The Central Criminal Court heard testimony from Bernard 'Barney' Malone in the ongoing trial of John Joseph Malone, who is accused of murdering 69-year-old Ann 'Nancy' Smyth on 11th September 1987 at her home on Wolfe Tone Street in Kilkenny. The accused, a 53-year-old man from Newpark, has pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering the widowed pensioner, who was allegedly strangled before her house was set on fire. Barney Malone testified that his brother confessed to the killing approximately ten years ago, claiming it was motivated by a pigeon trophy. The witness stated that the accused later returned to his home and stabbed him, an incident for which the accused received a suspended sentence after Barney Malone requested leniency. The witness disclosed this confession to a garda superintendent for the first time during that legal process. In cross-examination, the accused agreed that he had previously served two sentences for separate rapes in Kilkenny. The trial is currently at the sentence stage regarding the witness's prior conviction, while the murder trial continues before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury. Cross-examination of the witness is scheduled to continue on Monday.
Anna Finnegan sent text messages to her former partner, Vesel Jahiri, who is accused of murdering her, saying she did not want to see him again and wanted to feel "safe without some animal beating and bullying" her. The Central Criminal Court jury heard that the texts were sent between 8 and 14 September 2012, with Finnegan describing Jahiri as a "control freak" and a "fucking drug dealer" and stating she had "had enough" and would change her number and the locks on their home. Jahiri denied sending the texts and claimed they were from Finnegan's sister and cousin. The jury also heard that a letter written by Finnegan, found in a handbag in the kitchen of Allendale Glen, alleged that Jahiri had beaten her and almost killed her. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and a jury of nine men and two women. Anna Finnegan pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, evangelist Billy Patterson testified that he had known John Joseph Malone, a 53‑year‑old accused of murdering 69‑year‑old Ann 'Nancy' Smyth in 1987, for over 25 years. Patterson, who worked as an evangelist for Kilkenny's Presbyterian Church, said he had run bible studies in private homes that Malone sometimes attended. After the killing, Patterson invited Malone for a conversation in his van, during which Malone allegedly confessed to the murder. Patterson claimed he advised Malone to contact the Gardai, but he later said he had not reported the confession immediately because he felt loyalty to Malone and feared betraying him. Patterson admitted that he had made statements to the Gardai in 2012 and 2012‑13, but he had omitted details of the confession in those statements. The court was informed that Malone had also confessed to two teenagers during a church trip to Tramore in the late 1980s. The trial continues. John Joseph Malone pleaded not guilty.
In a 2011 murder case in Galway, a 31‑year‑old Latvian man, Andresj Krauze, was found guilty of strangling fellow Latvian Juris Buls, aged 30, after Buls had lodged a complaint with the Gardaí. The prosecution argued that Krauze strangled Buls when the victim refused to withdraw his complaint. The body was discovered in a drain two weeks later. A jury of twelve deliberated for just under five hours and returned a unanimous guilty verdict after a three‑week trial. Justice Margaret Heneghan announced that a mandatory life sentence would be imposed on 26 April, pending a statement from Buls's sister. Krauze pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. The case involved a search of Funshin Wood, where Garda Sergeant Shane Birmingham found a body in a drain, and subsequent extradition of Krauze from England to Latvia and back to Ireland.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Anna Finnegan's letter to her former partner, Vesel Jahiri, was presented to a jury. The letter, found in her handbag, described how Jahiri had beaten her, made her life "hell," and had almost killed her on several occasions. Finnegan, aged 25, had moved to Bray Women's Refuge with her two children before the letter was written. Jahiri, 35, pleaded not guilty to her murder and to assaulting her brother, and now represents himself. The prosecution highlighted that Jahiri had received protection, barring, and safety orders, and that the letter revealed his possessive, controlling, and jealous behaviour. The case, overseen by Mr Justice Paul Coffey, continues before a jury of nine men and two women.
In a cold‑case murder trial in Kilkenny, 53‑year‑old John Joseph Malone is accused of strangling 69‑year‑old Ann 'Nancy' Smyth on 11 September 1987 and setting fire to her Wolfe Tone Street home. Malone pleaded not guilty. Witness Jude Curran, a long‑time friend and church member, testified that Malone confessed to him that he had killed Smyth, arguing that forensic evidence of strangulation conflicted with his account. Curran described several conversations in which Malone claimed he had pushed Smyth, that she fell, and that he had set the house on fire. Curran also recounted that Malone had told him he could not sleep over the case and that he had considered confessing to a police officer. The trial continues with Malone's defence counsel cross‑examining Curran on the alleged confessions and the evidence presented. The court heard no further evidence of a verdict or sentencing.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury of twelve is set to deliver a verdict on the murder trial of Latvian man Andresj Krauze, aged 31, accused of killing fellow Latvian Juris Buls, 30, whose body was found in a drain in Galway on 7 or 8 July 2011. Krauze has pleaded not guilty. The judge, Justice Margaret Heneghan, clarified that the jury must focus solely on whether Krauze killed Buls and intended to kill or cause serious injury, ignoring any prior guilty plea by Krauze's brother Sergejs. She outlined three possible verdicts: guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. The jury's deliberations, which lasted four hours, will resume tomorrow to decide among these options. The trial remains at the jury's discretion, with no further procedural developments reported.
During the murder trial of Vesel Jahiri, the court heard that Anna Finnegan's brother, Karl Finnegan, was taken to James Connolly Memorial Hospital on 21 September 2012 with stab wounds to his chest and right temple. Dr Mayilone Arumuganasy, a consultant surgeon, testified that the chest wound caused a collapsed lung and that a CT scan revealed a skull fracture and damage to the eye orbit. Karl Finnegan had previously testified that he blacked out and woke with stab wounds after Mr Jahiri attacked him with a knife. Dr Arumuganasy explained that the knife had to penetrate the chest wall to collapse the lung, but could not determine the force used. The prosecution alleged that Mr Jahiri, who had been in a relationship with Anna for about ten years, stabbed her to death after a period of conflict. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and a jury of nine men and two women. Vesel Jahiri pleaded not guilty. Anna Finnegan pleaded not guilty.
During a cold‑case murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, a witness named Geraldine Brennan testified that she saw the accused, 53‑year‑old John Joseph Malone, banging on the door of widowed pensioner Ann 'Nancy' Smyth's house on Wolfe Tone Street in Kilkenny City on the night of 10 September 1987. Brennan, who was living three doors down with her baby and parents, claimed she heard a male voice shouting, "Let me into the f***ing house. I just want to f***ing talk to you," and that Malone was angry and agitated. She said the banging lasted about half an hour, with Malone kicking the door and slamming the gate. Brennan had not reported the incident to Gardaí in 1987 because her mother advised her not to get involved. She later gave a statement in 2012 after a television reconstruction prompted her to reconsider. John Joseph Malone pleaded not guilty.
John Gavin, aged 29, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for raping a woman in Handel's Hotel on Fishamble Street in 2012. At the time of the offence he had 103 prior convictions and was on bail for seven separate charges. Gavin denied the rape, claiming the victim was a "lying bastard" and a "dirty mare" and that she had "jumped" on him. The court heard that the victim had met Gavin at a city centre venue, drank and took drugs together, and later agreed to help him find a hotel room after the hotel refused to accommodate him. They went to Jury's Hotel, were refused, and were directed to Handel's, where Gavin took a room and raped the victim. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Coffey, backdated the six‑year sentence to July 2016 and ordered Gavin to be registered as a sex offender. John Gavin pleaded not guilty.
During the fifth week of his 35‑year‑old trial, Vesel Jahiri denied that he told former partner Anna Finnegan he would "get her" on a phone call the day before her death. The jury saw the third and fourth Garda interview videos recorded on 23 September 2023. Jahiri, who has pleaded not guilty to murdering Finnegan and assaulting her brother Karl, represented himself after dismissing his legal team. He denied telling Finnegan he would "get her" if she did not let him see their children by 6 pm on 21 September 2012, and denied threatening her family. The prosecution presented evidence that Finnegan had called Jahiri on 21 September, with her friend Janice O'Neill hearing the conversation. The case remains before Justice Paul Coffey and a nine‑man jury.
A jury has begun deliberating on the verdict in the trial of Latvian man Andresj Krauze, aged 31, who is accused of murdering fellow Latvian Juris Buls, 30, whose body was found in a drain in Galway. The alleged murder took place on an unknown date in July 2011. Krauze pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. Justice Margaret Heneghan explained to the jury that there are three possible verdicts: guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. She outlined the criteria for each verdict, including the requirement that the prosecution prove beyond reasonable doubt that Krauze intended to kill or cause serious injury and was not acting in self‑defence. The jury, composed of six men and six women, has spent one hour and 24 minutes deliberating and will return to court tomorrow.
A trial date has been set for Ciprian Grozavu, charged with murdering 42‑year‑old Jonathan Duke at Bridge House, Bandon, on 13 November 2011. At a brief hearing in the Central Criminal Court, prosecution lawyer Liam Mulholland requested a trial date. Both sides agreed to a provisional date of 16 January 2018, to be heard in Cork. Grozavu was not present at the hearing.
During the fourth week of his trial at the Central Criminal Court, Vesel Jahiri, aged 35, cross‑examined Dr Hilary Clarke of Forensic Science Ireland. Jahiri sought to have the black‑handled kitchen knife he had handed to Cabra Garda Station on the night after the alleged attack on Anna Finnegan re‑tested for DNA in his presence, claiming a possible mistake. Dr Clarke had previously testified that DNA matching Anna Finnegan's profile was found on the knife's tip and edge, with a probability of less than one in a thousand million that it came from anyone else. Jahiri questioned whether the knife was involved in a fight with Karl Finnegan and whether other knives existed at Allendale Glen. The judge terminated the cross‑examination, and the trial continues before Mr Justice Coffey and a jury of nine men and two women. Vesel Jahiri pleaded not guilty.
In a cold‑case murder trial, the Central Criminal Court heard that 69‑year‑old Ann 'Nancy' Smyth was strangled and suffered head injuries before a fire was set in her Kilkenny home on 11 September 1987. The accused, 53‑year‑old John Joseph Malone of Newpark, pleaded not guilty. State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy presented evidence from the post‑mortem, noting burns on the left side of the body, bruising and hemorrhages around the eye, and a horizontal pressure mark on the back of the neck. Professor Harbison's examination confirmed fresh bleeding and no soot in the respiratory tract, indicating death by asphyxia due to manual strangulation before the fire. The court also heard testimony from first responders who observed the fire and the scene, noting suspicious circumstances and the presence of a dead dog. The trial continues before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury.
Roy Webster, aged 40 of Ashbree, Ashford, County Wicklow, was found guilty of murder by unanimous jury verdict at the Central Criminal Court on 24 March 2017. The victim, Anne Shortall, aged 47, died from injuries sustained at The Murrough near Wicklow Town on 3 April 2015. Justice Patrick McCarthy imposed a life sentence, backdated to 7 April 2015. The court heard that Webster struck Ms Shortall repeatedly with a hammer after she threatened to disclose a previous encounter to his wife. He subsequently restrained her with duct tape before transporting her body in his van. Webster initially provided a false account to gardaí, claiming he had released Ms Shortall at The Murrough. He later confessed to his wife in the presence of Detective Sergeant Fergus O'Brien, revealing the body's location in his workshop. The defence argued provocation as mitigation, which would reduce the charge to manslaughter. The jury rejected this, finding Webster acted with knowledge and intent to kill or cause serious injury.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal against the conviction of Sabrina Cummins, who was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of murdering Thomas Horan (63) at Cambridge Court, Ringsend, on January 6, 2014. Ms Cummins, then 37, had pleaded not guilty to the charge. Her brother, Kenneth Cummins (29), also pleaded not guilty initially but changed his plea to guilty towards the end of the trial. On November 20, 2015, Mr Justice Tony Hunt sentenced Ms Cummins to a mandatory life term. In her appeal, Ms Cummins' counsel argued that the trial judge improperly pressured her to resume cross-examination after she declined to take the witness box on a subsequent date. Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with Mr Justice Alan Mahon and Mr Justice John Edwards, rejected this ground, stating that once an accused chooses to give evidence, they are required to make themselves available for cross-examination to protect the integrity of the trial process. The court also affirmed the decision to conduct a joint trial, noting the prosecution case of joint enterprise. All substantive grounds of appeal were rejected. Regarding the trial judge's description of Ms Cummins as a "brazen, hard-nosed liar," the appellate court held it improper to critique such remarks given the mandatory nature of the life sentence. The court noted a recent probation report was positive in tone.
During the trial of Vesel Jahiri at the Central Criminal Court, Dr Hilary Clarke of Forensic Science Ireland presented DNA evidence linking Anna Finnegan to a blood‑stained black‑handled kitchen knife. The knife was voluntarily handed over by Jahiri, aged 35, at Cabra Garda Station the night after the alleged attack on Anna Finnegan, aged 25, at Allendale Glen, Clonsilla, on 21 September 2012. Clarke swabbed two areas of light blood on the knife's tip and edge, and both DNA profiles matched Anna Finnegan's. She also reported that DNA from blood on a Ford Focus car seat, from the driveway of a neighbouring house, and from the sleeves of Jahiri's jacket and jeans matched Karl Finnegan, who was also assaulted by Jahiri on the same night. The evidence was given before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and a jury of nine men and two women. The trial continues. Vesel Jahiri pleaded not guilty.
The cold-case trial of John Joseph Malone, 53, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy. Malone, of Newpark in Kilkenny City, has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of 69-year-old Ann 'Nancy' Smyth on 11th September 1987 at her home on Wolfe Tone Street in Kilkenny City. The matter is currently at the trial stage and has not been finalised. Witness Desmond Murphy, the deceased's nephew, testified that he was unaware of any money-lending issues, stating he was 'flabbergasted' to hear such questions. He noted that Smyth's sisters-in-law had assisted her with daily needs. Ann Lahart, a bartender who served Smyth on the evening before her death, described her as a 'lovely person' and a regular customer. Security guard Dermot Fennelly reported seeing smoke and flames from the house, prompting a call to the Gardaí. Firefighter Anthony Lacey testified that he and colleagues used a sledgehammer to break the Yale lock to enter. He described intense smoke and poor visibility, stating he stumbled over a body while searching. A doctor's statement confirmed death was pronounced at St Luke's Hospital, noting the deceased was in day clothes with a blackened face. The trial continues and is expected to last more than three weeks.
A 54-year-old man, whose identity is protected to safeguard victims, has lost his appeal against convictions for abusing two of his three step-children. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice Alan Mahon with Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice John Edwards, dismissed the appeal on grounds that the trial judge erred in refusing to sever the indictment, failed to discharge the jury after prejudicial evidence, and returned a perverse verdict. The appellant had been convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of 35 counts of sexual assault and rape involving a female victim aged seven to 13 and a male victim aged 11 to 17. In a separate trial, he was found guilty of four counts of rape, ten counts of sexual assault, one offence of oral rape, and two charges of using an object to penetrate his step-daughter between 2001 and 2005. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy sentenced him to 12 years imprisonment for the abuse of the two youngest children on June 20, 2016. Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan imposed a concurrent 12-year sentence for the abuse of the eldest child in July 2016. The Court of Appeal upheld the trial judge's discretion to join the indictments, noting similarities such as the victims being minors and the offering of money. The court also determined that an accidental reference to other accusations did not warrant discharging the jury and that the verdicts were not perverse.
During the fourth week of the 35‑year‑old Vesel Jahiri's trial, the court heard that he had told Gardaí there was no point in living if his former partner, Anna Finnegan, was dead. The video interview, shown to a Central Criminal Court jury, revealed that Jahiri, originally from Kosovo and now self‑represented, had no problem with Finnegan but claimed a problem with her sister and husband, who allegedly urged her to go to a refuge. Jahiri said he did not stab Finnegan and described the killing as a "bad accident." He also stated he could not cry, citing the loss of his mother and sister. Jahiri denied seeing Finnegan bleeding and claimed no blood was found in his car after driving her to hospital. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Coffey, continues with a jury of nine men and two women, one of whom was discharged due to illness. Vesel Jahiri pleaded not guilty.
The jury in the Roy Webster murder trial will return to the Central Criminal Court to continue deliberations after spending just over six hours considering their verdict. Webster, 40, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of Anne Shortall, 47, at The Murrough, Co Wicklow. The State rejected his plea. At the jury's request, Justice Patrick McCarthy re‑read State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy's evidence and read a statement by Dr Stephen Clifford of Forensic Science Ireland.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Thomas O'Connor, 29, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of John O'Brien, 22, who was bludgeoned to death with a rock on 4 June 2010. O'Connor had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The victim impact statement, read by Detective Sergeant Eamon O'Neill, described how O'Brien's fiancée, Alice O'Brien, had to replace her wedding bouquet with a wreath after the fatal attack. The statement also recounted the couple's wedding plans, the couple's drinking together before the incident, and O'Connor's attempts to destroy evidence by scrubbing his hands and burning his hoodie. O'Connor's counsel, Feargal Kavanagh SC, acknowledged his client's remorse. The sentence was back‑dated to 5 June 2010. The hearing highlighted the personal loss suffered by O'Brien's family and the impact of the crime on the community. Thomas O'Connor was convicted.
A former Latvian policeman, Andresj Krauze, aged 31, is on trial in the Central Criminal Court for the murder of 30‑year‑old Juris Buls, whose body was found in a Galway drain near Glenamaddy. Krauze pleaded not guilty. The prosecution presented evidence that Buls had not shown up for work on the night of 7 July 2011 and that his girlfriend reported him missing, leading to the discovery of his body weeks later. The jury heard that Buls had previously alleged assault against Krauze. In March 2012, Latvian police officer Juris Gabrens testified via video link from Latvia, describing how he was contacted by Irish authorities regarding Buls's death and how he interviewed Krauze in prison on 9 March 2012. Gabrens noted that Krauze refused a solicitor, signed the interrogation minutes, and was warned of potential consequences for refusing to answer.
In a cold‑case murder trial, John Joseph Malone, 53, is charged with strangling 69‑year‑old Ann (Nancy) Smyth on 11 September 1987 at her Wolfe Tone Street home in Kilkenny. The prosecution, led by Sean Gillane SC, argues that after a night at a local pub, Malone entered Smyth's house, strangled her, and set it on fire. Evidence includes a neighbour's account of a shouting altercation, a witness who heard a man with a speech impediment ask for a cigarette, and testimony from a bible‑study group member who claims Malone admitted the crime. The case notes that Smyth's death was caused by asphyxia from neck compression, not the fire. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy with a jury of five women and seven men, expected to last over three weeks. John Joseph Malone pleaded not guilty.
The jury at the Roy Webster murder trial has reheard the statement of Carmel Phibbs, a friend of the accused's wife, after she was present at the Webster home on the afternoon Anne Shortall was killed. Mr Webster, 40, from Ashbree, Ashford, Co Wicklow, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of Shortall, 47, at The Murrough on 3 April 2015. The State did not accept his plea. The jury, after a 3½‑hour deliberation, will return tomorrow with the hammer alleged to have been used in the killing.
Stephen Egan, aged 33, was convicted of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility for killing fellow inmate Gary Douche, aged 20, in Mountjoy prison on 1 August 2006. A psychiatrist testified that Egan suffered from a schizoaffective disorder and was in a paranoid state at the time of the killing, which reduced his responsibility. He received a life sentence in 2009, upheld in 2010. In 2023 his lawyers applied to reopen the appeal under Section 2 of the Criminal Procedure Act 1993, citing new facts from the 2014 Commission of Investigation report that Egan was in an acute psychotic state in July 2006 and that he should not have been discharged from the Central Mental Hospital back to prison. The court rejected the application, stating the Commission's findings were not new or newly discovered, as the evidence was available at trial. The appeal was dismissed, and Egan's counsel intends to seek a Supreme Court appeal. Stephen Egan was acquitted.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 31‑year‑old Latvian named Andresj Krauze was accused of murdering 30‑year‑old Juris Buls in Galway on 7 or 8 July 2011. Buls, also Latvian, had not shown up for work at midnight and was later found dead in a drain near Glenamaddy. Krauze admitted the killing during an interview in a Latvian prison, where he demonstrated to Gardaí how he had killed Buls. He described a confrontation in which he claimed to have forced Buls' neck, found Buls dead, and then hid the body in a drain. The jury heard testimony from Garda Kevin Brennan, who had taken Buls' complaint, and from detectives Michael Kelly and Michael O'Driscoll, who interviewed Krauze in Riga. The trial is ongoing before Justice Margaret Heneghan. Andresj Krauze pleaded not guilty.
During the fourth week of the 35‑year‑old Vesel Jahiri's trial at the Central Criminal Court, he told the gardai that he did not stab his former partner, Anna Finnegan, and that he was not carrying a weapon when he forced his way into her house on 21 September 2012. Jahiri, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Finnegan and to assaulting her brother Karl, said he had been told by social services that he would never see his children, which caused him to become angry and enter the house. He claimed he only wanted to see his children for ten minutes and that he had no weapon on him. Jahiri described a fight with Karl, who allegedly had knives, and said he stabbed Karl once after Karl had tried to stab him. He said Anna was in the middle of the fight and that she was hurt when she fell at a neighbour's door.
Roy Webster, 40, of Ashbree, Ashford, Co Wicklow, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the death of Anne Shortall, 47, on Good Friday 3 April 2015 at The Murrough, Co Wicklow. His defence barrister, Brendan Grehan SC, told the jury that Webster had not planned the attack and had no attempt to conceal it. Grehan described Webster's actions as a loss of self‑control rather than a premeditated crime, noting that Webster had tied Shortall's wrists with duct tape and wrapped tape around her head after she was already dead, an act he could not explain. Webster had driven Shortall to The Murrough in his van, then brought her body home to his workshop, where he kept it for four days before admitting the crime to his wife and the Gardaí. The jury was instructed to decide whether Webster was guilty of murder or manslaughter, with deliberations to continue the next day.
In a 2017 murder trial, Roy Webster, aged 40, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Anne Shortall, aged 47, who died on 3 April 2015 after Webster struck her nine times with a hammer. Prosecutor Paul Greene SC argued that Webster's statements to Gardaí after confessing to the killing displayed a "degree of self‑pity," noting that Webster had delayed revealing his involvement until 7 April, lying to Shortall's daughters and to Gardaí over several days. Greene highlighted Shortall's financial difficulties and alleged threats she made to Webster's wife. He described Webster's post‑attack conduct—returning home, drinking, watching television, and later moving the body to his workshop—as evidence of a clear intention to kill. Greene urged the jury to disregard sympathy and find that Webster intended to kill or cause serious injury, thereby supporting a murder conviction. The case was set for trial at the Central Criminal Court.
In a 2017 case, a 29‑year‑old woman from Tipperary testified that she was sexually assaulted by her uncle when she was seven, between December 1994 and July 1995. The uncle, a 56‑year‑old man who pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault, had been brought out of the house by the victim's grandmother to beg for money. While the girl was in a shed, the uncle followed her, undressed, and attempted to have sex with her. After the assault, the grandmother beat the girl with a stick, causing her to fear speaking out for years. The victim, who suffered depression, nightmares and anxiety, told the court she felt vindicated by the uncle's admission of guilt and does not wish to see him jailed. She said she can move on with her life. The uncle, who has 40 prior convictions, was remanded on bail while the court considers sentencing. The trial is scheduled for April 4.
At the Central Criminal Court, Michael McCarville, aged 49, from Longfield, Lisboduff, Cootehill, County Cavan, has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for the sexual abuse of seven siblings over an 18-year period beginning in 1982. McCarville pleaded guilty in December to 52 sample charges including rape and indecent assault, arising from a total of 187 counts. The offences occurred on a family farm where he worked as a labourer, with victims aged between seven and thirteen at the time of initial abuse. The attacks continued until 1999 and took place in various locations including farm buildings and the family home. During sentencing at the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy noted the seriousness of the crimes, describing them as a grave breach of trust, though he credited the guilty plea. Five of the seven adult victims presented impact statements to the court. McCarville has been ordered to complete five years post-release supervision following his sentence.
Colm Deely, aged 45, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for the manslaughter of 43‑year‑old Deirdre McCarthy. The case arose after McCarthy's body washed up on Fanore Beach, Co Clare, after Deely had dumped her in the sea. Deely had earlier been convicted of murder in 2013, but that conviction was quashed because the forensic work of Deputy State Pathologist Dr Khalid Jabbar had not been peer‑reviewed. In January 2017 Deely pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter at a hearing in the Central Criminal Court. The judge, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, noted that the offence was aggravated by Deely's callous disposal of the body and his return to work with McCarthy's brother shortly after the killing. The sentence was imposed in the absence of evidence that would have supported a murder charge, and the judge emphasised the substantial period of imprisonment required for the killing.
A 53‑year‑old man, John Joseph Malone of Newpark, Kilkenny City, is set to stand trial on Wednesday for the 1987 murder of Ann (Nancy) Smyth, who was killed on 11 September 1987 at a Wolfe Tone Street address. Malone pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. A jury of five women and seven men has been sworn in, and the trial is expected to last more than three weeks.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Andresj Krauze, 31, of Glenamaddy, Co Galway, continues before Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan. Krauze has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Juris Buls at an unknown time on July 7 or 8, 2011, in County Galway. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that he was asked by gardai to examine the body, which was found largely submerged in a bog drain near Glenamaddy on July 24, 2011. Dr Curtis noted the body was in a state of putrefaction, with discoloured tissues and green foliage covering it. He reported bruising to the right side of the neck and a fracture to the left extension of the Adam's apple, while confirming no skull fractures, brain injury, or other body fractures were present. Dr Curtis attributed the cause of death to neck compression, stating this was more consistent with an armlock or headlock than a ligature. He added that while putrefaction may have obscured some bruising, any cuts or wounds would still have been apparent. The trial is ongoing, with no verdict, sentence, or finalisation recorded at this procedural stage.
During the murder trial of Vesel Jahiri, security officer Korill Allen testified that on the night of 21 September 2012, he and colleague Svetlana Akopova saw a white Ford Focus stop near the entrance of the James Connolly Memorial Hospital Emergency Department. Allen described how a woman, later identified as Anna Finnegan, was pulled from the car and placed on a trolley. While lifting her, Finnegan allegedly pointed at the driver and said, "He did it." Allen confirmed that the driver was a bald man in his mid‑thirties with blood on his head. In cross‑examination, Allen admitted he could not recall other witnesses saying Finnegan pointed at him, and he denied that Gardaí had instructed him to make the allegation. Akopova, Maypother, and Leech also gave evidence, none of whom heard Finnegan say the phrase or see her point at Jahiri. The trial continues before Mr Justice Coffey and a jury. Vesel Jahiri pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 31‑year‑old Latvian man, Andresj Krauze, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 30‑year‑old Juris Buls, who was found dead in a drain near Glenamaddy on 7 or 8 July 2011. The jury heard that Buls had not appeared for work at midnight on 7 July and was reported missing by his girlfriend on 9 July. Garda Alan Sheerin examined Buls's clothing—jacket, sweatshirt and jeans—and testified that the pockets were normal‑sized and could not conceal a large knife. A forensic scientist, Dr Hilary Clarke, confirmed that a stain on Buls's bedroom floor contained his DNA, matching the blood found on the body. She also obtained a partial DNA profile from a cable tie near the body, which was accepted by the defence. The trial will resume on Monday with testimony from Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis.
Roy Webster, aged 40, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the death of Anne Shortall, aged 47, on Good Friday 3 April 2015 at The Murrough, Co Wicklow. The Central Criminal Court heard that Webster beat Shortall to death with a hammer after she threatened to inform his wife of a prior affair. Shortall's body was found tied with tape in Webster's van. A statement by Carmel Phibbs, a friend of Webster's wife, described Webster as "acting completely normal" that evening, noting he had shown his wife a cut from tiling work and later claimed a woman was missing while helping Gardaí. Detective Sergeant Fergus O'Brien noted Webster's cooperation after his admission. Text and call records between Webster and Shortall from 25 March to 3 April were presented, showing Shortall demanded £6,500 for an abortion and threatened to expose their affair if the money was not paid.
During a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, a forensic scientist presented evidence that blood matching the deceased Latvian man, Juris Buls, was found in the bedroom of the accused, Andresj Krauze, a 31‑year‑old from Dudley Heights, Glenamaddy. Buls had been reported missing by his girlfriend on the morning of July 9, 2011, after failing to appear for work at midnight on July 7. Gardaí discovered his body in a drain outside the town a few weeks later. On July 9, investigators noted a stain on the floor of Buls's bedroom. Dr Hilary Clarke confirmed that DNA testing of the stain matched Buls's profile. She also tested a cable tie found near the body, obtaining a partial DNA profile that also matched Buls. The defense accepted the presence of Buls's DNA on the cable tie. The trial continues before Justice Margaret Heneghan. Andresj Krauze pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Latvian man Andresj Krauze, aged 31, at the Central Criminal Court heard evidence that he was accused of murdering Juris Buls, also from Latvia, on 7 or 8 July 2011 in Galway. Gardaí searching for a missing 30‑year‑old man found his body in a murky drain in Funshin Wood a few weeks after he failed to turn up for work on 7 July. The accused's brother, Sergejs Krauze, accompanied the search. Sergeant Shane Birmingham testified that he discovered the body by noticing a boot heel in the drain and that the remains were likely in that area. Sergeant Michael Kelly reported finding a full lunch in a lunchbox at Buls's home and other domestic details. The case remains before Justice Margaret Heneghan. Andresj Krauze pleaded not guilty.
Danny Keena, 54, of Empor, Ballynacargy, Westmeath, faces trial for the murder of Brigid Maguire, who was found dead on Main Street, Ballynacargy, on 14 November 2015. Keena had pleaded guilty to manslaughter, but the Director of Public Prosecutions rejected the plea, stating it was not acceptable. Consequently, a jury trial has been scheduled for 2 October, and the case is expected to last one week.
The jury was discharged in the trial of Ciprian Grozavu, a 42‑year‑old Romanian accused of murdering 27‑year‑old Jonathan Duke in Cork. Grozavu had dismissed his legal team on the sixth day of his trial at the Central Criminal Court. The court heard that Catherine O'Connor, Grozavu's acquaintance, had been found guilty of murdering Duke. The eight men and four women of the jury were informed that Grozavu had a new legal team, which the judge said could not prepare for the case by the next Monday deadline. Judge Paul Butler therefore discharged the jury, citing potential unfairness, and thanked them for their service. The case has been rescheduled for a new trial, with a new date to be set. The jury will be exempt from service for ten years.
Anne Shortall, aged 47, died on Good Friday 3 April 2015 after being struck nine times on the head and having her airways blocked with duct tape. The State Pathologist, Professor Marie Cassidy, examined her body on 7 April 2015 and found no skull fractures but a fractured jaw and swollen brain. She concluded the cause of death was blunt‑force trauma to the head and airway obstruction. The accused, Roy Webster, 40, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. He was alleged to have beaten Shortall after she threatened to expose his affair unless he paid her £6,500 for an abortion. Dr Geraldine O'Kelly, Shortall's GP, testified that she was not pregnant, a fact confirmed by a gynaecological test. The trial is proceeding before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of seven men and four women.
In the Central Criminal Court, Vesel Jahiri, 35, accused of murdering Anna Finnegan, 25, and assaulting Karl Finnegan on 21 September 2012, claimed the trial was illegal and refused to cross‑examine witness Paul Callan. Jahiri, who had recently dismissed his legal team and was representing himself, argued he needed documents to continue. He alleged that a previous trial had used a fake jury to convict him. Judge Paul Coffey rebuked Jahiri for abusing his role as his own advocate and informed him he had access to all prosecution documents. The judge ordered the jury to leave, and the trial resumed with the prosecution calling Garda witnesses who had preserved the scene at Allendale Glen. The case remains in progress. Vesel Jahiri pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, Vesel Jahiri, 35, accused of murdering his former partner Anna Finnegan, 25, and assaulting her brother Karl, pleaded not guilty and is now representing himself. On September 7, 2012, Jahiri and his two children stayed with witness Helga Duffy in Dundalk while Finnegan was hospitalized after an overdose. On the night of the alleged murder, Jahiri appeared at Duffy's home, telling her that "something bad had happened" and that Finnegan's brother had attacked him with a chair and a knife. Duffy reported that Jahiri had taken Finnegan to the hospital and wanted to take her brother but was refused. She also said Jahiri had not explained how he entered Finnegan's house. During cross‑examination, Jahiri questioned Duffy about alleged Garda discussions and claimed he had forced Finnegan to a refuge centre. He denied any argument with Finnegan except over cars.
Peter Halligan, 23, of Kilcohan Park, Waterford, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for rape and oral rape committed at a riverbank in Waterford City on July 24, 2014. Halligan pleaded not guilty to both charges but was convicted by a jury after four hours of deliberation. The court heard that the accused, who had just left his girlfriend's house, covered his face and grabbed the 16-year-old victim from behind as she walked home. He threatened to throw her into the river and assaulted her in a quiet laneway. Although Halligan initially denied the attack, claiming another man was responsible or that the victim approached him, DNA evidence matched him to the scene. Mr Justice Paul Butler noted Halligan had no previous convictions, is a father to a six-year-old son, and had completed prison courses. The judge described the eight-year sentence as being in the middle of the scale but suspended two years, resulting in an effective six-year jail term. The judge stated Halligan was thought unlikely to re-offend. The victim, who was not present, submitted a report detailing trauma, flashbacks, and vulnerability. The matter was finalised with this sentence.
The jury in the trial of 42‑year‑old Ciprian Grozavu, charged with murdering his friend Jonathan Duke in County Cork, was informed that Grozavu had discharged his legal team. The trial was in its sixth day at the Central Criminal Court. Grozavu, a Romanian father of one, pleaded not guilty to the murder of the 27‑year‑old on 13 November 2011. The court had heard that Catherine O'Connor, Grozavu's acquaintance, had been found guilty of murdering Duke, whose body was discovered in the River Bandon. The jury listened to the content of Grozavu's Garda interviews, which described O'Connor stabbing and poking Duke in his flat before dragging him down the stairs. After lunch the jury was told Grozavu had fired his counsel and was sent home, to return the next day. The case remains before Mr Justice Paul Butler.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 13 March 2017, Helen Geoghegan, sister of Deirdre McCarthy, delivered a victim‑impact statement describing the profound grief and lasting trauma her family endured after McCarthy's strangulation and body was dumped in the sea near Fanore Beach on 31 March 2011. Geoghegan recalled McCarthy as a kind, family‑loving woman who enjoyed Christmas and birthdays, and lamented that her mother died of a broken heart and that sleepless nights have become part of the family's daily life. She noted that the accused, Colm Deely, 45, had worked with McCarthy's brother the day after the murder and had shown no remorse. The court heard that Deely had admitted to Gardaí that he killed McCarthy, who he had known since childhood, and that the cause of death was manual strangulation. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy remanded Deely in custody and adjourned sentencing until 20 March. Colm Deely pleaded not guilty.
A 40‑year‑old Cork man was found guilty of all 92 counts of sexual assault, attempted rape and rape of his stepdaughter, who was aged nine to 16 between May 2008 and November 2015. The offences were largely committed in the family home. The jury, consisting of seven men and five women, returned the verdicts after just under four hours. The trial revealed that the abuse began when the victim was about eight or nine, starting with tickling and progressing to forced masturbation and repeated rape, often in the man's bedroom. The victim, who turned 18 during the trial, gave extensive video‑link testimony. The abuse ended in November 2015 when she fled to her aunt's house, confided in her mother and they reported the matter to Gardaí. DNA evidence from semen swabs matched the accused, with a probability of less than one in 1000 million of being unrelated. The unnamed 40-year-old pleaded not guilty.