The Workplace Relations Commission has rejected a discrimination complaint brought by a Longford man against a supermarket in the Axis Centre. John Ryan alleged he was treated unfairly on grounds of disability on 29 June 2021 when staff asked him to wear a face mask at Fresh Today. He claimed he suffered severe distress and panic attacks when wearing masks and produced a letter from a suspended Derry GP in support. The adjudicating officer declined to accept the medical letter as evidence, noting the GP had been interim suspended by the General Medical Council pending investigation into allegations of Covid-19 misinformation. The tribunal found Mr Ryan had not notified the shop of any disability and had not established a case of discrimination under the Equal Status Act. The complaint was dismissed.
A man from Longford has failed in his appeal against a six-year jail sentence for arson at the Court of Appeal. Lee Goodchild was convicted of setting fire to a house on Rattan Ash Road, Mullingar, on 26 August 2019, contrary to the Criminal Damage Act. He was sentenced in July 2021 at Mullingar Circuit Court to seven and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended for ten years. Goodchild argued the trial judge erred in law when setting a headline sentence of ten years. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy rejected the appeal, finding the judge did not err in identifying the appropriate sentence. The court noted Goodchild was on bail and serving a suspended sentence at the time of the offence, and had prior criminal damage convictions. The attack caused considerable damage and distress to the occupant, who had to escape through a window. The unnamed appellant pleaded not guilty.
Barry Keane faces multiple charges including trespassing and handling stolen property (a keg of beer) at Park Road, theft of chocolate bars from a market, and cannabis possession. A Garda search of a vacant property at Park Road found a stolen keg and identification belonging to the defendant. The matter was adjourned to October 25, 2022.
Teresa Dinnegan (35), sister of Cindy Duignan, sought to reduce her sign-on reporting days from three to one per week. Her solicitor argued the reduced reporting requirement was necessary. Judge Owens granted the variation.
Christopher Thompson (35) pleaded guilty to driving without insurance, without a driver's licence, and with excess cannabis in his system after being stopped on Mostrim Road, Ballymahon on February 16, 2020. An oral fluid sample tested positive for both cannabis and cocaine, with blood tests confirming he was over the legal limit for cannabis; Thompson had consumed the drugs the night before. Judge Bernadette Owens expressed concerns about a pattern of driving while intoxicated in Thompson's 26 previous convictions and directed a probation report before sentencing.
Joe Stokes (32) of Longford pleaded guilty to two public order offences and cocaine possession. Gardaí responded to reports of suspicious behaviour in Springlawn; when directed to leave the area, Stokes returned and became aggressive and abusive. A search at Longford Garda Station revealed a small bag of cocaine which Stokes admitted was for his own use.
Lisa Joyce was charged with committing an affray by threatening to use violence on John Robertson on April 12, 2021 at Farnagh, Longford. She pleaded guilty and agreed to enter a peace bond. She was bound to keep the peace for 12 months and ordered to sign an undertaking to be of good behaviour, with a personal bond of €100.
Vincent Johnson (62) was caught driving without a licence or insurance on St Mel's Road, Longford on July 3rd. He was already disqualified from driving for 10 years and has 35 previous convictions, many for road traffic offences. Despite his extensive history, the judge granted him leniency due to his poor health and medical conditions, placing him on a €250 bond with a 15-year driving disqualification, with the warning that any future offence would result in custody.
David Nevin, a teenager, pleaded guilty to multiple charges including violent disorder at St Mel's College in April 2021 (part of a seven-person gang attack), possession of stolen shoes, and drug-related offences in June 2022. He had been held on remand for 120 days prior to sentencing. Judge Owens sentenced him to 9 months total imprisonment with the latter 4 months suspended for 12 months, citing a favourable probation report and noting that sentencing would grant him access to rehabilitation services.
Ismaeil Abdelkhalik (65), a Norwegian and Egyptian citizen living in Birmingham, was arrested at Dublin Airport on 33 European Arrest Warrants relating to counterfeit trademark breaches. The defendant had previously spent two months in custody in the Czech Republic and was unaware of the warrants until his arrest. Judge Gearty refused bail under the O'Callaghan rules, citing the strength of evidence and lack of ties to the State, remanding him in custody pending preparation of the Book of Evidence.
Ben Curry (22) was charged with breach of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act following an incident on May 1, 2022 at Five Star Pizza on Main Street, Longford, where he allegedly entered with a knife and threatened to use unlawful violence on Patryk Mikitow. The case was adjourned to allow for preparation of the book of evidence, with the defendant remaining on bail.
Michal Luczak (41) was arrested in the same Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau operation that seized €8.4M worth of cocaine at Abbeyshrule aerodrome. He appeared at a special sitting of Mullingar District Court on Sunday where he was denied bail and remanded in custody.
Michal Luczak was arrested following a Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau operation at Abbeyshrule Aerodrome, Longford on August 4, 2022. He was charged with possession of cocaine and possession with intent to supply. His solicitor applied for bail citing presumption of innocence and trial delays, but the application was refused by Judge Cronin.
Michael Nevin was brought before the court for breach of a community service order after failing to attend required sessions. The probation officer reported he had not attended any appointments since May 24. Judge Owens adjourned the matter to September 6 after hearing that Nevin had completed 190 of 240 required hours and was making progress, but warned a bench warrant would be issued if he failed to appear.
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.
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.
A Longford man has brought a discrimination complaint before the Workplace Relations Commission arising from an incident at a grocery shop in Longford Town on 29 June 2021. John Ryan, with an address in Longford Town, alleges he was discriminated against on grounds of disability when he was asked to produce a mask exemption certificate at Fresh Today, located at the Axis Centre. Mr Ryan stated he did not have a written exemption on the date in question but later obtained a medical certificate from a GP in Derry dated 11 August 2021. The shop's representative submitted that staff had been advised by gardaí to request proof of exemption and that Mr Ryan left the store before any directive to depart was issued. The WRC hearing concluded with the adjudicating officer reserving her decision for several months.
The Court of Appeal has increased the prison term of Nathan Doherty (24), of Legan, Co Longford, who was convicted of a violent attack on Derek Murphy. Doherty pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm and producing an article capable of causing serious harm. He was originally sentenced by Judge Keenan Johnson at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court to six years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended for ten years, plus €30,000 in compensation. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed the suspended portion, arguing the reduction was a substantial departure from similar cases. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, reading the three-judge court's decision, quashed the original sentence on grounds of deterrence. He re-sentenced Doherty to six years' imprisonment with the final year suspended for two years. The financial restitution was severed from the custodial term via a separate order under Section 6 of the Criminal Procedures Act. Doherty is now ordered to pay €25,000 in compensation to Mr Murphy in annual instalments of €5,000, commencing ten months after his release. The court noted the attack was extremely violent, involving a broken curtain pole forced into the victim's anus. Separately, Derek Doherty (52), of Vicarstown, Ballymahon, Co Longford, was recently sentenced to 80 months in prison, with the final 17 months suspended, at Longford Circuit Criminal Court for his role in the incident. Counsel for Nathan Doherty argued his client was goaded by his father, while the DPP maintained the original sentence was insufficient censure.
The Court of Appeal heard an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions regarding the sentence imposed on Nathan Doherty (24), of Legan, Co Longford. Doherty pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm and producing an article capable of causing serious harm for an attack on Derek Murphy in June 2018. He was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended for ten years, and ordered to pay €30,000 in victim compensation. The DPP argued the suspended portion was unduly lenient, describing the assault as vile and sadistic. In response, counsel for Doherty highlighted mitigating factors, including his status as a first-time offender and his early guilty plea. Counsel also referenced the separate sentencing of Derek Doherty (52), of Vicarstown, Ballymahon, Co Longford, who was sentenced to 80 months in prison with the final 17 months suspended for his role in the incident. The defence argued that the father had instructed the son to attack the victim. The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgement on the appeal.
A farmer from County Cavan has been awarded €13,400 by the Workplace Relations Commission following a finding of unfair dismissal. Padraig Cunningham was dismissed from Pat the Baker Unlimited, based in Granard, County Longford, in May 2020 after being accused of stealing waste flour from the facility. Mr Cunningham maintained he had removed the material, which included flour and waste dough, to prevent it entering the animal feed chain and had composted it on his own land. The company contended the waste could be sold for processing and that Mr Cunningham lacked authorisation to remove it. An appeal of his dismissal was subsequently upheld by management. However, adjudicating officer Marguerite Buckley determined the disciplinary process failed to comply with fair procedures and natural justice principles. She noted the practice was widely known within the organisation, no written warning had been issued, and Mr Cunningham's 24 years of service merited consideration. The commission concluded dismissal fell outside the range of reasonable responses available to the employer.
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.
A Garda inspector stationed in Mullingar has succeeded in his High Court challenge against the Commissioner's refusal to backdate his promotion following a seven-month investigative delay. Inspector Tom Quinn was due for promotion to inspector rank in January 2019 but the advancement was suspended while the Garda Ombudsman investigated allegations arising from a shooting incident at Ferriskill near Granard, County Longford, in December 2018. GSOC subsequently determined that all complaints against the inspector were baseless and that he had acted lawfully. Mr Justice Charles Meenan ruled that denying the backdating amounted to wrongful penalisation over false accusations and breached constitutional rights to equality. The court quashed the Commissioner's refusal and ordered the promotion be backdated to January 2019, with legal costs awarded to the inspector. The judgment noted that failing to backdate would have allowed a private complainant to effectively determine promotion timelines contrary to established disciplinary procedures.
A man from Ballymahon in County Longford has received a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to possessing stolen power tools at a market in Dublin. Brian Nevin, aged 30, admitted to 13 counts of possession of stolen goods found at Balbriggan Sunday market on 21 January 2018. The tools, valued at approximately €3,000, included drills, a screw gun, laser level, and other equipment. A tradesman from Tullamore recognised one of his stolen drills at the market and alerted gardaí. Following investigation, gardaí recovered the items and arrested Nevin, also seizing cash and the van used. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the judge imposed a 12-month custodial sentence suspended for 12 months on strict conditions, noting that Nevin had no further convictions since 2015 and remained engaged in his community. Nevin has 29 previous convictions.
A 26-year-old man who pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death has consented to his surrender to Northern Ireland authorities at the High Court. Conor Jeremiah Briody was sentenced to six years imprisonment, with three years suspended, by Newry Crown Court in October 2016 following a high-speed chase in Enniskillen in August 2014. The court heard he was significantly over the drink-drive limit when driving at speeds up to 100mph. A passenger, Vaidas Urbonas, died six days after the crash. After serving three years, Briody was released on licence but breached conditions by relocating to the Republic without probation service approval. A warrant for his arrest was issued in September 2021, and he was apprehended in December. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs granted bail with residence at an Edgeworthstown address, requiring daily reporting to Longford garda station. Briody was remanded pending his surrender within twenty days.
A 26-year-old postal worker from Dublin has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison following his conviction on drug trafficking charges. Darren Cumberton was arrested in April 2021 after gardaí observed him transferring cannabis from a van to a car at a Dublin location. The total quantity recovered amounted to approximately €79,000 worth of cannabis herb. He pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of drugs for sale or supply. The court heard that Cumberton had incurred substantial gambling debts and borrowed money from an unlicensed lender, leading him to become involved in drug trafficking. At the time of his arrest, his partner had recently given birth. His defence counsel highlighted his previously unblemished record, stable employment history, cooperation with gardaí, and engagement with treatment services. However, Judge Martin Nolan determined that whilst departing from the mandatory minimum ten-year sentence, the case did not warrant a non-custodial outcome.
A man from Finglas has been jailed for purchasing two vehicles that were used in an arson attack on a property seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau. Joseph Richards, aged 30, of Lanesborough Square, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of money laundering between August 6 and August 12, 2020. Gardaí identified Richards as a suspect through analysis of mobile phone records and CCTV footage. During interview, he stated he was unaware the cars would be used for arson and had simply purchased them for payment without enquiring about their intended use. Richards has 83 previous convictions, including robbery and drug-related offences. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a sentence of three years, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions. The judge noted Richards played an important but subordinate role in what she described as an enterprise orchestrated by more significant criminal elements. She observed that whilst in custody and abstinent from drugs, he demonstrates capacity for prosocial living and remains motivated to overcome his addiction.
A 55-year-old man from Longford town is fighting extradition to France to serve the remainder of a custodial sentence for offences relating to the transportation of war materials, the High Court heard on Wednesday. Roger Bergin was arrested in January 2003 after customs officials discovered approximately 775 kilograms of cannabis resin, cocaine, two handguns, ammunition and cash concealed in a truck at the France-Spain border. He was subsequently convicted and sentenced to four years imprisonment. Following his release in 2005, French prosecutors successfully appealed his acquittal on firearms charges, prompting the issue of a European Arrest Warrant in 2006. Bergin contends the French authorities had knowledge of his Longford address for over fifteen years without pursuing his arrest, and that he was denied a fair opportunity to appeal his conviction. Justice Caroline Biggs noted the alleged denial of appeal rights as central to the case. The matter was adjourned to 23 March.
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.
A long-running dispute between EBS and Betty Martin Financial Services Ltd over the termination of an agency agreement to operate branches in Athlone, Longford and Lucan has been resolved through settlement. BMFS had alleged that EBS unlawfully ended the agreement in 2017 after the company refused to engage in the alleged mis-selling of financial products. EBS denied these allegations and asserted its entitlement to terminate the arrangement. BMFS successfully obtained an injunction from the High Court in 2019, which was upheld on appeal. The matter had been listed for hearing before the Commercial Court. On Tuesday, counsel for BMFS informed the court that settlement discussions had concluded, and both parties agreed the action should be struck out and the injunction vacated. Mr Justice Denis McDonald welcomed the resolution. The hearing would have lasted several weeks. The company, founded by the late Betty Martin of Co Roscommon, is now operated by her children.
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.
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.
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.
A senior garda has brought judicial review proceedings in the High Court challenging a decision not to backdate his promotion to inspector. Inspector Tom Quinn, stationed in Mullingar, County Westmeath, was scheduled for promotion in January 2019 but the advancement was delayed following allegations made against him in connection with a firearms incident near Granard, County Longford, in December 2018. Following investigation by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, Inspector Quinn was fully exonerated. His promotion ultimately proceeded in August 2019. The inspector seeks to have his promotion backdated to January, arguing the seven-month delay caused financial and reputational harm. The Garda Commissioner opposes the application, maintaining he exercised proper discretion by awaiting the investigation outcome before recommending promotion. Mr Justice Charles Meenan reserved judgment following the High Court hearing, with a decision expected in the new year.
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.
A High Court judge has granted An Bord Pleanála permission to appeal a decision quashing planning permission for a 24-turbine wind farm near Lanesborough, County Longford. Mr Justice Richard Humphreys had upheld a challenge by environmentalist Peter Sweetman against the proposed development at Mountdillon Peat Production Bog, finding that the application lacked sufficient detail to justify the granting of permission. The turbines, which would reach a tip height of 185 metres, would constitute one of Ireland's tallest structures if constructed to maximum dimensions. In his ruling on the appeal application, the judge rejected An Bord Pleanála's contention that his judgment carried extremely wide-ranging implications, describing such concerns as "overblown". He stated that certain questions arising from the case would benefit from clarification by the Court of Appeal or potentially the Supreme Court. Mr Sweetman was afforded opportunity to consider a cross-appeal before the order is finalised.
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.
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.
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.
A former League of Ireland footballer has received a fully suspended five-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for drug dealing. Adrian Bajgora, aged 25, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at his home in Lucan, County Dublin on November 1, 2019. Gardaí discovered cocaine valued at €42,318, along with MDMA, ketamine, Zopiclone tablets, and cannabis during a search of his address. The total value of drugs seized was €45,871. Bajgora, who played for Longford Town reserves and occasionally the first team, told gardaí he intended to sell all the drugs. The court heard he committed the offence due to financial pressure affecting his family. Judge Pauline Codd noted his previous good character, substantial work history, and that the offence was out of character. She imposed the sentence on strict conditions, finding it an exceptional case.
The Court of Appeal has rejected an appeal by Aaron Cassidy, a convicted driver from Edgeworthstown, Co Longford, who challenged the severity of his five-year jail sentence for dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm. Presiding with Justices Kennedy and McCarthy, Mr Justice George Birmingham described the appeal as "utterly lacking in merit" and the original sentence as "generous" and "lenient." Cassidy was convicted in June 2020 for injuring pedestrian Stephen Roche in September 2017. He also pleaded guilty to failing to report the accident after fleeing the scene and abandoning his van in a bog. The court noted Cassidy was heavily under the influence of alcohol and cocaine at the time. The sentencing judge had reduced a headline sentence of eight years and six months to six years, suspending 12 months, resulting in an effective five-year term. Cassidy was also disqualified from driving for 10 years. The Court of Appeal affirmed that the sentence fell within the available range and declined to increase it, despite noting they would have been more severe. The matter was concluded with the appeal dismissed.
The High Court has quashed An Bord Pleanála's decision to grant planning permission for a large-scale wind farm proposed near Lanesborough, County Longford. The development, which was to be built on bogland at Mountdillion Peat Production Bog by a Bord na Móna subsidiary, comprised 24 turbines with a maximum tip height of 185 metres. Mr Justice Richard Humphreys upheld a judicial review challenge brought by environmentalist Peter Sweetman, finding that the application lacked sufficient detail regarding the turbines' design contrary to planning regulations. The judge noted that turbine heights and blade lengths had been specified only as maximum dimensions rather than actual proposed measurements. He rejected the board's defence that a worst-case scenario assessment was adequate, stating that applicants cannot seek permission for open-ended projects. The court dismissed several other grounds of Mr Sweetman's challenge, including arguments regarding common sense and constitutionality.
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.