In a 2017 trial in Offaly, a 53‑year‑old man was found guilty of sexually abusing his 10‑year‑old daughter on six occasions between 1994 and 1996. He pleaded not guilty to three counts of assault and three counts of oral rape, but a jury convicted him on all six charges. The abuse occurred while the mother was away for work; the father would wake his daughter at night, take her to his bed, and force her to undress before abusing her. He left a £50 note after each incident, which the daughter later returned. The daughter, now 32, testified that she had remained silent for 20 years and only came forward in 2014 after learning her father had a new partner with young daughters. She said she had to break her silence to protect others and that the abuse had a profound effect on her trust in people.
In January 2015 a Dublin man, aged 53, was arrested after a jury found him guilty of three counts of sexual assault in November 2014, involving the touching of his heavily‑pregnant partner's anal area while she slept. The jury could not reach a verdict on two additional rape allegations from December 2014, and the man will face a retrial on those charges. Garda Brendan Harte revealed that police had discovered three video clips, each 31 to 57 seconds long, showing the man inserting a finger into the woman's anus while she slept, illuminated by a torch. The victim, aged 40, identified herself in the footage and claimed the acts were consensual, though she later stated she felt humiliated and degraded. She has since become a single mother and is taking antidepressants. The man has three prior convictions, including burglary and careless driving, but denies any history of abusive or threatening behaviour. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has begun deliberating the case of Norma Phillips, a 46‑year‑old Zimbabwean woman, who is accused of murdering her partner, 36‑year‑old Romanian national Stefan Neanu, with a knife on 12 April 2015. Phillips, who lives on Phibsboro Road, Dublin 7, pleaded not guilty. Justice Margaret Heneghan explained that the jury has three possible verdicts: guilty of murder if the prosecution proves beyond reasonable doubt that Phillips intended to kill or seriously injure Neanu and was not acting in self‑defence; guilty of manslaughter if the jury believes she acted in self‑defence but used more force than reasonably necessary; or not guilty if the jury believes she acted in self‑defence and used reasonable force. Over four days of evidence, the jury heard that Neanu died from a single stab wound that penetrated his lungs and heart.
A mother‑of‑one, Aisling Burke, originally charged with murdering Dale Creighton, began a one‑year jail term for violent disorder during the fatal attack on a Tallaght footbridge. The 14‑minute assault on the 20‑year‑old Creighton started after Burke's mobile phone was stolen as she walked home from a night club. Burke had been sentenced to five years with four suspended last week, but was given a week to arrange care for her child. She returned to the Central Criminal Court today. The court found that Burke did not inflict any physical violence on Creighton and sentenced her to five years in prison, suspending the final four years for two years on condition of good behaviour, keeping the peace and probation supervision. She was not required to enter a bond in court but will do so before the governor or a deputy of the governor in prison.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 33‑year‑old man was sentenced to five years' imprisonment and ordered to pay €40,000 in compensation after pleading guilty to raping his former partner. The judge, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, noted that the victim's impact statement described ongoing nightmares and a sense of loss, and that the offender had no prior convictions. He reduced an initial nine‑year sentence to six years on the basis of the offender's guilty plea and expressions of remorse, and further reduced it by one year because the offender's compensation payment was limited. The court ordered the offender to pay €20,000 within a week and the remainder within a month, citing his limited financial resources. The sentence was imposed with no mention of any future appeal or additional proceedings.
In 2016, a 66‑year‑old man from the UK was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of nine counts of raping his son from the age of six and one count of child cruelty, with an additional acquittal for a separate alleged rape with a poker. His 38‑year‑old partner was convicted of child cruelty but found not guilty of sexual assault allegations involving the child between ages six and seven. The parents had pleaded not guilty to 82 charges, of which 60 were withdrawn. The judge sentenced the man to 15 years' imprisonment, suspending the final year. In January 2017, the Court of Appeal granted the man an extension of time to appeal his conviction and sentence, with no objection from the State. The appeal was filed two‑and‑a‑half weeks late, and the man was not present for the procedural hearing.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution argued that Norma Phillips, 46, could not have acted in self‑defence when she stabbed Romanian national Stefan Neanu, 36, at her former home on 12 April 2015. Prosecutor Denis Vaughan Buckley SC described Phillips' account as "not believable," citing repeated lies to emergency services and Gardaí, including claims that a balaclava‑wearing intruder had stabbed Neanu. He highlighted that Phillips delayed calling 999 for five to ten minutes, left the knife on a rubbish pile, and later told Gardaí she had pulled the knife out and thrown it away. Buckley urged the jury to use common sense and find Phillips guilty of murder. Defence counsel Sean Gillane SC countered that Neanu was awake and able to walk when the emergency crew arrived, that Phillips' statements were made after learning of Neanu's death, and that she had given a voluntary statement. Norma Phillips pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 24‑year‑old William Gilsenan was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for manslaughter after killing 29‑year‑old Edward Fitzgerald during a dispute over a €100 debt. The incident occurred on 17 October 2014 in a car park outside Gilsenan's home. Witnesses reported that Fitzgerald threatened to damage Gilsenan's property, and after a confrontation Gilsenan entered his apartment, returned armed with a knife, and stabbed Fitzgerald twice—once through the leg and once through the heart, the latter causing death. Gilsenan pleaded not guilty to murder but was found not guilty of murder and guilty of manslaughter. The judge noted Gilsenan's lack of prior violence but cited the presence of a knife as an aggravating factor. The sentence was four years, with two years suspended, and the judge expressed that Gilsenan had no intention to kill. The victim's sister, Nicola O'Dea, expressed disappointment at the sentence, noting the impact on her family.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 46‑year‑old Zimbabwean Norma Phillips pleaded not guilty to the murder of her Romanian partner, Stefan Neanu, 36, on 12 April 2015. Phillips, who lived on Phibsboro Road, claimed she acted in self‑defence after Neanu allegedly waved a knife at her. She described their relationship as "on and off" and said they had been together for about four months, sharing meals and drinks but not living together. On the day of the incident, after a party at Neanu's aunt's house, the couple returned to Phillips's home where an argument escalated. Phillips said Neanu went to the kitchen upstairs, returned with a knife, and she pushed it away, inadvertently striking him. She called 999, and a recorded emergency call was read in court. The jury, reduced to eleven, will continue the trial the following day before Justice Margaret Heneghan.
In the Central Criminal Court, Norma Phillips, 46, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 36‑year‑old Stefan Neanu on 12 April 2015. She first told Gardaí that a man had run into her Phibsboro flat, stabbed Neanu, and fled, later claiming self‑defence. Garda Niall Cadden described her as hyper and anxious; she could not identify the assailant, only that he was Irish. Garda Stephen Rooney noted she repeatedly asked if Neanu was OK, and Garda Cadden agreed her statements about a man running in were untrue. Dublin Fire Brigade officer Ciaran Wilson found Neanu with a bleeding chin wound and a small chest wound, but no extensive blood. State Pathologist Marie Cassidy testified Neanu died from a stab wound that pierced his heart. Detective Garda Seamus O'Donnell identified a carving knife, 200 mm blade, as the alleged murder weapon. The trial continues tomorrow before Justice Margaret Heneghan and a jury of twelve.
Norma Phillips, 46, a Zimbabwean national, is on trial for the murder of Stefan Neanu, 36, who was stabbed on 12 April 2015 at her former home on Phibsboro Road. She pleaded not guilty and claimed she acted in self‑defence. Prosecutor Denis Vaughan Buckley said that when Gardaí and paramedics arrived, they found Neanu injured but conscious, and that Phillips initially reported an Irish man in a balaclava had stabbed him. In later interviews she said she had defended herself. The trial is proceeding before Justice Margaret Heneghan with a jury of four men and eight women.
Five men were sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for the killing of Dale Creighton, who died from blunt force injuries after a 14-minute assault at a Tallaght footbridge in 2014. The defendants, originally charged with murder, changed their pleas to guilty of manslaughter. Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy described the attack as prolonged and vicious, noting that the victims were 'pretty normal, average young people.' Graham Palmer (26) was jailed for five years; Ross Callery (23) and Jason Beresford (23) each received six-year sentences; David Burke (28) was sentenced to seven and a half years; and Gerard Stevens (27) received three years. Aisling Burke (23), who pleaded guilty to violent disorder, was given a five-year sentence with the final four years suspended for two years, though the imposition of this sentence was adjourned for one week to allow her to arrange childcare. James Reid (26), who pleaded guilty to possession of a knife, received a fully suspended two-year sentence and entered a €1,000 bond to be of good behaviour for two years. The victim's family expressed disappointment at the leniency of the sentences, particularly regarding the suspended portions.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 16 January 2017, Colm Deely, aged 44, admitted to manslaughter in the death of Deirdre McCarthy, 43, whose body was found on Fanore Beach on 31 March 2011. Deely had originally pleaded not guilty to murder and was convicted in June 2013, receiving a life sentence. The conviction was quashed in December 2016 after the Court of Appeal discovered that the state pathologist Dr Khalid Jabbar's evidence had not been peer‑reviewed, a procedural flaw highlighted by Deely's defence lawyer Gearoid Geraghty. The court ordered a retrial, and Deely pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The plea was accepted by the State, sentencing was adjourned until 13 March, and Deely was remanded in custody until that date. The case underscores the impact of unreviewed forensic evidence on criminal proceedings.
A 46‑year‑old Zimbabwean woman, Norma Phillips, will be tried at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of 36‑year‑old Stefan Neanu, a Romanian man, on 12 April 2015 in a flat on Phibsboro Road, Dublin 7. Phillips pleaded not guilty. Justice Patrick McCarthy has sworn a jury of seven women and five men, who will begin the two‑week trial tomorrow.
Martin Stokes, a 25-year-old man from Kinnegad, Westmeath, appeared before the Court of Appeal to challenge the severity of his sentence. He had previously pleaded not guilty to the defilement of a child under 15 in Westmeath on June 3, 2011, as well as rape and sexual assault. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty on all counts, and he was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, by Mr Justice Carroll Moran in August 2015. Stokes's earlier appeal against conviction was dismissed in December. In today's hearing, his barrister, Padraig Dwyer SC, argued that the sentence was excessive, noting the absence of additional violence or threats. Dwyer contended that the trial judge placed undue emphasis on Stokes's denials and the resulting trauma to the victim, while also highlighting the personal impact on Stokes, including the end of his marriage and separation from his child. Conversely, counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Pauline Walley SC, maintained the sentence was proportionate, citing the victim's severe depression, anxiety, and the disruption to her education caused by multiple trial dates. The court, comprising Mr Justice George Birmingham, Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, and Mr Justice Alan Mahon, reserved its judgment, indicating it hopes to deliver its decision as soon as possible. The matter remains adjourned pending this final ruling.
In a bail hearing before the Central Criminal Court, Judge Paul Coffey refused bail for Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan Dowdall (38) and his father Patrick Dowdall (59). Both men were charged with falsely imprisoning, assaulting and threatening to kill Alexander Hurley on 15 January 2015 at Navan Road, Dublin. They also face charges of possessing a firearm or imitation firearm and a handgun with intent to imprison Mr Hurley. The Dowdalls had applied for bail before Christmas, with Chief Superintendent Finbar O'Brien suggesting electronic tagging might satisfy security concerns. The judge examined the legislation and concluded that electronic tagging is not permitted for persons seeking bail. Consequently, the court adjourned the hearing to the new year and denied the bail applications, despite the defendants' willingness to increase surety from €10,000 to €20,000. The defendants are scheduled to go on trial in May.
A man from Carrigallen, County Leitrim, has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment following his conviction for the sexual abuse of a boy in his community. Damien Reilly, aged 39, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to sexual assault, oral rape, and anal rape. The offences occurred between 1994 and 2000, when the victim was aged between nine and fourteen years old and Reilly was between seventeen and twenty-two. The court heard that the victim came forward to gardaí in 2014 after an encounter with Reilly in a local public house. During sentencing, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy described the offences as grave and noted their serious impact on the complainant. The judge acknowledged Reilly's early guilty plea and early medical reports relating to a childhood stroke. Three years post-release supervision was also imposed.
A 33‑year‑old Latvian man, Dzintars Sacklausks, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, for assaulting his ill friend, Aigar Sildars, during a drinking party in Graigowen, Tullow, Co. Carlow. The assault occurred on the morning of 16 September 2014, the same day a third man, Gints Intembergs, was murdered. Sacklausks had pleaded not guilty to both the assault and murder charges, but the murder charge was dropped early in the trial and he later pleaded guilty to assault. The court noted that Sildars was drunk and injured, with facial bruising, and that Sacklausks had admitted the assault and left a blood spot on his shoe. Sildars, who has a reduced mobility illness, declined a victim impact statement but sent a letter to the judge expressing forgiveness and no ill will toward Sacklausks. The unnamed 33-year-old was found guilty.
Seven defendants appeared before the Central Criminal Court for sentencing following the death of Dale Creighton, who died from blunt force injuries sustained during an assault on a Tallaght footbridge on New Year's Day 2014. Originally charged with murder, the group pleaded guilty to lesser offences on the 15th day of their trial. Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, Gerard Stevens, Jason Beresford, and David Burke each pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Jason Beresford also pleaded guilty to violent disorder, as did Aisling Burke. James Reid pleaded guilty to possession of a knife with a blade or sharp point. The court heard victim impact statements from Creighton's parents, who expressed their enduring grief and stated they would never forgive those responsible. Counsel for the defendants submitted mitigation, noting that most expressed remorse and had no prior convictions. Aisling Burke's counsel highlighted her status as a mother and her early plea. Graham Palmer's counsel noted his cooperation with Gardaí and admission of involvement in punching and slapping the deceased. David Burke's counsel argued he did not cause serious harm and attempted to stop others. The judge is now considering appropriate sentences for these admitted offences.
Patrick Hutch, 24, from Champions Avenue, was denied bail by the Central Criminal Court after being charged with the murder of David Byrne, 34, at the Regency Hotel in Dublin. Byrne was shot dead during a boxing weigh‑in on 5 February by a gang of heavily armed raiders. Hutch also faces two Firearms Act charges for unlawfully possessing three assault rifles. The court, citing Section 2A of the Bail Act, remanded him in custody pending a trial in the Special Criminal Court expected to last three to four weeks.
A man has been convicted of kidnapping the mother of his children at the Central Criminal Court following a two-week trial. The jury returned a guilty verdict after deliberating for over five hours. However, jurors could not reach agreement on charges of rape and extreme domestic abuse during their five-year relationship. Justice Carmel Stewart remanded the accused in custody pending a prosecution decision next month on whether to seek a retrial on the outstanding counts. The woman, aged 29, had obtained a barring order against the man before the November 2014 incident in Longford. She alleged he forcibly removed her from her sister's house, drove recklessly along country roads, and held her at his friend's residence while threatening her. The accused pleaded not guilty to rape, false imprisonment, and production of an article. He also faced multiple assault charges spanning 2011 to 2015, though one assault charge and a breach of barring order were not proceeded with.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 21 December 2016, Terence 'Terry' Connors, aged 42, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for the death of Peter Conroy, aged 25, at Palmerstown Lodge B&B on 9 June 2015. Connors had pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter, but the prosecution rejected his plea. The jury, composed of seven women and five men, deliberated over five hours and returned a verdict by a 10‑to‑two majority. Connors was also convicted of a second count of assaulting Elaine Blunt on the same night. The court experienced violent scenes as family and friends of the deceased shouted and surged toward Connors; police and Gardaí in stab vests contained the crowd. The case was adjourned for mention on 17 January. The prosecution's case relied on CCTV footage and a witness statement from Blunt, who claimed to have seen Connors stab Conroy.
Jonathan Dowdall (38) and his father Patrick Dowdall (59) are awaiting trial for charges of falsely imprisoning, assaulting and threatening to kill Alexander Hurley on 15 January last year. They also face charges of possessing a sawn‑off shotgun and a handgun with intent to imprison Hurley. Both men applied for bail at the Central Criminal Court, but the court, citing Section 2A of the Bail Act, refused bail to prevent a serious offence. The Dowdalls offered to accept electronic tagging and other conditions. Judge Paul Coffey noted that such measures could reduce risk and adjourned the matter to the new year to explore tagging. Both men remain in custody until 13 January. The case is set for trial next May.
A 33‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to raping his former partner in a Dublin suburb on 26 January 2014. The victim, who suffered severe physical and psychological harm, gave a victim impact statement describing nightmares, loss of motherhood and suicidal thoughts. The court adjourned sentencing to January 2020 to allow consideration of potential significant compensation. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy noted the adjournment would not affect the sentence and remanded the accused in custody until 16 January. The prosecution highlighted the couple's long relationship, the rape's violent nature, and the victim's post‑incident trauma. The defence, represented by Caroline Biggs SC, presented evidence of the accused's remorse, counselling, and family support, requesting the court consider these factors in sentencing.
James Walsh, aged 30, pleaded guilty to possession of a pistol with intent to endanger life after a shooting at the Church of the Transfiguration in Clondalkin on 26 March 2014. He shot himself in the leg while escaping the scene. The prosecution sought a nolle prosequi on a separate attempted murder charge against Michael Frazer, 37, who was shot twice and later sought sanctuary at a Garda station. On 1 December 2016, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy sentenced Walsh to ten years' imprisonment, backdated to his initial custody on 5 December 2014. The judge highlighted strong circumstantial evidence, including a black jacket, a mobile phone, and a spent bullet found in Walsh's car, linking him to the shooting. Walsh had spent two years in custody awaiting trial and had prior convictions. The sentence reflected the seriousness of using a firearm to endanger life.
A 75‑year‑old man, previously jailed in the UK for raping his step‑children, was convicted in Ireland for repeatedly raping his daughter. After being released in the mid‑1990s, he travelled to Asia, married, and later settled in Dublin where he and his wife had two daughters in 2003 and 2005. He began molesting the youngest daughter when she was six, escalating to oral rape when she was seven, and continued to rape her for the next two years. The abuse came to light in December 2013 when his terminally ill wife reported concerns to hospital staff. Gardaí discovered his prior convictions and that he had left the daughters unattended in a library. A search of his flat revealed passports in the daughters' names. He pleaded guilty to seven counts of sexual assault and four counts of oral rape between January 2012 and December 2013.
Martin Stokes, aged 25, of Corkhill, Kinnegad, was convicted of defilement of a child under 15 and of raping a 14‑year‑old girl in a field in Westmeath on 3 June 2011. He pleaded not guilty, denied knowledge of the girl and later claimed their interaction was consensual. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty on all counts. He received a 12‑year sentence, with the final two years suspended by Mr Justice Carroll Moran on 7 August 2015. Stokes appealed on 14 grounds, including the admission of inadmissible hearsay that he had threatened the complainant and other procedural objections. The Court of Appeal, after considering the grounds cumulatively, rejected the appeal. Stokes did not react to the judgment and will appeal the severity of his sentence in the next term.
A 45‑year‑old Laois man was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, for raping and violently assaulting his wife in their marital bed after she declined to hold his hand. The judge described the case as tragic and noted the victim's emotional impact statement, in which she said she felt like a ghost and that her life and family relationships were destroyed. The man's two adult sons testified in support of him, describing him as a good father. He has pleaded guilty to assault causing harm but denies the rape conviction. The court considered that he had no prior convictions and had led a blameless life before the incident. The sentencing hearing took place in the Central Criminal Court, where the judge highlighted the severity of the victim's suffering and the man's remorse as expressed in a letter to the judge.
A jury will return to the Central Criminal Court tomorrow to decide the verdict in the trial of Terence 'Terry' Connors, 42, of Drumcairn Avenue, Tallaght, Dublin 24. Connors has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Peter Conroy, 27, at Palmerstown Lodge B&B on 9 June 2015. His manslaughter plea was not accepted by the State. He also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Elaine Blunt on the same date at the same location. Justice Paul Butler explained that the jury has three possible verdicts: not guilty if he acted in self‑defence with no more force than necessary; not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter if he used more force than necessary; or guilty of murder if the prosecution proves beyond reasonable doubt that he was not acting in self‑defence and intended to kill or cause serious injury.
Terence 'Terry' Connors, aged 42, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of Peter Conroy, 27, at Palmerstown Lodge B&B on 9 June 2015. He also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Elaine Blunt on the same day. Defence argued Connors was defending his partner Brigid when he used a knife after being provoked by a vodka bottle thrown at him or his son. The barrister highlighted CCTV showing a fight in the hallway and Connors' involvement only after the provocation. Prosecutor Paul Carroll countered that Connors brought a concealed knife, used it to stab Conroy, and that the natural consequence of such an act is death. He urged the jury to consider Connors' claim of self‑defence and to decide on the appropriate charge. The case was presented to a jury of twelve at the Central Criminal Court, with the judge to charge them tomorrow.
The sentence hearing for seven accused in the 2014 death of Dale Creighton was adjourned, with Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy indicating sentences will be announced in January. The accused, originally charged with murder, pleaded guilty to lesser offences after their initial not-guilty pleas were withdrawn during trial. Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, Gerard Stevens, Jason Beresford, and David Burke pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Jason Beresford and Aisling Burke pleaded guilty to violent disorder. James Reid pleaded guilty to possession of a knife. Evidence presented included CCTV footage and testimony from Sergeant Brian Cagney, who stated Creighton was found unconscious on a Tallaght footbridge without a mobile phone, despite an allegation he had stolen one. Creighton died from blunt force injuries. The court noted prior convictions for David Burke, James Reid, and Gerard Stevens. A letter from Beresford, read by counsel, apologized to the Creighton family. The matter remains pending final sentencing.
Diarmuid Manning, 21, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison after admitting he raped a 19‑year‑old college student at a house party in Cork on 24 June 2014. The victim, who was unconscious and later treated at Cork University Hospital, described the assault in a victim impact report read at the Central Criminal Court. Manning, a business studies student from Stuke, Donoughmore, pleaded guilty to rape and oral rape. He apologized, claiming he had overdone it while drinking, and expressed hope that the victim would recover and forgive him. The judge noted the victim's compassion and the seriousness of the crime, remanding Manning to custody after hearing the evidence.
Ellen O'Driscoll, aged 24, gave a victim impact statement to the Central Criminal Court on 19 December 2016, saying her family has been torn apart after she accused her father, Patrick O'Driscoll, of repeatedly raping her between 2009 and 2009 when she was 16‑17. She said her mother, sisters, brothers, uncles and aunts all took her father's side, leaving her isolated from the Traveller community. O'Driscoll described the abuse as weekly, involving forced entry into the parents' bedroom, bondage, and rape, after which her father behaved as a normal loving father. She also said she was prevented from attending school and threatened with death if she disclosed the abuse. The trial, held last month, found Patrick O'Driscoll guilty of 61 counts of rape; he denied the charges. He is in custody and will be sentenced by Mr Justice Paul Butler on 17 January 2017. Ellen O'Driscoll was found guilty.
Paul Wells Jnr, aged 30, faces trial for impeding a murder investigation by disposing of a chainsaw. He is charged with obstructing the apprehension or prosecution of his father, Paul Wells Snr, 48, who is alleged to have killed Kenneth O'Brien, 33, in Finglas on 15 or 16 January 2016. The Central Criminal Court set the trial for 19 February 2018.
In a sentencing hearing that began on 19 December 2016, five Dublin men who had admitted killing a 20‑year‑old on a Tallaght footbridge on New Year's Morning 2014 were sentenced. The men, all in their twenties and from Tallaght, had originally been charged with murder but the charges were dropped on the 15th day of the trial after they pleaded guilty to lesser offences. The victims' death was caused by blunt force injury to the head and face. The defendants – Aisling Burke (23), David Burke (28), Graham Palmer (26), Ross Callery (23), James Reid (26), Jason Beresford (23) and Gerard Stevens (27) – had all pleaded not guilty to murder but later pleaded guilty to manslaughter, violent disorder or possession of a knife. The court heard CCTV footage and Garda interview memos during the hearing.
A 35‑year‑old man, Juraci Da Silva, originally from Brazil, has been charged with the murder of 28‑year‑old James Banville on 8 October 2016 at New Street, Waterford. The Central Criminal Court has set his trial for 2 October 2017.
A 43‑year‑old woman, Mercy Peters, originally from Sierra Leone, faces trial for the murder of her former partner, Tyrone McKenna, aged 42, who was killed on 17 July 2014 at their shared home in Marlay Court, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14. The Central Criminal Court, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, has set the trial for 3 July 2017.
A 65‑year‑old man, Donal Colgan, has been charged with the murder of David Sheridan, 45, who was killed outside a chip shop on North Strand Road, Dublin 1, on 17 or 18 August 2014. The Central Criminal Court, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, has set the trial for 31 October 2017.
A witness has testified at the Central Criminal Court that an alleged kidnapping and rape victim did not appear distressed when she visited her home on the night in question. The accused man, from Longford, has pleaded not guilty to rape, false imprisonment, and production of an article in November 2015, as well as three counts of assault causing harm between 2011 and 2015. The prosecution alleges he kidnapped the woman after she obtained a barring order against him, and subjected her to violence and degradation over a five-year relationship. The defence witness stated the woman drank cider at her home that evening and exhibited no signs of upset. However, prosecuting counsel suggested the alleged victim had told the witness she was there against her will and questioned why she left at 3am in a distressed state. The trial will resume on Monday with closing speeches before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, Terence 'Terry' Connors, aged 42, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of Peter Conroy, 27, at Palmerstown Lodge B&B on 9 June 2015. The State did not accept the manslaughter plea. Connors also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Elaine Blunt on the same day. He testified that he had been at the B&B with his partner Brigid, had taken a small amount of cocaine and been drinking, and that men were "roaring and shouting" at his children. He claimed he "blanked" when he heard his boys and took a knife he had bought a week earlier, saying he did not intend to kill anyone and was sorry the incident occurred. CCTV footage was cited by both sides, with defence arguing it showed Connors only intervening after a glass was thrown at his children. The trial continues before a jury of twelve.
Bernadette Scully, after being found not guilty of the manslaughter of her 11‑year‑old daughter Emily Barut, used her post‑verdict statement to highlight the lack of services for people with disabilities. She said that she had been in a very dark place four years ago, feeling she had no reason to live after Emily's death, but with the help of family, friends and professional support she found the strength to go on. Scully urged anyone with mental health difficulties or who has considered self‑harm to reach out for help. She thanked her partner, her daughter, her mother, siblings, the judge, jury, court officials, gardai, her legal team and medical staff for their support. She also thanked the kindness of family, friends, neighbours, colleagues, the people of Tullamore and Edenderry, and strangers who sent messages, cards, flowers and Mass bouquets.
A 25‑year‑old man from the midlands was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for raping his niece over a seven‑year period. He began molesting the seven‑year‑old when he was 15, and the abuse escalated to rape and anal rape. The assaults occurred in a relative's house, a treehouse in the grandparents' garden, and the girl's home while her uncle was babysitting her and her younger sister. He pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault and seven counts of rape between January 2007 and August 2014. The judge, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, noted the evidence was "disgusting" and that the accused had full moral culpability, but also acknowledged his remorse and participation in risk‑management therapy. The sentence was reduced from an initial 15‑year recommendation to ten years, with five years of post‑release supervision.
A 32‑year‑old man, Fionn Braidwood, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for stabbing his retired psychiatrist mother, Jane Braidwood, to death with a kitchen knife on 20 January 2015 at their Clarinda Park East home. He was also charged with assault causing harm to Ceili Braidwood and Anthony Maguire on the same day. After a 32‑minute deliberation, a jury returned the special verdict on all three counts. The Central Criminal Court, hearing evidence from Dr Sally Linehan, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, noted that Mr Braidwood has been under care at the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) since January 2015 and suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and depression. Dr Linehan reported partial improvement but ongoing low mood, social withdrawal and lack of motivation, and recommended continued inpatient treatment. Justice Carmel Stewart ordered Mr Braidwood to be committed to the CMH for ongoing care.
An Offaly GP, Bernadette Scully, was tried for the manslaughter of her 11‑year‑old daughter, Emily Barut, who had severe epilepsy and microcephaly. The prosecution alleged that Scully had given Emily an excessive dose of chloral hydrate on 15 September 2012, leading to intoxication and death. Scully claimed she had administered the drug when Emily became upset at 2 am and 6 am, and again after a seizure at 11 am, stating she had given more than double the usual amount in nine hours. Laboratory tests found Emily's blood contained ten times the therapeutic level of the drug's metabolite, and a post‑mortem confirmed death by chloral hydrate intoxication. The jury deliberated for four hours and two minutes and returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty. The judge discharged the jury and the case concluded with Scully's release.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Terence 'Terry' Connors, aged 42, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of Peter Conroy, 27, who was stabbed at Palmerstown Lodge B&B on 9 June 2015. Professor Marie Cassidy testified that Conroy suffered four knife wounds, including one to the neck that severed a major artery. Connors also faced a not‑guilty plea for assaulting Elaine Blunt at the same address. During the trial, Blunt was warned by Judge Paul Butler that she could be removed and held if she did not behave after a confrontation with defence counsel Garnet Orange SC. Blunt testified that she had been at a wedding that night, that she had a fight with Connors' partner Brigid over stolen jeans, and that she saw Connors stab Conroy with a knife. The trial continues before Justice Butler and a jury.
James Walsh, 30, pleaded guilty to possession of a pistol firearm with intent to endanger life at the Church of the Transfiguration, Clondalkin, on 26 March 2014. The offence arose from a shooting that occurred at the church that evening. Walsh's plea was accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions and a nolle prosequi was entered on a count of attempted murder of Michael Frazer, 37, who was shot and later presented to Clondain Garda Station bleeding and distressed. Walsh had a prior firearms offence in 2006, for which he was convicted in 2007. Counsel for the DPP argued that a mandatory minimum of 10 years applies to a second firearms offence under legislation enacted 1 November 2006. Counsel for Walsh contended that the court was not bound to impose the minimum and urged consideration of his guilty plea and rehabilitation efforts. Judge Patrick McCarthy noted the seriousness of firearms offences and the limited discretion in sentencing.
The jury will resume deliberations on Friday morning in the trial of a 58‑year‑old Offaly GP charged with the manslaughter of her 11‑year‑old daughter, Emily Barut, who was profoundly disabled with microcephaly, severe epilepsy and was unable to speak or move. The GP is accused of unlawfully killing Emily by giving her an excessive quantity of chloral hydrate on 15 September 2012. She pleaded not guilty and the case is being heard at the Central Criminal Court. The judge explained that the jury must be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the GP's conduct was a substantial cause of death and that she had a duty of care to the deceased. He also explained the legal test for manslaughter, noting that a doctor may be found negligent only if her conduct deviates from accepted medical practice. The jury must reach a unanimous verdict.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 14 December 2016, Terry (Terence) Connors, aged 42, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of Peter Conroy, 27, who was stabbed at Palmerstown Lodge B&B on 9 June 2015. Connors also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Elaine Blunt, Conroy's partner, at the same address. The prosecution presented mainly oral evidence and CCTV footage from the B&B, showing the early‑morning events, a fight between two women, and Connors' presence on the premises. The court heard from Garda Sharon Hanly, who described the scene with Conroy lying on the footpath and a male holding a towel to his neck, and from Chief State Pathologist Marie Cassidy, who attributed Conroy's death to hemorrhage and shock from a knife wound to the neck and stab wounds to the head and neck. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Butler, was expected to last three to four days.
A 24‑year‑old, William Gilsenan, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for killing drug dealer Edward Fitzgerald (29) during a €100 debt dispute. The trial, lasting ten days at the Central Criminal Court, ended with a unanimous verdict after 2 h 35 min of jury deliberation. Gilsenan had pleaded not guilty to murder; defence counsel sought bail, but Justice Paul Butler ruled that bail would only be granted under extraordinary circumstances following a manslaughter conviction. He remanded Gilsenan in custody until a sentencing hearing on 12 January. The case involved an argument in a car park where Fitzgerald demanded money; Gilsenan claimed self‑defence after being struck, but the jury concluded he used excessive force. The verdict was delivered after the judge explained the possible outcomes and the conditions for each. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for 12 January.
Bernadette Scully, a 58-year-old Offaly GP, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the alleged manslaughter of her profoundly disabled 11-year-old daughter, Emily Barut. The prosecution alleges that Scully unlawfully killed Barut at their home in Tullamore on September 15, 2012, through an act of gross negligence involving the administration of an excessive quantity of chloral hydrate. Scully has pleaded not guilty. The case centers on allegations that she administered the sedative multiple times after Barut, who suffered from microcephaly and severe epilepsy, experienced distress and a seizure following a medical procedure. During closing speeches, both the prosecution and defence acknowledged the emotional nature of the case. Judge Patrick McCarthy charged the jury to set aside all emotion and apply the law objectively. He explained that the State must prove beyond reasonable doubt that Scully's conduct was a substantial cause of death and that she failed to observe the ordinary and necessary care expected of a professional, resulting in negligence to a very high degree. The judge clarified that while the test is objective, a doctor following approved medical practice is generally protected from negligence findings unless the practice is obviously defective. The jury, comprising seven women and five men, was instructed that their verdict must be unanimous and that they may take as long as necessary to deliberate. The matter is currently at the trial stage, with the jury set to begin deliberations.