The High Court has granted permission for the publication in a national newspaper of the names of over 300 former Christian Brothers who are now co-defendants in a civil abuse claim. These individuals are not accused of abuse but are being named in the hope that they will come forward. The case was heard by Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty, who granted the motion brought by the plaintiff's legal team. The plaintiff was abused by Christian Brother Liam Coughlan in the 1970s while attending school in Co Kilkenny. Coughlan received two jail terms in 2023 for indecent assault. The court has previously criticized David Gibson, the current head of the Christian Brothers, for an obstructive approach towards civil lawsuits. As an unincorporated association, the Christian Brothers cannot be sued unless a nominee is provided. Gibson has refused to act as a nominee, forcing litigants to take legal action against individual members. The case is being brought by a male survivor of abuse against Coughlan and Gibson. The names of 341 individuals will be published in the Irish Independent.
The High Court will decide whether to allow the media to publish the names of 340 former Christian Brothers in an effort to encourage survivors of abuse to come forward. The case was brought by a male survivor who was abused by Brother Liam Coughlan in the 1970s. Coughlan was previously jailed for 49 counts of indecent assault. The court heard that the current head of the Christian Brothers, David Gibson, has refused to act as a nominee for the congregation, making it difficult for litigants to bring legal action against the order. The plaintiff is seeking an order to compel the release of information that would help locate former members of the order. The court ordered Brother Gibson to use his powers to gather contact details for former members and adjourned the matter for a sub-service application for newspaper advertisements.
Neil Elliott, a man in his sixties, was jailed for four years for raping a 16-year-old boy on a Waterford beach. Elliott met the boy through a dating app and had sexual contact with him despite the boy being under the care of the State. The boy reported the incident to gardai, and Elliott was arrested. The court heard that Elliott claimed he believed the boy was 17 and that the boy initiated contact. The victim described the incident as traumatic, leading to mental health issues. Elliott pleaded guilty and expressed remorse. The court noted the age disparity and the vulnerability of the victim. The judge imposed a sentence of five years, with the final year suspended, and ordered Elliott to engage with the Probation Service. The court acknowledged Elliott's guilty plea and lack of prior convictions.
A man described as a 'manipulative monster' with a history of violence against women has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his eight-year-old daughter and attempted murder of his partner. Muhammed Al Shaker Al Tamimi, who pleaded guilty to the crimes, was given a consecutive ten-year sentence for the attempted murder of his partner, Aisha Al Katib, which will be served before the life sentence. The court heard that Al Tamimi, who had previously held Aisha against her will and forced her to have sex without her consent, stabbed his daughter in front of Aisha, who was paralyzed and unable to move. Aisha described the moment as one of the most traumatic of her life, with Al Tamimi smiling directly at her as he cut his daughter's throat. The judge emphasized the domestic violence aspect of the case and the extraordinary level of violence, stating that the sentences were appropriate.
William O'Gorman, 36, of Pine Lodge, Mooncoin, Kilkenny, was convicted on 17 April 2024 by a jury at the Waterford Circuit Court for unlawful cultivation of cannabis and possession of cannabis over €13,000 for sale or supply at a premises in Tramore, Waterford, on 18 January 2019. Judge Eugene O'Kelly sentenced him to ten years' imprisonment. O'Gorman appealed the severity of the sentence, arguing that the judge had erred in applying the mandatory minimum and had over‑valued his lack of cooperation and the absence of a guilty plea, while under‑valuing his family circumstances and efforts to address drug addiction. The Court of Appeal, hearing the case on 6 May 2025, found that the defence's arguments did not meet the threshold for departing from the mandatory minimum. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy dismissed the appeal, holding that no special circumstances of an exceptional nature were present to justify a lesser term. The ten‑year sentence remains in force. William O'Gorman pleaded not guilty.
The High Court granted a temporary injunction to RAS Medical Ltd, a Dublin‑registered cosmetic surgery practice, after it alleged that Create for the Web Limited, trading as Ireland Website Design, had failed to preserve important data, including medical information, relating to RAS Medical's websites. RAS Medical claimed that a falling out over an alleged secret recording of a Zoom call between director Dr Ahmed Salman and a representative of the website company led to the defendant's failure to retain data. The court, hearing the case ex‑parte, ordered the defendant to preserve data held by it in respect of RAS Medical's website. RAS Medical seeks further orders to compel compliance with the Data Protection Act and damages for alleged unlawful processing and dissemination of personal data. The matter will return before the court next week.
Liam Coughlan, 87, a former Christian Brother, was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment for 19 counts of indecent assault on boys at a school in the south east of Ireland between 1974 and 1978. He had previously been convicted of 30 counts of indecent assault on five other boys at the same school and was serving a three‑year, two‑month sentence. The judge noted the abuse caused lasting fear, embarrassment and psychological harm, and that Coughlan's position of authority and religious affiliation intensified the victims' sense of powerlessness. He pleaded guilty in July after earlier trials were scheduled. The sentence will run concurrently with the sentence he is currently serving. Coughlan has serious health problems, including prostate and bone cancer, heart disease and arthritis, which were cited as mitigating factors. The court heard victim impact statements describing anxiety, trust issues, alcohol problems and, for some, PTSD and severe mental health effects.
A Mattress Mick franchisee, Somnus GSM Limited, was ordered to pay former manager Shane Hearne €10,000 after a complaint under the Payment of Wages Act 1991. Hearne claimed he was owed €25,442 in wages and commission for work from September 2020 to April 2021, but received only €10,615.84, leaving a shortfall of €14,826.16. He alleged a verbal agreement for €550 a week net and 2% commission on all merchandise sales, but no documentation existed. The payroll manager denied the 2% commission, stating managers received 1% of their own sales and 1% of store sales, and cited issues with Revenue registration that led to a directors' loan instead of payment. The adjudicating officer noted the lack of documentary evidence and concluded it was reasonable for the respondent to pay €10,000 in compensation.
A Workplace Relations Commission adjudicating officer has dismissed a discrimination and victimisation claim brought by racecourse bookmaker Jim Desmond against the Association of Irish Racecourses CLG (AIR). Mr Desmond alleged that the operator of Mallow Racecourse refused him access to a tent during wet weather on 31 October 2021, a restriction he described as "apartheid Irish style." He claimed this constituted a "man-made discriminatory rule" imposed by AIR, arguing that other betting operators were allowed indoor facilities while on-course bookmakers were not. Mr Desmond, who stated he had attended Mallow meetings for 70 years, sought improved facilities rather than financial recompense and later attempted to progress the claim on the grounds of disability, citing compromised mobility. However, he acknowledged he had not specified a protected characteristic in his initial statutory notification. AIR chairman Paddy Walsh responded that the association had no role in designing betting rings and that Mr Desmond had failed to link his complaint to prescribed grounds. Adjudicating officer Patsy Doyle found that Mr Desmond did not have a protected disability and had not been refused service by AIR, as he paid the racecourse directly for his pitch. She determined there was no less favourable treatment by AIR and that the matter was a commercial dispute. While noting Mr Desmond acted in genuine belief, she concluded he was "mistaken" in his claim for victimisation.
In a High Court case, Mr David Allen, a 70‑year‑old farmer from Johnville, Rathdangan, sued Start Mortgages and its appointed receivers, Mr Ken Fennell and Mr James Anderson of Deloitte, over his apartment at Atlantic Coast Apartments, Tramore. Allen had bought the unit in 2000 after borrowing €125,000 from Irish Life and Permanent. He alleged that Start's conduct after acquiring the loan was aggressive and that the receivers entered the apartment, changed the locks, and threatened his planned sale to repay the remaining €82,000 owed. Allen sought injunctions to prevent the receivers from entering or interfering with the property. The case was settled a few weeks ago, with the only remaining matter being the legal costs. Mr Allen's counsel, Hugh O'Flaherty BL, informed Justice Leonie Reynolds that the parties had consented to strike out the action without a costs order. The court had previously criticised the defendants' handling of the case.
In a High Court hearing, counsel Hugh O'Flaherty BL represented 70‑year‑old farmer David Allen, who owns an apartment at Atlantic Coast Apartments, Tramore. Allen claimed that Start Mortgages and its receivers, Ken Fennell and James Anderson of Deloitte, had been appointed without legal entitlement and behaved "disgracefully." He alleged the receivers entered the apartment, changed the locks, and jeopardised his plan to sell the property to repay a €82,000 debt. Allen had secured a buyer that would cover the debt and had informed the parties of his intention to sell months earlier. The receivers' appointment was said to be aggressive and illogical, especially as the loan was performing. The court adjourned the case to allow the defendants' representatives to attend a remote hearing, with the judge noting the defendants' lack of timely response and the need to resolve costs and key provision. The matter was set to resume the following Monday.
Mary Lowry's son, 19‑year‑old Jack Lowry, testified at the Central Criminal Court that Pat Quirke, 50, was "in control most of the time, grumpy some of the time" and that he moved around his mother's farm as if he owned it. Lowry's son described his relationship with Quirke's family, noting that Quirke leased the farm from his mother and that Quirke's children were known to the family. He recalled his mother's affair with Bobby Ryan, a part‑time DJ known as Mr Moonlight, who disappeared on 3 June 2011 after leaving the Lowry home. Ryan's body was found in an underground run‑off tank on the farm 22 months later. The prosecution alleges Quirke killed Ryan to rekindle the affair. Lowry's son also recounted his own childhood memories of the farm, the family's travels, and his limited recollection of the day Ryan went missing. The trial is ongoing, with the court presided over by Justice Eileen Creedon. Pat Quirke pleaded not guilty.
In a case that unfolded over several years, Tadhg Butler, aged 37, pleaded guilty in July 2018 to unlawfully killing his nephew's friend, Michael O'Dwyer, who was 25 when he died on 10 January 2014. Butler's admission came after a series of trials that began in April 2015, where a jury was discharged, a second jury found him guilty of murder and imposed a mandatory life sentence, and a third trial ended with a hung jury. The Court of Appeal overturned the life sentence, and the State accepted a plea of guilty to manslaughter. Mr Justice Michael White, hearing the case in October 2018, set a headline sentence of 12 to 14 years, taking into account aggravating factors such as the violent and tragic circumstances of O'Dwyer's death and Butler's criminal history, and mitigating factors including Butler's remorse and lack of intent to cause serious injury. The judge backdated the sentence to the date Butler entered custody.
Tadhg Butler, aged 37, pleaded guilty to unlawfully killing Michael O'Dwyer on 10 January 2014. He was remanded in custody pending a sentence hearing on 18 October. Butler's case had seen three trials: the first in April 2015 ended with a jury discharge, the second resulted in a guilty verdict and a mandatory life sentence, which was overturned on appeal, and the third ended with a hung jury. Butler admitted he had stabbed O'Dwyer while taking a knife from his nephew to prevent self‑harm.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.".
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A trial date has been set for Tadhg Butler, 37, who is charged with the murder of Michael O'Dwyer, 25, at Butler's Seafield address in Tramore, Co. Wexford, on 10 January 2014. Butler, also known as Thomas O'Grady and originally from Kilkenny, is accused of killing O'Dwyer, who was found with a knife injury and pronounced dead at Waterford Regional Hospital at 1.35 am on that day. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy fixed 9 April 2018 as the start of the trial, which may extend into a second week. The case will be heard before a judge and jury.
Tadgh Butler, 36, of Seafield, Tramore, was found guilty of murdering Michael O'Dwyer, 25, at Butler's home on 10 January 2014. During the trial he dismissed his legal team on day six and cross‑examined his nephew, Anthony O'Grady, presenting a new version of events that alleged Butler had accidentally stabbed O'Dwyer while trying to remove a knife from O'Grady. O'Grady denied this claim. The jury, after 2 h 26 min of deliberation, returned a unanimous guilty verdict and Butler received a mandatory life sentence on 15 May 2015. Butler appealed, arguing that the trial judge should have warned him that the new version could not be considered by the jury without sworn evidence. The Court of Appeal agreed, quashing the conviction and ordering a retrial, while noting that the trial judge had correctly instructed the jury that unsworn statements could not be treated as evidence. Butler was remanded in custody pending the retrial. Tadgh Butler pleaded not guilty.
Tadhg Butler, 36, of Seafield, Tramore, was convicted of murdering Michael O'Dwyer, 25, at his home on 10 January 2014. During the trial he dismissed his legal team on day six and chose to represent himself, recalling his nephew, Anthony O'Grady, as a witness. Butler presented a new version of events, claiming he had accidentally stabbed O'Dwyer while removing a knife from O'Grady, a claim denied by O'Grady. The jury found Butler guilty after 2 h 26 min of deliberation and he received a mandatory life sentence on 15 May 2015. On appeal, the Court of Appeal held that the trial judge should have advised Butler that his new version could not be considered by the jury without sworn evidence. Consequently, the Court quashed Butler's conviction, with the possibility of a retrial to be considered later. Tadhg Butler pleaded not guilty.
Tadhg Butler, 36, of Seafield, Tramore, was convicted of murdering Michael O'Dwyer, 25, at Butler's home on 10 January 2014. The Central Criminal Court found him guilty after a 2‑hour 26‑minute trial and sentenced him to mandatory life imprisonment on 15 May 2015. During the trial, Butler dismissed his legal team on day six and cross‑examined his cousin, Patrick O'Grady, a key prosecution witness, in what the judge called an "exceptional situation." Butler later claimed he had changed his defence, suggesting the stabbing was accidental, but the witness rejected this proposition and no evidence was presented to support it. Butler has now filed an appeal on several grounds, with the Court of Appeal reserving judgment. The appeal is pending, and no further procedural developments are reported in the article. Tadhg Butler pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, evangelist Billy Patterson testified that he had known John Joseph Malone, a 53‑year‑old accused of murdering 69‑year‑old Ann 'Nancy' Smyth in 1987, for over 25 years. Patterson, who worked as an evangelist for Kilkenny's Presbyterian Church, said he had run bible studies in private homes that Malone sometimes attended. After the killing, Patterson invited Malone for a conversation in his van, during which Malone allegedly confessed to the murder. Patterson claimed he advised Malone to contact the Gardai, but he later said he had not reported the confession immediately because he felt loyalty to Malone and feared betraying him. Patterson admitted that he had made statements to the Gardai in 2012 and 2012‑13, but he had omitted details of the confession in those statements. The court was informed that Malone had also confessed to two teenagers during a church trip to Tramore in the late 1980s. The trial continues. John Joseph Malone pleaded not guilty.
In a High Court hearing, retired businessman John Cassidy of Rocklands House, Tramore, Waterford, argued that a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) issued by Waterford City and County Council on 8 November 2016 unlawfully prevented him from cutting down sycamore trees on his 6.5‑acre property, Bookies Wood. Cassidy had received a Limited Felling Licence from the Department of Agriculture in January 2016, allowing him to fell sycamores that were causing nuisance and safety concerns for neighbouring properties. He claimed that the TPO, which prohibits cutting down sycamores and Red Oaks, was imposed without his consultation and that it interfered with his lawful rights under the licence. Cassidy seeks judicial review to quash the TPO, declarations that the order is null and void, and damages from the council. Permission to proceed was granted by Mr Justice Seamus Noonan, with the case scheduled for a March hearing.
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.
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.