A Garda whistleblower, Garda Nicholas Keogh, withdrew an allegation that former Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan had called Superintendent Pat Murray to advise him to alienate Keogh. Keogh had claimed that after a 2014 protected disclosure, he was told by guards at Athlone station to "pull away from" him. He said he had no direct evidence of the call, only that guards relayed the information. Commissioner O'Sullivan denied the allegation, stating it was "completely untrue and without foundation" and that the call never occurred. Superintendent Murray also denied ever speaking with O'Sullivan and said he would not have suggested alienating Keogh. In May, Keogh mentioned Sergeant Andrew Haran as a possible informant, but Haran rejected the claim. Matthias Kelly SC represented Keogh and informed Judge Ryan that the matter was no longer being pursued. The Disclosures Tribunal, chaired by Judge Sean Ryan, heard these statements during its investigation of Keogh's treatment after his disclosure.
In a Disclosures Tribunal hearing, Garda Nicholas Keogh, a whistleblower, accuses Superintendent Patrick Murray of "massaging" crime figures and undermining his work. Keogh alleges that Murray criticised four of his investigations and re‑classified a robbery he recorded as serious to a lower category on the same day, calling it a non‑crime. Keogh claims this was an attempt to discredit him after he made a protected disclosure in 2014. Murray denies targeting Keogh, stating his queries were aimed at ensuring high‑standard investigations. Keogh argues the re‑classifications and persistent scrutiny amount to harassment, while Murray maintains they were procedural. The tribunal considers whether the re‑classifications constitute bullying or corruption, with Keogh insisting he is not alleging corruption. The case remains at the tribunal stage.
Garda Nicholas Keogh admitted to being absent without leave (AWOL) from duty during a four‑day drinking binge from 11 to 14 July 2015, a period he had claimed as sick leave. He reported himself fit for duty on 10 July but then continued drinking and failed to report for work. Keogh's diary entries for 11 and 12 July noted "awol drink." Superintendent Patrick Murray, after reviewing Keogh's statements, recommended the matter be treated as a less serious breach of discipline. Keogh was fined €300 for neglect of duty, a fine upheld by Chief Superintendent Lorraine Wheatley. He denied a discreditable conduct charge and argued that his absence was a mistake. The tribunal also heard of other administrative matters, including a car‑tax notice and travel‑substance payments, but these were not central to the disciplinary decision. Keogh will continue to give evidence in the proceeding.
The Disclosures Tribunal heard that Garda Nicholas Keogh, the first whistleblower under Commissioner Noirín O'Sullivan, claims Garda management sought to remove him from the force. Keogh made a protected disclosure in May 2014 alleging collusion between Garda Aidan Lyons and a drug dealer, Miss B. In June 2014, Lyons reported that a man had approached him about Keogh, claiming Keogh had been involved in a theft and would support a complaint. Keogh was later called to Superintendent Noreen McBrien's office, where he was told an investigation was underway but no details were given. Keogh said the report was authored by Lyons, who was his partner, and that the allegation was never rigorously followed up. He described the process as vindictive and believed management, including Superintendent Patrick Murray, imposed excessive supervision and targeted him. The tribunal heard Keogh's evidence and the case remains under investigation.
During the Disclosures Tribunal, Garda Nicholas Keogh testified that he did not "round up" people to file complaints against a senior member of the Athlone drugs unit, identified as Garda A, whom he alleged was colluding with a heroin dealer, Ms B. Keogh explained that on 18 May 2014 he used the Garda Pulse system to query Garda A following intelligence received on 10 May 2014, and that he had reported his findings to an internal investigation team. He claimed that subsequent requests for a report from Superintendent Noreen McBrien and Sergeant Andrew Haran were unnecessary because the information should have been forwarded to the internal investigators. Keogh also denied that he had persuaded a third‑party complainant, Ms O'Neill, to name Garda A, stating that he had only asked her to name names and guards in general.
At the Disclosures Tribunal in Dublin Castle, Garda Nicholas Keogh testified that he had been bullied and harassed by his superiors after making a protected disclosure in May 2014 about alleged collusion between Gardaí and drug dealers in Athlone. Keogh claimed that the "dogs on the street" were aware of the collusion and that a senior member of the drugs unit had been aiding a heroin dealer, Ms B, who had no prior drug convictions. He said he entered the information into the Garda Pulse system to protect himself and to make it available to all Gardaí. Keogh alleged that he was targeted and discredited by his superiors, that he had been investigated by Assistant Commissioner Michael Finn, and that he had taken sick leave in 2015. The Tribunal is examining whether the questioning and investigations amounted to targeting or discrediting Keogh, while an allegation of mobile‑phone tapping was dropped for lack of evidence.
In a 2019 Disclosures Tribunal hearing, Garda whistleblower Nicholas Keogh alleged harassment and bullying by Garda management after he made a protected disclosure in 2014 about colleagues in Athlone. Keogh, who served in the drug unit from 2009 to 2011, claimed that a drug‑unit colleague, referred to as Garda A, had aided and abetted a woman named Miss B in heroin trade, with a weekly turnover of about €2,500. He recorded this in a Pulse entry. Keogh also reported that a mother's complaint of assault against Miss B was dismissed, though the mother's daughter gave a separate statement. The tribunal examined 22 matters, including allegations that Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan had instructed Keogh's superior to isolate him, and that Keogh faced harassment over car tax, sick leave, back pay, and other workplace issues. The hearing focused on whether these actions constituted targeting or discrediting of Keogh.
In a 2019 decision, Ms Justice Marie Baker upheld a High Court ruling that a Garda officer was not required to offer a choice of language for breathalyser statements. The case involved Westmeath man Gerard Maher, who was arrested in 2015 for driving with excess alcohol. Maher's lawyers argued that he had a right to be informed that the breathalyser could print statements in Irish or English, and that the absence of such a choice made the statement inadmissible. The High Court found no obligation for the Garda to provide a language choice and that Maher, an English speaker, suffered no detriment. Justice Baker described the arguments as technical and noted that the conviction for driving while intoxicated carries significant consequences. The Court of Appeal agreed with her decision.
During the murder trial of Paul O'Beirne and Jeffrey Morrow, Dr Rebecca Weld presented DNA evidence linking a bulldog to a car seat cover found at the accused's home. Dr Weld, a PhD in animal identification and former director of Weatherbys DNA laboratories, had examined DNA from a black cocker‑spaniel named Lily and an English bulldog named Bailey in 2016. She matched a partial DNA profile from a white hair on the cover to Bailey, noting the probability of a match with another dog was one in a billion. The cover, recovered from a bin in O'Beirne's garden, was similar to a canvas sheet from Joseph Cogan's stolen Volkswagen Golf GTI, which he claimed was used to protect his car from dog hairs. Cogan had provided hair samples from his fawn bulldog and black cocker‑spaniel. The prosecution argues the fatal shots were fired from the Golf. Paul O'Beirne pleaded not guilty. Jeffrey Morrow pleaded not guilty.
Two Dublin men, Paul O'Beirne (36) and Jeffrey Morrow (37), are on trial for the murder of 25‑year‑old Vincent Ryan on 29 February 2016. The prosecution relies on circumstantial evidence, including CCTV footage from O'Beirne's home and mobile phone traffic, to argue that the men planned and executed the shooting. Ryan was shot in broad daylight while seated in his car on McKee Road, Finglas, after dropping his partner and baby at her home. A silver Volkswagen Golf fired the fatal shots; the vehicle was later found burning near Naas. The court heard that the men attempted to conceal their involvement, including disposing of a car seat cover from the vehicle. The trial, heard by the Central Criminal Court, is expected to last five to six weeks. Paul O'Beirne pleaded not guilty. Jeffrey Morrow pleaded not guilty.
The Court of Appeal has reduced the sentence of David Burke, who was found to have the greatest culpability in the fatal assault on Dale Creighton in Tallaght in 2014. Burke, along with four others, pleaded guilty to manslaughter after murder charges were dropped during trial. The original sentencing judge, Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy, imposed a ten-year term on Burke with the final two-and-a-half years suspended, citing his role in setting the agenda. However, President of the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, re-sentenced Burke to ten years imprisonment with the final three years and three months suspended. This results in a net jail term of six years and nine months, a reduction of nine months. The court determined that the original divergence from the next most culpable offender, Ross Callery, was excessive. Callery, who was also found to have high culpability, received a ten-year sentence with the final four years suspended, leaving a net term of six years. Other participants included Aisling Burke, jailed for one year for violent disorder; James Reid, given a wholly suspended two-year sentence for possession of a knife; Graham Palmer, sentenced to ten years with five suspended; Jason Beresford, sentenced to ten years with four suspended; and Gerard Stevens, sentenced to ten years with seven suspended. The appeal focused on parity and relativity among the multiple defendants.
In a High Court case, Revenue sought to freeze assets of the Animal Heaven Animal Rescue charity, claiming a debt of €145,000. The court had issued temporary orders restricting the charity's assets to below €191,000 and preventing transfer of its 37 acres in County Kerry to Athlone SPCA. The charity's trustees, including CEO David Hall, were named in the orders. Mr Hall, appointed to the board in 2018, intends to submit a sworn statement to clarify factual matters and address reputational damage caused by online allegations of fraud. Counsel for Revenue agreed to adjourn the hearing until the affidavit is filed, with the injunction remaining in force until the full hearing in May. The case remains at the pre‑hearing stage, with no verdict yet reached.
Paul Fields, 29, a former soldier, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing €3,840 from a Ladbrokes shop in Priorswood on 9 March 2018. He claimed the theft was a "moment of madness" driven by a drug debt and threats of death. Fields had previously served in Chad and had a history of nine convictions, mainly traffic offences. Garda Fergal Duffy reported that the manager, who believed Fields would return the money, was left with a cash bag that Fields snatched while holding the door. Fields was arrested, found with €300, and the rest of the money was unrecovered. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Fields' cooperation and personal circumstances, imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence suspended in full on strict conditions.
Aaron Gilsenan, 38, a crack cocaine addict, was jailed for four years after a spree of robberies and attempted robberies in Dublin between December 2017 and March 2018. He used a knife to threaten staff at five convenience stores and filling stations, robbed a taxi driver of €40, and stole a total of €760. Gilsenan was identified on CCTV and used his own car to escape each time. He pleaded guilty to four robberies and two attempted robberies, admitting the crimes were driven by his addiction and the death of his daughter. He had 87 prior convictions, including 51 for road traffic offences. The court noted he was drug‑free at sentencing and had expressed genuine regret. The sentence was imposed by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with a suspended portion of 18 months, and he was also due for sentencing in Trim and Naas Circuit Courts for other pending cases.
A financial services company has secured a High Court injunction preventing EBS from terminating an agency agreement to operate three of the building society's branches in Athlone, Longford and Lucan. Betty Martin Financial Services Ltd obtained the injunction from Mr Justice John Jordan on Wednesday, which remains in place pending full resolution of the dispute. BMFS claims the termination followed its refusal to engage in alleged mis-selling of financial products, contrary to Central Bank guidelines. EBS denies the allegations and opposed the application. The judge concluded that BMFS had established a serious issue to be tried and that damages would not constitute adequate remedy. He found no satisfactory explanation from EBS for the proposed termination and noted that the parties had worked together successfully for many years. The judge encouraged both sides to pursue mediation. The case was adjourned for two weeks for final orders.
A High Court judge will deliver judgment next week on an application for an interim injunction in a dispute between Betty Martin Financial Services Ltd and EBS. BMFS operates EBS branches in Athlone, Longford and Lucan under a tied agency agreement. The company seeks to prevent EBS from terminating this agreement, arguing the termination is invalid and motivated by BMFS's refusal to engage in alleged mis-selling of financial products. BMFS contends that when it declined to undertake activities it regarded as unprofessional and contrary to Central Bank guidelines, EBS moved to end the arrangement. EBS denies the allegations and maintains it is entitled to terminate the agreement. The bank further argues that BMFS only raised mis-selling complaints after EBS initiated termination proceedings in 2017, and that no evidence supported such claims. Following a three-day hearing before Mr Justice John Jordan, judgment on the interim injunction application is expected within the coming week.
Garda Keith Harrison secured a High Court order to halt an internal Garda investigation into alleged breaches of discipline by him. The investigation had been initiated following comments made by the Disclosures Tribunal chairman, Mr Justice Peter Charleton, in an interim report. Harrison, who denied the alleged misconduct, argued that the tribunal's comments had no legal effect and could not be used by the Garda Commissioner to discipline him. His lawyers presented the case to Mr Justice Seamus Noonan, who agreed that the court could quash the decision to appoint an officer to investigate the alleged breaches. The court also considered a potential costs order in Harrison's favour. The tribunal had previously rejected Harrison's allegations and those of his partner Marissa Simms, stating they were "entirely without any validity." The High Court struck out the legal proceedings that had been brought to challenge the investigation.
Garda Keith Harrison has launched a High Court challenge seeking to quash findings made against him in reports from the Disclosures Tribunal. The Donegal-based officer alleges a prior professional involvement between tribunal chair Mr Justice Peter Charleton and witness Chief Superintendent Terry McGinn, stemming from the Morris Tribunal (2002-05). Harrison's solicitors argue this relationship breaches natural and constitutional justice and Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights. They seek orders to quash findings in the second and third interim reports, prohibit further publication of those sections, and preclude the judge from dealing with other matters relating to Harrison. The tribunal previously rejected Harrison's request to set aside the reports, describing the steps as "absurd and repugnant." In the interim reports, Mr Justice Charleton found that allegations examined by the tribunal, including those made by Harrison and his partner Marissa Simms, were "entirely without any validity." Harrison had alleged he was the victim of a five-year intimidation campaign following a 2009 arrest of a fellow officer for drink driving in Athlone, and that Simms was compelled to make a statement against him, leading to a Tusla referral. Permission to bring the action was granted on an ex-parte basis by Mr Justice Seamus Noonan, who found arguable grounds had been raised. The matter was adjourned and will return before the courts in two weeks.
Oliver Berry, aged 61, was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of 104 counts of raping and sexually assaulting his daughter Jennifer Berry, aged 7 to 19, between December 1982 and December 1994. The offences included repeated rape during her pregnancy and a final rape two weeks after she gave birth, when her infant son was present. Berry pleaded not guilty but was found guilty. He received a ten‑year prison sentence. Berry maintains his innocence and intends to appeal. Jennifer Berry, who waived anonymity, gave evidence in the trial and described the abuse as ongoing, physically and psychologically damaging. The judge noted Berry's age and health in sentencing and highlighted the impact on family bonds. No further legal outcomes are reported in the article.
In a High Court case involving two dentists who shared premises at Market Point, Mullingar, the dispute was settled after both parties withdrew all allegations. Dr Michael Maguire had alleged that Dr James Hiney installed a secret camera to surveil his staff, while Hiney claimed the camera was for security and not for spying. Maguire sought injunctions to prevent Hiney from monitoring his employees. Following a second mediation, the parties agreed to strike out the case. The settlement included a statement that both dentists withdrew all claims of improper conduct, acknowledged that Hiney's CCTV was not intended to surveil Maguire or his patients, and that any contact with patients was not for solicitation. No further details of the agreement were disclosed. The case was dismissed by the court.
Paul Kelly, a 42‑year‑old mechanic from Santry, was fined €3,000 and disqualified from driving for four years after he ran over Daniel Ryan, a 60‑year‑old man, as Ryan was pulling out of a driveway near Dublin Airport on 26 October 2016. Ryan suffered multiple fractures to his abdomen and limbs, a pulmonary embolism, and was in an induced coma for two days. He has since lost the ability to play golf, cycle long distances, or walk in the hills, and reports ongoing panic attacks, nightmares and sleep difficulties. Kelly pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention, causing serious bodily harm. The court noted the lack of street lighting on Collinstown Lane and accepted that Kelly's momentary lapse of judgment led to the accident, but also acknowledged his cooperation and remorse after the incident. The judge gave him 12 months to pay the fine and imposed the driving disqualification.
Garda Keith Harrison, who appeared before the Disclosures Tribunal, has filed a High Court case to halt an internal Garda investigation into alleged breaches of discipline. Harrison, who denies any misconduct, argues that the tribunal's interim report, which criticised him, has no legal effect and should not be used by the Garda Commissioner to discipline him. The investigation was ordered by a Garda Superintendent after the tribunal found Harrison's and his partner Marissa Simms' allegations—about coercion to testify and a five‑year intimidation campaign—to be "entirely without any validity." Harrison's lawyers claim the Commissioner is acting unlawfully, outside his jurisdiction, and in breach of the 2014 Protective Disclosures Act by relying on the tribunal's findings. The High Court granted permission for the action on an ex‑parte basis, with the case to be heard later this month.
In 2018 the Court of Appeal upheld the conviction of O'Reilly Commercials Limited for breaching health and safety laws during a test of a school bus that later crashed in 2006, killing 15‑year‑old Michael White. The bus, a Mercedes originally registered in the UK, had a rear suspension that had been modified in 1991 and was not properly noted during the 2005 test. The company pleaded not guilty to four charges under the Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989, but a jury found it guilty of failing to identify the modified suspension. The firm was fined €25,000 and the appeal was dismissed by a three‑judge panel, confirming the original verdict as safe and satisfactory. The case highlighted the importance of accurate testing records for vehicle safety.
Stephen O'Reilly, aged 30, was convicted of two assaults, two counts of criminal damage and two counts of producing an article at his neighbour's address on 7 May 2016. He was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, by Judge Keenan Johnson at Tullamore Circuit Criminal Court on 8 February 2017. O'Reilly appealed his conviction, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal. The Court held that Section 16 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, which allows admission of statements where a witness denies making the statement or gives evidence inconsistent with the statement, was "specifically designed for this type of situation". The Court found no error in the trial judge's decision to admit the witnesses' initial statements under Section 16, and therefore upheld the conviction. The case involved witnesses who had withdrawn their statements after the incident, and the Court considered issues of reliability, fairness, and the interests of justice in its decision.
Judge Melanie Greally sentenced four men to a total of 53 years for their roles in the 2005 €2.08 million robbery of Paul Richardson and Securicor, along with the false imprisonment of the Richardson family. Mark Farrelly, Christopher Corcoran, David Byrne, and Niall Byrne, all of whom pleaded not guilty, were convicted by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury. Farrelly, identified as the mastermind, received 17.5 years. David Byrne was sentenced to 13.5 years. Corcoran was sentenced to 12 years, with the final five years suspended due to his age and health. Niall Byrne, the former Securicor worker convicted of conspiracy to rob, received 10 years. The jury failed to reach a majority verdict on a kidnapping charge against Niall Byrne. The judge noted the victims' "uncommon and unbending faith" in the justice system after five trials. She ordered the forfeiture of €19,220 in cash and a BMW belonging to Niall Byrne. This sentencing follows previous legal history where convictions for Farrelly and Corcoran were overturned in 2012 and later acquitted in 2015 before those acquittals were overturned by the Court of Appeal.
Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the sentencing of Niall Byrne, Mark Farrelly, Christopher Corcoran, and David Byrne until July 16, remanding them in continuing custody. The men were convicted by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury for their roles in the €2.08 million robbery of Paul Richardson and Securicor on March 14, 2005, and the false imprisonment of the Richardson family at their Raheny home on March 13 and 14, 2005. All four defendants had pleaded not guilty. The jury convicted Farrelly, Corcoran, and David Byrne of robbery and false imprisonment. Niall Byrne was convicted of conspiracy to robbery, while the jury failed to reach a majority verdict on a kidnapping charge against him. This was the fifth trial for the case; previous convictions for Farrelly and Corcoran were overturned in 2012 due to unconstitutional search warrants, and subsequent acquittals were reversed by the Court of Appeal. During the hearing, victim Paul Richardson described the crime as "heinous and inhumane" and driven by greed. His wife and sons also submitted impact statements detailing the long-term trauma. The court noted Farrelly had 25 previous convictions, while Corcoran, David Byrne, and Niall Byrne had prior records for minor offences. The matter was adjourned for sentence.
Ian Hyland, a former private in the Permanent Defence Forces who served for 12 years, has filed a High Court challenge to overturn the decision that his contract was not renewed and that he was discharged in April. The Defence Forces downgraded his medical category in 2008 because of polycystic kidney disease, a condition that Hyland claims was asymptomatic. He argues that doctors treating him in Galway confirmed he was fit for overseas service and contact sports, and that he was entitled to appeal the categorisation to a Medical Board. Hyland seeks an order quashing the discharge, declarations that he was entitled to appeal, and that his medical categorisation should have been reviewed before his discharge. Permission to proceed was granted ex‑parte by Mr Justice Seamus Noonan, and the case is set to return later this month.
In a High Court hearing, Judge Caroline Costello advised dentists Michael Maguire and James Hiney, who share premises in Mullingar, to seek mediation instead of court action. Mr Maguire alleged that Mr Hiney installed a hidden camera to surveil his staff, a claim Mr Hiney denies, stating the camera was for security. Mr Maguire is pursuing injunctions to stop surveillance, to recover patient lists, to prevent solicitation of his patients, and to halt any construction at the shared building. The judge granted Mr Maguire permission to serve short‑notice injunctions ex‑parte. Mr Byrne, Mr Maguire's counsel, indicated the parties might adjourn the case to late July after reaching an intermediate, without‑prejudice agreement. The agreement would bar surveillance, construction, and solicitation. Judge Costello urged that the dispute be resolved through mediation rather than further court proceedings in the Four Courts.
In a High Court hearing on 26 June 2018, dentist Mr Michael Maguire alleged that his colleague, Mr James Hiney, had installed secret cameras in their shared dental premises at Market Point, Mullingar, without his consent. Mr Maguire claimed the cameras, along with wiring and a microphone, captured his staff and patients, and that the footage was used to target his patients with marketing messages. He also alleged that Hiney had engaged in vandalism, harassment, and defamation, and that Hiney had withheld information from insurers about the building. Mr Maguire sought orders to prevent Hiney from monitoring his employees, to stop solicitation of his patients, to halt proposed construction works, to return all data including patient lists, and for damages. Justice Costello granted Mr Maguire permission to serve short‑notice proceedings against Hiney on an ex‑parte basis. The case is set to return to court later in the week.
Patricia Madden, a barrister and long‑time ICA member, has applied to the High Court for an injunction to stop the Irish Country Women's Association from destroying ballot papers from its 2018 national elections for executive posts. She argues that the ballots, which were mailed with a closing date of 27 April, have not been counted and no declaration of winners has been made, a breach of the ICA's Constitution. The election results should have been announced before the AGM in Athlone on 26 May. Madden says she was informed by the ICA's Procedures Committee Chair that the ballots would be destroyed at the earliest opportunity. The ICA's lawyer gave an undertaking that the ballots would not be destroyed, and the judge adjourned the case to a later date in the month. The injunction seeks to restrain any destruction or interference with the returned ballots.
Two peat extraction companies have sought permission to appeal High Court decisions rejecting their challenges to An Bord Pleanála determinations that their operations are no longer exempt development. Bulrush Horticulture Ltd and Westland Horticulture Ltd, alongside Westmeath Peat Ltd and Cavan Peat Ltd, were rejected by Mr Justice Charles Meenan in February after the Board found their activities required planning permission from September 2012 onwards. The companies argue the cases raise points of exceptional public importance with significant implications for the peat industry. Key issues centre on whether environmental impact assessments apply to peat extraction and whether EU directives on environmental and habitat protection apply to operations that lawfully commenced as exempt development before 2012. An Bord Pleanála opposes the applications. Mr Justice Meenan reserved his decision on permitting appeals to the Court of Appeal following submissions from all parties.
Pawel Wisniewski, aged 43, was sentenced to an additional 33 months in jail for possessing cannabis and a stolen Ford Mondeo after being caught at a Dublin grow‑house. He had previously received a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for diesel theft and possession of cannabis and a firearm. The new sentence runs consecutively to a two‑and‑a‑half‑year term for earlier cannabis and firearm offences, and to a two‑year term for diesel theft. Wisniewski, who has 34 prior convictions, pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 12 October 2017. Judge Martin Nolan noted his mechanical and electrical skills and his cooperation, but highlighted that he was on bail for other offences at the time of the arrest. The court emphasised that he must avoid further criminal conduct. The case involved the seizure of 35 cannabis plants worth up to €28,000 and a stolen car found at Collinstown Cross Industrial Estate.
Darren De Lacey, 37, of Cremona Road, Ballyfermot, was found in May 2017 driving a car with a bag of heroin while he was on bail for earlier cocaine offences. Gardaí, acting on confidential information, stopped the vehicle and discovered 744 g of heroin, worth an estimated €104,202, between his feet. De Lacey pleaded guilty to possession of heroin at a location on the M7 motorway on 22 May 2017. He had previously been convicted of possession for sale or supply of large quantities of cocaine, for which he received a seven‑year prison sentence with three years suspended in October 2017. The court imposed an additional four‑year prison term, to run consecutively with the sentence he is already serving, bringing his total custodial period to eight years. The judge noted De Lacey's 65 prior convictions, including 50 for road‑traffic offences and one for theft. The case highlights the continued enforcement of drug‑related offences in Dublin.
Garda whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe gave evidence at the Charleton tribunal, describing the 2011 response to his complaints as "a kick in the teeth." Chief Superintendent Colm Rooney, now retired, admitted his 2011 circular letter congratulating Bailieboro station was inappropriate, stating his vindication of the station's standards was not warranted. McCabe testified that he felt forced out of his position as Sergeant in Charge in March 2008 and described a culture in An Garda Síochána that made it "extremely hard to speak out." He noted that his revelations regarding penalty points "really hit hard in the force." The tribunal also examined a 2006 allegation by Miss D against McCabe, where the DPP recommended against prosecution, finding no basis for an assault or sexual assault. McCabe stated he was exonerated and received support from colleagues. He also referenced a 2009 Facebook comment calling a puppet "Maurice the rat," which the O'Higgins commission later described as "vile and offensive." The proceedings are part of a trial-stage inquiry into whether unjustified grounds were used to discredit McCabe, including serious allegations against former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan. The matter remains ongoing as the tribunal continues to hear evidence.
A 25-year-old Latvian man has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of a Polish construction worker at the Central Criminal Court. Rihards Lavickis of Annaly Court, Longford has denied murder in relation to the death of Akadiusz Czajkowski, 31, at Rue Noyal Chatillon, Townspark on 1 November 2016. The prosecution opened its case this week, outlining that the accused brought a knife to confront the deceased following an overnight incident in which his apartment windows were damaged. CCTV footage showed Mr Lavickis concealing himself before approaching Mr Czajkowski as he crossed the road. The deceased sustained three stab wounds and collapsed inside a nearby shopping centre, dying shortly after. The accused was arrested at Longford Garda Station where he admitted responsibility for the stabbing. The trial continues before Justice Una Ní Raifeartaigh. Rihards Lavickis pleaded not guilty.
A civilian witness, Cyril Dunne, testified before the Charleton tribunal that former Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan was more concerned with changing the organisation's culture than with operational policing. Dunne, who had a deputy‑commissioner‑level role, said he had a closer working relationship with O'Sullivan than with her predecessor, Martin Callinan, and that their focus was on culture. He recounted a 2015 meeting where O'Sullivan and senior officers discussed Sergeant Maurice McCabe's experience of a "toxic work environment" at Mullingar Garda Station, noting that McCabe's situation was unsustainable and that simply moving him to another post would not resolve the issue. Dunne denied that he had told a colleague that they were "going after" McCabe, and Chief Superintendent McLoughlin said he had no memory of such a conversation in 2015. The tribunal continues to examine whether unjustified grounds were used to discredit McCabe.
In a High Court case, the State‑approved tyre recycling scheme body Repak ELT sued Delvin Tyres, trading as Mr Daniel McHugh, for misleading customers by presenting itself as an authorised collector registered with Repak ELT. The firm had used Repak ELT's logo and claimed compliance with its regulations, actions Repak ELT said were unlawful. Repak ELT sought injunctions to stop the use of its logo, to prevent the firm from passing itself off as endorsed by Repak ELT, to stop misleading marketing, to cancel the domain name www.repakelt.com, and to obtain damages. The court granted short notice of the action. The matter returned to the High Court, where the parties reached a settlement. Mr McHugh agreed not to pass off his business as endorsed by Repak ELT, not to claim compliance with waste‑management regulations, not to use Repak ELT's logo or trade‑mark, to cancel the domain name, and not to register a similar domain.
In February 2015, John Barrett, the Garda's civilian head of human resources, testified that Sergeant Maurice McCabe had described a hostile working environment in Mullingar, where he had served since 2008. Barrett said McCabe had felt that the actions of former Commissioner Martin Callinan, who in January 2014 described McCabe's whistleblowing as "disgusting", had created an "open season" against him. McCabe reported feeling nervous driving to work and sleeping only about four hours a day. Barrett noted that McCabe had worked in Mullingar from 2008 to January 2014 without such difficulties, and that the situation changed after Callinan's remarks. Barrett also described a meeting with McCabe in which he tried to reassure him that the new Commissioner, Nóirín O'Sullivan, was committed to organisational change, but McCabe felt the commissioner had "thrown him back to the wolves.".
During a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, CCTV footage showed two men entering a service station on the night of a €2.28 million cash‑in‑transit van robbery. Kevin Richardson, aged 13 at the time, testified that the men wore clothing similar to the raiders who later abducted the Richardson family. The accused—Mark Farrelly (46), Christopher Corcoran (70), David Byrne (45) and Niall Byrne (36)—have pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment of Paul Richardson, his wife Marie and their sons Ian (17) and Kevin (13) at their Ashcroft home on 13–14 March 2005, and to robbing Paul Richardson and Securicor. The trial, the fifth time the matter has been heard, includes testimony from the Richardson family, a former Securicor control‑room supervisor, and cross‑examination by defence counsel. The case is set to continue for three months before Judge Melanie Greally and an enlarged jury.
During the second day of the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Paul Richardson, a Securicor cash‑in‑transit van driver, recounted how he collapsed on the road after learning that an armed gang had released his wife and sons. Richardson said the gang had burst into his home on the evening of 13 March 2005, taken his family, and instructed him to continue his work the next day while they monitored him by phone. He described receiving aggressive calls, being told to drive to the Anglers Rest pub to deposit €2.28 million, and being pressured to keep moving. After the gang announced the family's release, Richardson felt severe chest pains and fainted, falling from the van onto the road. He was later taken to Mullingar hospital by ambulance. The trial involves four men—Mark Farrelly, Christopher Corcoran, David Byrne, and Niall Byrne—who pleaded not guilty to kidnapping and robbery charges.
The Court of Appeal in Dublin has upheld murder convictions against two men in the death of a 23-year-old in June 2014. Leszek Sychulec, aged 35, from Drinan, Ballymahon, County Longford, and Andrzej Gruchacz, aged 36, had been found guilty of murdering Patryk Krupa at Bogganfin, Athlone, County Roscommon. The victim was assaulted and left to drown in the Shannon outside Athlone while incapacitated from head injuries sustained during the attack. A Central Criminal Court jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts in 2016, and both men received mandatory life sentences. Delivering judgment, Mr Justice George Birmingham dismissed all grounds of appeal, finding the trials satisfactory and the verdicts safe. He noted CCTV evidence of exceptional quality from Collins Service Station on the Roscommon Road was central to the investigation, along with DNA and blood evidence recovered from the black BMW used in the abduction and from Sychulec's clothing and watch. Leszek Sychulec pleaded not guilty. Andrzej Gruchacz pleaded not guilty.
Former Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan testified at the Charleton Tribunal that she had done nothing to threaten Sergeant Maurice McCabe's role as sergeant‑in‑charge of the Mullingar traffic division. She explained that McCabe had resigned on 18 May 2015 after the commissioner's legal team instructed the O'Higgins Commission to question his credibility and motivation. O'Sullivan denied any knowledge of "bad blood" between Sergeant McCabe and Superintendent Noel Cunningham, and said she had not spoken to Cunningham about McCabe. She stated that she had no conflict of interest and that any conflict would have been addressed. O'Sullivan also said she had confirmed her instructions to her legal counsel before speaking to Department of Justice officials on 15 May, and that she was always available for consultation with her legal team. She maintained that she had not given any instructions to withdraw allegations of bad faith against McCabe.
In a hearing before the Charleton tribunal, former Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan denied accusations of hypocrisy regarding her conduct toward whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe during the O'Higgins Commission of Investigation. O'Sullivan testified that she had invested significant time and effort in supporting McCabe in Mullingar throughout 2014, and that she had not instructed her legal team to challenge his integrity. She explained that as commissioner she had to balance the allegations made by McCabe with the rights of those accused to respond, and that she had not been present at the O'Higgins Commission hearings. O'Sullivan acknowledged factual inaccuracies in a letter prepared by her legal team but said the issue was clarified by Justice O'Higgins. She also disputed claims that former commissioner Martin Callinan retired because of McCabe, calling such allegations a "dark lie." The tribunal was set to resume the following day.
Abdirahim Daley, a married father of six, has taken his case to the High Court after Westmeath County Council denied him social housing support. The council ruled that Daley's household net income of €30,200 exceeded the €28,750 threshold set for two adults and six children, and therefore he was not eligible for the allowance. Daley and his wife are unemployed and receive job seekers and rent supplement allowances, and he also receives a carer's allowance for one child. The council included this carer's allowance in the income calculation, a practice the court said was contrary to the 2011 Social Housing Support Household Means Policy, which excludes such allowances. Daley seeks to have the council's decision quashed and his application sent back for reconsideration. The case was adjourned to March after Mr Justice Seamus Noonan granted permission ex‑parte.
Former Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan told the Charleton tribunal today that she faced an "almost impossible dilemma" in supporting whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe while simultaneously having his evidence tested at the O'Higgins Commission of Investigation in 2015. The tribunal is examining whether unjustified grounds were inappropriately used to discredit Sergeant McCabe during proceedings into his complaints of garda malpractice in the Cavan-Monaghan Division. Ms O'Sullivan said she never believed Sergeant McCabe acted in bad faith and was "absolutely committed" to supporting him on workplace issues. She described having recognised that his evidence required testing as a witness before the Commission, and acknowledged this may have altered his perception of her intentions. Ms O'Sullivan said she reconfirmed instructions to her legal team on 15 May 2015 after a legal dispute arose, stressing she had not instructed counsel to challenge Sergeant McCabe's integrity. Her evidence continues tomorrow.
A Government-approved body, Repak ELT (End of Life Tyres), has initiated High Court proceedings against Daniel McHugh, trading as Delvin Tyres in Co Westmeath, alleging that the defendant is misleading customers and others in the tyre business. Repak ELT claims that Delvin Tyres has falsely represented itself as an authorised tyre collector registered with Repak ELT and has used Repak ELT's logo in its advertising. Repak ELT alleges that Delvin Tyres is not entitled to use the logo or claim compliance with Repak ELT regulations. Repak ELT seeks injunctions to prevent Delvin Tyres from using its logo, passing off its business as endorsed by Repak ELT, and from engaging in misleading marketing. It also seeks the cancellation of the domain name wwwrepakelt.com, which Delvin Tyres is alleged to have registered. At the High Court on Tuesday, Mr Justice Tony O'Connor granted Repak ELT permission to serve notice of the injunction proceedings on Delvin Tyres on an ex-parte basis. The matter was adjourned to a date next week.
Two professional footballers suspended for twelve months following a match-fixing investigation have secured temporary High Court injunctions preventing the Football Association of Ireland from introducing new evidence during their appeal hearing. Igor Labuts, a goalkeeper, and midfielder Dragos Sfrijan, both formerly of Athlone Town AFC in the League of Ireland First Division, were found guilty in September of deliberate actions to manipulate match results arising from a game against Longford Town in April. The players deny wrongdoing and claim the new evidence is prejudicial, was not disclosed at the original disciplinary hearing, and breaches natural justice principles. The FAI maintains it is entitled under its own rules to introduce the material at the appeal, scheduled for December twenty-first. Justice Caroline Costello granted interim injunctions on Wednesday at the High Court. The case has been adjourned to the following week.
O'Reilly Commercials Limited, a vehicle testing firm, appealed a conviction for breaching health and safety laws after a school bus test in 2005 led to a fatal crash in 2006 that killed 15‑year‑old Michael White. The firm had pleaded not guilty to four charges under the Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989. A jury found the company guilty on one count for failing to note the bus's modified rear suspension system, but acquitted it on the other three counts. The company was fined €25,000 in 2013. In the appeal, counsel Seán Gillane argued that the test actually occurred on 1 September 2005, after the Act had been repealed, and that no offence existed. The prosecution countered that the test took place on 6 August 2005, a fact the jury had considered. The court reserved judgment.
Two men convicted of murdering a 23-year-old Polish national in County Roscommon have appealed their convictions at the Court of Appeal. Leszek Sychulec, aged 35, with an address at Drinan, Ballymahon, County Longford, and Andrzej Gruchacz, aged 36, were found guilty by jury in the Central Criminal Court of the killing of Patryk Krupa on 20 June 2014 near Athlone. Both received mandatory life sentences in June 2016. The victim was assaulted, rendered unconscious, and subsequently drowned in the River Shannon. Evidence presented at trial included DNA recovered from Sychulec's belongings and witness testimony. During the appeal hearing, defence counsel for Sychulec challenged the identification procedures used by gardaí, arguing that witnesses were shown a single photograph rather than a range of images. Counsel for Gruchacz raised concerns regarding the admissibility of identification evidence and trial procedure. The prosecution contested these submissions. The three-judge panel reserved judgement. Leszek Sychulec pleaded not guilty. Andrzej Gruchacz pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 13 October 2017, Danny Keena, a 55‑year‑old farmer from Empor, Ballynacargy, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his partner, Brigid Maguire, who was 43 and the mother of their two teenage children. Keena had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, claiming provocation after Maguire accused him of being a bad father to their 12‑year‑old son. A jury convicted him of murder on 14 November 2015, the day of the killing. During the sentencing, Jade Maguire, Maguire's daughter, delivered a victim impact statement describing the loss, anger, and grief endured by the family. Judge Patrick McCarthy imposed a mandatory life sentence, back‑dated to 17 November 2015, when Keena entered custody. Keena remained emotionless as he was escorted to prison. Jade Maguire thanked the Gardaí and urged domestic‑abuse victims to seek help promptly.