In the murder trial of Peter Jackson, a 41‑year‑old drug addict, the jury was instructed to consider his mental state on the day of the incident. Jackson pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the death of 31‑year‑old David Hamilton, who was stabbed on 4 May 2012 at a house on Kerryhall Road. Defence counsel Dominic McGinn SC explained that by pleading guilty to manslaughter, Jackson accepted responsibility for Hamilton's death but denied intent to kill. Justice Isobel Kennedy told the jury that the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Jackson intended to kill or cause serious harm, and that provocation could negate murder if the accused lost control. The prosecution argued that Jackson had tried to inject heroin, an argument escalated, and Jackson then stabbed Hamilton. Witness Pamela McHale confirmed the fight and that Jackson had taken a knife from the table.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 9 November 2015, Peter Jackson, 41, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for stabbing David Hamilton, 31, on 4 May 2012 at a house on Kerryhall Road, Fairhill, Co Cork. Jackson, a heroin addict, claimed the act was accidental, stating he wanted Hamilton's family to know he was sorry. Prosecutor Thomas O'Connell SC described how Jackson had tried to inject Hamilton after injecting himself, leading to an argument over a vein and resulting in Jackson stabbing Hamilton in the chest with a knife. Garda Donal O'Casey testified that Jackson had been interviewed three times at Gurranabraher Garda Station and had told the officers, "It was a complete accident. I'm sorry." Jackson also admitted knowing Hamilton for about 14 years and that he had never intended harm. The trial proceeded with a jury and Justice Isobel Kennedy scheduled to continue the next day.
Three men—Conor Hughes (38), Darren Fox (26) and Jamie Smithers (36)—were charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army and firearms offences. They were arrested early on Halloween morning by the Special Detective Unit in County Limerick. The charges include unlawful possession of a Winchester 12‑gauge shotgun and two 12‑gauge cartridges. The State objected to their bail applications, but Mr Justice Paul Butler of the Special Criminal Court granted bail. Conditions require the men to stay at home, observe a curfew from 11 pm to 7 am, sign daily at a local Garda station, remain available on a mobile phone, and avoid contact with anyone charged with a scheduled offence or with each other. Hughes and Fox must not leave County Dublin; Smithers must not leave Carlow or Wexford.
Brian Gavin, 28, was driving from Mullingar to Lucan at speeds up to 160 km/h when he clipped a car's wing mirror and later collided with a Skoda, causing Gerard Nolan to suffer a broken hip, broken leg, facial fractures and permanent scarring. Gavin then struck another vehicle before stopping. He told Gardaí he was trying to kill himself, citing suicidal thoughts and a desire to leave his family home. He has bipolar disorder, had stopped his medication, and had a prior suicide attempt. Gavin pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm and failing to stop, and to a second dangerous driving offence. He passed a roadside breath test. Judge Sarah Berkeley adjourned the case to monitor his medication compliance and imposed a mandatory four‑year driving ban.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Peter Jackson (41) pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the death of David Hamilton (31) on 4 May 2012. Jackson and his girlfriend, Pamela McHale (26), had bought two bags of heroin and met Hamilton at a house on Kerryhall Road, Fairhill. After Jackson injected himself and McHale, he struggled to find a vein for Hamilton, sparking an argument. Jackson then seized a knife from the table and stabbed Hamilton in the chest. McHale later called an ambulance under a false name and did not disclose the incident to police until the next day. Hamilton died three days later. The trial continues before a jury and Justice Isobel Kennedy.
Peter Jackson, 41, of Kerryhall Road, Fairhill, Cork, faces trial at the Central Criminal Court for the 2012 murder of a 31‑year‑old. He pleaded not guilty to the murder but guilty to the manslaughter of David Hamilton, 31, who died on May 4, 2012. Justice Isobel Kennedy thanked the jury for arriving promptly, noted an unavoidable delay, and said the trial would resume Thursday at 11 a.m. The trial is expected to last about five days.
A 41‑year‑old Cork resident, Peter Jackson, was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court on 2 November 2015. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the 2012 killing of David Hamilton, a Wexford native who had been living in Cork. The court heard that Jackson stabbed Hamilton on 4 May 2012 at Kerryhall Road, Fairhill. A jury of ten men and two women was sworn in, and Justice Patrick McCarthy announced the trial would start on Wednesday or Thursday and last six days.
In a 2015 Central Criminal Court hearing, a 53‑year‑old Polish man, who could not be named, pleaded not guilty to rape and false imprisonment of his wife in County Wexford in 2011. He claimed it was impossible for a husband to rape his own wife. The couple had lived in Ireland for seven years before separating because of his alcoholism and aggression. On 13 October 2011, after the wife refused his request to visit, he forced her into the bedroom and raped her. He was arrested eleven days later. He admitted being present and preventing her from leaving but denied rape. DNA swabs from the victim's vagina matched his. The case was tried over four days in July 2015, and he had been in custody since then. The wife declined to give a victim impact statement and said she did not want him to serve more prison time. The unnamed 53-year-old was convicted.
The Court of Appeal has heard submissions in the appeal by Eleanor Joel and Jonathan Costen, who were convicted of the unlawful killing of Evelyn Joel by neglect in Wexford in January 2006. The pair, who pleaded not guilty, were found guilty by a jury at Wexford Circuit Criminal Court following a retrial. In March 2013, Judge Seán O'Donnabháin sentenced them to a two-year suspended sentence, conditional on the completion of 230 hours of community service. Counsel for the appellants argued that the jury should have been permitted to consider the alleged culpability of the HSE, which they contend bore a professional duty of care for the immobile MS sufferer. They further submitted that the trial judge erred in refusing to transfer the retrial out of Wexford due to prejudicial local reporting and in misstating Costen's lack of a duty of care. The DPP's counsel countered that a duty of care arose for Costen and that the refusal to transfer the venue was not appealable. The Court of Appeal, comprising Mr Justice George Birmingham, Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, and Mr Justice Alan Mahon, reserved its judgment, stating it would deliver a decision as soon as possible.
In 2013, a jury at Wexford Circuit Criminal Court found 41‑year‑old Eleanor Joel and her 43‑year‑old partner Jonathan Costen guilty of unlawfully killing 59‑year‑old Evelyn Joel by neglect. The conviction followed a retrial after an earlier trial in 2006. Judge Seán O'Donnabháin imposed a two‑year suspended sentence, conditional on 230 hours of community service. The couple now appeal on grounds that the HSE, the true cause of death, the judge's refusal to transfer the case out of Wexford, the replacement of a juror without defence counsel, and Costen's alleged duty of care were mishandled. Counsel for Eleanor, Rosario Boyle SC, argued that the pair had legal responsibility for Evelyn's care while she stayed at Eleanor's home, and that the jury was told not to consider HSE negligence. Jonathan Costen pleaded not guilty.
Ryan Glennon, a 24‑year‑old Dublin resident, was charged by the Special Criminal Court with membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on 13 May 2015. He was arrested by the Special Detective Unit during an operation targeting dissident republicans in Dublin. The three‑judge court granted him bail on consent, imposing several conditions: a €12,000 surety, a personal bond of €100, surrender of passport and travel documents, daily reporting to a local Garda station, a daily curfew, residence at a specified address, and exclusive use of a single mobile phone kept on at all times. He must not leave the jurisdiction, avoid Wexford, refrain from contacting prosecution witnesses, associate only with his legal team, and avoid contact with other charged or convicted persons. The court also remanded him in custody with consent to bail until 27 October.
Leonard Dumbrell, aged 26, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for leading Gardaí on a high‑speed chase through Dublin city centre in a stolen car. He stole the vehicle in Ballsbridge, drove it at speed and in the wrong direction, nearly knocking over pedestrians on O'Connell Bridge before crashing it at Temple Bar Square. The court noted he had 108 previous convictions, including car thefts, assaulting a Garda and violent disorder, and that he had previously been allowed out on bail for drug treatment but failed to appear. Judge Mary Ellen Ring imposed concurrent sentences totalling three years, ordered that time already spent in custody be taken into account, and disqualified him from driving for five years. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where the court considered the evidence of the chase and the subsequent crash. Leonard Dumbrell pleaded guilty.
John Murphy, 31, of New Ross, Wexford, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for theft committed at an address in Foxrock, Dublin, on October 28, 2014. Murphy pleaded guilty to the charge. The court heard that Murphy, posing as a journalist, extorted €1,000 from 82-year-old Patrick Brendan Tiernan by threatening to publish his image alongside sex offender Larry Murphy. Tiernan, who previously pleaded guilty to 14 charges of indecent assault and gross indecency involving nine victims, was targeted for his prior convictions. Judge Desmond Hogan described the act as a "particularly mean offence" and sentenced Murphy to three years in prison, suspended in full for four years. Murphy was ordered to pay €5,500 to the victim, keep the peace and be of good behaviour for four years, and comply with probation services for two years. The judge noted that Murphy acted as the frontman for a sophisticated operation involving surveillance. The matter was finalised with this suspended sentence and associated conditions.
John (Anthony) Kelly, 41, an executive officer with the Revenue, stole nearly €20,000 from the State by pocketing motoring fines for motorists without Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT). He targeted high‑end cars such as Porches and BMWs, stealing a total of €19,350 between March 2005 and January 2006. Kelly pleaded guilty to three counts of theft from the Revenue Commissioners at New Customs House, Dublin, and was sentenced by Judge Desmond Hogan to six years in prison, suspended in full for four years. The judge noted Kelly's financial difficulties and cooperation with Gardaí, and that he had repaid €3,490 to the court, which was ordered to be passed to the Revenue Commissioners. Kelly has since been fired from his position and is now employed elsewhere, having listed the Revenue as a reference when applying for his new job.
Paul Codd, a former All-Ireland winning Wexford hurler, was committed to Mountjoy Prison by the High Court after refusing to answer questions about his assets during a bankruptcy examination. The judge deemed his refusal contempt of court. Codd had previously been arrested on a warrant issued in March 2014 for non‑compliance with bankruptcy undertakings. He had been released in December 2014 after giving a statement of affairs and promising cooperation, but later failed to comply with further undertakings, including returning leased farm machinery and disclosing bank accounts. The court noted concerns that Codd had transferred land, a prohibited act for a bankrupt. He was jailed until 27 July 2015 or until he purged his contempt, with the judge warning that further consequences would follow if he did not cooperate. The case stemmed from a 2011 judgment of €530,326 and a bankruptcy declared in March 2013. The article reports no subsequent verdict or sentencing beyond the High Court's committal.
Philip Doyle, aged 38, was convicted of manslaughter for the death of his ex‑fiancée's three‑and‑a‑half‑month‑old baby, Ross Murphy, in April 2005. The Central Criminal Court, after a four‑week trial, returned a unanimous verdict of manslaughter, and Doyle was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment on 15 May 2012. Doyle appealed, arguing that the trial judge had not adequately considered expert medical evidence and that the injuries could have resulted from an accidental fall. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Seán Ryan, rejected the appeal, stating that the conviction was "safe" and the trial was "satisfactory." Mr Justice Ryan noted that the jury had been properly instructed to weigh expert testimony and that the evidence supported the conclusion that the baby's severe injuries were inflicted by Doyle rather than by an accidental fall. The appeal was dismissed, leaving Doyle's conviction and sentence intact. Philip Doyle pleaded not guilty.
The High Court concluded proceedings that had required the evacuation of residents from a four‑storey building at 3 Kelly's Row, Dublin 1, which also includes 20 Dorset Street. The order, obtained by Dublin City Council, remains in force, preventing any occupation of the building until fire‑safety requirements are satisfied. The case involved owners Mr Frank Chatham of Arch Villas and Mr Joseph Simpson of Tara Green, who had previously consented to the order. The court noted that the building had been inspected on 11 May with no evidence of fire‑safety measures, and that the risk of fire was deemed "so serious" that use of the premises must be prohibited until remedial actions are taken. Mr Simpson, who represented himself, stated that tenants were being moved and that 95 % of the items listed in the fire‑safety notice had already been addressed in 2007 renovations, though outstanding issues were still being rectified.
In May 2015 the High Court granted a Dublin City Council order to evacuate a four‑storey building at 3 Kelly's Row, Dublin 1, including flats on 20 Dorset Street, because of "serious" fire‑safety concerns. The owners, Frank Chatham and Joseph Simpson, consented to the order after the court had served them notice. Simpson, who represented himself, disputed claims that the owners had not acted since a March fire‑safety notice had prohibited use of the flats. He said he and his co‑owner had asked tenants to leave, stopped collecting rent, and offered €600 each to vacate, but tenants remained. He also denied that the owners had refused to return deposits. The court noted that the building's single staircase was unsafe, electricity had been disconnected, and no fire‑safety measures were in place. The order prohibited the use of the premises for accommodation until the required works were completed. The case was adjourned to the following week.
John Murphy, 31, of New Ross, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to theft at an address in Foxrock, Dublin, on October 28, 2014. The court heard that Murphy, posing as a journalist named "Andrew," allegedly extorted €1,000 from 82-year-old Patrick Brendan Tiernan by threatening to publish his photograph alongside sex offender Larry Murphy. Tiernan, who previously pleaded guilty to 14 charges of indecent assault and gross indecency involving nine victims, was targeted in what the judge described as a sophisticated operation involving surveillance. Judge Desmond Hogan characterized the conduct as a "particularly mean offence" and noted that Murphy acted as the frontman for the scheme. Although the judge did not rule out a prison term, he agreed to adjourn the matter to July 17. This delay allows the Probation Service to assess Murphy's suitability for the Restorative Justice Programme. The judge remarked that while Murphy was able to demand money, he should now demonstrate the ability to apologize. Defense counsel requested that no immediate jail term be imposed so Murphy could be present for the birth of his first child, noting that €3,000 was available in court as compensation. The matter was adjourned, not concluded.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 33‑year‑old Marcin Jakubiec and his 55‑year‑old father Boguslaw Jakubiec pleaded guilty to burglaries committed between 24 June 2011 and 22 April 2013. Marcin admitted carrying out a dozen break‑ins, while Boguslaw, acting as driver, admitted involvement in three. The pair broke into empty homes mid‑morning, stealing jewellery, laptops, cameras and bikes, then sold the goods at the Ilac Centre on Moore Street. Judge Mary Ellen Ring sentenced Marcin to five years and Boguslaw to three years, both back‑dated to May 2013, and suspended the remaining terms. Both were ordered to work with the Probation Service for 12 months. The court noted their charitable work while in custody and the minimal recovery of stolen items. The defendants' backgrounds, including prior convictions and drug use, were also discussed by their counsel.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, John Anthony Kelly, a 41‑year‑old Revenue officer, pleaded guilty to three counts of theft from the Revenue Commissioners. Between March 2005 and January 2006, Kelly stole €19,350 in fines that motorists had paid to recover their cars after being found without Vehicle Registration Tax. He targeted high‑end vehicles such as Porches and BMWs, pocketing the fines instead of forwarding them to the State. The court noted that Kelly had been under significant financial stress, citing personal debts and medical expenses for his wife's fertility treatments. He was dismissed from his position and had applied for a new job, using the Revenue as a reference. Judge Desmond Hogan indicated that Kelly might avoid jail if he continues to repay the stolen money, and he was remanded on bail pending sentencing on 17 July.
In January 2006, Evelyn Joel, a 59‑year‑old MS sufferer, was unlawfully killed by neglect in Co. Wexford. Her 41‑year‑old daughter Eleanor and her partner Jonathen Costen, aged 43, were found guilty by a jury at Wexford Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Seán O'Donnabháin imposed a two‑year suspended sentence on each, conditional on 230 hours of community service. The pair have now decided to appeal their convictions. Meanwhile, the Director of Public Prosecutions is appealing the sentences, arguing they were unduly lenient. The DPP's appeal is scheduled for hearing on 29 and 30 April, with a time limit set for Ms. Joel to file submissions on the undue‑leniency application. Ms. Joel's barrister, James Browne, requested one week for submissions and was granted two. The DPP received Ms. Joel's submissions and has been given four weeks to reply. The pair were not present at the Court of Appeal hearing before President Mr. Justice Seán Ryan. Jonathen Costen pleaded not guilty.
Philip Doyle, 38, of Tinakilly, Aughrim, Co Wicklow, was convicted of manslaughter for the death of his ex‑fiancée's three‑and‑a‑half‑month‑old baby, Ross Murphy, at Creagh Demesne, Gory, Co Wexford, on 5 April 2005. The Central Criminal Court, after a four‑week trial, directed the jury to acquit Doyle of murder and return a unanimous manslaughter verdict. He was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment on 15 May 2012. Doyle's appeal against conviction was opened in the Court of Appeal. His barrister, Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC, argued that the incident was an accident, that the judge had not adequately explained the withdrawal of the murder charge, and that expert evidence on physical abuse was unreliable. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel countered that medical experts found the baby's injuries inconsistent with an accidental fall. The Court of Appeal will decide the appeal as soon as possible. Philip Doyle pleaded not guilty.
Philip Doyle, 38, of Wicklow, was convicted of manslaughter for the death of his ex‑fiancée's three‑and‑a‑half‑month‑old baby, Ross Murphy, in 2005. The Central Criminal Court found the death an accident after a four‑week trial, and Doyle received an 11‑year sentence in May 2012. Doyle now appeals, arguing the original trial failed to properly direct the jury on the evidence of the baby's ill health and the lack of intent for murder. He contends that the prosecution's reliance on a paediatric study was unreliable and that the judge did not explain why the murder charge was withdrawn. The appeal is before the Court of Appeal, with the prosecution yet to reply. The case remains at the manslaughter conviction stage. Philip Doyle pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Sandra Doyle, aged 37, was found not guilty of stealing over €102,000 from the AIB bank account of retired chef Fergus Brugha, aged 62. Doyle had pleaded not guilty to 131 theft charges covering transactions between September 2008 and May 2010, including payments to Ticketmaster, a veterinary clinic, a beauty clinic, a Dundrum credit union, and mobile phone top‑ups. Judge Patrick McCartan directed the jury to acquit, stating the evidence was "entirely confused and inconclusive" and that there was insufficient proof to sustain the charges. Doyle denied all allegations, claiming she had not made any payments without permission and had not used Brugha's card. The judge noted Brugha's own uncertainty about some transactions and his admission that he may have authorized certain payments, leaving the jury to decide which, if any, were authorized. The case concluded with Doyle's acquittal.
The trial of Sandra Doyle, aged 37, continues at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. She denies stealing money from the AIB bank account of retired chef Fergus Brugha, aged 62, over a three‑year period. Evidence shows disputed transactions to Ticketmaster, online motor tax, a veterinary clinic, a beauty clinic, a Dundrum credit union account and mobile phone top‑ups. Doyle, of McCabe's Villas, Booterstown, pleaded not guilty to 131 theft counts at AIB Bank, Morehampton Road, Donnybrook, covering September 2008 to May 2010. Judge Patrick McCartan told the jury to return tomorrow after the State finished its evidence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Fergus Brugha, aged 62, testified that he never authorised Sandra Doyle, aged 37, to withdraw €102,000 from his AIB bank account over a three‑year period. Doyle, who lives in Booterstown and previously in Gorey, pleaded not guilty to 131 theft counts covering the period from September 2008 to May 2010. The disputed transactions included payments to Ticketmaster, online motor tax, a veterinary clinic, a beauty clinic, a Dundrum credit union account and mobile phone top‑ups. Brugha explained that he had given Doyle money for a college course and a catering job, and that they had a non‑sexual, friendship‑based relationship. He noted that he had not regularly checked his statements and that he had been unaware of the withdrawals until he noticed money moving to a credit union account. The trial, presided over by Judge Patrick McCartan, is scheduled to continue until Friday.
During the 42‑day trial of 42‑year‑old Graham Dwyer at the Central Criminal Court, a detective presented a hand‑drawn map supplied by Dwyer's solicitor that led Gardaí to two knives in the basement of A&D Wejchert Architects. The map, titled 'Items of Interest', identified a shelf and two file boxes where the knives were found. One knife was a Buck Special 119, delivered to the office on 21 August 2012, and the other a flick knife. Dwyer is charged with the murder of 36‑year‑old childcare worker Elaine O'Hara, who disappeared on 22 August 2012 after leaving a mental health hospital. The trial also heard evidence of a spade found near O'Hara's remains and other items linked to Dwyer, but no verdict has yet been reached.
Two Wexford businessmen, Noel Hayes (61) and William O'Leary (51), were acquitted of forging the will of Matthew Hayes, dated between December 1998 and January 1999, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The jury, composed of eight men and four women, returned a not‑guilty verdict after about two and a half hours of deliberation on the ninth day of the trial. The prosecution's key witness, Charlie O'Leary, had previously pleaded guilty to a related offence and received an 18‑month suspended sentence, and he testified that the will was signed a week after Matthew Hayes' death. He alleged that Noel Hayes sought to resolve an old land dispute and that the O'Leary brothers had a bitter business relationship that led to ongoing legal disputes, including a high‑court case where Charlie O'Leary was awarded around €3 million. William O'Leary pleaded not guilty. Noel Hayes pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Noel Hayes and William O'Leary, both accused of forging the will of Matthew Hayes between December 1998 and January 1999, continued before Judge Patricia Ryan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty. On the seventh day of the trial, Noel Hayes, a vegetable wholesaler from Ramsgrange, Co Wexford, was cross-examined by prosecuting counsel Philip Sheahan SC. Hayes suggested that the main prosecution witness, Charlie O'Leary, who previously pleaded guilty and received an 18-month suspended sentence plus an order to pay €30,000, acted out of a 'vendetta' against his brother, William. Hayes described himself as the 'meat in the sandwich' in this dispute. Counsel questioned Hayes on whether it was odd for William O'Leary to 'concoct' a story exposing himself to imprisonment to 'shop his best friend' due to a vendetta. Hayes acknowledged it would be odd for a normal person but not for Charlie O'Leary, stating that 'nothing mattered to him except to bring down his brother.' Counsel also alleged that Hayes' repeated requests for William O'Leary to join a 2004 land deal stemmed from anxiety that the will had not been executed, a claim Hayes denied, citing their lifelong friendship. The trial continues.
During a trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Noel Hayes, a 61‑year‑old vegetable wholesaler from Ramsgrange, Co. Wexford, pleaded not guilty to forging the will of Matthew Hayes, a bachelor farmer, alongside his brother William O'Leary, 51, from New Ross. The alleged forging is said to have occurred between December 1998 and January 1999. Noel Hayes claimed that the prosecution witness, Charles O'Leary, was "blinded with anger" against William, describing William as a "tormented man" during the period when their business relationship deteriorated. Charles O'Leary had previously pleaded guilty to forging the same will, receiving an 18‑month suspended sentence and a €30,000 payment to the next of kin. He was also awarded about €3 million in a High Court case against the company he ran with William. Noel Hayes testified that the will was drawn up and signed on 31 August 1998, and that Matthew died on Christmas Day that year.
During the trial of William O'Leary and Noel Hayes for forging a will, a retired nurse, Marian Argue, testified that she had advised a caller that the elderly farmer Matthew Hayes might not have been medically capable of making a will. Argue, who worked on St Aidan's Ward at Wexford General Hospital in 1998, described Hayes as thin, emaciated, incontinent, and bruised on his right hip. She noted that he was receiving IV fluids and was nursed on alternative sides, and that he responded very little, making it difficult to understand him. Argue could not confirm whether Noel Hayes visited each day or was present at Matthew's death. The trial, held in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, continues with Judge Patricia Ryan presiding and a jury of eight men and four women. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty. Noel Hayes pleaded not guilty.
In the fourth day of the trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, William O'Leary (51) and Noel Hayes (61) pleaded not guilty to forging the will of Matthew Hayes. The prosecution witness, Charles O'Leary, denied to defence counsel that he was exploiting a sick child of friends. He had previously pleaded guilty to the alleged forgery, received an 18‑month suspended sentence and was ordered to pay €30,000. O'Leary claimed he had received £12,500 for his role but gave the money to his sister and a family friend, and that he had not mentioned to the Gardaí that he was the guarantor on a boat loan. Defence counsel accused O'Leary of inserting his brother into statements about the forgery and of acting deviously. The trial continues before Judge Patricia Ryan.
The trial of Noel Hayes (61) and William O'Leary (51), both of Co Wexford, continued before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury. The two men, who have pleaded not guilty to forging the will of Matthew Hayes between December 1998 and January 1999, are accused of taking part in the alleged forgery. Prosecution witness Charles O'Leary, who previously pleaded guilty to taking part in the alleged forgery, testified that he first met the deceased on his deathbed in hospital on Christmas Eve 1998. He stated that Noel Hayes brought him to the hospital and denied possessing a pre-printed will. Charles O'Leary was sentenced to 18 months suspended and ordered to pay €30,000 into an account pending for the next of kin of Matthew Hayes. The will, purportedly signed in August 1998, left 162 acres of land and funds to Noel Hayes. It is alleged that all three were involved in forging the document, with Noel Hayes forging the signature. The trial continues.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Noel Hayes (61) and William O'Leary (51) pleaded not guilty to forging the will of Matthew Hayes, dated between December 1998 and January 1999. The prosecution's key witness, Charles O'Leary, had earlier admitted participation in the alleged forgery and received an 18‑month suspended sentence and a €30,000 payment to Matthew Hayes' next of kin. During cross‑examination, O'Leary denied threatening to "bury" Hayes or Noel, denied calling Hayes a "greedy bastard," and denied remarks about "bringing those two down." He also denied claims that he was "shafted" in a land deal and that he had threatened to "bury" his brother. O'Leary stated he had been seeing a psychiatrist since 1994, citing depression during the period of the alleged forgery. The trial, presided over by Judge Patricia Ryan, continues with a jury.
In a 2015 trial in Wexford, William O'Leary, aged 51, admitted forging the will of a bachelor farmer, Matthew Hayes, and gave evidence against his brother Charles O'Leary, 61, and Noel Hayes, 61, a vegetable wholesaler. The three men are charged with forging the will dated between December 1998 and January 1999. Charles O'Leary had previously pleaded guilty to a related forgery and received an 18‑month suspended sentence, with a €30,000 payment to Matthew Hayes' next of kin. Noel Hayes acquired nearly €592,000 in assets, including 162 acres of farmland, after being named in the forged will witnessed by Charles and William. The trial is ongoing before Judge Patricia Ryam.
In a 2015 Court of Appeal decision, Edward Rooney, 65, and Des Ryan, 55, were sentenced to three years' imprisonment for possessing €1.2 million worth of drugs. The appeal followed a 2013 conviction where both men received 10‑year suspended sentences for holding 4.5 kg of heroin and 227 g of cocaine. The Court of Appeal found the original suspended terms too lenient after a successful appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The court noted the men's financial pressure and the serious nature of the drugs, and applied a maximum mitigation to reduce the sentence to three years. The men were arrested after a Garda surveillance operation in Finglas, where a black hold‑all bag containing nine plastic bags of heroin and a bag of cocaine was recovered. The case highlighted the Court's willingness to impose imprisonment when the offence was serious and the value of the drugs substantial. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
Li Zhongbo, a 33-year-old Chinese national from Rathfarnham, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm at Sin Nightclub in Temple Bar on March 25, 2013. The court heard that Li swung a glass jug during a melee between groups of men, striking an uninvolved bystander, Adam Cleary, who suffered facial and chest injuries requiring 29 sutures. Judge Patrick McCartan noted that Cleary had graciously told Garda Eoin Carroll he did not want Li jailed, viewing the act as out of character. The judge highlighted Li's lack of previous convictions, his sincere apology, and his offer of €1,000 in remorse. Consequently, the court applied the Probation of Offenders Act, allowing Li to walk free. The judge described the victim as generous and fair. Li, a married father of two who has worked legally in Ireland for ten years, shook hands with Cleary after the sentencing. The matter was finalised with this disposition.
In October 2016, the Central Criminal Court will hear the trial of eight Tallaght residents charged in the murder of 20‑year‑old Dale Creighton, who died on 2 January after being injured on a footbridge on Saint Dominic's Road. Seven defendants—Aisling Burke (21), David Burke (26), Graham Palmer (24), Ross Callery (21), James Reid (24), Jason Beresford (21) and Gerard Stephens (25)—are charged with murder. A eighth defendant, James O'Brien (22), is charged with assault causing harm. The trial is expected to last eight weeks, with the first hearing set for 3 October 2016.
Thomas McDonagh, aged 21, was jailed for three years after hijacking a taxi on 27 March 2012 in Dublin. He forced the driver to take him and his 16‑year‑old cousin Bernard McDonagh into the vehicle. The taxi later crashed near Slane Castle in County Meath, killing Bernard hours after the collision. McDonagh suffered serious injuries, including a broken spine and brain damage, and now has epilepsy and other medical problems. He was already on bail for a 2011 robbery and had a six‑year sentence for that offence. Judge Mary Ellen Ring suspended the last two years of a five‑year sentence on the condition that McDonagh engage with Probation Services after release. The sentence runs consecutively to the sentence he is currently serving. The court heard McDonagh apologized and expressed remorse, and noted his history of ten previous convictions, including robbery.
Aidan Leacy, 56, of New Ross, Co. Wexford, was convicted of sexually assaulting two seven‑year‑old girls in the west of Ireland between November 2007 and January 2008. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six years' imprisonment by Judge Carroll Moran at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on 3 March 2013. In the Court of Appeal, Judge George Birmingham reduced the sentence to three years' imprisonment with a two‑year post‑release supervision period. The appeal was successful. The Court noted that Leacy had shown the girls adult pornographic magazines, encouraged them to expose themselves, and had them pull down his trousers and his own clothes. The Court also recorded that Leacy's conviction led to two arson attacks on his home, the loss of his public service job, and the removal of his children from his care. He remains on the sex offenders register indefinitely.
In December 2014 the Court of Appeal ruled that the 10‑year suspended sentences handed to Edward Rooney, 65, and Des Ryan, 55, for possessing €1.2 million worth of heroin and cocaine were too lenient. The men had pleaded guilty in October 2013 to possession for sale or supply after transporting a bag of drugs from the UK to Ireland. The appeal court noted the financial pressure that led them to act as couriers, the high value of the drugs, and the fact that neither was driven by addiction. It also highlighted that the men were not compelled by compulsion but chose to participate for financial gain. The court reserved its judgment, to be delivered on 19 January 2015, and indicated that the sentences would be revised to reflect the seriousness of the offence. The original judge had imposed a wholly suspended 10‑year term, which the appeal court found to be an error in principle.
In a High Court case in Wexford, the Purcell family sued 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, WT6 Productions, UFO Film and Television Studios Ltd and UFO International Productions over the use of an image of their late mother, Mrs Stacia Purcell, in the horror film Wrong Turn 6: Last Resort. Mrs Purcell, aged 66, disappeared on 30 October 2013 and was found dead a few days later, believed to have fallen into a river after a heart attack. The family claims the image, which they supplied to the press to aid the search, was used without their consent and has caused them great pain and distress. They seek orders preventing further use of the image in broadcasts or distribution of the film. The case was adjourned to early next week after both sides requested more time to exchange documents and consider new sworn statements.
The family of the late Irish woman Stacia Purcell, who died after going missing in 2013, has brought a High Court action against 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, WT6 Productions, UFO Film and Television Studios Ltd and UFO International Productions. They allege that a photograph of Mrs Purcell, taken by the family and used to aid the search for her, was incorporated into the horror film Wrong Turn 6: Last Resort without consent. The image appears about 22 minutes into the film, where it is portrayed as a missing 81‑year‑old man. The family claims the use of the image breaches copyright and privacy, causing them distress.
Leonard Dumbrell, 26, from Wexford, led Gardaí on a high‑speed chase through Dublin's city centre after stealing a car in Ballsbridge. He drove the vehicle at speed, up the wrong way on one‑way streets, and crashed it at Temple Bar Square. The court heard he nearly knocked over pedestrians on O'Connell Bridge while evading police. Dumbrell pleaded guilty to car theft in Dublin 4 and two counts of dangerous driving in Dublin city centre on 2 January 2013. He has 108 prior convictions, including car thefts, assaulting a Garda and violent disorder. Judge Mary Ellen Ring remanded him in custody until sentencing but granted bail to attend an eight‑week residential drug treatment programme, with a four‑week after‑care programme to follow. The court warned that any breach of the bail bond would result in remand in prison. The case highlights the Gardaí's pursuit of a repeat offender with a serious drug problem.
In a High Court hearing on 16 October 2014, Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns announced that the court would intensify judicial management to maximise efficient use of court time, following a Supreme Court decision urging tighter case management. The comments were made in a case where Mr Kevin Breen, a signalman at Iarnrod Eireann, was awarded €25,000 in damages for alleged bullying by a colleague, Mr Louis Naessens, between 2004 and 2010 at Gorey Rail Station. Breen claimed repeated criticism, confusing instructions and threats from Naessens, and that an internal investigation in December 2009 found Naessens' conduct amounted to bullying. Breen said the company failed to act, despite offering a Corrective Coaching Programme, and that the bullying continued until his transfer to Arklow Station in February 2011. Iarnrod Eireann denied the claims, stating it had undertaken counselling, mediation and investigation.
James Connors, 27, of Rosemount, Drinagh, Co. Wexford, is accused of murdering Jason Ryan at Hollyville Heights, Wexford town, on 25 January 2012. He has been in custody with consent to bail. On 30 July 2014 the High Court, hearing an application from his lawyers, reduced the independent surety required and allowed Connors to be released on bail. His trial is scheduled for 30 November 2015. As part of his bail conditions he must sign daily at his local Garda station between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. and carry a mobile phone to contact Gardaí.
In a High Court hearing on 26 July 2014, Mr John Murphy, owner of Colfers Pub in Carrig-on-Bannow, Co. Wexford, faced contempt proceedings for failing to hand over peaceful possession of his bar to the bank‑appointed receiver, Mr Stephen Tennant of Grant Thornton. The undertaking, issued in March, required the handover in late June. Mr Murphy had previously failed to appear in court, prompting an order by Mr Justice Paul Gilligan to bring him before the court. At the hearing, Mr Murphy apologized for his non‑appearance and admitted he had no legal representation, though his interests were being managed by Tuskar Properties Ltd. The court noted that a solicitor was now prepared to represent him but required time. Mr Justice Gilligan adjourned the matter to the following Wednesday to allow Mr Murphy to obtain legal advice.
In a High Court hearing on 11 July 2014, Mr Justice Paul Gilligan ordered that John Murphy, the owner of Colfers Pub in Carrig-on-Bannow, Wexford, be brought before the court to explain why he should not be jailed for failing to hand over his bar to a bank‑appointed receiver. Murphy had previously given an undertaking to hand over peaceful possession of the licensed premises to receiver Stephen Tennant of Grant Thornton, appointed by ACC after Murphy failed to repay €409,000 owed to the bank. ACC and Tennant claimed the receiver had been prevented from taking possession, citing resistance from a large group at the pub and correspondence from an individual and a purported Limited Company claiming ownership.
Caroline Roche, 52, of Ballyedmond Monamolin, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of her partner Walter Plunkett, 84, on 20 June. A report read to the court on 30 June detailed her treatment at the Central Medical Hospital in Dundrum. Dr Paul O'Connell, a forensic psychiatrist, noted that trial‑related stress had caused short‑term destabilisation but that her mental state had improved and she remains psychotic. Mr Justice Barry White ordered her commitment to the hospital.