Court archive
2026-02-26 · Galway
Adrian Behan was found not guilty by reason of insanity of 23 criminal damage charges and 10 theft counts involving telecommunications sites in Mayo and Galway. A jury at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court returned the unanimous special verdict after hearing that he had been experiencing an acute psychotic episode caused by schizophrenia.
2026-02-25 · Mayo
Adrian Behan pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to 23 criminal damage charges and 10 theft counts concerning alleged incidents at telecommunications sites in Mayo and Galway. The trial heard that cables, wiring, antennae and electrical equipment were damaged or stolen. The case continued before Judge Eoin Garavan.
2025-10-30 · Mayo
A former garda has been remanded for sentencing assessment following his guilty plea to assaulting his then wife, also a member of An Garda Síochána, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Trevor Bolger, aged 48, previously stationed at Ballymun, pleaded guilty to the assault on Margaret Loftus on 25 October 2012. The incident occurred during a family visit to Balla, County Mayo. Judge Martina Baxter adjourned sentencing to allow completion of an intervention program assessment referenced in a probation report, with proceedings to resume on 16 January 2026. Ms Loftus delivered a victim impact statement describing lasting effects of the assault and the subsequent stigma she experienced within the force. Bolger, who has no previous convictions, was represented by defence counsel who highlighted his mental health treatment, compensation of €6,000 offered to the court, and testimonials to his character. The maximum penalty under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act is six months imprisonment or a fine.
2021-11-09 · Mayo
The High Court has quashed planning permission for a large-scale poultry farm in Co Mayo. Mr Justice Anthony Barr made the order following An Bord Pleanála's consent to quash the permission it had granted in September 2019 for a new poultry house and ancillary facilities at Brownhall Demense, Balla, Castlebar. The decision was challenged through judicial review by Michael O'Connor, a neighbouring resident at Brownhall, Balla, Castlebar. The board agreed to pay Mr O'Connor's legal costs. The original permission was granted to Noel and Ann Mulhern for their wholesale egg production business. The proposed facility was designed to house 12,000 laying hens. Mayo County Council and the board's own inspector had both recommended refusal. Mr O'Connor's challenge raised concerns including noise and odour nuisance, groundwater pollution, disease risk, and potential impacts on the River Moy Special Area of Conservation and the Ballinfad Special Area of Conservation, which supports the protected Lesser Horseshoe Bat species.
2020-06-16 · Kildare
A man from Castlebar, County Mayo, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sexually exploiting children online. Mark Keogh pleaded guilty to 14 charges of child sexual exploitation and possession of child pornography. Between November 2013 and May 2014, he created a fake Facebook profile posing as a teenage girl named Nicole Doyle and contacted 14 boys aged 13 to 16, requesting naked photographs. Gardaí discovered over 700 sexually explicit images of children on his laptop during a search in February 2016, approximately 400 of which depicted the 12 victims. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a five-year sentence but suspended the final three and a half years. The judge noted Keogh's severe autism, psychiatric difficulties, and genuine need for specialist care, whilst acknowledging the seriousness of the offending and impact on the victims. Keogh has no previous convictions.
2015-05-12 · Mayo
Finbar Tolan, a cattle dealer and farmer from Middle Mace, Claremorris, Co Mayo, is suing Aurivo Co Op, formerly Connaught Gold Co Op Society Ltd, in the High Court for alleged breach of contract. The applicant claims the defendant failed to honour a July 2012 agreement regarding credit terms for cattle purchased at Balla and Ballinrobe marts. Mr Tolan alleges that after securing bank arrangements to comply with reduced credit terms, the co-op sought further amendments in August 2012. He claims he was subsequently barred from trading at the Balla mart, preventing him from fulfilling a contract to deliver ninety cattle to a meat plant, which led to the loss of that contract and his eventual exit from business. The defendant denies these claims, stating the action was a response to separate High Court proceedings it brought in October 2012. The co-op secured a judgment for €154,000 in those proceedings, which has been appealed to the Supreme Court. Mr Tolan stated he wished to consolidate the two matters, but his application was refused. The case, heard before High Court President Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns, continues.