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2017-10-23 · Dublin
A 34‑year‑old woman, Laura Kenna, who has no fixed abode, is charged with attempting to murder another woman on Drumcondra Road Lower, Drumcondra, Dublin 9, on 3 January. The Central Criminal Court has set her trial for 16 July 2018, and the case is expected to last three days.
2017-10-23 · Kilkenny
A 31‑year‑old man, Renars Veigulis, originally from Latvia and residing at Bridge Street, Freshford, Co Kilkenny, is charged with the murder of 29‑year‑old Rita Apine at that address on 14 May. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy set the trial for 5 November 2018, with the case expected to last up to three weeks.
2017-10-23 · Dublin
In a Dublin Central Criminal Court trial, Egyptian national Mohamed Okda, aged 31, was found guilty of two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault after a 2014 incident in a city centre flat. The jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts after a seven‑day trial. Judge Michael Moriarty sentenced Okda to eleven years for each rape and five years for the assault, with all terms running concurrently and the final year suspended. The judge noted the difficulty of imprisonment for foreign nationals and acknowledged Okda's claim of threat while in custody. The victim, a married mother, described panic attacks, depression and a "broken" life in her impact statement, and the judge highlighted her ongoing struggle to rebuild her life with family support. Okda has 16 prior non‑sexual convictions in Ireland. Mohamed Okda pleaded not guilty.
2017-10-23 · Dublin
David Mahon, 46, appeared before the Court of Appeal to challenge the severity of his seven-year sentence for the manslaughter of Dean Fitzpatrick, 23. Mahon had previously pleaded not guilty to the murder of Fitzpatrick, who was stabbed outside his mother's apartment in Dublin in May 2013. A Central Criminal Court jury found him not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, resulting in a sentence handed down by Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan in June 2016. Mahon's counsel, Seán Guerin SC, argued the sentence was excessive, contending that the jury's verdict indicated Mahon merely produced a knife rather than deliberately stabbing the victim, reflecting low culpability. He also disputed aggravating factors, noting Mahon's cooperation with gardaí. Conversely, DPP counsel Anne-Marie Lawlor SC argued the appeal was based on a fallacy, stating the jury rejected the defence of accident or self-impalement. She highlighted that Mahon committed the offence while subject to a suspended sentence for a minor offence and had disposed of the weapon. The appeal panel, comprising Mr Justice Michael Peart, Mr Justice George Birmingham, and Mr Justice Alan Mahon, reserved their judgment. Consequently, the matter was adjourned, and the outcome of the appeal remains pending.
2017-10-23 · Waterford
A 29‑year‑old man, Danny Whelan, who has no fixed abode but was formerly of Thomas Street, Waterford, is charged with the murder of Samantha Walsh, a 31‑year‑old mother of four. Walsh was found dead in an apartment on Thomas Street on 28 April. The Central Criminal Court set the trial for 2 October 2018, with a two‑week duration.
2017-10-20 · Waterford
A jury at the Central Criminal Court in Waterford found Juraci Da Silva, a 36‑year‑old Brazilian meat‑factory worker, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for the death of James Banville, 28, on 8 October 2016. The jury also acquitted him of assault causing harm to Banville's friend Conor Hogan, but found him guilty of producing a knife during the fight. Da Silva had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter, a plea rejected by the State. He was remanded in custody until 20 November for a sentencing hearing. The case involved a series of assaults by Hogan and Banville, who had prior convictions, and a fatal stabbing that occurred after Da Silva was provoked and had produced a knife. The court noted that Da Silva was drunk, unsteady, and had no intent to kill, leading to the manslaughter verdict.
2017-10-20 · Dublin
The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment in an appeal brought by Gary Flynn, who was convicted of the 2009 gangland murder of Seamus Shay O'Byrne in Tallaght. Flynn, who pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court, received a mandatory life sentence in 2016. He is the third person jailed for the crime, following the convictions of Garrett O'Brien, the gunman, and Eugene Cullen, who organised the murder and later died in custody. Flynn's counsel argued that the seizure of mobile phone data was disproportionate and violated human rights laws, claiming gardaí indiscriminately collected devices without adequate justification. Defence also contended that the trial judge failed to properly direct the jury regarding gunshot residue evidence and the prosecution's failure to prove Flynn's knowledge of the killing plan. The Director of Public Prosecutions countered that the phones were linked to the crime and that privacy rights do not extend to devices used for murder. The three-judge panel, comprising Mr Justice Birmingham, Mr Justice Mahon, and Mr Justice Hedigan, heard the arguments and reserved their decision. The matter remains adjourned pending the court's final ruling on the admissibility of evidence and the trial judge's directions.
2017-10-20 · Louth
In the Central Criminal Court trial of Jason O'Driscoll, a 34‑year‑old Dublin man charged with the double murder of Anthony Burnett and Joseph Redmond, firefighters Stephen Hoey and Vincent McGuinness gave evidence about a burning car in Ravensdale Forest car park on 7 March 2012. Hoey described extinguishing the flames at the rear of the vehicle, then seeing a badly cracked skull and a ribcage on the driver's seat. He reported that McGuinness called the crew back, declared the scene a crime scene, and notified the Gardaí. A Garda ballistics officer, Shane Curran, later observed the burnt remains of two bodies in a Volkswagen Golf, noting that the bodies were fused together and that bullet fragments were recovered from both skulls. Curran testified that the fragments suggested a single firearm had discharged two bullets, but he could not confirm this without examining the weapon. The pathologist confirmed both men died from two head wounds before the fire. Jason O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty.
2017-10-20 · Waterford
A jury is deliberating on the verdicts in the trial of Juraci Da Silva, a 36‑year‑old Brazilian resident of Park Lane Apartments, Waterford. Da Silva pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of 28‑year‑old James Banville, who was killed on 8 October 2016 at New Street. He also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Conor Hogan and to producing a knife on the same day and place. The jury has spent about four hours reviewing the evidence after a 12‑day trial and will announce its decision this afternoon.
2017-10-19 · Ireland
A man formerly of Bohea, County Mayo has appealed his conviction for sexual offences committed in the 1990s. John Gannon, aged 73, was found guilty at the Central Criminal Court of indecent assault, sexual assault, rape, and attempted rape following a jury trial. He was sentenced to thirteen years imprisonment, with the final five years suspended, in October 2015. Gannon's legal representatives argued before the Court of Appeal that the trial should have been restarted following an outburst by the complainant during cross-examination, during which the witness spat at the defendant. Counsel submitted the incident was calculated rather than merely emotional and that it constituted an attempt to influence the jury, warranting discharge and retrial. The prosecution contended the trial judge had appropriately cautioned the jury and that no factual basis existed for discharge on emotional grounds alone. The Court of Appeal, comprising three judges, reserved judgement on four grounds of appeal. John Gannon pleaded not guilty.
2017-10-19 · Waterford
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the defence argued that the deceased, James Banville, had provoked the accused, Juraci Da Silva, by assaulting and verbally abusing him. Da Silva, 36, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The defence presented CCTV footage showing two assaults on Da Silva by Banville and Conor Hogan, who were intoxicated and had previously been convicted of assault. The accused was described as smaller, highly intoxicated, and unsteady, and the assaults were characterised as cowardly, gratuitous and unprovoked. The defence claimed Da Silva acted in self‑defence, not with intent to kill, and therefore should be found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. The judge instructed the jury to consider the provocation and excessive self‑defence defences in light of the evidence presented.
2017-10-18 · Louth
In a double‑murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 34‑year‑old Dublin man, Jason O'Driscoll, was charged with the 2012 killings of Anthony Burnett and Joseph Redmond, two Co. Louth criminals who were shot dead in a stolen Volkswagen Golf. O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty. Prosecutor Alexander Owens SC presented a circumstantial case, arguing that O'Driscoll was present at the scene and therefore a participant in the murders, without needing to prove he fired the fatal shots. Owens described the victims as "full‑time criminals" involved in car theft, noting they had stolen the Golf from a Sandymount home and later drove it north to a layby at Ravensdale Park, where they were shot in the head and the car was set on fire. The jury, composed of eight men and four women, was instructed to consider whether O'Driscoll's presence alone made him guilty.
2017-10-18 · Waterford
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution argued that Juraci Da Silva, 36, had taken the law into his own hands after being assaulted twice by James Banville and Conor Hogan. The prosecution presented CCTV footage and witness testimony showing Da Silva running to New Street with a knife after the attackers left, where he inflicted a fatal chest wound on Banville. They highlighted that Da Silva had previously been stabbed by Hogan and that the knife used had traces of Hogan's blood. The prosecution maintained that self‑defence was not applicable because Da Silva could have left the scene, and that any provocation would not justify murder. They urged the jury to find him guilty of murder, noting his anger and desire for revenge. The defence was scheduled to speak the following day. Juraci Da Silva pleaded not guilty.
2017-10-17 · Cork
Jerry O'Keefe, 69, of Oakhill, Youghal, Cork, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to three charges of rape, five of indecent assault and one of sexual assault. The nine sample charges represent a subset of 78 offences covering January 1980 to March 1987. The rape and indecent assault charges involved his eldest daughter, who was aged eight when the abuse began and twelve when it ended in 1985. The elder daughter was repeatedly asked to sit on O'Keefe's lap, sexually assaulted in the sitting room, then taken to his bedroom where he removed his clothes and raped her. The remaining charges concerned the younger daughter, abused at the family's new home on Catherine's Street. O'Keefe would enter her bedroom late at night after returning from the pub, climb into bed beside her and molest her.
2017-10-17 · Waterford
Juraci Da Silva, 36, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the death of James Banville, 28, who was stabbed in the heart on New Street in Waterford on October 8, 2016. Da Silva has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the State has not accepted. He also pleads not guilty to assaulting Conor Hogan and producing a knife. The trial heard that Banville had eight previous convictions, including a four-month jail sentence in March 2009 at New Ross District Court for threatening to kill under section 5 of the Non-fatal Offences Against the Person Act. Other convictions included assault, carrying an offensive weapon, and criminal damage. Defence counsel noted that Banville and Hogan allegedly assaulted and racially abused Da Silva before the incident. Detective Garda Darren Colfer testified that Da Silva was interviewed on October 9, 2016, where he denied stabbing anyone despite witness identification. The prosecution has finished calling evidence. Mr Justice Michael White is currently dealing with matters in the jury's absence and has asked them to return tomorrow morning. The matter is therefore adjourned.
2017-10-17 · Dublin
Jason O'Driscoll, a 34‑year‑old Dublin resident, appeared at the Central Criminal Court on 17 October 2017 charged with the double murder of Anthony Burnett and Joseph Redmond in County Louth on 7 March 2012. He declared his innocence and pleaded not guilty to both charges. The prosecution, represented by Alexander Owens SC, noted that O'Driscoll was originally from Fairview and had lived in Newry, while the victims were from Ballybough, Dublin. A jury of eight men and four women was sworn in for a trial set to begin the following day and last three to four weeks.
2017-10-17 · Galway
In October 2017, a court was asked to make no order against Kieran Lynch, a 50‑year‑old Limerick man who had previously killed his partner, Catherine McEnery, aged 36. Lynch had been sentenced to life in prison in March 2007 after a Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of murder. He successfully appealed the conviction in 2013, arguing issues with the trial judge's charge to the jury on provocation and the introduction of fresh evidence. The Court of Criminal Appeal quashed the conviction, and Lynch was re‑arraigned in May 2016, pleading not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. He was sentenced to 12 years, with the last four years suspended for two years post‑release. In July 2016, Lynch entered a bond to be of good behaviour for two years and comply with probation directions.
2017-10-13 · Mayo
A teenager who pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of a fellow 17-year-old in Claremorris, County Mayo, will be sentenced next month at the Central Criminal Court. The accused, now 17, was convicted by jury in July following a trial at the court sitting in Castlebar. He cannot be named due to his age. The deceased, Dovydas Jenkas of Mount Street, Claremorris, died from a single stab wound in the early hours of 19 December 2015. Evidence presented during sentencing indicated both families had relocated from Lithuania to Claremorris and the boys knew each other through their secondary school and playing basketball together. The court heard the fatal stabbing occurred in a garden during an altercation that began when the accused discovered the deceased in his mother's bedroom with his younger sister. Justice Eileen Creedon adjourned sentencing. Medical evidence is scheduled for hearing on 7 November, with sentencing expected on 14 November.
2017-10-13 · Waterford
In a Waterford murder case, Brazilian man Juraci Da Silva, aged 36, admitted stabbing 28‑year‑old James Banville to death on 8 October 2016. He denies owning or carrying a knife, claiming he had never carried knives and was drunk. Da Silva pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea rejected by the State, and is now on trial at the Central Criminal Court. He also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Conor Hogan, who sustained a wound under his arm, and to producing a knife on the same night. Garda Kevin Nolan recounted interviewing Da Silva on 8 and 9 October, noting that both Banville and Hogan had previously assaulted him. Da Silva said he followed the men after a second assault but did not see them again, and that he had no knife. The trial continues before Justice Michael Kelly with a jury of twelve.
2017-10-13 · Westmeath
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 13 October 2017, Danny Keena, a 55‑year‑old farmer from Empor, Ballynacargy, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his partner, Brigid Maguire, who was 43 and the mother of their two teenage children. Keena had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, claiming provocation after Maguire accused him of being a bad father to their 12‑year‑old son. A jury convicted him of murder on 14 November 2015, the day of the killing. During the sentencing, Jade Maguire, Maguire's daughter, delivered a victim impact statement describing the loss, anger, and grief endured by the family. Judge Patrick McCarthy imposed a mandatory life sentence, back‑dated to 17 November 2015, when Keena entered custody. Keena remained emotionless as he was escorted to prison. Jade Maguire thanked the Gardaí and urged domestic‑abuse victims to seek help promptly.
2017-10-12 · Waterford
Juraci Da Silva, 36, is on trial for murder of 28‑year‑old James Banville, who died after a stabbing on 8 October 2016. Da Silva pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, and also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Conor Hogan and to producing a knife on the same day and place. He was interviewed by Garda Kevin Nolan at Waterford Garda Station on the day of the fatal assault. Da Silva, who was intoxicated when first arrested, said he could not remember the events. He claimed he was attacked by two men, that he did not assault anyone, and that he had no knife. CCTV footage showed him walking after the attackers, but he denied retaliation. The trial is at the Central Criminal Court, with the jury to hear further evidence before 20 October.
2017-10-12 · Wicklow
Marta Herda, a 30‑year‑old Polish waitress, was convicted of murder after she drove a Volkswagen Passat into the harbour at Arklow on 26 March 2013, causing the drowning of 31‑year‑old Hungarian passenger Csaba Orsos. The Central Criminal Court found her guilty and imposed a mandatory life sentence on 28 July 2016. Herda had pleaded not guilty, arguing that the drive into the water was accidental and that she had no intent to kill. She appealed on 17 grounds, including recklessness, the nature of the driving, assault manslaughter, alleged confessions and the judge's charge to the jury. The Court of Appeal dismissed all grounds, ruling that the trial judge's instructions were clear and that the evidence supported a finding of murder. Herda was described as a Polish national who had lived in Ireland since age 19 and had a limited command of English.
2017-10-11 · Kilkenny
In the Central Criminal Court, Daniel O'Connell, 33, pleaded not guilty to an attempted murder charge after stabbing his pregnant sister, Olivia O'Connell, in Dublin on 25 April 2016. O'Connell, an autistic man from Kilkenny, admitted to planning the attack and having intended to kill himself 12 days later. The prosecution presented evidence of his computer searches for terms such as 'murder suicide' and 'not guilty by reason of insanity' and testimony from Garda Niall Russell. Defence counsel Vincent Heneghan SC called Dr Paul O'Connell, a consultant psychiatrist, who argued that O'Connell's autism constituted a mental disorder under the Insanity Act and that his impaired judgment negated intent. Dr Anthony Kearns, also a forensic psychiatrist, concurred that the special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity was appropriate. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a jury of twelve. Daniel O'Connell was acquitted.
2017-10-11 · Dublin
Daniel O'Connell, 33, an autistic man, is charged with attempting to murder his pregnant sister, Olivia O'Connell. He pleaded not guilty and the jury may find him 'not guilty by reason of insanity'. O'Connell admitted during Garda interviews that he stabbed Olivia on 25 April 2016 in her Dublin home, claiming he wanted her to avoid raising her child in Dublin. Garda Niall Russell informed the Central Criminal Court that O'Connell's computer was searched during the investigation. Russell reported 17 searches for 'murder suicide' between January and 13 April 2016, a February 29 search for a case where a man was found not guilty by reason of insanity, 12 searches for general killings between 9 January and April, and searches for 'jugular vein' and 'wrist' three days before the incident. The prosecution has closed its case; the defence has called a consultant psychiatrist. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a jury of six men and six women.
2017-10-11 · Waterford
During a murder trial, Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis revealed that James Banville, who was stabbed to death on 8 October 2016 in Waterford, had alcohol, cocaine, methadone and valium in his system. He died from a single stab wound to the heart and was otherwise healthy. Juraci Da Silva, aged 36 and resident of Park Lane Apartments, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of Banville, a plea not accepted by the State, and is on trial at the Central Criminal Court. Da Silva also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Conor Hogan and to producing a knife on the same date and place. Dr Curtis explained that cocaine is a strong stimulant that can lead to erratic or violent behaviour, and that combining it with alcohol can enhance the effect. He noted that methadone is often prescribed to people who are addicted to opioids such as heroin.
2017-10-10 · Kilkenny
Daniel O'Connell, 33, is standing trial at the Central Criminal Court, where he has pleaded not guilty to the alleged attempted murder of his sister, Olivia O'Connell. Prosecutors allege that on April 25, 2016, O'Connell stabbed Ms. O'Connell, who was 26 and a half weeks pregnant and suffering from chemotherapy effects, three to four times in the back at her home in Knocklyon, Dublin. The prosecution contends the attack was premeditated, driven by O'Connell's alleged pathological dislike of Dublin and his desire to prevent her from raising a child there. Evidence presented includes O'Connell's admission to Gardaí that he intended to kill her, describing the incident as a "failed murder suicide." He allegedly carried a hammer and duct tape to subdue her and was found wearing latex gloves to hide fingerprints. Ms. O'Connell escaped to a neighbor's house, where she was treated for her injuries; the child was later born healthy. The jury has been informed that not guilty by reason of insanity is an available verdict, with expert psychiatric evidence expected from both sides. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Paul Butler.
2017-10-10 · Ireland
An 83‑year‑old convicted paedophile, whose name is withheld to protect the victim, appealed his 2016 conviction for raping an 11‑year‑old niece in County Clare in August 1971. He had been found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury and sentenced to seven years imprisonment by Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan. The appeal argued that the trial judge's refusal to adjourn after the prosecution's case closed caused prejudice due to the delay, as the alleged victim's then‑girlfriend—who had been a key witness—had died in 2008. Mr Delaney SC contended that her absence prevented the defence from challenging the prosecution's narrative and that the judge's instructions to the jury were flawed. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions countered that the deceased witness had left no means of communication and that the evidence did not support a claim of unfairness. The court has reserved judgment.
2017-10-10 · Waterford
During a murder trial, witness Georgina Roche testified that blood poured from the deceased 28‑year‑old James Banville "like water from a hose" after he was stabbed. Roche had tried to keep Banville awake, but he did not respond and his eyes rolled back. The accused, Juraci Da Silva, 36, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, and also pleaded not guilty to assault and to producing a knife. The trial is at the Central Criminal Court. Witness Keith Wall described a fight involving a black man in a red jacket and two Irish men, noting aggressive behaviour and racial slurs. Dr John Power examined Da Silva the day after the stabbing, noting dizziness and bruising but no significant head injury, and passed him as fit for interview. The jury will hear further evidence tomorrow before Justice Michael White.
2017-10-09 · Dublin
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, Egyptian national Mohamed Okda, aged 30, was found guilty of raping a woman he met in February 2014 after she became lost and upset during a night out in Dublin. The woman, a married mother, had been visiting Dublin with two female friends, became drunk and tired, and lost contact with them. Okda approached her, offered help, and after she returned to his flat, he raped her. The jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault after a seven‑day trial. Okda's defence, led by Ciaran O'Loughlin SC, requested an adjournment of the sentencing hearing to obtain a psychological report, citing concerns that two other men were present in the flat and had not been interviewed by Gardaí. The judge agreed to adjourn the sentencing to 23 October, and the victim was not present at the hearing. Mohamed Okda pleaded not guilty.
2017-10-09 · Westmeath
Danny Keena, a 55‑year‑old farmer from Empor, Ballynacargy, was found guilty of murder by a jury at the Central Criminal Court after he strangled his former partner, 43‑year‑old Brigid Maguire, on 14 November 2015. Maguire and their two children had left Keena in September 2015. Keena pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, claiming provocation after Maguire accused him of being a bad father. The court heard that Keena had previously strangled Maguire to the point of dizziness, but the jury did not hear the witness statement that described a prior strangulation that stopped her breathing. The jury returned a verdict of guilty of murder, 11 to 1, after 4 hours and 55 minutes of deliberation. Keena will receive a mandatory life sentence, with remand pending sentencing.
2017-10-09 · Waterford
During the trial of Juraci Da Silva, a 36‑year‑old Brazilian resident of Park Lane Apartments, a witness named Melanie Byrne testified that on the night of 8 October 2016, Da Silva was racially abused and assaulted by two Irish men, Conor Hogan and James Banville, who were also the alleged perpetrators of the murder of 28‑year‑old James Banville on New Street. Byrne described seeing the men shout racial slurs, punch Da Silva for no reason, and later threaten him with the words "Go back to your own country." She also recalled seeing the men earlier that evening in Sinnott's nightclub, appearing aggressive and "on something," and later witnessing them taking drugs in an alley before the assault. Additional witnesses, including Emily Keogh, Susan Foley, Emma Balfe, and Evan Russell, corroborated that Da Silva was attacked by the two Irish men, who were later identified as the murder suspects. Juraci Da Silva pleaded not guilty.
2017-10-09 · Dublin
A 33‑year‑old man from Kilkenny, Daniel O'Connell, was arraigned in the Central Criminal Court on 9 October 2017 for attempting to murder his sister, Olivia O'Connell, in Dublin on 25 April 2016. He pleaded not guilty. Justice Patrick McCarthy swore a jury of six men and six women, and the trial was scheduled to start the following day and last two days.
2017-10-06 · Waterford
During a murder trial, witness Conor Hogan denied that he and the deceased, 28‑year‑old James Banville, provoked the fatal knife attack on a Waterford street. Hogan, from Taghmon, said the accused, 36‑year‑old Brazilian meat‑factory worker Juraci Da Silva, "started it" when he approached them in an alley and wouldn't leave. He also said he could not remember racially abusing Da Silva or calling him a "pervert" or "paedophile." Da Silva has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, and is also charged with assaulting Hogan and producing a knife. Hogan testified that he and Banville had not provoked Da Silva, and that the first two assaults occurred when Da Silva approached them. The trial continues before Justice Michael White and a jury.
2017-10-05 · Westmeath
Danny Keena, 55, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of 43‑year‑old Brigid Maguire, who was strangled on November 14, 2015, at her home on Main Street, Ballynacargy. During his closing speech in the Central Criminal Court, Keena, through his barrister, requested a verdict of manslaughter on the grounds of provocation, citing Maguire's remark that he was a bad father. Prosecutor Remy Farrell argued that the case did not meet the provocation defence, noting Keena's prior threats to kill his partner and his description of the strangulation method. Defence counsel Colm Smyth highlighted the couple's separation, Keena's financial support for the family, and Maguire's hostile communication, arguing that these circumstances triggered Keena's reaction. The court heard both sides' closing arguments before the jury considered the verdict.
2017-10-05 · Waterford
Conor Hogan, aged 28, denies that he racially abused the Brazilian accused, Juraci Da Silva, during a 2016 assault in Waterford. Hogan admitted to assaulting Da Silva twice, but denied a third assault and said he could not recall telling Da Silva to "go back to your own country." Da Silva, 36, is on trial for murder and has pleaded not guilty to that charge but guilty to the manslaughter of James Banville, 28, who was stabbed by Da Silva. Da Silva also faces charges of assaulting Hogan and producing a knife. During cross‑examination, Hogan explained that he and Banville attacked Da Silva because he would not leave them alone, and that the colour of his skin was irrelevant. The trial is before Justice Michael White with a jury of twelve.
2017-10-05 · Westmeath
During the Central Criminal Court trial of Danny Keena, the teenage son of the accused, who is not named because of his age, gave emotional testimony about his father's behaviour towards his mother, Brigid Maguire. He described how Keena had threatened to kill her, saying "I'd kill you," and had repeatedly harassed her, including an incident where he spilled milk on her hair. The son recalled being woken one night in sixth class when Keena held a hammer and threatened his mother, and that he and his sister tried to protect her but were prevented from leaving. He said that after the family moved out in September 2015, Keena continued to threaten her. The son's testimony was interrupted by a break when he became upset. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of seven men and five women.
2017-10-04 · Westmeath
Danny Keena, a 55‑year‑old farmer from Empor, Ballynacargy, Westmeath, is on trial for the murder of 43‑year‑old Brigid Maguire, the mother of his two children. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. During the trial, Keena demonstrated to Gardaí how he strangled Maguire after a dispute at her new home. He described following her to her bedroom, arguing, and then choking her for a few minutes until she fell and her tongue turned blue. He claimed he did not intend to kill her, stating he panicked when she was dying. Keena also admitted having attempted suicide twice and that he had threatened to kill himself. The court heard a post‑mortem report indicating extensive neck injury and asphyxiation as the cause of death. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury.
2017-10-04 · Waterford
During a murder trial, Conor Hogan, aged 28, recounted the events that led to the fatal stabbing of his friend James Banville on 8 October 2016. Hogan said he and Banville had celebrated Banville's first week in a new job, drinking in a few pubs in Waterford City. They were assaulted twice by Brazilian national Juraci Da Silva, 36, who later pursued them. Hogan and Banville attempted to hit Da Silva in an alley on Cross Lane, but Da Silva returned to the car on New Street and stabbed both men. Banville died from his injuries; Hogan required about ten stitches. Da Silva pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Banville, a plea not accepted by the State, and is on trial at the Central Criminal Court. He also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Hogan and to producing a knife. The trial continues tomorrow before Justice Michael Kelly and a jury of twelve.
2017-10-04 · Westmeath
In the Central Criminal Court, the niece of Danny Keena, charged with murdering Brigid Maguire, testified that he had threatened to run his car into her if they met on the road. She recalled a phone call six or seven weeks before Maguire's death, during which Keena said he was "sick of it all" and would kill himself after driving into her. The niece, who had a good relationship with Keena, said she did not believe he would hang himself. She also confirmed that she had not told the Gardaí about the call. The court heard that Maguire's post‑mortem revealed extensive neck injury and asphyxiation. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, continues with a jury of seven men and five women.
2017-10-03 · Westmeath
In the Central Criminal Court, Jade Maguire testified that her father, Danny Keena, had threatened to kill her mother, Brigid Maguire, with a hammer and later a poker before Brigid's strangulation on 14 November 2015. Jade and her brother had left the Keena household weeks earlier, but Keena returned with a baseball bat and attempted to stop them from leaving. Jade described hearing her father shout that he would kill her mother and seeing marks on Brigid's neck. She found Brigid lying dead on the floor after entering the house. Keena, 54, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, is expected to last five days, with a jury of seven men and five women hearing the evidence.
2017-10-03 · Derry
Stephen Cahoon, aged 44, was found guilty of murdering his pregnant ex‑girlfriend Jean Teresa Quigley, aged 30, who was 10 weeks pregnant when strangled at Cornshell Fields in Derry on 26 July 2008. Cahoon denied the murder. He was first tried in the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, where a hung jury failed to reach a verdict. In April 2012 he was again found guilty, but the conviction was overturned because the judge's instruction on provocation was incorrect. A retrial in December 2015 resulted in a unanimous conviction. Cahoon now appeals the conviction, arguing that a witness's Section 16 statement was admitted without proper consideration of a threat from police officers and that the statement's reliability was compromised. The appeal is pending, and the court has reserved judgment. The case is notable for being the first murder in Northern Ireland tried in the Republic under the Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act 1976.
2017-10-03 · Westmeath
Danny Keena, 54, of Empor, Ballynacargy, Westmeath, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of his partner, 41‑year‑old Brigid Maguire, who was strangled in her home on 14 November 2015. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea rejected by the Director of Public Prosecutions. A jury of seven men and five women is hearing the case. Prosecutor Remy Farrell SC described the couple's long‑term partnership, their two teenage children, and the breakdown of their relationship by 2015. He noted that Maguire's daughter, Jade, found her mother lying on the floor and that the mother had been dead for some time, having been strangled. Farrell highlighted that Keena was absent at the time of the killing, had fled, slept rough, and later admitted the killing at a neighbour's house.
2017-10-03 · Waterford
In a Waterford murder trial, 36‑year‑old Juraci Da Silva pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of 28‑year‑old James Banville, who was stabbed to death on New Street at about 3.15 am on 8 October 2016. Da Silva also pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm to Conor Hogan and to a third count of producing a knife. The prosecution presented CCTV footage showing that Banville and Hogan had assaulted Da Silva twice over a 20‑minute period, then left him. Da Silva, after changing clothes, followed them, produced a long knife and inflicted the fatal injury. The jury was told that the acts did not constitute self‑defence and that intent to kill or cause serious injury was required for murder. The trial continued before Justice Michael Kelly and a 12‑person jury.
2017-10-02 · Ireland
A man from Mayo has pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to twenty counts of child sexual abuse against a boy over a twelve-year period between 1997 and 2008, as well as eleven counts of rape against his own daughter between 2007 and 2009. The victim impact statements revealed the profound harm caused, with both complainants describing lasting psychological damage, including depression, self-harm, and suicidal ideation. The male victim, now aged 31, detailed how the accused groomed him from age ten, exploiting his vulnerable family circumstances. His daughter was first assaulted at fourteen and subjected to repeated attacks characterised as routine abuse. The accused initially denied the allegations but subsequently admitted culpability to gardaí. Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned sentencing to December pending a medical report, noting that the guilty pleas had spared the victims a trial while acknowledging that the offences had fundamentally altered their life trajectories.
2017-10-02 · Waterford
In Waterford City, a jury was sworn in to hear the trial of Juraci Da Silva, a 36‑year‑old Brazilian, accused of murder and assault causing harm. Da Silva was alleged to have murdered 28‑year‑old James Banville on 8 October 2016 at New Street. He pleaded not guilty to the murder charge but guilty to manslaughter, a plea rejected by the State. He also pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm against Conor Hogan and to a third count of producing a knife. All charges stem from the same incident.
2017-10-02 · Kilkenny
A Kilkenny man, whose identity is protected to preserve the anonymity of his now 33-year-old cousin, must await the outcome of an appeal against his conviction for rape and sexual assault of the then 14-year-old. The 49-year-old appellant pleaded not guilty to 35 counts, with the trial judge directing not guilty verdicts on the balance. He was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of 15 counts of rape and oral rape and one charge of sexual assault. On February 8, 2016, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment, with the final year suspended. The appeal, heard by Mr Justice George Birmingham, Mr Justice Alan Mahon, and Mr Justice John Hedigan, was based on alleged new material regarding the timing of the parties' move to a specific property. Defence counsel argued that fresh records indicated the move occurred in mid-1999, after the complainant turned 15, potentially rendering the alleged pre-1999 offences impossible. The prosecution contended the records were unreliable and raised more questions than answers. The court reserved its judgment, meaning the matter was adjourned and not concluded.
2017-08-02 · Limerick
A Limerick biker, Alan 'Cookie McNamara, 51, from Mountfune, Murroe, Co Limerick, was found guilty of the murder of Andrew 'AOD' O'Donoghue at the gates of the Road Tramps motorcycle club at Mountfune on June 20, 2015, by a jury in the Central Criminal Court. The case was heard at the sentence procedural stage. McNamara had pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder. The jury returned a unanimous verdict of guilty. The matter was adjourned, and McNamara was remanded in custody for sentencing on October 27th. Robert Cusack, 28, of Abington, Murroe, Co Limerick, had pleaded not guilty to impeding McNamara's apprehension but later changed his plea to guilty. Alan McNamara had also pleaded not guilty to the charge of impeding McNamara's apprehension. No findings or sentences were recorded for Robert Cusack or Alan McNamara. The case was not finalised, and no suspended portions, effective custody, conditions, or adjournments were specified for the other named case subjects.
2017-07-31 · Limerick
Kieran Lynch, 50, had his 2007 murder conviction quashed after a successful appeal and was later convicted of manslaughter for the death of his partner, Catherine McEnery, in 2005. In July 2016, the Central Criminal Court sentenced him to 12 years' imprisonment, with the last four years suspended for two years post‑release. He was required to remain in good behaviour for two years and attend probation appointments. The court heard that Lynch has not complied with these conditions, failing to attend four probation appointments and not residing at the address specified. On an application by the prosecution, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy set a hearing for 9 October and ordered that Lynch be served notice of that date. The case remains at the suspended‑sentence compliance stage. Kieran Lynch pleaded not guilty.
2017-07-31 · Dublin
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 49‑year‑old Dublin man was convicted of raping his 14‑year‑old niece twice between 1 January 2012 and 1 April 2013 while she lived with him. The victim, now 19, testified that the assaults occurred in her bedroom after she had fallen asleep, describing the uncle's force and the fear he instilled. She reported feeling "dirt, shame and disgust" and later suffered severe depression, self‑harm and suicidal thoughts. The defendant denied the allegations, claiming the niece had lost her virginity to a boyfriend and that he was not drunk when the incidents occurred. He has 37 prior convictions for road traffic offences. Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced him to nine years, with the final year suspended, for two "nasty, violent rapes" that breached the trust of a vulnerable child. The defendant's wife and children supported him, and he has applied for legal aid to appeal.
2017-07-29 · Kildare
A 28‑year‑old Kildare man was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for sexually assaulting his half‑sister between November 2008 and December 2010. He pleaded guilty on the third day of his trial after the 19‑year‑old victim gave evidence. The court heard that the abuse involved touching her private parts, breasts and inserting a finger into her vagina. The victim, aged 11‑13 at the time, had reported the abuse to Gardaí in July 2014 and the man was arrested in October 2014. He had previously admitted the abuse to the police and had minor convictions for theft and public order offences. The judge noted the victim's vulnerable situation and the man's remorse, ordering full medical and educational assistance while in custody. The case highlighted a dysfunctional family background and the victim's ongoing emotional distress.