Derek Byrne, 40, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court to eight years and six months in prison for facilitating the attempted murder of Noel Boylan. The court found Byrne guilty of participating in the activities of a criminal organisation with the intention of facilitating the offence, which occurred between May 27 and June 1, 2019. He was identified on CCTV footage purchasing the Toyota Avensis used to transport the gunman. The judge noted that the shooting only became an attempted murder because the weapon jammed. Byrne, who has a history of drug abuse and 78 previous convictions, was already serving a seven-and-a-half-year sentence for unlawful possession of a firearm, having been in custody since December 3, 2019. The new sentence includes a suspended portion of 12 months for three years, conditional on engaging with probation services. The court determined the new sentence should run concurrently with the existing one. Separately, Alan Graham, 51, was previously jailed for 10 years after pleading guilty to facilitating the attempted murder of Lee Boylan, Noel Boylan's son, in a related incident on March 6, 2019.
Google agreed to give Tánaiste Micheál Martin the names, email addresses and telephone numbers of accounts linked to defamatory "scam" adverts that used his image. The ads appeared on legitimate sites such as the Irish Times and Irish Independent and promoted a cryptocurrency scheme called "Immediate Edge." Martin, who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, had obtained court permission to sue Google Ireland Ltd and its parent Google LLC for the identity of those behind the ads. The High Court, hearing the case on Thursday, ordered Google to provide the requested information within 21 days, including details of any financial accounts or services used to pay for the ads and IP addresses from which the accounts were accessed. Google will notify account owners before disclosing the data and will not be liable for any incorrect information.
Derek Byrne, 40, of Swords, appeared before the Central Criminal Court at the sentence stage for his role in the attempted murder of Noel Boylan. Byrne pleaded guilty to intentionally facilitating a serious offence by a criminal organisation, specifically the attempted murder of Boylan between May 27 and June 1, 2019, with knowledge of the organisation's existence. He also admitted to participating in the activities of a criminal organisation during a pre-trial hearing. Prosecution counsel Sean Gillane SC noted that Byrne's guilty plea acknowledged his previous false statements to gardai regarding the purchase of a Toyota Avensis used by the gunman. The court heard that the shooter's weapon jammed while pursuing Boylan into a Lidl supermarket, where CCTV captured frightened shoppers, including children, running for cover. Boylan made a full recovery. Byrne, who has 78 previous convictions, is currently serving a seven-and-a-half-year sentence for unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol. His defence counsel, Giollaiosa O'Lideadha SC, highlighted Byrne's severe cocaine addiction and requested the court consider backdating the new sentence to his initial custody date. Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded Byrne in custody until next Monday, when he will be formally sentenced. Separately, Alan Graham, 51, was previously jailed for 10 years in 2021 after pleading guilty to facilitating the attempted murder of Lee Boylan, Noel's son, in a related incident on the same road in March 2019.
In a complaint under the Equal Status Act 2000, 64‑year‑old Elube Kapengule alleged that Tipperary County Council staff refused her emergency accommodation because of her race. She said she was laughed at, ridiculed and told to "go back to Malawi" when she sought housing on 9 December 2022. The council denied any racial discrimination, claiming she was ineligible for social housing due to less than five years of reckonable residency and that no staff laughed at her. Kapengule was directed to short‑term emergency accommodation under the Cold Weather Initiative and later to a Garda station where her immigration status was checked. She eventually left the council's office, slept outside, and sought help from the charity Doras Luimní. The Workplace Relations Commission found no evidence that her race was a factor and rejected her complaint.
The Special Criminal Court adjourned the sentence hearing for Sandra Hehir until January 29, remanding her on continuing bail until that date. Hehir, 56, of Limerick City, pleaded guilty in October to handling €124,055 in cash found in her attic, knowing or believing it was the proceeds of criminal conduct. Prosecution evidence described her as the sister of Christy Keane, identified as the patriarch of the Keane Organised Crime Group, and the mother of Warren Hehir. Sergeant Cathal O'Sullivan stated that gardai considered her a key facilitator in acquiring assets for Kilmurry Court, noting her financial accounts were not in line with her legitimate income from hairdressing and pensions. The court also heard that Warren Hehir (33) and his wife Vicky Hehir (30), both of Castleconnell, Co Limerick, had pleaded guilty to money laundering charges related to €59,000 spent on works at Kilmurry Court. Warren Hehir additionally pleaded guilty to handling a Rolex watch suspected to be criminal proceeds. While the source text mentions a previous sentencing date of January 22 for the Hehir couple, the current procedural stage for Sandra Hehir is an adjournment to January 29. No final sentence was imposed at this hearing.
During a major Garda operation in Limerick, Dermot McManus, a 53‑year‑old claimant of disability allowance, was found to have hidden €28,550 and £11,795 in cash inside socks and a jacket pocket at his home. McManus, who had no tax history and was unemployed, had paid off the mortgage on his house and had 22 prior convictions, including burglary of a solicitor's residence. He pleaded guilty to three money‑laundering charges relating to the cash and to handling a white Mercedes Sprinter van. The Special Criminal Court heard that the cash had been deposited and withdrawn from a credit‑union account, suggesting laundering activity. McManus's partner was charged with possession of the same cash but the charges were later dropped. The court remanded him on bail until January 22, 2024, when sentencing will occur.
In a historic hearing, the Court of Appeal's first all‑female panel—Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, Ms Justice Tara Burns and Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh—considered an appeal by John O'Donoghue, 54, who was convicted in November 2021 of assault causing serious harm and violent disorder at Bothar Buí, Rathkeale. O'Donoghue, jailed for ten years, argued that the prosecution failed to disclose a Garda notebook to the defence before the trial. The notebook, containing a description of the scene, was slid across the table by the prosecution while the Garda was giving evidence, a move described by Ms Justice Kennedy as "most unsatisfactory." O'Donoghue's counsel claimed the lack of disclosure prejudiced the defence, who had already cross‑examined witnesses. The panel noted the issue but, after hearing arguments from the State and the defence, said it would reserve its judgement on whether the conviction should be overturned. John O'Donoghue pleaded not guilty.
In a High Court case, Judith Dixon and Liam McLoughlin of Limerick argue that the Minister for Housing failed to commence a section of the 2007 Water Services Act that would allow an appeal against a local council's decision to acquire part of their property. The couple, who live in a protected structure at The Station House, Curraghbeg, claim that the council's notice to take charge of land at Blackabbey, Adare, infringes their constitutional right to appeal and threatens their privacy. They seek judicial review orders to quash the council's notice, declare the notice a breach of constitutional rights, and affirm that the Minister's failure to enact the relevant section denies them an appeal right. The case was granted permission to proceed by Ms Justice Niamh Hyland and is set to return to the High Court in January.
Vicky Hehir (30), also known as Victoria O'Halloran, of Bruach na Sionna, Castleconnell, Co Limerick and her husband Warren Hehir (33) of the same address appeared before the three-judge court for their sentence hearing today. Both pleaded guilty to one charge of money laundering in relation to the €59,000 for the works carried out at Kilmurry Court. The court heard that Warren Hehir didn't engage with gardai during his detention other than to answer one question in relation to renovations at Kilmurry Court, in which he said "I got the work done." Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, sitting with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge James Faughnan, remanded Warren Hehir in custody and Vicky Hehir on continuing bail until January 22 2024, when they will be sentenced. "The court takes a serious view of the offending of both defendants," added Mr Justice MacGrath. Sandra Hehir (54), with an address at Assumpta Park, Island road, Limerick City, pleaded guilty last month before the Special Criminal Court to laundering over one hundred thousand euro in crime cash at her home. The court heard that the property at Kilmurry Court was being purchased on behalf of Warren and Vicky Hehir. An order to freeze the couple's financial accounts in various institutions was sought on foot of the search and other items were found. The court heard that Warren Hehir has 54 previous convictions which include money laundering in the context of drug dealing, robbery, criminal damage and the possession of a firearm and ammunition. The matter was adjourned until January 22 2024.
A five‑star hotel in Limerick was ordered to pay €1,000 to a Traveller woman, Mary Jane Sheridan, after it refused her and her husband, Thomas Gammell, accommodation on their wedding night because they could not produce a credit card. Sheridan said she felt the staff were talking about refusing them and that the hotel would not make an exception on their wedding day. Gammell said the hotel would not accept a cash deposit and that his debit card was "no good". The hotel, Labarre Ltd trading as the Savoy Hotel, denied the complaints but the Workplace Relations Commission upheld Sheridan's claim under the Equal Status Act 2000. The tribunal has not yet published a decision on Gammell's complaint. The hotel argued the credit‑card requirement was unrelated to Traveller status, but the adjudicator found the policy was not appropriate or necessary and that the hotel had indirectly discriminated against Sheridan.
In a High Court hearing on 14 November 2023, Justice Eileen Roberts appointed Joseph Walsh of JW Accountants as interim examiner to a group of restaurant companies linked to the award‑winning Cornstore Restaurants and Coqbull outlets in Cork and Limerick. The companies—Keep it Real Holdings DAC, Rosewalk Ltd, Coal Quay Restaurants Ltd, Winstore Restaurants Ltd, Burgerchick Cork Ltd, Burgerchick Limerick Ltd and Burgerchick Castletroy Ltd—were found insolvent and unable to meet a €26.74 million debt owed to the Sweden‑based Proventus Capital Partners III KB fund. The court noted that the difficulties stemmed from the poor performance of related UK‑based group companies, which had been hit hard by Covid‑19 and had failed to service the debt since December 2022.
Patrick Shanahan, 76, of Cooga, Doon, Co Limerick, remains in prison after the Court of Appeal upheld his 11‑year sentence. He was convicted in July 2022 by a unanimous jury at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court on 14 counts of sexually assaulting his granddaughters Daria and Tara Tobin between 2010 and 2014. The abuse included rubbing the girls' vaginas and later finger and tongue penetration when they were aged 10 to 14. The assaults occurred in Shanahan's home, on nearby land and in his van. Shanahan appealed on grounds of delay and alleged inconsistencies in one complaint, arguing that evidence of how the abuse was disclosed should not have been admitted. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh, found that the complaint met all admissibility conditions, that the delay was justified by the girls' psychological state, and that the evidence was consistent. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed and Shanahan will continue to serve his sentence. Patrick Shanahan pleaded not guilty.
A 57‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to nine and a half years in prison after a Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of five counts of rape of his wife, committed in their family home and a holiday home in 2006 and 2018. He was acquitted of three other rape counts and a ninth count was not agreed upon. The judge described the offences as a fundamental breach of trust and bodily integrity, noting that the rapes occurred while their children were present, sometimes with a baby in the bedroom. The victim, whose identity is protected, said the husband abused her under the "guise of Catholic entitlements," controlling her and denying any wrongdoing. She testified that she had been isolated and felt worthless, and that the abuse escalated when she prioritized their children's needs.
Alex Almajanu, 23, received a fully suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to endangerment, two breaches of Covid regulations, dangerous driving, not holding a driver's license, and criminal damage on the basis of recklessness committed on April 25, 2020. The offences involved fleeing a checkpoint in County Clare and subsequently leading gardaí on a high-speed chase across the midlands, which included driving at 200 km/hr and causing over €13,000 in damage to a patrol car. Judge Orla Crowe described the conduct as "deplorable" and noted that public resources were expended during a national crisis. While acknowledging the defendant's mitigation, including his recovery from drug addiction and role as a father, the judge stated the offences warranted a headline sentence of three years. She imposed a sentence of two years and three months, suspending the entire term for three years on the condition that Almajanu engage with the Probation Service for 12 months. Additionally, he was disqualified from driving for five years. Defence counsel highlighted that the defendant was under the influence of drugs at the time but is now drug-free and caring for his infant daughter.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by Graham Daly, a teacher from Clonree, Newport, Co Tipperary, who was found guilty by a jury of seven counts of raping and sexually abusing his younger brother between January 1998 and December 2002. Daly, who was jailed for eight and a half years in January 2022, argued that the trial judge erred in restricting his cross-examination of the complainant regarding sexual history and in admitting evidence from a cousin, Mr C. The complainant, Thomas Daly, waived anonymity to allow his brother to be named. In its decision, the Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, affirmed that while accused persons have fair trial rights, complainants also possess rights to privacy regarding their sexuality. The court ruled that cross-examination cannot be used to "pry unnecessarily" into a complainant's personal life. Regarding the second ground of appeal, the court found no unfairness in admitting Mr C's statements, which included allegations that Daly asked how much it would cost to hurt the complainant or his father. The judges determined these were admissible declarations against interest and directly relevant. The appeal was dismissed, upholding the original conviction and sentence.
Two Limerick brothers, aged 29 and 28, were convicted in November 2021 of raping a 14‑year‑old girl and sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment. The younger brother also received an eight‑year sentence for sexual assault, to run concurrently. Both denied the rape, claiming the girl was 16 and that they were victims. The trial took place at the Central Criminal Court. The appeal, heard by Mr Justice John Edwards, was dismissed. The judge upheld the original convictions, noting that the jury had been properly instructed that questions asked of the accused were not evidence. The appeal argued that a re‑charge was too late and insufficiently specific, but the court found no procedural error. The case remains at the conviction stage, with no change to the sentences or the status of the charges. The unnamed 14-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Patrick Shanahan, 76, a pensioner from Cooga, Doon, Co Limerick, was convicted in 2022 by a unanimous jury at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court on 14 counts of sexually assaulting his granddaughters Daria and Tara Tobin between 2010 and 2014. The abuse involved rubbing the girls' vaginas and later vaginal penetration by finger and tongue when they were aged 10 to 14. The assaults occurred in Shanahan's home, on nearby land and in his van. Shanahan appealed today on the Court of Appeal, arguing that the delay between the offences and the girls' complaints, inconsistencies in one complaint, and the admissibility of the aunt's evidence should have been challenged. He contended that the aunt's questioning was leading and that the complaint was not made at the first reasonable opportunity. The court has reserved judgment on the appeal. Patrick Shanahan pleaded not guilty.
Tony McInerney, the appellant, appeared before the Central Criminal Court at a sentence hearing for offences committed in January 2020. McInerney, who the court heard was the leader of a large drug network in Co Clare, pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Daniel Harty Junior, intentionally or recklessly discharging a firearm, and making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to Harty Junior. The court heard that McInerney was initially jailed for 12 years for running a "cocaine factory" in 2020, a sentence later reduced to ten years by the Court of Appeal. During the current proceedings, Detective Sergeant Kevin O'Hagan detailed how McInerney and another man fired shots at Harty Junior during a music festival in Sixmilebridge, injuring an innocent bystander in the buttocks. McInerney was arrested in 2021 and has 13 previous convictions, including possession of explosives. Defence counsel Michael Collins SC submitted that McInerney had pleaded guilty early and apologized to society. Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded McInerney in custody until next Monday, when he will be sentenced.
Mr Sean Ambrose, who suffered severe head injuries after an unprovoked attack outside a pub in August 2015, has brought a judicial review against the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal. He argues the Tribunal wrongly held that it could not assess his claim, citing that it failed to allow him to provide necessary documentation and denied him an appeal. Mr Ambrose claims the Tribunal breached his rights to fair and constitutional procedures and legitimate expectation, and that he was a vulnerable person who needed assistance to submit paperwork. He also contends the Tribunal ignored medical evidence of his difficulties. He seeks orders to quash the Tribunal's determinations, to allow an appeal, and to remit his claim for fresh consideration. The case was granted permission by Ms Justice Niamh Hyland and will return in November.
Sandra Hehir, 54, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to a charge of handling €124,055 in cash, allegedly proceeds of criminal conduct, at her Limerick home on June 17, 2020. Prosecutors indicated five other counts could be taken into consideration, with three facing nolle prosequi. Defense counsel requested time to produce references and noted that two co-accused, Vicky Hehir and Warren Hehir, had previously pleaded guilty to related money laundering charges involving €59,000 linked to works at Kilmurry Court, Limerick. Vicky Hehir admitted to one charge of money laundering regarding these works, while Warren Hehir admitted to handling the €59,000 and possessing a Rolex watch, allegedly proceeds of crime. The co-accused are listed for mention on October 23 to fix a sentence hearing. To allow for a potential undertaking regarding family members, defense counsel requested a separate sentence date for Sandra Hehir. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath with Ms Justice Sarah Berkeley and Mr Justice James Faughnan, agreed to list her case for mention on October 31 to fix a sentence hearing. The matter was adjourned, and Sandra Hehir was remanded on bail on the same terms and conditions.
The Central Criminal Court will hear the murder trial of 32‑year‑old Jozef Puska, accused of killing 23‑year‑old schoolteacher Ashling Murphy on 12 January 2022 in Cappincur, Tullamore. Puska, who lives at Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly, is represented by Michael Bowman SC. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, will preside. Once the jury is empaneled, the trial is expected to last about four weeks. Murphy, a recent graduate of Mary Immaculate College, was jogging beside the Grand Canal when she was allegedly fatally assaulted.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Vicky Hehir (30) and Warren Hehir (33) pleaded guilty to money‑laundering offences linked to €59,000 spent on renovations at Kilmurry Court, Garryowen, Limerick, between 8 August 2019 and 17 June 2020. Warren was charged with possessing, using, converting, transferring or handling cash of that value, knowing or recklessly believing it to be proceeds of crime, and with handling a Rolex watch on 17 June 2020 under similar circumstances. He pleaded guilty to both charges. Vicky pleaded guilty to the single charge concerning the €59,000. The court adjourned the case to 2 October for report production before sentencing. A third person, Warren's mother Sandra Hehir (54), is also charged with multiple money‑laundering offences; her barrister has requested the court to revisit her case on 19 September.
In a Court of Appeal decision on 28 July 2023, the €25,000 fine imposed on Palfinger Ireland Ltd for health and safety breaches related to a crane incident that caused the drowning of two stonemasons was upheld as not unduly lenient. The incident, which occurred on 29 August 2015 on the Thomond Bridge, involved a steel cage that fell into the River Shannon, killing Bryan Whelan (29) and TJ O'Herlihy (36). A third worker, Paul Murphy, survived. Palfinger supplied the crane to Nationwide Crane Hire, which was fined €200,000 for similar breaches. The Court of Appeal rejected the State's argument that the fine was too low, noting that the sentencing judge had considered aggravating factors and the long period of safe operation of the crane. The appeal was dismissed, confirming the fine as appropriate under the 1993 Act.
Jonathan Duke, 27, strangled at Bridge House, Bandon, on 12 November 2011, had his body moved downstairs, trussed with an electrical cord and thrown into the River Bandon. A day earlier, 42‑year‑old John Forrester had been killed in the same building and his body also disposed of in the river. Duke, a father‑of‑one, was visiting Forrester's murderers when he learned of the previous day's killing. Catherine O'Connor, former girlfriend of the victims, is serving life for both murders. Her boyfriend, Ciprian Grozavu, 49, denied murdering both men and was tried separately. Grozavu was found guilty of both murders and sentenced to life, but his murder conviction was quashed on appeal and he was retried in 2021. He was acquitted of murder but found guilty of two counts of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of another.
A Limerick man has been sentenced to seven and a half years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, by the Special Criminal Court for assisting the McCarthy-Dundon organised crime group in the attempted murder of drug dealer Christy Keane in June 2015. Noel Price, aged 45, of Kileely Road, Limerick, pleaded guilty to making a vehicle available to the criminal organisation with knowledge of its intended use. The court heard that Price travelled to Dublin with a senior member of the gang, collected a white Volvo, and drove it back to Limerick in convoy. The vehicle was later used as a getaway car following the shooting of Keane at the University of Limerick, where he sustained three gunshot wounds but survived. Presiding Judge Alexander Owens noted Price's extensive criminal history and applied a 25 per cent reduction to the headline ten-year sentence to account for his guilty plea and addiction issues. Price has been in custody since his charging in June 2020.
In July 2023 the Court of Appeal quashed the conviction of a 73‑year‑old Limerick pensioner who had been sentenced to seven years' imprisonment in 2022 for indecently assaulting his two nieces in the 1980s. The appeal was based on the admission of rebuttal evidence from the first complainant's husband, which the court held was not properly excluded. The judge ruled that the evidence supported the complainant's credibility and that the original trial had erred in its discretion. The appeal covered all three counts of indecent assault, which had been heard together, and the court therefore quashed the entire conviction. The case had involved allegations of sexual assault in the accused's family home, with the first assault alleged to have occurred between May 1986 and October 1987, and the second and third between May 1987 and May 1989. The pensioner had pleaded not guilty to all charges. The Court of Appeal's decision was delivered by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy.
School Food 4 Primary Ltd, a Limerick‑based provider of hot meals for schools, has filed a High Court challenge against An Garda Siochana's refusal to list it as a 'relevant organisation' under the 2012 National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act. The company argues that its application to the Garda National Vetting Bureau was denied on grounds it finds legally incoherent. It claims that the current interpretation requires schools to vet the company's employees, meaning any employee who fails a school vetting process cannot be employed by the firm, yet the company is not informed of the reasons for the failure. This situation, the firm says, is unworkable and hampers its ability to hire and grow, as it plans to add 200 staff over five years. Represented by Stephen Walsh BL, the company seeks orders directing the Garda Commissioner to register it as a relevant organisation, thereby allowing it to vet its own employees.
Larry O'Connor has failed in his appeal against his conviction for shooting at his cousin's house. The 40-year-old, of Ballykisteen, County Tipperary, was convicted by a jury on all six counts, including recklessly discharging a firearm, possession of a firearm and ammunition, aggravated burglary, and criminal damage, after pleading not guilty. He was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment in May 2022. O'Connor appealed on the ground that the trial judge erred in permitting prejudicial background evidence regarding a supposed feud. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, dismissed the application, stating the court was not persuaded the trial was unsatisfactory or the verdict unsafe. The court noted that motive is circumstantial evidence for the jury to weigh, especially where witnesses were well acquainted with the accused. During the incident in July 2019, O'Connor fired four shots into the home of his cousin, Danny Harty, where Harty, his partner, and infant twins were sleeping. His brother, Daniel O'Connor, of Limerick, who drove him to the scene, pleaded guilty to burglary with intent to commit reckless discharge of a firearm. Daniel O'Connor was jailed for seven years, with the final year suspended. The matter was not adjourned; the appeal was dismissed.
In 2022, Palfinger Ireland Ltd was fined €25,000 for health and safety breaches after a crane supplied by the company was used in an incident that caused the drowning of two stonemasons, Bryan Whelan (29) and TJ O'Herlihy (36), on the River Shannon in 2015. The incident involved a steel cage that fell into the water, and a safety mechanism on the crane failed. The fine was imposed by Limerick Circuit Court, which had unlimited fine jurisdiction. Nationwide Crane Hire Ltd, the operator of the crane, was fined €200,000 for similar breaches. The Court of Appeal heard arguments that the fine for Palfinger was too low, with the Director of Public Prosecutions claiming the sentencing judge erred in not setting a higher headline fine and in treating the missing manual chapter as a mitigating factor. The appeal was reserved for a later decision.
Dumitru Sehleanu, a van driver, won €15,000 in compensation from Cordelia Foods Ltd following a Workplace Relations Commission hearing. The adjudicator found that the company committed longstanding breaches of the Organisation of Working Time Act, specifically regarding excessive hours and lack of breaks. Mr. Sehleanu alleged he worked 12 to 13-hour days, driving 600km to 900km routes, and was forced to urinate in a bottle due to the inability to take rest periods. The adjudicator accepted this evidence, awarding €7,500 for rest period violations and a further €7,500 for exceeding weekly maximum hours between May and August 2020. However, Mr. Sehleanu's claims for constructive dismissal under the Unfair Dismissals Act, penalisation under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, and a National Minimum Wage Act complaint were all rejected. The adjudicator ruled that while the working time breaches were significant, they did not constitute a repudiatory breach of contract because Mr. Sehleanu resigned without first raising the issues with his employer. The minimum wage claim failed due to procedural non-compliance. The total award was €15,000. Mr. Sehleanu has since secured new employment as a firefighter in Bray.
A 53‑year‑old Limerick man, Dermot McManus, pleaded guilty to three money‑laundering offences. He admitted handling €28,550 and £11,795 in cash on 17 June 2020, knowing or recklessly ignoring whether the money was criminal proceeds. Between 1 January 2018 and 17 June 2020 he used money credited to an account in his own name at the Limerick and District Credit Union, again recklessly ignoring its source. He also admitted handling a white Mercedes Sprinter van from 2 June 2020 to 23 May 2021. The case is adjourned to 16 October for sentencing, and his curfew bail condition has been lifted. His partner, Terese Halpin, 50, was charged with possession of the same cash and allowing a Permanent TSB account to be used for the proceeds of crime; those charges were dropped after a nolle prosequi was entered.
In a High Court settlement, a mother used Google to diagnose her six‑year‑old son, Padraic O'Callaghan, with Kawasaki disease before doctors did, leading to a claim of medical negligence against the HSE. Padraic, from Kilmeedy, Co. Limerick, was first admitted to University Hospital Limerick in November 2016 at six weeks old with cough, vomiting and fever. He was discharged twice with a diagnosis of viral respiratory infection, then readmitted when a rash appeared. After further tests, doctors suspected viral meningitis but did not diagnose Kawasaki disease until weeks later, when the mother's online research prompted a discussion. The delayed diagnosis allegedly caused life‑changing complications, including severe cardiac issues, a high risk of brain bleed, and lifelong blood‑thinning medication. The court approved an interim payment of €570,000 as part of the settlement, with no admission of liability, and the case will return in five years.
In a High Court application, John and Mary Lyons, who run 'The Hungry Lyons' fast‑food restaurant on Limerick's Ennis Road, allege that Supermac's founder Pat McDonagh is attempting to destroy their business. The couple claim that the premises, owned by Supermacs Ireland Ltd, is leased to them under a 20‑year agreement secured in 2018 that includes a non‑compete clause preventing the landlord from assigning or sub‑letting the adjoining Funworld property to any fast‑food operator. They contend that Supermac's and Mr McDonagh have breached this clause by installing cooking and storage facilities at Funworld and selling fast food from there, including advertising children's birthday parties with Supermac's food. The Lyons seek injunctions to stop the defendants from selling fast food and from letting the property to other fast‑food operators, pending the full hearing. The defendants deny any breach of the lease or planning regulations.
Edward Riordan, a 73‑year‑old truck driver, told the Workplace Relations Commission that he defecated in a Flextronics loading bay during an urgent diarrhoea episode and did not report it because he thought the waste would wash away in a thunderstorm. He claimed the incident was caused by a peptic ulcer and that his former employer, All Star Logistics Ltd, discriminated against him on age and disability grounds by hiring a younger driver, cutting his hours and dismissing him after the incident. The company denied discrimination, arguing that the stool found was solid and inconsistent with diarrhoea, and that Riordan's failure to clean up or report the matter constituted gross misconduct. The tribunal heard that Riordan was identified on CCTV, admitted responsibility, and that the company had suspended him before formally addressing the issue. Adjudicating officer Ewa Sobanska will issue a decision in writing.
Noel Price, 44, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to facilitating the attempted murder of Christy Keane by making a vehicle available to the McCarthy-Dundon criminal organisation. The offence is alleged to have occurred between June 27 and June 29, 2015. Price admitted to assisting the organisation with the intention of facilitating the commission of the attempted murder. The matter was adjourned to July 25 for sentencing, with the court directing that Price be produced on that date. In a related development, John Costello, 41, was sentenced for providing transport to persons involved in an assault causing serious harm to Keane on June 29, 2015. Costello had previously pleaded guilty to this charge. Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed a sentence of four years and six months, backdated to when Costello entered prison. The judge suspended the remaining portion of the sentence for four years, conditional on Costello being of good behaviour and keeping the peace. The court noted a humanitarian situation in Costello's case, offering him an opportunity to turn away from crime. Keane, who survived the 2015 shooting at the University of Limerick, was not expected to furnish a Victim Impact Statement but could be invited to make one.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 12 June 2023, a 25‑year‑old former male model, Utseoritselaju Uwatse, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for raping a fellow college student. The victim, who waived anonymity, testified that the offence occurred after a night out in Limerick following a student‑village celebration. CCTV showed Uwatse and the victim hugging before she was taken to a bedroom where he forced sex, claiming it was consensual. She reported that he asked if she was on the pill and that the condom broke. Uwatse was arrested in June 2018 and denied the allegations. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Burns, imposed a headline sentence of four years, noting Uwatse's lack of prior convictions and his "promising future." The court heard the victim's impact statement describing the lasting damage and her feelings of guilt. Uwatse's defence highlighted his background, cooperation with Gardaí, and lack of family in Ireland. The sentence was accepted by the court.
Inita Romanovska, 36, was due before the Central Criminal Court for a sentencing hearing after pleading guilty to attempting to cause serious harm to Stephen O'Flaherty, whom she met on Tinder. The alleged incident occurred on 11 March 2020 at an apartment complex on Henry St, Limerick. Romanovska, residing at Cahercalla, Kilrush Road, Ennis, Co Clare, had originally been charged with attempting to murder O'Flaherty. Her lawyer, Michael Bowman SC, confirmed she did not attend the hearing and was unreachable by phone. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon issued a bench warrant and postponed the sentencing hearing.
A new trial date of 31 October 2023 has been set for the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing of former Garda David Bourke (52) of Main Street, Oola, Co. Limerick, and Limerick businessman Stephen O'Sullivan (41) of Farrehy, Broadford, Co. Limerick. Both pleaded not guilty to corruption counts at Bruree on 22 December 2018. Judge Patricia Ryan, after a pre‑trial hearing focused on disclosure issues, fixed the new date.
A notorious Limerick criminal, Gerard Mackin, has been jailed for three-and-a-half years after being convicted of laundering €4,780 as the proceeds of criminal behaviour at Rhebogue Road in Limerick on April 17, 2019. He also admitted to knowingly or recklessly handling, acquiring, and possessing the said property contrary to Section 7 of the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act of 2010. The court heard that Mackin, who has a previous conviction for assault causing harm, was extradited from Spain and pleaded guilty to the charges. The judge noted that the sum of money was at the lower end of the scale but emphasized the seriousness of the circumstances. The sentence was backdated to December 5, 2022, when Mackin first went into custody. In mitigation, the court was informed that Mackin had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and intended to turn his life around upon release. He plans to return to Spain with his family and has taken steps to address past issues, including having an implant inserted in 2020 to deal with alcoholism. The matter was adjourned following the sentence.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, John Costello, a 41‑year‑old Limerick resident, was released on humanitarian grounds after serving part of a four‑year‑six‑month sentence for acting as a getaway driver in the 2015 shooting of drug dealer Christy Keane. Judge Tony Hunt cited "highly relevant personal circumstances" involving a child and significant responsibilities, and suspended the remaining portion of Costello's sentence for four years on the condition of good behaviour. Costello had pleaded guilty to providing transport to individuals allegedly involved in an assault causing serious harm to Keane, a charge stemming from the infamous Limerick feud. The judge noted Costello's early guilty plea and his reluctance to participate, but acknowledged he had been directed by a higher‑ranking individual to assist the shooters. The court warned that if Costello is re‑arrested, he must serve the remainder of his sentence.
In a decision by the Workplace Relations Commission, Alan Collins, owner of the Tile & Wood Factory Outlet in Limerick, was ordered to pay his estranged wife Michelle Collins €20,000 for unfair dismissal. Collins had terminated Michelle's employment in 2021 after she had been on sick leave in 2020 and had allegedly used a company credit card without consultation and spoken about their divorce to staff and customers. Michelle claimed she was bullied out of the shop floor and that her husband had brought their personal life into the workplace. The tribunal found that Michelle had been treated as an employee at all material times, that no proper disciplinary investigation had taken place, and that her dismissal violated the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. Consequently, the commission awarded her compensation for the unlawful termination.
The Central Criminal Court trial of 32‑year‑old Jozef Puska, accused of murdering 23‑year‑old teacher Ashling Murphy in Offaly, has been postponed to the autumn. Puska, who lives in Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, was charged with the fatal assault that occurred on 12 January 2022 while Murphy was jogging along the Grand Canal near Tullamore. The trial, originally scheduled for 7 June, was delayed after the State received an expert report from the defence and the prosecution needed time to respond and obtain a further report. Prosecutor Ms Anne Marie Lawlor SC requested the June date be vacated and the case be listed for the first day of the Michaelmas term on 2 October. The judge set a new trial date of 2 October 2023 and agreed to renew an application for a Slovakian interpreter. The case will be mentioned again on 21 July for a pre‑trial management hearing.
The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction of a 76‑year‑old pensioner who was sentenced in June 2021 to six years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, for sexually abusing three of his granddaughters over a period of more than five years. The appeal argued that there was no evidence to justify the time gap between the offences and the complaints made by the girls. The court found that the first granddaughter had complained to her teacher in January 2014 and to Gardaí in 2016, while the third girl had confided in a school friend in 2016. The appeal was dismissed on the basis that intrafamilial abuse can delay complaints and that the evidence of the complaints was admissible. The judge noted that the delay did not render the evidence inadmissible and that the girls' testimony was consistent with their earlier complaints. The appeal was therefore rejected. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
In a Workplace Relations Commission hearing, Michael Cowhey, 76, claimed he was unfairly dismissed from the Limerick Leader when the paper laid him off in March 2020. Cowhey says he was hired in 2008 as a freelancer to run the photo department for €40,000 a year, a figure the publisher, Formpress Publishing Ltd, argues was a retainer, not a salary. He asserts that he was given a desk, computer, and a fixed schedule, and that he managed other photographers and freelancers. Cowhey's legal team argues that the nature of his work and the fixed hours made him an employee under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. The publisher's solicitor counters that Cowhey declared himself self‑employed in tax returns and worked for other clients, and that the complaint may have missed the six‑month statutory window. The adjudicator, Kara Turner, will issue a decision in due course.
Eoin Considine, a 24‑year‑old Limerick law graduate, was sentenced to four years in prison for raping a woman after they had engaged in consensual sex. The incident occurred on 11 August 2019 when the couple, who had met in a pub that evening, went to the woman's home. She reported that Considine began pulling her hair, striking her head, and later choking and pinning her down. She withdrew consent and begged him to stop, but he continued sexual penetration for about 90 seconds. Considine pleaded not guilty and denied rape, but was convicted in January. The judge noted the lack of a guilty plea or remorse, set a headline sentence of four and a half years, and imposed a four‑year custodial term with 18 months of post‑release supervision. The victim's impact statement described bruising, bleeding, loss of safety in her own bedroom, and suicidal thoughts. No contact with the victim is allowed.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Nathan O'Neill, aged 24, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for the manslaughter of Jamie Higgins, who was stabbed five times in a nightclub fight in Shannon on 18 March 2018. O'Neill had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter and to causing serious harm to Michael Shannon, for which he received a seven‑year sentence. Both sentences run concurrently and are back‑dated to 1 April 2022. The judge noted O'Neill's prior convictions for threatening to kill, possession of a knife and criminal damage, and his earlier guilty plea and cooperation with Gardaí, which led to a reduction from the headline 14‑year sentence. O'Neill admitted the knife was taken from a car after an earlier altercation and that he feared further violence. The court heard victim impact statements from Higgins's family, describing the profound loss and the family's grief. O'Neill expressed remorse and apologised to the family.
In a 2023 decision by the Workplace Relations Commission, a security guard's claim of racial abuse against a shopping centre manager was dismissed. The guard, Younis Sarwari, alleged that the manager told him, "you look like a monkey," while asking him to remove his hands from his pockets. The manager, who has a 39‑year career, maintained that his words were simply a reminder of security policy and that he had never been accused of misconduct. Evidence from a fellow worker, who also heard the remark, was deemed unreliable, and CCTV footage was cited as lacking audio and clarity. The tribunal found the guard's evidence unpersuasive and concluded that no direct discrimination had been established, thereby rejecting the complaint. The decision was upheld on appeal.
A 34‑year‑old Limerick man, Richard Treacy, was charged at the Special Criminal Court with an alleged money‑laundering offence linked to renovation work at his home. The charge alleges that between 1 January 2014 and 12 January 2021, Treacy either knew or was reckless about whether the renovation work was funded by proceeds of criminal conduct, and that he concealed the true source of the property. The offence contravenes Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010. Treacy was arrested on a warrant issued by the Special Criminal Court and presented to the court in the Criminal Courts of Justice building on Parkgate Street, Dublin. He was charged before a three‑judge, non‑jury court, and Mr Justice Tony Hunt ordered that he be tried before the court.
Adrian Heller, a worker at Floortech Industries Ltd, claimed he was unfairly dismissed for gross misconduct after throwing a helmet at a colleague. He said the incident occurred on a Thursday in 2021 at a Limerick client site, after a resin mix error forced a floor to be re‑laid. Heller argued the act was a one‑off frustration and not gross misconduct, citing a stressful job and a supervisor's threat to report him. The company, represented by Hallisey & Partners, presented evidence of aggressive, intimidating behaviour, including a hotel incident in Galway and a prior warning in 2019. The Workplace Relations Commission found the dismissal procedurally unfair, noting no written complaint, no right of reply, and an ambush disciplinary meeting. The adjudicating officer awarded Heller €2,500 in compensation, comprising €1,211.20 for lost earnings and €1,360 for two weeks' notice pay. The dismissal was deemed substantively fair but procedurally flawed.
A Workplace Relations Commission adjudicating officer has dismissed a discrimination and victimisation claim brought by racecourse bookmaker Jim Desmond against the Association of Irish Racecourses CLG (AIR). Mr Desmond alleged that the operator of Mallow Racecourse refused him access to a tent during wet weather on 31 October 2021, a restriction he described as "apartheid Irish style." He claimed this constituted a "man-made discriminatory rule" imposed by AIR, arguing that other betting operators were allowed indoor facilities while on-course bookmakers were not. Mr Desmond, who stated he had attended Mallow meetings for 70 years, sought improved facilities rather than financial recompense and later attempted to progress the claim on the grounds of disability, citing compromised mobility. However, he acknowledged he had not specified a protected characteristic in his initial statutory notification. AIR chairman Paddy Walsh responded that the association had no role in designing betting rings and that Mr Desmond had failed to link his complaint to prescribed grounds. Adjudicating officer Patsy Doyle found that Mr Desmond did not have a protected disability and had not been refused service by AIR, as he paid the racecourse directly for his pitch. She determined there was no less favourable treatment by AIR and that the matter was a commercial dispute. While noting Mr Desmond acted in genuine belief, she concluded he was "mistaken" in his claim for victimisation.