A 42‑year‑old man, Vasile Plesca, withdrew his appeal against a three‑year jail term after being convicted of assault causing harm to his wife. The incident, which took place on 26 April 2017, involved Plesca striking his wife with a rolling pin in a jealous rage, forcing her to remove blood‑stained clothing and shower, and leaving her with bruises and marks. Video evidence recorded by the victim showed her screaming and pleading for help. Plesca denied strangling her and claimed he avoided hospital visits to protect his children. A psychological report noted an intellectual disability. Judge Karen O'Connor suspended the final year of a four‑year sentence, and Plesca had appealed to the Court of Appeal. Before proceedings began, Court President Justice George Birmingham allowed the withdrawal of the appeal, citing the seriousness of the offence and the importance of the appellant's awareness of sentencing options. Vasile Plesca pleaded guilty.
The Court of Appeal has quashed the murder convictions of Matthew Cummins and James Davy, substituting them with convictions for assisting an offender under the Criminal Law Act 1997. In a written judgment, the court found no evidence of a joint enterprise to murder 64-year-old Thomas 'Toddy' Dooley, whose death resulted from eight blows to the head and two to the torso. While the court described the defendants' subsequent conduct—attempting to burn the body and disposing of a baseball bat—as 'reprehensible,' it ruled this did not prove a prior agreement to kill. The appeal court rejected arguments for separate trials, noting the jury was entitled to hear the facts in totality. It determined that the trial judge erred in failing to direct the jury to return not guilty verdicts for murder but found overwhelming evidence of guilt regarding the post-offence conduct. The matter was adjourned and sent back to the Central Criminal Court for sentencing. Seán Davy, who had previously failed in a bid to have his conviction overturned in 2018, remains a convicted person in this case, though the current judgment specifically addresses the substitution of verdicts for Cummins and James Davy.
The Court of Appeal has quashed the murder convictions of Matthew Cummins, Seán Davy, and James Davy regarding the 2014 death of Thomas Dooley in Edenderry, Co Offaly. Presiding with Justices John Edwards and Isobel Kennedy, Court President Justice George Birmingham substituted the verdicts with convictions for impeding the apprehension or prosecution of a person under Section 7(2) of the Criminal Law Act 1997. The court ordered that the men be sent back to the Central Criminal Court for sentencing on these substituted verdicts, with a written judgement expected later. The three men had previously been found guilty of murder by a unanimous jury in 2016 and sentenced to life imprisonment. During the appeal, counsel for Cummins argued that the trial judge failed to properly explain the law regarding joint enterprise and that Cummins should have been directed to plead guilty to impeding. Counsel for James Davy argued that the judge's directions were confusing and that his client's fear constituted a reasonable excuse. The DPP argued that all three men were intrinsically involved in the savage killing. The appeal court accepted the arguments for quashing the murder convictions but substituted them with the lesser offence, leaving the matter for sentencing rather than concluding it.
A man has been sentenced to eight years and nine months imprisonment by the Central Criminal Court following his conviction for the rape of his then partner's teenage sister. Stephen Lynch, with an address in Offaly, was found guilty in May 2021 of rape committed at a property in Athlone, County Roscommon, in October 2015. He was also convicted of sexual assault and assault causing harm arising from an incident in December 2015 at the same address. The court heard that Lynch had drugged and raped the first victim, then subjected a second woman to sexual assault while also attacking her friend who attempted to intervene. Justice David Keane imposed concurrent sentences, noting the offences were aggravated by the victim's age and the use of drugs. Lynch pleaded not guilty throughout. The sentences were backdated to May 2021 when he first entered custody following conviction.
The Court of Appeal has heard appeals from Matthew Cummins and James Davy against their convictions for the murder of Thomas Dooley. Sean Davy, the third convicted person, previously failed in a 2018 bid to overturn his conviction. All three men were found guilty by a unanimous jury at the Central Criminal Court in 2016 and sentenced to life imprisonment for the 2014 killing of the 64-year-old Offaly man. During the trial, the accused offered conflicting accounts, with Cummins and Davy blaming each other for the fatal blows, while Davy denied involvement. In the current appeal, counsel for Cummins argued that the trial judge's directions on joint enterprise were biased and that the indictment should have been severed. Counsel for Davy similarly contended that the judge's directions were confusing and that his client's reasonable excuse of fear was not properly addressed. The prosecution, represented by Patrick Treacy SC, maintained that all three men were intrinsically involved in the savage attack. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice George Birmingham with Justices John Edwards and Isobel Kennedy, reserved its judgment on these applications.
Gerry O'Brien, 41, was sentenced to five years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to two counts of stealing by deception. He admitted to stealing €107,286 in cash and cheques from a 77-year-old Dublin woman between July 2017 and November 2018, and €27,254 from a 73-year-old Dublin woman between August and November 2018. Judge Pauline Codd described the offences as despicable, noting O'Brien's psychological manipulation of the elderly victims. His wife, Joanne O'Brien, 39, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft from the first complainant, totalling €900. She was given a suspended nine-month sentence on conditions. The court heard that Gerry O'Brien used fabricated sob stories and a fake solicitor to convince the women he would repay them from a fictitious insurance payout. He has 68 previous convictions, while Joanne O'Brien has 28, mostly for road traffic offences. Defence counsel for Gerry O'Brien highlighted his remorse, though the judge noted his letter focused on his own woes rather than the victims. Joanne O'Brien's defence noted she had repaid the stolen money. The matter was finalised with these sentences handed down.
Gerry O'Brien and Joanne O'Brien appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where both pleaded guilty to theft charges. Gerry O'Brien admitted to one count of stealing €107,286 in cash and cheques by deception from Beryl Tilson, then aged 77, at a Sandyford address between July 2017 and November 2018. He also pleaded guilty to one count of stealing €27,254 in cash and cheques by deception from Rosemary Fitzgerald, then aged 73, at a Blackrock address between August and November 2018. Joanne O'Brien pleaded guilty to two counts of theft from Ms Tilson on December 23, 2017, and July 12, 2018. The prosecution alleged the defendants used fabricated sob stories and a fake solicitor to deceive the victims. Judge Pauline Codd adjourned the matter to May 17 for sentencing. The court noted Gerry O'Brien has 68 previous convictions, while Joanne O'Brien has 28, mostly for road traffic offences. Defence counsel stated Gerry O'Brien was remorseful, though the judge noted his letter focused on his own woes rather than the victims. It was also noted that Joanne O'Brien had repaid the €900 stolen from Ms Tilson. The matter was adjourned and not concluded.
In a 2021 case, Simon Quilligan, aged 38, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended after a court hearing in the Central Criminal Court. The sentence followed a trial where Quilligan was found guilty of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, making threats to kill or cause serious harm to two individuals, and causing criminal damage by breaking a caravan window. The offence occurred at a halting site in Tullamore, Co Offaly, where Quilligan discharged a firearm at a group that included children aged ten months to six years. He had threatened the occupants, saying he would kill them all and blow their brains out. The judge noted the presence of children taking cover under a caravan and the terror inflicted on the families present. Quilligan had previously been convicted of 38 offences in Ireland and four in other jurisdictions, including burglary and illegal weapon transport. Simon Quilligan was acquitted.
Ciaran McIntyre, 24, was sentenced to two‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment for defiling a 15‑year‑old girl he met on Snapchat. He invited her to a party, then drove her to a caravan where he forced her to sit on his bed, removed her clothing and performed anal penetration. The victim refused to engage in oral sex earlier in a car‑park. McIntyre denied meeting her but admitted Snapchat contact; his DNA was found on her t‑shirt. He pleaded guilty, and the court noted his lack of insight into the offence, the exploitative nature of the act, the age gap, and the victim's voluntary presence. Mitigating factors included the guilty plea, his youth, good character, and a letter of remorse. He was ordered to undergo 18 months of post‑release supervision. The sentencing took place in the Central Criminal Court.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Simon Quilligan, aged 38, was found not guilty of attempting to murder John McDonagh and of discharging a firearm that posed a substantial risk of death or serious harm. He was, however, found guilty of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, making threats to Melissa Cowman, Sandra O'Brien and Victoria Doherty, and damaging a caravan window. Quilligan had fled to the UK after the 2018 incident at a halting site in Tullamore, where he fired a weapon at the McDonagh family and threatened others. He was extradited back to Ireland, arrested in Athlone, and has been in custody since December 2019. The court noted his 38 prior convictions and the feud between the Quilligan and McDonagh families, which the defendant claims is now over. The judge remanded him in custody until March 9 for sentencing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Shaun Groome, 32, to 15 years' imprisonment for a brutal assault on Ciarán Murphy, 32, which involved 16 stab wounds and an arson attack that left Murphy with 96 % burns. Groome pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm and criminal damage by arson. The judge described the offence as "exceptional" and noted Groome's "murderous intent" despite his guilty plea, reducing the headline 20‑year sentence to 15 years with no suspended portion. Groome claimed his actions were driven by misinformation that Murphy was a Garda informant and that he was influenced by drugs. The court considered his remorse, prior convictions, and potential for rehabilitation, but imposed the full custodial term. Murphy suffered severe injuries, lost his ears, and continues to endure pain. The case also involved co‑accused David Keena, 21, who received a five‑year sentence for his role.
Shaun Groome, aged 32, pleaded guilty via video link to a 2015 attack on drug dealer Ciarán Murphy. He admitted to causing serious harm and to criminal damage by arson at Murphy's home in Coolcor, Offaly, between 6 and 7 September 2015. Groome's co‑accused, David Keena, 21, had been jailed for five years for assault causing serious harm and arson. Murphy, 29, was stabbed 16 times and set on fire after a false rumor that he was a Garda informant. He suffered 96 % burns from the neck down and multiple stab wounds, including to the heart cavity. The court heard Groome was arrested at Baldonnel Aerodrome; a warrant had been issued. Judge Martin Nolan remanded Groome in custody and scheduled a sentencing hearing for 21 December, when full facts will be considered.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, David Keena, aged 21, was sentenced to six and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, for his role in a 2015 arson attack on Ciarán Murphy, a low‑level drug dealer in Offaly. Keena, who was 17 at the time, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm and criminal damage by arson. He was found to have stabbed Murphy 16 times and poured petrol over him, resulting in 96 % burns and multiple stab wounds, including to the heart. Murphy survived but suffered life‑threatening injuries and permanent physical and mental trauma. Keena's sentence runs consecutively with a previously imposed six‑year term for a drug‑dealing offence. The court noted Keena's youth, lack of prior convictions and drug use as mitigating factors. The case involved a false rumour that Murphy was a Garda informant, spread by his former girlfriend, which the court found to be untrue.
The Special Criminal Court sentenced Patrick Curtis and Mohammed Smew for their roles in a Kinahan Cartel plot to murder Patrick "Patsy" Hutch. Curtis, 38, who admitted directing the criminal organisation, received a final sentence of 12 years imprisonment, with the last two years suspended. The suspension is conditional on a €100 bond, good behaviour, and one year of probation supervision following release. Smew, 27, who pleaded guilty to participating in the organisation by providing vehicles and assisting in planning, was sentenced to eight years and three months, with the final nine months suspended. Both sentences were backdated to December 2019. The court noted that the murder plan was postponed due to Storm Emma, after which Smew was arrested for a separate matter. Earlier in the case, co-accused Michael Burns, 43, who admitted a graver offence, was jailed for nine years. Stephen Curtis, 32, and Ciaran O'Driscoll, 25, were each sentenced to five years. Additionally, Mark Capper, 31, Gary Thompson, 35, Glen Thompson, 25, and Robert Browne, 36, received sentences of seven-and-a-half years, 12 years and six months, 12 years and six months, and 11 years and six months respectively for their involvement in the plot.
The Special Criminal Court sentenced Patrick Curtis and Mohammed Smew for their roles in a Kinahan Cartel plot to murder Patrick "Patsy" Hutch. Curtis, 38, pleaded guilty to directing the activities of a criminal organisation between February and March 2018. Smew, 27, pleaded guilty to participating in the organisation's activities, including providing vehicles and planning an attempted shooting. The court heard that Curtis suffers from claustrophobia and obsessive-compulsive disorder, while Smew was remanded in custody after a separate arrest, which ended his involvement. This sentencing concludes the case against the last two men involved in the plot. Previously, Michael Burns was jailed for nine years, while Stephen Curtis and Ciaran O'Driscoll received five-year sentences. Mark Capper, who withdrew from the plan, was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years. In a related 2019 case, Gary Thompson, Glen Thompson, and Robert Browne were sentenced to 12.5 years and 11.5 years respectively for planning the murder. The court noted the gang's hierarchical structure, with leadership operating from the Middle East coordinating sub-cells. The planned attack involved a staging post, a ruse to lure the victim, and a getaway route, though the operation was intercepted by the Emergency Response Unit before execution.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Vasile Plesca, aged 41, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for assault causing harm after he beat his wife with a rolling pin in what he described as a jealous rage. The incident, which lasted seven hours, involved Plesca and another man preventing the woman from leaving their flat. He struck her over the head, forced her to remove blood‑stained clothing and shower, and inflicted bruising on her arm, elbow and neck. Video evidence, recorded by the victim on a mobile phone, showed her screaming and pleading for help. Plesca denied strangling her and claimed he avoided hospital care to prevent the authorities from taking his children. The judge, citing the severity of the offence, imposed a four‑year sentence with the final year suspended, and required Plesca to pay €5,000 to his wife as a token of remorse. Vasile Plesca pleaded guilty.
In September 2015 a low‑level drug dealer, Ciarán Murphy (29), was stabbed 16 times and set on fire at his home in Coolcor, Offaly, after his ex‑girlfriend spread a false rumour that he was a Garda informant. Murphy suffered 96 % burns from the neck down, multiple stab wounds including to the heart cavity, and lost both ears. He was treated at Tullamore Regional Hospital and later St James's Hospital, Dublin, undergoing several emergency surgeries and skin grafts. David Keena (21) was remanded in custody after admitting he was present when Shaun Groome (31) stabbed Murphy and poured petrol over him. Keena pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm and criminal damage by arson. Groome had been charged with assault causing serious harm in November 2015, but no prosecution has yet taken place. The case was adjourned to 28 July 2020 for sentencing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 34‑year‑old Eoin Connolly of Oak Lawn, Portlaoise, was sentenced to six and a half years' imprisonment for possession of drugs for sale or supply. Connolly, who had 27 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to the offence committed on 16 March 2019 at Outer Ring Road, Clondalkin, where Gardaí seized 8.1 kg of cocaine and other drugs, totalling €580,210 in value. He claimed he was acting under duress, saying he had been threatened and was paying off a drug debt, but the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau's Detective Garda Brian Foran told Judge Martin Nolan that this claim was not accepted. The judge placed Connolly in the "middle to lower" range of involvement, noting he was unlikely to be the owner or main beneficiary of the drugs and that he had transported them for reward.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence regarding a plot by the Kinahan organised crime group to murder Patrick 'Patsy' Hutch. At a sentence hearing, Michael Burns, Ciaran O'Driscoll, and Stephen Curtis admitted to facilitating the intended killing. Burns pleaded guilty to passing instructions, acting as a communications conduit, transporting members, and planning the shooting. O'Driscoll pleaded guilty to acting as a look-out and assisting in planning. Curtis admitted to providing mobile phones, SIM cards, and credit, and assisting in planning. The court heard that the gang paid €20,000 for setting up hits and maintained a hierarchical structure. Detective Superintendent David Gallagher detailed the three-stage plan, including a staging post, a ruse to lure the victim, and a getaway route. The court accepted that the gang is involved in execution-type murders. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Dermot Dempsey, remanded the three men in custody until June 29, when they will be sentenced. In a related matter, Mark Capper was jailed for seven-and-a-half years for providing vehicles and reconnaissance. Previously, Gary Thompson, Glen Thompson, and Robert Browne were sentenced to 12 years and six months, 12 years and six months, and 11 years and six months, respectively, for planning the murder.
The Special Criminal Court has sentenced Mark Capper to eight years and three months imprisonment, with the final nine months suspended, for facilitating the Kinahan organised crime group in planning the murder of Patrick Hutch. Presiding Judge Tony Hunt accepted garda evidence that the cartel operates a hierarchical structure involving execution-style murders and international trafficking of drugs and firearms. Capper, who pleaded guilty in March to participating in activities intended to facilitate a serious offence, was found to have intentionally assisted in the plot before withdrawing three days prior to the attempted killing. The judge noted Capper's financial motivation and drug addiction as mitigating factors, reducing his headline sentence of 11 years by 25 percent for his early plea. This sentencing follows the July 2019 convictions of Gary Thompson, Glen Thompson, and Robert Browne, who were jailed for 12.5 years, 12.5 years, and 11.5 years respectively for unlawful possession of four firearms with intent to endanger life during the same operation. The court emphasized that the prevention of the murder was due to police intervention, not the defendants' actions.
Alexander Whelan, aged 19, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for the manslaughter of Bruno Rolandi, 56, who was a former partner of Whelan's mother and a heroin user. The killing occurred during a domestic dispute at the Whelan family home on Green Road, Edenderry, on 19 November 2017. Whelan introduced a knife into the argument and used substantial force, inflicting three wounds, one of which penetrated 23 centimetres, damaged the heart and caused fatal bleeding. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court. The judge, Mr Justice Michael White, noted that the introduction of a deadly weapon and the violence of the blows were aggravating factors, but also considered Whelan's previously excellent character, lack of prior convictions, and the circumstances of defending his mother and brother. The sentence was reduced from an initial six‑year recommendation to two years, with no part suspended, as Whelan was not a drug user and had no history of violence.
The Disclosures Tribunal, chaired by Judge Sean Ryan, heard evidence in February 2020 concerning whistleblower Garda Nicholas Keogh, who made a protected disclosure in May 2014 about a senior member of the Athlone drugs unit, Garda A, allegedly in an improper relationship with a heroin dealer, Ms B. Keogh claimed he was targeted, harassed, undermined or bullied after his disclosure. The tribunal examined the mis-recording of Keogh's sickness absences as 'flu/viral' and the resulting pay cut to a 'temporarily reduced remuneration' level in late 2015, despite his GP certifying work‑related stress. Human Resources Chief Superintendent Tony McLoughlin, who managed protected disclosures, testified that Keogh had admitted to alcohol dependence due to work‑related stress and that his pay was restored and back‑dated in October 2016 after the absences were correctly recorded. McLoughlin also noted Keogh's concerns about management's handling of the investigation and his belief that the Garda Commissioner failed to protect him.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 19‑year‑old named Alexander Whelan pleaded guilty to manslaughter after stabbing Bruno Rolandi, 56, to death during a domestic dispute. Whelan claimed he acted to protect his mother, Mary, who had a volatile relationship with Rolandi, a violent heroin user. Witnesses described a confrontation over a WiFi password that escalated into physical aggression, with Rolandi assaulting Whelan's brother and attempting to grab Mary. Whelan then stabbed Rolandi three times, one wound reaching 23 cm and causing fatal bleeding. He was found in shock, attempting to stop the bleeding, and cooperated fully with Gardaí. The court noted Whelan's lack of prior convictions, his young age, and his good character, and the judge was instructed to consider a custodial sentence as a last resort. The case was scheduled for sentencing on March 2.
A 19‑year‑old, Alexander Whelan, pleaded guilty to manslaughter for the death of 56‑year‑old Bruno Rolandi in a domestic incident at Green Road, Ballymoran, Edenderry, Offaly, on 19 November 2017. Whelan, who lived on Green Road, Lumville, Edenderry, was charged with murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court. The prosecution accepted the plea. Defence counsel noted Whelan was 18 at the time of the incident. Judge Michael White ordered a probation report and remanded him on continuing bail until 3 February 2020 for sentencing.
Three men – Gary Thompson (34), his brother Glen Thompson (24) and Afghan war veteran Robert Browne (35) – were sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to a combined 36.5 years for planning to murder Patrick "Patsy" Hutch. The court heard that the men were intercepted by Gardaí just 250 metres from Hutch's home in Dublin's north inner city, having been caught "red‑handed" during a Garda operation that involved audio surveillance and the seizure of several loaded firearms. Each brother received 12 years and six months, while Browne was sentenced to 11 years and six months. The sentences were back‑dated to 10 March 2018, the day the men were taken into custody. The judge noted the seriousness of the offence, the extensive preparation, and the men's guilty pleas, which led to a 25 % reduction in the headline 18‑year sentences. The operation was praised for its intelligence and effectiveness.
Catherine Gaffney, 53, of Donaghmede, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft and two of money‑laundering after running a fake property company, Hamilton Aherne Partners, that lured buyers into paying deposits for non‑existent or already‑sold houses. The company claimed to offer lower prices by dealing directly with banks, but the buyers were told to ignore official prices and pay a deposit. Gaffney opened a bank account for the company, withdrew the deposits, and was caught on CCTV. She was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions. The case highlighted pre‑planning, loss of money to victims, and Gaffney's guilty plea and personal circumstances as mitigating factors.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 15 July 2019, the court was informed that a three‑man hit‑for‑hire team, including an Afghan war veteran, had planned to murder Patrick "Patsy" Hutch at his Champion's Avenue home. The team—Gary Thompson (34), his brother Glen Thompson (24), and Robert Browne (35)—were intercepted by Gardaí just 250 metres from the target's residence. They possessed four firearms: a 9mm Rak sub‑machine gun, a .38 Special Rossi revolver, a 9mm Beretta 92 pistol and a 9mm Makarov pistol. Garda surveillance revealed a detailed plan involving a van parked at Belmont Hall Apartments, a getaway vehicle at Stoney Road, and a "looker" to signal the target's departure. On 10 March 2018, Gardaí conducted an armed intervention, arresting the men and seizing weapons, a fob, gloves, a wig, mobile phones, and other items. The defendants were remanded in custody pending sentencing on 29 July.
The family of James Clancy, a 80‑year‑old Co Offaly man killed in a hit‑and‑run on Patrick Street, Tullamore on 1 December 1987, has filed a High Court damages action against the State. No one was ever charged in the incident. Joseph Clancy, acting as personal representative of his father's estate, sued the Garda Commissioner, the Minister for Justice and the Attorney General. The claim was lodged earlier this week. A retired District Court Judge, Mary Collins, investigated the original Garda inquiry and found that the investigation into an unsubstantiated allegation that Garda members were involved was reasonable and adequate, but criticised the Garda for an unacceptable lack of communication with the family. The family has endured unanswered questions and distress for 30 years. Mr Clancy's son seeks a declaration that the defendants breached James Clancy's constitutional and European Convention rights, and damages for alleged negligence, breach of duty and misfeasance in public office.
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a man who failed to attend his sentencing hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Hassan Bilal, aged 38, of Church Street, Tullamore, Co Offaly, had pleaded guilty to burglary and theft of catering equipment valued at over €10,000 belonging to a Mayo businessman. The items stolen on 18 May 2015 included a commercial freezer, deep fat fryers, mixing bowls, trays, a chip holder, a burger fryer, microwave, food blender and chopping boards. Bilal has 24 previous convictions for road traffic offences. His defence counsel informed the court she was unable to contact her client and could not oppose a prosecution application for an arrest warrant. Judge Elma Sheahan granted the warrant.
Two Dublin men, Glen Thompson, 23, and Robert Browne, 35, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to unlawfully possessing four firearms with intent to endanger life. The weapons were found at Belmont Hall Apartments on March 10, 2018 and included a 9mm Rak sub‑machine gun, a .38 Special Rossi revolver, a 9mm Beretta 92 semi‑automatic pistol and a 9mm Makarov semi‑automatic pistol. The court remanded them in custody until July 15, when sentencing will occur.
A High Court judge ordered the extradition of Roy Norman Kenyon, who fled to Ireland after serving 31 years for a 1971 murder committed when he was 16. Kenyon, now 64, had lived in Ireland under the alias Alan McPherson for 15 years before being arrested in Eyeries, Co. Cork, on 2 May 2018. Justice Aileen Donnelly rejected Kenyon's objections and ordered his surrender to UK authorities within 25 days. The court noted that Kenyon had been released on parole in the 1980s and would now serve an indeterminate sentence if returned. Counsel for Kenyon argued he posed no risk to society, citing his long period of liberty and lack of evidence of danger. The judge emphasized that his continued detention in the UK was due to parole hearings assessing public risk, and that extradition complied with his rights under the European Convention on Human Rights.
Keelan Hand, 28, of Cyprus Grove, Birr, was placed on a 12‑month probation bond after pleading guilty to assault causing harm on 26 August 2016. The assault occurred when Hand punched a victim in the face over an alleged drug debt of €8,200. The victim withdrew his complaint, but the DPP proceeded. Judge Melanie Greally noted Hand's strong links to the criminal community and his history of addiction, mental health issues and a difficult family background. She ordered Hand to undergo probation supervision, comply with his officer's recommendations, have no contact with criminal associates, and submit to urine analysis and updated probation and psychiatric reports. Hand's 26 previous convictions include assault, drug and firearms offences, criminal damage and public order. The court adjourned the case to April next year, warning that compliance must be absolute to avoid custodial sentencing.
In a High Court hearing, the barrister for Roy Norman Kenyon argued that the 64‑year‑old, who served 31 years in prison for a 1971 murder committed as a child, no longer poses a risk to society and should not be extradited to the UK. Kenyon, who escaped to Ireland in 2003 and lived under the alias Alan McPherson for 15 years, is now facing potential return to the UK to continue his life sentence. The court heard that Kenyon had been drinking at a public house on the night of the crime, then attacked Margaret Potts with a poker. He was arrested in Eyeries, Co Cork, in May 2018. The barrister contended that Kenyon's behaviour in custody shows no unacceptable risk, and that the UK has not committed to reviewing his case before 2021. Justice Aileen Donnelly will decide on May 21, after remanding Kenyon in custody.
Hassan Bilal, 38, of Tullamore, Co Offaly, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to burglary and theft of catering equipment valued at €10,16 on May 18, 2015. The items included a commercial freezer, fryers, mixing bowls, trays, a chip holder, a burger fryer, a microwave, a blender, and chopping boards. Judge Elma Sheahan adjourned the matter to May 27 to allow Detective Garda Sweeney to ascertain the specific financial losses incurred by victim Gerry Hughes. Bilal was remanded on continuing bail. The court heard that Bilal, along with co-defendants Yasir Ali and Sabih Hassan, had sub-let the premises in Castlebar, Mayo, without permission. Ali, of East Wall, Dublin, previously received a two-year suspended sentence in December 2017 for the same offence. Sabih Hassan received a three-year suspended term in February 2018. A victim impact statement stated Hughes suffered severe physical, mental, and financial stress, noting he remained out of pocket four years later. Defence counsel Niamh Barry BL submitted Bilal was of limited means and had made efforts to change his circumstances. The prosecution noted no evidence supported Bilal's claim of having paid a deposit or rent.
In a High Court hearing on 28 March 2019, the extradition of 64‑year‑old Roy Norman Kenyon was discussed. Kenyon, convicted of murdering Margaret Potts in 1971, had been serving a life sentence in the UK when he absconded to Ireland in 2003. He lived under the alias Alan McPherson in Tullamore for 15 years before being arrested in Eyeries, Co. Cork, on 2 May 2018. The court heard that Kenyon was in the process of having his sentence reviewed when he fled. His barrister, Sean Guerin SC, noted that Kenyon had been deemed suitable for release in 1985 after completing the punitive portion of his sentence, but he absconded again, losing five years of potential release each time. Kenyon has not committed any further offences since the murder. The hearing will continue next month.
In a case heard at Tullamore Circuit Criminal Court, Polish national Dariusz Alchimionek, aged 44, was found guilty of manslaughter and assault causing harm after a vehicle he drove collided with the Gorman brothers' car. The incident occurred on 29 December 2015 near Ballycrystal, Offaly. Alchimionek had claimed he believed the Islamic State would invade Europe and trigger a world war. Both prosecution and defence psychiatrists, employed at the Central Mental Hospital, agreed he met the criteria for not guilty by reason of insanity. The jury, after 2 hours 50 minutes, returned a 11‑1 guilty verdict on both counts. He was sentenced to nine years, with three years suspended. The Court of Appeal later quashed the verdict, describing it as "perverse" and ordered Alchimionek's commitment to the Central Mental Hospital as an inpatient. The decision was based on a recent assessment by Dr Paul O'Connell, who confirmed Alchimionek's continued need for detention.
The case of Dariusz Alchimionek (44), a Polish national from Portarlington, Co Laois, has been adjourned to March 7 for mention following a ruling by the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal found the jury verdict of guilty on charges of manslaughter and assault causing harm to be 'perverse' and against the weight of the evidence. Alchimionek had previously been found not guilty by reason of insanity by the jury, but the verdict was overturned. Consultant psychiatrists from both the prosecution and defence agreed that Alchimionek met the criteria for not guilty by reason of insanity. The trial judge had instructed the jury to consider this option, but the jury returned a majority guilty verdict of 11-1 on both counts. Alchimionek was sentenced to nine years imprisonment with the final three suspended by Judge Keenan Johnson in October 2017. The Court of Appeal quashed the verdict and considered the possibility of a retrial or substituting the appropriate verdict. However, the court decided against a retrial, citing the public interest and the likelihood of the same outcome. Alchimionek was committed to the Central Mental Hospital for assessment, with the most recent medical report from July 2017. The matter was adjourned to March 7 for mention.
In 2019, a court heard that Roy Norman Kenyon, aged 64, who had been living in Ireland under the alias Alan McPherson for 15 years, was facing a return to the United Kingdom to continue serving a life sentence for the 1972 murder of Margaret Potts. Kenyon had escaped from HMP Leyhill in 2003 after 31 years of imprisonment, failing to return from a home leave on 29 May 2003. He was arrested in Eyeries, Co Cork, on 2 May 2018. The court was informed that Kenyon had killed Potts on 15 December 1972 after an argument, striking her twice in the head with a poker while she sat in an armchair. Mr Ronan Kennedy, representing the Minister for Justice & Equality, presented evidence of Kenyon's escape and the European Arrest Warrant issued for his return.
In a 2019 case, the Court of Appeal quashed a jury verdict that convicted Polish driver Dariusz Alchimionek, 44, of manslaughter and assault after he allegedly caused the death of 19‑year‑old John Gorman and injured Gorman's brother Adam on 29 December 2015. The incident occurred when Alchimionek's vehicle crossed the road into the path of the brothers' car near Ballycrystal, Offaly. Both prosecution and defence psychiatrists, working at the Central Mental Hospital, agreed that Alchimionek met the criteria for not‑guilty by reason of insanity. The jury, after 2 hours 50 minutes of deliberation, returned a 11‑to‑1 guilty verdict, leading to a nine‑year sentence with a three‑year suspended portion. Alchimionek's lawyers appealed on the ground that the verdict was "perverse" and contrary to the evidence. Dariusz Alchimionek was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
In a 2019 case, Polish driver Dariusz Alchimionek, aged 44, was found guilty of manslaughter and assault after a December 2015 incident in which he collided with the Gorman brothers, killing 19‑year‑old John Gorman and injuring Adam. The jury, after 2 h 50 min deliberation, returned a 11‑1 guilty verdict on both counts, despite psychiatrists agreeing he met the criteria for not guilty by reason of insanity. Alchimionek was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended. His defence counsel appealed, arguing the verdict was "perverse" and that the jury's decision contradicted expert evidence. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on the appeal. The case remains at the appeal stage.
In December 2010, Eoin Kennedy, a 41‑year‑old computer systems administrator, was found in possession of 577 images and 31 videos depicting child abuse, including sexual acts involving children as young as three. Gardaí traced the files to an Internet Protocol address at his workplace, linked by Interpol to child pornography downloads. Kennedy admitted the downloads and allowed a search of his home in Co Offaly, where additional files were discovered on two laptops and two home‑built computers. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Over the following eight years, Kennedy attended intensive psychological therapy, which the judge described as lengthy and effective in reducing re‑offending risk. Judge Melanie Greally, acknowledging his remorse and cooperation, suspended a two‑year custodial sentence on the condition of peacekeeping for that period and ordered the destruction of all seized computer equipment. Kennedy had no prior convictions and had not attracted Garda attention since the offences.
In a case watched by the Polish Embassy in Dublin, Polish national Dariusz Alchimionek, aged 44, was found guilty of manslaughter and assault causing harm to Adam Gorman, the brother of 19‑year‑old John Gorman, after a vehicle he drove collided with their car on 29 December 2015. The incident occurred while the brothers were returning from Tullamore. Alchimionek claimed he believed the Islamic State would invade Europe and trigger a world war. Consultant psychiatrists for both sides agreed he met the criteria for not guilty by reason of insanity, yet the jury, after 2 hours 50 minutes of deliberation, returned a 11‑1 guilty verdict on both counts. He was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended. Alchimionek has appealed, arguing the verdict was "perverse" and seeking treatment in the Central Mental Hospital. The Court of Appeal has scheduled a hearing for 24 January, with the Polish Embassy observing the proceedings.
A 41‑year‑old woman who had taken a summer job looking after animals on local farms to prepare for a future as a vet was raped by John Phelan, 54, between 1992 and 1993 when she was aged 14 to 16. Phelan pleaded guilty to four sexual assault charges and two rapes at his home and other locations in Laois. He had previously served seven years for raping a girl aged nine to 11 in 1989 and 1990. At sentencing, the judge noted Phelan's false claim of no sexual preference for minors and described the abuse as calculated and exploitative. Phelan was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment, with 18 months suspended, and ordered to serve three years of post‑release supervision. The victim's impact statement highlighted how the abuse ended her dreams of becoming a vet and left her with lasting trauma.
Kevin Carroll, a drama teacher from Birr, Co Offaly, withdrew his appeal against the severity of his sentence after the Court of Appeal warned it had the power to increase his term. Carroll, 58, had pleaded not guilty to two categories of raping a girl aged between six and eight at an Offaly school between 1996 and 1998. He was found guilty on both counts by a jury at the Central Criminal Court and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan on February 26, 2016. Carroll previously lost an appeal against his conviction in July. During today's proceedings, President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice George Birmingham told Carroll's lawyers that the court possessed its "full range of powers." Later that morning, Carroll's barrister, Roderick O'Hanlon SC, informed the court that the appeal against the sentence was being withdrawn. The three-judge panel, which included Mr Justice John Hedigan and Ms Justice Marie Baker, had earlier dismissed Carroll's unsuccessful appeal against his conviction. In that decision, the court rejected the defence argument that a juror's facial expression constituted improper communication, stating that such reactions are part of the human element of jury trials and did not interfere with the process. The court found the trial satisfactory and the verdict safe.
Michael Fulton, 59, of Belmont Park, Raheny, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession for sale or supply of €195,347 worth of cannabis and cocaine. He admitted storing cannabis in wheelie bins and cocaine in his kitchen, claiming he had taken cannabis for back pain and stored the drugs to pay off a debt to an unnamed person he feared. The court noted he had transported the drugs and stored more than €11,000 for the same person. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin sentenced him to five years imprisonment, suspending the final two years on the condition of good behaviour, drug‑free status and engagement with the Probation Service. He also received a 12‑month driving ban for driving under the influence. The prosecution sought forfeiture and destruction of the money and drugs found at his home. No prior convictions were recorded.
The Court of Appeal has adjourned the appeal of Dariusz Alchimionek, a Polish national convicted of manslaughter and assault causing harm in 2015. Alchimionek, who was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment with the final three years suspended by Judge Keenan Johnson in October 2017, challenges his conviction on the ground that the jury's verdict was perverse. The case presents a procedural difficulty for the Director of Public Prosecutions, as both prosecution and defence psychiatrists agreed Alchimionek met the criteria for a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity. Despite this, the jury returned majority guilty verdicts. Counsel for the DPP, Michael Delaney SC, stated the Director is conducting further enquiries and seeking a new psychiatric opinion, which will take several weeks. Defence counsel Kenneth Fogarty SC noted the charged atmosphere in the Circuit Court and Alchimionek's preference for detention in the Central Mental Hospital over Wheatfield Prison. President Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with Ms Justice Máire Whelan and Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, put the matter back for case management on November 30. The court indicated it would attempt to secure an early hearing date if necessary, though this may not be possible. The matter remains adjourned and is not concluded.
In 2018 the Court of Appeal upheld the conviction of O'Reilly Commercials Limited for breaching health and safety laws during a test of a school bus that later crashed in 2006, killing 15‑year‑old Michael White. The bus, a Mercedes originally registered in the UK, had a rear suspension that had been modified in 1991 and was not properly noted during the 2005 test. The company pleaded not guilty to four charges under the Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989, but a jury found it guilty of failing to identify the modified suspension. The firm was fined €25,000 and the appeal was dismissed by a three‑judge panel, confirming the original verdict as safe and satisfactory. The case highlighted the importance of accurate testing records for vehicle safety.
Kevin Carroll, a drama teacher aged 58, was convicted of raping a student between 1996 and 1998 when the girl was six to eight years old. He was found guilty on two counts by a jury at the Central Criminal Court and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on 26 February 2016. Carroll appealed his conviction, arguing that the trial judge should have discharged the jury when a witness gave hearsay evidence that Carroll had "looked up the skirts of girls" and that a juror's facial expression—described by the defence as a smile and wink—warranted intervention. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, rejected all grounds of appeal. The court held that the alleged comments and the juror's expression were not prejudicial or communicative enough to affect the trial's fairness, and therefore upheld the conviction and sentence. The appeal was dismissed. Kevin Carroll pleaded not guilty.
In 2018, a 41‑year‑old woman recounted how a local horse trader, John Phelan, 54, ended her aspiration to become a vet by raping her during school holidays in 1992–1993. She had taken a summer job caring for animals on farms, hoping to prepare for her future, but Phelan abused her while she was 14–16. He pleaded guilty to four sexual assault charges and two rapes, and was already serving a seven‑year sentence for earlier abuse of a girl aged nine to eleven. The court heard that Phelan began with inappropriate questions, then progressed to kissing, fondling, and digital penetration. He also forced her to wear a one‑piece swimsuit to facilitate molestation. The victim, who had not spoken out until the trial, described lasting trauma, depression, and a loss of trust in men. She thanked Garda Michael Kennelly and others for their support. Phelan was remanded in custody, with sentencing pending. John Phelan was convicted.
The Court of Appeal upheld a joint trial for Seán Davy (24), Matthew Cummins (24) and James Davy (27) who were convicted of murdering 64‑year‑old Thomas 'Toddy' Dooley in his Edenderry home on 12 February 2014. The men broke into the house and beat Dooley with a baseball bat, delivering eight blows to his head. Each defendant gave conflicting accounts: Cummins claimed Davy struck first and then continued the assault; Davy said James Davy delivered most blows and he struck once with less force; James Davy denied striking and said Davy beat him while Cummins kicked. All were found guilty by jury and sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment by Justice Margaret Heneghan on 10 October 2016. Davy's appeal to separate his trial was dismissed by the Court of Appeal, which ruled the case was "compelling" for a joint trial and the judge's refusal to sever the indictment was proper.