A garda who pleaded guilty to causing the death of a woman by dangerous driving has been jailed following a successful appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Patrick McDonnell, aged 42, with an address in County Galway, was originally sentenced to two years suspended at Trim Circuit Court in June 2020 for the death of Jacqueline Wolohan on the M4 near Kinnegad, Westmeath, on 13 February 2016. The Court of Appeal found the original sentence unduly lenient and imposed two-and-a-half years imprisonment, with the final year suspended for two years. The three-judge court accepted that the trial judge had placed disproportionate weight on McDonnell's character and previous record while insufficiently regarding the speed of his vehicle, recorded at approximately 140 kilometres per hour, and his departure from the scene. Ms Wolohan, aged 51 from Dublin, was returning from Longford when struck from behind. McDonnell, an 18-year garda, is subject to summary dismissal proceedings.
Leo Fitzpatrick, 21, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for his role as the getaway driver in an attempted armed robbery of Paddocks Pub in Clonee on 11 June 2018. He pleaded guilty to the offence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and admitted driving the vehicle used to flee the scene, though he claimed he was unaware that his accomplice, Robert Cullen, possessed a sawn‑off shotgun. Cullen, 29, had already been sentenced to seven and a half years for the robbery, possession of the firearm and discharging it. Fitzpatrick's sentence was imposed by Judge Pauline Codd, who noted his apparent fright at the shots fired but found it difficult to believe he did not know about the weapon. The sentence was five years, with the final three and a half years suspended on strict conditions.
Sandra Warren, 45, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a fully suspended 30‑month imprisonment for robbing a foreign student on O'Curry Avenue, Dublin 8, on 23 May 2016. The student, who had been in Ireland for four days, was led by Warren down a laneway, where Warren seized her bag containing a wallet, bank cards and phone. Warren, who was using drugs and under pressure from a man to obtain money, pleaded guilty. The judge noted Warren's abusive relationship had ended and that she was now in stable accommodation and on methadone. The sentence was suspended for three years on strict conditions, including continued participation in a drug treatment programme. Warren had eight prior convictions for robbery, burglary and theft. The victim was left traumatised, with whiplash injuries, and unable to access funds or contact anyone. The court emphasised the seriousness of the offence against a guest in the country.
Cillian Cullen, 24, received a fully suspended five‑year prison sentence after pleading guilty to impeding the apprehension of a person in a failed gun‑point robbery that took place on 11 June 2018. Cullen joined his older brother Robert Cullen, 29, after the robbery, was present when the getaway car was set on fire, and then left with his brother in a car he had left nearby the night before. The court heard that Cullen's family had been threatened with violence and that they were under pressure due to Robert Cullen's drug debts. Judge Pauline Codd suspended the entire sentence on the basis of Cullen's lack of prior convictions, the exceptional pressures that led him to assist the perpetrators, and his low risk of reoffending as assessed by the Probation Service. The sentence was suspended on the condition that Cullen keep the peace and be of good behaviour for five years.
In a 2019 Westlife concert assault, Jackie Walsh, 26, attacked a fellow attendee by grabbing her hair and splitting her ear lobe. The victim, who suffered visible blood and hair on her shorts, received medical treatment and later reported a severe headache. Walsh pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge noted her intoxication, lack of memory, and that the act was out of character. Walsh had no prior convictions and was dealing with mental health issues. She was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment, suspended in full on the condition of 12 months' probation supervision. She was ordered to transfer €3,000 to the victim within a week. The victim accepted the payment. The case concluded with the court acknowledging Walsh's remorse and the victim's willingness to accept the restitution.
A man convicted of attempting to murder a drugs cartel target will be sentenced by the Special Criminal Court next month. Caolan Smyth, aged 29, from County Meath, was found guilty on January 5th of shooting James Gately five times as he sat in his car at a filling station in north Dublin in May 2017. Mr Gately survived the attack with injuries to his chest and neck. Smyth was also convicted of firearms possession with intent to endanger. Gary McAreavey, aged 53, from County Louth, was convicted of assisting in the destruction of the getaway vehicle used in the shooting. The Special Criminal Court determined beyond reasonable doubt that Smyth was the gunman in an organised murder attempt. Evidence included mobile phone data and CCTV identification. Both men have been remanded in custody pending sentencing on February 17th. Smyth faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, while McAreavey faces a maximum of ten years. Caolan Smyth pleaded not guilty. Gary McAreavey pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, 44‑year‑old Catherine Dawson pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing property that is the proceeds of criminal conduct. She admitted owning a blue Nike bag with €289,770 and £65,025 (€70,207) in cash, and a black bag with €254,840 in cash, both found at a Spar on Donore Road, Drogheda, on 11 May 2020. Dawson's lawyer requested a psychological report, which the court granted. The judge remanded her on continuing bail until 24 March for a sentence hearing. Her partner, Thomas Rooney, 41, was also expected to be arraigned but his counsel sought an eight‑week adjournment; the court set a new date of 1 March and remanded him on continuing bail. Rooney faces charges of possessing the same amounts of cash in the same bags and an additional €7,650 in cash at North Road, Drogheda, on the same day, under suspicion of aiding an organised crime gang.
An Afghani man, Abdullah Shinwari, aged 31, was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment for sexually assaulting a young woman on a Luas tram on 26 September 2019. Shinwari stood behind the victim, rubbed his penis against her lower back and ejaculated on her clothes. The victim described feeling "frozen" and later cleaning her clothes in a toilet, experiencing physical illness and vomiting. She reported the incident to Gardaí the next day and later identified Shinwari on a platform, leading to his arrest. DNA evidence linked Shinwari to the victim's stained clothing. Shinwari pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑year sentence, suspending the final 15 months on strict conditions, including compliance with the Probation Service for 15 months post‑release. The sentence was reduced due to Shinwari's status as an Afghani national and the challenges of custody during Covid times.
In a 2017 Circuit Court trial, 43‑year‑old accountant Sidney Sutton of Ashbourne was convicted of four counts of assault, one count of assault causing harm and one count of producing a knife capable of inflicting serious injury. The offences occurred on the early hours of 6 February 2016 when Sutton, after a wedding in Slane, returned home with his partner Edele Aherne. He allegedly pushed her into a taxi, then punched and kicked her in their home, dragged her to the floor, stamped on her legs and finally stabbed her in the leg and shoulder with a knife. Sutton pleaded not guilty, claiming Aherne had assaulted him and self‑harmed. The Court of Appeal heard that he had fallen out with several solicitors and granted an adjournment to 26 April, warning that failure to proceed would result in the appeal being disposed of as abandoned.
Brian Reilly, a 24-year-old disqualified driver with 126 previous convictions, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for offences committed on January 29, 2020. Reilly pleaded guilty to two counts of endangerment, one count of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Ellen Armstrong, one count of refusing to provide a blood or urine sample, and one count of driving without insurance. The court heard that Reilly, who had been released from jail six weeks prior, attempted to evade gardaí by driving the wrong way on the M50 and N2. His actions resulted in a collision with the vehicle of John and Ellen Armstrong, who were stopped at a red light in Finglas. Ellen Armstrong suffered significant injuries, including multiple rib fractures and the amputation of the tip of her right thumb, leaving her dependent on others for care. Judge Melanie Greally stated that Reilly exposed four separate drivers to risk and ruined the lives of the elderly couple. She imposed a sentence of seven-and-a-half years, suspending the final 18 months on conditions that include engaging with drug addiction services. Reilly was also disqualified from driving for life. The judge noted Reilly's genuine remorse and difficult background but emphasized the seriousness of his offending and the lifelong pain inflicted on the victims.
The Special Criminal Court found Caolan Smyth guilty of attempted murder on Tuesday following the May 2017 shooting of James Gately at a filling station on the Clonshaugh Road in north Dublin. Mr Gately sustained injuries to his upper chest and neck but survived after being forewarned by gardaí and wearing a bullet-proof vest. The three-judge court determined beyond reasonable doubt that Smyth, aged 28 and from Cuileann Court, Donore, County Meath, was both the driver and gunman in the organised attack. Evidence included mobile phone location data, CCTV footage identifying Smyth by distinctive tattoos and clothing, and surveillance of Mr Gately's home the preceding day. Gary McAreavey, aged 52 and from Station Road, Castlebellingham, County Louth, was separately convicted of assisting in the destruction of the black Lexus getaway vehicle at Dromiskin, County Louth. The judge found McAreavey knew of the crime before providing assistance. Both men will return for sentencing on 25 January. Caolan Smyth pleaded not guilty. Gary McAreavey pleaded not guilty.
Aaron Brady was convicted of the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, who was shot during an armed robbery at Lordship Credit Union in County Louth on 25 January 2013. An investigation spanning several years culminated in Brady's trial, where the prosecution presented extensive circumstantial evidence linking him to the crime. This included CCTV footage connecting Brady to a stolen Volkswagen Passat used in the raid, phone records showing his movements, and witness testimony placing him in the vicinity. Brady's own statements to gardaí contained multiple falsehoods about his whereabouts that night. The investigation also revealed Brady had later made incriminating admissions whilst living abroad, boasting about shooting a police officer. The jury found Brady guilty of the murder. The case was handled by Dundalk District Court and involved cooperation between Irish and Northern Irish police services.
The trial of Kieran Greene, aged 61, centred on the murder of his partner's mother, Patricia O'Connor, who was found dead in a shallow grave in Wexford. Greene admitted to a physical altercation in the house, claiming he struck her with a hurley and she struck him back. He said she became unresponsive, that he carried her upstairs, placed her in the boot of a Toyota Corolla, drove to Wexford, dug a shallow grave, buried her, and later dismembered her body with a hacksaw. Greene told Gardaí he had acted alone, that he had no accomplices, and that he had handed himself in because he could not live with the guilt. He also claimed the murder was self‑defence. The prosecution presented CCTV footage, forensic evidence of hair and body parts, and statements from family members to show Greene's involvement. The jury heard that Greene's December interview was unreliable and that he had changed his account.
A Special Criminal Court hearing set a trial date for Jason Reed, 39, of Maelduin, Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, on 23 June 2021. Reed faces a money‑laundering charge tied to €32,330 and £390 (≈€441) allegedly found at his home. The court also scheduled arraignment for two co‑accused, Thomas Rooney, 41, and Catherine Dawson, 44, on 20 January. Rooney and Dawson were arrested on suspicion of aiding an organised crime gang and are charged with money laundering and possession of the proceeds of crime. They allegedly possessed €289,770 in euros and £62,025 (≈€70,207) in cash in a blue Nike bag, and separately had €245,840 in cash in a bag on the same date. All three were present at the brief hearing. The trial is expected to last two to three weeks.
In December 2020 the Court of Appeal reserved judgment on the appeal of Sharif Kelly and Edward McGrath, who were convicted of murdering Peter Butterly in 2013. The men had been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court. Their conviction relied heavily on testimony from former co‑accused David Cullen, who had pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a pistol and was later turned into a State witness. Cullen's evidence, which alleged a planning meeting and the men's presence, was contested by the defence as unreliable and tainted. The appeal argued that Cullen's testimony was not credible and that the men's state of mind at the time of the murder was not established. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice George Birmingham, has not yet ruled on the appeal.
In a murder conviction appeal, the DPP's counsel, Paul O'Higgins SC, acknowledged that David Cullen, a former murder suspect who became a State witness, was a 'tarnished' witness. Cullen had previously pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a semi‑automatic pistol and was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, half suspended, for that offence. He testified for four and a half days in the Special Criminal Court trial of Sharif Kelly and Edward McGrath, who were convicted of murdering Peter Butterly in 2013. The defence argued that Cullen's evidence was tainted and should have been excluded, citing his prior perjury conviction. O'Higgins countered that no rule bars a person convicted of perjury from giving evidence, and that the trial court could rely on Cullen's testimony only if corroborated by other evidence. The appeal remains before the Court of Appeal.
The Special Criminal Court will hear the trials of Jason Reed (39), Thomas Rooney (41) and Catherine Dawson (44) following the seizure of €550,000 in cash during searches of cars and a house in Drogheda and elsewhere in the north‑east. The DPP applied under Section 40 of the Criminal Justice Act for a non‑jury trial, and Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Michael Walsh granted the application. None of the accused were present at the hearing, but they are required to appear on 21 December when a trial date will be set. All three are charged with money laundering and possession of the proceeds of crime. Reed is accused of laundering €32,330 and £390 (≈€441) found at his home; Rooney and Dawson are charged with possession of €245,840 in cash in a bag on the same date; all three were previously granted bail by a District Court.
The appeal of Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly, who were convicted of the murder of Peter Butterly in 2013, is ongoing before the Court of Appeal. McGrath's barrister, Paul Greene SC, argued that while McGrath was 'caught red-handed' in the criminal enterprise, there was a lack of evidence regarding his state of mind at the time of the shooting. The appeal hinges on the reliability of David Cullen's testimony, who was originally charged with the murder but later pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol at the Huntsman Inn on the day of the shooting. Cullen's evidence was central to the convictions of McGrath, Kelly, and others. The appeal is examining whether the trial judges erred in accepting Cullen's testimony, which was the basis of the convictions. The matter was adjourned for further submissions from the DPP, with Paul O'Higgins SC set to continue his arguments tomorrow. Dean Evans, who pleaded guilty to the murder, was not present for the trial but was extradited back to Ireland. The case remains in the appeal stage, with no finalised conclusions yet.
Two men, Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly, are appealing their convictions for the murder of Peter Butterly, a dissident republican, in a five‑day hearing before the Court of Appeal. The appeal focuses on the reliability of evidence given by former murder suspect David Cullen, who became a State witness. Cullen's testimony, which lasted four and a half days, is alleged by the defence to be tainted and untrustworthy. The defence argues that Cullen's statements were inconsistent, often vague, and that he used evasive language such as "don't know" and "possibly" to undermine his credibility. The appeal contends that the trial judges erred by accepting Cullen's evidence and not adequately addressing his credibility. The hearing will continue the following day before a three‑judge panel of the Court of Appeal.
In a High Court sentencing hearing, Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed a mandatory life sentence on Sebastian Barczuk, 32, for the murder of his former flatmate, Michal Kurek, 33, who was found dead in a country lane in Ballyboughal on 4 August 2017. Kurek's body bore 62 stab wounds, including 25 to his back, and a Nokia 105 phone was recovered from his pocket. Barczuk was convicted by an 11‑1 jury after a trial that presented evidence of DNA on the phone, cell‑site data linking the accused's phone to the area at the time of the discovery, and CCTV footage of a Fiat Punto associated with Barczuk. The judge noted an "air of mystery" surrounding the motive and described the case as tragic, while acknowledging the evidence pointed toward Barczuk's guilt. The sentence was back‑dated to 6 April 2018, when Barczuk entered custody. Sebastian Barczuk pleaded not guilty.
Petronel Pal, 36, was arrested in Dublin last year and is wanted by Romania for an alleged aggravated murder in Navan in April 2014 and for creating an organised crime group. The alleged victim, Virgil Busa, 37, was assaulted at his apartment on 10 April and died three days later. Pal and others are said to have broken into Busa's home, used extreme violence, and that the group was headed by a relative of Pal. Justice Paul McDermott had considered surrendering Pal but withheld a formal High Court order, granting a certificate to appeal on grounds of exceptional public importance. Pal's barrister Remy Farrell SC argued that the Ian Bailey extradition case required proof that Ireland could prosecute in an equivalent circumstance, citing reciprocity and sovereignty. Robert Barron SC, for the Minister, countered that Ireland and Romania exercise extraterritorial jurisdiction on the same basis and that there was no bar to surrender.
A 44‑year‑old recovering addict, Albert Redmond, was sentenced to 12½ years in prison for a spree of 20 burglaries, two criminal damage offences, three counts of possession of stolen credit cards, a handbag theft and four deception counts involving stolen cards. The crimes, committed between October 2019 and March 2020 in south Dublin, were linked to a relationship that began after his release from prison. Redmond claimed he had devised strategies to avoid relapse, but the relationship introduced him to a partner with a crack cocaine problem, leading to drug use and further offences. Judge Elma Sheahan, after a probation report, imposed the sentence and suspended the final four and a half years on the condition that Redmond engage with the Probation Service and drug counselling programmes upon release. The judge noted his past drug‑free period in 1996 and his desire to remain drug‑free while in custody.
A trial concerning an alleged attempt to obstruct justice following a shooting in Dublin has concluded at the Special Criminal Court. Gary McAreavey, aged 53, of Castlebellingham, County Louth, has pleaded not guilty to assisting in the burning of a vehicle allegedly used in a failed attack on James Gately on May 10, 2017. The prosecution alleged that Mr McAreavey purchased petrol and aided in destroying the car at Newrath, Dromiskin. Defence counsel argued there was insufficient evidence that Mr McAreavey possessed knowledge of the attempted murder. Separately, Caolan Smyth, aged 28, of County Meath, has pleaded not guilty to attempting to murder Mr Gately and to possessing a firearm with intent to endanger. The prosecution contended Mr Smyth fired the shots. The three-judge court will deliver verdicts on January 8, 2021.
The Special Criminal Court heard closing submissions in the trial of Caolan Smyth and Gary McAreavey, who have both pleaded not guilty to charges related to the attempted murder of James Gately. Mr. Smyth is accused of the attempted murder and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger at the Topaz filling station in north Dublin on May 10, 2017. Mr. McAreavey is accused of impeding apprehension by assisting in the burning of the vehicle used in the attack at Newrath, Co Louth. Defence counsel John D Fitzgerald SC argued that the prosecution's circumstantial case relies on a "musical chairs" of shifting associations between the accused, a black Lexus, a mobile phone, and a Louth address. He contended that evidence linking Mr. Smyth to the car, phone, or his home on the morning of the shooting was speculative and lacked clear identification. Conversely, the prosecution maintained that Mr. Smyth was identifiable in CCTV footage and had conducted a "rehearsal" the day before the shooting. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, is in its fourth week. The matter was adjourned to allow Mr. McAreavey's counsel to deliver his closing speech.
Sean Nolan, aged 36, was sentenced to life imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of his partner Amanda Carroll, aged 33, who was strangled in her own apartment on 21 October 2018. The judge, Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, imposed the mandatory life term, back‑dated to the date of the offence, and directed that Nolan serve the full custodial period. During sentencing, Carroll's sisters Sandra and Antoinette delivered victim impact statements, expressing grief and demanding that Nolan be punished. Nolan, who had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, interjected from the dock, saying "I am sorry". The court noted that the jury had rejected the defence's claim that Nolan was too intoxicated to form intent, concluding that the death was a deliberate act. No further legal outcome was mentioned in the article. Sean Nolan was convicted.
James Tracey, 31, a former painter who lost his job in December, held up a cash‑in‑transit van on 6 January 2020 using an imitation firearm. He pointed the realistic pistol at the driver, shouted "drop the box", and the driver froze, then fled. Tracey escaped in a getaway car parked near the M3 motorway, where Garda Emergency Response Unit officers arrested him and a co‑accused. The €27,000 cash box was recovered intact. In court, Tracey pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm with intent to commit robbery and to robbery of a cash box. He claimed he had a drug debt and needed money, but the detective superintendent found no evidence of a drug problem. The judge adjourned finalisation to 8 February 2021. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
The State has told the Special Criminal Court that Caolan Smyth was the man who "pulled the trigger" in the attempted murder of James Gately at a filling station on the Clonshaugh Road in north Dublin on 10 May 2017. Mr Gately was shot five times whilst sitting in his car and sustained injuries to his upper chest and neck. Mr Smyth, aged 28, from Cuileann Court, Donore, County Meath, has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and to possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. His co-accused, Gary McAreavey, aged 52, from Castlebellingham, County Louth, has pleaded not guilty to obstructing justice by assisting in the destruction of the vehicle used in the shooting. Prosecution counsel submitted that CCTV evidence, mobile phone data, and witness identification linked Mr Smyth to a black Lexus used in a stake-out of Mr Gately's home and the subsequent shooting.
A banned repeat driving offender, Brian Reilly, 24, with 126 prior convictions, drove on the wrong side of the M50 to evade Gardaí before crashing into the car of an elderly couple, John and Ellen Armstrong, who were stopped at a red light at Kilshane Cross, Finglas, in January. The collision caused significant injuries to Ellen, including multiple rib fractures and the amputation of the tip of her right thumb, leaving her dependent on others for basic care. John suffered a head wound and a seizure. Reilly, who was disqualified from driving, fled the scene but was later found by Gardaí. He has pleaded guilty to endangerment, dangerous driving causing serious harm, refusing a blood or urine sample, and driving without insurance. He remains in custody and will be sentenced in December, with a Probation Services report ordered and the matter adjourned for finalisation on December 21.
Jamie Nulty, aged 22, pleaded guilty to burglary at Sarah Kearney's home in Clonee on 15 July 2017, when he was 19. He broke in through a downstairs window, armed with a screwdriver, demanded money, and held Kearney at gunpoint, throwing her onto the bed and threatening her. The court heard he also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving in February 2017. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced him to five years and nine months, back‑dating four years and seven months to credit time already spent in custody, and suspended the final 14 months on conditions. The sentence reflected mitigating factors such as his youth, homelessness and drug addiction. Kearney suffered post‑traumatic stress, loss of €1,000 in earnings and therapy costs, and remains fearful of being alone in the house. Nulty has 23 prior convictions and has not been in contact with Gardaí since the offence.
The Special Criminal Court sentenced David Hunter to life imprisonment for the 2016 murder of Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub in Dublin. Presiding Judge Alexander Owens, sitting with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, backdated the sentence to April 2019, when Hunter was arrested in the UK on a European Arrest Warrant. Hunter, a 42-year-old Liverpool native, had pleaded not guilty but was found guilty based on compelling evidence, including DNA from a ski-mask recovered from the getaway car that matched his profile. The court rejected his defence that he was in Dublin for a concert and that the mask was lost during a prior car-stealing trip. Hunter is the second individual convicted for this Kinahan Cartel-linked killing; Eamon Cumberton was convicted in January 2018. During sentencing, Detective Garda Colm Kelly noted Hunter's 15 previous convictions. Prosecution counsel Mr Barr argued Hunter should serve his full sentence in Ireland to avoid transfer to Liverpool. Detective Superintendent Colm Murphy described the murder as cold and callous, confirming the investigation remains ongoing to bring all involved to justice. Victim impact statements from Barr's sister Noeleen and former partner Jade O'Shea highlighted the lasting trauma on Barr's five children and family.
A Central Criminal Court jury found electrician Sean Nolan, 36, guilty of murdering his partner Amanda Carroll, 33, after a binge‑drinking session. The jury rejected the defence's claim that Nolan was too intoxicated to form intent, concluding he had intended to kill or seriously injure her when he strangled her for about 20 seconds in her bedroom. The trial included evidence of a prior road‑traffic collision, the couple's drinking at multiple locations, and Nolan's admission that he knew she was dead the next morning. The jury deliberated for eight hours and eight minutes over five days, returning a majority verdict of 10‑2. Mr Justice MacGrath will impose a mandatory life sentence on 4 November and remand Nolan in custody until then. The case remains at the murder‑trial stage. Sean Nolan pleaded not guilty. Amanda Carroll pleaded not guilty.
In the trial of Sean Nolan, accused of murdering his partner Amanda Carroll, the jury has been deliberating for a fifth day. The case centers on a binge‑drinking session that began early in the day and continued into the night, during which Nolan allegedly strangled Carroll in her bedroom. Defence counsel argued that Nolan was too intoxicated to form intent, seeking a manslaughter verdict. The prosecution maintained that a drunken intent still constitutes intent to kill. The jury, composed of six men and six women, has spent over seven hours across four days considering the verdict. The judge instructed the jurors to remain silent about the case and to return tomorrow morning for a final decision. The trial is still ongoing, with no verdict yet reached. Sean Nolan pleaded not guilty. Amanda Carroll pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court heard a jury deliberating the murder trial of Sean Nolan, 36, accused of strangling his partner Amanda Carroll, 33, in her Dublin apartment after a binge‑drinking session. The jury, composed of six men and six women, had spent six hours and 22 minutes over three days considering their verdict. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins argued that Nolan was too intoxicated to form the intent to kill, seeking a manslaughter verdict on the basis of lack of intent. The prosecution, led by Shane Costelloe, maintained that Nolan's 20‑second strangulation constituted intent to kill or cause serious injury. The case involved evidence of alcohol, sedatives, and other drugs in Carroll's system, and testimony that Nolan had put his hand on her neck and over her mouth. The jury was instructed to return a unanimous verdict of either guilty of murder or not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter.
In the trial of Sean Nolan, 36, for the murder of his partner Amanda Carroll, 33, a jury asked the judge whether intoxication could negate intent. Defence counsel argued Nolan was too drunk to form intent, seeking a manslaughter verdict. The judge explained that voluntary intoxication can reduce murder to manslaughter if the prosecution fails to prove intent to kill or cause serious injury. He also clarified that "serious injury" is a matter of judgement. Nolan had been involved in a road collision earlier that day, fled the scene, and was later arrested after the body was found. The jury will return to decide between a murder or manslaughter verdict. The case is heard at Homestead Court, Quarry Road, Cabra. The judge emphasized that the jury must remain unanimous. The prosecution maintains that Nolan intended to kill when he strangled Carroll for 20 seconds. The trial continues. Sean Nolan pleaded not guilty.
A jury of twelve, consisting of six men and six women, is deliberating a verdict in the trial of Sean Nolan, 36, who is accused of murdering his partner, Amanda Carroll, 33, by strangulation in her Dublin apartment on 21 October 2018. Nolan pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The judge, Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, instructed the jurors to focus on Nolan's statements about his actions and the role of intoxication, noting that voluntary intoxication may be a defence to murder. He warned that if doubt exists regarding Nolan's intent due to intoxication, the jury must acquit him of murder. The jury may return either a guilty verdict for murder or a not‑guilty‑of‑murder but guilty‑of‑manslaughter verdict. The trial is ongoing, and no final judgment has been reached.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Sean Nolan, 36, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of his partner Amanda Carroll, 33, who died on 21 October 2018. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins argued that Nolan was too intoxicated to form intent, describing the death as accidental and citing witnesses who saw Nolan caring for Carroll. The prosecution, led by Shane Costelloe, maintained that Nolan intentionally strangled Carroll for 20 seconds, arguing that intoxication does not negate intent. Evidence included Carroll's blood containing alcohol, sedatives, and cocaine, and a pathologist's testimony that asphyxiation caused her death. The jury was instructed to decide whether Nolan intended to kill or cause serious injury, with the case centred on the question of intent under severe intoxication. The trial was set to continue the following day.
Sean Nolan, 36, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of 33‑year‑old Ms Carroll in Dublin. He told detectives he had put one hand on her neck and the other over her mouth after she called him by her ex‑boyfriend's name and said she never loved him. Nolan said he had no intention to kill and that the death was accidental. He claimed he had been angry, wanted her to sleep, and panicked when he realised she was dead. He described the incident as a brief struggle lasting about 20 seconds. The court heard that Carroll's body was found in her apartment, her death caused by compression of neck and mouth, with drugs in her system. The trial continues with the jury hearing closing arguments.
Sean Nolan, a 36‑year‑old electrician, was arrested after Garda detectives found him on Navan Road following the discovery of Amanda Carroll's body in her Dublin apartment. Nolan denied murdering Carroll but admitted to choking her, saying he had "freaked" and spent the day walking around. He claimed he had put a hand over her mouth and another around her neck while they were lying in bed, and that he tried to wake her the next morning. The body, found by her 16‑year‑old son, showed bruising on the neck, blood on the nose and scrapes on the forehead. Nolan pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The trial, held at Homestead Court, focused on the circumstances of the alleged choking and the presence of sedative drugs in Carroll's system. The case is still pending before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and a jury.
Sean Nolan, 36, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court, charged with murdering his partner, Amanda Carroll, 33, in her Dublin apartment on October 21, 2018. Nolan has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, heard evidence from Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster. She testified that Ms Carroll's cause of death was complex, resulting from compression of her neck and mouth, complicated by the ingestion of sedative-type drugs. Dr Bolster noted that while the death could not have occurred without asphyxia, the drugs had an added effect. She identified injuries consistent with manual strangulation and blunt force trauma to the mouth, alongside bruising on the neck and jaw. Although abrasions on the face were consistent with a prior road traffic accident, the pathologist stated that a significant amount of force was not required to cause strangulation. Under cross-examination, she acknowledged it was possible that the force used would have resulted in non-fatal injuries had drugs and alcohol not been present. Prosecution counsel Shane Costelloe SC argued that Nolan intended to kill or cause serious injury. The jury also heard from Ms Carroll's son, Denis, who discovered her body. The trial continues on Friday.
Sean Nolan, 36, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of his partner Amanda Carroll, 33, who was found dead in her apartment on 21 October 2018. The trial heard that Nolan and Carroll had been involved in a road‑traffic collision earlier that day, fled the scene, and were later intercepted by Gardaí. Nolan was under the influence of an intoxicant; his blood was taken for drink‑driving or drug‑driving concerns. Carroll was arrested under the Public Order Act, struck out at Gardaí, and was handcuffed with her hands behind her back. A taxi driver, Andrew Farrell, testified that Nolan told him he loved Carroll and that she was a "great girl" hours before the killing. The prosecution argued that Nolan's act of putting his hands on Carroll's throat and mouth intended to kill, making him guilty of murder rather than manslaughter. The case is set to continue before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and a jury.
A 28-year-old man from County Meath has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of James Gately at a Dublin filling station in May 2017. Caolan Smyth has also denied charges of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. A 52-year-old County Louth man, Gary McAreavey, pleaded not guilty to assisting an offender by purchasing petrol and helping to burn out the vehicle used in the shooting. The trial, heard before the Special Criminal Court, was told that Mr Gately was shot five times at the Topaz garage on Clonshaugh Road and subsequently underwent surgery. The prosecution's case relies substantially on CCTV evidence tracking the movements of a black Lexus at the scene and at locations connected to the injured party, as well as evidence of the vehicle being found burned out in County Louth approximately one hour later. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges.
In the Central Criminal Court, teenage son Denis Carroll, aged 18, broke down while testifying about his mother Amanda Carroll's death. He described finding her unresponsive in her bedroom on 21 October 2020, noting her puffy cheek, coldness, and lack of breathing. Carroll had been in a long‑term relationship with Sean Nolan, 36, who was accused of murdering her. Denis recalled earlier incidents of the couple's volatile, alcohol‑driven arguments, including a confrontation over Nolan's ex‑partner. He also mentioned that Nolan had threatened to leave the apartment and that Carroll had tried to retrieve keys from him. Denis's testimony highlighted the suddenness of the death and his emotional distress, as he smashed his iPhone and cried during the hearing. The trial, presided over by Justice Michael MacGrath, continues with a jury hearing the case of Nolan's murder plea. The proceedings are expected to last up to three weeks. Sean Nolan pleaded not guilty.
In October 2018, Amanda Carroll, 32, was strangled to death by her partner, Sean Nolan, 36, in Cabra, Dublin 7. The couple had begun a volatile relationship about four months earlier, exacerbated by heavy alcohol consumption. On the day before Carroll's death, they engaged in a binge‑drinking session that began early and continued across various Dublin locations. Nolan, intoxicated, crashed his car at 5.30 pm and was arrested; Carroll was also detained for a public order offence. Both were released around 8 pm. They resumed drinking, were observed intoxicated between 10 and 11 pm, and were later seen entering Carroll's apartment on CCTV. The next morning, Carroll's son, then 16, discovered her body in her bedroom. Nolan was subsequently arrested, questioned, and re‑arraigned. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, while the prosecution argued he intended to kill or cause serious injury.
In a Central Criminal Court case, a jury found Sebastian Barczuk, aged 32, guilty of murdering his former flatmate Michal Kurek, aged 33, who was homeless and had addiction difficulties. Kurek was discovered on 4 August 2017 in a country lane in Ballyboughal, north County Dublin, with 62 stab wounds, including 25 to the back. Evidence included a Nokia 105 phone found in Kurek's jeans, still powered on, and DNA from the phone that matched Barczuk. Cell‑site data showed both phones connected to a site near Ballyboughal at the time of the discovery. CCTV footage of a blue Fiat Punto, sold by Barczuk to a woman on 2 August, was also presented. The jury deliberated nearly 13 hours over four days and returned a majority verdict of 11‑1. Barczuk was sentenced to life imprisonment, with the judge reserving the sentencing date for 2 November. Sebastian Barczuk pleaded not guilty.
James McShane, 55, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to multiple thefts from the addiction charity LifeRing Ireland, of which he was a co‑founder, and to six false‑accounting charges and one deception charge. The thefts, occurring between 18 February 2013 and 21 September 2017, amounted to almost €36,000, which McShane has fully repaid by borrowing money from his brother and wife. He also repaid the money taken in the false‑accounting cases. McShane, who has no prior convictions, described the offences as "shameful" and offered a heartfelt apology. Judge Elma Sheahan, noting his status as a reformed alcoholic, imposed 200 hours of community service in lieu of a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence, recognising that the debt had been repaid in full. The case remains at the sentencing stage, with no further convictions or appeals reported.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 32‑year‑old Sebastian Barczuk pleaded not guilty to the murder of his former flatmate, 33‑year‑old Michal Kurek, who was found dead with 62 stab wounds in Ballyboughal on 4 August 2017. Barczuk, who described Kurek as a close friend and "like a brother," claimed he was shocked by the death and denied any involvement. He said he had known Kurek since 2010, that they lived together for two years, and that Kurek was homeless at the time of his death. Barczuk was arrested on 4 April 2018 after Gardaí interviewed him in Duleek and Balbriggan. The trial is ongoing, with the jury hearing evidence of Barczuk's statements, phone activity, and a possible connection to a Fiat Punto sold to him on 2 August 2017. The case remains at the investigative stage, with no verdict yet reached.
In the Central Criminal Court, the jury heard mobile‑phone cell‑site analysis linking the accused, Sebastian Barczuk, and the deceased, Michal Kurek, on the days surrounding the murder. The accused's phone connected to a cell site near Ballyboughal at 00.53 on 4 August 2017, the same time the deceased's phone used a Ballyboughal site at 00.52. Barczuk's phone made a data connection at a Ballyboughal site at 00.55, and the last activity on his phone was at 1.53 am in Dunboyne. The jury also viewed CCTV footage of a blue Fiat Punto travelling from Clonsilla Inn on 3 August to Ballyboughal on 4 August, and heard testimony that the vehicle was sold to Barczuk on 2 August. The prosecution presented the phone‑call timeline, showing multiple calls and texts between the two men on 3 August, and the defence argued that cell‑site analysis is not an exact science. Sebastian Barczuk pleaded not guilty.
The Court of Appeal has ordered Sidney Sutton, an accountant and father of two, to return to prison for a further 16 months after ruling his original sentence unduly lenient. Sutton, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, was convicted in 2019 at Trim Circuit Criminal Court on four counts of assault, one count of assault causing harm, and one count of producing a knife capable of inflicting serious injury. He had previously served a one-year jail term after being sentenced to two years, with the final 12 months suspended. The offences, alleged to have occurred in February 2016, involved Sutton allegedly assaulting his then-partner, Edele Aherne, and stabbing her in the leg and shoulder. Sutton had accused Ms Aherne of assaulting him and inflicting her own injuries through self-harm. Mr Justice Edwards, presiding with Ms Justice Donnelly and Mr Justice McCarthy, allowed the DPP's appeal on grounds of undue leniency. The court determined the appropriate headline sentence was four years, reduced by 20 months to account for Sutton's lack of previous convictions and good work record. The judges rejected arguments that alcohol consumption reduced culpability, describing the incident as extreme domestic violence. Sutton was ordered to present himself at Ballymun Garda station on October 16. The court also refused an application to adjourn the hearing pending Sutton's separate appeal against his conviction, citing exceptional circumstances and concerns about the abuse of court processes.
In a long‑running dispute, the Murrays – plumber Michael (Chris) Murray and his wife Rose – agreed to vacate the 588‑sq‑metre house they built on Faughan Hill, Bohermeen, Navan, Co. Meath, and to allow its demolition after September 2020. The house, constructed in 2006 without planning permission, had been the subject of enforcement proceedings by Meath County Council. In 2010 the High Court ruled in favour of the council and ordered demolition, a stay of two years was granted, and the Supreme Court upheld the decision in 2017. The council later sought contempt proceedings, but the parties reached an agreement before Mr Justice Charles Meenan's hearing. The Murrays will remain in the house for two more years, vacate by 24 September 2020, and demolition will follow. The settlement was accepted by the judge, who allowed either side to apply to the court if needed.
A 32‑year‑old Polish national, Sebastian Barczuk, will go on trial for the murder of 33‑year‑old Polish national Michal Kurek, a homeless man, who was found dead in Ballyboughal, north County Dublin, on 4 August 2017. Barczuk pleaded not guilty at his arraignment before the Central Criminal Court. Prosecutor Lorcan Staines told the jury that the victim was a homeless Polish national and that Barczuk was also a Polish national living in Ireland at the time. The trial, to be heard by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, is expected to last three to four weeks.