Gerard Mounsey, 47, of Knockshegowna, Ballingarry, Nenagh, Tipperary, was found guilty in 2014 of eight counts of knowingly or wilfully filing incorrect income tax returns for the years 2003 to 2009. He was acquitted on one count and convicted on seven, receiving a suspended 18‑month prison sentence and a €10,000 fine. Mounsey appealed, and on 19 October 2015 the Court of Appeal quashed his conviction. The appeal court held that the conviction could not stand, citing that the tax liability for the relevant years had not been finally determined at the time of trial. The court also noted that the evidence of tax assessments was presented as opinion evidence, and that the defence had been inadequately engaged with the issue. The judgment was delivered by Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan and Mr Justice Alan Mahon. Gerard Mounsey pleaded not guilty.
A 22-year-old man from Clonmel, County Tipperary, has been granted bail by the Special Criminal Court ahead of trial scheduled for October. Dylan Cahill faces charges of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, alleged to have occurred on 13 May 2015. He is also charged with possession of a .380 calibre semi-automatic pistol and four rounds of matching ammunition at Sradrine, Glefame, County Leitrim on the same date, in circumstances giving rise to reasonable inference the items were not lawfully held. Additionally, Mr Cahill is charged with possession of two improvised explosive devices at the same location. Detective Garda Mark Benson told the court that Mr Cahill was arrested at Manorhamilton, County Leitrim, on 15 May and made no reply to the charges. An independent surety of €20,000 was frozen in a bank account. Trial is set for 16 October 2015.
Vasile Stratan, a 35‑year‑old Moldovan who had been in Ireland for only four days, pleaded guilty to burglary at a Carrick‑on‑Suir home on 26 September 2013. He was sentenced to six years' imprisonment by Judge Thomas Teehan on 13 March 2014. Stratan claimed he travelled to the scene on the "promise of working in a circus" and that he was merely "casing houses", not the organiser of the offence. His barrister, Pauline Walley, argued that the sentencing judge had not considered his guilty plea, lack of prior convictions, health problems and his status as a non‑national with no English. On appeal, Justice Seán Ryan agreed that the judge had erred in not giving weight to these factors and, with some reluctance, ordered that the final 18 months of the sentence be suspended, leaving Stratan with a reduced custodial term. The appeal did not alter the assessment of the crime itself.
A Tipperary man, Michael Smith, aged 53, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for a series of sexual offences against a girl who was 11 when the first abuse began. Gardaí interviewed him in 2004 after a search uncovered a video of him raping the victim. Smith was released without charge, travelled to the UK and committed further abuse against a teenage girl he had groomed online. He was jailed in the UK in 2008 for that offence and for possession of nearly 20,000 images of child pornography. After his release from a UK prison in 2014 he was extradited to Ireland and has been in custody since. The victim, Michelle Smith, 29, waived anonymity and gave a victim impact statement. Michael Smith pleaded guilty.
The High Court refused to surrender Aidan O'Dwyer, a 40‑year‑old from Clonmel, to Bulgarian authorities for alleged attempted murder of a taxi driver. Bulgarian prosecutors claimed O'Dwyer stabbed the driver in the chest with a knife, motivated by hooliganism, and that the driver survived only thanks to emergency services. O'Dwyer, who was arrested under a European Arrest Warrant on 24 June 2014, argued he acted in self‑defence and that the injuries were not severe. The court considered his serious medical condition, including a liver transplant in 2005 and current powerful medication, and his medical evidence sworn before the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture. The judge cited substantial risk of inhumane and degrading treatment in Bulgarian prisons, citing CPT findings of fundamental shortcomings. Consequently, the court ordered O'Dwyer's release, returned any bail, and discharged him from the proceedings.
A 21‑year‑old Tipperary man, who pleaded guilty to having sex with a 13‑year‑old babysitter when he was 15, was sentenced to three‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment on 12 June 2013. The case involved the babysitter being assaulted by the man and a co‑accused after they entered her home. The judge described the offence as very serious and noted that the co‑accused had not reoffended, whereas the appellant had 31 prior convictions. The appeal focused on the difference between the appellant's sentence and that of the co‑accused, who received a fully suspended sentence. The Court of Appeal, sitting with Justices John Edwards and Alan Mahon, dismissed the appeal, upholding the original sentence and the judge's decision to impose no suspended portion for the appellant. The appeal was rejected on 5 June 2015.
Three men appeared before the Special Criminal Court at trial, facing alleged IRA-related charges arising from an ongoing investigation into dissident republican activities. Séamus McGrane, 60, of Co Louth, was charged with directing the activities of an unlawful organisation styling itself the IRA and membership of that organisation between December 2009 and May 2015. He made no reply to the charges and was remanded in custody until May 20. Donal O Coisdealbha, 23, of Dublin 15, was charged with IRA membership and possession of a time and power unit, a component of an improvised explosive device, found in a storage locker at NUI Maynooth. He also made no reply and was remanded in custody until May 20, with his solicitor indicating a bail application would be made. Dylan Cahill, 22, of Co Tipperary, was charged with IRA membership, possession of a .380 calibre Colt semi-automatic pistol, four rounds of ammunition, and two pipe bombs in Co Leitrim. He made no reply to the charges. A proposed bail application for the following Tuesday was opposed by the DPP due to Garda operational constraints. The court remanded Mr Cahill in custody until June 9, granting him liberty to apply for bail before that date. All three accused were identified in the dock by detective sergeants, and no pleas or findings were recorded at this procedural stage.
Philip McCarthy, 48, of Cabra Court, Thurles, was charged with possession of €43,000 worth of drugs after a vehicle stop at the Horse and Jockey Hotel in November 2011. He received a 10‑year sentence, with the final three years suspended, at Clonmel Circuit Criminal Court on 18 October 2013. In the Court of Appeal on 2 March 2015, Mr Justice George Birmingham informed counsel that the Court of Appeal can increase sentences and that no exceptional circumstances were found. McCarthy's counsel requested an adjournment, and the case was rescheduled for a later hearing.
In 2015 the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by Mrs. Mary Stokes, mother of John Stokes, who had been refused admission to CBS High School, Clonmel. The school's policy gave preference to children of former pupils, Catholics, and those who had attended a local feeder school. John met the latter two criteria but not the first, as his father had not attended the school. After a lottery he was not admitted and attended another school. Mrs. Stokes argued the policy discriminated against Traveller children. The Equality Tribunal found the rule disproportionately affected Travellers and ordered the school to offer John a place and review its policy. The school appealed to the Circuit Court, which set aside the Tribunal's order, and the case progressed through the High Court, where the decision was upheld. The Supreme Court held that there was insufficient evidence to show the rule caused a particular disadvantage to Travellers and therefore dismissed the appeal.
Martin Reilly, 27, of Father Matthew Court, Tipperary Town, was convicted of burglary at a private home on Cashel Road, Clonmel, on 27 June 2011. He was found guilty by a jury at Clonmel Circuit Criminal Court and originally sentenced to eight years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. In the Court of Appeal, Reilly's conviction was upheld but his sentence was reduced by two years. The Court, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, noted that the victim was a restaurateur who discovered his house "upended" and his life savings of €35,000 had been taken. Gardaí recovered the money after Reilly fled, dropping the bag into nettles. The Court considered Reilly's prior convictions and, after reviewing the case, imposed a new sentence of six years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. The appeal was heard by Mr Justice Birmingham, Mr Justice Seán Ryan and Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan. Martin Reilly pleaded not guilty.
In 2010, Gerard Brett, aged 68, was found guilty of dangerous driving that caused the death of Benedict Brady, 87, on Portrane Road, Dublin. He was sentenced in 2012 to two years' imprisonment. On appeal in 2014, the Court of Appeal suspended the remaining 18 months of his sentence, citing his serious kidney condition requiring dialysis three times a week and his previously unblemished character as a psychiatric nurse. The court noted that Brett had driven while intoxicated, weaving across the road, and that his impaired capacity contributed to the fatality. The suspended portion was conditional on Brett keeping the peace, maintaining good behaviour, and entering a €100 bond. He was also directed not to apply for a driving licence. The decision was made by Mr Justice Sean Ryan, with counsel for the applicant Mícheál P O Higgins SC and counsel for the State Vincent Heneghan BL presenting their arguments.
The Central Bank obtained High Court orders that bar Smart Resolutions Mediation Ltd, based in Cashel, and its directors Geraldine and Thomas Quigley, as well as Clonmel C&R Management Consultants Ltd, based in Clerihan, Clonmel, and its directors Thomas and Cathal Quigley, from providing or offering debt‑management services. The orders also prevent any company controlled by the defendants from receiving remuneration for such services. The bank, represented by Maurice Collins SC, said the orders were sought after new information indicated the defendants were offering debt‑management services without authorization. The High Court President, Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns, granted the orders ex‑parte and set a return date later in the month. The bank also requested that the respondents preserve all books and records related to the services they provide and cooperate fully with the Central Bank.
Andrew Hoare, 27, of Monakeeba, Thurles, was convicted of robbery at a shop in Thurles on 2 September 2012. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to seven years imprisonment by Judge Thomas Teehan at Clonmel Circuit Criminal Court on 11 April 2013. In the robbery, Hoare entered the shop armed with a knife and demanded money from the shop‑owner's son, Mr Scanlon. Scanlon resisted and tried to wrestle the knife, resulting in a struggle that left Scanlon with an injured hand and a sum of money taken. Scanlon chased Hoare down the street, and Gardaí launched a "general manhunt." Hoare fled toward the railway station; Gardaí stopped the train and found him in the toilet, where money was recovered and he was arrested. On 5 December 2014, the Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice Seán Ryan, reduced Hoare's sentence from seven to five years imprisonment, stating that while the offence was serious, the reduction was permissible.
In a 2014 appeal, the Court of Appeal reduced the 24‑year‑old Jason Morrissey's 14‑year sentence for unlawfully killing 25‑year‑old James Tynan to ten years, while keeping his other convictions intact. Morrissey had pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing after striking Tynan with a single punch on February 19, 2012, at Liberty Square in Thurles. The court noted that the fatal blow was not a premeditated assault and that Tynan died the next day after falling to the ground. Morrissey's case also included three separate assault sentences and a theft sentence, all running concurrently, for a total of 21 years with three years suspended. The appeal was limited to the unlawful‑killing conviction, and the Court of Appeal confirmed the ten‑year sentence as appropriate and proportionate. The other convictions and their start dates remained unchanged.
In a 2014 appeal, Liam McCarthy, aged 30, failed to overturn a nine‑year sentence for assaulting army veteran Martin Butler, aged 51, with an ornamental sword. The attack, described as savage, left Butler with brain damage, partial paralysis, and permanent communication difficulties. McCarthy had previously served a suspended sentence for assault and was under its terms when he struck Butler from behind, striking the left side of his head and causing a penetrating brain injury. McCarthy pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm, producing an offensive weapon, and violent disorder. The Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal, noting that any provocation or self‑defence was grossly excessive and that the nine‑year sentence was appropriate for the severity of the assault. The judge also observed that the earlier suspended sentence had not deterred the offence. The appeal was dismissed.
Two men from Limerick, Thomas McMahon, 32, and Noel Noonan, 35, were sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to two-and-a-half years each for membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Both pleaded guilty to a single charge of IRA membership on 7 February 2013. The court was presented with evidence of three rocket launchers, launch tubes and mortar drills seized during the investigation. McMahon, a former chef from Ros Fearna, Murroe, and Noonan, who lived at St. Patrick's Hostel, Clare Street, had previously been convicted of false imprisonment and two threats to kill; Noonan had prior convictions for assault. Both men denied IRA membership and knowledge of the equipment at the time of arrest, but later entered guilty pleas. The judge, Justice Paul Butler, imposed a four‑year sentence, with the final year and a half suspended upon each man's payment of a €500 bond and a promise not to commit further offences or associate with members of unlawful organisations.
In 2009, John Paul Buck, aged 34, was sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice George Birmingham after a Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of fatally stabbing 30‑year‑old Fergus Roche in a vacant house on 1 October 2005. The jury also convicted Buck of arson, for which a concurrent five‑year sentence was imposed. The post‑mortem revealed Roche died from a single chest wound before the fire, indicating he was stabbed while asleep. Buck denied involvement, but Detective Garda Larry Bergin testified that Buck confessed to the murder in August 2006 during a patrol‑car interview, describing Roche as his "best friend". The appeal, presented by Mr Michael Delaney SC, argued that the confession was improperly admitted, that the search of Buck's home was inadmissible, and that media coverage of an alleged escape attempt by Buck's brother had prejudiced the jury. The Court of Criminal Appeal reserved judgement on the appeal.
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.
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 May 2014 the High Court dismissed a legal action by Tipperary Town solicitors who sought to have the historic courthouse on St Michael Street reopened for public use. The lawyers argued that the Courts Service, under the Court Services Act 1998, had a statutory duty to maintain and provide the courthouse, which had been closed in 2010 after falling into disrepair and a ceiling collapse. They requested declarations that the state's failure to provide an adequate courthouse breached the rights of the public, court staff, the judiciary and the legal profession. The Courts Service denied any failure, noting it had sought funding for repairs and provided alternative venues such as the Excel Heritage Centre for district court sittings and Clonmel for circuit court sittings.
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.
In 2009, John Paul Buck, aged 34, was sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice George Birmingham after a Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of fatally stabbing 30‑year‑old Fergus Roche in a vacant house on 1 October 2005. Buck also set fire to the house and received a concurrent five‑year arson sentence. The appeal court heard that an alleged confession by Buck to Detective Garda Larry Bergin in August 2006 was admitted as evidence. Buck denied the confession, but the detective claimed Buck admitted stabbing Roche while he slept, describing Roche as his "best friend". The appeal argued the confession was improperly admitted, citing late cautioning, the lack of tape, and the influence of media coverage on the jury's deliberations. The court postponed further hearing to the next two to three weeks. Buck had seven prior convictions, including arson, robbery, and burglary.
John Hannigan, 46, of River House, New Quay, Clonmel, was sentenced to three years in prison for assault causing harm to Anthony Fallon, whom he later murdered. Hannigan already serves a life sentence for the murder of Fallon, a fellow father of two, which occurred on 18 January 2012. The assault took place early that morning in Fallon's Abbey Street flat, where Hannigan and Joseph O'Riordan subjected Fallon to a prolonged attack. Neighbours heard the assault, and after leaving the flat the trio went to a shop where the shopkeeper did not recognise Fallon due to his injuries. The murder happened in a car park after the shop. Hannigan admitted striking Fallon with "Bruce Lee" punches because he "wouldn't shut up." The post‑mortem found 31 fractures to Fallon's ribs, collar and breast bones, with blunt‑force trauma to the head and trunk as the cause of death. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
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 a Central Criminal Court hearing, 31‑year‑old Maurice Power of Dranganbeg, Kilmoyler, Cahir pleaded not guilty to the murder of 29‑year‑old Shane Rossiter, who died on 17 October 2012 after being shot twice at a house party in Church Lane, Golden, Co. Tipperary. Prosecutor Anthony Sammon SC presented evidence that Power fired the shots, citing a black Audi A4 registered to Power's partner that was later burned in a bog in Co. Waterford. Power was arrested on 11 December 2012 for murder with a firearm. During a lengthy detention he allegedly made a full confession to the Gardaí, stating a long‑standing feud with Rossiter that began seven years earlier and involved a stabbing. The trial is proceeding before a jury of seven women and five men, presided over by Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy. The case remains at the trial stage.
A law firm, McMahon, O'Brien, Tynan Solicitors, has filed a High Court action to stop a development company, Greenband Investments, from finalising a settlement with the Irish Coursing Club (ICC) until the firm receives payment for its legal fees. Greenband, which had won a High Court case against the ICC for €640,000 in damages over a failed sale of a laneway, is now in receivership under NAMA. The ICC and the receivers have agreed to a settlement that would give Greenband a right of way over the laneway and pay €275,000 toward the ICC's legal costs, but the solicitors claim they are receiving nothing. The firm seeks a declaration under Section 3 of the Legal Practitioners Act that it is entitled to a charge over the land, an injunction preventing any settlement that does not cover its costs, and an order that the parties pay its legal fees.
In a Special Criminal Court case in Limerick, Thomas McMahon, 31, and Noel Noonan, 34, pleaded guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) before their trial was adjourned. The adjournment, the first criminal case affected by the Garda taping revelations, was granted to allow the defence to consider using an expert to examine Clonmel and Cahir Garda stations, where the men were detained after arrest. The court had already heard expert evidence that there were no recording facilities at those stations. Ms Tara Burns SC, the prosecutor, reported progress in the case and indicated that the men were seeking a sentencing date in June. Judge Paul Butler set June 27 for sentencing, remanded both men on continuing bail, and noted that the bail sureties were present. The court also heard that telephone calls made by the defendants with their solicitors before interview were recorded at Garda Headquarters, not at the local stations.
The Special Criminal Court has decided that the trial of Thomas McMahon (31) and Noel Noonan (34) for IRA membership will proceed after hearing evidence that Clonmel and Cahir Garda stations had no recording facilities when the men were detained. The court adjourned the trial to allow the defence to consider employing an expert to physically examine the two stations. Superintendent Michael Flynn testified that recording equipment was only installed at divisional headquarters and not at the two stations, and that any recordings made were stored at Garda Headquarters. The judge noted the evidence was "very impressive" and granted the defence an extension of the legal aid certificate for any proposed expert. The trial was adjourned until Tuesday, with the court willing to postpone further if an expert inspection is arranged. The men remain charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army on 7 February 2013.
In March 2014 the High Court was set to decide an action brought by solicitors from Tipperary Town against the Courts Service. The lawyers argued that the Courts Service has a statutory duty under the Court Services Act 1998 to maintain and make available the historic courthouse on St Michael Street, a listed building that closed in 2010 after falling into disrepair. The building's ceiling had collapsed and, since its closure, district court sittings have been held at the Excel Heritage Centre and circuit court sittings in Clonmel, some 25 miles away. The solicitors claimed the closure caused hardship and that the Courts Service had failed to repair the courthouse despite earlier agreements to do so. The Courts Service denied any breach of duty, stating it had sought funding but was constrained by budget cuts. Judgment was reserved and was to be delivered the following month. The courthouse, which once housed a prison, has a long history of notable trials.
John Hannigan, 46, of River House, New Quay, Clonmel, was found guilty of murder and assault causing harm to Anthony Fallon, also 46, on 18 January 2012. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court, lasted eight days. Hannigan claimed he had lost his temper when Fallon would not stop talking and punched him "hard and fast" like Bruce Lee. A post‑mortem revealed 31 rib fractures, collar and breastbone fractures, and blunt force trauma to the head and trunk as the cause of death. Hannigan had called an ambulance before 7 a.m. and later admitted responsibility to the Gardaí. The jury, after four hours of deliberation, returned a unanimous verdict of murder and assault. Judge Paul Carney imposed a mandatory life sentence, remanding Hannigan in custody until 12 May for sentencing on the assault charge. John Hannigan pleaded not guilty.
In a Tipperary murder trial, John Hannigan, aged 46, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Anthony Fallon and to assault causing harm. The trial, held in the Central Criminal Court, began on Friday with a jury of seven men and four women. Hannigan, who lives in River House, New Quay, Clonmel, claimed he had lost his temper when Fallon would not stop talking and punched him "hard and fast" like Bruce Lee. He said they had been drinking with another man, Joseph O'Riordan, who had also beaten Fallon earlier that night. O'Riordan is now in jail after pleading guilty to assault. A post‑mortem found 31 rib fractures and blunt force trauma to Fallon's head and trunk as the cause of death. Hannigan later told gardai he was "just panicking" when he attacked Fallon on a walk through town.
In a 2014 trial at the Central Criminal Court, 46‑year‑old John Hannigan of Clonmel pleaded not guilty to murder and assault charges over the death of Anthony Fallon on 18 January 2012. Hannigan testified that he had no role in the killing and that he had been panicking when he told Gardaí he had given Fallon 'Bruce Lee' punches. He described a night of heavy drinking with Joseph O'Riordan, who he said was the one who struck Fallon repeatedly, including with a chair and a kettle. Hannigan claimed he only struck Fallon's shoulder to break up the fight and that he helped Fallon to his apartment and called 999. The prosecution read excerpts from Hannigan's earlier Garda interviews, where he admitted to punching Fallon 'hard and fast', which he denied. The post‑mortem found 31 fractures to Fallon's ribs, and O'Riordan is in jail after pleading guilty to assault.
In the Central Criminal Court, John Hannigan, 46, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Anthony Fallon and to assault causing harm. During Garda interviews, Hannigan described punching Fallon "like the film Fists of Fury," claiming he had the ability to kill but no intention. He admitted giving several statements, some of which were lies, and expressed regret, calling the incident a tragic accident. Hannigan denied giving crush‑type injuries, despite the State Pathologist's findings of severe crush injuries and 31 rib fractures. The State alleged Hannigan and Joseph O'Riordan assaulted Fallon at his flat, then violently assaulted him in a car park and helped him into River House where he died. O'Riordan is jailed, having pleaded guilty to assault. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Carney and a jury of eight men and three women.
In a 2014 trial, John Hannigan, 46, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Anthony Fallon, 46, in Clonmel on 18 January 2012. Hannigan testified that Joseph O'Riordan had assaulted Fallon in his flat, striking him on the head with a chair and later using a kettle and belt. Hannigan described the scene as a "bloodbath" and "horror show," noting a one‑inch gash and blood spurt. He claimed he only hit Fallon in the chest to break up a fight. The State's case alleges Hannigan and O'Riordan also assaulted Fallon in a car park and transported him to River House, where he died. A post‑mortem found 31 rib fractures and blunt force trauma to the head and trunk as the cause of death. O'Riordan, who pleaded guilty to assault, remains in jail. The case is before Mr Justice Paul Carney and a jury of eight men and three women.
In a Tipperary murder trial, the State Pathologist, Professor Marie Cassidy, testified that the deceased, Anthony Fallon, suffered 31 rib fractures and other severe injuries. She concluded that Fallon died from blunt force trauma to the head and trunk, with linear wounds on his face and head, extensive bruising, and haemorrhage to the brain. Internal examination revealed fractures to the breast bone, broken collar bone, and a litre of blood in the chest cavity. Cassidy described the chest injuries as likely causing respiratory insufficiency and severe incapacitation. She suggested the injuries were sustained close to where Fallon was found and that multiple assaults may have occurred. The State alleges that John Hannigan and Joseph O'Riordan assaulted Fallon at his flat, then in a car park, before he died at River House. O'Riordan has pleaded guilty to assault; the trial continues before a jury. John Hannigan pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, Garda Shane Kiely testified that 46‑year‑old John Hannigan of River House, New Quay, Clonmel, had arrived at the scene of a suspicious death on 18 January 2012, the day Anthony Fallon, also 46, was found dead in his flat on Abbey Street. Kiely described Hannigan standing outside the apartment complex when Fallon was lying in the foyer, with a blood‑stained face and swollen injuries. The Garda noted that Hannigan had a graze on a left knuckle and that he was visibly upset, crying and shaking. He also reported seeing blood on the left side of Hannigan's clothing. The State alleges that Hannigan and Joseph O'Riordan assaulted Fallon earlier that morning, then took him to River House where he died of his injuries. O'Riordan has pleaded guilty to assault. The trial is before Mr Justice Paul Carney and a jury of eight men and four women. John Hannigan pleaded not guilty.
In a 2014 murder trial, William O'Riordan, a former glass blower aged 39, testified that the accused, John Hannigan, admitted to killing Anthony Fallon, 46, on 18 January 2012. O'Riordan described walking through Clonmel that morning, hearing about an incident on the quay side, and later meeting Hannigan and his brother Joseph O'Riordan. He recounted asking Hannigan if he was involved, to which Hannigan replied, "No. I've nothing to do with it. Why are you asking me?" O'Riordan then claimed Hannigan admitted to killing Fallon. The witness also noted that Hannigan had assaulted Fallon and that the victim was badly beaten before being taken to a shop where he was given alcohol. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Carney, continued with a jury of eight men and four women. The prosecution argued that Hannigan and O'Riordan assaulted Fallon before he died of his injuries at the scene. The case remained in progress. John Hannigan pleaded not guilty.
A 46‑year‑old Tipperary man, John Hannigan of River House, New Quay in Clonmel, pleaded not guilty to two charges: the murder of Anthony Fallon (46) on 18 January 2012 in Clonmel and an assault on Fallon at a flat on Abbey Street on the same day. He was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, where he was dressed in a grey sweater and black shirt. Mr Justice Paul Carney swore in a jury of eight men and four women, and the trial is set to begin on Tuesday and is expected to last two weeks.