In a Central Criminal Court hearing, defence counsel Karl Finnegan SC argued that Marek Puska (36), Jozef Puska's brother, had a reasonable excuse for withholding information from gardai after the murder of Ashling Murphy. Finnegan said Marek was protecting himself, fearing that his statements could implicate him in assisting his brother. He noted that Marek had not believed Jozef had stabbed Murphy when he spoke to investigators two days after the crime. Prosecutor Anne Marie Lawlor SC countered that Marek knew Jozef's confession shortly after 9.30 pm on the night of the murder and, along with brother Lubomir Jnr (38), failed to disclose vital information. Lawlor also accused Jozefina Grundzova (32) and Viera Gaziova (40) of burning Jozef's clothes to impede his arrest, a charge they admit. All accused pleaded not guilty. Jozef Puska was convicted of murdering 23‑year‑old Ashling Murphy and is serving a life sentence.
At the Central Criminal Court, the trial of Jozefina Grundzova, Marek Puska, Viera Gaziova, and Lubomir Puska Jnr continued. All four accused, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, are alleged to have impeded the apprehension or prosecution of Jozef Puska, who was previously convicted of murdering Ashling Murphy in January 2022. Grundzova and Gaziova face charges of assisting in burning clothes, including a bloodstained t-shirt, while Marek Puska and Lubomir Puska Jnr are charged with withholding information from detectives. Evidence presented by Detective Garda James Duffy indicated that Grundzova told gardaí that Gaziova received a phone call instructing her to burn specific items. Grundzova stated she observed blood on the lower half of a t-shirt and that she herself threw socks into the fire. The court heard that the accused were living with Jozef Puska and his family in Co Offaly at the time. Presiding Judge Caroline Biggs adjourned the proceedings, informing the jury that they would not be required again until the trial resumes on June 9th.
The trial of Viera Gaziova and Jozefina Grundzova continues before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury. Both women, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, are accused of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Jozef Puska by burning clothes he allegedly wore on the day he murdered Ashling Murphy. Gaziova testified that she destroyed the garments after her husband, Lubomir Puska Jnr, conveyed a request from Puska to ensure the clothes were burnt. She described building a fire in the living room, burning the items until only ash remained, and disposing of the residue down the kitchen sink. Gaziova stated she initially omitted this detail from her statement to gardai because she feared the family would turn against her and she would end up on the street. She recounted that the household became concerned when Puska did not return home, and he later arrived soaked and shaking. Gaziova claimed Lubomir and Marek Puska spoke with Puska in his bedroom, after which Lubomir told her Puska had confessed to killing a girl. She noted that only she, Lubomir, Marek, and Grundzova knew of this alleged confession at the time. The court heard that all accused were living together in Co Offaly when the offences are alleged to have occurred in January 2022. The trial is ongoing.
In the Central Criminal Court, Lubomir Puska Jnr, aged 37, denied that he had asked anyone to dispose of the knife used to murder school teacher Ashling Murphy or to dispose of his brother Jozef's clothes on the day of the murder. He also denied that he had asked anyone to dispose of the clothes. The court heard that Jozef Puska, aged 35, attacked Ms Murphy, aged 23, on the canal towpath at Cappincur in Tullamore on 12 January 2022, killing her with 12 sharp force injuries, 11 of which were stab wounds. Lubomir Jnr had made two statements to Gardaí, first on 18 January 2022 and again on 26 January 2022, in which he described Jozef's condition and alleged that Jozef had tried to explain his actions. He also denied that he had asked anyone to dispose of the knife or the clothes. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, Lubomir Puska Junior, aged 38, admitted to lying to Gardaí about his brother Jozef Puska's whereabouts on the day of Ashling Murphy's murder. He first claimed Jozef had been "a bit sad" and left the house in the early afternoon, but later apologized and revealed he had seen Jozef again after 9 pm, describing him as looking beaten and with lacerations. The court heard that Jozef, who was convicted of murdering 23‑year‑old teacher Ashling Murphy on 12 January 2022, had been living with Lubomir and another brother Marek at Lynally Grove. Lubomir and Marek are accused of withholding crucial information, while Jozefina Grundzova and Viera Gaziova are accused of impeding the investigation by burning clothes. All accused plead not guilty. The trial is before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs with a jury of seven men and five women.
The trial of five accused persons in Tullamore, Co Offaly, continues before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury. Jozef Puska has been convicted of murdering Ashling Murphy, a 23-year-old schoolteacher, in January 2022. His brother, Marek Puska (36), and Lubomir Puska Jnr (35), are accused of withholding information crucial to the investigation, charged under the Offences Against the State, Amendment Act 1988. Their wives, Jozefina Grundzova (31) and Viera Gaziova (38), are accused of impeding Jozef Puska's apprehension or prosecution by burning his clothes, charged under the Criminal Law Act 1997. All five defendants, who reside at Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, have pleaded not guilty. The court heard that Marek Puska alleged his brother unintentionally "cut" a woman and described the incident as "probably bad." It is alleged that Marek and Lubomir failed to disclose that Jozef returned home with visible injuries and admitted to causing harm. The women are alleged to have burned clothing between January 12 and 14 to impede justice. The trial is ongoing, with no sentencing or finalisation recorded for the current accused.
The trial of four accused persons in connection with the murder of Ashling Murphy continues before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury. Marek Puska (36) and Lubomir Puska Jnr (35) are accused of withholding information under the Offences Against the State, Amendment Act 1988, while their wives, Jozefina Grundzova (31) and Viera Gaziova (38), are accused of impeding Jozef Puska's apprehension by burning his clothing under the Criminal Law Act 1997. All four defendants have pleaded not guilty. During testimony, Detective Garda Cian Steers detailed Marek Puska's voluntary statement from January 14, 2022, in which he described the family's living situation and his search for Jozef Puska on the day of the murder. Marek stated he wished to provide further information but was hindered by medication for back problems. In cross-examination, it was noted that Marek accurately identified Jozef's bicycle. Garda Joanne O'Sullivan testified that Marek later revealed Jozef returned home on the night of the murder with visible injuries, including holes in his abdomen, and admitted to causing harm to a woman. It is alleged that Marek and Lubomir withheld this information, while the women assisted in destroying evidence. The matter was adjourned and the trial continues on Monday.
The trial of four accused persons regarding the murder of Ashling Murphy continues before the Central Criminal Court. Jozefina Grundzova and Viera Gaziova, who have pleaded not guilty to charges under the Criminal Law Act 1997, are alleged to have assisted in burning clothing to impede the prosecution of Jozef Puska. Marek Puska and Lubomir Puska Jnr, also pleading not guilty, face charges under the Offences Against the State, Amendment Act 1988 and the Criminal Law Act 1997 for allegedly withholding information about Puska's return home with injuries and his subsequent travel to Dublin. Evidence presented includes testimony from Detective Sergeant Anthony Quinn, who described sifting fireplace ashes at the family home in Mucklagh, Co Offaly, for forensic evidence of burned clothing, though nothing of note was found. Witness Jenna Stack testified to seeing Murphy struggling with a man near Cappincur Bridge on January 12, 2022, describing her as "kicking out really hard" while the man appeared angry at being interrupted. The matter is currently at the trial stage and has not been finalised; it remains ongoing before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the prosecution explained that Jozef Puska's sisters‑in‑law, Jozefina Grundzova (31) and Viera Gaziova (38), burned the clothes he wore when he murdered 23‑year‑old schoolteacher Ashling Murphy on 12 January 2022. The prosecution's barrister, Sean Gillane SC, noted that the brothers Lubomir Puska Jnr (35) and Marek Puska (34) had given voluntary interviews to Gardaí two days after the murder but allegedly misled investigators by withholding information about Puska's return home with visible injuries and his admission of killing or seriously injuring a woman. The brothers are charged with withholding information under the Offences Against the State, Amendment Act 1988, while the sisters‑in‑law are charged under the Criminal Law Act 1997 for assisting in burning the clothing to impede Puska's arrest or prosecution. The trial is before Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury of twelve. Lubomir Puska Jnr pleaded not guilty. Marek Puska pleaded not guilty. Jozefina Grundzova pleaded not guilty. Viera Gaziova pleaded not guilty.
The trial has commenced at the Central Criminal Court for four individuals accused of impeding the investigation into the murder of Ashling Murphy. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs swore a jury to hear the case, which is expected to last up to five weeks. The defendants are Jozef Puska's brothers, Marek and Lubomir Puska, and their respective wives, Jozefina Grundzova and Viera Gaziova. All four have pleaded not guilty. The brothers are charged under the Offences Against the State, Amendment Act 1988 with withholding information. It is alleged they failed to tell An Garda Síochána that Jozef Puska returned home to Mucklagh on the night of January 12, 2022, with visible injuries and admitted to "cutting" a female with a knife. They are also alleged to have known he travelled to Dublin that night. Marek Puska is further alleged to have been aware of an arrangement to burn clothing worn by Jozef Puska. The women are charged under the Criminal Law Act 1997 with assisting in burning clothing between January 12 and 14, intending to impede the apprehension or prosecution of Jozef Puska. The prosecution alleges the defendants knew or believed the withheld information or actions might assist in securing the conviction of Jozef Puska for a serious offence. Jozef Puska was previously tried and convicted of Ms Murphy's murder. The trial will begin with an opening statement by the prosecution.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Padraig Delaney, aged 44, was found guilty of murdering his friend Shane Knott, aged 37, who was discovered in a dog pen in Delaney's back garden wrapped in carpet underlay. Delaney claimed self‑defence after an alleged attack with scissors, but the jury rejected this defence. The court described the killing as brutal, with Knott suffering multiple head and brain injuries and his left face crushed. Delaney's statements about a Kinahan crime organisation sending Knott were deemed unfounded. Delaney, a former cabinet maker with a history of alcohol and substance abuse, was sentenced to life imprisonment. The judge called the murder "particularly brutal" and the treatment of the body "callous and disrespectful.".
In the case of the Director of Public Prosecutions versus Emmett Rigney, a 22‑year‑old from Shinrone, Co Offaly, the Court of Appeal upheld a two‑year suspended sentence. Rigney was convicted of dangerous driving causing serious bodily injury after a head‑on collision with a vehicle in Ballingarry, Co Tipperary, on 14 August 2021. The crash left a five‑year‑old daughter with a severe traumatic brain injury and caused significant financial and emotional hardship for her family, including a pregnant mother who testified that the incident had a destructive impact. The original headline sentence of three and a half years was reduced to two years, suspended for two years on the condition of €10,000 compensation, and Rigney was disqualified from driving for six years.
Georgina Tuohey, mother of three children who were raped and sexually abused by Brendan Cornally, spoke from the court during his sentencing at the Central Criminal Court. Cornally was sentenced to a total of 17½ years for the rape and sexual assault of her two sons and the sexual assault of her daughter. He had previously served 10 years for the rape of a boy aged 10‑14 and 21 months for the assault of a sister aged 13‑15. The judge imposed a headline sentence of 20 years, with the final two and a half years suspended on strict conditions for five years. Tuohey expressed that the sentence was lenient and that the justice system would let people like her down, while the judge noted the impact of Cornally's actions on her son, who suffered a severe decline in health and became catatonic. The sentencing was consecutive to his existing 11‑year‑nine‑month term. Brendan Cornally pleaded guilty.
Garda Nicholas Keogh, aged 46, has been granted permission by the High Court to pursue a judicial review against the Garda Commissioner over the reduction of his sick pay. Keogh, who joined the force in June 1999, had not taken sick leave until October 2011. He suffered a musculo‑skeletal injury in 2012, followed by periods of alcohol addiction treatment and work‑related stress diagnoses in 2012, 2013 and 2014. He claims that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission failed to address his complaints of bullying, harassment and unfitness for work, and that his salary was reduced during his sick leave. The Disclosures Tribunal in July 2021 found his complaints unjustified, but Keogh seeks to quash the Commissioner's decision to end the special arrangement that allowed him full pay and to have his illness recorded as ordinary illness. Mr Justice Garrett Simons granted leave for the hearing, which is adjourned to 25 March.
Eimear Carroll, a 42‑year‑old primary school teacher from Offaly, was found guilty of one count of harassment and two counts of sending obscene or menacing letters. She had written about 500 letters over two years, using racist slurs and false allegations that a care worker abused patients. The Court of Appeal dismissed her appeal against a six‑year sentence, confirming the trial judge's decision to impose a headline term of six years with two years suspended. The appeal was rejected because the Court found no error in the sentencing judge's assessment of aggravating factors, including the persistent, targeted nature of the harassment and the use of personal details. The Court also upheld the judge's recognition of mitigating factors such as Carroll's low risk of reoffending and her apology. The decision confirms the severity of the sentence as appropriate for the case.
Gerard Harrington of Marian Road, Boyle, Co Roscommon, has been unsuccessful in his application to the Supreme Court seeking to appeal his conviction for making a false report to gardaí. Harrington was convicted in July 2021 at Tullamore Circuit Criminal Court of making a false statement to gardaí regarding missing cattle and was fined €6,500 in October 2021. The cattle were subsequently discovered in a neighbour's shed at Breedogue, Co Roscommon, with six animals bearing tag numbers matching those he had reported as missing in October 2015. Harrington's appeal to the Court of Appeal last May, which raised 34 grounds including claims the trial judge erred in admitting a Garda interview, was dismissed. The Supreme Court last week rejected his application to hear a further appeal, finding he had not met the constitutional threshold required. The court noted Harrington had not made admissions during his voluntary interview at the garda station and had been informed he was not under arrest and not obliged to answer questions.
Lisa O'Meara, who waived her anonymity, told the Central Criminal Court that she had been kept hostage in her own home by Barry Murphy, who repeatedly raped and sexually assaulted her between February 2018 and February 2020. Murphy, 39, was convicted of three rapes, one sexual assault, three assault causing harm, one false imprisonment and coercive control over an 18‑month period. He was also found guilty of a separate assault abroad. The court heard that the front door of the couple's house was riveted shut and that O'Meara had no means of communication until she escaped the night after the final rape. Murphy's bail was revoked when O'Meara lived with him. The judge imposed a headline sentence of 17 years for the rapes, four years for coercive control, and other sentences for the remaining offences, all running concurrently. The final global sentence was 15½ years, with the last year suspended on strict conditions.
Eimear Carroll, a 42‑year‑old primary school teacher from Hillside, Seffin, Birr, Offaly, was found guilty of one count of harassment and two counts of sending obscene, grossly offensive or menacing letters by post. Over a two‑year period she sent about 500 letters to the victim's family, friends, workplace and to HIQA, alleging abuse of patients and making repeated racial slurs, referring to the victim as a "knacker". The Court of Appeal heard that the harassment was continuous, involved personal details such as the victim's cousin's death, and caused the victim to sell her house and relocate. Judge Catherine Staines had sentenced Carroll in July to four years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. Carroll appealed, arguing the sentence was too harsh, but the appeal was not decided in this hearing. The case was noted for its persistent, racially charged nature.
Jamie Geoghan, aged 28, was one of four men who entered a Dublin boys' secondary school on 13 October 2022 and violently confronted a teenage student. CCTV showed Geoghan throwing a steel pole at the student, narrowly missing him and a staff member, while the student had taken a hammer from his bag in self‑defence and fled. Geoghan pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, back‑dated to 22 July 2024. He is already serving a six‑year sentence for another offence. The other three men – Jack Craig (21), Josh Neary (22) and Scott Purdue (25) – had already been sentenced to 16‑month terms, with Craig's sentence suspended in full. No physical injuries were reported, but the incident caused widespread fear among students and staff, leading to the retirement of one staff member. The court noted Geoghan's long history of offending, with 79 convictions since 2013, and his previous promising football career.
Paul Murphy, a father-of-two who survived a fatal crane incident at Thomond Bridge in Limerick in 2015, reached an undisclosed settlement with multiple parties, including Palfinger Ireland Ltd and Limerick City and County Council, the High Court heard. Counsel for Murphy stated that liability was conceded by the named defendants, allowing the case to proceed solely for the assessment of damages before the settlement was finalized. The incident claimed the lives of Murphy's co-workers, Bryan Whelan and TJ O'Herlihy, who drowned after the crane fell into the River Shannon. Murphy, who suffered PTSD and physical injuries, was rescued by lifeboat. In related proceedings, Palfinger Ireland Ltd was fined €25,000 at Limerick Circuit Court on October 7, 2022, after pleading guilty to breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act. Additionally, Nationwide Crane Hire Ltd pleaded guilty to similar breaches and was fined €200,000. The prosecutions, brought by the Health and Safety Authority, cited a failed safety mechanism and a missing chapter in the crane manual supplied by Palfinger. The High Court judge acknowledged the trauma Murphy endured, noting he had to relive parts of the tragedy during the proceedings.
Two brothers were sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for the rape and indecent assault of three young children at their family farm in Co Offaly between 1987 and 1989. Neville Moody, 52, of Kildare Town, was convicted following trial of two counts of raping his niece, Charlotte Moody, and one count of indecently assaulting her brother, Kenneth Moody. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo sentenced Neville Moody to a consecutive term of nine years, suspending the final year for two years. His brother, Norman Moody, 53, pleaded guilty to three counts of indecently assaulting Charlotte and one count of indecently assaulting a second niece, Annette Moody. The judge sentenced Norman Moody to a consecutive term of four and a half years, suspending the final six months for six months on strict conditions. The complainants, who waived anonymity, described severe long-term trauma. The judge noted that while both men were minors at the time, the abuse was not innocent experimentation. He acknowledged Neville's lack of insight and Norman's genuine remorse. The sentences reflect the serious nature of the offences against children aged between four and a half and eight years old.
In a High Court sentencing hearing, a teenage boy under 18 was sentenced to life in detention with a review after 15 years for the murder of 51‑year‑old Lorna Woodnutt. The boy, who cannot be named under the Children's Act, used a sledgehammer to kill Woodnutt on 29 September 2023 outside Tullamore, Co Offaly. After the killing, he posted a 17‑second video of the victim's body on Snapchat, which was later removed when Gardaí arrived. The judge described the boy's actions as "sickening" and noted his "unhealthy interest" in extreme male role models that shaped a negative attitude toward women. The boy, diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and an adjustment disorder, showed aggressive behaviour at home and school. The sentence will be reviewed in 2038, with release dependent on progress and risk assessment. The court ordered bi‑annual probation reports and psychiatric assessments. The unnamed 17-year-old pleaded guilty.
Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring handed down five life sentences at the Central Criminal Court to family members convicted of murdering Thomas Dooley at Rath Cemetery, Rathass, Tralee, Co Kerry, on October 5, 2022. The defendants, including Patrick Dooley, Thomas Dooley Senior, Thomas Dooley Junior, Michael Dooley, and Daniel Dooley, had all pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The judge described the killing as an "honour killing" involving "medieval violence" and noted that no explanation for the death had been proffered. Thomas Dooley Junior was additionally found guilty of assault causing harm to Siobhán Dooley. He was sentenced to four-and-a-half years for this offence, backdated from his custody on November 16, 2022, with the term running concurrently to his life sentence. The life sentences for the five adults were backdated to their respective custody dates. A sixth defendant, a male teenager, was not sentenced today as he is expected to seek a judicial review; his matter was adjourned for a mention on October 29. The court heard a victim impact statement from Siobhán Dooley, who stated her husband's last act was telling her to run to save herself. The judge emphasized that the only innocents were the victim, his wife, and their children.
The 48‑year‑old defendant, whose name is withheld to protect the victim, was convicted of rape at his home in the midlands on 7 August 2018. The Central Criminal Court in Tullamore found him guilty after a February trial, and he received a nine‑year jail sentence for the rape, with a four‑and‑a‑half‑year term for assault and false imprisonment, the final year suspended. He appealed, arguing that two "goading" videos taken on his phone before the alleged rape were inadmissible and prejudicial. The Court of Appeal heard the case on 26 July 2024, with counsel for the State maintaining the videos were admissible for credibility, while the defence claimed they were irrelevant and highly prejudicial. The court will decide after the summer break. The defendant continues to deny the offence and has shown no remorse or rehabilitation.
A GP's receptionist, Margaret Dunne, who had worked at Dr Declan Scanlon's surgery in Tullamore, Co Offaly, for nearly 50 years, has won an additional €12,000 from a tribunal. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) ruled in her favor under the Employment Equality Act 1998, finding she was discriminated against on the grounds of age. During her medical leave due to the pandemic, she was replaced by two younger employees in their 40s while she was 65. Ms Dunne informed her employer in May 2021 that she was ready to return to work, but Dr Scanlon requested she undergo a medical checkup. Despite her willingness to comply, she received no further communication from Dr Scanlon. The tribunal noted that Dr Scanlon did not respond to inquiries about her return to work or redundancy payment, which she was entitled to upon the closure of the practice in October 2022.
A 17‑year‑old boy, diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at 18 months, used a sledgehammer and a lump hammer to bludgeon 51‑year‑old laboratory technician Lorna Woodnutt to death on 29 September 2023 at a rural property outside Tullamore, Co Offaly. He recorded the attack and posted a 17‑second video on Snapchat, sharing it with a "three‑figure number" of contacts before removing it when Gardaí arrived. The video showed the victim's body with severe facial injuries, a large skull hole and brain matter on the floor. The boy also sent a selfie with the body in the background. He pleaded guilty earlier in the month. The court heard that he had called 999 twice after the killing and that his phone contained searches about hammer attacks and psychopath behaviour. The case was adjourned to 3 October, with the defendant to be detained at Oberstown Children Detention Centre pending sentencing.
Raymond Shorten, a 50‑year‑old Dublin taxi driver, was convicted in May 2024 of two counts of rape and one of sexual assault against a seven‑year‑old girl in 2012. The victim, now 20, requested anonymity. Shorten was also convicted in June of two counts of rape and one of anal rape against two other young women who had ridden in his taxi after a night out in Dublin in 2022. He is due to be sentenced next Monday by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, after Mr Justice Naidoo's unavailability.
A local doctor, Dr Declan Scanlon, is ordered to pay a €40,000 severance to Margaret Dunne, a receptionist who worked at his Tullamore surgery for almost 50 years. Dunne began in March 1973 and worked continuously until the Covid‑19 pandemic forced her to stay home in March 2020. She tried to return in July 2021 but received no response from Scanlon, who had planned to close the practice in October 2022. Dunne applied for a redundancy payment after the closure and again got no reply or a redundancy certificate. The Workplace Relations Commission upheld her complaint under the Redundancy Payments Act 1967, ruling that her long service and weekly pay entitled her to the statutory redundancy sum. The calculation of the lump sum will be handled by the Department of Social Protection.
A 17‑year‑old boy, whose name is withheld because he is a minor, pleaded guilty to the murder of Lorna Woodnutt, a woman in her 40s, at a rural property outside Tullamore, Co Offaly, on 29 September 2023. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court on 8 July 2024. Mr Justice Paul McDermott explained that, as the defendant is under 18, the case is dealt with under The Children's Act and the mandatory life sentence for murder does not apply. The judge read the single charge to the boy, who confirmed he was ready to proceed. Defence counsel James Dwyer SC requested a probation report, a remand period and a sentence date at the end of July. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Michael Delaney SC, noted that a victim impact statement would be presented and that the sentence hearing would last about half a day.
The Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by the Concerned Residents of Treascon and Clondoolusk, who opposed An Bord Pleanala's October 2021 decision to grant planning permission for a solar energy facility operated by Elgin Energy Services Limited on a 90‑hectare site in Portarlington, Co. Offaly. The residents argued that the board's decision was invalid because it contravened EU directives on habitats and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs). The Court found the substantive issues raised were misconceived or premature, noting that the removal of hedgerows did not trigger a full EIA for the entire project. Justice Brian Murray, joined by Justices Donal O'Donnell, Seamus Woulfe, Maurice Collins and Aileen Donnelly, upheld the board's decision. The High Court had previously rejected the residents' claims, and the Supreme Court's dismissal confirmed that the appeal was not supported by the necessary legal grounds. The case remains a judicial review against An Bord Pleanala and the Attorney General.
A High Court judge sentenced Ronan O'Grady, 33, to two years' imprisonment for eight counts of sexual assault against his niece, Keely O'Grady, aged six to nine between 2004 and 2008. O'Grady, who was 13 to 17 at the time, pleaded guilty in the Central Criminal Court. The judge noted the defendant's lack of remorse, his "talented" and "well‑educated" background, and the continued support he received from his family, which the court said had disrupted the victim's family relationships. Keely, now 26, gave a victim impact statement describing long‑term trauma, depression, anxiety and self‑harm, and criticised her grandparents for protecting him. The judge reduced the headline sentence from an initial eight years to two years, citing O'Grady's youth, lack of prior convictions, guilty pleas and low re‑offending risk, and did not suspend any part of the sentence. The sentence was back‑dated to the day he entered custody.
In a High Court contempt case, Mr Noel Martin Senior was found to have deliberately and flagrantly breached a court order that barred him from contacting Alan O'Neill and June Finnegan over a disputed garage. The judge, Mr Justice David Nolan, noted that Martin had sent threatening WhatsApp messages after the injunction, accusing the couple of keeping dangerous animals and threatening to report them to authorities. Martin apologized, claimed a mistake, and agreed not to contact the plaintiffs again. The judge warned that any further intimidation could lead to imprisonment and ordered Martin to pay the plaintiffs' legal costs. The case, which also involves a claim for damages over the garage's ownership, remains pending, with the judge adjourned the matter to October to monitor Martin's conduct. The judge emphasised that Martin's behaviour was personal, vindictive and designed to cause maximum pain to the plaintiffs.
Anthony Canning, 74, of Fadden, Carrig, Birr, Co Offaly, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to two charges of indecent assault, three of sexual assault and one of oral rape of Celine Daly, who was between seven and 13 years old at the time of the offences, which occurred between December 1987 and December 1993 in his home. Canning, who was married to Ms Daly's aunt, was between 37 and 43 years old during the abuse. Ms Daly gave a victim impact statement in which she described the abuse as leaving emotional scars and said she had finally been heard after reporting to the Gardaí. Judge Tony Hunt set a headline sentence of 10 years, taking into account the age disparity and the fact that the abuse occurred in what was effectively an extension of her home, and imposed a seven‑year jail term for the offence of oral rape. The sentence was not suspended.
The High Court declared that Alan O'Neill and June Finnegan are the legal owners of a disputed garage in Portarlington, Co Laois. Mr Justice David Nolan made the declaration on Thursday with the consent of the parties, including Drumgoan Developments Limited, Noel Martin Senior, and Darren Martin. The declaration confirmed that the plaintiffs were not registered as owners due to a mistake and that Drumgoan did not own the property. The couple alleged that the defendants engaged in a 'land grab,' made payment demands, and damaged the garage. They also claimed Mr Martin Senior sent threatening communications and breached a previous injunction restraining him from contacting them. Mr Martin Senior was made the subject of contempt proceedings for alleged breaches of that order. He subsequently apologized to the court and agreed not to contact the plaintiffs. Counsel for the defendants confirmed consent to the declaration and stated there had been no further breach of the injunction. Mr Justice Nolan praised the legal teams for resolving this aspect of the case but noted that Mr Martin Senior was 'not out of the woods yet.' The judge adjourned the contempt proceedings against Mr Martin Senior to a date in June, stating he will rule on whether contempt occurred and any appropriate sanction when the matter returns. Other aspects of the action, including the couple's claims for damages, remain live before the court.
A Roscommon farmer's appeal against his conviction for making a false statement to gardaí has been dismissed by the Court of Appeal. Gerard Harrington, of Marian Road, Boyle, was convicted in July 2021 at Tullamore Circuit Criminal Court of reporting ten cattle missing when they were located in a neighbouring farmer's shed. He had been fined €6,500 in October 2021. The Court of Appeal heard 34 grounds of appeal, including claims that oppressive trial conditions and jury seating arrangements during Covid restrictions warranted a retrial. Mr Justice John Edwards rejected these submissions, finding the prosecution case had been sufficiently strong for jury consideration and that the trial judge had appropriately managed evidentiary issues. The court concluded the trial was satisfactory and the verdict was safe, upholding Harrington's conviction.
Gavin Belmont, 26, of Clondalkin, received a two-year suspended sentence at the sentence stage after pleading guilty to possessing child abuse material. The defendant admitted to possessing 54 explicit images and videos on a mobile phone at his home on May 24, 2022. Prosecution evidence indicated that the Garda Online Child Exploitation Unit identified activity on the Kik messaging app linked to Belmont's username and email address. Following a search warrant, gardaí recovered the phone, which contained the explicit material. Belmont cooperated with the investigation, providing his device and password, and has no previous convictions. The court heard that he attended counselling immediately after the discovery and expressed significant remorse for the impact on his family. Judge Martin Nolan handed down the fully suspended sentence, noting that while the material was at the explicit end of the scale, Belmont's early guilty plea, full cooperation, and lack of prior record were mitigating factors. The judge emphasized that possessing child pornography is not a victimless crime. Belmont was ordered to be of good behaviour and to abide by the instructions of probation services for the duration of the suspended sentence.
A developer, Noel Martin Senior, has apologised in the High Court for breaching an injunction that prohibited him from contacting Alan O'Neill and June Finnegan, who have sued him over ownership of a garage adjacent to their home in Portarlington, Co Laois. The couple, who have kept exotic pets in the garage, secured the injunction last month after alleging that the defendants, including Martin Senior and Drumgoan Developments Limited, threatened and intimidated them. The court heard that Martin Senior had breached the order on two occasions since it was granted, prompting the couple to seek his attachment and possible committal to prison. During the hearing, Mr Justice David Nolan noted that Martin Senior was not in court initially and directed him to attend to answer the breach allegations. When Martin Senior appeared, he apologised, stating that his actions were a 'genuine mistake' and a misunderstanding. He claimed he did not know he was required to attend the Four Courts when the matter was called on. The judge warned Martin Senior that the breach of a court order is a 'very serious matter' and told him, 'You may think you are the Lord God Almighty, but you are not.' Martin Senior's lawyers stated that there had been no repeat of the breach after the second incident and that the parties had been attempting to resolve matters outside of court. Martin Senior denied making complaints to the Irish Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals about the plaintiffs and stated that he had driven over two hours to be present in court. The judge accepted Martin Senior's apology but said he would impose a penalty, which could be a fine or a term of imprisonment, due to the breaches of the court order. The judge also said he would consider submissions from both parties' lawyers on the issue when the case returns. The matter was adjourned for two weeks, with the injunction and undertakings granted by the defendant left in place in case of any future breaches.
The Board of Management of Shinrone National School in Co Offaly has initiated High Court proceedings after the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) refused to allocate additional Special Needs Assistants (SNAs). The co‑educational primary school currently employs five mainstream teachers, two Special Education Needs teachers, an autism class teacher and six SNAs. Late last year the school applied for more SNAs to accommodate an expected increase in students requiring support. The NCSE rejected the application, and the board appealed to the NCSE's Independent Appeals Advisory Committee, which has the final decision. The board argues that the appeal has not yet been scheduled for hearing, claiming a breach of fair procedure and urgent need as the current school year ends.
Alan O'Neill and partner June Finnegan have obtained permission to file a motion seeking the attachment and possible committal to prison of Mr. Noel Martin Senior, a defendant in their case against Drumgoan Developments Limited. The couple allege that Mr. Martin breached a High Court injunction that barred him from contacting them regarding the disputed ownership of a garage adjacent to their 20‑year‑old home at Crann Nua, Edenderry Road, Portarlington. They claim the garage, purchased with an extra fee in 2005, was not properly conveyed to them and that the defendants have threatened and intimidated them. The judge, Mr Justice David Nolan, granted the motion on an ex‑parte basis and adjourned the application to a date next week, while maintaining the injunction. The couple also allege that Mr. Martin sent threatening communications and that the defendants have engaged in a "land grab" and demanded money from them and neighbours. The case remains pending.
In a High Court hearing on 24 April 2024, Mr Justice David Nolan warned Drumgoan Developments Limited and its alleged owners, Noel Martin Senior and Darren Martin, that any breach of the court's undertakings or the temporary injunction would bring "serious consequences." The injunction, granted after Alan O'Neill and partner June Finnegan secured a restraining order, prohibits the defendants from contacting the couple or driving past their home on Edenderry Road, Portlaoise. Mr Justice Nolan noted that the defendants had already breached the injunction when Mr Martin Senior sent a WhatsApp message threatening to report the couple to Tusla for "dangerous unlicensed animals" and demanding the removal of Mr O'Neill's car. The judge described the defendants' conduct as "egregious" and urged their lawyers to convey the gravity of any further breaches. He adjourned the case for a week to allow the parties to discuss a potential arrangement regarding the injunction.
Jozef Puska, aged 33, has been granted legal aid to appeal his conviction for the murder of school teacher Ashling Murphy. The Court of Appeal approved legal aid for all 20 applications presented that morning, and Puska will receive the same representation he had at the Central Criminal Court: a solicitor, senior counsel and two junior counsel. His trial concluded with a unanimous jury verdict after he was found to have stabbed Ms Murphy eleven times in the neck and slashed her once with a blade, leaving her to die in the thorns beside the canal towpath. Puska's defence argued that his confession to the Gardaí, made two days after the stabbing while he was under the influence of oxycodone and recovering from abdominal surgery, was involuntary, and objected to the prosecution's use of CCTV footage showing him stalking two women in Tullamore town centre before heading to the canal. Jozef Puska pleaded not guilty. Ashling Murphy pleaded not guilty.
Alan O'Neill and his partner June Finnegan have launched High Court proceedings against Drumgoan Developments Limited, Noel Martin Senior, and Darren Martin regarding a dispute over the ownership of a garage in Portarlington, Co Laois. The plaintiffs allege they purchased the garage in 2005 but it was not properly conveyed due to a solicitor's oversight. They claim the defendants, who assert ownership, engaged in a "land grab," made monetary demands, and damaged the property with a JCB on 21 February, despite the garage housing exotic animals including a caiman alligator, chameleons, and scorpions. Mr O'Neill alleged that men directed by Darren Martin smashed the walls with power tools and drove a JCB through the structure, causing substantial damage and disrupting animal breeding. He further claimed Noel Martin Senior sent threatening messages and that the defendants intimidated the family by driving near their home. In response to a cease and desist letter, Mr Martin Senior allegedly dismissed the legal correspondence as "waffle" and threatened to report the plaintiffs to Tusla. Counsel Ruaidhri Giblin BL, instructed by solicitor Paul Kelly, sought an injunction to protect the property and restrain interference. Mr Justice Mark Sanfey, hearing the matter on an ex parte basis, granted a temporary injunction restraining the defendants or their agents from contacting or communicating with the plaintiffs. The judge noted the defendants' communications did not put them in a good light and granted permission to serve short notice of the proceedings. The matter was adjourned and will return before the court next week.
The High Court struck out a claim by financial fund Everyday Finance DAC against applicants Helen Bracken and Joseph Bracken, ruling that the delay in progressing the proceedings was inexcusable and inordinate. Ms Justice Marguerite Bolger dismissed the action, which sought over €1m in judgement regarding a defaulted loan originally advanced by AIB Plc in 2007 for a housing project in Ferbane, Co Offaly. The applicants, represented by solicitor Donnacha Anhold, opposed the claim and successfully brought a pre-trial application to have it dismissed on grounds of delay. They alleged they were prejudiced by the eight-year period between the commencement of proceedings in 2013 and the trial being set down in late 2021. The applicants rejected AIB's assertion that they signed a 2009 letter extending the facility, stating the signatures were not theirs and that they never consented to the alleged extension. The judge noted that the delay would render witness evidence fragile and unreliable, particularly given the absence of certain documentation and the serious injury sustained by Mr Bracken in 2017. She found that the balance of justice favoured dismissing the claim, rejecting the plaintiff's argument that dismissal would force a write-off of substantial debt. The court indicated a provisional view that the applicants were entitled to their legal costs. The matter was adjourned and will return before the court next month for final orders.
A crane hire company, Gabriel O'Brien Crane Hire Ltd, was ordered to pay €14,000 to Enda Fox after the Workplace Relations Commission found the dismissal of Fox, who was recovering from a broken pelvis, to be an egregious breach of employment law. Fox, who fell from a crane in June 2022 and was declared fit to return to work, was terminated on 1 August 2022 after he had submitted sick notes and requested a form to claim sick pay. The company's representatives denied all claims of discrimination. The adjudicator noted the company's failure to provide reasonable accommodation and the lack of fair procedures, awarding Fox €10,000 for discrimination and an additional €4,000 for breach of the Terms of Employment Information Act 1994, bringing the total to €14,000. The case highlighted the company's disregard for disability rights and employment obligations.
Four men entered a Dublin secondary school at about 2 pm on 13 October 2022 and violently confronted a teenage boy. CCTV showed the men entering the school, the boy taking a hammer from his bag in self‑defence and fleeing, and the fourth man—who is not yet before the courts—throwing a steel pole at the boy, narrowly missing him. The third man, Josh Neary (22), grabbed the boy's bag and threw it. Staff removed the men from the school; no physical injuries were reported. Garda Aisling Halligan told the court that students were frightened and a staff member retired because of the incident. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced the three men who pleaded guilty to violent disorder to 16 months' imprisonment, suspending the sentence in full for Jack Craig (21) who had no prior convictions and played a minor role. Neary and Scott Purdue (25) received the full 16‑month terms.
A trial date has been set for the wife and brothers of Jozef Puska, who is currently serving a mandatory life sentence for the murder of Ashling Murphy in Tullamore, Co Offaly, on January 12, 2022. The wife of Jozef Puska, Lucia Istokova, and his brothers Marek Puska and Lubomir Puska are accused of failing to disclose information to gardaí between January 12, 2022, and January 27, 2022, at Tullamore Garda Station. Jozefina Grundzova and Viera Gaziova are accused of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of a person. The trial, which is expected to last up to four weeks, is scheduled for April 28, 2025, and will be heard together. Free legal aid for senior and junior counsel was granted to all five defendants, who were not required to attend the court. The matter was adjourned by Ms Justice Karen O'Connor to a case management list in June. Jozef Puska had pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Murphy, but an unanimous jury found him guilty after just two hours of deliberation.
Joe Dunne, 82, a former priest, was given a fully suspended four‑year sentence in March 2023 for five counts of indecent assault on a young woman who was already vulnerable. The victim, who had been abused previously, described the abuse as violent and terrifying, noting that Dunne exploited his chaplaincy role and repeatedly assaulted her in remote locations. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, overturned the suspended sentence, citing the gravity of the offences and the impact on the victim. Edwards imposed a headline six‑year custodial sentence, discounted two years for guilty pleas and personal circumstances, and suspended an additional two years, leaving Dunne with a two‑year jail term. The decision was made after the court considered Dunne's age, health, and the dependency of his 94‑year‑old sister, whom he solely cares for. The case was originally uncovered in 2019 when Gardaí found letters from the victim to her bishop.
At the Central Criminal Court, Matthew Cummins appeared on appeal regarding the reactivation of his suspended sentence. The State sought to activate the two-year suspended portion of his nine-year term, which was imposed in September 2021 for impeding the apprehension of an offender. This followed Cummins' guilty plea and sentencing on December 5 last year at Tullamore Circuit Criminal Court, where he received two-and-a-half years' imprisonment for criminal damage, with the final year suspended. Cummins, who has 69 previous convictions, had previously admitted to helping Sean Davy, a convicted murderer, by attempting to burn the victim's body to destroy evidence. James Davy, Cummins' co-accused in the original 2014 incident, also had his murder conviction overturned in 2021 and was re-sentenced to nine years with two suspended. Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford revoked the two-year suspension but substituted it with a one-year jail term, backdated to December 5 last, with no portion suspended. She noted Cummins' good behaviour and course completion in prison, granting him a further chance despite his high risk of reoffending. Sean Davy remains serving a life sentence for murder.
In a courtroom in Dublin, Ryan Casey, the boyfriend of the 23‑year‑old teacher Ashling Murphy, delivered a tearful statement after the jury convicted Jozef Puska of murder. Casey described his love for Murphy, their plans to marry and start a family, and the loss he feels. He accused Puska of showing no remorse and called him "the lowest of the low." The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, imposed a mandatory life sentence, noting the seriousness of the crime and the possibility of a whole‑life order. Puska, 33, was found guilty of stabbing Murphy eleven times and slashing her once before leaving her to die near a canal in Tullamore. He will be eligible for parole after 12 years. Casey's statement focused on the personal grief and the impact of Murphy's death on his life.
Jozef Puska, 33, of Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly, has been sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for the murder of 23-year-old school teacher Ashling Murphy. The sentence was handed down by Mr Justice Tony Hunt following a jury conviction. Puska had pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Murphy at Cappincur, Tullamore, Co Offaly, on January 12, 2022. The jury found him guilty after rejecting his claim that he was attacked by a masked man. Evidence placed him at the scene via his bicycle, CCTV footage, and DNA found on the bike and under Ms Murphy's fingernails. Mr Justice Hunt stated that the sentence was "richly deserved" and lamented his lack of power to impose a minimum term, noting that a whole life term would have been considered if he had such authority. He emphasized that the motive remains unknown. During the hearing, victim impact statements were read from Ms Murphy's sister, mother, and boyfriend, Ryan Casey, who described Puska as showing zero remorse. The court noted that no connection existed between the defendant and the victim, despite online rumors. Puska was led away by prison officers after the sentencing.