Irish Rail and Tipperary County Council are in a legal dispute at the High Court over a signal mast near the historic Cahir Rail Station, a Gothic revival structure from the 1850s. Irish Rail claims the mast is 130 metres away from the protected building and asserts that it has installed over 700 similar masts nationwide without issues. They are challenging the council's enforcement notice, issued under the Planning and Development Act 2000, which requires the mast to be removed by September. Irish Rail argues that the council incorrectly determined the mast's impact on the protected structure and misinterpreted the curtilage area. They also claim the council acted beyond its authority by suggesting that exempted works lose their exemption if they affect a protected structure's character. Irish Rail states that the protected status now only applies to the station building, not the other nearby structures. The council's warning carries a potential fine of up to €12 million and two years' imprisonment for non-compliance. The case will be heard again at the High Court on July 20.
Cahir O'Higgins, a Dublin criminal‑defence solicitor aged 49, was convicted in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of one count of theft and four counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice. He denied stealing €400 from a client on 30 July 2016 and denied providing incorrect notes to Gardaí in December 2017. The judge described the conduct as "deranged", "thuggish", "base" and "despicable". O'Higgins had earlier pleaded guilty to assault and harassment of a former employee, for which he received a 16‑month sentence in July. The new sentence, imposed by Judge Martin Nolan, was 27 months, back‑dated to 21 October, with the court noting the seriousness of the perverting‑justice charges and the impact on his reputation. O'Higgins expressed remorse and requested an apology to those affected. The court considered mitigating factors but extended his custodial term accordingly. The case remains at the sentencing stage, with no further verdicts announced.
Cahir O'Higgins, a former criminal‑defence solicitor, was found guilty of theft and perverting the course of justice. The court allowed the previously imposed reporting ban on his earlier harassment and assault case to be lifted. O'Higgins had been convicted of assaulting fellow solicitor Stephen O'Mahony, including a 2021 incident in which he broke O'Mahony's nose. He was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment, with the sentence deferred until September to allow him to close his practice. The judge described his conduct as "deranged", "thuggish", "base" and "despicable", noting the harassment stemmed from a professional rivalry. O'Higgins was granted leave to travel to Spain and to compete in the World Cycling Championships before his custodial term began. The case highlights the court's decision to lift the reporting restriction once the theft and perverting the course of justice trial concluded.
Cahir O'Higgins, a prominent criminal defence solicitor, was found guilty by a jury of stealing €400 and attempting to pervert the course of justice on four counts. O'Higgins, 49, had pleaded not guilty to the charges, which related to events in 2016 and 2017. The trial heard that O'Higgins withdrew €600 from the bank account of Spanish national Raul Sanz Quilis, who had admitted to criminal damage in a Dublin District Court case. O'Higgins claimed he had permission to use Quilis's bank card and that he returned €400 to the defendant. However, Quilis testified that he was not aware of the withdrawal and that O'Higgins did not return the money. The jury found O'Higgins guilty on all five counts after deliberating for nearly five hours. Judge Martin Nolan remanded O'Higgins in custody and adjourned the case for sentencing on November 25. Cahir O'Higgins had the case struck out.
The jury in the trial of Cahir O'Higgins, a criminal defence solicitor accused of stealing €400 and attempting to pervert the course of justice, has begun deliberating at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. O'Higgins, 49, has pleaded not guilty to one count of theft in July 2016 and four counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice in December 2017. He denies the allegations. The court heard that O'Higgins is a criminal defence solicitor with over 20 years of experience. The jury retired shortly after 11am this morning after being charged by Judge Martin Nolan, who instructed them to be neutral and impartial and not to consider O'Higgins's profession in their deliberations. After deliberating for about 90 minutes, the jury asked if theft can be said to have occurred when an owner is temporarily deprived of their property.
A veteran criminal defence solicitor, Cahir O'Higgins, is accused of fabricating notes and lying to gardai in connection with the theft of €400 from a client in 2016. Prosecuting counsel told the jury that the defendant's notes presented to gardai in 2017 were fabricated and that his claims during a 2020 recording with a garda that people were 'out to get him' were 'nonsense'. O'Higgins, who has pleaded not guilty to theft and four counts of perverting the course of public justice, is represented by senior counsel who argued that his client's actions were not intended to pervert justice but to address potential regulatory concerns. Defence counsel suggested that the client may have returned the €400 to his client, who may not have realized he had received it. The trial continues with the jury considering the evidence presented.
A veteran criminal defence solicitor, Cahir O'Higgins (49), has pleaded not guilty to one count of stealing €400 in July 2016 and four counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice in December 2017. During a voluntary interview with gardai, O'Higgins stated he returned the €400 to his client, Raul Sanz Quilis, and described providing notes to gardai as a 'grave error of judgement' and 'bullshit notes'. The prosecution alleges that O'Higgins withdrew €600 from Sanz Quilis' bank account, kept €400, and paid €200 to the court to have the case against Sanz struck out. O'Higgins claims he had implied permission from Sanz Quilis to use the card and that he returned the €400. He also said he provided notes to gardai in December 2017, which he later admitted were inaccurate and not contemporaneous. O'Higgins acknowledged he represented Sanz Quilis without explicit instructions and admitted to providing misleading information to gardai.
A veteran criminal defence solicitor, Cahir O'Higgins, has told a trial that he believed someone in the gardai or the Director of Public Prosecutions' office wanted to 'stitch him up' because he had 'annoyed people'. O'Higgins, 49, is on trial for one count of theft of €400 in July 2016 and four counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice in December 2017. He denies the allegations. The court heard that O'Higgins was representing a Spanish national, Raul Sanz Quilis, who was charged with criminal damage. During the case, O'Higgins allegedly used Sanz Quilis's bank card to withdraw €600 from an ATM, with €400 allegedly taken into his possession. The case against Sanz was struck out after €200 was paid to the court. O'Higgins also provided gardai with notes he claimed to have made during the incident, but the prosecution alleges they contained false information. Cahir O'Higgins pleaded not guilty. Sanz Quilis pleaded not guilty.
The trial of criminal defence solicitor Cahir O'Higgins, who has pleaded not guilty to one count of theft and four counts of perverting the course of justice, continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. The prosecution alleges that on July 30, 2016, O'Higgins withdrew €600 from an ATM at a Londis shop on Parkgate Street using the bank card of applicant Raul Sanz Quilis, keeping €400 for himself after paying a €200 court fee. Sanz Quilis, who was charged with criminal damage, consented to the withdrawal solely to pay the fine. Evidence from Courts Service clerk Derek Bunyan confirmed the case was struck out after the payment. Additionally, the State alleges O'Higgins provided gardaí in December 2017 with notes he claimed were made on July 30, 2016, which the prosecution says contained untrue information. Natwest Group Fraud Control Manager Michael Wilson testified that records show three €200 withdrawals were made from the Spanish-issued card between 4pm and 5pm on that date. O'Higgins denies all allegations, maintaining he acted in good faith. The matter is currently at the trial stage and has not been finalised.
In a criminal trial, solicitor Cahir O'Higgins, aged 49, faces charges of theft and attempting to pervert the course of justice. He is accused of withdrawing €200 from a Spanish national's bank card to pay a court fine, then making additional withdrawals totalling €600 from an ATM and pocketing €400. The prosecution alleges he provided Garda Tao Yu with false notes and a prepared statement admitting the €600 withdrawal. O'Higgins recorded a conversation with Garda Yu in May 2020, unaware of the recording, in which he expressed concern that other Gardaí might influence the evidence. He denies all allegations. The case is before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury, with O'Higgins pleading not guilty to all counts. The trial continues.
In a High Court hearing on 27 February 2023, the court ordered that Stewart Alexander and Bill Henry, directors of the insolvent Boxer Logistics Ltd, be personally liable for the company's €12.4 million debt. The judgment was granted on a joint and severable basis after liquidators Tom Murray and Tom Musiol presented evidence that the directors deliberately under‑reported the firm's income and under‑paid taxes, including corporation tax, PRSI and VAT. The company had transferred large sums out of its main account, including €1 million to Alexander's personal accounts, €250 000 to a former employee and Ms Paula Loredana Hutu (Alexander's alleged lover), and smaller amounts to a Paddy Power account. Boxer Logistics also unlawfully received €1.9 million in Covid‑support schemes. The liquidators claimed that Alexander and Henry owe the company over €6 million, but received no payment.
Cahir O'Higgins, a 47‑year‑old criminal defence solicitor, pleaded guilty to assaulting former colleague Stephen O'Mahony on 11 February 2023. The incident occurred at Wolfe Tone Quay, Dublin. O'Higgins apologized to O'Mahony, his family, and his own family for the shame and embarrassment caused. The prosecution requested a victim impact report for the upcoming sentence hearing. Judge Melanie Greally set a sentence date for 18 October and remanded O'Higgins on continuing bail. O'Higgins has been a top earner in the legal aid scheme over the past decade.
A building contractor, Sepam Solutions Limited, secured High Court orders against subcontractors MDLR Ltd and Titin Ltd, claiming their actions delayed a new vaccine plant at the IDA Science and Technology Park in Dundalk. Sepam, contracted to provide plumbing, mechanical and electrical works, alleges MDLR has retained essential equipment and Titin has withheld a six‑figure down‑payment. The court granted injunctions requiring the defendants to return the equipment and the down‑payment, and to prevent them from reducing assets below €500,000 or dealing with the payment. The orders were issued by Mr Justice Senan Allen after the defendants failed to appear. Sepam says the delays of 12 to 16 weeks damage its reputation and threaten its contract to build the plant for WuXi Vaccines Ireland Ltd, which will employ about 200 people and produce Dengue vaccines for Merck, Sharp and Dohme. The plant is part of a biopharmaceutical facility in Mullagharlin, Dundalk, Co. Louth.
In a High Court hearing on 11 June 2021, Sepam Solutions Limited, contracted to supply plumbing, mechanical and electrical works for a vaccine plant at the IDA Science and Technology Park in Dundalk, claimed that its subcontractors MDLR Ltd and Titin Ltd had breached their agreements. Sepam alleged that MDLR had retained essential equipment supplied by the plaintiff, while Titin had refused to return an €830,000 down payment made for specialised materials. The dispute has caused a delay of 12 to 16 weeks in the plant's construction, which is intended to produce Dengue fever vaccines for Merck, Sharp & Dohme. Sepam seeks an injunction ordering the defendants to return the equipment and the down payment, and to prevent them from reducing the value of their assets below €830,000. Mr Justice Senan Allen granted Sepam permission to serve a short notice of the injunction application, with the case set to return later in the month.
In a 2021 Court of Appeal decision, the court upheld a trial judge's decision to allow an FBI agent and two Gardaí from the National Surveillance Unit to give evidence anonymously in an explosives conspiracy case. The case involved Thomas Bates, who had received inert hand grenades, a decommissioned Glock pistol and dummy ammunition after an FBI agent uncovered a Darknet plot. Bates was convicted of conspiracy to possess firearms, ammunition and explosives between 24 October and 10 November 2017. Judge Thomas Teehan sentenced him to seven years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended. The appeal argued that anonymity violated statutory requirements, but the Court of Appeal found no legal basis to prohibit anonymous testimony and concluded the trial was fair. The decision clarified that a judge may permit witnesses to use initials or pseudonyms without compromising the accused's right to a fair trial.
Michael Small, a 54‑year‑old former solicitor from Renville, Oranmore, Co. Galway, faces a trial set for 9 January 2023 in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He is charged with multiple counts of theft, deception, failure to keep accounting records and the use of false accounting documents, alleged to have occurred over a two‑year period while he was practising in Limerick. Earlier, in 2008 and 2009, he appeared before the Dublin District Court on similar charges. The case involves allegations of €1.2 million in fraud, and free legal aid was granted for the circuit court proceedings.
Cahir O'Higgins, a 45‑year‑old criminal defence solicitor, appeared before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to set a trial date for charges of theft and perverting the course of justice. He is accused of stealing €400 from Raul Sanz Quilis at a Londis shop on 30 July 2016 and of giving Detective Garda Colm Kelly false notes in December 2017. O'Higgins denies the allegations. His barrister, Karl Monahan BL, told the court that the prosecution has severely damaged his personal and professional life and that he wishes to confront the case head‑on and restore his reputation. Judge Martin Nolan, citing a backlog of custody cases, scheduled a pre‑trial hearing for 10 March 2022 and a trial for 4 April 2022. O'Higgins will be defended by Michael O'Higgins SC, while Ronan Kennedy SC prosecutes the matter. The judge allowed Kennedy to refer to the case in October if another issue arises.
In a 2020 appeal, a 52‑year‑old man named Thomas Bates, originally from Liverpool, sought to have his 2019 conviction for conspiring to possess firearms, ammunition and explosives set aside. Bates was convicted of conspiring with others to acquire illicit items from the United States via the Darknet between 24 October and 10 November 2017. The trial judge sentenced him to seven years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended. The case involved a covert operation where Gardaí received three packages containing inert hand grenades, a decommissioned Glock pistol and dummy rounds, delivered to an address on Abbey Street, Cahir. Bates accepted the packages, claiming they were for his son, a claim later found false. The appeal argued that the trial judge erred by allowing anonymous FBI evidence, admitting a hearsay document, and failing to direct the jury on the evidential value of the alleged conspiracy.
The High Court, on 11 May 2020, ordered the winding up of Oasis Fashions Ireland Ltd and Warehouse Fashion Ireland Ltd, which together employed about 248 people. Mr Justice Michael Twomey confirmed the firms were insolvent and appointed Ken Fennell and James Anderson of Deloitte Ireland as joint liquidators on a provisional basis. The two companies operated 13 stores and 29 concession stands in Ireland. Their parent, Aurora Fashions, is owned by Icelandic Kaupthing Bank, and administrators had been appointed to the UK parent a month earlier. The liquidators were instructed by Kelley Smith BL, who noted that the group had been trading in a difficult environment worsened by the Covid‑19 pandemic, which forced the closure of high‑street stores in late March and hindered the group's ability to secure new investment. The liquidators have been working with creditors, including employees, landlords and Revenue, to ensure an orderly wind‑down of the business.
A man from County Mayo has been sentenced to twelve years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the rape and sexual abuse of his stepdaughter over an eleven-year period. Thomas Mullarney, aged 61, of Cahir, Louisberg, pleaded guilty to sexual assaults at a Dublin residence between October 2003 and January 2005, and to rape at a Mayo address in November 2011 and September 2014. The abuse began when the victim was approximately six years old and continued into her teenage years. During sentencing, Mr Justice Michael White described the offences as falling at the upper end of serious sexual abuse, noting the victim's trust in Mullarney as a father figure and the systematic grooming involved. The judge acknowledged Mullarney's guilty plea as significant but stated that only the perpetrator bore responsibility for the harm caused. The court heard that Mullarney had experienced institutional abuse during his childhood, though the judge expressed difficulty understanding how such trauma could lead to victimising a child.
A 79‑year‑old dual US‑Irish citizen, Daniel Mullan, is wanted by the FBI for alleged child‑pornography offences and the sexual exploitation of a minor. He is currently in custody at Midlands Prison, Portlaoise, and faces extradition to New York. In December, the High Court ordered his extradition, a decision upheld by the Court of Appeal on 12 April 2019. Mullan's lawyers challenged the order, arguing that his serious health problems—including sight loss, inability to walk, morbid obesity, atrial fibrillation, chronic cardiac failure, anxiety and cellulitis—made extradition disproportionate and not in the public interest. The Court of Appeal dismissed the challenge, stating that the evidence of his health was scant and that the Irish prison system had handled his custody well. The judge noted that the seriousness of the alleged offences and Ireland's international agreement with the United States supported the extradition.
Sean Healy, a 28‑year‑old from Beechpark, Cahir, withdrew an appeal against a €20,000 compensation order after the Court of Appeal warned that custody could be reconsidered if he proceeded. Healy had pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to former hackney driver John Bailey in March 2017. Bailey, who had run a hackney in the Burncourt area, ended his business after the assault. Healy received a wholly suspended three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence and was ordered to pay €20,000, with a two‑year payment period. His barrister sought to limit the appeal to the compensation order, citing the amount's burden. The Court of Appeal's President, Mr Justice George Birmingham, reminded the counsel that all aspects of the sentence, including the suspended term, could be considered, potentially bringing custody back into play. Following this, Healy chose to withdraw the appeal.
In July 2018, Heritage Bloodstock Ltd of Cahir, Co. Tipperary, withdrew a High Court action that had sought to allow its horse, Heritage Vittorio, to compete in the five‑year‑old competition at the Dublin Horse Show and to exclude Indigo VDL, owned by Mr. Ivor Broderick of Loughrea, Co. Galway. The company had argued that Indigo VDL was ineligible because it was not Irish‑bred and was not on the Department of Agriculture's approved breeding list for 2018, and that its participation would breach the RDS's rules. Heritage Bloodstock had obtained a short‑notice injunction and sought declarations that Indigo VDL did not meet the qualifying criteria. The case was adjourned for a costs hearing, and the action was formally withdrawn before the judge's decision on costs. The withdrawal left the status of the two horses at the Dublin Horse Show unresolved.
Anthony Buck, 41, of Garrymore, Clonmel, is serving a mandatory life sentence for the 1996 murder of David Nugent in Tipperary. He pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court and was convicted after a lengthy trial, with the sentence imposed by Mr Justice John Quirke on 2 February 1998. Buck's appeal to have his conviction declared a miscarriage of justice was dismissed by the Court of Appeal. The Director of Public Prosecutions successfully argued that the application was an abuse of process, and the court found no new or newly discovered facts to support the claim. Mr Justice John Hedigan noted Buck's skillful preparation and courteous conduct, but concluded that his arguments were based solely on existing trial records and therefore bound to fail. The application was dismissed before a full hearing.
James Conlon, a 35-year-old from Clonmel, Co Tipperary, had his jail term reduced on appeal after pleading not guilty to two counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice. The offences occurred during the investigation into the 2012 murder of Shane Rossiter. Conlon was originally found guilty by a jury at Clonmel Circuit Criminal Court and sentenced to eight years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, by Judge Thomas Teehan in February 2012. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham alongside Mr Justice Alan Mahon and Mr Justice John Edwards, quashed these sentences. The court substituted new terms of four years and three years imprisonment to run concurrently, resulting in an effective four-year term. The appeal judgment noted that Conlon and Maurice Power, who was convicted of Rossiter's murder at the Central Criminal Court in 2014, sought to remove a computer chip from a CCTV system. Conlon also allegedly sought to dissuade a potential witness from giving evidence. While the court acknowledged the seriousness of perverting justice in a murder case, it found the original sentencing range inappropriately high, noting the absence of violence, threats, or intimidation.
In a High Court case, Norgine BV, a Dutch pharmaceutical company, obtained an order from Judge Paul Gilligan directing AIB to disclose the names and addresses of the holders of an account in the bank's Cahir, Tipperary branch. The order, to be complied with within six days, was sought because Norgine alleges it suffered a serious cyber fraud, paying about €440,000 to the account after receiving an email that appeared to come from an Italian supplier but was actually fraudulent. The company claims the supplier never received the funds, and only a portion of the money has been recovered, leaving roughly €400,000 outstanding. Norgine seeks to identify the individuals who handled the account and to trace the money's destination. AIB, represented by Paul Fogarty, stated that confidentiality and data protection prevented it from providing the requested information, but the parties agreed to the wording of the order. The case was adjourned to a later date in the month.
In a 2017 appeal, lawyers for Maurice Power, a 34‑year‑old from Kilmoyler, argued that Gardaí supervising his cigarette breaks during an interview on suspicion of murdering Shane Rossiter violated proper procedure. Power, who had pleaded not guilty to Rossiter's 2012 murder, was found guilty by a jury of 11‑1 and received a mandatory life sentence in 2014. His barrister, Dominic McGinn SC, contended that the Gardaí's involvement in the breaks, supposedly due to resource constraints, effectively influenced Power's confession. He claimed the Gardaí provided information that Power repeated, thereby inducing the confession, and that the trial judge failed to question the admissibility of the confession and related evidence. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel dismissed these claims, describing them as lacking substance, and the court was to reserve judgment.
Maurice Power, 33, of Kilmoyler, Cahir, was found guilty of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Mrs Fiona O'Connell on 12 November 2012. He was driving three times over the legal limit, without insurance, and while disqualified. The incident occurred at about 5 a.m. on the Fethard Road, Co. Tipperary, when Power's vehicle lost control, crossed a boundary wall and carried Mrs O'Connell into an institution's grounds. She suffered severe injuries, including a leg that required amputation after 14 operations, and spent four months in hospital. Power was sentenced by Judge Thomas Teehan on 31 July 2013 to seven years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, and a 25‑year driving disqualification. He appealed the sentence, arguing the judge had over‑penalised him and ignored mitigating factors. Judge Garrett Sheehan, with Justices George Birmingham and Alan Mahon, dismissed the appeal, stating the sentence was appropriate given the aggravating circumstances and the victim's injuries.
Anthony Buck, aged 41, was convicted of murdering David Nugent in Tipperary on 8 July 1996 and received a mandatory life sentence on 2 February 1998. He appealed to the Court of Appeal seeking to have his conviction quashed on the basis that new facts had emerged following the Supreme Court's Gormley and White decision, which concerned access to a solicitor during Garda interviews. Buck's counsel argued that the decision should allow a miscarriage of justice claim under the Criminal Procedure Act 1992. The Court of Appeal, comprising Justices Birmingham, Sheehan and Mahon, dismissed the application. Justice Birmingham noted that Buck's case differed materially from Gormley and White, that no newly discovered fact existed, and that the appeal lacked substance. The Director of Public Prosecutions' motion to dismiss was also upheld. The conviction remains in force. Anthony Buck pleaded not guilty.
Oliver Kierans, aged 57, from Drumbannon in Bailieborough, County Cavan, has been sentenced to twelve years imprisonment following proceedings at the Central Criminal Court. A jury returned a majority verdict finding him guilty of manslaughter, but not guilty of murder, in the death of his wife Patricia Kierans on 5 September 2013 at their family home. He was also convicted of unlawful possession of a sawn-off shotgun and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly imposed concurrent sentences of nine years for manslaughter, eight years for unlawful possession, and twelve years for possession with intent to endanger life. The court heard that the couple had been married thirty-three years when marital difficulties arose in 2013. The judge noted that Mr Kierans, who has no previous convictions, subsequently attended a public house in Bailieborough where a protracted incident involving gardaí ensued, which was resolved peacefully. Oliver Kierans was acquitted.
Michael Batty, a water‑meter protester, had been committed to prison for contempt of court in November 2014. He apologised for breaching a court order that barred him from coming within 20 metres of installation works and gave a solemn undertaking to obey the order. Judge Paul Gilligan suspended Batty's 28‑day sentence for six months. The High Court had released his clients on a habeas corpus application. Solicitor Cahir O'Higgins, representing the protest group, noted that the release was a technical victory and that the clients respected the process. The protest group, led by Damien O'Neill and supported by Bernie Hughes, said they would continue to oppose water‑meter installation and that the campaign would move forward. No criticism of the High Court judge was made. The order remains in force.
In a 30‑minute incident in south Dublin, 41‑year‑old Francis Gavigan, a drug addict, forced a woman, Eleanor McCarthy, to drive his car while threatening to Taser her and take her children. He showed the children a memorial card of his late mother and claimed he was a "bad apple" desperate to avoid bank robbery. Gavigan pleaded guilty to robbery and false imprisonment. He was sentenced to five years in prison, with the sentence backdated to May 17, 2014. The court noted the victims felt severely threatened but that Gavigan had no intent to harm them. He had 34 prior convictions, including vehicle theft and violent theft, and was reported to be engaging with prison chaplaincy and drug‑addiction support at the time of sentencing.
Three Dublin water‑meter protesters—Paul Moore, Damien O'Neill and Terence Sheridan—were found to have breached a High Court order that barred them from entering a 20‑metre exclusion zone around sites where GMC Sierra Ltd was installing meters. The court committed each man to 28 days' imprisonment for contempt of court, but suspended the sentences for six months on the condition that they comply with the order. The judge also awarded costs to the contractor. The article reports that the protesters had not denied entering the zone and that the court considered affidavits and witness statements but not video evidence. No violence was alleged against workers, and the fourth protester, Derek Byrne, was not sentenced. The case highlights the court's insistence on respecting its orders.
In a 2014 Central Criminal Court hearing, Maurice Power, aged 31, was found guilty of murdering his childhood friend Shane Rossiter, 30, in October 2012. Power denied the murder but admitted to a long‑standing feud, including a stabbing seven years earlier. He claimed fear for his family and himself. The trial, lasting four weeks, included Power's full confession after his arrest on 11 December 2012. Pathologist Marie Cassidy described shotgun entry wounds to Rossiter's chest and abdomen, with no exit wounds, causing fatal internal injuries. The jury, composed of seven women and five men, deliberated over two days and returned a guilty verdict by 11 to 1. Justice Deirdre Murphy sentenced Power to life imprisonment. The impact statement by Rossiter's sister, Jenna, highlighted the sudden loss of a brother and the profound grief felt by the family.
The Central Criminal Court jury began deliberations on the murder of Shane Rossiter, a 29‑year‑old Tipperary resident, by Maurice Power, 31, of Dranganbeg. Power pleaded not guilty. Justice Deirdre Murphy explained that the case hinges on Power's 2012 confession to gardai, noting that jurors must assess its reliability and any independent confirmation. She highlighted circumstantial evidence linking Power to the black Audi used in the crime, including CCTV showing him refuelling the vehicle. The defence argued the confession was unreliable due to repeated off‑camera interactions and inconsistencies in Power's account, such as differing distances to the shots fired. Pathologist Marie Cassidy had identified two shotgun wounds at varying ranges. The jury, after over two and a half hours, requested to view the confession interview and CCTV footage before concluding. The trial remains at the deliberation stage.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Judge Deirdre Murphy began her charge to a jury of twelve about Maurice Power, 31, who denies murder. Power is accused of firing two shots at Shane Rossiter, 29, on 17 October 2012 in Tipperary, allegedly causing fatal injuries. The trial proceeds with the jury set to deliberate tomorrow. Maurice Power pleaded not guilty.
In a Tipperary murder trial, the jury heard closing speeches on the case of Maurice Power, 31, accused of shooting Shane Rossiter, 29, on 17 October 2012. Prosecutor Anthony Sammon SC urged the jury that the evidence was compelling, citing circumstantial facts such as Power's car seen "burning in a bog," the disposal of his mobile phone, and his own statements to Gardaí about shooting Rossiter twice. He highlighted a detailed confession recorded in Interview Seven, describing Power as relaxed and uncoerced. Defence counsel Dominic McGinn SC challenged the reliability of the confession, arguing that Power's relaxed demeanor did not prove truthfulness and that inconsistencies existed between his account and forensic evidence. He questioned the Gardaí interview process and the lack of a recovered firearm, suggesting the confession alone was insufficient to prove guilt. The jury, composed of seven women and five men, will return next Tuesday for deliberation under Justice Deirdre Murphy. Maurice Power pleaded not guilty.
The murder trial of Maurice Power, 31, of Dranganbeg, Kilmoyler, Cahir, was delayed because the jury foreman could not attend the Central Criminal Court. Power has pleaded not guilty to the killing of Shane Rossiter, 29, in County Tipperary on 17 October of the previous year. The prosecution says Power fired two shots that caused catastrophic injuries leading to Rossiter's death. Justice Deirdre Murphy explained the foreman's illness, thanked the jury for their patience, and scheduled the trial to resume tomorrow, with a conclusion expected early next week.
During the murder trial of Maurice Power, 31, the court heard that Power had told his mother, Janet Fullop, he was not involved in the death of Shane Rossiter, 29, who was killed in Tipperary on 17 October 2012. Fullop, who had previously informed Gardaí about the close relationship between her son and the Rossiter family, testified that she had persuaded Power to go to the Garda station after the murder. Power's defence counsel, Dominic McGinn SC, confirmed that Fullop had told the Gardaí about the family ties and that she had encouraged her son to cooperate with the police. The prosecution, led by Anthony Sammon SC, also presented evidence that Power had taken a chip from a private security camera, claimed to have burned it, and had told Gardaí that he had asked Sharon O'Donnell about the camera. The trial is proceeding before a jury of seven women and five men, presided over by Justice Deirdre Murphy. Maurice Power pleaded not guilty.
During a murder trial, the burnt-out remains of a car matching that of the accused, Maurice Power, were discovered by Gardaí 20 minutes from Clonmel. Power, 31, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Shane Rossiter, 29, in County Tipperary on 17 October 2012. The court heard that Gardaí searching for Power's vehicle found a burnt Audi in a bog outside Clonmel. Identification occurred after an embossed chassis number was located beneath the bonnet. Under cross‑examination, Garda Lorraine Hogan explained that manpower constraints had led to off‑camera contact with the accused. Defence counsel Dominic McGinn suggested that Power was pressured to confess during cigarette breaks, a claim denied by Detective Garda Adrian Cooke. The trial proceeded before a jury of seven women and five men, presided over by Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy.
In a murder trial in Tipperary, Maurice Power, aged 31, pleaded not guilty to the killing of Shane Rossiter, aged 29, on 17 October 2012. The court heard that Power told Gardaí he would "do 15 to 20 years knowing that it is over" after Rossiter's death. He claimed he had decided to keep Rossiter close and did not want to show fear. When asked if he could have repaired the relationship, Power said the situation had been ongoing for years and that he would have been dead five times over. He denied regret, stating he did not want to look over his shoulder. Garda Adrian Cooke denied that Power was pressured into making the statement, and the trial continues before a jury presided by Justice Deirdre Murphy.
In a murder trial, Maurice Power, 31, pleaded not guilty to the killing of Shane Rossiter on 17 October 2012 in Tipperary. Prosecutor Anthony Sammon SC confirmed that Power told Garda Adrian Cooke that the incident was over, that he would go to jail and that no one else would be harmed. Power said the weapon was destroyed in pieces with a grinder and that he felt "very relieved, like a serious weight was lifted" and that he was safer and happier since the shooting. During cross‑examination, defence counsel Dominic McGinn SC questioned Garda Larry Burgan about time spent with Power outside formal interviews, alleging bullying and cajoling. Burgan denied this, stating that Power's statements were voluntary. The trial is proceeding before a jury of seven women and five men presided over by Justice Deirdre Murphy.
In the trial of Maurice Power, 31, of Dranganbeg, Kilmoyler, Cahir, the accused pleaded not guilty to the murder of 29‑year‑old Shane Rossiter on 17 October 2013. Power admitted to the Gardaí that he had "let a shot" at Rossiter at 6.45 am that morning. He claimed the shooting was a "kill or be killed" situation, citing a seven‑year history of conflict and a belief that he was being set up. Power said he fired a sawn‑off shotgun twice – once from the passenger seat of his car and again from inside Rossiter's house – killing him in the chest and on the right side. He also stated that he had burned his car and disposed of the weapon. The case is proceeding before a jury presided by Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy.
In a murder trial in County Tipperary, Maurice "Mossy" Power, aged 31, pleaded not guilty to the killing of Shane Rossiter on 17 October. The prosecution alleged Power fired two shots at Rossiter, causing fatal injuries. Power was also alleged to have received a CCTV camera chip from resident Sharon O'Donnell in Clonmel in October 2012, which he claimed was for his own peace of mind. Garda Larry Burgan reported that Power was not arrested on 17 October and was free to leave the station after a brief interview. Power claimed he had been driving around with friends, met Rossiter and his brother, and later went to his father's house. The trial is proceeding before a jury presided by Justice Deirdre Murphy.
The Central Criminal Court is hearing a legal argument in the murder trial of Maurice "Mossy" Power, 31, who has pleaded not guilty to the killing of 29‑year‑old Shane Rossiter on 17 October 2012. The prosecution says Power fired two shots that caused catastrophic injuries leading to Rossiter's death. No evidence will be presented until Thursday.
The Central Criminal Court is hearing a legal argument in the murder trial of Maurice "Mossy" Power, 31, who has pleaded not guilty to the killing of 29‑year‑old Shane Rossiter on 17 October 2012 in County Tipperary. The prosecution claims Power fired two shots that caused catastrophic injuries leading to Rossiter's death. No evidence will be presented before Thursday, and the trial is currently focused on legal issues.
In the Central Criminal Court, Maurice "Mossy" Power, aged 31, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 29‑year‑old Shane Rossiter, who died after being shot twice on 17 October 2012. The prosecution said the shots were fired at about 6.30 am following a house party in Church Lane, Golden, Co. Tipperary. Witnesses included Paul McCarthy, who fled to a graveyard after the first shot, and Rachel Keating, who had known Rossiter for a week and testified that Rossiter had called Power to arrange a delivery of weed. Keating described a conversation about money owed and a kiss goodnight before Rossiter was shot. Paramedic T.J. Connolly reported that Rossiter was taken to South Tipperary General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead an hour later. The trial is now addressing legal issues before a jury of twelve, presided over by Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy.
In the Central Criminal Court trial of Maurice Power, a 31‑year‑old Tipperary man charged with the murder of Shane Rossiter, the sister of the 29‑year‑old victim testified that Power had told her he was planning to sort out differences with her brother shortly before the shooting. Power was said to have approached the Rossiter family after the victim's return from Australia, apologising for past conflicts. Witnesses described a brief encounter between Power and the victim the evening before the killing, with no apparent tension. Liam O'Sullivan, a neighbour, heard two gunshots at 6.30 am on 17 October 2012 and saw a man in a grey hoodie leave the house. Paul McCarthy, who called emergency services, reported seeing a gun barrel exit a car window and hearing a shot. The prosecution noted that a black Audi A4, later burnt out in a Waterford bog, was linked to Power's partner. The trial continues.
In the trial of Maurice Power, 31, accused of murdering 29‑year‑old Shane Rossiter on 17 October 2012, a witness, Paul McCarthy, testified that he felt he was being set up by Rossiter. McCarthy, who is now in custody, said he was in the house on Church Lane, Golden, when Rossiter asked him to go outside. He claimed to have seen a gun barrel from a car, ran, and called emergency services after hearing one shot. McCarthy admitted taking drugs that night and that he could not recall details, including Rossiter's name. He also denied calling for weed delivery and said he had told Gardaí he was being set up. The prosecution alleged Power fired two shots, causing Rossiter's death. The trial is set to continue before a jury presided by Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy. Maurice Power pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, Maurice Power, aged 31, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 29‑year‑old Shane Rossiter, who died on 17 October 2012 after being shot at a house party in Church Lane, Golden, Co. Tipperary. State Pathologist Marie Cassidy testified that a post‑mortem at Waterford Regional Hospital revealed two shotgun entry wounds to Rossiter's chest and abdomen, with no exit wounds, causing catastrophic internal injuries and massive blood loss. The wounds damaged the right lung, heart, liver, spleen, bowel, aorta and inferior vena cava, leading to death by blood loss. Cassidy noted Rossiter had taken cocaine, heroin, amphetamine and benzodiazepam, but these substances were not the cause of death. The trial continued on Tuesday before a jury of seven women and five men, presided over by Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy.