In a Central Criminal Court sentencing hearing on 1 April 2022, Trevor Rowe, a 30‑year‑old drug addict, was given a mandatory life sentence for the murder of 70‑year‑old Anne Butler on 20 March 2020. Butler was stabbed, beaten, had her throat slit and was found with a large piece of cardboard in her mouth and a strip of her ear in the living room. Rowe, who remained unmoving and head‑bowed during the hearing, admitted to killing Butler, saying he had "slit her throat and stuck a knife in her head". He had 31 prior convictions, including drug offences and assault. The judge, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, imposed the life sentence, noting the "unimaginable grief" caused to Butler's family. The hearing included victim impact statements from Butler's daughter Elayne and sister Paula, describing Butler as brave, kind and devoted.
During a murder trial, Ulumbayer Surenkhor, the husband of the late Urantsetseg Tserendorj, testified that he was still wearing slippers when he rushed to meet his wife near Connolly Station after she called in distress. He described how she was holding her neck with visible blood and how an ambulance attempted to treat her but she could not swallow tablets. Due to COVID restrictions, he could not accompany her to the Mater Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead nine days later. Surenkhor, a Mongolian immigrant who had lived in Ireland for 16 years, also explained that his wife worked at State Street and that they had two children in Irish schools. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, continues with a jury of twelve. The accused, a 16‑year‑old boy, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, and the State has rejected that plea.
In the Central Criminal Court, four men aged 17 to 19 plead not guilty to raping a 17‑year‑old girl on 27 December 2016. The prosecution alleges the men sexually assaulted her while driving a car out of a midlands town to a remote location, where three of them raped her and another forced his penis into her mouth. The girl said she asked to leave the car but was ignored, and one man raped her a second time while another forced his penis into her mouth. The defendants deny all charges. Ms Justice Tara Burns directed the jury to find one man not guilty of rape at the remote location, though he faces a separate charge of oral rape later that night. The trial continues under her direction. The father of one defendant gave evidence about the day's events, and a paediatric consultant testified about a penile skin condition that could make erections painful.
A 61‑year‑old man, whose name is withheld to protect his daughter's anonymity, pleaded guilty to one count of sexually assaulting his daughter at their Wexford home between 1994 and 1996, when she was aged 10 to 12. He is already serving an 11‑year sentence for 20 counts of raping his sister‑in‑law in the 1970s and 1980s. At his sentencing hearing, the daughter read a victim impact statement in which she forgave her father, thanked him for confessing his crimes, and asked that he receive no further jail time. Judge Paul McDermott noted her compassion and the man's remorse, and sentenced him to two years' imprisonment with the final eighteen months suspended. The sentence runs consecutively to the current 11‑year term, and the man is subject to probation supervision for three years, must keep the peace, and may not contact the victim or her family unless the victim requests it. The unnamed 61-year-old was found guilty.
During the Central Criminal Court trial, pathologist Dr Heidi Okkers explained that a stab wound partially severed Urantsetseg Tserendorj's internal carotid artery, cutting off blood flow to her brain and causing her death. She noted that injuries to the internal carotid artery are less common than to the external artery, which supplies the face. Dr Okkers agreed with defence counsel that the wound was not directly on the artery and did not fully dissect it, and that there was an "element of misfortune" in the injury. She also said the wound does not cause immediate collapse, allowing a person to remain conscious for up to two hours, which could explain how Ms Tserendorj walked to Connolly Station, met her husband, and entered an ambulance before collapsing. The trial continues before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring with a jury of seven women and five men. The unnamed 16-year-old pleaded not guilty.
The trial of four men accused of raping a teenage girl at the Central Criminal Court has heard forensic evidence regarding semen found on their clothing. The defendants, aged 17 to 19 at the time, have pleaded not guilty to charges including rape and sexual assault alleged to have occurred on December 27, 2016. A fifth man is not before the court. On day 14, forensic scientist Dr Laura Flanagan testified that underwear belonging to the driver contained semen from two individuals: the driver and a third defendant. During garda interviews, the driver denied penetrative sex, claiming he did not ejaculate, while the third defendant initially stated he was the first to have sex with the complainant. The driver later admitted lying in earlier statements but maintained his denial of intercourse. Another defendant, whose semen was found on his underpants and the complainant's top, told gardai he masturbated away from the car and denied any sexual contact with the victim. The garda witness confirmed the driver was charged in April 2018 and remanded on bail, with permission to travel for medical purposes. The matter is ongoing before Ms Justice Tara Burns and a jury.
A 16‑year‑old boy, whose identity is protected, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of 49‑year‑old Mongolian woman Urantsetseg Tserendorj. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter on 29 January 2021, a plea the State did not accept. He also pleaded guilty to producing a knife and attempting to rob Ms Tserendorj on 20 January 2021. The boy told Gardaí that he stabbed the woman, robbed her and that it was him. CCTV footage from the IFSC House shows the boy on a pedal bike confronting Ms Tserendorj around 9.30 pm, stabbing her in the neck. The wound cut the carotid artery; she was taken to Mater Hospital, placed on life support, and died nine days later. The trial will focus on the boy's state of mind and his age. The jury is instructed to avoid prejudice and not to research the case online. The proceedings are ongoing.
The Central Criminal Court has opened a trial for a 38‑year‑old man, who cannot be named, who has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and one count of sexual assault. The alleged offences took place at an unknown residence in south Dublin on the early hours of 13 May 2018. Prosecutor Michael Delaney SC presented the case that the accused met the victim at a city‑centre pub on 12 May, where they later went to another bar, kissed and then the accused invited the victim to his home. The victim, who was sleeping, allegedly woke to find the accused on top of her, groping her breasts, and later again on top of her engaging in sexual activity. She claimed she resisted, pushed him off, and said the act amounted to rape. The accused allegedly apologized, claimed drunkenness, and said he was ashamed.
Lorcan Merriman, aged 25, was sentenced to two‑and‑a‑half years in prison for disposing of the gun used in the murder of Thomas Farnan, 37, on 25 April 2016. Merriman pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court last year to the offence of disposing of a murder weapon. He had previously been convicted of possession of a firearm and was serving a five‑year sentence for that offence. The judge noted that Merriman had not been found to have any remorse and that the gun was never recovered, thereby hindering the apprehension of the killer. The sentence was imposed with the final 18 months suspended, to be served after the completion of his current custodial term. The court expressed condolences to Farnan's family, who described the victim as a "big friendly giant" and lamented the brutality of the killing.
The trial of four men accused of raping a 17-year-old girl on December 27, 2016, continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns and a jury at the Central Criminal Court. The defendants, aged 17 to 19 at the time, have pleaded not guilty to charges including rape, sexual assault, and false imprisonment. A fifth man is not before the court. On day 13, the jury heard evidence from the arrest and interview of a third defendant, now 24. During questioning, he alleged the complainant consented, stating she initiated sex and did not resist. However, he later admitted to gardaí that he and the others "took advantage" of the teenager and acknowledged it was "wrong." He expressed regret, stating he would tell the complainant, "sorry, try to forgive us." The defendant also admitted to lying about how the complainant entered the vehicle, claiming he was afraid. He stated that the group had agreed to tell the truth to gardaí. Evidence included a Snapchat message sent at 5am, whose contents could not be retrieved. The trial is ongoing, with no final verdict or sentence recorded.
A 35‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for a violent, degrading rape of his girlfriend, following a prior conviction for assaulting her. He had pleaded guilty to assault and was convicted on all charges of anal, oral, and two other rapes, plus sexual assault. The judge imposed a concurrent 13‑year sentence, with the final three years suspended, and a seven‑year post‑release supervision order. The court described the man's behaviour as "entrenched distorted" and "controlling", noting his willingness to engage in prison courses and his lack of alcohol abuse. The judge highlighted the severity of the physical assault and the victim's ongoing trauma, and expressed concerns about the offender's capacity for empathy. The sentence was back‑dated to the end of his earlier two‑year term for assaulting his former partner. The unnamed 35-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A 42‑year‑old man was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for offences committed when he was a teenager. He was convicted at the Central Criminal Court of four counts of oral rape and eight counts of sexual assault against a boy in foster care, aged 11‑14, and four counts of sexual assault against the boy's older brother, aged 12‑13. The crimes occurred in the defendant's family home in Offaly between May 1995 and December 1998. The judge, Justice Deirdre Murphy, sentenced him as a juvenile, noting his low intellectual functioning and the fact that he was 15‑17 at the time of the offences. She also considered his acknowledgement of guilt, his productive life since the offences, and the authorities' failure to act on a 2001 complaint. The sentence was four years for each rape count and 18 months for the assault counts, with the final two and a half years suspended on strict conditions.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Elliot Hourihane, the only son of Timothy 'Timmy' Hourihane, expressed that he will be forever haunted by the horror of his father's death. He described the event as a brutal assault that left his father, a former chef, with a collapsed lung and severe head trauma, leading to death by inhalation of blood and cardiac arrest. Elliot said he had hoped to help his father escape homelessness, but that hope was lost. He also noted that there were no winners, only losers, after James Brady, who was convicted of manslaughter, admitted to the killing. The court heard victim impact statements from Elliot and his brother Denis, who described the lasting trauma of seeing his brother's battered body. The sentencing was adjourned to April 25. James Brady pleaded not guilty.
A Garda witness denied that investigators were "ballyragging" a suspect held for questioning over an alleged rape of a 17‑year‑old girl by five men. Four of the men are on trial at the Central Criminal Court and have pleaded not guilty to raping the girl on the night of 27 December 2016. The prosecution alleges the girl was taken in a car to a midlands location where the five men raped her "one after another". The four defendants, aged 22 to 24, also face charges of sexual assault and, for three, false imprisonment. The jury heard six Garda interviews of the fourth accused over two days in March 2017. During cross‑examination, the defence counsel claimed the accused admitted a sexual act after 16 minutes of silence in an interview room, alleging the Garda had pressured him.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, four men aged 22‑24, charged with raping a 17‑year‑old girl in a Midlands car on 27 December 2016, pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleged the girl was taken to a location where the men raped her one after another. The defendants also face sexual assault and false imprisonment charges. During the trial, the fourth accused, 18 at the time, admitted in a later interview that he had seen the girl on a footpath, offered her a lift, and that she was later taken to a location where she was "grabbed and groped" by all men in the car. He claimed he knew she was not consenting and that he had felt it was wrong, stating he had "knew what he did was wrong." The trial continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns and a jury.
William Dollard, aged 32, was convicted of sexual assault and attempted anal rape of a 61‑year‑old homeless man on 30 May 2017 in Co Cork. A jury found him guilty and he was sentenced in June 2020 to five years and six months, with 18 months suspended, by Mr Justice Paul McDermott. Dollard appealed both the conviction and the sentence. The appeal against the conviction was dismissed, but the Court of Appeal reduced his custodial term by one year, leaving him with a three‑year custodial sentence. The Court of Appeal also increased the suspended portion to two years and six months. The judge noted that Dollard had become homeless and was on the margins of society, and that the arrest under Section 24 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 was lawful. Dollard is set to be released from custody imminently after serving just over three years.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, Feri Anghel, a 42‑year‑old Romanian office cleaner, denied murdering Ioan Artene Bob, a 49‑year‑old construction worker. Anghel, who had no fixed abode, was arrested five days after Bob's body was found in Sean Walsh Park, Tallaght, on 13 April 2018. In a police interview on 18 April, Anghel described Bob as a "good guy" who often shook hands and saluted people, noting he was a heavy drinker. Anghel claimed he last saw Bob the week before the murder, at a group meal near the GPO where Bob had been handing out free food. Anghel said he had never spoken to Bob personally and that he and Bob had never gone out together. He also explained that he earned €550‑€600 a week cleaning offices and sent most of his wages back to his family in Romania. Feri Anghel pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court trial of four men accused of raping a then 17-year-old girl in the midlands on December 27, 2016, continued before Justice Tara Burns and a jury. All four accused, who cannot be named, have pleaded not guilty to the primary charge of rape. The first accused (22) also faces charges of two counts of sexual assault and false imprisonment; the second accused (24) faces two counts of sexual assault, oral rape, and false imprisonment; the third accused (24) faces an additional count of rape, two counts of sexual assault, and false imprisonment; and the fourth accused (23) faces three counts of sexual assault. The prosecution case alleges the complainant was driven to a location where she was raped by the four accused and a fifth man not before the courts. During the trial, the jury heard memos of gardaí interviews. The first accused stated he deleted messages and blocked the complainant on Facebook because he was scared. He admitted to touching her but claimed he did not have sex with her, stating he did not have the guts. He expressed a desire to ask the complainant to forgive him. The second accused denied having sex with the complainant, claiming she consented to kissing and that he did not complete oral sex because he found it nasty. He stated that letting the complainant into the car was his biggest regret. The matter is currently at the sentence stage of the trial proceedings, with the trial continuing.
Richard O'Mara, aged 33, was convicted of two counts of rape against a teenage schoolgirl at his sister's 18th birthday party in 2015. He received a 14‑year sentence with the final two years suspended by Ms Justice Tara Burns. O'Mara appealed to reduce the sentence, arguing it was too long, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal. Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh noted the appellant had few mitigating factors, no guilty plea, no remorse, and a heart condition, and that the suspended portion had already been considered. The court upheld the original sentence, stating it was within the judge's discretion and not unduly high. O'Mara's barrister argued for a greater reduction, citing his client's good character and lack of prior convictions, but the appeal was rejected. The case remains at the sentencing stage. Richard O'Mara pleaded not guilty.
During a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Romanian witness Garofita Selin collapsed while giving evidence. She was cross‑examined by defence counsel Padraig Dwyer SC about statements she had made to Irish and Romanian authorities regarding alleged behaviour by accused Mr Feri Anghel (42). Selin, who was working as a cleaner in Slane, Co. Meath at the time of the alleged incident, was testifying about Anghel's alleged "scary" pass at her. While answering questions through an interpreter, Selin suddenly became unconscious, fell from her chair and remained on the ground for 35 minutes. Gardaí, security staff and court personnel attended to her, providing oxygen and moving her to a wheelchair. Mr Justice Paul Burns sent the jury home and adjourned the case to the following day. The trial concerns the murder of Romanian national Ioan Artene Bob (49), who was found dead in a Dublin park on 13 April 2018. Feri Anghel pleaded not guilty. Ioan Artene Bob pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court trial of four men accused of raping a 17-year-old girl in the midlands on December 27, 2016, continues before Justice Tara Burns and a jury. All four accused, aged between 22 and 24, have pleaded not guilty to the charges. The first accused (22) faces rape, two counts of sexual assault, and false imprisonment. The second accused (24) is charged with rape, two counts of sexual assault, oral rape, and false imprisonment. The third accused (24) faces an additional count of rape, two counts of sexual assault, and false imprisonment. The fourth accused (23) is charged with three counts of sexual assault. Prosecution counsel Lorcan Staines SC read interview memos where the first accused stated he believed the complainant might report the incident to gardaí. He alleged she was intoxicated and did not explicitly stop him, though he denied having sex with her, claiming he only touched her leg, belly, and breast. He admitted to deleting messages regarding the complainant's passport due to fear. The prosecution alleges the complainant was driven to a location where she was assaulted by the four accused and a fifth man not before the court. The trial is ongoing.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a mother of 28‑year‑old Jonathan Reid, who stabbed her partner Greg Shiels in the neck during a drug‑induced psychosis, urged the court to grant her son a second chance. Reid, from Newhall, Naas, pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Shiels on 6 March 2020, and also pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and cannabis that night. The mother described her son as deserving a second chance and pledged full support for both her and Shiels, who suffered a serious neck injury but made a good recovery. Reid had a prior drink‑driving conviction and had spent time in Lakeview Mental Health Unit. The court adjourned to 25 April to consider post‑release programmes, and a nolle prosequi will be entered on the attempted murder charge later.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a doctor testified that a medical examination of a 17‑year‑old girl, conducted five hours after alleged assaults on 27 December 2016, revealed bruises on her knee and calves, swelling and lacerations of the labia majora, bruising of the labia minora and perineum, and bleeding of the inner vaginal wall. Swabs and clothing were taken for forensic analysis. The doctor concluded that the injuries were consistent with non‑consensual sexual intercourse. The four men, aged 22 to 24, all pleaded not guilty to rape, sexual assault, and false imprisonment charges. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Tara Burns with a jury, continues to consider these allegations. The prosecution maintains that the girl was taken in a car with the men and raped "one after another" at a midlands location on the same date. The defendants' legal teams have not disputed the medical findings presented.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal of an unnamed 62-year-old man from the west of Ireland, upholding his conviction for the rape of his god-daughter. The appellant, who pleaded not guilty, was originally convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court in June 2020 of two counts of indecently assaulting and two counts of raping the victim, who was also his cousin, at her family home on unknown dates between 1982 and 1984. Ms Justice Carmel Stewart sentenced him to nine years' imprisonment. In his appeal, the man argued that the jury's verdict was unsafe and the trial unfair, citing alleged inconsistencies in the complainant's evidence and claiming the trial judge erred by failing to discharge the jury or properly instruct them on the significant delay between the alleged offences and the complaint. Counsel for the appellant, Damien Colgan SC, submitted that no reason was given for the delay. However, a three-judge panel led by Court President Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with Mr Justice John Edwards and Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, rejected these grounds. Mr Justice Birmingham described the trial judge's charge to the jury as "impeccable" and noted she was conscious of the difficulties associated with long delays in historic sex abuse cases. The court found no basis to overturn the conviction, leaving the original sentence intact.
The Central Criminal Court trial of four men accused of raping a 17-year-old girl in the midlands on December 27, 2016, heard evidence regarding conflicting statements made to gardaí. All four accused, aged between 17 and 19 at the time, have pleaded not guilty to rape and other charges. The prosecution alleges the complainant was driven to a location where she was raped by the four men and a fifth individual not before the court. Evidence revealed that the third accused initially told gardaí that none of the group had sex with the girl, before later admitting he and the others had intercourse with her. The second accused stated he did not know if others had sex with the complainant, while the first accused denied any sexual contact occurred. The first accused (22) faces additional charges of sexual assault and false imprisonment. The second accused (24) is charged with sexual assault, oral rape, and false imprisonment. The third accused (24) faces an additional rape count, sexual assault, and false imprisonment. The fourth accused (23) is charged with sexual assault. The trial continues before Justice Tara Burns and a jury.
In a Central Criminal Court sentencing hearing, Ivona Shortt, mother of Thomas Farnan, 37, recounted the shock of her son's murder on 25 April 2016. She described calling him when he asked her to "hang on" as a visitor approached the front door of their Kilcronan Close apartment. Minutes later she learned Thomas had been shot dead by a caller. Shortt described the event as a "devastating act of brutality" that will haunt her family forever. The court heard that Lorcan Merriman, 26, pleaded guilty to disposing of the gun used in the shooting, leading the Director of Public Prosecutions to drop the murder charge. Merriman, already serving a five‑year sentence for possession of a sub‑machine gun, was sentenced again on 30 March. The hearing also included statements from Thomas's partner Elaine Heffernan, his son Sean O'Connor, and sister Jenny Farnan, all expressing grief and a desire for justice.
In March 2022, a 33‑year‑old man from Clare was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for raping his partner with a deodorant can on 26 October 2014. He was convicted by a jury in his absence after failing to attend the closing stages of his Central Criminal Court trial in November 2017. The court found him guilty of one count of rape and acquitted him of one count of criminal damage. Two months after the assault, he sent the victim harassing texts calling her a "dirty tramp" and "dirty slut" and stating he would do it again. The judge noted the attack was sudden, shocking and involved humiliation and degradation. The sentence was back‑dated to 22 July 2021, the date he first entered custody. The man had fled to the UK, was arrested in July 2021, and had previously been convicted of assault and breaching a barring order.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, mother Attracta Kearney accused the media of demonising her son, Ian Moore, after his death following an altercation with Jason Kearney. Moore, 30, pleaded guilty to unlawful killing of Kearney on 12 September 2020. He claimed he had entered Kearney's home after a perceived intrusion, pushed the homeowner out, and later followed him in a car to retrieve a bag he believed was stolen. During a confrontation at Seville Place, Moore punched Kearney once, causing a fatal head injury. Moore stated he had no intention to use a knife he carried and that he called emergency services after the incident. The court adjourned sentencing to 30 March 2022. Kearney's family expressed profound grief and questioned Moore's actions, while Moore expressed remorse and acknowledged responsibility.
Michael Corbett, aged 32, was sentenced to an additional 30‑month term for assaulting a prison officer with a homemade shiv on 19 October 2020. The shiv was made from a toothbrush and a blade. Corbett had previously been convicted of attempted murder of a 17‑year‑old at the Hellfire Club in 2016, for which he was serving a nine‑year sentence with six years suspended. The new sentence is to run consecutively with the six years he is currently serving. Judge Greally suspended the final 12 months of the 30‑month term for five years, imposing conditions including 15‑year post‑release supervision, weekly Garda station sign‑ins, medication compliance and mental‑health support. Corbett has seven prior convictions and is considered at high risk of reoffending. The officer sustained a head injury but was not seriously harmed. Corbett's defence highlighted his paranoid schizophrenia and medication non‑adherence. Michael Corbett pleaded guilty.
Two men have had their convictions for rape upheld by the Court of Appeal. Boakye Osei, formerly of Burnfoot in County Donegal, and Kelvin Opoku, formerly of Letterkenny, were each sentenced to nine years' imprisonment in March 2020 following their conviction at the Central Criminal Court for the rape of a woman in February 2015. The appellants challenged their convictions on three grounds: that the trial judge should have discharged the jury following questioning about the complainant's alcohol consumption, that video-link evidence should not have been permitted, and that mobile phone material had not been adequately disclosed to the defence. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham alongside Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, rejected all grounds of appeal. The court found the trial judge's rulings on disclosure, video evidence, and witness questioning to have been proper and appropriate. The judges concluded they were not persuaded the trial was unfair or the verdicts unsafe. Boakye Osei pleaded not guilty. Kelvin Opoku pleaded not guilty.
A getaway driver, Matthew Bell, 25, was jailed for eight years for using his mother's car to help gangland murderers escape after the killing of 28‑year‑old John Gibson in a Dublin carpark. Bell pleaded guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder on 18 September 2017. The judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, sentenced Bell to nine years and three months, with the final 15 months suspended, citing Bell's role in driving the getaway vehicle and his lack of suitability to his assigned role in the gang. Bell's early guilty plea and his struggle with drug addiction were mitigating factors. The sentence was reduced from the headline term of 12 years and six months. The court heard the victim's mother, Tara Gibson, express sorrow and hope for further convictions, and the police described the vehicle movements and Bell's involvement in the escape.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 35‑year‑old man named Martin Kelly pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of 44‑year‑old Gerry Nolan, who died in a fire in Kelly's caravan in Deerpark, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny, on 24 July 2006. Kelly, who had previously been charged with murder in 2020, was represented by Sean Gillane SC for the DPP. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC requested five weeks for psychological and psychiatric reports. Judge Paul McDermott adjourned the case to 20 June for a sentence hearing.
In a Dublin murder trial, paramedics testified that Romanian man Ioan Artene Bob, aged 49, was severely beaten in Sean Walsh Park on 13 April 2018, suffering "racoon eyes" and extensive bruising. He was taken to Tallaght Hospital where he died at 4.37 pm after respiratory and cardiac arrest. Witnesses described Bob's swollen face, blood from his mouth and nose, and a cracked jaw, fractured ribs, and punctured lungs. The prosecution alleges that after the attack, Bob's phone and bank card were used in Dublin and Meath, implicating Feri Anghel, 42, who denies the murder. Bob had recently won €2‑3,000 at a Dublin casino and had sent much of it to Romania. The case is heard before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury.
Trevor Rowe, aged 71, was accused of murdering 71‑year‑old Ann Butler in her Kilkenny home on 20 March 2020. In a Central Criminal Court interview, Rowe admitted to killing Butler but refused to explain why, saying it was "disgusting" to discuss. He claimed he had called Gardaí anonymously to help locate the body, stating he intended to dismember her but ultimately did not. Rowe also alleged he had committed five other murders and was linked to the Kinahan Cartel, receiving €5,500 for a murder. Forensic evidence included a timber cross and a "Jesus figure" found in Rowe's apartment, which were linked to a crucifix unit recovered from Butler's house. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, continues with a jury of twelve. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution presented evidence that Romanian man Ioan Artene Bob, aged 49, was found beaten in a "very, very bad state" in Tallaght's Sean Walsh Memorial Park on 13 April 2018. A Polish woman, Marzana Jurzak, discovered him early in the morning, noting bruises, swelling and blood on his face, and that he could not stand. She reported that Bob had shown her four fingers, which she interpreted as indicating four attackers. The prosecution alleged that Bob had recently won €2‑3 000 at a Dublin casino, sent much of it to Romania, and that he and accused Feri Anghel, 42 and homeless, had travelled together from the city centre to Tallaght on Luas. CCTV and mobile phone evidence were said to link Anghel to the attack and subsequent use of Bob's phone and bank card. Bob died of cardiac arrest at Tallaght Hospital later that day.
During a trial at the Central Criminal Court, a friend of a woman who claims she was raped by five men in a car in the midlands gave evidence. The witness described the woman as distraught, crying, and traumatised when she returned to her friends on the early hours of 27 December 2016. She was said to have been in shock, with her skirt torn and her clothes not fully on. The friend reported that she repeatedly said there were six men and that she could do nothing. The witness also recounted that the woman had not been drunk and that she was reluctant to go to the Garda station initially, but was eventually taken to the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit in Mullingar. The trial continues before a jury. The unnamed woman pleaded not guilty.
Trevor Rowe, 29, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 71‑year‑old Ann Butler in her Kilkenny home on 20 March 2020. In Central Criminal Court, he told officers he could not explain what happened, saying the truth would not help her family and that he could not even close his eyes. Rowe admitted making anonymous calls to Gardaí, claiming he wanted the woman found and was ashamed. He also claimed to have committed five other murders, worked for the Kinahan Cartel, and received €5,500 for a murder. Gardaí presented CCTV showing him walking to Maudlin Street that night. Rowe described taking large amounts of drugs and alcohol before the incident. The trial continues before Ms Justice Karen O'Connor and a jury.
A man has been sentenced to four years in prison at the Central Criminal Court for cleaning up and removing blood-stained evidence from his Drogheda home where teenager Kean Mulready Woods was murdered in January 2020. Gerard McKenna, aged 52, of Rathmullen Park in Drogheda, pleaded guilty to obstructing the apprehension or prosecution of persons guilty of the murder, contrary to the Criminal Law Act 1997. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a headline sentence of seven years before mitigation, reduced to five years and three months with the final fifteen months suspended. The sentence was backdated to May 2020. The judge acknowledged McKenna was not present during the killing but emphasised the seriousness of disposing of material evidence. Evidence revealed extensive blood-staining throughout the property despite attempts to clean and redecorate. The court heard McKenna had acted under threat from a dangerous criminal figure. The judge noted McKenna's guilty plea, remorse, and personal circumstances as mitigating factors.
The Central Criminal Court trial of four men, who have pleaded not guilty to 18 counts of sexual assault, rape, and false imprisonment of a woman on December 27, 2016, continued before Ms Justice Tara Burns. The fifth accused is not before the court. Both the complainant and defendants are entitled to anonymity under the 1981 Rape Act. During cross-examination, the complainant denied that the sexual activity alleged to have occurred in a car and at a remote location was consensual. She rejected suggestions by Colman Cody SC and Hugh Hartnett SC that the atmosphere was jovial or her behavior playful. The complainant alleged she was forced to give and receive oral sex and was raped by each of the five men. She stated that any sexual acts were non-consensual, contradicting assertions by Seamus Clarke SC that his client believed the acts were consensual. The complainant also denied placing herself on a defendant's lap or kissing the driver upon leaving. The trial continues tomorrow.
A 41‑year‑old man from Co Offaly was convicted at the Central Criminal Court of four counts of oral rape of a child between May 1995 and December 1998, when the victim was aged 11 to 14. He was also found guilty of eight counts of sexual assault of the same child and four counts of sexual assault of the victim's older brother, who was aged 12 to 13 in 1995 and 1996. The two boys were placed in foster care with the defendant's family in 1995. The defendant claimed he felt resentful about sharing his home, was bullied at school and identified with the younger boy, grooming him and turning what began as wrestling into sexual acts. The victim reported that the abuse started with kissing and escalated to repeated oral sex, which he described as "consensual" at the time.
Thomas Fitchett, 34, of Skibbereen, was sentenced by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon at the Central Criminal Court for impeding a murder investigation. He pleaded guilty to a Section 7(2) charge under the Criminal Law Act 1997, knowing that Jonathan Ustic, 51, had been murdered and intentionally hindering the apprehension of the perpetrator. Fitchett had driven a man away from Ustic's house on 24 September 2017, believing Ustic was still alive after a violent assault. He was later involved in a serious head‑on collision near Dunmanway, where he was injured and the passenger fled. Gardaí later confirmed Ustic was dead. Fitchett's sentence was a headline term of three years, with a two‑year suspended portion, and a condition of good behaviour. He had no prior convictions and expressed regret. The judge noted his intoxication and the collision as mitigating factors. The probation report indicated a moderate risk of reoffending within 12 months.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 4 March 2022, Tara Gibson, mother of 28‑year‑old John Gibson, wept as she recounted the loss of her son, who was shot five times by rival drug gang members at Citywest Shopping Centre. John Gibson, a father of two, was killed on 18 September 2017. Matthew Bell, 25, pleaded guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder, admitting he had driven a Volkswagen Caddy to the scene and later used a black Opel Corsa, which was traced to Bell's mother. Bell claimed his involvement was due to stupidity and drug use, and expressed remorse. The court adjourned the hearing to 14 March, with no sentencing or further proceedings reported in the article. The mother described her son as a kind, loving man and expressed that his death was a living nightmare, a part of her dying that day. The article does not mention any sentencing or further legal outcomes.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 17‑year‑old woman recounted being sexually assaulted and raped by five men after she entered their car on the night of 27 December 2016. She described feeling paralysed and in autopilot as the men forced her into sexual acts, including being taken to a remote area where each man raped her in turn. She attempted to stop them, but they continued, even demanding she engage with all of them simultaneously. The defendants, aged 17 to 19, pleaded not guilty to 18 counts of sexual assault, rape and false imprisonment. The case remains in trial before Justice Tara Burns and a jury, with both parties entitled to anonymity under the 1981 Rape Act.
Two brothers, Gavin Quinn (27) and Lee Quinn (26), were re‑arraigned on lesser charges after a trial for the attempted murder of Garda Alan Murphy. Gavin pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder and to assaulting a peace officer, but later pleaded guilty to assaulting a peace officer in the execution of duty under Section 19(1) of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994. Lee pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder but guilty to assault causing harm and to attempting to cause serious harm to the Garda, and also pleaded not guilty to a Section 185 assault and to possession of an offensive weapon. Both men were remanded in custody by Justice Eileen Creedon until May 23 for sentencing, pending background reports. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court.
Dean Kerrie, a 20‑year‑old from St Brigid's Square, Portarlington, was accused of murdering 25‑year‑old fisherman Jack Power during an early‑morning altercation at Kerrie's mother's home. The original trial at the Central Criminal Court ended with a hung jury after two weeks, and Kerrie was released on continuing bail. At a hearing today, Mr Justice Paul McDermott set a new trial date for 27 June and ordered that transcripts from the previous trial be made available to both prosecution and defence before the new proceedings. Dean Kerrie pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a friend of a 17‑year‑old girl alleged to have been raped by four men testified that she did not think the girl was in a bad state when they separated. The friend said she and the girl, along with two other women, had gone to a bar at about 10 pm on Stephen's Day 2016, then to a nightclub around 12 am, and that the girl left the club around 2 am when her father arrived. She reported that the girl's phone fell into a toilet but she could not recall any problem with it afterwards. The friend also described a later phone call from the girl, which she could not answer, and a text from another number saying the girl had taken a shared taxi. The friend concluded that if the girl had been drunk she would not have left alone.
A second Munster sexual abuse trial involving an unnamed 12-year-old girl will not proceed after the Director of Public Prosecutions dropped all charges against her eight relatives in the Central Criminal Court. Prosecuting counsel Bernard Condon SC stated, "This is the end of it," confirming the dismissal of cases against the girl's mother, stepfather, step-grandmother, step-grandfather, two aunts, and two uncles. The defendants had previously denied the allegations of sexual abuse and neglect, which were alleged to have occurred between June 2014 and August 2017. This decision follows the January sentencing of five other family members for the abuse of the girl's step-cousins. In that prior proceeding, Mr Justice Paul McDermott jailed the father and mother for 15 and nine years respectively, describing the conduct as the "most awful" sexual abuse and exploitation. Two uncles, aged 49 and 27, received 15-year sentences, while a maternal aunt (35) was jailed for three years for sexually assaulting two children. The DPP has lodged an appeal against the "undue leniency" of the sentences imposed on the father, mother, and the 49-year-old uncle. The current dismissal concludes the legal proceedings for the second group of accused relatives.
Two brothers, Gavin Quinn, 27, and Lee Quinn, 26, are set to stand trial at the Central Criminal Court for attempting to murder Garda Alan Murphy on 30 March 2020. Gavin Quinn pleaded not guilty to both the attempted murder and to assaulting the Garda, claiming he was reckless under Section 185 of the Criminal Justice Act 2000. Lee Quinn entered a special plea of not guilty to the attempted murder but pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to the Garda on the same date. He also pleaded not guilty to a Section 185 assault charge and to possession of an offensive weapon – a knife – intended to unlawfully injure, under Section 9(5) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990. The jury, sworn today, will hear the case, which is expected to last five days, with the Director of Public Prosecutions opening the case on 3 March.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the State's barrister, John O'Kelly SC, presented evidence that Trevor Rowe (29) of Abbey Street, Kilkenny, had made three anonymous 999 calls claiming he had killed 71‑year‑old Anne Butler at her Maudlin Street home. The calls were traced to phones owned by others, leading Gardaí to Rowe's house where he admitted the calls and the location of the victim. Gardaí then directed Rowe to Butler's house, where they found her body in a state of decomposition on the couch, with injuries of asphyxia, blunt force trauma, an incised neck wound and multiple stab wounds. Forensic links included Rowe's DNA on a cider can, a pair of gloves with Butler's blood, and a crucifix fragment. CCTV footage showed Butler's last appearance at 9.30 pm on 20 March, followed by Rowe's arrival and departure from the house. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, is expected to last ten days. Trevor Rowe pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 14‑year‑old girl recounted how a rape by two Limerick men in a field in County Clare on 22 April 2017 altered her life. The men, aged 22 and 21 at the time, denied the assault and claimed the victim was 16. The court heard that the girl was heavily intoxicated, had limited memory, and was left alone with the men after her friends dispersed. She described being raped by the 21‑year‑old, then by the 22‑year‑old while the first man masturbated. After the assaults, they walked with her to a residential area where her mother and others found her. The girl later tested negative for pregnancy, but her mother confronted her about the rape. She said rumours and vulgar remarks spread, leading her family to leave the area. The unnamed 14-year-old was convicted.