Court archive
2026-03-10 · Mayo
The Central Criminal Court heard prosecution evidence describing John Casserly's death in Ballina as involving serious violence. Liam O'Leary denies murder, and the trial continues before Ms Justice Melanie Greally and a jury.
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.
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.
2025-11-17 · Mayo
An 89-year-old man from Rockfield, Knock, Claremorris, Co Mayo, has been sentenced to three years' imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for historical sexual abuse of a young child. Pat Salmon pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual assault committed in 1995 when the victim was five years old. Justice Caroline Biggs imposed a headline sentence of five years, reduced to three years to account for mitigating factors including Salmon's guilty plea, advanced age, and medical conditions. The court heard that Salmon, a former healthcare professional and volunteer, had been regarded as a respected community figure. The victim, now an adult, provided a powerful impact statement describing the lasting trauma of the abuse. The judge commended her courage in coming forward, noting that such cases depend on victims' willingness to participate in prosecution.
2025-11-13 · Mayo
Pat Salmon, 89, of Knock, Co Mayo, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to five counts of sexual assault committed between January and June 1995. The offences, which allegedly took place at his home, involved a five-year-old child. Salmon has no previous convictions. The court heard that the injured party disclosed the abuse after contacting a crisis helpline, and Salmon subsequently wrote a letter expressing remorse. During his interviews, Salmon denied specific charges but admitted to other acts, stating that "the devil took over" for a period. Defence counsel highlighted Salmon's age, serious health conditions including congestive heart failure, and his background as a former mental health nurse and community volunteer. He requested the court consider his early guilty plea and the isolating nature of incarceration. The injured party's victim impact statement described the long-term trauma, stating that Salmon had taught her fear and that her power over her had ended. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs described the statement as "heartbreaking." The matter was adjourned until Monday of next week to allow the judge to review all materials and consider the sentence.
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.
2025-06-03 · 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.
2025-05-07 · 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.
2023-03-20 · Mayo
Matusz Batiuk, a 33-year-old man formerly residing in Carrabeg Estate, Swinford, Co Mayo, entered a not guilty plea at the Central Criminal Court on 20 March 2023 to the charge of murdering Michael McDonagh, aged 24. The alleged murder occurred at the housing estate in Swinford on 16 November 2020. Justice Mary Ellen Ring empanelled a jury of nine men and three women to hear the trial, which commenced that afternoon and was anticipated to conclude within two weeks. The court was informed that the majority of witnesses in the case originate from the Mayo region, with the deceased having connections to the Ballyhaunis and Knock areas. The accused has resided in Ireland since approximately 2006 or 2007.
2023-03-06 · Sligo
At the Central Criminal Court, Martin Doyle, aged 53, of Esker, Knock, County Mayo, was convicted following trial of two counts of rape and 25 counts of sexual assault. The offences comprised the rape of his wife on two occasions in May 2009 and once in November 2011, and systematic sexual assault of his daughter between 2004 and 2011 while the family resided in County Meath and subsequently County Sligo. Justice Caroline Biggs imposed a sentence of twelve and a half years imprisonment, with two years post-release supervision to follow. The court heard evidence of assaults occurring in domestic settings and at Lough Gara, Gurteen. Doyle maintained his not-guilty plea throughout proceedings. The judge noted the absence of remorse while acknowledging his work history and lack of previous convictions as mitigating factors. She described the abuse as a systematic pattern causing near-complete destruction of the child victim's childhood. Martin Doyle pleaded not guilty.
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.
2018-07-25 · Mayo
The High Court has granted permission for an insolvency practitioner to seek the imprisonment of individuals alleged to be in contempt of court orders regarding trespassing at the N5 Business Park in Castlebar, Co Mayo. The application was brought on behalf of Ken Fennell, a receiver appointed by Promontoria (Arrow) Ltd, against unidentified persons believed to be members of the Travelling Community. Counsel for Mr Fennell alleged that despite previous court orders directing them to vacate the site, caravans remain on the property, causing damage and posing health and safety risks. The motion was prompted by concerns that the upcoming visit by Pope Francis to Knock Shrine might increase trespassing. Ms Justice Caroline Costello granted permission to serve short notice of attachment and committal proceedings on an ex-parte basis. The judge adjourned the matter to next week.
2016-02-09 · Mayo
ACC Loan Management Ltd has secured summary judgement in the High Court for €3.893 million against three directors of a Mayo-based development company. Ms Justice Marie Baker granted the order against Seamus Dolan, John Waldron and John A Waldron, who are directors and shareholders of DW Developments Ltd, based at Carrowmore Meadows, Knock. The bank had advanced loans to the company in 2007 and 2008, partly to fund construction at a Knock development, which defaulted in 2008. ACC sought judgement on the basis of five separate personal guarantees executed by the three men. The defendants opposed the application, arguing they had defences including claims of a joint venture arrangement and procedural defects in the guarantee documentation. Justice Baker rejected these contentions, finding no credible defence had been established. The judge confirmed each defendant had executed the guarantees. The matter was adjourned to allow submissions on interest payable on the sum awarded.