During a Central Criminal Court hearing on 10 July 2025, a witness described how Valeriu Melnic (24) of Calliaghstown Lower, Rathcoole, attempted to protect his head while Ion Daghi (39) of The Close, Sallins Park, held a chair leg and threatened to beat him. The witness, Moldovan Alexandru Beccieu (24), testified that the two men had been drinking heavily, with Melnic allegedly consuming a "colossal amount" of whiskey. Melnic had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. A pathologist told the jury that Daghi died from a single 13‑cm stab wound to the chest, causing rapid death. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice David Keane, continues with a jury of eight men and four women. The witness's testimony focused on the altercation, the drinking, and the fatal stabbing, without providing any further legal conclusions.
A trial has commenced at the Central Criminal Court concerning charges against John Irving of Shanwar, Foxford, County Mayo. The prosecution alleges that Mr Irving, along with Francis Harman of Ballina and John Clarke of Ballina, broke into the home of a pensioner at Doonflynn, Skreen, County Sligo in January 2022 and assaulted him. The victim, then aged 73, sustained severe injuries including head trauma, rib fractures and internal bleeding. He died over twenty months later from complications arising from the assault. A medical witness is expected to testify that the injuries were comparable to those sustained in a serious motor collision. Forensic evidence presented includes DNA and blood located on gloves discovered in the area. Mr Irving denies all charges, including unlawful killing, assault causing serious harm, trespass, and false imprisonment. The trial before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon continues.
Valeriu Melnic (24), of Rathcoole, Co Dublin, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the alleged murder of Ion Daghi (39) at The Close, Sallins Park, Sallins, Co Kildare, on May 12, 2024. Mr Melnic has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster testified that Mr Daghi died from a single stab wound to the left chest, which measured 13cm in depth and penetrated the heart's right ventricle. She stated that death would have been rapid due to hemorrhage and shock, with 250ml of blood found in the pericardial sac. Dr Bolster noted blunt force injuries to the deceased's hands, consistent with offensive or defensive actions during an altercation, and confirmed that 73mg of ethanol was detected in his system. A knife blade recovered from the scene measured 19.5cm, consistent with the wound. Prosecuting counsel Carl Hanahoe SC alleged that Mr Melnic armed himself with a kitchen knife and stabbed Mr Daghi following a dispute after they spent the night drinking together. The trial continues before Mr Justice David Keane and a jury.
A jury of eight women and four men has been sworn in at the Central Criminal Court to hear the trial of a 31-year-old man accused of the unlawful killing of Tom Niland, a 74-year-old from Doonflynn, Skreen, County Sligo. The accused, John Irving of Shanwar, Foxford, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Mr Niland died on September 30, 2023, more than twenty months after sustaining serious injuries during an alleged home invasion on January 18, 2022. The charges against Mr Irving include unlawfully killing Mr Niland, entering his home as a trespasser, causing him serious harm, and falsely imprisoning him. Justice Eileen Creedon estimated the trial will last approximately two weeks, with proceedings commencing the following day.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a young woman testified that she was raped and sexually assaulted by her mother, her uncle and a third man. The prosecution, represented by Anne‑Marie Lawlor SC, argued that the complainant's statements were consistent and unembellished, urging the jury to consider her reliability. The defence counsel for each defendant highlighted the passage of time, the lack of corroborating evidence, and questioned the complainant's memory of events that occurred when she was very young. The mother, aged in her 50s, pleaded not guilty to 13 counts of sexual assault and one count of rape, while the uncle, in his 40s, pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape and one of oral rape. The third defendant, also in his 50s, pleaded not guilty to one count of oral rape. The case remains before Justice Eileen Creedon and the jury.
A 24‑year‑old man, Valeriu Melnic, will be tried for the killing of Ion Daghi, 39, in Kildare on 12 May 2024. Melnic admits he killed Daghi but denies murder, pleading not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter. The Director of Public Prosecutions rejected the plea, and Mr Justice David Keane has sworn a jury of eight men and four women to hear the case. The trial will start tomorrow afternoon and is expected to continue until the end of next week.
In a Central Criminal Court murder trial, Judge Karen O'Connor discharged a jury of five women and seven men after two weeks of proceedings, citing "matters beyond my control" and expressing regret that the trial could not continue. The case involved Joseph Lawlor, 39, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Ryan, 51, outside Lawlor's home in Finglas on 20 June 2024. The prosecution had presented evidence that the two men had been drinking together, with CCTV and neighbour recordings capturing a series of fights that culminated in a fatal stabbing shortly after midnight, leaving Ryan with a single neck wound that severed an artery. The judge thanked the jury for their attentiveness, exempted them from further duty for five years, and postponed the matter to a new trial date of 22 July 2025.
A man from the Glenties area of Donegal has been sentenced to a total of 15.5 years in prison following his conviction at the Central Criminal Court for facilitating a gangland shooting in Dublin. Patrick Fitzgerald, aged 48, was convicted of participating in activities of a criminal organisation between November 2021 with intent to facilitate a serious offence. He provided getaway vehicles used in an attempted murder of Dublin criminal Gary Carey on 17 November 2021. Justice Eileen Creedon imposed a seven-year sentence to run consecutively with an existing 7.5-year sentence for aggravated burglary. The court heard Fitzgerald purchased two vehicles through an online platform and provided them as escape cars following the shooting at Ballyfermot Crescent. Mr Carey sustained gunshot wounds and subsequently relocated his family abroad. The judge noted the case involved a national and international drug smuggling gang and considered the profound impact on the victim's family. Fitzgerald has 72 previous convictions.
The Central Criminal Court has adjourned the sentencing of four family members convicted in connection with the murder of Ashling Murphy to October 7. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs set the date after hearing that the defendants accept the jury's verdict and will not appeal their convictions. Lubomir Puska Jnr and Marek Puska, who pleaded not guilty, were found guilty of withholding crucial information from gardai. Their wives, Viera Gaziova and Jozefina Grundzova, also pleaded not guilty and were convicted of burning bloodstained clothes to impede the prosecution. Lucia Istokova, Jozef Puska's wife, pleaded guilty to withholding information. Counsel for the appellants confirmed their clients now accept the verdicts and have engaged with Probation Services. Ms Justice Biggs extended legal aid to facilitate the preparation of psychological reports, noting she could handle sentencing in one stage or two. She opted for a single date to ensure all probation and psychological reports are available. The matter was adjourned to October 7 for sentence, where the court hopes to have all necessary reports in hand. Jozef Puska, who murdered Ms Murphy in January 2022, is serving a life sentence. The four family members were living with him and their children in Co Offaly at the time of the offences.
Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned the sentencing of Lorenzo Cantaragiu and Robert Burns to July 30 for finalisation. Both men were convicted of impeding the prosecution or apprehension of Mahamud Ilyas's murderers, Viorel Doroscan and Otniel Richardo Clejan, who were sentenced to life imprisonment on June 23 for the murder of Mr Ilyas on December 9, 2022. Cantaragiu, who pleaded not guilty but was unanimously convicted by a jury in May, is alleged to have driven the perpetrators to a remote area in Co Meath. His defence counsel, Michael Lynn SC, highlighted that Cantaragiu has been attacked in prison, labelled a "rat," and placed in 23-hour protective custody. Counsel argued that Cantaragiu, who was 19 at the time, provided assistance to gardaí and abandoned the perpetrators. Burns, who pleaded guilty during the trial to cleaning blood from the crime scene, was represented by Lorcan Staines SC, who requested a non-custodial sentence, citing Burns' fear, age, and role as a primary carer. The court heard that Burns had previous convictions and a medium risk of generic reoffending due to cannabis use. The matter remains adjourned pending finalisation.
Ryan Kearney, aged 39, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter after stabbing Jeffrey Jackson, aged 50, 15 times in what he claimed was self‑defence. The Central Criminal Court jury rejected the prosecution's case that Kearney intended to kill or cause serious injury, accepting the defence that he acted to protect himself from Jackson's alleged violence. The jury considered the force used and the partial defence of provocation, concluding that the killing was not murder. Kearney was described as an alcoholic but not violent. The judge remanded him in custody pending a sentencing hearing on 28 July. The case involved 16 knife wounds, with the pathologist noting Jackson was heavily intoxicated. The trial also heard testimony from Jackson's partner and family about his violent behaviour. The judge directed a psychologist and governor's report on Kearney.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a mother in her 50s pleaded not guilty to 13 counts of sexual assault and one count of rape, claiming she never sexually abused her three‑year‑old daughter or facilitated her uncle's rape. She said she felt "slightly sick" when told she had abused the child before age four and denied any other alleged assaults, including a claim that she bit her daughter. The mother also denied being present when her daughter was raped by her uncle and denied any sexual activity with him. The uncle, in his 40s, pleaded not guilty to five rape counts and one oral rape count, denying all allegations and stating he did not know why his niece would accuse him. A third defendant, aged in his 50s, pleaded not guilty to one oral rape count and denied any contact with the child. The trial continues.
A jury of twelve, consisting of three men and nine women, is deliberating a verdict in the murder trial of Ryan Kearney, 39, who stabbed Jeffrey Jackson, 50, to death in a Co Kildare apartment on 8 February 2024. Kearney has pleaded not guilty, claiming he acted in self‑defence. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Burns, instructed the jury to decide whether the killing was murder, manslaughter or a lawfully justified homicide. He explained that if the jury believes Kearney honestly believed he was defending himself and that the force used was reasonable, the verdict should be not guilty. If the force was deemed excessive, the verdict could be not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. If the defence of self‑defence is rejected, the jury must consider a partial defence of provocation. The jury is required to reach a unanimous verdict.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Ryan Kearney, aged 39, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jeffrey Jackson, 50, who was stabbed at The Lamps, Kilcock, on 8 February 2024. Kearney claimed he acted in self‑defence after a scuffle with Jackson, who he described as prone to rage and violence and whom he called a "complete lunatic." He said he had taken a knife from Jackson's partner and delivered "a few jabs" to the neck, believing the victim was dead, and that he had no intention to kill. The prosecution, represented by Brendan Grehan SC, argued that Kearney's account did not match the pathology evidence, noting that Jackson suffered 16 separate knife injuries, including a 17‑cm wound, and that the knife was "buried to the hilt." Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC countered that the pathologist's findings suggested the injuries could result from a dynamic struggle with momentum from both sides, and that Kearney's actions were a reasonable.
The trial at the Central Criminal Court involves a woman who denies that she imagined being raped by her uncle but admits she has struggled with memories and misidentified her age at some alleged incidents. She claims she was raped by her uncle on several occasions, including oral rape, and also alleges sexual assault by her mother and a family friend. The defendants—her uncle, her mother, and another man—face 21 counts of sexual assault and rape from 2000 to 2014, mainly at the family home. All three defendants plead not guilty. The woman gave direct evidence that she was about five‑and‑a‑half when her uncle first raped her, that she was eight at a later oral rape, and that she saw her mother and uncle engaging in sex when she was around six. She also testified that she was sexually assaulted by her mother multiple times and by a family friend.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 16‑year‑old pleaded guilty to three sexual offences against a nine‑year‑old foster child, including oral rape and two sexual assaults between June 2022 and August 2023. He admitted to habitual viewing of pornography on his phone and to having forced the child to perform oral sex on him on about ten occasions. The child, who had lived with the family for five years, was removed to her grandmother's care after the abuse was reported. The teenager expressed remorse and said he was sorry and ashamed. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed an 18‑month detention for the oral rape and a concurrent 12‑month detention for the other two offences, deferring the sentence until April 2025 to review the teenager's progress. The court noted the child's ongoing therapy and the impact on her family.
A Spanish tourist, aged 19 at the time, was raped in Dublin city centre on New Year's Eve 2019. The victim, who has since expressed a desire to meet her attacker in a safe space, said she wants to confront him about his cruelty and to see him acknowledge his wrongdoing. Christopher O'Grady, 33, was found guilty of one count of rape in March 2025. He has 65 prior convictions and was homeless during the offence. The victim's impact statement described lasting trauma, including loss of confidence, fear of walking alone at night, and hypervigilance. O'Grady has admitted guilt and wishes to apologise. Both parties have agreed to consider restorative justice, but the court noted that this does not preclude a custodial sentence. The case was adjourned to July 24 for the prosecution to investigate the restorative justice option. The trial also covered the victim's subsequent encounter with a second man, who was not charged.
A 43-year-old man was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for raping his estranged wife at their Tipperary home. The defendant, who pleaded not guilty to two charges of rape alleged to have occurred in April and May 2022, was convicted by a jury on one count. The jury failed to reach a verdict on the first incident, and the Director of Public Prosecutions entered a nolle prosequi, meaning that charge will not be tried again. Mr Justice Paul Burns imposed a sentence of seven years, with the final year suspended for three years. The court heard that the victim, who had been married to the accused since 2010, used a rolling pin to fight him off during the May 2022 incident. The judge noted the accused had broken trust by taking advantage of the victim while she was asleep in her own bed, citing their prior relationship as an aggravating factor. Mitigating factors included the defendant's lack of prior convictions, work history, cooperation with gardaí, and status as a good father. The victim's impact statement described severe mental and financial distress, including PTSD and an inability to work. Defence counsel noted the client did not accept the verdict but had been cooperative during the investigation.
Conal Sheridan, aged 32, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to multiple counts of sexual assault, oral rape and defilement of a girl aged nine to sixteen between 2004 and 2011. The abuse began with inappropriate touching and escalated to digital penetration, oral rape, and grooming, including sending pornography. Sheridan's four prior convictions were for minor road traffic and drug offences. The victim, who remained anonymous, testified that the abuse destroyed her life, leading to overdose attempts, self‑harm, drug and alcohol problems, severe mental health issues and complex PTSD. Sheridan's plea of mitigation highlighted his early fatherhood and employment history. Judge Paul McDermott imposed a concurrent seven‑year prison term, suspended the final 18 months for two years on strict conditions, and ordered Sheridan to have no contact with the victim. The sentence reflects the prolonged, repeated nature of the offences and the significant harm caused.
In the Central Criminal Court, a woman accused her mother, an uncle and another man of raping and sexually assaulting her between 2000 and 2014. She denied that friends influenced her to report the allegations to the gardai. During cross‑examination she confirmed that her mother had abused her, including at a family holiday home when she was four, and that she had been raped by her uncle when she was about five and a half. She also testified that her mother and uncle had sex while she was present at age six, and that she had been orally raped by a man in his 50s at age 13. The defendants, who cannot be named, pleaded not guilty to all 21 counts of sexual assault and rape. The case is still before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
A 19‑year‑old, who was 17 when he first appeared before the courts, pleaded guilty to murdering 43‑year‑old Aaron Keating on 13 June 2023. The defendant began using drugs at 12 and had a history of medical and educational disengagement. He stabbed Keating with a knife hidden behind a bin on Main Street, Ongar, Dublin 15, after a brief confrontation that lasted about five seconds. Keating died from a single stab wound that severed his aorta. The court noted the defendant is at high risk of reoffending without support interventions. He will not face a mandatory life sentence because he was a child when the murder was committed, and sentencing is adjourned to 7 July 2025. The case highlights the defendant's drug use, prior disciplinary issues in custody, and the family's profound grief.
A 25‑year‑old sportsman, Calvin Dunne, was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison for the manslaughter of Dylan McCarthy, 29, who died after being assaulted during a melee outside a Kildare pub in August 2022. The judge found that Dunne had delivered a one‑stride kick to McCarthy's head, which caused a traumatic head injury and spinal injury. Dunne had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter but withdrew the plea; he was later found guilty of both manslaughter and violent disorder. The sentence was reduced by 25 % from a headline of nine years, with the final six months suspended for 12 months. A co‑accused, Sean Kavanagh, 27, received a two‑year‑six‑month sentence for assault causing harm, with four months suspended for 12 months. Both defendants were found not guilty of murder. The court noted the impact on the McCarthy family and the defendants' low risk of reoffending.
Andrew Cooney, 44, was sentenced to 13 years in prison with a two‑year suspended portion after pleading guilty to aggravated sexual assault, assault causing harm and threats to kill against two escort women. The first victim, who had recently arrived in Ireland, was attacked on 9 October 2022 while at Cooney's home in Collins Place. He threatened her with a knife, forced sexual contact and struck her repeatedly, causing broken nose, lip cuts and other injuries. The second victim was assaulted on 8 September 2023 after Cooney lured her to his house, again using a knife, striking her, removing her clothes and sexually assaulting her. Both women suffered severe physical injuries and reported ongoing fear and inability to work. Cooney had been on bail for the first offence when the second attack occurred.
In a Central Criminal Court murder trial, a 50‑year‑old man, Jeffrey Jackson, was found dead after sustaining 16 knife injuries, one 17 cm deep, in an apartment in Kilcock. The accused, 39‑year‑old Ryan Kearney, pleaded not guilty, claiming he had taken a knife from his aunt's partner during a scuffle and stabbed the victim in self‑defence, with no intent to kill. Kearney told detectives he feared for his life. Pathologist Dr Sallyanne Collis testified that Jackson had been heavily intoxicated, with alcohol levels more than eight times the legal limit, and that the fatal wounds were two chest stab injuries that entered the chest cavity, puncturing the right lung and the aorta. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Burns, continues on Monday before a jury of twelve.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, a woman testified that her mother repeatedly sexually assaulted her from age three and a half to fifteen, and that her uncle and a third man also raped her. The allegations cover 21 counts of sexual assault and rape, with incidents dated between 2000 and 2014, mainly at the family home. The defendants deny wrongdoing and plead not guilty to all charges. The witness described her mother's violent, alcohol‑driven behaviour, her mother's attempts to normalise the abuse, and her uncle's repeated rapes, including an oral rape. She also recounted an alleged rape by a man in his 50s who was a friend of her mother's partner. The trial is ongoing before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
Ryan Kearney, 39, of Leixlip, Co Kildare, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court, having pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Jeffrey Jackson, 50, at The Lamps, School Street, Kilcock, Co Kildare, on February 8, 2024. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury. Witness Emma Farrell, the deceased's partner, testified via video-link from the UK that she lived in a "constant state of fear" of being killed by Jackson, who was an alcoholic and physically abusive when drunk. She described his violence as spontaneous and unprovoked, including incidents of throttling and physical aggression. Farrell stated she separated from Jackson in 2020 after he moved back to Ireland, though they never divorced. In his garda interviews, Kearney alleged he took a knife from Jackson after a scuffle and gave him "a few jabs," claiming self-defence and stating he had no intention to kill. Prosecution counsel Brendan Grehan SC argued that the 16 knife injuries sustained by Jackson did not align with Kearney's self-defence account. The matter is currently at the trial stage and has not been finalised.
Jibola Moses Akanni, 27, of Drogheda, Co Louth, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court after being found guilty by a jury of two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. The offences occurred in a Dublin city centre apartment in February 2018, where the court heard the 17-year-old victim was intoxicated and barely conscious. Mr Justice David Keane noted aggravating factors including the victim's vulnerability and the age disparity. Although Akanni has 28 previous convictions for other matters, the judge stated no credit was given for a guilty plea as none was offered, nor for remorse. The judge determined there was no realistic hope of rehabilitation and refused to suspend any part of the sentence. Akanni was sentenced to eight and a half years on each rape count and three and a half years for sexual assault, all to run concurrently and backdated to November when he entered custody. To protect the public from the risk of sexual reoffending, the judge ordered that Akanni be placed under the supervision of the Probation Services for two years post-release, instructing him to carry out all directions deemed necessary by the service.
In a Belfast murder case, the Central Criminal Court heard that Ahmed Abdirahman, a 31‑year‑old Somalian national, faces a serious mental health issue. He is accused of killing his former partner, Mary Ward, on 25 September 2024 at her Melrose Street home. Abdirahman is still awaiting admission to the Central Mental Hospital, where a diagnostic clarification is required before an external psychiatrist can assess his fitness to plead. The court noted that he has not yet been properly diagnosed and remains on the hospital's waiting list. Defence counsel Oisin Clarke highlighted difficulties in engaging with the accused and raised a jurisdictional issue, as the offence occurred in Northern Ireland, requiring the option of trial there. The matter was adjourned to 23 July 2025.
A mother, her brother, and another man have gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court accused of the sexual abuse of her young daughter. The complainant's mother, her uncle, and another man face a total of 21 counts of sexual assault and rape, which allegedly occurred on dates between 2000 and 2014, mainly at the family home within the State. The three defendants, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the complainant, deny wrongdoing and have pleaded not guilty to all charges. The complainant's mother, who is in her 50s, has pleaded not guilty to 13 counts of sexual assault on dates between 2000 and 2009, and between 2012 and 2014, primarily at the family home. She also pleaded not guilty to one count of rape, in that she facilitated the rape of the complainant by the complainant's uncle. The complainant's maternal uncle, who is in his 40s, has pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape and one of oral rape on dates between 2003 and 2012, all at the same family home. A second man, aged in his 50s, has pleaded not guilty to one count of oral rape between 2008 and 2009 at the same address. The trial continues before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
Randi Gladstone, a 41‑year‑old Guyanese sex offender, was sentenced by Mr Justice Paul McDermott to six months' imprisonment for failing to register as a sex offender within seven days of arriving in Ireland, a separate offence from the rape and false imprisonment for which he had already been convicted and sentenced to ten years by Mr Justice Patrick McGrath. Gladstone, who had been in Ireland for only a few days before raping an 18‑year‑old in a holiday complex in County Dublin on 25 August 2023, had not notified An Garda Síochána of his status as a convicted sex offender, a breach punishable by up to five years' imprisonment. The judge imposed the six‑month term consecutively to the existing ten‑year sentence, meaning Gladstone will serve the additional six months on top of the original custodial period. He will serve the sentence at Midlands Prison. Randi Gladstone pleaded guilty.
A psychiatric report on Riad Bouchaker, 51, who is charged with assaulting a care worker and attempting to murder three children on Parnell Square, has now been completed, the court heard. Bouchaker, of no fixed abode, faces charges of attempted murder of two girls and one boy, assault causing serious harm to a care worker, and possession or production of a knife. The incident occurred on the afternoon of 23 November 2023. The Central Criminal Court heard that a psychiatrist had requested further work by a neuropsychologist and that the treating doctor had faced delays in accessing the defendant and in securing an interpreter. The report was made available in April, but the psychiatrist asked for an additional four weeks to review it. The court noted that the case must be given priority once the psychiatric issue is resolved and that the trial process should be completed within one year if a child is involved.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 39‑year‑old Ryan Kearney pleaded not guilty to the murder of 50‑year‑old Jeffrey Jackson. Kearney told Gardaí that he had stabbed Jackson in the neck but did not kill him, claiming the victim was a friend. He was arrested on suspicion of murder on 8 February 2024 after arriving at The Lamps in Kilcock. Garda Detective Sergeant Gerard Moore testified that Kearney had tried to stop a neck wound and was unaware of a severe abdominal stab. Kearney was found intoxicated, with slurred speech and an alcohol odor, and was deemed unfit for questioning for six hours. The prosecution presented evidence of 16 knife wounds, describing the attack as ferocious, which contradicted Kearney's self‑defence claim. The trial proceeded before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a jury reviewed CCTV footage showing the fatal stabbing of Michael Ryan (51) outside Joseph Lawlor's (39) home in Finglas on 20 June 2024. The footage captured three drunken altercations, the last of which ended with Lawlor holding a knife and stabbing Ryan in the neck. After the act, Lawlor called 999, describing Ryan as bleeding. Detectives found blood on the ground, clothing, money, a wallet, and a black sports bag containing €3,155 and tablets. A Royal Swiss bread knife was recovered from Lawlor's couch and DNA testing linked it to the stab wound; a sword was also found in the living room. Lawlor denies the murder. The jury was asked to return the next day to consider his intent. The case remains at the evidence‑review stage.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing in Limerick, Thomas "Tossy" Nyhan, a 60‑year‑old married farmer from Crookstown, Co Cork, was convicted of two counts of rape. The victim, who had been raped by Nyhan in January 2011 and again in April 2019, delivered a victim impact statement in which he described the assaults as "cold, calculated and violent." He said he had told Nyhan about his trauma and vulnerabilities, and that Nyhan had used references to his children to manipulate him. The victim reported feeling constantly anxious, "trapped" and "a ghost" of his former self. He urged the court to impose a sentence that reflected the impact of the rapes and thanked those who had supported him. Justice Mary Ellen Ring revoked Nyhan's bail, remanded him in custody and postponed sentencing to 21 July 2025. Nyhan denied the allegations and his lawyer maintained his innocence. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
Two drug dealers, Viorel Doroscan (23) and Otniel Richardo Clejan (24), were sentenced to life imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of 22‑year‑old footballer Mahamud Ilyas. The court heard that the pair beat Ilyas in an apartment in Blanchardstown, stamped on him, kicked him, and struck his head with a hammer. They tied his hands and feet, wrapped him in a duvet and drove him to a wooded area at Belgree Lane, Co. Meath, where they left him to die. The judge described the killers' conduct as "massive loss of control" and "callous". Ilyas's mother, Muna Ali, spoke of her son's promise and the pain of his death. The sentencing followed a unanimous jury conviction of murder. The case also involved co‑accused Robert Burns and Lorenzo Cantaragiu, who pleaded guilty to impeding the arrest or prosecution of the killers.
A 89‑year‑old Tipperary man, Sid Green, was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment, with the final five years suspended, for 22 counts of rape and one count of sexual assault of a child committed between 1993 and 1998. The victim, who remains unnamed, testified that the abuse began when she was seven and continued until she was about twelve, describing lasting emotional and psychological damage. Green, who has no prior convictions and is now in a nursing home in Offaly, was found guilty at the Central Criminal Court in Tullamore. The judge, Mr Justice Patrick McGrath, noted Green's advanced age and medical difficulties, including limited mobility and the need for nursing care, as mitigating factors. The sentence will take effect from 10 July 2025, with the prison service prepared to accommodate Green's medical needs. The victim praised her resilience and the support she received from her husband and family.
Joseph Kelly, 71, lost an appeal against a six‑and‑a‑half‑year prison sentence for smuggling €1.8 million worth of cannabis across the border in a transit van. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale on 16 April 2019 and was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan on 11 March 2024. Gardaí stopped him on the N4 after receiving confidential information about a white Ford transit used to move cannabis. They found 19 white nylon sacks containing vacuum‑packed cannabis herb valued at €1,877,160. Kelly had driven the vehicle to Lisburn before returning via the M1, M50 and N4. He was evicted, living in subsidised accommodation, and had a gambling problem that led to debts. Defence counsel argued the sentence was excessive and that part of the term should have been suspended to encourage rehabilitation.
Deirdre Arnold, a former HSE addiction counsellor, pleaded not guilty to two counts of impeding the prosecution of Brian McHugh and perverting the course of public justice. A jury found her guilty of assisting McHugh, who was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment on March 10 for murdering Lisa Thompson. The court heard that Arnold drove McHugh to the crime scene, waited outside, and helped him evade arrest by checking him into a hotel and allowing her Hyundai Tucson to be used to dispose of evidence. Defence counsel Patrick Gageby SC argued that Arnold acted under fear of abuse and had become addicted to heroin and crack cocaine after meeting McHugh. He noted she has resigned from her state job and is the sole financial support for her three children. Mr Justice Patrick McGrath remanded Arnold on continuing bail until July 4, when she will be sentenced. Victim impact statements highlighted the lasting trauma on Thompson's family, with her daughter stating that Arnold's actions silenced her mother's voice forever.
Gary Coffey, 37, was found guilty by a jury of one count of anal rape and one count of sexual assault after a Central Criminal Court trial in March 2025. The offence occurred at Coffey's home in Dublin, where the victim had been invited and had consented to vaginal sex but repeatedly refused anal sex. Coffey persisted, eventually inserting a finger and then raping her anally. The victim, who wished to remain anonymous, reported the assault to gardaí and was taken to a sexual assault treatment unit. Coffey was sentenced to a headline term of seven years, reduced to six years, with the final nine months suspended. He must be supervised by the Probation Service for 12 months after release. The court noted that consent can be withdrawn and that Coffey had no legal consent to perform anal sex. The case also revealed Coffey's prior convictions and possession of tasers and cannabis.
Two men previously charged with the attempted murder of Anthony Dinnegan in Mullingar have pleaded guilty to lesser offences at the Central Criminal Court. Christopher Nevin (31) and Michael Nevin (40) appeared before Mr Justice David Keane regarding incidents on August 2, 2024, at Austin Friars Street. Michael Nevin entered a guilty plea to causing serious harm, while Christopher Nevin pleaded guilty to violent disorder. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Fiona Murphy SC, indicated that nolle prosequi could be entered for the original attempted murder charges. Defence counsel Dominic McGinn SC requested governor's, educational, and counsellor reports for Michael Nevin, while Christina Burke BL asked for a probation report for Christopher Nevin. The court directed the preparation of these reports and set a sentence hearing for October 13. Both men were remanded on continuing bail to that date.
Alan Vial and Nikita Burns, convicted of murdering Robert Wilkin near Sliabh Liag in County Donegal, have been denied legal aid for a third senior barrister to represent them in their Court of Appeal bid to overturn their convictions. Mr Justice John Edwards ruled that legal aid would cover two counsel per defendant, stating he must have regard to public resources. Vial, aged 39, from Killybegs, and Burns, aged 23, from Carrick, were found guilty by Central Criminal Court jury in March of murdering the 66-year-old on 25 June 2023. Mr Wilkin's body was recovered from the sea below the cliffs eight days after he was thrown over. The judge noted that appeal hearings are shorter than trials, do not involve live evidence, and are typically presented by a single barrister. The prosecution informed the court it would not seek three counsel for its case. Burns's application to extend her appeal deadline was granted.
The Central Criminal Court heard that a series of fights ended with Joseph Lawlor (39) stabbing Michael Ryan (51) in the neck, cutting his carotid artery and killing him. The prosecution presented a 17‑second CCTV clip showing the fatal blow. Both men had been drinking heavily together before the altercations, which were the third physical encounter that night. The first fight began at about 8.30 pm and was captured on CCTV and by a neighbour's mobile phone; a witness said the younger man knocked the older man to the ground. After Garda intervention, three more men joined the pair, and a second fight broke out at about 9.30 pm, again recorded on CCTV and by neighbours. Lawlor was heard calling Ryan a "rat" and threatening to stab him, but later said he would not. Ryan was arrested for drunken driving at 9.50 pm, returned to the house after midnight, and was again captured on CCTV. Joseph Lawlor pleaded not guilty.
A jury was sworn in to hear the Central Criminal Court trial of 39‑year‑old Joseph Lawlor, who denies murdering 51‑year‑old Michael Ryan, a father of two, in Dublin on 20 June 2024. Lawlor pleaded not guilty at arraignment. The judge, Justice Karen O'Connor, informed the jury of the victim's background, including his residence in Santry and the Ballymun or Finglas areas, and of Lawlor's employment in groundworks. The trial is set to last about three weeks, with the judge warning the jury against independent research or social‑media discussion.
During a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, the State presented evidence that a 50‑year‑old man, Jeffrey Jackson, suffered 16 knife wounds in a Co Kildare apartment, a pattern the prosecution said could not be explained by the accused, Ryan Kearney's, claim of self‑defence. Kearney, 39, had told the first garda that men in balaclavas had attacked the scene and later said he had stabbed Jackson but not killed him. The prosecution argued that the injuries were distributed around the body, including head, face, chest and legs, and that Kearney had only a small cut on a finger. The jury was told Kearney had been arrested at 4.30pm, charged with murder, and that his statements to the garda and to the emergency call taker were inconsistent with the evidence. The trial was scheduled to continue for two weeks before Mr Justice Paul Burns. The unnamed 50-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Trevor Bolger (48), a former garda detective, pleaded guilty to assaulting his former wife, Margaret Loftus, on October 25, 2012. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court, with the validated procedural stage being sentence. Ms Loftus, who is also a garda, described the assault as a 'protracted assault' that had a significant impact on her personal and professional life. She stated that she lost everything and faced a stigma within An Garda Siochana for standing up for herself. Bolger admitted to the charges and was found to have assaulted Ms Loftus 13 years ago. The court heard that the maximum penalty for the assault, under Section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, is six months imprisonment or a fine. Judge Martina Baxter described the assault as 'egregious' and said she would seek the assistance of the Probation Service before adjourning the case for sentencing in October. Bolger was remanded on continuing bail, and the matter was adjourned.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, a 13‑year‑old boy from a rural area pleaded guilty to six counts of oral rape, nine counts of producing child pornography and five counts of distributing such material, all involving his six‑year‑old sister. He had accessed the internet unsupervised from a very early age and admitted first viewing pornography at six. The boy uploaded 64 images of the child to the social platform Discord, which were traced to the family's home. The sister, now eight, gave a victim impact statement expressing that she feels happier and that her foster family feels like home, but she remains scared of her brother's actions. The judge noted the long‑term impact of the images being online and adjourned the case to July 21 for further reports. The boy was placed in a residential treatment centre for minors who sexually offend. The children were taken into care the same day.
A 39‑year‑old man, Ryan Kearney of Loughnamona Drive, Leixlip, Co Kildare, has been arraigned in the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Jeffrey Jackson, 50, at The Lamps, School Street, Kilcock, Co Kildare, on 8 February 2024. He pleaded not guilty. A jury of three men and nine women was sworn in by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, and the trial will commence tomorrow before Mr Justice Paul Burns, expected to last two weeks.
A jury of twelve, comprising seven men and five women, will return to the Central Criminal Court tomorrow to continue deliberating on the verdicts in the trial of family members of Jozef Puska. The trial concerns charges of obstructing the arrest of Puska, who murdered school teacher Ashling Murphy in January 2022. The jury began deliberations last Wednesday and has spent 10 hours and five minutes in the jury room. Judge Caroline Biggs announced that the jurors would be dismissed for the day after a request to cease deliberations on Monday. The jurors will resume at 11.30am tomorrow. The accused—Lubomir Puska Jnr (38), Marek Puska (36), Viera Gaziova (40) and Jozefina Grundzova (32)—all pleaded not guilty to the charges. The case remains at the deliberation stage.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, jurors paused their deliberations over the weekend. The case concerns family members of Jozef Puska, who murdered school teacher Ashling Murphy in January 2022 and is serving a life sentence. The accused—Lubomir Puska Jnr (38), Marek Puska (36), and their wives Viera Gaziova (40) and Jozefina Grundzova (32)—are charged with withholding information from gardai and impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Jozef by burning his clothes. All pleaded not guilty. The jury asked the judge whether the accused needed to know their actions were unlawful to be guilty, and whether protecting the family could be a reasonable excuse. Justice Caroline Biggs explained that preventing Jozef's apprehension or prosecution cannot be a reasonable excuse, though self‑incrimination may be. She advised the jury to consider evidence beyond witness statements but warned against speculation.
In a Central Criminal Court case, a jury will continue deliberating on the trial of four Puska family members charged with obstructing the arrest of Jozef Puska, who murdered school teacher Ashling Murphy. Jozef, convicted of murder and serving a life sentence, was stabbed and slashed by Jozef on January 12, 2022. His brothers, Lubomir Puska Jnr (38) and Marek Puska (36), face charges of withholding information, while their wives, Viera Gaziova (40) and Jozefina Grundzova (32), are charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution by burning Jozef's clothes. All accused pleaded not guilty. The indictment was amended to specify that the brothers knew Jozef had committed the murder or another arrestable offence. Prosecutor Anne Marie Lawlor SC argued that the brothers failed to disclose vital information, while defence counsel Karl Finnegan SC highlighted the right to remain silent to avoid self‑incrimination. The jury, composed of seven men and five women, will resume deliberations tomorrow.