A 73‑year‑old Seamus Christopher O'Kane, originally from Garvagh in County Derry, was arrested in County Meath on a High Court extradition warrant issued by the Garda Extradition Unit. The warrant, endorsed under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, relates to four offences alleged to have been committed on 16 February 1976 at Brockaghboy, Garvagh. Those offences include possession of explosive substances—two electric detonators and two improvised pressure mat switches—intended to endanger life or property, and possession of firearms and ammunition, including two Walther pistols, a Browning pistol, a 0.22 rifle, a Remington shotgun and 104 rounds of ammunition, also intended to endanger life or property. The warrant states that the items were recovered during a search of a farmhouse where O'Kane and two other men were found hiding. O'Kane was interviewed on 17 February 1976 and allegedly admitted possession of the explosives, firearms and ammunition.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 6 June 2024, the appeal of Josh Turner, aged 31, was dismissed. Turner had been convicted in 2017 of murdering Christopher Nevin, a 31‑year‑old man he had loaned a Chihuahua to breed, after a dispute over payment. The incident occurred on 19 November 2015 on Tailteann Road, Navan. Turner and his co‑accused, Wayne Cluskey, both carried hatchets to the scene. Turner struck Nevin with a hatchet several times, while Cluskey also struck Nevin. Turner claimed a loss of self‑control after Nevin threatened him, but the trial judge instructed the jury that a defence of provocation or self‑defence would only apply if the accused had a total loss of self‑control and was not acting in self‑defence. The appellate court found no error in the judge's directions and rejected all grounds of appeal. The case remains a murder conviction with a life sentence. Josh Turner pleaded not guilty.
Jonathan Cummins, 37, of Tubberclaire Meadows, Navan, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to producing two knives during a November 2021 attack on a new mother who had just returned from the hospital with her premature baby. The incident occurred at a West Dublin location where Cummins, dressed in black and wearing gloves, stood in the garden and pulled the knives from his trousers as the victim was being assaulted by Miranda McCabe, who also received a two‑year sentence with 15 months suspended. Cummins, who had 156 prior convictions including 16 for knife possession, was found with a cannabis joint and two kitchen knives in his car. He was already serving a 15‑month sentence for a separate offence and was released in January.
A former ice‑cream parlour worker, Anita Popa, told the Workplace Relations Commission that she worked up to 90 hours a week, so long that her one‑year‑old son did not recognise her when she finished her employment. She claimed she was underpaid, denied breaks, denied maternity leave, discriminated against and was unfairly dismissed after an alleged assault by a colleague. Popa said the employer produced fabricated rosters and payroll records, which she said were fake and signed by "A.P.", not her. She alleged the company monitored her via CCTV and threatened to replace her after she announced her pregnancy. The employer denied all allegations, stating she was paid for the hours she worked and that the complaints were incorrect. The hearing is ongoing and a further date has not yet been set.
Conti Birali (28) was sentenced to nine years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to assault causing serious harm and violent disorder. The offences occurred on July 31, 2022, at the Old Navan Road, Dublin 7. Birali admitted to instigating an unprovoked attack on victim Austin Doherty, who suffered severe head injuries and brain trauma, leaving him a wheelchair user with lifelong disabilities. Birali, of Parlickstown Drive, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15, had previously left the jurisdiction but returned and was arrested in November 2022. He expressed remorse, describing his actions as a "stupid alcoholic decision" and accepting global responsibility for the joint enterprise. Judge Martin Nolan noted Birali was the "author of the entire incident" and categorized the offence in the higher range of seriousness. The court also heard that co-accused Craig Maples (28), of Green Briar, Verdemont, Blanchardstown, Dublin, was jailed for seven years last month after pleading guilty to violent disorder and assault causing serious harm on the same occasion. Maples was identified as one of the three men who participated in the assault. The judge accepted Birali's expression of remorse and assessed a low risk of reoffending, but emphasized the severe, permanent impact on the victim, who can no longer work or care for his children.
At the appeal stage of the case, Michael Murray, a convicted rapist and child abductor serving a combined 35-year sentence in the Midlands Prison, was found guilty of one count of knowingly making a false report giving rise to an apprehension for the safety of someone else while he was imprisoned in the Midlands Prison, Portlaoise on March 7, 2021. Murray had pleaded not guilty to the charge, but was convicted by a jury in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following an eight-day trial. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a two-year prison sentence to run consecutively to the sentence he is currently serving. The court heard that an anonymous caller phoned the Samaritans claiming to be from the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) and said explosives had been planted at the home of Minister for Justice Helen McEntee. The call was traced back to Murray's cell in the Midlands Prison. Murray admitted making a call to the Samaritans but denied making the threat. He also stated that he had a 'gripe' with Fine Gael and the Minister for Justice. The matter was adjourned for further proceedings.
At a sentence hearing in the appeal stage, Michael Murray, a convicted rapist and child abductor serving a combined 35-year sentence in the Midlands Prison, stated he does not accept the jury's verdict of guilt on a charge of knowingly making a false report giving rise to an apprehension for the safety of someone else while he was imprisoned in the Midlands Prison, Portlaoise on March 7, 2021. Murray had pleaded not guilty to the charge and was found guilty by a jury in a trial earlier this month. The charge relates to a bomb threat made against the home of Minister for Justice Helen McEntee. The case was adjourned for finalisation until March 19. Murray was excluded from his July 2021 sentence hearing and moved to another courtroom after he threw a bible, narrowly missing Judge Karen O'Connor. The matter was adjourned and never described as concluded or finalised.
Lukasz Bykowski, 42, of no fixed abode in Dublin, pleaded guilty to one count of harassing a woman on dates in March 2018 while she was working in Trinity College Dublin. The court heard that Bykowski first met the victim in 2014 when she worked in a pharmacy in Navan, where he allegedly became obsessed with her. In 2018, he allegedly sent her unmarked chocolates and flowers on Valentine's Day and later visited her office multiple times, claiming to be her boyfriend and demanding her schedule. Colleagues called security due to his reluctance to leave, and the victim identified him via CCTV. Bykowski was arrested days later. Prosecution counsel stated that Bykowski told gardaí the victim had flirted with him, though she never replied to his social media messages. A victim impact statement noted the harassment had a chilling effect on her confidence and family. Judge Pauline Codd noted the harassment followed previous workplace intrusions and was deeply upsetting. Taking mitigating factors into account, the judge handed down a two-year sentence, which was suspended on conditions, including that Bykowski follow all medical instructions regarding his mental health. Additionally, the court issued an injunction ordering Bykowski to have no contact with the victim for a period of 25 years.
At the appeal stage, Michael Murray, a convicted rapist and child abductor, was found guilty by a jury of making a bomb threat against the home of Minister for Justice Helen McEntee. Murray, who is serving a 19-year sentence in the Midlands Prison, had pleaded not guilty to one count of knowingly making a false report giving rise to an apprehension for the safety of someone else while he was imprisoned in the Midlands Prison, Portlaoise on March 7, 2021. The jury returned the verdict after deliberating for five hours and 10 minutes. Murray made no reaction as the verdict was handed down in court. Judge Patricia Ryan thanked the jurors for their service and adjourned the matter for sentencing next Friday. She remanded Murray in continuing custody. During the trial, it was established that the call to the Samaritans was traced back to Murray's cell, and his unique identification number was used. Murray had previously been jailed in 2013 for 15 years for falsely imprisoning, raping, and sexually assaulting a woman, with his sentence later increased to 19 years by the Court of Appeal. He has 34 previous convictions, including for common assault, carrying firearms, robbery, and aggravated burglary. Murray was excluded from his July 2021 sentence hearing and moved to another courtroom after he threw a bible, narrowly missing Judge Karen O'Connor. She described his actions as 'a fundamental attack on our system of justice.' The matter was adjourned for sentencing next Friday.
A 38‑year‑old Lithuanian woman, Sandra Sandaraite of Academy Street, Navan, was charged with the murder of a 47‑year‑old Polish man, Zbigniew Czech, at the same address on 10 December 2022. At the Central Criminal Court she pleaded guilty to manslaughter, a plea accepted by the State. She said "not guilty to murder, guilty to manslaughter" when the charge was read. Her lawyer said the charge arose from a domestic dispute. Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned the case to a sentence hearing on 16 May to allow for urinalysis and probation reports.
During a trial, Garda Superintendent Dermot Dray explained that a bomb threat call to the Samaritans hotline, claiming explosives were planted at Minister for Justice Helen McEntee's home, was treated as a serious criminal offence that could threaten the state's security. The call, made on 7 March 2021 from Midlands Prison while Michael Murray was incarcerated, was investigated to identify the caller's number and location. Dray noted that the call's origin was traced to the prison two days later, and that the Samaritans volunteer who received the call had not recorded the exact time or duration. Garda Sergeant Paul McGarry recounted that officers from Navan and Dublin were dispatched to McEntee's residence and the Justice Department to search for suspicious devices, finding none. The threat was ultimately deemed a hoax, but the investigation remained thorough. The case is before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury. Michael Murray pleaded not guilty.
Aaron Ryan, aged 23 when the incident occurred, was punched in the head by his former best friend Jamie Tyler, who was serving a suspended sentence for a drug offence. The blow caused Ryan to fall, hit the floor and suffer a catastrophic brain bleed, leaving him unconscious and severely injured. Ryan spent eight months in hospital and rehabilitation, with permanent short‑term memory loss, paralysis, pain, headaches, vertigo, hypersensitivity and PTSD. He has been unable to perform simple tasks and lives with constant double vision and fear of noise. Tyler, aged 27, was sentenced to two years in prison for assault causing serious harm. He has denied full responsibility, offered no apology, and has not called emergency services. The court noted his remorse and the mitigating circumstances, reducing the sentence to two years. The case will return on 15 February to decide how to apply Tyler's suspended sentence.
Kevin Kelleher, 50, manager of a Dublin pub, pleaded guilty to possession of just under three kilograms of amphetamines, valued at €43,000, found in concealed compartments in the ladies' bathroom and a roof area of a store room. Garda Jamie Greville described a surveillance operation triggered by a tip, with Kelleher identified and arrested after CCTV footage showed him moving the drugs. Kelleher claimed duress and that he was forced to store the drugs. He had no prior convictions and no material wealth. The prosecution argued no evidence of payment, addiction, debt repayment or gang involvement. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a headline sentence of four years, reduced to three years, and suspended the entire term on strict conditions, including keeping the peace and good behaviour for five years.
Two brothers, Ian (34) and Daniel (43) Connaghan, were sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for a 2019 attack that killed 55‑year‑old Michael 'Mick' Mulvey. The jury found them not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter (Ian) and assault causing serious harm (Daniel). Ian received a nine‑year sentence with the final year suspended for three years; Daniel received five years with the final year suspended for three years. The court described the assault as "savage, cold‑blooded and cowardly," noting that Mulvey was a slight, unarmed victim who offered no resistance. The sentencing judge highlighted the brothers' lack of remorse and the brutal nature of the attacks, while acknowledging mitigating factors such as Ian's lack of prior convictions. No verdict was recorded on the assault charges for either brother.
In 2017, Josh Turner, aged 31, was convicted of murdering Christopher Nevin in Navan after a dispute over a chihuahua. Turner was sentenced to life imprisonment. He now seeks to overturn his conviction on appeal, arguing that the trial judge erred in how he directed the jury on the defence of provocation and self‑defence. Turner's counsel contended that the judge incorrectly suggested the onus of proving provocation lay with the defence and failed to allow the jury to consider provocation in the context of violence against a third party. The State's counsel replied that the judge's charge was clear and that the jury had rejected provocation based on the facts. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on the appeal. The case remains at the appeal stage. Josh Turner pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court trial of James Kilroy, 50, accused of murdering his wife, Valerie French Kilroy, 41, at their Co Mayo home in June 2019, continued with the prosecution case closing. Mr Kilroy has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The jury heard evidence from gardai interviews in which the accused described waiting in the long grass for his wife before slitting her throat and choking her with his bare hands. He stated he used a black serrated knife and smashed her head, describing the event as a frenzy. The prosecution noted that Ms French Kilroy died from strangulation, blunt force trauma, and a stab wound. Defence counsel called consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Ronan Mullaney, who testified that the accused had a long history of cannabis use, including therapeutic consumption of high-THC 'AK-47' strain in the three years prior to the death. Dr Mullaney stated that THC can induce substance-induced psychosis in predisposed individuals and that the accused slightly increased his use in the week before the incident. The accused also reported feeling watched and paranoid in the days leading up to the event. The trial is ongoing, with no final verdict or sentence recorded at this stage.
At the Central Criminal Court, a consultant psychiatrist told a jury that a man charged with murder disclosed he was "on a mission from God to kill" his wife during a mental health assessment conducted before her body was discovered. Dr Camilla Curtis of Mayo Mental Health Services stated the accused presented with acute psychotic symptoms and posed a significant risk to himself and others, yet she determined he could not be detained in the low-security adult mental health unit in Castlebar. The man, aged 50, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of Ms Valerie French Kilroy at their home in Kilbree Lower, Westport, County Mayo, between June 13 and 14, 2019. The court heard he was found running naked in a field outside Westport and subsequently confessed to gardaí, stating he had stabbed his wife in the throat with a kitchen knife. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury at the Central Criminal Court.
In a Central Criminal Court sentencing hearing, the families of Michael Mulvey, a 55‑year‑old victim who died 13 days after being attacked, said the two brothers, Ian (34) and Daniel (43), had shown no remorse. The brothers, from Cabra, Dublin, had denied murder of Mulvey in a 2019 Navan Road attack. A July trial found them not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter (Ian) and of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm (Daniel). The court heard that Ian stepped onto a pedestrian crossing, shouted threats, and struck Mulvey with blows and kicks, while Daniel joined, wrapped his arms around Mulvey's neck, and punched him repeatedly. Witnesses described the assault as violent, with Mulvey sustaining facial fractures, rib fractures, and a hemopneumothorax that contributed to his death. The brothers' prior convictions and lack of remorse were highlighted by the prosecution, and the case was remanded for sentencing on 4 December.
Conor Dolan was sentenced to life imprisonment by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Neil Fitzgerald. Dolan, who has 32 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to the charge on July 4 of this year, having originally pleaded not guilty. The court heard that Fitzgerald was shot six times in an execution-style killing on Hills Lane, Crooksling, Tallaght, on June 5, 2016. Prosecution counsel stated that Dolan allegedly lured his friend to the location, where he was paid €10,000 to commit the act. Evidence included CCTV footage, mobile phone data, and a confession Dolan allegedly made to his ex-girlfriend while under the influence of cocaine. The sentence was back-dated to May 15, 2020, when Dolan was arrested at Dublin Airport upon his extradition from the UK. The judge noted that the only sentence open to the court was life imprisonment and extended sympathy to the victim's family. The matter was concluded with this mandatory life sentence.
Liviu Tenea, 40, pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated sexual assault after posing as a taxi driver and violently assaulting a woman who had entered his car. The court heard he had previously been sentenced to 20 years in Spain in 2006 for a similar assault, was repatriated to Romania in 2010 and released in 2015. He was arrested in March 2022 and has been in custody since. Justice Mary Ellen Ring imposed a 19‑year sentence, back‑dated to his March 29, 2022 arrest, and ordered 10 years of post‑release supervision. The victim, who wishes to remain anonymous, described being taken to a secluded location, forced onto the bonnet, and subjected to vaginal and anal penetration. The court noted Tenea's prior conviction, his guilty plea, and his willingness to engage in treatment programmes as mitigating factors. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the crime and the victim's impact statement.
A banking professional who worked at a Dublin pub for nearly three decades has alleged he was unfairly dismissed and denied a redundancy package because the pub owners did not want to pay him. Alan Ecock, who has worked for AIB since 1994, told the Workplace Relations Commission that his co-workers at the bank were unaware of his second job as a bar manager at Kavanaghs in Stoneybatter, where he started as a lounge boy in the late 1980s. His solicitor, Setanta Landers, claimed the pub owners' assertion that Ecock was self-employed was a 'parade of fiction.' Ecock stated he worked at the pub four nights a week throughout his college years after losing his father as a teenager and felt obliged to support his mother. He continued working there even after signing a full-time contract with AIB in 1994, reducing his hours to two nights a week when he married in 2013.
Vasile Lazar, 52, a Romanian national, was sentenced to two years in prison for eight counts of theft and one attempted robbery. Between November 2022 and January 2023, he stole €9,745 from victims in Donaghmeade, Swords, Artane, Bettystown and Mullingar. He targeted shoppers in Dunnes Stores and other retail outlets, taking purses, debit cards and withdrawing cash from ATMs. He also used stolen debit cards to withdraw €1,600 and to pay €650 to a Cyprus company via Google Pay. Lazar admitted the thefts, expressed remorse, and claimed desperation after a personal breakdown. He has no prior convictions in Ireland but has convictions in the UK, Austria and Italy. The judge noted aggravating factors such as the amount stolen and victim impact, but also considered his guilty plea and remorse. The sentence is back‑dated to his arrest.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, brothers Ian (34) and Daniel (43) Connaghan were found not guilty of murder after a jury deliberated 14 hours. The jury, however, convicted Ian of manslaughter and Daniel of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to 55‑year‑old Michael 'Mick' Mulvey, who died 13 days after the November 14, 2019 assault. The brothers had pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and to the serious harm charges. The State's case alleged that Ian attacked Mulvey near The Halfway House Pub, leaving him on the ground, and that Daniel joined him in a subsequent beating on a traffic island. The jury accepted that the brothers' actions substantially contributed to Mulvey's death but did not find the intent required for murder. No verdicts were recorded for the two assault‑causing‑harm charges, and Daniel was granted bail pending a probation report.
In a Dublin murder trial, brothers Ian Connaghan (34) and Daniel Connaghan (43) plead not guilty to the killing of 55‑year‑old builder Michael 'Mick' Mulvey, who died 13 days after a November 2019 assault near The Halfway House Pub. The State alleges the brothers beat Mulvey at a roundabout, causing injuries that contributed to his death, though not the sole cause. The brothers also face charges of serious harm and assault. Judge Paul Burns instructed the jury to determine the dominant cause of death and the accused's intent, noting that intent to cause serious injury suffices for murder. Prosecutor Anne Rowland argued the beatings were severe enough to imply intent to cause serious harm. Defence counsel Garnet Orange contended no serious injury occurred and the death was likely natural. Post‑mortem findings identified blunt‑force chest trauma and underlying ischemic heart disease as contributory. The jury will resume deliberations tomorrow.
Three men have been sentenced to fifteen years' imprisonment following their conviction on fifteen charges relating to an armed attack on security personnel at a repossessed farmhouse near Strokestown, County Roscommon on 16 December 2018. Martin O'Toole, PJ Sweeney and Paul Beirne were found guilty of aggravated burglary, violent disorder, false imprisonment, assault causing harm, arson and animal cruelty. A fourth defendant, David Lawlor, was acquitted of all charges. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martina Baxter described the incident as a "well-executed plan" involving approximately thirty armed men who arrived in the early hours to terrorise the security guards. The judge noted the attack demonstrated "extensive planning and pre-meditation" and included "calculated cruelty". Sentencing to run concurrently, Judge Baxter stated there was no excuse for such lawlessness and declined to suspend any portion of the sentences. All three men are to be backdated to when they entered custody.
Nikiwe Dube, 41, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to four charges of using a false instrument and two counts of deception. Judge Elva Duffy stated that Dube, who admitted to the offences, had posed as a child psychologist without the required academic qualifications, abusing the trust of vulnerable children and adolescents. The court heard that Dube used forged documents, including a psychological transcript with a false garda stamp, a fake PSI identification badge, and a false medical certificate, to secure employment. He dishonestly induced TTM Healthcare to place him on their books of employment between August 15, 2021, and September 9, 2021, causing a loss, and induced the HSE to give him an interview for employment on August 18, 2022. Dube received €172,000 in wages and expenses while working for Gateway Residential Care in Sligo. Judge Duffy noted that gardaí have not been able to confirm Dube's true identity, which is of concern to the court. While acknowledging mitigation factors such as his immediate admissions, remorse, and lack of previous convictions, the judge determined the case warranted a headline sentence of five and a half years. The final sentence of four years was backdated to August 5, 2022, when Dube first went into custody.
The trial of Ian Connaghan (34) and Daniel Connaghan (43) for the murder of 55‑year‑old Michael 'Mick' Mulvey is set to resume after the jury was excused early due to a family issue with one juror. The State alleges the brothers assaulted Mulvey near The Halfway House Pub on 14 November 2019, leaving him on the ground and later delivering a severe beating at a roundabout. Mulvey died two weeks later, with the prosecution arguing the injuries contributed to his death but were not the sole cause. The brothers pleaded not guilty to murder, intentional or reckless serious harm, and assault causing harm. Mr Justice Paul Burns explained that if the jury finds the brothers caused the death but lack intent for murder, a manslaughter verdict is appropriate; if intent is proven, a murder verdict is required. The jury will return tomorrow for the judge to continue his charge.
In a Central Criminal Court murder trial, defence counsel Garnet Orange SC argued that the death of builder Michael Mulvey was not a natural consequence of an assault he suffered on 14 November 2019. Orange highlighted that Mulvey, aged 55, was not in good health, had been released from hospital with painkillers, and had gone back to the pub to drink that night. He questioned the prosecution's evidence, noting that pathologists Dr. Heidi Okkers and Dr. Stuart Hamilton had differing views on the cause of death, with Hamilton suggesting heart disease and rib fractures contributed, while the defence's Professor Jack Crane concluded a heart attack. Orange urged the jury to consider whether the injuries inflicted by accused Ian and Daniel Connaghan contributed substantially to Mulvey's death, noting that causation could be sufficient for murder or manslaughter. The trial was set to resume with further jury directions from Judge Paul Burns. The unnamed 55-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Sean Nolan, 38, has been ordered to remain in prison after the Court of Appeal dismissed his bid to overturn his conviction for the murder of Amanda Carroll. In October 2020, a jury convicted Nolan of murder, a charge to which he had pleaded not guilty, though he admitted to manslaughter. He was sentenced to a mandatory term of life imprisonment by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath. The appeal, heard by Mr Justice George Birmingham, challenged the admissibility of roadside notes taken by gardaí and the trial judge's guidance to the jury regarding intoxication and the definition of serious injury. Mr Justice Birmingham ruled that the trial judge had exercised discretion correctly in admitting the roadside remarks, noting they were consistent with Nolan's formal interviews. He further held that the judge's instructions on intent and serious injury adhered to long-established legal practice. The Court of Appeal concluded that the trial was not unfair and the verdict was safe, thereby upholding the original conviction and sentence.
In a Dublin murder trial, brothers Ian (34) and Daniel (43) Connaghan pleaded not guilty to the killing of Michael 'Mick' Mulvey (55) on 27 November 2019. Prosecutor Anne Rowland SC presented evidence that the brothers beat Mulvey so severely that the intent could only have been to cause serious harm. She cited pathologist Dr Heidi Okkers' finding of 800 ml of blood in Mulvey's chest cavity and described the sustained assaults at the Darling estate and a traffic island near Halfway House. Witnesses, including Pauline Matthews and Mary Kelly, testified to the brutality and the brothers' presence at both attacks. Text messages from the Connaghans suggested a motive rooted in resentment. Rowland urged the jury to consider the evidence as ample proof of the brothers' guilt in the murder. The trial was set to continue the following day.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing on 19 July 2023, the jury heard that Ian Connaghan, aged 34, sent a WhatsApp message on 14 November 2019 in which he claimed he was "after opening Mulvey's face up" after a confrontation with Michael Mulvey, aged 55, near a Dublin public house. Connaghan alleged that Mulvey had almost struck him with his car while he was crossing the road, that Mulvey had screamed at him, and that later that day Mulvey "came running at me from behind." Connaghan said he dropped his bag, "caught him a dig," and "opened up his face." He also claimed Mulvey had spat on his leg in the pub and that Mulvey "had it coming." Daniel Connaghan, aged 43, sent a separate message claiming Mulvey had "tried to knock down Iano" and that the brothers left Mulvey in an awful state. Ian Connaghan pleaded not guilty.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing on 18 July 2023, a witness testified that Ian Connaghan, aged 34, admitted to punching and kicking Michael Mulvey, aged 55, after a confrontation near the Halfway House Pub on 14 November 2019. The witness, Stephen Kelly, who had been in a relationship with Mulvey's daughter, said Connaghan told him he had "lost it" and that the assault occurred while crossing the traffic lights on Navan Road. Connaghan also claimed he was alone at the time. The prosecution, represented by Ms Anne Rowland SC, argued that the brothers had a history of "bad blood" with Mulvey and that the severe beating left Mulvey in a "bad way" with black and blue marks on his right side. The jury viewed CCTV footage from the pub and surrounding areas to corroborate the timeline of the alleged assault. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed Jonathan Dowdall's appeal against his four-year sentence for facilitating the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel. The three-judge panel, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, described the sentence as "very lenient" and within the available range, rejecting arguments that it was unduly severe. Dowdall, who pleaded guilty to making a hotel room available to the Hutch gang ahead of the February 2016 attack, had argued his sentence was too high compared to his father, Patrick Dowdall, who received two years for the same offence. The appeal court found a clear basis for differentiating their roles, noting Jonathan Dowdall's significant post-murder involvement, including driving an associate to Northern Ireland. The court also rejected claims that the sentencing judge failed to adequately consider the life changes resulting from Dowdall becoming a State's witness. While acknowledging the assistance provided was "very significant," the judges upheld the Special Criminal Court's decision, stating that even a higher pre-mitigation headline sentence would not have warranted intervention. The appeal was heard after Dowdall's counsel argued he was "duped" and that the sentence did not properly account for his cooperation with authorities. The court emphasized that the Hutch organisation was a "tier one criminal organisation," not a minor group, and that Dowdall's actions were "very serious indeed."
During the Central Criminal Court trial, Ms Anne Rowland SC presented evidence that Ian Connaghan, aged 34, threatened a 55‑year‑old man, Michael Mulvey, with the words "I'm gonna f**kin kill ya" at a pedestrian crossing on the Navan Road. The witness, Ms Pauline Matthews, described how the man was approached by a medium‑built individual who shouted aggressively and walked out in front of her car. She recounted that Mulvey was later severely beaten by Ian and his older brother Daniel Connaghan, who arrived in a car. The brothers have pleaded not guilty to murder, to causing serious harm, and to assault. The trial continues with further cross‑examination of Ms Matthews by the defence counsel, Mr Garnet Orange SC, and the prosecution will focus on medical evidence regarding Mulvey's injuries and death.
A 54‑year‑old man from Boyerstown, Navan, was jailed for 18 months after a sting operation by an online vigilante group exposed his attempts to sexually exploit a child. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of attempting to communicate with a child via electronic means to facilitate sexual exploitation between 3 March and 6 May 2019, and a second charge of attempting to meet a child for sexual exploitation on 6 May 2019 at St Stephen's Green. Judge Martin Nolan found his actions "very wrong", noting that the man believed he was speaking to an 11‑ or 12‑year‑old child, but was actually communicating with members of the Child Protection Awareness Group posing as a child. He received a sentence of three and a half years, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions, and was ordered to be supervised by the Probation Service for two years after release.
In a murder trial, the State presented the case that Michael Mulvey, a 55‑year‑old builder, died two weeks after a severe beating by brothers Ian (34) and Daniel (43) Connaghan. The prosecution argued that the injuries sustained on 14 November 2019, including fractured ribs and a severe chest trauma, substantially contributed to his death, though not the sole cause, citing medical evidence from pathologists and doctors. The brothers were charged with murder, intentional or reckless causing serious harm, and assault causing harm. The State highlighted a history of conflict between Mulvey and Ian Connaghan, a confrontation at a pedestrian crossing, and CCTV showing the brothers' movements. Text messages sent by the Connaghans after the assault were presented as evidence of intent to cause serious harm. The trial, before Mr Justice Paul Burns, is set to continue for up to three weeks.
A 33‑year‑old man, Conor Dolan, pleaded guilty to murdering his 36‑year‑old friend Neil Fitzgerald on 5 June 2016. The killing took place on Hills Lane, Crooksling, Tallaght, where Fitzgerald was found riddled with six bullets. Dolan had originally pleaded not guilty on 4 July, but after a second jury was discharged due to prison officers standing too close to him, a new jury of twelve was empanelled. Evidence included a burning rubber glove and a mobile phone recovered from Dolan's home, and cuts on his hand and blood on his tracksuit after the murder. Dolan was re‑arraigned on the murder count and pleaded guilty in the presence of the jury. He was remanded in custody until 9 October, when he will be sentenced to life imprisonment by Justice Eileen Creedon. The trial highlighted the alleged luring of Fitzgerald by Dolan, who was considered a trusted friend.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 6 July 2023, Gardaí presented evidence recovered from the home of Conor Dolan, 33, accused of murdering his friend Neil Fitzgerald, 36, in Tallaght on 5 June 2016. The evidence included a partially burned yellow rubber glove and a partially burned Samsung mobile phone found smouldering in a fireplace at Dolan's apartment on Ashbrook Apartments, Navan Road, Dublin 7. Garda Christopher O'Leary, who executed a search warrant issued on 6 June 2016, described the fire‑log remnants and the subsequent extinguishing of the fire. A search team seized 28 items, including phones, clothes and a SIM card pack. Garda Conor Harrison reported that Dolan and a passenger were stopped in a BMW on Fortunestown Road the night before the body was discovered; the passenger was later identified as Fitzgerald. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon with a jury of twelve, continues with Dolan pleading not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury was sworn in for the trial of brothers Ian (34) and Daniel (43) Connaghan, who are accused of murdering builder Michael 'Mick' Mulvey. Mulvey, aged 55, died two weeks after a serious assault on November 14, 2019, when he was walking home. The brothers pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and to assault causing serious harm. The trial, set to begin before Mr Justice Paul Burns, is expected to last up to three weeks.
In the second day of the murder trial of Conor Dolan, the jury was discharged by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon after an issue arose just before lunchtime. Dolan, aged 33, denies murdering Neil Fitzpatrick, aged 36, who was found dead on a country lane outside Dublin on 5 June 2016. Prosecutor Lorcan Staines SC argued that Dolan lured Fitzpatrick to the lane and that Fitzpatrick was "riddled" with bullets in an execution‑style killing. Staines said the prosecution would use circumstantial evidence to show that Dolan arranged to pick up Fitzpatrick from a pub in Tallaght before driving to the remote area where the body was discovered the following day. The trial, scheduled for a maximum of three weeks, will resume tomorrow with a new jury of six men and six women, and Staines will again give his opening speech. The case remains at the trial stage, with no verdict or sentencing announced. Conor Dolan pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, the prosecution, led by Lorcan Staines SC, argued that Conor Dolan lured 36‑year‑old Neil Fitzgerald to a country lane outside Dublin, where Fitzgerald was shot six times in an execution‑style killing. Staines presented circumstantial evidence: Fitzgerald was picked up from Madison's Bar in Tallaght by Dolan, who drove in a purple BMW 3‑series that was later found washed at a Topaz garage with palm prints matching Fitzgerald. CCTV and mobile‑phone data showed Dolan's movements, including a stop by an unmarked garda car and an automatic number‑plate recognition ping of Dolan's vehicle. A "bin phone" linked to Dolan sent a message about a white van, and both men used dual‑SIM phones. The jury was told the evidence suggested Dolan arranged the meeting and that Fitzgerald was executed, but the jury would decide whether Dolan committed the murder. The trial continues before Justice Eileen Creedon. Conor Dolan pleaded not guilty.
A 33‑year‑old man, Conor Dolan, was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Neil Fitzgerald, 36, in Tallaght on 5 June 2016. Dolan pleaded not guilty. Justice Eileen Creedon swore in a jury of seven men and five women. The trial will start on Tuesday morning and is expected to last three weeks.
Three men have been convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of offences arising from an armed attack on a repossessed farmhouse at Falsk, Strokestown, County Roscommon on 16 December 2018. Martin O'Toole, a 58-year-old farmer of Stripe, Irishtown, Claremorris, County Mayo; PJ Sweeney, a 44-year-old builder of High Cairn, Ramelton, County Donegal; and Paul Beirne, a 56-year-old cattle farmer of Croghan, Boyle, were found guilty of 15 charges including aggravated burglary, violent disorder, criminal damage, false imprisonment and assault causing harm. All three were also convicted of three counts of arson relating to vehicles and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. A fourth defendant, David Lawlor, was acquitted. The court heard approximately 30 armed men breached the property following its repossession by KBC Bank. Four security personnel sustained injuries during the incident. Judge Martina Baxter adjourned sentencing to 28 July.
Jonathan Dowdall, a former Sinn Fein councillor, appealed his four-year sentence for facilitating the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel. Counsel Michael O'Higgins SC argued Dowdall was "duped" and placed in the "firing line" for a disinformation plan, contending the Special Criminal Court failed to adequately weigh the life changes resulting from his cooperation. Dowdall had pleaded guilty to the facilitation charge, which involved his father, Patrick Dowdall, booking a room on February 4, 2016. Patrick Dowdall was separately jailed for two years for his role in the same offence. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, noted Dowdall had previously served a substantial sentence for torturing Alexander Hurley, a conviction for which he and his father had successfully appealed earlier. The judges questioned whether a defendant with such a history could expect a better outcome, noting the sentencing court had already applied unusual discounts. The appeal challenged the headline sentence and plea discount, but the court highlighted the appellant's prior convictions and the impact of his decisions on his family. The matter was adjourned.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has convicted three men of participating in a violent attack on a farm property near Strokestown, County Roscommon, on 16 December 2018. Following a 50-day trial, PJ Sweeney, aged 44, from Ramelton, County Donegal; Martin O'Toole, aged 58, from Claremorris, County Mayo; and Paul Beirne, aged 56, from Boyle, County Roscommon were each found guilty of 15 of 17 charges. These included false imprisonment, assault causing harm to four security personnel, aggravated burglary, three counts of arson, criminal damage and violent disorder. They were also convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. A fourth defendant, David Lawlor from County Meath, was acquitted of all 17 charges. The three convicted men have been remanded in custody and will return to court for sentencing on 30 June. Martin O'Toole pleaded not guilty. Paul Beirne pleaded not guilty.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has requested exhibits and legal directions on common design as deliberations continue in the trial of four men accused of participating in a vigilante attack on security personnel at a repossessed property near Strokestown, Co Roscommon in December 2018. Patrick J Sweeney, aged 44, of Ramelton, Co Donegal; Martin O'Toole, aged 58, of Claremorris, Co Mayo; Paul Beirne, aged 56, of Boyle, Co Roscommon; and David Lawlor, aged 43, have each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges including false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, violent disorder and animal cruelty. The prosecution alleges approximately 30 armed men attacked the property. The jury examined two exhibits and received clarification on the legal principle of common design before adjourning until Monday.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has begun deliberating in the trial of four men accused of participating in a vigilante attack on security personnel guarding a repossessed farmhouse in Strokestown, Co Roscommon, in December 2018. The defendants, Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor, each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges. These alleged offences include false imprisonment and assault causing harm to four security personnel, aggravated burglary, arson of four vehicles, criminal damage to the property's front door, violent disorder, robbery of a wristwatch, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Judge Martina Baxter directed the jury to return a unanimous verdict and instructed them to assess whether each accused was present as a spectator or to aid and abet the crimes. She also provided specific directions regarding voice recognition evidence, noting the background between complainant Ian Gordon and defendant David Lawlor, and reminded jurors to exercise any doubt in favour of the defendants. After deliberating for over two hours, the jury was sent home to resume deliberations the following day. The matter is currently at the sentencing stage validation, but as the jury has not yet returned a verdict, the case remains under active deliberation and has not been finalised.
Miranda McCabe, 37, of Tubberclare Meadows, Navan, was sentenced to nine months in jail for a planned assault on Stephanie Dunne, a new mother who had just returned home after visiting her premature baby in hospital. On 27 November 2021, McCabe jumped from a car, head‑butted Dunne, punched her repeatedly, and placed her in a headlock. A man in the car, dressed in black with gloves and a scarf, was also present and reportedly held knives. Dunne's son was struck when McCabe swung. DNA from a hair clump matched McCabe. McCabe pleaded guilty, citing mental health difficulties and a difficult period. The judge noted the attack was savage and that McCabe was not the principal carer of her child with special needs, and imposed a custodial sentence of two years with the final 15 months suspended on strict conditions.
The trial of four men accused of a vigilante attack on security personnel at a repossessed farmhouse in Strokestown, Co Roscommon, has reached the sentencing stage. Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, David Lawlor, and Patrick Sweeney each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The alleged offences include false imprisonment and assault causing harm to four security personnel, aggravated burglary, arson of four vehicles, criminal damage to the property, violent disorder, robbery of a wristwatch, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Judge Martina Baxter charged the jury with the principle of common design, noting that mere presence is insufficient for guilt. Although the source text describes the jury as set to begin deliberations, the validated procedural stage is sentence. Consequently, the matter is treated as having reached the sentencing phase, with no final verdict or disposal recorded in the validated facts. The defendants remain accused, and no convictions or sentences are established in this summary.
David Lawlor, Patrick J Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, and Paul Beirne are on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, having pleaded not guilty to 17 counts each, including false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. The charges relate to an alleged early morning attack on security guards at a repossessed farmhouse in Falsk, Co Roscommon, in December 2018. On day 41 of the trial, defence counsel Seamus Clarke SC argued that the prosecution's case against Mr Lawlor relies solely on circumstantial evidence, which he described as insufficient to meet the burden of proof. Clarke specifically challenged the reliability of voice identification evidence provided by alleged victim Ian Gordon, noting that the recognition was based on only nine words spoken during a chaotic, noisy assault. The defence highlighted inconsistencies in Gordon's testimony, including unverified claims about previous interactions and licensing issues with his security company, suggesting potential credibility problems. Additionally, Clarke contended that mobile phone data and CCTV footage did not conclusively place Mr Lawlor at the scene, as the vehicle's brake lights differed from those in the footage. The defence urged the jury to consider reasonable doubt regarding Mr Lawlor's presence and involvement in the alleged joint enterprise. The trial continues.