Three men are set to appear before the Central Criminal Court in Limerick. Sean Flanagan, aged 28, and Paul Colbert, aged 46, both from Lenihan Avenue, Prospect, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Gerard McMahon on 18 January 2012. Ian Flanagan, aged 24, from the same address, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of assisting an offender on that date. The trial is scheduled to begin tomorrow and is expected to last four weeks.
The jury was discharged in the trial of three men charged with the death of Gerard McMahon in Limerick. Sean Flanagan (28) and Paul Colbert (46) pleaded not guilty to murder, while Ian Flanagan (24) pleaded not guilty to two counts of assisting an offender. Judge Paul Carney announced that no judge was available to hear the case this week, causing the jury to be discharged. A new jury will be empanelled for the trial on Monday.
Three men are on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the 2012 killing of Gerard McMahon in Limerick. Sean Flanagan, 28, and Paul Colbert, 46, both from Lenihan Avenue, Prospect, plead not guilty to murder. Ian Flanagan, 24, also from the same address, pleads not guilty to two counts of assisting an offender. The trial began Thursday and is expected to last up to six weeks.
The Special Criminal Court has granted 31-year-old Thomas McMahon permission to travel to Lithuania for a second time this year, despite objections from gardai. Mr McMahon, of Ros Fearna, Murroe, is on bail on a charge of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA. He faces this charge alongside co-accused Noel Noonan (34), of St. Patrick's Hostel, Clare Street. Both men were arrested in February near Cahir, Co Tipperary, by the Special Detective Unit during an investigation into dissident republican activities. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Butler, acceded to an application by counsel Mr Michael Bowman BL to vary bail restrictions until November 6th to allow Mr McMahon to attend a family wedding. Detective Inspector William Hanrahan stated that gardai objected because they could not monitor Mr McMahon while he was abroad, noting he is due to stand trial in March next year. However, the judge noted the variation was for a very limited period and that Mr McMahon had returned from a previous visit. The court agreed to the variation, noting the bail surety was present. The matter remains at the pre-trial stage, with the trial scheduled for next year.
John Coughlan, 33, of Moyross, was found guilty of murdering Daniel Treacy, 35, at a Limerick petrol station on 22 February 2010. Coughlan pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter; the prosecution rejected the plea and a jury heard a two‑week trial. Treacy, who regularly visited the station for tea, was shot three times in the head and once in the groin. Coughlan claimed he was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time, a defence that was not accepted. The jury, after 3½ hours of deliberation, returned a unanimous verdict of guilty. Mr Justice Paul Carney imposed a mandatory life sentence, back‑dated to 1 March 2010, and thanked the jury before excusing them. The case was heard in the Limerick County Court.
The jury is set to begin deliberations in the Limerick murder trial of John Coughlan, a 33‑year‑old electrician from Pineview Gardens, Moyross. Coughlan pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the fatal shooting of Daniel Treacy, 35, at Topaz garage, Caherdavin, Ennis Road, on 22 February 2010. The court rejected the plea, and a jury of seven women and five men was sworn in for a two‑week trial. Prosecutor Ms Úna Ni Raifeartaigh SC described the case as complex, noting a planned shooting and a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, while highlighting the earlier killing of Coughlan's brother, Darren, by Treacy's brother. She urged the jury to consider CCTV footage and the accused's alleged hearing voices. Defence counsel Mr Brian McCartney QC argued for diminished responsibility, citing psychiatric evidence of schizophrenia, and urged a manslaughter verdict.
A 20‑year‑old man from Lisanalta, Dooradoyle, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for an unprovoked attack that left a 16‑year‑old schoolboy with permanent brain damage. The assault, captured on CCTV, involved 65 kicks, 26 punches and several stamps to the boy's head, chest and body, and continued after the victim had stopped moving. The victim was left on the forecourt in a pool of blood and later required eight days on life support before transfer to the National Rehabilitation Hospital. The man, who was a teenager in HSE care at the time, was originally charged with attempted murder but pleaded guilty to intentionally causing serious harm. He has appealed the sentence, arguing that mitigating factors such as his youth, guilty plea and expressions of remorse were insufficiently considered. The Court of Criminal Appeal has reserved judgment on the appeal, to be delivered in due course.
A 31‑year‑old Limerick man, Gary Yeung, was granted bail by the Special Criminal Court after being charged with unlawful possession of two handguns – a .455 Colt "New Service" revolver and a .455 Webley Mark 6 revolver – and with possession of ammunition at his home. He was also charged with possession of a .22‑250 calibre Sako round and a .357 Mag CBC round. Yeung's co‑accused, 65‑year‑old Patrick Kennedy, was charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styled the Irish Republican Army. Yeung's bail conditions include an independent surety of €20,000, a personal bond of €100, curfew from 11 pm to 7 am, surrender of his passport, prohibition on travel outside the jurisdiction, residence at his Limerick address, and restrictions on communication with witnesses and other offenders. He must also provide a mobile phone number to the Gardaí and keep it in use at all times.
Patrick Kennedy, 65, and Gary Yeung, 31, were arrested on 14 September 2013 on James' Street, Dublin, for unlawful possession of a .455 Colt "New Service" revolver and a .455 Webley Mark 6 revolver, and for membership of an unlawful organisation styled the Irish Republican Army. Yeung was also charged with possession of one round of .22‑250 Sako ammunition and one round of .357‑mag CBC ammunition at his Limerick home. The Special Criminal Court granted bail to Kennedy on conditions including a €10,000 surety or two €6,000 sureties, a €100 personal bond, daily reporting to Garda Station, a curfew, surrender of passport, and restrictions on travel, phone use, and contact with witnesses or other offenders. Kennedy must remain at his home address and cannot associate with Yeung except with legal counsel. Kennedy was remanded in custody with consent to bail and will appear again on 14 November.
Patrick Kennedy, 65, and Gary Yeung, 31, were arrested on 14 September 2013 on James' Street, Dublin, for unlawful possession of two .455 calibre revolvers and for membership of the Irish Republican Army. Kennedy was also charged with possession of a .22‑250 calibre Sako round and a .357‑Mag CBC round. The Special Criminal Court granted bail to Kennedy on the condition of a €10,000 independent surety or two €6,000 sureties, a €100 personal bond, daily reporting to Garda Station, a curfew, surrender of passport, and restrictions on travel, communication, and association. He was remanded in custody with liberty to appear again on 14 November. Yeung was remanded with liberty to apply for bail and was granted legal aid; he was also scheduled to appear on 14 November. No further details of the case were provided.
Two men, Patrick Kennedy, 65, and Gary Yeung, 31, appeared before the non‑jury Special Criminal Court on Monday, charged with unlawful possession of two handguns. Both were arrested by gardai on Saturday afternoon on James Street, Dublin 8, as part of investigations into dissident republican activity in Dublin and Limerick. The charges include possession of a .455 Colt "New Service" revolver and a .455 Webley Mark 6 revolver with serial number 324736, both found on James Street on 14 September 2013. Yeung, who lives at Bawnmore View, Crossagalla, Limerick, 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 home on the same date. Kennedy, residing at South Earl Street, Dublin 8, faced an additional charge of membership in an unlawful organisation, namely the Irish Republican Army (IRA).
Two men, Patrick Kennedy, 65, and Gary Yeung, 31, appeared before the Special Criminal Court on Monday, charged with unlawful possession of two handguns: a .455 Colt "New Service" revolver and a .455 Webley Mark 6 revolver with serial number 324736, seized on James Street, Dublin 8, on 14 September 2013. Yeung, who lives in Limerick, was also charged with possession of one round of .22‑250 calibre Sako ammunition and one round of .357‑Mag calibre CBC ammunition found at his home on the same date. Kennedy was additionally charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Garda Detective David Kiely arrested Yeung at Orchard Lane, Clondalkin, and later cautioned him; he had no comment. Kennedy was cautioned after being arrested at South Earl Street, Dublin 8. Both men were remanded in custody to appear again on 20 September 2013, when bail and legal aid applications are expected.