A man with previous convictions for manslaughter has been imprisoned after carrying out armed raids whilst serving a suspended sentence. Mark Bissett, aged 33, of Swords Road, Dublin 9, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to threatening to burn down the house of a charity worker in May 2016. The threat was made at Central Bank Plaza, Dame Street, during a soup run for homeless people in Dublin city centre. Judge Karen O'Connor had suspended a two-year sentence for this offence in June 2017, cautioning Bissett that he faced imprisonment if he reoffended. Within four months, Bissett carried out armed robberies on two shops in Ranelagh. On 15 October 2017 he wielded a knife during one raid, and on 26 October he used a fork during a pharmacy robbery. Judge O'Connor activated the suspended sentence, imposing the full two-year term. Bissett has sixty previous convictions including manslaughter, assault and public order offences.
A 26-year-old man from Walkinstown, Dublin has been sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for stabbing another man in the neck during a prearranged fight. Mohammed Adan Ali pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm at Mountjoy Square on 22 June 2017. The court heard that Ali contacted the injured party, a Somalian acquaintance, demanding money and subsequently arranged to meet him for a fight. During the confrontation, Ali produced a knife from his jeans and inflicted a neck wound on the victim. Judge Melanie Greally noted it was fortuitous that the blade did not strike major blood vessels. The injured party required stitches for treatment. In mitigation, the court acknowledged Ali's traumatic background, including witnessing his father's murder in childhood, and his efforts to address alcohol-related issues. However, Judge Greally determined that stabbing someone in the neck warranted a custodial sentence despite Ali's low re-offending risk assessment.
A Dublin man has been sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment following his assault on a garda with a glass bottle. Christopher Reilly (28) pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Garda Daniel Sweeney, causing him harm, on Ratoath Road, Cabra, on 10 November 2015. During the incident, Reilly swung a glass bottle at the garda, causing a serious leg wound that required thirteen stitches and resulted in permanent sensory loss. The victim, in a statement read to the court, described losing considerable blood and being unable to walk for a month following the attack. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a three and a half year sentence with the final twelve months suspended, noting the assault fell within the upper range of seriousness. She ordered Reilly to complete any violent offender programme directed by the Probation Service and to address his drug use. Reilly has sixty-seven previous convictions.
A man has entered guilty pleas to a series of shop robberies at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, having been driven to multiple crime scenes by a taxi driver unaware of his passenger's intentions. Dean Gray, aged 30 and of Buttercup Drive, Darndale, Dublin, pleaded guilty to robbery and knife production at XL Flintstones in Baldoyle on 21 May 2017, where he took €350. He also admitted robbing €425 from Petmania at Gulliver's Retail Park using a screwdriver on 17 March 2018, and two robberies from Tan Me salon on New Cabra Road totalling €500 on 12 March and 10 April 2018. Gray further pleaded guilty to robbing €200 from Centz on North Circular Road on 14 March 2018 and an attempted robbery with threats at Spar, Harts Corner, on 10 April 2018. Evidence indicated he made no effort to conceal his identity during any incident. The court heard Gray has 69 previous convictions including 21 robberies, and that his offences were motivated by drug addiction. The case was adjourned to late November for sentencing.
A man has pleaded guilty to assaulting a garda with a glass bottle at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Christopher Reilly, aged 28, of Cabra, Dublin, assaulted Garda Daniel Sweeney on Ratoath Road, Cabra, on 10 November 2015, causing him serious harm. The court heard that during a confrontation, Reilly swung a bottle at the officer, inflicting a leg wound that required 13 stitches. The garda has permanently lost sensation from his calf to his ankle as a result of the injury. Reilly, who has 67 previous convictions, initially disputed the circumstances but subsequently entered a guilty plea. The court was informed that Reilly has begun addressing personal difficulties and secured employment. Judge Melanie Greally remanded him on continuing bail pending sentencing the following week.
Two men have been sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in relation to an attempted robbery at Greendale Pharmacy, Kilbarrack on January 26, 2018. Brendan Raynor (30) of Tulip Court, Darndale and Dean Slattery (28) of Briarfield Grove, Kilbarrack pleaded guilty to the charge. Both men armed themselves with knives and wore balaclavas before entering the shop and demanding Diazepam. The incident was observed by gardaí conducting surveillance in the area. Detective Sergeant Dave Ennis stated that Slattery attempted to flee and was struck with a baton, while Raynor was caught in a nearby field. Emma Smith, a shop worker who was six months pregnant at the time, provided a victim impact statement. Raynor has 103 previous convictions, including possession of knives, robbery, and burglary. He was previously sentenced to seven years with two suspended for an aggravated burglary in 2015. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a five-year sentence on Raynor, suspending the last two years and nine months. Slattery has 87 previous convictions, including robbery, drug offences, car theft, and assault. Dt Sgt Ennis was previously sentenced to four years with two suspended for a 2014 cash in transit van robbery. Judge Greally sentenced Slattery to four and a half years with the final 18 months suspended. Both men were remanded in custody.
Mark Bissett, a 33-year-old defendant with a former address at Loughlinstown Park, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to attempted robbery at Ranelagh Triangle on October 15, 2017, and robbery at Dunville Avenue, Ranelagh, on October 26, 2017. The court heard that Bissett threatened staff with a knife during the first incident and used a fork during the second, from which he took €220. He has 65 previous convictions, including manslaughter, robbery, and assault. Bissett was previously jailed for six years in 2005 for the killing of his uncle, David Sutherland, in Sallynoggin, Dublin, on December 20, 2003. His defense counsel, Karl Monaghan BL, stated that Bissett hoped to begin an addiction rehabilitation programme and a Community Employment scheme. Judge Elma Sheahan adjourned sentencing to November 5 and ordered an updated report from The Probation Service to be prepared. The matter was adjourned and is not yet concluded.
The Charleton tribunal is hearing closing submissions about allegations that former Garda press officer Superintendent David Taylor directed negative briefings against whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe. Lawyers for the Garda commissioner, Martin Callinan, argue that the tribunal should disregard the testimony of four witnesses – journalist Philip Boucher‑Hayes, TDs John McGuinness and John Deasy, and Comptroller and Auditor General Seamus McCarthy – because their accounts conflict and they did not report their alleged conversations with Callinan at the time. Callinan's counsel, Shane Murphy SC, notes inconsistencies in McGuinness's statements about notes from a 2014 meeting and in Deasy's recollection of what was said. Callinan maintains he was asked about McCabe by McCarthy and that he explained the allegations were investigated and no prosecution was directed. Lawyers for McCabe, Michael McDowell SC, contend that McCabe is entitled to vindication as a truthful witness. The tribunal will consider these arguments before Justice Peter Charleton submits his report in October.
During the Charleton tribunal, Sean Gillane SC, representing RTÉ, argued that former Garda press officer Supt David Taylor's claims that journalists were briefed to smear whistleblower Sgt Maurice McCabe were untrustworthy. Gillane cited no evidence linking journalists John Burke, Paul Reynolds, or Philip Boucher‑Hayes to any alleged smear campaign. He highlighted editorial discussions and email records showing that Reynolds' reports on leaked O'Higgins commission findings were produced independently. Gillane also noted that Boucher‑Hayes' alleged encounter with former commissioner Martin Callinan was voluntary and not corroborated by other witnesses. The tribunal heard that ten of twelve journalists named by Taylor denied receiving briefings, while two declined to comment. Taylor's allegations that Callinan directed him to brief journalists were denied by both former commissioners. The tribunal continued its hearing that afternoon.
A 53-year-old man from Castleblayney in County Monaghan has been committed for trial at the Special Criminal Court on a charge of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. James Joseph Cassidy, of Tullycollive, faces allegations relating to September 21st, 2016. The three-judge court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt alongside Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge Michael Walsh, set a trial date of January 28, 2019. Mr Cassidy was remanded on continuing bail pending the commencement of proceedings.
A former solicitor from Maynooth, County Kildare, has been granted bail on appeal at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following approval of a €100,000 independent surety. Michael Lynn, aged 49, faces allegations of stealing approximately €30 million from seven financial institutions. A family member provided the surety, which will remain frozen in her bank account throughout the trial, with the judge cautioning that the funds would be forfeited if bail conditions were breached. Mr Lynn's passports, along with those of his wife and four children, have been surrendered to gardaí. His bail conditions include daily sign-on at Leixlip Garda Station, residence at his Maynooth address, a 9pm to 6am curfew, prohibition from Irish ports and airports, and the requirement to carry a mobile phone accessible to gardaí. He was extradited from Brazil in March 2018, having been taken into custody there in August 2013. The trial is scheduled to commence in January 2020 and is expected to last six to eight weeks.
Fionnan Sheahan, editor of the Irish Independent, has denied telling a former colleague that garda whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe was "a paedophile". Giving evidence to the Charleton tribunal on Friday, Mr Sheahan stated he had only encountered "unfounded allegations and rumours" on the matter and possessed no evidence to present. The tribunal is examining allegations that Superintendent David Taylor was directed to conduct a smear campaign against Sgt McCabe, claims denied by former commissioners Martin Callinan and Nóirín O'Sullivan. Mr Sheahan contended that former Sunday Independent editor Anne Harris was "confused" about an alleged 2014 conversation and suggested she was "headline hunting". Former RTÉ Chief News Editor Ray Burke and Garda Human Resources director John Barrett also gave testimony regarding coverage of the O'Higgins Commission report into policing in the Cavan-Monaghan division. The tribunal resumes next Thursday.
In a hearing before the Charleton tribunal, RTÉ journalist Paul Reynolds denied that he had received any negative briefing or "poison" from sources about whistleblower Sgt Maurice McCabe. Reynolds explained that he had taken notes during conversations in preparation for a 9 May 2016 broadcast on the O'Higgins Commission report, which investigated complaints by McCabe about policing in the Cavan‑Monaghan garda division. The notes referenced a 2006 sexual‑abuse allegation against McCabe that the Director of Public Prosecutions had dismissed the following year, and Reynolds said he never used or broadcast that information. He stated that rumours about McCabe were "around, in the ether," but he did not focus on them once the DPP decision was known. Reynolds also claimed he had not been part of any negative briefing and that his notes were not intended for detailed legal scrutiny.
A man's conviction for threatening to kill a relative whilst brandishing a meat cleaver at University College Hospital Galway has been quashed by the Court of Appeal. Aaron Ward (32), from Tuam, Co Galway, was found guilty following a two-day trial at Galway Circuit Criminal Court and sentenced to six years imprisonment in May 2017. The Court of Appeal overturned the conviction, finding the trial judge failed to properly engage with statutory requirements under Section 16 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 when admitting witness statements. The three complainants had retracted their initial statements to gardaí, citing intoxication and medication at the time they were made. Mr Justice Alan Mahon noted these statements were crucial to the prosecution case and should have been assessed strictly against legal requirements. The judge's rulings made insufficient reference to reliability, prejudice, and oath administration. Ward has been admitted to bail pending further Court of Appeal proceedings next week to determine whether a retrial is appropriate. Aaron Ward pleaded not guilty.
Former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan told the Charleton Tribunal on Friday that he never sought to discredit Sergeant Maurice McCabe. Mr Callinan denied directing press officer Superintendent David Taylor to brief media negatively about the whistleblowing sergeant. He also denied attempting to undermine the Public Accounts Committee following a hotel car park meeting with its chairman after giving evidence on the penalty points controversy. The tribunal is examining allegations that Mr Callinan instructed Superintendent Taylor to damage Sergeant McCabe's reputation. Mr Callinan said he was concerned about a serving garda appearing before the committee and confidential information becoming public. He acknowledged learning of a 2006 allegation against Sergeant McCabe only when the tribunal provided him with the Director of Public Prosecutions' direction not to prosecute, which deemed the matter did not constitute assault. The proceedings continue this afternoon.
In a Charleton tribunal hearing, former Garda press officer Superintendent David Taylor testified that he no longer believes whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe was motivated by revenge when raising concerns about Garda conduct in the Cavan-Monaghan district and abuses of the penalty points system. Taylor said he had been instructed by former Commissioner Martin Callinan to brief the media negatively on McCabe, claiming McCabe sought revenge after a 2007 investigation into alleged sexual abuse by Miss D, which the Director of Public Prosecutions had found no evidence of wrongdoing. Taylor maintained that the negative briefings were not documented in writing but were delivered as off‑the‑record conversations. He admitted that after his suspension from the Garda Service he realised the briefings were wrong, regardless of their truth. Taylor also denied that he had sent text messages to journalists and said he had not created a media narrative to portray himself as unfairly targeted.
The Charleton tribunal was told that no files exist on garda computer systems portraying whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe or former press officer Superintendent David Taylor as targets or suspects. Peter Kirwan, a former detective chief superintendent who worked in the Security and Intelligence Section, conducted searches of garda databases and systems at the tribunal's direction. His report confirmed there were no documents presenting either man in a derogatory light. Files in the intelligence section referenced Sergeant McCabe only in connection with his participation in a drugs operation in Clones in 2002 and a smuggling investigation in 1989. The tribunal also heard that no lawful authorisation for telephone interception was applied for on Sergeant McCabe between January 2009 and November 2016. The inquiry is examining allegations by Superintendent Taylor that he was directed by former garda commissioner Martin Callinan to brief media negatively on Sergeant McCabe, claims Mr Callinan denies. The tribunal continues next week with Superintendent Taylor's evidence.
The Charleton Tribunal heard that forensic examinations of garda computer systems and electronic devices yielded no evidence to support allegations by applicant Superintendent David Taylor that he was instructed to provide negative media briefings regarding Sergeant Maurice McCabe. Forensic Service Northern Ireland scientists examined telephones, an iPad, and a laptop used by Supt Taylor, former Commissioner Martin Callinan, and former Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan between July 2012 and May 2014. While some devices contained deleted data or were wiped in accordance with protocol, no relevant files were found on the examined hardware. Searches of Garda HQ systems, including PULSE and FileShare, identified two potentially relevant files concerning Sgt McCabe, but neither related to negative briefing instructions. One file concerned a Fixed Charge Penalty complaint, and the other involved a Tusla notification of suspected child abuse received in May 2014. The tribunal noted that two privileged systems remained unexamined, with evidence on those scheduled for the following day. Supt Taylor is scheduled to begin his evidence next week. The matter is at the hearing stage, with no final determination or sentence issued.
Haulier Cathal Dempsey, a Co Monaghan resident, is suing A&M Commercials Ltd and A&M Commercial Ireland Ltd in the High Court over seven trucks purchased in 2009 and 2011. Mr Dempsey alleges that the defendants sold him vehicles with mileage records of approximately 500,000km, when expert examination suggests some units had nearly 1 million kilometres. He claims this breach of contract caused frequent breakdowns and business damage. The defendants deny these allegations, stating there was no implied condition regarding mileage or reliability, and that the vehicles were not fraudulently altered or unfit for purpose. The case opened before Mr Justice Donald Binchy, with counsel for Mr Dempsey highlighting significant discrepancies in the trucks' odometer readings. However, the judge adjourned the case for two weeks after evidential difficulties arose. The dispute centered on whether technical evidence regarding the alleged mileage could be presented by Mr Dempsey's expert or if it required testimony from other examiners, with the defendants opposing hearsay evidence. Mr Justice Binchy noted the seriousness of the allegations but was not prepared to dismiss the action, resulting in the matter being adjourned rather than concluded.
A man from Castleblayney has been sentenced to five years in prison following his conviction for rape and assault at the Central Criminal Court. Aurelijus Kizelavicius pleaded guilty to attacking a woman in County Monaghan on 29 March 2015. The court heard that after offering the woman a lift home, Kizelavicius punched her repeatedly in the face before sexually assaulting her. The victim stated in her impact statement that the incident had caused her significant psychological harm, resulting in depression, anxiety, and a loss of confidence. Mr Justice Paul Butler described the offence as falling within the middle category of rape cases. In mitigation, the judge considered the accused's youth and his guilty plea, which the court noted the victim welcomed. A sentence of seven years was imposed, with the final two years suspended on condition of attendance at sex offender programmes designated by the Probation Service upon release.
Two senior politicians gave evidence to the Charleton tribunal regarding allegations that garda leadership circulated damaging rumours about whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe to political figures and media. Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin testified that in February 2014, following discussions about McCabe's dossier concerning malpractice in the Cavan-Monaghan garda district, he was informed by Teachta John McGuinness of a conversation between then-Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan and McGuinness in which McCabe's trustworthiness and character were questioned. Martin stated he proceeded cautiously with the information and focused instead on the substantive complaints McCabe had raised. Former Labour minister Pat Rabbitte gave evidence that a former garda driver warned him against involvement with McCabe, claiming colleagues questioned his character. Rabbitte emphasised the seriousness of such allegations. Legal representatives disputed aspects of both accounts. The tribunal's investigation examines whether senior gardaí deliberately damaged McCabe's reputation among politicians and journalists.
A Cork man has been granted a date to appeal his conviction for membership of an unlawful organisation. Martin McHale, aged 54, was found guilty by the Special Criminal Court in 2017 following an incident in Monaghan in November 2013. He had claimed to gardaí that he travelled to the county for a social occasion and was unaware of fertiliser in the van he was driving. The court rejected his account, finding he had full knowledge of the contents and was a trusted transporter of the material. McHale was sentenced to four-and-a-half years imprisonment in February 2017. His appeal hearing has been scheduled for 19 July and is expected to last approximately half a day. McHale was not present at the Court of Appeal procedural hearing in Dublin.
Garda whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe gave evidence at the Charleton tribunal, describing the 2011 response to his complaints as "a kick in the teeth." Chief Superintendent Colm Rooney, now retired, admitted his 2011 circular letter congratulating Bailieboro station was inappropriate, stating his vindication of the station's standards was not warranted. McCabe testified that he felt forced out of his position as Sergeant in Charge in March 2008 and described a culture in An Garda Síochána that made it "extremely hard to speak out." He noted that his revelations regarding penalty points "really hit hard in the force." The tribunal also examined a 2006 allegation by Miss D against McCabe, where the DPP recommended against prosecution, finding no basis for an assault or sexual assault. McCabe stated he was exonerated and received support from colleagues. He also referenced a 2009 Facebook comment calling a puppet "Maurice the rat," which the O'Higgins commission later described as "vile and offensive." The proceedings are part of a trial-stage inquiry into whether unjustified grounds were used to discredit McCabe, including serious allegations against former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan. The matter remains ongoing as the tribunal continues to hear evidence.
A Carlow publican has received a two-year suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stealing €8,589 from his former employer at The Porterhouse Central on Nassau Street, Dublin. Brian O'Kane, aged 45 and of Royal Oak, Bagenalstown, admitted to taking between €50 and €60 nightly over a seven-month period from January to July 2015 by voiding till transactions and pocketing customer cash. The court heard O'Kane had experienced three family bereavements and a marriage breakdown preceding his offending. He disclosed he stole to fund alcohol consumption during this difficult period. Garda evidence outlined how stock discrepancies led to an investigation identifying O'Kane as responsible. Judge Gerard Griffin imposed the suspended sentence on three years, crediting O'Kane's early guilty plea, demonstrated remorse, and absence of prior convictions. The defendant has since repaid the full amount and begun working in a public house in Carlow.
The Disclosures Tribunal heard closing submissions on its first module of inquiry concerning false allegations of sexual abuse made against garda whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe in 2013. The tribunal investigated how a file containing these allegations was created, distributed and used by the Health Service Executive and An Garda Síochána, and whether senior garda officers knowingly deployed the false claims to discredit Sergeant McCabe. Counsel for the garda commissioner characterised the errors as administrative mistakes rather than deliberate action, noting that garda officers took reasonable steps to correct them once identified. Representatives for Tusla and the HSE acknowledged responsibility for errors in their handling of the allegations and offered apologies to those affected, including Sergeant McCabe and his family. The tribunal heard that the original 2006 complaint against Sergeant McCabe had been thoroughly investigated, with the Director of Public Prosecutions deciding it did not constitute an offence.
A Lithuanian man charged with importing cannabis worth €58,820 through Dublin Airport has received a fully suspended three-year sentence. Egidijus Sniauksta, aged 45, of Wylies Hill, Ballybay, County Monaghan, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the drug seized on 3 February 2016. He had travelled from Alicante in Spain when stopped at customs, where nine vacuum-sealed packages of herbal cannabis were discovered in his luggage. Sniauksta was to receive €1,000 for delivering the drugs to a third party. Judge Terence O'Sullivan noted that while drug mules form part of the drugs trade, Sniauksta was not connected to a criminal organisation and described him as naive. The court considered his significant health difficulties, including frequent falls and loss of consciousness, his previous good work history, early guilty plea, and expressions of remorse. The sentence was suspended in full subject to strict conditions.
A man from Castleblayney, County Monaghan has been sentenced to life imprisonment following his guilty plea to murder at the Central Criminal Court. Anthony Lambe (34) admitted killing a 43-year-old mother of three in her kitchen on Demesne Road, Dundalk on 6 April 2005. The victim's body was discovered by her mother that morning, bearing 34 stab wounds. The investigation lay dormant for years before a television appeal in 2012 prompted an anonymous call from a woman in Australia, who reported that Lambe had confessed to her. Lambe was arrested in January 2017 and subsequently told gardaí he had been paid to carry out the killing by an individual acting on behalf of another party. He was studying for a doctoral degree in history at the time of his arrest. Justice Patrick McCarthy imposed the mandatory life sentence following Lambe's guilty plea.
The Charleton tribunal heard that former Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan did not give instructions to her legal team regarding whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe's dealings with senior officers, because she lacked direct factual knowledge of the matters. The tribunal is examining whether O'Sullivan relied on unjustified grounds to discredit McCabe at the O'Higgins Commission of Investigation, which sat privately in 2015. McCabe had complained about policing matters and serious allegations against senior officers, including then Commissioner Martin Callinan. Michael McNamee BL and two other barristers represented O'Sullivan and senior officers before the Commission. McNamee said he had not read the Byrne‑McGinn report until June 2015 and that he had received a copy of the report and other documents, but never opened or read it. He also said that individual officers could identify themselves from code names used in a later report by barrister Sean Guerin SC, and that they could face allegations at the O'Higgins Commission.
A senior barrister who cross-examined garda whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe at the 2015 O'Higgins Commission of Investigation has told the Charleton tribunal that his conscience remains clear. Colm Smyth SC represented former Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan and senior officers during proceedings into complaints about garda conduct in the Cavan Monaghan division. Under examination by Michael McDowell SC on behalf of Sgt McCabe, Mr Smyth stated he had fulfilled his duty to defend his clients' interests and would act identically if required again. He characterised his questioning of the sergeant as probing rather than assault, and said he had put the case instructed by the former commissioner to test the veracity of allegations. Mr Smyth acknowledged not having reviewed certain documentation before a May 2015 letter was drafted, resulting in an inaccurate account of an August 2008 meeting. He denied causing upset through his questioning and said he observed no ill-will towards Sgt McCabe among his instructing clients.
The senior barrister for former Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan, Colm Smyth SC, told the Charleton tribunal that his legal team was "on red alert" after seeing allegations made by whistle‑blower Sergeant Maurice McCabe in a core booklet circulated before the O'Higgins Commission of Investigation hearings began in May 2015. Smyth said the booklet caused "considerable alarm" and that his clients had serious issues to address. He described McCabe as "the accuser" and noted that some officers were "in a very bad way in relation to the strain they were under." Smyth added that any serious allegations against a Garda would have severe consequences for the officer, their family and future generations. The tribunal is examining whether O'Sullivan inappropriately relied on unjustified grounds to discredit McCabe during the investigation. The article does not report any outcome of the tribunal or further proceedings.
In a hearing before the Charleton tribunal, former Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan denied accusations of hypocrisy regarding her conduct toward whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe during the O'Higgins Commission of Investigation. O'Sullivan testified that she had invested significant time and effort in supporting McCabe in Mullingar throughout 2014, and that she had not instructed her legal team to challenge his integrity. She explained that as commissioner she had to balance the allegations made by McCabe with the rights of those accused to respond, and that she had not been present at the O'Higgins Commission hearings. O'Sullivan acknowledged factual inaccuracies in a letter prepared by her legal team but said the issue was clarified by Justice O'Higgins. She also disputed claims that former commissioner Martin Callinan retired because of McCabe, calling such allegations a "dark lie." The tribunal was set to resume the following day.
Former Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan, speaking before the Charleton tribunal, said she felt isolated after media reports claimed she had directed an attack on whistleblower Sgt Maurice McCabe's integrity at the O'Higgins Commission of Investigation. She argued that selective leaks of a transcript were designed to damage her reputation. O'Sullivan noted that Section 11 of the Commissions of Investigation Act limited her ability to respond publicly to press allegations that McCabe acted out of malice. She maintained she never suggested malice and that her legal team had not instructed her to do so. O'Sullivan described a period of intense activity, including drafting a letter to Minister Frances Fitzgerald to clarify the facts and counter the allegations. She emphasized that the leaks were deliberate and aimed at harming her position and reputation. The tribunal heard her account of the events surrounding the O'Higgins report and the subsequent media coverage.
Former Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan told the Charleton tribunal today that she faced an "almost impossible dilemma" in supporting whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe while simultaneously having his evidence tested at the O'Higgins Commission of Investigation in 2015. The tribunal is examining whether unjustified grounds were inappropriately used to discredit Sergeant McCabe during proceedings into his complaints of garda malpractice in the Cavan-Monaghan Division. Ms O'Sullivan said she never believed Sergeant McCabe acted in bad faith and was "absolutely committed" to supporting him on workplace issues. She described having recognised that his evidence required testing as a witness before the Commission, and acknowledged this may have altered his perception of her intentions. Ms O'Sullivan said she reconfirmed instructions to her legal team on 15 May 2015 after a legal dispute arose, stressing she had not instructed counsel to challenge Sergeant McCabe's integrity. Her evidence continues tomorrow.
The Charleton tribunal heard evidence concerning discussions between gardai and lawyers about a decade-old indecent assault allegation against Sergeant Maurice McCabe in the days before the O'Higgins Commission of Inquiry began hearings in May 2015. The Director of Public Prosecutions had directed no prosecution in 2006, finding it unclear whether any crime had occurred. The tribunal is examining whether false allegations or other unjustified grounds were improperly used by Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan to challenge Sergeant McCabe's credibility. Evidence was heard from Ken Ruane, legal advisor to An Garda Siochana, and solicitor Annmarie Ryan regarding a 11 May 2015 meeting at which the allegation was discussed. Mr Ruane stated that an internal garda report had accepted Sergeant McCabe acted in good faith. Ms Ryan's notes indicated Chief Superintendent Fergus Healy raised the allegation, and that counsel subsequently advised the commissioner to challenge Sergeant McCabe's motivation. Tribunal counsel questioned whether the discussion represented an effort to portray Sergeant McCabe as embittered. The inquiry continues.
A man from Castleblaney, County Monaghan, has been sentenced to 18 years imprisonment following his conviction for sexually abusing six children and raping two of them over a period of nearly three decades. Peter Sharkey, aged 47, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to three counts of indecent assault dating from 1987 to 1990, six counts of sexual assault between 1997 and 2015, one count of rape with an object in 1998 or 1999, and one count of rape in 2014. The victims, aged between nine and sixteen at the time of the offences, reported the abuse to gardaí following a complaint made in April 2015. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy described Sharkey as "a paedophile of the dangerous kind" and imposed consecutive sentences to ensure appropriate punishment for the harm inflicted on each victim. The court heard victim impact statements describing lasting psychological damage. Sharkey was ordered to register as a sex offender and placed under probation supervision for five years following his release.
Real IRA leader Seamus McGrane was bugged by the Gardai as he plotted in a well-known Dublin pub with another man to carry out an operation involving explosives during the run-up to the State visit of Prince Charles two years ago. The Garda National Surveillance Unit planted a sophisticated listening device in the snug of the Coachman's Inn on the Airport Road, which recorded conversations between McGrane – a founder of the Real IRA – and engineering graduate Donal O'Coisdealbha. McGrane (63), from Dromisikin in Co Louth, is only the second person to be convicted of directing a terrorist organisation in the State. His former colleague and fellow founder of the Real IRA Michael McKevitt was jailed for 20 years in 2003 for directing terrorism between August 1999 and October 2000. He was released from prison in 2016. During McGrane's trial at the Special Criminal Court, during which there was no cross-examination of prosecution witnesses, the court heard recordings of the conversations between McGrane and O'Coisdealbha in April, 2015. McGrane told O'Coisdealbha: 'Go with whatever plan you wish. I think he's coming on the 19th (a reference to Prince Charles). I don't like an embarrassment.' McGrane then mentioned 'military significance.' 'Symbolic,' O'Coisdealbha replied. 'Symbolic is right,' replied McGrane. The two men were heard in the recording of April 19th discussing a location 'around 400 metres from the target.' Detective Sergeant Padraig Boyce said that the location being discussed was approximately 400 metres from the Cross of Sacrifice, a monument in Glasnevin Cemetery commemorating British and Irish soldiers who fought in World War 1. The two men were also recorded discussing a bomb found on a train line in Northern Ireland in February 2015 and an attack on MI5 Headquarters in London in April, 2010. The court also heard that gardai found bomb making components in a field adjacent to McGrane's house. McGrane was jailed for four years by the Special Criminal Court in 2001 after he pleaded guilty to training others in the use of firearms.
The Charleton tribunal heard evidence on October 23rd regarding threats made against Garda Keith Harrison's life in October 2013. Chief Superintendent Terry McGinn of Donegal division outlined how two anonymous 999 calls on 4th and 5th October reported threats against Garda Harrison. The first call described an overheard conversation in a Strabane bar, and the second indicated the threat originated from a relation of Martin McDermott, who was imprisoned following a manslaughter conviction. McDermott was the brother of Garda Harrison's partner. The threats were assessed as substantial, leading to security measures and restrictions on Garda Harrison's movements. A mobile phone subsequently located in Portlaoise Prison resulted in McDermott's release date being postponed. The tribunal also examined contacts between gardaí and HSE/Tusla regarding Garda Harrison. Superintendent Eugene McGovern, stationed in Buncrana, confirmed attending meetings with Tusla management but stated that individual cases were not discussed at such forums. A referral concerning Garda Harrison's partner and her children resulted in no further action pending additional information.
Mr Justice Brian McGovern referred alleged inconsistencies in the income declarations of Ben Gilroy to the Revenue Commissioner's Investigations Unit. In July, the judge found Mr Gilroy in contempt of court for an affidavit in Allied Irish Banks proceedings that accused the court of criminal intimidation. The judge was minded to impose a community service order in lieu of three months in prison. On Friday, the court noted a Probation Service report deemed Mr Gilroy suitable for 80 hours of community service. However, the judge highlighted a discrepancy: Mr Gilroy had previously stated he had no income to qualify for legal aid, yet the probation report indicated full-time employment. The judge stated the court lacked resources to investigate this and referred the matter to Revenue, noting the DPP could liaise with them regarding potential false declarations. The judge also cited another inconsistency where Mr Gilroy claimed to lack a passport while expressing a desire to holiday in Spain. Counsel for Mr Gilroy maintained his client has no income. The contempt arose from an affidavit in AIB's enforcement of a €3.25m judgment against Seamus McQuaid, where Mr Gilroy made allegations against the court and AIB's legal team. Mr Gilroy admitted criminal contempt and apologized. The underlying AIB proceedings, which also involved co-accused Charles McGuinness, remain adjourned and will return to court later this month.
The Charleton Tribunal has concluded its first module of proceedings examining allegations that garda whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe was targeted by a smear campaign orchestrated by senior Garda management. Hearings will resume on 18 September to consider complaints from Garda Keith Harrison. The completed module investigated how a file containing false allegations of sexual abuse against Sgt McCabe, created and distributed by TUSLA, came into Garda possession in 2013 and whether senior officers knowingly used this information to discredit him. Proceedings also examined what knowledge former Commissioner Martin Callinan and current Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan possessed regarding the false allegations. Evidence heard during the module revealed administrative errors in handling notifications between health services and gardaí. A principal social worker in the Cavan Monaghan district acknowledged failing to identify that an incorrect allegation, previously corrected, had been repeated in correspondence prepared in 2015. A further erroneous reference to Sgt McCabe threatening a complainant remained undetected in an amended notification despite review.
A garda inspector testified at the Charleton tribunal that she received no instruction to inform the Office of the Garda Commissioner that an allegation of serious sexual abuse against Sergeant Maurice McCabe was false. Inspector Karen Duffy, then holding sergeant rank in the office of assistant commissioner Kieran Kenny, confirmed she forwarded correspondence reporting the allegation to the commissioner's office in May 2014 as directed. However, she stated she was never instructed to send subsequent correspondence clarifying that the allegation contained administrative errors and that the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed no prosecution in 2007. A HSE manager told the tribunal the error, which involved disclosure of a surname from an unrelated case, did not constitute a data protection breach. An interim director with Tusla acknowledged significant failures in oversight and governance across multiple levels of the process, including non-compliance with Children First guidelines and record-keeping regulations. The tribunal, examining claims that Sergeant McCabe was subjected to a smear campaign, continues.
A garda whistleblower was subjected to hostility and bullying within the Cavan-Monaghan division, the Charleton tribunal heard. Sergeant Maurice McCabe's barrister told the inquiry that whilst some garda witnesses claimed never to have discussed the sergeant, evidence indicated he faced considerable animosity from certain quarters, including being called a "rat" on social media. Retired Chief Superintendent James Sheridan acknowledged awareness of the bullying but denied any personal involvement in undermining Sergeant McCabe or conspiring to damage his reputation. The tribunal examined an erroneous HSE notification containing incorrect sexual abuse allegations against Sergeant McCabe, which Mr Sheridan characterised as a catastrophic error attributable to the HSE rather than gardaí. He stated that follow-up actions agreed at a July 2014 meeting were not pursued, though rejected suggestions this was deliberate. The original 2006 complaint against Sergeant McCabe resulted in the Director of Public Prosecutions directing no prosecution.
The Charleton tribunal heard that Sergeant Maurice McCabe was forced to retreat into his garda station following a confrontation with family members of the woman who alleged he sexually assaulted her. In 2007, the DPP recommended against bringing charges, stating there was no evidence an offence had been committed. The tribunal is examining claims of a smear campaign against Sgt McCabe. In 2008, Sgt McCabe wrote to Superintendent Michael Clancy regarding incidents involving the accuser's father, a garda colleague. Inspector Noel Cunningham, who had previously investigated the 2007 allegations, was instructed to investigate the 2008 claims despite knowing both parties. Sgt McCabe subsequently went on sick leave and was transferred to Mullingar. Supt Cunningham denied taking part in a smear campaign or ignoring a 2013 letter from HSE social worker Keara McGlone, who is the applicant in this matter. Retired Chief Superintendent James Sheridan stated he believed the sexual assault allegation against Sgt McCabe could not be right. In May 2014, a Tusla notification containing an inaccurate allegation was sent to Bailieboro Garda Station. Superintendent Leo McGinn recommended a review by officers outside the Cavan-Monaghan division, noting the DPP's non-prosecution direction. He stated he had no animus toward Sgt McCabe and did not meet him. A July 2014 meeting in Mullingar discussed the confusion over different allegations and cut-and-paste errors, with minutes sent to the garda commissioner's office.
Sgt Tony Byrne, a Garda liaison officer with Tusla, testified at the Charleton tribunal that he never saw a May 2014 notification containing a false allegation of sexual abuse against Sgt Maurice McCabe. Byrne stated he first became aware of the document, sent to Bailieboro Garda Station, only when the tribunal began. He described it as unusual for a report to be sent to gardaí regarding a case already investigated, which led to the DPP deciding not to bring charges in 2007. Byrne also confirmed he did not see a second notification sent in June 2014 that corrected the false allegation. Counsel Michael McDowell, representing McCabe, noted that Supt Leo McGinn had referred the initial notification to the chief superintendent of the Cavan-Monaghan division for potential cold case investigation. Byrne further testified that he felt uncomfortable when Tusla social worker Kay McLoughlin, the applicant, asked about McCabe at a 2015 liaison meeting, recalling the conversation only because McCabe was a public figure. The tribunal is examining claims that these allegations were used to smear McCabe's reputation. The matter is currently at the hearing stage.
In a Charleton tribunal hearing, Gerard Lowry, Tusla's Cavan‑Monaghan manager, denied any coordination or collusion with Gardaí in creating files that alleged sexual abuse against whistle‑blower Sergeant Maurice McCabe. Lowry stated there was no contact with Gardaí regarding the file. The tribunal is examining claims that such allegations were used to smear McCabe's reputation. The DPP had previously declined to press charges in 2007 due to lack of evidence. In January 2016, McCabe's solicitors wrote to Tusla after receiving a letter from social‑work team leader Kay McLoughlin containing false allegations of serious sexual abuse. Tusla responded in June 2016, withdrawing the false allegation and adding a new claim that McCabe had "humped" a girl during a game of hide and seek. McCabe denied ever playing hide and seek, citing his child's special needs.
During the Charleton tribunal, Gerard Lowry, Tusla's area manager for Cavan‑Monaghan, testified that the series of errors leading to false child‑abuse allegations against Garda whistle‑blower Maurice McCabe were "absolutely coincidences." Lowry admitted he did not remember McCabe attending child‑protection meetings, but tribunal barrister Pat Marrinan cited evidence that McCabe had been present at meetings in 2004 and on core teams. Lowry explained that an email in 2014 identified McCabe as "MMcC" and referred to allegations made to RIAN by Ms D in 2006; unrelated allegations from Ms Y were mistakenly added to McCabe's file. He acknowledged failing to correct records once the errors were discovered and not checking RIAN's false information about a rape offence. Marrinan highlighted that Tusla was aware of the errors yet did not resolve them promptly, and that a draft letter with false allegations was circulated in late 2015. The tribunal continued the next day.
The Charleton Tribunal, examining allegations that sexual abuse claims were weaponised against garda whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe, heard evidence on the handling of a false allegation originating from Bailieboro Garda Station in County Cavan in 2013. Justice Peter Charleton stated he required information about how gardaí discovered the allegation was erroneous and how it subsequently reached senior officers in Sligo and Dublin. The tribunal also examined a 2015 letter from Tusla to Sergeant McCabe regarding his children. Counsel for the Garda Commissioner indicated that while Superintendent Leo McGinn initially believed the report warranted external investigation, it was rapidly established as a repeat of a 2006 matter requiring no further action. A director of counselling with RIAN testified about incorrect records sent by HSE Child & Family Services in error, confirming the information stemmed from a cut-and-paste error. The witness acknowledged the gravity of the mistake for Sergeant McCabe's reputation but stated the agency had not contacted him about the allegations.
In July 2017, a Tribunal Judge, Justice Peter Charleton, noted that allegations of child sexual abuse against Garda whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe "came out of the blue" when they were presented to him nine years after the initial claim. Social worker Rhona Murphy testified that a Garda colleague named McCabe as the alleged abuser of his daughter, Ms D. The allegations surfaced after Ms D was referred to social workers for a separate issue in September 2005, and a statement was made to Gardai in December 2006. McCabe was not interviewed by social workers, and a meeting in April 2007 recorded that he should be offered a risk assessment. The DPP decided against prosecution, Ms D disengaged, and the child sexual abuse team closed the case in October 2007. Ms Murphy noted that McCabe had never been met by a social worker regarding the allegations.
A 44-year-old man from County Monaghan has been sentenced to three years' imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court following his conviction for membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. Jim Smyth, with an address at Aghalissabeagh, Scotstown, was convicted last month of the offence alleged to have occurred on 25 November 2015. During trial, the three-judge court heard evidence that Smyth had been using his own land and property belonging to his mother-in-law at Knockatallon for dissident republican activity. Gardaí from the Special Detective Unit and Crime and Security conducted a search of lands surrounding derelict houses in the area. Interviews with Smyth were conducted under Section 2 of the Offences Against the State Act, which permits inference to be drawn from a suspect's refusal to answer questions regarding alleged IRA membership. While Smyth denied membership in response to certain questions, he declined to answer regarding specific items recovered following his arrest. Justice Isobel Kennedy imposed the custodial sentence.
Mark Bissett, 31, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to making a threat to damage Michael Maher's house. The incident occurred on May 27, 2016, at Central Bank Plaza, Dame Street, where Bissett allegedly threatened to burn down Maher's home. Bissett, who previously served a six-year sentence for manslaughter, was reportedly angry that Maher's charity, "You're not alone," was assisting a relative with whom he had fallen out. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a two-year sentence, which she suspended on strict conditions. The judge described the behavior as disgraceful and warned Bissett that he faced two years in prison if he reoffended. She ordered him to stay away from the charity, Mr. Maher, and his home. Bissett has 60 previous convictions, including assault and public order offences. Defense counsel submitted that Bissett had significantly turned his life around and addressed risk factors related to substance misuse. The court noted Bissett remains at high risk of re-offending and ordered him to be brought back before the judge if further trouble arises.
A 44-year-old man from Aghalissabeagh, Scotstown, County Monaghan, was convicted last month by the Special Criminal Court of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. Jim Smyth was found guilty of the offence on 25 November 2015. During the three-judge, non-jury trial, evidence was heard from Chief Superintendent Christopher Mangan regarding his belief that Smyth was an IRA member on the date in question. Gardaí from the Special Detective Unit and Crime and Security conducted a search of land at Knockatallon, County Monaghan, which the court heard was being used for IRA activities. Detective Sergeant Gerard O'Doherty told the court that Smyth was considered instrumental in that activity. During interviews under Section 2 of the Offences Against the State Act, Smyth denied IRA membership in response to certain questions but declined to answer others regarding specific items found following his arrest. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, presiding, adjourned sentencing to 26 June 2017.