In a rape trial at the Central Criminal Court, High Court Judge Paul Carney returned from hospital to direct a jury of ten men and two women. He informed them that he would handle any questions by telephone and that they could now resume deliberations to reach a majority verdict. The jury had been sent home earlier after another judge declared Mr Carney unavailable. The accused, whose name is withheld, pleaded not guilty to 32 counts of rape and assault against a woman in County Clare between 1998 and 2004. Judge Carney stated he would be available for telephone queries and would return to receive the verdict.
In a Central Criminal Court case, a man accused of abducting and raping his sister‑in‑law has pleaded not guilty to six counts of rape and assault. The alleged victim was harmed on 20 January 2011 in County Kerry, with one alleged rape said to have occurred between Kerry and Limerick after the accused blindfolded her and drove her to a remote area. On the fifth day of the trial, the jury heard that the accused was homeless at the time and had asked to sleep in a Garda station after officers informed him of the allegations. A detective had seized a car that matched the victim's description, but later found it was not the vehicle used in the incidents. The case remains before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of nine men and three women.
A man has been sentenced to two years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for breaching sex offender notification requirements. Ian Bissett, aged 28, was convicted following trial of failing to inform gardaí of a change of address within the required seven-day period between July and August 2011. The sentence is to run concurrently with another custodial term he is currently serving. Bissett had been released from prison in June 2011 after completing a five-year sentence for aggravated sexual assault. Court heard he was homeless and relocated to Limerick without notifying gardaí as required under the Sex Offenders Act. He told gardaí he failed to comply because he was "homeless and fed up." The defendant has an extensive criminal history spanning 22 previous convictions. His release date on the concurrent sentence is scheduled for August 2016. Ian Bissett pleaded not guilty.
A 19‑year‑old Limerick teenager, who was 16 at the time of the offences, pleaded guilty to two counts of oral rape and five counts of sexual assault against his seven‑year‑old step‑sister while she was under his care between February 2011 and January 2012. The abuse occurred in Limerick and Clare and was reported by the girl's parents after the teenager sent a text admitting the abuse. The girl, who was interviewed by Garda specialists, described daily abuse, including dragging her to the teenager's room and forcing her to touch his penis and put it in her mouth. The teenager admitted the acts, expressed remorse, and said he had moved out to stop the abuse. Mr Justice Paul Carney remanded him in custody until December for further assessment by the Probation Service. The case was prosecuted by Vincent Heneghan BL. The girl's statement expressed discomfort and a desire never to see the teenager again.
Nathan Killeen, 24, of Hyde Road, Prospect, will not stand trial for the 2008 murder of James Cronin after the State entered a nolle prosequi. Killeen had been charged with murdering 20-year-old Cronin between April 5th and 7th, 2008, whose body was found in a shallow grave near Ballinacura Weston. In the Special Criminal Court, presided over by Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy, Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan, and Judge Cormac Dunne, prosecuting counsel Tom O'Connell SC informed the court of the decision not to proceed. The court accepted the nolle prosequi, and Ms Justice Murphy discharged Killeen. Killeen is already serving a life sentence for the April 2009 murder of Roy Collins at Coin Castle Amusements, Limerick, a conviction shared with co-accused Wayne Dundon, who also received a life sentence in July. Previously, Killeen's counsel, Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC, sought an adjournment citing the burden of a recent marathon trial and a change in solicitors. The prosecution opposed this, noting that a key witness, under garda protection since giving a statement over two years ago, faced ongoing threats. In July, Mr Justice Paul Butler refused the adjournment, agreeing with the State that delaying the trial posed a risk to the witness's wellbeing and life.
Two men from Limerick, Thomas McMahon, 32, and Noel Noonan, 35, were sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to two-and-a-half years each for membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Both pleaded guilty to a single charge of IRA membership on 7 February 2013. The court was presented with evidence of three rocket launchers, launch tubes and mortar drills seized during the investigation. McMahon, a former chef from Ros Fearna, Murroe, and Noonan, who lived at St. Patrick's Hostel, Clare Street, had previously been convicted of false imprisonment and two threats to kill; Noonan had prior convictions for assault. Both men denied IRA membership and knowledge of the equipment at the time of arrest, but later entered guilty pleas. The judge, Justice Paul Butler, imposed a four‑year sentence, with the final year and a half suspended upon each man's payment of a €500 bond and a promise not to commit further offences or associate with members of unlawful organisations.
In 2009, John Paul Buck, aged 34, was sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice George Birmingham after a Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of fatally stabbing 30‑year‑old Fergus Roche in a vacant house on 1 October 2005. The jury also convicted Buck of arson, for which a concurrent five‑year sentence was imposed. The post‑mortem revealed Roche died from a single chest wound before the fire, indicating he was stabbed while asleep. Buck denied involvement, but Detective Garda Larry Bergin testified that Buck confessed to the murder in August 2006 during a patrol‑car interview, describing Roche as his "best friend". The appeal, presented by Mr Michael Delaney SC, argued that the confession was improperly admitted, that the search of Buck's home was inadmissible, and that media coverage of an alleged escape attempt by Buck's brother had prejudiced the jury. The Court of Criminal Appeal reserved judgement on the appeal.
The Court of Criminal Appeal issued a supplementary written judgment outlining the obligations of prosecution counsel at sentencing. It held that counsel must bring a judge's attention to sentencing guidance beyond that provided by the court itself, including reputable analyses of typical sentences for the offence. The court emphasised that if mitigation arguments presented by the defence are deemed insignificant or not properly mitigating, prosecution counsel should address this to the judge. The judgment was delivered in the case of Adam Fitzgibbon, a 20‑year‑old Limerick man who had appealed a 15‑year sentence for an unprovoked attack on a schoolboy. The appeal court substituted the 15‑year term with nine‑and‑a‑half years imprisonment. The court also referenced other recent appeals, including those of Kieran Ryan and a life‑sentence case, to illustrate its guidance on sentencing ranges and mitigation handling.
Kieran Ryan (29), of Craeval Park, Moyross, had his eight-year sentence for the possession of a Browning semi-automatic pistol and 15 rounds of 9mm ammunition reduced to seven years by the Court of Criminal Appeal. The court found an error in principle in the trial judge's assessment of the offence's seriousness and the excessive deduction for his guilty plea. Ryan, who pleaded guilty, was originally sentenced in July 2010 by Judge Carroll Moran at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court for possessing the firearm at Carrigmartin, Ballyneety. The appeal court determined that the maximum starting point should have been nine to ten years, with a justified reduction of two to two-and-a-half years for mitigating factors, resulting in a final sentence of seven years. The court noted that while the offence involved serious criminality, there was no evidence Ryan intended to use the weapon. His brother, Eddie Ryan (31), of College Avenue, Moyross, was sentenced to six years for the same offence. However, Eddie Ryan was subsequently released from the Four Courts after Mr Justice Max Barrett found his continued detention unlawful under Rule 59 of the 2007 Prison Rules. Kieran Ryan is the son of Eddie Ryan Snr, who was shot dead in the Moose Bar in Limerick in November 2000. The appeal court substituted the original sentence, concluding that a reduction of more than two years could not be justified given Ryan's serious previous conviction for violent crime.
In 2014, a Limerick man, Adam Fitzgibbon, aged 20, was sentenced to fifteen years for an unprovoked, sustained, and vicious attack that left a 16‑year‑old schoolboy with permanent brain damage. CCTV showed Fitzgibbon delivering 65 kicks, 26 punches, and multiple stamps to the victim's head, chest, and body, continuing the assault after the boy had stopped moving. The Central Criminal Court accepted a plea of intentionally causing serious harm, and Mr Justice Paul Carney imposed a fifteen‑year sentence with the final three years suspended. On appeal, the Court of Criminal Appeal reduced the sentence to nine‑and‑a‑half years, citing mitigating factors such as Fitzgibbon's young age, difficult background, substance‑abuse history, and attempts to address these issues. The reduction was based on a sentencing analysis that placed the offence at the upper end of the range for similar cases.
Wayne Dundon (36) and Nathan Killeen (24) were sentenced to life imprisonment at the Special Criminal Court after being found guilty of murdering Roy Collins, a 35-year-old father of two. The court found that Dundon, of Lenihan Avenue, Prospect, ordered the murder from prison, while Killeen, of Hyde Road, Prospect, acted as the getaway driver for gunman James Dillon. Both defendants had previously pleaded not guilty to the charges. The victim was shot in the chest while operating Coin Castle Amusements at Roxboro Road Shopping Centre in Limerick on April 9, 2009. Following the sentencing, Roy Collins' father, Steve Collins, stated that his family might return to Ireland now that the perpetrators are jailed. He described the ten-year legal process as a nightmare that has finally ended, expressing gratitude to the gardai, the legal team, and the public for their support. Collins emphasized that his family had been forced into exile and protected by bulletproof vests due to threats from criminal gangs. He encouraged others in similar situations to trust the justice system rather than succumb to criminal pressure, noting that the diligence of the gardai and the credibility of witness testimony were crucial to securing this outcome. The matter was concluded with the imposition of life sentences on both accused.
Wayne Dundon and Nathan Killeen were sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Roy Collins. Both defendants pleaded not guilty to killing the 35-year-old father of two, who was engaged to be married. Following a 29-day trial at the Special Criminal Court, the three-judge panel found them guilty. Ms Justice Iseult O'Malley, presiding, imposed the mandatory life sentence, backdating it to February 2013 when they were charged. The court accepted evidence that Dundon ordered the killing from prison, while Killeen served as the getaway driver. Steve Collins, the victim's father and an applicant in the proceedings, delivered an emotional victim impact statement, stating he was the intended target due to a previous successful prosecution against Dundon. The court relied on testimony from Anthony McCarthy, who stated Dundon admitted to ordering the murder, and forensic evidence linking Killeen to the scene. The defence challenged the credibility of witnesses, but the judges found the evidence coherent. This conclusion ended the first trial heard by three female judges in the jurisdiction.
Edward Ryan Jnr, 31, son of the late Limerick gangster Eddie Ryan Snr, was released from Midlands Prison after a High Court judge ruled his continued detention was unlawful. Ryan had been serving a six‑year sentence for possession of a pistol and 15 rounds of 9mm ammunition, a conviction he entered in 2010. He had applied for a one‑third remission under Rule 59 of the 2007 Prison Rules, citing good behaviour and participation in structured activities such as the prison woodwork shop and charity shop work. The Minister for Justice had denied the remission, arguing Ryan had not engaged with other training or counselling and had been linked to a prison disturbance. Mr Justice Max Barrett found the Minister's refusal was based on deficient information and that the rule does not restrict remission to exceptional cases. Consequently, Ryan was ordered released with a third of his sentence remaining to serve.
The Special Criminal Court has set a judgment date of 15 July for the 29‑day trial of Wayne Dundon (36) and Nathan Killeen (24), who were charged with the murder of 35‑year‑old Limerick businessman Roy Collins. The accused pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleged that Dundon directed the murder from prison, Killeen acted as getaway driver, and James Dillon fired the single shot that killed Collins at Coin Castle Amusements on 9 April 2009. During the hearing, Mr Steve Collins, the victim's father, recounted the day's events, noting that his son had been at work when the gunman entered the arcade and that Collins was shot in the chest. Collins was conscious for a short time before his life could not be saved. The court will deliver its judgment on 15 July.
In the Special Criminal Court, the prosecution's case against Wayne Dundon, Nathan Killeen and a third man for the 2009 murder of businessman Roy Collins at Coin Castle Amusements hinges on the claim that Killeen "made a run for it" after the shooting. The court heard that Collins was shot in the chest by a gunman, survived briefly, then died. Dundon is alleged to have directed the murder from prison, Killeen was the getaway driver, and James Dillon the gunman. Killeen's counsel argued that the prosecution relied mainly on "gang associates" whose testimony was untrustworthy, and that the only evidence against Killeen was that he fled the scene, as seen by Garda David Baynham who observed him running from a patrol car minutes after the incident. The trial's closing speeches will continue on Monday. Wayne Dundon pleaded not guilty. Nathan Killeen pleaded not guilty. Roy Collins pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Thomas McMahon, 31, of Ros Fearna, Murroe, and Noel Noonan, 34, of St. Patrick's Hostel, Clare Street, Limerick, pleaded guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation, the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The case had been adjourned earlier due to garda taping revelations, but the men were later arraigned and pleaded guilty. McMahon was remanded on continuing bail for sentencing. During the hearing, counsel for McMahon informed the court that he had broken his ankle on 19 June and would be unable to travel to court for six weeks. The State had no objection to postponing the sentence hearing. Judge Paul Butler set the new date for the sentence hearing as 31 October 2014 and remanded both men on the same terms. The hearing was postponed until that date.
In a non‑jury trial at the Special Criminal Court, Limerick man Wayne Dundon, aged 36, and Nathan Killeen, aged 24, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 35‑year‑old businessman Roy Collins, who was shot at Coin Castle Amusements on 9 April 2009. Prosecution counsel Sean Guerin presented a joint‑enterprise case, arguing that Dundon was the "moving spirit" who directed the operation, Killeen acted as the instrument and means, and James Dillon fired the fatal shot. Guerin cited Dundon's 2005 conviction for threatening to kill a stepson, his subsequent 10‑year sentence, and a motive of vengeance for what he believed the Collins family had done to him. He also referenced Dundon's emotional phone call to his wife after the birth of their child, which he claimed demonstrated intent. Dundon's defence counsel Remy Farrell challenged the credibility of witnesses Gareth Collins and Anthony McCarthy, urging strict scrutiny of their testimony. The trial continues under Judge Iseult O'Malley.
Three men have pleaded not guilty to the murder of a twenty-year-old man in County Kildare in April 2013. James Seery, Quentin Monaghan, and Darren Wynne appeared before the Central Criminal Court charged with the killing of Jamie Lindsay at Coney Green, Coneyboro, Athy. Wynne also faces a charge of possession of a sawn-off shotgun and ammunition with intent to endanger life, though he has pleaded guilty to possession of a shotgun in suspicious circumstances on the same date. Seery and Monaghan have pleaded not guilty to further counts of weapons possession. During the trial, a witness testified that she observed one of the accused discharge a firearm at close range. She described the events leading to the shooting and stated that the accused subsequently disposed of the weapon and clothing. The trial continues before a jury at the Central Criminal Court with Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan presiding.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, two Limerick men, Wayne Dundon, 36, and Nathan Killeen, 24, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of businessman Roy Collins, 35, who was killed at Coin Castle Amusements on 9 April 2009. The court heard that Collins was at work when a gunman fired a single shot, killing him. Prosecutors say Dundon directed the murder from prison, Killeen was the getaway driver, and James Dillon was the gunman. The trial, which began 1 May, is a 'voir dire' to determine admissibility of evidence, presided over by Justice Iseult O'Malley.
In the Roy Collins murder trial, the main prosecution witness, Gareth Collins, admitted he had mistakenly implicated Wayne Dundon in the 2002 murder of bouncer Brian Fitzgerald, a crime Dundon could not have committed because he was in prison that night. Collins explained that he had hidden under a bed when Dundon called for him, but he had actually run upstairs and hidden under a bed when he saw a car arrive that night, and his mother answered the door. Collins had previously testified that Dundon offered him €20,000 to take part in the 2009 murder of Roy Collins, which Dundon directed from prison, with Nathan Killeen as getaway driver and James Dillon as gunman. The trial continues before three judges presided over by Ms Justice Iseult O'Malley. Roy Collins pleaded not guilty.
In the Special Criminal Court, two Limerick men, Wayne Dundon (36) and Nathan Killeen (24), pleaded not guilty to the murder of businessman Roy Collins, 35, on 9 April 2009. Collins was shot once in the chest by gunman James Dillon while at Coin Castle Amusements. Dundon allegedly directed the murder from Wheatfield Prison, Killeen was the getaway driver, and Dillon fired the shot. A prison officer testified that Dundon and his cousin, Anthony 'Noddy' McCarthy, were non‑working members of a paint party at Wheatfield Prison, spending more than four hours daily in a cell chatting with each other while other inmates worked or were locked in their cells. The court heard that this arrangement was unusual and that Dundon had previously been sentenced to 10 years for threatening to kill Ryan Lee. The trial is before three judges presided by Ms Justice Iseult O'Malley.
In the Special Criminal Court, Wayne Dundon (36) and Nathan Killeen (24) pleaded not guilty to the murder of 35‑year‑old Roy Collins, who was shot in the chest at Coin Castle Amusements on 9 April 2009. The prosecution alleges Dundon directed the killing from prison, Killeen was the getaway driver, and James Dillon fired the shot. The main witness, 31‑year‑old Gareth Collins, claims Dundon offered him €20,000 to participate, but Collins repeatedly refused. Detective Garda John Farmer, cross‑examined by Dundon's barrister, said he had taken Collins' statement in 2011 but did not know the content of the conversation. Farmer also admitted he was unaware that Dundon was in custody on 29 November 2002, the date of the earlier Brian Fitzgerald murder, and that Collins had not yet given a statement on that case. The trial continues on 16 June before three judges.
In a Special Criminal Court murder trial, Limerick businessman Roy Collins, aged 35, died from a single gunshot wound to his chest, liver, aorta and inferior vena cava on 9 April 2009 at Coin Castle Amusements. The court heard medical evidence that Collins was at work around noon when a gunman fired a single shot, after which paramedic Damien Gaumont found him on all fours, breathing poorly, and transported him to University Hospital, Limerick. Dr Cathal O'Donnell confirmed Collins was conscious upon arrival but could not be revived, pronouncing him dead at 12:55. State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy's post‑mortem report identified the bullet's entry and exit points and the organs damaged. The accused, Nathan Killeen (24) and Wayne Dundon (36), pleaded not guilty; Killeen was alleged to have been the getaway driver, Dundon the mastermind, and James Dillon the gunman. The trial continues before three judges.
The Special Criminal Court will decide on Tuesday whether certain evidence can be admitted in the trial of Nathan Killeen (24) and Wayne Dundon (36), who are charged with murdering 35‑year‑old businessman Roy Collins. The court heard submissions from both sides during a voir dire held on Wednesday, which examined evidence concerning Killeen's detention at Roxboro Road Garda station. The trial is ongoing, and the court has not yet ruled on the admissibility of the evidence. Nathan Killeen pleaded not guilty. Wayne Dundon pleaded not guilty.
In the Special Criminal Court, the trial of Nathan Killeen (24) and Wayne Dundon (36) over the murder of Roy Collins (35) continues. The court heard evidence and a video about the detention of Killeen at Roxboro Road Garda station. The case alleges Dundon directed the killing from prison, Killeen was the getaway driver, and James Dillon fired the fatal shot. Collins was shot in the chest at Coin Castle Amusements on 9 April 2009 and died. The hearing is a voir dire to decide admissibility of evidence, presided over by Justice Iseult O'Malley. Roy Collins pleaded not guilty.
In the Special Criminal Court, Melissa Crawford, the fiancée of the murdered Limerick businessman Roy Collins, gave evidence about the day of his shooting. She recalled driving to the Coin Castle Amusement Arcade on 9 April 2009 when she received a call that Collins had been shot. She went straight to the hospital, arriving around 12:30 p.m., but could not see him as doctors were working. Crawford said she felt "numb" and had her head between her legs, believing Collins was still alive until the doctor informed her of his death sometime between 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. She did not see Collins at the hospital that day. The court also heard from April Collins about her son's illness and her own call from a mobile phone while at the hospital. The trial continues with a voir dire on the admissibility of evidence regarding the arrest and detention of Nathan Killeen and Wayne Dundon. Nathan Killeen pleaded not guilty. Wayne Dundon pleaded not guilty.
In a non‑jury court in Limerick, the murder trial of Wayne Dundon (36) and Nathan Killeen (24) for the killing of 35‑year‑old businessman Roy Collins at Coin Castle Amusements on 9 April 2009 has entered a "trial within a trial" to decide whether certain evidence is admissible. Collins was shot in the chest by a single gunman while at work; he was conscious for a short time but died. Prosecutor Michael O'Higgins SC argued that Dundon directed the murder from prison, Killeen was the getaway driver, and James Dillon was the gunman. Killeen's counsel, Giollaiosa O Lideadha SC, challenged the admissibility of evidence from searches, entries to properties, the legality of Killeen's arrest and detention, and material arising from that detention. The court heard legal submissions from both sides and, after the prosecution declined to call further evidence on the issue, Judge Iseult O'Malley said the decision would be reserved overnight. Wayne Dundon pleaded not guilty. Nathan Killeen pleaded not guilty. Roy Collins pleaded not guilty.
The Court of Criminal Appeal heard the Director of Public Prosecutions' concerns about the role of prosecution counsel at sentencing after three significant judgments in March. Thomas O'Malley, counsel for the DPP, argued that the court's view of prosecution's role had changed following the judgments in the cases of Adam Fitzgibbon, Kieran Ryan and a man sentenced to life for raping his daughters. In Fitzgibbon's case, the appeal court had ruled that the sentencing judge had not considered whether Fitzgibbon's severe background and substance problems made the case outside the usual drink‑or‑drug excuse. The court would consider prison progress reports and submissions from both sides before setting a new sentence. In Ryan's case, the court gave guidance on appropriate sentence ranges for firearms offences and factors to consider. The life‑sentence case reinforced the prosecution's duty to draw the judge's attention to relevant sentencing guidance and to indicate the effect of mitigation arguments.
In a Court of Criminal Appeal hearing, Adam Fitzgibbon, aged 20, was described as "vastly better" than two years ago after a brutal attack on a 16‑year‑old schoolboy that left the victim with permanent brain damage. Fitzgibbon's assault, captured on CCTV, involved 65 kicks, 26 punches and several stamps to the boy's head, chest and body, and was deemed unprovoked, sustained and vicious. He had previously been sentenced to 15 years, with the final three years suspended, for intentionally causing serious harm. The appeal argued that Fitzgibbon's severe background, including drug and alcohol problems, should be considered in sentencing. The court will review reports of his progress in prison and hear submissions from the appellant and the Director of Public Prosecutions before deciding a new sentence. The victim remains in a state of ongoing medical care for weakness, deafness and speech problems.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Nathan Killeen, aged 24, and Wayne Dundon, aged 36, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 35‑year‑old Roy Collins, a Limerick businessman, at Coin Castle Amusements on 9 April 2009. Detective Garda David Baynham testified that shortly after noon on the day of the murder he received a call about a shooting at the Steering Wheel Pub, where he found Collins seriously injured. Baynham described how he later observed two youths, one of whom was identified as Killeen, running from a garda patrol car near Hyde Avenue. Killeen allegedly fled across the road, used a junction box to jump a wall, and disappeared from view. The court noted that the trial is entering a new phase involving garda witnesses and evidence from warrants, and that Killeen's counsel will challenge the admissibility of evidence obtained from searches and his detention. The voir‑dire will be held on Tuesday before Justice Iseult O'Malley.
The trial of Wayne Dundon (36) and Nathan Killeen (24), who have pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of 35-year-old Roy Collins at Coin Castle Amusements, Roxboro Road Shopping Centre, on April 9, 2009, continues before the Special Criminal Court. Anthony "Noddy" McCarthy (32), a man serving a life sentence for the murder of Kieran Keane in Limerick in January 2003, was cross-examined after giving evidence. In his direct evidence, McCarthy stated that while in Wheatfield prison with Dundon on the morning of the incident, Dundon told him he had "ordered James Dillon to go kill Roy Collins." During cross-examination by Mr Remy Farrell SC, McCarthy acknowledged that other witnesses suggested the target was Steve Collins, Roy Collins' father, but maintained he heard "Roy Collins" and denied making up the statement. When asked by Mr Michael O'Higgins SC if he had received any benefit for his testimony, McCarthy replied that it had brought him "a world of misery" and that his circumstances in prison had worsened. His brother, Christopher McCarthy (31), also gave evidence at the trial last week. The matter is ongoing under the presiding judge, Ms Justice Iseult O'Malley.
During the trial of Wayne Dundon and Nathan Killeen for the murder of Roy Collins, witness Elaine Walsh admitted she lied to Gardaí to protect her partner, Gareth Collins. Walsh, aged 36, explained that she had been in a relationship with Collins, who was a key prosecution witness. She claimed she had told Gardaí she had collected Collins on the night before the shooting, but later admitted she had not told the truth. Walsh said she lied about staying in Corbally to shield Collins, who she said was terrified. She also acknowledged that Collins had used her car the night before the murder, contradicting her earlier statement. The court heard cross‑examination of Collins' sister, April Collins, who had pleaded guilty to interfering with a witness and received a three‑year suspended sentence. The trial continues. Wayne Dundon pleaded not guilty. Nathan Killeen pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court is hearing a voir dire on voice‑recognition evidence in the murder trial of Roy Collins. Two Limerick men, Wayne Dundon, 36, of Lenihan Avenue, Prospect, and Nathan Killeen, 24, of Hyde Road, Prospect, have pleaded not guilty to the killing of 35‑year‑old Roy Collins at Coin Castle Amusements, Roxboro Road Shopping Centre, on 9 April 2009. April Collins, who grew up on Hyde Avenue in Ballinacurra Weston, gave evidence that she had been in a relationship with Gerard Dundon, Wayne's brother, and had three children with him. Her brother Gareth Collins testified that he was offered €20,000 to participate in the murder of publican Steve Collins, Roy's father. April Collins also recounted that on the day of the shooting her son was ill and she had taken him to the regional hospital in Dooradoyle, where she received a phone call.
Lisa Collins, partner of Christopher McCarthy, gave evidence in the Special Criminal Court trial of Nathan Killeen (24) and Wayne Dundon (36) for the murder of Roy Collins. She described a morning on 9 April 2009 when Killeen and James Dillon called to her home on Crecora Avenue, asking for her brother Gareth Collins. Killeen spoke to Gareth about driving a car, and after a brief conversation, Killeen and Dillon left. Later, Killeen returned, changed clothes, and told Lisa to "listen out for sirens" as they expected police sirens. He also said he was going to the Steering Wheel pub to shoot Steve Collins. Lisa heard sirens, saw Killeen and Dillon running, and later reported the incident to the gardai on 10 October 2012. The trial continues before Justice Iseult O'Malley. Nathan Killeen pleaded not guilty. Wayne Dundon pleaded not guilty. Roy Collins pleaded not guilty.
In the Special Criminal Court, Christopher McCarthy, 31, gave evidence as the cousin of Wayne Dundon, 36, who is on trial for the murder of 35‑year‑old businessman Roy Collins on 9 April 2009. McCarthy, serving a seven‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for demanding money with menaces, described his 2009 residence on Crecora Avenue with partner Lisa Collins and brother Gareth Collins Keogh. He recounted that on the day of the murder he was at home with Lisa and Gareth when Nathan Killeen and James Dillon arrived. McCarthy said he did not hear the conversation between Killeen and Gareth but saw Killeen hand Gareth a phone. He later saw Killeen and Dillon walking down Hyde Avenue and noted they fled when a Garda car approached. McCarthy was questioned about the murder but did not disclose what he told the court, citing fear for his family's safety. The trial continues. Christopher McCarthy pleaded not guilty. Wayne Dundon pleaded not guilty. Nathan Killeen pleaded not guilty.
In the Special Criminal Court, the cross‑examination of Gareth Collins, 31, concluded on 14 May 2014. Collins, a convicted Limerick criminal, had earlier claimed he was offered €20,000 to help kill publican Steve Collins, the father of the murder victim Roy Collins. He testified that on the day of the murder, Nathan Killeen and James Dillon had called his sister's house, and that Killeen had contacted Wayne Dundon, who allegedly told Collins to drive Killeen to the Steering Wheel pub to kill Steve Collins. Collins admitted giving Gardaí an incorrect account of his whereabouts on 9 April 2009, citing fear of people and what they had asked him to do. He also acknowledged that his earlier statement was "just spoofing" and that he had no memory of the details. During cross‑examination, Collins denied that he had lied, said he had not been offered money, and claimed he was owed a few pounds by Christopher McCarthy. Roy Collins pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court heard cross-examination of Gareth Collins, a convicted criminal serving a seven-and-a-half-year sentence for demanding money with menaces, at the ongoing trial of Wayne Dundon and Nathan Killeen. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of 35-year-old Roy Collins at Coin Castle Amusements, Roxboro Road Shopping Centre, on April 9, 2009. Collins, who admitted to previously giving gardai an incorrect account of his whereabouts due to fear, denied asking for time off his sentence or extorting money from witnesses. He stated he was unaware that Anthony McCarthy, Christopher McCarthy, or April Collins intended to make statements. During questioning by Mr Remy Farrell SC, Collins acknowledged flirting via text messages on the day of the alleged killing but denied coordinating false alibis with his then-girlfriend. He also denied shaking anyone down, though he admitted being owed money by Christopher McCarthy, who described him as a "crooked snaky cunt." The court noted Collins had previously admitted to being arrested for rape involving two 15-year-old girls. The cross-examination of Mr Collins is scheduled to continue tomorrow before Ms Justice Iseult O'Malley.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Wayne Dundon, Nathan Killeen, and Gareth Collins, who have all pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of 35-year-old Roy Collins at Coin Castle Amusements in April 2009, continued before a non-jury court presided over by Ms Justice Iseult O'Malley. Gareth Collins, also known as Gareth Keogh, testified that he was offered €20,000 to drive Nathan Killeen to the Steering Wheel pub to shoot Roy Collins's father, Steve Collins. Collins stated he repeatedly refused the request, which he said was coordinated by Dundon via mobile phone from a prison cell. He described an incident where Killeen and James Dillon visited his sister's house, with Killeen allegedly retrieving petrol and a rag before leaving. Collins admitted to prior convictions, including a seven-and-a-half-year sentence for demanding money with menaces. Steve Collins, the victim's father, testified that he found his son shot in the arcade. Garda Steven Kelleher and Garda Deirdre Foley provided accounts of the scene and the victim's subsequent death at the hospital. The trial was adjourned and continues tomorrow.
In 2009, John Paul Buck, aged 34, was sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice George Birmingham after a Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of fatally stabbing 30‑year‑old Fergus Roche in a vacant house on 1 October 2005. Buck also set fire to the house and received a concurrent five‑year arson sentence. The appeal court heard that an alleged confession by Buck to Detective Garda Larry Bergin in August 2006 was admitted as evidence. Buck denied the confession, but the detective claimed Buck admitted stabbing Roche while he slept, describing Roche as his "best friend". The appeal argued the confession was improperly admitted, citing late cautioning, the lack of tape, and the influence of media coverage on the jury's deliberations. The court postponed further hearing to the next two to three weeks. Buck had seven prior convictions, including arson, robbery, and burglary.
US Judge John McCarthy III, a municipal judge in New Jersey and former chairman of Limerick FC, is suing the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and several individuals, including CEO John Delaney, for alleged breach of contract and punitive damages. He claims to have lost approximately €280,000 on his investment in Limerick Thirty Seven FC Ltd. The defendants deny the claims. In a hearing before Mr Justice Michael White, the FAI applied for an order requiring McCarthy to provide €87,000 in security for costs, arguing the action is without merit and that enforcing a costs judgment in the US would be difficult. McCarthy's counsel opposed the motion, stating he lacks liquid assets due to the investment loss and that the requirement would deny him access to the courts. He offered to place a Dublin property, owned by a US company in which he holds an 88% stake, into his own name as security. The judge reserved his decision on the security for costs application. Separately, the court dismissed McCarthy's proceedings against Limerick District Council, agreeing with the council's lawyers that the claim displayed no cause of action.
The Special Criminal Court adjourned the murder trial of Nathan Killeen (23) and Wayne Dundon (35) after the sudden death of Killeen's mother. Killeen, of Hyde Road, Prospect, and Dundon, of Lenihan Avenue, Prospect, are charged with killing businessman Roy Collins, 35, at Coin Castle Amusements on 9 April 2009. The trial began on 6 May 2014 but was paused when Killeen's mother died on Friday morning. Judge Iseult O'Malley, hearing the case, expressed condolences and granted an adjournment until next week, allowing Killeen to attend his mother's funeral with a supervised escort from the prison service. The prosecution had alleged that Dundon directed the murder from prison, Killeen was the getaway driver, and James Dillon fired the fatal shot. The case was set to resume on Monday. Nathan Killeen pleaded not guilty. Wayne Dundon pleaded not guilty.
Two Limerick men, Wayne Dundon (35) and Nathan Killeen (23), were arraigned at the Special Criminal Court on 1 May 2014 for the murder of businessman Roy Collins (35) at Coin Castle Amusements on 9 April 2009. They pleaded not guilty. Prosecutor Michael O'Higgins SC presented evidence that Dundon directed the killing from prison, Killeen was the getaway driver, and James Dillon was the gunman. Witnesses included siblings of Collins and cousins of Dundon, who testified about Killeen's attempts to recruit them and the planning of the murder. O'Higgins highlighted circumstantial evidence linking the accused to the crime. The trial, presided over by three female judges, was adjourned until Tuesday for further testimony from Gareth Collins Keogh. The case remains at the arraignment stage.
Thomas McMahon, 31, of Limerick, pleaded guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army on 7 February 2013 alongside Noel Noonan, 34. Both were remanded on continuing bail for sentencing on 27 June. McMahon, a father of two and former chef, had previously been allowed to travel to Lithuania to attend a family wedding, with the court varying bail conditions in June and October of the previous year and again in January of the current year. On the day of the hearing, his counsel requested a final trip to Lithuania to visit his in‑laws, asking that McMahon's passport be returned and that the sign‑on conditions be removed from 2 May to 16 May. Prosecutor Tara Burns objected, citing Garda concerns that McMahon was a flight risk and that a substantial custodial sentence might be imposed.
The Special Criminal Court in Limerick adjourned the murder trial of Wayne Dundon (35) and Nathan Killeen (23) until Thursday to finish a lengthy disclosure process. The defendants are charged with killing businessman Roy Collins, 35, at Coin Castle Amusements on 9 April 2009. Prosecutor Michael O'Higgins SC requested 48 more hours to complete disclosure of recordings made between Gardaí and civilian witnesses, describing the task as long and complicated. Seán Guerin SC noted a prior disclosure order concerning the prison service and identified additional material that might be relevant, asking for a similar order. Dundon's barrister Remy Farrell SC and Killeen's counsel Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC argued the requested materials were relevant and requested an adjournment. Justice Iseult O'Malley granted the adjournment, acknowledging the effort invested by both sides, and proposed opening the case on Thursday, with the possibility of further adjournment if needed.
The Special Criminal Court ordered the disclosure of any recordings made between Gardaí and civilian witnesses in the investigation of the murder of businessman Roy Collins. Wayne Dundon (35) and Nathan Killeen (23) are charged with Collins's murder at Coin Castle Amusements, Limerick, and are due to stand trial on 29 April before Justice Iseult O'Malley. Counsel for Killeen argued that outstanding disclosure issues included all communications between Garda stations and prosecution witnesses, some of whom were in prison. The State's counsel explained that the accused were in Garda stations lacking recording facilities or only recorded 999 calls, and that calls to secure rooms were not recorded. Dundon's counsel sought recordings of calls between Gardaí and prosecution witnesses, arguing relevance to the defence's challenge of witness reliability.
A law firm, McMahon, O'Brien, Tynan Solicitors, has filed a High Court action to stop a development company, Greenband Investments, from finalising a settlement with the Irish Coursing Club (ICC) until the firm receives payment for its legal fees. Greenband, which had won a High Court case against the ICC for €640,000 in damages over a failed sale of a laneway, is now in receivership under NAMA. The ICC and the receivers have agreed to a settlement that would give Greenband a right of way over the laneway and pay €275,000 toward the ICC's legal costs, but the solicitors claim they are receiving nothing. The firm seeks a declaration under Section 3 of the Legal Practitioners Act that it is entitled to a charge over the land, an injunction preventing any settlement that does not cover its costs, and an order that the parties pay its legal fees.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has found Simon McGinley, aged 30 of Connaughton Road Car Park in Sligo, guilty of the murder of Eugene Gillespie, a 67-year-old retired telecoms broker. McGinley had initially denied the murder charge but admitted manslaughter, a plea the State rejected. He pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and burglary at Mr Gillespie's Old Market Street home on 19 September 2012. Mr Gillespie was discovered tied up in his hallway two days after the assault and died in hospital following cardiac arrest. The jury, after five hours of deliberation, returned a unanimous guilty verdict on 3 April 2014. Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan imposed a life sentence, backdated to 29 September 2012, with concurrent sentences of ten years for false imprisonment and seven years for burglary. A victim impact statement highlighted the family's trauma and called for enhanced resources for An Garda Síochána to protect vulnerable people.
Wayne Dundon and Nathan Killeen, both from Prospect in Limerick, are charged with the murder of businessman Roy Collins at Coin Castle Amusements on Roxboro Road in Limerick on 9 April 2009. The two men are due to stand trial at the Special Criminal Court on 29 April before Justice Iseult O'Malley. At a hearing before Justice Paul Butler on Thursday, the defence sought disclosure of communications between garda stations and prisons, including recorded conversations between prosecution witnesses held in custody and gardaí. The State's counsel indicated that prison recordings are archived in Longford but that establishing access procedures would require time. The court adjourned the matter to the following Wednesday to allow the trial court to address the outstanding disclosure issues before the trial commences.
Two men, Gary Yeung, 31, and Patrick Kennedy, 65, were arrested on 14 September 2013 on James' Street, Dublin, as part of investigations into dissident republican activity. They were charged with unlawful possession of a .455 Colt "New Service" revolver and a .455 Webley Mark 6 revolver, both bearing serial number 324736. Yeung was also charged with possession of one round of .22‑250 calibre Sako ammunition and one round of .357 Mag calibre CBC ammunition at his Limerick address. Kennedy faced an additional charge of membership of an unlawful organisation, namely the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Their trial is scheduled for October 2015 at the Special Criminal Court. The judge set conditions for alibi evidence and required notice of any witnesses 21 days before the trial, and remanded them on continuing bail until the trial date.
In a Special Criminal Court case in Limerick, Thomas McMahon, 31, and Noel Noonan, 34, pleaded guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) before their trial was adjourned. The adjournment, the first criminal case affected by the Garda taping revelations, was granted to allow the defence to consider using an expert to examine Clonmel and Cahir Garda stations, where the men were detained after arrest. The court had already heard expert evidence that there were no recording facilities at those stations. Ms Tara Burns SC, the prosecutor, reported progress in the case and indicated that the men were seeking a sentencing date in June. Judge Paul Butler set June 27 for sentencing, remanded both men on continuing bail, and noted that the bail sureties were present. The court also heard that telephone calls made by the defendants with their solicitors before interview were recorded at Garda Headquarters, not at the local stations.