David Hunter, a 41‑year‑old car thief from Liverpool, was convicted by the Special Criminal Court of murdering 35‑year‑old Michael Barr, manager of the Sunset House pub in Dublin, on 25 April 2016. The court found Hunter to be one of two gunmen who entered the pub, shot Barr seven times, and fled in an Audi A6 that was later set on fire. DNA evidence from a ski‑mask recovered from the car matched Hunter's profile, and the court rejected his explanations for his presence in Dublin and the mask's whereabouts as implausible. Hunter denied the murder, claiming he had been in Dublin for a concert and had no involvement. The judge ruled that Hunter could not have been the getaway driver and that he was seated in the rear passenger seat while the other accused, Eamonn Cumberton, was the driver. Hunter will receive a mandatory life sentence and remain in custody until sentencing.
At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Jonathan Coelho (29) was sentenced to 20 months in prison for four counts of dangerous driving, one count of endangering pedestrians, and one count of driving without insurance on July 31, 2019. Coelho had previously pleaded guilty to these charges and admitted to driving at speed through red lights and in the wrong direction in Dublin city centre before crashing into a lamp post. The court heard that Coelho was disqualified from driving in the UK at the time of the incident. Judge Melanie Greally backdated the sentence to account for the time Coelho had spent in custody since his arrest in July 2022. Coelho was acquitted of charges of endangering and assaulting Garda Conor Murray, following a jury's not guilty verdict. His co-accused, Federico Carvalho (31), pleaded not guilty to the same charges and was not sentenced. Coelho's legal representative highlighted his recent cancer diagnosis and requested the sentence be suspended to allow him to return to Italy for treatment. The judge noted that Coelho posed a risk to pedestrians and road users and paid tribute to the gardaí for their efforts in stopping the dangerous driving. The matter was concluded at the sentence stage.
In September 2018, Bernard Joyce, 45, of Newtown, Beauparc, Slane, was found guilty of possessing €911,600, the proceeds of criminal conduct, under the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act 2010. Garda Stephen Burke described how the cash was concealed in two gear bags inside a hollow section of a camper van, wrapped in brown sellotape and surrounded by onions to deter a sniffer dog. The cash was recovered at Arnestown, Foulksmills, Co Wexford. Joyce pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended on the condition of a €200 bond while in prison and after release for two years. The DPP appealed, arguing the sentence was "unduly lenient" and that the judge had not adequately considered the amount of cash, its concealment, and Joyce's attempt to flee. The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgement.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, two men, Jonathan Coelho, 29, and Federico Carvalho, 31, were acquitted of assaulting and endangering Garda Conor Murray. The case centred on an incident on 31 July 2019 at St Lukes' Avenue, Dublin 8, where the accused were driving a vehicle that reversed at speed, causing Garda Murray to be thrown from the car. The jury, after 18 minutes of deliberation, found the men not guilty of the assault and endangerment charges. Coelho had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving offences, admitting he had driven at speed through red lights and in the wrong direction, and had crashed into a lamp post. He was remanded in custody pending sentencing for those dangerous driving charges. Carvalho was discharged from the indictment and released. The trial concluded with the jury's unanimous verdict and the judge adjourned the case for sentencing next Friday.
In the trial of Jonathan Coelho, 29, and Federico Carvalho, 31, the jury heard closing speeches after the defendants were charged with assault causing harm to Garda Conor Murray. The incident occurred on 31 July 2019 when the car, driven by Coelho, reversed at speed with Garda Murray hanging out of the passenger window. Coelho pleaded guilty to dangerous driving charges, admitting he drove at speed through red lights and in the wrong direction, but denied the endangerment charge. Carvalho denied striking the Garda. Garda Murray described being pulled half‑inside the vehicle, the driver kicking him repeatedly, and being thrown from the car after a final kick. The prosecution argued that CCTV and witness testimony proved the defendants' guilt, while the defence contended that the Garda's actions and the defendants' intentions were misrepresented. The jury will be instructed by Judge Melanie Greally on Monday.
During the third day of the trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Jonathan Coelho (29) and Federico Carvalho (31) were heard by a jury about an incident on 31 July 2019 in which Garda Conor Murray was dragged by a car that reversed at speed. Coelho told the court that he had driven off because he had no insurance, claiming he had never had trouble with police before and that his only mistake was not having insurance. He denied punching or kicking the Garda and said he would never attack police. He also said the accelerator was stuck after the crash, causing the car to reverse, and that he was not pressing it. Carvalho, a passenger, said he repeatedly urged the driver to stop and that he was terrified. He denied hitting the Garda and said he would never hurt anyone. Jonathan Coelho pleaded not guilty. Federico Carvalho pleaded not guilty.
On 31 July 2019, Jonathan Coelho, 29, drove a car at speed through red lights in Dublin, crashing into a lamp post. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving charges. Coelho and Federico Carvalho, 31, are accused of assaulting Garda Conor Murray, who was dragged into the moving vehicle's passenger side window. Murray claims he was pulled in, struggled, and was kicked repeatedly, including a final kick to his face, before being thrown out. He also alleges the driver kicked him with his left foot while the car was moving, a claim his counsel deems mechanically impossible. Murray disputes this, stating the car was moving at speed and that he was struck multiple times. The trial is ongoing before Judge Melanie Greally and a jury.
During a trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Garda Conor Murray recounted an incident on 31 July 2019 in which he was attacked and dragged by a reversing car. He claimed he had been holding the handbrake lever while his legs dangled from the passenger window. After the vehicle, driven by Jonathan Coelho (29) and with Federico Carvalho (31) as passenger, crashed into a lamp post following a high‑speed chase, Murray said he was pulled into the car as the driver started it again. He described being struck by punches and kicks, the passenger kneeling on him, and both men shouting in a foreign language and repeatedly saying "fuck you." Murray said he struggled to escape, was thrown from the car, and was dragged a short distance before the vehicle stopped. He sustained serious injuries, was taken to hospital, and the case remains before Judge Melanie Greally and a jury. The unnamed accused pleaded guilty.
A UK man accused of murdering Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub in Dublin is described by his defence as a 'two-bit car thief' and 'no James Bond', according to the Special Criminal Court. David Hunter, a Liverpool native with an address in London, is pleading not guilty to the murder of Mr Barr (35) at the pub in Summerhill on the night of April 25, 2016. The defence closed its case by asserting that the defendant could not 'logically' have been the killer. Mixed DNA profiles were found on a ski-mask and rubber mask recovered from a car allegedly used in the killing, with the major contributor matching Mr Hunter's DNA. However, Mr Hunter stated to gardaí that he had left the ski-mask in a car in Dublin two months before the shooting and had not seen it again. Defence barrister Ms Roisín Lacey SC argued that the prosecution cannot prove Mr Hunter wore the ski-mask underneath the rubber mask at the shooting and that there is a reasonable doubt. She also highlighted that Mr Hunter's admission to gardaí of stealing cars 'painted him in a bad light' and that he was in a 'narcotic and alcoholic haze' at the time of the shooting. Ms Lacey submitted that Mr Hunter could not have been the driver of the getaway vehicle or the convicted male in the back of the vehicle, and that he had to be the front passenger who emerged without any head covering. She concluded that Mr Hunter 'is not a murderer and he cannot logically be the murderer on the evidence in the case.' Mr Justice Owens adjourned the case to September 11 for judgement and remanded Mr Hunter in custody.
Robert Cullen, aged 28, was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison for attempting to rob Paddocks Pub in Clonee on 11 June 2018. He entered the pub with a sawn‑off shotgun, threatened two workers with the gun, and fired four shots while they were hiding in an office. Cullen also threw a heater through a window to "draw attention to their plight." He fled in a car that was later found burnt out. Cullen pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, possession of a double‑barrelled sawn‑off shotgun and discharging a firearm. He has 44 prior convictions, including robbery and obstruction, and was already serving sentences for other offences with a release date of 30 November 2023. The judge described the weapon as "vile" and the act of threatening the workers as "very heinous.".
In the Special Criminal Court, Liverpool native David Hunter pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Barr, 35, at the Sunset House pub in Dublin on 25 April 2016. Prosecutor Dominic McGinn closed the case by arguing that Hunter's involvement was the only reasonable explanation for a series of coincidences. He cited DNA evidence linking a ski mask and cigarette butt to Hunter, ballistics matching guns found in an Audi A6 on Walsh Road, and CCTV timing of the vehicle's movements. McGinn also referenced cell‑site data showing four phones used on the night of the murder, one of which connected to Hunter's new phone shortly after the killing. He highlighted Hunter's travel plans, the sale of his car, and his girlfriend's call at 10.22 pm as further evidence of his presence at the scene. The court will hear Hunter's defence tomorrow.
In the Special Criminal Court, defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC argued that Daniel Cahill, the key witness in Aaron Brady's murder trial, may have had motives to fabricate his testimony. O'Higgins highlighted Cahill's claims of hearing Brady admit to killing Garda Adrian Donohoe, Cahill's alleged encounters with Homeland Security, and the lack of any subsequent police action against Cahill despite drug findings. He questioned the credibility of Cahill's statements, noting inconsistencies and the absence of corroborating evidence from Garda investigations. O'Higgins also criticized the Garda investigation for allegedly overlooking evidence of diesel laundering linked to Brady, citing text messages and phone contacts. The counsel urged the jury to scrutinise Cahill's testimony and the prosecution's evidence before drawing conclusions. The trial remains ongoing. Aaron Brady pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, David Hunter, 41, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Barr, 35, at a Dublin pub on 25 April 2016. Hunter claimed he first arrived in Ireland on 8 February 2016, had a history of car theft in the UK, and was invited to a botched car robbery where he left a ski‑mask in a car. The mask, recovered from a burning Audi on Walsh Road, was DNA‑matched to Hunter, with 61% of the mixed profile attributed to him. Hunter's voluntary statement, sent to the DPP on 4 June, detailed his travel, drug use, and the events leading up to the robbery. The court heard that the prosecution would finish its evidence on Tuesday, with the trial concluding the following Thursday. The case remains at the trial stage.
During the Special Criminal Court hearing on 21 July 2020, the prosecution presented DNA evidence linking the murder suspect, 41‑year‑old David Hunter of White City, London, to a mask recovered from the Audi A6 involved in the 2016 shooting of Michael Barr. Dr Edward Connolly testified that a major DNA contributor on a ski‑mask matched 61 % of a mixed profile previously identified as 'unnamed male 2'. This profile was cross‑referenced with DNA from an apple core and a cigarette butt discarded by Hunter during his extradition from the UK, and the odds of the profile being unrelated to Hunter were described as "a thousand‑million to one". Additional mixed DNA was found on a rubber mask, with one major and three minor contributors, and the samples could not be excluded from Hunter's profile. The court also accepted phone evidence from the prosecution, despite defence objections.
Albert Redmond, 44, with 341 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to 20 burglaries, two counts of criminal damage, three counts of possession of stolen credit cards, theft of a handbag and four counts of deception by using stolen credit cards. He said he had planned to avoid relapse after his last release in June 2019 but did not anticipate falling in love. The relationship began soon after release, initially positive, but the partner's crack cocaine use became a feature of the relationship, leading Redmond to commit further offences. He was arrested in January 2020, released, then re‑arrested in March 2020 after a burglary at a café in Harolds Cross. He admitted all offences and stated he had not expected to return to court. Judge Elma Sheehan adjourned sentencing to 23 October 2020 to prepare a probation report. The burglaries mainly targeted cafés, restaurants, offices and shops, with some occurring in private houses.
William Kinlan, 36, with 206 prior convictions, was jailed for 16 months after stealing a phone from a young woman on a bus stop in Dublin. He cycled past the victim, took her phone, and left it on a windowsill. Garda Michael O'Donnell, who heard the woman scream, recognised Kinlan and pursued him, arresting him on the spot. Kinlan claimed he was a drug addict needing money to repay a drug debt. He pleaded guilty to theft at O'Connell Street on 29 February 2020, the same offence for which he had just been released from a previous sentence. The phone was returned to the victim. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Kinlan's extensive criminal history and drug addiction, imposed a 16‑month sentence consecutive to the term he was already serving, expressing doubt about his likelihood of reform. The case was prosecuted by Maurice Coffey BL and defended by Derek Cooney BL.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 2 July 2020, 27‑year‑old Emilio Flynn pleaded guilty to robbery, false imprisonment and extortion after he attacked Dr Patrick Duffy on Buckingham Street on 26 June 2015. Flynn approached the doctor after his shift at James' Hospital, demanded his wallet and phone, and after the doctor withdrew cash at an ATM, Flynn took the money and later returned the SIM card. He then wrote a note demanding further payment, threatening that the doctor would be "done" if he did not comply. Flynn, who was homeless at the time and claimed his judgment was affected by medication, admitted to 29 prior convictions. Judge Elma Sheahan, noting Flynn's role as a father of four, imposed a 12‑month probation bond, requiring him to remain drug‑ and alcohol‑free and to attend anger‑management and grief‑counselling sessions. No custodial sentence was imposed.
In the Special Criminal Court, David Hunter, 41, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Barr, 35, at the Sunset House pub in Dublin on 25 April 2016. Hunter, who was in Dublin with his ex‑girlfriend Jordanna Kiely and a friend, Stacy Franey, claimed he met the two women at a Travelodge in Swords at 9 pm. Kiely testified that the trio had spent the week drinking and taking drugs, and that on the day of the shooting they went shopping and later went to Temple Bar. Franey said the night was "blurry" and that the group was "hostile" during the shopping trip. The court heard that two men in rubber masks entered the pub around 9 pm and shot Barr seven times. The case is ongoing and is expected to last four to five weeks.
James Holland, aged 52, was convicted of possessing €900,000 worth of cannabis resin for sale or supply. He was arrested in 2009, fled to the UK where he lived homeless for several years, and returned to Ireland in April 2024 to surrender to Gardaí. The offence involved moving the drugs from a truck to an industrial unit in Donabate and then transporting them in a van that was stopped in Dunboyne, where 150 kilos of resin were seized. Holland pleaded guilty to the single charge. He has a prior minor conviction from 2004. The court heard he had been a community worker and minibus driver until his relationships and employment collapsed, leading to debt and involvement with drug traffickers. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to five and a half years in prison, noting his difficult circumstances and low likelihood of re‑offending.
Augustine 'Gus' O'Connor, 76, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for pleading guilty to impeding the apprehension or prosecution of his wife's murderer. He had reported his wife, Patricia O'Connor, as missing after learning she had been killed by Kieran Greene, 35, in their home. Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court described his conduct as "appalling" and noted that O'Connor had expressed remorse and had no prior convictions. The judge reduced the headline sentence of three years to 18 months.
The trial of Aaron Brady, 28, from Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury. Brady has pleaded not guilty to the alleged capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, who was on active duty, and the alleged robbery of approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques. Both incidents are alleged to have occurred on January 25, 2013, at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth. Witness Daniel Cahill, 28, testified from New York, stating he provided evidence to seek justice for Donohoe's family. Cahill denied fears of US detention and alleged that Homeland Security agents searched his home previously while looking for Dean Evans, who was later jailed for life for the murder of Peter Butterly in Co Meath. During cross-examination, Cahill denied assaulting Brady or stealing his telephone in 2015. The prosecution and defence continue to examine the witness's credibility and recollections. The matter remains at the trial stage, with no final verdict or sentence recorded in this report.
Graeme Burke, aged 34, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment after he was found storing over €1.3 million worth of cocaine in a rented storage unit. He had leased the unit in his own name and used his personal documents to secure the lease. Two encrypted mobile phones were discovered in his possession; Garda Redmond O'Leary explained that such devices are costly to run and are typically used by organised crime gangs, making the information on them inaccessible to law enforcement. Burke pleaded guilty to possession of 19 kg of cocaine, valued at €1.336 million, at a storage facility on the N2 in Ashbourne. He had three prior convictions, including a four‑year suspended sentence for robbery in 2005. The judge noted that Burke's role involved storing, transporting and distributing the drugs and that he had been equipped with the encrypted phones. He was jailed for eight years.
During a cross‑examination in a capital murder trial, defence barrister Daniel Cahill, 28, who was giving evidence via video link from New York, denied being a member of the "Ryan Crew" or Dublin Real IRA and insisted he was telling the truth when he said the accused, Aaron Brady, admitted shooting Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe on three occasions. Cahill also denied that he gave evidence to avoid deportation from the United States. He admitted being a childhood friend of Vincent Ryan and knowing Dean Evans, who murdered dissident republican Peter Butterly in 2013. Cahill said he had never been involved in criminal activity, had no interest in the Ryan "business", and had distanced himself from Ryan when he saw him wearing a bullet‑proof vest. The judge described the defence's suggestion that Cahill was engaged in Real IRA activity in 2012 as "outrageous" and "unacceptable". Aaron Brady pleaded not guilty.
Jamie Nulty, aged 22, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to burglary at Castaheany, Clonee on 15 July 2017, when he was 19. He broke into the home of Sarah Kearney while she was in bed, armed with a screwdriver that he had entered through a downstairs window. Nulty demanded money, took her bank card and PIN, and searched the house while holding the screwdriver. He attempted to take a computer and later tried to stop Kearney from calling 999, grabbing her arm and throwing her onto the bed. The ordeal ended when he left, putting a tea towel on his head and riding a bike. Kearney suffered post‑traumatic stress disorder and claimed €1,000 in losses. Nulty also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving on 17 February 2017; he was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on 29 July. The court heard he had 23 previous convictions and was on bail for the earlier offence.
The Special Criminal Court heard on 19 June 2020 that five bullets were lodged in the head of Michael Barr, 36, who was shot to death at the Sunset House pub in Dublin on 25 April 2016. Liverpool native David Hunter, 41, is pleading not guilty to the murder. Former Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis, appearing by video‑link, described the post‑mortem findings: seven gunshot injuries, including three entry wounds above the jaw, one behind the right ear, one behind the temple, one through the right shoulder blade, and one on the left thigh. He noted extensive skull damage and that the injuries were incompatible with life. Retired Detective Superintendent Eunan Dolan confirmed the pub was declared a crime scene and that CCTV footage had been seized by the Special Detective Unit. The defence questioned the seizure and the court adjourned the case to 23 June for further proceedings. The trial is expected to last four weeks.
The Special Criminal Court heard testimony in the trial of David Hunter, a 41-year-old Liverpool native accused of the murder of Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub in Dublin's north inner city on 25 April 2016. An unnamed witness described crawling on the floor to bless Mr Barr's body after two masked men entered the bar and shot him seven times. She recounted that a mirror smashed during the incident and that she saw the shooters wearing Halloween-style masks. Defending barrister Ms Roisín Lacey SC questioned the witness regarding whether it was common knowledge that Mr Barr was scheduled for sentencing that week, to which the witness replied Mr Barr had mentioned going on holiday. Another witness, Stephen Clifford, stated he heard three shots and saw Mr Barr fall with blood from his neck. Nepalese barman Keshav Paudel testified that he hid behind the bar and called 999. Detective Garda David Kildea informed the court that the pub's CCTV hard drive had been seized days earlier for a separate matter. The trial, presided over by Justice Alexander Owens, is expected to last four weeks.
A fundraiser for the wives of IRA prisoners was held in an inner‑city Dublin pub when the bar manager, Michael Barr, 35, was shot dead. Two men wearing full rubber Hallowe'en masks entered the Sunset House pub after 9 pm and fired seven shots at Barr, killing him at the scene. The Special Criminal Court heard the case after former judge Paul Coffey recused himself; it is now before Justice Alexander Owens. Liverpool native David Hunter, 41, is accused of the murder. Hunter pleaded not guilty and his barrister formally objected to the court's jurisdiction. The trial, with 168 witnesses, is expected to last four to five weeks. The hearing included testimony about the shooting, the discovery of weapons in a silver Audi A6, and the extradition of Hunter from the UK. The case remains at the trial stage.
David Rodgers, a 47‑year‑old language teacher, was arrested on 30 October 2018 for selling cannabis on Henry Street, Dublin. Gardaí found nearly €25,000 worth of cannabis in his home, including glass jars and a makeshift grow‑house. He initially claimed the plants were natural herbs but later admitted to selling cannabis. Rodgers pleaded guilty to one count of possession of cannabis for sale or supply. He has 12 prior convictions, mainly for theft and public order offences. His defence lawyer described him as having an unusual profile: he left school at 15, later returned to complete his Junior and Leaving Cert exams, and became an English teacher for foreign students. He has lived abroad and speaks Spanish, German and Arabic. Rodgers suffered a brain injury after being assaulted by his brother, leading to memory and learning difficulties. He had been studying for a languages degree at DCU but had to abandon it.
The Special Criminal Court heard that DNA was extracted from items used by David Hunter, a 41‑year‑old UK man extradited from the UK, during his flight back to Ireland. Hunter is accused of murdering Michael Barr, 35, the bar manager of the Sunset House pub in Dublin, on 25 April 2016. Hunter pleaded not guilty and his barrister formally objected to the court's jurisdiction. Prosecutor Dominic McGinn described the shooting: two armed men in rubber masks entered the pub around 9 pm, shot Barr seven times, and fled. Evidence included a silver Audi A6 that was set on fire, a Ford Mondeo, and weapons and masks found in the vehicles. A phone found near a bullet had no fingerprints. DNA from an apple, ear‑plugs, a cigarette butt, and clothing seized at Bridewell matched a mixed profile from a rubber mask and a ski mask. The trial is expected to last four to five weeks.
A Dublin man, Ray Kennedy, 40, is charged with perverting the course of justice for destroying a SIM card on 6 March 2013, the day Peter Butterly, a 35‑year‑old father of two, was shot dead in the car park of the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co. Meath. Kennedy faces trial at the Special Criminal Court on 11 January 2021, a hearing expected to last four to five weeks. The case is presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh.
Anthony Finglas, 49, of Havelock Place, Warrenpoint, Co Down, was denied bail by the Special Criminal Court after being accused of assaulting, falsely imprisoning, robbing and demanding €50,000 from businessman Edward McAndrew at One Ferry Hill, Cornamucklash, Omeath, Co Louth, on or about 2 December 2017. The court considered the seriousness of the offences and the risk that Finglas might abscond or interfere with witnesses. Two co‑accused, Thomas McGuinness, 33, and William Twomey, 56, had already been granted bail. Finglas's defence argued that he had no means to leave the country, no prior convictions while on bail, and had not contacted McAndrew in the two‑and‑a‑half years since the alleged offences. A family member offered €22,500 for a bond.
Stephen Keogh, a former Anglo Irish Bank employee, was sentenced to five-and-a-half years' imprisonment for stealing €611,139.35 from seven victims, mainly friends and family, between 2002 and 2010. He persuaded relatives and acquaintances to invest large sums in high‑interest accounts, but deposited the money into his own account and provided false documents to conceal the theft. Keogh also used his wife's credit card without her knowledge and took money from a brother‑in‑law and a best man to pay for cars that were never registered in their names. He fled to the United States in 2010, returned in 2011, and later worked for a company servicing U.S. military bases in Afghanistan and Iraq. He was arrested in November 2019 and, after a guilty plea, was found to have created a fiction of success and lived beyond his means, leading the judge to sentence him for the extensive financial harm caused to his victims.
In May 2020 a burglar, Dominic Rogers, 21, was caught by a homeowner standing in a bush near the scene of a burglary in Lucan. Rogers had earlier pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a stolen car at an M1 toll plaza on 28 June 2019 and to burglary at Foxpark on 26 September 2019. He had five prior convictions, including drug possession and deception. Gardaí had CCTV showing him driving the stolen car and later found him in a bush holding a torch after a house in Lucan had been broken into. Rogers denied involvement in the burglary but later accepted responsibility. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to one year for the car offence and two years for the burglary, to run consecutively for a total of three years, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 30 April 2020, the judge refused bail for 21‑year‑old Dominic Rogers, who had been on bail since June 2019. Rogers had been caught with a stolen car and later broke into a home in Lucan. He has five prior convictions, all while on bail, including drug possession and traffic offences. He pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen car at M1 Toll Plaza on 28 June 2019 and to burglary at Foxpark on 26 September 2019. Rogers has taken nine bench warrants between May and July 2019 and failed to comply with bail conditions, notably signing on at Lucan Garda Station 83 times. The judge, citing the likelihood of a custodial sentence and concerns that Rogers might commit further offences, remanded him in custody and set sentencing for 13 May 2020.
Petronel Pal, a 36‑year‑old Romanian, was arrested in Dublin in 2019 and faces extradition to Romania for alleged involvement in the murder of fellow Romanian Virgil Busa, who was violently assaulted on 10 April 2014 at Academy Square, Navan, and died three days later. Pal and other identified individuals are accused of forming an organised crime group, allegedly headed by a relative of Pal, and of breaking into Busa's apartment in the early hours of the murder date. The High Court, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, granted Pal a certificate to appeal the proposed surrender to Romanian authorities but refused a bail application. Pal's lawyers argued that the case raises a point of law of exceptional public importance, questioning whether the High Court correctly applied extraterritoriality principles and whether it is permissible to prosecute individuals for crimes committed in other EU Member States. The appeal will be heard by the Court of Appeal.
In March 2020 the High Court dismissed a judicial review challenge brought by David Prescott, a 35‑year‑old English national, who had been remanded in custody after being charged with three counts of criminal damage and one count of burglary in connection with a house fire at the Beechmount Estate, Navan, on St Stephen's Day. Prescott had been released on bail on 16 January, but was re‑arrested for breaching bail conditions and remanded again at Cloverhill Prison. He applied for bail on 27 February, but the District Court judge ruled that without a change in his circumstances the application could not be considered. Prescott sought to quash the decision and declare that a change of circumstances was not required after a bail revocation.
A 70‑year‑old cancer patient, Ronald Gordon, is in prison isolation because of Covid‑19 concerns and has been denied High Court bail. Gordon, a UK national, is charged with possession of cannabis and cocaine for sale or supply at Sarsfieldstown, Gormanston, Co. Meath, on 8 May 2019. The drugs are estimated to be worth about €2.5 million. He has applied for bail three times; the latest application was accompanied by a consultant's letter from Beaumont Hospital detailing his health difficulties, which was not presented at earlier hearings. Counsel for Gordon, Michael Hourican BL, argued that his prognosis was "not good at all" and that prison authorities were anxious to release vulnerable inmates. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Nicola Cox BL, maintained that the objection to bail was not made lightly, citing the seriousness of the allegations and the lack of any change in circumstances that would justify release.
Caolan Smyth, a 28‑year‑old prisoner remanded for attempted murder, has filed a High Court challenge against his confinement in the Midlands Prison's segregation unit. He alleges that since his transfer a few months ago he has been locked in his cell for 23 hours a day, denied regular exercise, educational and vocational opportunities, and limited to screened visits. Smyth argues that the prison authorities claim he is isolated for his own safety, but he disputes that his life is in danger from other inmates. He contends that the conditions amount to punishment without disciplinary hearings, breach his constitutional rights to bodily integrity and to prepare for trial, and prevent him from meeting his Dublin‑based lawyers after 5:30 pm on weekdays.
Brian Reilly, aged 23, was denied bail by the High Court on 24 March 2020 after being charged with three counts of criminal damage, three counts of dangerous driving, endangerment, driving without a licence and failure to remain at the scene. The charges stem from a collision on 29 January that allegedly caused a woman's finger to be amputated and left her with a broken collar bone and a suspected broken pelvis. Reilly was observed driving a Honda in suspicious fashion, breaking a red light, driving through traffic, mounting a roundabout, travelling in the wrong direction and colliding with a van and a Peugeot. The Peugeot's occupants suffered injuries, with the female passenger requiring amputation. Reilly fled on foot towards Ashbourne, was later arrested in a field, and the court found no bail conditions that would satisfy the prosecution. He may apply for bail again in four months if the prosecution's case cannot be progressed.
Petronel Pal, 36, faces extradition to Romania for an alleged murder committed in Meath in 2014. He was arrested in Dublin in 2019 and is wanted for creating an organised crime group and for the aggravated murder of Virgil Busa, who died three days after being assaulted. While in Ireland, Pal and others are alleged to have formed a group headed by a relative of Pal. The High Court has considered surrendering him, but a formal order has not yet been issued. Pal's lawyers have applied to the High Court for leave to appeal, arguing that the case raises a point of law of exceptional public importance and that the High Court's approach to extraterritoriality may be incorrect. The appeal will be decided on March 30, with Pal remanded in custody. The case hinges on whether Irish law allows prosecution for crimes committed abroad by non‑Irish citizens.
David Prescott, 35, was granted High Court bail after a prior bail revocation for failing to comply with conditions related to a house fire in Navan. He faces one burglary charge and three criminal damage charges at the Beechmount estate. The court noted he did not respond to the damage charges but said "I don't agree" to the burglary charge. His earlier bail, granted on 16 January, was revoked two weeks later because he did not keep his mobile phone on at all times, a condition the Gardaí could not verify. Justice Mary Rose Gearty ordered his release on a €1,000 bond, requiring him to reside at an address on Gardiner Street, Dublin, keep his phone on, sign in daily, and remain out of Meath except for court appearances. The case was one of 35 bail applications heard that day.
The High Court has ordered the appointment of a receiver over three luxury watches alleged to have been purchased with proceeds of crime. Christopher Waldron, aged 37 and with an address at Killala Road in Cabra, is facing proceedings brought by the Criminal Assets Bureau concerning two residential properties and the three watches, which include a Breitling chronograph, a Rolex Datejust and a Cartier Santos timepiece. The CAB contends that all or part of the properties and watches were acquired through criminal activity. Mr Waldron's claims denying the allegations were noted. Mr Justice Alex Owens appointed a receiver to take possession of the watches pending further order. A related case involving David Waldron, aged 42 and also from Cabra, concerning three properties in Wexford, Dublin and Kildare, was adjourned to 18 May. Those claims too are denied. The High Court's CAB list comprised 26 cases on the date in question, with social distancing measures in place among those attending.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Mr Justice Tony Hunt remanded Thomas McGuinness, 33, on bail until 25 May after McGuinness was unable to attend the hearing due to ill health. McGuinness is charged with falsely imprisoning, assaulting and robbing Edward McAndrew at a Co Louth farmhouse on 2 December 2017, and with demanding £50,000 from McAndrew. The charges include detaining McAndrew without consent, assault causing harm, theft of car keys, money, travel bag, wallet, briefcase, two mobile phones and an Irish passport, and making an unwarranted demand with menaces. Two other men, William Twomey, 56, and Anthony Finglas, 49, are also charged with the same offences. Twomey was granted bail on 25 February, while Finglas' bail application was denied. Mr Justice Hunt expressed hope that the world would be a different place by the end of May.
In a murder trial, Paula Farrell, 47, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the unlawful killing of Wayne 'Quilly' McQuillan, 30, who was stabbed at her Drogheda home on New Year's Day 2014. Dr Michael Curtis, former Deputy State Pathologist, described four stab wounds, including a fatal one to the left subclavian vein and lung. He noted the wounds were close and parallel, suggesting rapid, successive strikes, and said the injuries could have been survivable with prompt medical intervention. Dr Maria Murillo testified that Farrell was intoxicated and unfit for questioning at 7 am on New Year's Day, having been drinking since 3 pm the previous evening. The court heard that Farrell had been treated for schizophrenia and had been drinking daily. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
Thomas McGuinness, aged 33, appeared before the Special Criminal Court charged with four non‑scheduled offences relating to an incident at a Louth farmhouse on 2 December 2017. He is accused of falsely imprisoning Edward McAndrew by detaining him without consent at One Ferry Hill, Cornamucklagh, Omeath, and of assaulting McAndrew, causing him harm, at the same location and date. McGuinness is also charged with robbing McAndrew of car keys, a travel bag, a wallet, a briefcase, two mobile phones and an Irish passport, and with demanding £50,000 from McAndrew with menaces. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Gerard Griffin and Dermot Dempsey, remanded McGuinness on bail subject to conditions until 9 March. Two other men, William Twomey (56) and Anthony Finglas (49), are also charged with the same offences; Twomey was granted bail, Finglas' application was denied.
The Court of Appeal has increased the prison sentences of four men convicted of robbing the Cleaboy Post Office in Waterford on May 3, 2018. Alan Wall, Michael Tynan, Conor O'Connor, and Barry Walsh each pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of a sawn-off shotgun. The original sentences, deemed unduly lenient by the Director of Public Prosecutions, were five years for Wall and Tynan (with 18 months suspended) and six years for Walsh and O'Connor (with 12 months suspended). The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice John Edwards, re-sentenced the defendants to longer terms: Wall to seven years, Tynan to seven years and three months, Walsh to seven-and-a-half years, and O'Connor to eight years. Additionally, concurrent five-year sentences were imposed for the firearms offences. The court found the initial headline sentences too low and noted that too much credit was given for mitigating factors. The robbery involved the use of a firearm and hammers, resulting in the theft of approximately €45,000. The appeal was successful, leading to these increased custodial terms.
The High Court approved personal insolvency arrangements (PIAs) for musician Frank McNamara (59) and his barrister wife Theresa Lowe (56), allowing them to write off almost €3 million of debt. The judge, Mr Justice Denis McDonald, had previously expressed concerns about discrepancies in McNamara's financial documents, particularly between a Standard Financial Statement (SFS) filed in January 2016 and a Prescribed Financial Statement (PFS) submitted in October 2016. He noted that the discrepancies had been explained and that the unsatisfactory approach taken by McNamara and his Personal Insolvency Practitioner should not lead to dismissal of the application. The court postponed the formal order until the assets of McNamara's late father's estate are realised, but confirmed that the PIAs will be effective once that occurs.
In a 2020 Court of Appeal decision, Mr Justice George Birmingham urged that judges should not shy away from starting at the maximum five‑year sentence for section 3 assault cases, especially when the offence is "high‑end". He cited three Waterford cases where the original sentences were deemed unduly lenient. Martina McGrath (27) received an extra two years for stabbing a pregnant woman; Dale Brazil (25) was given an additional year for attacking a man with a metal bar; and Mark Dolan (32) avoided a return to jail after a six‑month term for smashing a rugby player's face, having "completely turned his life around". Birmingham noted aggravating factors such as use of a weapon, multiple assailants, pre‑planning and significant injuries, and argued that the headline sentences in all three cases should have been five years before any reduction for mitigating circumstances.
Patrick Murphy, 43, of Cabra, Dublin, pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to an assault on the Navan Road on June 23, 2016. The court heard that Murphy, who has longstanding mental health issues and 20 previous convictions including two for assault, grabbed a child he mistakenly believed was his kidnapped niece. Garda Jennifer Connolly testified that Murphy ran across the road with a "crazy look in his eyes," seized the child around the waist, and stated he thought someone had her for ransom. He released the child after her grandmother held on tightly. The court noted Murphy had been discharged from Connolly Hospital the day prior and was taken to the Mater Hospital psychiatric department by gardaí the morning of the incident, where he was discharged to attend a GP clinic. He was holding his hospital referral letter during the event. The family expressed concern for Murphy's mental health rather than seeking imprisonment. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a one-month sentence of imprisonment, which she deferred until May 15. She indicated she will strike out the sentence on that date, leaving Murphy without a conviction.
Two men from Havelock Place, Warrenpoint, Co Down, Anthony Finglas (49) and William Twomey (56), appeared before the Special Criminal Court on 11 February 2020. They were charged with four non‑scheduled offences: falsely imprisoning, assaulting and robbing Edward McAndrew at One Ferry Hill, Cornamucklagh, Omeath, Co Louth on 2 December 2017, and demanding £50,000 from him with menaces. The robbery included car keys, about £200, a travel bag, a wallet, a briefcase, two mobile phones and an Irish passport. Finglas was arrested on Castle Street, Trim, Co Meath, and Twomey on Eyrecourt, Co Galway, both on warrants issued by the court the previous day. The court heard the charges, the defendants' responses, and the judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, remanded Twomey for a bail hearing next Tuesday, noting that the defendants are likely to be of substantial means.