Dean Paget, 34, pleaded guilty to attempting to murder his former partner Lisa Ward and to intentionally ending the life of their unborn child. At a Central Criminal Court sentencing hearing, Judge Paul McDermott imposed a 14‑year sentence, with the final 12 months suspended for two years on the condition that Paget work with probation services and continue treatment for drug and alcohol addiction. The court considered Paget's violent assault on Ward on 25 April 2021, during which he punched, kicked, choked and threatened her, and threatened to "rip" their unborn daughter, Ruby Rose, out of her. CCTV evidence showed a series of vicious assaults and appalling threats. Paget's guilty plea and admission of remorse were noted as mitigating factors, but the judge emphasised the severe and terrifying nature of the violence and the lasting impact on Ward. The suspended portion of the sentence was tied to addressing violence and addiction issues.
A 34‑year‑old man, Charles McClean of St Mark's Grove, Clondalkin, has been charged with the murder of gangland figure Mark 'Guinea Pig' Desmond, who was shot at least three times at Griffeen Valley Park, Lucan, on 2 December 2016. Mr Justice Paul McDermott set the trial for 29 January 2024, with all disclosure to be finished by 22 May 2023. Desmond, aged 41 at death, had links to dissident republicans and the drug trade in west Dublin. He had earlier faced, but had those charges dropped, the murder of two men in 1999.
A man has been found not guilty of attempted murder by reason of insanity following a trial at the Central Criminal Court. The jury returned the special verdict in the case of Neil O'Dowd, who was charged with stabbing his former employer 19 times at The Elphin Pub on the Baldoyle Road in Sutton on January 28, 2021. The victim sustained serious injuries including a pseudoaneurysm requiring surgical intervention. Medical evidence presented to the court indicated that O'Dowd was experiencing a psychotic episode at the time, consistent with paranoid schizophrenia, and did not know the nature or wrongfulness of his actions. Two forensic psychiatrists agreed on his mental state. The jury deliberated for 28 minutes before returning a unanimous verdict. The matter has been adjourned to February 15 for assessment of O'Dowd's current mental health status, with O'Dowd remanded on continuing bail.
A jury has been discharged in the trial of Stephen Silver at the Central Criminal Court following difficulty raised by one juror. Mr Silver, aged 46, a motorbike mechanic from Aughavard in Foxford, Co Mayo, faces a charge of murdering Garda Colm Horkan, aged 49, at Castlerea, Co Roscommon on 17 June 2020. He has pleaded not guilty to capital murder and guilty to manslaughter. The original jury of twelve was sworn in on Monday and the prosecution opened its case on Tuesday. However, when proceedings resumed on Wednesday morning, a juror indicated an inability to continue serving. Justice Tara Burns determined it inappropriate to proceed with eleven jurors and discharged the entire panel. Both prosecution and defence agreed this course was preferable. A fresh jury panel was expected to be sworn in later that day to commence the trial afresh.
A 35-year-old man charged with the attempted murder of a pub manager in Baldoyle has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity at the Central Criminal Court. The accused is alleged to have stabbed the victim 19 times at The Elphin Pub on Baldoyle Road on 28 January 2021. Two forensic psychiatrists giving evidence for the prosecution and defence have told the jury that the accused was experiencing profound psychosis at the time of the alleged incident. Both experts diagnosed the man with a psychotic disorder and testified that severe delusions—including false beliefs about the victim's involvement in an unsolved murder—had severely impaired his judgement. The psychiatrists stated that his condition would have prevented him from understanding the nature of his actions. Both doctors recommended that a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity should be considered. The prosecution and defence have agreed on the facts of the case, with the jury to determine whether the requisite intent was present. The unnamed 35-year-old was acquitted.
A 35-year-old man charged with the attempted murder of his former employer at a public house in Baldoyle has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity at the Central Criminal Court. The accused is alleged to have stabbed the manager of the Elphin Pub on the Baldoyle Road on 28 January 2021, inflicting 19 stab wounds across the victim's shoulders, chest and hands using three separate knives. The victim also sustained a serious cardiac injury requiring surgical intervention. During trial, the prosecution and defence agreed on the factual circumstances of the incident. Evidence heard indicated the accused, who formerly worked as a barman at the establishment, told gardaí he believed his former boss was responsible for an unsolved murder in Mauritius. The defence presented that the accused was experiencing psychotic delusions and paranoia in the weeks preceding the assault. Two medical reports for both prosecution and defence were to be considered regarding the accused's mental state at the time of the alleged offence.
The Central Criminal Court heard that an 18‑year‑old teenage rapist, who has had 12 Garda interactions in a West of Ireland town since moving there four months ago, is now facing a trial for sexual assault. The court was told by a Tusla official that all State services are working together to assist with his rehousing. The defendant, who was previously sentenced in May 2022 to a five‑year prison term suspended for three years on strict conditions, was remanded in custody for the new charge. He is also before the District Court for failing to notify Garda of his address under the Sex Offenders Act. A Probation Service official explained that the main issue is suitable accommodation, and that Waterford County Council is willing to conduct a housing assessment pending his release.
At the Central Criminal Court, Stephen Silver, aged 46, a motorbike mechanic from Foxford, County Mayo, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Garda Colm Horkan on June 17, 2020, at Castlerea, County Roscommon. He has pleaded guilty to manslaughter. The prosecution opening alleged that following an encounter on the main street in Castlerea, Mr Silver engaged in a struggle with the uniformed officer, seized his firearm, and discharged it multiple times, causing fatal injuries. The court heard that Mr Silver told gardai at the scene that the deceased had attempted to attack him. The defence intends to raise issues of bipolar disorder and diminished responsibility due to mental health difficulties. The trial, before Ms Justice Tara Burns and a jury of twelve, is expected to last six weeks. The main disputed issue concerns Mr Silver's state of mind at the time of the incident.
Charles McClean, aged 32, of St Mark's Drive, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty in the Central Criminal Court to facilitating a criminal organisation in the fatal shooting of Thomas McCarthy. The indictment alleges that between 25 January and 27 July 2020, McClean, knowing of the organisation's existence, intentionally or recklessly performed an act to aid the murder. Mark Lee, also 32 from Balgaddy, Lucan, admitted the same charge for the period 26–27 July 2020. Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned the case to 6 March for mention.
A man accused of murdering his mother in a house fire in Donegal has had his trial date set for April 8, 2024 at the Central Criminal Court. Geunter Lohse, aged 61, is charged with the murder of Ruth Lohse at Coolvoy, Doochary on April 12, 2022. The defendant appeared before Mr Justice Paul McDermott via videolink on January 31, 2023, when the trial date was fixed. The trial is expected to last approximately one and a half weeks. The court heard that psychiatric evidence will be necessary, with a preliminary report already received and a full report anticipated within several months. Mr Justice McDermott remanded Mr Lohse in custody and scheduled case management for May 5, 2023, directing that all disclosure be completed by that date.
A 32‑year‑old man from Balgaddy, Lucan, pleaded guilty to facilitating a criminal organisation in the murder of Thomas McCarthy in Dublin. Mark Lee appeared briefly at the Central Criminal Court, where he entered his plea. The charge alleges that between 26 and 27 July 2020, with knowledge of the organisation, Lee intentionally or recklessly committed an act to facilitate the murder. Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned the matter to 6 March and ordered a probation report.
Dean Paget, 36, pleaded guilty to attempting to murder his former partner Lisa Ward, who was 32 weeks pregnant, and to intentionally ending the life of their unborn child. At the Central Criminal Court, CCTV footage showed Paget repeatedly kicking and punching Ward as they walked along Dame Street toward a tent on Montague Lane on 25 April 2021. He shouted, "I'll rip her out of you," and later called the unborn child a "bastard." Ward, aged 32, was taken to the Rotunda Hospital in a distraught state; medical tests found no fetal heartbeat and a placental abruption likely caused by the assault. Paget's 68 prior convictions include robbery, violent behaviour and drug offences. He expressed remorse during the hearing, apologised to Ward, and was remanded in custody pending sentencing on 7 February. Ward's statement described the lasting emotional pain and her loss of hope for a child.
A jury of six men and six women has been sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the trial of a man charged with the murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan. Stephen Silver, aged 46, of Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, pleads not guilty to capital murder in relation to the death of Det Gda Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. He has entered a guilty plea to manslaughter. Justice Eileen Creedon advised the jury that proceedings are expected to extend over six weeks. The defence is expected to raise matters concerning bipolar disorder and diminished responsibility on grounds of mental health difficulties. The trial, led by Justice Tara Burns, commences tomorrow at 11am before the sworn jury.
A man from Buncrana, County Donegal has been sentenced to five years imprisonment, with the final two years suspended for two years, following his conviction for rape. Francis Bourne, aged 47, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to raping a woman at her home in Donegal in November 2016. The woman was asleep when the offence occurred. During sentencing, the court heard that the complainant has since experienced nightmares, depression and suicidal ideation. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed strict conditions including a prohibition on any contact with the woman. In mitigation, the court considered Bourne's guilty plea, expression of remorse, lack of previous convictions and voluntary work in his community. A psychological assessment indicated medium risk of reoffending. The investigation began after the woman reported the matter to gardaí in June 2017, and subsequent evidence included admissions made by Bourne via text message.
Patrick Murphy, 36, of Kilcogan, Co Galway, was found guilty in the Central Criminal Court of six sexual assaults on two girls and eight counts of sexual assault on their seven‑year‑old cousin, plus eight counts of oral and anal rape of a boy. The offences occurred between 1999 and 2004 when Murphy was aged 12 to 17, with some taking place before he reached the age of criminal responsibility. The victims, who are sisters and a cousin, reported the abuse in 2017 and the case was brought to court. Murphy pleaded not guilty and maintains no memory of the acts, though he has expressed remorse. Justice Paul McDermott sentenced him to six years for the rape offences, with two and a half years for the sexual assaults, to run consecutively, and suspended the final year of an eight‑and‑a‑half‑year term on condition of participation in sexual offending programmes.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, 22‑year‑old Bajo Ziflai was found guilty of four counts of rape and one count of sexual assault against a 23‑year‑old woman he met on a dating website. He had given her a false name and arranged to meet at a house where he forced her to submit to repeated sexual violence despite her clear refusal. The victim suffered PTSD and depression, and her impact statement described ongoing flashbacks and self‑harm. Ziflai, who had no prior convictions, has been in custody since the attack. Justice Eileen Creedon sentenced him to ten years' imprisonment, suspending the final year, and ordered his placement on the Sex Offenders Register. He maintains the allegations are fabricated and refuses to apologise or accept the verdict.
The Central Criminal Court heard submissions in the case of an unnamed boy, now 17, who was 14 when he murdered Mongolian national Urantsetseg Tserendorj on January 20, 2021. The boy pleaded not guilty to the murder but guilty to manslaughter on January 29, 2021. The State did not accept his plea, and he twice stood trial for her murder. A reduced panel jury found him guilty of murder by a majority verdict of 10 to one after eight hours and 59 minutes of deliberations. He also pleaded guilty to producing a knife and attempting to rob Ms Tserendorj on a walkway between George's Dock and Custom House Quay in the IFSC, Dublin on January 20, 2021. Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned the sentence hearing until next month to allow him time to consider the options available to him. The judge raised concerns about the lack of statutory basis for sentence reviews in cases involving minors, noting that the Court of Appeal has ruled that suspended sentences cannot be imposed on minors. The matter was adjourned and never described as concluded or finalised.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, farmer Michael Scott, aged 58, is accused of murdering his 76‑year‑old aunt Christine Treacy after a long‑running land dispute. The prosecution alleges that Scott deliberately ran over Treacy with his agricultural teleporter outside her home in Derryhiney, Portumna, on 27 April 2018. Witness Francis Hardiman, a neighbour and cousin of Treacy, testified that after the incident Scott was hysterical, crying and shouting "I can't deal with this" and that he later grabbed a double‑barrel shotgun from his jeep. Hardiman described Scott's emotional state and the scene where Treacy's body was found lying face‑down on concrete near the teleporter, with tyre marks on her trousers. The defence maintains that Treacy's death was a tragic accident, while the prosecution seeks a murder conviction based on intent. The trial continues before Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury of fifteen. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
Derek Reid, 35, of Clonliffe Road, Dublin 3, was jailed for five and a half years after repeatedly attacking, degrading and sexually assaulting his then partner over a six‑day period in March 2018. He slapped her, choked her, head‑butted her, dragged her by the hair, sat on her chest and forced her to give him oral sex while threatening her family. He also held her in her flat against her will, threatened to make her son go missing and defecated on her bed. Reid pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault and to false imprisonment. The court imposed concurrent sentences of six and a half years for the sexual assaults, suspending the final year, and five and a half years for the false imprisonment, with conditions to keep the peace, attend drug and alcohol treatment and remain drug‑free. The victim described the ordeal as a "nightmare on repeat.".
Lorcan Merriman, aged 26, had his sentence increased by two years after the Court of Appeal reviewed his conviction for disposing of the firearm used in the cold‑blooded assassination of Thomas Farnan, a 37‑year‑old who was shot dead at his home in Clondalkin on 25 April 2016. Merriman had previously pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of disposing of a firearm and was sentenced to four years' imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended. The appeal court found that the original judge had erred by reducing the sentence from the appropriate six years with 18 months suspended to four years with 18 months suspended, and therefore quashed the original sentence and substituted a six‑year term with 18 months suspended. The decision was based on evidence that Merriman's dwelling had yielded a submachine gun, two magazines and 25 rounds of ammunition, and on his extensive record of prior convictions from 2014 to 2019.
A 58‑year‑old farmer, Michael Scott of Gortanumera, Portumna, has been brought before the Central Criminal Court on a murder charge. He is accused of driving a JCB tractor over his 76‑year‑old aunt, Christine 'Chrissie' Treacy, in a yard outside her home at Derryhiny on the afternoon of 27 April 2018. The prosecution, represented by Dean Kelly SC, argues that the incident was not an accident but a deliberate act carried out in the context of a long‑running land dispute that had eroded the relationship between the parties. Mr Kelly described the case as a "most terrible and dark" crime, noting that Mr Scott had a sense of being wronged and that he "callously and wilfully" drove over his aunt. Mr Scott has pleaded not guilty. The trial, which may last up to ten weeks, is set to continue tomorrow.
In a murder trial held at the Central Criminal Court, a 24‑year‑old man named Oliver Doran pleaded guilty to the axe murder of Kwok Ping Cheng, a 76‑year‑old vulnerable pensioner. The victim's mutilated body was discovered covered in blood in the living room of his own home at Robinson's Court, Cork Street, Dublin 8, on 28–29 April 2021. Doran had initially pleaded not guilty but, after discussions with his counsel, chose to enter a guilty plea on the third day of the trial. He expressed remorse and requested forgiveness from Cheng's family, providing a letter to be given to them. The court accepted the plea, directed a probation report and victim impact statements, and remanded Doran in custody for sentencing. The jury heard that Cheng died from multiple traumatic injuries, including a fractured skull and arm, chop wounds, bruises and lacerations, caused by an axe.
CCTV footage shows Oliver Doran entered the home of 76‑year‑old Kwok Ping Cheng at Robinson's Court, Dublin, through a rear window on 28/29 April 2021 and stayed for about an hour and thirteen minutes. He allegedly dropped an "axe‑like tool" after leaving the flat and tried to retrieve it, falling in the process. Doran, who lives at Sophia Housing, Cork Street, has pleaded not guilty to the murder. The trial heard that Doran claimed he killed Cheng with an axe he had brought from his own home, but he could not recall details due to intoxication. Witnesses, including the victim's son and a neighbour, described finding Cheng's body covered in blood and with multiple broken bones and scalp lacerations, injuries consistent with an axe blow. The case is being heard by the Central Criminal Court with a jury of nine women and three men.
The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal of a 78‑year‑old man convicted of raping and sexually abusing a child over a decade while he was in a relationship with the child's mother. The man was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment in 2021 for 72 counts, including rape, oral rape, anal rape and sexual assault, committed between 1991 and 2001. He argued that Gardaí failed to interview potential witnesses such as a grandmother and an uncle, who are now deceased, and that the investigation was incomplete. The appeal judge, Mr Justice John Edwards, found no evidence that the failure to interview those witnesses prejudiced the case and upheld the conviction. The State is appealing the sentence as unduly lenient, but the appeal against the conviction was rejected.
Bryan Kennedy, aged 35, was sentenced by the Central Criminal Court to four‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment for attempting to hire a hitman to murder two women who were exchanging intimate online messages with his former wife. The judge, Ms Justice Caroline Biggs, adjourned the sentence until 17 April to allow the child‑care agency Tusla to arrange support for Kennedy's children, who are his primary carers. Kennedy had previously been convicted of possession of child pornography, but the judge noted the images were few and old. He paid €8,000 to the would‑be assassin, named only as AL, after learning of the couple's online contact with his ex‑wife. Kennedy pleaded guilty, admitted the plan, and expressed remorse, citing depression and a difficult personal life.
A 27-year-old Donegal man has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a teenager as she slept at his home on 4 June 2017. The Central Criminal Court heard that the then-19-year-old was staying at the accused's apartment when the assault occurred. The woman provided a victim impact statement describing the profound effects of the offence over the subsequent five and a half years, including flashbacks, nightmares, and lost family support. She expressed how the ordeal had been life-changing but stated she now views herself as a survivor rather than a victim. The accused initially claimed the contact was consensual but now accepts he caused harm to a woman who did nothing to provoke the assault. Defence counsel noted the accused had been drinking, which does not excuse the crime. Mr Justice McDermott adjourned finalisation of the case to April 2023 to allow completion of a probation report and full mitigation hearing. The judge remarked that the five and a half year delay had compounded the complainant's suffering.
A Central Criminal Court judge agreed to postpone sentencing for a 17‑year‑old Kildare teenager who was found guilty of orally raping his seven‑year‑old female cousin and of four counts of sexual assault between 1 October and 31 December 2018. The defendant, who was 13 at the time of the offences, is a minor and cannot be named. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, after hearing the case, decided to adjourn the matter for two weeks to allow the defence to lodge an appeal application to the Court of Appeal. She noted the trial was unusual, with no closing speech by defence counsel and no cross‑examination, so the victim did not attend court. The judge expressed that a period of detention would be imposed, taking mitigating factors such as the defendant's age and cooperation into account, and that the sentences would run concurrently.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, witness James Ellis testified that he discovered the body of Kwok Ping Cheng, 76, in his sheltered accommodation on 29 April 2021. Ellis said he had visited the pensioner's home several times a week to check on him, and that on that morning he entered the apartment, found Cheng "covered in blood" in the sitting room, and called emergency services. State Pathologist Dr Heidi Okkers gave evidence that Cheng suffered multiple broken bones and scalp lacerations, most likely caused by an axe, and that his death was due to hypovolemic shock from blood loss. The accused, Oliver Doran, 24, pleaded not guilty to the murder, claiming he was intoxicated and could not remember much of the incident. The prosecution presented CCTV footage and DNA evidence linking Doran to the axe used in the killing. The trial continues before Mr Justice David Keane and a jury.
Clare Parsons, wife of the 34‑year‑old Vincent Parsons, gave a victim‑impact statement at the Central Criminal Court after the mandatory life sentences were imposed on Philip Disney (27) and Sean Carlyle (30). She described her husband as a loving, gentle family man who had never been aggressive. She said she was in denial when she first heard the news of his death, that the body was returned to her after ten days, and that the loss had shattered her family's life. She recalled the fear she felt when she realised he had been murdered, the long wait to see him, and the emotional toll of losing him. She thanked the court, the jury, the police and the public for their support, and said she would never get Vincent back but that justice had been served. The statement was read in plain Irish‑English prose and did not speculate on future outcomes.
A 30‑year‑old Dublin man was jailed for six and a half years after pleading guilty to one count of oral rape of his six‑year‑old daughter between February 2019 and February 2020. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of child sex abuse material on his home on 7 December 2019. The Central Criminal Court, presided over by Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, described the offence as a "fundamental breach of trust" and noted that the victim's bodily integrity and safety were violated. Gardaí seized phones during a May 2020 search of the family home, revealing videos of child sex abuse material and a scene of the man helping another person to engage in a sex act with an animal.
The trial of 24‑year‑old Oliver Doran, charged with the murder of 76‑year‑old Kwok Ping Cheng in his own flat in Robinson's Court, was postponed on 12 January 2023 because of a minor technical issue. Doran, who lives at Sophia Housing, Cork Street, pleaded not guilty. The case was scheduled to start at the Central Criminal Court that day, but Mr Justice David Keane informed the jury that the prosecution would not open its case due to the technical difficulties. He instructed the jury not to research the case or discuss it outside the courtroom and to base their decision solely on the evidence presented. The trial was rescheduled to begin the following day at 11 a.m. The State's case is presented by Anne‑Marie Lawlor SC, while Michael Bowman SC represents the defence. The trial is expected to last about three weeks.
A 24‑year‑old man, Oliver Doran, is on trial for the murder of 76‑year‑old Kwok Ping Cheng in the victim's flat on Cork Street, Dublin, in 2021. Doran pleaded not guilty. The case is being presented by Anne‑Marie Lawlor SC for the State and defended by Michael Bowman SC. Mr Justice Paul McDermott set the trial for two weeks, possibly a third, and thanked the jury for their participation. The trial will begin tomorrow at 2 pm before Mr Justice David Keane with a jury of nine women and three men.
During the sentencing hearing at the Central Criminal Court, the husband of the murdered Mongolian national Urantsetseg Tserendorj, aged 49, delivered a victim impact statement expressing the profound loss and mental anguish he and his children suffered after the murder. The court heard that the 16‑year‑old accused, who was 14 at the time of the offence, had 31 previous convictions, including robbery, violence and drug offences. He denied the murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter on 29 January 2021, a plea the State did not accept. The jury returned a guilty verdict after nearly nine hours of deliberation. The victim was stabbed in the neck on a walkway between George's Dock and Custom House Quay in the IFSC, Dublin, on 20 January 2021, and died the following evening due to lack of oxygen caused by the stab wound.
A 17‑year‑old Louth boy pleaded guilty to four counts of anal rape, one count of rape, two counts of sexual exploitation and one count of sexual assault against his young niece and cousin, aged nine to ten, between November 2019 and March 2020. The offences occurred in the boy's home, a place considered a "safe space" by the children and their parents. At the Central Criminal Court, Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring described the acts as a "breach of trust" and noted the lack of a risk assessment regarding the boy's future offending. She imposed a three‑year detention sentence, ordered 18 months of post‑release supervision by Probation Services, and prohibited any contact with the victims. The court also considered the boy's guilty plea, prior good character, expressions of remorse and engagement with services as mitigating factors. The boy will remain in Oberstown until he completes his exams before being moved to an adult prison.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 21 December 2022, Brendan Murray, aged 63, was remanded to the Central Mental Hospital pending a psychiatric report due on 28 December. The court, after a jury found him not guilty of murdering his 88‑year‑old mother, Neasa Murray, by reason of insanity, directed that he remain detained until the report. Counsel for Murray noted that the court could extend the committal period up to six months. The trial had heard that Murray claimed the Holy Spirit commanded him to punch, choke, and sexually assault his mother, though no evidence of sexual assault was found. Forensic psychiatrist Dr Brenda Wright testified that his schizoaffective disorder prevented him from understanding the wrongfulness of his actions. The jury's verdict was not guilty by reason of insanity. The court will not retain jurisdiction without due cause. The case remains pending the psychiatric assessment.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal of a 71-year-old Polish national, who was convicted of two counts of rape contrary to common law and four counts of rape under Section 4 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act 1990. The appellant, who had pleaded not guilty, argued that his trial at the Central Criminal Court was unfair because the complainant alleged during cross-examination that he had Russian mafia links and had murdered a man in Russia. Counsel for the appellant, Michael Bowman SC, contended these prejudicial remarks should have led to the jury's discharge. However, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, presiding, found that the trial judge, Ms Justice Tara Burns, did not err in refusing to discharge the jury. The judge noted that the defence failed to make a prompt application for discharge when the prejudicial evidence emerged, instead waiting until after the prosecution's case concluded. The Court of Appeal determined that the trial judge's direction to the jury to disregard the irrelevant material was clear and unambiguous. Consequently, the conviction stands. The appellant had previously been sentenced to imprisonment by Ms Justice Burns, who described the offences as treating the victim like a slave and sex object between September 2012 and January 2016. The Director of Public Prosecutions, represented by Patrick McGrath SC, supported the dismissal, arguing the defence was attempting to reconstruct the trial strategy. The matter was concluded with the appeal failing.
Ciprian Grozavu, 48, a Romanian national, was convicted of murdering John Forrester, 42, in 2011 at Bridge House, Bandon. The body was tied with cable and dumped in the River Bandon. A 10‑day trial at the Central Criminal Court ended with a unanimous jury verdict and a mandatory life sentence imposed by Mr Justice Paul Carney in March 2014. In December 2022, Mr Justice George Birmingham dismissed a motion by Lorcan Staines SC that the jury should have received a warning about circumstantial evidence. The judge held that the case was based on direct evidence, including admissions by Grozavu and witnesses, and that neither side had requested a warning. The dismissal meant the appeal was not pursued. Grozavu's co‑accused, Catherine O'Connor, also pleaded guilty to the murder of Forrester and was sentenced to life. Grozavu was later found guilty of a second murder, Jonathan Duke, and received an eight‑year sentence for impeding the apprehension of another. Catherine O'Connor was acquitted.
The trial of Christina Anderson, 41, accused of murdering Gareth Kelly, 39, will resume after Christmas. Anderson, a mother of three from Brownsbarn Wood, Kingswood, Dublin 22, is charged with stabbing Kelly five times as he tried to start his car outside her home on 25 February 2020. She pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The court heard from consultant psychiatrist Dr Brenda Wright, who said Anderson suffered from bipolar affective disorder at the time of the stabbing and could not refrain from the killing. Dr Wright also noted that Anderson believed Kelly posed a threat to her family, giving her a moral justification for the act. Dr Wright discussed Professor Harry Kennedy's report, which disagrees with her findings and suggests cannabis intoxication rather than psychosis. The trial will continue in January before the jury and Ms Justice O'Connor.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 63‑year‑old Brendan Murray was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of his 88‑year‑old mother, Neasa Murray. The jury, after less than 30 minutes, accepted the defence's argument that Murray was undergoing a psychotic episode of schizo‑affective disorder and therefore lacked the capacity to understand that his actions were wrong. The prosecution had presented evidence of Murray's mental illness, including testimony from psychiatrist Dr. Brenda Wright, who confirmed that he believed he was directed by God or the Holy Spirit. The judge, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, directed that Murray be committed to the Central Mental Hospital pending a psychiatric assessment. No other charges or convictions were discussed in the article. The case concluded with the jury's verdict and the court's commitment order.
Aaron Connolly, aged 23, was sentenced to a mandatory life term for the murder of 18‑year‑old Cameron Reilly on 26 May 2018 in Dunleer. The court heard that Connolly and Reilly had been part of a group that gathered for an outdoor party, later leaving to get food. At about 12:40 am, Connolly and Reilly were last seen together; Reilly's body was found the next morning, with a post‑mortem indicating death by asphyxia or external pressure from a chokehold or rough surface. DNA from a swab taken from Reilly matched a sample provided by Connolly. Connolly denied any sexual activity with Reilly, but evidence from witnesses and his own admissions suggested otherwise. The judge, Mr Justice Hunt, imposed the life sentence, noting Connolly's youth but that Reilly would never recover from the night's events. The family, represented by uncle Darren Flanagan, expressed profound grief and highlighted the impact of the loss. Aaron Connolly pleaded not guilty.
Joe McCabe, aged 21, pleaded guilty in the Central Criminal Court to one count of sexual assault against a 16‑year‑old friend at his home in Maynooth between 2 and 31 March 2018. He was 17 at the time of the offence. The victim, now 21, gave consent for his name to be disclosed. At the hearing, Justice Karen O'Connor remanded McCabe in custody before sentencing. She imposed an 18‑month sentence, suspended in full on a number of conditions, noting that he must be sentenced as a minor and that detention should be a last resort. The judge highlighted the victim's catastrophic life impact, her disrupted education, ongoing depression, anxiety and flashbacks, and the significant and ongoing effect on her daily life. McCabe's guilty plea and the fact that the victim avoided trial were taken into account as mitigating factors.
A 41‑year‑old woman, Lisa Lee of Conyngham Road, Dublin, was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury of discarding a knife that was used in the stabbing of Isaac Horgan, which later caused Horgan's death. Lee denied that she threw the knife away knowing or believing that Noel Lennon had caused serious harm to Horgan. The charge was altered during the trial when it was established that Horgan died after Lee had disposed of the knife. Lennon, 48, was initially charged with Horgan's murder but pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter, with sentencing scheduled for January. The State's case was that Lee, in the company of Lennon, went to Horgan's flat and that Lennon stabbed Horgan in the leg, causing a fatal arterial bleed.
A man serving a mandatory life sentence for the murder of his infant son has appealed his conviction at the Court of Appeal, challenging the admissibility of postmortem evidence presented during his trial. John Tighe of Lavallyroe, Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo was convicted in March 2018 of murdering his six-and-a-half-month-old son in June 2013. The defence argues the trial judge erred in admitting extracts from a postmortem report prepared by the former Deputy State Pathologist, who was unavailable to attend trial and be cross-examined. Instead, evidence was presented through an alternative pathologist via video link. The defence contends this breached fair trial principles by preventing meaningful challenge to the original findings. The State's counsel argued the subsequent expert was called based on independent medical recommendations and provided his own assessment of the evidence. The three-judge court reserved judgment. John Tighe pleaded not guilty.
A 17‑year‑old boy from Louth pleaded guilty to four counts of anal rape, one count of rape, two counts of sexual exploitation and one count of sexual assault against his niece and cousin, aged nine to ten, between November 2019 and March 2020. The court heard that the boy, who had been a good student and sportsman, lured the girls to his bedroom under the pretext of playing with his X‑box, forced them to lie face down on the bed and anally raped them in front of each other, and also vaginally raped one girl, causing her to bleed. He sent the other girl photographs of his erect penis and made her watch adult pornography, later demanding screenshots as proof. The abuse was discovered in April 2020 when the girls' sisters saw messages on the victim's phone. The girls did not give victim impact statements and have not received counselling, though their parents will if needed.
In the Central Criminal Court, a toxicologist, Dr Johann Grundlingh, testified that it is "extremely unlikely" Christina Anderson was still intoxicated from cannabis when she stabbed Gareth Kelly to death outside her home. He explained that cannabis effects typically last one to three hours and, given Anderson's last cigarette at about 10 pm the previous evening and the stabbing at about 7 am, intoxication would not have persisted. Anderson, 41, is charged with murdering Kelly, 39, who was stabbed five times as he tried to start his car on 25 February 2020. She pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Dr Brenda Wright, a forensic psychiatrist, had earlier testified that Anderson had bipolar affective disorder, leading her to falsely believe Kelly posed a danger to her and her family, and that her mental condition prevented her from refraining from stabbing him.
A 44‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for choking and assaulting his 31‑year‑old partner over three separate incidents in 2017 and 2018. The court found him guilty of three counts of assault causing harm, each occurring in their Waterford home. He had previously been acquitted of rape and had earlier convictions for assault and public order offences. The judge noted a pattern of controlling behaviour, including restricting the victim's social life and demanding her work schedule. The final 12 months of the 27‑month sentence were suspended for two years on strict conditions, and the man must be supervised by Probation Services for 12 months after release. The sentence was imposed concurrently for all three counts and backdated to the date he entered custody.
In a Dublin murder trial, Philip Disney (27) and Sean Carlyle (30) were found guilty by a unanimous jury of killing Vincent Parsons, a 34‑year‑old father of two, on 26 August 2019. Parsons had been drinking at a stag do in the Killinarden Inn when he became "messy" and irritated patrons. CCTV showed Disney and Carlyle confronting Parsons, with Disney raising an arm and pointing at him. After Parsons left the pub, the men entered a black van, returned to a green area on Killinarden Way, and beat him to death. They then drove to Carlyle's home, changed clothes, and later returned to the pub to create an alibi. The jury, after 4 h 48 min of deliberation, returned a life‑sentence verdict, and the case was adjourned to 13 January for a victim impact statement. The trial highlighted CCTV evidence, blood on Carlyle's shorts, and forensic testimony regarding Parsons' cause of death.
Christina Anderson, aged 41, was charged with murdering Gareth Kelly, 39, who was stabbed five times on 25 February 2020 while attempting to start his car outside her home. In the Central Criminal Court, Dr Brenda Wright, a consultant psychiatrist, testified that Anderson was suffering a relapse of bipolar affective disorder and believed she was morally justified in killing Kelly to protect her family. She was unable to refrain from the act because she perceived an immediate danger, a delusional belief that her family was in imminent peril. Dr Wright found Anderson's capacity to form intent impaired by her mental disorder, not by cannabis or alcohol use. Anderson pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The trial was ongoing before Ms Justice Karen O'Connor with a jury of twelve.
Cameron Reilly, a 19‑year‑old DKIT student, left his grandmother's house on a Friday in May 2018 to meet friends near the Glen Dimplex factory. Between 12:40 am and 1:40 am on 26 May, Aaron Connolly, two weeks older, attacked Reilly in the field. Reilly died of asphyxia caused by external pressure to the neck, with bruising and abrasions on the neck and face. Witnesses, including David Shiels and neighbour Jean Lynch, described the body's condition and attempted CPR. Connolly was the last person to see Reilly alive and was later charged with murder. The trial at the Central Criminal Court concluded with Connolly's conviction for murder, based on evidence of the attack, forensic DNA findings, and Connolly's statements and admissions. The case highlighted the role of lies told by Connolly during the investigation. The court did not address any subsequent appeals or sentencing details.
In a Dublin murder trial, Philip Disney (27) and Sean Carlyle (30) deny killing Vincent Parsons (34) on 26 August 2019. Prosecutor Lorcan Staines SC presented a case that the men acted together in a common design before and after the killing. He described Parsons as intoxicated at a friend's stag do, becoming agitated and leaving the Killinarden Inn. CCTV footage allegedly shows Disney raising an arm and pointing at Parsons, who then ran outside. The accused allegedly left the pub, entered a black van, and returned to a green area where they beat Parsons to death. They then drove to Carlyle's home, changed clothes, and returned to the pub, creating an alibi. The defense argued that CCTV and forensic evidence were insufficient to prove the prosecution's narrative, citing a lack of clear threat, inconsistent clothing changes, and no forensic evidence in the van. The case is set for jury deliberation. Philip Disney pleaded not guilty. Sean Carlyle pleaded not guilty.