Tomasz Rozpeda, a Polish national, has been sentenced to six years in prison for manslaughter after killing his friend, Maciej Nowak, on St Stephen's Day three years ago. The Central Criminal Court heard that Nowak suffered 27 injuries to his head and neck, with his brain twisting within his skull, indicating blunt force trauma from an object or flat surface. Rozpeda initially denied involvement but later pleaded guilty to manslaughter. The court was told that both men had consumed substances to excess that night, and that Nowak had a high level of amphetamines and alcohol in his system. Rozpeda's defence highlighted his guilty plea and lack of prior convictions in Ireland, while the court noted the tragic impact on Nowak's fiancée and children. The judge set a headline sentence of nine years but reduced it to six due to Rozpeda's early guilty plea and other mitigating factors. The case was complicated by the lack of clear evidence and the fact that Rozpeda had previously been in contact with Nowak's fiancée to inform her of the incident.
A 29-year-old man, Tomasz Rozpeda, was sentenced for manslaughter after his friend, Maciej Nowak, died from blunt force trauma during an incident on St Stephen's Day in 2023. Rozpeda had initially been charged with murder but later pleaded guilty to manslaughter. The court heard that Nowak had consumed excessive amounts of amphetamines and alcohol, but the cause of death was determined to be the result of the trauma, not the drugs. Rozpeda claimed that Nowak had become violent and self-harming, but the pathologist's report indicated that the injuries were not self-inflicted. Rozpeda had no prior convictions in Ireland, though he had three in Poland. The court heard victim impact statements from Nowak's sister and fiancée, who described the emotional devastation caused by his death. The judge noted that Rozpeda accepted responsibility and that the case fell in the medium range of culpability, with a headline sentence of between four and ten years. Rozpeda was remanded in custody until his sentencing in July.
A trial date has been set for Sean Harding (31), from Marian Terrace, Tipperary town, who is accused of murdering an 81-year-old pensioner, Timothy Murnane, in Tipperary town on September 12, 2025. Mr Murnane was found with serious injuries outside his home at St Michael's Avenue and later died at University Hospital Limerick two days later. In addition to the murder charge, Harding also faces three burglary charges related to the same location on September 11 and 12, 2025. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court, where Mr Justice Paul McDermott set a trial date for October 5 and scheduled case management for June 5 next year. The court proceedings mark a significant step in the legal process for the accused, who is now set to face trial for the alleged murder and burglary charges. The case has drawn attention in the local community, with many awaiting the outcome of the trial.
John Joseph Carey, a 57-year-old man from Tipperary Town, was sentenced to seven years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to having 16.6 kg of cocaine for sale or supply at Dublin Port on October 10, 2022. The drugs, estimated to have a street value of €1,232,560, were concealed in a Perspex box built into the chassis of a camper van driven by Carey. Prosecution evidence indicated that Carey, who has no previous convictions, was pressured to transport the cocaine to settle a debt that had risen to €250,000. Judge Martin Nolan accepted Carey's guilty plea and noted his cooperation with the Garda investigation. The judge described Carey's culpability as "low to mid," acknowledging that he did not own the drugs and acted to resolve personal financial problems. Consequently, the court imposed a sentence of seven years. The matter was finalized with this sentence, reflecting the court's assessment of the defendant's role and mitigating factors.
Patrick Quirke, aged 52, lost his appeal against a 2019 conviction for the murder of DJ Bobby "Mr Moonlight" Ryan, aged 52, whose decomposed body was found in a disused slurry tank on a farm leased by Quirke. The Court of Appeal rejected more than 50 grounds of appeal presented by Quirke's lawyers. Judge George Birmingham, delivering the judgment, said he was not persuaded by any of the arguments and expressed unease about the trial's extensive legal argument. He noted the trial was the longest in Irish history, lasting 71 days, and described the number of voir dire as extraordinary. Quirke was not present at the hearing but watched via video link. The court upheld the jury's guilty verdict and the life sentence imposed in 2019. The appeal court also dismissed the defence's claim that the trial judge should have declared the trial unfair. The judgment reaffirmed that the evidence, though circumstantial, was sufficient for conviction.
Former FAI chief executive John Delaney has denied allegations that he is obstructing the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) investigation. In a sworn statement, Delaney explained that he requires additional time to review thousands of seized files, including his emails, to determine which are protected by legal professional privilege and therefore cannot be used by the ODCE. The High Court was scheduled to decide whether the files are privileged, but Delaney's request for extra time has stalled the matter, which will next be heard in September. The seized material consists of 13 hard‑copy documents and a digital device holding 270,000 files, seized from the FAI's Abbottstown office under a search warrant in February. Delaney, who now lives in the UK, said he was unaware of the volume of documents and that the ODCE's timetable was unrealistic.
During a 13‑week trial, the prosecution presented circumstantial evidence linking Patrick Quirke to the murder of Bobby Ryan, arguing that Quirke's jealousy and financial dependence on Mary Lowry motivated the killing. Quirke had leased Lowry's land, had a sexual relationship with her, and was seen at her home on the day Ryan disappeared. He claimed he discovered Ryan's body in a waste‑water tank on 30 April 2013, describing the tank as partially full and the body as a "carpet or inflatable doll." Forensic entomology suggested the body had been present for at least 11 days. The defence argued the evidence was unreliable, citing inconsistencies in Lowry's testimony, lack of independent evidence of Quirke's motive, and questioning the integrity of the tank's condition. The jury ultimately convicted Quirke by a majority verdict for Ryan's murder.
Alan Freeman, aged 38, was convicted of violently breaking into the Garvey family home in Pallasgreen, Co. Limerick, on 16 April 2012, where he and two other men used a sawn‑off shotgun, a sledgehammer and a baseball bat. The gang restrained the occupants, threatened Gerard Garvey and his 14‑year‑old daughter, and took cash before fleeing. Freeman, along with Patrick Roche (54) and Philip Roche (25), was also found guilty of a separate burglary at the Creed home. Judge John Hannan sentenced Freeman to 14 years, with the final three years suspended. On 10 December 2019 the Court of Appeal quashed Freeman's conviction and ordered a retrial, while the convictions of the Roche men were upheld. The appeal was based on the Court's view that evidence linking Freeman to an alleged burglary at another home should have led to a separate trial, as the evidence was deemed insufficient and potentially prejudicial.
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.
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 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.
Wayne O'Dwyer, aged 30, pleaded guilty to robbery at the Eurogiant store in Carrick‑on‑Suir on 31 March 2016. He threatened a female shop assistant, demanding €250 and the till, and was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment with the final three years suspended by Judge Thomas Teehan on 15 December 2017. O'Dwyer's lawyers argued the judge sought to make an example of him because of the perceived rise in violent crime in the town. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice John Edwards, rejected this claim, stating the judge was entitled to consider general deterrence as a sentencing objective and that the sentence was not disproportionate. The appeal was dismissed, confirming the seven‑year headline sentence with a three‑year suspended portion and the effective custody term as imposed.
At the Central Criminal Court, the son of Bobby Ryan told how he encountered Mary Lowry at her farm on the morning his father vanished in June 2011. Robert Ryan Junior said Ms Lowry appeared visibly shaken and upset, and he sensed immediately that something was wrong. He noted her behaviour seemed designed to hurry him away from the property. Patrick Quirke, aged 50 from Breanshamore, County Tipperary, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Ryan between June 2011 and April 2013. Mr Ryan's body was discovered in a waste tank on a farm at Fawnagown that Ms Lowry owned and Mr Quirke leased. The deceased's daughter, Michelle Ryan, a DJ herself, described finding her father's Citroen van in Breansha Wood after he failed to appear for work. She noted the vehicle's condition suggested her father had not been the last person to drive it. The trial before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon continues before a jury.
The Central Bank was granted access to the transcripts and exhibits from the trial of former Anglo Irish Bank CEO David Drumm. The application was made before Judge Karen O'Connor at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after written submissions and relevant case law were submitted last Tuesday. The application was not contested by the Director of Public Prosecutions or Drumm. Drumm, aged 51, was jailed for six years last month for his role in a multi‑billion‑euro bank fraud scheme in 2008. The jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on conspiracy to defraud and false accounting after just over ten and a half hours of deliberations. The State alleged that Drumm conspired with former Irish Life & Permanent CEO Denis Casey, Anglo's former financial director Willie McAteer and former Head of Treasury John Bowe, among others, to carry out €7.2 bn in fraudulent circular transactions to inflate Anglo's customer deposits figure.
David Drumm, former chief executive of Anglo Irish Bank, has received a fully suspended sentence of fifteen months at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his involvement in an unlawful loan scheme. The 51-year-old from Skerries, County Dublin pleaded guilty to ten counts of authorising unlawful financial assistance to the Maple Ten group of developers and businessmen between July 2008. The loans were designed to unwind a substantial undisclosed shareholding in Anglo Irish Bank accumulated by Cavan businessman Sean Quinn through financial instruments. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed the suspended sentence to run concurrently with a six-year custodial sentence imposed following Drumm's conviction on conspiracy and false accounting charges. The judge noted Drumm's role as chief executive meant he held responsibility for ensuring legal compliance and transparency. Drumm was also disqualified from acting as a company director for five years as an automatic consequence of the conviction under the Companies Act.
David Drumm, former CEO of Anglo Irish Bank, pleaded guilty to ten counts of authorising unlawful financial assistance for the purchase of bank shares by the Maple Ten group between 10 and 17 July 2008. The loans were part of a scheme to unwind a 28 % stake that businessman Sean Quinn had built in the bank using contracts for difference (CFDs). Drumm's defence argued that he was trying to resolve a problem entirely created by Quinn, who had used CFDs to speculate on Anglo shares and whose position threatened the bank's stability. Drumm, aged 51, was transferred from Mountjoy Prison, where he is serving a six‑year term for a separate €7.2 bn fraudulent loan scheme, to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing. The court heard that Drumm had attempted to persuade Quinn to reduce his CFD position and, after other options failed, proposed that ten high‑net‑worth individuals purchase a portion of the Quinn shareholding. David Drumm was convicted.
Former Anglo Irish Bank CEO David Drumm was sentenced to six years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for conspiracy to defraud and false accounting. Judge Karen O'Connor described the conduct as "grossly reprehensible" and part of a "premeditated and planned" scheme. Drumm, who pleaded not guilty, was convicted by a jury of conspiring with former officials Denis Casey, William McAteer, John Bowe, and others to dishonestly inflate Anglo's 2008 deposits by €7.2 billion. He was also found guilty of false accounting for misleading the market on December 3, 2008. The judge noted that while the bank was in difficult circumstances, this did not excuse the fraud. Drumm received credit for five months previously served in a US federal penitentiary. He had been on bail throughout the trial, and his bail was continued following the conviction. The judge acknowledged the personal impact on Drumm and his family but emphasized the abuse of trust and significant planning involved in the alleged fraud.
The Court of Appeal has increased the prison sentences of cousins Michael Casey and David Casey, who pleaded guilty to a series of burglaries, including an incident at the home of John O'Donoghue in Doon on August 27, 2015, where Mr. O'Donoghue collapsed and died. The original sentence of four-and-a-half years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, imposed by Judge Tom O'Donnell at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court in December 2016, was found to be unduly lenient following a review by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, re-sentenced both men to seven years imprisonment, with the final eight months suspended. This decision was based on aggravating factors, including the pre-planned nature of the burglary spree, the ransacking of a dwelling, and the serious harm caused to the victim. The court also established new sentencing guidelines for burglary, categorizing offenses into mid-range and highest categories based on factors such as planning, violence, and previous convictions. The Caseys received concurrent terms for other related offenses, and the court emphasized the need for general deterrence in cases involving residential burglaries in rural areas.
In a Tipperary case, Christopher Mulready, aged 33, received a partially suspended ten‑and‑a‑half‑year prison sentence for a rape and savage assault of his former partner, who is now 28. The victim was attacked while sleeping on a couch on 28 April 2016, suffering a fractured eye socket and cheekbone. The next morning Mulready raped her. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm but denied the rape charge; a jury found him guilty of rape. Judge Michael Moriarty described the assault as cowardly and despicable, noting the victim's bruises and the lack of remorse shown by Mulready. The judge suspended the last nine months of the sentence, backdated it to April 2016, and ordered no contact with the victim, declaring Mulready a sex offender. The victim, who suffered PTSD, depression, and anxiety, has sought treatment and is rebuilding relationships with her family.
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 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.
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 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.
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 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.