A Polish man has been sentenced to four years' imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court after pleading guilty to rape. Rafal Stojanowski, aged 36, admitted raping a woman on 27 October 2018 at a house in County Monaghan where he was staying during a visit to Ireland for a birthday celebration. He pleaded guilty on the basis that he was reckless as to whether the woman consented. The victim stated she had fallen asleep and awoke to find him sexually assaulting her. She told him to stop and attempted to resist, but he did not cease until he ejaculated. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed the sentence, backdating it by 12 months to account for time already spent in custody. The judge acknowledged the significant impact on the victim and considered mitigating factors including Stojanowski's guilty plea, expression of remorse, absence of prior convictions, and low assessed risk of reoffending. The court heard evidence that no violence or threats were employed during the offence.
Three former workers at an egg production facility in County Galway have secured redundancy payments following a Workplace Relations Commission ruling, two years after their initial claims were rejected due to the company's dissolution. Ronan McGrath, Brendan Eifert and Mark Hughes had sought redundancy entitlements from Galway Free Range Eggs Ltd after losing employment in early 2020. Their original complaints could not proceed when the company was struck from the register. The men subsequently obtained a Dublin Circuit Court order in April 2021 to restore the company, enabling their claims to progress. Adjudicating officer Catherine Byrne upheld their complaints under the Redundancy Payments Act this week, finding their employment had been genuinely redundant. Mr McGrath, who managed the egg packing plant in Cregmore, had over nineteen years' service, while Mr Hughes and Mr Eifert had served approximately seventeen and twelve years respectively. The largest lump sum is understood to exceed €20,000. Their solicitor noted the case raised wider concerns about employees unable to afford similar legal action.
The Workplace Relations Commission has ordered Huawen Foundation Ltd to pay former employee Dauquan Zhang €12,400 in unpaid wages. In a decision published this morning, adjudicating officer Hugh Lonsdale upheld Mr Zhang's complaint under the Payment of Wages Act, finding that the company failed to pay his salary for the period from 1 November 2020 to 28 February 2021. Mr Zhang, who served as director of international investment with a salary of €37,500, alleged that while he received no bank transfers during this four-month period, the company submitted payslips to the Revenue Commissioners, leaving him liable for income tax on funds he never received. He stated he was now in debt to Revenue for over €1,600. Huawen Foundation Ltd did not appear for the remote adjudication hearing on 24 February, nor did it engage with the Commission. The adjudicator noted the respondent was on notice of the hearing and concluded the complaint was well-founded based on the evidence provided by Mr Zhang, including bank statements and downloaded payslips. Huawen Foundation promotes Irish property investments under the government's cash-for-visas scheme and is wholly owned by Kai Dai, chief executive of Kylin Prime Group. The company recently changed its registered office from St Stephen's Green in Dublin to Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan.
Daniel Munteanu, a 32-year-old Romanian national from Navan, Co Meath, has failed in his appeal against a custodial sentence imposed at Trim Circuit Criminal Court. Munteanu pleaded guilty to 10 charges of stealing €121,800 from 52 Bank of Ireland accounts between September 9, 2018, and March 4, 2019. He also admitted possessing 51 cloned bank cards, card-making equipment, and false identity documents. Judge Martina Baxter originally sentenced him to seven years, with the final six months suspended, after applying a discount to an 11-year headline sentence. Munteanu appealed on the grounds that the judge placed insufficient weight on mitigation, arguing he was merely a 'foot-soldier' in an international skimming gang who received a 10-15% cut of the proceeds. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, dismissed the appeal. The Court President noted that the original judge had applied a 'significant and generous' discount and that the final six-and-a-half-year term clearly fell within the available range. The court accepted the prosecution's submission that Munteanu was part of a complex criminal organisation operating across multiple jurisdictions, including Ireland, the UK, Belgium, Romania, and Italy, which justified the severity of the sentence.
A 32-year-old Romanian national is appealing a six-and-a-half-year prison sentence imposed for his role in an international bank card skimming operation. Daniel Munteanu pleaded guilty at Trim Circuit Criminal Court to ten counts of theft totalling €121,800 from 52 Bank of Ireland accounts between September 2018 and March 2019. Over 300 withdrawals were made from ATMs across multiple counties including Cavan and Monaghan. Gardaí recovered cloned bank cards, a card-cloning machine, and forged identity documents from his home. At the Court of Appeal, his legal team contended the original sentence was disproportionate, characterising Munteanu as a foot-soldier in the gang who received approximately ten per cent of proceeds. The Director of Public Prosecutions countered that Munteanu was an integral member of an established international criminal network operating across multiple jurisdictions with significant resources. The court reserved judgment.
The Special Criminal Court sentenced Daniel O'Callaghan to 10 years imprisonment for his role in a cross-border gang that stole ATMs using diggers. O'Callaghan, a former All-Ireland club winner, was convicted after a trial of 16 offences, including the attempted theft of an ATM in Virginia, Co Cavan, and possessing over €700,000 in stolen cash. He had pleaded not guilty to charges under Sections 72 and 73 of the Criminal Justice Act. Ms Justice Tara Burns set a headline sentence of 11 years, suspending the final year subject to a three-year bond to keep the peace. Sentences for other offences, ranging from three and a half to eight years, run concurrently. The court noted O'Callaghan's central role as a planner and his forensic awareness, including burning vehicles and using burner phones. Three accomplices, Stephen Duffy, Gerard Duffy, and Ciaran Duffy, were jailed last week after pleading guilty. Stephen Duffy received four years for possessing stolen cash, while Gerard and Ciaran Duffy each received seven years and nine months for the attempted ATM theft and moving cash for a criminal organisation. Gardai recovered €429,930 from a premises in Tullypole, Co Meath, which is subject to Criminal Assets Bureau proceedings.
The Special Criminal Court sentenced three Monaghan brothers to a combined 19.5 years for their roles in an ATM theft gang. Gerard Duffy (31) and Ciaran Duffy (29) each pleaded guilty to offences including attempted theft of an ATM and its contents for the benefit of a criminal organisation. Ciaran Duffy additionally pleaded guilty to moving cash and possessing cash to facilitate a criminal offence. Mr Justice Hunt identified an 11-year headline sentence for both, applied a 20% discount, and suspended the final year of each term, resulting in effective sentences of eight years and nine months. Stephen Duffy (35) pleaded guilty to possessing cash in association with a criminal organisation. Rejecting his claim of limited involvement, the judge sentenced him to four years and nine months, with the final nine months suspended. All sentences were back-dated to February 1, 2022. In a related November finalisation, Niall Finnegan (39) pleaded guilty to possessing proceeds of ATM thefts and was jailed for four-and-a-half years, with the final 18 months suspended. A fifth defendant, Daniel O'Callaghan, remains to be sentenced.
A landlord couple from Crossmaglen, County Down, have been ordered by the Workplace Relations Commission to pay €7,500 to their former tenant following a discrimination complaint. David Paul Smith alleged that Martin and Hillary Shields refused to accept housing assistance payment for a property he rented in Monaghan Town from October 2017, forcing him into significant financial difficulty. Mr Smith claimed he incurred approximately €5,687 in unmet rental costs and fell into arrears on utility bills while attempting to maintain his tenancy. Text messages from July 2020 showed the landlords explicitly declined HAP and allegedly threatened eviction should he pursue the matter further. The defendants did not attend the hearing. Adjudicating officer Breiffni O'Neill found the refusal constituted discrimination under the Equal Status Act, describing it as "at the more serious end of the scale" given its duration and impact on the complainant's family circumstances.
The Special Criminal Court has found Daniel O'Callaghan guilty of all 16 counts relating to ATM thefts in Cavan and Monaghan in 2019. O'Callaghan, who pleaded not guilty, was convicted of offences under Sections 72 and 73 of the Criminal Justice Act, including the attempted theft of an ATM in Virginia and the theft of an ATM in Castleblayney. He was also found guilty of possessing €125,930 and €298,000 in cash at Tullypole, Co Meath, intending to facilitate a criminal organisation. Ms Justice Tara Burns stated that circumstantial evidence led to the inevitable conclusion that O'Callaghan was intimately involved in the gang's joint enterprise. He has been remanded in custody for a sentencing hearing scheduled for March 4. In related proceedings, Gerard Duffy and Ciaran Duffy pleaded guilty to various offences, including participating in the movement of cash and attempting to steal an ATM. Stephen Duffy also admitted to possessing cash in association with a criminal organisation. The three brothers are scheduled to be sentenced on March 4. Additionally, Niall Finnegan, who pleaded guilty to possessing €103,000 in proceeds from the thefts, was previously jailed for four-and-a-half years, with the final 18 months suspended.
Michael McGauley, aged 49 and formerly of Highfield, Carrickmacross, has had his prison sentence increased following a successful appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions. McGauley pleaded guilty at Monaghan Circuit Criminal Court to five counts of deception and theft committed between February 2016 and October 2018, defrauding victims of approximately €149,600 in total. He was initially sentenced to three years' imprisonment with sentences running concurrently. The Court of Appeal, presiding over the case on 7 February 2022, found the original sentence unduly lenient and quashed it. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, sitting with Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy and Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh, increased the sentence to five years' imprisonment, with sentences to run consecutively. The court noted the manner in which offences were perpetrated caused particular harm to victims. McGauley was ordered to surrender himself to prison authorities on 16 February 2022.
The Special Criminal Court adjourned the sentencing of three brothers, Gerard, Ciaran, and Stephen Duffy, to March 4, remanding them in custody. The defendants, part of a cross-Border gang alleged to have stolen nearly €800,000 from ATMs in Cavan, Meath, and Monaghan between 2018 and 2019, appeared before a three-judge panel. Gerard Duffy pleaded guilty to the attempted theft of an ATM at the Riverfront Bar & Restaurant in Virginia, Co Cavan, in August 2019, contrary to Section 73 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. Ciaran Duffy pleaded guilty to three offences, including participating in criminal activities in a Toyota Avensis at Tullypole, Moynalty, attempting to steal the Virginia ATM, and possessing cash to facilitate a criminal offence. Stephen Duffy pleaded guilty to possessing cash at The Yard, Tullypole, in association with a criminal organisation. Prosecution evidence detailed the gang's use of stolen diggers and vehicles to rip ATMs from walls, culminating in a failed attempt in Virginia where gardaí rammed a stolen vehicle. Cash totaling over €103,000 was recovered from a vehicle and a lawnmower. Defence counsel highlighted the defendants' remorse, employment histories, and character references. In a related matter, Niall Finnegan was previously sentenced to four-and-a-half years, with the final 18 months suspended, for possessing or handling €103,000 linked to the gang's activities.
A 31-year-old man from County Armagh has pleaded not guilty to charges relating to a series of ATM thefts across the Border region. The accused faced the Special Criminal Court on allegations of involvement in the attempted theft of an ATM at the Riverfront Hotel in Virginia, County Cavan, in August 2019, and the theft and criminal damage of an ATM in Castleblayney, County Monaghan, in April 2019. Both alleged offences are said to have been committed for the benefit of a criminal organisation. The prosecution concluded its case, presenting evidence including DNA findings and CCTV footage of thefts at multiple locations in Cavan and Monaghan. Defence counsel indicated an intention to apply for the charges to be dismissed when proceedings resume. The trial continues before three judges at the Special Criminal Court.
The Special Criminal Court is hearing the trial of Daniel O'Callaghan, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges. He is accused of the attempted theft of an ATM at the Riverfront Hotel in Virginia, Co Cavan, on August 14, 2019, allegedly for the benefit of a criminal organisation. O'Callaghan faces multiple other allegations, including possessing a stolen Toyota Landcruiser, a stolen 14-tonne digger, and bolt-cutters with intent to steal, as well as possessing large sums of cash to facilitate serious offences. Co-accused Ciaran Duffy, who pleaded guilty to three offences connected to the same investigation, was found hiding in a hotel toilet after fleeing from gardaí. Detective Superintendent James O'Leary testified that the incident was part of an intelligence-led investigation into organised ATM thefts. The court heard that O'Callaghan is the fifth male to appear in relation to this case. The trial continues before Justice Tara Burns, sitting with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Michael Walsh.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Ethan Zeitman and Levani Shavgulidze to two years' imprisonment each after both pleaded guilty to charges related to an immigration fraud organisation. Zeitman, 46, admitted to money laundering, possession of fraudulent documentation, and organising or facilitating the entry of illegal immigrants or asylum seekers between 2017 and 2019. Shavgulidze, 24, pleaded guilty to stealing €5,950 in pandemic unemployment payments, money laundering, possession of fraudulent documentation, and facilitating illegal entry between 2018 and 2020. Judge Martin Nolan described the men as "gofers" at the bottom of a hierarchy that caused a surge in Georgian nationals arriving in Ireland. The judge noted Zeitman's involvement ended over a year before his arrest when he became drug-free, while Shavgulidze had no previous convictions. Both men have been in custody since late 2020. The court heard the investigation began in 2018 following international referrals, with the accused distributing false documents via post or courier. Defence counsel highlighted Zeitman's addiction-driven involvement and Shavgulidze's lack of profit, but the judge imposed the two-year sentences, considering their foreign national status and roles in the organisation.
A former All-Ireland club football champion has pleaded not guilty to 17 charges arising from a series of ATM thefts across the Meath and Cavan region. Daniel O'Callaghan (31), with an address in Co Armagh, denies involvement in the alleged criminal enterprise. His trial began at the Special Criminal Court, a three-judge non-jury forum. The prosecution alleges that Mr O'Callaghan was part of a gang that stole ATMs using consistent methods between December 2018 and August 2019. A planned theft at Virginia in Co Cavan was disrupted by gardaí on 14 August 2019. The prosecution claims gardaí observed Mr O'Callaghan emerge from a stolen vehicle near the Riverfront Bar and flee into a field. Charges include the attempted theft at Virginia, possession of stolen vehicles and equipment, and handling cash totalling over €400,000 recovered at a premises in Co Meath. Mr O'Callaghan also faces allegations of facilitating criminal organisation activity. The trial continues before Justice Tara Burns, Judge Sarah Berkeley, and Judge Michael Walsh.
Two brothers from Monaghan have entered guilty pleas at the Special Criminal Court in relation to a cross-border gang investigation involving ATM thefts. Gerard Duffy, aged 30, admitted to the attempted theft of an ATM at the Riverfront Hotel in Virginia, Co Cavan, on 14 August 2019. His brother Ciaran Duffy, aged 27, pleaded guilty to three offences, including participating in criminal activities in Co Meath and attempting to steal the same ATM. Their elder brother Stephen Duffy, aged 35, previously admitted possessing cash at Tullypole, Co Meath, in August 2019. The pleas relate to a garda investigation into ATM thefts across Cavan and Monaghan between September 2018 and August 2019. A fourth man, Niall Finnegan, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years, with 18 months suspended, for possessing €103,000 in proceeds. Sentencing hearings for both Gerard and Ciaran Duffy have been scheduled for 1 February. Both remain on bail.
A 27-year-old man from Castleblayney, County Monaghan has pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to three offences arising from his involvement with a cross-border criminal organisation in 2019. Ciaran Duffy admitted attempting to steal an ATM and its contents from a restaurant on Main Street, Virginia, County Cavan on 14 August 2019. He also pleaded guilty to participating in the movement of cash on behalf of the criminal organisation at Tullypole, Moynalty, County Meath on 20 August 2019, and to contributing to the possession of cash at the same location on 14 August with intent to facilitate further offences. The three-judge, non-jury court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, scheduled sentencing for 1 February 2022. Duffy remains on bail pending sentence.
A delivery driver has been jailed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his conviction for a violent assault on another van driver. Aiman Khalel, aged 40, of Rathmines, Dublin, was found guilty after trial of assault causing harm and production of a wheel lock during an incident on Clanbrassil Street Upper on 12 September 2018. The assault arose from a dispute over overtaking between the two drivers. Khalel struck the victim three times around the head and hand with a steering wheel lock he had removed from the victim's vehicle. The victim, who was hospitalised for approximately four days and subsequently required multiple surgeries, was bleeding from head and chin wounds. Judge Sarah Berkeley described the broad daylight attack as "shocking and vicious" and noted the victim's ongoing medical needs. Khalel, who has lived in Ireland for 17 years and has no previous convictions for violence, received a three-year custodial sentence with the final year suspended, conditional on engagement with the Probation Service. Aiman Khalel pleaded not guilty.
A Monaghan man has pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing stolen cash linked to coordinated ATM thefts by a cross-border criminal organisation. Stephen Duffy, aged 35, of Tullynahinera, Castleblayney, admitted to possessing cash at Tullypole, Co Meath, on 20 August 2019. He faces charges under Section 73 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 relating to possession of proceeds for the benefit of a criminal organisation. The case concerns investigations into the theft of an ATM in Castleblayney in April 2019 and an attempted theft in Virginia, Co Cavan, in August 2019. Duffy was remanded on continuing bail until 14 January. He is the second man to admit involvement in the thefts. Last month, Niall Finnegan received a sentence of four-and-a-half years, with eighteen months suspended, for possessing €103,000 from the same operation. Detective evidence indicated the gang stole approximately €790,000 across six incidents in the Cavan and Monaghan region using excavators.
At the appeal stage, Niall Finnegan (39) of Cherry Grove, Cullyhanna, Co Armagh, who was previously convicted of committing the offence under Section 73 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, which states that a person 'commits a serious offence for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with, a criminal organisation', has had his sentence reviewed. Finnegan had pleaded guilty to possessing or handling €103,930 at The Yard, Tullypole, Moynalty, Co Meath, following an ATM theft on 20 August 2019. The non-jury court had previously jailed Finnegan for four-and-a-half years, suspending the final 18 months for three years for possessing the cash, which was the proceeds of ATM thefts carried out by a criminal organisation. The judge then gave Finnegan the full 25% discount for his guilty plea, resulting in a four-and-a-half year sentence, and suspended the final 18 months of the sentence for three years. Finnegan's barrister had requested a postponement of the activation of the sentence until after Christmas so that Finnegan could spend the holiday season with his three children, but this was denied by Mr Justice Tony Hunt. The matter was adjourned.
A man's appeal against a three-year-three-month prison sentence for assaulting two businessmen near Ballyconnell, County Cavan, has been dismissed by the Court of Appeal. James Bernard McGovern, aged 24, had pleaded guilty in March to a Section 3 assault against Kevin Lunney, whom he repeatedly punched at an Apple Green Service Station in February 2019. He also admitted a Section 2 assault against Dara O'Reilly after throwing boiling water at him in the station's dining area. Mr Justice George Birmingham, President of the Court of Appeal, rejected McGovern's claim that the sentence was excessive, describing the attack as displaying "ferocity and savagery". The judge noted that McGovern, an accomplished boxer, had inflicted a broken nose and eye damage on Mr Lunney, and remarked that in other jurisdictions such injuries caused by a trained fighter's fists would be considered caused by lethal weapons. Mr Justice Birmingham found the offending constituted an act of revenge following the appellant's father's loss of employment at Quinn Industrial Holdings, and was a very serious matter warranting the custodial term imposed.
A serial fraudster from Carrickmacross is the subject of an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions against the leniency of his sentence. Michael McGauley pleaded guilty in October 2020 at Monaghan Circuit Criminal Court to five counts of deception and theft committed between February 2016 and October 2018, obtaining approximately €149,600 from his victims. He was sentenced to three years and nine months imprisonment on each count, with sentences ordered to run concurrently and the final nine months suspended on condition of probation supervision and abstinence from gambling and alcohol. The DPP contends the sentence was unduly lenient, arguing that consecutive rather than concurrent sentences should have been imposed. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of Appeal, Ms Justice Una Ní Raifeartaigh noted the deliberate emotional manipulation involved in the offences, questioning the connection between McGauley's gambling addiction and his deceptive conduct toward victims. The case was adjourned pending the court's determination on the appeal.
A man has been convicted at the Special Criminal Court of handling nearly €104,000 in proceeds from an organised ATM theft gang that stole approximately €790,000 across the Border region. Niall Finnegan, aged 39, was arrested at Tullypole, County Meath, with the cash in his possession. The court heard that between 2019 and the time of arrests two years later, the gang used excavators to forcibly remove ATMs from locations in Cavan and Monaghan, causing significant criminal damage during six raids and attempted raids. In one August 2019 operation on Virginia's Main Street, gardaí witnessed a stolen digger in convoy with a stolen Land Cruiser before intervening. A subsequent search of a Virginia site yielded €298,000. Finnegan admitted possessing the money knowing or believing it was criminal proceeds. The presiding judge stated the accused faced a custodial sentence, describing the thefts as highly organised. Sentencing was adjourned pending background reports.
At the Central Criminal Court, a 21-year-old man has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment for the manslaughter of a pensioner in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, in March 2016. Aaron McDonagh pleaded guilty to killing 61-year-old Gerry Marron by setting fire to his home at St Macartan's Villas. He also admitted arson. McDonagh was 16 at the time of the offence. Justice Michael White noted that Mr Marron, who lived alone and was vulnerable due to previous injury, had been exploited by youths using his house for unsupervised drinking. The fire was started deliberately near the front door. Mr Marron died of smoke inhalation and could not be rescued. The judge imposed a headline sentence of twelve years but reduced it to nine years, with one year suspended, considering McDonagh's guilty plea, age, and mild to moderate learning disability. The sentence was backdated to March 2019. McDonagh entered a bond to engage with support services upon release.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Luke O'Reilly, Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond, and Cyril McGuinness continued before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh. All four accused have pleaded not guilty to the alleged false imprisonment and intentional causing of serious harm to businessman Kevin Lunney at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan, on September 17, 2019. The court heard evidence from Detective Garda Sean O'Brien regarding interviews with Mr O'Reilly, who was arrested in November 2019. Mr O'Reilly stated he did not recognise a Renault Kangoo van allegedly used by the other accused and claimed he had no knowledge that Mr Lunney was held in a trailer on his land. He described Mr McGuinness, whom he knew as "Dublin Jimmy," as "not a good yoke" and "like a big crazy bastard," adding that he was "actually shocked" to learn of the incident. Mr O'Reilly testified that his only contact with Mr McGuinness around the time of the alleged abduction was to discuss a vehicle import. The prosecution alleges Mr Lunney was threatened, assaulted, and forced to resign from Quinn Industrial Holdings. The trial is ongoing, with the matter not yet finalised.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence regarding a Renault Kangoo van allegedly used in the abduction of businessman Kevin Lunney. Witness James Maguire testified that he purchased the vehicle for €400 from a man known as "David" on October 23, 2019, before it was seized by gardai. Prosecution counsel Sean Guerin SC stated that forensic examiners found blood with DNA matching Mr. Lunney on a van door and DNA matching one accused on the driver's seat. The court also heard from police analysts who compared CCTV footage of the van's movements on September 17, 2019, with mobile phone data attributed to two of the accused. Mr. Lunney testified that he was bundled into a car boot, taken to a container where he was threatened to resign from Quinn Industrial Holdings, and subjected to severe physical abuse, including having his leg broken and letters cut into his chest. He was later left on a country road in Co Cavan. Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond, and Luke O'Reilly, along with a 40-year-old man identified as YZ, have all pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm to Mr. Lunney at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan on September 17, 2019. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Gerard Griffin, and Judge David McHugh.
The Special Criminal Court heard that gardaí employed an "extremely impressive" identification procedure when examining CCTV footage related to the abduction and assault of businessman Kevin Lunney in County Cavan on 17 September 2019. Inspector Stephen Mullen outlined the controlled process whereby officers with potential knowledge of persons in the footage were segregated, shown material without context, and recorded independently. Three men pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm: a 40-year-old man identified as YZ, Alan O'Brien (40) of East Wall, Dublin, and Darren Redmond (27), also of East Wall. Luke O'Reilly (67) from Mullahoran Lower, Kilcogy, County Cavan, similarly entered not guilty pleas. Gardaí testified to identifying the accused at various locations including Dublin apartments and service stations. Physical evidence, including bleach bottles recovered from Mr O'Reilly's property and a recently positioned trailer at Drumbrade, was also presented. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh.
A man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and arson following the death of a 61-year-old pensioner in a house fire in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan in March 2016. Aaron McDonagh, aged 21, of no fixed abode, admitted to killing Gerry Marron by setting fire to his home at St Macartans Villas and to damaging the property by fire whilst reckless as to whether life would be endangered. At sentencing in the Central Criminal Court, victim impact statements detailed Mr Marron's vulnerability following an acquired brain injury. His brother described standing helplessly outside the burning house and the family's distress at being unable to identify the body due to severe charring, requiring DNA confirmation instead. The sister recounted the horrendous condition of the remains within the home. Mr Marron's case was being heard following a full garda investigation into the fire.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond, Luke O'Reilly, and a 40-year-old man known as YZ continued, with the defence challenging the admissibility of CCTV evidence. The four accused, who have all pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm against Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney, are facing allegations that they abducted and assaulted him in September 2019. During proceedings, dozens of witnesses from Cavan, Monaghan, Westmeath, and Dublin testified that they provided CCTV footage to gardai upon request, often without questioning the legal basis. Some stated they were unaware of the Data Protection Act, while others noted they were given copies of section 41b, which permits seizure if necessary and proportionate. Northern Irish police officers also testified regarding their data protection training, confirming that service instructions were issued in 2018 following the Act's introduction. Mr Lunney previously testified that he was forced into a car, taken to a container where he was threatened to resign, and subjected to severe physical abuse, including being cut, doused in bleach, and having his leg broken. He was later found injured on a country road. The trial is presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, and continues.
Two men have received fully suspended sentences at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assisting another man's escape from gardaí. Derek Mitchell, aged 27, and Patrick Macken, aged 34, pleaded guilty to impeding the apprehension or prosecution of an offender on Rosemount Avenue, Artane, Dublin, on March 13, 2015. During a garda operation, the men failed to stop a van in which a third man was attempting to evade arrest. Items recovered from the vehicle included an imitation firearm and cable ties. The third man was subsequently convicted and received a four-year prison sentence in 2017. Judge Melanie Greally noted that considerable time had elapsed since the incident and both defendants had distanced themselves from negative associations. She sentenced each man to twelve months imprisonment, fully suspended, placing the offence in the mid-range of seriousness due to its connection with a more serious underlying criminal enterprise.
A Dublin woman charged with dangerous driving following an alleged chase involving Garda vehicles on the M50 motorway has launched a second High Court judicial review action challenging bail conditions imposed by the District Court. Gemma Greene, aged 24, of Coolock, Dublin, contests conditions including a curfew, requirement to sign on daily with gardaí, and a prohibition on driving mechanically propelled vehicles. She argues the District Court lacked jurisdiction to impose or vary these conditions and claims they breach her presumption of innocence. Ms Greene's legal representatives submitted she had previously complied with initial bail requirements and that gardaí did not seek the driving prohibition. Ms Justice Niamh Hyland granted permission to bring the action on Friday and placed a stay on the contested bail conditions, subject to Ms Greene remaining in the jurisdiction. The Director of Public Prosecutions neither opposed nor consented to the application. This represents Ms Greene's second such action; a separate judicial review concerning earlier bail conditions is also ongoing. Both matters will return before the High Court in June.
Two directors of a real estate company have been imprisoned at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following guilty pleas to defrauding clients. Sean Boylan, aged 72, of Cootehill, County Cavan, and Colin Horan, aged 38, of Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin, were convicted of carrying on the business of a company with intent to defraud creditors between June 2012 and July 2015. The company operated by selling properties in Bulgaria and Turkey to Irish clients, but failed to remit sale proceeds. Of fourteen victims, all but one had their properties sold without receiving payment. Boylan received a three-year sentence with the final six months suspended, while Horan received two years and eight months with the final six months suspended. The court heard that approximately €670,000 remained owed to victims, with Horan having reimbursed over €100,000. Judge Elma Sheahan described the accounting practices as chaotic and haphazard, noting the offending had caused lasting harm to complainants beyond monetary loss.
Peter Loughran, 36, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for rape and oral rape committed at a Dublin address on January 5, 2018. Loughran pleaded guilty to the charges, which involved an assault on a woman he met via Tinder. Justice Paul McDermott sentenced Loughran to nine years imprisonment, but suspended the final 18 months on strict conditions. These conditions require him to refrain from using any online dating apps and to not contact the victim or her family in any way. The court noted that Loughran had expressed genuine regret and remorse, and was assessed as a low to moderate risk of sexual reoffending. Aggravating factors included the offences being committed in the victim's home by a trusted guest, the degrading manner of the assault, and the fact that Loughran recorded part of the attack. The victim, who suffered physical injuries and a new genital herpes infection, stated in her impact statement that the incident drastically changed her future. Loughran, originally from Co Monaghan, has four previous convictions for unrelated offences including possession of drugs and drink driving. He had previously denied the offences to gardaí, claiming the contact was consensual, but later apologized in a letter read by his counsel.
Three men appeared before the Special Criminal Court at an out-of-hours sitting charged in connection with the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in Dublin in February 2016. Patrick Dowdall, Paul Murphy, and Jason Bonney, all from the Dublin area, faced charges under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act relating to alleged participation in activity intended to facilitate a serious offence by a criminal organisation. Dowdall is accused of making a room available at the hotel, whilst Murphy and Bonney are alleged to have provided access to motor vehicles. Gardaí objected to bail for Bonney, indicating he was part of a well-organised crime gang, citing strong evidence including CCTV tracking and mobile phone data. The court granted Bonney bail pending further financial inquiries. Murphy and Dowdall were remanded in custody with bail applications to follow.
The High Court has ordered the release of a Co Monaghan businessman from Mountjoy Prison after he completed 115 days in custody for contempt of court. Mr Justice Senan Allen ruled that the continued imprisonment of Fergal Deery was no longer necessary to vindicate the court's authority, though he characterised the defendant as "very stubborn" for refusing to purge his contempt during incarceration. Mr Deery had been jailed in December 2020 for breaching orders made in 2015 restraining him from trespassing on two properties in Monaghan Town, a bar and nightclub formerly controlled by his family. Wardglade Limited, which acquired the premises from a receiver, brought the fresh proceedings alleging multiple breaches and a campaign of intimidation against company associates. The judge found evidence that Mr Deery had entered the properties in December 2019 with others. Mr Justice Allen stated that if Mr Deery maintained distance from the premises and ceased interference with Wardglade's directors, his imprisonment was unnecessary. The court awarded Wardglade its legal costs against the defendant.
A man has pleaded guilty to rape and oral rape following a violent assault on a woman at her Dublin home in January 2018. Peter Loughran, aged 36, of Glasnevin Downs, Ballygall, Dublin, met the victim through the dating application Tinder before arriving at her apartment. During the attack, Loughran assaulted the woman, filmed her without consent, and subjected her to sustained sexual violence. The victim, who feared the incident would continue indefinitely, eventually escaped by feigning illness and summoning gardaí. Medical examination confirmed injuries to multiple areas of her body. Loughran initially denied the allegations to gardaí, claiming the contact was consensual. The Central Criminal Court has adjourned sentencing to April 30th, when victim impact evidence and mitigation will be heard. Loughran has four previous convictions including drugs possession, drink-driving, and public order offences.
A 21-year-old man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court for the death of a 61-year-old Monaghan man whose house was deliberately set alight in Carrickmacross in March 2016. Aaron McDonagh, of no fixed abode, initially faced a murder charge but entered a guilty plea to manslaughter and arson without lawful excuse. The prosecution counsel confirmed the Director of Public Prosecutions accepted the plea on a full facts basis. The court heard the accused was 16 years old at the time of the incident. A psychiatric assessment led to arrangements for support during his court appearance. Mr Justice Michael White ordered preparation of a probation service report examining the accused's family background and directed a victim impact statement be prepared. McDonagh was remanded in custody pending a sentence hearing scheduled for June 14. The unnamed 21-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A Monaghan businessman has informed the High Court he will not comply with orders to stay away from two properties in the county and is prepared to remain in custody at Mountjoy Prison. Fergal Deery, of Drumhillock, has spent nearly nine weeks in prison following his committal in early December by Mr Justice Senan Allen for contempt of court orders originally made in 2015. The orders, secured by Wardglade Limited which acquired the premises, then operating as a bar and nightclub, restrain Mr Deery from trespassing on or interfering with the properties located in Monaghan Town. Mr Deery, who denies breaching the orders, has disputed the sale as fraudulent and claims unlawful eviction from the premises in 2013. At a High Court review on Tuesday, Mr Deery appeared via video link from prison and reiterated his refusal to purge his contempt. Mr Justice Allen noted that Mr Deery could secure his release at any time by agreeing to comply with the court orders, but stated he must remain imprisoned until willing to do so.
Kevin Harty, a former national swimmer and lifeguard, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possession of child pornography. The defendant pleaded guilty to possessing 1,299 video files involving children aged between one and 15 years old at his address in Ballinteer, Dublin, on September 7, 2018. Judge Elma Sheahan described the offence as serious, noting that children were cruelly exploited, though the volume of files was not at the highest level. Harty, who has no previous convictions, has been engaging with therapeutic services since November 2018. Citing concrete evidence that rehabilitation is underway, the Judge sentenced Harty to two years imprisonment but suspended the entirety of the sentence on strict conditions. These conditions require him to continue engaging with therapeutic services. The court heard that Harty was arrested at his workplace after an investigation involving UK authorities identified his laptop as the source of the downloads. Prosecutors noted that while most files were category two, one depicting a baby was category one. Defence counsel highlighted Harty's cooperation, his admission of possession without distribution, and his personal difficulties following the end of a long relationship. Harty has lost his job since his arrest.
A businessman from Monaghan remains in custody at Mountjoy Prison after declining to purge contempt of court. Fergal Deery has spent nearly eight weeks in prison since early December following a High Court finding that he breached orders made in March 2020. The orders, originally issued in 2015, required him to stay away from two properties in Monaghan Town formerly operated as a bar and nightclub. The properties were acquired by Wardglade Limited from a receiver in 2015. Wardglade brought fresh proceedings last year alleging multiple breaches, including unauthorised entry to the premises and a campaign of intimidation against company figures. At a High Court review on Tuesday, Mr Deery, appearing via video-link, denied breaching the orders and refused to give undertakings to comply. Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds adjourned the matter to early February. Mr Deery denies the allegations and has claimed the original property sale was fraudulent.
At the Special Criminal Court, books of evidence were served on five men accused of ATM thefts and related offences in Cavan and Monaghan. The accused are Daniel O'Callaghan, Ciaran Duffy, Gerard Duffy, Niall Finnegan, and Stephen Duffy. O'Callaghan, a former Crossmaglen footballer, is charged with the attempted theft of an ATM at the Riverfront Hotel in Virginia, Co Cavan, on August 14, 2019, allegedly for the benefit of a criminal organisation. He also faces charges of theft and criminal damage involving an ATM in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, in April 2019. Additionally, he is accused of possessing €298,000, a petrol can, a stolen Toyota Landcruiser, a stolen 14-tonne digger, bolt-cutters, and a stolen flatbed trailer. Ciaran and Gerard Duffy are charged with participating in the movement and possession of cash to facilitate a criminal organisation, as well as the attempted ATM thefts in Virginia and Castleblayney. They are also accused of possessing the stolen digger, trailer, Landcruiser, bolt-cutters, and petrol can, and handling sums of €280,900, €103,930, and €22,000. Niall Finnegan and Stephen Duffy are accused of participating in the movement of and handling €103,930. All charges are alleged or contested. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Michael Walsh, remanded all five men on continuing bail until February 1, when their cases are listed for mention again.
A businessman must remain in Mountjoy Prison after a High Court judge found him in contempt of court orders relating to two properties in County Monaghan. Fergal Deery of Drumhillock was committed to prison this week following his arrest by Gardaí. The High Court had issued orders in 2015 restraining him from trespassing on premises in Monaghan Town, formerly operated as a bar and nightclub, which were acquired by Wardglade Limited from a receiver. Mr Justice Allen heard evidence on Thursday that Mr Deery had breached those orders on multiple occasions in 2019. Mr Deery denied the allegations and disputed CCTV evidence placing him at the properties. The judge ruled he should remain imprisoned unless he purges his contempt or obtains legal advice to challenge the March finding against him. Wardglade's counsel confirmed his client sought compliance with court orders rather than Mr Deery's continued incarceration.
A Monaghan businessman has been remanded in custody to Mountjoy Prison by the High Court following his arrest by gardaí on allegations of repeatedly breaching court orders relating to two properties in Monaghan Town. Fergal Deery of Drumhillock was brought before Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds on Wednesday evening and is accused of trespassing on and interfering with premises formerly used as a bar and nightclub, contrary to High Court orders issued in 2015. The application was brought by Wardglade Limited, which acquired the properties from a receiver in 2015. The company alleges Mr Deery breached the orders on multiple occasions in 2019 and engaged in a campaign of intimidation against associated parties. Mr Deery, who appeared unrepresented, indicated his wish to purge his contempt. Ms Justice Reynolds remanded him in custody and ordered the matter returnable before Mr Justice Senan Allen on Thursday, noting that a punitive sentence for contempt may be imposed given Mr Deery's previous breaches and prior incarceration in 2018 for similar violations.
A High Court challenge brought by Coolberrin Wind Farm Ltd against An Bord Pleanála's refusal of planning permission for a grid connector in County Monaghan has been admitted to the Strategic Infrastructure Development and Commercial Planning list. The subsidiary of Energia Group sought to link a proposed seven-turbine wind farm to the national power network. Monaghan County Council granted permission for the connector, but An Bord Pleanála refused it following an appeal by An Taisce, citing insufficient environmental information regarding impacts on Curlew and Hen Harrier populations. The developer contends the connector is essential to the project's viability. Coolberrin seeks to quash the board's decision and obtain declarations that it erred in law and applied incorrect legal tests. An Taisce and Monaghan County Council are notice parties. Mr Justice Richard Humphreys granted permission for the action to proceed and adjourned the matter to December.
Five men, including a former All-Ireland club footballer, have been charged with a combined 38 new offences at the Special Criminal Court relating to alleged ATM thefts across Cavan and Monaghan. Daniel O'Callaghan, aged 30, a former Crossmaglen player, faces charges concerning an attempted ATM theft in Virginia in August 2019 and a criminal damage and theft matter in Castleblayney in April 2019, both allegedly connected to organised crime. He is also charged with possession of cash and stolen vehicles, including a digger and flatbed trailer. Three brothers—Ciaran Duffy, aged 26, Gerard Duffy, aged 29, and Stephen Duffy, aged 34—alongside Niall Finnegan, aged 38, have been charged with related offences including handling money, possession of stolen property, and facilitating organised crime. All five accused have been released on bail pending further proceedings.
A man convicted of rape and sexual assault has had his sentence reduced by eighteen months following a Court of Appeal finding that the trial judge may have imposed a longer sentence than warranted due to comments about remission. The Court of Appeal quashed the twelve-year sentence imposed on Richard Moloney and re-sentenced him to ten-and-a-half years imprisonment. The appeal court found that remarks by the sentencing judge at Dublin's Central Criminal Court in November 2019 suggested he was taking potential early release into account when determining the headline sentence, which departed from standard sentencing practice. Moloney was convicted in July 2019 of rape, oral rape, and sexual assault against his foster daughter in July 2016. He was acquitted of a further charge of anal rape. The court rejected Moloney's appeal against conviction, finding no error in the trial judge's jury instructions.
A 25-year-old student has received a fully suspended 12-month sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for money laundering. Jonathan Angbalu pleaded guilty to facilitating the lodgement of a stolen and altered €9,000 cheque into his bank account between March 2016. Gardaí established that the cheque, originally issued by market research firm Millward Brown, was intercepted and modified before being deposited in Angbalu's account at Permanent TSB on St Stephen's Green. The account was subsequently frozen, and €6,094.50 was recovered. The court heard that Angbalu was approached by three men who promised him €2,000 to use his account for lodging and withdrawing funds. He was instructed not to display nervousness during withdrawals. Angbalu later realised the arrangement was fraudulent. He never received payment and withdrew only €700 before providing it to the men. Judge Pauline Codd imposed the sentence on strict conditions, noting his youth and lack of previous convictions. Angbalu brought €1,350 to court as an expression of remorse.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard the case of Dubliner Stuart McManus, 44, who pleaded guilty to making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to a woman at her home on Ferguson Road, Drumcondra. The incident occurred on Hallowe'en night after McManus was taunted by children throwing fireworks at his residence. He allegedly confronted the victim, holding a travel cup he claimed contained boiling water and sugar, and threatened to throw it at her or her son. McManus admitted frightening the victim but stated he was provoked by the anti-social behaviour. In a victim impact statement, the woman expressed no animosity towards McManus, praising his situation and stating she did not wish for him to be punished. Judge Karen O'Connor acknowledged the victim's "kind and generous spirit." Defence counsel Karl Monaghan BL highlighted McManus's background, including childhood exposure to domestic violence, his status as a recovering drug addict, and his living situation with his mother. The court accepted that McManus was a target for local anti-social behaviour. Judge O'Connor placed McManus on a 12-month probation order, requiring him to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for that period. The matter was finalised with this sentencing decision.
The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on an appeal by Richard Moloney, a 42-year-old man from Roscrea, Co Tipperary, who seeks to have his convictions for rape and two other sexual offences declared unsound. Moloney was found guilty by a jury in July 2019 of raping his then 16-year-old foster daughter, Ciara Monaghan, at their home in 2016. He was acquitted of a fourth count of alleged anal rape. In November of the previous year, the Central Criminal Court sentenced Moloney to 12 years in jail. His legal team argued that the trial judge's jury directions created a risk that jurors felt obliged to choose between competing versions of evidence, ignoring the possibility of a third outcome. They also appealed the severity of the sentence, claiming the headline 14-year term was excessive given the single-incident nature of the offences. The Director of Public Prosecutions opposed the appeal, noting the jury's ability to distinguish evidence by acquitting one count while convicting on others. Counsel for the DPP also opposed any sentence reduction, highlighting the "explosively destroyed" trust in the foster relationship. Ms Monaghan, who waived her anonymity, stated in a victim impact statement that she had made multiple suicide attempts since the incident. The appeal was heard by Mr Justice George Birmingham, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, and Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh, who reserved their judgment.
A man with three All Ireland Club Championship medals with Crossmaglen Rangers has been granted bail by the Special Criminal Court on charges relating to ATM thefts in the border region. Daniel O'Callaghan, aged 30, faces five offences including the theft of an ATM in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, in April 2019 and the attempted theft of an ATM at The Riverfront Hotel in Virginia, Co Cavan, in August 2019. He is also charged with offences under the Criminal Justice Act alleging involvement with a criminal organisation. Bail was set at €1,000 cash and independent sureties totalling €40,000. Mr O'Callaghan must reside in Castleblayney, surrender his passport, sign on daily at the local garda station, observe a nightly curfew, and comply with restrictions on travel and association. He has been remanded in custody with consent to bail until November 2. Three other men have previously been granted bail in connection with the same investigations.