At the Central Criminal Court, a jury convicted Jozef Puska's brothers, Lubomir Puska Jnr and Marek Puska, of withholding information from An Garda Síochána regarding the murder of Ashling Murphy. The brothers were found guilty of failing to disclose that Jozef Puska returned home on the night of January 12, 2022, with visible injuries and admitted to cutting a female with a knife. Their wives, Viera Gaziova and Jozefina Grundzova, were convicted of burning Jozef's bloodstained clothes to impede his prosecution. Gaziova was convicted by an 11-1 majority, while Grundzova was found guilty by a 10-2 majority. All four defendants had pleaded not guilty. Jozef Puska's wife, Lucia Istokova, had previously pleaded guilty to withholding information. Ms Justice Biggs ordered probation reports for all five defendants. The matter was adjourned to July 7 for sentencing, with the defendants remanded on continuing bail until that date. Jozef Puska is currently serving a life sentence for the murder, having been convicted in November 2023.
Vladislovas Jurevicius, a 39‑year‑old chef, was arrested in February 2024 after Gardaí discovered he had cloned fuel cards from a trucking logistics company and used them to steal an estimated €25,000 worth of diesel between August 2023 and February 2024. He pleaded guilty to possession of a card with intent to commit theft and five counts of stealing diesel at an Applegreen service station in Ballymount, as well as one count of cultivating juvenile cannabis plants at his home in Greenfield Heights, Rathwire, Co. Westmeath. Gardaí found 35 cannabis plants, two empty 200‑litre fuel barrels, and photographs of the cloned cards on Jurevicius's phone. He has no prior convictions and was described by his employer as a valuable staff member. The court ordered a probation report and adjourned the case to October 6, allowing Jurevicius to provide additional restitution to the affected company.
In a May 2025 decision, Justice Tara Burns dismissed Oliver Berry's appeal against his conviction for sexually abusing his daughter Sharon. Berry, 68, had previously been convicted in 2023 of 25 indecent assault counts against Sharon, who was aged 7 to 12 at the time. He had also been serving a seven‑year sentence for the same offences, to run consecutively with a prison term he was already serving for the sexual abuse of his other daughter, Jennifer. Berry's appeal argued that the trial judge erred in ruling Sharon competent to give evidence and in limiting her cross‑examination. The judge found no evidence that Sharon's schizophrenia diagnosis affected her competency and that the trial judge had acted correctly. The appeal was therefore dismissed, with no change to Berry's sentence or any new legal outcome announced.
The trial of four accused persons in connection with the murder of Ashling Murphy continues before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury. Marek Puska (36) and Lubomir Puska Jnr (35) are accused of withholding information under the Offences Against the State, Amendment Act 1988, while their wives, Jozefina Grundzova (31) and Viera Gaziova (38), are accused of impeding Jozef Puska's apprehension by burning his clothing under the Criminal Law Act 1997. All four defendants have pleaded not guilty. During testimony, Detective Garda Cian Steers detailed Marek Puska's voluntary statement from January 14, 2022, in which he described the family's living situation and his search for Jozef Puska on the day of the murder. Marek stated he wished to provide further information but was hindered by medication for back problems. In cross-examination, it was noted that Marek accurately identified Jozef's bicycle. Garda Joanne O'Sullivan testified that Marek later revealed Jozef returned home on the night of the murder with visible injuries, including holes in his abdomen, and admitted to causing harm to a woman. It is alleged that Marek and Lubomir withheld this information, while the women assisted in destroying evidence. The matter was adjourned and the trial continues on Monday.
A 22-year-old woman from Athlone with a history of 19 bench warrants has been refused bail at Tallaght District Court. Janelle Quinn, currently of no fixed abode, faces charges including theft, public order offences and criminal damage. She was arrested on foot of two active warrants and made no reply when cautioned. During the hearing, Judge Catherine Ghent expressed concern about the accused's presentation and condition, noting apparent withdrawal symptoms. Her barrister submitted that Ms Quinn was undergoing detoxification and willing to engage with the process, including daily signing at Athlone Garda Station. However, gardaí objected, citing her pattern of failing to appear. The judge stated serious reservations about whether Ms Quinn would return to court if released, despite acknowledging the charges were not of the most serious nature. She noted the accused required medical attention. Ms Quinn was remanded in custody for one week to reappear on 13 May. Legal aid was granted.
The DPP has appealed against the sentences imposed on Keith McCormack Smith, Jason Ryle, and PJ Lyons following their guilty pleas for arson and other offences in May 2022. The prosecution argues the sentences were unduly lenient for a targeted, pre-meditated attack where a stolen Toyota was rammed into Tip Top Tanning Studio in Carlow, causing over €250,000 in damage while residents slept above. McCormack Smith, who had 24 previous convictions, was sentenced to six years with the final two suspended. Ryle and Lyons, who had 29 and 17 previous convictions respectively, each received five and a half years with the final two suspended. The DPP contends the headline sentence of eight years was too low, citing aggravating factors including the use of accelerant and the defendants being on bail. Defence counsel argued the sentences were appropriate, noting the men were acting on instructions to clear a drug debt and had made full admissions. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, viewed video footage of the incident and reserved its judgment to be delivered at a later date.
Court proceedings in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 31 March 2025 found Courtney Fitzpatrick, aged 26, and Leah York, aged 22, guilty of money laundering for possessing proceeds of crime. The offence stemmed from a Revolut scam that cost a doctor €11,000. The doctor received a call from an unknown person claiming to be a Revolut agent, who told her her account was compromised and requested app access. The caller then transferred €5,500 to each woman's account, which was subsequently moved into a cryptocurrency account. The women were identified and interviewed by Gardaí; they did not name the scammer, citing fear. The judge noted their cooperation but also that they were aware the activity was criminal. He imposed a one‑year sentence on each, suspended on the condition that each pays €1,500 to the doctor within nine months. The sentences were suspended to punish and deter future gullibility.
Garda Nicholas Keogh, aged 46, has been granted permission by the High Court to pursue a judicial review against the Garda Commissioner over the reduction of his sick pay. Keogh, who joined the force in June 1999, had not taken sick leave until October 2011. He suffered a musculo‑skeletal injury in 2012, followed by periods of alcohol addiction treatment and work‑related stress diagnoses in 2012, 2013 and 2014. He claims that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission failed to address his complaints of bullying, harassment and unfitness for work, and that his salary was reduced during his sick leave. The Disclosures Tribunal in July 2021 found his complaints unjustified, but Keogh seeks to quash the Commissioner's decision to end the special arrangement that allowed him full pay and to have his illness recorded as ordinary illness. Mr Justice Garrett Simons granted leave for the hearing, which is adjourned to 25 March.
Andrew Sankey, aged 57, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexually assaulting a child between September 1996 and October 2000, when the victim was about eight or nine. The abuse occurred while the child's parents were on holiday; Sankey took the child and her brother to a B&B, then forced the child to touch his penis and later digitally penetrated her under the pretext of bathing her. Sankey had previously been convicted of indecent assault in the UK in 1989 and of possession of child abuse material in Ireland, for which he served six months. The complainant, now in her 30s, testified that the abuse had a deep, lifelong impact, causing anxiety, distrust and anger. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Sankey to two and a half years' imprisonment, a reduction from the headline sentence of three and a half years. The sentence reflects the maximum five‑year term for the offence.
Cllr Paul Hogan, Cllr Aengus O'Rourke, and Cllr John Dolan welcomed a High Court adjournment in their challenge to a plan to house approximately 1,000 male asylum seekers in tented accommodation in Athlone. The applicants alleged that the ministerial process was unlawful, irrational, and breached fair procedures, claiming deficiencies in environmental screening, wastewater assessment, and traffic impact analysis. At the hearing, counsel for Cllr Hogan stated that the State had conceded the case, resulting in the development being classified as unauthorised. However, the applicants maintained that substantive environmental and planning issues remained unaddressed. Mr Justice Richard Humphreys adjourned the matter to January 27 to allow for further detailed consideration of these wider grounds. The State confirmed that works on the Lissywollen site would cease on December 20, though the site would remain in operation pending a final court determination. The councillors, including Mayor Frankie Keena, stated that the adjournment provides an opportunity to have their broader concerns heard in full by the High Court.
The Government has conceded a High Court challenge brought by Cllr Paul Hogan against a plan to house approximately 1,000 male asylum seekers in Athlone. At the hearing, Oisin SC, representing Mr. Hogan, informed Mr Justice Richard Humphreys that the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability and Youth conceded the case, stating the development would be classified as unauthorised. Ms Aoife Carroll SC, for the State, indicated the matter could be put in for mention on Thursday, pending instructions from the Minister. Mr. Hogan, who secured 4.8 per cent of first preference votes in the recent General Election, alleged the ministerial process was unlawful, irrational, and breached fair procedures. The challenge was supported by Athlone-based representatives, including TD Kevin 'Boxer' Moran, councillors Frankie Keena and Aengus O'Rourke of Fianna Fáil, and John Dolan of Fine Gael. Mr. Hogan sought to pause or quash the statutory instrument that confirmed the project did not require An Bord Pleanála approval and that specific EU environmental assessments were unnecessary. He claimed the Minister failed to adequately screen for environmental impacts, citing deficiencies in wastewater and traffic assessments, and argued the plan would cause significant traffic hazards and health and safety issues. He further alleged a lack of prior consultation with local councillors and that the development would be prejudicial to public health. Minister for Integration Roderick O'Gorman had contested the case. The matter was adjourned for mention on Thursday.
A former scrapyard worker has given evidence at the Workplace Relations Commission regarding an incident at Hammond Lane Metal Company's Clondalkin facility in December 2023. The woman alleged that a senior manager made offensive remarks toward her in the presence of colleagues and customers. The company, which operates sites across Cork, Sligo, Athlone, and Dublin, dismissed the manager, Bernard McMahon, following her complaint. McMahon has brought a case against Hammond Lane Metal Company Ltd under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, contesting his termination. During cross-examination, the complainant's representative questioned aspects of the witness account, whilst company HR evidence confirmed the manager had admitted to the alleged conduct. The tribunal heard that McMahon was suspended following an investigative meeting on 19 December 2023. The proceedings are ongoing, with McMahon expected to give evidence on Thursday.
The Court of Appeal has upheld the 14-year jail term and lifetime driving ban imposed on Michael Collins (50), of St Finian's Park, Drogheda, Co Louth, who was convicted of dangerous driving causing the death of Jillian Thornton on May 27, 2016, at Waterside Great, Duleek, Co Meath. The conviction followed a trial lasting almost two weeks at Trim Circuit Court in July 2019. Collins was also convicted on two charges of endangerment, 12 charges of dangerous driving, and of driving under the influence of cannabis on the same date. At the Court of Appeal on October 11 this year, defence counsel Michael Lynn argued that the overall sentence of 15 years with one year suspended was 'clearly disproportionate' and that the 14-year term was 'almost double' that imposed in other more severe cases, contrary to the totality principle of sentencing. He also challenged the imposition of a three-year sentence for one endangerment charge and a five-year sentence for the other, while making the 10-year sentence consecutive to the longer sentence of five years. Additionally, he argued that the judge had made an error in imposing a life-long driving disqualification on Collins. The appeal was dismissed, with the court finding that no double counting or error in principle had taken place in the sentencing. The court also dismissed Collins' appeal against his driving ban, stating that he still posed a risk to members of the public and should not be allowed to return to the road. The matter was adjourned and never described as concluded or finalised.
Michael Collins, 50, of Drogheda, was convicted of dangerous driving causing the death of 20‑year‑old Jillian Thornton after a 35‑minute pursuit by Gardaí. He was found to have been high on cannabis and was driving head‑on, without lights, and on the wrong side of the road. The trial, held at Trim Circuit Court in July 2019, also found him guilty of two endangerment charges, 12 dangerous driving offences and driving under the influence. Collins was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment, with one year suspended, and a life‑long driving disqualification. At the Court of Appeal he argued the sentence was manifestly excessive, citing the lack of aggravating factors such as leaving the scene or disqualification at the time, and that the disqualification would impair his rehabilitation. The appeal was dismissed, with the judges reserving judgment on the appeal decision.
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.
Jonathan (aka Johnny) Moran, 26, was sentenced to eight years in prison after a Central Criminal Court jury convicted him of rape and aggravated sexual assault. The offences occurred in a garden shed in Galway on July 21, 2019, where Moran allegedly used a bottle to penetrate the victim, Bláthnaid Raleigh, causing extensive physical injuries. Although the validated procedural stage is listed as an appeal, the report details the sentencing hearing where Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed the custodial term. The judge set a headline sentence of 10 years, reduced to nine years due to Moran's lack of previous convictions and late acceptance of the verdict. The final year was suspended on strict conditions, including indefinite no-contact orders with Ms Raleigh, 18 months of Probation Service engagement, and a three-year period of good behaviour. Ms Raleigh, who waived her anonymity, read a victim impact statement describing the long-term physical and psychological trauma she suffered. She noted that her brothers left their local rugby club, where Moran also played, following the incident. The judge emphasized the critical importance of consent, warning that failure to ensure it results in serious sexual offences and significant immediate custodial sentences.
Bláthnaid Raleigh, a 21‑year‑old from Mullingar, was raped with a bottle by Jonathan Moran, a 26‑year‑old acquaintance, in a garden shed in Galway on 21 July 2019. Moran was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of section four rape and aggravated sexual assault for penetrating her vagina and anus with a bottle. He denied using an implement and claimed the activity was consensual. Raleigh, who suffered extensive physical injuries requiring months of treatment, read her victim impact statement and said the conviction allowed her to use the word "rape." She expressed a desire to become a support and advocate for other victims of sexual violence, thanking the Rape Crisis Centre and Gardaí for their help. The court remanded Moran in custody until 1 July for sentencing. No further sentencing details are provided in the article.
In February 2024 a dispute arose at the Kilbixy Paddocks respite centre near Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, after a newly hired worker, Fionn Mullen, alleged that he was dismissed for raising safety concerns. Mullen claimed that on 17 December 2022 he was left alone to manage a 12‑year‑old boy, referred to as "Service user A", who he said bit, hit and attempted self‑harm. He said he used beanbags and foam pads to control the child until the boy tired and lay down, after which a colleague took over. Mullen said the centre's management fired him on probation, citing "extreme" views contrary to the centre's philosophy of care. The centre denies the allegations, calling Mullen's account a fabrication and stating that the boy's behaviour was different. The case was adjourned for further evidence, with the company contesting additional complaints under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. The tribunal has not yet reached a decision.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Wesley Williams (46) of Foxlodge Manor, Ratoath, Co Meath, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of making a gain for himself in a scheme that took place over a decade ago. His co-accused, Silvio Rabbitte (55) of Woodberry Gardens, Castleknock, Dublin, was given a fully-suspended sentence of two years after pleading guilty to one count of impeding the apprehension of Wesley Williams on dates between September 2012 and July 2014. Rabbitte's counsel argued that he had been 'duped' and should have known the scheme was 'too good to be true'. The court heard that Rabbitte received €350,000 from an account shared with Williams, as co-directors of One Stop Shop Catering Ltd, into which €1.4 million from German investors was transferred. The money was quickly dispersed, with Rabbitte receiving €350,000. Rabbitte was arrested, and a laptop containing phone call recordings was seized. The court heard that Rabbitte signed a contract before the money entered the account, which made it harder for Williams to be prosecuted. The matter was adjourned for mention in March to deal with an allegation of theft of a €15,000 watch faced by Williams. Simon Gold (59) of Windy Ridge House, Cartontroy, Athlone, Co Westmeath, was jailed for seven years in 2019 after being found guilty of money laundering, theft, deception, and control of false instruments.
In a High Court hearing on 25 January 2024, Mr Justice Mark Sanfey set aside a subpoena that had been issued by Paul Coyle to compel Gabriel Makhlouf, Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland, to give evidence in a property dispute brought by Ken Fennell, James Anderson and Start Mortgages. The judge found the subpoena to be flawed, lacking a clear statement of the party requesting the evidence and the documents to be produced, and concluded it was an abuse of process. The Central Bank is not a party to the case, which seeks an injunction to vacate a property in Mullingar. The subpoena was described as a "fishing expedition" and a nullity. The application to set it aside was made by Shelly Horan BL for the bank, and Mr Coyle was not present at the hearing, being in the United States. The defendants did not object to the application.
A 40‑year‑old Galway man was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury in Mullingar of sexual assault, attempted vaginal rape, anal and oral rape of his niece between 2007 and 2017. The victim, aged eight to ten and later fifteen to eighteen, described the abuse as relentless and degrading, noting the uncle's threats and grooming. The court imposed a headline sentence of 17½ years for the rape offences and seven years for the assault charges, but the judge set a global sentence of 15 years with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions. The defendant, who has a prior assault conviction and struggles with mental health and addiction, maintains his innocence. The judge cited the prolonged period of offending, the victim's profound harm, and mitigating factors such as the defendant's cooperation and family support. The sentence was confirmed after a three‑week trial.
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.
Derek Byrne, 40, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court to eight years and six months in prison for facilitating the attempted murder of Noel Boylan. The court found Byrne guilty of participating in the activities of a criminal organisation with the intention of facilitating the offence, which occurred between May 27 and June 1, 2019. He was identified on CCTV footage purchasing the Toyota Avensis used to transport the gunman. The judge noted that the shooting only became an attempted murder because the weapon jammed. Byrne, who has a history of drug abuse and 78 previous convictions, was already serving a seven-and-a-half-year sentence for unlawful possession of a firearm, having been in custody since December 3, 2019. The new sentence includes a suspended portion of 12 months for three years, conditional on engaging with probation services. The court determined the new sentence should run concurrently with the existing one. Separately, Alan Graham, 51, was previously jailed for 10 years after pleading guilty to facilitating the attempted murder of Lee Boylan, Noel Boylan's son, in a related incident on March 6, 2019.
Derek Byrne, 40, of Swords, appeared before the Central Criminal Court at the sentence stage for his role in the attempted murder of Noel Boylan. Byrne pleaded guilty to intentionally facilitating a serious offence by a criminal organisation, specifically the attempted murder of Boylan between May 27 and June 1, 2019, with knowledge of the organisation's existence. He also admitted to participating in the activities of a criminal organisation during a pre-trial hearing. Prosecution counsel Sean Gillane SC noted that Byrne's guilty plea acknowledged his previous false statements to gardai regarding the purchase of a Toyota Avensis used by the gunman. The court heard that the shooter's weapon jammed while pursuing Boylan into a Lidl supermarket, where CCTV captured frightened shoppers, including children, running for cover. Boylan made a full recovery. Byrne, who has 78 previous convictions, is currently serving a seven-and-a-half-year sentence for unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol. His defence counsel, Giollaiosa O'Lideadha SC, highlighted Byrne's severe cocaine addiction and requested the court consider backdating the new sentence to his initial custody date. Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded Byrne in custody until next Monday, when he will be formally sentenced. Separately, Alan Graham, 51, was previously jailed for 10 years in 2021 after pleading guilty to facilitating the attempted murder of Lee Boylan, Noel's son, in a related incident on the same road in March 2019.
Silvio Rabbitte, 55, of Castleknock, Dublin, pleaded guilty to one count of impeding the apprehension of his co-accused, Wesley Williams, between September 2012 and July 2014. Williams, 46, of Ratoath, Co Meath, pleaded guilty to one count of fraud. Both men were involved in a €1.4 million money-laundering scheme where funds from German investors were transferred into a shared account. Rabbitte received €350,000, while Williams also received a sum. The defence argued Rabbitte was duped and acted with recklessness, noting he had no previous convictions. Simon Gold, 59, of Athlone, Co Westmeath, was previously found guilty by a jury of money laundering, theft, deception, and control of false instruments, and was jailed for seven years in 2019. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the matter for finalisation on February 7 next year, stating he would sentence Rabbitte after hearing evidence in Williams' case. Rabbitte was remanded on continuing bail until that date. The court noted that the charge against Rabbitte was only recently offered to him, and that the Criminal Assets Bureau had seized €190,000 from his ill-gotten gains.
A 49‑year‑old mother, Lynn Eagar, was sentenced to life imprisonment after pleading guilty to murdering her two children, Thelma (5) and Michael (2), by setting fire to the car they were travelling in. The court heard that Eagar had sent text messages before the incident expressing that she believed the children would no longer suffer. She admitted to placing petrol in the rear footwell of a blue Lexus and igniting it, causing the vehicle to burst into flames. The children died; Eagar sustained minimal burns and was rescued by a passerby. She had no prior convictions and had been in custody since September 2022, later transferred to the Central Mental Hospital. The judge imposed a mandatory life sentence for each count of murder, expressing sympathy for the bereaved family. The summary is 140 words.
Mullingar Salesroom Limited, along with joint property owners Michael Lynn and Eileen Lynn, launched High Court proceedings to prevent a receiver from selling their premises at Lynn Industrial Estate in Mullingar, Co Westmeath. The applicants, represented by Gerard Martin Byrne BL, sought to block an online auction initiated by Promontoria (Oyster) Designated Activity Company and receiver Tom O'Brien of Mazars Ireland. The company, which has operated from the site for over 20 years, claims the property is subject to a 35-year lease agreement entered into in 2015. Mr Lynn, a director of the company, alleged that while he fell behind on loan repayments following a 2011 bereavement and economic downturn, Promontoria accepted rent payments between 2017 and 2020. The applicants contend that the receiver does not hold a power of sale and that the property was incorrectly advertised as occupied under unknown terms. They also claimed an attempt was made in March to forcibly take possession. The High Court initially granted a temporary injunction restraining the defendants from selling the property. When the matter was mentioned before Mr Justice Mark Sanfey on Wednesday, the court was informed that by agreement, the injunction could be replaced with an undertaking in the same terms offered by the defendants. The applicants also seek declarations confirming the company's status as a lawful tenant and the Lynns as lawful landlords. The matter was adjourned to a date next month.
The former acting campus governor of the Midlands Prison complex, Ethel Gavin, has failed in a sexist discrimination complaint after claiming she was demoted at the behest of male prison officers under her command. The Workplace Relations Commission found that her claim was out of time, as she lodged proceedings under the Employment Equality Act 1998 too late. Ms Gavin alleged that she was removed from her acting-up position following a walkout by 14 male officers in May 2018, which she claimed led to her being placed in a less prestigious role. She argued that the male officers involved were not reprimanded and that she faced a continuum of discrimination. However, the tribunal rejected her claims, stating there were no acts of discrimination within the six months prior to her complaint. The adjudicator noted that the bullying complaint against Ms Gavin was not substantiated, and the Prison Service denied any misleading press statements regarding her retirement party.
Alex Almajanu, 23, received a fully suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to endangerment, two breaches of Covid regulations, dangerous driving, not holding a driver's license, and criminal damage on the basis of recklessness committed on April 25, 2020. The offences involved fleeing a checkpoint in County Clare and subsequently leading gardaí on a high-speed chase across the midlands, which included driving at 200 km/hr and causing over €13,000 in damage to a patrol car. Judge Orla Crowe described the conduct as "deplorable" and noted that public resources were expended during a national crisis. While acknowledging the defendant's mitigation, including his recovery from drug addiction and role as a father, the judge stated the offences warranted a headline sentence of three years. She imposed a sentence of two years and three months, suspending the entire term for three years on the condition that Almajanu engage with the Probation Service for 12 months. Additionally, he was disqualified from driving for five years. Defence counsel highlighted that the defendant was under the influence of drugs at the time but is now drug-free and caring for his infant daughter.
Paschal Kelly, aged 57, has failed in his appeal against conviction for a €92,000 post office robbery committed in September 2014. The Court of Appeal dismissed his challenge on all grounds, upholding his 18-year sentence imposed by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in 2018. Kelly, with last addresses in Cootehill, County Cavan, and Castlepollard, County Westmeath, was convicted of offences including false imprisonment, robbery, burglary and threatening to kill three women during the crime. The gang entered the home of postmistress Susan Lawlor in Malahide, bound her, her daughter and a student guest with cable ties, and transported them to Bayside Post Office in Sutton where the robbery occurred. Mr Justice John Edwards upheld the trial judge's admission of CCTV evidence and garda identification testimony, finding the evidence reliable and the conviction safe. Kelly's legal team indicated a sentence appeal remains pending. He has 60 previous convictions including robbery and assault.
Vasile Lazar, 52, a Romanian national, was sentenced to two years in prison for eight counts of theft and one attempted robbery. Between November 2022 and January 2023, he stole €9,745 from victims in Donaghmeade, Swords, Artane, Bettystown and Mullingar. He targeted shoppers in Dunnes Stores and other retail outlets, taking purses, debit cards and withdrawing cash from ATMs. He also used stolen debit cards to withdraw €1,600 and to pay €650 to a Cyprus company via Google Pay. Lazar admitted the thefts, expressed remorse, and claimed desperation after a personal breakdown. He has no prior convictions in Ireland but has convictions in the UK, Austria and Italy. The judge noted aggravating factors such as the amount stolen and victim impact, but also considered his guilty plea and remorse. The sentence is back‑dated to his arrest.
Michael Collins, 49, was convicted in 2019 of dangerous driving causing the death of 20‑year‑old Jillian Thornton, who was thrown from his car when it split in two during a crash near Ballymagarvey on the N2. Collins had been driving under the influence of cannabis and had fired his legal team at the start of the trial, choosing to represent himself. The Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal, ruling that the right to self‑representation is a constitutional right that can only be overridden in extreme circumstances. The court found Collins fit to plead, medically assessed as capable of defending himself, and that no breach of EU law occurred. The appeal was rejected, affirming that Collins' decision to defend himself was a voluntary, informed choice. The case remains at the trial stage with the 14‑year sentence upheld.
A man's conviction for rape and sexual assault has been quashed by the Court of Appeal following concerns about jury impartiality and the handling of evidence at trial. Stephen Lynch, with an address in Offaly, was convicted in May 2021 at the Central Criminal Court of raping his then partner's sister, aged 15, at a property in Athlone, County Roscommon, in October 2015. He was also convicted of sexual assault and assault causing harm relating to incidents in December 2015. He had pleaded not guilty to all charges. The appeal court heard that jurors reported concerns they had been photographed in the car park outside court, though a phone retrieved by gardaí contained no images. The trial judge declined to discharge the jury after they indicated the matter had been resolved. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy stated the court harboured disquiet that no proper inquiry was conducted into what had occurred or how it was resolved.
Schoolteacher Enoch Burke, dismissed from Wilson's Hospital School for alleged gross misconduct, was ordered by Mr Justice Alexander Owens to pay the school legal costs in a High Court action. Burke, who denied wrongdoing, argued that his suspension stemmed from his opposition to transgenderism and a school directive to refer to a student wishing to transition with a different name and pronoun. He claimed the disciplinary process breached his constitutional rights, including freedom of expression of religious beliefs. The court found Burke had been lawfully suspended and awarded the school costs, while restraining him from trespassing on the school premises. Burke appealed the dismissal, but a temporary injunction was granted to halt the appeal hearing, a move he contested. The case remains at the disciplinary appeal stage.
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.
Christopher Gaynor, 39, of Woodavens, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply after Gardaí seized 40 kg of cocaine worth €2.8 million and €21,100 in cash from his family home. The drugs were found in the attic of a house in Collinstown Grove, where Gardaí had observed suspicious activity and monitored the area following a tip‑off. Gaynor, who had accrued €70,000 in gambling‑related debt, admitted to being involved in the drug trade but not profiting from it. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to seven years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended for three years, and directed him to be supervised by the Probation Service for 18 months after release. The court noted the high value of the drugs, the social harm caused, and Gaynor's lack of prior convictions and early guilty plea. The sentence was back‑dated to 26 June.
Patrick Killally, aged 46, was jailed for 11 years after a jury convicted him of three counts of sexual assault of a boy aged six to nine between 1992 and 1996, and 40 counts of sexual assault, attempted anal rape, oral rape and anal rape of another boy aged 12 to 14 between 2005 and 2007. He had no prior convictions. Mr Justice Paul Burns, hearing the case in the Central Criminal Court, praised the two survivors for coming forward as adults to protect children and urged them not to blame themselves for not speaking earlier. He noted the abuse had severely impacted their lives, citing their victim‑impact statements. Mr Justice Burns imposed concurrent sentences totalling 12 years, suspended the final year on strict conditions to encourage rehabilitation, and commended the men's courage. The judge also acknowledged Killally's claims of innocence and his lack of previous convictions. The sentencing aimed to balance punishment with the possibility of rehabilitation.
Two survivors of sexual abuse by Patrick Killally, aged 45, told the Central Criminal Court how they spoke out to protect children and encourage others to come forward. One survivor was between six and nine years old when abused; the other was between 12 and 14. Killally was a teenager when he assaulted the first boy and an adult when he abused the second boy over two years. He was convicted of three counts of sexual assault of the first boy (1992‑1996) and 40 counts of sexual assault, attempted anal rape, oral rape and anal rape of the second boy (2005‑2007). The survivors described the long‑term emotional burden, fear of speaking out, and their decision to testify after the trial ended in May 2023. Killally maintains his innocence; the court remanded him in custody and adjourned sentencing to 10 July.
The High Court has approved a Personal Insolvency Arrangement for a 52-year-old man from County Roscommon, enabling him to retain his family home while writing off more than €1.1 million in debt. Mr Justice Alexander Owens granted the order following an appeal by a Personal Insolvency Practitioner after the Circuit Court had refused to approve the arrangement. The debtor incurred significant financial difficulties through personal guarantees linked to a construction business he operated with family members, which entered liquidation in 2008. Under the approved arrangement, unsecured debts owed to the Bank of Ireland and building suppliers will be written off in exchange for modest dividend payments. The mortgaged family home will be restructured, with over €110,000 of the outstanding balance written off and the remainder repaid over twenty years. The court heard that creditors would benefit more substantially under the arrangement than through bankruptcy proceedings. A separate arrangement was also approved for the debtor's wife.
A man has launched an appeal against his conviction for rape and sexual assault following a trial in the Central Criminal Court. Stephen Lynch, with an address in County Offaly, was convicted in May 2021 of raping a fifteen-year-old girl at a property in Athlone, County Roscommon, in October 2015, and of sexually assaulting another young woman and assaulting her friend in December 2015. Lynch pleaded not guilty to all charges. At the Court of Appeal, his legal representatives argued the jury should have been discharged due to concerns they were photographed during the trial and following a reference by a witness to previous stories about the accused. The State's counsel submitted these issues were resolved at trial and were not sufficiently prejudicial to warrant discharge. The appeal court reserved judgment. Lynch was sentenced to eight years and nine months for the rape offence and concurrent sentences totalling two years and nine months for the other convictions.
Simon Quilligan, 40, was convicted in March 2021 of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life at a halting site where he allegedly said "I'll kill you all; man, woman or child." He had previously been found not guilty of attempted murder and of intentionally or recklessly discharging a firearm in a separate incident. Quilligan appealed the firearms conviction, arguing insufficient evidence and inconsistency with his acquittal on the discharge charge. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, rejected the appeal, stating ample evidence justified a jury decision and that the conviction was not inconsistent with the acquittal. Quilligan remains jailed, with release scheduled for 10 June 2024, and the Court of Appeal will set a date for his sentence appeal next week. The case involved additional convictions for threatening to kill or cause serious harm and for criminal damage, all of which were sentenced to run concurrently.
In a High Court decision on 19 May 2023, Mr Enoch Burke, an evangelical Christian teacher at Wilson's Hospital secondary school, was found to have been lawfully suspended. The judge, Mr Justice Alexander Owens, upheld the school's disciplinary action, citing Burke's public objections to a school request to use a different name and pronoun for a student who allegedly wished to transition. The court deemed the suspension rational and reasonable, and rejected Burke's claim that the process was procedurally flawed. Burke was also ordered to pay €15,000 in damages for trespassing on the school campus, in addition to a daily €700 fine imposed earlier for breaching court orders to stay away. The judge ruled that a suspended employee cannot return to the workplace unless the employer accepts the employee's resumption, and dismissed Burke's counterclaim. The school's board subsequently decided to dismiss Burke, a decision he has appealed.
Michael Collins (49) appealed his conviction at the Court of Appeal, arguing he should not have been permitted to represent himself during his 2019 trial. Collins was found guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of Jillian Thornton on May 27, 2016, in Duleek, Co Meath, and was jailed for 14 years by Trim Circuit Court. He was also convicted of two charges of endangerment, 12 charges of dangerous driving, and driving under the influence. Collins, of Drogheda, Co Louth, had dismissed his legal team before the trial began. His counsel, Michael Lynn SC, submitted that Collins was incapable of running a coherent defence due to paranoia and that forcing legal representation would have ensured a fair trial. The State's counsel, Carl Hanahoe BL, countered that Collins had the fundamental right to self-representation and was found fit to be tried. The court described the argument as a "very radical proposition" without precedent in Irish courts. The appeal was adjourned, with the court reserving its judgement.
The Special Criminal Court heard closing submissions yesterday in the trial of two men accused of involvement in the fatal robbery at Lordship Credit Union in County Louth in January 2013. Prosecution counsel told the three-judge court that a tattoo allegedly obtained by one of the accused in 2018 constituted an "extraordinary act of hubris". The tattoo, which counsel submitted contains images strikingly coincidental to elements of the Lordship robbery, features a BMW car, armed figures, and a person wearing a balaclava. Brendan Treanor, aged 34, formerly of Dundalk, and James Flynn, aged 32, of South Armagh, have pleaded not guilty to charges relating to the robbery and to conspiracy to commit residential burglaries between September 2012 and January 2013. Prosecution counsel presented evidence linking phone records and movements of the accused to burglaries in Cavan, Monaghan, and Westmeath prior to the robbery. Defence closing speeches are scheduled to follow.
A Special Criminal Court has heard that an organised criminal gang comprising at least five members with local knowledge deliberately targeted Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, County Louth, in the robbery during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was fatally shot. The State's closing address, delivered by barrister Lorcan Staines SC on 15 May 2023, relied on circumstantial evidence including CCTV footage and mobile phone data to link the accused men to the attack and a series of related burglaries. Brendan Treanor and James Flynn deny charges of conspiracy to commit creeper burglaries between September 2012 and January 2013, and of robbing €7,000 from the credit union on 25 January 2013. The prosecution contends the gang possessed detailed local knowledge of the area and prior intelligence about the credit union's operations. Counsel noted coordination indicators such as synchronised phone deactivations before the robbery and evidence of reconnaissance visits. Aaron Brady, already serving a life sentence with a 40-year minimum for Detective Donohoe's murder, was named as a co-conspirator. The trial continues at the Special Criminal Court. Aaron Brady pleaded not guilty and was found guilty.
A High Court jury awarded €505,000 in damages to Michael Sheehan, a 62-year-old former League of Ireland and GAA player, after finding he was assaulted by An Garda Síochána. The civil action, heard before Mr Justice Alexander Owens, alleged that Sheehan was pepper-sprayed and manhandled during an arrest in Athlone on June 3, 2012. The defendants, including the Garda Commissioner and the State, denied the claims of assault and false imprisonment, arguing the response was proportionate to a public order incident. The jury found that gardai used excessive and unreasonable force, assaulting Sheehan in a police vehicle and at Athlone Garda barracks. Sheehan was subsequently acquitted of Public Order Act offences in a separate criminal proceeding. The court awarded Sheehan his legal costs against the State. Mr Justice Owens placed a stay on the damages order pending a potential appeal to the Court of Appeal, conditional on the defendants immediately paying €75,000 to the applicant. The judge also exempted the jury from further duty for ten years.
In 2021 Simon Quilligan was jailed for six years for possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life at a halting site where he threatened to kill people. He had earlier been found not guilty of attempted murder and of endangerment from a reckless discharge of a firearm. The Court of Appeal heard that the conviction for the firearm offence was "perverse" because the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to prove possession of a live weapon. Quilligan's lawyers argued that witnesses could not see or hear a gun, that no firearm residue or silencer was found, and that the evidence was inconsistent with the acquittals of the other charges. The appeal was heard by a three‑judge panel, with the judge noting that the case would be decided at a later hearing. The article reports only the arguments and the pending decision, not a verdict.
The former governor of Portlaoise Prison, Ethel Gavin, has accused the Irish Prison Service of a sexist demotion, claiming it was at the behest of 14 male prison officers who staged a walkout in 2018. The incidents leading to the walkout included a senior gangland criminal being allowed a phone call before transfer and the withdrawal of barrier control of a prisoner, who later seriously assaulted an officer. The Workplace Relations Commission heard that the Prison Service denied allegations that a senior civil servant gave the officers Gavin's head 'on a plate', insisting that urgent action was taken to expedite management restructuring following a series of incidents. Gavin alleges she was demoted from an acting-up position as governor of the Portlaoise and Midlands Prisons to only oversee the Midlands Prison, losing two grades of seniority. The Prison Service maintains her acting-up role was temporary and that restructuring was necessary due to incidents at Portlaoise.
A 48‑year‑old woman, Lynn Eagar of Winetown, Rathowen, County Westmeath, faces trial on 15 January 2024 for the murders of her two children, Thelma (5) and Michael Dennany (2). The children died when the car they were in caught fire on 9 September 2022 at Lackan, Multyfarnham. The Central Criminal Court heard the case on 21 July, with a two‑week trial expected. Eagar's counsel, Sean Gillane SC, hopes many facts will be agreed, and the court has set witness and exhibit orders for the trial date.
The trial of Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor continues before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The four men, who have all pleaded not guilty, face the same 17 charges each. They are accused of false imprisonment and assault causing harm to four security guards, including Mark Rissen, at a repossessed farm in Falsk, Strokestown, on December 16, 2018. The State alleges the group also committed aggravated burglary, four counts of arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Mr. Rissen testified that he was pushed to the ground, struck, and had his hands tied with cable ties during the attack. He reported bleeding from a leg gash and smoke inhalation, requiring treatment at Mullingar Hospital. The court heard that the accused allegedly arrived armed with various weapons, smashed the property, and set vehicles on fire. The trial is currently at the evidence stage, with the prosecution presenting witness accounts of the alleged assault and property damage.