A 25-year-old man charged with murder in Longford in 2016 has pleaded guilty to manslaughter, but the State has rejected the lesser plea. Rihards Lavickis, of Annaly Court, Longford, denies the murder of Akadiusz Czajkowski on November 1, 2016, at Rue Noyal Chatillon, Townspark. The trial began at the Central Criminal Court before Ms Justice Una Ní Raifeartaigh, with a jury of twelve sworn in. Prosecuting counsel Patrick McGrath SC confirmed the Director of Public Prosecutions declined to accept the manslaughter plea. The judge addressed the jury on their role regarding facts and evidence, while she would provide legal direction. The trial is expected to last three weeks, with prosecution opening speeches set to resume tomorrow. Witnesses will subsequently give evidence, followed by closing arguments and jury deliberation on the facts presented. Rihards Lavickis pleaded not guilty.
A daughter testified at the Central Criminal Court that her mother, a 49-year-old Latvian woman, was a contented and healthy person with no medical ailments. The trial concerns Egita Jaunmaize, aged 34, of no fixed abode, who has pleaded not guilty to impeding the apprehension or prosecution of a person in connection with the death of Antra Ozolina at The Old Post, Kilnaleck, County Cavan, in June 2014. The prosecution alleges that Ms Jaunmaize placed a cord around Ms Ozolina's neck to simulate suicide. The defence has conceded that Ms Ozolina's death was not suicide and that another individual caused her death. Evidence heard included testimony from colleagues and acquaintances describing Ms Ozolina as a happy person unlikely to take her own life. A witness who lived nearby described suspicious behaviour by Ms Jaunmaize and another man following the discovery of the body. The trial before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy continues with a jury of twelve.
A 34-year-old Latvian woman has pleaded not guilty to impeding the apprehension or prosecution of a man in connection with a death in Co Cavan. The trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that Egita Jaunmaize is accused of placing a blue cord around the neck of Antra Ozolina (49) to simulate suicide at The Old Post, Main Street, Kilnaleck on or about June 27 or 28, 2014. A witness testified that Ms Jaunmaize and a man returned to his house at 8am on June 28, behaving strangely and claiming Ms Ozolina had hanged herself. The witness said they asked him not to contact gardaí and left the room repeatedly to speak privately. Defence counsel acknowledged that Ms Jaunmaize accepts Ms Ozolina's death was not suicide and does not dispute that another person caused her death. The trial before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy continues with a jury of seven men and five women.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court acquitted Paul Crosby of one attempted murder charge – the attempt to kill Gerard Boyle by pushing a car into a canal on 10 November 2016 – after five hours of deliberation. The jury, composed of five women and six men, could not reach a verdict on the remaining three charges: two counts of attempting to murder Boyle by stabbing him 28 times and by placing him in a car boot, and a charge of false imprisonment and serious harm. The foreman reported an impasse, and the judge recorded a "disagree" on those issues, discharged the jury, and remanded Crosby until a new trial date on 26 February. Boyle, who suffered a punctured lung and was found in the canal, denied naming the wrong person as his attacker and claimed Crosby had forced him into the car boot before the vehicle was pushed into the water. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
A 34-year-old Latvian woman has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to impeding the apprehension or prosecution of a person in connection with a death in Kilnaleck, Co Cavan, in June 2014. Egita Jaunmaize is accused of placing a cord around the neck of her housemate, Antra Ozolina, to simulate suicide and hinder investigation into the death. The prosecution alleges Ms Ozolina died from neck compression caused by another person. The defence has acknowledged that Ms Ozolina's death was not suicide and does not dispute that a named individual caused her death. The Crown's opening outlined how initial examination suggested suicide, but subsequent forensic examination by the Deputy State Pathologist revealed blunt force injuries and determined death resulted from neck compression. The trial, before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury, is expected to last two weeks.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, Paul Crosby of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, faced charges of attempting to murder Gerard Boyle twice in November 2016. The first attempt involved stabbing Boyle 28 times, and the second involved locking him in a car boot that was then pushed into a canal. Boyle, aged 22, pleaded not guilty to all charges. After closing arguments, the jury, instructed by Justice Patrick McCarthy, was allowed to return a majority verdict on any charge if ten jurors agreed.
A 46‑year‑old Laois man was convicted of marital rape and sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with two years suspended, after a Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of raping his wife on 8 January 2015. He had pleaded not guilty to the rape charge but admitted assaulting her by punching her face on the same occasion. The conviction centred on the question of consent. The man, who cannot be named to protect the victim's identity, has now moved to appeal, arguing that the trial judge erred in directing the jury on recklessness, misdirected the jury on resistance under section 9 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act 1990, and failed to withdraw the case from the jury. His barrister, Caroline Biggs SC, presented evidence that the couple had been married for 21 years, that the wife had been assaulted and that she later described the subsequent act as consensual sex.
John Joseph Malone, aged 54, was convicted of murdering 69‑year‑old Ann 'Nancy' Smyth in Kilkenny on 11 September 1987 and sentenced to life imprisonment. The conviction followed a Central Criminal Court jury's unanimous decision after 3 h 26 min of deliberation. Malone had pleaded not guilty. The case was reopened as a cold‑case investigation in 2012 after new witness statements and confessions emerged. Malone's appeal, filed on the ground that the trial judge should have withdrawn the case at the close of the prosecution's case, focuses on the credibility of Geraldine Brennan's 2013 statement, which differs from her 1987 statement. The appeal is pending; the court has reserved judgment. No new verdict or outcome is reported in the article.
A County Cavan man pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to sexually assaulting his 15-year-old cousin as she slept beside him at his home in May 2015. He was 18 years old at the time of the offence. The court heard the pair had been raised closely together and that the man had developed a crush on his cousin. Following a birthday party where both drank alcohol, the girl fell asleep in his bed, a normal occurrence between them. She woke during the night aware of his presence and subsequent unusual sensations. The following morning, she confided in her mother. In garda interview, he admitted to touching his cousin inappropriately. A psychologist report noted he was sexually immature, had received no sex education, and his first discussion of sexual consent occurred in the garda station. The victim, now 18, stated in her impact statement that while frightened and emotionally distressed initially, she does not regard him as dangerous.
The jury will resume deliberating tomorrow morning in the trial of Paul Crosby, a Louth man charged with attempting to murder Gerard Boyle, 22, on 10 November 2016. Crosby allegedly stabbed Boyle 28 times and then locked him in a car boot that was pushed into a canal. He is also accused of a second attempted murder on the same day at Boyne Canal, Drogheda. Boyle pleaded not guilty to all charges. Both sides delivered closing speeches last Thursday; the jury had deliberated for almost three hours and 24 minutes before being sent home.
Egita Jaunmaize, a 34-year-old Latvian woman of no fixed abode, is due to go on trial tomorrow in the Central Criminal Court. She has been charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of a man, knowing or believing him to have committed the offence of murder or some other arrestable offence at The Old Post, Main Street, Kilnaleck, Co Cavan, on or about June 27 or June 28, 2014. The prosecution alleges that Ms Jaunmaize placed a blue cord around the deceased person's neck to simulate a suicide. Ms Jaunmaize was arraigned before the court today and pleaded not guilty to the charge. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy swore a jury of seven men and five women to hear the trial. The proceedings are scheduled to begin tomorrow and are expected to last two weeks. As the matter is at the trial stage and has not yet concluded, no findings, sentences, or final disposals have been recorded. The case remains active, with the accused facing the allegation of obstructing justice regarding a homicide victim.
The Central Criminal Court will hear the case of Paul Crosby, a Louth man, who is charged with attempting to murder Gerard Boyle twice in one day. On 10 November 2016, Crosby allegedly stabbed Boyle 28 times and then locked him in a car boot that was pushed into a canal. Boyle, aged 22, also suffered a second attempted murder at Boyne Canal. Boyle pleaded not guilty to all charges. Both prosecution and defence delivered closing speeches, and the jury will begin deliberations on Monday.
In a 2018 attempted‑murder trial, the State counsel, Patrick Gageby SC, argued that Paul Crosby of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, had a strong motive to eliminate Gerard Boyle, 22, after a prior incident in March when Crosby and another man allegedly broke into Boyle's home. Gageby highlighted that Boyle was stabbed 28 times in Knockcommon, then locked in a car that was submerged in the Boyne Canal. He claimed Boyle named Crosby as the assailant, citing a phone call to Crosby's house and a text from an unknown number. Defence counsel, Mr Bowman SC, countered that Boyle's statements were inconsistent, that no forensic evidence linked Crosby to the crime, and that Boyle's accusations were unreliable. The counsel urged the jury to acquit Crosby on all counts, citing flawed evidence and a deficient investigation. The case was set for jury deliberation by Judge Patrick McCarthy. Gerard Boyle pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, Paul Crosby of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, faced charges of attempting to murder, false imprisonment and serious harm against Gerard Boyle, aged 22, on 10 November 2016. The alleged attacks occurred first at Knockcommon, Beauparc, Slane, where Boyle was stabbed 28 times, and later at Boyne Canal, Drogheda, where he was reportedly locked into a car boot that was pushed into the canal. Crosby pleaded not guilty to all charges. Dr Asim Rafeeque treated Boyle in Drogheda hospital, describing a surgical emergency with severe shortness of breath, elevated heart rate, reduced oxygen and multiple sharp‑edge wounds, and performed immediate chest decompression. Garda Ronan Geraghty testified that Boyle had named a passenger who allegedly pulled him from the car and placed him in the boot; this person was not arrested and no other individuals were charged.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 22‑year‑old Louth man, Paul Crosby, faced charges of attempting to murder Gerard Boyle twice on 10 November 2016. The first attempt involved 28 stab wounds before Boyle was locked in a car boot and the vehicle was pushed into a canal. The second attempt occurred later that night at Boyne Canal, Drogheda. Dr Asim Rafiq treated Boyle in Drogheda hospital, noting severe shortness of breath, a marked heart rate increase, reduced oxygen levels and multiple sharp‑edge wounds. He performed emergency chest decompression and inserted two chest drains, describing the situation as a surgical emergency that could have resulted in death. Crosby pleaded not guilty to all charges. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy with a jury of five women and six men.
A trial date has been set for Adam O'Keefe, a 26‑year‑old from St Vincent's Hostel in Cork, who is accused of murdering 22‑year‑old Amy McCarthy on 29‑30 April 2017 at a Sheares Street address. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy has scheduled the trial for 9 July 2018 before a jury at the Central Criminal Court.
In a 2018 trial, a 22‑year‑old Louth man, Paul Crosby, was charged with attempting to murder Gerard Boyle twice on 10 November 2016. The first attempt occurred at Knockcommon, Beauparc, Slane, where Boyle was found on the ground near a stop sign, soaked in blood and water, with numerous stab wounds. A paramedic testified that Boyle had 28 puncture wounds, a collapsed lung, and required chest drains. The second attempt took place later that night at Boyne Canal, Drogheda, where Boyle was again stabbed and subsequently locked in a car boot that was pushed into the canal. Crosby pleaded not guilty to attempting to murder, false imprisonment and causing serious harm. The case was heard by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy with a jury of eleven. The trial continues.
In the Central Criminal Court, Gerard Boyle, aged 22, denied that Paul Crosby was the man who stabbed him 28 times and locked him in a car boot before it was pushed into a canal. Boyle testified that Crosby had previously smashed a window at his home and later called him to discuss a "chat." Boyle agreed to go with Crosby, but when they reached Knockcommon, Crosby stabbed him. Boyle escaped the car, swam to shore, and was later cross‑examined by defence counsel Michael Bowman, who argued that Crosby was not responsible. Boyle maintained that he had named Crosby because he feared the real perpetrator would escape. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, continues with a jury of eleven, after one juror was discharged due to illness. Paul Crosby pleaded not guilty.
The Court of Appeal has reduced the prison sentence of an unnamed 26-year-old man from the midlands, who pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault and seven counts of raping his niece between January 2007 and August 2014. At the time of the offences, the defendant was aged between 15 and 23, while the victim was aged seven to 14. The original sentencing judge, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, imposed a 10-year term, noting the defendant's full moral culpability and the serious nature of the abuse, which occurred in various locations including a relative's house and a treehouse. On appeal, the panel comprising Mr Justice Alan Mahon, Mr Justice George Birmingham, and Mr Justice John Edwards held that the headline sentence was excessive because the offending commenced when the defendant was a minor. Mr Justice Mahon stated that while the defendant bore high culpability for the abuse continuing into adulthood, the fact that it began at age 15 required a more lenient approach. The court determined that a 12-year headline sentence would have been appropriate, but after applying a significant discount for mitigating factors, including the defendant's remorse and engagement in therapy, the sentence was reduced to nine years. The court imposed concurrent nine-year sentences, with the final 12 months suspended to incentivise rehabilitation. The defendant had previously sought a transfer to Arbour Hill prison to access sex offender programs.
In a Tipperary case, Christopher Mulready, aged 33, received a partially suspended ten‑and‑a‑half‑year prison sentence for a rape and savage assault of his former partner, who is now 28. The victim was attacked while sleeping on a couch on 28 April 2016, suffering a fractured eye socket and cheekbone. The next morning Mulready raped her. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm but denied the rape charge; a jury found him guilty of rape. Judge Michael Moriarty described the assault as cowardly and despicable, noting the victim's bruises and the lack of remorse shown by Mulready. The judge suspended the last nine months of the sentence, backdated it to April 2016, and ordered no contact with the victim, declaring Mulready a sex offender. The victim, who suffered PTSD, depression, and anxiety, has sought treatment and is rebuilding relationships with her family.
In a 12‑day trial at the Central Criminal Court, Judge Paul Butler directed a jury to acquit a 35‑year‑old man of all charges of rape, oral rape, sexual assault and false imprisonment against a 19‑year‑old woman. The judge cited the failure to swab the accused's neck for DNA as a serious risk of an unfair trial, and noted that the accused had claimed the complainant had kissed him on the neck, a claim the woman denied. The accused had pleaded not guilty. The prosecution had also dropped all charges against a 44‑year‑old co‑accused due to insufficient evidence. The judge's direction ended the trial, and the jury was excused from service for ten years. The case involved allegations that the woman was forced onto a tour bus after a Jason Derulo concert and was assaulted by two men, but the accused denied all allegations.
A 59‑year‑old Galway man was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment for raping and sexually assaulting two nephews while they stayed at his mother's house between 1991 and 1997. He pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. The judge described the abuse as a "horrific breach of trust" and noted the victims' courage in coming forward. The court heard that one nephew was repeatedly anally raped from October 1995 to June 1997, aged 15 to 17, while the other was assaulted from April 1991 to December 1993, aged 13 to 16. The accused entered the spare room, raped the boys, and gave them money afterward. Both victims were told not to disclose the assaults. The judge back‑dated the sentence to December of the previous year when the man entered custody. The accused, who has no prior convictions, claimed he had been abused as a child and apologized, stating he had "completely lost control of his moral compass.".
Paul Buckley, a 45‑year‑old Cork man, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment on 29 January 2018 for impersonating a Garda and threatening to arrest a schoolgirl. In November 2017, while drinking in Dublin city centre, Buckley approached a teenage girl in school uniform, claimed to be a Garda, and offered her a coffee. When she declined, he threatened to arrest her for truancy, rubbed her hand, and told her she was "sexy". The girl reported feeling uncomfortable and frightened. Buckley pleaded guilty to the impersonation offence. The judge, citing the seriousness of impersonating a Garda, imposed the six‑month term, noting that the court could not infer beyond reasonable doubt that Buckley intended sexual assault. Buckley's prior convictions include a 2005 rape and assault conviction. The sentence reflects the offence of impersonation, with no mention of any suspended portion or effective custody beyond the six‑month term.
In January 2018, Paddy Harty, a 44‑year‑old convicted burglar, was sentenced to four years imprisonment for a sexual assault committed on 23 April 2015. Harty met the victim in a pub, they drank together, and he later drove her to a secluded area of The Curragh in County Kildare. While she was still wearing a dress, he forced her down, removed her leggings and underwear, and held her down by her arms. The victim escaped, hid in nearby bushes, and later called the gardai, who could not locate her. She testified that the memory of the attack haunted her daily. Harty pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. The sentence is consecutive to a previous four‑year term for theft and fraud offences. He has 168 prior convictions, including 42 thefts, three burglaries and 12 breaches of domestic violence orders, but no prior sexual offences.
A man from Castleblayney, County Monaghan has been sentenced to life imprisonment following his guilty plea to murder at the Central Criminal Court. Anthony Lambe (34) admitted killing a 43-year-old mother of three in her kitchen on Demesne Road, Dundalk on 6 April 2005. The victim's body was discovered by her mother that morning, bearing 34 stab wounds. The investigation lay dormant for years before a television appeal in 2012 prompted an anonymous call from a woman in Australia, who reported that Lambe had confessed to her. Lambe was arrested in January 2017 and subsequently told gardaí he had been paid to carry out the killing by an individual acting on behalf of another party. He was studying for a doctoral degree in history at the time of his arrest. Justice Patrick McCarthy imposed the mandatory life sentence following Lambe's guilty plea.
Brian Butler, aged 32, pleaded guilty in the Central Criminal Court to sexually assaulting and orally raping his younger sister between January 2000 and December 2002, when he was 14 to 17 and she was nine to twelve. The abuse was discovered after the sister confided in a friend, leading to family notification and social services involvement. Butler attended therapeutic services for child sex offenders, and a formal complaint was made to the Gardaí in 2013. In November 2016, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy sentenced him to six years' imprisonment with four years of post‑release supervision, including participation in sexual offenders programmes. On appeal, the Court of Appeal quashed the original sentence and imposed a new six‑year term, suspending the final two years, citing insufficient consideration of Butler's rehabilitation progress and mitigating factors. The headline sentence remained eight years, deemed appropriate for a minor offender with aggravating circumstances.
Paul Buckley, 45, pleaded guilty to impersonating a garda at Aston Quay, Dublin, on November 11, 2017. The court heard that Buckley, a registered sex offender, approached a teenage girl in school uniform, displayed a business card with a garda logo, and threatened to arrest her for skipping school. He allegedly rubbed her hand, called her sexy, and told her she could not leave. Buckley was identified via CCTV and arrested. He admitted to gardai that he struggled with alcohol abuse. Prosecutors stated Buckley revealed to the Probation Service that the offence was sexually motivated, while his defense counsel argued his motive was to seek human interaction due to loneliness and depression. Buckley was previously convicted of rape and assault causing harm in October 2005, for which he was jailed for four years at the Central Criminal Court. He was released in autumn 2009. Judge Martin Nolan remanded Buckley in custody and stated he would sentence him on Monday. The matter was adjourned for sentencing.
During the trial of a 35‑year‑old man accused of raping a 19‑year‑old woman at a Jason Derulo concert in Cork on 27 June 2014, a jury heard evidence of the complainant's text messages. Detective Sergeant Jason Lynch presented forensic analysis of the complainant's phone, showing a 3:50 am text to her boyfriend stating she was bruised and had no one, and a later message apologising for texting and mentioning five men. He also showed a 11 am text from a cousin about radio coverage and the complainant's reply that she was at a Garda station. Forensic scientists found no semen on the complainant's body or clothing, and DNA was not detected on six condoms from the tour bus. The prosecution case closed before the judge and jury, with the trial set to resume on Monday. The unnamed 35-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A 22‑year‑old Louth man, Paul Crosby, stands trial for attempting to murder Gerard Boyle twice. On 10 November 2016, Crosby stabbed Boyle 28 times in the back of the neck, head and torso, puncturing his lung and causing nerve damage to his right leg. After the stabbing, Crosby forced Boyle into the boot of a car and drove it into Boyne Canal. Boyle escaped the boot, swam to shore and was hospitalized for about two weeks. Crosby pleaded not guilty to attempting to murder, false imprisonment and causing serious harm. The trial is held in the Central Criminal Court, with prosecution led by Patrick Gageby SC and defence by Michael Bowman SC. The case is currently before a jury of twelve.
A 35‑year‑old man accused of raping a 19‑year‑old woman after a Jason Derulo concert in Cork told Gardaí that there were no closed doors on the tour bus where the alleged incident occurred. In a video interview shown to the jury, he claimed he was never alone with the complainant and that other people witnessed him having sex with her in the bus's hallway. He described the encounter as lasting about 15 minutes, including consensual oral sex, and said he removed the condom and returned downstairs. He denied any force, questioned the complainant's account, and said he had only a glass or two of champagne. He pleaded not guilty to rape, oral rape, sexual assault and false imprisonment. The trial continues before Mr Justice Butler and a jury of ten men and two women.
During the trial of a 35‑year‑old man accused of raping a 19‑year‑old woman after a Jason Derulo concert, the complainant testified that the accused, referred to as "cap guy," blocked her from leaving the tour bus and forced her onto a bunk bed where he raped her orally and vaginally. She also alleged that a 44‑year‑old co‑accused, the "larger man," joined and raped her. The complainant claimed she escaped after a third man threatened her. Prosecutor Timothy O'Leary informed the jury that the Director of Public Prosecutions had dropped all charges against the 44‑year‑old due to insufficient evidence, following a ruling by Mr Justice Paul Butler. The accused denies all charges, which include rape, oral rape, sexual assault and false imprisonment, alleged to have occurred in a vehicle in Cork on 27 June 2014. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Butler and a jury of ten men and two women.
In a case involving allegations of rape following a Jason Derulo concert, a judge in the Central Criminal Court dismissed charges against one of the accused men due to insufficient evidence. The complainant, a 19‑year‑old woman, claimed that a 35‑year‑old defendant, referred to as the "cap guy," prevented her from leaving the tour bus, brought her upstairs, and raped her both orally and vaginally while she was partially on a bunk bed. She also alleged that a 44‑year‑old defendant, the "larger man," later joined and raped her. The 35‑year‑old pleaded not guilty to rape, oral rape, sexual assault and false imprisonment, while the 44‑year‑old pleaded not guilty to anal rape and false imprisonment. The court found the evidence against the 44‑year‑old insufficient and the prosecution entered a nolle prosequi, allowing him to leave.
A 22‑year‑old Louth man, Paul Crosby of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, is set to appear before the Central Criminal Court on Thursday. He faces charges of attempting to murder Gerard Boyle twice on 10 November 2016, once at Knockcommon, Beauparc, Slane, Co. Meath, and again at Boyne Canal, Drogheda. Crosby also stands accused of causing serious harm to Boyle and of false imprisonment on the same day. He pleaded not guilty to all three charges. The trial, overseen by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, will involve a jury of twelve and is expected to last over a week.
A 49‑year‑old man from Meath was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury of four counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault against his teenage sister between 1983 and 1990. He was acquitted of one count of sexual assault that occurred in their father's car in 1982. The jury delivered a unanimous verdict after six hours of deliberation following a week‑long trial. The sister, who was aged between about 14 and 20 during the offences, described the abuse as beginning with touching and tickling, progressing to rape, and occurring in fields, wooded areas, a shed and the family home. She said the brother always ejaculated on her stomach and claimed a local priest had advised him to do so to prevent pregnancy. The trial was emotionally taxing for the sister, who took several breaks and was supported by Justice Deirdre Murphy. The man was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on 19 February. The unnamed 49-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A 20-year-old man from Limerick has received a fully suspended two-year sentence at the Central Criminal Court after pleading guilty to the defilement of a 15-year-old girl in Longford in June 2013. The offence occurred when the defendant was 16 years old. He initially pleaded not guilty to rape in October 2017, but changed his plea hours into his trial. Mr Justice Paul Butler noted that the defendant and complainant were "effectively peers" and that imprisonment would serve no purpose. The judge accepted the victim's impact statement as credible, in which she described the lasting psychological harm caused by the incident. The suspended sentence is conditional on the defendant attending probation sessions and group therapy to address the nature of his offence. He must also maintain no contact with the victim. The defendant, who has no previous convictions, is currently in full-time employment.
Sean Thackaberry, aged 24, was released from Midlands Prison in June 2017 after serving a seven‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for aggravated sexual assault, with the final two‑and‑a‑half years suspended. He has failed to attend 12 scheduled meetings with his probation officer, Dermot Lavin, citing excuses such as holidaying in France, viewing rental properties, being in Dublin, and unverified appendicitis surgery. Thackaberry also moved to an unapproved address near the victim's family, breaching the Sex Offenders Act. The victim, Michelle Hennessy, 26, was assaulted on 30 January 2011 and later took her own life. Thackaberry was recently jailed for three months for an assault committed in custody and remains in custody pending a decision on whether to impose the suspended portion of his sentence. The court noted his non‑attendance as a significant issue and considered reactivating only part of the suspended term.
A 66-year-old man imprisoned for sexual offences against a family member has appealed his conviction at the Court of Appeal in Dublin, arguing the jury's verdict was perverse and unsupported by evidence. The man was convicted in May 2017 of three counts of sexual assault and two counts of rape committed between November 1992 and December 1994 in Donegal and Dublin. He received a seven-year sentence from Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan. His counsel raised concerns about inconsistencies in the complainant's testimony, including uncertainties regarding locations and details, and highlighted the absence of corroboration. The Director of Public Prosecutions contended that substantial evidence supported the jury's verdict and that assessing credibility and weight remained within the jury's province. Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with colleagues, indicated the court would reserve judgement on the appeal. The unnamed 66-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A 55‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for a series of sexual offences against his sister and niece. He pleaded guilty to one count of indecent assault on his niece between 1978 and 1980. A jury had earlier convicted him of further indecent assaults on his sister and niece, and of two counts of rape of his niece between 1976 and 1984. The court noted that the abuse began when the man was 14, when his sister was 7 to 10, and continued when he was 16 to 22, while the niece was 5 to 11. The judge highlighted the profound impact on the victims, the secrecy of the crimes, and the delay before they were reported in 2012. He imposed concurrent sentences totalling six years, with two years of post‑release supervision and a prohibition on any contact with the victims, directly or indirectly, including through social media.
During the trial at the Central Criminal Court, two men aged 35 and 44 were accused of raping a 19‑year‑old woman on a Jason Derulo tour bus in Cork on 27 June 2014. The 35‑year‑old pleaded not guilty to rape, oral rape, sexual assault and false imprisonment; the 44‑year‑old pleaded not guilty to anal rape and false imprisonment. The complainant's friend described the bus as dingy and jammed, and said she left after hearing a man say, "If you're not on this bus to have sex then get off." Witnesses reported the complainant was forced onto the bus, allegedly raped by two men—one from behind and one from the front—while she was half in and half out of a bunk bed. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Paul Butler with a jury of ten men and two women. Mr Derulo is not charged with any offence.
During the fourth day of the trial at the Central Criminal Court, bus driver Patrick Bushby testified about the night of 26/27 June 2014, when a Jason Derulo tour bus was reportedly shaking as if a disco were playing, though no music was heard. Bushby, who was hired to pick up the band after a concert at The Marquee in Cork, described a chaotic scene outside the nightclub, with many people and vehicles. He noted that the bus was crowded with girls, and that a girl in an olive jumpsuit was seen talking to a 35‑year‑old man, later identified by the prosecution as "cap guy." Bushby observed the girl leave the bus, return, and then remain on the vehicle as the bus continued to shake for about twenty minutes. Gardaí arrived ten minutes later after a report of an incident. The unnamed 35-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A woman who claims she was raped by two men after a Jason Derulo concert says her evidence was the whole truth, and that conflicting accounts she gave to a garda, a nurse and her first official garda statement were "false memories". The defendants, aged 35 and 44, deny the offences alleged to have occurred in a hired tour bus in Cork on 27 June 2014. The 35‑year‑old pleaded not guilty to rape, oral rape, sexual assault and false imprisonment of the 19‑year‑old woman; the 44‑year‑old pleaded not guilty to anal rape and false imprisonment. The court heard that the complainant first gave a statement to gardaí on 27 June and a second statement 10 days later. She admitted that she had said things that "simply didn't happen" when describing what had occurred in the hours after the alleged incident, and agreed with counsel that these were "false memories".
Zoltan Almasi, a 46‑year‑old Hungarian national living in Harbour View, Naas, was convicted of murdering 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne with a baseball bat on 16 May 2014. The Central Criminal Court found him guilty after 11 hours of deliberation and imposed a mandatory life sentence on 16 March 2016. Almasi, who worked for a courier company and had lived alone, was born in Serbia and became a Hungarian national around 2007 before moving to Ireland. He has now filed an appeal, arguing that the partial defence of provocation was improperly excluded from the jury's consideration and that the prosecution had edited certain interviews. His barrister, Dominic McGinn SC, contended that the damage to Almasi's van by "drunken yobs" outside his house may have caused him to lose self‑control, a question the jury should have assessed. The appeal will be heard by the court, which has reserved its judgment.
A teenager will be sentenced next month for the manslaughter of a 17-year-old boy in Claremorris, County Mayo, in December 2015. The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was convicted of manslaughter by jury at the Central Criminal Court in Castlebar in July following a not guilty verdict on a murder charge. The victim, Dovydas Jenkas, died from a single stab wound in the early hours of 19 December 2015. A consultant's report is to be prepared and sentencing has been adjourned until 12 February to allow its completion. Justice Eileen Creedon agreed to the adjournment, noting her wish to conclude proceedings given the length of time the matter has been ongoing. Detective evidence indicated the deceased had visited the accused's home late on the evening in question and that an altercation occurred in the garden area.
A 19‑year‑old woman accused two men of rape and false imprisonment on a tour bus after a Jason Derulo concert in Cork on 27 June 2014. The defendants, aged 35 and 44, pleaded not guilty to rape, oral rape, sexual assault, false imprisonment, and anal rape. The complainant described the bus scene as "like something from Amsterdam," detailing how a man with a cap approached her, forced her to remove her jumpsuit, and raped her while she was restrained. She claimed a second, larger man also raped her. She escaped after a third man threatened her. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a jury. The case involves allegations of sexual assault and false imprisonment, with the defendants denying the charges.
An 18-year-old male, convicted in 2016 of one count of anal rape and two counts of sexual assault committed in July 2015 when he was 16, was sentenced today by Mr Justice Coffey in the Central Criminal Court. The court heard the accused, who was diagnosed with ADHD and is on the autism spectrum, had a difficult upbringing. During the trial, he claimed the incidents were consensual. Following a one-year deferral of sentence to allow for a multi-agency care plan, the judge imposed a three-year prison term today. This sentence was suspended on strict conditions, including that the accused must return to court in one year for review. The judge noted that while multi-agency supports were producing desired results, the case could not be definitively finalised. Additional conditions prohibit the use of intoxicants, require no contact with the injured parties or their families, and mandate compliance with Probation Service directions and all recommended treatments. The judge reserved the right to re-enter the case in January 2019 if conditions are breached. The victims, who were 13 at the time, remain in counselling. The accused also made three allegations of being abused himself, one of which remains under investigation.
Two men, aged 35 and 44, are on trial in the Central Criminal Court for rape, false imprisonment and related offences against a 19‑year‑old woman. The alleged incidents took place in a vehicle at an unknown location in Cork city on 27 June 2014, after a "VIP party" following a Jason Derulo concert. The 35‑year‑old pleaded not guilty to rape, oral rape, sexual assault and false imprisonment; the 44‑year‑old pleaded not guilty to anal rape and false imprisonment. The prosecution, led by Timothy O'Leary SC, outlined that the complainant was present at the nightclub, was invited to a second location, and was allegedly taken in a vehicle by a man wearing a cap (the 35‑year‑old) who allegedly raped and assaulted her, and by a larger man (the 44‑year‑old) who allegedly anally raped her.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has decided not to proceed with a third trial against a 31‑year‑old man who claimed he was acting in his sleep when he allegedly raped a friend. In the first trial in 2015 the case collapsed before a jury could deliberate. The second trial in 2016 ended with a hung jury after more than eight hours of deliberation and a month‑long trial. During the third trial, the prosecution counsel informed the judge that a jury would not be required and that a nolle prosequi would be entered on the single charge.
In October 2016, 24‑year‑old Charles Cleary murdered Leo Carolan, a 25‑year‑old student of creative music at IADT, after a robbery attempt at the South Circular Road flat. Cleary, who had no fixed abode but was from Rathfarnham, was motivated by the €14,000 that Swiss student Ludovic Thomas had withdrawn from a bank. Thomas had approached Carolan for an envelope for the money; when Carolan left the room, Cleary stabbed Thomas with a butterfly knife, allowing Thomas to escape. Cleary then returned and stabbed Carolan to death, inflicting 12 wounds that severed his jugular vein and pierced his heart and lungs. Thomas survived with multiple knife wounds, including a liver laceration. Cleary pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court and was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder and a concurrent 15‑year term for the attempted murder, with the robbery taken into account.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 62‑year‑old Dublin man was convicted of raping his 41‑year‑old niece on Christmas night 2014. The victim reported the offence to Gardaí three months later after discovering a letter from the accused that included a lie‑detector test claiming the sex was consensual. The accused pleaded not guilty, but a jury found him guilty. At sentencing, Mr Justice Tony Hunt noted the lack of any background relationship suggesting consent and the profound impact on the victim and her family. He imposed a custodial sentence of five and a half years, citing the offender's advanced age, medical issues, and good character as mitigating factors. The victim's impact statement highlighted lasting trauma, loss of safety in her home, and a shattered family life. The case remains a single‑incidence rape conviction with no prior convictions for the accused.
A 34‑year‑old Dubliner, Jason O'Driscoll, was denied bail by the Central Criminal Court after being charged with the double murder of 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond on 7 March 2012. The victims were found shot dead in a burnt‑out car in Ravensdale Forest Park that night, after having stolen the vehicle in Dublin earlier that morning. O'Driscoll's lawyer, Diana Stuart BL, applied for bail, offering his mother's life savings of €9,000 and the possibility of him living in her family home, and citing his brother's willingness to contribute €5,000 as evidence of his reliability. The State, represented by Detective Inspector Patrick Marry, opposed the application, arguing that O'Driscoll could breach conditions. Judge Patrick McCarthy, noting the trial was scheduled for 25 June, refused bail and remanded O'Driscoll in custody until the trial date.