In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the family of 53‑year‑old Martin Mulligan, who was stabbed and left to die on a road in Dundalk on 28 September 2015, delivered impact statements describing him as hardworking, caring, loving, patient, intelligent, amusing and affectionate. They recalled his role as a family bond, his support and encouragement, and his kindness to neighbours. The youngest daughter, Shauna, said he was "brutally, viciously and inhumanely killed for no fault of his own" and that his death left her vulnerable and afraid. The eldest daughter, Sharon, remembered his self‑lessness and how he cared for a neighbour's son. The wife, Grainne, recalled their long marriage and the last intimate moment they shared. The court heard that Joseph Hillen, 24, was found guilty of manslaughter by a jury in October and will be sentenced on 28 January.
In a 2018 hearing, Gardaí used thermal imaging from a helicopter to locate Folarin Odunlami (22) and Arnaud Farel (20) after they robbed a young man on Station Road, Lusk, on 9 March 2016. The pair had stolen a phone, wallet and €110, and the victim fled to a nursing home and called the police. Gardaí chased them, who fell 15 ft from a footbridge into a carpark and hid under brambles. Thermal imaging detected them, and Gardaí recovered the victim's items and the men's driving licence. Farel received a three‑year sentence with 18 months suspended, to run consecutively with a six‑year sentence for a prior assault. Odunlami's sentencing was adjourned pending a suitability assessment for community service. The court heard Odunlami had two prior minor convictions and was studying computer systems in Dundalk. The case was heard by Judge Melanie Greally. Folarin Odunlami pleaded guilty. Arnaud Farel pleaded guilty.
The High Court heard on Thursday that the 39-room Shannon Key West Hotel at Rooskey, on the Leitrim-Roscommon border, is set to accommodate asylum seekers from early January. The hotel is the subject of disputed proceedings between Paradub Ltd, which seeks to develop the property as a tourist hotel, and owner James Kiernan. Paradub claims it entered into an agreement to purchase the hotel, which closed in 2011, and alleges Mr Kiernan has failed to complete the sale. The company launched proceedings after learning from media reports that arrangements had been made to house refugees at the property, which it contends breaches the purchase agreement. Paradub seeks an injunction to prevent Mr Kiernan from leasing or disposing of the property to any third party. Mr Kiernan denies the claims. His counsel stated that a third party had entered into an arrangement with the Department of Justice to use the hotel for asylum seeker accommodation from 7 January.
Shane Murphy, 31, of Cork, pleaded guilty to two thefts and dangerous driving that caused serious harm to a six‑month‑old baby on Blackrock Road in March 2017. The baby's skull was fractured after the mother was knocked to the ground and the buggy was swept against a wall. Murphy, the driver, fled the scene after retrieving stolen items and had previously stolen from two retail stores. He was sentenced to six years' imprisonment with the final year suspended, a sentence upheld by the Court of Appeal. The judge noted Murphy's 104 prior convictions, including two hit‑and‑run offences, his intoxication, disqualification, and the aggravating circumstances. The appeal was dismissed, confirming the original sentence. The baby continued treatment at the time of sentencing.
Patrick Nevin, 37, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for sexually assaulting a Brazilian student he met on Tinder in July 2014. The victim, a language student, had been repeatedly asked by Nevin to meet and send photos, and after a series of text exchanges she agreed to meet for coffee. Nevin drove her to a secluded spot on the UCD campus, where he forced her to kiss her, punched her on the back of her head, and left her distressed. The court found him guilty of assaulting the student on UCD campus on 23 July 2014. Nevin denied the charge. Judge Cormac Quinn noted the victim's lack of English and the use of force, and imposed a post‑release supervision period of two years, prohibiting Nevin from using the internet to contact unknown persons. The sentence was back‑dated to September 2014, the month of Nevin's arrest.
Dan Donovan, 49, and his daughter Charlene Donovan, 23, were sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for offences committed on December 12, 2017, at Parslickstown Gardens, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15. Both pleaded guilty to possessing a shotgun with intent to endanger life and recklessly discharging a firearm. Dan Donovan additionally pleaded guilty to threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Michael Collins. The court heard that Charlene Donovan fired a shotgun across the road, injuring a 17-year-old man, his mother, and a six-month-old baby in the legs. Dan Donovan then took the weapon, threatened to "bury" Mr Collins, and accidentally discharged it into the ground. Judge Martin Nolan jailed both defendants for five years. He noted the ongoing dispute between the families and accepted that the Donovans were in fear, but emphasized the child's blamelessness. Charlene Donovan, who has no prior record and significant intellectual difficulties, broke down in tears upon hearing the sentence. Dan Donovan, who has previous minor road traffic convictions, was held by his daughter. The judge acknowledged the intimidating nature of the rival family but stated he was satisfied Charlene Donovan understood the consequences of her actions.
In a High Court hearing on 23 November 2018, Mr Justice Senan Allen dismissed an injunction application by Blue Diamond Sports Ltd, trading as Dundalk Bureau de Change, and its related firm Blue Diamond Sports No 2 Ltd. The firms sought to prevent the Bank of Ireland (BOI) from terminating their banking arrangements, alleging that BOI's decision was discriminatory, disproportionate, unlawful and breached EU Payment Services Regulations. BOI had informed Blue Diamond in April that it intended to end the relationship shortly after the firm repaid a loan. BOI justified the termination on suspicions of money‑laundering activity, citing the 2010 Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Act, which obliges banks to report suspicious transactions. The judge found the injunction application failed at the first hurdle, that the balance of convenience did not favour granting it, and that any closure could be fairly measured and compensated by damages.
Patrick Nevin, 37, was convicted in December 2014 of sexually assaulting a Brazilian student he met on Tinder. The student, who was using the app to practice English, believed they were meeting for coffee but was taken to a secluded field on the UCD campus where Nevin forced a kiss, pulled her dress down, restrained her, and punched her on the back of the head. She escaped by releasing her seat belt and getting out of the car. Nevin drove off, leaving her distressed and disoriented. Gardaí identified him via the car's number‑plate recognition system. The victim, now 36, testified that she feared for her life and that the attack forced her to abandon her English studies and work as a cleaner. She expressed ongoing fear of men and a desire to return to Ireland, while acknowledging that most people are good. Nevin's lawyers denied the charge and the case was sent to sentencing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Silver Drescan (32) and Margherita Lupu (37) pleaded guilty to possessing 52 cloned credit cards and to making false payments, including a €3,400 purchase of a ring for Lupu and attempts to buy two mobile phones and two watches. The pair had used the cloned cards at Dom Marmion car park on 25 June 2018. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced Lupu to two years' imprisonment, suspended, with the condition that she leave the State within seven days and not return for at least ten years. Drescan received a two‑year sentence with the final 15 months suspended, taking into account his good work record and custody of two dependent children. Both defendants now live in the United Kingdom. The court noted that the offence was serious, but Lupu's guilty plea, remorse, lack of prior convictions and motherhood were mitigating factors. The couple's relationship ended after the arrest.
Patrick Nevin, aged 37, is set to be sentenced for two rape offences committed after meeting victims on Tinder in July 2014. He pleaded guilty to raping a woman in Bellewstown and sexually assaulting another in County Meath. Both victims testified that Nevin had convinced them to meet for a drive, then raped them in secluded locations. The first victim described feeling "tainted, dirty and stupid" and said the attack altered her life. The second victim recounted being forced into sexual acts and later experiencing severe anxiety. Nevin's prior convictions include assault on a former partner in 2001 and a firearms offence in 2012. He remains in custody awaiting sentencing on 17 December, with the court considering his guilty pleas and expressions of remorse. The court heard that Nevin had completed education while in custody and had worked as a software engineer.
Paradub Limited has launched High Court proceedings against James Kiernan, seeking to prevent the Shannon Key West Hotel in Rooskey, Co Leitrim, from being used to house refugees. The company alleges it holds a 2016 option agreement to purchase the 39-room property from Mr Kiernan for nearly €600,000, which it claims he failed to complete. Paradub asserts that recent plans to lease the hotel for refugee accommodation breach this agreement and frustrate the sale. The applicant seeks an injunction restraining the defendant from leasing, transferring, or disposing of the property to any third party, as well as an order halting works at the site pending the court's determination. In a sworn statement, Paradub director Ashton Doherty stated that despite Mr Kiernan's March assurance to local radio that he intended to sell the property, the company recently learned the refugee housing plan had been resurrected. The matter was heard before Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds, who granted Paradub permission on an ex-parte basis to serve short notice of the proceedings on the defendant. The case was adjourned and made returnable to Tuesday's sitting of the court. Richard Kean SC, instructed by solicitor Georgina Robinson, represented the applicant, emphasizing the need to compel specific performance of the sale agreement.
Silver Drescan (32) and Margherita Lupu (37), both from the United Kingdom, were arrested on 25 June 2018 in Dublin for possessing 52 cloned credit cards and for making false payments. They used the cards to buy a €3,400 ring, two mobile phones and two watches. Lupu pleaded guilty to each count and was sentenced by Judge Elma Sheahan to two years' imprisonment per count, suspended on the condition that she leave the State within seven days and not return for at least ten years. Drescan's sentencing was adjourned to 19 November 2018. Garda Karl O'Neill described how the pair were stopped at a shopping centre, followed to a car park, and searched, revealing the cards. The couple had arrived from the UK the day before to visit friends and family, but their relationship ended after the arrest.
Eoin Morrow, a 38‑year‑old bricklayer from Dundalk, was sentenced to eight years in prison for possessing €1.38 million worth of cannabis resin and prescription drugs. Gardaí, using confidential information, set up a surveillance operation on a Scania truck that met Morrow's Volkswagen Jetta. The truck driver, John Needham, 31, and Morrow removed boxes of cannabis and 29 boxes of Zopiclone tablets onto a trolley bound for a storage unit in Newcourt Business Park, Finglas. A subsequent search uncovered 96 kg of cannabis, valued at €580,200, and 400,000 Zopiclone pills, valued at €800,000. Morrow pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis resin and supplying a prescription‑only drug on 25 July 2015. He had 15 prior convictions, including assault, burglary and theft. He had taken a bench warrant, fled to Europe, but returned and surrendered.
In October 2018, a Moldovan national, Andrei Negura, aged 36, was charged with assault and criminal damage after an incident at a neighbour's home in Drogheda. Negura allegedly attacked Bohuslav Kalias, who was working on a car with his brother, using a claw hammer. The assault left Kalias with a broken right arm that required a rod, screw, and 38 stitches, and caused him long‑term functional impairment. Negura also smashed the car, inflicting €1,900 worth of damage. He denied the assault but later pleaded guilty to the use of a claw hammer while assaulting Kalias and to criminal damage. The court dropped the assault charge after the guilty plea, and a trial date was set for January 2020, with Negura remanded on continuing bail pending a probation report on his alcohol use. The case highlighted the severity of the injuries and the property damage caused.
Aaron Brady, 27, from New Road, Crossmaglen, is accused of murdering Garda Adrian Donohoe during a shooting on 25 January 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co. Louth. Brady was charged earlier this year with the murder of a Garda in the course of duty. Brendan Grehan SC, for the prosecution, estimates the trial will last six to eight weeks. Mr Justice Michael White set the trial to begin on 8 October 2019 at the Central Criminal Court, with Michael O'Higgins SC defending Brady. At a prior hearing, Donohoe was served a four‑volume book of evidence.
Blue Diamond Sports Ltd, trading as Dundalk Bureau de Change, and its sister company Blue Diamond Sports No 2 Ltd have applied to the High Court for an injunction to stop the Bank of Ireland from terminating their banking relationship. The banks claim the firms are linked to money‑laundering activity and have therefore decided to close their accounts. Blue Diamond denies any wrongdoing, arguing that the bank's decision is discriminatory, disproportionate, lacks objectivity and is unlawful. The firm, which acts as an agent for Moneygram International Ltd, says it has been unable to secure alternative banking services and that the loss of its accounts would force it out of business. The application seeks declarations that the bank's withdrawal of services is unlawful, discriminatory, disproportionate and breaches EU payment‑services regulations.
A dispute over a commercial property at 13‑15 Rockhill, Main Street Blackrock, Co. Dublin, has been admitted to the fast‑track Commercial Court list. Cheldon Property Finance Designated Activity Company and receiver Ken Tyrell seek to sell the premises, which is owned by Ms Deryn Mackay. The fund, represented by Rossa Fanning SC, alleges that Ms Mackay owes €2.5 million for loans advanced by PTSB between 2003 and 2007, which Cheldon acquired in 2015. The property was used as security for those loans. Ms Mackay claims that, after discussions with her advisor and Pepper Asset Finance DAC, she has a binding agreement that Cheldon must accept €800,000 to settle her debts and remove the mortgage. Cheldon denies any binding agreement and wants to sell the property to reduce her indebtedness.
In the trial of Joseph Hillen, a 24‑year‑old from Forkhill, the jury found him not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for the death of taxi driver Martin Mulligan, 53, at Carnmore, Dundalk, on 28 September 2015. Hillen admitted to stabbing Mulligan but claimed the driver had pulled a knife on him and that he acted in self‑defence after a confrontation over alleged illegal dumping. Forensic evidence, including blood on the road and DNA on a glove, placed Hillen at the scene. The jury, after five hours and 29 minutes of deliberation, reached a majority verdict of ten to two. Justice Eileen Creedon thanked the jury and scheduled a sentencing hearing for 3 December. The case highlighted conflicting statements about the knife in Mulligan's car and the nature of the wounds, with the pathologist noting the unusual lower‑body stabs that caused rapid death.
Brendan Cummins, a 23‑year‑old former Leinster boxing champion, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for punching a prison officer at Portlaoise Prison on 20 February 2017. Cummins had 97 prior disciplinary sanctions and 11 previous assault convictions, including an earlier assault on a prison officer at Cloverhill Prison on the same date. The attack, described as unprovoked, broke the officer's nose and cut his inner lip, causing the officer to suffer headaches and a loss of smell. Cummins pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a three‑year sentence, suspending the final year due to his age, and ordered that he have no contact with the officer or his family for 25 years. The court noted Cummins' plea and the prison punishments already imposed, including a year of solitary confinement.
A jury will return to the Central Criminal Court tomorrow to decide the verdict in the trial of 24‑year‑old Joseph Hillen, who admits stabbing but denies murdering taxi‑driver Martin Mulligan (53). Hillen pleaded not guilty to murder after a dispute over alleged illegal dumping. Justice Eileen Creedon explained the three possible verdicts: guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. The jury had spent 3 hours 21 minutes deliberating and had not yet reached a verdict. They were asked to return Thursday.
In the trial of 24‑year‑old Joseph Hillen, the jury has begun deliberating a verdict for the murder of 53‑year‑old Martin Mulligan, a taxi driver killed on 28 September 2015. Hillen admits stabbing Mulligan but denies murder, claiming he acted in self‑defence after a dispute over alleged illegal dumping. Justice Eileen Creedon explained that the jury may find him guilty of murder, guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. The prosecution, led by Patrick Treacy SC, argues Hillen intended to kill or seriously injure Mulligan and that his self‑defence claim is uncredible, citing Hillen's earlier false statements to gardai. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC contends Hillen's account is the only one supported by evidence, noting the pathologist's observation that the wounds were low on the body and would have caused death quickly. The jury will return to the Central Criminal Court tomorrow to continue deliberations.
In the trial of Joseph Hillen, a 24‑year‑old from Forkhill, the jury is asked to decide whether he acted in self‑defence or is guilty of murder after stabbing taxi driver Martin Mulligan, aged 53, to death in Dundalk on 28 September 2015. Hillen denies murder, claiming he stabbed Mulligan to protect himself during a dispute over illegal dumping. Prosecutor Patrick Treacy SC argues Hillen lied to Gardaí and that his self‑defence claim is not credible, citing the depth and nature of the wounds and Hillen's failure to call for help. Defence barrister Brendan Grehan SC maintains Hillen's account is supported by evidence, noting the pathologist's remarks on the injuries and the possibility of a sewer rod causing head lacerations. The jury must weigh whether Hillen intended to kill or merely used excessive force, or if he acted in genuine self‑defence. The case is before Justice Eileen Creedon. The unnamed 24-year-old pleaded not guilty. Joseph Hillen pleaded not guilty.
Jarlath Higgins, 48, of Caraban, Ravensdale, Dundalk, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and criminal damage after accelerating through a Garda checkpoint near the Táin Bridge on 18 November 2015. He had alcohol on board but was not charged with drink driving. Higgins' Renault Megane violently fishtailed, injuring a Garda and causing €7,500 worth of damage to two patrol cars. Judge Michael O'Shea imposed wholly suspended sentences of two years and five months and a three‑year driving disqualification on 4 May 2017. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, but the Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, dismissed the appeal, citing Higgins' mitigating factors, low re‑offending risk, and lack of prior convictions. The suspended sentence remained, with no custodial time imposed.
In the Central Criminal Court, the family of the stabbed victim left before a jury saw the taxi driver's heavily blood‑stained jumper and t‑shirt. Prosecutor Patrick Treacy SC warned that the clothing could be distressing. Joseph Hillen, 24, of Forkhill, Co. Armagh, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Martin Mulligan, 53, at Carnmore, Dundalk, on 28 September 2015. Hillen admitted he inflicted the fatal knife wounds but claimed he did so to protect himself. Forensic scientist Sandra McGrath showed the jury the heavy blood staining on the jumper and t‑shirt, a 19.5 cm cut and tear at the V of the jumper's neck, and a glove with Hillen's DNA on its inside and back. She also identified 18 blood drops at the scene, two matching Hillen's DNA and the rest matching Mulligan's. Garda James Doherty reported Hillen was interviewed on 23 May 2016 after his car was seen driving erratically that night.
In the murder trial of Joseph Hillen, the wife of the stabbed taxi driver, Grainne Mulligan, denied that her husband kept a kitchen knife in his car. She stated that Hillen, a 24‑year‑old coal delivery man turned taxi driver, kept a bar on the floor of the taxi for protection and a small Swiss Army knife. She also admitted that she had previously claimed he kept a kitchen knife in the taxi, but later corrected that the knife was in his coal lorry. Mulligan described Hillen as a formidable man who would not back down in a confrontation. She said he kept the bar as a weapon if needed. The trial continues before a jury and Justice Eileen Creedon. Joseph Hillen pleaded not guilty. Grainne Mulligan pleaded not guilty.
During a murder trial, Gardaí recounted a car‑chase involving the accused, 24‑year‑old Joseph Hillen, hours before he stabbed taxi driver Martin Mulligan to death. Hillen, who pleaded not guilty, admitted stabbing Mulligan but claimed he did so to protect himself. The chase began shortly after midnight in Dundalk town centre, when Sergeant Michael Kermath and Garda Damien Fanning spotted a Toyota Avensis spinning its tyres outside Ridley's nightclub. They pursued the vehicle with blue lights, but the Avensis accelerated erratically, broke two traffic lights, and fled toward Marsh's Shopping Centre. The patrol car followed until the pursuit became too dangerous, and the officers believed they would not catch the driver before the border with Northern Ireland. CCTV footage of the chase was shown to the jury, and the trial continues before Justice Eileen Creedon.
In a murder trial, 24‑year‑old Joseph Hillen of Forkhill, Co. Armagh, pleaded not guilty to the stabbing death of 53‑year‑old Martin Mulligan in Dundalk on 28 September 2015. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that Mulligan suffered three blunt‑force lacerations to the top of the head, 30 other minor injuries to head, arms, chest and legs, and two fatal knife wounds. One wound cut the abdominal aorta, the other severed the femoral artery in the thigh, both causing rapid blood loss. Dr Curtis explained that a sewer rod could account for the head injuries and that the knife wounds were consistent with Hillen's account of a "backhanded" motion while kneeling. Hillen admitted stabbing Mulligan but claimed he acted to protect himself. The trial continued before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 2 October 2018, 36‑year‑old Jason O'Driscoll was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murders of 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond. The jury had convicted him on circumstantial evidence after a trial that lasted more than seven hours. O'Driscoll, who had been arrested in June 2016, told the judge that the jury had "got it wrong" and insisted he was innocent. The judge, Michael White, imposed the mandatory life sentence on each count, back‑dated to the date of O'Driscoll's arrest. Victim impact statements were read by the prosecution, describing the loss and devastation felt by the families of Burnett and Redmond. The judge refused a certificate of leave to appeal and the court ended the hearing without further commentary. The case was closed with O'Driscoll being led away to begin his life sentence.
In a murder trial held in Dundalk, 24‑year‑old Joseph Hillen pleaded not guilty to the killing of taxi driver Martin Mulligan, 53, who was found dead near his taxi on 28 September 2015. Hillen admitted stabbing Mulligan twice, claiming he acted in self‑defence after an altercation that began when Mulligan allegedly punched him and a wrestling match ensued. Hillen also described a struggle over a stainless steel kitchen knife, during which he cut his own hand and stabbed Mulligan. An autopsy revealed two stab wounds and numerous blunt‑force injuries, with the abdominal wound severing an artery and killing Mulligan within 30 seconds. Hillen's statements to Gardaí in July 2018 acknowledged driving a Toyota Avensis that night, and he admitted to chasing Mulligan before the fatal encounter. The jury, hearing the prosecution's case, will decide whether Hillen's actions were self‑defence or murder. The trial continues before Justice Eileen Creedon.
Jarlath Higgins, 48, of Caraban, Ravensdale, Dundalk, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and criminal damage after speeding through a Garda checkpoint near Táin Bridge on 18 November 2015. He accelerated when signalled to stop, causing a collision that severely injured a Garda and damaged two patrol cars worth €7,500. Higgins had alcohol on board but was not charged with drink driving. Judge Michael O'Shea imposed a wholly suspended sentence of two years and five months, plus a three‑year driving disqualification, on 4 May 2017. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient due to the speeding, alcohol, and opportunity to stop earlier. A three‑judge Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, concluding the sentence was not unduly lenient, and the court will issue reasons on the following Wednesday.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 2 August 2018, a jury convicted 35‑year‑old Jason O'Driscoll of murdering 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond, two car thieves whose bodies were found fused together in a burned‑out Volkswagen Golf. The jury, after more than seven hours of deliberation, returned a verdict by a ten‑to‑two majority. O'Driscoll, who had pleaded not guilty, reacted angrily, claiming no evidence and calling the verdict a "fucking crook." The judge thanked the jury and exempted them from further duty for 15 years. Mr Justice Michael White was scheduled to impose a mandatory life sentence on 2 October, after the prosecution requested time to read impact statements from the victims' families. The case was based largely on circumstantial evidence, including CCTV footage, mobile phone records, and expert testimony linking O'Driscoll to the crime scene and the vehicles involved.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 35‑year‑old man named Jason O'Driscoll is on trial for the murders of 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond, who were found shot in their heads and fused together inside a stolen car in Co. Louth on 7 March 2012. O'Driscoll, who lives on Richmond Avenue, Fairview, has pleaded not guilty. The State alleges he was involved in the killings, travelling to and from the scene in a stolen silver Mercedes S Class, and that the prosecution can rely on circumstantial evidence to convict him. The jury, composed of five women and seven men, began deliberations on Monday afternoon and had deliberated for just over five hours when the judge informed them that a majority verdict of at least ten could be accepted.
In a High Court decision on 31 July 2018, Mr Justice David Barniville remitted a controversial planning application for 500 housing units in Raheny back to An Bord Pleanála for fresh consideration. The application, made by developer Marlet's subsidiary Crekav Trading, sought to build 104 houses and 432 apartments on land that had been used as six playing pitches by St Paul's College. The board had previously granted approval under a fast‑track process that bypassed the local authority, but the judge quashed that decision, citing an error in the board's approval. He ordered the matter to be remitted to the board, but only to the extent necessary to undo the invalid step, and left open the possibility for the applicants to raise other grounds in future proceedings.
Dean Evans, 27, of Raheny, Dublin, received a mandatory life sentence at the Special Criminal Court for the murder of Peter Butterly. Evans pleaded guilty to shooting Butterly outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanstown, Co Meath, in March 2013. He was extradited from Spain in April after failing to appear for a trial scheduled in January 2017. Evans expressed remorse, stating he made decisions as a younger man that he would not make today. The court heard from the victim's widow, who described the family's trauma. Evans is the third person to receive a life sentence for this murder, following convictions for Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly. Frank Murphy, 58, of Bettystown, Co Meath, also appeared at the Special Criminal Court today, where he was charged with firearms offences arising out of the events at the Huntsman Inn. Previous firearms charges against Murphy were struck out. Three other men, Kevin Braney, Michael McDermott, and Frank Murphy, are due to go on trial later this year on the same murder charge.
The jury has begun deliberating in the trial of a 35‑year‑old man charged with murdering two fellow Dubliners, who had planned to sell him a stolen car. Jason O'Driscoll, of Richmond Avenue, Fairview, has been on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the past month. He has pleaded not guilty to murdering 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond in Co Louth on 7 March 2012. Firefighters were called to a burning car in Ravensdale Forest Park shortly before 11 o'clock that night. The bodies of the two men were discovered fused together inside the Volkswagen Golf they had stolen that morning. They had been shot in their heads. The State's case is that Mr O'Driscoll was involved in the murder, travelling to and from the scene in a stolen silver Mercedes S Class. The prosecutor told the jury that it could rely on circumstantial evidence to convict him.
In July 2018, a 35‑year‑old man, Jason O'Driscoll, stood trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murders of 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond, who had planned to sell him a stolen car. The prosecution alleged that the men were shot in their heads inside a Volkswagen Golf that was later set on fire in Ravensdale Forest Park on 7 March 2012. O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty. Defence counsel Vincent Heneghan SC argued that the prosecution's theory was implausible, likening it to a James Bond film, and questioned the feasibility of two shots being fired within two minutes inside a cramped car. He highlighted alleged gaps in Garda evidence, the lack of forensic links between O'Driscoll and the silver Mercedes cited by the State, and the absence of proof that the victims were shot inside the vehicle.
A High Court judge will decide next week whether to send back a controversial planning application for a 500‑unit housing development in Raheny to An Bord Pleanála for a new hearing. The developer, Crekav Trading of Marlet, had been granted permission to build 104 houses and 432 apartments on land that had been used as six playing pitches for St Paul's College. The application was made directly to the Board under a fast‑track process, bypassing the local authority. The Board admits it erred in granting the permission and seeks a remittance, but objectors—including Clonres CLG, environmental campaigner Peter Sweetman, Mr John Conway, and the Louth Environmental Group—argue the decision is fundamentally flawed and want it quashed. They also have brought proceedings against the State and the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. The judge, Mr Justice David Barniville, will rule on whether to remit the matter or simply quash the decision.
In a Louth double‑murder trial, the prosecution argued that a collection of circumstantial evidence—mobile‑phone records, CCTV footage, witness statements and vehicle details—when combined, proved that Jason O'Driscoll was involved in the killings of 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond on 7 March 2012. The accused, 35, pleaded not guilty. The prosecution highlighted the timing of the victims' movements, the presence of a silver Mercedes linked to O'Driscoll, and the absence of motive. O'Driscoll's defence counsel, Vincent Heneghan, counter‑argued that the case lacked motive, criticised police work as sloppy, and questioned the evidence's reliability. The trial was ongoing, with the jury instructed to consider the evidence as a jigsaw that might conclusively prove guilt if assembled together. The case remained at the closing‑speech stage before Mr Justice Michael White.
Patrick Nevin, aged 36, has had his sentencing adjourned at the Central Criminal Court. Nevin was convicted in December 2017 of sexually assaulting a Brazilian student after driving her to the UCD campus on 23 July 2014, a charge he had denied. He later pleaded guilty to raping a woman in a parked car in Bellewstown, Co. Meath on 12 July 2014, and to sexually assaulting a second woman at an unknown location in Co. Meath on 16 July 2014. The offences were linked to first dates arranged via the dating app Tinder. Nevin, a former UCD student and father of two, has been in custody since his December conviction. Justice Eileen Creedon agreed to postpone his sentencing to 19 November, when all evidence will be heard, and remanded him in continuing custody. The adjournment was requested by his defence team. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
In a Louth double‑murder trial, the jury heard that Gardaí had confidential information that the two deceased car thieves were to meet another man in Dundalk on the night of their deaths. The case is a retrial at the Central Criminal Court after the first jury reached a verdict disagreement. The defendant, 35‑year‑old Jason O'Driscoll of Richmond Avenue, Fairview, pleaded not guilty to the murders of 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond, who were found with gunshot wounds to the head inside a burning silver Mercedes at Ravensdale Forest Park on 7 March 2012. Detective Sergeant Michael Sheridan testified that Gardaí reconstructed traffic from CCTV and identified the car as a good match for the one seen that night. He also confirmed that the confidential information about the planned meeting was received from a man originally arrested as a suspect.
In the trial of 35‑year‑old Jason O'Driscoll, a vehicle‑identification expert, Andy Wooller, testified that the car the State claims O'Driscoll fled in was a very good match for a vehicle seen near the scene. Wooller examined CCTV footage of two vehicles driving in Ravensdale Forest Park at about 10.45 p.m. on 7 March 2012, the night two men were found shot dead in a burnt‑out car. He identified the first vehicle as a large, light‑toned car consistent with a Mercedes, and the second as a dark hatchback consistent with a Volkswagen Golf. Wooller and a colleague ran a CCTV identification parade and described both the Mercedes S Class and the Volkswagen Golf as very good matches for the original footage. The State alleges O'Driscoll drove north to sell the stolen Golf to a victim, and the trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White. Jason O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty.
In the trial of 35‑year‑old Jason O'Driscoll, charged with the murders of 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond on 7 March 2012 in County Louth, the jury has been shown 'EvoFIT' sketches of a suspect driver. The sketches were produced after Sergeant Stephen Downey of the PSNI described seeing a silver Mercedes, travelling northbound on the Dublin Road, with two men inside who appeared relaxed and laughing. Downey, who was a passenger in an unmarked armoured patrol at 11 pm that night, claimed the car was the same one he had seen earlier in Newry and attempted to chase it, but a puncture forced him to stop. He later supplied a description to a facial artist, who created the 'EvoFIT' images that were given to the jury. The unnamed 35-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Eoin Morrow, 38, a Louth bricklayer, will be sentenced for possessing cannabis and prescription drugs worth €1.38 million. Gardaí set up a surveillance operation on a Scania truck that met Morrow's Volkswagen Jetta. They observed Morrow and truck driver John Needham, 31, removing boxes from the truck onto a trolley bound for a storage unit in Newcourt Business Park. A subsequent search uncovered four large cardboard boxes of cannabis resin and 29 boxes of Zopiclone tablets. The 96 kg of cannabis was valued at €580,200 and the 400,000 Zopiclone pills at €800,000. Morrow pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis resin and supplying a prescription‑only drug. He has 15 previous convictions, including assault, burglary and theft. He fled to Europe after a bench warrant was issued but returned and surrendered. Needham also pleaded guilty to the same drug offences and was sentenced to eight years earlier this month.
The jury in the trial of 35‑year‑old Jason O'Driscoll, charged with murdering 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond on 7 March 2012 in County Louth, has seen CCTV footage of O'Driscoll in the days before the killings. The footage, compiled by Garda Gareth Kenna from cameras on the Northern Ireland side of the border, shows O'Driscoll purchasing mobile‑phone credit in a shop in Newry on several occasions. Ambient noise from the footage also captured a Dublin accent ordering the credit. The prosecution, led by Alexander Owens SC, has presented circumstantial evidence of the mobile‑phone credit purchases and other technical evidence. The defense, represented by Vincent Heneghan SC, has argued that the evidence is insufficient to convict. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Michael White. Jason O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty.
The court has adjourned a dispute over An Bord Pleanála's grant of planning permission for a 500‑unit housing development in Raheny, north Dublin. The decision to allow Crekav Trading, part of Marlet, to build 104 houses and 432 apartments on land that had been used as six playing pitches for St Paul's College has been challenged. Parties including Clonres CLG, environmental campaigner Peter Sweetman, Mr John Conway, and the Louth Environmental Group argue the permission is fundamentally flawed and seek it quashed. Proceedings also target the State and the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. The judge, after hearing that the board admitted an error, has set a new hearing for Friday to consider submissions from all parties. The land was owned by the Vincentian Fathers, trustees of St Paul's College, and had been used by local sports clubs.
Barry Watters, a 42-year-old man formerly of Infirmary Road, Dublin, and originally from Dundalk, Co Louth, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of indecency in December 2014 and possession of child pornography on October 20, 2016. The court heard that Watters exposed himself to children on their way to school in 2014, an incident that led to his arrest. In 2016, gardaí observed him viewing illegal images at an internet cafe on Middle Abbey Street; a USB key recovered from him contained 23 illegal images of child pornography and 422 images of children in various states of undress. Watters has six previous convictions, including a four-year sentence in 2012 for possession of child pornography, with the final year suspended. He also received a three-year sentence in 2010 and a two-year suspended sentence in 2009 for similar offences. Judge Martina Baxter remanded Watters in custody and ordered a psychologist's report to address community protection concerns. The matter was adjourned to December 3rd for the finalisation of his sentence, with a plea in mitigation to be concluded in the same month.
During the Central Criminal Court trial of 35‑year‑old Jason O'Driscoll, Crystal Jackson, the former partner of Joseph Redmond, testified that on 7 March 2012 she and Redmond were trying to sell a black 2011 Volkswagen Golf. She said Redmond had mentioned the car to O'Driscoll, who was then in the house. Jackson recounted that Redmond and O'Driscoll discussed the price, with O'Driscoll offering €700 and Redmond proposing €1,000. She described how Redmond and Anthony Burnett, a 31‑year‑old "small‑time criminal", agreed to take the car if O'Driscoll came. Jackson noted that the two men left the house around 8:30 pm, after Redmond had called O'Driscoll to arrange the sale. She also mentioned that the Gardaí had warned Redmond of a threat to his life 18 months earlier. The trial continues with legal arguments before Mr Justice Michael White, and the jury will reconvene on Monday. Jason O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, Denise Burnett, sister of Anthony Burnett, gave emotional testimony about her brother, who was 31 when he was murdered in March 2012. She recalled that he would have celebrated his birthday on March 15 and that he had nicknames "Freaky" and "GTI" because of his interest in cars, which she explained involved robbing them. Burnett said Anthony had received compensation for a prior incident in Oberstown and had bought an apartment in Turkey. She described a phone call from Joseph Redmond on the evening of the disappearance, during which Redmond mentioned traveling to Dundalk or Newry to sell a car for €700 or €1,000. The trial of Jason O'Driscoll, 35, accused of murdering Anthony and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond, continues with a jury of five women and seven men. The case remains at the evidence stage. Jason O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty.
A 37‑year‑old UK businessman was convicted in Dublin Central Criminal Court of three counts of rape and eight counts of sexual assault against two girls aged 10 and 12, who were abused between December 2010 and March 2011. The victims were targeted while their mother was neglectful, and the man moved the family to Ireland to avoid detection. He was extradited from the United States in 2014 after authorities discovered he planned to travel to Florida. Mr Justice Michael White found the offences "grave" and imposed a 14‑year custodial sentence, suspending the last two years on the condition that the man remain law‑abiding and participate in the "Better Lives" treatment programme for sex offenders. The judge noted the lasting impact on the victims, who now age 17 and 19, and highlighted the role of the foster parents in their recovery.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 35‑year‑old Dublin man, Jason O'Driscoll, faced charges of murdering two fellow Dubliners, Anthony Burnett, 31, and Joseph Redmond, 25, on 7 March 2012 in County Louth. O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty to both counts. The court heard evidence from Deputy State Pathologist Dr Khalid Jaber, who examined the charred remains of the victims found in a burning car six years earlier. Dr Jaber reported that both men died from gunshot wounds to the head, with cyanide poisoning identified as a secondary cause in Redmond's case, likely resulting from the vehicle's combustion. He noted that each victim had been struck by two bullets, and that heat had fractured several bones, obscuring some features. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael White, will continue with a jury of five women and seven men, who will be instructed to rely on circumstantial evidence to determine guilt.