At the Central Criminal Court, a detective told jurors that Nigel Canavan appeared nervous and evasive when questioned hours after his mother's death in Sligo on May 1, 2023. Detective Garda James Conneely met the 39-year-old accused outside Angela Canavan's home on St John's Terrace and later conducted a voluntary interview at Sligo Garda Station. Mr Canavan, with an address in Crossmolina, Co Mayo, denies murder. The prosecution alleges fatal violence and manual strangulation caused Ms Canavan's death. In his recorded statement, Mr Canavan described hearing three loud bangs while upstairs and finding his mother on the ground surrounded by broken glass and a damaged chair. He told gardai he had been staying with his mother during a bank holiday weekend after recent separation from his wife. The trial, before Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo and a jury, continues tomorrow. Nigel Canavan pleaded not guilty.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that Nigel Canavan told his then-wife his mother "went a bit mad" and struck herself with a knife before her death. Mr Canavan, aged 39, of Erris Gardens, Crossmolina, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Angela Canavan at her home in County Sligo on 1 May 2023. The prosecution alleges fatal violence and manual strangulation caused her death. Claire Conroy, Mr Canavan's former spouse, testified that he described his mother swinging her cane and becoming aggressive during an altercation. He said he went upstairs and later heard thuds before discovering her dead. A friend, John Gannon, told the court Mr Canavan telephoned him that evening in distress and later asked him to corroborate a story about discussing hurling rather than disclosing details of his mother's death. Mr Gannon said he instead told gardai the truth. The trial continues before Justice Kerida Naidoo and a jury.
A trial has commenced at the Central Criminal Court concerning the death of a woman in her Sligo home. The State alleges that Nigel Canavan, aged 39, of Erris Gardens in County Mayo, strangled his mother, Angela Canavan, aged 58, on 1 May 2023. Mr Canavan has pleaded not guilty to murder. The prosecution opening outlined that the deceased had enjoyed a successful career as a psychotherapist before developing severe alcohol dependency. She had sustained a brain injury following a fall and required periodic care. On the day in question, Mr Canavan had returned to his mother's home after work. Gardaí subsequently discovered her body in the kitchen and dining area, with evidence suggesting violent disturbance. A pathologist is expected to testify that death resulted from manual strangulation or asphyxia. The defence maintains the accused played no role in the death, asserting he discovered his mother's body after hearing noises. The trial continues before Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo.
A jury comprising ten women and two men has been sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the trial of a 39-year-old man from Crossmolina, County Mayo, who denies murdering his mother in Sligo. Nigel Canavan pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering Angela Canavan at an address in St John's Terrace, County Sligo on May 1, 2023. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo presided over the arraignment. The trial is scheduled to commence the following day and is anticipated to run for approximately two weeks.
Danny Cirstea, 27, of Dublin 2, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for his role in a money‑laundering scheme and for obtaining €15,000 in social welfare fraud. He pleaded guilty to possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct, possession of drugs and deception. Garda investigations revealed that Cirstea's address was used to open bank accounts for himself and a co‑accused, and that he had control over a third‑party account. Payments totalling over €5,500 were made to his account in November 2019, and approximately €43,000 was lodged in an AIB account between August and June 2019. Around €58,000 moved through a further account between July 2019 and April 2020. A search of his home in December 2020 uncovered a small amount of cannabis, valued at €140, and later, in August 2022, four bags of tetrahydrocannabinol in edible chocolate, valued at €80, were seized.
A man has been convicted and sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for serious sexual offences against his sister. Kyle Jinks, aged 31, of Slievemore, Ballytivnan, County Sligo, was found guilty on 21 sample counts of rape and four sample counts of sexual assault committed between 2008 and 2014. The offences occurred at the family home in County Sligo when the victim was aged between 11 and 17 years old and the defendant was between 14 and 20. Mr Justice David Keane imposed sentence on 28 February 2025, noting the severe breach of familial trust, the victim's vulnerability, and the persistent pattern of offending over seven years. The judge observed that the family home became a place of fear rather than safety. Jinks maintains his innocence and intends to appeal the verdicts. He has 25 previous convictions. The court heard he is assessed as very high risk of re-offending. Two years' post-release supervision has been directed.
Margaret Doran (36), from Kimmage in Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a false registration certificate for a caravan on 15 October 2019 at the Ranch House in Saggart, Dublin. Gardaí discovered the caravan's Vehicle Identification Number had been partially ground down during a search of the premises where Doran was renting a parking space. She produced a false logbook when questioned. The caravan, valued at €25,000, was seized. Doran stated she had exchanged her own caravan and paid money to a man in Sligo whose identity gardaí could not verify. The court heard she became homeless following seizure of the caravan. Judge Martin Nolan noted her guilty plea, absence of previous convictions, and personal tragedies, including the death of her husband. He determined that imprisonment was inappropriate and found her unlikely to reoffend. Doran received a two-year prison sentence, suspended in full.
The Court of Appeal has rejected an appeal against conviction by a Donegal man sentenced to ten years imprisonment for the repeated rape of a teenager. Liam Carr, aged 62, with an address in Ballina, Falcarragh, County Donegal, was convicted following trial at the Central Criminal Court in Sligo in 2021 of 31 counts including sexual assault, anal rape and oral rape of the boy between September 1995 and September 2000. The trial was the fifth proceeding on the same charges, after juries in three earlier trials were discharged for legal reasons and a fourth jury could not reach agreement. Carr argued the multiple trials breached his right to a fair trial and raised concerns about witness evidence and jury directions. Justice Isobel Kennedy rejected these grounds, finding no abuse of process and noting the trial judge had properly directed the jury on the standard of proof and presumption of innocence. The conviction appeal has been dismissed.
A former scrapyard worker has given evidence at the Workplace Relations Commission regarding an incident at Hammond Lane Metal Company's Clondalkin facility in December 2023. The woman alleged that a senior manager made offensive remarks toward her in the presence of colleagues and customers. The company, which operates sites across Cork, Sligo, Athlone, and Dublin, dismissed the manager, Bernard McMahon, following her complaint. McMahon has brought a case against Hammond Lane Metal Company Ltd under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, contesting his termination. During cross-examination, the complainant's representative questioned aspects of the witness account, whilst company HR evidence confirmed the manager had admitted to the alleged conduct. The tribunal heard that McMahon was suspended following an investigative meeting on 19 December 2023. The proceedings are ongoing, with McMahon expected to give evidence on Thursday.
At the High Court, Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty granted permission for a judicial review and adjourned the matter to January. The applicant, Juma Palani, is challenging the State's decision to disallow his claims for jobseeker's and disability allowance. He argues that the Criminal Assets Bureau, Chief Appeals Officer, and relevant Ministers erred in law and fact by concluding there were reasonable grounds to infer he engaged in criminal activity, a finding he contends lacks supporting evidence. Mr Palani seeks an order quashing these decisions, repayment of monies paid, and declarations that the State breached his procedural rights under the Constitution and the European Court of Human Rights Act. He is also seeking a declaration that the respondents failed to vindicate his rights. The application notes that in February, his solicitor requested evidence supporting the inference of criminal conduct, which has not been produced. The case involves the father of Yousef Palani, who was jailed for life last year for the murders of Michael Snee and Aidan Moffitt and for stabbing Anthony Burke in the eye with a kitchen knife. These offences occurred over a four-day period in Sligo, driven by hatred of gay men. Yousef Palani, who was 23 at sentencing, decapitated one victim in his own home. The matter was adjourned and is not concluded.
A man convicted of murder in connection with the death of Dundalk woman Irene White in 2005 is pursuing an appeal, arguing he was suffering a mental breakdown when he pleaded guilty. Niall Power, aged 51 and formerly of Riverstown, Co Louth, was sentenced to life imprisonment in July 2019 after admitting to his role in arranging the killing. Anthony Lambe, of Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, received a concurrent life sentence in 2018 for carrying out the fatal attack. At the Court of Appeal on Friday, Power's legal representatives indicated they would seek to have the guilty plea set aside on mental health grounds. Mr Justice John Edwards granted legal aid and directed that the matter be adjourned to January 17th to allow for the filing of formal documentation regarding an Enlargement of Time application, as the appeal window has expired. The court will subsequently address whether the plea should be withdrawn.
Juma Palani, from Sligo, has initiated High Court proceedings to challenge the State's decision to withdraw his jobseeker's and disability allowances. Mr Palani is seeking to overturn determinations made earlier this year by the Criminal Assets Bureau, the Chief Appeals Officer, and the Minister for Social Protection. He claims the State has failed to provide evidence supporting assertions that he engaged in criminal activity, and contends the investigation was conducted unlawfully. Mr Palani's son, Yousef Palani, was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2023 for the murders of Michael Snee and Aidan Moffitt in Sligo in April 2022, and for stabbing Anthony Burke. Mr Palani's legal representatives argue their client was denied fair procedures and constitutional justice, having received no opportunity to respond to allegations before his allowances were disallowed and repayment demands issued. Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty adjourned the case for hearing the following week.
Thomas Wymbs, a 67-year-old former B&B owner from Sligo, was sentenced today by Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring at the Central Criminal Court. He was found guilty by a jury of one count of raping a female guest between February 22 and 23, 2020. The complainant, a European woman in her 20s, was staying at Wymbs' establishment in Moneygold, Mount Temple, Co Sligo, where he was the sole proprietor. Prosecution evidence indicated that Wymbs invited the victim to join him for a drink; she later woke to find herself in his bedroom where the assault occurred. Wymbs had claimed the act was consensual. In her sentencing remarks, the judge highlighted the fundamental breach of trust, noting that the victim was a paying guest and a stranger in the country, which Wymbs exploited. Although the judge acknowledged Wymbs' work history, health issues, and the fact that this was a single act, she emphasized the seriousness of the crime. Wymbs was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended. The sentence was backdated to July 22, 2024, to account for time already spent in custody. The victim's impact statement detailed ongoing anxiety, panic attacks, and an inability to work resulting from the incident.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Martin Nolan restored the driving licence of 27‑year‑old Shane Ward early, cutting his six‑year disqualification to four years and nine months. Ward had been convicted in February 2021 of dangerous driving causing serious harm, driving without insurance and leaving the scene after striking 28‑year‑old Ms Radhika Lausin on a footpath at Drimnagh Luas. Lausin suffered a brain bleed, multiple facial fractures and a broken arm, and has undergone two operations. Ward fled the scene, later escaping on a friend's scrambler, and did not assist the investigation before pleading guilty. Despite Garda objections citing the severity of Lausin's injuries, the judge accepted Ward's rehabilitation efforts, noting his business venture and tax compliance, and ruled that the court should not impede his rehabilitation. Ward can resume driving in November 2025. The decision was made after a hearing on 3 July 2024.
A man serving a life sentence for his role in the murder of Irene White in 2005 appeared before the Court of Appeal to report difficulties in advancing his appeal. Niall Power, aged 51, from Riverstown, County Louth, pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced in 2019. He was described as "the middle man" in arranging the killing of the 43-year-old woman at her home in Dundalk on 6 April 2005. Power told the court he has been unable to secure legal representation despite approaching approximately twenty or thirty solicitors. Court president Mr Justice George Birmingham noted that many solicitors on the legal aid panel actively seek work and adjourned proceedings to 6 December. Power indicated he had already experienced a two-and-a-half year period without representation. Anthony Lambe, who carried out the fatal stabbing, received a life sentence in 2018 after pleading guilty to the same offence.
The Court of Appeal has resentenced a serial burglar to five years imprisonment after finding his original sentence inadequate. Wayne O'Callaghan, aged 35, of Brooklodge Grove, Glanmire, Cork, had pleaded guilty to burglary and unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle. Justice Tara Burns determined that the original headline sentence of three years for burglary was "simply too low" and represented an error in principle. The court heard that O'Callaghan entered a property in Glanmire and stole car keys from a bedside locker whilst a 21-year-old woman slept in the room. He subsequently took her vehicle, which contained a laptop valued at €3,000. On the same occasion, CCTV footage showed him entering three neighbouring properties. Later that night, he entered another residential address where three family members were sleeping, stealing items including Apple watches, iPhones, and a purse containing €100. O'Callaghan, who has 68 previous convictions including 15 for burglary, was released from custody one week prior to today's hearing. The new sentence comprises two years for unauthorised taking, running concurrently.
A 24-year-old man from Co Sligo is to be extradited to Scotland following a reassessment of his case by the High Court. The respondent faces charges in Glasgow Sheriff Court relating to an alleged firearms offence and assault that occurred in September 2021. He is accused of threatening another man with a firearm and causing serious injury through stamping, punching, kicking and eye-gouging. In June last year, Mr Justice Paul McDermott refused extradition on humanitarian grounds, citing concerns that Scottish prison conditions and mental health provision would constitute inhuman or degrading treatment. The prison was operating at 132 per cent capacity with inadequate recognition of neuro-developmental disorders. However, following fresh written assurances from Scottish authorities regarding tailored mental healthcare for conditions including ADHD, autism and depression, Ms Justice Melanie Greally today ordered surrender within twenty-five days. She found the new commitments amounted to material change in circumstances. Bail was granted on strict conditions, including daily signing at a Garda station and a €20,000 surety.
A man from Strokestown, County Roscommon, has been sentenced to eleven and a half years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court following his conviction on twenty-six counts of sexually abusing his daughter between 2011 and 2016. Cyril Mullane, aged 51, was found guilty of eleven counts of oral rape, fourteen counts of sexual assault, and one count of attempted rape committed at properties in County Sligo and Norfolk in the United Kingdom. The victim, who waived her anonymity, was between six and twelve years old during the offences. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo imposed a thirteen-year sentence with the final eighteen months suspended. The judge noted that the complainant's childhood had been "poisoned" by sustained abuse constituting a serious breach of paternal trust over a five-year period. Mullane had denied all charges and was not afforded mitigation for guilty pleas.
A 59-year-old man has been sentenced to twelve years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the rape and sexual abuse of two girls during the 1990s and 2000s. The man pleaded guilty to twelve counts relating to sexual offences against the victims when they were young teenagers. The first victim, aged between twelve and seventeen, was abused from 1992 to 1997 by a trusted family employee. The second victim, aged between eleven and seventeen, was abused between 2000 and 2006 by her sister's then-partner. The offences occurred primarily in Dublin and Kildare, with one incident occurring on the road between Sligo and Dublin. Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed nine-and-a-half years for offences against the first complainant and four consecutive years for the second, suspending the final eighteen months on condition of no contact with either victim and probation supervision.
In a High Court hearing on 21 March 2024, TD Marc MacSharry, who has represented Sligo‑Leitrim since 2016 as an independent, settled his action against the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO). MacSharry had claimed that SIPO unlawfully processed and disclosed his personal data, violating the EU General Data Protection Regulation, the 2018 Data Protection Act, and the 2014 Freedom of Information Act. The court granted several declarations in his favour, stating that SIPO had processed his data in contravention of Article 6 of the 2018 Act and had unlawfully disclosed confidential information in breach of the Freedom of Information Act. It also declared that SIPO had breached MacSharry's constitutional and European Convention on Human Rights rights to privacy and confidence. MacSharry will be paid his legal costs, and the proceedings were struck out following the settlement, which remains confidential. The defendant, represented by Gary Compton BL, consented to the orders and declarations.
The Workplace Relations Commission has determined that compensation paid under the State's Brexit scrappage scheme does not satisfy statutory redundancy obligations. Seven migrant fishermen employed by Millbay Fishing Company Ltd challenged the company's refusal to pay redundancy entitlements after their vessels were decommissioned in 2022. The company had received €2 million in public funding for scrapping the St Clair and St Rose trawlers and provided the workers with €1,000 per year of service under the scheme's terms. The company argued such payments constituted redundancy compensation and that additional statutory payments would unfairly advantage non-EU workers over Irish and EU fishermen paid through catch-sharing arrangements. Adjudicator Jim Dolan found no scheme documentation supported this interpretation and upheld all seven complaints. Millbay Fishing Company Ltd must now pay the workers combined statutory redundancy totalling €42,000. The case was heard at the Workplace Relations Commission.
The Central Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Lounes Ouachek, 54, of Tallaght, Dublin 24, after he allegedly breached release conditions by attempting to contact his victim. Det Sgt Mary Fitzpatrick informed the court that Ouachek failed to appear despite notification. Mr Justice Paul McDermott ordered the warrant. Ouachek pleaded guilty in 2014 to the attempted murder of his wife, Ruta Ouachek, at their home on August 23, 2012. He was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment with the final three suspended by Mr Justice Paul Carney on July 21, 2014. The Court of Appeal later reduced his sentence to 15 years with the final four suspended. Garret McCormack BL, for the DPP, stated a condition required no contact with his wife in perpetuity. The court heard Ouachek, an Algerian national, developed resentment toward his wife's independence after she entered full-time education. He allegedly attacked her with a kettle-bell, causing skull and facial fractures. After the incident, he left the house, drove to Dublin airport, and flew to Tunisia via Paris. He was subsequently arrested in Germany on an extradition warrant. The matter was adjourned.
A 59-year-old man has pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to twelve counts including rape, oral rape, and sexual assault committed against two victims over separate periods. The charges relate to offences occurring primarily in Dublin and Kildare, with one incident on the road between Sligo and Dublin. The first victim was between twelve and seventeen years old when abused from 1992 to 1997 by a family friend employed in her parents' business. The second victim, the niece of his former partner, was aged eleven to seventeen when assaulted between 2000 and 2006. Both complainants provided impact statements describing lasting psychological harm and the abuse of trust. The defendant acknowledged the serious aggravating factors, including the age disparity and exploitation of familial relationships. Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned sentencing to 8 April, noting the man will likely face community release following imprisonment and stating sex offenders require careful judicial scrutiny. The defendant remains in custody.
Seven Ghanaian fishermen have brought claims before the Workplace Relations Commission alleging they are entitled to statutory redundancy payments in addition to compensation received under a vessel decommissioning scheme administered by Bord Iascaigh Mhara. The men, recruited to work in Ireland under an atypical work permit scheme for non-EU fishers, received payments based on years of service aboard the same vessel when their employer applied for €2 million in decommissioning compensation in 2022. Their union representative contends the decommissioning payments have no legal bearing on separate statutory redundancy entitlements, with individual claims ranging from €8,736 to €3,443. The vessel owner's legal team argues the scheme compensation was intended as redundancy payment in lieu of additional statutory entitlements, and that granting the claim would create discriminatory outcomes for Irish and EU fishermen. Adjudicator Jim Dolan has reserved judgment pending further consideration of the submissions.
The High Court ruled that Bank of Ireland Mortgage Bank is entitled to possession of a property in Ballinfull, Co Sligo, belonging to the estate of the late Bridget Cunningham. The case involved a €60,000 'Life Loan' mortgage taken out by Mrs. Cunningham in 2006/07, which remained unpaid at her death in 2008. Teresa Gillespie, acting as executrix, opposed the bank's 2019 possession claim, alleging it was statute-barred under the 1961 Civil Liability Act and that the bank had delayed action. The bank argued the loan was only payable upon death and that no repayments were made. Mr Justice David Nolan determined that the bank's action for possession was not statute-barred, granting the entitlement to possession. However, he noted that the bank's claim for approximately €90,000 in accrued interest, which substantially exceeds the original loan amount, presents an arguable case regarding limitations and delay. The judge criticized the bank for failing to explain the "enormous delay" in bringing proceedings over 11 years after the death. The matter was adjourned for a full plenary hearing to determine the disputed interest claims, with final orders to be made subsequently.
A teenager from Sligo pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to sexually assaulting his eight-year-old cousin and recording the incident on St Stephen's Day 2021. The boy, who was 14 at the time and cannot be named due to his age, attempted to upload the video to YouTube, which intervention by the platform prevented. The attempt to upload led authorities to identify him. He has been sentenced to 16 months in detention followed by 16 months of probation supervision. Ms Justice Melanie Greally noted aggravating factors including the victim's age, breach of trust, premeditation, and efforts to upload the recording to social media. She accepted mitigating circumstances including the guilty plea and expressions of remorse. The judge set a headline sentence of 12 years had the defendant been an adult, reducing it to four years due to his age, then imposing the 16-month custodial term. The case has been referred to Tusla. The victim and her family provided impact statements describing ongoing distress.
The High Court heard arguments on Friday regarding a possession claim by Bank of Ireland Mortgage Bank against the estate of the late Bridget Cunningham, who died in July 2008. Mrs Teresa Gillespie, acting as executrix, argued that the bank's action is statute barred under the 1961 Civil Liability Act because it was not brought within two years of her mother's death. The bank, which claims approximately €150,000 in debt, commenced proceedings in 2019 against the property in Ballinfull, Co Sligo, valued at €180,000. The loan, a €60,000 'Life Loan' taken in 2006/07, became due upon the borrower's death. Ms Gillespie, represented by Martin Hayden SC and Eoin O'Shea BL for McDermott, Creed and Martyn Solicitors, contended that the bank is not entitled to the interest charged and rejected allegations that she has been living in the vacant property. The bank, represented by Brian McGuckian BL, asserted that Ms Gillespie has no defence. Mr Justice David Nolan reserved his decision and will deliver judgement at a later date.
At the Central Criminal Court on 23 October 2023, Yousef Palani, aged 23, from Markievicz Heights in Sligo, was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment for the murders of Aidan Moffitt and Michael Snee. Justice Mary Ellen Ring imposed a concurrent 20-year sentence for causing serious harm to Anthony Burke through a knife attack to the eye. Palani had pleaded guilty to murdering Mr Moffitt on 10 April 2022 and Mr Snee on 12 April 2022, both in their Sligo homes, and to attacking Mr Burke on 9 April 2022. Evidence indicated the offences were motivated by hostility towards homosexual men. Justice Ring emphasised that the three men should be remembered for their lives and contributions to their communities rather than the circumstances of their deaths. The sentences are to date from 13 April 2022 when Palani entered custody.
Yousef Palani, aged 23, appeared at the Central Criminal Court for sentencing following guilty pleas to two murders in Sligo in April 2022. Palani admitted to the murder of Aidan Moffitt on 10 April at Cartron Heights and Michael Snee on 12 April at Connaughton Road. He also pleaded guilty to causing serious harm to a third man on 9 April. During the hearing, Detective Garda Conor Jordan of Sligo Garda Station told the court that gardai were satisfied Palani's motivation stemmed from hostility and prejudice towards homosexual men. The court heard Palani had stated he would have continued killing had gardai not intervened. While Palani cited religious objections to homosexuality during questioning, investigators determined he had not been radicalised. The garda witness indicated that claims regarding Palani's mental health had been exaggerated or fabricated. Palani, with no previous convictions, was last resident at Markievicz Heights in Sligo.
Barry Young, aged 38, has been sentenced to eleven years' imprisonment at the Special Criminal Court for directing a criminal organisation. Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed the custodial term following Young's guilty plea to the charge, which carried a maximum of sixteen years. The judge described Young's activities as a "scourge" on the Sligo community over several years, though acknowledged his gang was smaller in scope than other organised crime groups. Young operated a drug distribution network with hierarchical command structures involving at least twenty members across the northwest. Gardaí seized over €628,000 in drugs linked to the gang and €40,000 in cash from Young's accounts, despite his stated income being social welfare payments. The investigation, initiated following Young's arrest at Dublin Airport in January this year whilst attempting to travel to Spain, uncovered thousands of communications detailing drug sales, debt enforcement involving intimidation, and cash movements. Young's sentence was reduced to twelve years to reflect his early guilty plea and mitigating circumstances.
A 23-year-old man from Sligo has pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to two counts of murder and one count of causing serious harm. Yousef Palani, of Markievicz Heights, admitted to the murder of Aidan Moffitt on April 10, 2022, at Cartron Heights, Sligo, and the murder of Michael Snee on April 12, 2022, at City View, Connaughton Road, Sligo. He also pleaded guilty to causing serious harm to Anthony Burke on April 9, 2022, at Cleveragh Road, Sligo. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring expressed sympathy to the families of the deceased and directed that victim impact statements be prepared. The case was previously scheduled for a four-week trial on November 13 but has now been adjourned to October 23 for sentencing purposes.
Nikiwe Dube, 41, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to four charges of using a false instrument and two counts of deception. Judge Elva Duffy stated that Dube, who admitted to the offences, had posed as a child psychologist without the required academic qualifications, abusing the trust of vulnerable children and adolescents. The court heard that Dube used forged documents, including a psychological transcript with a false garda stamp, a fake PSI identification badge, and a false medical certificate, to secure employment. He dishonestly induced TTM Healthcare to place him on their books of employment between August 15, 2021, and September 9, 2021, causing a loss, and induced the HSE to give him an interview for employment on August 18, 2022. Dube received €172,000 in wages and expenses while working for Gateway Residential Care in Sligo. Judge Duffy noted that gardaí have not been able to confirm Dube's true identity, which is of concern to the court. While acknowledging mitigation factors such as his immediate admissions, remorse, and lack of previous convictions, the judge determined the case warranted a headline sentence of five and a half years. The final sentence of four years was backdated to August 5, 2022, when Dube first went into custody.
Dumitru Sehleanu, a van driver, won €15,000 in compensation from Cordelia Foods Ltd following a Workplace Relations Commission hearing. The adjudicator found that the company committed longstanding breaches of the Organisation of Working Time Act, specifically regarding excessive hours and lack of breaks. Mr. Sehleanu alleged he worked 12 to 13-hour days, driving 600km to 900km routes, and was forced to urinate in a bottle due to the inability to take rest periods. The adjudicator accepted this evidence, awarding €7,500 for rest period violations and a further €7,500 for exceeding weekly maximum hours between May and August 2020. However, Mr. Sehleanu's claims for constructive dismissal under the Unfair Dismissals Act, penalisation under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, and a National Minimum Wage Act complaint were all rejected. The adjudicator ruled that while the working time breaches were significant, they did not constitute a repudiatory breach of contract because Mr. Sehleanu resigned without first raising the issues with his employer. The minimum wage claim failed due to procedural non-compliance. The total award was €15,000. Mr. Sehleanu has since secured new employment as a firefighter in Bray.
A man with 86 previous convictions, including for domestic violence, has had his custodial sentence doubled following a Court of Appeal ruling. Jason Doyle (28) of Tower Hill, Ballymote, County Sligo, pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm against his then partner at their home on 10 January 2021. Sligo Circuit Criminal Court had imposed a two-year sentence with 15 months suspended. The State appealed on grounds of undue leniency. The victim sustained injuries including bleeding to the head, bruising to the jaw-line, and blows to the back of her head and body during the overnight incident. Justice Isobel Kennedy, delivering the Court of Appeal's judgment, found the lower court had erred in principle by applying an excessive mitigation discount. The court substituted a headline sentence of three years with nine months credited for the guilty plea and nine months suspended, resulting in an 18-month custodial term.
A 22-year-old man charged with two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder in Sligo has changed his senior counsel ahead of trial. The accused appeared via video link from Castlerea Prison in Roscommon at the Central Criminal Court today. He is charged with the murder of two men in April 2022 and the attempted murder of another man the same month, all occurring in Sligo. Brendan Grehan SC was released from the case and Michael Bowman SC was appointed in his place. The trial is scheduled to commence on 13 November at the Central Criminal Court and is expected to last three weeks. The court heard that outstanding matters include records from the Central Mental Hospital and Castlerea Prison, along with other minor administrative issues. A case review was set for 19 July.
A man granted refugee status in Ireland despite a prior UK sexual assault conviction has been sentenced to ten years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the rape of one woman and the attempted abduction of another in County Sligo. Tayyab Salah Uddin pleaded guilty to raping a woman on 15 September 2018 and to falsely imprisoning a second woman the following day. The court heard that both victims were intoxicated and alone when Uddin approached them in a town centre. After raping the first woman, he returned the next evening and attempted to force a second woman into his car before gardaí intervened following surveillance footage. The court noted Uddin's predatory behaviour in targeting vulnerable, isolated women and his lack of remorse. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed consecutive sentences with three years post-release supervision, having assessed Uddin as presenting a high risk of reoffending. Uddin, a Pakistani national with ocular albinism, arrived in Ireland in 2018 and was granted refugee status.
A High Court judge has refused to extradite a man to Scotland on humanitarian grounds, citing severe prison overcrowding and inadequate mental health provision. Mr Justice Paul McDermott found that surrendering Richard Sharples, aged 24, from Dromore West, County Sligo, would expose him to a real and substantial risk of inhuman or degrading treatment. Mr Sharples is wanted by Glasgow Sheriff Court under a European arrest warrant for offences allegedly committed in September 2021, including a firearms offence and serious assault causing injury and endangerment of life. The judge noted that Barlinnie prison operates at 132 per cent capacity, with prisoners confined to cells for 22 hours daily in less than three square metres of space. He found that Scottish prison authorities failed to provide specific assurances regarding care for Mr Sharples' diagnosed conditions, including ADHD, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and Asperger's syndrome. The court heard evidence from a psychiatrist identifying specific support measures necessary in a prison setting.
A 38-year-old Sligo man has pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to directing a 20-member criminal organisation that operated across the northwest between October 2019 and January 2022. Barry Young coordinated drug dealing, intimidation and money laundering across Sligo, Donegal, Leitrim and Galway through a hierarchical command structure. Garda investigations uncovered drug seizures totalling over €628,000 linked to the gang, alongside €40,000 in cash recovered from Young despite his stated income being social welfare payments. Evidence presented during the sentencing hearing showed Young dispatched debt collectors to private homes to commit criminal damage and extort money. The court heard Young had 81 previous convictions and had been twice sentenced for drug dealing, most recently in 2006. His defence counsel noted Young had expressed suicidal ideation over his significant drug debts and described his arrest at Dublin Airport in January as a relief. The non-jury court adjourned sentencing to 31 July. The offence carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
A garda detective has given evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the trial of four men charged in connection with an alleged attack on security personnel at a repossessed farm near Strokestown, Co Roscommon. The court heard that a two-second body-camera clip was not disclosed to the defence as the officer believed it was not relevant. Detective McDonnell acknowledged he had inadvertently recorded the footage while the camera was in garda custody and accepted that withholding it did not constitute best practice. The trial heard evidence regarding an incident on December 16, 2018, when approximately 30 armed men reportedly arrived at the property and attacked four security guards. Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor, all pleaded not guilty to 17 charges each, including assault causing harm, false imprisonment, aggravated burglary, arson, and violent disorder. The trial continues before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury.
A 22-year-old man charged with two murders and an attempted murder in Sligo has received a psychiatric assessment, the Central Criminal Court heard this week. Yousef Palani, of Markievicz Heights, Sligo, faces charges relating to incidents in April 2022. He is accused of murdering Aidan Moffitt on April 10 and Michael Snee on April 12, and of attempting to murder another man on April 9. Palani, who is remanded in custody at Castlerea Prison in Roscommon, is due to stand trial on November 13, with proceedings expected to last approximately four weeks. Defence counsel informed Mr Justice Paul McDermott that the assessment had only recently been received and that outstanding evidentiary matters and records from the Central Mental Hospital require attention before trial. The case was adjourned to June 13 for further mention.
Fire brigade officers gave evidence on day 13 of the trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court concerning an incident at a property near Strokestown, County Roscommon, on 16 December 2018. Peter Carney, station officer at Elfin fire station, described arriving at the repossessed farmhouse at Falsk to find vehicles on fire and three or four seriously injured security personnel outside. He told the jury that fire officers cordoned off the property following a risk assessment and controlled access to the scene. Brendan Foy, station officer at Strokestown fire station, testified that security guards requested re-entry but were prevented from doing so due to safety concerns and the site being a crime scene. He confirmed standard procedure involved erecting cordon tape and stationing an officer to prevent tampering with evidence. Four men, Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne and David Lawlor, have each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges including false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary and arson. The trial before Judge Martina Baxter continues.
A security guard gave evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court regarding an attack on a repossessed farm at Falsk, near Strokestown, County Roscommon, on 16 December 2018. The witness told the court he was struck repeatedly, cut on the legs with a meat cleaver, doused in petrol, and bound with cable ties during an assault by a large group of armed men. The incident occurred five days after the property's repossession. Four men—Patrick Sweeney of County Donegal, Martin O'Toole of County Mayo, Paul Beirne of County Roscommon, and David Lawlor of County Meath—have each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges including false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, violent disorder, and robbery. The trial is ongoing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Under cross-examination, counsel challenged inconsistencies between the witness's account to gardaí and his testimony regarding events in the kitchen during the attack.
A woman from Sligo has succeeded in her Supreme Court appeal against a mortgage lender's attempt to restore repossession proceedings on her family home. Noreen Stafford challenged a High Court decision that had remitted her case back to the Circuit Court after previously being struck out. Ms Stafford had raised concerns about the validity of mortgage documentation used by Start Mortgages DAC and alleged the lender had wrongfully transferred security from an original parcel of land to her residence without proper authority. The Circuit Court had initially adjourned proceedings when the judge expressed dissatisfaction with the respondent's evidence, but no further affidavit was filed despite adjournments being granted. A three-judge Supreme Court panel agreed to hear the appeal as a matter of general public importance regarding the legal status of Circuit Court orders in such circumstances. Before the full hearing commenced, Start Mortgages conceded the appeal. Ms Stafford was awarded her costs.
A 37-year-old man from Sligo has pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to directing a criminal organisation. Barry Young, with an address in Cranmore, Co Sligo, admitted to the charge relating to directing the activities of a criminal organisation between October 2019 and January 2022, both within and outside the State. The accused, who is currently remanded in custody, appeared before the three-judge, non-jury court where he entered his guilty plea. The State's counsel confirmed that the Director of Public Prosecutions consented to his arraignment on the relevant section of the indictment. The court granted legal aid to cover the cost of a counsellor's report and adjourned the matter to May 9th for further proceedings. A previously scheduled trial date in April was vacated.
At the Central Criminal Court, Martin Doyle, aged 53, of Esker, Knock, County Mayo, was convicted following trial of two counts of rape and 25 counts of sexual assault. The offences comprised the rape of his wife on two occasions in May 2009 and once in November 2011, and systematic sexual assault of his daughter between 2004 and 2011 while the family resided in County Meath and subsequently County Sligo. Justice Caroline Biggs imposed a sentence of twelve and a half years imprisonment, with two years post-release supervision to follow. The court heard evidence of assaults occurring in domestic settings and at Lough Gara, Gurteen. Doyle maintained his not-guilty plea throughout proceedings. The judge noted the absence of remorse while acknowledging his work history and lack of previous convictions as mitigating factors. She described the abuse as a systematic pattern causing near-complete destruction of the child victim's childhood. Martin Doyle pleaded not guilty.
Four men are standing trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 53 charges arising from an alleged attack on security personnel during a property repossession at Strokestown, County Roscommon, in December 2018. Patrick Sweeney of Ramelton, County Donegal, Martin O'Toole of Claremorris, County Mayo, Paul Beirne of Boyle, County Roscommon, and David Lawlor of County Meath have each pleaded not guilty to charges including aggravated burglary, false imprisonment, assault causing harm, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery and animal cruelty. A security guard testified that approximately 30 masked individuals arrived at the property armed with weapons, assaulted four security staff, set vehicles alight and fatally injured a guard dog. The witness further told the court of previous hostile encounters with one of the defendants at other eviction sites. The trial is ongoing.
A publican in Arigna, County Roscommon, has been ordered to pay €3,000 compensation to Bernard Ward following a determination by the Workplace Relations Commission that he unlawfully cancelled a memorial party booking on grounds of the complainant's membership of the Travelling Community. Mr Ward initially contacted the proprietor of the Miner's Bar with his surname misspelled due to autocorrect, receiving provisional acceptance. After clarifying his correct surname, Ward, in a subsequent text, the booking was cancelled, with the publican citing concerns about Covid-19 public health restrictions. The bar owner denied discrimination, asserting he was unaware of the surname's connection to the Travelling Community and that uncertainties regarding vaccination certificates prompted the cancellation. Adjudicating officer Emer O'Shea found no material change in regulations or government announcements between acceptance and cancellation, and determined the only substantive difference was disclosure of Mr Ward's surname. She upheld the complaint under the Equal Status Act 2000, finding the publican had failed to convincingly rebut an inference of discrimination.
A 26-year-old man from Sligo has received an concurrent 18-month prison sentence following his guilty plea to threatening a prison officer at Mountjoy Prison. Paul Darcy of Calry Court, Stephen Street, Sligo, made the threat on August 17, 2019, after refusing to return to his cell during the evening lock-in. When instructed by the officer to comply, Darcy charged towards him aggressively, shouting threats of violence, and subsequently warned he would harm both the officer and his home upon release. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that gardai were contacted due to the menacing nature of the threat. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the sentence concurrently with an existing sentence, Darcy being due for release in 2026. The court noted that Darcy has since apologised to the officer and caused no further difficulties in custody whilst studying for his Junior Certificate.
A car parts manufacturer in Sligo Town has been ordered to pay €10,000 to a worker with an anxiety disorder following a discrimination finding by the Workplace Relations Commission. The adjudicating officer found that G. Bruss Gmbh Dichtungstechnik, which employs around two hundred people on the Finiskiln Road, failed to reasonably accommodate the complainant when it implemented a mandatory face mask policy during the Covid-19 pandemic. The complainant provided a medical certificate confirming she could not wear face coverings due to her condition, but the company declined to accept it or forward it to its occupational health doctor. The adjudicator described the case as unprecedented, noting that unlike other mask-policy discrimination cases, medical evidence of disability was established and the employer's failure to provide reasonable accommodation was clearly demonstrated. The company had maintained its position was grounded in public health concerns and denied discrimination. The order includes compensation for loss of earnings.
Ciprian Grozavu, 48, a Romanian national, was convicted of murdering John Forrester, 42, in 2011 at Bridge House, Bandon. The body was tied with cable and dumped in the River Bandon. A 10‑day trial at the Central Criminal Court ended with a unanimous jury verdict and a mandatory life sentence imposed by Mr Justice Paul Carney in March 2014. In December 2022, Mr Justice George Birmingham dismissed a motion by Lorcan Staines SC that the jury should have received a warning about circumstantial evidence. The judge held that the case was based on direct evidence, including admissions by Grozavu and witnesses, and that neither side had requested a warning. The dismissal meant the appeal was not pursued. Grozavu's co‑accused, Catherine O'Connor, also pleaded guilty to the murder of Forrester and was sentenced to life. Grozavu was later found guilty of a second murder, Jonathan Duke, and received an eight‑year sentence for impeding the apprehension of another. Catherine O'Connor was acquitted.