On 11 August 2015, Patrick O'Rourke, aged 63, attempted to murder his former partner Donna Foster at their home in Cooline Drive, Ballyvoloon, Cobh, Co Cork. He pleaded guilty to the attempted murder and to assault causing harm to a minor on the same day. At a hearing in the Central Criminal Court, Justice Patrick McCarthy heard evidence and adjourned sentencing until the following Friday. Foster delivered a victim impact statement, describing the "continuous, vicious and frenzied attack" that left her with serious stab wounds, ongoing medical supervision, loss of her hairdressing business, fatigue, concentration difficulties, panic attacks and a changed outlook on life. She credited the intervention of the minor who was also injured for her survival. The court also heard from Detective Garda Michael Dillane, who noted that the relationship had broken down two weeks before the attack and that there had been no prior violence. The hearing concluded with the judge postponing sentencing to the next Friday.
A jury was discharged after discovering a 29‑second gap in CCTV footage used in the murder trial of Donal Colgan, who was accused of killing 45‑year‑old David Sheridan outside Luigi's chip shop on North Strand Road on 17/18 August 2014. Justice Carmel Stewart explained that the missing footage had not been noticed by either the prosecution or defence counsel and that it could be significant. The jury had spent about three hours deliberating before returning to court to ask about the gap. After the judge confirmed the missing portion and deemed it a mistake, she informed the jury that counsel for the defence had applied to discharge them. She noted that the defence and prosecution had questioned witnesses under the assumption that the footage was continuous, and that fair procedure required the jury to be discharged. The judge thanked the jury for their diligence and exempted them from further duty for ten years. Donal Colgan pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 23 November 2016, Justice Carmel Stewart instructed a jury of nine men and three women that the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that Donal Colgan, 65, committed murder. Colgan had pleaded not guilty to the killing of David Sheridan, 45, outside Luigi's chip shop on North Strand Road on 17/18 August 2014. The judge noted that Colgan admitted stabbing Sheridan and that the defence accepted the killing was unlawful. Colgan claimed he was attacked by Sheridan and that he "lost it" and had no intention to use the knife until provoked. Justice Stewart explained that the defence of provocation applies when a sudden, unforeseen onset of passion deprives the accused of self‑control, and that self‑defence may be considered if the force used was more than necessary.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution argued that former British Army soldier Donal Colgan, aged 65, was in control of his actions when he stabbed David Sheridan, aged 45, to death outside Luigi's chip shop on North Strand Road on 17/18 August 2014. Paul Burns SC presented evidence that Colgan left the scene after a fight, returned nine minutes later armed with a knife, and stabbed Sheridan, stating that Colgan had time to cool off on the walk home and back. The defence contended that if Colgan had lost control due to Sheridan's provocation, he should be found guilty of manslaughter, not murder, and that self‑defence was not applicable. The defence also highlighted alleged false testimony by witness Gary Kinlan and suggested Colgan's background of depression and panic attacks might explain his behaviour. Donal Colgan pleaded not guilty.
John Hannigan, aged 48, was convicted of murder and assault causing harm after killing his friend Anthony Fallon on 18 January 2012 in Clonmel. The Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty on both counts and he received a mandatory life sentence on 28 February 2014. The trial revealed that Hannigan had called an ambulance at 7 a.m. and that a post‑mortem found 31 rib fractures, plus fractures to the collar and breast bones, with blunt force trauma to the head and trunk as the major cause of death. Hannigan claimed he had lost his temper because Fallon would not stop talking and had punched him "hard and fast" like Bruce Lee, but he later told the Gardaí he was panicking. He had also claimed to have a black belt in karate, which he later admitted he did not have. John Hannigan pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 16‑year‑old, who could not be named because of his age, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the death of 21‑year‑old Lorcan O'Reilly. The incident occurred at the Oliver Bond flats in Dublin on the night of 1 November 2015, during a Halloween bonfire. The boy, aged 14 at the time, had been involved in a fight and was seen on CCTV with a hurley. He later returned to the scene, stabbed O'Reilly twice, the second wound puncturing the heart. O'Reilly was taken to St James's Hospital, suffered cardiac arrest and died at 4.05 am. The court noted the boy had no prior convictions and that 19 arrests were made in the investigation. Sentencing was adjourned to 6 February 2017, with the accused remanded on bail.
In Waterford, a 47‑year‑old man was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment for sexually abusing his nephew in the 1980s and raping the nephew's sister a decade later. The victims were aged four to five when the abuse began. The abuse was reported after the youngest victim approached Gardaí in 2012, followed by her brother's complaint. The brother explained that he had wanted to come forward sooner but could not find the words, and that the abuse remained secret until his sister spoke out. The sister, who was four when the abuse started, described the lasting impact, including thoughts of suicide, drug and alcohol misuse, and the difficulty of describing the trauma. She said no sentence could restore her childhood. The accused pleaded guilty to rape, oral rape, sexual assault and indecent assault between 1988 and 2003. He has a mild intellectual disability, and a doctor noted concerns about his ability to cope alone in prison.
A 16‑year‑old, who cannot be named, admitted stabbing 21‑year‑old Lorcan O'Reilly to death after a Halloween bonfire. At an arraignment in the Central Criminal Court, the accused pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The plea was accepted by the prosecution. The boy was 14 when the killing occurred.
Thomas Kinsella, 37, a homeless man, was convicted of manslaughter by reason of self‑defence for the fatal stabbing of 23‑year‑old John Murdoch on 27 August 2011 in Tallaght. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty in December 2012 and he received a 14‑year prison sentence, five of which were suspended, on 31 January 2013. Kinsella's barrister Brendan Grehan SC has now withdrawn an appeal against conviction and is pursuing only a sentence appeal. Grehan argues the headline 14‑year term is unjustified and the five‑year suspended period is excessively long, especially given Kinsella's drug addiction and the circumstances of the incident. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Dominic McGinn SC, contended that Kinsella's habitual knife carrying aggravated the offence and justified the suspended period. The Court of Appeal will consider the appeal. Thomas Kinsella pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 16 November 2016, Patrick O'Rourke, aged 63, pleaded guilty to attempting to murder his former partner Donna Foster after a violent attack on 11 August 2015. He admitted repeatedly stabbing Foster, exposing her airway and causing severe abdominal injuries that required a four‑hour operation. Foster's injuries were described as life‑threatening, and she was discharged from hospital two weeks later. O'Rourke also pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to a minor present at the scene. He apologized to Foster and the minors, wishing her health and success, and expressed remorse for the harm caused. O'Rourke was remanded in custody pending a sentence hearing on 25 November 2016. The court noted that a jury was not required due to his guilty plea. The unnamed 63-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 45‑year‑old man named David Sheridan died from multiple stab wounds inflicted outside a Dublin chip shop on 17/18 August 2014. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that he examined Sheridan's body on 18 August and identified four stab wounds: one to the abdomen severing blood vessels from the intestine to the liver, another to the left lung, and two to the arm and hand, indicating attempts to defend himself. Curtis concluded Sheridan died from the wounds. He also identified a knife from Donal Colgan's home as the most likely instrument. Colgan, aged 65, pleaded not guilty to the murder. Witness Gary Kinlan, a friend of Sheridan, claimed Colgan attacked him and then stabbed Sheridan, but was cross‑examined and admitted lying to Gardaí. The trial proceeded with a jury of nine men and three women, hearing further evidence tomorrow.
In an appeal-stage procedural context, the Central Criminal Court addressed the sentencing of a 23-year-old Kildare man who pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault and two counts of oral rape committed against an 11-year-old victim between 2008 and 2009. The defendant, who was 15 at the time of the offences, admitted the charges in July 2016, with pleas accepted on the basis that the abuse occurred more frequently than the four listed incidents. Defence counsel Hugh Hartnett SC argued that under the 2001 Children's Act, detention must be a last resort for juveniles, urging a non-custodial sentence given the offender's age, remorse, and lack of prior convictions. Prosecution counsel Mary Rose Gearty SC highlighted the victim's testimony that the abuse destroyed her childhood and self-confidence. Mr Justice Tony Hunt acknowledged the case was "finely balanced" and distinct from typical rape sentencing, noting the Court of Appeal had recently overturned a suspended sentence for Norwegian Magnus Meyer Hustveit, who pleaded guilty to repeatedly raping his partner while she slept. Mr Justice Hunt adjourned the case to November 28 for sentence, remanding the defendant on continuing bail while explicitly stating that this bail decision was not an indication of the eventual sentence.
In the Central Criminal Court, Donal Colgan, aged 65, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 39‑year‑old David Sheridan outside Luigi's chip shop on North Strand Road on 17/18 August 2014. Prosecutor Paul Burns SC presented evidence that Colgan had left the chip shop after an altercation, returned minutes later armed with a knife, and stabbed Sheridan multiple times, leading to Sheridan's death the following day. CCTV footage from the Sunset House pub, Luigi's chip shop and a nearby Centra was shown to the jury. The footage showed Colgan drinking heavily at the pub, arriving at the chip shop, engaging with other customers, leaving the shop, walking back to his home, and then returning to the shop with a knife. He was seen walking away from the scene carrying the knife, without attempting to conceal it. The trial continued the next day before Justice Carmel Stewart and the jury.
Brian Butler, aged 31, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for sexually abusing his younger sister, Leanne Butler, between 2000 and 2002. Butler began the abuse at age 14 and continued until he was 17, when his sister was between nine and twelve. The court heard that Butler committed a series of offences, including sexual assault and oral rape, at their family home. Leanne testified that the abuse devastated her childhood, describing the home as a war zone and expressing feelings of fear, confusion and pain. She noted that her family was torn apart and that she had once considered death but chose to live. Butler pleaded guilty, acknowledged his wrongdoing, and had participated in therapeutic services. The judge imposed the six‑year sentence and four years of post‑release supervision, including offence‑focused work and a victim awareness programme.
In a 2016 Offaly case, Thomas Moran, aged 52, was convicted of 13 counts of indecent assault on his sister Roisin between 1981 and 1984, when she was eight. He also pleaded guilty to seven counts against sister Dolores between 1980 and 1983, when she was 12 to 15. Both sisters waived anonymity and testified. The judge, Justice Robert Eager, sentenced Moran to three years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, citing his juvenile status during much of the offending and his unlikely re‑offending. He praised the sisters' determination and bravery for reporting the abuse, which began after their father's death when Moran assumed the "man of the house" role. The sisters endured family upheaval and guilt, and only after a nervous breakdown in 2000 did Roisin report the abuse to Gardaí in 2012, following the Jimmy Saville case.
Donal Colgan, a 64-year-old man from Killarney Street, Dublin 1, pleaded not guilty to the murder of David Sheridan, a 45-year-old father of three. The alleged killing took place at North Strand Road, Dublin 1, on August 17 or 18, 2014. Colgan is accused of murdering Sheridan outside a Dublin chip shop. Following the plea, Justice Patrick McCarthy directed the jury to select a foreman and return to the Central Criminal Court the following day. The trial is scheduled to begin tomorrow. This report reflects the procedural stage of the trial, where the defendant has entered a not guilty plea to the contested charge of murder. No findings, sentences, or final dispositions have been recorded at this stage. The matter is proceeding to trial as indicated by the court's instructions for the jury's return.
Patrick O'Rourke, 63, of Cooline Drive, Ballyvoloon, Cobh, Co Cork, pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of his partner, Donna Foster, at their home on 11 August 2015. A jury was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court today to hear his trial, with Justice Patrick McCarthy asking the panel to select a foreman and return on Wednesday.
A Chinese national, Zhen Dong Zhao, 39, pleaded guilty to manslaughter for the killing of Noel Fegan outside his internet cafe on Wellington Quay on 20 May 2011. The plea was accepted by the State and a sentencing hearing is set for 5 December. Zhao had previously pleaded not guilty to murder but was convicted in 2012 and sentenced to life imprisonment; that conviction was later quashed after a retrial was ordered by the Court of Criminal Appeal for errors in the trial judge's explanation of provocation. Justice Patrick McCarthy granted continuing bail until the sentencing date.
In Portarlington, Deivydas Zigelis, a 39‑year‑old Lithuanian, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter of Alexander Karpovs, a 26‑year‑old Latvian, after a drunken dispute over food. Karpovs died on 15 February 2014 from a single stab wound to the heart. Zigelis was sentenced to seven years at the Central Criminal Court, with the final two years suspended, giving an effective custodial term of five years. The judge noted the killing was not premeditated, describing the scene as a "hovel" and Zigelis as a "functioning alcoholic" who has vowed never to drink again and shown genuine remorse. The court heard a victim impact statement from Karpovs' mother in Latvia, who said her son's death had left her "stressed out all the time" and unable to sleep. The case involved a house filled with broken crockery, drink cans and cigarette boxes, and a third man who was also heavily intoxicated.
At the Central Criminal Court, Liam Power, a 53-year-old Wexford man, is on trial for the murder of Gints Intembergs in Co Carlow. Power has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. He also faces a charge of assault causing harm against Aigar Sildars, to which he has pleaded not guilty. Defence counsel Michael Delaney SC urged the jury to keep feelings of revulsion in check, arguing Power lacked the intent for murder and was provoked. The prosecution, led by Paul Greene SC, countered that Power's actions were sadistic and self-serving, urging a murder conviction. In a related development, co-accused Dzintars Sackalausks, of Co Carlow, had initially pleaded not guilty to both the murder of Mr Intembergs and the assault on Mr Sildars. The State dropped the murder charge against Sackalausks. He subsequently entered a guilty plea to the charge of assaulting Mr Sildars, causing him harm on the same occasion. Sackalausks will be sentenced at a later date. The trial for Power continues, with the judge set to charge the jury.
The State has dropped the murder charge against a 33‑year‑old man, who told Gardaí that his co‑accused had stamped on the deceased man's head and testicles numerous times. Both men have been on trial at the Central Criminal Court for almost two weeks. The court heard that Latvian man Gints Intembergs was found dead on his kitchen floor in Co Carlow on the morning of 16 September 2014. Liam Power (53) of no fixed abode and Dzintars Sackalausks (33) of Barrowvale, Graiguecullen, Co Carlow were charged with murdering him on that or the previous day. Mr Sackalausks pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Each accused also pleaded not guilty to assaulting another man, Aigar Sildars, causing him harm on the same occasion. The prosecution, represented by Paul Greene SC, addressed Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy after the jury arrived in court.
A 31‑year‑old Dublin man, who was a teenager when he sexually abused his younger sister, will be sentenced later this month. The victim, aged nine to twelve at the time, said the abuse began after a football computer game and involved inappropriate touching, finger penetration, forced masturbation and oral rape. The incidents occurred at the family home between 2000 and 2002. The girl first reported the abuse to a school friend, leading to family and social services involvement. The accused pleaded guilty to sexual assault and oral rape at the Central Criminal Court. He had attended therapeutic services and a formal complaint was not made to Gardaí until 2013. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy remanded him in custody for finalisation of the sentence later this month. The victim, now 26, described the impact as devastating, noting that her family was torn apart and she felt blamed for what happened.
Brian Veale, 31, was sentenced to life imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Graham Johnson in the kitchen of Cork Prison on 16 May 2015. Veale stabbed Johnson through the heart with a carving knife after an argument over television channels. The jury found him guilty after deliberating for 1 hour 56 minutes. Victim impact statements were read by Johnson's sister, Vivienne, and his 13‑year‑old daughter, describing the loss and emotional toll. Veale, originally from Dungarvan, had 105 prior convictions and was already in custody on a robbery charge when the murder occurred. The judge imposed the mandatory life sentence, consecutive to a previous offence imposed on 28 February 2015. The court heard that the knife used was available to kitchen staff and that the incident followed a brief confrontation over a horse‑racing channel. The case concluded with the judge's sentencing and no further legal proceedings reported. Brian Veale pleaded not guilty.
At the Central Criminal Court, Ross Callery and Gerard Stevens were remanded in custody to await sentencing for their part in the killing of Dale Creighton. The seven accused, originally charged with murder and violent disorder, had their pleas changed on the 15th day of the trial. Callery and Stevens pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Jason Beresford pleaded guilty to manslaughter and violent disorder. James Reid pleaded guilty to possession of a knife. Aisling Burke pleaded guilty to violent disorder. Graham Palmer and David Burke pleaded not guilty to manslaughter. All murder charges were dropped. The court granted Aisling Burke bail until sentencing. Callery and Stevens, who had been on bail, were remanded in custody after answering their bail. The other accused, including Palmer, Beresford, Reid, and David Burke, were remanded in custody for sentencing on December 19th. The court noted a medical report might assist regarding Stevens. The incident occurred on New Year's Morning 2014 at a footbridge in Tallaght, where Creighton was assaulted and died the following day from blunt force injuries.
During a week‑long trial at the Central Criminal Court, a jury found a 41‑year‑old man guilty of raping his teenage daughter 61 times. The victim, who was 16 when the first rape occurred, described how her father tied her arms behind her back, placed a pillow over her face, and raped her in their parents' bedroom. She testified that the abuse continued weekly from 2008 to 2009, while she was confined to home duties and denied schooling. The man had pleaded not guilty to 84 rape counts; the jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on 61 counts and found him not guilty on the remaining counts as directed by Mr Justice Paul Butler. He was remanded in custody for sentencing on 19 December. The judge thanked the jury and exempted them from service for ten years.
In a 2016 Central Criminal Court hearing, 52‑year‑old Liam Power, a man of no fixed abode, told Gardaí that he had repeatedly kicked a 41‑year‑old Latvian man, Gints Intembergs, before removing his clothes and attempting to burn him. Power claimed he had been "frightened" and "like an animal" during the incident, which took place on the night of 15 September 2014, with Intembergs found dead on the kitchen floor the next morning. Power admitted drinking about 16 cans of beer and smoking crack cocaine in the hours before the alleged murder. He also said he had used a lighter to try to set fire to the victim's privates, with co‑accused Dzintars Sackalausks (33) assisting. Power pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, while Sackalausks pleaded not guilty to murder. The trial continued on Monday before Justice Isobel Kennedy and a jury.
Paul Cuddihy, 38, a former resident of St Otteran's Hospital, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of 55‑year‑old Maria O'Brien and for assaulting fellow resident Mary Nugent and nurses Breda Fennelly, Terry Hayes and Mary Grant. The jury, after 39 minutes of deliberation, concluded that Cuddihy, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, was in a psychotic episode when he stabbed O'Brien over 100 times and attacked the others. He was committed to the Central Mental Hospital, with a return to court on 14 November for a treatment plan. O'Brien's family described her as kindhearted and loving, while forensic psychiatrists testified that Cuddihy's delusions and voices drove his actions and that he was unaware of their wrongfulness. The case highlighted the application of the Mental Health Act in determining criminal responsibility.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Paul Cuddihy, aged 38, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of Maria O'Brien, aged 55, who died after sustaining over 100 knife wounds to her face, head and neck on 5 September 2014 at St Otteran's Hospital. Cuddihy, a former psychiatric unit resident, also faced assault charges against nurses Breda Fennelly, Mary Grant, Terry Hayes and fellow resident Mary Nugent, pleading not guilty by reason of insanity to those as well. Forensic psychiatrist Dr Brenda Wright testified that Cuddihy had a long history of paranoid schizophrenia, delusions of persecution, religious fixation, and auditory hallucinations, including claims that his father had killed his mother. He had repeatedly been admitted to psychiatric care since 2000, often refusing medication, and was eventually prescribed clozapine, which led to further bizarre behaviour and auditory hallucinations.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 55‑year‑old resident of St Otteran's Hospital was found dead after suffering more than 100 knife wounds to her head and face. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis described the injuries, noting a broken nose, a knife wound to the jugular vein, and defensive wounds on her hands. He stated that the head and neck bore the majority of the stab wounds, with one penetrating eight centimetres and damaging the jugular vein, leading to death by blood loss. The stomach, organs, lungs and heart were reported as normal. The accused, Paul Cuddihy, 38, a former resident of the psychiatric unit, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of Maria O'Brien and to assault charges against nurses Breda Fennelly, Mary Grant, Terry Hayes and fellow resident Mary Nugent. A kitchen knife taken from Cuddihy at the scene was presented as evidence.
In a 2016 trial, Liam Power, 52, and Dzintars Sackalausks, 33, were charged with murdering Latvian national Gints Intembergs, 41, in Tullow, Co Carlow, between 15 and 16 September 2014. Power pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea rejected by the State, and not guilty to assaulting Aigar Sildars. Sackalausks pleaded not guilty to both murder and assault. Forensic evidence presented by Dr Brian Gibson showed blood on Power's white Adidas runners that matched Intembergs' DNA, with a probability of less than one in a thousand million of a coincidence. Blood on Sackalausks' black Nike runners matched Sildars' DNA. Annette Ford analysed bruises on Intembergs' body, finding patterns consistent with Power's footwear but not Sackalausks'. Detective Donal Lawlor testified that Power was present at the scene, had a strong smell of alcohol, and claimed he had kicked Intembergs' head. The case proceeded before Justice Isobel Kennedy and a jury of five men and seven women.
During a Central Criminal Court murder trial, Paul Cuddihy, 38, a former resident of St Otteran's psychiatric unit in Waterford, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of Maria O'Brien, 55, on 5 September 2014. He also faced charges of serious harm to nurse Breda Fennelly and assault causing harm to nurses Mary Grant and Terry Hayes, and to fellow resident Mary Nugent. Cuddihy claimed he was in a psychotic episode when he attacked residents and nurses, including Hayes, who said he feared for his life as Cuddihy lunged at him and continued the assault outside. Forensic psychiatrist Dr Paul O'Connell reported that Cuddihy has a 20‑year history of mental illness, including paranoid schizophrenia, and that his medication levels varied. O'Connell said Cuddihy's judgment was grossly impaired, preventing him from understanding the wrongness of his actions. The trial will proceed before a jury of seven women and five men, presided over by Justice Patrick McCarthy.
In a psychiatric hospital in Waterford City, Paul Cuddihy, aged 38, was tried at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Maria O'Brien, aged 55, who was stabbed more than 100 times on 5 September 2014. Cuddihy pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to all charges, including causing serious harm to nurse Breda Fennelly and assault causing harm to nurses Mary Grant and Terry Hayes, and to the assault on fellow resident Mary Nugent. The prosecution, led by John O'Kelly SC, described O'Brien's fatal wound as a jugular vein injury, with head trauma as a secondary cause of death. Nugent survived multiple stab wounds that did not hit an internal organ. The trial, set before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury, will continue tomorrow, with psychiatric evidence to be presented.
Rafael Tiso, 31, was sentenced to 13 years in prison for raping and assaulting a 23‑year‑old woman in Dublin. The victim, who was heavily intoxicated after taking an ecstasy tablet, was left in a lane with severe injuries, including a deep tear to her rectum that required surgery. CCTV footage showed Tiso escorting her from a nightclub, leaving her in the lane, then returning to the bar for over an hour. He pleaded guilty to rape, oral rape, aggravated sexual assault and assault causing harm. The judge, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, noted the violent and callous nature of the crime and the lasting impact on the victim. A final year of a 14‑year sentence was suspended on the condition that Tiso leave the State for ten years upon release. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court.
In a 2016 trial, 52‑year‑old Liam Power, who had no fixed abode, was charged with murdering 41‑year‑old Gints Intembergs at Graigowen, Tullow, between 15 and 16 September 2014. Power pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea rejected by the State, and also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Aigar Sildars. Dzintars Sackalausks, 33, was charged with the same murder and assault, pleading not guilty to both. Garda evidence described the scene: the deceased lay on the kitchen floor, partially covered, with a partially burned blue and white top and no ignition source. DNA and other items were collected from the house and a Suzuki car. Witnesses, including Dolores Kenny, recounted Power's admission of a fight, an arm‑wrestling match, a slap, and his claim of having killed a man. The case proceeded before Justice Isobel Kennedy and a jury.
In a Dublin rape case, a 29‑year‑old man claimed he was acting in his sleep, suffering from sexsomnia, when he allegedly raped a friend. He admitted the possibility of sex but maintained the condition. After eight hours and fifteen minutes of deliberation over three days, the jury foreman announced a deadlock, unable to reach a verdict. Justice Patrick McCarthy thanked the jurors and excused them for ten years. The case was adjourned to 28 November, when the prosecution will decide whether to seek another trial. The accused had previously pleaded not guilty to one count of rape at an apartment in Dublin on 28 September 2008. The trial, which lasted four weeks, involved testimony that the accused and victim were childhood friends who attended a career fair, later went to a nightclub, drank, and returned to a friend's house to sleep.
John Hannigan, aged 48, was convicted of murdering his friend Anthony Fallon, 46, in Clonmel on 18 January 2012. Hannigan pleaded not guilty to both murder and assault causing harm. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty on both counts and he received a mandatory life sentence on 28 February 2014. The trial revealed that Hannigan had called an ambulance at River House before 7 a.m., reporting that Fallon had rung the doorbell and collapsed. A post‑mortem found 31 fractures to Fallon's ribs, collar and breast bones, with blunt force trauma to the head and trunk as the cause of death. Hannigan later admitted to the death, claiming he had lost his temper when Fallon would not stop talking and had punched him "hard and fast" like Bruce Lee. He denied having a black belt in karate. He is now awaiting the outcome of his appeal, which is expected on 22 November.
During a four‑week trial at the Central Criminal Court, a jury of ten was instructed by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy that a majority verdict would be sufficient. The case concerns a 29‑year‑old man who pleaded not guilty to a single count of rape. He alleges he was suffering from sexsomnia, a rare condition that can cause sexual acts while asleep, during the alleged incident on 28 September 2008. The victim, a friend, claimed she woke to find the man having sex with her and that he later admitted to raping her. She had also reported the incident to Gardaí several months later. The prosecution argued that alcohol consumption was a more likely factor than sexsomnia and that the accused's behaviour was inconsistent with the condition. The jury had been deliberating for over seven hours when the judge informed them that a majority verdict would be acceptable. The accused's name was withheld for legal reasons.
At the Central Criminal Court, the jury was discharged after five accused changed their pleas from not guilty to murder to guilty to manslaughter, while two co-accused admitted to lesser charges. The case concerns the death of Dale Creighton, who was assaulted at a Tallaght footbridge in 2014 and died from blunt force injuries. Aisling Burke pleaded guilty to violent disorder. James Reid pleaded guilty to possessing a knife. Ross Callery, Jason Beresford, David Burke, Graham Palmer, and Gerard Stevens all pleaded guilty to manslaughter. The court granted Aisling Burke bail until sentencing. Ross Callery and Gerard Stevens were remanded on bail until next Monday. Jason Beresford, David Burke, Graham Palmer, and James Reid were remanded in custody. The court directed probation reports for Callery, Stevens, Beresford, Aisling Burke, David Burke, and Palmer, as well as a victim impact report. The matter was adjourned, with sentencing scheduled for December.
In a Dublin squat, Andrzej Wawrzyniak, 38, stabbed 44‑year‑old Jacek Kozakiewicz 22 times during a drunken argument on 26 February 2014, killing him. Wawrzyniak, a Polish man without a fixed address, was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to six years' imprisonment, one year suspended, at the Central Criminal Court. The judge noted the squat's alcohol‑driven environment and that Wawrzyniak fled the scene, informing a Luas driver of the killing and requesting police assistance, which mitigated his sentence. He also received a concurrent three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for assaulting Filip Talaj on the same night. The case involved multiple Polish residents living in the abandoned Vallance & McGrath pub, with the judge describing the setting as "dark and unpleasant" and highlighting the violent history among the occupants. The sentencing reflected the judge's view that the normal sentence for such a violent killing would be nine years. Andrzej Wawrzyniak pleaded not guilty.
A witness testified that Liam Power, aged 52, and Dzintars Sackalausks, aged 33, were present at Gints Intembergs' house on 15–16 September 2014. The witness, who was intoxicated, saw Intembergs' badly beaten body lying on the kitchen floor the morning after. Power pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea rejected by the State, and was also charged with assaulting Aigar Sildars. Sackalausks pleaded not guilty to murder and assault. The witness described seeing blood, a bruised eye, a lacerated forehead, and a missing wallet, keys and passport. Neighbour Gunita Lace and friend Monika Metla also gave evidence of the house's condition and the presence of the accused. Dr Eithne Bolger pronounced Intembergs dead at 9.40 am on 16 September. The case is before Justice Isobel Kennedy and a jury, expected to last three weeks.
A 29‑year‑old man, who has pleaded not guilty, is on trial for raping a friend in Dublin on 28 September 2008. He claims he was suffering from sexsomnia, a rare condition that can cause sexual acts while asleep, and that he may have had sex with the woman while unconscious. The prosecution argues that alcohol consumption is a more likely factor. The jury, consisting of seven men and four women, has deliberated for five hours and will resume on Tuesday before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy. The accused cannot be named for legal reasons.
The Central Criminal Court trial of seven Dubliners accused of murdering Dale Creighton and violent disorder is ongoing. Creighton was assaulted on New Year's Morning 2014 at a Tallaght footbridge and died the following day. All seven accused initially pleaded not guilty to both charges. However, Jason Beresford later changed his plea, admitting to the violent disorder charge while maintaining his not guilty plea to murder. The other six accused—Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, and Gerard Stevens—continue to contest both allegations. On the 14th day of the trial, the jury reviewed CCTV footage showing five accused running from the scene as gardai arrived. Sergeant Brian Cagney described specific actions, including kicks by Callery and Beresford, and strikes by Stevens, Palmer, and Beresford. The footage captured Beresford, Callery, Palmer, Aisling Burke, and David Burke fleeing simultaneously upon seeing police lights. James Reid and Gerard Stevens were seen moving separately. The matter was adjourned, with the prosecution case expected to conclude on Tuesday.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Liam Power (52) and Dzintars Sackalausks (33) are charged with murdering Gints Intembergs (41) in Tullow, Co Carlow, between 15 and 16 September 2014. Power pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea rejected by the State, while Sackalausks pleaded not guilty to both murder and assault. The prosecution alleges that after an arm‑wrestling game and heavy drinking, Power and Sackalausks violently assaulted Intembergs, striking his head and causing a subdural haemorrhage. Witnesses report attempts to burn Intembergs' body while he may have still been alive, and that he was found covered by a duvet with bruises and blood. Both men also allegedly assaulted Aigar Sildars at the same address. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, is expected to last three weeks.
The Central Criminal Court trial of seven Dubliners charged with the murder of Dale Creighton has heard expert evidence regarding his cause of death. Creighton, 20, was assaulted on New Year's Morning 2014 at the footbridge over the Tallaght bypass and died the following day. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that Creighton sustained extensive blunt force trauma to the head and face, resulting in brain swelling, diffuse axonal injury, and brain stem compression. He identified a fractured skull, broken nose, dislocated thumb, and a stab wound to the thigh, noting the latter was likely inflicted by an implement other than a knife. Toxicology revealed modest alcohol and trace cocaine levels. Dr Curtis concluded the cause of death was blunt force injury, stating that axonal injury could result from direct violence or prolonged coma. Under cross-examination, he acknowledged that injuries from an earlier assault by a man not before the court could have contributed to the fatal brain damage. The accused are Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, Jason Beresford, and Gerard Stevens. All pleaded not guilty to murder. While all initially pleaded not guilty to violent disorder, Jason Beresford later changed his plea to guilty for that specific charge. The trial continues before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy and a jury.
The Central Criminal Court trial of seven accused individuals charged with the murder of Dale Creighton and violent disorder is ongoing before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy. The defendants, Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, Jason Beresford, and Gerard Stevens, have all pleaded not guilty to murder. While initially pleading not guilty to violent disorder, Jason Beresford subsequently changed his plea to guilty on that specific charge. On the 13th day of the trial, the jury reviewed CCTV footage of the fatal assault, which occurred on New Year's Day 2014 at a footbridge over the Tallaght bypass. Sergeant Brian Cagney provided commentary, identifying specific actions attributed to the accused, including David Burke striking the deceased and Ross Callery punching him. The sergeant also noted that James Reid was seen holding a knife and phone, and that Gerard Stevens slapped the deceased. Additionally, the jury heard evidence regarding James O'Brien, who was charged with assault causing harm after allegedly kicking and punching the victim. The matter remains at the trial stage and has not been finalised.
A 44‑year‑old man, James Lammon, was found guilty by unanimous verdict of a "brutal and pre‑meditated" murder of Jason Doogue on 21 August 2015 in Green Hills, Athy. The jury, after just over two hours and thirty minutes, concluded that Lammon, masked and hooded, rode a bike to Doogue's garden, fired a Makarov pistol with a silver silencer three times, and then cycled away. The State's evidence was circumstantial, relying on witnesses who heard Lammon threaten to kill Doogue, forensic DNA and gun‑residue on cloths in a black toolbox, and the discovery of the gun, a bike and gloves in the River Barrow area. Lammon had 20 prior convictions, including a four‑year drug sentence in 2011. Justice Butler handed down a mandatory life sentence, back‑dated to 21 August 2015, and exempted the jury from duty for ten years. The verdict was met with tears and gratitude from Doogue's family.
A 54‑year‑old man has admitted killing a Latvian national in Co Carlow over two years ago. The man, who is charged with the 41‑year‑old's murder, is one of two men who will go on trial today charged in connection with the death. Liam Power, of no fixed abode, is charged with murdering Gints Intembergs at Graigowen, Tullow, Co Carlow between the 15th and 16th of September, 2014. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter when arraigned before the Central Criminal Court this morning. This plea was not accepted by the State and a jury was sworn in to try him and his co‑accused. Mr Power also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Aigar Sildars, causing him harm, at the same address and on the same dates. Dzintars Sackalausks (33) of Barrowvale, Graiguecullen, Co Carlow is also charged with murdering Gints Intembergs at the same address and on the same dates.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court began deliberations on the murder trial of James 'Jimmy' Lammon, 44, of Athy, Kildare, who is accused of fatally shooting 22‑year‑old Jason Doogue in the Green Hills area on 21 August 2015. Lammon pleaded not guilty. Justice Paul Butler instructed the jury that their task is to determine whether the prosecution has proven beyond reasonable doubt that Lammon was the shooter. He noted that Doogue's death was intentional and that the evidence shows the victim was shot three times by a masked, hooded gunman on a bicycle, using a silenced gun later recovered by the Gardaí. The key issue is the identity of the shooter, with witnesses describing a thin, below‑average‑height man. Butler emphasized that the jury must reach a unanimous verdict and that the burden of proof lies with the prosecution. The jury commenced deliberations at 10:49 a.m. on 27 October 2016.
In a Dublin case, a 29‑year‑old man pleaded not guilty to a single count of rape committed at an apartment on 28 September 2008. He claimed the act was performed while he was in a state of sexsomnia, a rare condition that can cause sexual activity during sleep. The accused had consumed several drinks and a naggin of whiskey that evening before returning to a friend's house to sleep. Judge Patrick McCarthy told the jury that if the alleged sexsomnia was caused by alcohol, the defendant is not entitled to an acquittal. He explained that the prosecution must prove the accused knew the woman was not consenting or was reckless about her consent. The judge would finish summarising the evidence the following day, after which the jury of seven men and four women would deliberate. The case remains pending.
A Central Criminal Court jury found Brian Veale, 31, guilty of murdering fellow inmate Graham Johnson, 41, at Cork Prison after a dispute over television channels. The trial heard that the argument began around 3 pm on 16 May 2015, ended briefly, but later that evening Veale entered the kitchen with a carving knife and stabbed Johnson in the chest. Witnesses, including Ming Feng Chen and prison officer Brian Forde, described the altercation and Veale's subsequent smile and remark that a life sentence would not matter. Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy testified that Johnson died from a single stab wound that perforated the heart and aorta. DNA evidence linked Veale's clothing to Johnson's blood. The jury deliberated 1 hour 56 minutes and returned a unanimous verdict of murder. The case was adjourned for sentencing until 7 November, with Veale remanded in custody. Brian Veale pleaded not guilty.