James Kilroy, 48, of Kilbree Lower, Westport, Co. Mayo, is accused of the murder of his wife, Valerie French Kilroy, 41, at their home in June 2019. The matter is currently at the charge or pretrial stage, with no plea, finding, sentence, or finalisation recorded for either the accused or the deceased. Mr. Justice David Keane fixed a trial date of December 12, 2022, for proceedings at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. The trial is expected to last three to four days. The report attributes the allegation of murder to the accused and does not state a conviction. No suspended portions, effective custody, conditions, or adjournments are mentioned in the source text. The procedural step described is the setting of a trial date, not a finalisation of the case. All details are drawn strictly from the provided source, with no added facts or reproduction of the original article.
A solicitor from Castlebar, County Mayo, has initiated High Court judicial review proceedings to challenge a Workplace Relations Commission decision that dismissed her unfair dismissal complaint against her former employer, Arthur Cox LLP. The adjudication officer's May 2022 ruling cited sustained disruptions during the hearing, which prevented the proceeding from continuing as scheduled. The applicant, representing herself, contests the decision as breached fair procedures and argues the adjudication officer incorrectly characterised unfair dismissal claims as adversarial rather than inquisitorial in nature. She also challenges the officer's refusal to summon defence witnesses and produce certain emails she considers material to her case. During proceedings before Ms Justice Marguerite Bolger, a heated exchange occurred between the applicant and the judge regarding amendments to pleadings and the judge's statement on public importance. The judge refused certain amendments but permitted others to be raised at a later hearing stage. The case will return before the court at a future date.
The Court of Appeal has upheld the 18-year prison sentence imposed on John Murphy, rejecting his appeal that the term was excessive, disproportionate, and unfair. Murphy, formerly of Foxford, Co Mayo, had pleaded guilty to numerous counts of rape, indecent and sexual assault against his daughter, Sophia Murphy, at locations in Co Galway and Co Mayo between 1988 and 2001, when she was aged three to 15. He also admitted to one count of sexual assault in 2010. In July 2018, Mr Justice Michael White at the Central Criminal Court sentenced him to consecutive terms totalling 18 years, noting the headline term for the "depraved" offences was life. Murphy's counsel argued the sentence failed to adequately weight mitigation, including his early guilty plea. However, Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly, sitting with Mr Justice George Birmingham and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, found no error in principle in the original sentencing. The court highlighted the victim's age and the ultimate breach of parental trust as key aggravating factors. Sophia Murphy, who waived anonymity, expressed relief at the decision, stating it validates her experience and encourages other victims to speak out. The judgment confirms the original sentence remains in effect.
Michael Golden, aged 73, of Crosspatrick, Killala, County Mayo, was convicted unanimously by jury at the Central Criminal Court last month of seven counts of indecent assault, four counts of sexual assault, and nine counts of oral rape against four children between 1980 and 1997. The victims were aged between five and fourteen at the time of the offences. Golden had pleaded not guilty to all charges. He died in custody on 6 June 2022 while awaiting sentence. At a hearing where victim impact statements were presented, Justice Mary Ellen Ring noted that had Golden survived, he would have faced a custodial term of significant length. The judge acknowledged the victims' right to be heard and recognised the permanent damage caused by childhood sexual abuse. She expressed that only the victims' willingness to come forward had enabled the investigation and prosecution to proceed.
Noel McGrath, the applicant, lost his discrimination claim under the Equal Status Act against Aurivo Co-Operative Society Limited. The Workplace Relations Commission dismissed the allegation that McGrath was discriminated against on the grounds of disability after a cashier at a Homevalue store in Belmullet refused to serve him without a face mask on 22 March 2021. McGrath alleged he was exempt from masking rules due to a medical condition and claimed staff refused service until the manager intervened. However, adjudicating officer Janet Hughes found that McGrath did not disclose his disability or medical reason to the cashier or other staff during the incident. The officer noted that the cashier's refusal was motivated by personal safety concerns for herself and her vulnerable father, rather than any dismissal of a health issue. Evidence from a shop worker, deemed credible by the officer, indicated McGrath told colleagues that everyone was "brainwashed" and that the situation was a "conspiracy." The Commission concluded that the refusal to serve was not related to a disability at any stage. Consequently, the claim was dismissed, and no finding of discrimination was made.
A Workplace Relations Commission adjudicating officer has dismissed an unfair dismissal complaint brought by Ammi Burke of Castlebar, Co Mayo, against Arthur Cox LLC. In his written decision, adjudicating officer Kevin Baneham found that sustained and deliberate obstruction by Ms Burke's mother prevented a key defence witness from being sworn in during the hearing. The officer considered calling gardaí to remove the mother from the hearing room but ruled against this course of action, stating it would be inappropriate for the WRC and would undermine public confidence. Mr Baneham concluded that adjourning would likely result in the same disruption and therefore dismissed the complaint, finding the respondent had not been afforded fair procedures.
A 68-year-old former solicitor from Claremorris, County Mayo, has been remanded on bail pending sentencing in November following his admission to four counts of theft. David Doyle pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing cash totalling over €53,000 from a number of individuals between April 2009 and November 2016. The prosecution indicated that further guilty pleas would be sought. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to 10 November, when evidence and victim impact statements will be heard. Doyle remains on continuing bail in the interim.
Stephen Silver, aged 45, of Aughaward, Foxford, County Mayo, is charged with the murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan on Main Street, Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. The charge alleges the accused acted knowing or being reckless as to whether the garda was a member of An Garda Síochána acting in the course of his duty. Silver's trial at the Central Criminal Court has been postponed from its scheduled date of 15 June to 4 October. The adjournment was granted after the court heard that a psychiatric assessment of the accused, being compiled by Dr Harry Kennedy, Clinical Director of the Central Mental Hospital, would not be completed in time. Mr Justice Paul McDermott acceded to the delay reluctantly but noted the importance of the trial proceeding "with a clear run" when it resumes. The case is next mentioned on 20 May.
A claim of unfair dismissal brought by solicitor Ammi Burke against law firm Arthur Cox has been dismissed by the Workplace Relations Commission following a hearing at which repeated interruptions prevented the proceedings from advancing. Ms Burke, of Castlebar, County Mayo, pursued the claim after her dismissal from the banking and finance division, where she worked as a junior associate. Arthur Cox denies wrongdoing, contending that a breakdown occurred in Ms Burke's professional relationships with three senior partners. During the hearing, Ms Burke sought to have additional witnesses summoned, including a partner and the firm's HR director, and requested disclosure of correspondence. The adjudicating officer, Kevin Baneham, declined these applications. The hearing was suspended multiple times as Ms Burke's mother, present in support, repeatedly interjected despite warnings. After six suspensions and an impasse preventing the respondent from presenting its evidence, Mr Baneham terminated the hearing and dismissed the complaint.
A Workplace Relations Commission hearing into a solicitor's unfair dismissal claim against Arthur Cox has heard competing accounts of an office incident in January 2019. Ammi Burke, from Castlebar, Co Mayo, claims she was unfairly dismissed in November 2019 after three and a half years with the firm. Arthur Cox disputes this, with a senior partner describing Ms Burke as having a "victim mentality" and lacking understanding of office behaviour. The dispute centres on Ms Burke's reaction to a lunch invitation from a senior partner returning from sabbatical. Ms Burke contends she received positive appraisals and was never previously cautioned about her conduct. Arthur Cox states relationships with three senior partners became untenable, leading to termination with three months' pay and a €70,000 ex-gratia payment, which the firm says Ms Burke accepted. Ms Burke argues reputational damage was significant and seeks reinstatement. The hearing before Kevin Baneham continues.
A solicitor from Castlebar, County Mayo, has sought the recusal of an adjudicator appointed to hear her unfair dismissal complaint against Arthur Cox Solicitors in Dublin. The woman alleged the adjudicating officer shared political affiliations and professional connections with the opposing barrister, specifically referencing shared involvement with the Free Legal Advice Centre and Labour Party membership. The adjudicator denied having maintained contact with the barrister and stated he resigned from the Labour Party upon becoming a civil servant. Leading counsel for Arthur Cox characterised the submissions as groundless and the questioning as abusive. At the preliminary hearing before the Workplace Relations Commission, the adjudicator reserved his decision on the recusal application and indicated he would deliver his ruling by email. The substantive hearing of the unfair dismissal case is scheduled to commence the following week at Lansdowne House, Dublin.
The Court of Appeal has rejected Martin Kearney's bid to have his driving licence restored, upholding a previous decision by Judge Francis Comerford at Sligo Circuit Criminal Court. Kearney, of Castlefield Manor, Ballina, Co Mayo, was jailed for four years in 2012 by Judge Anthony Hunt after admitting dangerous driving causing serious harm to passenger Lydia Branley. He was initially banned from the roads for 20 years, a sentence reduced to 12 years on appeal in December 2014. Kearney's barrister, Liam Dockery BL, argued before the Court of Appeal that Judge Comerford erred in law under Section 29(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1961, claiming the ban was purely punitive. However, Mr Justice John Edwards ruled that the application must be rejected. The incident occurred in September 2010 when Kearney lost control of his BMW at 150 km/h near Ballisodare, leaving Branley, then 25, paralysed. She spent nine months in a coma and remains unable to eat or talk without assistance. Ms Branley attended the proceedings in person, expressing relief at the outcome. Her representatives noted that Kearney had already been banned and should not have been driving that night. The court's decision effectively maintains the 12-year driving ban, denying Kearney's request to restore his licence.
A High Court action brought by a woman employed for more than two decades at a meat processing plant in Ballinrobe, County Mayo, has been resolved. Ms Lisa Flanagan, who worked as a receptionist and administrator for Martin Jennings Wholesale Limited, sought an injunction to prevent her dismissal following a workplace dispute with a senior colleague. Ms Flanagan alleged she had been subjected to bullying and that she used intemperate language during an incident, telling her colleague to "shove his job up his ass". She denied formally resigning but claimed the company wrongfully accepted what it characterised as her resignation via email. The company subsequently maintained her position had been terminated. When the matter returned before Mr Justice Mark Sanfey on Wednesday, counsel for Ms Flanagan indicated the proceedings had been resolved. The judge struck out the action with no order as to costs.
A man from Crossmolina, County Mayo, has appealed his extradition to the United States, where he faces allegations of breaching bail conditions related to a previous conviction for attempting to entice a child for indecent purposes. Martin Jude Wall, aged 46, was convicted in Georgia in 2012 after pleading guilty to sending explicit images to what he believed was a thirteen-year-old girl during an undercover police operation. He subsequently fled to Ireland while on probation. The High Court ordered his extradition in October last year. At the Court of Appeal hearing, Wall's counsel argued that Georgia's sex offender legislation, which restricts residence within 300 metres of areas frequented by children, rendered him homeless and subject to inhumane conditions. The Attorney General's counsel contended that Wall would face imprisonment rather than homelessness upon return. Judgment has been reserved.
Muiris Flynn, a 32-year-old electrician from Co Sligo, is appealing his unfair dismissal from Iarnród Éireann to the Workplace Relations Commission. Flynn, who pleaded guilty in 2019 to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Ms Áine O'Connor and Catherine Carey, drink-driving, and driving without insurance in Co Roscommon, was sentenced to 30 months in prison with the final year suspended. He served 10 months of this sentence. In March 2020, while incarcerated, he received a letter terminating his contract due to frustration. Iarnród Éireann's solicitor, John Brosnan, stated the company relied on legal advice that Flynn could not fulfil his contract while in jail and that a disciplinary process was inappropriate. Flynn's barrister, Michael Kinsey, argued the dismissal was a "flag of convenience" and highlighted that Flynn's employee handbook allowed for leave of absence up to two years. Adjudicating officer Brian Dolan noted the termination letter was sent halfway through Flynn's term, questioning the legal basis of frustration. The matter was adjourned, with the adjudicator to issue a decision in due course based on case law and Flynn's evidence. Separately, the Court of Appeal previously found Flynn's original sentence unduly lenient but did not increase his active custody, instead ordering a €20,000 fine.
A receptionist and administrator employed by Martin Jennings Wholesale Limited in Ballinrobe, County Mayo, has brought High Court proceedings seeking an injunction to prevent her dismissal. Lisa Flanagan, who worked for the company for over twenty years, admits using intemperate language towards a senior colleague during a workplace incident in December, but denies formally resigning. The company subsequently informed her that her resignation had been accepted. Ms Flanagan claims the colleague had engaged in bullying behaviour and that she made a protected disclosure to the company regarding these allegations. She contends the company wrongfully terminated her employment and seeks declarations that she remains an employee and that any disciplinary matters be handled according to fair procedures. Mr Justice Senan Allen granted permission for short notice of the proceedings. The High Court action was adjourned to February.
A former Revenue employee received a fully suspended eighteen-month sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for her role in generating fraudulent tax refunds. Linda Kinsella, aged 38, pleaded guilty to two counts of dishonestly inducing a gain by deception and one count of using a false instrument at Revenue offices on Belgard Road, Dublin 24, between December 2013 and June 2015. She created false tax returns totalling over €8,000 for her ex-boyfriend Eric Maher and his twin brother Brian Maher. Both men also received suspended eighteen-month sentences after pleading guilty to stealing from the Revenue Commission. Eric Maher obtained €1,921.95 while Brian Maher, with an address in Charlestown Shopping Centre, Finglas, obtained €6,121.45. Judge Martin Nolan noted Kinsella was the "vital cog" in the scheme, though the brothers had imposed upon her to some degree. All three accused have since repaid the money in full. Kinsella lost her job following the investigation.
Two brothers whose guilty pleas were entered at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court in October 2019 have had their sentences reviewed at the Court of Appeal following challenges on grounds of severity and insufficient weight given to mitigating circumstances. The older brother, convicted of sexually assaulting his sister in 2007-2008 when he was aged 19 to 20, received a three-and-a-half-year sentence with the final 12 months suspended. The younger brother, aged 15 at the time of his offence under child protection legislation, was sentenced to two years with nine months suspended. On appeal, the younger brother's sentence was found to be too severe by the three-judge court, which directed his immediate release subject to probation supervision for 18 months. His suspended portion commenced on 19 November. The older brother's appeal was dismissed, with the court finding the custodial term fell within appropriate judicial discretion.
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.
A 46-year-old man from Crossmolina, County Mayo, has appealed an extradition order to the United States at the High Court. Martin Jude Wall was arrested in Ireland last December following his identification in a 2012 US police operation targeting online child exploitation. Wall had engaged in online contact with a profile he believed to be a 13-year-old girl, sending explicit messages and images before travelling to meet her. The profile was operated by US detectives, who apprehended him at the meeting location. In 2012, Wall pleaded guilty to attempting to entice a child for indecent purposes and received a custodial sentence followed by a 15-year probation bond. He absconded from the United States in 2014 and returned to Ireland. US authorities located him in Mayo in 2019, and his arrest warrant was executed in November of that year. Wall now faces extradition to Georgia to address allegations of breaching his probation conditions. At the High Court last month, Mr Justice Paul Burns ordered his surrender.
A man from Claremorris in County Mayo has been sentenced to eighteen months imprisonment, with the final six months suspended, after pleading guilty to distributing and possessing child sexual abuse material. Brian Payne, aged 39, sent explicit images of minors to a contact in Manchester via messaging application between January 2016 and January 2017. Gardaí discovered five such images following a search of his Dublin residence in February 2017. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Elma Sheahan imposed the sentence while acknowledging Payne's cognitive limitations and directing that he undertake therapeutic intervention. The judge emphasised that such offending creates demand for child exploitation and is not victimless. Payne was ordered to comply with two years post-release supervision as a condition of the suspended portion of his sentence.
Two men arrested in County Mayo have appeared before the High Court in Dublin in connection with a fatal stabbing in Carlisle, United Kingdom. Kane Hull, aged 28, and Liam Porter, aged 32, both of Carlisle addresses, face charges relating to the death of a 24-year-old man on September 18th. The accused are wanted on suspicion of murder or manslaughter, with Porter also facing an additional allegation of assisting an offender. Gardaí arrested both men in the Carracastle area of County Mayo following their alleged departure from the UK on September 22nd. Evidence was provided by officers from Castlebar Garda Station confirming their identities. At today's hearing before Justice Paul McDermott, legal representation sought additional time to prepare objections to the extradition proceedings. The court adjourned the matter to October 22nd, 2021, for further hearing.
The High Court has ordered the surrender of Martin Jude Wall to the United States authorities. Wall, 46, is wanted by the Chatham County Sheriff's office in Georgia for allegedly breaching the conditions of his release by fleeing to Ireland. In February 2012, Wall pleaded guilty to attempting to entice a child for indecent purposes after contacting a profile created by detectives in a sting operation. He was sentenced to detention of not less than 240 days and not more than a year, followed by a 15-year probation bond. Wall absconded in 2014 and was arrested in Ireland in December 2022. If found guilty of the breach in America, he faces the possible activation of his 15-year sentence, with 12 years and six months remaining on his probation. Mr Justice Paul Burns ruled that there was sufficient intent and actus reus for the attempted crime and found no basis to refuse surrender on fundamental rights grounds. Counsel for Wall, Mr Remy Farrell SC, argued that US sex offender registration conditions amounted to inhuman and degrading treatment under Article 3 of the Human Rights Convention, citing homelessness and employment restrictions. However, the court directed Wall's surrender to the US.
The Central Criminal Court is set to resume with several high-profile matters, including the appeal of Aaron Brady. Brady, 30, was convicted by an 11-to-1 majority jury verdict for the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe in January 2013. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 40 years, plus a concurrent 14-year sentence for robbery. His appeal is expected in 2022. Other upcoming trials include that of Sameer Syed, 37, accused of murdering his wife Seema Banu and their two children in Rathfarnham in October 2021; his trial is scheduled for June 15, 2022. Michael Scott, 55, faces trial on January 11, 2022, for the alleged murder of Chrissie Treacy in Portumna in 2018. Stephen Silver, 44, is charged with the murder of Garda Colm Horkan in Castlerea in June 2020; his trial is also set for June 15, 2022. Additionally, an appeal by Boy B regarding the 2018 murder of Ana Kriegel is expected before the Court of Appeal. Boy B and Boy A were found guilty in 2019; both were 13 at the time, denied the offences, and were remanded to Oberstown Detention Centre.
In a 2021 trial, a jury examined CCTV footage of Bray Boxing Club on the morning of June 5 2018, when Robert Messett was shot dead and two others injured. Detective Garda Alan Thompson described a grey or silver long‑wheelbase van with a 'DFZ' registration, slide rails, tinted rear windows, and a driver in a cap, dark trousers and a yellow high‑visibility vest. The van was seen outside the club at 6:50 am, and the driver entered the club. Thompson guided prosecution counsel Paul Murray SC through a montage of footage from Bray, Shankill, Cabinteely, Deansgrange, Blackrock and Merrion Road up to 7:19 am. Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty to Messett's murder and the attempted murders of trainer Peter Taylor and Ian Britton. The case is before the Central Criminal Court with Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of seven men and three women.
Craig O'Donoghue, 20, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for contempt of court after failing to attend the trial of a teenager charged with violent disorder at the Cameron Blair murder scene. O'Donoghue, a witness who had been served with a witness order, booked a holiday to Ayia Napa, Cyprus, and refused to return despite police contact. He was arrested at Dublin airport upon his return. Justice David Keane described the conduct as "premeditated, flagrant and persistent," noting O'Donoghue's high culpability and disdain for the law. The judge imposed a headline sentence of three months in prison, reduced by one month to an effective two-month term, citing mitigation including O'Donoghue's remorse and previous good character. He was also fined €1,000, payable within nine months. O'Donoghue has been in custody since his arrest. His co-accused, Darragh O'Connor, 20, was sentenced for a similar contempt last week. The underlying trial involved a teenager who pleaded guilty to Mr Blair's murder and received a life sentence, while another teenager's trial ended after the defence accepted possession of a butter knife, leading the DPP to discontinue the knife possession charge.
In the Bray Boxing Club murder trial, witnesses described a grey or silver Caddy van seen on the morning of the shooting. A Dublin Bus driver reported the van nearly colliding with his bus at speed, while a milkman noted a silver Volkswagen Caddy passing his truck and later returning with yellow registration plates. A witness from Willow Grove observed a silver van approaching her estate, noting the driver's high‑vis jacket and sunglasses. Garda reports linked a van with non‑Irish plates parked on Pigeon House Road, where a man and a bicycle were seen. The prosecution alleges the van was used in the fatal attack on Bobby Messett, with Gerard Cervi (34) pleading not guilty to murder and attempted murder charges. The trial continues with the judge noting a period of absence for the jury until late July.
A contempt of court hearing concerning two witnesses in the trial of an unnamed 16-year-old defendant was adjourned until Friday. Darragh O'Connor and Craig O'Donoghue, both 20, are alleged to have left the jurisdiction for Ayia Napa to avoid giving evidence at the juvenile's trial. The 16-year-old, who pleaded not guilty to producing a knife, had previously pleaded guilty to violent disorder at a house on Bandon Road in Cork city where college student Cameron Blair was murdered. The DPP discontinued the knife charge. During the out-of-hours High Court sitting, defence counsel reported that prison authorities could not facilitate consultations due to a harsh regime and one witness's reported Covid-19 symptoms. Mr Justice Keane ordered the two alleged contemptors to be produced before him on Friday at 10.30am. The 16-year-old defendant was remanded on continuing bail until Friday, when the case will be mentioned to finalise a date for sentence. The alleged offence of contempt of court is punishable by imprisonment, fine, or both.
Craig O'Donoghue, 20, was remanded in custody until July 12 at 10.30am by Mr Justice David Keane in the High Court following an out-of-hours sitting. O'Donoghue faces a trial for contempt of court after allegedly travelling to Ayia Napa, Cyprus, to avoid giving evidence in the trial of a 16-year-old accused. The State believes O'Donoghue and a co-accused left the jurisdiction to evade their witness orders. O'Donoghue was arrested at Dublin Airport on a bench warrant. The underlying trial involved a 16-year-old accused of producing a knife at a house party on Bandon Road, Cork city, where college student Cameron Blair was murdered. The juvenile pleaded not guilty to producing an article capable of inflicting serious injury, a charge the DPP discontinued via nolle prosequi. However, the juvenile pleaded guilty to committing violent disorder with two other persons present, using or threatening unlawful violence, causing fear for safety. Another juvenile has already pleaded guilty to Blair's murder. O'Donoghue was granted legal aid for senior and junior counsel for the July 12 hearing, where he is expected to attend electronically after a seven-day isolation period. The defence did not pursue a bail application. The alleged contempt offence is punishable by imprisonment, fine, or both.
James Kilroy, 47, of Kilbree Lower, Westport, Co Mayo, is accused of the murder of his wife, Valerie French Kilroy, 41, at their home in June 2019. The matter is currently at the pre-trial stage, with no plea entered, finding made, or sentence imposed. Mr Justice Michael White fixed a trial date of October 11 at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. The trial is expected to last three to four days. The report does not specify any suspended portions, effective custody, conditions, or adjournments beyond the scheduling of the trial. All allegations remain unproven pending the outcome of the trial.
A man arrested in Crossmolina, County Mayo, is at the centre of extradition proceedings in the High Court following his alleged breach of probation conditions in the United States. Martin Jude Wall, aged 46, was convicted in Georgia in 2012 of attempting to entice a child for indecent purposes after engaging with an undercover detective posing as a young teenager online. Wall was sentenced to probation, but absconded from the United States in 2014. He was arrested by gardaí in December 2019 following confirmation that he had been residing in Mayo. The High Court heard arguments regarding Wall's extradition. The State sought his return to face potential activation of his 15-year probation sentence. Wall's legal team opposed extradition on human rights grounds, citing the severity of conditions imposed on registered sex offenders in the United States. Justice Paul Burns granted bail in December despite Garda objections and adjourned proceedings to June 30. Martin Jude Wall pleaded guilty.
Two men imprisoned for contempt of court in connection with interference at a disputed farm in County Roscommon have been released from custody. Michael Anthony McGann, who owned the property at Falsk, Strokestown, and Kevin Taylor, a retired garda from Longford, were held in Mountjoy Prison for nearly five months following their arrest for obstructing KBC Bank's agents during enforcement of a repossession order. On Friday, Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds directed their release after both men provided undertakings to the court to remain away from the property. The judge warned that any breach would result in their immediate return to prison. A cost order against McGann, described as the "puppet master" in the matter, was estimated at well into six figures. A third man, Colm Granahan from Ballina, Mayo, was previously released after purging his contempt. The underlying dispute concerns a farm that was the subject of a controversial 2018 eviction following KBC's €431,000 loan recovery action. The full hearing of the case is scheduled for June.
Two men imprisoned for interfering with a bank's lawful repossession of a farm in Strokestown, County Roscommon, have sought their release from custody. Michael Anthony McGann and Kevin Taylor, a retired garda from Longford, were detained in Mountjoy Prison after being found in contempt of court for obstruction during the 2018 eviction. A third man, Colm Granahan of Ballina, purged his contempt and was released before Christmas. At Thursday's High Court hearing before Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds, counsel for the men argued they had satisfied both coercive and punitive elements of their contempt findings. KBC Bank's legal representatives opposed the application, stating the men could secure release by purging contempt and complying with existing court orders. The men offered undertakings to avoid the property if the bank reciprocated, which counsel for KBC rejected as improper. Ms Justice Reynolds adjourned proceedings to allow further consultation between the applicants and their legal team, with the hearing resuming Friday.
A 44-year-old man charged with the murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan has been scheduled for trial at the Central Criminal Court in June 2022. Stephen Silver of Aughaward, Foxford, County Mayo is accused of murdering the garda while he was acting in the course of his duty on Main Street, Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. Detective Garda Horkan, aged 49 and based at Castlerea Garda Station, died following a shooting incident in the town. The trial is expected to last five weeks. Mr Silver is currently in custody at the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum. The court was informed of significant psychiatric treatment background in the case. Justice Michael White approved legal representation comprising two senior counsel and one research documentary junior for the defence. Mr Silver was sent forward for trial following presentation of the book of evidence in February.
A 29-year-old man from Castlebar, County Mayo, has been sentenced to fourteen years' imprisonment for the manslaughter of his mother at their home in Derrycrieve, Islandeady, in March 2011. The Central Criminal Court heard that the defendant killed his 46-year-old mother in a frenzied knife attack whilst under the influence of drugs. His original murder conviction was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2019, which found the trial judge's instruction to the jury on intoxication as a partial defence to be inadequate. The Director of Public Prosecutions subsequently accepted a plea to manslaughter on the basis of intoxication. Mr Justice Michael White imposed the sentence on condition that the final two years remain suspended, subject to strict conditions including supervision by the probation service and residence in high-support accommodation upon release. The judge noted the defendant's violent temperament and eight assault convictions against prison staff, emphasising the need for structured community supervision. The unnamed 29-year-old pleaded guilty.
Two men imprisoned by the High Court for interfering with KBC Bank's repossession of a farm at Falsk, Strokestown, County Roscommon will remain in custody after declining to purge their contempt of court. Michael Anthony McGann, the property owner, and Kevin Taylor, a retired garda from Dublin Road, Longford, were arrested in November alongside a third man following efforts by the bank's agents to secure the property after a 2018 eviction. While Colm Granahan from Ballina, Mayo purged his contempt in December and was released, McGann and Taylor have maintained their refusal to do so. At a High Court hearing on Thursday, Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds reviewed their cases remotely. McGann, now represented by solicitor, stated he would not purge contempt, as did Taylor. The judge remanded both men in custody until April, confirming they may apply to purge contempt at any time. The case arises from a €431,000 debt on the property.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Dubliner Dean McAuley to two years' imprisonment for assault causing harm, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions. McAuley, 28, pleaded guilty to fracturing the nose of his then-partner, Rachel Williams, at Kingswood LUAS Stop in Tallaght on September 13, 2019. Prosecution evidence alleged that after an argument over a broken wine bottle, McAuley punched Williams in the face, struck her with his knee while she was on the ground, and punched her again, leaving her bleeding heavily. Although McAuley initially denied the assault to gardaí, he later apologized to the victim. Judge Martin Nolan noted McAuley's five previous convictions, including violent behavior in a garda station, and described the incident as a serious offense driven by alcohol. However, the judge acknowledged McAuley's potential for reform and his current homelessness. The effective custody period is six months, as the remaining 18 months are suspended. Judge Nolan stated that a more substantial criminal record would have resulted in a lesser deduction from the sentence. The matter was finalized with this sentencing.
Celyn Eadon, 29, appeared at the Central Criminal Court for a sentencing hearing regarding the manslaughter of his mother, Noreen Kelly. Eadon admitted to her killing and pleaded guilty to manslaughter, a plea accepted by the DPP after the Supreme Court overturned his previous murder conviction. Defence counsel Patrick Gageby SC argued that gross intoxication deprived Eadon of the intent to kill, noting he suffered a brain injury from juvenile drug use. The DPP, represented by Seamus Clarke SC, assessed the case as high culpability but warned that Eadon would face homelessness if released, as probation services could not currently provide suitable accommodation. Mr Justice Michael White remanded Eadon in custody until February 22, when he will be sentenced. The judge indicated the sentence would include a suspended element of community supervision with strict conditions. Eadon has 13 other convictions, mostly for assaults, committed since his initial life sentence for the 2011 killing in Castlebar, Co Mayo.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal by Deirdre Dennis, who sought to annul her bankruptcy. Ms Dennis, represented by solicitor Evan O'Dwyer, argued that the High Court erred in refusing her application, claiming she was forced into bankruptcy due to Bank of Ireland (BOI) overcharging her on mortgage repayments. BOI, which was not a party to the proceedings, later admitted it failed to provide a tracker rate when Ms Dennis was entitled to one. The bank unreservedly apologised, withdrew its claim for €115,000, and acknowledged its error contributed to Ms Dennis losing her family home in Killala, Co Mayo. Ms Dennis was discharged from bankruptcy in 2018. In the High Court, Ms Justice Teresa Pilkington ruled that the reasons for setting aside the bankruptcy were outside the court's jurisdiction. On appeal, a three-judge panel comprising Ms Justice Caroline Costello, Mr Justice Brian Murray, and Mr Justice Donald Binchy, dismissed the case. Ms Justice Costello stated that while the court has discretion to annul bankruptcy, it requires extremely compelling reasons. The court found that even allowing for BOI's overstated liabilities, Ms Dennis was clearly insolvent in October 2017. The judges rejected the argument that she could have met repayments had they been correctly calculated, noting she would not have been able to do so. The court concluded it would not be just and equitable to annul the adjudication, emphasizing the collective nature of insolvency proceedings and the implications for all creditors.
Wayne Fitzgerald, 47, was given a suspended sentence after using his ill father to withdraw more than €9,000 from a deceased man's bank account. Fitzgerald learned of the account when the deceased's bank statements were mistakenly sent to his father, who shared the same name as the account holder. The account holder had lived in the same building a decade earlier, and their names differed only by the initial of their middle name. Sergeant Brian Hunt explained that Fitzgerald's father, suffering from dementia, brought him to the bank to withdraw the funds, which Fitzgerald then transferred to his own account. Fitzgerald pleaded guilty to eight charges of handling stolen property, totalling €9,250, for transactions in Dublin between June and November 2016. He had no prior convictions. The bank refunded the withdrawn amount. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Fitzgerald had seen an opportunity and, "to his shame," took it.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Bernard Fogarty, 32, was sentenced to five years and three months imprisonment for possession of a RAK PM‑63 submachine gun. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, noted the weapon was not in immediate use but was intended for future use, and that Fogarty's conduct was linked to organised crime. Fogarty pleaded guilty, which led to a 25 % reduction from the headline seven‑year sentence, resulting in the final term of five years and three months, with the last three months suspended and backdated to his time in custody. He must keep the peace, be of good behaviour and undergo one year of probation supervision after release. The case was based on DNA evidence linking Fogarty to the gun recovered from a vehicle in the Shankill area. The judge emphasised that the damage caused by gun crime cannot be ignored.
Martin Jude Wall, 45, appeared by video-link at the High Court where Mr Justice Paul Burns granted him bail with strict conditions, fixing an extradition hearing for January 20, 2021. Wall, who pleaded guilty in 2012 to attempting to entice a child for indecent purposes in Georgia, is wanted by US authorities for breaching his 15-year probation by fleeing to Ireland. If found guilty of the breach in America, he faces a possible 15 years imprisonment. The court noted he was an "undoubted flight risk" and "determined not to make himself amenable," yet "reluctantly" granted bail due to self-harm risks. Conditions include two independent cash sureties of €5,000 each, a €1,000 cash bond, residing at a Clontarf address, obeying a curfew, surrendering his passport, being of good behaviour, and signing daily at a garda station. Wall was remanded in custody with consent to bail. Detective Garda Robert Comerford objected to bail, citing Wall's history of absconding and homelessness in the US. Mr Remy SC argued the conviction was a state matter and Wall had lived openly in Crossmolina, Co Mayo, since 2015. Gardaí arrested Wall on December 8, 2020, executing a US arrest warrant from November 2019.
Bernard Fogarty, 32, known to Gardaí as heavily involved in organised crime, will be sentenced at the Special Criminal Court for possession of a RAK PM‑63 submachine gun. The weapon was found in the passenger footwell of a white Nissan Pulsar that was intercepted in the Shankill area of County Dublin. Fogarty was a passenger in a second vehicle, a silver Hyundai jeep, and was not involved in the hand‑over of the gun. DNA from Fogarty matched DNA on the gun, and a red baseball cap he wore on 7 March was recovered at his Donaghmede address. The gun was not loaded, was in poor condition, and had been heavily gummed. Fogarty pleaded guilty at a non‑jury court and has 40 prior convictions, including criminal damage, assault and burglary. He has been remanded in custody until his sentencing next Monday. The court will consider mitigating factors such as his drug difficulties and cooperation with the investigation.
Three men remain in custody at Mountjoy Prison following a High Court ruling that they must stay detained indefinitely until they comply with orders to vacate a farm in Falsk, Strokestown, County Roscommon. Michael Anthony McGann, Kevin Taylor and Colm Granahan were jailed for contempt of court after refusing to give undertakings to stay away from the property, which was subject to a repossession order by KBC bank and subsequent vacant possession orders. Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds found their actions constituted a flagrant, deliberate and contrived breach of existing court orders. The judge noted evidence that all three were present on the farm despite having no entitlement to be there, and referenced an orchestrated social media campaign that undermined court authority and encouraged others to attend the property. The men have been offered opportunities to purge their contempt but have demonstrated unwillingness to do so. Mr Granahan is from Ballina, County Mayo, Mr Taylor is a retired Garda from Longford, and Mr McGann is from Strokestown.
A man in his early forties has been imprisoned for three and a half years following his conviction on sexual assault and assault charges at the Central Criminal Court in Castlebar. The jury found him guilty of two counts of sexual assault against his wife and one count of assault causing harm, relating to an incident in Galway city in October 2017. A rape charge could not proceed after the jury failed to reach agreement; the Director of Public Prosecutions subsequently discontinued this count with the victim's consent. The court heard the man forced his wife to a wooded area where he assaulted her, threatening violence and repeatedly striking her. The woman escaped and reported the incident to gardaí. Ms Justice Carmel Stewart imposed a four-and-a-half-year sentence with the final year suspended, backdated to his custody date in April 2019. The judge commended the victim for her courage in coming forward.
Three men remain imprisoned in Mountjoy following their refusal to comply with High Court orders at a hearing last week. Michael Anthony McGann, Colm Granahan and Kevin Taylor were found in contempt of court for breaching orders to stay away from a property at Falsk, Strokestown, County Roscommon. The men, arrested by An Garda Síochána, appeared before the High Court via video-link on Monday. Justice Leonie Reynolds invited each to purge their contempt by undertaking to comply with the orders sought by KBC Bank, but all three refused, instead disputing the validity of the court orders. The judge determined that imprisonment must continue, noting the men could return to court at any time to comply. KBC Bank's counsel indicated the bank does not seek imprisonment but requires the men's undertakings to vacate the property, which the bank has now secured. The matter originates from a €431,000 debt on the farm, with the men having remained on the property in breach of earlier possession orders.
Colm Granahan was committed to Mountjoy Prison on Friday by Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds after refusing to provide an undertaking to stay away from a farm in Falsk, Strokestown, Co Roscommon. The judge stated she had no choice but to commit him until he purges his contempt of court orders. This follows the earlier jailing of Michael Anthony McGann, the property owner, and retired Garda Kevin Taylor, both of whom were jailed for failing to give undertakings to comply with orders to vacate the farm. KBC Bank, which holds possession orders arising from a €431,000 debt, argued that an undertaking would satisfy its requirements, though it did not seek incarceration. Mr Granahan, from Ballina, Co Mayo, objected to the court's characterization of the orders as technically flawed and refused to answer the judge's request for an undertaking, stating he was "remaining mute." The judge noted that the matter would be reviewed next week. The farm has been the subject of ongoing proceedings involving the McGann siblings and KBC Bank, including a controversial eviction in 2018 and subsequent incidents involving security personnel. The court emphasized that the refusal to comply with the injunction resulted in the contempt proceedings.
Chrissy Mwandira, a 23-year-old Malawian national, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct. She pleaded guilty to possessing €10,000 in stolen funds deposited into her account on September 18, 2018. Prosecution evidence indicated that emails regarding a payment from the Peninsula Group to the Herbert Group were hacked, allowing false bank details to be substituted. Mwandira stated she had met an individual on the dating app Tinder, whom she believed was a romantic contact assisting her with school fees. She provided her bank details to this person and was shocked when the funds appeared. The judge noted there was no suggestion Mwandira was linked to the hacking or had offered her account for the offence. Judge Melanie Greally described the case as one of negligence rather than intent, characterizing Mwandira as a diligent, hard-working person who was taken in and cast aside. Mwandira, who has no previous convictions, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment. However, the sentence was suspended in full on strict conditions. The court also ordered that €500 in compensation, raised by the defendant, be handed over to the injured party.
A man with convictions for stalking and harassment of former partners was found guilty at the Central Criminal Court in Castlebar, County Mayo, of sexually assaulting his wife in Galway city on October 13, 2017. The 42-year-old man was convicted of two counts of sexual assault and one count of assault causing harm. A jury was unable to reach a verdict on a rape charge, which the Director of Public Prosecutions subsequently dropped with the victim's support. The court heard the man forced his wife to accompany him to a wooded area following an incident at a church where she had sought shelter with other homeless women. Evidence included CCTV footage of the assault. The victim provided an impact statement describing ongoing trauma and psychological effects. The man, who has 24 previous convictions in Ireland and more serious convictions in the United Kingdom, has been in custody since April 2019. Ms Justice Carmel Stewart adjourned sentencing to December 1.
A man convicted of murdering his mother in County Mayo almost a decade ago will be sentenced for her manslaughter in February following a Supreme Court ruling that overturned his murder conviction. The Central Criminal Court hearing was disrupted when the defendant, now aged 29, shouted abuse at the prosecutor while pathology evidence was being presented. The State accepted his plea to the lesser offence on the basis that intoxication can prevent the formation of the intent required for murder. The defendant was 19 when he fatally stabbed his mother multiple times in their home near Castlebar in March 2011. He had initially pleaded guilty to manslaughter, but a jury found him guilty of murder and he received a life sentence in 2014. The Supreme Court found the trial judge's direction to the jury on intoxication and specific intent was inadequate. Justice Michael White remanded the defendant in custody pending sentencing submissions on 8th February, and ordered the Probation Service to prepare a structure should release be considered.