A 24-year-old man from Clonmel in County Tipperary has pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing a firearm and explosive devices. Dylan Cahill admitted to having a .380 calibre Colt semi-automatic pistol and four rounds of ammunition at a location in Glefarne, County Leitrim on 13 May 2015. He also pleaded guilty to possession of two improvised explosive devices at the same address on that date. The non-jury court, presided over by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy alongside two other judges, remanded Cahill in custody pending sentencing scheduled for 15 May 2017.
The Court of Appeal has reserved judgement on William Jones' appeal against the High Court's refusal to grant injunctions that would have stopped Coolmore Stud's lawyers from warning book distributors and retailers that his book, "The Dark Horse: Inside Coolmore", contained defamatory material. Jones, who worked at Coolmore from 2006 to 2015 and published the book through his own company, Gold Rush Publications, argues that the High Court's decision infringes his freedom of expression and is biased. Coolmore's lawyers, Arthur Cox, had warned Amazon and other bookshops that the book included allegations of bullying and the deaths of two horses, Mountjeu and Jude, and that distributors had withdrawn the book. Coolmore also cited a 2014 agreement that both parties would not make derogatory remarks about each other and that Jones would not disclose records. The High Court found that Coolmore had made this agreement clear to Jones before publication and that any defamatory content would expose distributors to liability.
In a 2017 case, a 29‑year‑old woman from Tipperary testified that she was sexually assaulted by her uncle when she was seven, between December 1994 and July 1995. The uncle, a 56‑year‑old man who pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault, had been brought out of the house by the victim's grandmother to beg for money. While the girl was in a shed, the uncle followed her, undressed, and attempted to have sex with her. After the assault, the grandmother beat the girl with a stick, causing her to fear speaking out for years. The victim, who suffered depression, nightmares and anxiety, told the court she felt vindicated by the uncle's admission of guilt and does not wish to see him jailed. She said she can move on with her life. The uncle, who has 40 prior convictions, was remanded on bail while the court considers sentencing. The trial is scheduled for April 4.
In 2015, seven men pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary at the Corcoran family home in south Tipperary. Five of them—Patrick Gately, Dean Byrne, John Joyce, Patrick Joyce and Thomas Flynn—received sentences ranging from 12 to 20 years, with varying suspended portions. The men appealed in 2017, arguing that the sentences were too severe. Counsel highlighted each defendant's background, remorse, and the nature of the offence, noting the presence of a machete, firearms, and threats against children. The Court of Appeal reserved judgment, with the judges acknowledging the seriousness of the crime and the impact on the Corcoran family. The appeal focused on the proportionality of the sentences and the application of remission, without addressing any subsequent outcomes. The case remains at the appellate stage.
In 2016 a 48‑year‑old Latvian man pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault, anal rape, oral rape and false imprisonment of a 40‑year‑old Lithuanian woman in her Tipperary flat. He was sentenced to seven years imprisonment, but the Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal re‑sentenced him to nine years imprisonment. The judge described the assault as vicious, noting the victim was unable to lock her bedroom, was attacked for about 25 minutes, had her clothing torn off and was threatened with violence and sexual assault. The victim had recently lost her boyfriend to suicide and was in financial hardship. The judge acknowledged the offender's limited English and fatherhood but found the offence at the high end of the range, reducing the sentence by one year from the minimum of ten years. The final sentence was nine years imprisonment.
Willie McAteer, a former finance director of Anglo Irish Bank, has withdrawn his appeal against a conviction and sentence for a €7 billion conspiracy to mislead the public. McAteer, 65, along with John Bowe (52) and Denis Casey (56), were found guilty by a jury at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in July 2016 of conspiring to mislead investors by using interbank loans to inflate Anglo's value by €7.2 billion between 1 March and 30 September 2008. McAteer was sentenced to three‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, Bowe to two years, and Casey to two years and nine months. While Bowe and Casey remain ready to pursue their appeals, McAteer's counsel informed the Court of Appeal that his client's appeal had been abandoned. The case had been scheduled for a week‑long hearing beginning 6 March, but the withdrawal means the appeal will not proceed. Willie McAteer pleaded not guilty. John Bowe pleaded not guilty. Denis Casey pleaded not guilty.
In a case heard at the Clonmel Circuit Criminal Court, Romanian national Duku Popovici, aged 43, was found guilty of aggravated burglary at the home of James and Sarah Quigley in Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary, on 26 September 2013. The jury convicted him of aggravated burglary, and Judge Tom Teehan sentenced him to 12 years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years. The Court of Appeal, hearing the appeal on 23 January 2017, reduced the headline sentence to nine years' imprisonment, again suspending the final two years. The appeal was based on the judge's error in setting the headline sentence and in imposing a sentence twice that of the co‑accused. The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction and the revised sentence, dismissing the appeal for conviction. The case involved a violent confrontation in the Quigley home, with Popovici allegedly threatening the occupants with a spanner and a second intruder striking the victim. Duku Popovici pleaded not guilty.
In January 2017, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced former Anglo Irish Bank director Willie McAteer to two and a half years' imprisonment for fraudulently securing an €8 million loan in September 2008 to prevent the bank's collapse. McAteer, then director of finance, obtained the loan against his shares and used it to repay a personal loan from Bank of Ireland. The loan was part of a scheme devised by Anglo's board to avoid a sale of shares that could damage confidence. McAteer had already been serving a three and a half year term for a separate €7.2 billion fraud conviction; the new sentence runs concurrently. The judge noted the fraud was motivated by survival pressure and deemed a consecutive sentence unjust. The order commenced on the day of sentencing. The case also involved former director Pat Whelan, fined €3 000 for failing to keep proper records of the loan. The court found no further charges pending against McAteer. Willie McAteer pleaded guilty.
Pat Whelan, former director of lending at Anglo Irish Bank, was fined €3,000 for failing to keep a proper record of an €8 million loan he granted to colleague William McAteer on 29 September 2008. The loan was secured against McAteer's shares in the bank and was used to repay a personal loan from Bank of Ireland. Whelan pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court; the judge noted the offence was regulatory and imposed the fine, citing the importance of loan registers. McAteer, who is 66 and currently serving a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for other offences, will be sentenced next week and faces up to seven years' imprisonment and a €63,486 fine. The court heard that the loan was part of a scheme to prevent a sudden sale of Anglo shares, which could have damaged confidence in the bank. The case highlights the regulatory breach by Whelan and the broader context of Anglo's collapse.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal against conviction lodged by Duku Popovici, a 43-year-old Romanian national from Cabra Park, Dublin 7. Popovici had pleaded not guilty to aggravated burglary at the home of James and Sarah Quigley in Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary, on September 26, 2013. He was previously found guilty by a jury at Clonmel Circuit Criminal Court and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, by Judge Tom Teehan on July 23, 2015. During the appeal, Popovici's legal team argued that the trial judge failed to properly direct the jury on the lesser charge of attempted burglary, asserting that the defence case was that Popovici was never inside the house. However, Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, sitting with Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice Alan Mahon, rejected this argument. The court noted that the trial judge's charge was succinct and that it would have been perverse not to convict of attempted burglary if the jury were not satisfied of aggravated burglary. The appeal was dismissed on all grounds, upholding the original conviction and sentence.
Willie McAteer, former finance director of Anglo Irish Bank, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to fraudulently obtaining an €8,426,307 loan on 29 September 2008, secured solely on his shares in the bank. He used the money to repay a personal loan from Bank of Ireland. The indictment alleges breach of section 297 of the Companies Act, 1963, for knowingly facilitating a fraudulent loan to himself. Judge Melanie Greally allowed McAteer to remain on bail with prosecution consent and set a sentencing date for 12 January 2017.
In 2013, five men—Patrick Gately (29), Dean Byrne (23), John Joyce (22), Patrick Joyce (24), and Thomas Flynn (22)—pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary at the Corcoran family home in south Tipperary. Judge Thomas Teehan sentenced them on 1 October 2015: Gately and Byrne received 20‑year terms with the last four years suspended; Joyce received 15 years with four suspended; Patrick Joyce received 14 years with four suspended; Flynn received 12 years consecutive to a sentence already served. All five have appealed the severity of their sentences. The Court of Appeal set a hearing for 2 March, with submissions lodged except for Gately, who had a legal‑aid certificate transferred to a new solicitor. The appeal will consider whether the sentences are too harsh. The case remains at the appeal stage.
A 48‑year‑old retired secondary school teacher, Bridget Daly, sued Zurich Life Assurance after the insurer stopped paying her disability allowance under a salary protection scheme. Daly, who has ME (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and is medically unable to work, claimed that Zurich had placed her and her children under surveillance by private detectives following her lawsuit. She sought injunctions to prevent further surveillance and to compel Zurich to resume payments. Zurich argued the payments were halted because Daly declined a 'Functional Capacity Evaluation' test and that the policy allowed investigation of claims. The High Court case was resolved when Daly's counsel announced a settlement, and the matter was struck out. No settlement details were disclosed, and Zurich agreed to discontinue the surveillance. The case was heard by Mr Justice Paul Gilligan.
A woman who had been sexually abused by her uncle between 1986 and 1988, when she was aged seven to nine, had her appeal against a 10‑year conviction dismissed in its entirety. The uncle, a Tipperary man in his forties at the time, had pleaded not guilty to eight counts of indecent assault and three counts of rape. The Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty and Justice Margaret Heneghan sentenced him to 10 years in prison on 23 October 2015. In the appeal hearing, Justice Alan Mahon noted that the complainant had delayed reporting the abuse because she thought it was normal, a belief she later questioned after watching a television programme. The court rejected the appeal, stating that any inadmissible evidence regarding the complainant's conversation with a school friend had no effect on the jury's verdict. The appeal was dismissed.
John Hannigan, aged 48, was convicted of murder and assault causing harm after killing his friend Anthony Fallon on 18 January 2012 in Clonmel. The Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty on both counts and he received a mandatory life sentence on 28 February 2014. The trial revealed that Hannigan had called an ambulance at 7 a.m. and that a post‑mortem found 31 rib fractures, plus fractures to the collar and breast bones, with blunt force trauma to the head and trunk as the major cause of death. Hannigan claimed he had lost his temper because Fallon would not stop talking and had punched him "hard and fast" like Bruce Lee, but he later told the Gardaí he was panicking. He had also claimed to have a black belt in karate, which he later admitted he did not have. John Hannigan pleaded not guilty.
Anne Fennell, aged 57, received a suspended five‑year sentence for repeatedly making obscene and threatening phone calls to President Michael D. Higgins, the Department of Finance, the European Commission, An Post, and several TDs between February and December 2014. She also pleaded guilty to harassing Fr Desmond Byrne in 2006. The court noted that many of her threats were taken seriously and required significant resources to investigate, but that she had no prior convictions and a vulnerable psychological background. Judge Melanie Greally imposed consecutive sentences totaling five years, suspended in full, and ordered 18 months of probation with psychiatric and therapeutic services. The decision reflected her remorse and the lack of evidence that she could carry out the threats. The case highlighted the seriousness of her conduct and the court's focus on rehabilitation rather than incarceration.
In the Commercial Court, Mr Justice Brian McGovern has fast‑tracked two environmental challenges to windfarm projects in the south of Ireland. The first case concerns Peter Sweetman's objection to Tipperary County Council's extension of planning permission for a 16‑turbine windfarm at Castlewaller, Newport. Sweetman questions the viability of the €46 million project, which was originally approved in 2012 and extended in July. The council's developer, Castlewaller Woodland and Partnership (CWP), argues the extension is necessary for the project to qualify for the REFIT II state financial support scheme and for the creation of 30–40 construction jobs and 7 full‑time positions. The case is scheduled to return to court in May. The second fast‑tracked case involves the North Kerry Wind Turbine Awareness Group challenging An Bord Pleanala's permission for 10 turbines near Lixnaw, Kerry. The challenge cites non‑compliance with the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive and the EU Habitats Directive.
In a judgment on 11 November 2016, Mr Justice Alan Mahon dismissed an appeal against the 14‑year prison sentence imposed on a 53‑year‑old man for multiple sexual offences. The man had pleaded guilty to one count of rape and six counts of sexual assault of his sister, aged five to nine, between 1978 and 1981, and to five counts of defilement of a child, one count of oral rape and three counts of sexual assault of his niece, aged 14, between 2005 and 2007. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy had originally imposed consecutive sentences of seven years each, suspending the final two years, on 6 July 2015. The appeal argued that the judge had misjudged the gravity of the offences and ignored mitigating factors; the Court of Appeal upheld the original sentence as "reasonable and appropriate".
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.
John Hannigan, aged 48, was convicted of murdering his friend Anthony Fallon, 46, in Clonmel on 18 January 2012. Hannigan pleaded not guilty to both murder and assault causing harm. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty on both counts and he received a mandatory life sentence on 28 February 2014. The trial revealed that Hannigan had called an ambulance at River House before 7 a.m., reporting that Fallon had rung the doorbell and collapsed. A 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. Hannigan later admitted to the death, claiming he had lost his temper when Fallon would not stop talking and had punched him "hard and fast" like Bruce Lee. He denied having a black belt in karate. He is now awaiting the outcome of his appeal, which is expected on 22 November.
In July 2016, former Anglo Irish Bank executives John Bowe (52), Willie McAteer (65), and former Irish Life and Permanent chief executive Denis Casey (56) were convicted by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of conspiring to mislead investors about Anglo Irish Bank's financial health. They had used interbank loans to make the bank appear €7.2 bn more valuable between 1 March and 30 September 2008. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Bowe to two years, McAteer to three‑and‑a‑half years, and Casey to two years and nine months imprisonment. All three lodged appeals against their convictions, and a hearing was scheduled for the week beginning 6 March 2017. McAteer and Casey also appealed their sentences, while Bowe did not. The appeal hearing was to be overseen by Mr Justice George Birmingham, who noted it would be the longest since the court's establishment in 2014. The men were not present for the procedural hearing. John Bowe pleaded not guilty. Willie McAteer pleaded not guilty. Denis Casey pleaded not guilty.
Three former banking executives – John Bowe (52), Willie McAteer (65) and Denis Casey (56) – were jailed for conspiring to create a €7.2 billion market deception scheme. The scheme involved sham deposits made in September 2008 to make Anglo Irish Bank's books appear healthier. Judge Martin Nolan described the scheme as "deceitful, dishonest and corrupt" and said it undermined public trust in blue‑chip companies. Bowe received a two‑year sentence, McAteer three and a half years, and Casey two years and nine months. The judge noted that the executives had acted with knowledge of the scheme's illegality and that the scheme had no net benefit to the State or the banks. The trial was the longest criminal case in Irish history, with a jury deliberating 65 hours before convicting the three. The judge highlighted the role of Anglo's former CEO, David Drumm, and the auditors Ernst & Young in the scheme. Denis Casey pleaded not guilty and was convicted.
In 2016 the Supreme Court upheld an appeal by Tipperary Raceway, a motor‑racing track owner, against a High Court injunction that had been granted to Tullamaine Castle Stud. The injunction, issued in 2008, restricted the track's operating times, citing noise that the stud claimed harmed its equine business and constituted a breach of the 2000 Planning and Development Act. The High Court judge, Mr Justice Peter Charleton, found that the track's increased use and noise amounted to a nuisance and that the track had exceeded the hours permitted by its 1981 planning permission. Tipperary Raceway argued that the breach was not subject to the seven‑year limitation period of the Act. The Supreme Court agreed that an injunction might be justified but remitted the case back to the High Court for a fresh hearing, noting that the practice of "drifting" at the track should be restrained until the High Court decided the appropriate form of injunction.
Former Anglo Irish Bank executives John Bowe, Willie McAteer, and Denis Casey, all convicted of conspiring to defraud by setting up a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between March 1 and September 30, 2008, appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing. The jury found the men guilty of bolstering Anglo's balance sheet to mislead investors, despite their not guilty pleas. Prosecuting counsel Paul O'Higgins SC stated the effective maximum sentence was ten years, noting that while the Financial Regulator encouraged inter-bank support, it was not informed of these specific September 2008 transactions. Defence counsel argued the men acted under a "green jersey" agenda to save the banking system and that no financial gain was made. McAteer, who has a prior 2014 conviction for unlawful loans, carried out 240 hours of community service in lieu of a two-year prison sentence for that earlier offence. The court heard character evidence and details of the defendants' personal losses. Judge Martin Nolan heard submissions and indicated he would deliver the sentences on Friday morning.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, former Anglo Irish Bank executives John Bowe (52), Willie McAteer (65), and former Irish Life and Permanent Group Chief Executive Denis Casey (56) were convicted of conspiring to inflate Anglo's financial statements by €7.2 billion. The scheme involved a circular transaction where Anglo transferred money to Irish Life and Permanent (ILP), which then routed the funds back to Anglo through Irish Life Assurance, presenting the transfers as customer deposits rather than inter‑bank loans. The defendants claimed they acted under a "green jersey" directive from the financial regulator to navigate the credit crunch. All pleaded not guilty. After conviction, Judge Martin Nolan remanded them on bail pending a sentence hearing scheduled for the following Monday, during which the defendants' counsel submitted testimonials to the judge in advance of the hearing. The hearing is expected to last one day.
In April 2011, Melvin McNamara (36), Michael Fogarty (45) and Noel Markham (41) attempted to rob Tadgh O'Flynn Jewellers in Nenagh. McNamara and Markham entered the shop in hoodies and balaclavas, while Fogarty stayed in a stolen VW Passat with false plates. McNamara brandished a firearm and Markham approached the window display. During a struggle, Markham shouted to McNamara to "shoot him"; McNamara fired a shot that lodged in the wall above the shopkeeper's head, though the gun was real. The shopkeeper pressed the panic button and pushed the gun down. The men fled in the getaway car, which Fogarty drove at high speed, leading to a 61‑km pursuit at 180‑200 km/h. The vehicle was eventually stopped in a farm yard. McNamara received a 10‑year sentence, Markham nine years and Fogarty eight years, all of which were upheld on appeal. The Court of Appeal confirmed the sentences were within the appropriate range and found no error. Melvin McNamara pleaded guilty. Michael Fogarty pleaded guilty. Noel Markham pleaded guilty.
In July 2016 the Court of Appeal dismissed an action by Tipperary‑based solicitors who sought the reopening of the historic Tipperary Town courthouse. The lawyers argued that the Courts Service, under the Court Services Act 1998, had a statutory duty to maintain and provide the courthouse, and that the State's failure to do so breached the rights of the public, court staff, the judiciary and the legal profession. The Courts Service had closed the building in 2010 after it fell into disrepair, citing a lack of resources, and had provided alternative venues for court sittings. Mr Justice George Birmingham in the High Court refused to make the requested declarations and rejected the claim of a statutory duty to provide particular facilities at a particular location.
In a landmark case, Denis Casey, former Group Chief Executive of Irish Life and Permanent Group, was found guilty of a €7.2 billion conspiracy to defraud. The trial, the longest in Irish history, lasted 14 days with 61 hours of jury deliberation. Casey, aged 56, and three other ex‑banking executives had pleaded not guilty to charges of misleading investors, depositors and lenders about Anglo's financial health in 2008. The jury also convicted Anglo's former head of capital markets, John Bowe (52), and finance director Willie McAteer (65) of conspiring to mislead the public about Anglo's balance sheet, while Peter Fitzpatrick (63) was acquitted after 47 hours of deliberation. The scheme involved a circular transaction that inflated Anglo's customer deposits from €44 bn to €51 bn, a 16 % increase, by moving €7.2 bn between ILP and Anglo through Irish Life Assurance.
The jury in the trial of former Irish Life and Permanent CEO Denis Casey, aged 56, will resume deliberations tomorrow morning after 58 hours of discussion over 13 days. Casey and three other former banking executives were charged with conspiring to defraud by a €7.2 billion scheme intended to mislead investors, depositors and lenders about Anglo Irish Bank's true financial health in 2008. The jury had previously convicted Anglo's former head of capital markets John Bowe (52) and the bank's former finance director Willie McAteer (65) of conspiring to mislead the public about the bank's balance sheet, and had found Peter Fitzpatrick (63) not guilty after nearly 47 hours of deliberation. The case centers on a circular transaction scheme that allegedly inflated Anglo's customer deposits from €44 billion to €51 billion, a 16 % increase, to present a stronger financial position.
The jury in the conspiracy‑to‑defraud trial of former Irish Life and Permanent CEO Denis Casey, aged 56, will resume deliberations tomorrow morning after 53 hours of discussion. Casey and three other former banking executives had pleaded not guilty to a €7.2 billion scheme intended to mislead investors, depositors and lenders about Anglo Irish Bank's true health in 2008. The trial, the longest criminal case in the State's history, reached day 87 when Judge Martin Nolan told the jury to return in the morning. Earlier, the jury had convicted Anglo's former head of capital markets John Bowe (52) and finance director Willie McAteer (65) of conspiring to mislead the public about the bank's balance sheet, and had found Peter Fitzpatrick (63) not guilty after 47 hours of deliberation.
In the longest criminal trial in Irish history, jurors at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court acquitted former ILP Finance Director Peter Fitzpatrick of conspiring to mislead investors. The verdict followed nearly 47 hours of deliberations, the longest in the State's history. Judge Martin Nolan discharged Fitzpatrick from the indictment. This leaves former ILP CEO Denis Casey as the sole remaining defendant in the trial, which began in mid-January. Casey is accused of conspiring with others to mislead investors by establishing a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between March 1 and September 30, 2008, intended to bolster Anglo Irish Bank's balance sheet. He pleaded not guilty to these charges. Earlier in the trial, Anglo's former head of capital markets, John Bowe, and then finance director Willie McAteer were convicted of the same offence. Both men, who also pleaded not guilty, have been remanded on bail pending sentence until July 25. The prosecution alleged the scheme artificially inflated Anglo's customer deposits from €44 billion to €51 billion. Defence counsel for Casey and Fitzpatrick argued their clients had no control over Anglo's accounting and no intention to mislead the public. The jury will continue considering a verdict on Casey's case.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former Irish Life and Permanent finance director Peter Fitzpatrick, aged 63, was acquitted of conspiracy charges relating to a €7.2 billion scheme that allegedly defrauded Anglo Irish Bank in 2008. The jury, after nearly 47 hours of deliberation, returned a not‑guilty verdict. Fitzpatrick, who had pleaded not guilty, was discharged from the indictment by Judge Martin Nolan. The case involved allegations that Fitzpatrick, along with former ILP CEO Denis Casey (56), Anglo's former head of capital markets John Bowe (52), and Anglo's former finance director Willie McAteer (65), conspired to mislead investors, depositors and lenders by creating a circular transaction scheme between March 1 and September 30 2008. The scheme purportedly inflated Anglo's customer deposits from €44 billion to €51 billion, a 16 % increase. Fitzpatrick's lawyers argued that the deposits were genuine and properly accounted for, while the prosecution alleged intent to deceive. The other accused, Casey, remains on trial.
The jury in the trial of former Irish Life & Permanent executives has been informed that it may return a majority verdict. After 44 hours and 26 minutes of deliberation over eleven days, Judge Martin Nolan announced that a verdict agreed to by ten of the eleven jurors would be acceptable, a change from the previous requirement for unanimity. The jury had already convicted Anglo's former head of capital markets, John Bowe (52), and the bank's former finance director, Willie McAteer (65), for conspiring to mislead investors, depositors and lenders about Anglo's financial health. They were remanded on bail pending sentencing until 25 July. The jury has not yet returned verdicts in the cases of former ILP chief executive Denis Casey (56) and finance director Peter Fitzpatrick (63), who are accused of conspiring to mislead investors through a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme in 2008. The trial, now on day 86, remains the longest criminal trial in Irish history. Denis Casey pleaded not guilty. Peter Fitzpatrick pleaded not guilty.
The jury in the trial of former Irish Life & Permanent executives Denis Casey (56) and Peter Fitzpatrick (63) has been sent home after nine days of deliberations, with no verdict yet. Judge Martin Nolan of the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court ordered the jury to return the next day to continue. The case concerns a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme in 2008 that allegedly misled investors, depositors and lenders about Anglo's financial health. The jury had previously convicted Anglo's former head of capital markets John Bowe (52) and finance director Willie McAteer (65). Denis Casey pleaded not guilty. Peter Fitzpatrick pleaded not guilty.
At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a jury returned majority verdicts finding former Anglo Irish Bank executives John Bowe and Willie McAteer guilty of conspiring to mislead investors. The trial, which marked the longest criminal trial in the State's history, concluded on day 84 after 38 hours of deliberations. The prosecution alleged that Bowe and McAteer, along with others, set up a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between March 1 and September 30, 2008, to artificially bolster Anglo's balance sheet. The scheme allegedly involved Anglo lending money to Irish Life and Permanent (ILP), which was then returned to Anglo via Irish Life Assurance to be recorded as customer deposits. This inflated the reported customer deposits from €44 billion to €51 billion. Both Bowe and McAteer had pleaded not guilty to the charges. Judge Martin Nolan remanded the two men on continuing bail until Friday, noting there was no objection to bail. The jury is still considering charges against former ILP chief executive Denis Casey and his 2008 finance director, Peter Fitzpatrick. Casey and Fitzpatrick also pleaded not guilty to the same conspiracy charges. The matter regarding Casey and Fitzpatrick remains under deliberation and has not been finalised.
The jury in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial of four former Anglo Irish Bank bankers—John Bowe, Willie McAteer, Denis Casey and Peter Fitzpatrick—has been sent home after 33 hours of deliberation over seven days. The case, the longest criminal trial in Irish history, alleges the men conspired to mislead investors by creating a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between 1 March and 30 September 2008 to strengthen Anglo's balance sheet. All four pleaded not guilty. Judge Martin Nolan ordered the jury to resume tomorrow for an eighth day of deliberation.
In the longest criminal trial in Irish history, a juror has been hospitalised and will not be able to finish deliberations. The jury has been debating for about 28 hours over six days in the case against four former Anglo Irish Bank executives who are accused of conspiring to mislead investors about the bank's financial health. The trial is being held at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and is now on day 82. Judge Martin Nolan received a note from the jury foreman that a female juror is in hospital and will be unavailable for at least a week. The judge agreed to allow the remaining 11 jurors to continue deliberating. The accused—John Bowe (52), Willie McAteer (65), Denis Casey (56) and Peter Fitzpatrick (63)—have all pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges involving a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme from 1 March to 30 September 2008. The case will resume tomorrow for a seventh day of deliberation.
In the longest criminal trial in Irish history, four former bankers—John Bowe, Willie McAteer, Denis Casey and Peter Fitzpatrick—were accused of conspiring to defraud the public by orchestrating a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between 1 March and 30 September 2008. The jury, which had been deliberating for over 23 hours after a 78‑day trial, was suspended when a juror was hospitalised. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the proceedings until Monday morning, expecting the juror to recover by the following week. Peter Fitzpatrick pleaded not guilty.
The jury in the trial of four former Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life & Permanent executives, accused of conspiracy to defraud the public in 2008, was sent home after six days of deliberations. The defendants—John Bowe, Willie McAteer, Denis Casey and Peter Fitzpatrick—were charged with conspiring to mislead investors by creating a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between 1 March and 30 September 2008 to strengthen Anglo's balance sheet. Judge Martin Nolan reminded jurors to base their verdict solely on evidence presented in court. The jury will resume tomorrow morning. Peter Fitzpatrick pleaded not guilty.
The jury in the Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life & Permanent trial has finished its fifth day of deliberations after an 80‑day hearing, the longest criminal trial in Irish history. Four former executives—John Bowe, Willie McAteer, Denis Casey and Peter Fitzpatrick—are accused of conspiring to mislead investors by creating a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between 1 March and 30 September 2008 to strengthen Anglo's balance sheet. All four pleaded not guilty. The jury will resume deliberations tomorrow morning.
The jury in the Anglo Irish Bank conspiracy trial, which has been in session for 79 days, was sent home for the day after a juror fell ill. The four former executives—John Bowe, Willie McAteer, Denis Casey and Peter Fitzpatrick—are accused of conspiring to mislead investors about Anglo's financial health by creating a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between March and September 2008. The scheme allegedly involved Anglo lending money to Irish Life & Permanent (ILP), which then returned the money through its assurance arm, Irish Life Assurance, to Anglo. The prosecution claims the deposits were treated as customer deposits to inflate Anglo's balance sheet from €44 billion to €51 billion, a 16 % increase. The defendants maintain the deposits were legitimate and were correctly recorded, and that they had no intention to defraud the public. The jury will resume deliberations tomorrow at 10 am. Peter Fitzpatrick pleaded not guilty.
The jury in the trial of four former Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life & Permanent executives has been sent home after a third day of deliberations. The defendants – John Bowe, Willie McAteer, Denis Casey and Peter Fitzpatrick – are accused of conspiring to mislead investors about Anglo's financial health by setting up a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between 1 March and 30 September 2008. The scheme allegedly involved Anglo lending money to ILP, which then returned the money via Irish Life Assurance, treating the deposits as customer deposits rather than inter‑bank loans. The prosecution claims this inflated Anglo's customer deposits from €44 bn to €51 bn, a 16 % increase, thereby misleading readers of the bank's accounts. The defendants have pleaded not guilty, and their lawyers argue the deposits were legitimate and correctly accounted for, with no intent to defraud the public. The trial, the longest criminal case in Irish history, will resume on Monday.
The jury in the trial of four former Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life & Permanent executives, accused of conspiracy to defraud in 2008, was sent home after a second full day of deliberations. The defendants—Denis Casey (56), John Bowe (52), Willie McAteer (65) and Peter Fitzpatrick (63)—had pleaded not guilty to charges that they conspired to mislead investors by setting up a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between 1 March and 30 September 2008. The scheme allegedly involved Anglo lending money to ILP, which then returned the money via Irish Life Assurance, treating the deposits as customer deposits to inflate Anglo's balance sheet from €44 billion to €51 billion. The prosecution argued the scheme was designed to mislead readers of Anglo's accounts, while the defence maintained the deposits were real, correctly accounted for, and that the defendants had no intention to mislead the public.
The jury in the trial of four former Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life & Permanent executives, accused of conspiracy to defraud in 2008, was sent home after just over three hours of deliberation and will resume on Thursday. The defendants—Peter Fitzpatrick (63), Denis Casey (56), John Bowe (52) and Willie McAteer (65)—all pleaded not guilty to conspiring to mislead investors by creating a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between March 1 and September 30, 2008. The scheme involved Anglo lending money to ILP, which returned it via Irish Life Assurance, making the deposits appear as customer deposits and inflating Anglo's balance sheet from €44 bn to €51 bn. The prosecution presented 545 exhibits, including transcripts of telephone calls, and the jury received a laptop and USB keys with searchable indexes. The trial, now the longest criminal trial in Irish history, will continue with a 12‑member jury after a ballot reduced the enlarged jury of 13.
The jury in the trial of four former Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life & Permanent executives accused of conspiracy to defraud has resumed deliberations after receiving an index of 545 exhibits. The accused—Peter Fitzpatrick (63), Denis Casey (56), John Bowe (52) and Willie McAteer (65)—had pleaded not guilty to conspiring to mislead investors by creating a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between March and September 2008. The scheme involved Anglo lending money to ILP, which returned it via Irish Life Assurance, making the deposits appear as customer deposits and inflating Anglo's balance sheet from €44 bn to €51 bn. The prosecution argued the scheme's sole purpose was to mislead the public. Judge Martin Nolan asked the jury to resume deliberations, and the jury received a searchable index on USB keys and hard‑copy folders from all five legal teams.
In the longest‑running Irish trial, four former Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life & Permanent executives—Peter Fitzpatrick (63), Denis Casey (56), John Bowe (52) and Willie McAteer (65)—are accused of conspiring to mislead investors by creating a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between March and September 2008. The scheme allegedly involved Anglo lending money to ILP, which returned it via Irish Life Assurance, with the deposits treated as customer deposits to inflate Anglo's balance sheet from €44 bn to €51 bn. The prosecution argues the scheme was dishonest and intended to mislead the public, while the defence claims the defendants authorised the transactions in good faith and were not personally profiting. Judge Martin Nolan outlined the legal issues, emphasising that the jury must be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the scheme was dishonest and that each defendant was involved before any conviction can be made. The trial is ongoing. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
Judge Martin Nolan addressed a jury in the longest-running Irish trial, stating that four former Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life & Permanent executives—Peter Fitzpatrick (63), Denis Casey (56), John Bowe (52) and Willie McAteer (65)—are entitled to a fair hearing and that prejudice must be avoided. The defendants are charged with conspiring to mislead investors by arranging a €7.2 billion circular transaction between March 1 and September 30, 2008 to strengthen Anglo's balance sheet. At the end of day 74, Nolan began his charge, emphasizing the need for impartiality. Defenders Brendan Grehan SC and Michael O'Higgin SC argued that the prosecution failed to prove intent or personal gain, citing the absence of evidence of fraud or stolen funds and the lack of a "smoking gun." They contended that the defendants were unaware of any wrongdoing and that the alleged scheme was a misguided attempt to support Anglo during a period of financial distress. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty. Peter Fitzpatrick pleaded not guilty. Denis Casey pleaded not guilty. John Bowe pleaded not guilty. Willie McAteer pleaded not guilty.
In a closing‑stage criminal trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, four former executives from Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life & Permanent (ILP) were accused of conspiring to defraud investors by misrepresenting Anglo's financial health through a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between 1 March and 30 September 2008. The defendants – Denis Casey (56), Peter Fitzpatrick (63), John Bowe (52) and Willie McAteer (65) – pleaded not guilty. Defence counsel argued that the Financial Regulator's actions, while not approving the deal in advance, were consistent with approving it after 30 September, and that the transactions were not dishonest or criminal. The prosecution presented evidence that the Regulator was aware of the deal in detail by October, before Anglo's balance sheet was published in December.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, former Anglo Irish Bank executive John Bowe, aged 52, was described by his defence counsel as "open and frank" with the Financial Regulator, claiming he believed no wrongdoing had occurred. The case involves Bowe and three other ex‑executives—Willie McAteer (65), Denis Casey (56) and Peter Fitzpatrick (63)—who are charged with conspiring to mislead investors through a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme from 1 March to 30 September 2008. Defence lawyer Diarmaid McGuinness SC presented evidence that Bowe discussed the scheme with regulator Mary Elizabeth Donoghue in October 2008, describing the arrangement as "balance sheet dressing" or "window dressing" and stating it was not about liquidity. Denis Casey pleaded not guilty. Peter Fitzpatrick pleaded not guilty.
In a conspiracy‑to‑defraud trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, four former Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life & Permanent executives—John Bowe, Willie McAteer, Denis Casey and Peter Fitzpatrick—were charged with conspiring to mislead investors about Anglo Irish Bank's financial health. The prosecution alleged that between 1 March and 30 September 2008 the accused authorised a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme to inflate Anglo's customer deposits. The State's case centred on the claim that the ILP executives were aware of Anglo's intent to misrepresent the deal on its balance sheet and that they knowingly participated in a scheme that did not provide real liquidity. The defence argued that the executives believed the transactions were legitimate collateralised deals and that they had no control over Anglo's accounting. The trial was ongoing, with the jury instructed to consider whether the accused intended to mislead the public. The case was still pending at the time of reporting. Denis Casey pleaded not guilty. Peter Fitzpatrick pleaded not guilty.