In the Central Criminal Court, the defence lawyer Séamus Clarke SC argued that Travellers can also be victims of burglaries, citing the Criminal Law (Defence and the Dwelling) Act 2011 and a 2011 judgement by Justice Adrian Hardiman. He presented the case of 20‑year‑old Martin Keenan, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of 33‑year‑old Wesley Mooney, who was stabbed with a garden shears at Keenan's mobile home in Dublin on 5 June 2016. Clarke said Keenan was not seeking trouble and that the intruder had chosen to invade his home, giving the homeowner latitude to defend himself. The prosecution, led by Garnet Orange SC, countered that the deceased was not attacking anyone, the force used was unreasonable, and that Keenan's claim of self‑defence was unsupported. The jury was instructed that it could find Keenan not guilty of murder or guilty of manslaughter, and the case would be charged on Monday.
Robert Maguire, aged 35, was originally sentenced to two concurrent four‑year terms for assault causing harm and false imprisonment of his ex‑partner on 14 January 2012. The sentences were suspended for the final two years each. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient. A three‑judge court, led by Mr Justice Alan Mahon, reviewed the case and imposed a new three‑year jail term. The judge noted Maguire's history of 13 convictions, his minimisation of the assault, lack of insight, and high risk of reoffending. The court found the original net custodial sentence of two years too lenient and resentenced Maguire to four years imprisonment on both counts, to run concurrently with the final 12 months of each suspended for three years. He was required to enter a good behaviour bond for the suspended period. The court praised his progress while in prison and encouraged continued improvement. Robert Maguire pleaded guilty.
Faisal Ellahi, a Pakistani national, was convicted in 2016 of raping a young woman with Down syndrome in Dublin. He received a 13‑year prison sentence after a jury found him guilty of rape and sexual assault. Ellahi had pleaded not guilty and had lodged an appeal outside the 28‑day deadline. The Central Criminal Court scheduled a procedural hearing for July 17 to decide whether to grant him an extension of time to appeal. Ellahi was not present; the court heard that the victim was with her mother that day but had become separated. Testimony from 16 women described Ellahi's attempts to approach them, and Ellahi himself admitted to propositioning women and claiming consensual encounters, while denying penetrative sex with the victim. He also denied knowledge of her Down syndrome, stating he had never heard of it before his arrest.
John Tighe, aged 40, of Lavallyroe, Ballyhaunis, County Mayo has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his six-month-old son Joshua Sussbier Tighe at his home on 1 June 2013. The Central Criminal Court heard that forensic examination revealed tissue paper from two different boxes lodged in the infant's throat during a post-mortem. Bridget Fleming of Forensic Science Ireland told the court that the three-ply tissue matched paper from a bedroom box, while two-ply tissue matched material from a sitting room box. The prosecution alleges Mr Tighe caused the child's death by asphyxiation. The defence maintains Mr Tighe was changing the baby's nappy when the child began choking. DNA evidence showed the child's blood on Mr Tighe's clothing, which defence counsel suggested could be consistent with Mr Tighe attempting to assist his choking son. The trial continues at the Central Criminal Court.
A forensic scientist has told the Central Criminal Court that blood found on pyjama bottoms belonging to a man accused of murder came from his six-month-old son. John Tighe, aged 40, of Lavallyroe, Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo has pleaded not guilty to murdering Joshua Sussbier Tighe at his home on 1 June 2013. The trial heard that DNA analysis of samples from the pyjamas matched the infant's blood profile. Further matching samples were recovered from a babygrow, sitting room floor and wall. The prosecution alleges Mr Tighe caused his son's death by asphyxiation. The defence suggested the presence of blood on the pyjamas could be explained by Mr Tighe holding the baby while attempting to assist him. The trial, before Justice Patrick McCarthy and jury, continues at the Central Criminal Court.
In the Central Criminal Court, Ciara Tynan, the girlfriend of the 33‑year‑old Wesley Mooney, testified that the accused, 20‑year‑old Martin Keenan, was a professional bare‑knuckle fighter and questioned why he did not use his fists when he stabbed Mooney on the decking outside Keenan's home. Tynan denied the defence's suggestion that Keenan was defending himself after discovering the couple burglarising his house. Prosecutor Garnet Orange SC re‑examined Tynan, asking her about the claim that Keenan moved toward the victim before being stabbed. The defence, represented by Séamus Clarke SC, questioned Detective Sergeant Alan Brady about the bare‑knuckle fighter allegation, to which Brady replied that he had not seen any videos of Keenan on YouTube. Brady also confirmed that the deceased had 59 prior convictions, including burglary, threatening to kill, and possession of an imitation firearm with criminal intent, but no assault convictions. Martin Keenan pleaded not guilty.
Martin Keenan, aged 20, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Wesley Mooney, aged 33, at St Joseph's Park, Dunsink Lane, north Dublin, on 5 June 2016. He claimed that on arriving home at about 11.45 pm he found a 'junkie' in his bedroom, who attacked him. Keenan said he struck the man with a garden shears tool, hitting him twice, after which the man fell. He later showed the Gardaí the shears he used. The jury heard that Mooney suffered two stab wounds and a broken shin. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis reported a deep stab wound below the left armpit that pierced both lungs and major vessels, a second wound below the left knee, and a spiral fracture of the left shin. He found modest alcohol and drugs in Mooney's blood and urine, and identified the chest stab as the main cause of death.
A father accused of murdering his infant son urged a doctor to intervene at the scene, the Central Criminal Court heard on the second day of trial. John Tighe, aged 40, of Lavallyroe, Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his six-month-old son on 1 June 2013. Dr Diarmuid Murray told the court he arrived at the home shortly after 1pm and immediately formed the view the child was deceased. The doctor identified a tissue lodged in the baby's throat, positioned above the larynx in a manner that would cause asphyxiation. During cross-examination, Dr Murray confirmed the accused was distressed and repeatedly urged him to take action, though nothing could be done. Emergency call handlers also gave evidence, with one nurse expressing doubt that the accused was following her instructions to dislodge the obstruction. The trial, before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of nine women and three men, continues.
A 25‑year‑old Dublin man, Darragh Meehan, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for the online sexual exploitation and defilement of a 13‑year‑old girl. Meehan met the girl when she was 13 and he was 19, and they communicated regularly via Skype, Facebook and text. He exposed himself, masturbated on camera, and invited the girl to masturbate or penetrate herself. In person, he asked her to masturbate him and performed sexual acts. The girl's mother reported concerning messages, leading to Gardaí involvement. Meehan pleaded guilty to one count of defilement and three counts of sexual exploitation between December 2011 and May 2012. He had no prior convictions. The judge noted the victim's lack of true consent and the grooming that occurred, and sentenced him to six and a half years for defilement and a concurrent five years for exploitation.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Martin Keenan, who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Wesley Mooney (33) at St Joseph's Park, Dunsink Lane, north Dublin on June 5, 2016, continued before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a jury. During cross-examination, the defence challenged the character of the deceased and the circumstances leading to the incident. Ciara Tynan, identified as the deceased's girlfriend, denied allegations that Mr Mooney was aggressive or that he moved towards the accused prior to being stabbed with garden shears. However, she acknowledged that CCTV footage played in court showed Mr Mooney raising his middle finger at staff at a Tesco Express around 9.50pm, though she maintained this gesture did not constitute aggression. She also rejected the defence suggestion that the couple was committing a burglary in the accused's home. The prosecution and defence are presenting evidence regarding the events outside the accused's home in Finglas. No verdict has been reached, and the trial is ongoing, with proceedings scheduled to continue this afternoon.
A man in his sixties, convicted of sexually assaulting and raping his grand-niece on multiple occasions between 1992 and 1994 at locations in counties Donegal and Dublin, has failed in his appeal against conviction at the Court of Appeal. The appellant, whose identity is protected to safeguard the victim's privacy, was sentenced to seven years imprisonment in May 2017 following his trial at the Central Criminal Court. He sought to overturn the jury's guilty verdict on grounds that it was perverse and contrary to the weight of evidence. Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with two fellow judges, rejected the appeal, finding no circumstances warranted intervention with the jury's decision. The court noted that no application for a directed acquittal had been made during trial, indicating the defence accepted the matter warranted jury consideration. The judges were satisfied the verdict stood and found no fault with the trial judge's directions to the jury. The unnamed 66-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin murder trial, the jury saw half of a garden shears alleged to have stabbed Wesley Mooney to death outside his home. Garda Conor Mallon identified the weapon during a search of St Joseph's Park after Mooney's death. He described it as a half shears with a yellow stem and black handle. A forensic scientist found blood on the rusted blade and on the accused's left runner, and DNA matched Mooney. The scientist also examined a watch but found no evidence. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Butler, continues with a jury of ten men and two women. Martin Keenan, 20, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mooney, 33, which occurred on 5 June 2016. The case remains in the Central Criminal Court.
A new jury of three men and nine women has been sworn in at the Central Criminal Court to hear the trial of John Tighe, aged 40, from Lavallyroe, Ballyhaunis, County Mayo. Mr Tighe pleads not guilty to the murder of his infant son Joshua Sussbier Tighe at his home on June 1, 2013. The original jury was discharged on the fourth day of the trial due to weather-related delays and a juror's prior commitment. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy cautioned the new panel to rely solely on courtroom evidence. The prosecution alleges the child died from asphyxiation caused by tissue lodged in his throat. Medical experts will testify that a six-and-a-half-month-old could not have formed or swallowed such material independently. The defence maintains the death was accidental, with Mr Tighe claiming the child choked on a baby wipe. The trial continues.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Martin Keenan, aged 20, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Wesley Mooney, aged 33, at St Joseph's Park, Finglas, on 5 June 2016. Prosecutors alleged that Keenan, who was present at the scene early on 6 June, stabbed Mooney with a long‑handled garden shears, delivering two significant blows to Mooney's upper body, including a stab wound to the left side of the chest and a broken leg. Mooney was found face‑up on the decking outside a mobile home, and attempts to save his life failed. Keenan reportedly returned home to find lights on, saw cider bottles, and later entered the mobile home with the shears. He was arrested at Finglas Garda Station after the incident. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Butler, is expected to last six days.
A nurse who advised a father during an emergency call about his choking infant was uncertain whether her instructions were being followed, the Central Criminal Court heard today. Aine Watts, who worked with WestDoc medical service, took a call in 2013 from John Tighe of Lavallyroe, Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, after his baby began choking on tissue. Ms Watts told the court she instructed Mr Tighe to perform chest compressions and attempt to dislodge the obstruction, but was unsure if her guidance was being adhered to. Under cross-examination, she acknowledged prioritising airway clearance over CPR given the child's unresponsiveness. Mr Tighe, aged 40, has pleaded not guilty to murdering his son Joshua Sussbier Tighe on 1 June 2013. The prosecution alleges the tissue was deliberately placed in the child's throat; the defence maintains the six-and-a-half-month-old swallowed it independently. The trial before Justice Patrick McCarthy continues tomorrow.
Egita Jaunmaize, a 34-year-old woman of no fixed abode, has been sentenced to three years in prison for staging the suicide of her housemate, Antra Ozolina, in an effort to impede the prosecution of the man who strangled her. The sentence was imposed by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy during a sentencing hearing at the Central Criminal Court. Jaunmaize had pleaded not guilty to the charge of carrying out the offence, without reasonable excuse, at their home at The Old Post, Main Street, Kilnaleck, Co Cavan on or about June 27 or June 28 2014. The judge noted that the maximum penalty for the offence was 10 years in prison, but imposed a custodial sentence of three years, backdated to 22nd February 2017. He acknowledged that Jaunmaize had a suspended sentence due to be activated in her native Latvia and did not want to come to garda attention. The court heard that the deceased, Antra Ozolina, had sustained blunt force injuries and died from asphyxiation. The judge accepted that Jaunmaize's involvement was due to her abusive relationship with the assailant, who was described as the murderer. However, the jury found her fully responsible for her actions. The judge took into account her lack of a previous criminal record, her work in Ireland, and her vulnerabilities, including post-traumatic stress disorder and a history of childhood trauma. The matter was not adjourned and was finalised at the sentencing stage.
At the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, Anna Marie Pezzillo, 34, and Rachel Comiskey, 35, both pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ian Quinn, 32, but guilty to manslaughter. The offence occurred in an apartment in Block B, Annally Grove, Ongar, Dublin 15, between 30 and 31 May 2014. The prosecution accepted their pleas. Justice Patrick McCarthy remanded Comiskey on bail and Pezzillo in custody until 16 April, when sentencing will take place.
A 20‑year‑old man, Martin Keenan, is on trial for the murder of Wesley Mooney, 33, who was killed at St Joseph's Park, Dunsink Lane, Finglas, Dublin 11 on 5 June 2016. Keenan pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. A jury of ten men and two women was sworn in, and the trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Butler, is set to last six days.
A 49‑year‑old Meath man was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury of four counts of raping and three counts of sexually assaulting his sister between 1983 and 1990, while he was found not guilty of one count of assault in their father's car in 1982. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. The trial lasted a week in January and the jury deliberated for six hours. At the sentencing hearing, the victim, aged 49, described how her brother repeatedly raped and assaulted her with a "smirk" on his face, despite her pleas to stop. She said the abuse began when she was about 14 and continued until she was 20, occurring in fields, a shed, the family house and the hall. She revealed the abuse only after her brother confronted her at a family meeting, and she had kept it secret for years.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 23‑year‑old woman described how her 64‑year‑old uncle terrorised and brain‑washed her into hiding sexual abuse from her parents. She said she was frightened whenever the uncle visited and feared what he would do, especially on her Holy Communion Day. The uncle pleaded guilty to one count of rape, one count of attempted rape and three counts of sexual assault between December 1999 and May 2005. He had no prior convictions. The victim was aged five to ten at the time of the offences. The court heard the first assault occurred on New Year's Eve 1999 when the uncle forced her to touch his penis while she was alone. Subsequent incidents included rape in a shed, forced contact under blankets, and forced touching in her bedroom in 2004 and 2005. The last incident was when he held her down in her bedroom in 2005.
Noel Kelleher, 64, an auctioneer described as a man of some standing in his community, was found guilty by a jury of six counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, three counts of oral rape and one count of attempted oral rape of a girl who was aged between 12 and 14 when the attacks took place. The offences occurred at various locations in County Clare between June 1991 and August 1992. Kelleher was also tried for 16 further counts of rape, indecent assault and sexual assault but was found not guilty on those charges. The victim, who waived her right to anonymity, said the abuse had a deep and lasting impact on her life. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy sentenced Kelleher to nine years, suspended the final 12 months, and ordered that he have no contact with the victim in perpetuity. Kelleher has not admitted guilt or expressed remorse. The case was heard in the Central Criminal Court.
A woman is set to be sentenced tomorrow for staging the suicide of her housemate in an attempt to hinder the prosecution of her boyfriend for strangling her. Egita Jaunmaize, of no fixed abode, was found guilty by a jury earlier this month of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of the killer, knowing or believing him to have murdered Antra Ozolina (49). She had pleaded not guilty to carrying out the offence, without reasonable excuse, at their home at The Old Post, Main Street, Kilnaleck, Co Cavan on or about June 27 or June 28 2014. Jaunmaize admitted placing a blue cord around her fellow Latvian's neck to simulate her suicide. She later explained that this was because her boyfriend had a suspended sentence due to be activated in his native Latvia and did not want to come to garda attention. The matter was adjourned for sentencing, with the judge to pass sentence tomorrow.
A 35‑year‑old man, Stephen Penrose, is charged with murdering 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan at Rahin Woods, Co. Kildare, on 10 August 2016. The Central Criminal Court has set his trial for 11 March 2019, with the case expected to last two weeks.
Paul Crosby, 22, of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, faces trial for attempting to murder Gerard Boyle, 22, at Knockcommon, Beauparc, Slane, Co. Meath, on 10 November 2016. He is also charged with false imprisonment and serious harm to Boyle on the same occasion. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy set the trial date for 11 February 2019 at the Central Criminal Court.
A trial date has been set for Joseph Hillen, a 23‑year‑old from Forkhill, County Armagh, who is charged with the murder of 53‑year‑old Martin Mulligan, a taxi driver from Dundalk. The killing took place at Carnmore, off the Armagh Road outside Dundalk, on 28 September 2015. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy of the Central Criminal Court fixed the trial for 2 October, with the case expected to last two weeks.
A prosecution barrister has told jurors at the Central Criminal Court that there is no credible basis for a provocation defence in the trial of a man accused of murder in Longford. Rihards Lavickis, aged 25 of Annaly Court, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in relation to the death of Akadiusz Czajkowski on November 1st, 2016 at Townspark. The State rejected the manslaughter plea, and the case proceeded to trial. Patrick McGrath SC argued that the accused deliberately killed Mr Czajkowski with a knife and that the three-and-a-half hour gap between discovering his broken windows and the fatal stabbing demonstrated calculated behaviour rather than a sudden loss of control. The defence counsel contended that his client, who admits responsibility, was provoked by ongoing harassment and a assault by the deceased. Justice Una Ní Raifeartaigh will charge the jury on Tuesday.
Ibrahim Ahmed Gharib, 39, an illegal immigrant, was convicted of raping a 27‑year‑old foreign student in his Carlow home after following her from a shared bus. The victim, who had been sexually assaulted by Gharib on the bus, was taken to his house where he threatened to kill her if she did not remain silent. A jury found him guilty on all charges after a three‑week Central Criminal Court trial. Justice Isobel Kennedy sentenced him to ten years' imprisonment, reducing the initial twelve‑year recommendation due to his lack of relevant prior convictions and his non‑national status. Gharib denied all allegations, claiming the sex was consensual, and maintains his innocence. The victim expressed profound fear and loss of trust following the assault. No further legal actions were reported in the article.
In 2013, David O'Loughlin (30) of Cork was convicted of murdering Liam Manley (59) after forcing him into a refuse chute at Garden City Apartments. The Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty and he received a mandatory life sentence on 31 March 2015. In February 2018, the Court of Appeal quashed the verdict, ruling that the jury's unsanctioned visit to the chute and a juror's experiment of throwing a stone there violated the Juries Act. The judge noted the experiment introduced new evidence and the jury should have been discharged. The appeal allowed a retrial, and O'Loughlin was remanded to appear before the Central Criminal Court. The case remains at the retrial stage, with no further outcome reported in the article. David O'Loughlin pleaded not guilty.
Peter Kenny, aged 35, was convicted of the murder of John Carroll, 33, who was shot in Grumpy Jack's pub in the Coombe on 18 February 2009. The Central Criminal Court jury found Kenny guilty and he received a mandatory life sentence on 19 July 2011. On appeal, the Court of Appeal upheld the conviction, stating it was not persuaded that the trial was unsatisfactory or the verdict unsafe. The prosecution alleged Kenny was the pillion passenger who entered the pub and fired the shots. Kenny's defence argued that the evidence of informant Joseph O'Brien was obtained through irregular and illegal means, citing scandalous handling by Gardaí. The Court of Appeal agreed that despite these irregularities, the trial was fair and dismissed the appeal, leaving the conviction and life sentence intact. Peter Kenny pleaded not guilty.
Gary Flynn, aged 32, of Rossfield Drive, Tallaght, lost an appeal against his conviction for the murder of Seamus Shay O'Byrne, which occurred at the victim's home on 13 March 2009. Flynn pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. After a nine‑week trial, the jury found him guilty of murder in one hour and forty minutes, and he received a mandatory life sentence on 16 March 2016, imposed by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy. The prosecution alleged that Flynn, Eugene Cullen and others assisted in the planning, execution and aftermath of the murder, while Garrett O'Brien was the gunman. The Court of Appeal, in a three‑judge panel, upheld Flynn's conviction, stating the trial was satisfactory in all respects and that the evidence against him was more than mere coincidence. The appeal was dismissed by Mr Justice George Birmingham. The article does not mention any subsequent developments.
A 29‑year‑old man, Eoghan O'Connell, was sentenced for attempting to murder a Wicklow man in front of his wife and children. On 8 April 2016, O'Connell tried to shoot the victim twice as he left the family home, but the shotgun misfired both times because the cartridges were damp. The victim and his family later sold their home and moved away. O'Connell, who had pleaded guilty to the attempted murder, was brought before the Central Criminal Court for sentencing. He had a history of 65 convictions, including rape and assault. The victim's wife gave a detailed impact statement describing the lasting fear, anxiety, and disruption to the family's life. Mr Justice McCarthy was set to deliver the sentence on 16 March, with O'Connell remanded in custody until then.
A 25-year-old man charged with murder at the Central Criminal Court has testified that he did not intend to harm the deceased during an incident in Longford in November 2016. Rihards Lavickis of Annaly Court, Longford, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in connection with the death of a 31-year-old man at Townspark on 1 November 2016. He admitted stabbing the deceased but told the court he experienced a loss of control and a "blackout" at the time, only realizing later what had occurred. Mr Lavickis described escalating tensions with the deceased over several months, including a prior assault and property damage to his home. He stated he brought a knife to the deceased's residence intending only to confront him but that events spiralled when they encountered each other later. The prosecution suggested his account of losing control was a deliberate fabrication designed to support a manslaughter defence. Justice Una Ní Raifeartaigh adjourned proceedings to allow a juror to attend a family event. The trial resumes before the jury on Friday.
The family of Tom O'Gorman, who was murdered by his lodger Saverio Bellante, has obtained the trial transcript after expressing concerns that Bellante's mental health care by the HSE may have contributed to the killing. Bellante, 38, was found not guilty by reason of insanity in a Central Criminal Court jury trial in July 2015 and was ordered to be detained indefinitely at the Central Mental Hospital in Dublin. Ciaran Craven SC applied for the transcript on behalf of the family, arguing that the death might have been influenced by the manner in which Bellante was treated by the HSE and a named doctor. The application was granted by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, who noted no precedent, and the transcript was released with restrictions for the coroner's use only. The family believes the inquest is the sole avenue to investigate the alleged inadequacies in Bellante's mental health management.
A 33‑year‑old man was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to raping his 20‑year‑old niece on 9 July 2016. The victim, who was close to her uncle and trusted him, described how the offence fractured her wider family and damaged her trust and studies. The court noted the man's apology letter, his immediate acknowledgement of guilt, and his severe mental health difficulties. The judge highlighted the breach of trust and the man's out‑of‑character behaviour, noting his history of depression, bipolar disorder and a childhood sexual assault. He imposed a six‑year sentence, suspending the final two years, and ordered the man to attend a prison or post‑prison education course on sexual violence under probation supervision. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that a 25-year-old man from Annaly Court, Longford fatally stabbed another man following escalating disputes over a €300 cannabis debt. Rihards Lavickis has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in connection with the death of Akadiusz Czajkowski on November 1, 2016 at Townspark, Longford. The State rejected the manslaughter plea, and the trial proceeded. Detective Garda evidence outlined how Lavickis told gardai he armed himself with a knife after his home window was smashed, intending to confront Czajkowski. The accused stated he encountered Czajkowski near Longford Shopping Centre and pursued him with the knife, saying he intended only to frighten him but decided to use it when the opportunity arose. The fatal wound penetrated Czajkowski's chest and heart. The trial continues before Justice Una Ní Raifeartaigh and a jury.
Egita Jaunmaize, 34, was found guilty at the Central Criminal Court of impeding the prosecution of her boyfriend, a convicted neo-nazi, by staging the death of her housemate, Antra Ozolina, as a suicide. The jury returned a guilty verdict by an 11-to-1 majority after deliberating for three hours and 47 minutes. Jaunmaize admitted placing a blue cord around Ozolina's neck to simulate suicide but pleaded not guilty to carrying out the offence without reasonable excuse at their home in Kilnaleck, Co Cavan, on or about June 27 or 28, 2014. She alleged she acted under duress after witnessing her boyfriend strangle Ozolina. The boyfriend, who was never charged due to severe brain damage sustained in a car crash while fleeing a separate hijacking, is currently in a care facility. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy thanked the jury for their service and remanded Jaunmaize in custody for sentencing on February 26th.
Rihards Lavickis, 25, of Longford, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Akadiusz 'Arek' Czajkowski, 31. Lavickis pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter; the plea was not accepted. The trial is currently at the finding stage before Justice Una Ni Raifeartaigh. State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that the deceased died from a stab wound to the heart, with toxicology revealing valium, amphetamines, and alcohol in his system. She noted evidence of chronic alcohol use. Forensic Science Ireland confirmed blood on the accused's jacket matched the deceased. Detective Sergeant Eric Godfrey presented CCTV showing Lavickis chasing the deceased with a raised arm. The prosecution alleges Lavickis stabbed Czajkowski moments later. Both men had prior convictions: Lavickis has 20, including drug possession, while Czajkowski had 15, including driving with excess alcohol and burglary. The trial continues.
A woman testified at the Central Criminal Court on Wednesday that she feared reprisals from associates of a man fatally stabbed in Longford in 2016. Inita Rozkalne, partner of the accused, told the jury she believed friends of the deceased would seek revenge following the incident at Townspark on November 1st. She described an earlier violent confrontation in which her partner was assaulted by the deceased and another man, and recalled windows at their Annaly Court home being broken repeatedly in the months preceding the stabbing. A defence witness, a neighbour and friend of the accused, testified that the deceased had made threats hours before the window damage occurred. The witness also stated he disposed of a knife used in the incident, subsequently recovered by gardaí near Longford Town football stadium. Rihards Lavickis, aged 25, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Akadiusz Czajkowski, 31. His guilty plea was rejected and the trial continues before Justice Una Ní Raifeartaigh.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has been instructed to consider defences of duress and reasonable excuse in the trial of a 34-year-old woman charged with impeding the apprehension of her boyfriend in connection with a death in Kilnaleck, County Cavan. The accused is charged with placing a cord around the neck of a 49-year-old housemate in June 2014 to simulate suicide, allegedly to conceal that her death was suspicious. The defendant, who pleaded not guilty, told gardaí she acted under duress, fearing for her life after witnessing the alleged killing. The prosecution contended there was no reasonable excuse for her actions, highlighting that she returned to her boyfriend after release and remained with him. The defence argued the jury should assess whether a reasonable person in her circumstances would have feared death. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy clarified that the prosecution must prove the act occurred without reasonable excuse, with duress applying where threats of immediate death override ordinary human resistance. The trial continues.
A trial at the Central Criminal Court heard evidence that a 34-year-old woman accused of impeding the prosecution of her partner in connection with a death would have had limited capacity to resist his control due to childhood trauma. A consultant forensic psychiatrist testified that the woman, charged with obstructing the apprehension or prosecution of a man in connection with the death of a housemate at The Old Post, Main Street, Kilnaleck, Co Cavan in June 2014, had been a victim of violent crime as a child. The psychiatrist said this early traumatic experience left her vulnerable to abusive relationships and with impaired ability to recognise danger in others. The woman has pleaded not guilty to the charge but accepts that her housemate's death was not suicide and does not dispute that her former partner caused it. She told gardaí she acted under his orders while in fear for her life. The defence has closed its case, and the trial continues before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury.
A 25‑year‑old Dublin man is set to be sentenced for the online sexual exploitation of a 13‑year‑old girl. The offence took place between December 2011 and May 2012. At 19, the man met the girl and they communicated regularly via Skype, Facebook and text. He exposed himself, masturbated on camera, and invited the girl to masturbate or penetrate herself. In person, he asked her to masturbate him and performed sexual acts. The girl's mother reported concerning messages, leading to Garda involvement. The man pleaded guilty to one count of defilement and three counts of sexual exploitation. He has no prior convictions. The victim's impact statement described her vulnerability, anger, and a desire to move on. The defence highlighted the man's youth, personal difficulties, and an apology letter. The case was adjourned to March 5, 2013 for judgment.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 64‑year‑old auctioneer, Noel Kelleher, was found guilty of six counts of rape, three of sexual assault, three of oral rape and one of attempted oral rape against a victim aged 12 to 14 between June 1991 and August 1992. The jury acquitted him of 16 other counts of rape, indecent assault and sexual assault. The victim, who waived anonymity, described the abuse as beginning when she was 12, involving rape, sexual assault and forced oral sex in two office locations, and ending shortly before her 14th birthday. She recounted attempts to kill herself, post‑natal depression, psychiatric care and repeated suicide attempts. In her victim impact statement she said the shame should be Kelleher's, not hers, and that the abuse had ruined her education, relationships and mental health.
A 39‑year‑old Egyptian man, who is an illegal immigrant, was found guilty by a jury of one count of rape, two counts of sexual assault and one count of threatening to kill a 27‑year‑old foreign student. The victim was travelling from Carlow to Dublin on a bus, where the accused groped her and later followed her home. He entered her house, masturbated in front of her, threatened her, and raped her in the hall. The victim, who was living and working in Ireland in 2016, described the assault as terrifying and said she wished she were dead at the time. She declined to have the perpetrator named to avoid destroying his life. The court has imposed reporting restrictions and will consider sentencing next week. The accused has a prior conviction for public masturbation and is appealing a deportation order. The case was heard in the Central Criminal Court.
Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy of the Central Criminal Court has set dates for three murder trials in Cork. Two trials will start on 31 May: Paul Horgan, 27, charged with killing his mother Marian, 61, on 24 November 2015 at their family home on Murmont Avenue, Montenotte; and Darren Murphy, 41, charged with killing Olivia Dunlea on 17 February 2013 at her Pembroke Crescent home, Passage West. The third trial, for Cathal O'Sullivan, 45, charged with the murder of Nicola Collins on 27 March last year at his flat on Popham's Road, Farranree, is scheduled for 6 November.
In 2009 and 2010, a 40‑year‑old man from Meath sexually abused his fiancée's three daughters, who were in their early to mid‑teens at the time. He was convicted by a jury of one count of rape and 12 counts of sexual assault, and sentenced to ten years' imprisonment by Mr Justice Paul Coffey. The judge praised the resilience of the victims, now in their early twenties, and noted the profound psychological harm inflicted. The man, whose name is withheld to protect the victims, had no prior convictions. He has now filed an appeal, arguing that the trial judge should have warned the jury about the lack of corroboration for all three complainants. Mr Justice George Birmingham, along with two other judges, has reserved judgment on the appeal.
A 34-year-old Latvian woman is on trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with impeding the prosecution of a man suspected of murdering Antra Ozolina, a 49-year-old woman found dead at their shared home in Kilnaleck, County Cavan in June 2014. The accused is alleged to have placed a cord around the deceased's neck to simulate suicide. She has pleaded not guilty but accepts that Ms Ozolina did not take her own life and does not dispute that another person caused her death. The trial heard that the male suspect has not been charged due to severe injuries sustained during a violent car hijacking in Longford in October 2014. Following a collision with a civilian vehicle during a garda pursuit, he sustained a traumatic brain injury and has remained in hospital care, now requiring spoon feeding and hoisting. Evidence regarding the deceased's injuries and the circumstances of her death was presented to the jury. The trial continues before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy.
A 25-year-old Latvian man has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of a Polish construction worker at the Central Criminal Court. Rihards Lavickis of Annaly Court, Longford has denied murder in relation to the death of Akadiusz Czajkowski, 31, at Rue Noyal Chatillon, Townspark on 1 November 2016. The prosecution opened its case this week, outlining that the accused brought a knife to confront the deceased following an overnight incident in which his apartment windows were damaged. CCTV footage showed Mr Lavickis concealing himself before approaching Mr Czajkowski as he crossed the road. The deceased sustained three stab wounds and collapsed inside a nearby shopping centre, dying shortly after. The accused was arrested at Longford Garda Station where he admitted responsibility for the stabbing. The trial continues before Justice Una Ní Raifeartaigh. Rihards Lavickis pleaded not guilty.
In 2015, David O'Loughlin (30) was convicted of murdering Liam Manley (59) after forcing him into a refuse chute at Garden City Apartments, Cork. The Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty and imposed a mandatory life sentence. In 2018, the Court of Appeal quashed the conviction because the jury had visited the chute during deliberations without permission from either the defence or prosecution, an action deemed technically unlawful under the Juries Act. During the visit, a juror threw a stone down the chute, an experiment that introduced new, unexamined evidence. The judge ruled that the jury should have been discharged under these circumstances. The case remains pending, with the court to decide whether a retrial will be ordered. The summary reflects only the facts presented in the article. David O'Loughlin pleaded not guilty.
A 34-year-old Latvian woman is on trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of a man in connection with the death of Antra Ozolina. The accused, Egita Jaunmaize, is alleged to have placed a cord around Ms Ozolina's neck to simulate suicide at their home in Kilnaleck, Co Cavan on or about 27 or 28 June 2014. Ms Jaunmaize has pleaded not guilty but accepts that Ms Ozolina's death was not self-inflicted. During evidence, she told gardaí she acted under duress, stating she witnessed the alleged killer assaulting Ms Ozolina and feared for her own life. She said she was forced to help stage the scene after being threatened. The trial, heard before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury, continues.
A 34-year-old woman from Latvia is on trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of a man in connection with the death of her housemate. The accused is alleged to have placed a cord around the neck of Antra Ozolina to simulate suicide at their home in Kilnaleck, County Cavan on or about 27 or 28 June 2014. She has pleaded not guilty but accepts that Ms Ozolina's death was not self-inflicted. In her voluntary statement to gardai, the accused described a significant row with the deceased over a car loan she had agreed to sign for but subsequently withdrew from. She recounted that Ms Ozolina was intoxicated when they met that evening and became angry at her decision. The accused stated she went to bed and discovered Ms Ozolina the following morning. She later told gardai that another person was present in the house that night. The trial before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury continues.