Enoch Burke's injunction application was dismissed by the High Court, clearing the way for disciplinary proceedings at Wilson's Hospital School to proceed. Mr Justice Conor Dignam acknowledged that Burke raised a strong case that his challenge would succeed at trial but refused the injunction because Burke refused to comply with a prior order to stay away from the school. Burke, who denies wrongdoing and claims his suspension breaches his constitutional rights regarding religious objections to transgendarism, stated he would not comply with the September order, which he described as flawed. The judge clarified that Burke had not won the injunction and dismissed the matter. Burke was previously jailed for 108 days for contempt after breaching the stay-away order. The disciplinary hearing, stemming from allegations about Burke's behavior toward former principal Niamh McShane, is scheduled for Thursday. The court noted Burke may appeal to the Court of Appeal, and the full hearing of the dispute will take place shortly. Costs applications will be dealt with later. The school opposed the injunction, and the judge agreed Burke did not come to court with clean hands due to his non-compliance.
A High Court judge has determined that teacher Enoch Burke holds a strong case against disciplinary proceedings initiated by Wilson's Hospital School in County Westmeath, but has declined to halt those proceedings unless Burke complies with an existing court order to remain away from the school premises. Mr Justice Conor Dignam acknowledged that grounds existed to prevent the school from proceeding with a disciplinary meeting scheduled for Mullingar, yet ruled that Burke's ongoing refusal to observe the earlier order tipped the balance against granting an injunction. The judge indicated willingness to grant the injunction if Burke agrees to respect the suspension order issued in September, requiring him to stay away from school while receiving pay. Burke contests disciplinary action arising from allegations of gross misconduct related to his conduct at a school function and his objections to the school's policy regarding a transitioning student. He maintains the disciplinary process breaches fair procedure and his constitutional rights. The school opposes his application. The matter was listed for further hearing.
Michael John Cummins, 22, of Dreenane, Carbury, was sentenced to five years in prison for the anal rape of a teenage friend who was asleep after a house party in County Kildare on 25 November 2018. Cummins pleaded guilty in June 2022. The victim, who chose to remain unnamed, gave permission for Cummins to be named and provided a victim impact statement in which she questioned why he had not pleaded guilty earlier and expressed relief at his eventual admission. The judge noted the profound effect on her life, her fear, and her resilience. Cummins was found to have genuine remorse, and the court imposed a custodial sentence of six years and three months, with the final 15 months suspended on strict conditions, including no contact with the victim and engagement with the Probation Service. The case highlighted the victim's struggle to regain safety and confidence after the assault.
The High Court has appointed an interim examiner to Blacklough Construction Limited following an application on grounds of cash-flow insolvency. The company, which has 48 employees and engages subcontractors, is currently constructing over 360 social housing units across five sites for Respond Housing Association, including developments in Charlestown, County Mayo, and locations in Dublin, Meath, Westmeath and Louth. An independent expert's report indicated the company has reasonable prospects of survival if certain steps are taken. Counsel attributed the firm's difficulties primarily to a 33 per cent rise in building material costs since 2020, alongside a potential planning permission issue at the Carrickmines site in Dublin. Trade creditors are owed over €3 million. Chartered accountant Joe Walsh was appointed as interim examiner by Mr Justice Michael Quinn on Thursday. The court was satisfied that creditors would fare better under an examinership than in liquidation. Proceedings were adjourned to later in the month, with creditors to be notified of the application.
A High Court challenge has been filed by engineer and architect Paul Leech against Meath County Council's plans to renovate the derelict St Patrick's Classical School in Navan. Leech argues that the council failed to conduct a second bat survey during the summer months, as required by the EU Habitats Directive, and therefore lacked the necessary information to determine whether the proposed works would comply with the directive. He also claims the council erred in law by not considering the impact on two nearby special areas of conservation. Leech, a former pupil of the school, seeks orders to quash the council's development consent and declarations that the council's assessment was unlawful. The case was adjourned by Mr Justice Charles Meenan to a December hearing. The court will consider whether the council's failure to obtain adequate bat survey data and assess environmental impacts constitutes a legal error. The proceedings are ongoing and no final decision has yet been made.
A man from Longford has failed in his appeal against a six-year jail sentence for arson at the Court of Appeal. Lee Goodchild was convicted of setting fire to a house on Rattan Ash Road, Mullingar, on 26 August 2019, contrary to the Criminal Damage Act. He was sentenced in July 2021 at Mullingar Circuit Court to seven and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended for ten years. Goodchild argued the trial judge erred in law when setting a headline sentence of ten years. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy rejected the appeal, finding the judge did not err in identifying the appropriate sentence. The court noted Goodchild was on bail and serving a suspended sentence at the time of the offence, and had prior criminal damage convictions. The attack caused considerable damage and distress to the occupant, who had to escape through a window. The unnamed appellant pleaded not guilty.
Ismaeil Abdelkhalik (65), a Norwegian and Egyptian citizen living in Birmingham, was arrested at Dublin Airport on 33 European Arrest Warrants relating to counterfeit trademark breaches. The defendant had previously spent two months in custody in the Czech Republic and was unaware of the warrants until his arrest. Judge Gearty refused bail under the O'Callaghan rules, citing the strength of evidence and lack of ties to the State, remanding him in custody pending preparation of the Book of Evidence.
Michal Luczak (41) was arrested in the same Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau operation that seized €8.4M worth of cocaine at Abbeyshrule aerodrome. He appeared at a special sitting of Mullingar District Court on Sunday where he was denied bail and remanded in custody.
Michal Luczak was arrested following a Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau operation at Abbeyshrule Aerodrome, Longford on August 4, 2022. He was charged with possession of cocaine and possession with intent to supply. His solicitor applied for bail citing presumption of innocence and trial delays, but the application was refused by Judge Cronin.
The Court of Appeal has increased the prison term of Nathan Doherty (24), of Legan, Co Longford, who was convicted of a violent attack on Derek Murphy. Doherty pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm and producing an article capable of causing serious harm. He was originally sentenced by Judge Keenan Johnson at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court to six years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended for ten years, plus €30,000 in compensation. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed the suspended portion, arguing the reduction was a substantial departure from similar cases. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, reading the three-judge court's decision, quashed the original sentence on grounds of deterrence. He re-sentenced Doherty to six years' imprisonment with the final year suspended for two years. The financial restitution was severed from the custodial term via a separate order under Section 6 of the Criminal Procedures Act. Doherty is now ordered to pay €25,000 in compensation to Mr Murphy in annual instalments of €5,000, commencing ten months after his release. The court noted the attack was extremely violent, involving a broken curtain pole forced into the victim's anus. Separately, Derek Doherty (52), of Vicarstown, Ballymahon, Co Longford, was recently sentenced to 80 months in prison, with the final 17 months suspended, at Longford Circuit Criminal Court for his role in the incident. Counsel for Nathan Doherty argued his client was goaded by his father, while the DPP maintained the original sentence was insufficient censure.
The Court of Appeal heard an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions regarding the sentence imposed on Nathan Doherty (24), of Legan, Co Longford. Doherty pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm and producing an article capable of causing serious harm for an attack on Derek Murphy in June 2018. He was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended for ten years, and ordered to pay €30,000 in victim compensation. The DPP argued the suspended portion was unduly lenient, describing the assault as vile and sadistic. In response, counsel for Doherty highlighted mitigating factors, including his status as a first-time offender and his early guilty plea. Counsel also referenced the separate sentencing of Derek Doherty (52), of Vicarstown, Ballymahon, Co Longford, who was sentenced to 80 months in prison with the final 17 months suspended for his role in the incident. The defence argued that the father had instructed the son to attack the victim. The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgement on the appeal.
A Garda inspector stationed in Mullingar has succeeded in his High Court challenge against the Commissioner's refusal to backdate his promotion following a seven-month investigative delay. Inspector Tom Quinn was due for promotion to inspector rank in January 2019 but the advancement was suspended while the Garda Ombudsman investigated allegations arising from a shooting incident at Ferriskill near Granard, County Longford, in December 2018. GSOC subsequently determined that all complaints against the inspector were baseless and that he had acted lawfully. Mr Justice Charles Meenan ruled that denying the backdating amounted to wrongful penalisation over false accusations and breached constitutional rights to equality. The court quashed the Commissioner's refusal and ordered the promotion be backdated to January 2019, with legal costs awarded to the inspector. The judgment noted that failing to backdate would have allowed a private complainant to effectively determine promotion timelines contrary to established disciplinary procedures.
Mark Hyde, 42, of Kippure Park, Finglas, was sentenced to 32 months' imprisonment for possession for sale or supply of cannabis. He pleaded guilty after Gardaí found 15 seed trays, plants in two tents, and four large Tupperware tubs of cannabis leaf at his home on 4 February 2020. The leaf was valued at just under €7,000. Hyde admitted he intended to harvest and sell the plants to three friends to pay his bills, claiming financial hardship. He had a prior conviction for cultivation in 2012, for which he received a suspended three‑year sentence and community service for forgery. The judge noted his moderate risk of reoffending and imposed a suspended 16‑month portion, with one year of probation supervision and a requirement to engage with the Probation Service to learn skills to avoid future drug cultivation.
During a trial at the Central Criminal Court, a friend of a woman who claims she was raped by five men in a car in the midlands gave evidence. The witness described the woman as distraught, crying, and traumatised when she returned to her friends on the early hours of 27 December 2016. She was said to have been in shock, with her skirt torn and her clothes not fully on. The friend reported that she repeatedly said there were six men and that she could do nothing. The witness also recounted that the woman had not been drunk and that she was reluctant to go to the Garda station initially, but was eventually taken to the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit in Mullingar. The trial continues before a jury. The unnamed woman pleaded not guilty.
A senior garda has brought judicial review proceedings in the High Court challenging a decision not to backdate his promotion to inspector. Inspector Tom Quinn, stationed in Mullingar, County Westmeath, was scheduled for promotion in January 2019 but the advancement was delayed following allegations made against him in connection with a firearms incident near Granard, County Longford, in December 2018. Following investigation by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, Inspector Quinn was fully exonerated. His promotion ultimately proceeded in August 2019. The inspector seeks to have his promotion backdated to January, arguing the seven-month delay caused financial and reputational harm. The Garda Commissioner opposes the application, maintaining he exercised proper discretion by awaiting the investigation outcome before recommending promotion. Mr Justice Charles Meenan reserved judgment following the High Court hearing, with a decision expected in the new year.
Mark Hyde, 42, of Finglas, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession for sale or supply of cannabis at his home on February 4, 2020. Prosecutors stated that gardaí executed a search warrant and discovered 15 seed trays, plants in two tents, and four tubs of cannabis leaf estimated at just under €7,000. Hyde alleged he grew the plants to pay bills due to financial hardship and intended to sell the leaf to friends. The court noted his previous conviction in 2012 for cultivation of cannabis, for which he received a suspended three-year prison sentence, and a 2014 order for community service for forgery. Defence counsel argued Hyde was not running a wholesale operation but supplying a small circle to cover expenses, noting his involvement in Community Employment and receipt of rent allowance. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to February next. She ordered Hyde to engage with the Probation Service to develop skills to avoid drug cultivation during financial difficulties. The matter was adjourned and not concluded.
In Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court, a 31‑year‑old man was originally sentenced to 12 years in prison, with the last three years suspended, for defiling a 14‑year‑old girl and a 16‑year‑old girl at his apartment between 2017 and 2018. He pleaded guilty to both defilement offences and to two further counts of meeting a child for sexual exploitation. The Court of Appeal found the original 12‑year sentence excessive, reducing the headline sentence to 11 years. After considering mitigating factors, the court imposed a nine‑year prison term, suspending the final two years for ten years. The man remains on the Sex Offenders Register for life. The appeal was based on the judge's assessment of the gravity of the offences and the appellant's conduct, described as "cunning, manipulative and offensive.".
In a case heard at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court, a 30‑year‑old man was sentenced to 12 years in prison, with the final three years suspended, for defiling a 14‑year‑old girl and a 16‑year‑old girl at his apartment between 2017 and 2018. He pleaded guilty to the defilements and to two counts of meeting a child for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Evidence showed he used Snapchat and Instagram to lure the girls with offers of free drugs, including cannabis, ecstasy and cocaine, before defiling them. The older victim reportedly consented to sexual activity. The man's counsel argued the 14‑year headline sentence was too high, citing lack of authority and isolation, while the DPP's counsel maintained the sentence was justified by aggravating factors such as drug use, age disparity, and premeditated social‑media contact. The Court of Appeal will rule on the appeal on Friday.
In a High Court case, Janvier Tumusabeyezu, a Rwandan security guard, was injured when the car he rode in, driven by Daniel Muresan, crashed near Mullingar. Tumusabeyezu suffered soft tissue injuries, a bowel perforation, shoulder and back injuries, and later had abdominal surgery. He sued Muresan, who admitted negligence, and the Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland (MIBI). The High Court ruled that MIBI was not liable for damages awarded to Tumusabeyezu. Muresan had no insurance, licence, NCT or tax on the Mitsubishi Colt. He claimed he had informed passengers of the lack of insurance, but Tumusabeyezu and two other passengers denied this. The High Court accepted Muresan's account, supported by a garda sergeant's testimony. Tumusabeyezu appealed, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, affirming the High Court's decision and ruling that the claim against MIBI must fail. The case remains at the appeal stage.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Shaun Groome, 32, to 15 years' imprisonment for a brutal assault on Ciarán Murphy, 32, which involved 16 stab wounds and an arson attack that left Murphy with 96 % burns. Groome pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm and criminal damage by arson. The judge described the offence as "exceptional" and noted Groome's "murderous intent" despite his guilty plea, reducing the headline 20‑year sentence to 15 years with no suspended portion. Groome claimed his actions were driven by misinformation that Murphy was a Garda informant and that he was influenced by drugs. The court considered his remorse, prior convictions, and potential for rehabilitation, but imposed the full custodial term. Murphy suffered severe injuries, lost his ears, and continues to endure pain. The case also involved co‑accused David Keena, 21, who received a five‑year sentence for his role.
Shaun Groome, aged 32, pleaded guilty via video link to a 2015 attack on drug dealer Ciarán Murphy. He admitted to causing serious harm and to criminal damage by arson at Murphy's home in Coolcor, Offaly, between 6 and 7 September 2015. Groome's co‑accused, David Keena, 21, had been jailed for five years for assault causing serious harm and arson. Murphy, 29, was stabbed 16 times and set on fire after a false rumor that he was a Garda informant. He suffered 96 % burns from the neck down and multiple stab wounds, including to the heart cavity. The court heard Groome was arrested at Baldonnel Aerodrome; a warrant had been issued. Judge Martin Nolan remanded Groome in custody and scheduled a sentencing hearing for 21 December, when full facts will be considered.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, David Keena, aged 21, was sentenced to six and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, for his role in a 2015 arson attack on Ciarán Murphy, a low‑level drug dealer in Offaly. Keena, who was 17 at the time, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm and criminal damage by arson. He was found to have stabbed Murphy 16 times and poured petrol over him, resulting in 96 % burns and multiple stab wounds, including to the heart. Murphy survived but suffered life‑threatening injuries and permanent physical and mental trauma. Keena's sentence runs consecutively with a previously imposed six‑year term for a drug‑dealing offence. The court noted Keena's youth, lack of prior convictions and drug use as mitigating factors. The case involved a false rumour that Murphy was a Garda informant, spread by his former girlfriend, which the court found to be untrue.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by a debt collector against an 18-month custodial sentence imposed for intimidation and harassment offences. Kevin Molloy, aged 51, originally from Donegal and currently residing in Cavan, was convicted in May at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court of harassing a man and his daughter between April and August 2015. His offences included threatening to kidnap and harm an individual, and arranging the distribution of defamatory flyers at equestrian events and in Mullingar. Molloy, who operated a debt recovery business based in Kildare, received a headline sentence of four years with 18 months suspended. The three-judge court, presiding over the appeal on Friday, upheld the sentencing judge's assessment that the offences fell within the upper mid-range. The judges described the 18-month actual custodial term as generous and rejected claims the sentence was unduly harsh. The court also upheld a seven-year ban on Molloy operating as a debt collector, deeming it legitimate and proportionate. Molloy was permitted time to arrange his affairs before beginning his sentence on 30 September.
The Court of Appeal has increased the prison sentence of Oliver Berry, a 63-year-old father from Mullingar, Co Westmeath, from ten to 13 years for the rape and sexual assault of his daughter, Jennifer Berry. In November 2018, a jury at the Central Criminal Court convicted Berry of 105 counts of raping and sexually assaulting his daughter between December 1982 and December 1994, when she was aged seven to 19. Berry, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, maintains his innocence and has a separate application before the Court of Appeal against his conviction. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed the original ten-year term, arguing it was too lenient given the severity of the offences, which included rape during the victim's pregnancy. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, found that the sentencing judge had erred by giving undue weight to mitigating factors such as Berry's age and lack of previous convictions. The court ruled that the original reduction from a headline sentence of 15 years was disproportionate. Consequently, the actual custodial sentence was increased to 13 years. Jennifer Berry waived her right to anonymity to allow her father to be publicly named in the proceedings.
An Albanian man, Emri Bardhoshi, fraudulently obtained Irish citizenship by pretending to be a Kosovan refugee, using a false identity that was five years younger than his actual age. He was granted Leave to Remain in 2007 and later naturalised under this false identity, also obtaining passports for himself and three of his four children. In 2017 he developed liver problems and feared that his understated age would affect treatment, prompting him to consult a solicitor and bring his case to authorities. He pleaded guilty to four offences related to passport fraud and a false declaration in his 2012 citizenship application. The Court of Appeal reduced his original 18‑month suspended sentence, imposing a total of three years in prison with nine months suspended, and required him to comply with conditions including a bond for good behaviour and a Garda visit on 1 September.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 33‑year‑old Westmeath man pleaded not guilty to a rape charge stemming from an alleged incident on 1 January 2017. The complainant, who had been invited to the accused's home after a New Year's Eve ball, claimed she had told him no sexual activity would occur, yet he allegedly raped her in the front sitting room. The accused denied all allegations, asserting that any sexual activity was consensual and that he did not cause the injuries found on the complainant's body. He repeatedly stated "that is not true" when confronted with evidence of bruising, abrasions and tenderness noted by a medical examiner. The jury heard the accused's testimony that he had no violence during the encounter and that he had not caused the injuries. The case remains at the trial stage, with no verdict yet reached.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 33‑year‑old Westmeath man denies raping a woman who returned to his home on New Year's Day 2017. He claims the sexual activity was consensual, stating he stopped after she said "stop" about 20 seconds into penetration. The accused says he apologized and tried to calm her, and that she later apologized for coming back. The woman testified she felt she had no other option to stay with him, citing a dead mobile phone and lack of a friend to stay with. She alleged she was raped from behind after he pulled her clothes off, and showed scrape marks on her stomach. Gardaí interviewed the accused three days after the alleged rape, and he admitted the possibility of anal penetration. The trial continues with the jury hearing both sides' statements.
An alleged rape victim, aged 33, testified at the Central Criminal Court that she did not seek help from the accused's mother and sister because she did not believe they would assist her. The victim, who was 33, was staying at a friend's house after a New Year's Eve party at a GAA clubhouse. She agreed to return to the accused's home to sleep, but the accused allegedly attacked and raped her minutes after arrival. She claimed she fell asleep on the couch, woke to find the accused still awake, and heard the accused's mother and sister speaking in a room. She said she repeatedly pleaded for a ride home, and the accused promised to drive her after the family left. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury. The accused, a 33‑year‑old Westmeath man, denies the rape. The victim's medical evidence showed bruising consistent with a forced assault. The case remains in trial.
Daragh Coyne, who had been jailed for failing to obey court orders that prohibited interference with lands designated as a National Heritage Area, was released from the Four Courts after purging his contempt. Four weeks earlier, Mr Justice Anthony Barr had committed him to Mountjoy prison following a finding that Coyne was in "flagrant breach" of orders obtained by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. On Friday, Coyne returned to the judge, his counsel stating he was prepared to comply with the orders. Coyne undertook to remove a gate and signage he had installed on the lands and pledged not to cut any turf. The judge, satisfied with the undertakings, declared Coyne had purged his contempt and allowed him to leave. The judge also agreed to adjourn the matter until late July to monitor compliance with the undertakings.
In September 2015 a low‑level drug dealer, Ciarán Murphy (29), was stabbed 16 times and set on fire at his home in Coolcor, Offaly, after his ex‑girlfriend spread a false rumour that he was a Garda informant. Murphy suffered 96 % burns from the neck down, multiple stab wounds including to the heart cavity, and lost both ears. He was treated at Tullamore Regional Hospital and later St James's Hospital, Dublin, undergoing several emergency surgeries and skin grafts. David Keena (21) was remanded in custody after admitting he was present when Shaun Groome (31) stabbed Murphy and poured petrol over him. Keena pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm and criminal damage by arson. Groome had been charged with assault causing serious harm in November 2015, but no prosecution has yet taken place. The case was adjourned to 28 July 2020 for sentencing.
Daragh Coyne was committed to Mountjoy prison by Mr Justice Anthony Barr after being found in contempt of High Court orders that prohibited him from interfering with lands designated as a National Heritage Area (NHA). The High Court had obtained injunctions from the National Parks and Wildlife Service preventing Coyne from carrying out any unauthorised works on or interfering with the NHA in Milltownpass Bog, Co. Westmeath. Coyne, who denied any wrongdoing, repeatedly challenged the court's jurisdiction and demanded to be called by his first name, but the judge insisted on addressing him as Mr Coyne or defendant. Coyne was given the opportunity to give a sworn undertaking to comply with the orders or face imprisonment; he refused, and the judge committed him to prison until he purges his contempt. The case will return to the court in four weeks.
Daragh Coyne, a defendant from Mullingar, Co Westmeath, appeared before the High Court on Wednesday following his arrest by gardai. He is alleged to be in contempt of court orders obtained by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), which prohibit him from interfering with Milltownpass Bog, a designated National Heritage Area. The NPWS claims Coyne failed to comply with an April injunction against unauthorised works and a subsequent order to remove a gate he erected on an old turf cutter's track. Sworn statements from two Park Rangers allege that turf was illegally cut and waste, including scrap metal, fuel, and invasive cherry laurel, was dumped on the site, damaging the NHA. They also noted turf-cutting equipment was stored nearby, despite Coyne denying its use. Coyne, who is unrepresented, told the court he did nothing wrong and objected to being addressed as "Mr Coyne," requesting to be called "Daragh." Justice Anthony Barr rejected this request for the hearing. Coyne claimed he had sent documents outlining his case to the court, but the judge stated there was no record of receipt. James O'Donnell BL, representing the NPWS, stated his client did not wish to see anyone jailed but had no alternative due to Coyne's failure to engage. In these circumstances, the judge adjourned the matter to Thursday's sitting, allowing Coyne to obtain copies of the documents setting out his position. The judge directed gardai to return Coyne to his home and bring him back to court, warning that the contempt hearing would proceed in his absence if he failed to return.
A man named Mr Daragh Coyne is alleged to have breached a court order prohibiting interference with lands designated as a National Heritage Area (NHA) in Milltownpass Bog, Co. Westmeath. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) claims that Mr Coyne has carried out activities that damaged the NHA, including dumping waste material such as scrap metal, fuel, and gardening waste, and illegally cutting turf. The NPWS also alleges that he failed to remove a gate he erected on an old turf‑cutters track on Minister‑owned land. Mr Coyne denies any wrongdoing. The High Court, hearing the case before Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty, directed that he be attached and brought before the court by Gardaí next week to answer the contempt claim. If found in contempt, he faces the prospect of imprisonment.
The High Court heard that Mr Daragh Coyne of Coralstown, Mullingar, has allegedly dumped waste material, including scrap metal, fuel, and large plastic oil tanks, and illegally cut turf on Milltownpass Bog in Co. Westmeath, a National Heritage Area (NHA). The National Parks and Wildlife Service, represented by the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, brought proceedings after Park Rangers found a dozen subsoil mounds containing invasive cherry laurel, scrap metal and oil tanks. The rangers said the dumping damaged the NHA by reducing habitat for protected birds and pollinators. They also expressed concern that turf would be extracted, noting that Mr Coyne had engaged a contractor to cut turf on the NHA in 2019 and might do so again in 2020. Mr Coyne denies wrongdoing.
Damien Ionut, 34, was sentenced to three years in prison for a series of ATM attacks across eight European cities, including Dublin, Louth, Kildare, Wicklow, Meath, Westmeath, and Dublin. He and a group used a "transaction reversal fraud" technique, first withdrawing a small amount with a legitimate chip‑and‑pin card, then inserting a clip into the cash drawer to block the release of a larger withdrawal. They swapped the card for a dummy, causing the machine to think the customer had walked away, and then used a chisel to break into the drawer and take the cash. The attacks caused about €12,881 in damage and resulted in €5,980 in stolen cash. Ionut had 30 prior convictions for similar offences and was identified on CCTV footage. The court back‑dated the sentence to November 5, 2019. The case highlighted the vulnerability of ATMs to this type of fraud.
A tribunal has heard that Chief Superintendent Lorraine Wheatley expressed being 'astounded, disappointed and incredulous' upon learning of a bullying complaint made against her by Garda whistleblower Nicholas Keogh. The Disclosures Tribunal is currently in its eighth week of hearing evidence regarding the treatment of Gda Keogh, who made a protected disclosure in 2014. Gda Keogh alleges that a senior member of the Athlone drugs unit, identified as Garda A, was in an improper relationship with an alleged heroin dealer, identified as Ms B. The tribunal, chaired by Judge Sean Ryan, is investigating whether Gda Keogh was targeted, harassed, undermined, or bullied after making his protected disclosure on 8 May 2014. Chief Supt Wheatley, who was over Westmeath Garda Division in September 2015, was involved in a disciplinary hearing where Gda Keogh admitted a 'minor breach' of neglect of duty. Gda Keogh was fined €300 for going AWOL after a four-day drinking period in July 2015. He appealed the fine, which was upheld by Chief Supt Wheatley. Gda Keogh later raised concerns about the fairness of the review process, which were disputed by Supt Alan Murray and Chief Supt Wheatley. In November 2017, Chief Supt Wheatley was made aware of a bullying and harassment complaint made by Gda Keogh. The complaint was later investigated by An Garda Síochána and Chief Supt Wheatley was cleared. Earlier, the tribunal heard that Gda Keogh received a lesser fine for going AWOL due to work-related stress and heavy drinking. Supt Murray, who disciplined Gda Keogh, reduced the fine due to mitigating circumstances and stated that Gda Keogh was respectful and decent to deal with, but emphasized the importance of gardaí showing up for work. Gda Keogh later sought a review of the decision from Chief Supt Wheatley, who affirmed the penalty.
In a hearing before the Disclosures Tribunal, Judge Sean Ryan examined whether Garda Nicholas Keogh was targeted after making a protected disclosure in 2014. Keogh alleged that a senior member of the Athlone drugs unit, identified as Garda A, had an improper relationship with an alleged heroin dealer, Ms B. In March 2015, Sergeant Yvonne Martin was appointed to a welfare support role for Keogh, but he never accepted the offer. Keogh claimed the appointment was a form of micro‑management aimed at undermining him because of his whistleblowing. Martin testified that she had not contacted Keogh and that the appointment was intended as extra support during a stressful period. The tribunal found no evidence that Keogh's criticism of Martin was linked to the Maurice McCabe tribunal, and no basis existed to hold that view. Keogh maintained that the appointment was part of a broader effort to undermine him as a whistleblower.
Chief Superintendent Mark Curran, a senior Garda, gave evidence at the Disclosures Tribunal on 15 November 2019, stating he was "very upset" by a bullying claim made by whistleblower Garda Nicholas Keogh. Curran described Keogh's allegation that he had removed evidence DVDs from an Athlone Garda Station store as "daft and without basis", insisting no such removal occurred. He also denied any wrongdoing in handling a source that Keogh had refused to hand over, arguing that source management is a collective responsibility of An Garda Síochána and requires trained handlers. Curran rejected all targeting allegations, asserting he had acted within his duties and was not negligent. The tribunal, chaired by Judge Sean Ryan, had heard from Keogh and was investigating whether Keogh was targeted after his protected disclosure of alleged Garda heroin‑collusion on 8 May 2014. Curran's evidence concluded on 15 November, with the tribunal resuming on 26 November.
At the Central Criminal Court, a trial heard that a woman alleging rape initially described three men as being involved in the assault. The complainant told the court she attended a party at a flat in a County Leitrim town in 2017 where she consumed alcohol. She stated she lost consciousness and awoke to find the first accused assaulting her. She reported hearing male voices and subsequently blacked out again, regaining consciousness as the second accused was assaulting her. Two Leitrim men have pleaded not guilty to rape charges. The second accused also denies oral rape. During cross-examination, the defence put to the complainant that she had previously given an account involving three assailants. The complainant confirmed this, noting she had heard voices in the room. A nurse from the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit in Mullingar confirmed the complainant initially reported three men were involved. The nurse stated she observed genital injuries consistent with non-consensual activity, though acknowledged such injuries could also occur during consensual contact.
A Garda has told the Disclosures Tribunal that he was denied a commendation for helping rescue a drowning woman because of his status as a whistleblower. Garda Nicholas Keogh, based in Athlone, alleges that management withheld recognition for his role in pulling a woman from the River Shannon in September 2019, despite receiving an award from Irish Water Safety. The tribunal, chaired by Judge Sean Ryan, is investigating treatment of Gda Keogh following a protected disclosure he made in 2014 concerning an alleged improper relationship between a senior member of the drugs unit and a heroin dealer. Gda Keogh told the tribunal he had previously received commendations for lesser actions and found the omission "sinister". He cited two further incidents where he claimed recognition was withheld. Sergeant Monaghan and Superintendent Patrick Murray disputed aspects of Gda Keogh's account, with Sgt Monaghan characterising the river rescue as a group effort and stating he was unaware of Gda Keogh's involvement in the other incidents. The hearing continues.
The Disclosures Tribunal heard that Garda Nicholas Keogh, the first whistleblower under Commissioner Noirín O'Sullivan, claims Garda management sought to remove him from the force. Keogh made a protected disclosure in May 2014 alleging collusion between Garda Aidan Lyons and a drug dealer, Miss B. In June 2014, Lyons reported that a man had approached him about Keogh, claiming Keogh had been involved in a theft and would support a complaint. Keogh was later called to Superintendent Noreen McBrien's office, where he was told an investigation was underway but no details were given. Keogh said the report was authored by Lyons, who was his partner, and that the allegation was never rigorously followed up. He described the process as vindictive and believed management, including Superintendent Patrick Murray, imposed excessive supervision and targeted him. The tribunal heard Keogh's evidence and the case remains under investigation.
During the Disclosures Tribunal, Garda Nicholas Keogh testified that he did not "round up" people to file complaints against a senior member of the Athlone drugs unit, identified as Garda A, whom he alleged was colluding with a heroin dealer, Ms B. Keogh explained that on 18 May 2014 he used the Garda Pulse system to query Garda A following intelligence received on 10 May 2014, and that he had reported his findings to an internal investigation team. He claimed that subsequent requests for a report from Superintendent Noreen McBrien and Sergeant Andrew Haran were unnecessary because the information should have been forwarded to the internal investigators. Keogh also denied that he had persuaded a third‑party complainant, Ms O'Neill, to name Garda A, stating that he had only asked her to name names and guards in general.
In a 2019 decision, Ms Justice Marie Baker upheld a High Court ruling that a Garda officer was not required to offer a choice of language for breathalyser statements. The case involved Westmeath man Gerard Maher, who was arrested in 2015 for driving with excess alcohol. Maher's lawyers argued that he had a right to be informed that the breathalyser could print statements in Irish or English, and that the absence of such a choice made the statement inadmissible. The High Court found no obligation for the Garda to provide a language choice and that Maher, an English speaker, suffered no detriment. Justice Baker described the arguments as technical and noted that the conviction for driving while intoxicated carries significant consequences. The Court of Appeal agreed with her decision.
Aaron Gilsenan, 38, a crack cocaine addict, was jailed for four years after a spree of robberies and attempted robberies in Dublin between December 2017 and March 2018. He used a knife to threaten staff at five convenience stores and filling stations, robbed a taxi driver of €40, and stole a total of €760. Gilsenan was identified on CCTV and used his own car to escape each time. He pleaded guilty to four robberies and two attempted robberies, admitting the crimes were driven by his addiction and the death of his daughter. He had 87 prior convictions, including 51 for road traffic offences. The court noted he was drug‑free at sentencing and had expressed genuine regret. The sentence was imposed by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with a suspended portion of 18 months, and he was also due for sentencing in Trim and Naas Circuit Courts for other pending cases.
Oliver Berry, aged 61, was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of 104 counts of raping and sexually assaulting his daughter Jennifer Berry, aged 7 to 19, between December 1982 and December 1994. The offences included repeated rape during her pregnancy and a final rape two weeks after she gave birth, when her infant son was present. Berry pleaded not guilty but was found guilty. He received a ten‑year prison sentence. Berry maintains his innocence and intends to appeal. Jennifer Berry, who waived anonymity, gave evidence in the trial and described the abuse as ongoing, physically and psychologically damaging. The judge noted Berry's age and health in sentencing and highlighted the impact on family bonds. No further legal outcomes are reported in the article.
In a High Court case involving two dentists who shared premises at Market Point, Mullingar, the dispute was settled after both parties withdrew all allegations. Dr Michael Maguire had alleged that Dr James Hiney installed a secret camera to surveil his staff, while Hiney claimed the camera was for security and not for spying. Maguire sought injunctions to prevent Hiney from monitoring his employees. Following a second mediation, the parties agreed to strike out the case. The settlement included a statement that both dentists withdrew all claims of improper conduct, acknowledged that Hiney's CCTV was not intended to surveil Maguire or his patients, and that any contact with patients was not for solicitation. No further details of the agreement were disclosed. The case was dismissed by the court.
In 2018 the Court of Appeal upheld the conviction of O'Reilly Commercials Limited for breaching health and safety laws during a test of a school bus that later crashed in 2006, killing 15‑year‑old Michael White. The bus, a Mercedes originally registered in the UK, had a rear suspension that had been modified in 1991 and was not properly noted during the 2005 test. The company pleaded not guilty to four charges under the Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989, but a jury found it guilty of failing to identify the modified suspension. The firm was fined €25,000 and the appeal was dismissed by a three‑judge panel, confirming the original verdict as safe and satisfactory. The case highlighted the importance of accurate testing records for vehicle safety.
Judge Melanie Greally sentenced four men to a total of 53 years for their roles in the 2005 €2.08 million robbery of Paul Richardson and Securicor, along with the false imprisonment of the Richardson family. Mark Farrelly, Christopher Corcoran, David Byrne, and Niall Byrne, all of whom pleaded not guilty, were convicted by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury. Farrelly, identified as the mastermind, received 17.5 years. David Byrne was sentenced to 13.5 years. Corcoran was sentenced to 12 years, with the final five years suspended due to his age and health. Niall Byrne, the former Securicor worker convicted of conspiracy to rob, received 10 years. The jury failed to reach a majority verdict on a kidnapping charge against Niall Byrne. The judge noted the victims' "uncommon and unbending faith" in the justice system after five trials. She ordered the forfeiture of €19,220 in cash and a BMW belonging to Niall Byrne. This sentencing follows previous legal history where convictions for Farrelly and Corcoran were overturned in 2012 and later acquitted in 2015 before those acquittals were overturned by the Court of Appeal.
Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the sentencing of Niall Byrne, Mark Farrelly, Christopher Corcoran, and David Byrne until July 16, remanding them in continuing custody. The men were convicted by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury for their roles in the €2.08 million robbery of Paul Richardson and Securicor on March 14, 2005, and the false imprisonment of the Richardson family at their Raheny home on March 13 and 14, 2005. All four defendants had pleaded not guilty. The jury convicted Farrelly, Corcoran, and David Byrne of robbery and false imprisonment. Niall Byrne was convicted of conspiracy to robbery, while the jury failed to reach a majority verdict on a kidnapping charge against him. This was the fifth trial for the case; previous convictions for Farrelly and Corcoran were overturned in 2012 due to unconstitutional search warrants, and subsequent acquittals were reversed by the Court of Appeal. During the hearing, victim Paul Richardson described the crime as "heinous and inhumane" and driven by greed. His wife and sons also submitted impact statements detailing the long-term trauma. The court noted Farrelly had 25 previous convictions, while Corcoran, David Byrne, and Niall Byrne had prior records for minor offences. The matter was adjourned for sentence.
In a High Court hearing, Judge Caroline Costello advised dentists Michael Maguire and James Hiney, who share premises in Mullingar, to seek mediation instead of court action. Mr Maguire alleged that Mr Hiney installed a hidden camera to surveil his staff, a claim Mr Hiney denies, stating the camera was for security. Mr Maguire is pursuing injunctions to stop surveillance, to recover patient lists, to prevent solicitation of his patients, and to halt any construction at the shared building. The judge granted Mr Maguire permission to serve short‑notice injunctions ex‑parte. Mr Byrne, Mr Maguire's counsel, indicated the parties might adjourn the case to late July after reaching an intermediate, without‑prejudice agreement. The agreement would bar surveillance, construction, and solicitation. Judge Costello urged that the dispute be resolved through mediation rather than further court proceedings in the Four Courts.