A Limerick man, Gerard Culhane (43) of Marian Place, Glin, Co Limerick, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to harassing Fine Gael TD Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD at unknown places within the State on dates between January 13, 2020 and March 26, 2020. The charge was admitted, and Culhane entered a plea of guilty. The court heard that the accused had indicated a guilty plea well in advance of the hearing. The defence requested a probation report, and the court agreed to order the report. The matter was adjourned for sentence on May 11, next. Culhane was remanded on continuing bail, with conditions including weekly sign-on at a local Garda station and informing gardaí of any change to his address. At a previous appearance in Dún Laoghaire District Court, Detective Sergeant Rachel Kilpatrick detailed that messages sent via Facebook included sexually explicit content and pictures of Ms Carroll MacNeill, which had already been in the public domain. The public representative and Culhane were not known to each other personally. Judge Watkin noted the incident would have been horrific and frightening for Ms Carroll MacNeill.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Graham Daly, aged 37, was convicted by a jury of seven counts of raping and sexually abusing his younger brother Thomas over a four‑year period from 1998 to 2002. The abuse, which began when Thomas was 10, included inappropriate touching, oral and anal rape, and largely took place in their family home in Limerick. Daly, a teacher from Clonree, Newport, Co. Tipperary, denied the charges and claimed his brother was lying out of jealousy and a desire to destroy his life, citing his brother's sexuality. Thomas, who waived anonymity, testified about the long‑term impact on his life and family, describing the abuse as a secret kept for 18 years. Justice Karen O'Connor sentenced Daly to eight and a half years, treating him as a juvenile because the offences ended when he turned 18, and back‑dated the term to his recent custody.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 17 January 2022, a 37‑year‑old man from County Limerick, whose brother is unnamed to protect anonymity, told the court that his parents would rather believe he was lying than accept that their eldest son was a paedophile rapist. He had been sexually abused by his older brother, aged 14 to 18, between 1998 and 2002, including at the family home. The victim had kept the abuse secret for 18 years, sharing it with his father in 2015 and with Gardaí in early 2016, but his parents only supported him if he kept the matter private. He said the family blamed him, sided with his brother, and forced him out of the home. He described ongoing mental health struggles, including depression, insomnia, PTSD and suicidal thoughts, and stated that no sentence would change his loss of 18 years of life. The unnamed man was found guilty.
At the Special Criminal Court, Dermot McManus and co-accused Terese Halpin faced trial-stage proceedings regarding alleged money laundering and vehicle offences. McManus is charged with handling €28,550 and £17,240, knowing or being reckless as to whether they were proceeds of criminal conduct on 17 June 2020, and allowing a Limerick and District Credit Union account to be used for such purposes. He is further accused of possessing a stolen blue Ford Transit van and handling a white Mercedes Sprinter. Halpin is charged with possessing the same cash sums and allowing a Permanent TSB account to be used for handling proceeds of crime between January 2019 and June 2020. Prosecution counsel alleged the cash was found in socks and a jacket pocket during a search at Keating Park, Killalee, part of Operation Coronation. Defence counsel argued McManus was not a flight risk, citing family ties and a personal injury payment explanation for bank lodgements. Presiding Judge Tony Hunt granted bail to McManus, contingent on a €10,000 surety from a legitimate person, daily sign-on at a Limerick garda station, and non-association with named persons. The judge remanded McManus in custody with consent to bail and adjourned the matter with liberty to re-enter for surety approval. Halpin, who had previously entered a bond and surrendered her passport, was scheduled to appear again on 18 February.
A man and a woman were brought before the Special Criminal Court on charges of money laundering, a development the Gardaí described as significant in their ongoing operation against organised crime in County Limerick. Dermot McManus, aged 51, and Terese Halpin, aged 49, were arrested at their home in Keating Park, Killalee, after Gardaí executed a warrant. McManus faces charges for handling €28,550 and £17,240 in cash, allegedly proceeds of criminal conduct on 17 June 2020, and for using a Limerick and District Credit Union account for those proceeds. He is also charged with possession of a stolen Ford Transit van and a Mercedes Sprinter during specified periods. Halpin is charged with possession of the same cash sums on 17 June 2020 and for allowing a Permanent TSB account to be used for handling proceeds of crime between 17 January 2019 and 10 June 2020.
A man from Coventry, England, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Kevin Sheehy, a five-times Irish boxing champion, at the Central Criminal Court. Logan Jackson, aged 31, was found guilty by unanimous jury verdict of murdering the 20-year-old at Hyde Road in Limerick city on 1 July 2019. Jackson had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The jury rejected his defence of provocation. Evidence presented at trial established that Jackson repeatedly ran over Mr Sheehy with a Mitsubishi Shogun jeep following a brief altercation outside a house party. A concurrent sentence of seven years was imposed on a second conviction for endangerment involving dangerous driving. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon backdated the sentence to 1 July 2019, when Jackson entered custody. Victim impact statements were read to the court by Mr Sheehy's family members.
In a High Court trial-stage proceeding, Mr Justice Charles Meenan granted ex-parte leave to three applicants to challenge their exclusion from the State compensation scheme. The applicants, Anthony Duff, Ian Dunne, and Mark McNevin, are alleged to have been victims of serious assaults in 2004, 2008, and 2018, respectively. They claim the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal unlawfully refused their applications because they were submitted outside the allowed time limit. The applicants argue that changes to the scheme in April 2021, which introduced an absolute two-year limit, constitute a retrospective and unlawful interference with their rights. They seek orders quashing the refusals and declarations that the Tribunal breached fair procedures and natural justice. The judge requested that counsel identify one or two lead actions to determine all issues and save court time. Counsel agreed that hearing a lead action was the best approach. The matters were all adjourned to a date in early February.
A Limerick man, Keith Anthony McCarthy (41), has consented to his extradition to the UK after being charged with murder and grievous bodily harm. The charges stem from an incident on 15 April 2020 in Harwich where McCarthy allegedly ran over scooter rider Kerrin Repman (29) with his BMW, killing Repman, and also struck a 79‑year‑old pedestrian, causing multiple broken limbs. The High Court hearing on 13 December 2021, presided over by Fiona Murphy SC, confirmed McCarthy's consent to surrender under two European Arrest Warrant (EAW) warrants. The court noted that both charges carry a maximum life sentence. McCarthy is currently in custody in Ireland, where he is serving a separate sentence, and the extradition is scheduled for after Christmas, with the matter adjourned to 17 January 2022. The court also considered legal questions about the applicability of the EAW post‑Brexit and the potential impact of time already served.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has convicted a UK man of the murder of Kevin Sheehy, a five-time Irish boxing champion, who was struck and run over multiple times by a jeep on Hyde Road in Limerick city on 1 July 2019. Logan Jackson, aged 31, of Longford Road, Coventry, England, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The jury unanimously rejected his defence of provocation after deliberating for two hours and thirty minutes. Jackson was also found guilty of endangerment. The court heard that Sheehy, aged 20, attempted to rise from the ground after the initial impact but was run over twice more at speed. Jackson claimed he felt intimidated after an altercation outside a house party, though he admitted to gardaí he was not under threat when he drove the vehicle and was angry and drinking. The judge will impose a mandatory life sentence next Tuesday. Sheehy's family will have the opportunity to address the court regarding the impact of his death.
In December 2021, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal of Erick Mukoko, a violent rapist from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who had been sentenced to eight years in prison for raping a 21‑year‑old woman in Limerick in May 2017. Mukoko had pleaded guilty and his lawyers argued that the trial judge, Mr Justice Michael White, had misclassified the offence and had not given sufficient weight to mitigating factors. The appeal was rejected by a three‑judge panel headed by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, who upheld the judge's discretion and the consideration of mitigating factors. The Director of Public Prosecutions affirmed that the sentence was fully within the judge's margin of appreciation. The victim's impact statement described ongoing anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and attempts at self‑harm following the rape. The case was investigated by Gardaí, who identified Mukoko as the suspect and confirmed a DNA match.
The trial of Logan Jackson, 31, of Coventry, England, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Jackson, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of Irish boxing champion Kevin Sheehy but guilty to his manslaughter, is also charged with endangerment under Section 13 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. The incident occurred on July 1, 2019, at Hyde Road in Limerick city, where Jackson allegedly repeatedly ran over Sheehy in a Mitsubishi jeep. The jury, comprising five men and five women, began deliberations on Friday afternoon but had not reached a unanimous verdict by 4pm. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon adjourned the deliberations for the weekend, with the jury scheduled to return to Court 19 on Monday at 11:30am to determine their verdict. In her charge, the judge instructed the jury to consider whether Jackson was provoked, a partial defence that could reduce a murder conviction to manslaughter. The prosecution argued Jackson acted with murderous intent, while the defence contended he suffered a sudden loss of self-control due to provocation. The matter remains at the trial stage, with the final verdict pending.
At the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution closing argument in the trial of Logan Jackson concluded on December 9th. Mr Jackson, aged 31, of Coventry, England, denies murdering Kevin Sheehy, a five-time Irish boxing champion aged 20, but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter. The death occurred on July 1st, 2019, on Hyde Road in Limerick city, when Mr Sheehy was struck repeatedly by a Mitsubishi Shogun jeep, sustaining fatal injuries including a catastrophic skull fracture. The prosecution barrister contended that CCTV evidence contradicted the defendant's account to gardaí, describing his statements as fabricated. The defence counsel argued the case lacked conclusive detail and that manslaughter remained the appropriate verdict. Mr Jackson also faces a charge of dangerous driving contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. Justice Eileen Creedon is expected to charge the jury of five men and six women before deliberations commence. Logan Jackson pleaded not guilty.
At the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, a murder trial has heard evidence regarding the death of Kevin Sheehy, a five-time Irish boxing champion killed in Limerick city on July 1, 2019. Logan Jackson, a 31-year-old from Coventry, England, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Detective Garda Pat Whelan gave evidence of interviews conducted after Jackson presented himself at Tullamore Garda Station on the evening of the incident. Jackson initially claimed he faced threats from "three big fellas" near his black Mitsubishi Shogun jeep on Hyde Road, but in his fifth interview acknowledged he was angry and drinking when he pulled out the vehicle and that there was no threat present at that time. The 20-year-old was struck repeatedly by the jeep and sustained fatal injuries including a catastrophic skull fracture. Forensic evidence placed Mr Sheehy's DNA on the vehicle's front grill and bumper trim. The trial continues before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
At the Central Criminal Court, a forensic pathologist gave evidence concerning the death of Kevin Sheehy, a five-time Irish boxing champion, who died on July 1, 2019, following a fatal road traffic collision in Limerick city. Dr Allan Cala, testifying via video link from Australia, detailed multiple severe injuries sustained by the twenty-year-old, including a catastrophic skull fracture, extensive skeletal fractures, and profuse internal bleeding. Logan Jackson, aged thirty-one, of Longford Road, Coventry, England, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denies murder. Evidence presented included witness testimony describing the vehicle striking Mr Sheehy repeatedly, and forensic findings consistent with the deceased being struck and dragged. The trial, before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury, continues at the Central Criminal Court.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court has heard evidence concerning the death of Kevin Sheehy, a five-time Irish boxing champion, who died after being struck by a vehicle in Limerick city on 1 July 2019. Logan Jackson (31), of Longford Road, Coventry, England has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Forensic evidence presented to the jury indicated the black Mitsubishi jeep did not stop as it struck the 20-year-old on Hyde Road. Sergeant Kevin Burke, a forensic investigator, testified that drag marks approximately eleven metres long were found at the scene, consistent with the deceased being dragged beneath the vehicle. No brake marks were detected. Evidence of multiple strikes was identified on the jeep's front, with blood located on both the driver and passenger sides. The court heard that Mr Sheehy's cousin attempted to assist him before the vehicle struck him a third time and fled. The trial continues before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and jury.
A witness at the Central Criminal Court has denied allegations that he and the deceased, Irish boxing champion Kevin Sheehy, goaded or threatened the accused. Thomas Lysaght testified that interactions at a party on Hyde Road in Limerick city in the early hours of 1 July 2019 were lighthearted. He rejected suggestions from defence counsel Michael Bowman SC that he and friends provoked Logan Jackson, aged 31, of Longford Road, Coventry. Jackson has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in connection with Mr Sheehy's death following a vehicle strike. Other witnesses gave accounts of shouting outside the premises and events leading to the incident. The trial before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and jury continues, with proceedings examining the circumstances preceding Mr Sheehy's fatal injuries.
A witness at the Central Criminal Court has testified about the fatal incident involving Irish boxing champion Kevin Sheehy in Limerick city on July 1, 2019. Thomas Lysaght described attempting to prevent his cousin from being struck by a jeep at Hyde Road, stating he tried to grab and pull Mr Sheehy from the vehicle after the initial impact. According to Mr Lysaght's evidence, the jeep returned twice more, striking Mr Sheehy a second and third time before the driver fled the scene. Logan Jackson, aged 31 and with an address at Longford Road, Coventry, England, is charged with murder in connection with Mr Sheehy's death. Mr Jackson has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The 20-year-old Mr Sheehy, a five-time Irish boxing champion, was pronounced dead following the incident.
A witness has described how a five-time Irish boxing champion fought unsuccessfully to rise from the ground before being struck by a vehicle for a second time at speed. Derek Hanlon gave evidence at the Central Criminal Court on the morning of the incident on Hyde Road in Limerick on 1 July 2019. Logan Jackson (31), with an address at Longford Road, Coventry, England, is charged with murder. He has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of Kevin Sheehy (20). Mr Jackson also faces a charge of endangerment contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. Mr Hanlon testified that he witnessed an earlier verbal altercation between Mr Sheehy and a man with an English accent before a UK-registered Mitsubishi jeep drove towards the group at high speed on the inside road. The vehicle struck Mr Sheehy twice. Mr Hanlon told the court that Mr Sheehy attempted to get up after the first impact but was unable to escape before being hit again.
Logan Jackson, a 31-year-old British man from Coventry, is standing trial at the Central Criminal Court for the death of Irish boxing champion Kevin Sheehy. Jackson has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, with the alleged incident occurring on Hyde Road in Limerick City on July 1, 2019. Prosecution counsel Dean Kelly SC outlined the State's case, alleging that after a brief exchange following a house party celebrating Limerick's Munster hurling victory, Jackson drove a Mitsubishi jeep into Sheehy and his cousin. The prosecution contends that Jackson then reversed and drove over Sheehy's body twice more at speed. Sheehy, a five-time Irish champion, died from serious injuries sustained in the collision. Jackson also faces a separate charge of endangerment under Section 13 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997, which he denies. The trial is currently ongoing before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of twelve. The matter was adjourned to continue on Thursday, meaning the proceedings have not yet concluded.
Logan Jackson, a 31-year-old British man from Coventry, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the death of boxer Kevin Sheehy. Jackson is charged with the murder of Mr. Sheehy, a five-time Irish boxing champion, who was struck by a vehicle on Hyde Road in Limerick City on July 1, 2019. He is also accused of endangerment under Section 13 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997, allegedly for driving a Mitsubishi jeep dangerously at high speed near pedestrians. When arraigned, Jackson pleaded not guilty to the murder charge but admitted to manslaughter. The Director of Public Prosecutions did not accept the manslaughter plea, and the court proceeded to trial. Jackson also pleaded not guilty to the endangerment charge. Mr Justice Paul McDermott swore in a jury of six men and six women to hear the case. The judge noted that Mr Sheehy was a well-known national championship boxer and that most civilian witnesses are from Limerick. The trial is scheduled to begin before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and is expected to last between two and three weeks.
In 2019, a Central Criminal Court jury convicted 31‑year‑old farmer Eamon Roche of raping his ex‑partner in his car on a country road after a Garda chase. He was sentenced to six years' imprisonment by Mr Justice Paul McDermott. Roche appealed, arguing the trial judge failed to instruct the jury on the possibility of recklessness and the significance of the defendant's 'driving episode' and subsequent text messages. He claimed the judge should have considered the defence's claim that his apology for "being a bollocks" was about speeding away from a checkpoint, not an admission of guilt. The Director of Public Prosecutions countered that the judge had charged the jury correctly and had gone further than necessary. The appeal judgment is reserved. The case involved a relationship that had ended less than a year earlier, with the complainant alleging Roche forced sex after she feared for her life during the chase.
Convicted murderer Freddie Thompson, also known as 'Fat Freddie', brought a High Court action against the Governors of Limerick and Portlaoise Prisons, the Irish Prison Service, and the Minister for Justice. Thompson, who received a life sentence in 2018 after being found guilty of the 2016 murder of David Douglas, alleges that prison authorities failed to respond to his solicitors' questions regarding his detention conditions. He claims his transfer to Limerick Prison, where he was reportedly confined to a padded cell without clothing, constitutes a punishment without a disciplinary hearing or formal sanction paperwork. Thompson further alleges that previous complaints about mistreatment in Portlaoise, including sleep deprivation and excessive searches, were upheld but the investigator's report was never provided to him. His legal team argues that the failure to update him on complaint statuses and answer queries regarding his detention is contrary to law, the Prison Rules, and natural justice. They seek an order compelling the respondents to reply to their questions and declarations that the authorities have a legal duty to respond to concerns about a prisoner's detention. The matter came before Mr Justice Anthony Barr, who granted Thompson permission to bring the action on an ex-parte basis. The matter was adjourned and will be mentioned before the court in late December.
Derek Whelan, 37, of Glin Grove, Coolock, was found guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of making an unwarranted demand with menace and intent to profit when he demanded €500 from a Grindr date, threatening that his brothers would "slit" the man's throat if they discovered he was gay. Whelan had previously threatened the victim with his brothers' violence and sent persistent messages demanding the remaining €400 after the victim had paid €100. The judge noted Whelan's struggle with his sexual orientation and chronic depression as major triggers for the offence, and that his family was hostile. He was sentenced to 240 hours of community service to avoid a three‑year prison term. The sentence reflects the court's view that the offence was out of character and that Whelan is now in a stable relationship and has expressed remorse.
Three serving members of the 12 Infantry Battalion, 1st Brigade of the Permanent Defence Forces, stationed at Sarsfield Barracks in Limerick, have initiated High Court proceedings challenging a decision to prevent them from graduating to the next stage of their training. The applicants, represented by SC Gerard Humphreys SC and Tim Dixon BL, instructed by solicitor Owen Swaine, deny allegations of assaulting and intimidating a fellow recruit in July. They claim that despite being informed they had successfully completed recruit training, they were barred from passing out on August 25 following a complaint reported to the Military Police on September 15. Counsel stated that no disciplinary charges have been brought, yet the men remain confined to barracks in a state of limbo without having been formally heard. The applicants seek a judicial review against the Minister for Defence, Ireland, and the Attorney General, requesting an order quashing the decision to block their graduation pending the Military Police investigation. They also seek declarations that their suspension constitutes a disproportionate penalty breaching their rights to a fair hearing, as well as violations of their Constitutional and European Convention on Human Rights rights. The matter came before Mr Justice Charles Meenan on Monday. On an ex-parte basis, the judge directed that the application be heard in the presence of lawyers for the respondents. Citing the urgency of the matter, the judge adjourned the case to a date next week.
Gerard Lynch, 34, of Main Street, Pallaskenry, Co Limerick, was sentenced to life imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of his brother, Willie Lynch. Lynch pleaded guilty last May to the December 30, 2017, killing. At the sentence hearing, Detective Sergeant Michael Reidy told prosecuting counsel Bernard Condon SC that Lynch entered a nearby shop with blood on his hands, roaring for help, before locals discovered the victim's body. The Assistant State Pathologist reported four stab wounds, with the fatal injury damaging the thorax. Lynch admitted to stabbing his brother and identified the weapon. He had 36 previous convictions, including a three-year jail term in 2007 for arson. His barrister, Mark Nicholas SC, described the case as "absolutely tragic," noting Lynch's history of psychiatric admissions, ADHD, and substance use. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed the mandatory life sentence, backdated to 2017 when Lynch first went into custody. The judge agreed to attach a transcript of the hearing to Lynch's file, allowing the parole board to consider the mitigating factors under the Parole Act 2019, and expressed sympathy to the Lynch family.
Four men have been sentenced to a combined 33 years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court following their convictions in connection with a gangland murder conspiracy. Wayne Ryan, aged 41 and with an address in Longford, pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Wayne Whelan at Griffeen Glen Park, Lucan, on September 4th, 2019, and received 15 years. Three others—Cailean Crawford, Darren Henderson, and Charles McClean—pleaded guilty to conspiracy to murder Whelan between May and November 2019. McClean received eight years, whilst Henderson and Crawford each received seven years with the final two years suspended. Mr Justice Michael White noted the "callous indifference" demonstrated in the broad daylight attack outside the victim's home. Whelan survived the initial shooting but was killed in a second attack in November 2019. The judge backdated sentences according to custody commencement dates and imposed good behaviour bonds on Henderson and Crawford regarding their suspended portions.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Elma Sheahan condemned the brutal assault carried out by Martina Rooney (39) against another woman over a €50 dispute. Rooney repeatedly punched and stabbed the victim, causing extensive facial bruising and lacerations to the back, buttock and thigh. She was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. Karl Fishe (35), who assisted by holding the victim's hair, received a two‑year and eight‑month sentence, with the final eight months suspended and a 16‑month probation period. The court noted the attack's duration of about nine minutes and the victim's lasting physical and psychological harm, including panic attacks and loss of joy over an impending pregnancy. Rooney's prior 73 convictions and Fishe's 124 convictions were also recorded. The case was built on CCTV, DNA evidence and Garda testimony. Martina Rooney pleaded guilty. Karl Fishe pleaded guilty.
In 2011, Jonathan Duke, 27, was strangled at Bridge House, Bandon, and his body was thrown into the River Bandon. A day earlier, John Forrester, 42, had been murdered in the same building. Gardaí believe Duke was killed because he knew of Forrester's murder. Catherine O'Connor, former girlfriend of Forrester, is serving life for both killings. Her boyfriend, Ciprian Grozavu, 47, denied both murders and was tried separately. He was found guilty of both murders, sentenced to life, but appealed the Duke conviction; the Court of Appeal quashed it and ordered a retrial. At the retrial, Grozavu was acquitted of murder but found guilty of two counts of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of another. Mr Justice Michael MacGrath sentenced him to eight years for assisting O'Connor in disposing of Duke's body in the river and a concurrent six‑year sentence for removing the body from the scene.
Wayne Ryan, aged 41, with an address in Longford but originally from Limerick, has pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Wayne Whelan at Griffeen Glen Park, Lucan on 4 September 2019. Three Dublin men—Cailean Crawford, Darren Henderson and Charles McClean—pleaded guilty to conspiracy to murder Whelan at that location between May and November 2019. McClean and Whelan had previously been business partners in a car sales enterprise that ceased trading in 2016. Evidence presented to the Central Criminal Court detailed how Whelan was shot eleven times as he sat in his vehicle, struck by four bullets. A badly damaged handgun was recovered from a burnt-out van minutes after the attack. Firearms residue found on Ryan's clothing offered extremely strong support that he had discharged the shots. The four men were remanded in custody pending sentencing on 2 September 2021.
Emma Fehily, 37, was sentenced by the Court of Appeal to three‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with 18 months suspended for two years, on two counts of forgery and two counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice. The sentence follows the discovery of two further forged documents, one purporting to be from a doctor and another from a counselling service, which were found by Fehily's own defence team. The documents were dated 2018 and were not new materials prepared for the appeal hearing. Fehily had previously pleaded guilty to multiple theft offences and had been given a fully‑suspended one‑year sentence in 2020, which the Director of Public Prosecutions appealed as unduly lenient. The judge noted that Fehily had shown little or no remorse and that her legal team had acted diligently in uncovering the forged documents.
A convicted murderer, Ciprian Grozavu, aged 47, will be sentenced next week for impeding the investigation into the murder of Jonathan Duke, 27, who was strangled and thrown into the River Bandon on 12 November 2011. Grozavu was found guilty of two counts of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of another. He was acquitted of murder after a retrial ordered by the Court of Appeal. The case involved the murder of John Forrester, 42, who was killed the day before Duke's murder. Catherine O'Connor, Forrester's former girlfriend, is serving life for both murders. Grozavu's trial was held at the Central Criminal Court in Limerick, and he has 13 prior convictions. The judge will hand down the sentence on Tuesday next.
A High Court dispute concerning the use of the name 'Limerick Whiskey' has been resolved. The action was brought by Mr Nicholas Ryan and Limerick Spirits Company Ltd against Mssrs Anthony Foote, Liam McInerney, and Michael Fitzgerald, along with Limerick Distillery Company Ltd. The plaintiffs sought injunctions to prevent the defendants from using the 'Limerick Whiskey' name, restraining them from using allegedly confidential information, and prohibiting them from representing that their products were approved by the plaintiffs. Additionally, the plaintiffs sought orders to delete or surrender social media channels, web domains, and trademarks referring to the brand. The defendants denied any wrongdoing, arguing the claims were baseless and that no sensitive information was disclosed during 2019 discussions. Mr Justice Senan Allen had previously granted permission for the proceedings. On Tuesday, the matter returned before the judge, where counsel for the defendants, Paul Coughlan BL, informed the court that the dispute had been resolved and the proceedings could be struck out. No details of the settlement arrangement were disclosed in open court. The court accepted the resolution, effectively concluding the litigation without a final judgment on the merits.
A man convicted of robbing a post office in Co Longford has had the conditions of his sentence varied by the Court of Appeal. Alan Coyne (46) of Ballinaree Cottage, Edgeworthstown, Co Longford, was sentenced to five years imprisonment with the final two years suspended at Longford Circuit Criminal Court in May 2020 after pleading guilty to robbing An Post in Ardagh on October 16, 2019. He took €13,238 after threatening staff and a customer with a knife. The sentencing conditions required Coyne to pay €4,000 compensation to each of two victims within two years of release, with €2,000 due within the first twelve months, while also attending a residential drug treatment programme. The Court of Appeal agreed that these requirements were unrealistic, as the 20-week treatment course would prevent him from working. Mr Justice George Birmingham and his colleagues varied the conditions to allow €2,000 per victim to be paid within the first two years of release, with the balance due within a further twelve months.
Charity Bothar seeks to add the estate of its late founder Peter Ireton as a co‑defendant in High Court proceedings against former CEO David Moloney. Bothar alleges Moloney misappropriated charity funds for personal use, admitting he spent the money on family holidays and friends, never depositing it in a bank. He also claims some misappropriated money was paid to others, including the deceased Ireton. Bothar has secured a freezing order preventing Moloney from reducing his assets below €1.1 million. The court has scheduled a hearing on the motion to add Ireton's estate for October, after the summer recess, and has deferred a decision on whether Moloney's wife Olive should be named a notice party. Moloney, who resigned as CEO in February, has expressed remorse for the damage caused. Bothar's board has suspended fundraising activities following the discovery of the misappropriations.
The Central Criminal Court sentenced Alexandru Iordache to a mandatory life term for murdering Rose Hanrahan, a vulnerable elderly widow in Thomandgate, Limerick, in December 2017. Mrs Hanrahan's niece, Avril Kenny, thanked the Limerick Gardai for their meticulous investigation, citing the work of Chief Superintendent Derek Smart, Superintendent Dermot O'Connor, Inspector Jimmy Ruddle, Detective Enda Haugh and Garda Loretta Cregan. She praised the prosecution team, including Senior Counsel Anne‑Marie Lawlor and State solicitor Catherine Fanning, and the wider Limerick community for their support. Superintendent O'Connor highlighted the extensive national and international cooperation, including assistance from Romanian and UK police, Interpol and Europol, which helped secure the conviction. The sentencing was described as a relief for the family, ensuring Iordache will never be able to harm anyone again. The court's decision was seen as a closure for the community that had mourned Rose Hanrahan's loss.
A 47-year-old man has received a life sentence at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of a 78-year-old widow in Limerick in December 2017. Alexandru Iordache, originally from Romania, pleaded guilty to the killing of Rose Hanrahan at her home in Thomondgate on or about 14-15 December 2017. The court heard that Iordache observed Mrs Hanrahan entering her PIN at a supermarket checkout on 13 December and subsequently followed her home. She was found dead by family members, having been strangled with a curtain cord and subjected to blows to her head and face. CCTV footage and DNA evidence recovered from the crime scene proved instrumental in identifying the perpetrator. Iordache had travelled to Ireland on 12 December and departed on 21 December. His life sentence was backdated to his extradition date of 16 January 2020. Justice Michael White described the crime as horrific and noted that Mrs Hanrahan had been ruthlessly targeted.
A would-be ATM thief who almost caused a massive explosion that could have killed him has lost his appeal against the severity of a five-year jail sentence imposed for attempting to blow up an ATM at a filling station in Cork last year. Evan Stubbins (25), an unemployed single man from Church Road, Croom, Co Limerick, was convicted at Cork Circuit Criminal Court last November for the possession of explosives after pleading guilty to possessing a blow torch and canisters containing oxygen and propane in an attempt to blow open an ATM at the Maxol garage at Carr's Hill, Carrigaline, Co Cork on August 2, 2020. He also pleaded guilty to separate charges of criminal damage and attempted theft. At a sitting of the Court of Appeal, counsel for Stubbins, Ray Boland BL, argued that the sentencing judge, Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin, had not given the appellant a sufficient reduction from the headline sentence of seven years for his signed guilty plea. Counsel said the judge had also erred by failing to further reduce the length of the sentence by taking into account various mitigating factors including Stubbins' youth, his cooperation with gardaí and the fact that the offence was committed under duress as part of his efforts to pay off a drug debt to unnamed individuals. The matter was adjourned.
The Court of Appeal will re‑sentence Emma Fehily, a 37‑year‑old fraudster, after the Circuit Criminal Court imposed a one‑year fully suspended sentence that the Director of Public Prosecutions argued was unduly lenient. Jane Hyland BL presented evidence that Judge Sean O'Donnabhain had expressed displeasure with Fehily's early releases, describing them as a "complete and utter joke" and suggesting the governor of Limerick Prison had not taken white‑collar crime seriously. Fehily had pleaded guilty in 2020 to forging character references and had prior convictions for multiple thefts totalling over €25,000 and €34,000. Mr Justice John Edwards said the sentence was outside the norm but could not re‑sentence today because the defence had failed to provide evidence for claims of depression, self‑harm and suicide attempts. He ordered that medical evidence be supplied before a new hearing on 26 July, noting that the court would not allow Fehily to remain at liberty until then.
Jonathan Collopy, a 34‑year‑old Limerick resident and father of six, was ordered by the High Court to be extradited to Bulgaria to serve an 18‑month sentence for a 2016 drink‑driving conviction. Collopy had previously been arrested in France on a European Arrest Warrant but was refused surrender. He contested surrender on the basis that Bulgarian prisons were substandard and that he suffered from severe back and disc problems, arguing that extradition would expose him to inadequate medical care and potential inhuman treatment. The court, after receiving assurances from Bulgarian authorities that prisons were not overcrowded, had adequate health facilities, and that Collopy would be covered by the National Health Insurance Fund, found no real risk of inhuman treatment. Mr Justice Paul Burns therefore ordered his surrender, giving Collopy 15 days to consider the judgment. The case was remanded in custody pending further proceedings.
A trial date has been set at the Central Criminal Court for a British man accused of murdering an Irish boxing champion. Logan Jackson, aged 31 and with an address in Coventry, England, faces a charge of murder in connection with the death of Kevin Sheehy, a five-time Irish boxing champion, who died after being struck by a vehicle on Hyde Road in Limerick City on July 1st, 2019. Mr Sheehy's body was discovered in the road at approximately 4.40am. Mr Justice Michael White has scheduled the trial to commence on November 29th, 2021, at the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin. The proceedings are anticipated to extend over approximately three weeks.
In a brief hearing at the Central Criminal Court, Alexandru Iordache, a 46‑year‑old Romanian, pleaded guilty to the murder of 78‑year‑old pensioner Rose Hanrahan, who was found dead in her Limerick home on 15 December 2017. Iordache, who had been extradited from Sussex, England, confirmed his guilt and expressed remorse. His family attended the hearing. Judge Michael White set a sentencing date for 5 July 2021 and invited the family to give evidence of the impact of Ms Hanrahan's death.
In High Court civil proceedings brought by Bóthar against former CEO David Moloney, the matter was adjourned to a date next month. Bóthar claims Moloney misappropriated hundreds of thousands of euro donated to the charity over a 21-year period for his own use. Moloney has admitted to this misappropriation, stating in a sworn statement that he spent the cash on family holidays and friends, and claims much of it was paid to others, including the late Bóthar founder Peter Ireton. Bóthar does not accept these explanations. At the hearing before Mr Justice Senan Allen, Moloney's previous lawyers came off record. Moloney stated he had approached the Legal Aid centre in Limerick and requested an adjournment to determine if his application for legal aid is successful. Bóthar's counsel, Frank Beatty SC, also sought an adjournment, noting that investigations into the complex matters regarding the missing monies are continuing and that other parties may be added later. The court also heard that Moloney's wife, Olive, against whom no allegations of wrongdoing have been made, is considering her own proceedings regarding her interest in his assets. Mr Justice Allen deferred any decision to formally join Mrs Moloney to the proceedings. The judge agreed to adjourn the case, noting it could return before the scheduled date if necessary.
A 31‑year‑old Gerard Lynch of Pallaskenry, Co. Limerick, pleaded guilty to the murder of his brother Willie Lynch on 30 December 2017 at Main Street, Pallaskenry. Lynch, wearing a black t‑shirt and black tracksuit bottoms, was represented by barrister Mark Nicholas SC, who described the case as a "tragic case" involving a family. The mandatory penalty for murder is life imprisonment, but Mr Nicholas indicated he would present certain matters to the court that might be considered in a different forum in the future. A sentence hearing is scheduled for Monday, 11 October.
Following the enactment of the Children (Amendment) Act 2021, RTE successfully applied to lift a court order that had kept the identities of convicted child murderer Patrick Dillon (28) and his 11‑year‑old nephew, Brooklyn Colbert, anonymous. The new law removes the restriction on naming deceased children, except in exceptional circumstances, and allows media or relatives to request the court to lift such orders. Dillon, who had been named in the Central Criminal Court in January after a Court of Appeal ruling on Section 252 of the Children Act, admitted to striking Brooklyn with a hammer and stabbing him 27 times. The court described the murder as a "horrific breach of trust" and sentenced Dillon to life imprisonment. Brooklyn's mother, Sonia Aylmer, publicly demanded that the victim's name be released, arguing that her son's legacy should not be defined solely by his death.
Michael Leonard, 63, of Hillcrest, Glenosheen, Kilmallock, Co Limerick, was denied bail by the High Court after being accused of murdering 72‑year‑old Mary O'Keeffe in Doneraile, Co Cork, on 4 February 2021. Leonard appeared at the hearing by video‑link. Detective Sergeant James O'Shea, of Fermoy Garda Station, argued that the evidence was strong, the charge serious, and that Leonard might interfere with witnesses. He described the scene where a burning vehicle was found at 2.20 pm on 4 February, containing Ms O'Keeffe's body. Leonard's defence, led by Mr Marc Thompson Grolimund BL, highlighted his client's 41‑year work record with Coillte and his recent retirement, and offered a €10,000 bond and a vacant property address for bail if granted. Mr Leonard pledged not to approach witnesses. Judge Robert Eager cited the "appalling" death and the seriousness of the murder charge in denying bail.
In a High Court hearing on 5 May 2021, Dromada Windfarm (ROI) Limited secured a temporary injunction preventing Mr Denis Cremins from digging up high‑voltage cables that run from its 19‑turbine wind farm at Clash South, Athea, to the national grid. The cables, laid over a decade ago along a public road adjacent to Mr Cremins' land at Keale, Athea, were said to pose serious or fatal injury risks if disturbed. Dromada, part of the SSE Group, argued that Mr Cremins had threatened to dig up the cables by 5 May, potentially causing daily losses of €5,000 and endangering health and safety. The court, hearing extensive prior engagement and recent correspondence, granted the injunction on an ex‑parte basis, restraining Mr Cremins from accessing or interfering with the cables and allowing either party to re‑present the case with 24‑hour notice. The order is temporary and returnable later in the month.
Receiver Mr Declan Taite, of Duff and Phelps, applied to the High Court for an injunction against businesswoman Mairead Barry, alleging she engaged in intimidation and made threats against him, his family, and employees. Mr Taite claims Ms Barry threatened to drive her vehicle through the firm's front window and seeks orders preventing her from attending or entering their Stephen's Green offices. The matter was heard before Mr Justice Allen, where Ms Barry, representing herself, denied the allegations and stated she wished to bring a counterclaim to clear her name. She offered undertakings to stay away from the offices and communicate only via solicitors. While she opposed a general adjournment, Ms Barry requested a six-month adjournment on medical grounds. Mr Justice Allen agreed to adjourn the matter to a date in late October. The application stems from Mr Taite's appointment as receiver over properties belonging to Ms Barry's husband and a company where she is a director. Mr Taite alleges that following contentious dealings, Ms Barry became abusive and threatening, leading him to cease direct contact and report the credible threats to the Gardaí. The court has not yet issued a final decision on the injunction, with the proceedings currently suspended pending the future hearing date.
In a High Court hearing, Mr Justice Mark Sanfey refused to approve a Personal Insolvency Arrangement (PIA) proposed by 69‑year‑old Ann Fennell, who owes Ulster Bank €72,500. The PIA would have extended her mortgage repayments to 348 months, meaning she would continue paying until age 98. The judge found that such a term would likely exceed the debtor's lifespan and that Fennell had not shown the repayments were affordable or sustainable. Ulster Bank opposed the PIA, arguing it was unsustainable and that the costs of keeping her in her home were disproportionate. The court noted that only a legislative amendment could permit lifetime mortgages. The appeal was dismissed, and the case will return for final orders.
The High Court has adjourned an injunction application brought by receiver Mr Declan Taite against businesswoman Mairead Barry. Mr Taite, of Duff and Phelps, alleged that Ms Barry engaged in acts of intimidation and made threats against him, his family, and company employees. He claimed she threatened to drive her vehicle through the front window of the firm's offices in Dublin 2. The applicant sought an injunction preventing Ms Barry and her agents from behaving in a threatening, abusive, or intimidating manner, as well as orders barring her from attending or entering the company offices. Additionally, he sought damages for harassment and the intentional infliction of emotional suffering. Mr Taite stated he was appointed receiver over properties belonging to Ms Barry's husband, Tim Sheahan, and that disputes arose regarding a transaction involving apartments in Limerick and an unsigned B10 form. He alleged Ms Barry used abusive language and made specific threats during conversations. Following a complaint to the Gardaí, who indicated the threats were credible, Mr Taite initiated proceedings. The application came before Mr Justice Senan Allen on an ex-parte basis. The judge granted Mr Taite permission to serve short notice of the injunction proceedings against Ms Barry. The matter was adjourned for a week.
In April 2021 the High Court granted Charlotte Mulhall leave to challenge her 2018 transfer from Mountjoy Women's Prison to Limerick Prison. Justice Anthony Barr accepted that the move had disrupted visits from her Dublin‑based family and that this constituted a disproportionate interference with her family rights. He ordered that, if Mulhall is transferred back to Mountjoy, she must be given the same visiting arrangements she had before mid‑2019, when visits were ended without formal notice. The judge also required sworn statements on the impact of Covid‑19 on prison visits and on Mulhall's current activities at Limerick. He dismissed the claim that her challenge was untimely, noting she had known of the transfer and had not acted for eight months. The case was adjourned to May for further proceedings. Mulhall, aged 21 at the time of the 2005 murder, is represented by Conor Power SC and Cian Kelly BL.