Court archive
Court reports mentioning Carrigallen, Leitrim
2017-11-14 · Leitrim
A man from Carrigallen, County Leitrim, has had his eight-year prison sentence upheld by the Court of Appeal following his conviction for serious sexual offences against a child. Damien Reilly, aged 40, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to three counts of sexual assault and five counts of rape committed between 1994 and 2000, when the victim was between nine and approximately fourteen years old. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy imposed the eight-year sentence in January 2017. Reilly's legal team argued that the sentencing judge had failed to adequately account for mitigating factors beyond the guilty plea. However, Mr Justice Alan Mahon, delivering judgment for the three-judge panel, rejected this submission, finding that the four-year reduction from the headline sentence of twelve years reflected all mitigating circumstances. The court emphasised the gravity of the offences, which occurred over an extended period and exploited a position of trust. While acknowledging the sentence represented the outer limit of appropriateness, the court found it remained within judicial discretion.
2017-10-23 · Dublin
Vincent Banks, aged 49, of Smithfield Gate Apartments in Dublin 7, has been sentenced to five years imprisonment following his conviction by the Special Criminal Court in July for membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the IRA. The non-jury court heard that Banks purchased a Toyota Camry in a clandestine manner, which was subsequently used in the November 2012 murder of David Black, a Northern Irish prison officer shot whilst en route to Maghaberry prison. Evidence presented to the three-judge court included forensic links between Banks and the vehicle, including his fingerprint on the car's registration certificate, which he had signed under a false name. An ordnance survey map with the Leitrim page removed and bearing Banks' fingerprints was recovered from a friend's vehicle. Justice Isobel Kennedy noted Banks held a position of trust within the organisation. The sentence was backdated to April 16th 2016. Banks was previously acquitted in 2014 of withholding information related to Mr Black's death.
2017-10-09 · Dublin
A Dublin man convicted of IRA membership will be sentenced later this month at the Special Criminal Court. Vincent Banks, aged 49, of Smithfield Gate Apartments in Dublin 7, was found guilty in July of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. The conviction relates to his role in purchasing a Toyota Camry that was subsequently used in the fatal shooting of Northern Ireland prison officer David Black in November 2012. During sentencing proceedings, detectives outlined how Banks had acquired the vehicle under a false name and how forensic evidence, including fingerprints on a car registration certificate and an ordnance survey map of County Leitrim, connected him to the car. The map had a page displaying County Leitrim torn out. Banks' fingerprints were also found on the document. The court heard Banks has no significant previous convictions. He was remanded in custody pending sentencing on 23rd October.
2017-07-31 · Dublin
Vincent Banks, aged 47, from Smithfield Gate Apartments in Dublin 7, has been found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. The conviction follows his trial regarding the purchase of a Toyota Camry used in the fatal shooting of Northern Ireland prison officer David Black on 1 November 2012. Mr Black was killed in a drive-by shooting on the M1 near Lurgan, County Armagh. The vehicle was subsequently found burnt out in a ditch near Carrigallen, County Leitrim, with firearm cartridges connected to the death recovered from inside. Banks had denied the charge, maintaining he knew nothing of Mr Black or the vehicle. However, the court accepted evidence from Chief Superintendent Gerry Russell regarding Banks' membership and found his conduct surrounding the car's purchase surreptitious. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, presiding with judges Gerard Griffin and Gerard Haughton, noted that inferences could be drawn from Banks' failure to answer material questions during garda interviews. He was remanded in custody pending sentencing on 9 October.
2017-07-25 · Dublin
A three-judge panel at the Special Criminal Court will deliver its verdict on Monday in the trial of a Dublin man accused of membership of an unlawful organisation. Vincent Banks (47), of Smithfield Gate Apartments in Dublin 7, has pleaded not guilty to the charge. The prosecution alleged that Mr Banks purchased a Toyota Camry used in the fatal shooting of Northern Irish prison officer David Black in November 2012. The State presented evidence that the vehicle was later parked in Carrigallen, County Leitrim, near the border. The defence contended that the evidence was insufficient and that purchasing a car does not constitute activity uniquely associated with unlawful organisation membership. Justice Isobel Kennedy, sitting with Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Gerard Haughton, will deliver judgment on 31 July.
2017-07-18 · Leitrim
At the Special Criminal Court, the prosecution presented evidence that a Toyota Camry allegedly used in the November 2012 fatal shooting of Northern Ireland prison officer David Black was purchased under an assumed name. A vehicle dealer testified that a man identifying himself as Paul McCann bought the car on October 10th, 2012. The prosecution contends that Vincent Banks, aged 47, of Smithfield Gate Apartments in Dublin, was connected to the purchase, citing a thumbprint found on the registration document. The court heard that a Carrigallen resident in County Leitrim reported seeing a matching black Toyota Camry parked near her home the following day and contacted gardaí. Banks has pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy with Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Gerard Haughton, continues before the Special Criminal Court.
2017-07-06 · Dublin
A man accused of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army has pleaded not guilty to charges arising from investigations into the November 2012 killing of a Northern Irish prison officer. Vincent Banks, aged 47, from Smithfield Gate Apartments in Dublin 7, is on trial at the Special Criminal Court. The prosecution opened its case by outlining that David Black, a 52-year-old prison officer, was shot dead on the M1 near Lurgan on November 1st, 2012, whilst driving to Maghaberry prison. The court heard that a Toyota Camry used in the incident was later recovered burnt out in a ditch, with forensic evidence linking it to the killing. Prosecution counsel indicated that evidence will show the vehicle was registered to an address in Dublin and was transported to Carrigallen, County Leitrim, before the shooting. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy alongside Judges Gerard Griffin and Gerard Haughton, continues.
2017-03-01 · Leitrim
A former office manager from Carrigallen, County Leitrim, has received a suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stealing €10,350 from her employer over five years. Antoinette Connolly, aged 53, pleaded guilty to four sample counts of theft from Killester College on Collins Avenue East, Dublin, between October 2006 and October 2011. The thefts included €4,250 in cheques and postal orders. Connolly withdrew approximately €100 monthly, which she used to pay household bills and mortgage arrears. The offences came to light in 2011 after she took sick leave. The court heard she faced significant financial hardship while supporting her family, as her husband had been unable to work since 2007. Judge James O'Donoghue suspended a two-year prison sentence on condition she keep the peace for that period, noting she had already lost her employment and repaid the full amount stolen. A Probation Service report indicated no risk of reoffending.
2017-01-11 · Leitrim
A man from Carrigallen, County Leitrim, has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment following his conviction for the sexual abuse of a boy in his community. Damien Reilly, aged 39, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to sexual assault, oral rape, and anal rape. The offences occurred between 1994 and 2000, when the victim was aged between nine and fourteen years old and Reilly was between seventeen and twenty-two. The court heard that the victim came forward to gardaí in 2014 after an encounter with Reilly in a local public house. During sentencing, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy described the offences as grave and noted their serious impact on the complainant. The judge acknowledged Reilly's early guilty plea and early medical reports relating to a childhood stroke. Three years post-release supervision was also imposed.
2014-07-16 · Cavan
At the Central Criminal Court, a defence psychiatrist has testified that a man charged with murdering an elderly patient at Cavan General Hospital was unable to refrain from killing due to the withdrawal of anti-psychotic medication. Ian Harman, aged fifty, from Carrigallen in County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Treanor at the psychiatric unit on 27 June 2011. Consultant psychiatrist Dr Bob Johnson told the court that Mr Harman's olanzapine medication was discontinued upon admission, causing akathisia, a distressing condition characterised by severe restlessness. Dr Johnson stated that Mr Harman's responsibility for the killing was not merely diminished but destroyed. A clinical pharmacologist also gave evidence for the defence, asserting that Mr Harman should not have been prescribed the medication in the first place. The prosecution challenged these assertions during cross-examination. The trial before Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan continues.
2014-03-11 · Dublin
Vincent Banks, aged 44 and resident in Dublin 7, has pleaded not guilty to withholding information relating to the murder of Northern Ireland prison officer David Black. The Special Criminal Court heard evidence that on 8 October 2012, gardaí observed two men travel from Carrigallen in Leitrim to Dublin as part of an ongoing operation into subversive and dissident activity. Detective Sergeant Ciaran Quigley testified he monitored the journey, whilst Detective Sergeant Bronagh Bergin observed Banks meeting the two men at a public house in Phibsborough. Photographs were taken of Banks in their company. David Black, aged 52 and employed at Maghaberry Prison in County Antrim, was fatally shot on the M1 motorway near Lurgan on 1 November 2012. The prosecution case centres on the alleged purchase of a Toyota Camry, subsequently recovered burnt-out near the scene, with ballistic evidence linking it to the shooting. Banks faces the charge of failing to disclose information he knew might assist in prosecuting the murder between October and December 2012. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Butler.
2014-03-06 · Dublin
The Special Criminal Court trial of Vincent Banks, 44, of Dublin 7, continued before Mr Justice Paul Butler. Banks, who has pleaded not guilty to a charge of withholding information in relation to the murder of Northern Ireland prison officer David Black, faces a separate charge of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the IRA. He remains remanded on the membership count, which will proceed immediately upon the judgement on the withholding information count. Evidence was heard from Leitrim County Councillor John McCartin, who stated he contacted gardai in 2012 after complaints about a car parked in a darkened area of Carrigallen. Cllr McCartin testified that he photographed the vehicle on his iPhone and later provided a DVD of backups to Detective Garda Bridget Buckley. Buckley confirmed she analysed the files and identified an image of a Toyota Camry taken on October 14, 2012. The prosecution alleges that the navy-coloured Toyota Camry, registered 94 D 50997, was used to shoot Black on the M1 motorway near Lurgan on November 1, 2012, and that Banks purchased the vehicle. The charge against Banks alleges he failed to disclose information that might assist in securing the apprehension or conviction of another person for the murder. The trial continues.
2014-02-28 · Dublin
A Dublin man has pleaded not guilty to withholding information relating to the murder of Northern Ireland prison officer David Black at the Special Criminal Court. Vincent Banks (44), of Smithfield Gate Apartments in Dublin 7, faces a charge of failing to disclose material information between October and December 2012. The prosecution opened its case before the non-jury court on Friday, with counsel outlining evidence that the Toyota Camry used in Mr Black's fatal shooting on the M1 motorway near Lurgan on 1 November 2012 was purchased by the accused. The vehicle was subsequently recovered burnt-out near Inglewood. The prosecution intends to present forensic evidence linking Mr Banks to the vehicle's registration and CCTV footage from a Tallaght retailer. The court heard the car was stored in Carrigallen, County Leitrim, prior to the murder. Mr Banks faces an additional charge of IRA membership on 18 December 2012. The trial continues before Justice Paul Butler on Tuesday.