At the Central Criminal Court, the jury in a murder trial heard closing arguments concerning the death of a 23-year-old man in June 2014. Prosecutors alleged that the two accused men violently assaulted the victim and left him to drown in the River Shannon near Athlone, County Roscommon. Leszek Sychulec, aged 34, of Drinan, Ballymahon, County Longford, and Andrzej Gruchacz, aged 35, a resident of Warsaw, Poland, have each pleaded not guilty to murder and false imprisonment charges relating to the incident. The State's closing submission contended that DNA evidence recovered from Mr Sychulec's clothing linked him to the deceased. The defence challenged the identification evidence against Mr Gruchacz, questioning the reliability of CCTV footage and passport photographs. A witness testified that he was present during the incident. The judge will deliver his charge to the jury on Wednesday.
The State has completed its case at the Central Criminal Court in the trial of two men accused of murdering a 23-year-old man in Athlone. Leszek Sychulec, aged 34, of Drinan, Ballymahon, County Longford, and Andrzej Gruchacz, aged 35, from Warsaw, Poland, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Patryk Krupa at Bogganfin, Athlone, County Roscommon on 20 June 2014. The court heard that Mr Krupa drowned after sustaining a head injury during a violent assault. Both defendants also deny charges of falsely imprisoning Mr Krupa on the same date and location. Evidence presented included CCTV footage and a statement from a witness who spoke to Mr Sychulec on the night in question. The jury, comprising four women and eight men, was adjourned to allow legal matters to be discussed in their absence. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
The Central Criminal Court has heard DNA evidence linking a deceased man to items seized from one of two men on trial for his murder. Patryk Krupa, aged 23, drowned in the River Shannon on 20 June 2014 following an alleged violent assault in Athlone, County Roscommon. DNA profiler Dr Stephen Clifford testified that genetic material matching the deceased was recovered from a bloodstained watch and sock belonging to Leszek Sychulec, aged 34, of Drinan, Ballymahon, County Longford. The scientist stated the probability of the DNA originating from another person was less than one in a billion for the watch sample and less than one in 11 million for the sock. DNA matching Mr Krupa was also found on a black BMW, the court heard. Sychulec and Andrzej Gruchacz, aged 35, with an address in Warsaw, Poland, have each pleaded not guilty to murder and false imprisonment. The prosecution alleges both men forcibly removed Mr Krupa and left him incapacitated in the river. The trial continues.
Evidence has been heard at the Central Criminal Court in relation to a driving licence found in the name of a witness in a murder trial. Tomas Strugacz testified that his Polish driving licence went missing in Dublin in June 2013, which he reported to gardaí in Lucan before obtaining a replacement. An identification card bearing his name and address but a different photograph was produced in court during proceedings. The trial concerns Leszek Sychulec, aged 34, of Drinan, Ballymahon, County Longford, and Andrzej Gruchacz, aged 35, with an address in Warsaw, Poland. Both men have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Patryk Krupa, aged 23, at Bogganfin, Athlone, County Roscommon on 20 June 2014. They also deny falsely imprisoning the deceased on the same date. The court has heard that Mr Krupa drowned following a violent assault. The trial before Mr Justice Tony Hunt continues.
The Central Criminal Court trial of two men accused of murdering a 23-year-old at Bogganfin, Athlone has continued with legal argument in the absence of the jury. Leszek Sychulec, aged 34, of Drinan, Ballymahon, County Longford, and Andrzej Gruchacz, aged 35, with an address in Warsaw, Poland, face charges of murdering Patryk Krupa on 20 June 2014. Both men have pleaded not guilty to murder and to a separate charge of false imprisonment. The prosecution alleges the accused removed Mr Krupa from Athlone, travelled to the Shannon riverbank, and assaulted him before he drowned while incapacitated. The trial before Mr Justice Tony Hunt began last week and entered its seventh day. Procedural matters were addressed before the jury this morning, with further evidence anticipated this afternoon.
A key prosecution witness in a Central Criminal Court murder trial conceded during cross-examination that he disclosed nothing to gardaí about the alleged killing until after his own arrest on suspicion of murder. Kuba Zmuda testified that he witnessed the assault on Patryk Krupa, aged 23, on the banks of the River Shannon near Athlone on 20 June 2014. Leszek Sychulec, aged 34, of Drinan, Ballymahon, County Longford, and Andrzej Gruchacz, aged 35, of Warsaw, Poland, are charged with Mr Krupa's murder. Both men deny the allegations and also deny a separate charge of false imprisonment. The trial heard that Mr Krupa died from a head injury sustained during an assault. Under cross-examination by the defence barrister, Mr Zmuda acknowledged that he had made no statement to gardaí prior to his arrest, despite meeting Mr Krupa's sister and receiving a phone call from his girlfriend. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and jury. The unnamed 23-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A witness has testified at the Central Criminal Court that he observed two men remove a 23-year-old from a vehicle, assault him for approximately 15 minutes, and subsequently drag him towards the River Shannon. Kuba Zmuda was providing evidence in the trial of Leszek Sychulec, aged 34, of Drinan, Ballymahon, County Longford, and Andrzej Gruchacz, aged 35, from Warsaw, Poland. Both men are charged with the murder of Patryk Krupa at Bogganfin, Athlone, County Roscommon on 20 June 2014. Each defendant has entered a not guilty plea to the murder charge and to a separate count of false imprisonment. Mr Zmuda described being present when the accused men located Mr Krupa on Church Street in Athlone town centre and brought him to a location near the N6 bridge crossing the Shannon. He stated the men beat and kicked Mr Krupa, who was subsequently found drowned. The trial continues at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury.
At the Central Criminal Court, a jury heard evidence that a 23-year-old man drowned in the Shannon River following a violent assault that left him incapacitated. State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy described severe blunt force trauma to the deceased's head, including a fractured nose, facial swelling, and injuries consistent with kicks and punching. She found blood-tinged froth in the airways and river debris in the lungs, indicating drowning while unconscious. The brain trauma was sufficient to cause concussion or unconsciousness, rendering the victim unable to resist being pulled into the water, the pathologist concluded. Leszek Sychulec, aged 34, of Drinan, Ballymahon, County Longford, and Andrzej Gruchacz, aged 35, from Warsaw, Poland, are charged with murdering Patryk Krupa at Bogganfin, County Roscommon, on 20 June 2014. Both men have pleaded not guilty to murder and false imprisonment. The trial before Mr Justice Tony Hunt continues.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court has heard evidence concerning the death of a 23-year-old man recovered from the Shannon in June 2014. The deceased's mother described viewing her son's body at Roscommon mortuary, noting severe bruising and swelling to his face and head. Leszek Sychulec, aged 34, of Drinan, Ballymahon, County Longford, and Andrzej Gruchacz, aged 35, with an address in Warsaw, Poland, are charged with murdering Patryk Krupa at Bogganfin, County Roscommon on 20 June 2014. Both men have pleaded not guilty to murder and to a second charge of false imprisonment. The prosecution alleges the accused subjected the victim to a severe beating before placing him in the river. A witness testified to observing two men wearing blood-stained clothing at a fuel station later that evening. The trial before Mr Justice Tony Hunt continues with a jury of twelve.
A woman described finding her boyfriend's body in the Shannon River while pregnant, giving evidence at the Central Criminal Court in the trial of two men charged with his murder. Malwina Kurowski testified that she had been unable to contact Patryk Krupa after he finished work in Athlone on 20 June 2014. She said her brother told her Mr Krupa had been taken by unknown men. Ms Kurowski collected her brother and a friend, and they drove to Bogganfin near the N6 bridge where they discovered Mr Krupa's belongings and found him in the water. Leszek Sychulec, aged 34, of Drinan, Ballymahon, County Longford, and Andrzej Gruchacz, aged 35, from Warsaw, Poland, are each charged with murdering the 23-year-old man by beating him unconscious and leaving him to drown. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to murder and to a second charge of false imprisonment. The trial before Mr Justice Tony Hunt is expected to last over three weeks.
The Central Criminal Court heard evidence from CCTV footage during the trial of two men charged with murder in County Roscommon. Leszek Sychulec, aged 34, of Drinan in Ballymahon, County Longford, and Andrzej Gruchacz, aged 35, from Warsaw, Poland, are accused of murdering Patryk Krupa at Bogganfin, Athlone on 20 June 2014. The prosecution alleges the victim was beaten unconscious and left to drown in the Shannon. Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and to a second charge each of false imprisonment on the same date and location. A jury of twelve was empanelled to hear the case. Video footage captured at Collins Service Station in Athlone on the evening in question was presented to the jury, along with still photographs extracted from the footage. The jury was subsequently excused pending discussion of legal matters.
Two men appeared before the Central Criminal Court in April 2016 charged with the murder of a 23-year-old man in County Roscommon nearly two years earlier. Leszek Sychulec, aged 34, of Drinan, Ballymahon, County Longford, and Andrzej Gruchacz, aged 35, with an address in Warsaw, Poland, pleaded not guilty to murdering Patryk Krupa at Bogganfin, Athlone on 20 June 2014. Both men also denied a charge of false imprisonment on the same date and location. The prosecution outlined that the victim had been subjected to severe violence and subsequently drowned in the Shannon River. Evidence was expected to show that witnesses identified the accused men leaving a black BMW vehicle at the riverside location. A pathologist was anticipated to give evidence regarding injuries consistent with footwear marks and that the victim was unconscious when entering the water. The trial, heard before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, was expected to continue for more than three weeks.
James Flanagan, 56, applied for weekend work advertised on Jobs.ie by a fake garage. He was tasked with picking up and dropping off cars for the garage, earning €50 to €200 per job. Flanagan pleaded guilty to producing a false instrument at Athlone train station on 27 September 2013. He met Emmet Lyons, who offered a car for sale, and handed over a forged bank draft of €13,800. The garage then advertised the car again, and Flanagan later met a woman at Jack White's Pub who paid €9,000 for the car. The woman was allowed to keep the car as she bought it in good faith. Lyons suffered a loss of €13,800 and could not recover it through insurance. Flanagan will be sentenced later; the case was adjourned to 25 July for sentencing. The prosecution said Flanagan acted recklessly rather than intentionally. The court noted Flanagan's financial difficulties and recent family losses.
Paul Henry, 29, of Roscommon, was committed to the Central Mental Hospital following a trial at the Central Criminal Court. He was charged with murdering his mother, Ann Henry, at Abbeystown, Ballyphesan, in Roscommon town on September 17, 2011. Mr Henry pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder by reason of insanity. During the trial, defence counsel called Professor Tom Fahey, who diagnosed a delusional disorder, while the prosecution called Dr Brenda Wright, who diagnosed paranoid schizophrenia. The jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty of murder by reason of insanity after one hour and 36 minutes of deliberation. At the sentencing stage, Dr Damian Mohan, an approved medical officer at the Central Mental Hospital, testified that Mr Henry continues to suffer from paranoid schizophrenia and requires inpatient care to prevent deterioration and risk to others. Mr Justice Tony Hunt accepted the evidence, stating that Mr Henry must be treated as an unwell person rather than a criminal. The judge ordered that Mr Henry be committed to the Central Mental Hospital under the supervision of Dr Mohan and his staff, noting that this inpatient care is necessary until he is no longer a danger to himself or others.
A 29-year-old man from Roscommon has been found not guilty of murdering his mother by reason of insanity at the Central Criminal Court. Paul Henry was charged with killing Ann Henry at Abbeystown, Ballyphesan on 17 September 2011. The defence conceded that Henry killed his mother but argued he was legally insane at the time. Two psychiatrists gave evidence: the defence called a consultant psychiatrist who diagnosed a delusional disorder, whilst the prosecution's forensic psychiatrist diagnosed paranoid schizophrenia. Both experts testified that Henry lacked capacity to form criminal intent due to his mental condition. The jury deliberated for one hour and 36 minutes before returning a unanimous verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The judge ordered Henry's detention at the Central Mental Hospital and praised the jury for their careful consideration of the evidence.
A man from Roscommon has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his mother by reason of insanity at the Central Criminal Court. Paul Henry, aged 29, is charged with stabbing Ann Henry to death at Abbeystown, Ballyphesan in Roscommon town on 17 September 2011. During the trial, forensic psychiatrist Dr Brenda Wright gave evidence that she had diagnosed Mr Henry with paranoid schizophrenia, characterised by delusions that his mother and others were conspiring to harm him. Dr Wright told the court that Mr Henry believed his mother intended to have him killed and that he would be killed if he did not kill her first. Both prosecution and defence counsels submitted to the jury that the evidence supported a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The prosecution noted that medical staff at the Central Mental Hospital supported this assessment. The jury commenced deliberations following the judge's charge.
A forensic psychiatrist has told the Central Criminal Court that a 29-year-old Roscommon man lacked the capacity to form intent when he stabbed his mother to death due to mental disorder. Paul Henry, of Ardsallagh, Athlone Road, Roscommon, pleaded not guilty to murdering Ann Henry at Abbeystown, Ballyphesan on 17 September 2011 by reason of insanity. Dr Brenda Wright, a prosecution psychiatrist, testified that Mr Henry suffered from paranoid schizophrenia characterised by delusions concerning his mother. The court heard Mr Henry believed his mother intended to have him killed and that he would himself be killed if he did not act. Dr Wright stated that Mr Henry did not understand the nature of his actions and was unable to refrain from them. The trial at the Central Criminal Court continues.
A Roscommon man pleaded not guilty to murdering his mother by reason of insanity at the Central Criminal Court on 15 February 2016. Paul Henry, aged 29, is charged with stabbing his mother Ann Henry to death at Abbeystown, Ballyphesan on 17 September 2011, approximately one month after his release from psychiatric hospital. The accused has admitted killing his mother. The court heard that Ms Henry sustained ten stab wounds, including injuries to her thoracic aorta and right lung. Evidence indicated Mr Henry had been involuntarily committed to hospital in July 2011 but was released after a Mental Health Tribunal determined he did not meet detention criteria. Defence and prosecution psychiatrists are expected to testify that the accused was suffering from a mental disorder at the time, with the defence consultant suggesting delusional disorder or schizophrenia. The trial continues.
In Athlone, a 32‑year‑old man was sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a nine‑year‑old and a six‑year‑old girl in a flat on 28 September 2013. He had pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court and was given a life sentence by Mr Justice Paul Carney on 3 March 2014. The man appealed the sentence, arguing it was excessive. His barrister, Sean Gillane SC, acknowledged the "nightmarish aspects" of the case and noted the seriousness of abducting and raping two very young children. Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan and Mr Justice Alan Mahon, dismissed the appeal, concluding that the sentencing judge had not erred in imposing a discretionary life sentence. The appeal was rejected on 21 December 2015. The case remains a life‑sentence conviction for the offender.
A dispute over a Wedgwood fruit bowl, previously described as part of a Queen Victoria‑commissioned dinner service, has been remitted from the High Court to the Circuit Court because it is unclear whether money was ever paid for the item. The bowl was bought by Mary Elsie Carroll in the post‑war years in England and later sold by her brother, Michael Carroll, for an alleged £100,000. Marie Ryan, the executrix of Carroll's estate, has sought orders to restrain any dissipation of proceeds from the sale. Both parties consented to the case being heard in the Circuit Court, and Mr Justice Paul Gilligan remitted the matter to the Midland Circuit Court, noting that all parties are from Athlone. The case now proceeds in the Circuit Court, with the question of payment remaining unresolved.
42‑year‑old Declan Doyle of Crumlin, Dublin, has filed a High Court application to stop a robbery charge alleged to have been committed in 1999. Doyle, who says he was addicted to drugs at the time and that his life was "quite disordered," claims the prosecution is unreasonable and disproportionate after 16 years. He argues that the delay has infringed his constitutional rights and that he has led a law‑abiding life for the past 16 years. Doyle, who has been drug‑free since 2000 after a rehabilitation programme in Athlone, has already turned himself in to Gardaí and was granted bail. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Richard Humphreys, adjourned the application for two weeks. Doyle seeks an order preventing the Director of Public Prosecutions from prosecuting him for the alleged robbery. The case remains at the application stage.
The appeal of a case involving an unnamed man, who was initially sentenced to six months in prison and ordered to pay €75,000 in compensation by Judge Desmond Hogan, has been addressed by the Court of Criminal Appeal. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed the sentence, arguing it was unduly lenient. In July 2014, the Court of Criminal Appeal found the original sentence by Judge Hogan to be unduly lenient and imposed an additional 18 months. The matter was adjourned and never described as concluded or finalised. Judge Desmond Hogan, who is from Athlone, retired today after 15 years on the bench, most of it spent sitting in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. His retirement comes after a career that included handling high-profile cases, such as that of Anthony Lyons, a sex offender who assaulted a young woman in Dublin. Judge Hogan's tenure was marked by his characteristic good humour and commitment to the justice system, which he described as 'manifestly fair'.
In November 2015, Jimmy Devaney, a 67‑year‑old retired soldier, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for the manslaughter of Marie Greene, a prostitute whose body was found in Anagorta Bog nine days after she disappeared. The Central Criminal Court had earlier acquitted him of murder but found him guilty of manslaughter after a jury deliberated for four hours and 23 minutes. Justice Margaret Heneghan, who had considered an eleven‑year custodial sentence, imposed eight years, back‑dating it to the day the jury returned its verdict. The judge noted aggravating factors such as the use of a knife, multiple wounds, attempts to destroy evidence and lack of cooperation with Gardaí, and mitigating factors including an early plea, an apology, cooperation and Devaney's prior good character. The sentence was announced after evidence of six stab wounds to Greene's trunk and several incised wounds to her head and neck was presented.
In 2013, a 32‑year‑old man lured a nine‑year‑old and a six‑year‑old girl from a children's birthday party in Athlone, threatened to cut their parents' throats, and repeatedly raped them in a flat. He pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court and was sentenced to two life sentences by Mr Justice Paul Carney on 3 March 2014. On 14 November 2015 he moved to appeal the life sentences, arguing they were excessive. His barrister, Sean Gillane SC, acknowledged the "nightmarish aspects" of the case and noted the man's full admissions and early plea. The appeal was filed on the basis that the single set of offences might be viewed differently, but the court was instructed to reserve judgment and deliberate further. The appeal remains pending.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the nephew of 37‑year‑old Marie Greene delivered a victim impact statement. He described the murder that took place on 13 February 2011, when Greene was taken to Anagorta Bog outside Athlone, brutally killed and her body dumped in a ditch. The statement highlighted the family's anguish, the loss of a beloved aunt, and the subsequent death of Greene's brother John, who died 21 days later. The nephew emphasized that the killer had shown no respect for Greene's life or body, and that the family endured further pain when Greene's character was portrayed negatively in the media. He urged the court to deliver an appropriate sentence for the person responsible for the cruel and callous killing. The hearing also noted that retired defence forces member Jimmy Devaney was acquitted of murder but found guilty of manslaughter, with sentencing pending. The statement was read on behalf of Greene's grandmother, mother, and extended family. The unnamed 37-year-old pleaded not guilty.
James Broderick, aged 77, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to six offences – three rapes and three indecent assaults – committed against his daughter Rita Broderick between 1983 and 1984. The abuse began when Rita was four in Manchester and continued after the family moved to Athlone, ending when she was 15 and fled the house. Mr Justice Hunt sentenced Broderick to 15 years' imprisonment, suspending eight years, citing his confession and lack of prior convictions as mitigating factors. Rita Broderick, 46, gave a victim impact statement describing the abuse as a defining, corrosive experience that left her with Dissociative Identity Disorder. She praised the sentence as a "good outcome" and highlighted the lasting mental health effects of her father's actions. The case was reported in the media after Rita waived anonymity.
Rita Broderick, aged 46, gave a victim impact statement at the Central Criminal Court after her father James Broderick, aged 77, pleaded guilty to three rapes and three indecent assaults that occurred in their Athlone home between January 1983 and September 1984. She described her childhood as a "war zone" and said the repeated abuse began when she was four in Manchester, continued after the family moved to Athlone when she was 13, and ended when she was 15 after she fled the house. Broderick said the abuse forced her to disassociate, leading to Dissociative Identity Disorder, and that she now lives in America, has suffered an eating disorder, hip dysplasia and has been unable to have children. She also noted that her brother and sister endured emotional abuse. The judge praised her statement and noted the damage left by her father. The case is pending sentencing.
Two men found liable in civil proceedings relating to the 1998 Omagh bombing appeared before the Master of the High Court in Dublin on Wednesday to answer questions regarding their assets. Liam Campbell of Upper Faughart, Dundalk, and Michael Colm Murphy of Lower Faughart, Dundalk, County Louth, were ordered to provide details of their financial holdings as part of enforcement of a judgment requiring them to pay families of the 29 people killed in the attack. Both men denied possessing significant assets. Mr Campbell stated he owns only a half share in the family home and adjoining land. Mr Murphy claimed to hold no assets following his divorce. Lawyers acting for the victim's families sought comprehensive disclosure of property, savings, shares and company interests. Following examination, both men undertook to provide sworn statements detailing assets valued above €5,000 by 23 October.
In a Westmeath case, retired army private Jimmy Devaney, aged 67, was acquitted of murder but found guilty of manslaughter in the death of prostitute Marie Greene on 13 February 2011. The jury, after 4 hours 23 minutes, returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty of murder and guilty of manslaughter. Justice Margaret Heneghan thanked the jury and excused them for 15 years, adjourned sentencing to 2 November, and remanded Devaney in custody until that date. Greene was last seen alive on the night of her death and her body was discovered nine days later in Anagorta Bog. Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy reported six stab wounds to the trunk and multiple incise wounds to the head and neck, some possibly part of a continuous attack after death. The State alleged Devaney murdered Greene because she had blackmailed him for money and threatened to reveal his wife.
The jury in the trial of retired army private Jimmy Devaney, aged 67, is set to resume deliberations after an hour and fifteen minutes of discussion. Devaney, who pleaded not guilty, is accused of murdering prostitute Marie Greene on 13 February 2011 in Westmeath. Greene was last seen alive that evening and her body was found nine days later in Anagorta Bog. The State alleges Devaney killed Greene after she blackmailed him for money and threatened to inform his wife. Devaney claims he met Greene at Anagorta Bog, that she threatened to involve her brothers, and that he stabbed her in a struggle, losing control. He also says he had given her up to €40,000 over six months. Evidence includes a videolink testimony from Devaney's brother‑in‑law, Peter Boardman, who supplied knives used in his butcher trade. Judge Margaret Heneghan explained that provocation could reduce murder to manslaughter if the jury believes Devaney was provoked.
In the Central Criminal Court, retired defence forces member Jimmy Devaney, aged 67, pleaded not guilty to the murder of prostitute Marie Greene on 13 February 2011. The prosecution argued Devaney planned the killing, bringing a knife to Anagorta Bog where Greene was found. Defence counsel contended Greene regularly visited the bog and the knife might have been stolen from Devaney's jeep. Prosecutor Alex Owens highlighted Devaney's "cock and bull story" to Gardaí about the knife, suggesting an attempt to distance himself from the weapon. Owens urged the jury to consider whether Devaney's alleged provocation could have caused a sudden loss of self‑control, potentially leading to a manslaughter verdict. Defence lawyer Giollaiosa O'Lideadha denied any planning, emphasizing the seriousness of manslaughter and questioning the knife's role in the alleged plan. The jury, composed of six men and six women, was instructed to remain impartial and was later informed that one juror had been discharged.
In the ongoing trial at the Central Criminal Court, a juror was discharged after a review by Justice Margaret Heneghan. The case concerns retired army private Jimmy Devaney, aged 67, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of prostitute Marie Greene in Westmeath on 13 February 2011. The jury, originally composed of six men and six women, confirmed they had not discussed the case with each other or any third parties. Following the discharge, the trial proceeds with the remaining six women and five men, who will deliver closing speeches this afternoon.
The trial of Jimmy Devaney, a 66‑year‑old retired army private, is concluding after the prosecution finished presenting evidence. Devaney, who pleaded not guilty, is accused of murdering Marie Greene, a prostitute, on 13 February 2011. The court heard that Greene was last seen alive that evening and her body was found in Anagorta Bog nine days later. Devaney claimed he was blackmailed by Greene for up to €40,000 and that she threatened to expose him and his family. He denied bringing a knife but admitted he stabbed her after losing control. The prosecution presented interviews, video footage, and financial records suggesting a blackmail motive. The defence highlighted Devaney's family background and alleged prior client interactions. Closing speeches will be delivered before the judge gives directions to the jury.
In the Central Criminal Court, 66‑year‑old Jimmy Devaney pleaded not guilty to the murder of Marie Greene, a prostitute, on 13 February 2011. Devaney told Gardaí he had been blackmailed by Greene for up to €40,000, claiming she threatened to inform his wife. He admitted to stabbing Greene after a confrontation in a bog near Ballykieran, stating he had previously given her €20,000–€40,000 over six months and had not repaid it. Devaney denied bringing a knife that night, but described wrestling with Greene, grabbing a knife from her, and stabbing her before burying the body. He recalled meeting Greene a decade earlier, developing a relationship that involved sexual favors for money. The trial continues with a jury of twelve, presided over by Justice Margaret Heneghan.
In a 2015 trial, Jimmy Devaney, 66, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Marie Greene, 37, a prostitute who disappeared on 13 February 2011 and whose body was found nine days later in a bog near Ballykieran. The court heard that a knife with a green handle, recovered under the boot cover of Devaney's car, bore blood that DNA testing matched to Greene. Detective Garda Lynn Johnson presented evidence of items recovered from the bog, including Greene's social services card and a rosary bracelet. Phone records showed 60 contacts between Devaney and Greene from January to February 2011. Forensic scientist John Hoade confirmed the DNA match, and State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy described the fatal stab wounds, noting multiple injuries to the chest, ribs, and heart that caused death. The case proceeded before Justice Margaret Heneghan and a jury.
In the Westmeath murder trial, retired Defence Forces member Jimmy Devaney, aged 66, has pleaded not guilty to the killing of Marie Greene on 13 February 2011. The case is in its third day of legal argument before the Central Criminal Court, with a jury of six men and six women and Justice Margaret Heneghan presiding. The proceedings will continue tomorrow.
The trial of Jimmy Devaney, a 66‑year‑old retired member of the Defence Forces, continues in legal argument. Devaney pleaded not guilty to the murder of Marie Greene in Westmeath on 13 February 2011. The case is set to proceed to evidence tomorrow before a jury of six men and six women, presided over by Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan.
The Central Criminal Court heard evidence that retired defence forces member Jimmy Devaney, 66, had blood‑shot eyes and scratches on his hands on the night he is accused of murdering Marie Greene, a prostitute, on 13 February 2011. Devaney pleaded not guilty. Witnesses said he was playing cards at the Lighthouse Casino in Custume Place that evening, arriving around 8 pm and returning around 9 pm. He was described as flustered, with a torn shirt and cuts on his knuckles, which he claimed were from falling in a ditch while helping someone out of a car. The prosecution alleges he stabbed Greene six times and killed her because she threatened to expose him as a client. The trial is now in the legal argument stage before a jury presided by Justice Margaret Heneghan.
In the Central Criminal Court, Jimmy Devaney, 66, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Marie Greene, a prostitute who vanished on 13 February 2011 and whose body was found nine days later in a bog near Ballykieran, Athlone. Devaney, a retired defence forces member, was seen playing cards at the Lighthouse Casino that night and later returned to the club. Alan Kavanagh, the casino owner, testified that Devaney claimed a woman was blackmailing him and that he killed her to protect his family. Kavanagh also noted Devaney's request to remove CCTV cameras. Witnesses, including Greene's sisters and mother, described phone calls and the victim's last known movements. Prosecutor Alex Owens argued that Devaney's motive was the alleged blackmail and that he had recently obtained money from friends and relatives. The trial proceeded with a jury of twelve.
A retired member of the Defence Forces has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court accused of murdering a woman in Westmeath in February 2011. Jimmy Devaney, aged 66, from Monksland, Athlone, has pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering Marie Greene on 13 February 2011 at Annagorta bog near Ballykieran. The prosecution alleges that Mr Devaney killed Ms Greene, who had worked as a prostitute in Athlone, because she was blackmailing him. The court heard that Ms Greene's body was discovered nine days after she went missing. According to the prosecution, evidence will show Mr Devaney had been seeking money from various sources in the months preceding the alleged killing. The State Pathologist is expected to give evidence that death resulted from multiple stab wounds to the chest. The trial continues before Justice Margaret Heneghan and a jury of twelve.
The Central Criminal Court adjourned the trial of Jimmy Devaney, a 66‑year‑old retired defence forces member, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of Marie Greene in Westmeath on 13 February 2011. A jury of six men and six women was sworn in, but Justice Margaret Heneghan postponed the start because another trial was scheduled. The court set the trial to begin the following day and last about two weeks.
A jury of six men and six women was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the trial of Jimmy Devaney, a 66‑year‑old retired member of the defence forces, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Marie Greene in Westmeath on 13 February 2011. The trial is set to begin on Wednesday and is expected to last two weeks.
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.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Eric Wansboro, 27, was sentenced to eight and a half years in jail for dangerous driving that caused the death of 43‑year‑old Sinead Maguire and serious bodily harm to Liam McDonagh. Wansboro pleaded guilty to the offence committed on 29 May 2014 when he was driving a Toyota Avensis at high speed, pursued by a Garda patrol. The collision, which occurred at a junction with a 50 kph limit, left the car heavily damaged and all occupants unconscious. Maguire died from severe neck and spinal injuries; McDonagh suffered a fractured jaw and lost five teeth. Wansboro had a suspended three‑year sentence for a 2011 stolen‑car offence and a ten‑year driving disqualification. The judge imposed a five‑and‑a‑half‑year term for the dangerous driving, back‑dated to the date he entered custody, and added the suspended sentence, bringing the total to eight and a half years.
The High Court has ruled that an engineer and two related construction companies must indemnify the operators of a DIY and garden centre in County Longford following a fatal wall collapse in 2013. Two men died and several others sustained serious injuries when an internal wall at Connacht Gold Co-Op Society's premises on Athlone Road, Longford collapsed on 29 January 2013. The widow of one deceased man, Sean Mulleady, settled a negligence action for €750,000 against the shop's tenant, the property owners Vincent Ruane Builders Ltd and Vincent Ruane Construction Ltd, and project manager Simon Beale. Mr Justice Michael Peart found that Mr Beale must fully indemnify Aurivo cooperative society, the current tenant. Both construction companies were ordered to each contribute 20 per cent indemnity to Mr Beale. The judge determined the wall was constructed without adequate support, creating an obvious danger. The court also awarded €210,000 for property damage sustained in the collapse.
Eddie Winston, a 60‑year‑old father of seven, and Lee Bracken Kennedy, a 21‑year‑old student, were sentenced for their roles in a large‑scale drug deal in Kildare. Winston met Kennedy at a Leixlip industrial estate to hand over nearly €20,000 worth of cannabis herb, but Gardaí intercepted them. A key found on Winston led to a lock‑up unit containing just under €180,000 of drugs, a gun and ammunition. Winston was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for possession of €176,325 worth of heroin, cocaine and cannabis resin, and for possession of a 12‑gauge double‑barrel shotgun with 238 rounds. Kennedy received a three‑year suspended sentence and was bound to the peace for three years for unlawful possession of cannabis herb. Both pleaded guilty; Winston initially denied involvement but later admitted it. The judge noted their gross errors of judgment.
Colin Goggin, 52, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for sexually abusing two teenage boys and an additional two years for possession of child pornography, with all sentences running concurrently. He fled to Spain after the first victim came forward in 2007, remained there for five years, and was returned to Ireland on a European Arrest Warrant. Goggin failed to attend his trial, was remanded in custody, and later pleaded guilty to the offences. The judge noted that Goggin's role as an athletics coach gave him access to young victims. He had previously worked as a photographer and external sports coach at a south Dublin school. During a photo shoot at his home, he sexually assaulted one boy, and while training another, he attempted a forced act that the boy resisted. Gardaí found about 2,000 images of child pornography in his home, including material in the second most offensive category on a five‑point scale.
A motorist, Kim Nugent, 30, has filed a High Court action to have the six penalty points she received for two speeding offences on the M6 motorway on 6 August 2014 quashed. Nugent, a hairdresser from Athlone, was driving to and from Dublin when she was stopped twice by the Gardai for exceeding the 120km/h limit near Fardrum, Moate. She already had six points on her licence, so the additional six brought her total to 12, triggering a six‑month disqualification and the surrender of her licence. Nugent's counsel, Michéal Ó Higgins SC, argues that a technical loophole in the penalty‑point legislation renders the points and the resulting disqualification null and void. She seeks orders quashing the endorsement of the points, the disqualification, and a declaration that the endorsement is void. Mr Justice Seamus Noonan granted ex‑parte permission, staying the points and setting a return date in January.
Garda whistleblower Keith Harrison, the applicant, brought a High Court challenge against the Garda Commissioner to halt internal disciplinary proceedings. Harrison denies all allegations, which include verbal and physical abuse, assault, and harassment of his partner, as well as allegedly accessing her car details on the Garda Pulse system 25 times between August 2009 and April 2013. He claims there is no bona fide basis for the inquiry and that the appointment of an investigating officer on December 1 was unlawful and unconstitutional. Harrison seeks orders prohibiting the investigation into alleged breaches of Garda Disciplinary Regulations and criminal conduct between October 1998 and October 2013. He argues his partner was unlawfully pressurised into making a statement, which was subsequently forwarded to GSOC, and that both their privacy rights were breached. Counsel Mark Harty SC stated the decision to investigate was malicious and oppressive, citing prior bullying following Harrison's arrest of a colleague in Athlone. Mr Justice Seamus Noonan granted permission to bring the action on an ex parte basis and imposed a stay on the disciplinary process pending the outcome. The matter was adjourned and made returnable to a date in late January.
The family of a 48-year-old man from Creenagh, County Longford, who died in a wall collapse at a DIY store has been awarded €750,000 in damages following a High Court settlement. Sean Mulleady sustained fatal injuries when an internal wall, measuring 6.5 metres high and 8.4 metres wide, collapsed on him and several others at Connacht Gold Co-Op Society's premises on Athlone Road, Longford on 29 January 2013. His widow, Teresa Mulleady, brought proceedings on her own behalf and that of their three children against the store operator, the building owners, the construction company, and the project manager. She alleged the defendants had failed to maintain a safe premises and had breached their duty of care. All defendants denied liability. Mr Justice Paul Gilligan approved the settlement, describing it as a good award in the circumstances. The judge commended Mrs Mulleady for her resilience throughout the case.