Tony Hudson, 61, of Ballymurray, Enniscorthy, was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury of 70 charges of sexual offences against four children aged 12 to 17 between 2000 and 2009. The offences included oral rape, sexual assault, buggery, gross indecency and defilement. Hudson had befriended the children, invited them to his house for chores, paid them modest sums and gave them cigarettes and alcohol. He began touching them sexually, forced them to masturbate, and in some cases forced them to have sex with each other. One victim was recorded having anal sex with Hudson and the video was shown to another victim. Hudson denied the allegations. Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford sentenced him to 13 years in prison, with the final two years suspended, back‑dated to his custody entry on 27 October. The sentence was imposed on 21 December 2023.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 59‑year‑old teacher faces one count of attempted anal rape and eight counts of sexual assault involving six complainants aged 17 to 24 between March 1991 and November 1997 in County Dublin. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC urged the jury to consider the historical context of gay discrimination in 1990s Ireland, arguing that the accused's alleged self‑preservation and fear of repercussions may explain his alleged false statements. He highlighted inconsistencies in the complainants' accounts and suggested the accused's emotional immaturity and the age disparity between him and the victims. Prosecutor Anne‑Marie Lawlor SC countered, stressing the need to disregard sympathy, noting the implausibility of multiple similar allegations, and emphasising the lack of consent in five incidents where victims were asleep. The judge, Mr Justice Alexander Owens, began his charge, with the trial expected to continue tomorrow. The unnamed 59-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A 40‑year‑old Galway man was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury in Mullingar of sexual assault, attempted vaginal rape, anal and oral rape of his niece between 2007 and 2017. The victim, aged eight to ten and later fifteen to eighteen, described the abuse as relentless and degrading, noting the uncle's threats and grooming. The court imposed a headline sentence of 17½ years for the rape offences and seven years for the assault charges, but the judge set a global sentence of 15 years with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions. The defendant, who has a prior assault conviction and struggles with mental health and addiction, maintains his innocence. The judge cited the prolonged period of offending, the victim's profound harm, and mitigating factors such as the defendant's cooperation and family support. The sentence was confirmed after a three‑week trial.
A teenager from Sligo pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to sexually assaulting his eight-year-old cousin and recording the incident on St Stephen's Day 2021. The boy, who was 14 at the time and cannot be named due to his age, attempted to upload the video to YouTube, which intervention by the platform prevented. The attempt to upload led authorities to identify him. He has been sentenced to 16 months in detention followed by 16 months of probation supervision. Ms Justice Melanie Greally noted aggravating factors including the victim's age, breach of trust, premeditation, and efforts to upload the recording to social media. She accepted mitigating circumstances including the guilty plea and expressions of remorse. The judge set a headline sentence of 12 years had the defendant been an adult, reducing it to four years due to his age, then imposing the 16-month custodial term. The case has been referred to Tusla. The victim and her family provided impact statements describing ongoing distress.
The 59‑year‑old teacher, accused of attempted rape and eight counts of sexual assault against six students aged 17‑24 between 1991 and 1997, pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. He testified that he initially lied to Gardaí during voluntary interviews, denying any sexual contact with the complainants out of panic and shame. He later provided statements clarifying his position, admitting he had lied. During cross‑examination he denied grooming or pressuring the students, claimed some were mistaken or lying, and described his actions as "mutual" or "happened" without intent to assault. He denied attempting anal sex and said he stopped when a student did not want it. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Alexander Owens, continues with the jury hearing his direct evidence and the prosecution's case.
In December 2021 a 56‑year‑old woman, Helen Jones, was convicted of murdering her 52‑year‑old brother Paul Jones in Cork. The jury found that on 4 September 2019 Jones and her partner Keith O'Hara had taken a taxi to Paul's house on Bandon Road, where an altercation at the front door led to Paul being found inside the house wearing only underwear and covered in blood. A post‑mortem revealed 25 stab wounds and a chop wound to the head. Jones was sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath. In December 2023 Jones appealed, arguing that the search warrant issued on 10 September 2019 by a district court judge was not valid because the detective's oath was not properly recorded. The Court of Appeal heard arguments from both sides, with the DPP maintaining the warrant was lawful and the appeal pending.
A 26‑year‑old man was jailed for six and a half years after a Central Criminal Court jury convicted him in October of 31 counts of sexual assault, oral rape and attempted anal rape of a boy who lived next door. The offences took place between January 2012 and August 2017, when the accused was aged 14 to 19 and the victim 7 to 10. The court heard that the man touched the boy's penis, forced the boy to touch his, and escalated to oral rape and attempted anal rape. The victim said the assaults were repeated many times and described them as a "complete nightmare." The accused denied the charges and did not accept the verdict. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo set a headline sentence of 14 years, reduced to eight years, and suspended 18 months on strict conditions. The case was heard in the Central Criminal Court.
In a case described as "difficult", a 17‑year‑old Galway teenager pleaded guilty to one count of anal rape and two counts of sexual assault against his nine‑year‑old sister. The court, noting that both the victim and defendant still live in the family home, imposed a fully suspended detention of three years for the rape and one year for each assault. All periods were suspended for two years on strict conditions, including the teenager's continued education and completion of his Leaving Certificate or an equivalent programme. He was placed under Probation Service supervision for 12 months. The judge cited a "positive" report and urged the boy to remain grateful to his sister and family, while acknowledging the family's ongoing trauma and the need to keep the matter behind them. The teenager's mother attended the hearing. The case was handled with sensitivity by the court and involved reports from Tusla, Probation and psychological services.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a woman whose husband of 20 years repeatedly raped her with household objects while she was unconscious revealed her shock upon discovering "perverse, indecent, hideous images" of the assaults on his home computer. She described the moment as "like a bomb went off in my head" and said the abuse had altered her past, present and future. The 49‑year‑old man was found guilty of 11 counts of sexual assault, including penetration with a knife, cheese grater, bottle, carrot, banana, cucumber, tulip, wooden spatula, decanter stopper, part of a shoe and bicycle pump, between January 2005 and September 2014. The verdict followed a retrial after the first jury returned not‑guilty on four counts and could not agree on the rest. The woman, now 50, was unconscious and unable to consent during the assaults. She had a drinking problem and was on medication for depression.
The 59‑year‑old teacher, accused of sexual assault, pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to one count of attempted anal rape and eight counts of sexual assault involving six complainants aged 17‑24 between 1991 and 1997. In his testimony, he described a 1997 incident where an 18‑year‑old student stayed at his house and slept in his bed. He claimed the student entered the bed because the house was cold, that he left after the student was dressed, and that he later returned to sleep. He called the student's presence a "major mistake" and denied any sexual contact. He also addressed allegations from other complainants, stating he had no recollection of the incidents and denied sexual interaction, though he later admitted performing oral sex in some cases. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury.
A woman accused of murdering her former housemate became visibly distressed when a jury at the Central Criminal Court failed to reach a verdict following a month-long trial. The jury of twelve spent seven hours and 33 minutes deliberating before informing Mr Justice Paul McDermott that unanimity was impossible. The judge had indicated he would accept a majority verdict of at least ten jurors before they returned unable to agree. Nicola Brennan, 33, of no fixed abode, had denied murdering Juris Viktorovs at Shillelagh, Ballyconnell, County Cavan, on 10 February 2022. The prosecution case centred on eye-witness testimony and forensic evidence. The defence challenged the consistency and reliability of the key witness account and questioned whether guilt had been established beyond reasonable doubt. Mr Justice McDermott adjourned the matter until 24 January 2024, when a date for retrial will be set. The jurors were discharged and exempted from further service for ten years. Nicola Brennan pleaded not guilty.
Derek Byrne, 40, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court to eight years and six months in prison for facilitating the attempted murder of Noel Boylan. The court found Byrne guilty of participating in the activities of a criminal organisation with the intention of facilitating the offence, which occurred between May 27 and June 1, 2019. He was identified on CCTV footage purchasing the Toyota Avensis used to transport the gunman. The judge noted that the shooting only became an attempted murder because the weapon jammed. Byrne, who has a history of drug abuse and 78 previous convictions, was already serving a seven-and-a-half-year sentence for unlawful possession of a firearm, having been in custody since December 3, 2019. The new sentence includes a suspended portion of 12 months for three years, conditional on engaging with probation services. The court determined the new sentence should run concurrently with the existing one. Separately, Alan Graham, 51, was previously jailed for 10 years after pleading guilty to facilitating the attempted murder of Lee Boylan, Noel Boylan's son, in a related incident on March 6, 2019.
The jury at the Central Criminal Court continues deliberating in the trial of a woman charged with murdering her former lover. Nicola Brennan, aged 33, denies the murder of Juris Viktorovs, a 36-year-old Latvian national, at Ballyconnell, County Cavan, on 10 February 2022. The jury of eight men and four women has spent five hours and ten minutes in deliberation across two days, beginning Thursday afternoon. They are scheduled to resume Monday morning at 10am. The prosecution's case rests primarily on eyewitness testimony and forensic evidence, while the defence has challenged the reliability of the witness account and urged the jury to consider inconsistencies in the evidence presented. Mr Justice Paul McDermott has directed the jury that the prosecution must prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, and that murder requires proof of both the infliction of the fatal wound and intent to kill or cause serious harm. Nicola Brennan pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 59‑year‑old man pleaded not guilty to one count of attempted anal rape and eight counts of sexual assault involving six complainants aged 17 to 24 between March 1991 and November 1997 in County Dublin. A former girlfriend of the fourth complainant testified that the accused, a former teacher, had told her in 1998 that he had been abused by the accused, describing the alleged incident as "touching and oral sex." A 45‑year‑old complainant recounted that he and the accused had gone to a pub, drank heavily, and that the accused performed oral sex on him after the accused had pulled down his boxer shorts. A second witness described a similar incident in late 1995, where the accused performed oral sex on him while he slept on the floor. A third witness denied any sexual intimacy with the accused.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has begun deliberating in the trial of a woman charged with murdering her former lover in Ballyconnell, County Cavan. Nicola Brennan, aged 33, denies the charge of murdering Juris Viktorovs, a 36-year-old Latvian national, by stabbing him on 10 February 2022. The prosecution case relies on eyewitness testimony and forensic evidence, including blood found on the accused's clothing. The defence has challenged the reliability of the primary witness and questioned whether the evidence proves guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The jury of eight men and four women spent nearly two hours considering their verdict before adjourning. They are scheduled to return to court tomorrow. Justice Paul McDermott instructed the jury that the prosecution must prove its case to the standard of beyond reasonable doubt, and that murder requires proof of intent to kill or cause serious harm.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 59‑year‑old former teacher pleaded not guilty to one count of attempted anal rape and eight counts of sexual assault involving six complainants aged 17 to 24 between March 1991 and November 1997. A former colleague testified that he was shocked when a student arrived at the accused's home after a staff night out and that he later walked in on the accused, a woman, and the student in bed together. The colleague described how he avoided speaking to the student and later found the three of them in bed, with the accused in the middle. A former principal recounted receiving a call about a "sexual contact" incident involving a teacher and a student, and that the accused had been called to the student's home after an allegation of sexual assault. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury.
At the Central Criminal Court, defence counsel has urged a jury to acquit Nicola Brennan of murdering Juris Viktorovs in Ballyconnell, County Wicklow, on 10 February 2022. Colman Cody SC submitted that the evidence against his client does not establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt and that she had no motive to kill the deceased. He highlighted inconsistencies in the prosecution's main witness, noting that Brenda Kane made no mention of seeing Ms Brennan stab Mr Viktorovs during three initial interviews, only describing this during a later cognitive interview. Mr Cody also contended that forensic evidence, including blood on Ms Brennan's clothing, could be explained by her assisting in moving the body. He submitted that the level of intoxication present, together with the chaos of the circumstances, meant the jury could not be satisfied that Ms Brennan possessed the necessary intent for murder. Mr Justice Paul McDermott will continue his charge to the jury. Ms Brennan, aged 33, has pleaded not guilty to murder.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 59‑year‑old former teacher faces one count of attempted anal rape and eight counts of sexual assault involving six complainants aged 17 to 24 between March 1991 and November 1997. A friend of the accused, who worked on school musical productions in the 1990s, testified that she was present at a dinner in 1997 with the accused and a student, after which the three returned to the accused's apartment. She claimed the accused told her he had "made a pass" at the student, who had left the house. The witness also disclosed a brief sexual relationship with a 17‑year‑old student in 1995, which the accused reportedly found displeasing. The accused's employment as a teacher at the school from 1987 to 1997 and his role as musical director were confirmed by the school principal. The case is proceeding before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury. The unnamed 17-year-old pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court heard closing arguments on Tuesday in the trial of a woman accused of fatally stabbing her housemate in Ballyconnell, County Cavan, in February 2022. Nicola Brennan, aged 33, denies murdering Juris Viktorovs during an incident at a shared residence. The defence argued that the sole eyewitness to the alleged stabbing gave inconsistent accounts across multiple garda interviews and court testimony, and therefore cannot be relied upon to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Prosecution counsel countered that independent evidence supports the eyewitness version and highlighted contradictory statements made by the accused in emergency calls and police interviews as indicative of culpability. The jury of twelve was instructed to consider the effect of alcohol intoxication on the accused's state of mind. Closing arguments continue. Nicola Brennan pleaded not guilty.
A 54-year-old man has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the rape and sexual abuse of four siblings over a twelve-year period. The offender, who cannot be named, pleaded guilty to eight sample charges relating to one brother, including oral rape, anal rape, and sexual assault committed between 1999 and 2005 when the victim was aged six. He further pleaded guilty to six counts of sexual assault against the brother's older sibling, and to offences against both sisters occurring in 1993 and 1997. The abuse came to light following a complaint to gardaí by one of the victims, whereupon the other siblings disclosed their experiences. The judge imposed a headline sentence of thirteen years, reduced to eleven years in light of the guilty pleas and cooperation with gardaí. The final two years were suspended on strict conditions, with a two-year post-release supervision order imposed. The sentencing heard victim impact statements describing the lasting trauma inflicted on all four siblings.
Derek Byrne, 40, of Swords, appeared before the Central Criminal Court at the sentence stage for his role in the attempted murder of Noel Boylan. Byrne pleaded guilty to intentionally facilitating a serious offence by a criminal organisation, specifically the attempted murder of Boylan between May 27 and June 1, 2019, with knowledge of the organisation's existence. He also admitted to participating in the activities of a criminal organisation during a pre-trial hearing. Prosecution counsel Sean Gillane SC noted that Byrne's guilty plea acknowledged his previous false statements to gardai regarding the purchase of a Toyota Avensis used by the gunman. The court heard that the shooter's weapon jammed while pursuing Boylan into a Lidl supermarket, where CCTV captured frightened shoppers, including children, running for cover. Boylan made a full recovery. Byrne, who has 78 previous convictions, is currently serving a seven-and-a-half-year sentence for unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol. His defence counsel, Giollaiosa O'Lideadha SC, highlighted Byrne's severe cocaine addiction and requested the court consider backdating the new sentence to his initial custody date. Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded Byrne in custody until next Monday, when he will be formally sentenced. Separately, Alan Graham, 51, was previously jailed for 10 years in 2021 after pleading guilty to facilitating the attempted murder of Lee Boylan, Noel's son, in a related incident on the same road in March 2019.
A 49‑year‑old Dublin man was found guilty of 11 counts of sexually assaulting his wife by penetrating her vagina with various household objects, including a knife, cheese grater, bottle, carrot, banana, cucumber, tulip, wooden spatula, decanter stopper, part of a shoe and a bicycle pump. He had previously been acquitted of one count of raping her with a deodorant bottle, one count of raping her with his finger, and two counts of anally raping her. The alleged abuse took place in the family home between January 2005 and September 2014. After about three and a half hours of deliberation, the jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on all counts. The woman wept as the verdicts were handed down; the defendant made no reaction. Mr Justice Paul Burns thanked the jury, excused them from duty for seven years, remanded the man in custody and adjourned sentencing for December 18. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
A 48‑year‑old man who claims his teacher tried to rape him during a sleepover gave evidence at the Central Criminal Court, saying he has been "waiting for over 30 years" to appear. He said he had a close friendship with the teacher in transition year and stayed overnight in the teacher's spare room. The complainant described waking to the teacher's head on his crotch and receiving a blowjob. He explained that he suppressed the memory, later opening it and seeking therapy. He told the jury he had not reported the incident to Gardaí until recently, after contacting the Garda Confidential Line. The accused faces one count of attempted anal rape and one count of sexual assault relating to this complainant, and has pleaded not guilty. The trial continues before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury.
Two men from Longford have failed in their conviction appeals at the Court of Appeal following their trial for rape and sexual assault during the Galway Races in August 2017. Karl Reilly of Carrickboy and Patrick McLoughlin of Moydow were convicted and sentenced to seven and five years' imprisonment respectively, with 18 months suspended in each case. The appellants, who had pleaded not guilty, argued that an erroneous time-stamp on phone evidence discovered during trial prejudiced their defence preparation and that their trials should have been separated. Presiding judge Mr Justice George Birmingham dismissed both grounds of appeal. The court found that the phone timing discrepancy, whilst unfortunate, did not cause irreparable damage to the trial and could have been addressed through further cross-examination or closing speeches. On the severance issue, the judge noted that the differences between the men's accounts to gardaí were minor and that joint trials routinely proceed where potential defence difficulties are far greater. Both conviction appeals were dismissed in their entirety.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 68‑year‑old man received a third sentence for sexually assaulting a child who was five years old in 2016. The court heard that the accused filmed himself touching the child's genitals while she lay on a couch, a seven‑second clip that was shown to her mother. The mother, who described her daughter as once joyful and now withdrawn, said the assault had taken away her daughter's innocence and caused nightmares. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a headline sentence of three years, reduced to two years and three months because of the man's age and ill health, and noted his apology. The sentence runs concurrently with an eight‑year sentence for a 2021 anal rape. The man is also barred from contacting either victim permanently. The court did not discuss any further proceedings or outcomes beyond this sentencing.
A man has been sentenced to five years' imprisonment following his conviction for rape at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. Daniel Maymay, aged 31, of Kilmacrennan Road, Letterkenny, Co Donegal, was found guilty of one count of rape committed on 28 January 2019. He had pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape and false imprisonment; the jury acquitted him on the remaining charges. The court heard that Maymay and the woman met online and arranged to meet for coffee. During the encounter at his Letterkenny residence, the woman told him to stop sexual contact, but he continued. Maymay maintained the intercourse was consensual. The complainant did not initially report the incident but later contacted police after confiding in her mother. Justice Paul Burns imposed a six-year sentence with the final year suspended on strict conditions. Maymay has 17 previous convictions, including violent disorder and drug-supply offences, but no prior sexual convictions.
Two brothers, Ian (34) and Daniel (43) Connaghan, were sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for a 2019 attack that killed 55‑year‑old Michael 'Mick' Mulvey. The jury found them not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter (Ian) and assault causing serious harm (Daniel). Ian received a nine‑year sentence with the final year suspended for three years; Daniel received five years with the final year suspended for three years. The court described the assault as "savage, cold‑blooded and cowardly," noting that Mulvey was a slight, unarmed victim who offered no resistance. The sentencing judge highlighted the brothers' lack of remorse and the brutal nature of the attacks, while acknowledging mitigating factors such as Ian's lack of prior convictions. No verdict was recorded on the assault charges for either brother.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 45‑year‑old complainant testified that he had known a now‑59‑year‑old teacher, who is unnamed for legal reasons, from his school. The complainant said they had socialised, often drinking alcohol, and that on one occasion in late 1995 they drank eight or nine pints together. He then went to the teacher's house, where both slept in boxer shorts and t‑shirts. The next morning the complainant woke to find his boxer shorts pulled down and the teacher performing oral sex on him. He described shock and delirium, and that he later performed oral sex on the teacher after being told "It's your turn now." The complainant denied giving consent and said the act was non‑consensual. He also admitted to smoking cannabis and other drugs that night. He had not reported the incident until a statement to the Gardaí in April 2019, after therapy. The unnamed 59-year-old pleaded not guilty.
At the appeal stage, Gerard Cervi was found guilty of murdering Robert 'Bobby' Messett (50) at Bray Boxing Club, Bray Harbour, Co Wicklow on June 5, 2018. Cervi had pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and also to the attempted murders of Mr Taylor and Ian Britton on the same date and at the same location. However, a jury unanimously found him guilty of the murder of Mr Messett, despite acquitting him of the attempted murder charges. Following today's hearing, Mr Justice Karen O'Connor sentenced Cervi to life imprisonment. The victim's children, Demi and Gary Messett, addressed the court during the sentencing hearing, expressing their grief and frustration over the senseless nature of the crime. No motive was ever advanced for the shooting, and it was confirmed that Mr Messett was not the target. Cervi, who has been in custody for over five years since his arrest in September 2018, was convicted last week after two trials lasting a combined 17 weeks over a two-year period. The matter was adjourned at the appeal stage and was never described as concluded or finalised.
In a Central Criminal Court sentencing hearing, Andrew 'Andy' Cash, aged 30, was found guilty of manslaughter for stabbing his brother‑in‑law, John 'Johnny' Cash, to death on 3 May 2022. Cash claimed he had been drinking and taking tablets when he "snapped" after a dispute with his wife, Elizabeth, who alleged that Cash believed his wife had been intimate with Johnny for years. The court heard that Cash had a knife in his car, which he used to stab Johnny twice, one wound penetrating the heart. A jury had earlier returned a 10‑2 majority verdict of not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, and not guilty of assault causing harm or production of a knife. Cash's defence argued that he suffered a sudden loss of self‑control, but the court accepted the manslaughter conviction. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon will pass sentence on 19 February.
A witness at the Central Criminal Court murder trial testified that the accused woman told him the death of Juris Viktorovs resulted from a heart attack rather than stabbing. Paul Troy recounted that Nicola Brennan, aged 33, of no fixed abode, characterised the fatal wound as shallow when he questioned her about the incident. Brennan has pleaded not guilty to murdering Viktorovs, a 36-year-old Latvian national, at Shillelagh, Ballyconnell, County Cavan, on 10 February 2022. During cross-examination, the defence challenged Troy's account of the conversation, with counsel suggesting the accused did not make the statements attributed to her. Troy maintained that his statement to gardaí at the time was truthful. Another witness, Macislavs Obruzcovs, described finding Viktorovs on the floor with a small mark on his chest and no visible bleeding. The trial before Mr Justice Paul McDermott continues.
In 2017, Josh Turner, aged 31, was convicted of murdering Christopher Nevin in Navan after a dispute over a chihuahua. Turner was sentenced to life imprisonment. He now seeks to overturn his conviction on appeal, arguing that the trial judge erred in how he directed the jury on the defence of provocation and self‑defence. Turner's counsel contended that the judge incorrectly suggested the onus of proving provocation lay with the defence and failed to allow the jury to consider provocation in the context of violence against a third party. The State's counsel replied that the judge's charge was clear and that the jury had rejected provocation based on the facts. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on the appeal. The case remains at the appeal stage. Josh Turner pleaded not guilty.
James Kilroy, 50, will face a third trial for the alleged murder of his wife, Valerie French Kilroy, 41, at the Central Criminal Court. Mr Justice Paul McDermott set the new trial date for May 29, 2024, following the collapse of the second trial last week. The previous proceedings, which had heard two weeks of evidence, were halted because an expert witness was unable to complete their testimony. The defence is currently seeking a replacement for that witness. Mr Kilroy had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the killing of Ms French Kilroy at their rural home in Kilbree Lower, Westport, Co Mayo, between June 13 and June 14, 2019. The jury in the collapsed trial heard evidence that Ms French Kilroy died from strangulation with a ligature, blunt force trauma to the head, and a stab wound to the neck. As the matter is at the trial stage and has been adjourned for a future date, it has not been concluded or finalised. No sentence or finding has been recorded for this procedural stage.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 71‑year‑old man was found guilty of 28 counts of rape, oral rape, anal rape and 19 counts of sexual assault against his granddaughter between 2008 and 2012. The abuse began shortly before the girl's First Holy Communion when the man, while renovating a shed, forced her to perform oral sex on him; she was aged seven or eight. Over the next four years he repeatedly took her to a shed, a car and a mobile home to force her to masturbate, orally rape and attempt penetrative sex. He gave her money after each incident. The abuse ended when a friend informed her mother on New Year's Eve 2012, and the case was reported to the gardai in January 2013. The victim, now grown, gave a victim impact statement describing the daily abuse and the lasting trauma. The court adjourned the case for finalisation on 5 December 2023.
Amadea McDermott, aged 27, was killed by her partner Martin Hayes, aged 34, who was sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison for manslaughter. The judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, described the killing as a clear case of domestic violence, noting that Hayes had tracked Amadea's movements with a secret app, made menacing videos accusing her of incest, and had a history of aggressive behaviour. Amadea suffered a single stab wound to the abdomen, causing substantial blood loss, and had recent bruises on her limbs and face, evidence of physical abuse. Hayes pleaded not guilty to murder but was found guilty of manslaughter by a majority verdict. The sentence was back‑dated to the date of his first custody in 2022. The McDermott family, led by Amadea's sister Eucharia, called for stricter laws on coercive control and domestic abuse, condemning Hayes as a violent, deranged monster and urging the nation to protect women from such abuse. Martin Hayes was acquitted.
A 57‑year‑old man from Cork pleaded guilty in the Central Criminal Court to indecently and sexually assaulting his step‑sister over three months in 1991, when he was 14 and she was 12. The court heard that he fondled her breasts and vagina while 'wrestling' with her and, on one occasion, digitally penetrated her vagina. He had no blood relation to her. The victim described feeling repulsed, disgusted, low self‑esteem and burdened by the secret knowledge of the assaults, noting a terrible impact on her life. She said she could forgive the accused but not his actions. The judge acknowledged her bravery and, noting the defendant's rehabilitation and lack of prior convictions, sentenced him to four months' imprisonment for indecent assault and 16 months for each of the four sexual assault counts, all to run concurrently. The sentence was suspended for two years on strict conditions.
A witness at the Central Criminal Court has acknowledged a significant shift in her account of events surrounding the death of Juris Viktorovs in Ballyconnell, County Cavan on February 10, 2022. The woman told the court she initially omitted key details from three statements to gardaí but later described seeing the accused stab the deceased. Under cross-examination, she conceded this represented a "dramatic change" in her recollection, attributing the earlier omissions to difficulty processing the traumatic events and her grief. The witness denied allegations that she had been violent towards the deceased during previous disputes. Nicola Brennan, aged 33 and of no fixed abode, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of her housemate, a 36-year-old Latvian national. The trial before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury continues.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, counsel for a 59‑year‑old man accused of attempted rape and eight sexual assaults between 1991 and 1997 argued that no assault occurred against the first complainant, who was 18 in November 1997. The complainant testified that he slept in the accused's bed and that the accused's mouth made contact with his penis. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC cross‑examined the witness, asserting that any wrongdoing was denied by the accused and that if anything happened it was "something someone was doing while asleep." The complainant disputed this, stating he had run home after the incident and later told his mother he had been raped, though he now acknowledges that his memory of the event was altered over time. The case remains before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury. The unnamed 59-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 39‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to raping a young woman after a Dublin party in June 2022. The woman, who was heavily intoxicated, was carried into a room where she awoke with the accused in bed and realized she had been raped. She described being shamed by her community, with people blaming her and claiming she was at fault. The accused denied taking advantage of her, insisting she was in a state to consent, but the garda and defence agreed she had no recollection and could not consent. The accused expressed remorse, acknowledging responsibility and promising to carry the shame of his actions. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon adjourned sentencing to February to allow further consideration of the case. The court heard CCTV footage and testimonies supporting the victim's account. The accused has no prior convictions and is assessed as low risk of reoffending.
A woman has testified at the Central Criminal Court describing how her partner was fatally stabbed in their bedroom at Shillelagh, Ballyconnell, County Wicklow, on February 10, 2022. Nicola Brennan, aged 33, of no fixed abode, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Juris Viktorovs, aged 36, a Latvian national. The witness, Brenda Kane, told the jury she observed Ms Brennan enter the bedroom and stab Mr Viktorovs while he sat on the side of the bed. She said Mr Viktorovs attempted to rise but collapsed at the end of the bed. Emergency services were contacted immediately. The prosecution alleges forensic evidence supports their case, including DNA of the deceased found on the knife discovered in a mattress and blood of the deceased on clothing seized from Ms Brennan. The trial before Mr Justice Paul McDermott continues and is expected to last approximately three weeks.
Gerard Cervi has been found guilty of murdering Robert 'Bobby' Messett at the Bray Boxing Club in Co Wicklow on June 5, 2018. The Central Criminal Court jury unanimously accepted the prosecution's case that Cervi fired nine shots into the gym, killing the 50-year-old father of three. However, Cervi was acquitted of the alleged attempted murders of boxing coach Pete Taylor and Ian Britton, who were injured during the same incident. Cervi, who has no previous convictions, had pleaded not guilty to all charges. Following the verdict, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor remanded Cervi in custody until December 1, when she will hand down the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment. On that date, the Messett family will also have the opportunity to make a statement regarding the impact of the death. The judge offered her condolences to the family, praising their dignity throughout the trial. This verdict concludes a two-year period involving two trials that lasted a combined 17 weeks. The first trial collapsed in 2021 due to juror illness, while the second trial faced significant pre-trial legal issues. In a related procedural matter, the Court of Appeal previously considered Cervi's bail application, noting the difficulty of the case but ultimately keeping him in custody as a trial date was secured.
A man appeared at the doorway of Bray Boxing Club in County Donegal on the morning of 5 June 2018, dressed in high-visibility clothing and a balaclava, armed with a firearm. During a strength and conditioning class, he discharged multiple shots into the gym. Bobby Messett, a 50-year-old father of three, was fatally wounded. Boxing coach Pete Taylor was also shot but survived his injuries, which included a bullet wound to his chest and bicep. Witnesses described the gunman scanning the room between shots and firing in a sweeping motion across the gym. Several class participants, including a 16-year-old student and other regular attendees, were present during the incident. Taylor was taken to hospital for surgery and required extended medical recovery. The case has proceeded through the Central Criminal Court, with Gerard Cervi facing trial in connection with the shooting. The incident left multiple witnesses traumatised and the local boxing community devastated by Messett's death.
A 59‑year‑old man, who cannot be named, pleaded not guilty to one count of attempted anal rape and eight counts of sexual assault, alleged to have occurred between March 1991 and November 1997 in County Dublin. He testified that in November 1997 he stayed at his teacher's home, was told to sleep on the bedroom floor, and later woke to find the teacher touching him. He described feeling "like an out‑of‑body experience" and freezing, then attempting to flee and physically confronting the teacher. He claimed he had not consented. He reported the incident to his mother, who contacted the school principal, who later asked him to write a statement. He did not give a police statement until 2019, saying he was not mature enough earlier. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury, expected to last about four weeks.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Gerard Cervi, 36, has reached the jury deliberation stage. Cervi, from Dublin 3, pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Robert 'Bobby' Messett and the alleged attempted murders of Pete Taylor and Ian Britton at Bray Boxing Club on June 5, 2018. The prosecution alleged that Cervi was the gunman who fired nine shots, citing CCTV footage of his movements and his DNA and fingerprints found in a Volkswagen Caddy van allegedly used in the attack. Defence counsel argued that a garda's retracted statements indicated investigative irregularities and asserted that there was no evidence linking Cervi to the shooting. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor charged the jury last Friday, instructing them to consider each count separately and reach unanimous verdicts. The jury, comprising six men and six women, began deliberations on Wednesday afternoon. After spending five hours and 51 minutes in discussion, the judge adjourned the proceedings for the evening. The jury was instructed to resume deliberations at the Central Criminal Court at 10.30am the following day. They were reminded not to discuss the case, conduct online research, or engage with social media regarding the trial. The matter remains ongoing as the jury continues to consider their verdicts.
A jury will return to the Central Criminal Court tomorrow to consider their verdict in the trial of a man with obsessive compulsive disorder who stabbed his housemate to death because he believed he would go to hell if he did not. Sean Murphy (29) with an address at Bradóg Court, St Lawrence Road, Clontarf, Dublin 3, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Olohan (35) at the apartment they shared on St Lawrence Road on August 13, 2020. Mr Olohan is originally from Poppintree in Ballymun, north Dublin. The jury of six men and six women began their deliberations this morning, having begun hearing evidence last week. The trial heard that at the time of the stabbing the accused and deceased lived together at Bradóg Court in a "step-down independent living facility" run by St Vincent's Hospital Psychiatric Services. Sean Murphy was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
A 45‑year‑old man was sentenced to five years and six months' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, for orally raping his partner's 17‑year‑old daughter on 17 July 2019. He pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court a week before the trial. The offence occurred at the girl's home while she was returning from work; the man watched from the window, removed her top, kissed her breasts, touched her vagina, and forced her to give him oral sex. The victim, shocked and confused, later told her mother and the man was made to leave. He had a history of mental health difficulties and had not been in contact with Gardaí since. The judge noted the lack of a victim impact statement but confirmed the girl was harmed. The sentence was reduced from a headline of seven years to five years and six months, with the suspended portion conditional on probation and treatment engagement.
A jury of twelve, split evenly between men and women, is deliberating on the verdicts for Gerard Cervi, a 36‑year‑old from Dublin, who is accused of murdering Robert 'Bobby' Messett and attempting to murder coach Pete Taylor and Ian Britton at Bray Boxing Club on 5 June 2018. The jury has spent 1 hour 47 minutes on the first day of deliberations, having been called out at 2.13 pm. Justice Karen O'Connor addressed the jurors at 4 pm, urging them to pause for the evening and return tomorrow at 10.30 am to resume, and warned them not to discuss the case or use social media. She reminded them that they must consider each charge separately and that a unanimous verdict is required. The trial has heard CCTV evidence, DNA and fingerprints linking Cervi to a van used in the shooting, and the defence has alleged possible investigative misconduct. Cervi has pleaded not guilty to all counts.
The jury in the trial of a 59‑year‑old man accused of attempted rape and sexual assault of six young men, offences dating from March 1991 to November 1997 in County Dublin, was discharged after a juror said he could not continue. The defendant, who pleaded not guilty, is still named only as a 59‑year‑old. Mr Justice Alexander Owens discharged the jurors, and the trial is expected to restart with a new jury later today.
A 59‑year‑old man, whose name is withheld for legal reasons, has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court for one count of attempted anal rape and eight counts of sexual assault committed between March 1991 and November 1997 in County Dublin. The prosecution, led by Anne‑Marie Lawlor SC, presented six complainants who claim they were each separately victimised by the accused. Four of the complainants were students of the accused's secondary school at the time, while the other two were acquaintances from his hometown. The alleged offences involved inappropriate touching, licking and oral sex, with five complainants stating they woke to find the accused performing oral sex on them and one claiming the accused attempted an anal rape after a prior oral act. The alleged incidents occurred at the accused's home, with one alleged assault taking place in a pub. The unnamed 59-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 21 November 2023, the family of Amadea McDermott, aged 27, presented victim impact statements after her murder on 20 July 2017. The sisters, Olivia, Euphrasia, Eucharia and brother Zack, accused Martin Hayes, 34, of coercive control, physical abuse and a hidden phone tracker. They described the fatal stab wound to Amadea's abdomen and the extensive bruising found at the scene. Hayes had pleaded not guilty to murder but was found guilty of manslaughter by a majority verdict. The court heard that Hayes admitted using violence and had accessed Amadea's phone via a hidden app. He had also claimed Amadea had self‑harmed, a claim the prosecution rejected. The sentencing hearing was scheduled for 28 November 2023, with Hayes remanded in custody. The family urged the court to consider the abuse and the impact on their lives. The case remains in the Central Criminal Court. Martin Hayes was acquitted.