In the trial of Jonathan Coelho, 29, and Federico Carvalho, 31, the jury heard closing speeches after the defendants were charged with assault causing harm to Garda Conor Murray. The incident occurred on 31 July 2019 when the car, driven by Coelho, reversed at speed with Garda Murray hanging out of the passenger window. Coelho pleaded guilty to dangerous driving charges, admitting he drove at speed through red lights and in the wrong direction, but denied the endangerment charge. Carvalho denied striking the Garda. Garda Murray described being pulled half‑inside the vehicle, the driver kicking him repeatedly, and being thrown from the car after a final kick. The prosecution argued that CCTV and witness testimony proved the defendants' guilt, while the defence contended that the Garda's actions and the defendants' intentions were misrepresented. The jury will be instructed by Judge Melanie Greally on Monday.
During the third day of the trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Jonathan Coelho (29) and Federico Carvalho (31) were heard by a jury about an incident on 31 July 2019 in which Garda Conor Murray was dragged by a car that reversed at speed. Coelho told the court that he had driven off because he had no insurance, claiming he had never had trouble with police before and that his only mistake was not having insurance. He denied punching or kicking the Garda and said he would never attack police. He also said the accelerator was stuck after the crash, causing the car to reverse, and that he was not pressing it. Carvalho, a passenger, said he repeatedly urged the driver to stop and that he was terrified. He denied hitting the Garda and said he would never hurt anyone. Jonathan Coelho pleaded not guilty. Federico Carvalho pleaded not guilty.
On 31 July 2019, Jonathan Coelho, 29, drove a car at speed through red lights in Dublin, crashing into a lamp post. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving charges. Coelho and Federico Carvalho, 31, are accused of assaulting Garda Conor Murray, who was dragged into the moving vehicle's passenger side window. Murray claims he was pulled in, struggled, and was kicked repeatedly, including a final kick to his face, before being thrown out. He also alleges the driver kicked him with his left foot while the car was moving, a claim his counsel deems mechanically impossible. Murray disputes this, stating the car was moving at speed and that he was struck multiple times. The trial is ongoing before Judge Melanie Greally and a jury.
During a trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Garda Conor Murray recounted an incident on 31 July 2019 in which he was attacked and dragged by a reversing car. He claimed he had been holding the handbrake lever while his legs dangled from the passenger window. After the vehicle, driven by Jonathan Coelho (29) and with Federico Carvalho (31) as passenger, crashed into a lamp post following a high‑speed chase, Murray said he was pulled into the car as the driver started it again. He described being struck by punches and kicks, the passenger kneeling on him, and both men shouting in a foreign language and repeatedly saying "fuck you." Murray said he struggled to escape, was thrown from the car, and was dragged a short distance before the vehicle stopped. He sustained serious injuries, was taken to hospital, and the case remains before Judge Melanie Greally and a jury. The unnamed accused pleaded guilty.
In a High Court hearing, a 55‑year‑old convicted child rapist told Judge Tony Hunt that publishing his identity would endanger him. He had pleaded guilty in 2015 to repeated rape and sexual assault of his wife's two sons, aged under ten, over a decade from 1993. In March 2016, Judge Hunt sentenced him to 21 years' imprisonment, suspending the final five years. The victims had requested to waive their statutory anonymity so the defendant could be named publicly, but Judge Hunt stayed the waiver because related cases involving the same victims and two other accused were pending in Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court. He noted that publicity of the 2015 convictions would hinder jury selection for those trials. The judge assured the DPP that anonymity could be lifted after the Wicklow trials concluded. The defendant, who has since changed legal representation, expressed fear that a waiver would put him in danger and is currently in therapy.
Detective Garda Aidan Bracken, a 20-year veteran with five years of absence due to psychiatric injuries, has initiated a High Court action to prevent his summary dismissal from An Garda Siochana. The dismissal was proposed following his guilty plea in 2019 to a charge of making a false report concerning threats against himself, his family, and colleagues. The court heard that the detective had been suffering from serious mental health issues, including PTSD and paranoia, due to threats from criminal gang members. The Circuit Court dismissed the charges under the Probation Act, citing extenuating circumstances. However, the Garda Commissioner based the dismissal on the detective's 'conviction,' despite no formal conviction being recorded. Counsel argued that the commissioner's decision was premature and lacked sufficient grounds, while the commissioner claimed the action was taken before the process under Garda regulations was completed. Detective Bracken seeks orders to prevent his dismissal, require the commissioner to provide adequate reasons, and declare constitutional rights violations.
The long‑running legal dispute between Berlin‑based W2 Filmproduktion Vertriebs GmbH and Irish film producers Morgan O'Sullivan and James Flynn over Octagon Films Ltd has been settled. W2 alleged that €40m‑€50m had been diverted from Octagon to the producers or entities they control. The defendants, directors of Octagon, denied the claims. The case, first heard in 2016, was brought before Ms Justice Teresa Pilkington, who was informed that the parties had reached a settlement through mediation. Under the confidential agreement, the producers will purchase W2's shares in Octagon by specified dates, retain control of the company, and the proceedings will be struck out on consent. No further settlement details were disclosed in court. The resolution ended a complex matter that had been before the courts for several years.
Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced four individuals at the Central Criminal Court for their roles in the murder and concealment of Patricia O'Connor. Augustine 'Gus' O'Connor, who pleaded guilty to reporting his wife as missing while knowing she was dead, was sentenced to 18 months in prison. The judge described his actions as a betrayal of his wife and son. Louise O'Connor, found guilty of acquiescing in her daughter Stephanie disguising herself as the deceased to conceal the murder, received a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence. Stephanie O'Connor, found guilty of disguising herself as her grandmother, was jailed for one-and-a-half years. Keith Johnston, found guilty of assisting Kieran Greene in purchasing implements used to conceal the remains, was sentenced to three years. Mr Justice McDermott noted that Greene, who was separately sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder, had changed his account of the killing. The judge emphasized that the defendants' efforts to conceal the crime were elaborate and callous, noting that no attempt was made to seek emergency assistance. The sentences reflect the distinct culpability of each defendant, with the judge highlighting Louise O'Connor's dominant role in the household and Keith Johnston's intent to ensure the remains were never found.
The family of Patricia O'Connor, described as a kind and loving grandmother, gathered outside the Criminal Courts of Justice on 26 June 2020 to react to the sentencing of those involved in her murder and its cover‑up. Her son Richard O'Connor thanked the Gardaí, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the jury, the defence and all who secured guilty verdicts. He also thanked those who found his mother's remains in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains and reported them. Richard said his mother had many years left to live, cruelly taken from her, and that the sentences given were not enough, but no length of time could fully compensate for the crimes. He asked for privacy as the family seeks to heal. His father Augustine 'Gus' O'Connor (76), sister Louise O'Connor (41) and niece Stephanie O'Connor (22) were each jailed for their part in the cover‑up.
Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced three individuals for their roles in covering up the murder of Patricia O'Connor. The court found Stephanie O'Connor (22) guilty of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Kieran Greene. She was sentenced to two years in prison, with the final six months suspended. Her mother, Louise O'Connor (41), was also found guilty of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Greene and sentenced to three years in prison, with the final six months suspended. Family friend Keith Johnston (43) of Tallaght, Dublin 24, was found guilty of the same charge and sentenced to three years in prison. The judge described the victim as a person whose life and future were ended by Kieran Greene. Earlier this week, Kieran Greene (35) was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering the retired grandmother in her Rathfarnham home on May 29, 2017. Additionally, the deceased's husband, Augustine 'Gus' O'Connor, was sentenced to 18 months for reporting his wife as a missing person when he knew she was already dead. The sentences for the three cover-up participants total seven years.
In a Central Criminal Court sentencing hearing on 22 June 2020, Kieran Greene was given a mandatory life sentence for the murder of 61‑year‑old Patricia O'Connor, who was bludgeoned to death with a hurley in her Rathfarnham home on 29 May 2017. The sentence was back‑dated to the date of her death. Four other defendants – Louise O'Connor (41), Stephanie O'Connor (22), Keith Johnston (43) and Augustine 'Gus' O'Connor (76) – were remanded on continuing bail pending their own sentencing. The court heard victim impact statements from Patricia's son Richard and sister Collette Barry, who expressed disbelief at the brutality of the murder and the alleged cover‑up by family members. The hearing also included evidence that Patricia's body was dismembered into 15 parts found at nine sites across the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. Louise O'Connor pleaded guilty and was found guilty. Gus' O'Connor pleaded guilty. Kieran Greene pleaded not guilty and was found guilty.
In a High Court case on 22 June 2020, John Kieran Brennan of Clonmulen, Bunclody, Co. Carlow alleged that former developer Patrick Fitzpatrick was employing the debt‑collection firm run by Martin 'The Viper' Foley to pursue a disputed debt of over €100,000. Brennan, who denies owing any money, secured a temporary injunction after men associated with Foley's firm entered his home, threatened him and his family, and demanded payment. The injunction, granted by Mr Justice Michael Twomey, prohibits Fitzpatrick, his agents or any of his servants from intimidating, threatening, watching or besetting Brennan and his family. Brennan's counsel highlighted that Fitzpatrick had purchased 400,000 shares in Moralltach Global Plc for €100,000, of which Brennan is a director, and that Fitzpatrick has not taken any court action against Brennan regarding the alleged debt. The injunction is set to be reviewed later in the week. The case remains at the interim injunction stage.
In a case heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, William Gregory, aged 35, was sentenced to two years in prison for strangling his then‑partner on 22 January 2017. Gregory, who had been heavily intoxicated that day, became jealous after receiving a text message from another man. He pulled the woman by her hair, pinned her to the floor and wrapped an electric cord from a hair curler around her neck, tightening it until she lost consciousness. During the assault he threatened to kill her and spoke of her "last words" and "leaving in a body bag". The victim suffered bruising to her neck, chest and shoulder, significant weight loss and serious depression. Judge Melanie Greally noted Gregory's significant mental health issues stemming from a brain injury sustained in 2012, an organic personality disorder diagnosed in 2019, and his extreme low mental health in March 2019. William Gregory pleaded guilty.
In a 2020 case, a 29‑year‑old man from County Kildare was found guilty of raping two boys. He used his membership in a voluntary paramedic organisation to gain the boys' trust and drugged them with Penthrox, a pain‑relief drug normally used by medical professionals. In the first incident, a 15‑year‑old was forced to inhale the drug through an oxygen mask and was then orally raped. In the second, the man raped an unconscious child while another man recorded the assault on a mobile phone. The defendant pleaded guilty to oral rape, sexual assault, sexual exploitation and aiding the production of child pornography. He was sentenced to eleven years' imprisonment, with eighteen months suspended, and was ordered to abstain from any work involving children and to attend probation treatment programmes.
A 29‑year‑old former voluntary paramedic was found guilty of orally raping a 15‑year‑old boy and sexually assaulting another child after drugging them with Penthrox, a powerful pain‑relief agent. In the first incident, the accused used an oxygen mask to force the boy to inhale the drug, then sexually assaulted him. In the second, the boy was unconscious while the accused orally raped him and another man recorded the act on a mobile phone. The defendant pleaded guilty to oral rape, sexual exploitation, aiding and abetting child pornography, sexual assault and theft of Penthrox and a carbon dioxide chamber. He was suspended from the paramedic organisation and a nursing course. The court heard that the whistle device had been altered to increase potency, and that the defendant had searched online for ways to incapacitate victims. The case was adjourned to Wednesday for sentencing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Shane Cooney, aged 29, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for a series of burglaries that included the Sinn Fein constituency office of TD Aengus O Snodaigh and Senator Maire Devine on 20 March 2018. Cooney and an accomplice stole laptops, mobile phones and other items from the office. He also pleaded guilty to burglaries at Insomnia coffee shop and Tesco Express on South Circular Road on 5 April 2018, and at Puro clothing store on Wicklow Street on 16 December 2018, where he stole nearly €4,000 in cash. The court noted he had 93 prior convictions, had caused damage to the front doors of Tesco and Insomnia, and had a history of drug addiction. Judge Patricia Ryan considered mitigating factors such as early guilty pleas and rehabilitation efforts, and reactivated an 18‑month suspended sentence from a previous aggravated burglary, incorporating it into the three‑year term.
Lawrence Mubango, 31, was already serving a 10‑year prison term for a 2018 knife attack that left a victim severely injured. In 2017 he pleaded guilty to using a stolen credit‑card machine at Mary's Pub in Dublin. The court heard that on the day of the offence he had the machine for less than ten minutes, activated the refund function and entered €7,500, but the transaction was cancelled before any money was transferred, so the pub suffered no loss. CCTV captured him taking the machine from behind the bar. Judge Martin Nolan described the attempt to steal €7,500 as "absolutely asinine" and, considering it a minor matter compared with the earlier violent offence, sentenced Mubango to three months' imprisonment, to run consecutively with his existing sentence. The court noted that without his current sentence the penalty would have been considerably longer.
In 2019 a Central Criminal Court jury convicted a 49‑year‑old Wicklow man of repeated sexual attacks on a nine‑year‑old neighbour. He pleaded not guilty to four counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault between 1987 and 1989. Mr Justice Michael White sentenced him to seven years in May 2019 and, during the trial, imposed an order preventing the publication of the identities of both parties. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) later sought to lift the order after the victim wished to waive her anonymity so the rapist could be named. The DPP's application was rejected in November 2019 because the court had no mandate to alter the trial‑time order. The DPP is now appealing that judgment, and the case is scheduled for hearing before the Court of Appeal.
Damien Ionut, 34, was sentenced to three years in prison for a series of ATM attacks across eight European cities, including Dublin, Louth, Kildare, Wicklow, Meath, Westmeath, and Dublin. He and a group used a "transaction reversal fraud" technique, first withdrawing a small amount with a legitimate chip‑and‑pin card, then inserting a clip into the cash drawer to block the release of a larger withdrawal. They swapped the card for a dummy, causing the machine to think the customer had walked away, and then used a chisel to break into the drawer and take the cash. The attacks caused about €12,881 in damage and resulted in €5,980 in stolen cash. Ionut had 30 prior convictions for similar offences and was identified on CCTV footage. The court back‑dated the sentence to November 5, 2019. The case highlighted the vulnerability of ATMs to this type of fraud.
The High Court has adjourned proceedings concerning AWD Waste Solutions Ltd to allow parties to continue advanced settlement discussions. Oxigen Environmental, the applicant, brought the matter under the Companies Act, alleging concerns over the conduct of the company's affairs. Oxigen claims that books and records were removed or destroyed, monies may be missing, and cash payments were made improperly. It further alleges that septic tank jobs invoiced at €250 were charged at one cent, leaving cash unaccounted for, and that company monies were used for personal expenses. Oxigen also claims AWD is insolvent with debts exceeding €490,000 and sought the appointment of a provisional liquidator. The respondents, Shane Byrne and his brother William, deny all wrongdoing, stating the actions are intended to force them to sell their 49% shareholding and damage their reputations. They assert the company is solvent. The brothers indicated they were prepared to offer €1.5m for Oxigen's 51% stake. Additionally, Oxigen had withdrawn the waste permit held by AWD following a €500 fine for a breach of conditions, a move the brothers described as an attempt to strangle the business. Following talks, the permit was reinstated. Mr Justice Michael Quinn agreed to adjourn the application to appoint a provisional liquidator to Wednesday of next week to allow the settlement talks to proceed.
William Nolan, 30, was sentenced to eight‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment for a spree of offences in Tallaght. He pleaded guilty to burglary, criminal damage and endangerment at several sites, including a petrol station, a supermarket, a residential home and a shop. The most serious offence was the crash of a stolen van into the front of a Maxol petrol station, which caused €68,000 in damage and endangered two Gardaí. Nolan also stole a van, a vape machine and other items, and had 127 previous convictions. He was on bail for an earlier burglary when the later offences occurred. The judge described the offences as a "tsunami of criminality" and imposed a sentence of eight years, with the final six months suspended on strict conditions. The one‑year sentence for the March burglary runs consecutively to the eight‑year term.
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.
Kieran Greene, 35, who was found guilty of murdering Patricia O'Connor in Rathfarnham in May 2017, has had his sentencing adjourned until June 22 due to Covid-19 restrictions. Mr Justice Paul McDermott stated that the court could not proceed with the mandatory life imprisonment sentence at this time. Greene, who pleaded not guilty, was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of inflicting catastrophic injuries on the retired hospital worker. His sentence hearing was originally scheduled for today but was postponed as part of reduced court sittings. Four other defendants—Louise O'Connor, Stephanie O'Connor, Keith Johnston, and Augustine 'Gus' O'Connor—were also excused from attending their sentence hearings today. Louise O'Connor and Stephanie O'Connor were found guilty of impeding the apprehension of Greene, with Louise specifically found guilty of acquiescing in Stephanie disguising herself as the deceased to conceal her death. Johnston was found guilty of assisting Greene in purchasing implements to conceal the remains. Augustine 'Gus' O'Connor, the deceased's husband, pleaded guilty to reporting his wife as missing while knowing she was dead. All four were previously remanded on continuing bail. The court indicated that parties may not need to appear in person if restrictions remain in place on June 22.
In a Dublin 2 street on 26 September 2017, 32‑year‑old Bolivian national Jose Lacerna Pena orally raped a woman while she was walking to meet friends after a nightclub. CCTV showed Pena approaching, linking his arm around her, pushing her head down and inserting his penis into her mouth twice. Two men intervened, the victim fled, and Pena was arrested. He pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court, but a jury convicted him on 13 December 2019. Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced him to six years' imprisonment, noting the offence was "brazenly in the most public and humiliating manner" and that Pena had no prior convictions. The victim's impact statement described lasting fear, sadness, anger and loneliness, and she thanked the men who intervened. Pena's defence argued the act was out of character and requested leniency. The judge acknowledged the difficulty of serving the sentence far from his family and considered deportation upon release.
The High Court has heard that a dispute between the Alfred Beit Foundation and local farmer David Egar has placed the Kaleidoscope Music and Arts Festival, scheduled for next June, at risk. The foundation, a charitable trust established by the late Sir Alfred and Lady Clementine Beit, owns the Russborough Estate in Co Wicklow. Mr Egar, who has farmed over 100 acres of the estate for 40 years, claims he holds tenant rights and seeks a 35-year commercial lease, damages, and an injunction against the foundation. He alleges that new restrictions proposed by the trustees will diminish his interests and push him out. Conversely, the foundation disputes these claims, asserting that Mr Egar only holds annual 11-month licences requiring him to vacate the land each February. It characterises his action as an abuse of process and claims he is unwilling to accept lease terms. In separate proceedings, the foundation seeks damages and an injunction to prevent Mr Egar from trespassing or interfering with the festival. It alleges that Mr Egar has ceased cooperation, refusing consent for the use of estate lands and adjoining farmed lands required for the event, thereby preventing the organisers from obtaining a necessary event licence from Wicklow County Council. The matter was briefly mentioned before Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds on Tuesday. The judge adjourned the actions and made the proceedings returnable to a date later this month.
In March 2020 the Court of Appeal upheld a June 2019 decision that allowed the media to publish the name of Joseph Carey, 63, who was convicted of sexually assaulting a 13‑year‑old babysitter in August 2001. Carey, who lived in St Ronan's Green, Clondalkin, denied the assault and had previously apologized, but the apology was later denied. He was found guilty by a jury and sentenced to two‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with the final four months suspended. The appeal against the sentence was dismissed by a three‑judge panel, which found no error in principle. The court noted that the victim had lived near Carey for over a decade after the assault and that the offence involved a breach of trust, as the victim considered him an uncle and his home a safe place. The ruling also clarified that the victim's anonymity could not be protected by law, allowing his identity to be published.
Bronwyn O'Dea (54) and Paul De Brit (56), directors of a Dublin timber import business, were convicted of fraud and deception after they promised customers that payments would be taken only after timber delivery but failed to deliver. They used customer money to fund the company, which was in financial distress, and stole €19,124 from Mr Peter Andrews of The Wood Floor Store, Lancashire, England. The total loss to complainants between December 2006 and May 2008 was about €200,000. Both pleaded guilty. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced O'Dea to a three‑year prison term, suspended, and De Brit to four years, three of which were suspended. The court noted that all customers lost money and received no timber, and that the directors did not benefit from the fraud. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In summer 2017, a family picnic in the Dublin mountains led to the discovery of dismembered remains of retired grandmother Patricia O'Connor. The body was found in 15 separate parts across nine sites within a 30km radius, including Military Road, Glenmacnass Waterfall, and other locations. Initial bone measurements suggested a male, but DNA and dental records confirmed a female. Post‑mortem examinations by Dr Michael Curtis revealed blunt force trauma to the head, with multiple scalp lacerations and bruising, indicating a violent death. The remains were likely dismembered with a power tool, with hands and wrists sawn off by hand‑held saws. Kieran Greene testified that he had buried the body in Wexford, later exhumed it, cut it up, and scattered the parts across the Dublin mountains, disposing of them in black bags at various points. The evidence presented detailed the locations and conditions of each body part, confirming the identity of Mrs O'Connor and the circumstances of her death.
Keith Johnston, 43, was found guilty of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Kieran Greene, knowing or believing Greene had murdered Patricia O'Connor on May 29, 2017. The jury accepted that Johnston, a handyman and ex-partner of the victim's daughter Louise O'Connor, assisted Greene in purchasing DIY tools intended for the dismemberment of Mrs O'Connor's remains. Louise O'Connor, 41, and Stephanie O'Connor, 22, were also found guilty of impeding justice. Augustine 'Gus' O'Connor, the victim's husband, pleaded guilty to reporting his wife as missing while knowing she was dead. Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded Johnston on continuing bail until April 20, when he will be sentenced alongside the other convicted defendants. Greene, who was found guilty of murder, will receive a mandatory life sentence on that date. The court noted that Greene had altered his account of the killing, initially claiming self-defense and later alleging Gus O'Connor was responsible. The matter was adjourned for sentencing on April 20.
A jury of six men and five women returned to the Central Criminal Court to continue deliberating the verdict in the trial of Keith Johnston, a 43‑year‑old accused of impeding the investigation into the death of his former partner's mother, Patricia O'Connor, who was 61 when she died on 29 May 2017. The forewoman confirmed to the registrar at 4 pm that no further verdict had been reached on the count against Johnston. The jury had spent 11 hours and 17 minutes on the case before retiring for the evening and was instructed by Mr Justice Paul McDermott to return tomorrow at 10.30 am, with no regard to newspaper articles. The trial had also seen Louise O'Connor, aged 41, found guilty of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Kieran Greene, 35, who was found guilty of murdering Patricia O'Connor and inflicting catastrophic injuries. Keith Johnston pleaded not guilty.
The High Court has ordered that up to fifteen occupants of a four‑bedroom house in Avoca Park, Blackrock, must vacate the premises by 20 March. The injunction, granted to Everyday Finance DAC and receivers Stephen Tennant and Nicholas O'Dwyer, gives them possession of the property. The order applies to Paul White, his wife Jane Gleeson and other unnamed occupants who are appealing the decision. The court also suspended any sale of the house until the dispute is resolved and required a timetable for the full hearing. The receivers, appointed in 2017, seek vacant possession as the property is subject to a mortgage secured by loans from AIB, now owed at €3 million. The defendants, who claim the receivers were not properly appointed, intend to appeal to the Court of Appeal. All keys and alarm codes must be handed over by the deadline.
A Central Criminal Court jury convicted Louise O'Connor, 41, of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Kieran Greene, 35, for the murder of her mother Patricia O'Connor, 61, on 29 May 2017. The State alleged that Louise agreed to a ruse in which her daughter Stephanie, 22, disguised herself as her grandmother to create CCTV footage showing the grandmother leaving the house at 9.34 pm, thereby concealing the murder. The jury found Louise an integral part of the charade, having supported Stephanie's actions and given misleading statements to Gardaí. Stephanie was also found guilty of dressing as her grandmother and pretending to leave the house. The trial lasted seven weeks; the jury deliberated 10 hours and 25 minutes before reaching a unanimous verdict in Louise's case. No verdict was reached on the remaining count against Louise's ex‑boyfriend Keith Johnston, 43. The trial concluded with the jury suspended for lunch and scheduled to resume later. Louise O'Connor pleaded not guilty. Keith Johnston pleaded not guilty.
At the Central Criminal Court, a jury convicted Stephanie O'Connor of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Kieran Greene, who was found guilty of murdering Patricia O'Connor on May 29, 2017. The jury accepted the State's case that O'Connor disguised herself as her grandmother to conceal the death, creating a false CCTV record that Mrs O'Connor had left the house. The jury took eight hours and 36 minutes to reach this unanimous verdict. However, they did not reach verdicts on the remaining counts against Louise O'Connor and Keith Johnston. Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned the matter, directing the jury to resume deliberations on these two counts tomorrow morning at 10.30am. Louise O'Connor, who pleaded not guilty to agreeing to or acquiescing in the disguise, and Keith Johnston, who pleaded not guilty to assisting Greene in purchasing implements for concealment, remain awaiting verdicts. The trial heard that Greene changed his account of the killing, initially claiming self-defense before alleging that Johnston and others were involved. The court has not yet finalized the proceedings for the remaining accused.
Kieran Greene, 35, was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of murdering Patricia O'Connor, 61, at her Rathfarnham home on May 29, 2017. The jury unanimously rejected Greene's self-defence claim, accepting the prosecution's case that he inflicted catastrophic blunt force trauma to her head with a hurley. Greene had pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The trial also involved three co-accused: Louise O'Connor, 41; Stephanie O'Connor, 22; and Keith Johnston, 43. All three pleaded not guilty to charges of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Greene, knowing or believing he had committed an arrestable offence. Specifically, Louise O'Connor was charged with acquiescing in her daughter Stephanie disguising herself as the deceased to conceal her death, while Stephanie was charged with the act of disguising herself. Johnston was charged with assisting Greene in purchasing implements for concealing the remains. The jury was directed to continue deliberations on these three defendants, meaning the matter regarding them was adjourned and not concluded. Augustine 'Gus' O'Connor, the deceased's husband, had previously pleaded guilty to reporting his wife as missing while knowing she was dead. The court will resume at 10.30am to hear verdicts on the remaining accused.
The jury in the trial of a 35‑year‑old man accused of murdering a 61‑year‑old grandmother has requested an easel and flip‑chart to aid their deliberations. The defendant, Kieran Greene, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Patricia O'Connor at her home in Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, on 29 May 2017. The body was dismembered into 15 parts found at nine sites across the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. The trial also involves three co‑accused – Louise O'Connor (41), Stephanie O'Connor (22) and Keith Johnston (43) – charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Greene, knowing or believing he committed an arrestable offence. The jury can return up to four verdicts: for Greene on murder, for Greene on manslaughter, and for each co‑accused on the impeding charge. The judge has instructed the jury to consider Greene first, then the co‑accused, and to record any verdicts in the box on the issue paper.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Kieran Greene, 35, accused of murdering 61‑year‑old Patricia O'Connor, is set to begin jury deliberations on Monday. Greene has pleaded not guilty. The case involves the dismemberment of Mrs O'Connor's body into 15 parts found across nine sites in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. Evidence includes blunt‑force trauma to the head and the discovery of tools such as hacksaws and a hatchet. Greene's defence has highlighted inconsistencies in his statements to Gardaí, citing a change in his account from June to December 2017 and alleged Garda follow‑up failures. The prosecution presents circumstantial evidence linking Greene to the murder. Three other defendants—Louise O'Connor, Stephanie O'Connor and Keith Johnston—are charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Greene, each pleading not guilty. The jury will consider separate verdicts for the murder charge and the ancillary offences. The judge will finish charging the jury on Monday.
In a High Court ruling on 20 February 2020, Everyday Finance DAC and its receivers, Stephen Tennant and Nicholas O'Dwyer, were granted an injunction allowing them to take possession of a property at Avoca Park, Blackrock, Co Dublin. The injunction applies pending a full hearing of the action. The receivers sought vacant possession, claiming the property is subject to a mortgage secured by loans from AIB, now owed by the defendants. The defendants, Mr Paul White and his wife Ms Jane Gleeson, opposed the application, arguing the receivers' appointment was invalid and that Ms Gleeson had no debt and was entitled to rent benefits. The court found the plaintiffs' case strong and ordered the receivers to take possession, noting the property is occupied by about 15 people and that the defendants have not cooperated. The judge placed a stay on any sale of the house and adjourned the matter for a week before final orders are made.
In a 2020 trial, Judge Paul McDermott instructed the jury that self‑defence could be considered in the murder case of Kieran Greene, 35, accused of killing 61‑year‑old Patricia O'Connor, whose dismembered body was found across the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. Greene pleaded not guilty. The jury was told to focus on facts, not emotions, and to treat each accused's statements separately. The judge explained that Greene's defence hinged on whether he used only necessary force after being attacked with a hurley, which could reduce a murder charge to manslaughter. He also clarified that the separate offence of impeding the investigation, charged against Louise O'Connor, Stephanie O'Connor and Keith Johnston, had its own possible verdicts. The judge emphasized that the jury must decide on each charge independently, based on the evidence presented.
The State's case against Keith Johnston, accused of assisting Kieran Greene in the purchase of items used in the concealment of the remains of Patricia O'Connor, has been described by defence counsel as 'clutching at straws' with no evidence of 'concealment, lies or secrecy'. The trial has heard that the body of Mrs O'Connor was dismembered into 15 parts found at nine different locations in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains between June 10 and 14, 2017. Keith Johnston has pleaded not guilty to assisting Kieran Greene in the purchase of various implements on June 9, 2017, which were to be used in the concealment of the remains of Mrs O'Connor. Louise O'Connor and Stephanie O'Connor have both pleaded not guilty to charges of disguising themselves as Mrs O'Connor and agreeing to or acquiescing in the disguise to conceal the fact that Patricia O'Connor was dead. Keith Johnston has been acquitted on some charges. The trial is ongoing with the jury to be charged by Mr Justice Paul McDermott tomorrow.
In the trial of Stephanie O'Connor, a 22‑year‑old accused of disguising herself as her grandmother to conceal the latter's death, the defence argued that no direct evidence proved she was absent from the house on the night of May 29 2017. The prosecution claimed a lack of a "smoking gun" and alleged that the CCTV footage was incomplete, suggesting that the defendant's actions were a ruse. The case also involved Louise O'Connor, 41, and Keith Johnston, 43, charged with impeding the apprehension of the alleged murderer, Kieran Greene, 35. Evidence presented included dismemberment of the body into 15 parts found across a 30 km range, blunt‑force trauma to the head, and conflicting statements from Greene. The defence highlighted the absence of hard evidence and the possibility of false testimony, urging the jury to acquit the accused. The trial concluded with the defence's closing remarks, and the prosecution's case was deemed speculative. Kieran Greene pleaded not guilty. Louise O'Connor pleaded not guilty. Stephanie O'Connor pleaded not guilty. Keith Johnston pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Kieran Greene, Louise O'Connor, Stephanie O'Connor, and Keith Johnston is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Greene, 35, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Patricia O'Connor at her home in Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, on May 29, 2017. The other three accused have pleaded not guilty to charges of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Greene, specifically involving concealing the deceased's body. Louise O'Connor is accused of acquiescing in her daughter Stephanie disguising herself as the victim; Stephanie is accused of that disguise; and Keith Johnston is accused of assisting Greene in purchasing implements to conceal remains. Defence counsel Conor Devally SC argued in his closing statement that Greene, who has a developmental difficulty, was portrayed inconsistently as both a "moron" and a "Machiavelli" mastermind. He contended that Greene's initial June confession was coerced to protect his children and that his later December account, which implicated the deceased's husband Augustine 'Gus' O'Connor, contained the truth. Devally urged the jury to acquit Greene, noting that Gus O'Connor had previously pleaded guilty to falsely reporting his wife missing. The trial has heard evidence that the victim's body was dismembered and found across Dublin and Wicklow. Stephanie O'Connor's defence counsel is scheduled to deliver his closing speech tomorrow.
The Central Criminal Court heard the prosecution's closing submissions in the trial of Kieran Greene, 35, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of Patricia O'Connor, 61, at her home in Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, on May 29, 2017. Three co-accused, Louise O'Connor, 41, Stephanie O'Connor, 22, and Keith Johnston, 43, all pleaded not guilty to charges of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Greene. The prosecution alleged that Stephanie O'Connor disguised herself as her grandmother to create a false CCTV record that Mrs O'Connor was alive, while Louise O'Connor acquiesced in this ruse. Additionally, the State contended that Keith Johnston assisted Greene in purchasing DIY tools, including hacksaws and axes, on June 9, 2017, which were allegedly used to dismember the body. Evidence presented indicated that Mrs O'Connor's body was found in 15 separate parts across Dublin and Wicklow between June 10 and 14, 2017, with the cause of death determined to be blunt force trauma to the head. The prosecution invited the jury to return guilty verdicts for all four defendants. The matter remains at the trial stage, with defence counsel scheduled to deliver closing arguments. No findings, sentences, or finalisations have been recorded.
A trial in the Central Criminal Court is ongoing regarding the murder of Patricia O'Connor (61) at her home in Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 on May 29, 2017. Kieran Greene (35), the accused, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mrs O'Connor and has changed his account of the events six months later. The prosecution has stated that there was no evidence of a single defensive wound on Mrs O'Connor's body and that Greene bore an 'ill-will' and 'a particular animus or bad feeling' against her. The trial has heard that Mrs O'Connor's dismembered remains were found scattered in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. Louise O'Connor (41), Stephanie O'Connor (22), and Keith Johnston (43) have also pleaded not guilty to charges related to impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Kieran Greene. The prosecution has presented evidence, including forensic findings and receipts from DIY shops, to support their case. The trial is in the closing stages, with the prosecution's case being presented by Ms Lacey, who has emphasized the lack of defensive injuries and the coherent narrative of the accused's actions. The trial is expected to continue with Ms Lacey's closing speech to the jury tomorrow.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Kieran Greene, Louise O'Connor, Stephanie O'Connor, and Keith Johnston is ongoing. Greene, 35, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Patricia O'Connor, 61, at her home in Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, on May 29, 2017. The other three accused have pleaded not guilty to charges of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of an offender. The jury was told that Augustine 'Gus' O'Connor, 75, originally part of the trial, pleaded guilty on the first hearing date to reporting his wife missing on June 1, 2017, while knowing she was dead. Evidence presented includes Detective Inspector Brian O'Keeffe's testimony regarding Greene's initial statements and subsequent retraction, where Greene alleged he was set up. The prosecution closed its case, and defence counsel made applications in the jury's absence. The court heard that Mrs O'Connor's remains were found dismembered in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned the proceedings, instructing the jury to return the following morning at 12pm.
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 accused have pleaded not guilty to charges relating to the alleged murder of Patricia O'Connor (61) at her Rathfarnham home on May 29, 2017. Greene is charged with murdering Mrs O'Connor, while the other three face charges of impeding apprehension, including disguising the deceased and assisting in the purchase of implements to conceal remains. Evidence presented includes testimony from Dr Michael Curtis, who stated blunt force trauma to the head caused death, and Garda Roisin Rowley Burke, who detailed CCTV footage showing Mrs O'Connor's last appearance at 3.08pm on the day of the alleged murder. Irish Prison Service manager Walter Burke confirmed that Louise O'Connor visited Greene at Cloverhill Prison on June 17, 2017, where she was recorded as his girlfriend. Keith Johnston visited on September 2, 2017, and both visited together on October 14 and November 16, 2017. The court also heard that Greene initially told gardai he dismembered the body alone, but later claimed he was set up. The trial is ongoing and has not been finalised.
The trial of Kieran Greene, 34, and three co-accused continued at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Paul McDermott. Greene, who pleaded not guilty to murdering Patricia O'Connor, 61, at her home in Rathfarnham on May 29, 2017, is alleged to have dismembered her body, with remains found across Dublin and Wicklow. Louise O'Connor, 41, Stephanie O'Connor, 22, and Keith Johnston, 43, all pleaded not guilty to charges including impeding the apprehension of Greene, disguising themselves as the deceased, or assisting in the concealment of evidence. Evidence presented included CCTV footage of Greene dropping his children at school on May 30, where a witness described him as a "lovely parent" who showed no unusual behavior. The prosecution alleged Stephanie O'Connor disguised herself as her grandmother to create a ruse that Mrs O'Connor had left the house. Defense counsel highlighted that Greene initially confessed to the killing but later claimed he was set up. The court also heard testimony regarding items found in the residence, including a black suitcase. The trial was adjourned to Monday afternoon.
The trial of Kieran Greene, Louise O'Connor, Stephanie O'Connor, and Keith Johnston continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court. Greene, 34, has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Patricia O'Connor, 61, at her home in Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, on May 29, 2017. The other three accused have also pleaded not guilty to charges including impeding the apprehension of Greene, disguising the deceased to conceal her death, and assisting in the purchase of items to conceal her remains. The jury has examined CCTV footage showing Greene and Johnston purchasing DIY items in Tallaght on June 9, 2017, and Johnston redecorating the bathroom at the scene. Evidence presented includes testimony that the deceased's remains were dismembered and scattered across nine locations in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. The prosecution alleges Johnston assisted Greene in destroying evidence, while defense counsel highlighted inconsistencies in Greene's changing accounts to gardai. The matter is ongoing, with the trial continuing before a jury of six men and six women.
The trial of Kieran Greene, Louise O'Connor, Stephanie O'Connor, and Keith Johnston is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Paul McDermott. Greene, 34, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Patricia O'Connor, 61, at her home in Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, on May 29, 2017. The other three accused have also pleaded not guilty to charges including impeding the apprehension of Greene, disguising themselves to conceal the victim's death, and assisting in the purchase of implements to conceal remains. The jury reviewed 343 hours of CCTV footage captured by a neighbour, which showed family movements on the day of the alleged killing. Prosecution evidence suggests Stephanie O'Connor disguised herself as her grandmother to create a ruse that the victim had left the house. Former Depute State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head. The trial heard that the victim's remains were dismembered and found at nine locations in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. The matter was adjourned and continues tomorrow.
The Court of Appeal has been informed that the Minister for Justice has accepted a recommendation to grant temporary release to John Shaw, the State's longest serving prisoner. Shaw, aged 73, an English national, has been in custody for almost 44 years following his conviction at the Central Criminal Court on February 9, 1978, for offences including abduction, rape, torture and murder in Wicklow and Mayo. He will be entitled to two days escorted release annually. The court heard that a legal challenge to the Minister's earlier refusal of temporary release proceeded to full hearing in January despite the Minister having already reversed that decision. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy expressed concern that the reversal was not communicated timeously to Shaw's legal representatives, resulting in proceedings that were effectively moot. The court noted the matter without imposing costs penalties. A 2016 risk assessment had identified Shaw as presenting high-level re-offending risk.