Ben Gilroy, a political activist and founder of Direct Democracy Ireland, appears before the High Court to challenge allegations that he was in contempt of court for interfering with the receivership of a 120‑acre stud farm in Kildare. The receivers, appointed by the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, claim that Gilroy was a ringleader of protests on 28 and 31 August that forced them off the property. Gilroy, representing himself, denies any role beyond that of an observer, stating he was invited onto the land by Charles Allen of the Rodolphus Allen private trust and that he was not properly served with a notice of contempt. Video evidence presented by the receivers shows Gilroy speaking to a crowd and an audio clip from an internet radio interview in which he claims credit for the protest. Gilroy disputes these claims, arguing the footage shows him merely observing.
Patrick Lee, 41, a Kildare resident, faces extradition to the United States for 51 alleged offences, including 29 counts of wire fraud, 6 of unlawful monetary transaction and 16 of aggravated identity theft. The High Court heard that Lee allegedly participated in a scheme that defrauded U.S. banks and mortgage lenders by purchasing properties in Boston between 2006 and 2007, converting them into apartments, and using forged appraisals to secure loans. Lee claims the allegations are false and denies any wrongdoing. He argues that some offences occurred while he was in Ireland and that Irish law should prevent extradition. The court considered evidence that 8 of the 51 alleged offences took place outside the U.S., and that 30 offences post‑dated the Criminal Justice Act 2006, potentially qualifying them as Irish offences. Lee also raised concerns about potential mistreatment and health care in U.S. prisons.
Patrick Lee, 41, of Newtown, Co Kildare, faces extradition to the United States on 51 charges, including 29 counts of wire fraud, six counts of unlawful monetary transaction and 16 counts of aggravated identity theft. He is accused of participating in a scheme that defrauded U.S. banks and mortgage lenders by securing loans for properties that were never repaid. The alleged scheme involved real‑estate lawyers, "straw buyers" and forged appraisals, with Lee allegedly receiving about €1 million for his role. U.S. authorities seek a maximum sentence of 42 years. Lee denies the allegations. Cathleen Noctor BL presented documents and affidavits to the High Court, while Lee's barrister, Kieran Kelly BL, will submit written arguments. The case is set for a hearing before Mr Justice John Edwards on Thursday, with Lee's legal team raising concerns about potential cruel treatment and the reliability of U.S. assurances regarding extradition.
In a High Court case, Sean Dunne, who was declared bankrupt in Ireland and the United States last year, seeks to recover documents and other items seized from a property in Co. Kildare by Official Assignee Mr. Chris Lehane. The seized items include 100 pieces of artwork and golf memorabilia. Dunne's legal team, represented by Bill Shipsey SC, argues that Mr. Lehane should be cross‑examined on the contents of his affidavit to resolve the dispute. Mr. Lehane's counsel, Mark Sanfey SC, contends that such cross‑examination is inappropriate and impermissible. Justice Brian McGovern has asked for time to consider the motion and will rule before the full hearing scheduled for 19 March. The case also involves Mrs. Gayle Dunne, Traviata Ltd, and John Dunne, who seek the return of items belonging to them. Mr. Lehane's lawyers have stated that they are willing to return materials that do not belong to Mr. Dunne's estate.
In a Dublin murder trial, a 30‑year‑old man from Crumlin, Eugene Cullen, pleaded not guilty to the 2009 killing of Seamus O'Byrne, a 27‑year‑old father of two. The court heard that O'Byrne was shot in front of his girlfriend and child at Tymon Park North, Tallaght, at 8:15 pm. Prosecutor Alex Owens SC stated that Cullen was not the gunman but one of four conspirators. Garret O'Brien, a Bray man now convicted, was identified as the shooter. Detective Garda Mary Moore testified she arrested Cullen at 11 pm after spotting a silver Nissan Primera with three occupants, one being Cullen, and brought him to Tallaght Garda Station. Garda Alan Young reported seizing a silver Ford Transit van on Derry Road, taking fingerprint lifts. Detective Sergeant John Schley described the van's chassis and licence plates, noting it was stolen in 2008 with false tax and insurance discs.
In the murder trial of 30‑year‑old Eugene Cullen, the State Pathologist Marie Cassidy testified that the deceased, Seamus O'Byrne, suffered five gunshot wounds, including one to the head, three to the back and one in the hip. She noted injuries to the brain, heart and lungs and stated the cause of death was the chest wounds, with head and leg wounds contributing. The prosecution alleged Cullen was not the gunman but part of a four‑man plot. Witnesses described a silver car and a Volkswagen Passat seen near the scene, and a silver Nissan Primera with a flat tyre. Garda investigations involved house‑to‑house enquiries, CCTV footage from an Applegreen station, and the discovery of a left‑handed black glove in a drain. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Barry White with a jury of five men and seven women. Eugene Cullen pleaded not guilty.
Patrick Lee, 41, of Newtown, County Kildare, is wanted by U.S. authorities for 51 offences including wire fraud, unlawful monetary transaction and aggravated identity theft. He allegedly participated in a scheme that defrauded U.S. banks and mortgage lenders by purchasing properties in Boston, converting them into apartments, and using "straw buyers" to secure mortgages that were never repaid. Lee is accused of forging appraisals and receiving about €1 million for his role. The U.S. seeks his extradition for a maximum sentence of 42 years. Lee denies all allegations and claims he would face cruel and inhumane treatment if surrendered, citing health concerns and alleged mistreatment at Shannon Airport. The High Court will consider the extradition request on 12 March, with counsel for both sides presenting evidence. The case remains pending before Mr Justice John Edwards.
Patrick Lee, 51, is wanted for extradition to the United States on 51 alleged offences, including 29 counts of wire fraud, 6 counts of unlawful monetary transaction and 16 counts of aggravated identity theft. He is accused of participating in a scheme that defrauded US banks and mortgage lenders by purchasing properties in Boston between 2006 and 2007, converting them into apartments, and using "straw buyers" to obtain mortgages that were never repaid. Lee allegedly forged appraisals, was not a licensed appraiser, and received about €1 million for his role. The scheme involved real‑estate lawyers and the use of forged documents to secure loans, resulting in foreclosures and significant losses for lenders. Lee denies all allegations, claims he was arrested in 2012, and argues that extradition would expose him to cruel treatment and violate his constitutional rights. The case is before Mr Justice John Edwards.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 11 February 2014, Corey Mulhall, aged 43, was acquitted of membership in the Irish Republican Army. Mulhall had admitted taking photographs of Garda officers at the Harcourt Square complex in September 2012, using the false name "Jason Egan" to book a hotel room. He claimed money was offered by a named man to photograph a tall guard, and that he lied to Garda investigators about meeting a "bird" whose name he did not know. Garda Chief Superintendent Kevin Donohoe testified that, based on confidential information, Mulhall was a member of the IRA on 26 September 2012. The judge, Justice Paul Butler, found that Donohoe's belief alone was insufficient without independent corroboration. Mulhall's false answers and failure to answer material questions were noted, but the court concluded there was reasonable doubt about his membership, and he was acquitted. Mulhall had pleaded not guilty to the charge of membership of an unlawful organisation.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing in Dublin, James Brennan (45) and Joseph Kirwan (39) pleaded guilty to possession of explosive substances linked to a Continuity IRA pipe bomb factory. Brennan admitted manufacturing pipe bomb casings at his Newbridge home, while Kirwan was found welding components in a shed. Gardaí discovered six completed casings, a welder, grinder, welding masks, steel lengths, and other materials. Brennan, with 20 years in security, claimed he had distanced himself from republican activity and was placed in a non‑aligned cell at Portlaoise Prison. Kirwan, holding a mechanical engineering degree, expressed regret and pledged not to engage in future criminal acts. The court sentenced Brennan to seven years' imprisonment, suspending four years, and Kirwan to six years, suspending four years, with both sentences back‑dated to the arrest on 28 February 2013. The sentences reflect the court's view that the suspensions were appropriate given the defendants' undertakings.
A 58‑year‑old construction worker, Edward Winston of Montpelier Park, Dublin 7, was remanded in custody after being charged with unlawful possession of cannabis, cocaine and heroin, and possessing the drugs with intent to supply, following the seizure of about €200,000 worth of drugs in Dublin and Kildare. Detectives from the Garda National Drugs Unit seized cannabis at Ryebrook Business Park, Leixlip, and later recovered cocaine and heroin in Finglas, Dublin. Winston made no reply to the charges at Leixlip Garda station. Judge Ann Watkin noted that he was willing to stand bail but required time to meet the €30,000 surety condition. He was remanded to appear at Cloverhill District Court on 3 December. The operation also recovered over 250 rounds of ammunition and a double‑barrelled sawn‑off shotgun. A 20‑year‑old man arrested in the same operation was released without charge, and a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Joseph Kirwan, aged 39, pleaded guilty to possessing pipe‑bomb materials and other explosives. He admitted owning six complete casings for a plate‑type pipe‑bomb, a Parva welder, a grinder with blades, welding masks, steel lengths and other related items. The items were found at the home of co‑accused James Brennan, 44, on 28 February 2013. Kirwan's case was scheduled for sentencing on 17 December, the same date as Brennan's related matter.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Joseph Kirwan, aged 39 from Closelands, Ballybrittas, pleaded guilty to possessing pipe‑bomb materials and other explosives. He admitted to holding six complete casings for a plate‑type pipe‑bomb, a Parva welder, a grinder with blades, welding masks, steel lengths and related items at the home of co‑accused James Brennan on 28 February 2013. Brennan, 44, had earlier pleaded guilty to the same offence. The court set a sentencing date of 17 December, with the presiding judge noting the case would be listed then.
Paul Murtagh, 29, of Clonshaugh Heights, appeared before Swords District Court on 13 November 2013 charged with driving without insurance. He was alleged to have been stopped twice this year: on 17 April on Malahide Road and on 2 September on Feltrim Road, both times for lacking insurance. Defence solicitor Patrick Jackson requested a hearing date for both matters. Judge Dermot Dempsey asked why Murtagh had not appeared earlier; Murtagh replied he was at his grandfather's funeral. The judge remanded him on a €200 bond and adjourned the case to 27 January. Murtagh had previously been convicted on Monday at Dublin District Court for possessing a stolen Marmoset monkey, caught in his car on 1 October 2013 after the animal was taken during a burglary in County Kildare. He avoided prison, receiving 80 hours of community service in lieu of four months.
Paul Murtagh, 29, of Dublin, pleaded guilty to possessing a stolen South American Marmoset and to unlawful possession of a stun gun. He was caught with the monkey in his car on 1 October after it had been taken during a burglary in Co. Kildare. Garda Liam Eviston stopped his vehicle and found the animal in the boot. Murtagh also admitted to carrying a stun gun, seized on 27 October 2009, which he had bought legally abroad but is banned in Ireland. The court heard he had no sinister intent and had only used the gun on himself. Judge Bryan Smyth imposed community service to avoid custodial sentences: 80 hours for the monkey, 120 hours for the stun gun, instead of four‑month and six‑month jail terms respectively. The monkey was returned to its owners. The case was heard in Dublin District Court.
In a case of a man who was convicted of indecently assaulting his daughter, the Court of Criminal Appeal has reserved judgement. The man, now 66, was sentenced in April 2010 by Judge Frank O'Donnell to six years' imprisonment with three years suspended after a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury found him guilty of four counts of indecently assaulting his daughter. The alleged assaults occurred in County Kildare between October 1981 and March 1983 when the victim was aged 12 to 14. The man pleaded not guilty to all four charges. Evidence presented included claims that he forced his daughter to masturbate him and had her perform oral sex on him in his car when she was nearly 15. The appeal centred on whether a family confrontation in about 1994, during which the man allegedly admitted sexual abuse to his daughter's sister, could be considered an admission of the specific counts.
The Court of Criminal Appeal ruled on Tuesday that a five-year wholly suspended sentence imposed for dangerous driving causing death was unduly lenient. Ronan Cunningham, aged 31, of Enniskeen, Kingscourt, had pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in December 2011 to causing the death of Emmanuel Mendes, aged 24, on the N7 Naas dual carriageway on 10 October 2010. Cunningham also pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol. He had driven seven kilometres in the wrong direction down the dual carriageway after consuming seven or eight pints. His car collided with a vehicle carrying Mr Mendes and his fiancée; Mr Mendes was fatally injured. Presiding Judge Adrian Hardiman stated that the "extraordinary nature" of the driving had not been adequately considered at sentencing. The court directed preparation of a probation report and adjourned the case to 6 November for submissions on an appropriate sentence.