in Naas in July 2014 and confessed to the killing, claiming he had been threatened by Seery and had acted in a "completely unprovoked" manner. The court heard that Seery's body was found fully clothed, face‑down on her bed, and that a post‑mortem at the time had indicated death by asphyxiation from vomit after alcohol consumption, a conclusion later challenged by Kelly's confession. The prosecution presented statements from Kelly, Garda evidence, and victim impact statements from Seery's daughter and brother. The judge, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, imposed a life sentence back‑dated to 27 March 2015. The case was described as highly unusual by the State prosecutor. Howard Kelly pleaded guilty.
Richard Molloy, a 44‑year‑old printer from Kildare, was convicted of possessing equipment for producing counterfeit banknotes and sentenced to six years in prison. He had been selling €20,000 of fake €50 notes to an IRA associate in exchange for €2,200, and a Special Detective Unit search uncovered over €2 million in counterfeit notes and the machinery used to make them. Molloy admitted he was working with the IRA but denied direct involvement with the organisation. He pleaded guilty to possession of counterfeiting tools after initially being charged with membership of an illegal organisation. The court, after hearing his financial difficulties and family circumstances, imposed the full six‑year term without suspension.
Brian Gavin, 28, was driving from Mullingar to Lucan at speeds up to 160 km/h when he clipped a car's wing mirror and later collided with a Skoda, causing Gerard Nolan to suffer a broken hip, broken leg, facial fractures and permanent scarring. Gavin then struck another vehicle before stopping. He told Gardaí he was trying to kill himself, citing suicidal thoughts and a desire to leave his family home. He has bipolar disorder, had stopped his medication, and had a prior suicide attempt. Gavin pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm and failing to stop, and to a second dangerous driving offence. He passed a roadside breath test. Judge Sarah Berkeley adjourned the case to monitor his medication compliance and imposed a mandatory four‑year driving ban.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Mark Lavelle, aged 32, originally from Swinford in Mayo, was sentenced to seven years imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, following his guilty plea to two counts of assault causing harm and hijacking. On the early morning of September 20th, 2014, Lavelle attacked a taxi driver in Palmerstown and subsequently assaulted Dublin GAA footballer Jonny Cooper on Dorset Street Upper, inflicting nine stab wounds. The court heard Lavelle was under the influence of crystal methamphetamine during the frenzied attacks. Mr Cooper was hospitalised overnight but recovered, though he experienced psychological effects. Judge Martin Nolan imposed consecutive sentences of three and a half years each, describing Lavelle as a danger to society. The judge noted Lavelle's sixty-two previous convictions and long-standing psychiatric difficulties requiring anti-psychotic medication. Defence counsel highlighted Lavelle's background of homelessness, substance abuse from childhood, and family history of violence.
In November 2015 the Supreme Court overturned a 2013 High Court ruling that had allowed the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) to compulsorily acquire 72 acres of Thomas Reid's farm and family home in Blakestown, Co. Kildare. Reid, aged 53, had sued the IDA and the State, arguing that the compulsory purchase order (CPO) issued on 14 November 2012 was beyond the powers granted to the IDA under section 16 of the 1986 Industrial Development Act. The Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision by five judges, held that the IDA had no authority to acquire land not immediately required for industrial use and that the CPO was ultra vires. The Court also found the IDA's decision to be objectively biased, as the IDA alone made the decision from start to finish. The ruling quashed the CPO and set aside the IDA's decision to acquire the land. All remaining matters, including costs, will be dealt with later.
In a High Court hearing on 5 November 2015, Richard Butler, aged 48, resolved a damages action against McSuils pub owners Noel and Ken Walker and his assailant Joseph Phillips. Butler had lost his left eye when Phillips struck him with a pool ball during an altercation at the pub on 17 July 2012. Butler, a former tiler, now wears a prosthetic eye. He alleged that the pub owners should have evicted Phillips after learning of his intoxication and violent propensity, and that the pub had served alcohol to him when it was dangerous, showing reckless disregard for Butler's safety. The owners denied the claims and the assault was not deemed foreseeable. The court entered judgment against Phillips in default of a defence and asked for damages. No settlement details were disclosed in open court. The pub is now closed. The hearing was presided over by Mr Justice Kevin Cross.
In a High Court hearing on 4 November 2015, a 48‑year‑old man named Richard Butler sued Joseph Phillips, the pub owner Noel Walker and his son Ken Walker after Butler lost his left eye when struck by a pool ball during an altercation at McSuils public house in Castlehill, Carlow on 17 July 2012. Butler, a former ceramic tiler, was injured after he tried to hold back Phillips, who had been drinking for several hours and was described by Butler as "loud, aggressive and a troublemaker." Butler claims Phillips had threatened to "escape from Shelton Abbey prison" and called himself a member of the IRA. Butler alleges the pub failed to control Phillips, served him alcohol when it was dangerous, and should have evicted him. The pub owners deny the claims, arguing the assault was unforeseeable. Phillips is currently serving a prison sentence for the assault and is representing himself in the action.
Kenneth Cummins (28) and Sabrina Cummins (37), both of Ringsend Park, Dublin 4, are on trial at the Central Criminal Court, having pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Thomas Horan (63) at Cambridge Court, Ringsend, on January 6th last year. During the trial, Sabrina Cummins gave evidence for the defence, describing the deceased as a "very nice man" who was "like a Dad" to her. She detailed her childhood background, including her father's alcoholism and domestic violence, which led to her placement in foster care. Ms Cummins also recounted a violent relationship with an Albanian man that resulted in a near-fatal injury. She stated she met Mr Horan through her sister, Breda, and maintained a long friendship with him. The court heard that Breda was murdered by her ex-partner in May 2013. Two weeks after Breda's burial, Sabrina Cummins alleged that five detectives held her and her partner at gunpoint, claiming Kenneth Cummins had reported they possessed a firearm intended to kill Breda's murderer. She denied these claims, stating her vehicle and home were searched. The trial continues.
A 32-year-old man originally from Swinford, County Mayo pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Dublin GAA footballer Jonny Cooper in the early hours of September 20, 2014. Mark Lavelle, with an address at Basin Street, Dublin, inflicted nine stab wounds to the player's forehead, eyelid and neck area during an unprovoked attack on Dorset Street Upper. The court heard Lavelle was under the influence of crystal methamphetamine at the time and had also assaulted a taxi driver and hijacked his vehicle hours earlier in Palmerstown. Mr Cooper spent one night in hospital and subsequently suffered anxiety and facial scarring. Lavelle was arrested at a petrol station in Maynooth when gardaí spotted the stolen taxi. Blood analysis linked Mr Cooper's DNA to a knife and jacket recovered from Lavelle. The defendant has sixty-two prior convictions including assaults, drug possession and robbery. Judge Martin Nolan remanded Lavelle in custody pending sentencing.
Kenneth Cummins, aged 28, and Sabrina Cummins, aged 37, both from Ringsend Park, Dublin 4, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Thomas Horan, 63, at Cambridge Court, Ringsend, on 6 January last year. Dr Alan Byrne, consultant psychiatrist at Lakeview Unit, Naas General Hospital, testified that Kenneth Cummins was voluntarily admitted to a mental health unit from 24 December 2013 to 3 January 2014 because he expressed suicidal thoughts and was agitated. He had previously been homeless and had been admitted for stabilisation. On 3 January 2014, an arrangement was made for him to leave the psychiatric unit to a homeless accommodation. The prosecution's case was concluded by counsel Mr Garret Baker BL. Judge Tony Hunt informed the jury that the trial would continue the following day, noting that Sabrina Cummins would not attend due to illness. The case remains at the stage where the jury will consider the evidence presented.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Jenzsoph Ltd was convicted on two counts under the Environmental Protection Act for causing pollution and nuisance odours at a landfill near Naas, Kildare. The first offence involved holding or disposing of waste that produced nuisance odours between 1 February 2007 and 25 November 2008, and the second involved a large mound of waste likely to cause pollution between 22 October 2003 and 25 November 2008. The company, which controls the 30‑hectare site, had granted licences to Neiphin Trading and the Environmental Protection Agency, but no defence was presented. Judge Patrick McCartan fined the company €10 million for each count, directing payment within one month. The trial lasted two weeks, with the jury deliberating for one hour before delivering guilty verdicts.
Colin Hammond, 21, of Balbriggan, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to making false bomb reports that caused a motorway closure, air‑traffic control disruption and the evacuation of 4,000 Intel employees. He had been drinking and taking tablets with a friend who paid him €30 to make the calls because he did not want to work at Intel the next day. Hammond claimed bombs were at Intel and would explode in 12 hours, and when asked who made the call he said "Islamic State." Judge Martin Nolan described him as "profoundly stupid" and sentenced him to 200 hours of community service within 12 months, instead of two years' imprisonment. The court noted that 300 employees were evacuated, 3,700 were prevented from entering the site, the M4 motorway was closed, and air‑traffic control was disrupted before authorities realised the hoax.
Mark Egan, 36, a homeless Dublin drug addict, was jailed for four and a half years for aggravated burglary and robbery. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to burglary on Kildare Road, Crumlin, on 24 May 2014, and robbery at Smock Alley Theatre on 16 June 2014. His prior convictions include six burglaries, drug offences, possession of knives, a blood‑filled syringe and robbery. The burglary involved a break‑in at Gerard Byrne's home, where Egan struck Byrne with a claw hammer and was dragged into the utility room until Gardaí arrived. Byrne suffered a head cut and wrist injury. At the theatre, Egan used a kitchen knife to take €200 and cards from a cash box, returned the phone, and left the scene. Garda testimony and CCTV footage supported the charges. The judge noted Egan's drug addiction, homelessness, and prior attempts at reform, and imposed the sentence back‑dated to August 2014.
Paul O'Shea, a farmer from Davidstown, Castledermot, Co Kildare, was jailed for 100 days after being found in contempt of court for failing to hand over vacant possession of farm buildings to a bank‑appointed receiver. He sought early release by challenging Rule 59 of the Irish Prison Rules, arguing it was unconstitutional and breached his rights under the European Convention of Human Rights because it barred remission for contempt sentences. The High Court, led by Justice Paul McDermott, rejected the challenge, stating the State may exclude certain categories, including those jailed for contempt, from remission. Rule 59 was upheld as "reasoned and rational" and not discriminatory. Consequently, O'Shea will remain in custody at Shelton Abbey Prison until the end of his 100‑day term, which was imposed by Justice Paul Gilligan in July for his serious and flagrant contempt of court orders. He had previously spent 15 days in jail for a related contempt order.
In a 2015 case, a 21‑year‑old Dublin man named Colin Hammond pleaded guilty to making false bomb calls that shut down the M4 motorway, disrupted air traffic control and prevented 4,000 Intel staff from working. Hammond, who had been drinking and taking tablets, was paid €30 by a friend who did not want to go to work at Intel in Leixlip. He called 999 twice, claiming bombs would detonate in 12 hours and that "Islamic State" was responsible. The court heard that 300 employees were evacuated and 3,700 were prevented from entering the site, and that the incident cost Intel 6,000 hours of production. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned sentencing to October and indicated a potential sentence of 200 hours of community service in lieu of two years' imprisonment, pending suitability. The case highlighted the disruptive impact of hoax bomb threats on public safety and business operations.
Richard Molloy, a 44‑year‑old printer from Naas, was found to have run a sophisticated counterfeit banknote operation while allegedly working with the IRA. He sold €20,000 in fake €50 notes to an IRA associate in exchange for €2,200 in genuine cash. A Special Detective Unit search of his printing premises uncovered over €2 million in counterfeit notes, both finished and unfinished, and the equipment used to produce them. Molloy pleaded guilty to possession of counterfeiting tools at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was remanded on continuing bail for sentencing on 7 November 2015. The court heard he began counterfeiting after his printing business suffered from the economic downturn, and that he had no direct involvement with the IRA beyond alleged cooperation. The case highlighted the scale of the operation and the evidence presented by the prosecution. The judge was urged to consider Molloy's financial hardship, his ill partner and child when determining his sentence.
Aaron Byrne, aged 22, was sentenced to eight years in prison for stabbing a 15‑year‑old in Naas, County Kildare, after a dispute over a €250 cannabis debt. Byrne had previously demanded the money at the victim's home and had given €100 the day before the stabbing. On 12 April 2014, he met the teenager at a service station and later at a housing estate, where a confrontation escalated. Byrne stabbed the boy under the rib cage, penetrating the chest wall and left lung, causing a major bleed that required immediate surgery. The victim recovered after five days in hospital and returned to school and sport. Byrne pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm. Judge Martin Nolan imposed an eight‑year term, suspended the final three years, and ordered 18 months of probation. The case highlighted the seriousness of the assault and the victim's recovery.
Brian Meehan, 47, from Crumlin, is serving a life sentence in Portlaoise prison for the 1996 murder of journalist Veronica Guerin. He was convicted in a 31‑day trial before the Special Criminal Court in July 1999 and also jailed on drugs and firearms charges. Meehan has applied to have his 1999 murder conviction quashed on the basis of new evidence that emerged during the 2001 Special Criminal Court trial of John Gilligan. The Court of Appeal scheduled his application for hearing on 19 and 20 November. The DPP's counsel, Paul Anthony McDermott, said the State needed two more weeks to prepare submissions, citing the volume of material since the murder. The DPP's motion to dismiss Meehan's application was refused last year, and the Court of Appeal will now consider whether the case should proceed. The hearing will focus on whether the new evidence constitutes a miscarriage of justice.
A farmer from Co Kildare, Paul O'Shea, was sentenced to 100 days' imprisonment by the High Court for failing to hand over vacant possession of farm buildings to a bank‑appointed receiver, George Maloney. The court found O'Shea had repeatedly ignored orders, including a 15‑day jail term earlier in the year for contempt of orders that prevented interference with the receiver's attempts to sell the land. O'Shea had also physically assaulted the receiver when he tried to enter the sheds and denied him entry. The judge rejected O'Shea's solicitor's argument that the sheds were controlled by Cannon Agri Ltd, a company largely owned by O'Shea, calling it a "colourful device" to avoid compliance. The sentence was imposed after O'Shea's repeated refusal to comply with the court's orders, and the judge directed that the order be served on the Garda Commissioner. Cannon Agri had the case struck out.
In the lead‑up to Prince Charles' State visit, Donal O Coisdealbha, aged 23, was arrested on May 13, 2015 on charges of membership in the Irish Republican Army and possession of a component of an improvised explosive device – a time and power unit – allegedly stored in a locker at Protector Life Sciences, National University of Ireland, Maynooth. Counsel Dean Kelly BL informed the non‑jury Special Criminal Court that his client intends to file a renewed bail application on July 21. Bail had previously been refused in May, a decision upheld on appeal to the High Court. Mr Kelly argued that the material used to deny bail – a transcription of a telephone call – may have been mis‑transcribed and that circumstances had changed significantly. Vincent Heneghan BL, counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said the transcription issue was not the central reason for the refusal. The court will consider the new application on the scheduled date.
In a case heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Michael Mongan, then 15, was found guilty of violent disorder and three counts of assault causing serious harm after a pub brawl at The Castle Inn Pub, Rathfarnham, on 16 October 2012. CCTV captured Mongan picking up a glass or bottle and striking John Mongan, 25, repeatedly, causing deep cuts that required 24 staples. Mongan also threw a bottle at Simon Reilly, 28, which struck Reilly's head and shattered, sending shards toward a nearby Garda. Mongan pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a suspended prison term of two and a half years, conditional on completing 240 hours of community service. The judge, Martin Nolan, rejected a request for anonymity under the Children Act, stating Mongan was not a child in the eyes of the law and that proceedings should be public.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Christopher Dunne, aged 27, was sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment for making a threat to kill Derek Walker in Clondalkin on 15 January 2013. Judge Mary Ellen Ring suspended the last 18 months of the sentence. Dunne, who has 126 prior convictions, also pleaded guilty to criminal damage to Walker's vehicle, possession of a GPS device for use in a crime, and theft of an Audi A4. His brother Aaron Dunne, aged 21, was previously sentenced to two and a half years with 18 months suspended for criminal damage and possession of a baseball bat during the same incident. The trial noted that Walker and a woman were hostile witnesses, and that witnesses were terrified and reluctant to testify. The court recorded that Walker had claimed the Dunne brothers owed him money for a car he had sold.
Alan Freeman, aged 34, was convicted of theft for his role in a January 2009 robbery at Carrick on Suir, Tipperary, where more than 40 firearms were taken. He pleaded guilty at Naas Circuit Criminal Court and was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment by Judge Gerrard Griffin on 1 April 2014. The Court of Appeal noted the robbery's significance to the Gardaí and that Freeman had been assisted by experienced counsel. On appeal, Judge George Birmingham reviewed Freeman's earlier suspended sentence of eight years for a bank robbery, of which six years had been reactivated, making a global sentence of 13 years. Applying the principle of totality and proportionality, Birmingham suspended two years of the seven‑year sentence, leaving Freeman with an overall sentence of 11 years. He agreed to a €100 bond to maintain peace and good behaviour during the suspended period.
In 2015 the Supreme Court dismissed appeals by jockey Eddie O'Connell and trainer Jim Lambe, who had challenged a High Court finding that they were not entitled to contest the Turf Club's authority to enforce racing rules. The Court also rejected the Turf Club's cross‑appeal that it was not subject to judicial review. The dispute stemmed from the Turf Club's investigation into alleged irregular betting on the horse Yachvili in a 2011 Downpatrick race. O'Connell was found to have breached racing rules, while Lambe was acquitted. The appellants sought declarations that the Turf Club's rules and the 1994 Act were unconstitutional, but the Court held the Act merely supported the Club's pre‑existing jurisdiction. The Supreme Court's unanimous decision affirmed the Turf Club's legal power to make and enforce rules, and dismissed all claims on their merits. The ruling confirmed that the Club's decisions are subject to judicial review under the 1994 Act.