A 21-year-old man from Sligo has been sentenced to two years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, following his conviction for assault at the Central Criminal Court. The man was acquitted of rape but found guilty of assault causing harm related to an incident at a house party in Sligo on 26 June 2014. He pleaded not guilty to both charges. The court heard evidence that the victim was bitten during the assault. In sentencing, Mr Justice Paul Butler noted the victim's impact statement describing significant psychological harm. The judge acknowledged the man's explanation that he was heavily intoxicated and observed he has abstained from alcohol since the incident, though he carries seven previous convictions including violent disorder and public order offences. The suspended portion of the sentence is conditional on specified undertakings.
David Sweeney, son of the 62‑year‑old victim, gave a victim impact statement at the Central Criminal Court during the sentencing hearing of Gary Walsh, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Sweeney described his father as an alcoholic but the only father he and his siblings had, and said the killing had affected every aspect of their lives, including marriages, careers and social relationships. He recounted how his father was beaten to death by Walsh, a man half his age, and how the event left him haunted by thoughts of his father drowning in his own blood. Sweeney also spoke of the emotional impact on his family, noting that the death has made it difficult for them to mourn and to explain the circumstances to their grandchildren. The court adjourned sentencing until the following Monday and remanded Walsh in custody. The unnamed 62-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Tadhg Butler, 36, of Seafield, Tramore, was convicted of murdering Michael O'Dwyer, 25, at his home on 10 January 2014. During the trial he dismissed his legal team on day six and chose to represent himself, recalling his nephew, Anthony O'Grady, as a witness. Butler presented a new version of events, claiming he had accidentally stabbed O'Dwyer while removing a knife from O'Grady, a claim denied by O'Grady. The jury found Butler guilty after 2 h 26 min of deliberation and he received a mandatory life sentence on 15 May 2015. On appeal, the Court of Appeal held that the trial judge should have advised Butler that his new version could not be considered by the jury without sworn evidence. Consequently, the Court quashed Butler's conviction, with the possibility of a retrial to be considered later. Tadhg Butler pleaded not guilty.
In a case that set a legal precedent, Richard Dekker, aged 30, was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court in March of murdering 17‑year‑old Daniel McAnaspie in February 2010. The body of McAnaspie, who had been under HSE care, was discovered by a farmer in a seven‑foot ditch in Rathfeigh, County Meath, 30 km from the murder site. Dekker's conviction followed a week‑long trial and more than eight hours of jury deliberation. The verdict was unanimous, and the court remanded Dekker in custody pending a sentencing hearing on 3 April. The case is notable because it is the first time the Criminal Justice Procedure Act 2010 was used to retry a person after an earlier acquittal. Dekker's lawyers applied for, and were granted, an extension of time to appeal the conviction, which had been lodged three weeks late, by Justice George Birmingham during case‑management procedures in the Court of Appeal.
Seán Ducque, who had no fixed abode, was found guilty of murdering 33‑year‑old Kieran Farrelly on 26 October 2014. The court heard that Farrelly was shot twice with a shotgun – first in the chest, then in the head – after a confrontation in Killarney Court, Dublin. Witnesses reported two bangs and shouting at about 11.30 p.m.; a female voice warned "Seán, don't do it." Emergency services discovered Farrelly's body with two gunshot wounds. A sawn‑off, double‑barrelled shotgun and discharged cartridges were recovered from a nearby lane. Ducque denied intent to kill, claiming he was trying to sell a stolen phone, but the jury found him guilty of murder. He will be sentenced to life imprisonment next month. The trial also noted Ducque's prior robberies and his heroin addiction at the time of the offence. The judge remanded him in custody for sentencing. Seán Ducque pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin murder trial, the jury was supplied with the shotgun used by the defendant, Seán Ducque, to kill 33‑year‑old Kieran Farrelly in 2014. Ducque, who has no fixed abode, pleaded not guilty but admitted firing two shots that killed Farrelly. The jurors requested the weapon during deliberations and received it before resuming at lunchtime. Prosecutor Dominic McGinn noted the Gardaí had asked for the firearm to be returned to avoid it being left unattended, a request the judge accepted.
A Central Criminal Court jury found a 55‑year‑old man, Aivars Sondors, not guilty of three counts of impeding a murder investigation. The case involved the killing of 44‑year‑old Audrius Butkus, who was allegedly murdered by Marius Gaizutis on 9 September 2013. Sondors was accused of moving the body from a house on Marsh Road, Drogheda, dumping it in the sea at Mornington Beach, cleaning the scene, and disposing of items at Burke House on Mathew's Lane. He admitted the allegations but pleaded not guilty, claiming duress. The jury deliberated for two hours and three minutes and returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty on all counts. The trial lasted six days, with evidence from witnesses, forensic experts, and Gardaí, and concluded with the judge thanking the jury and exempting them from service for six years. Audrius Butkus was convicted.
In a Dublin murder trial, the jury requested to see the shotgun used by Seán Ducque, who shot Kieran Farrelly, 33, in the head and chest on 26 October 2014 at Killarney Court. Ducque, a homeless drug addict, pleaded not guilty. Prosecutor Dominic McGinn SC argued that firing a shotgun at close range indicates intent to kill and that the alleged provocation—Farrelly's threat to "beat the head off" Ducque—was insufficient to cause a complete loss of control. He described Ducque's actions as deliberate: luring Farrelly to the court, retrieving the gun, shooting twice, and reloading within a metre of the victim's head. McGinn concluded that this case represented a clear instance of murder. Defence counsel Hugh O'Keeffe SC acknowledged the killing but highlighted the unusual nature of provocation and the client's intoxication.
A 51‑year‑old Limerick man, who called Gardaí to report that he had tried to kill his 66‑year‑old neighbour, will be sentenced next week for attacking and sexually assaulting her. He entered the woman's Cork home just after nine that evening, asking her to share wine. He then became violent, putting a cushion over her face, pulling down her pyjamas and sexually assaulting her. The woman was taken to hospital where bruises were found on her jaw, neck, knee, thigh, upper inner thigh near her genital area and a cut to her vagina. She gave evidence to the jury but the man pleaded guilty to sexual assault and not guilty to rape. He has four prior convictions for assault and theft. He was remanded in custody pending sentencing. The woman's life has been profoundly affected, and she now relies on medication and precautions to feel safe.
In a Dublin murder trial, 33‑year‑old Seán Ducque, who has no fixed abode, admitted firing a loaded shotgun twice at Kieran Farrelly on 26 October 2014, killing him. Ducque said he was severely intoxicated with heroin, vodka and zimovane and had lost control after Farrelly threatened to punch him. He claimed drug dealers had given him the shotgun and four cartridges to rob a taxi driver and repay a €3,000 debt. Ducque testified that he hid the gun and the taxi driver's phone and cash in bushes at Killarney Court, then returned with Farrelly and his partners to retrieve the items. He denied any pre‑planned intent to kill, stating he was under threat and that the second shot was fired after the first when Farrelly was on the ground. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a jury of twelve. The unnamed 33-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A 55‑year‑old Latvian‑born man, Aivars Sondors, is on trial in the Central Criminal Court for three counts of assisting an offender by impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Marius Gaizutis, who unlawfully killed Audrius Butkus. Sondors admitted the allegations but pleaded not guilty to all counts. He testified that he helped move Butkus's body from a house on Marsh Road, placed it in the sea at Mornington Beach, cleaned the scene, and disposed of items at Burke House. He said he was terrified of the killer and feared becoming the next victim. During his garda interviews he felt uneasy telling lies and later admitted he would have told the truth sooner or later. The jury will decide whether duress was present. The trial is scheduled to conclude with closing speeches before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and a jury of twelve.
The murder trial of Christopher McDonald, 34, from East Wall, Dublin, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. McDonald has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of 36-year-old Keith Walker on June 12, 2015, in the car park of the Blanchardstown Pigeon Racing Club on Shelerin Road, Clonsilla. State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that Walker, a healthy individual, died quickly after suffering 18 bullet wounds to the head and body. She concluded the cause of death was multiple gunshot injuries, noting the wounds were consistent with rapid fire. Detective Garda David O'Leary presented a 9mm Makarov sub-machine gun found in a laneway off Sheepmoor Grove, along with a handbag and wig. He testified that the firearm, which had been reactivated by a skilled person, fired the bullets that killed Walker. The jury also heard from Jason O'Connor, a friend of the deceased, who stated that Walker was preparing for a pigeon racing trip to Manchester when he was shot. The trial continues before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of twelve.
The Central Criminal Court heard that 33‑year‑old Seán Ducque, charged with murdering Kieran Farrelly, tried to urinate on his hands before forensic samples were taken for firearms residue. Garda Aaron Hoey testified that after the accused was detained the next day, bags were placed on his hands to preserve residue that could be removed by friction or washing. Hoey said Ducque removed the bags and attempted to wash the residue away, and that he was uncooperative, requiring restraint by four officers. Despite this, samples were obtained. Forensic scientist John O'Shaughnessy examined Ducque's jacket and found residue matching that from the shotgun cartridge recovered at the scene, supporting the view that Ducque discharged the shotgun. CCTV footage showed the accused, the victim and two women walking together at 11:30 pm, with the victim no longer present ten minutes later.
A 55‑year‑old Latvian‑born man, Aivars Sondors, pleaded not guilty to three counts of assisting an offender in the 2013 murder of Audrius Butkus, a 44‑year‑old victim. He testified that he had been coerced by the killer, Marius Gaizutis, to move the body from a house on Marsh Road in Drogheda to Mornington Beach, and to dispose of evidence such as carpet, clothing and other items at Burke House on Mathew's Lane. Sondors said he was terrified of Gaizutis, who had threatened him, and feared he would become the next victim if he refused. He admitted the allegations but argued duress. The trial, held in the Central Criminal Court, is hearing whether the accused acted under duress, with the jury to decide the outcome. The case remains pending, with further cross‑examination scheduled.
A 37‑year‑old Lithuanian man was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of 23 counts of raping and sexually assaulting his daughter between 2008 and 2011. The daughter, aged between seven and ten at the time, was interviewed by specialist Gardaí under the Criminal Evidence Act 1992. The man appealed, arguing that the interviews breached Good Practice Guidelines and that the evidence should be excluded. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal. Justice Alan Mahon upheld the conviction, noting that the specialist interviews were admitted after the judge had reviewed them and after the victim was thoroughly cross‑examined. The court found no fault with the trial judge's decision to admit the interview content, and all grounds of appeal were rejected. The conviction and 15‑year sentence per count remain in force.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Christopher McDonald (34) pleaded not guilty to the 2015 shooting of 36‑year‑old Keith Walker at the Blanchardstown Pigeon Racing Club. The State alleges that a man dressed in women's clothing, wearing makeup and a designer handbag, approached two teenage boys on the evening of 12 June 2015 and asked for directions to the club. The teens, who were unaware of the club's location, described the man as late 30s or 40s, about five feet ten inches tall, with a cut above his right eye and a pink‑striped outfit. Witnesses also reported the man's presence in the area roughly 90 minutes before the shooting. The trial, presided over by Justice Patrick McCarthy, continues with a jury of twelve.
In the trial of 33‑year‑old Seán Ducque, charged with the 2014 murder of Kieran Farrelly, former partner Laura Dempsey testified that she was in a relationship with Ducque at the time and that they had a child. She said she had been selling heroin with Farrelly's partner that evening and that they later met Ducque and Farrelly, walking toward Summerhill. Dempsey claimed she heard a shot immediately after Farrelly crossed railings and that Ducque fired twice, once in the chest or head. She said she shouted "stop" after the first shot and that Ducque handed her a bag containing a gun after the second. Dempsey described being crying, the gun being disposed of in a bin on Mabbot Lane, and the Gardaí arriving to arrest them. She also admitted to being a heroin addict and taking methadone, valium and alcohol that night, but insisted she was not heavily intoxicated. Seán Ducque pleaded guilty.
During the murder trial of 33‑year‑old Seán Ducque, a witness, Leon Fay, testified that he heard two bangs and two women shouting "Seán Don't" on the night of 26 October 2014. Fay, who lived across the street from Killarney Court, recalled hearing what he thought were fireworks, then hearing the women's distressing cries. He also heard a male voice say "I'll meet you around the back" before seeing the women run together. Fay went to the scene, saw a body lying on the ground, and called an ambulance. The body was that of Kieran Farrelly, who was found shot with a shotgun. The state pathologist confirmed two fatal shotgun injuries, one to the eye and one to the chest, and the prosecution argued that Ducque's use of a shotgun at close range constituted an intent to kill. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Butler, is expected to last two weeks. Seán Ducque pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Aivars Sondors, 55, continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey. Mr Sondors, of Sycamore Close, Termon Abbey, Drogheda, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of assisting an offender on September 9 or 10, 2013. He is alleged to have impeded the apprehension or prosecution of Marius Gaizutis, knowing or believing Gaizutis had unlawfully killed Audrius Butkus, 44. Particulars include moving Butkus's body from Marsh Road to Mornington Beach and cleaning the scene at Burke House. While Mr Sondors admitted the acts, his defense asserts duress. Gaizutis was previously convicted of Butkus's murder on May 1, 2015. Chief State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that Butkus died from blunt force trauma to the head, causing brain injury and inhalation of blood. She stated the injuries were consistent with being struck by the blunt end of a hand axe, with up to nine blows. The body was found face down in the sand, with drag marks on the back. Cassidy noted Butkus was considerably intoxicated and had no defensive injuries. The trial is ongoing, with the jury tasked with deciding the issue of duress.
A 33‑year‑old man, Seán Ducque, is on trial for the murder of Kieran Farrelly, who died in Dublin City in 2014. Ducque pleaded not guilty, but his barrister, Hugh O'Keeffe SC, admitted that Ducque fired two shotgun shots on 26 October 2014, shots that killed Farrelly. The prosecution, represented by Dominic McGinn SC, argued that the shots were fired from a sawn‑off, double‑barrelled shotgun found in a wheelie bin on Mabbot Lane. Farrelly's body was discovered on Killarney Street with two gunshot wounds – one to the chest and one to the left eye socket – and the State Pathologist confirmed death from these injuries. The court must decide whether Ducque intended to kill or seriously injure Farrelly, a key element for a murder conviction. The trial is scheduled to continue for two weeks before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a 12‑person jury.
A 68‑year‑old Dublin man pleaded guilty to sexually molesting his young niece and was convicted by a jury of two counts of raping that victim and of sexually assaulting her older sister. He was acquitted of two other rape counts. The court heard he began molesting the younger girl when she visited him in her First Communion dress and later raped her in a bedroom at her family home. He allegedly used alcohol and money to influence the parents, giving him opportunities to assault the children, and threatened them that they would be taken away if they reported the abuse. The older sister testified that the abuse changed her from "playing with dolls to planning her death," describing a cold, dark room and a sense of helplessness. The younger sister said the abuse stole her childhood. The defendant denied the rape charges but admitted molestation, describing it as harmless.
During the trial of Christopher McDonald, a 34‑year‑old from Dublin's East Wall, a witness named Jason O'Connor was restrained by prison officers after he lunged at McDonald in front of the jury. O'Connor had been called to give evidence and, after walking behind McDonald, attacked him. Four prison officers and a Garda intervened, and Justice Patrick McCarthy warned O'Connor that he had powers to deal with people who do not act in a "civilised manner." The jury was asked to leave for a few minutes; when they returned, the judge reminded them that they must decide the case based on the evidence and that McDonald enjoys a presumption of innocence. McCarthy described O'Connor's behaviour as "disgraceful" and insisted it should not affect the jury. The trial, which also involves a witness named Stuart Kane who described a shooting at the Blanchardstown Pigeon Racing Club, continues under Justice McCarthy's direction. Christopher McDonald pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Christopher McDonald, aged 34, is charged with the killing of 36‑year‑old Keith Walker at Blanchardstown Pigeon Racing Club on 12 June 2015. According to barrister Denis Vaughan Buckley, Walker left his home with his six‑year‑old son, travelled to Whitestown, met Jason O'Connor, and later drove to the club with pigeons in a car. At about 6 pm, a man dressed as a woman—wearing a long black‑haired wig, black leggings, dark sunglasses and a handbag—entered the car park, approached Walker, removed a sub‑machine gun from his handbag and fired 18 shots, fatally wounding Walker. CCTV footage will show the shooting and a subsequent image from a Lidl in Blanchardstown of a person without a wig but otherwise similarly dressed. A post‑mortem by Professor Marie Cassidy will confirm 18 gunshot wounds to Walker's head, body and left leg. Christopher McDonald pleaded not guilty.
In a 2017 sentencing hearing, the Central Criminal Court adjourned the case of 34‑year‑old Robert Maguire, who had pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and false imprisonment of his ex‑girlfriend on 14 January 2012. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Butler, received an anonymous letter urging that Maguire be "sent away for life" and was placed in a difficult position. He ordered a probation report after the defence requested a community service assessment, and the case was remanded for a further bail mention on 3 July. The victim, a 30‑year‑old woman, described severe trauma and the assault's lasting impact. Maguire's previous convictions included a 240‑hour community service sentence for theft. The court noted the defence's request for community service and the judge's need for a probation assessment before proceeding. The hearing ended with the case postponed for further consideration.
In a Dublin gaming convention, 28‑year‑old Keith Hearne tied up, raped and falsely imprisoned 25‑year‑old Dominique Meehan in a hotel meeting room. He bound her hands with a tie, used a prop knife to threaten her, and sexually assaulted her. Hearne pleaded guilty to two counts of rape, one count of oral rape and one count of false imprisonment. He was sentenced by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy to 12 years' imprisonment, with a five‑year post‑release supervision order. The judge noted Hearne's only mitigating factor was his guilty plea and that he was caught during the act, which reduced the mitigating factor. Hearne gave no reaction to the sentence. Meehan, who waived anonymity, said the sentence was a relief but still felt it was too light and that her life has changed dramatically since the assault.
A 55‑year‑old man, Aivars Sondors, stands trial in the Central Criminal Court for three counts of assisting an offender by impeding the investigation of a homicide. The alleged offence involved the murder of 44‑year‑old Audrius Butkus, who died from a violent and bloody assault before his body was dumped on Mornington Beach. Sondors is accused of moving the body from a house on Marsh Road, cleaning the basement, and disposing of carpet, clothing, a nail brush, a bin bag, bottles and tins at Burke House. He pleaded not guilty, and his defence argues that he acted under duress. The jury, sworn in on 19 June 2017, will decide whether duress applies to the alleged acts. The trial is scheduled to last seven days under Mr Justice Paul Coffey. Audrius Butkus was convicted. Aivars Sondors was convicted.
In the Central Criminal Court, Christopher McDonald, 34, of East Wall, Dublin, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 36‑year‑old Keith Walker, who was killed at a pigeon racing club on Shelerin Road, Clonsilla, on 12 June 2015. The judge, Justice Patrick McCarthy, instructed a jury of six men and six women that the trial would last two weeks, possibly extending into a third, and asked them to appoint a foreman before the trial opened on Tuesday.
A new jury of six men and six women was sworn in to hear the trial of 33‑year‑old Seán Ducque, who is charged with murdering Kieran Farrelly on 26 October 2014 at Killarney Street. Ducque, who has no fixed abode, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment. The trial, now in the legal argument stage, will open before the jury on Wednesday and is expected to last two weeks. Prosecutor Dominic McGinn SC also indicated that evidence may be presented regarding a taxi robbery and a separate incident involving Hugh Gildea.
A Central Criminal Court jury acquitted a 35‑year‑old Dublin man of rape after a trial that lasted just over four hours. The man had been charged with raping a university student on a first date after they met on Tinder and were driven to an unlit country road in the Dublin Mountains. He pleaded not guilty. The jury, composed of six men and six women, returned a not‑guilty verdict. The defendant expressed gratitude, while the complainant and a juror cried. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Butler, released the man from custody on this matter, noting he was in custody for other offences. The case ended with the defendant being escorted away by prison officers. No further legal actions were described in the article.
The jury in the trial of Darren Murphy, who admitted killing his girlfriend Olivia Dunlea, could not reach a verdict on whether he was guilty of murder or manslaughter. After 7 hours and 13 minutes of deliberation, the five women and seven men were unable to overcome their disagreement. Murphy, 40, of Dan Desmond Villas in Passage West, pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter, but the plea was rejected. He has been on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the past two‑and‑a‑half weeks. Justice Patrick McCarthy thanked the jury and remanded Murphy until 26 June, when a new trial date may be set. The trial heard that Murphy and Dunlea had been in a relationship for about four months. In interviews with gardai, Murphy admitted stabbing her during an argument, saying he "lost it" and "snapped" after she told him to leave because another man was calling over. Darren Murphy was convicted. Olivia Dunlea was convicted.
The jury in the trial of a 36‑year‑old Dublin man accused of raping a university student after meeting on Tinder will continue deliberations tomorrow. The defendant, charged with rape at Kilmashogue Lane, Rathfarnham, on 11 September 2014, pleaded not guilty. The complainant says they drove to an unlit country road and were raped in the car; the defendant claims consensual sex. The jury began deliberating at 2.50 pm on Wednesday, has deliberated for just over an hour, and will resume tomorrow morning before Mr Justice Paul Butler.
A man from County Mayo has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, following his conviction for rape at the Central Criminal Court. The 27-year-old pleaded guilty to raping a woman on 16 May 2015 in a Mayo town. The court heard that the man threw his victim across a laneway to avoid detection by a CCTV camera before sexually assaulting her. He threatened the woman with a blade and made threats of violence afterwards. The victim sustained facial bruising and whiplash injuries. She reported the incident to gardaí shortly after the attack. In her victim impact statement, the woman expressed her fear for her life during the assault. The defendant was ordered to have no contact with the victim and must remain at least 100 metres away from her.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has requested to view footage of Darren Murphy, 40, demonstrating to Gardaí how he stabbed his girlfriend, Olivia Dunlea, who lay face down on her bed. Murphy, who lives in Passage West, Co. Cork, pleaded not guilty to murder but had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter, admitting he stabbed Ms. Dunlea in the neck and set fire to her home. His plea was not accepted, and the jury is now considering a verdict. During Garda interviews, Murphy showed how the assault occurred; the interviews were recorded. After more than two hours of deliberation, the jury asked to see the footage again and requested Justice Patrick McCarthy repeat the definition of provocation. McCarthy explained that provocation must be a sudden, unforeseen onset of passion that deprives the accused of self‑control.
A 47-year-old woman from Ballybrack has been sentenced to five years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the manslaughter of her two-year-old son in October 2014. Hazel Waters pleaded guilty to killing Muhammad Hassan Khan between 15 and 16 October 2014. Justice Patrick McCarthy imposed the sentence, noting that Ms Waters's personality disorder diminished her responsibility for the killing, though he expressed concern about her limited engagement with mental health professionals regarding the circumstances. The judge indicated an appropriate sentence would have been eight to ten years but reduced it to seven years with two years suspended in light of her guilty plea. The sentence was backdated to October 2014 when Ms Waters entered custody. Evidence presented at sentencing indicated Ms Waters was suffering from acute psychotic symptoms at the time. A post-mortem examination found the child died from scissor wounds to the neck. Following her release, Ms Waters must comply with a four-year bond requiring continued medical treatment and residence as determined by probation services.
A jury has begun deliberating a case in which a 36‑year‑old Dublin man is accused of raping a university student on their first date after meeting on Tinder. The alleged rape took place in the defendant's car after a drive up the Dublin Mountains on 11 September 2014. The defendant pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. Judge Paul Butler told the jury that the evidence is largely uncorroborated and that conviction would rely on the complainant's word alone, urging caution. He noted that the complainant's distressed state could be explained by other factors. The jury started deliberations at 2.50 pm and will resume tomorrow. The defence argued that the complainant's subsequent Tinder activity and the deletion of texts undermined her credibility, and that her visit to a GP rather than a Sexual Assault Treatment Unit suggested a different motive. The judge emphasised that any conviction must be based on the strongest evidence available.
A 67‑year‑old Carlow man was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment for sexually abusing four nephews aged between six and 16 between 1983 and 1996. He was convicted of oral rape, indecent assault and sexual assault of the eldest nephew, and pleaded guilty to seven indecent assaults on a second nephew, five indecent assaults and six sexual assaults on a third nephew, and one sexual assault on a fourth nephew. The trial, held in the Central Criminal Court, found no prior convictions. Justice Isobel Kennedy noted the defendant's lack of remorse regarding the eldest victim and imposed a two‑year post‑release supervision order. The sentence reflects the severity of the repeated abuse, which the victims described as having devastating, lifelong impacts. The defendant's residence near the nephews' grandparents' home was mentioned by Gardaí as a factor in the case.
A jury will begin deliberations tomorrow on the case of Darren Murphy, 40, who has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of Olivia Dunlea. The trial is at the Central Criminal Court. Justice Patrick McCarthy instructed the jury to consider Murphy's state of mind and whether he was provoked by Ms Dunlea's actions, which could lead to a manslaughter verdict if the prosecution fails to prove lack of provocation. The jury will return tomorrow to consider a verdict.
Brendan Smith, 39, of Greenane, Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, pleaded guilty to running a price‑fixing scam that targeted large multinationals such as Google and PayPal. He was fined €7,500 and received a three‑month prison sentence suspended for two years for attempting to impede a prosecution. Smith had entered a bond for good behaviour, with a breach allowing him to serve the suspended term. The company he worked for, Aston Carpets, was fined €10,000. The scam involved an anti‑competitive agreement between July 2012 and April 2013, where Aston Carpets, Flooring and Carpet Centre (Contracts) Ltd tendered higher prices to secure contracts. The scheme was exposed by David Radburn, who revealed the agreement to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. Smith's sentence considered his monthly income of €9,422 and property interests in Dublin and Co Meath.
Keith Murphy, aged 41, was sentenced by the Central Criminal Court to 12 years for 64 counts of rape, with the final two years suspended. He also received seven‑year sentences for 26 counts of sexual assault and two attempted rapes, all running concurrently from his conviction date. The offences occurred between May 2008 and November 2015, mainly in the family home when the victim, now 18, was aged nine to fifteen. Murphy denied all charges. The victim, who waived anonymity, described the abuse as devastating, affecting every part of her life and leaving her nervous around men. The court noted the abuse spanned seven years, making him a repeat offender. The judge imposed the sentences accordingly, with the suspended portion reducing the custodial term to ten years. The case was prosecuted by Marjorie Farrelly SC.
In a Central Criminal Court case, a 36‑year‑old Dublin man is accused of raping a university student he met on Tinder. The prosecution, led by Alex Owens SC, argued that the victim's decision to use Tinder and to get into a car with an unknown man was irrelevant to the alleged crime, emphasizing that the law protects those who take risks from predators. Owens highlighted alleged "nasty streak" behaviour and suggested the accused could act badly if crossed. The defence, represented by Michael Bowman SC, countered that Owens' remarks implied prejudice, likening the accused to a "controlling" predator and suggesting the victim's attire justified the alleged assault. Garda evidence showed the accused claimed consensual sex, citing a series of texts and sexting, and alleged the victim's complaints stemmed from a disagreement over condom use. The case remains pending jury deliberation. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
During a murder trial, prosecution barrister Thomas Creed SC argued that Darren Murphy, 40, stabbed his girlfriend Olivia Dunlea to death because he did not want anyone else to have her. Creed said Murphy had been cheated on once before and was determined not to be cheated on again, leading him to kill Dunlea on 17 February 2013. Murphy denies the murder charge but pleaded guilty to manslaughter, a plea that was not accepted. Creed described the events: after a night of drinking, a dispute over a taxi driver led Murphy to stab Dunlea, who died from a knife wound that penetrated her spinal canal and five other stab wounds to the neck. Murphy then set her house on fire, drove her car to the inn, threw her keys into a river, and returned to the burning house pretending ignorance.
In a Central Criminal Court case, a 28‑year‑old Westmeath man was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, for false imprisonment of his former partner. The conviction followed a November 2015 trial where the jury found him guilty of false imprisonment after he forcibly removed the woman from her sister's house and held her against her will. He had also admitted assaulting her on three occasions while she was pregnant between 2011 and 2015. The court noted the woman's victim impact statement, describing physical and mental torture, a post‑traumatic stress diagnosis, and the loss of custody of their children. The judge imposed strict conditions, including no contact with the woman unless through an authorised third party, and acknowledged the man's guilty pleas and rehabilitation efforts. The case highlighted the violent nature of the relationship and the woman's ongoing recovery process. The unnamed 28-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A 27-year-old man from County Mayo pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to raping a woman on 16 May 2015 in a Mayo town. The court heard that the man threw his victim across a laneway to prevent a CCTV camera from capturing the assault. He forced the woman down steps in an aggressive manner before threatening her with a blade and compelling her to engage in sexual acts. Following the incident, he threatened to kill her if she reported the matter. The victim sustained bruising, whiplash injuries, and a bite mark to her lip. She subsequently reported the rape to gardaí. In her victim impact statement, the woman described her fear during the incident and said she would never forgive or forget what occurred. The defence noted the man's early guilty plea and admissions to gardaí. Mr Justice Paul Butler adjourned sentencing to 1 June.
A 36‑year‑old Louth man accused of raping a university student he met on Tinder was heard in the Central Criminal Court on 11 September 2014. He pleaded not guilty and told Gardaí that the sex was "fully consensual". The prosecution alleged he raped the woman in his car after a drive up the Dublin Mountains following a McDonald's visit. The alleged victim was tested for STIs and given the morning‑after pill the next day; all tests returned negative. The case is pending before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a jury, with both parties anonymous.
Keith Aherne, 23, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, with one year suspended, for aiding and abetting the rape of a woman in a Cork city park on 28 June 2013. He held the victim down while another 22‑year‑old man raped her. Aherne denied the charge but was found liable as a principal offender. The court noted his young age, history of addiction and 41 prior convictions, but also considered his refusal to have sex with the victim as a mitigating factor. The victim, who lost confidence and suffered depression and hair‑pulling after the assault, testified that Aherne held her down and that the other man had invited him to rape her. The sentence was imposed on condition of no contact with the victim and keeping the peace. The other man died before his sentence hearing.
A trial date has been set for a teenager charged with murder in County Mayo. The 17-year-old accused, who cannot be named due to his age, faces a charge of murdering 17-year-old Dovydas Jenkus on 19 December 2015 at Claremount Manor in Claremorris. The defendant, with an address in County Mayo, will stand trial at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Castlebar on 11 July. The alleged incident occurred approximately eighteen months before the court proceedings were scheduled.
A 36‑year‑old man from Louth pleaded not guilty to rape at Kilmashogue Lane on 11 September 2014. The alleged victim, a 31‑year‑old university student, said she met the accused on Tinder, exchanged WhatsApp messages, and arranged a date. She claimed the man drove her to a rural road, forced her into his car, and after a brief kissing session, forced her to lie down, removed her clothes, and raped her. She said she resisted, but the accused allegedly stopped her resistance and raped her. After the incident, he sent her a WhatsApp with a smiley face, which she deleted. During cross‑examination, the defence argued the encounter was consensual, but the victim rejected this. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a jury.
In a Dublin court, Eric Locke was sentenced to a mandatory life term for the murder of 31‑year‑old Sonia Blount, who was killed in a hotel in Tallaght on 16 February 2014. Locke had lured Blount to the hotel using a fake Facebook profile after she had cut contact with him. He strangled her with his hands and a phone‑charger cable, then suffocated her by forcing her t‑shirt into her mouth, dislodging her teeth. He pleaded not guilty but admitted causing her death. A jury found him guilty of murder after 1 hour 33 minutes of deliberation. The judge pronounced a life sentence, noting the tragedy for Blount's three‑year‑old son, Jake, and the impact on her family. The sentencing hearing was attended by Blount's relatives, who delivered victim impact statements. The court concluded with Locke being led away to begin his life sentence.
A man from Louth has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the rape of a university student he met on Tinder. The prosecution, led by Alexander Owens SC, told the jury that the victim downloaded the dating app in September 2014 and began messaging the accused. Three days later they arranged a date, during which the accused took the victim to a McDonald's for ice‑cream and coffee. Owens said the accused became "extremely angry" when the woman rebuffed his sexual advances, and he angrily ordered her out of the car after 10 pm. He then drove her back to her home, told her to get back into the car, and allegedly drove her further up Kilmashogue Lane, Rathfarnham, where the rape took place. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge of rape on 11 September 2014. The trial is expected to last one week, with the alleged victim scheduled to give evidence tomorrow.
In a 2017 court hearing, Detective Garda James Nagle denied allegations that he had refused to allow murder suspect Darren Murphy to see a solicitor and that he had instructed Murphy on what to say during his interview about his girlfriend's death. Nagle said he had followed standard procedure, asking suspects if they were ready to proceed before questioning, but admitted he did not ask that question at the start of Murphy's final interview. He denied knowing Murphy was unwilling to proceed and insisted that if Murphy had requested a solicitor he would have been granted access. Nagle also denied that Sergeant Anthony Harrington had told Murphy what to say or that he had been told there was no time to see a solicitor. The judge postponed the case to May 30 to resolve an evidence issue. Darren Murphy pleaded not guilty.