In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Simon Dominican Byrne, 40, received a two‑year suspended sentence for two counts of deception after he falsely presented insurance certificates to Mary Ring, who had engaged him to build an extension on her home. Byrne claimed to be insured, but the certificates were fabricated, and he was uninsured when he began work. Ring said the deception caused her and her husband to lose their savings and forced them to live in a home without heating. Byrne admitted the mistake, citing debt and mental health issues, and the judge noted his personal stress and family responsibilities. The judge imposed concurrent two‑year sentences, suspended in full, with strict conditions including probation and therapy. The case remains subject to ongoing civil proceedings regarding the loss suffered by the homeowners.
Daniel Murtagh, aged 34, has filed affidavits to appeal his murder conviction for the death of 30‑year‑old Nadine Lott, who was severely beaten at her St Mary's Court apartment in Arklow on 17 December 2019. Murtagh pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denied murder; the State rejected this plea and he was convicted by a unanimous jury. Sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment in October, the judge described the crime as brutal and cited emergency services evidence of terror and brutality. Murtagh's appeal requires two affidavits, one already filed and a second expected by lunch. The Court of Appeal will mention the case again on 15 July. Lott's mother, Claire Lott, testified that her daughter was unrecognisable after the attack and that the violence was "total carnage." The jury found no defence of intoxication, rejecting Murtagh's claim that alcohol prevented intent. The case remains at the Court of Appeal stage.
Patrick Ballard, 35, of Ashford Court Hotel, Ennis, faces a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court on 4 October. He is accused of killing Sharon Bennett, 29, a mother of two, in Ennis's Market area on 28 January 2021. Initially charged with assault causing harm, the charge was withdrawn in March 2021 and replaced by a murder charge. Bennett died 13 days later at University Hospital Limerick. Ballard and Bennett were in a relationship at the time of the alleged murder. The Director of Public Prosecutions has confirmed the case is ready for trial.
Stephen Carney, serving a life sentence for the 2007 murder of his girlfriend Amanda Jenkins, has filed a judicial review against the Minister for Justice. He argues that the 2021 introduction of a new statutory Parole Board has disrupted the administrative processes that previously governed his rehabilitation plan. Under the former system, Carney had successfully progressed through stages of a release programme, including temporary release for training, and was expected to move to the next stage in January 2024. The Minister's response directed him to engage with the new board, which Carney claims will not review his case until at least the third quarter of 2023. He seeks orders compelling the Minister to decide on his application, declarations that the Minister is acting unlawfully, and an order quashing the alleged refusal. The case was adjourned to October after Mr Justice Charles Meenan granted permission to proceed.
Karl Cummins, 29, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a four‑month suspended sentence for dangerous driving after he forced a Garda patrol car to take evasive action in Tallaght in 2017. Cummins, who has 65 prior convictions including 15 for dangerous driving and was banned from driving for 16 years in 2015, pleaded guilty to the offence at Fettercairn Ring Road on 21 July 2017. During the sentencing hearing in March, the court heard that Cummins had turned his life around, had brought €500 to the court as a token of remorse, and had been engaged in voluntary work. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the sentence in full on the condition that Cummins engage with the Probation Service for 12 months and disqualified him from driving for eight years. The case was brought by Detective Garda David Jennings, who described the pursuit and the car's evasive manoeuvre.
Gary O'Brien, 24, of Old Connaught View, Bray, was sentenced to 14 months' imprisonment for threatening to kill Gardaí and their families and for damaging a Garda car. The offences occurred on 21 September 2021 at Shanganagh Park and Shankill. Garda Matthew Firran reported that O'Brien was seen behind a car, threw an object over a wall, and later became abusive, threatening to follow Gardaí home and kill them and their families. He also threw an object at a Garda car, damaging a window. O'Brien was taken to Dun Laoghaire Garda Station, deemed intoxicated, and later claimed he was playing hurling. He pleaded guilty to two charges of threatening to kill or cause serious harm and to criminal damage. Judge Martin Nolan, noting O'Brien's 74 prior convictions and his "reprehensible" behaviour, imposed the 14‑month term, back‑dated to his entry into custody, taking the criminal damage charge into account.
James Howlin, 29, of Bray, was jailed after pleading guilty to possessing cocaine with intent to supply. He was originally sentenced to 10 years, the mandatory minimum for the offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. The Court of Appeal found the judge had erred by ignoring mitigating factors such as Howlin's early guilty plea and his status as a chronic addict who moved the drugs to pay a debt. The appeal was allowed and the 10‑year term was quashed. The new headline sentence was seven‑and‑a‑half years, reduced by one year for the early plea and another year to encourage rehabilitation. The Court noted the original judge had not considered these factors in the first instance. The decision was made by Mr Justice John Edwards, with Ms Justice Isobel Kenendy and Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh.
Paulo Nascimento, 46, serving a life sentence for the 2002 murder of Grainne Dillon, has lodged a High Court challenge against the Minister for Justice. He argues that the Minister has refused to consider his entitlement to parole under the newly established statutory Parole Board, despite earlier recommendations for temporary release under the former non‑statutory system. Nascimento claims that the Minister's refusal to act on his parole application breaches his rights and the Minister's duties. He seeks orders requiring the Minister to decide on his release, declarations that the Minister's refusal is unlawful and a breach of his constitutional rights, and that the Minister's actions amount to a failure to fulfil her duties under the European Convention on Human Rights. The case was granted permission to proceed and is scheduled to return to court in October.
Michael Lynn, a former solicitor aged 53, faces a retrial set for 16 October 2023 after a previous trial in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court ended with a hung jury. He was accused of stealing about €27 million from seven banks between 2006 and 2007, including Bank of Ireland, National Irish Bank, Irish Life and Permanent, Ulster Bank, ACC Bank, Bank of Scotland Ireland Ltd and Irish Nationwide Building Society. Lynn pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of theft covering the period from 23 October 2006 to 20 April 2007. During the original trial he claimed the banks knew he held multiple mortgages on the same properties and that this was a common practice in Celtic Tiger Ireland. He also alleged he had secret deals with bankers that allowed him to use loan money for property developments abroad. Prosecutor John Berry said the Director of Public Prosecutions sought a retrial to make certain enquiries following Lynn's assertions.
Graham Dwyer, aged 49, is set to file appeal submissions by 15 July after the Court of Appeal confirmed the case could be heard in autumn. The appeal stems from a 2022 European Court of Justice ruling that indiscriminate retention of mobile phone data breaches EU law, a key element in his 2015 conviction for murdering childcare worker Elaine O'Hara. Dwyer's lawyers argue that metadata used at trial was unlawful under the 2011 Communications (Retention of Data) Act, which the EU Court found invalid. The appeal will address whether the data should have been admissible and whether his conviction should be quashed. The Director of Public Prosecutions will need time to respond, and the case is unlikely to be heard before the October court term. The appeal will be revisited in July for progress updates. Dwyer was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court in 2015 for O'Hara's murder on 22 August 2012.
The High Court granted a temporary injunction on an ex-parte basis, preventing Brian McDonagh from trespassing on or interfering with 82 acres of land at Mount Kennedy, Kilpedder, Co Wicklow. The order was made in favour of Fane Investments Limited, which alleges that McDonagh, a former owner, is obstructing access to the property, which has planning permission for a data centre. Ms Justice Nuala Butler issued the order after being satisfied by the evidence presented. Fane Investments, represented by Frederick Gilligan BL, claims it acquired the land from Ulster Bank in 2021 and leases it to local farmers. Counsel alleged that McDonagh has repeatedly cut gate locks, replaced them with his own, parked vehicles to block access, and acted aggressively towards agents. It was further alleged that McDonagh claimed ownership in correspondence and threatened to report interference with livestock to the Gardaí. Counsel noted that while McDonagh and his brothers Maurice and Kenneth were involved in lengthy proceedings with Ulster Bank, that action was resolved in favour of the bank by the Court of Appeal last April. The current injunction proceedings will return before the High Court later this month.
The jury in the multi‑million euro theft trial of former solicitor Michael Lynn was discharged after failing to reach a majority verdict following more than 12 hours of deliberations in a three‑and‑a‑half‑month trial. Judge Martin Nolan asked whether the jury could reach a verdict if given more time; the jurors replied they could not, so the judge had no option but to discharge them. Lynn, aged 53 and from Millbrook Court, Red Cross, Co Wicklow, had pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of theft relating to Dublin property transactions between 23 October 2006 and 20 April 2007. He had claimed that banks were aware of his multiple mortgages on the same properties and that this was "custom and practice" in Celtic Tiger Ireland. He also alleged secret deals with bankers and a profit‑share agreement with former Irish Nationwide chief executive Michael Fingleton concerning a property development in Portugal.
The jury in the multi‑million euro theft trial of former solicitor Michael Lynn was informed that it could return a majority verdict if it could not reach unanimity. After deliberating for just under ten hours, Judge Martin Nolan announced that a majority verdict would be accepted provided at least ten jurors agreed. The jury continued for another twenty minutes before being dismissed for the night, with a return to court scheduled for 2 p.m. tomorrow. Mr Lynn, aged 53 and residing at Millbrook Court, Red Cross, Co Wicklow, faces 21 counts of theft relating to the alleged theft of approximately €27 million from seven financial institutions between 23 October 2006 and 20 April 2007. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
The jury in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial of former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, was sent home after six hours and 35 minutes of deliberation. Judge Martin Nolan directed the jury to return the following morning. Lynn stands accused of stealing approximately €27 million from seven financial institutions between 23 October 2006 and 20 April 2007, facing 21 counts of theft. He has pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleges that Lynn secured multiple mortgages on the same properties, a practice the banks claimed was common in Celtic Tiger Ireland. Lynn contends that the banks were aware of his multiple loans and that he had "secret deals" with bankers who allowed him to use the loan money for overseas property developments. He also testified that he and former Irish Nationwide chief executive Michael Fingleton were involved in a purported secret profit‑share agreement concerning a property development in Portugal.
Mary Kennedy, a 46‑year‑old former accounts worker at St Columcille's Hospital, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for stealing more than €670,000 over a 16‑year period. Kennedy devised a fraudulent scheme that involved issuing cheques to doctors who were not actually employed by the hospital. After the hospital's computerisation in 2019, she arranged for the money to be paid into her brother‑in‑law Paul Leeson's account, who later returned the funds to her and made a €5,000 profit. Kennedy pleaded guilty to 16 counts of theft and two counts of fraud covering 2004‑2020, while Leeson pleaded guilty to one count of possessing the proceeds of crime between June 2019 and October 2020. Judge Martin Nolan, noting mitigating factors such as Kennedy's health problems, lack of prior convictions and role as a mother, imposed a two‑year sentence, which was fully suspended for Leeson.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, faces 21 counts of theft involving about €27 million from seven banks. The prosecution alleges Lynn secured multiple mortgages on the same properties without the banks' knowledge, using the funds for overseas property developments. Lynn maintains that the banks were aware of his multiple loans and that such arrangements were customary among bankers during the Celtic Tiger era. He claims he had "secret deals" with several bankers, including a profit‑share agreement with former Irish Nationwide chief executive Michael Fingleton for a Portuguese development. Defence counsel argues that Lynn made monthly repayments and that the banks had no complaints until a solicitor, Fiona McAleenan, contacted the Law Society in 2007. Judge Martin Nolan directed the jury to acquit if they find Lynn had the banks' permission to use the loans, and to consider the State's case only if they cannot prove deception beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial of former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, is a multi‑million‑euro theft case. Lynn is accused of stealing about €27 million from seven banks between October 2006 and April 2007, and has pleaded not guilty to 21 theft counts. Prosecutor Patrick McGrath argues that Lynn obtained multiple mortgages on the same properties while banks were unaware of other lenders, and that he fabricated evidence of "secret deals" with bankers. He claims Lynn deliberately introduced a third server to confuse the case and that no emails or payments supporting the alleged deals exist. Lynn's defence, led by Paul Comiskey‑O'Keeffe, maintains that the banks were aware of his loan usage, that the evidence is incomplete, and that Lynn acted within a custom of the Celtic Tiger banking system. The trial continues with the jury to decide on each count.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former Irish Nationwide senior officer Brian Fitzgibbon testified that he never met or spoke to Michael Lynn, contradicting Lynn's claim of a friendly relationship with former Irish Nationwide chief executive Michael Fingleton. Fitzgibbon, who managed home loans, stated that he had no knowledge of Lynn's alleged secret deals or any special arrangements with Fingleton. He described Irish Nationwide as an asset‑backed lender that required a legal charge on properties and that Fingleton could amend loan terms but never lend without an asset. Fitzgibbon also said he was uncomfortable with a €5.5 million loan for Lynn's Howth property and sent it to Fingleton for approval. Two other bankers, Micheál McHugh and Gerry O'Gorman, also denied meeting Lynn. The trial, which involves 21 counts of theft, will resume on Thursday. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former solicitor Michael Lynn faces 21 counts of theft, accused of stealing about €27 million from seven banks between October 2006 and April 2007. Lynn maintains he had "custom and practice" among bankers to obtain multiple mortgages on the same properties and claims he had secret deals allowing loan money to be used for overseas property developments. Bankers, including Stephen McCarthy of Ulster Bank and Ciaran Farrell of Irish Life and Permanent, testified that the loans were strictly for the 11 residential investment properties and that no alternative use was permitted. Both McCarthy and Farrell denied any special arrangements or receipt of money from Lynn. The trial continues with Judge Martin Nolan and a jury hearing the prosecution's case and rebuttal evidence. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
During the 47th day of the trial, Brid Murphy, wife of former solicitor Michael Lynn, testified that after his arrest in August 2013, she did not know whether he was alive or dead for five days. She described how he was taken into custody by five officers, then transported to a Brazilian prison where she was told he was not beaten. Murphy recounted her visits to the prison, noting strict visitation rules, the presence of armed guards, and the requirement to give half of her weekly food allowance to a prison "chaveiro" as tax. She also mentioned that Lynn had two more children while imprisoned and that he had become ill, prompting her to seek assistance from the Irish ambassador, which was denied. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, continues with a jury. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
During his trial for 21 counts of theft, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, denied stealing any money from Irish banks. He claimed the alleged €27 million theft was incorrect and that he had not forged or misrepresented any undertakings. Lynn said he had a long history of lending with the banks and that they were aware of his intended use of the loans. He argued that the banks' different system of undertakings was not a factor in any alleged fraud. Lynn also stated he had served five years in prison in Brazil and was fighting the charges because he believed the banks knew what was happening. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Lynn was not legally obliged to remain in Ireland when he travelled abroad. The trial continues. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
During a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, admitted that he moved to Brazil on 13 June 2011 without informing Gardaí, despite prior arrangements for interviews between 2008 and 2011. The court heard that Lynn had agreed to several Garda interviews, all of which were cancelled or did not occur, and that he had not notified Gardaí of his relocation to Brazil. Lynn also denied that he had instructed former legal executive Liz Doyle to forge accountant signatures on statements of affairs used in loan applications. He claimed he was unaware of forged signatures or stamps on documents submitted to banks, and that any omissions were due to oversight by others. The trial continues with these allegations and denials in focus. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 16 May 2022, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, denied that he had lied to the jury about alleged secret deals with senior Irish bankers. He was on trial for 21 counts of theft, accused of stealing about €27 million from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. Lynn claimed the banks knew he had taken multiple mortgages on the same properties and that this was "custom and practice" in Celtic Tiger Ireland. He said he had a "secret profit deal" with former Irish Nationwide chief executive Michael Fingleton, who allegedly would profit from a property development in Portugal. Lynn also alleged that bank officials from Irish Life and Permanent, Bank of Ireland, Bank of Scotland Ireland, Ulster Bank and National Irish Bank had met with him or his company to facilitate these arrangements. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
Michael Lynn, a 53‑year‑old former solicitor, is on trial for the alleged theft of about €27 million from seven banks between 2006 and 2007. He has pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of theft. In court he defended his decision not to disclose alleged secret deals with senior bankers, claiming he had been prevented from meeting Gardaí in Portugal in 2008 and that translation issues delayed his extradition from Brazil, where he lived from 2011 to 2018. Lynn said he had given senior bankers "spending money" or bonuses of €5,000–€10,000 while travelling abroad, and that he had paid for flights and hotels for bankers such as Michael Fingleton and Maurice Ahern. He maintains he repaid banks monthly from 1997 and that he and his wife now rely on welfare and family support. The trial will resume next week before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
During his trial for a €27 million theft case, 53‑year‑old former solicitor Michael Lynn described his experience in a Brazilian prison where he was held awaiting extradition. He said the jail was next to a large dump, that inmates ran the facility, and that there were 1,800 prisoners and only 10 guards. Lynn recounted being moved to a section for educated inmates, where some were given guns and large swords. He claimed to have witnessed violence, including the beheading of a young man who was gay, and described the environment as "like something from Game of Thrones." Lynn also explained that he had been arrested in Recife in August 2013, had resisted extradition to allow his wife to give birth, and that conjugal visits were permitted in the prison. The trial continues. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
Michael Lynn, aged 53, is on trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for 21 counts of theft involving about €27 million from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. He has pleaded not guilty. During the third day of evidence, Lynn described himself as greedy and driven but not a thief, claiming that banks were "confederates" and that they had lent him money for a property called Glenlion in Howth, which he says was actually used for a development in Portugal. He alleged that loans were rolled over verbally and that banks were aware of the practice. Lynn also recounted that in 2007 his accounts were frozen by the High Court and that he sought "breathing space" from senior bankers, including Michael Fingleton and Sean FitzPatrick, to repay the debts. The trial is proceeding before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
During a multi‑million euro theft trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, testified that he had obtained permission from banks to use mortgage loan money for property developments abroad. He claimed the banks understood the funds were to purchase specific sites and repay the loans, and that similar arrangements dated back to 2003 with the Bank of Ireland. Lynn said he had emailed bankers about these arrangements, but no copies of the emails remain. He was accused of stealing about €27 million from seven financial institutions and pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of theft between October 2006 and April 2007. The prosecution alleges he secured multiple mortgages on the same properties without the banks' knowledge of other lenders. Lynn maintained that he conducted all business via a Kendar email address and that the banks facilitated his transactions. The trial is ongoing before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
Martin Cunningham, 27, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for assault causing harm and producing a machete. He pleaded guilty to these charges after the DPP dropped an initial attempted murder allegation. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon set a headline sentence of five years but reduced it to four years, citing Cunningham's remorse and early plea. The final 12 months were suspended for two years, with conditions including regular urinalysis and attendance at Probation Services programs. Cunningham, who has been in custody since April 2019, has already served more than three years. The court heard the attack on Kenneth Fitzsimons occurred near Finglas Garda Station and was part of a broader feud between rival gangs. Fitzsimons, who is serving a five-and-a-half year sentence for possession of a firearm, suffered severe injuries requiring four litres of blood. The judge noted Cunningham remains at risk of violent reoffending and must address anger management issues. Cunningham was on bail at the time of the offence and was subsequently fined for driving offences while on remand. He also has previous convictions for driving without insurance, possession of drugs, assault, and making threats while in custody.
Michael Lynn, a former solicitor aged 53 from Red Cross, County Wicklow, gave evidence in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the thirteenth week of his trial on charges of theft. Mr Lynn pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of theft totalling approximately €27 million from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. The prosecution alleges he obtained multiple mortgages on identical properties without the knowledge of lending institutions. Under questioning from his defence barrister, Mr Lynn outlined his career progression from a Mayo farming background through Trinity College education to establishing his own legal practice in 1997. He described expanding his Blanchardstown-based firm and concurrent involvement in property development and overseas ventures through his company Kendar Holdings Limited. Mr Lynn testified that between late 2005 and October 2007, he was not involved in day-to-day management of his legal practice, stating he was travelling constantly during this period. The trial, which resumed following Mr Lynn's Covid-related absence, continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
Edward Timmins, a Fine Gael councillor and former finance director of AB Group Packaging Ireland Ltd, claims he was unfairly made redundant in 2020 after 19 years with the company. He alleges the redundancy was a sham driven by interpersonal difficulties with owner Dermot Brady, rather than genuine financial restructuring. The company contends the role was eliminated to make the business more agile following a failed U.S. expansion and a shift to a new software system. Timmins says he was told his position was at risk due to the company's withdrawal from the U.S. market and cost‑cutting needs, and that he was offered statutory redundancy pay and a six‑month notice period. He disputes the process as "baseless" and "railroaded," while the company's HR consultant, Mark Slattery, maintains the redundancy was part of a legitimate restructuring plan. The Workplace Relations Commission has adjourned the case for further cross‑examination.
Martin Cunningham, 27, struck Kenneth Fitzsimons, 41, with a machete during a gang feud near Finglas Garda Station. Fitzsimons suffered severe injuries, including exposed ribs and required four litres of blood. Cunningham had previously been charged with attempted murder but the DPP dropped that charge after he pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and producing a machete. Fitzsimons, who had a five‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for firearm possession, declined to testify at trial, citing drug‑related memory loss. Cunningham, who has prior convictions for driving offences and drug possession, was fined for driving while on remand and had been convicted of assault and threats while in custody. The Central Criminal Court heard that the assault was Cunningham's reaction to attacks on his home, including a firearm discharge, and that he accepted responsibility for his actions. The court will sentence him next Monday.
The jury in the multi‑million euro theft trial of former solicitor Michael Lynn was sent home again after Judge Martin Nolan informed them that Lynn, who is 53 and lives in Millbrook Court, Red Cross, Co Wicklow, remains ill. The trial, now in its 13th week, had been paused last week when Lynn tested positive for Covid. The judge adjourned the proceedings to tomorrow, noting that the jury would be contacted later to determine the next steps. Lynn faces 21 counts of theft for €27 million stolen from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 23‑year‑old Denis Condron pleaded guilty to harassing his former girlfriend, Elva Duffy, between December 2019 and March 2020. Condron, who had been dating Duffy for several months, claimed that a car crash had altered his personality, making him paranoid, obsessive and possessive. He allegedly called her up to 15 times a day, demanded photographs to prove her identity, video‑called her while she slept, and threatened to kill himself and to send intimate photographs to her parents. After the relationship ended, he continued to contact her, sometimes following her to public places and her college. Judge Martin Nolan found the cumulative behaviour amounted to harassment, imposed a two‑year sentence suspended in full for two years, and ordered Condron no contact with Duffy for 30 years. No custodial sentence was imposed. The court noted that the harassment lasted three months and that both parties had since gone their separate ways.
In 2022, the Central Criminal Court sentenced Ian Ryan to three years' imprisonment for raping a 13‑year‑old girl in 1986. The case was brought to court after a 2021 anonymous letter prompted a Garda investigation. Ryan, then 18, had begun a relationship with the girl, who was 13, after meeting her at a disco in a rugby club. The court heard that the couple met at the victim's family home while her parents were away, and that Ryan asked her to use a condom, which she declined. He then forced sexual intercourse, which she described as painful and non‑consensual. The victim later became pregnant in December 1986. Ryan pleaded guilty in December 2021 to a separate rape charge. The judge, citing Ryan's age and background, imposed a four‑year sentence with the final year suspended, requiring participation in alcohol and violence‑prevention programmes and no contact with the victim. The victim, aged 50, waived her anonymity.
Stephen Preston, a stage hand with 16 years of experience at Metropolitan Films, claimed he was blackballed after his union shop steward, John Arkins, spoke to an Oireachtas committee about alleged industry practices. Preston alleged that he was told he was "too close" to Arkins and would never be rehired. He and fellow stage hand Nigel Murphy filed complaints under the Protection of Employees (Fixed-Term Work) Act 2003, but the Workplace Relations Commission ruled the claims were brought outside the statutory time limits. The Commission found neither man was an employee of Metropolitan, and both had last worked for the company more than twelve months before filing. Consequently, the Commission had no jurisdiction to investigate, and the complaints were dismissed as statute‑barred. The decision was part of a larger series of 39 complaints from IFWA members lodged between December 2019 and March 2020.
Former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, stands trial for 21 counts of theft involving approximately €27 million taken from seven financial institutions between 23 October 2006 and 20 April 2007. The prosecution alleges that Lynn secured multiple mortgages on the same properties while banks were unaware that other institutions were also financing those properties. Inspector Patrick Linehan, the lead investigator, reported that Lynn was arrested on the day of 21 warrants and charged at a Garda station, where he made no reply to any of the charges. Lynn has pleaded not guilty. He was remanded and later granted bail. The case is scheduled to resume before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury on Monday. The trial is ongoing and no verdict has been reached.
The Court of Appeal upheld a €22 million summary judgment against brothers Brian, Kenneth and Maurice McDonagh, who had failed to repay a €21.8 million loan from Ulster Bank used to buy an 80‑acre site in Kilpedder, Co. Wicklow, for a planned data centre that was never built. The High Court had found the brothers breached a 2014 settlement agreement and that receivers were validly appointed over the land. Ulster Bank alleged the brothers used a front company, Granja Ltd, to sell the land for €1.5 million without the bank's knowledge, thereby writing off the debt. The brothers denied the claims and argued the bank was precluded from claiming debts after a settlement with CBRE, which had been sued for valuation negligence and later paid €5.3 million to the bank's loan account.
During the sixth day of Michael Lynn's multi‑million euro theft trial, former solicitor Fiona McAleenan testified that she was "horrified and disgusted" by defence counsel Paul Comiskey O'Keeffe's suggestion that she had knowingly facilitated multiple mortgages on the same properties between 2006 and 2007. McAleenan denied any partnership or conveyancing role at Michael Lynn & Co Solicitors, stating she had never been involved in the signing of undertakings. The prosecution argued that Lynn obtained the mortgages while banks were unaware of other institutions' involvement. Court documents revealed text messages from Lynn's legal executive, Elizabeth Doyle, to McAleenan, which the defence used to imply conveyancing activity. McAleenan said she was not involved and questioned why Doyle sent the messages. Judge Martin Nolan clarified the defence's line of questioning, and the prosecution noted that the Law Society's 2008 investigation found no complaint against McAleenan, only against Lynn, who was struck off as a solicitor in May 2008.
In a court hearing on 5 April 2022, a 22‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the sexual assault of a child and to producing child pornography. He was 18 at the time of the offences, which involved a 15‑year‑old boy who was rendered unconscious by a pain‑relief drug (Penthrox) that the accused had stolen. The drug was administered through a modified "green whistle" and an oxygen mask, after which the accused sexually assaulted the boy. The accused also filmed the assault and the drug administration. A 31‑year‑old co‑accused pleaded guilty to oral rape of a boy, sexual exploitation, and the production of child pornography. He admitted stealing a vial of Penthrox and a carbon dioxide chamber from Naas Racecourse.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 41‑year‑old man was sentenced to 27 months' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, for sexually assaulting his best friend at his Wicklow home on 20 November 2020. The victim, who had trusted the man and described the assault as a severe violation of trust, was taken to a sexual assault treatment unit after the incident. The man pleaded guilty, admitted the wrongdoing, and expressed regret, shame and remorse. Judge Melanie Greally noted his early guilty plea and cooperation, his status as a registered sex offender, and the aggravating factors, and imposed a two‑year probation supervision order and required participation in the Safer Lives programme. The court also considered the victim's impact statement and the defendant's lack of prior convictions. The sentencing reflected principles of rehabilitation, personal deterrence and general deterrence. The man's conviction was the first in his criminal record.
During the fifth day of Michael Lynn's multi‑million euro theft trial, solicitor Fiona McAleenan, who worked for Lynn's firm, denied that Lynn had paid her €50,000 toward the purchase of her family home. She said she did not recall any such contribution and was "completely taken aback" by the allegation. McAleenan confirmed she had received a bonus from Lynn but could not recall the €50,000 figure. She also denied being a partner in the firm, although documents were presented showing an email from Lynn announcing her appointment as partner and a memo she sent requesting the use of the title. The defence cross‑examined her on weekly reports, mortgage applications, and the alleged profit‑share agreement. Lynn, aged 53, remains on trial for 21 counts of theft involving approximately €27 million from seven financial institutions, with the case proceeding before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
During a multi‑million‑euro theft trial, Fiona McAleenan, a former solicitor at Michael Lynn & Co, testified that she was unaware of the details of Mr Lynn's borrowings. She explained that she had made several statements to Gardaí after receiving legal advice not to make further statements until certain proceedings were resolved, and that she had made up to eight additional statements once those proceedings were concluded. McAleenan said she had been involved in conveyancing in March 2007 and that she had been aware of Mr Lynn's general property portfolio but not the specifics of his borrowings. She denied signing any undertakings that would have made her aware of the details and claimed she had not been contacted by the Law Society about such matters. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, continues with Mr Lynn pleading not guilty to 21 theft counts involving seven financial institutions.
During his trial for the alleged theft of about €27 million from seven banks, Michael Lynn's former solicitor, Fiona McAleenan, testified that she first became aware of the scheme in August 2007 when she received two separate faxes from different law firms representing two banks, both referring to the same properties. She said the second fax alarmed her and she immediately sought advice from a friend who recommended a solicitor. Following that advice, she contacted the Law Society, which asked her questions suggesting a possible mistake or misunderstanding. The Society advised her to leave the practice, and she resigned on 10 September 2007. McAleenan also admitted signing undertakings for properties without having carried out the conveyancing work, relying on colleagues and trusting Michael Lynn and Liz Doyle. She claimed she had not questioned the documents because she trusted them. The trial, before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury, continues with 21 counts of theft.
During a multi‑million euro theft trial, solicitor Fiona McAleenan testified that she never represented Michael Lynn in the purchase of a €5.5 million Howth property known as Glenlion. She denied signing an application for a €3.85 million loan for the property and claimed her signature on a March 2007 letter to Bank of Scotland Ireland was forged. McAleenan said she had never seen the letter until it was shown to her in court and that she had never sent an email to National Irish Bank in February 2007 that purportedly stated she was acting independently of Lynn. She also denied any conversation with former National Irish Bank lawyer Michael O'Malley and denied that she had authorized any signatures on documents. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, continues with Lynn pleading not guilty to 21 theft counts involving several financial institutions.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a solicitor from Michael Lynn's firm, Ms Fiona McAleenan, testified that her signature was forged on several loan documents without her permission. She confirmed that a loan document purporting to be from a firm called 'Fiona McAleenan Solicitors' was an entire forgery, noting that no such firm ever existed. Ms McAleenan, who joined the firm in 2004 and left in 2007, said she had little knowledge of conveyancing and was not involved in the property purchases that formed the basis of the alleged theft. She also denied giving permission for her name to be used on documents, including family home protection papers and solicitor undertakings for mortgage applications. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, continues with 21 counts of theft against Mr Lynn, who has pleaded not guilty. The case involves seven financial institutions, including Bank of Ireland, Danske Bank, and Irish Nationwide.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, faced 21 counts of theft alleging he stole about €27 million from seven banks between October 2006 and April 2007. Lynn, who denies the allegations, was accused of securing multiple mortgages on the same properties while banks were unaware of other lenders. Elizabeth Doyle, a former legal executive at Lynn's firm, testified that she often signed documents on his behalf, sometimes under his instruction, and that she had signed signatures that appeared to be Lynn's, Fiona McAleenan's, and his wife Bríd Murphy's. Doyle admitted she had signed some documents in his name and that she had not recalled the exact method of instruction. She also revealed that she and her husband had taken a €240,000 mortgage through Lynn's firm and that compensation from the Law Society was used to repay that loan. Lynn pleaded not guilty.
Diarmuid Rossa Phelan, a senior counsel and law lecturer aged 53, is accused of murdering Keith Conlon, a 36‑year‑old father of four, in a fatal shooting on farmland in Tallaght on 22 February. The High Court heard that Phelan allegedly shot Conlon in the back of the head after a verbal altercation, following an earlier incident in which he fired at Conlon's dog with a rifle. Phelan claims the shooting was accidental, describing it as an "arc" that left him stunned. He has stated he will not leave the jurisdiction and that his career and reputation depend on clearing the matter. Phelan's defence argues that denying bail would "utterly ruin" him, citing his assets, family ties, and professional standing. The court will decide on bail on Monday.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 15 March 2022, Marko Lovric, 28, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography after showing a video of a child and an adult simulating sex to a colleague at the National Lottery Headquarters. The incident, which occurred on 1 September 2019, led to a Garda investigation that seized four videos depicting child abuse, including rape and exposure of genital areas. Lovric, who had no prior convictions, cooperated fully with the investigation and expressed remorse. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a nine‑month sentence, suspended in full on the condition that he engage with the Probation Service for 18 months. He was also required to participate in "safer lives" and "harmful sexual behaviour in the community" programmes while under supervision. Lovric was suspended from work and is registered as a sex offender. He hopes to return to Croatia after the matter is resolved.
During a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former Permanent TSB commercial head Sean Alger denied that the bank had ignored a repayment condition on a €1.9 million loan to Michael Lynn. Alger said the bank had robust credit procedures and that any delay in repayment would normally raise a red flag, but he was not aware of any error. He rejected claims that the bank had turned a blind eye, stating there was no culture of ignoring conditions. Alger also noted that the borrower was primarily responsible for meeting loan conditions, with the bank's role being to ensure compliance. The trial, which continues next week, involves 21 counts of theft against Lynn, who has pleaded not guilty. The case is before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
In March 2022 the Court of Appeal upheld a trial judge's decision to direct a jury to acquit a 72‑year‑old man of four historic child sex‑abuse charges. The accused had pleaded not guilty to indecent assault allegations dated between April 1968 and December 1970, involving a complainant aged seven to nine at the time. The complainant first reported the allegations to Gardaí in January 2015. The case was returned to the Bray Circuit Criminal Court in November 2016 and the trial began in March 2019. After a single day, the judge refused the Director of Public Prosecutions an adjournment and, because the chief witness could not attend, directed the jury to acquit the accused of all charges. The Director of Public Prosecutions sought a judicial review, arguing the judge had exceeded his jurisdiction, but the High Court dismissed that claim.