In a cold‑case murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Judge Patrick McCarthy delivered a six‑hour charge to a jury of seven men and five women. The case concerns John Joseph Malone, aged 53, who has pleaded not guilty to the 1987 strangulation and subsequent arson that killed 69‑year‑old Ann 'Nancy' Smyth on Wolfe Tone Street, Kilkenny City. The judge paused the proceedings before 5 pm and promised to resume the next morning.
In a 2017 murder trial, a 69‑year‑old woman was killed in a "callous and violent death" when she was strangled and her house set on fire. The prosecution, led by Sean Gillane SC, argued that the victim's injuries were consistent with strangulation and blows to the head and mouth, and that the accused, 53‑year‑old John Joseph Malone, had confessed to the crime to church members. Witnesses placed Malone at the victim's home around 12:30 am, where he allegedly argued with her and was seen acting suspiciously. Malone denied the killing and the arson. The defence, represented by Colman Cody SC, contended that the case was pursued because of later confessions, not because of forensic evidence, and that the police had focused on Malone for years. The jury was instructed to decide only whether the prosecution proved Malone's guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The judge would give his charge the following day. John Joseph Malone pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court trial of John Joseph Malone, a 53‑year‑old from Newpark, Kilkenny, a Garda inspector, Colin Furlong, testified that investigators did not deliberately seek witnesses to implicate Malone in the 1987 murder of 69‑year‑old Ann 'Nancy' Smyth. Furlong said witnesses came forward of their own volition and that the Gardaí's aim was to gather any evidence relating to the crime, not to obtain confessions. He denied that the Gardaí had tried to make a charge stick or that they had coerced witnesses. Furlong acknowledged that some Gardaí had contacted witnesses but maintained that the statements were voluntary. He also confirmed that the Gardaí had investigated Barney Malone, John's brother, and found no evidence linking him to the killing. The prosecution case has now finished, with the trial set to continue tomorrow before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of seven men and five women.
During the cold‑case trial of John Joseph Malone, the accused told the Central Criminal Court that he had argued with the widowed pensioner, Ann 'Nancy' Smyth, over a pigeon hours before she was found strangled. Malone, 53, was charged with murdering the 69‑year‑old on 11 September 1987 at her Wolfe Tone Street home in Kilkenny City. He had initially denied approaching Mrs Smyth early that morning, but later interviews admitted he had met her outside her house at about 12.40 a.m., arguing about a pigeon that he claimed was in her loft. He said the dispute lasted about 30 minutes, that he did not touch her, and that he then went home. The trial continues on Monday.
During a cold‑case murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, an 81‑year‑old woman named Eileen Kelly testified that the accused, John Joseph Malone, had confessed to her that he had killed a widowed pensioner, Ann 'Nancy' Smyth, in 1987. Kelly, who lived near Smyth, said she had known Malone and that he had called into her home a few months after the murder. According to Kelly, Malone told her that the killing was an accident and that he had gone to Smyth's house over a pigeon or pigeon trophy that her husband had won. She recounted that Malone had claimed he had shoved Smyth into a door and strangled her before setting fire to her house. Malone, 53, pleaded not guilty. The trial is ongoing.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing on 4 April 2017, Ann Walsh, former sister‑in‑law of John Joseph Malone, testified that she had reported Malone's alleged confession to Gardaí about twenty years earlier. Walsh, who had been married to Malone's brother Bernard, said she had heard Malone admit to killing 69‑year‑old Ann 'Nancy' Smyth on three separate occasions. The first confession was in a pub in 1991, where Malone allegedly said he had killed Smyth; Walsh's husband told him to leave. The second confession occurred in 1996 while Malone was walking Walsh home from a pub; he threatened to burn her house and harm her children, and Walsh reported this to Sergeant Eddie Geraghty. Walsh confirmed she had told the Sergeant everything Malone said that night. The court also heard statements from two lodgers who had stayed with Smyth in 1987, but the focus of the testimony was Walsh's reports of Malone's confessions and threats. John Joseph Malone pleaded not guilty.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing on 3 April 2017, the former sister‑in‑law of John Joseph Malone, a 53‑year‑old man charged with the 1987 murder of 69‑year‑old Ann 'Nancy' Smyth, testified that Malone had confessed to her that he had killed Smyth. Ms. Malone, who had been married to Malone's brother Bernard 'Barney' Malone, recounted that she and Barney had been walking home from Pat Carroll's pub when Malone allegedly threatened to kill her and burn her house, mirroring the earlier murder. She said he repeated the confession at her home in Newpark Close and claimed he had "gotten away with it." The prosecution asked her to detail what he had said, and she confirmed the confession. The defence will cross‑examine her tomorrow, while her ex‑husband was cross‑examined today, confirming that his brother had made a similar confession to him. The trial proceeds before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury. John Joseph Malone pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court heard testimony from Bernard 'Barney' Malone in the ongoing trial of John Joseph Malone, who is accused of murdering 69-year-old Ann 'Nancy' Smyth on 11th September 1987 at her home on Wolfe Tone Street in Kilkenny. The accused, a 53-year-old man from Newpark, has pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering the widowed pensioner, who was allegedly strangled before her house was set on fire. Barney Malone testified that his brother confessed to the killing approximately ten years ago, claiming it was motivated by a pigeon trophy. The witness stated that the accused later returned to his home and stabbed him, an incident for which the accused received a suspended sentence after Barney Malone requested leniency. The witness disclosed this confession to a garda superintendent for the first time during that legal process. In cross-examination, the accused agreed that he had previously served two sentences for separate rapes in Kilkenny. The trial is currently at the sentence stage regarding the witness's prior conviction, while the murder trial continues before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury. Cross-examination of the witness is scheduled to continue on Monday.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, evangelist Billy Patterson testified that he had known John Joseph Malone, a 53‑year‑old accused of murdering 69‑year‑old Ann 'Nancy' Smyth in 1987, for over 25 years. Patterson, who worked as an evangelist for Kilkenny's Presbyterian Church, said he had run bible studies in private homes that Malone sometimes attended. After the killing, Patterson invited Malone for a conversation in his van, during which Malone allegedly confessed to the murder. Patterson claimed he advised Malone to contact the Gardai, but he later said he had not reported the confession immediately because he felt loyalty to Malone and feared betraying him. Patterson admitted that he had made statements to the Gardai in 2012 and 2012‑13, but he had omitted details of the confession in those statements. The court was informed that Malone had also confessed to two teenagers during a church trip to Tramore in the late 1980s. The trial continues. John Joseph Malone pleaded not guilty.
In a cold‑case murder trial in Kilkenny, 53‑year‑old John Joseph Malone is accused of strangling 69‑year‑old Ann 'Nancy' Smyth on 11 September 1987 and setting fire to her Wolfe Tone Street home. Malone pleaded not guilty. Witness Jude Curran, a long‑time friend and church member, testified that Malone confessed to him that he had killed Smyth, arguing that forensic evidence of strangulation conflicted with his account. Curran described several conversations in which Malone claimed he had pushed Smyth, that she fell, and that he had set the house on fire. Curran also recounted that Malone had told him he could not sleep over the case and that he had considered confessing to a police officer. The trial continues with Malone's defence counsel cross‑examining Curran on the alleged confessions and the evidence presented. The court heard no further evidence of a verdict or sentencing.
During a cold‑case murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, a witness named Geraldine Brennan testified that she saw the accused, 53‑year‑old John Joseph Malone, banging on the door of widowed pensioner Ann 'Nancy' Smyth's house on Wolfe Tone Street in Kilkenny City on the night of 10 September 1987. Brennan, who was living three doors down with her baby and parents, claimed she heard a male voice shouting, "Let me into the f***ing house. I just want to f***ing talk to you," and that Malone was angry and agitated. She said the banging lasted about half an hour, with Malone kicking the door and slamming the gate. Brennan had not reported the incident to Gardaí in 1987 because her mother advised her not to get involved. She later gave a statement in 2012 after a television reconstruction prompted her to reconsider. John Joseph Malone pleaded not guilty.
In a cold‑case murder trial, the Central Criminal Court heard that 69‑year‑old Ann 'Nancy' Smyth was strangled and suffered head injuries before a fire was set in her Kilkenny home on 11 September 1987. The accused, 53‑year‑old John Joseph Malone of Newpark, pleaded not guilty. State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy presented evidence from the post‑mortem, noting burns on the left side of the body, bruising and hemorrhages around the eye, and a horizontal pressure mark on the back of the neck. Professor Harbison's examination confirmed fresh bleeding and no soot in the respiratory tract, indicating death by asphyxia due to manual strangulation before the fire. The court also heard testimony from first responders who observed the fire and the scene, noting suspicious circumstances and the presence of a dead dog. The trial continues before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury.
The cold-case trial of John Joseph Malone, 53, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy. Malone, of Newpark in Kilkenny City, has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of 69-year-old Ann 'Nancy' Smyth on 11th September 1987 at her home on Wolfe Tone Street in Kilkenny City. The matter is currently at the trial stage and has not been finalised. Witness Desmond Murphy, the deceased's nephew, testified that he was unaware of any money-lending issues, stating he was 'flabbergasted' to hear such questions. He noted that Smyth's sisters-in-law had assisted her with daily needs. Ann Lahart, a bartender who served Smyth on the evening before her death, described her as a 'lovely person' and a regular customer. Security guard Dermot Fennelly reported seeing smoke and flames from the house, prompting a call to the Gardaí. Firefighter Anthony Lacey testified that he and colleagues used a sledgehammer to break the Yale lock to enter. He described intense smoke and poor visibility, stating he stumbled over a body while searching. A doctor's statement confirmed death was pronounced at St Luke's Hospital, noting the deceased was in day clothes with a blackened face. The trial continues and is expected to last more than three weeks.
In a cold‑case murder trial, John Joseph Malone, 53, is charged with strangling 69‑year‑old Ann (Nancy) Smyth on 11 September 1987 at her Wolfe Tone Street home in Kilkenny. The prosecution, led by Sean Gillane SC, argues that after a night at a local pub, Malone entered Smyth's house, strangled her, and set it on fire. Evidence includes a neighbour's account of a shouting altercation, a witness who heard a man with a speech impediment ask for a cigarette, and testimony from a bible‑study group member who claims Malone admitted the crime. The case notes that Smyth's death was caused by asphyxia from neck compression, not the fire. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy with a jury of five women and seven men, expected to last over three weeks. John Joseph Malone pleaded not guilty.
A 53‑year‑old man, John Joseph Malone of Newpark, Kilkenny City, is set to stand trial on Wednesday for the 1987 murder of Ann (Nancy) Smyth, who was killed on 11 September 1987 at a Wolfe Tone Street address. Malone pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. A jury of five women and seven men has been sworn in, and the trial is expected to last more than three weeks.
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.
Christopher Zinck, aged 33, and Rory Kilkenny, also 33, pleaded guilty in Carlow Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis for sale or supply at a site in Kidalton, Piltown, Co Kilkenny, on 2 May 2013. Kilkenny was sentenced to four years imprisonment, later increased to 12 years with four years suspended on appeal. Zinck received a wholly suspended nine‑year sentence, later increased to a fully suspended ten‑year sentence. The Court of Appeal upheld the suspended nature of Zinck's sentence, citing his rehabilitation and employment. The case involved a large cannabis grow operation with 2,504 plants and 43.54 kg of herb, valued at €2,874,174. Three Asian gardeners were sentenced to seven years with six years suspended. Zinck admitted involvement, receiving a €5,000 fee for delivering supplies to the growers. The court noted his 18‑month drug‑free period and praised his inspirational recovery.
The High Court approved a €4 million settlement for 27‑year‑old Rachel McCarthy, who had sued the HSE for medical negligence after her birth at St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny, on 9 December 1989. Rachel's mother, Noreen, brought the action on her behalf, alleging that the HSE failed to provide adequate care during the delivery, that a lack of oxygen caused permanent brain injury, and that Rachel should have been delivered by caesarean section earlier that day. The HSE denied all allegations and the settlement was reached without admission of liability. Counsel Jeremy Maher SC described the settlement as a good one, representing 75 % of the claim's full value. Mr Justice Raymond Fullam approved the settlement on Friday evening, wishing the McCarthy family well. The settlement was reached without any admission of fault by the HSE.
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.
This report details seven extraordinary exonerations in Irish courts, highlighting cases where the justice system failed accused individuals. Among the validated subjects is Nora Wall, a former nun convicted in 1999 of rape, a charge she did not plead to but was found guilty of. She became the first woman convicted of rape in the State's history and the first to receive a life sentence for the crime, handed down by Mr Justice Paul Carney. However, her sentence was quashed after a prosecution witness admitted fabricating evidence, and in December 2005, the Court of Criminal Appeal declared her conviction a miscarriage of justice. Another subject, Michael Hannon, was convicted in 1999 of sexually assaulting a ten-year-old girl, Una Hardester, and assaulted Hannon's father. Hannon received a suspended prison sentence of four years. In 2009, the Court of Criminal Appeal declared his conviction a miscarriage of justice after Hardester admitted her allegations were fabricated for revenge following a land dispute. Christy Lynch, convicted of the murder of Vera Cooney in 1976, was also exonerated. Lynch claimed his confession was extracted under duress by the Garda murder squad. Although the Court of Criminal Appeal initially ordered a retrial, the Supreme Court ultimately set Lynch free, declaring him an innocent man based on the inadmissibility of his coerced statement. These cases underscore significant failures in the Irish legal process.
In 2016 the Court of Appeal found the sentences given to two men for their roles in Ireland's largest cannabis‑growing facility too lenient. Rory Kilkenny, 33, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale and was originally sentenced to four years. Christopher Zinck, 32, also pleaded guilty and received a wholly suspended nine‑year sentence. The Court of Appeal re‑sentenced Kilkenny to 12 years, suspending the final four, and reduced Zinck's sentence by one year, keeping it suspended, hoping his rehabilitation could be preserved. The facility, discovered in Piltown, Kilkenny, contained 2,504 plants and 43.54 kg of cannabis, valued at €2,874,174. Three Asian gardeners were sentenced to seven years with six suspended. The Court noted Kilkenny's essential role and a subsequent offence in 2014, and Zinck's involvement in a serious enterprise but also his exceptional recovery, leading to the adjusted sentences.
A major road haulage firm, Roadteam Logistic Solutions (formerly Nolan Transport Limited), was fined €1 million for inadequately securing steel coils that slid off a trailer, killing two motorists and injuring four others in a 2007 accident near Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny. The company pleaded guilty to breaching the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act. The fine, imposed by Mr Justice Raymond Fullam in 2013, was the maximum of €3 million but was reduced to €1 million. Roadteam appealed, arguing the penalty was disproportionate to a single omission, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, finding the fine "just and proportionate" given the gross dereliction of duty and the serious harm caused. The €1 million fine is to be paid over three years. The case highlighted the company's failure to secure heavy loads properly, leading to a fatal road incident.
This report details five notorious Irish murder cases, including the sentencing of Malcolm McArthur. McArthur pleaded guilty to the murder of Bridie Gargan and was sentenced to life in jail. The article also covers the Grangegorman killings, where Mark Nash was found guilty of the murders of Sylvia Shields and Mary Callinan in 2015, receiving a second life sentence. Although Dean Lyons initially confessed to these crimes, charges against him were dropped in 1998 after psychological testing suggested he was highly suggestible. Additionally, the report notes that Geoffrey Evans and John Shaw were sentenced to life in jail for the murders and rapes of Elizabeth Plunkett and Mary Duffy. Colin Whelan was sentenced to life in 2005 for the murder of his wife, Mary Gough, after faking his death and being extradited from Spain. Finally, Graham Dwyer is described in relation to the murder of Elaine O'Hara, though specific sentencing details for this case are not provided in the text. The validated procedural stage for the highlighted subjects is sentence, with findings of guilt and life imprisonment imposed for the proven charges.
In February 2016, Shane Smyth, aged 29, was committed to the Central Mental Hospital after a trial found him not guilty of murdering shop worker Mairead Moran by reason of insanity. The case, heard at the Central Criminal Court, involved Smyth's belief that Moran had stolen a "vile of his blood," installed hidden cameras, and placed black widow spiders in his house. Forensic psychiatrists Dr Brenda Wright and Dr Paul O'Connell testified that Smyth suffered from severe paranoid schizophrenia and was not capable of forming a specific intent. Dr Sally Linehan, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, reported that Smyth had been admitted to the CMH on 16 May 2014, had received Clozapine and a second psychotic medication, yet continued to exhibit psychosis and delusional beliefs. She recommended his continued inpatient care, which Justice Margaret Heneghan ordered. The decision was based on Smyth's mental disorder and the need for treatment in a designated centre. Mairead Moran was acquitted.
In February 2016, Mr Justice Seamus Noonan dismissed Private Christopher Maher's High Court challenge to prevent his discharge from the Permanent Defence Forces. Maher, a Tipperary soldier stationed in Kilkenny, had tested positive for cocaine in a compulsory random drug test in March 2013, with urine samples showing 150ng/ml and 179ng/ml of benzoylecgonine, the substance indicating cocaine use. Maher denied ever taking the drug, claiming accidental ingestion at a party the night before the test. He argued that the positive result could have arisen from passive exposure to crack cocaine smoke and that the testing process was flawed. He also submitted a medical report and offered voluntary targeted testing to prove he was not a habitual user. The court found his explanations uncredible, upheld the disciplinary breach, and confirmed the decision to discharge him, while allowing a stay pending appeal to the Court of Appeal.
The article discusses how, since the start of the legal term, two murder trials resulted in defendants pleading not guilty by reason of insanity, with juries finding them not guilty after brief deliberations. Both cases involved young men with delusions of persecution who stabbed victims, and the prosecution and defence agreed the men were legally insane. Judges had effectively instructed juries on the verdict. The piece explains that Section 5 of the Criminal Justice (Insanity) Act 2006 allows such pleas and requires psychiatric testimony. It notes that when both sides agree on insanity, the trial still proceeds, which the author finds absurd. The article cites additional cases, including a 2012 trial involving a former MEP's son, to illustrate the system's inefficiencies and potential for miscarriages of justice. It concludes by suggesting a non‑criminal proceeding could better protect vulnerable individuals while reducing the burden on the court system. The unnamed accused was acquitted.
A 48‑year‑old former defence forces sergeant, Michael Tobin, has filed a High Court challenge to overturn a decision by the Private Security Authority to revoke his licence to work as a doorman. Tobin, who has worked as a doorman in Kilkenny and Clonmel and was employed at Matt the Millers Public House on New Year's Eve, was informed on 13 January that his licence had been revoked. He argues the revocation was fundamentally flawed, citing a lack of notification, no reasons given, and no opportunity to be heard. He seeks an order quashing the revocation, a declaration that the decision contravened natural justice and the Irish Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights, and that provisions of the 2004 Private Security Services Act are incompatible with those instruments. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is a notice party. The judge granted permission ex‑parte and set a later date for the case to be heard.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Shane Smyth, aged 29, was found not guilty of murdering shop worker Mairead Moran, aged 26, by reason of insanity. The jury was told the facts were not disputed and heard forensic psychiatrists Dr Brenda Wright and Dr Paul O'Connell testify that Smyth suffered from severe paranoid schizophrenia and was not capable of forming a specific intent. The judge explained that a verdict other than not guilty by reason of insanity would reject the psychiatric evidence. After 55 minutes of deliberation, the jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The judge ordered Smyth to be detained in the Central Mental Hospital and excused the jurors from future service. No other charges or outcomes were reported in the article.
A 48‑year‑old Kilkenny man was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for 15 counts of rape, one count of oral rape and one count of sexual assault of a 14‑year‑old boy who lived with his 30‑year‑old cousin. The abuse began when the victim was 14 and continued for over three years, with the man claiming a consensual relationship after the victim turned 16. He admitted forcing the boy to perform oral sex and that he had used cooking oil as a lubricant. The jury heard that the man was often drunk, physically violent and had a history of alcohol problems. The judge ordered the man to undergo alcohol treatment upon release and prohibited any contact with the victim for life. The case was heard in the Central Criminal Court. The unnamed 14-year-old was convicted.
In the Central Criminal Court, Shane Smyth, 29, stood accused of murdering 26‑year‑old Mairead Moran on 8 May 2014 at Kilkenny's Market Cross Shopping Centre. He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Forensic psychiatrists Dr Brenda Wright and Dr Paul O'Connell testified that Smyth suffered from severe paranoid schizophrenia and was incapable of forming the intent required for murder. The prosecution, led by Mr John O'Kelly SC, highlighted the extensive evidence, including eyewitness testimony and long‑term medical records, to support the insanity defence. Defence counsel, Mr Colman Cody SC, emphasised the tragic nature of the case and argued that the only appropriate verdict was not guilty by reason of insanity, ensuring Smyth receives proper treatment while protecting society. The court was instructed to follow the judge's legal directions on all matters. The case remains at the trial stage.
In the Central Criminal Court, a second forensic psychiatrist, Dr. Paul O'Connell, testified that Shane Smyth, 29, suffered from severe paranoid schizophrenia and was not capable of forming a specific intent at the time of the murder of Mairead Moran, 26, on 8 May 2014. Dr. O'Connell reviewed Dr. Brenda Wright's earlier report and agreed that Smyth was mentally disordered, unable to appreciate the nature of his actions, and lacked moral judgment. He was deemed fit to plead and stand trial after a January 2016 review. The jury was also presented with a post‑mortem report by Professor Marie Cassidy, detailing eight stab wounds and multiple organ injuries that caused Moran's death. The trial remains ongoing. Shane Smyth pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, a forensic psychiatrist testified that Shane Smyth, 29, suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and lacked the capacity to form intent during the murder of Mairead Moran, 26, on 8 May 2014. Dr. Brenda Wright, called by the prosecution, presented a psychiatric report prepared at the request of the Director of Public Prosecutions. She described Smyth's long history of psychosis, including auditory hallucinations, delusions of persecution, and a belief that Moran was part of a conspiracy. She noted that Smyth did not understand the nature or moral wrongness of his actions at the time of the offence. The court was informed that Smyth's mental illness required long‑term treatment at the Central Mental Hospital to manage the risk he posed to others. The trial continues. Shane Smyth pleaded not guilty. Mairead Moran pleaded not guilty.
In a 2016 murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, 29‑year‑old Shane Smyth pleaded not guilty to the stabbing death of 26‑year‑old Mairead Moran on 8 May 2014 at Kilkenny's Market Cross Shopping Centre. The jury was told that the facts were undisputed and that two consultant psychiatrists had reported Smyth was suffering from psychosis at the time. During three interviews conducted on 9 May 2014, Smyth claimed he had not taken medication since he was 19, that he bought a knife with a wooden bronze handle for €20, and that he did not believe Moran was dead. He admitted to causing the fatal wound but denied planning the attack, stating he did not think he had murdered her. The trial continued with these statements as evidence.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 29‑year‑old Shane Smyth pleaded not guilty to the murder of 26‑year‑old Mairead Moran on 8 May 2014 at Kilkenny's Market Cross Shopping Centre. The jury was told the facts were undisputed and that two consultant psychiatrists reported Smyth was suffering from psychosis at the time. Witnesses, including his cousin Rosemary Grogan, his partner Christy Fahy, and others, testified that Smyth claimed Moran had stolen a "vile of his blood," installed hidden cameras, and placed black‑widow spiders in his house. He also alleged that he had been bitten by spiders and that he was forced into a gang war. Smyth was arrested at his cousin's home at 10:05 pm that night, and the trial continues. The prosecution presented evidence of a blood sample taken while Smyth was in custody, which showed no detectable substances. The case remains in progress.
In a Kilkenny murder trial, the jury heard that Shane Smyth, aged 29, was accused of stabbing Mairead Moran, aged 26, to death on 8 May 2014 at Market Cross Shopping Centre. The court was told that weeks before the murder, security staff reported that Smyth was "hanging around" the centre and "freaking" Moran out. On 3 April 2014, security guard John O'Donoghue received a call from Moran, who said her ex‑boyfriend was present and unsettling. O'Donoghue saw Smyth, informed colleague Liam Dwyer, and asked him to leave. A second guard, Richard O'Donoghue, reported that on 10 March 2014, Moran had requested Smyth's removal and described him as walking up and down outside the shop. The trial continues with Smyth pleading not guilty on grounds of insanity, supported by psychiatric reports of psychosis. The jury has been told the facts are not disputed. The case remains in progress.
During the trial, a jury heard that on 8 May 2014, Shane Smyth, aged 29, stabbed Mairead Moran, aged 26, to death at the Market Cross Shopping Centre in Kilkenny. Witnesses described a chaotic scene in the Holland and Barrett shop where Moran was crying and upset. Security guard James Coffey confronted Smyth, who was calm and emotionless, and attempted to remove a blood‑stained knife from his hand. Smyth resisted, kicked Coffey, and fled while Moran was being attended to. Coffey later handed the knife to Gardaí. Witnesses also reported that Moran had previously been admitted to St. Luke's Acute Psychiatric Unit. Smyth pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The trial continues.
In a Kilkenny murder trial, a 29‑year‑old man, Shane Smyth, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity after stabbing Mairead Moran, 26, at the Market Cross Shopping Centre on 8 May 2014. The prosecution presented evidence that Smyth had been diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2005, had received treatment in a psychiatric hospital, and had remained untreated since 2006. Two consultant psychiatrists reported that he suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and was experiencing active psychotic symptoms at the time of the killing, impairing his capacity to form intent and understand the nature of his act. The court heard that Smyth had previously confronted Moran, spat at her, and that on the day of the murder he entered the Holland and Barrett shop, attacked her with a knife, and fled to a cousin's house before being arrested. The trial continues.
A 48‑year‑old Kilkenny man, whose identity is withheld to protect the 32‑year‑old victim, was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of 15 counts of rape and oral rape and one charge of sexual assault. The jury found that the man, who claimed a consensual relationship with his younger cousin, had sexually assaulted the 14‑year‑old when the victim was 16. He admitted to having sexual contact with the teenager roughly two or three times per week for over three years, including forced oral sex and repeated rapes. The victim reported that the man used cooking oil as lubricant, threatened to shoot him and his father, and punched him on the back of the head. The man was arrested in December 2009 after a complaint filed in March 2008. The case was adjourned for sentencing on 8 February 2016.".
A 29‑year‑old man, Shane Smyth, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 26‑year‑old Mairead Moran at the Market Cross Shopping Centre in Kilkenny on 8 May 2014. He claims the offence was committed by reason of insanity. The case is being heard at the Central Criminal Court, where Justice Margaret Heneghan informed a jury of nine women and three men that the trial would likely finish within a week, but it would not begin until the following day at 11 a.m. The hearing will proceed with evidence from tomorrow onward.
In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Tadgh Butler, 34, known as Thomas O'Grady, pleaded guilty to assaulting Joanna Walsh on 30 April 2011 at St Patrick's Close, Kilkenny. Butler, a convicted murderer of Michael O'Dwyer, had 45 prior convictions. He broke a wine bottle, swung it at Walsh's face, and threatened to slit her throat. Walsh raised her arms to protect herself, later noticing blood on her arm. She asked Butler for an ambulance, but he refused, claiming he would be arrested. He was drunk and aggressive towards Walsh's family before being arrested. The DPP originally charged him with assault causing harm (maximum five years), but the State accepted a plea to common assault (maximum six months). The court imposed a four‑month sentence, to run concurrently with his life sentence for murder. The case was transferred from Kilkenny to Dublin due to publicity surrounding the murder charge.
Stephen Freeman, 28, of Ballymun, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery at the Bank of Ireland in Kilkenny on 3 November 2009. He was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, by Judge Desmond Hogan on 28 July 2015. Freeman's appeal against the sentence was dismissed by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan on 15 October 2015. Sheehan described the robbery as "difficult to contemplate a more egregious form of attempted robbery" and noted that Freeman was not involved in planning the crime or attending the victim's house. Freeman's role was to move money between locations in Kilkenny. The judge applied proportionality and considered mitigating factors, including Freeman's gambling addiction, before dismissing the appeal. The decision was made by a panel including Judges John Edwards and Alan Mahon. The sentence was upheld as not excessive.
David O'Brien, aged 63, was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment for indecent assault of six boys during Scout camping trips between 1975 and 1980. He pleaded guilty to ten counts of assault in Dublin, Kilkenny and Cork. The court noted that each offence could carry a maximum of two years under the law at the time, but imposed three consecutive two‑year sentences and suspended the final 18 months, resulting in an effective custodial term of four and a half years. O'Brien, a former postman, admitted to unzipping sleeping bags, fondling private parts, forcing masturbation and inserting fingers into a boy's anus. He has no prior convictions and has lived in social isolation since the abuse. Victim impact statements highlighted long‑term depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts caused by the assaults. The judge emphasised that O'Brien used his position of trust and authority to plan and premeditate the offences.
An application for a stay to restrain the issuance of a certificate confirming the result of the same‑sex marriage referendum has been adjourned to the Court of Appeal's sitting on Friday. Gerry Walshe, an electrician from Lisdeen, Co Clare, seeks to appeal the High Court President's refusal to allow him to bring a petition challenging the referendum held on 22 May, which was approved by 62.07 % of voters. Walshe, representing himself, has requested a stay pending the appeal. The case was heard by Mr Justice Peter Kelly, who noted that the paperwork indicated an appeal against an earlier procedural decision by Ms Justice Mary Faherty, not the current refusal by Mr Justice Kearns. Mr Justice Kelly adjourned the matter to allow Walshe to amend his notice of appeal and placed a stay on the certificate until the Court of Appeal hears the case on Friday. Richard Humphreys SC for the State expressed no objection to the amendment.
An application for a stay restraining the issuance of a certificate confirming the result of the same‑sex marriage referendum will be heard by the Court of Appeal later this week. Mr Gerry Walshe, who is appealing the High Court's refusal to grant him leave to bring a petition challenging the referendum result, has requested that the Court order a stay on the certificate. He is representing himself and has not yet formally lodged his appeal; the judge has told him that the appeal must be filed by 3 pm on Wednesday for the stay application to be considered on Thursday morning. The State, represented by Richard Humphreys SC, has described the matter as "extremely urgent" and wants the appeal to be expedited. The State also wishes that Mr Maurice J Lyons, who has similarly sought to challenge the referendum result, have his appeal processed on the same timetable.
A 34‑year‑old Kilkenny man, Tadhg Butler, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 25‑year‑old Michael O'Dwyer, who was stabbed once in the chest at Butler's house in Seafield, Tramore, on 10 January 2014. Butler pleaded not guilty but was found guilty by a jury of four men and eight women after a 2‑hour‑26‑minute trial. He had previously dismissed his legal team and recalled his nephew, Anthony O'Grady, for cross‑examination, which the judge described as an "exceptional situation." The judge back‑dated the sentence to 9 January 2014, the day Butler had been in custody, and exempted the jury from service for ten years. The court heard a victim impact statement from Michael's aunt, describing the family's grief and the circumstances of the death.
In a Waterford murder trial, 34‑year‑old Tadhg Butler, also known as Thomas O'Grady, is charged with killing 25‑year‑old Michael O'Dwyer on 10 January 2014. The judge, Justice Patrick McCarthy, instructed the jury to base their verdict solely on the evidence presented, noting that Butler's closing speech contained statements that were not evidence. He emphasized that the jury must consider the reliability of witness statements, particularly that of Anthony O'Grady, Butler's nephew, and the testimony of Ms Rose Burke, Butler's former partner. The judge also clarified that Butler's decision not to testify does not imply guilt. He reminded the jury that any reference to Butler's family or potential consequences of conviction is irrelevant to the adjudication. The jury began deliberations after the judge's instructions. Tadhg Butler pleaded not guilty.
In the Waterford murder trial, Tadhg Butler (34) is charged with killing 25‑year‑old Michael O'Dwyer on 10 January 2014. Butler, who also goes by Thomas O'Grady, pleaded not guilty and dismissed his legal team the day before the hearing. During cross‑examination, he claimed he had gone to the kitchen that night to get a knife, was attempting self‑harm, and that he grabbed the knife from his nephew, Anthony O'Grady, and swung it, inadvertently stabbing O'Dwyer. Butler said he had no intention to kill and that the act was accidental. The prosecution, led by Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, argued that Butler's statements and evidence—including a confession to his former partner and witness statements—indicated intent. The judge instructed the jury to consider the evidence and use "common sense" in deciding whether Butler's claim of accidental stabbing was credible. The trial was scheduled to continue the following morning.
In a Waterford murder trial, Tadhg Butler (34), charged with killing 25‑year‑old Michael O'Dwyer on 10 January 2014, recalled and cross‑examined his nephew, Mr. O'Grady, a witness. Judge Patrick McCarthy described the situation as "exceptional" and allowed Butler to question the nephew about new topics. Butler asked O'Grady about his memory of the night, the alleged use of Valium, and whether he had spoken of self‑harm or a knife. O'Grady denied remembering any such statements, claiming he had "blanked out" and had no knowledge of the events. Butler alleged a scuffle in the hallway where he removed a knife from O'Grady's hand, which then stabbed O'Dwyer's chest, describing it as accidental. O'Grady refuted these claims, stating he had never spoken of stabbing O'Dwyer. The prosecution's closing speech reiterated that the defence had never suggested Butler "accidentally" stabbed the victim. The trial continues. Tadhg Butler pleaded not guilty.
During a 2015 trial in Waterford, the accused, Tadhg Butler (34), who is charged with the murder of Michael O'Dwyer on 10 January 2014, has dismissed his legal team and will represent himself. The jury heard that Butler, also known as Thomas O'Grady, denied the charge and claimed he had hugged O'Dwyer that evening, explaining the DNA found on the victim's clothes. Prosecutor Denis Vaughan Buckley presented Garda interviews, noting Butler's statements about feeling saddened for O'Dwyer's family and his respect for life. Detective Seamus Keevans described the search of Butler's house, which yielded no blood‑stained knife but six table knives and two sharp knives from the kitchen drawer. The judge granted Butler the right to cross‑examine his nephew, Anthony O'Grady, and indicated the case was approaching its final phase. The trial continues.
The murder trial of Tadhg Butler, 34, of Seafield, Tramore, Co Waterford, continues at the court. Butler, also known as Thomas O'Grady, has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Michael O'Dwyer at that address on 10 January 2014. State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that O'Dwyer died from a single stab wound to the left side of the chest, which entered his heart and left lung. She noted the injury was consistent with a blade having a single side cutting edge and that there was no evidence of self-defensive injuries. Toxicology reports indicated alcohol and a tranquilliser-type drug in the deceased's system. Under cross-examination, Dr Cassidy acknowledged that either of two similar knives recovered from the scene could have caused the injury. Garda Paul O'Flynn stated that only those two black-handled knives were found during the search. Forensic scientist Sarah Fleming reported finding no blood on the knives or on swabs taken from Butler's hands. The matter was adjourned, and the trial continues.