Mr Justice Paul McDermott, presiding over the Central Criminal Court, publicly refuted claims made by Sinn Féin TD Martin Kenny in Dáil Éireann. Kenny, acting as Justice Spokesman, had alleged that court facilities outside Dublin, specifically in Limerick, were underutilised because judges were unwilling to travel from their base locations. He stated that witnesses and victims were forced to travel to Dublin despite adequate local facilities. Mr Justice McDermott described these assertions as "concerning" and "ill-informed," asserting it is "simply incorrect" to suggest High Court judges lack willingness to travel. He noted that during the current session, cases were heard in Cork, Kilkenny, Monaghan, and Tullamore, with Waterford expected to join soon. The judge emphasised that the Central Criminal Court actively seeks these venues to reduce the burden on victims, acknowledging the "extreme distress" caused by travel. Regarding Limerick specifically, he clarified that the court is currently unavailable, but stated unequivocally that if it were accessible, judges would travel there. He concluded by affirming that there is "no question" of any High Court judge being unwilling to travel to hear cases, reiterating the judiciary's commitment to utilising available regional facilities.
Nigel McEvoy, 46, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Paddy Keogh, 74, at a Dublin bar on 24 November 2018. The attack left Keogh with panic attacks, early‑onset dementia and a nursing home stay. McEvoy, who has 14 prior convictions including nine public‑order offences, was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally to 36 months' custody, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. The judge noted the assault was "violent in the extreme" and that Keogh's life‑changing injuries were fully described in a victim impact statement. McEvoy, who has schizophrenia and a history of mental‑health difficulties, expressed remorse, offered €200 as a gesture of apology (to be donated to the Alzheimer's Society of Ireland), and has taken steps to improve his circumstances since 2019. The sentence reflects mitigating factors such as his guilty plea, limited violent history and his efforts to address his mental health.
A divorced couple received fully suspended sentences at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for money laundering nearly €180,000 stolen through an invoice redirect fraud targeting an education board. Zanab Ibrahim, aged 51, of Wolfe Tone Street in Cavan, and her ex-husband Francis Falaye, aged 54, of Lobinstown Apartment in Navan, Co Meath, pleaded guilty to the offence. The Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board was defrauded when an email purporting to come from a construction company redirected payment for school works in Tullamore to accounts controlled by the defendants. Ibrahim received €178,695 into her fashion boutique account, from which €50,000 was transferred to Falaye four days later. The fraud emerged when the genuine contractor advised non-receipt of payment. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a suspended two-and-a-half-year sentence on each defendant, conditional on keeping the peace. Falaye was ordered to pay €1,000 to the Peter McVerry Trust. Gardaí recovered all but €1,000 of the stolen funds.
In February 2020, Martin Feehan, 42, was convicted of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm after a reckless overtaking manoeuvre on the Mallow‑to‑Cork road in Granagh, Co Cork, on 16 February 2015. The incident left 40‑year‑old Brid Hallihan with a broken pelvis and months of hospital treatment. Feehan was sentenced by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin to a three‑year suspended sentence and a 20‑year driving ban. In March 2022, Feehan appealed the conviction and sought to reduce the ban. The Court of Appeal, after hearing arguments, quashed the 20‑year ban and substituted a 10‑year ban, back‑dated to the original sentencing date of 6 February 2020. The conviction itself remained upheld. The case highlighted the severity of the offence and the court's stance on public safety.
Five men aged 17 to 19 were convicted of gang‑rape and sexual assault of a 17‑year‑old Leaving Cert student on 27 December 2016. The victim was taken from a midlands town to a remote dry dock in Co Westmeath where the men raped her one after another, filmed the assaults, and later forced her into a car where further sexual acts occurred. The court heard the victim's impact statement, describing how the men stripped her of dignity and left her in shock. Ms Justice Tara Burns sentenced the men to a combined 66 years: 15 years for Marcos Vinicius De Silva Umbelino, 18 years for Eduardo Dias Ferreira Filho, 20 years for Gabriel Gomes Da Rocha, 12 years for Conor Byrne, and 7 years for Ethan Nikolaou. All sentences had a suspended year, and additional concurrent sentences were imposed for other assaults. Conor Byrne pleaded guilty.
Five men were convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of sexually assaulting and raping a 17-year-old Leaving Cert student in December 2016. The defendants are Gabriel Gomes Da Rocha, Eduardo Dias Ferreira Filho, Ethan Nikolaou, Marcos De Silva Umbelino, and Conor Byrne. Byrne entered a guilty plea to rape, while the other four men denied all charges but were found guilty of various counts of sexual assault, rape, and false imprisonment. The jury reached unanimous verdicts after a four-week trial. During the proceedings, the victim addressed the court, expressing her trauma and PTSD. She specifically addressed Byrne, acknowledging his admission of guilt and asking him not to let this be the defining moment of his life. She stated she would not forgive the other four men, who she said showed no remorse. The defence lawyers for all five men stated they accepted the jury verdicts and highlighted their clients' remorse. Ms Justice Tara Burns adjourned the case to 2pm on Thursday for finalisation. The five men were remanded in custody pending that finalisation.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Nigel McEvoy, 46, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to former GAA star Paddy Keogh, 74, after Keogh asked him to leave his daughter alone. McEvoy, who has 14 prior convictions including nine public order offences, attacked Keogh at Mercantile Bar on 24 November 2018. The assault involved McEvoy grabbing Keogh from behind, punching him, and then placing his foot on Keogh's neck, causing severe injury. Keogh, who has early onset dementia and lives in a nursing home, suffered cuts, swelling, and a knocked‑out tooth. McEvoy, diagnosed with schizophrenia, was remanded on bail pending sentencing on 5 October. The judge described the attack as "shocking" and noted its extremely severe impact on Keogh.
Jozef Puska, 31, of Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly, has been charged with the murder of 23‑year‑old primary school teacher Ashling Murphy, who was fatally assaulted while jogging along the Grand Canal in Tullamore on 12 January 2022. Puska is scheduled to stand trial at the Central Criminal Court in June 2023. At a brief hearing today, defence solicitors Padraig Langsch & Co were allowed to come on record after the Director of Public Prosecutions did not object. Puska was not present at the hearing. The trial is expected to last three to four weeks.
A judge ordered the arrest of Sandra O'Brien, a mother of four, for allegedly failing to remove her caravan from the Church Hill estate in Tullamore, Co Offaly. O'Brien had previously promised to vacate the estate by 10 am on 17 May, but the court found her caravan had moved within the estate. Mr Justice Alexander Owens directed Gardaí to arrest her and bring her before the High Court at a later date for contempt of court. The estate is managed by NAMA‑appointed receiver Aiden Murphy, who had obtained earlier injunctions requiring trespassing caravans to leave. O'Brien had been served with proceedings in February and had refused to vacate, citing lack of housing and safety concerns for her children. The receiver had considered prison but was left with no alternative after her refusal to comply.
In a High Court hearing on 10 May 2022, Sandra O'Brien, mother of four, was warned that she could be jailed for contempt if she failed to remove her caravan from the Church Hill estate in Tullamore, Co Offaly. The estate is managed by a NAMA‑appointed receiver, Aiden Murphy, who had obtained orders in 2016 requiring trespassers to vacate. O'Brien had previously complied but her caravan had returned, prompting attachment and committal proceedings. She pledged to vacate by 17 May, citing that her family had no alternative accommodation and feared for their safety if forced to live on the road. Judge Nuala Butler reminded her that the receiver had no duty to provide housing and that any housing issues were the responsibility of the local County Council. The matter was adjourned for a week.
In a High Court decision, Justice Siobhan Phelan ruled that Arderin Distillery Ltd, which had purchased alcohol to produce hand sanitiser for hospitals during the Covid‑19 emergency, had not yet received a formal decision from Revenue on its application for excise duty relief. The judge found the distillery's challenge premature because no decision had been made, but acknowledged that the distillery had a legitimate expectation of relief based on assurances from a Revenue official. The court held that, in the absence of a refusal or acceptance, the distillery could not obtain the declarations it sought. The judge noted the health emergency's urgency and the lack of pre‑litigation correspondence, which had hindered clarity and increased legal costs. No interim relief was granted. The case remains at the stage of an unmade decision by Revenue.
A 31‑year‑old man, Jozef Puska of Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly, is charged with the murder of 23‑year‑old primary school teacher Ashling Murphy, who was fatally assaulted while jogging along the Grand Canal in Tullamore on 12 January 2022. Puska is accused of murdering Murphy at Cappincur, Tullamore. His defence counsel, Rebecca Smith BL, informed Judge Paul McDermott that Puska will appear by video‑link and that a Slovakian interpreter is required for all court dates. The judge set 6 June 2023 as the trial date before a jury at the Central Criminal Court, with the case expected to last three to four weeks and all disclosure to be made within four months of that date. Puska was remanded in custody after a brief hearing and was sent forward for trial on 6 April after being served with the book of evidence. Free legal aid was granted for the trial.
In the trial, the 17‑year‑old victim recounted a night of repeated sexual assault by six men. She was lured into a car after a taxi wait, where she was forced into the back seat and subjected to molestation and rape by Gabriel Gomes Da Rocha, Marcos Vinicius De Silva Umbelino, Conor Byrne, Ethan Nikolaou, Eduardo Dias Ferreira Filho, and a fifth unnamed man. The victim described being coerced into touching a man's genitals, forced oral sex, and being prevented from leaving the vehicle. She reported feeling shocked, paralyzed, and crying throughout the assaults. The court heard CCTV footage of her running to a friend's house after the final assault. The defendants were convicted of various sexual assault and rape charges, with one defendant pleading guilty before trial. The case highlighted the victim's lack of escape options and the men's coordinated abuse.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a jury convicted four men of multiple sexual assaults during a gang rape of a 17‑year‑old girl on 27 December 2016. The girl was taken in a car by five men after she was separated from friends. While traveling, she was repeatedly groped and molested. The car was parked at a remote spot where two men raped her consecutively, then the car returned to town and was parked again. The girl attempted to leave; two men prevented her, one raped her again, and another orally raped her. After nine hours of deliberation, the jury found Marcos Vinicius De Silva Umbelino (22), Eduardo Dias Ferreira Filho (24), Gabriel Gomes Da Rocha (24) and Ethan Nikolaou (23) guilty of various charges, including rape and sexual assault. A fifth man, Conor Byrne (24), pleaded guilty to rape. All verdicts were unanimous.
Arderin Distillery Ltd, based in Tullamore, has brought a judicial review to the High Court claiming it was treated unfairly by Revenue when the company sought tax relief on alcohol used to produce hand sanitiser for hospitals during the Covid‑19 pandemic. The distillery argues that it purchased 50,000 litres of ethanol in March 2020, after receiving assurances from a Revenue official that it would not have to pay Alcohol Products Tax (APT). It asserts that it complied with all required forms and that Revenue had previously granted relief for up to 80,000 litres. Revenue denies ever approving the relief, stating it never made a decision to grant or refuse the company's request and that the company's claim is unsupported. The case is pending a decision from Justice Siobhan Phelan, who has reserved judgment following submissions from both parties. The distillery seeks orders to quash Revenue's alleged refusal, prevent an APT assessment, and declare the relief unreasonable.
In a High Court decision on 22 March 2022, Mr Justice Charles Meenan granted a judgement of just over €7 million to the financial fund Promontoria (Arrow Limited) against Thomas Dowling, who now lives in the UK. Promontoria claimed that Dowling's liability stemmed from a failure by Danum Development Limited to repay a €4.69 million loan taken in 2006 to buy 8.5 acres of land at the Whitehall Estate, Daingean Road, Tullamore, where 55 houses were planned. The loan was originally borrowed from Anglo Irish Bank, transferred to NAMA after Anglo's collapse, and later acquired by Promontoria in 2015. Dowling and three other parties had given personal guarantees for the borrowing. Promontoria demanded repayment in April 2016, which Danum did not pay, and in 2018 demanded repayment from Dowling and the other guarantors. Dowling, described as an experienced Irish businessman, failed to repay the amount now due, which Promontoria says is approximately €7 million.
A man from Ballymahon in County Longford has received a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to possessing stolen power tools at a market in Dublin. Brian Nevin, aged 30, admitted to 13 counts of possession of stolen goods found at Balbriggan Sunday market on 21 January 2018. The tools, valued at approximately €3,000, included drills, a screw gun, laser level, and other equipment. A tradesman from Tullamore recognised one of his stolen drills at the market and alerted gardaí. Following investigation, gardaí recovered the items and arrested Nevin, also seizing cash and the van used. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the judge imposed a 12-month custodial sentence suspended for 12 months on strict conditions, noting that Nevin had no further convictions since 2015 and remained engaged in his community. Nevin has 29 previous convictions.
In a High Court case in Offaly, residents near the Oxigen Environmental waste recycling site in Barnan, Daingean, claim the facility has repeatedly breached a court order issued by Mr Justice Garrett Simons in September 2022. The order, based on the site's planning permission, restricts the facility to accepting only construction and demolition waste, such as stone, soil, brick rubble and concrete, and prohibits the acceptance of mixed dry recyclables, household or commercial skips, civic amenity waste, fridges, WEEE, mattresses, sofas, tyres and timber shredding. The residents allege that Oxigen, operating as Guessford Ltd, continues to process commercial, timber and municipal waste, causing noise and dust, and that the company has ignored communications about the breaches. They have brought fresh proceedings seeking the attachment and possible committal of directors Mr Sean Doyle and Mr Alan Doyle for contempt of court. The matter is set to return before the court early next week.
Drmitriu Sehleanu, a former delivery driver from Bray, Co Wicklow, appeared before the Workplace Relations Commission to present a complaint of constructive dismissal against Cordelia Foods Ltd. The hearing, presided over by Adjudicator Kevin Baneham, concluded with the matter adjourned for the adjudicator to consider a decision. Mr Sehleanu alleged that he was forced to work 12 to 13 hours daily, driving up to 900km per day, and was pressured to exceed speed limits to meet delivery deadlines. He claimed he had to relieve himself into a bottle due to a lack of bathroom access and suffered a back injury while lifting flour without proper training. The company denied all claims, stating there was no bottle in the van, no workplace accident occurred, and Mr Sehleanu did not work beyond contracted hours. The company's representative, Rafaella Capolupo, argued that if the alleged speeding texts were true, Mr Sehleanu should be fined. The adjudicator closed the hearing to deliberate on the findings.
A man from Coventry, England, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Kevin Sheehy, a five-times Irish boxing champion, at the Central Criminal Court. Logan Jackson, aged 31, was found guilty by unanimous jury verdict of murdering the 20-year-old at Hyde Road in Limerick city on 1 July 2019. Jackson had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The jury rejected his defence of provocation. Evidence presented at trial established that Jackson repeatedly ran over Mr Sheehy with a Mitsubishi Shogun jeep following a brief altercation outside a house party. A concurrent sentence of seven years was imposed on a second conviction for endangerment involving dangerous driving. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon backdated the sentence to 1 July 2019, when Jackson entered custody. Victim impact statements were read to the court by Mr Sheehy's family members.
Stephen Penrose was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for the murder of Philip Finnegan at the Central Criminal Court. The sentence was backdated to May 17, 2017, when Penrose entered custody. Penrose, who had pleaded not guilty, was found guilty by a unanimous jury verdict. He represented himself during the trial after dismissing his legal teams, an action the judge described as a serious abuse of the legal system. In a victim impact statement, Angela Finnegan, the victim's mother, condemned Penrose for cross-examining her in the witness box, stating no mother should be questioned by the man who murdered her son. She described the trauma of finding her son's decapitated remains in Rahin Woods, Co Kildare, three weeks after he went missing. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster testified that Finnegan died from multiple stab wounds, including fatal injuries to his liver and aorta. Superintendent Brian O'Keeffe informed the court of Penrose's previous convictions, including the manslaughter of David Sharkey in 2010, for which Sharkey was sentenced to nine years in prison. Penrose's other prior offenses included possession of firearms, a hit-and-run, and assaults on prison officers. The judge noted that Penrose had been continually in custody since May 2017. The court rejected Penrose's defense that he was attacked by others, accepting the prosecution's case that he inflicted a gruesome death on Finnegan.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has convicted a UK man of the murder of Kevin Sheehy, a five-time Irish boxing champion, who was struck and run over multiple times by a jeep on Hyde Road in Limerick city on 1 July 2019. Logan Jackson, aged 31, of Longford Road, Coventry, England, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The jury unanimously rejected his defence of provocation after deliberating for two hours and thirty minutes. Jackson was also found guilty of endangerment. The court heard that Sheehy, aged 20, attempted to rise from the ground after the initial impact but was run over twice more at speed. Jackson claimed he felt intimidated after an altercation outside a house party, though he admitted to gardaí he was not under threat when he drove the vehicle and was angry and drinking. The judge will impose a mandatory life sentence next Tuesday. Sheehy's family will have the opportunity to address the court regarding the impact of his death.
At the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution closing argument in the trial of Logan Jackson concluded on December 9th. Mr Jackson, aged 31, of Coventry, England, denies murdering Kevin Sheehy, a five-time Irish boxing champion aged 20, but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter. The death occurred on July 1st, 2019, on Hyde Road in Limerick city, when Mr Sheehy was struck repeatedly by a Mitsubishi Shogun jeep, sustaining fatal injuries including a catastrophic skull fracture. The prosecution barrister contended that CCTV evidence contradicted the defendant's account to gardaí, describing his statements as fabricated. The defence counsel argued the case lacked conclusive detail and that manslaughter remained the appropriate verdict. Mr Jackson also faces a charge of dangerous driving contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. Justice Eileen Creedon is expected to charge the jury of five men and six women before deliberations commence. Logan Jackson pleaded not guilty.
At the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, a murder trial has heard evidence regarding the death of Kevin Sheehy, a five-time Irish boxing champion killed in Limerick city on July 1, 2019. Logan Jackson, a 31-year-old from Coventry, England, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Detective Garda Pat Whelan gave evidence of interviews conducted after Jackson presented himself at Tullamore Garda Station on the evening of the incident. Jackson initially claimed he faced threats from "three big fellas" near his black Mitsubishi Shogun jeep on Hyde Road, but in his fifth interview acknowledged he was angry and drinking when he pulled out the vehicle and that there was no threat present at that time. The 20-year-old was struck repeatedly by the jeep and sustained fatal injuries including a catastrophic skull fracture. Forensic evidence placed Mr Sheehy's DNA on the vehicle's front grill and bumper trim. The trial continues before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
In a High Court judicial review, a residents group from Treascon and Clondooluck, Portarlington, challenged An Bord Pleanala's October 4 decision to grant planning permission to Elgin Energy Services Limited for a solar power station on 90 hectares. The group, represented by Oisin Collins SC and Margaret Heavey BL, argued the decision was invalid because it contravened EU directives on habitats and Environmental Impact Assessments, and that the board failed to conduct a proper Appropriate Assessment. They cited potential impacts on species such as the Whooper Swan and the Fresh Water Pearl Mussel, and on nearby special conservation areas. The group also claimed the board ignored flood risk assessments in the Co Offaly Development Plan. Elgin Energy Services Ltd is a notice party. The judge directed the group to apply for permission to bring the challenge on notice, and the case will return in January.
Stephen Penrose, aged 38, was found guilty by a jury of murdering his friend Philip Finnegan, aged 24, who was missing for three weeks before his decapitated remains were discovered in a shallow grave in Rahin Woods, Kildare. The jury rejected Penrose's defence that he had last seen Finnegan being stabbed by a group of men in a forest and that he had attempted to conceal the body's location. Evidence included a DNA match from a bloodied glove found near the remains, a forensic scientist's report linking Penrose's DNA to the glove, and testimony that Finnegan's body had suffered multiple stab wounds, including fatal ones to the liver and aorta. Penrose had previously been convicted of manslaughter in 2010. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court, concluded with a unanimous verdict after five hours and 46 minutes of deliberation over two days.
The jury in the Stephen Penrose murder trial, which concerns the death of 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan whose decapitated body was found in a Kildare woods, has paused its deliberations for the weekend and will return to the Central Criminal Court on Monday. The panel of eight men and four women spent 3 hours and 36 minutes considering their verdict. Judge Alexander Owens instructed them to suspend deliberations at 4 pm and resume on Monday morning to decide whether Penrose, aged 38, should be found guilty of murdering Finnegan. The jury was told to ignore Penrose's choice to represent himself, his outburst in court, and his repeated hiring and firing of lawyers, and to focus solely on the evidence presented. The case has heard that Finnegan's remains were found buried in a shallow grave, that a DNA profile from a bloodied glove matched Penrose, and that the death was caused by multiple stab wounds. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Stephen Penrose, 38, for the alleged murder of Philip Finnegan, 24, at Rahin Woods, Edenderry, Co Kildare, on August 10, 2016, is ongoing. Penrose, of Coolock, Dublin 17, pleaded not guilty. The Central Criminal Court jury has heard that Finnegan's decapitated remains were found buried in September 2016, with forensic evidence indicating death by multiple stab wounds. A DNA profile from a bloodied glove matched Penrose. The prosecution alleges Penrose brought Finnegan to the woods between 4.10pm and 5.13pm, a period supported by CCTV footage of his Alfa Romeo. Penrose claimed he was attacked by men in a black car while testing firearms, but the State argues his changing accounts were an attempt to conceal the body's location. Mr Justice Alexander Owens charged the jury to ignore Penrose's unrepresented status, courtroom outbursts, and character, focusing solely on the evidence. The judge noted Penrose declined to give a closing speech or call witnesses. The jury was instructed to decide if Penrose was the perpetrator. The judge will complete his charge tomorrow morning, after which the jury will begin deliberations.
Gardai questioned Stephen Penrose, accused of murdering 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan, about the location of the attack that led to Finnegan's death in Rahin Woods, Kildare. Penrose gave multiple, conflicting accounts of where he and Finnegan were attacked by a group of men on 10 August 2016, initially saying it occurred on the outskirts of Kilcock, then near Clonuff, then near Edenderry, and finally near a caravan beside a woods. He claimed they were there to collect firearms, but later denied any knowledge of the attack. Penrose admitted to lying about the location out of fear for his life. Evidence presented included a blood‑stained glove matching Penrose's DNA found near Finnegan's remains, a garden fork, shovel, and knife blade, and a fire‑damaged glove. The trial continues before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury, with Penrose remaining in custody and refusing to attend. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty. Philip Finnegan pleaded not guilty.
Stephen Penrose, 38, of Coolock, Dublin, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Philip Finnegan, 24, who was found decapitated in a shallow grave in Rahin Woods, Kildare, on 2 September 2016. Penrose testified that he witnessed Finnegan being stabbed in the back by a group of men on 10 August 2016. He claimed he had no involvement in Finnegan's death and that he had been attacked in a black car, sustaining a stab wound to his left arm. Penrose's DNA was found on a left‑handed gardening glove near the grave, and a bloodied glove was recovered from the site. He has repeatedly denied any role in the murder, stating he was not in the woods and that he only witnessed the attack. The trial is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court.
A blood‑stained glove found near the skeletonised remains of Philip Finnegan in Rahin Woods matched DNA from Stephen Penrose, a forensic scientist who is on trial for Finnegan's murder. The glove, heavily charred and bearing blood on five internal sites, was recovered by Gardaí on 8 September 2016 and later analysed by Dr Alan McGee of Forensic Science Ireland. McGee compared the glove's DNA with a buccal swab taken from Penrose on 16 November 2016 and reported a match, estimating the probability of a different source as less than one in a billion. Penrose, 38, pleaded not guilty to the murder of the 24‑year‑old, who was found buried in a shallow grave after being missing for just over three weeks.
In a murder trial, a pathologist testified that the decapitated, skeletonised remains of a 24‑year‑old Dublin man, Philip Finnegan, were found curled in a foetal position in a shallow grave in Rahin Woods, Kildare, after he had been missing for 30 days. The remains were partially burned and evidence of multiple stab wounds, including two fatal ones to the liver and aorta, was presented. Fingerprints recovered from a finger that had slipped away from the soil confirmed Finnegan's identity. The accused, Stephen Penrose, 38, pleaded not guilty. The trial also discussed a blood‑stained glove that matched Penrose's DNA and his phone's proximity to the site. The case is ongoing before Mr Justice Owens and a jury.
During a murder trial, a dog walker recounted discovering what he believed to be a body in Rahin Woods, Kildare, on 2 September 2016. He found two dogs barking near a buried object that appeared to be flesh. He later informed two men, Ivan Pollard and Pat McGrath, who called 112. Garda inspectors Aiden Hannon and Padraig Nolan examined the site, noting almost skeletal remains protruding from a shallow grave, a stab‑proof vest, a garden fork, a shovel, a knife blade, a mobile phone, a fire‑damaged glove, and a black funnel. The remains were taken to Naas mortuary. The trial heard that the accused, Stephen Penrose, 38, pleaded not guilty to murdering 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan, whose body was found decapitated in the woods. The case is ongoing before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury.
Stephen Penrose, 38, accused of murdering 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan in Kildare woods, has re‑engaged solicitor Michael French while junior counsel Eoghan Weldon may return to represent him. He has not retained senior counsel Anthony Sammon. Penrose has repeatedly declined to attend his trial, which is in its fourth week at the Central Criminal Court. He previously represented himself, cross‑examining witnesses and accusing a Garda inspector of lying. The judge warned him that continued abuse of witnesses could lead to his removal from the courtroom. Penrose's trial continues with jurors hearing his multiple Garda interviews, where he gave conflicting accounts of the victim's movements and the location of the body. The prosecution has presented evidence of a bloodied glove DNA‑matched to Penrose and phone data linking him to the area where Finnegan's body was found. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty.
Paulina Galantkiewicz, a 34‑year‑old learner driver from Belmont Park, Raheny, was convicted of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm after she ran over cyclist Aline Taveres, 34, on Oak Road, Clondalkin, on 1 June 2018. Galantkiewicz told the court she panicked, pressed the accelerator instead of the brakes, and rolled over the cyclist. She had no prior convictions. The jury found her guilty on the sole count after an hour and a half of deliberation. Judge Martin Nolan, noting the lack of aggravating factors such as speed, alcohol or drugs, and Galantkiewicz's unblemished record, imposed a two‑year suspended sentence and a four‑year automatic disqualification from driving, with no requirement to retake the driving test. The sentence reflected the serious injuries sustained by Taveres, who now uses a wheelchair and has not worked since the accident. The court heard that the collision occurred in wet weather, with no independent witnesses but CCTV evidence. Paulina Galantkiewicz pleaded not guilty.
Stephen Penrose, 38, of Coolock, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Philip Finnegan, 24, who was found decapitated in a shallow grave in Kildare woods. During the trial, Penrose told Gardaí that he had heard rumours that Finnegan was "sitting in Jamaica eating a Big Mac" and that he had been "chopped up" in the Dublin mountains. He also claimed he had no knowledge of Finnegan's disappearance and that he had been stabbed in the arm during an alleged altercation on August 10. Penrose represented himself but has since hired new lawyers and declined to attend further court sessions. Gardaí have noted that a blood‑stained glove found at the scene matched Penrose's DNA and that his phone was linked to a cell site near the burial site. The trial continues before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury of 12.
During the Central Criminal Court trial of Stephen Penrose, a 38‑year‑old from Coolock, evidence was presented that his phone made a data connection at a cell site near Rahin, where the body of 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan was found. The phone also connected to several other sites in Edenderry and surrounding areas on the afternoon of 10 August 2016, including Liffey Valley fitness centre, Edenderry water tower, Monasteroris, Russellswood, Moyvalley and Enfield. The last outgoing call from Penrose's phone was at 6:09 pm, connecting to a cell site in Enfield. The prosecution also noted that Finnegan's phone was last used in Edenderry at 3:44 pm, and that his mother's call at 4:40 pm was unanswered. Additional testimony included a text sent from Penrose's phone at 4:07 pm and a call at 4:53 pm to a site covering Rahin Woods. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty.
Paul Penrose gave evidence at the Central Criminal Court in a murder trial concerning his son, Stephen Penrose, aged 38, of Coolock, Dublin. Stephen Penrose has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Phillip Finnegan, aged 24, at Rahin Woods, County Kildare on August 10, 2016. The father described meeting Mr Finnegan on August 8, two days before the alleged killing, and stated that the two men appeared friendly towards each other. Paul Penrose testified about subsequent events, including his son's hospitalisation with stab wounds, the discovery of bloodstains on a vehicle, and an attempt to purchase cleaning products. The trial heard that Mr Finnegan's decapitated remains were discovered in a shallow grave in Kildare woodland. The prosecution has indicated that a bloodied glove found at the scene matched DNA belonging to the accused. The trial continues before Justice Alexander Owens and jury.
The jury in the trial of Stephen Penrose, 38, accused of murdering 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan, watched a montage of CCTV footage showing a blue saloon car's movements on the day of the killing. The footage, presented by Garda Shauna Nolan, shows Finnegan leaving a filling station in Edenderry at 3.46 pm, entering the car with Penrose, and the vehicle driving toward Rahin Woods. The car is seen passing Kinnefad at 4.05 pm, arriving at Grange West at 4.10 pm, and later at a house in Balrinnet at 5.13 pm. At 6.21 pm the car stops at Browne's filling station in Kilcock, where a man in dark clothing is seen with a bleeding left wrist. The final clip shows an ambulance outside Connolly Hospital at 7.39 pm, with a paramedic treating a patient's left forearm injury. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty.
The jury in the trial of Stephen Penrose, 38, who is accused of murdering 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan, watched a montage of CCTV footage from August 8 to 10, 2016. The footage shows Finnegan leaving a blue saloon at Sweeney's filling station in Edenderry at 3.46 pm, entering a shop wearing a grey hoodie and a blue top, and Penrose entering the shop wearing a dark‑coloured top and trousers. The prosecution argues Finnegan was killed shortly after the footage. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Alexander Owens, continues with 12 jurors. Penrose, who has pleaded not guilty and represented himself, has hired new lawyers but declined to attend the trial. The prosecution also presented a bloodied glove found in the woods that DNA matched Penrose.
In the Central Criminal Court, Stephen Penrose, aged 38, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Philip Finnegan, 24, who was found decapitated in a Kildare woods on 10 August 2016. A Garda officer reported finding a blue Alfa Romeo car in Kilcock on 13 August, with extensive blood splatter on the gearstick and driver's door. The vehicle, registered in Portarlington, was seized as it was believed to contain evidence of the assault. Paramedic Terry Devine treated Penrose for a stab wound to his left arm, noting blood-soaked socks. Penrose claimed five men were involved in an incident where Finnegan was stabbed and he fled in the car. Inspector Aidan Hannon recounted that Penrose was stabbed through a window while driving the Alfa Romeo, after which he stopped, removed his sock, and left the vehicle. The trial continues before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and 12 jurors.
Stephen Penrose, aged 38, accused of murdering 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan in Kildare woods, has declined to attend his murder trial in person. The Central Criminal Court jury was informed that proceedings would continue without him. Penrose had previously represented himself after dismissing his legal team, but has now hired new counsel: solicitor Michael French and barristers Anthony Sammon SC and Eoghan Weldon BL. Judge Alexander Owens warned Penrose that continued disruptive behaviour could lead to his removal from the courtroom. Penrose had previously shouted at a Garda Inspector in the witness box, accusing him of lying. The trial, which began on 13 October, will proceed with the jury hearing CCTV footage and evidence, including a bloodied glove DNA‑matched to Penrose, while the body of Finnegan was found decapitated in a shallow grave in Kildare woods. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, 38‑year‑old Stephen Penrose, accused of murdering Philip Finnegan, is representing himself in his trial. During cross‑examination of Inspector Aidan Hannon, Penrose repeatedly accused the witness of lying under oath, shouting "you're a liar" and demanding Hannon be dismissed. Judge Alexander Owens warned Penrose that if he continued to "abuse" and "ballyrag" witnesses he would be taken to the cells and barred from participating in his own trial. Owens also cautioned that barristers may not call witnesses liars under oath. Penrose's outbursts included shouting at the jury and threatening to have the witness's statement taken. The judge called the behaviour contempt of court and ordered Penrose to sit down or face removal. The trial, expected to last five to six weeks, continues with the judge and 12 jurors present. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
At the Central Criminal Court on 14 October 2021, Angela Finnegan, mother of the missing 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan, was cross‑examined by Stephen Penrose, the man accused of murdering her son. Ms Finnegan confirmed that Philip had been in contact with Penrose on the morning of 10 August 2016, the day he disappeared, and that he had been "in good form" when she last saw him. She stated that Philip had been looking for directions to Cloverhill Courthouse and that she had tried to reach him again at 4.40 pm, but his phone was off. Ms Finnegan also agreed with the prosecution that a named man in Portlaoise Prison had threatened Philip and that this man was present in the prison at the time of Philip's disappearance. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty. Angela Finnegan pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Stephen Penrose, 38, for the murder of 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan, began on 13 October 2021. The prosecution, led by Brendan Grehan SC, presented evidence that Finnegan's decapitated body was found buried in a shallow grave in Rahin Woods, Kildare, after attempts to cut and burn it. A bloodied glove recovered from the woods matched Penrose's DNA. Penrose had been seen in a blue Alfa Romeo on CCTV near a fast‑food restaurant in Kilcock on the day of the murder and had claimed to have been attacked by men, a story the court said was inconsistent with the evidence. The prosecution argued that Penrose had killed Finnegan in the woods, disposed of the body, and then lied to Gardaí to conceal the location. The trial is scheduled to continue for five to six weeks. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty.
Matthew Cummins, aged 27, was released after serving seven years for a murder conviction that was quashed by the Court of Appeal. The appeal found no evidence that Cummins and James Davy were part of a joint enterprise with Sean Davy, who struck Thomas 'Toddy' Dooley eight times with a baseball bat. Cummins admitted responsibility for burn marks on Dooley's legs and the armchair, having tried to set fire to the body to destroy evidence. Mr Justice Michael White sentenced Cummins to nine years, with two years suspended, to run consecutively with a two‑year arson term. Cummins has been in custody since 2014 and is now eligible for release. The judge noted his exemplary prison behaviour but warned of a high risk of reoffending. The article reports only the procedural outcome and Cummins' admission of the fire‑setting attempt.
James Davy, originally convicted of the murder of 64‑year‑old Thomas 'Toddy' Dooley, had his conviction overturned by the Court of Appeal and replaced with a conviction for assisting an offender. Mr Justice Michael White at the Central Criminal Court sentenced Davy to nine years, noting he had served his sentence and should be released after entering custody in November 2014. Matthew Cummins, whose murder conviction was also quashed, will be sentenced for his role in an attempted cover‑up; his barrister said he accepts responsibility for attempting to set fire to the deceased after Dooley had been beaten to death by Sean Davy. Cummins' behaviour in prison has been described as "quite exceptional" and the judge is considering suspending part of his sentence and running it concurrently with sentences for other offences.
In August 2021 the High Court granted bail to James Davy, 30, after the Court of Appeal quashed his murder conviction for the 2014 killing of 64‑year‑old Thomas 'Toddy' Dooley. The appeal replaced the murder verdicts of Davy and Matthew Cummins, 27, with convictions for assisting an offender under Section 7(2) of the Criminal Law Act 1997. Davy was released on a €100 bond with conditions including a daily curfew, a mobile phone requirement, and a prohibition on travel to Edenderry. Cummins was denied bail and must remain in custody until his September 2 sentencing hearing. The High Court noted the two men had different circumstances and that Cummins had a larger record of post‑murder offences. The decision reflects the court's assessment that Davy's case warranted bail while Cummins' did not. The DPP was considering whether to appeal the Court of Appeal's decision to the Supreme Court.
Gary Thompson and Glen Thompson have withdrawn their appeals against 12.5-year jail sentences imposed for their roles in a Kinahan Cartel plot to murder Patsy Hutch. The brothers, who pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to unlawful possession of four firearms with intent to endanger life at Belmont Hall Apartments, Gardiner Street, Dublin, on March 10, 2018, and directing the activities of a criminal organisation between February 1 and March 10, 2018, faced a Court of Appeal hearing where Mr Justice George Birmingham questioned the reality of their arguments. He noted that Glen Thompson had already received a 25% discount from an 18-year headline sentence and warned that any successful appeal could result in a longer term, describing such an outcome as a "Pyrrhic victory." The court also referenced the 11.5-year sentence given to co-accused Robert Browne and the 10-year sentence imposed on Patrick Curtis, who was found to be the top figure within the sub-cell. Counsel for the DPP argued that the appellants' claims of unfairness lacked reality, noting that mitigating factors beyond their guilty pleas were minimal. Following these remarks, counsel for the Thompson brothers stated they had received instructions to withdraw their appeals, leaving the original sentences intact.
Malik Boubir, 46, a father of seven from Liverpool, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment with the final three years suspended on strict conditions. He pleaded guilty to importing €79,648 worth of cannabis into Ireland via a van that had a hidden compartment behind the driver's seat. The van was seized at Dublin Port on 20 October 2020 after customs officers, who had confidential information about the vehicle, stopped and searched it. Boubir had 51 prior convictions in England, including drug possession with intent to supply. He claimed he was paid €2,600 to transport the drugs, that the van did not belong to him, and that he was following instructions from people in Ireland. Gardaí found two mobile phones in his possession showing he had been receiving communications from "certain individuals" in Ireland.