Karl Vogelaar, a 29-year-old from Oulster Lane, Drogheda, Co Louth, has had his appeal against his conviction dismissed by the Court of Appeal. Vogelaar was found guilty by a jury at Dundalk Circuit Court of two counts of robbery contrary to section 14 of the Criminal Justice Act 2001. The allegations state that on November 4, 2016, three men robbed Tully's bookmakers in Wheaton Hall, Drogheda, at 8:45 pm, where one held a gun to the employee's face, a shot was fired, and €1,600 was taken. Ten minutes later, the group allegedly robbed Tully's bookmakers in Ballsgrove, taking €1,735. Gardai recovered the getaway car shortly after, finding black leggings inside that contained a DNA profile matching Vogelaar's. He was convicted on July 9, 2019, and sentenced to four years' imprisonment. At the appeal stage, Vogelaar's lawyers argued the DNA evidence did not directly link him to the crimes and that the trial judge should have withdrawn the case from the jury. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, delivering the judgment of the three-judge court, dismissed the appeal. She stated that the DNA match on the leggings, alongside other items linked to the robbery, significantly strengthened the connection between Vogelaar and the offences. The court concluded there was sufficient evidence that, if accepted by the jury, could lead to a conviction.
During the pandemic lockdown, a 44‑year‑old care worker, Catherine Dawson, was used by criminals to transport more than €600,000 in cash. She had a clean record and was following instructions from another person when she allowed the money to be placed in her car. The Special Criminal Court heard that a search of Dawson's home uncovered luxury watches, fake high‑end handbags and a receipt for an €8,845 holiday to America, though the Gardaí do not believe these items were connected to her. Dawson was arrested as part of a Garda investigation targeting serious organised criminals. In January she pleaded guilty to possessing two bags of cash, one containing €289,770 and £65,025 (€70,207) and the other €254,840, knowing or believing the money was the proceeds of criminal conduct. The court adjourned sentencing until 17 May.
A man acquitted of IRA membership in the Special Criminal Court has had his case examined for miscarriage of justice findings. Michael Connolly, aged 47 from County Louth, was convicted in 2017 of membership of an unlawful organisation following his arrest in Convoy, Donegal. He spent over fourteen months in custody before the Court of Appeal quashed his conviction in 2018, citing the trial court's refusal to examine intelligence files underlying the Assistant Commissioner's belief evidence. A retrial in 2019 resulted in acquittal. At a recent hearing, Connolly's legal representatives argued the original conviction constituted a classic miscarriage of justice, contending that belief evidence had been formed using case materials in breach of the rule against double counting. They highlighted that disclosure of intelligence file extracts during the retrial directly contradicted the Assistant Commissioner's previous testimony. The Director of Public Prosecutions opposed the miscarriage of justice application, arguing acquittal did not automatically warrant such certification. The three-judge panel reserved judgement. Michael Connolly pleaded not guilty.
A 35‑year‑old Polish‑born man, Tomasz Krzysztof Piotrowski, was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Central Criminal Court after pleading guilty to the murder of his 57‑year‑old mother, Elzbieta Piotrowska, on 8 January 2019 in Ardee, Louth. The court heard that Piotrowski had decapitated his mother, leaving her body in the hallway of her home, and that an axe and several Stanley knives were found near the scene. He had previously been deemed unfit to stand trial but was considered fit after psychiatric assessment. The judge noted the case was the second in a short period where drug‑induced psychosis had led to a "horrific tragedy". Piotrowski had also lied to psychiatrists to obtain a diagnosis of schizophrenia and a lesser sentence. The sentencing was described as the "most tragic of cases" and the judge ordered monitoring of his psychiatric condition in prison. The judge also expressed sympathy for the victim's husband, daughter and grandmother.
Gerry O'Brien and Joanne O'Brien appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where both pleaded guilty to theft charges. Gerry O'Brien admitted to one count of stealing €107,286 in cash and cheques by deception from Beryl Tilson, then aged 77, at a Sandyford address between July 2017 and November 2018. He also pleaded guilty to one count of stealing €27,254 in cash and cheques by deception from Rosemary Fitzgerald, then aged 73, at a Blackrock address between August and November 2018. Joanne O'Brien pleaded guilty to two counts of theft from Ms Tilson on December 23, 2017, and July 12, 2018. The prosecution alleged the defendants used fabricated sob stories and a fake solicitor to deceive the victims. Judge Pauline Codd adjourned the matter to May 17 for sentencing. The court noted Gerry O'Brien has 68 previous convictions, while Joanne O'Brien has 28, mostly for road traffic offences. Defence counsel stated Gerry O'Brien was remorseful, though the judge noted his letter focused on his own woes rather than the victims. It was also noted that Joanne O'Brien had repaid the €900 stolen from Ms Tilson. The matter was adjourned and not concluded.
During a 999 call about an abduction in the Drogheda feud, armed gardai breached a house in the Moneymore Estate and found Aaron Rochford, 22, crouched in a bathtub, unclothed and covered in blood with a broken jaw and slash wounds to his torso and head. Rochford had been moved between two houses and was later found in shock. Dean Thornton, 23, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Rochford on 11 November 2018. He was described as not a ring leader. The court noted Thornton's guilty plea, remorse and cooperation, and imposed a three‑year sentence, crediting time already spent in custody. The case highlighted heightened tensions during the feud and the gardai's response to the emergency call. The victim's grandmother described him as a "lovable rogue" and expressed deep distress at his injuries. The court also considered Thornton's prior convictions and his future plans to remain drug‑free. The case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A 33‑year‑old Polish man, Tomasz Krzysztof Piotrowski, was found fit to stand trial by Mr Justice Michael White at the Central Criminal Court after two consultant psychiatrists disagreed on his fitness. The judge was satisfied that Piotrowski could navigate a plea, follow evidence and make a proper defence. He was charged with decapitating his 57‑year‑old mother, Elzbieta Piotrowska, on 8 January 2019 at her home in Clonmore, Ardee. The body was discovered that morning with multiple stab wounds and an axe and Stanley knives nearby. Piotrowski was arrested the same day and had previously been deemed unfit to be tried by psychiatrists at the Central Mental Hospital. Dr Mary Davoren, after a November consultation, concluded he was now fit, citing his understanding of plea options and good concentration. Dr Conor O'Neill disagreed, asserting ongoing delusional beliefs and a history of substance misuse.
Paul Crosby, 25, of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, faced a five‑year prison sentence with six months suspended for arson after he and two others jump‑started a stolen Volkswagen Polo, drove it to a field in the Yellowbatter area, and set it on fire. The car, stolen from Dublin and fitted with stolen plates, tax and insurance discs, was valued at €10,000 and was a write‑off. A judge at the Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court reduced the headline seven‑year sentence to five years after taking into account Crosby's early guilty plea. Crosby has 40 prior convictions, including 31 for road traffic offences, four for theft, three for drug‑related offences and two for criminal damage. He was acquitted of an attempted murder charge in February 2019. The Court of Appeal heard that the arson was described as "mysterious" and that the fire was set in a field away from houses and people.
John Corr, 55, owner of a pharmacy chain, pleaded guilty before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 20 counts of deception under the Theft and Fraud Act 2001 for fraudulently obtaining payments from the HSE's Primary Care Reimbursement Service. He admitted to inducing the scheme to reimburse €769.14 for services at Corr's pharmacy in Mell, Drogheda, on 28 July 2016. The offence involved various sums ranging from €7 to €220 at his Dublin and Drogheda locations. The DPP had previously directed trial on indictment, and Corr was remanded on continuing bail until 19 April for sentencing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 24‑year‑old Muslim woman testified that she was sexually assaulted by Mujahed Omer, a 57‑year‑old father of four who was highly regarded in his community. The victim described how Omer lured her into a bathroom under the pretext of removing fittings, then used a toothbrush, acid, and cream to assault her. She reported the incident to Gardaí, her family, and later to a Sexual Assault Treatment Unit. Judge Pauline Codd praised the victim's courage and stated that any blame or shame lay solely with the perpetrator. Omer, who had no prior convictions, was convicted by a jury and sentenced to four years' imprisonment. The judge noted his continued denial of guilt and lack of remorse. The case highlighted the victim's loss of trust in her community and her avoidance of her local mosque. Mujahed Omer pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court has sentenced a man to twenty years imprisonment for his role in an attempted murder conspiracy linked to organised crime. Caolan Smyth, aged twenty-nine, of County Meath, was found guilty in January of attempted murder and firearm offences following an attack on James Gately at a filling station in north Dublin on tenth May two thousand seventeen. The victim was shot five times but survived. Presiding Judge Tony Hunt noted that others were equally or more culpable than Smyth, describing him as ruthless and dangerous. A second defendant, Gary McAreavey, aged fifty-three, of County Louth, received four years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for his role in burning out the getaway vehicle. The court heard evidence of surveillance, mobile phone tracking, and CCTV footage establishing the conspiracy's organised nature. Judge Hunt acknowledged that fortuitous circumstances alone had spared the victim's life. Gary McAreavey pleaded not guilty. Caolan Smyth pleaded not guilty.
Sean Everitt, a 20‑year‑old from Hill View, Drogheda, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a one‑year suspended term for laundering €10,000 in criminal proceeds. He pleaded guilty to allowing his bank account to be used by criminals to hold money he knew or was reckless about being illicit, an offence under section seven of the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act 2010. Everitt had previously been convicted of drug dealing and aggravated burglary, and was on bail for a drug offence when the laundering occurred. He was offered €100 for using his account but never received it. The €10,000 was later reimbursed to the victim, who declined to prepare a victim impact report. The suspended sentence is to run consecutively with his existing prison term.
In a 2021 sentencing, a 63‑year‑old man was jailed for 16 years for repeatedly raping and abusing his daughters over a 16‑year period. The younger daughter, now 34, was raped from age seven until 18, and became pregnant by her father at 17. The older daughter was raped from age nine until 16, and was also raped while pregnant. The court heard that social welfare was notified in 2004 but only intervened after the younger daughter reported to Gardaí in 2015. The judge noted missed opportunities by state agencies and described the abuse as violent, neglectful and cruel. The father pleaded guilty to 105 charges, including rape, oral rape and sexual assault. The sentence was reduced from a headline life term to 16 years due to guilty pleas and remorse. The daughters' victim impact statements highlighted ongoing trauma and the lack of basic rights during their upbringing.
Llyod Pennant, a 60‑year‑old man from Dundalk diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2000, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to importing cannabis and to possession of cannabis for sale or supply on 4 June 2019. He had been stopped by customs after disembarking from a ferry, where the cannabis was found in his hand luggage in two bags, valued at €19,800. Pennant claimed he had collected the drugs in the UK for his own use to relieve pain, as he cannot take MS injections when his blood pressure falls. He has 16 prior convictions, including deception and possession of stolen property. Judge Martin Nolan, describing the case as "exceptional", imposed a four‑year prison sentence but suspended the entire term on strict conditions, citing Pennant's medical needs and the difficulty of imprisonment for someone with MS. The sentence was fully suspended, with no custodial time imposed.
A man convicted of attempting to murder a drugs cartel target will be sentenced by the Special Criminal Court next month. Caolan Smyth, aged 29, from County Meath, was found guilty on January 5th of shooting James Gately five times as he sat in his car at a filling station in north Dublin in May 2017. Mr Gately survived the attack with injuries to his chest and neck. Smyth was also convicted of firearms possession with intent to endanger. Gary McAreavey, aged 53, from County Louth, was convicted of assisting in the destruction of the getaway vehicle used in the shooting. The Special Criminal Court determined beyond reasonable doubt that Smyth was the gunman in an organised murder attempt. Evidence included mobile phone data and CCTV identification. Both men have been remanded in custody pending sentencing on February 17th. Smyth faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, while McAreavey faces a maximum of ten years. Caolan Smyth pleaded not guilty. Gary McAreavey pleaded not guilty.
Caroline Donovan, a former resident of Bessborough House in Blackrock, Cork, has initiated a High Court personal injuries claim against the State, the HSE, and the Congregation of Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Ms Donovan, who resided at the facility in the mid-1980s and early 1990s, alleges she was subjected to physical and emotional abuse, constituting a breach of her constitutional rights. She claims she was forced to work unpaid for the facility and a local family under harsh and unsafe conditions. Additionally, Ms Donovan alleges that her baby girl, born in the early 1980s when Ms Donovan was 15, was wrongfully adopted without her consent following undue influence. The defendants include the Minister for Health, the HSE, Ireland, the Attorney General, and the nuns who ran the home, which closed in 1999. Represented by solicitor Siobhan O'Neill and barristers Frank Callanan SC and Conor Duff BL, Ms Donovan intends to formally lodge the proceedings in the coming days. This action is understood to be among the first brought following the publication of the final report by the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes. The matter is at the hearing_or_decision stage, with the case expected to come before the courts at a later date.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, 44‑year‑old Catherine Dawson pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing property that is the proceeds of criminal conduct. She admitted owning a blue Nike bag with €289,770 and £65,025 (€70,207) in cash, and a black bag with €254,840 in cash, both found at a Spar on Donore Road, Drogheda, on 11 May 2020. Dawson's lawyer requested a psychological report, which the court granted. The judge remanded her on continuing bail until 24 March for a sentence hearing. Her partner, Thomas Rooney, 41, was also expected to be arraigned but his counsel sought an eight‑week adjournment; the court set a new date of 1 March and remanded him on continuing bail. Rooney faces charges of possessing the same amounts of cash in the same bags and an additional €7,650 in cash at North Road, Drogheda, on the same day, under suspicion of aiding an organised crime gang.
Liam Campbell, aged 58, who was found civilly liable for the 1998 Omagh bombing, is fighting extradition to Lithuania where he is suspected of international weapons trafficking for the Real IRA between late 2006 and early 2007. His lawyers argue that the High Court should not surrender him because Lithuanian authorities have not yet decided to charge or try him, citing section 21A of the European Arrest Warrant Act 2003 and an affidavit indicating pending evidence. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice John Edwards, has reserved judgment. The Lithuanian EAW alleges Campbell prepared a crime, illegally possessed firearms, and engaged in terrorism, with a maximum 20‑year sentence. Campbell previously spent four years in custody in Northern Ireland during a prior extradition attempt but was released after a rights‑breach objection. The case remains at the appellate stage.
The Special Criminal Court found Caolan Smyth guilty of attempted murder on Tuesday following the May 2017 shooting of James Gately at a filling station on the Clonshaugh Road in north Dublin. Mr Gately sustained injuries to his upper chest and neck but survived after being forewarned by gardaí and wearing a bullet-proof vest. The three-judge court determined beyond reasonable doubt that Smyth, aged 28 and from Cuileann Court, Donore, County Meath, was both the driver and gunman in the organised attack. Evidence included mobile phone location data, CCTV footage identifying Smyth by distinctive tattoos and clothing, and surveillance of Mr Gately's home the preceding day. Gary McAreavey, aged 52 and from Station Road, Castlebellingham, County Louth, was separately convicted of assisting in the destruction of the black Lexus getaway vehicle at Dromiskin, County Louth. The judge found McAreavey knew of the crime before providing assistance. Both men will return for sentencing on 25 January. Caolan Smyth pleaded not guilty. Gary McAreavey pleaded not guilty.
Aaron Brady was convicted of the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, who was shot during an armed robbery at Lordship Credit Union in County Louth on 25 January 2013. An investigation spanning several years culminated in Brady's trial, where the prosecution presented extensive circumstantial evidence linking him to the crime. This included CCTV footage connecting Brady to a stolen Volkswagen Passat used in the raid, phone records showing his movements, and witness testimony placing him in the vicinity. Brady's own statements to gardaí contained multiple falsehoods about his whereabouts that night. The investigation also revealed Brady had later made incriminating admissions whilst living abroad, boasting about shooting a police officer. The jury found Brady guilty of the murder. The case was handled by Dundalk District Court and involved cooperation between Irish and Northern Irish police services.
A Special Criminal Court hearing set a trial date for Jason Reed, 39, of Maelduin, Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, on 23 June 2021. Reed faces a money‑laundering charge tied to €32,330 and £390 (≈€441) allegedly found at his home. The court also scheduled arraignment for two co‑accused, Thomas Rooney, 41, and Catherine Dawson, 44, on 20 January. Rooney and Dawson were arrested on suspicion of aiding an organised crime gang and are charged with money laundering and possession of the proceeds of crime. They allegedly possessed €289,770 in euros and £62,025 (≈€70,207) in cash in a blue Nike bag, and separately had €245,840 in cash in a bag on the same date. All three were present at the brief hearing. The trial is expected to last two to three weeks.
Dean Quigley, aged 23, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for a series of violent offences. In July 2018 he attacked a 17‑year‑old woman on the N11, punching her, pulling her hair and continuing to strike her while she lay on the ground. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. In July 2019 he broke into a 75‑year‑old neighbour's apartment, causing the victim severe injuries and threatening to kill him if he reported the incident. He pleaded guilty to trespassing and criminal damage. In October 2019 he again entered the neighbour's home, assaulting him and threatening further violence. The court imposed concurrent two‑year sentences for the assault on the woman and the July burglary, and a consecutive six‑year sentence for the October burglary, suspending the final two years on the condition of alcohol‑addiction treatment. The judge noted the seriousness of the attacks and the impact on the victims' safety and mental health.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 10 December 2020, Tomasz Surowiak, a 27‑year‑old Polish national, pleaded guilty to possessing an airgun without a certificate. The court heard that Surowiak was not involved in an earlier incident in which a handgun was allegedly pointed out of a car window. Garda Matthew Kennedy described how police intercepted a VW Golf in Tyrone Place, Inchicore, and arrested Surowiak, who was driving the vehicle. A firearm, described as a gas‑powered training gun used for indoor target practice, was found on the passenger seat and confiscated. Surowiak claimed he bought the gun in Drogheda the previous May, had no knowledge that a licence was required in Ireland, and had not loaded the weapon.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 23‑year‑old man, Dean Quigley, pleaded guilty to assaulting a 17‑year‑old woman on the N11 in July 2018, where he punched her face, pulled her hair and continued striking her while she lay on the ground. He also pleaded guilty to trespassing and assaulting a 75‑year‑old neighbour in July and October 2019, threatening to kill him if he reported the incidents. The elderly victim's daughter found Quigley five days after the second assault, and he was hospitalized for a brain bleed, neck ligature marks and severe chest bruising. Quigley's court record includes 12 prior convictions and two recent convictions for knife possession and a threat to kill. The judge adjourned sentencing to 17 December 2020, while the court heard the victim's impact statements and Quigley's expressions of remorse and progress in custody.
In December 2020 the Court of Appeal reserved judgment on the appeal of Sharif Kelly and Edward McGrath, who were convicted of murdering Peter Butterly in 2013. The men had been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court. Their conviction relied heavily on testimony from former co‑accused David Cullen, who had pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a pistol and was later turned into a State witness. Cullen's evidence, which alleged a planning meeting and the men's presence, was contested by the defence as unreliable and tainted. The appeal argued that Cullen's testimony was not credible and that the men's state of mind at the time of the murder was not established. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice George Birmingham, has not yet ruled on the appeal.
In a murder conviction appeal, the DPP's counsel, Paul O'Higgins SC, acknowledged that David Cullen, a former murder suspect who became a State witness, was a 'tarnished' witness. Cullen had previously pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a semi‑automatic pistol and was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, half suspended, for that offence. He testified for four and a half days in the Special Criminal Court trial of Sharif Kelly and Edward McGrath, who were convicted of murdering Peter Butterly in 2013. The defence argued that Cullen's evidence was tainted and should have been excluded, citing his prior perjury conviction. O'Higgins countered that no rule bars a person convicted of perjury from giving evidence, and that the trial court could rely on Cullen's testimony only if corroborated by other evidence. The appeal remains before the Court of Appeal.
The Special Criminal Court will hear the trials of Jason Reed (39), Thomas Rooney (41) and Catherine Dawson (44) following the seizure of €550,000 in cash during searches of cars and a house in Drogheda and elsewhere in the north‑east. The DPP applied under Section 40 of the Criminal Justice Act for a non‑jury trial, and Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Michael Walsh granted the application. None of the accused were present at the hearing, but they are required to appear on 21 December when a trial date will be set. All three are charged with money laundering and possession of the proceeds of crime. Reed is accused of laundering €32,330 and £390 (≈€441) found at his home; Rooney and Dawson are charged with possession of €245,840 in cash in a bag on the same date; all three were previously granted bail by a District Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, the Doyle Shipping Group Unlimited was fined €850,000 for failing to manage the dismantling of a steel hopper at the McKearns Yard, which led to the instant death of welder James Byrne on 6 June 2018. Byrne, who had been using a blow torch to separate a six‑metre column from a larger metal structure, was killed when the column fell on him. The Health and Safety Authority investigation found that the company had not planned the task, had not used appropriate equipment, and had relied on a single employee to assess risks. Judge Pauline Codd noted the fatality, the obvious and significant risk, and the lack of mitigation, but accepted mitigating factors such as the guilty plea, cooperation, good safety record, and remedial spending. The fine was set at €850,000, with the company continuing to pay Byrne's salary and overtime to his partner.
The appeal of Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly, who were convicted of the murder of Peter Butterly in 2013, is ongoing before the Court of Appeal. McGrath's barrister, Paul Greene SC, argued that while McGrath was 'caught red-handed' in the criminal enterprise, there was a lack of evidence regarding his state of mind at the time of the shooting. The appeal hinges on the reliability of David Cullen's testimony, who was originally charged with the murder but later pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol at the Huntsman Inn on the day of the shooting. Cullen's evidence was central to the convictions of McGrath, Kelly, and others. The appeal is examining whether the trial judges erred in accepting Cullen's testimony, which was the basis of the convictions. The matter was adjourned for further submissions from the DPP, with Paul O'Higgins SC set to continue his arguments tomorrow. Dean Evans, who pleaded guilty to the murder, was not present for the trial but was extradited back to Ireland. The case remains in the appeal stage, with no finalised conclusions yet.
In a 2020 Court of Appeal decision, the appeal of Cornelius Price, a 38‑year‑old former gang leader from Drogheda, was dismissed. Price had been released from Wheatfield Prison on 18 May 2019 after serving three‑quarters of a three‑year sentence, with a quarter remission calculated by days. He argued that a month‑based calculation would have released him 24 hours earlier, on 17 May 2019. The court upheld the High Court's earlier ruling that the IPS's day‑based method is logical, consistent and fair, and that a month‑based approach would create ambiguity and unfairness. Justice Maire Whelan, joined by Justices George Birmingham and Isobel Kennedy, found Price's detention for the disputed 24‑hour period lawful and dismissed the appeal. Price had been convicted in 2017 for recklessly endangering a Garda during a high‑speed incident in 2014.
Two men, Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly, are appealing their convictions for the murder of Peter Butterly, a dissident republican, in a five‑day hearing before the Court of Appeal. The appeal focuses on the reliability of evidence given by former murder suspect David Cullen, who became a State witness. Cullen's testimony, which lasted four and a half days, is alleged by the defence to be tainted and untrustworthy. The defence argues that Cullen's statements were inconsistent, often vague, and that he used evasive language such as "don't know" and "possibly" to undermine his credibility. The appeal contends that the trial judges erred by accepting Cullen's evidence and not adequately addressing his credibility. The hearing will continue the following day before a three‑judge panel of the Court of Appeal.
In a case involving the alleged murder of Elzbieta Piotrowska, a 57‑year‑old Polish woman found decapitated in her Ardee home on 8 January 2019, the Central Criminal Court is set to decide whether her son, Tomasz Krzysztof Piotrowski, aged 33, is fit to stand trial. Dominic McGinn SC, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, presented evidence that Piotrowski's body was discovered with multiple stab wounds and that an axe and Stanley knives were nearby. Piotrowski was arrested the same day and was previously declared unfit to be tried after assessments at the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum. However, Dr Mary Davoren reported on 3 December that Piotrowski is now fit to stand trial, following a November consultation in which he admitted lying to psychiatrists. Contrarily, Dr Conor O'Neill, a consultant psychiatrist at the CMH, disagreed, asserting that Piotrowski remains suffering from delusional beliefs consistent with paranoid schizophrenia and is still unfit to plead.
In a 2020 High Court decision, Mr Justice Denis McDonald quashed An Bord Pleanala's approval of a development at Rathmullen, Drogheda, that would have added 661 homes, a neighbourhood centre and a creche. The judge found the board's decision "wrong in law" because it failed to properly assess the impact on bird species in the Boyne Estuary Special Protection Area and on four nearby Natura 2000 sites. The court held that the board had not carried out the required high‑tide survey of rare birds, a requirement under the EU Habitats Directive, and had incorrectly considered mitigation measures. The decision was challenged by Highland Residents Association and Protect East Meath Ltd, who argued the board had ignored ecological and historical concerns. The case will return for final orders at a later date.
During the High Court hearing on 24 November 2020, Mr Justice Michael White sentenced Colin Hoey, aged 30, to 21 days' imprisonment and a €2,000 fine for contempt of court after Hoey failed to attend a witness order in the Aaron Brady murder trial. Hoey had initially supplied an alibi for Brady but later withdrew it. He was jailed for not appearing at the Central Criminal Court on 4 March 2020, despite a bench warrant issued on 5 March. Hoey had presented himself at the Criminal Courts of Justice on 5 October 2020 to execute the warrant. The judge noted that Hoey was a "very decent young man" from a "very decent family" who had been caught up in a "very difficult situation" and that his failure to comply with the witness order was a serious matter. The sentence was imposed to reflect the seriousness of the contempt offence. Colin Hoey pleaded guilty. Aaron Brady pleaded guilty and was found guilty.
A dispute involving family members over the running of Foxfield Inns Designated Activity Company, which owns well-known hotels in Dublin and Galway, has been admitted to the fast-track Commercial Court list. Mary Flannery, an applicant, alleges that her brothers Frank Flannery, Kevin Flannery, and sister-in-law Sheelagh Flannery, along with accountant James Norton, have acted in an oppressive manner, infringing her rights as a shareholder and director. Ms Flannery claims she was denied answers to her questions about the firm's affairs, which she says is oppressive to her interests. She also alleges that Mr Norton, who was appointed the personal representative of her late brother, acts as a 'shadow director' and exerts undue influence over the company. Mr Norton denies all allegations of wrongdoing. Mary Flannery has also raised concerns about the company's financial dealings, including payments to Mr Norton, corporate governance fees, and alleged irregularities in the company's banking arrangements and transactions. She claims that no proper explanation was given for the purchase and sale of an apartment in New York or the receipt of rents from commercial units in Galway by an entity called AutoExec. Mary Flannery seeks various orders from the court, including the purchase of shares, regulation of the firm's affairs, compensation, or the appointment of a liquidator. The matter was adjourned to a date in January, with the court to consider the application by Andrena Flannery to be added as a party to the action at a later date.
A Co Down man has pleaded guilty to demanding money with menaces from a Mayo businessman in Omeath, Co Louth, in December 2017. Anthony Finglas, aged 49, appeared before the Special Criminal Court on charges arising from an incident in which the businessman was attacked by multiple assailants armed with iron bars and a knuckle-duster. The court heard that the victim was forced into a car boot and threatened with death unless he paid £50,000. Following the assault, the businessman reported receiving threatening phone calls and messages demanding payment. A victim impact statement indicated the man suffered severe psychological trauma, including suicidal ideation. Finglas's defence counsel argued his client played a minor role in the attack and showed restraint by urging the assailants to cease the violence. The defendant entered an early guilty plea and cooperated with gardaí. The Special Criminal Court adjourned sentencing to December 15th, with the maximum penalty for the offence being fourteen years imprisonment.
In November 2020, Bronagh Conlon, co‑founder and managing director of Listoke Distillery, settled High Court proceedings that had sought to prevent her dismissal. The lawsuit, filed in July, had requested an injunction to stop her termination and to bar the appointment of a new managing director, as well as an order restraining her dismissal pending the outcome of the case. The court adjourned the matter several times to allow out‑of‑court talks, during which Conlon remained in her role. On Thursday the High Court heard that the parties had reached a settlement, and the action could be struck out on consent. No settlement details were disclosed. Conlon's statement praised the legal and financial support she received and expressed gratitude to her family, customers, suppliers and the local community. The settlement allowed her to continue as MD of Listoke Distillery, which produces the Listoke 1777 gin and operates a gin school.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Jim Mansfield Jnr, who is accused of conspiring to falsely imprison Martin Byrne and attempting to pervert the course of justice, continues before a non-jury court. Mansfield Jnr has pleaded not guilty to both counts. During cross-examination, alleged victim Martin Byrne, who is in the Witness Protection Programme, testified that the incident was "all Mansfield business" and that Mansfield Jnr was present when he was taken prisoner by a gang including Dessie O'Hare and Declan Duffy. Byrne's son, Brandon Byrne, also gave evidence, describing how his parents were held at The Towers while security guard John Roche was assaulted outside. The court heard that Christopher Maguire, who pleaded guilty to falsely imprisoning Martin and Lisa Byrne on June 9, 2015, received a three-year suspended sentence. Additionally, Daniel Kane, who pleaded guilty to assaulting John Roche and falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne, was sentenced in April 2018 to five years' imprisonment with the final year suspended. Background evidence noted that James O'Gorman was previously convicted of defrauding a company director out of €54,000 in 2007. The trial is ongoing, with proceedings continuing before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and two other judges.
Desmond Murphy, 49, was convicted of attempted robbery and robbery at two south Dublin building societies on 15 February 2018. He first held up a teller at EBS Main Street Blackrock with a gun, forcing the teller to lock the door and push him back into the public area. Fifteen minutes later he returned to EBS Georges Street Dun Laoghaire, pointed a gun at a female staff member and demanded "tiger money" – cash with serial numbers recorded for such incidents. He stole €10,380. CCTV captured a swallow tattoo on his left hand. Gardaí recovered €8,320 from his home, some matching the tiger‑money serials. Murphy has 51 prior convictions, has attended a drug rehabilitation course, and his lawyers argued he had turned his life around. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to 18 months, noting the gun was likely an imitation but the threat was serious. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Desmond Murphy pleaded guilty.
In November 2020 the Court of Appeal ruled that a 39‑year‑old English businessman who raped and sexually assaulted two young sisters would not be required to attend the "Better Lives" sex‑offender treatment programme to obtain a suspended portion of his sentence. The man, who denied the offences, had been convicted in 2019 on three counts of rape and eight counts of sexual assault against 10‑ and 12‑year‑old girls. He received a 14‑year jail term with two years suspended, conditional on programme participation. The Court found that the condition could not be imposed before the suspended period became effective, and therefore removed the programme requirement. The suspended two years will be released only if he remains peaceful for two years, stays under Probation Service supervision for the same period, complies with any programme attendance, and has no contact with the victims in perpetuity.
In the Special Criminal Court, former employee Martin Byrne, aged 53, testified that Jim Mansfield Jnr wanted him to attend the funeral of murdered Real IRA leader Alan Ryan in September 2012 on Mansfield's behalf. Byrne denied being solely employed by convicted fraudster James O'Gorman and claimed he worked mainly for Mansfield, though he also worked for O'Gorman. He said Mansfield had arranged meetings with the New IRA and INLA to help recover family property assets, and that Mansfield had set him up for false imprisonment. Byrne also recounted being taken prisoner by a gang including former INLA man Dessie O'Hare and Declan "Whacker" Duffy, and that he was later robbed of money and documents. The court heard Byrne's evidence about Mansfield's alleged conspiracy to falsely imprison him and attempts to pervert the course of justice. Mansfield pleaded not guilty to both charges.
A 49‑year‑old man named Anthony Finglas pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to demanding €50,000 from businessman Edward McAndrew in a Co Louth farmhouse on or about 2 December 2017. Finglas admitted making the unwarranted demand and was also charged with falsely imprisoning McAndrew, assaulting him, and robbing him of keys, cash, two mobile phones and an Irish passport at the same location and date. The judge remanded Finglas in custody until the matter is listed for mention next Monday.
Martin Byrne, a witness in the trial of Jim Mansfield Jnr, has denied claims by the defence that he cannot keep his story consistent and that he puts people in and out of meetings 'willy nilly'. Byrne, who is now in the Witness Protection Programme, testified that he was falsely imprisoned by a gang of seven men, including former INLA member Dessie O'Hare and former Republican paramilitary Declan 'Whacker' Duffy. The trial, which is in the sentence stage, continues before a three-judge court. Mansfield Jnr has pleaded not guilty to all charges, including conspiring to falsely imprison Byrne and attempting to pervert the course of justice. In April 2019, Dessie O'Hare was jailed for three years for assaulting John Roche and ten years with three suspended for the rest of his life for falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne. In 2018, Declan 'Whacker' Duffy was sentenced to six years imprisonment for assaulting John Roche and falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne. The trial continues tomorrow.
Steven Smith, a 44-year-old former resident of Dundalk, Louth, appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on appeal regarding his conviction for possession and unlawful importation of cocaine. Smith pleaded guilty to concealing 49 pellets of cocaine, valued at €42,920, internally while arriving at Dublin Airport from Brazil via Amsterdam on November 21, 2013. He had previously left Ireland on High Court bail in 2014 but was returned from the United Kingdom in June following a Crime Watch appeal. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Smith, a drug user at the time, acted for reward or debt alleviation and was likely at the lowest level of the trafficking operation. The judge acknowledged Smith's cooperation and admissions. Judge Nolan imposed a sentence of three years and three months, backdated to June to reflect time already spent in custody. Defense counsel Dominick McGinn SC highlighted Smith's history of moving to Canada, his subsequent downward spiral, and his recent efforts to reform, including ending drug use and gaining employment in the UK. The court accepted that the method of importation indicated desperation rather than high-level criminal enterprise. Smith has prior convictions in Canada, the UK, and Ireland for various offences, including assault and theft.
A trial concerning an alleged attempt to obstruct justice following a shooting in Dublin has concluded at the Special Criminal Court. Gary McAreavey, aged 53, of Castlebellingham, County Louth, has pleaded not guilty to assisting in the burning of a vehicle allegedly used in a failed attack on James Gately on May 10, 2017. The prosecution alleged that Mr McAreavey purchased petrol and aided in destroying the car at Newrath, Dromiskin. Defence counsel argued there was insufficient evidence that Mr McAreavey possessed knowledge of the attempted murder. Separately, Caolan Smyth, aged 28, of County Meath, has pleaded not guilty to attempting to murder Mr Gately and to possessing a firearm with intent to endanger. The prosecution contended Mr Smyth fired the shots. The three-judge court will deliver verdicts on January 8, 2021.
The Special Criminal Court heard closing submissions in the trial of Caolan Smyth and Gary McAreavey, who have both pleaded not guilty to charges related to the attempted murder of James Gately. Mr. Smyth is accused of the attempted murder and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger at the Topaz filling station in north Dublin on May 10, 2017. Mr. McAreavey is accused of impeding apprehension by assisting in the burning of the vehicle used in the attack at Newrath, Co Louth. Defence counsel John D Fitzgerald SC argued that the prosecution's circumstantial case relies on a "musical chairs" of shifting associations between the accused, a black Lexus, a mobile phone, and a Louth address. He contended that evidence linking Mr. Smyth to the car, phone, or his home on the morning of the shooting was speculative and lacked clear identification. Conversely, the prosecution maintained that Mr. Smyth was identifiable in CCTV footage and had conducted a "rehearsal" the day before the shooting. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, is in its fourth week. The matter was adjourned to allow Mr. McAreavey's counsel to deliver his closing speech.
In June 2018, James Byrne, an experienced welder, was killed when a six‑metre steel column fell on him while he was using a blow torch to dismantle a steel hopper at the Doyle Shipping Group's Ocean Pier yard. The Health and Safety Authority investigated and charged the company for failing to manage the work safely, specifically the dismantling of the hopper. Byrne had been working on the hopper since April 2018 and had previously dismantled a similar hopper in Drogheda. On the day before the accident he had removed two 6‑metre uprights from a 10‑metre lattice; the next day he was cutting a third upright when the column fell. Co‑workers could not lift the bar, and Byrne suffered catastrophic internal injuries, including heart damage. The company pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and the case was adjourned for finalisation.
The State has told the Special Criminal Court that Caolan Smyth was the man who "pulled the trigger" in the attempted murder of James Gately at a filling station on the Clonshaugh Road in north Dublin on 10 May 2017. Mr Gately was shot five times whilst sitting in his car and sustained injuries to his upper chest and neck. Mr Smyth, aged 28, from Cuileann Court, Donore, County Meath, has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and to possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. His co-accused, Gary McAreavey, aged 52, from Castlebellingham, County Louth, has pleaded not guilty to obstructing justice by assisting in the destruction of the vehicle used in the shooting. Prosecution counsel submitted that CCTV evidence, mobile phone data, and witness identification linked Mr Smyth to a black Lexus used in a stake-out of Mr Gately's home and the subsequent shooting.
In 2022, Gerard McKenna, 50, of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, will stand trial for impeding the investigation into the murder of 17‑year‑old Keane Mulready Woods. The teenager was last seen alive on 12 January, after which dismembered body parts were found in a holdall in Coolock, Dublin, and later the head, hands and feet were discovered in a burning car in Drumcondra. Mr Justice Michael White set the trial to start 17 January 2022, noting a three‑week duration and a temporary suspension of new trials for four weeks due to Covid‑19 backlog.
The High Court has appointed provisional liquidators to two fashion retail companies that operated thirteen Pamela Scott stores across Ireland. Arzac Developments Ltd ran ten stores while Richard Alan & Co operated three, with outlets in locations including Sligo, Dublin, Limerick, Tralee and Cork. The firms, employing 104 people, sought winding up orders citing challenging market conditions, rising operating costs and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which rendered them insolvent. Mr Justice David Keane appointed insolvency practitioners Eamonn Richardson and Ian Barrett of KPMG as joint provisional liquidators. The court heard the companies faced pressure from landlords, reduced footfall and changes to wage subsidy schemes. Both firms were dependent on their parent company, Flairline Fashion Ltd, for administrative and financial support, which was no longer available. The judge made the cases returnable to November.