Court archive
Court reports mentioning Castlecomer, Kilkenny
2024-11-04 · Kilkenny
John Curtin, aged 59, was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with the final year suspended for one year, after a jury convicted him on 78 counts of rape and sexual assault against eight boys between 1995 and 2007. The Central Criminal Court heard that Curtin, a former hospital porter, lured boys around the age of 11 with cigarettes, then abused them in his home and other rural locations, encouraging them to touch him and, in some cases, to sit on his lap in his car. Victims described lasting psychological damage, including depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and difficulties in education, relationships and employment. Curtin denies the charges and has never apologized. The judge imposed a 20‑year sentence, a one‑year suspended term, and conditions of probation, a sexual offenders treatment programme and no contact with children.
2023-05-23 · Dublin
Kevin Cradden, 33, of Kilkenny, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault at a Dublin house on 31 May 2021. He was described as "dumb drunk" after consuming large amounts of alcohol at a barbecue. The victim, a tenant, woke to find him in her bed, kissing her and touching her vagina. She identified him as "Kevin" and left the house, later reporting the assault. Cradden left the house naked from the waist down and was later called back to dress. He has no prior convictions and has not been involved with Gardaí since. Judge Orla Crowe accepted the victim's impact statement, noting loss of self‑worth and trust issues. The judge imposed a headline sentence of four years, reduced to three years in prison, with 18 months suspended on strict conditions, including probation and abstention from alcohol. The court heard Cradden's remorse, lack of memory, and family support.
2022-12-07 · Dublin
Kevin Cradden, 33, of Kilkenny, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault at a Dublin house on 31 May 2021. He was described as "dumb drunk" after consuming a large amount of alcohol at a barbecue. The victim, a tenant, woke to find Cradden in her bed, kissing her and touching her vagina. She recognised him as "Kevin" and was confused. Her housemate confronted him, and he left the house naked from the waist down. Cradden has no prior convictions and has not been in contact with Gardaí since the assault. He has expressed remorse, has no memory of the night, and has engaged in counselling. The case was adjourned for a probation report to assess his risk to society, with sentencing scheduled for 23 May next year. The victim's impact statement was read in silence by Judge Orla Crowe.
2022-06-27 · Kilkenny
In a 2022 Central Criminal Court hearing, Martin Kelly, aged 35, was sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison for manslaughter after he set fire to Gerry Nolan's mobile home in 2006, killing Nolan. The court noted Kelly's 196 prior convictions, including 10 for criminal damage, and his high risk of reoffending. Kelly pleaded guilty to manslaughter, admitting gross recklessness. The judge highlighted the devastating impact on Nolan's family, who had endured 16 years of unresolved grief. The sentence included an 18‑month suspended portion, to be served over three years, contingent on education and addiction support. The case stemmed from a cold‑case review that uncovered new evidence, including a changed alibi statement from a former partner. The sentencing reflected the seriousness of the offence and Kelly's acceptance of responsibility. Martin Kelly pleaded not guilty.
2022-06-20 · Kilkenny
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a woman who had earlier given her partner an alibi for a fatal 2006 fire in Co. Kilkenny later changed her statement after the accused, Martin Kelly, began a relationship with another woman. The court heard that Kelly, now 35, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of Gerard "Gerry" Nolan, 44, who died when his mobile home was set on fire. The hearing included victim impact statements from Nolan's family, describing the traumatic loss and ongoing grief. The court also heard details of the investigation, including the accused's denial of involvement, the identification parade, and the lack of direct forensic evidence linking Kelly to the fire. The judge remanded Kelly in custody pending sentencing. The summary reflects only the facts presented in the article.
2022-03-14 · Kilkenny
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 35‑year‑old man named Martin Kelly pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of 44‑year‑old Gerry Nolan, who died in a fire in Kelly's caravan in Deerpark, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny, on 24 July 2006. Kelly, who had previously been charged with murder in 2020, was represented by Sean Gillane SC for the DPP. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC requested five weeks for psychological and psychiatric reports. Judge Paul McDermott adjourned the case to 20 June for a sentence hearing.
2018-06-21 · Kilkenny
Joseph Comerford, a well‑known hotelier from Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny, and his sons John and Derek, who run the Academy Plaza Hotel on Dublin's O'Connell Street, have filed a lawsuit against Ulster Bank over a €3 million refinancing fee they claim was imposed under duress. The Comerfords say the bank pressured them to refinance loans during the recession, alleging the hotel was in default in 2012. They argue the bank used this situation to take equity in their business and extract an unreasonable fee through its Global Restructuring Group. The €3 million payment was made in December 2014 via Ulster Bank's entity UB SIG (ROI). In 2015 the family refinanced the debt and ended their relationship with the bank. Represented by Downes Solicitors, they seek orders to recover the money, declarations that the agreements were void and unconscionable, and damages for economic loss, undue influence, breach of duty and duress.
2018-01-17 · Kilkenny
Patrick McDonnell, 28, of New Line Close, Mountrath, was sentenced to five years in prison after a series of drug‑related offences and dangerous driving. He pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of cocaine for sale or supply, dangerous driving and reckless endangerment at Castlecomer on 27 January 2017, and to possession of cannabis and cocaine at Ballyroan on 16 January 2016. During a drug bust near the Kilkenny/Laois border, gardaí found 300 g of cocaine in a tupperware container. McDonnell fled, driving his car at speeds up to 100 km/h, crashing into a garda vehicle and injuring two officers. He also crashed into a car exiting a driveway. The court noted his history of drug offences and his statement to a garda that he had "not done anything". Judge Martin Nolan imposed the five‑year sentence, citing the reckless conduct and the injuries caused to the officers.
2017-03-09 · Dublin
Michael Martin, aged 37, was sentenced to 13 years for falsely imprisoning an 11‑year‑old girl he lifted from a green area near her home in Co. Laois. He was found guilty on 4 March 2015 and originally received a 17‑year term with the last four years suspended. On appeal the Court of Appeal deemed the sentence excessive and re‑sentenced him to 14 years, suspending the final three years for five years. The appeal judge noted the girl was physically lifted into a silver Nissan and that her ten‑year‑old brother's quick action prevented a more serious outcome. Martin had 92 prior convictions, including sexual assault and abduction, and pleaded guilty. He was required to enter a five‑year good‑behaviour bond after release. The court emphasised the gravity of the offence and the need to protect children.
2016-07-14 · Offaly
In the trial at Sister Senan Court, three men in their twenties—Matthew Cummins (22), Sean Davy (21), and James Davy (25)—have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Thomas 'Toddy' Dooly, a 64‑year‑old who was found dead in his Edenderry home on 16 February 2014. The prosecution alleges Dooly died from instrumental trauma to the head and chest and that the accused were present in his house on the day of the death, acting as a joint enterprise. A baseball bat, believed to have been used in the alleged murder, was recovered from a clothes bank in Edenderry on 21 February and later presented to the jury. Garda Trevor Shore described the bat as having marks and indentations; forensic scientist John Hoade examined it, noting missing wood pieces and dents that contained DNA matching Dooly, and reported blood staining indicating repeated swings of the weapon. The case remains at the jury stage.
2015-02-19 · Dublin
The trial of Graham Dwyer, who is alleged to have murdered Elaine O'Hara at Killakee, Rathfarnham on August 22nd, 2012, hours after she was discharged from a mental health hospital, continued in the Central Criminal Court. Detective Garda Bríd Wallace of the Garda Siochana's Computer Crime Unit testified that she examined Ms O'Hara's Apple laptop as part of the investigation. She found a number of adult pornographic and BDSM movie files, as well as images of mutilated bodies from a website. Additionally, she discovered images of Ms O'Hara, some of which appeared to be self-taken and others taken by a different person. The detective also found documents on the laptop, including a book on serial violence, letters written by Ms O'Hara, and a document titled 'Outline of Slave' which detailed a fictional scenario involving slavery and domination. Another document, titled 'Private,' described a harrowing experience involving torture. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of five women and seven men. Graham Dwyer has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. Brid Wallace has not entered a plea.
2014-04-07 · Kilkenny
The High Court wound up Avondale Nursing Home Limited, a Callan, Co. Kilkenny nursing home closed in 2011 after HIQA cancelled its registration over health and safety concerns. The winding‑up order was made by Mr Justice Peter Charleton following an application by former employee Bridget Brander, who was owed unpaid wages. The company was found insolvent and unable to meet its debts. Mr Declan de Lacey of PKF O'Connor, Leddy & Holmes was appointed liquidator. The court noted that the company had been struck off for failing to file returns but was restored to the Registrar of Companies. Directors Miriam and Hayley Holmes were no longer in jurisdiction and were believed to be in Australia. The liquidation will determine if any assets can be sold to satisfy Brander's claim and other former employees' debts. The case remains before the examiner's court.