The Central Criminal Court has set a trial for 32‑year‑old Jozef Puska, accused of murdering 23‑year‑old school teacher Ashling Murphy in Offaly. The alleged killing occurred on 12 January 2022 when Ms Murphy was fatally assaulted while jogging along Fiona's Way, a stretch of the Grand Canal near Tullamore. Puska, who lives at Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, is charged with murder and will stand trial on 6 June. The court will reconvene on 31 March for a progress update. The case is expected to last up to four weeks.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, William Eagers, aged 62, pleaded guilty to the murder of his wife, Jean Eagers, aged 57, who died from wounds sustained in a samurai sword attack on 21 June 2020 at their Willow Wood Grove home in Clonsilla, north Dublin. Eagers, a former export operations manager and part‑time taxi driver, was charged with murder and the production of a samurai sword during the incident. The court set a sentencing date for 24 March to allow preparation of a victim impact statement, with the mandatory life sentence for murder pending.
A 17‑year‑old teenager gave evidence at the Central Criminal Court on 9 March 2023, describing the night of 24 February 2021 when he was shot in Eugene Street, Dublin 8. He said he has no memory of the events before, during or after the shooting, citing medication. The trial concerns Stephen Mulvey (31) and Jamie Berry (27), both former residents of Leo Fitzgerald House, who are charged with attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Both pleaded not guilty. Witness Yasmin Ryan, who lived on Eugene Street, reported hearing three shots and shouts of "Go on! Finish him!" before a cry for help. The prosecution alleges Berry fired the shots, Mulvey assisted, and a getaway vehicle was used. The case is before Justice Eileen Creedon with a jury of twelve.
Stephen Silver, aged 46 of Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, stands trial at the Central Criminal Court on a charge of murdering Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. In closing submissions for the prosecution, Michael Delaney SC argued that the shooting was a deliberate act carried out with intent to kill, and that Mr Silver harboured a seething resentment toward gardaí. The prosecution contends that Mr Silver knew Garda Horkan was a member of An Garda Síochána acting in the course of his duty. The defence of diminished responsibility should be rejected, Mr Delaney submitted, noting that psychiatric evidence regarding Mr Silver's mental state remains disputed. The jury, comprising seven men and five women, will hear closing submissions from the defence before Justice Tara Burns before deliberating.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court has heard evidence concerning the death of a forty-one-year-old occupational therapist discovered in a campervan at a rural property near Westport, County Mayo in June 2019. Gardaí located the body in a foetal position with a child's car seat covering the face. Three young children were found in the home in a state of distress, hungry and severely dehydrated. One child requested breakfast cereal, which a garda witness purchased. Park ranger James Kilroy, aged forty-nine, from Kilbree Lower, Westport, is charged with murder. He has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, though his legal representative has made formal admissions that he killed his wife. A consultant psychiatrist from Mayo Mental Health Services assessed the accused on the day of discovery and determined he did not meet criteria for involuntary mental health detention. The accused indicated to the psychiatrist that killing his wife "wasn't part of the plan" and attributed the act to God's will. The trial continues before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury.
During the Central Criminal Court trial, Detective Garda Eoin O'Connor testified that Michael Scott, 58, who denies murdering his 76‑year‑old aunt Chrissie Treacy, would and should have seen her if he had turned his head while reversing an agricultural teleporter. O'Connor explained that Ms Treacy's age and mobility made it unlikely she could have appeared at the point where her body was found, and that she would have been observable moving across the yard. He described the teleporter's sight‑lines, noting a large blind area to the right and rear, and argued that a driver would normally look over the left shoulder when reversing. O'Connor also examined tyre marks, the teleporter's speed in second gear, and the yard's slope, concluding that the vehicle could not have rolled over a hitch 0.48 m above the ground. The evidence will continue tomorrow before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury of eight men and seven women. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
In an attempted‑murder trial, a Garda officer recounted being called to a Dublin street where a 17‑year‑old boy was shot multiple times. The incident occurred on Eugene Street, Dublin 8, on 24 February 2021, around 10.55 pm. The teenager was shot in the neck, cheek and leg after boarding a taxi outside an address on the street. He was taken to St James' Hospital, where scans revealed bullets had passed through his body, but no bullets remained inside him. Two men, Stephen Mulvey (31) and Jamie Berry (27), are charged with attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Berry is also charged with criminal damage after a bullet fired by him allegedly passed through a front door, an internal wall and shattered an oven's glass. Both men plead not guilty. The trial is before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon at the Central Criminal Court.).
A consultant psychiatrist has given evidence at the Central Criminal Court in the trial of Stephen Silver, who is charged with murdering Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on June 17, 2020. Professor Harry Kennedy told the jury that Mr Silver, aged 46, of Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, was "an unreliable historian" regarding his mental health. The professor said he found no positive evidence that Mr Silver had suffered a relapse of bipolar affective disorder at the time of the shooting. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The court heard the main issue centres on his state of mind at the time. Cross-examination by defence counsel focused on evidence of abnormal beliefs and behaviour, including Mr Silver's admission to the Central Mental Hospital where he was placed in seclusion. Defence testimony from another psychiatrist suggested Mr Silver's illness had impaired his thinking and judgement. The trial continues.
Christopher Coakley, aged 31, pleaded guilty to a single charge of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm for a stabbing with scissors in Dublin's north inner city on 28 January 2021. The plea was entered at the Central Criminal Court. Judge Michael MacGrath adjourned the sentencing to 7 June and remanded Coakley in custody until that date.
A 49-year-old man has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of his wife at their rural home near Westport, County Mayo, the Central Criminal Court heard today. The prosecution alleges that James Kilroy killed Valerie French Kilroy between 13 and 14 June 2019. Her body was discovered in a camper van on the couple's property approximately 6 kilometres from Westport. A post-mortem examination determined she died from ligature strangulation, blunt force trauma to the head, and a stab wound to the neck. The jury heard that Mr Kilroy was found naked in a field in the Westport area and was subsequently brought to Castlebar Hospital, where he stated he had killed his wife and children. The three young children were found unharmed. The defence is expected to present psychiatric evidence regarding Mr Kilroy's mental state. The prosecution contends he is guilty of murder. The trial, before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury, is expected to conclude by month's end.
A consultant psychiatrist has told the Central Criminal Court that Stephen Silver, who stands accused of murdering Garda Colm Horkan with the officer's own firearm, displayed behaviour consistent with his personality rather than mental illness during garda interviews. Professor Harry Kennedy said the accused showed no regret or sympathy for the deceased and appeared angry and self-pitying, but these responses could be attributed to the stress of arrest. The psychiatrist stated that Mr Silver had developed "learned impunity" through a long history of disruptive conduct in Castlebar and surrounding areas, leading him to expect no charges would follow his actions. Mr Silver, aged 46, a motorbike mechanic from Aughavard in Foxford, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to capital murder but guilty to manslaughter. The shooting occurred at Castlerea, County Roscommon, on 17 June 2020. The trial, before Ms Justice Tara Burns, continues with the jury's focus on the accused's state of mind at the time of the incident.
Two men, Stephen Mulvey (31) and Jamie Berry (27), have gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the attempted murder of a 17‑year‑old teenager shot multiple times on Eugene Street, Dublin 8, on 24 February 2021. The prosecution alleges the attack was a "well‑planned and premeditated hit" carried out by a joint enterprise of three individuals. Berry is accused of firing the Beretta pistol that wounded the teenager in the neck, cheek and leg, while Mulvey is alleged to have assisted. Berry is also charged with criminal damage to a home on Eugene Street, where a bullet passed through a front door and shattered a cooker's glass. Both men are charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. The case is presented as a circumstantial one, relying on CCTV footage, forensic evidence, and the recovered weapon, with the trial continuing before Justice Eileen Creedon.
A 49-year-old man from Westport, County Mayo has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his wife by reason of insanity at the Central Criminal Court. James Kilroy is charged with murdering Valerie French Kilroy, aged 41, at their home in Kilbree Lower between June 13 and 14, 2019. Ms French Kilroy, an occupational therapist employed by Mayo Mental Health Services, was a mother of three originally from County Cork. A jury of ten men and two women was sworn in to hear the trial before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring. The court heard that witnesses are primarily from the Castlebar and Westport areas. The trial commenced and is expected to conclude by the end of the month.
At the Central Criminal Court, Martin Doyle, aged 53, of Esker, Knock, County Mayo, was convicted following trial of two counts of rape and 25 counts of sexual assault. The offences comprised the rape of his wife on two occasions in May 2009 and once in November 2011, and systematic sexual assault of his daughter between 2004 and 2011 while the family resided in County Meath and subsequently County Sligo. Justice Caroline Biggs imposed a sentence of twelve and a half years imprisonment, with two years post-release supervision to follow. The court heard evidence of assaults occurring in domestic settings and at Lough Gara, Gurteen. Doyle maintained his not-guilty plea throughout proceedings. The judge noted the absence of remorse while acknowledging his work history and lack of previous convictions as mitigating factors. She described the abuse as a systematic pattern causing near-complete destruction of the child victim's childhood. Martin Doyle pleaded not guilty.
A 51‑year‑old pizza delivery driver, Earl McKevitt, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 19‑year‑old Conor O'Brien, who was shot once in the chest on the evening of 26 August 2021 while McKevitt was delivering a pizza to O'Brien's studio in Enfield. McKevitt admitted to shooting the teenager after failing to read the delivery instructions and claimed that shooting people was part of his job. He was also found guilty of possessing a firearm and a knife on 31 August 2021 at the Talbot Hotel in Carlow, where he had retrieved the gun. Concurrent sentences of seven‑and‑a‑half years and two years were imposed for the firearm and knife offences. McKevitt's life sentence was back‑dated to 31 August 2021, the date he entered custody.
At the Central Criminal Court, a psychiatrist gave evidence that Stephen Silver displayed behaviour indicative of mental illness during garda interviews following the fatal shooting of Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, Co Roscommon on 17 June 2020. Dr Brenda Wright, interim clinical director at the Central Mental Hospital, told the court that Silver's conduct during five interviews was facetious, contemptuous and hostile, with incongruent and erratic behaviour including grandiose ideas and disinhibited actions. She stated that Silver's mental state at the time was consistent with a manic relapse of bipolar disorder caused by non-compliance with medication, and that this illness impaired his thinking and judgment. The psychiatrist noted Silver's belief that his companion was in MI6 and other indicators of psychological distress. Silver, aged 46, from Aughavard, Foxford, Co Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to capital murder but guilty to manslaughter. The trial continues, with the jury's main consideration being Silver's state of mind at the material time.
A psychiatrist has given evidence at the Central Criminal Court regarding the mental health history of Stephen Silver, aged 46, of Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, who is charged with the murder of Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on June 17, 2020. Dr Brenda Wright, interim clinical director at the Central Mental Hospital, testified about multiple hospital admissions spanning from 2010 to 2019, during which Mr Silver experienced psychotic episodes, paranoid delusions, and aggressive behaviour. Dr Wright told the jury that in interviews conducted after the shooting, Mr Silver described experiencing disturbed sleep, increased alcohol consumption, and paranoid thoughts in the days preceding the incident. Regarding the shooting itself, Mr Silver stated he believed he was struggling for his life and that Gda Horkan had a weapon. Dr Wright concluded that Mr Silver's mental capacity was significantly impaired at the time of the shooting. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The trial continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, solicitor Brendan Hyland testified that he had represented Chrissie Treacy and her brothers for decades, and in 2017 he wrote to Michael Scott urging him to stop threatening and intimidating Treacy over a 42‑acre farm she rented to Scott. Hyland described how Scott had interfered with the letting of the land, damaged fencing, and threatened Treacy's home help, and warned that legal action would follow if he did not cease. He also detailed a dispute in which Scott's solicitor claimed an agreement that Treacy's land would pass to Scott upon her death, which Hyland denied. Treacy's death in 2018, allegedly by Scott's alleged deliberate running over her, is the subject of the trial, with Scott pleading not guilty. The court heard Hyland's evidence on the land dispute and the threats he had documented. The hearing will continue before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury.
A trial date of 24 June 2024 has been set at the Central Criminal Court for Andrei Dobra, 33, accused of murdering 30‑year‑old Ioana Mihaela Pacala on 12 November 2022 at River Walk Court, Ratoath. Dobra, who lives at River Walk Court, Fairyhouse Road, Ratoath, is charged with the murder. His defence, represented by Shane Michael Kelly BL, has requested an interpreter. Psychiatric reports are still pending, with updates expected in March. The judge has scheduled case management for 5 July, requiring all disclosure by that date.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 71‑year‑old man was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for raping and sexually abusing his younger sister from childhood until a final assault when she was heavily pregnant. The court heard that the man began raping his sister when she was 14, fearing pregnancy, and continued indecent assault until she met her future husband. He stopped raping her at that point but assaulted her again in 1983, when she was pregnant. The jury convicted him of 69 counts of indecent assault and rape between 1964 and 1973. The judge noted the victim's repeated attempts to report abuse were dismissed and she was beaten. The defendant, who has no prior convictions, accepted the verdicts but denied rape, and the court found little remorse or insight into his offending. The sentence was imposed with a suspended final year under strict conditions.
A forensic psychiatrist has told the Central Criminal Court that Stephen Silver's mental capacity was significantly impaired at the time Garda Colm Horkan was shot dead at Castlerea, County Roscommon on June 17, 2020. Dr Brenda Wright, interim clinical director at the Central Mental Hospital, gave evidence during Mr Silver's trial that she interviewed the accused on three occasions between August and September 2020. She outlined his extensive psychiatric history, including multiple hospital admissions since 1998 and a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder. Dr Wright stated that when Mr Silver became unwell, he displayed severe psychotic symptoms. A character witness from Castlebar confirmed he had known Mr Silver for 28 years and had observed concerning changes in his behaviour prior to his hospitalisation. Mr Silver, aged 46 of Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The trial before Ms Justice Tara Burns continues.
In a February 2023 hearing, Mr. Gavin Guerrine, aged 31, was warned by Mr. Justice Paul McDermott that any further breaches of his probation could lead to the activation of a five‑year suspended sentence. Guerrine had previously been sentenced in 2011 to ten years, with the last five years suspended, for deliberately running over Christopher O'Rourke in 2009. O'Rourke, who was 17 at the time, suffered severe brain injury, fractures and a serious knee injury, and later died in 2010 from a drug overdose. Guerrine's failure to attend probation appointments, attributed to illness, was cited as a breach. The court emphasized the need for Guerrine to engage with probation services, provide required urinalysis, and participate in training and employment programs, or risk re‑activation of the suspended sentence.
Stephen Rabbitte, 36, was sentenced to 16 years in prison with the final year suspended for the attempted murder of his partner, Audrey Reddin, on 10 April 2021. The court heard that Rabbitte strangled Reddin in bed, then stabbed her in the neck with a knife, leaving the tip embedded in her spine. He also used a slash hook to strike her, causing a broken arm and other injuries. Reddin suffered a broken nose, broken teeth, a stab wound to her left hand, and ongoing pain and PTSD. Rabbitte had pleaded guilty and had a letter of apology. He had 51 prior convictions, including assault and knife possession, and was on a suspended drug sentence at the time of the attack. The sentence was back‑dated to 12 April 2021 and he will appear in Galway Circuit Court on 7 March for reactivation of his suspended sentence.
Michael Scott, 58, of Gortanumera, Portumna, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his aunt, Ms. Treacy, outside her home on 27 April 2018. The trial heard that Scott had perfect vision in his left eye but a severely weakened right eye, which his brain had largely ignored, a fact established by optometrist Trina Staunton. Staunton explained that a single good eye can suffice for a driving licence and that the brain's neglect of the weaker eye limits peripheral vision when reversing. Scott allegedly deliberately ran over Ms. Treacy while reversing an agricultural tractor, an act the prosecution claims stemmed from a long‑running land dispute. Witnesses described prior damage to electric fences, a strained rental relationship, and a history of conflict over land ownership between Scott and Ms. Treacy. The case is before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs with a jury of fifteen.
Inita Romanovska, a 36‑year‑old single mother from Latvia living in Ennis, was charged with attempting to murder Stephen O'Flaherty after an incident at an apartment complex on Henry Street, Limerick, on 11 March 2020. The original indictment included a charge of attempted murder, but at the court's mention she pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of intentionally trying to cause serious harm. The case had been delayed for over two years due to a pandemic‑related backlog. Her defence barrister, Mr Michael Bowman SC, informed Judge Paul McDermott that Romanovska could be arraigned on the second count of the indictment. The judge accepted a request for a pre‑sentence report and directed a victim impact report. Romanovska remains on bail, with her trial date vacated and a sentencing hearing scheduled for 23 May. The incident involved a man she had met on Tinder, and they had gone on several dates but were not in a relationship.
Michael Scott, 58, of Gortanumera, Portumna, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his 76‑year‑old aunt Chrissie Treacy, who was run over by his vehicle outside her home in Derryhiney on 27 April 2018. The Central Criminal Court heard that a witness, Robin Deasy, described Scott as having an "almost childlike" obsession with land and cattle, and that he was motivated only by land. Deasy recalled that Scott had told him he could not "handle that woman at all" and that he had been upset about the land dispute. The prosecution alleged that Scott deliberately ran over his aunt following a long‑running dispute over land. Scott's lawyers said the death was a tragic accident. The trial is before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs with a jury of seven men and eight women. The case remains at the trial stage.
Stephen Silver (46) of Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in connection with the death of Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon, on 17 June 2020. At the Central Criminal Court, Mr Silver gave evidence describing how he discharged the garda's weapon repeatedly during a struggle, stating he believed the officer was an assailant attempting to harm him. He told the jury he continued firing until ammunition was exhausted. The prosecution challenged his account, suggesting he was aware Garda Horkan was a member of An Garda Síochána and arguing that his conduct that evening, including remarks made in the Knockroe estate, indicated an intention to provoke police intervention. The central issue for the jury concerns Mr Silver's state of mind at the time of the incident. Evidence regarding his mental health history, including a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, has been presented. The trial continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns and a jury of twelve.
Earl McKevitt, a 51-year-old man from Avondale Park in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, pleaded guilty to the single charge of murdering Conor O'Brien, 19, at An Seanchrann on Trim Road in Enfield, Co Meath. The alleged incident occurred on a date between August 26 and August 27, 2021, both dates inclusive. Mr John Fitzgerald SC, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, informed Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court that McKevitt could be arraigned on count one of the indictment, noting that further counts may be required in due course. Upon arraignment on Thursday morning, McKevitt admitted to the charge. The judge remanded McKevitt in custody until March 3, when he will be sentenced. This procedural stage constitutes a remand for sentencing rather than a final conclusion of the case.
Stephen Silver (46), from Aughavard in Foxford, County Mayo, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with the murder of Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. He has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. During evidence, Mr Silver described experiencing mental health episodes since age nineteen, including believing himself to be "the second coming of Jesus" and experiencing paranoid delusions. He told the court he has been hospitalised between sixteen and seventeen times and has schizoaffective disorder. On the day of the incident, Mr Silver said he was at a hotel where he became suspicious of companions and believed English builders present were members of the SAS. He stated he checked underneath his van for explosives due to paranoia and fear. The defence argues Mr Silver's state of mind at the time of the shooting is the central issue in the case. The trial before Ms Justice Burns continues.
Stephen Silver (46), from Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court on a charge of murdering Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon, on 17 June 2020. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The jury has been directed that the central issue concerns his state of mind at the time of the shooting. Video footage from his fifth police interview, conducted on 19 June 2020, was viewed in court on Tuesday. In the footage, Mr Silver stated the garda would not be dead had he remained in his vehicle. Detective Inspector Brian Hanley put it to the accused that Garda Horkan had identified himself and announced an arrest for assault, and that Mr Silver was aware of the firearm the garda carried. Mr Silver declined to respond. Witness statements were read to the court, including one from a resident of Castlerea who heard shouting and gunshots in rapid succession.
In the Central Criminal Court, a care worker testified that the dispute over land between Chrissie Treacy and her nephew Michael Scott became more apparent in the ten weeks before Treacy's death. The care worker, who had looked after Treacy from 2016 until her death in April 2018, described Treacy's physical frailty and occasional low mood, noting that she was "subdued" and "down on herself" during that period. She also reported that Treacy's concerns about her welfare were raised with her coordinator. The court heard that Treacy and her brothers farmed about 140 acres at Derryhiney, that after their deaths Michael Scott owned half the land and Treacy owned the other half, and that she had leased both her Derryhiney and Kiltormer farms to him. The trial continues with the case that Michael Scott, aged 58, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his 76‑year‑old aunt on 27 April 2018.
In February 2021, 20‑year‑old Gavin Dooner stole a delivery cyclist's electric bike outside Lidl in East Wall, Dublin. He drove off on his moped with the bike over his shoulder, having previously been seen driving dangerously and smashing windows. Dooner confronted delivery drivers Guillherme Quieroz and George Gonzaga Bento over the theft. Teenager Josh Dunne (16) and friends were nearby, hoping to buy pizza. A confrontation erupted; Dunne was stabbed by Bento, who was later acquitted of murder and other offences. Dooner pleaded guilty to stealing the bike, assault causing harm to Quieroz, dangerous moped driving, driving without licence or insurance, and criminal damage. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment and a four‑year driving disqualification. Tiernan Ryan, who joined the assault later, received nine months' imprisonment. The court noted Dooner's youth, guilty pleas and prior convictions in determining the sentence.
Stephen Silver, aged 46 from Aughavard in Foxford, County Mayo, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court accused of the capital murder of Garda Colm Horkan on June 17th, 2020 at Castlerea, County Roscommon. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to murder while knowing or being reckless as to whether the deceased was a garda acting in the course of duty, but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter. The jury's central consideration concerns the accused's state of mind at the time of the shooting. During interview footage presented to the jury on Monday, Mr Silver disputed accounts provided by witness James Coyne, describing them as "lies, absolute bullsh*t". He claimed Garda Horkan "never at any stage indicated he was a detective" and questioned why identification had not been produced. Mr Silver's behaviour during the interviews included refusing to answer questions, whistling, singing, and at one point claiming to be a captain in a cavalry reserve unit. Detective Inspector Brian Hanley testified that the accused was aggressive, angry and threatening prior to his fourth interview.
A 59‑year‑old Limerick man was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment for raping and repeatedly sexually abusing his partner's daughter, aged 12‑14, over a two‑year period between 1994 and 1997. The jury found him guilty on 31 counts, including sexual assault, oral rape, attempted rape and attempted anal rape, all committed in the family home. He had no acceptance of the offences and no remorse, but the judge noted his otherwise blameless life and financial support for his family. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed concurrent sentences totalling 12 years and ordered six years of post‑release supervision, during which the man must not contact the victim, must be supervised by the probation service and must not be alone with children under 18. The victim, who was not present at sentencing, described lasting trauma, anxiety, depression and complex post‑traumatic stress disorder caused by the abuse.
Paul Clarke, 40, of Muff, Kingscourt, Cavan, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for the rape of a woman in 2007. Clarke had denied the charge, claiming the victim fabricated the allegation to access his inheritance, but was convicted by a jury following a second trial after the first resulted in a hung jury. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor imposed a headline sentence of seven and a half years, which she reduced to six years, taking into account mitigating factors including Clarke's personal circumstances and a psychologist's report detailing memory issues from a 2002 car accident. The judge backdated the sentence to Clarke's initial custody in December and applied 18 months of post-release supervision. During the hearing, the judge acknowledged the victim's dignity and noted her horror that a member of Clarke's legal team had followed her on social media. The judge described Clarke's claim that the victim sought money as "unpleasant, hurtful and ugly." The court heard that the victim, then 22, was asleep in a friend's house when she was raped. She reported the incident in 2017 after years of anxiety and depression. The judge emphasized that the victim should have felt safe in her friend's home but was instead violated. The matter was concluded with the imposition of the six-year custodial sentence and supervision conditions.
Tony Gummerson, aged 42, was sentenced to seven years in prison for sexually assaulting and raping his step‑niece when he was 17 and she was between seven and eight years old, between September 1997 and March 1998. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of four counts of sexual assault, two counts of oral rape and one count of rape. Gummerson had previously been convicted of sexual assault and served a three‑year sentence in 2012. He was babysitting the child at the time and was ten years older, breaching a significant trust. The judge noted the abuse was pre‑meditated and occurred behind closed doors, often after waking the victim from sleep. Gummerson did not accept the verdict, showed no remorse or apology, and the judge imposed a nine‑year sentence with the final two years suspended on conditions. The sentence was back‑dated to his June 2022 custody entry.
The 17‑year‑old who murdered Urantsetseg Tserendorj at 14 has been sentenced to life with a review after 13 years. Judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt noted that current legislation offers no way to suspend part of a juvenile's sentence, leaving an "all or nothing" choice. He said the review will be conducted by a Central Criminal Court judge and that the defendant may apply for parole after 12 years. The review will occur when the boy is 28. He has received concurrent three‑ and two‑year sentences for five other offences committed on the same day, including robbery and theft of a bicycle, all back‑dated to his January 2021 arrest. The judge highlighted the boy's good behaviour in detention and the need for continued rehabilitation. The case was brought to court after the victim's husband and others expressed grief and urged support for the sentencing process. The unnamed 17-year-old pleaded guilty and was found guilty.
A Central Criminal Court jury has heard garda interview footage in which Stephen Silver, charged with the capital murder of Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon, on 17 June 2020, presented varying accounts of the fatal shooting. The accused, who has pleaded not guilty to capital murder but guilty to manslaughter, told detectives on 18 June 2020 that Garda Horkan discharged his own firearm accidentally during a struggle. In the interviews conducted by Detective Inspectors Brian Hanley and Patrick Farrell, Mr Silver initially claimed he did not fire shots, later stating he fired only into the air, before subsequently denying he fired at all. He maintained he acted in self-defence against an armed assailant whilst en route to purchase food. The court was told Mr Silver had been off medication since September and had not slept for approximately thirty hours at the time of interview. The trial, where Mr Silver's state of mind is the central issue, continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns.
In the trial of Michael Scott for the murder of Chrissie Treacy, care workers and witnesses described a tense environment at Treacy's home in Portumna. Susan Keane, a care worker, reported that she had raised concerns about Treacy's welfare due to disputes over land with Scott, and that she had left her duties because the setting was "draining." She also noted that Treacy's beloved dog, Bradley, vanished after the house doors were locked, an event that caused Treacy great distress. Other witnesses, including Caitriona Starr, described ongoing arguments between Scott and Treacy, restrictions on access to the farm's shed, and Treacy's fear of going outside. The prosecution alleges that Scott deliberately ran over Treacy, while the defence maintains it was a tragic accident. The case is being heard by Ms Justice Caroline Biggs with a jury. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
Stephen Silver, a 46-year-old mechanic from Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. He has pleaded guilty to manslaughter. At the Central Criminal Court, the jury heard a video recording of Mr Silver's first interview with gardaí at Castlerea station. In the interview, Mr Silver stated that Garda Horkan initiated a struggle after approaching him on the street, and that the officer went for his gun after losing the ensuing confrontation. Mr Silver told detectives he was certain he would have been killed had he not gained control of the firearm, which he said discharged during the struggle. He said he was "a law-abiding citizen" unaware of the garda's identity. The prosecution presented evidence from Detective Inspector Brian Hanley regarding observations made during the interview. Detective Sergeant Eric Godfrey, who trained with Garda Horkan at Garda College in 1994, gave emotional testimony. The trial continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns and a jury of twelve.
Michael Scott, aged 58, denies murdering his aunt Chrissie Treacy. In a Central Criminal Court hearing, he was reported to have held a gun while discussing "troubles with Chrissie" and saying, "I hope there's none of them people does cross me," allegedly referring to Regina Donohue's family. The prosecution alleges that Scott deliberately ran over Treacy after a long‑running land dispute. Scott's relationship with Donohue had been good but deteriorated over land and lease issues. Donohue, who had worked with the Treacy family, testified that Treacy's financial situation was poor and that she had been under stress, including the disappearance of her dog. The trial continues before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs with a jury of fifteen. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
Stephen Silver, a 46-year-old motorbike mechanic from Foxford, County Mayo, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with the capital murder of Garda Colm Horkan on 17 June 2020 at Castlerea, County Roscommon. He has pleaded not guilty to capital murder but guilty to manslaughter. Prosecution witnesses testified that Silver engaged in ordinary conversation about sport, politics and work with hotel guests on the morning of the garda's death. Forensic and pathology evidence detailed extensive gunshot injuries sustained by the deceased officer. A retired garda sergeant stated that Garda Horkan had escorted Silver to a psychiatric unit following a family incident in 2003. A superintendent confirmed Garda Horkan was temporarily appointed as a detective aid and authorised to carry a firearm in plainclothes duties. The defence has acknowledged Silver's responsibility for the shooting. The trial continues before Justice Tara Burns and a jury of twelve.
At the Central Criminal Court, a witness testified that Stephen Silver (46), of Aughavard, Foxford, Co Mayo, appeared "looking crazy" following the fatal shooting of Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, Co Roscommon on June 17, 2020. The garda was shot eleven times with his own firearm. Ms Makulova, a resident of Castlerea Main Street, told the jury she heard gunshots that she initially mistook for fireworks, and observed a man with a ponytail holding a gun standing beside an injured man on the road. A second witness, business owner Dermot Mulvihill, corroborated hearing explosions and described seeing the man discard an object with a metallic sound. Forensic evidence presented showed a palm print matching Mr Silver's on the gun. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to capital murder but guilty to manslaughter. The defence acknowledged the accused's responsibility for the shooting, with the central issue being his state of mind at the time. The trial, before Ms Justice Tara Burns, continues before a jury of seven men and five women.
The Central Criminal Court heard that a 40‑year‑old woman and her 52‑year‑old partner abused their five‑year‑old daughter and three‑year‑old son. The abuse included repeated rape, forced oral sex, and the girl being glued to a chair. The children later disclosed that the mother forced the girl to perform oral sex on the partner and that the boy was made to perform oral sex on the man. The mother and partner were tried last year and convicted of multiple counts of rape, oral rape, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, false imprisonment and reckless endangerment. The mother was convicted of four counts of sexual assault, four of sexual exploitation, four of oral rape, one of false imprisonment and one of reckless endangerment. The partner was convicted of one count of rape, six of oral rape, one of false imprisonment, one of anal rape and one of sexual assault of the boy.
Stephen Silver, a 46-year-old motorbike mechanic from Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, stands trial at the Central Criminal Court on a charge of capital murder in connection with the death of Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. During proceedings, psychiatric evidence was presented regarding Mr Silver's mental state at the time of arrest. Dr William Monteiro told the court that Mr Silver refused psychiatric assessment but displayed no evidence of active mental illness when observed, appearing lucid and capable of engagement. Dr Greg Kelly, a general practitioner from Castlerea, testified that Mr Silver had disclosed his mental health declined during Covid restrictions and that he had been living in a shed. Dr Kelly noted Mr Silver's demeanour appeared inappropriate for his circumstances and that psychiatric care had diminished due to Covid-related service restrictions. The trial, before Ms Justice Tara Burns, continues.
Stephen Silver, aged 46, of Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with the capital murder of Garda Colm Horkan. The trial heard that Garda Horkan was shot eleven times with his own firearm at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to capital murder but guilty to manslaughter. Civilian witnesses gave evidence that after the shooting, Mr Silver repeatedly told gardaí: "If I hadn't killed him, he would have killed me." Garda witnesses testified that Mr Silver was agitated and aggressive in custody, and that he later spat at officers and urinated on the floor of his cell. During cross-examination, the defence counsel indicated that Mr Silver's state of mind at the time of the incident remains the central issue in dispute. The trial continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns.
The Central Criminal Court adjourned sentencing of a 17‑year‑old convicted of murdering Urantsetseg Tserendorj to allow the Oireachtas to consider legislative reform for juvenile serious offenders. Judge Tony Hunt noted the Children Act 2001 lacks provisions for suspended sentences or post‑release conditions, making a 13‑year review unsuitable. He preferred a life detention with review but, due to the law's gaps, would have to impose a life sentence without review. The defendant, 14 at the time of the offence, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was found guilty of murder. The judge highlighted the victim's background, the violent nature of the stabbing, the defendant's prior convictions, and mitigating factors such as family support and rehabilitation signs. The sentencing was postponed to 22 February pending legislative response.
At the Central Criminal Court, a garda recounted attending to her colleague Garda Colm Horkan after he was fatally shot at Castlerea, Co Roscommon on 17 June 2020. Garda Helen Gillen described witnessing two men grappling before one was shot multiple times with his own firearm. She performed CPR on Garda Horkan after realising he was the victim. Stephen Silver, aged 46, a motorbike mechanic from Foxford, Co Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to capital murder but guilty to manslaughter. The trial heard evidence from eyewitness James Coyne, who was with Silver that evening, describing how an interaction with Garda Horkan escalated into violence. Another witness, Paul McGarry, a local resident, testified to hearing gunshots and disturbances in the area. The defence has indicated that Silver's state of mind at the time remains the central issue, with responsibility for the shooting accepted. The trial continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns.
Mr Justice Paul McDermott, a senior judge at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, criticised the persistent delays affecting criminal trials. He noted that only three of the ten trials scheduled for the day were ready to proceed, while seven were adjourned. McDermott highlighted that some of these cases had been listed since 2020, and that the courts have been offering case‑management support to lawyers. He accused barristers of presenting "tales of woe" about predictable issues, such as difficulties in obtaining reports from government agencies, late disclosure by the Director of Public Prosecutions, and unready expert reports. The judge also mentioned the challenges faced by complainants, especially in murder cases, and the impact on families of the bereaved. His remarks underscored the need for accountability to address the systemic causes of trial delays.
In February 2023, William O'Riordan, a 48‑year‑old farm labourer from Banteer, Cork, was sentenced to one year in prison for sexually abusing his niece on three occasions between September 2001 and March 2006. He pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual abuse at a location in County Cork. The judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, noted O'Riordan's reduced cognitive function but also that he understood his actions were wrong and showed no remorse. The sentence was suspended for two years, with conditions that he keep the peace and behave well for three years. The victim, who was nine to ten at the time, described the abuse as devastating, stating she no longer wanted to stay at her grandmother's home and feared future harm to her children. O'Riordan's mother, an elderly woman in her 80s, has been affected by the case, delaying her surgery and relying on O'Riordan for care.