Nathan Coakley Hutch (33) has been jailed for five years after assaulting a tourist and stealing an elderly man's car. He has 109 previous convictions and was on bail at the time of each incident. He pleaded guilty to assault with intent to cause bodily harm, assault causing harm, and the unauthorized taking of a motor vehicle. In January 2023, he hit a man repeatedly with a bike saddle, causing injury. In June 2024, he headbutted a tourist, causing a fractured nasal bone and mild concussion. In June 2025, he stole a car worth €28,000 from an elderly man. Coakley Hutch has a cocaine addiction and used drugs as a coping mechanism due to threats he faced. His defence highlighted his efforts to address his addiction and his cooperation with the court. Judge Martina Baxter noted the aggravating factor that he was on bail at the time of the assaults and imposed a six-and-a-half-year sentence, suspending the final 18 months on conditions.
Derek Moore, known as 'Del Boy' Hutch, has had his sentencing for causing serious harm to a grandmother further adjourned due to ongoing industrial action by criminal solicitors. Moore pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious harm to Valentyna Linck in 2022. His sentencing was adjourned until October, with Moore remanded on bail. Moore has a long history of convictions, including dangerous driving and drug-related offences. The collision occurred at high speed, with Moore testing positive for cannabis. Ms Linck suffered life-threatening injuries, including a stroke and brain bleed, and has required extensive medical treatment. Moore has been on bail and has not come to garda attention except for one public order matter. He has recently been diagnosed with ADHD and has a bail variation allowing him to go on holiday abroad while awaiting sentencing.
David Hunter, a British national, has failed in his appeal to overturn his conviction for the murder of Michael Barr in a Dublin pub in 2016. The Court of Appeal upheld the Special Criminal Court's decision to dismiss the evidence of a witness regarding the height of one of the shooters. Hunter had argued that the trial court erred in rejecting the testimony of a witness who claimed the gunman was over six feet tall, while Hunter is five foot ten. The court found that the trial court's assessment of the eye-witness evidence was both cogent and rigorous. The DNA evidence linking Hunter to the crime was also upheld, as was the court's decision to admit the mobile phone evidence despite concerns about privacy rights. The appeal was dismissed, and Hunter's conviction remains in place.
An aggressive beggar has been given a suspended jail sentence for obstructing elderly parishioners as they entered a church at Christmas and for fleeing from the arresting garda. Razvan Rostas, who receives €232 per week in social welfare, was found guilty of aggressive begging and obstructing a garda. The court heard that elderly parishioners had to move around Rostas at the church entrance, and he fled when arrested. Rostas has three previous convictions, including one for theft and two previous begging offences. The judge fined him €250 for the aggressive begging offence and gave him six months to pay. For obstructing the garda after fleeing arrest, the judge imposed a two-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months. The defense argued that the prosecution had not proven obstruction, but the judge accepted the evidence of the garda and found the obstruction proven. Razvan Rostas pleaded not guilty.
Alexander Crowley, 20, of Dalkey, Co Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for false imprisonment and stalking a woman in August 2024. Crowley pleaded guilty to both charges. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a sentence of three years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended. The suspension is conditional on Crowley having no contact with the injured party for 10 years, continuing to take psychiatric medication, and undergoing Probation Service supervision for one year post-release. The court noted Crowley was an involuntary inpatient who absconded from a mental health facility before the offence, during which he was described as acutely psychotic. The judge stated that absent his mental health difficulties, the headline sentence would have been six years. Crowley's offending was considered diminished by his condition, and his unreserved apology was accepted as genuine. He has no previous convictions. The matter was finalised with this sentence.
Convicted killer Derek Moore (aka Hutch), who was banned from the roads, high on drugs, driving at 158km/h and pulling wheelies on his motorbike when he struck a Ukrainian grandmother in Dublin city centre, leaving her with serious injuries, has asked a court to allow him complete a detox programme. Moore of Champions Avenue, Dublin 1 has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious harm to Valentyna Linck on May 27, 2022 at Amiens Street. Moore (42) also pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous driving and a count of driving under the influence of an intoxicant on the same date. Further counts of dangerous driving are to be taken into consideration by the court. Moore has 44 previous convictions, including those for manslaughter, assault causing serious harm, attempted robbery and possession of drugs. His previous convictions also include eight for dangerous driving and one for endangerment. He was disqualified from driving for five years at the time of this offence, the court was told.
A Romanian national, Ionut Danca, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for killing a Canadian tourist, Neno Dolmajian, in Dublin city centre. Danca delivered a full-force running kick to the victim's head, who was lying on the ground under the influence of alcohol. The judge described the attack as brazen and stated that there was no need or justification for the act. Dolmajian, a 42-year-old Canadian of Armenian heritage, was visiting Ireland and was due to leave the country the day after the incident. The victim's family attended the sentencing hearing via video-link from Canada and described him as a positive and creative person. Danca's co-accused, Madalin Ghiuzan, was sentenced to 12 months in prison, with the sentence suspended for 12 months. The judge noted that the victim's death was a devastating loss for his family and emphasized the need for justice. Danca's defense highlighted his lack of prior convictions and his exemplary work ethic, but the court ruled that the severity of the crime warranted a significant prison term. Ionut Danca pleaded guilty. Madalin Ghiuzan pleaded guilty.
A Canadian tourist, Neno Dolmajian, was brutally beaten to death on a Dublin street by a Romanian national, Ionut Danca, who was described by the victim's sister as having 'treated my brother's head like a football'. The victim's sister, Maral Dolmajian, spoke at the Central Criminal Court about her brother's character, describing him as a 'good person, kind, funny, thoughtful and a joy to be around'. Danca pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of Dolmajian, who was assaulted on June 23, 2024, and died nine days later. The court heard that Danca delivered a 'running kick straight to the face' of the deceased. Danca's co-accused, Madalin Ghiuzan, pleaded guilty to assaulting Dolmajian. The court will deliver a sentence on February 17. Danca's defence argued that he was initially trying to act as a peacemaker and that he has no previous convictions. The victim's family asked for a sentence that reflects the violence suffered and acknowledges their loss.
Derek Moore (AKA Hutch), a convicted killer with a long history of dangerous driving and drug use, was driving at 158km/h and under the influence of cannabis when he struck a Ukrainian grandmother, Valentyna Linck, in Dublin. Moore pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious harm and driving under the influence. The collision left Linck with severe injuries, including facial and head trauma, a stroke, and a brain bleed. She spent a month in a coma and requires ongoing rehabilitation. Moore's driving was described as 'completely outrageous' by the judge, who ordered a probation report and adjourned the case for further proceedings. Moore, who has 44 previous convictions, including manslaughter and assault, was disqualified from driving for five years at the time of the incident. The court heard that Moore was high on cannabis and had a history of drug use, which contributed to his reckless behavior. The victim's medical costs and loss of income were estimated at over €250,000.
Ionut Danca has admitted to killing a Canadian tourist, Neno Dolmajian, in Dublin City Centre in July 2024 and has been allowed to remain on bail ahead of sentencing. Danca pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of Dolmajian, who was assaulted on 23 June 2024 and died nine days later. His co-accused, Madalin Ghiuzan, pleaded guilty to assaulting Dolmajian. The Director of Public Prosecutions has accepted the pleas. Danca, a construction worker from Romania, had previously been charged with murder, while Ghiuzan had a manslaughter charge. It is expected that the murder and manslaughter charges will be dropped at the sentencing hearing. Both men have been on bail and have complied with all conditions. The case is listed for sentencing on 9 February, with the deceased's family invited to make statements to the court.
A man who set his ex-girlfriend's car on fire has been sentenced to sixteen months in prison. Kevin Kinsella (35) of Annesley Close, Ballybough, Dublin 3, pleaded guilty to one count of arson committed in the Summerhill area of Dublin on July 2, 2024. He has 21 previous convictions. Garda Shane Costello testified that Kinsella was standing beside the car with flames coming from it and had a lump hammer in his hand. The court heard that Kinsella had a strong smell of petrol on him and had singed and burned the hair on his arms and some of his clothing. The damage caused to the car was €4,500. The injured party's insurance paid €3,000 in compensation, and Kinsella was repaying the rest of the money. His defence highlighted his guilty plea, remorse, and contributions to society. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Kinsella has a strong work history and has contributed to his local area and community. He said that there was good mitigation in the case and sentenced him to sixteen months in prison.
The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction of Christopher Slator for the 2016 murder of Michael Barr at Dublin's Sunset House pub, confirming that DNA evidence was correctly admitted. Mr Justice John Edwards dismissed Slator's appeal, noting the DNA profile matched Slator on both a rubber mask and the tongue of runners recovered from the vehicle used by the murderers. The court found the evidence relevant, probative and admissible, and rejected arguments that the prosecution failed to prove no innocent explanation for the DNA's presence. It also rejected claims of contamination or cross‑contamination, stating the SCC's conclusions were cogent and grounded in evidence. The appeal concerning a trip to Thailand was deemed admissible as circumstantial evidence. The judgment affirmed the SCC's detailed, comprehensive analysis and confirmed Slator's conviction as safe and final. Christopher Slator pleaded not guilty. Sunset House pleaded not guilty.
The Court of Appeal has granted bail to Brendan O'Mara, a former Ryanair pilot, after overturning a High Court decision that had denied him release. O'Mara, 62, is charged with possessing cannabis for sale or supply at his home address in Meelick, Co Clare, on May 7 this year. Gardaí and Customs officers allegedly discovered pallets containing 502kg of cannabis, with an estimated street value exceeding €10 million. In the High Court, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon refused bail, citing concerns that O'Mara was a flight risk due to his commercial pilot status and access to airfields. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC argued this evidential basis was lacking, noting O'Mara does not hold membership at any airfield. He offered an independent surety of €150,000 from O'Mara's sister and proposed that O'Mara surrender his pilot's licence and all documentation. Counsel for the State, Roisin Lacey SC, countered that O'Mara had significant industry contacts and had recently arranged to emigrate to the United States. Mr Justice John Edwards acknowledged the charge was very serious, carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, and noted the theoretical possibility of O'Mara procuring an aircraft to avoid justice. However, the court concluded that while flight risk concerns existed, they were not sufficient to deny bail absolutely. As a condition of his release, O'Mara must surrender his pilot's licence.
David Hunter, a Liverpool native convicted of murdering dissident Republican Michael Barr in 2016, appealed to the Court of Appeal, arguing that the Special Criminal Court erred in dismissing witness evidence regarding the height of the gunman and breached his privacy rights by admitting mobile phone data. Hunter, who was found guilty in September 2020, contended that a witness identified the assailant as six feet one or two, whereas Hunter is five feet ten, and that the DNA match on a ski mask was coincidental. The State countered that Hunter and co-accused Eamonn Cumberton were of the same height, and that DNA profiles from latex masks linked Hunter, Cumberton, and Christopher Slator to the getaway car. The State further argued that the phone evidence was lawfully obtained under legislation applicable at the time. The court noted that Hunter's involvement was fully proved by circumstantial evidence, including the DNA match and the abandoned vehicle. The matter was adjourned, with the judges reserving their judgment. Hunter remains one of three men convicted of the murder; Eamonn Cumberton was convicted in January 2018, and Christopher Slator was convicted in July 2022.
Christopher Slator, aged 40, was convicted of the 2016 murder of Michael Barr at Dublin's Sunset House pub and is appealing that conviction. He argues that DNA evidence from a mask and runners found in the car used by the murderers should not have been admitted because the items were not fully examined and the defence was disadvantaged. Slator's counsel claims the DNA was taken from the tongue of a shoe and from a contaminated mask, and that further swabs could have been taken. The prosecution maintains that a DNA profile matching Slator was found on the shoes and mask, giving the evidence significant probative value. The appeal is heard at the Court of Appeal, where the defence seeks to exclude the DNA evidence and challenge the weight given to it by the Special Criminal Court. The case remains at the appeal stage, with no new outcome announced. Christopher Slator pleaded not guilty.
David Dunne, 40, was convicted of murdering fellow inmate Robert O'Connor, 34, at Mountjoy Prison on 29 July 2022. CCTV footage showed Dunne luring O'Connor into his cell, where he was knocked to the ground and stamped on the head repeatedly. Prison officers heard a yell and a cry of "No, no" before silence, and later saw Dunne stamp on O'Connor's head more than once. O'Connor was taken to Mater Hospital, placed on life support, and pronounced dead three days later after brain‑stem testing revealed no activity. Dunne, who had 123 convictions since 1998 and was serving a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for robbery, was found guilty by a jury in less than three hours. Robert O'Connor pleaded not guilty.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court found 40‑year‑old David Dunne guilty of murder after he lured fellow inmate Robert O'Connor into his cell, knocked him to the ground and stamped on his head in a "vicious and unprovoked" assault. The verdict, reached in just under three hours, was unanimous. Dunne had pleaded not guilty, claiming he had no intention to kill and that he acted in self‑defence after O'Connor punched him twice. The prosecution presented CCTV footage showing Dunne and three other prisoners entering the cell, with officers later reporting that Dunne stamped on O'Connor's head more than once and kicked him. A pathologist's report confirmed that the blows caused brain rotation and tearing of nerve cells, consistent with stamping, punching or kicking. Dunne will face a mandatory life sentence when he is sentenced on 16 December.
In a Mountjoy Prison murder trial, the jury must decide if David Dunne, 40, honestly believed he was acting in self‑defence when he fatally assaulted fellow inmate Robert O'Connor. Justice Mary Ellen Ring explained that to convict of murder, the jury must be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Dunne intended to kill or cause serious injury. If he believed he was defending himself but used more force than a reasonable person would, he would be guilty of manslaughter. The prosecution, represented by Michael Delaney SC, presented CCTV showing O'Connor entering Dunne's cell, an officer witnessing Dunne stamp on O'Connor's head multiple times, and evidence suggesting coordination with other inmates. Dunne's defence, led by Brendan Grehan SC, argued the attack was a spontaneous reaction, not pre‑planned, and urged the jury to disregard alleged conspiratorial signals. The jury will deliberate tomorrow, with possible verdicts of guilty, not guilty, or not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter.
During a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution alleged that 40‑year‑old David Dunne lured fellow inmate Robert O'Connor into his cell at Mountjoy Prison and stamped on O'Connor's head, causing death by blunt force trauma. The prosecution presented CCTV evidence suggesting coordination with other prisoners and claimed the assault was "vicious and unprovoked." They also argued that O'Connor's brain suffered rotational force injuries. Dunne's defence contended the killing was unintentional, a reaction in the moment, and not premeditated. The defence urged the jury to disregard alleged conspiratorial signals and focus on the evidence. The judge was to charge the jury the following day. The case remains at the murder‑trial stage. David Dunne pleaded not guilty.
David Dunne, 40, pleaded not guilty to the murder of fellow inmate Robert O'Connor on 29 July 2022 at Mountjoy Prison. In Garda interviews after his arrest on 16 November 2022, Dunne claimed he threw a single punch at O'Connor after the latter had approached him, stating he did not intend to kill and that the incident would haunt him. He described O'Connor as a good friend and said he had previously been assaulted in his cell on 27 July. A prison officer's statement that Dunne had "stamped" on O'Connor's head was denied by Dunne. The prosecution presented three Garda interview memoranda and evidence from Dr Francesca Brett, a neuropathologist who examined O'Connor's brain and found hypoxic damage, haemorrhage and axonal injury. The trial is before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury.
In the Central Criminal Court, Chief State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan testified that the death of Robert O'Connor, a Mountjoy prisoner, was caused by blunt‑force trauma that rotated his brain. She explained that the injuries could have resulted from punching, kicking or stamping, and that the resulting brain swelling, bleeding and lack of oxygen led to death. Dr Mulligan noted that O'Connor had suffered a first assault on 27 July with a bleeding nose and a fractured right pupil, and a second assault two days later that left him in a coma. He remained unresponsive for three days, was declared dead at 1.34 pm on 1 August, and his kidneys were donated. The pathologist confirmed no skull fractures and that the brain trauma was most likely sustained during the second alleged assault. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, continues with a jury hearing further evidence.
In a Mountjoy Prison murder trial, the prosecution presented evidence that David Dunne, 40, allegedly stamped and kicked the head of fellow inmate Robert O'Connor, 32, who died three days later. Officers Conor Kenny and Jonathan Deegan witnessed the assault on the C2 landing around 5.30 pm on 29 July 2022. O'Connor was found lifeless with blood on his face; he was taken to Mater Hospital where a CT scan revealed severe brain injury and he was declared dead on 1 August. A post‑mortem on 3 August confirmed blunt‑force trauma to the head as the cause of death. Dunne, arrested on 16 November 2022, claimed self‑defence, stating O'Connor had attacked him. The jury will decide if the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that Dunne committed murder. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
A jury of nine men and three women was sworn in today for the trial of a 40‑year‑old man, David Dunne, who denies murdering Robert O'Connor, 34, at Mountjoy Prison on 29 July 2022. Dunne pleaded not guilty and was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court. The trial will commence tomorrow before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring and is expected to last two weeks.
Yong Yue Wang, a former Dublin Bus driver, was dismissed in September 2022 after the company found he had used a mobile phone while driving twice in under a year, breaching its zero‑tolerance policy. The Workplace Relations Commission heard Wang's claim under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, seeking reinstatement. Wang had previously received a final written warning and a three‑day unpaid suspension for an earlier incident in November 2021. In July 2022, a chief inspector reported seeing Wang holding a phone while driving a 15B bus on Townsend Street; Wang maintained the phone was in his pocket or had fallen off the dashboard. The tribunal noted procedural concerns, including language barriers and the lack of CCTV evidence, and the adjudicator said a decision would be issued in weeks. Wang has since obtained a taxi licence and is earning about €700 a week.
Annemarie Ruth, a 50‑year‑old woman from Summerhill Parade, Dublin, pleaded guilty on 24 February 2021 to possessing €50,928 worth of cannabis in her home. She has four prior convictions dating back to 2009. In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Sarah Berkeley noted Ruth's full admissions, cooperation with authorities, and her status as a vulnerable person. The judge highlighted that Gardaí had focused on Ruth's then partner at the time of the offence. Ruth entered an early guilty plea, showed remorse, and had previously attempted rehabilitation. Judge Berkeley sentenced her to five years' imprisonment, suspended in full for five years, and imposed 18 months of probation supervision with directions to follow all probation services' instructions. The court did not impose any custodial term, citing that it would serve no service to society to incarcerate a vulnerable woman. The case was prosecuted by John Quirke BL, with Garda Cillian Meyler reporting the search and arrest details.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 8 June 2023, Thomas McConnell, aged 37, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Gareth Hutch, aged 36, which occurred on 24 May 2016 outside Avondale House, North Cumberland Street, Dublin 1. Prosecutor Fiona Murphy SC presented evidence that McConnell, along with Jonathan Keogh, Regina Keogh, and Thomas Fox, were part of a pre‑planned ambush. The prosecution alleged that a black BMW and a Skoda Octavia were used as getaway vehicles, that McConnell was seen walking to the Skoda before the shooting, and that he and Keogh carried handguns to the scene. Witness Mary McDonell, who had provided a flat for the shooters, was granted immunity and is a key witness. The court heard that McConnell was involved in the careful planning and execution of the murder, which was described as pre‑meditated and brutal. The trial continues before Judges Alex Owens, Elma Sheahan and David McHugh.
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.
In July 2022, Daniel Haines, aged 33, was sentenced to two years and six months in prison, with the final six months suspended, for assault causing harm to his ex‑partner Shauna Hunt. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Haines had contacted Hunt on 3 February 2021, staying at her apartment for several days. On 7 February, after drinking vodka, he told Hunt he had another girlfriend and demanded she choose. When Hunt refused to sleep with him, Haines became aggressive, calling her a "whore", "tramp" and "unwanted child". He repeatedly kicked her, pulled her by the hair, and tripped her down the stairs, causing her to fall. CCTV showed him throwing her to the ground and smashing her mobile phone. Hunt suffered bruises, cuts and two broken ribs, and was later admitted to Mater Hospital. Haines had 49 prior convictions, including public order offences, criminal damage, possession of a weapon, robbery and bench warrants. Daniel Haines pleaded guilty.
Christopher Slator, 37, of Cabra, Dublin 7, was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for the murder of Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub in Dublin 1 on April 25, 2016. Slator, who pleaded not guilty, became the third man convicted of the killing. The court rejected his defence that his DNA on a mask and runners was innocent, finding it the only rational explanation for his involvement. Slator has 59 previous convictions. In November 2020, David Hunter, 43, of London, was jailed for life for the same murder. Eamon Cumberton, of Dublin 7, was also jailed for life in 2019. Martin Aylmer, 36, of Marino, Dublin 3, pleaded guilty to buying mobile phones for the gang and was sentenced to just under four years. This sentence was later increased to six years by the Court of Appeal. The court described the murder as a planned operation involving at least three people. Barr was shot seven times, five in the head, during a raffle event. The court noted Slator and Cumberton fled to Dubai the day after the shooting before returning to Ireland a month later.
The Special Criminal Court has convicted Christopher Slator of the murder of Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub in Dublin 1 on April 25, 2016. Slator, of Cabra, Dublin 7, had pleaded not guilty, but the non-jury court rejected his defence that his DNA on a mask and runners found in a car had an innocent explanation. The court found the DNA evidence sufficient to prove his guilt, noting that his flight to Dubai with Eamon Cumberton the day after the shooting was highly suspicious. Slator will be sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment later today. This conviction follows previous life sentences imposed on David Hunter in 2020 and Eamon Cumberton in 2019 for the same murder. Additionally, Martin Aylmer pleaded guilty to buying mobile phones for the gang involved in the killing; he was initially sentenced to just under four years, a term later increased to six years by the Court of Appeal. The court highlighted the chaotic nature of the shooting, where Barr was shot seven times, and the unusual circumstances of the defendants' travel arrangements as supporting evidence for the conviction.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 2 June 2022, Michael Bowman SC argued that DNA evidence presented by the State does not prove that Christopher Slator was one of the three men involved in the murder of Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub. Bowman highlighted that Slator's DNA was found on a mask and a pair of runners in the getaway car, but also on other masks belonging to unknown individuals. He cited the forensic scientist's admission that secondary transfer could explain the DNA presence and that the DNA does not prove Slator wore the mask. Bowman also questioned the prosecution's inference that Slator's DNA indicated his presence in the car at the time of the shooting, noting that witnesses described a taller man than Slator's height. He further challenged the prosecution's reliance on a same‑day Bangkok flight booking as evidence of guilt, arguing it was an unusual but not incriminating travel pattern. Christopher Slator pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Dominic McGinn SC argued that DNA found on a mask and a runner inside a getaway car was sufficient to convict Christopher Slator of murdering Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub in 2016. McGinn noted that the DNA matched Slator's profile and that the same items were linked to the car used by the three gunmen who fled the scene. He also cited evidence that Slator and an accomplice booked a flight to Bangkok the day after the shooting, with no luggage, suggesting a planned escape. McGinn emphasized that no reasonable explanation for the DNA evidence existed, and that the injuries sustained by Barr proved the act was murder. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC was scheduled to present his closing remarks the following day. The case remains at the non‑jury trial stage. Christopher Slator pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court heard witness testimony during the ongoing trial of Christopher Slator, who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub in Dublin 1 on April 25, 2016. Slator is the third defendant to face trial for this offense. Witnesses described a scene of "chaos and screaming" after two masked men entered the pub, where Barr was shot seven times. The State's case, outlined by prosecutor Dominic McGinn SC, links Slator to the crime through DNA profiles found on a mask and gloves recovered from a burning Audi on Walsh Road. The prosecution also noted that Eamon Cumberton, jailed for life in 2019, and David Hunter, jailed for life in November 2020, are connected to the case. Hunter has since appealed his conviction, placing his matter at the appeal stage. The trial, presided over by Justice Tara Burns, will resume next Tuesday.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Emilio Flynn, aged 27, pleaded guilty to robbery, false imprisonment and extortion after robbing Dr Patrick Duffy on Buckingham Street in 2015. Flynn demanded money, took cash from an ATM, and threatened future extortion, giving his phone number and demanding payment later. He claimed his judgment was affected by medication and that he was homeless. Flynn had 29 prior convictions. The court noted that the victim moved and stopped walking home after the incident. Judge Elma Sheahan had previously placed Flynn on a 12‑month probation bond with conditions of drug and alcohol abstinence and counseling. Flynn failed to comply, travelled to the UK, and was later arrested in April 2022. The judge sentenced him to three years in prison for each robbery, to run concurrently, citing mid‑range offending. The sentence reflects the court's view that Flynn had been given a second chance.
Sean Leahy, a 50‑year‑old YouTuber from Dublin, has filed a High Court challenge against the constitutionality of Covid‑19 regulations under the 1947 Health Act. He claims he was wrongfully arrested during the Easter Rising commemoration on O'Connell Street on 4 April after Gardai asked him for media identification. Leahy says he did not possess such ID, offered to show his work on his phone, and refused to leave the cordoned area, asserting he was complying with Covid rules. He was escorted to North Earl Street, again refused to leave, and was arrested. Leahy has not been told which regulation he allegedly breached and questions whether it carries a penalty. He seeks an order to halt his District Court prosecution, declarations that the relevant Health Act provisions are arbitrary and unconstitutional, and damages for false imprisonment and unlawful detention. The case is set to return to court in July.
The Special Criminal Court sentenced David Hunter to life imprisonment for the 2016 murder of Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub in Dublin. Presiding Judge Alexander Owens, sitting with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, backdated the sentence to April 2019, when Hunter was arrested in the UK on a European Arrest Warrant. Hunter, a 42-year-old Liverpool native, had pleaded not guilty but was found guilty based on compelling evidence, including DNA from a ski-mask recovered from the getaway car that matched his profile. The court rejected his defence that he was in Dublin for a concert and that the mask was lost during a prior car-stealing trip. Hunter is the second individual convicted for this Kinahan Cartel-linked killing; Eamon Cumberton was convicted in January 2018. During sentencing, Detective Garda Colm Kelly noted Hunter's 15 previous convictions. Prosecution counsel Mr Barr argued Hunter should serve his full sentence in Ireland to avoid transfer to Liverpool. Detective Superintendent Colm Murphy described the murder as cold and callous, confirming the investigation remains ongoing to bring all involved to justice. Victim impact statements from Barr's sister Noeleen and former partner Jade O'Shea highlighted the lasting trauma on Barr's five children and family.
David Hunter, a 41‑year‑old car thief from Liverpool, was convicted by the Special Criminal Court of murdering 35‑year‑old Michael Barr, manager of the Sunset House pub in Dublin, on 25 April 2016. The court found Hunter to be one of two gunmen who entered the pub, shot Barr seven times, and fled in an Audi A6 that was later set on fire. DNA evidence from a ski‑mask recovered from the car matched Hunter's profile, and the court rejected his explanations for his presence in Dublin and the mask's whereabouts as implausible. Hunter denied the murder, claiming he had been in Dublin for a concert and had no involvement. The judge ruled that Hunter could not have been the getaway driver and that he was seated in the rear passenger seat while the other accused, Eamonn Cumberton, was the driver. Hunter will receive a mandatory life sentence and remain in custody until sentencing.
A UK man accused of murdering Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub in Dublin is described by his defence as a 'two-bit car thief' and 'no James Bond', according to the Special Criminal Court. David Hunter, a Liverpool native with an address in London, is pleading not guilty to the murder of Mr Barr (35) at the pub in Summerhill on the night of April 25, 2016. The defence closed its case by asserting that the defendant could not 'logically' have been the killer. Mixed DNA profiles were found on a ski-mask and rubber mask recovered from a car allegedly used in the killing, with the major contributor matching Mr Hunter's DNA. However, Mr Hunter stated to gardaí that he had left the ski-mask in a car in Dublin two months before the shooting and had not seen it again. Defence barrister Ms Roisín Lacey SC argued that the prosecution cannot prove Mr Hunter wore the ski-mask underneath the rubber mask at the shooting and that there is a reasonable doubt. She also highlighted that Mr Hunter's admission to gardaí of stealing cars 'painted him in a bad light' and that he was in a 'narcotic and alcoholic haze' at the time of the shooting. Ms Lacey submitted that Mr Hunter could not have been the driver of the getaway vehicle or the convicted male in the back of the vehicle, and that he had to be the front passenger who emerged without any head covering. She concluded that Mr Hunter 'is not a murderer and he cannot logically be the murderer on the evidence in the case.' Mr Justice Owens adjourned the case to September 11 for judgement and remanded Mr Hunter in custody.
In the Special Criminal Court, Liverpool native David Hunter pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Barr, 35, at the Sunset House pub in Dublin on 25 April 2016. Prosecutor Dominic McGinn closed the case by arguing that Hunter's involvement was the only reasonable explanation for a series of coincidences. He cited DNA evidence linking a ski mask and cigarette butt to Hunter, ballistics matching guns found in an Audi A6 on Walsh Road, and CCTV timing of the vehicle's movements. McGinn also referenced cell‑site data showing four phones used on the night of the murder, one of which connected to Hunter's new phone shortly after the killing. He highlighted Hunter's travel plans, the sale of his car, and his girlfriend's call at 10.22 pm as further evidence of his presence at the scene. The court will hear Hunter's defence tomorrow.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, David Hunter, 41, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Barr, 35, at a Dublin pub on 25 April 2016. Hunter claimed he first arrived in Ireland on 8 February 2016, had a history of car theft in the UK, and was invited to a botched car robbery where he left a ski‑mask in a car. The mask, recovered from a burning Audi on Walsh Road, was DNA‑matched to Hunter, with 61% of the mixed profile attributed to him. Hunter's voluntary statement, sent to the DPP on 4 June, detailed his travel, drug use, and the events leading up to the robbery. The court heard that the prosecution would finish its evidence on Tuesday, with the trial concluding the following Thursday. The case remains at the trial stage.
During the Special Criminal Court hearing on 21 July 2020, the prosecution presented DNA evidence linking the murder suspect, 41‑year‑old David Hunter of White City, London, to a mask recovered from the Audi A6 involved in the 2016 shooting of Michael Barr. Dr Edward Connolly testified that a major DNA contributor on a ski‑mask matched 61 % of a mixed profile previously identified as 'unnamed male 2'. This profile was cross‑referenced with DNA from an apple core and a cigarette butt discarded by Hunter during his extradition from the UK, and the odds of the profile being unrelated to Hunter were described as "a thousand‑million to one". Additional mixed DNA was found on a rubber mask, with one major and three minor contributors, and the samples could not be excluded from Hunter's profile. The court also accepted phone evidence from the prosecution, despite defence objections.
William Kinlan, 36, with 206 prior convictions, was jailed for 16 months after stealing a phone from a young woman on a bus stop in Dublin. He cycled past the victim, took her phone, and left it on a windowsill. Garda Michael O'Donnell, who heard the woman scream, recognised Kinlan and pursued him, arresting him on the spot. Kinlan claimed he was a drug addict needing money to repay a drug debt. He pleaded guilty to theft at O'Connell Street on 29 February 2020, the same offence for which he had just been released from a previous sentence. The phone was returned to the victim. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Kinlan's extensive criminal history and drug addiction, imposed a 16‑month sentence consecutive to the term he was already serving, expressing doubt about his likelihood of reform. The case was prosecuted by Maurice Coffey BL and defended by Derek Cooney BL.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 2 July 2020, 27‑year‑old Emilio Flynn pleaded guilty to robbery, false imprisonment and extortion after he attacked Dr Patrick Duffy on Buckingham Street on 26 June 2015. Flynn approached the doctor after his shift at James' Hospital, demanded his wallet and phone, and after the doctor withdrew cash at an ATM, Flynn took the money and later returned the SIM card. He then wrote a note demanding further payment, threatening that the doctor would be "done" if he did not comply. Flynn, who was homeless at the time and claimed his judgment was affected by medication, admitted to 29 prior convictions. Judge Elma Sheahan, noting Flynn's role as a father of four, imposed a 12‑month probation bond, requiring him to remain drug‑ and alcohol‑free and to attend anger‑management and grief‑counselling sessions. No custodial sentence was imposed.
In the Special Criminal Court, David Hunter, 41, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Barr, 35, at the Sunset House pub in Dublin on 25 April 2016. Hunter, who was in Dublin with his ex‑girlfriend Jordanna Kiely and a friend, Stacy Franey, claimed he met the two women at a Travelodge in Swords at 9 pm. Kiely testified that the trio had spent the week drinking and taking drugs, and that on the day of the shooting they went shopping and later went to Temple Bar. Franey said the night was "blurry" and that the group was "hostile" during the shopping trip. The court heard that two men in rubber masks entered the pub around 9 pm and shot Barr seven times. The case is ongoing and is expected to last four to five weeks.
The Special Criminal Court heard on 19 June 2020 that five bullets were lodged in the head of Michael Barr, 36, who was shot to death at the Sunset House pub in Dublin on 25 April 2016. Liverpool native David Hunter, 41, is pleading not guilty to the murder. Former Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis, appearing by video‑link, described the post‑mortem findings: seven gunshot injuries, including three entry wounds above the jaw, one behind the right ear, one behind the temple, one through the right shoulder blade, and one on the left thigh. He noted extensive skull damage and that the injuries were incompatible with life. Retired Detective Superintendent Eunan Dolan confirmed the pub was declared a crime scene and that CCTV footage had been seized by the Special Detective Unit. The defence questioned the seizure and the court adjourned the case to 23 June for further proceedings. The trial is expected to last four weeks.
The Special Criminal Court heard testimony in the trial of David Hunter, a 41-year-old Liverpool native accused of the murder of Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub in Dublin's north inner city on 25 April 2016. An unnamed witness described crawling on the floor to bless Mr Barr's body after two masked men entered the bar and shot him seven times. She recounted that a mirror smashed during the incident and that she saw the shooters wearing Halloween-style masks. Defending barrister Ms Roisín Lacey SC questioned the witness regarding whether it was common knowledge that Mr Barr was scheduled for sentencing that week, to which the witness replied Mr Barr had mentioned going on holiday. Another witness, Stephen Clifford, stated he heard three shots and saw Mr Barr fall with blood from his neck. Nepalese barman Keshav Paudel testified that he hid behind the bar and called 999. Detective Garda David Kildea informed the court that the pub's CCTV hard drive had been seized days earlier for a separate matter. The trial, presided over by Justice Alexander Owens, is expected to last four weeks.
A fundraiser for the wives of IRA prisoners was held in an inner‑city Dublin pub when the bar manager, Michael Barr, 35, was shot dead. Two men wearing full rubber Hallowe'en masks entered the Sunset House pub after 9 pm and fired seven shots at Barr, killing him at the scene. The Special Criminal Court heard the case after former judge Paul Coffey recused himself; it is now before Justice Alexander Owens. Liverpool native David Hunter, 41, is accused of the murder. Hunter pleaded not guilty and his barrister formally objected to the court's jurisdiction. The trial, with 168 witnesses, is expected to last four to five weeks. The hearing included testimony about the shooting, the discovery of weapons in a silver Audi A6, and the extradition of Hunter from the UK. The case remains at the trial stage.
The Special Criminal Court heard that DNA was extracted from items used by David Hunter, a 41‑year‑old UK man extradited from the UK, during his flight back to Ireland. Hunter is accused of murdering Michael Barr, 35, the bar manager of the Sunset House pub in Dublin, on 25 April 2016. Hunter pleaded not guilty and his barrister formally objected to the court's jurisdiction. Prosecutor Dominic McGinn described the shooting: two armed men in rubber masks entered the pub around 9 pm, shot Barr seven times, and fled. Evidence included a silver Audi A6 that was set on fire, a Ford Mondeo, and weapons and masks found in the vehicles. A phone found near a bullet had no fingerprints. DNA from an apple, ear‑plugs, a cigarette butt, and clothing seized at Bridewell matched a mixed profile from a rubber mask and a ski mask. The trial is expected to last four to five weeks.
A 41‑year‑old UK national, David Hunter, is accused of murdering Michael Barr, a 35‑year‑old manager from Co Tyrone, who was shot seven times at the Sunset House pub on 25 April 2016. Mr Justice Tony Hunt set the trial for the non‑jury Special Criminal Court to begin on 10 June 2020, with an expected duration of four weeks. The court also scheduled a mention on 3 April 2020 to ensure all matters are in order, and ruled that Mr Hunter need not appear on that date.
Ryszard Gieron, 42, was given a suspended two‑year sentence for dangerous driving that caused the death of taxi passenger Mark Gerety, 39, on 23 June 2017. Gieron drove through a red light at the junction of North Circular Road and Summerhill Parade, colliding with a taxi that had a green light. The taxi flipped over, and Mark sustained fatal injuries. Gardaí found no evidence of speeding, intoxication or fatigue. Gieron had no prior convictions, had been driving on a provisional licence for seven years, and behaved appropriately after the collision. The judge noted the absence of aggravating factors and accepted Gieron's explanation that he believed the light was green, deciding that imprisonment would be unjust. The sentence was fully suspended, with no custodial time imposed. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Ryszard Gieron pleaded guilty.