In the Special Criminal Court, Michael Brady, 54, of Blackrock, Co Dublin, was directed to be found not guilty of possessing an assault rifle by Mr Justice Paul Coffey. The judge ruled there was no evidence beyond reasonable doubt linking Brady to the rifle, which was found concealed in a bed base at Sallins Bridge, Co Kildare, on January 24, 2017. Although DNA from skin cells matching Brady was found on socks containing ammunition, an expert noted this did not exclude the possibility that another person placed the rounds in socks Brady had worn. The judge further stated there was no evidence establishing when Brady accessed the bed or when the rifle was placed there. The State also withdrew a separate charge regarding the possession of three ammunition magazines. Brady had pleaded not guilty to all nine counts on his indictment, which included allegations of possessing €1.5 million worth of cocaine and €1.26 million worth of heroin. Separately, his brother, Declan Brady, 52, pleaded guilty last month to possessing 15 firearms and more than 4,000 rounds of ammunition at Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, Co Dublin, on the same date. Declan Brady is currently awaiting sentence. The trial for Michael Brady continues on Monday.
In 2016, a trio of men—Stefan Saunders (40), Francis Murphy (39) and Damien Noonan (32)—conspired to rob a cash‑in‑transit van carrying over €2 million in County Meath. They were caught after Gardaí arrived, but the men had already prepared the scene: they broke into a disused bank, disabled the alarm, sprayed bleach, and waited with a stolen BMW X5. Saunders carried a semi‑automatic pistol with eight blank rounds, Murphy had a crowbar, and Noonan possessed the stolen vehicle. All three pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery, possession of a firearm, and possession of a stolen vehicle. On 12 June 2018 they were each sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment, with a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended portion. The Director of Public Prosecutions has applied for a review, arguing the sentences were unduly lenient, while the Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment. The case remains at the appeal stage.
A jury has found an alleged IRA member guilty of sexually assaulting and anally raping two teenage boys at a 'republican safe house' in Co. Louth in the early 1990s and in 2001. The defendant (45) had pleaded not guilty to the charges. The jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on six counts of sexual assault and two counts of anal rape relating to the two complainants. However, the jury also returned not guilty verdicts on one count of sexual assault and one count of anal rape relating to one of the complainants, alleged to have occurred in 2001 when the complainant was in his 20s. The matter was adjourned for sentence to April 29, with the accused remanded in custody. The defendant denied the allegations, stating he had only stayed at the house a few times in the early 1990s while working a casual job and had no involvement in paramilitary organisations. The case is now adjourned for sentence.
A jury has begun deliberating in the trial of an alleged IRA member accused of raping two teenage boys at a "republican safe house" in County Louth in the early 1990s and again in 2001. The accused has pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual assault and anally raping the boys. Mr Justice Paul McDermott instructed the jury to start deliberations and sent them home for the night, to resume tomorrow morning. Prosecutor Patrick Gageby SC told the jury that the boys lived in a large home owned by a "dedicated republican" that was used as a safe house for IRA volunteers. The first complainant, who was 13 or 14 at the time, said the accused first stayed there around 1991 or 1992 and later abused him, describing incidents of the accused masturbating and sucking his penis. He also claimed the accused groped him in 2001, an act he denies.
An alleged IRA member, 45, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for charges of sexual assaulting and anally raping two teenage boys in Co. Louth in the early 1990s and in 2001. The accused told the court he had consensual sex with one of the complainants years after the alleged incidents. He stated he had stayed at the boys' home about 'half a dozen' times in the early 1990s while working a casual job and denied sexually abusing them. The accused claimed he had a consensual sexual relationship with one of the complainants over a few months after they met by chance years later. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The accused said he noticed the complainant with whom he had a sexual relationship seemed 'distressed' during their final meeting and that the complainant had told another person he had been sexually abused by him. The accused denied anally raping either boy or sleeping in a bed with them. The trial has reached closing stages before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
An alleged IRA member, 45, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for alleged sexual assault and anal rape of two teenage boys in Co Louth during the early 1990s and in 2001. The accused has pleaded not guilty to the charges. During the second day of the trial, the second complainant testified that the accused told him he would be 'found on a border road' if he informed anyone of the alleged rape. The complainant stated that he was 17 when the accused groped him and later sexually assaulted him. He claimed the accused threatened him after the incident. The complainant also mentioned that he had a conversation with the other complainant in 2002 about the alleged incidents. The first complainant rejected claims by the defence that he had a consensual relationship with the accused in 2001. He stated that the accused was a sexual predator who used alcohol to manipulate him. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 20 March 2019, the landlord of a house at Sallins Bridge, Sallins, Co Kildare, testified that his nephew discovered an assault rifle, more than 180 rounds of ammunition, and large amounts of cocaine and heroin in the base of a bed while "clearing out" the property. The landlord, who entered a tenancy agreement with Declan Brady in February 2015, said he had no key to the house and had gained access through a neighbour. He described how the nephew found a cardboard box containing the rifle, magazines, and drug packets wrapped in brown tape. The landlord also reported that Gardaí had searched the premises on 28 January 2017. Michael Brady, 54, is charged with nine counts of possession of firearms, ammunition and drugs, and has pleaded not guilty. The court heard evidence to determine the lawfulness of the Gardaí search. The judge will rule tomorrow.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 45‑year‑old man accused of being an IRA member pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual assault and anal rape of two teenage boys in a republican safe house in County Louth during the early 1990s and again in 2001. The prosecution, led by Patrick Gageby SC, presented testimony that the complainants lived in a large home owned by a "dedicated republican" which was used as a safe house for IRA volunteers. One complainant, aged 13 or 14 at the time, alleged that the accused began abusing him after he joined the household around 1991 or 1992, describing repeated incidents of the accused masturbating and performing anal and oral sex on him. He claimed the accused demanded secrecy and later apologized for past actions. A second incident in 2001, when the complainant was living independently, involved the accused again performing anal and oral sex while the complainant was intoxicated.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Michael Brady, 54, who has pleaded not guilty to all nine counts on the indictment. He is charged with possessing €1.5 million worth of cocaine, €1.26 million worth of heroin, an assault rifle, and more than 180 rounds of ammunition at a property in Sallins, Co Kildare, on January 24, 2017. Prosecution counsel stated that forensic evidence links the accused to the items and the address. During interviews, Brady told gardai that he and his brother, Declan Brady, lived separate lives and were like "chalk and cheese." Brady denied possessing the ammunition found in the house and stated he did not know about firearms found at a separate location. His brother, Declan Brady, 52, previously pleaded guilty to possessing 15 firearms and more than 4,000 rounds of ammunition at the same address on the day in question. Declan Brady is currently awaiting sentence. The court heard that gardai conducted a search of the property, finding drugs and a firearm under a bed. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey, sitting with Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge David McHugh.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence regarding a search at Sallins Bridge, Sallins, Co Kildare, on January 24, 2017. Michael Brady, 54, of Blackrock, Co Dublin, pleaded not guilty to nine counts, including alleged possession of €1.5 million worth of cocaine, €1.26 million worth of heroin, an assault rifle, and ammunition. Prosecution counsel Fiona Murphy SC alleged that gardaí failed to find these items during the initial search, which she described as a "very fast-moving operation." She stated that the property owner later discovered drugs and a firearm under a bed. The State's case is that forensic evidence links Mr Brady to the items. Earlier, the court ruled that Mr Brady's arrest and detention were lawful. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey, sitting with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh. Separately, Declan Brady, 52, of Celbridge, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty to possessing 15 firearms and over 4,000 rounds of ammunition at Greenogue Business Park on the same day. He is awaiting sentence. Jonathan Harding and James Walsh were previously sentenced to ten and nine years' imprisonment, respectively, for possessing a "lethal arsenal" of weapons at the same location.
The Special Criminal Court has heard that Michael Brady, 54, is the brother of Declan Brady, who was previously caught with 15 firearms and over 4,000 rounds of ammunition. Michael Brady, of Blackrock, Co Dublin, is currently on trial for allegedly possessing €1.5 million worth of cocaine, €1.26 million worth of heroin, an assault rifle, and more than 180 rounds of ammunition at a property in Sallins, Co Kildare, on January 24, 2017. He has pleaded not guilty to all nine counts on the indictment, including charges under Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act and unlawful possession of a 7.62 x 39mm VZ 58 assault rifle and various ammunition. Prosecutors stated the Sallins property was under surveillance as part of a wider operation targeting Greenogue Business Park, where Declan Brady, Jonathan Harding, and James Walsh were arrested earlier that morning. Declan Brady pleaded guilty to possessing the firearms and ammunition at Greenogue and is awaiting sentence. Harding and Walsh were sentenced in January to ten and nine years' imprisonment, respectively, for possessing a "lethal arsenal." The trial has entered legal argument regarding the lawfulness of Michael Brady's arrest in Naas, where he allegedly provided a false name. The court is expected to rule on these issues on Friday before resuming the case.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing in Dublin, Michael Brady, aged 54, was charged with nine counts including possession of an assault rifle, ammunition and nearly €3 million worth of drugs. The indictment alleges that on 24 January 2017 Brady was found at Sallins Bridge, Co Kildare, with €1.5 million of cocaine, €1.26 million of heroin, a 7.62 × 39 mm VZ 58 assault rifle and over 180 rounds of ammunition. Brady was arrested after a traffic stop in Naas where he gave a false name, and was later rearrested under the Offences Against the State Act. He pleaded not guilty to all charges, including possession of the rifle, ammunition and the drugs for sale or supply. The case is being heard by Judges Paul Coffey, Gerard Griffin and David McHugh.
The Special Criminal Court has adjourned the sentencing of Frank Murphy and Michael McDermott to April 1, remanding both men in custody. Murphy, 58, pleaded guilty in November 2018 to committing an act to impede the apprehension or prosecution of David Cullen, whom he allegedly believed was guilty of possessing a firearm. McDermott, 60, pleaded guilty to helping an unlawful organisation, identified as the IRA, murder Peter Butterly. The court heard evidence that Butterly was shot dead in a Meath car park in March 2013. David Cullen, who was originally charged with murder, pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol. His plea was accepted by the DPP, resulting in a nolle prosequi on the murder count. Cullen turned State's witness and was sentenced to seven years in prison, with three and a half years suspended, for the firearm possession. The court noted that four other men have already received life sentences for Butterly's murder. Neither Murphy nor McDermott has previous convictions. The judges, presiding over the non-jury court, indicated they will deliver their sentences on April 1.
The High Court adjudicated Michael McKevitt, Colm Michael Murphy, and Liam Campbell bankrupt following a civil action related to the 1998 Omagh bombing. Ms Justice Teresa Pilkington issued the orders after finding that the criteria under the 1986 Bankruptcy Act were met. The applications were brought by solicitor Gary Daly, acting for relatives of the 29 victims killed in the Real IRA attack. In 2009, the Belfast High Court found these men, along with Seamus Daly, liable for the bombing and ordered them to pay £1.6m in damages, a decision upheld by the European Court of Human Rights. All defendants have consistently denied involvement. The court heard that demands for approximately €439,000 from each man went unpaid. McKevitt, who is terminally ill, was represented by counsel noting his lack of assets and reliance on the State pension. Murphy's counsel stated he lacked firm instructions regarding the application. Campbell, who sought legal aid, did not appear. Counsel for the applicants argued against further adjournments, noting previous correspondence and service of documents. The judge determined that no further adjournments were appropriate and satisfied the statutory requirements for bankruptcy, resulting in the adjudication of all three individuals.
Michael Shine, aged 86, is awaiting the outcome of an appeal against his conviction for abusing two teenage boys in the mid‑1970s. He had pleaded not guilty to eight charges of indecent assault at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and his private clinic in Drogheda between 1964 and 1991. In October 2017, a jury found him guilty of indecent assault on two 15‑year‑old patients; the judge directed a not‑guilty verdict for one complainant and acquitted him on the remaining counts. He received two consecutive 10‑month sentences, totalling 20 months imprisonment, below the then‑maximum two‑year sentence. Counsel Hugh Hartnett SC argues the complaints were unusually orchestrated via media campaigns, all complainants used the same solicitor and psychiatrist, and the trial judge failed to address this. He also contends the judge improperly admitted evidence of civil settlements (€70k) to rebut claims of financial motivation, calling it prejudicial and lacking probative value.
Michael Shine, an 86‑year‑old retired surgeon, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four years' imprisonment for one count of indecent assault and 18 months for the remaining 11 counts, all to run concurrently. The charges cover 12 indecent assault offences and one sexual assault committed during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and two private clinics in Drogheda between 1971 and 1992. A jury found him guilty after just over six hours of deliberation. Judge Martin Nolan noted the seriousness of the pattern of misbehaviour, the victims' vulnerability and Shine's position of trust as aggravating factors, while his age and health were mitigating. Shine denied any improper conduct and claimed no memory of the incidents. The sentence reflects the court's decision to impose the headline term of four years, with the remaining terms running concurrently. The case remains under appeal for previous convictions. Michael Shine pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, retired surgeon Michael Shine, aged 86, was found guilty of 12 indecent assault charges and one sexual assault charge committed during medical examinations between 1971 and 1992. The jury, after just over six hours of deliberation, returned guilty verdicts. Victim Patrick Cusack, who waived anonymity, described the abuse as a "life sentence of pain, hurt, anguish and shame," noting he had not slept properly for 45 years until the verdict. Two other victims also testified that Shine showed no understanding of his actions and that the abuse had eroded their trust in people. The court adjourned sentencing to the following Monday, with Shine remanded on continuing bail. No sentencing outcome was provided in the article.
In a swift 43‑minute jury deliberation, Paul Crosby, aged 23, was acquitted of all three charges relating to an attempted murder of Gerard Boyle, aged 33, that occurred on 10 November 2016. The charges were: attempting to murder by stabbing Boyle 28 times, attempting to murder by pushing a car into a canal, and false imprisonment with serious harm. The jury, composed of nine men and three women, returned unanimous not‑guilty verdicts on each count. This was Crosby's second trial for the same offences; the first trial in February 2018 resulted in a not‑guilty verdict on the canal charge but no verdict on the other charges. Justice Carmel Stewart thanked the jury and exempted them from service for five years. Crosby was formally discharged by the judge after the verdicts were announced. The article does not state any subsequent legal actions or outcomes. Paul Crosby pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury of nine men and three women will start deliberations on the case of Paul Crosby, aged 23, who has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and related charges. The alleged crime occurred on 10 November 2016 at Knockcommon, Beauparc, Slane, when Crosby is accused of stabbing Gerard Boyle, aged 33, 28 times. Boyle claims he survived a car that was pushed into a canal after the stabbings. The judge, Ms Justice Carmel Stewart, emphasized that the attempted murder charge requires proof of intent to kill and that the jury must consider each charge separately. She noted that the car incident was addressed in a prior trial and that the main issue is whether Crosby was present and participated in the injuries. The jury will now consider their verdicts.
In a robbery on Station Road, Lusk, on 9 March 2016, Folarin Odunlami (22) and an accomplice used a long steak knife to threaten a young man, demanding his phone, wallet and €110. The victim fled to a nursing home, called Gardaí, and later identified the two men at a train station. Gardaí chased them; they fell 15 feet from a footbridge into a carpark and hid. Garda Air Support Unit detected them a short time later, lying under brambles, using thermal imaging from a helicopter. Odunlami pleaded guilty to robbing the victim's phone, wallet and cash. At a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Melanie Greally noted his remorse and lack of further offences, ordering 240 hours of community service. The case highlighted the use of thermal imaging to locate suspects hiding in vegetation.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the accused, Paul Crosby, was alleged to have stabbed Mr Boyle 28 times on 10 November 2016. The jury heard that Crosby, who was under a curfew from 9 pm to 8 am, was not at home when the alleged incident occurred, despite a call to his residence just before 10 pm. Mr Boyle, aged 33, claimed he escaped a car that was pushed into a canal after the stabbing. Crosby, aged 23, pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, false imprisonment and causing serious harm. The prosecution presented evidence that Crosby was not at home and that a radio communication suggested a car heading toward Drogheda from Slane. Crosby's defence argued he was either at home or at his aunt's house that night, a claim the prosecution could not refute. The case was heard by Justice Carmel Stewart with a jury of ten.
In the trial of Paul Crosby, 23, the emergency consultant Dr Asim Rafeeque described the treatment of Gerard Boyle, who suffered 28 stab wounds after escaping from a car that was pushed into a canal. Dr Rafeeque explained that Boyle was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, where he had chest, neck, back and shoulder wounds. He had to drain air from Boyle's chest cavity to prevent pressure on the heart, which could have caused cardiac arrest. The forensic scientist Crystal O'Connor examined swabs from a knife, its handle and a vehicle, finding Boyle's DNA but no blood on a pair of runners belonging to Crosby. She found no evidence linking Crosby to the items she tested. Detective Garda Shane Curran reported taking a statement from Boyle at the hospital and later searching for a Ford Fiesta, but found no forensic evidence such as fingerprints. The trial is ongoing before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart and a jury. Paul Crosby pleaded not guilty.
The Court of Appeal re-sentenced Sean Ward, a former All Ireland boxing champion, to six years' imprisonment with the final nine months suspended, following an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Ward, who pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Natasha Keenan and driving without insurance in Dundalk in 2015, had previously received a six-year sentence with two years suspended. The court found his effective four-year term unduly lenient, noting he was driving while disqualified and had 68 prior convictions. President Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with Ms Justice Mary Irvine and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, stated Ward's prior record did not justify a significant suspended element. The court noted Ward initially provided a false account to gardaí, attempting to pin responsibility on the victim, and showed little empathy in his probation report. Ms Keenan suffered catastrophic injuries, including broken bones and skin grafting, and remains disabled. Ward was required to enter a good behaviour bond for the suspended period and two years post-release. Ward's own appeal against the severity of his sentence was withdrawn during the proceedings.
Paul Crosby, 23, of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, is on trial in the Central Criminal Court for the attempted murder of Gerard Boyle, 33, at Knockcommon, Beauparc, Slane, on 10 November 2016. He was charged with attempting to murder, false imprisonment and causing serious harm. Crosby pleaded not guilty to all counts. Prosecutor Patrick Gageby SC presented evidence that Crosby stabbed Boyle 28 times while seated in the back of a Volkswagen Passat, after which Boyle was left on the ground and later placed in the boot of the car, which was pushed into a canal near the Battle of the Boyne site. Boyle was later taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. During cross‑examination, Brendan Grehan SC questioned Boyle about inconsistencies in his statements regarding threats and phone notes, noting that phone records showed a threat on the day of the attack, contrary to Boyle's earlier claim to Gardaí.
Paul Crosby, 23, of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, stands trial for the attempted murder of Gerard Boyle, 33, at Knockcommon, Beauparc, Slane, Co Meath, on 10 November 2016. The prosecution alleges that on that day Crosby, initially driving a Ford, later switched to a Volkswagen Passat with Boyle and a third person. Boyle claims Crosby stabbed him 28 times, including in the neck, shoulder, back of the neck and head, while he was in the car. Boyle was then forced into the boot, where he was held for about 15 minutes, unable to breathe, before escaping and swimming to the bank of the River Boyne. He sustained 28 stab wounds, two punctured lungs and nerve damage to his left leg and foot. Crosby pleaded not guilty to all counts, including attempted murder, false imprisonment and serious harm. The case is before a Central Criminal Court jury presided by Ms Justice Carmel Stewart.
Michael Shine, an 86‑year‑old retired surgeon from Ballsbridge, Dublin, was found guilty by a jury of thirteen charges of indecent assault against seven boys he examined over a thirty‑year period. The offences occurred during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and two private clinics between 1971 and 1992. The trial, held in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, concluded on day 17 with a guilty verdict after just over six hours of deliberation. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned sentencing to 22 February and remanded Shine on bail. During the trial, each complainant described how Shine groped or masturbated on them during examinations, with incidents ranging from 1971 to 1988. Shine denied any improper conduct and claimed no memory of the alleged acts. The judge thanked the jury for their service. Michael Shine pleaded not guilty.
Mr David Lewis Smith has brought a copyright infringement claim in the High Court against the members of One Direction, former member Zain Malik, UK songwriter Jamie Scott, US songwriters Julian Bunetta and John Ryan, and several music publishing companies. He alleges that the 2014 One Direction single "Night Changes" infringes his musical work. Smith's solicitors, Smyth & Son, seek damages and various discovery orders. They request documents related to the composition, writing, and earlier drafts of the song, as well as records of sound recordings, alternative versions, performance, sale, distribution, publication, downloads, and worldwide earnings. The defendants, represented by Gleeson, McGrath, Baldwin Solicitors and Matheson Solicitors, deny the allegations. A pre‑trial motion was listed before Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds, and the case is set to return to court in early March. No parties were present at the hearing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, retired surgeon Michael Shine, 86, faced thirteen indecent assault charges linked to medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital and two private clinics in Drogheda. Defending counsel Hugh Hartnett SC argued that the complainants' memories could be shaped by media exposure and the prospect of financial compensation, noting that each had pursued civil actions. Hartnett highlighted that one complainant had testified that, in hindsight, he believed the incidents were abuse. He questioned whether televised coverage could influence recollections. Judge Martin Nolan instructed jurors to consider each charge separately and to weigh counsel's submissions on the evidence. He noted that a medical expert had testified the alleged actions were medically inappropriate and could constitute indecent assault if accepted beyond a reasonable doubt. The jury was to resume deliberations the following day. Michael Shine pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 86‑year‑old retired surgeon Michael Shine pleaded not guilty to thirteen indecent assault charges alleged to have occurred during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital and two private clinics in Drogheda. On the fifteenth day of the trial, the prosecution presented a witness who claimed that in 1971, when Shine was 13, a patient's appendix surgery was followed by Shine fondling the patient's genitals. Shine denied the allegation, stating there were no medical records and arguing that it was unfair to bring events from decades ago to trial. He also denied claims that he masturbated a 13‑year‑old patient after a testicular torsion operation, describing the allegation as "unbelievable" and "shocking". The prosecution noted that all complainants had similar accounts and had pursued civil action through Dignity 4 Patients. The trial was set to continue before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, 86‑year‑old retired surgeon Michael Shine pleaded not guilty to thirteen charges of indecent assault alleged to have occurred during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda and two private clinics. Shine claimed he had "some senile dementia" and insisted that a nurse was always present during patient appointments, stating he saw about 18,000 patients a year. When questioned about a complainant's testimony that he groped a patient's genitals after a finger surgery, Shine denied the allegation, saying he had no memory of it and that he would never grope a patient. He also dismissed allegations of inappropriate examinations, such as masturbating a patient's penis during a rectal exam, calling them "nonsensical" and "crazy." The trial was set to continue the following day before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 86‑year‑old retired surgeon Michael Shine pleaded not guilty to thirteen indecent assault charges linked to medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda and two private clinics. On the thirteenth day of the trial, Shine told the jury he had no memory of any of the seven complainants and denied any improper conduct during examinations. He explained that he began working at Lourdes in March 1964 and continued until 1995, and that he had written a paper on misdiagnosis of testicular torsion. Shine argued that touching testicles is necessary during such exams, that touching the penis is unavoidable, and that he could not have masturbated a young patient in a hospital bed. He also dismissed Bernadette Sullivan's campaign as "over, over the top." The trial was set to continue the next day before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
At the Special Criminal Court in Dublin, evidence was heard regarding booster tubes discovered in separate locations linked to an IRA trial. James Joseph Cassidy, aged 55, from Castleblayney, County Monaghan, has pleaded not guilty to charges of IRA membership on 21 September 2016. A garda ballistics expert provided a statement detailing similarities between a booster tube found in a Monaghan shed in 2016 and one recovered from a homemade explosive device discovered in a County Louth church car park in May 2014. Both tubes were identical in length and diameter, painted black, and featured rows of drilled holes. Colonel David Hathaway, an explosives ordnance disposal specialist with two decades of experience, gave evidence describing the construction and function of the Louth device, which contained ammonium nitrate, semtex explosive, and a timing mechanism. The defence challenged the relevance of this evidence, arguing it pertained to device possession rather than the membership charge. Justice Tony Hunt ruled the evidence admissible as circumstantial. The trial continues.
The prosecution's case has closed in the trial of retired surgeon Michael Shine, 86, who is accused of groping boys during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda and two private clinics. He pleaded not guilty to thirteen charges of indecent assault. The trial will continue tomorrow before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
During the trial of retired surgeon Michael Shine, who pleaded not guilty to thirteen charges of indecent assault at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital and two private clinics in Drogheda, a medical expert, former consultant surgeon Richard Stevens, testified. Stevens, who now teaches at the Royal College of Surgeons, had examined the medical records of all seven complainants and was aware of their allegations. He told the court that there was no reasonable reason for Shine to examine the genitals of a patient who had undergone finger surgery, as alleged. Stevens described the allegations that Shine masturbated a 13‑year‑old to ejaculation as "incredible" and said he was "quite shocked" by the whole thing. He explained that normal practice involves examining testicles after surgery for testicular torsion, but there is no medical basis for a surgeon to masturbate a patient's penis, nor to examine a child's genitals in the absence of a parent.
The trial of retired surgeon Michael Shine, aged 86, is in legal argument before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. Shine has pleaded not guilty to thirteen charges of indecent assault, alleged to have occurred during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda and at two private clinics in Drogheda. The jury is set to return tomorrow.
Joseph Hillen was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court today for the manslaughter of 53-year-old Martin Mulligan, who was killed at Carnmore, Balriggan, Dundalk, Co Louth, on September 28, 2015. A jury previously found Hillen not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon stated the killing fell in the upper-mid range of such offences, setting a headline sentence of ten years. Considering mitigating factors, including Hillen's offer to plead guilty, his stable employment, lack of previous violent convictions, and expressed remorse, she reduced the sentence to seven years. The final year was suspended on conditions of good behaviour, keeping the peace, and engaging with probation services. Hillen, of Glendasha Road, Forkhill, Co Armagh, was assessed as a moderate risk of re-offending. The court noted the jury accepted his claim of self-defence but found he used excessive force. Outside court, Martin Mulligan's daughter Shauna Mulligan stated the justice system had failed the family, calling the outcome unfair. His wife Grainne described the family as devastated, while his other daughter Sharon noted the family's grief. The family expressed that they felt the legal process did not adequately reflect the severity of the loss.
The trial of retired surgeon Michael Shine, aged 86, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court involves thirteen charges of indecent assault allegedly committed during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda and two private clinics. Shine pleaded not guilty. On the seventh day of the trial, Detective Garda Seamus Nolan informed the court that he had no dealings with the support group Dignity 4 Patients, but was aware that the group had referred people to Gardaí. He explained that Dignity 4 Patients is a support group for victims of medical abuse and that any campaign it ran was a matter of the group's own initiative. Nolan noted that Gardaí did not attend the group's meetings and that he had not examined the group's website. He met with Shine after the complainants had made statements to Gardaí, and Shine had prepared a statement denying all allegations.
During the trial of retired surgeon Michael Shine, a man testified that he experiences flashbacks of being masturbated by Shine during a 1975 examination when he was 13. The man, who had never disclosed the incident except to his wife, said the memory resurfaced after he filed a complaint with the Gardaí. He described the examination as occurring after Shine performed surgery on his testicles, with the man's father present but not in the room. The witness claimed the incident had never left his memory and that it was traumatic to recount. He denied any objection to the examination of his testicles, stating it was the area Shine had operated on. The testimony was delivered to Hugh Hartnett SC, with the trial continuing before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. Michael Shine pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, retired surgeon Michael Shine, aged 86, pleaded not guilty to thirteen charges of indecent assault. Witnesses testified that Shine groped and stroked the privates of teenage patients during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda and at two private clinics. One witness, aged 13 in 1971, described how Shine asked him to pull up his shirt and trousers, pressed around a wound, then fondled his testicles and stroked his penis while claiming to check for damage. A second witness, also 13 in 1975, recounted a similar incident at Lourdes hospital, where Shine examined his testicles, then masturbated his penis for 10–15 minutes. Both witnesses said they felt embarrassed and left the rooms quickly. The trial is set to continue tomorrow before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, an 86‑year‑old surgeon, Michael Shine, faced thirteen indecent assault charges linked to examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital and two private Drogheda clinics. A male witness, aged 10 when first examined, recounted that Shine asked him to undress to his underpants, examined his throat, torso and abdomen, then groped his genitals, describing the act as a prolonged, painful experience. The witness claimed Shine also performed a rectal examination, inserting a gloved finger and again touching his genitals. He reported that after a later surgery for a wound, Shine repeatedly examined the wound while touching his genitals. The witness said he was 19 in 1982 when he woke to find Shine's hand on his penis, describing it as "masturbating me." The trial, with a jury, continued under Judge Martin Nolan. The witness had previously pursued civil action, concluding in 2012. The surgeon pleaded not guilty.
Andrei Negura, a 36‑year‑old Moldovan, was sentenced to a three‑year prison term that was fully suspended on strict conditions after pleading guilty to assaulting Bohuslav Kalias with a claw hammer and causing criminal damage to a car. Negura claimed a fight with Kalias and denied attacking him, but evidence showed he struck Kalias's arm repeatedly, leaving the victim with a broken arm, 38 stitches, and lasting pain that limits arm movement and affects daily activities. The assault also damaged the victim's car, costing €1,900. Negura had six prior convictions and had addressed heavy drinking. The judge noted his remorse, lack of prior violent convictions, and low re‑offending risk, and accepted the victim's willingness to accept the €1,900 compensation. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the judge's decision announced on the day of the hearing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, 86‑year‑old retired surgeon Michael Shine pleaded not guilty to thirteen charges of indecent assault against seven teenage boys. The allegations stem from medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda and two private clinics. One complainant, aged 14 in 1972, recounted that Shine, who had been his consultant for a knee operation, would visit his room in the evening to play chess and then groped and fondled his genitals, pulling down his trousers and stroking his penis. The boy said Shine justified the conduct by claiming it was a way to "tell a lot." Another complainant, aged 15, alleged that during an examination for a torn foreskin, Shine masturbated him for five to ten minutes and squeezed his penis, after which the boy felt shocked and did not return for a recommended circumcision. Both complainants are also involved in civil actions against Shine.
The trial of retired surgeon Michael Shine, 86, accused of indecently assaulting seven boys during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda and two private clinics, has been adjourned because a juror is unavailable. Shine pleaded not guilty to thirteen charges. The case will resume next Monday before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
The trial of Dr Michael Shine, 86, began at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 17 January 2019. He faces thirteen charges of indecent assault alleged to have occurred during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and two private clinics. The first complainant, a 15‑year‑old patient, testified that after a finger surgery in 1988 he was asked to stand in the examination room, where Shine groped his genitals while resting his head on the boy's chest. The boy described feeling terrified and confused, and that Shine's breathing became "creepy." A second complainant, 13 at the time of a testicular surgery in 1985, recounted that Shine examined a scar on his scrotum, then touched his penis and moved the foreskin, leaving him confused. Both complainants said they later brought a third party to subsequent appointments. The case is set to continue before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. Michael Shine pleaded not guilty.
In a 2019 court hearing, Gardaí investigated alleged Facebook threats made by a 38‑year‑old UK businessman, who was convicted in March 2019 of three counts of rape and eight counts of sexual assault against two girls aged 10 and 12, committed between December 2010 and March 2011. The businessman, who groomed the children in the UK and later brought them to Ireland, was found to have sexually assaulted the older girl in a Dublin hotel room in December 2010. At the Central Criminal Court sentence hearing in July, the defendant maintained his innocence and disputed the verdicts. Prosecutor Pauline Walley presented evidence that the defendant had created false Facebook accounts to claim innocence and allegedly threatened a complainant via Facebook in April. Gardaí, assisted by US and UK authorities, were conducting a detailed investigation. The judge adjourned the matter to 12 April.
Paula Farrell, 44, mother of three, was charged with murdering her partner Wayne McQuillan, 30, and had been sentenced to life imprisonment after a jury found her guilty. She had pleaded not guilty at her home on 1 January 2014. The Court of Appeal quashed her conviction earlier this year and ordered a retrial, but she did not apply for bail and remained in custody. On 21 December 2018 she applied to the Central Criminal Court for compassionate bail to spend Christmas with her family. Her barrister, Edward Doocey BL, presented a sworn affidavit to Mr Justice Michael White, noting that she had been on bail until her conviction in July 2015 and had complied with all conditions.
Patrick Nevin, 37, will be sentenced in May for a series of sexual offences that occurred over eleven days after meeting victims on Tinder. He attacked three women, one of whom he raped in Bellewstown, Co. Meath, and another whom he sexually assaulted in an unknown location in Co. Meath. Nevin also received a five‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for the sexual assault of a Brazilian woman he met on Tinder in 2014. The court adjourned sentencing to May 13, pending a pre‑sentence probation report, a prison governor's report and a forensic psychiatric report. Nevin pleaded guilty to the rape and assault charges, citing remorse and apologising to the victims. He is remanded in custody awaiting the May hearing. The judge noted that the public may attend the sentencing hearing. The case is currently delayed until the required reports are obtained.
Mr Charlie Jennings, a 65‑year‑old farmer from Carrickamon, Ravensdale, Dundalk, has filed High Court proceedings against the financial fund Promontoria (Oyster) DAC. He seeks to sell 46 acres of land in Castletown, Kilpatrick, Navan, Co. Meath, which he bought in 2005 and 2006 for €590,000 with loans from Ulster Bank that were later purchased by Promontoria in 2016. Jennings claims the fund has not supplied a net redemption figure that would allow him to clear an outstanding loan of about €257,000, preventing him from completing a sale agreed with a buyer since May. He alleges the fund is also demanding payment on other mortgages linked to his son's property and a joint mortgage with a business partner, citing 'all sums due' clauses. Jennings seeks orders compelling Promontoria to provide the redemption figure, to allow the sale, and to prevent interference, as well as damages.
Barry Watters, aged 42, was sentenced to six years in prison for two counts of indecency and possession of child pornography. He pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in December 2014 and October 2016. Watters had previously been convicted six times, mainly for child pornography, and once for criminal damage. In December 2014, children on their way to school witnessed him exposing himself on a Dublin street; a youth worker and several children reported the incident the following day. In October 2016, Gardaí observed him in an internet café, where he accessed a USB containing 23 illegal child‑pornographic images and 422 images of pre‑teens in various states of undress. The judge imposed a seven‑year sentence with the final 12 months suspended for two years on strict conditions, including completion of sexual offender treatment, no contact with children, and supervision when using internet‑enabled devices.
Two individuals were acquitted in Louth Circuit Criminal Court after their lawyers argued that the search warrant used to investigate a "diesel laundering factory" was invalid, leading to exclusion of all evidence obtained under that warrant. The trial judge's ruling resulted in their acquittals. The Director of Public Prosecutions has now appealed the acquittals on a point of law, claiming that the Circuit Court judge incorrectly excluded evidence of paraphernalia linked to diesel laundering. The DPP argues the warrant was issued on misleading information and that the judge failed to properly assess the credibility of the source. The acquitted parties' counsel maintains there was insufficient evidence and that the warrant was based on confirmation bias. The Court of Appeal will decide whether to quash the acquittals and order a retrial.