A Dublin man, Darren McDermott, told a jury that he suffered three fractures to his jaw and several broken teeth after an assault by a group of men led by professional footballer Jeff Hendrick. The incident occurred on 12 October 2013 at Harcourt Street, when McDermott was in a nightclub and later in a taxi that stopped at traffic lights. McDermott claimed Hendrick and his associates forced him out of the taxi, threatened him, and then attacked him, delivering kicks to his head, face, chest and back. McDermott fled, was struck by the attackers, and was later rescued by bystanders. He received emergency surgery at James's Hospital and remains under medical care. Hendrick pleaded not guilty to violent disorder and assault causing harm, while co‑accused Jonathan Doran also pleaded not guilty to the same charges. The trial is ongoing before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
Promontoria (Arrow) Ltd is seeking a €9.68 million judgment against three former partners of the Bridgeford Partnership—Mr Pat Burke of Dunmore, Mr John Donnelly of Boyne Hill, and Mr John Fleming of Clonskeagh—over an alleged failure to repay a loan advanced in 2009. The fund claims it received a €9.4 million loan from EBS Building Society in February 2009 to restructure an existing debt and provide a capitalised facility, secured by the Bridgeford Bar & Restaurant in Drogheda and a site on Bredin Street. The loan was repayable by February 2011, transferred to National Asset Loan Management Ltd, and later acquired by Promontoria in 2015. In January the fund demanded repayment of the outstanding €9.68 million, including interest, and appointed a receiver over the secured assets.
In the trial of 33‑year‑old Seán Ducque, charged with the 2014 murder of Kieran Farrelly, former partner Laura Dempsey testified that she was in a relationship with Ducque at the time and that they had a child. She said she had been selling heroin with Farrelly's partner that evening and that they later met Ducque and Farrelly, walking toward Summerhill. Dempsey claimed she heard a shot immediately after Farrelly crossed railings and that Ducque fired twice, once in the chest or head. She said she shouted "stop" after the first shot and that Ducque handed her a bag containing a gun after the second. Dempsey described being crying, the gun being disposed of in a bin on Mabbot Lane, and the Gardaí arriving to arrest them. She also admitted to being a heroin addict and taking methadone, valium and alcohol that night, but insisted she was not heavily intoxicated. Seán Ducque pleaded guilty.
During the trial of Christopher McDonald, a 34‑year‑old from Dublin's East Wall, a witness named Jason O'Connor was restrained by prison officers after he lunged at McDonald in front of the jury. O'Connor had been called to give evidence and, after walking behind McDonald, attacked him. Four prison officers and a Garda intervened, and Justice Patrick McCarthy warned O'Connor that he had powers to deal with people who do not act in a "civilised manner." The jury was asked to leave for a few minutes; when they returned, the judge reminded them that they must decide the case based on the evidence and that McDonald enjoys a presumption of innocence. McCarthy described O'Connor's behaviour as "disgraceful" and insisted it should not affect the jury. The trial, which also involves a witness named Stuart Kane who described a shooting at the Blanchardstown Pigeon Racing Club, continues under Justice McCarthy's direction. Christopher McDonald pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Christopher McDonald, aged 34, is charged with the killing of 36‑year‑old Keith Walker at Blanchardstown Pigeon Racing Club on 12 June 2015. According to barrister Denis Vaughan Buckley, Walker left his home with his six‑year‑old son, travelled to Whitestown, met Jason O'Connor, and later drove to the club with pigeons in a car. At about 6 pm, a man dressed as a woman—wearing a long black‑haired wig, black leggings, dark sunglasses and a handbag—entered the car park, approached Walker, removed a sub‑machine gun from his handbag and fired 18 shots, fatally wounding Walker. CCTV footage will show the shooting and a subsequent image from a Lidl in Blanchardstown of a person without a wig but otherwise similarly dressed. A post‑mortem by Professor Marie Cassidy will confirm 18 gunshot wounds to Walker's head, body and left leg. Christopher McDonald pleaded not guilty.
Sarah Lawlor, aged 26, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to causing serious harm to Iuliun Molcalaut on July 19, 2015, after an altercation on the South Circular Road. Lawlor claimed she did not stab anyone but admitted she had obtained knives from a flat after being asked to do so. The prosecution argued that Molcalaut's injuries, including a punctured liver and significant blood loss, could have been fatal without immediate medical care, and that the severity of the wounds forced him to cancel his wedding. Lawlor was arrested about an hour after the incident and was the only one among the three involved who accepted responsibility. She has no prior convictions, has three children in their fathers' custody, and was remanded on bail with sentencing adjourned to July 3.
Jonathan Dowdall, a former Sinn Fein councillor, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to 12 years' imprisonment for the false imprisonment and threat to kill of Anthony Hurley. The court found that Dowdall, who claimed to be an IRA member, had tied Hurley to a chair, waterboarded him and threatened to "chop him up" and "feed him to the dogs". Patrick Dowdall, the former councillor's father, received an eight‑year sentence for his role in the offence. Both sentences run concurrently and were back‑dated to 17 May 2016. The court noted the case involved a "Newton hearing" to resolve factual disputes after the defendants pleaded guilty to the charges. The sentencing was based on the evidence of the ordeal, the video footage, and the defendants' admissions. The court emphasised the seriousness of the offences and the impact on the victim.
Brendan Smith, 39, of Greenane, Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, pleaded guilty to running a price‑fixing scam that targeted large multinationals such as Google and PayPal. He was fined €7,500 and received a three‑month prison sentence suspended for two years for attempting to impede a prosecution. Smith had entered a bond for good behaviour, with a breach allowing him to serve the suspended term. The company he worked for, Aston Carpets, was fined €10,000. The scam involved an anti‑competitive agreement between July 2012 and April 2013, where Aston Carpets, Flooring and Carpet Centre (Contracts) Ltd tendered higher prices to secure contracts. The scheme was exposed by David Radburn, who revealed the agreement to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. Smith's sentence considered his monthly income of €9,422 and property interests in Dublin and Co Meath.
The Special Criminal Court held a Newton hearing to resolve factual disputes in the case of Jonathan Dowdall (38) and his father Patrick Dowdall (59) over the alleged false imprisonment and waterboarding of Alexander Hurley. The court considered evidence that Jonathan Dowdall claimed to be a member of the IRA and threatened Hurley's family, while Patrick Dowdall denied making such claims. Hurley testified that he was detained at the Dowdalls' Navan Road home on 15 January 2015, that he was held in a garage for about two hours, and that he was threatened with harm to his family if he reported the incident. The judge found the Dowdalls' evidence that the ordeal lasted only 30–40 minutes unconvincing, accepted that IRA claims were made by Jonathan Dowdall, and confirmed that threats were made to Hurley's family. The hearing concluded with the court directing that sentencing would take place the following day. Jonathan Dowdall pleaded guilty. Patrick Dowdall pleaded guilty.
The Special Criminal Court has directed a Newton hearing to resolve disputed facts in the sentencing phase of a case involving Jonathan Dowdall and his father, Patrick Dowdall. Both defendants admitted to falsely imprisoning Alexander Hurley and threatening to kill him at Navan Road, Dublin 7, on January 15, 2015. Jonathan Dowdall pleaded guilty to these charges, while Patrick Dowdall also admitted to the threat. Although the matter was previously adjourned after submissions from Jonathan Dowdall's counsel, Mr Michael O'Higgins SC, the court has now scheduled a hearing for tomorrow morning to address conflicts in evidence. Presiding Judge Isobel Kennedy described Newton hearings as "extraordinarily rare" but permitted one in the interests of justice. The hearing will focus on five specific issues, including whether Jonathan Dowdall invited the victim to dinner, the duration of the ordeal, and allegations regarding threats to the victim's family. The judge noted that the sentence hearing is not at an end and that these issues constitute aggravating factors. The court will determine the facts before passing sentence, with the matter currently at the procedural stage of sentencing.
The Special Criminal Court adjourned the sentencing of Jonathan Dowdall and his father, Patrick Dowdall, until May 30th. Both men, of Navan Road, Dublin 7, had previously pleaded guilty to falsely imprisoning and threatening to kill Alexander Hurley on January 15th, 2015. The court heard that the defendants believed Hurley was attempting to defraud them of bank details after he contacted them via donedeal.ie regarding a motorbike sale. During the incident, which lasted three hours, Hurley was detained in a garage, bound to a chair, and subjected to waterboarding and threats of violence. Jonathan Dowdall's counsel, Mr Michael O'Higgins SC, submitted that the court should consider new issues before passing sentence. He disputed allegations that his client was a leading IRA member or a friend of Sinn Fein TDs Mary Lou McDonald and Gerry Adams, stating these claims were not accepted by the defendant. Counsel also noted that Hurley had previous convictions for dishonesty. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy agreed to adjourn the matter to allow the court to take these submissions into account. The report notes that neither defendant has previous convictions, and both expressed apologies for the violence inflicted on the injured party.
Carol Clarke, a 57‑year‑old mother of five, admitted to stealing €104,431 in social welfare fraud over a 17‑year period by posing as her sister Bernadette Darcy. The theft occurred at the Phibsborough post office between February 1994 and July 2011. Gardaí discovered the fraud in 2012 when they found welfare claims made in Darcy's name; Darcy claimed she was unaware of the claims. Clarke was arrested shortly after the discovery. She initially denied the allegations but later admitted guilt following handwriting and fingerprint tests, and after staff at the post office identified her. Clarke has a prior conviction for handling stolen property in 1999. She pleaded guilty to two counts of stealing from the Department of Social Welfare. The court heard that she used the stolen money to support her family and to pay off one son's drug debts.
The Special Criminal Court heard that Jonathan Dowdall and his father, Patrick Dowdall, admitted to falsely imprisoning and threatening to kill Alexander Hurley at their Navan Road, Dublin 7, home on January 15, 2015. Both defendants pleaded guilty to these charges. The court viewed mobile phone footage showing Jonathan Dowdall, wearing a balaclava, holding a tea-towel to Mr. Hurley's face and pouring water over his head. Prosecutors stated the Dowdalls believed Mr. Hurley was attempting to defraud them by seeking bank details under the guise of being a barrister. Mr. Hurley, who has two prior fraud convictions, was bound to a chair for three hours and subjected to threats of violence. In a victim impact statement, Mr. Hurley described the incident as brutal, noting he lost his job and friends and that his psychological injuries would never fully heal. Defense counsel apologized on behalf of the defendants, who have no previous convictions. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, presiding with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and James Faughnan, remanded the Dowdalls in custody until May 19, when they will be sentenced.
Two Dublin men, Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (47), were sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly (35), who was shot dead on 6 March 2013 outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, Co. Meath. The Special Criminal Court described the killing as "premeditated slaughter". McGrath was also convicted of firearms offences related to the same incident and received an additional seven‑year sentence for each offence. Kelly's role involved dropping a co‑accused, David Cullen, outside Gormanston College to dispose of the gun and then driving McGrath and the gunman away. The court noted that neither McGrath nor Kelly had prior convictions and highlighted the shock of their involvement in a planned, callous murder. Mrs. Eithne Butterly, the victim's wife, delivered a victim impact statement describing her husband's love for his children and the lasting pain of his death. Mr. Justice Tony Hunt imposed the life sentences on both men.
In 2011 a worker, Barry Gargan, 28, was killed at Kilsaran Concrete's Piercetown plant when a cleaning arm fell on him inside a safety cage. The company pleaded guilty to failing to manage work safely and was fined €125,000 by Judge Michael O'Shea in 2016. The Director of Public Prosecutions argued the fine was too low, citing deliberate safety feature overrides to boost profit. The Court of Appeal, hearing the DPP's application, increased the fine to €1 million. The appeal court found the company had a pattern of incremental safety breaches over more than a year, with senior management encouraging risky practices. The court noted the company's cooperation, guilty plea and prior good safety record as mitigating factors, but deemed the original fine unduly lenient. The final penalty was €1 million, a 50 % reduction from the maximum possible fine. The company apologized to the Gargan family and acknowledged the loss of a valued employee.
Kilsaran Concrete, a manufacturer in Piercetown, Dunboyne, was fined €125,000 in February 2016 for failing to ensure employee safety after Barry Gargan, 28, was killed in September 2011 while operating a wet‑cast machine. The DPP has appealed, arguing the penalty was "unduly lenient." The appeal is pending, with the Court of Appeal reserving judgment until April 6. In the appeal, barrister Carl Hanahoe described how the company used a wet‑cast line, originally for standardised curbing stones, to produce bespoke concrete slabs for regeneration projects in Limerick and Ballymun. He alleged deliberate overriding of safety features, incremental efficiency gains that increased danger, and that employees were positioned on either side of the conveyor belt inside a safety cage. A worker had reported a "near miss" over about 12 months. Kilsaran's counsel, Hugh Hartnett SC, maintained that the system was wrong from the start and that the company had paid civil sums quickly. Kilsaran Concrete pleaded guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, former Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall, aged 38, and his father Patrick Dowdall, aged 59, pleaded guilty to falsely imprisoning and threatening to kill Alexander Hurley. The alleged offences occurred on 15 January 2015 at Navan Road, Dublin 7, where the Dowdalls detained Hurley without consent and threatened his life. Judge Isobel Kennedy remanded both men in custody until 28 April, when sentencing will take place. Jonathan Dowdall's counsel will prepare a psychological report, while the State will seek a victim impact statement.
Robert O'Neill, 26, of Thorndale Avenue, Artane, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to handling stolen property and to having no insurance for a stolen VW Passat that was listed on the Done Deal website. The car, whose registration had been cloned, was sold by O'Neill at a price below market value. Garda Detective Mark O'Regan, who had been monitoring suspicious ads, arranged a meeting with O'Neill, arrested him and the vehicle was returned to its rightful owner. O'Neill had 25 prior convictions, mainly for traffic offences, and admitted a gambling and cocaine addiction that had led to a €10,000 debt. He offered €1,000 in compensation. Judge Gerard Griffin, praising the Garda's work, imposed a two‑year suspended sentence and a seven‑year driving disqualification.
The Special Criminal Court's trial of 33‑year‑old Lithuanian Eimantas Valteris collapsed after a taped conversation between Valteris and two Gardaí was played. In the recording, the Gardaí, including Detective Sergeant Padraig Boyce, warned Valteris that if he did not accept responsibility for three firearms and four silencers, his wife would be arrested and their child would go into care. They also threatened to arrest his partner if he refused to cooperate. The Director of Public Prosecutions entered a nolle prosequi before the tape was fully played, and the court discharged Valteris. The case had originally involved Valteris's alleged unlawful possession of a .32‑inch semi‑automatic pistol, with evidence of the weapon being found in a VW Passat that had been stopped by Gardaí in Castlebellingham. The trial was the first at the Special Criminal Court involving a Lithuanian defendant. Eimantas Valteris pleaded not guilty.
Dillon Campbell, 31, of Trim Road, Coolock, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the robbery of cash from Dylan Stagno at the Esso service station on Malahide Road, Artane, on September 12, 2016. Prosecution evidence stated that Campbell entered the shop, initially appearing to joke with the victim before pulling out a black imitation firearm. He then became aggressive, demanding money and coins, and fled with approximately €230 in cash. The weapon was later identified as a 6mm air pistol. Campbell had previous convictions, including for possession of drugs for sale or supply, and was on bail for criminal damage and trespass at the time of the offence. Defence counsel attributed the crime to a chronic drug addiction and a significant debt. Judge Melanie Greally described the incident as serious due to the aggression and the realistic appearance of the firearm. While noting Campbell's efforts to address his drug and alcohol abuse and his supportive family, the Judge highlighted a high risk of re-offending if these issues were not resolved. She sentenced Campbell to five years in prison but suspended the final two and a half years on the condition that he complies with Probation Services after his release.
The Special Criminal Court ordered that the public be excluded from the hearing of evidence given by members of the Garda National Surveillance Unit in the trial of Lithuanian man Eimantas Valteris, aged 33, who was arrested in 2013 as part of an operation to counter dissident republican activity in the border area. Valteris, the first Lithuanian charged before the Special Criminal Court, pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of a .32‑inch semi‑automatic pistol (IZH 79‑8 model Baikal, serial TPB358706) found at his car sales depot in Balmoral Industrial Estate, Navan, Co. Meath. The court heard that Valteris operated the depot and that on 10 June 2013 he was observed moving a red Fiat Ducato van and a black VW Passat, the latter of which was stopped by Gardaí in Castlebellingham, Co. Louth, where the pistol was recovered in the boot. A later search of Valteris's yard yielded €2,000 in another car.
The Special Criminal Court in Dublin opened a trial on 14 March 2017 for Eimantas Valteris, a 33‑year‑old Lithuanian, who is the first Lithuanian charged with terrorism‑related offences in Ireland. Valteris was arrested by the Gardaí in 2013 during an operation targeting dissident republican activity in the border area. He pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of a .32 inch (7.65 mm) calibre IZH 79‑8 semi‑automatic pistol, serial number TPB358706, found at his car‑sales depot in Balmoral Industrial Estate, Navan, County Meath, on 10 June 2013. The prosecution, presented by Tony Mc Gillicuddy, claimed Valteris operated the depot and stored the firearm on his premises, acting in a storage and transfer role.
Michael Fagan (25) of Sperrin Road, Drimnagh, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two years' imprisonment for handling stolen property. Judge Elma Sheahan reduced a recommended three-year term to two years following mitigation. Fagan pleaded guilty to possessing a safe stolen from the Co. Meath home of Mark Guildea on May 5, 2014. Detective Garda Brian McCarthy testified that Fagan dropped the safe from a third-floor balcony at Rathmines flats complex on the night of the burglary, scattering items including shotgun cartridges. Fagan, who has 51 previous convictions, was not charged with the burglary itself. Separately, Dean Fagan (28) of Kildare Park, Crumlin, Dublin, and Daryl Smith (25) of Shancastle Lawns, Clondalkin, Dublin, were jailed at Trim Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to carrying out the aggravated burglary at Irishtown, Ashbourne, on the same date. The court noted that the original burglary involved the victim's wife and child being tied up. Michael Fagan's defence counsel highlighted his desire to live a sober life, while the judge acknowledged his mitigation.
Two Dublin men, Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (47), were found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of the callous, brutal and pre‑meditated murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly (35) on 6 March 2013 outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanston. The court described the killing as an ambush carried out in the carpark, with Butterly shot by a handgun held by Dean Evans (24), who was absent from the trial. McGrath was also convicted of firearms offences from the same incident. The trial, lasting 31 days, relied on forensic evidence from a stolen Toyota Corolla, a green Opel Zafira, and a bag seized from the Corolla, which contained a black semiautomatic pistol. DNA and residue tests linked the men to the shooting. The court remanded McGrath and Kelly in custody pending sentencing. The case did not involve any subsequent verdicts or appeals.
Patrick Clarke, a 37‑year‑old from Silverlawns, Navan, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possession of a stolen BMW. He had agreed to move the vehicle from one location to another in exchange for €100, describing the offer as "too good to be true." Clarke, who has struggled with alcohol since age 14 and has eight prior convictions, was arrested after Garda surveillance linked him to the theft. He was found in the stolen car with its keys and a mobile phone. The car was returned to its owner. Clarke pleaded guilty and was noted by the judge to have detoxed and intended to remain alcohol‑free. Judge Patricia Ryan, considering his early guilty plea and cooperation, imposed a two‑year sentence, which she suspended in full for two years.
Stephen Rooney (37), Alan Richardson (28) and Vincent Brunton (34) were jailed for their roles in an NCT scam that involved passing cars that had previously failed roadworthiness tests. The men were arrested after a Garda investigation prompted by an RTÉ Prime Time documentary in 2011. Judge Gerard Griffin sentenced Rooney and Richardson to three years with two‑and‑a‑half years suspended, and suspended the entire three‑year term for Brunton. Rooney pleaded guilty to forgery of an NCT certificate and corruption for accepting €100 as inducement; Richardson pleaded guilty to the same forgery and corruption for accepting a cash gift; Brunton pleaded guilty to forging an NCT certificate. The court noted the cars passed were unroadworthy and unsafe, and that the men's actions undermined public trust in the NCT system. The case was adjourned after the evidence was heard.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 6 March 2017, Justice Patrick McCarthy sentenced Cluskey, aged 25, to nine years' imprisonment for manslaughter after he killed Christopher Nevin with an axe outside a house on Tailteann Road, Navan, on 19 November 2015. Cluskey had been found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. The judge reduced the recommended 12‑year term to nine years, citing Cluskey's early guilty plea and his claim of reasonable self‑defence. The sentence was back‑dated to 23 November 2015, the date Cluskey entered custody. Lisa Nevin, Nevin's wife, was removed from the courtroom after becoming emotional and shouting that she would never see her husband's face again. The case also involved co‑accused Josh Turner, who was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. The judge noted the confrontation between Turner and Nevin, the use of an axe, and the impact statements from Nevin's family.
Michael Fagan (25) of Sperrin Rd, Drimnagh, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of stolen property. The offence involved a safe stolen from the Co. Meath home of Mark Guildea on May 5, 2014, which Fagan dropped from a third-floor balcony at Rathmines flats complex on the same night. Detective Garda Brian McCarthy testified that items, including shotgun cartridges, scattered after the drop. Fagan, who has 51 previous convictions, was jailed for the handling offence. Separately, at Trim Circuit Criminal Court, Dean Fagan (28) of Kildare Park, Crumlin, Dublin, and Daryl Smith (25) of Shancastle Lawns, Clondalkin, Dublin, were jailed after pleading guilty to carrying out the aggravated burglary at Irishtown, Ashbourne, on May 5, 2014. The court heard that the victims, including Guildea's wife and child, were tied up during the incident. Michael Fagan was not charged with the burglary itself. Judge Elma Sheehan presided over the sentencing in Dublin, while the Trim court handed down the sentences for Dean Fagan and Smith. All three individuals received custodial sentences for their respective convictions.
In the Central Criminal Court, the trial of Vesel Jahiri (35) for the murder of Anna Finnegan (26) and assault on Karl Finnegan was interrupted when Jahiri, standing before the jury, claimed evidence had been tampered with and that the knife used in the alleged murder had its fingerprints wiped. He also demanded to represent himself and accused the court of illegal detention. Judge Paul Coffey asked the jury to leave the courtroom, after which they returned following a half‑hour break. The case, which began with a jury hearing on Wednesday, is expected to continue for four to five weeks. Karl Finnegan, the deceased's brother, had testified that Jahiri and Anna had been in a relationship for about ten years, had two children, and that their relationship had deteriorated in the months leading up to the September 2012 incident. Jahiri has pleaded not guilty to both the murder and the assault.
Judges in the Special Criminal Court will deliver a verdict on March 9th in the murder trial of Peter Butterly, a 35‑year‑old dissident republican shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, on March 6th, 2013. Two Dublin men, Edward McGrath (35) of Springfield, Tallaght, and Sharif Kelly (47) of Balbriggan, are charged with the murder and have pleaded not guilty. McGrath also pleaded not guilty to firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24) of Raheny, failed to appear and has not been located. The court heard evidence from a protected witness, David Cullen, who was originally accused of the murder and implicated McGrath and Kelly. The trial also considered surveillance testimony and DNA evidence found on a vehicle near the scene. Both accused remain on continuing bail until the verdict.
In a house on Tailteann Road in Navan, Josh Turner (24) was found guilty of murdering 27‑year‑old Christopher Nevin during a dispute over a pedigree chihuahua. Turner was sentenced to life imprisonment, the mandatory sentence for murder, at the Central Criminal Court. Wayne Cluskey (25), who was also present, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for his part in Nevin's death. Cluskey will be sentenced next Monday. The trial, lasting eight days, relied heavily on CCTV footage and testimony from close friends, including Wayne Casserly, who described the confrontation as savage. Nevin was struck with a hatchet and an axe, leading to his death. Both accused voluntarily admitted their roles four days after the incident. The court heard statements from Nevin's mother and wife, who expressed deep grief and described Turner as a monster. Cluskey's defence highlighted his lack of intent to kill and his claim of defending Turner.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Stephen Rooney, 37, was sentenced to one year in jail for forging an NCT certificate and accepting a €100 inducement. He collapsed in the dock, prompting an ambulance call. Judge Gerard Griffin had originally imposed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending the final two‑and‑a‑half years due to Rooney's cooperation and remorse. The court also set sentencing dates for co‑accused Alan Richardson, 28, and Vincent Brunton, 34, who had each pleaded guilty to forgery and corruption for passing two un‑roadworthy Toyota Carinas. Both men were to receive suspended sentences after full cooperation. A fourth man, Darren Meehan, 40, had already received a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence for producing a false NCT certificate. All three men were remanded on continuing bail pending the March 6 sentencing. The case stemmed from a 2011 RTÉ Prime Time documentary and a Garda investigation.
In the Special Criminal Court, two Dublin men, Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (47), pleaded not guilty to the murder of Peter Butterly (35), who was shot outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, on 6 March 2013. McGrath also denied firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24), was absent. The court accepted evidence from protected witness David Cullen, who implicated McGrath and Kelly. Prosecutor Paul O'Higgins highlighted extensive evidence against McGrath, including DNA on a silver Toyota Corolla and gun residue on his jacket, and evidence against Kelly, such as his arrest in a green Opel Zafira and a bag of clothes with Evans' fingerprints. Defence counsel Giollaíosa Ó'Lideadha dismissed Cullen's testimony as unreliable, citing contradictions and lack of independent corroboration. The trial's closing speeches concluded before a hearing on Monday before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge John O'Hagan and Judge Ann Ryan.
Damien Murphy, 40, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for a series of pharmacy robberies that took place between December 2015 and February 2016. He admitted to four robberies, one attempted robbery and the production of a knife, and was armed with a knife or scissors during each incident. The robberies were carried out in Dublin city centre, including at Byrnes Pharmacy, Mangans Pharmacy, Blackhall Pharmacy and Janet Dillon Pharmacy. In one robbery a four‑year‑old child was present. Murphy had previously kept his drug addiction under control but relapsed after a financial crisis. He pleaded guilty and made full admissions. The judge imposed concurrent sentences totalling six years, suspended the final 18 months, and imposed 12 months of probation supervision.
The Special Criminal Court has heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly, who are accused of the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly and associated firearms offences. Both men have pleaded not guilty to all charges. A third accused, Dean Evans, failed to appear and has not been located; the non-jury court decided to proceed with the trial for McGrath and Kelly in his absence. Forensic scientist Sandra McGrath testified that DNA samples matching the profiles of the two accused were found on a balaclava and a black wig seized from a Toyota Corolla stopped near the scene of the shooting. The court heard that the car was being monitored by the National Surveillance Unit. The witness stated that DNA matching Evans' profile was found on the balaclava, gloves, and clothing recovered from a second vehicle, an Opel Zafira. Conversely, DNA matching McGrath's profile was identified on the black wig. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judge John O'Hagan and Judge Anne Ryan. The matter remains at the trial stage, with no findings, sentences, or finalisations recorded for the accused to date.
Three men – Stephen Rooney (37), Alan Richardson (28) and Vincent Brunton (34) – were arrested after a Garda investigation into a 2011 RTÉ Prime Time documentary that exposed a scheme to pass unroadworthy vehicles at a Dublin NCT centre. Richardson, then an NCT inspector, was approached by Rooney to pass two Toyota Carinas that had previously failed the test. The men were to receive €100, but no money was exchanged. Richardson then asked Brunton to issue a false NCT certificate for one vehicle, while a fourth man, Darren Meehan (40), was approached to pass the second vehicle and received a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence for producing a false certificate. Rooney pleaded guilty to forgery and corruption for accepting €100 as inducement; Richardson pleaded guilty to the same forgery and corruption for accepting cash from Rooney; Brunton pleaded guilty to forgery for creating a false certificate. All three men fully cooperated with the Garda investigation and expressed remorse.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, forensic evidence was presented that strongly supports the view that Dean Evans, a 24‑year‑old Dublin man, was the gunman who shot Peter Butterly, a 35‑year‑old dissident republican, outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston on 6 March 2013. Dr John O'Shaughnessy, a forensic scientist, examined a grey knitted sweater seized from Evans and found firearm discharge residue on the cuffs and sleeves, indicating that Evans had fired a weapon. Residue was also found on a jacket taken from co‑accused Edward McGrath, suggesting that the jacket wearer was near the discharge. Evans has not appeared for trial and remains unlocated. The court is proceeding with the trial of co‑accused Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (47), both of whom pleaded not guilty to the murder and, in McGrath's case, to firearms offences. The hearing was presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges John O'Hagan and Ann Ryan.
Thomas Stokes, 23, of Clondalkin, Dublin, was sentenced to six years in prison at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to six sample charges, including robbery and possession of an imitation firearm, committed between July 15 and July 25, 2016. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on strict conditions. Prosecution evidence detailed a ten-day crime spree during which Stokes allegedly robbed a total of €1,157 and a mobile phone, threatening victims with a toy gun and a steel bollard. He admitted to gardaí that he committed the offences to pay a €2,200 drug debt after his family's trailer was threatened. The final victim, a 66-year-old shop owner, closed his family-run business days later due to fear of further attacks. Stokes was identified via CCTV footage showing a distinct tattoo. Judge Greally noted the escalating seriousness of the crimes and the lingering menace felt by the victim, while accepting that the offences were motivated by Stokes's drug addiction and family pressures. She acknowledged his genuine remorse and that the actions were out of character for a man from a law-abiding family. Stokes has also been sentenced in the District Court for an earlier theft that preceded the robberies. No injuries were reported during the incidents.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 20 February 2017, a defence barrister argued that the court had been misled regarding the evidence of a protected witness in the Peter Butterly murder case. Butterly, aged 35, was shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston on 6 March 2013. David Cullen, originally accused, turned State witness over a year later and gave evidence implicating his former co‑accused. Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (47) pleaded not guilty to the murder; McGrath also pleaded not guilty to firearms offences. Dean Evans (24) failed to attend and was not located. The court proceeded with McGrath and Kelly in Evans's absence. Cullen testified for over four days in a voir‑dire, and his evidence will be reviewed by the judges. Defence counsel Giollaíosa Ó'Lideadha SC contended that omissions in police note‑taking deprived the court of essential material, alleging a deliberate policy of not recording conversations.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, Wayne Cluskey, aged 25, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for the death of Christopher Nevin, who was killed with an axe during a dispute over a pedigree chihuahua. Josh Turner, aged 24, was convicted of murder for the same incident. The jury, composed of nine men and three women, reached both verdicts by a 10‑to‑2 majority after more than two days of deliberation. Cluskey and Turner were remanded in custody until a sentencing hearing on 27 February. The trial included CCTV footage of the assault, testimony from Wayne Casserly about the dog dispute, and accounts of how Cluskey and Turner entered the scene, used an axe, and struck Nevin, leading to his death. The families of the deceased and the accused were kept inside the court by Gardaí during the proceedings.
The Special Criminal Court heard a second day of arguments about whether the evidence of a protected witness, David Cullen, could be admitted in the murder trial of Peter Butterly. Butterly, 35, was shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston on 6 March 2013. Cullen, who had been accused of the murder, turned State's witness after more than a year and has implicated his former co‑accused, Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (47). Both men pleaded not guilty to the murder, and McGrath also pleaded not guilty to firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24), failed to appear and has not been located. The court is considering Cullen's testimony as part of a voir‑dire, and the counsel for Kelly argued that admitting it would amount to the court turning a blind eye to numerous failures to convey the truth. The prosecution countered that Cullen's statements were well‑documented and uncontroversial.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court, hearing murder charges against Wayne Cluskey (25) and Josh Turner (24) for the 2015 killing of Christopher Nevin, was informed that a unanimous verdict was no longer required. Justice Patrick McCarthy announced that a majority of ten votes would suffice for either or both counts, and the jury was scheduled to return at 2 pm. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly, who are accused of murdering dissident republican Peter Butterly in 2013, is currently at the procedural stage of a voir dire. Both men have pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder, with McGrath additionally pleading not guilty to firearms offences on the same occasion. A third accused, Dean Evans, failed to appear and has not been located by gardai, leading the non-jury court to proceed with the remaining two defendants. The central issue involves the admissibility of evidence from David Cullen, a former co-accused who became a State witness. Defence counsel for Kelly, Giollaíosa Ó'Lideadha SC, submitted that Cullen's testimony should be excluded because the court cannot properly assess the process by which he turned witness. Citing a Supreme Court judgment, the barrister argued that omissions in gardai note-taking mean the court lacks essential material to verify if Kelly's right to a fair trial is upheld. He contended that Cullen's access to the book of evidence created particular dangers regarding the integrity of his statements. The legal submissions regarding the exclusion of this protected witness evidence continue before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge John O'Hagan, and Judge Anne Ryan.
The jury in the trial of Wayne Cluskey (25) and Josh Turner (24) of Mooretown, Ratoath, Co Meath, who are accused of murdering Christopher Nevin on 19 November 2015, will return tomorrow to continue deliberations. Both men pleaded not guilty. The jury has been instructed that for Cluskey there are three possible verdicts: not guilty if he was defending Turner and used reasonable force; manslaughter if he was defending Turner but used unreasonable force; or murder if the prosecution proved he was not defending Turner and intended to kill or seriously injure Nevin. For Turner there are two possible verdicts: manslaughter if he was provoked to the point of losing self‑control or if he acted in self‑defence but used unreasonable force; or murder if the prosecution proved he intended to kill or seriously injure Nevin. The case arose from a dispute over a male chihuahua loaned to Nevin for breeding, which led to a fight. Josh Turner was acquitted.
In a non‑jury trial for the 2013 murder of Peter Butterly, the court heard that Garda Joe Doyle, a PSV examiner, inspected a green Opel Zafira on 6 March 2013, six days after the shooting. Doyle reported that the vehicle showed "no faults" at the time of his examination, although the car's Engine Control Unit had recorded three historic faults previously. The car had reportedly "conked out" on the day of the shooting, but Doyle found no faults that would have forced it to stall or prevent it from starting. The trial involves two accused men, Sharif Kelly (47) and Edward McGrath (35), who both pleaded not guilty to the murder and, in McGrath's case, to firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24), failed to appear and has not been located. The court also heard legal arguments regarding the admissibility of forensic samples taken from the accused after their detention.
In a trial held in Navan, a jury of nine men and three women has begun deliberations over the murder of Christopher Nevin, who was killed on 19 November 2015. The accused are Wayne Cluskey, aged 25, and Josh Turner, aged 24, both from Mooretown, Ratoath, Co. Meath. Both men pleaded not guilty. Cluskey's counsel, Shane Costelloe SC, argues that Cluskey acted in defence of Turner when he "barrelled into" Nevin and grappled with him on the ground, claiming that Nevin was holding a hatchet and threatening Turner. The jury was instructed to consider whether Cluskey's force was reasonable; if it was, he should be found not guilty, if it was not, he could be guilty of manslaughter, and if he intended to kill, he could be guilty of murder.
The Special Criminal Court is currently hearing a voir dire to determine the admissibility of evidence from David Cullen, a former accused who turned State's witness in the trial of Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly. Both men, who have pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Peter Butterly and, in McGrath's case, firearms offences, are contesting Cullen's testimony. During cross-examination, Cullen admitted his motivation to provide evidence was to "save" himself. He acknowledged lying in a bail affidavit to deny knowing McGrath and admitted reviewing the book of evidence before making his statement. The court also heard from DPP officer David Gormley, who confirmed the DPP agreed to Cullen's offer to plead guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for a statement, with an understanding that his words would not be used against him, though no immunity was granted. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, continues with the judges assessing the reliability of the witness's account.
In the Central Criminal Court, Patrick Marrinan SC argued that Wayne Cluskey (25) and Josh Turner (24) should be found guilty of manslaughter rather than murder for the death of Christopher Nevin on 19 November 2015. The case centred on a dispute over a chihuahua loaned to Nevin, which led to a confrontation at Nevin's home. Marrinan highlighted CCTV footage and testimony from Nevin's friend, Wayne Casserly, who revealed Nevin was armed with a hatchet when he answered the door. He contended that Nevin's threat and the presence of a hatchet provoked the accused, who reacted in self‑defence. Marrinan urged the jury to consider that the accused lost control under provocation, making manslaughter the appropriate verdict. Shane Costelloe SC for Cluskey also argued for a not‑guilty verdict, noting no evidence of a joint enterprise. The judge will address the jury tomorrow. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty. Wayne Cluskey pleaded not guilty. Josh Turner pleaded not guilty.
In the 2017 trial of Wayne Cluskey, 25, and Josh Turner, 24, both accused of murdering Christopher Nevin on 19 November 2015, the prosecution argued that the two men acted together to kill Nevin during a dispute over a pedigree chihuahua. Michael O'Higgins SC presented evidence that Turner had loaned a male chihuahua to Nevin, who owned three females and only one became pregnant, creating friction. The prosecution claimed that Cluskey and Turner drove to Nevin's home, where Nevin emerged with a hatchet. CCTV footage was cited to show Cluskey striking Nevin with an axe, followed by Turner's blows, and later Cluskey's use of the hatchet. The prosecution urged the jury to consider the defendants' claims of self‑defence and the possibility of manslaughter if the force used was deemed excessive. Both men had pleaded not guilty and were set to give their closing arguments the following day.
In the Peter Butterly murder trial, a protected witness, David Cullen (32), testified that he was warned he would be removed from the Witness Protection Programme if he refused to give evidence. Cullen said he had been contacted a few months earlier to return from his host country to testify against two men accused of the murder. When he declined, he was told he would be removed from the programme. He also agreed under cross‑examination to seek a written assurance that he would receive €10,000 for his testimony. Cullen, originally accused of the murder, turned State's witness over a year after the shooting and has implicated his former co‑accused, Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (47), both of whom pleaded not guilty. A third accused, Dean Evans (24), failed to appear and has not been located.