John Flaherty, 29, of Ferrybank, Waterford, was convicted of manslaughter for killing Patrick Murphy, 27, on 20 June 2010. The Central Criminal Court found him not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, sentencing him to 10 years' imprisonment with the final 2½ years suspended. The Court of Appeal heard that Flaherty had entered the house of his former girlfriend, the mother of his child, at 5 am, found her in bed with a naked heroin addict, and that a child and €500 worth of heroin were present. He had recently been released from custody for slitting another man's face. Flaherty's appeal, arguing that the judge failed to credit 17 months spent in custody, was dismissed by Mr Justice Alan Mahon, who upheld the 10‑year sentence and the suspended portion. The appeal was heard by a three‑judge panel.
In 2014, a 79‑year‑old Waterford fisherman was convicted of 16 counts of indecent assault against a girl in 1982‑83. He was acquitted on eight counts and found guilty on the remaining eight, receiving an eight‑year prison sentence with a two‑year suspended portion. In 2015, the Court of Appeal increased the suspended portion by one year, citing the defendant's age and serious health issues, including prostate cancer, asthma, multiple system disease, and prior bypass surgery. The final sentence now requires the fisherman to serve eight years in prison, with the last three years suspended. He must also post a €100 bond to maintain good behaviour during the suspended period. The appeal did not alter the original conviction or the nature of the offences, merely adjusting the custodial term to reflect the defendant's circumstances. The unnamed 79-year-old pleaded not guilty.
The High Court refused to order the extradition of Ali Charaf Damache, an Algerian‑born Irish citizen, to the United States on two alleged terrorism‑related offences. Judge Aileen Donnelly said the Director of Public Prosecutions had abdicated responsibility to consider the proper forum for prosecution and that the State could only appeal her refusal. Damache's objections centred on the conditions of detention he would face in the U.S., including prolonged solitary confinement, lack of outdoor recreation and the possibility of being held in a maximum‑security prison. The judge found that such conditions would breach constitutional rights to bodily integrity and human dignity, and that no meaningful judicial review would be available in the U.S. to challenge them. She also declined to commit Damache to prison while awaiting the Minister's decision on extradition. The case remains pending, with the State able to appeal the refusal.
Philip Connolly, 39, pleaded guilty to the violent robbery of 67‑year‑old farmer David Feeney on Railway Street, Dublin, on 14 May 2013. Judge Mary Ellen Ring, after reviewing evidence including a photograph of Feeney's injuries, imposed a suspended sentence of two and a half years, with 18 months suspended on condition Connolly keeps the peace. Connolly is currently in a rehabilitation programme working on a farm, while Feeney, who can no longer work his land, has physically recovered but suffers ongoing consequences. Connolly's co‑accused, Leigh O'Connell, 28, had 100 previous convictions and was sentenced to four years, with the final two and a half years suspended on condition he continues addressing his drug problems. The robbery involved a head‑lock, assault, and theft of money, a phone and a driver's licence, and was captured on CCTV. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A 34‑year‑old Kilkenny man, Tadhg Butler, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 25‑year‑old Michael O'Dwyer, who was stabbed once in the chest at Butler's house in Seafield, Tramore, on 10 January 2014. Butler pleaded not guilty but was found guilty by a jury of four men and eight women after a 2‑hour‑26‑minute trial. He had previously dismissed his legal team and recalled his nephew, Anthony O'Grady, for cross‑examination, which the judge described as an "exceptional situation." The judge back‑dated the sentence to 9 January 2014, the day Butler had been in custody, and exempted the jury from service for ten years. The court heard a victim impact statement from Michael's aunt, describing the family's grief and the circumstances of the death.
In a Waterford murder trial, 34‑year‑old Tadhg Butler, also known as Thomas O'Grady, is charged with killing 25‑year‑old Michael O'Dwyer on 10 January 2014. The judge, Justice Patrick McCarthy, instructed the jury to base their verdict solely on the evidence presented, noting that Butler's closing speech contained statements that were not evidence. He emphasized that the jury must consider the reliability of witness statements, particularly that of Anthony O'Grady, Butler's nephew, and the testimony of Ms Rose Burke, Butler's former partner. The judge also clarified that Butler's decision not to testify does not imply guilt. He reminded the jury that any reference to Butler's family or potential consequences of conviction is irrelevant to the adjudication. The jury began deliberations after the judge's instructions. Tadhg Butler pleaded not guilty.
In the Waterford murder trial, Tadhg Butler (34) is charged with killing 25‑year‑old Michael O'Dwyer on 10 January 2014. Butler, who also goes by Thomas O'Grady, pleaded not guilty and dismissed his legal team the day before the hearing. During cross‑examination, he claimed he had gone to the kitchen that night to get a knife, was attempting self‑harm, and that he grabbed the knife from his nephew, Anthony O'Grady, and swung it, inadvertently stabbing O'Dwyer. Butler said he had no intention to kill and that the act was accidental. The prosecution, led by Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, argued that Butler's statements and evidence—including a confession to his former partner and witness statements—indicated intent. The judge instructed the jury to consider the evidence and use "common sense" in deciding whether Butler's claim of accidental stabbing was credible. The trial was scheduled to continue the following morning.
In a Waterford murder trial, Tadhg Butler (34), charged with killing 25‑year‑old Michael O'Dwyer on 10 January 2014, recalled and cross‑examined his nephew, Mr. O'Grady, a witness. Judge Patrick McCarthy described the situation as "exceptional" and allowed Butler to question the nephew about new topics. Butler asked O'Grady about his memory of the night, the alleged use of Valium, and whether he had spoken of self‑harm or a knife. O'Grady denied remembering any such statements, claiming he had "blanked out" and had no knowledge of the events. Butler alleged a scuffle in the hallway where he removed a knife from O'Grady's hand, which then stabbed O'Dwyer's chest, describing it as accidental. O'Grady refuted these claims, stating he had never spoken of stabbing O'Dwyer. The prosecution's closing speech reiterated that the defence had never suggested Butler "accidentally" stabbed the victim. The trial continues. Tadhg Butler pleaded not guilty.
During a 2015 trial in Waterford, the accused, Tadhg Butler (34), who is charged with the murder of Michael O'Dwyer on 10 January 2014, has dismissed his legal team and will represent himself. The jury heard that Butler, also known as Thomas O'Grady, denied the charge and claimed he had hugged O'Dwyer that evening, explaining the DNA found on the victim's clothes. Prosecutor Denis Vaughan Buckley presented Garda interviews, noting Butler's statements about feeling saddened for O'Dwyer's family and his respect for life. Detective Seamus Keevans described the search of Butler's house, which yielded no blood‑stained knife but six table knives and two sharp knives from the kitchen drawer. The judge granted Butler the right to cross‑examine his nephew, Anthony O'Grady, and indicated the case was approaching its final phase. The trial continues.
The murder trial of Tadhg Butler, 34, of Seafield, Tramore, Co Waterford, continues at the court. Butler, also known as Thomas O'Grady, has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Michael O'Dwyer at that address on 10 January 2014. State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that O'Dwyer died from a single stab wound to the left side of the chest, which entered his heart and left lung. She noted the injury was consistent with a blade having a single side cutting edge and that there was no evidence of self-defensive injuries. Toxicology reports indicated alcohol and a tranquilliser-type drug in the deceased's system. Under cross-examination, Dr Cassidy acknowledged that either of two similar knives recovered from the scene could have caused the injury. Garda Paul O'Flynn stated that only those two black-handled knives were found during the search. Forensic scientist Sarah Fleming reported finding no blood on the knives or on swabs taken from Butler's hands. The matter was adjourned, and the trial continues.
During the murder trial of Tadhg Butler, the former partner Mary Rose Burke testified that she visited Butler in Cork Prison in January 2014 and that he told her he had stabbed Michael O'Dwyer once. She said she had five children with him and that they had separated more than three years earlier. Burke claimed Butler had asked her to use her address for bail, which she refused, and that he had taken Valium and whiskey that night. She also said he was a good friend of O'Dwyer and had only stabbed him once. The defence questioned her about the relationship and her motives, and she denied using the children to extract information. The prosecution and defence discussed her statements to Gardaí and her alleged false claims. The court heard that Butler was arrested after the incident and that no weapon was found at the scene. The trial was scheduled to resume on Monday. Tadhg Butler pleaded not guilty.
In a Kilkenny murder trial, the jury heard a statement from the accused's nephew, Anthony O'Grady, who claimed his uncle, Tadhg Butler (also known as Thomas O'Grady), stabbed 25‑year‑old Michael O'Dwyer in the chest with a foot‑long butcher knife. The nephew described the night's events: the men travelled to Tramore, drank, and later, while the uncle was playing music, he allegedly lifted a knife and stabbed O'Dwyer. O'Grady said he did not remember the incident, citing prescription painkillers and alcohol. He also admitted to past violent behaviour when drinking. The statement was read by prosecution counsel, and O'Grady was cross‑examined by the defence. The trial continues with the jury considering this testimony. Tadhg Butler pleaded not guilty.
The trial of a 34‑year‑old Kilkenny man, Tadhg Butler, charged with murdering a 25‑year‑old man in Waterford, continues at the Central Criminal Court. Butler, also known as Thomas O'Grady, pleaded not guilty. The court heard evidence from a neighbour who claimed to have heard an "awful racket" outside her house on the night of the murder. Mr Noel Whelan BL called Mr Tony Walsh, who described watching a documentary with Ms Diana Doherty when they heard a disturbance. Walsh reported seeing men standing around a body on the ground, one shouting that the victim was not responding. He called 999 and noted the victim's name was Timothy. The court also heard from Ms Doherty, who confirmed hearing a fight and seeing a body, and expressed distress over the victim's mother. The trial is set to resume with evidence tomorrow morning.
A 34‑year‑old Kilkenny man, Tadhg Butler (also known as Thomas O'Grady), has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of 25‑year‑old Michael O'Dwyer, who was stabbed once in the chest at Butler's house in Tramore on 10 January 2014. Butler pleaded not guilty. The prosecution, led by Mr Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, presented evidence that a single stab wound was found on O'Dwyer's chest, that no defensive injuries were present, and that a post‑mortem confirmed the wound. Gardaí arrested Butler on suspicion of assault causing harm the same day and interviewed him twice at Tramore Garda Station. Witness Mr Luke Green testified that he, O'Dwyer, and Tony O'Grady travelled to the house, drank, and that O'Dwyer was found lying on the ground, stabbed, with Tony attempting to help. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, is expected to last two to three weeks.
The jury was discharged in the trial of 34‑year‑old Tadhg Butler, also known as Thomas O'Grady, who is accused of murdering 25‑year‑old Michael O'Dwyer in Waterford on 10 January 2014. Butler, from Kilkenny and living in Seafield, Tramore, pleaded not guilty to stabbing O'Dwyer once in the chest. Judge Patrick McCarthy explained that a legal issue arose the previous day, leading to new legal submissions, and ordered a new jury to be sworn in next Tuesday. The trial is expected to last two weeks.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 29 April 2015, Mary Rose Burke, a former partner of 34‑year‑old Tadhg Butler, testified that she visited him in Cork Prison on 13 January 2014 after he was charged with the murder of 25‑year‑old Michael O'Dwyer. She said Butler, who also goes by Thomas O'Grady, told her he had stabbed O'Dwyer once in the chest, was drunk and had taken Valium, and that he was not remorseful. Burke denied that Butler had suggested a plea for manslaughter or that she had an agenda to harm his case. Prosecutor Denis Vaughan Buckley described the alleged events on 9 January 2014, when O'Dwyer was found dead outside Butler's house with a single stab wound. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, was expected to last two weeks. Tadhg Butler pleaded not guilty.
A 34‑year‑old Kilkenny man, Tadhg Butler (also known as Thomas O'Grady), has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of 25‑year‑old Michael O'Dwyer in Waterford on 10 January 2014. Butler, who lives in Seafield, Tramore, is charged with stabbing O'Dwyer once in the chest. Prosecutor Denis Vaughan Buckley SC opened the case to a jury, stating that O'Dwyer and two others were invited to a party at the accused's house on 9 January, where they were drinking. At some point a knife was used to stab O'Dwyer's chest. Emergency services arrived at 11.20 pm, found O'Dwyer lying outside the house, and he was taken to Waterford Regional Hospital, where he died two hours later. Gardaí saw Butler outside the house when they arrived, but he had retreated inside and locked the door. Tadhg Butler pleaded not guilty.
Tadhg Butler, 34, also known as Thomas O'Grady, from Kilkenny, was arraigned in the Central Criminal Court for the 2014 murder of 25‑year‑old Michael O'Dwyer in Waterford. He pleaded not guilty. The trial, set to begin Wednesday before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, will be heard by a jury of eight women and four men and is expected to last two weeks.
The National Bus and Rail Workers Union (NBRU) and member Pauric Wall have launched a High Court challenge against the National Transport Authority (NTA). The applicants, who include Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann as parties whose routes are affected, seek to quash three NTA decisions made on January 22 regarding the tendering of approximately 30 routes in Dublin and Waterford City. The NBRU alleges that the NTA's decision to invite tenders breaches exclusive operating rights conferred under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 and that the NTA acted outside its powers. The union claims the NTA incorrectly interpreted an EU Regulation, which it argues does not mandate the privatisation of public passenger transport services. The applicants seek declarations that the NTA's decisions are null and void. In response, NTA lawyers stated the authority is entitled to make the tendering decisions. The court heard that contract notices have been issued, with awards due in April 2016. Mr Justice Seamus Noonan granted permission to bring the action on an ex parte basis. The matter was adjourned and made returnable to a date in early June.
In a burglary that turned violent, Shane Cooney, aged 24, was sentenced to five years in prison for attacking Father Diarmuid Byrne, 70, with an iron bar on St Anthony's Road, Rialto, on 16 October 2013. The assault left the priest with a fractured skull and numerous facial wounds, requiring 26 stitches. Gardaí found blood‑stained iron bar and other items outside the priest's home after neighbours reported a disturbance. Cooney, who had 74 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to burglary and assault. Judge Mary Ellen Ring imposed a five‑year sentence, suspending the final 18 months. The court noted the victim's age and the impact of the attack, but no further details of the sentence's effective custodial term were provided in the article. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
William Moran, a 20-year-old from Connolly Place, Waterford City, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Martin Brophy (22). The Central Criminal Court in Dublin heard that Moran was charged with killing Brophy at the old Waterford Institute of Technology building between May 19 and May 21, 2012. Moran had pleaded not guilty to the charge. After a five-week trial, a jury of three women and seven men delivered a unanimous guilty verdict following eight hours and 38 minutes of deliberation. The court heard evidence that Brophy died from blunt force trauma to the head, potentially caused by kicking, stamping, or stomping. Witness Gavin Walsh testified that Moran dragged Brophy and struck him, while forensic evidence included a blood-stained metal locker. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy exempted the jury from service for life and imposed the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment. The victim's family, including his sister Trina Brophy and father Michael Brophy, expressed relief at the verdict, noting it provided some closure after a traumatic period. The judge described the act as a horrendous murder, and the sentence was finalized in court.
A jury of seven men and three women continues deliberations in the trial of William Moran, 20, charged with the 2012 murder of Martin Brophy, 22, at the old Waterford Institute of Technology building. Moran pleaded not guilty and is on trial at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. The jury has spent five hours and 13 minutes deliberating and has been asked to return tomorrow to reach a unanimous verdict.
The jury has begun deliberating in the trial of William Moran, 20, charged with the 2012 murder of Martin Brophy, 22, at the old Waterford Institute of Technology building. Moran pleaded not guilty and is on trial at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. The jury, composed of seven men and three women, spent 58 minutes deliberating today and was instructed by Justice Patrick McCarthy to resume deliberations on Wednesday.
Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy is continuing his charge to a jury of seven men and three women in the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. The jury is hearing the case of William Moran, aged 20, who is accused of murdering Martin Brophy, aged 22, at the old Waterford Institute of Technology building between 19 and 21 May 2012. Moran has pleaded not guilty.
In the murder trial of William Moran, a 20‑year‑old Waterford man charged with the 2012 killing of Martin Brophy, the jury was instructed that if they are satisfied that Moran assaulted Brophy in the manner described by Facebook messages, he is guilty of murder. Moran pleaded not guilty and is on trial at the Central Criminal Court. Prosecutor Michael Delaney highlighted Moran's admission of being at the scene and his alleged attempts to conceal evidence, noting swollen knuckles and Facebook messages sent on May 20 that could constitute admissions to murder. He also mentioned Gavin Walsh, who was present at the scene but is not on trial. Defence counsel Colman Cody argued that Facebook is a vulnerable medium, that evidence could be accessed by others, and urged a not‑guilty verdict. The judge began his charge to the jury.
In the 2015 trial of William Moran, a 20‑year‑old Waterford man charged with the 2012 murder of Martin Brophy, the jury heard that Garda investigators were given a clip from the film "American History X". The clip shows a character forcing an intruder to bite a kerb and then striking him in the head, leading to death. Detective Garda Kevin Nolan confirmed that he received a disk titled "American History X" in the weeks after May 2012. Witness Davina Wrafter, 18, testified that she learned of Brophy's death from Gavin Walsh, who claimed Moran had struck Brophy with a brick and delivered three kicks to the head, stating he thought Brophy was already dead. Wrafter, then 15, was terrified and eventually reported the incident to Gardaí after seeing Walsh's Facebook post. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, continued under Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy with a jury of four women and seven men. William Moran pleaded not guilty.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, William Moran, aged 20, is charged with the 2012 murder of Martin Brophy, aged 22, at the old Waterford Institute of Technology building. Moran pleaded not guilty and is on trial. The court heard that Moran, in a voluntary statement on 29 May 2012, admitted kicking Brophy in the head ten times. In a Garda interview on 2 July 2012, he confirmed the admission, saying "I remember" and "I pushed and kicked him". He also stated that he had lost his phone on the night of 19 May 2012 and that the SIM card and phone were not together. Moran denied that the kicks caused Brophy's death, saying "he was still alive when I left". He also claimed he did not murder Brophy. The trial continues tomorrow before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of four women and seven men.
In the Waterford murder trial, a jury heard that a Facebook account linked to William Moran, a 20‑year‑old accused of killing 22‑year‑old Martin Brophy, sent messages to a friend. The account replied "I didn't do nothing" and later "I didn't do it kid" when asked by Darren Walsh. In another conversation, Moran's account said "I dunno his proper name – I don't even know where he lives" about Skip, and "I gave him some hiding" when asked what he did to him. The court also learned that a black Samsung Galaxy phone, seized from Gavin Walsh, had been used by Moran in a phone swap. No IP address linking the account to email activity was obtained for May. The trial continues before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of four women and seven men. William Moran pleaded not guilty.
In a Waterford murder trial, a jury heard that a Facebook message allegedly from William Moran (20) claimed he beat Martin Brophy (22) to death with a cinder block and gave him the "American History X job." The prosecution presented testimony from Stephen Dundon, who said he had chatted with Moran on May 20, 2012, about playing PlayStation and an assault. Dundon recalled a message from Moran's Facebook page stating, "I gave that fella an old bad one. Serious he got it haha," and a reply claiming, "I beat him to death a cinder block around 10 times off the head and gave him the American History X job." Dundon also admitted his own Facebook account had been hacked. William Moran pleaded not guilty.
The trial of William Moran, aged 20, accused of murdering 22‑year‑old Martin Brophy at the old Waterford Institute of Technology building between 19 and 21 May 2012, is continuing in legal argument. Moran has pleaded not guilty. The jury will return tomorrow when evidence is due to resume.
The Central Criminal Court in Dublin is hearing the trial of William Moran, 20, who is charged with the murder of Martin Brophy, 22, at the old Waterford Institute of Technology between 19 and 21 May 2012. Moran has pleaded not guilty. The court is currently addressing legal issues and will resume with evidence tomorrow.
The Central Criminal Court in Dublin is hearing the trial of William Moran, aged 20, who is charged with the murder of Martin Brophy, aged 22, at the old Waterford Institute of Technology building between 19 and 21 May 2012. Moran has pleaded not guilty and the court is currently addressing legal arguments, with evidence to resume on Thursday.
In the Waterford murder trial, a jury heard that Garda Eugene O'Neill photographed a swelling on the accused William Moran's hands, taken the same week the body of Martin Brophy was found. Moran, 20, is charged with Brophy's murder at the old WIT building between 19 and 21 May 2012. He pleaded not guilty and is on trial at the Central Criminal Court. O'Neill explained he was asked to photograph Moran's hands after a colleague noticed a swelling, taking two photos on 22 May 2012. Detective Garda Emmett Dunphy confirmed he is a certified XRY operator and examined a sim card belonging to Moran. The jury also heard that items such as a cider bottle wrapper, plastic flaggins and Nike runners were found on New Gate Street and Castle Street between 22 and 25 May. The trial, expected to last three weeks, continues before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy with a jury of four women and eight men.
The High Court heard further submissions in the extradition proceedings against Ali Charaf Damache, an Algerian-born Irish citizen wanted in the United States for conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and attempted identity theft. Counsel for the Attorney General stated that 324 inmates in the US prison system have convictions for Islamic-type terrorism offences, with 10 per cent held in the ADX Supermax Prison. Damache's legal team argued that he could also be sent to other facilities with Communication Management Units. The court noted that if convicted in the US, Damache faces up to 45 years in jail. The High Court previously heard allegations that Damache conspired with Colleen LaRose, who was jailed for ten years in 2014 after admitting involvement in a plot to murder Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks, and Jamie Paulin Ramirez, who was sentenced to eight years in the US after pleading guilty to providing material support to terrorists. In Ireland, Damache was arrested in March 2013 minutes after pleading guilty to sending a menacing phone call to US Muslim activist Majed Moughni in January 2010, for which he was sentenced to three years. Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly remanded Damache in custody until April 21, noting that a judgment was not anticipated by that date.
Philip Doyle, 38, of Wicklow, was convicted of manslaughter for the death of his ex‑fiancée's three‑and‑a‑half‑month‑old baby, Ross Murphy, in 2005. The Central Criminal Court found the death an accident after a four‑week trial, and Doyle received an 11‑year sentence in May 2012. Doyle now appeals, arguing the original trial failed to properly direct the jury on the evidence of the baby's ill health and the lack of intent for murder. He contends that the prosecution's reliance on a paediatric study was unreliable and that the judge did not explain why the murder charge was withdrawn. The appeal is before the Court of Appeal, with the prosecution yet to reply. The case remains at the manslaughter conviction stage. Philip Doyle pleaded not guilty.
The trial of William Moran, a 20‑year‑old from Waterford, will resume before a jury on Wednesday morning. Moran is charged with the murder of 22‑year‑old Martin Brophy, who died of blunt‑force trauma to the head at the old Waterford Institute of Technology building between 19 and 21 May 2012. He has pleaded not guilty and is being tried at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. Witness testimony last week described the alleged assault: Moran allegedly stamped on Brophy's head, saying "This is out of American History X", and also kicked and dropped a brick on him, causing blood to spatter. The witness, Gavin Walsh, said the incident occurred in a warehouse on Saturday 19 May 2012. The jury, composed of four women and eight men, will return to decide the case. The trial has been in legal argument before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy for several days.
During a Waterford murder trial, 21‑year‑old Gavin Walsh testified that William Moran, the accused, stamped 22‑year‑old Martin Brophy's head with a Timberland boot while shouting "This is out of American History X." Walsh described how Moran had dragged Brophy, kicked and stamped him six or seven times, and then dropped a brick on his head, causing blood to spatter. Walsh said he tried to stop Moran, who pushed him away, and that Moran later threatened to hit Brophy three more times with the brick. Walsh also recounted that Moran called his cousin Ray Connolly, laughed on the phone, and later burned two jackets. The testimony was given before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of four women and eight men. The accused remains on trial at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. William Moran pleaded not guilty.
In the trial of William Moran, a 20‑year‑old Waterford man, the court heard that the 22‑year‑old victim, Martin Brophy, died of blunt force trauma to the head. The forensic pathologist, Dr Khalid Jabbar, described extensive fractures to Brophy's skull, including temporal bone fractures and a hinge fracture across the base of the skull. He noted subarachnoid haemorrhage, brain swelling, and bruising to both sides of the brain and the base of the skull. Additional injuries included trauma to the eyelids, ears, nose, neck, shoulders, abdomen, back, chest, and all four limbs. Dr Jabbar stated that the head bore the brunt of the impact, which could have been caused by kicking, stamping or stomping, and that acute ethanol intoxication was a contributing factor. The jury heard that Brophy's death was rapid but not instantaneous. The trial, expected to last three weeks, continues before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of four women and eight men. William Moran pleaded not guilty.
The trial opened for 21‑year‑old William Moran, charged with the murder of 22‑year‑old Martin Brophy, who died from severe head injuries in Waterford in May 2012. Moran pleaded not guilty. The prosecution presented evidence that Moran had told a friend on Facebook that he had "beat" Brophy to death with a lock and had used a concrete block on his head. CCTV footage showed Moran and another man with two girls entering the old WIT building on 19 May 2012; the girls left around 9:50 pm, while the men remained. Witnesses testified that an argument arose between Moran and Brophy over a cousin, Ray Connelly, and that Moran subsequently assaulted Brophy, grabbing him, kicking his head, stamping on a metal locker, and throwing a concrete block at him. The prosecution described the injuries as forced trauma to the head, with alcohol intoxication as a contributing factor.
William Moran, aged 20, stands trial in the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Martin Brophy, which occurred at the old Waterford Institute of Technology building between 20 and 21 May 2012. Moran pleaded not guilty. Judge Patrick J McCarthy informed the jury that the trial is expected to last three weeks and will open tomorrow.
John Paul Gantley, a 31‑year‑old drug addict from Crumlin, was sentenced to two years in prison for two smash‑and‑grab robberies at newsagents in Dublin. In the first incident, on 2 February 2014 at Loughlinstown, he pretended to buy a Cadbury's Creme Egg, persuaded the shop staff to open the till, and then stole €105. In the second, on 18 February 2014 at Cardiffsbridge Road, Finglas, he entered a Spar, paid for a Creme Egg with a single euro, and while the sales assistant was giving him change, he grabbed cash from the till. He was caught shortly after with the stolen €105. Gantley pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended the final year on the condition that Gantley engage with Probation Services for one year after release.
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.
In a 2015 trial in Wexford, William O'Leary, aged 51, admitted forging the will of a bachelor farmer, Matthew Hayes, and gave evidence against his brother Charles O'Leary, 61, and Noel Hayes, 61, a vegetable wholesaler. The three men are charged with forging the will dated between December 1998 and January 1999. Charles O'Leary had previously pleaded guilty to a related forgery and received an 18‑month suspended sentence, with a €30,000 payment to Matthew Hayes' next of kin. Noel Hayes acquired nearly €592,000 in assets, including 162 acres of farmland, after being named in the forged will witnessed by Charles and William. The trial is ongoing before Judge Patricia Ryam.
In an appeal-stage proceeding, Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly sought clarification regarding the case of Ali Charaf Damache, an Algerian-born Irish citizen wanted in the US for conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and attempted identity theft. The judge requested up-to-date US statistics on how many individuals convicted of similar Islamist terrorism offences are transferred to the ADX Supermax Prison in Florence, Colorado, and their progression through the system. This inquiry follows concerns raised about the prison's conditions, including solitary confinement and barriers to religious observance. The matter was adjourned and placed on the extradition case list for mention on February 3, with Damache remanded in custody until then. The court noted that if convicted in the US, Damache could face up to 45 years in jail. The US alleges he conspired with Colleen LaRose, who pleaded guilty to a plot to murder cartoonist Lars Vilks and was sentenced to ten years, and Jamie Paulin Ramirez, who pleaded guilty to providing material support to terrorists and was sentenced to eight years. Separately, Damache had previously pleaded guilty in Ireland to sending a menacing phone call to US activist Majed Moughni in January 2010, for which he was sentenced to three years.
Con Desmond, a former priest and school principal aged 79, was convicted of 13 counts of indecent assault on a boy at St Stephen's De La Salle National School in Waterford between 1978 and June 1980. He pleaded not guilty but a jury found him guilty and Judge Donagh McDonagh sentenced him to two years' imprisonment on each count, to run concurrently, on 19 February 2013. Desmond appealed on grounds of delay and conflicting evidence, but the Court of Appeal rejected the appeal. The court noted the first incident occurred in January 1978 when the boy, aged eight, was wet from cycling to school and was taken to Desmond's office by Brother Aengus. Desmond sexually abused the boy then, and the victim reported similar abuse on subsequent Saturdays. The appeal was dismissed after the court considered the evidence, the delay, and the absence of Brother Aengus, who had died years earlier.
A High Court judge has reserved judgement in the extradition case of Ali Charaf Damache, a 50‑year‑old Algerian‑born Irish citizen wanted in the United States on international terrorism charges. Damache faces allegations of conspiring to provide material support for terrorists and attempting identity theft to facilitate an act of international terrorism. The case is the second time his extradition has been heard. In November, Damache won a Supreme Court appeal that he was entitled to judicial review of the Director of Public Prosecutions' refusal to prosecute him in Ireland and of the refusal to give reasons for that decision. If convicted in the U.S., he could face up to 45 years in prison. Ali Charaf Damache pleaded guilty.
Zilvinas Antanovas, a 27‑year‑old Lithuanian, was given a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to possession of heroin, assaulting two gardai, and possession of M‑CAT in Dublin. He was arrested in Dublin's city centre after Garda officers found €305 worth of heroin and a bag of M‑CAT on him. During the arrest he bit two officers and resisted, prompting the use of pepper spray. Judge Mary Ellen Ring imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspended the remainder on the condition that Antanovas be flown back to Lithuania from Mountjoy Prison on Sunday. He is barred from returning to Ireland for five years. Antanovas has prior convictions for handling stolen property and for dealing heroin, and his defence claimed he was coerced into drug dealing by a gang that took his passport in Lithuania.
Lawyers for the State told the High Court that counsel for Ali Charaf Damache, a 49‑year‑old Algerian‑born Irish citizen, had submitted "various extremist scenarios" to the court. Damache is wanted by U.S. authorities on terrorism charges, alleged conspiracy to provide support to terrorists, and could face up to 45 years in U.S. prison. The court heard that a conviction of a terrorism crime could lead to transfer to the maximum‑security ADX Supermax Prison in Florence, Colorado, where inmates may be held in solitary confinement for up to 22 hours a day. Counsel for the Attorney General, Remy Farrell SC, said the evidence was "wholly speculative" and "improbable" and that most criteria for such a transfer did not apply to Damache. He noted that only a small proportion of inmates are subject to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons' special administrative measure (SAMS).
In a High Court extradition hearing, the State argued that applying the Irish Constitution to the United States' criminal justice system would be unhelpful. Ali Charaf Damache, a 49‑year‑old Algerian‑born Irish citizen, is wanted in the US on terrorism conspiracy charges. Counsel for the State, Remy Farrell SC, noted that the extradition agreement assumes significant procedural differences between member states and that the US process would not violate Article 38 of the Irish Constitution, which requires due process. Farrell also said that the court should not use an Irish constitutional "telescope" to scrutinise US procedures, as this would be unuseful and not an egregious breach. He warned that a non‑surrender would be a radical step. Mícheál P O'Higgins SC for Damache highlighted that a US conviction could lead to up to 45 years in prison and possible solitary confinement at ADX Florence. The hearing was adjourned until the following Tuesday.
In a High Court hearing on 3 December 2014, lawyers for Ali Charaf Damache, a 49‑year‑old Algerian‑born Irish citizen, argued that a U.S. sentencing judge could impose a penalty for conduct not charged in the extradition request. Damache is wanted in the United States for alleged conspiracy to provide support to terrorists, with the U.S. authorities claiming he conspired with American woman Colleen LaRose (Jihad Jane) and others to create a terror cell in Europe. Mícheál P O'Higgins SC contended that the U.S. judge's power to enhance the sentence would breach the Rule of Specialty under Section 20 of the 1965 Extradition Act, which limits prosecution to the offences for which the person was extradited. He cited an affidavit by U.S. Assistant Attorney Jennifer Williams and a statement by U.S. lawyer Joshua Dratel, who estimated Damache could receive a sentence exceeding 40 years. O'Higgins noted that the U.S.