A terminally ill woman whose sister was murdered fourteen years ago has called on the Director of Public Prosecutions to prosecute a third person in connection with the killing. Speaking outside the Central Criminal Court following the sentencing of Niall Power to life imprisonment, solicitor Kevin Winters said authorities possess sufficient evidence against the alleged mastermind. Power, with an address at Giles Quay, Riverstown, County Louth, pleaded guilty to the murder of Irene White at Ice House, Demesne Road, Dundalk, on 6 April 2005. He is the second person convicted; Anthony Lambe of Annadrumman, County Monaghan, received a life sentence in January after admitting the killing. Mr Winters stated that Anne Delcassian, the deceased's sister, was too unwell to attend court. He described the case as involving a murderous triumvirate and urged prosecutors to complete the investigation.
A 47-year-old man from Riverstown, County Louth has been sentenced to life imprisonment after pleading guilty to the murder of Irene White at the Central Criminal Court. Niall Power admitted his role in the killing of the mother-of-three at her home on Demesne Road, Dundalk on 6 April 2005. Power presented himself to gardaí following the conviction of accomplice Anthony Lambe, a historian from Castleblayney, County Monaghan, who had been sentenced to life in January 2018. During sentencing, the court heard that Power had acted as an intermediary, conveying a request from an unnamed individual to have Ms White killed. He subsequently introduced Lambe to this person and facilitated the commission of the offence. Ms White was found by her 79-year-old mother with 34 stab wounds and a cut throat. Victim impact statements were delivered by Ms White's sister, who is terminally ill, and her daughter, describing the lasting devastation caused to the family.
Serial offender Barry Watters, aged 43, pleaded guilty to public indecency for exposing himself to children on their way to school in Dublin over two days in December 2014, and to possession of child pornography on 20 October 2016. He had previously received several sentences for child porn offences, including a fully suspended two‑and‑a‑half‑year term in 2008, a three‑year term in 2010, and a four‑year term with the final year suspended in 2012. On 7 December 2018, Judge Martina Baxter imposed consecutive sentences totalling seven years, with the final year suspended. On appeal, the Court of Appeal held that the judge had imposed two maximum sentences consecutively, which was inappropriate. Watters was re‑sentenced to five years and eight months imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, subject to strict conditions. The appeal decision was made on 25 June 2019.
Patrick Nevin, 37, was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment for raping two women in Meath after meeting them on Tinder. He pleaded guilty to the July 12, 2014 rape in Bellewstown and to a second sexual assault four days later. Nevin had previously been convicted of a sexual assault on a Brazilian woman at UCD in 2014 and had a 5½‑year sentence for that offence. The judge, Ms Justice Creedon, found the attacks pre‑meditated and callous, noting Nevin's predatory conduct and hostility toward women. He received a 14‑year term with the final two years suspended, and a five‑year post‑release supervision order that includes restrictions on physical performance, internet use and contact with others. The sentence was back‑dated to June 2015. Nevin has been in custody since September 2014.
A 19‑year‑old man named Mohamed Morei, who has been in custody at the Central Mental Hospital since early 2018, was found fit to plead by Mr Justice Alex Owens at the Central Criminal Court on 19 June 2019. The judge was informed by Sean Gillane SC, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, that doctors had observed progress in Morei's mental condition and that he now understands the nature of the charge, the evidence and the pleading procedure. Psychiatrists had suggested special arrangements for his trial, which Mr Gillane said are still improving. Morei attended the hearing with an Arabic interpreter.
Patrick Nevin, 37, will be sentenced next month after a Probation report is completed. He attacked three women in eleven days after meeting them on Tinder. Nevin met the first victim at her home, drove to a secluded spot in north Dublin, and after kissing her, forced sex when she refused. He verbally abused her and threatened her. The second victim, raped in Bellewstown, Co Meath, described terror and fear of being killed. Nevin pleaded guilty in July 2018 to rape and sexual assault. He is already serving a five‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for a 2014 sexual assault of another Tinder‑met woman, which he denies. The court noted his guilty pleas and apologies, and he remains in custody awaiting final sentencing by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon on 24 June. The case highlights the pattern of Tinder‑based attacks and the court's consideration of mitigation based on his pleas.
A Garda Assistant Commissioner has given evidence at the Special Criminal Court that he believes a County Louth man is a member of the IRA. Michael Connolly, aged 47, of Dundalk, has pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself Oglaigh na hEireann, the IRA, on 16 December 2014. The prosecution alleges Mr Connolly was observed by gardaí driving in convoy with another man, who was subsequently found in possession of two improvised explosive devices. Assistant Commissioner Michael O'Sullivan told the court he believed the accused was an IRA member on the date in question, basing his opinion on confidential material. Under cross-examination, the witness claimed privilege regarding tradecraft used, stating disclosure could inhibit ongoing operations. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey, presiding, with Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Judge James Faughnan.
The High Court adjourned a hearing on the proposed extradition of Liam Campbell, a 54‑year‑old Irishman wanted in Lithuania for alleged terrorism offences and weapons trafficking. Campbell was arrested in Dundalk on a European Arrest Warrant issued by Lithuanian authorities. The warrant alleges he organised the preparation for smuggling weapons to support the Real IRA between late 2006 and early 2007, arranging illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, explosives and substances. The court paused the case because a Lithuanian prosecutor's independence issue has arisen, and the matter will resume on 23 May.
The High Court adjudicated Michael McKevitt, Colm Michael Murphy, and Liam Campbell bankrupt following a civil action related to the 1998 Omagh bombing. Ms Justice Teresa Pilkington issued the orders after finding that the criteria under the 1986 Bankruptcy Act were met. The applications were brought by solicitor Gary Daly, acting for relatives of the 29 victims killed in the Real IRA attack. In 2009, the Belfast High Court found these men, along with Seamus Daly, liable for the bombing and ordered them to pay £1.6m in damages, a decision upheld by the European Court of Human Rights. All defendants have consistently denied involvement. The court heard that demands for approximately €439,000 from each man went unpaid. McKevitt, who is terminally ill, was represented by counsel noting his lack of assets and reliance on the State pension. Murphy's counsel stated he lacked firm instructions regarding the application. Campbell, who sought legal aid, did not appear. Counsel for the applicants argued against further adjournments, noting previous correspondence and service of documents. The judge determined that no further adjournments were appropriate and satisfied the statutory requirements for bankruptcy, resulting in the adjudication of all three individuals.
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.
The Court of Appeal re-sentenced Sean Ward, a former All Ireland boxing champion, to six years' imprisonment with the final nine months suspended, following an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Ward, who pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Natasha Keenan and driving without insurance in Dundalk in 2015, had previously received a six-year sentence with two years suspended. The court found his effective four-year term unduly lenient, noting he was driving while disqualified and had 68 prior convictions. President Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with Ms Justice Mary Irvine and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, stated Ward's prior record did not justify a significant suspended element. The court noted Ward initially provided a false account to gardaí, attempting to pin responsibility on the victim, and showed little empathy in his probation report. Ms Keenan suffered catastrophic injuries, including broken bones and skin grafting, and remains disabled. Ward was required to enter a good behaviour bond for the suspended period and two years post-release. Ward's own appeal against the severity of his sentence was withdrawn during the proceedings.
Joseph Hillen was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court today for the manslaughter of 53-year-old Martin Mulligan, who was killed at Carnmore, Balriggan, Dundalk, Co Louth, on September 28, 2015. A jury previously found Hillen not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon stated the killing fell in the upper-mid range of such offences, setting a headline sentence of ten years. Considering mitigating factors, including Hillen's offer to plead guilty, his stable employment, lack of previous violent convictions, and expressed remorse, she reduced the sentence to seven years. The final year was suspended on conditions of good behaviour, keeping the peace, and engaging with probation services. Hillen, of Glendasha Road, Forkhill, Co Armagh, was assessed as a moderate risk of re-offending. The court noted the jury accepted his claim of self-defence but found he used excessive force. Outside court, Martin Mulligan's daughter Shauna Mulligan stated the justice system had failed the family, calling the outcome unfair. His wife Grainne described the family as devastated, while his other daughter Sharon noted the family's grief. The family expressed that they felt the legal process did not adequately reflect the severity of the loss.
Patrick Nevin, 37, will be sentenced in May for a series of sexual offences that occurred over eleven days after meeting victims on Tinder. He attacked three women, one of whom he raped in Bellewstown, Co. Meath, and another whom he sexually assaulted in an unknown location in Co. Meath. Nevin also received a five‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for the sexual assault of a Brazilian woman he met on Tinder in 2014. The court adjourned sentencing to May 13, pending a pre‑sentence probation report, a prison governor's report and a forensic psychiatric report. Nevin pleaded guilty to the rape and assault charges, citing remorse and apologising to the victims. He is remanded in custody awaiting the May hearing. The judge noted that the public may attend the sentencing hearing. The case is currently delayed until the required reports are obtained.
Mr Charlie Jennings, a 65‑year‑old farmer from Carrickamon, Ravensdale, Dundalk, has filed High Court proceedings against the financial fund Promontoria (Oyster) DAC. He seeks to sell 46 acres of land in Castletown, Kilpatrick, Navan, Co. Meath, which he bought in 2005 and 2006 for €590,000 with loans from Ulster Bank that were later purchased by Promontoria in 2016. Jennings claims the fund has not supplied a net redemption figure that would allow him to clear an outstanding loan of about €257,000, preventing him from completing a sale agreed with a buyer since May. He alleges the fund is also demanding payment on other mortgages linked to his son's property and a joint mortgage with a business partner, citing 'all sums due' clauses. Jennings seeks orders compelling Promontoria to provide the redemption figure, to allow the sale, and to prevent interference, as well as damages.
Barry Watters, aged 42, was sentenced to six years in prison for two counts of indecency and possession of child pornography. He pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in December 2014 and October 2016. Watters had previously been convicted six times, mainly for child pornography, and once for criminal damage. In December 2014, children on their way to school witnessed him exposing himself on a Dublin street; a youth worker and several children reported the incident the following day. In October 2016, Gardaí observed him in an internet café, where he accessed a USB containing 23 illegal child‑pornographic images and 422 images of pre‑teens in various states of undress. The judge imposed a seven‑year sentence with the final 12 months suspended for two years on strict conditions, including completion of sexual offender treatment, no contact with children, and supervision when using internet‑enabled devices.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the family of 53‑year‑old Martin Mulligan, who was stabbed and left to die on a road in Dundalk on 28 September 2015, delivered impact statements describing him as hardworking, caring, loving, patient, intelligent, amusing and affectionate. They recalled his role as a family bond, his support and encouragement, and his kindness to neighbours. The youngest daughter, Shauna, said he was "brutally, viciously and inhumanely killed for no fault of his own" and that his death left her vulnerable and afraid. The eldest daughter, Sharon, remembered his self‑lessness and how he cared for a neighbour's son. The wife, Grainne, recalled their long marriage and the last intimate moment they shared. The court heard that Joseph Hillen, 24, was found guilty of manslaughter by a jury in October and will be sentenced on 28 January.
In a 2018 hearing, Gardaí used thermal imaging from a helicopter to locate Folarin Odunlami (22) and Arnaud Farel (20) after they robbed a young man on Station Road, Lusk, on 9 March 2016. The pair had stolen a phone, wallet and €110, and the victim fled to a nursing home and called the police. Gardaí chased them, who fell 15 ft from a footbridge into a carpark and hid under brambles. Thermal imaging detected them, and Gardaí recovered the victim's items and the men's driving licence. Farel received a three‑year sentence with 18 months suspended, to run consecutively with a six‑year sentence for a prior assault. Odunlami's sentencing was adjourned pending a suitability assessment for community service. The court heard Odunlami had two prior minor convictions and was studying computer systems in Dundalk. The case was heard by Judge Melanie Greally. Folarin Odunlami pleaded guilty. Arnaud Farel pleaded guilty.
Dan Donovan, 49, and his daughter Charlene Donovan, 23, were sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for offences committed on December 12, 2017, at Parslickstown Gardens, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15. Both pleaded guilty to possessing a shotgun with intent to endanger life and recklessly discharging a firearm. Dan Donovan additionally pleaded guilty to threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Michael Collins. The court heard that Charlene Donovan fired a shotgun across the road, injuring a 17-year-old man, his mother, and a six-month-old baby in the legs. Dan Donovan then took the weapon, threatened to "bury" Mr Collins, and accidentally discharged it into the ground. Judge Martin Nolan jailed both defendants for five years. He noted the ongoing dispute between the families and accepted that the Donovans were in fear, but emphasized the child's blamelessness. Charlene Donovan, who has no prior record and significant intellectual difficulties, broke down in tears upon hearing the sentence. Dan Donovan, who has previous minor road traffic convictions, was held by his daughter. The judge acknowledged the intimidating nature of the rival family but stated he was satisfied Charlene Donovan understood the consequences of her actions.
In a High Court hearing on 23 November 2018, Mr Justice Senan Allen dismissed an injunction application by Blue Diamond Sports Ltd, trading as Dundalk Bureau de Change, and its related firm Blue Diamond Sports No 2 Ltd. The firms sought to prevent the Bank of Ireland (BOI) from terminating their banking arrangements, alleging that BOI's decision was discriminatory, disproportionate, unlawful and breached EU Payment Services Regulations. BOI had informed Blue Diamond in April that it intended to end the relationship shortly after the firm repaid a loan. BOI justified the termination on suspicions of money‑laundering activity, citing the 2010 Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Act, which obliges banks to report suspicious transactions. The judge found the injunction application failed at the first hurdle, that the balance of convenience did not favour granting it, and that any closure could be fairly measured and compensated by damages.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Silver Drescan (32) and Margherita Lupu (37) pleaded guilty to possessing 52 cloned credit cards and to making false payments, including a €3,400 purchase of a ring for Lupu and attempts to buy two mobile phones and two watches. The pair had used the cloned cards at Dom Marmion car park on 25 June 2018. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced Lupu to two years' imprisonment, suspended, with the condition that she leave the State within seven days and not return for at least ten years. Drescan received a two‑year sentence with the final 15 months suspended, taking into account his good work record and custody of two dependent children. Both defendants now live in the United Kingdom. The court noted that the offence was serious, but Lupu's guilty plea, remorse, lack of prior convictions and motherhood were mitigating factors. The couple's relationship ended after the arrest.
Patrick Nevin, aged 37, is set to be sentenced for two rape offences committed after meeting victims on Tinder in July 2014. He pleaded guilty to raping a woman in Bellewstown and sexually assaulting another in County Meath. Both victims testified that Nevin had convinced them to meet for a drive, then raped them in secluded locations. The first victim described feeling "tainted, dirty and stupid" and said the attack altered her life. The second victim recounted being forced into sexual acts and later experiencing severe anxiety. Nevin's prior convictions include assault on a former partner in 2001 and a firearms offence in 2012. He remains in custody awaiting sentencing on 17 December, with the court considering his guilty pleas and expressions of remorse. The court heard that Nevin had completed education while in custody and had worked as a software engineer.
Silver Drescan (32) and Margherita Lupu (37), both from the United Kingdom, were arrested on 25 June 2018 in Dublin for possessing 52 cloned credit cards and for making false payments. They used the cards to buy a €3,400 ring, two mobile phones and two watches. Lupu pleaded guilty to each count and was sentenced by Judge Elma Sheahan to two years' imprisonment per count, suspended on the condition that she leave the State within seven days and not return for at least ten years. Drescan's sentencing was adjourned to 19 November 2018. Garda Karl O'Neill described how the pair were stopped at a shopping centre, followed to a car park, and searched, revealing the cards. The couple had arrived from the UK the day before to visit friends and family, but their relationship ended after the arrest.
Eoin Morrow, a 38‑year‑old bricklayer from Dundalk, was sentenced to eight years in prison for possessing €1.38 million worth of cannabis resin and prescription drugs. Gardaí, using confidential information, set up a surveillance operation on a Scania truck that met Morrow's Volkswagen Jetta. The truck driver, John Needham, 31, and Morrow removed boxes of cannabis and 29 boxes of Zopiclone tablets onto a trolley bound for a storage unit in Newcourt Business Park, Finglas. A subsequent search uncovered 96 kg of cannabis, valued at €580,200, and 400,000 Zopiclone pills, valued at €800,000. Morrow pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis resin and supplying a prescription‑only drug on 25 July 2015. He had 15 prior convictions, including assault, burglary and theft. He had taken a bench warrant, fled to Europe, but returned and surrendered.
Blue Diamond Sports Ltd, trading as Dundalk Bureau de Change, and its sister company Blue Diamond Sports No 2 Ltd have applied to the High Court for an injunction to stop the Bank of Ireland from terminating their banking relationship. The banks claim the firms are linked to money‑laundering activity and have therefore decided to close their accounts. Blue Diamond denies any wrongdoing, arguing that the bank's decision is discriminatory, disproportionate, lacks objectivity and is unlawful. The firm, which acts as an agent for Moneygram International Ltd, says it has been unable to secure alternative banking services and that the loss of its accounts would force it out of business. The application seeks declarations that the bank's withdrawal of services is unlawful, discriminatory, disproportionate and breaches EU payment‑services regulations.
In the trial of Joseph Hillen, a 24‑year‑old from Forkhill, the jury found him not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for the death of taxi driver Martin Mulligan, 53, at Carnmore, Dundalk, on 28 September 2015. Hillen admitted to stabbing Mulligan but claimed the driver had pulled a knife on him and that he acted in self‑defence after a confrontation over alleged illegal dumping. Forensic evidence, including blood on the road and DNA on a glove, placed Hillen at the scene. The jury, after five hours and 29 minutes of deliberation, reached a majority verdict of ten to two. Justice Eileen Creedon thanked the jury and scheduled a sentencing hearing for 3 December. The case highlighted conflicting statements about the knife in Mulligan's car and the nature of the wounds, with the pathologist noting the unusual lower‑body stabs that caused rapid death.
Brendan Cummins, a 23‑year‑old former Leinster boxing champion, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for punching a prison officer at Portlaoise Prison on 20 February 2017. Cummins had 97 prior disciplinary sanctions and 11 previous assault convictions, including an earlier assault on a prison officer at Cloverhill Prison on the same date. The attack, described as unprovoked, broke the officer's nose and cut his inner lip, causing the officer to suffer headaches and a loss of smell. Cummins pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a three‑year sentence, suspending the final year due to his age, and ordered that he have no contact with the officer or his family for 25 years. The court noted Cummins' plea and the prison punishments already imposed, including a year of solitary confinement.
A jury will return to the Central Criminal Court tomorrow to decide the verdict in the trial of 24‑year‑old Joseph Hillen, who admits stabbing but denies murdering taxi‑driver Martin Mulligan (53). Hillen pleaded not guilty to murder after a dispute over alleged illegal dumping. Justice Eileen Creedon explained the three possible verdicts: guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. The jury had spent 3 hours 21 minutes deliberating and had not yet reached a verdict. They were asked to return Thursday.
In the trial of 24‑year‑old Joseph Hillen, the jury has begun deliberating a verdict for the murder of 53‑year‑old Martin Mulligan, a taxi driver killed on 28 September 2015. Hillen admits stabbing Mulligan but denies murder, claiming he acted in self‑defence after a dispute over alleged illegal dumping. Justice Eileen Creedon explained that the jury may find him guilty of murder, guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. The prosecution, led by Patrick Treacy SC, argues Hillen intended to kill or seriously injure Mulligan and that his self‑defence claim is uncredible, citing Hillen's earlier false statements to gardai. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC contends Hillen's account is the only one supported by evidence, noting the pathologist's observation that the wounds were low on the body and would have caused death quickly. The jury will return to the Central Criminal Court tomorrow to continue deliberations.
In the trial of Joseph Hillen, a 24‑year‑old from Forkhill, the jury is asked to decide whether he acted in self‑defence or is guilty of murder after stabbing taxi driver Martin Mulligan, aged 53, to death in Dundalk on 28 September 2015. Hillen denies murder, claiming he stabbed Mulligan to protect himself during a dispute over illegal dumping. Prosecutor Patrick Treacy SC argues Hillen lied to Gardaí and that his self‑defence claim is not credible, citing the depth and nature of the wounds and Hillen's failure to call for help. Defence barrister Brendan Grehan SC maintains Hillen's account is supported by evidence, noting the pathologist's remarks on the injuries and the possibility of a sewer rod causing head lacerations. The jury must weigh whether Hillen intended to kill or merely used excessive force, or if he acted in genuine self‑defence. The case is before Justice Eileen Creedon. The unnamed 24-year-old pleaded not guilty. Joseph Hillen pleaded not guilty.
Jarlath Higgins, 48, of Caraban, Ravensdale, Dundalk, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and criminal damage after accelerating through a Garda checkpoint near the Táin Bridge on 18 November 2015. He had alcohol on board but was not charged with drink driving. Higgins' Renault Megane violently fishtailed, injuring a Garda and causing €7,500 worth of damage to two patrol cars. Judge Michael O'Shea imposed wholly suspended sentences of two years and five months and a three‑year driving disqualification on 4 May 2017. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, but the Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, dismissed the appeal, citing Higgins' mitigating factors, low re‑offending risk, and lack of prior convictions. The suspended sentence remained, with no custodial time imposed.
In the Central Criminal Court, the family of the stabbed victim left before a jury saw the taxi driver's heavily blood‑stained jumper and t‑shirt. Prosecutor Patrick Treacy SC warned that the clothing could be distressing. Joseph Hillen, 24, of Forkhill, Co. Armagh, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Martin Mulligan, 53, at Carnmore, Dundalk, on 28 September 2015. Hillen admitted he inflicted the fatal knife wounds but claimed he did so to protect himself. Forensic scientist Sandra McGrath showed the jury the heavy blood staining on the jumper and t‑shirt, a 19.5 cm cut and tear at the V of the jumper's neck, and a glove with Hillen's DNA on its inside and back. She also identified 18 blood drops at the scene, two matching Hillen's DNA and the rest matching Mulligan's. Garda James Doherty reported Hillen was interviewed on 23 May 2016 after his car was seen driving erratically that night.
In the murder trial of Joseph Hillen, the wife of the stabbed taxi driver, Grainne Mulligan, denied that her husband kept a kitchen knife in his car. She stated that Hillen, a 24‑year‑old coal delivery man turned taxi driver, kept a bar on the floor of the taxi for protection and a small Swiss Army knife. She also admitted that she had previously claimed he kept a kitchen knife in the taxi, but later corrected that the knife was in his coal lorry. Mulligan described Hillen as a formidable man who would not back down in a confrontation. She said he kept the bar as a weapon if needed. The trial continues before a jury and Justice Eileen Creedon. Joseph Hillen pleaded not guilty. Grainne Mulligan pleaded not guilty.
During a murder trial, Gardaí recounted a car‑chase involving the accused, 24‑year‑old Joseph Hillen, hours before he stabbed taxi driver Martin Mulligan to death. Hillen, who pleaded not guilty, admitted stabbing Mulligan but claimed he did so to protect himself. The chase began shortly after midnight in Dundalk town centre, when Sergeant Michael Kermath and Garda Damien Fanning spotted a Toyota Avensis spinning its tyres outside Ridley's nightclub. They pursued the vehicle with blue lights, but the Avensis accelerated erratically, broke two traffic lights, and fled toward Marsh's Shopping Centre. The patrol car followed until the pursuit became too dangerous, and the officers believed they would not catch the driver before the border with Northern Ireland. CCTV footage of the chase was shown to the jury, and the trial continues before Justice Eileen Creedon.
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.
In a murder trial held in Dundalk, 24‑year‑old Joseph Hillen pleaded not guilty to the killing of taxi driver Martin Mulligan, 53, who was found dead near his taxi on 28 September 2015. Hillen admitted stabbing Mulligan twice, claiming he acted in self‑defence after an altercation that began when Mulligan allegedly punched him and a wrestling match ensued. Hillen also described a struggle over a stainless steel kitchen knife, during which he cut his own hand and stabbed Mulligan. An autopsy revealed two stab wounds and numerous blunt‑force injuries, with the abdominal wound severing an artery and killing Mulligan within 30 seconds. Hillen's statements to Gardaí in July 2018 acknowledged driving a Toyota Avensis that night, and he admitted to chasing Mulligan before the fatal encounter. The jury, hearing the prosecution's case, will decide whether Hillen's actions were self‑defence or murder. The trial continues before Justice Eileen Creedon.
Jarlath Higgins, 48, of Caraban, Ravensdale, Dundalk, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and criminal damage after speeding through a Garda checkpoint near Táin Bridge on 18 November 2015. He accelerated when signalled to stop, causing a collision that severely injured a Garda and damaged two patrol cars worth €7,500. Higgins had alcohol on board but was not charged with drink driving. Judge Michael O'Shea imposed a wholly suspended sentence of two years and five months, plus a three‑year driving disqualification, on 4 May 2017. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient due to the speeding, alcohol, and opportunity to stop earlier. A three‑judge Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, concluding the sentence was not unduly lenient, and the court will issue reasons on the following Wednesday.
Patrick Nevin, aged 36, has had his sentencing adjourned at the Central Criminal Court. Nevin was convicted in December 2017 of sexually assaulting a Brazilian student after driving her to the UCD campus on 23 July 2014, a charge he had denied. He later pleaded guilty to raping a woman in a parked car in Bellewstown, Co. Meath on 12 July 2014, and to sexually assaulting a second woman at an unknown location in Co. Meath on 16 July 2014. The offences were linked to first dates arranged via the dating app Tinder. Nevin, a former UCD student and father of two, has been in custody since his December conviction. Justice Eileen Creedon agreed to postpone his sentencing to 19 November, when all evidence will be heard, and remanded him in continuing custody. The adjournment was requested by his defence team. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
In a Louth double‑murder trial, the jury heard that Gardaí had confidential information that the two deceased car thieves were to meet another man in Dundalk on the night of their deaths. The case is a retrial at the Central Criminal Court after the first jury reached a verdict disagreement. The defendant, 35‑year‑old Jason O'Driscoll of Richmond Avenue, Fairview, pleaded not guilty to the murders of 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond, who were found with gunshot wounds to the head inside a burning silver Mercedes at Ravensdale Forest Park on 7 March 2012. Detective Sergeant Michael Sheridan testified that Gardaí reconstructed traffic from CCTV and identified the car as a good match for the one seen that night. He also confirmed that the confidential information about the planned meeting was received from a man originally arrested as a suspect.
Eoin Morrow, 38, a Louth bricklayer, will be sentenced for possessing cannabis and prescription drugs worth €1.38 million. Gardaí set up a surveillance operation on a Scania truck that met Morrow's Volkswagen Jetta. They observed Morrow and truck driver John Needham, 31, removing boxes from the truck onto a trolley bound for a storage unit in Newcourt Business Park. A subsequent search uncovered four large cardboard boxes of cannabis resin and 29 boxes of Zopiclone tablets. The 96 kg of cannabis was valued at €580,200 and the 400,000 Zopiclone pills at €800,000. Morrow pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis resin and supplying a prescription‑only drug. He has 15 previous convictions, including assault, burglary and theft. He fled to Europe after a bench warrant was issued but returned and surrendered. Needham also pleaded guilty to the same drug offences and was sentenced to eight years earlier this month.
Barry Watters, a 42-year-old man formerly of Infirmary Road, Dublin, and originally from Dundalk, Co Louth, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of indecency in December 2014 and possession of child pornography on October 20, 2016. The court heard that Watters exposed himself to children on their way to school in 2014, an incident that led to his arrest. In 2016, gardaí observed him viewing illegal images at an internet cafe on Middle Abbey Street; a USB key recovered from him contained 23 illegal images of child pornography and 422 images of children in various states of undress. Watters has six previous convictions, including a four-year sentence in 2012 for possession of child pornography, with the final year suspended. He also received a three-year sentence in 2010 and a two-year suspended sentence in 2009 for similar offences. Judge Martina Baxter remanded Watters in custody and ordered a psychologist's report to address community protection concerns. The matter was adjourned to December 3rd for the finalisation of his sentence, with a plea in mitigation to be concluded in the same month.
In the Central Criminal Court, Denise Burnett, sister of Anthony Burnett, gave emotional testimony about her brother, who was 31 when he was murdered in March 2012. She recalled that he would have celebrated his birthday on March 15 and that he had nicknames "Freaky" and "GTI" because of his interest in cars, which she explained involved robbing them. Burnett said Anthony had received compensation for a prior incident in Oberstown and had bought an apartment in Turkey. She described a phone call from Joseph Redmond on the evening of the disappearance, during which Redmond mentioned traveling to Dundalk or Newry to sell a car for €700 or €1,000. The trial of Jason O'Driscoll, 35, accused of murdering Anthony and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond, continues with a jury of five women and seven men. The case remains at the evidence stage. Jason O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 35‑year‑old Dublin man, Jason O'Driscoll, is charged with murdering two men, Anthony Burnett (31) and Joseph Redmond (25), on 7 March 2012 in County Louth. He pleaded not guilty. Firefighters Stephen Hoey and Vincent McGuinness testified that after extinguishing a car fire at Ravensdale Park, they found a badly cracked skull and a ribcage in the driver's seat, and a second skull in the footwell. Constable Niamh Mulholland described pursuing a silver 07 D Mercedes that night, noting two male occupants and a driver who made eye contact with police before the vehicle fled. The case is set to continue before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of five women and seven men.
In a 2018 Central Criminal Court hearing, Detective Sergeant Shane Curran testified about discovering two adult male bodies fused together in a burnt-out car in Ravensdale Park, Louth, on the night of March 7 2012. He described the driver's seat body as slumped out the door, with the passenger's body partially fused across it. Curran and colleagues carefully separated the remains, designating them as Body A (passenger) and Body B (driver). He noted that two badly damaged bullets were recovered from each head area, each fragmented into multiple pieces. DNA analysis later identified Body A as 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and Body B as 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond, using samples from their mothers. The testimony was part of the trial of 34‑year‑old Jason O'Driscoll, who pleaded not guilty to the murders of the two men. The case was set to continue before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury.
During the murder trial of 34‑year‑old Jason O'Driscoll, a witness named Ms. Reynolds testified that she saw a burning car near Ravensdale Park, Dundalk, six years earlier. She described a glow, flames, and a body slumped over the steering wheel, which she later learned was just the seat. Ms. Reynolds called the fire brigade at 10.52 pm; by the time they arrived, the flames were out and she heard explosions. The prosecution, represented by Alexander Owens SC, argued that circumstantial evidence was sufficient to convict O'Driscoll of murdering 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond on 7 March 2012. Owens claimed O'Driscoll was a knowing participant in the killings, though he did not assert that O'Driscoll fired the gun. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael White, is expected to last up to five weeks. Jason O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty.
The Court of Appeal has quashed the conviction of Michael Connolly, a 45-year-old from Dundalk, for membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the Irish Republican Army, otherwise the IRA, on December 16, 2014. Connolly had pleaded not guilty at the Special Criminal Court, where he was found guilty and sentenced to three years imprisonment by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding alongside Judge John O'Hagan and Judge Flann Brennan, on July 10, 2017. The appeal centered on the trial court's refusal to view an intelligence file that grounded Assistant Garda Commissioner Michael O'Sullivan's "belief evidence" regarding Connolly's membership. The trial court had upheld the Assistant Commissioner's claim of privilege over the material, citing State security and protection of life, and declined to inspect the file. In allowing the appeal, Mr Justice Alan Mahon, sitting with President George Birmingham and Mr Justice John Edwards, ruled that the trial court's reasons for rejecting the request to view the file were insufficient to justify their refusal. The Court of Appeal noted that the belief evidence significantly contributed to the guilty verdict. Consequently, the court quashed Connolly's conviction, ordered a retrial, and remanded him on bail to appear before the Special Criminal Court on Monday next.
The Court of Appeal heard several sentencing appeals, with two appellants withdrawing their cases after President Mr Justice George Birmingham reminded counsel of the court's power to increase sentences. Philip McKevitt, 62, of Dundalk, withdrew his appeal against an eight-and-a-half-year sentence imposed in 2017 by the Special Criminal Court. He had been convicted of making a bomb in his shed on May 22, 2010, which detectives alleged would have weighed 500lb fully loaded. His co-accused, Conan Murphy, 32, had previously pleaded guilty to the same incident and received a six-year sentence. In a separate matter, Charles McDonagh, 27, of Co Cavan, withdrew his appeal against a nine-year sentence for dangerous driving causing serious harm, a decision Mr Justice Birmingham described as sensible. Conversely, the court upheld the sentences of two other appellants. Keith Hughes, 27, of Dundalk, had his appeal dismissed regarding a six-year sentence (with the final year suspended) for robbing €235 and possessing a knife at a bookmaker in 2015. The court noted his 59 previous convictions and found no error in principle. Additionally, the appeal of a 28-year-old South African national against a 10-year sentence for raping his former partner was dismissed, with the court holding the sentence was within the available range.
Philip McKevitt, 62, of Aghaboys, Mount Pleasant, Dundalk, was convicted by the Special Criminal Court for possession of explosive substances on 22 May 2010. He had denied the charges. McKevitt's co‑accused, Conan Murphy, 32, had pleaded guilty and received a six‑year sentence, while McKevitt was sentenced to eight and a half years. McKevitt had previously been tried and convicted in 2011, but a Court of Criminal Appeal overturned that verdict and ordered a retrial. The investigation began in May 2010 after Gardaí received information about IRA activity in Louth. Surveillance outside McKevitt's house observed him with Murphy and a garda heard an angle‑grinder in the shed. On 22 May, Gardaí entered the shed, finding two adapted gas cylinders, fifty‑two 500‑g glucose bags, a 377‑metre wire, and a match to McKevitt's DNA on a cylinder handle.
Patrick Nevin, 36, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to rape of a woman in Bellewstown, Co. Meath on 12 July 2014 and to sexual assault of a second woman at an unknown location in Co. Meath on 16 July 2014. These charges follow a prior conviction in December 2017 for sexually assaulting a Brazilian student in July 2014. Nevin had met all three victims on the Tinder dating app and, on each first date, drove them to secluded spots where the assaults occurred. The court allowed evidence from the other two victims to be presented because the modus operandi was similar. Nevin's defence sought removal of media reports of his earlier convictions, but the judge rejected this request, finding no real risk of an unfair trial. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for 26 July 2018.
Stephen Watters, 50, of Kilcurry, Dundalk, Co Louth, is wanted in the UK for alleged conspiracy to fraudulently evade excise duty and for facilitating the acquisition, use or control of criminal property as part of an organised crime gang. He was arrested under a European Arrest Warrant issued earlier this year and is currently in High Court extradition proceedings. Watters' lawyers have requested more time to file points of objection, citing a legal point related to Brexit. Justice Aileen Donnelly has remanded him on continuing bail until 8 October, allowing him to apply for early resolution of the Brexit matter before that date. The warrant alleges the gang operated between 1 January 2014 and 4 September 2015, involved in illegal importation and distribution of non‑UK duty‑paid tobacco, with seizures of over 17 million cigarettes and 1.5 tonnes of hand‑rolling tobacco, equating to roughly £3 million in evaded duty.
The High Court ruled that money seized from firms linked to associates of Republican Thomas "Slab" Murphy by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is the proceeds of crime. CAB had begun investigating fuel laundering in 2012, focusing on the Murphy family of Hackballscross, Dundalk, Co Louth and their associates. In 2013 CAB obtained seizure orders against bank accounts of a dozen companies and individuals involved in the scheme. The court ordered that property recovered, including €266,000 in frozen accounts, be held for the State under the 1996 Proceeds of Crime Act. The seized firms—Athboy BioFuels Ltd, TCF Fuels Benali Marketing, Save Fuels Ltd, Hibernia Fuels Ltd, Vienna Fuels and Shin Ram Ltd—were part of an elaborate fuel laundering operation that involved laundering marked green diesel into unmarked white diesel for profit.