In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 55‑year‑old man accused of raping his wife's friend pleaded not guilty to one count of rape. He testified that he and the complainant had consensual sex that night. Prosecuting barrister Sean Gillane SC argued the accused's defence was "obviously untrue", likening it to a horse's kick if whispered. Gillane highlighted the complainant's reluctance to be walked home, her post‑incident washing, and her friend's testimony of trauma as evidence of rape. Defence counsel Dominic McGinn SC urged jurors to view the case dispassionately, noting the accused's admission of lying to Gardaí and his continued contact with the complainant as inconsistent with a violent assault. The jury paused deliberations for the day, to resume the next morning. The case remains at the trial stage.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Ivan Kelly, aged 17 at the time of the offence, was sentenced to four years and nine months' imprisonment, with the final nine months suspended on strict conditions. The judge noted the rape involved force, the victim's distress from Kelly's extradition, and his 27 prior convictions. Mitigating factors included his youth, personal circumstances and fatherhood. The court imposed a prohibition on any contact with the victim. The victim, who was 23 when she was raped, described the offender's apology letter as "disingenuous" and said he showed no remorse during the trial. She detailed the assault, her subsequent physical injuries, emotional trauma, drug use and the lasting impact on her life. The sentencing hearing was conducted by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath. The sentence was back‑dated to Kelly's entry into custody on 29 June 2022. Ivan Kelly pleaded not guilty.
A 51‑year‑old Offaly man pleaded guilty in the Central Criminal Court to 27 offences, including oral and anal rape and sexual assault, committed against a boy aged 10 to 14 between 2015 and 2019 in 11 locations such as the victim's home, a boat and vehicles. The boy, now 18, gave a victim impact statement describing the abuse, his fear of the perpetrator's guns, and the emotional toll that has left him hyper‑vigilant and angry. The victim's mother also gave a statement, calling the man a monster and demanding justice for the trauma inflicted on her son. The court revoked the man's bail and remanded him in custody pending sentencing on 11 March. The case highlights the prolonged nature of the abuse and the ongoing impact on the victim and his family.
Sean Downes, 40, pleaded guilty to one count of defilement of a child under 17 at a Dublin address in April 2021. The victim, a 16‑year‑old non‑binary teenager under State care, was intoxicated and later reported the assault. Forensic DNA matched the teenager to a sample from Downes' boxer shorts. Downes had 23 prior convictions. Mr Justice David Keane set a headline sentence of five years, reduced to four years, and suspended the final two years. He imposed a two‑year post‑release supervision order, requiring engagement with the Probation Service and any suitable treatment programmes. The teenager read a victim impact statement, expressing ongoing distress and a desire for the pronoun "he." Downes was ordered to comply with the supervision order and treatment requirements. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
A 28-year-old man pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to two counts of rape and one count of attempted rape committed between January and August 2021. The court heard that the defendant, who had been remanded in custody since August 2021, attacked three women working as escorts at his residence. During the incidents, he allegedly used a rope, hammer, and screwdriver to threaten and assault the complainants. Although originally facing 15 counts, a proposal was made on the first day of the trial, which the Director of Public Prosecutions accepted on the basis that full facts would be outlined during sentencing. The defendant also pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply, for which he received a suspended sentence. Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned the case to April 8, when victim impact statements and a plea of mitigation will be heard. The matter was adjourned and is not yet concluded.
Joseph Hillen, 29, was taken back into custody following an appeal regarding the activation of his suspended sentence. Hillen was originally convicted by a ten-to-two majority jury of the manslaughter of Martin Mulligan in 2018. He was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment with the final year suspended. The State appealed this sentence as unduly lenient, and in November 2019, the Court of Appeal increased the term to nine years, with the final 12 months suspended. Hillen was released from Mountjoy prison on March 30, 2022, after serving five years and 11 months. Two weeks later, on April 14, 2023, he allegedly drove a car at his mother, assaulted her, and committed other offences. He pleaded guilty at Lisburn Magistrates Court to assaulting his mother, criminal damage, dangerous driving, assaulting a police officer, possession of cocaine, driving while unfit, aggravated theft, and driving without a licence or insurance. In July 2023, he received an eight-month fully suspended sentence. The State subsequently applied to activate the suspended portion of his manslaughter sentence under Section 99 of the Criminal Justice Act. On January 29, 2024, Ms Justice Creedon activated nine months of the 12-month suspended sentence, resulting in Hillen being taken back into custody.
Patrick McDonagh, aged 52, was found guilty of murder after a two‑week trial at the Central Criminal Court. He stabbed, slashed and chopped 73‑year‑old Peter McDonald with a machete and a knife, leaving the victim so badly injured that he was identified by dental records. A jury unanimously rejected McDonagh's defence that an acute episode of schizophrenia substantially diminished his responsibility. The prosecution argued that any mental abnormality would likely be due to cannabis use and that McDonagh's symptoms were malingering. McDonagh had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. He will be sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath on Wednesday. Witnesses described McDonald as a gentle man who kept to himself and lived with cats. The trial included testimony from two psychiatrists with differing views on McDonagh's mental state.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 9 February 2024, a 55‑year‑old Dublin man denied that he had a "sexual fixation" on the woman he is accused of raping. He told the jury that he and the complainant had consensual sex that night, describing a series of events that included kissing, flirting and oral sex. He said the woman had taken his penis in her mouth and that they had later had consensual intercourse. The accused admitted giving Gardaí multiple versions of the events, some of which were false, and that he had lied about not remembering the sex. He claimed he was panicked and embarrassed, and that he and the complainant had agreed to keep the incident private. The trial continues. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
Charles McClean, aged 35, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court to a global term of 20 years for his role in three gangland shootings. He already serves a 16.5‑year sentence for facilitating a criminal organisation and an eight‑year sentence for conspiracy to murder Wayne Whelan. The new sentence adds three and a half years for impeding the apprehension of the person who murdered Mark 'Guinea Pig' Desmond in December 2016. McClean pleaded guilty to the offence and showed no remorse. The judge noted that the three offences were separate, each with its own victim and family, and that McClean's involvement was "very unusual." The three‑and‑a‑half‑year term is to run consecutively to his existing sentences, bringing the total to 20 years in custody. The sentence reflects the seriousness of McClean's escalating criminal conduct.
During a Central Criminal Court trial, a 55‑year‑old man accused of raping a friend of his wife told Gardaí that he could have penetrated the woman when he fell on her with his penis out. He had earlier claimed that the woman had grabbed his trousers, taken his penis and performed oral sex on him, although he said "no". Gardaí questioned him about the plausibility of his account, to which he replied that the ground was wet and slippery and that he could have slipped in. He denied ever having consensual sexual intercourse with the woman and said he was not sure if he entered her. The trial heard four interviews with Gardaí, forensic DNA evidence, and a search of his house in October 2019. The case remains in progress. The unnamed 55-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a jury was instructed by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath that they could only return a verdict of guilty of murder or not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for Patrick McDonagh, 52, accused of killing his neighbour Peter McDonald, 73, on Whitechapel Road on 25 July 2020. The jury had spent about three hours deliberating and would reconvene on Monday, as one juror was unavailable on Friday. McDonagh had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the State had not accepted. The judge explained that if the prosecution proved all elements of murder, the jury must then consider the defence of diminished responsibility under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006, which requires the defence to prove that a mental disorder substantially reduced McDonagh's responsibility.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 8 February 2024, a 55‑year‑old woman accused a man of raping her in a park after a party at his house. She denied any prior romantic or friendly relationship with the accused. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, featured testimony from a friend who described the woman's distress and her refusal to discuss the alleged assault. The woman's own statements to the jury included that the accused entered a bathroom and said, "I could have you now," which she interpreted as a violent threat rather than a sexual one. She denied being coerced into sexual acts, rejecting defence claims that she had engaged in oral sex or other sexual activity with the accused. The case remains pending before the jury. The unnamed 55-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A 55‑year‑old man was brought before the Central Criminal Court on 7 February 2024, accused of raping a woman who was a friend of his wife in a Dublin park in September 2019. The accused, who cannot be named, pleaded not guilty to the rape charge. The complainant, now 51, testified that she had known the accused's wife for about 17 years and had helped her friend prepare for a party at the accused's house. She described spending the evening in the back garden, drinking champagne and wine, and later being in the bathroom where the accused allegedly entered, made a threatening statement, and raped her. The complainant said she struggled to move, felt cold and wet, and was unable to resist. She later reported the incident to Gardaí, attended a sexual assault treatment unit, and gave a statement. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury.
A jury in Dublin must decide whether Patrick McDonagh, 52, who killed 73‑year‑old Peter McDonald in a brutal machete attack, should be convicted of murder or manslaughter on the basis of a mental disorder. Mr Justice Michael MacGrath instructed the jury that if they find the prosecution has proved all elements of murder, they must then consider the defence of diminished responsibility under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006. The defence must prove it is probable that McDonagh had a mental disorder that substantially reduced his responsibility. Two psychiatrists gave conflicting diagnoses: Professor Patricia Casey, representing the defence, said McDonagh suffered acute schizophrenia; Dr Mary Davoren, for the prosecution, argued any abnormality was likely due to cannabis use. The judge emphasised the jury's role in determining responsibility, not the experts, and urged them to weigh all evidence, including witnesses describing McDonagh's behaviour before and after the killing. Patrick McDonagh pleaded not guilty. Peter McDonald pleaded not guilty.
A Central Criminal Court judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, expressed concern over a proposed legal challenge to the Department of Justice's fee caps on psychiatric reports for defendants. The judge noted that only a dwindling number of experts are available to prepare such reports for defence. He had been informed that the Department had offered a higher hourly rate for prosecution psychiatrists, up to 50% more than the Criminal Legal Aid Unit's rate. Senior counsel Brendan Grehan had previously complained that the Department's policy limited the hours approved for a defence psychiatrist, causing difficulties in securing assessments. The matter was resolved when the Department approved the full 25 hours originally requested. Mr Justice McDermott welcomed the resolution and warned against further delays, noting the broader concern about the availability of psychiatric experts for defence work.
In a sentence hearing at the Central Criminal Court, 35‑year‑old Charles McClean admitted that he had called his "associate" Mark 'Guinea Pig' Desmond to a drugs meeting in Griffeen Valley Park, Lucan, where Desmond was shot dead. McClean said he later removed Desmond's mobile phone at the request of gangster Wayne Whelan. He had previously pleaded guilty to impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Desmond on 2 December 2016, knowing or believing Desmond to be guilty of an arrestable offence. McClean is already serving a 16.5‑year sentence for facilitating a criminal organisation and for conspiring to murder Whelan. The hearing also noted that McClean had a motor business linked to Whelan and that he had travelled to Northern Ireland and Tenerife shortly after the shooting. The court remanded him in custody until his sentencing.
Patrick McDonagh, aged 52, is on trial for the murder of his neighbour Peter McDonald, aged 73, who died on 25 July 2020 after a brutal machete attack. The prosecution, represented by Philipp Rahn SC, argues that the multiple slash, chop and stab wounds inflicted with a machete and knife prove beyond reasonable doubt that McDonagh intended to kill or cause serious injury, and therefore the appropriate verdict is murder. McDonagh has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the State has rejected. The defence, led by John Fitzgerald SC, contends that McDonagh was suffering from schizophrenia at the time of the attack, and that his mental disorder substantially reduced his responsibility, arguing for a manslaughter verdict. The case is being heard at the Central Criminal Court, with the judge to charge the jury tomorrow.
Patrick McDonagh, aged 52, is on trial for the murder of neighbour Peter McDonald, 73, on 25 July 2020. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the State rejected. Consultant psychiatrist Dr Mary Davoren testified that McDonagh was not suffering a mental disorder at the time of the alleged offence; she attributed any abnormality to cannabis use. She described McDonagh as unreliable, noting inconsistencies in his accounts of drug use and memory. Davoren highlighted a history of substance misuse, including cannabis and benzodiazepines, and a refusal of a urinary drug screen four days after the incident. She also reported bizarre symptoms McDonagh claimed, such as seeing a bull and hearing voices, which she deemed atypical for schizophrenia. Professor Patricia Casey, called by the defence, argued that McDonagh's symptoms were reduced by acute schizophrenia. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and a jury.
During the Central Criminal Court trial, Dr Mary Davoren, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, testified that Patrick McDonagh's mental health difficulties are more consistent with long‑term substance misuse than schizophrenia. McDonagh, 52, is charged with murdering his neighbour Peter McDonald, 73, on Whitechapel Road on 25 July 2020, and has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the State has rejected. Dr Davoren reviewed McDonagh's psychiatric history, noting initial diagnoses of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder but later conclusions that substance misuse—particularly benzodiazepine dependence—was the primary issue. She recounted McDonagh's admissions of cocaine use beginning at 24 or 25 in London, heroin use from 19, and extensive cannabis consumption prior to the death, while denying other drug use in that period. Her evidence will continue before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and a jury tomorrow.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a jury unanimously found 34‑year‑old Thomas Lorigan guilty of murdering his 78‑year‑old uncle, John O'Neill, in Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare. Lorigan, who had no fixed abode, was alleged to have stamped O'Neill to death while wearing steel‑capped boots. CCTV footage showed Lorigan delivering calculated kicks and stamping the widower, who had previously run a bed and breakfast with his wife, who died in 2021. A Garda witness testified that O'Neill was severely beaten and left unrecognisable. Blood‑stained boots recovered from a house Lorigan stayed at the night before the body was found contained a mixed DNA profile, including Lorigan's. The prosecution argued the attack was "something personal" with no robbery motive. The jury, after three days of deliberation, returned a unanimous guilty verdict for murder. Mr Justice Paul McDermott will hand down a mandatory life sentence on 19 February and remand Lorigan in custody until then. Thomas Lorigan pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Thomas Lorigan, aged 34 and a nephew of the deceased, continues with a jury of five men and seven women deliberating for a third day. Lorigan, who has no fixed abode, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his 78‑year‑old uncle, John O'Neill, who lived alone on St Brendan's Road, Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare. The prosecution presented evidence that Lorigan was seen on CCTV delivering kicks and stamping on O'Neill's head with steel‑capped boots, and that a pair of blood‑stained boots recovered from a house where Lorigan stayed the night before the body was found contained a mixed DNA profile including Lorigan's. Witness Walter Burke testified that Lorigan left the house on the night of 6 January, returned before midnight, and had a serious argument with his uncle.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the jury's deliberations were halted for the day after one juror fell ill. The 12 jurors had begun deliberating at midday, spending an hour and five minutes before being sent home. The foreman notified Judge Paul McDermott that a juror was unwell and requested the rest of the day be excused. The jury confirmed they would return tomorrow at 11 am. The case concerns Thomas Lorigan, 34, who is accused of murdering his 78‑year‑old uncle, John O'Neill, at St Brendan's Road, Lisdoonvarna, between 6 and 7 January 2022. Lorigan, known locally as 'Mossy', is the nephew of the deceased. Evidence presented includes blood‑stained boots recovered from a house in Gleann Bhreandain, a mixed DNA profile containing Lorigan's DNA, and CCTV footage allegedly showing Lorigan delivering kicks and stamping on O'Neill's head with steel‑capped boots. Thomas Lorigan pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, Patrick McDonagh (52) is on trial for the murder of his neighbour Peter McDonald (73) on 25 July 2020. McDonagh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the State has not accepted. He is charged with killing McDonald with a machete, resulting in head and neck wounds. The court heard that McDonagh, who has bipolar disorder, had not taken his medication for months before the attack, claiming it left him "defenceless against satan" and caused heart palpitations. Care worker Aaron Murtagh Casey testified that McDonagh was disorientated during a call with Gardaí, who later used a Taser to subdue him after a stand‑off. The jury is to decide whether McDonagh's mental state constitutes a diminished‑responsibility defence. The trial is before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath with a jury of nine men and three women.
Charles McClean, aged 35, already serving 16.5 years for facilitating a criminal organisation and conspiracy to murder Wayne Whelan, pleaded guilty to impeding the apprehension of the person who murdered gangland figure Mark 'Guinea Pig' Desmond in Lucan on 2 December 2016. McClean admitted he knew or believed the murderer was guilty of an arrestable offence, namely Desmond's murder, and that he had impeded the investigation. He was originally charged with Desmond's murder on the same day. The case was heard before the Central Criminal Court, where Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded McClean in custody until 6 February for a sentence hearing and directed the preparation of a victim impact report. The hearing was scheduled to last 40 minutes. McClean's earlier convictions include an eight‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for facilitating the fatal shooting of Thomas McCarthy in 2020 and an eight‑year sentence for conspiracy to murder Whelan in 2021.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 29 January 2024, the sentencing of a 46‑year‑old man for raping a teenage girl and sexually abusing another was interrupted when two men attacked him in the dock. The assault occurred while the prosecuting garda was giving evidence of the abuse. The men were restrained and removed by prison staff and gardai, and the defendant, bleeding, received medical attention. Judge Paul Burns described the incident as a serious breach of security and said it would be investigated by the Courts Service, with possible further steps to protect court safety. The defendant had been convicted in December of 11 counts of sexual abuse, including rape and exploitation, against a 15‑ to 16‑year‑old girl, and one count of causing a 14‑ to 15‑year‑old girl to watch pornography. The judge remanded him in custody and adjourned the sentencing to 26 February 2024.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 49‑year‑old man was convicted of raping and sexually assaulting his partner's seven‑year‑old son between 1 May and 30 September 2016. The boy was in the shower when the man entered, claiming his mother had asked him to shower with him, and the man then sexually assaulted and raped the child. The conviction was upheld in a Court of Appeal hearing where the appellant argued that the trial was unfair because the boy had been given erroneous information that the accused had previously been in custody for raping a girl. The appellant's counsel claimed this information, presented on a DVD, could have influenced the boy's initial complaint and interview. The court reserved judgment on the appeal. The original sentencing, imposed by Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, was eight years' imprisonment for rape and three years and six months for sexual assault, to run concurrently.
A 30‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment, with the last two years suspended, for a single count of rape committed on 9 February 2018. He claimed the act was involuntary, citing a sleep disorder called sexsomnia and describing himself as an "automaton." The victim, who had previously worked with him, was persuaded to lie in bed, fell asleep, and was then raped. She reported the assault to the Gardaí on 15 February, and DNA evidence linked the man to her clothing. The judge noted the seriousness of the offence and the victim's impact, but also considered the defendant's lack of prior convictions and supportive testimonials from family and employers. The sentence included strict conditions, such as supervision by the Probation Service, and the court acknowledged the defendant's remorse while noting he did not accept wrongdoing. The unnamed 30-year-old was found guilty.
A trial date has been set for the wife and brothers of Jozef Puska, who is currently serving a mandatory life sentence for the murder of Ashling Murphy in Tullamore, Co Offaly, on January 12, 2022. The wife of Jozef Puska, Lucia Istokova, and his brothers Marek Puska and Lubomir Puska are accused of failing to disclose information to gardaí between January 12, 2022, and January 27, 2022, at Tullamore Garda Station. Jozefina Grundzova and Viera Gaziova are accused of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of a person. The trial, which is expected to last up to four weeks, is scheduled for April 28, 2025, and will be heard together. Free legal aid for senior and junior counsel was granted to all five defendants, who were not required to attend the court. The matter was adjourned by Ms Justice Karen O'Connor to a case management list in June. Jozef Puska had pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Murphy, but an unanimous jury found him guilty after just two hours of deliberation.
A Central Criminal Court jury will hear evidence that 52‑year‑old Patrick McDonagh of Whitechapel Road, Clonsilla, Dublin 15, is charged with murdering his 73‑year‑old neighbour Peter McDonald on 25 July 2020. McDonagh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea rejected by the DPP, so the trial proceeds. The State's counsel, Philipp Rahn SC, described the victim as a quiet pensioner who lived alone with cats, and said the killing involved a machete and knife, with multiple chopping and stabbing wounds to the head and neck. Witnesses reported McDonagh shouting threats, appearing drunk and mentally unstable, and that he was seen with a machete in his hand. Gardaí arrived at the scene early, found McDonald in a pool of blood, and seized the weapons. The case is being treated as murder, with the jury asked to consider whether McDonagh's mental state could give rise to a defence of diminished responsibility.
A forensic scientist presented a mixed DNA profile taken from inside a pair of boots heavily stained with the blood of widower John O'Neill, who was beaten to death in his own home. The DNA matched both O'Neill and the accused, Thomas Lorigan, a 34‑year‑old man known locally as 'Mossy' and the victim's nephew. The boots, recovered from a house where Lorigan stayed the night before the body was found, were described as steel‑capped Portwest boots in size 46 with a thick chevron‑shaped sole pattern. The scientist also matched footwear impressions on the victim's kitchen floor and on carpet, as well as partial impressions on a Dell laptop, to the boots. Blood found on the boots matched O'Neill's profile, and a mixed DNA profile from inside the boots contained both O'Neill's and Lorigan's DNA. Thomas Lorigan pleaded not guilty.
Garret Smith, 35, was sentenced to 13½ years in prison after a jury found him guilty of manslaughter for stamping Edward 'Liam' O'Sullivan to death in Kilkenny in 2020. The jury had deemed Smith too intoxicated to intend murder, leading to a manslaughter verdict. Smith denied the murder charge and accepted the verdict, though he argued the sentence was too severe. He was also convicted of violent disorder at the same location. In the Court of Appeal, his counsel contended that the trial judge had misclassified the offence as the worst category and had not adequately considered mitigating factors such as lack of premeditation and Smith's personal circumstances. The State maintained that the sentence was fair, citing the brutality of the assault and the victim's severe injuries. The appeal was still pending at the time of the report.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 22 January 2024, Nepalese native Kamal Kumar Nepali, aged 24, was found guilty by a jury of rape, burglary, assault causing harm, sexual assault and four counts of trespass in Cork. The offences occurred on 1 March 2022 during student Rag Week celebrations. Nepali had burglarised four houses in an attempt to find an intoxicated woman to rape; all four houses had male occupants. He then broke into a house at 5:30 am on 28 February 2022, where he raped a woman who had returned from a pub, slept, and was later found with bruises and injuries. The victim, who had been drinking, described the assault and the subsequent panic. Nepali denied the charges, but his statements changed during detention. He has no prior convictions. The case was adjourned for finalisation on 11 March 2024.
James Anthony Kelly, 57, of Ballycashin, Waterford, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for raping and sexually abusing a boy he had befriended. He pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault, two counts of oral rape and two counts of gross indecency involving a child under 17, committed between March 2000 and March 2003. The victim, aged 14 to 17 at the time, was a friend of Kelly's who had been involved in local youth clubs. The abuse took place while the boy was camping or in isolated spots during car drives, involving mutual masturbation and oral sex. Kelly denied grooming and claimed the boy had initiated some encounters. He was a former Garda Reserve member. The judge imposed an eight‑year sentence, suspended 18 months, with strict conditions for probation and therapeutic intervention.
A 52‑year‑old man, Patrick McDonagh, who admits killing a 77‑year‑old pensioner in west Dublin on 25 July 2020, will go on trial for murder. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The plea was rejected by the Director of Public Prosecutions, and Mr Justice Paul Burns assigned a jury of nine men and three women. The case may run until 7 February, with the trial set to begin Wednesday at 11 a.m. before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath. Witnesses include civilian observers and forensic psychiatrists Dr Mary Davoren and Professor Patricia Casey.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 64‑year‑old man was found guilty of rape and indecent assault by a jury in December. The victim, a deaf woman with a mild intellectual disability who was 24 at the time of the offence, gave a victim impact statement that described feeling "dirty, sad, scared, sick, confused, embarrassed" after the assault, which occurred in a rural area of the west of Ireland between September and November 1985. She was taken in a white vehicle, forced into a mobile home, and had her clothing removed before the perpetrator forced sexual contact. The court heard the victim's sister also read a statement, noting the severe impact on the woman's independence and personal space. The defendant, who had worked as an emergency first responder, had no prior sexual convictions and was arrested in 2017. The case was adjourned to April 8 for sentencing.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Thomas Lorigan, 34, pleaded not guilty to the killing of his 79‑year‑old uncle, John O'Neill, who was found dead on the kitchen floor of his home on St Brendan's Road, Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare. The prosecution alleged that Lorigan repeatedly kicked O'Neill to the head while wearing steel‑capped boots, causing severe injuries that left the body unrecognisable. Garda John Costello testified that he discovered a pair of blood‑stained boots and blue jeans behind an armchair in the victim's house on 7 January 2022. Sergeant Joe Fallon later seized the boots, noting a small splatter of blood under them, and collected a swab. Witnesses, including Walter Burke and several pub staff, described Lorigan's visits to the house and his alleged quarrels with O'Neill. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, continues with a jury of five men and seven women.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, a 49‑year‑old woman pleaded guilty to sexual assault and robbery at a Luas stop on 26 January 2023. The court described the assault as "vicious, humiliating and degrading," noting that the victim was forced to strip naked, had her legs held open, and was searched for items. The attacker threatened to kill her and throw her into the canal. The victim was found in a state of undress, upset, and later examined at a Sexual Assault Treatment Unit, where she had bruises and cuts but no vaginal injuries. Witnesses, including a man with a golf club, intervened and recovered a stolen mobile phone. The defendant had 49 prior convictions, many for drug offences, and was under the influence at the time. Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced her to four years' imprisonment, suspending the final 12 months on strict conditions, citing her early guilty plea and remorse as mitigating factors.
A Garda witness described to the Central Criminal Court jury the moment she discovered the body of a 79‑year‑old widower, John O'Neill, who had been severely beaten to the point of being unrecognisable. The body was found on the morning of 7 January 2024 at O'Neill's bed and breakfast on St Brendan's Road, Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare. Garda Louise Keogh, on duty at 8.06 am, received a call about an altercation the previous night and, after failing to open the front door, entered the house through a broken window. She saw the victim lying on the ground with blood around his head, a broken vase beside him, and scattered cards including a PPS card. Paramedic Melissa Power confirmed the death at 9.15 am. The accused, Thomas Lorigan, 34, of no fixed abode, pleaded not guilty to the murder.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Ivan Kelly, 23, was found guilty of raping a woman in a secluded lane after a drug transaction. The victim, who had initially approached Kelly to buy drugs, was led to a consensual encounter that turned violent when Kelly removed her iPod and became forceful. He pushed her, causing a head injury, then raped her from behind. Medical evidence confirmed bruises and scratches consistent with assault. Kelly, who had previously denied the rape, now accepts the verdict and expressed remorse, stating he is prepared to accept any punishment. He has 27 prior convictions and has been in custody since June 2022. The case was adjourned to February 13 for sentencing. The victim's impact statement described profound emotional trauma and the lasting effect on her life. Ivan Kelly pleaded not guilty.
Peter Guerin, 65, was sentenced to two‑and‑a‑half years in prison, with six months suspended, for engaging in a sexual act with a highly vulnerable learning‑disabled woman. The woman, travelling from sheltered accommodation to Limerick, was taken by Guerin from a bus station to his home, where he offered her money and attempted sexual contact. She later reported the assault and was examined at a sexual assault treatment unit. Guerin pleaded guilty to the offence of engaging in a sexual act with a protected person on 30 April 2018. The judge accepted the plea on the basis of recklessness, noting the woman's low cognitive function and vulnerability. Conditions of the suspended portion include staying away from the complainant, maintaining peace and good behaviour for three years, and engaging with the Probation Service for twelve months after release.
Thomas Lorigan, 34, of no fixed abode, is set to stand trial for the murder of 79‑year‑old John O'Neill in Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare, between 6 and 7 January 2022. He pleaded not guilty. The prosecution is led by senior counsel Eilis Brennan; the defence is headed by Michael Bowman SC. Judge Paul McDermott noted Lorigan's former residence in Lucan, Dublin, and that O'Neill ran a bed and breakfast on St Brendan's Road until 2021. The jury, five men and seven women, will hear the case, which is expected to last up to four weeks.
Bill Irish, aged 30, was jailed for five and a half years at the Central Criminal Court after a jury convicted him of sexual assault and oral rape of his young cousin Hannah Irish, aged 25, between 2004 and 2010. The offences occurred when Bill was a minor, aged 12 to 17, and Hannah was between seven and 12. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo commended Hannah for coming forward and for waiving her anonymity so her abuser could be named. He noted the importance of victims speaking up for themselves and others. The judge acknowledged the profound impact of the abuse on Hannah's life, her struggle to move forward, and her desire to help other abuse survivors. The sentence reflected the seriousness of the crime, Bill's youth, and mitigating circumstances, with an 18‑month suspended portion. The court did not alter the final imposed term or effective custody beyond the stated suspension.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 30‑year‑old Dublin man was convicted of one count of rape on 9 February 2018. The victim, who remains unnamed, described how the defendant, who claimed to suffer from a sleep disorder called sexsomnia, had carried out the assault while supposedly asleep. The incident occurred after a night out on 8 February, when the couple had been socialising in a group. The man invited the group back to his apartment, where the victim was invited into his bedroom to sleep. She woke to find him having sex with her. DNA evidence linked his semen to her clothing. The victim's impact statement expressed feelings of weakness and humiliation, questioning the belittling nature of the defendant's claim. The court heard that the defendant had made sexual comments to the victim before the assault. The case was adjourned for finalisation on 25 January.
A 65‑year‑old man from Co Cork was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment for 71 counts of rape, oral rape, indecent assault and sexual assault of his daughter between 1988 and 1997. The Central Criminal Court found he abused her while she was aged seven to 17, manipulating her and favouring her over his other children, which caused a rift with her siblings. The abuse progressed from touching to rape and oral rape over a two‑to‑three‑year period in her teens, continuing until she turned 18 and left the family home. The judge described the abuse as an egregious breach of trust in a place that should have been safe. The victim, who did not realise the abuse was wrong until later, said her life was significantly affected and that her father had ruined her childhood. The defendant, who has serious health issues, will require medical support while in custody. The unnamed man was found guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Mr Justice Paul Burns sentenced a 25‑year‑old Cork man to five‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, suspending the final year on conditions including a sexual‑consent course. The man, who had no prior convictions, was found guilty of anally raping an 18‑year‑old college student in her apartment on 11 February 2019. The victim, a virgin at the time, had initially consented to sex after a brief encounter in a nightclub, but the man forced anal intercourse against her repeated refusals, causing severe pain. He also filmed her and demanded oral sex afterward. The judge expressed concern over the rise of young men of good character committing sexual offences and questioned whether school programmes on consent and pornography are sufficient. The sentencing followed the jury's guilty verdict, and the defendant has since written an apology letter to the victim.
A 27-year-old man has been jailed at the Central Criminal Court for sexually assaulting a woman while she slept at his apartment in County Donegal on 30 June 2019. He pleaded guilty to the offence. The victim, then 18 years old, was known to the accused and they had socialised together that evening before returning to his home. She fell asleep but woke to find him on top of her with his clothing removed. She asked him to stop and he did so. The woman reported the matter to gardaí the following day. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a sentence of three years, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions. The judge noted the accused was aware the victim was asleep and had denied her the fundamental right to refuse intimacy. He took into account the man's expressions of remorse, his difficult personal history, and lack of previous convictions. A no-contact order was directed. The victim's statement was read to the court, in which she expressed hope that her reporting would help others.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 38‑year‑old man was jailed for six years after pleading guilty to four counts of rape against his 8‑year‑old cousin between 2002 and 2003. The victim, now 29, described the abuse as repeated anal, oral and vaginal rape while he was babysitting in her Dublin home. The judge noted the defendant's teenage status and the grooming element, reducing a potential headline sentence of 13 years to nine, then to seven years and six months with 18 months suspended. Conditions include probation supervision and no unsupervised contact with children. The victim's impact statement detailed the lasting trauma, loss of innocence and subsequent substance abuse, concluding that the abuse was no longer a secret. The defendant's prior drug conviction was mentioned, and the sentence was back‑dated to his custody entry.
A barrister, Brendan Grehan SC, told Mr Justice Paul McDermott that the Legal Aid Board's fixed fee of €1,800 for psychiatric expert reports is too low, making it hard to secure psychiatrists for murder trials where up to 20 per cent involve psychiatric issues. Grehan explained that a psychiatrist charged €120 per hour, so the cap would cover only about 15 hours, insufficient for the extensive assessments, evidence review, and interviews required. He said the board had not agreed to raise the fee and that the situation could delay many trials. Justice McDermott adjourned the matter to the end of the month, insisting that an expert must be obtained before the case can proceed and that the board must explain the difficulty. This follows a similar issue raised in October last year, which was resolved without board intervention.
In a Circuit Court trial, Gerard O'Brien, a former secondary school teacher and then Circuit Court judge, was found guilty of one count of attempted rape and eight counts of sexual assault against six male complainants, some of whom were his students. The alleged offences took place between March 1991 and November 1997 in Leinster, when O'Brien was in his 30s and the complainants were aged 17 to 24. Evidence included accounts of O'Brien skipping classes to drink with students, inviting them to his home, and engaging in non‑consensual sexual acts while they were asleep or under the influence of alcohol. The jury deliberated for seven hours and thirty‑four minutes before delivering the verdicts. O'Brien, who has a rare birth defect, was remanded on continuing bail until sentencing on 4 March 2023. The judge thanked the jurors and noted O'Brien would be automatically added to the sex offenders register. Gerard O'Brien pleaded not guilty.
The jury in the trial of a 59‑year‑old teacher accused of sexually assaulting six young men, including students, has retired for the evening after a day of deliberation. The teacher, who was in his 30s at the time of the alleged offences, pleaded not guilty to one count of attempted anal rape and eight counts of sexual assault. The State alleges that five complainants were assaulted in shared beds and one in a pub toilet, while the accused denies wrongdoing. The jury will resume tomorrow.