In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Cristal O'Brien recounted that on 1 December 2022, her ex‑partner Philip Cox, with whom she had lived for 18 years, stabbed her twice while chasing her with three knives. O'Brien described the attack as a "movie scene" she did not sign up to, noting that Cox threatened to "stab her to pieces" and that the incident left her with severe anxiety, panic attacks and post‑traumatic stress disorder. She was on crutches for three weeks, could not drive for months and was out of work for a year, relying on illness benefit. O'Brien also said she had received ten weeks of counselling and may need more. The court heard that Cox's attempted‑murder charge was dropped after a jury failed to reach a verdict, and that he had pleaded not guilty to that charge. He had previously pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, aggravated burglary and to the production of a knife.
A 38‑year‑old Defence Forces member, Alan O'Connor of Acorn Downes, Newbridge, was found guilty of raping a friend of his partner, Siobhan Murphy, at a property in Portarlington on 17 June 2020. The victim, who had known the attacker for 15 years, testified that she was fully clothed when O'Connor entered her bed and forced himself upon her, pulling down her trousers and underwear. O'Connor denied wrongdoing and maintained his innocence. He had no prior convictions and had served in the Defence Forces for nearly 19 years. The Central Criminal Court, after hearing victim impact statements and a letter from a priest describing the offence as "totally out of character," sentenced him to five and a half years' imprisonment, with a six‑month suspended portion to be served over two years. The judge noted his medical needs and family support as mitigating factors. The sentence was imposed by Justice Kerida Naidoo.
Paul Arthur, 59, of Letterkenny, Co Donegal, was sentenced today at the Central Criminal Court to 10 years' imprisonment after being found guilty by a jury of two counts of anal rape and one count of vaginal rape of his former partner, Susan Lynch. The offences occurred between September 2017 and July 2018. Mr Justice Patrick McGrath described the attacks as a repeated, pre-meditated breach of trust. In mitigation, the judge noted Arthur had no previous convictions and health issues, but determined prison would not be unduly oppressive. The sentence was backdated to when Arthur entered custody following the guilty verdicts in November. Ms Lynch, who waived anonymity, read a victim impact statement detailing her trauma, including panic attacks, surgeries, and alopecia. She stated she declined counselling because notes could be used against her at trial, a regret she expressed to the court. She also highlighted financial losses and the loss of her home and identity. Defence counsel John Berry SC confirmed there would be no appeal against the conviction. The court heard that a proposed law to protect rape survivors' counselling notes from admissibility has yet to be passed.
In a Central Criminal Court case, two men, Sean Kavanagh (26) and Calvin Dunne (24), charged with the murder of Dylan McCarthy (29) in Monasterevin on 22 August 2022, claim they acted in self‑defence. The prosecution contends McCarthy died after receiving punches from Kavanagh and a kick to the head from Dunne while he was on the ground. McCarthy was taken to hospital the next day and pronounced dead. The State presented CCTV footage and testimony that Kavanagh and Dunne were present at the pub, that McCarthy was involved in a fight, and that Dunne delivered a "running kick" to McCarthy's exposed head. The jury heard that McCarthy suffered a subdural haemorrhage, and the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused intended to kill or cause serious injury. The trial continues before Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury of ten men and two women. Sean Kavanagh pleaded not guilty. Calvin Dunne pleaded not guilty.
A jury of five men and seven women has been sworn in at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin to hear the trial of Alan Vial and Nikita Burns, who are charged with the murder of Robert Wilkin on 25 June 2023 in County Donegal. Ms Burns, from Carrick, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to impeding the apprehension or prosecution of another person for an arrestable offence. Mr Vial, from Drumanoo Head in Killybegs, has pleaded not guilty to the charge. The court heard that it is alleged Mr Wilkin's body was disposed of by being thrown over the cliff edge at Sliabh Liag. Mr Justice David Keane instructed the jury that the case has attracted publicity and invited any person with knowledge of the matter or familiarity with those involved to declare this, as such individuals may be ineligible to serve. The trial is expected to last approximately three weeks.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a woman accused three men of rape and sexual assault. She testified that she believed she was drugged after leaving a pub with a housemate on 30 August 2019, and that she was subsequently raped in a vehicle and again in a house. She described feeling "faded and hazy" and that a "bag of white powder" was nearby. The men, aged 34 to 42 and residing in Dublin and Wicklow, pleaded not guilty to seven counts including rape, oral rape and sexual assault in a car and a house. The case is before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury, with the trial ongoing. The woman made a complaint at a Garda station and was examined at the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit. The trial continues.
In a January 2025 hearing at the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Paul McDermott highlighted that limited psychiatric services in Ireland are causing additional trauma to families, citing the case of Ruth Purcell Healy, 37, who is charged with the murder of her six‑year‑old son Matthew. The judge noted that Healy's lawyers have spent months attempting to secure a psychiatrist's assessment, but have been unsuccessful due to shortages and delays. He described the case as "very sensitive" and stressed that prolonged waiting for psychiatric reports exacerbates trauma. McDermott pointed out that psychiatrists at the Central Mental Hospital are often unavailable because of their workload, and that low fees offered by the Department of Justice deter them from taking on cases. Consequently, lawyers sometimes seek psychiatrists abroad, such as in the UK, to obtain the necessary reports. The judge's remarks underscore the systemic limitations in the state's psychiatric services for complex criminal cases.
Three men aged 34 to 42, living in Dublin and Wicklow, have pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape, oral rape and sexual assault against a woman they met in a Dublin nightclub. The alleged assaults took place on 31 August 2019 at an unknown location in a car and in a Dublin house. The first defendant, 39, is accused of raping the woman in his home, orally raping her and assaulting her in a car. The second, 42, is accused of raping her in the car and in the house. The third, 34, is accused of orally raping her in the house and assaulting her in the car. The prosecution says the woman's recollection is fragmented and that she was highly intoxicated. CCTV from the nightclub shows the woman entering a car with the three men, and the car is registered to the 42‑year‑old.
A jury of ten men and two women has been sworn in to hear the trial of Sean Kavanagh, 26, and Calvin Dunne, 24, both from Monasterevin, Co. Kildare, accused of murdering Dylan McCarthy, 29, on or about 22 August 2022. The trial, to be held before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs at the Central Criminal Court, is expected to last just over two weeks and will involve 97 witnesses. Kavanagh will be represented by Michael Lynn SC and Carol Doherty BL, while Dunne will be represented by John Fitzgerald SC and Aoife O'Leary. The Director of Public Prosecution's Senior Counsel, Seoirse Ó Dúnlaing, will appear with Jane Horgan Jones BL. The jury was instructed that any research or external information would be "totally improper" and that verdicts must be based solely on evidence presented in court. The trial is scheduled to begin tomorrow and is expected to conclude by 4 February. Sean Kavanagh pleaded not guilty. Calvin Dunne pleaded not guilty.
A key prosecution witness, Kallum Coleman, 23, who was due to testify in the trial of barrister Diarmuid Phelan, 56, was arrested on a warrant issued during Phelan's trial. Coleman had left Ireland for Spain after the trial began and later agreed to return, but the jury heard he had a "change of heart" and fled when gardai stopped for refreshments en route to a Spanish airport. Coleman was involved in a trespassing incident on Phelan's Hazelgrove Farm on 24 February 2022, during which Phelan shot Coleman's dog and then fired three shots from a handgun, killing Keith Conlon. Phelan was acquitted of murder after a 10‑week trial that ended on 3 January. Coleman failed to appear on 30 October, leading to a warrant and his arrest last week. The Director of Public Prosecutions has informed the court that Coleman faces contempt proceedings before Ms Justice Lankford, who is currently conducting a trial in Cork.
Law professor Diarmuid Phelan, aged 56, was acquitted of murder after a ten‑week trial at the Central Criminal Court. The jury, after six hours and 51 minutes of deliberation over two days, found that Phelan acted in self‑defence when he fired three warning shots at trespassers on his farm. The prosecution had argued that the third shot, fired with the gun pointed toward Keith Conlon, intended to kill or seriously injure him. Phelan maintained that he had no intention to kill and that the fatal shot was accidental, caused by stress‑related misalignment and Conlon's movement uphill. The jury rejected the State's case, concluding that Phelan's belief in an imminent attack and the force used were reasonable under the circumstances. Phelan left the courtroom free, while Conlon's family expressed hurt and disappointment at the verdict. The judge thanked the jurors and exempted them from further service for life. Diarmuid Phelan pleaded not guilty.
A jury has paused its deliberations for the New Year and will resume on Friday to decide the verdict in the trial of law professor Diarmuid Phelan, who denies murdering a trespasser on his Tallaght farm. The jury, consisting of nine men and three women, has spent four hours and two minutes considering the case. Judge Siobhan Lankford reminded the jurors to remain silent about the case until their return and to be unanimous in their verdict. She explained the three possible verdicts—guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty—and outlined the paths the jury may take based on intent, self‑defence, and the reasonableness of force. Phelan, 56, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Keith 'Bono' Conlon, 36, who was shot on February 24, 2022, after trespassing on Phelan's property.
A jury is set to begin deliberations on the murder trial of law professor Diarmuid Phelan, who denies killing a trespasser on his Tallaght farm. Judge Siobhan Lankford has delivered her charge to the 12 jurors, who will start deliberating at 10 am tomorrow. The trial, which began on 12 December, has been delayed by juror unavailability and extended beyond its original six‑week schedule. Phelan, 56, is charged with murdering Keith 'Bono' Conlon, 36, who was shot in the back of the head on 24 February 2022. The prosecution alleges Phelan fired a loaded revolver at Conlon, while the defence claims the shot was accidental. The jury will consider whether Phelan's conduct was objectively dangerous and whether self‑defence applies, with possible verdicts of guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. The jury will return to the Central Criminal Court at 10 am on Tuesday to begin deliberations.
Cailean Crawford, 28, was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of murdering Thomas McCarthy, 55, at his mother's home in Ballyfermot on 27 July 2020. Crawford pleaded not guilty but was found guilty of the murder and of perjury during the trial. He had a prior conviction for conspiring to murder gangland figure Wayne Whelan, for which he served five years. The jury deliberated eight hours and twenty minutes before returning a unanimous verdict that Crawford fired several shots from a blue Ford Fiesta, killing McCarthy. Judge Tony Hunt sentenced Crawford to mandatory life imprisonment, backdating the sentence to 1 June after his previous term ended. The sentencing followed the prosecution's case that Crawford was the assassin who carried out the execution and that he had lied in court to avoid responsibility. The judge noted Crawford's prior criminal history and the seriousness of the murder.
Anthony Nugent, 38, was sentenced to five years and six months' imprisonment for raping three children between 1999 and 2002 when he was a teenager. The Central Criminal Court heard that the victims, aged eight to ten at the time, suffered lasting harm. Nugent was convicted of sexual assault, oral rape and anal rape of the first boy, and of anal and oral rape of a second boy, and of anal rape of a third boy. The judge applied headline sentences of 14 years for the first two offences and eight years for the third, then reduced them to seven and four years respectively, citing Nugent's youth as a mitigating factor. The final sentence was back‑dated to 24 October, with the last six months suspended under strict conditions and a two‑year probation order.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Philip Griffin, aged 37, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment with the final six months suspended, after pleading guilty to manslaughter on the basis of gross negligence for his role in a house fire that killed Anthony O'Brien, 30, and his five‑year‑old daughter Nadine. Griffin, who had 41 prior convictions, did not start the fire but saw it lit and left without raising the alarm or attempting to extinguish it, despite knowing people were inside. He admitted his involvement ten years after the incident, when he was already in prison for another offence. The judge noted that the fire had been treated as accidental until Griffin's statement, and that the sentence reflected mitigating factors including his remorse. The O'Brien family, led by mother Kelly O'Brien, expressed shock and grief, describing the sentence as a "joke" and demanding justice for the loss of her husband and child.
A 35‑year‑old convicted sex offender was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for raping a 17‑year‑old girl who was staying with her family after becoming homeless. The offender, who is the mother's partner's nephew, had previously been convicted of child defilement in 2018. He pleaded guilty to one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. The court noted that the victim was intoxicated and homeless, and that the offender had repeatedly assaulted her in a car and at home, culminating in rape. The judge imposed a headline sentence of 12 years for rape, but, after mitigation, sentenced him to eight years with the final 12 months suspended for two years, and directed strict conditions and a five‑year post‑release supervision order. The offender was ordered to have no contact with the victim. The victim's impact statement described lasting physical and psychological harm. The offender expressed remorse and accepted his punishment.
The trial of Riad Bouchaker, 50, accused of seriously assaulting a care worker and attempting to murder three children outside a primary school in Dublin, has been postponed. Lawyers have requested a neuropsychologist's report, which is expected by the end of February. The court has adjourned the case to February 26 for an update. Bouchaker faces charges of attempted murder of two girls and a boy, assault causing serious harm to a care worker, and possession or production of a knife. The incident occurred on 23 November 2023 outside the school.
The State has withdrawn the attempted murder charge against Philip Cox, a 40‑year‑old man, after a second Central Criminal Court jury failed to reach a verdict. The charge was dropped following a nolle prosequi entered by the Director of Public Prosecutions, as the judge noted the high standard required to prove an attempted murder, which demands proof of both an attempt to kill and an intention to kill. Cox had pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of his former partner, Cristal O'Brien, but had pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, aggravated burglary and the production of a knife. The judge directed that the case proceed to a sentence hearing on the three remaining charges, with Cox remanded in custody until the hearing on 20 January. The victim, Ms O'Brien, expressed satisfaction with the decision, and the judge highlighted the difficulty juries face in proving the specific intent required for attempted murder.
A member of the Irish Defence Forces has been convicted of raping a fellow soldier at a Dublin hotel in July 2021. Kielan Mooney, aged 30 and from Londonderry, was found guilty at the Central Criminal Court this month on charges of anal rape, oral rape, and rape. He had pleaded not guilty to six charges in total; the jury could not reach verdicts on three remaining counts. The complainant, also a serving member of the Defence Forces, chose not to be publicly identified. According to evidence, the assault occurred in a hotel room in Dublin city centre. The woman stated she had instructed Mooney to stop, but he continued. She subsequently contacted friends, who arrived at the hotel and removed him from the room before gardaí were called. In a victim impact statement, the woman described the lasting trauma and its effects on her career and mental health. Mr Justice Tony Hunt remanded Mooney in custody pending sentencing on 20 January 2025.
Thomas Collins, 59, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for the sexual abuse of his three cousins, Gretta Conlon, Catherine Conlon, and Gerard Conlon. Collins pleaded guilty to 21 sample counts of indecent assault, attempted rape, and rape committed between 1978 and 1992. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring handed down a sentence of 12 and a half years, suspending the final year on conditions. The sentence was backdated to Collins' guilty pleas in October this year. He is currently serving a separate nine-and-a-half year sentence for abusing another person decades later. The court noted that Collins made "wholesale admissions" to gardaí in 1997 and 2002, yet was not charged until 2023. Ms Justice Ring stated the case should have been dealt with decades ago and highlighted that a garda's conduct in discouraging the victims from proceeding in 1997 had "all the hallmarks of misconduct in public office." The judge praised the victims' determination after waiting 27 years for justice. Collins' barrister argued he was a juvenile for much of the offending and that his early cooperation spared the complainants further re-traumatisation. The victims, who attended the sentencing, described the long struggle for justice and the lasting impact of the abuse.
In a Central Criminal Court case, Mr Justice Tony Hunt explained the difficulty of deliberating on an attempted murder charge after a second jury of 12 failed to reach a verdict. The case involved 40‑year‑old Philip Cox, who had stabbed his former partner, Cristal O'Brien, twice with three knives. Cox pleaded not guilty to attempted murder but guilty to assault causing harm, aggravated burglary and knife production. The jury deliberated for seven hours over three days, then for five hours after the judge offered a majority verdict option. When no ten‑member majority emerged, the judge declared the jury deadlocked and discharged them, noting the high standard of proof required for attempted murder. He advised the jury not to reproach themselves and highlighted that the case was highly contentious, with the outcome dependent on the Director of Public Prosecutions. The judge thanked the panel and wished them a happy Christmas, exempting them from service for ten years.
David Dunne, 40, was convicted of murdering fellow inmate Robert O'Connor, 34, at Mountjoy Prison on 29 July 2022. CCTV footage showed Dunne luring O'Connor into his cell, where he was knocked to the ground and stamped on the head repeatedly. Prison officers heard a yell and a cry of "No, no" before silence, and later saw Dunne stamp on O'Connor's head more than once. O'Connor was taken to Mater Hospital, placed on life support, and pronounced dead three days later after brain‑stem testing revealed no activity. Dunne, who had 123 convictions since 1998 and was serving a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for robbery, was found guilty by a jury in less than three hours. Robert O'Connor pleaded not guilty.
Lisa O'Meara, who waived her anonymity, told the Central Criminal Court that she had been kept hostage in her own home by Barry Murphy, who repeatedly raped and sexually assaulted her between February 2018 and February 2020. Murphy, 39, was convicted of three rapes, one sexual assault, three assault causing harm, one false imprisonment and coercive control over an 18‑month period. He was also found guilty of a separate assault abroad. The court heard that the front door of the couple's house was riveted shut and that O'Meara had no means of communication until she escaped the night after the final rape. Murphy's bail was revoked when O'Meara lived with him. The judge imposed a headline sentence of 17 years for the rapes, four years for coercive control, and other sentences for the remaining offences, all running concurrently. The final global sentence was 15½ years, with the last year suspended on strict conditions.
Patrick Murphy, 52, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Joseph Brosnan, 53, who was stabbed to death in Abbey Court, Tralee, on 22 May 2022. Murphy had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, yet the jury found him guilty of murder after a two‑hour deliberation. The judge described the attack as a "cowardly" and "vicious" knife assault carried out in a "drunken rage" against a "defenceless and unarmed" man. Murphy had been drinking and had brought a large kitchen knife to the apartment where he and Brosnan had shared drinks with a Polish friend, Kamil Lisowski. The victim's family delivered emotional impact statements, describing Brosnan as a beloved son, father and grandad, and expressing profound grief and anger at the loss. The court noted Murphy's 15 prior convictions, mainly for traffic, public order and drug offences. The judge thanked the family for their statements and emphasised the seriousness of the crime.
The family of 26‑year‑old Cian Gallagher, murdered on 2 November 2022 in Tallow, Co. Waterford, delivered an emotional victim impact statement at the Central Criminal Court during the sentencing of Maurice Boland. They urged Irish society to consider who should be role models for young men, citing the three young men who helped Cian as examples of kindness and self‑lessness. The family described Cian as shy, kind, and principled, and expressed profound grief over his loss. They condemned the attacker's boast that he had punched Cian "like Conor McGregor in the UFC" and highlighted the senseless violence that ended a promising life. Boland, 37, was found guilty of murder and received the mandatory life sentence, to commence after the expiry of his earlier assault conviction. The statement underscored the lasting trauma endured by the Gallagher family. Maurice Boland pleaded not guilty.
A Central Criminal Court jury has begun deliberating in the attempted murder trial of Philip Cox, a 40‑year‑old man accused of attacking his ex‑partner, Cristal O'Brien, at York Street Flats in Dublin 2. Mr Justice Tony Hunt directed the jury that to find Cox guilty they must be satisfied that an attempt to kill was made and that Cox had the intention to kill. He explained that an intention to cause serious harm or to frighten would not suffice, and that intention can arise instantly and may disappear just as quickly. O'Brien testified that Cox threatened to "stab her to pieces", broke two knives, kicked her twice in the face, and tried to stab her twice in the leg before she fled to a neighbour's flat. Alice McGrath also testified that she heard Cox say "I'm going to stab you" and "I'm going to kill you dead".
The jury for the trial of law professor Diarmuid Phelan, who denies murdering trespasser Keith 'Bono' Conlon, will take a long break and will not deliberate until after Christmas. The jury, made up of nine men and three women, had previously informed the judge that they were unavailable to attend the Central Criminal Court on several dates, including December 22 and 23. Judge Siobhan Lankford explained that the trial had already run nine weeks, longer than the initial six‑week estimate, and that the jurors could return to work during the break if they wished. She will resume the charge on December 30 and will summarise the prosecution and defence cases then, giving the jurors a document outlining the legal questions they must consider before reaching a verdict. The case remains at the trial stage, with the jury yet to decide on the murder charge against Mr Phelan. Diarmuid Phelan pleaded not guilty.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court is continuing deliberations in the murder trial of Dean Caffrey, aged 38, of Beaucourt, Achill Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 9. The twelve-person jury has now deliberated for just under seven hours across three days in the case concerning the death of Sean McCarthy, aged 28, between 2 and 7 August 2022. Mr Caffrey has pleaded not guilty to murder. The prosecution alleged Mr Caffrey deliberately killed Mr McCarthy, while the defence maintains he acted in self-defence during a struggle over a firearm at Mr Caffrey's apartment in Achill, Mayo. Mr McCarthy's body was subsequently discovered concealed in a wardrobe. The jury must determine whether Mr Caffrey is guilty of murder, manslaughter, or not guilty of any offence. Yesterday the jury requested to examine the firearm involved. Deliberations will resume on the following day.
In the Central Criminal Court, Judge Siobhan Lankford finished a three‑hour evidence summary for a jury of twelve in the murder trial of law professor Diarmuid Phelan, 56, who denies killing Keith 'Bono' Conlon, 36, on his Tallaght farm on 24 February 2022. Phelan, a barrister, lecturer and farmer, pleaded not guilty. The judge instructed the jury to decide whether the State proved it was not reasonably possible that Phelan unintentionally struck a trespasser with a third shot from his revolver, and to consider self‑defence if the jury found intent to kill or seriously injure. She explained the jury could return one of three verdicts: guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, 56‑year‑old law professor Diarmuid Phelan denies murdering Keith 'Bono' Conlon, a 36‑year‑old father of four, on his Hazelgrove Farm in Tallaght on 24 February 2022. The presiding judge, Justice Siobhan Lankford, informs the 12‑member jury that the trial, originally expected to last six weeks, has entered its ninth week and will continue into the tenth. She reminds jurors that they must decide whether the State has proven that Phelan could not have unintentionally hit Conlon with a third shot from his revolver. If they find intent to kill or seriously injure, they must also consider the defendant's claim of self‑defence. The judge outlines the three possible verdicts: guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has asked to examine the firearm and clothing connected to a fatal shooting as they deliberate in a murder trial. Dean Caffrey, aged 38 of Achill Road, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Sean McCarthy, a 28-year-old whose body was discovered in a wardrobe at Caffrey's apartment four days after he went missing in August 2022. McCarthy died from a single gunshot wound to the head. The defence argues Caffrey acted in self-defence during a struggle, while the prosecution contends the killing was an execution. The jury requested sight of the weapon and the deceased's shorts to assess whether they bore a drawstring. Justice Paul McDermott confirmed the shorts are agreed to have had a drawstring but cannot be presented due to biohazard concerns. The panel will resume consideration of their verdict tomorrow.
Denis Nolan, 71, a former priest, was sentenced to an additional five years for a 1994‑2000 oral rape and 36 sexual assaults of a schoolboy aged 11‑17. He had already been serving 19 years for similar offences against three other victims. The Central Criminal Court had set a headline sentence of eight years for the rape, reduced to five years to run consecutively with his other sentences, and added three years for the assault charges with five years of post‑release supervision. The Court of Appeal quashed the five‑year term and resentenced Nolan to two and a half years imprisonment, bringing his total sentence to 21½ years. The additional term is to commence after the existing 19‑year term, with the offender expected to be released in March 2032. The court described the offending as egregious and highly destructive to the victim's life. Denis Nolan pleaded guilty.
Richard Farrell, aged 61, was convicted by a jury of four counts of defilement for sexual acts with a 16‑year‑old girl who played on his soccer team between August 2008 and January 2009. The victim, who was 16 at the time, gave a victim impact statement describing the lasting harm to her confidence, trust and relationships, and how Farrell's grooming and sexual conduct had ruined her love of soccer. Farrell pleaded not guilty but was found guilty. He received a headline sentence of seven years, reduced to six years with the final two years suspended, subject to two years' probation, therapeutic assessment and treatment, and restrictions on contact with children. The court noted his prior road traffic offence and community contributions, and that he had been assessed as low risk of reoffending. The sentence was imposed by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon.
A jury of eight men and four women was sworn in by Mr Justice Tony Hunt to hear the trial of 39‑year‑old Philip Cox, who is charged with the attempted murder of Cristal O'Brien at York Street Flats, Dublin 2, on 1 December 2022. Cox, who lives at the same address, pleaded not guilty when the indictment was read. The trial will begin the following morning and is expected to last just over a week. The judge instructed the jury not to discuss the case with anyone outside the panel and to return at 11 am tomorrow.
A 31‑year‑old tenant, Dmitrus Aleinkovs, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for raping his landlady in June 2016. The victim had earlier been raped by a drug‑spiking courier who left her in a temporary state of paralysis after she took cocaine. Aleinkovs had been sub‑letting part of the house and had a history of consensual sexual contact with the victim, which ended when he stopped paying rent. After the courier's assault, Aleinkovs entered the sitting room, saw the victim still in a state of paralysis, and raped her for five minutes. He later returned the victim's jeans and left. The court noted the breach of trust, the victim's vulnerability, and Aleinkovs' lack of prior convictions. He was extradited from Latvia in December 2022 and has been in custody since. The judge imposed a seven‑year sentence, back‑dated to his December 2022 custody.
Stephen Tynan (46) and Raymond Fitzgerald (41) have appealed their convictions for the murder of Andrew Guerrine, Tynan's cousin, who was stabbed 20 times in May 2015. The appeal argues that both men were only accessories after the fact, not principals. Tynan's counsel claims another person was involved in a drug transaction and that Tynan only assisted after the murder. Fitzgerald's counsel challenges the admissibility of CCTV footage and Automatic Number Plate Recognition evidence, arguing the system's accuracy is unproven. They also contest a voluntary caution statement taken in June 2015, asserting it was not given under custody and therefore inadmissible. The court has reserved judgment on these grounds. The appeal is heard in the Central Criminal Court, with the original convictions based on circumstantial evidence linking the defendants to the murder vehicle and location. The case remains pending. Stephen Tynan pleaded not guilty. Raymond Fitzgerald pleaded not guilty.
Law professor Diarmuid Phelan, 56, is on trial for the murder of Keith Conlon, 36, who died on Phelan's farm in Tallaght on 24 February 2022. Phelan, a barrister, lecturer and farmer, pleaded not guilty. The case centres on an incident where three trespassers—Conlon, Kallum Coleman and Robin Duggan—were hunting on a wooded area of Phelan's land. Phelan allegedly fired three shots from a Smith & Wesson revolver after shouting at the trespassers to leave. The prosecution argues two shots were warning shots and the third, aimed at Conlon's back, was intended to kill or seriously injure him. The defence contends Phelan fired accidental warning shots, that he was acting in self‑defence against an imminent threat, and that he had not failed to observe safety procedures. The jury heard evidence of the trespassers' knowledge of Phelan's firearm, the timing of the shots, and the circumstances of the shooting.
At the Central Criminal Court, defence counsel for Dean Caffrey has urged the jury to acquit his client of murdering Sean McCarthy, arguing that the prosecution case lacks foundation. Lorcan Staines SC submitted that conviction would constitute a travesty, contending there is no evidence Mr Caffrey lured the deceased to his apartment for execution. Mr Staines criticised the Director of Public Prosecutions for partisan presentation and breach of disclosure obligations, noting that material supporting the defence was withheld until six weeks into the trial. Mr Caffrey, aged 38 of Beaucourt, Achill Road, Drumcondra, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to murder. The prosecution alleges Mr McCarthy was executed; the defence maintains he was shot during a struggle after arriving armed at Mr Caffrey's home in August 2022. Mr Staines emphasised Mr McCarthy's background as a drug dealer with known firearm access, contrasting this with his client's lack of violence history. The jury will hear Mr Justice Paul McDermott's charge on Friday before retiring to consider their verdict.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the State presented Maurice Boland (37) as a drunken aggressor who pursued and struck Cian Gallagher (26) after Gallagher left a pub in Tallow. Prosecutor Bernard Condon SC argued that Boland's intent was to inflict serious injury, citing Boland's remarks about wanting to "be like Conor McGregor" and his aggressive behaviour earlier that evening. He described the incident as a pursuit rather than a fight, noting that Gallagher was "set upon" and knocked down by a "killer punch" that caused him to hit his head. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC contended that Boland was guilty of unlawful killing, not murder, because there was no evidence of intent to kill or cause serious harm. The judge instructed the jury that a verdict of murder requires proof of intent to kill or serious injury, and the jury will deliberate tomorrow. Maurice Boland pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, prosecution counsel Cathleen Noctor SC described Dean Caffrey, 38, as "cool as a cucumber" after CCTV footage showed him buying a suitcase with cash taken from the dead man, Sean McCarthy, 28. Noctor alleged that Caffrey lied about the circumstances of the fatal shooting in his apartment, claiming the deceased had brought a firearm and threatened him. She said Caffrey denied murdering McCarthy, who was known to gardaí as a drug dealer. Noctor highlighted inconsistencies in Caffrey's statements to gardaí, noting he initially claimed both men had the gun during the struggle, then later said he fired after McCarthy lunged. She also presented evidence that Caffrey purchased a clean‑up kit, disposed of the firearm and the deceased's phone, and deleted messages. Noctor urged the jury to consider that Caffrey shot McCarthy in the head with intent to kill, and that he should be convicted of murder.
Cailean Crawford, 28, was convicted of the murder of Thomas McCarthy, 55, at Croftwood Park, Ballyfermot, on July 27, 2020. The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict after deliberating for eight hours and 20 minutes, rejecting Crawford's not guilty plea and his defense that he merely loaned a van to associate Charles McClean. Prosecutors alleged Crawford was the gunman who fatally shot McCarthy, who had returned from the UK to visit his mother. Mr Justice Tony Hunt described Crawford as a "cold-blooded" and "dangerous individual," noting the crime was not a victim of circumstance. The judge highlighted Crawford's prior conviction for conspiracy to murder Wayne Whelan in 2019, for which he was sentenced to seven years with two suspended. McClean, who pleaded guilty to lesser offences in that case, was sentenced to eight years. Following the verdict, Crawford shouted at the court and stormed out. Mr Justice Hunt remanded Crawford in custody until December 20, when he will be handed the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment for murder. The matter was adjourned for sentencing.
The partner of a man convicted of raping three children between 1999 and 2002 has asked the sentencing judge to give him the "best present" and set him free, claiming he did nothing wrong. The defence counsel argued the defendant was not a danger to the public, had been trustworthy for 24 years, and questioned the benefit of imprisonment. The court heard victim impact statements from two of the victims, who described lasting trauma, loss of trust, and mental health issues. The third victim did not give a statement. The judge adjourned sentencing to 19 December. The article reports the defendant's convictions for sexual assault, oral and anal rape of children aged 7 to 10, and prior convictions for traffic offences and criminal damage. No sentencing outcome is provided in the article.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, defence counsel Sean Guerin SC argued that the murder trial of law professor Diarmuid Phelan centred on emotion, specifically fear and anger, rather than intent to kill. Phelan, 56, pleaded not guilty to the fatal shooting of 36‑year‑old Keith Conlon on his Tallaght farm on 24 February 2022. The prosecution contended that Phelan fired three shots, two in the air and a third that struck Conlon in the back of the head while he was turning away, indicating intent to kill. Guerin maintained that the shots were warning shots, that Phelan did not intend to hit Conlon, and that the incident was a reaction to trespassers and a hunting dog on the property. He urged the jury to consider the emotional context and the lack of pre‑planned intent in assessing Phelan's actions. The case remains at the trial stage.
The murder trial of Diarmuid Phelan, 56, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Phelan, a barrister and farmer, has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Keith 'Bono' Conlon, 36, at Hazelgrove Farm in Tallaght, Dublin 24, on February 24, 2022. In closing submissions, State Counsel Roisin Lacey SC argued that Phelan's actions constituted a disproportionate response to a verbal conflict. The prosecution contends that Phelan intended to kill or cause serious injury when he fired a Smith & Wesson revolver at Conlon, who was allegedly turning away to leave. Lacey highlighted testimony from farmhand Pierre Godreu, who described the third, fatal shot as being fired in a different direction than the initial warning shots, suggesting intent. The State emphasized that Conlon was a trespasser engaged in alleged badger baiting, but cautioned the jury that the deceased was not on trial for his criminal behavior. The jury heard evidence that Phelan shouted at Conlon and another man, Kallum Coleman, before firing. Coleman, a key witness, failed to attend trial after leaving the country. The matter remains at the trial stage, with the jury yet to deliver a verdict.
A 79‑year‑old man was given a 20‑month suspended prison sentence for indecent assaults on his teenage sister‑in‑law that occurred in 1973. The victim was 13 at the time and the defendant was 29. The judge, Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, highlighted the significant breach of trust by a family member and the lasting impact on the victim's life, noting that the abuse took 46 years to be formally reported. The sentence was imposed with strict conditions and the judge explained that it would be served in the community. The defendant pleaded guilty, and the court considered his age, health, and prior good character, deciding that custodial imprisonment was not warranted. The judge expressed hope that the defendant's acceptance of responsibility would help the victim move forward.
In a Central Criminal Court case, Cailean Crawford, aged 28, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Thomas McCarthy, who was shot seven times at his mother's home on 27 July 2020. The State alleges a conspiracy to kill McCarthy, with Crawford as the gunman, citing CCTV footage of a blue Ford Fiesta and the use of a van and phone. Crawford's defence argues he was merely involved in drug dealing and that he loaned his van and phone to Charles McClean, who allegedly used them for drug transport. Crawford testified that he was "blamed" as the centre point of a murder he did not commit. Judge Tony Hunt emphasized that the prosecution's case hinges on who had the van and phone after 9 a.m. The jury, consisting of six men and six women, has deliberated for over six hours and will continue tomorrow.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Diarmuid Phelan, a barrister and law lecturer, is ongoing. Phelan, 56, has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Keith 'Bono' Conlon, 36, at Hazelgrove Farm in Tallaght, Dublin 24, on February 24, 2022. The prosecution, led by Roisin Lacey SC, argued in her closing speech that Phelan's actions were a disproportionate response to a purely verbal conflict. The State alleges that after Conlon and two others trespassed on the property, Phelan fired three shots from a Smith & Wesson revolver; the prosecution contends the third shot was intentionally aimed at Conlon, who was shot in the back of the head while turning to leave. Conversely, the defence maintains that Phelan accidentally hit Conlon while firing warning shots. Evidence from farmhand Pierre Godreu described the initial altercation as oral and noted that the third shot was fired in a different direction than the first two. Another witness, Hannah Felgner, stated the conflict was verbal and that the trespassers intended to call gardai rather than use physical violence. The jury of nine men and three women is currently hearing the final submissions, with the matter remaining at the trial stage.
A 22‑year‑old man, Brandon Gavin, was sentenced to a mandatory life term in prison for the murder of his former friend, Marius Mamaliga, who was stabbed in the neck on 23 February 2023. The victim's parents, Inga and Victor Mamaliga, delivered an emotional impact statement, describing the loss as a void that will never be filled. Gavin had pleaded not guilty, claiming self‑defence after a drug debt dispute, but the jury found his defence "self‑serving nonsense." Witnesses testified that Gavin had been messaging women on Tinder minutes before the attack and had searched for "prison sentence for murder in Ireland" the day before. Marius was in the driver's seat with two friends when Gavin entered the rear passenger side, reached across, stabbed him once in the neck, and fled. He was taken to hospital in critical condition and died three days later.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the State's counsel, Bernard Condon SC, accused Cailean Crawford, 28, of fabricating a story about loaning a van and a phone to Charles McClean in connection with the murder of Thomas McCarthy on 27 July 2020. Condon argued that Crawford's testimony was full of lies and that the evidence showed a coordinated plan involving multiple vehicles and "dry runs" before the execution. He described the alleged gunman's movements and the use of burner phones, and claimed that Crawford's alibi of his grandmother's house was preposterous. Defence counsel Mark Lynam SC countered that the presumption of innocence was paramount, noting that Crawford's criminality did not prove murder and that the evidence did not conclusively link him to the shooting. The jury was instructed to consider the prosecution's case of a group plan and the alleged seven shots that killed McCarthy in his mother's hallway. Cailean Crawford pleaded not guilty.