During the trial of Michael Lynn, a solicitor claimed that a signature on a €3.7 million loan undertaking was not hers. Lynn, aged 53, faces 21 counts of theft involving about €27 million from seven banks. Prosecutor Cathal MacCarthy, a former Permanent TSB legal officer, explained that Lynn applied for a €3,725,625 loan in May 2007 to buy 12 properties, offering a first legal charge as security. Lynn signed a letter of approval in June 2007, and a letter of undertaking was supposedly signed by solicitor Fiona McAleenan, granting Lynn's irrevocable authority. MacCarthy later discovered that the signature on the undertaking was not McAleenan's, an issue that raised alarm in October 2007. Lynn denies wrongdoing, arguing that McAleenan routinely allowed her signature to be used on various documents. The case proceeds before a jury. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
During a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, is accused of stealing about €27 million from seven financial institutions. The prosecution alleges that Lynn secured multiple mortgages on the same properties while banks were unaware of each other's financing. Evidence was presented that Lynn had a €1.9 million borrowing with a bank when he applied for a €4.9 million loan in 2007 to buy eight residential investment properties. A bank manager, Ciaran Farrell, emailed that the outstanding €1.9 million was cleared only a week later due to a "clerical" error, and that Lynn was "embarrassed and annoyed" by the delay. Documents relating to Lynn's overseas investment company, Kendar Global Properties, were shown, and a €3.7 million loan was drawn down, though a subsequent €5.5 million refinancing offer was not pursued. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
Denise Cribbin, 45, of Stepaside, Co Wicklow, was sentenced to a two‑year wholly suspended term for making a false statement under Section 12(a) of the Criminal Law Act 1976. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was too lenient. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham with Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy and Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly, quashed the original sentence and imposed a one‑year custodial term. Cribbin, who had pleaded guilty in July 2020, was told she would be taken into custody to begin her sentence. The offence stemmed from a false allegation of sexual assault made after a single‑car crash on 12 July 2016, involving Cribbin and the injured party. The court noted the statement was false after witness interviews contradicted it. Cribbin will report to Stepaside Garda Station before 5 pm on Friday to be taken into custody.
Daniel Munteanu, a 32-year-old Romanian national from Navan, Co Meath, has failed in his appeal against a custodial sentence imposed at Trim Circuit Criminal Court. Munteanu pleaded guilty to 10 charges of stealing €121,800 from 52 Bank of Ireland accounts between September 9, 2018, and March 4, 2019. He also admitted possessing 51 cloned bank cards, card-making equipment, and false identity documents. Judge Martina Baxter originally sentenced him to seven years, with the final six months suspended, after applying a discount to an 11-year headline sentence. Munteanu appealed on the grounds that the judge placed insufficient weight on mitigation, arguing he was merely a 'foot-soldier' in an international skimming gang who received a 10-15% cut of the proceeds. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, dismissed the appeal. The Court President noted that the original judge had applied a 'significant and generous' discount and that the final six-and-a-half-year term clearly fell within the available range. The court accepted the prosecution's submission that Munteanu was part of a complex criminal organisation operating across multiple jurisdictions, including Ireland, the UK, Belgium, Romania, and Italy, which justified the severity of the sentence.
A 19‑year‑old named Nathan Kelly was sentenced to five years in prison for a series of violent offences committed over a 20‑month period, including the theft of a nurse's wallet. The court heard that Kelly had a troubled background, was diagnosed with post‑traumatic stress disorder, and had a history of addiction. He pleaded guilty to three assaults, three robberies and trespassing likely to cause fear, with offences dated between 28 February 2019 and 28 October 2020. The judge noted his early exposure to domestic violence, his ADHD and PTSD diagnoses, and his high risk of reoffending. Kelly has expressed remorse, is engaging with his addictions, and is in a stable relationship. The judge imposed consecutive sentences totalling 78 months, suspended the final 18 months for 12 months on strict conditions, and ordered a five‑year custodial term.
Karl Cummins, 29, a serial driving offender with 65 convictions including 15 for dangerous driving, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a dangerous driving offence on 21 July 2017. Cummins had been banned from driving for 16 years since 2015. At the sentencing hearing, he offered €500 as a token of remorse, which the judge directed to be paid to the Irish Red Cross Crisis Appeal to aid Ukrainian refugees. The case was adjourned to 16 June for a community service report. Cummins, who lives on Drumcairn Avenue, Tallaght, has claimed to have turned his life around, describing himself as a committed father and community volunteer. The prosecution noted the incident involved a high‑speed pursuit by Gardaí that was halted to avoid endangering other road users. The judge accepted the charity nomination and ordered the payment to the Red Cross campaign. Karl Cummins pleaded guilty.
A 32-year-old Romanian national is appealing a six-and-a-half-year prison sentence imposed for his role in an international bank card skimming operation. Daniel Munteanu pleaded guilty at Trim Circuit Criminal Court to ten counts of theft totalling €121,800 from 52 Bank of Ireland accounts between September 2018 and March 2019. Over 300 withdrawals were made from ATMs across multiple counties including Cavan and Monaghan. Gardaí recovered cloned bank cards, a card-cloning machine, and forged identity documents from his home. At the Court of Appeal, his legal team contended the original sentence was disproportionate, characterising Munteanu as a foot-soldier in the gang who received approximately ten per cent of proceeds. The Director of Public Prosecutions countered that Munteanu was an integral member of an established international criminal network operating across multiple jurisdictions with significant resources. The court reserved judgment.
During a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former solicitor Michael Lynn (53) denied 21 theft counts, claiming he intended to stay in Ireland to address the allegations. Prosecutor John Berry presented evidence that Lynn had secured multiple mortgages on the same properties from seven banks without their knowledge of other lenders. Thomas Brennan, a senior manager at Bank of Scotland Ireland, testified that Lynn had approached the bank in 2006 with a proposal to purchase ten investment properties, seeking 70% financing. Over a three‑month period in 2007, Lynn obtained ten loans. In October 2007, newspaper reports about Lynn's business prompted a meeting where Lynn asserted his intention to remain available to bankers to resolve the issues. The bank subsequently reviewed Lynn's affairs, discovering that nine of the ten properties were already secured by other banks, including Bank of Ireland, Permanent TSB and Ulster Bank. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
During the 15th day of Michael Lynn's trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a witness, former senior underwriter Olivia Greene, testified that former Irish Nationwide boss Michael Fingleton had denied signing off on a €4,125,000 loan for a Howth house. Greene said Fingleton had asked her who approved the loan, and she claimed he had agreed it in his office. Fingleton allegedly wanted someone else to "take the flak" for the loan, which was later written off at a loss of over €4 million. Greene noted that Fingleton had special powers from the board to alter loan terms and offer preferential rates. She could not confirm any secret profit deals. The trial, which continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury, involves 21 counts of theft against Lynn, who has pleaded not guilty. The case covers seven financial institutions, including Irish Nationwide Building Society. The proceedings remain ongoing.
During the 13th day of Michael Lynn's trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former Irish Nationwide auditor Killian McMahon testified that he had no knowledge of any alleged secret deal between the accused and former bank boss Michael Fingleton. McMahon, who worked as an internal auditor for the society between 2003 and 2006, denied awareness of any files or secret profit arrangements involving Fingleton and high‑net‑worth individuals. He stated that he had no reason to believe such files existed and that there were no secret loan deals. McMahon also said that any meeting between Fingleton and Lynn over coffee was unlikely to have been documented. The defence counsel, Feargal Kavanagh, used the testimony to argue that Irish Nationwide's lending practices were reckless and that the bank had been misled by false information supplied by Lynn. The judge, Martin Nolan, cautioned the counsel against making unsubstantiated comments. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard evidence that Michael Lynn, a former solicitor aged 53, applied for mortgages on ten residential investment properties between September and December 2006. The applications involved four properties with a combined loan of €945,000, three with just over €1 million, and three with €1.4 million. The properties were one‑, two‑ and three‑bed apartments in East Wall, Parnell Square, Bolton Street and Gardiner Street. Lynn faces 21 theft charges for allegedly stealing about €27 million from seven financial institutions, but he denies all charges. Prosecutor Patrick McGrath presented cheques showing the loan amounts drawn and credited to Lynn's account, with the last repayment in October 2007. An internal memo from Irish Nationwide Building Society urged that Lynn's applications be prioritised because he was "under pressure to close". The case is before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
Joseph Bonass, 19, was sentenced to three and a half years imprisonment for unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle, criminal damage, dangerous driving, driving without insurance, and driving without a licence in Co Wicklow and Co Dublin on June 16 and 17, 2020. Judge Elma Sheahan suspended the final 18 months of his sentence on strict conditions, requiring him to attend all Probation Service appointments for two years post-release. Bonass pleaded guilty and has no previous convictions. The judge noted with surprise that Bonass failed to engage with the Probation Service during a previous adjournment intended for that purpose. Co-accused Jordan Carroll, 21, pleaded guilty to endangering traffic, criminal damage, and allowing himself to be carried in a stolen vehicle on the same dates. Carroll, who has 34 previous convictions, was previously sentenced in April 2021 to four and a half years imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. The incidents involved a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser driven dangerously on the N11 and M11, during which Carroll threw gardening equipment from the vehicle. The pursuit ended when the jeep crashed into two garda patrol cars. Judge Sheahan stated that no injuries were sustained by luck and emphasized the risk posed to first responders. Both defendants were intoxicated at the time of arrest.
Former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, is on trial for 21 theft charges alleging he stole about €27 million from seven financial institutions. The case focuses on a €3.6 million loan he obtained from a bank in September 2006 for 11 Dublin investment properties, with 85 % financing requested. The prosecution claims Lynn breached the agreement in October 2007, leading the bank to demand full repayment. Evidence presented by Sam Beamish, a former Ulster Bank director, details the loan application, signed offer letter, and letters of undertaking supposedly authorising solicitor Fiona McAleenan. The prosecution alleges these letters were forged by an employee of Lynn's firm. Lynn denies all charges. The trial, before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury, continues next week. The involved banks are Bank of Ireland Mortgages, Danske Bank, Irish Life and Permanent, Ulster Bank, ACC Bank, Bank of Scotland Ireland, and Irish Nationwide Building Society.
The trial heard that National Irish Bank lost the full €1.3 million loan it advanced to former solicitor Michael Lynn, who is 53 and faces 21 theft charges for alleged €27 million theft from seven banks. Lynn denies all charges. The prosecution alleges Lynn obtained multiple mortgages on the same properties while banks were unaware of other lenders. Noel McCole, a former business banking manager, testified that in December 2006 Lynn's assistant emailed the bank for information, and in February 2007 the bank offered to fund 80 % of four Dublin apartments. Lynn signed and returned the offer. A solicitor named Fiona McAleenan sent documents claiming irrevocable authority, but the prosecution says the undertakings were forged by an employee of Lynn. The €1,338,160 loan was drawn in March 2007, repaid monthly until October 2007, after which repayments stopped. The bank could not secure the properties and suffered a total loss.
A Circuit Court judge lifted a gagging order that had prevented the naming of Garda William Ryan, 35, who is charged with false imprisonment and three counts of sexual assault at Aughrim Garda Station on 29 September 2020, and a further charge of false imprisonment on the same date and location. Ryan also faces a charge of offensive sexual conduct between 23 August 2019 and 25 February 2020 at another location in Leinster. The trial is scheduled for 4 June 2024. The order was originally imposed by District Court Judge Treasa Kelly after a defence solicitor's application, and was challenged by lawyers for several media organisations. Judge Melanie Greally, hearing the case, found no evidence that publishing Ryan's name would impair his right to a fair trial and therefore lifted the restrictions.
In the trial of Michael Lynn, a 53‑year‑old former solicitor accused of stealing about €27 million from seven banks, a witness named Jim Madden denied claiming that "all of the banks felt collectively they had no choice but to move against him." Madden, a former senior business manager at Bank of Ireland, explained that his role involved meeting prospective clients but that loan approval rested with the bank's group credit section. He recalled meeting Lynn in 2005 and 2006 regarding mortgages for eight investment properties, noting that Lynn signed a loan offer and accepted its terms. Madden also stated he had met Lynn at least twice, once in a non‑working setting, and could not remember any conversation about banks' collective stance. The court heard that Lynn has pleaded not guilty to 21 theft charges covering October 2006 to April 2007, and the trial is ongoing.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal by the Hellfire Massy Residents Association (HMRA) against the High Court's decision to uphold planning permission for a €15 million visitor centre at the Hell Fire club in the Dublin mountains. The HMRA challenged An Bord Pleanala's approval of the development at Massy's Wood estate and Montpelier Hill, arguing that the project would act as a visitor hub for the Dublin and Wicklow mountains and would alter the type, intensity, mix and balance of visitors to Montpelier Hill, Natura 2000 sites and Massy's wood. They claimed the board failed to assess impacts on natural habitats, bats and otters. In the High Court, Mr Justice Richard Humphreys dismissed the challenge, stating the HMRA had not established that the grant of permission was invalid and that the board had acted unlawfully in using flawed visitor figures.
The trial heard that Michael Lynn, aged 53, faces 21 theft charges for allegedly stealing about €27 million from seven banks. He denies all allegations. Prosecutor Arthur King presented evidence that Lynn applied for eight mortgages in September 2006, requesting 85 % of the properties' value (€2,742,000). He signed a loan offer, received a cheque for the full amount, and paid instalments in 2007 until payments stopped in September. Subsequent inquiries revealed Lynn had taken additional mortgages on the same properties from other institutions. Lynn was never registered as the owner, breaching two loan conditions: no legal charge on the properties and his lack of ownership. King argued that if the bank had known of false or misleading documents, the loan would not have been approved. John Kinsella, a partner at Kinsella Mitchell & Associates, testified that documents presented as statements of affairs were not produced by his firm and contained inconsistencies. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
In a case heard by the Court of Appeal, the appellant argued that the trial judge had exceeded his jurisdiction by directing 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 dating from 1968 to 1970. The complainant, a relative of the accused aged seven to nine at the time of the alleged offences, first reported the allegations to the Gardaí in January 2015. The accused was returned to trial in November 2016, but the trial lasted only one day because the judge refused to grant the Director of Public Prosecutions an adjournment. A pre‑trial hearing in March 2016 had informed the court that the complainant could not attend proceedings, and with the chief witness unavailable the judge directed the jury to acquit the accused of all charges the following day.
A trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard evidence that documents purporting to bear the signature and stamp of accountancy firm Kinsella Mitchell & Associates were not produced by that firm. Michael Lynn, aged 53, faces 21 charges relating to the alleged theft of approximately €27 million from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. He denies all charges. The prosecution alleges that Lynn obtained multiple mortgages on the same properties without banks' knowledge of other financing arrangements, and submitted false financial documentation. A partner at Kinsella Mitchell & Associates testified that statements of affairs dated April 2007 and November 2006, both purporting to bear his firm's credentials, were not genuine documents prepared by his practice. A former fraud officer for ACC Bank gave evidence regarding a mortgage application for Glenlion House in Howth, County Dublin, approved for €3.78 million in 2007. The trial, before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury, continues.
Drmitriu Sehleanu, a former delivery driver from Bray, Co Wicklow, appeared before the Workplace Relations Commission to present a complaint of constructive dismissal against Cordelia Foods Ltd. The hearing, presided over by Adjudicator Kevin Baneham, concluded with the matter adjourned for the adjudicator to consider a decision. Mr Sehleanu alleged that he was forced to work 12 to 13 hours daily, driving up to 900km per day, and was pressured to exceed speed limits to meet delivery deadlines. He claimed he had to relieve himself into a bottle due to a lack of bathroom access and suffered a back injury while lifting flour without proper training. The company denied all claims, stating there was no bottle in the van, no workplace accident occurred, and Mr Sehleanu did not work beyond contracted hours. The company's representative, Rafaella Capolupo, argued that if the alleged speeding texts were true, Mr Sehleanu should be fined. The adjudicator closed the hearing to deliberate on the findings.
The trial of former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, was adjourned for one week after a juror tested positive for Covid‑19. Lynn faces 21 theft charges, alleging he stole about €27 million from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. He denies all charges. Judge Martin Nolan informed the jury that the infected juror would need to isolate for seven days. The case is being heard by an extended panel of 15 jurors, as the trial is expected to last up to 14 weeks. Judge Nolan said he would adjourn the trial for one week and resume on the following Monday. Lynn has pleaded not guilty to the 21 counts of theft. The trial opened last Wednesday and will resume next week. The financial institutions involved are Bank of Ireland Mortgages Bank Ltd, Danske Bank, Irish Life and Permanent, Ulster Bank, ACC Bank PLC, Bank of Scotland Ireland Ltd, and Irish Nationwide Building Society.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, faces 21 theft charges for allegedly siphoning about €27 million from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. Lynn denies all allegations. Building society officials testified that they would not have approved a €4.1 million mortgage to Lynn if they had known a second mortgage existed on Glenlion House, Howth. Lynn and his wife Bríd Murphy secured the property, valued at €5.5 million, through multiple lenders: Irish Nationwide Building Society, Bank of Scotland Ireland, ACC Bank, and others. The court heard that Lynn's assets were valued at over €45 million and that he maintained an "immaculate repayment record." The trial, expected to last up to 14 weeks, resumed on Monday before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. The proceedings focus on the alleged dual mortgages and the resulting financial loss to the banks. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
Paddy Lynch, 36, a homeless man from Ashlawn Court, Bray, was found guilty of trespassing and criminal damage after breaking into the General Register Office on 9 May 2020. He entered the closed building shortly after midnight, triggered an alarm, broke an electronic gate and damaged an internal security door with a metal object. The damage amounted to €8,000, with the gate alone costing €7,000 to repair. Lynch claimed he was looking for a place to sleep and was intoxicated, with a needle found nearby. He has prior convictions for burglary and theft. A psychological report linked his drug addiction to trauma from the 2015 Carrickmines fire. Judge Melanie Greally, after adjournment for a probation assessment, imposed a fully suspended two‑year sentence, requiring Lynch to keep the peace and continue drug treatment and probation services if needed. No documents were harmed during the incident.
Former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, faces 21 theft charges for allegedly stealing about €27 million from seven banks. Prosecutors say he obtained multiple mortgages on the same properties, misled lenders, and used forged documents. Lynn applied for mortgages from at least two, often several, institutions, each unaware of the others' loans. He presented false statements of affairs and forged letters of undertaking, claiming they were signed by a solicitor and partner at his firm. The prosecution alleges he used these tactics to secure over €11 million for a family home in County Dublin and additional funds for investment properties. Lynn denies all charges. The trial, heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, is before a 15‑member jury and is expected to last up to 14 weeks, with over 70 witnesses scheduled. The case involves Ulster Bank, Bank of Ireland Mortgages, Bank of Scotland Ireland, Danske Bank, ACC, Irish Life and Permanent, and Irish Nationwide Building Society.
A jury has been empanelled ahead of the trial of former solicitor Michael Lynn at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, which opens tomorrow. Mr Lynn, aged 53 and with an address in County Wicklow, faces 21 charges relating to the alleged theft of approximately €27 million from seven financial institutions between 2006 and 2007. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The accused is a native of County Mayo who previously practised as a solicitor. The prosecution alleges the thefts relate to 21 different mortgage applications on properties during the specified period. A jury panel of 15 has been sworn in, with the trial expected to last up to 14 weeks and hear evidence from over 70 witnesses. Judge Martin Nolan instructed jurors that the case must be decided solely on evidence presented in court and warned against any external research.
Michael Lynn, aged 53, pleaded not guilty to 21 charges of stealing approximately €27 million from seven banks between 2005 and 2007. The banks named are Ulster Bank, Bank of Ireland Mortgages Bank Ltd, Bank of Scotland Ireland Ltd, Danske Bank trading as National Irish Bank, ACC, Irish Life and Permanent trading as PTSB, and Anglo Irish Bank. Lynn also pleaded not guilty to a single count of stealing €2,742,000 from Bank of Ireland Mortgages Bank Ltd on 13 December 2006. Prosecutor Patrick McGrath SC told the jury that the alleged thefts involved Lynn applying for multiple mortgages on the same properties. The trial, set to last 12–14 weeks, will hear from 70 witnesses and requires a 15‑member jury; 11 jurors were empanelled today. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the case to allow the remaining jurors to be empanelled and warned that jurors must not seek information about the case online.
Jose Lacerna Pena, 33, was convicted of orally raping a woman on Wicklow Street, Dublin, on 26 September 2017. The jury found him guilty after the judge noted that the assault was carried out "brazenly in the most public and humiliating manner" as people walked by. Pena, originally from Bolivia and without a fixed address, pleaded not guilty. In April 2020 he received a six‑year prison sentence. He has never accepted the verdict and appealed the conviction. The Court of Appeal, hearing the case in November, rejected his appeal. Justice Isobel Kennedy, sitting with Justices John Edwards and Patrick McCarthy, held that the jury was correctly instructed that the issue was lack of consent, not capacity. The appeal was dismissed, confirming the conviction and the sentence. The victim's impact statement described lasting emotional harm and gratitude to the men who intervened.
Michal Gaszeich, 27, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and theft at a Dunnes Stores shop in Citywest on 8 November 2020. He head‑butted security guard Sean Murphy, who was trying to stop him from stealing hot food and alcohol. The guard was injured, receiving three stitches above his left eye and a permanent scar. Gaszeich was arrested after a customer intervened and gardaí arrived. He had no prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to 12 months imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions, including payment of compensation to the victim. The case was originally directed for summary disposal in the District Court, but the judge sent it to the Circuit Court. Gaszeich has since stopped drinking and has been in Ireland for a decade, working continuously since arrival.
Paul Nolan, 57, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment with two years suspended for two counts of possession of child pornography involving bestiality images. The offence was committed between January and September 2013. Nolan appealed, arguing the judge had not considered the time elapsed between the offence and sentencing and the relatively small number of images. The Court of Appeal reduced the sentence to two years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended for three years, and imposed a three‑year probation period. Nolan had no prior convictions and had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. He was also deemed a candidate for the Safer Lives rehabilitation programme. The appeal was heard by Justice Patrick McCarthy, Justice Isobel Kennedy and Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh. The case was originally heard in Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court.
In January 2022, Judge Paul McDermott re‑activated 18 months of the five‑year suspended portion of Jason Paget's 15‑year sentence for aggravated burglary and sexual assault committed in 2003. Paget, 34, had been released in 2018 after serving ten years and had returned to the UK. He had failed to comply with Probation Service requirements, citing lack of a UK system and COVID‑related issues. The judge noted Paget's earlier remorse, good behaviour and limited contact with victims, and decided not to re‑activate the full suspended term. The case remains at the stage of a suspended sentence adjustment, with the court acknowledging Paget's partial compliance and the absence of a UK probation arrangement. No further convictions or outcomes are reported in the article. Probation Service pleaded guilty.
In a High Court trial-stage proceeding, Mr Justice Charles Meenan granted ex-parte leave to three applicants to challenge their exclusion from the State compensation scheme. The applicants, Anthony Duff, Ian Dunne, and Mark McNevin, are alleged to have been victims of serious assaults in 2004, 2008, and 2018, respectively. They claim the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal unlawfully refused their applications because they were submitted outside the allowed time limit. The applicants argue that changes to the scheme in April 2021, which introduced an absolute two-year limit, constitute a retrospective and unlawful interference with their rights. They seek orders quashing the refusals and declarations that the Tribunal breached fair procedures and natural justice. The judge requested that counsel identify one or two lead actions to determine all issues and save court time. Counsel agreed that hearing a lead action was the best approach. The matters were all adjourned to a date in early February.
Brandon Power, aged 23, avoided a custodial sentence for the second time after the Court of Appeal quashed his original one‑year suspended sentence for biting a Garda's finger, which broke the bone. The appellate court, deeming the original non‑custodial term unduly lenient, ordered a re‑sentencing that would give Power a chance to engage with probation services. Court President Mr Justice George Birmingham announced that Power would now receive a three‑year imprisonment term, suspended in full for two years, and warned that failure to cooperate with probation could lead to a jail sentence. The judge described the offence as a "vicious assault" against a Garda performing duties and noted that positive background reports from the Probation Service indicated Power was making a genuine effort to change. Power had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting Garda Trevor Devereux in March 2018 and was sentenced in April 2019.
A 20‑year‑old woman, who was sexually assaulted by her mother's partner, Dean Hurley, when she was 12, has begun training as a police officer in the UK. She gave permission for Hurley's name to appear in the sentencing report but asked that she not be named. She disclosed the abuse a year later after learning about sexual abuse in school, left the family home, and has lived with her father in England since. Hurley, 51, was jailed for three years after a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court convicted him following a three‑day trial in October. He pleaded not guilty to the assault that occurred between 1 and 30 October 2013. The woman's victim impact statement described the abuse, her mental health struggles, and her hope to help other abused children through her future policing work.
Two women, Caitriona Miller (41) and Abbie Mangan (29), were sentenced in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after a scheme involving the delivery of what they believed were car parts turned out to be imitation firearms. The firearms were part of a controlled delivery operation by Gardaí following the interception of real firearms in the United States. Miller, who had previously been convicted of speeding, pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm and to allowing a person to possess cocaine and cannabis at her address on 12 October 2018. Mangan, with no prior convictions, pleaded guilty to knowingly permitting possession of cocaine and cannabis at her address on the same date. Both were given fully suspended sentences of two‑and‑a‑half years for Miller and three‑and‑a‑half years for Mangan, each suspended in its entirety on strict conditions.
An apprentice film studio electrician, Martin Cunningham, 27, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and producing a machete near Finglas Garda Station. The assault, which took place on April 10, 2019, was originally charged as attempted murder of Kenneth Fitzsimons, 41, at Liam Mellows Road, Finglas. The Director of Public Prosecutions agreed to drop the attempted murder charge following Cunningham's guilty plea. Justice Eileen Creedon dismissed the jury, ordered a probation report and victim impact statement, and scheduled a sentencing hearing for January 31, when a nolle prosequi will be entered to formally drop the attempted murder charge.
Jose Lacerna Pena, 33, is appealing his conviction for the alleged oral rape of a woman at Wicklow Street, Dublin 2, on September 26, 2017. Pena, originally from Bolivia and of no fixed abode, pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. A jury found him guilty, and in April 2020, Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced him to six years' imprisonment. At the Court of Appeal, defence counsel Anne-Marie Lawlor SC argued the conviction was unsafe because the trial judge failed to instruct the jury on the issue of drunken consent, claiming an "irredeemable unfairness" was visited upon the accused. Prosecution counsel Bernard Condon SC countered that the case explicitly involved drunkenness and that the complainant repeatedly stated she did not consent. The matter was adjourned with judgment reserved. During the original sentencing, Mr Justice McDermott noted Pena acted brazenly in a public manner, exploiting the victim's vulnerable position, while acknowledging his lack of previous convictions and the difficulty of serving his sentence away from his family. The victim impact statement described the lasting trauma she suffered. The appeal remains pending.
An apprentice film studio electrician, Martin Cunningham, 27, will go on trial for attempting to murder Kenneth Fitzsimons, 41, on 10 April 2019 near Finglas Garda Station. Cunningham is charged with three counts: attempted murder, assault causing harm, and possession of a machete capable of serious injury. He pleaded not guilty at arraignment before the Central Criminal Court. The case, arising from a single incident, will be heard by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and is expected to last three weeks.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Kenneth Donohoe was found not guilty of murdering Eamon Kelly, while his co‑accused Darren Murphy was convicted. The judge said there was insufficient evidence to prove Donohoe was the driver of the getaway Lexus, that he possessed a Glock handgun, or that he had a direct role in the gang. Evidence was deemed insufficient to establish Donohoe's involvement beyond reasonable doubt. Murphy, aged 51, was found guilty of the murder after evidence showed he acted as a spotter and assisted the gunman, Sean Connolly, and the getaway driver. Murphy was also found not guilty of the second charge of possession of a Glock pistol with intent to endanger life. The court will impose a mandatory life sentence on Murphy and remand him until the sentencing date. The case involved CCTV footage, fingerprints, vehicle links, DNA and firearm residue as circumstantial evidence. The court granted Donohoe a discharge from the indictment.
Ahemd Yagoub, 57, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to two counts of sexual assault, two counts of exposure, and one count of assault. The offences occurred over a two-week period in June and July 2020 in a Dublin park, where he allegedly followed and assaulted teenage girls. Judge Melanie Greally described his conduct as predatory. She imposed a prison term of two years and nine months for the most serious sexual assault. Concurrent sentences of one year were imposed for three other offences. The sentence on the fifth offence was adjourned to next February to allow the Probation Service to compile a risk assessment report. The court noted Yagoub's lack of previous convictions, his documented history of bipolar disorder and depression, and favourable testimonials from his current residence. While he made useful admissions to gardai, he denied the underlying offences during interview. Defence counsel highlighted his mental health history and expressed remorse. The matter was not fully concluded due to the adjournment of the final sentencing component.
In a single‑punch manslaughter case, a judge discharged the jury after a five‑day trial. Vincent Kelly, 45, died from a catastrophic brain injury one day after being punched by Paul O'Carroll, 46, outside the Royal Hotel in Bray on 9 June 2018. O'Carroll, who had pleaded not guilty, claimed he struck Kelly only to remove him from the situation, stating he did not intend to kill or seriously injure him. The trial heard that Kelly had suffered a transient ischemic attack two years earlier and was on blood‑thinning medication, which Dr. Michael Curtis said could worsen head‑injury outcomes. Kelly was taken to St Vincent's Hospital, then Beaumont Hospital, where he underwent surgery, suffered cardiac arrest, was revived, but later died. O'Carroll was remanded on continuing bail until 2 November to set a new trial date.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Vincent Kelly, aged 45, died from a catastrophic brain injury after being punched in the face by Paul O'Carroll, aged 46, outside the Royal Hotel in Bray on 9 June 2018. O'Carroll, who pleaded not guilty, claimed he struck Kelly only to remove him from a verbal altercation. Kelly was on blood‑thinning medication, including aspirin, following a transient ischemic attack two years earlier, which a pathologist said likely worsened his injuries. Post‑mortem findings showed a single blow to Kelly's left face causing him to fall and hit his head on the ground, with skull fracture, brain bleeding and bruising. CCTV footage corroborated the sequence of events. Kelly was taken to St Vincent's Hospital, then Beaumont, where he underwent surgery, suffered cardiac arrest, was revived, but died early on 10 June. Traces of cocaine were found in Kelly, suggesting recent use. The case remains before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury.
Brandon Power, 22, of St Joseph's Road, Newtownmountkennedy, was sentenced for assaulting Garda Trevor Devereux at Wicklow Circuit Court on 31 March 2018. Power bit the officer's finger during a courtroom struggle, later pleading guilty. Judge Terence O'Sullivan imposed a one‑year sentence suspended for 12 months on 11 April 2019. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was too lenient. The Court of Appeal agreed and called for background reports to determine an appropriate sentence. Court President Mr Justice George Birmingham, together with Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly, were to assess the reports. The case was adjourned to 13 December after a probation report was unavailable. Birmingham warned Power that the matter was very serious, that he must "put his best foot forward," and that a prison sentence was likely even if he cooperated positively with probation. He also cautioned that failure to cooperate could lead to a significantly more severe penalty.
The Lott family, represented by solicitor Pauric Hyland, delivered a statement outside the Criminal Courts of Justice following the sentencing of the man convicted of murdering beauty therapist Nadine Lott. They expressed that the sentence cannot bring true justice, fix what has been broken, or recover what has been lost, describing the loss as brutal and needless. The family thanked detectives, Gardaí, the DPP, medical personnel, first responders, the ambulance service, St Vincent's Hospital staff, friends from Arklow and across Ireland, the clergy, the media, and the court and justice system for their support and sensitivity. They highlighted Nadine's love of life, her role as a daughter, mother, sister, and friend, and affirmed that she will never be forgotten. The statement was delivered with the family present, wearing black face‑masks with "Nadine" in pink.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 4 October 2021, Claire Lott gave a victim‑impact statement describing the brutal murder of her daughter, Nadine Lott, by Daniel Murtagh. Lott recounted finding Nadine lying on her back in the kitchen of her apartment, gasping for air and covered in blood, and described the scene as "total horror" with broken glass and smashed mirrors. She spoke of the prolonged, savage attack that left Nadine "completely unrecognisable" and of the emotional toll on her family. The court had earlier convicted Murtagh of murder; he was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment, a sentence back‑dated to 16 December 2019. The hearing focused on the impact of the crime on Lott's family and the brutality of the assault, without discussing any subsequent legal developments.
In a speech at the Central Criminal Court on 13 September 2021, Mr Justice Paul McDermott warned that barristers must notify the court in writing if a trial is expected to last more than three weeks. He said that without a written memo explaining the reasons for the delay and the required duration, a trial longer than three weeks will not receive a trial date. McDermott also said that the court will not tolerate significant overruns beyond the estimated time. He added that jurors should be informed of the expected length of the trial and that, in some cases, 15 jurors may be enlisted to cover for those who cannot continue. The judge cited the collapse of the Bray Boxing Club murder trial, where a 34‑year‑old defendant, Gerard Cervi, faced delays and a jury that was unable to finish the trial due to health and procedural issues. Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Gerard Cervi for the murder of Bobby Messett and attempted murder of coach Pete Taylor at Bray Boxing Club collapsed after a juror became seriously ill, reducing the jury below the required ten members. Judge Michael White adjourned the case and discharged the remaining nine jurors, exempting them from future service. Cervi, aged 50, had pleaded not guilty to the killings that occurred on 5 June 2018, when a gunman entered the club, fired nine shots from a semi‑automatic pistol, killing Messett instantly and injuring Taylor and Ian Britton. The prosecution alleged Cervi was the lone gunman, linking him to a silver Volkswagen van seen near the club and to a bicycle at Pigeon House Road. Witnesses described the chaotic shooting, the gunman's appearance, and the subsequent removal of Taylor's clothing by paramedics. The trial was scheduled to resume on 11 October 2021.
Four men have been sentenced to a combined 33 years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court following their convictions in connection with a gangland murder conspiracy. Wayne Ryan, aged 41 and with an address in Longford, pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Wayne Whelan at Griffeen Glen Park, Lucan, on September 4th, 2019, and received 15 years. Three others—Cailean Crawford, Darren Henderson, and Charles McClean—pleaded guilty to conspiracy to murder Whelan between May and November 2019. McClean received eight years, whilst Henderson and Crawford each received seven years with the final two years suspended. Mr Justice Michael White noted the "callous indifference" demonstrated in the broad daylight attack outside the victim's home. Whelan survived the initial shooting but was killed in a second attack in November 2019. The judge backdated sentences according to custody commencement dates and imposed good behaviour bonds on Henderson and Crawford regarding their suspended portions.
In the Bray Boxing Club murder trial, a juror from Dublin's East Wall area, Gerard Cervi, fell ill and could not attend court. The trial concerns a man who, on 5 June 2018, allegedly shot and killed 50‑year‑old Bobby Messett at Bray Boxing Club, and also allegedly attempted to murder boxing trainer Peter Taylor and Ian Britton on the same day. The defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges. The trial, originally scheduled to finish in August, was extended to September, prompting two jurors to request discharge. The remaining ten jurors agreed to continue until 22 October. On the day of the hearing, nine jurors were present; Justice Michael White expressed regret over the illness, wished a swift recovery, and adjourned the trial until the following Monday, when he expected an update on the juror's condition.
In a 2021 trial, a jury examined CCTV footage of Bray Boxing Club on the morning of June 5 2018, when Robert Messett was shot dead and two others injured. Detective Garda Alan Thompson described a grey or silver long‑wheelbase van with a 'DFZ' registration, slide rails, tinted rear windows, and a driver in a cap, dark trousers and a yellow high‑visibility vest. The van was seen outside the club at 6:50 am, and the driver entered the club. Thompson guided prosecution counsel Paul Murray SC through a montage of footage from Bray, Shankill, Cabinteely, Deansgrange, Blackrock and Merrion Road up to 7:19 am. Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty to Messett's murder and the attempted murders of trainer Peter Taylor and Ian Britton. The case is before the Central Criminal Court with Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of seven men and three women.