Aaron Gilsenan, 42, with 93 prior convictions, was jailed for four years after a series of offences in Clondalkin. He first attempted to rob a shop while intoxicated, fled without taking anything, and then stole a car that had been left by its owner with the keys in the ignition and two children, aged four and six, sitting in the back. The owner had left the car for a few minutes to buy groceries; when Gilsenan realised the car was missing, he returned to the shop, where the sales assistant called the Gardaí. The car was stopped 2 km away, and the children were unharmed and reunited with their father after about ten minutes. Gilsenan then tried to rob a nail salon, pulling the cash register and causing damage, but left the children in the car and used the vehicle to escape. Aaron Gilsenan pleaded guilty.
The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal of a 38‑year‑old man who had been sentenced to eight years' imprisonment, with two years suspended, for repeatedly defiling and sexually assaulting a girl who was 13 when the first offence occurred. The man had pleaded guilty to defilement of a child under 15, defilement of a child under 17 and a single count of sexual assault. He claimed he believed the girl was 16 and that he had ceased the relationship when he discovered her true age, but he returned and continued the abuse for over three years, during which the girl gave birth to their daughter at age 15. The appeal argued the sentence was excessive, citing the man's early age and the fact that he had pleaded guilty, but the court upheld the judge's decision, noting the protracted nature of the abuse, the man's violent and manipulative conduct, and the lack of mitigation from the families.
The Court of Appeal has increased jail sentences for two women convicted in Ireland's first human trafficking case involving alleged voodoo ceremonies. Alicia Edosa and Edith Enoghaghase, originally sentenced in September 2021 following a June 2021 trial at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court, were found guilty of trafficking women between 2016 and 2018. Evidence indicated victims underwent ceremonies in Nigeria before being coerced into prostitution across multiple locations including Castlebar, Letterkenny and Cavan. Mr Justice George Birmingham rejected their conviction appeals and found original sentences substantially inadequate. Edosa, formerly of Mullingar, has been re-sentenced to seven-and-a-half years imprisonment. Enoghaghase, also formerly of Mullingar, received seven years and one month. The judge noted the sentencing judge faced unprecedented circumstances with no comparative guidelines for this offence type. Alicia Edosa pleaded not guilty. Edith Enoghaghase pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence from victims of "creeper" burglaries in the ongoing trial of two men accused of conspiring to commit such break-ins across the border region. Brendan Treanor and James Flynn, both charged with conspiracy to steal car keys from residential properties between September 2012 and January 2013, have pleaded not guilty. They face additional charges relating to a seven-thousand-euro robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Co Louth on 25 January 2013. Detective Garda Neil Brady outlined gardaí investigations into overnight burglaries in Cavan, Monaghan, Louth and Westmeath where door locks were forced to access vehicles. Five witnesses gave accounts of thefts from their homes, including a vehicle stolen from Virginia, Co Cavan in October 2012 whose engine was later recovered on the M1 motorway. Other victims described vehicles taken from properties in Westmeath following forced entry during January 2013. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
Shaun Groome's appeal against his 15-year sentence for assault causing serious harm has been dismissed. In December 2021, Groome pleaded guilty to the 2015 attack on Ciarán Murphy at Coolcor, Co Offaly, where Murphy was stabbed 16 times and set alight, suffering burns to 96% of his body and losing his ears. The trial judge, Judge Martin Nolan, described the violence as exceptional and noted Groome's murderous intent, reducing a 20-year headline sentence to 15 years without a suspended portion. Groome's counsel argued the plea discount was insufficient, citing mitigating factors including remorse and addiction. However, the Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, rejected this, noting the plea was entered only after Groome was extradited from the UK. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy stated the sentence was within the margin for exceptional cases and the discount was appropriate. Groome's co-accused, David Keena, who was 17 at the time, was jailed for five years in October 2020 for his role in the attack, which involved providing petrol. The court upheld the original sentencing, finding the trial judge correctly weighed the mitigating circumstances against the severity of the injuries.
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.
A man from County Cavan is appealing his conviction for a post office robbery in Dublin during which three women were tied up and abducted. Paschal Kelly, aged 56, was convicted in 2018 of robbery, false imprisonment, threatening to kill, and other offences relating to a €92,000 theft from Bayside Post Office in Sutton in September 2014. He was sentenced to 18 years. The Court of Appeal heard arguments on the strength of evidence against him. The State's counsel cited DNA evidence recovered from discarded clothing found at the scene and a bottle in the getaway vehicle, alongside CCTV footage and garda identifications of the driver. The defence challenged the quality of CCTV footage, arguing the jury should have been instructed not to make visual identifications themselves and questioned the reliability of mixed DNA profiles as evidence of guilt. The Court of Appeal reserved judgement.
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 approved a Personal Insolvency Arrangement (PIA) for 44‑year‑old Tony Diskin, a property developer who had fallen into debt after the 2007‑08 economic crash. The PIA will allow Diskin to write off about €25 million of debt owed mainly to financial institutions, including Bank of Ireland, Cabot Finance and AIB. AIB had initially opposed the application, but its loan was sold to Everyday Finance, which did not oppose the PIA. The arrangement will be funded by a €30 000 lump sum from a third party, less fees, giving creditors a 0.1 % dividend. The PIA, lasting six months, will provide Diskin with adequate living expenses and allow him to retain his family home in Churchfields, Coosan, Athlone, Co Westmeath. The home, valued at €395 000, has a mortgage of €75 000 owed to KBC Bank, which will continue to be paid down.
Simon Gold, a 58‑year‑old former psychic who had previously served seven and a half years for laundering €1.6 million, was sentenced on 23 November 2022 to a three‑year suspended term for dishonestly opening two bank accounts. He pleaded guilty to opening accounts in Dublin and Offaly in July 2017 and March 2018 using forged documents discovered during a 2018 search of his home. The accounts handled about €80 000 and were used mainly for household expenses; €18 500 remains frozen and will be forfeited. Gold had already been released from prison after serving four years of his earlier sentence, which was back‑dated to 2018. Judge Martin Nolan, after hearing that Gold had undertaken rehabilitation courses and was released on restrictive conditions, imposed the suspended sentence, noting that a longer term would not have been warranted had the offences been considered together with his earlier money‑laundering conviction.
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.
In November 2022 the High Court heard that the remaining publicans who had brought test actions against FBD over the insurer's failure to pay business‑disruption claims caused by Covid‑19 had settled. The two test actions brought by Aberken, trading as Sinnott's Bar, and Hyper Trust Ltd, trading as The Leopardstown Inn, were resolved after extensive out‑of‑court talks. The court is now considering FBD's submissions for reliefs arising from the settlement agreement, including clarifications on legal principles that may affect other pubs and restaurants with similar policies. FBD seeks declarations from the court regarding the subsidies paid by the State to businesses forced to close during the pandemic. The hearing of FBD's bid for relief will continue next week. The other two pub owners who had taken test actions – Lemon & Duke and Sean's Bar – had already resolved most of their claims, with only legal costs remaining.
Two of the four pub owners who had successfully challenged FBD's refusal to pay business‑disruption claims caused by Covid‑19 have settled most of their outstanding legal issues with the insurer, including the amount of damages owed. The settlements, whose details are confidential, cover the bulk of the quantum of losses. However, the other two pub owners, Hyper Trust Ltd (The Leopardstown Inn) and Aberken (Sinnott's Bar), still have disputes over the quantification of their losses pending before the High Court later this month. Mr Justice Denis McDonald, who ruled last year that FBD's policy covered losses from pandemic‑related closures, expressed disappointment that the remaining cases had not yet been resolved. The judge urged the parties to continue working toward a solution and adjourned the outstanding matters to a later date. The case remains an ongoing test action with implications for over 100 bars and restaurants.
Jailed teacher Enoch Burke has asked the High Court to stay the full hearing of the action brought by his employer, the Church of Ireland's Diocesan School for Meath and Kildare, until his appeal against the injunction that bars him from teaching at Wilson's Hospital is decided. The injunction, obtained after Burke was suspended on full pay in late August, was issued because he refused to stay away from the school, a refusal he says is rooted in his objection to "transgendarism". Burke, who is currently in Mountjoy Prison, has appealed to the Court of Appeal, with the appeal set for February next year. Mr Justice Brian O'Moore refused an application for Burke to attend court to seek a stay, adjourned the matter to November 7, and said the school had sufficient notice of the application.
Adrian Short, 45, of Corbetstown, Killucan, was given a 16‑month suspended sentence for possessing seven images and 14 videos of child pornography, including extreme content involving children as young as two years old. The videos showed sexual intercourse between children and adults. Judge Melanie Greally noted that no other material was found on Short's devices and that he had been fully forthright, cooperative and had voluntarily attended a Garda interview. The judge cited Short's early guilty plea, high level of cooperation, lack of prior convictions, personal history, and past trauma as mitigating factors. He was also noted to have a low risk of reoffending according to a probation report. Short must remain under probation supervision for 16 months, submit to monitoring and risk assessments, and continue counselling as directed.
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.
Paschal Kelly, a convicted criminal with 60 previous convictions, opened an appeal at the Court of Appeal against his 2018 conviction and 18-year sentence for a 2014 post office robbery in Sutton, Dublin. Kelly was convicted of trespass, false imprisonment, robbery, threatening to kill, and possession of a stolen vehicle. The charges relate to the abduction of postmistress Susan Lawlor, her daughter Emma Carter, and student Gabriella Saisa, who were bound and held overnight before being taken to the Bayside Post Office. Kelly denied all charges. His counsel, Martin O'Rourke KC, submitted ten grounds challenging the conviction and four against the sentence, arguing the trial judge erred in admitting CCTV identification evidence. O'Rourke contended the footage did not positively identify Kelly and that Garda witnesses failed to provide a specific description of the driver during initial interviews. The appeal, heard by Mr Justice John Edwards, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, was adjourned to December 19. On that date, State counsel Roisin Lacey SC is scheduled to reply to the appellant's submissions. The matter remains pending and has not been concluded.
Jailed teacher Enoch Burke appeared before the High Court on Thursday to claim he was defamed in a Sunday Independent article. Represented by his sister, solicitor Ammi Burke, he sought an urgent order under Section 33 of the 2009 Defamation Act to prevent republication, alleging the paper falsely claimed he was moved within Mountjoy Prison. The publisher denied the allegations. Justice Brian O'Moore rejected the request for Burke to be produced from prison earlier than Friday, noting the article had been removed. He refused to make an order without notice to the newspaper but set an early return date for Burke to formalise his application. Justice O'Moore, who is also presiding over the underlying dispute with Wilson's Hospital School, expressed bemusement at claims that media reporting could prejudice the case. He stated he would not be influenced by media coverage and planned to hear from both parties on Friday regarding case management. Burke, who has been incarcerated since early September for contempt of court after refusing to comply with an injunction to stay away from the school, has appealed to the Court of Appeal against the injunction and his suspension. He denies misconduct allegations related to his objection to addressing a transitioning student with specific pronouns, which he says conflicts with his Christian beliefs. The school maintains the issue is his refusal to obey court orders. The appeal is scheduled for mention before the Court of Appeal on Friday.
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.
Jailed teacher Enoch Burke has formally lodged an appeal against a High Court injunction preventing him from attending or teaching at Wilson's Hospital School in Co Westmeath. The appeal, which is currently at the validated procedural stage of appeal, was lodged at the Office of the Court of Appeal (CoA) on Tuesday. Mr Burke, who was committed to prison until he agrees to obey an order not to attend or teach at the school, has not appealed the High Court orders committing him to prison for contempt. His appeal seeks to set aside orders including the granting of the temporary ex-parte injunction against him and the subsequent decision to keep the injunction in place pending the final hearing of the matter. He has also appealed against the High Court's dismissal of applications brought by him aimed at setting aside his suspension from the school. The appeal is due to be mentioned before a directions hearing of the CoA later this month but is unlikely to be heard before Christmas. Mr Burke, who objects to addressing a student with the pronoun 'they' and opposes 'Transgendarism', claims that the suspension is unlawful, unfair, and unreasonable and in breach of his constitutional rights to religion, freedom of expression, and conscience. His appeal is separate from the disciplinary process against him, which he denies. The school, which is located in Multyfarnham Co Westmeath, claims that Mr Burke's refusal to comply with the injunction was disruptive to the school's students at the beginning of the new academic year. Mr Burke has also brought his own proceedings against the school where he seeks various orders and declarations including a declaration that the disciplinary process against him is unlawful and a breach of his constitutional rights, including his rights to freedom of expression, conscience, and religion. He also seeks various orders preventing the school from continuing both his paid administrative leave and the disciplinary process against him. He further seeks an order preventing the school from dismissing him from his position. Mr Burke was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of a disciplinary process commenced by the school, where he has been employed for several years. That process commenced after it is alleged that Mr Burke publicly voiced his alleged opposition to the school's principal direction to address a student, who wishes to transition, by a different name and by using the pronoun 'they' rather than he or she. The school claims that last June a service and dinner was held to mark its 260th anniversary, which was attended by clergy, staff, past and present pupils, parents, and board members. It is claimed that Mr Burke interrupted the service and said that the school's then principal, Ms Niamh McShane, should withdraw the earlier demand regarding the student. It is also claimed that he said that he could not agree with transgenderism, and said it went against the school's ethos and the teaching of the Church of Ireland. The school claims that after he spoke, members of the congregation and students walked out of the school chapel where the service was being conducted. After the meal he is alleged to have approached the Principal and again asked her to withdraw the request regarding the student. In a sworn statement to the court, Mr Burke said he rejects claim made by the former school principal Niamh McShane that he questioned her loudly at the function. Mr Burke said that the former principal's allegations against him are 'entirely false'.
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.
Abuse Survivor Aoife Farrelly has waived her anonymity to allow her brother, Cian Farrelly (30), to be named in connection with the rape and sexual assault of his sister at the family home in Castlepollard, Co Westmeath, between 2007 and 2009. Farrelly pleaded guilty to the charges at the Central Criminal Court. The victim, who was aged between seven and eight and a half at the time of the abuse, while Farrelly was aged between 15 and a half and 17 years old, described the impact of the abuse on her life, including self-harm, disordered eating, anxiety, stress, and OCD. She stated that she had undergone counselling, psychotherapy, and inpatient treatment for PTSD. During the sentencing hearing, Mr Justice Paul McDermott noted that Ms Farrelly's childhood was destroyed and she was deeply affected by the abuse. He handed down a four-and-a-half year sentence and suspended the final 18 months on a number of conditions, including that Farrelly have no contact of any kind with his sister. Speaking outside court, Ms Farrelly said she was pleased with the sentence that was handed down, saying that the headline sentence the judge mentioned was 'enough' for her. The matter was adjourned for the submission of reports, including a probation report and a report from forensic psychological services. Cian Farrelly took the stand at the end of the hearing to apologise to his sister.
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.
Adrian Short, 45, a former Irish Defence Forces member, pleaded guilty to possessing seven images and 14 videos of child pornography. The case was adjourned to allow an independent risk assessment before sentencing. Judge Melanie Greally ordered the Probation Service to conduct the assessment as part of a probation report to determine if additional safeguards are required. Short was arrested after a warrant was obtained following a referral from the Garda National Protective Bureau. A search on March 29, 2021, found a Samsung Galaxy phone and other devices; the phone held sexually explicit images of children and videos of adults abusing children. Short admitted to accessing the material, including via the Telegram app, and claimed he had been sexually abused by his father as a child. He has been in counselling and the case will be finalised on October 21.
Five men aged 17 to 19 were convicted of gang‑rape and sexual assault of a 17‑year‑old Leaving Cert student on 27 December 2016. The victim was taken from a midlands town to a remote dry dock in Co Westmeath where the men raped her one after another, filmed the assaults, and later forced her into a car where further sexual acts occurred. The court heard the victim's impact statement, describing how the men stripped her of dignity and left her in shock. Ms Justice Tara Burns sentenced the men to a combined 66 years: 15 years for Marcos Vinicius De Silva Umbelino, 18 years for Eduardo Dias Ferreira Filho, 20 years for Gabriel Gomes Da Rocha, 12 years for Conor Byrne, and 7 years for Ethan Nikolaou. All sentences had a suspended year, and additional concurrent sentences were imposed for other assaults. Conor Byrne pleaded guilty.
Five men were convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of sexually assaulting and raping a 17-year-old Leaving Cert student in December 2016. The defendants are Gabriel Gomes Da Rocha, Eduardo Dias Ferreira Filho, Ethan Nikolaou, Marcos De Silva Umbelino, and Conor Byrne. Byrne entered a guilty plea to rape, while the other four men denied all charges but were found guilty of various counts of sexual assault, rape, and false imprisonment. The jury reached unanimous verdicts after a four-week trial. During the proceedings, the victim addressed the court, expressing her trauma and PTSD. She specifically addressed Byrne, acknowledging his admission of guilt and asking him not to let this be the defining moment of his life. She stated she would not forgive the other four men, who she said showed no remorse. The defence lawyers for all five men stated they accepted the jury verdicts and highlighted their clients' remorse. Ms Justice Tara Burns adjourned the case to 2pm on Thursday for finalisation. The five men were remanded in custody pending that finalisation.
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.
In a 2022 decision, a motor dealer, Colm Quinn Ltd, was ordered to pay an employee, Ara Azady, nearly €4,000 in compensation for unlawful wage deductions and for failing to provide a written employment contract. Azady, who worked full‑time from July 2020 to March 2021, earned €10.50 an hour for a 38‑hour week. He claimed that after an accident at the company's Drogheda garage on 8 October 2020, the repair cost was estimated at €1,595.83. From December 2020 to February 2021, the company docked €400 a month from his wages, and in March 2021 an additional €395.83 was deducted. Azady's solicitor argued the deductions were not agreed or communicated, violating Section 5 of the Terms of Employment Act, and were excessive, amounting to about a quarter of his net pay.
In the trial, the 17‑year‑old victim recounted a night of repeated sexual assault by six men. She was lured into a car after a taxi wait, where she was forced into the back seat and subjected to molestation and rape by Gabriel Gomes Da Rocha, Marcos Vinicius De Silva Umbelino, Conor Byrne, Ethan Nikolaou, Eduardo Dias Ferreira Filho, and a fifth unnamed man. The victim described being coerced into touching a man's genitals, forced oral sex, and being prevented from leaving the vehicle. She reported feeling shocked, paralyzed, and crying throughout the assaults. The court heard CCTV footage of her running to a friend's house after the final assault. The defendants were convicted of various sexual assault and rape charges, with one defendant pleading guilty before trial. The case highlighted the victim's lack of escape options and the men's coordinated abuse.
In a High Court hearing on 7 April 2022, Mr Justice Denis McDonald expressed disappointment that a further hearing was required to resolve outstanding issues between publicans and FBD Insurance over the quantum of losses to be paid for business disruption caused by Covid‑19. The judge noted that while some progress had been made, certain matters could not be agreed upon, and that the State might need to be included because one issue concerned government subsidies paid during lockdown. He had previously ruled that FBD's policy covered losses incurred by pubs that had to close due to the pandemic, a decision that affects claims by about 1,000 Irish pubs and restaurants. The judge adjourned the case to May, hoping to determine whether it could be heard before the August recess, and urged the parties to cooperate and provide precise details of the unresolved issues.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a jury convicted four men of multiple sexual assaults during a gang rape of a 17‑year‑old girl on 27 December 2016. The girl was taken in a car by five men after she was separated from friends. While traveling, she was repeatedly groped and molested. The car was parked at a remote spot where two men raped her consecutively, then the car returned to town and was parked again. The girl attempted to leave; two men prevented her, one raped her again, and another orally raped her. After nine hours of deliberation, the jury found Marcos Vinicius De Silva Umbelino (22), Eduardo Dias Ferreira Filho (24), Gabriel Gomes Da Rocha (24) and Ethan Nikolaou (23) guilty of various charges, including rape and sexual assault. A fifth man, Conor Byrne (24), pleaded guilty to rape. All verdicts were unanimous.
A man from County Roscommon has received a fully suspended sentence following his conviction for possessing cocaine worth over €34,000. Conor Costello was stopped by gardaí on November 22nd, 2018, as he drove from an estate in Tallaght, west Dublin. A search of his vehicle revealed a bag containing white powder in the passenger footwell, later confirmed as cocaine with an estimated street value of €34,104. Costello pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He told gardaí he had accumulated a drug debt in Athlone and agreed to collect and transport the package in exchange for €300 credit against that debt. Judge Greally imposed a two-and-a-half-year sentence, fully suspended, taking into account his youth, lack of previous convictions, early guilty plea, and difficult personal circumstances at the time. The court noted Costello is now training as an apprentice electrician and has been assessed by the Probation Service as presenting a low risk of reoffending.
An environmental group has successfully resolved a High Court challenge to a County Roscommon flood relief scheme. Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) brought judicial review proceedings against Roscommon County Council and the State, contesting the council's October 2021 decision to approve an emergency scheme involving a three-kilometre pipeline to transfer water from Lough Funshinagh to Lough Ree. FIE argued the project breached EU environmental law and lacked necessary environmental assessments. On Wednesday before Mr Justice Garrett Simons, the council consented to orders quashing its original approval decision. The court heard that constructed pipeline sections and associated infrastructure cannot be used without High Court permission, and remedial works on affected lands must proceed as agreed. The council has undertaken to pay FIE's legal costs. The judge noted there were significant difficulties with the council's decision and commended both legal teams for resolving the matter. No order on costs was made regarding the State respondents.
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.
Phillip McBride, aged 44, was arrested with a loaded semi‑automatic handgun, ammunition, gloves, a balaclava and a burner phone. He and his co‑accused Derek Byrne were both wearing two sets of clothing at the time of arrest. McBride pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition on 3 December 2019. He has six prior convictions for road traffic offences and no prior violent convictions. Byrne, aged 38, had 78 prior convictions, including drug possession and public order offences, and had previously been sentenced to seven‑and‑a‑half years with 18 months suspended. At sentencing, Judge Melanie Greally imposed a six‑year term on McBride, suspending the final three years on strict conditions, including 12 months of probation. The judge noted McBride's cocaine addiction and his efforts at rehabilitation, describing him as a pro‑social person who had fallen into debt and drug‑related pressure. Byrne's earlier sentence was not altered in this hearing.
In a High Court case involving FBD and Irish publicans, Mr Justice Denis McDonald urged parties to resolve the unresolved quantum of losses owed to pub owners who had successfully challenged FBD's refusal to pay out on business‑disruption claims caused by Covid‑19. The judge noted that last year he had found that FBD's policy covered losses incurred when pubs closed due to the pandemic, and that he had issued subsequent judgments clarifying issues between the parties. However, the amount of compensation the publicans are entitled to remains undetermined. Mr Justice McDonald suggested that experts from each side meet without solicitors or clients to agree on figures, and that forensic accountants could help settle the dispute. He said he would not impose orders on how the parties engage outside court, but he wants progress before the next court appearance next month.
Adrian Power, 50, recently released from prison, broke into Sheeran Insurance Brookers in Sandymount to escape the cold. He entered by kicking a PCV door, sat in an armchair, and told Gardaí he needed a place to stay. No damage or theft was reported. Power had previously pleaded guilty to trespass in May 2020 and had 87 prior convictions. He now claims he has turned his life around, is drug‑free, and lives with his partner in Athlone. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to a six‑month prison term, suspended for one year, on the condition that he keeps the peace and behaves well. The sentence was imposed after the court heard that Power had been awake on the Luas, walked around Sandymount, and sought shelter in the office. The court noted that Power had no fixed abode at the time of the offence.
In a High Court decision, Mr Justice Denis McDonald ruled that Dublin pubs closed under the August 2020 early‑closing requirement due to Covid‑19 are entitled to indemnity under their FBD insurance policies. The judge clarified that the term "closure" covers partial shutdowns of premises, not only total closures, and that the policy applies to government‑imposed closures triggered by outbreaks within a 25‑mile radius. The ruling applies to four plaintiffs – Sinnott's Bar, The Leopardstown Inn, Lemon & Duke and Sean's Bar – and confirms that losses incurred during the relevant periods (June‑September 2020 and December 2020) may be calculated by a methodology reflecting each pub's circumstances. Staff wage claims were partially successful for three pubs, while the Leopardstown Inn's claim was dismissed. FBD is barred from pursuing under‑insurance arguments, and the case will return to court next month for further proceedings.
Peter McCormack, 59, of Ballinakill, Moate, pleaded guilty to harassing Mary Farrell, a woman he met on Plenty of Fish, between March and September 2020. He made threats to kill her, left voicemails, sent flowers, and placed a €1,000 cheque in her letterbox. He also damaged a Garda cell by smearing blood on the walls. The court heard that his harassment decreased during early pandemic restrictions but resumed in August 2020, culminating in his arrest on 9 September 2020. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a concurrent sentence of two years and eight months, suspended in full for five years and six months, with conditions that McCormack must not contact Farrell, must continue psychiatric treatment, and must allow his doctors to notify Gardaí if he fails to comply. The sentence was suspended to protect the victim. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A High Court action concerning a flood relief scheme in Roscommon will not proceed to full hearing until after Easter. The Friends of the Irish Environment group has brought judicial review proceedings against Roscommon County Council's proposal to construct a three-kilometre pipeline transferring water from Lough Funshinagh to Lough Ree. The council contends the works are necessary to mitigate flooding affecting nearby residents. FIE seeks to have the council's October decision approving the emergency scheme quashed, alleging it breaches EU environmental law and fails to properly assess impacts on the designated Special Area of Conservation. Mr Justice Garrett Simons directed that the substantive hearing, expected to last four days, occur following the Easter recess. The court has continued a temporary stay on construction work, following an undertaking from the council, though over fifty-seven percent of the project has been completed. The judge adjourned determination of the council's application to lift the stay for two weeks, to allow the State to make submissions and permit parties to consider a recent relevant judgment.
A long-running dispute between EBS and Betty Martin Financial Services Ltd over the termination of an agency agreement to operate branches in Athlone, Longford and Lucan has been resolved through settlement. BMFS had alleged that EBS unlawfully ended the agreement in 2017 after the company refused to engage in the alleged mis-selling of financial products. EBS denied these allegations and asserted its entitlement to terminate the arrangement. BMFS successfully obtained an injunction from the High Court in 2019, which was upheld on appeal. The matter had been listed for hearing before the Commercial Court. On Tuesday, counsel for BMFS informed the court that settlement discussions had concluded, and both parties agreed the action should be struck out and the injunction vacated. Mr Justice Denis McDonald welcomed the resolution. The hearing would have lasted several weeks. The company, founded by the late Betty Martin of Co Roscommon, is now operated by her children.
In a Commercial Court case, Mary Flannery sued her family members and the company's accountant over control of Foxfield Inns Designated Activity Company, which owns hotels in Dublin and Galway. She alleged oppressive conduct under section 212 of the 2014 Companies Act. The defendants—her brothers Frank and Kevin Flannery, Kevin's wife Sheelagh, and accountant James Norton—denied the claims. The court heard that the company employed about 180 people and owned several properties, including the Eglington Hotel. After mediation, the parties reached a settlement. The court agreed that it could order Foxfield Inns to purchase Mary Flannery's and Andrena Moynihan's shareholdings. The settlement terms are confidential, and the matter was adjourned for mention in April. The judge welcomed the settlement.
The High Court has granted Friends of the Irish Environment permission to pursue judicial review proceedings challenging Roscommon County Council's approval of a flood relief scheme. The council is constructing a three-kilometre pipeline to transfer water from Lough Funshinagh, a designated Special Area of Conservation near Athlone, to Lough Ree, to mitigate severe flooding affecting nearby residents. FIE contends the council's October decision to approve the works under emergency provisions was unlawful and breaches EU environmental directives, as it proceeded without conducting required environmental impact assessments. The organisation also claims the scheme contradicts the Roscommon Development Plan. Mr Justice Garrett Simons imposed a temporary stay on further construction until January 14th, when the court will determine whether to maintain the suspension pending full resolution of the challenge. Approximately fifty-seven per cent of the pipeline has been completed. The council intends to seek lifting of the stay and aims to complete the works by March next year.
Nikkita Brogan, 24, of Letterkenny, Co Donegal, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for her role in a violent taxi hijacking. The validated procedural stage for this report is an appeal, as the case was previously sent to the Court of Appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions to clarify a procedural matter regarding the service of books of evidence. Brogan pleaded guilty to the unlawful seizure of a vehicle at Rutland Grove, Crumlin, on May 6, 2019. She admitted to unbuckling the taxi driver's seatbelt and assisting in reattaching the gearstick knob while two men assaulted the driver. Judge Melanie Greally handed down a 32-month sentence, suspending the final 12 months on conditions. Brogan has been in custody since January. The court noted her remorse and rehabilitation efforts. The two male accomplices, Peter and Jason Collins, were sentenced in December 2019 for robbery, assault causing harm, and unlawful seizure of a car. Peter Collins received four and a half years' imprisonment, while Jason Collins received three and a half years, with the final 12 months suspended. Brogan has 76 previous convictions, mainly for shoplifting, and was on bail for theft offences at the time of the incident.
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.