Court archive
Court reports mentioning Dungarvan, Waterford
2026-07-31 · Waterford
James Greengrass, a 25-year-old British man with a significant mental illness, has been ordered to be released from Cork Prison into the care of his parents in the UK to serve the suspended portion of his sentence. Greengrass was found guilty of attempting to cause serious harm to a fellow psychiatric patient by putting him in a chokehold until he turned blue. The court heard that Greengrass believed the victim was a 'shapeshifting demon' who would kill him and his family. His defense argued that his mental illness and the support of his family made it more appropriate for him to be in the UK rather than in Ireland. The judge noted that Greengrass had been institutionalized for three-and-a-half years and that his mental health required ongoing support. The suspended sentence of five years and six months will be served in the UK, with strict conditions including medication compliance and regular contact with gardai.
2026-03-25 · Waterford
James Greengrass pleaded guilty to attempting to cause serious harm to a fellow psychiatric patient at University Hospital Waterford. His barrister said Greengrass believed the victim was a 'shapeshifting demon'; Ms Justice Karen O'Connor adjourned finalising sentence to April 27. James Greengrass was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
2026-03-03 · Waterford
Declan Power has received permission from the High Court to challenge a Minister for Justice decision that bars him from living at his home within an 18-kilometre exclusion zone while on release. Declan Power pleaded guilty.
2025-05-30 · Cork
This report details the appeal proceedings involving Richard Satchwell, the appellant, and the Casual Inquiry, the defendant. The validated procedural stage is an appeal, though the source text primarily recounts the underlying trial evidence regarding the murder of Tina Satchwell. Richard Satchwell was found guilty of murdering his wife, Tina, who was entombed under the stairs of their Youghal home. The trial heard that Satchwell initially reported Tina missing in 2017, describing the investigation as a 'casual inquiry' before it was upgraded to a formal missing person case. He claimed Tina had left him and taken €26,000, while also alleging she had assaulted him on multiple occasions. However, forensic evidence and witness testimony contradicted his narrative. Satchwell admitted to digging a grave under the stairs and placing Tina's body in it, wrapped in black plastic, before covering it with cement. He stated he wanted to make her burial 'special' by adding tulips. The jury heard that Tina was a kind-hearted woman who adored her dogs, and that Satchwell was 'obsessed' with her. Despite his claims of victimhood, the court found that Satchwell had murdered Tina and concealed her body. The appeal process is ongoing, with no final sentence or disposal recorded in the provided text. The matter remains under judicial review, and no adjournment or final conclusion has been validated in this summary.
2025-05-21 · Cork
In the Central Criminal Court, Sarah Howard, cousin of Tina Satchwell, testified that Richard Satchwell offered her a freezer that he later claimed held his wife's body before burying it under their home. Howard, visibly emotional, described the offer as "very unusual and very strange" and recounted that she had never seen Tina violent or aggressive. She also confirmed that Richard had sent her a birthday card signed "Tina and Richard" in August 2017, five months after Tina's disappearance. Howard noted that Tina had been missing since March 2017, with her body discovered in October 2023 beneath the stairs. The prosecution's case was deemed complete, and the trial will continue before Mr Justice Paul McDermott. The accused, 58, has pleaded not guilty to Tina's murder.
2025-05-08 · Cork
Richard Satchwell, aged 58, is on trial for the murder of his wife Tina Satchwell, aged 45, who disappeared on 24 March 2017. He told Gardaí that Tina had left the house four days earlier, had taken €26 000 from their savings, and was in the UK with her sister. He claimed to have kept her body in a freezer before burying it under their home. In October 2023 Gardaí found her decomposed remains in a grave beneath the stairs. Witnesses said Satchwell was selling Tina's clothes at car‑boot sales weeks after her disappearance, including a "flogging" of her items. He also posted a Done Deal advert for a free chest freezer days after the alleged murder. The trial is before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of five men and seven women. He has pleaded not guilty.
2025-05-07 · Cork
A phone linked to Richard Satchwell sent text messages about buying monkeys during the same period he is alleged to have murdered his wife, Tina. Messages to family and Tina's cousin described a "mess" and claimed Tina had left, taking savings. The trial heard that Satchwell told Gardaí on 24 March 2017 that Tina had left the home four days earlier, and that he had no concerns about her welfare. He reported her missing in May 2017, but her body was not found until October 2023, when Gardaí discovered decomposed remains under the stairs of their home. A 10‑person Garda team searched the house on 7 June 2017 in a non‑invasive operation. Superintendent Annemarie Twomey, appointed senior investigator in August 2021, said she had reasonable grounds to believe Tina was dead and that arresting Satchwell was necessary. She noted up to 65 sightings of Tina in Ireland and abroad, all negative, and that Interpol was involved. Richard Satchwell pleaded not guilty.
2025-05-06 · Cork
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, Richard Satchwell, aged 58, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his 45‑year‑old wife, Tina Satchwell, who was found dead in a shallow grave beneath their Cork home in October 2023. The jury heard that Satchwell told a detective in 2015 he believed his wife was still alive, and that he had previously attempted suicide because of her violence. He also claimed that on the night of her disappearance, March 19, 2017, she tried to stab him with a chisel, and that he had held her weight with a belt before she died. Satchwell's statements were taken under an enhanced cognitive interview, a witness‑led technique used by Gardaí. The case is set to continue before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of five men and seven women.
2025-04-29 · Cork
Richard Satchwell, 58, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his 45‑year‑old wife Tina Satchwell, who disappeared on 20 March 2017. In the Central Criminal Court opening, the State counsel presented evidence that Satchwell told Gardaí he had kept Tina's body in a freezer in the shed for two days before burying her beneath the stairs of their Youghal home. He claimed that during an alleged attack, he had used a belt around her neck to protect himself as she fell limp and died. Gardaí had earlier recorded Satchwell's statements about Tina's alleged violent outbursts and her refusal to take antidepressants. A search of the house on 10 October 2023 uncovered decomposed remains wrapped in black sheeting in a three‑foot grave, later identified as Tina. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, is expected to last six weeks.
2024-10-09 · Waterford
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 9 October 2024, Mr Justice John Edwards dismissed the appeal of 31‑year‑old Richard Walsh, a boxer from Congress Villas, Dungarvan, who had been convicted of assault causing harm for striking a woman with an iron bar at Kilrush Park on 30 November 2020. The appeal centred on two grounds: that the mobile‑phone footage used at trial had been edited, and that the trial judge had misdirected the jury on self‑defence. Mr Justice Edwards found the footage to be authentic, not hearsay, and that no evidence suggested manipulation. He also held that the judge's instructions on self‑defence were adequate and that the jury's decision was sound. Consequently, the appeal was rejected, leaving the original conviction and sentence of two and a half years, with the final 12 months suspended, in place. The court's judgment was delivered in the Court of Appeal, Waterford.
2024-05-30 · Waterford
Richard Walsh, of Congress Villas, Dungarvan, Waterford, appealed his jury conviction for assault causing harm at Kilrush Park, Dungarvan, on November 30, 2020. He was originally sentenced by Judge Eugene O'Kelly at Waterford Courthouse to two and a half years, with the final 12 months suspended. Defence counsel Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC argued that the trial judge incorrectly applied an objective standard to the reasonableness of force, contending that a subjective test regarding Walsh's honest belief in self-defence was required. Walsh alleged that after an organised fight, the victim threw an iron bar at his head, prompting him to push her in anticipation of further violence. Mr Justice John Edwards noted that Walsh was armed with the bar, was a stronger adult male, and had an opportunity to retreat. The judge described the incident as occurring after the victim, a supporter of one of the fighters, was "mouthing off" and throwing the bar, which Walsh picked up before advancing on her. Defence counsel also raised concerns about incomplete mobile phone footage and the inability to verify the recorder's identity or potential editing. State counsel Conor O'Doherty BL countered that the jury was properly directed to consider both subjective context and objective necessity, highlighting the significant size disparity between the boxer and the victim. The Court of Appeal reserved judgement in the matter.
2024-04-22 · Waterford
A Central Criminal Court jury could not reach a verdict in the murder trial of Maurice 'Mossie' Boland, who was accused of "flooring" 26‑year‑old Cian Gallagher in a rural town. The State alleged Boland intended to kill or seriously injure Gallagher, who fell and hit the back of his head after a punch. Both men had been drinking. The prosecution presented CCTV footage of a punch and claimed the victim's hand injuries were caused by the blow. Defence counsel argued that the pathologist's evidence showed the fall, not the punch, caused the fatal injury, and that intent could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. After 13 hours of deliberation over four days, the jury declared disagreement and the case was scheduled for retrial on 25 November. The judge exempted the jury from service for five years. The trial remains at the murder‑versus‑manslaughter stage. Mossie' Boland pleaded not guilty.
2024-04-12 · Waterford
In the Central Criminal Court, Maurice 'Mossie' Boland, aged 36, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Cian Gallagher, 26, who died from a brain bleed after an alleged altercation on Barrack Street, Tallow, on 10 November 2022. Boland told arresting gardai that Gallagher had struck him first, that he had "ducked" and then hit Gallagher back, and that Gallagher had made comments about Russians. He described the incident as a "pure accident" and said the fight resembled a "Conor McGregor knockout". Boland's partner, Marian O'Brien, testified that she had left him with their children on 1 November, that he had called her from Lismore saying he was going for drinks, and that she had seen him and Gallagher run out in front of her car. She also said she had taken his mobile phone at the scene to contact his relatives.
2024-04-10 · Waterford
During a murder trial, a barman testified that on the night of the killing he had conversations with the deceased about Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine. The jury heard that the accused, Maurice Boland, 36, had replied to a Garda's caution that he was "onto" the deceased about Russians. Boland pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of Cian Gallagher, 26, who died from a brain bleed eight days after being punched by Boland in early November 2022. Prosecutor Roisin Lacey SC described how Boland boasted of knocking Gallagher out and compared himself to UFC fighter Conor McGregor. Witnesses, including the pub owner Ann O'Brien and barmaid Maggie O'Leary, confirmed that the deceased had been drinking and that Boland was highly intoxicated when he entered the pub. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of eight men and four women.
2024-04-09 · Waterford
During the opening of Maurice Boland's trial at the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution presented evidence that Boland, 36, admitted to causing the death of construction worker Cian Gallagher, 26, but denied murder. CCTV footage showed Boland punching Gallagher, who had his hands up and was backing away, leading to a fall and a brain bleed that caused death eight days later. Boland claimed the incident was a "pure accident" and that Gallagher had tried to hit him first. Witnesses, including three young men and Gardaí, testified about Boland's intoxication, his statements comparing himself to UFC fighter Conor McGregor, and his attempts to lift Gallagher after the punch. The prosecution emphasized the focus on Boland's intent that night, distinguishing between murder and manslaughter. The trial is set to continue for two weeks before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury. Maurice Boland pleaded not guilty.
2024-04-09 · Waterford
In a 2024 Supreme Court ruling, the court declared a section of the 2019 Judicial Council Act that allows judges to set personal injury award guidelines unconstitutional, citing conflict with judicial independence. However, the court held that the guidelines adopted in 2021 were independently ratified by the Oireachtas under the 2021 Family Leave and Miscellaneous Provisions Act and therefore remain legally enforceable. The decision dismissed most of Bridget Delaney's appeal against the High Court's rejection of her judicial review, while granting her a declaration that the contested Act section is unconstitutional. The court also affirmed that the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) acted lawfully in applying the 2021 guidelines to Delaney's claim. Delaney's legal costs were to be paid by Ireland and the Attorney General, with PIAB covering its own costs. The ruling clarified that any future changes to the guidelines would require new legislation by the Oireachtas.
2023-10-09 · Waterford
Four convenience‑store workers in County Waterford – Bridget Browne, Bridget Harrington, Alexander Novakovsky and Joanna Yahyaoui – secured orders for redundancy and notice pay from the Workplace Relations Commission after being dismissed ten days before Christmas 2022. The workers had worked part‑time at a Your Stop store on O'Connell Street, Dungarvan, and a Gala‑branded shop on Main Street, Tallow, for a combined service of over 23 years. Their former employer, sole trader Philip Kane, had agreed to take over the stores but claimed he had not legally acquired the businesses and therefore was not liable for redundancy payments. The tribunal found that Kane was the employer from 11 April 2022 and that the ten‑day notice was too short. He was ordered to pay the workers €5,998.50 in pay‑in‑lieu of notice and redundancy sums ranging from €2,000 to €12,000, totalling about €43,000. The decision was published in July 2023.
2023-05-25 · Waterford
The Court of Appeal has reduced the driving disqualification imposed on Father Ned Hassett from two years to 18 months. Fr Hassett, a 53-year-old parish priest in Dungarvan, Waterford, pleaded guilty in November 2021 to careless driving causing serious harm. The offence stemmed from a crash on the N25 on April 30, 2021, where he allegedly failed to see motorcyclist Bobby Bohill, who was participating in a charity event. Mr Bohill suffered a broken femur and a traumatic brain injury, described by counsel as life-changing, though he has since made a good recovery. At the original sentencing in the Circuit Criminal Court, Fr Hassett was disqualified for two years and fined €250. During the appeal, his lawyer highlighted that he had already served 15 months of the ban, forcing him to cycle around his rural parish to attend to his flock. Mr Justice George Birmingham acknowledged the offence's seriousness but noted Fr Hassett's impeccable previous character and incident-free driving history. The judge also referenced a recent Court of Appeal ruling establishing that disqualification periods are discretionary rather than mandatory minimums. Consequently, the court agreed to reduce the disqualification period to 18 months, effectively shortening the remaining ban.
2023-02-28 · Waterford
An appeal against the High Court's dismissal of a test challenge to the 2021 personal injury guidelines has opened before the Supreme Court. The case involves Bridget Delaney of Dungarvan, who claims her 2019 ankle fracture was caused by negligence of Waterford City and Council and that the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) delayed assessment until the new guidelines were introduced, breaching fair procedures. Delaney argues the guidelines, adopted by a Judicial Council vote in March 2021, unfairly reduce awards by up to 40% and violate her constitutional rights. She seeks to quash PIAB's assessment and the Council's decision, and to declare that PIAB breached her rights to natural and constitutional justice. The Supreme Court panel, comprising seven judges, has accepted the appeal, noting the exceptional public importance of the issues, and will consider the constitutional implications of judicial independence and the separation of powers. The hearing continues.
2022-12-01 · Waterford
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a leapfrog appeal in a test case brought by Bridget Delaney against the State and the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB). The panel, comprising Justices Charleton, Hogan, and Murray, determined that the matter raises issues of general importance regarding the separation of powers and judicial independence, warranting direct review from the High Court. The appeal challenges the High Court's June dismissal of Delaney's claims that the 2021 personal injuries guidelines are unconstitutional. Delaney alleges the guidelines, adopted by the Judicial Council, encroach on judicial independence and that PIAB breached her rights by assessing her claim under these new rules. She seeks orders quashing the PIAB assessment and the Council's decision, along with declarations that both bodies acted outside their powers. In the lower court, Mr Justice Meenan rejected all grounds, finding PIAB acted in accordance with the 2003 PIAB Act and that Delaney's constitutional rights did not guarantee a specific damages sum. The Supreme Court will now case manage the appeal before fixing a hearing date. The matter remains at the appeal stage and has not been concluded.
2022-06-03 · Waterford
In a High Court decision on 3 June 2022, Mr Justice Charles Meenan dismissed a judicial review brought by Bridget Delaney of Dungarvan against the State and the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB). Delaney had challenged the 2021 adoption of new personal injury guidelines by the Judicial Council, arguing they were unconstitutional, breached her rights, and unfairly reduced awards by up to 40%. The judge rejected all of her claims, finding that the guidelines were made in accordance with the 2019 Judicial Council Act, that PIAB acted within its statutory powers, and that the guidelines did not infringe judicial independence. He noted that the guidelines were based on established legal principles and economic conditions, and that courts may depart from them only with rational, cogent reasons. The case will return for final orders on costs.
2022-05-20 · Tipperary
The High Court has ordered a stay on three separate criminal prosecutions against Mark Jenkins, the owner of two coffee shop and retail businesses in Clonmel and Dungarvan that sell hemp products and items containing cannabidiol (CBD). Jenkins, who has challenged Ireland's 1977 Misuse of Drugs Act on the grounds that it breaches his constitutional rights and EU law, claims that the products sold by his businesses contain only trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – the principal constituent of cannabis – and that these amounts are within the limits set by EU regulations. The first set of charges arose from a February 2020 Gardai search that seized plant material with THC content not exceeding 0.2%, a figure that Jenkins says is supported by an independent test. The second and third sets of charges stem from July 2020 and May 2020 seizures, respectively, for which independent analyses are pending.
2022-03-30 · Waterford
An appeal by Ms Bridget Delaney of Dungarvan, Co Waterford, has been lodged before the High Court to challenge new personal injury guidelines introduced in April 2022. The case, heard by Mr Justice Charles Meenan, seeks to set aside the guidelines adopted by the judicial council in March 2021, arguing they unfairly reduce awards by 40% and are unconstitutional. Ms Delaney claims the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) delayed her assessment until the guidelines were in force, breached fair procedures, and acted outside its powers. She alleges a fractured ankle from a fall on a public footpath in April 2019, sustained while Waterford City and Council were negligent, and that the PIAB's €3,000 award is insufficient. The action requests quashing of the PIAB assessment, declaration of unlawful guideline adoption, and other declarations, while the State and PIAB seek dismissal. The hearing is ongoing.
2022-02-17 · Waterford
In a 2022 High Court decision, Mr Justice Charles Meenan ruled that a judge's participation in the 2021 Judicial Council vote on new personal injury guidelines does not bar them from hearing the lead challenge to those guidelines. The case, brought by Ms Bridget Delaney of Co Waterford, seeks to quash the Personal Injuries Assessment Board's (PIAB) assessment of her claim and the Council's adoption of the guidelines. Ms Delaney alleges her €3,000 award was insufficient and that the guidelines were adopted in a manner that infringed her constitutional rights. The judge dismissed the motion to recuse, stating that voting on the guidelines does not interfere with a judge's duty to be fair and impartial. The decision affirms that judges, like all citizens, must follow the law and that the Council's actions were within constitutional bounds. The case remains a test challenge against the State and PIAB.
2022-02-09 · Waterford
In a High Court preliminary hearing, Mr Justice Charles Meenan is asked to decide whether a judge who voted in March 2021 to adopt new personal injury guidelines should recuse themselves from hearing a case brought by Ms Bridget Delaney of Co Waterford. Ms Delaney, represented by Feichin McDonagh SC and Dermott Cahill SC, seeks a judge who did not take part in the vote to hear her case, arguing a perception of bias. The State, represented by Eoin McCullough SC, argues that all judges appointed after the vote are members of the Judicial Council, and that no division of the Supreme Court or Court of Appeal could hear an appeal on the matter. The Judicial Council has taken a neutral stance. Mr Justice Meenan has reserved judgment and will issue a written ruling soon, with other preliminary matters to be addressed next week.
2022-01-19 · Waterford
The High Court has set a date for a preliminary hearing in the lead challenge against new personal injury guidelines. Mr Justice Charles Meenan determined that a fundamental issue must be resolved first: whether a judge who participated in the 2021 judicial council vote to adopt the guidelines should recuse themselves from hearing the case. This motion, brought by applicant Bridget Delaney, is scheduled for a two-day hearing starting February 9. Ms Delaney, represented by Feichin McDonagh SC, seeks the recusal of any judge who voted on the guidelines. The State, represented by Catherine Donnelly SC, opposes this motion and has raised concerns about the Delaney action serving as the lead case, suggesting a more advanced challenge should take precedence. However, the judge prioritized the recusal issue. All other preliminary issues in Ms Delaney's case and the other challenges were adjourned to February 16. Ms Delaney's judicial review proceedings against the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB), the Judicial Council, Ireland, and the Attorney General seek to quash PIAB's assessment of her claim and the Council's decision to adopt the guidelines. She alleges PIAB acted outside its powers and breached her rights to natural and constitutional justice. The claims are denied by the respondents.
2021-12-08 · Waterford
The High Court heard that several challenges to new personal injury guidelines are creating real difficulties in processing claims. The challenges, aimed at setting aside guidelines adopted by the judicial council in March 2021, are opposed by the State and the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB). The lead case, brought by Ms Bridget Delaney, was deemed the first to be heard. Eoin McCullough SC for the State argued that the challenges affect thousands of claims and called for an early trial date. Douglas Clarke SC for PIAB supported the State's request, while Feichin McDonagh SC for Ms Delaney said a date would be premature given outstanding pre‑trial matters. Justice Charles Meenan noted a mismatch between judges and workload, adjourned the cases to January, and directed an exchange of pleadings to expedite matters. Ms Delaney seeks to quash PIAB's assessment and the judicial council's adoption of the guidelines, alleging procedural and constitutional violations.
2021-07-12 · Waterford
Ms Bridget Delaney, aged 25, fell on a public footpath in Dungarvan on 12 April 2019, fracturing a bone in her right ankle. She received medical treatment, physiotherapy and a walker boot for about four weeks. Ms Delaney sued Waterford City and County Council, claiming negligence. In June 2019 she filed a claim with the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB). PIAB assessed her entitlement to €3,000 in general damages, citing new personal injury guidelines that came into force in April 2020. Ms Delaney rejected the assessment, arguing it was insufficient, delayed, and breached fair procedures. She alleges PIAB acted outside its powers and that the Judicial Council's adoption of the guidelines violated her constitutional rights. In March 2021 the Judicial Council voted to adopt the new guidelines.
2019-02-28 · Waterford
In the Central Criminal Court, Ross Outram, 28, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 90‑year‑old Paddy Lyons. The jury heard that Outram claimed to have suffered lumps on his head after being struck by Lyons with a walking stick and shovel, and that he had taken up to 100 Xanax tablets that day. Gardaí at Dungarvan station did not photograph the head lumps, nor did they take a urine sample, as four days had passed. The defence argued the investigation was "tunnel‑visioned" and did not examine the head injuries. The prosecution presented evidence that Lyons suffered multiple blows to the head and neck, and that his body was found slumped in his armchair. DNA from Lyons was found on the shovel, but no DNA from Outram was found in Lyons' house. The trial was set to continue the next day.
2019-02-27 · Waterford
In the trial of Ross Outram, a 28‑year‑old from Clonmel, the jury heard that he claimed to have "fought back" after a 90‑year‑old retired farmer, Paddy Lyons, was found beaten to death in his home. Outram told Gardaí that he had gone to Lyons' house looking for money, but denied any intent to murder or seriously harm Lyons. He said Lyons had struck him with a walking stick and shovel, and that he had not killed Lyons, who he claimed was still alive when he left the house. A pathologist testified that Lyons suffered multiple blows to his head and neck, and his body was found slumped in his armchair. The case was presented to the Central Criminal Court on the sixth day of the trial, with the jury hearing medical evidence and Outram's statements from several Garda interviews. The unnamed 90-year-old pleaded not guilty.
2018-12-03 · Waterford
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, former Waterford County Council worker Bartholomew Prendergast was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for rape and indecent assault of three women, including sisters Stephanie Hickey (aged 12‑15 at the time of the offences) and Deirdre Fahy (aged 13‑14). He pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and thirteen counts of indecent assault against Hickey between 1983 and 1987, one count of indecent assault against Fahy between 1979 and 1981, and two counts of indecent assault against a third woman (now 39) between 1988 and 1991. The judge suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on strict conditions, requiring Prendergast to undergo a sex‑offender treatment programme and be supervised by the Probation Service for 18 months. The hearing highlighted the prolonged abuse that continued despite family intervention and a priest's counselling, and the profound impact on the victims' lives.
2018-10-15 · Waterford
Patrick Harty, aged 21, was re‑sentenced to six‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment after the Court of Appeal found his original three‑year term too lenient. The new sentence, with the final two‑and‑a‑half years suspended, imposes a net four‑year jail term. Harty had pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm at a New Year's Eve house party in 2014, during which he smashed a bottle and thrust it into a 19‑year‑old's face, causing the victim to lose the use of one eye. He also pleaded guilty to an unprovoked assault on a man in Dungarvan on 1 September 2015. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, noted that the two assaults were separate incidents and that the original concurrent sentencing was overly lenient.
2018-10-12 · Waterford
Patrick Harty, aged 21, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm at a house party on New Year's Eve 2014 and to an unprovoked assault on a man in Waterford on 1 September 2015. He was sentenced on 28 October 2016 to four-and-a-half years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, and a concurrent 12‑month jail term for the second assault. No compensation order was made. The Director of Public Prosecutions, citing the attack's viciousness and the fact that Harty broke a bottle to use it as a weapon, seeks a review of the sentence on the grounds it was "unduly lenient." The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment and will deliver it on Monday. Counsel for Harty argues the sentence was lenient but not unduly so, noting his youth, remorse and difficult upbringing. The appeal will consider whether the judge's mitigation, suspension and concurrent sentencing were in error.
2018-07-30 · Waterford
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 65‑year‑old Bartholomew Prendergast pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and 13 counts of indecent assault against his sister‑in‑law, Stephanie Hickey, aged 12‑15 at the time, and to one count of indecent assault against Deirdre Fahy, aged 13‑14, and two counts of indecent assault against a third woman, aged 9‑12. The offences occurred between 1979 and 1991 in County Waterford and County Tipperary. Prendergast, a former Waterford County Council worker and local musician, had recently retired and had no prior convictions. The court adjourned the case to 26 November for sentencing, after the judge remanded him in custody and revoked his bail. The hearing included victim impact statements from the three women, who described the abuse and its lasting effects. No further legal actions were announced at this stage.
2018-01-30 · Waterford
Fred Forsey Jnr, a former Fine Gael town councillor aged 46, was convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act for receiving €80,000 in three payments from a property developer in 2006. The developer had an interest in a planning permission for land at Ballygagin, Co Waterford. Forsey was accused of attempting to persuade Waterford County Council officials and councillors to grant permission, of trying to alter the zoning of the land in the Waterford Co Development Plan, and of seeking to bring the lands into the control of Dungarvan UDC, where he had previously served. He denied the charges, claiming the money were loans. In 2012 a jury at Waterford Circuit Criminal Court found him guilty and sentenced him to six years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. In 2016 the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal.
2017-11-03 · Waterford
Fred Forsey Jnr, a former Fine Gael councillor aged 46, was convicted of receiving three corrupt payments totalling €80,000 from a property developer in 2006. The payments were alleged to have been made to influence Waterford County Council officials and councillors to grant planning permission for a development at Ballygagin, and to alter the zoning of the land in the Waterford County Development Plan. Forsey also allegedly sought to bring the land under the control of the Dungarvan Urban Development Committee, of which he was a member. He was found guilty by a jury at the Waterford Circuit Criminal Court and sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended by Judge Gerard Griffin on 27 June 2012. In July 2016 the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal against conviction. In 2017 his lawyers applied for a legal‑aid certificate to bring a Supreme Court appeal. Mr Justice George Birmingham granted the certificate. Fred Forsey Jnr pleaded not guilty.
2017-05-25 · Waterford
Catherine Callanan, 51, of Ballinroad, Dungarvan, was convicted of two counts of deception for hiring a bouncy castle and a minibus for her son's 21st birthday through the Waterford Vocational Education Committee (VEC). The jury found her guilty in 2015 and Judge Melanie Greally imposed a wholly suspended four‑month sentence. Callanan appealed, arguing that the jury should not have considered the deception. The Court of Appeal, in a three‑judge panel, upheld the conviction. Justice Alan Mahon held that the jury was correctly left to decide whether Callanan intended to deceive the VEC by invoicing the costs to the committee and whether she had sought authorisation. The appeal was dismissed, confirming the original verdict and the suspended sentence. The case highlighted the role of the VEC and the responsibilities of its staff in authorising purchases. The Court referred to a 1837 precedent on implied deception. The decision was delivered by Justice Mahon, with Justices Birmingham and Edwards presiding. Catherine Callanan pleaded not guilty.
2017-05-09 · Waterford
Maurice O'Donnell, a 48‑year pigeon‑racing veteran from Dungarvan, secured a temporary High Court injunction that bars the Irish Homing Union (IHU) Southern Region and its Management Committee from suspending his membership of the Irish Homing Union National Flying Club. O'Donnell claims he was suspended without notice or explanation, and that the suspension breaches IHU rules and harms him personally. The injunction, granted ex‑parte by Mr Justice Paul Gilligan, also prevents the defendants from holding a meeting about the suspension or related matters. O'Donnell has previously served on the club's Management Committee, resigned after disputes over disciplining a member and over the use of fundraiser money, and has been involved in disputes over alleged threats. He was briefly reinstated in March, elected club President, but the suspension was reinstated in April without reasons, affecting his ability to race pigeons. The case is set for a return hearing next week.
2016-11-07 · Cork
Brian Veale, 31, was sentenced to life imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Graham Johnson in the kitchen of Cork Prison on 16 May 2015. Veale stabbed Johnson through the heart with a carving knife after an argument over television channels. The jury found him guilty after deliberating for 1 hour 56 minutes. Victim impact statements were read by Johnson's sister, Vivienne, and his 13‑year‑old daughter, describing the loss and emotional toll. Veale, originally from Dungarvan, had 105 prior convictions and was already in custody on a robbery charge when the murder occurred. The judge imposed the mandatory life sentence, consecutive to a previous offence imposed on 28 February 2015. The court heard that the knife used was available to kitchen staff and that the incident followed a brief confrontation over a horse‑racing channel. The case concluded with the judge's sentencing and no further legal proceedings reported. Brian Veale pleaded not guilty.
2016-10-26 · Waterford
A Central Criminal Court jury found Brian Veale, 31, guilty of murdering fellow inmate Graham Johnson, 41, at Cork Prison after a dispute over television channels. The trial heard that the argument began around 3 pm on 16 May 2015, ended briefly, but later that evening Veale entered the kitchen with a carving knife and stabbed Johnson in the chest. Witnesses, including Ming Feng Chen and prison officer Brian Forde, described the altercation and Veale's subsequent smile and remark that a life sentence would not matter. Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy testified that Johnson died from a single stab wound that perforated the heart and aorta. DNA evidence linked Veale's clothing to Johnson's blood. The jury deliberated 1 hour 56 minutes and returned a unanimous verdict of murder. The case was adjourned for sentencing until 7 November, with Veale remanded in custody. Brian Veale pleaded not guilty.
2016-07-29 · Waterford
Fred Forsey Jnr, a former Fine Gael councillor aged 45 from Dungarvan, lost his appeal against a conviction for receiving €60,000, €10,000 and €10,000 in corrupt payments from a property developer in 2006. The payments were alleged to have been made to influence Waterford County Council officials and councillors to grant planning permission for a development at Ballygagin, and to alter the zoning of the land in the Waterford County Development Plan. Forsey was also accused of seeking to bring the land under the control of Dungarvan UDC, where he was a member. A jury at Waterford Circuit Criminal Court found him guilty and he was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended by Judge Gerard Griffin on 27 June 2012. Fred Forsey Jnr pleaded not guilty.
2015-11-13 · Kilkenny
In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Tadgh Butler, 34, known as Thomas O'Grady, pleaded guilty to assaulting Joanna Walsh on 30 April 2011 at St Patrick's Close, Kilkenny. Butler, a convicted murderer of Michael O'Dwyer, had 45 prior convictions. He broke a wine bottle, swung it at Walsh's face, and threatened to slit her throat. Walsh raised her arms to protect herself, later noticing blood on her arm. She asked Butler for an ambulance, but he refused, claiming he would be arrested. He was drunk and aggressive towards Walsh's family before being arrested. The DPP originally charged him with assault causing harm (maximum five years), but the State accepted a plea to common assault (maximum six months). The court imposed a four‑month sentence, to run concurrently with his life sentence for murder. The case was transferred from Kilkenny to Dublin due to publicity surrounding the murder charge.
2015-07-31 · Waterford
Fred Forsey Jnr, a former Fine Gael town councillor aged 45, has lodged an appeal against his conviction for receiving three corrupt payments totalling €80,000 from a property developer in 2006. The Waterford Circuit Criminal Court found him guilty and sentenced him to six years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended by Judge Gerard Griffin on 27 June 2012. Forsey's counsel, Remy Farrell SC, argues that the trial judge misdirected the jury regarding the presumption of corruption, incorrectly instructing them that Forsey had to discharge the reverse burden on the balance of probabilities. Farrell also contends that the judge erred in allowing the case to proceed given Forsey's incapacity to grant planning permission as a councillor. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, maintains that the burden of proof remained on the defence and that the evidence against Forsey was overwhelming. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice Seán Ryan, has reserved judgment. Fred Forsey Jnr pleaded not guilty.
2015-01-26 · Waterford
Fred Forsey Jnr, a former Fine Gael Councillor aged 45, was convicted in 2006 of receiving three corrupt payments totalling €80,000 from a property developer. A jury at Waterford Circuit Criminal Court found him guilty and he was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended by Judge Gerard Griffin on 27 June 2012. In October 2012, the Court of Criminal Appeal granted him an extension to appeal his conviction and sentence. The Court of Appeal has scheduled his appeal for 18 May, with counsel for both sides agreeing to the date. Fred Forsey Jnr pleaded not guilty.
2014-10-20 · Waterford
Fred Forsey Jnr, a former Fine Gael councillor aged 45, was convicted in 2012 of receiving €80,000 in corrupt payments while serving as a Dungarvan town councillor. He was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, by Judge Gerard Griffin in Waterford Circuit Criminal Court. In October 2014, his counsel, Remy Farrell SC, applied for an extension of time to appeal both the conviction and the sentence. Farrell argued that the prosecution's case was flawed because the planning permission decision was solely the prerogative of Waterford County Council, not Dungarvan Town Council, and that the trial judge and prosecution may have misdirected jurors regarding legal changes. He also raised a second ground concerning the lack of consideration of these issues during the original trial. The court, presided over by Justice Elizabeth Dunne, Justice Mary Finlay Geoghegan and Justice Michael Moriarty, granted a seven‑day extension, allowing Mr Forsey to file his notice of appeal.
2014-10-08 · Waterford
An application by Fred Forsey for an enlargement of time to lodge an appeal against his conviction and sentence was adjourned to October 20. The matter was heard at the Court of Criminal Appeal case management list, where the court fixed the date for the subsequent hearing. Forsey, 45, is seeking additional time to file a notice of appeal, as defendants typically have 21 days from sentencing to do so. The application arises from conflicting accounts regarding whether Forsey instructed his former solicitor, John Devane, to appeal his case. Affidavits from the accused and his solicitor have been received, and the Director of Public Prosecutions intends to cross-examine both parties at the upcoming hearing. Counsel for Forsey, Remy Farrell SC, estimated the hearing would last one hour. In June 2012, Forsey was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with two years suspended, by Judge Gerard Griffin. He was found guilty by a Waterford Circuit Criminal Court jury of six counts of receiving corrupt payments between August and December 2006. Forsey, formerly of Dungarvan, Co Waterford, had denied taking €80,000 while serving as a town councillor. His ex-wife, Jenny Forsey, provided evidence against him during the trial. The current procedural stage is an appeal application, and the matter remains pending until the October 20 hearing.
2014-04-28 · Waterford
An application by Fred Forsey for an enlargement of time to lodge an appeal against his conviction has been adjourned. Forsey, 45, is seeking additional time to file a notice of appeal, as defendants typically have 21 days from sentencing to do so. His counsel, Mr Remy Farrell SC, applied to adjourn the enlargement request, citing an affidavit regarding conflicting accounts over whether Forsey instructed his former solicitor, Mr John Devane, to appeal. Presiding Judge Adrian Hardiman ordered that Mr Devane be made a notice party to the application. The matter was listed on the Court of Criminal Appeal case management list for May 21, with a production order issued for that date. The judge noted that notice should be given if the matter is to be resolved by cross-examination. In June 2012, Forsey was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with two years suspended, by Judge Gerard Griffin. He had been found guilty by a Waterford Circuit Criminal Court jury of six counts of receiving corrupt payments between August and December 2006. Forsey, formerly of Dungarvan, Co Waterford, had denied taking €80,000 while serving as a town councillor. His ex-wife, Jenny Forsey, gave evidence against him at trial. The current procedural stage is an appeal, and the matter remains adjourned.
2013-12-03 · Dublin
Swords District Court heard four matters. Adrian Vaduva, 41, pleaded guilty to stealing a purse containing €848 and bank cards from Balbriggan Post Office. Judge Dempsey sentenced him to six months in prison, noting he failed to assist Gardaí with enquiries regarding an alleged accomplice. Luke Purcell, 18, pleaded guilty to stealing €70 worth of petrol. He was convicted and fined €200 after failing to provide a charitable donation. Clive Barry, 36, pleaded guilty to drink driving with a blood alcohol level of 209mg/100ml. He was disqualified for three years, with the mandatory disqualification postponed until January 1st. Mark Power, 33, pleaded guilty to driving without insurance, lacking a licence, and leaving the scene of a collision. The matter was adjourned until next May for a Probation & Welfare report, with Power remanded on continuing bail.