Philip McKevitt, 62, of Aghaboys, Mount Pleasant, Dundalk, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to eight and a half years' imprisonment for the possession of explosive substances. The court found that a bomb, fully loaded, would have weighed 500 lb. McKevitt had previously been convicted in 2012 for the same offence, but the verdict was overturned on appeal and a retrial was ordered. The case began in May 2010 when Gardaí received information about IRA activity in Louth and conducted a surveillance operation outside McKevitt's house. On 22 May 2010, Gardaí entered his shed and seized two adapted gas cylinders, fifty‑two 500‑g bags of glucose, a 377‑metre roll of wire, and a command wire. DNA matching McKevitt was found on a cylinder handle, though he denied knowledge of the items. The sentence was back‑dated to 22 March 2011. Conan Murphy, 29, was also convicted and jailed for six years. Philip McKevitt pleaded guilty.
Thomas "Slab" Murphy, 67, withdrew his appeal against an 18‑month prison sentence for tax evasion. He had pleaded not guilty to nine charges of failing to comply with tax laws from 1996/97 to 2004. The Special Criminal Court found him guilty on all counts and imposed the sentence on 26 February. His appeal against conviction was dismissed, and his barrister informed the Court of Appeal that the appeal against the sentence was being withdrawn. Murphy was not present at the hearing.
A 23‑year‑old man from Clondalkin, Michael Bayley, was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, for two burglaries in Sallynoggin and dangerous driving on 12 May 2016. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Bayley had 22 prior convictions, including aggravated burglary, public order and road traffic offences. The judge also disqualified him from driving for four years. The burglaries involved the theft of a Samsung Galaxy tablet and an iPad from a sick child's home, as well as cash found in a birthday card. Bayley claimed he was recruited by people he owed "15 grand" to repay a debt, and that he had drug addictions. He was arrested after a high‑speed chase in which his stolen car crashed in Blackrock, having driven at 160 kph in a 50 kph zone and failed to stop at red lights.
An ex‑soldier, aged 42, was convicted by a military court of sexual assault and four charges of conduct contrary to good order and discipline at Aiken Barracks, Dundalk, on 30 October 2013. He was sentenced to twelve weeks' detention, with the final eight weeks suspended, and was also reprimanded, fined, demoted from Corporal to Private and discharged. The Court of Appeal held that the military judge had no authority to impose discharge or rank reduction because the soldier had already been granted a discharge before sentencing. The judge found no error in the detention order but ruled that the rank reduction was an error in principle, as it would affect his pension. The soldier was re‑sentenced to one month imprisonment suspended for six months on conditions, six months imprisonment suspended for twelve months on conditions, and fined €500. The appeal rejected the claim that the punishment was excessive.
Giovanni Lanelli, 39, sold a Ford Focus he had bought on hire purchase for €17,000 to a buyer who paid €13,800 at a Dublin hotel. Lanelli did not disclose that the car was still financed and that monthly payments were due. He later claimed he intended to continue paying but could not keep up. A year later the finance company warned the buyer that the car would be repossessed if the balance was not paid. Lanelli promised to obtain a loan to clear the balance but failed to raise the funds. The buyer settled with the finance company, paying over €12,800 to keep the car. Lanelli pleaded guilty to theft and fraud at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 22 August 2014. He has no prior convictions.
Owen McCann, 36, of Annaloughan, Jenkinstown, Dundalk, pleaded guilty in November 2016 at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin to two counts of possession of firearms, including a .22 calibre rifle, a conversion kit for pistols and two ammunition magazines. At the brief sentence hearing on 30 January 2017, he undertook not to associate with subversive or paramilitary organisations. The court, citing his early admission, guilty plea, cooperation with Gardaí and employment prospects, sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, with one year suspended. The State entered a nolle prosequi on a charge of IRA membership.
The Court of Appeal dismissed Thomas "Slab" Murphy's appeal against his conviction for tax evasion. Murphy, 67, had been found guilty by the Special Criminal Court on nine counts of failing to comply with tax laws for the period 1996/97 to 2004, and was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment. His defence argued that he had no involvement in cattle farming and that documents in his name were forged by his brother, Patrick. The Court of Appeal, after reviewing the 94‑page judgment, concluded that the Special Criminal Court had correctly established Murphy as a chargeable person and that the evidence of a herd number, bank account, and cattle sales supported the prosecution's case. The appeal was dismissed on all grounds, and the matter was scheduled for further consideration regarding a possible appeal against the sentence. The unnamed 67-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Philip McKevitt, 62, of Dundalk, was remanded in custody at the Special Criminal Court until February 13th for sentencing. The three-judge panel, presided over by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and James Faughnan, deferred the sentence following his conviction for the possession of explosive substances. McKevitt was found guilty after a 21-day trial of possessing adapted gas cylinders and other materials in his shed in May 2010. His co-accused, Conan Murphy, 29, had previously pleaded guilty to the same offence and was jailed for six years. Prosecution evidence detailed the seizure of two altered gas cylinders, 52 bags of glucose, and 377 metres of command wire. McKevitt's DNA was found on one cylinder. This is his second conviction for the offence; a previous 2012 verdict was overturned by the Court of Criminal Appeal, directing a re-trial. Defence counsel Diarmaid McGuinness SC argued McKevitt was not the mastermind and cited his age and lack of prior convictions as mitigating factors, requesting a suspended portion of the sentence. The court ordered McKevitt remain in custody pending his sentencing hearing on February 13th.
In a fitness‑to‑practice hearing at the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, Nora Bernadette Regan Territt, a former nurse at Peamount Healthcare, was found guilty of professional misconduct and non‑compliance with the nurses' professional code of conduct. The hearing focused on an incident on 8 August 2014 in which Territt pushed an elderly, intellectually disabled resident (Resident A, 94) twice – once toward his bedroom and again into the bathroom after he had soiled his bed. Witnesses reported that Territt roughly shoved him onto the toilet, pulled his shirt over his head so that faeces fell onto his head, and then showered him while he was still wearing his trousers. She also allegedly told Resident A, "I am sick of this," after he complained of stomach pain. Territt, who qualified as a nurse in 1979, had been suspended immediately after the incident and had not been present at the hearing.
Edward Hanrahan faced the Court of Appeal in January 2017 following the dismissal of his judicial review proceedings in the High Court. Originally charged with three burglaries in Galway District Court in December 2009, Hanrahan absconded before his scheduled March 2010 hearing. He evaded gardaí for several years across multiple counties before being apprehended in a Donegal village in November 2014 whilst allegedly attempting to cross the border. Upon his recapture, two charges were withdrawn but one remained. The Director of Public Prosecutions subsequently directed trial in the Circuit Court rather than summarily. Hanrahan contested this decision as unfair and sought judicial review. The High Court rejected his application, finding no procedural breach. The Court of Appeal unanimously upheld this judgment, with Mr Justice George Birmingham stating the uncertainty surrounding the original District Court proceedings could not benefit Hanrahan, who bore sole responsibility for his flight and consequent circumstances.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Owen McCann, 36, admitted to purchasing a .22 calibre sporting pistol, a conversion kit, two ammunition magazines and a single round of ammunition online via eBay and PayPal. He claimed he bought the firearm to remove it from circulation for public safety and subsequently showed the police the hidden gun and ammunition on family land in Co. Louth. McCann had previously pleaded guilty in November 2015 to possession of the pistol, conversion kit, magazines and the single round at Jenkinstown. Gardaí had searched the McCann family land in December 2015, uncovering a large quantity of firearms, ammunition and explosive components, which were deemed background to the case. The court remanded McCann in custody for sentencing on 30 January 2017.
Philip McKevitt, 62, of Dundalk, was found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of possessing explosive substances. The court heard that on May 22, 2010, gardai discovered a trailer in his shed containing two adapted gas cylinders strapped to a wooden frame. Evidence included 52 bags of glucose and a roll of wire described as potential command wire for an IED. Forensic scientist Dr Clara Boland testified that McKevitt's DNA was found on one cylinder handle. McKevitt had denied knowing the items were in his shed, but Justice Isobel Kennedy stated it was "inconceivable" he had not noticed them. During the trial, it was noted that another man, Conan Murphy, 29, had previously pleaded guilty to the same offence and was jailed for six years. McKevitt's case is at the sentencing stage; he was remanded on continuing bail until January 23rd, when he will be sentenced. The matter was adjourned for sentencing and is not yet concluded.
Jamie Daly, aged 20, pleaded guilty to burglary and unlawful possession of a motor vehicle after breaking into a Blackrock home on 17 February. He and a co‑accused loitered in the house, stealing expensive items, then fled in the victim's black Jaguar, which crashed on the road. CCTV identified them; the co‑accused received a five‑year sentence with one year suspended. Daly was given a suspended three‑year sentence. He had four prior convictions for minor offences and was homeless at the time of the crime, having been displaced from Ballymun. He was on drugs during the offence and had little recollection. Since then, he has enrolled in a horticulture course at Blackrock Further Education Institute and engaged positively with the Probation Service. The judge noted the burglary was aggravated by the prolonged presence in the victim's home but also acknowledged Daly's efforts to reform.
An Irishman, Liam Campbell, aged 54, was arrested in Upper Faughart, Dundalk, County Louth, on 2 December 2016 under a European Arrest Warrant issued by Lithuanian authorities for alleged terrorism offences and weapons trafficking to Ireland. He was brought before the High Court in Dublin the same day and remanded in custody. The court was informed that a director of a County Louth company had agreed to pay a €60,000 bail, and Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly remanded Campbell in custody with consent to bail until 30 January. The warrant alleged that between the end of 2006 and the beginning of 2007 Campbell had organised the preparation for smuggling in support of the "terrorist grouping" the RIRA, arranging for illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, explosive devices and substances.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, the prosecution presented evidence that Philip McKevitt, aged 62, was accused of possessing an improvised explosive device in his shed at Aghaboys, Mount Pleasant, Dundalk, on 22 May 2010. Gardai had entered the shed after a surveillance operation and found a trailer containing two gas cylinders adapted to cause an explosion. McKevitt had pleaded not guilty to possession of explosive substances. The court heard that on 20 May McKevitt was seen with Conan Murphy in the yard, and that a garda heard an angle‑grinder in the shed that day. Two days later, at 7 pm, gardai entered the shed and saw McKevitt coming from the trailer. In interviews, McKevitt denied knowing the trailer or cylinders, claiming he had never seen them. The prosecution described his statements as "an incredible series of denials" and argued that the shed's size made it unlikely he could have missed the devices.
In the Special Criminal Court, the prosecution presented DNA evidence linking Philip McKevitt, 62, to a bomb device in his shed. In May 2010, after Gardaí entered the shed, they discovered an improvised trailer containing two gas cylinders adapted for an explosion. McKevitt pleaded not guilty to possession of explosive substances. Dr. Clara Boland compared DNA profiles from McKevitt and items in the shed, finding a match on one gas cylinder, a pair of gloves, and a mixed profile on a Dunnes Stores bag handle. Earlier evidence showed 52,500g of Shamrock‑brand glucose in four Dunnes Stores bags in a car outside the shed. Amanda Lennon reported light‑green paint from a spray‑can, McKevitt's left shoe, and a bell‑wire reel, suggesting the paint was used on the command wire of a fully‑formed IED. The trial continues before Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and James Faughnan presiding.
In a High Court hearing on 13 December 2016, Canada Life Assurance (Ireland) Ltd secured a €1.199 million judgment against former tied agent Martin Reilly, aged 60. Reilly, who had worked for the insurer from 1997 to 2011, admitted in 2015 to 80 counts of stealing money from clients between 2002 and 2011. He had been jailed for four and a half years for the thefts, which amounted to over €832,000. The insurer's counsel, Cian Ferriter SC, presented the case without contest, arguing that Canada Life was entitled to damages for Reilly's fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of contract and deceit. The judgment was granted by Mr Justice Seamus Noonan, recognising the insurer's right to recover compensation for the defrauded clients and the additional costs incurred from investigating Reilly's activities. Reilly was not present at the hearing and remains in custody at Shelton Abbey. The judgment confirms the insurer's claim for the full €1.199 million.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Philip McKevitt, 62, of Aghaboys, Mount Pleasant, Dundalk, denied knowledge of a trailer and two gas cylinders found in his shed during a 2010 Garda search. The prosecution alleged that the improvised trailer, containing the cylinders, was intended to cause an explosion. McKevitt, who pleaded not guilty to possession of explosive substances, claimed he had never seen the trailer or cylinders and had no knowledge of their presence. He stated that on the evening in question he had gone to the shed to collect logs for another man, Conan Murphy, and that they were discussing football when Gardaí entered. The court heard that Gardaí had interviewed McKevitt six times, invoking sections of the Criminal Justice Act to draw inferences from his failure to account for the items. The trial continues before Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and James Faughnan.
A challenge by teacher Christian Morris against An Bord Pleanala's approval of a €22m, 200‑unit development on the Techerete, Teeling Motor Company and Baltray Park sites in Howth has been admitted to the fast‑track Commercial Court. The proposed 4.4‑hectare scheme would replace existing industrial and commercial buildings with 145 apartments, 51 houses, six commercial units, a community/sports hall, a public park, a plaza and cycle and pedestrian paths. Morris seeks to quash both the Board's and Fingal County Council's decisions, arguing the project would flood Howth with cheap housing unsuitable for its long‑established community and cause traffic congestion. He also claims the council would sell a public park to a private developer without replacement. Glenkerrin Homes, in receivership since 2011, opposes the challenge, saying it would hinder implementation of the planning permission. The case was admitted to the fast‑track list by Mr Justice McGovern, with a hearing scheduled for the New Year.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Philip McKevitt, 62, of Aghaboys, Mount Pleasant, Dundalk, pleaded not guilty to possessing explosive substances. The prosecution alleges that after Gardaí entered his shed on 22 May 2010, they found an improvised trailer with two gas cylinders adapted to cause an explosion. The trial will resume tomorrow before Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and James Faughnan presiding.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Philip McKevitt, aged 62, pleaded not guilty to possessing explosive substances after Gardaí discovered a trailer and two gas cylinders in his shed in Louth on 22 May 2010. The prosecution argued that the trailer, which advertised the website 'flogthelot.ie', had been adapted to conceal a bomb. Detective Garda Shane Curran presented evidence that the cylinders had been cut and strapped to a wooden frame within the trailer, and that a 26‑kg quantity of glucose and a 377‑metre roll of green‑spray‑painted wire were also found. Curran identified the wire as a command wire typically used to detonate improvised explosive devices from a distance. Sergeant Brendan Keane noted the discovery of a green‑spray‑painted cable in the shed's boot, describing it as a "significant find." The trial was scheduled to resume on Monday.
Conan Murphy, aged 30, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to seven and a half years' imprisonment, with eighteen months suspended, for his role in building an explosive. He had previously pleaded guilty to possession of explosive substances in May 2010 and had been convicted in 2012, a conviction later overturned on appeal. The case centred on surveillance of a house in Aghaboys, County Louth, where Murphy was seen near a shed containing a trailer with a loading unit for a bomb, two large gas cylinders, 26 kg of glucose, and a length of command‑wire. The court found these items were part of an intended finished device, and the Emergency Response Unit's intervention prevented its completion. Murphy's guilty plea and lack of prior convictions were noted as mitigating factors. The sentence was back‑dated to 1 January 2024.
Michael Bayley, a 23‑year‑old from Clondalkin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two burglaries in Sallynoggin and dangerous driving on 12 May 2016. He admitted owing €15,000 to people who had brought him to the burglary sites to repay a debt. During a high‑speed chase that reached 160 km/h in a 50 km/h zone, Bayley fled in a stolen car, which crashed in Blackrock. He was arrested alone in the vehicle. The burglaries involved the theft of a Samsung Galaxy tablet and an iPad from a sick child's home, and a €100 note was found in a birthday card at the victim's house. Bayley acknowledged drug addictions, claimed he did not recall taking the items, and offered a full apology. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the case to allow victim impact statements and a probation report before the next hearing on 1 February 2017.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 8 December 2016, the court rejected a defence application to exclude evidence from the arrest and search of Philip McKevitt, a 62‑year‑old accused of possessing explosives. McKevitt had claimed that during the raid on his shed at Aghaboys, Mount Pleasant, Dundalk, a Garda struck him on the head with the butt of a gun and later kicked him as he fell. Defence counsel Diarmaid McGuinness argued that such alleged assault violated McKevitt's constitutional rights and should render the evidence inadmissible. The court considered testimony from a Special Detective Unit member who said McKevitt had slipped on plastic sheeting, causing his injury. Justice Isobel Kennedy found the injury was not caused by the alleged assault and therefore allowed the evidence to be admitted. The trial continues. Philip McKevitt pleaded not guilty.
Liam Campbell, aged 54, was arrested in Upper Faughart, Dundalk, on a European Arrest Warrant issued by Lithuanian authorities for alleged terrorism and weapons trafficking. The warrant, endorsed by the High Court, accuses him of organising smuggling operations to supply the RIRA between late 2006 and early 2007, including arranging illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, explosives and related substances. Detective Sergeant Jim Kirwan presented the warrant and a photograph to Campbell, who confirmed the identity. Campbell was taken to Dundalk Garda station and processed as an arrested person. Counsel for the State, Ronan Kennedy BL, raised an objection to bail. Justice Aileen Donnelly confirmed the identity of the accused, remanded him in custody until Thursday, 8 December, when a bail application is expected, and informed him of his rights to surrender and legal advice. Brian Gageby BL represented Campbell in court.
Paul Mason, 28, was sentenced to two years in prison with eight months suspended after pleading guilty to assaulting Keith Lynch at Lynch's home in County Louth. The offence, committed on 16 February 2014, stemmed from a 2013 campaign in Ardee that listed Lynch's name among alleged drug dealers. On the night of the assault, Mason and two others confronted Lynch at his front door, claiming to be INLA members and demanding money. They punched, kicked and kicked Lynch to the ground, striking his face and eyes. Lynch later reported that the attackers threatened him with a deadline to pay a ransom. Mason was on bail for a prior theft conviction at the time of the assault. The Special Criminal Court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, found aggravating factors in the pre‑planned nature of the attack and the extortion threat, but noted mitigating factors such as Mason's lack of prior convictions and his apology.
In a case heard in the Special Criminal Court, Paul Mason, aged 28, pleaded guilty to assaulting Keith Lynch on 16 February 2014 at The Saltings, Annagassan, County Louth. Mason, who had been on bail for a prior theft conviction, claimed to be a member of the INLA and told Lynch that his name was on a list of "Drug Dealers Out" that had been posted around Ardee in December 2013. According to Lynch, Mason and two other men entered his home, where Lynch was with his partner and a 14‑month‑old daughter, and began punching and kicking him. Lynch reported that Mason struck him on the left cheek and that the men were "laying into him," before they left. The court remanded Mason in custody until 2 December, when he will be sentenced. The case was presented by Detective Sergeant Peter Cooney and prosecuting counsel Caroline Cummings BL, with defense counsel Hugh Hartnett SC.
The Special Criminal Court heard that Conan Murphy (30) was found making a 500-pound bomb in May 2010 at Aghaboys, Mount Pleasant, County Louth. The evidence was presented during the sentence hearing of Murphy, who had pleaded guilty to the charge earlier this week. This is his second trial for the offence. In 2012, the Special Criminal Court found him guilty of possessing the explosive substances and sentenced him to eight-and-a-half years imprisonment. Murphy successfully appealed that conviction last year, leading to a retrial ordered by the Court of Appeal. He is the son of Colm Murphy, who was convicted of the Real IRA bombing of Omagh which killed 29 people but was later cleared in a retrial following a successful appeal. Colm Murphy was also one of four men found by a civil court to be liable for the Omagh bombing. Detective Sergeant Padraig Boyce of the Special Detective Unit testified that in May 2010, gardai had information that suspected IRA members were constructing a bomb at an address in Mount Pleasant, County Louth. Surveillance operations led to Murphy's arrest on May 22nd, 2010, where detectives found a loading unit for a bomb, two large gas cylinders, and 26 kg of glucose in a car. Karida Naidoo SC for Murphy asked the court to consider his client's change of attitude, guilty plea, and restraints on his liberty under bail. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding at the three-judge, non-jury court, remanded Murphy in custody until December 9th, when he will be sentenced.
The trial of Philip McKevitt, 63, of Aghaboys, Dundalk, for possessing explosives began with a voir dire to decide whether evidence about the legality of his arrest and the seizure of items at his home could be admitted. McKevitt pleaded not guilty to the May 22, 2010 charge. Prosecutor Paul Greene SC argued that a trailer had been modified to hide an improvised explosive device at the Aghaboys address. The voir dire, expected to last three days, is being heard before Justice Isobel Kennedy, with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and James Faughnan presiding.
The Special Criminal Court heard that Philip McKevitt, 63, of Aghaboys, Dundalk, was accused of possessing an improvised explosive device (IED) at his home on 22 May 2010. The prosecution, led by Paul Greene SC, presented evidence that Garda National Surveillance Unit and Louth Garda Síochána had conducted a surveillance operation in mid‑May 2010, suspecting the manufacture of a vehicle‑mounted IED at the property. Gardaí entered the premises after 6 pm on 22 May, arrested McKevitt and a second man, and seized items used for constructing an IED. These included a trailer adapted to conceal two gas cylinders, 377 m of command wire, green spray paint to mask the wire, and 52 bags of glucose in a Vauxhall Vectra. DNA evidence was also presented. The trial continues before Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and James Faughnan presiding. Philip McKevitt pleaded not guilty.
Conan Murphy, aged 30, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing explosive substances at Aghaboys, Mount Pleasant, on 22 May 2010. He is the son of Colm Murphy, who was convicted of the 1998 Omagh bombing but later cleared on appeal. Conan's case is his second trial for the offence; he was previously found guilty in 2012 and sentenced to eight‑and‑a‑half years, but that conviction was overturned on appeal. The court has remanded him in custody for sentencing on 25 November, where a further charge of membership in an unlawful organisation will also be considered.
Séamus McGrane, 60, of Little Road, Domiskin, Co Louth, faces trial in the Special Criminal Court for directing the activities of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) between 23 December 2009 and 13 May 2015, a period covered by a suppression order. He is also charged with membership of the IRA during the same dates. The court, presided over by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, set the trial date for 3 October 2017.
A 55‑year‑old Dundalk man, Joseph Finnegan, pleaded guilty to possession of an 8mm blank‑firing pistol, seven rounds of ammunition, a 12‑gauge double‑barrel shotgun, three shotgun cartridges, and a stolen Ford Focus. He admitted these offences on July 11‑12, 2015, at his Cullenstown, Readypenny address. During a Special Detective Unit investigation into IRA activity, Gardaí stopped the stolen car, found a black backpack containing a semi‑automatic pistol and ammunition, and later discovered more firearms and ammunition in his home. Finnegan claimed he was asked to do a "wee message" and feared for his life. The Special Criminal Court, presided over by Mr Justice Robert Eagar, sentenced him to five years' imprisonment for the firearms offences, five years for each ammunition offence, and two years for the stolen car, all to run concurrently and back‑dated to 7 November 2016, with one year suspended on the firearms sentence.
Thomas "Slab" Murphy, 67, appealed a conviction for tax evasion related to a cattle farm at Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co. Louth. He had pleaded not guilty to nine charges covering 1996/97 to 2004. The Special Criminal Court found him guilty on all counts and sentenced him to 18 months' imprisonment. In the appeal, his barrister John Kearney QC argued that Murphy's brother, Patrick, had controlled the farm since before 1991 and that the authorities had targeted Thomas for tax that Patrick had already paid. Kearney cited documents and banking evidence suggesting Patrick operated the farm and the accounts, and that Thomas had no involvement in cattle farming. He presented 48 grounds of appeal, and the Court of Appeal hearing was scheduled to conclude the following day.
In a brief sitting at the Special Criminal Court, Owen McCann, 35, admitted possession of firearms and ammunition. He pleaded guilty to holding a .22 calibre rifle, a pistol conversion kit, two ammunition magazines, and one round of .22 calibre ammunition, all found in Jenkinstown, Dundalk, on 17 December last year. McCann was arrested by the Special Detective Unit in December. Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges Martin Nolan and Cormac Dunne, remanded him in custody until 21 December, when sentencing will occur.
Thomas "Slab" Murphy, 67, was found guilty by a Special Criminal Court of nine tax‑law violations covering 1996‑2004 and sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment. He pleaded not guilty at the non‑jury court. His barrister, John Kearney QC, appealed the conviction, arguing that all the tax evaded was actually paid by Murphy's brother, Patrick. Kearney said the court had relied on a 10‑page verdict that he claimed was inadequately brief and that it misrepresented evidence, including a claim that Murphy had signed a form that the expert had not seen. He also noted that exculpatory documents were omitted from the verdict. The appeal lists 48 grounds in seven core areas, including questions of independence, admissibility of statements, statutory and documentary presumptions, and alleged defects in direction and verdict. The hearing is scheduled to last three days before the Court of Appeal judges.
During a sentence hearing at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin, Joseph Finnegan, aged 55, was described as having been caught with a pistol and ammunition while claiming he was carrying out a "wee message" for certain people and that he feared them. Finnegan had previously pleaded guilty in June to possession of an 8mm calibre blank‑firing pistol and seven rounds of ammunition, both at his Cullenstown, Readypenny address, on 11 July 2015. He also pleaded guilty to possession of a 12‑gauge double‑barrel shotgun and three rounds of shotgun cartridges on 12 July 2015, and to possession of a stolen Ford Focus on 11 July 2015. At the hearing, Detective Inspector Anthony Lenehan recounted that the Special Detective Unit was investigating IRA activity in County Louth and that Finnegan was suspected of storing and moving firearms.
Paul Mason, 28, of Ballygarra Park, Garristown, pleaded guilty this morning in the Special Criminal Court to assault causing harm to Keith Lynch on 16 February 2014 at The Saltings, Annagassan, Co Louth, contrary to the Non‑Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Martin Nolan and Cormac Dunne, adjourned sentencing to 25 November pending a victim impact report. Mason remains in custody and was remanded by Justice Hunt until the sentencing hearing.
An ex‑soldier aged 42 was convicted by a military court of sexual assault and four charges of conduct contrary to good order and discipline at Aiken Barracks, Dundalk, on 30 October 2013. The military judge, Colonel Michael Campion, imposed fines, a demotion and a discharge. The soldier's counsel, Roderick O'Hanlon SC, appealed the sentence, arguing the punishment was excessive and that the judge had not considered the effect on the soldier's pension. O'Hanlon contended that the sexual assault charge concerned only the incident in the shower, while other charges related to separate incidents in the sauna and gym. The Court of Appeal heard the appeal and reserved judgment, noting that the soldier had been found guilty and that the appeal concerned only the severity of the sentence. The appeal was not yet decided.
Edward Wall (44) and Patrick Wall (36) were sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for burglary at a house in Drogheda and an attempted burglary in Gainstown on 31 October 2014. Patrick had four prior burglary convictions, including one aggravated burglary, with two suspended sentences, one six‑month term and a community service order. Edward had eight prior burglary convictions, receiving various sentences from suspensions to a three‑year term. The Director of Public Prosecutions applied for a review on the grounds of "unduly lenient" sentences, but the Court of Appeal found no clear divergence from the norm. The judge noted the Walls' prior convictions, the planning and sophistication of the burglary, and the fact that they were on bail for other matters at the time of sentencing. The review was rejected. Edward Wall pleaded guilty. Patrick Wall pleaded guilty.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has acquitted a 34-year-old Armagh man of assaulting a former Republican prisoner, though the panel could not reach agreement on a charge against his father. Both Eugene Hanratty Jnr of Dundalk Road, Crossmaglen and Eugene Hanratty Snr of Castleblaney Road, Crossmaglen had pleaded not guilty to assaulting Martin McAllister causing him harm at Castleblaney, County Monaghan on 24 November 2012. The prosecution had argued the younger man was liable under the doctrine of joint enterprise despite not participating in the physical assault itself. After deliberating for two hours and five minutes, jurors found the younger accused not guilty. However, they were unable to reach a verdict regarding the senior accused, who is scheduled to return to court on 7 November. The judge discharged the jury and commended members for their service.
The trial of Eugene Hanratty Snr and Eugune Hanratty Jnr is ongoing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Both defendants, from Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, have pleaded not guilty to the alleged assault of Martin McAllister causing him harm at Castleblaney, Co Monaghan, on November 24, 2012. The prosecution alleges that the younger accused blocked the victim's car with a jeep, after which his father exited the vehicle and assaulted Mr McAllister. The alleged victim testified that he suffered fractured nose and eye sockets during a sustained attack. Witness Mary McAllister described the senior accused as being in an "absolute mental frenzy," stating he struck her husband repeatedly on the head with fists and feet while she begged him to stop. She claimed the younger accused remained in the vehicle until later intervening to tell his father he had gone too far. Defence counsel characterized the incident as a dispute over shooting rights at a nearby duck sanctuary, suggesting the victim initiated the confrontation. While the defence alleged the victim discharged a pistol, which the accused then destroyed, the witness denied this. Garda witnesses testified that initial reports of a shooting incident were not corroborated by other officers. The matter remains at the trial stage with no verdict or sentence recorded.
A former nursing home manager has been sentenced to 15 months imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stealing €45,000 from a vulnerable patient. Maeve Bell, formerly of Inniskeen, County Monaghan, pleaded guilty to 15 counts of theft committed between July 2013 and October 2014 while employed as clinical manager at Elmhurst nursing home in Glasnevin, Dublin. Bell misappropriated funds from the resident's comfort account by making unauthorised withdrawal requests and, on several occasions, using the patient's bank card to withdraw cash. The thefts, ranging from €600 to €1,800 per occasion, totalled €38,000 from the nursing home account and €7,000 from a Bank of Ireland account. The offences came to light when the resident raised concerns about depleted account funds. Judge Martin Nolan noted Bell acted under financial hardship but emphasised the abuse of her position of authority. He expressed concern that the resident remained uncompensated and suggested gardai refer the matter to the relevant Ombudsman.
Eugene Hanratty Senior and Eugene Hanratty Jnr are standing trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, accused of assaulting Martin McAllister causing him harm at Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan on November 24, 2012. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges. The trial is currently ongoing before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury, with the matter not yet finalised. Mr. McAllister alleged that the younger accused blocked his vehicle with a jeep, after which the senior accused exited and subjected him to a sustained assault, resulting in fractured nose and eye sockets. He denied striking the first blow or producing a pistol, as suggested by defence counsel Garnet Orange SC. Mr. McAllister stated that commenting on the legitimacy of the senior accused's oil business would be "very dangerous." He also referenced his past, noting he was sentenced to ten years in 1974 for firearms offences, which he described as ancient history. The defence suggested the incident stemmed from a dispute over shooting rights in a duck sanctuary. The trial continues.
Jonathon Duffy, aged 33, was convicted of robbing the Blackrock Post Office on 16 April 2013 with a €2 toy gun, possessing an imitation firearm with intent to commit robbery, unlawfully seizing a vehicle and attempting to seize another. He was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment by Judge Mary Ellen Ring on 26 May 2014. Duffy appealed the sentence, but Mr Justice George Birmingham dismissed the appeal on 25 October 2016, stating that Duffy had entered the post office, threatened a woman with the toy gun, stole about €3,000 in €20 notes, and then attempted to stop cars while fleeing. Gardaí pursued him, and he was eventually apprehended after a woman's vehicle was seized. Duffy had 35 prior convictions, including 10 for robbery, and had been temporarily released from prison 11 days before the offence. The court found no error in principle and upheld the seven‑year term. Jonathon Duffy pleaded guilty.
Ms Justice Caroline Costello has lifted freezing orders on bank accounts at the High Court following agreement by the account holders to transfer funds to the Official Assignee. The monies, totalling over €85,000 in cheques made payable to a bankrupt County Monaghan farmer, had been lodged into accounts held by third parties. The Official Assignee, Chris Lehane, obtained the freezing orders in late August after the farmer's bankruptcy declaration, concerned the deposits represented attempts to place funds beyond the reach of his office. Cheques exceeding €55,000 were lodged to Navan Fruit Co Ltd at an Ulster Bank branch in County Louth, whilst over €31,000 was deposited to an account in the name of Tony Walsh trading as Breathnach Bargains at a Dublin branch of Bank of Ireland. Both account holders agreed to release the funds, with Walsh committing to pay €20,000 within one week and the remainder within two weeks. Ms Justice Costello vacated the freezing orders and adjourned the matter.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 4 October 2016, Joseph Finnegan, aged 54 and resident of Cullenstown, Readypenny, Dundalk, County Louth, pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen car. The car in question was a Ford Focus, which he had possessed last year. The court noted that a second stolen vehicle, an Audi A4, would be considered at sentencing. Finnegan had previously pleaded guilty in June to four charges of possession of firearms and ammunition. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel indicated that the only other outstanding charge was an IRA membership allegation, which could be dropped on the sentencing date. Finnegan was remanded on continuing bail until 24 October, with the State accepting the same bail terms. The case was heard by Mr Justice Bobby Eagar, Judge Sinead Ni Chuluchain and Judge James Faughnan.
A 21-year-old Louth man who raped a 15-year-old family friend has been sentenced to eight years in prison. The now 23-year-old accused, who cannot be named to protect his victim's identity, was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury following a trial earlier this month of rape and defilement of the girl at his home between the 4th and 5th of October 2014. He has no previous convictions and is maintaining his innocence of the charges. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy was asked to partially suspend the sentence but refused, noting that there were no mitigation factors in favour of the man. The matter was adjourned for the purpose of the court considering the application for a suspended sentence, but the judge ultimately refused the request. The victim, in her impact statement, described the emotional and psychological effects of the crime on her life, including trust issues, difficulties with schoolwork, and sleep disturbances. The accused's defence counsel submitted testimonials from family members, work and sports clubs, highlighting his character as a good father, hardworking, friendly, and a positive influence in the lives of young people. Counsel also noted that cannabis had been a significant part of the accused's life at the time and asked the court to consider that the aggravating circumstances present in other cases were absent in this case.
William Burns, a 40-year-old Belfast man, was sentenced at the Special Criminal Court to seven years in prison, with three years suspended, after pleading guilty to the unlawful possession of explosive devices. The charges related to an incident at Kilcurry Church, Co Louth, on May 25, 2014, where police recovered PETN, RDX, an adapted 50-litre beer keg, 50kg of ammonium nitrate, and improvised detonation components. Burns admitted to the offence, and the court accepted he played a comparatively minor role in the enterprise. In related proceedings, David Gallagher pleaded guilty to the same offence and was sentenced to eight years in prison, with two years suspended. Gareth Mulley was tried, convicted, and sentenced to ten years in prison. During the sentencing hearing, Chief Superintendent Tom Maguire detailed how Mulley and Gallagher drove a white Peugeot van to a carpark off the N1, where Burns arrived in a red Volkswagen Passat. An improvised explosive device was moved from the van into Burns' vehicle before Emergency Response Unit members intercepted the group. Judge Alison Lindsay, presiding with Mr Justice Paul Butler and Judge Cormac Dunne, noted Burns' guilty plea and status as a good family man as mitigating factors. The sentence was backdated to July 17th.
Shane Rowan, aged 39, from Forest Park, Killygordan, County Donegal, has been sentenced to seven and a half years' imprisonment at the Special Criminal Court for possession of three assault rifles and ammunition discovered in his vehicle in Slane, County Meath on 9 March 2016. He received an additional four-year sentence for membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, with both sentences to run concurrently. Rowan pleaded guilty to possessing a Chinese Type 56, Romanian PM63, and Zastava M70 rifle, along with associated magazines and 153 rounds of assorted ammunition. He also admitted to IRA membership. The court heard gardaí had monitored his movements as he collected the firearms in Dublin before travelling through Northern Ireland to Donegal. Mr Justice Paul Butler noted Rowan's early guilty plea to all counts as a mitigating factor, describing such cooperation as unusual. The sentences were backdated to the date of his arrest.