In the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Paul McDermott announced new seating arrangements for the 12 jurors in the Paula Farrell murder trial to maintain social distancing amid the coronavirus outbreak. Six jurors now sit on individual cushions in the courtroom, while the remaining six sit in the jury box with a seat between them. The judge said these arrangements would remain for the rest of the trial and that two jury minders would be present. Mr McDermott invited jurors to raise any concerns. Ms Farrell, aged 47, continues to give evidence. She admits stabbing her partner, Wayne 'Quilly' McQuillan, 30, during a drunken argument on New Year's Day 2014. She pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. She described the events, her lack of intent to kill, and her subsequent actions, including not calling an ambulance.
Ms Paula Farrell, 47, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the unlawful killing of Wayne 'Quilly' McQuillan, 30, on New Year's Day 2014. She told the Central Criminal Court jury that she began drinking heavily in her teens to "block out" problems, later describing a history of sexual abuse by a named man from age seven to fourteen. She said the abuse began at thirteen and continued daily, and that she confronted the abuser at age 28 or 29, after which she stopped counselling. Farrell also admitted using alcohol, cocaine, speed and a white powder called "wildcat." She met McQuillan on the night of her 40th birthday in 2013; he was ten years younger.
During a Central Criminal Court trial, one of three young men accused of raping an 18‑year‑old woman at Dollymount Strand on 5 January 2016 claimed he and his two "gentlemen friends" treated the alleged victim with "nothing but respect." The accused, in his early 20s, pleaded not guilty and stated he had never met the woman before the alleged incidents. He described the woman as enthusiastic and confident, and denied that she was raped, arguing that her claims of being "addicted to sex" did not preclude rape. He said he would never mistreat a woman and that the complainant was "trying to ruin his life." The accused also mentioned a phone call from an acquaintance after the alleged events, refusing to name the person for fear of threat to his life. The trial continues before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury.
A 17‑year‑old boy, whose name is withheld because he is a minor, pleaded guilty to the murder of 20‑year‑old Cameron Blair, a second‑year chemical engineering student at Cork Institute of Technology. The killing occurred on 16 January 2020 on Bandon Road, Cork, when Blair was stabbed in the neck at a student party. The boy was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court on 13 March 2020, wearing a grey shirt and black trousers. Brendan Grehan SC defended him, noting the boy was present in court with his father and two aunts. Anne Rowland SC for the Director of Public Prosecutions requested that the accused be remanded in custody at Oberstown Children Detention Centre for 28 days and that a probation report be prepared.
A jury was asked to return to the Central Criminal Court on March 30th for the murder trial of fishmonger Edmundas Dauksa, aged 50, who has pleaded not guilty to the killing of his partner Ingrida Maciokaite, aged 31, at Bridgewater Mews, Linenhall Street, Dundalk, on 18 September 2018. Judge Eileen Creedon explained that due to health concerns in the community, the trial was postponed to avoid close contact, and she requested the jury to reconvene on Monday, March 30th. She noted that the trial is expected to last no longer than two weeks and that any changes would be communicated to the jurors. On the rescheduled date, Mr Justice Paul McDermott empanelled the jury and outlined the alleged facts: Dauksa and Maciokaite were a Lithuanian couple living in Dundalk, with Dauksa running a shellfish business.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 17‑year‑old accused of rape, who is one of three young men, told the judge that the alleged victim was lying and trying to ruin his life. He said he had never met the woman before the incident, which took place on 5 January 2016 at Dollymount Strand, Dublin. According to him, the woman entered a car with the accused men, suggested they go to Dollymount, and asked who wanted to have sex first. He claimed he left the car with one co‑accused and stood at a nearby hut, while the other men returned later. He denied having sex with the woman and said she asked for his phone number, which he refused to give. He also said he did not inform Gardaí of the events, citing his father's advice and his solicitors' counsel. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
A 54‑year‑old Tipperary man was convicted of 75 counts of sexual abuse and rape of his daughters and sentenced to 17 years' imprisonment. The conviction, upheld on appeal, covered 44 charges of sexual abuse, 37 counts of raping his eldest daughter, one count of anal rape of that daughter, one count of oral rape of his younger sister, and one count of threatening to kill his youngest daughters between October 1994 and July 2012. He pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. The Court of Appeal rejected all grounds of appeal, finding the evidence sufficient for the jury to convict on each count and dismissing the argument that the judge should have allowed further questioning of a victim about her conduct in a previous trial. The appeal judges confirmed the 17‑year sentence imposed by Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan on 18 May 2015.
In a Dublin court, three men in their early twenties, who cannot be named, pleaded not guilty to raping an 18‑year‑old woman on Bull Island, Dollymount, on 5 January 2016. The prosecution alleged the woman was driven to Dollymount Strand, raped by the men in succession, and then abandoned in a remote area. During the trial, a jury viewed CCTV footage showing the woman and the three men leaving an internet café in Dublin city centre and boarding a car. The hearing continues before Mr Justice Owens and a jury.
Janice Brady appeared before the Central Criminal Court on Wednesday for a hearing regarding an alleged breach of conditions attached to her suspended sentence. In November 2017, Brady pleaded guilty to impeding the apprehension or prosecution of her brother, Keith Brady, who was found guilty of the murder of musician Martin Kivlehan in Sligo in 2015. Following a December hearing, the court suspended the balance of Brady's four-year prison term, conditional on her residing with her father in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal. Probation officer Michelle McShane reported difficulties locating Brady, who was understood to be living in temporary accommodation in Dublin but had not notified the Probation Service of her change of address. Detective Sergeant Martin McHale testified that Brady had not been involved in any trouble since the suspension of her sentence. Mr Justice White, who had issued a warrant for her arrest earlier that day due to her failure to appear at the start of the sitting, warned Brady that she would return to jail if she failed to keep in contact with the Probation Service regarding her residence. The matter was adjourned.
In the Central Criminal Court, Paula Farrell, 47, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the unlawful killing of Wayne 'Quilly' McQuillan, 30, on New Year's Day 2014 at her home in Rathmullen Park, Drogheda. She admitted that she and McQuillan had been drinking since 3:00 pm, that a fight began, and that she was "hysterical" when the Garda arrived. She said she and McQuillan had been "bitching" and that a struggle ensued in the kitchen. She claimed she was "not wanting him to get the better of me" and that she stabbed him twice, once near the top of his chest and a second time lower down, using a medium‑sized black knife from her kitchen. After the stabbing, McQuillan walked out the front door, collapsed, and was taken to hospital in a patrol car after an ambulance was delayed by 20‑30 minutes.
At the Central Criminal Court, the trial of Rafal Karaczyn, 34, of Crozon Park, Sligo, continued. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his 30-year-old wife, Natalia Karaczyn, but guilty to her manslaughter at their family home between April 29th and May 1st, 2018. Witness Piotr Korsak, a friend of the accused, testified that he perceived Karaczyn as "mentally devastated," "depressed," and potentially suicidal in the months preceding the death. Korsak stated he offered Karaczyn a place to stay to help him "stay away from trouble," though Karaczyn declined until after his son's First Holy Communion. Korsak denied observing violence and expressed shock upon learning of the death. The court also heard new translations of Karaczyn's eighth Garda interview, where he admitted strangling his wife. The prosecution clarified that his statement about being "under big stress" translates from Polish to "uncontrolled," "in a rage," or similar to "amok." Additionally, his remark "I don't know what was with me this time" was translated as "I don't know what got inside me." Justice Eileen Creedon adjourned the proceedings, directing the jury to return the following day at 11am to hear closing speeches from the prosecution and defence.
A 23‑year‑old man, Christopher O'Callaghan, has admitted killing his grandfather, Joseph O'Callaghan, aged 66, on 2 July 2018 in Douglas, Cork. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The plea has been accepted by the State. O'Callaghan, who lives at Woodview, Pinecroft, Grange, Douglas, remains on continuing bail. He will appear again before the Central Criminal Court on 11 May for a sentence hearing, where evidence of the killing and reports by relatives will be considered, and probation and welfare reports will be presented to the court.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has viewed video evidence from Ballymote Garda Station in which a man described to detectives how he killed his wife. Rafal Karaczyn, aged 34, from Crozon Park in Sligo, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The footage, recorded on 2 May 2018, showed Mr Karaczyn explaining to gardaí that he strangled his 30-year-old wife Natalia at their home between 29 April and 1 May 2018. During the interview, he demonstrated the actions using a toilet roll held in both hands. The court heard that Mr Karaczyn was placed on suicide watch by District Court order the day after his admission. Earlier interviews were also shown to the jury, in which Mr Karaczyn had denied involvement and alleged that an unknown man had threatened him. The trial continues before Justice Eileen Creedon.
Anne Dunlea, mother of the 36‑year‑old murdered in Passage West, said she was relieved after the Court of Appeal dismissed the latest appeal by Darren Murphy, 42, who had been convicted of murder in 2018. Murphy had admitted killing Olivia Dunlea and setting fire to her home, but denied it was murder. He had been found guilty in 2014, had that conviction quashed, was retried in 2017 with a hung jury, and was convicted again in 2018. The appeal was dismissed on 10 March 2020, ending a six‑year legal saga that included three trials and two appeals. Anne Dunlea, present at all proceedings, expressed relief that the case was finally concluded and that she could begin to grieve properly. The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction and rejected the defence's arguments about provocation and character. The decision was announced by Mr Justice George Birmingham, with Mr Justice John Edwards and Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly.
At the Central Criminal Court, a jury heard text and Facebook messages exchanged between a Sligo couple in the months preceding the woman's death. Rafal Karaczyn, aged 34, of Crozon Park, Sligo, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in relation to the death of his wife Natalia Karaczyn, aged 30, at their family home between 29 April and 1 May 2018. The prosecution presented communications spanning from March 2017 onwards, depicting deteriorating relations and the accused's repeated attempts at reconciliation despite the complainant's explicit requests to be left alone. The court heard that the accused told the complainant she was "not free" and would not do as she wished. In the weeks before her death, the complainant told the accused to leave their home immediately and that he could no longer enter the house. The trial was continuing.
The cross‑examination of a woman who was alleged to have been raped by three Dublin teenagers ended after eight days of questioning. The men, all in their early twenties and unnamed for legal reasons, pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to raping a woman at Bull Island, Dollymount, Dublin, on 5 January 2016. The trial has heard that the 18‑year‑old woman was allegedly driven to Dollymount Strand, raped by the three men in turn, and then left in the middle of nowhere. The cross‑examination began after lunch each afternoon and lasted about two hours a day. During the session the woman agreed with defence counsel that she had planned to stay overnight in an internet café because no hostels were available. She said she had enough money to pay the one‑euro‑per‑hour rate and that homeless people could stay there.
At the Central Criminal Court, a jury has convicted two men of the rape of a woman in County Donegal in February 2015. Boakye Osei, aged 29, of Twoban, Burnfoot, and Kelvin Opoku, aged 33, of Cill Graine, Letterkenny, had both pleaded not guilty. Following a five-week trial in late 2019, the jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts after deliberating for just over two hours. The complainant delivered a victim impact statement describing the profound effect the assault and subsequent criminal proceedings had on her life over the previous five years. She detailed the trauma of forensic examination, precautionary medical treatment, and the emotional toll of three separate trial preparations. Justice Alex Owens remanded both men in custody pending sentencing submissions scheduled for 16 March 2020.
At the Central Criminal Court, a jury has heard evidence from the eighth garda interview with a 34-year-old man charged with the murder of his wife. The accused, from Crozon Park in Ballymote, Sligo, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. During questioning at Ballymote Garda Station on May 2nd, 2018, he admitted to strangling his wife following her return from a night out on April 29th, 2018. He told detectives he woke when she arrived home and, after she pushed and slapped him during an argument, he strangled her. He described feeling "very big regret and grief" afterwards. The accused also told gardai he subsequently moved her body to a car boot but dropped it on the kitchen floor as it was too heavy. In earlier interviews, he had provided an account involving threats from an unknown man, but later admitted these claims were false. The trial at the Central Criminal Court is continuing.
Edmundas Dauksa, a 50‑year‑old fishmonger from Dundalk, denies murdering his 31‑year‑old partner Ingrida Maciokaite at Bridgewater Mews on 18 September 2018. He pleaded not guilty and will stand trial at the Central Criminal Court. Judge Paul McDermott empanelled a jury of seven men and five women, noting the alleged facts that Dauksa and Maciokaite were a Lithuanian couple living in Dundalk and that the case stemmed from disagreements between them. The trial is expected to last three weeks.
In March 2020 the Central Criminal Court suspended the remainder of a jail term for Stephen Kane, 29, who in August 2014 violently assaulted two women after sexually assaulting one of them. The attacks occurred in a Dublin apartment block where Kane and Daryl Ralph had earlier sexually assaulted a woman. Kane punched the victim in the mouth, struck her friend twice in the mouth and nose, and bit her arm. He pleaded guilty to sexual assault and two counts of assault causing harm. The judge imposed concurrent sentences of two years and two and a half years, backdated to November 2018, and suspended the balance for two years on the condition of psychological counselling. Kane had previously fled to New Zealand and later to Australia, where he established a new life and was later extradited back to Ireland. The court noted his remorse and the support of his fiancée's family.
Hoi Ping Yung, 47, a UK businessman, was convicted of raping a woman in a Dublin hotel room on 21 November 2013. The victim, who slept in a single bed, woke to find Yung in the double bed, rubbing her arm and leg, and later being raped. Yung claimed he had no memory of the incident and denied non‑consensual sex, arguing any contact was consensual. He had no prior convictions. The judge noted Yung's good character and lack of previous offences but also the severe violation of the victim's body. A headline sentence of seven and a half years was reduced to four and a half years, taking into account mitigating factors. The court also heard the victim's detailed impact statement, describing shame, guilt, fear, panic, flashbacks and anxiety attacks. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. Hoi Ping Yung pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial, Paula Farrell, 47, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the unlawful killing of Wayne 'Quilly' McQuillan, 30, who was stabbed at her Drogheda home on New Year's Day 2014. Dr Michael Curtis, former Deputy State Pathologist, described four stab wounds, including a fatal one to the left subclavian vein and lung. He noted the wounds were close and parallel, suggesting rapid, successive strikes, and said the injuries could have been survivable with prompt medical intervention. Dr Maria Murillo testified that Farrell was intoxicated and unfit for questioning at 7 am on New Year's Day, having been drinking since 3 pm the previous evening. The court heard that Farrell had been treated for schizophrenia and had been drinking daily. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
A man has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter following the death of his wife at their home in Crozon Park, Sligo, between 29 April and 1 May 2018. Rafal Karaczyn (34) denied to gardaí that he killed his wife because he was angry and jealous, the Central Criminal Court heard. The Acting State Pathologist gave evidence that the deceased, aged 30, died from asphyxia due to external pressure on the neck and that death was not instantaneous. Bruising on her left forearm may have been defensive injuries. The court heard that the accused initially denied involvement during his first four interviews with gardaí, later providing an account of discovering his wife in a distressed state and subsequently transporting and concealing her body. The trial continues.
Paula Farrell, 47, of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the unlawful killing of Wayne 'Quilly' McQuillan, 30, on New Year's Day 2014. The prosecution, represented by Gerard Clarke SC, described a drunken argument that led Farrell to stab McQuillan four times with a kitchen knife. Three wounds were not fatal; one struck at a 45‑degree angle through the left shoulder, cutting a vein and the left lung, causing massive internal and external bleeding. McQuillan was found bleeding to death in Farrell's home, and she allegedly told onlookers not to call an ambulance, saying he was fine. Gardaí found the knife in the sink and noted attempts to wipe up blood. McQuillan was taken to hospital, suffered cardiac arrest en route, was resuscitated, then died after a second arrest during a CT scan.
In a Dublin rape trial, a woman who was allegedly raped by three teenagers on January 5, 2016, denied that she asked one of the accused for his phone number after the incident. The accused, now in their early 20s and unnamed for legal reasons, pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. During cross‑examination, the woman refuted a suggestion by Patrick McGrath SC that she had asked a male teenager for his number. She said the number was given before any such request. She also denied having consensual sex in the car, stating she was terrified and could not speak. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Alexander Owens, continues with evidence before a jury. The case remains at the evidence stage.
In 2011, two armed men robbed Lordship Credit Union in Co Louth, taking €22,500 in cash and €35,000 in cheques from a bag left by volunteer chairman John Kenwright. The robbers, who drove a car with yellow Northern Irish plates, used a sawn‑off shotgun and a firearm to threaten Kenwright and smash his car's passenger side window. They fled within 23 seconds. In 2013, Aaron Brady (29) pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe (41), who was to escort Kenwright to an AIB bank in Dundalk. Brady also pleaded not guilty to a robbery charge for the same day and location. The Central Criminal Court heard the details, noting that Donohoe was scheduled to escort Kenwright and that the robbery car was later found burnt out near the border. The case was presented to a jury of seven men and seven women, with legal matters to be addressed in the defendant's absence.
A man on trial for murder told gardaí at Ballymote Garda Station in County Sligo to search for CCTV footage of a six-foot man with red hair, whom he claimed had threatened him with a gun weeks before his wife disappeared. The Central Criminal Court heard evidence from four interviews conducted with the accused on April 30th and May 1st, 2018. Rafal Karaczyn, aged 34, of Crozon Park, Sligo, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of his wife Natalia, aged 30, at their family home between April 29th and May 1st, 2018. The jury previously heard that on May 2nd, 2018, the accused told his sister-in-law he had strangled his wife. CCTV footage showed him moving her silver Peugeot car early on April 29th and driving towards Holywell Road. A former employer described him as gentle and mild-mannered. The trial continues.
The complainant, an 18‑year‑old woman at the time of the alleged offence, denies that she confused consensual sex with rape. She says she was driven to Dollymount Strand on 5 January 2016, raped by three teenage men, and left alone. During cross‑examination she recalled a 2011 incident when she was about 12 or 13, living in a care home. She texted an older teenager on 22 April 2011, saying "right, if you want your hole, you'll have to wait, not my fault, the staff see you out", implying that sex would be allowed after a wait. She claims the man raped her that night and that she did not report the rape to another girl in the home because she feared retaliation. She insists she was raped, not that she consented, and the trial continues before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury. The unnamed woman pleaded not guilty.
A 55‑year‑old Munster man was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment by Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court. He pleaded guilty to eight counts of indecent assault and three counts of rape of his younger sister between 1978 and 1987, and was found guilty of 16 counts of anally raping his wife between 2003 and 2007. He denied the rape of his wife. The judge described the abuse of his sister as humiliating, degrading and brutal, and the abuse of his wife as calculated, cynical and vicious, noting the man's callous indifference to her emotional welfare. The sentence comprised seven years for the sister offences and six years for the wife offences, to run consecutively, with a three‑year post‑release supervision order and a prohibition on any contact with the victims.
At the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, a jury heard evidence regarding the movements of a woman on the morning she died. CCTV footage showed the 30-year-old returning to her home in Crozon Park, Sligo at 6.23am on 29 April 2018 following a night out. Nearly two hours later, her husband sent a text to her phone asking "where are you?", the court heard. Garda evidence placed the defendant in a silver Peugeot at the time of the message, with footage tracking his movements that morning, including driving up the side of the house and later towards Holywell Road before returning home. Rafal Karaczyn, aged 34, of Crozon Park, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. A witness told the court she observed the defendant's wife and another individual kissing at a bar shortly before 3am that night. The trial before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon continues.
Michael Dineen, aged 28, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for the manslaughter of Patrick 'Ginty' O'Donnell, aged 36, who died after a pub fight on 1 June 2018. Dineen had consumed 20 pints that day and repeatedly punched O'Donnell in the head and face for about a minute, delivering kicks to his body. He had previously been on bail for breaking another man's jaw. The judge noted the attack was one‑sided and unequal, with O'Donnell suffering severe injuries including loss of teeth, fractured nose and internal bleeding. Dineen pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The sentence was reduced from a headline of 12 years to nine years due to mitigating factors such as remorse, apology and psychiatric history. The suspended year will be lifted if Dineen abstains from alcohol and remains under probation supervision.
At the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, a trial heard evidence on Monday concerning the movements of a 30-year-old woman in the hours before her death. A man gave testimony that he accompanied the woman to his home in Sligo in the early morning of April 29th, 2018, and walked her partway home after approximately two hours. A garda told the court that CCTV footage showed the woman entering her family home at 6.23am that morning. Rafal Karaczyn, aged 34, of Crozon Park in Sligo, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of his wife between April 29th and May 1st, 2018. The trial, before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury, continues to hear evidence regarding the circumstances surrounding her death.
Alexander Whelan, aged 19, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for the manslaughter of Bruno Rolandi, 56, who was a former partner of Whelan's mother and a heroin user. The killing occurred during a domestic dispute at the Whelan family home on Green Road, Edenderry, on 19 November 2017. Whelan introduced a knife into the argument and used substantial force, inflicting three wounds, one of which penetrated 23 centimetres, damaged the heart and caused fatal bleeding. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court. The judge, Mr Justice Michael White, noted that the introduction of a deadly weapon and the violence of the blows were aggravating factors, but also considered Whelan's previously excellent character, lack of prior convictions, and the circumstances of defending his mother and brother. The sentence was reduced from an initial six‑year recommendation to two years, with no part suspended, as Whelan was not a drug user and had no history of violence.
A man from Donegal has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court following his conviction for multiple counts of rape. The 25-year-old was found guilty on unanimous jury verdicts of two counts of anal rape and two counts of vaginal rape committed in July 2016. The offences occurred in a field and at a residential address in the county. Justice Tara Burns heard evidence that the victim, a teenager at the time, was unable to consent due to intoxication. The judge noted the man exploited the victim's vulnerability and her initial willingness to spend time with him. In mitigation, the court considered his late acknowledgement of guilt, previous good character, and role as father figure to young children. The judge reduced an indicated headline sentence of nine years, citing these factors. The victim provided a statement describing the lasting psychological impact of the attacks.
Natalia Karaczyn's sister has given evidence at the Central Criminal Court regarding CCTV footage she viewed in the hours following her sibling's disappearance in April 2018. Magdalena McMorrow told the jury she saw her sister walking towards her home in Crozon Park, Sligo, on footage recorded from a property situated 170 metres away. Mrs McMorrow said she had received a text from Natalia's husband, Rafal Karaczyn, on the morning of Sunday, 29 April, stating that Natalia had not returned home following a night out. After locating the CCTV footage later that day, Mrs McMorrow conducted a search of the family home with Mr Karaczyn. Natalia's body was subsequently identified on the evening of Tuesday, 1 May. Rafal Karaczyn, aged 34, of Crozon Park, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The trial before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon continues.
In summer 2017, a family picnic in the Dublin mountains led to the discovery of dismembered remains of retired grandmother Patricia O'Connor. The body was found in 15 separate parts across nine sites within a 30km radius, including Military Road, Glenmacnass Waterfall, and other locations. Initial bone measurements suggested a male, but DNA and dental records confirmed a female. Post‑mortem examinations by Dr Michael Curtis revealed blunt force trauma to the head, with multiple scalp lacerations and bruising, indicating a violent death. The remains were likely dismembered with a power tool, with hands and wrists sawn off by hand‑held saws. Kieran Greene testified that he had buried the body in Wexford, later exhumed it, cut it up, and scattered the parts across the Dublin mountains, disposing of them in black bags at various points. The evidence presented detailed the locations and conditions of each body part, confirming the identity of Mrs O'Connor and the circumstances of her death.
In the Central Criminal Court, Aaron Brady, aged 29, denies the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. He allegedly told his girlfriend, Jessica King, to "tell the truth" after she initially withheld his whereabouts on the night of the shooting. King said Brady had been on bail and under curfew, and she feared implicating him. Brady reportedly instructed her to correct the times he had spent at her home. King described Brady as "messy" and "cheeky," noting he was "smiling and joking." She recounted that Brady had been at her house around 11 pm and left around 2:30 am, and that he had told her to change the recorded times. Brady has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder and to a related robbery charge. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White with a jury of fourteen.
A jury of six men and five women returned to the Central Criminal Court to continue deliberating the verdict in the trial of Keith Johnston, a 43‑year‑old accused of impeding the investigation into the death of his former partner's mother, Patricia O'Connor, who was 61 when she died on 29 May 2017. The forewoman confirmed to the registrar at 4 pm that no further verdict had been reached on the count against Johnston. The jury had spent 11 hours and 17 minutes on the case before retiring for the evening and was instructed by Mr Justice Paul McDermott to return tomorrow at 10.30 am, with no regard to newspaper articles. The trial had also seen Louise O'Connor, aged 41, found guilty of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Kieran Greene, 35, who was found guilty of murdering Patricia O'Connor and inflicting catastrophic injuries. Keith Johnston pleaded not guilty.
Brian Shaughnessy, a 53‑year‑old former Galway hotel owner, was convicted of raping an employee in the Loughrea Hotel and Spa's Presidential Suite after buying her drinks and asking to confide in her. The Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty on 26 July 2010, and he received a six‑year sentence with the final year suspended by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan on 10 June 2013. Shaughnessy has now lodged an appeal, arguing that his previous legal team failed to prepare or conduct his defence adequately. His new barrister, Hugh Hartnett SC, claims new evidence was omitted from the transcript and that the trial judge mis‑informed the jury about the victim's demeanour. The Court of Appeal will consider these arguments, with counsel for the former team and the Director of Public Prosecutions presenting counter‑arguments, and the court has reserved its judgement. Brian Shaughnessy pleaded not guilty.
A fresh jury was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court on Thursday following the discharge of a previous panel in the trial of a man accused of murdering his wife. Rafal Karaczyn, aged 34 and from Crozon Park in Sligo, faces a charge of murder in relation to the death of his wife at their family home between 29 April and 1 May 2018. The original jury of seven women and five men heard evidence over two days before being discharged by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, who cited unspecified reasons preventing the trial's continuation. The jurors were excused from future jury service for five years. Mr Karaczyn subsequently indicated a plea of not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. A replacement jury of identical composition was empanelled by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, with the trial expected to last approximately two weeks.
A Central Criminal Court jury convicted Louise O'Connor, 41, of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Kieran Greene, 35, for the murder of her mother Patricia O'Connor, 61, on 29 May 2017. The State alleged that Louise agreed to a ruse in which her daughter Stephanie, 22, disguised herself as her grandmother to create CCTV footage showing the grandmother leaving the house at 9.34 pm, thereby concealing the murder. The jury found Louise an integral part of the charade, having supported Stephanie's actions and given misleading statements to Gardaí. Stephanie was also found guilty of dressing as her grandmother and pretending to leave the house. The trial lasted seven weeks; the jury deliberated 10 hours and 25 minutes before reaching a unanimous verdict in Louise's case. No verdict was reached on the remaining count against Louise's ex‑boyfriend Keith Johnston, 43. The trial concluded with the jury suspended for lunch and scheduled to resume later. Louise O'Connor pleaded not guilty. Keith Johnston pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a woman who was allegedly raped by three Dublin teenagers on January 5, 2016, at Dollymount Strand, stated she had withdrawn a separate rape complaint made in September 2015. She explained that she did not want to manage two trials simultaneously, so she retracted the earlier allegation. The 18‑year‑old woman described being taken to Dollymount Strand, raped by the three men, and left alone. She also recounted an incident in a Dundalk hotel where a man attempted sexual acts; she claimed she resisted, reported the incident to Gardaí, and later withdrew that statement. The court heard that the retraction was made in September 2016, before the men were charged in October 2017. The trial continues before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury. The unnamed woman pleaded not guilty.
At the Central Criminal Court, the sister of a thirty-year-old woman whose body was discovered near Ballymote in May 2018 gave evidence regarding her brother-in-law's alleged confession. Rafal Karaczyn, aged thirty-four, of Crozon Park, Sligo, has pleaded not guilty to murder. The deceased's sister testified that she was present at Ballymote Garda Station when the accused told her he had killed his wife, describing how he allegedly strangled her during an argument in their home on the morning of 29 April 2018. The witness stated she responded by telling him "we forgive you," observing he was distressed throughout the conversation. Two friends of the deceased also gave evidence, recounting her activities on the evening before her disappearance and describing subsequent contact with the accused in which he expressed concern for his wife's whereabouts. The trial before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon continues.
At the Central Criminal Court, a jury convicted Stephanie O'Connor of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Kieran Greene, who was found guilty of murdering Patricia O'Connor on May 29, 2017. The jury accepted the State's case that O'Connor disguised herself as her grandmother to conceal the death, creating a false CCTV record that Mrs O'Connor had left the house. The jury took eight hours and 36 minutes to reach this unanimous verdict. However, they did not reach verdicts on the remaining counts against Louise O'Connor and Keith Johnston. Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned the matter, directing the jury to resume deliberations on these two counts tomorrow morning at 10.30am. Louise O'Connor, who pleaded not guilty to agreeing to or acquiescing in the disguise, and Keith Johnston, who pleaded not guilty to assisting Greene in purchasing implements for concealment, remain awaiting verdicts. The trial heard that Greene changed his account of the killing, initially claiming self-defense before alleging that Johnston and others were involved. The court has not yet finalized the proceedings for the remaining accused.
In a five‑day Central Criminal Court trial, a 16‑year‑old defendant was acquitted of raping an 18‑year‑old woman in a Dublin city park in February 2017. The court heard that the parties met in October 2016, began a consensual relationship in November, and had sex from December 2016 to January 2017. The woman testified that after a quarrel the defendant grabbed her, dragged her around a bench, and raped her. She also claimed the defendant texted a friend, offering money to keep her from reporting the incident. The defence argued the woman had fallen out with the defendant and sought reconciliation, and that the alleged rape was untrue. After two hours of deliberation, the jury returned a unanimous not‑guilty verdict. The trial included medical testimony, text‑message evidence, and cross‑examination of the complainant and her friends. The case concluded with the defendant's acquittal.
A witness in the trial of Aaron Brady at the Central Criminal Court has testified that she initially provided false information to police about the accused's whereabouts on the night of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe's fatal shooting. Jade Fitzpatrick told the court she was pressured into claiming Mr Brady, from Crossmaglen, County Armagh, had left a house in Armagh by 21:30 on 25 January 2013, when he had actually remained there until approximately 3am. Ms Fitzpatrick said she corrected her statement the following day because she wished to help Mr Brady comply with curfew conditions imposed as part of his bail. Under cross-examination, she confirmed Mr Brady appeared relaxed and exhibited no unusual behaviour during his time at the residence. Mr Brady, aged 29, denies capital murder in relation to Detective Garda Donohoe's death at Lordship Credit Union, County Louth, shortly before 9:30pm that evening. He also denies robbery of approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques from the same location and date. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White. Aaron Brady pleaded not guilty.
At the Central Criminal Court, the sister of Natalia Karaczyn gave evidence regarding her brother-in-law's account of events surrounding the 30-year-old's death. Rafal Karaczyn, aged 34, of Crozon Park in Sligo, has pleaded not guilty to her murder, which allegedly occurred at their family home between 29 April and 1 May 2018. The witness testified that the couple had been separated for a year prior, living in separate bedrooms, and that Mr Karaczyn was unwilling to move out. She described receiving a message from him on 30 April indicating his wife was missing, and subsequently alerting gardaí. The witness recounted that Mr Karaczyn later told her Natalia had become involved with dangerous individuals who threatened violence unless he allowed them access to their home. However, whilst alone with him at Ballymote Garda Station, he allegedly confessed to strangling his wife during an argument in a bedroom. The trial before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon continues.
Marius Gaizutis, aged 55, is appealing a life sentence for the axe murder of Audrius Butkus, aged 44, who was found dead on a Meath beach. Gaizutis admitted killing Butkus at his home on 9 or 10 September 2013 but denied murder, claiming provocation after threats from the victim. The prosecution argued Butkus died from multiple axe blows to the back of his head; the defence alleged Gaizutis was attacked with a bottle. Gaizutis' account changed over two interviews, first claiming no recollection, then stating the victim insulted him and struck him with a bottle. A jury, after 2 hours 40 minutes, found him guilty of murder and sentenced him to mandatory life by Justice Margaret Heneghan on 20 May 2015. He now appeals, arguing insufficient evidence for murder and that the trial judge should have directed acquittal on that charge, allowing only manslaughter to be considered.
The trial of three unnamed men, now in their early 20s, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury. The defendants have pleaded not guilty to raping a woman at Bull Island, Dollymount, Dublin, on January 5, 2016. The complainant, who was 18 at the time, testified that she entered the vehicle after explicitly stating she did not intend to have sex. Under cross-examination by Caroline Biggs SC, who is defending one of the accused, the woman denied suggestions that she lacked a child lock on her car door or that she had prior knowledge of Dollymount. She rejected counsel's assertion that she initiated sexual contact or agreed to sex, maintaining that she did not know her location when left. The trial has heard allegations that the complainant was driven to Dollymount Strand and assaulted by the three men in turn. The matter remains at the trial stage, with the proceedings continuing.
A man accused of murdering his wife in Sligo told gardai that he lay down with her for approximately ten minutes after killing her, the Central Criminal Court has heard. Rafal Karaczyn, aged 34, of Crozon Park, Sligo, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his wife Natalia, aged 30, at their family home between April 29th and May 1st, 2018. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury, commenced on this date and is expected to last three weeks. The prosecution outlined that Mr Karaczyn initially denied responsibility but later admitted to gardai that he strangled his wife. Gardai discovered her body in a remote location on May 1st after Mr Karaczyn directed them to it. The court will hear evidence from the deputy State pathologist confirming asphyxia as the cause of death, alongside CCTV footage and Garda interviews. The trial continues tomorrow.