The Central Criminal Court trial of seven accused in the 2014 murder of Dale Creighton continues before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy. The defendants, including Jason Beresford, Gerard Stevens, Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, and James Reid, face charges of murder and violent disorder. While all initially pleaded not guilty to both counts, Beresford subsequently changed his plea to guilty on the violent disorder charge. The remaining six accused maintain their not guilty pleas to both murder and violent disorder. Evidence presented includes garda interviews with Stevens, who admitted to kicking, punching, and slapping the victim on the Tallaght bypass footbridge. Stevens stated he did not know why he acted and described the incident as a moment of madness. Cross-examination highlighted that Stevens became distressed while reviewing CCTV footage. Additionally, testimony regarding Aisling Burke confirmed she was arrested shortly after the assault and examined for injuries, though no probative evidence emerged from her interview. The trial is ongoing, with no final verdict or sentencing recorded at this procedural stage.
The prosecution in the trial of a 29-year-old man accused of rape has argued that it is more likely he was drunk rather than sleepwalking during the alleged incident. The accused, who cannot be named, has pleaded not guilty to one count of raping a woman at an apartment in Dublin in September 2008. The woman testified that she woke up to find the accused having sex with her. Patrick McGrath SC, prosecuting, stated that the accused's actions, including responding to her questions about a condom and discussing the morning after pill, indicated he was conscious and not sleepwalking. The prosecution rejected the claim of sexsomnia, a rare condition, and emphasized that alcohol consumption does not excuse the crime. The defence, led by Hugh Hartnett SC, argued that the accused may have been acting in his sleep, citing expert testimony on sexsomnia. The trial continues with the judge to address the jury.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court heard closing arguments in the trial of a man charged with murder at Cork Prison. Brian Veale, 31, of Dominic Street, Cork, denies murdering fellow inmate Graham Johnson on 16 May 2015 at the prison on Rathmore Road. Defence counsel Tom Creed SC argued that fear is central to the case and urged the jury to consider a manslaughter verdict rather than murder, drawing comparison to the 2005 trial of Mayo farmer Padraig Nally. He submitted the prosecution had failed to rule out self-defence. Prosecutor Tim O'Leary SC countered that self-defence was "conjured up" and presented eyewitness evidence of the stabbing. He emphasised that Mr Johnson died from a single chest wound that penetrated his heart and spine. Detective evidence disclosed that Mr Veale declined to comment when questioned about a blood-stained knife and bloodstains on his clothing and shoes. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy began her charge to the twelve-person jury, which will conclude tomorrow morning. Brian Veale pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court trial of seven accused individuals for 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 all initially pleaded not guilty to violent disorder, Jason Beresford subsequently changed his plea to guilty on that specific charge. The jury is currently hearing evidence regarding garda interviews with David Burke, who was arrested in Tallaght on January 2, 2014. Mr. Burke alleged that the deceased pulled a knife on him and stole his sister's phone, prompting him to strike the victim. He denied participating in the fatal assault, claiming he attempted to stop others and protect the deceased. However, when shown CCTV footage, he admitted to hitting and kicking Mr. Creighton, stating he did so in self-defense. The trial continues with further evidence to be presented to the jury.
In the Central Criminal Court, DNA on latex gloves and cloths with firearms residue matched James 'Jimmy' Lammon, 44, accused of murdering 22‑year‑old Jason Doogue on 21 August 2015. Forensic Science Ireland scientist Kristen O'Connor identified Lammon's DNA on the gloves, found by gardai near his home, and on two cloths from a black toolbox in a house belonging to Paul Day, partner of Lammon's sister. Dr Thomas Hannigan confirmed firearms residue on the gloves and cloths. Lammon pleaded not guilty. Defence counsel Mary Rose Gearty called his brother Johnny, who described a dog‑shooting the day before Doogue's murder and noted Lammon wore green latex gloves that evening. A neighbour, Anthony Keogh, testified seeing Lammon in his yard that night. Justice Paul Butler ended the evidence session, with the trial to resume before a jury tomorrow.
In a Dublin rape trial, the 29‑year‑old accused admitted he could have had sex with a friend while sharing a bed, but the defence argued it was due to sexsomnia, a sleep‑walking condition. The defence presented expert evidence suggesting the man was asleep when he climbed on the woman, pulled up her skirt and inserted his penis. Witnesses claimed the accused had a history of groping people in his sleep. The accused pleaded not guilty to one count of rape at an apartment on 28 September 2008. A prosecution expert, Dr Harry Kennedy, countered that no objective scientific observation exists of a man initiating sex while asleep, citing a 2006 study of 31 cases with no observed instances. He questioned the plausibility of an erection during non‑REM sleep and argued the accused's actions indicated consciousness. Evidence was concluded and the jury will hear closing speeches before judgment.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, Deivydas Zigelis, a 39‑year‑old Lithuanian, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for the death of Alexander Karpovs, a 26‑year‑old Latvian, who was stabbed in the heart during a drunken argument in Portarlington on 15 February 2014. Zigelis admitted to the killing shortly after the incident, stating, "I killed my friend. I am a bad man." The court was told that the fatal blow was delivered with a steak knife, that Zigelis was the one who wielded the knife, and that he had called emergency services after the victim's body showed signs of blood loss. A victim impact statement from Karpovs' mother in Latvia was read, describing the loss of her son's financial support and the emotional distress caused. Zigelis expressed remorse, and sentencing was adjourned to 14 November.
The Central Criminal Court trial of seven Dubliners accused of the murder of Dale Creighton continues before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy. The accused, Jason Beresford, Ross Callery, Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, James Reid, and Gerard Stevens, have all pleaded not guilty to murder. While each initially pleaded not guilty to violent disorder, Jason Beresford subsequently changed his plea to guilty on that specific charge. The jury is currently hearing evidence regarding garda interviews with Ross Callery, who allegedly assaulted Mr Creighton on New Year's Morning 2014 at the Tallaght bypass footbridge. Mr Creighton died in hospital the following day. Detective Garda Kieran McGrath testified that Callery admitted to kicking the victim while he was on his hands and knees, describing the force as a seven out of ten. Callery stated he was protecting himself by not identifying other participants and expressed shock upon learning of the death, stating he did not intend for the victim to die. The trial is ongoing, with no final verdict or sentence recorded at this procedural stage.
During the Central Criminal Court trial, forensic expert Dr Thomas Hannigan presented evidence that a sports top and gloves found near the home of James 'Jimmy' Lammon (44) contained firearms residue. Lammon, accused of the fatal shooting of Jason Doogue (22) on 15 August 2015, pleaded not guilty. The gloves were recovered from a ditch and the top from another location; both showed positive traces of gunpowder particles. Dr Hannigan explained that such particles cling to the hands, gloves, and clothing of a shooter when a gun is fired, indicating that the wearer was present during a discharge. He agreed with defence counsel that the residue only proves presence, not the specific firearm used. Additional residue was found on cloths in a black toolbox at a house on Dooley Terrace, linked to a neighbour's account of the toolbox's movement. The trial proceeds with a jury hearing tomorrow before Mr Justice Paul Butler.
A 45‑year‑old Wexford father was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for sexually abusing his daughter over a three‑year period. He pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to sixteen counts of oral rape and sixteen counts of sexual assault between 2010 and 2013. The victim, aged between 11 and 14 at the time, was abused in the family home, with the father touching her breasts, forcing her to touch his penis, and placing his penis in her mouth, sometimes in her own bed. He also attempted to involve her in showering and rubbed his penis between her legs. The abuse was reported in 2014 after the girl alleged the assaults. Justice Isobel Kennedy described the offences as "appalling", noted the forceful nature of the behaviour and the child's fear, and suspended the final two years of the sentence on strict conditions.
John Lawlor, 48, died from a knife wound to a varicose vein below his knee after a dispute with David Shanley, 47, on Christmas Eve 2014 at Ballintray Lower, Courtown Harbour, Gorey, Co Wexford. Shanley called the house, was confronted by Lawlor, and a struggle ensued. Shanley admitted to manslaughter but denied murder, pleading guilty in June. He was sentenced by Mr Justice Paul Butler to five years' imprisonment, with two-and-a-half years suspended, for manslaughter. The judge noted the wound's unusual location and that the offence was on the lower scale for sentencing. Shanley had been in custody since October 10 of that year. The case involved testimony from Detective Inspector Murt Whelan, State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy, and statements from relatives of both parties. The conviction was upheld as manslaughter, not murder.
In a Cork Prison murder trial, 31‑year‑old Brian Veale pleaded not guilty to the killing of fellow inmate Graham Johnson on 16 May 2015. Witness Ray Cummins testified that Veale and Johnson argued over a television remote in the kitchen, that Veale was calm when speaking to Cummins at 3.30 pm, and that he later told Cummins not to return to his cell because he feared Johnson might harm him. Cummins also recalled Johnson confronting Veale after the argument, calling him "out the back" and walking away while Johnson continued watching TV. Detective Sergeant Vincent O'Sullivan reported that Veale's kitchen clothing was seized from a bin in his cell, and forensic scientist Dr Edward Connolly examined the clothing and a knife recovered from the kitchen. Connolly found heavy blood‑staining on the knife's blade that matched Johnson's DNA profile, and blood on Veale's t‑shirt, trousers and shoes also matched Johnson's DNA.
Paul Wells, 48, of Barnamore Park, Finglas, Dublin, is charged with the murder of 33‑year‑old Kenneth O'Brien, whose dismembered body was found in a suitcase in a canal. Justice Patrick McCarthy of the Central Criminal Court set the trial date for Wells for 2 October 2017.
During a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, a witness testified that on 16 May 2015, in the kitchen of Cork Prison, an argument over television channels escalated between Brian Veale (31) and Graham Johnson. Johnson, who wanted to watch a horse race, threatened Veale that he would "batter" him and told him to leave. Veale allegedly approached Johnson with a kitchen knife, inserted it into Johnson's chest, causing a 6‑cm stab wound that penetrated the sternum, sliced the heart and aorta, and resulted in fatal haemorrhage. The knife was then thrown onto the counter. State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy confirmed the post‑mortem findings, describing the wound trajectory and the heart's perforation. The case is proceeding before Justice Isobel Kennedy with a jury of twelve, and the trial is expected to last five days. Brian Veale pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court trial of seven Dubliners accused of murdering Dale Creighton, who died after being assaulted on New Year's Morning 2014 at a Tallaght footbridge, continues before Justice Deirdre Murphy. The accused are Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, Jason Beresford, and Gerard Stevens. All initially pleaded not guilty to murder and violent disorder; however, Jason Beresford later changed his plea to guilty for violent disorder. The others maintain their not guilty pleas to both charges. Evidence heard included garda interviews with Graham Palmer, who alleged the victim was already injured before he arrived. Palmer admitted punching the victim in the stomach and face, stating he did so to get his attention, while denying causing the fatal injuries. He expressed regret for his actions. The trial is ongoing and was adjourned to continue on Monday.
James 'Jimmy' Lammon, aged 44, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jason Doogue, 22, in Athy on 21 August 2015. At the Central Criminal Court, Lammon told the court that Gardaí would never be able to charge him and that they had "nothing" to prove. He claimed that the shooter was a fully covered rider on a bike who matched his height and build, and that the bullet was intended for Jamie Quinn. Lammon also denied being in the Green Hills area that day and said he had used latex gloves to pick up a dead dog, not to conceal a crime. The trial heard that a witness would not be available until Monday afternoon, and the prosecution's evidence was nearly finished. The case remains at the trial stage.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Brian Veale, aged 31, pleaded not guilty to the killing of Graham Johnson, a 42‑year‑old inmate, at Cork Prison on 16 May 2015. Chief State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that Johnson died from a single stab wound to the front of his chest, which penetrated the sternum, sliced through the ribs, and went straight through the heart from front to back, causing haemorrhages to the heart and aorta. The wound was 12 cm below the breastbone, 6 cm wide, and extended onto the left side of the chest. Veale and Johnson were known to each other and were working in the prison kitchen when a verbal altercation over a television channel occurred around 3 pm. After the quarrel ended, Veale allegedly returned to the kitchen with a knife and stabbed Johnson sometime after 5 pm.
Brian Veale, 31, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Graham Johnson, 31, at Cork Prison on 16 May 2015. The prosecution alleged an altercation over a television channel in the kitchen, after which Veale allegedly obtained a knife and stabbed Johnson in the chest. Witness Ming Feng Chen, an inmate, testified that Veale approached Johnson, stabbed him, then smiled and said, "If I get a life sentence it doesn't matter." Chen also claimed he feared Veale might harm him and picked up the knife. Prison officer Brian Forde recounted hearing a heated argument about the channel, seeing Johnson in distress, and observing a knife with blood on it. The case is before Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy with a jury of seven men and five women.
The Central Criminal Court has adjourned the trial of a 29‑year‑old man, who pleaded not guilty to a single count of rape, until Monday because of witness difficulties. The alleged offence occurred at an apartment in Dublin on the early hours of 28 September 2008. The jury is hearing Dr Harry Kennedy, clinical director of the Central Mental Hospital, as a rebuttal witness for the prosecution. Dr Kennedy will continue his testimony on Monday before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of eight men and four women.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing on 20 October 2016, the court heard that a Makarov 9mm pistol, buried in Shaw's Wood 750 metres from the home of 44‑year‑old James 'Jimmy' Lammon, was matched to the bullets that killed 22‑year‑old Jason Doogue on 21 August 2015. Detective Garda Shane Curran, a ballistics expert, fired the pistol and compared the recovered bullets with two taken from Doogue's body, concluding that the same gun had fired them. Curran explained that the unique grooves left on a bullet by the barrel matched those of the pistol. Garda Mairead Lacey had found the gun, a silver silencer and ammunition after following a foot‑worn trail from Lammon's house to the wood, where she also discovered a small hole in the ground. The pistol, of Russian origin, was in good condition but its serial number had been removed. Jimmy' Lammon pleaded not guilty.
In a Cork Prison kitchen on 16 May 2015, Brian Veale (31) allegedly stabbed fellow inmate Graham Johnson after a verbal altercation over switching television channels. Prosecutors told a Central Criminal Court jury that the dispute arose around 3 pm between the two men while they were preparing food. After the quarrel ended, Veale reportedly entered a kitchen area with a knife and stabbed Johnson in the chest. State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy described the wound as a single downward thrust that perforated the heart, sliced the aorta and oesophagus, and caused rapid death. Witnesses were to testify about the incident, the kitchen staff's observations, and forensic evidence linking blood on Veale's clothing to Johnson. Veale pleaded not guilty to murder, and the trial was set to continue before Justice Isobel Kennedy and a jury.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 22‑year‑old man named Jason Doogue died of blood loss after being shot on 21 August 2015 in the Green Hills area of Athy. State pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that Doogue had four bullet wounds: two that entered his chest and back, damaging his heart, liver, lungs and a subclavian artery; a third that entered his forearm, fracturing bones; and a fourth graze across his buttocks, possibly from the same bullet that entered his arm. Cassidy noted Doogue was healthy before the shooting and that his death resulted from the combined injuries to his vital organs and the artery. The accused, James 'Jimmy' Lammon, 44, of Cardington Way, Athy, pleaded not guilty. The judge instructed the jury to consider the evidence in their absence and to refrain from discussing the case with anyone.
The Central Criminal Court trial of a 29‑year‑old man, who cannot be named, continues. He pleaded not guilty to one count of rape at a Dublin apartment on 28 September 2008. The jury is hearing evidence from Dr Harry Kennedy, clinical director of the Central Mental Hospital, as a rebuttal witness for the prosecution. Dr Kennedy will address the alleged condition of "sexsomnia," which he claims may cause the accused to perform sexual acts while asleep. He will resume his testimony after legal argument before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and the jury of eight men and four women.
During the Central Criminal Court trial of James 'Jimmy' Lammon, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jason Doogue, Garda Mairead Lacey testified that she was part of a search team that located a handgun with a silencer and a magazine in a wooded area near Mr. Lammon's home. She described following a foot‑worn trail from a gap in the hedge at the back of the garden, through a field and into Shaw's Wood, where she found a small circular hole containing a navy bag with a handgun, a magazine holding three bullets, and a silver silencer. Lacey noted the distance from the house to the discovery site was about 750 metres. She also reported finding plastic pipes with pills, a pipe with rifles, and two leaves she believed were stained with blood during subsequent searches.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 29‑year‑old man pleaded not guilty to a single count of rape after an alleged incident on 28 September 2008. The defence argued that the accused was suffering from sexsomnia, a condition that could cause sexual acts while asleep, and had testified that the man was likely acting in his sleep. The prosecution countered with Dr Harry Kennedy, clinical director of the Central Mental Hospital, who examined the evidence. He described the victim's account of waking to the accused having sex with her, noting that her clothing had been altered and that the accused had removed and reinserted his penis. Kennedy concluded that these actions demonstrated full mental capacity, intent, and purposeful conduct at the time of the alleged offence. The trial will continue with his testimony before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of eight men and four women.
A 49‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment for six counts of sexual assault against four sisters aged 12 to 13 and 7, committed between 2002 and 2004 while living with their mother in the family home. He pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court and had a prior rape conviction from 1995. The judge, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, noted his guilty pleas and remorse, the severe impact on the victims, and imposed consecutive sentences totalling 12 years with a four‑year probation supervision order. The accused had lived in the home since 2001, abused the eldest sister almost daily for a year and a half, threatened her with death if she reported the abuse, and was arrested in April 2005 but not charged. The case involved victim impact reports from all four girls, each describing lasting trauma and disrupted family relationships.
A 55-year-old Mayo man has been sentenced to three years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, following his conviction on seven counts of indecent assault against two of his sisters committed between 1977 and 1984. The Central Criminal Court sitting in Castlebar heard that the assaults occurred when the victims were aged between 15 and 22 years old. The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was convicted by jury in July. Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed concurrent sentences ranging from three months to three years, suspending the final year on condition that no further sexual offence is committed. The judge noted that while the offending may be at the lower end of the spectrum, considerable harm had been caused to the victims. The man will be subject to the sex offenders register. The complaints were made to gardaí in 2011, approximately three decades after the alleged incidents occurred.
The trial of seven Dubliners charged with the murder of Dale Creighton and violent disorder is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Creighton, a 20-year-old Tallaght native, died in hospital on January 2, 2014, after being assaulted on New Year's Morning 2014 at the footbridge over the Tallaght bypass. 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. During cross-examination, Beresford admitted to kicking Creighton in the head and punching him in the stomach, stating he was "stupidly drunk and furious." He denied stamping on the victim. The court also heard that James O'Brien, who was seen on CCTV punching and kicking Creighton, was charged with the lesser offence of assault causing harm. O'Brien pleaded not guilty to this charge. The jury was dismissed to allow the court to address a legal issue, with proceedings scheduled to resume on Wednesday.
During a murder trial, a witness, Eva Maher, testified that she heard the accused, James Lammon, threaten another man less than two hours after the shooting that killed Jason Doogue. Maher, who was at a house in Castle Park, Athy, said she heard Lammon shout "tell Jamie he's next" at about 6.30pm. Another witness, Stacey Flynn, confirmed that Lammon's green van had pulled into the estate and that he was shouting about Jamie Quinn. A third witness, a minor, also heard Lammon say "Tell Jamie Quinn I'm coming for him next." Garda Paul O'Shea reported that after seeing two men near Lammon's home, he waited for an armed unit and later arrested Lammon at 7.34pm on suspicion of Doogue's murder. No firearms were found on Lammon or in his van. The trial continues before Justice Paul Butler and a jury at the Central Criminal Court. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
A jury of six men and six women was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the trial of Brian Veale, 31, who is accused of murdering 41‑year‑old Graham Johnson in Cork Prison on 16 May 2015. Veale pleaded not guilty. The trial is scheduled to begin the following day and is expected to last five days.
A mother was sentenced to 18 months in prison for failing to protect her six‑year‑old son from extreme sexual violence by his father. The father, convicted of raping the child and locking him in a wooden box, received a 14‑year sentence. The mother was convicted of a single count of child cruelty. Judge Robert Eagar noted she was aware of the abuse but did not alert authorities or protect the child. She has a history of sexual abuse and a mild to significant intellectual disability. She remains in contact with the father and prison staff worry she is being manipulated. The judge imposed a three‑year sentence with 18 months suspended, requiring no contact with the father during that period. The mother did not react to the sentence. The case highlights the mother's failure to act despite knowledge of the abuse. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty and was acquitted.
In a Dublin rape trial, a psychiatrist specialising in sleep disorders, Dr Catherine Crowe, testified that the 29‑year‑old accused had a long history of parasomnia, including sleepwalking, night terrors and sexsomnia. She argued that the alleged rape on the night of 28 September 2008 could have been a sexsomnia episode, noting the accused's pattern of behaviour and his history of sleep‑related sexual activity. Dr Crowe stated that she believed the incident was "more likely" a sexsomnia episode, though she acknowledged the complainant's testimony that the accused was awake minutes after the act. She agreed with the prosecution that the complainant had not consented and that the accused was the instigator. The case is proceeding before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury. The unnamed 29-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In 2016, David Mahon, aged 45, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for manslaughter after killing Dean Fitzpatrick, 23, the older brother of missing teenager Amy Fitzpatrick. The incident occurred on 26 May 2013 when Mahon, who had been in a 12‑year relationship with Dean's mother Audrey Fitzpatrick, stabbed Dean in the abdomen outside the apartment they shared on Burnell Square, Northern Cross, Malahide Road. Mahon claimed the death was accidental or a possible suicide, asserting that Dean had walked into the knife during an argument. A jury at the Central Criminal Court found him not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. On 13 June 2016, Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan imposed the seven‑year sentence. Mahon has now applied for legal aid to appeal the severity of that sentence in the Court of Appeal, where the application was granted without contest. The case remains at the appeal stage, with no further outcome reported. David Mahon was found guilty.
During a murder trial, a witness reported hearing the accused, James 'Jimmy' Lammon, threaten Jason Doogue hours before Doogue's death. Lammon, 44, pleaded not guilty to the murder of the 22‑year‑old in Athy's Green Hills on 21 August 2015. Witness Calvin Cullen, then 17, described an argument at Emily Square where Lammon, in a green van, shouted threats such as "You're getting whacked tonight." Doogue responded, "I'll get you before you get me." After the confrontation, a cyclist in a black hoodie with a balaclava approached the group, pulled a handgun with a silver silencer, and shot Doogue twice, killing him. The trial is ongoing before a jury and Justice Paul Butler at the Central Criminal Court.
The trial of seven accused individuals for the murder of Dale Creighton and violent disorder is ongoing before the Central Criminal Court. The defendants, Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, Jason Beresford, and Gerard Stevens, all pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. While all initially pleaded not guilty to violent disorder, Jason Beresford changed his plea to guilty on Wednesday. The court heard evidence that the deceased, who died on January 2, 2014, sustained a penetrating stab wound to his right leg in addition to being beaten. James Reid identified himself in CCTV footage holding a knife, claiming he took it from the deceased after it was swung at him, while denying any involvement in the assault. He described the footage as "horrific" and stated he regretted being present. Garda testimony confirmed Reid was arrested and interviewed, where he denied kicking, punching, or stabbing the victim. The trial continues under the direction of Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 45‑year‑old Laois man was convicted of rape after a week‑long hearing. He had previously admitted assaulting his wife by punching her in the face. During the assault he shouted "no God is going to help you" and threatened to rape her, claiming she had insulted him about his ability to attract women. He said he had punched her five or six times before she begged for mercy. He then asked for sex, which she consented to, describing it as a way to escape the situation. The man pleaded not guilty to the rape charge but guilty to assault. Mr Justice Paul Butler refused bail, citing the seriousness of the offence and the victim's fragile character, and remanded the defendant in custody until sentencing on 12 December.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 29‑year‑old man pleaded not guilty to one count of raping a female friend at a Dublin apartment on 28 September 2008. The jury heard from two university friends who claimed the accused had groped them while sleepwalking in 2008, one while sharing a double bed in America and another during a Chicago weekend where he allegedly touched a woman's breasts and buttocks. The accused's mother and brothers testified to a family history of sleep disorders, describing incidents of the accused sleepwalking, including one where he was found in a woman's bedroom in a hotel and another where he was seen walking toward a balcony. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, continues before a jury of eight men and four women. The accused's identity remains withheld for legal reasons.
During a murder trial, a jury was shown photographs taken by Detective Garda Caroline Hughes of a semi‑automatic pistol with a silencer, a striped bag, and an ammunition magazine with three rounds removed. The images were taken at Shaw's Wood in Athy, Co Kildare, where a 22‑year‑old man was shot dead. The photographs were part of the evidence presented against James 'Jimmy' Lammon, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jason Doogue. The judge informed the jury of pending legal matters and sent them home, with a return scheduled for the next day.
The trial of seven Dubliners charged with the murder of 20‑year‑old Dale Creighton began on 13 October 2016. The defendants – Aisling Burke (23), David Burke (28), Graham Palmer (26), Ross Callery (23), James Reid (26), Jason Beresford (23) and Gerard Stevens (27) – all pleaded not guilty to murder and violent disorder, though Beresford later pleaded guilty to the disorder charge. Evidence from Garda Jennifer Walsh and Garda Avril Sharpe described a New Year's Day incident at the Tallaght footbridge where Creighton was found unconscious and badly beaten. The garda saw blood on the clothing of Palmer and Burke, and the footage showed the group leaving the bridge. The trial, before Justice Deirdre Murphy and a balanced jury, will continue on Friday morning. The court heard that Palmer was arrested at the scene and Reid was arrested the next day in Tallaght. The case remains at the Central Criminal Court.
In a Dublin rape trial, a 29‑year‑old man pleaded not guilty to raping a female friend in September 2008. A sleep expert, Dr John Michael Shneerson, testified that the accused had been diagnosed with sexsomnia, a sleep disorder involving involuntary sexual activity during non‑REM sleep. He described the man's lack of awareness, memory loss, and remorseful actions after the incident, noting that these are typical of sexsomnia. Dr Shneerson explained that the accused had previous episodes of sexual approaches during sleep, including one with a male friend, and that the alleged rape likely occurred about 90 minutes after he fell asleep, a period when sexsomnia is most common. The court heard that the accused had no conscious control over his actions and that the condition was consistent with the facts presented. The trial proceeded before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution presented evidence that James 'Jimmy' Lammon (44) of Cardington Way, Athy, was the gunman who killed 22‑year‑old Jason Doogue in Greenhills on 21 August 2015. According to the prosecution barrister Kerida Naidoo SC, Doogue was sitting on a wall with friends outside a house at about 5 pm when a hooded individual on a bicycle approached. The attacker, wearing a balaclava and hood, drew a gun from his waistband, possibly with a silencer, and fired twice at Doogue's chest. Doogue attempted to flee toward the house, but the attacker shot him a third time in the back before leaving on the same bicycle. Lammon has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The trial will continue the following day before the jury and Mr Justice Paul Butler.
The trial of seven Dubliners accused of murdering 20-year-old Dale Creighton is ongoing before the Central Criminal Court. Creighton died on January 2, 2014, following an incident at the footbridge over the Tallaght bypass on New Year's Day. While all seven defendants initially pleaded not guilty to murder and violent disorder, Jason Beresford (23) pleaded guilty to violent disorder on January 1, 2014, during the trial. The remaining six accused—Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, and Gerard Stevens—maintain their not guilty pleas to both murder and violent disorder. The matter was not adjourned; the trial proceeded as normal. Witness Carl O'Leary testified that he saw Creighton holding a knife on the footbridge after hearing a commotion about a phone robbery. His girlfriend, Shannon Downes, identified a white jacket belonging to a woman who claimed she was assaulted and robbed. Another witness, Sophie Percy, described seeing men at the bottom of the bridge, with footage showing one passenger punching a man not before the court. The trial continues with the jury hearing further evidence.
The 28‑year‑old former girlfriend of an unnamed man accused of rape testified at his trial that she had seen a documentary on "sexsomnia" and urged him to see a doctor. She described how, during their early relationship, she woke to find him grinding against her while asleep, and that he continued to do so on several occasions, sometimes with no memory of it. She also recounted an incident where he punched her face while they were both asleep. The accused, who pleaded not guilty, said he was drunk but not heavily, had no memory of the act, and had taken steps to prevent recurrence, including no longer sharing a bedroom with female friends and visiting a sleep clinic. The trial is before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of eight men and four women.
James Connors, aged 30, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment for the killing of Jason Ryan, aged 27, in Wexford on 25 January 2012. The Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty by a 10‑2 majority, and Justice Margaret Heneghan imposed the mandatory life sentence on 17 December 2015. Connors has now applied to appeal his conviction on several grounds. His barrister, Michael Delaney SC, argued that the defence had admitted Connors was on temporary release over Christmas 2011 and failed to return, making it undesirable that a jury would know he had been in custody. Delaney also contended that prejudicial material, including testimony from Samantha Hore and a phone call from Connors while in prison, should not have been admitted. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel, Gerard Clarke SC, described the case as simple and maintained that the alleged threats were relevant to motive. James Connors pleaded not guilty.
The trial of seven Dubliners charged with the murder of 20-year-old Dale Creighton is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. All defendants, including Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, Jason Beresford, and Gerard Stevens, have pleaded not guilty to murder and violent disorder. Prosecution counsel Seán Gillane SC alleged the group acted together to inflict serious injury or death during a 'vicious, prolonged' attack on New Year's Day 2014. Evidence presented includes CCTV footage and testimony from witness Síle McCarthy, who described seeing six or seven individuals surround, kick, and punch Creighton on the footbridge over the Tallaght bypass. The prosecution stated Creighton was thrown 'like a rag doll' down steps before being returned to the bridge, suffering blunt force injuries to the head and face that caused his death on January 2, 2014. The matter is currently at the trial stage before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy and a jury; it has not been finalised and is expected to last approximately six weeks.
In a Dublin trial, a 29‑year‑old man pleaded not guilty to one count of raping a female friend at an apartment on 28 September 2008. He told the jury that he has a history of sleepwalking and night terrors, and that he has no memory of initiating sexual activity with the complainant. He recounted past incidents where he woke up kissing or touching others in his sleep, and that he had been told by a friend that he had been "spooning" him in bed. He explained that after a night out with the complainant they went to a friend's house, where he fell asleep on a spare bed. He claimed he woke up on top of the woman, had no recollection of how he got there, and that he later texted her to apologise.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, 38‑year‑old Andrzej Wawrzyniak, who had no fixed address, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for the death of 44‑year‑old Jacek Kozakiewicz in an abandoned pub on Dublin's North Wall Quay on 26 February 2014. Wawrzyniak also pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Filip Talaj, another occupant of the squat. The court heard that the pub was a daily drinking spot and that on the night of the killing a Luas driver noticed blood on Wawrzyniak's hands and prevented him from boarding a tram. Wawrzyniak told the driver he had killed a man and led Gardaí to the squat, where they found three people, one of whom was injured. Jacek's body was discovered on the floor of a makeshift kitchen with more than twenty stab wounds, mainly to the neck and face.
In a Central Criminal Court sentence hearing, a 48‑year‑old father of three was found to have died from a knife wound to a varicose vein in his leg on Christmas Eve 2014. The victim, John Lawlor, was stabbed by David Shanley, 47, who had pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Shanley, who was in a relationship with Lawlor's ex‑wife, claimed a struggle and that the knife fell from his pocket during an altercation. A post‑mortem confirmed death by hemorrhage and shock from the incised vein. The court heard victim impact statements from Lawlor's family, who described the loss and the emotional toll. Justice Paul Butler remanded Shanley in custody pending sentencing in two weeks. David Shanley pleaded not guilty.
The trial of seven accused individuals for the murder of Dale Creighton is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy addressed the jury, warning them against conducting internet searches or discussing the case, emphasizing that their verdicts must rely solely on evidence presented in court. The accused, Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, Jason Beresford, and Gerard Stevens, are charged with murdering Mr. Creighton, who died on January 2, 2014, following an incident at the Tallaght bypass footbridge. All seven defendants have pleaded not guilty to the murder charges. Additionally, each accused pleaded not guilty to violent disorder at the same location on New Year's Day. The court highlighted the gravity of the proceedings, noting that murder is the most serious offence in the criminal calendar. The trial is currently at the trial stage, with no findings, sentences, or finalizations recorded. The matter was adjourned and will continue the following morning.
A jury of eight men and four women was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the murder trial of James Jimmy Lammon, 44, of Cardington Way, Athy, Kildare. Lammon pleaded not guilty to the killing of 22‑year‑old Jason Doogue in the Greenhills estate on 21 August 2015. The trial is set to start on Wednesday and is expected to last four weeks.