Court archive
Court reports mentioning Carrick-on-Shannon, Leitrim
2026-07-06 · Dublin
A Brazilian brothel-keeper, Ilamar Rodrigues Ribeiro, has had his appeal to reduce his prison sentence dismissed by the court. Ribeiro, who operated a brothel network across rural Ireland and laundered €800,000, was arrested at Dublin Airport in 2023 with child abuse material on his phone. He pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including brothel-keeping, money laundering, and possession of child pornography. The child abuse material, which included images and videos of pre-pubescent children, was described as the most serious category. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a 10-and-a-half-year sentence in 2025, which included consecutive terms. Ribeiro's lawyers argued that the court should have suspended the sentence for the child abuse material due to his lack of prior convictions. However, Mr Justice Paul Burns ruled that the child pornography charge was of a different nature and required a separate sentence. He stated that the court could not ignore the severity of the offence. The investigation into Ribeiro began after two women came forward with trafficking allegations, leading to the identification of multiple properties used as brothels across Ireland.
2026-06-15 · Leitrim
Mark Salmon (33), a drug dealer, was jailed for ten years for making threats to kill and damage property, as well as possessing cocaine and proceeds of crime. Salmon threatened a mother that he would get 'junkies' to rape her son if she failed to repay a €157,000 debt. Presiding judge Mr Justice Patrick McGrath noted the severity of the threats and Salmon's role in the drug trade. Salmon had pleaded guilty to the charges and the court considered mitigating factors such as his early guilty plea and efforts at rehabilitation. The court also noted that Salmon had previously been involved in criminal activities and had a history of intimidation. The victim's mother had to leave her home and her son fled the country due to fear. Salmon was also found in possession of €35,000 worth of cocaine and had unexplained income from criminal activities. The court ordered the forfeiture of cash and the destruction of the drugs seized.
2026-05-19 · Cavan
Danny Heyneman, 33, pleaded guilty to murdering his mother, Annie Heyneman, and attempting to murder his father, Henk Heyneman, at their Ballyconnell home on January 11, 2025. The court heard that Annie was stabbed at least 14 times, while Henk sustained 26 sharp force wounds. Mr Justice Tony Hunt stated he would consider imposing consecutive sentences given the vicious and prolonged nature of the attacks. Defence counsel Keith Spencer BL asked the court not to impose consecutive sentences, arguing the offences arose from a single incident underpinned by mental impairment. Heyneman, who has features of depression and a history of substance abuse but no severe mental disorder, read an apology expressing deep regret. The matter was adjourned, with sentencing scheduled for June 2.
2026-05-11 · Leitrim
At the Special Criminal Court in Dublin on May 11th, 2026, a 33-year-old man from West Dublin pleaded guilty to drug possession, money laundering and making threats to kill. Mark Salmon has admitted possessing cocaine valued at €35,280 near Carrick-on-Shannon in March 2024 and acquiring criminal proceeds totalling approximately €84,000 across 2022 and 2023. The court heard evidence that Salmon intimidated two families over alleged drug debts, threatening one mother that he would have her son raped by "junkies" and shot. He also threatened to drive over the young man and put a bullet in his head. A second victim suffered financial loss and psychological harm after her son fled to England fearing for his safety. The three-judge panel, led by Mr Justice Patrick McGrath, adjourned sentencing to June 15th. Defence counsel argued for leniency based on guilty pleas and expressions of remorse.
2026-02-13 · Dublin
Mark Salmon, 32, of West Dublin, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to four charges, having originally faced 16 offences including directing a criminal gang. Defence counsel Dominic McGinn indicated progress had been made, leading to arraignment on lesser counts. Salmon admitted acquiring or possessing property valued at €24,257.44 in 2022 and €60,565.41 in 2023, knowing or being reckless as to whether it was proceeds of criminal conduct. He also pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine worth over €13,000 for supply on March 26, 2024, near Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, and making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to a man between January 1 and May 20, 2024. The prosecution noted the pleas were offered on a full facts basis, with the drugs charge incorporating threats and criminal damage. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, presiding, granted an application to extend legal aid for a psychological report. The court directed that victim impact statements be prepared. The matter was adjourned for sentencing to May 11, and Salmon was remanded in custody until that date.
2026-01-19 · Leitrim
Dilzar Hamad, a 40-year-old barber from Carrick on Shannon, Co Leitrim, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the rape of a woman who was a guest in his home in early 2021. A jury convicted Hamad in March 2025 following a retrial after a hung jury in 2024. He pleaded not guilty and continues to deny the offence, claiming it was consensual. Mr Justice David Keane set a headline sentence of nine years but reduced it to eight years, citing mitigating factors including Hamad's good character, cooperation with gardai, and good prison behavior. The judge noted that Hamad's refusal to accept the verdict meant he demonstrated no remorse or rehabilitation. A probation report indicated a high risk of re-offending in the next 12 months due to factors such as hostility towards women and sexual preoccupation. The judge ordered two years of post-release supervision with strict conditions to protect the public. The victim stated in her impact statement that the offence changed her life forever and she no longer feels safe. The prosecution argued the case fell into the 'more serious' band, while the defense submitted it was standard. Hamad has no previous convictions.
2025-12-18 · Donegal
A man from Castlefinn, County Donegal has been sentenced to six and a half years imprisonment by the Central Criminal Court following his conviction for rape. Kevin McGovern, aged 28, was found guilty by jury of one count of rape committed on 21 August 2021. Two further charges, comprising sexual assault and burglary, resulted in a nolle prosequi after the jury could not reach agreement on these matters. Ms Justice Melanie Greally imposed a seven-year sentence with the final six months suspended. She identified grave aggravating factors, including breach of trust, the violation occurring in the victim's own home and bed whilst she slept, and the profound impact on the injured party. The judge noted McGovern's lack of previous convictions. He was directed to accept Probation Services supervision for twelve months following release. His sentence was backdated to 18 November when he entered custody. An earlier trial at Carrick-on-Shannon had been discharged following a procedural issue.
2025-03-26 · Dublin
A 54-year-old Brazilian man has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his conviction on multiple charges related to operating a brothel network across rural Ireland. Ilamar Rodrigues Ribeiro pleaded guilty to 19 sample counts, including brothel-keeping, using false instruments, and possession of proceeds of crime totalling €788,982 across multiple bank accounts. He also admitted possessing child sexual abuse material on his mobile phone when arrested at Dublin Airport in November 2023. The investigation, led by the Garda Human Trafficking and Co-ordination Unit, identified ten rental properties used as brothels in locations including Longford town, Ballyconnell, Ballymahon, Carrick-on-Shannon, and Ballaghadereen. Judge Patricia Ryan noted the offences involved elaborate planning and premeditation. She imposed a global sentence of ten and a half years, suspending the final eighteen months on strict conditions, with the term backdated to his arrest date.
2025-03-14 · Roscommon
A Brazilian man has pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to operating a network of brothels across rural Ireland using falsified documents and landlord deception. Ilamar Rodrigues Ribeiro, aged 54, rented ten properties under a false Italian identity, with two located in Roscommon Town and others in Longford, Cavan, Leitrim, Carlow, Wexford and Kildare between 2018 and 2023. When arrested at Dublin Airport in November 2023, gardaí from the Human Trafficking and Co-ordination Unit recovered approximately €788,000 in proceeds of crime across multiple bank accounts. He also pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual abuse material on his phone comprising nine images and sixteen videos. Ribeiro entered guilty pleas to nineteen sample counts including fraud, inducing landlords to rent properties under false pretences, and possession of criminal proceeds. The investigation began following trafficking allegations from two women who identified properties being misused as brothels. Ribeiro has remained in custody since his arrest. Sentencing proceedings are scheduled for 21 March.
2024-12-20 · Leitrim
A mother of five has told the High Court that a council property in Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim, has caused her to fear for her children's safety due to reported paranormal activity. Louise Stokes, along with her husband Thomas, had initially sought to challenge Leitrim County Council's housing decisions regarding their previous residence at Mount Temple, where they alleged severe mould problems posed health risks to their family. The council subsequently offered alternative accommodation, which the family accepted in October. However, Ms Stokes informed Mr Justice Garrett Simons that since moving to the new property, objects have moved unexpectedly and doors have shifted on their own. She stated she contacted the council about her concerns but felt dismissed. Mr Justice Simons struck out the Stokes' claim, finding it related only to the original property. He acknowledged her concerns regarding the second house but indicated that any further housing application would require a separate submission to the local authority.
2024-07-25 · Mayo
A former seminarian's prison sentence has been increased by two years following a Court of Appeal ruling that his original five-year term was unduly lenient. Aidan Gallagher, aged 41, of Dadreen, Killadoon, Westport, County Mayo, was convicted by jury in May 2023 of six counts of oral rape of his cousin on dates between 1998 and 2003. The Central Criminal Court jury sat in Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy found that the sentencing judge had erred by treating all offences as committed while Gallagher was a minor, despite one occurring when he was 19 years old. The court imposed a revised sentence of seven years on each count, running concurrently. Gallagher had denied the allegations across two trials. The victim waived anonymity to allow her cousin's naming in reporting. Gallagher, who was due for ordination, has no previous convictions.
2024-04-24 · Leitrim
Thomas Cullen, 60, of Carrick on Shannon, Co Leitrim, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of making a gain by deception. Judge Martin Nolan set a headline sentence of five years but reduced it, noting Cullen was unlikely to reoffend and was likely the "face" of a larger scheme rather than the organiser. Cullen agreed leasing arrangements with Capital Flow Finance and Finance Ireland in March 2017, using false documents including a forged driving licence to secure over €160,000 for Hitachi excavators that were never located. Both companies remain at a loss. Cullen admitted the documents were false and stated he was paid €5,000 for his role. He has 35 previous convictions. This follows the sentencing of Charles Mavitty, 66, of Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, who was jailed for two and a half years last month for defrauding financing companies of over €240,000 to buy two Hitachi excavators. Both cases are part of a major cross-border probe into scams involving the leasing of heavy plant machinery.
2023-12-11 · Wicklow
Michael Lynn, a former solicitor from County Wicklow, has begun giving evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in his trial on charges relating to approximately €27 million in alleged theft from seven financial institutions. Mr Lynn, aged 55, outlined his professional background to the jury, describing his career path from qualification in 1994 through to establishing his own practice in 1997, which eventually expanded to 15 staff members. He also detailed his involvement in property investment and development, including projects in Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim, and Portugal. The prosecution alleges Mr Lynn obtained multiple mortgages on identical properties without the knowledge of participating banks. Mr Lynn has pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of theft occurring between October 2006 and April 2007. The trial, before Judge Martin Nolan and jury, continues with Mr Lynn's evidence ongoing.
2023-11-21 · Wicklow
Michael Lynn, a former solicitor aged fifty-five from County Wicklow, continues his trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on charges of theft amounting to approximately twenty-seven million euro from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. He has pleaded not guilty to twenty-one counts of theft. The prosecution alleges that Mr Lynn obtained multiple mortgages on identical properties without the knowledge of the lending banks. A former Bank of Ireland official testified that loans sanctioned by him for Mr Lynn, including a Carrick-on-Shannon apartment development around 2003, could only be used for purposes specified in loan agreements. The witness stated his employment would have been at risk had he permitted unauthorised use of funds. Another Bank of Ireland witness denied allegations that he had agreed Mr Lynn could use borrowed money as he wished, and stated he had no recollection of meeting Mr Lynn. The trial before Judge Martin Nolan continues with jury present.
2023-11-09 · Wicklow
Michael Lynn, a 55-year-old from County Wicklow, is on trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court accused of stealing approximately €27 million from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. He has pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of theft. During cross-examination, the defence team challenged a former Bank of Ireland senior business manager's testimony regarding loan applications. The witness rejected suggestions that loans could be used for purposes other than property purchases, describing such a proposition as a "fairytale." The defence contended that Mr Lynn intended to use borrowed funds for overseas development projects, including ventures in Carrick-on-Shannon and Portugal. A former Ulster Bank official also denied allegations that Mr Lynn provided him with cash or paid for his travel. The prosecution's case centres on Mr Lynn obtaining multiple mortgages on identical properties from different institutions without their knowledge. The seven lenders involved include Bank of Ireland, Ulster Bank, Irish Life and Permanent, and Irish Nationwide Building Society. The trial continues before Judge Martin Nolan and jury.
2023-10-16 · Mayo
Two brothers have been sentenced to a combined seven years imprisonment following their conviction for the sexual abuse of their cousin over a four-year period in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Aidan Gallagher, aged 40, of Westport, County Mayo, received five years with two years post-release supervision after being convicted of six counts of oral rape committed between 1998 and 2003 in sheds near their homes. Thomas Gallagher, aged 38, of County Galway, was sentenced to two years imprisonment after conviction on one rape charge and seven counts of sexual assault at the family's former home in County Leitrim between 1999 and 2003. Mr Justice David Keane reduced Thomas Gallagher's sentence citing his diagnosis with Motor Neuron disease in October 2022 and life expectancy of less than two years, whilst noting that serious offences ordinarily warrant custodial sentences. Both men had denied the allegations. The Central Criminal Court jury, sitting in Carrick-on-Shannon, convicted them in May 2023. The complainant waived anonymity to permit identification of her cousins.
2023-07-24 · Mayo
At the Central Criminal Court in Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim, two brothers have been convicted of sexually abusing their young cousin between 1999 and 2003. Aidan Gallagher, aged 40, of Dadreen, Westport, was convicted of six counts of oral rape. Thomas Gallagher, aged 38, of Cuttenty, Annaghdown, was convicted of one count of rape and seven counts of sexual assault. The complainant, who waived anonymity, provided a victim impact statement describing how the abuse shaped her life, leading to substance misuse and mental health difficulties, though she has since achieved sobriety and recovery. Mr Justice David Keane noted that Thomas Gallagher was diagnosed with Motor Neurone disease in October 2022 with a life expectancy of less than two years, describing it as a unique sentencing situation. The judge remanded both men in custody pending sentencing on 9 October and directed the Prison Service to report on facilities for managing the defendant's terminal illness.
2023-02-24 · Leitrim
An unnamed 49-year-old father has failed in his appeal against a conviction for sexually assaulting his young daughter. The appellant, who pleaded not guilty to 15 counts of sexual assault alleged to have occurred in Co Leitrim between 2006 and 2012, was convicted by a jury on a single count of forcing the girl to touch his penis. He was sentenced to four years and 10 months by Judge Francis Comerford at Carrick-on-Shannon Circuit Criminal Court in September 2021. The jury could not reach a verdict on the other 14 charges. In his appeal, the appellant argued that the conviction was unsafe due to inconsistencies in the victim's evidence regarding her age and the timeline of the abuse, as well as an inadequate judicial warning on the lack of corroborative evidence. The three-judge court, led by Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh, dismissed the appeal. The court found that while inconsistencies existed, they were not exceptional enough to prevent the matter from going to the jury, noting that the jury's inability to agree on the other 14 counts demonstrated they were aware of contradictory evidence. The court also rejected the argument regarding the corroboration warning, stating it was unusually strong and had not been objected to at trial. The conviction and sentence stand.
2022-10-04 · Leitrim
Karol Zawadski (36) pleaded not guilty to drug driving after being stopped for speeding at Gortinty, Carrick-on-Shannon on May 10, 2021. A roadside oral fluid sample tested positive for cannabis, leading to arrest and a subsequent blood test confirming cannabis in his system. The defence challenged the garda's opinion formation, but Judge Sandra Murphy found no prejudice and convicted the defendant, imposing a €350 fine and a one-year driving ban.
2022-10-01 · Leitrim
Callum Taylor, 29, a father-of-three from Ballinaglera, pleaded guilty to driving with no insurance, drink driving, and no driving licence on July 11, 2020 at Acres, Drumshanbo. This was his fourth conviction for driving with no insurance, with 12 previous convictions overall. Judge Murphy imposed a €250 fine, a 3-month suspended sentence for 1 year, and dual driving bans totalling 6 years, citing deterrence and the defendant's medium risk of re-offending despite completing a Pro Social driving course.
2022-09-30 · Leitrim
Sebastian Cobala, a 22-year-old Polish national working as an apprentice cabinet maker, was detected driving with no insurance at River Meadow, Dromod on March 12. He pleaded guilty and was fined €250, with no driving ban imposed due to special circumstances. The defendant had wrongly assumed he was insured on his friend's car and had been in the country for only a short time.
2022-09-07 · Leitrim
Corina Short was fined a total of €500 for driving without insurance and a valid driving licence following a minor road traffic collision on September 7, 2021. She failed to produce the required documents within 10 days as promised and subsequently became difficult with gardaí, claiming she would not need to produce documents if the accident had occurred in Northern Ireland. She was disqualified from driving for two years.
2022-07-08 · Leitrim
The High Court has extended an injunction preventing trespass and occupation at a bay within Shannonside View Traveller Group Housing Scheme in Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim. Mr Justice Conor Dignam granted the extension on Friday following submissions from counsel for Leitrim County Council. The initial injunction was secured last month against three named individuals alleged to have unlawfully occupied the derelict bay with caravans after cutting through a locked barrier. The council raised concerns regarding health and safety risks associated with the bay's sewage and electricity infrastructure. Counsel informed the court that the occupants have since vacated the property, though their current whereabouts remain unknown. The council sought the extension due to apprehension that others may attempt occupation of the bay whilst it remains closed and unsafe. The scheme comprises fourteen allocated bays for which families are on a waiting list. The injunction will remain in force until the final hearing of the action. The defendants retain liberty to apply to the court.
2022-06-22 · Leitrim
Leitrim County Council has obtained High Court orders against individuals it alleges unlawfully occupied part of the Shannonside View Traveller Group Housing Scheme in Carrick-on-Shannon earlier this month. The council claims persons wearing balaclavas cut open a locked barrier and positioned two caravans on a derelict bay adjacent to a creche, causing distress to children and staff. Three individuals identified as John Mongan, John Mongan Junior, and Margaret Mongan, said to have relocated from Dublin, refused the council's requests to vacate. Mr Justice Brian O'Moore granted interim orders on an ex-parte basis restraining the named defendants and other occupants from remaining on or interfering with the site. The judge also prohibited further structures being placed on the land without council consent. The council cited serious health and safety concerns, noting the bay was closed and unsuitable for occupation. The housing scheme comprises fourteen allocated bays managed by the council on a contractual basis and is not designated as a transient site. The matter will return to the High Court later that month.
2020-03-02 · Leitrim
A man from Carrick-on-Shannon has lost an appeal against his six-year prison sentence for involvement in a sophisticated online fraud involving cloned stolen vans. Tom Reilly, aged 50, pleaded guilty to four sample counts of handling stolen property between August 2009 and June 2010. He was sentenced by Judge John Aylmer in May 2019, with the Court of Appeal upholding that decision today. The scheme involved vans stolen in the UK being brought to Ireland and sold to unsuspecting buyers through online platforms, resulting in losses totalling €50,150 across eight purchases. Evidence indicated that fraudulent logbooks were obtained using details from legitimate vehicles, which were then used to clone the stolen vans before importation to Ireland. The Court of Appeal found no error in principle in the original sentencing, confirming the six-year term was justified given the scale and sophistication of the operation.
2019-11-15 · Dublin
A 23-year-old man from Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim, has been sentenced to 40 months imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm. John Dowling pleaded guilty to the offence, which occurred on 19 August 2017 on Drynam Road, Swords. The incident took place after Dowling left a public house where he had been celebrating his 21st birthday. While driving, he was marginally over the drink-driving limit, exceeded the speed limit whilst overtaking another vehicle, and lost control of his car after striking the kerb. The vehicle collided with a tree and wall. His passenger, Mark Kelly, sustained catastrophic injuries and remains in a vegetative state. Judge Martin Nolan noted the case was tragic and that Mr Kelly's family had been devastated. The judge imposed the sentence having considered aggravating factors including alcohol consumption, excessive speed, and lack of vehicle insurance, alongside mitigating factors including Dowling's guilty plea and demonstrated remorse.
2018-12-18 · Dublin
A Dublin man has been remanded in custody pending sentencing at the Central Criminal Court following his guilty plea to attempting to murder his ex-girlfriend in County Roscommon. Gerard Mooney, aged 39, admitted to the attempted murder of a woman on 12th February 2017 at Cartron, near Carrick-on-Shannon. He also pleaded guilty to charges including burglary, assault causing harm, possession of a shotgun, threats to kill, harassment, and criminal damage. Evidence heard at the court revealed that Mooney attended the victim's home in Cartron where he fired a shot through a glass door and confronted her with a sawn-off shotgun in the kitchen. He repeatedly pulled the trigger but the weapon repeatedly jammed. The victim provided a statement describing the ordeal and its ongoing psychological impact. Mooney, with previous addresses in Castlerea, was arrested later that evening. Justice Michael White remanded him in custody until 18th January for sentence.
2018-11-19 · Dublin
A man has been convicted of sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl at a Dublin mosque. Abdur Rashid, aged 50, was found guilty by jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of a single count of sexual assault occurring in December 2015. The accused, a former resident of Carrick-on-Shannon in Leitrim who later lived in Dublin, had pleaded not guilty to the charge. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to 18 months imprisonment, with the final four months suspended for one year on condition he complies with Probation Services directions and maintains good behaviour. The child's mother discovered the assault when collecting her daughter from the school. Evidence revealed the accused displayed an "unhealthy interest" in the child prior to the incident. The victim subsequently experienced anxiety, nightmares and school avoidance. The judge described the offence as a "gross exploitation of the innocence of a very young child" and noted aggravating factors including the victim's age and breach of the teacher-student relationship. The sentence was backdated to January 2018.
2018-11-19 · Leitrim
A 38-year-old man from Roscommon has pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of a woman in County Roscommon. Gerard Mooney of Castle Hill, Castlerea appeared before the Central Criminal Court on 19th November 2018, where he admitted attempting to murder the woman on 12th February 2017 at Cartron, Carrick-on-Shannon. Mooney had previously pleaded guilty to related offences including burglary, assault causing harm, possession of a shotgun, making threats to kill or cause serious harm, criminal damage, and harassment of the woman between 7th and 12th February 2017. A trial scheduled for May 2019 was vacated following the guilty pleas. Mr Justice Michael White directed preparation of a urinalysis report, a Governor's report from Castlerea Prison, and a victim impact statement. The accused was remanded in custody pending sentencing on 18th December 2018.
2018-07-23 · Roscommon
A 38-year-old Roscommon man has pleaded guilty to threatening to kill a woman and harassing her, whilst facing a separate attempted murder charge. Gerard Mooney of Castle Hill, Castlerea appeared before the Central Criminal Court on 23 July 2018, where he admitted to burglary at a residence in Cartron, Carrick-on-Shannon on 12 February 2017. He also pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, possession of a shotgun, making threats to kill or cause serious harm, and criminal damage during the same incident. Additionally, Mooney admitted to harassing the woman by persistently following, watching and communicating with her between 7 and 12 February 2017. Mr Justice Michael White remanded him in custody pending trial on the attempted murder charge and outstanding counts scheduled for 27 May 2019. The court noted that the firearms offence carries a presumptive minimum sentence of five years, with sentencing to follow after trial.
2016-12-12 · Sligo
A Medical Council inquiry has found Dr Andrea Hermann guilty of poor professional performance on 17 counts and professional misconduct on three counts. Dr Hermann, who worked as an obstetric and gynaecology registrar at Sligo General Hospital during 2013 and 2014, was found to have provided substandard care to six mothers between August 2013 and February 2014. The inquiry identified failures including an abnormal wound incision during a caesarean section, failure to obtain informed consent for a procedure on a patient from Carrick-on-Shannon, and inadequate surgical technique during uterine closure. The inquiry also heard evidence that Dr Hermann prescribed an anticoagulant to a patient at heightened risk of heavy bleeding. Additionally, Dr Hermann was found guilty of failing to disclose conditions imposed on her registration by the Medical Council, which required retraining and supervision. The inquiry chair noted a "serious lack of candour" regarding her status with the Council. The report now proceeds to the full Medical Council to determine any sanctions.
2016-06-14 · Dublin
A judge at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has ordered the return of cash stolen from a Leitrim takeaway after it was recovered from an employee at Dublin Airport. Vlad Emanuel Blanaru was stopped by customs officers on August 30, 2015, as he and his girlfriend prepared to board a flight to Amsterdam. Officers discovered over €6,900 in cash that gardaí in Carrick-on-Shannon later established had been taken from the safe at Marius Takeaway in Drumshanbo the previous day. Blanaru, of Carrick Road, Drumshanbo, claimed he had earned the money through his work at the establishment, though he later told the customs officer he intended to purchase an engagement ring. The takeaway owner subsequently reported the theft, stating €7,600 had been stolen, including €3,000 belonging to an employee. Judge Melanie Greally concluded the seized cash represented proceeds of theft and ordered its return to the rightful owners rather than forfeiture to the State.
2014-11-17 · Leitrim
A man from Drumshanbo, County Leitrim, has had his sentence reduced by two years following an appeal against his conviction for dangerous driving causing death. James McDonagh, aged 54, pleaded guilty to causing the death of Jonathan Gray on St Patrick's Day 2010 on the Hilly Road in Drumshanbo. McDonagh was originally sentenced to seven years imprisonment, with the final eighteen months suspended, at Carrick-on-Shannon Circuit Criminal Court in May 2012. The Court of Appeal has now reduced this to five years with one year suspended. The President of the Court of Appeal found that the trial judge erred in principle by beginning sentencing at the maximum point of the scale. The court noted McDonagh's guilty plea, his engagement in rehabilitation during incarceration, and positive references. However, the judges emphasised the serious nature of the offence, noting McDonagh was heavily intoxicated and had left the scene. His ten-year driving disqualification remains in effect.