Closing submissions have begun in the Central Criminal Court trial of three men accused of raping a then-17-year-old girl in a hotel car park in the Leinster area on December 20, 2017. The first defendant, aged 22, pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault. The second defendant, aged 23, pleaded not guilty to rape, oral rape, and two counts of sexual assault. The third defendant, also 23, pleaded not guilty to rape and oral rape. Prosecuting counsel Alice Fawsitt SC argued that the complainant's entry into the vehicle did not constitute consent to sexual activity, countering defence claims that the interaction was consensual. She highlighted that the complainant stated she said no to requests for sex and became frightened, while the defendants alleged she showed no distress. The third defendant testified that he believed the complainant offered him oral sex and that the second car was collected for comfort, denying any forcing. The prosecution suggested the defendants were reckless regarding consent. The trial continues before Ms Justice Melanie Greally and the jury.
At the Central Criminal Court, closing arguments concluded in the trial of Matusz Batiuk, who denies murdering Michael McDonagh at a housing estate in Swinford, County Mayo, on 16 November 2020. The defence contended that Mr Batiuk, aged 33, acted lawfully in self-defence when he inflicted a fatal knife wound in his own home. Defence counsel emphasised that the accused's initial statement to emergency services was that he acted in self-defence, a position maintained throughout garda interviews. The prosecution argued that the accused deliberately used lethal force with intent to kill or cause serious injury. Justice Ellen Ring instructed the jury to consider whether Mr Batiuk honestly believed self-defence was necessary and whether any force used was objectively reasonable. The jury was also directed to consider evidence from two psychiatrists regarding the accused's mental health. The trial continues with further direction to the jury of nine men and three women. Matusz Batiuk pleaded not guilty and was acquitted.
A 17‑year‑old boy was sentenced to 16 months' detention for raping a 15‑year‑old girl in a Dublin park on 29 June 2021. The offence occurred during their first meeting, when the boy forced sexual intercourse, put his hands around the girl's throat and called her a "slut". He was remanded on bail after sentencing because Oberstown Detention Centre had no space, but a place became available overnight and he was placed in custody. Mr Justice Paul McDermott structured the 16‑month sentence to allow a transition to adult prison after the boy's 18th birthday. The court noted the victim's first sexual experience, her victim impact statement, and the boy's acceptance of guilt and apology. The boy had no prior convictions and was acquitted of two other offences. The judge emphasised rehabilitation and the seriousness of the offence. The boy is due to turn 18 soon and will be transferred to an adult prison thereafter. The unnamed 17-year-old was found guilty.
The jury in the trial of Michael Scott, aged 58, will return to the Central Criminal Court for a fourth day of deliberations. Scott denies murdering his 76‑year‑old aunt, Christina 'Chrissie' Treacy, by driving an agricultural teleporter over her outside her home in Derryhiney, Portumna, on 27 April 2018. The prosecution alleges that Scott deliberately reversed over Ms Treacy following a long‑running land dispute. Scott's lawyers claim the death was a tragic accident. Justice Caroline Biggs told the jury that while there is no doubt that Scott caused the death, a murder verdict requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt that he intended to kill or seriously injure her at the time or the instant before. If intent is doubtful, the jury must acquit of murder and consider manslaughter, requiring proof of gross negligence. If the prosecution fails to meet either standard, the jury must acquit. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
Paul Coffey, a 46‑year‑old Limerick resident with 100 prior convictions, was charged with discharging a firearm in 2021 after a shotgun fired accidentally while he was removing it from a car. The incident injured his friend Alan Murphy, who sustained superficial abdominal wounds and was treated at Limerick University Hospital. Coffey had originally faced an attempted murder charge for an incident on 11 June 2020, but the Director of Public Prosecutions dropped that charge and accepted a plea of guilty to discharging a firearm and possession of a firearm. The offence carries a maximum of 14 years, with a headline sentence of seven to ten years. Coffey's sentencing is scheduled for 18 April. He has a history of drug misuse and was the getaway driver in the 2000 gang‑related murder of Eddie Ryan, for which he received 15 years, seven of which were suspended.
A 30‑year‑old man named Derek Coady, who had been charged with the murder of 44‑year‑old Alan Hall in Dublin, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge at the Central Criminal Court on 28 March 2023. Hall's body was found at a fire‑damaged property on Bluebell Avenue, West Dublin, on 18 May 2020. Coady admitted that between 17 and 18 May 2020 he had intentionally or recklessly engaged in conduct that created a substantial risk of death or serious harm to Hall. The court heard that the prosecution, represented by Roisin Lacey SC, intended to proceed on count number 5 of the indictment, while the defence, led by Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC, argued that a full hearing of the facts and a probation report would be helpful. Justice Mary Ellen Ring remanded Coady in custody until 24 July for sentencing and ordered a probation report, urinalysis and victim impact statements.
A 48‑year‑old woman, Lynn Eagar of Winetown, Rathowen, County Westmeath, faces trial on 15 January 2024 for the murders of her two children, Thelma (5) and Michael Dennany (2). The children died when the car they were in caught fire on 9 September 2022 at Lackan, Multyfarnham. The Central Criminal Court heard the case on 21 July, with a two‑week trial expected. Eagar's counsel, Sean Gillane SC, hopes many facts will be agreed, and the court has set witness and exhibit orders for the trial date.
The trial of three men accused of raping a then-17-year-old girl in a hotel car park in the Leinster area on December 20, 2017, continued at the Central Criminal Court. The first defendant (22), second defendant (23), and third defendant (23) have all pleaded not guilty. The first defendant is charged with rape and sexual assault; the second with rape, oral rape, and two counts of sexual assault; and the third with rape and oral rape. Giving evidence on the ninth day, the first defendant told the jury that interactions were consensual, stating, "no rape was screamed." He alleged the complainant initiated sexual contact and that he refused her offer of oral sex. He denied pulling her toward the vehicle, claiming she walked willingly. Under cross-examination, he acknowledged the complainant's friend refused sex with the third defendant, contradicting his earlier claim that she offered sex to all four men. He stated he was not in the car when the second defendant was with the complainant. Witnesses described the complainant getting into the car first. The matter remains at trial stage; no verdict or sentence has been delivered.
A 17‑year‑old Dublin boy was sentenced to 16 months' detention for raping a 15‑year‑old girl in a park on 29 June 2021. The offence involved the boy bringing the girl into a bush, claiming a cigarette, then forcing sexual intercourse, putting his hands around her throat and calling her a "slut". The girl, who had never had sex before, was frightened, begged him to stop, and eventually pushed him away. She later described the assault as devastating, noting self‑harm, anxiety, depression and nightmares. The boy, who had no prior convictions, apologized and wrote letters of apology. Mr Justice Paul McDermott, hearing the case in the Children's Court, reduced a headline sentence of two years to 16 months, citing mitigation and the boy's education and work. Because Oberstown detention centre has no space, the boy remains on continuing bail until a place becomes available. The sentence was back‑dated to the day of sentencing. The unnamed 17-year-old was found guilty.
The jury in the Michael Scott murder trial was told by Justice Caroline Biggs that it is too early to return a majority verdict and that a unanimous verdict is required at this stage. She explained that a majority verdict could be considered later, after a number of days, but the case is not yet at that point. Justice Biggs outlined the legal principles, noting that the accused enjoys the presumption of innocence and the prosecution must prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. She stated that there is no doubt Mr Scott caused his aunt's death, but for a murder verdict the jury must be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that he intended to kill or cause serious injury. If the jury has reasonable doubt about intent, they must acquit of murder and consider manslaughter, which requires proof that Mr Scott was driving in a grossly negligent manner. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
Two forensic psychiatrists have testified at the Central Criminal Court that a jury should consider whether a man's criminal responsibility was diminished when he allegedly stabbed a 24-year-old County Mayo man. Matusz Batiuk, a 33-year-old Polish national formerly of Carrabeg Estate, Swinford, is charged with murder in relation to an incident on 16 November 2020. Dr Jamie Walsh told the court that Mr Batiuk suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, which was likely active at the time of the stabbing. The accused has pleaded not guilty. Dr Walsh outlined a lengthy history of psychiatric contact, including diagnoses of schizophrenia, cannabis misuse, and persecutory delusions. Dr Stephen Monks, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, similarly concluded that evidence strongly suggested Mr Batiuk was experiencing active psychotic illness and delusions in the period before the incident. Both psychiatrists confirmed it would be appropriate for the jury to consider diminished responsibility. The trial before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring continues with closing speeches.
A man accused of murdering his wife at their home in County Mayo will face a retrial at the Central Criminal Court later this year. James Kilroy, aged 49, of Kilbree Lower, Westport, is charged with the murder of Valerie French Kilroy between June 13 and 14, 2019. His initial trial collapsed earlier this month after an unexpected and complex matter arose during proceedings. Justice Mary Ellen Ring discharged the jury on March 20. Mr Kilroy had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The retrial has been scheduled for November 6, 2023. A case management date of June 30, 2023 was set to allow correspondence between the defence and the Director of Public Prosecutions. Transcripts from the earlier trial were granted to the defence.
The Central Criminal Court in Dublin heard evidence on March 24th regarding a fatal stabbing in Swinford, County Mayo. Matusz Batiuk, aged 33, formerly of Carrabeg Estate, Swinford, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael McDonagh, aged 24, who died from a single stab wound to the stomach on November 16th, 2020. The wound penetrated to a depth of at least 12 centimetres, causing rapid fatal blood loss. In interviews at Castlebar Garda Station, Mr Batiuk stated he acted in self-defence, claiming the deceased and another man, Paul Maughan, had been behaving aggressively in his home and that he believed he was in mortal danger. He told gardaí he had struck the victim once to make him back away rather than to kill him. The trial continues before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury.
A jury has begun deliberating on the trial of farmer Michael Scott, who denies murdering his 76‑year‑old aunt Chrissie Treacy by running over her in an agricultural teleporter. The trial, which began in January and was expected to last three months, had an enlarged panel of 15 jurors to accommodate possible absences. Three jurors were discharged and exempted for life, leaving 12 to continue. The jury will return to the Central Criminal Court on Monday to resume deliberations after spending a little over an hour today. Justice Caroline Biggs instructed the jurors that if they find the prosecution has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr Scott intended to kill or seriously injure his aunt, they must return a murder verdict. If they find a reasonable possibility of accident, they must find him not guilty of murder. If not guilty of murder, they must consider manslaughter by gross negligence.
William Eagers, 62, was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of his wife, Jean Eagers. Eagers pleaded guilty on March 10, 2023, to killing his wife of 34 years with a samurai sword in their Clonsilla home on June 21, 2020. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring noted the horrific circumstances, including the fact that their son, Dillon, witnessed the attack and was threatened. The judge refused to backdate the sentence to Eagers' custody date in 2020, stating the matter was resolved at a very late stage. Consequently, his life sentence commences from the date of his guilty plea, March 10, 2023. Eagers had been in custody since the incident. The court heard victim impact statements detailing the family's distress. Eagers, a former export operations manager, had one previous conviction for malicious damage in 1983. He told gardai he blacked out during the attack. The judge emphasized the loss of maternal stability for the family and rejected the defense's request to credit time spent in custody prior to the plea.
The trial of three men accused of raping a then-17-year-old girl in a hotel car park in the Leinster area on December 20, 2017, continued at the Central Criminal Court. The first defendant (22) pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault. The second defendant (23) pleaded not guilty to rape, oral rape, and two counts of sexual assault. The third defendant (22) pleaded not guilty to rape and oral rape. A security guard testified that he observed two people appearing to engage in sexual activity in a car, with one man responding to his presence with a sneer and a comment about "doing a bit of riding." The complainant's mother stated her daughter returned home with a "vacant" look and disclosed the incident two days later. A friend confirmed the complainant told her she had been raped by three men. Forensic evidence presented included DNA matches for the second and third defendants on the complainant's clothing and in the car's passenger seats. The trial continues before Ms Justice Melanie Greally and a jury.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 16‑year‑old victim of rape by two older boys disclosed that the assaults led her to develop an eating disorder as a means of self‑harm. The older defendant, 17 at the time of the offence, was convicted of one count of rape, one of oral rape and two of sexual assault; the younger, 15, was convicted of one count of oral rape and one of sexual assault. The attacks occurred over two‑and‑a‑half hours on the night of 26 July 2020 in a remote lane near a Co Kerry town, while the victim was intoxicated. Justice Michael McGrath sentenced the older offender, now 19, to five years and five months' imprisonment, suspending the final year on condition of good behaviour and probation. The younger offender, now 17, received a three‑year detention order, back‑dated to 31 July.
A 57‑year‑old man, whose identity is protected to safeguard his victim, appealed his conviction for raping his wife between 2003 and 2007. He had also pleaded guilty to raping and assaulting his younger sister between 1978 and 1987. In March 2020, a jury found him guilty of the wife's rapes and the court sentenced him to 13 years' imprisonment, with seven years for the sister's offences and six years for the wife's, to run consecutively with no suspension. The appellant argued that a screen separating him from his wife during trial could have prejudiced the jury, portraying him as "a man to be feared." The Court of Appeal heard the appellant's counsel, Michael Delaney SC, who contended that the screen and the wife's oral evidence of assaults were highly prejudicial and not sufficiently probative.
In the trial of Michael Scott, a farmer accused of murdering his 76‑year‑old aunt, Judge Caroline Biggs has continued her charge for a second day. She has spent about eight hours explaining the evidence and the legal principles the 15‑person jury must apply. The judge clarified that to find Scott guilty of murder, the jury must be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that he intended to kill or seriously injure his aunt when he ran over her. If they are not satisfied, they may return a verdict of manslaughter by gross negligence, or acquit him if an accident is reasonably possible. Scott, 58, has pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleges he deliberately reversed over his aunt following a long‑running land dispute, while his lawyers claim it was a tragic accident. The judge will resume her charge on Friday, after which three jurors will be discharged, leaving 12 to decide the verdict.
A pathologist told the Central Criminal Court in Dublin that a single stab wound measuring at least 12 centimetres in depth caused the death of a 24-year-old Mayo man by severing a vital artery. Dr Kathleen Han Suyin gave evidence during the trial of Matusz Batiuk, aged 33, formerly of Carrabeg Estate, Swinford, who has pleaded not guilty to murder. The accused is charged with the killing of Michael McDonagh at the housing estate on 16 November 2020. Dr Han Suyin conducted the postmortem and confirmed the wound pierced the right common iliac artery, resulting in extensive and rapid blood loss that proved fatal. She stated the depth of the injury made survival impossible. The pathologist noted that while the wound was deep, it remained unclear whether significant force was applied or whether the victim may have moved into the blade. Forensic evidence presented showed the deceased's blood on the knife recovered, along with trace blood matching a witness. The trial continues before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring.
A man has been convicted of the murder of a woman in County Donegal in January 2019. The victim, a 28-year-old mother, was fatally beaten and strangled in her home in Killygordon following a distressed emergency call. Gardaí from Lifford attended the property within twenty minutes of the call. Armed response units conducted a forced entry after observing a child at an upstairs window. The accused was subdued with a taser after confronting officers with a hammer and refusing to comply with instructions. During subsequent garda interviews at Letterkenny station, the man admitted to the killing. He claimed he had lost control after becoming aware that the woman had contacted gardaí. Forensic psychiatric evidence presented at trial indicated the accused had experienced psychotic illness, auditory hallucinations, and persistent delusional beliefs about the victim's behaviour. The court heard evidence of his extensive history of substance abuse and previous psychiatric intervention. Two young children were present in the property at the time but were found unharmed.
The Central Criminal Court trial of three men accused of raping a then-17-year-old in a hotel car park in the Leinster area on December 20, 2017, continued on its sixth day. The first defendant (22) pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault. The second defendant (23) pleaded not guilty to rape, oral rape, and two counts of sexual assault. The third defendant (22) pleaded not guilty to rape and oral rape. All charges are alleged or contested, with no findings or sentences recorded at this procedural stage. During cross-examination via videolink, the complainant disputed the third defendant's counsel's suggestion that the encounter was consensual. She stated she said no and did not participate. Defence counsel Mark Nicholas SC argued it was improbable the complainant did not notice a security guard arriving, noting the guard is expected to testify to seeing sexual activity. The complainant maintained she saw no one else. She explained she did not seek help due to fear and was in "fight or flight" mode. She admitted to using a sibling's phone to message a friend, which counsel suggested was an attempt to deceive. The complainant stated she told her mother two days later, leading to a Rape Crisis Centre referral. The trial continues before Ms Justice Melanie Greally and the jury.
A key witness in a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court gave conflicting evidence regarding events at a house in Swinford, County Mayo, on November 16, 2020. Paul Maughan testified that he did not witness the fatal stabbing of Michael McDonagh (24), despite having previously told gardaí that the accused "went for" the deceased with a knife. Mr Maughan admitted breaking into the home of the accused, Matusz Batiuk (33), and stabbing him three months before Mr McDonagh's death, for which he is currently serving a prison sentence. The witness stated that Mr McDonagh carried a carpet knife that evening. When cross-examined, Mr Maughan acknowledged making inaccurate statements to gardaí, including claims that the accused had attacked him, which he later denied. Mr Batiuk has pleaded not guilty to murder. He maintains he believed his life was in danger when he inflicted the fatal wound. The trial continues before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring.
In the trial of Michael Scott, a 58‑year‑old from Gortanumera, Portumna, the jury is instructed that they may return a manslaughter verdict if they find he was grossly negligent in reversing his agricultural teleporter over his 76‑year‑old aunt, Ms Treacy, on 27 April 2018. The judge explained that to convict of murder the jury must be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Scott intended to kill or seriously injure Ms Treacy. If that standard is not met, the jury may consider manslaughter by gross negligence, which does not require proof of intent. The judge also clarified that a single lie by Scott is not automatically evidence of guilt; it must be deliberate and intended to conceal guilt. He further explained that evidence of prior misconduct, such as failing to remove rubbish or turning off her heating, is not proof of a propensity to kill but provides context for the relationship. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court trial of three men accused of raping a 17-year-old in a hotel car park in the Leinster area on December 20, 2017, continued on its sixth day. The first defendant, aged 22, pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault. The second defendant, aged 23, pleaded not guilty to rape, oral rape, and two counts of sexual assault. The third defendant, aged 22, pleaded not guilty to rape and oral rape. During cross-examination, the complainant testified that she did not consent to the alleged acts, stating she was scared and that the men became aggressive. She told counsel for the second defendant that she did not think she would have to shout no. Defense counsel for the first defendant suggested she had lied about the timing of her awareness and that she agreed to go for a walk, allegations she denied. The complainant stated she removed her trousers because the first defendant was going to do it anyway. She also denied suggestions that she lied to gardaí about the time before entering the vehicle or that she deleted apps to cover her tracks. The complainant confirmed she was sober and had not met the defendants before that evening. The trial continues before Ms Justice Melanie Greally and the jury.
In the Central Criminal Court, Michael Scott, 58, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his 76‑year‑old aunt Chrissie Treacy on 27 April 2018. Prosecutor Dean Kelly SC argued that Scott deliberately reversed an agricultural teleporter over Treacy, citing evidence of clear threats, a history of cruelty, and a dispute over 140 acres of land. He described the teleporter's impact as geometrically precise, crushing Treacy's body and removing flesh from her left hand. Defence counsel Paul Greene SC contended that the evidence suggested an accidental death, questioning the absence of disturbance at Treacy's home and the lack of evidence that she had entered the yard. He urged the jury to consider the prosecution's failure to prove beyond a reasonable doubt and to assess Scott's intent at the time of the incident. The case remains at the jury's deliberation stage.
Richard Burke, aged thirty-two and from Killygordon in County Donegal, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in connection with the death of Jasmine McMonagle at Forest Park on January 4, 2019. The Central Criminal Court trial, sitting in Monaghan, heard evidence that Mr Burke told gardaí during interviews at Letterkenny Garda Station that he punched and strangled Ms McMonagle with a rope after discovering she had contacted gardaí for assistance. He described losing control of his temper, stating his mind went blank during the assault. A post mortem examination confirmed Ms McMonagle died from ligature strangulation with blunt and sharp force injuries as contributing factors. The court heard gardaí responded to a 999 call within twenty minutes and encountered Mr Burke at the scene holding a meat cleaver, which he used to strike an officer's clothing. Ms McMonagle's two young daughters were found unharmed in the property. The trial continues.
A 40‑year‑old man from Cork was sentenced to four years in prison in June 2021 for raping his younger sister when she was between five and nine and for sexually assaulting her again when she was 16 and he was 21. He denied both offences and had no prior convictions. In a Court of Appeal hearing on 20 March 2023, his counsel argued that the time elapsed between the offences should have been considered for mitigation, claiming the sexual‑assault sentence was disproportionate. The appeal was dismissed. The judges noted the victim's age, the breach of trust, and the fact that she had to fight off her brother during the assault. They said the sentence was proper and just, and that no part of it had been suspended. The appeal was rejected, leaving the original four‑year custodial term in place.
A murder trial opened at the Central Criminal Court in Monaghan on 20 March regarding the death of Jasmine McMonagle at Forest Park, Killygordon, County Donegal on 4 January 2019. Richard Burke, aged 32, of Killygordon pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The State outlined that Ms McMonagle, a mother of two, died from strangulation and blows inflicted by her former partner. Gardaí from Lifford responded to her emergency call that morning and discovered her body after a three-hour standoff during which Burke wielded a meat cleaver. Her children were found unharmed. The trial will focus on Burke's mental state at the time of the killing rather than the circumstances of death, which he acknowledges. Two consultant psychiatrists will give evidence that Burke suffered from a mental disorder substantially diminishing his responsibility. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns.
During the trial of Michael Scott for the murder of his 76‑year‑old aunt Chrissie Treacy, engineer Dr Mark Jordan testified that he is not a "hired gun" and that his duty is to the court and to the oath. He explained that he provides technical advice using the scientific method and that he would inform a client if his advice conflicted with their instructions. Jordan defended a statement in his report that a jury might find it difficult to persuade that a driver of a teleporter would not know they had driven over a large woman, arguing that it was a reasonable observation. He also described the impact that caused Ms Treacy's death, noting that her injuries suggested she was upright when struck by the rear left wheel of the teleporter, and that the front wheel had already passed her when she fell. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
The murder trial of James Kilroy at the Central Criminal Court collapsed on Monday due to an unexpected and complex matter that emerged during proceedings. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring discharged the jury of ten men and two women, having sat since March 8, after informing them that an unforeseen issue had arisen unknown to all parties. The judge said both the prosecution and defence required further time to resolve the matter and that no party was at fault. Mr Kilroy, aged 49, from Kilbree Lower, Westport, County Mayo, is charged with murdering his wife Valerie French Kilroy, aged 41, at their home between June 13 and 14, 2019. He had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The defence had made formal admissions that Mr Kilroy killed his wife. The trial was listed for mention on March 27, with the judge expressing hope that a future trial date could be reserved.
Matusz Batiuk, a 33-year-old man formerly residing in Carrabeg Estate, Swinford, Co Mayo, entered a not guilty plea at the Central Criminal Court on 20 March 2023 to the charge of murdering Michael McDonagh, aged 24. The alleged murder occurred at the housing estate in Swinford on 16 November 2020. Justice Mary Ellen Ring empanelled a jury of nine men and three women to hear the trial, which commenced that afternoon and was anticipated to conclude within two weeks. The court was informed that the majority of witnesses in the case originate from the Mayo region, with the deceased having connections to the Ballyhaunis and Knock areas. The accused has resided in Ireland since approximately 2006 or 2007.
A jury has been sworn in at the Central Criminal Court in Monaghan to hear the trial of a 32-year-old man charged with the murder of Jasmine McMonagle in County Donegal in January 2019. Richard Burke, with an address in Killygordon, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The alleged offence occurred at Forest Park, Killygordon on 4 January 2019. Mr Justice Paul Burns informed the jury panel of twelve that the trial is expected to last approximately two weeks. The prosecution will open its case this afternoon. Both the accused and the deceased were resident in Killygordon at the time of the alleged incident.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 17‑year‑old woman alleged she was raped by three men in a hotel car park on 20 December 2017. She said she had been invited by a friend to "go for a drive" and that the friend had shown her photos on Facebook. The woman confirmed she had not previously travelled with boys she did not know and that she believed the night was a drive, not sex. She stated she was shocked when the defendants approached her in the car and that she had not consented to any sexual activity. She told a friend she had been forced to have sex with the men and that she had been raped. The defendants, aged 22, 23 and 22, have pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault charges. The trial is ongoing before Ms Justice Melanie Greally and a jury.
During the trial of Michael Scott, a 58‑year‑old engineer from Gortanumera, Portumna, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 76‑year‑old Chrissie Treacy outside her home in Derryhiney, Portumna, on 27 April 2018. Dr Mark Jordan, a mechanical engineer hired by Scott's defence, testified that the claim that Ms Treacy was run over twice by the teleporter was "unsupported" and that all her injuries could have been caused by a single movement. He argued that only one clear imprint was found on her trousers and that the other marks were difficult to interpret. Dr Jordan also disagreed with a Garda report that Ms Treacy should have been visible to Scott as he reversed across his yard, citing blind spots, dirty windows and glare. He maintained that the injuries were consistent with one motion of the vehicle and that no unusual use of the teleporter was required to cause her death.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has found Stephen Silver guilty of capital murder following a retrial. Silver, aged 46, a mechanic from Aughaward, Foxford, County Mayo, was convicted of fatally shooting Garda Colm Horkan with the officer's own firearm on 17 June 2020 near Castlerea, County Roscommon. The jury of seven men and five women reached their unanimous verdict after deliberating for eight hours and 39 minutes. A previous jury had been unable to reach agreement in November 2022. Silver had pleaded not guilty to capital murder but guilty to manslaughter. The trial centred on his state of mind at the time of the shooting, with defence evidence suggesting mental illness contributed to his actions, whilst prosecution submissions maintained he acted with intent to kill. Ms Justice Tara Burns will impose sentence on 19 April. Conviction for capital murder carries a mandatory minimum 40-year prison sentence.
The trial of three men accused of raping a 17-year-old woman in a hotel car park in the Leinster area on December 20, 2017, continued at the Central Criminal Court. The complainant testified that she was in shock after the alleged attack and could not believe what had happened. She described being driven to petrol stations where the defendants purchased cigarettes, noting she was unsure if she exited the vehicle at the first stop. After being dropped off, she walked to a friend's house, where she checked for bleeding but found only fluid. She later took the morning-after pill and contacted her boss, claiming a stomach bug, before spending the day at a friend's home. Her mother subsequently arranged an appointment at a sexual assault treatment unit. The complainant stated she delayed reporting to gardaí until December 27 due to fear, providing her clothes and names obtained from Facebook searches. The first defendant, aged 22, pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and one count of sexual assault. The second defendant, aged 23, pleaded not guilty to one count of rape, one count of oral rape, and two counts of sexual assault. The third defendant, aged 22, pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and one count of oral rape. The trial continues before Ms Justice Melanie Greally and the jury.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has convicted Stephen Silver of the capital murder of Garda Colm Horkan in Castlerea, County Roscommon, on 17 June 2020. Silver, a 46-year-old motorcycle mechanic, was sentenced to a minimum of 40 years imprisonment. The court heard that Silver had deliberately provoked an encounter with gardaí that evening, conducting dangerous motorcycle manoeuvres around the Knockroe estate in Foxford and making verbal challenges to armed officers. When Garda Horkan, a 25-year veteran based in Charlestown, County Mayo, approached Silver and his companion James Coyne, a struggle ensued over the officer's firearm. Silver disarmed Garda Horkan and fired eleven shots at the wounded officer as he lay on the ground. The defence argued Silver was experiencing a relapse of bipolar affective disorder at the time, but the jury rejected this claim. Expert testimony established that Silver's pattern of prior involuntary psychiatric admissions had created a "learned impunity" whereby he expected diffusion and hospitalisation rather than serious criminal consequences. Garda Helen Gillen, who witnessed the incident, confronted and arrested Silver unarmed. Stephen Silver pleaded guilty.
Three men, aged 22, 23 and 22, are on trial at the Central Criminal Court for alleged rape and sexual assault of a 17‑year‑old girl in a hotel car park in Leinster on 20 December 2017. The first defendant pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and one count of sexual assault; the second pleaded not guilty to one count of rape, one count of oral rape and two counts of sexual assault; the third pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and one count of oral rape. The complainant, who left home around 6 pm after a friend texted her to go for a drive, was taken to the car park by four male passengers. She alleges the defendants forced her into the car, attempted to undress her, and engaged in non‑consensual sexual acts, including rape, oral rape and forced intercourse.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, Garda investigator Eoin O'Connor admitted he erred in his collision report concerning the fatal incident involving Chrissie Treacy, who was run over by an agricultural teleporter driven by her nephew Michael Scott. O'Connor had stated that an experienced operator would leave the machine in gear after turning it off to prevent rolling, but he acknowledged that another operator's evidence showed this would not stop the teleporter from moving. He explained that his mistake stemmed from his lack of experience with such machinery. The trial, which has heard that Mr Scott, aged 58, pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Treacy on 27 April 2018, continues before Justice Caroline Biggs and a 15‑person jury. The prosecution maintains that Mr Scott deliberately ran over Ms Treacy amid a long‑running land dispute, while his lawyers argue the death was a tragic accident.
A man charged with murdering his wife in County Mayo has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity at the Central Criminal Court. James Kilroy, aged 49, of Kilbree Lower, Westport, is accused of killing Valerie French Kilroy, aged 41, at their home between 13 and 14 June 2019. His counsel has made formal admissions that the defendant killed his wife. The prosecution has presented evidence including testimony from an Airbnb guest staying in a self-contained area of the property, who reported seeing a man in dark clothing near the house on the evening in question but hearing nothing unusual. A pathologist told the court the victim died from ligature strangulation, blunt force trauma to the head, and a stab wound to the neck. A medical practitioner assessed the defendant at Castlebar Garda Station and noted he had consumed cannabis and alcohol. The defence is expected to call psychiatric evidence on Wednesday. The trial continues before Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has begun deliberations in the trial of Stephen Silver, charged with the murder of Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. Mr Silver, aged 46 of Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Justice Tara Burns instructed the jury of twelve that possible verdicts include capital murder, murder, or manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility or self-defence. The central issue concerns Mr Silver's state of mind at the time of the shooting. Expert evidence was presented regarding whether Mr Silver's bipolar affective disorder was operant during the incident, with the defence and prosecution psychiatrists disagreeing on this point. The judge emphasised that the jury must determine the facts rather than defer to expert testimony. A unanimous verdict is required. Deliberations commenced at 3:40pm and will resume on Tuesday.
In March 2023 the Central Criminal Court sentenced a 40‑year‑old woman and her 52‑year‑old partner to a combined 33 years for repeated rape and sexual abuse of their five‑year‑old daughter and three‑year‑old son. The couple denied the charges, which included rape, oral rape, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, reckless endangerment and false imprisonment, and were tried in 2022. Mr Justice David Keane imposed 19 years on the man and 14 years on the woman, with all sentences running concurrently. The judge noted the children's profound trauma and the breach of trust by a mother who allowed the abuse. Both defendants were added to the sexual offenders register and will be supervised by the Probation Service for two years after release. No portion of the sentences was suspended. The court expressed hope that the children would find strength in the verdict. The unnamed 40-year-old was convicted.
Kenneth Reilly, 63, was jailed for five years after a jury found him guilty of three counts of indecent assault on his sister‑in‑law, Helene Hallisey Power, between 1982 and 1985 when she was aged 12 to 16. The trial, held in the Central Criminal Court in Cork, concluded in October after a series of allegations that Reilly forced Power to masturbate, photographed her without clothes, and made her watch pornographic films. Power, now 54, testified that the abuse left her feeling "dirty, ashamed, empty and completely confused," and that taking the stand felt like a re‑experience of sexual assault. She described the impact on her mental health and her decision to speak out. Reilly, who has no prior convictions, accepted the verdicts and was sentenced by Ms Justice Creedon to six years, with the final year suspended on conditions, back‑dated to his entry into custody.
Paul Coffey, 46, of Limerick, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to discharging a firearm and to possession of a firearm in circumstances that suggested it was not for lawful use, in connection with the shooting of Alan Murphy on 11 June 2020 at Long Pavement, Watch House Cross. He had previously been charged with attempted murder. The court was satisfied with the indictment counts and no victim impact statement was sought. A governor's report from Limerick Prison was ordered for his sentence hearing. Coffey was remanded in custody until 27 March for sentencing.
A 55‑year‑old Cork man was sentenced to eight years in prison, with the final two years suspended, for raping and sexually abusing his younger cousin over a ten‑year period from 1985 to 1995. He was convicted on 33 counts, including 20 of indecent assault and 13 of section 4 rape. The victim, aged between five and 15 at the time of the abuse, suffered repeated sexual assault, forced masturbation, oral and anal rape, occurring on average twice a week. The defendant, who was 18 when the abuse began, pleaded not guilty and continues to deny the offences. The court noted the significant age disparity, the prolonged nature of the abuse, and the victim's negative psychological impact, including suicidal thoughts and loss of friends, jobs and a normal life. The judge, acknowledging the defendant's serious medical condition, anxiety, mild learning difficulty and sheltered life, nevertheless placed the case in the more serious category and imposed the sentence.
At the Central Criminal Court, defence counsel Dominic McGinn SC argued during closing submissions that Stephen Silver's shooting of Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020 was not a rational act and should prompt questions about his mental capacity at the time. Mr McGinn told the jury that Mr Silver's behaviour in custody was erratic, including urinating in his cell and banging his head against walls, suggesting limited social functioning. He contended that the accused was experiencing a relapse of bipolar affective disorder when the incident occurred. Expert evidence was divided: consultant psychiatrist Professor Harry Kennedy maintained mental illness played no part in the shooting, while Dr Brenda Wright, interim clinical director at the Central Mental Hospital, concluded Mr Silver's mental illness was a significant factor. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The trial, at the Central Criminal Court, continues with the judge's charge to the jury expected on Monday.
Michael Scott, 58, of Gortanumera, Portumna, Co Galway, pleaded not guilty to murder after his 76‑year‑old aunt, Ms Treacy, died when he allegedly ran her over with a JCB on 27 April 2018. In court, Scott said he did not realise he could call 999 for an ambulance and that he thought his aunt would survive. He denied deliberately rolling over her a second time and claimed the incident was an accident. Scott said he did not help her up because he needed someone with him and that he had called his friend Francis Hardiman for help. He denied any intent to kill and said he did not want his aunt to die. The trial, hearing the prosecution's case that the run‑over was deliberate, continues next week before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury.
Joe Dunne, a former priest from Ballycrystal, Geashill, pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault against a young woman in 1989. The victim, who had been abused and hospitalized, was driven by Dunne to the Rape Crisis Centre for counselling, during which he repeatedly assaulted her. She later wrote to her bishop, but little action was taken. In 2019, Gardaí discovered her letters and she disclosed the abuse. Dunne, who has no prior convictions and is the sole carer for his 94‑year‑old sister, was sentenced by Justice Paul McDermott to four years imprisonment. The judge suspended the entire sentence on strict conditions, citing the disproportionate impact on his sister and Dunne's health issues. The court noted the victim's 34‑year trauma and the breach of trust by Dunne. The sentence requires probation and offence‑focused work.
In a Dublin case, a 31‑year‑old man named Gareth Sheeran, who has schizophrenia, was charged with murdering his father, Harry Sheeran, on Father's Day, 20 June 2021. Psychiatric assessments in 2021 had found him unfit to stand trial, but further evaluations between June and October 2022 indicated that he was now fit to enter a plea. At the Central Criminal Court, defence psychiatrist Dr Ronan Mullaney and prosecution expert Dr Patrick McLoughlin both testified that Gareth had shown improvement, adhered to a medication programme, and understood the court process and his charges. Judge Paul McDermott accepted the evidence, declared Gareth fit to be tried, gave the case priority status, and adjourned the matter to 29 March for a trial date. The court did not alter the charge or the alleged offence. The decision was based solely on the psychiatric evidence presented.