Robert Redmond (35) and Jamie Gray (27) pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing a PAK PM-63 submachine gun at M11 Southbound, Shankill, Dublin, on May 7, 2020. The charge, under Section 27A(1) of the Firearms Act 1964, alleged they had the firearm in their possession or control without a lawful purpose. Prosecution confirmed that count one, alleging participation in criminal organisation activity, would not be proceeded with. Mr Justice Paul Burns remanded Redmond in custody and granted Gray bail until July 10, when their sentence hearing will take place. Redmond, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in December last year for the murder of Barry Wolverson in Swords, Co Dublin, is currently serving that mandatory term. Gray, who has no indictable previous convictions, was granted a governor's report for his sentencing. Bernard Fogarty (34), Redmond's co-accused in the Wolverson murder, was also sentenced to life imprisonment. The court noted that Redmond had previously denied the murder charge, while Fogarty was convicted. The current matter remains pending sentencing, with the hearing scheduled for July 10.
A 36‑year‑old man, Gerard Cervi, faces trial at the Central Criminal Court on 2 October for the murder of Bobby Messett (50) and the attempted murder of boxing coach Pete Taylor, who was also shot when a gunman entered Bray Boxing Club on 5 June 2018. Cervi, originally from Dublin's East Wall, is also accused of attempting to murder Ian Britton on the same day and location. He has been in custody since September 2018, with his first trial in September 2021 collapsed after 10 weeks when a juror fell ill. The Court of Appeal had previously considered granting him bail under the strictest conditions, but denied bail after a trial date was fixed. The case is expected to last six weeks, with the court noting that the trial will likely be very long.
Anthony Larkin, 46, and Gerard Windrum, 38, were sentenced to a combined 13 years in prison for moving almost €1.2 million in cannabis resin. Larkin pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of just over 92 kg of the drug, worth about €556,800, seized at a storage unit in Mount Seskin, Tallaght on 1 April 2022. Windrum pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of 105 kg, worth just over €630,000, found at the same unit. Larkin had no prior convictions, while Windrum had 103, mainly traffic offences, including a heroin sale conviction. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Windrum to eight years and Larkin to five, citing their roles as couriers and the influence of debt. Gardaí had been surveilling the unit after a tip, discovered the drugs, and followed the vans to the transfer site in Brittas. Both men were arrested, questioned, and Larkin claimed his life was in danger due to drug debt.
In a High Court hearing, Mr Justice Charles Meenan noted that community protests had prevented the State from allocating over 335 beds to international protection applicants. He observed that the number of applicants seeking accommodation had fallen from about 500 to 217 in recent weeks. The judge urged the State to accommodate those remaining who were "unable to do so" because of protests at two facilities. He referenced a prior ruling that the Minister for Integration had failed to provide "material reception conditions" for a homeless Afghan asylum seeker, violating EU regulations. The court was updated that the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth had secured additional places, including 280 at Citywest Transit Hub and Kilbride, and was working on projects to add 1,200 beds. Approximately 1,000 previously unaccommodated asylum seekers had now been offered places, reducing the unaccommodated number to 217.
Vesel Jahiri, a convicted murderer serving life imprisonment, appeared before the Court of Appeal to challenge his Central Criminal Court convictions for the 2012 murder of Anna Finnegan and the stabbing of her brother, Karl Finnegan. Jahiri, who pleaded not guilty to both charges and was found guilty by a jury, is representing himself in this appeal. He alleges that gardaí planted evidence, including knives and a knife block, at his temporary address to link him to the crime. The appellant further claims the trial judge erred by excluding him from the latter stages of the trial, denying him a closing speech, and preventing him from inspecting the murder weapon. He asserts that gardaí wiped the knife blade to remove Karl Finnegan's fingerprints and deleted CCTV footage from Cabra Garda Station. The State, represented by Cathleen Noctor SC, countered that these were matters for the jury and that Jahiri's legal teams had access to all materials. Noctor noted that Jahiri's claims regarding the evidence were rejected by the jury and that his assertions about procedural failures were unsupported. The three-judge court, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, reserved its judgment in the matter.
Bill Kenneally, 72, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four-and-a-half years' imprisonment, to run consecutive to his existing 14-year and two-month sentence, after pleading guilty to 13 sample counts of indecently assaulting five boys. The offences, alleged to have occurred between December 1979 and March 1990 in the south east, involved boys aged 13 to 15. Kenneally had initially pleaded not guilty to 266 counts but entered guilty pleas on the sixth day of trial. Judge Martin Nolan described the conduct as "incredibly reprehensible," noting Kenneally abused his position as a coach and family friend. The judge set a headline sentence of 10 to 12 years, reduced to eight or nine years for the guilty plea, but imposed the consecutive term to reflect the seriousness of the crimes. Kenneally's earliest release date is October 2026. The court noted that a High Court judicial review seeking to halt the trial was rejected, and the Court of Appeal upheld that decision. A commission of investigation was subsequently established to examine State agency responses and a 1987 interview in which Kenneally allegedly admitted wrongdoing.
Gerard Cervi, the appellant accused of the murder of Bobby Messett and the attempted murders of Pete Taylor and Ian Britton at Bray Boxing Club in June 2018, may be granted bail on stringent conditions. The Court of Appeal found that Cervi has spent a "highly unusual amount of time" in custody, nearly five years, without a date for his second trial. While the State opposed bail, citing flight risk due to his post-incident travel to Spain, the court noted the absence of an imminent trial date. Justice George Birmingham stated that the substantial period in custody and uncertain timeline persuaded the court to contemplate bail, provided strict conditions are met. These proposed conditions include residing at a named address, signing on twice daily, surrendering travel documents and driving licence, installing a landline, and allowing electronic tracking of his mobile phone. The court invited parties to return to discuss whether these proposals were broadly appropriate. The matter was adjourned to allow for further discussion on the conditions, and no final decision on the bail application was made at this stage.
In a Waterford case, Dean Hurley, aged 53, was convicted in 2021 of sexually assaulting his 12‑year‑old stepdaughter between 1 and 30 October 2013. The jury sentenced him to three years and six months, with the final six months suspended. Hurley appealed, arguing that a post‑conviction victim impact statement contradicted earlier testimony. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, rejected all four grounds of appeal. The judges found the new statement did not materially affect the core allegation and that the trial judge's decisions on evidence admissibility and indictment amendments were correct. Consequently, the conviction was upheld and the appeal dismissed. The case remains at the conviction stage, with no change to the imposed sentence.
A trade union representing film workers has accused top producers Morgan O'Sullivan and the late James Flynn of systematically breaching employment law and attempting to 'fleece' workers of their wages. The Irish Film Workers' Association (IFWA) claims that its campaign against 'systematic blacklisting' in the Irish film industry led to 39 members losing jobs with Metropolitan Film Productions Ltd and World 2000 Entertainment Ltd, where O'Sullivan and Flynn were principal directors. The companies argue that designated activity companies and special-purpose vehicles set up for tax relief on film and TV productions in Ireland were not a circumvention of employment rights. IFWA representatives claim that a collective agreement was signed in 2015, which included a 12.5% pay cut and a waiver of travel allowances, but the companies unilaterally withdrew from the deal.
A father of two, who was a teenager when he repeatedly sexually assaulted a young boy, was sentenced to 18 months in prison. The defendant, who cannot be named, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to six counts of sexual assault that occurred between September 2007 and July 2010 at various locations in County Wicklow. He was 17 when he first assaulted the 14‑year‑old victim, masturbating the child and forcing the child to masturbate him. The abuse escalated when the victim was 15, with the offender forcing the child to perform oral sex. The victim reported that the abuse lasted just under three years and involved about 200 incidents. In his victim impact statement, the survivor said the abuse left him feeling worthless and full of self‑doubt, and he urged the court to prevent the offender from harming others. The defendant expressed shame and remorse, acknowledging the harm he caused.
A man accused of murdering Bobby Messett and attempting to murder boxing coach Pete Taylor during a shooting at Bray Boxing Club in June 2018 has applied for bail at the Court of Appeal, citing nearly five years in custody without a trial date. Gerard Cervi, originally from Dublin, faces charges relating to the incident in which a gunman entered the premises on Bray Harbour, County Wicklow, and fired nine shots. His trial at the Central Criminal Court collapsed in September 2021 after ten weeks when jury numbers fell below the required threshold. Cervi's legal team argued that extended delay, combined with an anticipated Supreme Court ruling on phone evidence, justified reconsideration of bail conditions. The State opposed the application, citing evidence that Cervi had purchased a one-way ticket to Malaga at the time of his arrest and had made unexplained trips to Spain after the shooting. Mr Justice George Birmingham adjourned the matter to May 18 for further submissions regarding Cervi's work history, travel patterns, and living arrangements.
In a High Court application, property developer Greg Kavanagh seeks orders to prevent the sale of Wynnstay House, a derelict Dublin property valued at over €2m. Kavanagh, director of Greg Kavanagh Dev Co Ltd, claims an agreement from a settlement of a prior dispute entitles his company to purchase the house from its registered owner, Ballycrag Developments Limited, which is in receivership, and from Ms Anne O'Neill, who holds a charge. He alleges the agreement to buy is being reneged on and that the property has been listed for €2.25m. Kavanagh argues that a €200,000 deposit was paid in March, with a further €1.8m due within eight months, but disputes claims that the payment was late or that he was evading obligations. The court granted permission to serve notice of the injunction application and will consider the matter at a next‑week sitting.
Adrian Heller, a worker at Floortech Industries Ltd, claimed he was unfairly dismissed for gross misconduct after throwing a helmet at a colleague. He said the incident occurred on a Thursday in 2021 at a Limerick client site, after a resin mix error forced a floor to be re‑laid. Heller argued the act was a one‑off frustration and not gross misconduct, citing a stressful job and a supervisor's threat to report him. The company, represented by Hallisey & Partners, presented evidence of aggressive, intimidating behaviour, including a hotel incident in Galway and a prior warning in 2019. The Workplace Relations Commission found the dismissal procedurally unfair, noting no written complaint, no right of reply, and an ambush disciplinary meeting. The adjudicating officer awarded Heller €2,500 in compensation, comprising €1,211.20 for lost earnings and €1,360 for two weeks' notice pay. The dismissal was deemed substantively fair but procedurally flawed.
Alan Swan, 52, of Drimnagh, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to eight counts of the unauthorised use of trademarks, including Adidas, Nike, Ugg, and Hugo Boss, arising from incidents at Liberty Market on December 21, 2015, and December 19, 2017. Judge Orla Crowe described the matter as an "unusual case" and directed the Probation Service to prepare a report assessing Swan's suitability for community service. The court is "minded" to impose a community service order, subject to this assessment. Evidence indicated that gardai seized counterfeit goods with an estimated street value of over €36,000 during operations at the market. Swan, who has 13 previous convictions for similar offences, admitted to renting the stalls but claimed he did not know the items were counterfeit. Defence counsel John Gallagher BL highlighted Swan's cooperation, his care for grandchildren, and his application for a taxi licence, requesting leniency. The judge noted the value of the guilty pleas to the prosecution. The matter was adjourned to July 7 for finalisation.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed Graham Dwyer's appeal against his conviction for the murder of Elaine O'Hara. President Mr Justice George Birmingham, delivering the judgment of the three-judge court, upheld the unanimous jury verdict from 2015. The court rejected Dwyer's argument that the admission of mobile phone call data records constituted a miscarriage of justice, noting that traditional detective work provided independent, compelling evidence linking the phones to him. The judges also dismissed claims regarding the trial judge's demeanor, adverse media coverage, and the admission of video evidence, finding no prejudice to the jury. Furthermore, the court rejected the defense contention that suicide remained a live issue, concluding there was sufficient evidence for the jury to infer Dwyer stabbed O'Hara to death. Dwyer, a 50-year-old architect, was originally sentenced by Mr Justice Tony Hunt to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for what was described as a chilling and premeditated murder following a campaign of manipulation. The appeal court confirmed that the admission of the limited call data evidence could not conceivably be regarded as giving rise to a miscarriage of justice, thereby upholding the conviction.
In a Dalkey coastal attack on 20 November 2020, 20‑year‑old Jakub Kaczar, then on bail, assaulted three victims at Hawk Cliff. He covered his hand in blood from a head cut and ran it along the face of Aisling Leahy, placing his fingers in her mouth, causing her to undergo blood tests and suffer great distress over a possible disease. Kaczar also punched David Morrell in the face and head, demanding an apology, and pushed Ciara Walsh onto a bench, bruising her leg. He pleaded guilty to separate counts of assaulting Morrell, Walsh and Leahy. The court sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions, and imposed concurrent sentences of 18 months for Walsh and two‑and‑a‑half years for Leahy, all to run consecutively to his existing 16‑month term.
Michael Deegan, 37, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for four counts of taking Go Car vehicles without consent in Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow during October 2021. The court described Deegan as the driver who drove his or his wife's car to locations where Go Cars were parked; a second man then broke into the vehicles, which had keys inside, and stole them. Damage of €3,000 was caused to one car and two vans that were later recovered, while a third van was never recovered, resulting in a €26,000 loss to the company. Deegan had seven prior road‑traffic convictions. He pleaded guilty, cooperated with Gardaí and had no significant criminal record, factors that the judge considered in sentencing. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the custodial term without any suspended portion.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 71‑year‑old man was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for raping and sexually abusing his younger sister from childhood until a final assault when she was heavily pregnant. The court heard that the man began raping his sister when she was 14, fearing pregnancy, and continued indecent assault until she met her future husband. He stopped raping her at that point but assaulted her again in 1983, when she was pregnant. The jury convicted him of 69 counts of indecent assault and rape between 1964 and 1973. The judge noted the victim's repeated attempts to report abuse were dismissed and she was beaten. The defendant, who has no prior convictions, accepted the verdicts but denied rape, and the court found little remorse or insight into his offending. The sentence was imposed with a suspended final year under strict conditions.
Tony Gummerson, aged 42, was sentenced to seven years in prison for sexually assaulting and raping his step‑niece when he was 17 and she was between seven and eight years old, between September 1997 and March 1998. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of four counts of sexual assault, two counts of oral rape and one count of rape. Gummerson had previously been convicted of sexual assault and served a three‑year sentence in 2012. He was babysitting the child at the time and was ten years older, breaching a significant trust. The judge noted the abuse was pre‑meditated and occurred behind closed doors, often after waking the victim from sleep. Gummerson did not accept the verdict, showed no remorse or apology, and the judge imposed a nine‑year sentence with the final two years suspended on conditions. The sentence was back‑dated to his June 2022 custody entry.
In a Court of Appeal hearing, two men, Curtis Devlin (28) and Patrick Gray (39), had their six‑year prison sentences upheld for blackmail and demanding with menace. The men entered a couple's home in Wexford in October 2020, claiming a drug debt owed by the couple's daughter. They demanded money and threatened to kill the wife and husband. After leaving, they called the couple from a getaway car, demanding €10,000 by 9 pm and issuing further threats. The appeal court found no difference in culpability between the men, ruling the case a joint enterprise. The court upheld the original sentences, noting the pre‑meditated targeting of innocent family members to pressure payment. The victim impact statement described the family's life as changed, with them feeling trapped and obsessed with safety in their own home. Curtis Devlin pleaded guilty. Patrick Gray pleaded guilty.
In a February 2023 decision, the Workplace Relations Commission dismissed the unfair dismissal claim of Fine Gael councillor Edward Timmins, who had alleged a sham redundancy at AB Group Packaging Ireland Ltd. Timmins, a former finance director, claimed he was forced out after a dispute with owner Dermot Brady over cash withdrawals. The commission found that Timmins had not raised any interpersonal complaints before the redundancy notice and that the company had a legitimate redundancy plan following a failed U.S. expansion. Timmins' refusal to participate in the employer‑led appeal process was deemed a major mistake, preventing him from presenting his arguments. The tribunal concluded the redundancy was genuine and rejected Timmins' claim, concluding the case after four hearings and a second adjudicating officer was appointed following a conflict‑of‑interest request by Timmins' counsel.
During a raid on 16 October 2020, Gardaí seized 102 g of cocaine, 2 g of heroin and evidence of cannabis cultivation from the Dublin flat of Aivar Kuura (40) and the kitchen of Michal Pozniakow (43). Kuura, who had 17 prior convictions including a 2010 drug‑dealing offence, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and heroin. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three and a half years' imprisonment. Pozniakow, with three earlier drug convictions, pleaded guilty to cultivation of cannabis and possession of cocaine. He was jailed for 21 months. The court noted that Pozniakow had overseen the cooking of crack cocaine and that the flat also contained a sophisticated cannabis growing operation. Both men were arrested and the seized drugs were valued at €7,504 for cocaine and €46,400 for heroin. The case was prosecuted by Caroline Cummings BL.
Clare Parsons, wife of the 34‑year‑old Vincent Parsons, gave a victim‑impact statement at the Central Criminal Court after the mandatory life sentences were imposed on Philip Disney (27) and Sean Carlyle (30). She described her husband as a loving, gentle family man who had never been aggressive. She said she was in denial when she first heard the news of his death, that the body was returned to her after ten days, and that the loss had shattered her family's life. She recalled the fear she felt when she realised he had been murdered, the long wait to see him, and the emotional toll of losing him. She thanked the court, the jury, the police and the public for their support, and said she would never get Vincent back but that justice had been served. The statement was read in plain Irish‑English prose and did not speculate on future outcomes.
In a High Court hearing on 11 January 2023, Mr Justice Paul McDermott criticised the Central Mental Hospital for its delayed preparation of a psychiatric report concerning Bahaalddin Alshwawrah, a 43‑year‑old man charged with murdering his partner Zeinat Bashabsheh, aged 42, on 24 December 2021 at their shared residence in Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow. The judge described the delay as "intolerable" and warned that reports unavailable for months hinder proper court business. He urged the State to ensure the hospital has adequate resources and to set a definitive date for the report's completion. The judge noted that several trials were scheduled but none were ready to proceed, and that the case had been pending for a year. The matter was rescheduled for 7 February 2023. The judge's remarks highlighted the need for timely psychiatric assessments in criminal proceedings.
Kevin Brazil, 53, was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 13‑year‑old boy in Wicklow between January and July 2020. The boy was befriended by Brazil, who gave him money, alcohol and cigarettes, and took him to Blessington Lakes where Brazil offered drinks and cigarettes. The assault involved Brazil touching the boy's leg. Brazil has a long criminal record, including eight years already served for earlier sexual assaults, a 2004 sentence of three years with the final year suspended, and a 2021 sentence of two‑and‑a‑half years for a 12‑year‑old victim. He also pleaded guilty in 2024 to sexual assault and communication offences in the State. The court noted the boy's mother observed a "massive change" in her son after the offence. Brazil's 15‑month term is back‑dated to January and he will not be released from his other sentences until January 2027.
Brandon Carroll, aged 19, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for robbing seven mobile phones and an electric scooter from boys at several south Dublin DART stations between 8 and 15 January. The judge suspended the final two years of the sentence. Carroll pleaded guilty to seven counts of robbery and one of attempted robbery. He was accompanied by a juvenile companion who threatened to stab victims and chased a 15‑year‑old boy down a railway track. The court noted Carroll's remorse, shame, difficult background, and vulnerability, including a history of 33 convictions and a borderline intellectual level. The judge ordered Carroll to engage with probation, addiction, and anger‑management services for two years upon release. Victims reported fear and anxiety about using public transport after the incidents.
The appeal of Tony Dean (70) of Woodhaven, Milltown, Dublin, who was found guilty of three charges relating to breaches of a waste management licence and environmental pollution at a site in Kerdiffstown, Naas, Co Kildare, between October 2003 and November 2008, is ongoing. Dean, who previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, was convicted by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The charges include two counts of disposing of or recovering waste at the facility in Kerdiffstown otherwise than in accordance with the waste licence, and a third charge of holding or recovering waste in a manner likely to cause environmental pollution. The prosecution case was that Dean was negligent rather than that he had connived or consented to commit the offences, which are contrary to the Waste Management Act, 1996. Dean has a previous conviction for recovery of waste without a licence relating to a site near Baltinglass, Co Wicklow, in 1998. The matter was adjourned by Judge Melanie Greally to January 30 next, pending further evidence regarding Dean's health and any scheduled heart surgery.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by a 64-year-old Wicklow man, who was convicted of raping his former partner in 2015. The appellant sought to introduce new forensic evidence regarding digital artefacts on the complainant's phone, specifically activity involving Google Play and Kindle apps at 3.51am, which his legal team argued was incongruous with the alleged assault. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, delivering the judgment, rejected the motion, stating it was unclear whether these entries were user-generated or background functions. The court found that the threshold for admitting fresh evidence, which requires exceptional circumstances, was not met, as there was no reason to suppose such records could not have been obtained at trial. The three-judge panel concluded the proposed evidence would not have a decisive influence on the case outcome. The man, who denied the charge, was originally convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court. In February 2019, Ms Justice Carmel Stewart sentenced him to seven years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended. The complainant, who read a victim impact statement at sentencing, stated she had forgiven the man for her own peace of mind. The appeal was dismissed, leaving the original conviction and sentence intact.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Paul O'Carroll (47) was convicted of unlawful killing after he punched Vincent Kelly (45) once outside the Royal Hotel in Bray on 9 June 2018. Kelly, who had taken a drink from the hotel bar, followed O'Carroll to retrieve it after the defendant moved it outside. O'Carroll struck Kelly in the face, causing him to fall and suffer catastrophic head injuries. Kelly was taken to St Vincent's Hospital, then Beaumont Hospital, where he later died from a heart attack. O'Carroll claimed he acted in self‑defence, but the jury rejected this. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended on strict conditions, citing O'Carroll's high moral culpability and his previous convictions. The sentence was imposed on the basis of the facts presented in the trial, without reference to any later developments.
Defrocked priest Denis Nolan, aged 70, had his 13‑year prison term extended by 18 months after the Central Criminal Court found he had repeatedly raped two boys between 2001 and 2005. Nolan pleaded guilty to three counts of anal rape, one of oral rape and five counts of sexual assault of a third boy. The court noted the abuse was described as violent, aggressive and prolonged, and that Nolan had groomed the victim by offering money for gardening work, alcohol and sexual acts. He had previously been jailed for seven years in 2014 and for six years in 2017 for similar offences. Justice Karen O'Connor imposed a nine‑year sentence, suspended seven and a half years, and ordered Nolan to remain under probation supervision for five years after release. The victim reported severe physical and mental harm, and Nolan has engaged in a sex‑offender treatment programme while in custody. The court emphasised the massive breach of trust involved.
In the Court of Appeal, the State maintained that the evidence against Graham Dwyer remains "overwhelming" and that the mobile‑phone call data used at trial was not essential to securing his conviction for the 2012 murder of Elaine O'Hara. Dwyer, aged 50, is appealing his 2015 conviction. His counsel argues that the retention of the call data constitutes an "opportunistic form of mass surveillance" and that the prosecution's reliance on it was improper. The State countered that Dwyer was identified through multiple independent routes: call‑data, text‑message analysis, DNA evidence, and documentary corroboration. The State highlighted that the texts sent from the phone attributed to Dwyer contained details that matched witnesses' statements and documents, including a child's birth‑certificate and a car‑repair bill. The appeal court has heard both sides and reserved judgment. The case remains at the appeal stage, with no new outcome announced.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 2 December 2022, Graham Dwyer, aged 50, was repeatedly interrupted by his legal team while he denied text messages that the prosecution claimed linked him to the murder of Elaine O'Hara in 2012. Dwyer's lawyers argued that the retention of mobile phone data used in the case was an "opportunistic form of mass surveillance" and that the evidence was not essential to securing the guilty verdict. The prosecution, represented by Sean Guerin SC, maintained that the texts, along with DNA and other documentary evidence, proved Dwyer's intent and identity. Dwyer's appeal focused on the admissibility of the phone data, citing European Court of Justice rulings that such retention breaches fundamental rights. The case remains before the Central Criminal Court.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 1 December 2022, lawyers for Graham Dwyer argued that the retention of mobile‑phone data used in his 2015 murder trial was an "opportunistic form of mass surveillance" that breached his rights under the European Charter of Fundamental Rights. Remy Farrell SC contended that the 2011 Communications (Retention of Data) Act, which required mobile‑phone companies to keep data for two years, amounted to indiscriminate surveillance of all phone users, not just suspected criminals, and that the data from Dwyer's work phone had been used to build a detailed picture of his life. Michael Bowman SC added that the trial judge's non‑verbal behaviour and the introduction of nine videos of Dwyer with various women may have unduly influenced the jury. Dwyer, 50, was convicted of murdering 36‑year‑old Elaine O'Hara in 2012 and was sentenced in 2015.
A 22‑year‑old man, assessed as having the intellectual capacity of a 14‑year‑old, was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to raping a 16‑year‑old girl in January 2017. The victim, who was also 16 at the time, described the assault as having permanently altered her life, leaving her with PTSD, insomnia, night terrors and panic attacks. She said the accused had taken her innocence and treated her like a rag doll, dehumanising her and causing her shame. The court considered the victim's testimony, the defendant's cognitive difficulties, his guilty plea and lack of prior convictions. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a sentence of three and a half years, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions, including probation supervision, no contact with the victim and engagement with appropriate services. The sentence reflected the mitigating factors of the defendant's age, maturity and intellectual capacity.
Three men—Francis Murphy (61), Declan Murphy (54) and Francis Boland (56)—were convicted of indecent assault on a child aged 11‑15 during the early 1980s. Each pleaded not guilty and had no prior convictions. The victim waived anonymity and described the abuse, which included forced masturbation and attempts to insert the men's penises into his mouth. The court noted that Murphy was an adult at the time, while Murphy and Boland were juveniles. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Murphy to 36 months' imprisonment, Declan Murphy to 30 months, and Boland to 22 months, deferred one month. All three will be placed on the sex offenders register. The victim's impact statement highlighted lasting psychological harm and ongoing difficulties with alcohol and drugs. The defendants' counsel highlighted their long work histories and lack of prior Garda attention. The judge emphasized the men's law‑abiding conduct since the offences and offered legal aid for any appeal.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the defrocked priest Denis Nolan, aged 70, pleaded guilty to multiple sexual offences against a schoolboy between 2001 and 2005. Nolan, who served as curate in Rathnew from 1998 to 2012, had been on the school's management board. He lured the 12‑year‑old boy to do gardening work, offering €15‑€100, then began asking about sex and molesting him. Nolan raped the boy on several occasions, including face‑down on a bed, in a car, and at the presbytery, sometimes after giving him beer. He also performed oral sex on the boy more than 15 times between 2005 and 2006. The victim's impact report described the abuse as "horrendous" and said it had caused lasting mental health problems. Nolan had previously been jailed for seven years in 2014 for a similar abuse in Wicklow and for six years in 2017 for another case.
Ann McDonald, alongside her husband Joseph and co-applicant Ned Murphy, launched High Court proceedings to prevent Everyday Finance from selling their home in Roundwood, Co Wicklow. The applicants allege that the receiver appointed by the fund is acting as an abuse of process and that the appointment was made outside the time limits of the 1965 Succession Act. The property, an 87.5-acre estate formerly used as a golf course, houses the McDonalds, their disabled grandson, and other family members. The applicants claim that Everyday Finance, which acquired a 2003 AIB charge in 2019, has delayed proceedings against the estate of Ann's late mother, Mary Healy, thereby losing the right to appoint a receiver. They seek an injunction restraining the sale or possession of the property, the discharge of the receiver, and an order preventing further appointments without court permission. The matter was heard before Ms Justice Siobhan Stack, who granted the applicants permission on an ex-parte basis to serve short notice of the injunction proceedings on the defendants. The judge made the matter returnable to a date later this month. The case remains at the hearing or decision stage, with the primary outcome being the adjournment of the final determination to allow for service of notice.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed Kieran Greene's appeal against his murder conviction for killing Patricia O'Connor at her home in Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, on May 29, 2017. Greene, who pleaded not guilty, had argued that the trial judge erred by refusing to leave a defence of provocation to the jury, claiming he suffered a "slow burn" similar to domestic abuse victims. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy rejected this, stating there was no evidential basis for such a defence. The court also upheld the refusal to sever Greene's trial from his co-accused and dismissed arguments regarding the admissibility of hearsay evidence concerning the deceased's husband, Augustine O'Connor. Augustine O'Connor, who pleaded guilty to reporting his wife missing to gardai at Rathfarnham Garda Station on June 1, 2017, knowing she was dead, was sentenced to 18 months in prison and has since died. In related proceedings, Louise O'Connor was found guilty of acquiescing in her daughter Stephanie O'Connor disguising herself as the deceased to conceal her death; Louise was jailed for two-and-a-half years. Stephanie O'Connor, found guilty of disguising herself as Patricia O'Connor, was jailed for one-and-a-half years. The appeal court confirmed the trial judge was correct in limiting jury options to murder, manslaughter, or acquittal, rejecting the defence's request for an accessory-to-murder verdict.
In November 2022, Declan Hannon, aged 52, appealed his 2019 convictions for raping a nine‑year‑old girl on four occasions and for two indecent assaults in Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow. He argued that the decades‑long delay in prosecuting the case had made his trial unfair. Hannon had been found guilty on all six counts and sentenced to seven years' imprisonment by Mr Justice Michael White. The victim, now in her 40s, had given evidence six times before the conviction. The appeal focused on whether the delay prejudiced Hannon, citing the death of his father in 2006, his mother's medical condition, lost work records, and the loss of evidence over the 11‑year gap between the initial complaint and her formal statement in 2013. The Court of Appeal considered these points but had not yet delivered a decision. The case remains at the appeal stage.
Daniel Walsh, a 30-year-old college student from Rush, Co Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for drug offences. He pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of cannabis herb and ketamine on the Skerries Road on January 9, 2021. He also admitted to having MDMA and cannabis for sale or supply at his home on the same date, as well as the unlawful possession of proceeds of crime. Gardaí stopped Walsh's van after observing it cross a white line, discovering nearly 2kg of cannabis, ketamine, and €6,900 in cash. A subsequent search of his home recovered additional drugs, including MDMA, with a total estimated street value of €42,924. Walsh told officers he was instructed to test the cannabis quality before handing over cash and stated he was selling drugs to support his own use. Defence counsel highlighted that Walsh is a third-year student who has removed himself from criminal associates following a psychotic episode linked to heavy drug use. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged it was unlikely Walsh would reoffend but noted the serious quantity of drugs warranted a prison term. The court imposed a four-year sentence, suspending the final two years on the condition that Walsh keep the peace for the four-year period.
The liquidator of Arden Forestry Management Ltd, a company accused of operating as a Ponzi scheme, seeks to hold two former directors, David Peile and Garret Hevey, personally liable for the firm's €3.8 million debt. Mr Declan De Lacy, appointed liquidator in 2016, argues that the directors deceived mainly older foreign investors by promising that their money would buy forest land and later yield returns. In reality, the company spent only €133 000 on land and returned €393 000 to investors, while the bulk of the €6.4 million raised was misappropriated. Hevey was sentenced to six years' imprisonment after an appeal, and Peile to three years. De Lacy's application, presented to Mr Justice Brian O'Moore, requests High Court orders declaring the directors' intent to defraud creditors and making them personally liable for the debt. The case will return next week.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 7 October 2022, PJ Bennett, father of 29‑year‑old Sharon Bennett, delivered a victim‑impact statement after Patrick Ballard was sentenced to a mandatory life term for murdering his girlfriend. Bennett described the murder as a "nightmare" that has devastated his family, noting that Sharon was a loving daughter and mother of two girls. He expressed remorse for not protecting her and stated he does not blame the Ballard family, only Patrick. Bennett recounted the difficulties caused by Covid‑19 restrictions, which prevented him from seeing Sharon in intensive care for five days and from holding a proper funeral. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Burns, highlighted the brutality of the attack, the victim's blamelessness, and the impact on her children. Ballard, 35, had pleaded guilty to murder and had a history of 140 convictions, including assault and theft. The sentencing was back‑dated to 28 January 2021, when Ballard entered custody. Sharon Bennett pleaded not guilty.
Patrick Ballard, aged 35, pleaded guilty to murdering his former partner, Ms Bennett, aged 29, in a public toilet in County Clare on 28 January 2021. Ballard had initially pleaded not guilty but, two days into his trial at the Central Criminal Court, admitted that his kicking and stamping caused Bennett's death. Witnesses, including Hussein 'Jamesie' Abdullah, testified that Ballard attacked Bennett in the toilet, pushing her onto a metal floor and repeatedly stamping and kicking her head. Bennett was taken to hospital in Limerick, where she died on 10 February 2021. Ballard was re‑arrested on 24 March 2021 and charged with murder. The trial, expected to last two weeks, was adjourned to hear a victim impact statement, with the mandatory sentence for murder being life imprisonment.
In a murder trial in Ennis, a 35‑year‑old man, Patrick Ballard, is accused of killing his partner, 29‑year‑old Sharon Bennett, by repeatedly kicking and stamping on her head in a public toilet. Ballard, formerly of Ashford Court Hotel, admitted that his actions caused Bennett's death and accepted that the killing was unlawful, but pleaded not guilty to murder. The prosecution, led by Dominic McGinn, outlined that the fatal assault occurred after an argument in a covered car park, witnessed by others and captured on CCTV. Ballard allegedly pushed a third man out of the toilet, continued the assault, and left the scene before an off‑duty guard arrived. Bennett was taken to hospital, survived initially, but died on 10 February 2021. The trial will focus on Ballard's intent and the unlawful nature of his violence. The hearing is scheduled to last two weeks.
Patrick Ballard, 35, of Ashford Court Hotel, Ennis, is set to stand trial for the murder of Sharon Bennett, 29, in Ennis's Market area on 10 February 2021. He was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court and pleaded not guilty. The case stems from an incident on 28 January 2021, after which Bennett died weeks later. Mr Justice Paul Burns informed the jury that both parties lived in Ennis and that the matter was investigated by Garda officers from Shannon and Ennis. The trial will last two weeks.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Vincent Kelly, 45, died from head injuries after being punched once in the face by Paul O'Carroll, 47, outside the Royal Hotel in Bray on 9 June 2018. O'Carroll was found guilty of unlawful killing. The court heard that Kelly had been drinking and had been in the hotel lobby when O'Carroll took his drink, walked out, and struck him once. CCTV showed no defensive action by Kelly. Kelly fell, sustained catastrophic head injuries, was taken to St Vincent's Hospital, then Beaumont Hospital, and died the next day. O'Carroll claimed he acted in self‑defence, feeling threatened, and later made a voluntary statement. The judge adjourned the case to 13 October for finalisation. The hearing also included impact statements from Kelly's wife and sister, describing the devastation and lasting change to the family's lives. The court considered O'Carroll's community involvement and prior convictions in sentencing. The case remains pending.
Graham Dwyer, convicted of the 2012 murder of Elaine O'Hara, has secured a December 1 date to appeal his conviction in the Court of Appeal. Dwyer's legal team, represented by Brian Gageby BL, stated they are finalizing submissions to argue that his conviction should be quashed following a recent Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruling. The CJEU determined that the indiscriminate retention of mobile phone data for criminal investigations breaches EU law. This data was central to the evidence against Dwyer, used to track his movements and contacts with O'Hara. Mr Justice George Birmingham, President of the Court of Appeal, set the hearing date but warned it could change if submissions are not filed this week. Dwyer, a 49-year-old architect, was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court in 2015. He had previously appealed on the grounds that the use of mobile phone metadata under the 2011 Communications (Retention of Data) Act was unconstitutional and breached his privacy rights. While the High Court ruled in his favor, the State appealed, leading to the CJEU referral. In a separate recent case, Mr Justice Tony Hunt rejected similar arguments in the trial of Wayne Cooney, who was convicted of murdering Jordan Davis, stating that EU privacy rights do not trump considerations in serious crime investigations. The matter remains at the appeal stage, with the hearing scheduled for December 1.
The Court of Appeal heard arguments in the appeal of Kieran Greene, who was convicted of murdering Patricia O'Connor at her home in Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, on May 29, 2017. Greene's counsel argued that the trial judge erred by refusing to allow the jury to consider provocation, claiming Greene suffered a "slow burn provocation" similar to domestic abuse. Counsel also contended that Greene's trial should have been separate from that of Louise O'Connor, Stephanie O'Connor, and Keith Johnston, whose charges stated Greene was the murderer, causing prejudice. Additionally, counsel sought to admit hearsay evidence regarding Augustine O'Connor and call a psychiatrist to testify about Greene's low IQ. The Director of Public Prosecutions responded that the trial judge was correct in excluding the provocation direction and the hearsay evidence. The matter was adjourned, with the three-judge panel to deliver their judgement at a later date. In related proceedings, Augustine O'Connor pleaded guilty to reporting his wife missing while knowing she was dead and was sentenced to 18 months in prison before his death. Louise O'Connor was found guilty of acquiescing in her daughter Stephanie O'Connor disguising herself as Patricia O'Connor to conceal the death, and was sentenced to two-and-a-half years. Stephanie O'Connor was found guilty of disguising herself as her mother to conceal the death and was jailed for one-and-a-half years.
Robert Duffy, a 50‑year‑old former IRA member, was jailed for life in Northern Ireland for the 1993 murder of John Gibson, a building contractor director. He was released on licence under the Good Friday Agreement in July 2000, but in 2008 he was convicted in the Republic of Ireland for attempting to murder Colin O'Neill at the Emerald Bar in Dundalk. Duffy pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life imprisonment after firing a shotgun at O'Neill, who survived but was injured. Following his conviction, his release licence was suspended by the Northern Ireland Secretary of State and a warrant was issued under the EU‑UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement to return him to Northern Ireland to serve the remainder of his sentence for Gibson's murder.
Ndricim Qema, 27, an asylum seeker who had arrived from Albania in 2018 and lived in Direct Provision, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for his role in a people‑smuggling operation that illegally brought 12 Albanian nationals into Ireland. Qema pleaded guilty to three counts of people smuggling at Dublin airport in 2019, and to one count each of money laundering, possessing a false instrument and using a false instrument at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He had been in custody since April 2021 and had 29 prior convictions, mainly for alcohol theft. Gardaí recovered a phone containing 30 photos of false IDs and messages linking Qema to his father, a senior smuggler, and to others seeking to enter Ireland. The judge described Qema as an "integral part" of the operation in Ireland, noting that the leaders were based in Albania. The sentence was back‑dated to the time of his arrest.