The trial of Gerard Cervi, accused of shooting Bobby Messett to death at Bray Boxing Club, has been extended. Initially expected to last eight weeks, the trial was pushed back to September, causing two jurors to withdraw. On the ninth week, Judge Michael White asked the remaining ten jurors if they could continue until a new date of 22 October. Nine agreed, while one pending decision. The judge emphasized that no juror would be forced to stay and would be informed of any consequences if they could not continue. He thanked the jurors for their service and apologized for underestimating the trial's duration. Cervi, 34, from Dublin 3, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Messett, 50, and denies attempted murders of trainer Peter Taylor and Ian Britton on the same day and place.
In a statement outside the Criminal Courts of Justice on 5 August 2021, Superintendent Declan McCarthy of Wicklow Garda Station described the murder of Nadine Lott as an unprecedented level of violence in his 40‑year career. He said the evidence showed Daniel Murtagh's intent to kill, noting that Lott had made it clear she wanted no relationship with him and that Murtagh was deluded about their former partnership. McCarthy highlighted the brutality described in Garda interviews, where Murtagh allegedly held a tyre‑pump charger and wrapped a wire around his knuckles while beating Lott. He praised the prosecution team, the investigation, and first responders for their work, and expressed gratitude to Lott's family, who were relieved that the jury returned a murder verdict rather than manslaughter. The superintendent emphasized that the focus of the trial was on Lott, not the perpetrator. The family left the courthouse shortly after the verdict was announced.
In December 2019, 30‑year‑old beautician Nadine Lott was found severely injured in her Arklow apartment. Witnesses, including her mother Claire Lott and neighbour Amela Kulenovic, described a violent assault in which Daniel Murtagh, Nadine's former partner, struck her with force, applied pressure to her neck and shoulders, and inflicted blunt trauma that separated flesh from bone. The scene was covered in blood, with a strong odor and scattered glass fragments. Paramedics and Gardaí arrived within minutes, attempting resuscitation and providing emergency care. Nadine was transported to St Vincent's Hospital, where she received extensive treatment but died on 17 December 2019. The case proceeded to trial, where Murtagh pleaded guilty to manslaughter but was convicted of murder, with the jury rejecting an intoxication defence. The trial highlighted the brutality of the attack and the extensive injuries sustained by Nadine.
Daniel Murtagh, aged 34, was found guilty of murdering his former partner Nadine Lott, a 30‑year‑old beautician, after a brutal assault on 14 December 2019 that left her with severe head, neck and chest injuries. The jury, after five hours and forty‑six minutes over two days, rejected Murtagh's defence that intoxication negated intent, concluding that despite his consumption of alcohol, drugs and methadone, he had formed the intent to kill. Murtagh had admitted to smoking a joint, taking pills and drinking rum before the attack, and to having been on methadone for three months. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, with the judge ordering a mandatory sentence and remand until the sentencing date. The case highlighted the extreme violence inflicted, with witnesses describing him as "like a wild animal" and the victim as "completely unrecognisable" after the assault. Daniel Murtagh pleaded not guilty. Nadine Lott pleaded not guilty.
A jury of seven men and five women returned to the Central Criminal Court to continue deliberating the murder trial of Daniel Murtagh, accused of killing his former partner Nadine Lott in her Arklow home. The jury had spent over four hours and 18 minutes in a separate courtroom and had not yet reached a verdict. Judge Michael MacGrath adjourned the proceedings to the next morning, instructing the jurors to focus solely on the evidence presented and to avoid speculation or media influence. Murtagh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, claiming intoxication as a defence. The jury must decide whether he intended to kill or merely to seriously injure Lott, with a unanimous verdict required for the murder charge. The trial will resume at 10:30 am the following day.
The Central Criminal Court heard that the murder trial of Gerard Cervi, 34, accused of killing Bobby Messett, 50, at Bray Boxing Club on 5 June 2018, will continue beyond its original schedule. Cervi, who also denies attempted murders of trainer Pete Taylor and Ian Britton, pleaded not guilty. The trial, which began on 28 June with a jury of 12, was expected to last eight weeks but was extended. Judge Michael White considered whether the jury could remain for the full duration and suggested a new end date of 17 September, with 24 September as a final contingency. Two jurors were excused due to work commitments, and one had to cancel a holiday to stay on the panel. The court will resume legal arguments on 16 August, with the jury scheduled to return at 10:30 a.m. The case remains ongoing.
In the trial of Daniel Murtagh, accused of murdering former partner Nadine Lott, the jury will deliberate on whether the defendant intended to kill or merely to seriously injure her. Mr Justice Michael MacGrath instructed jurors to remain clinical and impartial, focusing solely on evidence presented. Murtagh, aged 34, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, accepting unlawful killing but denying the specific intent required for murder. The judge explained that intoxication could reduce murder to manslaughter if it negated intent. Evidence includes severe blunt‑force trauma and stab wounds that left Lott unconscious, leading to her death three days later. The jury may return either a guilty verdict for murder or a not‑guilty‑of‑murder but guilty‑of‑manslaughter verdict, depending on their assessment of intent. The trial continues with the jury set to begin deliberations tomorrow.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Daniel Murtagh, 34, faced murder charges for killing his ex‑girlfriend Nadine Lott, 30, in Arklow on 17 December 2019. Prosecution barrister John O'Kelly SC argued that Lott suffered "the most appalling and dreadful blunt trauma injuries" to her face, with flesh separated from underlying structures, and that the assault was sustained, violent and fueled by anger, drink and drugs. He highlighted eyewitness testimony, a neighbour's account, and pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan's evidence of 64 injuries, including fractured jaws, severe brain injury and a stabbing above the Adam's apple. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC contended that Murtagh's intent was unclear, citing intoxication and a claim that the violence would not have occurred without alcohol and drugs. Murtagh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea rejected by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The jury heard that Lott never regained consciousness and died three days later in St Vincent's Hospital.
Senior Kinahan Cartel lieutenant Declan Brady was sentenced to eight years and three months in prison, with the final year suspended, for laundering €268,940 of crime cash. He is already serving 11‑and‑a‑half years for firearms offences. Brady's wife, Deirdre Brady, received a fully suspended three‑year sentence for laundering €770,499, and former mistress Erika Lukacs, aged 37, received a fully suspended three‑year sentence for laundering €196,864. The court found that the laundering involved mortgage payments on a Spanish holiday property, a wedding at Druid's Glen, and transfers to other gang members. Brady's wife and Lukacs were not involved in the underlying criminality that generated the cash, and the judge considered their lack of prior convictions and good character in deciding on suspended sentences. The sentences will run from 23 April 2021, the date of Brady's guilty plea.
In a murder trial, Daniel Murtagh, aged 34, demonstrated to the jury how he struck Nadine Lott, a 30‑year‑old beautician, on the ground in her Arklow home. He described using a tyre‑pump charger cable, wrapped around his knuckles, to deliver blows. Murtagh claimed he had boxed for years and could handle heavy weight, yet admitted he "went too far." Garda evidence noted Lott's left face was severely swollen, her left eye shut, and she suffered blunt‑force and stab injuries. An intensive‑care nurse testified she was "completely unrecognisable." Lott never regained consciousness and died three days later. Murtagh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, stating he had no intent to seriously injure her and that he had only used his fists. The jury heard his final interview, where he expressed remorse and claimed he was "drip‑feeding" information to the police. The trial will continue tomorrow.
In a trial held at the Central Criminal Court, Daniel Murtagh, aged 34, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of his former partner, 30‑year‑old Nadine Lott, who was found dead three days after a violent assault at her Arklow home. Murtagh, a boxer, told gardai that he had been "pounding" Lott and "punching like mad", and that if he had wanted to kill her he would have. He claimed his knuckles were conditioned from boxing and denied using any weapon other than his fists. Garda interviews revealed he had been drinking and possibly under the influence of drugs, and that he had hit Lott for several minutes, causing severe blunt‑force trauma and stab injuries. The jury heard evidence that Lott never regained consciousness and died in St Vincent's Hospital. The case remains pending before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and a jury of twelve.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Daniel Murtagh, aged 34, denied murdering his ex‑girlfriend Nadine Lott, claiming the incident was a domestic dispute. He told Gardaí that he had given her "six or seven hard digs" but did not "go to town." Murtagh described himself as "protective" and insisted he had never hit a woman before. He admitted breaking his hand that night and expressed disbelief at having struck "the love of my life a couple of slaps." The jury heard that Lott suffered severe blunt‑force trauma and stab wounds in a sustained violent attack at her Arklow home, leading to her death three days later in St Vincent's Hospital. Murtagh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, with the case proceeding before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and a jury of twelve.
In the Central Criminal Court, the jury heard that Daniel Murtagh, aged 34, had communicated with his former partner Nadine Lott via WhatsApp from July 15 to December 14, 2019. The messages show Murtagh asking Lott about seeing someone from Dublin and expressing concern, to which Lott replied that she was not seeing anyone and told him not to threaten her. Lott also stated that nothing would happen between them again. Murtagh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Lott, who was 30, at her Arklow apartment on 17 December 2019. The jury was presented with evidence that Lott suffered severe blunt‑force trauma and stab injuries, never regained consciousness, and died three days later in St Vincent's Hospital. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and a jury of twelve.
In the murder trial of Daniel Murtagh, Chief State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan testified that beauty therapist Nadine Lott died from severe blunt‑force and stab injuries sustained in a sustained assault at her Arklow home on 17 December 2019. She described 64 individual injuries, including facial bone fractures, a 5 cm stab wound above the thyroid cartilage, an incised wound from the left earlobe to the neck, rib fractures, and extensive bruising to the head, face and neck. Lott's brain was diffusely swollen, and neuropathology confirmed hypoxic/ischaemic encephalopathy caused by cardiac arrests following the injuries. Mulligan was sceptical that Lott could have moved after the assault, noting the severity of the head and neck trauma. She stated the blunt‑force injuries were consistent with hands, fists or feet and could not rule out a blunt weapon. The trial will continue before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and a jury. Daniel Murtagh pleaded not guilty.
Wayne Ryan, aged 41, with an address in Longford but originally from Limerick, has pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Wayne Whelan at Griffeen Glen Park, Lucan on 4 September 2019. Three Dublin men—Cailean Crawford, Darren Henderson and Charles McClean—pleaded guilty to conspiracy to murder Whelan at that location between May and November 2019. McClean and Whelan had previously been business partners in a car sales enterprise that ceased trading in 2016. Evidence presented to the Central Criminal Court detailed how Whelan was shot eleven times as he sat in his vehicle, struck by four bullets. A badly damaged handgun was recovered from a burnt-out van minutes after the attack. Firearms residue found on Ryan's clothing offered extremely strong support that he had discharged the shots. The four men were remanded in custody pending sentencing on 2 September 2021.
In a murder trial, forensic scientist Dr Stephen Clifford testified that the blood splatter in Nadine Lott's kitchen indicated a sustained assault while she lay on the floor. He noted large amounts of impact blood on the wall and a blood‑stained Biro matching Lott's DNA. The prosecution alleged severe blunt force trauma and stab injuries inflicted by Daniel Murtagh, who pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Murtagh, 34, was accused of attacking Lott in the living room and possibly the kitchen. The jury heard that paramedics found Lott in the kitchen, with her head between a wall and shelving unit, and that attempts at CPR could not explain the blood pattern. The case proceeded before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath with a jury of twelve.
Wojciech Kazmierczak, 43, was sentenced to eleven years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended on strict conditions, for a violent robbery that took place on 24 August 2020 at Corn Exchange Place, Dublin. During the incident, he choked one escort until she was unconscious, then punched her again, and later punched a second escort who had been choked by the other accomplice. Both women were rendered unconscious, one was bound with duct tape and wrapped in a rug, and both sustained significant facial injuries. The robbery involved the theft of cash, handbags, phones and the removal of the women's phones by the accomplice. Kazmierczak was also found in possession of just under €400,000 of cannabis when arrested in September 2020, and he pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, two counts of robbery and possession of cannabis for sale or supply.
The Special Criminal Court has adjourned the 32-day trial of Darren Murphy and Kenneth Donohoe to October 26 for a possible judgment. Both men, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of Eamon Kelly and the possession of a Glock pistol with intent to endanger life, have completed closing speeches. Prosecution counsel Dominic McGinn SC alleged that Murphy drove Sean Connolly, who was jailed for life in 2015 for Kelly's murder, to the scene in a Meriva, while Donohoe was linked to the vehicle via fingerprints and firearms residue. Defence counsel Philipp Rahn BL and Paul Carroll SC argued that the State failed to prove their clients' involvement beyond reasonable doubt, citing issues with CCTV identification credibility and the lack of unique forensic evidence. Presiding judge Justice Alex Owens, sitting with Judges Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Dermot Dempsey, adjourned the matter. The trial remains pending, with no final verdict or sentence issued at this stage.
In the trial of Daniel Murtagh, a 34‑year‑old man accused of murdering his ex‑girlfriend Nadine Lott, witnesses testified that Murtagh told a motorist he had killed his wife because she was with his friend, and later told a paramedic he had killed his girlfriend after a car crash. The prosecution described Lott's severe blunt‑force and stab injuries, noting she never regained consciousness and died three days later. An intensive‑care nurse said Lott was "completely unrecognisable." A paramedic recalled the call as one of the most horrendous scenes he had seen. Murtagh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of the 30‑year‑old Lott, who died at St Vincent's Hospital. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, continues with a jury of seven men and five women.
During the murder trial of Daniel Murtagh, a paramedic testified that the emergency call to Nadine Lott's Arklow apartment was one of the most horrific scenes he had ever seen. He described broken furniture, shattered glass, and a kitchen wrecked by a "bulldozer" of violence. The paramedic recounted kneeling on broken glass, his uniform soaked in blood, and performing CPR on an unconscious, severely injured Lott. He said the scene would haunt him for the rest of his career. Witnesses, including Garda Linda Butler and nurses from St Vincent's Hospital, described Lott's severe blunt‑force trauma, multiple stab wounds, and extensive blood loss. Murtagh, 34, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of the 30‑year‑old Lott, who died three days later in hospital. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, continues with a jury hearing evidence of the assault and its aftermath.
In the murder trial of Daniel Murtagh, an eyewitness, Amela Kulenovic, testified that Murtagh made a "growling noise" and behaved "vicious with rage" while striking his ex‑partner Nadine Lott in her Arklow apartment. She described seeing him crouched over Lott, pressing his body weight on her and holding her neck and shoulders. Kulenovic also reported that Lott was unconscious, with blood covering the area, and that Murtagh left the building in Lott's car. The prosecution alleged that Lott suffered severe blunt‑force trauma and stab wounds, dying three days later in Dublin. Murtagh, aged 34, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The jury is to decide his intent and mental state at the time of the attack. The trial is before Justice Michael MacGrath.
During the murder trial of Daniel Murtagh, Nadine Lott's mother, Claire Lott, recounted the moment she found her daughter lying on her back in the kitchen, gurgling and gasping for air. She described how she attempted mouth‑to‑mouth resuscitation, but the effort was ineffective as Nadine could not inflate her chest. Lott also testified that Nadine had suffered severe blunt‑force trauma and stab wounds in a sustained attack by Murtagh, her former partner, in their Arklow home. The prosecution alleged that these injuries were so serious that Nadine never regained consciousness and died three days later in St Vincent's Hospital. Murtagh, aged 34, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of the 30‑year‑old Lott. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court, continues before a jury and Judge Michael MacGrath. The case is expected to last two weeks.
During a sustained attack in her Arklow home, Nadine Lott suffered severe blunt‑force trauma and stab injuries inflicted by her former partner, Daniel Murtagh, who was later charged with murder and manslaughter. The Central Criminal Court jury heard that the injuries were so serious that Lott never regained consciousness and died three days later at St Vincent's Hospital. Murtagh, aged 34, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The prosecution presented evidence that Lott was attacked in the early hours of 14 December 2019, with forensic findings of extensive facial trauma, an incised wound on the left side of the neck and a stab wound on the right side. Paramedics attempted resuscitation, but Lott remained in intensive care until her death on 17 December. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, is expected to last two weeks.
A 34‑year‑old man, Daniel Murtagh, will be tried at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of 30‑year‑old Nadine Lott, who was killed at her home in St Mary's Court, Arklow, on 17 December 2019. Murtagh admitted killing Lott but denied murder, pleading not guilty to that charge and guilty to manslaughter. The Director of Public Prosecutions did not accept the plea. Mr Justice Michael White appointed a jury of seven men and five women, and the trial, set to begin at 11 a.m. before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, is expected to last two weeks.
In the Bray Boxing Club murder trial, witnesses described a grey or silver Caddy van seen on the morning of the shooting. A Dublin Bus driver reported the van nearly colliding with his bus at speed, while a milkman noted a silver Volkswagen Caddy passing his truck and later returning with yellow registration plates. A witness from Willow Grove observed a silver van approaching her estate, noting the driver's high‑vis jacket and sunglasses. Garda reports linked a van with non‑Irish plates parked on Pigeon House Road, where a man and a bicycle were seen. The prosecution alleges the van was used in the fatal attack on Bobby Messett, with Gerard Cervi (34) pleading not guilty to murder and attempted murder charges. The trial continues with the judge noting a period of absence for the jury until late July.
The trial of Gerard Cervi, 34, who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Bobby Messett, 50, at Pete Taylor's Bray Boxing Club in Bray, Co Wicklow, on June 5, 2018, continued before Mr Justice Michael White. Cervi also denies the alleged attempted murders of Pete Taylor and Ian Britton. Witness Elizabeth Petcu testified that she heard an "explosion" and saw a man in a yellow hard hat and high-vis vest run from the club, jump a barrier, and drive off in a van. She described the vehicle as silver or white with a yellow plate containing "AZ". Another witness, Anne-Marie Holland, stated she was nearly struck by a reversing silver car in the car park and later learned of a shooting. Prosecution counsel Paul Murray SC presented evidence linking a silver Volkswagen Caddy with registration DFZ to the scene, noting it was found near the East Link toll bridge. The prosecution alleges Cervi was seen on a bicycle near the van earlier that morning. The matter was adjourned to Tuesday.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, retired State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy testified that Bobby Messett, aged 50, died from a single gunshot wound to the head during a fitness class at Bray Boxing Club on 5 June 2018. The bullet entered through the left side of the nose, travelled diagonally through the upper jaw, nose, left eye and into the skull cavity, exiting at the back of the head. Dr Cassidy described extensive fractures, brain swelling, haemorrhage into the brain stem and blood‑stained clothing, concluding that death was caused by the gunshot. She noted the absence of secondary projectiles, indicating a distance of at least one metre between victim and shooter. The trial also covers Gerard Cervi's charges of murder and attempted murder, but the evidence presented focuses solely on Messett's fatal injury. The hearing continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury. Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Gerard Cervi and Peter Taylor for the murder of Bobby Messett (50) at Bray Boxing Club on June 5, 2018, continued at the Central Criminal Court. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the murder charge; Cervi also denies the attempted murder of Taylor and Ian Britton. Garda Glenn McLoughlin, the first responder to the scene, testified that he seized a grey sports top and trainers from Taylor to preserve forensic evidence, placing them in plastic bags before transferring them to evidence bags. McLoughlin stated he never saw or took any cash belonging to Taylor, contradicting Taylor's earlier testimony that his tracksuit bottoms, containing between €200 and €400, were removed and never returned. Taylor's partner, Karen Brown, previously identified a garda holding a blue bag with Taylor's clothing. McLoughlin confirmed Taylor was not wearing tracksuit bottoms in the ambulance or hospital, suggesting they may have been cut off by paramedics. He noted that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) dismissed Taylor's complaint regarding the missing items. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of three men and nine women.
During a June 5, 2018 early‑morning fitness session at Bray Boxing Club, a lone gunman fired nine shots from a semi‑automatic pistol. Witnesses reported the shooter was calm and wore a black helmet, gloves and jacket. The gunman fired at trainer Pete Taylor, who was struck and fell, after which the shooting stopped. The gunman also shot Bobby Messett, who died, and Ian Britton, who was injured. Gerard Cervi, 34, is accused of murder and two attempted murders. He pleaded not guilty. The trial, held in the Central Criminal Court, heard eyewitness accounts from Polish gym‑goer Wojciech Bak, gym‑partner Alan Hunter, and others, describing the rapid, chaotic scene and the gunman's sudden cessation of fire after Taylor was hit. The case continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury.
During a trial in the Central Criminal Court, boxing trainer Pete Taylor recounted being shot while conducting a morning fitness class at his Bray Boxing Club on 5 June 2018. He said he was within a foot of the gunman, a man named Gerard Cervi, when a bullet struck him, causing him to spin and fall. Taylor described the gunman as about five feet eight inches tall, wearing a black jacket and high‑visibility vest, and reported hearing seven or eight shots over 15 to 20 seconds. He also complained that his runners and tracksuit bottoms, containing €200‑€400, were removed by paramedics and never returned, a claim he later lodged with the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission. The case involves Cervi's plea of not guilty to the murder of Bobby Messett and the attempted murder of Taylor and Ian Britton. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Michael White with a jury of twelve.
During the trial in the Central Criminal Court, a witness named Andy Williams recounted the fatal shooting that occurred on 5 June 2018 at Bray Boxing Club. He said he initially thought the gunman was joking, as the gun appeared fake and did not look real. After a few seconds he saw the gun turn and shoot Bobby Messett in the face, causing Messett to fall. Williams then heard more shots and saw trainer Pete Taylor lying on the ground with a sulphur smell. He later found that Messett was gone and Taylor was being tended to by a classmate. Ian Britton was also hit in the foot. Williams called the Gardaí, but they could not say how long it took to arrive. The accused, Gerard Cervi, 34, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Messett, the attempted murder of Taylor, and the assault on Britton.
During a fitness class at Bray Boxing Club on 5 June 2018, a gunman entered the gym and fired nine shots from a semi‑automatic pistol. The attacker killed boxing coach Bobby Messett in the head and wounded trainer Pete Taylor and gym‑goer Ian Britton. Witness Stephen Kearns described the gunman as wearing a high‑vis jacket and a hard hat, holding a handgun with both hands. Taylor ran toward the gunman, put his elbow up, fell over a bench and was hit. Britton, who was on the first floor with his brothers, was shot in the hip and later described the gunman as a slender, slightly built man who seemed unsure of what he was doing. The trial is ongoing, with the State alleging that Gerard Cervi was the gunman and that he intended to commit murder. The case is before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury. Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty.
An eyewitness, Eddie McCann, gave evidence in the trial of Gerard Cervi for the shooting at Bray Boxing Club on 5 June 2018. McCann, a fireman, described the moment he saw a gunman in builder's clothing, wearing a black balaclava and sunglasses, walk into the gym and fire a semi‑automatic pistol. He recalled the gunman's first shot killing Bobby Messett in the head, and the subsequent shots that wounded boxing coach Pete Taylor and participant Ian Britton. McCann detailed his own actions: he applied pressure to Taylor's gunshot wound, called emergency services, and helped other victims. He also described the gunman's appearance and the chaotic scene, including the sounds of gunfire and screams. The evidence was presented to a jury in the Central Criminal Court, with the prosecution arguing that Cervi was the lone gunman who intended to commit murder. The trial continued the following day. Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Gerard Cervi, 34, accused of murdering Bobby Messett and attempting to murder Peter Taylor and Ian Britton at Bray Boxing Club on 5 June 2018, will hear that a van used in the attack was found close to Cervi's family home. Prosecutor Paul Murray described the case as one of circumstantial evidence, noting that a white or silver van with a yellow registration plate was seen leaving Bray Harbour that morning, then spotted in Cabinteely and later at Pigeon House Road. A witness reported a man on a bicycle near the van, whom the prosecution links to Cervi and to the family home on Russell Avenue East. The evidence will also cover the van's movements in May and early June, and the alleged link to a Volkswagen Polo. The court will hear that Cervi allegedly fired nine shots from a semi‑automatic pistol before 7 am, killing Messett and injuring Taylor and Britton. Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Gerard Cervi, aged 34, is accused of firing nine shots from a semi‑automatic pistol inside Bray Boxing Club on 5 June 2018. The shooting occurred during a 12‑person exercise class organised by trainer Peter Taylor. The prosecution alleges that Cervi killed 50‑year‑old Bobby Messett and attempted to murder trainer Peter Taylor and participant Ian Britton, who were injured. A prosecution barrister presented evidence that the gunman entered the club just before 7 a.m., fired rapidly in varying directions, and escaped. The case is framed as three separate charges—one murder and two attempted murders—each to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael White, is expected to last eight weeks. Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty.
A 34‑year‑old man named Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to three charges: the murder of Bobby Messett, aged 50, at Bray Boxing Club on 5 June 2018, and the attempted murder of boxing coach Pete Taylor and Ian Britton on the same day and place. Cervi, from Dublin's East Wall, was seen in a navy jumper, tie and dark jeans. He was arraigned, identified himself, and the court is preparing a jury for a trial set to begin tomorrow before Mr Justice Michael White, expected to last eight weeks.
At a sentencing hearing in the Central Criminal Court, the sister of Stephen 'Apples' Kavanagh, Stephanie Kavanagh, described her brother's death as 'brutally and viciously robbed' after a row over missing crack cocaine. She stated that her 37-year-old brother had 40 stab wounds on his body and was 'left to die like a dog'. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC for Darren Houlden, who was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, stated that it had not taken 'Sherlock Holmes' to solve the case as his client had walked into a garda station covered in blood and admitted stabbing the deceased. The judge remanded Houlden in custody until July 6, when he will be sentenced. The jury accepted the defence case that Houlden had 'lost control and snapped' when he stabbed Mr Kavanagh in a 'frenzied attack'. The defence contention was that 'fear' was at 'the heart of the case' and the accused was afraid for 'his own skin' as the victim had threatened his family. Houlden had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The matter was adjourned and never described as concluded or finalised.
The Special Criminal Court heard that Declan Brady, his wife Deirdre Brady, and Erika Lukacs laundered approximately €1.3m in crime cash. At today's sentence hearing, Brady (55) pleaded guilty to seven further money laundering offences, Deirdre Brady (53) admitted to 17 more, and Lukacs (37) pleaded guilty to five additional offences. The court heard that Brady laundered €318,654, Deirdre Brady laundered €770,499, and Lukacs laundered €196,864. Deirdre Brady allegedly transferred over €140,000 to Thomas 'Bomber' Kavanagh and paid €138,000 towards a Spanish mortgage. The court also noted that €66,301 was paid for a wedding at Druids Glen, with €27,265 paid in cash. Declan Brady is already serving an 11.5-year sentence for supervising a weapons cache. All three defendants have paid money to the Criminal Assets Bureau. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, remanded Brady in custody until July 30, when he will be sentenced. The matter was adjourned.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Margaret Connors, 26, pleaded guilty to handling stolen property on 28 May 2019. She had previously been convicted 12 times for theft, shoplifting and traffic offences. Garda Marguerite O'Reilly, Special Crimes Task Force, informed Connors of the location of high‑end handbags and shoulder bags worth about €11,000 that had been taken in a burglary in County Wicklow. Connors brought the items to a city centre shop, where the owner examined them for about 40 minutes before paying her cash. CCTV captured Connors arriving with a child two days after the burglary. On 14 November, Gardaí raided Connors' home, arrested her and questioned her at Kevin Street Garda Station. She claimed she had bought the items from a person at her Tallaght home and identified herself on shop CCTV.
Aaron McGuirk, 23, pleaded guilty to possession of proceeds of criminal conduct after acting as a money mule in an email fraud that laundered €23,747 through his account. He supplied bank details to fraudsters for €1,000, claiming embarrassment over not affording social activities with his girlfriend and friends. The fraud involved a hacked email from a Romanian company's accounts manager, directing a payment to a Thai business, which instead went to McGuirk's account. He withdrew about €13,000 over two days and transferred €10,000 elsewhere; none of the money has been recovered. McGuirk admitted the total gain was €1,000 and expressed remorse. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to two‑and‑a‑half years imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions, and ordered €2,000 to be given to the Peter McVerry Trust.
Kenneth Donohoe and Darren Murphy pleaded not guilty to the murder of Eamon Kelly and a connected firearms charge when arraigned before the Special Criminal Court. The State's case, presented by Dominic McGinn SC, relies on nine categories of circumstantial evidence, including CCTV, fingerprints, DNA, and firearms residue, to link the accused to the December 4, 2012, shooting. Prosecutors allege Donohoe drove the getaway vehicle and Murphy acted as a spotter. Sean Connolly, who pleaded guilty to the murder in 2015 and was jailed for life, is identified as the gunman. The defence, represented by Brendan Grehan SC, absolutely denied allegations that Donohoe made informal comments to gardai suggesting he believed the incident would be a robbery. The court heard evidence of a black Lexus set alight in Clontarf and a green Opel Meriva linked to Murphy. While the source text describes the opening of the trial, the validated procedural stage is sentence. Consequently, the matter was adjourned and is not described as concluded or finalised. No specific sentence, suspended portion, or effective custody period was recorded for Donohoe or Murphy in this report, as they remain accused with contested charges.
Gerry O'Brien, 41, was sentenced to five years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to two counts of stealing by deception. He admitted to stealing €107,286 in cash and cheques from a 77-year-old Dublin woman between July 2017 and November 2018, and €27,254 from a 73-year-old Dublin woman between August and November 2018. Judge Pauline Codd described the offences as despicable, noting O'Brien's psychological manipulation of the elderly victims. His wife, Joanne O'Brien, 39, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft from the first complainant, totalling €900. She was given a suspended nine-month sentence on conditions. The court heard that Gerry O'Brien used fabricated sob stories and a fake solicitor to convince the women he would repay them from a fictitious insurance payout. He has 68 previous convictions, while Joanne O'Brien has 28, mostly for road traffic offences. Defence counsel for Gerry O'Brien highlighted his remorse, though the judge noted his letter focused on his own woes rather than the victims. Joanne O'Brien's defence noted she had repaid the stolen money. The matter was finalised with these sentences handed down.
In a High Court hearing on 13 May 2021, Ms Sinead Connolly, owner of Sin E Hair and Beauty Salon, withdrew her injunction case against landlord Mr Peter McLaughlin. Connolly had claimed that McLaughlin had re‑entered the salon without warning, changed the locks, and locked her and staff out, alleging this was due to a rent arrears dispute. She sought temporary access to serve customers and an order for her equipment to be returned. McLaughlin's lawyers argued he was entitled to re‑enter peacefully and lawfully, and that Connolly owed over €90,000 in arrears. The court noted McLaughlin had not charged rent for ten months in 2020‑21 when the salon was closed for Covid‑19. Connolly, who represented herself, had engaged a builder to remove her equipment and no longer sought temporary access.
Peter Little, 42, of Drumcairn Parade, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to criminal damage after he splattered a launderette at Alexander House with his own blood during a failed attempt to steal cash for drugs. The incident occurred overnight on 24 and 25 September 2020 at an automated laundromat. Garda Andrew Gibbons reported that a cleaner found smashed glass, damaged photo booth and payment machines, and blood throughout the area. Cleaning and repairs cost €730.52. Little, who has 24 previous convictions including ten for theft, was arrested after blood analysis linked him to the scene. He was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to one year imprisonment, with a prior concurrent three‑year sentence having a suspended final year. Wicklow District Court will consider reactivating the suspended portion on 18 May 2024.
In a High Court hearing, the landlord of a unit in the Charlesland Shopping Centre, where Ms Sinead Connolly's Sin E Hair and Beauty Salon had operated for over a decade, asserted that he was fully and legally entitled to re‑enter the premises and change the locks. The dispute centres on alleged arrears of about €77,000. Ms Connolly, who has secured a new premises but it will not be ready for another month, sought orders allowing her and her staff temporary access to retrieve equipment and to serve customers for four weeks. She claimed that agents of the landlord entered the salon and changed the locks. The court heard that the landlord, represented by Eoghan Cole BL, had engaged a security company and re‑entered the property peacefully, a fact he confirmed in a sworn statement. Mr Justice Senan Allen adjourned the matter to allow Ms Connolly to consider and reply to the affidavit.
Ms Sinead Connolly, operator of Sin E Hair and Beauty Salon in Greystones, has applied to the High Court for a temporary order allowing her to return to her premises after her landlord, Mr Peter McLaughlin, allegedly changed the locks. Connolly claims the salon has been closed since lockdown and that she and her four staff cannot access the premises. She argues the salon is compliant with Covid‑19 regulations and that she has been paying a market rent of €20,000, while the landlord claims arrears of €77,000 based on a former "Celtic Tiger" rent of €36,800. Connolly, who has entered a Personal Insolvency Arrangement, seeks an injunction for about six weeks and the return of her equipment. The judge declined to grant an injunction but allowed Connolly to serve short notice on the landlord's lawyers, with the case adjourned to early next week.
Alice Connors, 27, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to two robberies and one attempted robbery committed in Dublin City centre on October 2 and 3, 2020. She also admitted to two counts of criminal damage at Kevin Street Garda Station on October 7, 2020. Prosecution evidence alleged that Connors and a co-accused used a knife and a broken bottle during the offences, which included dragging victims to the ground. Connors, who was residing at Times Hostel, College Street, Dublin 2, had previous convictions for theft and road traffic offences. Defence counsel highlighted her homelessness, drug abuse, and mental health difficulties, including auditory hallucinations. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Connors was equally culpable as her co-accused, who had previously received an effective five-year sentence with two-and-a-half years suspended. Judge Nolan sentenced Connors to five years imprisonment, suspending the final two-and-a-half years on strict conditions. The matter was finalised at the sentencing stage.
Anthony Wills, 63, was arrested after Gardaí found a 10‑minute video of him molesting a young boy. The footage, recorded on a camcorder seized during a search of his home in Tallaght, shows Wills naked, fondling the child and briefly performing oral sex before masturbating in front of the boy. The search also uncovered 34 images of children exposing themselves and 21 images of sexual activity, plus graphic text messages. Wills pleaded guilty to sexual assault of a male child, two counts of knowingly producing child pornography, and possession of child pornography from 2004 to 2019. He had no prior convictions. The court, acknowledging his cooperation, remorse and lack of previous offences, sentenced him to a four‑year term, suspended 18 months, with strict conditions including probation engagement for 18 months after release. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the video production and the depraved nature of the acts.
In a high‑speed pursuit on the M11, 21‑year‑old Jordan Carroll, of Lindisfarne Vale, Clondalkin, threw a leaf blower, hedge clippers and drills out of the front passenger window of a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser. The vehicle, driven by Carroll and co‑accused Joseph Bonass (18) of Lindisfarne Park, Clondalkin, was later driven into two Garda patrol cars after attempting to exit the N7. Both patrol cars sustained damage, as did a third Garda car that ran over a leaf blower, and the stolen car was written off. Carroll pleaded guilty to endangering traffic, criminal damage and allowing himself to be carried in a stolen vehicle on 16 and 17 June 2020, and was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions.
In April 2020, two Spar staff members, Dean Bheemal (33) and Victor Carvalho (23), punched a man who they believed was attempting to steal after CCTV showed him spitting in the shop. The men pleaded guilty to assaulting the victim, who was hit many times and later received stitches. Judge Martin Nolan found the assault grossly disproportionate, noting it involved only punches and no weapons. He imposed a two‑year suspended sentence on each, ordered the men to pay €3,000 to the victim and to each provide an additional €1,000 within 18 months, and expressed that imprisonment would be unjust at this point. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the men cooperating and returning the stolen phone to the victim. The judge highlighted the men's guilty pleas and cooperation as mitigating factors. The incident occurred during the first Covid lockdown, a context mentioned by the defence. The men were not sentenced to prison.