Court archive
Search and filter these reports
2018-05-14 · Waterford
Tadhg Butler, 37, of Seafield House, Tramore, Co. Waterford, faces a retrial for the murder of Michael O'Dwyer on 10 January 2014. After a hung jury in the previous trial, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy of the Central Criminal Court scheduled the retrial for 27 May 2019.
2018-04-27 · Waterford
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 41‑year‑old woman testified that she was repeatedly raped by her older brother, a 47‑year‑old man who pleaded not guilty to 56 counts of rape and 15 counts of sexual assault. She said the abuse began when she was four and continued until she was between ten and twelve. During cross‑examination, she described feeling terrified of the accused until recently and asserted that only she and the accused know the truth. She described him as a "sexual tyrant" who acted with impunity inside and outside the home. She denied that the alleged offences were fabricated, noting that the accused had denied the allegations in police interviews and threatened to kill their mother. The trial is proceeding before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon with a jury of five women and six men. The unnamed 47-year-old was found guilty.
2018-04-25 · Waterford
In the Central Criminal Court, a 41‑year‑old woman accused her 47‑year‑old brother of repeated rape and sexual assault from age four to about twelve. She pleaded that the abuse began in their family home and continued in fields, woodlands, school grounds, a community centre and a clubhouse. She said her brother threatened to slit her wrists and throat, and to shoot their mother with a shotgun if she reported the abuse. She claimed she was raped countless times, including at least four incidents on the grounds of an old building, one at night. She told the jury that she would not endure her "dirtiest secrets" being exposed if the abuse had never occurred, urging her brother to "stand up and admit what you've done." The trial is before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of eleven. The unnamed 47-year-old pleaded not guilty.
2018-04-24 · Waterford
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 41‑year‑old woman accused her older brother of repeatedly raping her between 1983 and 1988. She told the jury that she confronted him after the abuse stopped, writing a letter in 1995 that she later delivered to him in the family home. In the letter she declared she would never forgive him, that he had taken her virginity, robbed her of education and almost destroyed her. He did not respond to the letter. She said she had told him she would see him in court one day, and that was the last thing she said to him. She had reported the abuse to Gardaí in 2010 and again in 2015, but felt the police were unhelpful. The trial is ongoing before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury. The unnamed woman pleaded not guilty.
2018-04-23 · Waterford
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 41‑year‑old woman testified that her older brother raped her on the day of her first Holy Communion. She said the abuse began when she was four and continued until she was between ten and twelve. The brother, whose name cannot be disclosed, pleaded not guilty to 56 counts of rape and 15 counts of sexual assault in County Waterford, covering incidents from December 1983 to June 1988. The woman described being raped in their family home, fields, woodlands, school grounds, a community centre and a clubhouse. She recounted nine or ten rapes at an estate near their home when she was about ten, and further assaults in wooded areas between ages seven and eleven. She also said the brother threatened to kill her mother if she disclosed the abuse. The trial is proceeding before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon with a jury of five women and six men.
2018-04-20 · Kilkenny
A jury at the Central Criminal Court could not reach a verdict in the retrial of 37‑year‑old Tadhg Butler, charged with murdering Michael O'Dwyer with a butcher's knife at Butler's seaside home in Tramore on 10 January 2014. Butler had previously been sentenced to life for the murder, but that conviction was overturned on appeal. The case centred on Butler's claim that he had accidentally stabbed O'Dwyer while trying to disarm his nephew, Anthony O'Grady, who had threatened self‑harm. O'Grady, who testified but could not recall details, said he saw Butler lift a foot‑long knife and stab O'Dwyer, after which Butler returned to drinking. Butler pleaded not guilty. After six hours of deliberation, the jury failed to agree on a verdict and was discharged. The case will be re‑considered before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy on 8 May.
2018-04-20 · Kilkenny
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury of twelve was deliberating the murder trial of 37‑year‑old Tadhg Butler, accused of killing 25‑year‑old Michael O'Dwyer on 10 January 2014. O'Dwyer died in hospital after a stab wound to the chest at a party in Butler's Co Waterford home. Butler, who lives in Seafield, Tramore, pleaded not guilty. He claimed he had accidentally stabbed O'Dwyer while retrieving a knife from his nephew to prevent self‑harm. The nephew, Anthony O'Grady, testified that Butler had walked over and stabbed his friend with a butcher's knife, but later said he could not remember the event, citing personality disorders and medication. After about five hours of deliberation, the jury reported to the judge that they were "stuck in this ring" and saw no prospect of reaching a verdict.
2018-04-19 · Waterford
A 49‑year‑old man was tried at the Central Criminal Court for serial rape and sexual assault of his younger sister over a five‑year period in the 1980s. He pleaded not guilty to 56 counts of rape and 15 counts of sexual assault, with alleged offences occurring between December 1983 and June 1988. The complainant, now 41, said the abuse began when she was four and continued until she was 10 or 12. She alleged the man abused her at their family home, in fields, woodlands, school grounds, a community centre and a clubhouse. The prosecution highlighted specific incidents, including rapes on her first Holy Communion in June 1984 and the following day. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, is set to continue for at least another week.
2018-04-19 · Kilkenny
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury was sent home after a night of deliberation in the trial of 37‑year‑old Tadhg Butler, charged with murdering Michael O'Dwyer, a friend of Butler's nephew, on 10 January 2014. O'Dwyer died in hospital after a stab wound to the chest at a party in Butler's Co Waterford home. Butler, who pleaded not guilty, claimed he had accidentally stabbed O'Dwyer while taking a knife from his nephew to prevent self‑harm. The nephew, Anthony (Tony) O'Grady, testified that Butler walked over and stabbed the victim with a butcher's knife, but later said he could not remember the incident due to personality disorders and medication. The jury requested further statements from O'Grady, Butler and State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy. Judge Paul Butler spent the day re‑reading the evidence before the jurors resumed deliberations, ultimately deciding to return home and reconvene the next morning with fresh minds.
2018-04-18 · Waterford
A jury has begun deliberations in the trial of 37‑year‑old Tadhg Butler, charged with murdering Michael O'Dwyer with a foot‑long butcher knife at a party in his home in Tramore on 10 January 2014. Butler, who pleaded not guilty, claims he accidentally stabbed O'Dwyer while attempting to disarm his nephew, Anthony O'Grady, who had previously taken a knife from Butler to prevent self‑harm. O'Grady, who testified that he could not remember the events due to personality disorders and medication, said Butler walked up, lifted the knife and stabbed O'Dwyer, who collapsed and later died in hospital. Butler's defence argues the act was a tragic accident, while the prosecution maintains sufficient evidence for a murder conviction. The jury, after more than two hours of deliberation, requested to review O'Grady's statement, Butler's evidence and the State Pathologist's report before resuming tomorrow.".
2018-04-17 · Kilkenny
The Central Criminal Court trial of Tadhg Butler, formerly known as Thomas O'Grady, is at the stage of the judge's charge to the jury. Butler, 37, of Tramore, Co Waterford, is charged with the murder of Michael O'Dwyer, who died in January 2014 after sustaining a stab wound at a party in Butler's home. Butler has pleaded not guilty, alleging he accidentally stabbed O'Dwyer while attempting to disarm his nephew, Anthony (Tony) O'Grady, to prevent self-harm. Tony O'Grady, who suffers from personality disorders, initially told gardai that Butler deliberately stabbed O'Dwyer with a butcher's knife but later claimed he could not remember the incident. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC argued the death was a tragic accident in a confined space, urging the jury to return a verdict of not guilty or, alternatively, manslaughter if they found the actions reckless. Prosecution counsel Denis Vaughan Buckley countered that there was ample evidence to convict, highlighting that Butler did not provide his accidental stabbing account to gardai during his interview. The judge has begun his charge, and the jury is expected to begin deliberations on Wednesday.
2018-04-16 · Waterford
During the fifth day of his murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Tadhg Butler, 37, pleaded not guilty to the killing of Michael O'Dwyer, 25, who died on 10 January 2014 after a stab wound at a party in Butler's house in Seafield, Tramore. Butler told the court that he had taken a knife from his nephew, Anthony O'Grady, to prevent the nephew from self‑harm. He claimed that the nephew had become upset over a brother's death and, while holding the knife, said he was "sick of this f*cking life." Butler said he tried to remove the knife, pinning the nephew against a wall, and that he did not realise the knife was in O'Dwyer's chest until the victim collapsed. The prosecution cross‑examined Butler about his earlier statements to Gardaí and his religious beliefs. The trial continues with further cross‑examination scheduled for the next day.
2018-04-16 · Kildare
The High Court confirmed Michael McAteer as interim examiner for the Sammon Group and its related companies after the collapse of Carillion. The Irish contractors, which employ over 216 people and are involved in major school building projects across Ireland, were owed about €8 million by an entity linked to Carillion. An independent expert report indicated the companies could survive if a scheme of arrangement with creditors is implemented. McAteer has up to 100 days to prepare this scheme, which, if approved, would allow the group to continue trading as a going concern. The group had been hired by a special purpose vehicle that included Carillion to build several schools and an educational campus, contracts worth roughly €87 million. The collapse of Carillion halted payments, preventing the Sammon Group from paying suppliers and subcontractors, and the court heard the group believes a successful examinership will enable it to finish its contracts on time and return to profitability.
2018-04-16 · Waterford
Jake Breen, aged 20, pleaded guilty to ten offences in Kilkenny Circuit Criminal Court for events in Carlow and Kilkenny on 7 November 2016. He used a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser, fitted with false plates, to pick up a hitchhiker who was at the start of a world tour. The vehicle stopped, the hitchhiker got out, and the car drove off with the hitchhiker's property still inside. The hitchhiker was thrown to the ground but suffered only minor injuries. Gardaí pursued the Land Cruiser, which drove aggressively, collided with a Garda car, and then reversed. One co‑occupant was apprehended; Breen fled. Breen was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, and banned from driving for ten years. The Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal, confirming the sentence as appropriate for the seriousness of the incident.
2018-04-16 · Dublin
Brendan Phelan, a 66‑year‑old retired principal officer of the Department of Health and Children, was given a suspended three‑year sentence in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to one count of possessing child pornography. The offence stemmed from a March 2013 raid on his home, where authorities seized 58,585 images and 1,046 videos, most of which were naturist and focused on young boys' genitalia, with a minority depicting pre‑pubescent boys in sexual behaviour. Phelan admitted to long‑standing possession of the material and has since attended counselling and rehabilitation, producing a court report indicating a low risk of re‑offending. The judge noted mitigating factors such as the nature of the images, his cooperation, and the absence of distribution, but added that the conviction would bring shame on him and his family and that he would be listed on the sex offenders register.
2018-04-16 · Waterford
In the Central Criminal Court, Tadhg Butler, 37, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 25‑year‑old Michael O'Dwyer, who died after a stab wound at a party in Butler's house on 10 January 2014. Butler, a father of five, told Gardaí that he had strong religious beliefs, attending Mass, saying the rosary, and prayer meetings. He denied any involvement in the stabbing, stating it had nothing to do with him. Garda Jennifer Ryan reported that Butler was asked if he was sorry for O'Dwyer's death and how he felt about being arrested; he responded that he was saddened by the death and that "these things happen." He was also asked about his religious convictions, to which he affirmed his adherence to the commandment "Thou shalt not kill." The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Paul Butler with a jury of six men and six women.
2018-04-13 · Waterford
In a Waterford murder trial, the accused, 37‑year‑old Tadhg Butler, was found crouched behind a wall near his home shortly after a stabbing. The arresting officer, Detective Sergeant Shay Keevans, testified that he arrived at the Seafield holiday homes that night and found a man on the ground with a chest wound, pale and needing medical attention. After knocking on Butler's locked door, he and colleagues entered the house, finding no one inside but a pool of blood in the hall and an open window. Keevans later saw Butler crouched at the end of the wall and arrested him on suspicion of assault causing harm to Michael O'Dwyer. Butler pleaded not guilty. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a jury of twelve.
2018-04-12 · Waterford
In the Central Criminal Court, a 37‑year‑old man, Tadhg Butler, is charged with murdering his 25‑year‑old nephew's friend, Michael O'Dwyer, on 10 January 2014. Butler pleaded not guilty. The prosecution presented a statement from Butler's nephew, Tony O'Grady, who claimed Butler had walked up to O'Dwyer and stabbed him with a butcher's knife during a party at Butler's home. O'Grady said he had no memory of the statement or the events, citing medication for mental disorders and drug use. During cross‑examination, O'Grady admitted that Butler had previously wrestled knives from him to prevent self‑harm and that Butler might have struggled to remove a knife from O'Dwyer's hand. The jury heard that O'Dwyer died from a single stab wound to the chest, with the pathologist noting a penetrating injury between the ribs that damaged the heart and left lung. The trial will continue tomorrow before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a 12‑person jury.
2018-04-11 · Waterford
During the Central Criminal Court hearing of 37‑year‑old Tadhg Butler, accused of murdering 25‑year‑old Michael O'Dwyer on 10 January 2014, his nephew Tony O'Grady testified that he has no memory of the night of the murder or of any statement he may have given to Gardaí. O'Grady, who lives in The New Houses, Bishop's Birch, said he was a drug addict at the time and had been in and out of mental hospitals, taking heavy medication and being sectioned several times. He claimed he could not remember the past six years, including the night of the stabbing, and that he was "always blanking out" due to his drug and alcohol addiction. The judge excused the jury to return later that afternoon for the remainder of the trial. Tadhg Butler pleaded not guilty.
2018-04-10 · Waterford
In a Waterford murder trial, evidence was presented that emergency services discovered a blood‑soaked man outside the accused's house, which was also covered in blood and littered with alcohol cans. The trial concerns a 37‑year‑old man, Tadhg Butler, who is charged with murdering 25‑year‑old Michael O'Dwyer on 10 January 2014. Butler pleaded not guilty. The prosecution, led by Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, argued that O'Dwyer was stabbed in the chest at Butler's address, with his heart and left lung injured, leading to death in hospital a few hours later. Butler had previously been known as Thomas O'Grady but changed his name by deed poll. Garda and paramedic witnesses described the crime scene, noting forced entry, blood on the floor, numerous empty cans, and a recent alcohol purchase. The trial is set to continue before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a jury of twelve.
2018-04-10 · Waterford
A new jury of six men and six women was sworn in by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy to hear the trial of a 37‑year‑old Waterford man accused of murdering 25‑year‑old Michael O'Dwyer on 10 January 2014. The accused, Tadhg Butler of Seafield in Tramore, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment before the Central Criminal Court. The jury, the second to be sworn for this case, will hear the trial, which is expected to last two weeks, before Mr Justice Paul Butler later that day.
2018-04-09 · Waterford
A 37‑year‑old Waterford man, Tadhg Butler, is on trial for the murder of 25‑year‑old Michael O'Dwyer, who died of a single stab wound to the chest on 10 January 2014. Butler, originally known as Thomas O'Grady, changed his name by deed poll. The prosecution, led by Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, argued that the knife used was held by Butler and that the wound was a single forward thrust, with no defensive injuries on O'Dwyer's hands or arms. Butler pleaded not guilty. Witness Tony Walsh, a caretaker, testified that he saw Butler "scampering" back into his home as Gardaí arrived and that a body lay on the ground. The trial, held before the Central Criminal Court, will continue the following day before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a jury of five women and seven men, and is expected to last two weeks.
2018-04-09 · Waterford
A 37‑year‑old Waterford man, Tadhg Butler of Seafield in Tramore, is set to go on trial for the murder of 25‑year‑old Michael O'Dwyer on 10 January 2014 in County Waterford. Butler was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court and pleaded not guilty. A jury of five women and seven men will hear the case before Mr Justice Paul Butler, with the trial expected to last two weeks.
2018-03-05 · Kilkenny
Martin Holden, 52, of Garrigue, Mullinavat, Co Kilkenny, was found guilty of multiple thefts over a five‑year period from 2007 to 2012. He advertised non‑existent heavy machinery on internet sites, offering competitive prices and claiming to arrange overseas shipping. He collected deposits from 17 victims worldwide, ranging from €2,000 to €40,000, and transferred the money to Lithuania. The High Court ordered his extradition to Lithuania, but the order was stayed until he served his sentence. On appeal, the Court of Appeal increased his sentence from four years with the final year suspended to four years and eight months imprisonment. The judge noted that Holden resumed the same pattern of fraud while on bail and that the offence was serious, elaborate and carried out over five years. The sentence was deemed unduly lenient and was accordingly increased.
2018-02-21 · Dublin
A 17‑year‑old Dublin teenager pleaded guilty to a series of violent offences, including assaulting street magician Mark Beltran, stabbing Waterford resident Gavin Keoghan, and robbing a 16‑year‑old's phone. He also admitted to assaulting a homeless man, Martin Goth, and participating in violent disorder at Smithfield Square. The court heard that the attacks followed the theft of a stolen amp from Beltran's street performance. The teenager was sentenced to three years' detention by Judge Martin Nolan, who noted his early guilty plea, young age and rehabilitation efforts. The sentence was imposed despite the absence of victim impact statements in the cases involving Goth and Keoghan. The judge highlighted the teenager's lack of further offences since the convictions. The case involved co‑accused Luke Byrne, who received nine and a half years' imprisonment for a separate attack and robberies. The court also considered the teenager's drug use and subsequent counselling.
2018-02-07 · Dublin
A 33‑year‑old Waterford courier, Conor Freeman, was jailed for four years after transporting €119,000 worth of ketamine through Dublin Airport to settle a drug debt. Freeman, who had a €5,750 cocaine debt from a period living in the UK, had moved to Waterford for a "clean break." Customs officers stopped him on his return from Eindhoven, discovering £12,000 in cash and three containers of white rock‑like crystals labelled "bath salts." The drugs were later identified as ketamine. Freeman pleaded guilty to possession of 2 kg of ketamine at the airport on 9 April 2017. He had no prior convictions. The court accepted that he was motivated by fear rather than profit, noted his unlikely re‑offending, and ordered the confiscation of the seized money. The sentence was imposed by Judge Martin Nolan.
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.
2018-01-29 · Galway
Promontoria Arrow Ltd has applied for summary judgement of €13.5 million against Galway property owner Martin Tolan, following an alleged failure to repay loans originally provided by Anglo Irish Bank in 2007. The loans were later acquired by National Asset Loan Management Ltd and then by Promontoria in 2015, which called in the debt. Promontoria claims Tolan has no defence and that settlement talks failed. The application was admitted to the fast‑track Commercial Court list by Justice Brian McGovern, with no objections, and the case was adjourned for two weeks.
2018-01-26 · Waterford
In 2016, Bill Kenneally, aged 67, was sentenced to 14 years and two months imprisonment for indecent assault on ten teenage boys in Waterford during the 1980s. The sentence was imposed by Judge Eugene O'Kelly, who applied consecutive 17‑month terms for each victim. Kenneally pleaded guilty to ten counts, though originally charged with 70. His appeal to the Court of Appeal concerns the severity of the sentence, arguing the judge's approach was "vengeful" and overly emotive, focusing on victim impact reports rather than legal principles. Kenneally's counsel, Michael Counihan SC, contended that the judge failed to adequately consider mitigating factors such as a guilty plea, psychological issues, and the absence of a prior investigation. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on the appeal. The case remains at the appellate stage, with no further outcome reported.
2018-01-23 · Waterford
In a Court of Appeal hearing, William Moran's lawyers argued that Facebook messages alleged to be from his account were not sufficiently proven to have come from him. Moran, 23, was convicted of murdering Martin Brophy, 22, at the Waterford Institute of Technology in 2012 and received a mandatory life sentence in 2015. The prosecution's key evidence was a Facebook post sent after the murder but before the body was found, claiming the victim was dead. Moran's counsel, Colman Cody SC, contended that the evidence's provenance was unclear, that the State had sought a Mutual Assistance request in January 2014, and that no witnesses from Facebook had been produced to confirm the message's authenticity. He highlighted that Facebook evidence requires human input and authoritative proof, unlike CCTV or photographs. The court noted it would reserve judgment on the matter. William Moran pleaded not guilty.
2017-11-30 · Dublin
In a High Court order issued on 30 November 2017, Mr Justice Peter Kelly directed the shutdown of the website www.personalinjurysolicitorsdublin.info, which was involved in a practice known as 'Claims Harvesting'. The judge found that the site presented itself as a solicitor‑run service, misleading visitors into believing they were dealing with qualified solicitors. The orders were made against businessman Mr David Smyth and his company Agenda Computers, both based in Waterford, after the Law Society of Ireland alleged that the website breached advertising provisions of the Solicitors Acts by soliciting and encouraging personal injury claims. The Society claimed Mr Smyth was pretending to be a solicitor and that no such firm existed. Mr Smyth and Agenda opposed some orders, including the removal of the site, but consented to others. He testified that he had sold the website to a solicitor for €6,000 a few days before the hearing.
2017-11-27 · Waterford
In Waterford, a Brazilian man, Juraci Da Silva, aged 36, was sentenced by Justice Michael White to eight years in prison for the manslaughter of James 'Jay' Banville, who died from a single stab wound to the heart on 8 October 2016. Da Silva was found not guilty of murder and not guilty of assault causing harm to Conor Hogan, but guilty of producing a knife during an altercation. He received an additional five‑year sentence for producing a knife, with both sentences running concurrently and back‑dated to the date of the offence. The judge described the killing as a "tragedy of epic proportions" and noted that Da Silva had been twice assaulted by Banville and Hogan, including racial and sexual remarks, before he armed himself with a knife and killed Banville. The sentence was deemed proportionate, taking into account Da Silva's lack of prior convictions and his limited English. The legal teams have 28 days to appeal.
2017-11-20 · Waterford
In a hearing on 20 November 2017, the court considered a non‑custodial sentence for 36‑year‑old Brazilian meat‑factory worker Juraci Da Silva, who was convicted of manslaughter for the death of James 'Jay' Banville. Da Silva had been assaulted and racially abused by Banville and Conor Hogan before the fatal altercation. The victim's family, represented by his sister Marie Banville, expressed grief and demanded justice, while Da Silva's barrister, Colman Cody SC, argued that Da Silva had pleaded guilty, was a family provider, and had been provoked. Cody highlighted Da Silva's background, his early departure from school to support his family, and his isolation as a foreigner. The judge, Justice Michael White, adjourned sentencing to the following Monday, leaving the outcome pending. The case remains at the sentencing stage. Da Silva was acquitted.
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.
2017-11-01 · Dublin
Oyindamola Ojo, a 37‑year‑old Nigerian mother of six living in Balbriggan, Dublin, received a three‑year suspended sentence for her role in a complex money‑laundering scheme that involved Ireland, the UK and Nigeria. She opened seven credit‑union accounts across three Irish counties, using forged Electric Ireland bills and "compromised" UK debit and credit cards to withdraw €1,800 from St Mary's Credit Union, €2,500 from Palmerstown Credit Union and attempted to withdraw €4,800 from Dunboyne Credit Union between December 2014 and January 2015. Ojo also pleaded guilty to using false bills at Dunboyne, Nolan's and Waterford Credit Unions, and to dishonestly inducing a replacement of an iPhone 6 Plus at Carphone Warehouse. She claimed she was drawn into the operation by an ex‑partner and a friend, both based in Nigeria, and that she feared for her three children's safety. Ojo had no prior convictions.
2017-10-23 · Waterford
A 29‑year‑old man, Danny Whelan, who has no fixed abode but was formerly of Thomas Street, Waterford, is charged with the murder of Samantha Walsh, a 31‑year‑old mother of four. Walsh was found dead in an apartment on Thomas Street on 28 April. The Central Criminal Court set the trial for 2 October 2018, with a two‑week duration.
2017-10-20 · Waterford
A jury at the Central Criminal Court in Waterford found Juraci Da Silva, a 36‑year‑old Brazilian meat‑factory worker, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for the death of James Banville, 28, on 8 October 2016. The jury also acquitted him of assault causing harm to Banville's friend Conor Hogan, but found him guilty of producing a knife during the fight. Da Silva had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter, a plea rejected by the State. He was remanded in custody until 20 November for a sentencing hearing. The case involved a series of assaults by Hogan and Banville, who had prior convictions, and a fatal stabbing that occurred after Da Silva was provoked and had produced a knife. The court noted that Da Silva was drunk, unsteady, and had no intent to kill, leading to the manslaughter verdict.
2017-10-20 · Waterford
A jury is deliberating on the verdicts in the trial of Juraci Da Silva, a 36‑year‑old Brazilian resident of Park Lane Apartments, Waterford. Da Silva pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of 28‑year‑old James Banville, who was killed on 8 October 2016 at New Street. He also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Conor Hogan and to producing a knife on the same day and place. The jury has spent about four hours reviewing the evidence after a 12‑day trial and will announce its decision this afternoon.
2017-10-19 · Waterford
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the defence argued that the deceased, James Banville, had provoked the accused, Juraci Da Silva, by assaulting and verbally abusing him. Da Silva, 36, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The defence presented CCTV footage showing two assaults on Da Silva by Banville and Conor Hogan, who were intoxicated and had previously been convicted of assault. The accused was described as smaller, highly intoxicated, and unsteady, and the assaults were characterised as cowardly, gratuitous and unprovoked. The defence claimed Da Silva acted in self‑defence, not with intent to kill, and therefore should be found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. The judge instructed the jury to consider the provocation and excessive self‑defence defences in light of the evidence presented.
2017-10-18 · Waterford
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution argued that Juraci Da Silva, 36, had taken the law into his own hands after being assaulted twice by James Banville and Conor Hogan. The prosecution presented CCTV footage and witness testimony showing Da Silva running to New Street with a knife after the attackers left, where he inflicted a fatal chest wound on Banville. They highlighted that Da Silva had previously been stabbed by Hogan and that the knife used had traces of Hogan's blood. The prosecution maintained that self‑defence was not applicable because Da Silva could have left the scene, and that any provocation would not justify murder. They urged the jury to find him guilty of murder, noting his anger and desire for revenge. The defence was scheduled to speak the following day. Juraci Da Silva pleaded not guilty.
2017-10-17 · Waterford
Juraci Da Silva, 36, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the death of James Banville, 28, who was stabbed in the heart on New Street in Waterford on October 8, 2016. Da Silva has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the State has not accepted. He also pleads not guilty to assaulting Conor Hogan and producing a knife. The trial heard that Banville had eight previous convictions, including a four-month jail sentence in March 2009 at New Ross District Court for threatening to kill under section 5 of the Non-fatal Offences Against the Person Act. Other convictions included assault, carrying an offensive weapon, and criminal damage. Defence counsel noted that Banville and Hogan allegedly assaulted and racially abused Da Silva before the incident. Detective Garda Darren Colfer testified that Da Silva was interviewed on October 9, 2016, where he denied stabbing anyone despite witness identification. The prosecution has finished calling evidence. Mr Justice Michael White is currently dealing with matters in the jury's absence and has asked them to return tomorrow morning. The matter is therefore adjourned.
2017-10-13 · Waterford
In a Waterford murder case, Brazilian man Juraci Da Silva, aged 36, admitted stabbing 28‑year‑old James Banville to death on 8 October 2016. He denies owning or carrying a knife, claiming he had never carried knives and was drunk. Da Silva pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea rejected by the State, and is now on trial at the Central Criminal Court. He also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Conor Hogan, who sustained a wound under his arm, and to producing a knife on the same night. Garda Kevin Nolan recounted interviewing Da Silva on 8 and 9 October, noting that both Banville and Hogan had previously assaulted him. Da Silva said he followed the men after a second assault but did not see them again, and that he had no knife. The trial continues before Justice Michael Kelly with a jury of twelve.
2017-10-12 · Waterford
Juraci Da Silva, 36, is on trial for murder of 28‑year‑old James Banville, who died after a stabbing on 8 October 2016. Da Silva pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, and also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Conor Hogan and to producing a knife on the same day and place. He was interviewed by Garda Kevin Nolan at Waterford Garda Station on the day of the fatal assault. Da Silva, who was intoxicated when first arrested, said he could not remember the events. He claimed he was attacked by two men, that he did not assault anyone, and that he had no knife. CCTV footage showed him walking after the attackers, but he denied retaliation. The trial is at the Central Criminal Court, with the jury to hear further evidence before 20 October.
2017-10-11 · Waterford
During a murder trial, Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis revealed that James Banville, who was stabbed to death on 8 October 2016 in Waterford, had alcohol, cocaine, methadone and valium in his system. He died from a single stab wound to the heart and was otherwise healthy. Juraci Da Silva, aged 36 and resident of Park Lane Apartments, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of Banville, a plea not accepted by the State, and is on trial at the Central Criminal Court. Da Silva also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Conor Hogan and to producing a knife on the same date and place. Dr Curtis explained that cocaine is a strong stimulant that can lead to erratic or violent behaviour, and that combining it with alcohol can enhance the effect. He noted that methadone is often prescribed to people who are addicted to opioids such as heroin.
2017-10-10 · Waterford
During a murder trial, witness Georgina Roche testified that blood poured from the deceased 28‑year‑old James Banville "like water from a hose" after he was stabbed. Roche had tried to keep Banville awake, but he did not respond and his eyes rolled back. The accused, Juraci Da Silva, 36, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, and also pleaded not guilty to assault and to producing a knife. The trial is at the Central Criminal Court. Witness Keith Wall described a fight involving a black man in a red jacket and two Irish men, noting aggressive behaviour and racial slurs. Dr John Power examined Da Silva the day after the stabbing, noting dizziness and bruising but no significant head injury, and passed him as fit for interview. The jury will hear further evidence tomorrow before Justice Michael White.
2017-10-09 · Waterford
During the trial of Juraci Da Silva, a 36‑year‑old Brazilian resident of Park Lane Apartments, a witness named Melanie Byrne testified that on the night of 8 October 2016, Da Silva was racially abused and assaulted by two Irish men, Conor Hogan and James Banville, who were also the alleged perpetrators of the murder of 28‑year‑old James Banville on New Street. Byrne described seeing the men shout racial slurs, punch Da Silva for no reason, and later threaten him with the words "Go back to your own country." She also recalled seeing the men earlier that evening in Sinnott's nightclub, appearing aggressive and "on something," and later witnessing them taking drugs in an alley before the assault. Additional witnesses, including Emily Keogh, Susan Foley, Emma Balfe, and Evan Russell, corroborated that Da Silva was attacked by the two Irish men, who were later identified as the murder suspects. Juraci Da Silva pleaded not guilty.
2017-10-06 · Waterford
During a murder trial, witness Conor Hogan denied that he and the deceased, 28‑year‑old James Banville, provoked the fatal knife attack on a Waterford street. Hogan, from Taghmon, said the accused, 36‑year‑old Brazilian meat‑factory worker Juraci Da Silva, "started it" when he approached them in an alley and wouldn't leave. He also said he could not remember racially abusing Da Silva or calling him a "pervert" or "paedophile." Da Silva has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, and is also charged with assaulting Hogan and producing a knife. Hogan testified that he and Banville had not provoked Da Silva, and that the first two assaults occurred when Da Silva approached them. The trial continues before Justice Michael White and a jury.
2017-10-05 · Waterford
Conor Hogan, aged 28, denies that he racially abused the Brazilian accused, Juraci Da Silva, during a 2016 assault in Waterford. Hogan admitted to assaulting Da Silva twice, but denied a third assault and said he could not recall telling Da Silva to "go back to your own country." Da Silva, 36, is on trial for murder and has pleaded not guilty to that charge but guilty to the manslaughter of James Banville, 28, who was stabbed by Da Silva. Da Silva also faces charges of assaulting Hogan and producing a knife. During cross‑examination, Hogan explained that he and Banville attacked Da Silva because he would not leave them alone, and that the colour of his skin was irrelevant. The trial is before Justice Michael White with a jury of twelve.
2017-10-04 · Waterford
During a murder trial, Conor Hogan, aged 28, recounted the events that led to the fatal stabbing of his friend James Banville on 8 October 2016. Hogan said he and Banville had celebrated Banville's first week in a new job, drinking in a few pubs in Waterford City. They were assaulted twice by Brazilian national Juraci Da Silva, 36, who later pursued them. Hogan and Banville attempted to hit Da Silva in an alley on Cross Lane, but Da Silva returned to the car on New Street and stabbed both men. Banville died from his injuries; Hogan required about ten stitches. Da Silva pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Banville, a plea not accepted by the State, and is on trial at the Central Criminal Court. He also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Hogan and to producing a knife. The trial continues tomorrow before Justice Michael Kelly and a jury of twelve.
2017-10-03 · Waterford
In a Waterford murder trial, 36‑year‑old Juraci Da Silva pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of 28‑year‑old James Banville, who was stabbed to death on New Street at about 3.15 am on 8 October 2016. Da Silva also pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm to Conor Hogan and to a third count of producing a knife. The prosecution presented CCTV footage showing that Banville and Hogan had assaulted Da Silva twice over a 20‑minute period, then left him. Da Silva, after changing clothes, followed them, produced a long knife and inflicted the fatal injury. The jury was told that the acts did not constitute self‑defence and that intent to kill or cause serious injury was required for murder. The trial continued before Justice Michael Kelly and a 12‑person jury.