Court archive
Court reports mentioning Mountmellick, Laois
2026-01-20 · Dublin
A 79-year-old man who sexually abused his daughter during her childhood, telling her they had a 'special love' her mother would be jealous of, has been jailed for seven years. Gordon McKenna pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting his daughter at various locations, including the family home in Tallaght, Dublin, on mountain biking trips and at the cinema, between 1977 and 1983. Ms Justice Melanie Greally acknowledged the unquantifiable harm caused to the victim by her father and noted the extreme abuse of trust by a parent who was also her primary carer. She imposed concurrent sentences of 16 months for the earlier offences and a consecutive term of five years and eight months for the later offences. The victim, who waived her right to anonymity, described the abuse as having a profound impact on her sense of self and her ability to form relationships. The judge took into account McKenna's guilty plea, his advanced age, and his medical conditions, but noted the severity of the abuse and its long-term psychological effects on the victim.
2025-04-28 · Laois
Paul Kelleher, 61, of Esker Gate, Mountmellick, was convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of three counts of sexual assault against three customers of his tattoo and piercing shop, Newfaze Ink, in Portlaoise. The assaults occurred between August and December 2015 and in January 2018. Two victims were receiving piercings when assaulted; the third, a 14‑year‑old girl, was having a piercing cleaned. Kelleher was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. He maintains his innocence, has denied the allegations, and said he would change his legal team. The victims expressed profound harm, loss of trust in male professionals, and described the trial as degrading. Kelleher has two prior convictions, including a four‑year sentence for a similar offence. The judge noted his age disparity with the victims and his abuse of a position of trust. The sentence was imposed with a suspended portion and a requirement to attend counselling.
2024-05-03 · Laois
Bord na Mona Biomass Ltd (BNM) brought a case to the High Court over alleged unlawful peat harvesting by Mr Liam Gorman at Garrymore Bog, Tinnahinch, Co Laois. BNM claims it acquired the bogland from Gorman's family in October 2023 and that Gorman, who has been milling peat on the site for over 30 years, has built a road from his own lands onto the property and removed peat from 390 acres of a 400‑acre site. BNM says it owns 87 of the 94 plots and is concerned that Gorman's commercial activities damage the bog. Gorman denied trespassing and threatened that if BNM cannot prove ownership he would be owed €1 million in silver and gold. The court granted a temporary injunction restraining Gorman from trespassing, working on the land or removing material, and the matter was adjourned to a next‑week hearing.
2022-12-20 · Dublin
A high‑ranking member of a West African organised crime gang, Junior Boboye, aged 28, was sentenced to six years in prison, with the final year suspended, for his role in an €800,000 money‑laundering and fraud operation. The operation involved the theft of €792,000 from eight businesses through invoice‑redirect fraud, of which €319,000 was recovered. Boboye pleaded guilty to multiple offences for the benefit of a criminal organisation between August 2017 and May 2018, and to 13 counts of money laundering and using false instruments. He was described by the judge as an active lieutenant and recruiting sergeant within the gang. The case also involved other defendants: Emmanuel Olanyian, who received a four‑year sentence with the final year suspended; Taiwo Ajike, who received a suspended one‑year sentence; and Onyebuchi Aduba, who was dealt with under the Probation Act and will not receive a conviction.
2022-11-03 · Kildare
Keith Malone, 40, of Barnashrone, Mountmellick, was charged with assault causing harm and production of an article after stabbing his partner four times on 6 January 2019, causing a damaged liver, collapsed lung, broken rib and elbow gash. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced at Naas Circuit Court on 19 January 2022 to three years' imprisonment with the last three months suspended for 12 months. The State argued the sentence was unduly lenient; the Court of Appeal quashed the 33‑month term and re‑sentenced Malone to four years, with the final three months suspended. The appeal judge noted aggravating factors including breach of trust, weapon use and high intoxication, and that the victim should not have to fear her own home. The new sentence reflects the offence's highest gravity and the judge's assessment of mitigation.
2022-10-20 · Kildare
In a case heard by the Court of Appeal, the State argued that the 33‑month jail sentence imposed on Keith Malone, 40, for repeatedly stabbing his partner was too lenient and should be set aside. Malone had stabbed his partner four times on 6 January 2019, causing a damaged liver, collapsed lung, broken rib and a gash to her elbow, which required three weeks in hospital. He was originally sentenced at Naas Circuit Court on 19 January 2022 to three years' imprisonment, with the last three months suspended for 12 months. The State contended that the headline sentence of five years was justified but the final sentence was unduly lenient, citing the gravity of the offence and the lack of mitigating factors. The Court of Appeal reserved judgment for a later date.
2021-11-08 · Laois
In County Laois, Robert Wojtanowicz, aged 41, was found with 25 large boxes of stolen industrial workwear from his former employer, K and S Industrial Supplies. He claimed he had permission to take the stock because it was damaged and unfit for sale, but the company's statement confirmed the items were in perfect condition. Wojtanowicz pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to recklessly possessing the goods, valued at €19,847, on 22 August 2017. He also faced a European arrest warrant for four minor road‑traffic offences dating back to 2012. Garda Shane Barry executed the warrant, discovered the boxes, and returned the goods to the company. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced Wojtanowicz to a two‑year prison term, which she suspended on strict conditions, citing his cooperation and lack of prior convictions as mitigating factors. The case highlighted the Gardaí's role in recovering the stolen stock.
2018-10-25 · Tipperary
Stephen Brophy, aged 27, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assault causing harm in Ashbury View, Roscrea, during a feud between the McCarthy/O'Donoghues and the Hutchinson/Marshalls. He had thrown a pitchfork that bounced and struck a woman, Sharon McCarthy, on the lips, causing a scar and requiring surgery. The original sentence of seven years, with two years suspended, was quashed on appeal. He was re‑sentenced to four years for violent disorder (two years suspended) and three years for the assault (12 months suspended), with both terms running concurrently. Brophy must remain in good behaviour for two years after release and may not approach a McCarthy family member unless invited or in a friendly manner. The appeal was granted by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, with the Court of Appeal hearing the case.
2017-05-08 · Laois
Darren Goodwin, who was sentenced to life in prison at 16 for the 2003 murder of 14‑year‑old Darragh Conroy, was released last year after a psychiatric review. At a Central Criminal Court hearing on 8 May 2017, Goodwin gave an undertaking not to travel within an eight‑kilometre zone centred on Mountmellick unless he receives verbal permission from probation services. He agreed to this condition when his barrister, Patrick Gageby SC, explained that his parents live near Mountmellick and that he might wish to visit them. Goodwin's statement was "I agree to that." The court noted that the family had wanted to move out of the area but found it impractical. The hearing reaffirmed the conditions of Goodwin's release and his commitment to remain outside the specified zone unless authorised.
2017-02-08 · Laois
In a High Court case, Mr. Chris Mahon and his wife Shelia Mahon sued Laois County Council for flood damage to their Clonaheen home caused by works on a culvert beneath the road. The floods occurred in August 2008 and November 2014. The Mahons alleged the council was negligent, claiming the culvert was defective and that the council failed to repair it, leading to two extensive floods that destroyed their property. The council denied negligence, attributing the floods to record rainfall and suggesting the Mahons' own alterations contributed. After negotiations, the parties settled: the council will carry out voluntary flood relief works within 12 weeks, and the case may be struck out. No further settlement details were disclosed. The judge welcomed the settlement and the preventive measures agreed.
2017-02-07 · Laois
In a High Court hearing, Mr Chris Mahon of County Laois described how flood waters in November 2014 surged across his property like a "small tsunami," breaching the front door of his family home at Clonaheen, Mountmellick, after a local stream overflowed. He recalled hearing a cracking noise before the water rose to his boots, and that a family dog was rescued from the yard. The flooding caused extensive damage to the interior, yard, and drinking water supply, leaving the Mahons unable to obtain flood insurance. Mr Mahon, who became upset during testimony, said the council's 2007 culvert works were negligent, leading to a collapsed section that backed up water. He seeks damages and an injunction to repair the culvert, while the council denies negligence, attributing the floods to record rainfall. The case is before Mr Justice Paul McDermott, with mediation suggested.
2016-06-14 · Laois
A 38‑year‑old Lithuanian man, Deivydas Zigelis, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the 2014 murder of 26‑year‑old Alexander Karpov, a Latvian, who was stabbed at a house on Spa Street, Portarlington. Zigelis pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the prosecution rejected. The jury heard a 999 call made by Zigelis at 5 pm, during which he gave the address and said someone had died. Garda Sharon Murray recorded the call and later spoke with Garda Michael Wynn, who described arriving at the house, finding one man on the couch and another on the ground, and Zigelis claiming he did not know what had happened. Detective Sergeant Pat O'Brien showed photographs of the scene, noting it was unkempt with debris and a bag of sugar in the kitchen.
2014-10-16 · Dublin
In October 2014 a Laois man, Conor Moonen, aged 20, was ordered to pay €9,000 to Paul McNevin, a doorman at the Academy nightclub on Abbey Street, Dublin. Moonen, a DCU student at the time, and his group were denied entry to the nightclub. After being told to wait in the back of the queue, they were again denied entry. Moonen struck the doorman, fracturing a facial bone and dislocating an eye socket. McNevin later said he was lucky to avoid more serious injuries and that the assault forced him to give up door work, costing him €10,000. Moonen pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 20 January 2013. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑year suspended sentence, with the condition that Moonen pay the compensation, and declined a jail term due to his lack of prior convictions.
2014-09-12 · Laois
Darren Goodwin, a 26‑year‑old from Graigue, Mountmellick, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2004 for the 2003 murder of 14‑year‑old Darragh Conroy. Goodwin was 16 at the time of the offence, so the life sentence was not mandatory; Judge Barry White used his discretion after hearing that Goodwin had expressed a desire to kill someone. The jury found him guilty following a trial at the Central Criminal Court. Conroy's body was discovered on waste ground in Smithsfield, having suffered six blows to the head, with the skull described as "broken up" by the pathologist. Goodwin had previously attempted suicide in September 2003 and had met his father for the first time shortly before the attack. In 2014, Judge White reviewed the sentence and set a release date of 1 July 2016, directing that Goodwin receive forensic psychotherapy twice a week while in prison. The court noted that Goodwin's remorse had not been fully addressed.
2014-05-02 · Dublin
Balbriggan District Court heard several matters, including the sentencing of Karl Robinson. Robinson pleaded guilty to driving without insurance and while disqualified at Station Road in Lusk on June 29, 2013. Judge Dermot Dempsey ordered him to complete 240 hours of community service in lieu of a three-month prison sentence, following a Probation Services consultation. He was also disqualified from driving for four years. In separate proceedings, Patricia Ferris, alleged to have refused or failed a breath sample at Balbriggan Garda Station on April 21, was remanded on continuing bail for a hearing at Swords District Court on June 9. Emma Nevin, charged with selling counterfeit cigarettes at Balbriggan Sunday Market on April 27, was also remanded on continuing bail for a plea hearing on June 9. Debbie Whelan, alleged to have produced a wheel brace during an argument on Chieftain's Road on July 8, 2013, was remanded on continuing bail for a hearing on May 16. Finally, Bridget O'Leary pleaded guilty to the theft of €54.81 worth of groceries from Tesco in Balbriggan on October 8, 2013. She was remanded on continuing bail to reappear on June 12 for the facts of the case to be heard.