Abubaker Bello, 46, of Fr Peter McVerry Homeless Shelter, was found guilty of assault causing harm to Catherina White in Tallaght on 20 January 2021. The court heard that Bello approached White while she was walking with headphones, pulled her handbag, punched her face, pushed her to the ground and repeatedly punched her face. Witnesses stopped their cars and assisted White, who later received treatment at Tallaght Hospital for a fractured nose, swollen eyes and blurred vision. Bello was arrested at Tallaght Garda Station after refusing to cooperate. He denied the offence during an interview, was shown CCTV footage but did not identify himself, and has 21 prior convictions, including two for assault. He expressed remorse and presented a letter of apology. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three and a half years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, subject to good behaviour and one year of probation supervision.
Elaine Kelly, 49, of Donaghmede, pleaded guilty to driving away from an armed robbery at an off‑licence in Kilbarrack on 22 October 2018. The court heard she was a vulnerable woman struggling with drug addiction and that she drove the getaway vehicle after the raider abandoned a bicycle. Dashcam footage showed the raider and Kelly exiting a blue car that was later seen pulling into a driveway. Kelly had 13 prior convictions but had not been in contact with the Gardaí since the 2018 offence. Judge Martin Nolan suspended a two‑year prison term on the condition that Kelly keeps the peace and behaves well for two years. The judge noted that Kelly was in fear of the robber, who is serving a separate 14‑year sentence. The sentence was imposed without a custodial term.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 14 April 2022, Declan Brady (56) and Martin Aylmer (36) were charged with aiding a criminal gang in the murder of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan, a father of four who was shot six times on 22 December 2016 in Clondalkin, Dublin. The charges allege that between 20 October and 22 December 2016, Brady and Aylmer, knowing a criminal organisation existed, participated in or facilitated the gang's activities that led to Kirwan's death. Both men were present when the charges were read. Aylmer had previously been charged by Gardaí, and Brady had been handed a copy of the charge sheet before the hearing. Both were remanded in custody until 23 May, with legal aid applications pending for Brady and granted for Aylmer. The case is being tried under the Offences Against the State Act because the Director of Public Prosecutions deemed normal courts inadequate for effective justice.
Anthony Dunne, 61, was sentenced to one year in prison for secretly recording a female colleague while she showered at his workplace and for capturing intimate images of his partner's daughter‑in‑law in her home. The court heard that Dunne attached a camera to his phone and hid it behind boxes at the factory, recording the colleague on March 23 2021, and that he had also filmed the daughter‑in‑law between February and April 2020. He pleaded guilty to both offences, had no prior convictions, and was ordered to have no contact with the victim for two years after release. The judge highlighted the premeditated nature of the acts and the breach of trust, noting the victims' ongoing distress and the impact on their sense of safety. The case was prosecuted by Mark Lynam BL and heard by Judge Orla Crowe in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a court hearing on 5 April 2022, a 22‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the sexual assault of a child and to producing child pornography. He was 18 at the time of the offences, which involved a 15‑year‑old boy who was rendered unconscious by a pain‑relief drug (Penthrox) that the accused had stolen. The drug was administered through a modified "green whistle" and an oxygen mask, after which the accused sexually assaulted the boy. The accused also filmed the assault and the drug administration. A 31‑year‑old co‑accused pleaded guilty to oral rape of a boy, sexual exploitation, and the production of child pornography. He admitted stealing a vial of Penthrox and a carbon dioxide chamber from Naas Racecourse.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a mother of 28‑year‑old Jonathan Reid, who stabbed her partner Greg Shiels in the neck during a drug‑induced psychosis, urged the court to grant her son a second chance. Reid, from Newhall, Naas, pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Shiels on 6 March 2020, and also pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and cannabis that night. The mother described her son as deserving a second chance and pledged full support for both her and Shiels, who suffered a serious neck injury but made a good recovery. Reid had a prior drink‑driving conviction and had spent time in Lakeview Mental Health Unit. The court adjourned to 25 April to consider post‑release programmes, and a nolle prosequi will be entered on the attempted murder charge later.
Anthony Dunne, 61, secretly recorded a work colleague, Paula Jordan, while she showered at the factory where he worked, using a phone camera hidden behind boxes. He also captured intimate images of his partner's daughter‑in‑law, Leanne Daly, in her home bathroom. Dunne pleaded guilty to harassment at an address in Clondalkin, Dublin, between February and April 2020, and to recording an intimate image without consent at O'Neills Factory, Walkinstown, on 23 March 2021. He has no prior convictions. The court heard that Jordan's victim impact statement described the incident as pre‑meditated and extremely distressing, affecting her trust, sleep and use of the shower facilities. Daly reported nightmares and lasting stress. Gardaí recovered the phone, analysed the footage, and found the images of Daly. Dunne resigned from the factory and was remanded on continuing bail, with the matter to be finalised on 5 April.
An appeal by Jason Bradley and Dean Bradley against their murder convictions has been dismissed by the Court of Appeal. The brothers were originally sentenced to life imprisonment in July 2018 for the murder of Neil Reilly in Lucan, Dublin, on January 18, 2017. The appeal focused on alleged errors in the trial judge's charge to the jury and the admissibility of witness Danielle Cusack's evidence. Mr Justice John Edwards, presiding at the three-judge Court of Appeal, dismissed all grounds of appeal, stating that the trial was conducted fairly and that the jury's verdicts were safe. Jason Bradley was found guilty of murder and Dean Bradley was acquitted of murder but was previously sentenced to life imprisonment for the same offence. Ryan Bradley was acquitted of murder by the trial judge but pleaded guilty to an offence of impeding the murder investigation and received a fully suspended five-year prison sentence. The court rejected claims that the trial judge improperly charged the jury and that the use of Enhanced Cognitive Interview (ECI) with Ms Cusack was unfair. The appeal was adjourned and never described as concluded or finalised.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, John Tobin of Corran Ard, Athy, was found guilty of assault causing harm after he kicked in the door of a man's home and carried out a prolonged attack. Tobin claimed he had been misinformed that the victim had harmed a woman, the victim's partner, and that his actions were a misguided attempt to help. He admitted his wrongdoing. The victim, who wished to remain unnamed, suffered cuts, a punctured lung and other injuries but no serious consequences. Tobin, who has prior convictions for assault and public order offences and a history of alcohol and cocaine abuse, was given €1,000 as an expression of remorse, which the victim accepted. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a 30‑month prison sentence, suspended the final 15 months, and required Tobin to keep the peace and engage with Probation Services for 15 months after release.
Daniel Munteanu, a 32-year-old Romanian national from Navan, Co Meath, has failed in his appeal against a custodial sentence imposed at Trim Circuit Criminal Court. Munteanu pleaded guilty to 10 charges of stealing €121,800 from 52 Bank of Ireland accounts between September 9, 2018, and March 4, 2019. He also admitted possessing 51 cloned bank cards, card-making equipment, and false identity documents. Judge Martina Baxter originally sentenced him to seven years, with the final six months suspended, after applying a discount to an 11-year headline sentence. Munteanu appealed on the grounds that the judge placed insufficient weight on mitigation, arguing he was merely a 'foot-soldier' in an international skimming gang who received a 10-15% cut of the proceeds. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, dismissed the appeal. The Court President noted that the original judge had applied a 'significant and generous' discount and that the final six-and-a-half-year term clearly fell within the available range. The court accepted the prosecution's submission that Munteanu was part of a complex criminal organisation operating across multiple jurisdictions, including Ireland, the UK, Belgium, Romania, and Italy, which justified the severity of the sentence.
A 32-year-old Romanian national is appealing a six-and-a-half-year prison sentence imposed for his role in an international bank card skimming operation. Daniel Munteanu pleaded guilty at Trim Circuit Criminal Court to ten counts of theft totalling €121,800 from 52 Bank of Ireland accounts between September 2018 and March 2019. Over 300 withdrawals were made from ATMs across multiple counties including Cavan and Monaghan. Gardaí recovered cloned bank cards, a card-cloning machine, and forged identity documents from his home. At the Court of Appeal, his legal team contended the original sentence was disproportionate, characterising Munteanu as a foot-soldier in the gang who received approximately ten per cent of proceeds. The Director of Public Prosecutions countered that Munteanu was an integral member of an established international criminal network operating across multiple jurisdictions with significant resources. The court reserved judgment.
A jury convicted Declan McGowan, 33, of assaulting Andra Calauz and attempting to coerce her into his car on the night of 18 September. McGowan claimed he had pulled alongside Calauz on Kimmage Road Lower, believing she was in danger, and told her he was a Garda with a gun. He kissed and hugged her, then repeatedly urged her to get into his vehicle. Calauz said she felt frightened and pressured. Her husband, Daniel Ion, testified that McGowan choked him and threatened to call Tusla, demanding Calauz enter the car. Ion called Gardaí, who arrested McGowan. The four‑day trial ended with guilty verdicts on all four counts: attempted coercion, assault on Calauz, impersonation of a Garda, and assault on Ion. McGowan was remanded in custody until a sentencing hearing on 17 June. The judge thanked the jury for their time. The case remains at the sentencing stage. Declan McGowan pleaded not guilty.
In 2019, a judge jailed Maciej Masznic, 41, for seven‑and‑a‑half years after a five‑day trial in Tralee Circuit Criminal Court found him guilty of possessing cannabis and methylamphetamine for unlawful sale or supply at his home. The drugs, valued at over €13,000, were seized during a Garda raid. Masznic appealed, arguing that the judge failed to instruct the jury on the legal concepts of possession and knowledge, which he claimed were fundamental to the case. His counsel, Dean Kelly SC, contended that without proper instruction, no reasonable jury could convict. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel, Thomas Rice BL, countered that the jury was adequately informed and that the prosecution's case of guilty knowledge was clear. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, noted the dispute and reserved judgment. The appeal remains pending. Maciej Masznic pleaded not guilty.
A jury has begun deliberating the trial of Declan McGowan, a 33‑year‑old builder from Branswood, Athy, who is accused of attempting to coerce Andra Calauz into his car on the night of 18 September. McGowan pleaded not guilty to the charge of attempting to coerce Calauz, to assaulting her by kissing and hugging her, to impersonating a Garda, and to assaulting her husband Daniel Ion. Calauz testified that she was walking alone on Kimmage Road Lower at about 2.30 a.m., arguing with her husband on a video call when McGowan's car pulled up beside her. He told her he was a Garda, praised her beauty, kissed her hand, and hugged her. She claimed he urged her to get into his car. Her husband, Daniel Ion, said McGowan choked him, claimed to have a gun, and that McGowan only restrained him after Ion struck Calauz. Both Calauz and Ion denied this version of events.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 33‑year‑old builder, Declan McGowan, was accused of assaulting a man and attempting to coerce a woman into his car while claiming to be a Garda. The prosecution described McGowan's account as "fantastical," asserting that when the woman's husband, Daniel Ion, intervened, McGowan "flew into a rage" and assaulted him. McGowan denied assaulting the woman, stating he never touched her and that he had only tried to protect her from the husband. He also denied impersonating a Garda, claiming any reference to being a Garda was a misunderstanding due to a language barrier. McGowan pleaded not guilty to attempted coercion, assault, impersonation of a Garda, and assault of Mr. Ion. The case remains at the trial stage, with jurors set to deliberate after the judge's instructions.
In a High Court case, Detective Garda Cathal Brennan sought relief after being told he had to re‑apply for a Health and Safety role he had held since 2011. Brennan, appointed Regional Health and Safety Officer for National Support Services (Special Crime Operations), was informed in 2017 that he would be stood down and that a competition would be held to regularise the position. He claimed this amounted to a breach of his employment contract and sought declarations that he was validly appointed and entitled to continue in the role, as well as injunctions against appointing others. The court, with consent from all parties, declared that Brennan was validly appointed in February 2011 and that he was entitled to continue in his role under the terms of his service. An order for the defendants to pay his legal costs on the Circuit Court scale was also made, and the proceedings were struck out.
An ex‑soldier, Niall Kennedy, aged 31, was convicted by a jury of 12 counts of rape on eleven occasions in August 2017 and of harassment and threats between February and August 2017. He denied the charges and did not accept the verdicts. Mr Justice Paul Burns sentenced him to 13 years, with 12 years of concurrent sentences and a final two years suspended for five years on strict conditions. Kennedy was ordered to never contact the victim or approach within 200 metres of her location. The court noted Kennedy's lack of remorse, his emotionally illiterate character and above‑average risk of reoffending. The victim, in her early 20s, described a controlling and violent relationship that culminated in repeated rapes and threats, and she expressed fear and trauma following the ordeal. The sentencing hearing highlighted the prolonged cross‑examination of the victim and the complexity of the case.
A woman, aged in her early 20s, described a violent relationship with former soldier Niall Kennedy (31). She met him on Tinder in December 2016 and they began a relationship that involved constant harassment, unwanted contact, and repeated threats to kill her or her friends. Kennedy was convicted in December 2021 of 12 counts of rape on eleven occasions in August 2017, plus multiple counts of harassment and threats. He denied the charges and refused to accept the verdicts. After his conviction, the state objected to his remand on bail, but he was released under strict conditions, including no contact with the victim, sobriety, and a daily curfew. The victim, who was "on high alert" and feared retaliation, gave a victim impact statement describing the abuse, her fear, and her recovery. The court adjourned his sentence hearing to February 21, 2024, and ordered him to be taken into custody.
Deirdre Brady, aged 54, was given a three‑year wholly suspended sentence after pleading guilty to two offences under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice Act for laundering almost €800,000 in illegal cash through bank accounts she controlled. The money, derived from criminal activity, was deposited in four accounts: a joint PTSB account with her husband containing €94,000; an Ulster Bank account with €347,000; an AIB account with €205,000; and a Bank of Ireland account with €85,000. Additional transfers included €34,000 to a resort for a wedding and €141,000 to Thomas Kavanagh, an Irish citizen in Spain. Brady's husband, Declan Brady, a senior Kinahan Cartel lieutenant, was jailed for seven years and three months for his role in the enterprise. The State appealed the sentence as unduly lenient, but the Court of Appeal upheld the suspended sentence, noting no evidence of coercive control by her husband.
Jim Mansfield Jnr, a property magnate, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to two years' imprisonment with the final six months suspended for a period of six months, back‑dated to 17 January 2022. The sentence followed a conviction for attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing Patrick Byrne to destroy CCTV footage that showed Mansfield and former employee Martin Byrne leaving Finnstown House Hotel on 9 June 2015, the day Byrne was later kidnapped by republican terrorists Dessie O'Hare and Declan 'Whacker' Duffy. Mansfield, 54, had ordered the footage destroyed to distance himself from the kidnappers and to hide his association with them. He was acquitted of a separate conspiracy charge for falsely imprisoning Byrne. The court noted his lack of prior convictions, his mild intellectual disability, his role as a carer for his 78‑year‑old mother and his generally good character as mitigating factors. Jim Mansfield Jnr pleaded not guilty.
Jim Mansfield Jnr, a property magnate, faces sentencing at the Special Criminal Court for directing Patrick Byrne to destroy CCTV footage that showed Mansfield and former employee Martin Byrne leaving Finnstown House Hotel on 9 June 2015, the day Byrne was kidnapped by Dessie O'Hare and Declan 'Whacker' Duffy. Defence counsel Bernard Condon SC presented a psychologist's report indicating Mansfield operates at a mild intellectual disability or borderline range. Mansfield, 54, was acquitted of a separate conspiracy charge to falsely imprison Byrne. The court noted Mansfield's involvement with the New IRA and INLA in dealing with threats from traveller gangs and his efforts to recover assets lost in a crash. He has no prior convictions except a traffic offence over ten years ago, complied with bail conditions, and is a carer for his 78‑year‑old mother. The sentencing hearing will determine the final imposed term. Jim Mansfield Jnr pleaded not guilty and was found guilty.
A 62‑year‑old man was jailed for 12 years after pleading guilty to 15 charges of sexual assault, including oral, anal and vaginal rape, and a single incident of sexual abuse involving a cucumber. The offences occurred between 2018 and 2019 in his Co Kildare home when the victim was aged 13 to 15. He believed the 15‑year‑old girl was his biological daughter, a belief that was disproved by a DNA test after her 2020 birth. The man used emotional manipulation, alcohol and drugs to groom the victim, who had autism. He was ordered to have no contact with the girl or her family, to undergo five years of post‑release supervision, and to never be alone with a child under 18 without supervision. The court noted the victim's strength and the serious harm caused. The sentence was back‑dated to the time of his arrest.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, two 19‑year‑old teenagers, Andrew Hillick and Michael Matthews, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and robbery after attacking a 31‑year‑old taxi driver outside a Garda station on 17 November 2020. The court heard that the teenagers broke the taxi's glass partition, punched and kicked the driver, and stole €60 in cash and his mobile phone. The driver sustained a broken nose, blood on his shirt, and damage to his glasses. Both accused were arrested shortly after the incident; Matthews was found with a broken bottle. The judge noted their lack of prior convictions and significant adversity in their lives, and remanded them on continuing bail until 10 February. The case remains at the pleading stage, with no sentencing yet announced.
Anthony Casserly, aged 25, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended, after pleading guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder of gangster Wayne Whelan, 42, who was shot and left in a burning car on 18 November 2019. Casserly had lured Whelan to a pub under the pretense of watching a soccer match, using their friendship to lower Whelan's guard. The Central Criminal Court heard that Whelan had survived a previous shooting attempt in September 2019 and was cautious about his movements. Casserly's admission of guilt, lack of prior serious convictions and remorse were considered mitigating factors. The judge noted that Casserly's role was an aggravating factor because he used a trusted friendship to facilitate the murder. The sentence was back‑dated to 12 December 2019. The case also involved Christopher Moran, who pleaded guilty to being the getaway driver. The court did not consider any further appeals or subsequent proceedings.
John Greene, 24, was sentenced to two years in prison for dangerous driving during a high‑speed Garda chase on June 5, 2019, near the old Naas road. He pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous driving, criminal damage to a road sign, resisting a police officer, driving without insurance and without a licence. Greene drove over 90 km/h in a 50 km/h zone on wet roads, repeatedly used handbrake turns, skidded across traffic lanes and Luas lines, and at one point spun 180 degrees before colliding head‑on with a patrol car in pursuit. He later crashed into an electronic road sign, after which Garda officers used an ASP baton to break his window, removed his keys, and restrained him, with pepper spray deployed. A warrant was found for his arrest; his real address was in Bluebell, Dublin. John Greene was convicted.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Wayne Whelan, a 42‑year‑old gangster, was shot at least three times in the head and found in a burning car on 18 November 2019. His sister Hazel Grainger testified that Whelan trusted Anthony Casserly, who lured him to his death under the pretense of watching a soccer match. Casserly, 25, pleaded guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder, while Christopher Moran, 52, pleaded guilty as the getaway driver. The court heard that Whelan's body was in the passenger seat of a Toyota Corolla that was set on fire, and DNA analysis was required to identify him. The hearing focused on the relationship between Whelan and Casserly, the events leading to the murder, and the evidence presented by the prosecution and defence. Casserly is scheduled for sentencing on 31 January. The case remains at the sentencing stage, with no verdict yet.
Two young men, Joel Kialunda, 20, and Emmanuel Esuku, 23, were sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to fully suspended one‑year imprisonment for laundering money defrauded from a Swedish trade union. The fraud involved fraudulent emails claiming that three ventilators would be purchased for donation to a hospital for Covid‑19 treatment. The union transferred €27,594.63 into an account provided in the email, which was later found to belong to Kialunda. Over €23,000 was withdrawn or transferred elsewhere, including €3,000 sent to a Revolut account belonging to Esuku. Both men pleaded guilty to money laundering on 22 and 23 April 2020, respectively. Judge Martin Nolan, citing their age and mitigation, suspended the sentences in their entirety on strict conditions. The court noted that neither accused had been involved in the initial defrauding of the union and that the money had been recovered and returned to the union.
Ali El Taweel, 24, received a four‑year suspended sentence after a series of car crashes during an episode of psychosis linked to an abrupt withdrawal from cannabis. He left a car park without paying, drove against traffic, hit a motorcyclist, collided with two cars, a patrol car, a truck and a taxi, causing injuries to the taxi driver and passenger. He pleaded guilty to two counts of endangerment, driving without insurance, criminal damage and refusing to provide a urine or blood sample. The court noted psychiatric reports and a letter from his father detailing his cannabis dependency and sudden withdrawal. Judge Melanie Greally highlighted his subsequent engagement with mental‑health services, marriage, fatherhood, a law degree and a low risk of re‑offending, and imposed the suspended term on strict conditions, including continued medication compliance and a five‑year driving disqualification.
In a 2016 murder trial, James Lammon, aged 48, was found guilty by a unanimous jury of the brutal, pre‑meditated killing of Jason Doogue in Athy, Co. Kildare, and sentenced to life imprisonment. Lammon appealed, arguing that his counsel failed to challenge a disputed Garda Daniel O'Shea memo that he had allegedly recorded a conversation in an exercise yard after his arrest. The memo, which Lammon denied ever occurred, was admitted in edited form. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice George Birmingham, rejected the appeal, concluding that Lammon had been informed of the prosecution's proposal regarding the memo, had understood it, and had instructed his legal team to accept it. The court found no evidence that his counsel acted contrary to his instructions and dismissed the appeal, leaving the life sentence in place.
Jonathan Reid, 27, of Newhall, Naas, pleaded guilty in the Central Criminal Court to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Greg Shiels on 6 March 2020 at New Hall, contrary to Section 4 of the Non‑Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. The State will later enter a nolle prosequi on the attempted murder charge. Mr Justice Paul McDermott fixed a sentence hearing for 21 March 2022, remanded Reid to remain in custody until that date, and ordered the preparation of a victim impact statement, a governor's report and a probation report.
Stephen Penrose was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for the murder of Philip Finnegan at the Central Criminal Court. The sentence was backdated to May 17, 2017, when Penrose entered custody. Penrose, who had pleaded not guilty, was found guilty by a unanimous jury verdict. He represented himself during the trial after dismissing his legal teams, an action the judge described as a serious abuse of the legal system. In a victim impact statement, Angela Finnegan, the victim's mother, condemned Penrose for cross-examining her in the witness box, stating no mother should be questioned by the man who murdered her son. She described the trauma of finding her son's decapitated remains in Rahin Woods, Co Kildare, three weeks after he went missing. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster testified that Finnegan died from multiple stab wounds, including fatal injuries to his liver and aorta. Superintendent Brian O'Keeffe informed the court of Penrose's previous convictions, including the manslaughter of David Sharkey in 2010, for which Sharkey was sentenced to nine years in prison. Penrose's other prior offenses included possession of firearms, a hit-and-run, and assaults on prison officers. The judge noted that Penrose had been continually in custody since May 2017. The court rejected Penrose's defense that he was attacked by others, accepting the prosecution's case that he inflicted a gruesome death on Finnegan.
Thomas Doran, 29, with 64 prior convictions, was jailed for six years after driving the wrong way on the N7 dual carriageway in the early hours of 21 September 2020. Doran, who was on bail and disqualified from driving for ten years, drove 700 metres against traffic before colliding head‑on with a Toyota Yaris. The collision killed driver Anatolie Butucel and seriously injured passenger Serghei Grigoras and Doran's uncle Patrick Connors. Doran was uncooperative at the scene, refusing to give details and telling Gardaí to "fuck off." He was found guilty of dangerous driving causing death and serious bodily harm. The judge set a headline sentence of eight years but, after considering Doran's guilty plea, remorse, €1,500 payment to Grigoras, and his poor mental health, imposed a final sentence of six and a half years with the last six months suspended on strict conditions, and a 20‑year driving disqualification.
High Court proceedings alleging that Garda Commissioner Drew Harris was in contempt of a court order regarding the assessment of Detective Garda Aidan Bracken's mental health injuries have been struck out as part of a settlement. The matter was resolved before Mr Justice Charles Meenan, who welcomed the agreement. As part of the settlement, it was agreed that the court can make an order stating that Detective Bracken be classified as having sustained his injuries while carrying out his duties, commencing from July 2015. Various costs orders were also made in the detective's favour. The contempt action arose after the Commissioner's lawyers opposed a motion claiming failure to comply with a previous order requiring a fair assessment by the Chief Medical Officer. Detective Bracken, who worked in the Co Kildare Division, claims his work resulted in several gang members being convicted and jailed, leading to serious threats to his life and a diagnosis of PTSD. He had previously brought four sets of proceedings against the Commissioner, all resolved in his favour. In a related action resolved last August, the court quashed a decision classifying his injuries as an ordinary illness and ordered a fresh assessment. Represented by John Kennedy SC, Rory Kennedy BL, and solicitor Eoin Powderly, the detective expressed thanks to the court. Aillil O'Reilly SC, for the Commissioner, confirmed the orders could be made on consent, including striking out the contempt proceedings.
In a High Court hearing on 24 November 2021, Detective Garda Aidan Bracken, who has been on sick leave since 2015, was granted permission to bring a contempt of court motion against Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. Bracken, who claims psychiatric injuries from investigating criminal gangs, alleges the Commissioner failed to comply with a court order issued in August that required a fair assessment of his injuries by the Garda's Chief Medical Officer. The order followed Bracken's successful judicial review, which overturned a decision classifying his injuries as an ordinary illness and awarded temporary rehabilitation remuneration. Harris's counsel argued the motion was premature, noting progress had been made and a forensic psychiatric report was pending. Judge Charles Meenan approved the motion, noting Bracken's prior success in four judicial reviews, and adjourned the case for two weeks. The motion seeks only compliance with the assessment order, not punitive measures against the Commissioner.
In November 2021 a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Hazel Fitzpatrick, 25, for contravening a court order that prohibited the publication of identifying material about the juveniles convicted of murdering Ana Kriégel. Fitzpatrick had posted a screenshot of a photo that identified one of the boys, Boy A, on her Facebook page the day after the convictions in June 2019. The judge noted that Fitzpatrick acted out of "pure anger", was aware of the order, and that her behaviour was a "mistake" she regretted. She pleaded guilty and was described as a person of good character who was suffering from anxiety and depression at the time. The judge imposed a headline sentence of 12 months imprisonment, reduced to eight months, which was suspended on the condition that Fitzpatrick keep the peace for that period. No other convictions or charges were mentioned.
Stephen Penrose, aged 38, was found guilty by a jury of murdering his friend Philip Finnegan, aged 24, who was missing for three weeks before his decapitated remains were discovered in a shallow grave in Rahin Woods, Kildare. The jury rejected Penrose's defence that he had last seen Finnegan being stabbed by a group of men in a forest and that he had attempted to conceal the body's location. Evidence included a DNA match from a bloodied glove found near the remains, a forensic scientist's report linking Penrose's DNA to the glove, and testimony that Finnegan's body had suffered multiple stab wounds, including fatal ones to the liver and aorta. Penrose had previously been convicted of manslaughter in 2010. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court, concluded with a unanimous verdict after five hours and 46 minutes of deliberation over two days.
The jury in the Stephen Penrose murder trial, which concerns the death of 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan whose decapitated body was found in a Kildare woods, has paused its deliberations for the weekend and will return to the Central Criminal Court on Monday. The panel of eight men and four women spent 3 hours and 36 minutes considering their verdict. Judge Alexander Owens instructed them to suspend deliberations at 4 pm and resume on Monday morning to decide whether Penrose, aged 38, should be found guilty of murdering Finnegan. The jury was told to ignore Penrose's choice to represent himself, his outburst in court, and his repeated hiring and firing of lawyers, and to focus solely on the evidence presented. The case has heard that Finnegan's remains were found buried in a shallow grave, that a DNA profile from a bloodied glove matched Penrose, and that the death was caused by multiple stab wounds. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty.
Glassco Recycling Limited, a glass recycling firm based in Naas, has lodged a High Court challenge against a decision by An Bord Pleanala that its proposal to increase its annual intake of glass and aluminium cans is not exempt from planning permission. The board had ruled in May that the proposed increase constituted a material change of use due to intensification, and that no planning law exemption applied. Glassco argues the decision is flawed, that the board erred in law, and that the increase does not amount to development. It also claims the board failed to provide reasons, did not consider relevant factors, and made an unreasonable decision without an Environmental Impact Assessment. The company seeks orders to quash the decision and a declaration that its existing recycling permission precludes the activity from being a material change of use. Mr Justice Anthony Barr granted the company permission to proceed, and the case will return to court next month.
The trial of Stephen Penrose, 38, for the alleged murder of Philip Finnegan, 24, at Rahin Woods, Edenderry, Co Kildare, on August 10, 2016, is ongoing. Penrose, of Coolock, Dublin 17, pleaded not guilty. The Central Criminal Court jury has heard that Finnegan's decapitated remains were found buried in September 2016, with forensic evidence indicating death by multiple stab wounds. A DNA profile from a bloodied glove matched Penrose. The prosecution alleges Penrose brought Finnegan to the woods between 4.10pm and 5.13pm, a period supported by CCTV footage of his Alfa Romeo. Penrose claimed he was attacked by men in a black car while testing firearms, but the State argues his changing accounts were an attempt to conceal the body's location. Mr Justice Alexander Owens charged the jury to ignore Penrose's unrepresented status, courtroom outbursts, and character, focusing solely on the evidence. The judge noted Penrose declined to give a closing speech or call witnesses. The jury was instructed to decide if Penrose was the perpetrator. The judge will complete his charge tomorrow morning, after which the jury will begin deliberations.
Gardai questioned Stephen Penrose, accused of murdering 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan, about the location of the attack that led to Finnegan's death in Rahin Woods, Kildare. Penrose gave multiple, conflicting accounts of where he and Finnegan were attacked by a group of men on 10 August 2016, initially saying it occurred on the outskirts of Kilcock, then near Clonuff, then near Edenderry, and finally near a caravan beside a woods. He claimed they were there to collect firearms, but later denied any knowledge of the attack. Penrose admitted to lying about the location out of fear for his life. Evidence presented included a blood‑stained glove matching Penrose's DNA found near Finnegan's remains, a garden fork, shovel, and knife blade, and a fire‑damaged glove. The trial continues before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury, with Penrose remaining in custody and refusing to attend. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty. Philip Finnegan pleaded not guilty.
Stephen Penrose, 38, of Coolock, Dublin, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Philip Finnegan, 24, who was found decapitated in a shallow grave in Rahin Woods, Kildare, on 2 September 2016. Penrose testified that he witnessed Finnegan being stabbed in the back by a group of men on 10 August 2016. He claimed he had no involvement in Finnegan's death and that he had been attacked in a black car, sustaining a stab wound to his left arm. Penrose's DNA was found on a left‑handed gardening glove near the grave, and a bloodied glove was recovered from the site. He has repeatedly denied any role in the murder, stating he was not in the woods and that he only witnessed the attack. The trial is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court.
A blood‑stained glove found near the skeletonised remains of Philip Finnegan in Rahin Woods matched DNA from Stephen Penrose, a forensic scientist who is on trial for Finnegan's murder. The glove, heavily charred and bearing blood on five internal sites, was recovered by Gardaí on 8 September 2016 and later analysed by Dr Alan McGee of Forensic Science Ireland. McGee compared the glove's DNA with a buccal swab taken from Penrose on 16 November 2016 and reported a match, estimating the probability of a different source as less than one in a billion. Penrose, 38, pleaded not guilty to the murder of the 24‑year‑old, who was found buried in a shallow grave after being missing for just over three weeks.
Hazel Fitzpatrick (25) of Easton Green, Easton Road, Leixlip, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty to posting a picture on her Facebook account which includes a picture of Boy A in contravention of the Children's Act 2001 within the State on or about June 19, 2019. Fitzpatrick admitted to the charge and stated she had heard about the judge's order and that people could be brought to court and fined. She described the offence as 'the biggest mistake she has ever made in her life'. The court heard that Fitzpatrick posted the image out of 'pure anger' and that she had become 'almost reliant and addicted to social media'. The matter was adjourned for finalisation to November 18, next, with Fitzpatrick remanded on continuing bail. The court heard that Fitzpatrick had no previous convictions and that she had taken the image down shortly after posting it. The case was initially directed for summary disposal in the District Court, but jurisdiction was later refused by another judge. The defence submitted that Fitzpatrick was not part of a greater conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and that her actions were spontaneous and misguided. The court was informed that Fitzpatrick was suffering from post-natal depression and anxiety at the time of the offence and that she was at a low-risk of reoffending. The matter was adjourned and never described as concluded or finalised.
In a murder trial, a pathologist testified that the decapitated, skeletonised remains of a 24‑year‑old Dublin man, Philip Finnegan, were found curled in a foetal position in a shallow grave in Rahin Woods, Kildare, after he had been missing for 30 days. The remains were partially burned and evidence of multiple stab wounds, including two fatal ones to the liver and aorta, was presented. Fingerprints recovered from a finger that had slipped away from the soil confirmed Finnegan's identity. The accused, Stephen Penrose, 38, pleaded not guilty. The trial also discussed a blood‑stained glove that matched Penrose's DNA and his phone's proximity to the site. The case is ongoing before Mr Justice Owens and a jury.
During a murder trial, a dog walker recounted discovering what he believed to be a body in Rahin Woods, Kildare, on 2 September 2016. He found two dogs barking near a buried object that appeared to be flesh. He later informed two men, Ivan Pollard and Pat McGrath, who called 112. Garda inspectors Aiden Hannon and Padraig Nolan examined the site, noting almost skeletal remains protruding from a shallow grave, a stab‑proof vest, a garden fork, a shovel, a knife blade, a mobile phone, a fire‑damaged glove, and a black funnel. The remains were taken to Naas mortuary. The trial heard that the accused, Stephen Penrose, 38, pleaded not guilty to murdering 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan, whose body was found decapitated in the woods. The case is ongoing before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury.
Stephen Penrose, 38, accused of murdering 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan in Kildare woods, has re‑engaged solicitor Michael French while junior counsel Eoghan Weldon may return to represent him. He has not retained senior counsel Anthony Sammon. Penrose has repeatedly declined to attend his trial, which is in its fourth week at the Central Criminal Court. He previously represented himself, cross‑examining witnesses and accusing a Garda inspector of lying. The judge warned him that continued abuse of witnesses could lead to his removal from the courtroom. Penrose's trial continues with jurors hearing his multiple Garda interviews, where he gave conflicting accounts of the victim's movements and the location of the body. The prosecution has presented evidence of a bloodied glove DNA‑matched to Penrose and phone data linking him to the area where Finnegan's body was found. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty.
Stephen Penrose, 38, of Coolock, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Philip Finnegan, 24, who was found decapitated in a shallow grave in Kildare woods. During the trial, Penrose told Gardaí that he had heard rumours that Finnegan was "sitting in Jamaica eating a Big Mac" and that he had been "chopped up" in the Dublin mountains. He also claimed he had no knowledge of Finnegan's disappearance and that he had been stabbed in the arm during an alleged altercation on August 10. Penrose represented himself but has since hired new lawyers and declined to attend further court sessions. Gardaí have noted that a blood‑stained glove found at the scene matched Penrose's DNA and that his phone was linked to a cell site near the burial site. The trial continues before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury of 12.
During the Central Criminal Court trial of Stephen Penrose, a 38‑year‑old from Coolock, evidence was presented that his phone made a data connection at a cell site near Rahin, where the body of 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan was found. The phone also connected to several other sites in Edenderry and surrounding areas on the afternoon of 10 August 2016, including Liffey Valley fitness centre, Edenderry water tower, Monasteroris, Russellswood, Moyvalley and Enfield. The last outgoing call from Penrose's phone was at 6:09 pm, connecting to a cell site in Enfield. The prosecution also noted that Finnegan's phone was last used in Edenderry at 3:44 pm, and that his mother's call at 4:40 pm was unanswered. Additional testimony included a text sent from Penrose's phone at 4:07 pm and a call at 4:53 pm to a site covering Rahin Woods. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty.
Paul Penrose gave evidence at the Central Criminal Court in a murder trial concerning his son, Stephen Penrose, aged 38, of Coolock, Dublin. Stephen Penrose has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Phillip Finnegan, aged 24, at Rahin Woods, County Kildare on August 10, 2016. The father described meeting Mr Finnegan on August 8, two days before the alleged killing, and stated that the two men appeared friendly towards each other. Paul Penrose testified about subsequent events, including his son's hospitalisation with stab wounds, the discovery of bloodstains on a vehicle, and an attempt to purchase cleaning products. The trial heard that Mr Finnegan's decapitated remains were discovered in a shallow grave in Kildare woodland. The prosecution has indicated that a bloodied glove found at the scene matched DNA belonging to the accused. The trial continues before Justice Alexander Owens and jury.
The jury in the trial of Stephen Penrose, 38, accused of murdering 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan, watched a montage of CCTV footage showing a blue saloon car's movements on the day of the killing. The footage, presented by Garda Shauna Nolan, shows Finnegan leaving a filling station in Edenderry at 3.46 pm, entering the car with Penrose, and the vehicle driving toward Rahin Woods. The car is seen passing Kinnefad at 4.05 pm, arriving at Grange West at 4.10 pm, and later at a house in Balrinnet at 5.13 pm. At 6.21 pm the car stops at Browne's filling station in Kilcock, where a man in dark clothing is seen with a bleeding left wrist. The final clip shows an ambulance outside Connolly Hospital at 7.39 pm, with a paramedic treating a patient's left forearm injury. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty.