During the trial of Vesel Jahiri, accused of murdering Anna Finnegan, Lisa Finnegan, Anna's sister, testified that the accused told her he was coming for her and her children next. Lisa recalled receiving a call from a woman on her brother's phone that night, who said the accused was in a bad way but an ambulance was on its way. She said the accused later called her, claiming he had taken Anna to hospital, and warned that if anything happened to her or her children, jail would not save them. Lisa said the conversation was on speaker so the accused heard it, and she shouted profanities at him. In cross‑examination, Jahiri denied saying he was coming for her and her children, accusing Lisa of threatening him. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey. Vesel Jahiri pleaded not guilty. Anna Finnegan pleaded not guilty.
During the second day of Andresj Krauze's murder trial, the jury heard that his brother, Sergejs Krauze, had been convicted of manslaughter in the death of Juris Buls. Garda Cormac Bane presented CCTV footage from Glenamaddy showing a maroon‑coloured Honda Accord, similar to Sergejs's car, arriving an hour after Buls' girlfriend left his home. The footage also suggested a black Audi, Buls' vehicle, was seen driving around four hours after Buls was last seen alive. The prosecution alleged that Buls was killed in his home by Andresj Krauze shortly after the Honda arrived, and that his body was taken to a wooded area 7 km outside Glenamaddy. The case was heard by a jury of six men and six women, and the trial continues before Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan. Andresj Krauze pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial held in the Central Criminal Court, the jury heard that Jonathan Duke, aged 27, died from ligature strangulation after his body was found in the River Bandon. The prosecution presented a black electrical cable wrapped in three loops around Duke's neck, and a white cable tied to the plug, both shown by Inspector Fergal Foley. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster testified that a complex ligature with crossing over was present, and that Duke suffered multiple blunt‑force and sharp‑weapon injuries, including bruises, abrasions, a short skull fracture, an incised wound to the lower back, a laceration to the cheek, and a possible injury to the right forearm. She concluded the cause of death was asphyxia due to ligature strangulation, with associated trauma causing bleeding and blood loss. The defendant, Ciprian Grozavu, 42, charged with Duke's murder, pleaded not guilty.
A 63‑year‑old former priest was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of six counts of oral rape, defilement and sexual assault committed in his home between 2005 and 2006. The victim, aged between ten and eleven at the time, was a boy from the priest's parish. The priest had previously denied the charges. The trial showed that the priest befriended the boy, gradually invaded his personal space and made sexual comments. He encouraged the child to look up "gay porn" on the family computer, a search that was later discovered by the boy's father. The priest told the boy that sexual acts were natural and that everything they did was private. He asked the boy to touch him sexually and to perform oral sex on him, and at one point instructed the boy to suck his penis.
A woman sought €5,000 from the man now accused of her murder for an abortion, the Central Criminal Court heard today. The prosecution alleges that Anne Shortall was killed by Roy Webster following a dispute over a pregnancy and a prior sexual encounter. Webster, aged 40 from Ashbree, Ashford, Co Wicklow, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter on April 3, 2015 at The Murrough, Co Wicklow. His plea was not accepted by the State. During evidence, a witness testified that he received a message in late March 2015 requesting €5,000 for an abortion, intended for another man named Steven Armstrong who knew both Ms Shortall and the accused. Ms Shortall's daughters told the court she left her home without her phone or cigarettes on Good Friday, which they found unusual. Text messages indicated she was to meet someone associated with Ashwood Kitchens at a local pub, but she did not return.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Vesel Jahiri, 35, has heard that Anna Finnegan died from a single stab wound to the chest. Mr Jahiri, originally from Kosovo and of no fixed abode, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Finnegan (25) at Allendale Glen, Clonsilla, Dublin 15, on September 21, 2012. He also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Karl Finnegan, causing him harm, at the same location and date. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that the wound, located eight inches below the left armpit, caused massive haemorrhage and pierced the abdominal aorta. He stated that a single-edged knife could have inflicted the injury, which was non-survivable. No drugs or alcohol were detected in Ms Finnegan's body, and there were no defensive injuries. Under cross-examination, Dr Curtis agreed that the victim might not have been aware of the injury due to its severity. Witness Valdas Marma described seeing a dark-haired woman collapse in a driveway after hearing noises. The prosecution alleges Mr Jahiri battered down the door and attacked Ms Finnegan and her brother. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and a jury, with an expected duration of four to five weeks.
In a 2017 trial, the State presented evidence that Andresj Krauze, 31, of Dudley Heights, Glenamaddy, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 30‑year‑old Juris Buls, a Latvian car enthusiast and former Titan Plastics employee. The prosecution alleged Buls was last seen by his girlfriend at 22:45 on 7 July 2011 and never returned to work. An hour later, a maroon Honda Accord owned by Krauze's brother arrived, and a man left the vehicle heading toward Buls' house. The State claimed Krauze killed Buls at his home shortly after the Accord's arrival, then transported the body to a wooded area 7 km outside Glenamaddy where it was dumped. The prosecution also noted that a black Audi appeared at Krauze's Portadown residence, suggesting a possible link. The jury heard CCTV footage of Buls driving a black Audi on 7 July and the case was heard by Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan. The trial continues.
During a 2017 Cork murder trial, evidence was presented that the defendant's bare footprint was found in the victim's blood at the crime scene. The jury heard that the accused, Ciprian Grozavu, had told Gardaí that his girlfriend, Catherine O'Connor, had "beaten, bottled and poked" the 27‑year‑old Jonathan Duke to death. The trial concerned the murder of Duke, whose body was discovered in the River Bandon in 2011. Grozavu, aged 42, was charged with the murder and pleaded not guilty. Fingerprint and forensic evidence, including blood spatter and DNA matching Duke's profile, was examined by Garda technical experts. The court also heard Grozavu's first interview with Gardaí, in which he described a confrontation with O'Connor and claimed he could not stop her. The case was heard by Mr Justice Paul Butler with a jury of eight men and four women.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Ciprian Grozavu, aged 42, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jonathan Duke, aged 27, at Bridge House, Bandon, on 13 November 2011. Jury witnesses, including Aaron Nolan and Shane O'Driscoll, testified that on the night of the murder they heard loud music and saw Grozavu and Ms Catherine O'Connor carrying and dumping Duke's body into the river Bandon, describing the act as "like it was nothing." Garda Aine O'Regan reported a large pool of blood in Grozavu's apartment and later found a male body face‑up in the river. Garda Kieran Murphy arrested Grozavu at about 1 a.m. on 14 November, citing assault causing harm to Duke. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Butler, is set to continue for two weeks.
Thomas O'Connor, aged 29, was found guilty of murder after he struck John O'Brien, aged 22, with a 1.6‑kilogram rock on 4 June 2010. O'Connor claimed he acted in self‑defence, saying he hit O'Brien "two or three times" after O'Brien attacked him. A post‑mortem showed O'Brien died from catastrophic blunt‑force injuries to the head. The jury, after less than four hours of deliberation, returned a guilty verdict and O'Connor was remanded for sentencing, facing a mandatory life sentence. The trial highlighted O'Connor's admission of striking O'Brien, his subsequent attempts to clean his hands and burn his hoodie, and the prosecution's assertion of overwhelming evidence of murder. The case had previously been overturned in 2014, leading to this retrial. The court noted O'Connor's prior conviction for O'Brien's manslaughter in 2010. The verdict was delivered by Justice Margaret Heneghan.
In a Central Criminal Court case, 40‑year‑old Roy Webster of Ashbree, Ashford, Co Wicklow pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of Anne Shortall, 47, on 3 April 2015. Prosecutor Paul Greene SC argued that Webster and Shortall had a sexual encounter after meeting at a pub on 20 December 2014. Shortall later contacted Webster, claiming she was pregnant and demanding money for an abortion. When she threatened to expose their prior encounter, Webster struck her on the head with a hammer, then transported her body to his workshop, securing her hands with duct tape. He was found to have hidden the body behind wood panels until 7 April, when he informed the Gardaí. Webster admitted to assault, binding, and lying to police, and his defence acknowledged his responsibility for Shortall's death. The jury was instructed to decide whether the offence was murder or manslaughter.
During the Central Criminal Court trial of Vesel Jahiri, a witness named Joan Broe testified that she was 100 per cent certain of seeing Jahiri chase his former partner Anna Finnegan, bring her to the ground and punch her on the right side. Broe, who was walking her dog at 8.30pm on 21 September 2012, heard Finnegan screaming for help and later described Jahiri's pursuit and violent actions. She stated that she had not been able to intervene and expressed remorse for not doing more. Broe also provided a typed statement to the court and a separate statement to Detective Garda Brendan O'Hora, adding that Jahiri landed at least four blows to Finnegan's right side. The defence counsel challenged the accuracy of this detail, but Broe maintained her certainty. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and a jury. Vesel Jahiri pleaded not guilty.
Ciprian Grozavu, aged 42, was arrested on 13 November 2011 for the murder of Jonathan Duke, aged 27, at Bridge House, Sean Hales Place, Bandon, Co Cork. During his arrest, Grozavu told Gardaí that he had been attacked and that a woman named Catherine O'Connor had intervened, striking Duke with a glass bottle and saving Grozavu's life. He pleaded not guilty. The prosecution, led by Mr. Tim O'Leary SC, presented evidence that Duke was seen alive on the evening of 13 November and later found dead in the River Bandon, strangled and tied up. Garda Ciaran Ryan recounted that Grozavu was arrested at about 1 a.m. in his apartment and that the arrest was for assault causing harm to Duke. The trial, presided over by Mr. Justice Paul Butler, is scheduled to last two weeks. The case also references Ms. O'Connor's prior conviction for Duke's murder. The proceedings are ongoing.
During a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, witness Joan Broe testified that on 21 September 2012, Anna Finnegan (26) was dragged by the neck and stabbed by her former partner Vesel Jahiri (35), who was originally from Kosovo and had no fixed abode. Broe, who was walking her dog at 8.30 pm that evening, heard a loud crash and a girl screaming for help. She saw Finnegan standing in her doorway, panicked and frightened, and later saw Jahiri and Karl Finnegan (Anna's brother) in the driveway. Broe described how Jahiri ran after Finnegan, jumped onto her back, and dragged her by the neck toward the house. She also reported seeing Finnegan's brother punched in the stomach and later lying on the ground. The prosecution had argued that Jahiri and Finnegan had been in a relationship for about ten years, had two children together, and had separated before the incident. Vesel Jahiri pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court heard that Ciprian Grozavu (42) pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jonathan Duke (27) on 13 November 2011 at Bridge House, Bandon. The prosecution presented evidence that Duke was seen alive that evening and later found dead in the River Bandon. Retired Garda Pat Dolan testified that the body was recovered face‑up with black flex around the neck, a black lace tied to the left ankle, a grey lace around the neck, a white flex over the right knee and purple marks on both arms. Denis Boyle, a resident of Bandon, described seeing Duke on the steps of Bridge House with a woman and a man he called the "Romanian chippy." The jury was told that Grozavu, his girlfriend Catherine O'Connor, and the "Romanian chippy" were present that night, had been drinking, and that Grozavu and O'Connor were involved in the assault and disposal of Duke into the river.
Richard Dekker, aged 30, was found guilty of murdering 17‑year‑old Daniel McAnaspie, who was in the care of the HSE when he was killed. The boy's body was discovered on 13 May 2010 in a drainage ditch in Rathfeigh, Co Meath, after a search that began when he was reported missing. Dekker was convicted by a unanimous jury verdict at the Central Criminal Court on 26 February 2010, following a week‑long trial and more than eight hours of deliberation. The conviction was the first under the Criminal Justice Procedure Act 2010, which allowed the State to retry Dekker after his 2013 acquittal. He faces a mandatory life sentence. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for 3 April 2016. The case involved allegations that Dekker lured Daniel to Tolka Valley Park, where Trevor Noone stabbed him with garden shears. Noone pleaded guilty to manslaughter last month.
A 33‑year‑old Wexford man was convicted of orally raping the seven‑year‑old son of his former partner. The offence occurred at the man's rented home between 1 March and 30 September 2013. The boy, now 11, was interviewed by specialist Gardaí in March 2014 and described how the man had called him over, pulled down his pants and forced him to suck his "carrot". He also said the man threatened to leave him in the rain if he did not comply. The boy's aunt learned of the abuse in December 2013 after the boy told her, and the mother reported the incident to the prosecution in December 2013. The jury deliberated for just over four hours on day six of the trial, returned a guilty verdict, and the judge revoked the man's bail and remanded him in custody for sentencing on 3 April. The case was heard in the Central Criminal Court. The unnamed 33-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Karl Finnegan, brother of the deceased Anna Finnegan, gave evidence in the Central Criminal Court trial of Vesel Jahiri. Finnegan described a violent incident on 21 September 2012 at the Finnegan home in Clonsilla, where Jahiri allegedly forced the front door, attacked Anna and Finnegan, and used a knife. Finnegan said he was struck, fell, and blacked out, later waking with stab wounds to his head and chest. He recounted seeing Jahiri with a knife, hearing a loud bang, and being unable to recall Anna's whereabouts. Finnegan also testified that he was injured, had difficulty breathing, and was hospitalized for three days. He denied that he had seen Jahiri hold a knife when entering the house and stated he was as truthful as possible. The trial continues before Mr Justice Coffey and a jury of nine men and three women, expected to last four to five weeks. Vesel Jahiri pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Ciprian Grozavu, aged 42, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jonathan Duke, aged 27, who was found strangled and "trussed up" in the River Bandon on 13 November 2011. The prosecution presented evidence that Duke was seen alive that evening at Bridge House, Bandon, and later discovered dead in the river. Witnesses from apartments 2 and 3 reported a serious commotion, with one individual stepping into the hallway to investigate. The court heard that Grozavu, Duke, and Catherine O'Connor—who had previously been convicted of Duke's murder—were together that night, had consumed alcohol, and that Grozavu and O'Connor were involved in assaulting and disposing of Duke. Gardaí testimony included attempts to enter apartment 3 and blood patches on the stairs. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Butler, is expected to last two weeks.
A Latvian man, Andresj Krauze, 31, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of fellow Latvian Juris Buls, 30, in Galway on 7 or 8 July 2011. Krauze, who lives at Dudley Heights, Glenamaddy, is accused of the killing. At the Central Criminal Court a jury of six men and six women was sworn in, and Justice Patrick McCarthy announced the trial would commence on Wednesday before Justice Margaret Heneghan.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution presented what it described as "overwhelming evidence" that Thomas O'Connor, aged 29, killed John O'Brien, aged 22, by repeatedly striking him on the head with a rock on 4 June 2010. O'Connor, who pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, admitted striking O'Brien with a rock and claimed the blows were part of a fight. The prosecution argued that the force used was excessive and that O'Connor's admissions, including that he had "gone too far," supported a murder conviction. Defence counsel noted a partial self‑defence claim and highlighted that no witness saw O'Brien moving after the attack. The trial was ongoing, with defence counsel scheduled to address the jury the following day.
A 71‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to six years in prison for indecent and sexual assault of his nephew between 1989 and 1991, when the boy was aged 15 to 17. The Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty on five counts of indecent assault and one count of sexual assault. He is already serving an eight‑year sentence for similar offences against another boy during the same period and has 42 prior convictions, including rape and indecent assault. The judge, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, noted that the uncle's high family standing and grooming—showing pornography and attempting anal intercourse—made the conduct exceptionally obnoxious. The sentence was reduced to eight years with the final two years suspended, a decision influenced by the defendant's advanced age. The nephew, now 42, described the abuse as traumatic and the uncle's attempts to silence him during the trial. The unnamed 71-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Roy Webster, a 39-year-old man from Ashbree, Ashford, Co Wicklow, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Anne Shortall but guilty to her manslaughter. The prosecution rejected the manslaughter plea, and the matter will proceed to trial on the murder charge. Mr Webster is accused of killing Ms Shortall on April 3, 2015, at The Murrough, Co Wicklow. At the Central Criminal Court, Justice Patrick McCarthy swore in a jury of five women and seven men. The judge indicated that the trial is likely to last two weeks. The jury is scheduled to return on Wednesday morning. This report reflects the procedural stage of trial, where the accused's plea was not accepted, resulting in a full trial on the original murder charge rather than a finalised disposal.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 6 March 2017, Justice Patrick McCarthy sentenced Cluskey, aged 25, to nine years' imprisonment for manslaughter after he killed Christopher Nevin with an axe outside a house on Tailteann Road, Navan, on 19 November 2015. Cluskey had been found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. The judge reduced the recommended 12‑year term to nine years, citing Cluskey's early guilty plea and his claim of reasonable self‑defence. The sentence was back‑dated to 23 November 2015, the date Cluskey entered custody. Lisa Nevin, Nevin's wife, was removed from the courtroom after becoming emotional and shouting that she would never see her husband's face again. The case also involved co‑accused Josh Turner, who was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. The judge noted the confrontation between Turner and Nevin, the use of an axe, and the impact statements from Nevin's family.
A jury of eight men and four women was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the trial of Ciprian Grozavu, a 42‑year‑old Romanian, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jonathan Duke, 27, at Bridge House, Sean Hales Place, Bandon, Co Cork, on 13 November 2011. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Butler, is scheduled to begin that afternoon and is expected to last two weeks.
In the Central Criminal Court, the trial of Vesel Jahiri (35) for the murder of Anna Finnegan (26) and assault on Karl Finnegan was interrupted when Jahiri, standing before the jury, claimed evidence had been tampered with and that the knife used in the alleged murder had its fingerprints wiped. He also demanded to represent himself and accused the court of illegal detention. Judge Paul Coffey asked the jury to leave the courtroom, after which they returned following a half‑hour break. The case, which began with a jury hearing on Wednesday, is expected to continue for four to five weeks. Karl Finnegan, the deceased's brother, had testified that Jahiri and Anna had been in a relationship for about ten years, had two children, and that their relationship had deteriorated in the months leading up to the September 2012 incident. Jahiri has pleaded not guilty to both the murder and the assault.
Martin Stokes, 25, of Corkhill, Kinnegad, was convicted of defilement of a child under 15 and of raping a 14‑year‑old girl in Westmeath on 3 June 2011. He denied the rape and assault, claiming the contact was consensual. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty on all counts and sentenced him to 12 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended by Mr Justice Carroll Moran on 7 August 2015. Stokes' appeal against conviction was dismissed in December. On appeal, the Court of Appeal re‑sentenced him to 10 years' imprisonment, suspending the final three years. Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan noted that the original judge had given undue weight to Stokes' lies, leading to an error in the starting point of the sentence. The Court of Appeal considered the four‑year delay, Stokes' age at the time of the offence, and the need for rehabilitation, and imposed a good‑behaviour bond for the suspended period. Martin Stokes pleaded not guilty.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the application of an unnamed 77-year-old former professional soccer player to extend the time limit for appealing his convictions. The appellant, who cannot be named to protect his victim, was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury in May 2011 on 60 counts of sexual abuse and 14 charges of rape. The alleged offences occurred between January 2002 and September 2006 in Galway and Roscommon, when his daughter was aged between nine and fourteen. Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan rejected the request for an extension to appeal the convictions, noting the appellant's failure to lodge the appeal within the standard 28-day window. The judge stated that the appellant failed to establish that the interests of justice required an extension, emphasizing the daughter's "right to closure." Although the court considered a psychological report suggesting the appellant suffers from compulsive obsessive personality disorder, Mr Justice Sheehan deemed it of "extremely limited value." However, the court granted a 21-day extension from the date of the ruling for the appellant to lodge an appeal against his sentence. In May 2011, he was sentenced to ten years in prison on each sexual assault count and fifteen years on each rape count, with the final three years of each sentence suspended. The matter regarding the conviction appeal was dismissed, while the sentence appeal timeline was extended.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, prosecutors argue that Vesel Jahiri, 35, stabbed his former partner Anna Finnegan, 25, after their relationship soured. Jahiri, originally from Kosovo and a mechanic, has pleaded not guilty to both murder and assaulting Anna's brother Karl. The prosecution claims Jahiri entered the Allendale Glen home armed with a knife, attacked Karl twice—causing a fractured eye orbit and a chest stab wound—and then stabbed Anna. They assert Jahiri immediately regretted the act, drove Anna to hospital, and later called 999. Jahiri allegedly handed himself in the next day, surrendering the knife he claimed to have taken from Karl. The case will proceed before a jury, with the trial expected to last four to five weeks.
In the Wicklow murder trial, Thomas O'Connor, 29, charged with killing John O'Brien, 22, on 4 June 2010, testified that he had spent the afternoon of that day caring for snakes and other animals at a pet shop on Albert Walk in Bray. Adam Lally, a shopkeeper, confirmed that O'Connor entered the shop around midday and remained until about 4 or 5 pm, feeding the pets, especially the snakes, which O'Connor had an interest in. O'Connor's partner also testified that he had a pet snake in his hands later that night. The trial, held in the Central Criminal Court, has heard that O'Connor pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, admitting he struck O'Brien over the head with a rock. The judge has instructed the jury that no further witnesses will testify until Monday. The case remains at the trial stage.
In the Wicklow murder trial, Thomas O'Connor (29) is charged with killing John O'Brien (22) on 4 June 2010. Paramedic Francoise Coussay testified that O'Brien was found semi‑prone on his right side, without pulse, and that his skull appeared deformed. Advanced paramedic Claire McCann noted blood‑covered head and face, fractures to the left ear, possible brain matter in hair, and a flat cardiac monitor line. Dr Diane Daly examined a heavily blood‑stained rock from the scene and clothes from O'Brien's house, finding DNA from the deceased on the rock, door handles, and tracksuit bottoms, while the tracksuit's waistband matched O'Connor's DNA. The trial is proceeding before Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan and a twelve‑person jury.
Four new jurors were sworn into the Central Criminal Court for the trial of Vesel Jahiri, a 35‑year‑old man from Kosovo with no fixed abode, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Anna Finnegan, 25, and to assaulting Karl Finnegan on 21 September 2012 at Allendale Glen, Clonsilla, Dublin 15. The trial, to be presided over by Mr Justice Paul Coffey, will commence tomorrow before a jury of nine men and three women and is expected to last between four and five weeks.
In a Cork case, a 27‑year‑old man with significant intellectual difficulties was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for raping his seven‑year‑old nephew on three occasions between 2009 and 2011. The trial, lasting eight days, found the defendant guilty of three counts of rape. Judge Paul Coffey noted the age gap and the betrayal of trust, as the nephew's mother had allowed the man to stay in the family home. He acknowledged the defendant's disability but held him morally culpable, stating he knew his actions were wrong. The judge suspended the final six months of the term on the condition that the defendant participate in a sex‑offender treatment programme while in custody. He also imposed seven years of post‑release supervision, citing a high risk of re‑offending. The mother's victim impact statement expressed shock at the betrayal and a desire for justice. The unnamed 27-year-old pleaded not guilty and was convicted.
In a house on Tailteann Road in Navan, Josh Turner (24) was found guilty of murdering 27‑year‑old Christopher Nevin during a dispute over a pedigree chihuahua. Turner was sentenced to life imprisonment, the mandatory sentence for murder, at the Central Criminal Court. Wayne Cluskey (25), who was also present, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for his part in Nevin's death. Cluskey will be sentenced next Monday. The trial, lasting eight days, relied heavily on CCTV footage and testimony from close friends, including Wayne Casserly, who described the confrontation as savage. Nevin was struck with a hatchet and an axe, leading to his death. Both accused voluntarily admitted their roles four days after the incident. The court heard statements from Nevin's mother and wife, who expressed deep grief and described Turner as a monster. Cluskey's defence highlighted his lack of intent to kill and his claim of defending Turner.
At the Central Criminal Court, the State entered a Nolle Prosequi in the case against a 53-year-old man from Magherennan, Raphoe, County Donegal, discontinuing a murder charge. The defendant had been accused of the murder of a 67-year-old man at a residential address in Churchill, Donegal on 16 and 17 June 2012. The case was scheduled for trial before Justice Patrick McCarthy when the prosecution, represented by Brendan Grehan SC, formally withdrew the charge, indicating the State would not proceed further with the prosecution.
In 2016 a 48‑year‑old Latvian man pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault, anal rape, oral rape and false imprisonment of a 40‑year‑old Lithuanian woman in her Tipperary flat. He was sentenced to seven years imprisonment, but the Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal re‑sentenced him to nine years imprisonment. The judge described the assault as vicious, noting the victim was unable to lock her bedroom, was attacked for about 25 minutes, had her clothing torn off and was threatened with violence and sexual assault. The victim had recently lost her boyfriend to suicide and was in financial hardship. The judge acknowledged the offender's limited English and fatherhood but found the offence at the high end of the range, reducing the sentence by one year from the minimum of ten years. The final sentence was nine years imprisonment.
During a murder trial, witness Cian Wood testified that the deceased, John O'Brien, was aggressive and wanted to fight everyone he encountered that night. Wood, who was drinking with two Wicklow men at Superquinn, described how O'Brien, who was intoxicated, threw a punch at Wood and later punched him in the face. Wood said O'Brien threatened to "slice up" people and that he felt intimidated. He also recounted that O'Brien had been shouting at Thomas O'Connor, the accused, and that O'Brien ran at O'Connor, who then pinned him down. Wood agreed that O'Brien's aggression could have escalated the situation. The court heard additional testimony from O'Connor's partner and O'Brien's family, but the focus remained on O'Brien's hostile conduct that night.
During a Wicklow murder trial, witness Paul Duffy testified that he saw a man, Thomas O'Connor, beating another man, John O'Brien, on the side of a road. Duffy, his wife and 11‑year‑old daughter were returning from a birthday party when they passed the scene. He described O'Connor standing over O'Brien, striking him about four times with a rock, and not seeing O'Brien move. Duffy claimed to have seen brain matter, describing a mixture of grey and blood. The Deputy State Pathologist later presented a 1,655‑gram rock as the likely weapon that shattered O'Brien's skull, causing catastrophic brain injury. Dr Michael Curtis, the post‑mortem examiner, confirmed O'Brien died from a severe head injury with a comminuted skull fracture and lacerated meninges. The trial continues before Justice Margaret Heneghan and a jury.
Three jurors were discharged from the trial of Vesel Jahiri, a 35‑year‑old man from Kosovo with no fixed abode, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of Anna Finnegan, 25, and to assaulting Karl Finnegan on 21 September 2012 at Allendale Glen, Clonsilla, Dublin 15. The trial, scheduled to last five weeks, was delayed by the jurors' availability issues. Justice Paul Coffey announced the discharge and indicated that the trial would resume next Tuesday, with three additional jurors to be sworn in.
Richard Dekker, 30, has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court, pleading not guilty to the alleged murder of 17-year-old Daniel McAnaspie. The prosecution alleges that on February 26, 2010, Dekker participated in a ruse to lure McAnaspie to an isolated area in Blanchardstown, knowing another man intended to assault him with half garden shears. Although Dekker claims he did not wield the weapon, the state contends he is guilty of murder. McAnaspie, who was in the care of the HSE, went missing after being dropped off in Finglas by former social care worker Keith Homan. His decomposed remains were discovered three months later in a ditch in Rathfeigh, Co Meath, identified via DNA matching. During police interviews, Dekker admitted knowing of McAnaspie's death and led gardai to the scene by the Tolka River, alleging the other man killed the teenager. The trial, presided over by Justice Patrick McCarthy, continues tomorrow.
In a Wicklow murder case, Thomas O'Connor, aged 29, was accused of killing his best friend, John O'Brien, 22, on 4 June 2010. O'Connor told Gardaí that he did not intend to kill O'Brien when he struck him with a rock during a fight that escalated "for no reason." He claimed the altercation began after a night of drinking, during which he had consumed three litres of cider and half a bottle of wine. O'Connor said he had been hit by O'Brien, then grabbed a rock and struck him a few times before fleeing. He admitted to throwing the rock into a ditch, washing his hands at a friend's house, and burning his blood‑stained jumper in a field. O'Connor pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, and the trial is proceeding before Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan and a jury.
In the Central Criminal Court, Tina Roche, the ex‑girlfriend of Thomas O'Connor, testified about the night of John O'Brien's murder. Roche said O'Connor, who was 29, called her shortly before midnight on 4 June 2010 and arrived a few minutes later, looking worried and panting. He sat on her sofa with his hands clenched and covered in dry blood. Roche asked what had happened; he claimed he had been attacked and that the blood was from a cut he did not see. He asked for a cloth, a pot scourer, bleach and firelighters, which Roche gave him. She remembered placing the firelighters on his jumper and asking their purpose, to which he replied "Obviously." The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan, continues with a jury of twelve. Thomas O'Connor pleaded not guilty.
A 28‑year‑old man from Blanchardstown pleaded guilty to manslaughter for the 2010 killing of 17‑year‑old Daniel McAnaspie at Tolka Valley Park. At the Central Criminal Court, his defence counsel said the client wished to make a fresh plea before the jury. When asked, Noone answered "not guilty to murder, guilty to manslaughter." The State accepted the plea as an unequivocal acceptance of responsibility, and Justice Patrick McCarthy granted bail until 1 March to allow him to get his affairs in order.
During an eight‑day trial at the Central Criminal Court, a jury of twelve found Monika Matracka, aged 35, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by a majority verdict of 11‑to‑1. The case concerned the death of Michal Rejmer, aged 38, who disappeared on 30 December 2015 and was found dead on 8 January 2016. Evidence presented that Rejmer had lent Matracka money in 2009 and demanded repayment on 30 December, threatening her life. Matracka claimed she stabbed Rejmer in self‑defence, stating "I killed Michal." The body remained in their shared house for at least three days before she moved it to the back garden, wrapped in plastic. The jury heard forensic pathology indicating death from bleeding due to stab wounds to the arms. Mr Justice Paul Butler remanded Matracka in custody until the case was mentioned on 6 March. The trial concluded with no victim impact statement.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Thomas O'Connor, 29, admitted on the first day of proceedings that he killed his best friend, 22‑year‑old John O'Brien, with a rock more than four years earlier. O'Connor pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for an incident at Farrankelly Road, Delgany. The State's case, presented by Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, described the night of 4 June 2010: the pair were drinking in a supermarket carpark, had a quarrel, and O'Brien was struck repeatedly on the head by O'Connor. Witnesses, including a former girlfriend, were expected to testify about O'Connor's blood‑stained hands and claims of being attacked. The trial proceeded before Justice Margaret Heneghan and a jury of twelve. The article reports only the admission and the procedural details of the hearing.
A 30‑year‑old Cork man was found guilty of raping his former partner on 8 September 2013. He pleaded not guilty to the rape but pleaded guilty to forcing her to give him oral sex and to assault causing harm on 10 July 2013. The jury returned a guilty verdict on the rape after nearly four‑and‑a‑half hours of deliberation. The man has 16 previous convictions, including rape and aggravated sexual assault, and is serving a 12‑year sentence. He will be sentenced on 8 May. The victim, aged 26, described how the man grabbed her by the hair, forced her head between his legs, shouted "Suck my cock bitch," and forced her to perform oral sex. She escaped to the bathroom, then was assaulted again while her 15‑month‑old son cried. She later reported the incident to gardaí and sought help from the Rape Crisis Centre.
The jury in the Central Criminal Court is still deliberating the murder trial of 35‑year‑old Monika Matracka, who is charged with killing her housemate and former partner, Michal Rejmer, 38, at The Pines, Briarfield, Castletroy, Limerick. The alleged killing occurred sometime between 8 pm on 30 December and midnight on 31 December 2015. The jury has requested to view a 20 cm knife recovered from a public bin outside The Hurler's Bar on the Dublin Road and to re‑hear testimony from Chief State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy, who stated that Rejmer died from bleeding caused by stab wounds to his arms. Judge Paul Butler has offered the jury the option of a majority verdict if unanimity cannot be reached, but has emphasised the desirability of a unanimous decision. The jury has spent over three and a half hours considering its verdict and will resume deliberations later that day. Monika Matracka pleaded not guilty.
A jury was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin for the trial of Vesel Jahiri, 35, who is accused of murdering his former partner, Anna Finnegan, 25, at Allendale Glen, Clonsilla, on 21 September 2012. Jahiri pleaded not guilty to the murder and to assaulting Karl Finnegan at the same location and date. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Coffey, is expected to last five weeks.
The jury in the trial of Monika Matracka, 35, charged with murdering her housemate and former partner Michal Rejmer, 38, will resume deliberations at the Central Criminal Court tomorrow. The alleged murder occurred at The Pines, Briarfield, Castletroy, Limerick, sometime between 8 pm on 30 December and midnight on 31 December 2015. The jury has spent three hours and 36 minutes considering its verdict and has been given the option of a majority verdict by Mr Justice Paul Butler, who stated that a unanimous verdict is preferable but a verdict agreed by at least ten jurors would be accepted. Mr Carroll SC opened the prosecution case, noting that Ms Matracka claimed she stabbed Mr Rejmer in self‑defence. Mr Rejmer was reported missing on 6 January 2016 after failing to attend work, and his body was found on 8 January under plastic sheeting at the rear of his house. Monika Matracka pleaded not guilty.
An alcoholic 42‑year‑old from Limerick was sentenced to six years for sexually assaulting a 28‑year‑old woman in a Kerry town on 27 May 2013. The victim, who had been drinking with the accused in his apartment, fell asleep and was awakened by the man standing over her, punching her and repeatedly demanding oral sex. She was naked and unaware of how she had become undressed. The accused pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. Judge Patrick McCarthy, after hearing a probation report, imposed a six‑year term with the final two years suspended, conditional on compliance with probation directions, including offence‑focused counselling, alcohol treatment, and training, employment and educational services. The sentence aimed to protect the community and facilitate the accused's reintegration while recognising the gravity of the offence.