Two Limerick men, Gerard Mackin (33) and Patrick Hayes (52), pleaded guilty to a "depraved and barbaric" assault on 53‑year‑old Dan Quilligan on 14 September 2015 at 6 Larch Court. Quilligan was nailed to the kitchen floor with a nail‑gun, causing lasting pain and trauma. The Special Criminal Court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, described the assault as "most grievous". Both men were sentenced to three years' imprisonment. A separate charge of falsely imprisoning Quilligan was dropped by the State. The case was presented as a pre‑planned joint enterprise, with CCTV evidence linking Mackin's car to the scene. Quilligan's victim impact statement highlighted the lasting physical and emotional damage, stating the incident had "shattered my life". The trial of co‑accused Mark Heffernan, who pleaded not guilty, will resume on Monday.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Dan Quilligan, a Limerick resident, alleged that on 14 September 2015 he was beaten and had his left foot nailed to the kitchen floor of a house at 6 Larch Court, Limerick. Quilligan, who was drinking with a friend at the train station that day, was taken to the house by his friend in a van. He reported being struck on the jaw and head, having a belt used against him, and that a nail gun was fired into his right foot while his left foot was nailed to the floor. He said he did not know the assailants' names, though two men were at the door. Three men—Gerard Mackin (33), Mark Heffernan (32), and Patrick Hayes (52)—are on trial for assault and false imprisonment, all pleading not guilty. The prosecution claims the call that directed Quilligan and his friend to the house came from Hayes' phone.
Donal O'Hara, 51, of Glin Park, Coolock, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to cultivating cannabis and possessing a sawn‑off shotgun. In February 2015 Gardaí discovered 72 cannabis plants in his master bedroom; O'Hara claimed they were for personal use. In June 2016 a search revealed a 12‑gauge single‑barrel shotgun and cartridges in a bag in a trailer at the rear of his house. O'Hara said he had the firearm for self‑defence after shots were fired at his home days earlier. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a four‑year sentence for the drug offence, with one year suspended, and a seven‑year sentence for the firearms offence, with the final four years suspended, giving a total custodial term of six years. O'Hara had 29 prior convictions, including drugs, public order and road traffic offences. The court noted unusual circumstances, including threats to his family and a gun pointed at a son.
The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal of Christopher McNamara, a 24‑year‑old from Limerick, who had been convicted of murdering a 71‑year‑old retired soldier, James Boyce, in March 2011. The two‑week trial in January 2014 heard that McNamara had confessed to the killing to his mother and that the victim and the accused were friendly, with the younger man tending to the older man's property. The jury found McNamara guilty of murder after an hour‑and‑a‑half of deliberations, and he was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan on 24 January 2014. The prosecution argued the case was a robbery that went wrong, noting that Boyce was a frugal man who kept his savings at home. The Court of Appeal focused on the trial judge's brief explanation of the distinction between murder and manslaughter, concluding that the judge's charge was adequate and the appeal was dismissed.
David Marsh, a 30‑year‑old former IT worker, was sentenced to four‑and‑a‑half months in jail for stealing €1,200 from a colleague in Stepaside, Dublin, by promising her All‑Ireland football final tickets. The offence, committed on 17 September 2015, was added to a two‑year sentence he is already serving for earlier scams. Marsh had previously defrauded a Limerick couple out of €76,000 by promising a cheap house, and had scammed colleagues and tag‑rugby teammates out of nearly €8,000 by claiming he could secure tickets to a Conor McGregor UFC fight. He pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where the judge noted the similarity of this offence to his earlier conduct. Marsh admitted the fraud, apologized, and a psychological report indicated depression and suicidal ideation. The judge imposed the new sentence to run consecutively with the existing two‑year term.
Zachary Coughlan Ryan, 38, of Brennan's Row, Catherine Place, was convicted in Limerick Circuit Criminal Court for the kidnapping of Stephen Cusack, 19, and Niall Reddan, 21, on 19 August 2012. The pair were held at Caisleann na hAbhainn, Castletroy, gagged, hand‑bound with cable ties and transported in a pick‑up truck to a location. Ryan was found guilty by a jury and sentenced to eight years and three months' imprisonment on 28 January 2014. He has now lodged an appeal, arguing that a comment he made before the jury about having been jailed twice was "unfortunate" and that the trial judge's directions on visual identification were inadequate. Counsel Michael O'Higgins SC highlighted that the kidnapping was intended as a lever for a robbery, citing the victim's mother's post office employment. Judge Alan Mahon, joined by Judges John Edwards and John Hedigan, has reserved judgment on the appeal. Zachary Coughlan Ryan pleaded not guilty.
Colin Culhane, 35, of Courtbrack Accommodation, Limerick, pleaded guilty to eight burglary counts committed over an eight‑month period in 2014. At the Limerick Circuit Criminal Court on 1 October 2015, Judge Tom O'Donnell imposed concurrent five‑year sentences for counts 1‑6 and wholly suspended consecutive two‑year terms for counts 7‑8. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was "unduly lenient". In a fresh hearing, a three‑judge court, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, found that the original judge erred by suspending the entire consecutive two‑year terms. The Court of Appeal re‑sentenced Culhane to three years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, and required him to serve an additional year in custody consecutive to the five‑year sentences for the first six counts. The decision was based on the policy that offences committed while on bail should attract consecutive sentences involving actual custody.
During an eight‑day trial at the Central Criminal Court, a jury of twelve found Monika Matracka, aged 35, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by a majority verdict of 11‑to‑1. The case concerned the death of Michal Rejmer, aged 38, who disappeared on 30 December 2015 and was found dead on 8 January 2016. Evidence presented that Rejmer had lent Matracka money in 2009 and demanded repayment on 30 December, threatening her life. Matracka claimed she stabbed Rejmer in self‑defence, stating "I killed Michal." The body remained in their shared house for at least three days before she moved it to the back garden, wrapped in plastic. The jury heard forensic pathology indicating death from bleeding due to stab wounds to the arms. Mr Justice Paul Butler remanded Matracka in custody until the case was mentioned on 6 March. The trial concluded with no victim impact statement.
The jury in the Central Criminal Court is still deliberating the murder trial of 35‑year‑old Monika Matracka, who is charged with killing her housemate and former partner, Michal Rejmer, 38, at The Pines, Briarfield, Castletroy, Limerick. The alleged killing occurred sometime between 8 pm on 30 December and midnight on 31 December 2015. The jury has requested to view a 20 cm knife recovered from a public bin outside The Hurler's Bar on the Dublin Road and to re‑hear testimony from Chief State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy, who stated that Rejmer died from bleeding caused by stab wounds to his arms. Judge Paul Butler has offered the jury the option of a majority verdict if unanimity cannot be reached, but has emphasised the desirability of a unanimous decision. The jury has spent over three and a half hours considering its verdict and will resume deliberations later that day. Monika Matracka pleaded not guilty.
The jury in the trial of Monika Matracka, 35, charged with murdering her housemate and former partner Michal Rejmer, 38, will resume deliberations at the Central Criminal Court tomorrow. The alleged murder occurred at The Pines, Briarfield, Castletroy, Limerick, sometime between 8 pm on 30 December and midnight on 31 December 2015. The jury has spent three hours and 36 minutes considering its verdict and has been given the option of a majority verdict by Mr Justice Paul Butler, who stated that a unanimous verdict is preferable but a verdict agreed by at least ten jurors would be accepted. Mr Carroll SC opened the prosecution case, noting that Ms Matracka claimed she stabbed Mr Rejmer in self‑defence. Mr Rejmer was reported missing on 6 January 2016 after failing to attend work, and his body was found on 8 January under plastic sheeting at the rear of his house. Monika Matracka pleaded not guilty.
In 2015, Jason Freyne, 25, was convicted in Limerick Circuit Criminal Court of possessing a firearm and ammunition. He received an eight‑year sentence, with two‑and‑a‑half years suspended, on 6 May 2016. The Court of Appeal, following a prosecutor's appeal that the sentence was too lenient, increased his term to ten years, keeping the same suspended portion. The appeal judge, Mr Justice Alan Mahon, described Freyne's conduct: he had loaded a sawn‑off shotgun, carried it in a backpack, wore a bullet‑proof vest, and rode a bicycle around Hyde Road. He then approached a group, fired the shotgun, injuring Mr Joseph McCarthy. Freyne had earlier convictions for vehicle theft, knife possession, stolen property, criminal damage and traffic offences. The court noted his progress in prison and his claim that the feud behind the offence was over. Jason Freyne pleaded guilty.
An alcoholic 42‑year‑old from Limerick was sentenced to six years for sexually assaulting a 28‑year‑old woman in a Kerry town on 27 May 2013. The victim, who had been drinking with the accused in his apartment, fell asleep and was awakened by the man standing over her, punching her and repeatedly demanding oral sex. She was naked and unaware of how she had become undressed. The accused pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. Judge Patrick McCarthy, after hearing a probation report, imposed a six‑year term with the final two years suspended, conditional on compliance with probation directions, including offence‑focused counselling, alcohol treatment, and training, employment and educational services. The sentence aimed to protect the community and facilitate the accused's reintegration while recognising the gravity of the offence.
The jury at the Central Criminal Court began deliberations on the case of Monika Matracka, 35, who is charged with the murder of her housemate and former partner, Michal Rejmer, 38. The alleged killing took place at The Pines, Briarfield, Castletroy, Limerick, sometime between 8 pm on 30 December and midnight on 31 December 2015. Matracka pleaded not guilty, claiming she stabbed Rejmer in self‑defence. Mr Rejmer was reported missing on 6 January 2016 after failing to attend work at MacDonald's in Castletroy; his body was found on 8 January under plastic sheeting at the rear of his house. State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy testified that Rejmer died from bleeding caused by stab wounds to his arms. Mr Justice Paul Butler explained that the jury could return one of three verdicts: guilty of murder, not guilty of murder, or not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter.
Arnis Labunskis, a 57-year-old Latvian national from Limerick City, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his flatmate, Dainius Burba. The Central Criminal Court heard that Labunskis pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder, alleging he acted in self-defence after Burba allegedly attacked him with a table leg. However, the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict following just over two hours of deliberation. Forensic evidence indicated Burba suffered approximately 19 blows to the head and face, resulting in a fractured skull and severe brain injury, with the cause of death determined as blunt force trauma. Labunskis had initially told gardaí an intruder was responsible but later claimed self-defence in court. He was found attempting to hide evidence after walking across the city to a relative's home. Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy sentenced Labunskis to life imprisonment, noting the exemplary conduct of the investigating gardaí. The court accepted the jury's finding of guilt, rejecting the self-defence plea. The sentence was pronounced immediately, with Labunskis led away to begin his custody. The judge expressed hope that the verdict would provide closure to Burba's family, who presented a victim impact statement highlighting his role as a father and brother.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the defence counsel, Mr Mark Nicholas SC, argued that telling lies does not automatically make a person guilty. He represented 35‑year‑old Monika Matracka, charged with murdering her housemate and former partner Michal Rejmer, 38, at The Pines, Briarfield, Castletroy, Limerick. The alleged murder occurred sometime between 8 pm on 30 December and midnight on 31 December 2015. Mr Nicholas highlighted that Ms Matracka concealed the body, disposed of evidence, and lied to Gardaí, but he maintained that these actions alone did not prove guilt. He urged the jury to consider Dr Marie Cassidy's forensic testimony, which suggested Rejmer's death resulted from bleeding from stab wounds to his arms, complicated by a head injury. Mr Nicholas contended that the force used by Ms Matracka could be seen as reasonable self‑defence, potentially reducing the charge to manslaughter. Monika Matracka pleaded not guilty.
In the murder trial of Arnis Labunskis, the Central Criminal Court jury was instructed by Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy that a unanimous verdict was required. The jury could decide on one of three outcomes: guilty; acquittal; or not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. Labunskis, a 57‑year‑old Latvian living on Wolfe Tone Street, Limerick, is charged with the killing of 39‑year‑old Dainius Burba on 21 or 22 April 2015. He claims he acted in self‑defence after striking Burba with a coffee‑table leg. Burba's father testified that Burba had brought him into a dark bedroom and repeatedly swung a table leg, forcing him to disarm him. The jury was sent out to deliberate and will resume discussions this afternoon. The case remains at the deliberation stage.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, the prosecution argued that Monika Matracka (35) could not claim self‑defence for the murder of her housemate and former partner, Michal Rejmer (38), who died from stab wounds to the arms between 8 pm on 30 December and midnight on 31 December 2015. Prosecutor Paul Carroll said that the use of a knife as described would naturally intend to kill or cause serious injury, and that any excess force beyond what was reasonably necessary would amount to unlawful killing, i.e. manslaughter. He highlighted inconsistencies in Matracka's statements, her failure to report the incident to friends or Gardaí, and her attempts to conceal the body by placing it under plastic and logs. The prosecution also noted that Matracka had no prior convictions and that she had exchanged New Year texts with Rejmer after his disappearance. Monika Matracka pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court jury has begun deliberations on the case of Arnis Labunskis, a 57‑year‑old Latvian, who is accused of murdering his 39‑year‑old flatmate, Dainius Burba, in Limerick on 21 or 22 April 2015. Labunskis, who lives on Wolfe Tone Street, claims he acted in self‑defence after Burba allegedly entered his darkened bedroom and began attacking him. He says he disarmed Burba and then struck him with a wooden table leg until Burba shouted "stop." Labunskis has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. Justice Deirdre Murphy explained to the jury that they could reach three verdicts: guilty, not guilty, or not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. She outlined the law of self‑defence, noting that a verdict of manslaughter would require that Labunskis believed he was using reasonable and necessary force, while a verdict of murder would result if he used unreasonable and unnecessary force.
In a murder trial, 38‑year‑old Michal Rejmer died from haemorrhaging caused by stab wounds to his arms. The post‑mortem, conducted by Chief State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy on 9 January 2016, found a large gaping wound on his upper right arm and a 20‑cm track wound on his left arm, both inflicted by a 20‑cm knife. Cassidy noted additional puncture wounds to his back and thigh, defensive injuries on his left hand, and a grazing injury to the left side of his face with internal skull bleeding. No drugs or alcohol were detected. She concluded that the death resulted from bleeding, though the injuries alone would not have caused rapid death; survival for minutes to an hour was possible. The accused, 35‑year‑old Monika Matracka, pleaded not guilty, claiming self‑defence, and the case is before a jury.
During a murder trial, a witness testified that Facebook messages sent to the deceased, Michal Rejmer, were delivered and opened days after his last sighting. The witness, Leszek Pajak, who had known Rejmer from McDonald's, maintained contact via text and Facebook Messenger while in Poland. He received a message from Rejmer at 1.43 am on 31 December stating he would work until 8 pm that night, and all subsequent messages were confirmed as delivered and opened until 6 January. Pajak also sent New Year's greetings and later messages questioning Rejmer's existence. On 6 January, Monika Matracka, the accused, sent a message asking if Rejmer had been in contact. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Butler, continues with a jury of twelve. The case centers on whether self‑defence applies to the alleged murder of Rejmer at Matracka's Limerick home. Monika Matracka pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, Judge Deirdre Murphy began charging the jury on 15 February 2017 in the murder trial of Arnis Labunskis, a 57‑year‑old Latvian resident of Wolfe Tone Street, Limerick. Labunskis is accused of killing 39‑year‑old Dainius Burba, a Lithuanian father of one and former colleague, in their Limerick home on 21 or 22 April 2015. Labunskis pleaded not guilty, claiming self‑defence. He initially told Gardaí he had returned to find Burba badly injured, but later admitted responsibility. Burba's father testified that Burba had entered his darkened bedroom at night, swung a wooden table leg at him, and continued to attack with fists until the victim shouted "stop." The prosecution dismissed Labunskis's self‑defence claim as an insult to the jury's intelligence, while the defence highlighted that Burba had previously approached Labunskis with an iron bar.
During a murder trial, a forensic scientist testified that blood from the deceased, Michal Rejmer, was found throughout the house at The Pines, Briarfield, Castletroy, and that a clean‑up had taken place. The forensic evidence included DNA profiles from blood on the wall of the stairs, the bedroom, the banister, the hallway and the kitchen, all matching Rejmer, and a profile from a sample on the wall of the stairs matching the accused, Monika Matracka. The scientist noted that the blood‑staining pattern suggested Rejmer had bled upstairs and then moved downstairs. She also examined a knife, finding no blood or DNA on the blade, and reported no drag marks in the house. The prosecution presented the case to a jury, with the defence claiming self‑defence. The trial is before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a twelve‑person jury. Monika Matracka pleaded not guilty.
In a 2017 trial, 35‑year‑old Monika Matracka pleaded not guilty to the murder of her former partner, Michal Rejmer, aged 38, who was found dead at her Limerick home between 8 pm on 30 December and midnight on 31 December 2015. Matracka told Gardaí she killed Rejmer in self‑defence, describing herself as the victim. She admitted placing his body in a duvet cover and covering his feet with a pillowcase to avoid looking at him, and that she had been cleaning the house to "forget about everything." She denied striking him on the head, claiming only a knife was used, and said she had no idea how he sustained injuries to his arm and head. She also admitted burning towels and plastic bags used to move the body, and that hair strands found on Rejmer's hands matched hers. The case was heard before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a jury of twelve.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the State counsel Anthony Sammon criticised the accused, Arnis Labunskis, for presenting a 'tale of self‑defence' that he deemed an insult to the jury's intelligence. Labunskis, 57, is charged with killing 39‑year‑old Dainius Burba, a Lithuanian father of one, in their Limerick home on 21 or 22 April 2015. Labunskis pleaded not guilty and claimed he had returned home to find Burba seriously injured, but Burba's son later testified that Labunskis had inflicted the injuries. Labunskis alleged that Burba had dragged him into a dark bedroom, swung a wooden table leg at him, and that he had defended himself by disarming Burba and striking back until Burba shouted stop. Sammon argued that this new version of events was fabricated, a falsehood, and that Labunskis had lied to Gardaí to avoid criminal liability.
John Costello, 60, of Glenashrone, Abbeyfeale, pleaded guilty to possessing 450 rounds of .38 special calibre ammunition and 329 rounds of 9mm ammunition in a flat above the Coffee Pot, Abbeyfeale, on 21 February 2016, and to possessing three rounds of 9mm ammunition at his home address on 22 February 2016. The Special Criminal Court, hearing the case on 14 February 2017, found the total amount of ammunition significant even though no firearm was present. The court noted that the ammunition was discovered after a tip‑off from Costello's former partner following a domestic dispute, and that Garda investigations suggested the possession was linked to subversive IRA activity. Mitigating factors included Costello's cooperation, early admission and plea of guilty, and the absence of prior convictions. He was sentenced to three years for the first offence and nine months for the second, the latter to run concurrently, with both sentences back‑dated to 3 November 2016.
In a 2017 murder trial, Monika Matracka, 35, pleaded not guilty to the killing of her former partner Michal Rejmer, 38, who disappeared on 30 December 2015. Garda interviews revealed that Matracka claimed she stabbed Rejmer in self‑defence after a confrontation over money he had lent her in 2009. She admitted that Rejmer's body remained in the house for at least three days before she moved it to the back garden, where she covered it with turf and plastic. She also said she tried to burn the knife used in the attack and later disposed of it in a public bin. The prosecution presented evidence of the timeline, the alleged self‑defence claim, and the handling of the body, while the defence argued the circumstances of the alleged self‑defence. The case was heard by Mr Justice Paul Butler with a jury of twelve.
Monika Matracka, 35, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michal Rejmer, 38, at The Pines, Briarfield, Castletroy, Limerick, between 8 pm on 30 December and midnight on 31 December 2015. She told Gardaí she stabbed Rejmer in self‑defence. Rejmer was reported missing on 6 January 2016 after failing to attend work. Garda Pat Whelan testified that the back garden became a crime scene on 8 January when a body was found. Matracka had a long‑distance relationship with Rejmer, moved to Ireland in 2012, and they lived together from March 2014 after breaking up in January 2013. She claimed she had been asked for €300 and that Rejmer had helped her financially. After the body was discovered, she was taken to Henry Street Garda Station, where she admitted to killing Rejmer, describing the stabbing and burial. The case is before Mr Justice Paul Butler with a jury of twelve.
Arnis Labunskis, 57, is on trial for the murder of his flatmate Dainius Burba, 39, in Limerick on 21‑22 April 2015. He has admitted to the jury that he inflicted serious injuries on Bur — including a fractured skull and broken jaw—after a confrontation in the middle of the night. Labunskis claimed he had taken a table leg from Bur 's hand when the latter swung it at him, and that he had called Bur into a darkened room before the assault. He has also said he threw a plastic bag containing a t‑shirt stained with Bur 's blood into a wheelie bin that morning. During cross‑examination, Labunskis could not explain why he gave Gardaí a different account of the death than he gave in court, stating he did not know why he had done so. The trial is proceeding before Justice Deirdre McCarthy with a jury of ten.
During the eighth day of his Central Criminal Court trial, 57‑year‑old Arnis Labunskis, accused of murdering 39‑year‑old Dainius Burba, became emotional while describing the incident. He said he had been washing his hands in the kitchen when Bur a grabbed him from behind and tore his clothes. Labunskis opened the door and told Bur a to leave, but Bur a ran upstairs. Later, Labunskis went downstairs for a cigarette and was called back to Bur a's room, which was dark except for shadowy light from a window. Bur a pushed the door closed and, according to Labunskis, began swinging an object. Labunskis claimed he grabbed the object, which turned out to be a table leg, and struck Bur a once, causing a scream. Bur a shouted, "Stop old man," before Labunskis fled into the corridor and turned on the light. The trial is proceeding before Justice Deirdre McCarthy and a jury of twelve.
Monika Matracka, 35, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michal Rejmer, 38, at her home in The Pines, Briarfield, Castletroy, between 8 pm on 30 December and midnight on 31 December 2015. She claimed self‑defence, stating she stabbed Rejmer. Rejmer was reported missing on 6 January 2016 after failing to report to work at MacDonald's. Witnesses from the Kilmurry Lodge Hotel testified that Matracka was "very honest and sincere" and had been visibly upset and crying on 7 January, citing stress and the ongoing search for Rejmer. CCTV footage showed Matracka's movements at the hotel and in the area, including a clip of her walking near The Pines with something across her arm or shoulder. The trial is before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a jury of twelve.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Gardaí warned 57‑year‑old Arnis Labunskis, accused of murdering his flatmate Dainius Burba, that a judge and jury could draw inferences if he failed to disclose any facts he intended to rely on in his defence. Labunskis, who lives on Wolfe Tone Street, Limerick, was found to have discovered Burba's body in their unlocked flat on 21 or 22 April 2015. He had previously pleaded not guilty to the murder of the 39‑year‑old Lithuanian father of two. Detective Sergeant Brian O'Connor, who interviewed Labunskis multiple times after the discovery, warned him that any omission could be used against him. Labunskis replied that he had nothing to say. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Deirdre McCarthy with a jury of three women and nine men, will resume this afternoon.
During the seventh day of the 57‑year‑old Arnis Labunskis's trial, the court heard his garda interviews. Labunskis, who lives on Wolfe Tone Street, Limerick, was charged with murdering 39‑year‑old Dainius Burba, a Lithuanian father, in their shared flat on 21 or 22 April 2015. He told the police that he arrived home at about 11 pm after drinking in the park, found the front door unlocked, and turned on the lights. He claimed to have seen a table leg covered in blood near the stairs and, fearing an intruder, took the leg upstairs. He then found Burba with blood from his head, almost dead, and described him as roaring and calling out in Russian. Labunskis said he did not call 999 because he did not know the number. The jury will hear further details on Friday.
The Central Criminal Court heard a murder trial in which Monika Matracka, aged 35, pleaded not guilty to the killing of Michal Rejmer, aged 38, at their shared home in Limerick between 8 pm on 30 December and midnight on 31 December 2015. The prosecution presented evidence that Rejmer was reported missing on 6 January 2016 after failing to attend work, and that he was last seen on 30 December. Witnesses, including former athletics club members Mike Purtill and Adrian Kiely, testified that they visited the house on 7 January and observed suspicious activity, such as burning papers and a laptop. On 8 January, a search party discovered Rejmer's body wrapped in a blood‑stained bedsheet in the back garden. Garda James Muldowney and Sergeant David Burke provided statements about the discovery and subsequent evidence collection. The trial, presided over by Justice Paul Butler, is expected to last two to three weeks.
In a 2017 trial at the Central Criminal Court, 35‑year‑old Monika Matracka pleaded not guilty to the murder of 38‑year‑old Michal Rejmer, who was found dead at their shared house in Castletroy, Limerick, between 8 pm on 30 December and midnight on 31 December 2015. Prosecutor Paul Carroll presented evidence that Rejmer had worked at McDonald's, left work at 8 pm on 30 December, and was not seen again. Gardaí called the house on 6 January and 8 January; Matracka claimed she last saw Rejmer at 11 pm on 30 December and that she had sent him a New Year's text. She later admitted to stabbing him after he allegedly entered her room with a knife, claiming self‑defence. A post‑mortem found haemorrhage from stab wounds to the arms, with defensive wounds on Rejmer's hands.
During the fifth day of the 57‑year‑old Arnis Labunskis's murder trial, the Central Criminal Court heard that when Gardaí arrived at the Wolfe Tone Street flat on 21 or 22 April 2015, there was blood on the walls, on a bed and a body face‑down on the floor. Labunskis, who pleaded not guilty, claimed he had come home to find his Lithuanian flatmate, 39‑year‑old Dainius Burba, seriously injured. Denis O'Loughlin, who answered a call at 5.20 am, described how he was led to the house, saw blood spatter on the stair architrave and in a bedroom, and found Burba unresponsive on the ground. Garda Martin Crowley later found a bin with a white liner and blue fabric bearing blood, and DNA from the bin's t‑shirt matched Burba's profile while Labunskis's DNA was found on the underarm area. The trial continues before Justice Deirdre McCarthy and a jury.
In 2015, 19‑year‑old Eric Ryan of Cliona Park, Moyross, County Limerick, was found guilty of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to 32‑year‑old Eve Neylon, who required four operations on her pelvis and leg after being struck by Ryan's car while crossing Clanbrassil Street at a green pedestrian light. Ryan also pleaded guilty to failing to offer assistance. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a wholly suspended three‑year sentence for dangerous driving and ordered community service for the failure to assist. The Director of Public Prosecutions sought a review on the grounds of an unduly lenient sentence. The Court of Appeal, sitting with Justices Mahon, Birmingham and Sheehan, upheld the suspended sentence but added conditions: a €50 weekly payment to the National Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation for 18 months, further community service under a local school principal, supervision by probation services, and good behaviour for 18 months.
In the Central Criminal Court, the trial of 57‑year‑old Arnis Labunskis, accused of murdering 39‑year‑old Dainius Burba, progressed on the fourth day. Labunskis pleaded not guilty. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that Burba's death resulted from a multiplicity of blows—estimated at 19—to his head and face, causing lacerations, extensive skull fractures, and severe brain injury. The cause of death was blunt force injury to the head and face. Forensic scientist Dr Stephen Doak presented evidence of a violent assault, including blood‑stained items and DNA matching the accused. He concluded that the evidence strongly supported the proposition that Labunskis assaulted Burba. The trial is before Justice Deirdre McCarthy with a jury of twelve.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Donal O'Hara, 51, pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis and possessing a sawn‑off shotgun. Gardaí had searched his home on 11 February 2015, finding 72 cannabis plants in the master bedroom, which could have been worth €55,600 if all were mature females. On 22 June 2016, a second search uncovered a 12‑gauge single‑barrel sawn‑off shotgun and cartridges in a bag in a trailer at the rear of the house; O'Hara had helped locate the weapon. He claimed people were trying to kill him and that he would fire if someone approached, but denied intent to kill. O'Hara has 29 prior convictions, none for firearms. The judge adjourned sentencing to 3 March 2017. No further details on sentencing were provided in the article.
During the second day of the 57‑year‑old Arnis Labunskis's trial, witness Igars Makulens testified that the accused told him he needed to get rid of the body after a morning visit to the flat where 39‑year‑old Dainius Burba was murdered on 21 or 22 April 2015. Makulens said the accused's daughter had called him early that morning, asking him to check on her father's home. He knocked on Labunskis's door, was denied entry until he claimed the daughter had sent him, and then was told the man was upstairs and dead. Labunskis allegedly said he had hit Burba, had a mobile phone and passport in his hands, and told Makulens to hide them and get rid of the body. The witness was cross‑examined by Michael Bowman SC, who questioned whether Labunskis had suggested the body be taken to the woods or that the police be called. Labunskis has pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Arnis Labunskis, 57, who is accused of murdering his flatmate Dainius Burba, 39, at their Wolfe Tone Street, Limerick City, flat on 21st or 22nd April 2015, continued at the Central Criminal Court. Labunskis has pleaded not guilty. Witness William Neville testified that he heard an "awful noise" and a verbal argument from the house around 12.30am on the night of the alleged incident. The jury reviewed CCTV footage showing an individual carrying a white item, similar to a bag, which was deposited into a wheelie bin shortly before 5am. Detective Garda Nicholas Jones also presented evidence regarding the movement of an individual and a car earlier that morning. The prosecution highlighted a discrepancy in Labunskis's accounts, noting that while he told gardai he arrived home to find his flatmate injured by potential intruders, he had previously told his daughter that he had fought with the deceased. The trial is presided over by Ms Justice Deirdre McCarthy and a jury of three women and nine men. The matter is ongoing and is expected to continue until the end of next week.
In a Limerick murder trial, 57‑year‑old Arnis Labunskis is charged with killing his 39‑year‑old flatmate, Dainius Burba, on 21 or 22 April 2015. Labunskis pleaded not guilty. During the opening speech, the prosecution presented evidence that Labunskis had told his daughter that he had fought with Burba and that she had seen blood on his clothing. The daughter drove him to her brother's house, where the brother also noticed blood on Labunskis's shoes. A man was sent to check the flat, and Labunskis allowed him in, where he saw blood on the wall and on Labunskis's hoodie and was shown Burba's body. Labunskis later told gardai he had returned home to find Burba badly injured, was alarmed by possible intruders, and had taken a table leg to defend himself. The prosecution suggested the table leg could be the murder weapon, a point for the jury to consider.
A 57‑year‑old man, Arnis Labunskis of Wolfe Tone Street, is set to go on trial for the murder of 39‑year‑old Dainius Burba, who was killed at that address on 21 or 22 April 2015. He was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court today and pleaded not guilty. A jury of three women and nine men was sworn in; the trial began today and is expected to run until the end of next week.
Christopher McNamara, aged 24, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment for the killing of James Boyce, a 71‑year‑old retired soldier, in Limerick in March 2011. McNamara had previously pleaded not guilty and had admitted the killing to his mother. He had been responsible for Boyce's domestic needs, including lighting his fire. The Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of murder after an hour‑and‑a‑half of deliberations, and Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan imposed the mandatory life sentence on 24 January 2014. McNamara has now lodged an appeal against conviction. His barrister, Michael Bowman SC, argues that the jury should have considered a broader range of legal concepts such as recklessness, subjectivity and intent, and that the medical evidence showed unpredictable injuries. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel maintains that the jury was properly instructed on the mental element of murder and that any grey area should favour the accused.
James Smithers, 38, of St Patrick's Park, Tullow, Co. Carlow, was found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of IRA membership. He had denied membership of the Irish Republican Army on 31 October 2015. Smithers was arrested early that morning in Rathkeale, County Limerick, at an isolated rural location. Two other men were also arrested in a Volkswagen Golf, where Gardaí discovered a sawn‑off shotgun, a can of petrol and matches. The court heard that the three men were engaged in an IRA operation and that Smithers' role was to provide the stolen Volkswagen Golf. Justice Isobel Kennedy, after hearing evidence from Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan and the application of Sections 2, 18 and 19 of the Offences Against the State Act and the Criminal Justice Act, concluded that the evidence cumulatively indicated Smithers was involved in a criminal endeavour on the date in question. He was remanded in custody until 8 February, when he will be sentenced.
In a Limerick case, John Costello, 60, pleaded guilty to possessing 450 rounds of .38 special calibre ammunition and 329 rounds of 9mm ammunition at a flat above the Coffee Pot in Abbeyfeale on 21 February 2016, and three rounds of 9mm at his home on 22 February 2016. The possession was discovered after his partner, following a domestic dispute, tipped off the gardai that ammunition was stored in the flat. The gardai obtained a search warrant, found additional ammunition in Costello's apartment in Glenashrone, and called him to the station where he admitted responsibility for the ammunition but did not disclose its source. The detective and the court considered the ammunition to be linked to subversive IRA activity. Costello had no prior convictions, pleaded early, and was remanded in custody until 14 February for sentencing.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, James Smithers, 38, of St Patrick's Park, Tullow, Co. Carlow, pleaded not guilty to an indictment of membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The prosecution, represented by Anne‑Marie Lawlor BL, argued that Smithers supplied a stolen car for an IRA operation in County Limerick on 31 October 2015. Central to the case was the belief evidence of Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan, who claimed to be "absolutely satisfied" that the information supporting his belief was reliable and accurate. Kirwan's testimony was supplemented by the fact that Smithers failed to answer material questions after Section 2 of the Offences Against the State Act was invoked, which the prosecution said provided sufficient supporting evidence of guilt. Smithers' defence, led by Mark Nicholas SC, challenged the depth of Kirwan's file and the inference that the suspicious activity on the night in question proved membership.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, James Smithers, 38, of St Patrick's Park, Tullow, pleaded not guilty to an indictment of membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The prosecution alleged that Smithers supplied a stolen Volkswagen Golf for an IRA operation in County Limerick. On 30 October 2015, Detective Garda Liam O'Neill, on duty, and two colleagues travelled to County Limerick. They encountered Smithers in the black Golf at Five Cross Roads outside Rathkeale at 1:35 am. O'Neill's colleague, Detective Garda Joe Higgins, later reported finding a sawn‑off shotgun in another stolen car. Smithers had previously been seen driving the Golf to County Limerick. During questioning under Section 2 of the Offences Against the State Act, Smithers gave no comment to inquiries about IRA activities. The court also heard that the detective invoked Sections 18, 19 and 19(a) of the Criminal Justice Act, allowing inferences from Smithers' silence regarding the stolen vehicle and firearm.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, a Garda chief superintendent testified that he believed James Smithers, 38, of St Patrick's Park, Tullow, was a member of the Irish Republican Army. Smithers had pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation on 31 October 2015. The superintendent, citing confidential information, stated his belief during cross‑examination. He also mentioned that on 30 October 2015 he travelled with other detectives to County Limerick, where a stolen Volkswagen Golf was found outside Rathkeale, containing two men, a sawn‑off shotgun and petrol. The trial is ongoing.
A Carlow man, James Smithers, 36, was accused in the Special Criminal Court of providing a stolen car for an IRA operation. He pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation, claiming the IRA. The prosecution, led by Anne‑Marie Lawlor BL, relied on Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan's belief that Smithers was an IRA member on the relevant date. Evidence included Smithers' alleged activities that night, Garda interviews, and the discovery of a sawn‑off shotgun, petrol, and matches near the arrest site in Rathkeale. The trial continues.
The Court of Appeal found an error in a wholly suspended three‑year sentence imposed on 19‑year‑old Eric Ryan for dangerous driving that caused serious bodily harm to 32‑year‑old Eve Neylon. Ryan had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and leaving the scene. The sentence, given by Judge Patricia Ryan, was wholly suspended and required community service for leaving the scene. The Director of Public Prosecutions sought a review, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient, citing Ryan's provisional licence, lack of a supervising driver, and his father's influence. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, held that the case was of such seriousness that the sentence had to be varied. The court ordered Ryan to pay a weekly contribution to the National Rehabilitation Centre for 12 months and to provide firm proposals for community service, with the matter to be reconvened on 6 February.