In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Judge Caroline Biggs instructed a jury to assess whether the brothers of Jozef Puska, charged with withholding information about the murder of schoolteacher Ashling Murphy, had a reasonable excuse rooted in fear of self‑incrimination. The judge clarified that protecting a family member is not a valid excuse, but the jury must consider if the brothers, Lubomir Jnr (38) and Marek (36), genuinely feared that providing information would implicate them. Puska, who stabbed Murphy to death on 12 January 2022, is serving a life sentence. The brothers and their wives, Viera Gaziova (40) and Jozefina Grundzova (32), are charged with withholding information and burning Puska's clothes to impede his apprehension. All accused pleaded not guilty. The judge emphasized that the prosecution must prove the brothers had no reasonable excuse for failing to disclose the information, and the jury must decide if the fear of self‑incrimination was present.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Marek Puska, Lubomir Puska Jnr, Jozefina Grundzova, and Viera Gaziova is ongoing, with the judge's charge to the jury currently underway. All four accused, who have pleaded not guilty to all charges, are alleged to have been involved in the aftermath of the murder of Ashling Murphy by Jozef Puska in January 2022. Marek Puska and Lubomir Puska Jnr are accused of withholding information relating to the murder, while Ms Grundzova and Ms Gaziova are accused of impeding Jozef Puska's apprehension or prosecution by burning his clothes. Defence counsel argued that the women did not believe Jozef Puska was capable of murder and acted on second-hand information without knowledge of the crime. Counsel for Lubomir Puska Jnr contended that he delayed reporting information due to family loyalty but ultimately cooperated with gardai. The prosecution maintains that all accused knew of the murder shortly after it occurred and acted to prevent Jozef Puska's prosecution. The matter is not concluded; the judge's charge is in progress and will continue tomorrow.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, defence counsel Karl Finnegan SC argued that Marek Puska (36), Jozef Puska's brother, had a reasonable excuse for withholding information from gardai after the murder of Ashling Murphy. Finnegan said Marek was protecting himself, fearing that his statements could implicate him in assisting his brother. He noted that Marek had not believed Jozef had stabbed Murphy when he spoke to investigators two days after the crime. Prosecutor Anne Marie Lawlor SC countered that Marek knew Jozef's confession shortly after 9.30 pm on the night of the murder and, along with brother Lubomir Jnr (38), failed to disclose vital information. Lawlor also accused Jozefina Grundzova (32) and Viera Gaziova (40) of burning Jozef's clothes to impede his arrest, a charge they admit. All accused pleaded not guilty. Jozef Puska was convicted of murdering 23‑year‑old Ashling Murphy and is serving a life sentence.
Two 13‑ and 15‑year‑old boys were sentenced to six years' detention for raping a 16‑year‑old girl in a car at Limerick Racecourse. A third defendant, now 18, who aided the rapes by moving the car, received three and a half years' jail. The judge noted the boys' lack of remorse and their juvenile status under the Children Act, and suspended the final 18 months of each sentence on conditions including participation in sexual offending programmes and no contact with the victim. The victim, who was intoxicated and had never had sexual intercourse before, was described as having been repeatedly told "no" and suffering extensive bleeding and bruising. The boys denied the rapes, claiming consensual encounters, but the jury found them guilty. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court in Cork. The sentences reflect the seriousness of the offences and the boys' ages at the time of the crime. The unnamed 16-year-old was acquitted.
In a Central Criminal Court sentencing hearing, 39‑year‑old Shane Flanagan of Co Clare pleaded guilty to two counts of inciting men to rape a woman between November and December 2020, and to six counts of endangerment for impersonating the woman on Facebook and Fetlife.com, inviting violence that posed a substantial risk of death or serious harm between 2018 and 2020. He also pleaded guilty to one count of possession of four images of child sexual abuse material. The hearing was adjourned for two weeks after the court was informed that Flanagan had been admitted to hospital earlier that week. A medical report was submitted, and the judge ordered an updated report before the case is mentioned again later in the month. The complainant, who wishes to remain anonymous, was informed of the adjournment. The case remains pending pending the updated medical report.
At the Central Criminal Court, the trial of Jozefina Grundzova, Marek Puska, Viera Gaziova, and Lubomir Puska Jnr continued. All four accused, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, are alleged to have impeded the apprehension or prosecution of Jozef Puska, who was previously convicted of murdering Ashling Murphy in January 2022. Grundzova and Gaziova face charges of assisting in burning clothes, including a bloodstained t-shirt, while Marek Puska and Lubomir Puska Jnr are charged with withholding information from detectives. Evidence presented by Detective Garda James Duffy indicated that Grundzova told gardaí that Gaziova received a phone call instructing her to burn specific items. Grundzova stated she observed blood on the lower half of a t-shirt and that she herself threw socks into the fire. The court heard that the accused were living with Jozef Puska and his family in Co Offaly at the time. Presiding Judge Caroline Biggs adjourned the proceedings, informing the jury that they would not be required again until the trial resumes on June 9th.
Richard Satchwell, a 59‑year‑old British national, was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Central Criminal Court in Dublin for the murder of his 45‑year‑old wife, Tina Satchwell, who was found buried under the stairs of their Youghal home. The jury, after nine hours and 28 minutes of deliberation over four days, unanimously rejected Satchwell's defence that he acted in self‑defence during a struggle with a chisel. Witnesses, including Tina's sister Lorraine Howard and niece Sarah Howard, testified that Satchwell had hidden Tina's body in a chest freezer before burying her, and that he had offered the freezer to Sarah. Satchwell's 14 prior convictions include larceny and theft. He intends to appeal the conviction. The sentence was back‑dated to 12 October 2023, the day he entered custody. Tina Satchwell pleaded not guilty.
In a sentencing hearing, the mother of Dylan McCarthy, who died after a fatal assault outside a Kildare pub in August 2022, delivered an emotional victim impact statement. She described her son's life as abruptly ended, noting that money saved for his wedding was redirected to his funeral. Dylan's girlfriend, Aoife Talty, also spoke, recalling his kindness and their future plans. The court heard that Calvin Dunne (25) was convicted of manslaughter and violent disorder, while Sean Kavanagh (27) pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Eamonn McCarthy and was found not guilty of murder. The trial detailed the chaotic melee, with witnesses describing a kick to Dylan's head and a "loud thud." The judge adjourned the case to June 30 for finalisation.
A mature student in his late twenties pleaded guilty to raping a college student on a university campus in February 2022. The victim, who was intoxicated after a night out, could not recall the assault but later discovered semen on her leg and bruises. DNA matched the defendant. He had no prior convictions. The court heard the victim's impact statement, describing the trauma and her refusal to forgive. The Director of Public Prosecution placed the offence in the seven‑to‑ten‑year category. The defendant's counsel highlighted his lack of remorse, his apology, and his character. Judge Paul McDermott sentenced him to six years' imprisonment, with post‑release supervision for three years, and directed him to have no contact with the victim or her family. The sentence reflected the seriousness of the offence and the defendant's guilty plea.
At the Central Criminal Court on 3 June 2025, Nigel Canavan, aged 39, with an address at Erris Gardens, Crossmolina, County Mayo, was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment for the murder of his mother Angela Canavan at her home in St John's Terrace, County Sligo on 1 May 2023. The sentence was backdated to 30 April 2025. On 16 May 2025, a jury had convicted Canavan of murder, rejecting his pleas of provocation and self-defence. The court heard that Ms Canavan, a respected psychotherapist, died from mechanical asphyxia caused by manual strangulation and external obstruction of the airway. She had suffered additional injuries including a head laceration, facial and body bruising, and three broken ribs. During sentencing, Ms Canavan's son Keith delivered a victim impact statement, describing his mother as accomplished and well-loved. Presiding judge Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo stated that it must be beyond any mother's darkest imaginings to die at the hands of the child she bore. Nigel Canavan pleaded not guilty.
A 28‑year‑old man, Martin Gooney, pleaded guilty to coercive control and sexual assault. He was sentenced to three years and two months in prison, with a 12‑month post‑release supervision order. The victim, who wishes to remain anonymous, described how Gooney hid in her shed to spy on her, used her phone to send false messages, and repeatedly threatened her with violence, including a plan to hang her dog. He also sexually assaulted her in March 2021 and had other incidents of sexual assault. Gooney has nine prior convictions, including assault and threats of serious harm. He denied wrongdoing during the Garda interview but read a letter of apology at sentencing, claiming he was "young and stupid" and had no regard for the victim's feelings. The judge noted the victim's ongoing fear and the profound, long‑lasting impact of Gooney's actions.
A 69‑year‑old man was sentenced to nine years in prison for two counts of engaging in a sexual act with his intellectually disabled adult daughter, who is now in residential care. He pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court on 7 February 2023. The judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, described the offence as very serious, noting that the maximum penalty could be life imprisonment. The sentence was eight years, with the final year suspended for two years, and the defendant was placed under Probation Services supervision for five years and ordered to undertake any courses they deem appropriate. He is prohibited from contacting his daughter without her consent and only under strict supervision. The sentence was backdated to the date he entered custody. The daughter, in her mid‑30s with a moderate intellectual disability, had never shared a bed with a man before this abuse. The case was resolved by a guilty plea, avoiding a jury trial.
During a Central Criminal Court sentencing hearing, a 36‑year‑old woman who had endured years of grooming and sexual abuse by her older cousin publicly forgave him, a gesture that moved Judge Caroline Biggs. The man, 40, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault and two counts of rape of his younger cousin, with the abuse occurring between 1999 and 2005 when the victim was nine or ten and the perpetrator about fourteen. He had 12 prior minor traffic offences and was named in eight counts on the indictment. The judge, noting the victim's extraordinary capacity for forgiveness and her prior compassion toward the defendant, imposed a headline sentence of seven years, reduced by 10 % for the guilty plea and 30 % for mitigating factors. The final sentence was four years and two months, with the remaining 14 months suspended under conditions to support his reintegration. The judge thanked the victim for her court attendance.
In a 2007 murder case, Darragh Quinlivan, aged 41 and originally from Limerick City but residing in Manchester, UK, is charged with killing Noel Campion, aged 35, on 26 April 2007. Campion was shot while riding as a back passenger on a motorbike in Thomondgate, Limerick City. Quinlivan allegedly stepped out of a phone box and fired multiple shots from a handgun as the motorbike passed. The prosecution successfully moved the case from Limerick to Dublin, and the trial is scheduled for 12 January 2026 at the Central Criminal Court.
Richard Satchwell, a 58‑year‑old British national, was found guilty of murdering his wife, Tina Satchwell, by a unanimous Central Criminal Court jury. The jury, after nine hours and 28 minutes over four days, rejected his defence that he acted in self‑defence or lacked intent to kill. They held that his narrative of a chisel attack and subsequent struggle was "far‑cical" and that he had concealed her body in a secret grave beneath their home for six years. The jury also noted that he had kept her remains in a chest freezer before burial. The judge will impose a mandatory life sentence on 4 June and remand Satchwell in custody until then. The trial highlighted the jury's belief that Satchwell's lies were designed to hide the murder. The verdict was met with tears from Tina's family and some jurors. The case remains at the murder charge stage.
The jury in the trial of Richard Satchwell, who denies murdering his wife Tina, will continue deliberations into a fourth day. The panel of five men and seven women began considering their verdict at 3.05pm on Tuesday and have spent a total of eight hours and 37 minutes deliberating. They returned to the courtroom at 3.46pm today and a note was handed to the judge from the foreman stating the panel would cease deliberations for the evening and resume on Friday at 11.30am. Mr Justice Paul McDermott told the 12 jurors that there were three possible verdicts: guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. He explained the two routes to the not‑guilty‑of‑murder‑but‑guilty‑of‑manslaughter verdict, based on lack of intent or partial self‑defence.
In the Central Criminal Court, Lubomir Puska Jnr, aged 37, denied that he had asked anyone to dispose of the knife used to murder school teacher Ashling Murphy or to dispose of his brother Jozef's clothes on the day of the murder. He also denied that he had asked anyone to dispose of the clothes. The court heard that Jozef Puska, aged 35, attacked Ms Murphy, aged 23, on the canal towpath at Cappincur in Tullamore on 12 January 2022, killing her with 12 sharp force injuries, 11 of which were stab wounds. Lubomir Jnr had made two statements to Gardaí, first on 18 January 2022 and again on 26 January 2022, in which he described Jozef's condition and alleged that Jozef had tried to explain his actions. He also denied that he had asked anyone to dispose of the knife or the clothes. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
A 57‑year‑old man, already serving a 10‑year sentence for raping a 16‑year‑old in 2018, was ordered to serve an additional three years for harassing and threatening to kill his former partner, a woman 33 years his junior. He had begun a relationship with her in 2018, met online while selling puppies, and they had a child. After the relationship ended, he sent her three threat‑to‑kill messages on 11 January 2020 and harassed her between 18 December 2019 and 31 March 2020. He also sent a photo of an elderly patient to her employer, falsely alleging mistreatment, which led to her suspension and eventual dismissal. The judge, noting the age disparity and the lasting impact on her life, imposed a four‑year sentence with the final year suspended, to run consecutively with his rape sentence, and ordered no contact for five years after release. The man's prior 29 convictions were also noted. The unnamed 57-year-old pleaded guilty.
The jury in the trial of Richard Satchwell, who denies murdering his wife Tina, will return to the Central Criminal Court for a third day of deliberations. The panel of five men and seven women began considering their verdict at 3.05pm on Tuesday and have spent a total of four hours and 42 minutes deliberating. Judge Paul McDermott told the jurors that they should consider all evidence and that there are three possible verdicts: guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. He explained the two routes to the not‑guilty‑of‑murder but guilty‑of‑manslaughter verdict, based on lack of intent or partial self‑defence, and that the prosecution must prove the accused was not acting in self‑defence.
The Central Criminal Court has ordered that the trial of Riad Bouchaker, aged 50, be prioritised because some of the alleged victims are children. Bouchaker faces charges of attempting to murder two girls and a boy, assault causing serious harm to a care worker, and possession or production of a knife. The case arose from an incident on 23 November 2023 at Parnell Square, Dublin, where Bouchaker allegedly assaulted a care worker and attempted to kill three children. Lawyers for Bouchaker have informed Judge Paul McDermott that they are awaiting a psychiatric report. The psychiatrist, who had requested a neuropsychologist's report, has received it and will complete her assessment within three weeks. Judge McDermott has urged all parties to expedite the matter, noting that the trial will be revisited on 15 June. The Department of Justice has introduced a protocol to fast‑track trials involving children, aiming to conclude the process within one year where possible.
In a May 2025 decision, Justice Tara Burns dismissed Oliver Berry's appeal against his conviction for sexually abusing his daughter Sharon. Berry, 68, had previously been convicted in 2023 of 25 indecent assault counts against Sharon, who was aged 7 to 12 at the time. He had also been serving a seven‑year sentence for the same offences, to run consecutively with a prison term he was already serving for the sexual abuse of his other daughter, Jennifer. Berry's appeal argued that the trial judge erred in ruling Sharon competent to give evidence and in limiting her cross‑examination. The judge found no evidence that Sharon's schizophrenia diagnosis affected her competency and that the trial judge had acted correctly. The appeal was therefore dismissed, with no change to Berry's sentence or any new legal outcome announced.
In the Central Criminal Court, Lubomir Puska Junior, aged 38, admitted to lying to Gardaí about his brother Jozef Puska's whereabouts on the day of Ashling Murphy's murder. He first claimed Jozef had been "a bit sad" and left the house in the early afternoon, but later apologized and revealed he had seen Jozef again after 9 pm, describing him as looking beaten and with lacerations. The court heard that Jozef, who was convicted of murdering 23‑year‑old teacher Ashling Murphy on 12 January 2022, had been living with Lubomir and another brother Marek at Lynally Grove. Lubomir and Marek are accused of withholding crucial information, while Jozefina Grundzova and Viera Gaziova are accused of impeding the investigation by burning clothes. All accused plead not guilty. The trial is before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs with a jury of seven men and five women.
The jury in the trial of Richard Satchwell, aged 58, will return to the Central Criminal Court to consider their verdict for a second day. The jury, composed of five men and seven women, began deliberating at 3.05 pm and has spent 46 minutes so far. Judge Paul McDermott told them to consider all evidence and to be unanimous. He explained that they could return one of three verdicts: guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. He outlined the two routes to the manslaughter verdict: an unlawful killing without intent to kill or serious injury, and partial self‑defence. The judge also explained the burden on the prosecution to prove that Satchwell was not acting in self‑defence. The trial has heard that Satchwell denied murdering his 45‑year‑old wife, Tina Satchwell, and that her remains were found in a grave beneath their Cork home in October 2023.
A 33‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment for rape, assault causing harm and threats to kill or cause serious harm to his then‑partner, who gave birth to their child in 2023. The jury convicted him on 24 October 2022 after he threatened to "kick the baby out" and told her "die b**ch, die." He had 11 prior convictions and had pleaded guilty to four counts of assault causing harm, coercive control and criminal damage at the start of his Central Criminal Court trial. The victim, who suffered flashbacks and lived in survival mode for nearly two years, described a pattern of violence including smashing a coffee table, kicking doors, grabbing her hair and threatening suicide. The judge noted a probation report placed him at high risk of reoffending in intimate partner violence. The sentence was back‑dated to February for time already spent in custody. The man does not accept the verdict.
Patrick Fitzgerald (48), with an address in Glenties, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to facilitating a criminal organisation between November 11 and 18, 2021. The court heard that Fitzgerald, known as 'Mr Fishy', purchased and provided getaway vehicles used in an attempted murder of Dublin man Gary Carey on November 17, 2021. Carey was shot ten times and sustained gunshot wounds to his torso but survived. He subsequently died from injuries sustained in a second attack in August 2022. Fitzgerald was arrested in December 2021 and exercised his right to silence during interviews. The court heard he has 72 previous convictions. While on bail for an aggravated burglary charge, Fitzgerald was jailed for seven and a half years in February this year following a home invasion that terrorised a family including a six-year-old child. Sentencing was adjourned to July 7. Victim impact statements detailed the family's trauma and loss of safety following the shooting.
In the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Paul McDermott instructed a jury of twelve that they may consider self‑defence in the murder trial of Richard Satchwell, 58, who is accused of killing his 45‑year‑old wife, Tina, between 19 and 20 March 2017. The judge reminded jurors that the prosecution must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and that Satchwell is presumed innocent. He explained that the jury must assess the credibility of evidence, including Satchwell's Garda interviews, witness statements, exhibits and media footage, and that lies may affect credibility but are not automatically proof of guilt. McDermott outlined how the jury should determine intent, the use of force, and whether the defendant's belief in self‑defence was reasonable. He warned that if the jury is not convinced of intent to kill or serious injury, they may acquit on the basis of manslaughter or not guilty. The judge will continue his charge the following day.
Martin Tracey, 21, of Kilkenny, was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to coercive control, assault causing harm, false imprisonment and sexual assault against his teenage girlfriend, Donna Clifford, over a two‑year relationship from October 2020 to January 2022. Clifford, also 21, waived anonymity to name Tracey and testified that she suffered physical and emotional abuse, including being choked, punched, sexually assaulted and confined in his bedroom. She recorded threatening messages that encouraged self‑harm and threatened violence. The judge, Ms Justice Melanie Greally, praised Clifford for coming forward and noted the severity of the coercive control. Tracey's sentence was set at four years, with three years concurrent and the final year suspended, subject to probation, sex‑offender and domestic‑violence therapeutic programmes. No prior convictions were recorded for Tracey.
In the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution argued that Richard Satchwell fabricated a story about his wife Tina's death, claiming he held her by the belt of her bathrobe and that she had flown at him with a chisel. The defence maintained that Satchwell was guilty of causing her death but disputed the intent and the circumstances, noting that the body's skeletal remains made the cause of death indeterminate. The prosecution highlighted Satchwell's repeated lies, his concealment of the body under the stairs, and his attempts to create a digital footprint to mislead investigators. The defence emphasised the lack of evidence for intent to kill, the delays in the investigation, and the possibility of self‑defence. The trial, set to continue, will determine whether Satchwell is found guilty of murder, manslaughter or another charge.
In the Central Criminal Court, Sarah Howard, cousin of Tina Satchwell, testified that Richard Satchwell offered her a freezer that he later claimed held his wife's body before burying it under their home. Howard, visibly emotional, described the offer as "very unusual and very strange" and recounted that she had never seen Tina violent or aggressive. She also confirmed that Richard had sent her a birthday card signed "Tina and Richard" in August 2017, five months after Tina's disappearance. Howard noted that Tina had been missing since March 2017, with her body discovered in October 2023 beneath the stairs. The prosecution's case was deemed complete, and the trial will continue before Mr Justice Paul McDermott. The accused, 58, has pleaded not guilty to Tina's murder.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the prosecution explained that Jozef Puska's sisters‑in‑law, Jozefina Grundzova (31) and Viera Gaziova (38), burned the clothes he wore when he murdered 23‑year‑old schoolteacher Ashling Murphy on 12 January 2022. The prosecution's barrister, Sean Gillane SC, noted that the brothers Lubomir Puska Jnr (35) and Marek Puska (34) had given voluntary interviews to Gardaí two days after the murder but allegedly misled investigators by withholding information about Puska's return home with visible injuries and his admission of killing or seriously injuring a woman. The brothers are charged with withholding information under the Offences Against the State, Amendment Act 1988, while the sisters‑in‑law are charged under the Criminal Law Act 1997 for assisting in burning the clothing to impede Puska's arrest or prosecution. The trial is before Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury of twelve. Lubomir Puska Jnr pleaded not guilty. Marek Puska pleaded not guilty. Jozefina Grundzova pleaded not guilty. Viera Gaziova pleaded not guilty.
Two men, Viorel Doroscan (23) and Otniel Richardo Clejan (24), were found guilty of murdering 22‑year‑old Mahamud Ilyas after a dispute over a stolen bag of cannabis. The jury, after seven hours and 52 minutes of deliberation over four days, returned a unanimous verdict rejecting the defence's claim of self‑defence. The prosecution presented evidence that Doroscan and Clejan beat Ilyas to death, using a hammer and a fruit knife, and then disposed of his body in a wooded area on Belgree Lane, County Meath. Witnesses described Ilyas as bound, bleeding from the nose, and in pain while the accused shouted for the stolen drugs. The trial also considered the role of co‑accused Lorenzo Cantaragiu (21), who faced charges of impeding the prosecution and was found to have driven the accused and the deceased to the site. Viorel Doroscan pleaded not guilty. Otniel Richardo Clejan pleaded not guilty.
The trial has commenced at the Central Criminal Court for four individuals accused of impeding the investigation into the murder of Ashling Murphy. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs swore a jury to hear the case, which is expected to last up to five weeks. The defendants are Jozef Puska's brothers, Marek and Lubomir Puska, and their respective wives, Jozefina Grundzova and Viera Gaziova. All four have pleaded not guilty. The brothers are charged under the Offences Against the State, Amendment Act 1988 with withholding information. It is alleged they failed to tell An Garda Síochána that Jozef Puska returned home to Mucklagh on the night of January 12, 2022, with visible injuries and admitted to "cutting" a female with a knife. They are also alleged to have known he travelled to Dublin that night. Marek Puska is further alleged to have been aware of an arrangement to burn clothing worn by Jozef Puska. The women are charged under the Criminal Law Act 1997 with assisting in burning clothing between January 12 and 14, intending to impede the apprehension or prosecution of Jozef Puska. The prosecution alleges the defendants knew or believed the withheld information or actions might assist in securing the conviction of Jozef Puska for a serious offence. Jozef Puska was previously tried and convicted of Ms Murphy's murder. The trial will begin with an opening statement by the prosecution.
Bahaalddin Alshwawrah, 46, was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering his wife, Zeinat Bashabsheh, 42, on Christmas Eve 2021. Alshwawrah stabbed her 14 times with a single‑edged blade, causing fatal chest wounds. He recorded the incident on his mobile phone, shouting "I hope she dies," and sent the footage to another man. The court heard that Alshwawrah had previously claimed his wife had an affair and that he was a victim of her violence, but no evidence supported these allegations. He had two prior convictions in Jordan for simple injury. The victim impact statement described Zeinat as a devoted mother whose death left a profound void. Alshwawrah apologized, admitting he could never forgive himself. Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed the mandatory life sentence.
A 24‑year‑old man, Brian Ibe, was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of 65‑year‑old Peter Kennedy, a retired probation officer who had taken Ibe and his mother into his home after learning of their homelessness. The Central Criminal Court jury rejected Ibe's defence of not guilty by reason of insanity and convicted him of both the murder and an assault on Garda Brendan O'Donnell. Ibe was found to have schizophrenia by two psychiatrists, though a prosecution psychiatrist disagreed. The jury deliberated for just under seven hours and returned a unanimous guilty verdict. Justice Melanie Greally imposed a mandatory life sentence for the murder, back‑dated to Ibe's custody on 29 April 2020, and a 12‑month prison term for the assault on the Garda. The victim's sister delivered a moving impact statement describing Kennedy as a thoughtful, charitable and generous man who suffered a cruel and terrifying end.
Rachel Redmond was sentenced to four years in prison at the Central Criminal Court for attempting to impede the apprehension of Wayne Cooney, who was convicted of the 2019 murder of Jordan Davis. A jury had previously found Redmond guilty of two counts of assisting Cooney to avoid capture by driving him from the scene and paying for a hotel room. Mr Justice Paul Burns noted that while the maximum penalty is ten years, Redmond's actions fell in the "upper end of middle range." He set a headline sentence of six years on each count, reduced to five years to run concurrently, and suspended the final year for three years. Redmond, who had pleaded not guilty, stated she would be home soon. The court also noted that Robert Redmond, Rachel's brother, pleaded guilty in April 2024 to conspiring with Cooney to murder Davis and was sentenced to seven years. Cooney was convicted of the murder in 2022. The judge rejected defence arguments that Redmond was merely "blinded by the relationship," stating she deliberately assisted Cooney to "lie low" after the execution-style killing in Darndale.
In the Central Criminal Court, jurors are deliberating a murder case involving Viorel Doroscan (23) and Otniel Richardo Clejan (24), who deny killing 22‑year‑old Mahamud Ilyas on 9 December 2022. The State alleges the men sold drugs and beat Ilyas after a dispute over a stolen cannabis bag, while the accused claim self‑defence after Ilyas entered an apartment with a weapon. Ilyas's body, found at Belgree Lane, Co Meath, shows blunt‑force head trauma typical of hammer blows. The jury, consisting of seven men and five women, has spent five hours and 35 minutes over three days and will resume on Tuesday. The judge explained that a verdict of murder requires proof of a joint enterprise to cause serious harm, while manslaughter could result if the death was due to unlawful assault without intent. The case also involves co‑accused Lorenzo Cantaragiu, who faces charges of impeding the prosecution and has pleaded not guilty.
Nigel Canavan, 39, was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of murdering his mother, Angela Canavan, at her home in St John's Terrace, Co Sligo, on May 1, 2023. Canavan had pleaded not guilty, claiming he acted in self-defence after his ailing mother attacked him, and suggested she provoked him into losing control. The jury rejected both the self-defence claim and the suggestion that he was guilty of manslaughter due to provocation. Pathological evidence indicated Ms Canavan suffered strangulation, smothering, broken ribs, and other injuries consistent with a struggle. Canavan had previously pleaded guilty to drunk driving and assault arising from a separate incident in February 2023. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo remanded Canavan in custody. The matter is not yet finalised; the judge will impose the mandatory term of life imprisonment at a sentencing hearing scheduled for June 3. At that hearing, Ms Canavan's other son, Keith Canavan, will make a statement to the court.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court will resume deliberations tomorrow in the trial of Nigel Canavan, aged 39, who denies murdering his mother. The accused, with an address in Crossmolina, County Mayo, is charged with the death of Angela Canavan at her home in County Sligo on 1 May 2023. The jury has already spent more than four hours over two days considering their verdict. Mr Canavan has pleaded not guilty to murder but the jury has been directed they may return verdicts of guilty of murder, not guilty, or not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. The defence case rests on claims of self-defence and provocation. State pathologist evidence outlined multiple injuries to the deceased, including bruising to the face, neck, torso and limbs, fractured ribs, and stab wounds to both thighs. The cause of death was established as asphyxiation due to smothering and strangling.
Richard Satchwell, who pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of his 45-year-old wife, Tina Satchwell, between March 19 and 20, 2017, is currently on trial at the Central Criminal Court. The matter is at the trial stage, with evidence presented regarding the defendant's statements and forensic findings. GP Patrick Burke testified that Satchwell claimed his wife assaulted him on multiple occasions, a history never mentioned in their 18 years of medical consultations. Burke noted the couple typically attended appointments together, making Satchwell's solo visit on March 30, 2017, unusual. In a fourth interview with gardai, Satchwell stated he would not view photographs of his wife's body, saying he wanted to remember her "the way she was, not the way I made her." Detectives challenged his account, stating his "second story" had "come apart" and did not match the evidence. Witness Sarah Dobson described Satchwell selling Tina's belongings, including a handbag, while claiming she was ill in England. Forensic expert Dr. Brian Gorey testified that 15 glass fragments found on Tina's scalp and torso likely originated from a single source and transferred to the remains shortly before burial. The trial continues with further evidence to be presented.
A judge dismissed the charges against Jamie Shannon, 30, and Edel Doherty, 51, who were accused of identifying the teenage boys who murdered 14‑year‑old Ana Kriégel. The charges were brought under the Children Act 2001, which prohibits the identification of children who appear before the courts. The defendants applied to have the charges dismissed under the Criminal Procedure Act, specifically Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act 1999, which bars reporting of the hearing, any evidence, and arguments. The judge, Martin Nolan, delivered the decision after a hearing that began the day before. The court's ruling can only be reported as the fact that a case was taken and the decision made, due to the reporting restrictions. The two teenage boys, aged 13 and 14 at the time, had been convicted of Ana Kriégel's murder in June 2019 and were referred to as 'Boy A' and 'Boy B' in that trial.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, Gardaí told Richard Satchwell that his description of his wife Tina's death was "most likely a physical impossibility" and "didn't make sense". Satchwell, aged 58, said he had tried to explain the events of March 19‑20, 2017, when Tina, aged 45, disappeared and was later found buried under their stairs in a grave dug in October 2023. He claimed he had held her by the belt of her bathrobe, that the belt may have strangled her, and that he had buried her in a "final goodbye" after lifting her body into the hole. Gardaí questioned the plausibility of his account, noting no evidence of a belt around her neck and that the scene did not match his narrative. Satchwell stated he would plead guilty and that there would be no jury. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of five men and seven women. Richard Satchwell pleaded not guilty.
A 39-year-old man has testified at the Central Criminal Court that his mother died during a struggle in which he was defending himself from her attack. Nigel Canavan, from Crossmolina, County Mayo, is charged with the murder of Angela Canavan at her home in Sligo on 1 May 2023. He has pleaded not guilty. Mr Canavan told the court his mother attacked him with a knife and struck at him with her hands and feet during a heated argument. He admitted applying pressure to her neck with his forearm during the incident, but stated this was in self-defence and that he did not intend to cause her death. Under cross-examination, he accepted that he had initially denied to gardaí that he was present when his mother suffered fatal injuries, attributing this to distress at the time. The State Pathologist concluded that Ms Canavan died from asphyxiation by smothering and manual strangulation. The trial continues before Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo and a jury.
A 23‑year‑old man who raped a teenage friend and sexually assaulted two other teenagers has appealed his conviction, claiming the joint trial deprived him of a fair trial. He was found guilty of one rape and one sexual assault by a Central Criminal Court jury; he pleaded guilty to a second sexual assault before trial. The offences occurred in the northeast between July 2017 and September 2018, when he was 16. In March 2024 Justice Caroline Biggs sentenced him to three years and nine months for the rape, eleven months for the first sexual assault (concurrent), and two years and three months for the second sexual assault (consecutive), giving a total of six years. At the Court of Appeal, counsel Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha argued that the rape was "significantly different" from the other charges, citing evidence of force and refusal, and that missing phone metadata deprived the defence of a crucial line of defence.
Karl Adams, 53, of Portland Street, North Circular Road, Dublin, was sentenced to five years in prison for sexually assaulting a woman in her own home in June 2019. Adams pleaded guilty in January 2025 after failing to appear for his trial in 2019, which caused a delay. The victim, who prefers to remain unnamed, described being awakened by Adams tugging at her leggings, then being sexually assaulted twice. She reported a profoundly damaging impact, losing trust in people, struggling to sleep, and experiencing constant flashbacks. A probation report placed Adams at moderate risk of re‑offending, noting a lack of insight and minimisation of his actions, and highlighted his lifelong alcohol addiction and drug abuse. Justice Melanie Greally set a headline sentence of 80 months, reduced to 70 months for the guilty plea, and suspended the final 12 months on the condition that Adams engage with the Probation Service upon release.
A forensic archaeologist, Dr Niamh McCullagh, testified that Tina Satchwell's body could have been hidden at her own home, citing research that most concealed homicides occur within a kilometre of the victim's address. She recommended a more invasive search of Richard Satchwell's house, including stairs, ground floor and use of a cadaver dog, just weeks before Gardaí began the operation. The jury was informed that the body was found in a grave almost one metre deep beneath the stairway, over six years after she was reported missing. The crime scene manager, retired Detective Sergeant Shane Curran, described the discovery of a clandestine burial under the stairs, where concrete had been broken and black plastic wrapped around the body. Garda Brian Barry noted a different coloured concrete and a poorly built wall, while a cadaver dog named Fern indicated the presence of remains.
Rachel Redmond, 35, appeared before the Central Criminal Court for sentencing after being convicted of attempting to impede the apprehension of Wayne Cooney, who was convicted of murdering Jordan Davis. Redmond pleaded not guilty at trial but now accepts the jury's verdict. Counsel Dominic McGinn SC described her actions as "naive" and driven by a relationship with Cooney, rather than deliberate criminal intent. He highlighted her solid work record, including roles as a beautician and in security, and noted she wrote an apology to the Davis family. The court heard that Redmond helped Cooney evade arrest by driving him from the scene of the May 2019 shooting in Darndale and arranging his stay at the Clayton Hotel. Mr Justice Paul Burns adjourned the matter to next Monday to deliver sentence. The report also notes that in April 2024, Redmond's brother, Robert "Roo" Redmond, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to murder Jordan Davis. Robert Redmond, a career criminal with 99 previous convictions, received a mandatory life sentence in 2022 for the murder of Barry Wolverson in Swords in 2020.
A 33‑year‑old Limerick man was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment for repeatedly raping and sexually assaulting his partner's daughter, who is now 17. The Central Criminal Court found him guilty of five counts of rape and three of sexual assault committed between 2016 and 2018, when the victim was aged nine to eleven. The abuse began after the man took over child‑minding duties for his partner, who had previously relied on friends and family. The court heard that the victim's mother noticed self‑harm at age 15 and reported the abuse, leading to the man's arrest in October 2023. He denied wrongdoing and minimised his time caring for the child. The unnamed 33-year-old was convicted.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Padraig Delaney, aged 44, was found guilty of murdering his friend Shane Knott, aged 37, who was discovered in a dog pen in Delaney's back garden wrapped in carpet underlay. Delaney claimed self‑defence after an alleged attack with scissors, but the jury rejected this defence. The court described the killing as brutal, with Knott suffering multiple head and brain injuries and his left face crushed. Delaney's statements about a Kinahan crime organisation sending Knott were deemed unfounded. Delaney, a former cabinet maker with a history of alcohol and substance abuse, was sentenced to life imprisonment. The judge called the murder "particularly brutal" and the treatment of the body "callous and disrespectful.".
During the trial, Richard Satchwell, aged 58, told Gardaí that he had stored "bits and pieces" beneath the stairway in his Cork home. The statement was made after officers showed him a live photograph of the area taken hours before the discovery of his wife Tina's body in a shallow grave. Satchwell also claimed that he and Tina had not been sexually active in the five years before her disappearance. He was arrested on 10 October 2023 for the murder of Tina, who was 45, at their Grattan Street residence between 19 and 20 March 2017. The case is being heard at the Central Criminal Court, with Satchwell pleading not guilty. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury. The proceedings focus on the circumstances of the alleged murder and the evidence presented by Gardaí. The trial has not yet reached a verdict.
A pathologist has given evidence at the Central Criminal Court regarding the death of a 58-year-old woman from County Sligo in May 2023. State Pathologist Dr SallyAnne Collis told the trial of Nigel Canavan, aged 39 and with an address in Crossmolina, County Mayo, that the deceased died from external asphyxiation caused by suffocation and manual strangulation. Dr Collis outlined injuries consistent with smothering, including pinpoint haemorrhaging around the eyes and bruising to the neck bones. The deceased also sustained stab wounds to both thighs and bruises across her body. Mr Canavan has pleaded not guilty to murder at his mother's home in Sligo on 1 May 2023. Under cross-examination, the pathologist acknowledged that some injuries could have innocent explanations, including assistance provided the previous evening and the deceased's significant alcohol intoxication and medical history, which would have made her prone to bruising.