Court archive
Court reports mentioning Turlough, Mayo
2025-07-01 · Mayo
Bernard McDonagh, aged 30, of Gortnafolla, Turlough, Castlebar, has affirmed guilty pleas to five charges at Castlebar Circuit Court. The charges arise from incidents on November 11 last year at various locations in Castlebar. McDonagh admitted assaulting a garda and another man at Tesco, Knockacroghery. He also pleaded guilty to theft of a bottle of gin valued at €35 and clothing worth €420 from TK Maxx. A further charge concerned criminal damage to a vehicle wing mirror in an Aldi carpark. McDonagh, currently on an enhanced regime in custody, was remanded pending sentencing on July 22. Judge Eoin Garavan directed that probation and governor's reports be prepared for the hearing.
2025-04-07 · Mayo
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal by Shane Noonan against his sentence for the rape of Ciara Mangan. The offence occurred at an address in Castlebar, Co Mayo, on May 11, 2013. Noonan, who was 18 at the time, pleaded guilty to the charge. At his sentencing in July 2023, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon imposed a headline sentence of eight years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended, resulting in an effective custody period of seven years. In his appeal, counsel for Noonan argued that the sentence was too high given his lack of prior convictions and the late entry of his guilty plea. However, the Director of Public Prosecutions contended that the plea was entered on the day of the trial and that the suspension period appropriately reflected mitigating factors. Mr Justice Michael McGrath, delivering the judgment, stated that Noonan's culpability was high and the harm to the victim was great. Consequently, the court ruled that the sentence was appropriate in the circumstances and dismissed the appeal. Ms Mangan, who waived her anonymity, stated that the 22-month wait for the appeal decision had delayed her healing, but she expressed relief that the process had finally concluded.
2023-07-17 · Mayo
A man has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, following his conviction for rape at the Central Criminal Court. Shane Noonan, aged 28, of Castlehilll Park, Turlough Road, Castlebar, County Mayo, pleaded guilty to raping a woman at an address in Castlebar on 11 May 2013. Both were aged 18 at the time and worked together at a fast food restaurant. Justice Eileen Creedon described the offence as cold, predatory and premeditated, noting the victim's obvious vulnerability. She imposed conditions including assessment for a sex offender treatment programme. The victim told the court she had subsequently endured workplace abuse, including offensive songs referencing the assault, which delayed her reporting to gardaí until 2018. She described ongoing trauma, including flashbacks and anxiety. The court heard Noonan's guilty plea, lack of previous convictions and psychological assessment indicating low reoffending risk were mitigating factors.
2017-12-04 · Mayo
The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal against the severity of a 15-year prison sentence imposed on Michael Maughan for aggravated burglary. Maughan, aged 24, pleaded guilty to breaking into the caravan of Martin and Winnie McDonagh on Turlough Road, Castlebar, on November 18, 2013. During the attack, Maughan allegedly used a machete to slash the occupants, including an 11-year-old child, causing severe lacerations. The original sentence was handed down by Judge Rory McCabe at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court on February 19, 2016. On appeal, counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions argued the offence was among the most serious possible, while the defence compared it to a less severe Tipperary case. The three-judge panel, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, rejected this comparison, stating both cases represented the highest level of seriousness for aggravated burglary. The court noted that Maughan was also sentenced on four other bills of indictment for violent disorders and robbery committed after the caravan attack. Judge McCabe had imposed concurrent sentences for these additional offences, made consecutive to the aggravated burglary term but suspended in their entirety. The Court of Appeal found that the 15-year sentence for the aggravated burglary fell within the appropriate range and that no error in principle was identified, thereby upholding the original custodial term.
2017-11-23 · Wicklow
The High Court set aside two asset transfers from retired teacher Michael Byrne to his estranged wife Maureen Byrne, ruling them fraudulent and deliberately intended to frustrate Mr Cormac Walsh's recovery of a €200,000 damages award. The transfers involved Byrne's interest in the former family home and lands at Rosewell, Templerainey, Arklow, Co Wicklow, which were moved into Maureen Byrne's sole name in May 2012 and October 2015. Mr Walsh, who had been awarded the damages in 2015, had received no payment from Byrne. Byrne, aged in his 80s and living in Spain, had been convicted in 2014 of indecent assault and sentenced to eight years with four suspended. He denied the transfers were fraudulent, claiming they were made in good faith and for housekeeping reasons. The court found Byrne was aware of the civil action and the subsequent award, and therefore the transfers were set aside. The Byrnes were not present at the hearing.
2014-02-05 · Mayo
The High Court trial of a civil damages claim brought by Joanne Quinn against retired Detective Sergeant Edward Justin Clarke is ongoing. Ms Quinn, 41, of Castlebar, Co Mayo, alleges she was stalked and sexually harassed by Mr Clarke between 2002 and 2005 while he investigated her prior abuse complaints. Mr Clarke admitted to a sexual relationship but pleaded it was consensual, denying the allegation of rape. Counsel for Ms Quinn, Martin Giblin SC, argued Mr Clarke abused his position of authority, specifically alleging rape on New Year's Eve 2002. Conversely, counsel for Mr Clarke, Roughan Banim SC, stated his client accepted the relationship was inappropriate due to his role but maintained it was not rape. Mr Banim noted Mr Clarke's 33 years of service and the severe personal impact of the allegations. Under cross-examination, Ms Quinn explained her delay in reporting was due to disbelief in her claims given Mr Clarke's status. The jury is tasked with resolving whether the sexual acts were consensual. The matter was adjourned and continues.