Stephen O'Reilly, aged 30, was convicted of two assaults, two counts of criminal damage and two counts of producing an article at his neighbour's address on 7 May 2016. He was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, by Judge Keenan Johnson at Tullamore Circuit Criminal Court on 8 February 2017. O'Reilly appealed his conviction, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal. The Court held that Section 16 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, which allows admission of statements where a witness denies making the statement or gives evidence inconsistent with the statement, was "specifically designed for this type of situation". The Court found no error in the trial judge's decision to admit the witnesses' initial statements under Section 16, and therefore upheld the conviction. The case involved witnesses who had withdrawn their statements after the incident, and the Court considered issues of reliability, fairness, and the interests of justice in its decision.
In a 2018 Court of Appeal hearing, the lawyers for Kevin Carroll, a drama teacher convicted of raping a seven‑year‑old student, argued that a juror had "smiled and winked" at the complainant during his trial. Carroll, aged 58, had pleaded not guilty to rape and anal rape at an Offaly school between 1996 and 1998, was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court, and sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment in February 2016. His barrister, Roderick O'Hanlon SC, claimed 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 the judge should have examined the jury after the alleged gesture. The Court of Appeal, with Judges John Hedigan, Marie Baker, and George Birmingham, reserved judgment on the appeal. The appeal was lodged on grounds including alleged prejudice and the juror's alleged gesture.
A 64-year-old man, Seán Davy, has appealed his conviction for the murder of Thomas 'Toddy' Dooley, who was brutally beaten to death in his home in Edenderry on February 12, 2014. Seán Davy, along with Matthew Cummins and James Davy, was found guilty by a jury of the murder of Mr Dooley, who suffered eight blows to the head with a baseball bat. All three men had denied the charges. They were each given a mandatory life sentence by Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan in October 2016, who described the attack as 'brutal, motiveless' and targeted a 'defenceless elderly man'. Seán Davy's barrister, Ronan Munro SC, argued that his client's conviction was unsafe due to a pre-trial decision not to sever the indictment and order separate trials. He claimed that the garda statements of James Davy and Matthew Cummins gave the jury a 'peculiarly vivid' picture that it was 'all Seán Davy's fault', which overwhelmed any judicial direction. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Patrick Treacy SC, stated that the case was presented as one of joint enterprise or common design, with Seán Davy being the only accused who admitted striking the deceased with a baseball bat. The court has reserved its judgement on the appeal.
In a 21‑day High Court case in 2012, William Naylor, aged in his early sixties, sued his sister Jean Maher, the executrix of Michael Hoare's estate, to set aside a 2006 will that left the Derrylahan farm to Maher and €150,000 to Naylor. Naylor claimed he had worked the farm for over 30 years and that Hoare, who had married Naylor's mother in the 1980s, had promised him the land. The High Court found Naylor was entitled to the 120‑acre farm but dismissed his claim that the will was procured by duress or undue influence. Naylor was awarded 75 % of his legal costs. On appeal, the Court of Appeal upheld the land entitlement but ruled that the €150,000 bequest was a substitution for the land and ordered Naylor to execute a disclaimer of that sum. The appeal did not alter the High Court's decision on the monetary bequest.
O'Reilly Commercials Limited, a vehicle testing firm, appealed a conviction for breaching health and safety laws after a school bus test in 2005 led to a fatal crash in 2006 that killed 15‑year‑old Michael White. The firm had pleaded not guilty to four charges under the Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989. A jury found the company guilty on one count for failing to note the bus's modified rear suspension system, but acquitted it on the other three counts. The company was fined €25,000 in 2013. In the appeal, counsel Seán Gillane argued that the test actually occurred on 1 September 2005, after the Act had been repealed, and that no offence existed. The prosecution countered that the test took place on 6 August 2005, a fact the jury had considered. The court reserved judgment.
In a High Court hearing, K&J Townmore Construction Ltd, the main contractor for an extension to St Conleth's College in Newbridge, Co Kildare, argued that a dispute with subcontractor Drumderry Aggregate Ltd could delay the opening of the new school facilities. The extension, designed to accommodate 250 students but now serving 477, was expected to be finished by year‑end and ready for use in January 2018. K&J claims Drumderry failed to provide required certification for flooring supplied and installed by the subcontractor, a certification essential under building regulations. Without the certificates, K&J fears costly remedial work, potentially exceeding €430,000. K&J has sought an order compelling Drumderry to supply the certificates and preventing their withholding. Mr Justice Paul Gilligan granted ex‑parte notice and set the case for a return next week. The dispute centres solely on the certification issue, unrelated to other legal actions between the parties. The outcome of the order remains pending.
In a 2017 appeal, a 58‑year‑old carer from Mullingar was found guilty of indecent assault on a 24‑year‑old vulnerable male resident at a residential care centre. The resident, who had a mild intellectual disability and various physical ailments, alleged that the carer, while the resident was bathing at about 8 pm, had put his hand in the bath and attempted to touch him. The resident had previously complained to a nurse in December, leading to an internal investigation and the carer's suspension with pay, after which he was allowed to resume work. Gardaí later opened a criminal investigation, resulting in the 2014 conviction of a single count of indecent assault, for which the court imposed a wholly suspended 12‑month sentence. The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction, ruling that the offence covers both the apprehension of and actual uninvited, unwelcome physical contact. The appeal was dismissed on all grounds. The unnamed 58-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Anthony Perry, aged 51, was jailed for two years after a jury at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court convicted him of forgery and theft for posing as his late brother to buy a house. Perry had applied for a birth certificate and passport in his brother's name, used the documents to open a bank account, and secured a €300,000 mortgage from Start Mortgages. He bought a house and a granny flat in Offaly, took out insurance policies on both, and after the properties burned down in August 2008 he claimed €304,216 from FBD Insurance. The insurer later repudiated the payment when investigators discovered Perry's false identity. Perry pleaded not guilty to eight counts under the Theft and Fraud Offences Act, but was found guilty on all counts. The court noted that the fire was caused maliciously by unknown third parties and had nothing to do with Perry.
An 87-year-old man has initiated High Court proceedings in relation to allegations that his nephew withdrew over €130,000 from his bank account for personal use. Patrick Hogan, from Harristown in County Meath, granted his nephew Thomas Kelly a mandate in 2012 to manage withdrawals from his credit union account. According to evidence presented to the court, a forensic accountant calculated that Mr Kelly withdrew approximately €153,000 between 2012 and 2016, with an estimated €133,000 allegedly spent without authorisation. Mr Justice Paul Gilligan granted an interim freezing injunction preventing Mr Kelly from reducing his assets below €200,000 and temporarily prohibited the sale of a property he owns. The matter was adjourned to the following week. A complaint has been made to An Garda Síochána regarding the allegations.
Kevin Healion, aged 48 and formerly of Cappincur, Tullamore, Offaly, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for possession of child pornography. He had previously been jailed for ten years in 2004 for abducting and sexually assaulting two young girls. In 2015 Gardaí searched his Dublin apartment and seized a laptop, memory cards, a memory stick and a printed booklet of child pornographic stories. He initially denied ownership but later admitted full possession. He pleaded guilty to possession and production of child pornography. The court found 127 images of naked children under 17 and 29 animated images depicting sexual acts. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a custodial sentence, suspending the final year on strict conditions. The case highlighted Healion's prior convictions and his low IQ, with counsel noting a moderate to high risk of re‑offending.
Donncha O'Cearbhaill, 24, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of criminal damage to data on thesun.co.uk, a website owned by News International. The defendant admitted to inserting a "Trojan horse" into the site in July 2011, which redirected visitors to a hoax article alleging media mogul Rupert Murdoch had died, and later to the Lulzsec Twitter feed. Judge Martin Nolan handed down a nine-month sentence, which was suspended on a number of conditions. The court heard that the hacks caused the servers to be shut down for two hours and required a three-week rebuild. O'Cearbhaill stated he acted in retaliation for the phone hacking scandal and expressed regret for his reckless actions. Defense counsel Giollaíosa O'Lideadha SC requested disposal under the Probation Act to avoid a criminal record, highlighting the defendant's youth at the time of the offense and his current role as an online security advisor. A letter from Web Summit founder Paddy Cosgrave described O'Cearbhaill as possessing rare intelligence. The judge noted the defendant knowingly committed the damaging acts but accepted his young age. No incoming IP addresses were captured due to the use of the Tor browser, though forensic analysis of a Dell laptop and Samsung notebook found a saved image matching the hoax site. O'Cearbhaill was arrested in September 2011 and cooperated with gardaí, admitting to using the username "Palladium" in chat logs.
Amanda Daly, 36, was sentenced to three years in jail, with the final six months suspended, for robbing a taxi driver of €700 on 15 April 2015. She was caught after dropping her purse, which contained a social welfare receipt, near the robbery site. Daly, who has no fixed abode and 42 prior convictions mainly for public order offences, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. She and accomplice Jason Hynes (43) had planned the robbery; Hynes had previously received a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence. The judge noted Daly's severe drug addiction and tragic life, and that she had an active role, attempting to tie the driver's hands to the steering wheel. She had been released on bail for drug treatment but failed to complete the programme and was returned to custody. The robbery involved a syringe and an attempt to extort money from the driver, who was frightened by the assault.
A judicial review challenge to An Bord Pleanála's approval of a North-South electricity interconnector has been brought before the High Court. The applicant, David Malone, seeks to have the board's December 2016 decision quashed. The proposed interconnector is to extend from Batterstown in Meath to Turleenan in County Tyrone, comprising almost 300 pylons across Meath, Cavan and Monaghan. Mr Malone contends the decision is unlawful and breaches national and EU law, citing failures to implement Environmental Impact Assessment directives and Planning and Development Act provisions, along with non-compliance with EU Public Participation Directives. EirGrid, the infrastructure operator, is a notice party. Mr Justice Seamus Noonan heard the application on Monday and adjourned the matter for one week to permit technical amendments to the statement of grounds. The interconnector proposal faced objections from approximately 200 landowners citing health and environmental concerns.
Aidan Quigley, 43, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two burglary and one attempted burglary offences committed between June 2014 and May 2015 while on bail for each. He had 41 prior convictions, 21 for burglary. Gardaí noted he always ensured houses were unoccupied and that each raid was to fund a heroin addiction. All stolen items were returned to owners as Quigley was still in possession when arrested. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed consecutive sentences totalling four years, suspended in full, citing Quigley's "trojan efforts at rehabilitating himself". Quigley's counsel argued that a personal tragedy and drug addiction had driven his crimes, and that he had ceased burglaries and was drug‑free since July of the previous year. No further burglary charges had been brought against him since May 2015. The suspended sentence reflects the court's view that Quigley was moving away from the lifestyle he had lived.
Stephen McGrath, a 25‑year‑old veterinarian from Tullamore, was convicted of two counts of assault causing harm after he smashed a glass into the face of accountant Mark Relihan in Dublin's No Name Bar on Fade Street. The attack left Relihan with lifelong scarring and 17 stitches, and also injured a nearby man. McGrath pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Petria McDonnell sentenced him to a suspended three‑year prison term, imposed 200 hours of community service, and accepted his remorse and apology. The sentence was suspended for two years. McGrath was also ordered to pay €10,000 to Relihan as a token of remorse, though the victim declined the payment and is considering civil action. The case highlighted the severe impact of the assault on Relihan's personal and professional life.
Bernadette Scully, after being found not guilty of the manslaughter of her 11‑year‑old daughter Emily Barut, used her post‑verdict statement to highlight the lack of services for people with disabilities. She said that she had been in a very dark place four years ago, feeling she had no reason to live after Emily's death, but with the help of family, friends and professional support she found the strength to go on. Scully urged anyone with mental health difficulties or who has considered self‑harm to reach out for help. She thanked her partner, her daughter, her mother, siblings, the judge, jury, court officials, gardai, her legal team and medical staff for their support. She also thanked the kindness of family, friends, neighbours, colleagues, the people of Tullamore and Edenderry, and strangers who sent messages, cards, flowers and Mass bouquets.
An Offaly GP, Bernadette Scully, was tried for the manslaughter of her 11‑year‑old daughter, Emily Barut, who had severe epilepsy and microcephaly. The prosecution alleged that Scully had given Emily an excessive dose of chloral hydrate on 15 September 2012, leading to intoxication and death. Scully claimed she had administered the drug when Emily became upset at 2 am and 6 am, and again after a seizure at 11 am, stating she had given more than double the usual amount in nine hours. Laboratory tests found Emily's blood contained ten times the therapeutic level of the drug's metabolite, and a post‑mortem confirmed death by chloral hydrate intoxication. The jury deliberated for four hours and two minutes and returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty. The judge discharged the jury and the case concluded with Scully's release.
The jury will resume deliberations on Friday morning in the trial of a 58‑year‑old Offaly GP charged with the manslaughter of her 11‑year‑old daughter, Emily Barut, who was profoundly disabled with microcephaly, severe epilepsy and was unable to speak or move. The GP is accused of unlawfully killing Emily by giving her an excessive quantity of chloral hydrate on 15 September 2012. She pleaded not guilty and the case is being heard at the Central Criminal Court. The judge explained that the jury must be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the GP's conduct was a substantial cause of death and that she had a duty of care to the deceased. He also explained the legal test for manslaughter, noting that a doctor may be found negligent only if her conduct deviates from accepted medical practice. The jury must reach a unanimous verdict.
Bernadette Scully, a 58-year-old Offaly GP, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the alleged manslaughter of her profoundly disabled 11-year-old daughter, Emily Barut. The prosecution alleges that Scully unlawfully killed Barut at their home in Tullamore on September 15, 2012, through an act of gross negligence involving the administration of an excessive quantity of chloral hydrate. Scully has pleaded not guilty. The case centers on allegations that she administered the sedative multiple times after Barut, who suffered from microcephaly and severe epilepsy, experienced distress and a seizure following a medical procedure. During closing speeches, both the prosecution and defence acknowledged the emotional nature of the case. Judge Patrick McCarthy charged the jury to set aside all emotion and apply the law objectively. He explained that the State must prove beyond reasonable doubt that Scully's conduct was a substantial cause of death and that she failed to observe the ordinary and necessary care expected of a professional, resulting in negligence to a very high degree. The judge clarified that while the test is objective, a doctor following approved medical practice is generally protected from negligence findings unless the practice is obviously defective. The jury, comprising seven women and five men, was instructed that their verdict must be unanimous and that they may take as long as necessary to deliberate. The matter is currently at the trial stage, with the jury set to begin deliberations.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 58‑year‑old GP Bernadette Scully stands accused of unlawfully killing her 11‑year‑old daughter, Emily Barut, who was profoundly disabled. The prosecution alleges Scully's gross negligence in administering excessive chloral hydrate on 15 September 2012, with toxic levels found in Emily's system. Scully, who pleaded not guilty, claims she gave the drug in response to seizures and that medical conditions could have caused death. The defence argues she acted under extreme stress, had no alternative medication, and that the post‑mortem indicated a possible terminal seizure. The trial has focused on whether Scully breached her duty of care, with the jury instructed to consider the evidence of drug dosage, medical history, and the circumstances surrounding the night of Emily's death. The case remains at the trial stage, with no verdict yet reached.
In the 2016 Central Criminal Court trial, the prosecution argued that Offaly GP Bernadette Scully unlawfully killed her 11‑year‑old daughter, Emily Barut, by administering excessive chloral hydrate. Scully, 58, faced manslaughter charges for gross negligence on 15 September 2012. The prosecution, led by Tara Burns SC, highlighted that Scully had exceeded her own dosing rules—giving 17 ml by 6 am and 34 ml by 11 am—while the therapeutic limit was 15 ml in 24 hours and an absolute limit of 20 ml. The State Pathologist cited chloral hydrate intoxication as the cause of death, and Professor Marie Cassidy acknowledged it as a substantial cause despite Emily's pre‑existing conditions. Burns urged the jury to consider that Scully's actions were not the sole cause but constituted gross negligence, and to return a guilty verdict. The case remains pending before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a 12‑person jury. Bernadette Scully pleaded not guilty.
A doctor charged with the manslaughter of her disabled daughter provided her with '100 per cent plus' care, but was finding it difficult to keep going, a leading consultant nurse testified at her trial. Offaly GP Bernadette Scully (58) is accused of unlawfully killing her 11-year-old daughter Emily Barut, who was profoundly disabled, by administering an excessive quantity of the sedative chloral hydrate on September 15th, 2012. She has pleaded not guilty and is on trial at the Central Criminal Court. Noreen Roche, a nurse with 40 years of experience, stated that Emily's care was exemplary and that her survival was due to the high level of care provided by her mother. Roche noted that Ms Scully, who was 51 at the time, was working long hours and had no help with administration or paperwork, which contributed to her difficulty in maintaining the care level.
The 58‑year‑old GP, Bernadette Scully, is on trial for the manslaughter of her 11‑year‑old profoundly disabled daughter, Emily Barut, who died after an excessive dose of chloral hydrate on 15 September 2012. Scully denies that a suicide note she wrote after Emily's death acknowledges her responsibility for the death, saying she had lost her reason for living. She claims she gave the drug in an attempt to stop a seizure, citing medical literature that documents its use in children with epilepsy. During cross‑examination, she explained that she had administered the drug while the child was in a fit and that she had not normally given two doses at once. She also described her emotional state after Emily's passing, stating she had tried to take her own life twice and that she could not bear the pain of watching Emily suffer. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of twelve. Bernadette Scully pleaded not guilty.
Bernadette Scully, a 58‑year‑old GP from Offaly, is on trial for the manslaughter of her 11‑year‑old profoundly disabled daughter, Emily Barut, who died on 15 September 2012 after receiving an excessive dose of chloral hydrate. Scully denies writing a suicide note before Emily's death, saying she wrote it only after the child passed. She testified that she had been off work for six months but had returned to work the Friday before Emily's death. Scully described the night of the death, stating she gave Emily a 10‑ml dose of chloral hydrate, then later an additional 5‑ml dose, and that Emily's seizures continued. She claimed she was overwhelmed and could not help her daughter, and that she had attempted suicide twice after Emily's death. The trial is being heard at the Central Criminal Court, with Tara Burns SC cross‑examining her.
Bernadette Scully, a 58‑year‑old GP from Offaly, is on trial for the manslaughter of her 11‑year‑old daughter Emily Barut, who was profoundly disabled. Scully was charged with unlawfully killing Emily by giving her an excessive dose of chloral hydrate on 15 September 2012. She pleaded not guilty and is being tried at the Central Criminal Court. In her testimony, Scully described the emotional impact of learning that her baby had severe mental retardation after IVF treatment and two miscarriages. She recounted that Emily was born without crying, had feeding difficulties, fell asleep at two weeks old, and was taken to a Dublin hospital where doctors warned of severe mental retardation, possible epilepsy, and other developmental problems. Scully expressed that her world fell apart after receiving these diagnoses. She will continue her evidence before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of seven women and five men.
In the trial of 58‑year‑old GP Bernadette Scully, the inspector, Ger Glavin, confirmed that the Gardaí had not been "blinkered" to the possibility that the excessive administration of chloral hydrate was the sole cause of death of her 11‑year‑old daughter, Emily Barut. Scully, charged with unlawful killing, had admitted giving her daughter too much sedative after a procedure to replace a tube into her stomach. The inspector noted that investigators considered other potential causes, including Emily's severe epilepsy, microcephaly, cerebral palsy and lung inflammation, but that the post‑mortem revealed 220 micrograms of the drug's metabolite, trichloroethanol, in her bloodstream. The trial also heard from a neuropathologist who found brain damage consistent with a recent event. The prosecution has closed its case, and the trial continues before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Bernadette Scully, 58, a GP accused of unlawfully killing her profoundly disabled daughter, Emily Barut, continued at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy. Ms Scully, who has pleaded not guilty, is alleged to have caused Emily's death on September 15, 2012, through gross negligence by administering an excessive quantity of chloral hydrate at their home in Tullamore. On the fifth day of the trial, her interviews with gardai were read into evidence. Ms Scully stated she did not make a conscious decision to take Emily "out of this world," claiming she was panicked and exhausted after Emily suffered an unprecedented seizure. She admitted giving approximately 32ml of sedative, double her usual maximum, to stop the fit, but denied premeditation. She acknowledged that Professor Cassidy, the applicant for the post-mortem, had suggested her actions led to the death. The court heard that Ms Scully made two suicide attempts that day and wrote a note at the scene, which she denied writing before Emily died. The matter was adjourned and continues tomorrow morning.
Amanda Daly, 36, was arrested after dropping a purse containing a social welfare receipt near the scene of a robbery on Summer Street South on 15 April 2015. She pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery of €700 from a taxi driver. Daly, who has no fixed abode and 39 prior convictions for district court offences, was allowed out on bail to attend residential drug treatment. Judge Melanie Greally remanded her in custody with consent to bail on the condition that she stay at the treatment centre for the duration of her rehabilitation, and adjourned the case to 19 January to assess her progress. Her accomplice, Jason Hynes, 43, had earlier received a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for his role. The robbery involved the taxi driver being threatened with a syringe and forced to hand over money, a wallet and keys. Daly was found by Gardai after the purse was dropped and was subsequently arrested.
On the fourth day of the trial, 58‑year‑old GP Bernadette Scully, charged with the manslaughter of her 11‑year‑old daughter Emily Barut, gave a voluntary statement to the court. She described the daily hardships of caring for a severely disabled child with epilepsy, microcephaly and cerebral palsy, and explained that she had administered chloral hydrate to relieve pain and stop seizures on the night of Emily's death. Scully admitted she had given more than the normal dose, noting that Emily stopped breathing after a fit. She also recounted two failed suicide attempts that day and expressed that she had never intended to harm her daughter. The statement was read into evidence, and the case remains in the Central Criminal Court. Bernadette Scully pleaded not guilty.
The trial of 58‑year‑old Offaly GP Bernadette Scully, charged with the manslaughter of her 11‑year‑old profoundly disabled daughter Emily Barut, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Scully is accused of unlawfully killing Emily on 15 September 2012 by administering an excessive quantity of chloral hydrate. She has pleaded not guilty. Pharmacist Paddy Carragher of Quirke's Medical Hall testified that Emily received chloral hydrate from the pharmacy on 27 July and 13 August 2010, with a dosage of 5 ml at night, expected to last 40 nights. Carragher described Scully's care of Emily as "superb" and "phenomenal", noting that it was a frequent topic of conversation in the pharmacy. The trial continues before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of twelve.
The trial of 58‑year‑old Offaly GP Bernadette Scully, charged with the manslaughter of her 11‑year‑old profoundly disabled daughter Emily Barut, heard evidence on the third day of proceedings. The jury listened to a 999 call made by Scully's partner, Andrius Kozlovskis, after finding Emily cold in her bed and her mother unconscious. They also heard a call from the National Poisons Information Centre in which a woman identifying herself as Dr Scully asked for the lethal dose of Prothiaden tablets for an adult female who had taken 15 75‑mg tablets. The call was recorded and played in court. Scully has pleaded not guilty. The case is before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of seven women and five men at the Central Criminal Court.
The partner of GP Bernadette Scully, charged with the manslaughter of her 11‑year‑old profoundly disabled daughter Emily Barut, gave evidence at the Central Criminal Court. He described the horror of finding Emily cold in bed and his inability to wake Scully. He said there was never any suggestion of suicide or that their lives would be better without Emily. He recounted living with Scully and caring for Emily, noting the child's pain and the mother's severe pressure and burnout in the months before the death. He detailed the events of the Saturday night of 15 September 2012, including Scully's attempts to administer medicine, her exhaustion, and his attempts to keep watch over both. He also described the bag of stones he later gave to the Gardaí. The trial continues before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury. Bernadette Scully pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, 58‑year‑old Offaly GP Bernadette Scully faces a manslaughter charge for the death of her 11‑year‑old daughter, Emily Barut, who had microcephaly. Teresa Scully, Bernadette's sister, testified that Bernadette had used her medical expertise to try to improve Emily's life, including feeding attempts and seeking specialist advice in England. Teresa described Bernadette's devotion and the family's IVF history, noting that Emily's condition had been diagnosed after birth. She also recounted that Emily had undergone surgery two weeks before her death and suffered from pain and seizures. Bernadette has pleaded not guilty. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy with a jury of twelve.
In a manslaughter trial, 58‑year‑old Bernadette Scully was charged with unlawfully killing her 11‑year‑old daughter, Emily Barut, by gross negligence. The prosecution alleged that Scully, who acted as Emily's GP, administered an excessive dose of chloral hydrate on 15 September 2012. Emily, who had microcephaly, epilepsy and other severe disabilities, had recently undergone a surgical procedure and was in pain. Scully's partner was sent to the pharmacy for sedatives, but Emily was not seen until later that day. Emily was found dead in hospital with a blood level of 200 micrograms per milliliter of chloral hydrate, far above the therapeutic range. The post‑mortem confirmed chloral hydrate intoxication as the cause of death, with contributory factors including her disabilities and a hypoxic episode. Scully pleaded not guilty and the case was heard by a jury in the Central Criminal Court.
A 58‑year‑old Offaly woman, Bernadette Scully of Emvale, Bachelor's Walk, Tullamore, is set to begin a trial tomorrow in the Central Criminal Court. She is charged with the manslaughter of her 11‑year‑old daughter, Emily Barut, by allegedly giving her an excessive amount of chloral hydrate on 15 September 2012. Scully pleaded not guilty. A jury of seven women and five men has been sworn in, and the trial is expected to last up to three weeks.
In a 2016 Offaly case, Thomas Moran, aged 52, was convicted of 13 counts of indecent assault on his sister Roisin between 1981 and 1984, when she was eight. He also pleaded guilty to seven counts against sister Dolores between 1980 and 1983, when she was 12 to 15. Both sisters waived anonymity and testified. The judge, Justice Robert Eager, sentenced Moran to three years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, citing his juvenile status during much of the offending and his unlikely re‑offending. He praised the sisters' determination and bravery for reporting the abuse, which began after their father's death when Moran assumed the "man of the house" role. The sisters endured family upheaval and guilt, and only after a nervous breakdown in 2000 did Roisin report the abuse to Gardaí in 2012, following the Jimmy Saville case.
A receiver appointed by NAMA, Aidan Murphy, secured a temporary High Court injunction to stop members of the Travelling Community from trespassing on the Church Hill housing estate in Tullamore, Co Offaly. The injunction was sought because up to 13 caravans were located on the estate, with the receiver claiming they had no right to be there and had refused to leave. The receiver also alleged that the estate had been damaged, residents complained of anti‑social behaviour, rubbish dumping, and an explosion had been reported. The insurers of the estate were withdrawing cover due to the alleged ongoing trespass, and the insurance would expire on Monday, leaving any damage from that date onward uncovered. The injunction, granted ex‑parte by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, prohibits 16 individuals allegedly on the site and anyone with notice of the order from trespassing or interfering with the receiver and his agents.
In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 21 October 2016, Mark Relihan, an Offaly veterinarian, confronted his attacker Stephen McGrath (25) with a photograph of his severe facial injuries after McGrath had glassed him in a city‑centre cocktail bar. Relihan had just delivered an emotional victim‑impact statement when he held up the picture and said, "This is what you've done to me. You see this? This is what you ran away from." McGrath showed no reaction. Judge Pauline Codd adjourned the case to 16 December 2016 for a probation report and suggested community service. She had originally planned sentencing for 21 December but McGrath's counsel argued it would cause work difficulties. McGrath, from Carmarthen but originally from Tullamore, had pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm on 6 September 2015.
The family of a 64‑year‑old man who was murdered by three men after they broke into his home expressed shock and horror at the brutality of his death. The family statement, read at the Central Criminal Court, said they were "horrified and shocked at the cruel and heartless way he was brutally taken from us" and that they hoped for justice. The three men, Matthew Cummins (22), Sean Davy (22) and James Davy (25), were convicted of murder on 4–5 August. The judge imposed a mandatory life sentence on each, back‑dating the sentences to account for time spent in custody since 24 November 2014. The court heard that the men had previously been convicted of a range of offences, including arson, burglary and assault.
In a three‑week trial at Sr Senan Court, Edenderry, the jury found Matthew Cummins (22), Sean Davy (21) and James Davy (25) guilty of murdering 64‑year‑old Thomas 'Toddy' Dooley. The men were convicted of beating Dooley to death with a baseball bat in his home. The trial recounted how the trio met at Mangan's Pub, drank, used cocaine, and later attended a house party at April Murray's home where they caused extensive damage. After the party, they entered Dooley's house, where Cummins claimed Sean Davy struck Dooley with the bat, while Davy accounts varied. The prosecution described the attack as a joint enterprise. The men face mandatory life sentences; sentencing is postponed to 10 October, with reports ordered and all three remanded in custody. Matthew Cummins pleaded not guilty. James Davy pleaded not guilty. Sean Davy pleaded not guilty.
Two men, Sean Davy, 21, and James Davy, 25, were found guilty of murdering 64‑year‑old Thomas 'Toddy' Dooley in his home. The verdict was reached by unanimous jury after a three‑week trial at Sr Senan Court in Edenderry. The jury also considered a third defendant, Matthew Cummins, 22, who pleaded not guilty, and will decide his verdict tomorrow. The judge instructed the jury not to discuss the case with anyone else and to return for Cummins' verdict.
James Davy, aged 25, stands accused of murder after being present at the scene of Thomas 'Toddy' Dooley's death on 12 February 2014. He pleaded not guilty, as did co‑accused Sean Davy (21) and Matthew Cummins (22). The men entered Dooley's home through a window at about 5.30 am, drank with him, and at some point Dooley was beaten to death and attempts were made to set his body on fire. Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy reported eight blows to Dooley's head and two blows to his body, fracturing ribs. Defence counsel Padraig Dwyer SC argued that Davy's presence alone does not prove intent to kill, and that the prosecution failed to establish such intent. Davy maintains he did not strike Dooley or attempt arson, and he denied any involvement in the killing. The trial continues with the judge scheduled to charge the jury the following day.
In the Central Criminal Court, defence counsel Caroline Biggs SC argued that the evidence against 22‑year‑old Matthew Cummins of Churchview Heights, Edenderry, shows "morally corrupt" behaviour but does not prove he committed murder. Cummins, who pleaded not guilty to the killing of Thomas 'Toddy' Dooley, was present at the crime scene, had taken drugs, and was involved in earlier vandalism, but there is no evidence he intended to kill or seriously injure Dooley. Biggs contended that Cummins' actions after Dooley's death, such as cleaning the scene and possibly setting the body on fire, cannot constitute murder. She urged the jury to find him not guilty of murder but guilty of impeding the arrest or prosecution of the principal offender. The trial also heard defence arguments for Sean Davy, who was to be found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, and the case will continue with James Davy's defence on Tuesday.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Patrick Treacy SC argued that Matthew Cummins (22), Sean Davy (21) and James Davy (25) acted together to murder 64‑year‑old Thomas 'Toddy' Dooley. The prosecution said the men entered Dooley's house at about 5.30 am after being expelled from a house party, beat him to death with a baseball bat, attempted to set his body on fire and then disposed of the bat and other items in a bin. Treacy described the evidence as showing a joint enterprise, with each accused equally guilty. He highlighted conflicting statements from the men, including Cummins' claims of lying about his whereabouts and Davy's admissions of striking Dooley. The trial was set to continue the following day before Justice Margaret Heneghan. Matthew Cummins pleaded not guilty. Sean Davy pleaded not guilty. James Davy pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution has finished giving evidence in the case of three men accused of murdering a 64‑year‑old at his home. Matthew Cummins (22) of Churchview Heights, Edenderry, Sean Davy (21) of Clonmullen Drive, Edenderry and James Davy (25) of Thornhill Meadows, Celbridge, all pleaded not guilty to the murder of Thomas "Toddy" Dooley at his home in Sr Senan Court, Edenderry, on 12 February 2014. Prosecuting counsel Patrick Treacy SC told the jury that the evidence had ended and he would begin his summary of the trial tomorrow. The legal representatives for all three accused said they would not call any further witnesses. On the final day of evidence the jury heard from interviews given by James Davy to gardai in February and June 2014. Det Garda Joseph Bradley said that in February Mr Davy told gardai that it was Matthew Cummins' idea to go to Mr Dooley's house that night.
Ross Allen, 26, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for manslaughter after he acted as a lookout during the killing of Christy Daly, 47, on 29 December 2013. The Central Criminal Court found Allen not guilty of murder but guilty of assault‑manslaughter. The jury was not convinced that he was part of a common purpose to kill. Allen had previously hidden €30,000 worth of cannabis near Daly's caravan on Bog Lane, and when the stash disappeared he feared the drug dealer might blame Daly. He was told to drive a Volvo to a location outside Clara, where two Dublin gang members and a driver planned the attack. Allen collected a sawn‑off shotgun and a semi‑automatic pistol, stood at the gate as a lookout, and the men shot Daly eight times.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, a murder accused admitted to the Garda that he struck the deceased once with a baseball bat, but claimed the blow did not kill him. The accused, Matthew Cummins (22), Sean Davy (21) and James Davy (25), all pleaded not guilty to the murder of 64‑year‑old Thomas "Toddy" Dooley, who was found dead at his home in Sr Senan Court, Edenderry, on 12 February 2014. The trial is ongoing before a jury and Justice Margaret Heneghan.
The trial of Sean Davy, James Davy, and Matthew Cummins for the alleged murder of 64-year-old Thomas "Toddy" Dooley continues before Justice Margaret Heneghan. All three accused have pleaded not guilty to killing Mr. Dooley at his home in Edenderry, Co Offaly, on February 12, 2014. The jury heard that during an interview, Matthew Cummins stated that Sean Davy claimed the deceased had raped his cousin. Evidence presented included a text message allegedly received by James Davy from Chloe McBride, identified as the deceased's granddaughter, which read: "Toddy a rapist. I never going there again." Prosecutors suggested this indicated a pre-planned motive. However, Detective Garda Joe Hughes agreed with defense counsel that Mr. Dooley had never come to the attention of gardai and that there were no concerning rumors regarding him. Cummins testified that he believed the group was entering the house to drink and was unaware of any plan to attack. He stated he was too afraid to call an ambulance or alert police immediately after the incident. The court noted that the matter was adjourned and the trial continues.
During the murder trial of three men accused of killing 64‑year‑old Thomas "Toddy" Dooley, Matthew Cummins, aged 22, testified that he and co‑accused Sean Davy and James Davy had been drinking and using cocaine at a house party on 11 February 2014. Cummins said James Davy had a baseball bat and that after the party they decided to break into Dooley's house through a window. Cummins entered first, then let the others in. While inside, Cummins claimed he and the others drank with Dooley, who refused vodka but drank Budweiser. Cummins alleged that Sean Davy struck Dooley on the back of the head with the bat, then again on the chest, and that James Davy attempted to stab Dooley with a knife that broke. Cummins said he shouted at Davy and that the trio left the house with a plastic bag, the bat and prescription sleeping pills. Matthew Cummins pleaded not guilty. Sean Davy pleaded not guilty. James Davy pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Sean Davy, Matthew Cummins, and James Davy, all accused of the murder of Thomas Dooley, continued before Justice Margaret Heneghan. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty to the alleged killing of the 64-year-old man at his home in Edenderry on February 12, 2014. The court heard testimony from Chloe McBride, the deceased's granddaughter, who exchanged text messages with James Davy on the night of the alleged incident. She stated that Davy told her he was drinking and heading to a "session" with Sean Davy. Later, they discussed meeting at her grandfather's house, but Davy claimed he was busy with "stuff" and heading to Sean Davy's father's house. Four days later, upon learning of her grandfather's death, Davy expressed shock and hoped the perpetrators would be caught. He later inquired about arrests and whether a sock was found in Mr. Dooley's mouth. Prosecution also presented CCTV footage from the early hours of February 12, showing three men, one carrying a white bag, near Sweeney's Topaz and subsequently at Granary Court, where they lingered near bins. Garda Joseph Bradley identified one man as Matthew Cummins entering Granary Court. Other footage traced James Davy and Sean Davy walking together until 7am. The matter was adjourned, with the trial set to continue the following day.