A man from Aughavas, County Leitrim, has been sentenced to seven and a half years imprisonment following his conviction on money laundering charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Simon Gold, aged 54, pleaded not guilty to charges including money laundering, theft, deception and control of false instruments relating to offences between January 2010 and October 2012. A jury returned guilty verdicts on 20 counts after over 12 hours of deliberation, following more than two weeks of evidence. The court heard Gold operated fraudulent companies under multiple identities and targeted vulnerable individuals experiencing severe financial difficulty. Judge Martin Nolan described the crimes as devious and dishonest, noting Gold exploited men in desperate circumstances. The sentence was backdated to May 2018, when Gold first entered custody. Gold has 17 previous convictions, including 12 recorded in the United Kingdom for burglary, theft and larceny.
In August 2019, the High Court heard that two couples, William and Elizabeth McCarthy and John and Winnie McCarthy, had failed to vacate an unofficial halting site at Cabragh Bridge in Co. Tipperary, despite orders from Tipperary County Council. The court had previously issued injunctions requiring the removal of mobile homes, vehicles and caravans and the cessation of residence at the site. The McCarthys were given until 5 pm on Thursday, 8 August to comply, or face imprisonment for contempt. The judge offered them a final chance to comply or seek legal advice, noting that the defendants had been served with the orders but were not fully satisfied that the consequences of non‑compliance were explained. The council had offered alternative accommodation, which the defendants rejected, and the court noted that the council's offer remained open. The case was adjourned to give the defendants a final opportunity to comply with the court's orders.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Inga Ozolina, aged 48, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment with one year suspended, back‑dated to 29 May 2019, for the manslaughter of her boyfriend, Audrius Pukas, 40. Ozolina had previously obtained two safety orders against Pukas, which had lapsed before his death. She claimed that during a violent altercation she was assaulted, pulled her hair, pushed her to the floor and was bitten, and that she used a kitchen knife to defend herself. The judge noted that the killing was in self‑defence but that the defence was excessive, and that Ozolina had not accepted responsibility for Pukas's death. The sentence reflected mitigating factors such as her good character and the history of domestic violence, while the judge emphasised that the killing was not purely defensive. The case remained at the manslaughter level, with no murder conviction. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty and was acquitted.
The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) seeks to sell a fleet of 114 cars, valued at almost €3 million, seized from a Limerick motor dealer in March. The High Court heard that the cars are expensive to store and are losing value, so the State wants to dispose of them quickly. Ms Justice Carmel Stewart adjourned the matter to 15 August to decide whether to allow the sale. She noted that assets such as cars can "rapidly depreciate" and that the maximum value should be realised. If the sale is permitted, the proceeds can be held until the court determines whether the cars were proceeds of crime under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Two respondents were named: Stephen Bawn Motors Ltd trading as Bawn Motors, and Mr Mike Nash.
In a 2019 decision, the Court of Appeal struck out appeals filed by Portuguese companies against a €1 million damages award granted to workers who claimed they were underpaid and lived in a "work camp" while building part of the N7 motorway. The High Court had awarded the workers damages and legal costs, and the companies—Rosas Construtores SA, Constructocoes Gabriel AS Couto SA and Empresa Deconstrucoes Amandio Carvalho SA—had appealed. The three‑judge panel, led by Justice Michael Peart, Justice Marie Baker and Justice Caroline Costello, found the appeals to be an abuse of process aimed at delaying payment. Justice Costello noted that the employers' conduct was "extremely serious and persistent" and that the appeals would add further years of delay. The court therefore dismissed all appeals, leaving the employers liable to pay the compensation and legal costs. The employers announced plans to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.
The Court of Appeal has increased the effective custody period for Roger Ryan, a defendant with over 90 previous convictions, including a prior rape conviction. Ryan was originally sentenced in Clonmel Circuit Criminal Court to seven years' imprisonment for three offences, with the final two years suspended. Additionally, Limerick Circuit Criminal Court imposed a wholly suspended three-year sentence for a robbery at Fine Wines, which was ordered to be consecutive as the crime occurred while he was on bail. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed the Limerick sentence as unduly lenient, while Ryan's legal team challenged the severity of the Clonmel sentence. President Mr Justice Birmingham, sitting with Ms Justice Donnelly and Mr Justice McCarthy, found the Clonmel sentence overly severe given Ryan's history and the reality of the suspended portion. Conversely, the court determined the Limerick judge erred by suspending that sentence entirely. The court re-sentenced Ryan to six years' imprisonment for the Clonmel offences, with the final two years suspended. For the Limerick robbery, he received a consecutive three-year sentence with the final 18 months suspended. This intervention resulted in an additional six months of effective custody. Ryan was required to enter a good behaviour bond for the suspended periods. The court noted his adverse background and institutionalisation but acknowledged his positive conduct in custody.
In a fast‑track commercial court case, a group of Chinese investors—Quoquing Wu, Jianyu Qi, Yuanming Chi, Xueqi Wang, Jingli Li, Qiling Li and Kailin Yao—have sued Premier Green Energy Holdings Ltd. The plaintiffs claim they advanced a €1.5 million loan to the Dublin‑based waste‑to‑energy firm in March 2017 for a 48‑month term. They allege the loan agreement required 18 % interest on the principal at the second, third and fourth anniversaries. On 16 March, €540 000 was reportedly due, but the defendant allegedly failed to pay. The plaintiffs now seek a court order for €2.17 million, comprising the principal and the claimed interest, and also request damages for breach of contract. Mr Justice Robert Haughton admitted the matter to the fast‑track list on the parties' consent, with a hearing scheduled after the summer recess.
In a manslaughter sentencing hearing on 22 July 2019, the lawyer for Inga Ozolina argued that her client, a 48‑year‑old mother of two, killed her boyfriend, Audrius Pukas, in self‑defence after a history of domestic violence. The barrister claimed that Pukas had attacked Ozolina with a knife and that she had used her hands and fists in response. Ozolina had previously been found guilty of manslaughter, not murder, by a jury in May. The lawyer highlighted evidence of prior injuries to Ozolina and two safety orders that had lapsed. She requested that the judge place the offence in the lower culpability range, citing the alleged deadly attack. The judge adjourned sentencing to 31 July and remanded Ozolina in custody until then. The hearing did not address any further legal outcomes. Inga Ozolina pleaded not guilty.
Wesley Purse, a 41‑year‑old Welshman, was found cultivating 112 cannabis plants in County Tipperary while he was supposed to be serving a 12‑year sentence in the UK. He pleaded guilty to possession and cultivation of €42,000 worth of cannabis at Rossadrehid on 3 May 2017. The Clonmel Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to five years' imprisonment on 29 June 2018, a sentence upheld by the Court of Appeal on 22 July 2019. In the appeal hearing, Justice Máire Whelan noted that Purse had initially given a false name to Gardaí and claimed coercion by a gang in Cork, but the claim was undermined by the fact that the name was an alias he used elsewhere. She highlighted that Purse had 92 prior convictions, including 13 drug offences, and that he committed the offence while he was supposed to be in prison in the UK.
In a High Court hearing on 16 July 2019, Justice Leonie Reynolds granted an injunction requiring the occupants of a three‑storey Georgian building at 42 and 43 Blessington Street, Dublin 7, to vacate by 6 pm that evening. The building, owned by Deck Building Services DAC, KDM Construction Ltd and Clonmel Enterprises Ltd, is slated for conversion into an apart‑hotel. The judge cited health and safety concerns, noting the property lacked a fire safety certificate and was uninsured because of the illegal occupation. No occupants appeared in court and no representations were made on their behalf. The owners, represented by Padraig D Lyons BL, argued that the occupants were aware of the proceedings and that the owners were entitled to the injunction. Earlier that month the premises had been unlawfully occupied, with occupants such as 'Oliver Rabbite' and 'Mouse' refusing to leave despite being asked by the owners' agents.
The High Court, by Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds, ordered eight Travellers – William, Elizabeth, Mary Ellen, Jimmy, John, Winnie McCarthy, Belinda and Ned O'Reilly – to vacate the unofficial halting site at Cabragh Bridge, Cabragh, Thurles, by 5 pm on Tuesday, 16 July. The order was issued in favour of Tipperary County Council, which had served the defendants with short‑notice proceedings the previous week. The council sought injunctions to remove the defendants' mobile homes, vehicles and caravans, and to prevent any obstruction of the roadway. It also requested that the defendants cease residing on or near the bridge, which it described as an inappropriate place to live. The council had offered alternative accommodation, including a nearby halting site, and had a six‑unit group housing scheme ready for Traveller occupants, but the defendants had not accepted it.
The owners of a three‑storey Georgian building at 42 and 43 Blessington Street, Dublin 7, have filed a High Court application to remove unknown alleged trespassers. The property, owned by Deck Building Services DAC, KDM Construction Ltd and Clonmel Enterprises Ltd, had been vacant and is now intended to be converted into an apart‑hotel. Earlier this month, the owners claimed the premises was unlawfully occupied by several unknown persons. The locks were changed, and two occupants identified themselves as 'Oliver Rabbite' and 'Mouse'. They were asked to leave but asserted they had permission to stay, had no alternative accommodation and would not vacate. The owners argue the building is unsafe, does not meet building regulations, and planned works are needed for fire safety compliance. The court granted the owners permission to serve short notice to the occupants and the matter will return next week.
Tipperary County Council has initiated High Court proceedings to compel members of the Travelling Community to vacate an unofficial halting site at Cabragh Bridge, Thurles. The council claims the presence of eight individuals—William McCarthy, Elizabeth McCarthy, Mary Ellen McCarthy, Jimmy McCarthy, John McCarthy, Winnie McCarthy, Belinda O'Reilly and Ned O'Reilly—constitutes a public nuisance. It seeks an injunction requiring the defendants to remove their mobile homes, vehicles and caravans from the bridge and to cease obstructing the roadway. The council also requests an order that the defendants vacate and refrain from residing on or near Cabragh Bridge, which it deems an inappropriate place to live. The bridge was formerly part of the R659 but is no longer part of that route. The council has offered alternative accommodation in a six‑unit group housing scheme, but the defendants, who moved to the site between 2015 and September 2018, will not be accommodated there.
Wales-born Wesley Purse, 40, was convicted in Clonmel Circuit Criminal Court for possessing and cultivating €42,000 worth of cannabis in Rossadrehid, County Tipperary. He received a five‑year prison sentence on 29 June 2018, a term he now seeks to appeal in the Court of Appeal. Purse, who had 92 prior convictions, was also "at large" from a 12‑year sentence imposed in Stafford Crown Court, England, when he was arrested in Tipperary. His barrister, Philip Sheahan SC, argued that the headline sentences of eight years for possession and six years for cultivation were excessive, noting that the plants were at various stages of production and that the €42,000 valuation was not comparable to higher‑valued cases. The Court of Appeal heard the arguments and reserved judgment. The case remains at the appeal stage, with no further outcome announced. Wesley Purse pleaded guilty.
The trial of Simon Gold, a former psychic accused of money laundering, theft, deception, and controlling false instruments, continued at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Gold, who has pleaded not guilty to 22 charges relating to offences between January 1, 2010, and October 22, 2012, is alleged to have used multiple aliases, including Simon Magnier and Niall O'Donoghue. On the ninth day of evidence, witness Eamonn O'Toole, a dairy farmer from Co. Tipperary, testified that he sought a loan in 2011 and was directed to contact Simon Magnier. O'Toole stated he transferred £10,000 to Anglo Irish Global Ltd, believing Magnier was a principal banker, but the loan never materialised. He described attempts to contact the alleged loan manager, Niall O'Donoghue, as futile, remarking it would be easier to reach Donald Trump. O'Toole also testified that he was advised to place a teenager's name on loan documents. The matter was adjourned and continues before Judge Nolan and a jury.
Inga Ozolina, 48, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter after stabbing her boyfriend, Audrius Pukas, to death in their home on 20 November 2016. The Central Criminal Court heard that Pukas, 40, died from a stab wound to the chest and two other knife wounds. Ozolina had previously obtained safety orders against Pukas, which had lapsed. She claimed the attack was a self‑defence incident, stating that Pukas had pulled her hair, pushed her, and bitten her, and that she grabbed a kitchen knife to defend herself. The jury considered photographs of her injuries, including bite marks, and CCTV footage of her entering a Garda station in a dressing gown. After 12 hours of deliberation, the jury returned a 10‑2 majority verdict of not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, and Ozolina was remanded for sentencing on 1 July.
In the murder trial of Inga Ozolina, a 48‑year‑old woman from Latvia living in Mountrath, Co. Laois, the jury resumed deliberations on the fourth day. Ozolina, mother of two, is charged with stabbing her boyfriend, Audrius Pukas, to death in their Tipperary home on 20 November 2016. She pleaded not guilty, arguing self‑defence, accidental injury, or lack of intent. The prosecution, led by Paul Murray SC, maintained that the three knife wounds could not be accidental and that self‑defence was not applicable. The defense, represented by Caroline Biggs SC, urged the jury to consider the three grounds of acquittal. Judge Alexander Owens offered a third option: not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter if the jury found excessive self‑defence. The jury spent nearly nine and a half hours deliberating before returning to the courtroom on Wednesday morning. The trial continues.
In a Tipperary murder trial, a jury will resume deliberations after a six‑and‑a‑half‑hour session. The defendant, 48‑year‑old Inga Ozolina, is charged with stabbing her boyfriend, 40‑year‑old Audrius Pukas, to death on 20 November 2016. Ozolina pleaded not guilty, arguing self‑defence and that Pukas may have approached the knife during a fight. Her solicitor, Caroline Biggs SC, urged the jury to consider whether the fatal wound could reasonably have resulted from Pukas moving toward the knife, whether Ozolina acted in justifiable self‑defence, or whether she lacked intent to kill. Prosecutor Paul Murray SC insisted the wounds were not accidental and that Ozolina had the knife to an unarmed, drunken man. Justice Alexander Owens offered a third verdict option: not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter if the jury found excessive self‑defence. The jury will reconvene tomorrow morning to continue their deliberations.
A jury has begun deliberating in the trial of Inga Ozolina, 48, who is charged with murdering her boyfriend, Audrius Pukas, by stabbing him in the chest on 20 November 2016 at The Malthouse, Roscrea, Co Tipperary. Ozolina, originally from Latvia and residing at Old Court Church, Mountrath, Co Laois, pleaded not guilty and has requested an acquittal on several grounds, including self‑defence and the possibility that Pukas moved towards the knife she was holding during a fight in their Tipperary home. The Central Criminal Court heard that Pukas, 40, died at the scene from a stab wound to his chest. Caroline Biggs SC, defending Ozolina, urged the jury to consider whether there was a reasonable possibility that the fatal wound resulted from Pukas approaching the knife, that Ozolina was acting in justifiable self‑defence, or that she had no intention to kill or cause serious injury.
In the murder trial of Inga Ozolina, a 48‑year‑old Latvian‑born woman, the defence counsel, Caroline Biggs SC, urged the jury to acquit if there is a reasonable possibility that the fatal wound was caused by Mr Pukas moving toward the knife, or that Ozolina acted in justifiable self‑defence, or that she had no intent to kill. Ozolina, who lives in Mountrath, claimed she grabbed a nearby object to defend herself after Mr Pukas, a 40‑year‑old father of two, began hitting and biting her. The court heard evidence of domestic abuse, including injuries to Ozolina and witnesses describing Mr Pukas's aggression. The prosecution, represented by Paul Murray SC, argued that the knife wounds were not accidental and that Ozolina had the knife and was not in self‑defence. The jury, composed of seven men and five women, will deliberate on these points. The trial is ongoing. Inga Ozolina pleaded not guilty.
In the trial of Inga Ozolina, a 48‑year‑old mother of two, the defence presented evidence that she had arrived at a friend's house in a state of distress, with a bite on her nose, earlier in her relationship with the victim. Ozolina, originally from Latvia and residing in Old Court Church, Mountrath, claimed she was acting in self‑defence when she stabbed Audrius Pukas, a 40‑year‑old father of two, at The Malthouse, Roscrea, on 20 November 2016. The Central Criminal Court heard that Pukas died from a stab wound to his chest. Niamh Hyland, a friend of Ozolina for ten years, testified that Ozolina had visited her home twice in the early hours, both times with blood on her nose and, on the second visit, a swollen eye. Hyland described Pukas's interactions with Ozolina as often aggressive. Inga Ozolina pleaded not guilty.
During the murder trial of Inga Ozolina, a witness testified that she once saw Ozolina's neck appear blue while she was still in a relationship with the deceased, Audrius Pukas. Ozolina, a 48‑year‑old mother of two from Mountrath, claimed she acted in self‑defence after Pukas died from a stab wound inflicted by a knife she was holding. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court, also heard from Ms. Karina Sulinezee, who recalled seeing Ozolina's neck turn blue after removing a scarf and noted that Ozolina's ear had been scratched. Sulinezee further recounted that Pukas had previously struck her partner at a birthday party, an incident she said led to the partner's bleeding. Prosecutor Paul Murray closed his case and will cross‑examine Ms. Sulinezee before the judge and jury. The case remains ongoing. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In the trial of 48‑year‑old Inga Ozolina, charged with murdering 40‑year‑old Audrius Pukas in Co. Tipperary, a neighbour testified that Pukas was always the aggressor in their arguments. He described a fatal fight on 20 November 2016, after which he met a garda and asked if Ozolina was OK, having heard a scream of pain from her. Photographs of bite marks and other injuries were shown to the court. Ozolina claimed self‑defence. Mark Fletcher, a neighbour, recounted frequent late‑night shouting, usually by Pukas, and that the fight ended abruptly. Garda Maureen Finnerty testified about the injuries found on Ozolina's body. The case is proceeding before a jury of seven men and five women. The unnamed 48-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 48‑year‑old Inga Ozolina, originally from Latvia, pleaded not guilty to the murder of her 40‑year‑old boyfriend, Audrius Pukas, who died from a stab wound to the chest on 20 November 2016 at The Malthouse, Roscrea. Detective Garda Stuart Beatty testified that Ozolina claimed she had taken a knife to defend herself after Pukas began hitting and biting her, and that she had no intention of killing him. Beatty also reported that Ozolina was told the knife had penetrated Pukas' chest to 20 cm and his arm to 13 cm, and that she had washed the knife in a panic, claiming she did not think of removing DNA. The court heard that the knife was found in a kitchen drawer with three blood specks matching the deceased. Ozolina denied assaulting Pukas, stating she acted in self‑defence.
In a Central Criminal Court trial in Co. Tipperary, a 48‑year‑old woman, Inga Ozolina, pleaded not guilty to the murder of her 40‑year‑old boyfriend, Audrius Pukas, who died from a stab wound to the chest on 20 November 2016. The prosecution presented a 21‑cm knife seized from Ms Ozolina's kitchen drawer, showing three small specks of blood that, under magnification, matched the deceased's DNA. Ms Ozolina testified that she had grabbed the knife after Mr Pukas began hitting and biting her, and that he had tried to wrestle it away before retreating. She claimed she washed the knife in the sink without noticing the blood, saying she was concentrating on her hands. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Alexander Owens, continues with a jury of seven men and five women.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 48‑year‑old woman from Laois, Inga Ozolina, pleaded not guilty to the murder of her 40‑year‑old boyfriend, Mr Pukas, who died on 20 November 2016 from a stab wound to the chest. Ozolina told Gardaí that she had saved his number as "sadist" because of frequent fights. She claimed she took a kitchen knife to protect herself after he grabbed her by the hair, and that she only pointed the knife at him when he tried to take it away. Ozolina said she was afraid he might kill her and that she had not intended to kill him. She also stated that she had given him mouth‑to‑mouth after finding him on the ground. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury. The prosecution maintains that there is no question of self‑defence. The case is still at the trial stage.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 48‑year‑old woman from Mountrath, Co. Laois, pleaded not guilty to the murder of her 40‑year‑old boyfriend, Audrius Pukas, who died from a stab wound to the chest on 20 November 2016. The accused, Inga Ozolina, claimed that she had been repeatedly assaulted by Pukas, who had previously beaten her and had a history of violence. She said that a doctor had warned her that she might be killed if he attacked her again and advised her to keep a sharp object for self‑defence. Ozolina described her life as a "living hell," noting that she had a safety order against Pukas, had sought a second order, and had been in a women's shelter.
In 1979, Dan Flynn, then 36, raped a six‑year‑old girl in his home in County Tipperary. The victim, now a married mother, described the assault as brutal, noting Flynn's forceful entry of his penis into her mouth and vagina, spitting into her face, and stepping over her as she lay on the ground. She recalled being terrified and feeling that Flynn treated her as nothing. Flynn pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. Judge Michael White set a headline sentence of nine years, then imposed six years with four years suspended, citing Flynn's lack of prior convictions, his guilty plea, and his serious health problems, including Parkinson's disease. The sentence was adjourned until 19 June to allow prison authorities to assess a suitable facility for Flynn. The court praised the victim's courage for coming forward. The judge noted the cruelty of the offence and the difficulty of imagining the brutality involved.
In the Central Criminal Court, the jury for Inga Ozolina's murder trial was shown bloodstained clothing and bedding from the room where Audrius Pukas's body was found. Ozolina, 48, denies murdering Pukas, 40, who died from a stab wound to the chest on 20 November 2016. The prosecution argues there is no self‑defence. Garda Larry Stapleton testified that he examined the scene, identifying a heavily bloodstained yellow t‑shirt, a green bathrobe with cuts and blood stains, two sheets and a pillowcase, all taken from the bedroom. He also noted a pink sheet beneath the white sheet and a blood‑stained pillowcase. Stapleton reported no blood elsewhere in the house, but seized a laptop, a paused film, a picture of Ozolina and Pukas, and broken picture frames from other rooms. The trial proceeds before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury of seven men and five women. Inga Ozolina pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Inga Ozolina, 48, is charged with murdering her boyfriend Audrius Pukas, 40, in November 2016. The prosecution presented evidence that Ozolina had two bite marks on her arm and bruises on her upper thigh, breast, elbow, wrist, knee and leg. Garda David Donovan testified that he photographed the bite marks, measured them, and took DNA swabs, noting that the marks might have been made by another person. He also photographed bruising on Ozolina's left breast and other areas, measuring each with a ruler. Ozolina pleaded not guilty, and the trial continues before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury of seven men and five women. The case highlights the alleged lack of self‑defence in the murder of Pukas.
Three men—Patrick Roche (54), his son Philip Roche (25), and son‑in‑law Alan Freeman (38)—have lodged appeals against convictions for violent burglaries committed in rural County Limerick seven years ago. The convictions, obtained at the Limerick Circuit Criminal Court, stem from two separate incidents. In May 2012, the Roches broke into the isolated home of elderly siblings Willie, Nora, and Chrissie Creed near Pallasgreen, tied them up, assaulted them, and stole €5,000. Six weeks earlier, the trio had broken into the Garvey family home, tied up Mr and Mrs Garvey and their four children, threatened Mr Garvey with a gun, and fled with cash. Patrick Roche received a 17‑year sentence, Philip 15 years, and Freeman 14 years, each with a three‑year suspended portion. The appeals cite alleged errors in jury instructions, the legality of the arrests and detentions, and the admissibility of evidence. The case will be heard tomorrow by the Court of Appeal.
In a murder trial, the jury heard that a father‑of‑one, Audrius Pukas, 40, was stabbed to death at The Malthouse, Roscrea, on 20 November 2016. The accused, Inga Ozolina, 48, pleaded not guilty. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that the fatal wound penetrated Pukas's left chest to a depth of 25.5 cm, cutting the rib cage, left lung, heart, aortic valve, left main coronary artery and aorta, and that a massive blood collection in the left chest cavity caused rapid death. Two additional superficial wounds were found on the left chest and right upper arm. Pukas had bruising on the right face and lower lip, and modest alcohol levels were noted. The jury was told the stabbing force was moderate and the victim's left arm had to be raised for the fatal wound to be inflicted. The trial proceeded before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a 12‑person jury.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, 48‑year‑old Inga Ozolina, originally from Latvia, pleaded not guilty to the murder of her 40‑year‑old boyfriend Audrius Pukas, who died on 20 November 2016 at The Malthouse, Roscrea. The prosecution alleged a "tempestuous and volatile" relationship and that there was no self‑defence. Ozolina was described as panicky and frantic when she arrived at Roscrea Garda Station at 2.30 am, wearing a bathrobe and slippers, and claimed she had stabbed Pukas. Garda evidence noted her injuries – a bite mark on her left arm, bruising on her left breast and dried blood on both knees – and that she had asked for an ambulance. Earlier police visits in 2016 and 2013 involved domestic incidents with Pukas. The case is set to continue before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury.
During the 2019 murder trial of Inga Ozolina, the prosecution presented evidence that Garda Sergeant Tony Hanrahan found the body of Audrius Pukas, 43, lying on his back in a downstairs bedroom of The Malthouse, Roscrea, on 20 November 2016. Hanrahan reported that Pukas was wearing only underwear, had no pulse, and was still warm, with blood around his left armpit and on the bed sheets. He also noted blood on Ozolina's calf. Paramedic Ronan Wall corroborated the lack of pulse and the left‑armpit wound. CCTV footage showed Ozolina arriving at Roscrea Garda Station at 2.30 am, wearing a bathrobe and slippers, then driving to The Malthouse where she was later arrested at 3.43 am. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Alexander Owens, continued with a jury of twelve. The prosecution argued there was no self‑defence and that the relationship was volatile and violent. Ozolina pleaded not guilty.
Patrick Quirke, a 50‑year‑old farmer from Breanshamore, Co. Tipperary, stands accused of murdering Bobby Ryan, a part‑time DJ known as Mr. Moonlight, who vanished on 3 June 2011 after leaving his girlfriend Mary Lowry's home. Ryan's body was discovered in an underground run‑off tank on Lowry's farm, leased by Quirke, on 30 April 2013. The trial, lasting 13 weeks with five days of closing arguments, has seen a jury of six men and six women deliberate for 18 hours and 24 minutes. Justice Eileen Creedon explained that a majority verdict requires at least ten votes in favour; otherwise the jury may write "disagree" on the issue paper. Quirke has pleaded not guilty, while the prosecution alleges he killed Ryan to rekindle an affair with Lowry. The defence contends the prosecution has not proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt and seeks Quirke's acquittal.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, 48‑year‑old Inga Ozolina, originally from Latvia, pleaded not guilty to the murder of her 43‑year‑old boyfriend, Audrius Pukas, who was stabbed in the chest on 20 November 2016 at The Malthouse, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary. Prosecutor Paul Murray SC described their relationship as "tempestuous and volatile" and "violent at times", arguing there was no self‑defence. Gardaí arrived at the Roscrea apartment early on the night of the murder and found Pukas dead. A post‑mortem revealed three knife wounds: a fatal left‑chest wound that pierced the lung, heart, aortic valve, left pulmonary artery and aorta to a depth of 25.5 cm, a second 13‑cm wound on the right upper arm, and a superficial left‑chest abrasion.
The jury in the Central Criminal Court trial of Patrick Quirke, a farmer aged 50 from Breanshamore, Co. Tipperary, is set to return for an eighth day of deliberations. Quirke denies murdering Bobby Ryan, a part‑time DJ known as Mr. Moonlight, who disappeared on 3 June 2011 after leaving his girlfriend Mary Lowry's home. Ryan's body was discovered 22 months later in an underground run‑off tank on a farm owned by Lowry and leased by Quirke at Fawnagown, Tipperary. The trial, lasting 13 weeks, included closing speeches from defence and prosecution barristers. The prosecution alleges Quirke killed Ryan to rekindle an affair with Lowry, aged 52. The defence contends the prosecution has not proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt and seeks Quirke's acquittal. Justice Eileen Creedon instructed the jury to avoid emotional influence and to treat circumstantial evidence carefully. The jury's verdict remains pending. Patrick Quirke pleaded not guilty.
Patrick Quirke, a 50‑year‑old farmer from Breanshamore, Co. Tipperary, is on trial for the murder of Bobby Ryan, a part‑time DJ known as Mr Moonlight. Ryan vanished on 3 June 2011 after leaving his girlfriend Mary Lowry's home. His body was discovered in an underground run‑off tank on Lowry's farm, leased by Quirke, 22 months later in April 2013. Quirke pleaded not guilty. The trial, lasting 13 weeks, concluded with closing speeches from defence and prosecution barristers. The prosecution alleges Quirke killed Ryan to rekindle an affair with Lowry, aged 52. The defence argues the prosecution has not proved the case beyond reasonable doubt and seeks Quirke's acquittal. Justice Eileen Creedon instructed the jury to avoid emotional influence and to handle circumstantial evidence carefully. The jury will return tomorrow for a sixth day of deliberations after more than 14 hours of discussion.
A jury of seven men and five women was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the trial of Inga Ozolina, a 45‑year‑old Latvian woman, accused of murdering Lithuanian man Audrius Pukas, 43, at The Malthouse, Roscrea, on 20 November 2016. Ozolina, who now lives and works in Mountrath, Co. Laois, pleaded not guilty. Her trial will begin tomorrow before Mr Justice Alexander Owens at 11 a.m.
The jury in the trial of Patrick Quirke, a 50‑year‑old farmer from Breanshamore, Co. Tipperary, has been sent home for the weekend and will return for a fifth day of deliberations on Monday. Quirke is charged with murdering Bobby Ryan, a part‑time DJ who disappeared on 3 June 2011 after leaving his girlfriend Mary Lowry's home. Ryan's body was found 22 months later in an underground run‑off tank on a farm owned by Lowry and leased by Quirke at Fawnagown, Tipperary. The prosecution alleges Quirke killed Ryan to rekindle an affair with Lowry, aged 52, while the defence argues the prosecution has not proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt and seeks acquittal. The jury, composed of six men and six women, has deliberated about 11 hours and faces two verdict options: guilty of murder or not guilty. Justice Eileen Creedon released the jury for the weekend, instructing them to return at 11 a.m.
Patrick Quirke, a 50‑year‑old farmer from Breanshamore, Co. Tipperary, is on trial for the murder of Bobby Ryan, a part‑time DJ known as Mr Moonlight. Ryan vanished on 3 June 2011 after leaving his girlfriend Mary Lowry's home. His body was discovered in an underground run‑off tank on Lowry's farm, leased by Quirke, 22 months later in April 2013. Quirke pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleges he killed Ryan to rekindle an affair with Lowry, aged 52, while the defence argues the evidence does not prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The jury, composed of six men and six women, has deliberated for seven hours and 23 minutes and will resume on Friday at 11 a.m. They must decide between a guilty or not‑guilty verdict. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon cautioned the jury to avoid emotional bias and to handle circumstantial evidence carefully. The trial is held in the Central Criminal Court.
Patrick Quirke, a 50‑year‑old farmer from Breanshamore, Co. Tipperary, is on trial for the murder of Bobby Ryan, a part‑time DJ known as Mr Moonlight. Ryan disappeared on 3 June 2011 after leaving his girlfriend Mary Lowry's home. His body was discovered in an underground run‑off tank on Lowry's farm, leased by Quirke, 22 months later in April 2013. Quirke pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleges he killed Ryan to rekindle an affair with Lowry, while the defence argues the evidence does not prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The jury, composed of six men and six women, resumed deliberations on Wednesday, having already spent over three and a half hours. They will reconvene on Thursday at 11 a.m. The only verdicts available are guilty of murder or not guilty. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon reminded the jury to base their decision on evidence, not emotion.
In the trial of 50‑year‑old farmer Patrick Quirke, the jury paused their deliberations for the night and will resume on Wednesday morning. Quirke is charged with murdering Bobby Ryan, a part‑time DJ known as Mr Moonlight, and hiding his body in an underground tank on a farm leased by Quirke. Ryan disappeared on 3 June 2011 and his body was found 22 months later in April 2013. The prosecution alleges Quirke killed Ryan to rekindle an affair with Mary Lowry, 52, and that the discovery of the body was staged. The jury was instructed by Justice Eileen Creedon to consider circumstantial evidence carefully, to maintain the presumption of innocence, and to reach a unanimous verdict unless a majority of ten jurors could be justified. The defence argues the evidence is insufficient, citing inconsistencies in Lowry's testimony, alleged financial difficulties, and investigative shortcomings. The jury must decide between a guilty or not‑guilty verdict. Patrick Quirke pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, defence barrister Bernard Condon SC argued that the evidence against Patrick Quirke, 50, amounted only to suspicion and was insufficient to prove he killed Bobby Ryan, a part‑time DJ known as Mr Moonlight. Condon criticised the Garda investigation, claiming substandard evidence and failures such as not searching Mary Lowry's house, not videotaping the body's removal, and mishandling forensic items like a hair clip and maggots. He highlighted that Quirke's internet searches for DNA and body decomposition were general, not case‑specific, and that the prosecution's case required "enormous leaps." Condon urged the jury to start from the presumption of innocence, to scrutinise the weak evidence, and to acquit Quirke. The jury will return next Tuesday for the judge's charge before deliberation. Patrick Quirke pleaded not guilty.
At the Central Criminal Court, defence counsel Bernard Condon SC characterised Mary Lowry's evidence as fundamentally unreliable during closing arguments in the trial of Patrick Quirke, accused of murdering Bobby Ryan, known as Mr Moonlight. Mr Quirke, aged 50, of Breanshamore, County Tipperary, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Ryan, a part-time DJ, who disappeared on 3 June 2011 from Ms Lowry's home near Bundoran, Donegal. His remains were discovered in an underground tank on farmland at Fawnagowan 22 months later. Mr Condon submitted that Ms Lowry had altered her account of events between her initial 2011 statement to gardaí and her later testimony, particularly regarding observations she made on the morning of Mr Ryan's disappearance. He contended that she had demonstrated a pattern of inconsistency about the Bundoran incident and other matters, describing her as manipulative. The defence case proceeded that evidence of the former relationship between Ms Lowry and Mr Quirke, whilst complex, did not constitute evidence of murder. The trial continues before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon.
In the Central Criminal Court, the State's prosecution argued that Patrick Quirke, 50, committed a "callous, calculated, controlled murder" of Bobby Ryan, a part‑time DJ known as Mr Moonlight, on 3 June 2011. Ryan vanished after leaving his girlfriend Mary Lowry's home at 6.30 am; his body was discovered 22 months later in an underground run‑off tank on Lowry's farm, leased by Quirke. The prosecution alleged Quirke killed Ryan to rekindle an affair with Lowry, citing motive, financial pressure, and Quirke's possession of knowledge about the tank. They dismissed suicide, accident and other theories, insisting the evidence pointed to murder. Quirke pleaded not guilty. Defence counsel Bernard Condon countered that the prosecution's evidence was thin, largely circumstantial, and urged the jury to remain skeptical of Lowry's testimony and the alleged motive. The trial focused on the facts presented, with no verdict yet reached.
An appeal has led to an increased prison sentence for Donal O'Hara, who was involved in a violent attack led by Dessie O'Hare. O'Hara, 27, of Glin Park, Coolock, pleaded guilty to assaulting John Roche, causing him harm, and falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne on June 9, 2015. He was initially sentenced to three years imprisonment with the final year suspended on July 31, 2018. However, the Court of Appeal found the sentence 'unduly lenient' and re-sentenced O'Hara to four years imprisonment with the final year suspended, increasing his jail term by 12 months. Dessie O'Hare, 62, of Slate Rock Road, Newtownhamilton, County Armagh, also pleaded guilty to the same offences and was jailed for seven years. Daniel Kane, 29, of Hollycourt, Ballybrack, County Dublin, pleaded guilty to the same offences and was sentenced to five years imprisonment with the final year suspended on April 27, 2018. Hannover Street West, also pleaded guilty to the same offences and was sentenced to six years imprisonment on January 29, 2018. The appeal was brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions, who argued that the original sentence was too lenient given the severity of the offences and the context of the attack.
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.
In the 2019 trial of farmer Patrick Quirke, who denies murdering his rival Bobby Ryan, the prosecution presented a circumstantial case described by counsel Michael Bowman SC as "forensically barren." Bowman urged the jury to rely on common sense, arguing that the evidence would compel a guilty verdict. He highlighted the absence of a weapon, precise location or time of death, and the lack of forensic traces. Bowman recounted alleged attempts by Quirke to sabotage Ryan's relationship with Mary Lowry, including a phone text, a report to Tusla, and a letter to a newspaper. He also cited CCTV footage of Quirke near Lowry's shed, Google searches on body decomposition, and the discovery of Ryan's body in a sealed underground tank. Bowman emphasized the improbability of coincidence, suggesting deliberate planning behind the disappearance and death of Bobby Ryan. The trial focused on these points without concluding a verdict. Patrick Quirke pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Farmer Patrick Quirke, 50, of Breanshamore, Co Tipperary, continued before Justice Eileen Creedon. Quirke, who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Bobby Ryan, a part-time DJ known as Mr Moonlight, faced cross-examination regarding internet searches for "body decomposition timeline." Quirke told gardai his son had recently died, stating, "That's all I'm saying." However, prosecution evidence indicated a similar search occurred in July 2012, prior to his son's death in August 2012, which gardai argued undermined his explanation. Quirke denied that this prior search invalidated his account for later searches. The court heard that gardai sent a sub aqua unit to Ardmore, Co Waterford, after a water diviner claimed the body would be found there. Quirke was arrested in June 2014 and interviewed regarding a seized hard drive containing searches on DNA limitations and decomposition. He denied staging the discovery of Ryan's body, which was found in an underground tank on a farm leased by Quirke in April 2013. Quirke alleged gardai did not properly investigate previously dropped assault charges against him. The prosecution claimed Quirke murdered Ryan to rekindle an affair with Mary Lowry. Quirke maintained his innocence, questioning the logic of murdering a man and then revealing the body's location. The jury was adjourned until Thursday.