Elaine Sadlier, 55, appeared before the High Court to object to her extradition to the UK, where she is accused of assisting Michael Foran after the 2018 murder of Katie 'June' Jones in West Bromwich. Foran pleaded guilty to the murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 17 years. Keith O'Dwyer also pleaded guilty to assisting Foran and received a 16-month jail sentence. Sadlier, of Co Limerick, is accused of helping Foran leave the scene and arranging his stay in a Liverpool hostel. Her legal team argued that surrendering her would violate Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, as she is the sole carer for a fully dependent disabled person. The Minister for Justice's counsel noted that the maximum UK penalty for assisting an offender is 10 years. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo described the case as "very sad" and noted a recent bereavement in Sadlier's family. The court was told that if surrender is ordered, an application for postponement will be made. Mr Justice Naidoo adjourned the case to November 9, when he will rule on the matter of Ms Sadlier's possible surrender.
Mr Justice Paul McDermott, presiding over the Central Criminal Court, publicly refuted claims made by Sinn Féin TD Martin Kenny in Dáil Éireann. Kenny, acting as Justice Spokesman, had alleged that court facilities outside Dublin, specifically in Limerick, were underutilised because judges were unwilling to travel from their base locations. He stated that witnesses and victims were forced to travel to Dublin despite adequate local facilities. Mr Justice McDermott described these assertions as "concerning" and "ill-informed," asserting it is "simply incorrect" to suggest High Court judges lack willingness to travel. He noted that during the current session, cases were heard in Cork, Kilkenny, Monaghan, and Tullamore, with Waterford expected to join soon. The judge emphasised that the Central Criminal Court actively seeks these venues to reduce the burden on victims, acknowledging the "extreme distress" caused by travel. Regarding Limerick specifically, he clarified that the court is currently unavailable, but stated unequivocally that if it were accessible, judges would travel there. He concluded by affirming that there is "no question" of any High Court judge being unwilling to travel to hear cases, reiterating the judiciary's commitment to utilising available regional facilities.
Keith Kerley, former group communications manager and Irish general manager of Arralis Ltd, claims he was discriminated against on the basis of nationality when offered stock options. He expected 3,000 shares upon the company's flotation but received only 750, while a UK‑based colleague reportedly received 1,500 options. Kerley alleges the UK chief executive told him to "take it or leave it" after he raised the issue. He has lodged complaints under the Employment Equality Act 2000 and the Unfair Dismissals Act, alleging race discrimination and constructive dismissal. Arralis denies the claims, stating the higher‑allocation employee held an Irish passport and that the stock plan was a proposal subject to change. The tribunal heard Kerley's evidence of a demotion and lack of consultation before his resignation in July 2021. The hearing was closed by adjudicating officer Conor Stokes.
Fine Gael TD Jennifer Carroll MacNeill urged women who receive unwanted sexual messages to contact Gardaí after a man sent her explicit videos during the 2020 election campaign. Gerard Culhane, 43, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to harassing the TD at unknown locations between 13 January and 26 March 2020. He was given a suspended one‑year prison sentence and ordered to stay away from the TD and her workplace. Carroll MacNeill, who has no previous convictions, highlighted that her position as an elected representative added extra interest to the case and that other women also face unwanted advances. She thanked the court, the DPP, Detective Sergeant Rachel Kilpatrick and her Fine Gael colleagues for their support, and stressed that the criminal justice system is there to help victims. The TD's remarks were made outside the court on the day of the sentencing.
Gerard Culhane, 43, pleaded guilty to harassing Fine Gael TD Jennifer Carroll MacNeill with 13 messages, including three sexually explicit videos, between 13 January and 26 March 2020. The court found the harassment particularly disturbing because it occurred during the general election campaign when the TD was meeting the public. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a one‑year custodial sentence suspended for 12 months on strict conditions and ordered Culhane to have no contact with the TD in person, by social media or through a third party for five years. He was also directed to stay away from the TD's workplace at Leinster House, her constituency offices and her residence. The sentence reflected mitigating factors such as the guilty plea, lack of prior convictions and cooperation with Gardaí, while aggravating factors included the volume of messages and the impact on the TD's safety and election activities.
Dominik Biber, a 25‑year‑old Polish national, pleaded guilty in the Central Criminal Court to attempting to murder Tomasz Grosser and to false imprisonment and burglary at Ormston House, Ellen St, Limerick, on 11 April 2020. Biber admitted using two knives during the burglary. The Director of Public Prosecutions accepted the plea and noted other counts on the indictment for sentencing. Biber's lawyer highlighted the client's drug use as a significant factor and requested a probation report. The judge adjourned the case to 5 December and ordered a probation and governor's report.
In a case heard at the Court of Appeal, Martina Rooney, aged 40, was found not to have successfully overturned an eight‑year jail sentence for a violent assault that took place in Temple Bar, Dublin, on 13 June 2020. The assault involved Rooney repeatedly stabbing a woman over a missing €50 note, with the attack described as "barbarous" and aggravated by a sexual element that "humiliated intimate body parts." Medical reports noted extensive facial bruising and lacerations to the back, buttock and thigh, and the victim was also stabbed in the eye. Rooney had pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm and robbery, and the Court of Appeal upheld the original sentence, noting the seriousness of the offence and the mitigating factors presented by her drug‑addiction background. Her co‑accused, Karl Fishe, 36, received a two‑year sentence for his role in the assault.
Three members of the Hehir family appeared before the Special Criminal Court on 10 October 2022. Sandra Hehir (54) was charged with nine non‑scheduled offences, Vicky Hehir (29) with four, and Warren Hehir (32) with two, all under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice Act 2010 for money laundering and terrorist financing. The alleged offences involved handling, acquiring or possessing cash totalling €59,000, and in Sandra's case an additional €124,055, between 1 January 2017 and 18 June 2020. She was also charged with unlawful possession of cannabis for sale. Vicky and Warren were charged with handling or possessing Rolex watches. The court received three books of evidence, the accused were granted legal aid, and Sandra's bail terms were altered to three days a week. All three were remanded on continuing bail until 14 November for a further mention.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 7 October 2022, PJ Bennett, father of 29‑year‑old Sharon Bennett, delivered a victim‑impact statement after Patrick Ballard was sentenced to a mandatory life term for murdering his girlfriend. Bennett described the murder as a "nightmare" that has devastated his family, noting that Sharon was a loving daughter and mother of two girls. He expressed remorse for not protecting her and stated he does not blame the Ballard family, only Patrick. Bennett recounted the difficulties caused by Covid‑19 restrictions, which prevented him from seeing Sharon in intensive care for five days and from holding a proper funeral. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Burns, highlighted the brutality of the attack, the victim's blamelessness, and the impact on her children. Ballard, 35, had pleaded guilty to murder and had a history of 140 convictions, including assault and theft. The sentencing was back‑dated to 28 January 2021, when Ballard entered custody. Sharon Bennett pleaded not guilty.
Patrick Ballard, aged 35, pleaded guilty to murdering his former partner, Ms Bennett, aged 29, in a public toilet in County Clare on 28 January 2021. Ballard had initially pleaded not guilty but, two days into his trial at the Central Criminal Court, admitted that his kicking and stamping caused Bennett's death. Witnesses, including Hussein 'Jamesie' Abdullah, testified that Ballard attacked Bennett in the toilet, pushing her onto a metal floor and repeatedly stamping and kicking her head. Bennett was taken to hospital in Limerick, where she died on 10 February 2021. Ballard was re‑arrested on 24 March 2021 and charged with murder. The trial, expected to last two weeks, was adjourned to hear a victim impact statement, with the mandatory sentence for murder being life imprisonment.
An Irish woman, Elaine Sadlier, 55, is being sought in the UK on suspicion of assisting Michael Foran in the murder of his ex‑partner, Katie 'June' Jones, whose body was found in a bathtub in West Bromwich in 2018. Sadlier appeared at the extradition court in Birmingham, objecting to surrender under the post‑Brexit Trade and Co‑operation Agreement. A warrant issued on 14 June 2021 accuses her of aiding Foran, who pleaded guilty to the murder and received a life sentence with a minimum of 17 years. Another man, Keith O'Dwyer, was also convicted of assisting Foran and sentenced to 16 months. The court noted CCTV evidence of Sadlier and others transporting luggage in a Range Rover to Liverpool, then to a ferry to Ireland. The matter is adjourned to 27 October, with a submission deadline of 17 October.
In a High Court case, swimming instructor Ricardo Rojas agreed to comply with an injunction issued by Mr Justice Conor Dignam that bars him from teaching swimming within a five‑mile radius of Swim Max Limited's premises until 22 October. The injunction, granted in June, enforces a restrictive covenant that Swim Max claims was part of Rojas's employment contract. Rojas, who left the company in late April, is also prohibited from using the firm's trade secrets or competing with Swim Max for six months after his departure. He accepted his former employment but contested the company's allegations, describing his former working conditions as stressful and toxic and expressing concerns about potential homelessness. Rojas denied any cost orders and said he would dispute them. Swim Max's owner, Ms Diana Daly, alleged that Rojas had been giving lessons at another pool shortly after leaving, potentially harming the company's reputation. The court will review costs on 22 October when the covenant expires.
In 2012, Keith O'Neill, aged 47, shot John Wilson, 35, dead in Wilson's Ballyfermot home, killing him in the front hallway with a shotgun. O'Neill was convicted of murder by a jury and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2015, with 116 prior convictions. He appealed to the Court of Appeal, arguing the conviction was unsafe because forensic evidence of gunshot residue on his clothing, found in a skip, had been improperly admitted. He also claimed the trial judge's commentary during cross‑examination was excessive and that the forensic evidence was contaminated by Garda handling. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, rejected both grounds, stating the judge had acted appropriately and the evidence was admissible. O'Neill remains in custody at Wheatfield Prison. The appeal was dismissed, upholding the murder conviction. Keith O'Neill pleaded not guilty.
The High Court has permitted the mother of murdered boxer Kevin Sheehy to proceed with a judicial review challenge against the Minister for Justice's decision to allow his killer's transfer to a UK prison. Tracey Tully contends that the proposed repatriation of Logan Jackson, who is serving a life sentence in Limerick Prison for Mr Sheehy's murder, breaches her rights as a crime victim under the 2017 Victims of Crime Act. Ms Tully argues that such a transfer would extinguish her entitlement to be consulted on future parole applications. Justice Siobhan Phelan found that Ms Tully had raised arguable grounds concerning victim protections and satisfied the legal threshold for the case to proceed. The matter will return for full hearing in October. Mr Sheehy died following an incident on Longford Road in 2019. Jackson, from Coventry, was convicted of murder at the Central Criminal Court and subsequently sought repatriation to England.
Professor Thomas Regelski, an 81-year-old US national and former music professor, has settled his medical negligence claim against the Health Service Executive (HSE) without an admission of liability. The High Court matter, heard before Mr Justice Paul Coffey, was struck out following the settlement. Mr Regelski alleged that treatment for pneumonia at University Hospital Limerick in June 2019, specifically the administration of Levofloxacin and steroids, caused a bilateral rupture of his Achilles tendons, leaving him largely confined to a wheelchair. He claimed this combination contravened national and European guidelines for patients over 60. The HSE denied negligence and argued Mr Regelski was not entitled to damages. In a separate, related judicial review, Mr Regelski successfully challenged the Minister for Social Protection's failure to provide him with a Personal Public Service (PPS) number, which was required to bring the negligence action. That matter was resolved out of court in his favour. Mr Regelski stated the settlement allows him to access necessary care for the rest of his life and expressed hope that the HSE would learn from the incident to prevent similar occurrences. He thanked his legal team, including Philip Sheahan SC, Liam Carroll Bl, and solicitor John Lynch, for concluding the proceedings.
Chico Makamda, 39, was returned to jail for two years after failing to leave Ireland as required by his 2019 sentence. He had been sentenced to seven and a half years, with the final two and a half years suspended on the condition that he leave the country within 14 days of release. Makamda was released in January 2022 but did not depart, and he accrued two convictions for failing to notify the Gardaí of his address under the Sex Offenders Act. He was re‑arrested in June and has been in custody since. The court reactivated the suspended portion of his sentence, noting he had made no genuine effort to comply with the condition. The hearing reaffirmed his willingness to leave, but the judge found he had intentionally refused to comply. The case also referenced his earlier conviction for sexual assault, false imprisonment and robbery in 2018. Chico Makamda pleaded guilty.
The Court of Appeal has adjourned the sentencing appeal of James Curtis (51), from Reiska, Kilcommon, Thurles, Co Tipperary, to Friday, when it is hoped the court will be in a position to give judgment. Curtis was jailed for five and a half years at Nenagh Circuit Criminal Court in October 2021 after pleading guilty to possessing €647,000 worth of cocaine for sale or supply, contrary to Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, and possessing €376,550 knowing or being reckless as to whether it was proceeds of criminal conduct. The State, represented by Tom O'Malley SC, argued the sentence was unduly lenient, alleging Curtis was an "upper echelon" gang member caught red-handed with 5kg of cocaine in a potato bag and further drugs and cash buried nearby. The State contended the pre-mitigation headline sentence should have been at least 10 years, citing his suspended sentence status and previous convictions as aggravating factors. Defense counsel Colman Cody SC argued the guilty plea remained relevant in mitigation and that Curtis may have been under the grip of the gang. The court noted no indication of duress. The matter was adjourned and is not concluded.
Patrick O'Brien, aged 39, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for defrauding a 72‑year‑old woman of €30,590. Between January and March 2019, O'Brien and two accomplices posed as roofers, claiming to fix the victim's roof, chimney and install solar panels. They persuaded her to allow them onto her roof, then showed her a photograph of birds nesting in a roof to convince her that work was needed. The woman withdrew €2,500 from her bank and repeatedly gave money to O'Brien, who acted as a money collector. The fraud ended when a bank employee questioned the withdrawals and the victim was advised not to give further money. O'Brien was identified on CCTV and arrested in May 2020. He has over 70 prior convictions and is currently serving a sentence for a similar deception offence. Patrick O'Brien pleaded guilty.
The High Court has heard arguments in a judicial review application by Tracey Tully, mother of murdered Irish Champion boxer Kevin Sheehy, challenging the Minister for Justice's decision to transfer convicted murderer Logan Jackson to a UK prison. Ms. Tully alleges the transfer breaches her rights under the 2017 Victim of Crime Act and the 2019 Parole Act, claiming it abdicating the State's responsibility for parole decisions and extinguishing her right to be consulted. She seeks a declaration that the decision is unconstitutional and an order quashing the transfer. The Minister's counsel argued that the legal threshold for leave was not met, asserting that Jackson's sentence was finalised and that UK systems allow victim input on parole. Jackson, who was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court and sentenced to life imprisonment for Mr. Sheehy's murder, supported the Minister's position. Ms. Justice Siobhan Phelan reserved her decision on the leave application, indicating she intends to deliver her judgment before the current legal term concludes at the end of July. Jackson's proposed transfer remains on hold pending the outcome of this action.
Patrick Ballard, 35, of Ashford Court Hotel, Ennis, faces a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court on 4 October. He is accused of killing Sharon Bennett, 29, a mother of two, in Ennis's Market area on 28 January 2021. Initially charged with assault causing harm, the charge was withdrawn in March 2021 and replaced by a murder charge. Bennett died 13 days later at University Hospital Limerick. Ballard and Bennett were in a relationship at the time of the alleged murder. The Director of Public Prosecutions has confirmed the case is ready for trial.
Patrick Sheedy, 53, was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment for a series of fraud offences. He had previously been convicted 97 times, about 70 of them for fraud. While on bail for earlier convictions, he carried out new crimes between January and March 2020. He pretended to be a documentary maker for RTE and convinced an electronics company to supply an iPad and 15 mobile phones, claiming a sick child would use them. The company lost €13,539 when Sheedy failed to pay. He also posed as a Department of Education employee and ordered 12 mobile phones from an educational supplies company, losing €9,801. Additionally, he claimed to work for BMW and ordered five iPhones worth €4,200 from a mobile phone company, again not paying. He pleaded guilty to six counts of deception and four counts of theft.
Paulo Nascimento, 46, serving a life sentence for the 2002 murder of Grainne Dillon, has lodged a High Court challenge against the Minister for Justice. He argues that the Minister has refused to consider his entitlement to parole under the newly established statutory Parole Board, despite earlier recommendations for temporary release under the former non‑statutory system. Nascimento claims that the Minister's refusal to act on his parole application breaches his rights and the Minister's duties. He seeks orders requiring the Minister to decide on his release, declarations that the Minister's refusal is unlawful and a breach of his constitutional rights, and that the Minister's actions amount to a failure to fulfil her duties under the European Convention on Human Rights. The case was granted permission to proceed and is scheduled to return to court in October.
In a High Court hearing on 17 June 2022, Mr Justice Conor Dignam granted a temporary injunction against former Swim Max Limited instructor Ricardo Rojas. The injunction, issued by Limerick‑based Swim Max, bars Rojas from giving swimming lessons within a five‑mile radius of the firm's premises for an initial period of three weeks. It also prohibits him from using the company's trade secrets or confidential training methods and from competing with Swim Max in that area. Rojas, who left the company in April 2022, had been teaching lessons at a local leisure centre, breaching a restrictive covenant in his employment contract that forbids such activity for six months after departure. The injunction was granted after the firm's founder, Ms Diana Daly, presented evidence that Rojas was still instructing clients and that the company feared reputational damage.
The High Court heard a challenge brought by Tracey Tully, mother of murdered boxer Kevin Sheehy, against the State's decision to allow the man convicted of killing her son to transfer to a UK prison. The 20-year-old was fatally struck by a vehicle in Limerick in July 2019. Logan Jackson, from Coventry, England, was convicted of murder at the Central Criminal Court in December last year and sentenced to life imprisonment. He subsequently obtained approval from the Minister for Justice to serve his sentence in the UK. Ms Tully seeks to quash the transfer decision, contending it breaches her rights under the Victim of Crime Act and represents an unconstitutional abdication of State responsibility regarding parole determination. She fears losing input into any future parole application heard by UK authorities. The Minister for Justice is fully contesting the application for judicial review. Mr Justice Charles Meenan scheduled the hearing for July 15th.
Patrick Flynn, 33, from Cork, is wanted in France for alleged involvement in a gang that sold poor‑quality driveways to homeowners in south‑west France. The men reportedly misrepresented the material as tarmacadam while actually using gravel and concrete, and they began work immediately after payment, bypassing the 14‑day cooling‑off period required by French law. Customers claim they could not locate the men after paying and that the companies used for payments were fictitious, with invoices not complying with regulations. French prosecutors have issued a European Arrest Warrant charging Flynn with money laundering, fraud and membership of a criminal organisation. If extradited and convicted, he faces up to 10 years' imprisonment. The High Court heard the warrant details and adjourned the case to 30 June.
Jozef Puska, 31, of Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly, has been charged with the murder of 23‑year‑old primary school teacher Ashling Murphy, who was fatally assaulted while jogging along the Grand Canal in Tullamore on 12 January 2022. Puska is scheduled to stand trial at the Central Criminal Court in June 2023. At a brief hearing today, defence solicitors Padraig Langsch & Co were allowed to come on record after the Director of Public Prosecutions did not object. Puska was not present at the hearing. The trial is expected to last three to four weeks.
Michael Moore, a hospital porter who has worked at the University of Limerick Hospitals Group since 1986, was awarded €10,000 in compensation by the Workplace Relations Commission for the HSE's failure to allow him to take his full annual leave over a decade. Moore had built up a legal entitlement to more than five months of paid time off, but the HSE consistently denied his requests, citing a lack of cover. He kept a personal record of his hours and obtained a holiday log from HR. The Commission found that from 2005 to 2015 Moore received less than his entitlement each year, accumulating a deficit of about ten weeks by the time of the hearing in March. The adjudicating officer, Ewa Sobanska, ruled the complaint well‑founded, directing the hospital group to pay the compensation and acknowledging the gravity and sustained nature of the infringements. The award reflects the hospital's obligation to honour Moore's accrued leave entitlement.
Two Mannok companies have initiated High Court proceedings against Sean Quinn, alleging trespass on Swanlinbar Quarry in County Cavan. Mannok Cement Limited and Mannok Build Ltd seek an injunction to restrain Mr Quinn from entering the site, which they claim he has accessed without entitlement on several occasions since late 2019. The firms allege the most recent alleged trespass occurred on 8 May when Mr Quinn was reportedly seen driving on the lands. The companies argue that as active industrial sites with operating heavy machinery, Mr Quinn's presence creates significant health and safety risks and that only authorised personnel may be present. The firms state they are uncertain of Mr Quinn's purpose but believe his actions constitute defiance towards management. The companies note that Mr Quinn previously gave an undertaking before Belfast Court in 2021 not to trespass on lands at Doon, County Fermanagh. On Wednesday, Ms Justice Siobhan Stack granted permission to serve short notice of the proceedings at Mr Quinn's address in Ballyconnell, County Cavan, on an ex-parte basis.
During a 2022 sentencing hearing, Fine Gael TD Jennifer Carroll MacNeill recounted how 43‑year‑old Gerard Culhane sent her thirteen messages, including three sexually explicit videos, between January and March 2020. She described feeling a "cold sense of dread" and fearing for her safety amid the general election campaign. The videos were downloaded from a pornographic website and sent from a Facebook account named "Kevin Walsh." Carroll MacNeill expressed that the harassment disrupted her campaign work and personal life, and she declined to respond to the messages. Culhane pleaded guilty to harassing her at unknown locations in the State. The court adjourned the case to October 21 pending a probation report, and Culhane remained on continuing bail until then. The case highlighted the impact of unsolicited sexual content on a public figure's safety and professional duties.
Edward Timmins, a Fine Gael councillor and former finance director of AB Group Packaging Ireland Ltd, claims he was unfairly made redundant in 2020 after 19 years with the company. He alleges the redundancy was a sham driven by interpersonal difficulties with owner Dermot Brady, rather than genuine financial restructuring. The company contends the role was eliminated to make the business more agile following a failed U.S. expansion and a shift to a new software system. Timmins says he was told his position was at risk due to the company's withdrawal from the U.S. market and cost‑cutting needs, and that he was offered statutory redundancy pay and a six‑month notice period. He disputes the process as "baseless" and "railroaded," while the company's HR consultant, Mark Slattery, maintains the redundancy was part of a legitimate restructuring plan. The Workplace Relations Commission has adjourned the case for further cross‑examination.
Two US army veterans, Ken Mayers (85) and Tarak Kauff (80), were fined €5,000 each after a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury found them guilty of interfering with the operation, safety or management of Shannon Airport. The men, who had cut a hole in the airport's perimeter fence with bolt cutters on St. Patrick's Day 2019, entered the runway area, causing the airport to close for about 40 minutes and delaying flights. They were acquitted of criminal damage to the fence and of trespassing with intent to commit an offence. The court noted their age, cooperation, lack of prior convictions and that they had already spent 13 days in Limerick prison. The fine was imposed as the penalty for the interference charge, with the men required to lodge an additional €2,500 each as a condition of bail. The case highlighted the men's anti‑war activism and their belief that their actions were justified to protect lives. Ken Mayers pleaded not guilty. Tarak Kauff pleaded not guilty.
Two US army veterans, Ken Mayers (85) and Tarak Kauff (80), were tried at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for actions taken during an anti‑war protest at Shannon Airport in 2019. The jury acquitted them of criminal damage to the perimeter fence and of trespassing with intent to commit an offence, but found them guilty of interfering with the operation, safety or management of the airport by entering the runway area and causing the airport to close. The verdict was 10‑to‑2. The men had cut a hole in the fence with bolt cutters, walked onto airport land, and were stopped by an airport officer. Their protest was aimed at inspecting US military aircraft and protesting the use of Shannon as a staging point for Middle East operations. The judge ordered them to return passports and set a sentencing date for the following day. Ken Mayers pleaded not guilty. Tarak Kauff pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former Shannon Airport fire officer Richard Moloney described Ken Mayers (85) and Tarak Kauff (80) as the most courteous protesters he had met. The men, both U.S. residents, were arrested in March 2019 after allegedly cutting a hole in a perimeter fence and trespassing on airport land. They claimed to be peace protesters checking an American aircraft, holding a banner that read 'US veterans say respect Irish neutrality. American war machine out of Shannon Airport'. The court heard that the airport was shut for 30–40 minutes, delaying two departing planes and a Turkish Airlines cargo aircraft. Both men pleaded not guilty to criminal damage, trespassing and interfering with airport operations. The case remains before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.
A 31‑year‑old man, Jozef Puska of Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly, is charged with the murder of 23‑year‑old primary school teacher Ashling Murphy, who was fatally assaulted while jogging along the Grand Canal in Tullamore on 12 January 2022. Puska is accused of murdering Murphy at Cappincur, Tullamore. His defence counsel, Rebecca Smith BL, informed Judge Paul McDermott that Puska will appear by video‑link and that a Slovakian interpreter is required for all court dates. The judge set 6 June 2023 as the trial date before a jury at the Central Criminal Court, with the case expected to last three to four weeks and all disclosure to be made within four months of that date. Puska was remanded in custody after a brief hearing and was sent forward for trial on 6 April after being served with the book of evidence. Free legal aid was granted for the trial.
An unauthorised bypass of a safety mechanism at a Johnson & Johnson contact lens factory in Limerick could have caused an explosion if it had not been discovered during a night shift. The Workplace Relations Commission was informed that 16 workers, across two shifts, were sanctioned after no one admitted responsibility. The issue was raised by technician Michael Meade, who filed a complaint under the Equal Status Act alleging discrimination. Meade, who worked the day shift, was one of the sanctioned workers and lost a €190 bonus and received a note on his file. He contested the sanction, claiming he was not present when the incident occurred. The company argued that the modification could have been made at any time and that all 16 workers were potentially responsible. The hearing was adjourned for further submissions.
Luke Barrett, aged 22, was sentenced to eight years in prison for two armed robberies in County Limerick, with 18 months of the sentence suspended. The first robbery, committed at 6:20 am on 6 July 2017, involved a knife threat and the theft of €340 from a family‑owned shop in Newcastle West. The second robbery, at 7 am on 15 August 2018, saw Barrett threaten staff at a service station in Locke Quay, Limerick, and later hold up a sandwich shop, taking €80. Judge Tom O'Donnell imposed two consecutive four‑year terms for the robberies and a concurrent two‑year term for an attempted robbery. Barrett appealed, arguing the first offence was his first and that the four‑year term was excessive. The Court of Appeal, hearing counsel Yvonne Quinn BL, found an error in principle and reduced the first term to three years, while increasing the suspended portion from 18 months to two years.
In a High Court judicial review, Mr Justice Barr ruled that Charlotte Mulhall is entitled to a majority of her legal costs in proceedings against the Irish Prison Service and the Governor of Limerick Prison. Mulhall, who was convicted of murder in 2006 for the killing of Farah Swaleh Noor, challenged her transfer to Limerick Prison, alleging it disproportionately interfered with her family visitation rights. Although the judge struck out the proceedings, noting that Mulhall was not entirely successful as permission to challenge the 2018 transfer was denied due to time limits, he awarded her 50% of the costs for the leave application and 66% for the full hearing. The judge stated it was just and equitable for Mulhall to receive some costs because she secured a change in the visitation regime, allowing family visits at neutral venues. The respondents, who opposed the costs claim, argued they had made bona fide efforts to treat Mulhall fairly. The judge placed a 28-day stay on the costs order pending any appeal. Background details note that Mulhall's sister, Linda Mulhall, was found guilty of manslaughter in the same case and sentenced to 15 years in prison, a sentence she has since completed.
Charlotte Mulhall, known as the 'Scissor sister', ended a High Court judicial review that she had brought against the Irish Prison Service, the Governor of Limerick Prison, the Minister for Justice & Equality and the Attorney General. The action, launched two years earlier, claimed that her transfer to Limerick had prevented close family in Dublin from visiting her and sought a mandatory order to transfer her back to a Dublin facility. Mulhall's lawyers informed Mr Justice Anthony Barr that she had since received several visits at neutral venues and that the court's intervention had achieved the desired outcome. The court therefore dismissed the action, and the matter was adjourned to decide on costs. The case highlighted the difficulties of prison visitation during the Covid‑19 pandemic and the limits of judicial intervention in prison management. The proceedings did not address any criminal convictions or sentencing of Mulhall, who was previously convicted of murder in 2006.
Mark Crawford, aged 44, was convicted of murdering Patrick 'Pa' O'Connor, aged 24, after stabbing him six times in Fitzgerald's Bar, Limerick, on a night of cocaine use. Crawford claimed self‑defence, arguing he feared O'Connor would kill or stab him, but the jury did not accept this defence and he was found guilty of murder in October 2020. The Court of Appeal heard that the trial judge, Ms Justice Tara Burns, had not adequately instructed the jury on how to assess Crawford's self‑defence claim, and that the prosecution had not proven Crawford did not honestly believe he needed to use force. Crawford appealed on the basis that the verdict was unsafe and unsatisfactory, while the Director of Public Prosecutions maintained that the jury's instructions were proper and the self‑defence test was clear. The appeal judgment is reserved. Mark Crawford pleaded not guilty.
The Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal by alleged drug dealer John McCormack against a Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) order that several Mid‑West properties were bought with proceeds of crime. The High Court had found that evidence showed McCormack had been involved in serious criminal activity for many years and that the income from that activity likely funded the purchase of the properties at Purcell Park, Cloontra West and Claughan Fort. In 2020 Mr Justice Alexander Owens made orders restraining McCormack and others from dealing with the properties. McCormack appealed to the Court of Appeal, which upheld the findings, and then sought a Supreme Court appeal on the grounds that the case involved matters of general public importance. The Supreme Court, in a written decision, held that McCormack had not established any such issue and that it was not in the interests of justice to allow the appeal.
The Workplace Relations Commission has ordered Atlantic Troy Ltd, trading as the Charleville Park Hotel, to pay €22,000 in compensation to Bridget O'Reilly, her partner Phillip O'Neill, and their two sons. The adjudicator found that the hotel, owned by Supermac's founder Pat McDonagh and his wife Una McDonagh, discriminated against the family under the Equal Status Act by refusing emergency accommodation on 28 September 2020. The complainants alleged they were denied a three-night stay because the hotel insisted on a credit card in the guest's name, a policy the adjudicator determined was a device to exclude those receiving housing assistance. The adjudicator found that membership of the Travelling Community was a material factor in the refusal, noting the hotel's stance fell below the threshold of decency. The hotel strenuously denied discrimination, arguing the family sought a home rather than hotel accommodation and citing previous damage caused by other Traveller groups. However, the adjudicator found the hotel's evidence inconsistent and upheld the complaints on grounds of housing assistance and Traveller status. The compensation breakdown includes €8,000 for Ms. O'Reilly, €8,000 for Mr. O'Neill, and €3,000 for each son. This ruling marks the second time this year the hotel has been ordered to compensate members of the Travelling community for similar discriminatory practices.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 14‑year‑old girl recounted how a rape by two Limerick men in a field in County Clare on 22 April 2017 altered her life. The men, aged 22 and 21 at the time, denied the assault and claimed the victim was 16. The court heard that the girl was heavily intoxicated, had limited memory, and was left alone with the men after her friends dispersed. She described being raped by the 21‑year‑old, then by the 22‑year‑old while the first man masturbated. After the assaults, they walked with her to a residential area where her mother and others found her. The girl later tested negative for pregnancy, but her mother confronted her about the rape. She said rumours and vulgar remarks spread, leading her family to leave the area. The unnamed 14-year-old was convicted.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 25 February 2022, Keith O'Neill, aged 46, sought to have his murder conviction quashed. He had been found guilty of shooting John Wilson, aged 35, to death on 28 September 2012 at Wilson's home on Cloverhill Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10, and sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice Tony Hunt in May 2015. O'Neill's lawyers argued that evidence of gunshot residue on clothes he had dumped in a skip should not have been admitted to the jury. They cited a forensic expert's testimony that a single particle of residue found in the right pocket of a coat had helped convict the Englishman Barry George of BBC presenter Jill Dando's murder in 2001. Mr Justice John Edwards noted that new guidelines in England recommend caution when considering small amounts of residue. Conor Devally SC for the Director of Public Prosecutions said the guidelines were proposals and not yet established protocols. Keith O'Neill pleaded not guilty. Jill Dando was acquitted.
Drmitriu Sehleanu, a former delivery driver from Bray, Co Wicklow, appeared before the Workplace Relations Commission to present a complaint of constructive dismissal against Cordelia Foods Ltd. The hearing, presided over by Adjudicator Kevin Baneham, concluded with the matter adjourned for the adjudicator to consider a decision. Mr Sehleanu alleged that he was forced to work 12 to 13 hours daily, driving up to 900km per day, and was pressured to exceed speed limits to meet delivery deadlines. He claimed he had to relieve himself into a bottle due to a lack of bathroom access and suffered a back injury while lifting flour without proper training. The company denied all claims, stating there was no bottle in the van, no workplace accident occurred, and Mr Sehleanu did not work beyond contracted hours. The company's representative, Rafaella Capolupo, argued that if the alleged speeding texts were true, Mr Sehleanu should be fined. The adjudicator closed the hearing to deliberate on the findings.
Daniel Kelly, aged 35, was convicted and jailed for two years after a high‑speed chase in County Limerick. He had repeatedly rammed Garda patrol cars, driven at 130 kph in 80 kph zones, and collided with other vehicles while evading arrest. The jury found him guilty of one count of damaging property, one count of endangerment, and three counts of dangerous driving. He was banned from driving for six years. Kelly appealed, claiming the trial judge erred in law and fact, and that the judge failed to properly instruct the jury on the lack of forensic examination of his van. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, ruling that the judge's conduct was not unfair and that the jury instructions were adequate. The convictions and bans remain in force.
A 47‑year‑old Limerick man was jailed for three and a half years after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting his sister in an apartment on 26 October 2019. He had been heavily intoxicated, drinking alcohol and smoking a joint, and had called his sister by another woman's name before telling her he would have sex with her. He dragged her to the bedroom, hit her, pulled down his trousers and grabbed her breasts. The attack ended when neighbours heard screams and intervened. The man had three prior convictions and had been in custody for two years on this and other matters. He was sentenced by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, who noted the unexpected, humiliating nature of the assault and the victim's vulnerability. The judge imposed a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence with the final year suspended for two years, requiring the man to attend rehabilitation, abstain from alcohol and illicit drugs, and receive multi‑agency support.
Muiris Flynn, a 32-year-old electrician from Co Sligo, is appealing his unfair dismissal from Iarnród Éireann to the Workplace Relations Commission. Flynn, who pleaded guilty in 2019 to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Ms Áine O'Connor and Catherine Carey, drink-driving, and driving without insurance in Co Roscommon, was sentenced to 30 months in prison with the final year suspended. He served 10 months of this sentence. In March 2020, while incarcerated, he received a letter terminating his contract due to frustration. Iarnród Éireann's solicitor, John Brosnan, stated the company relied on legal advice that Flynn could not fulfil his contract while in jail and that a disciplinary process was inappropriate. Flynn's barrister, Michael Kinsey, argued the dismissal was a "flag of convenience" and highlighted that Flynn's employee handbook allowed for leave of absence up to two years. Adjudicating officer Brian Dolan noted the termination letter was sent halfway through Flynn's term, questioning the legal basis of frustration. The matter was adjourned, with the adjudicator to issue a decision in due course based on case law and Flynn's evidence. Separately, the Court of Appeal previously found Flynn's original sentence unduly lenient but did not increase his active custody, instead ordering a €20,000 fine.
The Supreme Court dismissed former solicitor John Tobin's appeal against his adjudged bankruptcy, which stemmed from €405,808 in secured judgments by the Revenue Commissioners. In its decision, the five‑judge Court held that an overstatement of debt must lead to dismissal of a bankruptcy summons if the debtor can show the overstatement is real and substantial. The court ruled that the summons must be dismissed even when the undisputed portion exceeds the €20,000 threshold. Mr Tobin had appealed a High Court refusal to dismiss a 2016 bankruptcy summons served under the 1988 Bankruptcy Act and the subsequent adjudication of him bankrupt. He claimed the sum sought was incorrect because he was due a €71,030 refund from Revenue for alleged overpayment of stamp duty. The Supreme Court found no basis for allowing the appeal, noting that Mr Tobin's application to dismiss the summons was out of time and that the debt overstatement did not justify dismissal.
The Workplace Relations Commission has found that a Co Cork hotel discriminated against three Traveller women by enforcing a credit card requirement to secure accommodation. Annalise Power, Ann Stokes, and Bridget Power, who travelled from Longford to attend a birthday celebration in September 2019, were refused rooms at the Charleville Park Hotel and Leisure Club despite offering alternative payment methods. The hotel maintained the policy applied uniformly to all guests following incidents of room damage and unpaid bills. Adjudication officer Janet Hughes ruled the requirement had a disproportionate impact on the Travelling community, citing Census 2016 data showing approximately eighty percent unemployment in that demographic, making credit card access substantially less available than for the general population. Ms Hughes ordered the hotel to pay €3,500 to Annalise Power, €8,000 to Ann Stokes, and €4,500 to Bridget Power. The officer noted the awards reflected the discriminatory nature of the policy, though Ms Power's conduct during the incident reduced her individual compensation.
In a Court of Appeal hearing, the appeal of Eamon Roche, a 31‑year‑old farmer convicted of raping his former girlfriend, was dismissed. Roche had been found guilty of a single count of rape in April 2019 and sentenced to six years' imprisonment. He argued that the trial judge, Mr Justice McDermott, had not properly charged the jury on issues of recklessness and the significance of his post‑incident text messages. The Court of Appeal, led by Ms Justice Patrick McCarthy, held that the trial judge had adequately instructed the jury on the facts, the defendant's conduct, and the relevance of the texts. The appeal was rejected, with the court affirming that no further instruction was required. The decision confirmed the original conviction and sentence.