Cameron Cooper, 23, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for dangerous driving causing death after he hit 21‑year‑old apprentice electrician Dylan Killalee Maher at double the speed limit on Naas Road. Cooper fled the scene, falsely claiming his car had been stolen, and later pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, driving without insurance, making a false report and failing to offer assistance. The judge, Ronan Munro, described the offence as a homicide and imposed a five‑year, three‑month term, suspending the final year for five years on conditions, and disqualified Cooper from driving for nine years. The sentence was met with emotional reactions from the Maher family, who called for the maximum sentence for dangerous driving causing death to be raised to at least 14 years. The court noted Cooper had no prior convictions and that the victim's family did not attend the hearing.
The owners of Ryevale House, an 18th‑century property in Leixlip, Co. Kildare, secured a temporary injunction from the High Court to stop nine named defendants from harassing or intimidating residents, staff or contractors. The injunction was sought after a protester threatened a foreman, saying the water‑connection works would not start unless the contractor was prepared to hit him with a bucket from his digger. The house, which began housing 93 female asylum seekers in March 2023, had a contract with the International Protection Accommodation Services office. The owners argued that protesters had regularly picketed the site, blocked the open space where the new water main was to be installed, and threatened the safety of contractors. The court granted the interim injunction and adjourned the matter to the following week.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 65‑year‑old man named Peter Kennedy testified that he was terrified of a teenager, Brian Ibe, who had moved into his home. Kennedy said Ibe demanded money, threatened to kill him, and said he would "slit his throat." Witnesses, including Rita Swords, described Ibe as homeless and mentally unstable, and said he had repeatedly demanded money from Kennedy. Kennedy also alleged that Ibe threatened to stab him on at least one occasion. Ibe has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of Kennedy and to assaulting a Garda. The trial, presided over by Justice Melanie Greally, continues next Tuesday with a jury of twelve.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Ionut Leonard Petriu, who pleaded guilty to assisting a Romanian organised crime group, to a three-year prison term suspended in full on strict conditions for four years. Judge Orla Crowe noted Petriu's low risk of re-offending and his role in facilitating the gang, which included allowing his car to be used for transport and housing members. The court heard Petriu was not involved in the actual burglaries. His co-accused, Ricardo Stancu and Daniel Murgea, also pleaded guilty to burglary, criminal damage, and organised crime offences. Stancu was previously sentenced to five years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended. Murgea received a six-year sentence, reduced from a headline eight years, due to his significant history of dishonesty in France and Italy. The offences involved ram-raiding commercial premises, including a phone shop in Dublin city centre and a Vodafone shop in Newbridge, using a 'dummy car' to cause extensive damage. The judge described the crimes as highly organised, targeting unoccupied premises over two days. Petriu's case was adjourned for the preparation of a probation report before finalisation.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that a 65-year-old man, described as 'a kind person who would help people,' died from traumatic head injuries after being attacked by a then 19-year-old man who had been living with him. Brian Ibe (24), of no fixed abode and formerly of Moore Park, Newbridge, Co Kildare, is on trial for the murder of Peter Kennedy in Co Kildare five years ago. There is no contest that Ibe carried out an attack on Mr Kennedy, who died as a result. Ibe has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of Mr Kennedy between April 28 and May 12, 2020, and also pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to assault causing harm to Garda Brendan O'Donnell at Newbridge Garda Station on or about April 29, 2020. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Paul J Carroll SC, outlined the proposed evidence and factual matters of the case, stating that the burden of proof rests on the defence to convince the jury that the special verdicts of not guilty by reason of insanity are open to them. The trial continues tomorrow before Ms Justice Melanie Greally and the jury of six men and six women.
A jury of twelve was sworn in on 18 March 2025 to hear the trial of Brian Ibe, a 24‑year‑old from Newbridge, who has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of 65‑year‑old Peter Kennedy, which took place between 28 April and 12 May 2020. Ibe was also charged with assault causing harm to Garda Brendan O'Donnell on 29 April 2020, to which he likewise pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The trial will last about two weeks, with a possibility of a slight extension. The prosecution will present witnesses including consultant psychiatrist Dr Mary Davoren and clinical psychologist Dr Kevin Lambe, while the defence will call consultant psychiatrists Dr Conor O'Neill, Dr Stephen Monks, Dr Patrick McLoughlin, Dr Gauruv Malhan and psychologist Dr Marie English. A large number of Garda witnesses from Newbridge, Kildare, Athy, Rathangan, Portlaoise, Tallaght and Naas will also testify.
Kenneth Philpott, 64, of River Forest, Leixlip, was stopped by Gardaí for driving in a bus lane and was found to be carrying over €200,000 worth of cannabis. He pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs on 10 April 2024 at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Garda Ronan Doolin reported that the vehicle was searched after the driver, who was nervous and cooperative, claimed there were packages in the car. Gardaí seized 7 kg of cannabis in taped packages, valued at €140,000, and later found an additional €80,000 worth of cannabis at Philpott's home. Philpott admitted that he had been pressured by parties who had taken advantage of his €2,400 gambling debt to traffic the drugs. He had no prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan, taking into account Philpott's cooperation, good history, work record and the fear and coercion involved, set a headline sentence of six years but reduced it to three years imprisonment.
A Brazilian man has pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to operating a network of brothels across rural Ireland using falsified documents and landlord deception. Ilamar Rodrigues Ribeiro, aged 54, rented ten properties under a false Italian identity, with two located in Roscommon Town and others in Longford, Cavan, Leitrim, Carlow, Wexford and Kildare between 2018 and 2023. When arrested at Dublin Airport in November 2023, gardaí from the Human Trafficking and Co-ordination Unit recovered approximately €788,000 in proceeds of crime across multiple bank accounts. He also pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual abuse material on his phone comprising nine images and sixteen videos. Ribeiro entered guilty pleas to nineteen sample counts including fraud, inducing landlords to rent properties under false pretences, and possession of criminal proceeds. The investigation began following trafficking allegations from two women who identified properties being misused as brothels. Ribeiro has remained in custody since his arrest. Sentencing proceedings are scheduled for 21 March.
A 28‑year‑old man, John Glynn, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment by the Central Criminal Court for six counts of sexual assault against a girl aged between eight and thirteen who was being minded by his mother at his family home in Co. Kildare. The victim, who chose to waive anonymity, described ongoing fear, trust issues and psychological distress in her impact statement. Glynn pleaded guilty to the assaults, which occurred between 2013 and 2018, and was also charged with possession of child sexual abuse material, a charge pending sentencing in May. The judge noted Glynn's high risk of re‑offending, his admission of shame, and his ongoing cannabis use, and imposed a two‑year post‑release supervision order and a requirement to engage in a sex‑offender treatment programme. The sentence was reduced from a potential seven years to five years and six months, reflecting that Glynn was a juvenile for part of the offending period.
In a case heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Jake Walsh, aged 28, was sentenced to 27 months' imprisonment for dangerous driving that caused serious harm. The incident occurred on 30 October 2021 at the junction of Naas Road and Long Mile Road, where Walsh was estimated to be travelling at 129 km/h in a 60 km/h zone. He struck a motorist from the UK who had inadvertently passed three red lights at a confusing gyratory junction. The collision left the victim with a traumatic brain injury, liver laceration, fractures and the need to relearn how to walk. Walsh, who had previous convictions for road offences, pleaded guilty and was also disqualified from driving for five years. The court noted his remorse and good work history, but highlighted the excessive speed as an aggravating factor in the sentencing.
Nathan McDonnell, former chief executive of Ballyseedy Garden Centre, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to 12 years imprisonment for facilitating an organised crime group and 6 years concurrently for drug importation, backdated to his custody. The judge found McDonnell, aged 44, had been "committed to and invested in" a €32 million crystal‑meth operation linked to the Sinaloa Cartel. He stored a machine containing the drugs at his premises, paid shipping charges, and arranged export to Australia, receiving no payment. McDonnell admitted to Gardaí that he was unaware of the machine's contents. The court noted his financial hardship, family responsibilities, and the impact on his three sons. The sentence reflected the international reach of the criminal organisation and the large quantity of drugs involved. The judge also considered McDonnell's cooperation, good character and lack of prior convictions in mitigation.
Ian Kidney, a 37‑year‑old Dublin resident, was sentenced to seven years in prison for his role in a €3 million cannabis and cocaine operation. He had no prior criminal record but was under Garda surveillance from 3 April last year. Kidney pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of drugs for sale or supply: one for transporting drugs on Dublin's north side and another for a haul at a south‑side storage facility. Garda Brian Kirwan testified that Kidney drove a van to Finglas, delivering two boxes to Liam Mellows Road, where €320 000 of cannabis was found. He then drove into Dublin City Centre, where a stop on Beresford Street led to the seizure of €198 332 of cannabis. A self‑storage unit in Ballymount yielded €2.28 million of cannabis herb, €5 572 of resin and €694 858 of cocaine; Kidney held one of two keys.
David Williams, 68, was sentenced to six years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to multiple counts of deception, providing legal services while unqualified, and acting as an unauthorised personal insolvency practitioner between January 2019 and June 2020. The court found that Williams, who was not a practising barrister, defrauded hundreds of foreign nationals through bogus firms including THL Legal and Moore, Barrington and Walters. In a separate bill, he admitted to defrauding a Galway woman in her 80s by dishonestly inducing her to purchase a Kuboto U27 mini-digger for €7,841. Co-accused Crystal Talia, 46, pleaded guilty to impeding an investigation by allowing Williams to use her bank accounts. Talia, who has no previous convictions, was previously given a one-year suspended sentence. Judge Orla Crowe described Williams as an "endemic recidivist fraudster" who breached the trust of victims seeking to regularise their status in Ireland. Williams had previously failed to attend a sentencing hearing, resulting in two bench warrants. Defence counsel cited Williams' cardiac condition and employment history in mitigation, while noting his multiple prior convictions dating back to the 1970s. The matter was finalised with the imposition of the custodial sentence.
Roy Oti, aged 22, was found guilty of stealing €13,974 from a catering company that operated at Aviva Stadium, using a Sumup card‑reader system. He was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment, with a headline term of four years from which a final year was suspended. Oti's co‑accused included his sister Nikkel Oti (21) and Chidera Anago (22), who each pleaded guilty to thefts of €2,371 and €4,888 respectively. Both were dealt with under Section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 and will be discharged if they donate €750 to The Simon Community before the finalisation date in July. A further co‑accused, Sean Atowo (23), pleaded guilty and his case was adjourned to allow a probation report. The court noted the pre‑planned nature of the fraud and the breach of trust involved. The total amount stolen was €32,489, with €9,334 recovered, leaving the catering company a loss of €23,154.
In a Court of Appeal hearing, the lawyers for former Army Captain Ross O'Shea argued that his sexual assault of a female non‑commissioned officer was an aberration in a glittering 17‑year career and that his dismissal from the Defence Forces was a disproportionate punishment. O'Shea was convicted in October 2022 by a General Court Martial of sexually assaulting the officer at the Officer's Mess on 25 June 2020, moving his palms up and down her back and saying "come on, come on," and of assaulting her under Section 2 of the Non‑Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. The court imposed a six‑month custodial sentence suspended for one year and ordered his dismissal. O'Shea's appeal was dismissed in October 2023. The prosecution highlighted the disparity in rank, the victim's inability to defend herself due to military training, and the appellant's use of his rank to intimidate other officers. Ross O'Shea pleaded guilty.
Patrick Harty, 51, was sentenced to five years in prison, with the final year suspended, for a seven‑month crime spree in which he stole about €20,000 worth of property from weddings and other social settings. He pleaded guilty to five counts, including four thefts and one unlawful use of a car, and was found to have committed the offences between 31 May 2023 and 1 January 2024 in various locations across Leinster, such as a hotel in Co Kildare, Brittas Bay in Co Wicklow and Dublin City Centre. The court heard that no property was recovered and that Harty's offences caused "great inconvenience" to his victims. He has a history of theft, burglary and traffic offences, and the judge noted his personal circumstances, including a brain injury and a background of neglect. Harty was directed to undergo one year of post‑release supervision by the Probation Services.
A 51‑year‑old man named Richard Hayes of Ledwill Park, Kilcock, Co. Kildare, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of possessing child pornography. The court found 33 videos and 84 images on two phones belonging to Hayes, including a toddler being raped, a boy with a disability forced to perform oral sex, and a boy being masturbated by a male adult. Twenty‑six of the videos and 57 images were classified as category one, the most serious category for child sexual abuse material. Gardaí also discovered hundreds of images of pre‑teen girls in swimwear and some hardcore pornography. Hayes had no prior convictions. The judge, Martin Nolan, imposed a two‑year sentence, fully suspended, and placed Hayes on the sex offenders' register, stating he was unlikely to re‑offend and no Probation Service involvement was required. The sentence was handed down on 18 February 2025.
Damian Szatkowski, 38, of Peachville, Kilshane, Dublin 11, pleaded guilty in October to the manslaughter of Marcel Kusenda, 48, in Newbridge, Co Kildare, on 8 March 2023. Szatkowski had moved into Kusenda's house shortly before the fatal incident and had previously assaulted the victim twice. He prevented a witness, Marytn Najder, from calling an ambulance and threatened her not to do so. The court heard that Szatkowski struck Kusenda twice in the nose and then kicked him three more times, leaving him unconscious in the bedroom for hours. Kusenda was later found with a large subdural hematoma and died on 10 March. The judge, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, set a headline sentence of ten years, reduced to six and a half years after mitigation, including Szatkowski's guilty plea and apology. The sentence was backdated to his first custody in April 2023. The hearing included victim impact statements from Kusenda's son and sisters.
Declan Culliton, a plant hire manager at HSS Hire Ireland Ltd, claims he was forced to approve inflated machinery hire prices as part of a price‑fixing scheme and was demoted for raising concerns. He is filing a complaint under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014. HSS denies any protected disclosure or collusion. The case involves three companies: Laois Hire Services Ltd, HSS Hire Ireland Ltd, and Briggs Equipment Ireland Ltd. Culliton alleges that Michael Killeen, former Laois Hire founder and then HSS director, instructed him to raise prices at a Costa Coffee meeting in Naas in July 2022. When Culliton questioned the instruction, he was told it came from Killeen. He claims the price increases proceeded, inflating cross‑hire costs. Culliton subsequently raised protected disclosures in management meetings and to HSS's UK HR director, after which he was isolated, threatened with demotion, and removed from a senior role.
Nathan McDonnell, a former chief executive of Ballyseedy Garden Centre, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to importing methylamphetamine and directing a criminal organisation. The trial heard that McDonnell was to be paid €150,000 to store a machine containing 564kg of crystal meth, valued at €32.4 million, before its export to Australia. Prosecutors alleged the drugs were imported from Mexico via the Sinaloa Cartel. While the State asserted McDonnell facilitated the operation, it was noted that a different individual was charged with directing the criminal organisation. McDonnell admitted to storing the machine and arranging its shipment but claimed he was unaware of its contents. He has no previous convictions. Ms Justice Melanie Greally, presiding with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Grainne Malone, remanded McDonnell in custody. The court stated it hoped to finalise the case by the end of the month. Co-accused James Leen was also present. The matter was adjourned for sentencing.
Calvin Dunne, 24, was convicted of the manslaughter of Dylan McCarthy and violent disorder following a trial at the Central Criminal Court. The jury returned a 10-2 majority verdict for manslaughter and a unanimous guilty verdict for violent disorder, acquitting Dunne of murder. Dunne had pleaded not guilty to all charges, alleging self-defence during a melee outside a pub in Monasterevin on August 21-22, 2022. Co-accused Sean Kavanagh, 26, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on Eamon McCarthy, with a charge of violent disorder taken into consideration. Following a defence application, Ms Justice Biggs directed the jury to find Kavanagh not guilty of murder, a charge he had denied. After the verdicts, Ms Justice Biggs remanded Dunne in custody, rejecting his request to remain on bail. Kavanagh was permitted to continue on bail. The matter was adjourned to May 12 to allow time for the preparation of probation reports for both defendants, a Governor's report for Dunne, and Victim Impact Statements from the McCarthy family.
Eamon McCarthy, father of the deceased, testified that he and his son Dylan went to Monasterevin to celebrate a grandchild's birth. After leaving a pub, a melee outside the Bellyard pub escalated. The prosecution alleged that Sean Kavanagh punched Dylan and Calvin Dunne kicked Dylan's exposed head, causing Dylan's death. Both accused denied kicking Dylan and claimed they were defending themselves, asserting that Dylan and his father were the aggressors. The court heard Eamon's account of the fight, his injuries, and the subsequent ambulance transport. Witnesses described a chaotic scene with multiple punches and a kick. The prosecution's case focused on the alleged kick by Dunne as the fatal blow, while the defence argued uncertainty over which blow caused the fatal injury and the legitimacy of self‑defence. The trial concluded with the jury given options of murder, manslaughter or acquittal, but the article reports no verdict.
The jury in the trial of 24‑year‑old Calvin Dunne, charged with the murder of 29‑year‑old Dylan McCarthy outside the Bellyard pub in Monasterevin, has been informed that a majority verdict is now permissible. The case, heard at the Central Criminal Court, involves an incident on 22 August 2022 in which McCarthy was struck on the head by Dunne, who claims he was acting in self‑defence. Witnesses described a "loud thud" when McCarthy was hit, and the State alleges that Dunne delivered a punch and a "vicious kick" to the head. Dunne denies the murder charge and has pleaded not guilty to violent disorder on 21 August 2022. Justice Caroline Burns explained that the jury can now return a ten‑to‑two majority verdict if unanimity cannot be achieved, and the deliberations will continue for a further 30 minutes before the next day's session. The jury remains at its fourth day of deliberation.
The jury in the Central Criminal Court trial of Calvin Dunne, 24, has continued its deliberations for a third day. Dunne, of Monasterevin, Co Kildare, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Dylan McCarthy, 29, on or about August 22, 2022, and to violent disorder on August 21, 2022, at Dublin Road, Monasterevin. The State alleges Dunne punched and kicked McCarthy in the head while he was on the ground. Dunne maintains he acted in self-defence, claiming he lightly kicked McCarthy in the chest. Eyewitness David O'Neill testified that he heard a loud thud and saw McCarthy's eyes roll back after being struck in the head, though he admitted being highly intoxicated and acknowledged it was possible Dunne hit the chest. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs directed the jury that they could find Dunne guilty of murder, guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. In a separate matter, co-accused Sean Kavanagh, 26, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on Eamon McCarthy, the deceased's father, at the same location and date. A charge of violent disorder was taken into consideration. Kavanagh had previously denied a charge of murder, to which Ms Justice Biggs directed the jury to find him not guilty. The jury, comprising ten men and two women, was requested to review the transcript of O'Neill's evidence and will continue deliberating tomorrow.
Sharif Kelly, 54, of Balbriggan, Co Dublin, has failed in his bid to pursue a conviction appeal before the Supreme Court regarding the 2013 murder of dissident Republican Peter Butterly. Kelly, who pleaded not guilty, was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court in April 2017. The court heard that Dean Evans, who pleaded guilty to the murder, fired the three fatal shots into Butterly at the Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, Co Meath, while Kelly was the getaway driver. Kelly's earlier Court of Appeal challenge in April 2022 was dismissed, with judges unimpressed by his objections to the evidence of protected witness David Cullen. Cullen, who turned State's witness, had previously pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol at the scene and was sentenced in July 2014 to seven years in prison, with three and a half years suspended. Kelly's lawyers also sought to introduce fresh evidence concerning Garda Joseph Doyle, who was later jailed for corruption and deception offences. The Supreme Court refused leave to appeal, determining that issues regarding the admissibility of accomplice-type evidence are primarily for the trial court to analyse and that the Court of Appeal correctly applied established principles governing fresh evidence.
The jury in the murder trial of 24‑year‑old Calvin Dunne, accused of killing Dylan McCarthy during a melee outside a pub in Kildare on 22 August 2022, will begin deliberations next week. The State alleges Mr McCarthy died after receiving punches and a "vicious kick" to the head from Mr Dunne while he was trying to rise. Mr Dunne claims he acted in self‑defence, stating he was drawn into the fight when Dylan and his party were "out of control and extremely violent." He says he only struck Dylan after Dylan attempted to hit Sean Kavanagh, and that he "lightly kicked" Dylan in what he believed to be the chest area. The jury has heard that a state pathologist could not determine whether a punch or kick caused the fatal injury. Sean Kavanagh pleaded guilty. Calvin Dunne pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Calvin Dunne, 24, accused of the murder of Dylan McCarthy, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Dunne, of Monasterevin, Co Kildare, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr McCarthy on or about August 22, 2022, and to violent disorder on August 21, 2022, at Dublin Road, Monasterevin. His co-accused, Sean Kavanagh, 26, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on Eamon McCarthy, the deceased's father, on the same date and location; a charge of violent disorder was taken into consideration. The judge directed the jury to find Kavanagh not guilty of the murder charge he had denied. Defence counsel argued that Dunne acted in self-defence and that the jury must acquit if there is any doubt regarding whether Dunne kicked the deceased in the face or chest. The State alleges the kick to the head caused death, while the defence cites pathologist evidence that the cause of fatal injury is indistinguishable. The judge outlined three possible verdicts: guilty of murder, guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. The matter is currently at the trial stage, with the judge's legal charge to the jury continuing.
Sean Kavanagh (26) was found not guilty of murder by direction of the trial judge, but remains in the case until the jury gives a verdict. He and co‑accused Calvin Dunne (24) pleaded not guilty to the murder of Dylan McCarthy (29) and to violent disorder on 21 August 2022. Kavanagh pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Eamon McCarthy. He claimed he was defending himself after a fight spilled onto the street from the Bellyard pub, stating a large man in his 50s had attacked him and he responded to protect a friend. The prosecution argued that McCarthy died after punches and a "vicious kick" from Dunne, citing CCTV and a pathologist's report of a tear to the vertebral artery. The trial continues tomorrow.
During a murder trial, a witness named David O'Neill testified that he saw Dylan McCarthy lying on the ground after being punched by Sean Kavanagh and Calvin Dunne. O'Neill, who was walking toward Dublin Street, claimed he tried to help McCarthy up but was struck by a kick to the head from Dunne. He described McCarthy falling onto his back with his eyes rolling back. O'Neill said he heard a noise like a car door after the kick and called an ambulance while a girl nearby screamed. He was highly intoxicated that day. The jury heard that Dunne had told Gardaí he lightly kicked McCarthy in the chest area. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Caroline Biggs, is proceeding to closing speeches. The accused, Kavanagh and Dunne, have pleaded not guilty to murder, violent disorder, and assault causing harm to McCarthy's father. The State's case is that McCarthy died after the assault. The trial continues tomorrow.
A liquidator, Myles Kirby of Kirby Chartered Accountants, was appointed by Mr Justice Oisín Quinn to wind up Chequer Catering Ltd, the company behind Dublin's Green Hen restaurant, after the High Court confirmed a €1.8 million deficit. Kirby had previously served as provisional liquidator. The court noted the restaurant lacked a fire safety certificate and had been without a liquor licence for over two years. Revenue's Dermot Cahill SC highlighted the company's debt of €751,266.01, covering PAYE, PRSI, USC, LPT, corporation tax and VAT from December 2019 onward. An interim examiner had been appointed by the Circuit Court on 13 December, but the company withdrew its protection application. Executive officer Philip Byrne's affidavit stressed Revenue's concern over the company's inability to pay its debts, deeming a full liquidation just and equitable.
In a Central Criminal Court jury hearing, State pathologist Dr Heidi Okkers confirmed that 29‑year‑old Dylan McCarthy died from a traumatic head and spinal injury caused by blunt force trauma, but she could not identify whether a punch or a kick caused the fatal blow. The State alleges McCarthy was assaulted outside a pub in Kildare by Sean Kavanagh (26) and Calvin Dunne (24), who claim self‑defence, and that McCarthy was also involved in the violence that night. Both men pleaded not guilty to murder, violent disorder and, in Kavanagh's case, assault causing harm to McCarthy's father. Dr Okkers described extensive haemorrhaging, brain swelling, and spinal cord damage, noting that CCTV made it impossible to determine the specific blow that caused the fatal injury. The trial will resume next Monday before Justice Caroline Biggs and a 12‑person jury.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, an eyewitness described a violent incident in Kildare where 29‑year‑old Dylan McCarthy was struck in the head, leading to his death. The State alleged that McCarthy was punched by Sean Kavanagh (26) and Calvin Dunne (24) before Dunne delivered a "vicious kick" to McCarthy's head while he was attempting to rise. Both men claim self‑defence and that McCarthy was involved in the violence that night. They have pleaded not guilty to murder and to violent disorder, and Kavanagh also pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm to McCarthy's father. The witness recounted hearing a "loud thud" like a football kick and observed McCarthy lying flat on the ground when struck. The trial continues before Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury of ten men and two women.
In a tribunal hearing on 22 January 2025, Aran Burrows, a former Weltec Engineering subcontractor, alleged that his February 2024 contract non‑renewal was whistleblower penalisation under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014. Burrows claimed a voice note he recorded, containing remarks about "cocaine use, smoking joints, b**ches and h*es" and unsafe work at height, was used by the company as a "cover‑up" to justify the non‑renewal. Weltec's safety manager, Dave Kerrigan, and health and safety manager, James Hackett, testified that the voice note was deemed a protected disclosure because it contained "some satire" but also raised legitimate safety concerns. They argued the note revealed breaches of Intel's safety policy, such as working at height without a clipped‑off system. The tribunal heard that the report had not been read by company staff and that the decision to not renew Burrows' contract was made jointly by senior managers following the voice note's discovery.
In a decision by the Workplace Relations Commission, Edco was ordered to pay €64,000 to Mary Tracy after dismissing her in June 2023 for failing to meet the weight requirements of her sales role. Tracy, who suffers from systemic lupus erythematosus, had a medical limit of 3 kg for manual handling. Edco's books, each weighing 2.7 kg, required her to carry multiple volumes to schools, a task the company deemed impossible for her. The commission found that Edco failed to provide reasonable accommodation and discriminated against Tracy under the Employment Equality Act 1998. The award comprised €29,000 for lack of accommodation and €35,000 for unlawful dismissal, totaling €64,000. The case highlights the employer's obligation to adapt duties for employees with disabilities.
During a murder trial in Monasterevin, father Eamon McCarthy testified that he saw his son Dylan, aged 29, gurgling and with eyes rolling after a violent assault. McCarthy described how Dylan was punched by Sean Kavanagh (26) and Calvin Dunne (24), then kicked in the head by Dunne while Dylan tried to rise. McCarthy claimed he intervened, pulling Kavanagh's hand from Dylan, but was struck and knocked to the ground. He later recalled a man striking him with a belt. McCarthy's injuries included a fractured jaw, broken nose and a hairline fracture near an eye socket, all attributed to the assault. The case remains at the trial stage, with the jury hearing the State's account of the incident and the defendants' self‑defence claims. Sean Kavanagh pleaded not guilty. Calvin Dunne pleaded not guilty.
A judge issued a bench warrant for David Williams, 67, after he failed to appear for sentencing. Williams, who had pleaded guilty to multiple counts of deception, including fraudulently posing as a barrister and defrauding a Galway woman of over €7,000, had previously been adjourned for medical reasons and had a history of non‑attendance. He was also convicted of providing legal services while unqualified and acting as an unauthorised insolvency practitioner. His partner, Crystal Talia, 46, was sentenced today for allowing Williams to use her bank accounts to facilitate the fraud. Talia received a fully suspended 12‑month sentence, with the judge noting her good character and family circumstances. The case involved the fraudulent firms THL Legal and Moore, Barrington and Walters, which were raided and found to have a client list of 1,200 victims. The bench warrant was issued to ensure Williams' arrest.
A 38‑year‑old Defence Forces member, Alan O'Connor of Acorn Downes, Newbridge, was found guilty of raping a friend of his partner, Siobhan Murphy, at a property in Portarlington on 17 June 2020. The victim, who had known the attacker for 15 years, testified that she was fully clothed when O'Connor entered her bed and forced himself upon her, pulling down her trousers and underwear. O'Connor denied wrongdoing and maintained his innocence. He had no prior convictions and had served in the Defence Forces for nearly 19 years. The Central Criminal Court, after hearing victim impact statements and a letter from a priest describing the offence as "totally out of character," sentenced him to five and a half years' imprisonment, with a six‑month suspended portion to be served over two years. The judge noted his medical needs and family support as mitigating factors. The sentence was imposed by Justice Kerida Naidoo.
In a Central Criminal Court case, two men, Sean Kavanagh (26) and Calvin Dunne (24), charged with the murder of Dylan McCarthy (29) in Monasterevin on 22 August 2022, claim they acted in self‑defence. The prosecution contends McCarthy died after receiving punches from Kavanagh and a kick to the head from Dunne while he was on the ground. McCarthy was taken to hospital the next day and pronounced dead. The State presented CCTV footage and testimony that Kavanagh and Dunne were present at the pub, that McCarthy was involved in a fight, and that Dunne delivered a "running kick" to McCarthy's exposed head. The jury heard that McCarthy suffered a subdural haemorrhage, and the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused intended to kill or cause serious injury. The trial continues before Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury of ten men and two women. Sean Kavanagh pleaded not guilty. Calvin Dunne pleaded not guilty.
A 54‑year‑old man from Hazelmere, Naas, Co. Kildare, with no prior convictions, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for transporting over €3.2 million worth of cannabis. He admitted to possessing 161.5 kg of the drug on the M50 motorway on 20 March 2024, after being paid €100 to drive a van that had been seized by Gardaí. The van, stopped on the M50, contained boxes of suspected cannabis; a mobile phone and a lottery ticket were also found. Cox claimed he was unaware of the contents, stating he only knew he was to meet a person. He had been suffering financial hardship following a heart bypass, a motorbike accident, a marital break‑up and homelessness. The court noted his guilty plea, cooperation with Gardaí, lack of prior convictions and financial difficulties, and imposed a six‑year sentence, a decision made after considering the mandatory minimum of ten years and mitigating circumstances.
A jury of ten men and two women has been sworn in to hear the trial of Sean Kavanagh, 26, and Calvin Dunne, 24, both from Monasterevin, Co. Kildare, accused of murdering Dylan McCarthy, 29, on or about 22 August 2022. The trial, to be held before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs at the Central Criminal Court, is expected to last just over two weeks and will involve 97 witnesses. Kavanagh will be represented by Michael Lynn SC and Carol Doherty BL, while Dunne will be represented by John Fitzgerald SC and Aoife O'Leary. The Director of Public Prosecution's Senior Counsel, Seoirse Ó Dúnlaing, will appear with Jane Horgan Jones BL. The jury was instructed that any research or external information would be "totally improper" and that verdicts must be based solely on evidence presented in court. The trial is scheduled to begin tomorrow and is expected to conclude by 4 February. Sean Kavanagh pleaded not guilty. Calvin Dunne pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Sharon Hickey, 45, pleaded guilty to possessing 2.9 kg of heroin for sale or supply outside the Lamplighter pub on 12 April 2022. The heroin, worth €417,480, was found in a green Aldi bag given to her by co‑accused Gregory Dunne, who also handed her €500 in cash. Hickey had been told to hide the drugs to reduce a debt from bills, credit cards and drugs, and was promised the cash in exchange. She admitted the offence, expressed regret and remorse, and has since become drug‑free, is fully employed and her risk of reoffending has fallen from moderate to low. Judge Elma Sheahan, after a year's adjournment, imposed a headline sentence of five years, but suspended a three‑year term in full for four years, citing her progress and rehabilitation. The case remains adjourned for finalisation.
In a High Court hearing on 20 December 2024, the court appointed Myles Kirby as provisional liquidator for Chequer Catering Limited, the company behind Dublin's Green Hen restaurant. The company was declared insolvent, with a €1.8 million deficit and a debt of €751,266.01 to Revenue covering PAYE, PRSI, USC, LPT, corporation tax and VAT from December 2019. Chequer had no fire safety certificate and had been without a liquor licence since September 2022, yet its creditors include wine suppliers. The court, hearing an ex‑parte application from Revenue, ordered the appointment of the provisional liquidator and adjourned the case to 27 January to allow a petition for winding up to be filed. The company's directors are Frank Gleeson of Churchtown and Ciara Fox of Celbridge. The provisional liquidator will oversee the company's affairs pending a formal winding‑up application.
A man described as middle management in a significant drug operation has been sentenced to seven years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Philip Lawless, aged 48 and from Leixlip, County Kildare, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis and cocaine worth over €3.18 million for sale or supply at two Dublin locations on 3 April 2024. Gardaí conducted surveillance operations last April, tracking vehicles to a storage unit in Ballymount, Tallaght, and a subsequent stop on Beresford Street, Dublin 7. Searches uncovered substantial quantities of drugs at both locations. Phone analysis revealed Lawless was directing the activity of two other men, with one having saved his contact as "boss man". Evidence indicated he received instructions from a person further up the operation's hierarchy. Judge Dara Hayes imposed a headline sentence of twelve and a half years, reduced to eight and a half years, with the final eighteen months suspended. Lawless must engage with the Probation Service upon release.
A sentencing hearing for former garden‑centre owner Nathan McDonnell, 44, was adjourned to 13 January after he pleaded guilty to importing crystal meth and facilitating an organised crime group. McDonnell admitted that between 16 October 2023 and 12 February 2024 he helped a criminal organisation import, sell and supply controlled drugs, knowing of its existence. He had earlier pleaded guilty to importing one or more controlled drugs, namely methylamphetamine, on 16 October 2023 at Cork Port, Ringaskiddy, in breach of the Misuse of Drugs Act. The State's case alleges the drugs were imported from Mexico, stored at a garden centre, then transported to Cork for export to Australia. The seizure of 564 kg of crystal meth, valued at €32.8 million, occurred on 16 February 2024 at Cork Port, leading to McDonnell's arrest after follow‑up searches in Kerry and Cork.
Two members of a Romanian organised crime gang were sentenced to a combined ten years in prison for a series of vehicle‑ram raids on commercial premises in July 2023. The men, Ricardo Stancu (19), Daniel Murgea (31) and Ionut Leonard Petriu (38), were arrested during Garda Operation 'Docht' and pleaded guilty to burglary, criminal damage and organised crime offences. Stancu received five years with the final 12 months suspended; Murgea was sentenced to six years after a headline of eight years was considered, taking into account his prior convictions in France and Italy. Petriu, who pleaded guilty to assisting the group, was placed on bail and his case was adjourned to March 20 for a probation report. The court described the offences as highly organised, with extensive damage to three unoccupied commercial premises and no items stolen.
Three Romanian men—Ricardo Stancu (38), Daniel Murgea (31) and Ionut Leonard Petriu (19)—were sentenced for a series of ram‑raid burglaries in eastern Ireland in July 2023. The gang used a stolen "dummy" silver Mercedes to smash into the front windows of a Dublin phone shop and a Vodafone shop in Newbridge, and later rammed a car into the gates of a motor dealer on Naas Road. They stole a 5‑series BMW from a dealership in Clondalkin, which was later used as a getaway vehicle. The men pleaded guilty to burglary, criminal damage and organised‑crime offences. Stancu and Murgea remain in custody; Petriu is on bail. The court heard the incidents caused extensive property damage—over €49,000 at the 3 Store, €16,000 at Whitewater, €4,000 at the dealership and €1,753 at the motor dealer—yet no mobile phones were stolen as they were kept in a safe.
The Central Criminal Court heard on 9 December 2024 that Damian Szatkowski (38) pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Marcel Kusenda (48) on 8 March 2023. Kusenda, a Slovakian man who had lived in Ireland for 20 years, was found in his Newbridge home with severe head injuries after being repeatedly kicked and punched by Szatkowski, who had recently moved in. A post‑mortem revealed a displaced nasal fracture and a 15 mm subdural hematoma, with death caused by complications of blunt‑force head injury. Szatkowski, with 61 prior convictions, was arrested and denied intent to kill, claiming he had only punched once. The court adjourned sentencing to 17 February, noting the offence's high culpability and the defendant's remorse. The case remains pending.
A charity, Kyrie Therapeutic Farm Company Ltd, has obtained leave to challenge a decision by the Minister for Justice that refused €16 million of funding for its proposed therapeutic farm under the now‑closed Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP). The High Court granted the ex‑parte application before Justice Mary Rose Gearty, allowing Kyrie to seek judicial review. Kyrie seeks an order to quash the July 2024 refusal, a declaration that the minister acted unlawfully, reconsideration of the decision and damages. The charity argues that its project, a 57‑acre farm in County Kildare, was a philanthropic donation aimed at mental‑health recovery and that it had already committed €1.6 million, including a €1.3 million purchase of the land. The IIP had rejected the application, stating it was not an appropriate project and that the funding would cover recruitment and operational costs rather than capital expenditure.
Peter Gleeson, a bus driver for Go‑Ahead Ireland Bus Ltd, was dismissed in December 2022 after CCTV footage showed him using a mobile phone while driving. The incident, which occurred on 24 November 2022 near Prosperous, Co. Kildare, involved a van colliding with the bus's side mirror. Gleeson claimed he was uncertain whether he used his phone or radio to report the crash and later drove for another half hour before a tyre blew out. Go‑Ahead's disciplinary officer, Keith McDonnell, deemed the use of a mobile device while driving gross misconduct and dismissed Gleeson immediately. Gleeson's union, SIPTU, argued the sanction was too harsh and that the investigation was flawed, citing a lack of a collective agreement on CCTV use. The Workplace Relations Commission rejected Gleeson's unfair dismissal claim, finding the dismissal proportionate given the risk of distraction and injury. The tribunal noted Gleeson's willingness to return to driving after more than a year.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced three members of the Wall family for a burglary in Killiney, south Dublin, on February 19, 2021, where they stole €19,800 in gold jewellery from an elderly couple. Edward Wall (52), Martin Wall (45), and Patrick Wall (21) pleaded guilty to the offence. The court heard the men used a modified vehicle to aid the crime, with Edward and Martin acting as lookouts while Patrick and an accomplice entered the home. All property was returned. Judge Elva Duffy jailed Edward and Martin for four years each, finding them active participants in a joint enterprise. Patrick was sentenced to three-and-a-half years, with the final 12 months suspended. The judge declined to apply compensation, stating it would not restore the victims' peace of mind. Patrick Wall had previously pleaded guilty to possession of stolen property after gardaí captured him digging up almost €80,000 buried in coffee jars in a suburban Dublin field. The defendants have extensive criminal records, including prior convictions for burglary and possession of stolen property. Counsel for the defendants cited personal hardships and the benefit of guilty pleas, but the judge imposed custodial sentences reflecting the pre-planned nature of the offence and the defendants' histories.