Court archive
Court reports mentioning Roscrea, Tipperary
2025-12-18 · Tipperary
A jury at the Central Criminal Court unanimously convicted five men from Tipperary of colluding to inflate tender prices for school bus services in the south west of Ireland. The defendants—Raymond Heney, Andrew Walsh, Noel Browne, Larry Hickey and Anthony Flynn—were alleged to have coordinated bids for routes supplied by Bus Éireann, which handled 10% of school routes while contractors managed the remaining 90%. The prosecution argued that the men's concerted practice, led by Heney, aimed to prevent, restrict or distort competition, thereby affecting taxpayers and the Department of Education's €163 million budget for 2015. Each defendant pleaded not guilty. The court remanded all five on continuing bail pending a sentencing hearing on 23 March 2026. The case was brought by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and the Director of Public Prosecutions. The trial focused on the alleged coordination and exchange of information among the operators, rather than any formal agreement.
2025-12-11 · Tipperary
The trial of five bus operators accused of colluding to inflate school transport tender prices is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Raymond Heney, Andrew Walsh, Noel Browne, Larry Hickey, and Anthony Flynn have all pleaded not guilty to alleged offences under the Competition Act 2002. The single charge against each accused alleges that between November 1, 2014, and December 31, 2016, they engaged in a concerted practice to prevent, restrict, or distort competition in the provision of school transport services. The prosecution alleges the men coordinated their bids to drive prices higher, affecting public funds. In his closing speech, defence counsel Dermot B Cahill SC argued that Heney acted as a consultant to assist other operators with administrative processes, stating that without him, there would be fewer drivers available to transport children to school. He contended that the accused were not a faceless corporation but local individuals supporting their trade. Conversely, prosecution counsel Dominic McGinn SC argued that the evidence showed a concerted practice to distort the market and load the dice against taxpayers. The jury is instructed to consider the evidence against each accused separately while viewing the overall context. The trial continues before Mr Justice David Keane.
2025-12-10 · Tipperary
Five school bus operators from Tipperary are on trial in the Central Criminal Court for allegedly colluding to distort competition in the provision of school transport services. The prosecution alleges that between 2014 and 2016, the accused engaged in a concerted practice to manipulate tender prices and allocate routes among themselves. Prosecution counsel Dominic McGinn SC stated that the accused discussed bidding strategies and pricing, which led to higher prices for taxpayers. The trial has heard that one of the accused arranged meetings to coordinate efforts, and that there was a degree of coordination among the parties. The prosecution argues that this was not a formal agreement but a form of collusion that distorted the market. The case is not about the importance of school transport for children but about the manipulation of public funds. The trial continues with the jury considering the evidence presented.
2025-11-06 · Tipperary
The trial of five school bus operators accused of anti-competition practices is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Andrew Walsh, Raymond Heney, Noel Browne, Larry Hickey, and Anthony Flynn, all from County Tipperary, have pleaded not guilty to a single charge under the Competition Act 2002. The prosecution alleges that between November 1, 2014, and December 31, 2016, the defendants engaged in a concerted practice to prevent, restrict, or distort competition in school transport services across Limerick, Tipperary, Clare, South Galway, and Waterford. Prosecution counsel Dominic McGinn told the jury that the accused allegedly coordinated their bidding behavior, including holding meetings to discuss route allocation and pricing, and submitting non-genuine bids to elevate tender prices. He stated that this alleged collusion removed true competitiveness from the process, which affects the public. The case is being brought by the Competition Authority, with evidence including documents, text messages, and expert testimony expected. The jury must determine if a concerted practice occurred and if each defendant was involved. The trial is presided over by Mr Justice David Keane and is expected to last up to six weeks. The matter continues before the court.
2025-11-04 · Tipperary
Five bus and taxi operators from Limerick, Tipperary, Clare, South Galway and Waterford have gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court. They pleaded not guilty to a single charge under the Competition Act 2002, alleging that between 1 November 2014 and 31 December 2016 they engaged in a concerted practice that prevented, restricted or distorted competition in school transport services. The prosecution is by the Competition Authority. Mr Justice David Keane empanelled a jury of seven men and five women; the trial is expected to last up to six weeks.
2025-06-20 · Tipperary
A 89‑year‑old Tipperary man, Sid Green, was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment, with the final five years suspended, for 22 counts of rape and one count of sexual assault of a child committed between 1993 and 1998. The victim, who remains unnamed, testified that the abuse began when she was seven and continued until she was about twelve, describing lasting emotional and psychological damage. Green, who has no prior convictions and is now in a nursing home in Offaly, was found guilty at the Central Criminal Court in Tullamore. The judge, Mr Justice Patrick McGrath, noted Green's advanced age and medical difficulties, including limited mobility and the need for nursing care, as mitigating factors. The sentence will take effect from 10 July 2025, with the prison service prepared to accommodate Green's medical needs. The victim praised her resilience and the support she received from her husband and family.
2023-11-03 · Ireland
The Central Criminal Court has fixed a trial date for the first group of five defendants accused of anti-competition offences in the provision of school bus services. Mr Justice Paul McDermott, acting on an application by the Director of Public Prosecutions, set January 27, 2025, as the start date for this trial, which is estimated to last five weeks. The case will be managed by Mr Justice David Keane. The remaining eight defendants, including three companies, will also be managed by Mr Justice Keane, but no trial date has yet been assigned for this second group. The 13 accused, comprising individuals and entities such as Larry Hickey, Noel Browne, Frances Collison, Andrew Walsh, Margaret Callanan, Edward Callanan, Raymond Heney, Anthony Flynn, Elaine Glasheen, and Malachy Collison, are alleged to have entered into or authorized agreements between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2016. These alleged agreements purported to prevent, restrict, or distort competition in trade regarding school bus services in the State. The charges are brought under sections 4(1), 6(1), 8(1), and 8(6) of the Competition Act 2002. The prosecution, acting at the behest of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, previously sought to split the trial into two batches due to practical difficulties, a request the court acceded to. The matter remains at the pre-trial stage, with the first group's trial scheduled for 2025.
2023-10-31 · Tipperary
The Court of Appeal has quashed the fully suspended sentence imposed on Brian Haig, finding it unduly lenient. Haig, a 40-year-old from Roscrea, County Tipperary, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault committed on March 10, 2019. The original sentencing judge, Cormac Quinn, had imposed an 18-month suspended sentence at Tipperary Circuit Court in January 2023. The DPP appealed, arguing the headline sentence of two and a half years was too low given aggravating factors, including that the victim was asleep and her clothing was cut off with a sharp blade. The three-judge panel, led by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, agreed the offending fell within the mid-range of gravity and displayed premeditation. Consequently, the court set a fresh headline sentence of five years, reduced to three and a half years in prison. The final 12 months of this term are suspended for a period of two years. Haig's counsel had argued for leniency based on his guilty plea, a letter of apology, and a probation report noting a difficult background, but the court determined the custody threshold should have been crossed.
2023-07-07 · Ireland
The Central Criminal Court has heard that the trial of ten individuals and three companies accused of anti-competition offences regarding school bus services may be split into two separate proceedings. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Ms Tessa White BL, informed Mr Justice Paul McDermott that trying all 13 accused together posed practical difficulties. She applied to divide the cases into two batches, with the first indictment covering five accused and the second covering the remainder. The DPP alleged that the defendants, including Larry Hickey, Noel Browne, Frances Collison, Andrew Walsh, Margaret Callanan, Edward Callanan, Raymond Heney, Anthony Flynn, Elaine Glasheen, and Malachy Collison, entered into or authorized agreements that prevented, restricted, or distorted competition in the provision of school bus services between January 2014 and December 2016. These alleged offences are contrary to the Competition Act 2002. Defence counsel noted they had only recently received the proposal, with one stating he had no instructions on their attitude. Mr Justice McDermott adjourned the matter to the next list on July 26 to fix dates for the first trial, estimated to last four to five weeks, noting the second trial could be scheduled later. The cases were taken forward by the DPP at the behest of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission following a 2016 investigation.
2023-04-25 · Dublin
The Central Criminal Court will hear a case involving ten individuals and three companies accused of anti‑competition offences in the provision of school bus services in the State. The prosecution alleges that between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2016 the accused entered into or authorised agreements that prevented, restricted or distorted competition in the trade of school bus services. The charges are under sections 4, 6, 8 and 8(6) of the Competition Act 2002 and were brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions on behalf of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission following a 2016 investigation. Ms Tessa White BL presented the case to Mr Justice Paul McDermott, who adjourned the matter to 9 June to review progress and consider pre‑trial applications. The trial is expected to last 12 weeks and will be heard as a single trial with all parties together.
2020-10-19 · Tipperary
A man convicted of rape and sexual assault has had his sentence reduced by eighteen months following a Court of Appeal finding that the trial judge may have imposed a longer sentence than warranted due to comments about remission. The Court of Appeal quashed the twelve-year sentence imposed on Richard Moloney and re-sentenced him to ten-and-a-half years imprisonment. The appeal court found that remarks by the sentencing judge at Dublin's Central Criminal Court in November 2019 suggested he was taking potential early release into account when determining the headline sentence, which departed from standard sentencing practice. Moloney was convicted in July 2019 of rape, oral rape, and sexual assault against his foster daughter in July 2016. He was acquitted of a further charge of anal rape. The court rejected Moloney's appeal against conviction, finding no error in the trial judge's jury instructions.
2020-09-24 · Tipperary
The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on an appeal by Richard Moloney, a 42-year-old man from Roscrea, Co Tipperary, who seeks to have his convictions for rape and two other sexual offences declared unsound. Moloney was found guilty by a jury in July 2019 of raping his then 16-year-old foster daughter, Ciara Monaghan, at their home in 2016. He was acquitted of a fourth count of alleged anal rape. In November of the previous year, the Central Criminal Court sentenced Moloney to 12 years in jail. His legal team argued that the trial judge's jury directions created a risk that jurors felt obliged to choose between competing versions of evidence, ignoring the possibility of a third outcome. They also appealed the severity of the sentence, claiming the headline 14-year term was excessive given the single-incident nature of the offences. The Director of Public Prosecutions opposed the appeal, noting the jury's ability to distinguish evidence by acquitting one count while convicting on others. Counsel for the DPP also opposed any sentence reduction, highlighting the "explosively destroyed" trust in the foster relationship. Ms Monaghan, who waived her anonymity, stated in a victim impact statement that she had made multiple suicide attempts since the incident. The appeal was heard by Mr Justice George Birmingham, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, and Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh, who reserved their judgment.
2020-05-01 · Tipperary
Inga Ozolina, aged 48, was convicted of manslaughter for killing her violent alcoholic boyfriend, Audrius Pukas, 40, in Roscrea on 20 November 2016. Ozolina claimed she acted in self‑defence after Pukas had pulled her hair, pushed her to the floor, and began hitting and biting her. She had previously obtained two safety orders against him, which had lapsed. During the Central Criminal Court trial, photographs of her injuries, including bite marks, were shown to the jury. Ozolina was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, and was sentenced to four years' imprisonment. The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction, rejecting her appeal that the Garda interview evidence was unreliable. The appeal court dismissed the appeal, confirming the trial judge's decision that the evidence was admissible and reliable. The case remains at the manslaughter conviction stage.
2020-03-11 · Tipperary
The High Court approved Personal Insolvency Arrangements for Una and Margaret Kinsella, allowing them to write down millions of euros in debts owed to banks and Ennis Property Finance, an affiliate of Goldman Sachs. The arrangements let the sisters keep their homes and repay creditors over 12 months. Una, aged 45, owes about €3.8 million to AIB, Permanent TSB and Ennis Property Finance. She will sell investment properties worth €190,000 and restructure her €356,000 mortgage, paying €607 per month for 20 years and a €100 lump sum (€94 to Ennis). Margaret, aged 50, owes €4.2 million to Ennis, BOI, Ulster Bank, AIB and Banca March. She will sell investment properties, restructure her €257,000 mortgage, pay up to €650 per month for 20 years and a €100 lump sum (€88 to Ennis). The court found the arrangements more favourable to creditors than bankruptcy.
2019-11-13 · Tipperary
A man has been sentenced to twelve years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court following his conviction on charges of rape, oral rape, and sexual assault. Richard Moloney, aged 41, of Tullaskeagh Drive, Roscrea, County Tipperary, was found guilty of offences against his then 16-year-old foster daughter at their home on 16 July 2016. The jury's verdict followed trial in July this year. Mr Justice Alex Owens imposed the sentence this morning, noting Moloney's breach of trust as a foster parent and his denial of wrongdoing throughout proceedings. The judge described the crimes' impact on the victim as profoundly destructive. A four-year post-release supervision order was also imposed, with conditions including distance from the victim and engagement in alcohol treatment. Moloney carries ten previous convictions for assault and public order matters. The victim, who has waived anonymity, expressed satisfaction with the sentencing outside court.
2019-08-01 · Laois
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.
2019-07-22 · Tipperary
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.
2019-05-29 · Tipperary
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.
2019-05-28 · Tipperary
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.
2019-05-27 · Tipperary
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.
2019-05-24 · Tipperary
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.
2019-05-23 · Tipperary
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.
2019-05-23 · Laois
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.
2019-05-22 · Tipperary
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.
2019-05-21 · Tipperary
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.
2019-05-20 · Tipperary
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.
2019-05-17 · Tipperary
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.
2019-05-15 · Tipperary
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.
2019-05-14 · Tipperary
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.
2019-05-13 · Tipperary
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.
2019-05-10 · Tipperary
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.
2019-05-09 · Tipperary
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.
2019-05-08 · Tipperary
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.
2019-05-03 · Tipperary
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.
2019-04-30 · Tipperary
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.
2019-04-29 · Tipperary
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.
2018-10-25 · Tipperary
Stephen Brophy, aged 27, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assault causing harm in Ashbury View, Roscrea, during a feud between the McCarthy/O'Donoghues and the Hutchinson/Marshalls. He had thrown a pitchfork that bounced and struck a woman, Sharon McCarthy, on the lips, causing a scar and requiring surgery. The original sentence of seven years, with two years suspended, was quashed on appeal. He was re‑sentenced to four years for violent disorder (two years suspended) and three years for the assault (12 months suspended), with both terms running concurrently. Brophy must remain in good behaviour for two years after release and may not approach a McCarthy family member unless invited or in a friendly manner. The appeal was granted by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, with the Court of Appeal hearing the case.
2018-02-07 · Tipperary
In a 21‑day High Court case in 2012, William Naylor, aged in his early sixties, sued his sister Jean Maher, the executrix of Michael Hoare's estate, to set aside a 2006 will that left the Derrylahan farm to Maher and €150,000 to Naylor. Naylor claimed he had worked the farm for over 30 years and that Hoare, who had married Naylor's mother in the 1980s, had promised him the land. The High Court found Naylor was entitled to the 120‑acre farm but dismissed his claim that the will was procured by duress or undue influence. Naylor was awarded 75 % of his legal costs. On appeal, the Court of Appeal upheld the land entitlement but ruled that the €150,000 bequest was a substitution for the land and ordered Naylor to execute a disclaimer of that sum. The appeal did not alter the High Court's decision on the monetary bequest.
2018-01-15 · Tipperary
Christopher McCarthy, 29, a homeless traveller with a long history of alcohol problems and 133 prior convictions, had previously pleaded guilty to criminal damage and obstruction of a Garda at Mr Cole's home in Roscrea and was sentenced to five years in prison. He had broken into the same home twice in May 2013. In June 2016 he successfully appealed and received a three‑year sentence with the final 12 months suspended on the condition that he stay away from Mr Cole and certain streets in Roscrea. In April he entered Mr Cole's home again, hiding behind a cardboard box, and was found by Gardaí. The Court of Appeal, after reviewing the breach, activated the suspended 12‑month sentence in full, back‑dated to 20 October, the expiry date of an earlier eight‑month District Court sentence for trespass.
2016-04-08 · Tipperary
In April 2016 the High Court, under Justice Miriam O'Regan, ordered AIB, Bank of Ireland and Bunclody Credit Union to supply details of bank accounts and addresses of people alleged to have intimidated James Richard Hodgins into signing cheques that led to €83,000 being paid to them. The orders were part of a broader effort to identify those who, according to Hodgins, threatened and coerced him over several years. The court also continued injunctions restraining 14 individuals from approaching Hodgins or his farm, while the injunctions against three others were deemed unnecessary. Hodgins, who lives alone near Roscrea, claimed the defendants had repeatedly offered work, then demanded money, and that he was forced to write cheques totalling €102,000, of which €83,000 was cashed. The case was adjourned to June for further proceedings.
2016-02-26 · Tipperary
In February 2016 the High Court granted Mr James Richard Hodgins, an isolated farmer in Clonakenny, temporary injunctions against a group of individuals who had threatened and intimidated him over several years. The injunctions barred the defendants and their agents from approaching within 500 metres of Mr Hodgins or his farm, from harassing or intimidating him, and from watching or besetting his property. Mr Hodgins, aged in his early forties, had been approached by the defendants in 2013 with offers of farm work that were often substandard or not carried out. He was later forced to write cheques totalling €102,000, of which €83,000 were cashed, and was threatened with harm if he did not pay an additional €17,000. The court, acting on Mr Desmond Murphy SC's application, issued the orders ex‑parte and made them returnable in two weeks.
2014-03-13 · Tipperary
In March 2014, Garda Sergeant Hazel Delahunt, based at Roscrea Garda Barracks, had initiated a High Court action to obtain details of allegations that had led to an internal investigation against her. She sought an injunction compelling the Garda Commissioner to disclose the complaints that prompted the inquiry. The court had granted her permission to serve short notice of proceedings, and the case was scheduled for hearing before Mr Justice Michael Peart. However, Sergeant Delahunt's counsel, Jim O'Callaghan SC, informed the court that the matter had been settled and could now be struck out. No particulars of the settlement were disclosed. The action had arisen after Sergeant Delahunt was contacted in January by a Garda Inspector regarding a complaint she had made about a stolen USB clip, after which she was informed she was under investigation.