In the Special Criminal Court, David Cullen, an accused who became a State witness, denied that he had lied about the alleged roles of Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly in the 2013 murder of Peter Butterly. Cullen, who was originally charged with the murder, had turned State witness after the shooting and testified that he had waited at Gormanston College's gate to pick up and dispose of the gun, and that Kelly was to pick up McGrath and Dean Evans. During cross‑examination, the counsel for Kelly, Giollaíosa Ó'Lideadha, accused Cullen of telling lies, to which Cullen replied that he had not been told about Kelly's role and that he had made a deal with the Director of Public Prosecutions to drop the murder charge. The court is hearing Cullen's evidence as part of a voir‑dire to determine its admissibility, while the accused men's counsel objects. Edward McGrath pleaded not guilty. Sharif Kelly pleaded not guilty.
In a 2017 trial, 25‑year‑old Josh Turner, of Mooretown, Ratoath, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 27‑year‑old Christopher Nevin, who was killed on Tailteann Road, Navan, on 19 November 2015. Turner took the stand at the Central Criminal Court and admitted that he had "lost it" and struck Nevin multiple times with an axe, describing the act as a "minute of madness." He said he had been "dizzy" and "panicking" when he picked up the axe and that he had hit Nevin more than once, contrary to his earlier claim of a single blow. Turner recounted that Nevin had threatened him with a hatchet, that a friend, Wayne Cluskey, was present, and that Turner had later found the axe on the ground and used it. He also said he had tried to call for help after Nevin lay dying.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, a former accused who became a prosecution witness in the Peter Butterly murder case was informed two days before he gave a statement to the gardai that his murder charge would be dropped. The case involves two Dublin men, Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (47), who pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of 35‑year‑old Peter Butterly, who was shot outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston on 6 March 2013. McGrath also pleaded not guilty to firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24), failed to appear and has not been located. The court also heard cross‑examination of David Cullen, who had previously offered statements on several IRA‑related cases, including Butterly's shooting. Cullen claimed he was told the murder charge would be dropped before he gave his statement, a claim that his counsel, Giollaíosa Ó'Lideadha SC, used to question the admissibility of Cullen's evidence.
In the murder trial of Wayne Cluskey (25) and Josh Turner (24) for the killing of 27‑year‑old Christopher Nevin on 19 November 2015, Justice Patrick McCarthy found no evidence presented. He informed the jury that legal matters required resolution before proceeding and instructed the nine men and three women to return to the Central Criminal Court the following day. Wayne Cluskey pleaded not guilty. Josh Turner pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence from David Cullen, a former accused who turned State's witness, regarding the alleged murder of Peter Butterly outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, in 2013. Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly, both accused of the alleged murder and firearms offences, have pleaded not guilty. A third accused, Dean Evans, failed to appear and has not been located, while the court proceeded with the trial for McGrath and Kelly. Cullen, who previously pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol, described being asked to pick up a gun and dispose of it at Gormanston College. He testified that he witnessed a gun thrown from a vehicle and was arrested while retrieving it. This testimony is part of a voir dire, or trial within a trial, to determine the admissibility of Cullen's evidence, to which defence counsel for Kelly objects. This is the second trial for McGrath and Kelly, following the collapse of the original proceedings in January 2015. The matter is currently at the trial stage before a non-jury court presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
In a Tesco Express robbery in Finglas, Aaron McDermott, 24, and an accomplice threatened staff with firearms and demanded €3,000 and a vodka bottle. A shop assistant recognised McDermott as a former schoolmate, nicknamed Choppy, after his hooded jacket collar slipped. CCTV footage identified him, leading to his arrest at home. McDermott pleaded guilty to robbery at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Pauline Codd suspended the final three years of a four‑year sentence, conditional on drug treatment and participation in a victim awareness programme. She noted his struggle following his brother's 2015 suicide and his recent release from a psychiatric ward. McDermott's letter of apology was read in court, and the judge considered his personal circumstances and guilty plea in sentencing.
Wayne Cluskey (25) and Josh Turner (24) pleaded not guilty to the murder of 27‑year‑old Christopher Nevin on 19 November 2015. In interviews on 23 and 24 November, Garda Michael Fitzpatrick showed Cluskey CCTV footage from a house across the road where Nevin suffered blows that caused his death. Cluskey said the footage made it appear they had "made it our business to kill him" and that he had not expected the violence. He explained that the dispute began when Nevin owed Turner €100 for a male chihuahua loaned to breed with three females, and that only one dog became pregnant. Cluskey claimed he had not struck the first blow, that Nevin had a hatchet when he left the house, and that Turner delivered the fatal blow. He admitted to telling "white lies" after seeing the footage.
In a murder case, Wayne Cluskey (25) and Josh Turner (24) pleaded not guilty to the killing of 27‑year‑old Christopher Nevin on 19 November 2015. Turner voluntarily appeared at Navan Garda station on 23 November, where he gave several interviews. In a second interview on 24 November he claimed he struck Nevin's fatal blow after Nevin attacked him with a hatchet during a dispute over a chihuahua. Turner said he had loaned Nevin a male dog for €250, and a disagreement arose when Nevin claimed the dog had gone missing and later that it was "shooting blanks." Turner described meeting Nevin at a friend's house on Tailteann Road, where Nevin allegedly approached him with a green hatchet. Turner said he took the hatchet from Nevin's hand and struck Nevin on the head with the blunt side, seeing blood but not realizing he was fighting for his life. The trial continues before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury.
In the Central Criminal Court, Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that four severe blows, consistent with an axe, caused the death of 27‑year‑old Christopher Nevin. Two blows struck the head and one the neck, producing skull fractures, internal bleeding and brain swelling, leading to blunt‑force trauma death. A fourth blow to the body caused extensive injuries but did not kill him. The case involves Wayne Cluskey (25) and Josh Turner (24), who plead not guilty to Nevin's murder, amid a dispute over a male chihuahua given to Nevin.
In the Special Criminal Court, evidence was presented that the six discharged cartridges found at the scene of Peter Butterly's shooting matched a Beretta semi‑automatic pistol located almost a kilometre away. Butterly, aged 35, was killed outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston on 6 March 2013. Two Dublin men, Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (46), are charged with his murder and have pleaded not guilty. McGrath also pleaded not guilty to firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24), failed to appear and has not been located. The court heard from Detective Garda David O'Leary, who examined the scene, and from Detective Sergeant Ciaran Murphy, who provided testimony about a meeting concerning a potential plea by State witness David Cullen. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, continues after a previous trial collapsed. The accused's barristers challenge the admissibility of Cullen's evidence and the alleged deal to drop the murder charge.
Two men, Wayne Cluskey (25) and Josh Turner (24), from Mooretown, Ratoath, Co Meath, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 27‑year‑old Christopher Nevin on 19 November 2015. The Central Criminal Court heard that the accused suffered injuries to their hands and heads four days after the fatal fight. Dr Thomas Ravenscroft examined Cluskey on 23 November and found a cut on the top of his head, lacerations and bruises on both hands and wrists, and cuts on both shoulders. Turner had lacerations on both hands and a small cut on the top of his head, with scratch marks on his right shoulder. The injuries were described as about four days old. The trial, presided over by Justice Patrick McCarthy, continues with a jury of nine men and three women. The case involves a dispute over chihuahua pups that escalated into a fatal axe attack. The accused are charged with murder. The trial is ongoing.
Vincent Cadden, aged 28, was convicted of dangerous driving causing the death of his friend Colm Melia, aged 22, in a car that had been heavily modified for closed‑circuit racing. The fatal incident occurred on 5 October 2014 at Fenner Upper, Oldcastle. Cadden had been over the legal alcohol limit and had consumed cannabis that night. He was sentenced by the Trim Circuit Criminal Court to six years' imprisonment and a ten‑year driving disqualification. On appeal, the Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, reduced the custodial term by suspending the final 18 months, while the driving ban remained in force. The decision was based on Cadden's cooperation, lack of prior convictions, and his remorse, though the court upheld the six‑year headline sentence as appropriate. The case highlighted the vehicle's dangerous modifications and the high speed at which it was travelling. Vincent Cadden pleaded guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, the court decided to proceed with the trial of Peter Butterly's alleged murderers, Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly, after a third accused, Dean Evans, failed to appear. Both McGrath and Kelly pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, and McGrath also pleaded not guilty to firearms offences. The court heard from Adriana Skorus, who lived opposite the Huntsman Inn where Butterly was shot. She described hearing two gunshots, seeing a man with a small black handgun in the carpark, and observing a vehicle leave the premises. Skorus also noted a second car entering the carpark minutes later. The defence had previously applied to exclude evidence of the accused men's arrests, arguing the detentions were unlawful, but the court rejected that application. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, continues after the earlier trial collapsed in January 2015. The hearing took place on 3 February 2017.
During the Central Criminal Court trial of Wayne Cluskey (25) and Josh Turner (24) for the murder of 27‑year‑old Christopher Nevin, a witness, Wayne Casserly, admitted he had lied to the prosecution. He had omitted that Nevin entered the scene with a hatchet. Casserly said Nevin had taken the hatchet to confront the accused about a male chihuahua that had been lent to Nevin for breeding. After Nevin emerged with the hatchet, Cluskey allegedly took an axe from his car and struck Nevin, while Turner allegedly struck Nevin several times after retreating to Casserly's house. Casserly also admitted that Turner had told him to "keep your mouth shut." The trial continues before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of nine men and three women.
In a 2017 court hearing, detectives investigating the 2013 murder of Peter Butterly denied that any offer was made to drop a murder charge against an accused who later became a prosecution witness. The case involves Edward McGrath, Sharif Kelly, and a missing third accused, Dean Evans. McGrath and Kelly have pleaded not guilty to murder and firearms offences. The Special Criminal Court proceeded with McGrath and Kelly after Evans' absence. Lawyers challenge the admissibility of evidence from state witness David Cullen, who was originally accused of the murder. Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Maguire testified that he received a call from Cullen's solicitor on 6 June 2014, who sought immunity, witness protection, and financial assistance for Cullen. No commitment was made, and the detectives reported the matter to authorities. Subsequent meetings with Cullen's solicitor and the DPP were held, but no formal deal was confirmed. The judge requested details of any decision to drop the charge.
A murder trial has heard that 27-year-old Christopher Nevin, who was allegedly beaten to death with a hatchet during a dispute over a chihuahua, had a previous conviction for stamping on a man's head. Wayne Cluskey (25) and Josh Turner (24), both of Mooretown, Ratoath, Co Meath, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Christopher Nevin at Tailteann Road, Navan on November 19, 2015, as well as assault causing serious harm and possession of an article with intent to cause injury. Michael Fitzpatrick, a garda, stated that in 2007, Christopher Nevin pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm and was jailed for five and a half years. He was also convicted of possession of an article with intent to cause injury. Lisa Nevin, Christopher Nevin's wife, testified that she married him in 2011 and that they were very happy. She stated that Wayne Cluskey and Josh Turner were friends of her husband and that Turner had provided a male chihuahua to breed with her husband's dogs. On the day of the incident, Christopher Nevin received a phone call from the council informing them they were to get a house. The last time Lisa Nevin saw her husband alive was when he left the caravan with his friend, Wayne Casserly, to walk to Casserly's home on Tailteann Road. Wayne Casserly testified that he and Christopher Nevin arrived at the house on Tailteann Road at about 1.20pm. Moments later, Turner and Cluskey arrived in Cluskey's girlfriend's car. Turner knocked on the living room window, and Nevin went to the door. A commotion ensued, and Cluskey took something out of the back seat of the car, which Casserly later identified as a hatchet or axe. Cluskey struck Nevin on the shoulder with the weapon, and the three men scuffled until Nevin ended up on the ground. Casserly said that Cluskey was on top of Nevin and Turner was standing over him with the axe. Casserly tried to intervene but was struck on the back of the head with the weapon. He said he heard Cluskey say, 'You have gone and done it now, you have killed him.' When he regained his senses, he saw Nevin lying on the ground, bleeding, and went inside to get his phone and call an ambulance. Casserly said that Turner told him to keep his mouth shut and that the two men checked to see if Nevin was breathing before leaving. About half an hour later, Casserly received a phone call from Turner who asked about Nevin. Casserly told him, 'I think you are after killing him.' Turner again told him to keep his mouth shut. Casserly agreed with Turner's defence counsel, Patrick Marrinan SC, that he believed the two men were concerned for Nevin before they left. The trial is continuing tomorrow in front of Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of nine men and three women.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a prosecution barrister presented evidence that two men, Wayne Cluskey, 25, and Josh Turner, 24, from Mooretown, Ratoath, were involved in a joint enterprise that led to the murder of 27‑year‑old Christopher Nevin on 19 November 2015. Nevin, who owned several dogs including three female chihuahuas, had obtained a male chihuahua from Turner to breed with the females. After only one of the chihuahuas became pregnant, a dispute arose over Turner's expected benefit. CCTV footage showed Turner arriving in a silver Honda Civic, knocking on Nevin's door, and a brief conversation. Cluskey then entered and struck Nevin with a hatchet, causing fatal injuries. The men left the scene in a car, later voluntarily turned themselves in at Navan Garda Station. The trial, presided over by Justice Patrick McCarthy, will continue with a jury of nine men and three women. The prosecution described the footage as distressing. The men have pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 25 January 2017, evidence was presented regarding the 2013 murder of Peter Butterly, a 35‑year‑old who was shot dead in the carpark of The Huntsman Inn, Gormanston. Two men, Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (46), were on trial for his murder and had pleaded not guilty. McGrath also pleaded not guilty to firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24), failed to appear and was not located. The court proceeded with the two co‑accused in Evans's absence. Detective Sergeant Daniel O'Driscoll of the Special Detective Unit testified that he had been part of a surveillance operation that day. He discovered a silver Toyota Corolla involved in the shooting, stopped it and another car on Flemington Lane, and found a white plastic bag containing a black semiautomatic pistol, which he left in situ.
The Special Criminal Court is currently hearing the second trial of Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly, who have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Peter Butterly and, in McGrath's case, firearms offences on the same occasion. The court is proceeding with the two accused in the absence of co-accused Dean Evans, who failed to appear and remains unlocated. Evidence presented during a voir dire, or trial within a trial, includes testimony from Garda Damien Broughall regarding the arrest of Evans and McGrath on Flemington Road following the shooting at The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, Co Meath, on March 6, 2013. Broughall described stopping a silver Toyota Corolla, where surveillance officers had detained the occupants. He alleged that Evans was involved in the shooting and was arrested for IRA membership and firearm possession, while McGrath was dealt with by a colleague. Items found in the vehicle included a petrol can, gloves, a wig, and glasses. This evidence will assist the judges in deciding a legal issue. The original trial collapsed after 55 days in January 2015, leading to this retrial. The proceedings continue before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judge John O'Hagan and Judge Anne Ryan.
In a Special Criminal Court murder trial, a Garda National Surveillance Unit officer recited the Act of Contrition to Peter Butterly, who was found with massive gunshot injuries to his head in a Meath carpark on 6 March 2013. Butterly, a dissident republican, was shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanstown. The trial excluded the public while the officer and colleagues gave anonymous evidence. The accused, Edward McGrath (35) of Springfield, Tallaght, and Sharif Kelly (46) of Balbriggan, pleaded not guilty to Butterly's murder and to firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24) of Raheny, failed to appear and was not located. The court heard that the gunman's car was monitored by the National Surveillance Unit; an officer, identified only as Member B, described spotting a suspicious black Laguna in the carpark, finding Butterly lying on the ground, and holding his hand while reciting an act of contrition.
The Special Criminal Court has ruled that evidence from eleven Garda National Surveillance Unit members in the retrial of Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly must be given anonymously with the public excluded. McGrath (35) and Kelly (46) have pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly, a 35-year-old father of three, who was shot dead in Gormanston, Co Meath, in March 2013. McGrath also denied unlawful possession of a Beretta pistol and ammunition. The court is proceeding with the trial in the absence of third accused Dean Evans, who has not been located. This is the second trial for McGrath and Kelly, following the collapse of the original proceedings in January 2015. Prosecuting counsel stated that protected witness David Cullen would testify that Kelly instructed him to collect and hide the gun, and that Kelly's role was to pick up McGrath and Evans after the deed was done. Cullen was previously sentenced to seven years imprisonment, with three and a half years suspended, after pleading guilty to firearms charges in July 2014. The court accepted that surveillance of alleged paramilitaries is a dangerous aspect of policing, justifying the exclusion of the public and the use of initials for witness identities. The trial is continuing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges John O'Hagan and Anne Ryan.
In 2011, an inspector at a Dublin NCT centre, Darren Meehan, was caught passing a vehicle that independent mechanics had deemed un-roadworthy. Meehan, 40, pleaded guilty to producing a false National Car Test certificate. He admitted checking three faults during a re-test and passing the car when it should have failed, citing peer pressure. Judge Melanie Greally suspended a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence on strict conditions, noting the faults did not pose a safety risk and that Meehan was remorseful. The case highlighted the high responsibility of NCT testers and the broader implications for the community. Meehan was dismissed from his NCT job and later secured new employment. The documentary that exposed the fraud involved a 1996 Toyota Carina that failed its initial test, was paid to pass a re‑test, and was ultimately crushed. The investigation involved Garda officers and legal counsel, with co‑accused awaiting further court action.
The Special Criminal Court will decide tomorrow whether eleven Garda National Surveillance Unit members can give evidence anonymously and whether the public must be excluded from the re‑trial of Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (46) for the 2013 murder of Peter Butterly. The court has been told that the gun used was monitored by the unit and that a protected witness will testify against the two men. McGrath denies unlawful possession of a Beretta pistol and ammunition and denies intent to endanger life. A third accused, Dean Evans (24), was absent and not located, so the trial will proceed without him. The case is the second trial for McGrath and Kelly after the original collapsed in 2015. Prosecuting counsel said David Cullen, a protected witness, will testify that Kelly instructed him to collect and hide the gun, and that Cullen was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment with three and a half years suspended for firearms charges. Edward McGrath pleaded not guilty. Sharif Kelly pleaded not guilty.
Darren Weldon, a 45‑year‑old from Kilbarrack, Dublin, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to four years' imprisonment for membership of a dissident terrorist organisation, the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The conviction followed DNA evidence linking him to a number plate recovered from the wreckage of a car bomb that detonated outside Newry courthouse on 22 February 2010. The court heard that the plate was found by PSNI officers and that DNA swabs taken from Weldon while in custody matched the profile on the plate. Weldon had previously been arrested in September 2012 on suspicion of IRA membership after attending the funeral of Alan Ryan, a former "Real IRA" member. The court also considered a WhatsApp message on Weldon's phone praising those who act "regardless of the consequences." Mr Justice Tony Hunt sentenced Weldon to five years, suspending the final year, and the effective custodial term was four years.
The Special Criminal Court heard that the car used by the gunman in the murder of Peter Butterly was under Garda surveillance. Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly, who have pleaded not guilty to the murder of the 35-year-old father of three, are currently on trial. The prosecution alleged that McGrath drove a silver Toyota Corolla into the Huntsman Inn car park in Gormanston, Co Meath, on March 6, 2013, where Butterly was shot dead. A third accused, Dean Evans, who allegedly fired the shots, failed to appear and has not been located; the court proceeded with the trial in his absence. Prosecution counsel stated that a protected witness, David Cullen, would testify that Kelly directed him to dispose of the weapon and that Kelly's role was to pick up McGrath and Evans after the incident. Cullen was previously sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with three and a half years suspended, after pleading guilty to firearms charges in July 2014. The court was told that surveillance units intercepted the vehicle, leading to the arrest of McGrath and Evans, while Kelly was arrested upon arrival in another car. The trial before Mr Justice Tony Hunt continues on Monday.
In a bail hearing before the Central Criminal Court, Judge Paul Coffey refused bail for Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan Dowdall (38) and his father Patrick Dowdall (59). Both men were charged with falsely imprisoning, assaulting and threatening to kill Alexander Hurley on 15 January 2015 at Navan Road, Dublin. They also face charges of possessing a firearm or imitation firearm and a handgun with intent to imprison Mr Hurley. The Dowdalls had applied for bail before Christmas, with Chief Superintendent Finbar O'Brien suggesting electronic tagging might satisfy security concerns. The judge examined the legislation and concluded that electronic tagging is not permitted for persons seeking bail. Consequently, the court adjourned the hearing to the new year and denied the bail applications, despite the defendants' willingness to increase surety from €10,000 to €20,000. The defendants are scheduled to go on trial in May.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Andrew Allen, 38, was sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment for a series of offences including endangerment, dangerous driving and driving without insurance. The court heard that Allen, a disqualified driver, was pursued by ten Garda patrol cars on the M50, reaching speeds up to 200 km/h, and collided with two patrol cars during the chase. He pleaded guilty to burglary on Navan Road in April 2016 and to multiple road traffic offences. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a suspended final year and ordered one year of probation supervision. Allen received medical treatment for minor injuries sustained during the pursuit, and no Garda or civilian injuries were reported. The case highlighted Allen's history of 87 convictions and his prior warning of a threat to his life by Garda officers.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing in Dublin, three men—Dean Evans (26), Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (46)—were scheduled to stand trial for the murder of Peter Butterly, a 35‑year‑old father of two, who was shot dead in the car park of the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co. Meath, on 6 March 2013. McGrath and Kelly appeared in court and were remanded on continuing bail until Friday. Evans, however, failed to attend the hearing. The court noted that Evans had not been seen since Sunday and that his family were "concerned" about his whereabouts. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges John O'Hagan and Anne Ryan, issued a warrant for Evans's arrest and remanded Kelly and McGrath on continuing bail until the following day. The case remains at the trial stage, with no further outcomes reported in the article.
Jonathan Dowdall (38) and his father Patrick Dowdall (59) are awaiting trial for charges of falsely imprisoning, assaulting and threatening to kill Alexander Hurley on 15 January last year. They also face charges of possessing a sawn‑off shotgun and a handgun with intent to imprison Hurley. Both men applied for bail at the Central Criminal Court, but the court, citing Section 2A of the Bail Act, refused bail to prevent a serious offence. The Dowdalls offered to accept electronic tagging and other conditions. Judge Paul Coffey noted that such measures could reduce risk and adjourned the matter to the new year to explore tagging. Both men remain in custody until 13 January. The case is set for trial next May.
A 45‑year‑old Meath man, Darren Weldon, was found guilty of IRA membership by the Special Criminal Court in Dublin. The conviction was based on DNA evidence linking Weldon to a car registration plate recovered from the debris of a car bomb that exploded outside Newry courthouse on 22 February 2010. Garda DNA swabs taken from Weldon matched the DNA profile on the plate. Weldon had previously denied membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA) when he was charged on 14 October 2014. He had been arrested in September 2012 for suspected IRA membership after attending the funeral of Alan Ryan, a former "Real IRA" member who was killed in 2012. During the trial, a WhatsApp message on Weldon's phone praising Alan Ryan was presented, and Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan testified that confidential information indicated Weldon's IRA membership. Weldon was remanded in custody until 16 January, when sentencing will occur.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Silviu Voivod, 31, to 18 months imprisonment, suspended, for glassing a lounge‑boy, Robert McMickan, at Dandelion Bar & Nightclub on 12 October 2014. Voivod, a first‑time offender with no prior convictions, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. The victim, a first‑year college student, suffered the loss of two front teeth, facial scarring, and medical costs exceeding €5,000, and missed two weeks of college. Voivod's defence argued his blameless life before and after the incident, while the prosecution highlighted the violent nature of the attack. Judge Greally emphasised the need for deterrence in glassing cases, citing the "horrific glassing culture" that has emerged, and noted Voivod's remorse and role as sole family earner. Voivod shook his head after the sentence was handed down.
A barrister for Darren Weldon, 45, has applied to the Special Criminal Court to direct a verdict of not guilty in his IRA membership trial. Weldon pleaded not guilty on 14 October 2014. The prosecution alleges DNA links him to a number plate found in debris from a car bomb that exploded outside Newry courthouse on 22 February 2010. Mr Hartnett argues significant frailties and gaps in the evidence, including the chain of DNA evidence and the fairness of a chief superintendent's belief evidence. The court will rule on the application on Monday.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, a Garda chief superintendent testified that he believed Darren Weldon, 45, of Drinadaly, Trim, was a member of the Irish Republican Army. Weldon pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation on 14 October 2014. The prosecution argued that DNA evidence linked Weldon to a number plate found in the debris of a car bomb that exploded outside Newry courthouse on 22 February 2010. The case was closed by the prosecution, and the trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Martin Nolan and Cormac Dunne.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Tautvydas Tamulis, a 30‑year‑old Lithuanian resident of Ashbourne, pleaded guilty to assaulting Garda Patrick O'Rourke in Finglas on 30 June 2015. Tamulis admitted he had consumed a bottle and a half of spirits before the incident and that his memory of the event was "sketchy at best." He was charged with gouging the Garda's eyes and punching him, actions that left the officer unfit for work for several days but caused no long‑term damage. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspended in full on strict conditions, warning Tamulis that failure to abstain from alcohol would result in imprisonment. Tamulis promised to quit drinking and entered a bond to keep the peace. The case highlighted his 25 prior district court convictions, including dangerous driving causing serious harm.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Darren Weldon, a 45-year-old man from Drinadaly, Trim, has heard evidence regarding the prior conviction of Alan Ryan. Mr. Weldon has pleaded not guilty to the charge of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA, allegedly committed on October 14, 2014. The prosecution alleges that DNA evidence links Mr. Weldon to a number plate found in the debris of a car bomb that exploded outside Newry courthouse on February 22, 2010. During proceedings, Detective Inspector William Hanrahan of the Special Detective Unit testified that in March 2001, Alan Ryan pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to receiving training in the use of firearms. This conviction was related to activities at a "Real IRA" training camp in Co Meath on October 20, 1999, for which Ryan was one of six men jailed. The court also heard that gardai observed Mr. Weldon in conversation with Mr. Ryan on April 2, 2012. The trial is presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Martin Nolan and Cormac Dunne. The matter is currently ongoing and has not been finalised.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Paul Brennan, aged 29, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Prison Officer Michael Delaney at Mountjoy Prison on 23 April 2011. Brennan, who had 56 prior convictions, threw a punch that ignited a violent attack by ten inmates on Delaney, who was head‑butted, punched, kicked and dragged to the ground. Delaney described lasting physical injuries, flashbacks and post‑traumatic stress, and said the assault robbed him of his career and sporting life. Brennan's counsel said he had turned his life around after release in 2012, citing his wife and family as stabilising influences. Judge Melanie Greally noted the incident was serious but limited to a single punch, and adjourned the case for a community service report, indicating a possible two‑year suspended sentence with one year probation and 240 hours community service. The case will return on 16 January 2017.
Joseph Hickey, aged 42, was jailed for five years after pleading guilty to possessing drugs worth over €13,000 for sale or supply at Tallaght on 28 October 2015. The court found he was a "small fish" in a larger drug operation and had no knowledge of the drugs' full value, which was €2.85 million. Hickey's involvement was motivated by a drug debt, and he had a history of chronic alcohol and cocaine addiction. He had four prior convictions, including one for child cruelty, and had received residential treatment for his addiction. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a seven‑year sentence with the final two years suspended, resulting in a five‑year custodial term. The case was part of an undercover operation that seized 28 bags of cocaine (27.9 kg) and 13 bags of heroin (6.4 kg) from Hickey's vehicle. The co‑accused was also charged with drug and firearm offences and received a similar suspended sentence.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Dr John Gibson presented DNA evidence linking Darren Weldon, 45, to a number plate recovered from the debris of a 2010 car bomb that detonated outside Newry courthouse. Gibson compared a DNA sample from Weldon to a profile obtained from the UK forensic services, concluding the probability of a coincidental match was "considerably less than one in a thousand million." He acknowledged uncertainty about how the DNA was deposited and its age, noting secondary and tertiary transfer were possible. Assistant scientific officer Chloe Holland had earlier recovered DNA from the top and bottom edges of the plate, while senior scientist Jonathan Irons reported receiving the plate on 3 March 2010. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Martin Nolan and Cormac Dunne, continues with Weldon pleading not guilty to IRA membership charges.
During a sentencing hearing in the Special Criminal Court, Donal O Coisdealbha, a 25‑year‑old Dublin man, pleaded guilty to membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). He was arrested on 13 May 2015 after a Garda investigation that had followed him for months. The investigation uncovered explosive device components in his Maynooth University locker and in a house at Harbour Court, Courtown, Wexford. Items seized included improvised rockets, semtex, detonators, a time‑power unit, a broken circuit board, and a PIC chip. DNA evidence linked O Coisdealbha to the devices. Garda audio surveillance revealed discussions about building an artillery rocket and a planned event around the time of Prince Charles's visit. O Coisdealbha denied IRA membership during detention. He has no prior convictions and was remanded in custody until 6 December for sentencing. The maximum sentence for belonging to a dissident republican terrorist organisation is eight years.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 28 November 2016, Darren Weldon, aged 45 and resident of Drinadaly, Trim, was accused of membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). He pleaded not guilty to the charge of belonging to an unlawful organisation. The prosecution presented DNA evidence linking Weldon to a number plate found in the wreckage of a car bomb that detonated outside the Newry courthouse on 22 February 2010. Garda investigators, led by Detective Garda Graham Dunne of the Special Detective Unit, interviewed Weldon on 14 October 2014 at Finglas Garda Station. Under Section 2 of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998, the court considered Weldon's refusal to answer questions about the Newry bomb and alleged IRA activities. The court accepted the DNA sample as admissible evidence, despite an objection from Weldon's counsel, and the trial proceeded. The hearing concluded with the court noting that Weldon had not responded to any of the questions asked.
In a court hearing on 28 November 2016, Justice Aileen Donnelly was informed that Raymond O'Neill, 37, who is wanted in Northern Ireland for the murder and arson connected with the death of Jennifer Dornan, 30, remains in critical condition in prison. Dornan was found stabbed to death in her burning house in Hazel View, west Belfast, in August 2015. O'Neill was arrested in Dublin in February on a European Arrest Warrant and had previously been held in a Midlands prison where he overdosed on drugs, leading to an adjournment of an extradition hearing at the High Court. The court was told that O'Neill could not attend in person due to health reasons, and his solicitor, Caroline Cummings BL, confirmed his critical state but had not received any medical evidence. Judge Donnelly expressed frustration at the lack of a medical report, which she had ordered to assess O'Neill's capacity to give instructions.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, judges ruled that the arrest of Darren Weldon, 45, of Drinadaly, Trim, on 14 October 2014 for alleged IRA membership was lawful. Weldon pleaded not guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann. The prosecution linked him to a car bomb by DNA evidence from a number plate found in the bomb's debris. The court rejected the defence's claim that a prior 2012 arrest made the 2014 arrest unlawful, citing different circumstances. The case continues with a voir dire on DNA evidence.
The High Court has reserved its decision on a judicial review action brought by Alan Bradley, who was sentenced to nine years imprisonment with the final two years suspended for conspiring to steal cash from Chubb Ireland in November 2007 at Tesco, Celbridge, Co Kildare. Bradley, along with his brother Wayne, pleaded guilty in 2012 to the charge. His sentence was later reduced on appeal to eight years, with 18 months suspended. Bradley claims he is entitled to one-third remission of his sentence, rather than the standard one-quarter, citing his attendance at courses and good behaviour while in Portlaoise Prison. Two applications for enhanced remission were refused by the Minister for Justice on the grounds that he posed a risk to public safety. Bradley argues the Minister failed to provide proper reasons for the refusal and that he was denied fair procedures. The Minister opposes the action, stating she was entitled to refuse enhanced remission based on the evidence. Following submissions from both parties, Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh reserved her decision and remanded Bradley on continuing bail pending her ruling.
During the Special Criminal Court trial of Darren Weldon, a 45‑year‑old accused of IRA membership, the prosecution presented DNA evidence linking him to a car number plate recovered from the debris of a 2010 car bomb outside Newry courthouse. Christine Lumsden, a PSNI crime scene investigator, testified that she attended the scene the morning after the February 22 explosion, searched for bomb fragments, and recovered the plate. She also noted that Sergeant Michael Gilmore had seen a Mazda 6 with an Irish registration parked outside the courthouse before the blast. Darren Weldon pleaded not guilty.
Alan Bradley, 42, of Churchfields, Kentstown, Co Meath, is challenging the Minister for Justice's refusal to grant him one‑third remission of his sentence for conspiracy to rob a security van containing €1m in cash. Bradley pleaded guilty in 2012 to conspiring to steal cash from Chubb Ireland in 2007 and was sentenced to nine years, with the final two years suspended. An appeal reduced the sentence to eight years with 18 months suspended. Bradley argues that his completion of several educational and training courses, including first aid, entitles him to enhanced remission rather than the standard one‑quarter reduction. Two applications for additional time off his sentence were denied on the basis that he poses a risk to public safety. He has been released on bail pending the outcome of the High Court action, which seeks to quash the Minister's decision and obtain a declaration that he is entitled to enhanced remission.
In the Special Criminal Court, a Meath man, Darren Weldon, 45, is on trial for alleged IRA membership. The prosecution presented DNA evidence linking him to a number plate found in debris from a car bomb outside Newry courthouse on 22 February 2010. Weldon, of Drinadaly, Trim, pleaded not guilty on 14 October 2014. Evidence also showed his Mazda 6 was stolen from his Dundrum driveway in January 2010, and that he was seen in conversation with Alan Ryan and Declan Smith in April 2012. The case is heard before Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Martin Nolan and Cormac Dunne.
During the Special Criminal Court trial of Darren Weldon, a 45‑year‑old from Drinadaly, Trim, the prosecution presented DNA evidence linking him to a car registration plate found among the debris of a car bomb that exploded outside Newry courthouse on 22 February 2010. The plate, belonging to a Republic of Ireland vehicle, was discovered 28 metres from the crater. Crime scene surveyor Alison Gilbert produced a map of the scene, indicating the plate's location. Sergeant Alistair Paterson of the PSNI testified that he had observed a Mazda 6 parked suspiciously against the courthouse gates on the day of the explosion, noted its Irish registration, and later heard the blast while cordoning the area. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Martin Nolan and Cormac Dunne, continues with Mr Weldon pleading not guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army.
During a Special Criminal Court hearing, it was reported that a car with a Republic of Ireland number plate was parked outside Newry courthouse minutes before a bomb exploded there on 22 February 2010. Darren Weldon, 45, of Drinadaly, Trim, pleaded not guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army. The prosecution presented DNA evidence linking Weldon to the car's registration plate found in the blast debris. Witness statements, including those of Gerard Traynor and Dermot Butler, described the car's suspicious presence and the timing of the explosion.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, prosecutors presented DNA evidence linking Darren Weldon, 45, to the February 2010 bomb blast outside Newry courthouse. The prosecution argued that a suspicious vehicle parked outside the courthouse was a stolen Mazda from Dundrum, and that its registration plate, found after the explosion, bore DNA matching a swab taken from Weldon's DNA while in custody on 14 October 2014. Witnesses described phone calls warning of a bomb and the timing of the explosion at 10:55 pm. Weldon, who denied IRA membership, had previously been arrested in September 2012 for suspected IRA membership after attending Alan Ryan's funeral. The court also heard from Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan regarding his belief about Weldon's involvement. The trial is presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Martin Nolan and Cormac Dunne present. Darren Weldon pleaded not guilty.
Joseph Hickey, 42, was found with more than €2.8 million worth of cocaine and heroin in his possession. He pleaded guilty to possessing drugs valued over €13,000 for sale or supply at Tallaght on 28 October 2015. Garda Stephen Connor explained that undercover officers were surveilling a carpark on Greenhills Road when Hickey arrived in a grey Fiat. He parked beside a co‑accused, and the two men exchanged bags that were later seized. The seized drugs included 28 bags of cocaine (27.9 kg, €1,957,000) and 13 bags of heroin (6.4 kg, €896,000), totalling €2.85 million. Hickey's co‑accused was charged with drug and firearm offences and received a seven‑year sentence with two years suspended. Hickey had four prior convictions, including one for child cruelty, and was described by his defence as a "small fish" who did not know the drugs' value. He has since undergone residential treatment for addiction.