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.
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, 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that Thomas Dooley, aged 64, died from blunt‑force trauma after being struck eight times on the head, with fractures to his skull and internal brain injuries. She noted additional blows to his body that fractured three ribs, contributing to his death. Cassidy examined Dooley's body on 17 February, five days after the alleged murder on 12 February, and observed scorch marks indicating an attempted fire. She identified a baseball bat, which the prosecution claims was the murder weapon, as consistent with the injuries. Under cross‑examination, Cassidy suggested the head injuries were likely inflicted by a single implement, though she could not confirm whether one or more assailants were involved. The defendants—Matthew Cummins (22), Sean Davy (21) and James Davy (25)—remain not guilty pleas. The trial continues before Justice Margaret Heneghan.
During a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, a Garda witness testified that a fire may have been set at the armchair where 64‑year‑old Thomas 'Toddy' Dooley was found dead in his Edenderry home on 16 February 2014. The body, covered with a cushion, was in a sitting position in the armchair, which was burned in three places. Seven footwear marks were found on the floor, and no implement was recovered. The fire caused burns to Dooley's head, upper body, and both legs of his nylon tracksuit. The prosecution also presented witnesses who described the presence of a baseball bat in the scene, but no weapon was found. The case involves three men—Matthew Cummins (22), Sean Davy (21), and James Davy (25)—who are charged with murder and have pleaded not guilty. The trial is set to continue tomorrow before Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan.
At the Central Criminal Court, Symon Tarkowski, a Polish national aged 28 from Tullamore, County Offaly, received a suspended sentence of five years for his role in the false imprisonment of Patryk Krupa at Bogganall, County Rosemmon, on June 20th and 21st, 2014. Mr Krupa, aged 23, subsequently drowned in the Shannon whilst incapacitated from a head injury sustained during a violent assault. Two other men, Leszek Sychulec and Andrzej Gruchacz, were convicted of Mr Krupa's murder and received life sentences in June. Mr Justice Tony Hunt distinguished Tarkowski's involvement from that of the convicted murderers, noting he had not planned the assault and remained in his vehicle during the beating. The judge acknowledged Tarkowski's subsequent cooperation with gardaí and his genuine remorse, whilst criticising his decision to clean his car. The suspended sentence reflected the limited nature of his culpability and the mitigating factors present in his case. Symon Tarkowski pleaded guilty.
A 28-year-old Polish national has been remanded on bail pending sentence after pleading guilty to false imprisonment and withholding information in connection with a fatal assault in County Roscommon in June 2014. Szymon Tarkowski of Tullamore admitted to the charges relating to the death of Patryk Krupa, who drowned in the Shannon near Athlone following a violent attack. At the Central Criminal Court, evidence was heard that Tarkowski drove two men to locate the victim and transported them to the scene, though he remained in the vehicle during the assault itself. He subsequently cleaned his car in an attempt to remove forensic evidence and later provided a voluntary statement to gardai that aided the investigation. Two other men, Leszek Sychulec of Ballymahon and Andrzej Gruchacz, were convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment on the same date. The court heard Tarkowski had no previous convictions and was considered out of his depth, lacking premeditation in his involvement. He will be sentenced on 27 June.
Ross Allen, 25, was found guilty of manslaughter for his role in the killing of Christy Daly, a father of eight who lived alone on Bog Lane, Kilbride, Clara, Co Offaly. The Central Criminal Court jury, after nearly nine hours, returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. Allen acted as a lookout on 29 December 2013 while two Dublin gang members beat and shot Daly. The judge noted that Allen's intent was to cause injury, not death, and that the state of mind of the accused was central to the case. Allen had previously admitted to hiding a €30,000 bag of drugs near Daly's caravan and had been questioned by Gardaí about his intentions. He was remanded in custody pending sentencing on 18 July. The trial highlighted the gang's belief that Daly had taken the drugs and the subsequent violent confrontation that led to his death.
In the Central Criminal Court, 22‑year‑old Ross Allen was accused of murdering 47‑year‑old Christy Daly on 29 December 2013 at Bog Lane, Clara, Offaly. Prosecutor Patrick Marrinan argued that Allen, who had recently been released from prison and lived alone in a caravan, had hidden drugs and, after failing to retrieve them, set in motion a plan that involved a gang of armed men. Allen allegedly travelled with a Volvo, met with Dublin gang members, purchased tracksuits and a semi‑automatic machine gun, and later retrieved a hammer and a shotgun. The prosecution claimed Allen knew a serious assault would occur and that the use of a hammer and gun constituted intent to cause serious injury, sufficient for murder. Defence counsel Blaise O'Carroll counter‑argued that Allen's statements to Gardaí were made under duress, that he was not a hardened criminal, and that he had no intention to kill. Ross Allen pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Matthew Gralton and Ross Allen, who are accused of the murder of Christy Daly. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charge. State pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that Mr Daly, whose body was found in a drain at Bog Lane, Clara, Co Offaly, likely suffered significant blunt force trauma before being shot. She detailed injuries including knocked-out teeth, a fractured nose, and facial lacerations, concluding that these impacts occurred prior to the gunshot wounds which finally incapacitated him. The cause of death was determined to be gunshot wounds and blunt force trauma, with hypothermia and coronary artery disease as contributing factors. Detective Sergeant Pat Cleary testified that he received an anonymous text message on December 30, 2013, alerting him to someone badly hurt on Curragh Road, Clara. This tip-off was linked to Mr Daly, who had been missing since December 29 and whose caravan had been burnt out. The body was located on January 7, 2014. The trial is proceeding before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury. One juror was discharged after informing the court she was overwhelmed by the proceedings following a recent bereavement. The matter was adjourned to continue tomorrow.
At the Central Criminal Court, the son of a deceased man gave evidence regarding his final hours with his father on December 29, 2013. Matthew Gralton, aged 22, from Mt Prospect in County Roscommon, and Ross Allen, aged 25, with addresses in Carrickmines, County Dublin and Clara, County Offaly, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Christy Daly at Bog Lane, Kilbride, Clara. The prosecution alleges that Mr Daly discovered drugs valued at €30,000 concealed on the remote laneway where he resided, and that individuals connected to the drugs subsequently arranged his killing. The State contends that whilst neither accused was the gunman, both had a role in the death. The witness testified that he spent the day with his father and planned to meet him later that evening, but received no response when he attempted to contact him approximately 90 minutes after they parted. Mr Daly's body was discovered in a drain on January 7, 2014.
A witness told the Central Criminal Court that Christy Daly, aged 47, expressed concern about men in dark clothing loitering near his home on the day he went missing. Gary Gonoude gave evidence at the trial of Matthew Gralton, aged 22, from Co Roscommon, and Ross Allen, aged 25, from Co Dublin and Offaly, who have pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Daly at Bog Lane, Kilbride, Clara, Co Offaly between December 29, 2013 and January 7, 2014. Mr Gonoude told prosecuting counsel that when towing a car to Mr Daly's residence on December 29, 2013, they encountered several hooded figures in the laneway. Mr Daly questioned their presence. Defence counsel for Mr Gralton challenged inconsistencies in Mr Gonoude's accounts to gardaí and in court testimony regarding the number and appearance of those present. Mr Daly's brother confirmed they last met that day. The trial continues before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury.
Joseph Bates, aged 36, appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following a guilty plea to burglary at Milltown Institute on Sandyford Road, Dublin on 21 July 2013. The charges allege that while trespassing in the building, he committed theft and criminal damage. Bates had previously received a three-year suspended sentence from Longford Circuit Court for burglary in County Longford, imposed on condition he keep the peace for five years. The prosecution indicated the matter requires return to the Midlands Circuit, with Judge Desmond Hogan adjourning the case for mention at Tullamore on the following day. The breach of the suspended sentence condition raises the prospect of activation of the earlier custodial term.
The National Bus and Rail Workers Union (NBRU) and member Pauric Wall have launched a High Court challenge against the National Transport Authority (NTA). The applicants, who include Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann as parties whose routes are affected, seek to quash three NTA decisions made on January 22 regarding the tendering of approximately 30 routes in Dublin and Waterford City. The NBRU alleges that the NTA's decision to invite tenders breaches exclusive operating rights conferred under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 and that the NTA acted outside its powers. The union claims the NTA incorrectly interpreted an EU Regulation, which it argues does not mandate the privatisation of public passenger transport services. The applicants seek declarations that the NTA's decisions are null and void. In response, NTA lawyers stated the authority is entitled to make the tendering decisions. The court heard that contract notices have been issued, with awards due in April 2016. Mr Justice Seamus Noonan granted permission to bring the action on an ex parte basis. The matter was adjourned and made returnable to a date in early June.
A trial date has been set for Dr Bernadette Scully, a 57‑year‑old GP from Emvale, Tullamore, Co Offaly, who is accused of murdering her 11‑year‑old daughter Emily Barut at their family home on 15 September 2012. Mr Justice Paul Carney scheduled the trial for 21 November 2016 at the Central Criminal Court.
An Offaly man was sentenced to 240 hours community service at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his conviction for assaulting a garda in Tullamore on 12 March 2012. Enda Carroll, aged 23, of The Willows, Mucklagh, was found guilty of assault causing harm, resisting a peace officer, and two public order offences. The court heard that during a public order incident on William Street, Carroll refused gardaí directions and made threats toward Garda Lucy McLoughlin before attacking her. He subsequently picked her up by the leg and slammed her against a shop front, causing a tear to her hip joint and cartilage damage to her knee. The garda required two operations and was absent from duty for 18 months. Judge Carmel Stewart imposed the community service order in lieu of a two-year prison sentence, noting Carroll's written apology and engagement in training to improve his employment prospects. She warned that non-compliance with probation directions would result in activation of the custodial sentence.