Court archive
Court reports mentioning Jenkinstown, Louth
2024-05-14 · Kildare
Eamon Larkin, a 69‑year‑old man from Kilcock, was found guilty of possession of cocaine for sale or supply on 12 June 2023. Gardaí stopped a Skoda in Ashbourne, discovering six kilos of cocaine in the boot, valued at €420,000. Larkin admitted he was approached in a pub and offered €200 to transport the drugs, though he claimed he did not know the type of drug. CCTV showed him swapping vehicles with another man at a petrol station an hour before the Skoda was seized. He has six prior road‑traffic convictions and has been living in Portugal. The court noted his poor physical and mental health, financial pressure, and long work history. Judge Martin Nolan accepted the guilty plea and mitigation, sentencing Larkin to two years' imprisonment. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence while considering his health and cooperation.
2024-04-11 · Louth
Aaron Brady, who was convicted in 2020 of murdering Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to perverting the course of justice. He admitted to recording footage of an interview between gardai and witness Ronan Flynn, which was subsequently posted online accusing Flynn of "touting." Brady did not enter a plea to a further count of conspiring with Dean Byrne to persuade a State witness not to testify, though prosecution counsel argued this should be considered at sentencing. Dean Byrne, 30, from Cabra Park, Phibsborough, Dublin, remains on trial for the conspiracy charge. Presiding judge Mr Justice Paul Burns adjourned sentencing to May 29. The court refused an application by Brady's lawyers to ban media reporting of the guilty plea, rejecting arguments that coverage could prejudice a potential retrial if Brady's murder conviction is overturned on appeal. The judge noted that a retrial is merely a possibility and that any prejudice could be remedied by judicial directions to the jury. Brady, 33, formerly of New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, is serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 40 years for the 2013 murder. He appealed his conviction last November and is awaiting a decision from the Court of Appeal.
2024-04-10 · Louth
The trial of Aaron Brady for perverting the course of justice has been postponed for a third day after the Director of Public Prosecutions and Brady's lawyers held discussions. Brady's counsel, Michael O'Higgins SC, said he had received an instruction from Brady that prompted the matter to be presented to the DPP. Prosecutor Lorcan Staines SC indicated he would consult with the DPP before proceeding and expects to have his instructions by the next day. The trial, originally scheduled for this week, was adjourned to give the defence time to review additional evidence served recently. Brady, aged 33, and co‑accused Dean Byrne, aged 30, are charged with conspiring to persuade State witness Daniel Cahill not to testify in Brady's murder trial of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, which took place during a robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Jenkinstown, County Louth, on 25 January 2013.
2024-04-08 · Louth
Lawyers for Aaron Brady, who shot Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe in 2013, warned that the upcoming trial for perverting the course of justice could generate damaging publicity. Michael O'Higgins SC told the Special Criminal Court that Brady is still awaiting the outcome of an appeal against his murder conviction. If the appeal succeeds, a retrial at the Central Criminal Court, which would involve a jury, may follow. O'Higgins expressed concern that media coverage could influence jurors and plans to apply to the court, citing the Irish Times v Murphy judgment on media reporting. The perverting the course of justice trial was adjourned to allow the defence to consider new evidence. Brady (33) and co‑accused Dean Byrne (30) are charged with conspiring to persuade State witness Daniel Cahill not to testify between April and June 2020, and with recording a video of a witness interview between February and May 2020.
2023-12-01 · Louth
In December 2023 the Court of Appeal upheld a decision that Pearse O'Connor, a 41‑year‑old contractor from Dundalk, would not serve jail time for a second time after a fully suspended five‑year sentence was deemed too lenient. O'Connor had pleaded guilty in April 2021 to six charges of invoice fraud and fraudulent trading, having used false invoices to secure €369,000 from Keys Commercial Finance to keep his company afloat during financial hardship in 2015. The original trial court had suspended the entire sentence and banned him from directing a company for life. The appeal court noted that the offence involved large sums over several months and that the custodial threshold had been crossed, but it also recognised O'Connor's ongoing efforts to reform, including addressing an alcohol problem and maintaining family responsibilities.
2023-11-17 · Louth
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 17 November 2023, the State argued that the fully suspended five‑year sentence imposed on Pearse O'Connor, a 41‑year‑old contractor from Dundalk, was too lenient for the €369,000 invoice fraud he committed against Keys Commercial Finance. O'Connor had pleaded guilty in April 2021 to six charges, including five for using false invoices and one for fraudulent trading under the Companies Act. The Court of Appeal noted that the fraud occurred over a short period but was carefully planned, resulting in a loss that grew from €186,000 to €622,000, with only €253,000 repaid. The State claimed the suspended sentence failed to reflect the seriousness of the offence and called for a custodial term. The appeal court will decide on 1 December 2023.
2023-02-02 · Louth
Aaron Brady, aged 31, is awaiting a new trial for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, a charge that arose from attempts to persuade State witness Daniel Cahill not to testify in the murder case of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. The Special Criminal Court postponed the trial to April 8 2024 to avoid conflict with Brady's October appeal of his murder conviction. Brady and co‑accused Dean Byrne, aged 29, are accused of conspiring between April 8 2020 and June 22 2020 to influence Cahill's testimony, and of recording a video of Cahill being interviewed by Gardaí between February 20 2020 and May 7 2020. The video, circulated on social media, was described by Judge Michael White as "the most outrageous contempt of court" and a "deliberate attempt to intimidate." Brady was convicted in August 2020 of murdering Garda Donohoe and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 40 years.
2022-07-29 · Louth
Aaron Brady, aged 31, and Dean Byrne, aged 29, are set to stand trial at the Special Criminal Court on charges of conspiring to pervert the course of justice. They are accused of attempting to persuade State witness Daniel Cahill not to testify during Brady's 2020 murder trial for the killing of Garda Adrian Donohoe. Brady's trial, which ran from January to August 2020, saw Cahill testify that he heard Brady admit to shooting a Garda. Brady is also charged with recording a video of a witness interview and distributing it on social media, an act described by Judge Michael White as "the most outrageous contempt of court." A phone recovered from Byrne's cell yielded WhatsApp exchanges offering intimidation to Cahill. The court set a trial date for October 2, 2023, with a mention scheduled for November 7, 2023.
2017-01-30 · Louth
Owen McCann, 36, of Annaloughan, Jenkinstown, Dundalk, pleaded guilty in November 2016 at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin to two counts of possession of firearms, including a .22 calibre rifle, a conversion kit for pistols and two ammunition magazines. At the brief sentence hearing on 30 January 2017, he undertook not to associate with subversive or paramilitary organisations. The court, citing his early admission, guilty plea, cooperation with Gardaí and employment prospects, sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, with one year suspended. The State entered a nolle prosequi on a charge of IRA membership.
2017-01-13 · Louth
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Owen McCann, 36, admitted to purchasing a .22 calibre sporting pistol, a conversion kit, two ammunition magazines and a single round of ammunition online via eBay and PayPal. He claimed he bought the firearm to remove it from circulation for public safety and subsequently showed the police the hidden gun and ammunition on family land in Co. Louth. McCann had previously pleaded guilty in November 2015 to possession of the pistol, conversion kit, magazines and the single round at Jenkinstown. Gardaí had searched the McCann family land in December 2015, uncovering a large quantity of firearms, ammunition and explosive components, which were deemed background to the case. The court remanded McCann in custody for sentencing on 30 January 2017.
2016-11-09 · Louth
In a brief sitting at the Special Criminal Court, Owen McCann, 35, admitted possession of firearms and ammunition. He pleaded guilty to holding a .22 calibre rifle, a pistol conversion kit, two ammunition magazines, and one round of .22 calibre ammunition, all found in Jenkinstown, Dundalk, on 17 December last year. McCann was arrested by the Special Detective Unit in December. Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges Martin Nolan and Cormac Dunne, remanded him in custody until 21 December, when sentencing will occur.
2016-07-20 · Louth
A book of evidence was served on Owen McCann, a 36‑year‑old from Annaloughan, Jenkinstown, Dundalk, who appeared at a brief sitting of the Special Criminal Court on 20 July 2016. McCann was arrested in December 2015 by the Special Detective Unit as part of an operation targeting dissident republican activity. He faces three charges: membership of the unlawful organisation Oglaigh na hEireann (the IRA) on 18 December 2015; possession of firearms, including a .22 calibre rifle, a pistol conversion kit and two ammunition magazines on 17 December 2015; and possession of one round of .22 calibre ammunition on the same date. State Solicitor Michael O'Donovan informed the three‑judge, non‑jury court that the book of evidence was ready to be served. Detective Garda Enda Gannon handed the book to McCann. McCann's counsel, Conan Fegan BL, requested an extension of the legal aid certificate to include a second counsel, citing the seriousness of the charges.
2016-05-10 · Dublin
John Joyce, 24, of Donaghmede, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment after pleading guilty in Dublin's Circuit Criminal Court to threatening to kill Garda Adrian Cahill on 27 November 2013. The threat was made while the pair were on patrol following a call about a suspicious man in Donabate. Joyce refused to be searched, was arrested, and then became physically aggressive toward Cahill, shouting that he would attack Cahill's wife and "shoot him like his mate in Dundalk." The threat referenced the death of former colleague Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, who was gunned down in January 2013. Joyce had 78 previous convictions. His defence lawyer, Ms Fiona Murphy, described him as angry and frustrated, and said he accepted he was in the wrong and wished to apologise. Judge Patrick McCartan noted Joyce's conduct was an "utter disregard" for the Garda and that the threat was made in a nasty manner, referencing a fallen colleague.
2015-12-22 · Louth
Owen McCann, a 35‑year‑old from Annaloughan, Jenkinstown, Dundalk, Co. Louth, was arrested on 18 December 2015 on charges of membership in the unlawful organisation Oglaigh na hEireann (the IRA) and possession of firearms, including a rifle, a pistol conversion kit and ammunition. He was taken into custody by the Special Detective Unit last Friday. On 22 December 2015 the Special Criminal Court in Dublin released him on bail. The court, presided over by Justice Paul Butler with Judges John O'Hagan and Anne Ryan, accepted the Department of Public Prosecutions' lack of objection to the bail application. Mr McCann agreed to the conditions set by State Solicitor Michael O'Donovan: he must remain in Dundalk, sign daily at the Dundalk Garda Station, observe a curfew from 11 pm to 7 am, provide a mobile phone number, surrender his passport and all travel documents, stay within the jurisdiction, avoid Northern Ireland, refrain from associating with anyone charged with a scheduled offence.