In a unanimous Supreme Court ruling, the appeal by Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch and former Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan Dowdall to stop their trial for the Regency Hotel murder from proceeding before the Special Criminal Court (SCC) was dismissed. The Court, led by Chief Justice Donal O'Donnell, upheld the High Court's decision that the SCC remains lawfully in operation under the 1939 Offences Against the State Act and the 1972 Proclamation. The judges rejected arguments that the SCC had become an unlawful permanent court or that its existence required continuous review by the Dáil. They also found that the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission could not act as amicus curiae in this case. The Court will later order costs. The trial of Hutch (58) and Dowdall (44) for the murder of David Byrne (33) on 5 February 2016 will therefore proceed before the SCC.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced three men for their roles in a romance fraud that caused a woman in her sixties to lose over €254,000 in life savings. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Omowale Owolabi (31) of Navan, Co Meath, to three years and three months in prison after he pleaded guilty to theft. Raak Sami Sadu (32) of Clonsilla, Dublin 15, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud. Samson Ajayi (33) of Grangerath, Co Meath, received a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to three money laundering charges. The court heard the defendants used a fake profile named Neil Turner on Plenty of Fish to deceive the victim, who made ten payments between November 2019 and mid-2020. Gardaí linked the profile to the three Nigerian nationals and seized devices containing evidence of the scheme, including messages regarding the division of funds. Owolabi admitted receiving €30,000 for his role, while Ajayi admitted receiving money but claimed ignorance of wrongdoing. Sadu made limited admissions. The judge noted the defendants' early guilty pleas, cooperation, remorse, and lack of previous convictions as mitigating factors, while emphasizing the severe damage such fraud inflicts on victims who often feel humiliated.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by Caolan Smyth and Gary McAreavey regarding the admissibility of mobile phone data used in their convictions. The appellants were found guilty and convicted, respectively, of the attempted murder of James Gately and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life in 2017. McAreavey was also convicted of assisting Smyth by purchasing petrol and helping burn a black Lexus at Newrath, Dromiskin, Co Louth. The appeal challenged the use of data gathered under the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011, arguing it breached EU privacy laws following a separate ruling in the Graham Dwyer case. However, the court, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, ruled that the Act was valid in 2017 and that the public interest in investigating crime comprehensively outweighed the limited privacy rights attached to the data. The court noted the data was tightly focused and did not reveal personal details such as beliefs or sexuality. The judgment affirmed the Special Criminal Court's 2020 findings. This decision does not affect the separate appeal by Elaine O'Hara, whose case remains contested and is not part of this finalisation.
A divorced couple received fully suspended sentences at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for money laundering nearly €180,000 stolen through an invoice redirect fraud targeting an education board. Zanab Ibrahim, aged 51, of Wolfe Tone Street in Cavan, and her ex-husband Francis Falaye, aged 54, of Lobinstown Apartment in Navan, Co Meath, pleaded guilty to the offence. The Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board was defrauded when an email purporting to come from a construction company redirected payment for school works in Tullamore to accounts controlled by the defendants. Ibrahim received €178,695 into her fashion boutique account, from which €50,000 was transferred to Falaye four days later. The fraud emerged when the genuine contractor advised non-receipt of payment. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a suspended two-and-a-half-year sentence on each defendant, conditional on keeping the peace. Falaye was ordered to pay €1,000 to the Peter McVerry Trust. Gardaí recovered all but €1,000 of the stolen funds.
Stephen Gibbons, 58, of Rockleigh House, Richardstown, Co Meath, was convicted in May 2021 by a jury at Trim Circuit Court of unlawfully possessing a 9mm Makarov PM‑63 RAK sub‑machine pistol found during a Garda search near his home. The gun, dated 1945 and coated in thick lubricant, was serviceable but had two discharged bullets blocking the barrel; a detective fitted a replacement barrel to demonstrate its capability for semi‑automatic and fully automatic fire. Gibbons was acquitted of possessing ammunition at the same time and place. He appealed to the Court of Appeal, arguing the jury's verdict was logically inconsistent because the same bag contained the pistol, ammunition, and a hair from his own hair stuck to the lubricant.
In July 2022, Daniel Haines, aged 33, was sentenced to two years and six months in prison, with the final six months suspended, for assault causing harm to his ex‑partner Shauna Hunt. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Haines had contacted Hunt on 3 February 2021, staying at her apartment for several days. On 7 February, after drinking vodka, he told Hunt he had another girlfriend and demanded she choose. When Hunt refused to sleep with him, Haines became aggressive, calling her a "whore", "tramp" and "unwanted child". He repeatedly kicked her, pulled her by the hair, and tripped her down the stairs, causing her to fall. CCTV showed him throwing her to the ground and smashing her mobile phone. Hunt suffered bruises, cuts and two broken ribs, and was later admitted to Mater Hospital. Haines had 49 prior convictions, including public order offences, criminal damage, possession of a weapon, robbery and bench warrants. Daniel Haines pleaded guilty.
Christopher Slator, 37, of Cabra, Dublin 7, was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for the murder of Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub in Dublin 1 on April 25, 2016. Slator, who pleaded not guilty, became the third man convicted of the killing. The court rejected his defence that his DNA on a mask and runners was innocent, finding it the only rational explanation for his involvement. Slator has 59 previous convictions. In November 2020, David Hunter, 43, of London, was jailed for life for the same murder. Eamon Cumberton, of Dublin 7, was also jailed for life in 2019. Martin Aylmer, 36, of Marino, Dublin 3, pleaded guilty to buying mobile phones for the gang and was sentenced to just under four years. This sentence was later increased to six years by the Court of Appeal. The court described the murder as a planned operation involving at least three people. Barr was shot seven times, five in the head, during a raffle event. The court noted Slator and Cumberton fled to Dubai the day after the shooting before returning to Ireland a month later.
The Special Criminal Court has ruled that Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch's application to dismiss the murder charge against him under Section 4E of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1967 cannot be heard in the non-jury court. The court determined that Section 4E is only applicable when an accused is sent forward for trial from the District Court, and as Mr Hutch was charged directly before the Special Criminal Court, the application is not available to him. The ruling followed submissions from defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC, who argued that the literal interpretation of the section would result in unequal treatment for Mr Hutch compared to those charged in the District Court. The court rejected the argument that the section should be interpreted in a purposive manner, stating that the literal meaning reflects the intention of the Oireachtas. The matter was adjourned until October 3, with all parties agreeing that there was nothing else to attend to before the trial date. Jonathan Dowdall, Patrick Dowdall, Paul Murphy, and Jason Bonney are also charged in relation to the murder of David Byrne, but their cases remain at the appeal stage with no finalisation yet.
The Special Criminal Court has convicted Christopher Slator of the murder of Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub in Dublin 1 on April 25, 2016. Slator, of Cabra, Dublin 7, had pleaded not guilty, but the non-jury court rejected his defence that his DNA on a mask and runners found in a car had an innocent explanation. The court found the DNA evidence sufficient to prove his guilt, noting that his flight to Dubai with Eamon Cumberton the day after the shooting was highly suspicious. Slator will be sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment later today. This conviction follows previous life sentences imposed on David Hunter in 2020 and Eamon Cumberton in 2019 for the same murder. Additionally, Martin Aylmer pleaded guilty to buying mobile phones for the gang involved in the killing; he was initially sentenced to just under four years, a term later increased to six years by the Court of Appeal. The court highlighted the chaotic nature of the shooting, where Barr was shot seven times, and the unusual circumstances of the defendants' travel arrangements as supporting evidence for the conviction.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a 63‑year‑old man named Aidan Scanlon was found to possess five images of child pornography on his laptop. The illegal material was discovered after a Facebook "inappropriate image" alert was triggered when a user uploaded an image to the platform. Gardaí traced the email address linked to the Facebook account to Scanlon's home, obtained a warrant, and seized his laptop in August 2016. Scanlon admitted to possessing the images but denied knowingly holding them. He pleaded guilty in October 2016, was arrested in May 2019, and later pleaded guilty again before his trial. Judge Martin Nolan, sentencing him today, suspended in full a one‑year prison term, citing that Scanlon was "probably unlikely to reoffend." The judge also ordered him to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for a year. The case highlighted the role of social media alerts in uncovering child‑abuse material.
A 15‑year‑old student, Ethan Boone, and his mother, Cathy Ho, have filed a High Court challenge in Ireland alleging that the Chinese Embassy is drafting the Mandarin Chinese curriculum and that the Minister for Education unlawfully consulted with the Chinese Ministry of Education. The case centres on the requirement that Leaving Certificate Mandarin Chinese exam answers be written in simplified characters, which the student claims is unlawful and illogical, especially since his mother teaches him traditional characters used in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau. The applicants argue that the Minister's refusal to accept traditional characters is unlawful, under‑inclusive, and contrary to the 1998 Education Act, EU law, and the European Convention on Human Rights. They seek orders to allow traditional characters in marking, declarations of unconstitutionality, and a declaration that a memorandum of understanding with China is impermissible.
The Supreme Court declined to hear Ben Gilroy and his wife Sarah Jane Gilroy's appeal against a possession order granted to Start Mortgages DAC for their Navan home. The Court found no point of general public importance had been raised. The Gilroys had argued that a fraud had occurred involving the lender and a solicitor, and that changes had been made to the mortgage documentation. The Circuit Court rejected these claims, finding them farfetched and unsupported, and the High Court confirmed the absence of evidence for fraud. The Gilroys sought a priority hearing and referral to EU courts, but the Supreme Court held that their due‑process rights had been fully addressed in lower courts and that it could not revisit the earlier findings. The application was dismissed by a panel of three judges, including Mr Justice Peter Charleton, Mr Justice Seamus Woulfe and Mr Justice Brian Murray.
Lawyers for Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch, accused of the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel, have argued that their client would face discrimination if prevented from applying to the Special Criminal Court to dismiss the charge against him under Section 4E of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1967. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC stated that it would be an 'absurd interpretation' of the law to deny Mr Hutch the right to apply for dismissal simply because he was charged directly in the Special Criminal Court rather than the District Court. The matter was adjourned for a ruling on July 15. Mr Hutch, who is in custody, was present in court and was joined by his four co-accused, including Jonathan Dowdall, Patrick Dowdall, Paul Murphy, and Jason Bonney, who were also present. All five accused are due to stand trial at the Special Criminal Court on October 3. The trial is expected to last 12 weeks. The case involves the murder of David Byrne, who was shot dead at the hotel in February 2016. Mr Hutch was extradited from Spain after his final appeal against extradition was rejected by a Spanish Appeals Court. The Supreme Court has reserved its decision on appeals by Mr Hutch and Jonathan Dowdall against the DPP's decision to try them before the non-jury Special Criminal Court.
William O'Donnell, 24, of Ashbourne, Co Meath, was sentenced to five years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to falsely imprisoning and threatening to kill his former wife, Brigid Reilly, on September 20, 2021. Judge Martin Nolan described the offence as very serious, noting that O'Donnell forced Ms Reilly into his car against her will and deprived her of her liberty for 24 hours. The court heard that O'Donnell drove Ms Reilly from Naas, Co Kildare, to Enniskillen, threatening to kill them both and ruin her reputation within the Travelling community. He recorded a video taunting her father and claimed police could not reach him once he crossed into the North. Ms Reilly, who was terrified, eventually escaped briefly but was forced back into the vehicle. O'Donnell was arrested at a garda checkpoint after driving back into the jurisdiction. He has 66 previous convictions and was on bail for other offences at the time. His defence counsel described the act as immature and attributed it to impulse control issues. O'Donnell has been in custody since last September and is on an enhanced prisoner régime. The matter was finalised with the imposition of the custodial sentence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Mark Lynch, aged 37, was acquitted of assault causing serious harm by direction of the trial judge. Lynch had pleaded not guilty to the charge that he struck Jason Finnegan with a shovel during a dispute on a building site in Garristown. The prosecution alleged that Finnegan fell and sustained head injuries after being hit by a shovel, then was kicked and struck on the head. Lynch testified that he had struck Finnegan with his fist to defend his father, Ernie Lynch, who was also present. Judge Pauline Codd, after a legal application by Lynch's counsel, ruled that the jury could not be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Lynch used a shovel or intended serious harm. Consequently, the judge directed the jury to find Lynch not guilty. The case was described as difficult and harrowing.
An appeal by former Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall, aged 44, against the High Court's refusal to overturn the Director of Public Prosecutions' decision to try him for the Regency Hotel murder at the Special Criminal Court, has been struck out by the Court of Appeal. Dowdall and Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch, aged 58, are charged with the murder of David Byrne, 33, at the Regency Hotel in Whitehall, Dublin, on 5 February 2016. Both men had sought judicial review at the High Court, arguing that a non‑jury trial before the SCC would be unlawful and a breach of their fundamental rights, claiming the court was a permanent institution established on a temporary basis. Mr Justice Anthony Barr dismissed the actions, ruling that the legislation was not temporary and had no temporal limit. The Court of Appeal struck out Dowdall's appeal, following a decision by the Supreme Court to hear the Hutch and Dowdall appeals next Tuesday.
Abuse Survivor Aoife Farrelly has waived her anonymity to allow her brother, Cian Farrelly (30), to be named in connection with the rape and sexual assault of his sister at the family home in Castlepollard, Co Westmeath, between 2007 and 2009. Farrelly pleaded guilty to the charges at the Central Criminal Court. The victim, who was aged between seven and eight and a half at the time of the abuse, while Farrelly was aged between 15 and a half and 17 years old, described the impact of the abuse on her life, including self-harm, disordered eating, anxiety, stress, and OCD. She stated that she had undergone counselling, psychotherapy, and inpatient treatment for PTSD. During the sentencing hearing, Mr Justice Paul McDermott noted that Ms Farrelly's childhood was destroyed and she was deeply affected by the abuse. He handed down a four-and-a-half year sentence and suspended the final 18 months on a number of conditions, including that Farrelly have no contact of any kind with his sister. Speaking outside court, Ms Farrelly said she was pleased with the sentence that was handed down, saying that the headline sentence the judge mentioned was 'enough' for her. The matter was adjourned for the submission of reports, including a probation report and a report from forensic psychological services. Cian Farrelly took the stand at the end of the hearing to apologise to his sister.
Stephen Gibbons, a convicted person linked to Cornelius Price, appealed to the Court of Appeal against his May 2021 jury conviction for unlawfully possessing a 9mm Makarov PM-63 RAK submachine pistol. Gibbons, who denied the charge, was found not guilty of possessing ammunition at the same location in Co Meath. His legal team argued the verdict was logically inconsistent, noting that a single hair on the weapon was used to convict him despite the ammunition being found in the same bag, for which he was acquitted. The prosecution countered that the jury understood the distinction between the counts and that the DNA evidence was not the sole basis for the conviction. The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment, meaning the matter is adjourned and not yet concluded. At his earlier sentence hearing, Judge Martina Baxter backdated the sentence to April 2020, citing the association of the firearm with organised criminality as an aggravating factor. Gibbons remains on Price's land in Gormanstown, having previously married Price's aunt.
Iheanyichukwu Banna, 35, of Clonee, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possessing over €63,000 derived from an invoice redirection fraud. Judge Martin Nolan stated that the offence could not have been carried out without Banna's complicity, inferring he was "up to his neck in it," despite defence counsel arguing the plea was based on recklessness. The court heard that a Kilkenny-based company was defrauded in July 2018 when a bogus email directed a €63,043 payment to a Permanent TSB account. Records showed the funds were transferred to Banna's account, with €5,000 sent to his brother in the UK and €25,000 moved to his savings account within an hour. Banna initially claimed ignorance, alleging a man named Kelvin used his account, but could not explain the transactions. Gardaí recovered €42,000, leaving the victim with a €21,000 loss. Judge Nolan noted Banna's good employment record and lack of prior convictions, describing his conduct as bordering on "wilful blindness." He sentenced Banna to three years' imprisonment, fully suspended on the condition that he be of good behaviour for the duration of the sentence.
Megan Creighton, 34, pleaded guilty to robbery on Old Navan Road on 3 December 2020. The victim was approached by Creighton and her partner, who demanded money, phone and wallet. Creighton threatened to bite his nose, bit him, and then told her accomplice to use a knife. The accomplice struck the victim with a screwdriver, causing facial damage and neck marks. An off‑duty Garda intervened, leading to the muggers' arrest. The victim's injuries were documented and a victim impact statement was submitted but not read. Creighton, a mother of five with 17 prior convictions and a history of heroin addiction, claimed she was a victim of domestic violence. She expressed remorse and accepted responsibility. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced her to three years' imprisonment.
In June 2022, the Court of Appeal struck out an appeal against the conviction and sentence of Declan Byrne, a 35‑year‑old former resident of Spencer Dock, Sheriff Street, Dublin. Byrne had been jailed for eight years for his role in a series of "vicious and savage assaults" outside a nightclub in Ashbourne, Co. Meath, on 1 August 2016. He pleaded not guilty to one count of violent disorder, one count of causing serious harm, and three counts of causing harm, but a jury at Trim Circuit Criminal Court found him guilty in March 2020. He received a nine‑year sentence with 12 months suspended. Byrne, now in Midlands Prison, had previously sought appeals that were adjourned when he changed counsel. The latest appeal hearing was scheduled for that day, but his new barrister, Keith Spencer BL, requested another adjournment to review CCTV footage and notes from Byrne's former legal team.
The Special Criminal Court has listed a Section 4E application for July 8 regarding Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch, who is accused of the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in 2016. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC stated that Mr Hutch is seeking a pre-trial hearing and an application to dismiss the charge due to insufficient evidence. The court must first determine its jurisdiction under Section 4E of the Criminal Procedure Act 1967. Additionally, a preliminary trial hearing application under Section 6 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2021 is being pursued, with Jonathan Dowdall's counsel joining this application. Jonathan Dowdall is also accused of the murder of Mr Byrne. His father, Patrick Dowdall, is accused of facilitating the murder by making a hotel room available to a criminal organisation. Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney are both accused of facilitating the commission of a serious offence by providing access to motor vehicles to the organisation. All five accused are due to stand trial on October 3, with the trial expected to last 12 weeks. The matter was adjourned to allow for these preliminary applications, and the court will rule on the jurisdiction issue shortly after the July 8 hearing. Information regarding the applications is subject to publication restrictions.
In a routine traffic stop on Ratoath Road, Garda Diarmuid Murphy mistakenly identified a car as uninsured and pulled it over. The driver, Gavin Jordan, 49, was found to have the vehicle insured. During the stop, the Garda smelled cannabis, searched the vehicle and Jordan, and discovered an envelope containing €26,000 in cash in his trouser pocket. Jordan admitted to acting as a courier in a money‑laundering scheme to help his son, who had a drug debt after Garda seizure of drugs from his home. He claimed the envelope held €15,000, but two withdrawals from his account in April 2020 totaled €20,000. Jordan pleaded guilty to possession of the proceeds of crime. The court noted his long, honest employment as a welder and his care for his elderly mother. Judge Melanie Greally, considering these mitigating factors, sentenced him to an 18‑month suspended prison term.
Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch, 58, accused of murdering Kinahan gang member David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in 2016, has a bid to dismiss the charge adjourned to next week by the Special Criminal Court. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC told the three‑judge court that the application could proceed, but one judge was unavailable, so the hearing was postponed to Monday. The court must first decide whether it has jurisdiction under Section 4E of the Criminal Procedure Act 1967, which allows dismissal where evidence is insufficient. Hutch, who is in custody, was present for the brief hearing. Jonathan Dowdall (43) and Patrick Dowdall (64) are also charged with the Regency Hotel murder and are due to stand trial on 3 October. The trial, if it goes ahead, is expected to last 12 weeks. The matter was adjourned until 10.30 am Monday.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 2 June 2022, Michael Bowman SC argued that DNA evidence presented by the State does not prove that Christopher Slator was one of the three men involved in the murder of Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub. Bowman highlighted that Slator's DNA was found on a mask and a pair of runners in the getaway car, but also on other masks belonging to unknown individuals. He cited the forensic scientist's admission that secondary transfer could explain the DNA presence and that the DNA does not prove Slator wore the mask. Bowman also questioned the prosecution's inference that Slator's DNA indicated his presence in the car at the time of the shooting, noting that witnesses described a taller man than Slator's height. He further challenged the prosecution's reliance on a same‑day Bangkok flight booking as evidence of guilt, arguing it was an unusual but not incriminating travel pattern. Christopher Slator pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court ordered the forfeiture of a black Mercedes S350, valued at about €50,000, from Thomas Rooney, a 52‑year‑old member of an international crime gang. Rooney had pleaded guilty to money‑laundering offences under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing) Act 2010, and was found in possession of large sums of cash and encrypted devices. The vehicle, purchased in 2018 for €72,000, was used by Rooney to transport cash as part of an industrial‑scale laundering operation. The court noted that the car could have been used for legitimate business but that its use in criminal activity made it subject to forfeiture. Rooney was sentenced to six years' imprisonment in January of this year. The forfeiture order was granted by Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Dominic McGinn SC argued that DNA found on a mask and a runner inside a getaway car was sufficient to convict Christopher Slator of murdering Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub in 2016. McGinn noted that the DNA matched Slator's profile and that the same items were linked to the car used by the three gunmen who fled the scene. He also cited evidence that Slator and an accomplice booked a flight to Bangkok the day after the shooting, with no luggage, suggesting a planned escape. McGinn emphasized that no reasonable explanation for the DNA evidence existed, and that the injuries sustained by Barr proved the act was murder. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC was scheduled to present his closing remarks the following day. The case remains at the non‑jury trial stage. Christopher Slator pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin park, 21‑year‑old Gary Foy, riding a borrowed scrambler bike, collided with a stationary quad bike that a mother and her two‑year‑old baby were sitting on. The infant sustained serious injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, and was treated by a medical professional who described him as the most severely injured two‑year‑old he had treated who survived. Foy, who had been riding scramblers for ten years, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious bodily harm, driving without insurance, and driving under the influence of cannabis. No vehicles were permitted in the park's green area. The court adjourned the case to October to prepare a probation report, noting the high risk of the activity and the public park setting. No victim impact statement was presented. The child has since been discharged but will need ongoing rehabilitative services. The case remains pending.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear appeals by Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch and Jonathan Dowdall aimed at preventing their trials before the Special Criminal Court from proceeding. Both men are charged with the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in Dublin in 2016. In a related development, defence counsel for Mr Hutch asked the Special Criminal Court for permission to make an application under Section 4E of the Criminal Procedure Act 1967 to dismiss the charge due to alleged insufficient evidence. Ms Justice Tara Burns agreed to hear a preliminary application on June 15 to determine if the court has jurisdiction to hear this request. Mr Hutch, who is in custody, was not present for the brief hearing. A trial date has been fixed for October 3, 2022, when Mr Hutch is expected to go on trial alongside four other co-accused. Mr Dowdall, the third man charged in connection with the killing, is also scheduled to stand trial with three other co-accused on the same date. The shooting occurred during a boxing weigh-in when armed men, some disguised as gardaí, stormed the venue. Mr Hutch was extradited from Spain after his final appeal against extradition was rejected. Any evidence heard during the preliminary application cannot be published or broadcast.
In May 2022 the Court of Appeal moved the hearing of a motion to introduce fresh evidence in the appeal of Boy B, the 13‑year‑old convicted of murdering 14‑year‑old Ana Kriegel in 2018. The original date of 17 June was postponed to 22 June because a judge was unavailable. Boy B, who was sentenced to 15 years' detention with review after eight years, was not present at the hearing. The motion seeks to amend the grounds of appeal and add new evidence, including a clinical psychologist's report that Boy B suffered post‑traumatic stress disorder after witnessing the assault and that his statements to Gardaí did not prove guilt. The Court noted that the appeal will focus solely on the conviction, not the sentence. Boy B and his co‑accused Boy A remain detained at Oberstown Children Detention Campus. The case was originally tried in the Central Criminal Court using Children's Court procedures.
Two men, Stephen Coyle (34) and Leroy Howard (30), appealed against the 10‑year headline sentences imposed for violent disorder and assault in a 2016 incident in Ashbourne. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice Séamus Woulfe, dismissed both appeals, finding no error in the judge's decision to set the maximum term because the violence was a highly aggravating factor. Coyle's 7½‑year sentence had the final two years suspended, while Howard's 7½‑year sentence had the final 12 months suspended and was to run concurrently with a 4‑year drug‑offence term. The court noted each man's personal circumstances, guilty pleas and remorse, and upheld the sentences as appropriate for the offences. The appeal hearing concluded that the judge had taken sufficient account of mitigating factors and that the sentences were not excessive. The case remains at the appellate level with no further intervention.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear appeals by Gerry "The Monk" Hutch and former Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan Dowdall, who seek to stop their murder trials for the 2016 Regency Hotel attack from proceeding before the Special Criminal Court (SCC). Earlier this year, High Court Judge Anthony Barr refused their requests, ruling that the Director of Public Prosecutions may certify that the SCC can try them under the 1939 Offences Against the State Act. The appeals raise questions about the SCC's legal authority, its status as a permanent court, and the interpretation of emergency powers. A three‑judge panel, including Justices Peter Charleton, Seamus Woulfe and Gerard Hogan, found the appeals to involve matters of public importance and granted a "leap‑frog" appeal to the Supreme Court. No hearing date has yet been set. The men, aged 58 and 44, are charged with the murder of David Byne, 33, at the Whitehall hotel on 5 February 2016.
Jonathan Dowdall, a former Sinn Fein councillor aged 44, and Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch, aged 58, have each filed a two‑pronged appeal against the High Court's refusal to overturn the Director of Public Prosecutions' decision to try them for the murder of David Byrne, 33, at the Regency Hotel in Whitehall, Dublin, on 5 February 2016. Both men are charged with Byrne's murder and are scheduled to stand trial before the Special Criminal Court, a non‑jury court. In separate judicial review proceedings, they argued that a trial before the SCC would be unlawful and a breach of their fundamental rights, claiming the court was a permanent institution despite being established on a temporary basis half a century ago. Judge Anthony Barr dismissed these challenges, ruling that the legislation was neither temporary nor limited in time. The appellants have now sought leave to appeal Judge Barr's decision directly to the Supreme Court.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Ross Hanway and Patrick Lawlor pleaded guilty to possessing €412,000 on May 26, 2020, which was alleged to be the proceeds of crime. Detective Garda Ronan Dillon testified that ledgers seized from an international crime gang showed the group generated over €12 million in 2019 and paid Hanway an average of €4,000 monthly to move cash. Gardaí arrested both men after observing Lawlor enter a taxi driven by Hanway; the rucksack contained the seized cash. Lawlor, who also faces a separate drug possession charge, is scheduled for sentencing on May 9. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned Hanway's sentencing to October 6 and ordered a probation report. Defence counsel highlighted Hanway's lack of prior convictions, his subsequent departure from the taxi trade, and his current drug-free status. The court noted that Hanway's involvement was limited to money-laundering, distinct from the gang's drug operations. The matter was adjourned, and no final sentence was imposed at this stage.
At the Special Criminal Court, the State applied for the forfeiture of a 2018 Mercedes S-Class registered to Thomas Rooney (52), a Betaghstown resident described as a mid-to-high level gang member. Rooney pleaded guilty in July 2023 to possessing €289,770 and £65,000 in crime cash at a Drogheda car park, along with two further charges involving €254,840 and €7,650, all under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing) Act 2010. He was sentenced to six years' imprisonment in January 2024. His then-partner, Catherine Dawson (44), received a fully suspended sentence of three years and nine months in May 2023 for her role in moving the gang's money, suspended on condition of good behaviour for five years. The State argued the vehicle, held by Rooney's company EBT Executive Travel Ltd, was integral to the offence, citing texts sent from a phone plugged into the car to coordinate the transfer of cash. Defence counsel John D Fitzgerald SC argued the car was used for legitimate business and that forfeiture would cause undue hardship. Presiding judge Mr Justice Hunt remarked that Rooney would have been better off with a cheaper vehicle. The matter was adjourned to June 2 for a decision on the forfeiture.
In a High Court settlement, St James Hospital apologised to Barry Comer for misinterpreting two ultrasound scans of his late wife, Lyndsey Comer, who died of cancer in 2017. The hospital admitted the scans in October 2015 and January 2016 were incorrectly read as a possible muscle bleed, leading to a delayed cancer diagnosis. The settlement included a €25,000 payment, coverage of legal costs, and a commitment to review procedures to prevent recurrence. The court heard the CEO's apology and the judge noted the case was "sad" and "difficult." Mr Comer, a businessman and Gaelic footballer, expressed relief that the matter was resolved and emphasised the importance of accurate medical assessment. The hospital denied that earlier diagnosis would have altered the outcome.
The Special Criminal Court heard witness testimony during the ongoing trial of Christopher Slator, who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub in Dublin 1 on April 25, 2016. Slator is the third defendant to face trial for this offense. Witnesses described a scene of "chaos and screaming" after two masked men entered the pub, where Barr was shot seven times. The State's case, outlined by prosecutor Dominic McGinn SC, links Slator to the crime through DNA profiles found on a mask and gloves recovered from a burning Audi on Walsh Road. The prosecution also noted that Eamon Cumberton, jailed for life in 2019, and David Hunter, jailed for life in November 2020, are connected to the case. Hunter has since appealed his conviction, placing his matter at the appeal stage. The trial, presided over by Justice Tara Burns, will resume next Tuesday.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Emilio Flynn, aged 27, pleaded guilty to robbery, false imprisonment and extortion after robbing Dr Patrick Duffy on Buckingham Street in 2015. Flynn demanded money, took cash from an ATM, and threatened future extortion, giving his phone number and demanding payment later. He claimed his judgment was affected by medication and that he was homeless. Flynn had 29 prior convictions. The court noted that the victim moved and stopped walking home after the incident. Judge Elma Sheahan had previously placed Flynn on a 12‑month probation bond with conditions of drug and alcohol abstinence and counseling. Flynn failed to comply, travelled to the UK, and was later arrested in April 2022. The judge sentenced him to three years in prison for each robbery, to run concurrently, citing mid‑range offending. The sentence reflects the court's view that Flynn had been given a second chance.
In the Central Criminal Court, Feri Anghel, a 42‑year‑old Romanian gypsy, stands accused of murdering fellow Romanian Ioan Artene Bob, a 49‑year‑old homeless construction worker, in Sean Walsh Memorial Park, Tallaght, on 13 April 2018. Anghel has pleaded not guilty. The prosecution's case relies on circumstantial evidence: CCTV footage of Anghel and Bob entering the park at 1.11 am, Anghel's alleged attempt to use Bob's bank card at a Tallaght shopping centre at 3 am, and the presence of Bob's phone near a Tallaght ESB tower at 3.20 am. Witnesses include Garofita Selin, a cleaner who worked with Anghel, who testified to seeing blood on his hands and a "pass" she received from him. The defence, led by Padraig Dwyer SC, argues that the evidence is weak, lacks DNA, fingerprints or motive, and that prejudice against Anghel's background may influence the jury.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Liam Dowds, aged 40, pleaded guilty to stealing razors, lamb and champagne from a Tesco supermarket, assaulting a customer, David Cunningham, and causing criminal damage at Finglas Garda Station. Dowds bit off Cunningham's ear while attempting to stop the theft, swallowed the ear, and claimed he had HIV. He also left a bottle of methadone in his bag and admitted to drug addiction. The court heard Dowds had a history of mental health issues and drug addiction, and that he had previously been arrested for similar offences. Cunningham reported feeling self-conscious and unsafe after the attack. Dowds expressed remorse and wished to apologise. The judge noted psychosis and vindictiveness in the case and adjourned sentencing to July 8.
Patrick Dowdall, 64, of Navan Road, Dublin, is accused of facilitating the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in 2016. He is alleged to have made a room available to a criminal organisation on 4 February 2016, thereby contributing to or enabling the murder. Dowdall has been granted bail by the High Court, but the surety of €10,000 was entered at the Special Criminal Court where he is due to stand trial in October. The independent surety's identity is protected by court order. The surety's bank account will be frozen to ensure the bond remains above €10,000; forfeiture is possible if Dowdall fails to meet bail conditions. His son, Jonathan Dowdall, 44, a former Sinn Féin councillor, is also charged with Byrne's murder and has been granted bail with sureties of €20,000 and €10,000. The case remains pending before the Special Criminal Court.
Jonathan Dowdall, a former Sinn Fein councillor aged 44, was granted bail by the High Court ahead of his trial for the alleged murder of 33‑year‑old David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in Whitehall, Dublin, on 5 February 2016. The trial is scheduled for 3 October before the Special Criminal Court, a three‑judge, non‑jury court. Two independent sureties—one €20,000, the other €10,000—were entered on Dowdall's behalf, with conditions that their bank accounts remain above those amounts and that Dowdall appear in court. Dowdall remains in custody awaiting the trial.
In March 2017 the Special Criminal Court sentenced Sharif Kelly, 51, and Edward McGrath, 39, to life imprisonment for the 2013 gun murder of 35‑year‑old Peter Butterly, a father of three, who was shot outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston. The murder trial lasted 35 days after a collapsed first trial in 2015. McGrath was also convicted of firearms offences. The State's main witness was former co‑accused David Cullen, who had his murder charge dropped after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of a semi‑automatic pistol and was jailed for three‑and‑a‑half years. Kelly and McGrath appealed, arguing Cullen's testimony was unreliable and that McGrath had no knowledge of the murder plan. The Court of Appeal, in a 170‑page judgment, rejected both appeals, finding the evidence against the appellants sufficient and the admissibility of Cullen's testimony justified. The court noted no error in the trial's findings and declined to quash the convictions.
Cian White, 21, of Corduff Park, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing a car in Northwood, Dublin 9, on June 26, 2020. He also admitted to dangerous driving and endangerment by ramming train barriers at Ashtown Level Crossing on the Navan Road while a train was imminent. Additionally, White pleaded guilty to allowing himself to be carried in a stolen car and possessing vice grips on August 8, 2021. Judge Melanie Greally imposed consecutive sentences totalling five years. She suspended the final 18 months of the term on strict conditions, requiring White to engage with alcohol and drug treatment for 18 months upon his release from prison. Consequently, he faces three and a half years of effective custody. The judge also disqualified White from driving for six years. The court noted White had 74 previous convictions and was already disqualified at the time of the offences. Judge Greally acknowledged his young age, expressed remorse, and difficult early life in foster care, while describing the driving as prolonged and intensely dangerous. The matter was finalised with this sentencing.
During a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Romanian witness Garofita Selin collapsed while giving evidence. She was cross‑examined by defence counsel Padraig Dwyer SC about statements she had made to Irish and Romanian authorities regarding alleged behaviour by accused Mr Feri Anghel (42). Selin, who was working as a cleaner in Slane, Co. Meath at the time of the alleged incident, was testifying about Anghel's alleged "scary" pass at her. While answering questions through an interpreter, Selin suddenly became unconscious, fell from her chair and remained on the ground for 35 minutes. Gardaí, security staff and court personnel attended to her, providing oxygen and moving her to a wheelchair. Mr Justice Paul Burns sent the jury home and adjourned the case to the following day. The trial concerns the murder of Romanian national Ioan Artene Bob (49), who was found dead in a Dublin park on 13 April 2018. Feri Anghel pleaded not guilty. Ioan Artene Bob pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Feri Anghel, who is charged with the alleged murder of Ioan Artene Bob, continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns. Anghel denies the charge. Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster testified that Bob, found beaten in Sean Walsh Park in 2018, died from very severe blunt-force trauma, global brain damage, and bilateral lung collapse. She stated injuries were consistent with kicking and stamping, noting nine separated ribs and extensive bruising. Cross-examination suggested some injuries could result from punches, though Dr Bolster maintained the widespread nature indicated greater force. Witness Pavel Stegarescu, a supervisor, stated Anghel appeared unharmed and quiet during work trips on April 12 and 13, 2018. Another witness, Marzana Jurzak, who found Bob, reported he held up four fingers, which she interpreted as indicating four attackers. The trial is ongoing.
Daniel Munteanu, a 32-year-old Romanian national from Navan, Co Meath, has failed in his appeal against a custodial sentence imposed at Trim Circuit Criminal Court. Munteanu pleaded guilty to 10 charges of stealing €121,800 from 52 Bank of Ireland accounts between September 9, 2018, and March 4, 2019. He also admitted possessing 51 cloned bank cards, card-making equipment, and false identity documents. Judge Martina Baxter originally sentenced him to seven years, with the final six months suspended, after applying a discount to an 11-year headline sentence. Munteanu appealed on the grounds that the judge placed insufficient weight on mitigation, arguing he was merely a 'foot-soldier' in an international skimming gang who received a 10-15% cut of the proceeds. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, dismissed the appeal. The Court President noted that the original judge had applied a 'significant and generous' discount and that the final six-and-a-half-year term clearly fell within the available range. The court accepted the prosecution's submission that Munteanu was part of a complex criminal organisation operating across multiple jurisdictions, including Ireland, the UK, Belgium, Romania, and Italy, which justified the severity of the sentence.
A 32-year-old Romanian national is appealing a six-and-a-half-year prison sentence imposed for his role in an international bank card skimming operation. Daniel Munteanu pleaded guilty at Trim Circuit Criminal Court to ten counts of theft totalling €121,800 from 52 Bank of Ireland accounts between September 2018 and March 2019. Over 300 withdrawals were made from ATMs across multiple counties including Cavan and Monaghan. Gardaí recovered cloned bank cards, a card-cloning machine, and forged identity documents from his home. At the Court of Appeal, his legal team contended the original sentence was disproportionate, characterising Munteanu as a foot-soldier in the gang who received approximately ten per cent of proceeds. The Director of Public Prosecutions countered that Munteanu was an integral member of an established international criminal network operating across multiple jurisdictions with significant resources. The court reserved judgment.
The Special Criminal Court sentenced three Monaghan brothers to a combined 19.5 years for their roles in an ATM theft gang. Gerard Duffy (31) and Ciaran Duffy (29) each pleaded guilty to offences including attempted theft of an ATM and its contents for the benefit of a criminal organisation. Ciaran Duffy additionally pleaded guilty to moving cash and possessing cash to facilitate a criminal offence. Mr Justice Hunt identified an 11-year headline sentence for both, applied a 20% discount, and suspended the final year of each term, resulting in effective sentences of eight years and nine months. Stephen Duffy (35) pleaded guilty to possessing cash in association with a criminal organisation. Rejecting his claim of limited involvement, the judge sentenced him to four years and nine months, with the final nine months suspended. All sentences were back-dated to February 1, 2022. In a related November finalisation, Niall Finnegan (39) pleaded guilty to possessing proceeds of ATM thefts and was jailed for four-and-a-half years, with the final 18 months suspended. A fifth defendant, Daniel O'Callaghan, remains to be sentenced.
A 16‑year‑old boy with 62 prior convictions was convicted of robbery on a bus in Dublin on 23 March 2021. He dragged a victim off the bus, punched him, threatened him with a knife and stole his phone and ear‑phone. The victim suffered facial swelling and cuts and was a promising footballer. The boy pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally noted the victim's psychological effects and the boy's history of violence, drug use and association with anti‑social peers. She said the boy was making good progress in education and skill development while in detention. The judge sentenced him to two‑and‑a‑half years' detention. The boy had been on bail for assault and theft offences at the time of the robbery. The defence counsel highlighted the client's family difficulties and foster placements, and that no knife was actually produced during the incident. The boy is receiving counselling for addiction while detained.