In the Louth woman's trial at the Central Criminal Court, Dr Sally Linehan, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, testified for the prosecution. She reported that she had produced two reports on Paula Farrell, the 46‑year‑old accused of murdering her boyfriend Wayne McQuillan. In the 2015 report, Dr Linehan noted that Farrell had not experienced flashbacks or hearing voices at the time of the alleged offence, but she did meet the criteria for post‑traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In the 2019 report, Farrell admitted to intrusive dreams about childhood sexual abuse but did not recall memories of abuse at the time of the 2014 killing. Dr Linehan was not satisfied that Farrell had a dissociative reaction during the incident. She agreed with the defence psychiatrist that Farrell suffered from PTSD, alcohol dependence, hypersensitivity, hyper‑vigilance and emotional instability, and that she had a passive death wish but no plan to harm herself. The jury will hear closing speeches tomorrow. Paula Farrell pleaded not guilty.
In a 2019 trial at the Central Criminal Court, 46‑year‑old Paula Farrell of Drogheda pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for killing 30‑year‑old Wayne McQuillan on New Year's Day 2014. She admitted stabbing him four times and claimed he had tried to rape her, an allegation she said stemmed from childhood sexual abuse. A forensic psychiatrist testified that Farrell suffered from post‑traumatic stress disorder due to that abuse. Dr Kevin Lamb, a clinical psychologist, testified that Farrell's IQ was around 70, placing her in the lowest two percent of the population, and argued that this limited her ability to plan the killing. He also noted that Farrell's mental state, intoxication, childhood abuse and alleged sexual assault together contributed to the incident. The prosecution highlighted McQuillan's injuries and suggested he had fought back, while the defence maintained Farrell's narrative. The court heard these conflicting accounts during the trial's ninth day.
In the Louth murder trial, 46‑year‑old Paula Farrell pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for killing 30‑year‑old Wayne McQuillan on New Year's Day 2014. She admitted stabbing him four times after he allegedly tried to have sex with her and began strangling her. Farrell testified that she had been abused as a child between ages seven and fourteen, and that she had reported the abuse to an adult who ensured her safety. She also disclosed that she had told a Rape Crisis Centre counsellor in 2016 that she felt "helpless like a child" when McQuillan tried to rape her. A forensic psychiatrist, Dr. Brenda Wright, testified that Farrell had long‑standing alcohol dependence, post‑traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), hypersensitivity, hyper‑vigilance and emotional instability, and that her childhood abuse had significantly increased her risk of these mental health difficulties. The trial continues with the prosecution cross‑examining the witness.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Paula Farrell, 46, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the death of 30‑year‑old Wayne McQuillan on New Year's morning 2014. She admitted stabbing him four times with a large chef's knife. During cross‑examination, she acknowledged that she knew the knife would do more than merely hurt him, yet claimed she did not intend to kill him, only to scare him. She stated that McQuillan had tried to have sex with her and had begun strangling her before she went to the kitchen. Farrell also admitted that she had told investigators she was angry and that she lashes out at people she loves. The prosecution continued questioning on Friday.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Paula Farrell, 46, denied that she lied to the jury about an alleged rape attempt by her boyfriend, Wayne McQuillan, whom she stabbed to death in 2014. She had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. During cross‑examination, Farrell said she and McQuillan were likely arguing over a trivial matter and that she was not letting him dominate her when she stabbed him. She also claimed he had tried to have sex with her and had begun strangling her before she went to the kitchen for a knife. Farrell admitted she had not made these statements in earlier Garda interviews or in consultations with female doctors, and that the State first learned of the allegation in May of the following year. The prosecution, led by Gerard Clarke SC, will continue cross‑examining her tomorrow.
In a Drogheda murder trial, 46‑year‑old Paula Farrell pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for stabbing partner Wayne McQuillan, 30, four times on New Year's morning 2014. She told the jury she did not intend to kill him, only to hurt him as he had hurt her, and expressed remorse, saying she missed him "so much". Farrell recounted a history of sexual abuse from age seven to fourteen, heavy drinking from age nineteen, and ongoing depression and anxiety. She described the night's events: an argument, McQuillan's alleged sexual advances, her strangulation attempt, and her subsequent stabbing of him twice at the kitchen door, with a fourth stab to the side. She claimed she was "numb" and "blank" when stabbing, and that she had not intended to kill him. The trial proceeded before Justice Carmel Stewart and a jury of four men and eight women.
In a Drogheda home, Paula Farrell, 46, stabbed her boyfriend Wayne McQuillan, 30, to death. She told Garda Yvonne Geraghty that the fight was likely over a trivial matter and that she was not letting him get the better of her when she stabbed him. Farrell described McQuillan as a lovely, good person and herself as "good craic." She admitted that they had argued and that he had knocked her, causing her to fall. She then went to her kitchen, took a knife from her block, and stabbed him four times. Farrell said she did not intend to kill him and that she had apologized to him after the incident. She is on trial at the Central Criminal Court, pleading not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The case is currently at the trial stage.
The Central Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Paula Farrell, 46, who is charged with murdering her boyfriend, Wayne McQuillan, in their Drogheda home on January 1, 2014. Farrell has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that McQuillan died from a fatal stab wound to the left shoulder that severed the subclavian vein and punctured the lung. He noted that while the injury was severe, there would have been a reasonable expectation of survival had prompt medical attention been received. Curtis also identified high levels of alcohol in the deceased's system, describing it as gross intoxication. Witnesses reported seeing McQuillan covered in blood, initially mistaking it for a red Liverpool jersey, and noted that an ambulance delay resulted in him being transported to hospital in a Garda car. The trial continues before Justice Carmel Stewart.
In a Drogheda trial, 46‑year‑old Paula Farrell pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter after stabbing 30‑year‑old Wayne McQuillan four times on 1 January 2014. She claimed he had attacked her, citing injuries including a bite mark on her cheek, bruises, and a large bruise on her neck, all described as fresh by Dr Marlien Mienie. Farrell said she had schizophrenia and depression, last taking medication on 30 December. Witnesses reported McQuillan's trousers were down at his ankles after the stabbing, and that Farrell told Gardaí she was attacked and did not mean to kill him. The case is heard before Justice Carmel Stewart and a jury.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the jury heard that 46‑year‑old Paula Farrell of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, allegedly told teenagers not to call an ambulance after her boyfriend, 30‑year‑old Wayne McQuillan, asked them to do so. Farrell, who pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, is charged with killing McQuillan on New Year's Day 2014. The prosecution described a drunken argument in the house, during which Farrell allegedly took a kitchen knife and stabbed McQuillan four times, one of which penetrated the left lung and caused massive internal bleeding. McQuillan was taken to hospital by Gardaí, suffered cardiac arrest, was revived, then died after a second arrest. The trial continues the following day before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart and a jury of eight women and four men.
Ms Paula Farrell, 45, admitted killing 30‑year‑old Wayne McQuillan in her Drogheda home on New Year's Day 2014. She denied murder, pleading not guilty to that charge but guilty to manslaughter. The plea was rejected, and Mr Justice Michael White called a jury of eight women and four men to hear her trial, which will last about 12 days and begin before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart on Tuesday afternoon.
Noel Ryan, 42, of Charleville Mall, Dublin, was sentenced to four years in prison, with the final year suspended, after pleading guilty to handling a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser, deceiving a victim at Woodie's car park in Lucan on 27 June 2016, and unlawfully taking a Ford Fiesta from Northside Shopping Centre, Coolock on 24 March 2017. The judge noted that Ryan had committed similar offences before and that the victims suffered significant losses. Ryan admitted to selling the stolen Land Cruiser on DoneDeal for €11,600 after the buyer had paid cash, and later stealing a Ford Fiesta that had been advertised on the same site. He was also found in possession of the victim's driver's licence, which he had altered. Ryan has 16 prior convictions, including burglary and robbery, and has struggled with a crack cocaine addiction. He has been on bail during these offences.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has dropped all charges against Jonathan Gill, who was accused of participating in the 2011 kidnapping of a Drogheda family. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Vincent Heneghan SC informed Judge Karen O'Connor that the State was entering a nolle prosequi regarding three charges of false imprisonment and one of robbery. Gill, of Malahide Road, Swords, had pleaded not guilty to falsely imprisoning Warren Nawn, Jean Marie Nawn, and their ten-week-old baby between August 1 and August 2, 2011. The State alleged Gill was part of a group that held the family hostage before robbing €660,000 from the man's workplace. No reason was given for the decision to drop the case. This follows a previous trial collapse in 2017 due to juror misconduct concerns and a subsequent adjournment in May 2023 when a vital witness was unavailable in Australia. Gill remained on bail throughout the proceedings. Separately, Mark McCarthy, of Ballyfermot, was jailed for nine years after pleading guilty to the kidnapping; his sentence was later increased to 15 years following a successful appeal by prosecutors.
Noel Ryan, 42, of Charleville Mall, Dublin, pleaded guilty to handling a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser and deception on 27 June 2016 and to unauthorized taking of a Ford Fiesta on 24 March 2017. He sold the stolen Land Cruiser on DoneDeal, arranging a meeting at Woodie's car park in Lucan where the buyer paid €11,600 after noticing marks on the car. The victim later learned the log book was false and that the vehicle had been stolen from Drogheda. Ryan also advertised the Fiesta on DoneDeal, met the buyer at Northside Shopping Centre, and stole the car after a test drive, taking the driver's licence and superimposing his own photo on it. He had 16 prior convictions, including aggravated burglary and robbery, and was on bail at the time of the offences. The case is pending sentencing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with a probation report to be prepared before the hearing on 21 June.
In 2016, Stefan Saunders (41), Francis Murphy (39) and Damien Noonan (32) conspired to rob a cash‑in‑transit van in Co. Meath, planning the heist over more than two months. They pleaded guilty to conspiracy, possession of a semi‑automatic pistol and possession of a stolen BMW used as a getaway vehicle. Each received a 10‑year sentence, with 2½ years suspended, imposed by Judge Michael O'Shea in 2018. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentences were unduly lenient, citing the robbery's scale, the firearm's readiness and the gang's professional conduct. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice George Birmingham, rejected the appeal, holding the sentences were at the outer limits of the judge's discretion and therefore appropriate. No further action was taken.
In 2016, a trio of men—Stefan Saunders (40), Francis Murphy (39) and Damien Noonan (32)—conspired to rob a cash‑in‑transit van carrying over €2 million in County Meath. They were caught after Gardaí arrived, but the men had already prepared the scene: they broke into a disused bank, disabled the alarm, sprayed bleach, and waited with a stolen BMW X5. Saunders carried a semi‑automatic pistol with eight blank rounds, Murphy had a crowbar, and Noonan possessed the stolen vehicle. All three pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery, possession of a firearm, and possession of a stolen vehicle. On 12 June 2018 they were each sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment, with a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended portion. The Director of Public Prosecutions has applied for a review, arguing the sentences were unduly lenient, while the Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment. The case remains at the appeal stage.
Michael Shine, aged 86, is awaiting the outcome of an appeal against his conviction for abusing two teenage boys in the mid‑1970s. He had pleaded not guilty to eight charges of indecent assault at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and his private clinic in Drogheda between 1964 and 1991. In October 2017, a jury found him guilty of indecent assault on two 15‑year‑old patients; the judge directed a not‑guilty verdict for one complainant and acquitted him on the remaining counts. He received two consecutive 10‑month sentences, totalling 20 months imprisonment, below the then‑maximum two‑year sentence. Counsel Hugh Hartnett SC argues the complaints were unusually orchestrated via media campaigns, all complainants used the same solicitor and psychiatrist, and the trial judge failed to address this. He also contends the judge improperly admitted evidence of civil settlements (€70k) to rebut claims of financial motivation, calling it prejudicial and lacking probative value.
Michael Shine, an 86‑year‑old retired surgeon, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four years' imprisonment for one count of indecent assault and 18 months for the remaining 11 counts, all to run concurrently. The charges cover 12 indecent assault offences and one sexual assault committed during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and two private clinics in Drogheda between 1971 and 1992. A jury found him guilty after just over six hours of deliberation. Judge Martin Nolan noted the seriousness of the pattern of misbehaviour, the victims' vulnerability and Shine's position of trust as aggravating factors, while his age and health were mitigating. Shine denied any improper conduct and claimed no memory of the incidents. The sentence reflects the court's decision to impose the headline term of four years, with the remaining terms running concurrently. The case remains under appeal for previous convictions. Michael Shine pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, retired surgeon Michael Shine, aged 86, was found guilty of 12 indecent assault charges and one sexual assault charge committed during medical examinations between 1971 and 1992. The jury, after just over six hours of deliberation, returned guilty verdicts. Victim Patrick Cusack, who waived anonymity, described the abuse as a "life sentence of pain, hurt, anguish and shame," noting he had not slept properly for 45 years until the verdict. Two other victims also testified that Shine showed no understanding of his actions and that the abuse had eroded their trust in people. The court adjourned sentencing to the following Monday, with Shine remanded on continuing bail. No sentencing outcome was provided in the article.
In a swift 43‑minute jury deliberation, Paul Crosby, aged 23, was acquitted of all three charges relating to an attempted murder of Gerard Boyle, aged 33, that occurred on 10 November 2016. The charges were: attempting to murder by stabbing Boyle 28 times, attempting to murder by pushing a car into a canal, and false imprisonment with serious harm. The jury, composed of nine men and three women, returned unanimous not‑guilty verdicts on each count. This was Crosby's second trial for the same offences; the first trial in February 2018 resulted in a not‑guilty verdict on the canal charge but no verdict on the other charges. Justice Carmel Stewart thanked the jury and exempted them from service for five years. Crosby was formally discharged by the judge after the verdicts were announced. The article does not state any subsequent legal actions or outcomes. Paul Crosby pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury of nine men and three women will start deliberations on the case of Paul Crosby, aged 23, who has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and related charges. The alleged crime occurred on 10 November 2016 at Knockcommon, Beauparc, Slane, when Crosby is accused of stabbing Gerard Boyle, aged 33, 28 times. Boyle claims he survived a car that was pushed into a canal after the stabbings. The judge, Ms Justice Carmel Stewart, emphasized that the attempted murder charge requires proof of intent to kill and that the jury must consider each charge separately. She noted that the car incident was addressed in a prior trial and that the main issue is whether Crosby was present and participated in the injuries. The jury will now consider their verdicts.
In a robbery on Station Road, Lusk, on 9 March 2016, Folarin Odunlami (22) and an accomplice used a long steak knife to threaten a young man, demanding his phone, wallet and €110. The victim fled to a nursing home, called Gardaí, and later identified the two men at a train station. Gardaí chased them; they fell 15 feet from a footbridge into a carpark and hid. Garda Air Support Unit detected them a short time later, lying under brambles, using thermal imaging from a helicopter. Odunlami pleaded guilty to robbing the victim's phone, wallet and cash. At a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Melanie Greally noted his remorse and lack of further offences, ordering 240 hours of community service. The case highlighted the use of thermal imaging to locate suspects hiding in vegetation.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the accused, Paul Crosby, was alleged to have stabbed Mr Boyle 28 times on 10 November 2016. The jury heard that Crosby, who was under a curfew from 9 pm to 8 am, was not at home when the alleged incident occurred, despite a call to his residence just before 10 pm. Mr Boyle, aged 33, claimed he escaped a car that was pushed into a canal after the stabbing. Crosby, aged 23, pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, false imprisonment and causing serious harm. The prosecution presented evidence that Crosby was not at home and that a radio communication suggested a car heading toward Drogheda from Slane. Crosby's defence argued he was either at home or at his aunt's house that night, a claim the prosecution could not refute. The case was heard by Justice Carmel Stewart with a jury of ten.
In the trial of Paul Crosby, 23, the emergency consultant Dr Asim Rafeeque described the treatment of Gerard Boyle, who suffered 28 stab wounds after escaping from a car that was pushed into a canal. Dr Rafeeque explained that Boyle was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, where he had chest, neck, back and shoulder wounds. He had to drain air from Boyle's chest cavity to prevent pressure on the heart, which could have caused cardiac arrest. The forensic scientist Crystal O'Connor examined swabs from a knife, its handle and a vehicle, finding Boyle's DNA but no blood on a pair of runners belonging to Crosby. She found no evidence linking Crosby to the items she tested. Detective Garda Shane Curran reported taking a statement from Boyle at the hospital and later searching for a Ford Fiesta, but found no forensic evidence such as fingerprints. The trial is ongoing before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart and a jury. Paul Crosby pleaded not guilty.
Paul Crosby, 23, of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, is on trial in the Central Criminal Court for the attempted murder of Gerard Boyle, 33, at Knockcommon, Beauparc, Slane, on 10 November 2016. He was charged with attempting to murder, false imprisonment and causing serious harm. Crosby pleaded not guilty to all counts. Prosecutor Patrick Gageby SC presented evidence that Crosby stabbed Boyle 28 times while seated in the back of a Volkswagen Passat, after which Boyle was left on the ground and later placed in the boot of the car, which was pushed into a canal near the Battle of the Boyne site. Boyle was later taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. During cross‑examination, Brendan Grehan SC questioned Boyle about inconsistencies in his statements regarding threats and phone notes, noting that phone records showed a threat on the day of the attack, contrary to Boyle's earlier claim to Gardaí.
Paul Crosby, 23, of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, stands trial for the attempted murder of Gerard Boyle, 33, at Knockcommon, Beauparc, Slane, Co Meath, on 10 November 2016. The prosecution alleges that on that day Crosby, initially driving a Ford, later switched to a Volkswagen Passat with Boyle and a third person. Boyle claims Crosby stabbed him 28 times, including in the neck, shoulder, back of the neck and head, while he was in the car. Boyle was then forced into the boot, where he was held for about 15 minutes, unable to breathe, before escaping and swimming to the bank of the River Boyne. He sustained 28 stab wounds, two punctured lungs and nerve damage to his left leg and foot. Crosby pleaded not guilty to all counts, including attempted murder, false imprisonment and serious harm. The case is before a Central Criminal Court jury presided by Ms Justice Carmel Stewart.
Michael Shine, an 86‑year‑old retired surgeon from Ballsbridge, Dublin, was found guilty by a jury of thirteen charges of indecent assault against seven boys he examined over a thirty‑year period. The offences occurred during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and two private clinics between 1971 and 1992. The trial, held in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, concluded on day 17 with a guilty verdict after just over six hours of deliberation. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned sentencing to 22 February and remanded Shine on bail. During the trial, each complainant described how Shine groped or masturbated on them during examinations, with incidents ranging from 1971 to 1988. Shine denied any improper conduct and claimed no memory of the alleged acts. The judge thanked the jury for their service. Michael Shine pleaded not guilty.
Mr David Lewis Smith has brought a copyright infringement claim in the High Court against the members of One Direction, former member Zain Malik, UK songwriter Jamie Scott, US songwriters Julian Bunetta and John Ryan, and several music publishing companies. He alleges that the 2014 One Direction single "Night Changes" infringes his musical work. Smith's solicitors, Smyth & Son, seek damages and various discovery orders. They request documents related to the composition, writing, and earlier drafts of the song, as well as records of sound recordings, alternative versions, performance, sale, distribution, publication, downloads, and worldwide earnings. The defendants, represented by Gleeson, McGrath, Baldwin Solicitors and Matheson Solicitors, deny the allegations. A pre‑trial motion was listed before Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds, and the case is set to return to court in early March. No parties were present at the hearing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, retired surgeon Michael Shine, 86, faced thirteen indecent assault charges linked to medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital and two private clinics in Drogheda. Defending counsel Hugh Hartnett SC argued that the complainants' memories could be shaped by media exposure and the prospect of financial compensation, noting that each had pursued civil actions. Hartnett highlighted that one complainant had testified that, in hindsight, he believed the incidents were abuse. He questioned whether televised coverage could influence recollections. Judge Martin Nolan instructed jurors to consider each charge separately and to weigh counsel's submissions on the evidence. He noted that a medical expert had testified the alleged actions were medically inappropriate and could constitute indecent assault if accepted beyond a reasonable doubt. The jury was to resume deliberations the following day. Michael Shine pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 86‑year‑old retired surgeon Michael Shine pleaded not guilty to thirteen indecent assault charges alleged to have occurred during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital and two private clinics in Drogheda. On the fifteenth day of the trial, the prosecution presented a witness who claimed that in 1971, when Shine was 13, a patient's appendix surgery was followed by Shine fondling the patient's genitals. Shine denied the allegation, stating there were no medical records and arguing that it was unfair to bring events from decades ago to trial. He also denied claims that he masturbated a 13‑year‑old patient after a testicular torsion operation, describing the allegation as "unbelievable" and "shocking". The prosecution noted that all complainants had similar accounts and had pursued civil action through Dignity 4 Patients. The trial was set to continue before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, 86‑year‑old retired surgeon Michael Shine pleaded not guilty to thirteen charges of indecent assault alleged to have occurred during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda and two private clinics. Shine claimed he had "some senile dementia" and insisted that a nurse was always present during patient appointments, stating he saw about 18,000 patients a year. When questioned about a complainant's testimony that he groped a patient's genitals after a finger surgery, Shine denied the allegation, saying he had no memory of it and that he would never grope a patient. He also dismissed allegations of inappropriate examinations, such as masturbating a patient's penis during a rectal exam, calling them "nonsensical" and "crazy." The trial was set to continue the following day before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 86‑year‑old retired surgeon Michael Shine pleaded not guilty to thirteen indecent assault charges linked to medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda and two private clinics. On the thirteenth day of the trial, Shine told the jury he had no memory of any of the seven complainants and denied any improper conduct during examinations. He explained that he began working at Lourdes in March 1964 and continued until 1995, and that he had written a paper on misdiagnosis of testicular torsion. Shine argued that touching testicles is necessary during such exams, that touching the penis is unavoidable, and that he could not have masturbated a young patient in a hospital bed. He also dismissed Bernadette Sullivan's campaign as "over, over the top." The trial was set to continue the next day before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
The prosecution's case has closed in the trial of retired surgeon Michael Shine, 86, who is accused of groping boys during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda and two private clinics. He pleaded not guilty to thirteen charges of indecent assault. The trial will continue tomorrow before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
During the trial of retired surgeon Michael Shine, who pleaded not guilty to thirteen charges of indecent assault at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital and two private clinics in Drogheda, a medical expert, former consultant surgeon Richard Stevens, testified. Stevens, who now teaches at the Royal College of Surgeons, had examined the medical records of all seven complainants and was aware of their allegations. He told the court that there was no reasonable reason for Shine to examine the genitals of a patient who had undergone finger surgery, as alleged. Stevens described the allegations that Shine masturbated a 13‑year‑old to ejaculation as "incredible" and said he was "quite shocked" by the whole thing. He explained that normal practice involves examining testicles after surgery for testicular torsion, but there is no medical basis for a surgeon to masturbate a patient's penis, nor to examine a child's genitals in the absence of a parent.
The trial of retired surgeon Michael Shine, aged 86, is in legal argument before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. Shine has pleaded not guilty to thirteen charges of indecent assault, alleged to have occurred during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda and at two private clinics in Drogheda. The jury is set to return tomorrow.
The trial of retired surgeon Michael Shine, aged 86, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court involves thirteen charges of indecent assault allegedly committed during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda and two private clinics. Shine pleaded not guilty. On the seventh day of the trial, Detective Garda Seamus Nolan informed the court that he had no dealings with the support group Dignity 4 Patients, but was aware that the group had referred people to Gardaí. He explained that Dignity 4 Patients is a support group for victims of medical abuse and that any campaign it ran was a matter of the group's own initiative. Nolan noted that Gardaí did not attend the group's meetings and that he had not examined the group's website. He met with Shine after the complainants had made statements to Gardaí, and Shine had prepared a statement denying all allegations.
During the trial of retired surgeon Michael Shine, a man testified that he experiences flashbacks of being masturbated by Shine during a 1975 examination when he was 13. The man, who had never disclosed the incident except to his wife, said the memory resurfaced after he filed a complaint with the Gardaí. He described the examination as occurring after Shine performed surgery on his testicles, with the man's father present but not in the room. The witness claimed the incident had never left his memory and that it was traumatic to recount. He denied any objection to the examination of his testicles, stating it was the area Shine had operated on. The testimony was delivered to Hugh Hartnett SC, with the trial continuing before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. Michael Shine pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, retired surgeon Michael Shine, aged 86, pleaded not guilty to thirteen charges of indecent assault. Witnesses testified that Shine groped and stroked the privates of teenage patients during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda and at two private clinics. One witness, aged 13 in 1971, described how Shine asked him to pull up his shirt and trousers, pressed around a wound, then fondled his testicles and stroked his penis while claiming to check for damage. A second witness, also 13 in 1975, recounted a similar incident at Lourdes hospital, where Shine examined his testicles, then masturbated his penis for 10–15 minutes. Both witnesses said they felt embarrassed and left the rooms quickly. The trial is set to continue tomorrow before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, an 86‑year‑old surgeon, Michael Shine, faced thirteen indecent assault charges linked to examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital and two private Drogheda clinics. A male witness, aged 10 when first examined, recounted that Shine asked him to undress to his underpants, examined his throat, torso and abdomen, then groped his genitals, describing the act as a prolonged, painful experience. The witness claimed Shine also performed a rectal examination, inserting a gloved finger and again touching his genitals. He reported that after a later surgery for a wound, Shine repeatedly examined the wound while touching his genitals. The witness said he was 19 in 1982 when he woke to find Shine's hand on his penis, describing it as "masturbating me." The trial, with a jury, continued under Judge Martin Nolan. The witness had previously pursued civil action, concluding in 2012. The surgeon pleaded not guilty.
Andrei Negura, a 36‑year‑old Moldovan, was sentenced to a three‑year prison term that was fully suspended on strict conditions after pleading guilty to assaulting Bohuslav Kalias with a claw hammer and causing criminal damage to a car. Negura claimed a fight with Kalias and denied attacking him, but evidence showed he struck Kalias's arm repeatedly, leaving the victim with a broken arm, 38 stitches, and lasting pain that limits arm movement and affects daily activities. The assault also damaged the victim's car, costing €1,900. Negura had six prior convictions and had addressed heavy drinking. The judge noted his remorse, lack of prior violent convictions, and low re‑offending risk, and accepted the victim's willingness to accept the €1,900 compensation. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the judge's decision announced on the day of the hearing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, 86‑year‑old retired surgeon Michael Shine pleaded not guilty to thirteen charges of indecent assault against seven teenage boys. The allegations stem from medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda and two private clinics. One complainant, aged 14 in 1972, recounted that Shine, who had been his consultant for a knee operation, would visit his room in the evening to play chess and then groped and fondled his genitals, pulling down his trousers and stroking his penis. The boy said Shine justified the conduct by claiming it was a way to "tell a lot." Another complainant, aged 15, alleged that during an examination for a torn foreskin, Shine masturbated him for five to ten minutes and squeezed his penis, after which the boy felt shocked and did not return for a recommended circumcision. Both complainants are also involved in civil actions against Shine.
The trial of retired surgeon Michael Shine, 86, accused of indecently assaulting seven boys during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda and two private clinics, has been adjourned because a juror is unavailable. Shine pleaded not guilty to thirteen charges. The case will resume next Monday before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
The trial of Dr Michael Shine, 86, began at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 17 January 2019. He faces thirteen charges of indecent assault alleged to have occurred during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and two private clinics. The first complainant, a 15‑year‑old patient, testified that after a finger surgery in 1988 he was asked to stand in the examination room, where Shine groped his genitals while resting his head on the boy's chest. The boy described feeling terrified and confused, and that Shine's breathing became "creepy." A second complainant, 13 at the time of a testicular surgery in 1985, recounted that Shine examined a scar on his scrotum, then touched his penis and moved the foreskin, leaving him confused. Both complainants said they later brought a third party to subsequent appointments. The case is set to continue before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. Michael Shine pleaded not guilty.
Paula Farrell, 44, mother of three, was charged with murdering her partner Wayne McQuillan, 30, and had been sentenced to life imprisonment after a jury found her guilty. She had pleaded not guilty at her home on 1 January 2014. The Court of Appeal quashed her conviction earlier this year and ordered a retrial, but she did not apply for bail and remained in custody. On 21 December 2018 she applied to the Central Criminal Court for compassionate bail to spend Christmas with her family. Her barrister, Edward Doocey BL, presented a sworn affidavit to Mr Justice Michael White, noting that she had been on bail until her conviction in July 2015 and had complied with all conditions.
In October 2018, a Moldovan national, Andrei Negura, aged 36, was charged with assault and criminal damage after an incident at a neighbour's home in Drogheda. Negura allegedly attacked Bohuslav Kalias, who was working on a car with his brother, using a claw hammer. The assault left Kalias with a broken right arm that required a rod, screw, and 38 stitches, and caused him long‑term functional impairment. Negura also smashed the car, inflicting €1,900 worth of damage. He denied the assault but later pleaded guilty to the use of a claw hammer while assaulting Kalias and to criminal damage. The court dropped the assault charge after the guilty plea, and a trial date was set for January 2020, with Negura remanded on continuing bail pending a probation report on his alcohol use. The case highlighted the severity of the injuries and the property damage caused.
In a murder trial, 24‑year‑old Joseph Hillen of Forkhill, Co. Armagh, pleaded not guilty to the stabbing death of 53‑year‑old Martin Mulligan in Dundalk on 28 September 2015. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that Mulligan suffered three blunt‑force lacerations to the top of the head, 30 other minor injuries to head, arms, chest and legs, and two fatal knife wounds. One wound cut the abdominal aorta, the other severed the femoral artery in the thigh, both causing rapid blood loss. Dr Curtis explained that a sewer rod could account for the head injuries and that the knife wounds were consistent with Hillen's account of a "backhanded" motion while kneeling. Hillen admitted stabbing Mulligan but claimed he acted to protect himself. The trial continued before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
A new retrial date has been set for Jonathan Gill, 36, who is accused of the 2011 "tiger kidnapping" of Warren Nawn, Jean Marie Nawn and their ten‑week‑old baby in Drogheda. Gill denies the allegations of false imprisonment. Judge Melanie Greally of the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court scheduled the retrial for 19 June 2019, with an estimated duration of three weeks.
In a High Court case in June 2018, Raymond and Juliet Gogan, shareholders and directors of Listoke Distillery Ltd., sought to prevent their removal from the board. The distillery, founded in 2016 on the Listoke Estate in County Louth, also runs a Gin School that teaches gin production. The Gogan couple, owners of Listoke House, claimed that their roles were being undermined and that they were excluded from key company decisions. In November 2017 they were reportedly locked out of the business; Mrs Gogan resigned from the Gin School after the company moved production and the school to an industrial estate without informing them. The Gogan's petition requests orders to keep them on the board, grant access to company records, restrain a general meeting that could remove them, and consider alternative dispute resolution or winding up. Justice Carmel Stewart granted the Gogan's request for short‑notice service to the other shareholders and returned the matter for a hearing next week.
Paula Farrell, 44, had her murder conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal after a Central Criminal Court jury found her guilty of killing her partner Wayne McQuillan, 30, on 1 January 2014. The appeal argued that the trial judge wrongly excluded the partial defence of provocation, which could have been considered by the jury. The court noted that Farrell had claimed she was provoked by McQuillan's violence and that she had a history of alcohol‑induced psychosis and PTSD from alleged sexual abuse. The Court of Appeal ordered a retrial and remanded Farrell in custody. The case remains at the retrial stage, with no further outcome reported in the article. Paula Farrell pleaded not guilty.
In a 2018 Court of Appeal hearing, lawyers for Paula Farrell, aged 44, argued that her jury should have been allowed to consider a provocation defence in her murder trial. Farrell, who lives in Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, had been convicted of murdering her partner, Wayne McQuillan, aged 30, on 1 January 2014. The Central Criminal Court found her guilty after 3½ hours of deliberation, and she received a mandatory life sentence on 17 July 2015. Her defence team, led by Caroline Biggs SC, claimed that Farrell had been provoked by McQuillan's violent behaviour and that she suffered a sudden loss of self‑control, citing evidence from Garda interviews and her own statements. The trial judge had rejected provocation as a viable defence, citing a lack of rational basis. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Gerard Clarke SC, countered that all evidence relevant to provocation was also relevant to other defences and was rejected by the jury. Paula Farrell pleaded not guilty.