Ryan Glennon, aged 25, was convicted by the Special Criminal Court for membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA) after fingerprints and DNA were found in a Wexford house containing Semtex, rockets and other explosive materials. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Robert Eagar with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and James Faughnan, found him guilty based on evidence from Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan and the National Surveillance Unit. Glennon refused to answer questions about his IRA membership and involvement in the explosives, which the court interpreted as corroborative of the allegations. Physical evidence linked him to the scene, including fingerprints on a handcart and DNA on gloves. He was sentenced to six years in prison by the Special Criminal Court, the first trial at its second instance after a two‑year delay in cases at the original court.
Shoaib Hamid, aged 44, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm after a dispute over prayer etiquette outside the Fonthill Retail Park mosque in June 2015. He attacked an elderly man who had walked in front of a person praying, leading to a brief argument. Hamid then punched the man, striking him on the head and later using a carpet knife to hit him on the back of the head, causing cuts and a permanent scar. Hamid expressed remorse, citing fasting for Ramadan as a possible factor, and has since apologized to his Imam and moved to a different mosque. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to two and a half years, which she suspended in full, noting the seriousness of the knife assault and that it was out of character for him.
During a sentencing hearing in the Special Criminal Court, Donal O Coisdealbha, a 25‑year‑old Dublin man, pleaded guilty to membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). He was arrested on 13 May 2015 after a Garda investigation that had followed him for months. The investigation uncovered explosive device components in his Maynooth University locker and in a house at Harbour Court, Courtown, Wexford. Items seized included improvised rockets, semtex, detonators, a time‑power unit, a broken circuit board, and a PIC chip. DNA evidence linked O Coisdealbha to the devices. Garda audio surveillance revealed discussions about building an artillery rocket and a planned event around the time of Prince Charles's visit. O Coisdealbha denied IRA membership during detention. He has no prior convictions and was remanded in custody until 6 December for sentencing. The maximum sentence for belonging to a dissident republican terrorist organisation is eight years.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Ryan Glennon, aged 25 and resident of Macken Villas, Macken Street, Dublin, was found guilty of membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on 13 May 2015. Glennon denied the charge. The court heard that Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan had provided evidence that Glennon was a member of the IRA on the relevant date. Evidence presented included a search of a house in Courttown, County Wexford, where gardaí discovered rockets and explosive materials. Four rockets were located inside a water butt on a handcart, with Glennon's fingerprints on the cart. A tupperware container in the kitchen contained Semtex, a pair of gloves, and DNA matching Glennon. Surveillance footage showed Glennon at the Courttown house on 9 May 2014. The three‑judge panel, presided over by Justice Robert Eagar with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and James Faughnan, remanded Glennon in custody until 5 December, when he will be sentenced.
A 53‑year‑old Wexford man was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of a 41‑year‑old Latvian man, Gints Intembergs, who was found dead on the floor of a kitchen in Co Carlow on 16 September 2014. The Central Criminal Court heard that the victim had beaten the accused in an arm‑wrestling match and that the accused, Liam Power, had stamped on the victim's head and testicles, kicked him repeatedly, and attempted to set fire to his hair and privates with a lighter. Power claimed he was intoxicated, having drunk about 16 cans of cider and smoked crack cocaine before the killing. Forensic evidence showed blunt‑force trauma to the head and neck, with blood patterns matching the accused's shoes. Power pleaded not guilty to murder but was found guilty and given a mandatory life sentence, back‑dated to 18 September 2014.
Liam Power, a 53-year-old Wexford man, was found not guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of assault causing harm to Aigar Sildars. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, heard allegations that Power assaulted Sildars and Gints Intembergs at a home in Graigowen, Tullow, Co Carlow, in September 2014. Power, who is of no fixed abode, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Intembergs and the assault on Sildars. His co-accused, Dzintars Sacklausks, initially pleaded not guilty to both murder and assault but had the murder charge dropped by the State two weeks into the trial. Sacklausks subsequently pleaded guilty to the assault charge and is awaiting sentencing. The jury, comprising five men and seven women, deliberated for two days before unanimously acquitting Power of the assault count. The court noted the absence of corroboration for the assault and the unreliability of admissions. The jury will resume deliberations on the murder charge on Wednesday morning. The matter regarding the murder charge remains ongoing and has not been finalised.
The jury has begun deliberations in the Central Criminal Court trial of 53‑year‑old Liam Power, who is charged with murdering a 41‑year‑old Latvian man, Gints Intembergs, found dead on the kitchen floor of his home on 16 September 2014. Power has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter at Intembergs' home in Graigowen, Tullow, Co. Carlow. He also pleaded not guilty to an assault‑causing‑harm charge against another man, Aigar Sildars, on the same occasion. Power told Gardaí that he punched Intembergs and stamped on him many times, and that he tried to set fire to the victim; he claimed he did about half as much to Sildars.
In the first trial at the new Special Criminal Court in Dublin, 25‑year‑old Ryan Glennon of Macken Villas was found guilty of membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Glennon had pleaded not guilty on 13 May 2015. The three‑judge panel, led by Justice Robert Eagar with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and James Faughnan, heard evidence from Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan who claimed confidential information indicated Glennon was an IRA member. The court noted that Glennon's refusal to answer questions during Garda interviews—about his membership, involvement in IRA activity, and the presence of his fingerprints and DNA in a Courtown house containing Semtex, rockets and other explosive materials—was "supportive and corroborative" of the superintendent's claims. Testimony from the National Surveillance Unit placed Glennon at the house four days before the Garda raid on 13 May 2015.
The Central Criminal Court has reached the sentencing stage for Dzintars Sackalausks, a 33-year-old man from Graiguecullen, Co Carlow. Sackalausks, who initially pleaded not guilty to murdering Gints Intembergs and assaulting Aigar Sildars, had the murder charge dropped by the State. He subsequently entered a guilty plea to the charge of assault causing harm against Mr Sildars on the same occasion. The court report indicates that Sackalausks will be sentenced at a later date, meaning the matter regarding his disposal is not yet finalised. This sentencing follows the concurrent trial of Liam Power, a 53-year-old Wexford man, who pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the death of Mr Intembergs in Tullow, Co Carlow. Power also pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm against Mr Sildars. During the trial, the jury was charged by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy to deliberate on Power's verdicts. While the source text details the closing arguments and the jury's retirement to consider Power's case, the specific validated procedural stage for Sackalausks is sentencing. No effective custody, suspended portions, or specific conditions have been recorded for Sackalausks in this report, as his sentence is pending. The report attributes the allegations of murder and assault to the defendants, noting that Sackalausks has admitted to the assault charge while the murder charge was withdrawn.
At the Central Criminal Court, Liam Power, a 53-year-old Wexford man, is on trial for the murder of Gints Intembergs in Co Carlow. Power has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. He also faces a charge of assault causing harm against Aigar Sildars, to which he has pleaded not guilty. Defence counsel Michael Delaney SC urged the jury to keep feelings of revulsion in check, arguing Power lacked the intent for murder and was provoked. The prosecution, led by Paul Greene SC, countered that Power's actions were sadistic and self-serving, urging a murder conviction. In a related development, co-accused Dzintars Sackalausks, of Co Carlow, had initially pleaded not guilty to both the murder of Mr Intembergs and the assault on Mr Sildars. The State dropped the murder charge against Sackalausks. He subsequently entered a guilty plea to the charge of assaulting Mr Sildars, causing him harm on the same occasion. Sackalausks will be sentenced at a later date. The trial for Power continues, with the judge set to charge the jury.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 8 November 2016, DNA evidence linked Ryan Glennon, a 25‑year‑old of Macken Villas, Dublin, to a pair of gloves seized from a Courttown house in Wexford. Glennon, who pleaded not guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), was alleged by the prosecution to have been connected to the property where a large amount of explosives had been found. Forensic scientist Dr. Hilary Clarke compared Glennon's DNA profile to a sample taken from the gloves and found that elements of his profile could not be excluded as a major contributor. The glove sample contained DNA from two main contributors: Glennon and another man. Dr. Clarke acknowledged the possibility of DNA transfer between individuals. The prosecution closed its case, and the trial was scheduled to continue with closing speeches from both sides.
In the Special Criminal Court, fingerprints on a handcart found in a house at Harbour View, Courttown, were matched to Ryan Glennon, 25, of Macken Villas, Dublin, who is accused of IRA membership. The court heard that during a search of the Courttown premises, gardai discovered rockets and explosives, and that evidence links Glennon to the property. Detective Garda Niall Lannon presented the fingerprint comparison, stating there was "no doubt" the prints were made by Glennon. He also noted that fingerprints can persist for a long time, a point agreed by the defense. Interviews with Glennon were conducted under Section 2 of the Offences Against the State Act, allowing inferences from his refusal to answer questions about IRA membership and the Courttown house. Glennon pleaded not guilty to the charge of membership in an illegal organisation. The trial continues before Justice Robert Eagar, with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and James Faughnan presiding.
Dean Fagan, 26, of Fairway Drive, Rosslare Strand, Wexford, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for an aggravated burglary that took place on 4 January 2014 at John Street, Enniscorthy. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The burglary involved two men who entered the victim's home at about 11.30 p.m. armed with a knife and a hatchet. The victim, who was at home with her five‑year‑old son, was threatened and forced to give up money and jewellery. The men took two mobile phones and a laptop before leaving. Fagan had previously been serving a six‑year sentence for a separate aggravated burglary. The court noted that Fagan had no forensic evidence linking him to the crime and that his admissions to the gardai formed a large part of the evidence against him.
At the Central Criminal Court, Ross Callery and Gerard Stevens were remanded in custody to await sentencing for their part in the killing of Dale Creighton. The seven accused, originally charged with murder and violent disorder, had their pleas changed on the 15th day of the trial. Callery and Stevens pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Jason Beresford pleaded guilty to manslaughter and violent disorder. James Reid pleaded guilty to possession of a knife. Aisling Burke pleaded guilty to violent disorder. Graham Palmer and David Burke pleaded not guilty to manslaughter. All murder charges were dropped. The court granted Aisling Burke bail until sentencing. Callery and Stevens, who had been on bail, were remanded in custody after answering their bail. The other accused, including Palmer, Beresford, Reid, and David Burke, were remanded in custody for sentencing on December 19th. The court noted a medical report might assist regarding Stevens. The incident occurred on New Year's Morning 2014 at a footbridge in Tallaght, where Creighton was assaulted and died the following day from blunt force injuries.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Dublin resident Ryan Glennon, aged 25, faces charges of membership in the Irish Republican Army. The prosecution alleges that a large quantity of explosives was discovered at a property in Courttown, Co. Wexford, and that evidence links Glennon to the site. Glennon has pleaded not guilty. Lawyers Hugh Hartnett SC and Tara Burns SC have presented arguments concerning the legality of Glennon's arrest and detention. Judge Robert Eagar, with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and James Faughnan, will decide on the issue on Monday.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 2 November 2016, a Dublin man, Ryan Glennon, aged 25, pleaded not guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The prosecution alleged that a large quantity of explosives was discovered at a property in Courttown, County Wexford, and that evidence linked Glennon to that site. Legal arguments were presented by Hugh Hartnett SC on behalf of Glennon and Tara Burns SC for the State, focusing on the legality of Glennon's arrest. The trial is proceeding before Judge Robert Eagar, with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and James Faughnan presiding.
At the Central Criminal Court, the jury was discharged after five accused changed their pleas from not guilty to murder to guilty to manslaughter, while two co-accused admitted to lesser charges. The case concerns the death of Dale Creighton, who was assaulted at a Tallaght footbridge in 2014 and died from blunt force injuries. Aisling Burke pleaded guilty to violent disorder. James Reid pleaded guilty to possessing a knife. Ross Callery, Jason Beresford, David Burke, Graham Palmer, and Gerard Stevens all pleaded guilty to manslaughter. The court granted Aisling Burke bail until sentencing. Ross Callery and Gerard Stevens were remanded on bail until next Monday. Jason Beresford, David Burke, Graham Palmer, and James Reid were remanded in custody. The court directed probation reports for Callery, Stevens, Beresford, Aisling Burke, David Burke, and Palmer, as well as a victim impact report. The matter was adjourned, with sentencing scheduled for December.
During a Special Criminal Court hearing, Ryan Glennon, 25, of Dublin, pleaded not guilty to IRA membership. The prosecution presented evidence that a house in Courttown, Co. Wexford contained a large quantity of explosives linked to Glennon. Detective Garda Shane Curran examined items found on 13 May 2015, including a green water butt holding four improvised steel rockets, 75 g of Semtex, 4.8 kg of pyrotechnic powder, electric switches, detonators, battery clips, and circuit boards, all deemed components for an improvised explosive device. In a kitchen crate, fertilizer, gardening gloves, and a steel tube with holes were also found, again suggested for I.E.D. construction. Sergeant Eamon Ryan reported seeing Glennon and two others at Violet Hill park on 14 March 2015, an unusual gathering. The trial was set to resume on Tuesday morning.
The Central Criminal Court trial of seven Dubliners accused of murdering Dale Creighton and violent disorder is ongoing. Creighton was assaulted on New Year's Morning 2014 at a Tallaght footbridge and died the following day. All seven accused initially pleaded not guilty to both charges. However, Jason Beresford later changed his plea, admitting to the violent disorder charge while maintaining his not guilty plea to murder. The other six accused—Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, and Gerard Stevens—continue to contest both allegations. On the 14th day of the trial, the jury reviewed CCTV footage showing five accused running from the scene as gardai arrived. Sergeant Brian Cagney described specific actions, including kicks by Callery and Beresford, and strikes by Stevens, Palmer, and Beresford. The footage captured Beresford, Callery, Palmer, Aisling Burke, and David Burke fleeing simultaneously upon seeing police lights. James Reid and Gerard Stevens were seen moving separately. The matter was adjourned, with the prosecution case expected to conclude on Tuesday.
The Central Criminal Court trial of seven Dubliners charged with the murder of Dale Creighton has heard expert evidence regarding his cause of death. Creighton, 20, was assaulted on New Year's Morning 2014 at the footbridge over the Tallaght bypass and died the following day. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that Creighton sustained extensive blunt force trauma to the head and face, resulting in brain swelling, diffuse axonal injury, and brain stem compression. He identified a fractured skull, broken nose, dislocated thumb, and a stab wound to the thigh, noting the latter was likely inflicted by an implement other than a knife. Toxicology revealed modest alcohol and trace cocaine levels. Dr Curtis concluded the cause of death was blunt force injury, stating that axonal injury could result from direct violence or prolonged coma. Under cross-examination, he acknowledged that injuries from an earlier assault by a man not before the court could have contributed to the fatal brain damage. The accused are Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, Jason Beresford, and Gerard Stevens. All pleaded not guilty to murder. While all initially pleaded not guilty to violent disorder, Jason Beresford later changed his plea to guilty for that specific charge. The trial continues before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy and a jury.
The Central Criminal Court trial of seven accused individuals charged with the murder of Dale Creighton and violent disorder is ongoing before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy. The defendants, Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, Jason Beresford, and Gerard Stevens, have all pleaded not guilty to murder. While initially pleading not guilty to violent disorder, Jason Beresford subsequently changed his plea to guilty on that specific charge. On the 13th day of the trial, the jury reviewed CCTV footage of the fatal assault, which occurred on New Year's Day 2014 at a footbridge over the Tallaght bypass. Sergeant Brian Cagney provided commentary, identifying specific actions attributed to the accused, including David Burke striking the deceased and Ross Callery punching him. The sergeant also noted that James Reid was seen holding a knife and phone, and that Gerard Stevens slapped the deceased. Additionally, the jury heard evidence regarding James O'Brien, who was charged with assault causing harm after allegedly kicking and punching the victim. The matter remains at the trial stage and has not been finalised.
In Dublin on 27 October 2016 the second Special Criminal Court held its first trial. The defendant, Ryan Glennon, 25, pleaded not guilty to membership of an illegal organisation that styled itself the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Prosecutor Tara Burns SC presented belief evidence from a Garda Chief Superintendent that Glennon was a member on 13 May 2015, supported by evidence from a search of a Courtown property on that date where a large quantity of explosives was found and items linked to Glennon were recovered. Burns also cited surveillance of Glennon and two others by Gardaí on 9 May 2015, and their appearance together in March and April 2015. After Glennon's arrest, he failed to answer material questions in interviews, allowing the court to draw inferences. The trial, presided over by Justice Robert Eagar with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and James Faughnan, is expected to last two weeks.
The Central Criminal Court trial of seven accused in the 2014 murder of Dale Creighton continues before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy. The defendants, including Jason Beresford, Gerard Stevens, Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, and James Reid, face charges of murder and violent disorder. While all initially pleaded not guilty to both counts, Beresford subsequently changed his plea to guilty on the violent disorder charge. The remaining six accused maintain their not guilty pleas to both murder and violent disorder. Evidence presented includes garda interviews with Stevens, who admitted to kicking, punching, and slapping the victim on the Tallaght bypass footbridge. Stevens stated he did not know why he acted and described the incident as a moment of madness. Cross-examination highlighted that Stevens became distressed while reviewing CCTV footage. Additionally, testimony regarding Aisling Burke confirmed she was arrested shortly after the assault and examined for injuries, though no probative evidence emerged from her interview. The trial is ongoing, with no final verdict or sentencing recorded at this procedural stage.
The Central Criminal Court trial of seven accused individuals for the murder of Dale Creighton and violent disorder is ongoing before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy. The defendants, Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, Jason Beresford, and Gerard Stevens, have all pleaded not guilty to murder. While all initially pleaded not guilty to violent disorder, Jason Beresford subsequently changed his plea to guilty on that specific charge. The jury is currently hearing evidence regarding garda interviews with David Burke, who was arrested in Tallaght on January 2, 2014. Mr. Burke alleged that the deceased pulled a knife on him and stole his sister's phone, prompting him to strike the victim. He denied participating in the fatal assault, claiming he attempted to stop others and protect the deceased. However, when shown CCTV footage, he admitted to hitting and kicking Mr. Creighton, stating he did so in self-defense. The trial continues with further evidence to be presented to the jury.
Niall Barron, a 44‑year‑old former Vodafone Ireland executive, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for a fraud scheme that deprived the company of about €1.95 million. Between 2003 and 2007, while serving as head of corporate financial services and fraud prevention, Barron used his authority to approve purchase orders and invoices for a company he owned, Tel‑Q Ltd, registered in Vanuatu. He ordered services that were never performed and paid invoices for work that did not occur. The court described the thefts as a sophisticated, pre‑meditated breach of trust. Barron pleaded guilty to sample charges under the Theft and Fraud Act. Co‑accused Elaine and David McGovern received suspended sentences and a nine‑month term, respectively, for lesser roles in the same fraud scheme. The case remains an ongoing civil matter for Vodafone.
The Central Criminal Court trial of seven Dubliners accused of the murder of Dale Creighton continues before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy. The accused, Jason Beresford, Ross Callery, Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, James Reid, and Gerard Stevens, have all pleaded not guilty to murder. While each initially pleaded not guilty to violent disorder, Jason Beresford subsequently changed his plea to guilty on that specific charge. The jury is currently hearing evidence regarding garda interviews with Ross Callery, who allegedly assaulted Mr Creighton on New Year's Morning 2014 at the Tallaght bypass footbridge. Mr Creighton died in hospital the following day. Detective Garda Kieran McGrath testified that Callery admitted to kicking the victim while he was on his hands and knees, describing the force as a seven out of ten. Callery stated he was protecting himself by not identifying other participants and expressed shock upon learning of the death, stating he did not intend for the victim to die. The trial is ongoing, with no final verdict or sentence recorded at this procedural stage.
A 45‑year‑old Wexford father was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for sexually abusing his daughter over a three‑year period. He pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to sixteen counts of oral rape and sixteen counts of sexual assault between 2010 and 2013. The victim, aged between 11 and 14 at the time, was abused in the family home, with the father touching her breasts, forcing her to touch his penis, and placing his penis in her mouth, sometimes in her own bed. He also attempted to involve her in showering and rubbed his penis between her legs. The abuse was reported in 2014 after the girl alleged the assaults. Justice Isobel Kennedy described the offences as "appalling", noted the forceful nature of the behaviour and the child's fear, and suspended the final two years of the sentence on strict conditions.
A 52-year-old man from Cork will stand trial at the Special Criminal Court in 2017 on charges relating to membership of an unlawful organisation and possession of an explosive substance. Martin McHale, of Blackwater Grove, Togher, is alleged to have been a member of the Irish Republican Army on November 1st, 2013. He is also charged with possessing an explosive substance—ten sealed bags containing ammonium nitrate and calcium carbonate—discovered at Mall Road, Tirkeenan, County Monaghan, on the same date. The Special Criminal Court set a trial date of February 13th, 2017, with proceedings expected to span two weeks. McHale was remanded to face trial on the charges brought against him.
John Lawlor, 48, died from a knife wound to a varicose vein below his knee after a dispute with David Shanley, 47, on Christmas Eve 2014 at Ballintray Lower, Courtown Harbour, Gorey, Co Wexford. Shanley called the house, was confronted by Lawlor, and a struggle ensued. Shanley admitted to manslaughter but denied murder, pleading guilty in June. He was sentenced by Mr Justice Paul Butler to five years' imprisonment, with two-and-a-half years suspended, for manslaughter. The judge noted the wound's unusual location and that the offence was on the lower scale for sentencing. Shanley had been in custody since October 10 of that year. The case involved testimony from Detective Inspector Murt Whelan, State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy, and statements from relatives of both parties. The conviction was upheld as manslaughter, not murder.
The Central Criminal Court trial of seven Dubliners accused of murdering Dale Creighton, who died after being assaulted on New Year's Morning 2014 at a Tallaght footbridge, continues before Justice Deirdre Murphy. The accused are Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, Jason Beresford, and Gerard Stevens. All initially pleaded not guilty to murder and violent disorder; however, Jason Beresford later changed his plea to guilty for violent disorder. The others maintain their not guilty pleas to both charges. Evidence heard included garda interviews with Graham Palmer, who alleged the victim was already injured before he arrived. Palmer admitted punching the victim in the stomach and face, stating he did so to get his attention, while denying causing the fatal injuries. He expressed regret for his actions. The trial is ongoing and was adjourned to continue on Monday.
The trial of seven Dubliners charged with the murder of Dale Creighton and violent disorder is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Creighton, a 20-year-old Tallaght native, died in hospital on January 2, 2014, after being assaulted on New Year's Morning 2014 at the footbridge over the Tallaght bypass. The accused are Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, Jason Beresford, and Gerard Stevens. All pleaded not guilty to murder. While all initially pleaded not guilty to violent disorder, Jason Beresford later changed his plea to guilty for that specific charge. During cross-examination, Beresford admitted to kicking Creighton in the head and punching him in the stomach, stating he was "stupidly drunk and furious." He denied stamping on the victim. The court also heard that James O'Brien, who was seen on CCTV punching and kicking Creighton, was charged with the lesser offence of assault causing harm. O'Brien pleaded not guilty to this charge. The jury was dismissed to allow the court to address a legal issue, with proceedings scheduled to resume on Wednesday.
The High Court has ordered that the claim for €2.3 million brought by Seamus Maguire and Company Solicitors against businessman Alan Hynes and his wife Noreen Hynes, trading as A&N Properties, will proceed to a full hearing. The solicitors seek summary judgment for the amount in relation to a cheque allegedly dishonoured. The cheque, drawn in November 2007, was made payable to the solicitors' client account and was held at the defendants' request. The defendants, who had borrowed €3 million from AIB to acquire and refinance a site in Moongate, claim the funds were diverted to another property and that the cheque was never paid. They deny the cheque was dishonoured and argue there is no evidence of dishonour. Mr Justice Paul McDermott ruled that the defendants raised an arguable defence that warrants a full hearing, but he was not satisfied that they had established a basis to dismiss the claim.
The trial of seven accused individuals for the murder of Dale Creighton and violent disorder is ongoing before the Central Criminal Court. The defendants, Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, Jason Beresford, and Gerard Stevens, all pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. While all initially pleaded not guilty to violent disorder, Jason Beresford changed his plea to guilty on Wednesday. The court heard evidence that the deceased, who died on January 2, 2014, sustained a penetrating stab wound to his right leg in addition to being beaten. James Reid identified himself in CCTV footage holding a knife, claiming he took it from the deceased after it was swung at him, while denying any involvement in the assault. He described the footage as "horrific" and stated he regretted being present. Garda testimony confirmed Reid was arrested and interviewed, where he denied kicking, punching, or stabbing the victim. The trial continues under the direction of Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy.
The trial of seven Dubliners charged with the murder of 20‑year‑old Dale Creighton began on 13 October 2016. The defendants – Aisling Burke (23), David Burke (28), Graham Palmer (26), Ross Callery (23), James Reid (26), Jason Beresford (23) and Gerard Stevens (27) – all pleaded not guilty to murder and violent disorder, though Beresford later pleaded guilty to the disorder charge. Evidence from Garda Jennifer Walsh and Garda Avril Sharpe described a New Year's Day incident at the Tallaght footbridge where Creighton was found unconscious and badly beaten. The garda saw blood on the clothing of Palmer and Burke, and the footage showed the group leaving the bridge. The trial, before Justice Deirdre Murphy and a balanced jury, will continue on Friday morning. The court heard that Palmer was arrested at the scene and Reid was arrested the next day in Tallaght. The case remains at the Central Criminal Court.
The trial of seven Dubliners accused of murdering 20-year-old Dale Creighton is ongoing before the Central Criminal Court. Creighton died on January 2, 2014, following an incident at the footbridge over the Tallaght bypass on New Year's Day. While all seven defendants initially pleaded not guilty to murder and violent disorder, Jason Beresford (23) pleaded guilty to violent disorder on January 1, 2014, during the trial. The remaining six accused—Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, and Gerard Stevens—maintain their not guilty pleas to both murder and violent disorder. The matter was not adjourned; the trial proceeded as normal. Witness Carl O'Leary testified that he saw Creighton holding a knife on the footbridge after hearing a commotion about a phone robbery. His girlfriend, Shannon Downes, identified a white jacket belonging to a woman who claimed she was assaulted and robbed. Another witness, Sophie Percy, described seeing men at the bottom of the bridge, with footage showing one passenger punching a man not before the court. The trial continues with the jury hearing further evidence.
James Connors, aged 30, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment for the killing of Jason Ryan, aged 27, in Wexford on 25 January 2012. The Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty by a 10‑2 majority, and Justice Margaret Heneghan imposed the mandatory life sentence on 17 December 2015. Connors has now applied to appeal his conviction on several grounds. His barrister, Michael Delaney SC, argued that the defence had admitted Connors was on temporary release over Christmas 2011 and failed to return, making it undesirable that a jury would know he had been in custody. Delaney also contended that prejudicial material, including testimony from Samantha Hore and a phone call from Connors while in prison, should not have been admitted. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel, Gerard Clarke SC, described the case as simple and maintained that the alleged threats were relevant to motive. James Connors pleaded not guilty.
John Joe Synnott, aged 61, a former Garda, was convicted of deception and corruption for staging a non‑existent road traffic accident on 9 September 2007. He had reported an Audi A4 colliding with a parked Subaru Imprezza, creating a PULSE incident report and a Traffic Accident Preliminary Report, and paid out €23,352 to the drivers, Beverley Redmond and Lorraine Quinlan, through AXA Insurance. The prosecution argued that Synnott deliberately assisted the drivers and Joe Redmond, a friend and known criminal, in fraud. He was found guilty on all counts and sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. Synnott appealed on grounds relating to the judge's jury instructions, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal. He remains in custody on an undisclosed matter and is no longer a serving Garda. John Joe Synnott pleaded not guilty.
The trial of seven Dubliners charged with the murder of 20-year-old Dale Creighton is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. All defendants, including Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, Jason Beresford, and Gerard Stevens, have pleaded not guilty to murder and violent disorder. Prosecution counsel Seán Gillane SC alleged the group acted together to inflict serious injury or death during a 'vicious, prolonged' attack on New Year's Day 2014. Evidence presented includes CCTV footage and testimony from witness Síle McCarthy, who described seeing six or seven individuals surround, kick, and punch Creighton on the footbridge over the Tallaght bypass. The prosecution stated Creighton was thrown 'like a rag doll' down steps before being returned to the bridge, suffering blunt force injuries to the head and face that caused his death on January 2, 2014. The matter is currently at the trial stage before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy and a jury; it has not been finalised and is expected to last approximately six weeks.
In a Central Criminal Court sentence hearing, a 48‑year‑old father of three was found to have died from a knife wound to a varicose vein in his leg on Christmas Eve 2014. The victim, John Lawlor, was stabbed by David Shanley, 47, who had pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Shanley, who was in a relationship with Lawlor's ex‑wife, claimed a struggle and that the knife fell from his pocket during an altercation. A post‑mortem confirmed death by hemorrhage and shock from the incised vein. The court heard victim impact statements from Lawlor's family, who described the loss and the emotional toll. Justice Paul Butler remanded Shanley in custody pending sentencing in two weeks. David Shanley pleaded not guilty.
The trial of seven accused individuals for the murder of Dale Creighton is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy addressed the jury, warning them against conducting internet searches or discussing the case, emphasizing that their verdicts must rely solely on evidence presented in court. The accused, Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, Jason Beresford, and Gerard Stevens, are charged with murdering Mr. Creighton, who died on January 2, 2014, following an incident at the Tallaght bypass footbridge. All seven defendants have pleaded not guilty to the murder charges. Additionally, each accused pleaded not guilty to violent disorder at the same location on New Year's Day. The court highlighted the gravity of the proceedings, noting that murder is the most serious offence in the criminal calendar. The trial is currently at the trial stage, with no findings, sentences, or finalizations recorded. The matter was adjourned and will continue the following morning.
The trial of seven Tallaght residents accused of murdering 20‑year‑old Dale Creighton on 2 January 2014 has been adjourned to Monday. All seven, aged in their twenties, pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and to violent disorder at the footbridge over the Tallaght bypass. The accused are Aisling Burke (23), David Burke (28), Graham Palmer (26), Ross Callery (23), James Reid (26), Jason Beresford (23) and Gerard Stevens (27). A jury of six men and six women was sworn in to hear the case, which was scheduled to open that morning but was postponed because no judge was available. The court expects the trial to last up to six weeks. The incident occurred on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day, and the victim and all accused were from Tallaght. The trial will resume on Monday.
In a Tallaght court hearing on 6 October 2016, a woman and six men, all in their twenties and residents of Tallaght, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 20‑year‑old Dale Creighton, who died on 2 January 2014. The alleged killing took place at the footbridge over the Tallaght bypass between Saint Dominic's Road and Greenhills Road, about two days after an incident on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. The accused—Aisling Burke (23), David Burke (28), Graham Palmer (26), Ross Callery (23), James Reid (26), Jason Beresford (23) and Gerard Stevens (27)—were charged with murder and violent disorder on the same occasion. All seven were arraigned before the Central Criminal Court, and the judge, Justice Patrick McCarthy, swore in a jury of six women and six men, noting that no juror should be from the Tallaght area. The trial was scheduled to begin the following day and could last up to six weeks.
Leonard Dumbrell, 28, of Clonattin Village, Gorey, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment and a five‑year driving disqualification for car theft and two counts of dangerous driving in Dublin City Centre. The sentence was imposed by Judge Mary Ellen Ring on 30 July 2015. Dumbrell's appeal was dismissed by Mr Justice Alan Mahon on 28 July 2016. Mahon noted that Dumbrell had entered a car with the engine running, left the owner, and then drove away. A Garda chased him, and Dumbrell broke a red light, made illegal turns, weaved through traffic, mounted a pedestrian median on O'Connell Bridge, and crashed in Temple Bar. He had 108 previous convictions and was arrested a short distance away. Mahon found the three‑year term not "lenient" given his record and that the sentencing judge had considered rehabilitation. The appeal was therefore dismissed. Leonard Dumbrell pleaded guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 28 July 2016, Justice Paul Butler granted bail to David Shanley, 47, who admitted to a Christmas Eve killing. Shanley pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of John Lawlor, who died on 24 or 25 December 2014 at Ballinatray Lower, Courtown Harbour. The State accepted the plea. Shanley had previously been on bail from the High Court but was found to have breached conditions by living at his partner's address rather than his parents' home. His partner is the deceased's widow, who is receiving ongoing hospital treatment, and Shanley is her carer. The bail terms now require Shanley to reside with his parents. The case was adjourned to 10 October 2016.
A 25‑year‑old Wexford man was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for defilement of a 13‑year‑old girl, the sister of his former girlfriend. He pleaded guilty on the morning of his trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The offence occurred at his home on 2 March 2010, when he was 19. The man was found to have the defendant's DNA on the girl's underwear, and forensic evidence confirmed sexual contact. He denied any sexual contact during police interviews, claiming the girl had approached him and that they had been "sitting shoulder to shoulder" on the couch. The judge, Patrick McCartan, noted the significant age gap and that the girl was "young and impressionable" and that there was "nothing approaching consent." The final two years of the sentence were suspended on strict conditions. The man has 42 prior convictions, including possession of knives, drugs and theft offences, and has not been in contact with Gardaí since 2010.
Martin McBride, 47, of Enniscorthy, pleaded guilty in 2011 to possessing €97,000 of cannabis for sale in Cork. He was later caught with €40,000 of cannabis in Wexford. The Cork Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to seven years, and the Wexford Circuit Criminal Court imposed a mandatory minimum of ten years, consecutive to the Cork offence. McBride appealed in February, arguing he had been hit with a statutory "double whammy" and had no prior convictions. The Court of Appeal, exercising its inherent jurisdiction, found the overall sentence unduly harsh and quashed the original seven‑year Cork term, replacing it with a four‑year term. McBride's final sentence was reduced to 14 years imprisonment, with the Wexford ten‑year term remaining consecutive. The decision was made in the interests of justice and to uphold constitutional principles.
David Shanley, 47, of Courtown Harbour, Gorey, Co. Wexford, admitted to killing a 42‑year‑old man on Christmas Eve 2014 and pleaded guilty to manslaughter. He has been on bail since the High Court charged him, with conditions that he reside at his parents' address. However, he has been living with the deceased's widow and daughter at the widow's house, a situation that has caused concern for the family. Shanley is a carer for his partner, who has serious health problems and is receiving ongoing treatment in hospital. The court heard that a probation report was not yet completed, so sentencing was deferred. The case was adjourned to next Thursday morning to consider a variation of the bail conditions. The judge expressed dissatisfaction with the current bail arrangement but deferred to the bail judge's decision. The matter remains pending. David Shanley pleaded not guilty.
Liam McCann, aged 26, pleaded guilty to false imprisonment, damage to a house and unlawful taking of a car at a woman's home near Scarawalsh, Co. Wexford, on 11 August 2014. He had been drinking and taking drugs for two or three days before the incident. McCann forcefully entered the victim's home at 4 pm, threw himself against a living‑room window, climbed in, put two young children into a cupboard, took two knives, and threatened the woman. He stole her car, crashed it into a wall, attempted to stop passing motorists, and waded across the River Slaney before being apprehended at Gorry Garda Station. He was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended. His appeal against the sentence was dismissed by the Court of Appeal, which held that the term reflected the seriousness of the offence.
During the murder trial of Marta Herda, a 29‑year‑old Polish waitress, the court heard that a witness, Paul Hickey, saw Herda arguing on the phone in a car early that morning. Hickey described seeing a Volkswagen Passat with a driver who appeared animated and engaged in a heated conversation. He noted the car's slow movement and that it did not overtake a cyclist, suggesting the driver was still on the phone. Hickey also reported that the car had later been pulled from the harbour where the victim, 31‑year‑old Csaba Orsas, was found drowned. The jury also heard that a postman discovered Orsas's front door open about two hours after the car entered the water. Garda Michael Hall testified that Herda had two mobile phones; the first was used for most contact with Orsas, including a final call at 5.35 am lasting two minutes.
In a High Court case, Fergus O'Connor, owner of an equestrian centre in Dunmoe, Navan, challenged Offaly County Council's renewal of a national waste collection permit for Tag A Bin Ltd. O'Connor alleged that the waste site's operations were polluting the environment and posing health risks to his clients, workers, and horses, and that the site was within 600 metres of the River Boyne and River Blackwater Special Areas of Conservation. He claimed the council had failed to conduct proper screening, complied with EU Habitat Directives, and had no statutory authority to act as the National Waste Permit Collection Office. O'Connor sought orders quashing the renewal, declarations that the council acted beyond its powers, and that it had no jurisdiction in Meath. The case was heard ex‑parte by Mr Justice Richard Humphreys, who granted O'Connor permission to proceed and set a return date for October. Tag A Bin Ltd and Meath County Council were named as notice parties.