Liam Campbell, aged 58, who was found civilly liable for the 1998 Omagh bombing, is to be extradited to Lithuania where he is suspected of international weapons smuggling. The Court of Appeal dismissed Campbell's appeal against the High Court's decision to surrender him. Campbell had fought extradition for over twelve years, having been arrested in 2016 under a second European Arrest Warrant issued by Lithuanian authorities. The warrant alleges that between late 2006 and early 2007 he arranged with members of the Real Irish Republican Army to acquire firearms and explosives from Lithuania and smuggle them into Ireland. The High Court had ordered his extradition in June 2020; Campbell's counsel argued that Lithuania had not yet decided to prosecute him, citing an affidavit that the decision to indict was contingent on further evidence. The Court of Appeal found no error in the High Court's ruling and upheld the extradition order.
Peter Keating, 40, of Clondalkin, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to directing the activities of the Kinahan crime cartel in their failed attempt to murder Hutch gang member James 'Mago' Gately. Detective Sergeant David Carolan stated that Keating was involved in locating Gately's Belfast home and tracking his movements using devices planted on his car and family members' vehicles. It was accepted that Keating was himself receiving directions from others. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding in the three-judge court, adjourned sentencing until September 2. The court heard that Imre Arakas, 62, was brought to Ireland on April 3, 2017, to target Gately. Arakas was arrested before the planned attack could be carried out and was jailed for six years in December 2018 after pleading guilty to conspiring with others to murder Gately. Separately, Caolan Smyth, 30, of Donore, Co Meath, was sentenced to 20 years in February for attempted murder in relation to a separate attack on Gately in May 2017, where Gately survived despite being shot five times while wearing a bulletproof vest. Keating's counsel highlighted his early guilty plea and physical disabilities, while the prosecution noted his ten previous convictions.
Thomas Rooney, 41, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing property that is the proceeds of criminal conduct. He admitted to having a blue Nike bag containing €289,770 and £65,025 (€70,207) in cash at Spar, Donore Road, Drogheda, on May 11, 2020. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, remanded Rooney on continuing bail, listing a sentence hearing for October 4. Defence counsel cited a potential lung transplant for Rooney. Rooney was also charged with possessing €254,840 in a black bag and €7,650 in cash on the same date. His former partner, Catherine Dawson, 44, previously pleaded guilty to two counts related to moving over €600,000 in crime cash. She was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison, fully suspended for five years, with the court noting her primary care responsibilities for her son. Co-accused Jason Reed, 40, pleaded guilty to money laundering and possessing proceeds of crime, including the cash in the blue Nike bag and €32,330 and £390 (€441) found at his home. The court found Reed to be a trusted, high-level member of a transnational criminal organisation and sentenced him to seven years in prison. All three were arrested in May last year following a Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau operation in Drogheda.
Three security firms – Top Security Ltd, Morbury Ltd and Las Security Ltd – have lodged a High Court challenge to a Ministerial order that would introduce a new Employment Regulation Order for the security industry, set to take effect on 1 September. The firms argue that the process that produced the order was flawed, favouring large employers, creating an anti‑competitive outcome and potentially reducing employment. They contend that the market should determine pay rates for security operatives, allowing different rates for varying qualifications and employment situations. The order, approved by the Minister after a recommendation from the Labour Court, was based on proposals from the Security Industry Joint Labour Committee, which includes union representatives and large security firms. The applicants claim the process lacked transparency, that they were not represented on the Committee, and that no reasons were given for rejecting their submissions.
Two men have been scheduled to stand trial at the Special Criminal Court in April 2022 on a charge of murdering teenager Keane Mulready-Woods. Paul Crosby, aged 25, of Rathmullan Park in Drogheda, County Louth, and Gerard Cruise, aged 47, with addresses in Dublin 1 and Rathmullan Park, are accused of the killing at a house in Rathmullan Park on 12 or 13 January 2020. The trial, which is expected to last six weeks, will be heard before three judges without a jury. The teenager's dismembered remains were discovered at multiple locations in Dublin and Drogheda in January 2020, with his torso found subsequently in March 2021. A further mention of the case is scheduled for December to address disclosure matters, and legal representatives indicated a possible application for separate trials.
In a High Court decision on 16 July 2021, Mr Justice Brian O'Moore lifted a Lis Pendens that had been registered over three Dublin development sites: Glebe House and Lands on St Agnes Road, Crumlin; Annesley House, Rathmines; and the former Europa Motors site on Newtown Avenue, Blackrock. The notice had been placed by builder Mr Johnny O'Loughlin and Mount Pleasant Development Ltd (MPD) against Mr Michael Moran and several companies in which he is a director. The plaintiffs claimed the Lis had stalled development plans, including financing, sales of over 20 units in Annesley Gardens and a joint venture for 150 apartments in Crumlin, and had also impacted plans for 100 apartments in Blackrock. The defendants, represented by Garry McCarthy SC, sought to vacate the notice, arguing it was not bona fide and had hindered their development objectives. Mr O'Moore agreed to grant the defendants' request to vacate the Lis Pendens, with full reasons to be given later.
During the trial of four men accused of abducting businessman Kevin Lunney at Ballinagh, County Cavan in September 2019, defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC raised concerns about the conduct of proceedings at the Special Criminal Court. Mr O'Higgins complained that the presiding judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, was dismissive of an important part of the defence case relating to blood marks found in a Renault Kangoo van. The complaint arose when the judge interjected to question the location of blood evidence while a fingerprint expert was being cross-examined. Mr O'Higgins objected to what he characterised as the judge's dismissive and contemptuous tone, and stated that the trial should proceed on the basis of evidence presented in court. The four accused—a 40-year-old man identified as YZ, Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond, and Luke O'Reilly of Kilcogy—have all pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm. Medical evidence detailed the extensive injuries sustained by Mr Lunney, including lacerations requiring stitches, a fractured tibia, and burns from bleach.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence regarding the alleged false imprisonment and intentional serious harm of Kevin Lunney at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan, on September 17, 2019. Defendants Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond, and Luke O'Reilly have all pleaded not guilty to these charges. Dr Muhammad Ashraf Butt, of Cavan General Hospital, testified that Mr Lunney remained in pain and fearful of public places more than a month after the incident. The doctor noted extensive scarring, including a 7cm scar from the right ear to the cheek and a 10cm scar to the jaw-bone, resulting from slash wounds inflicted with a Stanley knife. Mr Lunney also sustained a fractured tibia, requiring surgical insertion of a nail, and suffered from hypothermia after being left on a roadside in his boxer shorts. He reported pain levels of ten out of ten, requiring morphine and fluids. The court noted that Mr Lunney used a beard to conceal facial scarring, which remained partially visible. The trial is currently ongoing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, and has not yet reached a final verdict or sentencing stage.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence regarding a Renault Kangoo van allegedly used in the abduction of businessman Kevin Lunney. Witness James Maguire testified that he purchased the vehicle for €400 from a man known as "David" on October 23, 2019, before it was seized by gardai. Prosecution counsel Sean Guerin SC stated that forensic examiners found blood with DNA matching Mr. Lunney on a van door and DNA matching one accused on the driver's seat. The court also heard from police analysts who compared CCTV footage of the van's movements on September 17, 2019, with mobile phone data attributed to two of the accused. Mr. Lunney testified that he was bundled into a car boot, taken to a container where he was threatened to resign from Quinn Industrial Holdings, and subjected to severe physical abuse, including having his leg broken and letters cut into his chest. He was later left on a country road in Co Cavan. Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond, and Luke O'Reilly, along with a 40-year-old man identified as YZ, have all pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm to Mr. Lunney at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan on September 17, 2019. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Gerard Griffin, and Judge David McHugh.
In a High Court hearing on 13 July 2021, Mr. Ryan Moran, a Dundalk resident, sought information about a forcible search of his home by over a dozen Gardaí accompanied by sniffer dogs on 21 April. He was not questioned or charged, and the search, lasting about 25 minutes, damaged his property and led to the theft of €5,500 worth of items, including a laptop, TV and guitar. Moran claims the raid may have been a case of mistaken identity and that the search left him distraught, feeling unsafe and damaging his reputation. He has repeatedly requested a copy of the warrant and the grounds for the search, but has received no response. In judicial review proceedings against the Garda Commissioner and the Attorney General, he seeks an order to obtain the warrant, declarations that the refusal breaches his constitutional and ECHR rights, and damages for the breach.
A man has been sentenced to eighteen months imprisonment at the Special Criminal Court for perverting the course of justice during the investigation into a 2013 murder. Ray Kennedy, aged 40, was found guilty of destroying a mobile phone SIM card on the day Peter Butterly was fatally shot in a car park at Gormanston, County Meath. Kennedy had arranged to meet Butterly the previous day and arrived at the scene shortly after the killing. Gardaí had requested he remain for interview, but while waiting, he removed and disposed of the SIM card, which prosecutors described as evidentially significant. Justice Tony Hunt imposed a four-year headline sentence but suspended two and a half years on humanitarian grounds, citing Kennedy's daughter's serious health condition. The judge rejected Kennedy's account that he had panicked, finding instead that his actions were calculated. Kennedy must enter a good behaviour bond of one hundred euros for two and a half years following release. Ray Kennedy pleaded not guilty.
The High Court approved Personal Insolvency arrangements for former newspaper owner John Sheils and his wife Susan Casey, allowing them to keep and continue paying mortgage on their 702‑sq‑m house, Annamult House, in Bennetsbridge, Co. Kilkenny, until they reach their mid‑eights. The house, rebuilt after a 2009 fire, also serves as their business venue. They owe about €2.9 million to creditors including Start Mortgages, Pepper Finance, AIB, Bank of Ireland, Everyday Finance and Promontoria Oyster. Under the PIA, they will make mortgage repayments for 336 months (28 years). To fund the arrangement, they will sell assets such as a Blackrock house and a Lucan site, and write off roughly €70,000 of debt. The PIA, lasting 13 months, aims to restore solvency after completion. The judge, Mr Justice Mark Sanfey, expressed some hesitation about the long repayment period but approved the plan due to creditor support.
Jason Reed, a 40-year-old from Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, was sentenced to seven years in prison by the Special Criminal Court for money laundering and possessing proceeds of crime. Mr Justice Tony Hunt described Reed as a trusted, mid-to-high level member of a transnational criminal organisation. Reed pleaded guilty to laundering €289,770 and £62,025 found in a car park in Drogheda, Co Louth, and to laundering €32,330 and £390 found at his home. The judge set a headline sentence of 10 years but reduced it to seven years, running concurrently on both charges, citing Reed's guilty plea and lack of relevant convictions. The court noted evidence including an encrypted phone, luxury watches, and a cash-purchased mobile home. Co-accused Catherine Dawson, a 44-year-old care worker from Bettystown, Co Meath, who pleaded guilty to possessing the cash while knowing or being reckless as to whether it was criminal proceeds, was previously sentenced to three years and nine months. That term was fully suspended for five years. Detective Chief Superintendent Angela Willis stated that the sentencing reflects the Garda focus on the assets of major crime gangs.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) expressed concern that a campaign supporting Aaron Brady, who murdered Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, had posted trial transcripts and other materials on social media, accompanied by commentary that could amount to contempt of court. At a brief hearing in the Court of Appeal, Brendan Grehan SC for the DPP requested an order that the transcripts released for Brady's upcoming appeal be used only for that purpose and not distributed further. Grehan noted that the campaign had promised in January that transcripts would be made available to anyone, which the DPP feared could undermine the appeal process. Michael O'Higgins SC for Brady argued that neither Brady nor the defence lawyers would provide the transcripts to anyone. Aaron Brady was found guilty.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has initiated High Court proceedings to challenge a Special Criminal Court determination that a man's conviction for IRA membership constituted a miscarriage of justice. Michael Connolly, aged 47, from County Louth, was originally convicted in 2017 and sentenced to three years imprisonment following his observation by gardaí in convoy near Convoy, County Donegal, in December 2014 alongside another man found carrying two improvised explosive devices. The Court of Appeal overturned his conviction in 2018, and he was subsequently acquitted following retrial in 2019. The Special Criminal Court found in June that the original conviction resulted from a grave defect in the administration of justice, determining that an Assistant Commissioner's belief evidence breached the "double-counting" rule by relying on material also contained in the book of evidence. The DPP contends the miscarriage finding is flawed and unsustainable, arguing evidence properly established Mr Connolly's involvement in transporting the devices. Mr Justice Meenan granted a stay on the decision, with the matter to return before the High Court in October.
Peter Keating, 40, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to directing a criminal organisation's activities from 7 December 2016 to 4 April 2017, including the attempted murder of James 'Mago' Gately. Gately was shot multiple times on 10 May 2017 while seated in his car at Topaz filling station, Dublin 17. The court heard that the attackers believed Gately was involved in the 2016 Regency Hotel attack that killed Kinahan gang member David Byrne. Other defendants include Caolan Smyth, sentenced to 20 years for the attempted murder and firearm possession; Gary McAreavey, who pleaded not guilty to aiding the escape of a vehicle used in the attempt and received a four‑year term with the last year suspended; and Imre Arakas, jailed for six years for conspiracy to murder Gately in Northern Ireland. David Duffy, 33, pleaded guilty to knowledge of the organisation and participation in the offence, to be sentenced in July.
Jason Reed, a 40-year-old from Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, pleaded guilty to money laundering and possessing the proceeds of crime. He admitted to having €32,330 and £390 at his home and €289,770 and £62,025 in a blue Nike bag at a Drogheda car park on May 11, 2021. Prosecutors alleged Reed was a high-level member of a transnational crime gang, noting he possessed five luxury watches, an encrypted phone, and had purchased a mobile home in cash despite having no source of income. His vehicle was found to have a remote-controlled false compartment. Catherine Dawson, 44, also pleaded guilty to possessing the cash while knowing or being reckless as to whether it was criminal proceeds. She was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison, a term fully suspended for five years. Mr Justice Hunt remanded Reed in custody to reappear for sentencing at the Special Criminal Court on Monday, July 5. The court acknowledged Reed's early plea, lack of previous convictions, and cooperation with gardaí, but deferred the final disposal until the scheduled sentencing date.
A man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and arson following the death of a 61-year-old pensioner in a house fire in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan in March 2016. Aaron McDonagh, aged 21, of no fixed abode, admitted to killing Gerry Marron by setting fire to his home at St Macartans Villas and to damaging the property by fire whilst reckless as to whether life would be endangered. At sentencing in the Central Criminal Court, victim impact statements detailed Mr Marron's vulnerability following an acquired brain injury. His brother described standing helplessly outside the burning house and the family's distress at being unable to identify the body due to severe charring, requiring DNA confirmation instead. The sister recounted the horrendous condition of the remains within the home. Mr Marron's case was being heard following a full garda investigation into the fire.
John Corr, 55, owner of five pharmacies, was found guilty of fraudulently claiming duplicate reimbursements from the HSE's Primary Care Reimbursement Service between 15 and 30 July 2016. He pleaded guilty to seven counts of dishonestly inducing the scheme to pay at locations in Dublin and County Louth. The total amount claimed was €3,988.79, while the duplicate claims amounted to €8,075.37. Corr had made full restitution and had no prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan, after noting Corr's 31‑year pharmacy career and the loss of his business, ordered him to complete 240 hours of community service in lieu of a two‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term. The sentence was delivered on 23 June 2021 at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The case highlighted the HSE's reliance on pharmacists' honesty and the impact of the fraud on Corr's pharmacy contract.
The Special Criminal Court examined CCTV footage on Monday as part of the trial relating to the abduction and assault of Kevin Lunney, a director of Quinn Industrial Holdings, in September 2019. Detective Garda Alan Jones spent three days presenting video evidence compiled during the garda investigation, covering locations across Dublin, Cavan, Westmeath and Louth. Prosecution counsel Sean Guerin SC indicated that footage allegedly documents interactions between individuals and vehicles connected to the alleged offences. One sequence purportedly shows a Renault Kangoo van deposited at a yard in Duleek, County Meath on October 23rd, 2019. Defence counsel challenged the admissibility of the CCTV material. Three men have pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm: Alan O'Brien, aged 40, and Darren Redmond, aged 27, both of East Wall, Dublin, and Luke O'Reilly, aged 67, of Kilcogy, County Cavan. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh.
Ray Kennedy, aged 41, of Blanchardstown in Dublin, has been found guilty of perverting the course of justice at the Special Criminal Court following his destruction of a mobile phone SIM card on 6 March 2013. The card was considered of significant evidential value to the Garda investigation into the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly at Gormanston, County Meath. Kennedy's defence counsel argued against a custodial sentence, citing his young daughter's serious health condition requiring round-the-clock care and his previously unblemished background. The prosecution contended that Kennedy's actions were calculated to conceal his involvement in the incident. Presiding Judge Tony Hunt noted that a custodial sentence remained under consideration whilst granting bail due to Kennedy's family circumstances. Sentencing has been adjourned to 12 July. Four men have previously received life sentences for Butterly's murder, with two others also imprisoned for roles in the killing.
A building contractor, Sepam Solutions Limited, secured High Court orders against subcontractors MDLR Ltd and Titin Ltd, claiming their actions delayed a new vaccine plant at the IDA Science and Technology Park in Dundalk. Sepam, contracted to provide plumbing, mechanical and electrical works, alleges MDLR has retained essential equipment and Titin has withheld a six‑figure down‑payment. The court granted injunctions requiring the defendants to return the equipment and the down‑payment, and to prevent them from reducing assets below €500,000 or dealing with the payment. The orders were issued by Mr Justice Senan Allen after the defendants failed to appear. Sepam says the delays of 12 to 16 weeks damage its reputation and threaten its contract to build the plant for WuXi Vaccines Ireland Ltd, which will employ about 200 people and produce Dengue vaccines for Merck, Sharp and Dohme. The plant is part of a biopharmaceutical facility in Mullagharlin, Dundalk, Co. Louth.
Paul Crosby and Gerard Cruise, accused of murdering 17-year-old Keane Mulready-Woods, appeared at the Special Criminal Court where they were formally served with a notice confirming their trials will proceed in the non-jury court. The men are charged with the murder of Mr. Mulready-Woods at a house in Rathmullan Park, Drogheda, on 12 or 13 January 2020. Mr. Crosby, 25, of Rathmullan Park, is currently in custody, while Mr. Cruise, 47, remains on bail under terms previously set by the High Court. Mr. Justice Tony Hunt directed the accused to return to court on July 19, when a trial date may be set. The matter is at the procedural stage of trial preparation, with no plea, finding, or sentence recorded. Allegations state that Mr. Mulready-Woods was last seen alive in Drogheda on 12 January 2020. The following day, dismembered body parts were found in a sports bag in Coolock, Dublin, and two days later, further remains were discovered in a burning car in Drumcondra. The torso was located 14 months later in March 2021 during a search of waste ground at Rathmullan Park. The court proceedings described are limited to the service of the trial notice and the scheduling of a future hearing; the case has not been concluded or finalised.
Sarunas Lubenskas, 31, of Carlingford Road, Drumcondra, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of cannabis cultivation after Gardaí searched his home on 13 May 2018. The search revealed that all but one room were used to grow cannabis, with an estimated value of €100,000. Lubenskas, a Lithuanian national who had worked casually as a labourer, claimed he was not responsible for the drugs and did not know who ran the operation. He admitted he was intoxicated and aggressive when Gardaí entered. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, suspending the final year on strict conditions, and ordered him to leave the State within 28 days of release. The judge said a message must be sent out to deter non‑resident involvement in the drug trade in Ireland.
Oliver Kane, 41, who was homeless and had mental health issues, walked into a Garda station on 14 June 2021 to inform officers that he had just attempted to rape a 21‑year‑old woman in Ardee on 16 November 2020. He admitted that he had approached the woman with the intention of forcing her into a side area, but she fought him off and escaped. Kane pleaded guilty to attempted rape at the Central Criminal Court. Mr Justice Paul Coffey sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, and imposed a three‑year post‑release supervision order. The judge required Kane to engage with local mental health services for three years upon release and to register as a sex offender. The sentence reflected the judge's view that Kane's actions were opportunistic and that the victim suffered ongoing mental‑health effects. The court noted Kane's single prior public‑order conviction and his minor intellectual disability.
In a High Court hearing on 11 June 2021, Sepam Solutions Limited, contracted to supply plumbing, mechanical and electrical works for a vaccine plant at the IDA Science and Technology Park in Dundalk, claimed that its subcontractors MDLR Ltd and Titin Ltd had breached their agreements. Sepam alleged that MDLR had retained essential equipment supplied by the plaintiff, while Titin had refused to return an €830,000 down payment made for specialised materials. The dispute has caused a delay of 12 to 16 weeks in the plant's construction, which is intended to produce Dengue fever vaccines for Merck, Sharp & Dohme. Sepam seeks an injunction ordering the defendants to return the equipment and the down payment, and to prevent them from reducing the value of their assets below €830,000. Mr Justice Senan Allen granted Sepam permission to serve a short notice of the injunction application, with the case set to return later in the month.
Paul Crosby and Gerard Cruise, both accused of murdering 17-year-old Keane Mulready-Woods, will stand trial at the non-jury Special Criminal Court. The Director of Public Prosecutions applied for the transfer, and Mr Justice Tony Hunt granted the request at the three-judge court. Neither accused entered a plea, and no findings or sentences were recorded at this procedural stage. The DPP alleged that Crosby, 25, of Rathmullan Park, Drogheda, and Cruise, 47, with addresses in Dublin 1 and Rathmullan Park, committed the murder at a house in Rathmullan Park between January 12 and 13, 2020. Crosby is currently in custody, while Cruise is on bail. Both men are required to attend court on June 18, though no specific trial date has been set. The matter was adjourned for that date and is not yet concluded. Background details indicate the victim was last seen alive in Drogheda on January 12, 2020. Subsequently, dismembered body parts were found in a sports bag in Coolock, Dublin, and further remains were discovered in a burning car in Drumcondra. The torso was located 14 months later in an overgrown ravine at Rathmullan Park during a search on March 11.
Maura Keogh, 55, pleaded guilty to 42 counts of theft from CS Construction Spares Ltd, stealing €23,366.55 between January and September 2016, and to three counts of producing false accounting documents. She was the accounts manager at the Clondalkin machinery firm until the theft was uncovered. Garda Linda Ryan reported that a discrepancy was found when a colleague noticed that cash and cheques recorded did not match the actual lodgements. A sting operation revealed that the cash had not been deposited. Keogh admitted the theft at a meeting on 16 September 2016, was dismissed four days later, and a Garda investigation commenced. The owner, Joseph O'Reilly, said the breach shattered trust and caused a ripple effect, leading to the closure of the Dublin premises and restructuring that resulted in several colleagues losing their jobs.
A director of Quinn Industrial Holdings told the Special Criminal Court how he dragged himself along a dark country road after being subjected to serious violence, fearing he would not receive help. Kevin Lunney, giving evidence in the trial of four men accused of falsely imprisoning him and causing him serious harm, described being struck with a wooden implement, subjected to bleach application, and having his body marked with a knife blade. The alleged offences occurred on 17 September 2019 near Ballinagh in County Cavan. An unnamed man, Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond, and Luke O'Reilly, with an address at Mullahoran Lower, Kilcogy, County Cavan, have all pleaded not guilty to the charges. Mr Lunney told the court he dragged himself using only his left arm and leg towards a light in the distance before eventually being stopped by a tractor driver. The trial is ongoing at the Special Criminal Court.
Two men have pleaded not guilty at the Special Criminal Court to charges of falsely imprisoning a Mayo businessman at a location in County Louth in December 2017. Thomas McGuinness, aged 34, of Chestnut Court, Johnstown, Navan, County Meath, and William Twomey, aged 57, of Havelock Place, Warrenpoint, County Down, are accused of detaining the businessman without consent and demanding £50,000 with menaces. The prosecution alleges the victim was lured to Cornamucklagh under false pretences and attacked by a group of men. In closing submissions, defence counsel for Mr McGuinness argued the victim's identification evidence was unreliable, citing memory difficulties following the alleged assault and inadequate viewing conditions during the identification parade. A separate defendant, Anthony Finglas, aged 50, was previously jailed for four years and nine months after pleading guilty to demanding money with menaces in the same incident. Justice Tony Hunt adjourned the trial to 31 August and remanded both accused on bail.
At the Special Criminal Court, closing arguments concluded in the trial of two men charged with offences arising from an assault on a Mayo businessman in County Louth in December 2017. Thomas McGuinness and William Twomey deny falsely imprisoning, assaulting, and robbing the victim, as well as demanding money with menaces. The prosecution alleged the businessman was lured to a remote location under false pretences and attacked with iron bars by men demanding £50,000. The defence submitted that Mr McGuinness should be acquitted, arguing the prosecution lacked core evidence and that Mr Twomey had withdrawn from the scheme before the assault occurred. The defence contended Mr Twomey had expressed concerns about the plan's escalation and warned gardaí of potential danger to the victim. A third man, Anthony Finglas, was previously convicted and sentenced to four years and nine months for demanding money with menaces. Closing arguments for the second defendant are to follow.
Jason Reed, 40, of Maelduin, Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing nearly €400,000 in crime cash. He admitted to money‑laundering offences after €32,330 and £390 (€441) were found at his home, and after €289,770 in euro and £62,025 (€70,207) were discovered in a blue Nike bag at a Donore Road car park. The case was adjourned to 28 June for sentencing. Reed answered only "guilty" to both charges. Catherine Dawson, 44, a co‑accused, received a fully suspended sentence for transporting €600,000 of crime proceeds.
Edmundas Dauksa, 51, was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for the murder of Ingrida Maciokaite at the Central Criminal Court. The sentence was backdated to September 18, 2018, when he entered custody. Dauksa had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter; however, a jury unanimously convicted him of murder. The court heard a victim impact statement from the foster carer of the couple's two children, who described the scene as "unspeakably horrific" for the six-year-old daughter who witnessed the attack. The statement noted the child's ongoing trauma and that the son would never remember his mother. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC stated that Dauksa expressed remorse and deep regret. Mr Justice Paul McDermott delivered the sentence following the conviction. The trial established that Dauksa stabbed Maciokaite 19 times in front of their daughter days after a District Court order placed the child in the mother's custody. The jury rejected the defence that Dauksa lacked murderous intent, accepting the State's case that he intended serious harm or death. No adjournments or suspended portions were recorded in the finalisation.
Paul Crosby, a 25‑year‑old from Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, with 40 prior convictions, had his original five‑year arson sentence reduced to three years and six months, with the final six months suspended, by the Court of Appeal. The offence involved the 2019 arson of a stolen Volkswagen Polo, which was jump‑started by Crosby and two others, driven to a field, and set on fire. He pleaded guilty and was initially sentenced by a Dundalk Circuit judge to five years, the last six months suspended. The appeal argued the original seven‑year headline was excessive, citing the remote location of the fire and Crosby's early guilty plea. The Court of Appeal agreed, quashing the original sentence and imposing the reduced term, while requiring Crosby to bond for good behaviour for 12 months and remain under probation supervision for six months. The decision was based solely on the facts presented in the case.
Mr Justice David Barniville admitted a dispute between builder Johnny O'Loughlin and Mount Pleasant Development Ltd (MPD) against Michael Moran and his associated companies to the fast-track Commercial Court list. The applicants seek declarations that they hold interests in three Dublin development sites—Glebe House in Crumlin, Annesley House in Rathmines, and the former Europa Motors site in Blackrock—and that the defendants hold these properties in trust. They also claim damages for alleged breach of contract and intentional interference with economic interests. The defendants deny these claims. Counsel for the defendants, Gary McCarthy SC, argued for the commercial listing, stating that a registered lis pendens has paralysed development plans. He noted that the lis pendens is preventing the completion of sales for five units at Annesley Gardens, valued at €7.36m, and is blocking further finance for the site. It also halts a proposed joint venture for over 150 apartments in Crumlin and a forward sale of the Blackrock site, which is intended for 100 apartments. The applicants, represented by Andrew Walker BL, consented to the application. The court will return later this year for further proceedings.
Catherine Dawson, a 44‑year‑old care worker, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to a fully suspended term of three years and nine months, suspended for five years, for transporting more than €600,000 in crime cash. She pleaded guilty in January to possessing two bags of cash – a blue Nike bag with €289,770 and £65,025 (€70,207) and a black bag with €254,840 – while knowing or believing the money was the proceeds of criminal conduct. The court noted she had no prior convictions, was the primary carer of her 14‑year‑old son, and had been instructed by others to move the money. A search of her home revealed luxury watches, fake handbags and an €8,845 holiday receipt, though these items were not linked to the cash. The judge emphasised her responsibility to her son and the impact of the sentence on her life.
A man has been found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of disrupting the garda investigation into the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly in 2013. Ray Kennedy, aged 41, from Blanchardstown, Dublin, was convicted of destroying a mobile phone SIM card on the day of the killing at Gormanston, County Meath. The court heard Kennedy had arranged to meet Butterly that afternoon and arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting. Evidence showed Kennedy's phone had contacted a burner phone connected to the murder. Kennedy claimed he panicked when approached by gardaí and destroyed the SIM card, but the judge rejected this account as not credible and found his actions were a calculated attempt to obstruct the investigation. Four men have already received life sentences for Butterly's murder, with two others also convicted and jailed for their roles. Kennedy was granted bail pending sentencing on 21 June. The unnamed accused was acquitted.
John McGahon, aged 21, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for false imprisonment of Aaron Rochford, aged 22, during a Drogheda feud. McGahon was arrested after the Armed Support Unit forced entry into a house on the Moneymore Estate to rescue Rochford, who had been abducted and found naked in a bathtub with slash wounds, a broken jaw and a shovel injury. CCTV showed McGahon driving the car that brought Rochford to the house, helping remove him from the vehicle, and later bundling him over a rear wall into an adjacent house where he was rescued. McGahon pleaded guilty, was described as a follower rather than a ringleader, and had no prior convictions. The judge took his guilty plea, remorse, and age into account when imposing the sentence. The case involved a three‑year sentence for co‑accused Dean Thornton.
In May 2021, Oliver Kane, 41, who was homeless and suffering from mental health issues, voluntarily appeared at a Garda station to confess that he had attempted to rape a 21‑year‑old woman in Ardee on 16 November 2020. Kane explained that he had approached the woman with the intention of forcing her into a secluded area, but she resisted and escaped. He admitted the assault and expressed regret. The victim, who has suffered ongoing mental health problems, stated that the incident had caused nightmares, sleep difficulties, and depression, and that she had taken time off work and begun counselling. Kane has a prior conviction for a public order offence. At the Central Criminal Court, the case was adjourned to 14 June to allow for a psychiatric assessment, and Kane was remanded in continuing custody. The prosecution noted that the victim's anonymity was maintained, while the defence highlighted Kane's untreated depression and psychosis. Oliver Kane pleaded guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a jury found Edmundas Dauksa, a married Lithuanian man, guilty of murdering his former partner, Ingrida Maciokaite, by stabbing her 19 times in front of their six‑year‑old daughter. The killing occurred on 18 September 2018 at Bridgewater Mews, Dundalk, after a court had placed the child in Maciokaite's custody. Dauksa had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The jury rejected his defence that he was not "fuelled with murderous intent" and that he had been wronged by the court system. They accepted the State's case that he intended serious harm or death when he repeatedly plunged a 15‑cm blade into Maciokaite's body. The verdict was unanimous, with the jury deliberating for 3 hours 51 minutes over two days. The judge will impose a mandatory life sentence on 24 May and remand Dauksa in custody until then.
Fishmonger Edmundas Dauksa (51) is on trial in Dundalk, Co Louth, having pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the killing of Ingrida Maciokaite (31) on September 18, 2018. The prosecution, led by Conor Devally SC, argued that Dauksa possessed the necessary intent for murder, stating that repeatedly plunging a 15cm blade into the victim's body could only lead to serious harm or death. Devally contended that the accused's actions, which resulted in multiple stab wounds to the chest, back, face, and neck, demonstrated a clear intention to kill, despite the defence's claims of emotional turmoil. The defence, represented by Michael Bowman SC, submitted that Dauksa did not have murderous intent, attributing his state of mind to distress over a recent District Court order that placed his daughter in the custody of her mother. Bowman argued that while the accused felt wronged by the legal system, he was not consumed by vengeance and had not premeditated the attack. The jury, comprising seven men and five women, is set to begin deliberations after Justice Paul McDermott charges them. The matter remains at the trial stage, with no final verdict or sentence recorded in this report.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Asta Dauksiene, wife of Edmundas Dauksa, testified that her husband was deeply devoted to his daughter, describing him as "completely destroyed" after the court placed the child in the deceased's custody. Dauksiene recounted that the child had been in the family's care since infancy, with the mother, Ingrida Maciokaite, returning to work and allowing the child to stay with the family. She detailed the court's abnormal and accelerated decision to transfer custody days before the September 18, 2018, murder. Dauksiene also described Dauksa's emotional state, noting he was upset, crying, and later appeared to have a knife in his hand. The trial, with Dauksa pleading not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
In a murder trial, the jury heard that a mother‑of‑two, who was later stabbed to death by her former partner in front of their six‑year‑old daughter, had been granted custody of the child in an "abnormal and accelerated" District Court hearing days before the killing. The court order, issued on 14 September, was said to contain errors and irregularities, and the accused, Edmundas Dauksa, was unrepresented during the proceedings. Dauksa, aged 51, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the 2018 killing of Ingrida Maciokaite, who died from multiple stab wounds. The trial also covered the mother's attempts to secure custody, the solicitor's advice, and the Gardaí's involvement in the court order and child's transport to Drogheda Courthouse. The case continues before Mr Justice McDermott and a jury.
In a Dundalk murder trial, the jury was shown CCTV footage of Edmundas Dauksa, 51, meeting his former partner, Ingrida Maciokaite, 31, moments before he stabbed her to death in front of their six‑year‑old daughter. The footage captured Dauksa walking onto Linenhall Street at 2.45 pm on 18 September 2018, entering an alleyway from Bridgewater Mews, and later being seen sitting on a wall with a knife on the ground. Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with a child distressed and a black Audi arriving. Dauksa pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, continues with 12 jurors hearing the evidence.
The jury in the trial of Edmundas Dauksa, a 51‑year‑old fishmonger from Dundalk, was discharged after a legal application was made in their absence. Dauksa was charged with the murder of Ingrida Maciokaite, a 31‑year‑old Lithuanian national, who was killed on 18 September 2018 at Bridgewater Mews, Linenhall Street, Dundalk. The judge, Justice Paul McDermott, thanked the jurors and exempted them from duty for five years, and a new jury will be sworn in for the case at the Central Criminal Court later that day. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
Fishmonger Edmundas Dauksa (51), of Castletown Road, Dundalk, Co Louth, is on trial for the alleged murder of Ingrida Maciokaite (31) at Bridgewater Mews, Linenhall Street, Dundalk, on September 18, 2018. The accused has pleaded not guilty to the charge. Prosecution barrister Conor Devally SC outlined that Dauksa and Maciokaite, both Lithuanian nationals, had a relationship and shared parenthood, with their six-year-old daughter present at the scene. The prosecution alleges Dauksa stabbed Maciokaite multiple times in an arch passage, with witnesses describing hearing screams and seeing the accused make striking motions before discarding a knife across the street. Garda David O'Leary identified the alleged weapon, described as a boning knife, found near the scene. Witnesses Yetunde Awosanya, Paul Ruane, and Cyril Loughran testified to seeing the incident, with Loughran describing five or six striking motions and blood on the accused's hands. The trial is currently ongoing before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury, with proceedings continuing on Tuesday.
John Corr, 55, owner of five pharmacies, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to seven counts of dishonestly inducing the HSE's Primary Care Reimbursement Service to make duplicate reimbursements at his pharmacies in County Dublin and County Louth between 15 and 30 July 2016. Duplicate claims were identified at five locations, including Clonskeagh, Clarehall, Clogherhead, Blackbull and Mell. Ninety‑four patients were affected, and the total duplicate reimbursement was €8,075.37, with Corr charged with obtaining €3,988.79 by deception. Detective Garda Darren Hughes noted that the investigation began after above‑average payments were observed at Mell. Full restitution was made, and Corr lost his community pharmacy contract with the HSE, effectively ending his business. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Corr's 31‑year pharmacy career, ordered that Corr complete 240 hours of community service in lieu of a two‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term, with the matter adjourned to 23 June for Probation Service assessment.
A jury of seven women and five men was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the trial of Edmundas Dauksa, a 51‑year‑old Lithuanian fishmonger from Dundalk, who is accused of murdering his partner, 31‑year‑old Ingrida Maciokaite, in September 2018. Dauksa pleaded not guilty. The court noted that both he and Maciokaite were Lithuanian nationals and that they had a six‑year‑old daughter together. Mr Justice Michael White mentioned a prior custody issue before the death. The trial is set to begin this Thursday before Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, William Twomey (56) and Thomas McGuinness (33) were charged with four non‑scheduled offences against Edward McAndrew. The prosecution alleged that on 2 December 2017, Twomey and McGuinness lured McAndrew to a remote site at One Ferry Hill, Cornamucklagh, Louth, where they beat him with iron bars, threatened him, and placed him in a car boot. They demanded €50,000 and robbed him of keys, money, a travel bag, a wallet, a briefcase, two mobile phones and an Irish passport. McAndrew was also alleged to have been falsely imprisoned. The court heard evidence that Twomey sent fraudulent emails to McAndrew, that McGuinness drove him to the attack, and that items taken from McAndrew were found in Twomey's possession. McAndrew was to give evidence of the assault, injuries and medical treatment he received. The trial was set to resume with three judges presiding. William Twomey pleaded not guilty. Thomas McGuinness pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court has declared the 2017 conviction of Michael Connolly a miscarriage of justice. Connolly, of Dundalk, County Louth, had pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the Irish Republican Army, otherwise the IRA on December 16, 2014. He spent 14 months and 22 days in custody following his initial conviction. The court found a "grave defect" in the administration of justice caused by Garda Assistant Commissioner Michael O'Sullivan. O'Sullivan had asserted during the original trial that none of the material forming the basis of his belief was in the Book of Evidence. The court described this assertion as "seriously incomplete and misleading" and "careless," noting it prevented the issue of "double counting" from being properly examined. Although the court found beyond reasonable doubt that O'Sullivan genuinely believed Connolly was an IRA member and that evidence implicated Connolly in transporting two improvised explosive devices, it could not rely on the belief evidence as independent. The court concluded that if the double counting issue had been properly considered, the original court would likely have been compelled to acquit. This decision follows a 2018 Court of Appeal ruling that set aside the conviction and ordered a retrial, and a 2019 retrial in which Connolly was acquitted. The court approved the certificate for the Miscarriage of Justice application.