Paul Coffey, a 46‑year‑old Limerick resident with 100 prior convictions, was sentenced to five years in prison for the reckless discharge of a firearm and possession of a firearm in circumstances suggesting it was not for a lawful purpose. He pleaded guilty in March to the offence of discharging a firearm recklessly and to possession of a firearm in circumstances implying unlawful possession. The Central Criminal Court, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Burns, imposed a headline sentence of nine years, but reduced it to six years with the final 12 months suspended for three years in respect of the possession charge. The judge also sentenced Coffey to three years for the reckless discharge offence, to run concurrently. Coffey's sentence will be back‑dated to August 2021, when he first entered custody. He will be required to work with the probation services and keep the peace upon release.
In March 2023 the Court of Appeal dismissed Mark Crawford's appeal against his murder conviction for stabbing Patrick 'Pa' O'Connor to death in a Limerick bar. Crawford, 45, had been drinking and taking cocaine with O'Connor, 24, when he stabbed him six times, striking the heart and neck. He pleaded not guilty, claiming self‑defence, but the jury rejected this defence and he was convicted in October 2020, receiving a mandatory life sentence. Crawford's lawyers argued that the trial judge had failed to give the jury proper instructions on self‑defence, particularly on the subjective belief of threat and the objective reasonableness of force. The Court of Appeal found the judge's charge was detailed and appropriate, and that the evidence did not support a claim of a serious deficiency. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed and the murder conviction upheld.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, it was reported that convicted drug dealer Christy Keane was shot 13 times on 29 June 2015 while parked at the University of Limerick gym. Two gunmen from the McCarthy‑Ryan gang fired eight shots from a Glock and five from a Luger semi‑automatic pistol. A nurse who was running nearby witnessed the attack and provided immediate medical assistance, treating four non‑life‑threatening wounds, including a lung puncture. The attackers fled in a red Ford Focus, later found burned out, and a white Volvo and black BMW were involved in transporting them. John Costello, aged 41, was charged with providing transport to the shooters and pleaded guilty to aiding an assault causing serious harm. The case was delayed over five years due to a separate Garda prosecution. Costello was remanded in custody pending sentencing.
Gerard Mackin, 40, pleaded guilty to laundering €4,780 as proceeds of criminal conduct at Rhebogue Road, Limerick, on April 17, 2019, contrary to Section 7 of the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act 2010. The Special Criminal Court heard that Mackin, who was extradited from Spain in December 2022, admitted to handling the cash, which prosecution counsel stated was not a legitimate deposit but crime proceeds. Defence counsel Ronan Kennedy SC submitted that Mackin accepted he had made poor choices, has never met his infant son due to his custody, and intends to return to Spain to rebuild his life. The court noted his previous conviction in March 2016, where he was jailed for three years for a 'depraved and barbaric' assault involving a nail-gun. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Alan Mitchell, remanded Mackin in custody until May 19, when he will be sentenced. The matter was adjourned for sentencing and is not yet concluded.
In a case heard by the Court of Appeal, William Lyons, aged 49, was found to have led a group of 11 men in a pre‑meditated invasion of a family home in Caherconlish, Co. Limerick, on 17 February 2021. Lyons and two others entered the house, armed with pitchforks and hurleys, and threatened to kill the resident woman. The incident caused a child to be injured by shattered glass. Lyons had pleaded guilty to burglary, making a threat to kill and violent disorder. The original sentencing judge had imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year term, with a final year suspended. The State appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal quashed the original sentence and imposed a four‑year imprisonment term, with no portion suspended, citing Lyons' role as leader and the seriousness of the offence.
Paul Coffey, a 46‑year‑old Limerick resident with 100 prior convictions, was charged with discharging a firearm in 2021 after a shotgun fired accidentally while he was removing it from a car. The incident injured his friend Alan Murphy, who sustained superficial abdominal wounds and was treated at Limerick University Hospital. Coffey had originally faced an attempted murder charge for an incident on 11 June 2020, but the Director of Public Prosecutions dropped that charge and accepted a plea of guilty to discharging a firearm and possession of a firearm. The offence carries a maximum of 14 years, with a headline sentence of seven to ten years. Coffey's sentencing is scheduled for 18 April. He has a history of drug misuse and was the getaway driver in the 2000 gang‑related murder of Eddie Ryan, for which he received 15 years, seven of which were suspended.
Michael Small, a 56‑year‑old former solicitor from Galway, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for deception and false accounting offences that occurred between 2008 and 2009. While practising in Limerick, Small gave undertakings to a mortgage lender that the loan proceeds would be used to purchase specific properties. The money was drawn into an account, but the properties were never bought. Small admitted the money was dispersed to clients, mortgage brokers and other parties, and that he had misled his accountant. He pleaded guilty and cooperated with investigators. The court noted that although Small did not receive a large personal benefit – €88,000 was attributed to him – he was the principal cause of the offences. The judge accepted his guilty pleas and cooperation, and ordered the sentence to be adjourned for custody. The case was investigated by the Law Society and Gardaí after Small self‑reported a "secret client account.".
Larry O'Connor, aged 40, was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment in May 2022 after a two‑week trial in which he was convicted of recklessly discharging a firearm, possession of a firearm and ammunition, aggravated burglary and criminal damage. The offence involved firing four shots from a pump‑action shotgun into the home of his first cousin, Danny Harty, where infant twins were sleeping. O'Connor fired two shots from outside the house, then entered and fired two more shots, striking a kitchen fridge, a window and a ceiling. He was found to have acted without a feud or "bad feeling" between the cousins, a point he raised on appeal. The Court of Appeal heard arguments about the use of the term "bad feeling" and the relevance of alleged animosity, but no judgment was issued. Daniel O'Connor, his brother, received a seven‑year sentence with the final year suspended for burglary. The appeal remains pending. Daniel O'Connor pleaded guilty.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 20 March 2023, the State successfully appealed the sentence imposed on William Lyons, a 49‑year‑old from Limerick, for his role in a "vigilante mob" attack on a woman in Caherconlish on 17 February 2021. Lyons and three others entered the victim's home with faces covered and weapons, threatening to kill her and causing damage to the property. He had pleaded guilty to burglary, making a threat to kill and violent disorder. The original sentencing court had imposed a headline sentence of five years, reduced to two‑and‑a‑half years after a discount of 18 months for the guilty plea and other mitigating factors, and suspended an additional year for rehabilitation. The Court of Appeal found this to be unduly lenient, noting the seriousness of the offence and the physical and psychological harm inflicted, and ordered a re‑sentencing hearing for 28 March 2023.
At a sentencing hearing on 13 March 2023, Sharon Higgins, mother of 19‑year‑old Jamie Higgins, spoke of the pain of knowing that his killer, Nathan O'Neill, had remained free for more than four years after the 2018 nightclub stabbing. Higgins described her son as a loving, generous father and expressed her ongoing grief and health struggles. O'Neill, aged 24, had been tried twice for murder, was acquitted on the first trial and found guilty of manslaughter and causing serious harm to Michael Shannon on the night of 18 March 2018. The court heard that O'Neill had previous convictions for knife possession, threatening a security guard and criminal damage. O'Neill admitted responsibility, expressed remorse, and said he would never forget the impact on the family. Judge Paul Burns adjourned sentencing until 24 April.
A man has pleaded guilty to money laundering before the Special Criminal Court following his extradition from Spain. Gerard Mackin (40), originally from west Belfast, admitted to handling €4,780 in proceeds of criminal conduct at Rhebogue Road, Limerick, on April 17, 2019. He was arrested at Dublin Airport in December last year under a European Arrest Warrant. Mackin pleaded guilty to one charge under the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act 2010. The three-judge court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Alan Mitchell, adjourned sentencing to March 30. The defendant's legal team requested a governor's report from Portlaoise Prison, which was granted. Mackin has previous convictions including a 2017 sentence for assault causing harm in Limerick.
Paul Coffey, 46, of Limerick, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to discharging a firearm and to possession of a firearm in circumstances that suggested it was not for lawful use, in connection with the shooting of Alan Murphy on 11 June 2020 at Long Pavement, Watch House Cross. He had previously been charged with attempted murder. The court was satisfied with the indictment counts and no victim impact statement was sought. A governor's report from Limerick Prison was ordered for his sentence hearing. Coffey was remanded in custody until 27 March for sentencing.
The Central Criminal Court has set a trial for 32‑year‑old Jozef Puska, accused of murdering 23‑year‑old school teacher Ashling Murphy in Offaly. The alleged killing occurred on 12 January 2022 when Ms Murphy was fatally assaulted while jogging along Fiona's Way, a stretch of the Grand Canal near Tullamore. Puska, who lives at Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, is charged with murder and will stand trial on 6 June. The court will reconvene on 31 March for a progress update. The case is expected to last up to four weeks.
Keith Kerley, former general manager at Arralis's Limerick factory, claimed the company discriminated against him by giving UK staff double the stock options he received. He alleged anti‑Irish bias and constructive dismissal after being told to "take it or leave it" by CEO Mike Gleaves. Kerley expected 3,000 shares following a 2019 management meeting but was allocated only 750. He pointed to an engineer with a UK passport who received 1,500 shares and a Swindon colleague who also received 1,500. Arralis denied discrimination, stating the higher allocation was for an Irish‑passport holder and that stock options were based on service. The Workplace Relations Commission, applying the Employment Equality Act 2000, rejected Kerley's claim, concluding there was no evidence of discrimination. The decision was made by adjudicating officer Conor Stokes.
John Costello, 41, of Kileely, Limerick City, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to providing transport to persons allegedly involved in an assault causing serious harm to Christy Keane on 29 June 2015. He also admitted to knowing or believing others were guilty of an arrestable offence and providing transport to impede their apprehension, contrary to Section 7(2) of the Criminal Law Act 1997. The prosecution withdrew an original charge under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, alleging Costello facilitated the attempted murder of Keane for the McCarthy-Dundon criminal organisation, replacing it with the Section 7(2) charge. Detective Sergeant Padraig O'Dwyer served the Book of Evidence on Costello regarding the new charge. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Alan Mitchell, adjourned the matter to 30 March for sentence. Co-accused Noel Price, 44, and Larry McCarthy, 44, both of Limerick City, remain charged with making a vehicle available to the McCarthy-Dundon criminal organisation to facilitate the attempted murder of Keane between 27 and 29 June 2015. Keane survived the shooting at the University of Limerick in 2015 after escaping via a running track.
A 49-year-old man has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of his wife at their rural home near Westport, County Mayo, the Central Criminal Court heard today. The prosecution alleges that James Kilroy killed Valerie French Kilroy between 13 and 14 June 2019. Her body was discovered in a camper van on the couple's property approximately 6 kilometres from Westport. A post-mortem examination determined she died from ligature strangulation, blunt force trauma to the head, and a stab wound to the neck. The jury heard that Mr Kilroy was found naked in a field in the Westport area and was subsequently brought to Castlebar Hospital, where he stated he had killed his wife and children. The three young children were found unharmed. The defence is expected to present psychiatric evidence regarding Mr Kilroy's mental state. The prosecution contends he is guilty of murder. The trial, before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury, is expected to conclude by month's end.
At the Central Criminal Court, Martin Doyle, aged 53, of Esker, Knock, County Mayo, was convicted following trial of two counts of rape and 25 counts of sexual assault. The offences comprised the rape of his wife on two occasions in May 2009 and once in November 2011, and systematic sexual assault of his daughter between 2004 and 2011 while the family resided in County Meath and subsequently County Sligo. Justice Caroline Biggs imposed a sentence of twelve and a half years imprisonment, with two years post-release supervision to follow. The court heard evidence of assaults occurring in domestic settings and at Lough Gara, Gurteen. Doyle maintained his not-guilty plea throughout proceedings. The judge noted the absence of remorse while acknowledging his work history and lack of previous convictions as mitigating factors. She described the abuse as a systematic pattern causing near-complete destruction of the child victim's childhood. Martin Doyle pleaded not guilty.
A 51‑year‑old pizza delivery driver, Earl McKevitt, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 19‑year‑old Conor O'Brien, who was shot once in the chest on the evening of 26 August 2021 while McKevitt was delivering a pizza to O'Brien's studio in Enfield. McKevitt admitted to shooting the teenager after failing to read the delivery instructions and claimed that shooting people was part of his job. He was also found guilty of possessing a firearm and a knife on 31 August 2021 at the Talbot Hotel in Carlow, where he had retrieved the gun. Concurrent sentences of seven‑and‑a‑half years and two years were imposed for the firearm and knife offences. McKevitt's life sentence was back‑dated to 31 August 2021, the date he entered custody.
A 76‑year‑old pensioner from the southwest, whose identity is protected, has lodged an appeal against a six‑year conviction for sexually abusing three of his granddaughters, aged eight to eleven. He was found guilty on all 13 assault charges by a unanimous jury at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court in June 2021, with a two‑year suspended sentence. The appeal argues that no evidence justified the long gaps between the abuse and the girls' complaints. The first granddaughter reported inappropriate touching to her teacher in January 2014 and to Gardaí in 2016; the second and third girls made complaints in 2016 after confiding in a school friend. The appellant's counsel contended that the court had no basis to assess the reasonableness of the delays, citing a "doctrine of recent complaint." The judge noted that reasonableness, not speed, should guide the assessment, and the court would reserve judgment. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
Inita Romanovska, a 36‑year‑old single mother from Latvia living in Ennis, was charged with attempting to murder Stephen O'Flaherty after an incident at an apartment complex on Henry Street, Limerick, on 11 March 2020. The original indictment included a charge of attempted murder, but at the court's mention she pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of intentionally trying to cause serious harm. The case had been delayed for over two years due to a pandemic‑related backlog. Her defence barrister, Mr Michael Bowman SC, informed Judge Paul McDermott that Romanovska could be arraigned on the second count of the indictment. The judge accepted a request for a pre‑sentence report and directed a victim impact report. Romanovska remains on bail, with her trial date vacated and a sentencing hearing scheduled for 23 May. The incident involved a man she had met on Tinder, and they had gone on several dates but were not in a relationship.
In a 2023 Court of Appeal decision, a 24‑year‑old teacher, Norma Kiely, had her four‑year driving ban for a head‑on collision in Limerick in 2018 reduced to two years. Kiely, a qualified secondary school teacher from Coolaboy, Dromcollogher, had originally been charged with dangerous driving causing serious harm but pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious harm. She received a one‑year suspended sentence, a €5,000 fine, and a four‑year ban in October 2021. The Court of Appeal found that a mandatory ban was not required for first‑time offenders and that the sentencing judge had erred. The appeal did not alter the suspended sentence or fine; only the ban was halved to two years, with the judge noting the offence's significant lack of attentiveness and the grave consequences for the victim.
The Court of Appeal has increased jail sentences for two women convicted in Ireland's first human trafficking case involving alleged voodoo ceremonies. Alicia Edosa and Edith Enoghaghase, originally sentenced in September 2021 following a June 2021 trial at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court, were found guilty of trafficking women between 2016 and 2018. Evidence indicated victims underwent ceremonies in Nigeria before being coerced into prostitution across multiple locations including Castlebar, Letterkenny and Cavan. Mr Justice George Birmingham rejected their conviction appeals and found original sentences substantially inadequate. Edosa, formerly of Mullingar, has been re-sentenced to seven-and-a-half years imprisonment. Enoghaghase, also formerly of Mullingar, received seven years and one month. The judge noted the sentencing judge faced unprecedented circumstances with no comparative guidelines for this offence type. Alicia Edosa pleaded not guilty. Edith Enoghaghase pleaded not guilty.
A 59‑year‑old Limerick man was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment for raping and repeatedly sexually abusing his partner's daughter, aged 12‑14, over a two‑year period between 1994 and 1997. The jury found him guilty on 31 counts, including sexual assault, oral rape, attempted rape and attempted anal rape, all committed in the family home. He had no acceptance of the offences and no remorse, but the judge noted his otherwise blameless life and financial support for his family. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed concurrent sentences totalling 12 years and ordered six years of post‑release supervision, during which the man must not contact the victim, must be supervised by the probation service and must not be alone with children under 18. The victim, who was not present at sentencing, described lasting trauma, anxiety, depression and complex post‑traumatic stress disorder caused by the abuse.
The High Court appointed insolvency practitioner Declan McDonald of PWC as examiner to Tower Trade Finance Ireland Limited (TTFI) and Deal Partners Logistics Ltd (DPL). TTFI has a net asset deficiency of €10.1 million and DPL €9.5 million. Both companies suffered financial difficulties after the liquidation of JACC Sports Distributors, which had supplied sports kits to the FAI. TTFI provided trade finance through loans or purchasing goods and reselling them, while DPL raised funds from individual shareholders. Investors expressed concerns, with a straw poll showing a majority opposed to examinership. The judge noted that the companies owe creditors over €13 million and that an independent report suggested a reasonable prospect of survival if a scheme of arrangement is approved. The examiner has up to 100 days to prepare a survival scheme, and the matter was adjourned to early March.
In a February 2023 decision, the Workplace Relations Commission dismissed the unfair dismissal claim of Fine Gael councillor Edward Timmins, who had alleged a sham redundancy at AB Group Packaging Ireland Ltd. Timmins, a former finance director, claimed he was forced out after a dispute with owner Dermot Brady over cash withdrawals. The commission found that Timmins had not raised any interpersonal complaints before the redundancy notice and that the company had a legitimate redundancy plan following a failed U.S. expansion. Timmins' refusal to participate in the employer‑led appeal process was deemed a major mistake, preventing him from presenting his arguments. The tribunal concluded the redundancy was genuine and rejected Timmins' claim, concluding the case after four hearings and a second adjudicating officer was appointed following a conflict‑of‑interest request by Timmins' counsel.
Five former Roadbridge construction workers have been awarded a combined €60,000 to bring their UK severance pay up to Irish rates following the collapse of the company last year. The workers, including senior managers and foremen with decades of service, were also awarded between six and eight weeks' wages as notice pay. The workers had transferred from Roadbridge Ireland Ltd to a UK-registered entity and claimed their redundancy entitlements should be calculated using the Irish system rather than the British one. Siptu official Deirdre Canty stated that the workers were paid a much smaller severance package than they were due, as their redundancy entitlements were calculated using the British system. The adjudicating officer, Pat Brady, noted that the Redundancy Payments Act 1967 allows for redundancy payments in cases where a worker is made redundant while working abroad.
The Court of Appeal reduced the sentence of a 38‑year‑old man, who had 41 prior convictions, from six years to three years on each of four defilement charges. The man had been convicted in 2016 of two counts of defiling a 16‑year‑old girl, with the original sentences running consecutively: four years for the first offence and three years and six months for the second, the last 18 months suspended. The appeal argued that consecutive sentences were unnecessary because the offences occurred over a short period and involved a single victim. The Court agreed, quashing the consecutive structure and ordering that all four sentences run concurrently, thereby halving the total custodial time. The man remains on the sex offenders register. The case highlighted the victim's anxiety, depression and suicidal attempts following the offences. The unnamed 38-year-old pleaded not guilty.
The Workplace Relations Commission has dismissed the unfair dismissal claim of care worker Varghese Matthew. In a decision published Monday, adjudicating officer Janet Hughes found that Matthew's dismissal by Donegal Home Care Ltd, trading as Home Instead Senior Care, was reasonable. The case concerned an incident on 1 April 2020 at Ballywaltrim House in Raphoe, Co Donegal, where a patient with an intellectual disability was found on an excrement-strewn floor after being locked in his room overnight. Matthew alleged he was instructed by a staff member to act as a doorkeeper and stay outside the room, a direction he claimed originated from an HSE employee. He stated he only discovered the door was locked after the other worker left. The tribunal found no malice or deliberate neglect on Matthew's part but determined his actions were based on "unquestioning adherence" to that direction. The officer concluded that speaking to the service user through a glass panel for four hours reached a threshold of gross misconduct due to incompetence and a failure to provide sound professional judgment. Although the officer noted Matthew was effectively a "scapegoat" and that the employer's investigation was delayed and limited, she upheld the dismissal, finding it reasonable for the employer to conclude Matthew's primary responsibility was to the service user, not to staff instructions.
Patrick McInerney, a former employee of the Irish Wheelchair Association, was forced into retirement at 66 without objective justification, a decision upheld by the Workplace Relations Commission as age‑based discrimination. He received €31,830 in compensation. Separately, Michael O'Mahony, a counsellor at the University of Limerick, was terminated at 68 after a dispute over his employment status and a mandatory retirement policy. He was awarded €50,000 in compensation for discriminatory dismissal on grounds of age. Both cases were brought under the Employment Equality Act 1998, and the tribunal found the employers' actions to be discriminatory, ordering the respective payments. The awards total over €80,000 for the two workers. The tribunal's decisions were published in 2023.
Two peace activists, retired soldier Edward Horgan (78) and civil servant Dan Dowling (39), were found guilty of trespassing on a taxiway at Shannon Airport. They had previously been acquitted of criminal damage for marking an American naval plane. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, after a ten‑day trial, returned guilty verdicts on the summary trespass charges. Judge Martina Baxter, who praised their conduct, imposed no custodial sentence but ordered each to pay €5,000 to the Clare Haven Refuge for women within 12 months. She also required them to maintain good behaviour and keep the peace for a year. The judge highlighted their lack of prior convictions and good work histories, and noted their intention to protest peacefully. The men accepted the verdict. No further penalties were imposed.
Jean Louis Fancony, a 39-year-old French national formerly of Limerick, appealed his conviction for assault causing serious harm to his flatmate, Tim Crowley. Fancony, who pleaded not guilty claiming self-defence, was convicted by a jury in November 2020 and sentenced to seven-and-a-half years' imprisonment in February 2021. Judge Tom O'Donnell described the injuries as "appalling" and "horrific." At the Court of Appeal, defence counsel James Dwyer SC argued that an alleged admission made to Garda Enda Clifford was inadmissible because it was not read back to or signed by Fancony. Dwyer contended this undermined the fairness of the trial, particularly regarding the spontaneity required for a self-defence argument. The State, represented by John O'Sullivan BL, submitted that the trial judge had delivered a reasoned ruling on admissibility and that the notebook's contents remained open to interpretation. The three-judge court, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, reserved its judgement. Consequently, the matter was adjourned and remains pending a final decision.
Michael Small, 55, of Renville, Oranmore, Co Galway, admitted to deception at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He pleaded guilty to dishonestly inducing a woman to issue loan funds at Permanent TSB on 2 September 2008, with the intention of making a gain for himself or another. The plea was entered on a non‑prejudice basis. Judge Martina Baxter set a sentence date for 27 March 2023, when all evidence will be heard, and remanded Small on continuing bail until that date.
Ciprian Grozavu, 48, a Romanian national, was convicted of murdering John Forrester, 42, in 2011 at Bridge House, Bandon. The body was tied with cable and dumped in the River Bandon. A 10‑day trial at the Central Criminal Court ended with a unanimous jury verdict and a mandatory life sentence imposed by Mr Justice Paul Carney in March 2014. In December 2022, Mr Justice George Birmingham dismissed a motion by Lorcan Staines SC that the jury should have received a warning about circumstantial evidence. The judge held that the case was based on direct evidence, including admissions by Grozavu and witnesses, and that neither side had requested a warning. The dismissal meant the appeal was not pursued. Grozavu's co‑accused, Catherine O'Connor, also pleaded guilty to the murder of Forrester and was sentenced to life. Grozavu was later found guilty of a second murder, Jonathan Duke, and received an eight‑year sentence for impeding the apprehension of another. Catherine O'Connor was acquitted.
The 71‑year‑old man, whose name is withheld to protect victims, was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment for a series of child sexual offences spanning 28 years. He first abused his daughter between 1979 and 1985, then a babysitter between 1996 and 1998, and finally his stepdaughter between 2003 and 2007. The court heard he had attended counselling after his daughter disclosed the abuse, but he continued to offend. He pleaded guilty to 37 counts of indecent assault and was convicted of oral, anal and vaginal rape of his stepdaughter. The judge noted the persistent nature of the abuse and the breach of trust involved. Consecutive sentences totalling 15 years were imposed, with the final two years suspended under strict conditions, including post‑release supervision. The court wished the victims well for the future.
In the Four Courts on 16 December 2022, a pre‑trial hearing concerning the administration of Covid‑19 vaccines to children aged five to eleven was scheduled for late January, following an application by Sharon Browne and David Egan. The plaintiffs sought a protective costs order and an injunction preventing the HSE and the State from distributing vaccines or boosters to children until "full information" on alleged risks was provided. Mr Justice Conor Dignam noted that the earliest date the court could offer was late January, citing court pressures, judge availability and the Christmas holidays. The plaintiffs argued that the vaccines breach the constitutional right to bodily integrity, citing a mother's death in 2021 and medical evidence gathered by Mr Egan. The State and HSE, represented by David Leahy SC, denied all adverse claims. The hearing was attended by members of An Garda Siochana, and the court restored order after a disturbance in the gallery.
Michael Leonard, aged 63, was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering 72‑year‑old Mary O'Keeffe by burning her alive in a car fire at Doneraile, Co Cork, on 4 February last year. Leonard had met O'Keeffe at a wooded area, poured two gallons of petrol into her car and set it on fire shortly after she arrived. A post‑mortem confirmed she was alive when the fire started and that her death was caused by extreme third‑degree burns and inhalation of carbon monoxide. O'Keeffe, a widow and cook, had known Leonard since 2016 and had ended their relationship in 2019. Leonard, who had no prior convictions, was found in the River Awbeg the day after the murder and was arrested the following day. The court described the attack as the most horrific fire‑related murder and expressed condolences to O'Keeffe's family. The sentencing judge imposed the mandatory life term for murder.
Two 17‑year‑old boys were sentenced to three years' detention suspended on strict conditions for attempting to force a 14‑year‑old girl to perform oral sex, stealing her phone and assaulting her. Both pleaded guilty to attempted oral rape, four counts of sexual assault and, for the first boy, an additional count of assault causing harm. The judge, Mr Justice McDermott, described the offences as very serious, noting the boys' attempts to trap the victim, threaten her phone and use violence when her refusal was not accepted. He highlighted the boys' guilty pleas, expressions of remorse and young age as mitigating factors. The suspended sentence requires each boy to engage with the Probation Service, cooperate with suitable programmes and have no contact with the victim. The court emphasised that custody is a last resort and that the boys must comply with the conditions to avoid future custodial sentences.
Dominik Biber, 25, was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment with the last two years suspended for four years for attempting to murder Tomasz Grosser, 60, during a prolonged knife attack in Limerick. Biber, who claimed to be Jesus Christ after taking large amounts of drugs, stabbed Grosser repeatedly, causing multiple stab wounds and a puncture to the skull. Grosser survived with serious injuries and long‑term pain. Biber also pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and burglary at a neighbouring apartment. The judge, Mr Justice McDermott, noted Biber's early guilty plea, admissions to Gardaí, remorse, and a moderate risk of reoffending. Grosser's victim impact statement highlighted his inability to work for eight months and ongoing pain. Biber's defence counsel described his delusional state as a result of voluntary intoxication. The sentencing reflected the ferocious and spontaneous nature of the violence.
In a High Court hearing on 7 December 2022, the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) sought to have 111 cars seized from Stephen Bawn Motors Ltd and €20,000 in a linked bank account declared proceeds of crime under the 1996 Proceeds of Crime Act. The cars, sold at auction for €820,000, were bought by the dealership, which began trading about seven years earlier, with money allegedly derived from illegal drug dealing. CAB alleged that the dealership was used by individuals with links to local, national and international criminals, including Christy Keane and the Kinahan gang, to launder drug proceeds and that the owner, Mr Mike Nash, was involved in drug importation and sale. The company and Mr Nash denied the claims. CAB also cited VAT fraud and other illegal activities. The case is pending before Mr Justice Alexander Owens.
Gerard Mackin, aged 40 and resident of Rhebogue Road, Limerick, appeared before the Special Criminal Court on a late sitting after being extradited from Spain. He faces a single charge of money‑laundering for €4,780, alleged to be proceeds of criminal activity, at his Limerick address on 17 April 2019, in breach of Section 7 of the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act 2010. Detective Garda Stephen Ahern informed the court that Mackin was arrested at Dublin Airport at 2.47 p.m. after a European Arrest Warrant issued on 7 April. The court granted a certificate to try Mackin at the non‑jury court. Alison Fynes BL, representing Mackin, declined to apply for a hearing at this time, requesting remand in Portlaoise Prison and free legal aid, and that the defendant seek the earliest possible court date. Mr Justice Michael MacGrath remanded Mackin in custody until 23 January, when his case will be listed for mention.
Dominik Biber, a 25‑year‑old Polish national, pleaded guilty to attempting to murder his flatmate Tomasz Grosser, 60, on 11 April 2020 in Limerick. Biber had taken a large quantity of drugs and claimed he believed he was Jesus Christ and that Grosser was the devil. During the attack, Biber stabbed Grosser in the face, neck and chest, thrusting a knife toward his heart, and later continued to stab him after Grosser had fled to a friend's apartment. Grosser was left with multiple stab wounds and puncture injuries, was taken to hospital, and survived after paramedics provided life support. Biber was remanded in custody for sentencing on 12 December 2022. The court heard that Biber's drug‑induced delusions and violent behaviour were central to the case.
Michael Leonard, 63, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to murdering 72‑year‑old Mary O'Keeffe in Doneraile, Co. Cork, on 4 February 2021. His body was found in a burning car. Leonard was denied bail and remains in custody. The court adjourned sentencing to 14 December to allow the family to give an impact statement. No evidence of the murder was heard at the arraignment. Leonard, a former Coillte employee, stated he would not approach any witness or speak to anyone about the case except his solicitor. The post‑mortem, conducted by Assistant State Pathologist Margaret Bolster, was not released. O'Keeffe, a cook from Dromahane, is survived by her three sons. The case is pending sentencing.
An injunction has been sought in the High Court to prevent the administration of Covid-19 vaccines or booster shots to children aged between five and 11 years until 'full information' about alleged risks is made available to the public. The action was brought by Sharon Browne and David Egan against the Taoiseach Michael Martin, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly, the HSE, and former Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan. The applicants claim the injunction is necessary to protect children's rights and assert that alleged vaccine harms breach the Irish Constitutional Right to bodily integrity. The State and HSE oppose the action, represented by David Leahy SC, who deny claims about vaccine safety. Ms Browne alleges her mother died in 2021 from adverse effects of the vaccine, while Mr Egan claims to have gathered global evidence suggesting vaccine harm. Both claimants state their action is motivated by concerns for younger and vulnerable people. The applicants also sought pre-trial motions, including an amendment to the proceedings and a protective costs order. The matter was briefly before Mr Justice Brian O'Moore on Monday, who adjourned the case to a date in December to allow clarification of technical matters.
Two 17‑year‑old boys were found guilty of attempted oral rape, four counts of sexual assault and assault causing harm. The first, 15 at the time, had taken a 14‑year‑old girl's phone, threatened to smash it unless she performed oral sex, and used violence when she refused. The second, 14 then, also demanded oral sex and pushed her. Both boys admitted the acts, expressed remorse and were found to have no prior convictions. The court, noting the seriousness of the offences and the boys' youth, set a headline sentence of six years' detention, with a final sentence of three years' detention, 16 months to be served in custody and the remainder suspended. The case was adjourned to 9 December for finalisation, and the Probation Service was instructed to outline a possible engagement structure for the boys.
Elaine Sadlier, 55, is to be extradited to the UK on suspicion of assisting Michael Foran, who pleaded guilty to the 2018 murder of Katie 'June' Jones in West Bromwich. Foran was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 17 years. Keith O'Dwyer also pleaded guilty to assisting Foran and was sentenced to 16 months in jail. Sadlier, of Co Limerick, faces charges under Section 4 of the Criminal Law Act 1967 for allegedly helping Foran leave the scene and arrange accommodation. At the High Court, Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo ordered her extradition, rejecting humanitarian objections based on her role as sole carer for a person with epilepsy and an intellectual disability. The judge noted that while the surrender would cause separation anxiety, the individual could be cared for by a qualified professional. Although the court ordered extradition, the matter was adjourned to January 16, 2023, to allow time for alternative care plans to be organized. An affidavit regarding the care plan update is due by November 30. The maximum penalty for the alleged offence in the UK is 10 years' imprisonment.
Eoin Hannan, 49, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for harassing Ciara Hassett, whom he mistakenly believed to be another woman. Hannan had a history of 44 convictions, including assault and criminal damage, and had been warned by Gardaí in 2017 and 2019 that Hassett did not welcome his behaviour. Despite these warnings, he continued to contact her, sending flowers, wine, chocolates, a watch, a bracelet, a teddy bear, a lollipop, and a letter containing a threatening phrase. He also attempted to contact her workplace and her father, who refused to provide her number. During the trial, Hannan denied the charge, but the court found he had never met Hassett and that his mental health issues, including bipolar disorder, were at the root of his offending. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
A 38‑year‑old man was sentenced to eight‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment in February for seven counts of raping his younger brother between January 1998 and December 2002, mainly at the family home in Co. Limerick. The younger brother, who was 10 at the time of the first offence, testified that he had once admired his older sibling but that the abuse left him deeply scarred. In the sentencing hearing Judge Karen O'Connor described the defendant as "a big brother who should have protected his younger brother". The conviction was reached by a unanimous verdict in the Central Criminal Court in Dublin in December 2021. The defendant has now appealed, arguing that a line of questioning about the older brother's "outing" of the victim to their parents was unfairly excluded, potentially affecting the jury's assessment of the victim's credibility. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on the appeal.
Muiris Flynn, an electrician convicted of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Ms Áine O'Connor and Catherine Carey, drink-driving, and driving without insurance in Doon, Co Roscommon, on 24 September 2017, has won an unfair dismissal claim against Irish Rail. Flynn pleaded guilty to these charges and was sentenced in October 2019 to four years in prison, with the final 30 months suspended. Although the Court of Appeal later deemed the original sentence unduly lenient, it did not increase the active custody portion, instead imposing a €20,000 fine. Irish Rail terminated Flynn's employment in March 2020, arguing his contract was frustrated by his imprisonment. However, the Workplace Relations Commission rejected this argument. Adjudicating officer Brian Dolan found that Irish Rail failed to consult Flynn and that his absence did not necessitate termination. The tribunal awarded Flynn €4,000 in compensation, noting that while his conduct contributed to the dismissal, the employer had not proven the contract ended by frustration. This decision upholds Flynn's complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, confirming that his dismissal was unlawful despite his criminal conviction and imprisonment.
A group of nine former Roadbridge employees, represented by Siptu, are seeking an order to have their UK-based redundancy payments adjusted to match Irish statutory rates. The workers, who were employed by Roadbridge Ireland Ltd and transferred to the UK between 2018 and 2021, claim they should be entitled to higher redundancy payments under Irish law. The workers, who have over a decade of service with the company, received payments based on UK rates, which are lower than the Irish statutory scheme. The case was heard at the Workplace Relations Commission in Dublin, with the company and its liquidators not attending. The workers argue that their service should be counted under the Irish system, and they are seeking compensation for the difference. The adjudicating officer expressed that he had not encountered such a situation before and would need legal advice. The union is seeking an order from the WRC to proceed with claims from the State's social insurance fund.
In a dispute over sick pay and holiday entitlements, Limerick City and County Council was ordered to pay senior engineer Sean Considine €36,271.08. The Workplace Relations Commission upheld complaints under the Payment of Wages Act and the Organisation of Working Time Act for sick pay from 5 December 2020 to 25 May 2021, and related public holiday and annual leave entitlements. Considine had been transferred to a new site on 5 May 2020 but did not attend work there, claiming the council had no authority to transfer him. He was removed from payroll on 8 June 2020 and again on 5 December 2020 after refusing to work. The tribunal found the council's discretionary sick pay scheme was exercised unreasonably, but upheld the pay claim for the period when he was fit to work.