Lisa Smith, a former Irish soldier aged 39 from Dundalk, denies membership in the Islamic State and denies extremist views. She told Gardaí that a prosecution witness, Carol Karimah Duffy, taught her false information about Islam, including Osama bin Laden and Sharia law, and that Duffy called her a "selfish jihadi." Smith said she was initially taught that Islam was "spread by the sword" and that nationalism was forbidden, but later learned the opposite from an American convert, John Georgelas. Smith also denied a prosecution witness, Tania Joya, who claimed she wanted to become a martyr. She explained that she had received €25,000 in compensation after a car crash and withdrew money for home improvements and a flight to Turkey, and that she had no extremist views now. The trial is before Mr Justice Tony Hunt in a non‑jury court. Lisa Smith pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court heard testimony from FBI Agent Alan Goehring regarding John Georgelas, an American Islamic convert who taught Lisa Smith about the Quran. Agent Goehring stated that Georgelas was placed on an Interpol red alert in June 2016 for charges including providing material support to a terrorist organisation. He further noted that in 2006, Georgelas was sentenced to 34 months in prison after pleading guilty to accessing a computer to obtain passwords protecting the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) website. The court also heard from the accused, Lisa Smith, a former Irish soldier from Dundalk, Co Louth. Ms Smith has pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful terrorist group, Islamic State, between October 28th, 2015 and December 1st, 2019. She has also pleaded not guilty to financing terrorism by sending €800 in assistance via a Western Union money transfer to a named man on May 6th, 2015. During interviews with gardai, Ms Smith alleged that Georgelas helped her escape a women's "madaffa" in Syria after five months. She described the facility as a prison and stated she did not carry a weapon or provide military assistance. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, continues.
Lisa Smith, a 39‑year‑old former Irish soldier from Dundalk, pleaded not guilty to membership of the Islamic State and to financing terrorism. She told the Special Criminal Court that she travelled to Syria in 2015 because she feared eternal damnation if she did not join the caliphate, believing it would be a peaceful state where she could raise a family and teach her children the Quran. Smith said she was misled by propaganda, never owned a weapon, and did not support terrorism or brutality. She described life in a women's camp, being robbed of €7,000, forced into a marriage with a Pakistani/British Muslim, and enduring abuse and bombings. Smith claimed she escaped by walking 15 kilometres with her daughter, later returning to Ireland. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Cormac Dunne.
Lisa Smith, a 39‑year‑old former Irish soldier from Dundalk, was arrested in December 2019 on suspicion of membership in the Islamic State and of financing terrorism. She told Gardaí that she had moved to Syria to help build a caliphate, believing that Muslims should live under Islam and that the return of the caliphate would precede the return of Jesus and the day of judgement. Smith said she had travelled to Syria with doctors, lawyers, engineers and brain surgeons, all working to build the caliphate. She pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful terrorist group between 28 October 2015 and 1 December 2019, and to financing terrorism by sending €800 to a named man on 6 May 2015. The case is being heard by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Cormac Dunne in a non‑jury court.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 31 January 2022, lawyers for former Irish soldier Lisa Smith, who denies membership of Islamic State, challenged the legality of her 2019 arrest. Michael O'Higgins SC argued that Smith was detained under the Offences Against the State Act 1939, which does not cover offences alleged to have occurred outside Ireland, and that she should have been charged under the 2005 Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act instead. Sean Gillane SC, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, noted that Detective Sergeant Gareth Kane had testified that he suspected Smith of membership in an illegal organisation at the time of arrest, an offence under the 1939 Act, and that prosecutors may have altered their suspicions later. Judge Tony Hunt was to deliver a judgment the following day. Smith, aged 39 from Dundalk, Co. Louth, remains in the Special Criminal Court, having pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful terrorist group and to financing terrorism.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, witness Tania Joya testified about former Irish soldier Lisa Smith's journey into radicalisation. Joya, who met Smith in 2013 when Smith travelled to Turkey and Syria, described Smith's decision to abandon her life and join an extremist ideology as driven by rejection and a desire for acceptance within a Muslim community. Joya said Smith was influenced by her husband, an American convert to Islam named John Georgelas, who she claimed taught her about Islam and encouraged her to fight for rebels in Syria. Joya also recounted Smith's experiences in Syria, including marriage to a Tunisian man, two pregnancies, and alleged pressure to obey her husband. She further spoke about her own path out of radicalisation, noting the influence of Georgelas and the lack of exposure to criticism of Islam. The testimony was presented to a three‑judge, non‑jury court, with the trial scheduled to continue on Monday. Tania Joya pleaded not guilty.
Lisa Smith, a former Defence Forces member aged 39 from Dundalk, Co. Louth, denies membership in the Islamic State. In 2013, she exchanged messages with American Islamic scholar John Georgelas, who was living in Egypt at the time. Georgelas invited her to travel to Egypt to study under him and offered to pay her to care for his wife, Tania Joya's children. Smith replied that she would not accept money for childcare, stating that learning from him would be sufficient. Georgelas later left Egypt with Joya and arranged to meet Smith in Turkey. Joya testified that Georgelas was a respected scholar who could "overwhelm" people with his knowledge of scripture and that he wrote for Isis propaganda magazines Dabiq and Rumiyah. Lisa Smith pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Tania Joya, a UK national radicalised in her teens, testified that former Defence Forces member Lisa Smith, aged 39, was indoctrinated into a false belief in a fake god and travelled to Syria in 2013 to join the rebellion against the Assad regime. Joya described Smith as excited, optimistic, and eager to die as a martyr. Smith, who had a military background, was respected by Arab men and married a Tunisian Al Qaeda member. Joya claimed Smith was influenced by John Georgelas, an American convert to Islam, who she said was charismatic and knowledgeable of the Koran. Smith pleaded not guilty to membership of the Islamic State between 28 October 2015 and 1 December 2019 and to financing terrorism by sending €800 in May 2015. The trial is proceeding before a three‑judge panel.
Trevor Keyes, 48, was sentenced for transporting almost €100,000 of cannabis, but the sentencing was adjourned to allow him to undergo brain surgery. Keyes had borrowed money from a group and tried to repay it, only to be told the group wanted him to do a job instead. He had previously helped apprehend a man who stabbed a 60‑year‑old woman in 2010, an act for which he was commended by the Circuit Court judge. Keyes suffered a brain aneurysm that has left him unable to work, and he is scheduled for surgery in February. The court heard that the drugs were hidden in the boot of a red Toyota Avensis taxi on Harold's Cross Road, where 10 vacuum‑packed bags of cannabis worth €99,200 were found. The judge ordered a report from the Probation Service and remanded Keyes on continuing bail until 27 July. Trevor Keyes pleaded guilty.
Lisa Smith, a 39‑year‑old former Defence Forces member from Dundalk, is on trial before the Special Criminal Court for membership of the Islamic State and for sending €800 to a man via Western Union. Witness Carol Karimah Duffy, a Muslim teacher who converted in 2001, testified that Smith spoke about jihad, suicide bombings and the "harsh end of Islam," and that she sought a husband who would die a martyr. Duffy said Smith was "naive" and "blindly followed what was said on the internet," never reading books or attending classes. She described how Smith made other mosque women uncomfortable, who suspected her of being a "plant." Duffy denied encouraging Smith to leave the army or to wear a hijab, and said she had never supported suicide bombings. The trial is set to continue tomorrow before a three‑judge panel. Lisa Smith pleaded not guilty.
Lisa Smith, a 39‑year‑old former Irish Defence Forces member, pleaded not guilty to membership of the Islamic State and to financing terrorism. She travelled to Syria in 2015, claiming to have "made hijrah" and to have expressed a desire to live under Sharia law and to die a martyr. Smith married a UK national in Syria, who had served on the Iraq border, and she remained in ISIS‑controlled territory until the fall of Baghouz in 2019. She returned to Ireland, was arrested and interviewed eleven times, and denied any membership or support for the terrorist organisation. The Special Criminal Court will consider her statements, conduct and alleged allegiance to ISIS as evidence of membership. The trial continues tomorrow before a three‑judge panel.
The Special Criminal Court rejected Lisa Smith's application to dismiss the charges of membership in the Islamic State. Judge Tony Hunt, hearing the case under the Criminal Justice Act 1999, ruled that the trial would proceed. Smith, 39, of Dundalk, faces charges under the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005 for being a member of ISIS from 28 October 2015 to 1 December 2019, and for financing terrorism by sending €800 to a named man on 6 May 2015 via Western Union. The trial is set to open tomorrow.
Lisa Smith, a 39‑year‑old former Defence Forces member from Dundalk, faces charges under the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005 for alleged membership of Islamic State between 28 October 2015 and 1 December 2019, and for financing terrorism by sending €800 via Western Union to a named recipient on 6 May 2015. Her lawyers argue insufficient evidence and seek dismissal under the Criminal Justice Act 1999, while the Director of Public Prosecutions opposes the application. Justice Tony Hunt will deliver a judgment on Monday; if the case proceeds, it is expected to last 12 weeks.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 17 January 2022, defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC criticised a statement released by former Minister of State Lucinda Creighton. Creighton had said that Lisa Smith's attempt to have ISIS membership charges dismissed posed a "significant threat to European security" and that the courts must proceed with the trial. O'Higgins called the statement "very detrimental" and a "blatant contempt of court", arguing it interfered with the course of justice. Smith, 39, from Dundalk, faces charges under the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005 for ISIS membership from 28 October 2015 to 1 December 2019 and for financing terrorism by sending €800 via Western Union in May 2015. Smith's defence applied under Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act 1999 to dismiss the charges on the basis of insufficient evidence.
Douglas Glynn (37) of Fitzgibbon Court, Dublin 1, was re-arraigned on November 17 and pleaded guilty to participating in activities of a criminal organisation, contrary to Section 72 (1) (A) of the Criminal Justice Act. The charge relates to his involvement between December 7, 2016, and April 6, 2017, in activities connected with the targeting of James 'Mago' Gately. Glynn had previously pleaded not guilty at his first arraignment on November 9. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding at the non-jury court, remanded Glynn in custody until February 11, when he will be sentenced. In a related case, Caolan Smyth (30) of Cuileann Court, Donore, Co Meath, was sentenced to 20 years at the Special Criminal Court for the attempted murder of Gately and for possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Smyth had denied both charges. Gary McAreavey (53) of Gort Nua, Station Road, Castlebellingham, Co Louth, pleaded not guilty to acting to impede an apprehension or prosecution by purchasing petrol and assisting in the burning out of the vehicle, a black Lexus, used in the attempted murder at Newrath, Dromiskin, Co Louth on the same day. He received a four-year jail term with the final year suspended. Estonian hitman Imre Arakas (63) was jailed by the Special Criminal Court for six years in December 2018, after he admitted to conspiring with others to murder Gately in Northern Ireland between April 3 and 4, 2017. Stephen Fowler (62), of Blakestown Cottages in Clonsilla, Dublin 15, has already been jailed for providing logistical support to the plot to murder Gately. The court heard that Gately had been warned by gardaí of a threat to his life from criminals who believed him to be involved in the Regency Hotel murder of Kinahan Cartel associate David Byrne in February 2016. The court has heard in previous related cases that there was 'ongoing targeting' of Gately in the context of a feud between the Hutch and Kinahan crime groups.
Thomas Rooney (52), of Betaghstown, Co Meath, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for his role in an international criminal organisation. Rooney pleaded guilty to possessing €254,840 in a black holdall and €7,650 at North Road, Drogheda, on May 11, 2020. He also admitted to possessing crime cash at his home, where gardaí found €32,330 and £441. Mr Justice Tony Hunt described Rooney as a mid-to-high level member trusted to transport large sums, including a Nike bag containing €289,770. The six-year sentence is backdated to December 6, 2021, when Rooney first went into custody. The court ordered the seized money be forfeited to the State. A separate application to forfeit a Mercedes used by Rooney is contested and will be heard on January 31. In a related matter, Jason Reed (40) of Dunshaughlin pleaded guilty to possessing the cash in the blue Nike bag and additional crime cash found at his home. Previously, Rooney's then-partner, Catherine Dawson (45), received a fully suspended sentence for her role in moving the gang's money.
In a Commercial Court case, Mary Flannery sued her family members and the company's accountant over control of Foxfield Inns Designated Activity Company, which owns hotels in Dublin and Galway. She alleged oppressive conduct under section 212 of the 2014 Companies Act. The defendants—her brothers Frank and Kevin Flannery, Kevin's wife Sheelagh, and accountant James Norton—denied the claims. The court heard that the company employed about 180 people and owned several properties, including the Eglington Hotel. After mediation, the parties reached a settlement. The court agreed that it could order Foxfield Inns to purchase Mary Flannery's and Andrena Moynihan's shareholdings. The settlement terms are confidential, and the matter was adjourned for mention in April. The judge welcomed the settlement.
Lisa Smith, aged 39 and from Dundalk, Co Louth, faces charges under the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005 for alleged membership of the Islamic State (ISIS) between 28 October 2015 and 1 December 2019, and for financing terrorism by sending €800 via Western Union to a named man on 6 May 2015. Her lawyers, represented by Michael O'Higgins SC, have applied to the Special Criminal Court under Section 9 of the Criminal Justice Act 1999 to have the charges dismissed due to insufficient evidence. Judge Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Gerard Griffin and Cormac Dunne, has granted permission for the application but will review the submitted documents over several days. The court will hear the application next Monday, and any evidence presented during this stage cannot be published or broadcast. If the trial proceeds, it is expected to last 12 weeks.
In a judicial review, three Dublin security firms – Top Security Ltd, Morbury Ltd and Las Security Ltd – successfully challenged a ministerial order that would have increased pay for security operatives. The firms argued that the process used to formulate the order favoured large employers, lacked legal clarity and transparency, and would create an anti‑competitive outcome that could reduce employment. They claimed the order, approved by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment after a recommendation from the Labour Court, was based on recommendations from the Security Industry Joint Labour Committee, which they said did not represent them. The court quashed the Employment Regulation Order for the Security Industry and the Labour Court's earlier decision to adopt it, and remitted the ministerial order back to the Labour Court for fresh consideration. The settlement agreement reached with the State ended the legal action and the order was set aside. The case was heard by Mr Justice Charles Meenan.
Lisa Smith, a 39‑year‑old former Defence Forces member from Dundalk, Co. Louth, is set to stand trial at the Special Criminal Court on 11 January 2022. She denies being a member of the Islamic State. The court will hear two charges under the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005: membership of ISIS from 28 October 2015 to 1 December 2019, and financing terrorism by sending €800 via Western Union to a named man on 6 May 2015. The trial is expected to last 12 weeks. Ms Smith is on bail and did not attend the court hearing today.
The High Court appointed Neil Hughes of Baker Tily as interim examiner for Premier Periclase Ltd, a world‑leading magnesium manufacturer employing 94 people. The company faces severe financial distress due to a sharp rise in gas and electricity prices, which have doubled between 2020 and 2021. Premier Periclase owes Bord Gais €2.5 million and Energia €900,000, and Bord Gais has threatened to cut off gas supply within weeks unless a substantial payment is made, a payment the company claims it cannot afford. The court noted that an Independent Accountant's report by Cormac Mohan indicates the company has a reasonable prospect of survival if steps such as an examiner's negotiation with creditors and refinancing are taken. Premier Periclase, owned by Callista Turnaround 10 GmbH, has operated at Boyne Road, Drogheda since 1977 and sells its magnesium oxide and hydroxide products worldwide. The matter was adjourned to early January for further proceedings.
The family of Barry Griffin Junior, who died in a 2020 road collision, has brought a High Court action to challenge the Garda's decision to refer the driver of the Mercedes involved in the crash to the Garda Youth Diversion Programme. The incident involved two cars racing each other; the VW Passat driven by 19‑year‑old Brogan Kelly lost control and collided with the Mercedes, killing 17‑year‑old Griffin. Kelly was prosecuted and sentenced to five years and six months' imprisonment, with 18 months suspended. The Griffin family argue that the decision to divert the Mercedes driver means he will not face criminal prosecution, a move they say was made without their consultation and is irrational and unlawful under the 2001 Children Act. They seek an order quashing the diversion decision and disclosure of the Garda's reasons. The case is set for a February hearing before Mr Justice Charles Meenan. Brogan Kelly pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin apartment on 21 August 2017, a 41‑year‑old Albanian man raped a 15‑year‑old girl who had been invited to stay with him after a night out. The victim, who was fully clothed when she fell asleep, woke to find the man on top of her and he covered her mouth while she screamed before raping her. She later told the Central Criminal Court that she had been "killed" that night and that she had not been alive since. The jury found him guilty of rape and sexual assault; he was acquitted of a single count of false imprisonment. He has a prior conviction for serious drug dealing. On 8 December 2021, Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced him to nine years' imprisonment, refusing to suspend any portion of the sentence.
Thomas Rooney (52), of Betaghstown, Co Meath, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to three charges under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing) Act 2010. He admitted possessing €289,770 and £65,025 in a blue Nike holdall, €254,840 in a black holdall, and €7,650 at North Road, Drogheda, all on May 11, 2020. The court heard allegations that Rooney, described as a "mid-to-high" level member of an international crime gang, organised the transaction and used an encrypted Aquarius phone. Jason Reed (40), of Dunshaughlin, also pleaded guilty to possessing the cash in the blue Nike bag and to holding €32,330 and £441 at his home. In a related May finalisation, Catherine Dawson (44), Rooney's then-partner, received a fully suspended sentence of three years and nine months for moving the gang's money, suspended on good behaviour for five years. Mr Justice Tony Hunt stated he could not see a non-custodial sentence for Rooney. Despite no Garda objection to bail, Rooney was remanded in custody until January 14 for sentencing. The matter was adjourned to that date.
A 52-year-old man from Rathmullan Park, Drogheda, has pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to cleaning up and removing evidence from a murder scene. Gerard McKenna admitted to obstructing the apprehension or prosecution of another person in connection with the death of 17-year-old Kean Mulready Woods, who was killed in January 2020. The teenager's dismembered remains were discovered across Dublin in the days following his disappearance on 12 January. McKenna's guilty plea relates to actions taken between 12 and 14 January 2020 at or near his Drogheda address, with intent to impede the investigation. The offence is contrary to the Criminal Law Act 1997. Mr Justice Paul McDermott ordered psychological and probation reports before sentencing. McKenna was remanded in custody and the case listed for mention on 28 February 2022.
Paul Murray, 41, struck Josh Byrne, 29, with an iron bar in the head while Byrne was being led away by Gardaí after Byrne's arrest for criminal damage. The incident occurred after Byrne had turned on all the taps in the apartment above Murray's, causing water damage to Murray's unit. Murray pleaded guilty to producing a metal bar in the course of a dispute on 2 February 2021. He has 30 prior convictions, including robbery and traffic offences. Byrne, who has no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal damage at the same location and received a two‑year fully suspended sentence. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Murray to two years imprisonment, suspended in its entirety on strict conditions, citing a high degree of antagonism and Murray's loss of control. Byrne sustained a laceration to his head but declined to make a complaint. Murray apologized and acknowledged his wrongdoing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Judge Elma Sheahan directed a not guilty verdict for Andrew Finni, 22, accused of sexually assaulting a shop worker in February 2018. The case collapsed after defence counsel Simon Matthews argued that missing CCTV footage, which could have supported Finni's defence, was lost because the shop's system overwrote recordings after eight weeks. The court found that the absence of this evidence denied Finni a fair trial. The judge emphasized that the ruling was not a judgment on the allegations or the complainant's evidence but on the importance of preserving evidence. The decision followed a similar ruling earlier that week where a different case was also dismissed due to lost CCTV footage. The judge noted that investigators had acted honestly and sought to preserve evidence as it became relevant. The complainant denied any prior conversation about gender or an invitation for Finni to "check if he liked.".
The Special Criminal Court has ruled that international witnesses in the trial of Lisa Smith, a former Defence Forces member, may give evidence by video-link. Presiding judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt granted the prosecution's application, citing the current public health climate and the logistical difficulties of travel from Australia and the US. Ms Smith, 39, from Dundalk, Co Louth, is charged with being a member of the unlawful terrorist group Islamic State (ISIS) between October 28, 2015, and December 1, 2019, and with financing terrorism by sending €800 to a named individual in May 2015. The defence, represented by Michael O'Higgins SC, objected to the application, referencing difficulties with video-link evidence in the trial of Aaron Brady, who was convicted of the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. Mr O'Higgins argued that the prosecution had not met the necessary criteria and that his client had the right to cross-examine witnesses in person. Despite these objections, Mr Justice Hunt was satisfied the conditions for the order were met. The trial is scheduled to begin on January 11, 2022, and is expected to last 12 weeks. Mr Justice Hunt adjourned the case to December 13 for an update on how matters were progressing.
Douglas Glynn (37) of Fitzgibbon Court, Dublin 1, changed his plea to guilty at the Special Criminal Court, admitting to participating in the activities of a criminal organisation between December 7, 2016, and April 6, 2017. The charge alleged he placed a tracker device on James Gately's car in Belfast to facilitate a murder plot. Glynn had previously pleaded not guilty. Presiding judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned the case to January 14, 2022, for a sentence hearing; the matter was adjourned and not concluded. Glynn is the fifth person convicted in cases relating to the failed bid to murder Gately. Peter Keating (40) was jailed for 11 years after pleading guilty to directing a criminal organisation targeting Gately. Stephen Fowler (62) and David Duffy (33) were jailed for providing logistical support. Imre Arakas (63) was jailed for six years in December 2018 after admitting to conspiring to murder Gately. Caolan Smyth (30) was sentenced to 20 years for the attempted murder of Gately and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Gary McAreavey (53) pleaded not guilty to impeding a prosecution and received a four-year jail term with the final year suspended.
Joseph Connor, 34, from Drogheda, claims he was wrongfully imprisoned for ten days after Gardaí mistakenly merged his PULSE profile with that of another person named Joseph O'Connor. Connor was arrested on 19 July 2021 for an alleged public order offence and told by Gardaí that a live bench warrant existed for him. He denied any such warrant. The District Court, misinformed, remanded him in custody with a €250 surety requirement he could not meet, leading to his detention at Cloverhill Prison until 29 July 2021 when he secured the surety. Connor's High Court counsel, Micheál O'Higgins SC, argued the warrant belonged to the other Joseph O'Connor, and that Gardaí admitted the error when his case returned in September. Connor has filed judicial review proceedings against the Garda Commissioner and the Governor of Cloverhill, seeking damages, declarations of rights breaches, an apology, and the quashing of the remand order.
The Special Criminal Court has adjourned the trial of Douglas Glynn (37) until Tuesday for the production of additional photographs, following a disclosure issue. Glynn, of Dublin 1, pleaded not guilty to placing a tracker device on James "Mago" Gately's car in Belfast in April 2017. The prosecution alleges this was part of an ongoing plan by a criminal organisation to target Gately. Presiding Judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Ms Justice Sarah Berkeley and Mr Justice Cormac Dunne, refused a Garda application to ban media from court during covert evidence, ruling that media presence was acceptable provided National Surveillance Unit officers were not identified. The judge warned that the failure to disclose all relevant photos "cannot happen again." In related convictions, Imre Arakas (63) was jailed for six years in December 2018 after admitting to conspiring to murder Gately. Additionally, Peter Keating (40) was jailed for 11 years after pleading guilty to directing a criminal organisation's activities relating to the targeting of Gately between December 2016 and April 2017.
In a burglary at a Drogheda home on 29 April 2019, a 28‑year‑old South American au pair was tied to her backpack's cables and locked in a cupboard, then later dragged back into the hot press where she endured verbal abuse for an hour. The intruders, Stephen Daly (29) and a co‑accused, stole €800, $100, a phone, a watch and jewellery. At a Trim Circuit Criminal Court hearing in November 2019, Daly pleaded guilty to burglary and false imprisonment. Judge Martina Baxter sentenced him to nine years for false imprisonment (the final year suspended for 12 months) and seven years for burglary, with both terms running concurrently. In the Court of Appeal, Daly's counsel argued the 12‑year headline sentence was excessive, citing mitigating factors and his early guilty plea. The appeal was dismissed; the judge's sentencing was upheld. The case highlighted the au pair's ordeal and the subsequent security measures installed by her employers.
In a High Court hearing on 1 November 2021, Mr Justice Charles Meenan directed that an application to challenge the Minister for Health's refusal to launch a public inquiry into Covid‑19 deaths in care homes must be made in the presence of State lawyers. The action, brought by 19 individuals who lost relatives to Covid‑19 in care homes, seeks to overturn the Minister's June 2021 decision not to establish an investigation. The applicants argue the refusal is contrary to the public interest, unfair, unreasonable and disproportionate, and that it breaches the Irish Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights. They request an order quashing the decision, a declaration that an inquiry is required under constitutional and human‑rights provisions, and that the refusal is unlawful, unconstitutional and infringes their rights.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, the defence of former Defence Forces member Lisa Smith faced a massive volume of evidence. Ms Smith, 39, is charged under the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005 for membership in ISIS from 28 October 2015 to 1 December 2019 and for financing terrorism by sending €800 via Western Union to a named man on 6 May 2015. Her barrister, Michael O'Higgins SC, informed the court that the State had prepared a verbatim transcript of interviews that exceeded 100 pages each, in addition to an "absolutely enormous" amount of disclosure. The defence struggled to download and print the material, with printers frequently crashing. O'Higgins applied for an adjournment to review the documents, which were given to the defence that morning. The court adjourned the matter to 15 November, with the 12‑week trial scheduled to begin in January. Ms Smith was excused from the brief hearing and from the 15 November hearing.
The Special Criminal Court has been informed of an "absolutely gigantic" amount of disclosure for the trial of former Defence Forces member Lisa Smith, charged with membership of the Islamic State and financing terrorism. Ms Smith, 39, from Dundalk, is on bail and was not required to attend the court hearing. Her barrister, Michael O'Higgins SC, noted the difficulty of handling the large volume of prosecution material. The case was scheduled for a video‑link hearing on Monday, 1 November, with the trial set for 11 January 2022 and expected to last 12 weeks.
In September 2020, Michael Quinn (30) of Louth attacked Ruth O'Rourke, known as Izzy Kamikaze (58), during an anti‑lockdown protest on Kildare Street, Dublin. Quinn swung a wooden plank with a tricolour nailed to it, striking O'Rourke's head and knocking her to the ground. After the assault, a crowd of masked men and unmasked protesters shouted homophobic slurs and threatened the victims. Video of the attack and the mob's behaviour was released online, prompting O'Rourke to say it made many people realise the danger of ignoring far‑right protests. Quinn pleaded guilty in June 2021 to assault causing harm and was sentenced to a three‑year prison term, with the final year suspended on conditions. The case highlighted the violent conduct of the attackers and the hostile environment faced by O'Rourke and her friends.
At the Special Criminal Court, William Twomey, 58, was sentenced for his role in the 2017 attack on businessman Edward McAndrew in Omeath, Co Louth. Twomey, who pleaded not guilty, was found guilty of assault causing harm, demanding £50,000 with menaces, and robbing McAndrew of various items including a passport and mobile phones. He was found not guilty of false imprisonment. The judge described Twomey as the initiator of a joint enterprise, noting that the violent outcome exceeded his contemplation. He received a headline sentence of two years for the assault and four years for the robbery and demanding money with menaces. The last year of the robbery and demanding money sentences was suspended for two years, resulting in two years' imprisonment on each charge to be served concurrently. The sentence was backdated to August 29, 2023. Twomey signed a €100 bond upon release. Co-accused Thomas McGuinness, who also pleaded not guilty, was acquitted of all charges on September 30. Separately, Anthony Finglas, 49, pleaded guilty to demanding money with menaces and was jailed for four years and nine months.
Maura Keogh, 60, former accounts manager at CS Construction Spares Ltd, stole €23,366 from her employer by forging bank lodgement slips. She pleaded guilty to 18 theft charges and three false accounting counts for the period 31 December 2015 to 6 September 2016. Keogh, the sole breadwinner of her household, admitted the theft after a discrepancy was discovered in August 2016 and was dismissed in September 2016. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced her to two‑and‑a‑half years imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions, after noting her remorse, repayment of the stolen amount, lack of prior convictions and low risk of reoffending. The case caused a restructuring of the company's Dublin premises and job losses for several colleagues. The judge described the offence as a serious aberration from an otherwise law‑abiding life.
Brendan 'Benny' Treanor (34) of Dundalk, Co Louth, appeared at the Special Criminal Court to be charged with two offences relating to the January 23, 2013, robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth, during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead. Treanor is accused of entering residential premises as trespassers with the intention of stealing vehicle keys, contrary to Common Law, and robbing Pat Bellew of approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques, contrary to Section 14 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. The court heard that a co-accused male is currently in custody in the UK, with an international warrant issued for his presence in Ireland. Defence counsel indicated a potential application regarding the court's jurisdiction and estimated the trial could last up to four months. The prosecution requested a 2022 trial date due to the volume of material. Presiding Judge Tony Hunt fixed October 3, 2022, as the trial date and December 21, 2021, for a progress mention. Separately, Aaron Brady (30) of Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, was previously sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Det Gda Donohoe, a case that lasted 122 court days.
Stephen Fowler (62) was sentenced to six years and nine months at the Special Criminal Court for his logistical involvement in a plot to murder James Gately. The judge suspended the final 15 months for three years, conditional on good behaviour. Fowler pleaded guilty to participating in a criminal organisation's activities between December 2016 and April 2017. He is the sixth person jailed in this case. Peter Keating (40) pleaded guilty to directing a criminal organisation and was jailed for 11 years. David Duffy (33) pleaded guilty to contributing to the murder plot and received five years' imprisonment with one year suspended. Caolan Smyth (30), who denied charges, was sentenced to 20 years for attempted murder and firearm possession. Gary McAreavey (53) pleaded not guilty to impeding prosecution by burning a vehicle but received a four-year term with the final year suspended. Imre Arakas (63) was jailed for six years in 2018 after admitting to conspiring to murder Gately. The court described the events as part of ongoing targeting of Gately within a gang feud.
Stephen Fowler (62) pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to participating in a criminal organisation with the intention of enhancing its ability to commit the serious offence of the murder of James Gately. The court heard that Fowler offered his home as a safe-house to Estonian hitman Imre Arakas, who was jailed for six years in December 2018 for conspiring in the attempted murder. Fowler, who previously served six years for cannabis possession, was on a two-year suspended sentence at the time of the 2017 offence. The court will review this suspended sentence as part of the finalisation. Sentencing for Fowler, which carries a maximum of 15 years, is scheduled for October 4. Related convictions include Peter Keating, jailed for 11 years for directing a criminal organisation; David Duffy, sentenced to five years with one year suspended for participating in the organisation; and Caolan Smyth, sentenced to 20 years for attempted murder and firearm possession after denying charges. Gary McAreavey, who pleaded not guilty to impeding prosecution by assisting in burning a vehicle, received a four-year term with the final year suspended. These cases stem from a feud between the Hutch and Kinahan crime groups.
At the Special Criminal Court, Dubliner Stephen Fowler (62) pleaded guilty to having knowledge of a criminal organisation and participating in activities connected with the attempted murder of James Gately between December 7, 2016, and April 4, 2017. Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned the matter, fixing September 16 for a sentence hearing. The court report also details related finalisations. Peter Keating (41) was sentenced to 11 years after pleading guilty to directing the activities of a criminal organisation during the same period. David Duffy (33) pleaded guilty to similar charges and received a five-year sentence with one year suspended. Caolan Smyth (30), who denied charges, was sentenced to 20 years for the attempted murder of Gately and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Gary McAreavey (53) pleaded not guilty to acting to impede an apprehension by assisting in the burning of a vehicle used in the attack; he was sentenced to four years with the final year suspended. Imre Arakas (63) was jailed for six years in 2018 after admitting to conspiring to murder Gately. These proceedings relate to a feud between the Hutch and Kinahan crime groups, during which Gately survived multiple assassination attempts.
In a speech at the Central Criminal Court on 13 September 2021, Mr Justice Paul McDermott warned that barristers must notify the court in writing if a trial is expected to last more than three weeks. He said that without a written memo explaining the reasons for the delay and the required duration, a trial longer than three weeks will not receive a trial date. McDermott also said that the court will not tolerate significant overruns beyond the estimated time. He added that jurors should be informed of the expected length of the trial and that, in some cases, 15 jurors may be enlisted to cover for those who cannot continue. The judge cited the collapse of the Bray Boxing Club murder trial, where a 34‑year‑old defendant, Gerard Cervi, faced delays and a jury that was unable to finish the trial due to health and procedural issues. Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court is set to resume with several high-profile matters, including the appeal of Aaron Brady. Brady, 30, was convicted by an 11-to-1 majority jury verdict for the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe in January 2013. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 40 years, plus a concurrent 14-year sentence for robbery. His appeal is expected in 2022. Other upcoming trials include that of Sameer Syed, 37, accused of murdering his wife Seema Banu and their two children in Rathfarnham in October 2021; his trial is scheduled for June 15, 2022. Michael Scott, 55, faces trial on January 11, 2022, for the alleged murder of Chrissie Treacy in Portumna in 2018. Stephen Silver, 44, is charged with the murder of Garda Colm Horkan in Castlerea in June 2020; his trial is also set for June 15, 2022. Additionally, an appeal by Boy B regarding the 2018 murder of Ana Kriegel is expected before the Court of Appeal. Boy B and Boy A were found guilty in 2019; both were 13 at the time, denied the offences, and were remanded to Oberstown Detention Centre.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Gerard Cervi for the murder of Bobby Messett and attempted murder of coach Pete Taylor at Bray Boxing Club collapsed after a juror became seriously ill, reducing the jury below the required ten members. Judge Michael White adjourned the case and discharged the remaining nine jurors, exempting them from future service. Cervi, aged 50, had pleaded not guilty to the killings that occurred on 5 June 2018, when a gunman entered the club, fired nine shots from a semi‑automatic pistol, killing Messett instantly and injuring Taylor and Ian Britton. The prosecution alleged Cervi was the lone gunman, linking him to a silver Volkswagen van seen near the club and to a bicycle at Pigeon House Road. Witnesses described the chaotic shooting, the gunman's appearance, and the subsequent removal of Taylor's clothing by paramedics. The trial was scheduled to resume on 11 October 2021.
Senior Kinahan cartel member Peter Keating has been jailed for 12 years by the Special Criminal Court for directing the activities of a criminal organisation between December 7, 2016 and April 6, 2017, within and outside the State. Keating (40) pleaded guilty in July of this year to directing the activities of the crime group in their failed attempt to murder Hutch gang member James 'Mago' Gately. The judge noted that Keating was a 'senior figure' for the Kinahan Organised Crime Group and a 'repository of trust and confidence' for the cartel. The sentence was backdated to July 1, 2020, and the final year of the 12-year term was suspended for two years. Keating entered into a bond of €100 to keep the peace for two years. The judge gave Keating a 25% discount for his early guilty plea, which saved a costly trial. The court heard that Keating was involved in the commission of a serious offence and played a significant role in the surveillance of Gately and his family regarding the proposed murder. The investigation highlighted the transnational outreach of organised crime, with Estonian hitman Imre Arakas (62) jailed for six years in December 2018 for conspiring with others to murder Gately in Northern Ireland between April 3 and 4, 2017. Arakas was arrested before the planned attack on Gately could be carried out. Caolan Smyth (30) was sentenced to 20 years last February for attempted murder in relation to a second attempt on Gately's life in May 2017. The matter was adjourned and never described as concluded or finalised.
In a 2021 trial, a jury examined CCTV footage of Bray Boxing Club on the morning of June 5 2018, when Robert Messett was shot dead and two others injured. Detective Garda Alan Thompson described a grey or silver long‑wheelbase van with a 'DFZ' registration, slide rails, tinted rear windows, and a driver in a cap, dark trousers and a yellow high‑visibility vest. The van was seen outside the club at 6:50 am, and the driver entered the club. Thompson guided prosecution counsel Paul Murray SC through a montage of footage from Bray, Shankill, Cabinteely, Deansgrange, Blackrock and Merrion Road up to 7:19 am. Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty to Messett's murder and the attempted murders of trainer Peter Taylor and Ian Britton. The case is before the Central Criminal Court with Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of seven men and three women.
The Special Criminal Court heard closing submissions in the trial of Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond, Luke O'Reilly, and a fourth accused identified as YZ. All four defendants pleaded not guilty to the alleged false imprisonment and intentional causing of serious harm to Kevin Lunney, a Quinn Industrial Holdings director, on September 17, 2019. The prosecution, led by Sean Guerin SC, argued that the evidence established the defendants' guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Counsel described the incident as an "ordeal of callous brutality" intended to intimidate Mr. Lunney, citing injuries including a fractured tibia and knife wounds to his face and chest. The state presented DNA evidence linking three accused to a Kangoo van and connected Mr. O'Reilly to the yard where the victim was allegedly held. Although the source text describes the conclusion of the closing speeches, the validated procedural stage is sentence. However, no specific sentence, finding, or finalisation is recorded in the provided validated facts. Consequently, the matter is treated as being at the sentencing stage, with no final disposal or adjournment details available in the validated data to confirm a concluded outcome.
The High Court adjourned the extradition challenge of Imre Arakas until September 23, pending the outcome of Liam Campbell's Supreme Court appeal. Arakas, 63, is jailed in Ireland for conspiracy to murder James 'Mago' Gately and faces Lithuanian allegations of murder, firearms, and conspiracy charges related to the 2015 shooting of Deimantas Bugavicius. While the Minister for Justice's counsel confirmed Lithuania intends to try Arakas, his legal team argued that a recent Court of Appeal dismissal of Campbell's similar extradition appeal is relevant. Campbell, 58, has applied to the Supreme Court to overturn that ruling. The judge determined it was impractical to proceed with Arakas' hearing while the Supreme Court considers whether to adopt Campbell's case. Arakas, who has been in custody since April 2017, was arrested in Dublin in February 2018 under a European Arrest Warrant. He maintains he was in Spain during the alleged 2015 incident. The court noted that an eyewitness had previously identified Arakas as not being present at the scene. The matter remains unresolved and is strictly adjourned, not concluded, awaiting the Supreme Court's decision on Campbell's application.
The Special Criminal Court asked counsel to update the court on the status of the Lisa Smith trial. Judge Tony Hunt requested a briefing and scheduled a further mention in November. Smith, 39, of Dundalk, faces charges under the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005 for membership of the Islamic State from 28 October 2015 to 1 December 2019 and for financing terrorism by sending €800 via Western Union to a named recipient on 6 May 2015. She is on bail and will not attend the November hearing.