Christopher O'Sullivan appealed the life sentence imposed for his manslaughter role in the killing of Timothy Hourihane. At the Court of Appeal, his counsel argued that the offence did not fall into the most serious sentencing category and that the disparity with James Brady's sentence was unjustified. The prosecution said the sentencing judge was entitled to consider O'Sullivan's previous convictions. Judgment was reserved. Christopher O'Sullivan pleaded guilty.
Tomasz Rozpeda, who had originally been charged with murdering Maciej Nowak, pleaded guilty to manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court. The charge concerns the unlawful killing of Nowak at Ballycranna, Kilross in Co Tipperary on or about December 26 or 27, 2023. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor adjourned the matter to May 18, directed a victim impact report and remanded Rozpeda in custody. The State will not proceed with the murder count after sentencing.
Mr Justice Tony Hunt ruled that Riad Bouchaker is fit to stand trial over charges arising from the Parnell Square East incident, including the attempted murder of two girls and one boy and assault causing serious harm to a care worker. The judge said Bouchaker has cognitive limitations but can understand the charges and mount a defence with accommodations. A three-week Central Criminal Court trial was set for June 8, with fitness to remain under review.
A Galway man who sexually abused his three sisters when they were children pleaded guilty to rape and two indecent assaults. The victims described decades of trauma after the abuse became known, while Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a global two-year sentence with the final six months suspended and post-release supervision.
Defence counsel told a Central Criminal Court jury that a just and humane society should treat people who are unwell rather than punish them, in the trial of Derek Mulligan. Mulligan has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to murdering his grandfather Derek Burns at Carrickcoyle, Derrybeg, and to other charges. Two psychiatrists told the trial he was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and met the criteria for the special verdict. The jury was expected to begin deliberations the following day.
Cloverhill Prison agreed to facilitate a 90-minute virtual appointment between a psychiatrist and Ahmed Abdirahman, who is accused of murdering Mary Ward. The Central Criminal Court adjourned the case to April 22 for an update on the psychiatric report.
Matthias Kelly was given a 12-year sentence, with the final two years suspended, after pleading guilty to attempting to murder Fiona Timmermans during a knife attack in Dublin. Concurrent sentences were also imposed for burglary, threats to kill, criminal damage and producing a knife.
James Greengrass pleaded guilty to attempting to cause serious harm to a fellow psychiatric patient at University Hospital Waterford. His barrister said Greengrass believed the victim was a 'shapeshifting demon'; Ms Justice Karen O'Connor adjourned finalising sentence to April 27. James Greengrass was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
The Central Criminal Court fixed November 2 as a notional trial date for a Somali national accused of murdering 17-year-old Vadym Davydenko. The accused cannot be identified while the case proceeds on the basis that he is a minor, and legal issues around his age continue.
A judge said a judicial review may be needed if prison access problems prevent a psychiatrist from assessing Ahmed Abdirahman, who is accused of murdering Mary Ward. Counsel said the psychiatrist left one prison visit after staff were 'dismissive and rude', while video consultations were cancelled.
The Central Criminal Court heard evidence that Derek Mulligan described attacking his grandfather Derek Burns with a granite stone and cement block. Mulligan has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to murder and also faces charges arising from incidents involving Catherine McDermott and the McFaddens in Donegal; the trial continues.
A 19-year-old woman waived her anonymity and told the Central Criminal Court that she refuses to remain silent about repeated oral rape during childhood. Noel O'Neill was convicted of three counts committed when the victim was aged between six and 12. The court adjourned finalisation of the case to June 15 and remanded O'Neill in continuing custody. Noel O'Neill pleaded not guilty.
Derek Mulligan has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to murdering his grandfather Derek Burns in Carrickcoyle, Donegal, in December 2023. Prosecuting counsel told the trial that State and defence psychiatrists agree Mulligan was suffering from a mental disorder when the killing occurred. The trial also concerns alleged property damage, threats and assaults on the same date, and continues before a judge and jury.
Tomas Cypas has received the mandatory life sentence for murdering Juris Kokenbergs in Lucan. A jury convicted him by a majority verdict after hearing that an assault followed an argument involving an alleged lewd request, while the defence had argued for manslaughter. Tomas Cypas pleaded not guilty.
Michael Poole was convicted of 14 counts of raping Lisa Brown and eight counts of indecent assault after abusing his niece while babysitting her. The court heard Brown tried twice to report the abuse and was rebuffed; Mr Justice Patrick McGrath sentenced Poole to 12 years, with the final two suspended. Michael Poole pleaded guilty.
A Central Criminal Court jury heard garda interview evidence from a man accused of sexually abusing his older sister, who described the allegations as lies and a joke. Seven men are on trial over 103 charges involving the deaf primary complainant and, in one case, two other sisters; all deny wrongdoing. The unnamed 34-year-old pleaded not guilty.
An unnamed 36-year-old man has been jailed after pleading guilty to defilement, sexual exploitation and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child involving a vulnerable 16-year-old girl in Dublin in 2021. The Central Criminal Court heard that he offered money and drugs as inducements and had groomed the girl. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor imposed a three-and-a-half-year sentence, suspending the final six months, and the man is now on the sex offenders' register.
The jury in Liam O'Leary's Central Criminal Court murder trial has been discharged after the judge said an 'unfortunate situation' meant the proceedings could not continue. O'Leary denies murdering 58-year-old John Casserly at a Peter McVerry Trust housing unit in Ballina in October 2024. The case will return to court on April 15, and the jurors were excused from further service for five years. Liam O'Leary pleaded not guilty.
A psychiatric report remains outstanding for Ahmed Abdirahman, who is accused of murdering his former partner Mary Ward in south Belfast. The Central Criminal Court heard that two recent video-link consultations were cancelled by the prison and that at least one or two further consultations are needed. The judge adjourned the case to March 25 and requested explanations for the cancellations.
The State is still trying to establish whether a Somali national accused of murdering Ukrainian teenager Vadym Davydenko is a juvenile. The unidentified accused, whose case is proceeding on the basis that he is a minor, appeared by video link at the Central Criminal Court after being sent forward for trial. Tusla is still trying to determine his age and the matter was adjourned to later this month.
Ukrainian refugee Hryhorii Sryotenko has pleaded guilty to attempting to murder Viktoriia Pavlenko by stabbing her 15 times at a Kerry holiday home. His barrister said he accepted responsibility but disputed that he intended to kill her. Mr Justice David Keane remanded him in custody until March 26 for sentence.
Patrick Murphy, 38, was sentenced to ten years in prison at the Central Criminal Court for the manslaughter of Jordan Ronan. The jury had previously returned a unanimous verdict of manslaughter, aligning with Murphy's plea, after finding him not guilty of murder. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo set a headline sentence of 14 years, which was reduced to ten years due to the guilty plea and other mitigating factors. The final sentence includes a suspended portion of one year for a two-year period, with the term backdated to July 26, 2024. The judge noted that Murphy failed to call an ambulance for the victim, who died from a stab wound to the chest. Murphy, who has 31 previous convictions including knife possession, claimed he was defending his property after Ronan accessed his van. The victim's father, Stephen Packenham, stated the family does not accept the verdict, describing the evidence as overwhelming and criticizing the outcome. The court also heard evidence regarding an alleged prison assault on Murphy, which resulted in facial injuries requiring stitches, though no aspersions were cast against the victim's family.
Jenifer Devine, 43, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to withholding information regarding the murder of her brother-in-law, Michael Tormey. The court heard that Devine stayed in two hotels with her husband, Christopher Devine, during a Garda manhunt. Christopher Devine, 44, had previously pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter; a jury convicted him of murder in December, finding he was not suffering from a substance-induced psychotic disorder. Devine admitted to booking accommodation at the Osprey Hotel in Naas and The Glenview Hotel in Wicklow between January 9 and 13, 2022, which hindered police efforts to locate her husband. Defense counsel Michael Bowman SC argued that Devine was in an emotionally abusive relationship and acted under extreme distress, requesting a suspended sentence. Prosecution counsel Garret Baker SC noted the maximum penalty is five years. Ms Justice Melanie Greally remanded Devine on continuing bail until April 16, when she will be sentenced. The matter was adjourned.
A Central Criminal Court trial involving seven men accused of sexually abusing a deaf family member heard transcripts of garda interviews, including denials by a 34-year-old brother and statements made by a 55-year-old uncle. The men deny wrongdoing and the trial continues before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs.
The Central Criminal Court heard prosecution evidence describing John Casserly's death in Ballina as involving serious violence. Liam O'Leary denies murder, and the trial continues before Ms Justice Melanie Greally and a jury.
A Central Criminal Court jury returned a majority verdict of murder against Tomas Cypas over the death of Juris Kokenbergs at Old Bridge Park, Lucan. The jury rejected the defence case after deliberating for six hours and 54 minutes over three days; the mandatory life sentence is due to be handed down on March 23. Tomas Cypas pleaded not guilty.
The jury in Tomas Cypas's murder trial stopped deliberating after four hours and 21 minutes and will return to the Central Criminal Court on Monday. Cypas denies murdering Juris Kokenbergs in Lucan; the jury was directed that it could return verdicts of murder, manslaughter or not guilty.
A jury began deliberating in the trial of Tomas Cypas, who has pleaded not guilty to murdering Juris Kokenbergs in Lucan. The jury was told it could return verdicts of murder, manslaughter or not guilty.
The prosecution told the Central Criminal Court that Tomas Cypas was under no threat when he assaulted Juris Kokenbergs, while the defence argued the killing was manslaughter rather than murder. Tomas Cypas pleaded not guilty.
Declan Power has received permission from the High Court to challenge a Minister for Justice decision that bars him from living at his home within an 18-kilometre exclusion zone while on release. Declan Power pleaded guilty.
Christopher Judge, 42, of Pairc na Dara, Clonard, Co Wexford, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to the murder of 27-year-old Stephen Ring on October 15, 2024. Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned the matter to March 27 for sentencing, where the mandatory life imprisonment will be imposed. The court also vacated a previously set trial date of April 13. In a related finalisation, Jane Corcorcan, 34, also of Pairc na Dara, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to impeding Judge's apprehension or prosecution. She admitted helping move Ring's remains from her home and assisting Judge by telling falsehoods to gardai. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo noted that Corcoran lied about the circumstances of Ring's death, falsely accused another man of assault, and wasted police resources. CCTV showed Corcoran moving Ring's remains, wrapped in a blanket, to her car boot before driving to Carrigfoyle Quarry, where the body was dumped in the water. Ring's body, which had been in the quarry for 13 days, was discovered by children fishing. His mother, Linda Ring, stated that while the body lay in the quarry, Corcoran posted on Facebook hoping he would return home safely.
Sean Monaghan was jailed for three years after pleading guilty to eight counts of indecent assault against his younger sister in their family home in 1962 and 1963.
Akbar Moqadar was convicted of orally raping a vulnerable woman in a swimming-pool steam room. Mr Justice Patrick McGrath imposed seven years with the final 12 months suspended and placed him under post-release probation supervision.
Jenifer Devine (43) failed to appear at the Central Criminal Court for her sentencing hearing on a charge of withholding information regarding the death of Michael Tormey (49). Devine had pleaded guilty in November 2024 to failing to disclose information that might assist in securing the apprehension of her husband, Christopher Devine, concerning Tormey's death. Her lawyer, Maria Brosnan BL, stated Devine was suffering from serious mental health issues and intended to seek hospital care. Prosecuting counsel Garret Baker SC noted that gardai had visited her address and she indicated she would not attend court. Ms Justice Melanie Greally criticized the lack of documented evidence regarding Devine's condition, emphasizing the seriousness of the charge. The judge postponed the sentencing hearing for two weeks, listing the matter for March 13, allowing time for a medical report. Meanwhile, Christopher Devine (44) was convicted by a jury of murder in December 2024. He had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The jury rejected the defense argument that he suffered from a substance-induced psychotic disorder due to cocaine and alcohol use, finding he acted deliberately. The trial heard Devine shot Tormey five times with an MP5 submachine gun in Tormey's front garden in Ballyfermot in January 2022. The weapon was never recovered.
Jibola Moses Akanni has been refused bail by the Court of Appeal while he awaits a conviction appeal. He was convicted of two rapes and sexual assault involving a 17-year-old at a Dublin city-centre apartment and is serving an eight-and-a-half-year sentence; the court said his appeal issues were wide-ranging rather than clear-cut.
A former scout leader is appealing five convictions for offences against three young cousins, including rape and sexual assault. His defence argues that an anonymous letter said to be from a juror, a complainant's reference to rape and the prosecution closing speech made the convictions unsafe. Ms Justice Nuala Butler said the court would reserve judgment; the man continues to deny the offences. The unnamed 63-year-old pleaded not guilty and was acquitted.
Joseph Lawlor was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering Michael Ryan in Finglas after a jury rejected his claim that the stabbing was carried out in self-defence.
Henry McGowan has been committed to the Central Mental Hospital after a jury found him not guilty of murdering his father by reason of insanity. The court heard that he continues to have schizoaffective disorder and needs specialist inpatient care. The murder of John McGowan occurred at Ballyfin Demesne after the father travelled from the US to help his son.
Tomas Cypas pleaded not guilty to murdering Juris Kokenbergs at Old Bridge Park, Lucan, Co Dublin. The prosecution case is that Kokenbergs died from stomping on the head. Cypas admits hitting Kokenbergs over the weekend, while the jury must decide his intent; the trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
A man convicted of raping and sexually assaulting his younger sister over seven years has appealed his conviction at the Court of Appeal in Dublin. Kyle Jinks, aged 32, of Slievemore, Ballytivnan, County Sligo, was found guilty at the Central Criminal Court of twenty-one counts of rape and four counts of sexual assault between 2008 and 2014. He received a twelve-year sentence in February 2025. The appeal centres on whether the trial judge correctly instructed the jury that the defendant's silence when confronted by his mother about the allegations could amount to corroboration of the victim's account. The defence argues that silence alone cannot constitute corroboration without additional conduct. The Director of Public Prosecutions contended that the context made the defendant's lack of response meaningful. The three-judge court reserved judgment pending a later date.
A scaffolder is set to face trial tomorrow, accused of murdering a man in west Dublin in 2024. Tomas Cypas (35), who resides at Foxborough Road, Lucan, Co Dublin, was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court this afternoon. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Juris Kokenbergs (49), who was killed at Old Bridge Park, Lucan, Co Dublin on October 28, 2024. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon informed the jury panel that the accused is a resident of Dublin and works in the scaffolding trade. The judge swore in a jury of eight men and four women to hear the trial, which will begin tomorrow before Mr Justice Paul McDermott. The trial is expected to last two weeks. The court proceedings will focus on the circumstances surrounding the alleged murder and the evidence presented by the prosecution.
A man has been sentenced to seven years in prison at the Central Criminal Court after pleading guilty to conspiracy to murder. Joseph Richards, aged 35 and from Lanesborough Square in Finglas, was convicted in connection with the death of Robert Sheridan, 45, who was shot at his front door in Ballymun on 5 October 2018. Mr Justice Paul McDermott found the killing was meticulously planned and involved considerable coordination to lure the victim to answer the door. Richards, who initially faced a murder charge, will serve the seven-and-a-half-year sentence, with six months suspended, after completing his current prison term, resulting in an effective sentence exceeding twelve years. The judge noted Richards has ninety-nine previous convictions and acknowledged his guilty plea and efforts to address drug addiction while imprisoned. The victim's family delivered impact statements describing the lasting trauma caused by his death.
Twin brothers Sean Farrell and Eric Farrell, aged 21, appeared before the Central Criminal Court on a charge of murder relating to the death of Ionel Nicolae Diaconu in Tallaght, Dublin 24, on December 11, 2023. Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the murder charge but guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter. The Director of Public Prosecutions accepted that the manslaughter pleas met the case. Defence counsel noted that the brothers were 19 at the time of the incident and have no significant previous convictions, requesting the court to consider probation reports. The defendants are currently held in custody at Castlerea Prison. Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned the matter to May 18 for a sentence hearing and ordered the preparation of two probation reports. The judge remanded the Farrell twins in custody until that date. Regarding the victim's family, prosecution counsel stated that Mr Diaconu's relatives do not live in Ireland and have previously attended proceedings remotely. The court did not record a final conviction or sentence at this stage, as the case remains adjourned for sentencing.
Alan Vial and Nikita Burns, who were convicted in March 2025 of murdering Robert Robin Wilkin at Sliabh Liag in County Donegal, have been granted a hearing date for their conviction appeals. Vial, aged 39, of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, and Burns, aged 23, of Carrick, had pleaded not guilty to the charge relating to events on 25 June 2023. A jury rejected their competing accounts of responsibility for the death. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, listed the matter for case management on 20 February and set 23 July for the full hearing of appeals, which is expected to occupy one day. The victim's body was recovered from the sea eight days after the incident.
Joseph Lawlor was found guilty of murdering Michael Ryan by a Central Criminal Court jury, despite his claim that the stabbing was a coincidence. The jury rejected his self-defence argument after deliberating for eight hours and 57 minutes. Lawlor will be sentenced to life imprisonment next week. His second trial followed the collapse of the first due to late evidence disclosure and allegations of coaching a witness. During the trial, enhanced audio revealed Lawlor threatening Ryan, undermining his self-defence claim. CCTV and neighbour recordings showed multiple altercations between the men. Lawlor claimed he stabbed Ryan in self-defence after Ryan threatened to throw grenades through his windows. The jury did not accept his claim of reasonable force or honest belief in the need to attack Ryan.
A 70-year-old man has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the systematic sexual abuse of five of his children over two decades at various addresses in County Sligo. Noel Farrell of Rathedmond Estate, Sligo, pleaded guilty to three counts of rape and 19 counts of indecent assault and sexual assault. The abuse included rape, sexual assault, and inappropriate touching of victims aged between two and seventeen. Evidence revealed that Farrell locked children in rooms for extended periods without food and forced them to drink urine. Mr Justice Tony Hunt described the case as "truly shocking" and noted the absence of mitigating factors beyond the guilty plea. He imposed a headline sentence of 30 years, reduced to 20 years. Four of the five victims waived anonymity to allow Farrell's identification. The judge commended the complainants for their fortitude in confronting their experiences. Farrell has been in custody since his guilty plea in November.
A jury will return to the Central Criminal Court to continue deliberations in the trial of Joseph Lawlor, who is accused of murdering his friend Michael Ryan in June 2024. Lawlor claims he acted in self-defence and to protect his property. The trial began in January, and the jury requested a copy of Lawlor's testimony, which detailed the events leading to the fatal stabbing. The jury heard that Lawlor and Ryan had been drinking and had multiple altercations throughout the evening. Ryan was arrested for drink driving and later returned to Lawlor's home, demanding the return of a watch and threatening to use "pineapples" (slang for grenades). Lawlor pursued Ryan to a carpark and stabbed him in the neck, causing his death. The judge instructed the jury that if they found Lawlor's account credible and that he used reasonable force, they must acquit. However, if he used excessive force, the verdict would be manslaughter. If the prosecution proved he did not act in self-defence, the verdict would be murder. Joseph Lawlor pleaded not guilty.
A judge has expressed frustration with what he described as the 'triumph of bureaucracy and administration over actually doing something' during a murder trial. The accused, who was due to stand trial earlier this year, had his case adjourned due to concerns about his mental health. His barrister informed Mr Justice Tony Hunt that initial issues regarding pay rates for psychiatric reports had been resolved, with the Legal Aid Board agreeing to increase the rate from €120 to €300 per hour. However, a new obstacle has emerged, as the board now requires a PPS number for the accused before sanctioning a report. The accused's solicitor has been unable to obtain this number. Mr Justice Hunt stated that he could not 'micromanage affairs between solicitors and the Legal Aid Board' and emphasized that trials should not be delayed over trivialities like providing a PPS number. He called for action to be taken rather than bureaucratic delays. A barrister for the State said they would assist in finding the PPS number. The matter was adjourned to March for an update.
A jury has begun deliberations in the murder trial of Joseph Lawlor, who claims he stabbed his friend, Michael Ryan, in self-defense. Lawlor, 39, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ryan, who was found dead in a carpark after a dispute. The jury heard that Lawlor and Ryan had been drinking and had multiple altercations. Ryan returned to Lawlor's home after being released from custody for drink driving and accused Lawlor of calling gardai. Ryan threatened to bring others to attack Lawlor's home. Lawlor pursued Ryan to the carpark and stabbed him once in the neck, severing an artery. The judge instructed the jury that if Lawlor used reasonable force in self-defense, he must be acquitted. If the force was excessive, the verdict would be manslaughter. If the prosecution proved Lawlor did not act in self-defense, the verdict would be murder.
A jury has been asked to determine whether Joseph Lawlor used reasonable force in stabbing his friend to death after the deceased threatened to throw grenades through his windows. Lawlor, 39, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Ryan, 51, who was found dead in a carpark behind Lawlor's home in Dublin. The incident occurred on June 20, 2024, following a night of drinking and altercations between the two men. Ryan accused Lawlor of calling the gardai to have him arrested for drunk driving and demanded the return of an expensive watch. When Lawlor refused, Ryan allegedly threatened to throw grenades through his windows. Lawlor pursued Ryan to the carpark and stabbed him in the neck, causing his death. The prosecution argues that Lawlor created the situation deliberately to use force, citing audio evidence of Lawlor inviting Ryan to a fight. The defence claims that Lawlor acted in self-defence, citing the Criminal Law (Defence and the Dwelling) Act 2011, which allows for the use of reasonable force against trespassers.