Jordan Gannon (28) was fined and disqualified from driving after being caught behind the wheel while already banned and uninsured. The incident occurred on December 14, 2024, when Gardaí stopped Gannon at a checkpoint and found him unable to produce a valid driving licence or insurance certificate. Gannon had been disqualified from driving for three years as of December 5, 2024. His legal team highlighted his personal circumstances, including his young child with an ongoing illness, and his current apprenticeship in carpentry. Judge Conor Fottrell expressed sympathy for Gannon's situation but emphasized the seriousness of the offences. Gannon was fined €500 for driving without insurance and disqualified from driving for an additional year. An application for legal aid was granted. Jordan Gannon pleaded guilty and was convicted.
Edward Bradbury, a solicitor, has been granted permission to challenge an order that he pay €500 to the District Court 'poor box' after he was unable to attend a hearing. Bradbury was acting for a bailed defendant in a criminal case when he was required to attend another court in Dublin on the same day. He asked a colleague to represent the client, but the case was adjourned because the defendant wished for Bradbury's office to be present. Later, Bradbury received an email from the court stating that he had been fined €500 to be paid to the poor box. Bradbury's solicitors argued that the judge did not have jurisdiction to impose such a penalty and that the fine was issued without formal notification. Bradbury submitted that the poor box is a common law creation and has no place in the supervision of a member of a regulated profession. The High Court granted leave to pursue the challenge, and the matter was adjourned to the New Year.
Rachael Kearney, 42, was on bail when she committed a series of offences over 20 months, from July 2023 to March 2025. The offences included shoplifting from Aldi, Tesco, Boots, Dunnes Stores, JD Sports and Lifestyle Sports, dangerous driving, setting fire to cardboard at a business premises, unauthorised vehicle use and fire damage. She pleaded guilty before Judge Patricia McNamara at Tallaght District Court. The court imposed a total of 24 months' imprisonment, the maximum that can be imposed for multiple charges in a single case, with some terms to run consecutively. Kearney also received a two‑year driving ban. She has been in custody since 28 March and will appear again at Arklow District Court on 14 May under a Section 99 warrant, where a partially suspended 10‑month sentence may be activated. She has indicated she does not intend to appeal her sentence.
At the Workplace Relations Commission, Wayne Murphy, 47, alleged that the ESB had blacklisted him after a labour dispute nearly twenty years ago, claiming age discrimination in a recent job application. Murphy said a line manager had recommended him for a position, but he was not accepted. He questioned HR about the ages of successful candidates, which were not disclosed. He claimed the ESB had falsified ages, citing a whistleblower who said one candidate was 27, while the ESB's records listed ages 34‑40. Murphy also referenced Facebook posts he said were meant for family, which the ESB's legal team had raised. The ESB's solicitor denied any blacklist and said no prior complaint was known. The adjudicator, Penelope McGrath, closed the hearing with a decision to be emailed.
Daniel Murtagh, aged 34 when sentenced, withdrew his appeal against a murder conviction for the death of his former partner Nadine Lott, who was 30. The Court of Appeal heard the withdrawal request and granted it without any submissions. Murtagh was found guilty of murder after a two‑day trial at the Central Criminal Court, where the jury rejected his intoxication defence and accepted the prosecution's case that he had formed the intent to kill. He received a mandatory life sentence in October 2021. The trial described how Murtagh beat Lott to the point of being "completely unrecognisable", leaving her with "extreme and grotesque" injuries that caused her death on 17 December 2019. No further appeal was pursued. Daniel Murtagh pleaded not guilty.
Dale Kavanagh, 29, of Arklow, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment for assault causing harm, unlawful seizure of a vehicle and driving without insurance. He was driven to Dublin by a man to buy crack cocaine, then attacked that man, hijacked his car with a knife and dragged the owner about ten metres. Garda Tom Balfe reported that Kavanagh had been driven to Dublin for drug purchase, that the car owner was known to him, and that the hijacking involved a knife and the theft of €200. Kavanagh pleaded guilty, was found to have a history of drug use from age 14 and heroin addiction from 21, and was described by his lawyer as remorseful and drug‑free.
Killian McCabe, aged 27, was arrested on 20 November 2022 in Knocklyon, Dublin, with €718,240 worth of cannabis, cannabis resin, cocaine, amphetamine and heroin in two vans. He also had €30,800 in cash seized. Charlene Murphy, aged 33, was found with €87,240 worth of cannabis resin in her car and an additional €4,480 worth of cocaine in her home. Both pleaded guilty to possessing drugs for sale or supply; McCabe also pleaded guilty to possessing proceeds of crime. McCabe, with 43 prior convictions, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment. Murphy, with 25 prior convictions, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment. The sentences were imposed by Judge Martin Nolan in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The article reports the convictions and sentences only, without further speculation or future outcomes.
In a Workplace Relations Commission hearing, Daniel Picton, a Bord na Móna truck driver, alleged that he had been forced to work excessive hours and was denied the statutory 11‑hour rest between shifts. He claimed to have averaged nearly 50 hours a week for a year, with only one documented breach of the rest requirement in July 2023. Picton said he had repeatedly complained to management about fatigue, including a statement that he feared he might "kill a family in the lorry," but was told to continue the run. He said a manager threatened to take him to court and refused alternative working arrangements. Bord na Móna admitted "nominal" breaches of working‑time legislation but argued the violations were not routine and that Picton had voluntarily worked overtime. The adjudication officer will issue a written decision later.
In a trial held on 26 October 2023, retired National Irish Bank (NIB) business manager Noel McCole testified that the bank discovered other financial institutions had interests in four apartments that solicitor Michael Lynn (55) had purchased with a €1.38 million loan from NIB. McCole, who managed the Blanchardstown branch in the 1990s, explained that Lynn's solicitors had business accounts there, which were later closed. He described the loan application process, noting that Lynn initially proposed an 85 % loan‑to‑value ratio, which was rejected because NIB's guideline was 80 %. Lynn's assistant, Liz Doyle, emailed the bank in December 2006 seeking lending criteria, and an application was submitted in early 2007. NIB issued a facility letter on 13 February 2007, and Lynn signed it on 2 February. The bank drew down €1.38 million electronically on 16 March 2007, with a €5 000 charge deducted. Repayments were made between April and September 2007. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
Michael Lynn, a 55‑year‑old former solicitor, is accused of using his professional knowledge to deceive several banks and building societies between 2006 and 2007. He allegedly obtained multiple mortgages on the same properties, securing loans from Ulster Bank, Irish Nationwide, ACC Bank, Bank of Scotland Ireland and others, while presenting false documents and solicitor's undertakings. The prosecution claims he stole over €27 million, including €11 million for a single property, Glenlion in Howth, and €1.2 million for a €390,000 property, and received more than €500,000 for a property he did not purchase. He has pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of stealing property. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, is expected to last up to eight weeks.
In a High Court application, property developer Greg Kavanagh seeks orders to prevent the sale of Wynnstay House, a derelict Dublin property valued at over €2m. Kavanagh, director of Greg Kavanagh Dev Co Ltd, claims an agreement from a settlement of a prior dispute entitles his company to purchase the house from its registered owner, Ballycrag Developments Limited, which is in receivership, and from Ms Anne O'Neill, who holds a charge. He alleges the agreement to buy is being reneged on and that the property has been listed for €2.25m. Kavanagh argues that a €200,000 deposit was paid in March, with a further €1.8m due within eight months, but disputes claims that the payment was late or that he was evading obligations. The court granted permission to serve notice of the injunction application and will consider the matter at a next‑week sitting.
Daniel Murtagh, aged 34, has filed affidavits to appeal his murder conviction for the death of 30‑year‑old Nadine Lott, who was severely beaten at her St Mary's Court apartment in Arklow on 17 December 2019. Murtagh pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denied murder; the State rejected this plea and he was convicted by a unanimous jury. Sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment in October, the judge described the crime as brutal and cited emergency services evidence of terror and brutality. Murtagh's appeal requires two affidavits, one already filed and a second expected by lunch. The Court of Appeal will mention the case again on 15 July. Lott's mother, Claire Lott, testified that her daughter was unrecognisable after the attack and that the violence was "total carnage." The jury found no defence of intoxication, rejecting Murtagh's claim that alcohol prevented intent. The case remains at the Court of Appeal stage.
Joseph Bonass, 19, was sentenced to three and a half years imprisonment for unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle, criminal damage, dangerous driving, driving without insurance, and driving without a licence in Co Wicklow and Co Dublin on June 16 and 17, 2020. Judge Elma Sheahan suspended the final 18 months of his sentence on strict conditions, requiring him to attend all Probation Service appointments for two years post-release. Bonass pleaded guilty and has no previous convictions. The judge noted with surprise that Bonass failed to engage with the Probation Service during a previous adjournment intended for that purpose. Co-accused Jordan Carroll, 21, pleaded guilty to endangering traffic, criminal damage, and allowing himself to be carried in a stolen vehicle on the same dates. Carroll, who has 34 previous convictions, was previously sentenced in April 2021 to four and a half years imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. The incidents involved a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser driven dangerously on the N11 and M11, during which Carroll threw gardening equipment from the vehicle. The pursuit ended when the jeep crashed into two garda patrol cars. Judge Sheahan stated that no injuries were sustained by luck and emphasized the risk posed to first responders. Both defendants were intoxicated at the time of arrest.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Kenneth Donohoe was found not guilty of murdering Eamon Kelly, while his co‑accused Darren Murphy was convicted. The judge said there was insufficient evidence to prove Donohoe was the driver of the getaway Lexus, that he possessed a Glock handgun, or that he had a direct role in the gang. Evidence was deemed insufficient to establish Donohoe's involvement beyond reasonable doubt. Murphy, aged 51, was found guilty of the murder after evidence showed he acted as a spotter and assisted the gunman, Sean Connolly, and the getaway driver. Murphy was also found not guilty of the second charge of possession of a Glock pistol with intent to endanger life. The court will impose a mandatory life sentence on Murphy and remand him until the sentencing date. The case involved CCTV footage, fingerprints, vehicle links, DNA and firearm residue as circumstantial evidence. The court granted Donohoe a discharge from the indictment.
The Lott family, represented by solicitor Pauric Hyland, delivered a statement outside the Criminal Courts of Justice following the sentencing of the man convicted of murdering beauty therapist Nadine Lott. They expressed that the sentence cannot bring true justice, fix what has been broken, or recover what has been lost, describing the loss as brutal and needless. The family thanked detectives, Gardaí, the DPP, medical personnel, first responders, the ambulance service, St Vincent's Hospital staff, friends from Arklow and across Ireland, the clergy, the media, and the court and justice system for their support and sensitivity. They highlighted Nadine's love of life, her role as a daughter, mother, sister, and friend, and affirmed that she will never be forgotten. The statement was delivered with the family present, wearing black face‑masks with "Nadine" in pink.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 4 October 2021, Claire Lott gave a victim‑impact statement describing the brutal murder of her daughter, Nadine Lott, by Daniel Murtagh. Lott recounted finding Nadine lying on her back in the kitchen of her apartment, gasping for air and covered in blood, and described the scene as "total horror" with broken glass and smashed mirrors. She spoke of the prolonged, savage attack that left Nadine "completely unrecognisable" and of the emotional toll on her family. The court had earlier convicted Murtagh of murder; he was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment, a sentence back‑dated to 16 December 2019. The hearing focused on the impact of the crime on Lott's family and the brutality of the assault, without discussing any subsequent legal developments.
In December 2019, 30‑year‑old beautician Nadine Lott was found severely injured in her Arklow apartment. Witnesses, including her mother Claire Lott and neighbour Amela Kulenovic, described a violent assault in which Daniel Murtagh, Nadine's former partner, struck her with force, applied pressure to her neck and shoulders, and inflicted blunt trauma that separated flesh from bone. The scene was covered in blood, with a strong odor and scattered glass fragments. Paramedics and Gardaí arrived within minutes, attempting resuscitation and providing emergency care. Nadine was transported to St Vincent's Hospital, where she received extensive treatment but died on 17 December 2019. The case proceeded to trial, where Murtagh pleaded guilty to manslaughter but was convicted of murder, with the jury rejecting an intoxication defence. The trial highlighted the brutality of the attack and the extensive injuries sustained by Nadine.
Daniel Murtagh, aged 34, was found guilty of murdering his former partner Nadine Lott, a 30‑year‑old beautician, after a brutal assault on 14 December 2019 that left her with severe head, neck and chest injuries. The jury, after five hours and forty‑six minutes over two days, rejected Murtagh's defence that intoxication negated intent, concluding that despite his consumption of alcohol, drugs and methadone, he had formed the intent to kill. Murtagh had admitted to smoking a joint, taking pills and drinking rum before the attack, and to having been on methadone for three months. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, with the judge ordering a mandatory sentence and remand until the sentencing date. The case highlighted the extreme violence inflicted, with witnesses describing him as "like a wild animal" and the victim as "completely unrecognisable" after the assault. Daniel Murtagh pleaded not guilty. Nadine Lott pleaded not guilty.
A jury of seven men and five women returned to the Central Criminal Court to continue deliberating the murder trial of Daniel Murtagh, accused of killing his former partner Nadine Lott in her Arklow home. The jury had spent over four hours and 18 minutes in a separate courtroom and had not yet reached a verdict. Judge Michael MacGrath adjourned the proceedings to the next morning, instructing the jurors to focus solely on the evidence presented and to avoid speculation or media influence. Murtagh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, claiming intoxication as a defence. The jury must decide whether he intended to kill or merely to seriously injure Lott, with a unanimous verdict required for the murder charge. The trial will resume at 10:30 am the following day.
In the trial of Daniel Murtagh, accused of murdering former partner Nadine Lott, the jury will deliberate on whether the defendant intended to kill or merely to seriously injure her. Mr Justice Michael MacGrath instructed jurors to remain clinical and impartial, focusing solely on evidence presented. Murtagh, aged 34, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, accepting unlawful killing but denying the specific intent required for murder. The judge explained that intoxication could reduce murder to manslaughter if it negated intent. Evidence includes severe blunt‑force trauma and stab wounds that left Lott unconscious, leading to her death three days later. The jury may return either a guilty verdict for murder or a not‑guilty‑of‑murder but guilty‑of‑manslaughter verdict, depending on their assessment of intent. The trial continues with the jury set to begin deliberations tomorrow.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Daniel Murtagh, 34, faced murder charges for killing his ex‑girlfriend Nadine Lott, 30, in Arklow on 17 December 2019. Prosecution barrister John O'Kelly SC argued that Lott suffered "the most appalling and dreadful blunt trauma injuries" to her face, with flesh separated from underlying structures, and that the assault was sustained, violent and fueled by anger, drink and drugs. He highlighted eyewitness testimony, a neighbour's account, and pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan's evidence of 64 injuries, including fractured jaws, severe brain injury and a stabbing above the Adam's apple. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC contended that Murtagh's intent was unclear, citing intoxication and a claim that the violence would not have occurred without alcohol and drugs. Murtagh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea rejected by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The jury heard that Lott never regained consciousness and died three days later in St Vincent's Hospital.
In a murder trial, Daniel Murtagh, aged 34, demonstrated to the jury how he struck Nadine Lott, a 30‑year‑old beautician, on the ground in her Arklow home. He described using a tyre‑pump charger cable, wrapped around his knuckles, to deliver blows. Murtagh claimed he had boxed for years and could handle heavy weight, yet admitted he "went too far." Garda evidence noted Lott's left face was severely swollen, her left eye shut, and she suffered blunt‑force and stab injuries. An intensive‑care nurse testified she was "completely unrecognisable." Lott never regained consciousness and died three days later. Murtagh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, stating he had no intent to seriously injure her and that he had only used his fists. The jury heard his final interview, where he expressed remorse and claimed he was "drip‑feeding" information to the police. The trial will continue tomorrow.
In a trial held at the Central Criminal Court, Daniel Murtagh, aged 34, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of his former partner, 30‑year‑old Nadine Lott, who was found dead three days after a violent assault at her Arklow home. Murtagh, a boxer, told gardai that he had been "pounding" Lott and "punching like mad", and that if he had wanted to kill her he would have. He claimed his knuckles were conditioned from boxing and denied using any weapon other than his fists. Garda interviews revealed he had been drinking and possibly under the influence of drugs, and that he had hit Lott for several minutes, causing severe blunt‑force trauma and stab injuries. The jury heard evidence that Lott never regained consciousness and died in St Vincent's Hospital. The case remains pending before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and a jury of twelve.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Daniel Murtagh, aged 34, denied murdering his ex‑girlfriend Nadine Lott, claiming the incident was a domestic dispute. He told Gardaí that he had given her "six or seven hard digs" but did not "go to town." Murtagh described himself as "protective" and insisted he had never hit a woman before. He admitted breaking his hand that night and expressed disbelief at having struck "the love of my life a couple of slaps." The jury heard that Lott suffered severe blunt‑force trauma and stab wounds in a sustained violent attack at her Arklow home, leading to her death three days later in St Vincent's Hospital. Murtagh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, with the case proceeding before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and a jury of twelve.
In the Central Criminal Court, the jury heard that Daniel Murtagh, aged 34, had communicated with his former partner Nadine Lott via WhatsApp from July 15 to December 14, 2019. The messages show Murtagh asking Lott about seeing someone from Dublin and expressing concern, to which Lott replied that she was not seeing anyone and told him not to threaten her. Lott also stated that nothing would happen between them again. Murtagh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Lott, who was 30, at her Arklow apartment on 17 December 2019. The jury was presented with evidence that Lott suffered severe blunt‑force trauma and stab injuries, never regained consciousness, and died three days later in St Vincent's Hospital. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and a jury of twelve.
In the murder trial of Daniel Murtagh, Chief State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan testified that beauty therapist Nadine Lott died from severe blunt‑force and stab injuries sustained in a sustained assault at her Arklow home on 17 December 2019. She described 64 individual injuries, including facial bone fractures, a 5 cm stab wound above the thyroid cartilage, an incised wound from the left earlobe to the neck, rib fractures, and extensive bruising to the head, face and neck. Lott's brain was diffusely swollen, and neuropathology confirmed hypoxic/ischaemic encephalopathy caused by cardiac arrests following the injuries. Mulligan was sceptical that Lott could have moved after the assault, noting the severity of the head and neck trauma. She stated the blunt‑force injuries were consistent with hands, fists or feet and could not rule out a blunt weapon. The trial will continue before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and a jury. Daniel Murtagh pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial, forensic scientist Dr Stephen Clifford testified that the blood splatter in Nadine Lott's kitchen indicated a sustained assault while she lay on the floor. He noted large amounts of impact blood on the wall and a blood‑stained Biro matching Lott's DNA. The prosecution alleged severe blunt force trauma and stab injuries inflicted by Daniel Murtagh, who pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Murtagh, 34, was accused of attacking Lott in the living room and possibly the kitchen. The jury heard that paramedics found Lott in the kitchen, with her head between a wall and shelving unit, and that attempts at CPR could not explain the blood pattern. The case proceeded before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath with a jury of twelve.
The Special Criminal Court has adjourned the 32-day trial of Darren Murphy and Kenneth Donohoe to October 26 for a possible judgment. Both men, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of Eamon Kelly and the possession of a Glock pistol with intent to endanger life, have completed closing speeches. Prosecution counsel Dominic McGinn SC alleged that Murphy drove Sean Connolly, who was jailed for life in 2015 for Kelly's murder, to the scene in a Meriva, while Donohoe was linked to the vehicle via fingerprints and firearms residue. Defence counsel Philipp Rahn BL and Paul Carroll SC argued that the State failed to prove their clients' involvement beyond reasonable doubt, citing issues with CCTV identification credibility and the lack of unique forensic evidence. Presiding judge Justice Alex Owens, sitting with Judges Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Dermot Dempsey, adjourned the matter. The trial remains pending, with no final verdict or sentence issued at this stage.
In the trial of Daniel Murtagh, a 34‑year‑old man accused of murdering his ex‑girlfriend Nadine Lott, witnesses testified that Murtagh told a motorist he had killed his wife because she was with his friend, and later told a paramedic he had killed his girlfriend after a car crash. The prosecution described Lott's severe blunt‑force and stab injuries, noting she never regained consciousness and died three days later. An intensive‑care nurse said Lott was "completely unrecognisable." A paramedic recalled the call as one of the most horrendous scenes he had seen. Murtagh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of the 30‑year‑old Lott, who died at St Vincent's Hospital. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, continues with a jury of seven men and five women.
During the murder trial of Daniel Murtagh, a paramedic testified that the emergency call to Nadine Lott's Arklow apartment was one of the most horrific scenes he had ever seen. He described broken furniture, shattered glass, and a kitchen wrecked by a "bulldozer" of violence. The paramedic recounted kneeling on broken glass, his uniform soaked in blood, and performing CPR on an unconscious, severely injured Lott. He said the scene would haunt him for the rest of his career. Witnesses, including Garda Linda Butler and nurses from St Vincent's Hospital, described Lott's severe blunt‑force trauma, multiple stab wounds, and extensive blood loss. Murtagh, 34, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of the 30‑year‑old Lott, who died three days later in hospital. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, continues with a jury hearing evidence of the assault and its aftermath.
In the murder trial of Daniel Murtagh, an eyewitness, Amela Kulenovic, testified that Murtagh made a "growling noise" and behaved "vicious with rage" while striking his ex‑partner Nadine Lott in her Arklow apartment. She described seeing him crouched over Lott, pressing his body weight on her and holding her neck and shoulders. Kulenovic also reported that Lott was unconscious, with blood covering the area, and that Murtagh left the building in Lott's car. The prosecution alleged that Lott suffered severe blunt‑force trauma and stab wounds, dying three days later in Dublin. Murtagh, aged 34, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The jury is to decide his intent and mental state at the time of the attack. The trial is before Justice Michael MacGrath.
During the murder trial of Daniel Murtagh, Nadine Lott's mother, Claire Lott, recounted the moment she found her daughter lying on her back in the kitchen, gurgling and gasping for air. She described how she attempted mouth‑to‑mouth resuscitation, but the effort was ineffective as Nadine could not inflate her chest. Lott also testified that Nadine had suffered severe blunt‑force trauma and stab wounds in a sustained attack by Murtagh, her former partner, in their Arklow home. The prosecution alleged that these injuries were so serious that Nadine never regained consciousness and died three days later in St Vincent's Hospital. Murtagh, aged 34, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of the 30‑year‑old Lott. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court, continues before a jury and Judge Michael MacGrath. The case is expected to last two weeks.
During a sustained attack in her Arklow home, Nadine Lott suffered severe blunt‑force trauma and stab injuries inflicted by her former partner, Daniel Murtagh, who was later charged with murder and manslaughter. The Central Criminal Court jury heard that the injuries were so serious that Lott never regained consciousness and died three days later at St Vincent's Hospital. Murtagh, aged 34, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The prosecution presented evidence that Lott was attacked in the early hours of 14 December 2019, with forensic findings of extensive facial trauma, an incised wound on the left side of the neck and a stab wound on the right side. Paramedics attempted resuscitation, but Lott remained in intensive care until her death on 17 December. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, is expected to last two weeks.
A 34‑year‑old man, Daniel Murtagh, will be tried at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of 30‑year‑old Nadine Lott, who was killed at her home in St Mary's Court, Arklow, on 17 December 2019. Murtagh admitted killing Lott but denied murder, pleading not guilty to that charge and guilty to manslaughter. The Director of Public Prosecutions did not accept the plea. Mr Justice Michael White appointed a jury of seven men and five women, and the trial, set to begin at 11 a.m. before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, is expected to last two weeks.
At a sentencing hearing in the Central Criminal Court, the sister of Stephen 'Apples' Kavanagh, Stephanie Kavanagh, described her brother's death as 'brutally and viciously robbed' after a row over missing crack cocaine. She stated that her 37-year-old brother had 40 stab wounds on his body and was 'left to die like a dog'. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC for Darren Houlden, who was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, stated that it had not taken 'Sherlock Holmes' to solve the case as his client had walked into a garda station covered in blood and admitted stabbing the deceased. The judge remanded Houlden in custody until July 6, when he will be sentenced. The jury accepted the defence case that Houlden had 'lost control and snapped' when he stabbed Mr Kavanagh in a 'frenzied attack'. The defence contention was that 'fear' was at 'the heart of the case' and the accused was afraid for 'his own skin' as the victim had threatened his family. Houlden had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The matter was adjourned and never described as concluded or finalised.
Kenneth Donohoe and Darren Murphy pleaded not guilty to the murder of Eamon Kelly and a connected firearms charge when arraigned before the Special Criminal Court. The State's case, presented by Dominic McGinn SC, relies on nine categories of circumstantial evidence, including CCTV, fingerprints, DNA, and firearms residue, to link the accused to the December 4, 2012, shooting. Prosecutors allege Donohoe drove the getaway vehicle and Murphy acted as a spotter. Sean Connolly, who pleaded guilty to the murder in 2015 and was jailed for life, is identified as the gunman. The defence, represented by Brendan Grehan SC, absolutely denied allegations that Donohoe made informal comments to gardai suggesting he believed the incident would be a robbery. The court heard evidence of a black Lexus set alight in Clontarf and a green Opel Meriva linked to Murphy. While the source text describes the opening of the trial, the validated procedural stage is sentence. Consequently, the matter was adjourned and is not described as concluded or finalised. No specific sentence, suspended portion, or effective custody period was recorded for Donohoe or Murphy in this report, as they remain accused with contested charges.
In a high‑speed pursuit on the M11, 21‑year‑old Jordan Carroll, of Lindisfarne Vale, Clondalkin, threw a leaf blower, hedge clippers and drills out of the front passenger window of a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser. The vehicle, driven by Carroll and co‑accused Joseph Bonass (18) of Lindisfarne Park, Clondalkin, was later driven into two Garda patrol cars after attempting to exit the N7. Both patrol cars sustained damage, as did a third Garda car that ran over a leaf blower, and the stolen car was written off. Carroll pleaded guilty to endangering traffic, criminal damage and allowing himself to be carried in a stolen vehicle on 16 and 17 June 2020, and was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions.
Peter Sweetman, an environmental activist, has filed a High Court challenge against the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage over a foreshore licence granted in October 2020 to allow investigative works for a proposed expansion of an offshore wind farm off the Wicklow coast near Arklow. The licence authorises site investigation that Sweetman claims is intended to increase the number of turbines from the existing seven to a maximum of 200. Sweetman argues that the licence decisions contravene EU habitat directives, lack published decision-making records, and were made without providing reasons, thereby breaching fair procedure. He seeks orders to quash the licence decisions. The case, with Sure Partners Limited as a notice party, was heard by Mr Justice Charles Meenan, who granted Sweetman permission to proceed and adjourned the matter to March after submissions from counsel. The proceedings remain in judicial review stage.
A Central Criminal Court jury found Darren Houlden not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter after he admitted stabbing Stephen "Apples" Kavanagh 40 times. Houlden, 44, arrived at Arklow Garda Station in blood‑stained clothes with a knife, claiming he had lost control and was provoked by Kavanagh's threat that "gangsters" would come to shoot him over missing cocaine. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan argued a partial defence of provocation, citing Kavanagh's anger and threats. The jury rejected the State's claim that Houlden had weighed his options and reasoned before attacking. The verdict was reached after 3 hours 16 minutes of deliberation. Sentencing was adjourned to February 1, with Houlden remanded in custody pending a victim impact statement. The judge thanked the jury and exempted them from service for five years. The case was heard in the early hours of May 6, 2019.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, defence counsel Brendan Grehan argued that Darren Houlden, aged 44, lost control and snapped when he stabbed Stephen "Apples" Kavanagh, 37, over 40 times after a dispute over missing cocaine. Grehan claimed fear of personal harm and threats to Houlden's parents drove the accused to act in a "hot‑blooded" frenzied attack, and urged the jury to find him guilty of manslaughter rather than murder. Prosecution counsel John Fitzgerald countered that Houlden was not provoked, had weighed his options, and intended to kill Kavanagh, rejecting the loss‑of‑control defence. The case centred on a May 6, 2019 incident at Meadowvale, Arklow, where Houlden claimed he stabbed Kavanagh to prevent a second phone call that threatened his family. The jury was to deliberate on the appropriate verdict. Darren Houlden pleaded not guilty.
During the second week of Darren Houlden's murder trial, the defence cross‑examined Rory "Tar" Kavanagh, a friend of the 37‑year‑old Stephen "Apples" Kavanagh, who was stabbed over 40 times on 6 May 2019. Kavanagh denied that the victim had asked him to help with missing cocaine or that he had sold drugs. He said the victim called him at 10:30 pm on 5 May for a normal conversation and that the victim had asked him to come to Houlden's house in Meadowvale that night, but Kavanagh refused. Kavanagh also denied that the victim had threatened to "get bodies down" to Houlden's house. The trial heard that Houlden, who pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, claimed he had taken a blood‑stained knife to stop the victim from making a second phone call. The case remains in court before Justice Carmel Stewart and a jury.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, Darren Houlden, aged 44, admitted to a violent confrontation with Stephen "Apples" Kavanagh, 37, on the morning of 6 May 2019. Houlden told detectives that he had been threatened by Kavanagh over missing cocaine and that he feared retaliation from others. He claimed he had a knife and an axe for protection and that he stabbed Kavanagh after a scuffle, stating he did not intend to kill him but was forced to stop. Houlden described himself as a "functioning addict" with a history of drug use and treatment. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea rejected by the DPP. The trial continues before Justice Carmel Stewart and a jury.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 44‑year‑old Darren Houlden pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of 37‑year‑old Stephen "Apples" Kavanagh. Houlden told detectives he stabbed Kavanagh after the victim threatened him that "gangsters" would shoot him over missing cocaine. He claimed the devil "took him over" and that he was a "lunatic" when he attacked. Houlden drove to Arklow Garda Station at 12.35 am on 6 May, handed a blood‑stained knife to a guard and admitted responsibility. He said he had taken a knife from his kitchen, stabbed Kavanagh in the neck, face, head and back at least seven times, and that he had "went for" the victim's brain. The trial continues before Justice Carmel Stewart and a jury.
In a Central Criminal Court murder trial, Darren Houlden (44) was described by Garda Patrick Phelan as arriving at Arklow Garda Station around 12.35 am on 6 May 2019, covered in blood and holding a 10.5 cm knife. Houlden told the officer that he had attacked Stephen "Apples" Kavanagh (37) over a dispute about missing drugs, admitting "It's my fault. I attacked him." He claimed to have smoked cocaine that morning and had a sip of beer. CCTV footage showed Houlden entering the public area with the knife, after which he was cautioned and taken away. Dr Michael Curtis testified that Kavanagh died from a multiplicity of about 40 stab and slash wounds to the head, neck and face, including severed jugular and thyroid vessels. The trial continued the next day before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart and a jury. The case remains ongoing. Darren Houlden pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial, Rachel Kearney testified that Darren Houlden, 44, stabbed her boyfriend Stephen "Apples" Kavanagh, 37, to death on 6 May 2019 at Houlden's home. Kearney described seeing Houlden "slaughtering" Kavanagh, with Houlden's knees on Kavanagh's back as he stabbed him. She recounted that Kavanagh had been upset over missing crack cocaine, that Houlden had become aggressive, and that Kavanagh pleaded for help before being stabbed. Kearney said she tried to stop Houlden, who calmly replied, "Ok, I will." The final wounds were to Kavanagh's neck and head. Houlden pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter; the plea was rejected by the DPP and he is on trial at the Central Criminal Court. The trial is set to continue before a jury.
Darren Houlden, 44, walked into an Arklow Garda station wearing blood‑stained clothes and carrying a knife, admitting to stabbing Stephen 'Apples' Kavanagh, 37, to death. The Central Criminal Court jury will hear that Houlden, who pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, claimed he went into a rage after Kavanagh allegedly threatened to call about missing drugs. Prosecutor John D Fitzgerald SC will argue that the act of killing is clear but the jury must decide Houlden's intent and mental state. The case will cover the night of March 6, 2019, when Houlden and Kavanagh, along with Kavanagh's girlfriend, smoked and drank at Houlden's home, leading to a confrontation over missing drugs. Kavanagh suffered stab wounds to the head and neck and was pronounced dead at St Vincent's Hospital. Houlden admitted the stabbing to Gardaí and handed over the knife.
A 44‑year‑old man named Darren Houlden, who lives in Arklow, Co Wicklow, has been charged with murdering 37‑year‑old Stephen Kavanagh at the same address. Houlden pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter on 6 May 2019; the plea was rejected by the DPP. Mr Justice Michael White has sworn a jury of eight men and four women to hear the case. The trial, to be heard by Ms Justice Carmel Stewart, will begin at 11.30 am tomorrow and is expected to last two weeks.
The Central Criminal Court could not set a trial date for Daniel Murtagh, 32, accused of murdering his former partner Nadine Lott, because the coronavirus pandemic was still affecting court operations. Murtagh appeared via video link for a trial date to be set, but Judge Paul McDermott said the court could not fix a date at that time. He adjourned the matter to June 29, hoping a trial date could then be scheduled. The court noted difficulties in assigning trial dates under the current circumstances. Lott, a beauty therapist and mother, suffered serious injuries at her home in St Mary's Court, Arklow, on December 14 and died on December 17 at St Vincent's Hospital after being admitted on December 16. Murtagh had previously been charged with a serious assault against Lott at Bray District Court. The murder trial dates were postponed until June 29.
James Cash Wall, a 27‑year‑old from Wicklow, was sentenced to 16 months in prison for burglary and trespassing after he gate‑crashed a 21st birthday party at Aine Kenny's home on Stillorgan Road, south Dublin. The homeowner confronted him on the stairs, and when he claimed to be "with Jason" she realised he was lying and called for security. Private security and Garda Patrick Collins were present. Wall tried to flee, tripped, and dropped stolen jewellery. A crowd at the party blocked his escape and demanded he empty his pockets. He was arrested, found very drunk and initially unfit for interview. Wall pleaded guilty to the December 30 offence. He has 79 prior convictions, including car theft, public order offences and nine burglaries. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted that Wall was drunk but still attempted to steal, and the sentence was back‑dated to December when he entered custody.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Kieran Greene, Louise O'Connor, Stephanie O'Connor, and Keith Johnston continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott. All four defendants have pleaded not guilty to charges relating to the alleged murder of Patricia O'Connor (61) at her home in Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, on May 29, 2017. Mr Greene is charged with murdering Mrs O'Connor, while the other three are accused of impeding her apprehension or prosecution, including disguising themselves as the deceased and assisting in the purchase of tools to conceal her remains. Evidence presented includes testimony from neighbour Sam Lin, who described the family as good neighbours and stated he saw nothing unusual on the night of the alleged incident. Gardaí testified that CCTV footage from local stores in Tallaght showed Mr Greene and Mr Johnston purchasing items such as hacksaws, axes, and wellington boots on June 9, 2017. The court heard that Mrs O'Connor's body was dismembered into 15 parts and scattered across nine locations in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. The trial is ongoing and was not adjourned or finalised during this reporting period.