In the Central Criminal Court, a woman named Natasha Carey, who was eight months pregnant at the time, testified that she witnessed a 21‑year‑old Michael Kinsella with a weapon during a gathering at Martina Deegan's house in Tyrrelstown on the night of January 6, 2011. Carey described the evening as a party where the group drank and displayed photographs of Mr. Adil Essalhi's children. She claimed that Michael, along with Wayne Kinsella and Mr. Essalhi, left the apartment, and that she saw blood on Michael's weapon and on his own neck. Carey also admitted to lying in the Wayne Kinsella trial and to the Gardaí, stating she had altered her story because of personal trauma. The trial, which has already heard that Wayne Kinsella was convicted of murder, continues with these allegations in evidence. The court also heard from Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy that Mr. Michael Kinsella pleaded not guilty.
During the trial of 21‑year‑old Michael Kinsella, accused of murdering 31‑year‑old Adil Essalhi in Tyrrelstown on 6 January 2011, Gemma Brady Deegan testified that she saw splashes of blood on Kinsella. She said she was staying at her mother's house when Kinsella's uncle Wayne Kinsella and Essalhi returned around 3 pm, drinking upstairs. Kinsella arrived with a woman, and the group stayed until after midnight, returning 45 minutes later. Brady Deegan claimed Wayne Kinsella was covered in blood in the kitchen and that Kinsella had blood on his clothes. She also described Wayne Kinsella's violent history, including a conviction for murder and an assault on a foreign lady. Brady Deegan confirmed that Kinsella had changed clothes and that a washing machine had been running minutes later. The trial continues. Michael Kinsella pleaded not guilty.
Craig O'Halloran, aged 20, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 32‑year‑old Kevin Kenny on Sarsfield Road, Ballyfermot, on 31 July 2011. He was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court on 10 February 2014. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Carney, called a jury of six men and six women. The trial is scheduled to start on Wednesday and is expected to last two weeks.
A Central Criminal Court jury could not reach a verdict in the murder trial of Anthony Locke, 36, of Dublin, charged with killing Christopher Jackson, 53, on 7 September 2012. The jury, composed of 3 women and 9 men, deliberated for over five hours across two days before the foreman informed Justice Garrett Sheehan that further instruction was required. Justice Sheehan explained that a lack of majority would result in a disagreement verdict, thanked the jury for their care, and remanded Locke in custody while the case was placed on the court list. Anthony Locke pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court jury has paused its deliberations on the murder trial of Anthony Locke, a 36‑year‑old from Prussia Street, who is accused of killing 53‑year‑old Christopher Jackson on 7 September 2012 and hiding the body in a wardrobe. Locke pleaded not guilty. His brother, Bernard Locke, 41, has pleaded guilty to the murder and is awaiting sentencing. The jury spent nearly two hours on the verdict and will resume tomorrow.
A 22-year-old man from Castlebar, County Mayo has been sentenced to life imprisonment following his conviction for the murder of his mother at the Central Criminal Court. The accused had admitted manslaughter but pleaded not guilty to murder. A jury unanimously found him guilty of murder after approximately two hours of deliberation. The victim, a 46-year-old woman, was fatally stabbed on 9 March 2011 at their family home. Evidence presented during the eight-day trial established that the accused was under the influence of amphetamines, methamphetamines and cannabis at the time. The court heard testimony regarding the accused's long-standing substance abuse and psychological deterioration in the days preceding the killing. His defence submissions centred on arguments of diminished responsibility and lack of intent due to intoxication, both of which the jury rejected. The victim's family issued a victim impact statement expressing their devastation and hope that no other families would suffer similarly through drug abuse.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court will begin deliberating tomorrow in the case of a Castlebar man charged with murdering his mother. Celyn Eadon of Derrycrieve, Islandeady is accused of killing Noreen Kelly at their home in March 2011. The 22-year-old admits to her manslaughter but denies murder. The defence argued that drug use from childhood caused a mental disorder that diminished his responsibility, or that intoxication prevented him forming intent to kill. The prosecution contended he was not suffering from mental disorder and that the disappearance of his drugs from his room may have triggered the fatal attack. Medical evidence presented conflicting accounts regarding whether the accused had a mental disorder. The eight-day trial concluded with closing arguments from both the defence and State. Mr Justice Paul Carney instructed the jury of seven men and five women that their task would be difficult. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing murder trial of Anthony Locke (35), from Prussia Street, Dublin, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Christopher Jackson (53) on 7 September 2012. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that the deceased sustained over 70 stab wounds, including one penetrating the right lung, which was the cause of death. Dr Curtis noted that the wound patterns suggested more than one weapon was used and that the fatal chest injury would have killed the victim within minutes, though he may have remained mobile for several minutes. The body was discovered in a foetal position inside a wardrobe, concealed by plastic bags and bedding. Detective Garda Louise O'Loughlin stated that a hacksaw with a missing blade and other bloodstained items were removed from the wardrobe. The trial continues before Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan. Separately, Bernard Locke (41), from Ramillies Road, Ballyfermot, is awaiting sentence after pleading guilty last week to the murder of Mr Jackson. The validated procedural stage for Bernard Locke is sentence, while Anthony Locke's trial remains in progress.
At the Central Criminal Court, three mental health professionals gave conflicting evidence in the murder trial of a man accused of killing his mother in Castlebar, County Mayo. Celyn Eadon, aged 22, of Derrycrieve, Islandeady, admits manslaughter but denies murder in connection with the death of Noreen Kelly on 9 March 2011. Ms Kelly, aged 46, died from multiple stab wounds at their home. Two defence witnesses, a senior clinical psychologist and a consultant forensic psychiatrist, both based at the Central Mental Hospital, testified that the accused suffered from drug-induced brain impairment and substance-induced psychosis at the time of the incident. However, a prosecution consultant forensic psychiatrist concluded the accused did not meet the legal threshold for mental illness under the Criminal Law Insanity Act. He stated that extreme intoxication, while present, is excluded from that definition. The trial before Mr Justice Paul Carney continues. Celyn Eadon pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Celyn Eadon, accused of murdering his mother Noreen Kelly in Castlebar, has heard evidence regarding the deceased's injuries and the accused's mental state. Ms Kelly, 46, died of multiple stab wounds on March 9, 2011. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that he found 19 stab wounds, slash wounds, and bruises on the body, with injuries penetrating the brain, severing a jugular vein, and damaging the heart and liver. He attributed death to catastrophic haemorrhaging. Mr Eadon, 22, has pleaded not guilty to her murder at the address, while admitting to manslaughter. The prosecution closed its case, and the defence called two medical witnesses. Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist Dr Paul O'Connell stated that Mr Eadon began using drugs at age 10 and was likely experiencing substance-induced psychosis at the time of the killing, which could affect his capacity to form specific intent. Senior Clinical Psychologist Dr Ken O'Reilly concluded that the accused suffered from organic brain impairment secondary to polysubstance misuse. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Carney and a jury.
During a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Detective Inspector Kevin Daly gave evidence about how a dead body was found in a wardrobe in a Dublin flat. The accused, a 35‑year‑old man, is charged with murdering Christopher Jackson, 53, on 7 September 2012. Anthony Locke, the accused, pleaded not guilty. Bernard Locke, his brother, pleaded guilty to the murder. Daly explained that a cousin of the accused first contacted the Gardaí after Bernard Locke called asking for help moving the deceased. Daly went to Prussia Street, where Bernard was present and agreed to a search. He then checked wardrobes in three flats, contacting the landlord Barbara Staunton. In the bedroom wardrobe, a heavy package wrapped in a duvet was found, which Daly believed to be the body and declared a crime scene.
During a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Barbara Staunton testified that the deceased, Christopher Jackson, had threatened to kill her. Staunton, who had lived with Jackson before his death, said she had received threats from him weeks earlier. She described how Jackson had put his hands around her neck and threatened her with a knife. Staunton also claimed that both Anthony Locke and his brother Bernard Locke were involved in Jackson's murder, stating that Bernard stabbed Jackson in the heart. She recounted that she had spoken to Gardaí after the murder, expressing that she believed both men were responsible. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, is expected to last two weeks. The jury consists of 3 women and 9 men. Anthony Locke pleaded not guilty. Bernard Locke pleaded guilty.
A 22-year-old man from Castlebar has admitted manslaughter but denies murder in connection with the death of his mother at their home in Derrycrieve, Islandeady on 9 March 2011. The Central Criminal Court heard that the accused disputed suggestions he killed his mother after she destroyed his drugs, instead claiming he acted while delusional. Detective Garda Róisín Loftus gave evidence of interviews conducted the day after the 46-year-old woman was found with multiple stab wounds. The court was told forensic analysis identified methamphetamine residue in charred packaging recovered from the family home. The accused stated he had consumed prescription medication and amphetamine in the hours before the incident and believed his medication had been tampered with. Medical evidence previously presented indicated he received a diagnosis of acute psychotic episode secondary to polysubstance abuse following his arrest. The trial before Mr Justice Paul Carney and jury continues. The unnamed 22-year-old pleaded not guilty.
At the Central Criminal Court, a 22-year-old man from Derrycrieve, Islandeady, Castlebar pleaded not guilty to murder but admitted manslaughter in connection with the death of his mother, Noreen Kelly, on March 9, 2011. The 46-year-old died of multiple stab wounds at their home. During proceedings before Mr Justice Paul Carney, the court heard evidence that the accused's behaviour had significantly altered following a violent assault he sustained aged twelve, when two men attacked him with implements whilst he was in a field. His mother's former partner testified that the incident profoundly affected the accused and that his mother had later expressed concern about his unwillingness to seek counselling. The witness also stated that the accused began using drugs months before Ms Kelly's death. A detective sergeant recalled that when arrested hours after the incident, the accused indicated his mother had attacked him first and that he had carried a knife. Hospital records subsequently documented that the accused tested positive for multiple controlled substances and received a diagnosis of acute psychotic episode.
The murder trial of Anthony Locke, 35, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan. Locke, from Prussia Street, has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Christopher Jackson on 7 September 2012. His brother, Bernard Locke, 41, pleaded guilty to the same murder earlier this week. Witness Barbara Staunton testified that she was held at knife point by Anthony Locke while Bernard Locke took her partner into another room. She alleged that after Jackson was stabbed, Bernard Locke instructed Anthony Locke to "finish him off." Staunton stated that Bernard Locke subsequently asked her to have sex with him and threatened her life, forcing her to remain silent. She reported that the men told her to "act normal" when her sister visited. The court heard that Staunton had been addicted to heroin at the time. The trial, expected to last two weeks, continues with a jury of 12.
The trial of Celyn Eadon, charged with murdering his mother Noreen Kelly on March 9, 2011, continued at the Central Criminal Court. Eadon, then 22, has pleaded not guilty to murder but admits to manslaughter. Witness John Scott testified that he was having tea when a half-naked, injured teenager approached his kitchen window. Scott stated the young man claimed he had been abducted by aliens and experimented on, and that he had stabbed and possibly killed his mother. Scott provided the distressed man with tea, a cigarette, and a jacket before contacting the gardai. Sergeant David Tiernan testified that Eadon was arrested at Scott's home, where he claimed he did not realize the victim was his mother and that the house was filled with smoke. Psychiatrist Victor Ademaike examined Eadon later that day. Eadon told the doctor he could not recollect events from the previous evening until his arrest, citing the use of methamphetamine and cannabis. He stated he remembered arguing with his mother about her boyfriend and being chased. The psychiatrist diagnosed an acute psychotic episode secondary to polysubstance abuse. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Carney and a jury.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Andrew Gibney, aged 21, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Gerard Burnett, aged 28, in Mulhuddart on 21 August 2012. Burnett suffered 30 stab wounds after an attack by a group of men outside his girlfriend's house and died in hospital. Gibney pleaded not guilty but the jury, after four‑and‑a‑half hours, returned a 10‑2 guilty verdict. Judge Patrick McCarthy imposed a life sentence, back‑dating it to 28 August 2012 for time already spent in custody. The prosecution argued Gibney was part of a joint enterprise; testimony included accounts of a group of men armed with knives, a doorbell incident, and statements from Denise Farrell and Lee Dalton. The pathologist confirmed multiple fatal stab wounds to Burnett's head, lung, heart and liver. The judge thanked the jury and excused them from further service for ten years.
A witness has testified at the Central Criminal Court regarding the death of a woman in County Mayo. The 19-year-old brother of the accused gave evidence via live television link in the trial of Celyn Eadon, aged 22, from Derrycrieve, Islandeady, Castlebar. Eadon admits to the manslaughter of Noreen Kelly at that address on 9 March 2011 but has pleaded not guilty to her murder. The woman, aged 46, died from multiple stab wounds. The witness described the accused's behaviour in the hours before the killing, stating he appeared intoxicated and distressed about missing drugs. He recalled his mother expressing fear and attempting to contact the gardaí for assistance that evening. The witness said he was awakened by screaming and discovered his mother injured. He contacted emergency services and attempted to provide aid. The trial, heard before a jury of seven men and five women, continues before Mr Justice Paul Carney.
Edward Piotrowski, a 48-year-old Polish man formerly of Edenderry, Co Offaly, must await the outcome of his appeal against his conviction for the rape and sexual assault of a woman. In January 2010, Mr Justice Peter Charleton sentenced Piotrowski to five concurrent life sentences after a Central Criminal Court jury convicted him of the November 25, 2007 attack. The life sentences were imposed on three counts of rape, one count of aggravated sexual assault, and one count of false imprisonment of the woman, all of which he had denied. Additionally, Piotrowski received concurrent terms of 10, five, and 10 years for aggravated burglary, assault, and false imprisonment of the victim's partner; he pleaded guilty to the assault charge but not guilty to the other two. All sentences were backdated to November 2007. At the Court of Criminal Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice Frank Clarke, counsel for Piotrowski argued that the trial judge erred in law regarding the presumption of innocence and the presentation of the defence case. The court also rejected Piotrowski's attempt to introduce new evidence, stating it would provide reasons for this decision later. The matter was adjourned as the court reserved its judgement on the appeal.
In a 2014 Central Criminal Court hearing, 19‑year‑old Daniel McDonnell, charged with the murder of 16‑year‑old Melanie McCarthy McNamara, admitted writing two letters from his St Patrick's Institution cell in March 2012. The letters, which he had asked prison staff to send to two recipients, contain boastful remarks about shooting McCarthy McNamara. One letter includes the lines "Close‑range head shots… Two in the head. The bitch is dead… Best night of my poxy life." The second letter references a "smell bag" and a "bullying my Ma" comment. McDonnell pleaded not guilty to the murder. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Carney, has already heard the letters and related statements from prison staff and Garda investigators. The case remains at the trial stage, with no verdict yet reached.
In the murder trial of Daniel McDonnell, a 19‑year‑old charged with killing 16‑year‑old Melanie McCarthy McNamara, the court heard that McDonnell, a protected prisoner at St Patrick's Institution, had written two letters while in Cell 17 on the B3 landing. Prison officer Richard Pielow testified that McDonnell had no contact with other inmates and that the letters were unsealed and read by officers as part of routine procedure. The letters, addressed to Lee McDonnell and Stephanie Tuite, contained violent and vulgar language, including the phrase "Two in the head. The bitch is dead." Assistant Chief Officer Tony Redmond read the letters aloud to the jury. McDonnell pleaded not guilty, and the trial continued before Mr Justice Paul Carney with a jury of six men and six women. The case remains pending.
In the Central Criminal Court, Christopher McNamara, aged 21, pleaded not guilty to the murder of James Boyce, aged 71, which occurred between 6 and 7 March 2011. The jury heard that on 24 March 2011 Garda Brian Begley had searched McNamara's home and seized items including a pair of white gloves and a 42‑inch LG television. The television had been given to McNamara's mother, Pauline Whelan, on 7 March, and McNamara claimed he had obtained the money for it by robbing two building sites. A statement by Garda Patrick Hogan detailed the seizure of car keys from Michael Larkin McNamara on 8 March. McNamara's own statement, read to the jury, described how he bought a Toyota Corolla from Larkin McNamara on the night of the murder, paying €1,100 in fifty‑euro notes. The trial continues before Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan and a jury of seven men and five women.
In a 2014 Central Criminal Court hearing, a 65‑year‑old Wicklow farmer, Cecil Tomkins, was found unfit to stand trial for the 2010 murder of his 66‑year‑old brother, Walter Tomkins, at their Cronlea home. Tomkins, suffering from advanced Parkinson's disease, dementia, depression and a history of seizures, was an inpatient at Bloomfield Hospital. His barrister, John O'Kelly SC, presented a multidisciplinary report and a consultant psychiatrist, Dr John Tobin, testified that Tomkins' cognitive impairment prevented him from understanding the proceedings or directing his counsel. Dr Tobin described Tomkins as unable to communicate effectively, disoriented in place and time, and requiring total nursing care. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Carney, agreed with the defence, ruling Tomkins unfit under the Criminal Law Insanity Act and adjourned the case for a further order.
In January 2014, Timothy O'Driscoll, aged 36, was denied an appeal against his life sentence for the murder of 25‑year‑old Lee McCarthy. O'Driscoll stabbed McCarthy to death after a drink and an invitation to his family home. The Central Criminal Court jury in Cork found him guilty in October 2011, and Mr Justice Paul Carney imposed a life sentence. O'Driscoll's lawyers argued he was provoked by McCarthy's claim that his father had been in a loyalist organisation, but the Court of Criminal Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice Adrian Hardiman, found no grounds to overturn the conviction.
A 22-year-old man from Castlebar is to stand trial at the Central Criminal Court following the death of his mother in March 2011. The defendant pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in connection with the death of a 46-year-old woman at an address in Islandeady. The Director of Public Prosecutions rejected the manslaughter plea. A jury of twelve was sworn in to hear the case, with trial proceedings due to commence on Thursday. The trial will determine whether the charge of murder is sustained.
Ian Flanagan, a 24‑year‑old Limerick father of two, was sentenced to eighteen months' imprisonment for hiding a CCTV device that contained crucial evidence for the murder trial of his brother Seán Flanagan and uncle Paul Colbert. The device was concealed on waste ground away from the family home, preventing the system from recording the killers' movements. The murder in question involved Gerard McMahon, who was stabbed to death on 18 January 2012 while visiting his cousin on Lenihan Avenue. Seán Flanagan (28) and Paul Colbert (46) were found guilty of the murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. During the four‑week trial, they denied the charge. Detective Sergeant Denis Treacy testified that a personal dispute existed between Seán Flanagan and the deceased, who had been friendly with Seán's former girlfriend. The family's CCTV system had captured the Flanagan brothers entering the home shortly after midnight, but the system was disconnected before the killers' movements were recorded.
During his trial at the Central Criminal Court, Daniel McDonnell, a 19‑year‑old charged with the murder of 16‑year‑old Melanie McCarthy McNamara, admitted to writing graffiti on his cell wall while detained at Tallaght Garda Station. The graffiti included phrases such as "2 in the head. The bitch is dead" and references to Melanie's boyfriend, Christopher Moran, using derogatory terms. Garda Francis Glennon, who was the jailer, photographed the graffiti and testified that it was signed by McDonnell. The prosecution presented the photographs to the jury. The trial also covered the forensic evidence of Melanie's death, with Dr Khalid Jabbar describing a fatal shotgun wound to her left temple and the presence of numerous pellets. The case proceeded to legal argument before Mr Justice Paul Carney, with the jury scheduled to return on Tuesday. The unnamed 19-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In the trial of Andrew Gibney, 21, of Drumheath Avenue, Mulhuddart, the jury was shown four knives found at his home after a warrant was executed on 27 August 2012. Gibney pleaded not guilty to the murder of Gerard Burnett, 28, who was stabbed 30 times and died in hospital on 21 August 2012. Gibney claimed he had been stabbed by Burnett four years earlier and that he had stabbed Burnett three times without intent to kill. The prosecution alleged a joint enterprise involving five men. Evidence included a knife on the kitchen worktop and three in a cutlery drawer, one with a damaged tip. Witness Gareth Mellett described a group of five men, one holding a knife, near Burnett's house that night. Dr Derek Hayden testified that Burnett was pronounced dead at 00.57 am after failed resuscitation attempts. The case proceeded before a jury of nine men and three women under Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy.
In a murder trial, the jury heard that 16‑year‑old Melanie McCarthy McNamara was severely wounded when she arrived at Tallaght Hospital after being shot in the head. The court was shown a shotgun found by Gardaí near Brookview Way, where the shooting occurred. Daniel McDonnell, 19, was on trial for the murder and had pleaded not guilty. A hospital statement described the extent of her injuries, including a large wound to the temple, brain matter, and a protruding eyeball, and noted that resuscitation was stopped at 1 am after her condition deteriorated. A boy who witnessed the shooting described a black jeep and gunfire, and Sergeant John Schlay presented the shotgun, noting it had been altered for concealment. The trial proceeded before Mr Justice Paul Carney with a jury of twelve.
The Central Criminal Court heard that Andrew Gibney, aged 21, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Gerard Burnett, aged 28, who was stabbed 30 times and died in hospital. Gibney claimed he was stabbed by Burnett with a screwdriver four years earlier. Prosecutor Tom O'Connell said Gibney and others went to Burnett's house at Castlecurragh Avenue shortly before midnight, armed with knives. Gibney admitted to using a knife on Burnett three times, saying he was drunk and that the incident was triggered by alcohol. He claimed he had no intention to murder. Denise Farrell, Burnett's partner, testified that she saw three men at the door and that Burnett was dragged outside. The court heard that the cause of death was multiple stab wounds to the heart, right lung and liver. The trial continues before a jury with Justice Patrick McCarthy presiding.
In a 2014 trial at the Central Criminal Court, Daniel McDonnell, aged 19, was charged with the murder of 16‑year‑old Melanie McCarthy McNamara. The prosecution presented evidence that McDonnell had written boastful graffiti on his cell wall, including the lines 'Two in the head. Your bitch is dead', and had sent two letters to a prison officer that contained references to the shooting. The letters, addressed to Lee McDonnell and Stephanie Tuite, described the intent to shoot and the use of a loaded 12‑gauge shotgun. McDonnell's defence pleaded not guilty. The jury was told that the victim was shot in the head while seated in the back seat of a car on Brookview Way, Tallaght, and that she was pronounced dead at Tallaght Hospital. The case was heard by Mr Justice Paul Carney with a jury of twelve.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the court heard that Garda Enda Moroney discovered the body of 71‑year‑old James Boyce at his home on St Munchins Street, St Mary's Park, Limerick, on 7 March 2011. Moroney reported finding blood on the sitting‑room floor and later the lifeless body in the bedroom, with a piece of wood on Boyce's chest and a cut below his right ear. Scratch marks were noted on his shoulder, blood on his right cheek and below his nostrils, and a brush handle and brush head were found near the bed. The scene was declared a crime scene at 19.45. Christopher Stewart McNamara, a neighbour, testified that he saw the accused, Christopher McNamara, enter Boyce's house around midnight. CCTV footage of the accused's movements was shown to the jury. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, is expected to last two weeks. Christopher McNamara pleaded not guilty.
A teenage boy and a teenage girl, both in their mid‑teens, are to stand trial in the Central Criminal Court for rape of a teenage girl in Dublin in 2012. The alleged assault took place at the boy's home on the same date as a separate charge of sexual assault. Both defendants appeared at the Children's Court in Dublin, were released on bail, and were given strict conditions: they must not contact the victim or her family, must sign in at their local Garda station, carry mobile phones, be available for Garda inquiries, and obey nightly curfews at home. The judge, Judge John O'Connor, explained that the Children's Court cannot take jurisdiction over these serious charges under Section 75 of the Children Act, so the case will proceed in the Central Criminal Court. The defendants have not yet indicated how they will plead.
A 21‑year‑old Limerick man, Christopher McNamara, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of 71‑year‑old James Boyce, who lived on St Munchins Street. The prosecution alleges that McNamara visited Boyce on the night of 6 March 2011 and again after midnight, and that he killed him by striking him repeatedly with a sweeping brush, delivering a fatal blow to the neck. A post‑mortem confirmed multiple blows to the neck. Boyce had kept a large amount of cash in his bedroom, which the prosecutor says McNamara stole. The jury heard a neighbour's testimony that Boyce's curtains were drawn the morning after his death, and that CCTV footage will be shown. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Gareth Sheehan, is expected to last two weeks. The accused has pleaded not guilty.
A jury was sworn in for the trial of Andrew Gibney, 21, who is accused of murdering Gerard Burnett, 28, at Castlecurragh Vale, Mulhuddart, on 21 August 2012. Gibney appeared before Mr Justice Paul Carney at the Central Criminal Court and pleaded not guilty to the single count of murder. The trial is set to begin on Tuesday before a jury of six men and six women and is expected to last two weeks.
A 19‑year‑old Dublin teenager, Daniel McDonnell, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 16‑year‑old Melanie McCarthy McNamara, who was killed in Tallaght on 8 February 2012. He was charged at the Central Criminal Court and arraigned before a jury of six men and six women. The trial is set to begin the following morning and is expected to last a week.
Siobhan Whitaker, 25, of Meadow Vale, London, pleaded guilty to impeding the apprehension of Daniel Gaynor, who murdered Maurice Martin in Finglas on 12 June 2009. Whitaker admitted that she helped clean up the scene after Martin was stabbed to death by Gaynor, who was a known recidivist criminal. The court heard that Martin had been attacked by two men outside Whitaker's house and that Whitaker had left him at her request. Whitaker has 21 prior convictions, mainly for traffic offences, and the court noted her previous criminal history. She expressed remorse in a letter to the court, stating she did not ask for the events to occur. The judge remanded her on continuing bail for sentencing on 13 January. The article does not provide a sentencing outcome.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Criostoir MacCarthaigh, aged 36, was found guilty of murdering 35‑year‑old David Whyte. The jury, after two days of deliberation, sentenced him to life imprisonment. The prosecution alleged that MacCarthaigh, after drinking in Phibsborough, left his flat around 11 pm, encountered Whyte on Ulster Street, and drove him to Mill Lane in Palmerstown. There, he stabbed Whyte more than 100 times in the ruin of an old church. The court heard that Whyte was a gentle, happy man who had never harmed anyone. His sisters, Lesley and Paula, were visibly upset after the verdict. Jonathan Spollen, Whyte's brother‑in‑law, delivered a victim impact statement describing Whyte as an innocent man who was attacked and murdered in a brutal, unprovoked assault. Criostoir MacCarthaigh pleaded not guilty. David Whyte pleaded not guilty.
A 32‑year‑old man with schizophrenia, Niall Stapleton, was found not guilty of murdering his 51‑year‑old mother, Siobhan Stapleton, by reason of insanity. The murder took place on 25 May 2012 at their home in Kilfane, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, when the mother was struck on the head with the handle of a garden implement, resulting in blunt‑force trauma. Stapleton admitted causing the death but claimed he believed his mother had been replaced by an impostor. Forensic psychiatrists for both sides agreed he met the legal requirement for a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. A jury of seven men and five women deliberated for over two hours before reaching that verdict. The case is scheduled to return to the judge for a further committal order.
In a Central Criminal Court case, the prosecution urged the jury to apply logic when deciding the murder of a 25‑year‑old man who was stabbed over 100 times. Paul Burns SC presented evidence that the accused, Criostoir MacCarthaigh, 36, of An Gleann, Baile Phamar, was responsible for the killing of David Whyte in September 2008. He highlighted DNA linking MacCarthaigh to Whyte's trousers, which were reportedly pulled down, and questioned the credibility of witness Simon Griffin, suggesting an unblemished person would not witness a killing on Mill Lane. Burns argued that the evidence proved MacCarthaigh stabbed Whyte to death. Defending counsel Hugh Hartnett countered, asking the jury to consider the lack of motive for MacCarthaigh. The trial was set to conclude the following day before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury. Criostoir MacCarthaigh pleaded not guilty.
The jury at the Central Criminal Court has adjourned deliberations for a third consecutive evening in the trial of a man charged with murder in County Cavan. Przemyslaw Trebacz, aged 35, of Bramble Rise, Killynebber, Cavan denies the murder of Costel Catalin Cretu, aged 38, which is alleged to have occurred at Connolly Court, Connolly Street, Cavan between October 13 and 14, 2012. Mr Trebacz has pleaded guilty to a separate charge of criminal damage relating to a door at the same address on October 13, 2012. The jury has spent almost nine hours deliberating. When asked by Mr Justice Barry White whether further time would assist their consideration, the jury foreman indicated the panel required additional time and was not yet deadlocked. Deliberations are to resume on Wednesday. Przemyslaw Trebacz pleaded not guilty.
The jury at the Central Criminal Court has adjourned deliberations in the trial of Przemyslaw Trebacz, a 35-year-old Polish national accused of murdering Costel Catalin Cretu, a 38-year-old Romanian man, in Co. Cavan in October 2012. Trebacz, of Bramble Rise, Killynebber, has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge relating to the incident at Connolly Court, Connolly Street, Cavan on October 13 to 14, 2012. He has pleaded guilty to criminal damage to a door at the same location on October 13, 2012. The jury spent approximately five hours examining the evidence before retiring for the evening and will resume consideration of its verdict tomorrow.
A man serving a life sentence for raping four of his daughters has launched an appeal against his sentence at the Court of Criminal Appeal. The 52-year-old was convicted in December 2011 at the Central Criminal Court in Castlebar, County Mayo, after pleading guilty to sample counts of rape and child cruelty spanning an 18-year period from 1991 to 2009. His counsel argued that the trial judge erred in principle by allowing victim support considerations to become the primary factor in imposing the life sentence, contending that the guilty plea should have carried greater mitigating weight. The State's counsel maintained there was no error in law, noting the offences were at the top end of the scale and that a threat made by the appellant against one victim justified the sentence. The Court of Criminal Appeal reserved judgement, with a decision expected on 15 January 2014.
During a murder trial, forensic scientist Dr Diane Daly testified that DNA matching that of Criostoir MacCarthaigh (36) was found on the jeans worn by the 35‑year‑old victim, David Whyte, on the night of his murder in the ruins of an old church. The DNA profile was a mixed one of two contributors, but all elements on the waistband matched MacCarthaigh's profile. Detective Superintendent Peter O'Boyle confirmed that MacCarthaigh, after his arrest, requested his interview be conducted in Irish and was given a translator. When asked why his DNA was on the victim's clothing, MacCarthaigh said he did not know, adding that he was not a doctor or scientist. He also could not recall his presence at Mill Lane in September 2008 and refused to sign a statement. The court noted that MacCarthaigh has two prior convictions, one of which was a suspended sentence. Criostoir MacCarthaigh pleaded not guilty.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has paused deliberations in the trial of a man accused of murder in County Cavan. Przemyslaw Trebacz, aged 35, of Bramble Rise, Killynebber, Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Costel Catalin Cretu, aged 38, which is alleged to have occurred at Connolly Court, Connolly Street, Cavan between October 13 and 14, 2012. Trebacz has entered a guilty plea to a separate charge of criminal damage to a door at the same location on October 13, 2012. The jury spent one hour and thirty minutes considering its verdict before breaking for the weekend. Deliberations are scheduled to resume on Monday.
Joanna Kelly, 40, and Michelle Hynes, 41, both without fixed abode, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Joe O'Brien, a 60‑year‑old Waterford resident, at a party in April 2012. The killing occurred in an apartment on William Street where Patrick Keating, who is serving a life sentence for the murder, struck O'Brien with a dumbbell. Kelly and Hynes joined in, kicking the victim while he was defenseless. Detective Garda David Butler testified that five people were drinking that night and that the assault was partly triggered by O'Brien's remarks about oral sex and childhood anecdotes. Both defendants had numerous prior convictions for assault, theft and other offences. Kelly wrote a letter to the judge expressing shame, refusing to drink again, and acknowledging the lasting impact of her actions. The court heard that she had a history of depression, attempted suicide and had been in care for alcohol addiction.
John English, 36, a rapist convicted of raping an Australian tourist in 2002, was re‑sentenced to 18 years with five years suspended in 2004. He was released in September 2012 but re‑arrested after breaching the suspended term by drinking alcohol. In February 2013, a judge re‑activated the five‑year jail term. English appealed, arguing that the obligation to comply with probation recommendations applied from 2004, not from his release. The Court of Criminal Appeal accepted this technical point and granted him bail pending the appeal. Bail conditions include abstaining from alcohol, keeping the peace, good behaviour, signing in at Mayfield Garda Station on specific days, and surrendering his passport. The case will be mentioned again on 12 February 2014.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, Sgt Jim Quinn reported that the 36‑year‑old accused, Criostoir MacCarthaigh of An Gleann, Baile Phamar, insisted that all communication with the Gardaí be conducted in Irish. He stated that the suspect requested to speak in Irish in the hours and days after his arrest. The trial concerns the murder of David Whyte, 35, who was found dead on 26 September 2008 in an old graveyard in Mill Lane, Palmerstown. A post‑mortem revealed over 100 stab wounds, the most serious to the jugular. MacCarthaigh pleaded not guilty. Sgt David Russell presented a technical report detailing fingerprinting, photography and saliva sampling, noting that the accused would not sign any documents. The case is before Justice Patrick McCarthy with a jury of seven men and five women. The prosecution is led by Senior Counsel Paul Burns. The trial is ongoing.
A 47‑year‑old Gerald Vollrath of Tramore Heights pleaded guilty to attempting to murder his 83‑year‑old mother, Veronica Vollrath, in a Waterford nursing home on 9 January 2012. The original murder charge was dropped and replaced with the attempted murder charge. He was re‑arraigned on a substituted indictment. The judge ordered a victim impact report and relaxed his bail conditions, allowing him to sign in at a Garda station once a week and no longer surrender his passport when in Austria. He remains on continuing bail pending sentencing on 17 February. The unnamed 47-year-old pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Christopher McNamara, a 21‑year‑old from Good Shepherd Villas, Limerick, accused of murdering 71‑year‑old pensioner James Boyce on St Munchin's Street between 6 and 7 March 2011, was set to begin at the Central Criminal Court. A jury of seven women and five men had been sworn in, but Judge Garrett Sheehan adjourned the proceedings, stating the case could not be completed within the allotted seven days. He apologized for the inconvenience, discharged the jury, and announced the trial would resume with a new jury in the New Year. Christopher McNamara pleaded not guilty.