A 32‑year‑old man was remanded in custody after sitting opposite his younger half‑sister on the train to court. He pleaded guilty to nine counts of raping his younger sister and three counts of anally and orally raping his little brother between 2001 and 2010. The court heard the offences occurred when the siblings were aged between six and fourteen, with the brother aged between seven and twelve. The man was on bail awaiting a psychology report, but the judge found it "disturbing" that he had sat opposite his victim on the train. He was remanded and the sentence hearing was adjourned to 22 July for a plea of mitigation. The case was heard in the Central Criminal Court. The man has a prior drink‑driving conviction and has children with his partner. The victim impact statements described lasting trauma for both siblings.
In a 2024 appeal, a 41‑year‑old woman and her 53‑year‑old partner, jailed for a combined 33 years for raping and sexually abusing their five‑year‑old daughter and three‑and‑a‑half‑year‑old son, argued that video interviews of the children should not have been admitted to the jury. The couple had denied multiple offences, including rape, oral rape, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, reckless endangerment and false imprisonment, committed at two locations in Connacht between October 2012 and September 2014. Both were found guilty at the Central Criminal Court in November 2022. The appeal, presented by Michael Lynn SC for the man and Dominic McGinn SC for the woman, focused on alleged unfairness due to the eight‑year delay between the children's 2016 specialist Gardaí interviews and the 2022 trial, the use of leading or suggestive questions, and the lack of opportunity to assess the children's competence as witnesses.
During the opening of Maurice Boland's trial at the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution presented evidence that Boland, 36, admitted to causing the death of construction worker Cian Gallagher, 26, but denied murder. CCTV footage showed Boland punching Gallagher, who had his hands up and was backing away, leading to a fall and a brain bleed that caused death eight days later. Boland claimed the incident was a "pure accident" and that Gallagher had tried to hit him first. Witnesses, including three young men and Gardaí, testified about Boland's intoxication, his statements comparing himself to UFC fighter Conor McGregor, and his attempts to lift Gallagher after the punch. The prosecution emphasized the focus on Boland's intent that night, distinguishing between murder and manslaughter. The trial is set to continue for two weeks before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury. Maurice Boland pleaded not guilty.
A 32‑year‑old man pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to false imprisonment, threat to kill, assault causing harm, sexual assault and false imprisonment for an incident on 1 August 2021. He had previously been convicted of an assault offence. The court heard that the man and his girlfriend had broken up in November 2020 but rekindled their relationship the following summer. On 1 August the man confronted the woman at his home, threatened her with a knife, held it to her throat, and later sexually assaulted her after removing her shorts. He repeatedly restrained her, blocked the door, and dragged her by the arm and shoulder. The woman escaped several times before being taken home and the man was arrested a few days later. The judge imposed a four‑year concurrent sentence, suspended the final two years on condition of probation and treatment programmes, and noted the man's medium risk of re‑offending.
Lisa Lee, 41, was convicted in 2022 of discarding a knife used by Noel Lennon to stab Isaac Horgan, who died from a leg wound. Lee, who has no fixed abode and a history of 17 convictions, was sentenced by Mr Justice Tony Hunt to four years in prison, with the final two years suspended on the condition of good behaviour and engagement with probation services. After her release in December, she was charged with offences under the Public Order Act and Misuse of Drugs Act, including possession of stolen mobile phones. Mr Justice Hunt offered her a choice: enter a detox programme followed by intensive residential care or return to prison. Lee declined the treatment programme, citing panic at the prospect of residential care, and opted to have the suspended portion of her sentence reactivated. She was remanded in custody and will appear again on April 19.
Mr Justice Paul McDermott criticised the lack of a legislative power to suspend sentences for juvenile offenders while sentencing a 17‑year‑old boy who pleaded guilty to the oral and anal rape of a younger boy aged six to nine between July 2019 and October 2021. He noted that the law requires detention to be a last resort for those under 18 and that offenders should be allowed to continue education and family relationships, but in this case that was not possible. The judge said the appropriate sentence was three years' detention, but without the power to suspend the final 20 months he imposed 16 months for the first count and adjourned sentencing on the second count until the defendant turned 18, after which a further 20‑month sentence would be suspended for three years on strict conditions, including continued schooling and compliance with the Probation Service.
Maurice Boland, 36, of Tallow, Waterford, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of mechanic Cian Gallagher, who was killed on Barrack Street in Tallow on 10 November 2022. The Central Criminal Court will hear the case tomorrow, with a jury of four women and eight men sworn in by Ms Justice Karen O'Connor. The trial is expected to last two weeks and will rely solely on the evidence presented in court, with no independent research or social media engagement permitted.
A man from Donegal has failed in his appeal against conviction for the repeated rape of a teenage girl in July 2016. The Court of Appeal dismissed all grounds of appeal on 22 March 2024. The man, now aged 29, was sentenced to seven years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court in January 2020 after a jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on four counts of rape at two locations in the county. During sentencing, Justice Tara Burns described his conduct as vile and despicable. The victim, now in her twenties, provided a victim impact statement detailing how the attacks had transformed her from a confident young person into someone struggling with trauma and panic attacks. The appellant's legal team challenged the trial judge's handling of prosecution counsel's closing speech, questioned whether the word "stop" had been shouted during the assault, and objected to the admission of Facebook messages. The three-judge panel, led by Justice George Birmingham, found no merit in any of these contentions and upheld the conviction in full.
At a sentencing hearing in the Central Criminal Court on 22 March 2024, Mary Coughlan, mother of 32‑year‑old Gearoid Coughlan, spoke about the assault she endured when her son, diagnosed with schizophrenia, tried to murder her on 4 June 2021. She described the violent attack, which left her with a 25‑cm neck wound, multiple facial wounds, a traumatic brain injury and ongoing speech and language therapy. Coughlan criticised the mental health system for failing to monitor her son's risk and medication adherence, arguing that people with paranoid schizophrenia are allowed to live in the community without adequate care. She said she would not let the assault define her life and has returned to singing, walking and spending time with grandchildren. Gearoid was arrested, sent to the Central Mental Hospital and is awaiting a psychiatric report before sentencing on 12 April. Gearoid Coughlan pleaded guilty and was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
In March 2024, the Central Criminal Court activated the suspended one‑year portion of Robbie Walsh's eight‑year manslaughter sentence after he attacked Martin Burke and threatened to kill him on 25 July 2023, just months after his release from prison. Walsh, 28, had been found not guilty of murder but guilty of the manslaughter of Karl "Gobbo" Haugh, 25, in 2019. He had served five years and eight months of his sentence and was released on 23 March 2023. On 28 February 2024, Walsh was sentenced to 15 months for assault, a threat to kill and criminal damage. The judge, citing Walsh's history of serious offending and the violence involved, imposed the full 12‑month suspended term to commence after the expiry of the 15‑month sentence. The court noted that the offences occurred within months of his release.
The 33‑year‑old man, whose name is withheld, was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court on 21 March 2024. He pleaded guilty to four charges that occurred in the southwest of the country in March 2021. He admitted that he reported his four‑year‑old son's fatal injuries as an accidental fall to a garda station on 24 March 2021, with the intent to impede the apprehension or prosecution of the person he believed had murdered the child. He also pleaded guilty to endangering the child on 13 March 2021 by placing him in a situation that posed a substantial risk of serious harm while he had authority over the child. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to wilfully causing or allowing the child to be assaulted between 6 and 12 March 2021, and to wilfully neglecting the child on 13 March 2021 by failing to provide adequate medical aid.
A man convicted of killing his wife in Finglas, Dublin in 2021 has been returned to the Central Mental Hospital for continued treatment. Diego Costa Silva, aged 35, was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity following his trial at the Central Criminal Court earlier this month. He had pleaded not guilty to the charge relating to the death of his wife on November 4, 2021 at their home in Charlestown Place. Evidence presented to the jury established that Mr Costa Silva was suffering from cannabis-induced psychosis at the time, causing him to believe his wife was possessed and posed a threat to him. Two forensic psychiatrists confirmed he met the criteria for a finding of insanity under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006. At today's hearing, Mr Justice Michael MacGrath ordered his return to the Central Mental Hospital, where a consultant psychiatrist confirmed he continues to require in-patient treatment. His case will be reviewed again on July 29.
A 62-year-old man from Donegal has pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of his mother by arson at the Central Criminal Court. Geunter Lohse admitted to the unlawful killing of Ruth Lohse, who died in a house fire at Coolvoy, Doochary on April 12, 2022. The murder charge against him will be withdrawn, with the arson charge to be taken into account. Lohse was remanded in custody pending sentencing on May 16, when a psychiatric report will be presented to the court. The victim's family is expected to make a statement at the sentencing hearing.
A 59-year-old man was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court after pleading guilty to one count of attempted rape and four counts of indecent assault against his niece. The offences, which occurred between 1977 and 1984 when the victim was aged six to 13 and the defendant was aged 13 to 19, were described by the judge as a "catalogue of abuse" that inflicted "unspeakable trauma." Mr Justice Paul McDermott noted that while he would have imposed a 12-year sentence on an adult for the attempted rape, he reduced the term due to the defendant's age at the time. The judge acknowledged the man's guilty plea, genuine remorse, lack of previous convictions, and his otherwise positive life over the subsequent 40 years as mitigating factors. He handed down a global sentence of four years, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. The sentence was backdated to March 11, when the man entered custody, and he was directed to place himself under the supervision of the Probation Services for two years post-release. The victim, in her impact statement, described the defendant as a "monster" and "predator," stating that his actions destroyed her childhood and that his apology was worthless. The court accepted that the defendant bears full responsibility for the consequences of his actions, which undermined familial trust and bonds.
A 55‑year‑old man, Aidan Kestell, was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for raping a woman at Hartstown Park, Dublin, on 6 September 2019. The victim, who was a friend of the accused's wife, was walking home from a party when Kestell allegedly forced himself on her after she performed non‑consensual oral sex on him. Kestell denied the offence, claimed a consensual encounter, and later admitted to telling lies to Gardaí. He was convicted after a four‑day trial at the Central Criminal Court. Judge Tony Hunt imposed a headline sentence of nine years, reduced to eight years with the final six months suspended, and ordered Kestell to remain in good behaviour for three years post‑release and to have no contact with the victim or her family. The victim's impact statement described severe anxiety, paranoia, and lasting trauma, and she thanked the court for giving her a chance to move forward.
In March 2024 a Cork woman, aged 46, who had received a fully suspended three‑year sentence for wilful neglect, sexual assault and exploitation of her toddler son, filed an appeal to overturn her conviction. The Central Criminal Court heard that the defendant, described as having very limited cognitive functioning, did not accept the jury's verdicts. She was found guilty of neglecting the child from September 2010 to June 2015, and of sexual assault and exploitation between September 2013 and June 2015. The child, who was between one and four‑and‑a‑half years old, was taken into foster care and later State institutional care. The appeal argued that the child cruelty charge was couched in generalised terms, that the trial judge erred in refusing to edit emotive Garda interviews, and that the child's evidence was unreliable due to memory loss. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
Child-killer Karen Harrington, who is serving a life sentence for the murder of two-year-old Santina Cawley, has launched an appeal to overturn her conviction, arguing that CCTV footage of her home breached her privacy rights. The appeal was heard at the Court of Appeal in Cork, where Jane Hyland SC for the appellant claimed that the footage from Clanrickarde Estate, which captured both the exterior and interior of Harrington's dwelling, was highly prejudicial and should not have been admitted into evidence. Ms Hyland argued that the footage violated Harrington's right to privacy under the Irish Constitution, EU law, and the European Convention on Human Rights. She also referenced the Data Protection Act 2018 and the case of Graham Dwyer, who is serving a life sentence for the murder of Elaine O'Hara, to support her argument. Sean Gillane SC for the State countered that the issue of CCTV had been addressed during the trial, with the footage being truncated and examined by the jury. The court reserved its judgment in the matter. The appeal is currently under consideration, and no finalised decision has been made.
A 51‑year‑old Offaly man was sentenced to 10 years and nine months in prison for a series of sexual offences against his partner's son, aged 10 to 14, between 2015 and 2019. The court found 27 counts, including oral and anal rape and sexual assault, committed at 11 locations such as the victim's home, a boat and other vehicles. The judge highlighted aggravating factors such as the victim's youth, the sustained nature of the abuse, the breach of trust, the use of alcohol and the manipulation of a game console. The sentence included a nine‑month suspended period on the anal rape counts, a six‑month suspension on the assault counts, and five years of post‑release supervision. The judge noted the man's health issues, lack of prior convictions, willingness to engage with services and apology, but also that his guilty plea was "too late" for the victim.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a jury could not reach a verdict on the attempted murder charge against Philip Cox, who allegedly broke two knives and stabbed his former partner, Cristal O'Brien, twice in the leg during an attack at her home on 1 December 2022. O'Brien described the assault as "terrifying," noting that Cox threatened to "kill her" and that she sustained two stab wounds. Witness Alice McGrath testified that Cox said he would "finish her off" and that he had no care about time in prison. Cox pleaded not guilty to attempted murder but guilty to assault causing harm, aggravated burglary and knife production. After 3 days of deliberation, the jury returned to court with no verdict, and the judge recorded a "Disagreement" on the issue paper. The case was scheduled for mention on 22 March.
Kamal Kumar Nepali, a 24‑year‑old Nepalese national from Beech Park, Ballincollig, was sentenced by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath in the Central Criminal Court to ten years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended on strict conditions. The sentence was back‑dated to his entry into custody on 17 June 2022. The judge described the offence as a "predatory" rape that occurred in the victim's bedroom in the dead of night, noting the victim's vulnerability and the physical violence involved. He highlighted aggravating factors such as the burglary context and the violation of the victim's home security, while noting mitigating factors including Nepali's lack of prior convictions and character references. The judge also ordered no contact between Nepali and the victim for an indefinite period. Nepali's counsel intends to appeal the decision. The case involved a rape, burglary, assault causing harm, sexual assault and four counts of trespass, all of which resulted in conviction on 7 December 2023.
A 30‑year‑old man was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for raping and sexually abusing his younger sister between 2004 and 2007. He pleaded guilty to rape, oral rape and sexual assault. The victim, a 30‑year‑old Offaly woman, gave an impact statement describing how the abuse began when she was nine and continued until she was twelve, with the brother forcing her to watch pornography and threatening to kill her. She said she felt unprotected by the law after making the complaint as an adult because she did not qualify for a safety or protection order. The judge praised her courage, noted the family dysfunction, and highlighted the brother's remorse. The sentence was reduced from a headline of six and a half years to five and a half years, with a 12‑month suspended portion requiring therapy and a five‑year no‑contact order with his sister.
The jury in the Central Criminal Court trial of Philip Cox, 39, for an attempted murder of his former partner Cristal O'Brien, has paused deliberations for the weekend and will resume on Monday at 10.30am. Over two days, the panel of seven men and five women spent five hours and 22 minutes considering the case. Mr Justice Paul McDermott instructed the jury to suspend their work for the weekend. Cox, originally from Tallaght but residing at York Street Flats, Dublin 2, pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder charge. O'Brien testified that Cox threatened to kill her, used two knives to stab her, and then sought a third, causing two stab wounds to her leg. A neighbour, Alice McGrath, testified that Cox said he would "finish her off" and that he did not care if he did time. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Tim O'Leary SC, argued that Cox's intentions were "absolutely clear" and left no doubt.
A man from Charlestown, County Mayo, has been found not guilty of murdering his wife by reason of insanity at the Central Criminal Court. The jury unanimously determined that Diego Costa Silva was suffering from cannabis-induced psychosis when he killed his wife, Fabiola De Campos Silva, at their home in Finglas, Dublin, on 4 November 2021. Two forensic psychiatrists gave evidence that Mr Silva's mental disorder caused him to believe his wife was possessed by a serpent and would kill him. Medical professionals had noted signs of psychosis after he was detained two days before the killing and recommended he remain as a voluntary patient, but he left hospital. Mr Silva was remanded to the Central Mental Hospital for assessment, with the case to return to court on 22 March for a psychiatric report on his current condition. The jury deliberated for two hours and 24 minutes before reaching their verdict.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Philip Cox, aged 39, pleaded not guilty to attempted murder of his former partner, Cristal O'Brien, after an incident on 1 December 2022. The prosecution, represented by Tim O'Leary SC, argued that Cox's repeated attempts to stab O'Brien with three knives, his statements to a neighbour that he was "going to finish her off", and his admission to Gardaí that he intended to cause bodily harm, made his intent to kill clear. The defence contended that not every stabbing constituted an attempt to murder and highlighted the relatively minor injuries sustained by O'Brien, noting no significant penetration or depth. O'Brien testified that Cox threatened her, broke two knives, and retrieved a third, describing the attack as terrifying. The jury was instructed to consider whether the evidence showed an intention to kill or merely to cause harm. The trial was set to continue the following day.
Diego Costa Silva, 35, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his wife, Fabiola Camara De Campos Silva, 33, at their home in Charlestown Place, Finglas, Dublin 11, on November 4, 2021. The Central Criminal Court heard evidence from two consultant psychiatrists who agreed that Mr Costa Silva suffered from a cannabis-induced psychotic disorder, a mental disorder under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006. They testified that he believed his wife was possessed by a serpent and that he had to decapitate her to ensure the serpent was dead. Both experts stated that due to this disorder, Mr Costa Silva did not understand the nature and quality of his actions or that they were wrong. Prosecution and defence counsel both submitted that the evidence supports a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity. Mr Justice Michael MacGrath has begun charging the jury, who will consider their verdict tomorrow. The matter is at the sentencing stage following the validated procedural stage, though the final verdict is pending.
The Central Criminal Court has seen delays in murder trials because defence lawyers struggle to secure psychiatric assessments for their clients. Although up to 20 % of murder cases involve psychiatric issues, HSE‑employed psychiatrists are not legally required to provide reports for either side. Defence psychiatrists work voluntarily, and a lack of available experts has created a backlog. The Criminal Legal Aid scheme pays psychiatrists €120 per hour, far below the €184 rate approved for State prosecutors, discouraging experts from taking defence work. The Department of Justice has imposed a cap on hours and requires pre‑approval of estimates, further limiting access. Recent cases have highlighted the difficulty of finding psychiatrists, with some defence teams seeking experts abroad. The Department is reviewing fee arrangements, but no delays have yet been confirmed in the single case cited. The court remains concerned about the impact on trial schedules.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Philip Cox, 39, was accused of attempting to murder his former partner, Cristal O'Brien, after a 12‑month relationship. O'Brien testified that on 1 December 2022 Cox entered their flat, threatened to stab her "to pieces", and brandished a knife. She described a violent confrontation in which Cox broke two knives, then sought a third, and attempted to stab her while she fled to a neighbour's flat. O'Brien was injured, sustaining two stab wounds to her left thigh, a broken lip, and bruising. During the trial, Cox interrupted proceedings, calling O'Brien a "lying c***", and was subsequently removed from the courtroom. The judge apologized for the interruption and instructed the jury to focus on the evidence presented. The case remains pending before Mr Justice McDermott. Philip Cox pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court case, a 62‑year‑old man was convicted of assault causing harm, assault and producing a knife during disputes with his wife in a short‑lived, dysfunctional marriage in Kerry. The offences occurred in May 2020 and the summer of 2019, when the couple's relationship had soured and both abused alcohol. In one incident the man brandished a large kitchen knife toward his wife, but his teenage stepson removed it. In a second incident he berated the 15‑year‑old stepson for noise, grabbed him, and when the wife intervened he punched her. The man was acquitted of rape and coercive control. Sentencing, Mr Justice Paul Burns imposed a one‑year term suspended on conditions including no contact with the ex‑wife and son and completion of a domestic violence course. The woman and children had moved to a refuge for days, and the couple are now divorced.
A 58‑year‑old man from Cork was sentenced to 11 years in prison for a campaign of sexual abuse that began when his nephew was eight and ended when the boy was ten, between 1996 and 1999. The defendant was found guilty of three counts of oral rape and three counts of anal rape. He threatened to stab the nephew's parents if the boy disclosed the abuse. The nephew, who was not named to protect his identity, read a victim impact statement in court, describing the physical pain, bleeding, and lasting psychological trauma he endured. He said the abuse changed him, leading to ongoing mental health struggles, difficulty maintaining relationships, and attempts at suicide. He now has a child and hopes to inspire other survivors to come forward. The judge noted the deliberate, calculated nature of the abuse and imposed a sentence of 12 years, suspending the final year on conditions.
A trial at the Central Criminal Court has heard allegations that Diego Costa Silva, aged 35, fatally attacked his wife at their apartment on Charlestown Place, Finglas, Dublin in November 2021. The prosecution alleges that Mr Costa Silva struck his wife, Fabiola Camara De Campos Silva, aged 33, with knives and severed her head from her body. Emergency services were called in the early morning of November 4th, with the accused telling responders he believed he had killed his wife. Gardaí discovered the deceased in a doorway with knife wounds and a blade protruding from her chest. Mr Costa Silva has pleaded not guilty to murder. The defence has made admissions regarding the death but indicated it will seek a special verdict under the Criminal Law Insanity Act 2006, centring on the accused's mental state at the time. Psychiatric evidence from both prosecution and defence experts will be presented to the jury. The trial before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath continues.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 4 March 2024, Philip Cox, 39, pleaded not guilty to a single count of attempted murder of his former partner, Cristal O'Brien, after an incident on 1 December 2022 at York Street Flats. The prosecution presented evidence that Cox had broken two knives during an argument with O'Brien, pursued her, and then broke a third knife to continue the attack. O'Brien fled to a neighbour's home, where Cox broke the neighbour's door, unbolted the lock, and threatened her again. She later hid behind a car and called Gardaí, who arrested Cox. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, will focus on proving Cox's intent to kill and the physical acts of breaking and using the knives, with a potential duration of up to one week. The case also notes Cox's prior guilty pleas for assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, and knife production, which do not affect the attempted murder charge.
A 76‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for raping a 15‑year‑old girl in the late 1980s. The victim, who was babysitting for a woman with whom the defendant was having an affair, was lured to the Wicklow mountains under the pretext of a job interview and raped there. In a separate incident he took her to the babysitter's home, where he raped her while she was cleaning the house. The victim also reported that the defendant forced her to perform oral sex on him and that he held her by her hair. He pleaded not guilty to the charges of rape and indecent assault. A jury convicted him on two rape charges and three indecent assault charges.
In March 2023, at the Central Criminal Court, Stephen Mulvey (32) and Jamie Berry (28) were found not guilty of attempted murder of a 17‑year‑old boy on 24 February 2021, possession of a Beretta pistol with intent to endanger life, and Berry was also charged with criminal damage to a home on Eugene Street. Both men had pleaded not guilty to all charges. In March 2024, the Court of Appeal overturned the acquittals, ruling that the evidence presented at the original trial required a jury's consideration. The Court of Appeal quashed the acquittals and ordered a retrial. Mr Justice Paul McDermott announced that the retrial would commence on 14 October 2024 at the Central Criminal Court. The case concerns the attempted murder of a teenager at a Dublin south inner‑city residential estate and the alleged possession of a firearm and criminal damage on the same night.
A 38‑year‑old Lithuanian woman, Sandra Sandaraite of Academy Street, Navan, was charged with the murder of a 47‑year‑old Polish man, Zbigniew Czech, at the same address on 10 December 2022. At the Central Criminal Court she pleaded guilty to manslaughter, a plea accepted by the State. She said "not guilty to murder, guilty to manslaughter" when the charge was read. Her lawyer said the charge arose from a domestic dispute. Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned the case to a sentence hearing on 16 May to allow for urinalysis and probation reports.
A 35-year-old Brazilian man pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court today to the murder of his wife at their home in Dublin in November 2021. Diego Costa Silva is charged with the killing of Fabiola Camara De Campos Silva at Charlestown Place, Finglas. The trial, which opened before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and a jury, is expected to last approximately five days. The court will consider the question of insanity as a special verdict. The prosecution's case will be supported by evidence from gardaí, emergency service personnel, and two consultant forensic psychiatrists. Both the accused and his wife had emigrated from Brazil, with Mr Costa Silva having worked at a public house in Blanchardstown.
In a sentencing hearing at the Central Criminal Court, a woman gave a victim impact statement after being raped by Aidan Kestell, 55, the husband of a friend. She described the assault as an "atrocious attack" that left her a "waking corpse," causing anxiety, paranoia, nightmares and a loss of her former self. She said the rape ended her habit of walking home alone after nights out and that society's perceptions of sexual assault are "all wrong." She noted that Kestell had no prior convictions and that the crime involved an abuse of trust, premeditation and occurred in a public place near her home. The court heard that Kestell was remanded in custody pending a March 15 sentencing and that the case was being treated as a higher‑category offence by the DPP. The woman thanked the court, Gardaí, the prosecution and her family for their support.
Three sisters from Galway accused their older brother, Martin Davis, of repeated sexual abuse during the 1970s. Carmel Connelly, aged 10 at the time, was raped by Davis, who was then 15‑16, and later subjected her to digital penetration while masturbating. Michelle Davis, aged seven when first abused, was forced into anal penetration and later had her underwear removed and her anus penetrated by Davis, who was 23. Audrey Stanley, nine at the time, was abused with tickling games that escalated to genital touching. Davis denied all charges during a 2018 interview. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of one count of rape and eight counts of indecent assault. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to eight years' imprisonment, back‑dated to his custody, and placed him on the sex offender register. The sisters read victim impact statements, urging others to come forward for support.
Daniel Martin, aged 47, was sentenced to 13 years in prison, with the final year suspended for three years, for a series of sexual offences against a teenage girl aged 15-16 between 2019 and 2020. The offences included sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, oral rape, anal rape, vaginal rape and sexual exploitation. He also received a 12‑year sentence for a child‑trafficking offence involving a second teenage girl aged 14-15, and a 10‑year sentence for the sexual assault offences. Martin was additionally jailed for two years for causing a child to watch pornography. The judge noted the deliberate, calculated nature of the campaign, the use of drugs and threats, and the significant impact on the victim. The sentences are concurrent, and Martin was not given a post‑release supervision order due to the suspension conditions. Daniel Martin was convicted.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 28‑year‑old Offaly woman presented a victim impact statement after her brother, who pleaded guilty to rape, oral rape and sexual assault between 2004 and 2007, abused her from age 11 to 15. She described how the abuse occurred in the brother's bedroom, with the brother locking doors, using a pillow over her head or a hand over her mouth to silence her, and forcing her to watch pornography. She said the brother threatened to kill her and forced her to have sex with another boy during a holiday when she was 11. The woman said she had withdrawn her complaint after her brother's suicide attempt, then re‑filed it three years later. She reported ongoing mental‑health effects such as anxiety, nightmares, PTSD and feelings of worthlessness. Justice Mary Ellen Ring thanked her for the statement, called it "very impressive," and adjourned sentencing to March 8.
A 29‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended, for sexually assaulting his partner's little brother between October 2013 and August 2015. The victim, aged seven to ten at the time, was abused while the man was babysitting him and had gained his trust as a family member. The man pleaded guilty to sexual assault, not rape, after the complainant's description of the assault was deemed "imprecise". He had previously been convicted of intimidating witnesses in the same case, a fact the judge highlighted as relevant. The judge also noted the man's history of threatening to murder the victim and his relatives, including a series of threatening WhatsApp messages to his estranged wife. The sentence was back‑dated to 18 December 2023, and the man was ordered to have no contact with the victim indefinitely.
A Central Criminal Court jury has convicted two men of raping and sexually assaulting a teenage girl in a hotel car park in Leinster in December 2017. The first defendant, aged 25, pleaded not guilty to rape, oral rape, and two counts of sexual assault. The second defendant, aged 24, pleaded not guilty to rape and oral rape. The State alleged the then 17-year-old victim was assaulted by the men, who were aged 17 and 18 at the time, after going for a drive with them. This was the second trial in the case, following a hung jury in 2023. After seven and a half hours of deliberation, the jury convicted the 25-year-old of all charges against him. The 24-year-old was convicted of oral rape, while the jury indicated it was not in a position to reach a verdict on the rape charge against him. Both defendants broke down in tears as the verdicts were read. They were remanded in custody pending sentence on April 22 next, when a victim impact report will be submitted to the court. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon thanked the jury for their time.
Lisa Lee, 41, was granted bail after a bench warrant was issued for her arrest following a failure to appear at the Central Criminal Court. Lee had previously received a half‑suspended four‑year sentence for discarding a knife used by Noel Lennon in the fatal stabbing of Isaac Horgan on 29 March 2021. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, described Lee as being in the "last‑chance saloon" and emphasized that her bail conditions would require her to reside at a named hostel in south Dublin, remain sober, keep her phone on hand for Garda and probation officers, and stay out of Dublin 2. The court noted that Lee had breached release conditions by committing public order offences and allegedly stealing a mobile phone. Mr Justice Hunt adjourned the matter to 8 April, stating that Lee's engagement with probation services could affect future cases. Lisa Lee was found guilty.
A 73‑year‑old man, whose identity is withheld to protect victims, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to four counts of rape, attempted rape and sexual assault. The offences occurred between 2012 and 2019 in County Tipperary, involving two young girls who were cousins of the complainants. The first victim, aged about ten or eleven at the time of the first contact, described a pattern of inappropriate touching, kissing and an attempted rape that ended when she entered secondary school. The second victim, aged about four or five, was raped on three separate occasions, the first when she was five or six. Both girls, now 17 and 16, gave impact statements detailing how the abuse has left them unable to recall happy childhood memories, caused them to feel unsafe, and led to shame, suicidal thoughts and trust issues.
John Doyle, 49, of Littleton, Co. Tipperary, was convicted in Wexford of two counts of rape and four counts of sexual assault against his two daughters and his niece. The offences occurred between 2006 and 2017 in the family home and a mobile home. Doyle denied wrongdoing and maintains his innocence. The judge, Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford, described the acts as a "breach of trust of the gravest kind" and imposed concurrent sentences of 12 years for the rape counts, with one year suspended on strict conditions. He received additional sentences of six and four years for the sexual assault counts, all to run concurrently, and was directed to remain away from the victims for five years post‑release under probation supervision. The court noted Doyle's refusal to accept responsibility and the impact on the victims' safety and trust.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the family of 78‑year‑old John O'Neill, who was killed by his nephew Thomas Lorigan (34), expressed profound grief and fear. The niece, Niamh Higgins, described the murder as a "heinous" act that left a "hollowness" in the family. She highlighted the brutality shown in CCTV footage and the impact on the community of Lisdoonvarna, where elderly residents now feel a shared trauma. The court heard three victim impact statements, all detailing the emotional devastation and the sense that the crime was "beyond torture" because it was committed by a relative. Judge Paul McDermott noted the mandatory life sentence imposed on Lorigan, back‑dated to his 2022 arrest, and emphasized the importance of the victim's voice in such proceedings. The sentencing reflected the severity of the violence and the lack of remorse from the offender. The family thanked responders and expressed that John's memory would remain with them forever.
Andrew 'Andy' Cash, aged 30, was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment with the final year suspended for the manslaughter of his brother‑in‑law John Cash, aged 40, who was stabbed to death on Hebron Road, Kilkenny City, on 3 May 2022. Cash was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter after a jury verdict of 10‑2. The judge noted that the attack occurred in broad daylight on a busy street, in front of John Cash's wife, and that Cash had continued to shout threats and abuse at the victim while he lay on the ground. Cash had been drinking and taking tablets at the time of the incident. He had previously been accused of assault causing harm to John Cash's wife and of producing a knife during a dispute, but was found not guilty of those charges.
Gerard O'Brien, a former Circuit Court judge aged 59, was convicted in December 2023 by a Central Criminal Court jury of one count of attempted anal rape and eight counts of sexual assault involving six young men. The offences, which took place between March 1991 and November 1997 in Dublin, were committed while O'Brien was a teacher in his 30s. The complainants, four of whom were his students, were aged 17 to 24 at the time. O'Brien denied all charges. He resigned from the judiciary in February 2024. Defence counsel requested a delay of the sentence hearing to allow completion of several reports, which are expected to be ready by mid‑April. The court agreed to adjourn the hearing to 29 April, and O'Brien remains on continuing bail.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 55‑year‑old man was found guilty of rape by a unanimous jury after a five‑day hearing. The accused had told Gardaí that he could have penetrated the complainant when he fell on her with his penis out, but later claimed the sex was consensual. He had also stated that the woman had performed oral sex on him while he said "no". The jury heard that the man had given multiple, conflicting accounts to Gardaí and that forensic DNA evidence linked him to the victim. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, rejected a bail‑continuation application, remanded the accused in custody and indicated that an immediate and substantial sentence would be imposed. The case was adjourned to March 1 for sentencing, with the court to consider mitigation factors such as the accused's lack of prior convictions. The victim's impact statement was also to be prepared.
Patrick McDonagh, aged 52, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 73‑year‑old neighbour Peter McDonald on 25 July 2020. McDonagh used a machete and a knife to stab, slash and chop McDonald inside his own home on Whitechapel Road, Blanchardstown. The Central Criminal Court judge, Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, described the killing as merciless, ferocious and sustained, noting the shock and trauma to neighbours, paramedics and gardai. McDonagh pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter, claiming diminished responsibility due to a mental disorder. The defence presented psychiatric evidence of schizophrenia, while the Director of Public Prosecutions argued the symptoms were likely due to cannabis use and malingering. A jury unanimously rejected the defence and found McDonagh guilty of murder. The judge imposed a mandatory life sentence, citing the brutality of the attack and the victim's quiet, kind nature.
Lisa Lee, 41, was given a four‑year sentence for discarding a knife used in the fatal stabbing of Isaac Horgan, with two years suspended on the condition of good behaviour for three years after release. She had 17 prior convictions, including an attack on a female Garda, and had been warned to "put her life and house in order." Lee, who has no fixed abode and was formerly at Depaul Homeless Hostel, failed to appear at a Central Criminal Court hearing this morning, breaching the conditions of her suspended sentence. Judge Tony Hunt issued a bench warrant for her arrest, noting that her failure to attend court and alleged breaches of the Criminal Justice Public Order Act and a mobile‑phone theft claim were serious. The judge expressed frustration at what he described as "misplaced sympathy" for Lee, stating he would seek to compel her attendance and that further tolerance would not be extended. Lisa Lee was found guilty.