In a High Court hearing on 11 July 2019, Mr James Carney, a part‑owner of a horse sold in 2011, apologised to the court for social‑media posts about Goffs Bloodstock Sales Ltd. He admitted the posts were unfounded and pledged not to repeat such conduct. Carney withdrew complaints he had made to professional bodies, including the British Horseracing Authority. Goffs, represented by Robert J. Goff and Co, Goffs Bloodstock Sales Ltd, Goffs UK Ltd, and CEO Mr Henry Beeby, had sued Carney for defamation, claiming the posts damaged the firm's reputation and sought damages. The parties reached a settlement, with Carney agreeing to delete all relevant posts, remove a Twitter account, withdraw complaints to regulatory bodies, and refrain from future complaints. The judge adjourned the case with liberty to re‑enter.
In an appeal-stage procedural development, the Central Criminal Court directed Dr Sally Lenihan to prepare a report on the ongoing treatment of Richard McLaughlin, with the court scheduled to hear the matter on July 16. This follows a jury verdict finding McLaughlin not guilty by reason of insanity of the murder of Jimmy Loughlin in Sligo in 2018. The court heard that McLaughlin, who suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, broke into the victim's home and attacked him with a crowbar. Two forensic psychiatrists agreed that McLaughlin did not understand his actions were wrong and was unable to refrain from the act due to his mental disorder. The victim's parents, Paula and Michael Loughlin, stated it was unacceptable that a man known to mental health services lived nearby. They expressed hope that questions regarding mental health services would be addressed at a coroner's inquest. McLaughlin's mother, Mairead McLaughlin, expressed her deepest sorrow to the Loughlin family. Ms Justice Carmel Stewart noted the palpable grief of the family and extended sympathy to McLaughlin's mother. The matter is currently adjourned pending the submission of the treatment report, and no final disposal or sentence has been concluded.
Richard McLaughlin, 32, is accused of murdering Jimmy 'James' Loughlin (20) at Connolly Street, Sligo, on February 24, 2018. McLaughlin pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The Central Criminal Court heard evidence that McLaughlin admitted attacking the deceased with a crowbar, causing fatal traumatic head injuries. Gardaí testified that McLaughlin claimed he acted on delusions that Loughlin was raping someone known to him, despite no prior connection between the men. A consultant forensic psychiatrist, Dr. Anthony Kearns, testified that McLaughlin suffers from schizophrenia and was unable to appreciate the wrongfulness of his actions or refrain from committing them at the time. Dr. Kearns stated that McLaughlin fulfils the criteria for a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The court noted McLaughlin's history of mental health issues, including previous admissions to St Columba's Hospital and poor medication compliance. The trial continues before Justice Carmel Stewart and a jury.
A terminally ill woman whose sister was murdered fourteen years ago has called on the Director of Public Prosecutions to prosecute a third person in connection with the killing. Speaking outside the Central Criminal Court following the sentencing of Niall Power to life imprisonment, solicitor Kevin Winters said authorities possess sufficient evidence against the alleged mastermind. Power, with an address at Giles Quay, Riverstown, County Louth, pleaded guilty to the murder of Irene White at Ice House, Demesne Road, Dundalk, on 6 April 2005. He is the second person convicted; Anthony Lambe of Annadrumman, County Monaghan, received a life sentence in January after admitting the killing. Mr Winters stated that Anne Delcassian, the deceased's sister, was too unwell to attend court. He described the case as involving a murderous triumvirate and urged prosecutors to complete the investigation.
Richard McLaughlin, 32, is standing trial at the Central Criminal Court for the alleged murder of Jimmy 'James' Loughlin, 20, at Connolly Street, Sligo, on February 24, 2018. McLaughlin pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity when arraigned before a jury. The prosecution, led by Fiona Murphy SC, stated that the accused admitted to attacking the deceased with a crowbar in a "vicious manner" which resulted in his death. The sole issue for the jury is whether McLaughlin possessed the necessary mental element to commit the murder. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC admitted that McLaughlin committed the acts causing Mr Loughlin's death and that the deceased was entirely innocent. Grehan further stated that any thoughts McLaughlin had about the victim were "delusions coming from his mind" with "no truth whatsoever." The prosecution indicated that two consultant psychiatrists and a garda will provide evidence regarding the accused's mental state and the circumstances of the incident. The trial is presided over by Ms Justice Carmel Stewart and a jury of eight men and four women. The matter is ongoing, with the trial expected to last up to two days.
A 47-year-old man from Riverstown, County Louth has been sentenced to life imprisonment after pleading guilty to the murder of Irene White at the Central Criminal Court. Niall Power admitted his role in the killing of the mother-of-three at her home on Demesne Road, Dundalk on 6 April 2005. Power presented himself to gardaí following the conviction of accomplice Anthony Lambe, a historian from Castleblayney, County Monaghan, who had been sentenced to life in January 2018. During sentencing, the court heard that Power had acted as an intermediary, conveying a request from an unnamed individual to have Ms White killed. He subsequently introduced Lambe to this person and facilitated the commission of the offence. Ms White was found by her 79-year-old mother with 34 stab wounds and a cut throat. Victim impact statements were delivered by Ms White's sister, who is terminally ill, and her daughter, describing the lasting devastation caused to the family.
Two men have been jailed for six years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following their admission of involvement in transporting cocaine valued at €350,000. Arvydas Steponkus, aged 45, of Clondalkin, Dublin and Thomas O'Boyle, aged 33, of Sligo pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs for sale or supply on Cruiserath Road, Blanchardstown on 24 February 2018. Steponkus handed over €280,000 worth of cocaine to O'Boyle, with a further €70,000 discovered in a hidden compartment of the Ford Mondeo Steponkus was operating. Gardaí intervened following surveillance after a tip-off revealed the exchange. Judge Martin Nolan noted both men transported the drugs for payment and were aware of their involvement, acknowledging their co-operation and useful admissions to investigating gardaí. O'Boyle has 29 previous convictions including a 2008 drug offence, whilst Steponkus has no prior convictions.
The Central Criminal Court has scheduled a trial for June 10, 2020, in the case of Richard Burke, who faces a charge of murder in connection with the death of Jasmine McMonagle. Ms McMonagle, aged 28, was discovered deceased at her residence in Forest Park, Killygordon, County Donegal, on January 4. Burke, also aged 27 and from the same address, was brought before Sligo District Court on January 5 and charged with murder contrary to common law. At a hearing before Mr Justice Michael White in Dublin, the court was informed the trial is expected to extend over three weeks. Burke remains remanded in custody pending trial.
A 42-year-old man has been sentenced to 14 months imprisonment for dangerous driving causing death at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. James Dingle, of Drumcliffe Road, Cabra, Dublin pleaded guilty to causing the death of Maureen Creaner, aged 92, on Navan Road, Cabra on 4 September 2016. The collision occurred as Mrs Creaner crossed the road to purchase a newspaper. Garda collision experts established Dingle was travelling at 64 kilometres per hour in a 50 kilometre per hour zone. A breath test revealed he was marginally over the legal drink-driving limit, having consumed alcohol the previous evening. Analysis of his phone activity indicated significant sleep deprivation in the hours before the incident. Judge Martin Nolan noted Dingle had made conscious decisions regarding his condition and speed, for which he bore responsibility. Mitigating factors included his remaining at the scene and full co-operation with gardaí. Dingle was also disqualified from driving for four years.
An arrest warrant has been issued for Janice Brady, a 29-year-old woman from Sligo, following a finding that she breached her bail conditions. Brady was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court in November 2017 and pleaded guilty to impeding the apprehension or prosecution of a man between August 2 and August 3, 2015, at an address in Sligo, knowing or believing he was guilty of a killing. Although the State objected to her release, Mr Justice Michael White granted her bail on February 1, imposing strict conditions including residing in sheltered accommodation provided by the Peter McVerry Trust, remaining drug and alcohol free, signing on with gardai three times a week, and observing a curfew. The Director of Prosecutions, Paul Murray SC, told Mr Justice Paul McDermott that the State alleged Brady had breached these terms by testing positive for drugs and failing to sign on with gardai since February 15. Inspector Tom Colsch stated that gardai have "no idea where she is" and that she has not been seen in Sligo. Mr Justice McDermott was satisfied that a breach of bail conditions had occurred and consequently issued an arrest warrant for Brady to revoke her bail. The matter remains at the pretrial stage, with the court action focused on enforcing the warrant rather than finalizing a sentence for the admitted charge.
A 29-year-old man from Ballysodare in Sligo has received a fully suspended sentence following his conviction at the Special Criminal Court for assisting an unlawful organisation. Damhan McFadden pleaded guilty in November 2019 to knowingly rendering assistance to the IRA by transporting an inert training mortar in a child's backpack in August 2016. Presiding judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed a two-year-eight-month suspended sentence, noting McFadden had engaged in intentional conduct but was entitled to a reduction for his guilty plea and absence of previous convictions. The judge stated McFadden became involved through a "misguided and romanticised notion of republican ideals". McFadden entered a bond of €100 to keep the peace for the suspension period. His co-accused, Julian Flohr, was convicted of membership of the same unlawful organisation and received two years and ten months imprisonment.
A 31-year-old man from County Sligo has been sentenced at the Central Criminal Court to three years imprisonment, with the final year suspended for twelve months, following his guilty plea to the defilement of a child under 15. The offence occurred at an apartment in September 2012. The court heard that the girl, aged 14 at the time, was met by the man by chance and subsequently assaulted sexually against her will. She had informed him of her age and falsely claimed pregnancy in an attempt to discourage him. The man denied knowledge of her age, claiming he believed her to be approximately 18. Justice Tara Burns identified the significant age disparity and the victim's vulnerability as aggravating factors, whilst acknowledging the defendant's guilty plea and admissions to gardaí as mitigation. The suspended portion is conditional on the man maintaining the peace, remaining substance-free, and avoiding contact with minors. He is currently serving a separate sentence for assault causing harm.
In 2003, Yusuf Ali Abdi was convicted of murdering his infant son, Nathan Baraka Andrew Ali, and sentenced to life imprisonment. The conviction was based on a jury verdict that rejected his insanity defence, despite medical witnesses for the defence claiming he was a zombie and acted under voices. The prosecution's witnesses, including Dr Damien Mohan, stated Abdi was not psychotic. In 2019, the Court of Appeal quashed the conviction after a 2013 diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, made by a psychiatrist at the Central Mental Hospital, was deemed new evidence that could have affected the trial outcome. The appeal judge, citing the change in diagnosis and Abdi's ongoing mental illness, ruled the conviction unsafe and remanded him for a retrial. The case remains pending before the Central Criminal Court.
A Sligo woman who pleaded guilty to impeding the apprehension of a man for a killing in the town has been granted bail by the High Court pending sentencing. Janice Brady, aged 29, of Maryville Hostel in Finisklin, Sligo, admitted the charge relating to events in August 2015. The State had opposed her release, arguing she posed a risk of reoffending and returning to drug use. However, Mr Justice Michael White noted her clear urine tests, engagement with addiction counselling, and substantial rehabilitation progress during her two years and six weeks in custody. The judge was also reassured by an offer of sheltered accommodation from the Peter McVerry Trust in Drumcondra for six months. Ms Brady's bail conditions include a personal bond, residence in the approved accommodation, abstinence from drugs and alcohol, three weekly garda check-ins, a daytime curfew, and a prohibition on visiting Sligo except to see her son.
A man charged with murder in County Sligo will face trial for a third time in November 2019 after his previous trial collapsed at the Central Criminal Court. Keith Brady, of Cartron Estate in Sligo, was tried in connection with the death of Martin Matt Kivlehan at New Apartments, Holborn Street, Sligo in August 2015. Mr Brady pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Justice Carmel Stewart discharged the jury after an RTE Prime Time segment aired while jurors were deliberating. The defence barrister argued the programme had undermined the provocation defence, and five jurors subsequently watched the broadcast. Justice Stewart criticised what she termed a "parallel justice system in the court of public opinion" operating without regard to trial proceedings. The new trial is scheduled to commence on 4 November 2019 and is expected to last approximately two weeks.
A Sligo man has been found guilty of membership of an unlawful organisation by the non-jury Special Criminal Court. Julian Flohr (37), of Rusheen Ard, Caltragh in Sligo, was found guilty of membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, on August 14, 2016. The three-judge court had entered a not guilty plea on Flohr's behalf, as he had made no reply when the membership charge was put to him at the start of his trial last November. Evidence was given at trial that Flohr and his former co-accused Damien McFadden were travelling in a car from which gardai recovered an "inert" training mortar inside a "Spiderman" themed backpack. Both men were arrested under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act for possession of an explosive device and for being a member of an unlawful organisation. Delivering judgement today, presiding judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt said the prosecution had closed its case by saying that the court should accept the belief evidence given by Detective Superintendent Tom Maguire that Flohr was a member of an unlawful organisation. The judge said the court was satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the combined weight of the two strands of evidence was sufficient to establish Flohr's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Mr Justice Hunt, who sat with Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Judge Cormac Dunne, remanded Flohr in custody to next Friday when he will be sentenced. Damhan McFadden (29), of Kilmacowen, Ballysadare in Sligo, pleaded guilty on November 28 to knowingly rendering assistance to an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann otherwise the IRA by transporting a training mortar in furtherance of an unlawful object within the State on August 14, 2016. The offence of providing assistance to an unlawful organisation is contrary to section 21A of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939, as amended by section 48 of the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act, 2005. McFadden had originally pleaded not guilty at the three-judge court to membership of an unlawful organisation on August 14, 2016 and his trial had been underway since November 15. However, McFadden pleaded guilty to the new count on November 28 and a "nolle prosequi" was entered on the membership charge which the defendant had originally been charged with. This meant the State would not be proceeding with the prosecution in relation to that count. At today's brief sentence hearing, Detective Inspector Raymond Mulderrig summarised the facts of the case and told prosecuting counsel Fiona Murphy SC that McFadden had no previous convictions. Mr McFadden was remanded on continuing bail until next Friday, when he will be sentenced. Damien McFadden, co-accused, was remanded on continuing bail until next Friday, when he will be sentenced.
Gerard Manning, aged 38, of Limerick but originally from Belturbet in County Cavan, has had his murder conviction upheld following an appeal to the Court of Appeal. Manning was convicted in 2013 of murdering Martin Purcell, a 54-year-old father-of-two, at his home on Wickham Street in Limerick in September 2011. Mr Purcell sustained 41 wounds and died from a throat laceration that severed his jugular vein. Manning had pleaded not guilty and denied knowing the victim, but forensic evidence including his fingerprints found in the victim's blood proved decisive at trial. A jury returned a guilty verdict by majority, and Manning received the mandatory life sentence. The Court of Appeal dismissed grounds of appeal relating to the admission of evidence, including a knife found near Manning's flat, and alleged non-disclosure by gardaí. The court determined the trial was satisfactory and the conviction safe. Gardaí have stated no motive for the killing has been established.
A 37-year-old man from Caltragh in Sligo has been granted temporary bail over Christmas by the Special Criminal Court pending a verdict in his case. Julian Flohr is charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. His trial commenced in November, with judgment expected on 25 January. Evidence presented during the trial indicated that Mr Flohr and another man were travelling in a car from which gardaí recovered a mortar round in a backpack. The three-judge court granted him compassionate bail from 24 to 28 December on his own bond of €100 and an independent surety of €1,000. The presiding judge noted Mr Flohr's previous voluntary surrender of bail and emphasised strict compliance with bail conditions.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court has collapsed following broadcast content on RTÉ's Prime Time programme concerning the legal defence of provocation. Ms Justice Carmel Stewart discharged the jury after establishing that five of the twelve jurors had viewed the segment and discussed it during deliberations. Keith Brady, aged 31, from Cartron Estate in Sligo, had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Martin Kivlehan on a date between 2nd and 3rd August 2015 at The New Apartments on Holborn Street, Sligo. The defence had relied partially on provocation. Justice Stewart expressed concern about what she termed "a parallel justice system in the court of public opinion" operating without regard to judicial proceedings. She extended sympathy to the Kivlehan family and remarked that the collapse represented "a tragedy." Brady was remanded to 17th December for a retrial date to be set.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court is deliberating in the trial of a Sligo man charged with the murder of a musician. Keith Brady, aged 31 and from Cartron Estate in Sligo, is accused of fatally stabbing Martin Kivlehan on a date between 2nd and 3rd August 2015 at the victim's home on Holborn Street. Mr Brady has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The defence argued he lacked the necessary intent for murder due to drug intoxication and claimed provocation, alleging he believed the deceased was behaving inappropriately towards his sister. The prosecution contended the defendant inflicted the wounds with deliberate precision against a vulnerable man. Justice Carmel Stewart charged the jury of eight men and four women, who deliberated for under two hours before adjourning overnight. Deliberations are to resume the following morning.
A 31-year-old homeless man has been jailed for three years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his guilty plea to demanding money with menaces. Brendan Glynn, originally from Sligo, handed a typed note into a Spar shop on The Stiles Road, Clontarf on 16 July 2017, demanding €20,000 with subsequent weekly payments of €2,000. The note contained threats to burn down the premises and warned the owner against contacting gardaí. The shop owner alerted police, and Glynn was arrested two days later after being identified on CCTV. Judge Melanie Greally acknowledged the offence was not sophisticated and was committed during a period of addiction and homelessness, but noted the letter's content would cause extreme fear. Glynn received a four-year sentence with the final twelve months suspended. He was ordered to comply with the Probation Service and address his addictions.
A 31-year-old man from Cartron Estate in Sligo is on trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with murdering Martin Kivlehan, a 59-year-old musician, between 2nd and 3rd August 2015. The accused has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. During closing arguments, the prosecution submitted that the defendant inflicted two stab wounds to the neck with deliberate intent and deadly precision. The defence argued for a manslaughter verdict on grounds of either provocation or lack of capacity to form murderous intent due to drug intoxication at the time. Defence counsel submitted that the accused had reacted in a drug and alcohol-induced state after perceiving a threat to his sister. Justice Carmel Stewart was due to charge the jury on Monday.
A Sligo man charged with murder at the Central Criminal Court has pleaded not guilty to killing a musician but guilty to manslaughter. Keith Brady, aged 31, of Cartron Estate in Sligo, is accused of murdering Martin Kivlehan on a date unknown between 2nd and 3rd August 2015 at the victim's home on Holborn Street. During the trial, evidence emerged that Brady initially admitted to the killing following encouragement from his sister. However, when re-interviewed months later with new mobile phone evidence, he retracted this admission, claiming he had made a false confession to escape the interview situation. Subsequently, while remanded in Castlerea prison, Brady contacted gardaí unprompted and provided a detailed account of the incident, stating he stabbed Mr Kivlehan during an altercation but could not explain his actions. He expressed remorse and asked that a message of apology be conveyed to the victim's family. The trial continues.
A 29-year-old man from Ballysodare in County Sligo has pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court to assisting an unlawful organisation by transporting a training mortar. Damhan McFadden admitted knowingly rendering assistance to the Irish Republican Army by transporting the device on 14 August 2016, contrary to the Offences Against the State Act 1939. McFadden had initially pleaded not guilty to a membership charge, but the State entered a nolle prosequi on that count following his guilty plea to the assistance charge. The three-judge court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt alongside Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Judge Cormac Dunne, remanded him on continuing bail pending sentencing on 25 January. The trial of his former co-accused, Julian Flohr, also from Sligo, continues on a separate membership charge relating to the same date.
A superintendent has told the Central Criminal Court that he facilitated an unusual meeting between two detained siblings on humanitarian grounds rather than as an investigative strategy. Keith Brady, aged 31, of Cartron Estate in Sligo town, is charged with the murder of Martin Kivlehan between 2nd and 3rd August 2015. He has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. During cross-examination on the sixth day of the trial, Superintendent Jim Delaney explained that he permitted the meeting between Mr Brady and his sister Janice after she became distressed, noting both detainees had been unruly. Defence counsel suggested the meeting was designed to prompt a breakthrough in the investigation, given that Mr Brady provided admissions immediately afterwards. Superintendent Delaney maintained the decision was motivated by humanitarian concern. The court heard Mr Brady subsequently made statements expressing remorse and provided an on-camera apology to the deceased's family. Legal argument is currently underway before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart, with jury proceedings resuming Thursday.
A man charged with murder in connection with the death of a Sligo musician has told gardaí that the killing was "a moment of madness" following drug use. Keith Brady, aged 31, of Cartron Estate in Sligo town, denies murdering Martin Kivlehan, aged 59, at The New Apartments on Holborn Street between 2nd and 3rd August 2015. He has pleaded guilty to manslaughter. At the Central Criminal Court, a jury viewed video recordings of garda interviews in which Brady expressed remorse, stating he would give his life for the deceased if he could. He told gardaí he was not a violent person and apologised to the victim's family. Brady has indicated he believed the deceased had acted inappropriately towards his sister. The trial, now in its sixth day, continues. Cartron Estate pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Keith Brady, 31, of Cartron Estate in Sligo, continued at the Central Criminal Court on its fifth day. Brady is charged with murdering Martin Kivlehan, 59, on a date unknown between August 2nd and 3rd, 2015, at The New Apartments on Holborn Street. He has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. During cross-examination, Sergeant Martin McHale read memos from a fourth garda interview conducted on August 5th, 2015. In these statements, Brady alleged that he and his sister, Janice Brady, were "off their heads" on drugs. He claimed he stabbed the deceased because he believed Mr Kivlehan had "touched her up," while stating that Janice put a knife to the victim's throat. Brady expressed regret, noting he did not want the man dead. The court previously heard that the deceased sustained two stab wounds to his neck and was found by friends on the morning of the August bank holiday. The jury began viewing a video of this interview and will continue watching the remainder when the trial resumes on Tuesday morning. The matter is currently ongoing and has not been finalised.
Keith Brady, of Cartron Estate in Sligo, is charged with the murder of Martin Kivlehan, a musician, at his home on Holborn Street between 2nd and 3rd August 2015. He has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the State rejected. At the Central Criminal Court, Detective Sergeant Patrick Harney testified that Brady was arrested on 3rd August 2015 and denied involvement, stating he "never murdered anyone." Brady became agitated during questioning, pacing and punching a desk whilst requesting a Bible. Sergeant Martin McHale told the court that during interview the following day, Brady refused to provide a DNA swab, citing legal advice. He denied responsibility for Kivlehan's death but declined to answer questions about his whereabouts that night or provide an alibi, instructing gardai "no comment." Brady had been initially arrested under the Misuse of Drugs Act earlier that evening but no drugs were found. The trial before Justice Carmel Stewart continues.
At the Central Criminal Court, a pathologist has given evidence that a musician found dead in his Sligo home was severely intoxicated at the time of his death. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis told the trial of Keith Brady, aged 31 from Carton Estate in Sligo, that the deceased sustained two stab wounds to the neck. One wound severed the carotid artery and would have proved fatal within minutes. Dr Curtis stated the deceased had consumed alcohol at more than eight times the legal driving limit, rendering him likely incapacitated and unable to defend himself. The pathologist noted no defensive injuries were present. Mr Brady has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter concerning events at a residence on Holborn Street in Sligo between August 2 and 3, 2015. The trial, before Justice Carmel Stewart and jury, continues at the Central Criminal Court.
A scenes of crime expert has told the Central Criminal Court that a musician found dead in his Sligo home was likely in a seated or recumbent position when one of two fatal neck wounds was inflicted. Keith Brady of Cartron Estate is charged with murdering Martin Kivlehan, aged fifty-nine, at his residence on Holborn Street between 2nd and 3rd August 2015. Mr Brady has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea rejected by the State. Detective Sergeant Shane Curran of the Garda Technical Bureau described discovering the body on the living room floor surrounded by alcohol and paraphernalia suggesting drug use. Blood spatter analysis on a nearby radiator indicated arterial bleeding consistent with a stab wound at that height. A forensic scientist confirmed blood matching the deceased was found on two knives recovered from the scene. The trial continues before Justice Carmel Stewart and jury.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court has heard evidence that the death scene of a 59-year-old Sligo man appeared staged to resemble a suicide. Keith Brady, aged 31 and of Cartron Estate in Sligo, faces a charge of murdering Martin Kivlehan at The New Apartments on Holborn Street between 2nd and 3rd August 2015. He has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Witnesses, including two lifelong friends and the deceased's brother, described finding Mr Kivlehan with a knife in his hand. A garda present at the scene testified that the circumstances did not appear consistent with suicide, noting that cabinet doors had been opened and drug paraphernalia was visible. The prosecution outlined that the deceased had sustained two stab wounds to the neck at a 45-degree angle and had very high levels of alcohol in his system. The trial before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart is expected to continue for more than two weeks, with the jury required to consider the accused's intoxication at the time of the alleged killing.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Damhan McFadden and Julian Flohr, both accused of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the IRA, continued with a ruling on the lawfulness of a stop and search. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Cormac Dunne, ruled that the roadside stop of the men's vehicle and their subsequent removal to Manorhamilton Garda Station were legal and valid. This decision followed defence applications arguing that contradictory accounts from Gardaí regarding the reason for the stop rendered the search inadmissible. Prosecution counsel countered that the evidence was consistent and credible. The court heard that Gardaí recovered a mortar round from a "Spiderman" themed backpack during the search. McFadden, 29, of Ballysadare, pleaded not guilty to the charge. Flohr, 37, of Caltragh, made no reply when the charge was put to him, resulting in the court entering a not guilty plea on his behalf. The trial, which concerns alleged offences committed on August 14, 2016, is ongoing and was scheduled to continue the following day.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court is hearing evidence in the trial of a 31-year-old Sligo man charged with murdering Martin Kivlehan in the town during August 2015. Keith Brady, of Cartron Estate, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter following the death of the 59-year-old at The New Apartments on Holborn Street. The prosecution opening outlined that the defendant's level of intoxication at the time of the alleged offence would be a key consideration for jurors when determining whether the necessary intent for murder was present. The deceased, described as a talented musician, was found with two stab wounds to the neck. A garda investigation identified the accused following enquiries involving his sister. The trial before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart is expected to exceed two weeks.
Two men from County Sligo have had their vehicle stop and search challenged as unlawful at the Special Criminal Court. Julian Flohr, aged 37, of Rusheen Ard, Caltragh, and Damhan McFadden, aged 29, of Kilmacowen, Ballysadare, face charges of membership of an unlawful organisation on 14 August 2016. A mortar round was recovered from their vehicle near Dromahair in County Leitrim. During a voir dire hearing, defence counsel argued that gardaí provided inconsistent accounts of why the car was stopped and that the lawfulness of the search remained unproven. They submitted that the prosecution had failed to establish credible grounds for the stop. The prosecution contended the gardaí's evidence was consistent and that reasonable suspicion of drugs offences only formed after the vehicle was stopped. The three-judge court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, reserved judgment on the admissibility of the search. Damhan McFadden pleaded not guilty.
A 31-year-old man from Sligo has admitted to the killing of Martin Kivlehan but denies the charge of murder. Keith Brady, of Cartron Estate, appeared before the Central Criminal Court where he pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The death occurred at The New Apartments, Holborn Street, in Sligo Town between 2nd and 3rd August 2015. A jury of twelve has been sworn in to hear the trial, which commenced before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart and is expected to extend beyond two weeks. The case centres on the circumstances surrounding the death of the 59-year-old man more than three years prior to proceedings.
Two men from County Sligo are on trial at the Special Criminal Court charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. Julian Flohr, aged 37, of Caltragh, and Damhan McFadden, aged 29, of Ballysodare, were arrested on 14 August 2016 following the discovery of a mortar round in a children's backpack during a vehicle search in the Dromahair area of County Leitrim. The prosecution alleges that gardaí recovered the device, wrapped in black material, from behind the driver's seat of a black Saab car. McFadden pleaded not guilty to the charge; Flohr's silence was recorded as a not guilty plea. The prosecution case, opened by Fiona Murphy SC, will rely on garda evidence, interviews conducted under the Offences Against the State Act, and searches of the accused men's homes. Evidence heard today from Garda Eamonn McDonnell described the circumstances of the discovery and subsequent examination of the item. The trial, before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges, is expected to last three weeks.
The High Court has appointed a provisional liquidator to Taiga Shtof Ltd, a company based at Laburnum House, Fairgreen Road, Ballymote, County Sligo, which manufactures and distributes premium Russian vodka. Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds appointed insolvency practitioner Shane McCarthy of KPMG following confirmation that the company is insolvent and unable to meet its debts. The appointment was made after the court heard that the company encountered difficulties arising from a shareholder dispute. Production deadlines were allegedly not met, and the company faced funding shortfalls and unpaid expenses, causing significant business delays. The product, originally scheduled for launch in September 2016, was not released until December of that year. Two of the shareholders petitioned the court seeking a liquidator's appointment to preserve the company's brand and intellectual property for creditors. The petition also sought to facilitate execution of an exclusive United States distribution agreement required before November 7th. The judge adjourned the matter to a date in the following month.
Yusuf Ali Abdi, who murdered his infant son Nathan Baraka Andrew Ali in 2001, was convicted in 2003 and sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment. He appealed in 2004 but lost. In 2018 he sought a miscarriage‑of‑justice declaration, arguing that a 2013 diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, made after his conviction, proved the earlier 2003 diagnosis of non‑psychosis by Dr Damien Mohan was erroneous. Abdi's counsel cited psychiatric reviews showing a progression from depression and PTSD to paranoid schizophrenia and antisocial personality disorder. The Director of Public Prosecutions countered that the 2013 diagnosis was an opinion, not a fact, and that reopening the case would set a dangerous precedent. The Court of Appeal reserved judgment, noting the case raised significant legal questions. The proceedings remain at the appeal stage. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
A Dublin man has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for possessing a 9mm Beretta handgun and silencer. Andrew O'Keeffe, aged 29, from Drumcliff Road, Cabra West, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty in June to the offence at Kylemore Way in Inchicore on 6 September 2017. The incident occurred during a confrontation with armed gardai in which an officer discharged seven rounds after a jeep drove towards officers restraining O'Keeffe on the ground. Mr Justice Tony Hunt noted a headline sentence of twelve years but reduced it to nine years with one year suspended, taking into account O'Keeffe's early guilty plea and longstanding drug addiction. The judge remarked on O'Keeffe's extensive criminal history spanning seventy-one previous convictions. The sentence was backdated to 6 September 2017 when O'Keeffe entered custody. The court heard O'Keeffe was not the driver of the vehicle from which the weapon was discarded.
A Dublin man pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing a 9mm Beretta handgun and silencer following an armed garda operation in September 2017. Andrew O'Keeffe, aged 29, from Drumcliff Road, Cabra West, Dublin 7, was arrested after gardai responded to intelligence regarding a firearm at Ballyfermot. During the incident, officers pursued a white van which fled at speed towards Inchicore. The vehicle came to a stop at bollards on Kylemore Way, and as O'Keeffe and another man ran towards a parked jeep, a garda officer discharged his firearm seven times when the jeep was driven towards gardai. O'Keeffe was detained and the weapon, containing nine rounds, was recovered from a plastic bag discarded during the pursuit. His fingerprints and DNA were found on items connected to the incident. The court heard O'Keeffe has seventy-one previous convictions and a long-standing cocaine addiction. His barrister highlighted his early guilty plea and lengthy period in custody. The three-judge panel remanded him in custody pending sentencing on 31 July.
In a High Court hearing, Tressa Donnelly Reeves, who had spent over five decades searching for her son, testified that a nun from St Patrick's Guild told her that adopted children, especially boys, "never want anything to do with their birth parents." Reeves, who gave birth to a boy named Andre in 1961, had him adopted by a family in Carlow and named Patrick Farrell. She claimed the adoption was unlawful and that St Patrick's Guild, run by Catholic nuns and the State, made false statements about Patrick's location and failed to provide her with information. The society denies the allegations, and the State says it is not liable. The court has allowed Reeves to continue presenting evidence, with a ruling on the application to strike out the claim pending. The case is set to proceed next week.
A homeless man pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to demanding money with menaces following an incident at a store in Clontarf on 16 July 2017. Brendan Glynn, aged 31 and originally from Sligo, handed a threatening note to the proprietor demanding €20,000 initially, followed by €2,000 weekly, with threats to burn down the premises. The note instructed the owner not to contact gardaí and stated he was being watched. The proprietor alerted gardaí and Glynn was arrested two days later after being identified on CCTV footage. Garda evidence indicated Glynn had no connection to serious criminality and lacked means to carry out the threats. His defence counsel described the offence as impulsive and bizarre, unlikely to succeed. Glynn, with 46 previous convictions, was dealing with longstanding drug dependency at the time. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to December pending completion of a probation report.
Gerard Hayes, 53, of Limerick, was convicted of murdering 20‑year‑old John Robinson at John Carew Park on 22 or 23 January 2000. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty and he received a mandatory life sentence in March 2003. Fifteen years later, Hayes brought an appeal against his conviction. The Court of Criminal Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice John Edwards with Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice Alan Mahon, dismissed the appeal. The court noted that Hayes had not sought leave from the trial judge to appeal, had delayed the appeal process, and had not requested a transcript of the original trial in a timely manner. The original stenographic record and tapes had been destroyed, and the court found no evidence that the trial was unsatisfactory or that the conviction was unsafe. Consequently, the appeal was rejected. The case remains at the conviction stage. Gerard Hayes pleaded not guilty.
Gerard Creighton, aged 49, was sentenced again in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for failing to notify Gardaí of his change of address. He had previously been jailed for three years in March 2015 for the same offence, as well as for an attempted robbery and possession of an imitation firearm. In the current case, Creighton pleaded guilty to not informing Gardaí of his address between 5 and 24 June 2016. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a one‑year prison term. The judge warned Creighton that he must comply with the Garda regime and that failure to do so could result in further imprisonment. Garda Niall Murray noted that Creighton was due for release in May 2016 and had been warned by a prison officer to notify the Gardaí of any address change. The court heard that Creighton had not returned to a Garda station after being told to do so.
Daniel McDonnell, aged 23, was convicted of murdering 16‑year‑old Melanie McCarthy McNamara in Tallaght on 8 February 2012. The Central Criminal Court found that a shot from a stolen black Hyundai Santa Fe hit McCarthy in the head while she sat in a car with her boyfriend and a friend. McDonnell was arrested the following week and pleaded not guilty. He was found guilty by a jury after over four hours of deliberation and received a mandatory life sentence on 24 January 2014. McDonnell appealed in April, arguing the reliability of two letters he wrote while in custody. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, ruling the trial was fair and the jury's verdict safe, and upheld the conviction. The appeal also rejected arguments about the letters' admissibility and the lack of other evidence. The case remains at the appeal stage.
A 28-year-old Dublin man has pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to unlawful possession of a firearm and silencer. Andrew O'Keeffe, with an address on Drumcliff Road in Cabra West, Dublin 7, admitted to possessing a 9mm Beretta handgun and silencer at Kylemore Way in Ballyfermot on 6 September 2017. The three-judge court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt alongside Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge Michael Walsh, remanded O'Keeffe in custody pending sentencing. He will return before the court on 24 July for sentencing to be imposed.
A 39‑year‑old nurse, Greta Dudko, was convicted of murdering her 55‑year‑old mother, Anna Butautiene, on Christmas Eve 2010. Dudko admitted striking her mother's head against a wall and then hitting her with a glass bottle, causing blunt‑force trauma. The Central Criminal Court found her guilty of murder by a 11‑to‑1 jury verdict and imposed a mandatory life sentence on 22 October 2014. She had been suspended from nursing work earlier that year for intoxication at work and had an alcohol problem. Dudko's appeal, filed in December 2015, challenged the judge's handling of intoxication and the fairness of the jury charge. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, ruling the judge's conduct was not unfair and the conviction remained valid. The court also upheld the admissibility of photographs of the deceased at the crime scene. The unnamed 39-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A man from Castlebar, County Mayo, has failed in his appeal against a murder conviction at the Court of Appeal. The 25-year-old was sentenced to life imprisonment in February 2014 for the death of his mother on March 9, 2011. He had admitted manslaughter but pleaded not guilty to murder. During his trial at the Central Criminal Court, evidence emerged concerning his long-standing substance abuse and intoxication at the time of the killing. His defence centred on arguments of diminished responsibility and an inability to form the necessary intent due to drug use. A jury unanimously rejected these submissions and returned a guilty verdict for murder. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice John Edwards, found the trial satisfactory and the conviction safe. The court considered the trial judge's instructions to the jury adequate despite submissions regarding the handling of intoxication evidence. The appeal was dismissed.
The Charleton Tribunal heard that forensic examinations of garda computer systems and electronic devices yielded no evidence to support allegations by applicant Superintendent David Taylor that he was instructed to provide negative media briefings regarding Sergeant Maurice McCabe. Forensic Service Northern Ireland scientists examined telephones, an iPad, and a laptop used by Supt Taylor, former Commissioner Martin Callinan, and former Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan between July 2012 and May 2014. While some devices contained deleted data or were wiped in accordance with protocol, no relevant files were found on the examined hardware. Searches of Garda HQ systems, including PULSE and FileShare, identified two potentially relevant files concerning Sgt McCabe, but neither related to negative briefing instructions. One file concerned a Fixed Charge Penalty complaint, and the other involved a Tusla notification of suspected child abuse received in May 2014. The tribunal noted that two privileged systems remained unexamined, with evidence on those scheduled for the following day. Supt Taylor is scheduled to begin his evidence next week. The matter is at the hearing stage, with no final determination or sentence issued.
In the Court of Appeal, Daniel McDonnell's lawyers argued that letters he wrote while in custody, bragging about the murder of 16‑year‑old Melanie McCarthy, were unreliable and should not have been admitted to the jury. McDonnell, 23, had been convicted of the murder on the basis of these letters and a single piece of graffiti. His barrister, Bernard Condon SC, contended that the letters were produced by a 17‑year‑old in a 23‑hour lock‑up, with a history of drug use and limited education, making them suspect. He highlighted the lack of other evidence linking McDonnell to the crime and the absence of safeguards during the letters' creation. The prosecution, represented by Brendan Grehan SC, maintained that the letters were voluntary, lucid, and highly probative. The appeal was heard by a panel of three judges, who reserved judgment on the matter. Daniel McDonnell pleaded not guilty.