Joshua Bennet, 21, was given a suspended three‑year prison sentence after a high‑speed chase in which he drove up to 140 km/h on suburban streets around Blanchardstown and Dublin 15. He refused to stop when ordered by Gardaí, drove the wrong way around roundabouts, ran a red light, and drove onto footpaths, forcing pedestrians to flee. The chase lasted about 15–20 minutes and ended when Bennet skidded after a sharp left. He pleaded guilty to five endangerment charges and one dangerous driving charge. At sentencing, Judge Martin Nolan described his conduct as "appalling" and "extraordinarily reckless", noting he had not hit or injured anyone. Bennet was ordered to keep the peace, be of good behaviour for three years, and was disqualified from driving for six years. He tested negative for drugs and alcohol. The court considered his youth and lack of prior convictions in suspending the sentence.
A security guard has testified at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the trial of four men accused of an assault on a rural Roscommon property in December 2018. Michael Kane told the jury he was asleep in a security van at the 30-acre estate near Strokestown when he was awakened by shouting and roaring at approximately 5am on December 16. He described witnessing a colleague being struck and falling to the ground, and hearing a loud mechanical sound. The witness said he and three other security personnel fled the scene, believing they would be killed. Upon returning when emergency services arrived, Mr Kane found the yard ablaze with two cars and four vans on fire. He said he feared finding "charred dead bodies" of his colleagues. Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne and David Lawlor have each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges including false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson and violent disorder. The trial before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury continues.
A man has received a fully suspended one-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for careless driving causing the death of a cyclist. Mariusz Karpinski, aged 32 and from Ashbourne in County Meath, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing the death of a cyclist on a local access road near Kilshane Cross in north County Dublin on 4 May 2021. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the suspended sentence, finding the case tragic but noting that Karpinski had been driving into strong sunlight that obscured his vision. The judge stated that while Karpinski was driving reasonably carefully, he failed to take appropriate steps to address the weather conditions. Evidence indicated the cyclist had been visible for approximately two seconds before impact. Karpinski, who has since relocated to Cavan and works in factory employment, was not disqualified from driving. The deceased's mother submitted a victim impact statement and was noted by the judge as displaying forgiveness toward the accused.
The trial of Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor continues before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The four men, who have all pleaded not guilty, face the same 17 charges each. They are accused of false imprisonment and assault causing harm to four security guards, including Mark Rissen, at a repossessed farm in Falsk, Strokestown, on December 16, 2018. The State alleges the group also committed aggravated burglary, four counts of arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Mr. Rissen testified that he was pushed to the ground, struck, and had his hands tied with cable ties during the attack. He reported bleeding from a leg gash and smoke inhalation, requiring treatment at Mullingar Hospital. The court heard that the accused allegedly arrived armed with various weapons, smashed the property, and set vehicles on fire. The trial is currently at the evidence stage, with the prosecution presenting witness accounts of the alleged assault and property damage.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard testimony on 13 March 2023 in the trial of four men charged in connection with an attack on a repossessed farm near Strokestown, County Roscommon. The managing director of Trinity Asset Management Services described executing a repossession order at Falsk on 11 December 2018, following which he met a large group at Strokestown church before driving in convoy to the property. The State alleges that five days later, approximately 30 people, some masked and carrying weapons, attacked the rural premises, assaulted four security personnel, damaged vehicles, and injured a guard dog. The defence barrister characterised the convoy operation as resembling frontier justice. Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor, all pleaded not guilty to 53 charges in total, including aggravated burglary, assault causing harm, arson, false imprisonment, criminal damage, and violent disorder. The trial before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury continues.
At the Central Criminal Court, Martin Doyle, aged 53, of Esker, Knock, County Mayo, was convicted following trial of two counts of rape and 25 counts of sexual assault. The offences comprised the rape of his wife on two occasions in May 2009 and once in November 2011, and systematic sexual assault of his daughter between 2004 and 2011 while the family resided in County Meath and subsequently County Sligo. Justice Caroline Biggs imposed a sentence of twelve and a half years imprisonment, with two years post-release supervision to follow. The court heard evidence of assaults occurring in domestic settings and at Lough Gara, Gurteen. Doyle maintained his not-guilty plea throughout proceedings. The judge noted the absence of remorse while acknowledging his work history and lack of previous convictions as mitigating factors. She described the abuse as a systematic pattern causing near-complete destruction of the child victim's childhood. Martin Doyle pleaded not guilty.
A 51‑year‑old pizza delivery driver, Earl McKevitt, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 19‑year‑old Conor O'Brien, who was shot once in the chest on the evening of 26 August 2021 while McKevitt was delivering a pizza to O'Brien's studio in Enfield. McKevitt admitted to shooting the teenager after failing to read the delivery instructions and claimed that shooting people was part of his job. He was also found guilty of possessing a firearm and a knife on 31 August 2021 at the Talbot Hotel in Carlow, where he had retrieved the gun. Concurrent sentences of seven‑and‑a‑half years and two years were imposed for the firearm and knife offences. McKevitt's life sentence was back‑dated to 31 August 2021, the date he entered custody.
The trial of Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor continues at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Martina Baxter. The four men, who have pleaded not guilty to a total of 53 charges, are accused of participating in an attack during the Strokestown repossession case. The State alleges that on December 16, 2018, a group armed with various weapons assaulted four security guards, caused criminal damage, committed aggravated burglary, false imprisonment, arson, robbery, and animal cruelty. Each defendant is separately charged with 17 of these offences. During cross-examination, witness Ian Gordon, who testified to being forced to eat dog faeces, identified himself in bodycam footage from an eviction five days prior to the alleged assaults. Gordon stated his unlicensed security company was hired to execute a court order at the McGann family property. He described lifting a resident out of a seat to escort him out, denying any use of reinforced knuckle gloves or physical abuse beyond necessary restraint. The jury viewed this footage, which showed the resident being moved while his sister protested. The trial is ongoing and will resume on Monday.
The trial of David Lawlor, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and Patrick Sweeney continues before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury. The four defendants, who have pleaded not guilty to 53 charges including aggravated burglary, false imprisonment, arson, robbery, and animal cruelty, face allegations of a violent attack on security guards at a property in Falsk, Co Roscommon, in December 2018. Witness Ian Gordon testified that he was forced at gunpoint to eat dog faeces and identified Lawlor's voice during the incident. Under cross-examination, Gordon acknowledged his former service with the Ulster Defence Regiment and admitted his security company, GS Agencies Ltd, operated without a company licence, for which he previously entered a guilty plea. Defense counsel suggested Gordon was mistaken in identifying Lawlor, but Gordon maintained he was 100% certain of the identification. The State alleges a group of approximately 30 armed men assaulted four guards, set fire to vehicles, and beat a guard dog unconscious. The defendants are charged with criminal damage, assault causing harm, and violent disorder. The matter is currently at the trial stage, with proceedings ongoing.
Four men are standing trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 53 charges arising from an alleged attack on security personnel during a property repossession at Strokestown, County Roscommon, in December 2018. Patrick Sweeney of Ramelton, County Donegal, Martin O'Toole of Claremorris, County Mayo, Paul Beirne of Boyle, County Roscommon, and David Lawlor of County Meath have each pleaded not guilty to charges including aggravated burglary, false imprisonment, assault causing harm, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery and animal cruelty. A security guard testified that approximately 30 masked individuals arrived at the property armed with weapons, assaulted four security staff, set vehicles alight and fatally injured a guard dog. The witness further told the court of previous hostile encounters with one of the defendants at other eviction sites. The trial is ongoing.
A trial date of 24 June 2024 has been set at the Central Criminal Court for Andrei Dobra, 33, accused of murdering 30‑year‑old Ioana Mihaela Pacala on 12 November 2022 at River Walk Court, Ratoath. Dobra, who lives at River Walk Court, Fairyhouse Road, Ratoath, is charged with the murder. His defence, represented by Shane Michael Kelly BL, has requested an interpreter. Psychiatric reports are still pending, with updates expected in March. The judge has scheduled case management for 5 July, requiring all disclosure by that date.
In a High Court hearing on 27 February 2023, the court ordered that Stewart Alexander and Bill Henry, directors of the insolvent Boxer Logistics Ltd, be personally liable for the company's €12.4 million debt. The judgment was granted on a joint and severable basis after liquidators Tom Murray and Tom Musiol presented evidence that the directors deliberately under‑reported the firm's income and under‑paid taxes, including corporation tax, PRSI and VAT. The company had transferred large sums out of its main account, including €1 million to Alexander's personal accounts, €250 000 to a former employee and Ms Paula Loredana Hutu (Alexander's alleged lover), and smaller amounts to a Paddy Power account. Boxer Logistics also unlawfully received €1.9 million in Covid‑support schemes. The liquidators claimed that Alexander and Henry owe the company over €6 million, but received no payment.
David Stone, 65, owner of Ashton Dog Pound in Dublin, was fined €30,000 after a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found he unlawfully stored and incorrectly administered the euthanasia drug Pentobarbital to two dogs on 24 July 2020. Garda Áine McQuillan reported that the drug was found in an unlocked tin box at the pound's reception, with over 350 ml in total, and that the dogs had been given the drug orally rather than intravenously by a registered veterinary practitioner as required. Stone pleaded guilty to using a premises for the supply of an animal remedy contrary to European regulations, possession of a veterinary‑only drug, and permitting its improper administration. The court noted the drug's lethal potential for both animals and humans, Stone's breach of a €277,000 contract with Dublin City Council, and his lack of prior convictions, and imposed the fine without custodial sentence.
A security guard has given evidence to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court regarding an alleged assault at a rural property in Roscommon on 16 December 2018. The witness, who owns a security company, described the moment a dog in his care was struck with a baseball bat during the incident. He told the court that a group of approximately 30 to 40 men arrived at the farmhouse in the early morning, some wearing balaclavas and high-visibility clothing, and that he feared for his life as the assault unfolded. Four men have pleaded not guilty to 53 charges in relation to the incident, including aggravated burglary, false imprisonment, assault causing harm, arson, violent disorder, robbery and animal cruelty. The defendants are Patrick Sweeney from Ramelton, County Donegal; Martin O'Toole from Claremorris, County Mayo; Paul Beirne from Boyle, County Roscommon; and David Lawlor from County Meath. The trial before Judge Martin Baxter continues.
Earl McKevitt, a 51-year-old man from Avondale Park in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, pleaded guilty to the single charge of murdering Conor O'Brien, 19, at An Seanchrann on Trim Road in Enfield, Co Meath. The alleged incident occurred on a date between August 26 and August 27, 2021, both dates inclusive. Mr John Fitzgerald SC, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, informed Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court that McKevitt could be arraigned on count one of the indictment, noting that further counts may be required in due course. Upon arraignment on Thursday morning, McKevitt admitted to the charge. The judge remanded McKevitt in custody until March 3, when he will be sentenced. This procedural stage constitutes a remand for sentencing rather than a final conclusion of the case.
Four men have gone on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court accused of involvement in a sustained and brutal attack on security personnel at a repossessed property near Strokestown, County Roscommon in December 2018. Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne and David Lawlor each face 17 charges including false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary and arson. The prosecution alleges that approximately 20 to 30 people arrived at the rural house around 5am on 16 December 2018, armed with various weapons, and attacked four security guards who were guarding the property. The court heard that the guards were seriously assaulted, had their hands tied with cable ties and their shoes removed. A German Shepherd dog at the property was beaten and subsequently had to be put down. All four defendants have pleaded not guilty. The prosecution intends to rely on the legal principle of joint enterprise to establish liability. The trial, before Judge Martin Baxter, is scheduled to run for five weeks.
In February 2021, 20‑year‑old Gavin Dooner stole a delivery cyclist's electric bike outside Lidl in East Wall, Dublin. He drove off on his moped with the bike over his shoulder, having previously been seen driving dangerously and smashing windows. Dooner confronted delivery drivers Guillherme Quieroz and George Gonzaga Bento over the theft. Teenager Josh Dunne (16) and friends were nearby, hoping to buy pizza. A confrontation erupted; Dunne was stabbed by Bento, who was later acquitted of murder and other offences. Dooner pleaded guilty to stealing the bike, assault causing harm to Quieroz, dangerous moped driving, driving without licence or insurance, and criminal damage. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment and a four‑year driving disqualification. Tiernan Ryan, who joined the assault later, received nine months' imprisonment. The court noted Dooner's youth, guilty pleas and prior convictions in determining the sentence.
The Court of Appeal has increased jail sentences for two women convicted in Ireland's first human trafficking case involving alleged voodoo ceremonies. Alicia Edosa and Edith Enoghaghase, originally sentenced in September 2021 following a June 2021 trial at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court, were found guilty of trafficking women between 2016 and 2018. Evidence indicated victims underwent ceremonies in Nigeria before being coerced into prostitution across multiple locations including Castlebar, Letterkenny and Cavan. Mr Justice George Birmingham rejected their conviction appeals and found original sentences substantially inadequate. Edosa, formerly of Mullingar, has been re-sentenced to seven-and-a-half years imprisonment. Enoghaghase, also formerly of Mullingar, received seven years and one month. The judge noted the sentencing judge faced unprecedented circumstances with no comparative guidelines for this offence type. Alicia Edosa pleaded not guilty. Edith Enoghaghase pleaded not guilty.
Miranda McCabe, 37, of Navan, Co Meath, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Stephanie Dunne at Priorswood Avenue, Blanchardstown, Dublin, on November 27, 2021. The court heard that Ms Dunne, who had just returned from visiting her premature baby in hospital, was attacked by McCabe on her porch. Garda Mark Reilly stated that McCabe head-butted and punched the victim, while a male co-accused, who is still before the courts, held knives and later dragged McCabe away. DNA from a hair clump found at the scene matched McCabe. Judge Martin Nolan described the incident as a "savage" attack on a vulnerable woman, noting the motive remained unclear. Although the judge expressed an instinct to imprison McCabe, he cited concerns for her three children, one of whom has significant medical needs. Considering McCabe's five previous convictions and her status as a single mother, Judge Nolan did not finalise the sentence immediately. Instead, he ordered a Probation Services report to assess her suitability for community service. The matter was adjourned to May 12.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 14 February 2023, Daniel Keane, a 36‑year‑old Irish Army NCO, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, production of an article and making off without paying for a taxi. The incident occurred on 7 December 2019 when Keane and his partner, both intoxicated, had a verbal dispute with a taxi driver at St Anthony's Crescent, Crumlin. Keane left the vehicle, entered the driver's house, and used a 2‑ft black fire poker to strike the driver on the hip and face, causing injuries that required hospital treatment. He also stole €100 from the driver's wallet, later returned it, and took the driver's phone. The court imposed an 18‑month prison sentence, suspended in full for two years on strict conditions, and ordered Keane to pay the driver the €20.80 fare.
At the Special Criminal Court on 10 February 2023, Paul Crosby of Rathmullan Park, Drogheda, was sentenced to ten years imprisonment with the final six months suspended for two years, following his guilty plea to facilitating the murder of seventeen-year-old Keane Mulready-Woods. His co-accused Gerard Cruise, with addresses in Drogheda and Dublin, received seven-and-a-half years with the final six months suspended. Both men pleaded guilty to charges under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 of assisting a criminal organisation in the killing, which occurred in January 2020. Mr Justice Tony Hunt described the treatment of the teenager's remains as "disgraceful and inhuman". Evidence established that Crosby arranged to meet the victim and travelled with Cruise to Rathmullan Park where the murder took place. The judge found Crosby held a higher level of involvement in the criminal organisation than Cruise. The court heard the chief suspect, Robert Lawlor, was subsequently shot dead in Belfast. The victim's mother provided a detailed impact statement to the court.
Alison Walsh, a disabled mother of two from Enfield, Co Meath, claimed that Tayto Park discriminated against her when it refused to issue a queue assistance pass because she could not produce a doctor's letter. She had shown her disabled driver's badge, adapted car licence and Public Services Card, but could not find medical correspondence on her phone that day. The park's policy required a letter stating an exact diagnosis for those with an "inability to queue." Walsh, who suffers from muscle seizures, spasms and incontinence due to spina bifida and neurosarcoidosis, said she was forced to wait on the side while her family enjoyed the park. The case was heard by the Workplace Relations Commission under the Equal Status Act 2000, with the park's managing director acknowledging the policy's shortcomings and promising that future visitors with a blue badge could receive a pass at the discretion of a manager.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 19‑year‑old Josh Conlon received a fully suspended three‑year sentence for his involvement in a two‑hour assault on Ms Lyndsey Byrne in November 2021. Conlon pleaded guilty to assault causing harm but was deemed not the "prime mover" of the attack, which was led by Paul Clarke. Judge Martin Nolan noted Conlon's lesser role, early guilty plea, youth and lack of prior convictions, and ordered him to maintain good behaviour under Probation Services supervision for one year. Clarke, aged 29, was sentenced to four years and three months for the assault, while Craig Kelly, 38, received a five‑month sentence for simple assault. The court highlighted the brutality of the attack, including the use of a broom handle and boiling water, and the severe injuries sustained by Byrne. The sentences were back‑dated to the November 2021 incident.
Owen Kavanagh, aged 53, was given a suspended three‑year prison sentence and a four‑year driving disqualification after he hijacked a car on 4 January 2021. He admitted to having drunk two bottles of whiskey, a bottle of gin and prescribed medication before confronting a woman at Campus Oil, East Wall Road, Dublin, demanding her car keys. CCTV showed him threatening the woman with a kitchen knife and two men attempting to stop him. During the subsequent Garda pursuit, Kavanagh broke red lights, drove on the wrong side of the road, drove at excessive speed, collided with a patrol car, and drove around a traffic island. Gardaí used a stinger device to stop his vehicle, deflating its tyres and causing a collision. The court found him guilty of seizing a car by threat or force, criminal damage to a patrol car, three dangerous driving offences and driving without insurance.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Paul Clarke (29) was sentenced to four years and three months' imprisonment for assault causing harm to Lyndsey Byrne, who was tied up, struck with a stick and repeatedly scalded with boiling water during two attacks in November 2021. Clarke, described as the "main man", was accompanied by Josh Conlon (19) on the first day and Craig Kelly (38) on the second. Conlon pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, while Kelly pleaded guilty to simple assault. Clarke's sentence was back‑dated to the date of his arrest. The court noted Clarke's 79 prior convictions and the severity of the assault, while Kelly received a five‑month sentence and Conlon's sentence was to be decided the following day. The proceedings focused on the assault and the guilty pleas, without reference to any subsequent developments.
Meath County Council told the High Court that a last‑minute legal action by plumber Michael (Chris) Murray and his wife Rose to stop the demolition of their 588‑sq‑metre house, built without planning permission, was an abuse of process. The couple had previously agreed in 2020 to vacate and allow demolition by 24 September 2022, following a settlement after a decade‑long dispute. In September 2022, their lawyers obtained a temporary injunction preventing demolition, citing new evidence that a Section 47 order on the land had never been formally entered. The council, represented by Deirdre Hughes, seeks to set aside the injunction and argues the action is an abuse of process. The High Court will hear the case later this month, with the injunction to remain until the full trial.
Jonathan Dowdall's appeal against his four-year prison sentence for facilitating the murder of David Byrne has been adjourned until after judgment is returned in the trial of Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch. At a brief hearing at the Court of Appeal, counsel Gemma McLoughlin-Burke BL applied to postpone the appeal to await the outcome of the Hutch trial, where Dowdall, a former Sinn Fein councillor, gave State evidence. The court sent the matter to the next list to fix dates on March 27. Dowdall, who did not attend, had previously pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to making a room available to the Hutch gang at the Regency Hotel in February 2016. He was originally charged with murder, but the State dropped that charge after he admitted to the lesser facilitation role. In October, the Special Criminal Court sentenced him to four years' imprisonment. The presiding judge noted Dowdall was complicit in the crime despite claiming ignorance of the room's purpose. Separately, Patrick Dowdall was jailed for two years for his own facilitation role in the same incident. The source notes that Patrick Dowdall's name was used to book Room 2104 one day before the murder. Jonathan Dowdall's appeal remains pending, not concluded, as it awaits the Hutch trial judgment.
The appeal stage of the case involving Gerard Hutch, Paul Murphy, and Jason Bonney, who are accused of participating in or contributing to the murder of David Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016, is ongoing. All three have pleaded not guilty to the charges. Patrick Dowdall, who was previously convicted of facilitating the murder by making a room available at the Regency Hotel, has admitted guilt and was later re-sentenced to 7 years and 11 months and four years imprisonment after successful appeals. The prosecution has presented evidence, including secretly recorded conversations between Gerard Hutch and Jonathan Dowdall, which allegedly show Hutch's central involvement in the Regency Hotel attack. The trial has heard that three AK-47 assault rifles were found in the boot of a car following an intervention by gardai. The case has been adjourned and is not yet concluded.
The High Court approved Personal Insolvency Arrangements for Bernadette and Graham Canning, a separated couple in their mid‑fifties with four children, allowing them to write off over €2.8 million of debt. The Cannings had total debts of about €3.2 million, mainly to the Bank of Ireland, after their businesses failed in the early 2000s. The arrangements, each lasting 24 months, involve selling their family home in Monknewtown to an approved housing body, with the couple renting it back. Mrs Canning will pay a €5,000 lump sum, €1,000 of which goes to unsecured creditors, and the rest covers insolvency costs. Mr Canning will contribute €18,000, with €4,000 covering PIA costs and the remainder to unsecured creditors. Six acres of forestry owned by the couple will be transferred to the Bank of Ireland and sold. The court noted that the arrangements would benefit creditors more than a bankruptcy would, and approved them without objection.
The Regency Hotel trial continued in the Special Criminal Court with Senior intelligence analyst Sarah Skedd testifying regarding phone records. Skedd stated there is no clear evidence supporting Jonathan Dowdall's claim that he met Gerard Hutch in a Whitehall park to hear a confession about the murder of David Byrne. While a cell site potentially covering the park was used on February 7, 2016, at 3.16pm, Dowdall's phone connected to a mast in Finglas just 4.5 minutes later, suggesting insufficient time for the meeting. Skedd confirmed no records support a meeting on February 8. Dowdall, who pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder by booking a room at the Regency Hotel, was previously sentenced to four years' imprisonment. His father, Patrick Dowdall, also admitted to the facilitation offence and was jailed for two years. Gerard Hutch, 59, of Clontarf, Dublin 3, and co-accused Paul Murphy, 61, of Swords, and Jason Bonney, 52, of Portmarnock, have all pleaded not guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder of Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. The defence, led by Brendan Grehan SC, challenged Dowdall's credibility, arguing his account was inconsistent with the digital evidence presented by the State.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Gerard Hutch, Paul Murphy, and Jason Bonney, all accused of participating in the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in February 2016, continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty to charges including providing access to motor vehicles and facilitating the offence. Today, defence counsel for Mr Bonney stated it is their case that his father, not Mr Bonney, drove the BMW X5 alleged to have been used in the attack. Prosecution evidence from Garda Michele Purcell and Senior Intelligence Analyst Sarah Skedd detailed vehicle movements, including a Toyota Avensis taxi driven by Mr Murphy and the BMW X5, which allegedly transported a man in a flat cap from the scene. The court also heard evidence regarding Jonathan Dowdall, a former co-accused who turned State's witness. Mr Dowdall, a former Sinn Fein councillor, previously pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder by making a hotel room available and was sentenced to four years' imprisonment. His father, Patrick Dowdall, also pleaded guilty to the same facilitation charge and was jailed for two years. The trial will continue tomorrow with further evidence from Ms Skedd.
The trial of Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch, who denies the murder of David Byrne, heard evidence regarding a YouTube video showing the victim dead after the Regency Hotel attack. Co-accused Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, both pleading not guilty to facilitating the murder by providing vehicles, face charges of participating in criminal activity. The court heard from Detective Garda Paul Darley about the clip, which captured voices discussing the scene and a van exiting the premises. The prosecution also presented evidence from taxi driver Paul Brady, who rented a plate to Murphy, and Detective Alan Crummey, who took statements from Murphy regarding a potential vehicle clone. The trial continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns. Separately, former co-accused Patrick Dowdall (65) was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for facilitating the murder by booking a hotel room. His son, Jonathan Dowdall, pleaded guilty to the same facilitation charge and was jailed for four years by the Special Criminal Court. A nolle prosequi was entered on Jonathan Dowdall's murder charge following his guilty plea. The validated procedural stage for the current defendants is sentence, though the trial is ongoing.
The Regency Hotel murder trial heard evidence from a senior garda regarding four shootings linked to the Hutch-Kinahan feud. Detective Superintendent David Gallagher testified about the still open investigation into the shooting of Patrick Hutch Junior and the murder of Eddie 'Neddie' Hutch in 2016. The prosecution case against Gerard Hutch and his co-accused is expected to conclude on Thursday. Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch (59) denies the murder of Mr Byrne (33) during a boxing weigh-in at the Regency Hotel on February 5, 2016. His co-accused, Paul Murphy (61) and Jason Bonney (52), have pleaded not guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder of Mr Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. Patrick Dowdall (65) was jailed for two years before the Regency trial started after he admitted his part in booking the hotel room for the raiders. James Quinn (role: convicted_person) was convicted of facilitating Mr Byrne's murder and participating in activity intending to facilitate the commission of a serious offence by making a room available at the Regency Hotel on February 4, 2016. The court also ruled that CCTV footage concerning the movement of a silver Toyota Avensis taxi associated with Paul Murphy can be admitted as evidence against him. The procedural stage is sentence.
The Special Criminal Court heard that Jonathan Dowdall, a former co-accused of Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch who has turned State's witness, asked a garda 'is there any way out' and 'if him and his family could get into the Witness Protection Programme' in the days following his arrest. The status of Dowdall's Witness Protection Programme (WPP) application remains unknown, with a decision expected in the middle of this month. Gerard Hutch (59), of The Paddocks, Clontarf, Dublin 3, denies the murder of David Byrne (33) during a boxing weigh-in at the Regency Hotel on February 5, 2016. His co-accused, Paul Murphy (61), of Cherry Avenue, Swords, Co Dublin, and Jason Bonney (52), of Drumnigh Wood, Portmarnock, Dublin 13, have pleaded not guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder of Mr Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. The court also heard that Patrick Dowdall was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment in June 2017 and later re-sentenced to 7 years and 11 months after successful appeals, following his guilty plea to falsely imprisoning Mr Hurley and threatening to kill him at Jonathan's family home on January 15, 2015. The matter was adjourned and never described as concluded or finalised.
The Special Criminal Court heard that no further steps will be taken regarding a 'curious' document disclosed to the defence in the Regency Hotel murder trial. Prosecution counsel Sean Gillane SC stated the matter requires investigation, while defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC noted it must wait for another day. Gerard Hutch, 59, denies the murder of David Byrne on February 5, 2016. Co-accused Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, both pleading not guilty to facilitating the murder by providing vehicles, face a ruling tomorrow on the admissibility of CCTV footage. Murphy's defence argued the footage breached privacy rights under the Data Protection Act, while the prosecution contended it was manifestly relevant and admissible. The court also heard evidence from Inspector Padraig Boyce regarding a coordinated operation that seized AK-47 rifles from Shane Rowan and searched the home of Jonathan Dowdall. Dowdall, who pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder by making a hotel room available, was sentenced to four years imprisonment. His father, Patrick Dowdall, also pleaded guilty to the same facilitation charge and was jailed for two years. Both men had previously been sentenced for the false imprisonment of Alexander Hurley, with sentences later reduced on appeal. The trial continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns.
The Special Criminal Court heard a "curious development" in the ongoing trial of Gerard Hutch, who denies murdering David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in February 2016. Prosecution counsel Sean Gillane SC apologized for a delay caused by a newly disclosed document and the unavailability of a garda witness, estimating the trial would conclude in two weeks. Co-accused Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, who pleaded not guilty to facilitating the murder by providing vehicles, remain on trial. Jonathan Dowdall, a former State's witness who pleaded guilty to facilitating the offence by booking the hotel room, was previously jailed for four years. His father, Patrick Dowdall, was jailed for two years for the same facilitation charge. The court heard evidence regarding CCTV footage harvesting, with the trial set to continue before Ms Justice Tara Burns and colleagues. The prosecution alleges Kevin Murray, who died in 2017, was the shooter, while Dowdall testified that Hutch admitted to the killing. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC challenged Dowdall's credibility, citing phone data inconsistencies regarding alleged meetings.
Claire Butterly, a housekeeping manager at Carechoice Ltd's nursing home in Trim, was dismissed after refusing to stop providing laundry and cleaning services to residents of a nearby private housing unit for the elderly. The company claimed she breached its policy by engaging in private work, falsifying records and acting dishonestly. Butterly argued she was helping vulnerable residents, charging them no fee and receiving only small payments from a man named Mr X. The Workplace Relations Commission found her dismissal disproportionate and the disciplinary process flawed. The tribunal awarded her €12,000 in compensation, noting that her actions, while improper, did not amount to fraud or theft. The case highlights the tension between employee support for residents and employer policy compliance.
The Special Criminal Court heard the final day of cross-examination of Jonathan Dowdall, a State's witness in the trial of Gerard Hutch, who is accused of the murder of David Byrne. Dowdall, who pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder by providing a room at the Regency Hotel, denied allegations that he is a manipulator or liar. The defence challenged his testimony regarding alleged meetings with Hutch, playing audio recordings and phone data that contradicted his timeline. The court refused to allow the defence to play a video of Dowdall waterboarding Alexander Hurley, noting that Dowdall had already pleaded guilty to that offence and was re-sentenced to seven years and 11 months imprisonment following a successful appeal. His father, Patrick Dowdall, who also pleaded guilty to the same offence, was re-sentenced to four years imprisonment after his appeal. The trial continues with Hutch, who denies the murder charge, and co-defendants Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, who pleaded not guilty to charges of participating in the murder by providing access to vehicles. The matter remains ongoing, with no finalisation or adjournment recorded in this report.
Gerard Hutch, 59, of Clontarf, Dublin 3, pleaded not guilty to the murder of David Byrne, who was shot dead at the Regency Hotel on February 5, 2016. He also faces charges of facilitating the murder by making a hotel room available on February 4, 2016, and providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. Jonathan Dowdall, 44, of Cabra, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder by making the room available. He was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for this offence, and a nolle prosequi was entered on the murder charge. Patrick Dowdall, 65, also pleaded guilty to the same facilitation charge and was jailed for two years before the trial began. Paul Murphy, 61, of Swords, Co Dublin, and Jason Bonney, 50, of Portmarnock, Dublin 13, pleaded not guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. The trial is ongoing, with cross-examination of the State's witness, Jonathan Dowdall, continuing before the Special Criminal Court.
A high‑ranking member of a West African organised crime gang, Junior Boboye, aged 28, was sentenced to six years in prison, with the final year suspended, for his role in an €800,000 money‑laundering and fraud operation. The operation involved the theft of €792,000 from eight businesses through invoice‑redirect fraud, of which €319,000 was recovered. Boboye pleaded guilty to multiple offences for the benefit of a criminal organisation between August 2017 and May 2018, and to 13 counts of money laundering and using false instruments. He was described by the judge as an active lieutenant and recruiting sergeant within the gang. The case also involved other defendants: Emmanuel Olanyian, who received a four‑year sentence with the final year suspended; Taiwo Ajike, who received a suspended one‑year sentence; and Onyebuchi Aduba, who was dealt with under the Probation Act and will not receive a conviction.
Jonathan Dowdall, a former Sinn Fein councillor, has appealed a four‑year jail sentence imposed by the Special Criminal Court for facilitating the Hutch gang in the murder of David Byrne. Dowdall admitted to providing a room at the Regency Hotel in February 2016, which was used for Byrne's killing. He was originally charged with Byrne's murder, but the State dropped that charge after he pleaded guilty to the facilitation offence. The sentence, delivered in October, was based on Dowdall's knowledge that he was aiding a serious criminal organisation and his receipt of instructions to secure the hotel room. Dowdall, now 44, is appealing on the grounds of severity, and the Court of Appeal has set a hearing for 20 February. He is also being assessed for the Witness Protection Programme and is giving evidence for the State against former associate Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch. The unnamed accused was convicted.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Alexandru Petica, 39, pleaded guilty to possessing €408,820, the proceeds of crime, after being involved in moving the money for an organised crime group. Petica, who drove a Toyota carrying the cash, was given a headline sentence of four years, but the judge suspended the sentence in full for three years on strict conditions. The case also involved Ion Nostas, 42, who arranged Petica's participation and was jailed for four years. Petica's defence highlighted his early plea, remorse, good character and employment record, while the judge noted his role was limited and that an immediate custodial sentence was unnecessary. The court's decision reflected mitigating factors and the absence of a broader criminal role for Petica.
Sean Connell, 32, of Poppintree, Dublin, is serving a six‑year sentence for the seizure of €1.5 million of cocaine at Rosslare Harbour. He pleaded guilty to possession of diamorphine for sale or supply on 10 March 2020. Gardaí later found nearly €70,000 of heroin in his car, and he was on bail when he and another man led gardaí on a high‑speed chase after shots were fired at a house in Finglas. The pursuit ended when the car overturned and Connell was taken to hospital. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and possession of a firearm on 29 September 2020. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to seven and a half years for the drug offences, with six months suspended, and to 18 months for the firearm and dangerous driving offences, with six months suspended. The sentences are consecutive to the Wexford drugs matter, and he is disqualified from driving for two years.
In the Special Criminal Court, Jonathan Dowdall, a former Sinn Fein councillor and key witness in the Regency Hotel murder trial, testified that he is 'not a rat' and is not involved with Sinn Fein. He denied lying under oath about his relationship with Pearse McAuley, who was jailed for the manslaughter of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe. Dowdall admitted to visiting McAuley in Castlerea Prison multiple times, though he initially claimed only two or three visits. Under cross-examination, it was revealed that he had visited McAuley 14 times between February 2015 and January 2016. Dowdall also testified that he was 'set up' for the murder of David Byrne by being connected to a room at the Regency Hotel used by one of the raiders. Gerard Hutch, who has pleaded guilty to facilitating Mr Byrne's murder, stated that a 'massive amount of pressure' was put on Dowdall after he was granted bail. Patrick Dowdall was jailed for two years before the Regency trial started after he admitted his part in booking the hotel room for the raiders. Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney have pleaded not guilty to charges of participating in or contributing to the murder of David Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. The matter was adjourned.
The Regency Hotel murder trial continues before the Special Criminal Court, with Gerard Hutch, Paul Murphy, and Jason Bonney pleading not guilty to the murder of David Byrne. Jonathan Dowdall, a State's witness who pleaded guilty to facilitating the offence by making a hotel room available, testified under cross-examination. He alleged he was "set up" and claimed Gerard Hutch pressured him after his release from Wheatfield Prison. Dowdall stated he contacted gardai in November 2021 to clear his name, asserting he was not involved in the killing. The defence contended Dowdall's testimony was motivated by a quid pro quo arrangement to drop his murder charge. Patrick Dowdall, Jonathan's father, was previously jailed for two years for the same facilitation offence. Jonathan Dowdall was sentenced to four years for facilitating the criminal organisation. A nolle prosequi was entered on his murder charge following his sentence. His Witness Protection Programme application remains pending, with a decision expected in January. The trial is ongoing, with the prosecution alleging Kevin Murray used the room and cooperated with the raiders.
In the ongoing appeal proceedings concerning the murder of David Byrne, ex-Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall, a State's witness who pleaded guilty to facilitating the killing, denied being a "master manipulator" during cross-examination. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC alleged Dowdall told "two big lies" regarding Gerard Hutch's alleged confession and the collection of hotel keys. Dowdall, who admitted to falsely imprisoning and threatening Alexander Hurley, stated he deeply regretted torturing Hurley. He clarified that his father, Patrick Dowdall, was sentenced to eight years for the same offences, later reduced to four years on appeal, while Jonathan was re-sentenced to seven years and 11 months. The court heard that Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, who pleaded not guilty to charges of participating in or contributing to Byrne's murder by providing access to motor vehicles, remain defendants in the case. Dowdall denied involvement in moving AK-47s or bomb-making, describing such claims as lies or bravado. He asserted that the feud between the Hutch and Kinahan families stemmed from an alleged attempt by the Hutch brothers to steal money from Daniel Kinahan, not from the Kinahans initiating violence. The matter remains at the appeal stage, with no finalisation recorded.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence from Jonathan Dowdall, a State's witness in the trial of Gerard Hutch, who denies the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in February 2016. Dowdall, who pleaded guilty to facilitating the offence by providing a hotel room, testified that neither the Kinahan family nor Hutch initiated the shooting. He stated he believed innocent people were targeted and that Hutch lied to him during a covertly recorded conversation regarding the identities of the assailants. The court examined audio recordings where Hutch allegedly referred to disposing of three AK-47 rifles to republicans in Northern Ireland. Dowdall also identified a reference to Buckingham Village, where a van used in the attack was allegedly stored. His father, Patrick Dowdall (65), was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for the same facilitation charge. Co-accused Paul Murphy (61) and Jason Bonney (50) have pleaded not guilty to charges of participating in or contributing to the murder by providing access to motor vehicles. The trial continues before Justice Tara Burns and two other judges.
At the Regency trial, Jonathan Dowdall testified that Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch claimed he and another man, 'Mago' Gately, shot David Byrne during the 2016 incident at the Regency Hotel. Dowdall also stated that Hutch expressed regret over the killing. The trial involves the murder of David Byrne, who was killed during a boxing weigh-in at the Regency Hotel on February 5, 2016. Patrick Dowdall (65) was previously jailed for two years before the trial started after admitting his role in booking the hotel room for the incident. Paul Murphy, Jason Bonney, Jonathan Dowdall, and Patrick Hutch Junior are currently on trial, with all pleading not guilty. The case is in the sentence stage, with no finalisation yet. The trial has heard evidence about the feud between the Hutch and Kinahan families, including the involvement of the New IRA and the discovery of assault rifles linked to the murder scene. The matter remains ongoing with no conclusion reached.
The Special Criminal Court has adjourned the trial of Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch until Monday, when Jonathan Dowdall will give evidence. Dowdall, a former co-accused who pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel on February 5, 2016, was sentenced to four years. He is currently a sentenced prisoner in the State. The court heard that Dowdall's Witness Protection Programme (WPP) assessment is ongoing, with a decision expected by mid-January. Prosecution counsel Sean Gillane SC stated that Dowdall's WPP status is separate from his testimony and that no difficulties were created by Dowdall. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC expressed anxiety over the timetable but agreed to proceed on Monday, provided a Detective Superintendent testifies that Dowdall's WPP admission is distinct from his performance in the witness box. Hutch, who denies the murder, and co-defendants Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, who also pleaded not guilty to facilitating the murder, remain in the trial. The court ruled Dowdall's evidence admissible despite defence objections. The matter was adjourned to allow Dowdall to take the stand on Monday.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch, accused of the murder of David Byrne, has been adjourned until tomorrow for further information regarding Jonathan Dowdall's witness protection status. Presiding judge Ms Justice Tara Burns ruled that Dowdall's evidence is admissible, rejecting defence objections that his guilty plea to the lesser charge of facilitating the murder constituted an unfair incentive. Dowdall, who pleaded guilty to facilitating the Hutch gang in the 2016 Regency Hotel attack, was sentenced to four years in prison. The court noted that the prosecution had not yet confirmed whether Dowdall had been accepted into the Witness Protection Programme, a matter Ms Justice Burns described as "astonishing" given the ongoing trial. She directed the prosecution to resolve this issue promptly, expressing dissatisfaction with the delay. Meanwhile, co-accused Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, who are alleged to have participated in or contributed to the murder by providing access to motor vehicles, have pleaded not guilty. The trial will resume tomorrow to address the witness protection query before Dowdall is expected to give evidence.