A 32‑year‑old man, Dane Craigie, sustained serious brain injuries when the car he was a passenger in skidded off the road and struck a tree on 17 September 2008 at Bellinter, Navan. The incident occurred on a public road where construction and excavation works were underway. Craigie was taken to Navan Hospital and later to Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, where several surgeries were performed to relieve pressure on his brain. He spent an extended period in intensive care and now lives in a nursing home requiring ongoing care. Craigie sued several parties, including Meath County Council, SIAC Cintra Ferrovial (M3 Motorway Joint Venture), the Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland, Linda Farrell, vehicle owner Kelly Mathews, and Ray Smyth, alleging negligence, nuisance and breach of duty of care. All defendants denied negligence and argued Craigie contributed to his injury by not wearing a seat belt.
A 24‑year‑old Dublin man, Raymond Walsh, admitted to murdering a 41‑year‑old man in Cabra. He was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court, charged with the murder of Kevin Molloy. Walsh pleaded guilty to the offence committed on Glendhu Road, Navan Road, Cabra, between 23 January and 1 February 2015. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy remanded him in custody until 27 November.
Oyindamola Ojo, a 37‑year‑old Nigerian mother of six living in Balbriggan, Dublin, received a three‑year suspended sentence for her role in a complex money‑laundering scheme that involved Ireland, the UK and Nigeria. She opened seven credit‑union accounts across three Irish counties, using forged Electric Ireland bills and "compromised" UK debit and credit cards to withdraw €1,800 from St Mary's Credit Union, €2,500 from Palmerstown Credit Union and attempted to withdraw €4,800 from Dunboyne Credit Union between December 2014 and January 2015. Ojo also pleaded guilty to using false bills at Dunboyne, Nolan's and Waterford Credit Unions, and to dishonestly inducing a replacement of an iPhone 6 Plus at Carphone Warehouse. She claimed she was drawn into the operation by an ex‑partner and a friend, both based in Nigeria, and that she feared for her three children's safety. Ojo had no prior convictions.
Nassour Saleh, a 25‑year‑old Palestinian national, was given a suspended two‑year sentence for endangering Gardaí after a high‑speed chase on Navan Road in 2008. He had been 16 at the time and was not licensed to drive. In 2010 he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving without insurance and driving under the influence of cannabis, receiving a six‑month suspended detention and a four‑year driving disqualification. The case was adjourned for a probation report, but Saleh fled to Norway, where he lived and worked as a mechanic for six years. He returned to Ireland last year, was arrested during a random Garda check, and was sentenced by Judge Terence O'Sullivan, who noted the unusual circumstances and the fact that no one was injured. The sentence was suspended on conditions including two years of probation supervision. The court emphasised the protection of front‑line services and the seriousness of the offence.
In two separate cases, customs officers recovered cash at Dublin Airport and the amounts were forfeited to the State by order of Judge Karen O'Connor under section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1994. In the first case, €9,200 was seized from Eddie O'Loughlin of St Finbars Terrace, Bohermore, Galway, on 13 May 2016. O'Loughlin was travelling to Amsterdam that day, had no known source of income, and was receiving job seekers allowance. He had a history of drug convictions and a six‑year and a half‑year sentence for assisting organised crime. He gave a "less than credible explanation" for the cash and did not engage with the process, leading to forfeiture. In the second case, US$10,000 was seized from Laimonas Baltrusis of Baileys Village, Johnstown, Navan, Co Meath, on 14 June 2015.
Mr Justice Brian McGovern referred alleged inconsistencies in the income declarations of Ben Gilroy to the Revenue Commissioner's Investigations Unit. In July, the judge found Mr Gilroy in contempt of court for an affidavit in Allied Irish Banks proceedings that accused the court of criminal intimidation. The judge was minded to impose a community service order in lieu of three months in prison. On Friday, the court noted a Probation Service report deemed Mr Gilroy suitable for 80 hours of community service. However, the judge highlighted a discrepancy: Mr Gilroy had previously stated he had no income to qualify for legal aid, yet the probation report indicated full-time employment. The judge stated the court lacked resources to investigate this and referred the matter to Revenue, noting the DPP could liaise with them regarding potential false declarations. The judge also cited another inconsistency where Mr Gilroy claimed to lack a passport while expressing a desire to holiday in Spain. Counsel for Mr Gilroy maintained his client has no income. The contempt arose from an affidavit in AIB's enforcement of a €3.25m judgment against Seamus McQuaid, where Mr Gilroy made allegations against the court and AIB's legal team. Mr Gilroy admitted criminal contempt and apologized. The underlying AIB proceedings, which also involved co-accused Charles McGuinness, remain adjourned and will return to court later this month.
Ahmed Ayadi, aged 25, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for possession of a 9mm Glock pistol in suspicious circumstances and for possession of cannabis. He pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Ayadi had approached undercover Gardaí to buy a firearm, claiming he was involved in drug sales and wanted a weapon "just in case." He initially wanted an AK‑47 but chose a Glock after seeing a picture, paying €450 on 12 May 2016. Gardaí had been alerted through confidential information and set up a surveillance operation, recording meetings with Ayadi. He was arrested after his vehicle was intercepted. The judge, Karen O'Connor, noted his early guilty plea, remorse, and community work, but considered the offence serious. She imposed a six‑year term, suspended the final 12 months, and ordered 12 months of probation supervision upon release.
A 28-year-old man from Tallaght has been sentenced to 20 months imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to stealing five iPhones from Three mobile phone stores across the country between November 3 and 7, 2015. Viorel Rostas participated in robberies in Navan, Cavan, Letterkenny in Donegal, and Tralee and Killarney in Kerry. Rather than stealing the phones himself, Rostas acted as a distraction or obstructed staff attempting to prevent the thefts while accomplices took the devices, which were collectively valued at over €3,500. Judge John Aylmer considered Rostas's guilty plea and €1,000 compensation offered as mitigating factors, but noted his previous convictions for theft made a suspended sentence inappropriate. The court heard Rostas became involved following his mother's death and financial pressure from a loan taken for funeral expenses in Romania. None of the five phones were recovered by gardaí.
A 28-year-old man from Tallaght has pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to his involvement in the theft of five iPhones from mobile phone stores across the country between November 2015. Viorel Rostas admitted to taking part in robberies at outlets in Navan, Cavan, Letterkenny, Tralee, and Killarney over a five-day period, with the stolen handsets valued at over €3,500. During each incident, Rostas acted as a distraction or obstructed attempts to prevent the thefts while accomplices removed the phones. The robberies occurred during business hours and were recorded on store CCTV; none of the phones were recovered. Detective Garda evidence indicated Rostas was part of a group of four involved in the thefts. The defence outlined that Rostas took a €10,000 loan to finance his mother's funeral in Romania following her death in July 2015, subsequently agreeing to participate in the robberies due to pressure from the lender. Rostas, who has lived in Ireland over twenty years, has seventy-one previous convictions. Judge John Aylmer adjourned the case for sentencing on 24 July.
Carol Clarke, a 57‑year‑old mother of five, pleaded guilty to stealing €104,431 from the Department of Social Welfare between 1994 and 2011 by pretending to be her sister. The theft was uncovered in 2012 when gardaí found claims made under her sister's name. Clarke was arrested, denied the allegations, but later admitted guilt after handwriting and fingerprint tests. She had a prior conviction for handling stolen property in 1999. At the sentence hearing, Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a two‑year prison term, which she suspended in full, citing the "heartbreak and tragedy" in Clarke's family, including the deaths of two sons and her husband's Huntington's disease. The judge also noted Clarke's role as full‑time caregiver for her ill daughter and grandchildren, and she was not required to compensate the State due to limited financial means. Clarke is paying back the debt in €50 instalments. The court heard that the offence was premeditated and of some duration.
Promontoria (Arrow) Ltd is seeking a €9.68 million judgment against three former partners of the Bridgeford Partnership—Mr Pat Burke of Dunmore, Mr John Donnelly of Boyne Hill, and Mr John Fleming of Clonskeagh—over an alleged failure to repay a loan advanced in 2009. The fund claims it received a €9.4 million loan from EBS Building Society in February 2009 to restructure an existing debt and provide a capitalised facility, secured by the Bridgeford Bar & Restaurant in Drogheda and a site on Bredin Street. The loan was repayable by February 2011, transferred to National Asset Loan Management Ltd, and later acquired by Promontoria in 2015. In January the fund demanded repayment of the outstanding €9.68 million, including interest, and appointed a receiver over the secured assets.
Jonathan Dowdall, a former Sinn Fein councillor, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to 12 years' imprisonment for the false imprisonment and threat to kill of Anthony Hurley. The court found that Dowdall, who claimed to be an IRA member, had tied Hurley to a chair, waterboarded him and threatened to "chop him up" and "feed him to the dogs". Patrick Dowdall, the former councillor's father, received an eight‑year sentence for his role in the offence. Both sentences run concurrently and were back‑dated to 17 May 2016. The court noted the case involved a "Newton hearing" to resolve factual disputes after the defendants pleaded guilty to the charges. The sentencing was based on the evidence of the ordeal, the video footage, and the defendants' admissions. The court emphasised the seriousness of the offences and the impact on the victim.
The Special Criminal Court held a Newton hearing to resolve factual disputes in the case of Jonathan Dowdall (38) and his father Patrick Dowdall (59) over the alleged false imprisonment and waterboarding of Alexander Hurley. The court considered evidence that Jonathan Dowdall claimed to be a member of the IRA and threatened Hurley's family, while Patrick Dowdall denied making such claims. Hurley testified that he was detained at the Dowdalls' Navan Road home on 15 January 2015, that he was held in a garage for about two hours, and that he was threatened with harm to his family if he reported the incident. The judge found the Dowdalls' evidence that the ordeal lasted only 30–40 minutes unconvincing, accepted that IRA claims were made by Jonathan Dowdall, and confirmed that threats were made to Hurley's family. The hearing concluded with the court directing that sentencing would take place the following day. Jonathan Dowdall pleaded guilty. Patrick Dowdall pleaded guilty.
The Special Criminal Court has directed a Newton hearing to resolve disputed facts in the sentencing phase of a case involving Jonathan Dowdall and his father, Patrick Dowdall. Both defendants admitted to falsely imprisoning Alexander Hurley and threatening to kill him at Navan Road, Dublin 7, on January 15, 2015. Jonathan Dowdall pleaded guilty to these charges, while Patrick Dowdall also admitted to the threat. Although the matter was previously adjourned after submissions from Jonathan Dowdall's counsel, Mr Michael O'Higgins SC, the court has now scheduled a hearing for tomorrow morning to address conflicts in evidence. Presiding Judge Isobel Kennedy described Newton hearings as "extraordinarily rare" but permitted one in the interests of justice. The hearing will focus on five specific issues, including whether Jonathan Dowdall invited the victim to dinner, the duration of the ordeal, and allegations regarding threats to the victim's family. The judge noted that the sentence hearing is not at an end and that these issues constitute aggravating factors. The court will determine the facts before passing sentence, with the matter currently at the procedural stage of sentencing.
The Special Criminal Court adjourned the sentencing of Jonathan Dowdall and his father, Patrick Dowdall, until May 30th. Both men, of Navan Road, Dublin 7, had previously pleaded guilty to falsely imprisoning and threatening to kill Alexander Hurley on January 15th, 2015. The court heard that the defendants believed Hurley was attempting to defraud them of bank details after he contacted them via donedeal.ie regarding a motorbike sale. During the incident, which lasted three hours, Hurley was detained in a garage, bound to a chair, and subjected to waterboarding and threats of violence. Jonathan Dowdall's counsel, Mr Michael O'Higgins SC, submitted that the court should consider new issues before passing sentence. He disputed allegations that his client was a leading IRA member or a friend of Sinn Fein TDs Mary Lou McDonald and Gerry Adams, stating these claims were not accepted by the defendant. Counsel also noted that Hurley had previous convictions for dishonesty. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy agreed to adjourn the matter to allow the court to take these submissions into account. The report notes that neither defendant has previous convictions, and both expressed apologies for the violence inflicted on the injured party.
Carol Clarke, a 57‑year‑old mother of five, admitted to stealing €104,431 in social welfare fraud over a 17‑year period by posing as her sister Bernadette Darcy. The theft occurred at the Phibsborough post office between February 1994 and July 2011. Gardaí discovered the fraud in 2012 when they found welfare claims made in Darcy's name; Darcy claimed she was unaware of the claims. Clarke was arrested shortly after the discovery. She initially denied the allegations but later admitted guilt following handwriting and fingerprint tests, and after staff at the post office identified her. Clarke has a prior conviction for handling stolen property in 1999. She pleaded guilty to two counts of stealing from the Department of Social Welfare. The court heard that she used the stolen money to support her family and to pay off one son's drug debts.
The Special Criminal Court heard that Jonathan Dowdall and his father, Patrick Dowdall, admitted to falsely imprisoning and threatening to kill Alexander Hurley at their Navan Road, Dublin 7, home on January 15, 2015. Both defendants pleaded guilty to these charges. The court viewed mobile phone footage showing Jonathan Dowdall, wearing a balaclava, holding a tea-towel to Mr. Hurley's face and pouring water over his head. Prosecutors stated the Dowdalls believed Mr. Hurley was attempting to defraud them by seeking bank details under the guise of being a barrister. Mr. Hurley, who has two prior fraud convictions, was bound to a chair for three hours and subjected to threats of violence. In a victim impact statement, Mr. Hurley described the incident as brutal, noting he lost his job and friends and that his psychological injuries would never fully heal. Defense counsel apologized on behalf of the defendants, who have no previous convictions. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, presiding with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and James Faughnan, remanded the Dowdalls in custody until May 19, when they will be sentenced.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, former Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall, aged 38, and his father Patrick Dowdall, aged 59, pleaded guilty to falsely imprisoning and threatening to kill Alexander Hurley. The alleged offences occurred on 15 January 2015 at Navan Road, Dublin 7, where the Dowdalls detained Hurley without consent and threatened his life. Judge Isobel Kennedy remanded both men in custody until 28 April, when sentencing will take place. Jonathan Dowdall's counsel will prepare a psychological report, while the State will seek a victim impact statement.
The Special Criminal Court's trial of 33‑year‑old Lithuanian Eimantas Valteris collapsed after a taped conversation between Valteris and two Gardaí was played. In the recording, the Gardaí, including Detective Sergeant Padraig Boyce, warned Valteris that if he did not accept responsibility for three firearms and four silencers, his wife would be arrested and their child would go into care. They also threatened to arrest his partner if he refused to cooperate. The Director of Public Prosecutions entered a nolle prosequi before the tape was fully played, and the court discharged Valteris. The case had originally involved Valteris's alleged unlawful possession of a .32‑inch semi‑automatic pistol, with evidence of the weapon being found in a VW Passat that had been stopped by Gardaí in Castlebellingham. The trial was the first at the Special Criminal Court involving a Lithuanian defendant. Eimantas Valteris pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court ordered that the public be excluded from the hearing of evidence given by members of the Garda National Surveillance Unit in the trial of Lithuanian man Eimantas Valteris, aged 33, who was arrested in 2013 as part of an operation to counter dissident republican activity in the border area. Valteris, the first Lithuanian charged before the Special Criminal Court, pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of a .32‑inch semi‑automatic pistol (IZH 79‑8 model Baikal, serial TPB358706) found at his car sales depot in Balmoral Industrial Estate, Navan, Co. Meath. The court heard that Valteris operated the depot and that on 10 June 2013 he was observed moving a red Fiat Ducato van and a black VW Passat, the latter of which was stopped by Gardaí in Castlebellingham, Co. Louth, where the pistol was recovered in the boot. A later search of Valteris's yard yielded €2,000 in another car.
The Special Criminal Court in Dublin opened a trial on 14 March 2017 for Eimantas Valteris, a 33‑year‑old Lithuanian, who is the first Lithuanian charged with terrorism‑related offences in Ireland. Valteris was arrested by the Gardaí in 2013 during an operation targeting dissident republican activity in the border area. He pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of a .32 inch (7.65 mm) calibre IZH 79‑8 semi‑automatic pistol, serial number TPB358706, found at his car‑sales depot in Balmoral Industrial Estate, Navan, County Meath, on 10 June 2013. The prosecution, presented by Tony Mc Gillicuddy, claimed Valteris operated the depot and stored the firearm on his premises, acting in a storage and transfer role.
Patrick Clarke, a 37‑year‑old from Silverlawns, Navan, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possession of a stolen BMW. He had agreed to move the vehicle from one location to another in exchange for €100, describing the offer as "too good to be true." Clarke, who has struggled with alcohol since age 14 and has eight prior convictions, was arrested after Garda surveillance linked him to the theft. He was found in the stolen car with its keys and a mobile phone. The car was returned to its owner. Clarke pleaded guilty and was noted by the judge to have detoxed and intended to remain alcohol‑free. Judge Patricia Ryan, considering his early guilty plea and cooperation, imposed a two‑year sentence, which she suspended in full for two years.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 6 March 2017, Justice Patrick McCarthy sentenced Cluskey, aged 25, to nine years' imprisonment for manslaughter after he killed Christopher Nevin with an axe outside a house on Tailteann Road, Navan, on 19 November 2015. Cluskey had been found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. The judge reduced the recommended 12‑year term to nine years, citing Cluskey's early guilty plea and his claim of reasonable self‑defence. The sentence was back‑dated to 23 November 2015, the date Cluskey entered custody. Lisa Nevin, Nevin's wife, was removed from the courtroom after becoming emotional and shouting that she would never see her husband's face again. The case also involved co‑accused Josh Turner, who was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. The judge noted the confrontation between Turner and Nevin, the use of an axe, and the impact statements from Nevin's family.
In a house on Tailteann Road in Navan, Josh Turner (24) was found guilty of murdering 27‑year‑old Christopher Nevin during a dispute over a pedigree chihuahua. Turner was sentenced to life imprisonment, the mandatory sentence for murder, at the Central Criminal Court. Wayne Cluskey (25), who was also present, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for his part in Nevin's death. Cluskey will be sentenced next Monday. The trial, lasting eight days, relied heavily on CCTV footage and testimony from close friends, including Wayne Casserly, who described the confrontation as savage. Nevin was struck with a hatchet and an axe, leading to his death. Both accused voluntarily admitted their roles four days after the incident. The court heard statements from Nevin's mother and wife, who expressed deep grief and described Turner as a monster. Cluskey's defence highlighted his lack of intent to kill and his claim of defending Turner.
Damien Murphy, 40, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for a series of pharmacy robberies that took place between December 2015 and February 2016. He admitted to four robberies, one attempted robbery and the production of a knife, and was armed with a knife or scissors during each incident. The robberies were carried out in Dublin city centre, including at Byrnes Pharmacy, Mangans Pharmacy, Blackhall Pharmacy and Janet Dillon Pharmacy. In one robbery a four‑year‑old child was present. Murphy had previously kept his drug addiction under control but relapsed after a financial crisis. He pleaded guilty and made full admissions. The judge imposed concurrent sentences totalling six years, suspended the final 18 months, and imposed 12 months of probation supervision.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, Wayne Cluskey, aged 25, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for the death of Christopher Nevin, who was killed with an axe during a dispute over a pedigree chihuahua. Josh Turner, aged 24, was convicted of murder for the same incident. The jury, composed of nine men and three women, reached both verdicts by a 10‑to‑2 majority after more than two days of deliberation. Cluskey and Turner were remanded in custody until a sentencing hearing on 27 February. The trial included CCTV footage of the assault, testimony from Wayne Casserly about the dog dispute, and accounts of how Cluskey and Turner entered the scene, used an axe, and struck Nevin, leading to his death. The families of the deceased and the accused were kept inside the court by Gardaí during the proceedings.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court, hearing murder charges against Wayne Cluskey (25) and Josh Turner (24) for the 2015 killing of Christopher Nevin, was informed that a unanimous verdict was no longer required. Justice Patrick McCarthy announced that a majority of ten votes would suffice for either or both counts, and the jury was scheduled to return at 2 pm. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
The jury in the trial of Wayne Cluskey (25) and Josh Turner (24) of Mooretown, Ratoath, Co Meath, who are accused of murdering Christopher Nevin on 19 November 2015, will return tomorrow to continue deliberations. Both men pleaded not guilty. The jury has been instructed that for Cluskey there are three possible verdicts: not guilty if he was defending Turner and used reasonable force; manslaughter if he was defending Turner but used unreasonable force; or murder if the prosecution proved he was not defending Turner and intended to kill or seriously injure Nevin. For Turner there are two possible verdicts: manslaughter if he was provoked to the point of losing self‑control or if he acted in self‑defence but used unreasonable force; or murder if the prosecution proved he intended to kill or seriously injure Nevin. The case arose from a dispute over a male chihuahua loaned to Nevin for breeding, which led to a fight. Josh Turner was acquitted.
In a trial held in Navan, a jury of nine men and three women has begun deliberations over the murder of Christopher Nevin, who was killed on 19 November 2015. The accused are Wayne Cluskey, aged 25, and Josh Turner, aged 24, both from Mooretown, Ratoath, Co. Meath. Both men pleaded not guilty. Cluskey's counsel, Shane Costelloe SC, argues that Cluskey acted in defence of Turner when he "barrelled into" Nevin and grappled with him on the ground, claiming that Nevin was holding a hatchet and threatening Turner. The jury was instructed to consider whether Cluskey's force was reasonable; if it was, he should be found not guilty, if it was not, he could be guilty of manslaughter, and if he intended to kill, he could be guilty of murder.
In the Central Criminal Court, Patrick Marrinan SC argued that Wayne Cluskey (25) and Josh Turner (24) should be found guilty of manslaughter rather than murder for the death of Christopher Nevin on 19 November 2015. The case centred on a dispute over a chihuahua loaned to Nevin, which led to a confrontation at Nevin's home. Marrinan highlighted CCTV footage and testimony from Nevin's friend, Wayne Casserly, who revealed Nevin was armed with a hatchet when he answered the door. He contended that Nevin's threat and the presence of a hatchet provoked the accused, who reacted in self‑defence. Marrinan urged the jury to consider that the accused lost control under provocation, making manslaughter the appropriate verdict. Shane Costelloe SC for Cluskey also argued for a not‑guilty verdict, noting no evidence of a joint enterprise. The judge will address the jury tomorrow. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty. Wayne Cluskey pleaded not guilty. Josh Turner pleaded not guilty.
In the 2017 trial of Wayne Cluskey, 25, and Josh Turner, 24, both accused of murdering Christopher Nevin on 19 November 2015, the prosecution argued that the two men acted together to kill Nevin during a dispute over a pedigree chihuahua. Michael O'Higgins SC presented evidence that Turner had loaned a male chihuahua to Nevin, who owned three females and only one became pregnant, creating friction. The prosecution claimed that Cluskey and Turner drove to Nevin's home, where Nevin emerged with a hatchet. CCTV footage was cited to show Cluskey striking Nevin with an axe, followed by Turner's blows, and later Cluskey's use of the hatchet. The prosecution urged the jury to consider the defendants' claims of self‑defence and the possibility of manslaughter if the force used was deemed excessive. Both men had pleaded not guilty and were set to give their closing arguments the following day.
In a 2017 trial, 25‑year‑old Josh Turner, of Mooretown, Ratoath, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 27‑year‑old Christopher Nevin, who was killed on Tailteann Road, Navan, on 19 November 2015. Turner took the stand at the Central Criminal Court and admitted that he had "lost it" and struck Nevin multiple times with an axe, describing the act as a "minute of madness." He said he had been "dizzy" and "panicking" when he picked up the axe and that he had hit Nevin more than once, contrary to his earlier claim of a single blow. Turner recounted that Nevin had threatened him with a hatchet, that a friend, Wayne Cluskey, was present, and that Turner had later found the axe on the ground and used it. He also said he had tried to call for help after Nevin lay dying.
In the murder trial of Wayne Cluskey (25) and Josh Turner (24) for the killing of 27‑year‑old Christopher Nevin on 19 November 2015, Justice Patrick McCarthy found no evidence presented. He informed the jury that legal matters required resolution before proceeding and instructed the nine men and three women to return to the Central Criminal Court the following day. Wayne Cluskey pleaded not guilty. Josh Turner pleaded not guilty.
Wayne Cluskey (25) and Josh Turner (24) pleaded not guilty to the murder of 27‑year‑old Christopher Nevin on 19 November 2015. In interviews on 23 and 24 November, Garda Michael Fitzpatrick showed Cluskey CCTV footage from a house across the road where Nevin suffered blows that caused his death. Cluskey said the footage made it appear they had "made it our business to kill him" and that he had not expected the violence. He explained that the dispute began when Nevin owed Turner €100 for a male chihuahua loaned to breed with three females, and that only one dog became pregnant. Cluskey claimed he had not struck the first blow, that Nevin had a hatchet when he left the house, and that Turner delivered the fatal blow. He admitted to telling "white lies" after seeing the footage.
In a murder case, Wayne Cluskey (25) and Josh Turner (24) pleaded not guilty to the killing of 27‑year‑old Christopher Nevin on 19 November 2015. Turner voluntarily appeared at Navan Garda station on 23 November, where he gave several interviews. In a second interview on 24 November he claimed he struck Nevin's fatal blow after Nevin attacked him with a hatchet during a dispute over a chihuahua. Turner said he had loaned Nevin a male dog for €250, and a disagreement arose when Nevin claimed the dog had gone missing and later that it was "shooting blanks." Turner described meeting Nevin at a friend's house on Tailteann Road, where Nevin allegedly approached him with a green hatchet. Turner said he took the hatchet from Nevin's hand and struck Nevin on the head with the blunt side, seeing blood but not realizing he was fighting for his life. The trial continues before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury.
In the Central Criminal Court, Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that four severe blows, consistent with an axe, caused the death of 27‑year‑old Christopher Nevin. Two blows struck the head and one the neck, producing skull fractures, internal bleeding and brain swelling, leading to blunt‑force trauma death. A fourth blow to the body caused extensive injuries but did not kill him. The case involves Wayne Cluskey (25) and Josh Turner (24), who plead not guilty to Nevin's murder, amid a dispute over a male chihuahua given to Nevin.
Two men, Wayne Cluskey (25) and Josh Turner (24), from Mooretown, Ratoath, Co Meath, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 27‑year‑old Christopher Nevin on 19 November 2015. The Central Criminal Court heard that the accused suffered injuries to their hands and heads four days after the fatal fight. Dr Thomas Ravenscroft examined Cluskey on 23 November and found a cut on the top of his head, lacerations and bruises on both hands and wrists, and cuts on both shoulders. Turner had lacerations on both hands and a small cut on the top of his head, with scratch marks on his right shoulder. The injuries were described as about four days old. The trial, presided over by Justice Patrick McCarthy, continues with a jury of nine men and three women. The case involves a dispute over chihuahua pups that escalated into a fatal axe attack. The accused are charged with murder. The trial is ongoing.
During the Central Criminal Court trial of Wayne Cluskey (25) and Josh Turner (24) for the murder of 27‑year‑old Christopher Nevin, a witness, Wayne Casserly, admitted he had lied to the prosecution. He had omitted that Nevin entered the scene with a hatchet. Casserly said Nevin had taken the hatchet to confront the accused about a male chihuahua that had been lent to Nevin for breeding. After Nevin emerged with the hatchet, Cluskey allegedly took an axe from his car and struck Nevin, while Turner allegedly struck Nevin several times after retreating to Casserly's house. Casserly also admitted that Turner had told him to "keep your mouth shut." The trial continues before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of nine men and three women.
A murder trial has heard that 27-year-old Christopher Nevin, who was allegedly beaten to death with a hatchet during a dispute over a chihuahua, had a previous conviction for stamping on a man's head. Wayne Cluskey (25) and Josh Turner (24), both of Mooretown, Ratoath, Co Meath, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Christopher Nevin at Tailteann Road, Navan on November 19, 2015, as well as assault causing serious harm and possession of an article with intent to cause injury. Michael Fitzpatrick, a garda, stated that in 2007, Christopher Nevin pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm and was jailed for five and a half years. He was also convicted of possession of an article with intent to cause injury. Lisa Nevin, Christopher Nevin's wife, testified that she married him in 2011 and that they were very happy. She stated that Wayne Cluskey and Josh Turner were friends of her husband and that Turner had provided a male chihuahua to breed with her husband's dogs. On the day of the incident, Christopher Nevin received a phone call from the council informing them they were to get a house. The last time Lisa Nevin saw her husband alive was when he left the caravan with his friend, Wayne Casserly, to walk to Casserly's home on Tailteann Road. Wayne Casserly testified that he and Christopher Nevin arrived at the house on Tailteann Road at about 1.20pm. Moments later, Turner and Cluskey arrived in Cluskey's girlfriend's car. Turner knocked on the living room window, and Nevin went to the door. A commotion ensued, and Cluskey took something out of the back seat of the car, which Casserly later identified as a hatchet or axe. Cluskey struck Nevin on the shoulder with the weapon, and the three men scuffled until Nevin ended up on the ground. Casserly said that Cluskey was on top of Nevin and Turner was standing over him with the axe. Casserly tried to intervene but was struck on the back of the head with the weapon. He said he heard Cluskey say, 'You have gone and done it now, you have killed him.' When he regained his senses, he saw Nevin lying on the ground, bleeding, and went inside to get his phone and call an ambulance. Casserly said that Turner told him to keep his mouth shut and that the two men checked to see if Nevin was breathing before leaving. About half an hour later, Casserly received a phone call from Turner who asked about Nevin. Casserly told him, 'I think you are after killing him.' Turner again told him to keep his mouth shut. Casserly agreed with Turner's defence counsel, Patrick Marrinan SC, that he believed the two men were concerned for Nevin before they left. The trial is continuing tomorrow in front of Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of nine men and three women.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a prosecution barrister presented evidence that two men, Wayne Cluskey, 25, and Josh Turner, 24, from Mooretown, Ratoath, were involved in a joint enterprise that led to the murder of 27‑year‑old Christopher Nevin on 19 November 2015. Nevin, who owned several dogs including three female chihuahuas, had obtained a male chihuahua from Turner to breed with the females. After only one of the chihuahuas became pregnant, a dispute arose over Turner's expected benefit. CCTV footage showed Turner arriving in a silver Honda Civic, knocking on Nevin's door, and a brief conversation. Cluskey then entered and struck Nevin with a hatchet, causing fatal injuries. The men left the scene in a car, later voluntarily turned themselves in at Navan Garda Station. The trial, presided over by Justice Patrick McCarthy, will continue with a jury of nine men and three women. The prosecution described the footage as distressing. The men have pleaded not guilty.
In a bail hearing before the Central Criminal Court, Judge Paul Coffey refused bail for Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan Dowdall (38) and his father Patrick Dowdall (59). Both men were charged with falsely imprisoning, assaulting and threatening to kill Alexander Hurley on 15 January 2015 at Navan Road, Dublin. They also face charges of possessing a firearm or imitation firearm and a handgun with intent to imprison Mr Hurley. The Dowdalls had applied for bail before Christmas, with Chief Superintendent Finbar O'Brien suggesting electronic tagging might satisfy security concerns. The judge examined the legislation and concluded that electronic tagging is not permitted for persons seeking bail. Consequently, the court adjourned the hearing to the new year and denied the bail applications, despite the defendants' willingness to increase surety from €10,000 to €20,000. The defendants are scheduled to go on trial in May.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Andrew Allen, 38, was sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment for a series of offences including endangerment, dangerous driving and driving without insurance. The court heard that Allen, a disqualified driver, was pursued by ten Garda patrol cars on the M50, reaching speeds up to 200 km/h, and collided with two patrol cars during the chase. He pleaded guilty to burglary on Navan Road in April 2016 and to multiple road traffic offences. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a suspended final year and ordered one year of probation supervision. Allen received medical treatment for minor injuries sustained during the pursuit, and no Garda or civilian injuries were reported. The case highlighted Allen's history of 87 convictions and his prior warning of a threat to his life by Garda officers.
Jonathan Dowdall (38) and his father Patrick Dowdall (59) are awaiting trial for charges of falsely imprisoning, assaulting and threatening to kill Alexander Hurley on 15 January last year. They also face charges of possessing a sawn‑off shotgun and a handgun with intent to imprison Hurley. Both men applied for bail at the Central Criminal Court, but the court, citing Section 2A of the Bail Act, refused bail to prevent a serious offence. The Dowdalls offered to accept electronic tagging and other conditions. Judge Paul Coffey noted that such measures could reduce risk and adjourned the matter to the new year to explore tagging. Both men remain in custody until 13 January. The case is set for trial next May.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Paul Brennan, aged 29, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Prison Officer Michael Delaney at Mountjoy Prison on 23 April 2011. Brennan, who had 56 prior convictions, threw a punch that ignited a violent attack by ten inmates on Delaney, who was head‑butted, punched, kicked and dragged to the ground. Delaney described lasting physical injuries, flashbacks and post‑traumatic stress, and said the assault robbed him of his career and sporting life. Brennan's counsel said he had turned his life around after release in 2012, citing his wife and family as stabilising influences. Judge Melanie Greally noted the incident was serious but limited to a single punch, and adjourned the case for a community service report, indicating a possible two‑year suspended sentence with one year probation and 240 hours community service. The case will return on 16 January 2017.
During a sentencing hearing in the Special Criminal Court, Donal O Coisdealbha, a 25‑year‑old Dublin man, pleaded guilty to membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). He was arrested on 13 May 2015 after a Garda investigation that had followed him for months. The investigation uncovered explosive device components in his Maynooth University locker and in a house at Harbour Court, Courtown, Wexford. Items seized included improvised rockets, semtex, detonators, a time‑power unit, a broken circuit board, and a PIC chip. DNA evidence linked O Coisdealbha to the devices. Garda audio surveillance revealed discussions about building an artillery rocket and a planned event around the time of Prince Charles's visit. O Coisdealbha denied IRA membership during detention. He has no prior convictions and was remanded in custody until 6 December for sentencing. The maximum sentence for belonging to a dissident republican terrorist organisation is eight years.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing in Dublin, former Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall, aged 39, and his father Patrick Dowdall, aged 59, were denied bail. Both men were charged with falsely imprisoning Alexander Hurley on 15 January at Navan Road, Dublin 7, by detaining him without consent. They also face charges of threatening to kill Hurley and assaulting him, causing harm, at the same location and date. Additionally, they are accused of possessing a firearm or imitation firearm – a sawn‑off shotgun and a handgun – with intent to facilitate the false imprisonment. Judge Robert Eagar, with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and James Faughnan, refused bail after hearing objections from Gardaí based on the seriousness of the charges and Section 2A of the Bail Act. The Dowdalls remain remanded in custody until 15 May next year, when their trial is expected to commence.
The Special Criminal Court has fixed a trial date for Jonathan Dowdall, 39, and his father Patrick Dowdall, 59, both of Navan Road, Dublin 7. The former Sinn Fein councillor and his father are charged with possessing a firearm or imitation firearm, described as a sawn-off shotgun and a handgun, with the intent to falsely imprison Alexander Hurley at the same address on January 15, 2015. The court set the trial for May 15 next year, with proceedings expected to last two weeks. This procedural step follows the validation of the sentence stage, though the specific finalisation for the accused remains an adjournment to the fixed trial date. The report attributes these allegations to the defendants, who have not yet been found guilty. No plea, finding, or immediate sentence was recorded in this specific procedural update, which solely establishes the timeline for the upcoming trial. The matter is therefore adjourned to the specified date for full trial proceedings, rather than being concluded or finalised at this stage.
Ms Justice Caroline Costello has lifted freezing orders on bank accounts at the High Court following agreement by the account holders to transfer funds to the Official Assignee. The monies, totalling over €85,000 in cheques made payable to a bankrupt County Monaghan farmer, had been lodged into accounts held by third parties. The Official Assignee, Chris Lehane, obtained the freezing orders in late August after the farmer's bankruptcy declaration, concerned the deposits represented attempts to place funds beyond the reach of his office. Cheques exceeding €55,000 were lodged to Navan Fruit Co Ltd at an Ulster Bank branch in County Louth, whilst over €31,000 was deposited to an account in the name of Tony Walsh trading as Breathnach Bargains at a Dublin branch of Bank of Ireland. Both account holders agreed to release the funds, with Walsh committing to pay €20,000 within one week and the remainder within two weeks. Ms Justice Costello vacated the freezing orders and adjourned the matter.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 27 July 2016, former Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan Dowdall, aged 39, and his father Patrick Dowdall, aged 59, were charged with three offences each: falsely imprisoning, assaulting and threatening to kill Alexander Hurley. The alleged incidents occurred on 15 January at Navan Road, Dublin 7, where the Dowdalls are said to have detained Hurley without consent, assaulted him causing harm, and threatened him with death. Earlier, they faced charges for possessing a sawn‑off shotgun and a handgun with intent to falsely imprison Hurley at the same location and date. The court read the charge sheets to the accused; both made no reply. Counsel for the State applied for remand, and the judges remanded both men in custody until 7 October, when the case will be mentioned again.
In July 2016, Meath County Council initiated High Court proceedings against Mr. John and Mrs. Bridgie Stokes, alleging they had unlawfully occupied a vacant council house at 11 Tailteann Street, Navan. The council sought an injunction compelling the couple to vacate and hand over possession. Mr. Justice Donald Binchy granted the council permission to serve short notice of the injunction ex‑parte, adjourned the matter for a week, and allowed the council to proceed. The council described the matter as "very urgent" because the house was earmarked for another family on its housing list. A security company had reported that shutters were removed and that someone was living in the property; an official subsequently found the Stokes inside. The council had informed the couple that they had no lawful entitlement to occupy the house and requested they leave, but the Stokes refused to vacate.