During a six‑day appeal hearing, Aaron Brady's counsel argued that the jury's deliberations were compromised by the Covid‑19 pandemic. Brady, convicted in 2020 of murdering Garda Adrian Donohoe and sentenced to life with a 40‑year minimum, claimed that jurors were worried about dying or about loved ones dying, which he said deteriorated the quality of their deliberations. The appeal focuses on defence complaints about two witnesses who testified via video link from New York during the pandemic. Brady's trial, the longest murder case in Irish legal history, lasted 122 court days and concluded with an 11‑to‑one jury verdict. The appellate court heard arguments that the trial judge should have discharged the jury, but the judge had exercised discretion to continue the case. The appeal will proceed the following day before a three‑judge panel.
On 2 October 2023, Mr Justice Alexander Owens approved three Debt Settlement Arrangements in the High Court. The first allowed 51‑year‑old Brian Carrig, a self‑employed accountant from Ashfield, Drogheda, to write off more than €5 million of debt for a lump payment of about €15 000. The arrangement, lasting six months, aims to restore Carrig's solvency and gives creditors only 0.32 % of what they are owed; it is funded by a €20 000 payment that includes a fee for his Personal Insolvency Practitioner. The second arrangement, for 56‑year‑old David Hoban, a former building contractor, permits the write‑off of over €1.3 million for a €20 000 payment over 60 months, with 81 % of creditors accepting. The third arrangement concerns 47‑year‑old Daniel Desmond, an IT director, who will write off €2.2 million of debt for a €70 000 payment over 12 months; all creditors voted in favour.
Aaron Brady, 32, of New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, is serving a life sentence with a 40‑year minimum for the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, 41, on 25 January 2013 at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgen, Co Louth. Brady was found guilty in August 2020 by an 11‑to‑one jury at the Central Criminal Court. His appeal, originally scheduled to begin on Tuesday, was adjourned to Wednesday due to a strike by criminal barristers who are campaigning to reverse cuts to legal aid fees. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice John Edwards, granted the adjournment after the Director of Public Prosecutions explained that the entire criminal bar would be unavailable to commence the seven‑day hearing on Tuesday. The appeal will focus mainly on defence complaints regarding two witnesses who testified via video link from New York during the Covid‑19 crisis.
Two men have been acquitted of robbery in connection with the 2013 Lordship Credit Union heist in Bellurgan, County Louth, during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was killed. Following a three-month trial at the Special Criminal Court, judges found insufficient evidence to convict Brendan Treanor of carrying out the robbery itself, though the court noted his association with the criminal gang involved. James Flynn, from South Armagh, was cleared of direct participation in the robbery but convicted of conspiracy to steal the getaway vehicle used in the raid. The three-judge panel, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, determined that while evidence established both men's involvement with the crime's planning and execution, the prosecution had not proven beyond reasonable doubt that either was among the four men who entered the credit union car park. Flynn will be sentenced on November 13th. Aaron Brady, separately convicted of Detective Donohoe's murder, is serving a life sentence and pursuing an appeal. Brendan Treanor pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court has convicted James Flynn, an Armagh man, of conspiring with garda killer Aaron Brady to steal a Volkswagen Passat on 22 and 23 January 2013 at locations in County Louth. The vehicle is alleged to have been used in the robbery of Lordship Credit Union near Dundalk two days later, during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was murdered. Presiding Judge Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Alan Mitchell, found the prosecution case consistent with the conspiracy charge, citing CCTV evidence and communication timings as circumstantial support. Flynn's co-accused, Brendan Treanor, was acquitted of conspiracy to commit burglary, the court determining insufficient evidence for conviction. The judges continue to deliver verdicts on the separate robbery charge against both men, who deny all allegations. Both defendants face charges relating to the €7,000 Lordship robbery and the wider conspiracy involving car thefts between September 2012 and January 2013. Brendan Treanor pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 1 August 2023, a jury found 55‑year‑old Michael Connolly guilty of manslaughter by diminished responsibility for the death of 37‑year‑old Mark Lawlor in Cloverhill Prison in 2019. Connolly, originally from Louth, had scalded Lawlor with hot water before strangling him. He had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The jury considered conflicting psychiatric evidence: Dr Stephen Monks and Dr Sally Linehan both diagnosed paranoid schizophrenia but disagreed on whether Connolly was entitled to a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The jury reached a 10‑2 majority verdict of manslaughter. The case was adjourned to 2 October for sentencing and victim impact statements. No murder conviction was secured. The trial highlighted the dispute over psychiatric testimony and the application of diminished responsibility.
A 23‑year‑old woman was raped by Albert Crowley, 68, in his Dublin home on 8 March 2019. She awoke to sexual moaning, saw Crowley, slapped him and fled. Crowley later claimed she had consented. The woman, intoxicated and asleep, suffered severe trauma, including PTSD, self‑harm attempts and depression, and has struggled to care for her two‑year‑old daughter. She testified that she overdosed and was hospitalised for five days after seeing Crowley at trial. Crowley pleaded not guilty to rape and five sexual assault charges, was convicted on all charges, and was sentenced to six years' imprisonment with the final six months suspended. He must engage with the Probation Service for two years upon release. The case highlighted a breach of trust and a 40‑year age gap between the parties. The woman was described by the judge as brave and courageous, yet profoundly affected by the assault.
In a Central Criminal Court murder trial, the jury was instructed that the core issue was the differing conclusions of two psychiatrists regarding Michael Connolly, a 55‑year‑old from Louth. Connolly, who scalded and strangled cellmate Mark Lawlor, 37, in Cloverhill Prison on 23 November 2019, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Dr Stephen Monks testified that Connolly did not understand the nature or wrongness of his actions, supporting a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. Dr Sally Linehan, however, found that Connolly understood he had killed another person, suggesting a verdict of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. Both doctors agreed Connolly suffered paranoid schizophrenia, but disagreed on the applicability of the special verdict. The jury was told to decide which psychiatrist's evidence they preferred, as this was the "nub of the case.".
Thomas Phoenix, 61, of Saint Anne's Square, Blackrock, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a series of harassing and threatening offences. He pleaded guilty to harassing a woman at a pub in Blackrock in June 2019, to harassing a neighbour between 18 and 26 March 2022, and to making threats to kill or cause serious harm. Phoenix also threatened a shop manager on 26 March 2022. The court heard that he had sent about 60 threatening WhatsApp messages to a neighbour, had thrown eggs at a family, and had threatened to kill a partner. He had previously served 13 convictions, including threats to kill. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a four‑year term, with the final 18 months suspended for the shopkeeper case, and an additional consecutive 18‑month term for the harassment of the woman, for a total effective custodial period of four years under strict probation conditions.
In August 2020 a pregnant Garda, Siobhán McCoy, was marked down in a detective‑post interview, receiving 70 % versus 81 % in a 2019 competition. The Workplace Relations Commission found the interview process flawed, favouring "performance" over competency answers and allowing potential manipulation of marks. The panel, lacking an independent member, consisted of a superintendent and an inspector. McCoy's representatives argued the difference in assessment was due to her pregnancy, not intent to discriminate. The adjudicating officer noted the panel's subjective judgments and the absence of an independent member as concerns. The commission upheld McCoy's gender‑based discrimination claim and ordered the force to pay €10,000 in compensation. The decision highlighted the flawed process and the risk of unconscious bias in the interview.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Michael Connolly, 55, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mark Lawlor, 37, in Cloverhill Prison. Connolly, who had been remanded for unrelated matters, allegedly scalded Lawlor with hot water before strangling him on the night of 22‑23 November 2019. Witnesses described Connolly as calm and unresponsive when officers entered the cell. Forensic evidence showed multiple superficial burns, lacerations, and asphyxiation as the cause of death. Connolly claimed he believed Lawlor was a "kingpin" and that a "homosexual conspiracy" existed between prisoners and officers. Two psychiatrists testified that Connolly was suffering from an active mental disorder, diagnosed as schizoaffective disorder in 2019. The jury will decide whether to apply a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity or a manslaughter conviction. The trial continues tomorrow before Justice Siobhan Lankford.
Nikiwe Dube, 41, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to four charges of using a false instrument and two counts of deception. Judge Elva Duffy stated that Dube, who admitted to the offences, had posed as a child psychologist without the required academic qualifications, abusing the trust of vulnerable children and adolescents. The court heard that Dube used forged documents, including a psychological transcript with a false garda stamp, a fake PSI identification badge, and a false medical certificate, to secure employment. He dishonestly induced TTM Healthcare to place him on their books of employment between August 15, 2021, and September 9, 2021, causing a loss, and induced the HSE to give him an interview for employment on August 18, 2022. Dube received €172,000 in wages and expenses while working for Gateway Residential Care in Sligo. Judge Duffy noted that gardaí have not been able to confirm Dube's true identity, which is of concern to the court. While acknowledging mitigation factors such as his immediate admissions, remorse, and lack of previous convictions, the judge determined the case warranted a headline sentence of five and a half years. The final sentence of four years was backdated to August 5, 2022, when Dube first went into custody.
Michael Collins, 49, was convicted in 2019 of dangerous driving causing the death of 20‑year‑old Jillian Thornton, who was thrown from his car when it split in two during a crash near Ballymagarvey on the N2. Collins had been driving under the influence of cannabis and had fired his legal team at the start of the trial, choosing to represent himself. The Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal, ruling that the right to self‑representation is a constitutional right that can only be overridden in extreme circumstances. The court found Collins fit to plead, medically assessed as capable of defending himself, and that no breach of EU law occurred. The appeal was rejected, affirming that Collins' decision to defend himself was a voluntary, informed choice. The case remains at the trial stage with the 14‑year sentence upheld.
John Titiloye, aged 28, was sentenced to ten years in prison with the final year suspended for two years, backdated to his arrest on 11 August 2021, after being found guilty of murdering his 25‑year‑old friend Ademola "Dizzy" Giwa. The killing occurred on 10 August 2021 in Tallaght, following a dispute over a €100 debt and a stolen scooter. Titiloye stabbed Giwa in the neck with a knife he had bought that afternoon, an act described by the judge as a rapid, spontaneous response triggered by the defendant's perception that his father had been attacked. The court noted that Titiloye had 23 prior convictions, mainly for minor traffic offences and some drug offences, and that he had attempted to justify his actions to the probation service. The judge highlighted the disproportionate use of force and the fact that the victim's father was also assaulted during the altercation. John Titiloye pleaded not guilty and was acquitted.
Gigi Birsan, 33, of Dundalk, pleaded guilty to 103 thefts and 33 attempted thefts between late 2016 and late 2017, stealing over €3,000 from colleagues and housemates to fund online poker. He returned the full amount, €3,164, and has addressed his gambling addiction. Judge Orla Crowe set a headline sentence of three years but imposed an 18‑month suspended sentence, ordering Birsan to keep the peace and behave well for that period. The case arose after staff at the Drury Buildings restaurant noticed small deductions from bank accounts, leading to an investigation that traced a PokerStars account linked to Birsan. He was arrested in Romania under a European Arrest Warrant and admitted all transactions. Birsan has no prior convictions and has shown remorse, writing a letter to the judge and claiming rehabilitation. The court noted his low risk of reoffending and stable relationship with his wife.
In a victim impact statement read to the Central Criminal Court, Gaffar Giwa, father of 25‑year‑old Ademola "Dizzy" Giwa, expressed profound grief after his son was stabbed to death by John Titiloye, a former friend, during a dispute over a stolen scooter. Giwa said the loss of his son is indescribable and that the killer's attempts to tarnish his son's name were futile. Titiloye, aged 28, pleaded not guilty to murder but was found guilty of manslaughter by a jury in May. He admitted responsibility, expressed remorse, and said he would never forgive himself. The court heard that Titiloye had 23 prior convictions, mainly traffic offences, and that the altercation escalated over a small debt. The case was remanded for sentencing on July 24. The hearing focused on the facts of the killing and the defendant's admission of guilt, without any mention of future outcomes. John Titiloye was acquitted.
A 39‑year‑old William Duffy of Dundalk, who had been charged with attempted murder in County Louth four years earlier, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to a firearms offence. He admitted discharging a firearm recklessly on 28 May 2019 at Marian Park, Dundalk. Justice Caroline Biggs ordered a psychological assessment and a victim impact statement, and adjourned the sentencing hearing to 23 October. Duffy remains on bail.
A man granted refugee status in Ireland despite a prior UK sexual assault conviction has been sentenced to ten years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the rape of one woman and the attempted abduction of another in County Sligo. Tayyab Salah Uddin pleaded guilty to raping a woman on 15 September 2018 and to falsely imprisoning a second woman the following day. The court heard that both victims were intoxicated and alone when Uddin approached them in a town centre. After raping the first woman, he returned the next evening and attempted to force a second woman into his car before gardaí intervened following surveillance footage. The court noted Uddin's predatory behaviour in targeting vulnerable, isolated women and his lack of remorse. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed consecutive sentences with three years post-release supervision, having assessed Uddin as presenting a high risk of reoffending. Uddin, a Pakistani national with ocular albinism, arrived in Ireland in 2018 and was granted refugee status.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 3 July 2023, John D Fitzgerald SC argued that Edmundas Dauksa, 53, was provoked when his former partner, Ingrida Maciokaite, 31, decided not to bring their six‑year‑old daughter to his home on the day of the murder. Dauksa had been convicted in May 2021 of murdering Maciokaite by stabbing her 19 times in a darkened archway in front of the child. The defence claimed the decision to withhold the child, made after a District Court granted her sole custody, caused Dauksa to become "very distraught" and "destroyed as a human being." Fitzgerald said the phone call from Maciokaite at about 2 pm was the trigger and could amount to provocation, even though it was not a face‑to‑face confrontation. The judge, Mr Justice John Edwards, noted Dauksa was in a self‑induced state of intoxication and that the court would reserve judgment on the provocation claim. Edmundas Dauksa pleaded not guilty.
Damien Clarke, 40, of North Strand, Drogheda, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for threatening to kill or seriously harm prison officers at Cloverhill Prison on 3 January 2022. He pleaded guilty to two counts of making such threats. Judge Orla Crowe noted that prison officers perform an important function and that threatening one during work is a serious offence. The judge accepted Clarke's early guilty plea and his mental health and poly‑substance abuse issues at the time. Clarke received a three‑year sentence with the final six months suspended, subject to strict conditions including engagement with the Probation Service for two years after release. He had 44 prior convictions, including theft, public order offences and assault, and was on remand at the time of the incident.
Robert Duffy, 50, was convicted in 1996 of murdering John Gibson in Belfast in 1993 and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was released after four years under the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) in July 2000. In March 2007 he attempted to murder Colin O'Neill at the Emerald Bar in Dundalk by firing a shotgun into O'Neill's face at point‑blank range, for which he was again sentenced to life imprisonment after pleading guilty. The High Court heard that Duffy is now being considered for parole in this jurisdiction, while Northern Irish authorities seek his extradition to serve a life sentence for breaching the GFA release terms by attempting the murder. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs heard that Duffy has engaged well with probation services, is a trusted prisoner, is considered at a moderate to low risk of re‑offending, and no longer affiliates with any paramilitary organisation.
The founder of a Dublin restaurant group, Padraic Hanley, had his car seized outside the Labour Court by the new management while he was inside pursuing an appeal against his dismissal, according to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). A barrister representing one of Hanley's sons argued that the confiscation highlighted the "utterly bitter" nature of the dispute. The tribunal noted the failure of negotiations aimed at resolving the three-year legal dispute between the Hanley family and the new owners of PBR Restaurants Ltd, who acquired the firm during its examinership in 2019. The WRC found defects in the redundancy processes and ruled the dismissals of David and Philip Hanley as unfair, awarding them €50,000. Padraic Hanley's claim was dismissed as he was not an employee prior to the examinership. Stephen Hanley, the middle brother, claimed that the redundancy process used outdated trading figures and that a proposed role paying €14 an hour would not be viable after tax.
A man convicted of murder in Northern Ireland was arrested in the State on an extradition warrant following his disappearance from custody seven months earlier. James Meehan, aged 53, with addresses in Derry city and Kells, Co Meath, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2009 for the murder of a man in Derry in 2007. He had absconded while on home leave in October 2022 and was declared unlawfully at large by the Northern Ireland Prison Service. Gardaí arrested Meehan by arrangement at a garda station in Dublin this morning. At the High Court, his defence counsel submitted that he had moved to live with his brother in Kells to work and had notified the Department of Justice of his whereabouts in December. The judge noted Meehan was living openly and had engaged with authorities. Bail was granted on condition of a €2,000 deposit, daily signing-on, provision of a mobile phone number to gardaí, and surrender of any travel documents. He was remanded to appear again on 12 June.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a jury found John Titiloye not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for stabbing Ademola Giwa in the neck during a dispute over a stolen scooter. The jury rejected the prosecution's claim that Titiloye intentionally killed Giwa, instead concluding that the act was a result of provocation and a lack of intent to kill. Titiloye, aged 28, had claimed he was defending his father, Anthony, who had been attacked by Giwa. The judge, Mr Justice McDermott, noted the partial defence of provocation and self‑defence as possible bases for the manslaughter verdict. Titiloye was remanded in custody pending sentencing, with the court scheduled to hear a victim impact statement on 17 July. The case highlighted the jury's unanimous decision after nearly five hours of deliberation.
Michael Collins (49) appealed his conviction at the Court of Appeal, arguing he should not have been permitted to represent himself during his 2019 trial. Collins was found guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of Jillian Thornton on May 27, 2016, in Duleek, Co Meath, and was jailed for 14 years by Trim Circuit Court. He was also convicted of two charges of endangerment, 12 charges of dangerous driving, and driving under the influence. Collins, of Drogheda, Co Louth, had dismissed his legal team before the trial began. His counsel, Michael Lynn SC, submitted that Collins was incapable of running a coherent defence due to paranoia and that forcing legal representation would have ensured a fair trial. The State's counsel, Carl Hanahoe BL, countered that Collins had the fundamental right to self-representation and was found fit to be tried. The court described the argument as a "very radical proposition" without precedent in Irish courts. The appeal was adjourned, with the court reserving its judgement.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, John Titiloye, aged 28, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his 25‑year‑old friend Ademola "Dizzy" Giwa, who was stabbed in the neck on 10 August 2021 in Tallaght. Titiloye told Gardaí that he had an altercation with Giwa's friend Samson Fayemi the day before and that he had been threatened by Giwa. He claimed he had a knife for self‑defence and that he had only used it to intimidate, not to stab. An eyewitness, Fayemi, testified that Titiloye raised his arm and struck Giwa's neck with a knife. A pathologist confirmed Giwa died from a stab wound that severed his jugular vein and damaged a lung. Titiloye's statements to Gardaí and his subsequent interviews were presented as evidence, with the prosecution arguing that he produced the knife and stabbed Giwa during a dispute over a debt and a stolen scooter. The trial will continue with closing speeches scheduled for Monday.
Verdicts for Brendan Treanor and James Flynn, accused of a robbery that killed Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, will be delivered on 19 September. The Special Criminal Court trial lasted 55 days, with evidence, legal arguments and closing speeches. Both men, aged 34 and 32, deny all charges. They are also charged with conspiring with convicted Garda killer Aaron Brady and others to burgle houses in 2012 and 2013, specifically to steal car keys. The prosecution alleges they were part of a group that broke into houses to steal keys and then quietly leave with the cars. Aaron Brady, 31, is serving a life sentence with a 40‑year minimum for Donohoe's murder and the Lordship robbery, and he denies involvement in the robbery. The judges will provide reasons for their verdicts and have been given the summer break to prepare. The trial concluded today, with the court noting the need for detailed reasoning in its judgments. Brendan Treanor pleaded not guilty. James Flynn pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, John Titiloye, aged 25, pleaded not guilty to the killing of Ademola "Dizzy" Giwa, aged 25, in Tallaght on 10 August 2021. State pathologist Dr Sally Anne Collis testified that Giwa died from a stab wound to the right side of his neck that cut the jugular vein and damaged the right lung, causing haemorrhage and loss of blood and air in the chest cavity. The wound also penetrated the chest cavity and the upper lobe of the right lung. A second, superficial stab wound was found on Giwa's right forearm. No alcohol was detected in Giwa's system, though he had consumed cannabis containing THC earlier. Witnesses, including Samson Fayemi, described seeing Titiloye raise a knife and strike Giwa's neck during a dispute over a stolen scooter. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of twelve.
A barrister for James Flynn has told the Special Criminal Court that the prosecution's case against his client lacks any substantive evidence. Bernard Condon SC argued that there is no proof Mr Flynn was present at Lordship Credit Union during the robbery on 25 January 2013, in which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was fatally shot. The prosecution's case instead relies on linking Mr Flynn to the theft of a Volkswagen Passat in Clogherhead, County Louth, allegedly used in the robbery. Mr Condon contended that CCTV footage showing the vehicle's movements contained implausible timings and that a farmer's account of blue headlights at the burn site in Armagh did not match Mr Flynn's BMW. He described the evidence regarding the Passat as threadbare and accused the prosecution of relying on weak associations and speculation rather than concrete proof. Mr Flynn, aged 32, from South Armagh, has pleaded not guilty to robbing €7,000 from the credit union and to conspiracy charges. Aaron Brady, who was convicted of murdering Detective Donohoe, is serving a life sentence.
Before the Special Criminal Court on May 17th, 2023, a barrister for Brendan Treanor argued there is insufficient evidence to sustain charges against his client in connection with a 2013 credit union robbery in Bellurgan, County Louth, during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was killed. Sean Guerin SC submitted that prosecution claims relied on speculation rather than direct evidence, and that no proof existed that Treanor left his home the evening of the robbery. Counsel highlighted inconsistencies in the State's case, including witness testimony that the getaway driver was female, and challenged the feasibility of the timings alleged. Both Treanor and James Flynn (32), from South Armagh, deny charges of robbery and conspiracy to burgle. Aaron Brady is serving a life sentence for the detective's murder and the robbery itself. Closing arguments continue, with the three-judge court to determine the case. Brendan Treanor pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court heard closing submissions yesterday in the trial of two men accused of involvement in the fatal robbery at Lordship Credit Union in County Louth in January 2013. Prosecution counsel told the three-judge court that a tattoo allegedly obtained by one of the accused in 2018 constituted an "extraordinary act of hubris". The tattoo, which counsel submitted contains images strikingly coincidental to elements of the Lordship robbery, features a BMW car, armed figures, and a person wearing a balaclava. Brendan Treanor, aged 34, formerly of Dundalk, and James Flynn, aged 32, of South Armagh, have pleaded not guilty to charges relating to the robbery and to conspiracy to commit residential burglaries between September 2012 and January 2013. Prosecution counsel presented evidence linking phone records and movements of the accused to burglaries in Cavan, Monaghan, and Westmeath prior to the robbery. Defence closing speeches are scheduled to follow.
The Special Criminal Court excluded Aaron Brady's father, Tony Brady, from the trial of James Flynn and Brendan Treanor after he posted an online video accusing a Garda of perjury and contempt of court. The video was deemed "tendentious and offensive" and unrelated to the evidence presented. Judge Tony Hunt ruled that while people may hold opinions, they cannot use their presence in court to publish such allegations. Brady apologized for his remarks and was not found in contempt. The trial, which has been ongoing for over 50 days, involves Flynn (32) and Treanor (34) who are charged with a €7,000 robbery at Lordship Credit Union and conspiracy to break into homes to steal car keys. Both pleaded not guilty. Aaron Brady, 31, remains in custody on a life sentence with a 40‑year minimum for the murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe and the robbery. The case is expected to conclude this week.
A Special Criminal Court has heard that an organised criminal gang comprising at least five members with local knowledge deliberately targeted Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, County Louth, in the robbery during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was fatally shot. The State's closing address, delivered by barrister Lorcan Staines SC on 15 May 2023, relied on circumstantial evidence including CCTV footage and mobile phone data to link the accused men to the attack and a series of related burglaries. Brendan Treanor and James Flynn deny charges of conspiracy to commit creeper burglaries between September 2012 and January 2013, and of robbing €7,000 from the credit union on 25 January 2013. The prosecution contends the gang possessed detailed local knowledge of the area and prior intelligence about the credit union's operations. Counsel noted coordination indicators such as synchronised phone deactivations before the robbery and evidence of reconnaissance visits. Aaron Brady, already serving a life sentence with a 40-year minimum for Detective Donohoe's murder, was named as a co-conspirator. The trial continues at the Special Criminal Court. Aaron Brady pleaded not guilty and was found guilty.
In a hearing before the Special Criminal Court, the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) was ordered to retain the original versions of documents seized from a woman accused of money‑laundering. The documents were intended for the legal defence of Jennifer Dunne, who is 38, and her partner Nathan Kinsella, 44, both from Richmond in Blackrock, Co. Dublin. Michael Bowman SC requested the originals, arguing that CAB had already provided copies and that the originals would better serve his client. CAB's Grainne O'Neill BL explained that the seized papers could be relevant to other cases and that returning them might raise evidential or forensic issues. Judge Tony Hunt ruled that the originals should remain in CAB's possession, citing their potential broader use beyond Ms. Dunne's case. Ms. Dunne and Mr. Kinsella face six money‑laundering charges under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing) Act 2010 and are scheduled to go on trial on 31 October 2023.
In the Special Criminal Court, the trial of Brendan Treanor and James Flynn, charged with conspiracy to commit burglaries and a robbery that killed Garda Adrian Donohoe, is set to conclude next week. After the prosecution's case, the defence argued that the common‑law offence of conspiracy no longer exists, citing the Criminal Justice Act 2006, and claimed the charges were vague and unsubstantiated. The court rejected these arguments, holding that the indictment provided sufficient "reasonable information" and that the common‑law offence still stands. The trial, which has lasted 39 days, involves the January 2013 robbery of €7,000 at Lordship Credit Union and a separate conspiracy with Aaron Brady to steal car keys from residential premises. Treanor (34) and Flynn (32) have pleaded not guilty to all charges. Brady, already serving a life sentence for Donohoe's murder and the robbery, denies any role in the latter and is appealing his conviction.
The Special Criminal Court admitted a back tattoo as evidence in the case of Brendan Treanor, 34, and James Flynn, 32, charged with the robbery of €7,000 at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth, on 25 January 2013, which resulted in the shooting death of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. The tattoo, featuring guns, bullets, gangsters, money, knuckle dusters and a BMW X5, was described by the prosecution as "almost a glorification" and a "pictorial admission" of Treanor's involvement. Treanor's lawyers argued it was irrelevant, but Mr Justice Tony Hunt ruled that the court would consider it as part of the overall evidence, stating that excluding it would be a failure of logic, reason and common sense. Treanor and Flynn have pleaded not guilty to each charge. The trial continues tomorrow.
William Twomey, with an address in Warrenpoint, County Down, has failed in his appeal against conviction at the Court of Appeal in relation to an attack on a Mayo businessman in County Louth in December 2017. Twomey was found guilty at the Special Criminal Court in September 2021 of robbery, assault causing harm, and demanding money with menaces. He received concurrent sentences totalling three years, with the final year suspended, dating from August 2021. The trial heard that Twomey orchestrated a plan to lure the businessman to Omeath under false pretences, resulting in a violent robbery. On appeal, Twomey's counsel argued he had withdrawn from the joint enterprise by notifying gardaí and the PSNI. However, the Court of Appeal found the trial court had properly assessed the evidence and determined his steps were insufficient to constitute effective withdrawal. Mr Justice Edwards stated the Special Criminal Court's findings were thorough, rigorous, and open to them on the evidence presented. The appeal was dismissed.
In a decision published on 30 March 2023, the Workplace Relations Commission dismissed Adel Sallam's claim that he was racially discriminated against when a cashier at Aldi in Drogheda asked him to move to another checkout. Sallam, a businessman who had lived in Ireland since the 2000s, alleged that the cashier's repeated instructions and gestures were discriminatory. The tribunal found no evidence of racial discrimination, noting that the cashier's actions were consistent with normal store procedures and that the complainant had not made any reference to race. The adjudicator concluded that the alleged poor customer service was a trivial matter and that equality law should not be used to address such complaints. The case was therefore dismissed without further hearing.
The Special Criminal Court has adjourned the trial of Brendan Treanor, 34, and James Flynn, 32, until after Easter. The men are accused of robbing €7,000 from Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth, on 25 January 2013, an incident that resulted in the death of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. They are also charged with conspiring, between 11 September 2012 and 23 January 2013, with convicted Garda‑killer Aaron Brady and others to break into houses to steal car keys. Treanor and Flynn plead not guilty to all charges. Brady, 31, serving a life sentence with a 40‑year minimum for Donohoe's murder and the credit union robbery, denies involvement and awaits appeal. After evidence on CCTV‑identified cars, the court noted about 15 days of prosecution material remained. The trial will resume on 18 April before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Alan Mitchell.
A witness at the Special Criminal Court was treated as hostile after giving conflicting evidence in the trial of two men charged with a credit union robbery in which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was murdered. Colin Hoey told the court he did not see Aaron Brady or accused James Flynn on the night of the Lordship Credit Union raid in Bellurgan, County Louth on 25 January 2013. However, his 2017 statement to gardaí at Carrickmacross stated that both men were present in his house between 9.15pm and 10.45pm that evening. Mr Hoey claimed he had been pressured to change his account and alleged a garda had threatened him with imprisonment. Brendan Treanor and James Flynn are charged with robbing €7,000 from the credit union and conspiracy to burgle homes for car keys. Both deny the charges. Brady is serving a life sentence with a 40-year minimum for the garda's murder and the robbery. The trial continues. James Flynn pleaded not guilty.
In March 2023 the Court of Appeal sentenced a 39‑year‑old man to 18 months' imprisonment for sexually assaulting his partner's 12‑year‑old daughter. The assault occurred on 5–6 October 2019 during a family gathering when the girl was asleep on a couch. The man woke her twice, touched her vagina and chest under her pyjamas, and then attempted to buy her silence, offering €20, then €600, which she refused. He pleaded guilty to sexual assault and had originally received a four‑year sentence suspended in full by Judge Patrick Quinn in February 2022. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the non‑custodial sanction was too lenient. The Court of Appeal found the original sentence unduly lenient, quashed it, and imposed the 18‑month custodial term. The judge noted the assault had a profound effect on the girl and that the man had shown no immediate remorse.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 22 March 2023, the court set a trial date of 31 October for Nathan Kinsella, 44, and his partner Jennifer Dunne, 38, who are charged with six money‑laundering offences under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing) Act 2010. The charges involve converting, transferring, handling, acquiring, possessing or using funds deposited in an AIB account between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2019, with the defendants allegedly knowing or recklessly believing the funds were proceeds of criminal conduct. Barrister Diarmaid McGuinness SC requested a five‑week trial, noting a health factor that might affect full sitting days for Kinsella. The court agreed to vary Kinsella's bail from three to one Garda‑station visits per week. Both defendants remain on bail until 30 July, when the case will be next mentioned.
Joseph Rogerson, aged 73, was sentenced to four years in prison for possessing cocaine and heroin for sale or supply. The drugs were seized in June 2005 from his car on Rock Road, Blackrock, and from his house in Ballybrack, Co. Dublin, amounting to just over a kilo of cocaine and heroin worth €146,552. Rogerson had fled Ireland in 2006, taking a bench warrant, and lived in the Canary Islands until his voluntary return on 8 March 2023. He had 31 prior convictions, including 23 for larceny and several assault offences, but had not offended since 1987. The judge noted his age, his voluntary surrender, and cooperation with Gardaí, and backdated the sentence to the day of his return. The court highlighted that Rogerson's gambling debt and alleged coercion by third parties were factors considered in sentencing. The four‑year term is effective from 8 March 2023.
John Hamill, an atheist campaigner, filed a discrimination complaint with the Workplace Relations Commission after the Defence Forces refused to consider him for a military chaplain role. The State argued that chaplains must hold a monotheistic belief to provide "force protection" and "religious leader engagement" in conflict zones, citing the 87.16% Catholic composition of the forces. The Commission found the Defence's requirement unlawful, ruling that chaplains should not be recruited solely from Roman Catholic and Church of Ireland clergy. An adjudicating officer ordered the Department to review its chaplaincy process to reflect diversity, though compensation was not awarded. The decision upheld Hamill's claim of religious discrimination and rejected the State's justification that a Christian chaplain was essential for missions such as UNIFIL in south Lebanon.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 14 March 2023, Charlene O'Callaghan, the former girlfriend of Brendan Treanor, testified that she and Treanor were at home in Tullydonnell, Co. Armagh, on the night of the January 25, 2013 robbery at Lordship Credit Union. She said she arrived home at about 9:15 pm after work, watched television, showered, and then left to order food at a Crossmaglen takeaway at 10:05 pm, returning around 10:17 pm. O'Callaghan confirmed that Treanor was present in the house before she left and that he had dropped his phone into the bath while washing their dogs. She also noted that Treanor's friends included Aaron Brady and James Flynn. The testimony was given while Treanor and Flynn remain charged with the robbery and related conspiracy, having pleaded not guilty. The case continues before the Special Criminal Court.
Erik Nemes, a 22-year-old college student from Skerries, Co Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possessing the proceeds of crime. Judge Martin Nolan handed Nemes a one-year sentence, which was suspended in full. Nemes pleaded guilty to possessing €14,470 as the proceeds of crime at Bank of Ireland in Balbriggan on December 14, 2018. The funds were originally intended for the college fees of a UCD medical student from New Zealand, who discovered the money had been diverted to an account in Nemes's name. Prosecution evidence indicated Nemes provided his bank details to a friend under the pretext of obtaining discounted goods, before being pressured to withdraw cash and purchase iPhones. Judge Nolan noted that Nemes knew it was a criminal enterprise. The court ordered that €1,000 brought by Nemes be paid to the injured party within one month. Nemes, who studies engineering and technology at Drogheda Institute of Further Education, has no previous convictions. Defence counsel highlighted his difficult background and cooperation with gardaí, while the prosecution agreed he was unlikely to reoffend. A victim impact statement from the student's father, who suffered anxiety and had to replace the lost fees, was submitted to the court.
Former soldier Lisa Smith, aged 41, remains in custody after the Court of Appeal rejected her appeal against a 15‑month sentence for membership of the Islamic State. The Special Criminal Court had convicted her for joining ISIS between 28 October 2015 and 1 December 2019, after she travelled to Syria in 2015. The appeal court dismissed all grounds relating to the sentence, noting that the reduction from a headline 30‑month term to 15 months reflected consideration of mitigating factors such as her prior good character, army service, motherhood and vulnerability. Smith's lawyers plan to appeal the conviction itself. With ordinary remission and one month already served in 2019, Smith is due for release on 27 May. The case will be heard again on 24 March.
In the Special Criminal Court, the prosecution argued that Brendan Treanor's back tattoo was a "pictorial admission" of his role in the 2013 robbery of a Dundalk credit union where Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was killed. The tattoo, photographed by Garda Aidan Hanlon during Treanor's 2021 arrest, shows four men with hats, a woman in a balaclava holding a gun, a BMW car, a pistol, ammunition, and money. The prosecution linked the BMW's registration plate "BOSS BFT" to Treanor's initials, suggesting the tattoo's imagery reflected the robbery. Treanor (34) and James Flynn (32) are charged with the robbery and with conspiracy to break into houses to steal car keys. Both plead not guilty. The court ruled the photographs were taken lawfully, and the trial will continue tomorrow.
Colin Kevitt, 29, of Moneymore, Drogheda, was sentenced in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possession of a 9mm Glock semi‑automatic pistol found at a home in Drogheda on 8 February 2020. The gun, wrapped in black plastic beneath a flower pot, was discovered by a homeowner who called the gardaí. Forensic testing showed the pistol was in fair condition and contained five loaded bullets and additional ammunition. Kevitt's DNA matched samples taken from the gun, though he denied any admission. His defence argued that a friend had taken the gun to a party and that Kevitt had handled it there, but the court found this explanation unconvincing. The judge noted Kevitt's prior minor convictions and described the offence as a marked escalation. He pleaded guilty, and the judge imposed a headline sentence of six years, reduced to four years and eight months, with a one‑year suspension on conditions including engagement with addiction services.
A former detective garda told the Special Criminal Court how he feared for his life during an armed robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, County Louth, on 25 January 2013, when a man pointed a shotgun at his face and threatened to shoot. The officer recounted discovering his colleague Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe fatally wounded by a gunshot to the head following the incident. A credit union volunteer also gave evidence, describing how a robber smashed her car window and demanded money while she heard gunshots outside. Brendan Treanor, aged 34, formerly of Dundalk, and James Flynn, aged 32, from South Armagh, have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to burgle residential premises and to robbing seven thousand euro from the credit union. Aaron Brady, previously convicted of Detective Garda Donohoe's murder, is serving a life sentence with a forty-year minimum term and is appealing his conviction. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges.