In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Mr Justice Tony Hunt explained that two men, Viorel Doroscan (23) and Otniel Richardo Clejan (24), could be found guilty of murder if they were part of a joint enterprise that intended to kill or cause serious harm, and if one of them used a weapon to fatally wound 22‑year‑old Muhamud Ilyas during a dispute over a stolen cannabis bag. The judge noted that if one participant exceeded the agreed plan, only that person would be guilty of murder. He also clarified that a verdict of manslaughter could be reached if the jury found no intent to kill, or if the death resulted from an unlawful assault without intent. The judge further addressed the case of Lorenzo Cantaragiu, who faced charges of impeding the arrest of Doroscan and Clejan, and explained the evidential requirements for conviction. Viorel Doroscan pleaded not guilty. Otniel Richardo Clejan pleaded not guilty.
At the Central Criminal Court, a detective told jurors that Nigel Canavan appeared nervous and evasive when questioned hours after his mother's death in Sligo on May 1, 2023. Detective Garda James Conneely met the 39-year-old accused outside Angela Canavan's home on St John's Terrace and later conducted a voluntary interview at Sligo Garda Station. Mr Canavan, with an address in Crossmolina, Co Mayo, denies murder. The prosecution alleges fatal violence and manual strangulation caused Ms Canavan's death. In his recorded statement, Mr Canavan described hearing three loud bangs while upstairs and finding his mother on the ground surrounded by broken glass and a damaged chair. He told gardai he had been staying with his mother during a bank holiday weekend after recent separation from his wife. The trial, before Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo and a jury, continues tomorrow. Nigel Canavan pleaded not guilty.
A man convicted of raping, assaulting and coercively controlling a woman over a six-week period has appealed his conviction at the Court of Appeal, arguing his trial was prejudiced by inadmissible evidence. Dean Ward, aged 38, was found guilty in June 2022 of twelve offences committed between June and July 2019 against a woman in Killybegs, County Donegal. He received a sentence of eighteen years, suspended by one year. Ward's counsel submitted that the complainant's references during evidence to previous threats to kill, and prosecution remarks concerning bank transfers, created unfairness that could not be remedied by judicial direction. Counsel also challenged the admission of impact evidence given by the complainant. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel countered that such evidence was admissible and essential to establish the complainant's state of mind and the coercive control element of the offences. Mr Justice John Edwards reserved judgment, with a decision to follow.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Lorenzo Cantaragiu, 21, was defended by Michael Lynn SC who argued that Cantaragiu was terrified when he drove alleged murderers Viorel Doroscan (23) and Otniel Richardo Clejan (24) from west Dublin to an isolated area where the victim, Muhamud Ilyas, was later found dead. Lynn said Cantaragiu believed he was at risk, had been threatened by the co‑accused, and had no way to escape. He claimed Cantaragiu told Gardaí he was shaking, had been beaten before, and feared for his family. Cantaragiu faces four charges of impeding prosecution or apprehension, having pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleges the two men fatally assaulted Ilyas after a dispute over a stolen cannabis bag on 9 December 2022. Ilyas died from blunt‑force head trauma. The case is set for jury deliberation tomorrow.
In the trial of Richard Satchwell, the jury heard that Gardaí used an enhanced cognitive interview to question him about his wife's disappearance. The detective sergeant explained that this method, considered a gold standard, is witness‑led and conducted away from a station in a relaxed setting. Mr Satchwell, 58, told Gardaí on 24 March 2017 that his wife had left the home four days earlier and that he had no concerns about her welfare. He reported her missing in May, but her body was not found until October 2023, when Gardaí discovered her decomposed remains in a grave beneath the stairs of her home. Prosecutor Gerardine Small said that after the body was recovered, Mr Satchwell claimed he fell when his wife tried to stab him with a chisel, and that she died in his arms. He has pleaded not guilty to murdering his 45‑year‑old wife, Tina Satchwell, between 19 and 20 March 2017.
Two men, Viorel Doroscan (23) and Otniel Richardo Clejan (24), are accused of murdering 22‑year‑old Mahamud Ilyas. Defence lawyers argue the accused acted in self‑defence, claiming Ilyas was the aggressor and the "prime mover". They present evidence that Ilyas was beaten and tied, with a hammer used by Clejan and a fruit knife by Doroscan. The prosecution alleges the men were drug dealers who lured Ilyas to a field where he was left in the cold. The defence maintains that the accused were not planning a murder and that Ilyas threatened them with a weapon. The trial continues with counsel for Lorenzo Cantaragiu giving his closing speech. The case is heard before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury. Viorel Doroscan pleaded not guilty. Otniel Richardo Clejan pleaded not guilty.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that Nigel Canavan told his then-wife his mother "went a bit mad" and struck herself with a knife before her death. Mr Canavan, aged 39, of Erris Gardens, Crossmolina, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Angela Canavan at her home in County Sligo on 1 May 2023. The prosecution alleges fatal violence and manual strangulation caused her death. Claire Conroy, Mr Canavan's former spouse, testified that he described his mother swinging her cane and becoming aggressive during an altercation. He said he went upstairs and later heard thuds before discovering her dead. A friend, John Gannon, told the court Mr Canavan telephoned him that evening in distress and later asked him to corroborate a story about discussing hurling rather than disclosing details of his mother's death. Mr Gannon said he instead told gardai the truth. The trial continues before Justice Kerida Naidoo and a jury.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the jury heard that Viorel Doroscan (23) and Otniel Richardo Clejan (24) were accused of murdering 22‑year‑old Mahamud Ilyas on 9 December 2022. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Eoin Lawlor SC, described the use of a hammer as the accused's "modus operandi for conflict resolution" and said the body was disposed of in a field in bleak midwinter. Lawlor said the accused were drug dealers who had a joint enterprise to cause serious harm to Ilyas after he stole their drugs. He alleged that Clejan held a hammer and Doroscan held a knife while beating Ilyas, and that the body was wrapped and carried by the accused to a remote location. The trial continues tomorrow before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of five women and seven men. Viorel Doroscan pleaded not guilty. Otniel Richardo Clejan pleaded not guilty.
In a bid to overturn a conviction, a 55‑year‑old man who raped and sexually assaulted a seven‑year‑old girl in a shared rented house has appealed on the basis that the trial judge failed to give the jury a corroboration warning. The trial, held in the Central Criminal Court in May 2023, found the man guilty of one count of rape and twelve counts of sexual assault committed between September 2022 and September 2023. He was sentenced to 10 years and six months for the rape and a concurrent 7 years and six months for the sexual assault. Defence counsel Maurice Coffey SC argued that the judge erred by not warning the jury about the dangers of convicting on uncorroborated evidence, a warning that the court had declined to issue. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on the appeal. The unnamed 55-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A trial has commenced at the Central Criminal Court concerning the death of a woman in her Sligo home. The State alleges that Nigel Canavan, aged 39, of Erris Gardens in County Mayo, strangled his mother, Angela Canavan, aged 58, on 1 May 2023. Mr Canavan has pleaded not guilty to murder. The prosecution opening outlined that the deceased had enjoyed a successful career as a psychotherapist before developing severe alcohol dependency. She had sustained a brain injury following a fall and required periodic care. On the day in question, Mr Canavan had returned to his mother's home after work. Gardaí subsequently discovered her body in the kitchen and dining area, with evidence suggesting violent disturbance. A pathologist is expected to testify that death resulted from manual strangulation or asphyxia. The defence maintains the accused played no role in the death, asserting he discovered his mother's body after hearing noises. The trial continues before Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Viorel Doroscan and Otniel Ricardo Clejan, both accused of the murder of Mahamud Ilyas on December 9, 2022, continued before Mr Justice Tony Hunt. Both men have pleaded not guilty to the charge. The jury heard evidence that Mr Ilyas died from blunt force trauma to the head, with pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster describing depressed fractures typical of hammer blows. The State alleges the accused beat Mr Ilyas to death following a dispute over a stolen bag of cannabis. In contrast, the accused told gardaí they acted in self-defense after Mr Ilyas entered an apartment armed with a crowbar and threatening to kill them. Doroscan claimed Clejan struck Mr Ilyas with a hammer, while Clejan stated he only pushed Mr Ilyas away. Co-accused Lorenzo Cantaragiu, who has pleaded not guilty to charges of impeding the prosecution, told gardaí he drove the men to a field in Hollystown where he left Mr Ilyas alive in a ditch. The trial continues tomorrow.
A jury comprising ten women and two men has been sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the trial of a 39-year-old man from Crossmolina, County Mayo, who denies murdering his mother in Sligo. Nigel Canavan pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering Angela Canavan at an address in St John's Terrace, County Sligo on May 1, 2023. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo presided over the arraignment. The trial is scheduled to commence the following day and is anticipated to run for approximately two weeks.
A 17‑year‑old boy was sentenced to eight years' detention for attempting to murder Defence Forces chaplain Father Paul Murphy. The boy, who had no prior convictions, was radicalised online, mainly through ISIS content, and developed a warped view of Islam that led him to target a member of the Defence Forces. On 15 August 2024, he attacked Father Murphy with a large knife while the priest was in his car, stabbing him for about 90 seconds. The attack was stopped only after a soldier fired warning shots and intervened. Father Murphy suffered permanent scars and required surgery. The judge, citing the boy's age, immaturity, early guilty plea and remorse, set a headline sentence of 20 years, reduced to ten years with the final two years suspended for three years. The boy entered a bond to keep the peace and engage in a de‑radicalisation programme.
Richard Satchwell, 58, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his 45‑year‑old wife Tina Satchwell, who disappeared on 20 March 2017. In the Central Criminal Court opening, the State counsel presented evidence that Satchwell told Gardaí he had kept Tina's body in a freezer in the shed for two days before burying her beneath the stairs of their Youghal home. He claimed that during an alleged attack, he had used a belt around her neck to protect himself as she fell limp and died. Gardaí had earlier recorded Satchwell's statements about Tina's alleged violent outbursts and her refusal to take antidepressants. A search of the house on 10 October 2023 uncovered decomposed remains wrapped in black sheeting in a three‑foot grave, later identified as Tina. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, is expected to last six weeks.
In a Central Criminal Court sentence hearing, an 18‑year‑old woman who was raped at age 16 by two boys at Limerick Racecourse described how the attackers stripped her of her innocence. She said she must live with the trauma for the rest of her life but can live with having told the truth. The boys, aged 13 and 15 at the time of the assault, were found guilty of sexual assault and rape; a third boy, aged 15, was found guilty of aiding and abetting the rapes and was acquitted of one count of false imprisonment. The victim's statement highlighted her fear, anxiety and the impact on her family, noting that she had never had sexual intercourse before the attack. The case was adjourned for mention while probation reports are prepared.
The trial of Viorel Doroscan and Otniel Richardo Clejan, both accused of the murder of Mahamud Ilyas on December 9, 2022, continued at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Tony Hunt. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to all charges. The jury viewed a Snapchat video allegedly showing the victim lying bloodied on the ground. Detective Inspector Liam Donoghue testified that the clip, posted as a 'Memory' from Mr Doroscan's account, was taken at 2.51pm on the day of the alleged incident in the Verdemont estate. He presented a visual match between the shoe in the video and CCTV footage of Mr Doroscan. Assistant State pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster previously attributed the death to blunt force trauma to the head, consistent with hammer blows. Witness Vlady Ndosimau testified to seeing the victim tied up and beaten while Mr Doroscan held a knife and Mr Clejan held a hammer. Co-accused Lorenzo Cantaragiu, who faces charges of impeding the prosecution, has also pleaded not guilty. The matter was adjourned and continues tomorrow.
Richard Satchwell, aged 58, will be tried for the murder of his wife Tina Satchwell, aged 45, who died at their Cork home between 19 and 20 March 2017. He was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court on 28 April 2025 and pleaded not guilty. The trial will commence on 2 May 2025 before Mr Justice Paul McDermott, with a jury of five men and seven women sworn in by Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo. The case is expected to last six weeks, concluding by 5 June. Senior counsel Gerardine Small will lead the prosecution, while Brendan Grehan SC heads the defence. Mr Justice Naidoo noted that some media coverage had occurred but urged potential jurors to disclose any difficulty in remaining impartial. Mr Satchwell was sent to trial on 26 March 2024 after being served with the book of evidence.
Garreth Bannon, 50, of Gurteeneona, Monasterevin, was sentenced to seven years in prison with the final 12 months suspended at the Central Criminal Court for raping his biological daughter, whom he first met when she was a teenager. The offence occurred between January and September 2015. The victim, who is now living abroad, was 18 at the time and had been given alcohol, which the judge said inhibited her capacity to deal with the situation. Bannon pleaded guilty and expressed remorse, which the judge noted as mitigating. The judge described the case as an egregious breach of trust and a repugnant feature of the crime. The sentence includes strict conditions, including no contact with the victim for life and supervision by Probation Services for two years after release. The victim's impact statement highlighted profound and lasting trauma, including guilt, shame, chronic anxiety and PTSD.
In a two‑week Central Criminal Court trial, a 20‑year‑old Dublin woman was acquitted by a jury of all 12 counts of sexual abuse against her younger cousin, aged 10‑11 at the time. The charges included 11 counts of sexual assault and one count of section 4 rape, alleged to have occurred during family sleepovers between July 2017 and July 2019. The defendant denied all allegations, stating she never slept over in the cousin's house, never owned a tablet during the relevant period, and that the cousin had never stayed overnight in her home. Testimony from extended family members, including the cousin's parents, grandmother, and aunt, was presented for both sides. The jury deliberated over nine hours and returned not‑guilty verdicts on all counts, with the judge thanking the jurors and excusing them from future service for ten years. The unnamed 20-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A 40‑year‑old man, Philip Cox, was sentenced to five‑and‑a‑half years in prison for twice stabbing his partner of 18 years, Cristal O'Brien, with three knives. The judge noted that the first knife broke on a stairwell wall, yet Cox returned with another knife and threatened to finish her off. He also committed aggravated burglary by smashing Ms O'Brien's neighbour's front door, breaking a window and entering the dwelling. Cox had previously pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, aggravated burglary and the production of a knife. The judge imposed a consecutive sentence of three years and six months for the knife production and three years and three months for the assault and burglary, suspending the last 15 months. The custodial term is back‑dated to 2 June 2023, and Cox must not contact the two women or approach within 100 metres of their homes.
At the Central Criminal Court, Michael Andrecut (23) of Sheephill Avenue, Blanchardstown, was sentenced to a mandatory life term for the murder of Tristan Sherry. David Amah (19) of Hazel Grove, Donabate, and a third man from Blanchardstown, who was 17 when charged, were also convicted of murder but are not subject to the mandatory sentence; their sentences are due to be finalised at a later stage. Separately, the Workplace Relations Commission ruled that San Siro Ltd, the operating company of Browne's Steakhouse, breached employment laws by failing to pay statutory redundancy to six former employees when the restaurant closed on Christmas Eve 2023. Adjudicator Catherine Byrne upheld complaints from general manager Vjola Ajredini, waitress Adisa Ajredini, and assistant manager Amanda Ajredini, awarding them sums between €1,032 and €6,154 for unpaid notice and compensation for working time breaches. The WRC also confirmed redundancy entitlements for kitchen porter Gedeminas Urbasius and head chef Ruslan Pazuschin. In total, the orders secure over €100,000 in payouts for employment rights breaches, including redundancy lump sums exceeding €86,000.
A man from Achill has been sentenced to eight years in prison following his conviction for manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court. Dean Caffrey (38) of Beaucort, Achill Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 9, was found guilty by majority jury verdict of the manslaughter of Sean McCarthy on 2 August 2022 in Drumcondra. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a nine-year sentence with the final year suspended. Caffrey claimed he acted in self-defence when the fatal shooting occurred during a confrontation over drug debts. The court heard evidence that after the killing, Caffrey placed McCarthy's body in a suitcase, disposed of the firearm in the River Tolka, and took steps to conceal the death, including using McCarthy's mobile phone to suggest he remained alive. The judge found Caffrey's conduct after the killing demonstrated no genuine remorse and rejected arguments for leniency based on his drug addiction since 2013 and cocaine dependency since 2016. Gardaí recovered McCarthy's remains from a wardrobe in the apartment after Caffrey directed them to the location. Dean Caffrey pleaded not guilty.
During a seven‑week trial with a 15‑juror panel, Daniel Blanaru, 37, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his 26‑year‑old partner, Larisa Serban, on 12 August 2022. Serban was found early in the morning on the floor between her bedroom and hallway, having died from a 12‑cm stab wound to the chest that punctured her heart, lung and aorta. The prosecution alleged that Blanaru, described as "controlling and jealous", killed Serban in cold blood after a sustained brutal attack. Blanaru pleaded not guilty but admitted guilt during custody interviews. He has six prior Irish convictions for road traffic offences and four theft offences in France. The sentencing judge, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, imposed a mandatory life sentence, noting the crime involved needless and horrific violence. The victim's family, including Serban's mother, eldest son and siblings, delivered impact statements expressing grief and condemning the killer's actions.
In a sentencing hearing on 10 April 2025, Defence Forces chaplain Father Paul Murphy, aged 52, delivered a victim‑impact statement after being repeatedly stabbed by a 17‑year‑old boy on 15 August 2024 at Renmore Barracks, Galway. Murphy, who has served as a chaplain for 11 years, said he forgave the attacker and urged him to learn from his mistake and return to society as a "wholesome, happy and loving person". The boy, who was 16 at the time of the attack and whose identity is withheld, pleaded guilty to attempted murder. He was arrested on suspicion of assault causing harm and was remanded to Oberstown Detention Centre pending sentencing on 29 April 2025. The court heard the boy had been radicalised online, possessed a hunting knife, and had expressed anger over the Defence Forces' work in Mali. The hearing ended with the chaplain and the boy embracing in the courtroom.
A 22‑year‑old man, Mahamud Ilyas, was found dead in a field on 10 December 2022 after a fight over a stolen bag of cannabis. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster testified that Ilyas sustained depressed skull fractures typical of hammer blows, along with multiple lacerations, bruises and scratches consistent with blunt‑force trauma. She noted extensive bruising to the face and body, and that the body was likely dragged after death. No evidence of sharp injuries or intoxication was found. The cause of death was blunt‑force trauma to the head. The accused, Viorel Doroscan (23) and Otniel Richardo Clejan (24), plead not guilty to the murder charge. The trial, held in the Central Criminal Court, continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury. Lorenzo Cantaragiu (21) faces separate charges and also pleads not guilty.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court convicted 23‑year‑old Brian Ibe of murdering 65‑year‑old Peter Kennedy and assaulting Garda Brendan O'Donnell. Ibe had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to both charges. The jury found him guilty after deliberating for just under seven hours. The trial described how Kennedy had taken Ibe and his mother into his home after learning of their homelessness, and how Ibe had allegedly stabbed Kennedy with a knife while Kennedy was in his bedroom. Ibe's defence presented psychiatric evidence that he suffered from schizophrenia and was psychotic at the time of the assault, while the prosecution argued he had a dissocial personality disorder and that his actions were goal‑directed. The judge, Justice Melanie Greally, instructed the jury to apply healthy skepticism to expert testimony. Ibe remains remanded in custody awaiting sentencing, where he faces a mandatory life sentence.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 20‑year‑old Dublin woman pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of sexual assault and one count of section 4 rape involving her younger cousin aged 10‑11 between July 2017 and July 2019. She is accused of penetrating the girl with a hairbrush. The prosecution alleges the abuse began before the accused turned 12, with the girls allegedly sleeping over in each other's homes or a mutual aunt's house. Family members of both parties testified that the girls were not close friends and that no sleepovers occurred in the grandmother's house. The grandmother, aunts, uncles, and the accused's mother all denied the alleged sleepovers and stated the girls were different and not particularly friendly. The trial continues before Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo and a jury.
During the sentencing of a 26‑year‑old man who had orally raped and defiled a 14‑year‑old girl in 2020, Judge Melanie Greally told the survivor that the legal system had failed her. The judge noted that the case had loomed over the victim for far too long and that new protocols now exist to prevent such delays. The man, who was 21 at the time of the offence and whose name is withheld to protect the victim, pleaded guilty to oral rape, defilement and sexual assault. He had no prior convictions. The judge set a headline sentence of 8.5 years, imposed a six‑and‑a‑half‑year term with the final year suspended, and ordered two years of post‑release supervision, prohibiting any occupation that would bring him into contact with underage females.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 7 April 2025, 30‑year‑old Robert Broughan was sentenced to a mandatory life term for the murder of his best friend, Roy Hopkins, 34, who was beaten to death with a baseball bat on 31 July 2020. Broughan admitted to striking Hopkins on the forehead, side of the head and nose, intending to make his head "explode" and to kill him. He claimed no prior conflict, stating the friendship had never involved a "cross word". Broughan also confessed to having put petrol on the bat and to having taken Solpadeine tablets before the attack. The court noted his previous convictions for criminal damage and public order offences, and his history of substance misuse. Hopkins' mother delivered a victim impact statement describing the tragedy and the lasting pain inflicted on her family. The sentence was back‑dated to 1 August 2020, when Hopkins died after being taken to Naas General Hospital.
In a Dublin court, a mother testified that she felt "lost and didn't know what to do" after her 10‑ or 11‑year‑old daughter revealed alleged sexual abuse by her older cousin, who is now 20 and has pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of sexual assault and one count of section 4 rape. The mother described the moment her daughter disclosed the abuse, her attempts to seek help, and the subsequent visit to the Garda station. She also recounted her daughter's discovery of pornographic content on a tablet and a note with the word "sex." The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo, continues with the jury hearing the mother's account of the alleged abuse and the steps she took after the disclosure. The accused remains legally entitled to anonymity. The case is still in the hearing stage.
Padraic Troy, 29, of Golden Gardens, Dundrum, Co. Tipperary, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for two counts of rape, anal rape and two sexual assaults of a female acquaintance in 2021. The victim, who was discharged from hospital after an ambulance transfer, had called Troy for assistance. He met her at 3:24 am, accompanied her to a car, and during the journey he began kissing her. After another man left, Troy raped, anally raped and sexually assaulted her in her bedroom. The victim reported the assault the next day, and a DNA profile matched Troy. He denied the allegations, claiming consensual sex. The court noted the victim's life was profoundly affected, citing loss of employment, anxiety and trust issues. Justice Melanie Greally imposed the ten‑year sentence, back‑dated to the date Troy entered custody, and a one‑year post‑release supervision order.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 3 April 2025, Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Paul Kelly, 46, to seven and a half years' imprisonment for repeated rape and sexual abuse of his younger brother, Anthony Kelly. The judge noted that the abuse occurred between 1995 and 1999, when Paul was aged 16 to 20, and that it involved 12 counts of sexual assault, two counts of oral rape and 12 counts of anal rape. Anthony, aged 10 to 14 at the time, had suffered lasting trauma and had come forward with a complaint in 2021. Judge Greally said the case was aggravated by the regularity of the offending, the extended period, the breach of trust and the fact that it took place within the family home. She also addressed letters from members of Paul's family, stating that it is "not permissible" to write privately to a judge about reporting restrictions, and that justice must be administered publicly. Paul Kelly was convicted.
In the trial of Deirdre Arnold, a 42‑year‑old HSE addiction counsellor, the jury heard a recording of the accused murderer, Brian McHugh, calling her a "wh**e" and threatening to cut her throat. Prosecutors say Arnold, who had previously been in a relationship with McHugh, drove him to Lisa Thompson's home in Ballymun, then helped him escape by taking him to a hotel. Garda testimony revealed that Arnold had reported domestic abuse to police in 2019 and 2020, yet she also claimed she was not under duress and did not want to file a complaint. The defence presented the same recording, showing McHugh's abusive language. Additional evidence included a fingermark on a jewellery valuation certificate linked to Arnold, and a text message sent from a number associated with her to McHugh's phone on 19 June 2022.
In the Central Criminal Court, Dr Mary Davoren testified that Brian Ibe, 23, who is charged with the murder of 65‑year‑old Peter Kennedy, displayed goal‑directed, logical thinking rather than schizophrenia when he threatened and demanded money from Kennedy before fatally assaulting him. Davoren, called by the prosecution, disagreed with the defence psychiatrists who claimed Ibe was in a schizophrenic psychosis at the time of the offence. She noted that Ibe's first disclosure of hearing voices occurred a year and 13 days after remand in Cloverhill Prison and that no evidence of psychosis was present during the murder. Davoren described Ibe's threats as "instrumental" and linked his anger to being asked to leave Kennedy's house in 2019, to loss of social welfare money, and to disgust over the state of the house. She also mentioned that Ibe's aggression may have been reduced by taking Olanzapine, an antipsychotic with a sedative effect. Brian Ibe pleaded not guilty.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, a jury heard that Viorel Doroscan (23) and Otniel Richardo Clejan (24) denied murder charges for the death of Mahamud Ilyas on 9 December 2022. Witness Abdi‑Aziz Mohamed testified that Doroscan had told him, in a conversation on that day, that he and Clejan had struck Ilyas with a hammer during a fight and then left him on a field. Mohamed also recounted that Doroscan had made a "callout video" as a joke after claiming to be looking for a person who owed him money for cocaine. Mohamed described seeing a hammer in Doroscan's bag in August 2022 and later learning that Ilyas had been found dead. The jury heard that Doroscan and Clejan had pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, while Lorenzo Cantaragiu (21) faced separate charges of impeding prosecution. The court heard no verdict or sentencing, only the evidence presented at this stage of the trial.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, consultant psychiatrist Dr Mary Davoren testified that the murder accused, Brian Ibe, first reported hearing voices more than a year after being remanded, on the same day his awareness of a possible not‑guilty‑by‑reason‑of‑insanity verdict was documented. Dr Davoren argued that Ibe's dis‑social personality disorder, not schizophrenia, explained his behaviour. She noted no evidence of hallucinations or psychosis at the time of the offence, only regular cannabis use. Ibe, 23, had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of 65‑year‑old Peter Kennedy and for assaulting Garda Brendan O'Donnell. Dr Davoren said Ibe's deliberate actions—traveling to Kildare, breaking in, stabbing Kennedy—showed intent and knowledge of wrongdoing, undermining a special verdict. The trial will continue before Justice Melanie Greally and a jury.
During the trial of Deirdre Arnold, a drugs‑addiction counsellor for the HSE, the jury heard that Arnold claimed a man she alleged had driven away from a murder scene, Brian McHugh, broke her arm by holding it on the bottom step of a stairwell and stamping on it. Arnold said McHugh dragged her down the stairs, placed her arm on the step, stamped on it, then dragged her back up and punched her ribs before fleeing. She also alleged that McHugh punched her ribs. Arnold's statements were recorded by Garda Diane Byrne, who took a complaint from Arnold. The prosecution presented text messages sent from a number identified as "Deirdre" to McHugh's phone, containing threats and references to the murder of Lisa Thompson. Arnold pleaded not guilty to charges of impeding the apprehension of McHugh and perverting the course of public justice. The case is before Mr Justice Patrick McGrath with a jury of eleven.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 20‑year‑old woman pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of sexual assault and one count of section 4 rape against a teenage girl aged 10‑11. The accused, a first cousin, allegedly began the abuse before age 12, when she was said to have watched pornography on her tablet and asked the younger cousin to perform sexual acts. The court heard that the accused digitally penetrated the girl, forced her mouth on her breasts and vagina, and used a hairbrush to penetrate her. The girl reported repeatedly telling the cousin she did not like the acts and that the cousin said "didn't care." She also described being slapped, having her phone used to take photos in a bathroom, and the abuse stopping after the accused tried to kiss her. The mother found notes in the girl's bedroom written by the cousin stating a desire to have sex with her.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Dr Stephen Monks, a consultant psychiatrist, testified that Brian Ibe, aged 23, suffered from schizophrenia and was in an acute psychotic state when he fatally assaulted 65‑year‑old Peter Kennedy. Monks argued that Ibe's psychosis, triggered by homelessness and cannabis use beginning in June 2018, contributed significantly to the assault and that Ibe may not have understood the nature of his actions. He suggested the court consider a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act. Ibe has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder charge and to assault causing harm to Garda Brendan O'Donnell, who was punched during Ibe's detention. The trial is proceeding before Justice Melanie Greally and a jury of twelve.
Daniel Blanaru, 37, was convicted of the murder of Larisa Serban at the Central Criminal Court. The jury, comprising ten men and two women, deliberated for three hours and two minutes before returning a unanimous verdict. Blanaru had pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ms Serban at her home in Rathmore, Athboy, Co Meath, on or about August 12, 2022. The prosecution alleged she died from a sustained and brutal attack, including a fatal stab wound to the chest. Although Blanaru initially told gardaí he was guilty, he later claimed the stabbing was accidental. The court heard evidence of prior threats and controlling behavior alleged by the victim's family. Following the conviction, Blanaru will be sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment at a sentencing hearing scheduled for April 10. Members of the victim's family will be invited to make statements to the court at that time. The matter is now at the sentencing stage, with the specific disposal to be determined by the judge on the specified date.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Viorel Doroscan and Otniel Richardo Clejan for the alleged murder of Mahamud Ilyas on December 9, 2022, continued with witness evidence. Both accused have pleaded not guilty. Witness Vlady Ndosimau testified that he entered an apartment in Blanchardstown and saw Mr Ilyas restrained on the floor, bleeding from the nose. He described Mr Doroscan holding a fruit knife and shouting about missing drugs, while Mr Clejan held a hammer. Ndosimau stated he observed Mr Doroscan kicking and stamping on the deceased's body and Mr Clejan kicking him in the head and neck before he panicked and left. He learned two days later that Mr Ilyas had died. Also on trial, Lorenzo Cantaragiu denies charges of impeding the prosecution, while Robert Burns's charges were withdrawn following a prosecution accommodation. Under cross-examination, Ndosimau denied fabricating his account to avoid suspicion, stating he had previously omitted details to protect his family. The trial continues before Mr Justice Hunt and a jury.
A 20‑year‑old Dublin woman, unnamed for legal reasons, has gone on trial in the Central Criminal Court on 11 counts of sexual assault and one count of section 4 rape. The alleged offences took place between July 2017 and July 2019 when the accused was aged 12 to 14 and the victim, her younger cousin, was aged 10 to 11. The prosecution alleges the accused penetrated the girl with a hairbrush and digitally penetrated her, forcing her to mouth her breasts and vagina. The complainant claims the abuse began before the accused turned 12, when she was shown pornography on a tablet and instructed to perform sexual acts. She says she repeatedly told the accused to stop, but was slapped when she tried to refuse. The trial is before Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo and a jury. The unnamed 20-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a County Meath murder trial, a 37‑year‑old man named Daniel Blanaru, from Rathmore, Athboy, has pleaded not guilty to the stabbing death of his partner, Larisa Serban, aged 26, which occurred on or about 12 August 2022. Serban's body was discovered early the next morning in the bedroom‑hallway area of their home, with two stab wounds: one to the chest that punctured the heart, lung and aorta, and another to the arm that fractured a bone. The trial, lasting seven weeks, was heard by an enlarged jury of eleven men and four women. Defence counsel Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha concluded his closing address, while Justice Eileen Creedon explained the law and the evidence, noting that the prosecution bears the burden of proof beyond reasonable doubt. She outlined the possible verdicts—guilty or not guilty of murder, or not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter—and instructed the jury to remain dispassionate and objective.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the Director of Public Prosecutions presented evidence that Daniel Blanaru, 37, from Rathmore, Athboy, Co Meath, murdered 26‑year‑old Larisa Serban on or about 12 August 2022. Prosecutor Eilis Brennan SC described the attack as sustained and brutal, noting that Blanaru stabbed Serban in the heart, severed a bone in her elbow, and inflicted multiple defensive injuries on her. She highlighted that Serban's body showed numerous incise wounds, abrasions and puncture wounds consistent with defensive actions, while Blanaru had only a minor nick. Brennan urged jurors to focus on the evidence rather than defence theories, which included claims of accidental injury and self‑defence. She also referenced a toxicology report showing no alcohol or drugs in Serban's system and CCTV footage of Blanaru leaving the scene. Daniel Blanaru pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Rachel Redmond, 34, accused of impeding the apprehension of her then-partner Wayne Cooney following the murder of Jordan Davis, has been adjourned. The jury, comprising three men and nine women, ceased deliberations for the weekend after four hours and 13 minutes of consideration over two days. Presiding Judge Paul Burns instructed the jurors to return to the Central Criminal Court on Monday at 10am. Ms Redmond, from Coolock with an address in North Belfast, pleaded not guilty to two counts of knowingly impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Cooney on or about May 22, 2019. The prosecution alleges she drove Cooney from the scene and checked him into a hotel to help him evade justice. The judge emphasized that the State must prove beyond reasonable doubt that Ms Redmond knew Cooney had committed the murder at the time of her actions, noting that subsequent knowledge is insufficient. He further directed the jury to consider each of the two distinct counts separately and to reach unanimous verdicts. While the jury heard that Cooney was convicted of the murder, and that Ms Redmond's brother, Robert Redmond, pleaded guilty in April 2024 to conspiring with Cooney to murder Mr Davis and was sentenced to seven years in prison, these facts do not constitute a finding against Ms Redmond. The matter remains ongoing, with the jury's verdict pending.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Dr Marie English, a clinical psychologist, testified that she found no evidence that Brian Ibe, aged 23, was feigning or exaggerating schizophrenia symptoms during the murder of Peter Kennedy, a 65‑year‑old man, on 28 April 2020. Ibe, who pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, was admitted to the Central Mental Hospital in 2023 after being on the waiting list since 2020. Dr English defined feigning as fabrication or gross exaggeration of symptoms and, after conducting various tests, concluded there was no evidence of such fabrication. The prosecution maintains that Ibe does not meet the legal criteria for a not‑guilty‑by‑reason‑of‑insanity verdict under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act. Ibe also pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for assaulting Garda Brendan O'Donnell at Newbridge Garda Station on or about 29 April 2020, where the Garda was left with a bloody nose and a bruise under his eye.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Rachel Redmond, 34, is currently at the jury deliberation stage. Ms Redmond, from Coolock, Dublin, with an address in North Belfast, stands accused on two counts of impeding the apprehension of her then-partner, Wayne Cooney, following the murder of Jordan Davis on or about May 22, 2019. She has pleaded not guilty to both charges. The prosecution alleges she knowingly drove Cooney from the scene and checked him into a hotel to help him evade prosecution. Defence counsel argued she did not know Cooney had committed a crime and urged the jury not to convict her by association. The jury is currently deliberating and has been adjourned until 10am tomorrow to continue their consideration. In related proceedings, Cooney has been convicted of the murder. Additionally, Ms Redmond's brother, Robert Redmond, pleaded guilty in April 2024 to conspiring with Cooney to murder Mr Davis and was sentenced to seven years in prison. The presiding judge, Mr Justice Paul Burns, instructed the jury that the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that Ms Redmond knew Cooney had committed the murder at the time of the alleged acts, and that each count must be considered separately.
A 30‑year‑old man, Adam Corcoran of John Barry House, Connolly Street, Midleton, has been charged with the murder of his 27‑year‑old partner, Daena Walsh, who was pronounced dead at her Midleton apartment on 2 August 2024. The Central Criminal Court has set a trial date for 12 January 2026, with case management scheduled for 11 July 2025.
Three men—Anthony Hickey (39), Fabio Vicente (42) and Matin Zolfaghari (34)—were sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for a gang rape and sexual assault that occurred on 31 August 2019 in a Dublin nightclub. Hickey received 16 years, with the final year suspended; Vicente also received 16 years, suspended; Zolfaghari received 14 years, suspended. All three pleaded not guilty. The judge described the conduct as "cruel, cynical and depraved" and noted the victim was in a vulnerable state. The court directed the men to be supervised by Probation Services for three years after release and back‑dated their sentences to the date of custody. The sentencing hearing included the victim's impact statement, in which she accused the men of recording and sharing videos of the assault and of laughing at her refusal. The judge emphasised that blame rested solely with the men and praised the Garda investigation. No further legal outcomes are mentioned in the article. Anthony Hickey was convicted. Fabio Vicente was found guilty. Matin Zolfaghari was convicted.
Rachel Redmond, who pleaded not guilty to two counts of assisting Wayne Cooney to evade prosecution after the murder of Jordan Davis, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court. The prosecution alleges that on or about May 22, 2019, Ms Redmond knowingly drove Cooney away from the scene in Darndale and checked him into the Clayton Hotel near Dublin Airport to impede his apprehension. State counsel Seoirse Ó Dúnlaing SC argued that Ms Redmond's claim of ignorance was "absolutely risible," noting she parked away from the hotel and used her own name for the booking. He submitted that she knew Cooney had committed the killing and was hiding him. In closing, defence counsel Dominic McGinn SC urged the jury not to convict Ms Redmond by association, emphasizing that her brother Robert Redmond was the killer's co-conspirator. Mr McGinn described the bus stop collection as unlike a "slick getaway" and argued there was no evidence Ms Redmond knew of prior threats or the crime. The jury has heard that Robert Redmond pleaded guilty in April 2024 to conspiring with Cooney to murder Mr Davis and was sentenced to seven years in prison. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns.