An ESB worker has been ruled out of time to pursue a claim for €42,000 in alleged unpaid overtime, according to a tribunal. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) found that Peter Lavelle, a training officer, was too late to challenge a 2023 pay policy change at ESB Networks DAC under the Payment of Wages Act 1997. Lavelle's union, Connect, argued that he was short by €42,000 between November 2023 and July 2025 due to a decision to stop paying overtime for travel time. Lavelle had previously received overtime payments for travel to training sites, but this changed in November 2023. ESB management claimed the figures were exaggerated and that the overnight arrangements significantly reduced the need for travel. The tribunal ruled that Lavelle's complaint was out of time and outside its jurisdiction, noting that the ESB had clearly communicated the decision to stop overtime payments for travel in November 2023.
Gavin Hanway, of Limekiln Green, Walkinstown, Dublin, launched an appeal against his convictions for assault causing serious harm and aggravated burglary. He was previously found guilty by a jury at Portlaoise Courthouse of stabbing Kevin Kenny at a house in The Hermitage, Portlaoise, Co Laois, on July 26, 2016. Following the trial, Judge Keenan Johnson sentenced Hanway to 12 years in prison. In the current appeal, counsel James Dwyer SC argued that the seizure of Hanway's car breached his constitutional rights because the search warrant was issued in another garda's name. He also challenged the admission of evidence regarding Hanway's testosterone use, claiming it was prejudicial, and argued the jury verdict was not properly delivered under section 35(2) of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. The State's counsel, Aoife O'Leary BL, countered that the trial judge had correctly ruled the car evidence admissible in the interests of justice despite the procedural irregularity. She further noted that the testosterone evidence was probative and that the jury was merely polled on their numbers after returning the verdict. The Court of Appeal, comprising Mr Justice John Edwards, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, and Mr Justice Alexander Owens, heard the arguments. The court reserved judgment in the case to a later date, meaning the matter was adjourned and not concluded.
A Lithuanian national, Karolis Peckauskas, has pleaded guilty to engaging in a terrorist plot to attack a Galway mosque. The charge relates to an attempt to damage the Maryam Mosque by fire between November 4 and 5, 2025, with the offence being aggravated by hatred. Peckauskas, along with Darren Gorman and Garrett Pollock, pleaded guilty to the same charge. Charles Flynn remains charged with the same offence. Peckauskas also faces charges related to the possession of offensive weapons and an explosive substance. He has claimed that he cannot receive a fair trial on the explosives charge due to the wording of the Explosives Act. A stay has been imposed on his prosecution on this charge until a High Court judgment is returned. Peckauskas, Gorman, and Pollock will return for a sentencing hearing on October 5.
A man charged with an alleged terrorist plot to destroy a Galway mosque has claimed he cannot get a fair trial due to the wording of the Explosives Act. The High Court has reserved its judgment in the case brought by 39-year-old Karolis Peckauskas of Newfoundwell Road, Drogheda, Co Louth. Mr Peckauskas is charged with possession of an explosive substance – four threaded pipe end caps and six litres of hydrogen peroxide – under such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable suspicion that he did not have it in his possession for a lawful object at O'Moore Place, Portlaoise, Co Laois on November 4 last year. Mr Peckauskas has not entered a plea in relation to the charge and a stay has been imposed on his prosecution until the resolution of his High Court challenge. Papers lodged by Mr Peckauskas' legal team claim that the wording of Section 4 of the Explosives Act places an "impermissible burden" on the applicant.
The High Court has ruled that a District Court judge erred in law when he refused to convict thirty-four drivers caught speeding at Clogheen, Monasterevin in County Kildare. In December 2024, Judge Andrew Cody found the facts proven but declined to record convictions, describing the 60km/h speed zone as unjust and criticising prosecutions as motivated by targets and finance rather than safety. The Director of Public Prosecutions sought judicial review of four lead cases. Mr Justice Cian Ferriter found the judge's approach unlawful, stating a court must record a conviction when facts are proven. The judge's role was to apply existing law, not to question its correctness. Mr Justice Ferriter noted the judge's comments breached fair procedures and could create reasonable apprehension of predetermination. However, none of the thirty-four drivers opposed the DPP's action. The DPP adopted a sensible approach by not requesting remittal to District Court, meaning none will receive convictions or penalty points.
Philip Dignam, a 41-year-old man from Wicklow, was jailed for seven years after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a sleeping woman and recording the incidents. He had previously received a suspended sentence for possessing child abuse material. The victim, Kathleen Morris, discovered the videos in 2022 when her former partner used her phone. Dignam claimed the woman had consented to the acts as part of a role-play, but the court found that the assaults occurred while she was asleep or unconscious. Justice Burns noted that Dignam had committed the offenses for his own sexual gratification and had breached the trust of his partner. The judge imposed a sentence of eight years, with the final year suspended on strict conditions. The victim waived her anonymity to encourage others to come forward, and Dignam expressed remorse for his actions.
Four men accused of plotting to attack a Galway mosque have indicated potential for progress in their cases. The accused, Darren Gorman, Charles Flynn, Garrett Pollock, and Karolis Peckauskas, are charged with attempting to engage in terrorist activity and possessing offensive weapons. Their trials will be heard in the Special Criminal Court. The defense lawyers expressed hope for progress when the case resumes next month. The court remanded the accused until that date. The charges include planning to damage the Maryam Mosque with fire and possessing items such as hatchets, a knuckle duster, and explosive substances. The case highlights concerns about potential terrorist activities and the possession of dangerous items. The court will consider the potential for progress in the accused's cases as the trial proceeds.
Four men are to stand trial at the Special Criminal Court in connection with a plot to carry out a terrorist attack on a mosque in Galway last November. The accused, Darren Gorman, Charles Flynn, Garrett Pollock, and Karolis Peckauskas, are charged with attempting to engage in a terrorist activity to damage Maryam Mosque. The charges are aggravated by hatred, and the accused are also charged with possessing offensive weapons and explosive substances. Peckauskas and Pollock are accused of having hatchets, a knuckle duster, and a hunting knife in a BMW, as well as possessing hydrogen peroxide and other explosive materials. The State solicitor applied for the trial to be held in the Special Criminal Court, and the court ordered the case to proceed with the defendants to be produced in person on May 11. The charges stem from the discovery of weapons and explosives in their possession, which were found in connection with the planned attack on the mosque. The case highlights the seriousness of the alleged plot and the potential threat to public safety.
Sean McGovern, a Kinahan cartel lieutenant, has asked the Special Criminal Court to give him credit for pleading guilty to directing the criminal organization in the murder of a grandfather and the attempted murder of another man. His lawyers also requested additional credit for the time he spent in harsh conditions in a Dubai prison before his extradition to Ireland. McGovern pleaded guilty to directing the activities of the criminal organization in the murder of Christopher Kirwan and the surveillance of James Gately. His defense argued that his role was limited to surveillance and communication, not planning or executing the attacks. Michael Bowman SC highlighted the guilty plea as a significant mitigating factor and requested a reduction in the sentence beyond the standard 25 percent. He also presented testimonials from McGovern's family, emphasizing his rehabilitation and current status in Portlaoise Prison. The prosecution, however, questioned whether additional credit should be given due to McGovern's challenge to his extradition, which prolonged his time in Dubai.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Andrew Cash Senior, aged 58, of Whitechurch Heights, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16, was sentenced to two years imprisonment after pleading guilty to providing false information to Irish Passport Services. His daughter-in-law, Mary Cash, aged 35, formerly of Portlaoise, County Laois, received a fully suspended sentence of two and a half years for her involvement in the same offence, committed on 12 June 2019 at Balbriggan Passport Services office. The court heard that Cash Senior and Mary Cash assisted in obtaining a fraudulent passport application under a false name for Andrew Cash Junior, who has since fled the jurisdiction. Mary Cash travelled to Sligo using an assumed identity to acquire a birth certificate necessary for the application. Investigation revealed that a senior member of An Garda Síochána had also been implicated in stamping the false documents. Judge Roderick Maguire noted Cash Senior's 31 previous convictions but acknowledged his absence from garda attention since 2019 and efforts at self-improvement.
Lorna Langan, a suspended member of the Mandate union's national executive, is seeking an injunction to allow her to stand for re-election. She claims her suspension was due to her highlighting wrongdoing within the union, over which a formal complaint has been made to gardaí. Langan alleges that the NEC was misled into approving an excessive redundancy payment for a staff member. She needs a decision on her application before the union's delegate conference. Her legal team argued that fair procedures were not followed, as she was not informed of the suspension reasons or given an appeal process. The union's legal representative countered that the urgency for the hearing was created by Langan herself. The case is set to be heard in the High Court, with the conference scheduled for Monday in Portlaoise.
Sean McGovern has pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to two charges of directing a criminal organisation. The charges concern activity connected to the murder of Christopher 'Noel' Kirwan and surveillance of James Gately. McGovern, who was extradited from the United Arab Emirates last summer, is due to be sentenced on April 27, when victim impact evidence is expected to be heard.
William McCarthy admitted criminal damage to a wall and cigarette machine and theft of cigarettes and cash at Éire Óg Clubhouse in Carlow. The Carlow Circuit Criminal Court adjourned the case while a victim impact statement and governor's report are prepared; a sentence date is still to be fixed. William McCarthy pleaded guilty.
Henry McGowan has been committed to the Central Mental Hospital after a jury found him not guilty of murdering his father by reason of insanity. The court heard that he continues to have schizoaffective disorder and needs specialist inpatient care. The murder of John McGowan occurred at Ballyfin Demesne after the father travelled from the US to help his son.
Sean McGovern, 39, appeared by video-link from Portlaoise Prison before the Special Criminal Court, where he is accused of the murder of Noel Kirwan on December 22, 2016, at St Ronan's Drive, Clondalkin, Dublin. The accused, who has a previous address at Kildare Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12, also faces charges of directing the activities of a criminal organisation in connection with that murder between October 20 and December 22, 2016. Additional allegations include directing a criminal organisation regarding the surveillance of James Gately between October 17, 2015, and April 6, 2017, and facilitating a criminal organisation in a conspiracy to murder Mr. Gately. During the trial proceedings, his barrister, Sean Guerin SC, stated that significant work had been completed between legal parties and suggested the case might not ultimately require a trial date, though he could not confirm this immediately. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, presiding over the three-judge, non-jury court, adjourned the matter to March 16 for an update. No plea, finding, or sentence was recorded at this stage, and the matter remains ongoing.
A man accused of being part of a right-wing group that targeted a mosque in Galway claims he cannot receive a fair trial due to the wording of the Explosives Act. Karolis Peckauskas (38) of Newfoundwell Road, Drogheda, Co Louth, has been granted leave from the High Court to challenge the fairness of his trial under the Act, which he argues violates his fundamental human rights. He was arrested on November 4 last year at O'Moore Place, Portlaoise, Co Laois, and charged with possessing six litres of hydrogen peroxide and an explosive substance. Peckauskas has not entered a plea and plans to apply for bail for the third time. In November, he was denied bail at Portlaoise District Court and again at the High Court in December. His co-accused, Garrett Pollock (35), was also refused bail. Evidence presented included a video of four masked men planning violent action and a manifesto for a right-wing group. Judge Andrew Cody described the video as resembling a statement released after a terrorist attack.
A wealthy New Yorker, Henry McGowan, has been found not guilty of murdering his father at a five-star resort in Co Laois by reason of insanity. The 12 jurors accepted evidence from two psychiatrists that McGowan, who was suffering from schizoaffective disorder, was not in control of his actions when he killed his father, John McGowan, at Ballyfin Demesne hotel. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC argued that the case was tragic, as the father had prioritised his son's well-being over his own. Prosecuting counsel Brendan Grehan SC said John McGowan had travelled from the US to help his son, only to be killed. The trial heard that Henry had a history of mental health issues, including a manic episode in 2022 and a subsequent involuntary admission to a psychiatric hospital in Paris. He had also experienced delusional beliefs, including the idea that his father was an imposter. The jury reached a unanimous verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity after deliberating for just over an hour.
A trial has heard that Henry McGowan, accused of murdering his father John McGowan at a five-star resort in Co Laois, suffered from schizoaffective disorder and was under the delusional belief that his father needed to be sacrificed to protect the plane. Two psychiatrists testified that McGowan was experiencing an acute psychotic episode and met the criteria for a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The trial heard that McGowan had previously lunged at a family on a flight to Paris in 2022, believing he needed to sacrifice an infant to prevent a war. He was involuntarily admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Paris for 28 days and later received long-term antipsychotic treatment in the US. McGowan's mental state was described as profoundly psychotic, with delusions that his father was an imposter involved in a conspiracy. He believed he was ordained by God to kill his father, who he saw as a source of evil. The trial continues with the jury considering the evidence and the possibility of a not guilty by reason of insanity verdict.
The trial of Henry McGowan, accused of murdering his father John McGowan at a five-star resort in Co Laois, has heard that the accused described impulsive behavior such as buying a pink coat in Harrods and renting a Lamborghini in Paris in the lead-up to the murder. Consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Stephen Monks testified that McGowan was experiencing a relapse of schizoaffective disorder and met the criteria for a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. McGowan, who is independently wealthy, had previously been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had been treated with antipsychotic medication. His family expressed grave concerns for his mental health, and his father had traveled to Ireland on a 'mission of mercy' to help him. McGowan described his father as an imposter involved in a conspiracy and believed he was ordained by God to kill him. The trial continues with the jury considering the evidence and the possibility of a not guilty by reason of insanity verdict.
Henry McGowan, a 31-year-old US national, described in detail how he strangled his 66-year-old father with his bare hands, putting a full fist into his throat, just over an hour after arriving at a five-star midlands resort. The prosecution's case outlined that McGowan had pleaded not guilty to the murder of his father by reason of insanity. The trial heard that McGowan was under the delusion that the person he was killing was not his father but an imposter. Expert psychiatrists for both the prosecution and defense agreed that McGowan was experiencing a relapse of schizoaffective disorder when he killed his father. The prosecution's barrister, Will Fennelly, outlined that McGowan had previously encountered mental health challenges and had not been taking his medication. McGowan arrived at Dublin airport on November 11, 2024, and was later found at the Ballyfin Demesne hotel where he killed his father. McGowan told gardai that he had killed his father and that he had strangled him in a bathroom. The unnamed accused was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
A US national has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to murdering his 66-year-old father at the five-star Ballyfin Demesne hotel in Co Laois over a year ago. Henry McGowan (31), with an address in Brooklyn, New York, is charged with the murder of John McGowan (66) at Ballyfin Demesne on November 12, 2024. Mr McGowan was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court on the single charge of murder and pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Mr Justice Sean Gillane informed the jury that the case will involve mental health issues and asked potential jurors to be available until Friday. The prosecution is led by Brendan Grehan SC, while the defence team includes Michael Bowman SC and Olan Callanan BL. A jury of six men and six women was sworn in, and the trial is set to begin tomorrow before Mr Justice Paul McDermott, expected to last three days.
A former Portlaoise prison guard, Sean O'Brien, has failed in his legal challenge to have his case heard by the Defence Forces tribunal. O'Brien claimed he was fired with 'lethal intent' after helping to stop a 1988 escape attempt by a paramilitary prisoner. However, the High Court ruled that O'Brien was not an official employee of the Defence Forces, which was a requirement for the tribunal. The court also found that O'Brien was out of time to bring his challenge. O'Brien argued that the Defence Forces had controlled the prison since 1973 and that he should be included in the tribunal's terms of reference. However, the court rejected this, stating that the tribunal was established to examine issues within the Defence Forces, not those employed by the Prison Service. O'Brien's case was dismissed, and he was not granted permission to make representations to the tribunal.
An uninsured motorist who believed he was covered when stopped by gardaí has avoided a driving ban after appearing before Tallaght District Court. Claudius Dsouza (44), of Marybrook Village, Portlaoise, Co Laois pleaded guilty to driving without insurance and failing to produce an insurance certificate. The court heard that Mr Dsouza was stopped by gardaí on Garter Lane, Saggart, on March 9, 2025. Garda checks showed the 2009-registered car was not insured at the time. Mr Dsouza was unable to produce an insurance certificate at the roadside and did not later produce one at a garda station. Gardaí told the court the defendant later accepted he had no insurance on the vehicle on the day in question. Solicitor Jeremiah Breen, for Mr Dsouza, said his client had believed he was insured and expressed regret for the incident. The court heard he is married with two children and works part-time in a garage. It was confirmed he has no previous convictions.
Sean O'Brien, a former Portlaoise prison guard, has challenged a Defence Forces tribunal in the High Court after being denied the opportunity to make representations regarding his dismissal in 1989. O'Brien claims he was fired after being shot at with lethal intent while helping to apprehend a paramilitary prisoner during an escape attempt in 1988. He argues that the tribunal's terms of reference should include him as he worked under the Defence Forces' control at the time. O'Brien's legal team asserts that the tribunal's refusal to hear his case was a further trauma, given the impact of the incident on his mental health. The tribunal's legal representative countered that O'Brien was employed by the Department of Justice and not the Defence Forces, and thus fell outside the tribunal's scope. The judge has reserved her decision on the matter.
A woman who was coerced into stealing nearly €15,000 from her employer has received a fully suspended sentence. Carla Keegan (28) told gardai that masked men threatened to hurt her brother if she didn't carry out the theft. On February 10, 2024, Keegan took the cash from the safe of the Paddy Power bookmakers in Clondalkin and left it at an undisclosed drop-off point before returning to work. Later that day, she contacted the shop's security manager and confessed. She said two masked men had approached her and told her that her home was under surveillance. One of the men handed her a note referencing her brother, who was in custody, warning that they would be able to get to him easily. Keegan attended by appointment with gardaí and gave a version of her movements after leaving the shop, which was supported by CCTV footage. Carla Keegan pleaded guilty.
The Special Criminal Court has adjourned Sean McGovern's legal aid application to November 24, stating it remains unsatisfied with the documentation provided. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor emphasized that the court is not a rubber stamp and must exercise due diligence regarding taxpayers' money, noting that instructions received were scant. McGovern, aged 39, with a previous address at Kildare Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12, is charged with the murder of Noel Kirwan on December 22, 2016, at St Ronan's Drive, Clondalkin. He also faces charges of directing a criminal organisation in connection with that murder, facilitating a criminal organisation in the murder of Mr Kirwan, and similar offences related to a conspiracy to murder James Gately and the surveillance of Gately. Counsel Seán Guerin SC argued that the legal team could not travel to Portlaoise to take instructions without legal aid being assigned, claiming the necessary forms were completed. However, the court ordered that further instructions be taken from McGovern. The matter was previously adjourned on several occasions, and McGovern was extradited from the United Arab Emirates to face these charges, with his lawyers having previously raised concerns about the legality of his return.
A 16‑year‑old boy, born in January 2009 at Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise, received a €1.9 million settlement after a High Court approved a claim of medical negligence. The mother sued the HSE for alleged breaches of statutory duty, citing a delayed Caesarean section and abnormal cardiotocography (CTG) readings that were not properly monitored. The child was delivered 80 minutes after the decision to perform the emergency Caesarean, with a 50‑minute delay beyond the usual timeframe. He suffered severe breathing difficulties, hypoxia, and a delayed resuscitation, during which an anaesthetist allegedly interfered with the attending doctor's attempts to intubate. The newborn spent 11 days in intensive care, had an MRI‑confirmed kidney and brain infarct, and was left with severe personal injuries. The settlement was reached without an admission of liability, and the court approved it on the day of the hearing. The family welcomed the outcome and urged a review of maternity care in Ireland.
In March 2023, Liam Óg Lynch, an Irish Rail employee, took control of a gantry crane after a contractor's operator was denied permission to operate it. Lynch, who had been instructed not to use the crane, argued the load was unsafe and landed it to prevent further danger. The load collapsed, trapping a contractor's foot, which Lynch then rescued with a crowbar. Irish Rail's investigation deemed Lynch's actions a reckless violation, leading to a final written warning and subsequent dismissal under a temporary contract provision. Lynch's union claimed the investigation was inadequate and the dismissal unfair. The Workplace Relations Commission ruled the dismissal procedurally and substantively unfair, denied reinstatement, and awarded Lynch €12,000 in compensation for the unfair dismissal. The decision was published on 2 July 2025.
A 42‑year‑old man, James Quigley, was convicted in July 2023 of 12 counts of sexual offences against a girl aged 7 to 11, including rape, anal rape and oral rape, and was sentenced to 13 years with six months suspended. He appealed, claiming the trial judge erred on two counts of vaginal rape. The Court of Appeal rejected his appeal but substituted one conviction of vaginal rape with a verdict of attempted rape. The court found ample evidence for the first count and insufficient evidence for the second, quashing that conviction and allowing the substitution. Quigley denies wrongdoing. The court noted the abuse began when the victim was seven, involved repeated exposure, touching, threats to kill her dog, recorded rapes, choking attempts, and a final incident where he slapped her and threatened her. The victim reported the abuse to Gardaí in 2020 after learning of it from her mother. The unnamed 42-year-old was acquitted.
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.
A jury of twelve was sworn in on 18 March 2025 to hear the trial of Brian Ibe, a 24‑year‑old from Newbridge, who has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of 65‑year‑old Peter Kennedy, which took place between 28 April and 12 May 2020. Ibe was also charged with assault causing harm to Garda Brendan O'Donnell on 29 April 2020, to which he likewise pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The trial will last about two weeks, with a possibility of a slight extension. The prosecution will present witnesses including consultant psychiatrist Dr Mary Davoren and clinical psychologist Dr Kevin Lambe, while the defence will call consultant psychiatrists Dr Conor O'Neill, Dr Stephen Monks, Dr Patrick McLoughlin, Dr Gauruv Malhan and psychologist Dr Marie English. A large number of Garda witnesses from Newbridge, Kildare, Athy, Rathangan, Portlaoise, Tallaght and Naas will also testify.
Nathan McDonnell, former chief executive of Ballyseedy Garden Centre, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to 12 years imprisonment for facilitating an organised crime group and 6 years concurrently for drug importation, backdated to his custody. The judge found McDonnell, aged 44, had been "committed to and invested in" a €32 million crystal‑meth operation linked to the Sinaloa Cartel. He stored a machine containing the drugs at his premises, paid shipping charges, and arranged export to Australia, receiving no payment. McDonnell admitted to Gardaí that he was unaware of the machine's contents. The court noted his financial hardship, family responsibilities, and the impact on his three sons. The sentence reflected the international reach of the criminal organisation and the large quantity of drugs involved. The judge also considered McDonnell's cooperation, good character and lack of prior convictions in mitigation.
Eamon McCarthy, father of the deceased, testified that he and his son Dylan went to Monasterevin to celebrate a grandchild's birth. After leaving a pub, a melee outside the Bellyard pub escalated. The prosecution alleged that Sean Kavanagh punched Dylan and Calvin Dunne kicked Dylan's exposed head, causing Dylan's death. Both accused denied kicking Dylan and claimed they were defending themselves, asserting that Dylan and his father were the aggressors. The court heard Eamon's account of the fight, his injuries, and the subsequent ambulance transport. Witnesses described a chaotic scene with multiple punches and a kick. The prosecution's case focused on the alleged kick by Dunne as the fatal blow, while the defence argued uncertainty over which blow caused the fatal injury and the legitimacy of self‑defence. The trial concluded with the jury given options of murder, manslaughter or acquittal, but the article reports no verdict.
Dawei Zhang, 38, and Han Chung Tang, 46, were sentenced by the Court of Appeal to two years and six months' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended on condition of good behaviour, after their original 240‑hour community service sentence was deemed too lenient. The appeal court found that the pair, who were take‑away workers at Jumbo Wok in Kimmage, had a verbal dispute over who was the better chef that escalated into a violent fight in July 2019. Zhang and Tang each used meat cleavers, resulting in Tang suffering severe injuries, including a cleaver lodged in his back and a broken shoulder blade, and requiring blood transfusions. Zhang sustained lacerations to his scalp, chest and shoulder. Both pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and producing a knife. The Court of Appeal quashed the community service sentence and imposed the custodial term, citing the seriousness of the assault and the need for deterrence.
During a murder trial in Monasterevin, father Eamon McCarthy testified that he saw his son Dylan, aged 29, gurgling and with eyes rolling after a violent assault. McCarthy described how Dylan was punched by Sean Kavanagh (26) and Calvin Dunne (24), then kicked in the head by Dunne while Dylan tried to rise. McCarthy claimed he intervened, pulling Kavanagh's hand from Dylan, but was struck and knocked to the ground. He later recalled a man striking him with a belt. McCarthy's injuries included a fractured jaw, broken nose and a hairline fracture near an eye socket, all attributed to the assault. The case remains at the trial stage, with the jury hearing the State's account of the incident and the defendants' self‑defence claims. Sean Kavanagh pleaded not guilty. Calvin Dunne pleaded not guilty.
Convicted rapist and child abductor Michael Murray has been further jailed for 18 months for making bomb threats against the Oireachtas last year. Murray (53), formerly of Seafield Road, Killiney, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty to two counts of making the threats from Midlands Prison in Portlaoise, where he is currently serving sentences for which he had been due for release in November 2037. Last March, Murray was further jailed for two years after being found guilty by a jury of phoning in a hoax INLA bomb threat against the home of Minister for Justice Helen McEntee. For the second offence, a consecutive sentence of 18 months was imposed but suspended for a period of three years. Murray was also found guilty of making death threats against Dominic McGinn SC and Tony McGillicuddy BL, the barristers who prosecuted the rape case against him in 2013. He had pleaded not guilty to all of these offences. The matter was adjourned during the appeal stage.
In July 2019, two take‑away workers, Dawei Zhang (37) and Han Chung Tang (45), fought violently over a dispute about who was the better chef in the kitchen of Jumbo Wok takeaway in Kimmage, Dublin. Tang struck Zhang with a meat cleaver, after which Zhang repeatedly stabbed Tang with a knife. Tang was found in the back yard of the restaurant with severe blood loss and multiple stab wounds, while Zhang suffered lacerations to his scalp, chest and shoulder. Both men pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and to producing a knife in the course of a dispute. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, hearing the case in 2024, sentenced each man to 240 hours of community service in lieu of prison terms—Zhang in lieu of a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence and Tang in lieu of a two‑year sentence. The judge noted the violence was gratuitous and that neither man had prior convictions.
The Court of Appeal quashed a lifetime driving ban imposed on Brian Kelly, who had received a fully suspended sentence for the death of a 24‑year‑old woman in 2008. The court instead imposed a 20‑year disqualification from driving and re‑sentenced Kelly to a two‑year prison term suspended for two years. Kelly, 43, had been convicted of dangerous driving causing death, with a suspended jail term and a lifetime licence disqualification. The appeal argued the lifetime ban was an error in principle. Justice Tara Burns noted that lifetime disqualifications are reserved for exceptional cases, usually involving repeat offenders, which did not apply here. She also observed that a custodial sentence would have been likely had the appeal been lodged earlier, but deemed it unjust to impose imprisonment now, 16 years after the incident. The court therefore reduced the disqualification period to 20 years while maintaining the suspended prison term.
A 17‑year‑old boy, diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at 18 months, used a sledgehammer and a lump hammer to bludgeon 51‑year‑old laboratory technician Lorna Woodnutt to death on 29 September 2023 at a rural property outside Tullamore, Co Offaly. He recorded the attack and posted a 17‑second video on Snapchat, sharing it with a "three‑figure number" of contacts before removing it when Gardaí arrived. The video showed the victim's body with severe facial injuries, a large skull hole and brain matter on the floor. The boy also sent a selfie with the body in the background. He pleaded guilty earlier in the month. The court heard that he had called 999 twice after the killing and that his phone contained searches about hammer attacks and psychopath behaviour. The case was adjourned to 3 October, with the defendant to be detained at Oberstown Children Detention Centre pending sentencing.
A Workplace Relations Commission hearing was adjourned pending an in-person hearing in the autumn regarding a statutory complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 brought by Liam Óg Lynch against Irish Rail. Mr. Lynch, a Portlaoise-based engineering operative, was dismissed following an incident on 8 March 2023 where a gantry crane collapsed, trapping a contractor's foot. Irish Rail alleged Mr. Lynch recklessly operated the crane despite explicit instructions not to do so, citing a prior disciplinary warning. The union, represented by Andrea Cleere, argued Mr. Lynch acted with bravery to secure an unsafe load and rescue the injured worker. Adjudicator Brian Dolan noted that treating an employee differently due to temporary contract status may constitute a breach, questioning the legality of the policies relied upon by Irish Rail. The matter was adjourned, with up to five witnesses, including Mr. Lynch, expected to be called at the future hearing.
In a High Court case, the Irish Music Rights Organisation Company Ltd (IMRO) had sought an injunction against Philip Meagher and Forestfest Limited, organisers of the Forest Fest music and arts festival in Co Laois, claiming that the organisers had failed to obtain a licence for certain musical works that IMRO said it owned the copyright to. IMRO alleged that several dozen of its members' works would be performed at the three‑day event from 19 to 21 July at Emo, Co Laois, and that without a licence the plaintiffs' rights would be breached. The injunction, which was expected to be opposed, was due to be heard next week, but on Thursday Mr Justice Mark Sanfey was told that the case had settled and could be struck out. The dispute was resolved before the hearing, and no injunction was granted.
IMRO, the Irish body that administers performing‑rights copyright, has filed High Court proceedings to obtain an injunction against the organisers of the 'Forest Fest' music and arts festival in County Laois. The organisers, Philip Meagher and Forestfest Limited, are alleged to have failed to secure a licence for a number of musical works that IMRO claims it holds copyright to on behalf of its members. The festival, scheduled for 19‑21 July at Emo, will feature acts such as Ash, The Undertones, The Divine Comedy, EMF, The Cult, The Human League, Something Happens, The Stunning, Stereo MCs, Paul Brady and Tony Hadley. IMRO says that several dozen of its copyrighted works will be performed and that the organisers owe €193,000 in royalties for 2022, 2023 and the pending 2024 events.
In a High Court hearing on 24 April 2024, Mr Justice David Nolan warned Drumgoan Developments Limited and its alleged owners, Noel Martin Senior and Darren Martin, that any breach of the court's undertakings or the temporary injunction would bring "serious consequences." The injunction, granted after Alan O'Neill and partner June Finnegan secured a restraining order, prohibits the defendants from contacting the couple or driving past their home on Edenderry Road, Portlaoise. Mr Justice Nolan noted that the defendants had already breached the injunction when Mr Martin Senior sent a WhatsApp message threatening to report the couple to Tusla for "dangerous unlicensed animals" and demanding the removal of Mr O'Neill's car. The judge described the defendants' conduct as "egregious" and urged their lawyers to convey the gravity of any further breaches. He adjourned the case for a week to allow the parties to discuss a potential arrangement regarding the injunction.
The trial of Aaron Brady for perverting the course of justice has been postponed for a third day after the Director of Public Prosecutions and Brady's lawyers held discussions. Brady's counsel, Michael O'Higgins SC, said he had received an instruction from Brady that prompted the matter to be presented to the DPP. Prosecutor Lorcan Staines SC indicated he would consult with the DPP before proceeding and expects to have his instructions by the next day. The trial, originally scheduled for this week, was adjourned to give the defence time to review additional evidence served recently. Brady, aged 33, and co‑accused Dean Byrne, aged 30, are charged with conspiring to persuade State witness Daniel Cahill not to testify in Brady's murder trial of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, which took place during a robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Jenkinstown, County Louth, on 25 January 2013.
At the appeal stage of the case, Michael Murray, a convicted rapist and child abductor serving a combined 35-year sentence in the Midlands Prison, was found guilty of one count of knowingly making a false report giving rise to an apprehension for the safety of someone else while he was imprisoned in the Midlands Prison, Portlaoise on March 7, 2021. Murray had pleaded not guilty to the charge, but was convicted by a jury in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following an eight-day trial. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a two-year prison sentence to run consecutively to the sentence he is currently serving. The court heard that an anonymous caller phoned the Samaritans claiming to be from the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) and said explosives had been planted at the home of Minister for Justice Helen McEntee. The call was traced back to Murray's cell in the Midlands Prison. Murray admitted making a call to the Samaritans but denied making the threat. He also stated that he had a 'gripe' with Fine Gael and the Minister for Justice. The matter was adjourned for further proceedings.
At a sentence hearing in the appeal stage, Michael Murray, a convicted rapist and child abductor serving a combined 35-year sentence in the Midlands Prison, stated he does not accept the jury's verdict of guilt on a charge of knowingly making a false report giving rise to an apprehension for the safety of someone else while he was imprisoned in the Midlands Prison, Portlaoise on March 7, 2021. Murray had pleaded not guilty to the charge and was found guilty by a jury in a trial earlier this month. The charge relates to a bomb threat made against the home of Minister for Justice Helen McEntee. The case was adjourned for finalisation until March 19. Murray was excluded from his July 2021 sentence hearing and moved to another courtroom after he threw a bible, narrowly missing Judge Karen O'Connor. The matter was adjourned and never described as concluded or finalised.
At the appeal stage, Michael Murray, a convicted rapist and child abductor, was found guilty by a jury of making a bomb threat against the home of Minister for Justice Helen McEntee. Murray, who is serving a 19-year sentence in the Midlands Prison, had pleaded not guilty to one count of knowingly making a false report giving rise to an apprehension for the safety of someone else while he was imprisoned in the Midlands Prison, Portlaoise on March 7, 2021. The jury returned the verdict after deliberating for five hours and 10 minutes. Murray made no reaction as the verdict was handed down in court. Judge Patricia Ryan thanked the jurors for their service and adjourned the matter for sentencing next Friday. She remanded Murray in continuing custody. During the trial, it was established that the call to the Samaritans was traced back to Murray's cell, and his unique identification number was used. Murray had previously been jailed in 2013 for 15 years for falsely imprisoning, raping, and sexually assaulting a woman, with his sentence later increased to 19 years by the Court of Appeal. He has 34 previous convictions, including for common assault, carrying firearms, robbery, and aggravated burglary. Murray was excluded from his July 2021 sentence hearing and moved to another courtroom after he threw a bible, narrowly missing Judge Karen O'Connor. She described his actions as 'a fundamental attack on our system of justice.' The matter was adjourned for sentencing next Friday.
In a trial held on 7 March 2024, Michael Murray, 52, pleaded not guilty to a single charge of knowingly making a false report that caused a bomb threat against Minister for Justice Helen McEntee. The alleged call was traced to the Midlands Prison, Portlaoise, where Murray was imprisoned. The call was made from an extension in his cell, using his unique identification number, and was directed to the Samaritans. Murray denied making the call but admitted to having links with the Irish National Liberation Army and to having a grievance with McEntee. He also acknowledged that a group called the 'Criminal Revenge Group' had made threats to the Taoiseach and other civil servants. The prosecution argued that only Murray could have made the call, while the defence highlighted inconsistencies in the evidence, such as a 18‑second timing discrepancy and differences in accent and speech patterns. The jury was instructed to deliberate and return the next day.
Michael Murray, 52, formerly of Seafield Road, Killiney, pleaded not guilty to a single count of knowingly making a false report that caused a safety apprehension while he was imprisoned at Midlands Prison, Portlaoise on 7 March 2021. The allegation was that an anonymous caller, claiming to be from the Irish National Liberation Army, had called the Samaritans to report that explosives were planted at the home of Minister for Justice Helen McEntee. No explosives were found and the call was traced to the prison. Murray, who was alone in his cell with a telephone that night, denied making the call but admitted having links with the paramilitary group. He said the threat was ludicrous, arguing that it made no sense for him to isolate himself at 8.30 p.m. and threaten the Minister. He claimed his grievance was with the policies of the Director of Public Prosecutions office, not with McEntee herself.
Michael Murray, 52, formerly of Seafield Road, Killiney, Dublin, is on trial for making a false bomb threat to the Minister of Justice's home. While imprisoned in Midlands Prison, Portlaoise, he allegedly phoned the Samaritans claiming explosives were planted at Helen McEntee's residence. The call was traced to a unique identification number registered to Murray, who was alone in his cell with telephone access that night. Murray denied making the call but admitted having links to a paramilitary group. He claimed to have been part of a "Criminal Revenge Group" that threatened Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and the Minister of Justice, stating "Leo is to get it this week." The court heard video footage of Murray's interview after his arrest, where he discussed the group's threats and his frustration. He also said he regretted the call. The trial is ongoing before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury. Michael Murray pleaded not guilty.