The trial of Jozef Puska, 33, who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Ashling Murphy at Cappincur, Tullamore, Co Offaly, on January 12, 2022, continued before Mr Justice Tony Hunt. Prosecution evidence included Fitbit data from Ms Murphy's watch, which recorded erratic or violent movements at 3.21pm before her heart rate ceased. Witness Rostislav Pokuta testified that Puska visited his home around 9pm on the night of the alleged incident, appearing wet, frightened, and covered in scratches. Pokuta stated he initially withheld this information from gardai due to fear for his family's safety amid an "ugly atmosphere" in Tullamore, but later reported the meeting. Puska was driven to Mucklagh and identified on CCTV. Defence counsel suggested Puska had suffered stab wounds to his stomach. Det Gda Ciaran Byrne presented the Fitbit data, while Det Sgt Paul McDonnell described interviewing Puska at St James's Hospital, where Puska alleged he was stabbed in Blanchardstown by two men. The trial is ongoing.
A 23‑year‑old man was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to raping a nine‑year‑old relative when he was 13. The Central Criminal Court also handed him a separate three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for sexually assaulting a different female cousin between 2013 and 2018, when the victim was aged six to 11. Justice Ellen Ring noted that the rape occurred while the teenager was also abusing another relative, citing the victim's age, the age gap, the breach of trust and the predatory nature of the abuse as aggravating factors. She said the defendant was aware his actions were "very wrong" and would have imposed an 11‑year headline sentence if the offender had been an adult, but reduced it to six years because of his age at the time.
Tony McInerney, a convicted drug dealer and leader of a large network in Co Clare, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court to a consecutive 27 years in prison. The court heard that McInerney, who pleaded guilty in July to the attempted murder of Daniel Harty Junior in Sixmilebridge in January 2020, will serve a 17-year term for that offence. This sentence runs consecutively to a ten-year term he is already serving for running a cocaine factory, a sentence originally set at 12 years but reduced by the Court of Appeal. McInerney also pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment and making threats to kill, receiving five years for each charge to run concurrently with the attempted murder sentence. The judge described the incident as "gangland thuggery and violence," noting that the attack, allegedly linked to a drug debt and personal animosity, terrorised the public. An innocent bystander was shot in the buttock, while Harty Junior suffered three gunshot wounds, losing the use of his left arm. The judge highlighted the planned nature of the crime, involving a vehicle stored for a month, and the indifference shown to bystanders. McInerney's previous convictions and the high level of criminality necessitated the consecutive sentencing structure.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the children of Przemyslaw Klimczuk, aged ten and thirteen, said their father's death by a kitchen knife stabbing had forced them to confront a harsh reality of society. The court had earlier found David Bolger, 45, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for the May 1, 2020 incident at a shared house in Enniscorthy. Bolger, who had been drinking since 4 pm, stabbed Klimczuk after a fight with housemates. He denied the murder charge and claimed he was provoked. The children's statement, read by James B Dwyer SC, expressed that good memories of their father were fading and that they had learned to accept this terrible side of society. Bolger's defence presented an apology letter, acknowledging his remorse and the pain caused to the family. The case was scheduled for sentencing on October 31.
At the Central Criminal Court on 23 October 2023, Yousef Palani, aged 23, from Markievicz Heights in Sligo, was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment for the murders of Aidan Moffitt and Michael Snee. Justice Mary Ellen Ring imposed a concurrent 20-year sentence for causing serious harm to Anthony Burke through a knife attack to the eye. Palani had pleaded guilty to murdering Mr Moffitt on 10 April 2022 and Mr Snee on 12 April 2022, both in their Sligo homes, and to attacking Mr Burke on 9 April 2022. Evidence indicated the offences were motivated by hostility towards homosexual men. Justice Ring emphasised that the three men should be remembered for their lives and contributions to their communities rather than the circumstances of their deaths. The sentences are to date from 13 April 2022 when Palani entered custody.
Yousef Palani, aged 23, appeared at the Central Criminal Court for sentencing following guilty pleas to two murders in Sligo in April 2022. Palani admitted to the murder of Aidan Moffitt on 10 April at Cartron Heights and Michael Snee on 12 April at Connaughton Road. He also pleaded guilty to causing serious harm to a third man on 9 April. During the hearing, Detective Garda Conor Jordan of Sligo Garda Station told the court that gardai were satisfied Palani's motivation stemmed from hostility and prejudice towards homosexual men. The court heard Palani had stated he would have continued killing had gardai not intervened. While Palani cited religious objections to homosexuality during questioning, investigators determined he had not been radicalised. The garda witness indicated that claims regarding Palani's mental health had been exaggerated or fabricated. Palani, with no previous convictions, was last resident at Markievicz Heights in Sligo.
William Duffy, 40, of Dundalk, pleaded guilty last July to discharging a firearm recklessly at Marian Park on 28 May 2019, an act originally charged as attempted murder. The incident involved a confrontation with Keith Shields, who fled after hearing two shots and later called 999. CCTV showed Duffy leaving a hospital four hours before the shooting, arriving at the park, and positioning himself near Shields. DNA from Duffy's home matched shell casings found at the scene, though Duffy denied shooting and claimed possible accidental contact with casings. He has 42 prior convictions, including theft, hit‑and‑run, affray, threatening behaviour and burglary. At the Central Criminal Court, Duffy expressed remorse, pledged never to appear before the courts again if given a chance, and was remanded in custody pending sentencing on 13 November. The judge adjourned the matter for sentencing.
Two men from County Longford have appealed their convictions for rape and sexual assault at the Court of Appeal following issues with phone evidence presented at their trial. Karl Reilly of Aghara, Carrickboy was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment with eighteen months suspended for rape; Patrick McLoughlin received five years' imprisonment with eighteen months suspended for sexual assault. Both men had pleaded not guilty to charges relating to an incident in August 2017 at Galway. Their legal representatives argued that an erroneous timestamp on mobile phone records, discovered only after defence cross-examination was completed, prejudiced trial preparation and rendered proceedings unsatisfactory. They also contended that the trial should have been separated, given inconsistencies between the men's accounts to gardaí. The State's counsel submitted that the timing discrepancies were minor and did not alter the intervals between calls or the approximate timeline of events. Justice Patrick McCarthy reserved judgment on the appeals.
The Central Criminal Court heard that Ashling Murphy died before paramedics could attempt resuscitation after she was found with 12 sharp force wounds to her neck in the undergrowth by the Grand Canal in Tullamore. CCTV footage showed a garda believing he could see the accused, Jozef Puska, moving in the same direction as two women, reaching into his pockets and appearing to have something in his hand before returning it to his pocket. The prosecution presented footage of Ashling's movements from leaving work at Scoil Naomh Colmcille at 2.37 pm to arriving at the Daingean Road car park at 2.50 pm and walking to the towpath. Puska, aged 33, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ms Murphy on 12 January 2022. The trial continues next week before Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
The Central Criminal Court heard that Ashling Murphy died from 12 stab wounds to the right side of her neck, with injuries extending from under the right ear to above the collar bone. The wounds severed her voice box, damaged nerves controlling speech and swallowing, and damaged the carotid artery and jugular vein, causing severe blood loss and cardio‑respiratory arrest. Small defensive injuries were noted on her hands, suggesting she tried to protect herself. The pathologist stated no contributory factors and could not exclude strangulation, but no obvious signs were present. The case involves Jozef Puska, 33, who pleaded not guilty to her murder. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with a jury of twelve. The court heard police accounts of the discovery of Murphy's body in a ditch near Cappincur, Tullamore, and the subsequent resuscitation attempts that were ultimately abandoned.
The trial of four Dublin men accused of raping and sexually assaulting a woman at her home in December 2018 has collapsed at the Central Criminal Court. All charges against the accused were dropped via a nolle prosequi after the complainant, who is undergoing psychiatric treatment, was deemed unable to continue giving evidence. The State's application to allow her to testify via video link was unsuccessful. Mr Justice David Keane addressed the jury, noting the trial did not reach a natural conclusion after three weeks, and exempted them from jury service for 15 years. Reporting restrictions apply to all participants. The first accused, aged 25, had pleaded not guilty to oral rape and sexual assault. The second accused, also 25, pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault. The third accused, aged 23, pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape, one oral rape, and a sexual assault. The fourth accused, aged 24, pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape and sexual assault. The complainant alleged the men entered her home uninvited, forced her into sexual acts, and that one accused recorded the incidents on social media. She stated she was bleeding and sore when the men left. The matter was adjourned and concluded with the dropping of charges, not a conviction.
The first Garda to arrive at the scene where schoolteacher Ashling Murphy was found unresponsive in undergrowth by the Grand Canal spent ten minutes performing chest compressions. Garda Tom Dunne, who was in a patrol car, arrived shortly after a distressed call and found Ms Murphy face‑up in a ditch five or six feet down a steep slope. She was wearing a navy jacket, a pair of blue runners and a pink woolly hat, and had blood in her hair and on the surrounding briars. Dunne undid her jacket and began CPR, checking for a pulse that he described as "very faint". He alternated chest compressions with a colleague because only one officer could work at a time. When paramedics arrived they moved Ms Murphy to the walkway but, finding no signs of life, they stopped treatment. Jozef Puska, 33, has pleaded not guilty to her murder.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court in Tullamore, a 48‑year‑old man was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for raping his former partner during a 10‑hour false imprisonment ordeal. The defendant, who was previously convicted of assault and false imprisonment in 2022, was found guilty of rape on 7 August 2018. He had detained the woman in his apartment against her wishes, assaulted her, and forced sexual contact. The court noted the victim's physical and emotional suffering, her fear of leaving the house, and her panic attacks. The judge, citing the man's lack of remorse and prior convictions, imposed a headline sentence of ten years, suspended one year, and ordered two years of post‑release supervision with mandatory sex‑offender treatment. The defendant denied the rape and had not shown remorse or undertaken rehabilitation before sentencing.
Soren Constantin Gavrila, a 42‑year‑old Romanian national, was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison, with the last six months suspended, for raping a sex worker in Dublin on 1 September 2018. Three weeks after arriving in Ireland, Gavrila and two men approached the victim in a car after midnight, offering €50 for oral sex. The victim, who was intoxicated and struggled to understand him, performed oral sex with a condom, but Gavrila removed it and forced her to perform oral sex without a condom. He then pushed her to the ground, raped her, bit her back and arm, and cut her lip. The victim's boyfriend confronted the men, leading to a 999 call and Gavrila's arrest. DNA evidence linked Gavrila to the assault. He pleaded guilty, offered €5,000 as a token of remorse, and the judge noted his apology and prior good character in imposing the sentence.
During the opening of Martin Hayes' murder trial, the prosecution presented evidence that Hayes, a 34‑year‑old grave digger, called emergency services after Amadea McDermott, a 27‑year‑old mother of two, died at her Rathvale Drive home on 20 July 2017. Hayes claimed McDermott had stabbed herself, a claim the court heard from paramedic witnesses who described a woman lying on the floor with a stab wound to the right abdomen. A post‑mortem by Dr Marie Cassidy confirmed the fatal wound and identified a knife from the living area as the likely weapon, with DNA matching McDermott's blood on the blade. The prosecution also noted that Hayes had entered a new relationship after McDermott's death and that the new partner would testify about an argument on Christmas Eve 2018. The trial will continue before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury. Martin Hayes pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, Jozef Puska, aged 33, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 23‑year‑old Ashling Murphy, who was stabbed 11 times on the right side of her neck near the Grand Canal in Tullamore on 12 January 2022. Prosecutor Anne‑Marie Lawlor SC presented evidence that Y‑STR DNA from under Murphy's fingernails matched Puska's DNA, that a bright green Falcon Storm mountain bike belonging to Puska was found beside the body, and that CCTV footage showed Puska cycling in the area hours before the killing. Puska was interviewed at St James's Hospital after being admitted with stab wounds he claimed were from an attack in Blanchardstown; he later admitted in the hospital to having murdered Murphy, saying "I did it, I murdered, I am the murderer." The jury will consider whether the evidence shows Puska intended to kill or cause serious injury. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
A man, who is the husband of the boys' aunt, was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of raping an eight‑year‑old boy in Dublin between March 1996 and May 1997, and of sexually assaulting and anal raping the boy's younger brother, aged six or seven, between February 2000 and June 2001. The older brother first reported the abuse in 2005 but was told the case could not proceed; the younger brother reported abuse in 2016. The defendant was arrested but made no admissions in subsequent Garda interviews. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs set a headline sentence of ten and a half years but, after considering mitigating circumstances, imposed concurrent terms totalling eight and a half years' imprisonment, effective from June when the defendant entered custody.
Two brothers have been sentenced to a combined seven years imprisonment following their conviction for the sexual abuse of their cousin over a four-year period in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Aidan Gallagher, aged 40, of Westport, County Mayo, received five years with two years post-release supervision after being convicted of six counts of oral rape committed between 1998 and 2003 in sheds near their homes. Thomas Gallagher, aged 38, of County Galway, was sentenced to two years imprisonment after conviction on one rape charge and seven counts of sexual assault at the family's former home in County Leitrim between 1999 and 2003. Mr Justice David Keane reduced Thomas Gallagher's sentence citing his diagnosis with Motor Neuron disease in October 2022 and life expectancy of less than two years, whilst noting that serious offences ordinarily warrant custodial sentences. Both men had denied the allegations. The Central Criminal Court jury, sitting in Carrick-on-Shannon, convicted them in May 2023. The complainant waived anonymity to permit identification of her cousins.
Tony McInerney, the appellant, appeared before the Central Criminal Court at a sentence hearing for offences committed in January 2020. McInerney, who the court heard was the leader of a large drug network in Co Clare, pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Daniel Harty Junior, intentionally or recklessly discharging a firearm, and making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to Harty Junior. The court heard that McInerney was initially jailed for 12 years for running a "cocaine factory" in 2020, a sentence later reduced to ten years by the Court of Appeal. During the current proceedings, Detective Sergeant Kevin O'Hagan detailed how McInerney and another man fired shots at Harty Junior during a music festival in Sixmilebridge, injuring an innocent bystander in the buttocks. McInerney was arrested in 2021 and has 13 previous convictions, including possession of explosives. Defence counsel Michael Collins SC submitted that McInerney had pleaded guilty early and apologized to society. Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded McInerney in custody until next Monday, when he will be sentenced.
A 33‑year‑old man, Jozef Puska, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of 23‑year‑old school teacher Ashling Murphy, who was allegedly killed near the Grand Canal in Tullamore on 12 January 2022. The trial will be held at the Central Criminal Court and is expected to last up to five weeks. A jury of twelve, sworn this afternoon, will hear the case. Judge Tony Hunt warned potential jurors that they must not have engaged in commentary about the case online or on social media and that any prior knowledge of Puska's hospital stay at St James's Hospital in Dublin should be disclosed. The prosecution will present witnesses from the Tullamore area, the midlands, various Dublin Garda stations and forensic science laboratories, with medical personnel possibly called to give evidence. The defence will be represented by Michael Bowman SC. The trial is scheduled to open tomorrow.
A grave digger, Martin Hayes, 34, will be tried for the murder of his partner, Amadea McDermott, 27, who was found dead at her home in Rathvale Drive, Ayrfield, Coolock on or about 20 July 2017. Hayes was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court and pleaded not guilty. The prosecution, led by senior counsel Sean Gillane, will argue that the events leading to the murder began on 19 July and continued into the early hours of 20 July, with Hayes and McDermott in a relationship at the time. Witnesses will include McDermott's sisters and other parties, and Garda officers from Coolock and Malahide stations will testify. Hayes was employed as a grave digger at Mount Jerome cemetery in Harold's Cross when the alleged offence occurred. The trial, overseen by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, is scheduled to last up to four weeks.
A man aged 54 from Erry, Clara, County Offaly, has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment following his conviction on charges of sexually abusing a teenage boy over an extended period in the 1990s. Patrick Bardon was convicted by jury at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Longford in June on 11 counts of oral rape committed between October 1992 and March 1994 at his then home in Ferbane, County Offaly. The court heard that Bardon, a former teacher, befriended the boy at a local pitch and putt club before the abuse occurred. Mr Justice David Keane imposed a headline sentence of 12 years, reduced to ten years with the final two years suspended, subject to strict conditions including engagement with the Probation Service and completion of a sexual offender treatment programme. The survivor, now 46, waived anonymity and delivered an impact statement to the court, describing the profound effect the abuse had on his life and his relief at securing justice.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 13 October 2023, the appeal of Edmundas Dauksa, aged 53, was dismissed. Dauksa had been convicted in May 2021 by a Central Criminal Court jury of murdering his former partner, Ingrida Maciokaite, 31, after she refused to bring their six‑year‑old daughter to his home. The jury found no provocation and rejected Dauksa's claim that he was "fuelled with murderous intent" or that he had been "wronged" by the court's custody decision. The appeal argued that Maciokaite's decision not to bring the child constituted provocation, but the Court of Appeal, led by Ms Justice Una Ní Raifeartaigh, held that the decision was a matter for the custody court and that Dauksa's 20‑minute walk to the courtyard did not indicate a loss of self‑control. Alcohol intoxication was deemed irrelevant to the intent to kill. Both grounds of appeal failed, and the murder conviction was upheld. Edmundas Dauksa pleaded not guilty.
In a hearing at the Central Criminal Court, a 77‑year‑old former school caretaker pleaded guilty to one count of orally raping his daughter and three counts of sexually assaulting her in the family home between 1991 and 1997. The victim, aged six to thirteen during the offences, testified that the abuse began when she was preparing for her first holy communion and continued while her mother worked shift jobs. She described the lasting psychological impact, noting feelings of unlovability and isolation, and how the abuse irreparably damaged her relationship with her mother. The caretaker, who has no prior convictions, was defended by Gerardine Small SC, who highlighted his medical conditions and expressed remorse. The court, guided by the DPP's recommendation of a 10‑to‑15‑year sentence due to the breach of trust and the victim's young age, adjourned the case to 24 October to allow the defendant two weeks to arrange his affairs before potential custody.
In the Central Criminal Court, Pete Taylor, a well‑known coach, testified about the shooting that occurred on 5 June 2018 at Bray Boxing Club. He described arriving at the gym at 6.30 am, opening the club, and preparing an exercise class that began at 6.45 am. While setting up music, he heard loud bangs and saw a man in the doorway firing a gun. Taylor attempted to run toward the shooter, who was described as about 5′8″, wearing a hi‑vis vest and black clothing. During his attempt, Taylor dove over a bench, was shot in the left bicep and chest, and was taken to St Vincent's Hospital where he underwent surgery and later had a steel cage fitted to his arm. He stated he had not seen what happened to Robert 'Bobby' Messett during the shooting, and that he had not seen the shooter leave the scene. Pete Taylor pleaded not guilty.
Owain Plumb, 37, an IT worker who has lived in Ireland for ten years, was convicted at the Central Criminal Court of rape, attempted rape and sexual assault of a young woman who slept on his couch on 11 January 2020. The woman had earlier that night rebuked him for unwanted touching. Plumb, originally from Wales, had no prior convictions and maintains his innocence. The court described the offence as an opportunistic breach of trust and hospitality. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a headline sentence of eight years and eight months, then reduced it to seven years with the final twelve months suspended, citing Plumb's lack of prior convictions, good character evidence, rehabilitation steps, family support and favourable employment history. The case involved alcohol and cocaine consumption, a group hug that led to the assault, and the woman's subsequent distress and attempt to recover her iPad. The victim's impact statement was submitted but not read aloud.
Witnesses at the Central Criminal Court described the June 5, 2018 shooting at Bray Boxing Club. Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty to the murder of Robert 'Bobby' Messett and the attempted murders of Peter Taylor and Ian Britton. Witness Ian Britton recounted seeing a man in a yellow top and tracksuit, wearing a hard‑hat‑style headwear, who fired a gun that struck Messett in the head and later Taylor. He estimated about ten shots were fired over 30‑45 seconds. Alan Hunter testified that Taylor "made a charge" at the gunman before being shot, describing the gunman as calm and wearing a black visor and gloves. Stephen Kearns also saw Taylor running toward the gunman and falling, with the gunman eventually disappearing. The trial continues before Justice Karen O'Connor.
The Central Criminal Court heard that the family of Michael Connolly (55), who was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility in the death of Mark Lawlor (37), had previously attempted to have him committed to a mental health institution due to concerns about his deteriorating mental health. Connolly had pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Lawlor by reason of insanity. The jury was informed that Connolly believed Mr Lawlor had 'some kind of exalted identity like a king' and was 'a kingpin of Dublin'. The case hinged on the disagreement between two psychiatrists regarding whether Connolly was sufficiently mentally ill to be found not guilty by reason of insanity. The prosecution submitted that the offence committed by Connolly fell into the higher bracket for sentencing, which would result in a sentence between 10 and 15 years. Defence counsel highlighted that Connolly had received a fully-suspended sentence in 2013 for attacking what he believed to be 'blasphemous' artworks in a Louth church gallery with an axe and was then admitted to a mental health institution in Ardee, Co Louth. The matter was adjourned to October 27 for sentence.
Four men are currently on trial at the Central Criminal Court, presided over by Mr Justice David Keane, accused of raping and sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman at her home in December 2018. Reporting restrictions apply to the identities of all participants. The first accused, aged 25, has pleaded not guilty to oral rape and sexual assault. The second accused, also 25, has pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault. The third accused, aged 23, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape, one oral rape, and a sexual assault. The fourth accused, aged 24, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape and a sexual assault. Prosecution counsel Anne Rowland SC outlined evidence alleging the men arrived at the victim's home after 11pm, where they allegedly subjected her to non-consensual acts, including forced oral sex and intercourse. DNA evidence was presented, linking the first accused to bedding, the second to the victim's swabs, and the fourth to the victim and a condom; no DNA from the third accused was located. The accused men provided varying accounts to gardai, initially denying presence or claiming consent. The trial is ongoing and will continue before the jury on Monday.
A man who was sexually abused as a boy says the Irish justice system failed him after he first reported the abuse 18 years ago. The defendant, the husband of the victim's aunt, was previously convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of sexually assaulting the victim between March 1996 and May 1997, and of two charges of anal rape of the victim's younger brother between February 2000 and June 2001. The brothers, aged eight and six‑seven at the time, reported abuse in 2005 and 2016, but an investigating Garda told the prosecutor that the cases could not proceed to trial due to insufficient evidence. The victim's impact statements describe the abuse, the failure of the system, and the emotional toll. The defendant will be sentenced later this month, with the court adjourned to consider the case until 16 October.
The State presented fingerprint and DNA evidence linking Gerard Cervi to a van used by the gunman in the Bray Boxing Club shootings of 2018. Cervi, 36, was charged with the murder of Bobby Messett and the attempted murders of coach Pete Taylor and Ian Britton. The prosecution described the shooting at 6:50 am, where nine shots were fired, killing Messett and injuring Taylor and Britton. CCTV footage showed a grey Volkswagen Caddy van with a yellow plate leaving the club, traveling through Cabinteely and Poolbeg to Ringsend. Gardaí seized the van, finding white spirit bottles with Cervi's fingerprints and DNA from the passenger seat and handbrake. Additional footage depicted Cervi traveling to the van on a distinctive bike and returning later that day. The trial was adjourned overnight. Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty.
On 3 October 2023, Irish barristers carried out their first strike, causing the Central Criminal Court and other higher courts to have no listings. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court operated in a reduced capacity, convening at 10:30 am but concluding all business by 10:45 am. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned all 22 cases listed for hearing, including six that were due for sentencing, to future dates in November. She instructed the solicitor for the Director of Public Prosecutions to inform defence counsel of the new dates. The courtroom was unusually quiet, with empty benches for barristers and solicitors, and the public gallery largely empty. An accused in custody requested and received an adjournment of his sentencing to Thursday. Four trial cases were also adjourned to the next day. Campaigning barrister Darren Lalor expressed delight in joining the Bar Council's protest, noting that 66 % of barristers leave their field within six years, leaving them "without a future.".
Derek Coady, a father of three from Tallaght, was sentenced to four years and six months in prison, with the final six months suspended for two years, for endangerment. He pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly engaging in conduct that created a substantial risk of death or serious harm to Alan Hall, 44, between 17 and 18 May 2020 on Bluebell Avenue, Dublin 12. Coady admitted assaulting Hall by punching him in the stomach, causing minor harm, and exposing him to serious harm. He denied involvement in setting fire to Hall's home and claimed he was unaware of the arson. Hall later died from smoke inhalation after a fire was attempted in his home. The judge noted Coady's 46 previous convictions, alcohol overindulgence, and the mitigating factor of his guilty plea and remorse. The case involved a co‑accused, Conor Curran, who has since died. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the endangerment, which led to Hall's death.
A 72‑year‑old man was sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment for raping and sexually abusing three of his nieces over a decade. He pleaded guilty to 16 counts of rape, attempted rape, sexual assault and indecent assault committed between 1985 and 1995 at various locations in Cork and Kerry. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, described the offender as a "voracious sexual predator" who masqueraded as a kindly uncle. He set a headline sentence of 25 years, reduced to 20 years because of the defendant's age, and suspended a further two years permanently. The sentence includes two years of post‑release supervision if released. The court heard victim impact statements describing the abuse as repeated, prolonged, humiliating and degrading, and noted the defendant's advanced age may affect his survival of the sentence.
A 36‑year‑old man, Gerard Cervi, is accused of murdering Robert 'Bobby' Messett and of attempting to murder coach Pete Taylor and Ian Britton on 5 June 2018 at Bray Boxing Club. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. The Central Criminal Court will hear the case, with a jury of six men and six women sworn in. Judge Paul McDermott warned jurors about media influence and advised them to rely solely on court testimony. The trial is expected to last about six weeks and will begin on Wednesday.
The Central Criminal Court will hear the murder trial of 32‑year‑old Jozef Puska, accused of killing 23‑year‑old schoolteacher Ashling Murphy on 12 January 2022 in Cappincur, Tullamore. Puska, who lives at Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly, is represented by Michael Bowman SC. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, will preside. Once the jury is empaneled, the trial is expected to last about four weeks. Murphy, a recent graduate of Mary Immaculate College, was jogging beside the Grand Canal when she was allegedly fatally assaulted.
In early summer 2023, Noel Long received a call from Detective Inspector Eamonn Brady about new evidence in the 1981 murder of Nora Sheehan. Long declined to meet with Gardaí or discuss the evidence, stating he wanted no involvement. The article recounts the 1981 discovery of Sheehan's body in Shippool Woods, describing the scene, the victim's injuries, and the forensic work that linked fibres and paint from Long's 1981 Opel Kadett to the victim. It details the 2008 DNA review that produced a partial male profile from a semen sample, later matched to DNA on a beanie hat taken from Long in 2021. The article also notes the defence's challenge to the reliability of the Low Copy Number DNA method and the State Pathologist's statement that Sheehan's cause of death was unascertained.
A jury of eleven returned to the Central Criminal Court to continue deliberating a cold‑case murder trial involving Noel Long, 74, of Passage West, Cork. Long is charged with the murder of 54‑year‑old Nora Sheehan, whose body was found in Shippool Woods in 1981. The jury had spent 4 hours 44 minutes on their first day of deliberations and was instructed by Judge Paul McDermott to resume at 10.30 am the next day. The prosecution's case, presented by Brendan Grehan SC, relied on forensic evidence, including a partial DNA profile from semen on Sheehan's body that matched DNA on clothing taken from Long in 2021, fibres from the victim's carpet that matched those from Long's car, and paint fragments that matched the same vehicle. The defence, led by Michael Delaney SC, argued that the evidence was solely forensic and did not establish intent, suggesting a possible manslaughter verdict. Noel Long pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Mr Justice Paul McDermott informed a jury that the 74‑year‑old Noel Long's trial could be the oldest murder prosecution in the State, noting the difficulty of proving an old case. The jury, after 35 minutes of deliberation, will return tomorrow. Long, who lives in Maulbawn, Passage West, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of 54‑year‑old Nora Sheehan, who disappeared between 6 and 12 June 1981 and whose body was found at The Viewing Point, Shippool Woods. The prosecution's case rests on circumstantial evidence, including the victim's movements, the discovery of her body, and a DNA match between a sample from her body and a beanie hat taken from Long in 2021. Mr McDermott reminded jurors that no statute of limitations applies to murder, that over 280 exhibits were lost, and that the defence had concerns about a missing vaginal swab.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, brothers Ian (34) and Daniel (43) Connaghan were found not guilty of murder after a jury deliberated 14 hours. The jury, however, convicted Ian of manslaughter and Daniel of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to 55‑year‑old Michael 'Mick' Mulvey, who died 13 days after the November 14, 2019 assault. The brothers had pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and to the serious harm charges. The State's case alleged that Ian attacked Mulvey near The Halfway House Pub, leaving him on the ground, and that Daniel joined him in a subsequent beating on a traffic island. The jury accepted that the brothers' actions substantially contributed to Mulvey's death but did not find the intent required for murder. No verdicts were recorded for the two assault‑causing‑harm charges, and Daniel was granted bail pending a probation report.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 1 August 2023, a jury found 55‑year‑old Michael Connolly guilty of manslaughter by diminished responsibility for the death of 37‑year‑old Mark Lawlor in Cloverhill Prison in 2019. Connolly, originally from Louth, had scalded Lawlor with hot water before strangling him. He had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The jury considered conflicting psychiatric evidence: Dr Stephen Monks and Dr Sally Linehan both diagnosed paranoid schizophrenia but disagreed on whether Connolly was entitled to a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The jury reached a 10‑2 majority verdict of manslaughter. The case was adjourned to 2 October for sentencing and victim impact statements. No murder conviction was secured. The trial highlighted the dispute over psychiatric testimony and the application of diminished responsibility.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 67‑year‑old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced to eight years and three months' imprisonment, with the final year suspended on strict conditions. He pleaded guilty to one count of anal rape of a nine‑year‑old girl in June 2021. The victim, who was the granddaughter of the man's distant relative, was living in the same house as the defendant and her mother until 2020. She disclosed the abuse to her mother on 16 July 2021, who called the Gardaí. The defendant was arrested in September 2021 after a Gardaí interview in which he admitted living at the address but denied the assault. He has two prior non‑sexual convictions and is due to appear later this year on a separate charge. The judge noted the aggravating factors of the victim's age and the breach of trust, and the mitigating factor of the defendant's guilty plea.
A 23‑year‑old woman was raped by Albert Crowley, 68, in his Dublin home on 8 March 2019. She awoke to sexual moaning, saw Crowley, slapped him and fled. Crowley later claimed she had consented. The woman, intoxicated and asleep, suffered severe trauma, including PTSD, self‑harm attempts and depression, and has struggled to care for her two‑year‑old daughter. She testified that she overdosed and was hospitalised for five days after seeing Crowley at trial. Crowley pleaded not guilty to rape and five sexual assault charges, was convicted on all charges, and was sentenced to six years' imprisonment with the final six months suspended. He must engage with the Probation Service for two years upon release. The case highlighted a breach of trust and a 40‑year age gap between the parties. The woman was described by the judge as brave and courageous, yet profoundly affected by the assault.
In a Central Criminal Court murder trial, the jury was instructed that the core issue was the differing conclusions of two psychiatrists regarding Michael Connolly, a 55‑year‑old from Louth. Connolly, who scalded and strangled cellmate Mark Lawlor, 37, in Cloverhill Prison on 23 November 2019, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Dr Stephen Monks testified that Connolly did not understand the nature or wrongness of his actions, supporting a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. Dr Sally Linehan, however, found that Connolly understood he had killed another person, suggesting a verdict of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. Both doctors agreed Connolly suffered paranoid schizophrenia, but disagreed on the applicability of the special verdict. The jury was told to decide which psychiatrist's evidence they preferred, as this was the "nub of the case.".
A 23-year-old man from Sligo has pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to two counts of murder and one count of causing serious harm. Yousef Palani, of Markievicz Heights, admitted to the murder of Aidan Moffitt on April 10, 2022, at Cartron Heights, Sligo, and the murder of Michael Snee on April 12, 2022, at City View, Connaughton Road, Sligo. He also pleaded guilty to causing serious harm to Anthony Burke on April 9, 2022, at Cleveragh Road, Sligo. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring expressed sympathy to the families of the deceased and directed that victim impact statements be prepared. The case was previously scheduled for a four-week trial on November 13 but has now been adjourned to October 23 for sentencing purposes.
A 14‑year‑old boy, now 17, was convicted of oral rape and rape after he drank alcohol for the first time and assaulted a 15‑year‑old girl who was too intoxicated to consent. The jury found him guilty in May, and the case was heard in the Central Criminal Court on 28 July. The victim's impact statement described severe psychological harm, nightmares, depression and self‑harm, and she said the boy "took something from me that can never be returned." Defence counsel argued that the boy's youth, lack of sexual education and first‑time drinking should be considered mitigating, and that he should not be labelled a rapist. The judge, after considering probation reports and the boy's acceptance of the verdict, imposed a fully suspended sentence of 106 days of detention, with conditions to attend probation, drug and alcohol counselling and maintain good behaviour. The sentence was limited to the period before the boy's 18th birthday. The unnamed 14-year-old pleaded not guilty.
An 18‑year‑old was sentenced to seven years in prison at the Central Criminal Court for filming himself raping a ten‑year‑old boy and for seeking to trade child‑abuse material. The court heard that the defendant's devices contained videos and images of adult men with boys aged five to fourteen, some showing children bound and distressed, and that 18,000 instant‑message conversations were found in which he asked for pictures or videos to trade. He pleaded guilty to one count of anal rape, five counts of sexual assault and one count of producing child pornography. The judge set a headline sentence of fourteen years, but the final year was suspended, leaving an effective custodial term of thirteen years. The defendant was ordered to remain in prison for eight years on the rape count, with the last year suspended, and to comply with strict post‑release supervision and internet restrictions.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Judge Mary Ellen Ring sentenced Andrew Lacey, 35, to seven years and six months' imprisonment, with an 18‑month suspended portion, for the fatal stabbing of Derek Reddin, 31, on 14 October 2019. Lacey, a long‑time parks officer, was found guilty of manslaughter after a jury acquitted him of murder. The judge noted that Lacey's knife was used after Reddin attacked him with a baseball bat, and that Lacey's initial denial of the knife's ownership indicated an attempt to evade responsibility. The sentence was reduced from an initial eight years and six months due to mitigating circumstances, and the suspended period is conditional on good behaviour for three years. The ruling highlighted that seven children are now father‑less, two permanently and five temporarily, as a consequence of the incident. The sentence was back‑dated to 15 June to account for time already served. Andrew Lacey pleaded not guilty.
A 32‑year‑old man named Gareth Sheeran, who suffered from schizophrenia, was found not guilty by reason of insanity after killing his 65‑year‑old father, Harry Sheeran, with a World War II bayonet on Father's Day. The jury reached the verdict in 42 minutes after hearing from two psychiatrists who agreed that Sheeran's mental condition qualified him for the special verdict. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, hearing a report from a psychiatrist and statements from prosecution counsel James Dwyer SC, ordered Sheeran's committal to the Central Mental Hospital in Portrane for continued treatment. He will be subject to ongoing reviews by healthcare professionals. The judge expressed sympathy for the Sheeran family and described the case as a tragedy for all concerned.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Michael Connolly, 55, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mark Lawlor, 37, in Cloverhill Prison. Connolly, who had been remanded for unrelated matters, allegedly scalded Lawlor with hot water before strangling him on the night of 22‑23 November 2019. Witnesses described Connolly as calm and unresponsive when officers entered the cell. Forensic evidence showed multiple superficial burns, lacerations, and asphyxiation as the cause of death. Connolly claimed he believed Lawlor was a "kingpin" and that a "homosexual conspiracy" existed between prisoners and officers. Two psychiatrists testified that Connolly was suffering from an active mental disorder, diagnosed as schizoaffective disorder in 2019. The jury will decide whether to apply a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity or a manslaughter conviction. The trial continues tomorrow before Justice Siobhan Lankford.