In a 2022 court hearing, a 13‑year‑old girl recounted that her half‑brother, then about 18 or 19, sexually assaulted her at her family home in 2001. She described being awakened by his weight on top of her, forced to silence her cries, and later hearing him snore as she pushed her bed against the door to prevent his return. The accused, 40, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. He had prior convictions for public order offences. The victim's impact statement highlighted ongoing emotional damage and her desire for justice. The defense noted the accused's remorse, prior apology, and willingness to attend a sex‑offender program. The judge adjourned finalisation to 25 July, pending further consideration.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 1 July 2022, Mr Justice Tony Hunt instructed a jury that the key question was whether Wayne Cooney, 31, was the cyclist who shot Jordan Davis, 22, on 22 May 2019. Cooney, who lives on Glenshane Drive, Tallaght, had pleaded not guilty to the murder, to possession of a 9mm semi‑automatic pistol, and to possession of ammunition in circumstances implying unlawful use. The prosecution alleged Cooney stalked Davis for three days, fired eight bullets that hit Davis three times, and that Davis owed €70,000 to a local drug dealer, the brother of Cooney's former girlfriend. Cooney denied being the cyclist, and his barrister said the case had "large holes" and did not prove beyond reasonable doubt. Mr Justice Hunt told the jury to focus on proving Cooney's identity as the shooter and to disregard other matters. The judge would resume his charge on Monday.
Daniel Murtagh, aged 34, has filed affidavits to appeal his murder conviction for the death of 30‑year‑old Nadine Lott, who was severely beaten at her St Mary's Court apartment in Arklow on 17 December 2019. Murtagh pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denied murder; the State rejected this plea and he was convicted by a unanimous jury. Sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment in October, the judge described the crime as brutal and cited emergency services evidence of terror and brutality. Murtagh's appeal requires two affidavits, one already filed and a second expected by lunch. The Court of Appeal will mention the case again on 15 July. Lott's mother, Claire Lott, testified that her daughter was unrecognisable after the attack and that the violence was "total carnage." The jury found no defence of intoxication, rejecting Murtagh's claim that alcohol prevented intent. The case remains at the Court of Appeal stage.
Patrick Ballard, 35, of Ashford Court Hotel, Ennis, faces a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court on 4 October. He is accused of killing Sharon Bennett, 29, a mother of two, in Ennis's Market area on 28 January 2021. Initially charged with assault causing harm, the charge was withdrawn in March 2021 and replaced by a murder charge. Bennett died 13 days later at University Hospital Limerick. Ballard and Bennett were in a relationship at the time of the alleged murder. The Director of Public Prosecutions has confirmed the case is ready for trial.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, prosecution counsel Bernard Condon SC presented a case that Wayne Cooney, 31, is either guilty of murdering 22‑year‑old Jordan Davis or is the "most unlucky person ever." Condon cited CCTV showing a cyclist, described as athletic with darkish skin, who allegedly fired eight bullets at 4 pm, then dumped a bike and later returned with a body warmer. He linked the cyclist to a phone number ending in 166, associated with Cooney, and to a local drug dealer who had threatened Davis. Condon also referenced DNA on gloves and a bicycle found near the scene, claiming they matched Cooney's DNA and firearm residue. Defence counsel Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC argued that the prosecution's evidence contained "huge holes," questioning the reliability of CCTV identification, the DNA transfer, and the phone‑number link, and noting that other Gardaí did not identify Cooney in the footage. Wayne Cooney pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, 17‑year‑old Dean Kerrie is charged with murdering 25‑year‑old Jack Power on 26 July 2018. Witness Christopher Lee, Kerrie's best friend, testified that he and Power were schoolmates and that Power entered the Kerrie house early that morning. Lee said he saw Power and Kerrie in the house, that Power pushed Kerrie's mother and that Kerrie entered the house with a knife. Lee claimed he saw Kerrie stab Power in the chest. He denied that Power had forced the front door or that Power had smashed a window. Lee also said he broke a window with a golf club after the incident. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury. Dean Kerrie pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court case, a 20‑year‑old named Dean Kerrie, who lived in Portarlington, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 25‑year‑old Jack Power, a fisherman from Dunmore East, who was stabbed to death at Kerrie's house on 26 July 2018. The prosecution presented evidence that Power had left a pub intoxicated, damaged his car's wing mirror, and believed Kerrie was responsible. Power then went to Kerrie's house, where a confrontation occurred. Kerrie allegedly stabbed Power with a large kitchen knife, after which Power collapsed outside and was pronounced dead at University Hospital Waterford. A post‑mortem found a 13‑cm stab wound as the cause of death. The prosecution also highlighted two 999 calls: one from Kerrie's mother reporting broken windows, and another from Kerrie admitting to stabbing Power but claiming he did not intend to kill.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Wayne Cooney, aged 31, denied murdering 22‑year‑old Jordan Davis. Cooney claimed he had donated a pair of North Face gloves, which were found near the shooting site and contained firearms residue and his DNA, to a clothing collection company. He expressed remorse for the death but insisted he was the wrong person. Gardai questioned him about his presence in Darndale before and during the shooting, his possession of a 9mm semi‑automatic pistol and ammunition, and his alleged appearance on CCTV footage. Cooney denied being in the area, owning a firearm or ammunition, and being the cyclist seen on CCTV. He also denied that his DNA was found on the bicycle. The court heard forensic evidence of nine spent 9mm cartridges and two casings, identified as from a Glock‑type pistol, and the trial proceeded before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of twelve. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
Abuse Survivor Aoife Farrelly has waived her anonymity to allow her brother, Cian Farrelly (30), to be named in connection with the rape and sexual assault of his sister at the family home in Castlepollard, Co Westmeath, between 2007 and 2009. Farrelly pleaded guilty to the charges at the Central Criminal Court. The victim, who was aged between seven and eight and a half at the time of the abuse, while Farrelly was aged between 15 and a half and 17 years old, described the impact of the abuse on her life, including self-harm, disordered eating, anxiety, stress, and OCD. She stated that she had undergone counselling, psychotherapy, and inpatient treatment for PTSD. During the sentencing hearing, Mr Justice Paul McDermott noted that Ms Farrelly's childhood was destroyed and she was deeply affected by the abuse. He handed down a four-and-a-half year sentence and suspended the final 18 months on a number of conditions, including that Farrelly have no contact of any kind with his sister. Speaking outside court, Ms Farrelly said she was pleased with the sentence that was handed down, saying that the headline sentence the judge mentioned was 'enough' for her. The matter was adjourned for the submission of reports, including a probation report and a report from forensic psychological services. Cian Farrelly took the stand at the end of the hearing to apologise to his sister.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 56‑year‑old man was found guilty of 58 charges, including two counts of raping his former partner and 50 counts of sexually assaulting her, as well as four counts of assaulting her son and one count of raping the boy. The offences occurred between October 2013 and December 2015. The defendant denied all allegations. Victim impact statements were read by prosecution counsel, describing the partner as a strong woman whose identity was taken, the son as having felt isolated, and the daughter as having lived in a "prison" and considered her life a "living hell". The court adjourned sentencing to 7 July, remanding the defendant in custody until that date. Eleven character references were presented, describing him as a caring father and good friend, but the court noted the seriousness of the convictions. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Nassar Ahmed, aged 41, was found guilty of murder by a unanimous jury after stabbing Eoin Boylan, 32, three times in a "sneak attack" at Gordon Drive, Cloughleigh, Ennis. Ahmed had invited Boylan to a fist fight while concealing a knife, then stabbed him as Boylan was retreating. CCTV footage showed the attack, and Ahmed claimed self‑defence, but the jury rejected this, concluding he was the aggressor. The judge remanded Ahmed in custody pending sentencing on 26 July, when Boylan's family may address the court. Ahmed faces the mandatory life sentence for murder. The trial also noted Ahmed's prior plea of not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of Boylan in 2020, and his history of a failed marriage to Susan O'Doherty, who later dated Boylan. The case highlighted the jury's swift two‑hour deliberation and the prosecution's emphasis on Ahmed's lies to Gardaí about the weapon used.
A jury has been sworn in to hear the trial of 20‑year‑old Dean Kerrie, accused of murdering 25‑year‑old fisherman Jack Power in Waterford on 26 July 2018 when Kerrie was 17. Kerrie pleaded not guilty to the single charge of murder. The trial will be heard by a panel of seven women and five men at the Central Criminal Court, with the prosecution opening the case tomorrow. Judge Paul McDermott warned jurors to avoid media and social media and focus solely on the evidence presented in court.
Stephen Carney, serving a life sentence for the 2007 murder of his girlfriend Amanda Jenkins, has filed a judicial review against the Minister for Justice. He argues that the 2021 introduction of a new statutory Parole Board has disrupted the administrative processes that previously governed his rehabilitation plan. Under the former system, Carney had successfully progressed through stages of a release programme, including temporary release for training, and was expected to move to the next stage in January 2024. The Minister's response directed him to engage with the new board, which Carney claims will not review his case until at least the third quarter of 2023. He seeks orders compelling the Minister to decide on his application, declarations that the Minister is acting unlawfully, and an order quashing the alleged refusal. The case was adjourned to October after Mr Justice Charles Meenan granted permission to proceed.
A 17‑year‑old girl has not returned to school since she was sexually assaulted by a school friend when both were 14. The assault followed consensual kissing and occurred after the girl was heavily intoxicated. The boy, now 17, pleaded guilty to two sexual assault charges and a threat to kill or seriously harm the girl. He admitted the contact was consensual but was under the influence of alcohol. The assault was reported to gardaí only after the boy sent a threatening voice message two weeks later. The court heard the message and the victim's impact statement, noting the girl's ongoing mental health difficulties. The judge acknowledged the boy's remorse and placed him under probation supervision until April 2023, requiring engagement with the service and awareness programmes. The boy has not returned to education and is now working. The case highlights the victim's continued struggle and the offender's acceptance of responsibility.
A trial date has been set for Christina Anderson, 39, who is accused of murdering Gareth Kelly, 39, on 25 February 2020. Anderson will appear at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin on 28 November. Mr Justice Paul McDermott fixed the date and ordered the case to return for case management and updates on 22 July. Anderson is charged with murder after Kelly, who was trying to jump‑start his car to go to work, was stabbed and died on the street. The trial is expected to last two weeks.
Body‑cam footage showed 48‑year‑old Gary Murtagh beat his 42‑year‑old brother Paul to death with a claw hammer at their family home in north Dublin on 6 November 2020. The Central Criminal Court heard that the brothers had a "strange relationship" and had been living alone in the house since 2016, communicating by notes to avoid each other. During the Covid‑19 lockdown, Gary was "lost" without work or gym access, leading to close quarters in the house. Prosecutors said Gary had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and had a prior conviction for grievous bodily harm. He pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment, back‑dated to 27 August 2021. The court noted over 50 hammer blows, including 16 to the head, caused Paul's death. The siblings described the event as a "living nightmare" and expressed remorse from Gary. The judge imposed the mandatory life sentence. Gary Murtagh pleaded not guilty.
In a 2022 Central Criminal Court hearing, Martin Kelly, aged 35, was sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison for manslaughter after he set fire to Gerry Nolan's mobile home in 2006, killing Nolan. The court noted Kelly's 196 prior convictions, including 10 for criminal damage, and his high risk of reoffending. Kelly pleaded guilty to manslaughter, admitting gross recklessness. The judge highlighted the devastating impact on Nolan's family, who had endured 16 years of unresolved grief. The sentence included an 18‑month suspended portion, to be served over three years, contingent on education and addiction support. The case stemmed from a cold‑case review that uncovered new evidence, including a changed alibi statement from a former partner. The sentencing reflected the seriousness of the offence and Kelly's acceptance of responsibility. Martin Kelly pleaded not guilty.
Michael Golden, aged 73, of Crosspatrick, Killala, County Mayo, was convicted unanimously by jury at the Central Criminal Court last month of seven counts of indecent assault, four counts of sexual assault, and nine counts of oral rape against four children between 1980 and 1997. The victims were aged between five and fourteen at the time of the offences. Golden had pleaded not guilty to all charges. He died in custody on 6 June 2022 while awaiting sentence. At a hearing where victim impact statements were presented, Justice Mary Ellen Ring noted that had Golden survived, he would have faced a custodial term of significant length. The judge acknowledged the victims' right to be heard and recognised the permanent damage caused by childhood sexual abuse. She expressed that only the victims' willingness to come forward had enabled the investigation and prosecution to proceed.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 42‑year‑old Nassar Ahmed was accused of deliberately stabbing his former partner's boyfriend, Eoin Boylan, during a "sneak attack" at Gordon Drive, Cloughleigh, Ennis, on 14 April 2020. Prosecutor Lorcan Staines argued that Ahmed invited Boylan to a fist fight while concealing a knife, then stabbed him three times while Boylan was in manifest retreat. Staines described the stabbings as intentional, deliberate and repeated, noting that the wounds were precise and that Ahmed's actions were not self‑defence. He also highlighted that Ahmed repeatedly lied to Gardaí about the weapon used, calling the lies "borderline laughable." The prosecution maintained that the case involved an intentional attack, not a defensive response, and that the alleged self‑defence claim was untenable. The trial was set to continue before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury. Nassar Ahmed pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin murder trial, a woman from Coolock, Kirsty Darby, testified that she saw a strange man on an orange push bike around her estate for three days in May 2019, before a neighbour, Jordan Davis, was shot dead by a man on a bike. Darby described the cyclist as broad, tall, with sallow skin, wearing gloves, a jacket and a hat, and noted he was "hanging around" and "going round in circles." She claimed she had not seen him before May 20 and not after May 22, the day of the shooting. The prosecution alleges that Wayne Cooney, 31, of Glenshane Drive, Tallaght, was the cyclist and is charged with murder, possession of a 9mm pistol and ammunition. The case is before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with a jury of eight men and four women. The trial is ongoing. Wayne Cooney pleaded not guilty.
John Giltrap, 61, of Termonbarry, Bunclody, was found guilty of 20 counts of raping Caroline Kavanagh, aged 10 to 15, at various sites in Bunclody between December 1978 and March 1982. He had pleaded not guilty to 22 counts. In December 2020, Mr Justice Michael McGrath sentenced him to 11 years' imprisonment on each count. Giltrap appealed for a reduction, arguing that he was 18 to 23 at the time of the offences, that his relationship had dissolved, that he was married with children, and that his health was poor. The Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal in January. Today, Mr Justice John Edwards upheld the 11‑year sentence, stating there was no error in principle and that the original judge had already applied generous mitigation. The appeal was dismissed.
In the Central Criminal Court, the jury heard that Nassar Ahmed, 41, accused of murdering Eoin Boylan, 32, had called Boylan's former partner a "whore" moments before the fatal confrontation. Ahmed pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Witness Catherine Martin testified that Ahmed was angry and shouted at her son, who tried to intervene. She described Ahmed standing on his toes and lunging at her son, who was then struck and later died from stab wounds. Ahmed claimed he had picked up a sharp object to defend himself after Boylan tried to fight him. Garda testimony noted Ahmed's arrest on suspicion of assault causing harm. The trial continued with the issue of self‑defence to be considered by the jury.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal of Conor Quaid, upholding his conviction for rape. Quaid, 27, of Monaree, Dingle, Co Kerry, had pleaded not guilty to raping a family friend at a place in the county on June 10, 2018. A jury at the Central Criminal Court in Cork found him guilty by a 10-to-1 majority verdict in September 2020, and he was sentenced to six-and-a-half years' imprisonment by Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty. Quaid appealed on the grounds that the trial judge erred in defining recklessness regarding consent and placed undue pressure on the jury to reach a verdict. In a judgment delivered by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, the Court of Appeal rejected all grounds. The court found that the jury was not advised that drunkenness equates with recklessness and that the judge merely informed them that a new trial would be required if they failed to reach a verdict. The appeal hearing was presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with Mr Justice John Edwards and Ms Justice Kennedy. Counsel for Quaid, Michael Bowman SC, argued alcohol was a feature of the case, while Vincent Heneghan SC for the Director of Public Prosecutions maintained the judge's charge was practical. The court concluded the jury was not under confusion regarding the issues, thereby sustaining the original conviction and sentence.
Gary Murtagh, 48, of Broadstone, Dublin 7, admitted to murdering his brother Paul Murtagh, 42, at their family home on Auburn Street, Phibsborough, on 6 November 2020. He had originally pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter, but the plea was rejected by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The trial was scheduled to begin with a jury of ten men and two women, but was postponed. On the day the jury returned, Murtagh pleaded guilty to murder in the presence of the jury, ending the trial. Judge Paul McDermott accepted the plea, thanked the jury, and exempted them from service for five years. Murtagh was remanded in custody until the sentencing on the following Monday, when a victim impact report will be prepared. The case remains at the trial stage.
In a murder trial, Sandra Davis, mother of 22‑year‑old Jordan Davis, testified that her son was involved in drug dealing. She said he began buying expensive clothing and traveling to Amsterdam, and that he always had large amounts of cash. Davis recalled that Jordan's partner became pregnant and he bought a buggy costing over €1,500, which she said was all his money. She also described receiving threatening text messages and witnessing men searching her garden in March 2019, after which the windows of her house were smashed. Davis admitted that Jordan had been friends with Sean Little, who was shot dead a day before Jordan. Wayne Cooney, 31, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jordan Davis, to possession of a 9mm pistol, and to possession of ammunition. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of eight men and four women.
A 17‑year‑old girl who was raped and abused for many years by her 79‑year‑old grandfather told a court that she hopes her case will help other victims of sexual violence. The grandfather was jailed for 14 years for multiple counts of sexual assault against his three grandchildren at two locations in Connacht. He pleaded guilty to assaulting the three girls when they were aged between five and 14, but denied raping the oldest girl. The jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on six counts of raping the child between September 2014 and September 2018. The victim, aged between 10 and 14 at the time, described how the abuse destroyed her childhood and how she felt "dirty". She said that letting go of the secret was a relief and that she hopes to give other victims the courage to speak.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a woman who had earlier given her partner an alibi for a fatal 2006 fire in Co. Kilkenny later changed her statement after the accused, Martin Kelly, began a relationship with another woman. The court heard that Kelly, now 35, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of Gerard "Gerry" Nolan, 44, who died when his mobile home was set on fire. The hearing included victim impact statements from Nolan's family, describing the traumatic loss and ongoing grief. The court also heard details of the investigation, including the accused's denial of involvement, the identification parade, and the lack of direct forensic evidence linking Kelly to the fire. The judge remanded Kelly in custody pending sentencing. The summary reflects only the facts presented in the article.
In the Central Criminal Court, witness Ms Stacey Hayes denied that she was pressured to make a false allegation against Wayne Cooney. She said she had picked up Cooney from a bus stop in Darndale after Jordan Davis was shot dead nearby, driving with Cooney's girlfriend, EF, in the passenger seat. Hayes claimed she had met Cooney twice before and knew of his tattoo. Cooney, 31, pleaded not guilty to Davis's murder and to possession of a 9mm pistol and ammunition. Hayes told the prosecution that she had no criminal convictions and that Cooney had entered her car on the day in question. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, continues with a jury of eight men and four women. The article also reports that Dr Margot Bolster gave evidence on the fatal gunshot wounds to Davis.
In August 2016, a convicted sex offender raped a woman twice in his apartment in Laois. The victim told Gardaí she repeatedly told him "No, stop doing this, you don't want this", yet he continued, eventually turning her over and raping her anally. She described being horrified, frozen, and then fighting to push him off, but he was stronger and she ran out of strength. The offender had previously attacked the same woman in February 2016 by head‑butting her face and was sentenced in January 2018 to a five‑year suspended prison term, conditional on paying €4,000 to the victim, which he has not paid. He was also convicted in 2009 of sexually assaulting a homeless teenager and was placed on the sex offenders register. At a hearing before Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo, the offender's defence counsel noted his mild intellectual disability and that he had claimed to be a victim of childhood sexual abuse. The unnamed teenager pleaded not guilty and was acquitted.
In a Dublin case, a 40‑year‑old mother pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to three charges: causing serious harm to one of her 18‑month‑old twin sons, producing a large kitchen knife capable of serious injury, and false imprisonment of a female social worker. The alleged offences all occurred on 9 October 2019 at her home. She had previously sought dismissal of the two attempted‑murder charges but the application was refused. The court adjourned the matter to 27 July for sentencing and a psychological report. The mother appeared in court wearing a 'Just Do It' t‑shirt and tracksuit bottoms, and answered "guilty" to the charges read by the registrar. Her barrister, Anne Rowland SC, represented her without an interpreter. No further details of the case were provided in the article.
In a murder trial, a jury watched CCTV footage showing 22‑year‑old Jordan Davis being shot while pushing a pram with his four‑month‑old son through a lane between a church and a national school in Darndale. The footage, examined by Detective Sergeant Eoin Colbert, shows Davis entering the cul‑de‑sac at 3.28 pm, leaving at 3.50 pm, and walking with a friend to the lane at 3.59 pm. A figure on a bicycle approached from behind at that time, and a young child was also cycling through the lane. Davis is seen falling to the ground as the shooting occurs. The prosecution alleges that 31‑year‑old Wayne Cooney, who lives on Glenshane Drive in Tallaght, was the person on the bicycle who shot Davis. Wayne Cooney pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 17 June 2022, Garda Alan Murphy recounted the night two brothers, Gavin Quinn (28) and Lee Quinn (27), attacked him in Inchicore, Dublin 8. Gavin pinned Murphy to the ground while Lee attempted to stab him in the eye with a six‑inch kitchen knife. The assault was reported to have occurred on 30 March 2020, when the brothers were already in custody. Both pleaded guilty to lesser charges: Gavin to assaulting a peace officer and Lee to attempting to cause serious harm. The court heard Murphy's victim impact statement, in which he thanked Dublin Fire Brigade for saving his life and described the lasting psychological trauma. He declined to label himself a victim, preferring to identify as a proud Garda. The hearing was adjourned to 11 July for sentencing.
Lacey O'Connor, 30, of Rowlagh Park, Clondalkin, appeared for sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on an offence of perverting the course of justice. She pleaded guilty to giving a false account of the movement of a suspect during the murder investigation in November 2019. O'Connor had told gardai that her then-partner, Anthony Casserly, was with her at the time of the fatal shooting of Wayne Whelan. However, CCTV and mobile phone records contradicted this, showing Casserly left the home during the relevant period. Judge Orla Crowe noted that O'Connor provided false information in a two-page document and sat through seven garda interviews. The judge acknowledged O'Connor's role as the sole carer for a young child, her subsequent co-operation with gardai, and her lack of prior criminal record. While the headline sentence was two years imprisonment, reduced to 18 months in light of her guilty plea, Judge Crowe suspended the sentence in its entirety for four years. O'Connor was bound to keep the peace for that period. This sentencing follows earlier proceedings where Casserly pleaded guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder of Whelan and was sentenced to seven years in January. Christopher Moran also pleaded guilty to being the getaway driver after the shooting. The court emphasized that O'Connor's false statement was exposed through technology and gardai investigation.
In 2020, a 72‑year‑old man was convicted of raping his 16‑year‑old niece at her grandparents' farmhouse in 1978 and sentenced to four years and six months' imprisonment. He appealed, arguing that jurors had begun deliberations early and were allegedly bullied, citing an anonymous letter. The Court of Appeal rejected the appeal, finding no evidence of premature deliberations or misconduct. The judge noted the offence was aggravated by the victim's age and the setting, and that the defendant's poor health made him a poor candidate for prison. The victim, who described the assault in a victim impact statement, was a child at the time and the case was heard in the Central Criminal Court. The appeal was dismissed by the three‑judge panel, with no change to the conviction or sentence. The unnamed 72-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the prosecution told a jury that 41‑year‑old Nassar Ahmed, who pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, killed Eoin Boylan, 32, in Ennis on 14 April 2020. Ahmed, originally from Sudan, had lived in Ennis since the mid‑2000s, married a local woman in 2007, and had three children. The marriage ended in November 2018. In late 2019, Ahmed's former partner met Boylan and they began a relationship, with Boylan moving into the partner's house shortly thereafter. On the day of the incident, a dispute arose when Ahmed called the partner to come to the house. Witnesses and partial CCTV footage showed Ahmed striking Boylan three times, after which Boylan fell and suffered stab‑like injuries. A pathologist concluded Boylan was stabbed to death. The prosecution will argue that the issue of self‑defence must be considered by the jury.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a barrister presented evidence that a drug dealer warned a man named Jordan Davis that he would be killed soon, with the phrase "soon, very soon, bang bang." The defendant, Wayne Cooney, 31, denies murdering Davis, 22, who was shot while pushing a pram in Darndale on 22 May 2019. CCTV footage shows Davis being shot repeatedly by Cooney. Cooney also faces charges of possessing a 9mm pistol and ammunition. The prosecution will argue that the warning from the dealer was a death threat. Additional evidence includes DNA linking Cooney to gloves found at the scene, which contained firearm residue. The trial, expected to last up to four weeks, will continue before a jury and Justice Tony Hunt. Wayne Cooney pleaded not guilty.
A garda and prison investigation will be carried out into the death of Sameer Syed, who had been scheduled to stand trial for the triple murder of his wife Seema Banu and their children Asfira Riza and Faizan Syed. Syed, aged 38, was found dead in his cell at Midlands Prison in Co Laois on 9 June after taking his own life. The Central Criminal Court heard that the criminal file against him would be closed, formally ending the proceedings. Brendan Grehan SC, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, also announced that a full inquest would be held into the deaths of Banu and her children. The court noted the tragic nature of the case and expressed sympathy for the victims' families. No further details about the investigation or the inquest were provided in the article.
A Central Criminal Court jury found food‑delivery cyclist George Gonzaga Bento not guilty of murdering 16‑year‑old Josh Dunne. The jury accepted Bento's claim that he acted in self‑defence after being attacked by a gang while trying to recover a stolen bike. He had pulled out a utility knife he carried for cutting fruit and stabbed three people, including Josh. The State argued that Bento had exaggerated the threat and used unnecessary force. The jury rejected that view, concluding that Bento believed the force he used was necessary to protect himself and his friend Guilherme Quieroz. Bento, who had been in custody for about 18 months, was released after the verdict. The jury also acquitted him of producing the knife in a threatening manner and of assaulting two other young men. The trial lasted six weeks and the jury deliberated for a little over eight hours. The verdict was unanimous.
George Bento, a 36‑year‑old Brazilian, was interviewed by Gardaí at Store Street Garda Station after the death of 16‑year‑old Josh Dunne on East Wall Road. Bento claimed he had only tried to recover a stolen electric bike belonging to delivery rider Tiago da Silva and that he had used a knife only to defend himself when a moped rider and a group of youths threatened him and his colleague Guilherme Quieroz. He said he had never intended to hurt anyone and that he had acted to protect himself and Quieroz. The prosecution argued that Bento exaggerated the danger, that CCTV showed him moving toward the moped rider, and that he had used lethal force when the youths were backing away. The trial concluded with a unanimous verdict of not guilty on all counts after a six‑week trial and 500 days of custody.
The jury for the trial of Brazilian food‑delivery cyclist George Gonzaga Bento, charged with murdering 16‑year‑old Josh Dunne, will return to the Central Criminal Court to continue deliberations. Bento, 36, is accused of stabbing Dunne after a confrontation with a gang while attempting to recover a stolen bicycle. He is also charged with producing a utility knife in a manner likely to intimidate, and with assault causing harm to two other young men. Bento pleaded not guilty to all four counts. The jury has spent almost six hours considering verdicts. A juror asked whether the knife‑production charge refers to the moment Bento removed the knife from his pocket or when he opened it; Judge Paul Burns explained the offence can relate to either.
During the trial of food‑delivery cyclist Mr Bento, who is accused of murdering 16‑year‑old Josh Dunne, the jury questioned why the man on a moped, described by the prosecution as the "instigator" of the fatal row, was not called as a witness. The jury had been sent out to deliberate and returned with a list of questions, noting that they had heard from "everyone" except the moped rider and a cyclist who had his bike stolen. Mr Bento, 36, was charged with murder, possession of a knife in a threatening manner, and assault causing harm to two other young men. He pleaded not guilty to all four counts. Mr Justice Paul Burns instructed the jury to base their verdict solely on the evidence presented, to avoid speculation, and to consider each charge separately. He explained the legal definitions of self‑defence, reasonable force, and the possible verdicts for the murder charge. The unnamed accused was acquitted.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Judge Paul Burns explained to the jury that a person may use force to protect themselves if it is reasonable and proportionate to the attack. He told the jury that George Gonzaga Bento, a 36‑year‑old Brazilian delivery cyclist, admitted stabbing 16‑year‑old Josh Dunne but claimed the killing was lawful because he and a friend were attacked by a bike thief and a group of teenagers. The judge clarified that a person acting in self‑defence may continue to use force only while it remains necessary; once it is no longer needed, further force is not self‑defence. He instructed the jury to assess whether Bento honestly believed his actions were necessary, whether the threat was imminent, and whether he had an opportunity to retreat. If the jury finds that Bento used no more force than was reasonably necessary, he would be acquitted.
George Gonzaga Bento, a 36-year-old Brazilian national from East Wall, Dublin 3, was acquitted by the Central Criminal Court of murdering 16-year-old Josh Dunne. The defendant, a delivery cyclist, had pleaded not guilty to four counts, including murder, producing a knife to intimidate, and assault causing harm to two other young men. The incident occurred on January 26, 2021, at East Wall Road, following a confrontation over a stolen bicycle. Defence counsel argued that Bento used reasonable force to defend himself and his friend from a violent group assault, while the prosecution alleged he exaggerated the threat and used lethal force against Dunne, who was merely reacting to protect his friend. The jury accepted the defence's position, resulting in a full acquittal on all charges. This finding concludes the criminal proceedings against Bento, who was found not guilty of the serious allegations brought by the state.
In a Central Criminal Court case, a 47‑year‑old man was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for assaulting his partner in August 2018 after she texted an ex‑boyfriend about a family loss. He pleaded guilty to assault and was convicted of false imprisonment by a jury. The judge described the violence as calculated to instil fear, noting repeated slaps and a choking incident that caused the victim to bleed. The court suspended the final year of a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence on the condition that the offender undergo alcohol treatment and keep away from the victim, including on social media. The victim, who suffered physical and emotional pain, could not leave the house until 10 am and later walked 25 km home. The offender's guilty plea was taken into account in the sentencing.
Five men aged 17 to 19 were convicted of gang‑rape and sexual assault of a 17‑year‑old Leaving Cert student on 27 December 2016. The victim was taken from a midlands town to a remote dry dock in Co Westmeath where the men raped her one after another, filmed the assaults, and later forced her into a car where further sexual acts occurred. The court heard the victim's impact statement, describing how the men stripped her of dignity and left her in shock. Ms Justice Tara Burns sentenced the men to a combined 66 years: 15 years for Marcos Vinicius De Silva Umbelino, 18 years for Eduardo Dias Ferreira Filho, 20 years for Gabriel Gomes Da Rocha, 12 years for Conor Byrne, and 7 years for Ethan Nikolaou. All sentences had a suspended year, and additional concurrent sentences were imposed for other assaults. Conor Byrne pleaded guilty.
A 59-year-old man from Sligo has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court following his conviction on charges arising from an incident at his home in April 2015. Christopher Feeney was found guilty of rape, oral rape, and two counts of sexual assault following a trial in September 2021. He was acquitted of a false imprisonment charge on which the jury could not reach agreement. The victim, then aged 54, had met Feeney through a dating application and travelled to Sligo town to meet him. The attack occurred at his Millbrook address in the early hours of the morning. Gardaí attended the scene after the woman contacted them and was instructed to display a signal from her balcony. Feeney fled Ireland whilst the Director of Public Prosecutions considered the case and was arrested in the UK in 2019. Mr Justice David Keane imposed concurrent sentences and noted Feeney demonstrated no remorse. A three-year post-release supervision order and sex offender registration were also imposed. Christopher Feeney pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, 36‑year‑old George Gonzaga Bento, a Brazilian food‑delivery cyclist, denies acting as a "hard‑man" during the January 26, 2021 incident at East Wall Road that led to the death of 16‑year‑old Josh Dunne. He claims he used a knife to defend himself and his friend from a man on a moped who had stolen a bike and from a group of youths who attacked them. Bento says he intended only to intimidate the attackers and that his life was at risk, not that he sought to harm anyone. He acknowledges causing injuries that led to Dunne's death, as well as stabbing two other young men, but maintains he was acting in self‑defence. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Burns, continues tomorrow with 12 jurors.
Patrick Dunne, a 29‑year‑old from Ballingeragh, Lixnaw, Co Kerry, has been in the Central Mental Hospital since he was charged with murdering his mother Susan Dunne on 27 November 2013. In 2014 a court ruled he was not fit to be tried after a consultant psychiatrist's report. In 2022 Dr Anthony Kearns, who has treated Dunne since early 2016, reported to Mr Justice Paul McDermott that Dunne is now fit for trial. The judge remanded Dunne to Cloverhill Prison, then transferred him back to the Central Mental Hospital, with the trial set to begin on 10 October.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 30 May 2022, a 15‑year‑old boy was convicted by a jury of orally raping and sexually assaulting a 16‑year‑old girl in a Dublin public park on 17 January 2020. The boy, who is a juvenile and cannot be detained as an adult, was remanded to Oberstown detention centre pending a final sentencing decision on 15 June. Justice Mary Ellen Ring set a provisional sentence of three‑and‑a‑half years in detention, noting that the boy will turn 18 shortly and that the State and Oberstown authorities will decide where he is held until the case is finalized. Both the defendant and the victim have been diagnosed with autism. The boy pleaded not guilty and does not accept the jury verdict. No prior convictions are recorded for him.
Five men were convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of sexually assaulting and raping a 17-year-old Leaving Cert student in December 2016. The defendants are Gabriel Gomes Da Rocha, Eduardo Dias Ferreira Filho, Ethan Nikolaou, Marcos De Silva Umbelino, and Conor Byrne. Byrne entered a guilty plea to rape, while the other four men denied all charges but were found guilty of various counts of sexual assault, rape, and false imprisonment. The jury reached unanimous verdicts after a four-week trial. During the proceedings, the victim addressed the court, expressing her trauma and PTSD. She specifically addressed Byrne, acknowledging his admission of guilt and asking him not to let this be the defining moment of his life. She stated she would not forgive the other four men, who she said showed no remorse. The defence lawyers for all five men stated they accepted the jury verdicts and highlighted their clients' remorse. Ms Justice Tara Burns adjourned the case to 2pm on Thursday for finalisation. The five men were remanded in custody pending that finalisation.