During a 2015 trial, former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick was heard to have instructed an employee not to submit accounts belonging to his brother‑in‑law, John Peter O'Toole, to the Revenue while the bank was under investigation for alleged tax evasion. Witness Brian Gillespie, the former head of compliance, testified that FitzPatrick had asked him to withhold the O'Toole account and that FitzPatrick had also told him that a family member's account should not be returned to the Revenue. Gillespie said he reported these instructions to his superior, Director of Finance Willie McAteer, who was uninterested. The trial also heard that other Anglo officials, Bernard Daly, Tiarnan O'Mahoney and Aoife Maguire, were accused of attempting to delete references to the O'Toole account and other accounts from the bank's Core Banking System and from a list of non‑resident accounts over €100,000 that was to be supplied to the Revenue. Aoife Maguire pleaded not guilty.
Three former Anglo Irish Bank officials – Tiarnan O'Mahoney, Bernard Daly and Aoife Maguire – are on trial for alleged tax‑evasion offences in 2003 and 2004. The prosecution claims they hid offshore accounts linked to former chairman Sean FitzPatrick and deleted references to these accounts from the bank's Core Banking System. The accused deny removing names from lists supplied to Revenue and deny deleting accounts. The trial heard that O'Mahoney had set up a team to assist Revenue's audit of the bank's compliance with Deposit Interest Retention Tax. Patrick Peake, a former fraud‑prevention officer, testified that the team gathered documents and searched for emails containing key names, including those of the accused. He also described a series of changes to FitzPatrick's account records, including name and address alterations, and the removal and re‑addition of FitzPatrick's name in 2004. The case is being heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury of twelve. Aoife Maguire pleaded not guilty.
During a 2015 trial, it was revealed that several changes were made to the name and address details on former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick's account in the bank's internal record system after the account was closed. The trial involved three Anglo officials—former company secretary Bernard Daly (65), former Chief Operations Officer Tiarnan O'Mahoney (54), and Aoife Maguire (60)—who pleaded not guilty to seven alleged offences committed in 2003 and 2004. They were accused of attempting to delete references to two accounts in the name of John Peter O'Toole, FitzPatrick's brother‑in‑law, from Anglo's Core Banking System (CBS) and of omitting O'Toole's name from a list provided to the Revenue Commissioners of people who held non‑resident accounts worth more than €100,000 in 1995. O'Mahoney and Maguire also denied trying to delete six other accounts connected to FitzPatrick from the CBS.
During a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, three former Anglo Irish Bank officials—Bernard Daly, Tiarnan O'Mahoney, and Aoife Maguire—were accused of temporarily repaying loans to former chairman Sean FitzPatrick to make the bank's year‑end accounts appear healthier. Evidence showed that in September 1998 an IR£196,000 loan from the Sean FitzPatrick/Crohan O'Shea Trust was moved into an internal Anglo staff‑loan account called SRLADV, and similar amounts were later returned to the original accounts on 6 October. The same pattern was alleged to have occurred in September 1999 and 2000. The defendants denied deleting references to accounts linked to FitzPatrick's brother‑in‑law, John Peter O'Toole, from the bank's Core Banking System and from a list of non‑resident accounts over €100,000 in 1995. The case remains before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury of twelve. Aoife Maguire pleaded not guilty.
The trial of former Anglo Irish Bank officials Bernard Daly, Tiarnan O'Mahoney and Aoife Maguire was adjourned to allow the defence to examine newly discovered documents. Judge Patrick McCartan informed the jury that the prosecution had only just found the documents and granted the defence the rest of the day to review them. The case, originally set to resume that morning, involves the three pleading not guilty to seven alleged offences from 2003 and 2004, including attempts to delete references to accounts linked to John Peter O'Toole and others from the bank's Core Banking System.
The trial of former Anglo Irish Bank officials Tiarnan O'Mahoney, Bernard Daly, and Aoife Maguire continues before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury. The three accused, who have all pleaded not guilty to seven alleged offences committed in 2003 and 2004, are charged with attempting to hide bank accounts from the Revenue in an alleged tax evasion scheme. Specifically, Mr. Daly and Mr. O'Mahoney deny omitting the name of John Peter O'Toole from a list provided to the Revenue Commissioners, while Mr. O'Mahoney and Ms. Maguire deny attempting to delete six other accounts connected to former chairman Sean FitzPatrick from the bank's Core Banking System. On day ten, former fraud officer Patrick Peake testified that Mr. O'Mahoney and Mr. FitzPatrick jointly received a US$1.2 million bridging loan in 1997 to fund a share deal. Mr. Peake also presented evidence that details on several closed accounts, including Lock Ltd/Susie Ltd and Carnahalla Ltd, were altered on the internal computer system years after closure. He noted that Mr. FitzPatrick's name was removed from a Triumvirate Properties Ltd account record between 2003 and 2012. The trial is ongoing, with Mr. Peake's evidence continuing before the court.
During a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Patrick Peake, a former fraud officer, testified that an Anglo Irish Bank employee had created a computer programme to delete records of Susie Ltd from the bank's Dublin Investment System. Peake described an email sent to consultant Shane Crowley about a programme intended to remove the company's records. Susie Ltd, sharing an address with Anglo's Isle of Man branch, had directors and staff linked to that operation. Peake also revealed 275 cash withdrawals totalling €173,800 from John Peter O'Toole's account, with only four transactions supported by documentation. He presented evidence of monthly €410 payments from an account in the name of Sean and Triona Fitzpatrick, signed by "Mary O'Toole," and transfers of IRL£71,000 and US$22,460 to Susie Ltd. The case involves former officials Bernard Daly, Tiarnan O'Mahoney, and Aoife Maguire, who plead not guilty to seven alleged offences related to account deletions and omissions.
The High Court will decide next week on an application to jail solicitor John Condon for alleged contempt of a court order to pay €23,000 to the estates of two deceased siblings from County Wicklow. The executor, Nikolaus David Sean Boulting, claims Condon failed to comply with the order and retained estate monies, leading to proceedings to recover the funds. Condon, who has practiced for over 30 years, denies wrongdoing and argues the cheque for the owed amount was dishonoured by the bank, not by him. He also contends that additional fees of €36,000 were not due. Condon has requested an extension to appeal the payment order, but the executor's counsel says no extension was granted. Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns has reserved his decision, noting the seriousness of the matter and that he has never before committed a practising solicitor to prison for contempt.
During the trial of three former Anglo Irish Bank officials accused of hiding accounts linked to former chairman Sean FitzPatrick, evidence was presented showing connections between FitzPatrick's account and that of his brother‑in‑law, John Peter O'Toole. The accused—Bernard Daly, Tiarnan O'Mahoney and Aoife Maguire—were alleged to have archived and concealed offshore accounts to evade Deposit Interest Retention Tax. They faced seven offences from 2003 and 2004 and denied removing references to O'Toole's accounts from the bank's Core Banking System or omitting his name from a 1995 list of non‑resident account holders. Patrick Peake, former fraud prevention officer, testified that he began an investigation after learning of account deletions in April 2010, and that the bank was required to file a suspicious transaction report. He presented records from 1986 onward, showing address changes for O'Toole's accounts and transactions linking them to FitzPatrick and an Isle of Man entity. Aoife Maguire pleaded not guilty.
Philip Doyle, aged 38, was convicted of manslaughter for the death of his ex‑fiancée's three‑and‑a‑half‑month‑old baby, Ross Murphy, in April 2005. The Central Criminal Court, after a four‑week trial, returned a unanimous verdict of manslaughter, and Doyle was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment on 15 May 2012. Doyle appealed, arguing that the trial judge had not adequately considered expert medical evidence and that the injuries could have resulted from an accidental fall. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Seán Ryan, rejected the appeal, stating that the conviction was "safe" and the trial was "satisfactory." Mr Justice Ryan noted that the jury had been properly instructed to weigh expert testimony and that the evidence supported the conclusion that the baby's severe injuries were inflicted by Doyle rather than by an accidental fall. The appeal was dismissed, leaving Doyle's conviction and sentence intact. Philip Doyle pleaded not guilty.
The trial of three former Anglo Irish Bank officials accused of hiding accounts connected to former chairman Sean FitzPatrick in an alleged tax evasion scheme has been adjourned. Judge Patrick McCartan excused the jury until next Monday to allow for legal argument, stating they were removed to avoid being 'infected' with material that does not constitute evidence. The accused are Bernard Daly, 65, of Whitehall, Dublin; Tiarnan O'Mahoney, 54, of Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow; and Aoife Maguire, 60, of Kilmainham, Dublin. All three pleaded not guilty to seven alleged offences committed in 2003 and 2004. They are accused of archiving and hiding off-shore accounts that may have had Deposit Interest Retention Tax owed on them. Specifically, the three are accused of trying to delete references to two accounts in the name of John Peter O'Toole, Mr FitzPatrick's brother-in-law, from Anglo's Core Banking System. Mr Daly and Mr O'Mahoney also deny omitting Mr O'Toole's name from a list provided to the Revenue Commissioners regarding non-resident accounts worth more than €100,000 in 1995. Additionally, Mr O'Mahoney and Ms Maguire deny attempting to delete six other accounts connected to Mr FitzPatrick from the system. The matter was adjourned, with evidence to continue next week.
The trial of three former Anglo Irish Bank officials—Bernard Daly, Tiarnan O'Mahoney and Aoife Maguire—has focused on alleged attempts to hide offshore accounts linked to former chairman Sean FitzPatrick. The prosecution claims the trio tried to delete references to two accounts in the name of FitzPatrick's brother‑in‑law, John Peter O'Toole, from the bank's Core Banking System, and also omitted O'Toole's name from a list of non‑resident account holders for the Revenue. O'Mahoney and Maguire deny deleting six other FitzPatrick‑related accounts. Walter Tyrell, former Head of Group Internal Audit, testified that he was asked to investigate director loans and later became aware of the archiving issue, raising it with the new chairman in 2010. He noted that the bank's fraud officer, Patrick Peak, led the investigation, raising concerns about a potential conflict of interest. The case remains in legal argument, with the judge urging the jury to focus on the facts presented. Aoife Maguire pleaded not guilty.
Three former Anglo Irish Bank officials – Bernard Daly (65), Tiarnan O'Mahoney (54) and Aoife Maguire (60) – are on trial for allegedly hiding accounts linked to former chairman Sean FitzPatrick in a tax‑evasion scheme. They pleaded not guilty to seven offences committed in 2003 and 2004. The prosecution says the case centres on non‑resident bank accounts held by Anglo that were investigated by Revenue for possible Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) liability. O'Mahoney and Daly are accused of supplying Revenue with a list of non‑resident accounts that omitted an account held by John Peter O'Toole, a brother‑in‑law of FitzPatrick. Maguire, Daly and O'Mahoney are also alleged to have asked Anglo's IT department to delete records of two O'Toole accounts from the Core Banking System and to conceal records of six other accounts connected to FitzPatrick or O'Mahoney.
The trial of three former Anglo Irish Bank officials – Aoife Maguire (60), Bernard Daly (65) and Tiarnan O'Mahoney (54) – is set to begin in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. They face charges of deceiving the Revenue and destroying or falsifying bank records related to a named account, allegedly committed in 2003 and 2004. All three plead not guilty. The trial, expected to run until the end of July, was adjourned last week after a shortage of jurors. A female juror was discharged due to a family medical condition, and another withdrew after revealing a professional connection to a firm that shares clients with Anglo Irish Bank. The court has imposed strict restrictions on jurors, excluding those with strong feelings about Anglo, connections to the bank, the Revenue, Ernst & Young or the auditing sector. The trial will open this afternoon before Judge Patrick McCartan with a jury of six women and six men.
The trial of former Anglo Irish Bank officials Aoife Maguire, Bernard Daly and Tiarnan O'Mahoney has been adjourned to Monday because the court ran out of jurors. The three, aged 60, 65 and 54 respectively, face charges of deceiving the Revenue and destroying or falsifying bank records from 2003 and 2004. They have pleaded not guilty to all charges. The allegations include conspiring to destroy, mutilate or falsify documents relating to a named account, furnishing a list of accounts that omitted the named account, and defrauding the Revenue by deleting or concealing accounts held by Anglo in the name of the named person. The trial, expected to run until the end of July, was scheduled to begin at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Patrick McCartan. Only seven jurors were sworn in before the court ran out of potential jurors, so jury swearing will resume on Monday with a fresh panel.
The trial of three former Anglo Irish Bank officials – Aoife Maguire, Bernard Daly and Tiarnan O'Mahoney – is set to start tomorrow at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. They face charges of deceiving the Revenue and hiding bank accounts, allegedly committed in 2003 and 2004. The defendants deny the allegations. A jury will be sworn in the morning, and the trial will commence at 2 pm before Judge Patrick McCartan. It is expected to last five to six weeks, with no need for an enhanced jury panel.
James O'Brien, 22, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to 20‑year‑old Dale Creighton, who died two days later in hospital after the incident on New Year's Day at Saint Dominic's Road footbridge in Tallaght. O'Brien, a Tallaght native, was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court, where Justice Patrick McCarthy noted he had no prior convictions and was already in contact with probation services. He was remanded on continuing bail pending sentencing on 12 October. Seven other Dubliners in their 20s, also from Tallaght, are charged in connection with Creighton's death and will go on trial in October 2016.
The jury was discharged in the trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick, who was charged with 27 offences under the 1990 Companies Act for allegedly failing to disclose millions of euros in loans to the bank's auditors. The trial, held at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, had been delayed for seven weeks due to legal arguments and a witness illness, and no evidence had been presented to the jury. Judge Mary Ellen Ring explained that the trial could not continue and would be rescheduled for 5 October 2015, with a new jury to be empanelled. FitzPatrick, aged 66, had pleaded not guilty to charges including making misleading statements to auditors and furnishing false information between 2002 and 2007. The prosecution's case was based on an investigation by the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement into alleged "warehousing" of loans and arrangements that concealed the true loan balances from auditors.
The High Court concluded proceedings that had required the evacuation of residents from a four‑storey building at 3 Kelly's Row, Dublin 1, which also includes 20 Dorset Street. The order, obtained by Dublin City Council, remains in force, preventing any occupation of the building until fire‑safety requirements are satisfied. The case involved owners Mr Frank Chatham of Arch Villas and Mr Joseph Simpson of Tara Green, who had previously consented to the order. The court noted that the building had been inspected on 11 May with no evidence of fire‑safety measures, and that the risk of fire was deemed "so serious" that use of the premises must be prohibited until remedial actions are taken. Mr Simpson, who represented himself, stated that tenants were being moved and that 95 % of the items listed in the fire‑safety notice had already been addressed in 2007 renovations, though outstanding issues were still being rectified.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 21 May 2015, Judge Mary Ellen Ring informed the jury of former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick that legal arguments were still ongoing and that the jury would need to return on 2 June to resume the trial. The judge had previously excused the jury foreman due to work difficulties and had also addressed an unemployed juror whose job prospects were affected by the trial's delays. The trial, which began legal argument on 16 April, has been repeatedly adjourned, with the opening of evidence postponed four times. FitzPatrick, aged 66, pleaded not guilty to 27 offences under the Companies Act, including 21 counts of misleading auditors and six counts of furnishing false information, relating to alleged loans from Irish Nationwide Building Society between 2002 and 2007. The jury, composed of six men and six women, was empanelled on 14 April and has been notified of the delays by telephone.
Chico Makamda, an Angolan refugee aged 32, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three years in jail, with the final year suspended, for false imprisonment of Melita Cahill on 7 August 2013. The incident occurred around 2 a.m. on Blessington Street when Makamda grabbed Cahill's right wrist, shouted "you drank too much bitch," and attempted to drag her into a laneway. Cahill fought back, punched and kicked him, and escaped after a male passerby intervened. Makamda was arrested shortly thereafter at a nearby bus stop. Cahill's victim impact statement noted that the event left her with lasting anxiety and panic attacks, preventing her from walking alone at night. The judge acknowledged Makamda's limited English and hardship as a foreign national in custody. The sentence was delayed due to a prior conviction in Tralee District Court for indecent exposure, for which Makamda was fined €50. Chico Makamda pleaded guilty.
The trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick, who is 66, has been delayed again. Judge Mary Ellen Ring announced that the evidence would not begin until late next week. Legal argument in the absence of the jury will continue for several days. The jury was told that an illness was causing difficulty and that the trial would not start in evidence until next Monday, and then again until next Thursday. The court will notify jurors to keep their phones on. FitzPatrick pleaded not guilty to 27 offences under the Companies Act, 1990, including 21 charges of making misleading statements to auditors and six charges of furnishing false information. The charges relate to alleged loans from Irish Nationwide Building Society to him or people connected to him between 2002 and 2007 while he was an officer of Anglo Irish Bank.
In May 2015 the High Court granted a Dublin City Council order to evacuate a four‑storey building at 3 Kelly's Row, Dublin 1, including flats on 20 Dorset Street, because of "serious" fire‑safety concerns. The owners, Frank Chatham and Joseph Simpson, consented to the order after the court had served them notice. Simpson, who represented himself, disputed claims that the owners had not acted since a March fire‑safety notice had prohibited use of the flats. He said he and his co‑owner had asked tenants to leave, stopped collecting rent, and offered €600 each to vacate, but tenants remained. He also denied that the owners had refused to return deposits. The court noted that the building's single staircase was unsafe, electricity had been disconnected, and no fire‑safety measures were in place. The order prohibited the use of the premises for accommodation until the required works were completed. The case was adjourned to the following week.
The trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick, aged 66, has been postponed again, with the start of evidence now scheduled for no earlier than Monday, 18 May. Judge Mary Ellen Ring, presiding at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, explained that the jury will not be called back until that date and that they will be instructed to keep their phones on. The delay follows an illness that has caused "serious timetable problems" and has already led to the jury being notified by telephone that the trial would be postponed. FitzPatrick pleaded not guilty on 14 April to 27 offences under the Companies Act 1990, including 21 counts of making misleading statements to auditors and six counts of furnishing false information. The charges relate to loans allegedly given to him or people connected to him by Irish Nationwide Building Society between 2002 and 2007 while he was an officer of Anglo Irish Bank.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick, aged 66, pleaded not guilty to 27 offences under the Companies Act 1990, including 21 charges of misleading auditors and six of furnishing false information. The charges relate to alleged loans from Irish Nationwide Building Society between 2002 and 2007 that FitzPatrick failed to disclose to Anglo's auditors, Ernst and Young. The prosecution alleges he authorised arrangements to reduce the apparent loan balances at year‑end and concealed arrangements with Irish Nationwide. The trial, repeatedly delayed for three weeks, was postponed again due to an illness that caused serious timetable problems, as explained by Judge Mary Ellen Ring to the jury. The judge asked the jury to return next Wednesday, noting the difficulty of the case and apologising for the delays. The jury, composed of 12 members, had been notified of the postponements by telephone. The case remains pending.
In a High Court hearing on 6 May 2015, the court dismissed Alan Toal's attempt to stop an internal disciplinary tribunal from imposing sanctions on him. Toal had previously been found by the tribunal to have breached the barristers' code of conduct, including taking money from a former client in 2010, failing to engage with internal inquiries and berating the client. He sought an injunction to prevent the tribunal from deciding on a sanction hearing held in July. Toal's lawyers argued that because all superior court judges are benchers of the Honourable Society of Kings Inns, they were parties to any action against the tribunal and should be recused. Judge David Keane refused to adjourn or recuse himself, declined to refer the matter to the European Court, and allowed the disciplinary proceedings to continue. The judge also awarded the respondents' legal costs. The case remains at the disciplinary stage, with Toal's appeal dismissed and the tribunal's proceedings proceeding.
Alan Toal Bl, a barrister from Arklow, has brought High Court proceedings to stop an internal disciplinary tribunal from imposing sanctions on him, arguing that judges of the Superior courts cannot hear the case because they are effectively defendants. He claims that all judges are automatically benchers of the Honourable Society of the Kings Inns, the body that regulates barristers, and therefore cannot be independent. Toal seeks injunctions to prevent the Barristers Disciplinary Tribunal from deciding on his case after a sanction hearing in July, and to expunge certain complaints. The four respondents – the Barristers Disciplinary Tribunal, the General Council of the Bar Council of Ireland, the Professional Practices Committee of the Bar Council, and the Barristers Professional Conduct Tribunal – have opposed the action. Mr Justice David Keane dismissed applications to adjourn the case or recuse himself, stating there was no legal basis for the case to be held.
In a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick, aged 66, pleaded not guilty to 27 offences under the Companies Act, 1990, including 21 charges of making misleading statements to auditors and six charges of furnishing false information. The charges relate to alleged loans from Irish Nationwide Building Society between 2002 and 2007 that FitzPatrick failed to disclose to Anglo's auditors, Ernst and Young, and to arrangements that would reduce the apparent balance of those loans at the end of the bank's financial year. The trial, which began legal argument on 16 April, was scheduled to run for six weeks until 28 May, but Judge Mary Ellen Ring announced that the opening of the trial in evidence would be delayed and that the trial would now extend into June. She asked jurors to consider their availability and offered to arrange correspondence for those with difficulties.
The trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Seán FitzPatrick, aged 66, has been delayed and will not begin before next Tuesday. A jury of six men and six women was empaneled at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court two weeks ago, but the opening of the trial has been postponed multiple times. FitzPatrick has pleaded not guilty to 27 offences under the Companies Act 1990, including 21 charges of making misleading or false statements to auditors and six charges of furnishing false information. The allegations relate to loans allegedly given to him or people connected to him by Irish Nationwide Building Society between 2002 and 2007 while he was an officer of Anglo Irish Bank.
The High Court has set a three‑day extradition hearing in July for Gary Davis, a 26‑year‑old Wicklow man, who is wanted in the United States for alleged links to the Silk Road drug‑distribution website. Davis faces US charges of conspiracy to distribute narcotics, conspiracy to commit computer hacking and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He is contesting the extradition, arguing he should not be surrendered. The US claims Silk Road, shut down by the FBI in 2013, was an underground marketplace for drugs, firearms and counterfeit money, and that Davis acted as an administrator under the name 'Libertas'. He was first arrested on a warrant issued by the High Court in 2014. The court will hear the case on July 14, 15 and 16, with the possibility of an additional day if needed. Davis remains on bail pending the hearing.
In a High Court judgment, Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns ordered the demolition of Gregory Kinsella's wooden chalet on the N81 in Tinode, Blessington, after finding it breached planning laws. The chalet, built without permission, was owned by Kinsella and his sister Gillian. Wicklow County Council had sought demolition under Section 160 of the 2000 Planning and Development Act. Kinsella agreed to have the chalet demolished by 31 January 2016, and the judge welcomed the agreement, noting it brought the matter to an end. The judge declined to make a costs order, citing the special circumstances of the case, including a prior High Court decision on a similar chalet near Lough Dan. The judgment emphasized the importance of planning control to prevent unlawful development. The chalet was located on the busy N81 between Tallaght and Blessington. The court's order was made in 2015, with demolition to occur in early 2016.
In the Central Criminal Court, Frank O'Hara's two‑page victim impact statement was read by prosecution barrister Seán Guerin SC. He described his daughter Elaine as intelligent, emotionally vulnerable, and a future teacher who had earned a BA in Montessori Education. He recounted her disappearance in August 2012, initially presumed a suicide, and the subsequent discovery of her remains in September 2013, which shifted the investigation to murder. O'Hara expressed anguish over media coverage that he felt was insulting and over the questioning of his evidence's credibility. He highlighted unanswered questions about the circumstances of Elaine's death, including whether she was restrained or left to die alone. He concluded that the family's experience is a "life sentence" with no parole, emphasizing the ongoing pain and lack of closure.
Evidence in the trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick, accused of failing to disclose the true value of multi‑million euro loans, will not begin until next Wednesday. A jury of six men and six women was formed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Tuesday. Judge Mary Ellen Ring told the jurors to return to court next Monday when the trial was due to begin in evidence, but lawyers for both sides said that legal discussions in the absence of the jury are likely to continue into Tuesday. Judge Ring asked the Courts Service to contact the jurors and inform them they should return now on Wednesday. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
Jamie O'Hara, 20, of Killinarden Estate, Tallaght, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to multiple offences. He admitted to the robbery of a phone at Sean Walsh Park, Tallaght, on September 9, 2014, as well as stealing a mobile phone and a purse on the same date. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to the attempted robbery of a mobile phone on May 13 and to unlawfully producing a knife to intimidate on June 30, both at Sean Walsh Park. The court heard that O'Hara was on bail for the earlier offences when he committed the September robbery, during which he threatened a mother walking her children. Judge Mary Ellen Ring imposed a four-year sentence on all counts. She suspended the final year of the term on the condition that O'Hara go under the supervision of the Probation Services for that period. The judge noted that the local park is now a safer place with O'Hara in custody. Defence counsel highlighted the defendant's remorse and his different behavior when not under the influence of drugs. The sentencing concluded the proceedings for these specific charges.
Jacinta Dixon, 52, a mother of two from Wicklow, pleaded guilty to five theft charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal for stealing €20,554 from her employer, Chadwicks, between February and November 2013. She had worked there for 19 years and was a credit controller responsible for daily takings. Dixon delayed lodging takings to pocket small amounts, then used later takings to cover previous days, creating a false record. She claimed she was overwhelmed by domestic financial pressures and had sought a loan from her boss, which was refused. After her arrest, she repaid the full amount with a loan. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced her to three years' imprisonment, suspended in full on strict conditions, citing her remorse and the unjust nature of jail. She has not worked since her suspension.
The jury was sworn in for the trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick, who pleaded not guilty to 27 offences under the Companies Act 1990. The charges centre on allegations that he failed to disclose the true value of multi‑million euro loans to the bank's auditors, Ernst & Young, from 2002 to 2007. Prosecutors claim he authorised arrangements to make the loan balances appear reduced at year‑end and did not inform auditors of these arrangements or of related transactions with Irish Nationwide Building Society. The trial is set to begin next Monday and could last until 28 May. The jury, composed of six men and six women, was carefully empanelled after the judge excluded those with potential bias or professional ties to banking or auditing. FitzPatrick, aged 66, is charged with 21 counts of making misleading statements and six counts of furnishing false information.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick, aged 66, pleaded not guilty to 27 counts under the Companies Act 1990 for failing to disclose the true value of loans from Irish Nationwide Building Society between 2002 and 2007 while he was an officer of Anglo Irish Bank. The court has instructed potential jurors that they should not serve if they directly held shares in any Irish bank. Judge Mary Ellen Ring has begun swearing in a jury for a trial that is scheduled to run until the end of May.
Architect Graham Dwyer, 42, was found guilty of murdering 36‑year‑old Elaine O'Hara in the Dublin Mountains. The Central Criminal Court trial lasted over two months, with the jury hearing testimony from nearly 200 witnesses and more than 300 exhibits, including videos of Dwyer stabbing women and text messages that described a BDSM‑style relationship in which he was the dominant "Master" and O'Hara the submissive "Slave." Evidence showed Dwyer lured O'Hara to the mountain on 22 August 2012, stabbed her for sexual gratification, and disposed of her belongings to make the death appear a suicide. The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict after 7 hours and 33 minutes of deliberation. Mr Justice Tony Hunt remanded Dwyer in custody until the mandatory life sentence is imposed on 20 April. The unnamed 42-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean Fitzpatrick, 66, of Greystones, Co. Wicklow, is scheduled to stand trial on April 13 on 12 counts of failing to disclose loans. He is charged under Section 197 of the Companies Act 1990 with allegedly failing to disclose to auditors Ernst & Young the true value of loans worth at least €139 million. These loans were reportedly provided by Irish Nationwide Building Society to him or connected parties between 2002 and 2007 while he served as an officer of Anglo Irish Bank. At a recent pre-trial hearing before Judge Mary Ellen Ring, counsel indicated that preparations are still ongoing. The judge set the trial date for April 13, aiming to resolve any outstanding issues during the upcoming two-week Easter vacation. Judge Ring stated that the court would remain available to hear any issues arising during this period. Consequently, the matter was adjourned to the trial date, and Mr Fitzpatrick was remanded on continuing bail. The trial is expected to last approximately eight weeks.
In the trial of Graham Dwyer for the alleged murder of Elaine O'Hara, the jury of five women and seven men was assured that their identities would not be published. The foreman had requested privacy after a query about the publication of his name. Judge Tony Hunt confirmed that no publication of any juror information would occur, despite the Juries Act lacking a specific provision. The jury had requested various exhibits, including knives found at Dwyer's workplace, a rusty blade at Killakee, and items near O'Hara's remains, which were provided. They deliberated for almost five hours on the 45th day of the trial, failing to reach a verdict. Dwyer, charged with murdering the 36‑year‑old childcare worker on 22 August 2012, has pleaded not guilty. The case remains in the Central Criminal Court.
During the 45th day of the Central Criminal Court trial of Graham Dwyer, the jury requested that certain items be made available in the jury room. The foreman asked for all knives in the case, a runner found near Ms O'Hara's remains, a spade found elsewhere at Killakee, and a backpack found in Vartry Reservoir. The trial had previously established that two knives were found in Dwyer's workplace basement in February 2014, a rusty blade was found at Killakee when Ms O'Hara's remains were discovered in September, and knives were also found at Vartry Reservoir. After the note was read, the judge acknowledged the request but explained that a letter found in Dwyer's home could not be provided because it had not been shown to the witness. The jury then requested a hoodie, white vest, bondage mask, and tracksuit bottoms found in the reservoir and near Ms O'Hara's remains. These items were provided, but the letter was denied.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 32‑year‑old Chico Makamda pleaded guilty to false imprisonment of Melita Cahill on 7 August 2013. The incident occurred around 2 a.m. on Blessington Street when Makamda, a Limerick resident originally from Angola, grabbed Cahill's right wrist and attempted to drag her into a laneway while shouting "you drank too much bitch." Cahill resisted, punching and kicking him, and managed to escape after about a minute and a half of restraint. A passer‑by heard her screams and helped her. Cahill's victim impact statement described lasting anxiety and panic attacks, noting she could not walk alone at night. The judge adjourned sentencing to the following month, with the case pending further proceedings.
Wicklow County Council has asked the High Court to order the demolition of a wooden chalet at Tinode, Blessington, which the council says was built without planning permission on land owned by Gregory and Gillian Kinsella. The chalet sits on a site that already had an old cottage and is located on the busy N‑81 road. The council seeks orders under Section 160 of the 2000 Planning and Development Act to remove the concrete base and timber structure. The Kinsellas argue they had a right to build the chalet as a replacement for the earlier cottage and that they would use only one dwelling on the site. The council cites a prior warning letter and a refusal of a retention application, and argues the chalet poses a traffic hazard. The case is pending, with the judge reserving his decision until after Easter.
The defence closed its case on the 39th day of Graham Dwyer's murder trial. Dwyer, 42, is charged with killing 36‑year‑old childcare worker Ms O'Hara on 22 August 2012, hours after she left a mental health hospital. He is a Cork‑born architect and father of three, living in Foxrock. The defence presented three witnesses. Mary Crosbie recalled seeing a woman crying in Shanganagh Cemetery on the evening of 22 August, describing the woman's appearance and clothing. She said she later reported the sight to the Gardaí after reading a newspaper article. Sheep farmer Richard O'Connor and John Donohue testified about their farms near Shankill and Roundwood Flying Clubs, noting Gardaí inquiries about dead sheep in 2011. The trial heard a text from Dwyer to Ms O'Hara in 2011 describing a dead sheep and a desire to stab it.
In the 37th day of the murder trial of architect Graham Dwyer, the prosecution closed its case at the Central Criminal Court. Detective Sergeant Peter Woods, a State witness, testified that he had never encountered a case with such extensive media leaks. He explained that he had not given Dwyer's solicitor additional information at the time of the arrest in October 2013, and that any extra details were provided only after subsequent interviews. Woods described the media presence at the Foxrock search and noted that the information released to the press had come from Gardaí, including updates from the Irish Times and the Independent. He also recounted that Chief Superintendent Diarmuid O'Sullivan and another detective sergeant had visited Dwyer's bins in the early hours of late September to collect a sample for DNA comparison. The trial concluded with the jury instructed to return on Wednesday morning.
Three men – Gary Freeman (27), Barry Gannon (36) and John Redmond (38) – were found guilty of assault causing harm and violent disorder after a 12‑day trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The offence took place in the yard of Mountjoy Prison on 28 August 2012 when the men attacked prisoner William McDonagh, pushing him to the ground and kicking him, as shown on CCTV footage. The court saw that Gannon struck McDonagh with a mop head, Redmond kicked and punched him, and Freeman punched and stamped on his head. McDonagh suffered lacerations, a damaged ear and bruising, and required 30 sutures. Each defendant was sentenced to three years' imprisonment with the final year suspended; Freeman's and Gannon's terms were back‑dated to 26 February 2015, and Redmond's to 18 December 2013. The judge noted the defendants' prior convictions and their expressions of remorse and rehabilitation efforts. Gary Freeman pleaded not guilty. Barry Gannon pleaded not guilty. John Redmond pleaded not guilty.
Detective Garda Catherine McGowan, aged 48 and based at Bray Garda Station, was acquitted of forging a letter from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and of using a false instrument. The case concerned an investigation into a priest accused of sexually abusing a teenage girl, a matter highlighted by the Murphy Report. McGowan had pleaded not guilty to one count of forgery and two counts of using a false instrument in 2009 and 2011. After a 14‑day trial, a jury of twelve deliberated for just over three hours and returned unanimous not‑guilty verdicts on all three counts. The State alleged McGowan had forged the letter to conceal her failure to complete the investigation, but the jury found no evidence of wrongdoing. The trial concluded with Judge Mary Ellen Ring thanking the jury for their service.
A jury has begun deliberating in the trial of Wicklow Detective Garda Catherine McGowan, aged 48, who is charged with forging a letter from the Director of Public Prosecutions. McGowan pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of forgery relating to an incident on 15 January 2009 at Bray Garda Station, and to two counts of using a false instrument concerning events on 21 and 22 June 2011 at Bray and Harcourt Street Garda Stations. The alleged forged letter, dated 14 January 2009, purportedly instructed that no prosecution should proceed in a clerical child‑abuse case, citing the complainant's allegation of rape as conjecture. The investigation was triggered by the Murphy Report, which examined the response of church and state authorities to clerical sexual abuse in Dublin. Judge Mary Ellen Ring addressed the jury of six men and six women before sending them out to deliberate, with a return scheduled for the next day.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Detective Garda Catherine McGowan, aged 48, pleaded not guilty to forging a letter from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and to using a false instrument in 2009 and 2011. The alleged forged letter, dated 14 January 2009, claimed no prosecution would be brought in a clerical child‑abuse case. McGowan's actions were investigated after the Murphy Report examined church and state responses to clerical abuse. The State's counsel argued that McGowan had fabricated the forgery to mislead investigators, citing her repeated lies to solicitors and alleged victims. Defence counsel maintained that McGowan had acted diligently and refused to admit wrongdoing when confronted with evidence of forgery. The trial concluded with the State and defence delivering closing speeches; Judge Mary Ellen Ring will now direct the jury to deliberate.
The trial of Wicklow Detective Garda Catherine McGowan, aged 48, was adjourned for a day because a jury member fell ill. McGowan pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of forgery for an alleged forged letter from the Director of Public Prosecutions dated 14 January 2009, and to two counts of using a false instrument relating to a clerical abuse case in 2011. The case was prompted by the Murphy Report on clerical sexual abuse. The trial will resume tomorrow before Judge Mary Ellen Ring with a 12‑person jury.