Thomas McGuinness, aged 33, appeared before the Special Criminal Court charged with four non‑scheduled offences relating to an incident at a Louth farmhouse on 2 December 2017. He is accused of falsely imprisoning Edward McAndrew by detaining him without consent at One Ferry Hill, Cornamucklagh, Omeath, and of assaulting McAndrew, causing him harm, at the same location and date. McGuinness is also charged with robbing McAndrew of car keys, a travel bag, a wallet, a briefcase, two mobile phones and an Irish passport, and with demanding £50,000 from McAndrew with menaces. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Gerard Griffin and Dermot Dempsey, remanded McGuinness on bail subject to conditions until 9 March. Two other men, William Twomey (56) and Anthony Finglas (49), are also charged with the same offences; Twomey was granted bail, Finglas' application was denied.
Gardai responded to a 999 call at 4.38 am on 21 January 2013, reporting a suspicious male at a house linked to Aaron Brady, the man accused of murdering Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. The occupants of the house, belonging to Brady's best friend's parents, claimed three men in black were in the yard. Gardai found no intruders, no footprints on wet grass, no damage to a lorry container lock, and no vehicles nearby. The report was made four days before Donohoe's shooting. Brady (29) from Crossmaglen has pleaded not guilty to Donohoe's capital murder and to a robbery of about €7,000 on the same date and location. The trial is before Mr Justice Michael White with a 14‑person jury.
In the Central Criminal Court, Aaron Brady, aged 29, denies the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. He allegedly told his girlfriend, Jessica King, to "tell the truth" after she initially withheld his whereabouts on the night of the shooting. King said Brady had been on bail and under curfew, and she feared implicating him. Brady reportedly instructed her to correct the times he had spent at her home. King described Brady as "messy" and "cheeky," noting he was "smiling and joking." She recounted that Brady had been at her house around 11 pm and left around 2:30 am, and that he had told her to change the recorded times. Brady has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder and to a related robbery charge. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White with a jury of fourteen.
The High Court has ordered that up to fifteen occupants of a four‑bedroom house in Avoca Park, Blackrock, must vacate the premises by 20 March. The injunction, granted to Everyday Finance DAC and receivers Stephen Tennant and Nicholas O'Dwyer, gives them possession of the property. The order applies to Paul White, his wife Jane Gleeson and other unnamed occupants who are appealing the decision. The court also suspended any sale of the house until the dispute is resolved and required a timetable for the full hearing. The receivers, appointed in 2017, seek vacant possession as the property is subject to a mortgage secured by loans from AIB, now owed at €3 million. The defendants, who claim the receivers were not properly appointed, intend to appeal to the Court of Appeal. All keys and alarm codes must be handed over by the deadline.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a woman who was allegedly raped by three Dublin teenagers on January 5, 2016, at Dollymount Strand, stated she had withdrawn a separate rape complaint made in September 2015. She explained that she did not want to manage two trials simultaneously, so she retracted the earlier allegation. The 18‑year‑old woman described being taken to Dollymount Strand, raped by the three men, and left alone. She also recounted an incident in a Dundalk hotel where a man attempted sexual acts; she claimed she resisted, reported the incident to Gardaí, and later withdrew that statement. The court heard that the retraction was made in September 2016, before the men were charged in October 2017. The trial continues before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury. The unnamed woman pleaded not guilty.
A witness in the trial of Aaron Brady at the Central Criminal Court has testified that she initially provided false information to police about the accused's whereabouts on the night of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe's fatal shooting. Jade Fitzpatrick told the court she was pressured into claiming Mr Brady, from Crossmaglen, County Armagh, had left a house in Armagh by 21:30 on 25 January 2013, when he had actually remained there until approximately 3am. Ms Fitzpatrick said she corrected her statement the following day because she wished to help Mr Brady comply with curfew conditions imposed as part of his bail. Under cross-examination, she confirmed Mr Brady appeared relaxed and exhibited no unusual behaviour during his time at the residence. Mr Brady, aged 29, denies capital murder in relation to Detective Garda Donohoe's death at Lordship Credit Union, County Louth, shortly before 9:30pm that evening. He also denies robbery of approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques from the same location and date. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White. Aaron Brady pleaded not guilty.
A man accused of involvement in a violent extortion has been granted bail at the Special Criminal Court, despite garda objections. William Twomey, aged 56, from Warrenpoint, County Down, faces charges relating to the alleged attack and false imprisonment of Edward McAndrew at a farmhouse in Omeath, County Louth on 2 December 2017. He is also charged with robbery and making an unwarranted demand for €50,000 with menaces. A second defendant, Anthony Finglas, aged 49, also from Warrenpoint, had his bail application refused on the grounds that he posed a risk of committing further offences and interfering with witnesses. Twomey was released on condition that he provide a €14,000 surety, sign on daily at Ballinasloe Garda Station between 8am and 8pm, avoid interfering with witnesses, and remain outside County Mayo. Both men have been remanded in custody since their separate arrests on 11 February.
Marius Gaizutis, aged 55, is appealing a life sentence for the axe murder of Audrius Butkus, aged 44, who was found dead on a Meath beach. Gaizutis admitted killing Butkus at his home on 9 or 10 September 2013 but denied murder, claiming provocation after threats from the victim. The prosecution argued Butkus died from multiple axe blows to the back of his head; the defence alleged Gaizutis was attacked with a bottle. Gaizutis' account changed over two interviews, first claiming no recollection, then stating the victim insulted him and struck him with a bottle. A jury, after 2 hours 40 minutes, found him guilty of murder and sentenced him to mandatory life by Justice Margaret Heneghan on 20 May 2015. He now appeals, arguing insufficient evidence for murder and that the trial judge should have directed acquittal on that charge, allowing only manslaughter to be considered.
In the capital murder trial of Aaron Brady, the court heard that about ten text messages were deleted from his girlfriend Jessica King's phone in the hours surrounding the fatal shooting of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe on 25 January 2013. One deleted message, sent the afternoon after the shooting, read, "Please Jess, I just want to get away til this blows over." Brady, 29, pleaded not guilty to the murder and to a robbery charge involving roughly €7,000. Sergeant Karen Coughlan presented 156 relevant pieces of evidence extracted from King's phone using Cellebrite, including exchanges with a contact named AaronX and another called Brades2. The messages revealed a heated argument the night before the shooting, Brady's attempts to contact King after the incident, and a series of deleted texts that were later recovered. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of eight men and seven women.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the father of suspect Mr Brady, aged 29, was described by retired detective inspector Pat Marry as "semi‑angry" when he arrived at a Garda station to inquire about the seizure of his car. Marry explained that the vehicle had been taken because it was seen driving at speed away from the scene after the fatal shooting of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, 41, on 25 January 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth. The car was seized in March 2013 by a Garda in Castlebellingham and later taken to Dundalk Garda Station. Mr Brady has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Donohoe and to a robbery charge involving approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael White, continues with a jury of eight men and seven women.
In a High Court ruling on 20 February 2020, Everyday Finance DAC and its receivers, Stephen Tennant and Nicholas O'Dwyer, were granted an injunction allowing them to take possession of a property at Avoca Park, Blackrock, Co Dublin. The injunction applies pending a full hearing of the action. The receivers sought vacant possession, claiming the property is subject to a mortgage secured by loans from AIB, now owed by the defendants. The defendants, Mr Paul White and his wife Ms Jane Gleeson, opposed the application, arguing the receivers' appointment was invalid and that Ms Gleeson had no debt and was entitled to rent benefits. The court found the plaintiffs' case strong and ordered the receivers to take possession, noting the property is occupied by about 15 people and that the defendants have not cooperated. The judge placed a stay on any sale of the house and adjourned the matter for a week before final orders are made.
The trial of Aaron Brady, accused of the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and robbing approximately €7,000 at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth, on January 25, 2013, continued before Mr Justice Michael White. Mr Brady, from Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, has pleaded not guilty to both charges. Detective Inspector Mark Phillips of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation testified regarding the investigation, noting that Mr Brady was deported from the US in 2017 after pleading guilty to criminal damage, unlawful taking of a car, and dangerous driving. The jury heard that police did not search a yard in Armagh where Mr Brady claimed to have been laundering diesel on the night of the shooting, a decision attributed to the Senior Investigating Officer. Mr Phillips stated that Mr Brady was initially a witness and that his alibi placing him at Lough Road was corroborated by three individuals. The prosecution highlighted the scale of the investigation, citing one million pages of materials, 40,000 hours of CCTV, and over 3,000 statements. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins questioned the timing of additional evidence notices. The trial is ongoing, with the matter adjourned.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Aaron Brady, 29, from Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, continued before Justice White. Mr Brady has pleaded not guilty to the alleged capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe (41) and the alleged robbery of approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth, on January 25, 2013. Detective Inspector Mark Phillips testified regarding text messages sent by Mr Brady to his then-girlfriend, Jessica King, on the day of the incident. Mr Brady allegedly stated he was "loading the lorry" at 19:54, approximately 90 minutes before the shooting. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC highlighted discrepancies between Mr Brady's account to gardai, who claimed he was in the yard for only 10 to 15 minutes, and the texts suggesting a longer duration. Mr O'Higgins also noted that the diesel laundering yard in south Armagh, where Mr Brady claimed to be working, was not searched by the PSNI. Inspector Phillips stated he did not recall suggesting a search and could not explain why it did not occur. The court adjourned the matter, with the jury instructed to return the following day.
At the Central Criminal Court, a man accused of the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe has claimed he was engaged in diesel laundering at the time of the fatal shooting. Aaron Brady, aged 29, from Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, denies the murder of Det Gda Donohoe, who was shot at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth on 25 January 2013. He also denies robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques from the same location. An alibi notice submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions states that Brady was loading diesel waste at a yard on Concession Road in Cullaville, Co Armagh, for between 90 minutes and two hours around the time of the shooting. Brady told gardaí previously that he had initially provided an inaccurate account of his movements owing to concerns about incriminating himself in diesel laundering activities. The trial, before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury, continues. Aaron Brady pleaded not guilty. Adrian Donohoe pleaded not guilty.
Aaron Brady, a 29‑year‑old labourer from New Road, Crossmaglen, denied involvement in the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, who was shot during an armed credit union robbery on 25 January 2013. Brady appeared at Dundalk Garda Station on 5 and 6 February 2013 to give a voluntary statement, describing his movements before and after the shooting. He admitted that he had previously lied to a Garda about his whereabouts on the evening of the shooting, claiming he did not think the Garda would investigate deeply. Brady said he first learned of the robbery from an RTE news report. He pleaded not guilty to both the capital murder charge and the charge of robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques at Lordship Credit Union. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Michael White with a jury of eight men and seven women.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, two men, William Twomey (56) and Anthony Finglas (49), were charged with luring Edward McAndrew to a Louth farmhouse, assaulting him with iron bars, placing him in a car boot, and demanding £50,000. The alleged assault also involved contacting McAndrew's daughter and setting his home on fire. The men face robbery charges for taking McAndrew's phones and passport. The court considered bail applications, with the prosecution seeking financial information to assess flight risk. Twomey has been in custody since last week, while Finglas is awaiting a hearing. The court remanded both men in custody, with a further hearing scheduled for next Tuesday. The case remains at the bail stage, with no trial or sentencing yet.
At the Central Criminal Court, evidence emerged that Aaron Brady was subject to bail conditions and a curfew when Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was fatally shot on 25 January 2013 at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, County Louth. Mr Brady, aged 29 and from Crossmaglen, County Armagh, has pleaded not guilty to capital murder and to robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques from the same location on the same date. Inspector Mark Phillips told the court that Mr Brady attended Dundalk Garda Station on 5 February 2013 to provide a voluntary statement. The accused outlined his background and movements in the days preceding the detective's death. A wildlife ranger also testified that he discovered a burned-out car on Cumsons Road in south Armagh on 26 January 2013, the day after the shooting. The trial before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury continues at the Central Criminal Court.
In the Central Criminal Court, Aaron Brady, 28, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, 41, and to a robbery charge. Brady admitted that the first account he gave to Gardaí after the shooting was untrue, claiming he did not think they would investigate it thoroughly. He explained that he had been with a BMW driver the day after the incident, traveling around the area, eating at a local restaurant, and staying at his girlfriend's house until 3 a.m. Brady said he was unaware of the shooting until that morning. Inspector John Moroney noted inconsistencies between Brady's statements and those of the driver, and that Brady's initial account was contradicted by the driver's version. The jury heard testimony from Garda Finbar Gurhy and Garda David Byrne about the BMW's movements, and the trial proceeded before Mr Justice Michael White and a 15‑person jury.
In a High Court case involving a dispute over shares in the Galway Clinic, a judge directed US‑based businessman and medical doctor Joseph Sheehan Senior to provide a sworn statement detailing the alleged sale of Blackrock Medical Partners Ltd (BMPL). The order was part of injunction proceedings brought by Marpole Ltd, BMD Investments Ltd and Parma Investments, who had secured a temporary injunction freezing BMPL's assets after the company allegedly owed them over €800,000 in legal fees. The three firms feared that funds received by BMPL from the sale of shares in the clinic might be dissipated. The judge, Ms Justice Teresa Pilkington, agreed to continue the freezing order, which prevents BMPL from transferring, dissipating or reducing its assets, and ordered Sheehan to swear an affidavit outlining the sale and the company's assets. The court also ordered BMPL to pay €800,000 on account, to be held until the legal fees are finalized.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, Dr Edward Connolly reported that forensic tests on numerous items from the scene of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe's fatal shooting found no DNA linking Aaron Brady, the accused, to the crime. Samples examined included swabs from cars, a hammer, cigarette butts, a handbag, car keys, chewing gum, gloves, a €2 coin, a shotgun cartridge, CDs, a plastic wallet, a Tayto crisp packet, a cable tie, a Starburst wrapper and a popcorn packet. Three unknown male DNA profiles were generated but matched no individuals in the national database; other profiles matched Garda or witnesses present. Brady, 28, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder and to a robbery charge at the same location and time. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of 15.
In the Central Criminal Court, a ballistics expert testified that the fatal shot that killed Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was fired from a distance of six to seven feet. The expert, Detective Garda Seamus O'Donnell, demonstrated a semi‑automatic Beretta A301 12‑gauge shotgun similar to the weapon used, and compared impact patterns on targets with the wound on Donohoe's right eye. He measured a 60‑mm diameter impact at the same range, concluding the shooter was within six to seven feet of the muzzle. The cartridge found at the scene was a 12‑gauge round from a Spanish manufacturer, containing about 250 lead pellets, with 90 pellets recovered from Donohoe's body. The testimony was presented to a jury of seven women and eight men, with the trial proceeding before Mr Justice Michael White. The accused, Aaron Brady, 28, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder and robbery charges.
Two men from Havelock Place, Warrenpoint, Co Down, Anthony Finglas (49) and William Twomey (56), appeared before the Special Criminal Court on 11 February 2020. They were charged with four non‑scheduled offences: falsely imprisoning, assaulting and robbing Edward McAndrew at One Ferry Hill, Cornamucklagh, Omeath, Co Louth on 2 December 2017, and demanding £50,000 from him with menaces. The robbery included car keys, about £200, a travel bag, a wallet, a briefcase, two mobile phones and an Irish passport. Finglas was arrested on Castle Street, Trim, Co Meath, and Twomey on Eyrecourt, Co Galway, both on warrants issued by the court the previous day. The court heard the charges, the defendants' responses, and the judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, remanded Twomey for a bail hearing next Tuesday, noting that the defendants are likely to be of substantial means.
During the capital murder trial of Aaron Brady, witness Frances Malone testified that she recognised a speeding car on the night of the Lordship Credit Union robbery. She was driving home with her husband after 9 pm on 25 January 2013 when she saw two cars approaching her very fast near the Ballymascanlon roundabout. Both had their headlights on and she could not identify their make or licence plates. About five minutes later she saw another car, also very fast, belonging to a man she knows in his 60s; the car's personalised number plate was familiar to her. Malone said the owner was "in an awful hurry" and wondered if the cars she saw were connected to the shooting of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury. Aaron Brady pleaded not guilty.
In October 2020, the Special Criminal Court will hear the case of Caolan Smyth, 28, who was arrested in October 2019 for attempted murder after a shooting at a Topaz garage in Clonshaugh, north Dublin, on 10 May 2017. Smyth, who was charged at Coolock Garda station, was found guilty of attempted murder and the DPP requested a trial in the Special Criminal Court, a request that was granted. The court also heard the case of Gary McAreavy, 52, of Castlebellingham, who faces a connected charge of impeding a prosecution for the same incident. McAreavy was ordered to sign daily at Dundalk Garda Station, obey a 9 pm‑7 am curfew, and was granted legal aid. Judge Tony Hunt set the trial date for 5 October 2020 and remanded McAreavy on continuing bail to appear again on 28 May 2021. The proceedings remain at the trial stage, with no verdict or sentencing announced.
Three companies – Marpole Ltd, BMD Investments Ltd and Parma Investments – secured a temporary High Court injunction to freeze the assets of Blackrock Medical Partners Ltd (BMPL), a company controlled by US‑based doctor and businessman Joseph Sheehan Senior. The injunction was sought because BMPL allegedly owes the three firms over €800,000 in legal fees after a failed High Court action. BMPL had recently received several million euros from the sale of shares it held in Marpole Ltd to Parma, and the plaintiffs fear that these funds could be dissipated. The court, hearing the case ex‑parte, granted the freezing order, preventing BMPL from transferring, dissipating or reducing its assets, particularly the proceeds of the share sale, below €800,000. The order is returnable to a date next week. The injunction follows a prior judgment where BMPL's action to stop BMD from transferring its shares to Parma was dismissed and the three firms were awarded legal costs.
In the Central Criminal Court, the case of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe's murder was heard. Inspector Darren Kirwan testified that he discovered Donohoe had been shot at 21.45 on 25 January 2013 and immediately went to the deceased's home to inform his wife, Caroline Donohoe, who identified his body in the credit union car park at 11pm. Aaron Brady, aged 28, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Donohoe and to the robbery of about €7,000 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth. Dr Khalid Jaber performed a post‑mortem, finding extensive brain and skull damage and a penetrating shotgun wound to the face as the cause of death. Witnesses, including Leona White, Christina Birch, and Garda Rachel Copperthwaite, described hearing gunshots, seeing a robbery, and finding Donohoe's body. The trial continued on Monday before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury.
At the Central Criminal Court, a credit union volunteer described the moment she feared for her life during a fatal armed robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, County Louth, on 25 January 2013. Bernadette McShane told the court she witnessed Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe fall after hearing gunshots and subsequently believed an armed raider approaching her vehicle intended to kill her because she had seen the incident. Aaron Brady, aged 28, from New Road, Crossmaglen, County Armagh, has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Detective Garda Donohoe and to robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques on the same date and location. Ms McShane said the raider smashed her car window and demanded money before fleeing the scene. Additional witnesses, including staff from Cooley and Lordship credit unions, detailed their observations of the incident and the armed men involved. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury.
A former detective garda testified at the Central Criminal Court that he feared for his life when armed raiders confronted him and his colleague during a credit union escort at Bellurgan, County Louth on 25 January 2013. The witness described how one raider pointed a shotgun at him and made threats, while another held a handgun. He stated that Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was fatally shot during the incident. Aaron Brady, aged 28 from Crossmaglen, County Armagh, has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Detective Garda Donohoe and to robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques from Lordship Credit Union on the same date and location. The witness, who has served as a garda since 1992, detailed the sequence of events and provided descriptions of the raiders' appearance and accents. The trial, heard before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury, continues.
In a capital murder trial, the jury was shown CCTV footage of the moment Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead in the car park of Lordship Credit Union on 25 January 2013. The footage shows a vehicle blocking the exit while four men emerge, one carrying a shotgun that appears to recoil. The prosecution argues Donohoe died from a single shotgun blast. Aaron Brady, aged 28, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder and to robbery of approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques at the same location. The evidence also includes testimony from credit union employees who counted the stolen money, totalling €27,375, and a dashcam view from a Mazda. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White with a jury of eight men and seven women.
In the trial of Aaron Brady, accused of the capital murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe, the jury was shown a photograph taken by Detective Garda Eoin Conway of Donohoe's gun still clipped into its holster while he lay on the ground after being shot. Conway also photographed the scene hours after the shooting, including a spent shotgun cartridge, a Samsung mobile phone, cigarette butts, drink cans, keys, and three cars in the car park. Brady, 28, pleaded not guilty to the murder and to a charge of robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques at the same location. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Michael White with a jury of eight men and seven women. The case also involves forensic evidence from a burnt-out vehicle and statements from crime scene investigators regarding potential evidence collection. The proceedings remain ongoing.
In the capital murder trial of Adrian Donohoe, Judge Michael White instructed the jury to set aside emotion and sympathy while assessing the evidence. He described the case as complex and difficult, noting that the jury might feel strong feelings for the deceased. White reminded them of their oath to judge the facts based on evidence. The defendant, Aaron Brady, 28, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe, who was on duty on 25 January 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, County Louth, and also to a charge of robbing about €7,000 in cash and cheques at the same time and place.
The trial of Aaron Brady, 28, from Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Michael White. Brady has pleaded not guilty to the alleged capital murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe and the robbery of approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth, on January 25, 2013. Prosecution counsel Brendan Grehan SC opened the case, alleging that a gang of four raiders targeted the Garda escort for a "base criminal motive" driven by money. He stated that one raider allegedly shot Det Gda Donohoe in the face with a shotgun, killing him instantly, while another threatened Det Gda Joe Ryan with a handgun. The prosecution contends the operation was highly organized, with the getaway car later found burnt out in South Armagh. Grehan argued that Brady was under financial pressure and allegedly lied about his whereabouts. Evidence will include CCTV, mobile phone data showing a "telecommunications blackout" during the incident, and conversations Brady allegedly had after moving to New York. The jury of 15 is hearing the prosecution's case, which relies on circumstantial evidence to link Brady to the crime. The trial continues.
Three newly sworn jurors for Aaron Brady's capital murder trial have declared they cannot serve. Mr Justice Michael White instructed the jury of eight men and seven women to elect a foreman before the trial's opening. Brady, 28, from Crossmaglen, Armagh, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, who was on duty on 25 January 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Louth, and also to a robbery charge of about €7,000 at the same place and time. The trial continues.
A 15‑person jury was sworn in to hear the trial of Aaron Brady, charged with the capital murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe on 25 January 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co. Louth. Brady, 28, also faced a charge of robbing about €7,000 from Mr Pat Bellew at the same location and date. Mr Justice Michael White of the Central Criminal Court explained that the trial would be lengthy, expected to finish on 28 May, with a two‑week break at Easter and no sitting on St. Patrick's Day. He warned jurors against any difficulty in serving and urged them to remain impartial, avoiding social media or internet research. The jury would ultimately consist of 12 members, with 15 sworn in to allow for possible withdrawals. The trial was set to open the following day.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 19‑year‑old Jabari Crichlow was given a four‑year suspended sentence for violently attacking and robbing a 66‑year‑old retired delivery man on Deerhaven Avenue, Clonee, in November 2017. The victim suffered a broken nose, concussion, chipped teeth, and ongoing headaches and fear of further attacks. Crichlow pleaded guilty to robbery and was previously placed on a 12‑month probation bond. After a favourable probation report showing no significant attention and re‑establishment of a good relationship with his mother, Judge Melanie Greally suspended the sentence on strict conditions: cessation of association with negative peers and 240 hours of community service within 12 months. The court noted the victim's loss of over €1,000 in income and the physical and psychological impact of the assault. The case was adjourned twice before the final suspended sentence was imposed.
Paul Crosby, 24, of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, was released on bail by the High Court on 24 May last year after being charged with possession of a stolen silver Yamaha motorcycle on 21 November 2019 and possession of a stolen Volkswagen Polo on 10 May 2019, as well as arson for setting the Polo on fire at Yellowbatter Drogheda on the same day. Since his release, Garda Donal Clarke reported several alleged breaches of his bail conditions. On 16 January, a warrant was issued for his arrest, and he was taken into custody at Beechwood Drive, Drogheda, at 19:01 on Sunday. The warrant was executed at the Central Criminal Court, where Justice Michael White remanded him to Cloverhill. Crosby's solicitor, Lily Buckley BL, expressed that her client was anxious to address the court himself and wished to give evidence regarding the context of the matters.
In a 2020 High Court case, Fianna Fáil TD Declan Breathnach denied defaming Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald over a 2018 tweet. McDonald, represented by Tom Hogan SC, alleged that Breathnach's reply to a tweet supporting former Garda Maurice McCabe implied her sympathy was disingenuous and that she condoned murders by dissident republicans. She seeks damages, aggravated damages, and an injunction against further similar statements. Breathnach, represented by Darren Lehane BL, calls the claim misconceived. A pretrial motion was adjourned to a later date this month.
An asylum seeker, Mohamed Morei, aged 21 and originally from Egypt, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of 24‑year‑old Yosuke Sasaki, whom he stabbed on 3 January 2018 in Dundalk. Morei also assaulted two men that morning, causing a head wound that required stitches, and was charged with criminal damage to a car and robbery by trespassing. A jury returned the same not‑guilty‑by‑reason‑of‑insanity verdict on those charges. During the trial, Morei claimed he was "fighting for Isis" and stabbed Sasaki "for God", but a detective inspector described his statements as incoherent and found no evidence of terrorist links. Two consultant psychiatrists diagnosed him with schizophrenia, stating he was unaware his actions were wrong and could not refrain from them. He was committed to the Central Mental Hospital, where his detention will be reviewed every six months under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act.
Martin Clarke, 35, a former soldier, was sentenced to three years in prison for a random knife attack on Welsh tourist Antoni Vitti on the Liffey boardwalk on 13 June 2017. Clarke was intoxicated on unprescribed tablets when he lunged at Vitti with a knife. Vitti and his husband fled, but Clarke chased them through traffic and was eventually stopped at the Arlington Hotel, where staff removed him and raised the alarm. The court described the assault as "random, unprovoked and menacing." Vitti sustained a 3.5‑cm scar on his hand and reported that the incident has made him feel unsafe around strangers, affecting his work in the tourist industry. Clarke pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and possession of a knife, and had prior convictions for theft, knife possession and traffic offences. He has detoxed in custody and expressed remorse, hoping to return to his family in a sober state.
In a Dundalk murder trial, Mohamed Morei, a 21‑year‑old asylum seeker, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for stabbing 24‑year‑old Yosuke Sasaki to death on 3 January 2018. The jury also returned not‑guilty verdicts for assaulting two men, criminal damage to a car and robbery by trespassing between 2 and 3 January. The case was heard over three days, with psychiatrists describing Morei as suffering from acute paranoid schizophrenia and lacking awareness of the wrongfulness of his actions. Morei was remanded to the Central Mental Hospital and will appear again on 20 December to discuss his ongoing treatment. The Sasaki family, including sister Shiori and father Akifusa, expressed profound grief and frustration at the circumstances surrounding the incident.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Detective Inspector Martin Beggy told the jury that Mohamed Morei, 21, had no terrorist links and that his claims of being an Isis member were "rambling" and "totally incoherent". Morei, who had applied for asylum in Britain and then in Ireland, was arrested in Northern Ireland and later travelled to Dundalk where he carried out a series of attacks on January 3 2018. He stabbed Yosuke Sasaki, 24, and assaulted two other men, all of whom were wearing headphones. Psychiatric experts Dr Brenda Wright and Dr Paul O'Connell diagnosed Morei with paranoid schizophrenia and a mild intellectual disability, stating that he believed he was justified in his actions and could not refrain from them. The defence has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for all charges, and the trial is ongoing before Justice Carmel Stewart and a 12‑person jury.
In a tragic incident on 3 January 2018, 20‑year‑old Egyptian Mohamed Morei, who had no fixed abode, stabbed 24‑year‑old Japanese Yosuke Sasaki to death on Long Avenue, Dundalk. Morei, suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, also attacked Dylan Grehan and Cian Murphy, and caused criminal damage to a car and burglary at Long Avenue. He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to all charges. The trial, opened by Sean Gillane SC, presented psychiatric evidence that Morei was severely unwell, with disordered thoughts, and was not aware of the wrongfulness of his actions. Morei has been committed to the Central Mental Hospital since the charge. The case is pending before the Central Criminal Court, with the jury hearing scheduled for the following day.
The Court of Appeal quashed the money‑laundering conviction of Henry Alinta, 44, owner of Aligreen Recycling Limited, after a trial judge's instructions were found to have confused the jury about the presumption of innocence and the burden of proof. Alinta had been stopped at the M1 Toll Plaza outside Drogheda, where Gardaí found €127,000 and £146,940 in his BMW X6. He claimed the cash was collected on instructions from a Nigerian friend, Sanni, and that he did not know the amount. A jury convicted him after 27 minutes of deliberation and sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, 18 months suspended. The Court of Appeal held that the judge's explanation created "confusion" that was fatal to the trial's integrity, and the conviction was therefore quashed. The case will be reviewed for a possible retrial. Henry Alinta pleaded not guilty.
A 20‑year‑old Egyptian man, Mohamed Morei, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of Yosuke Sasaki, a 24‑year‑old Japanese national, on 3 January 2018 in Dundalk. The case is being heard in the Central Criminal Court. Mr Justice Michael White read the indictment to Mr Morei, who, with an interpreter, answered "not guilty by reason of insanity." A jury of seven men and five women was sworn in. The trial is scheduled to begin the following day at 2 p.m. before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart and is expected to last up to two days. Mr White noted that the facts of the offence are not in dispute, while the dispute lies over sanity and insanity. Two consultant forensic psychiatrists from the Central Mental Hospital will give evidence in the case. The incident is a Dundalk case involving an Egyptian defendant and a Japanese victim.
In November 2019, Start Mortgages DAC filed two separate High Court actions seeking injunctions over alleged illegal reoccupation of two houses it had repossessed. In the first case, the lender sought orders against Joseph and Esther Carragher at a property on Doolargy Avenue, Dundalk. Start claimed it had taken possession in late September after the couple defaulted on an €80,000 loan in 2006, with €89,000 still owed. The Carraghers had moved out but returned in early October, and a letter signed by them indicated no intention to leave peacefully. Start alleged that steel panels were removed and its agents were attacked, including a sledgehammer incident damaging a firm van. Justice Leonie Reynolds granted Start permission to serve injunctions, seeking orders to stop trespassing, vacate the premises, and prevent interference with possession.
Joseph Hillen, aged 25, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, after the Court of Appeal found his original six‑year term too lenient. Hillen admitted stabbing taxi driver Martin Mulligan, aged 53, in a rural area near Dundalk on 28 September 2015, but denied murder. He was found guilty of manslaughter by a jury and originally sentenced to seven years, with one year suspended. The appeal, brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions, led to a new sentence of nine years, again with the final year suspended. Hillen's case involved two serious stab wounds, a 22.5‑cm abdominal wound and a through‑and‑through thigh wound. He had previously been convicted of dangerous driving while on bail for the killing and had 15 prior convictions, none for violence. The court noted his role as a father of two children and the impact on the Mulligan family.
In a High Court case, Daniel Lannon (49) sought damages and declarations from the Minister for Social Protection after a former department official passed his personal data to a private detective hired by solicitors for AIB bank. Lannon claimed the data breach occurred on 22 August 2014 when Ms Caitriona Bracken accessed his address at Colpe View, Drogheda, and supplied it to investigator Michael Ryan, who was also her brother‑in‑law. Ryan was employed by a solicitor's firm representing AIB, which used the address to serve legal proceedings on Lannon. Lannon had not provided the Drogheda address to the bank, using instead a property he owned in Malahide. After AIB sent correspondence to the Drogheda address in 2015, Lannon complained to the Data Protection Commissioner. The DPC prosecuted Ryan and his company, Glen Collection Investments Limited, who admitted breaches and were fined €7,500.
In a 2019 civil action, Daniel Lannon, aged 49, sued the Department of Social Protection for a 2014 breach of his privacy, alleging that his personal data was unlawfully passed to a private investigator. The department, represented by Conor Power SC and Nick Reilly BL, denied that such data sharing was common practice, stating that it takes data‑protection breaches seriously and has implemented staff training and monitoring since 2014. It admitted that a former official, Ms Caitriona Bracken, had provided Lannon's data to a private investigator, Mr Michael Ryan, who was hired by a solicitor's firm for AIB. The department also acknowledged that four employees, including Bracken, had been dismissed for passing data to third parties, and that between 20 and 30 staff had been disciplined for non‑business data access. The court heard that the department had taken steps such as random checks and a database of private investigators' phone numbers to prevent further breaches.
The High Court heard a damages claim by Daniel Lannon against the Minister for Social Protection, alleging a breach of privacy and data protection rights in 2014. Lannon claims a department official provided his Drogheda address to a private investigator hired by solicitors acting for AIB, enabling the bank to serve legal proceedings at that location. He seeks damages, aggravated damages, and declarations that the department breached its duty of care. The department opposes the claim, arguing it is not liable for the negligent actions of its former staff member, Ms Caitriona Bracken, who was dismissed in 2017. The department also contends the proceedings constitute an abuse of process, noting Lannon previously discontinued a similar action. Ms Bracken, added as a third party, claimed releasing data was common practice, but the department stated it was no longer seeking relief against her, allowing her to be let out of the case. Lannon admitted he failed to inform AIB of his address change as required by his mortgage terms. The court noted that in October 2016, the private investigator Michael Ryan and his company Glen Collection Investments Limited pleaded guilty to certain data breaches and were fined €7,500 by the district court. The hearing continues.
Joseph Hillen, aged 25, was found guilty of manslaughter for stabbing taxi driver Martin Mulligan, aged 53, near Dundalk on 28 September 2015. Hillen admitted stabbing Mulligan after an altercation but denied murder. He was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon on 28 January 2019. The sentencing judge noted the jury's view that Hillen believed he was acting in self‑defence. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient, citing the brutality of the attack, Hillen's prior convictions, and his lack of honesty. The Court of Appeal will consider the appeal, with no decision yet announced. The case remains at the appeal stage. Joseph Hillen pleaded not guilty.