Court archive
Court reports mentioning Erris, Mayo
2026-01-26 · Mayo
A man from Belmullet, County Mayo has failed in a discrimination claim brought before the Workplace Relations Commission following a meeting about employment with the Erris Chamber of Commerce in April 2025. James Monaghan alleged that during a discussion with the chamber's chairman, Brian Bakeberg, he faced inappropriate questions concerning his age, nationality, gender expression and personal habits. He also claimed he was told to cut his hair as a condition of employment. Mr Bakeberg disputed that a formal interview took place, characterising the encounter as a brief informal chat. He explained that questions about age were relevant to eligibility for community employment schemes, while other remarks were made in attempting to establish rapport. Adjudicator Conor Stokes rejected all grounds of the complaint, finding no evidence of discrimination relating to age, nationality or gender expression. The case was heard online on 8 January 2026.
2026-01-07 · Mayo
A man from Belmullet, County Mayo, has brought a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission alleging gender discrimination and breaches of the Employment Equality Act 1998 during a meeting with the Erris Chamber of Commerce in April 2025. James Monaghan claims he was asked inappropriate questions about his national background, age, and smoking and alcohol habits, and was told cutting his hair was a condition of employment. The Chamber's chairman, Brian Bakeberg, disputed these characterisations, stating the encounter was a casual discussion rather than a formal interview, and that remarks about hair were contextual comments about hair loss rather than discriminatory conditions. He denied asking direct questions about Mr Monaghan's nationality or making employment contingent on grooming standards. The adjudication officer, Conor Stokes, concluded the hearing and indicated a written decision would follow in the coming weeks.
2025-06-03 · Mayo
At the Central Criminal Court on 3 June 2025, Nigel Canavan, aged 39, with an address at Erris Gardens, Crossmolina, County Mayo, was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment for the murder of his mother Angela Canavan at her home in St John's Terrace, County Sligo on 1 May 2023. The sentence was backdated to 30 April 2025. On 16 May 2025, a jury had convicted Canavan of murder, rejecting his pleas of provocation and self-defence. The court heard that Ms Canavan, a respected psychotherapist, died from mechanical asphyxia caused by manual strangulation and external obstruction of the airway. She had suffered additional injuries including a head laceration, facial and body bruising, and three broken ribs. During sentencing, Ms Canavan's son Keith delivered a victim impact statement, describing his mother as accomplished and well-loved. Presiding judge Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo stated that it must be beyond any mother's darkest imaginings to die at the hands of the child she bore. Nigel Canavan pleaded not guilty.
2025-05-16 · Mayo
Nigel Canavan, 39, was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of murdering his mother, Angela Canavan, at her home in St John's Terrace, Co Sligo, on May 1, 2023. Canavan had pleaded not guilty, claiming he acted in self-defence after his ailing mother attacked him, and suggested she provoked him into losing control. The jury rejected both the self-defence claim and the suggestion that he was guilty of manslaughter due to provocation. Pathological evidence indicated Ms Canavan suffered strangulation, smothering, broken ribs, and other injuries consistent with a struggle. Canavan had previously pleaded guilty to drunk driving and assault arising from a separate incident in February 2023. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo remanded Canavan in custody. The matter is not yet finalised; the judge will impose the mandatory term of life imprisonment at a sentencing hearing scheduled for June 3. At that hearing, Ms Canavan's other son, Keith Canavan, will make a statement to the court.
2025-05-15 · Sligo
A jury at the Central Criminal Court will resume deliberations tomorrow in the trial of Nigel Canavan, aged 39, who denies murdering his mother. The accused, with an address in Crossmolina, County Mayo, is charged with the death of Angela Canavan at her home in County Sligo on 1 May 2023. The jury has already spent more than four hours over two days considering their verdict. Mr Canavan has pleaded not guilty to murder but the jury has been directed they may return verdicts of guilty of murder, not guilty, or not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. The defence case rests on claims of self-defence and provocation. State pathologist evidence outlined multiple injuries to the deceased, including bruising to the face, neck, torso and limbs, fractured ribs, and stab wounds to both thighs. The cause of death was established as asphyxiation due to smothering and strangling.
2025-05-14 · Sligo
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard closing arguments on Wednesday concerning the death of Angela Canavan, aged fifty-eight, at her home in St John's Terrace, Sligo on May 1st, 2023. The accused, Nigel Canavan, aged thirty-nine, with an address at Erris Gardens, Crossmolina, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to her murder. The prosecution submitted that the accused's account of self-defence or provocation should be rejected as implausible, noting he initially denied presence at the scene before later claiming either provocation or self-defence at trial. State Pathologist evidence established the deceased died from asphyxiation due to strangulation and smothering, with additional injuries including rib fractures and stab wounds. The defence argued the accused demonstrated sustained care and affection toward his mother, suggesting provocation arising from verbal abuse during a heated altercation. The jury of ten women and two men retired to consider their verdict on Wednesday afternoon and will deliver their decision Thursday.
2025-05-13 · Sligo
A 39-year-old man has testified at the Central Criminal Court that his mother died during a struggle in which he was defending himself from her attack. Nigel Canavan, from Crossmolina, County Mayo, is charged with the murder of Angela Canavan at her home in Sligo on 1 May 2023. He has pleaded not guilty. Mr Canavan told the court his mother attacked him with a knife and struck at him with her hands and feet during a heated argument. He admitted applying pressure to her neck with his forearm during the incident, but stated this was in self-defence and that he did not intend to cause her death. Under cross-examination, he accepted that he had initially denied to gardaí that he was present when his mother suffered fatal injuries, attributing this to distress at the time. The State Pathologist concluded that Ms Canavan died from asphyxiation by smothering and manual strangulation. The trial continues before Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo and a jury.
2025-05-09 · Sligo
A man accused of murdering his mother at her home in County Sligo in May 2023 told gardaí during interviews that he delayed contacting emergency services for approximately 20 minutes after discovering her body. Nigel Canavan, aged 39, of Erris Gardens, Crossmolina, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Angela Canavan at St John's Terrace, Sligo on 1 May 2023. The Central Criminal Court trial heard that Mr Canavan said he initially telephoned a friend before calling an ambulance, claiming he panicked and was unsure what to do. Gardaí arrested him six days after her death. Detective Garda Brian McMahon testified that during questioning at Sligo Garda Station, Mr Canavan described an altercation with his mother, who he said was intoxicated and agitated. He stated he removed a knife from her possession and subsequently heard sounds from downstairs, where he found her unconscious. Mr Canavan denied involvement in her death. State Pathologist Dr SallyAnne Collis determined the deceased died from asphyxia. The trial continues before Justice Kerdia Naidoo and jury.
2025-05-08 · Sligo
A pathologist has given evidence at the Central Criminal Court regarding the death of a 58-year-old woman from County Sligo in May 2023. State Pathologist Dr SallyAnne Collis told the trial of Nigel Canavan, aged 39 and with an address in Crossmolina, County Mayo, that the deceased died from external asphyxiation caused by suffocation and manual strangulation. Dr Collis outlined injuries consistent with smothering, including pinpoint haemorrhaging around the eyes and bruising to the neck bones. The deceased also sustained stab wounds to both thighs and bruises across her body. Mr Canavan has pleaded not guilty to murder at his mother's home in Sligo on 1 May 2023. Under cross-examination, the pathologist acknowledged that some injuries could have innocent explanations, including assistance provided the previous evening and the deceased's significant alcohol intoxication and medical history, which would have made her prone to bruising.
2025-05-07 · Sligo
At the Central Criminal Court, a detective told jurors that Nigel Canavan appeared nervous and evasive when questioned hours after his mother's death in Sligo on May 1, 2023. Detective Garda James Conneely met the 39-year-old accused outside Angela Canavan's home on St John's Terrace and later conducted a voluntary interview at Sligo Garda Station. Mr Canavan, with an address in Crossmolina, Co Mayo, denies murder. The prosecution alleges fatal violence and manual strangulation caused Ms Canavan's death. In his recorded statement, Mr Canavan described hearing three loud bangs while upstairs and finding his mother on the ground surrounded by broken glass and a damaged chair. He told gardai he had been staying with his mother during a bank holiday weekend after recent separation from his wife. The trial, before Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo and a jury, continues tomorrow. Nigel Canavan pleaded not guilty.
2025-05-02 · Mayo
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that Nigel Canavan told his then-wife his mother "went a bit mad" and struck herself with a knife before her death. Mr Canavan, aged 39, of Erris Gardens, Crossmolina, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Angela Canavan at her home in County Sligo on 1 May 2023. The prosecution alleges fatal violence and manual strangulation caused her death. Claire Conroy, Mr Canavan's former spouse, testified that he described his mother swinging her cane and becoming aggressive during an altercation. He said he went upstairs and later heard thuds before discovering her dead. A friend, John Gannon, told the court Mr Canavan telephoned him that evening in distress and later asked him to corroborate a story about discussing hurling rather than disclosing details of his mother's death. Mr Gannon said he instead told gardai the truth. The trial continues before Justice Kerida Naidoo and a jury.
2025-05-01 · Sligo
A trial has commenced at the Central Criminal Court concerning the death of a woman in her Sligo home. The State alleges that Nigel Canavan, aged 39, of Erris Gardens in County Mayo, strangled his mother, Angela Canavan, aged 58, on 1 May 2023. Mr Canavan has pleaded not guilty to murder. The prosecution opening outlined that the deceased had enjoyed a successful career as a psychotherapist before developing severe alcohol dependency. She had sustained a brain injury following a fall and required periodic care. On the day in question, Mr Canavan had returned to his mother's home after work. Gardaí subsequently discovered her body in the kitchen and dining area, with evidence suggesting violent disturbance. A pathologist is expected to testify that death resulted from manual strangulation or asphyxia. The defence maintains the accused played no role in the death, asserting he discovered his mother's body after hearing noises. The trial continues before Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo.
2025-04-30 · Sligo
A jury comprising ten women and two men has been sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the trial of a 39-year-old man from Crossmolina, County Mayo, who denies murdering his mother in Sligo. Nigel Canavan pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering Angela Canavan at an address in St John's Terrace, County Sligo on May 1, 2023. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo presided over the arraignment. The trial is scheduled to commence the following day and is anticipated to run for approximately two weeks.
2016-02-01 · Mayo
A man from Erris, County Mayo, will face a retrial following the Court of Appeal's decision to quash his careless driving conviction. Brendan Hegarty, aged 51, had been convicted at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court of careless driving causing serious injury arising from a road traffic incident on the N59 near Ballina on 14 October 2013. He had been fined €5,000 and disqualified from driving for twelve months. Mr Hegarty appealed his conviction, challenging whether proper statutory procedures governing majority jury verdicts had been followed. The Director of Public Prosecutions subsequently advised the Court of Appeal that it would not be defending the conviction. Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with two colleagues, found sufficient doubt over the majority verdict to quash the conviction and ordered a retrial. The original incident involved a collision between a Volkswagen Transporter van driven by Mr Hegarty and a Ford Transit van driven by another motorist.