The Special Criminal Court heard that Gareth Mulley, 45, of Aisling Park, Dundalk, pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of explosives, including PETN, RDX, a 50‑litre beer keg, 50 kg of ammonium nitrate, an improvised steel booster tube and a time‑and‑power unit. He was arrested on 25 May 2014 after a Garda operation targeting dissident republicans in County Louth. Garda ballistics evidence showed the improvised unit had a thirty‑minute delay. The prosecution alleged the components were for a large beer‑keg bomb intended for Northern Ireland and presented CCTV footage of a "dry run" and a boot closed by Mulley, suggesting concealment. Counsel for the prosecution, Mr Paul Greene SC, argued the evidence proved guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Judge Paul Butler said a judgment would be delivered next Friday. The case remains at the trial stage.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 23 July 2015, an Army bomb disposal expert testified that the components for a large car bomb were discovered in the boot of a northern‑registered car parked in a church car park near the border. The court heard that Gareth Mulley, 45, of Aisling Park, Dundalk, Co. Louth, was arrested on 25 May 2014 after a Garda operation targeting dissident republicans. He was charged with unlawful possession of an explosive substance, including PETN and RDX, an adapted 50‑litre beer keg, 50 kg of homemade ammonium nitrate explosives, an improvised steel booster tube and an improvised time‑and‑power unit. Evidence from a garda ballistics expert indicated the time‑and‑power unit had a thirty‑minute delay. An Army explosives officer confirmed the items constituted a vehicle‑borne improvised explosive device, commonly known as a car bomb. The trial is ongoing. Gareth Mulley pleaded not guilty.
In a non‑jury hearing before the Special Criminal Court, Gareth Mulley, 45, of Aisling Park, Dundalk, pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of explosives. The prosecution alleged that Mulley had assembled a large homemade bomb intended for Northern Ireland. The device comprised a 50‑litre Guinness beer keg that had been modified, 50 kg of ammonium nitrate, PETN and RDX, an improvised steel booster tube, and a time‑and‑power unit with a thirty‑minute delay. The Special Criminal Court was informed that the Special Detective Unit had observed Mulley on 20 May and 25 May 2014, around his home and at Kilcurry Church, and that he was arrested by the Emergency Response Unit after a transfer of material from a van to a northern‑registered Volkswagen Passat. Forensic evidence was to be presented showing the components of the keg bomb, a device that had been used previously. The trial is ongoing.
A man from Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan has failed in his appeal against conviction for sexual exploitation of two children. Peter Clarke, aged 70, was convicted at Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court on two counts relating to an incident on September 9 2011 involving two 12-year-old girls. He had pleaded not guilty to the charges. A jury found him guilty, and he was sentenced to five years imprisonment with the final three years suspended in March 2014. The Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal, with President Seán Ryan stating the trial was "satisfactory" and the conviction "safe". Mr Justice Ryan rejected multiple grounds of appeal, including submissions regarding the lawfulness of Clarke's arrest and detention, the admission of evidence, and jury instructions. The court found it would have been "wholly unstateable" for a jury to interpret Clarke's conduct and words as anything other than an invitation to engage in a sexual act. The judgment was delivered by Mr Justice Ryan, sitting with Ms Justice Mary Finlay Geoghegan and Mr Justice Michael Peart.
A 53‑year‑old Louth man, Joseph Finnegan, was arrested on 11 July 2015 by the Special Detective Unit and charged with possession of an 8mm Valtro Model 85 pistol and seven rounds of ammunition, and a 12‑gauge Eibar shotgun with three cartridges. The Special Criminal Court granted him bail on a €100 personal bond and a €10,000 independent surety. He must sign daily at Dundalk Garda Station, observe a 11 pm‑6 am curfew, surrender his passport, avoid contact with convicted or charged persons, and remain within the jurisdiction until 23 October 2015.
A 53‑year‑old Louth man, Joseph Finnegan, appeared before an out‑of‑hours Special Criminal Court on 13 July 2015. He was charged with possession of an 8mm Valtro Model 85 combat pistol, seven rounds of 8mm ammunition, a 12‑gauge Eibar shotgun and three shotgun cartridges, all seized at his home in Cuillenstown, Readypenny, Dundalk. Finnegan made no reply to his arrest or caution. His counsel requested the matter be listed for 16 July, when a bail and legal aid application is expected. The judge remanded him in custody for that hearing.
Gareth Mulley, 45, of Aisling Park, Dundalk, was granted temporary bail by the Special Criminal Court after being charged with IRA membership and possession of explosives. The charges include unlawful possession of PETN and RDX, a 50‑litre adapted beer keg, 50 kg of homemade ammonium nitrate explosive, an improvised detonation cord, a steel booster tube and a time‑and‑power unit found at Kilcurry Church on 25 May 2014. He and two co‑accused are alleged to have had the items in circumstances that raised reasonable suspicion of unlawful intent. Mulley was arrested in May 2014 by the Special Detective Unit during investigations into dissident republicans. The three‑judge court set bail from 9 July until 15 July, with conditions including a €13 000 surety, a €1 000 personal bond, curfew, no contact with witnesses or co‑accused, and mandatory daily reporting to a Garda station. He must appear again on 22 July for trial.
James McNamee, aged 23, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for arson at North Link Retail Park, where a sofa set on fire in the loading bay caused €2.2 million of damage, including €745,000 uninsured. He pleaded guilty to one count of arson on 30 June 2010 and was originally sentenced by Judge Michael O'Shea on 31 January 2014. On appeal, the Court of Appeal reduced the sentence to four years with the final 18 months suspended. McNamee, who was 18 at the time of the offence, and three minors had climbed a fence to enter the loading bay; only McNamee was prosecuted. The court noted that no one was injured or killed and that the fire caused significant business losses, some businesses closing permanently. McNamee was required to post a €100 bond for four years after release. The appeal was granted by Judges Alan Mahon, Garrett Sheehan and John Edwards.
A 45-year-old man from Castleblayney, County Monaghan, has been sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment following his conviction for drug trafficking. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Mark Donnelly pleaded guilty to possession of 37 kilograms of cannabis resin on the M1 in north Dublin on 13 February 2014. The drugs carried an estimated street value of €221,400. Donnelly told gardaí he had agreed to transport the narcotics to settle a debt owed to a man who had threatened him. His legal team presented character references from former employers and community members, noting his background as a self-employed joinery worker and involvement with his local hurling club. Judge Martin Nolan described him as a hard-working family man and first-time offender who had made a grave error of judgement under pressure. Detective Garda Eoin Roche confirmed that gardaí, acting on confidential information, intercepted the van as it travelled south from County Louth.
Gregory Shannon, 35, of Dundalk, pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment after driving his car at a person he had apparently fallen out with in a local car park on 17 May 2012. The original sentence, imposed by Judge Michael O'Shea on 15 March 2014, was three‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment with the final year suspended. On appeal, Justice Garrett Sheehan found that the trial judge had erred by not fully considering mitigating factors such as Shannon's guilty plea, work record and community activity, and by failing to consider a community‑service order. The Court of Appeal set aside the original sentence and imposed a new term of three‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended. Shannon was required to post a €500 bond and keep the peace for two years, to which he agreed.
Christopher Ward, aged 52, was convicted of raping his 74‑year‑old aunt Kathleen Ward in Dundalk on 13 March 2011. After an eight‑day trial, a Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty and Mr Justice George Birmingham sentenced him to 14 years' imprisonment on 19 May 2014. Ward had pleaded not guilty and was due to appeal his conviction and sentence in the Court of Appeal before 18 April 2015. However, his barrister, Michael O'Higgins SC, informed the Court that Ward suffered a heart attack on Friday and died, so the appeal will not proceed.
The Court of Appeal has increased the sentence of Cathal Murtagh, a Louth man, from five years to eight years for possession of drugs for sale or supply. Murtagh, who pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, was originally sentenced in March 2012 for possessing €3.5 million worth of ecstasy and cannabis at a Malahide Road warehouse in April 2011. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed the original sentence as unduly lenient, arguing the judge failed to adequately consider the offence's presumptive minimum of ten years and the drugs' value. President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice Seán Ryan imposed the new eight-year term from the date of the original sentence. However, the balance of the sentence was suspended. Mr Justice Ryan described Murtagh as "very lucky" and urged him to "take the chance" given. Murtagh was required to enter a personal bond of €100 to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for five years. Counsel for the DPP, Mr Ronan Kennedy BL, argued the original sentence attached excessive weight to mitigating factors, including Murtagh's status as a "lowest cog" and his lack of prior convictions. Defence counsel, Ms Mary Rose Gearty SC, noted Murtagh had been at liberty since September 30. The court's decision reflects a review of the sentence rather than a new trial, with the suspended portion contingent on the specified conditions.
At the Central Criminal Court, a jury heard that gardaí discovered the body of Patricia Kierans at her family home in Drumbannon, Bailieboro, County Cavan, on the evening of 5 September 2013. Garda Adrian O'Hanlon of Virginia Garda Station testified that he found Ms Kierans lying on the floor of a bedroom containing a cot. Oliver Kierans, aged 57, has pleaded not guilty to her murder on that date, and also to unlawful possession of a double-barrel shotgun and possession of the weapon with intent to endanger life. The court heard evidence that gardaí attended The Square bar in Bailieboro as part of a critical incident response, where the accused was later arrested at 3.20am. The trial, before Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly and a jury, addresses legal issues and will resume with evidence on Friday.
Michael McDonagh, a 36‑year‑old bare‑knuckle boxer, was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his wife, Jacqueline McDonagh, on 29 August 2012. The Central Criminal Court heard that the assault lasted one hour and twenty minutes and that Jacqueline was brutally beaten to death in their Dundalk home. CCTV footage showed McDonagh leaving his car in good form after a family party, and the investigation revealed extensive bruising and penetrating wounds inflicted with a long‑handled implement found at the scene. A post‑mortem confirmed severe injuries, including three large scalp wounds and multiple bruises on the left thigh. McDonagh pleaded guilty and was given a life sentence, back‑dated to 1 September 2012, after the court considered the victim impact statement and the evidence of domestic violence. The sentence was imposed by Justice Paul Carney.
In 2010, Douglas Ward, 38, of Louth, killed 18‑year‑old Niall Dorr in a prolonged assault on Castle Road, Dundalk. Ward pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was originally sentenced to 16 years' imprisonment, with three years suspended, by Mr Justice Paul Carney in 2012. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Seán Ryan, found the sentence excessive, citing Ward's lack of pre‑meditation, no serious prior convictions, and his efforts to address alcohol and drug problems. The appeal court reduced the sentence to 13 years' imprisonment, again with three years suspended. The decision was based on the violent nature of the attack, the severity of injuries, and the absence of provocation or prior conflict involving Dorr. Ward expressed remorse for the killing. The case remains a manslaughter conviction with a reduced custodial term.
A 24‑year‑old Louth man, Adrian Crevan Mackin of Mullach Alainn, Omeath, was brought before the Special Criminal Court on a charge of membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The charge was brought on Friday, 16 January, after Mackin was arrested and cautioned at The Crescent, Dundalk. Detective Garda Ciaran Hobbs gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution. The three‑judge court, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Butler, agreed to hear the case. Mackin was remanded in custody and will appear again on Thursday, with his barrister planning to apply for bail and legal aid.
Two men from Louth were granted bail by the Special Criminal Court pending the service of a book of evidence for separate offences. Michael Connolly, 42, of Dundalk was charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, the Irish Republican Army, on 16 December. Brian Fitzpatrick, 49, of Dundalk was charged with two counts of possession of an explosive substance under suspicious circumstances, alleged to be two complete Improvised Explosive Devices, on the same day at Mitchelstown Cross, Castletown, Navan, Co. Meath. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan and Judge William Hamill, ordered bail for both men on terms agreed with counsel. The conditions include daily signing at Dundalk Garda station, a curfew from 11 pm to 7 am, surrendering passports, remaining within the jurisdiction, residing at addresses known to Gardaí and providing a mobile phone number for contact. Independent sureties of €20,000 each and bonds of €100 were set, and legal aid was granted.
In a Swords District Court hearing, two men, Sean Brady (34) and Damien Byrne (45), pleaded guilty to burglary at Kinsealy Pet Store on 24 October 2013. Brady also pleaded guilty to careless driving. Garda evidence showed the owner, Aidan O'Connor, discovered an intruder around 10.30 pm, and the store's doors were left open, causing €660 worth of birds to die from cold exposure. Blood at the scene matched Brady's DNA. O'Connor saw a male fleeing the aviary toward a red BMW, struck the vehicle with a hatchet, and had to jump out of the way. Garda Kevin Farrell noted the BMW, driven by Byrne, was stopped at Artane Roundabout. Brady, with ten prior convictions, will have his case sent back to Trim Circuit Court for a Section 99 re‑entry on 3 February next year.
Two men from Louth, aged 42 and 49, were brought before the Special Criminal Court on 18 December 2014. Michael Connolly of Dundalk was charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Brian Fitzpatrick of Dundalk was charged with two counts of possession of an explosive substance under suspicious circumstances, alleged to be two complete improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Both men were arrested on 16 December at the same car park outside Drogheda Garda Station. Connolly denied membership of the IRA when cautioned, and Fitzpatrick denied possession of explosives. Garda Colm Finnerty and Detective Garda Niall Armstrong gave evidence of the arrests, charges and cautions. The court granted an order to preserve any external CCTV footage from Drogheda Garda Station and remanded both men in custody until Tuesday, when Connolly will apply for bail and legal aid.
A 36-year-old man from Ballinrobe, County Mayo, has been sentenced to four years imprisonment, with the final twelve months suspended, following a series of attempted robberies across Dublin and County Louth in early 2014. Arthur Boland pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of attempted robbery at post offices in Dublin 2 and one count of making threats to kill or cause serious harm at Pearse Street Garda Station. He also admitted to robbery at the General Post Office on O'Connell Street, a robbery at a bookmaker on Marlborough Street, and a robbery at a post office in Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk on 25 February 2014. Boland handed written notes demanding money to staff at multiple premises, simulating a firearm by keeping his hand in his jacket pocket. He obtained €4,110 from the Dundalk post office and €35 from the Dublin bookmaker. The sentence was backdated to his arrest in March 2014. Judge Mary Ellen Ring noted Boland's efforts at rehabilitation while in custody, including his participation in educational and counselling programmes.
The Special Criminal Court has set a trial date for three men—Gareth Mulley (45), David Gallagher (37), and William Burns (38)—charged with possession of explosive devices, including an adapted 50‑litre beer keg, 50 kg of homemade ammonium nitrate, PETN, RDX, an improvised detonation cord, steel booster tube, and time‑and‑power unit. All were arrested in May 2014 by An Garda Síochana's Special Detective Unit during investigations into dissident republican activity. Mulley and Gallagher are also charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, namely Oglaigh na hÉireann (the Irish Republican Army). The court, presided over by Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy, set the trial for 5 July 2016, expected to last two to three weeks, and issued witness orders and instructions on alibi evidence and witness notice. Counsel for Burns sought a variation of bail conditions to allow night taxi work, which the court removed.
The Court of Appeal has adjourned the sentencing appeal of Cathal Murtagh until January 19. Murtagh, a Louth man, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of drugs for sale or supply at a warehouse on Malahide Road on April 25, 2011. In March 2012, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to five years' imprisonment. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) appealed this sentence on grounds of undue leniency. Counsel for the DPP, Mr Ronan Kennedy BL, argued that the sentencing judge failed to adequately consider the offence's maximum penalty of life imprisonment and the presumptive minimum of ten years. He further contended that excessive weight was given to mitigating factors, such as Murtagh's guilty plea and lack of prior convictions, while insufficient regard was paid to the value of the drugs, which included cannabis and ecstasy tablets worth over €3.5 million. Counsel for Murtagh, Ms Mary Rose Gearty SC, highlighted that he has been at liberty since September 30. President of the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice Sean Ryan, reserved the decision, meaning the matter was adjourned and not concluded.
Balbriggan District Court heard five matters before Judge Dermot Dempsey. Jennifer Jordan pleaded guilty to driving without insurance and an NCT. She was fined €500 and €100 respectively, with disqualification waived under special circumstances. Liam Daly pleaded guilty to threatening behaviour and intoxication, receiving fines of €300 and €100. Kirian Onyeme pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of cannabis; he was convicted, fined €250, and the drugs were ordered destroyed. Jonathan Kendellan pleaded guilty to drink driving. He was convicted, fined €750, and disqualified for six years. Stephen Nyantaki pleaded guilty to intoxication and non-payment of a taxi fare. The matter was adjourned until December 4th for facts to be heard, with continuing bail granted. All defendants were represented by counsel, and recognisances were fixed where applicable.
Paul Callan, a Louth businessman, had posted a €20,000 surety for Vesel Jahiri, a 33‑year‑old from Kosovo, who was charged with murdering Anna Finnegan, 25, in Dublin in 2012. Callan allowed Jahiri to live with him and believed the bail would secure his appearance at the Central Criminal Court. Jahiri failed to attend the final days of his trial, breaking bail and prompting a bench warrant. The State sought forfeiture of the €5,000 Callan had lodged, with the remainder frozen until the warrant could be executed. Callan, representing himself, admitted he had been naive, trusting Jahiri based on a long friendship and prior credit arrangements. Judge Paul McDermott granted Callan a 50 % refund, returning €10,000, acknowledging his difficulties as a bailsperson and his good faith efforts. The case ended with the bail forfeiture and no further court action against Callan. Vesel Jahiri pleaded not guilty.
Three men—Gareth Mulley (45) of Ashling Park, Dundalk; David Gallagher (37) of Marley Court, Drogheda; and William Burns (38) of Kerrera Street, Ardoyne, Belfast—were served with a book of evidence in the Special Criminal Court on 8 October 2014. They were arrested in May by the Garda Special Detective Unit during investigations into dissident republican activity. All are charged with possession of explosive substances on 25 May 2014 at Kilcurry, Co. Louth, under the Explosive Substances Act and the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act. Allegations include possession of PETN, RDX, an adapted 50‑litre beer keg, 50 kg of homemade ammonium nitrate, an improvised detonation cord, steel booster tube, and a time‑and‑power unit. Mulley and Gallagher are also charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, namely Oglaigh na hEireann (the IRA), under the Offences Against the State Act.
In 2012, Gerard Stokes (33), David McDonagh (35) and James McDonagh (47) were convicted in Dundalk Circuit Court for extorting €57,000 from Niall Hearty on two occasions. A jury found them guilty on two counts each of demanding money with menaces. Stokes received an eight‑year sentence, David McDonagh ten years, and James McDonagh eight years. In 2014, the Criminal Court of Appeal reduced Stokes's and James McDonagh's sentences by two years each, and David McDonagh's by three years. The appeal court agreed with the defence that the trial judge had set the tariff too high, citing mitigating factors and remorse, while the prosecution maintained the original sentence was appropriate. The court found no error in the handling of the victim impact report. The reduced sentences were applied as the final outcome.
A jury of ten members failed to reach a verdict in the trial of Vesel Jahiri, aged 33, who was accused of stabbing his former partner, Anna Finnegan, aged 25, in Dublin on 21 September 2012. The jury deliberated for more than ten hours over three days before the foreman informed Judge Paul McDermott that further time would not lead to an agreement. Jahiri pleaded not guilty to both the murder of Finnegan and to assault causing harm to her brother Karl on the same date. The judge thanked the jury for their entitlement to disagree.
The jury is still deliberating on the trial of Vesel Jahiri, 33, who has pleaded not guilty to the stabbing murder of Anna Finnegan, 25, at Allendale Glen, Clonsilla, on 21 September 2012. He also faces a not‑guilty plea for assault causing harm to Finnegan's brother Karl on the same day. The jury, composed of six men and four women, has been considering its verdict since Wednesday and will resume deliberations tomorrow.
In Northern Ireland, Francis Joseph Tiernan, a man in his fifties from Carrickedmond, Kilcurry, Dundalk, Co. Louth, voluntarily surrendered to authorities after a European Arrest Warrant issued in 2012 was executed. The warrant concerns four alleged offences between 1 December 2004 and 1 April 2007, including forging a will, forging a document purporting to be a property sale agreement, and conspiracy to use false instruments. Each offence carries a potential 10‑year prison penalty. Mr Tiernan entered the witness box, signed a surrender document, and was remanded on continuing bail until handover.
In a murder trial in Dublin, Vesel Jahiri, a Kosovo-born man from Louth Village, Dundalk, is accused of stabbing his former partner, Anna Finnegan, on 21 September 2012 at Allendale Glen, Clonsilla. He pleaded not guilty to both the murder of Finnegan and the assault causing harm to her brother, Karl. The Central Criminal Court had earlier noted that Jahiri and Finnegan had a ten‑year relationship that deteriorated dramatically, with two children and access issues. Mr Justice Paul McDermott instructed the jury that Jahiri's absence should not influence their decision and that verdicts must be based solely on the evidence presented. Prosecutor Patrick Marrinan urged the jury to focus on the events of that day, the physical evidence of Karl's injuries, and the fact that Finnegan was stabbed by Jahiri.
In a trial for the murder of Anna Finnegan, the jury was instructed not to infer anything from the accused's absence. Vesel Jahiri, a Louth Village resident originally from Kosovo, pleaded not guilty to both the murder of Finnegan and an assault on her brother Karl. The Central Criminal Court had previously noted their ten‑year relationship and the deterioration that led to the fatal incident. Judge Paul McDermott announced that the trial could not proceed that day, as Jahiri was not present, and would resume the next day after all evidence had been heard.
In a trial for the murder of Anna Finnegan, the jury heard that Vesel Jahiri first learned of her death on the radio the day after the incident. Jahiri, who pleaded not guilty to both the murder and an assault on Finnegan's brother Karl, explained that he was upset and entered the house to confront Karl, who he said had a knife. He claimed he had taken a knife from Karl after an altercation and that he had stabbed Finnegan in a fit of anger, though he denied doing so. The prosecution presented evidence that Finnegan was stabbed in the chest and head while she fled, and that Jahiri had moved her body to the back of a car. Jahiri also testified that he had spoken to Helga Duffy the night of the incident, saying something bad had happened. The trial continues before a jury and Judge Paul McDermott.
In the trial of Vesel Jahiri, a man from Louth Village, Dundalk, accused of murdering his former partner Anna Finnegan in Dublin on 21 September 2012, the jury was informed that the evidence he gave the previous day had been 'whitewashed'. Jahiri, who pleaded not guilty to both the murder and an assault on Finnegan's brother Karl, was cross‑examined by Mr Patrick Marrinan SC. The prosecution read to the jury excerpts from Garda interviews in which Jahiri admitted to hitting Finnegan, pushing her back, and that she had tried to hit him with a pan. He also admitted to threatening her with a gun and saying he would kill her and her sister Lisa if he did not see his children. The prosecution also questioned Jahiri about smashing the door at Finnegan's house, his claim that Karl was a gangster, and the knife used in the alleged stabbing.
In a 2014 trial, Vesel Jahiri, a Louth Village resident originally from Kosovo, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Anna Finnegan and to assault causing harm to her brother Karl. The case centred on a ten‑year relationship that had deteriorated, with Finnegan and Jahiri having two children. On 21 September 2012, Finnegan was stabbed in the chest and head after Jahiri allegedly burst into the house with a knife. Jahiri claimed Karl produced the knives and that Finnegan was injured while trying to stop her brother. Witnesses, including Anna's cousin Brian Conlon, testified about text messages and alleged threats, but Conlon denied any plot to "wipe out" Jahiri. DNA and fingerprint evidence linked the knife to Jahiri, and a post‑mortem confirmed a fatal single stab wound. The case proceeded before a jury under Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
In a murder trial held on 5 June 2014, Vesel Jahiri pleaded not guilty to the killing of Anna Finnegan and to assaulting her brother Karl. The court heard that Jahiri and Finnegan had a ten‑year relationship that had deteriorated, and that they had two children. According to Karl, after putting the children to bed, he and Finnegan were having tea when Jahiri burst in with a knife. An altercation ensued, during which Finnegan was stabbed in the chest and head; she fled, ran to a neighbour, and collapsed on the roadside. Dr Hilary Clarke testified that Finnegan's DNA was found on a knife's tip, which was slightly bent and had a broken piece. The knife's blood matched Karl's. Detective James O'Hora confirmed that two knives found in the kitchen sink were not fingerprint‑examined. Detective James Cunningham examined the knife with Finnegan's blood and found a left‑hand fingerprint on the blade but none on the handle.
In a murder trial, the accused, Vesel Jahiri, pleaded not guilty to killing Anna Finnegan and assaulting her brother Karl. The court heard that a fingerprint from Jahiri's left forefinger was found on the blade of the knife that caused Finnegan's fatal wounds, but no smudge was found on the handle. Detective Garda James Cunningham confirmed the mark was about one‑and‑a‑half to two inches from the handle's edge, pointing toward the sharp end. No fingerprints were found on black‑handled knives at Jahiri's residence, and the detective had not examined knives from the kitchen sink. Dr Arun Khan noted abrasions on Jahiri's left thumb and face. The case was set to continue before a jury presided by Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 3 June 2014, Vesel Jahiri pleaded not guilty to the murder of Anna Finnegan and to assault causing harm to her brother Karl. The case centred on a 10‑year relationship that had deteriorated, with two children involved. According to Karl Finnegan, Anna and he were having tea when Jahiri burst in with a knife, stabbing Anna in the chest and head. Jahiri claimed Karl produced the knives and that Anna was injured while trying to stop him. Gardaí interviews revealed Jahiri denied using the knife that killed Finnegan and insisted the knives found at his address were not from the same set. He also denied stabbing Finnegan, stating "about 30% of the case was not true." The trial was adjourned for a week, and the case was set to continue with a jury of ten.
Three men—Gareth Mulley (44), William Burns (38) and David Gallagher (37)—appeared before the Special Criminal Court on 28 May 2014. They were charged with explosives offences and membership of the unlawful organisation Oglaigh na hEireann (the IRA). Burns, of Ardoyne, Belfast, was accused of unlawfully possessing PETN and RDX, a 50‑litre beer keg, 50 kg of ammonium nitrate homemade explosive, an improvised detonation cord, a steel booster tube and a time‑and‑power unit found at Kilcurry Church on 25 May. Mulley, of Dundalk, and Gallagher, of Drogheda, were charged with IRA membership on the same date. The Special Detective Unit arrested the men on Sunday evening and presented evidence to the court. No bail applications were made, but legal aid was granted to Mulley. Judge Iseult O'Malley remanded the men in custody, ordering a video‑link appearance on 4 June, with liberty to apply for bail if a production order is sought.
In the murder trial of Vesel Jahiri, the jury was asked to leave for a week while Judge Paul McDermott dealt with complex legal matters. Jahiri, a Louth Village resident originally from Kosovo, pleaded not guilty to murdering his former partner Anna Finnegan and to assaulting her brother Karl on 21 September 2012. The court heard that Jahiri and Finnegan had a ten‑year relationship that deteriorated, and that they had two children. Karl testified that after putting the children to bed, he and Finnegan were having tea when Jahiri burst in with a knife, stabbing Karl in the chest and head while Finnegan fled and later collapsed. Jahiri claimed Karl produced the knives and that Finnegan was injured while trying to stop him. The jury also heard from a friend of Jahiri who said the accused claimed he had defended himself after an attack.
Richard Cleary, 42, a former Irish Defence Forces member, is serving a three‑year sentence in Mountjoy Prison for assaulting his ex‑wife and step‑daughter in their home while a barring order was in place. He had pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. In March, Dundalk Circuit Court sentenced him to three years with six months suspended. On appeal, the Court of Criminal Appeal increased the suspended period to fifteen months, citing mitigating factors such as Cleary's good character, army record and the impact of custodial time on his career. The court noted the injuries sustained by the victims.
In a 2014 case, a 33‑year‑old man, Vesel Jahiri, was arrested on suspicion of murdering Anna Finnegan in Dublin on 21 September 2012. He pleaded not guilty to both murder and assault causing harm to Anna's brother Karl. The Central Criminal Court heard that Jahiri and Finnegan had a ten‑year relationship that had deteriorated, with two children and access issues. Karl testified that after putting the children to bed, he and Anna were in the kitchen when Jahiri burst in with a knife, stabbing Anna in the chest and head while she fled. Jahiri claimed he did not stab Anna, arguing he fought Karl, and blamed multiple parties for the incident. Gardaí interviews showed Jahiri denying responsibility and expressing love for Anna. The case was set to continue before a jury with Justice Paul McDermott presiding.
Vesel Jahiri, 33, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court, where he has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Anna Finnegan at Allendale Glen, Clonsilla, Dublin 15, on September 21, 2012. He also faces a charge of assault causing harm on Anna Finnegan's brother, Karl, on the same date. The jury heard evidence that Jahiri allegedly told Anna's sister, Lisa Finnegan, over the phone that he was "coming for her next." Witness Connie Farrelly testified to hearing this statement on loudspeaker while driving to Blanchardstown Hospital. Under cross-examination, Farrelly acknowledged previous convictions that resulted in substantial jail time. Another witness, Paul Callen, stated that Jahiri phoned him shortly after taking Anna to hospital, claiming he had turned a knife back on them after being hit with a chair. The court heard that Jahiri and Anna Finnegan had a ten-year relationship that had deteriorated, with access to their two children becoming a contentious issue. Karl Finnegan previously testified that Jahiri allegedly burst into the home with a knife, leading to an altercation in which Karl was stabbed in the chest and head. Jahiri maintains that Karl produced the knives and that Anna was fatally injured while trying to stop her brother from stabbing him. The trial continues before a jury of six men and five women, with Mr Justice Paul McDermott presiding.
In a Dublin 15 murder case, 33‑year‑old Vesel Jahiri, a Louth Village resident originally from Kosovo, pleaded not guilty to the killing of Anna Finnegan on 21 September 2012. He also pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm to Finnegan's brother Karl on the same day. The court heard that Jahiri and Finnegan had a ten‑year relationship that had deteriorated, with two children and access issues. On the night of the incident, Jahiri allegedly burst into Finnegan's kitchen with a knife, an altercation ensued, and Finnegan was stabbed in the chest and head. Jahiri claimed Karl produced the knives and that Finnegan was injured while trying to stop him. An electrician, Damian Lynch, testified that Jahiri told him Finnegan was "OK" and that Karl had been badly hurt. The case is set to continue before a jury.
In a 2014 trial, a jury viewed CCTV footage of a 25‑year‑old mother of two, Anna Finnegan, being driven to hospital by Vesel Jahiri, who is accused of her murder. The footage shows Jahiri, a 33‑year‑old man originally from Kosovo, arriving at the hospital at 20:49 on 21 September 2012 in a white Ford Focus. He allegedly lifted Finnegan from the back seat, and witnesses describe her appearing to slip from his grasp. Finnegan was later found unconscious with a wound on her chest. Jahiri also faces a charge of assault causing harm against Finnegan's brother, Karl, on the same day. The case is set to continue before a jury with Mr Justice Paul McDermott presiding. The trial focuses on the events of that night and the alleged actions of Jahiri. Vesel Jahiri pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Vesel Jahiri, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Anna Finnegan and the assault causing harm to her brother, Karl, at Allendale Glen, Clonsilla, Dublin 15, on September 21, 2012. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that Ms Finnegan died from a single, non-survivable stab wound to the left chest. He stated the knife penetrated between the seventh and eighth ribs, slicing through the pancreas and stomach before terminating at the abdominal aorta. Dr Curtis noted there were no defensive wounds on the deceased, though he agreed with defence counsel that he could not exclude the possibility she was injured while intervening in a fight. Witness Ms Joan Broe described seeing Jahiri advance aggressively toward the Finnegan siblings, alleging he punched Karl and then attacked Anna, causing her to flee. Jahiri is alleged to have pursued her, jumping on her and punching her before she collapsed. The defence contends that Karl Finnegan produced the knives and that Anna was fatally injured while trying to stop her brother from stabbing Jahiri. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of six men and five women.
In a 2014 Central Criminal Court hearing, Vesel Jahiri, 33, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Anna Finnegan and to assault causing harm to her brother Karl. The case involved a ten‑year relationship that had deteriorated, with two children. Witness Karl Finnegan testified that Jahiri entered Finnegan's home with a knife, leading to an altercation in which Finnegan was stabbed in the chest and head. Finnegan fled, collapsed on the roadside, and later died. Finnegan's brother claimed he had no memory of the fight, attributing his amnesia to refusing to recall the incident. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan presented Jahiri's version, denying the presence of a knife and arguing Finnegan's injuries were a result of her attempt to stop an attack. The trial proceeded to a jury hearing on the following day.
In the Central Criminal Court, Vesel Jahiri, aged 33, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Anna Finnegan and to assault causing harm to her brother Karl on 21 September 2012. Prosecutor Patrick Marrinan described a ten‑year relationship that had deteriorated, noting that the couple had two children. Witness Karl Finnegan testified that he was having tea with Anna when Jahiri burst into the house with a knife. He claimed to have seen the knife, describing it as having a wooden handle with rivets, and said he was stabbed in the chest and head while Anna fled. Finnegan also stated that he had made statements to Gardaí in 2014, detailing the events and the alleged knife. The case was set to continue before a jury with Justice Paul McDermott presiding.
In the Central Criminal Court, Vesel Jahiri, aged 33, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Anna Finnegan and to assaulting her brother Karl. Karl testified that he and Anna were having tea when a bang was heard at the front door. He saw Jahiri entering with a knife, and Anna screamed and fled. Karl claimed he was stabbed in the head and chest by Jahiri, who said he acted in self‑defence and had no part in stabbing Anna. Karl described being on the ground, possibly blacking out, and later seeing Anna collapse. He noted Jahiri's presence near Anna but no visible injuries. Jahiri's defence argued that a recorded conversation with social worker Karen Byrne was misrepresented. The case remains before a jury presided by Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
In a Dublin Central Criminal Court trial, the jury heard that Vesel Jahiri, aged 33, had not told social workers that it would be easy for him to stab his former partner, Anna Finnegan, aged 25, as alleged by witnesses. The social worker, Karen Byrne, testified that Jahiri had threatened to kill Finnegan and their children. She claimed that Jahiri had said it would be easy to stab Finnegan but would not do so because he loved her. During cross‑examination, defence counsel played an audio recording of the conversation. Byrne stated that the tape was "doctored" and that a portion of the recording was missing. The case was set to continue before a jury of 6 men and 5 women, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott. Vesel Jahiri pleaded not guilty.
In a 2014 trial, Vesel Jahiri, a 33‑year‑old man originally from Kosovo, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his partner Anna Finnegan and to assaulting her brother Karl on 21 September 2012. The jury heard that the couple's relationship had deteriorated sharply before Finnegan's death and that they had two children together. Social worker Karen Byrne testified that Jahiri had threatened to stab Finnegan during a meeting at the Wellmount Centre, but she claimed he would not act on the threat because he loved her. The defence plans to play an audio recording of the conversation. Witnesses described Finnegan's move to a women's refuge and the high‑risk assessment she received. The trial continued with a jury of 11, after one juror was excused.