Court archive
Court reports mentioning Delvin, Westmeath
2026-01-30 · Louth
An amateur kickboxer who admits to killing but denies murdering his mother has testified at his trial, claiming he was 'groomed' into a life of drugs and violence by his abusive mother. Luke Donnelly told the Central Criminal Court that he was in fear for his life and 'lost all control' when he stomped on his mother's head after she hit and threatened to kill him. He admitted to using 'deplorable violence' to end his mother's life and had taken a cocktail of drugs before the incident. Donnelly, who has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, described a history of abuse and violence in his home. He said his mother had a relationship with a drug dealer and that he was put 'out on the street' at 14. The trial continues with the jury considering evidence, including CCTV footage and the accused's claim that he was 'Jesus Christ' and that his mother had threatened to kill him.
2024-07-31 · Meath
A 24‑year‑old man, Camden Konopka, was sentenced to a ten‑year suspended term for attempting to murder his mother by setting fire to their home, locking her inside and discarding the keys. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, back‑dated the sentence to May 2020 and ordered that the balance of the term be suspended for ten years, during which Konopka must be supervised by Nua Healthcare Services. He is required to remain at a supervised location, follow all staff directions, take his medication, and may not contact his mother directly unless she initiates communication. Konopka has been in custody for over four years and has a history of mental illness. The court noted the case was "distressing" and that the punitive element had been adequately addressed. The sentence aims to minimise future harm to Konopka and those around him. Camden Konopka pleaded guilty.
2023-12-18 · Meath
In a sentencing hearing, a 23‑year‑old man, Camden Konopka, pleaded guilty to attempting to murder his mother, Fiona Konopka, and to criminal damage. He set fire to their home on 19 September 2019, then locked his mother in and discarded her keys. The fire caused €60,289.47 in damage, mainly to a couch in the living room. Konopka had a history of mental illness, including schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder, and had been under psychiatric care. He claimed he had consumed opium, antidepressants and wine the day before the fire, feeling suicidal. He also admitted to using his mother's keys to lock the door and throwing them away. The court remanded him in custody and scheduled a probation report for 1 March next year. The mother was not present at the hearing and has since been rehoused.
2023-07-17 · Meath
A 23‑year‑old man pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court for attempting to murder his mother in Co Meath four years ago. Camden Konopka, of Castleview Court, Delvin, was arraigned on a single count of attempting to murder Fiona Konopka at Coille Dios, Athboy on 19 September 2019. Mr Justice Tony Hunt set a sentencing hearing for 6 November this year.
2021-04-16 · Westmeath
Simon Gold, a 54-year-old man from Aughavas, County Leitrim, received an additional one-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today following guilty pleas to possession of false instruments. Gold admitted having three fraudulent UK driving licences at an address in Delvin, County Westmeath, in October 2012, and four sheets containing 360 counterfeit AIB holograms at the same location in February 2014. He is currently serving a seven-and-a-half-year sentence imposed in 2019 after conviction on money laundering, theft, deception and control of false instruments charges. Judge Martin Nolan determined the offences were connected to the earlier convictions and declined to extend Gold's imprisonment, instead imposing the sentence to run concurrently from today. Gold, who has 46 previous convictions, is due for release in 2024.
2018-02-06 · Westmeath
In a High Court case, the State‑approved tyre recycling scheme body Repak ELT sued Delvin Tyres, trading as Mr Daniel McHugh, for misleading customers by presenting itself as an authorised collector registered with Repak ELT. The firm had used Repak ELT's logo and claimed compliance with its regulations, actions Repak ELT said were unlawful. Repak ELT sought injunctions to stop the use of its logo, to prevent the firm from passing itself off as endorsed by Repak ELT, to stop misleading marketing, to cancel the domain name www.repakelt.com, and to obtain damages. The court granted short notice of the action. The matter returned to the High Court, where the parties reached a settlement. Mr McHugh agreed not to pass off his business as endorsed by Repak ELT, not to claim compliance with waste‑management regulations, not to use Repak ELT's logo or trade‑mark, to cancel the domain name, and not to register a similar domain.
2018-01-16 · Westmeath
A Government-approved body, Repak ELT (End of Life Tyres), has initiated High Court proceedings against Daniel McHugh, trading as Delvin Tyres in Co Westmeath, alleging that the defendant is misleading customers and others in the tyre business. Repak ELT claims that Delvin Tyres has falsely represented itself as an authorised tyre collector registered with Repak ELT and has used Repak ELT's logo in its advertising. Repak ELT alleges that Delvin Tyres is not entitled to use the logo or claim compliance with Repak ELT regulations. Repak ELT seeks injunctions to prevent Delvin Tyres from using its logo, passing off its business as endorsed by Repak ELT, and from engaging in misleading marketing. It also seeks the cancellation of the domain name wwwrepakelt.com, which Delvin Tyres is alleged to have registered. At the High Court on Tuesday, Mr Justice Tony O'Connor granted Repak ELT permission to serve notice of the injunction proceedings on Delvin Tyres on an ex-parte basis. The matter was adjourned to a date next week.
2017-06-16 · Westmeath
In a Court of Appeal decision on 16 June 2017, Elaine Newman, aged 32, was awarded €200,000 in damages after losing an eye in a 2007 accident at the home of Marie and Patrick Cogan in Delganstown, Delvin, Co. Westmeath. Newman had sued the Cogan parents under the Occupiers Liability Act 1995, claiming they failed to take reasonable care as occupiers. The High Court had dismissed her case in 2012, ruling that the Cogan parents could not be held liable for choosing non‑shatterproof glass for the door. The Appeal Court, in a unanimous judgment by Justices Mary Finlay Geoghegan, Mary Irvine and Gerard Hogan, overturned that decision. The court held that the Cogan parents were liable because the glass installed in 2000/01 did not meet the standard of safety glass expected of a competent tradesman, and that the accident caused by Emmett Cogan's fall and the resulting glass shards led to Newman's loss of an eye.
2017-05-11 · Cork
Gardaí forcibly removed a man from his vehicle during a roadside stop on the N52 in County Meath in December 2014, the Special Criminal Court heard. Michael Connolly, aged 44, of Dundalk, County Louth, has pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. The prosecution alleges that Connolly was observed driving in convoy with another vehicle. Detective Sergeant Daniel O'Driscoll told the court that gardaí became suspicious the cars may carry firearms or explosives and moved to stop them at Mitchelstown Cross. When Connolly did not comply with orders to turn off his ignition, another detective broke the car window and removed him forcibly. A brown paper bag recovered from the second vehicle contained two items wrapped in bubblewrap and black tape, which Detective Sergeant Padraig Boyce described as resembling improvised explosive devices. The court also examined CCTV footage from a petrol station on the N52. The trial, before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges, continues.
2017-05-10 · Louth
A trial at the Special Criminal Court has heard surveillance evidence relating to the movements of two vehicles through counties Westmeath and Louth on 16 December 2014. Michael Connolly, aged 44 and of Grange Drive in Dundalk, County Louth, has pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. The prosecution alleges that officers from the National Surveillance Unit observed Mr Connolly driving in convoy with another man, who was subsequently found in possession of two improvised explosive devices. During proceedings before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges, several NSU officers provided evidence regarding the movements of a blue Fiat Punto and a black Vauxhall Vectra. Witnesses described observations of the vehicles parting and reuniting at locations in Mullingar and Delvin. The trial continues before the court.