Court archive
2026-03-09 · Mayo
Liam O'Leary pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of John Casserly at an apartment in a Fr Peter McVerry Trust housing unit in Ballina. Mr Justice Paul McDermott swore a jury for a trial expected to last up to three weeks.
2025-10-13 · Mayo
An intensive care nurse at Mayo General Hospital has received a fully suspended sentence at Castlebar Circuit Court for forging prescriptions to obtain painkillers. Sinéad Donohoe, aged 42, of Scrigg, Ballyhaunis, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft and four counts of forgery, representing 112 charges overall. Between September 2019 and February 2021, she stole three prescription pads and used forged prescriptions across pharmacies in Ballyhaunis, Ballaghdereen, Claremorris, Castlebar, Castlerea, Knock, and Kiltimagh to obtain Solpadol. Judge Eoin Garavan imposed a headline sentence of two years, suspended in full for 16 months, citing mitigating factors including her low reconviction risk and positive employment history. The judge noted Donohoe's struggle with endometriosis and workplace stress during the Covid-19 pandemic, describing her as dealing with addiction whilst employed in challenging frontline conditions. Her nursing registration has been suspended and she is currently not working. She has no previous convictions and is a married mother of two.
2025-10-10 · Mayo
A man from Castlerea in County Roscommon has received a fully suspended sentence at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court following what the judge described as a remarkable turnaround in his life. Ernest Ashman, aged 39, pleaded guilty to possession of almost one kilogramme of cannabis, valued at approximately €20,000, for sale or supply at Rathcluain, Kiltimagh, County Mayo on 3 October 2023. He was arrested following a traffic stop after gardaí observed his vehicle being driven erratically through a housing estate. Ashman was handed a two-year suspended sentence and disqualified from driving for six years. Judge Eoin Garavan imposed a headline sentence of three years but reduced it to two years in light of mitigating factors, including Ashman's rehabilitation efforts. The court heard that Ashman has since trained in addiction counselling to Level 7 qualification standard, now works in a community centre, and remains drug-free. He has been instructed to comply with probation supervision for one year and continue mental health counselling.
2018-11-13 · Dublin
A 21-year-old sports science student from Kiltimagh, County Mayo, has avoided a custodial sentence after admitting drug dealing at Dublin City University. Cian Charlton pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cocaine, ketamine and MDMA for sale or supply at Hampstead House, Glasnevin, on 15 November 2017. Following a garda raid on his campus residence, officers recovered the drugs with weighing scales and documentation, with an estimated street value of €3,079. Charlton initially provided false accounts to gardaí before acknowledging he could not identify his suppliers due to fear. Judge Pauline Codd suspended a one-year prison sentence on condition Charlton maintain the peace and complete a drug awareness course with the Probation Service. The university subsequently suspended him from his course for the academic year. The court noted Charlton's lack of previous convictions, engagement with counselling, and supportive family background in mitigation.
2018-10-22 · Mayo
A man from Kiltimagh, County Mayo, has failed in his appeal against a five-year prison sentence imposed for dangerous driving. Martin Maughan (32) was convicted by jury at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court in June 2017 of two counts of endangerment following incidents in the Kiltimagh area on 11 February 2016. During the offences, Maughan reversed a vehicle at speed, nearly striking two pedestrians on an evening walk, subsequently drove with excessive speed whilst crossing continuous white lines and navigated a sharp bend on the incorrect side of the road, forcing oncoming vehicles onto the verge. He was subject to multiple driving bans at the time and held 85 previous convictions, including 54 road traffic matters. The Court of Appeal, sitting at Castlebar, dismissed the appeal today, finding the sentence severe but not so severe as to warrant intervention, given the gravity of offending and his extensive driving-related criminal history. Martin Maughan pleaded not guilty.