The family of a 64‑year‑old man who was murdered by three men after they broke into his home expressed shock and horror at the brutality of his death. The family statement, read at the Central Criminal Court, said they were "horrified and shocked at the cruel and heartless way he was brutally taken from us" and that they hoped for justice. The three men, Matthew Cummins (22), Sean Davy (22) and James Davy (25), were convicted of murder on 4–5 August. The judge imposed a mandatory life sentence on each, back‑dating the sentences to account for time spent in custody since 24 November 2014. The court heard that the men had previously been convicted of a range of offences, including arson, burglary and assault.
A 66‑year‑old man was sentenced to 14 years in prison for raping his son from the age of six and locking him in a box in their Waterford home. The judge, Mr Justice Robert Eagar, imposed a 15‑year sentence with the final year suspended, and ordered a four‑year supervision period after release. The father, who has been registered as a sex offender, continues to deny the offences and intends to appeal the verdict. He was convicted of nine counts of rape and one count of child cruelty, but acquitted of raping the child with a poker. His 38‑year‑old partner was convicted of child cruelty but found not guilty of sex assault. The case involved the child being removed from the family home in 2011, placed in foster care, and later subjected to further sexual abuse by another child.
A 29‑year‑old man accused of raping a female friend in Dublin on 28 September 2008 pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. In an interview with Gardaí he admitted to having a history of sleep‑walking and claimed he may have had sex with the woman while asleep, saying he does not remember the incident. He described being in a semi‑conscious state and asserted he would never have unprotected sex. He also admitted to sleeping with other friends and kissing other girls in his sleep, and that he and the complainant were close friends but not a couple. He told Gardaí that on the night of the alleged rape he woke up with the complainant asking if he was wearing a condom. The trial is before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of eight men and four women.
The trial of seven Tallaght residents accused of murdering 20‑year‑old Dale Creighton on 2 January 2014 has been adjourned to Monday. All seven, aged in their twenties, pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and to violent disorder at the footbridge over the Tallaght bypass. The accused are Aisling Burke (23), David Burke (28), Graham Palmer (26), Ross Callery (23), James Reid (26), Jason Beresford (23) and Gerard Stevens (27). A jury of six men and six women was sworn in to hear the case, which was scheduled to open that morning but was postponed because no judge was available. The court expects the trial to last up to six weeks. The incident occurred on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day, and the victim and all accused were from Tallaght. The trial will resume on Monday.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 29‑year‑old defendant pleaded not guilty to a single count of rape, claiming he was sleepwalking when he allegedly assaulted a female friend in a Dublin apartment on 28 September 2008. The jury has heard that Garda Noel Sweeney performed a mobile‑phone analysis in February 2009, extracting incoming and outgoing texts between the complainant and the accused during a specific period. Sweeney confirmed that the analysis involved downloading the phone and selected text messages, producing a print‑out. He acknowledged that the phone could retain or delete messages, but stated that in this case no such deletion was performed. He also noted that, apart from five texts, no outgoing messages were recorded after 26 October 2008, the day the complainant first visited a Garda station. The trial proceeds before Justice Patrick McCarthy with a jury of eight men and four women.
In a Tallaght court hearing on 6 October 2016, a woman and six men, all in their twenties and residents of Tallaght, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 20‑year‑old Dale Creighton, who died on 2 January 2014. The alleged killing took place at the footbridge over the Tallaght bypass between Saint Dominic's Road and Greenhills Road, about two days after an incident on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. The accused—Aisling Burke (23), David Burke (28), Graham Palmer (26), Ross Callery (23), James Reid (26), Jason Beresford (23) and Gerard Stevens (27)—were charged with murder and violent disorder on the same occasion. All seven were arraigned before the Central Criminal Court, and the judge, Justice Patrick McCarthy, swore in a jury of six women and six men, noting that no juror should be from the Tallaght area. The trial was scheduled to begin the following day and could last up to six weeks.
Martin Stokes, 25, of Corkhill, Kinnegad, was convicted of defilement of a child under 15 and rape of a 14‑year‑old girl in Westmeath on 3 June 2011. He pleaded not guilty, denied knowledge of the girl, and later claimed the encounter was consensual. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty on all counts and sentenced him to 12 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended by Mr Justice Carroll Moran on 7 August 2015. Stokes has now lodged an appeal against his conviction on grounds that his right to silence was undermined, medical evidence was mishandled, and extracts from Garda tapes portrayed him as "belligerent". His barrister, Padraig Dwyer SC, argued that inconsistencies in medical evidence were treated as mere defence points and that the jury was misled by the victim's cross‑examination responses. He also contended that hearsay evidence of Stokes acting threateningly the day after the incident was improperly admitted.
In a 2016 trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 29‑year‑old man pleaded not guilty to a single count of raping a woman in Dublin on 28 September 2008. He claimed he was sleep‑walking and had no conscious memory of the act. The prosecution described the alleged incident: the couple, former university friends, had travelled to Dublin, stayed at a friend's apartment, drank, and then slept in a shared bedroom. The woman, fully dressed, woke to find the man on top of her. She testified that he thrust repeatedly, that she asked him to stop, and that he later apologized. The man was interviewed by Gardaí the following year, stating he had no recollection and only a vague memory of being asked about a condom.
In a three‑week trial at Sr Senan Court, Edenderry, the jury found Matthew Cummins (22), Sean Davy (21) and James Davy (25) guilty of murdering 64‑year‑old Thomas 'Toddy' Dooley. The men were convicted of beating Dooley to death with a baseball bat in his home. The trial recounted how the trio met at Mangan's Pub, drank, used cocaine, and later attended a house party at April Murray's home where they caused extensive damage. After the party, they entered Dooley's house, where Cummins claimed Sean Davy struck Dooley with the bat, while Davy accounts varied. The prosecution described the attack as a joint enterprise. The men face mandatory life sentences; sentencing is postponed to 10 October, with reports ordered and all three remanded in custody. Matthew Cummins pleaded not guilty. James Davy pleaded not guilty. Sean Davy pleaded not guilty.
A 21-year-old Louth man who raped a 15-year-old family friend has been sentenced to eight years in prison. The now 23-year-old accused, who cannot be named to protect his victim's identity, was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury following a trial earlier this month of rape and defilement of the girl at his home between the 4th and 5th of October 2014. He has no previous convictions and is maintaining his innocence of the charges. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy was asked to partially suspend the sentence but refused, noting that there were no mitigation factors in favour of the man. The matter was adjourned for the purpose of the court considering the application for a suspended sentence, but the judge ultimately refused the request. The victim, in her impact statement, described the emotional and psychological effects of the crime on her life, including trust issues, difficulties with schoolwork, and sleep disturbances. The accused's defence counsel submitted testimonials from family members, work and sports clubs, highlighting his character as a good father, hardworking, friendly, and a positive influence in the lives of young people. Counsel also noted that cannabis had been a significant part of the accused's life at the time and asked the court to consider that the aggravating circumstances present in other cases were absent in this case.
James Davy, aged 25, stands accused of murder after being present at the scene of Thomas 'Toddy' Dooley's death on 12 February 2014. He pleaded not guilty, as did co‑accused Sean Davy (21) and Matthew Cummins (22). The men entered Dooley's home through a window at about 5.30 am, drank with him, and at some point Dooley was beaten to death and attempts were made to set his body on fire. Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy reported eight blows to Dooley's head and two blows to his body, fracturing ribs. Defence counsel Padraig Dwyer SC argued that Davy's presence alone does not prove intent to kill, and that the prosecution failed to establish such intent. Davy maintains he did not strike Dooley or attempt arson, and he denied any involvement in the killing. The trial continues with the judge scheduled to charge the jury the following day.
A 69‑year‑old Cork pensioner was sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment for raping and sexually abusing his step‑daughter between 1974 and 1979. The victim, now 53, gave birth to two of his children after being raped from the age of 11. She reported the abuse to Gardaí in 2013, after her father's death, when the defendant had moved in with her mother and siblings and later married her mother. The abuse included weekly sexual intercourse, rape in the garden shed, and a pregnancy at 15, which she concealed by claiming a work colleague was the father. The defendant had no employment and was an alcoholic. He pleaded guilty to 18 counts of rape and sexual abuse. Judge Tony Hunt imposed an 18‑year sentence, suspending the final six years; the defendant is currently serving a four‑year term for earlier indecent assault offences against the victim's siblings.
A 60‑year‑old man, James Redmond, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for murdering Mary Dargan and attempting to murder her daughter Karina in Killinarden Estate, Tallaght, on 15 March 2014. After a four‑hour deliberation, a jury returned majority verdicts of not guilty on both counts. Mr Justice Eagar ordered Redmond to be committed to the Central Mental Hospital (CMH). Dr Damian Mohan, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, testified that Redmond was admitted to the CMH on 26 March 2014, presented with delusional beliefs and auditory hallucinations, and had been receiving antipsychotic and antidepressant treatment. He noted that Redmond's condition had improved but he remained depressed, with Parkinson's disease diagnosed in 2015. Dr Mohan recommended continued inpatient care at the CMH, which the court accepted. The prosecution had argued that Redmond's delusions were unfounded and that he was unable to control his actions.
In a Central Criminal Court case, a 38‑year‑old man from Cork pleaded guilty to raping and sexually assaulting his 19‑year‑old daughter in July 2014. He claimed that an evil spirit, allegedly sent by his brother, possessed him and compelled him to commit the offences. After the assault, he reported the incident to Gardaí and later admitted the crime to a psychiatrist, describing an overwhelming sense of energy and possession. The court heard that the daughter was forced into sexual acts, threatened with a knife, and coerced into removing her clothing. The defendant had no prior convictions and denied any psychiatric illness. Judge Tony Hunt sentenced him to ten years, suspending the last four, resulting in a six‑year custodial term.
In the Central Criminal Court, defence counsel Caroline Biggs SC argued that the evidence against 22‑year‑old Matthew Cummins of Churchview Heights, Edenderry, shows "morally corrupt" behaviour but does not prove he committed murder. Cummins, who pleaded not guilty to the killing of Thomas 'Toddy' Dooley, was present at the crime scene, had taken drugs, and was involved in earlier vandalism, but there is no evidence he intended to kill or seriously injure Dooley. Biggs contended that Cummins' actions after Dooley's death, such as cleaning the scene and possibly setting the body on fire, cannot constitute murder. She urged the jury to find him not guilty of murder but guilty of impeding the arrest or prosecution of the principal offender. The trial also heard defence arguments for Sean Davy, who was to be found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, and the case will continue with James Davy's defence on Tuesday.
In a sentencing hearing at the Central Criminal Court, a 36‑year‑old man read a victim impact statement about the sexual abuse he endured as a child, which he said led to a serious heroin addiction, a dangerous crack habit and four suicide attempts. He described how the abuse began the day before he started secondary school, leaving him confused, doubting his sexuality and blaming himself for years. He said he eventually overcame his drug addiction but the pain returned, and his last suicide attempt in 2014 was averted by his family and wife. He disclosed the abuse in 2011, began counselling soon after, and continues weekly sessions. He concluded that the abuse caused lasting damage but he hopes to move on. The statement was read during the sentencing of Joseph Anderson, who was jailed for six years for raping and molesting the boy between 1992 and 1995. Joseph Anderson pleaded not guilty and was convicted.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Mr Justice Robert Eagar sentenced a 23‑year‑old man to five years' imprisonment, with three and a half years suspended, for raping and sexually abusing his cousin from age 12 to 6. The judge emphasised that families must report such abuse promptly, noting the victim's family and grandparents failed to alert Gardaí or social services in 2007, a mistake he called "grave." The court heard the victim endured self‑harm, suicide attempts and severe distress, only reporting the abuse to Gardaí at 14. The accused had pleaded guilty to multiple sex assault and rape charges but denied rape. The judge warned that if the offences had been committed as an adult, the sentence could have been at least ten years. The case highlighted the need for immediate reporting to protect children and ensure timely legal intervention.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Patrick Treacy SC argued that Matthew Cummins (22), Sean Davy (21) and James Davy (25) acted together to murder 64‑year‑old Thomas 'Toddy' Dooley. The prosecution said the men entered Dooley's house at about 5.30 am after being expelled from a house party, beat him to death with a baseball bat, attempted to set his body on fire and then disposed of the bat and other items in a bin. Treacy described the evidence as showing a joint enterprise, with each accused equally guilty. He highlighted conflicting statements from the men, including Cummins' claims of lying about his whereabouts and Davy's admissions of striking Dooley. The trial was set to continue the following day before Justice Margaret Heneghan. Matthew Cummins pleaded not guilty. Sean Davy pleaded not guilty. James Davy pleaded not guilty.
A 49‑year‑old Limerick man, Kieran Lynch, was freed after 11 years in custody following the quashing of his murder conviction. Lynch had originally been sentenced to life in prison in 2007 for the killing of his partner, Catherine McEnery, aged 36, at their home in Craughwell, Co. Galway. He appealed in 2013 on the grounds of misdirection by the judge and the influence of benzodiazepines he had received after a near‑drowning incident. The Court of Criminal Appeal quashed the conviction, and Lynch was re‑arraigned in May, pleading not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. He was sentenced to 12 years, with the last four years suspended for two years post‑release, and was released after paying a €10 bond for good behaviour. The case highlighted the impact of drug influence on his actions and the severe injuries sustained by McEnery. The court noted the significant assault and the family's profound loss.
Michael Collins, aged 34, was convicted of murdering Packie Hogan, aged 42, on 10 February 2011. Collins pleaded not guilty and denied owning a rifle or ammunition. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty on all counts and he received a mandatory life sentence on 29 November 2012. Collins appealed, arguing the shooting was accidental and that he intended only to frighten Hogan. His defence cited a defective firearm with a hair trigger and no safety mechanism, and claimed he had no intent to kill. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, dismissed the appeal, stating that any trial unfairness had been rectified and that the defence did not raise manslaughter. The appeal was rejected, leaving Collins' conviction and life sentence intact. The court noted no unusual circumstances required a different jury instruction. The case remains at the conviction stage.
James Redmond, 60, of Killinarden Estate, Tallaght, Dublin 24, was found not guilty by reason of insanity of murdering Mary Dargan and attempting to murder Karina Dargan at their home on March 15, 2014. Redmond pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to both charges at the Central Criminal Court. The jury returned majority verdicts of not guilty on both counts after four hours and five minutes of deliberation. The court heard that Redmond allegedly jumped over a back wall with a shotgun, shooting Mary Dargan dead and Karina Dargan in the head. Two consultant forensic psychiatrists testified that Redmond was suffering from severe depressive episodes with psychotic symptoms, rendering him unable to refrain from his actions. Justice Robert Eagar committed Redmond to the Central Mental Hospital and ordered him to be brought back before the court at 9am the following day for a psychiatric assessment. The matter was adjourned for this purpose. Redmond expressed his sorrow for his actions and the devastating consequences for the Dargan family. Victim impact statements were read on behalf of the Dargan children and Karina Dargan, who described her ongoing fear and trauma. The judge exempted the jury from further service for five years.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 28 July 2016, Justice Paul Butler granted bail to David Shanley, 47, who admitted to a Christmas Eve killing. Shanley pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of John Lawlor, who died on 24 or 25 December 2014 at Ballinatray Lower, Courtown Harbour. The State accepted the plea. Shanley had previously been on bail from the High Court but was found to have breached conditions by living at his partner's address rather than his parents' home. His partner is the deceased's widow, who is receiving ongoing hospital treatment, and Shanley is her carer. The bail terms now require Shanley to reside with his parents. The case was adjourned to 10 October 2016.
In March 2013, 29‑year‑old Marta Herda drove her Volkswagen Passat through crash barriers at South Quay, Arklow, into a deep harbour. She had been arguing with her passenger, 31‑year‑old Csaba Orsos, who could not swim. The car entered the water, and Orsos drowned. A post‑mortem confirmed drowning, not crash injuries. Herda, a Polish waitress, pleaded not guilty and was tried at the Central Criminal Court. The jury found her guilty of murder by a 11‑to‑one majority. She was sentenced to life imprisonment. The case highlighted the argument between the couple, Herda's claim of wanting the situation to stop, and the fact that Orsos was in love with her. The trial did not address any subsequent appeals or further legal developments.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, James Redmond, aged 60, is charged with murdering Mary Dargan and attempting to murder Karina Dargan on 15 March 2014 at their Killinarden Estate home. Redmond pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC argued that the sole issue was Redmond's state of mind, claiming evidence showed he was mentally unfit. Prosecution counsel Pauline Walley SC presented two forensic psychiatrists who agreed Redmond suffered severe depressive episodes with psychotic symptoms, preventing him from controlling his actions. She also highlighted that allegations of chanting, laughing, or paedophilia were delusions. The jury was instructed to decide whether Redmond should be held criminally responsible or found mentally unfit, and they began deliberations after 3.30pm, having spent 25 minutes so far.
Patrick Keating, 51, was convicted of murdering Joe O'Brien in Waterford in 2012 and sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy in 2013. He appealed, arguing the trial judge had reversed the burden of proof. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, ruling that the judge was entitled to comment on evidence and that any inadequacies were rectified after requisitions. The judge had instructed the jury that where two views were possible, they should hold the view most favourable to the accused, and that the absence of medical evidence regarding a skull fracture was a matter for experts, not for the jury to decide. The Court found no error in the judge's approach and no unfairness in the charge. Consequently, Keating's appeal was dismissed. The case involved conflicting witness testimony about a skull fracture, but the judge's instructions were upheld as adequate. Patrick Keating pleaded not guilty.
Ross Allen, 26, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for manslaughter after he acted as a lookout during the killing of Christy Daly, 47, on 29 December 2013. The Central Criminal Court found Allen not guilty of murder but guilty of assault‑manslaughter. The jury was not convinced that he was part of a common purpose to kill. Allen had previously hidden €30,000 worth of cannabis near Daly's caravan on Bog Lane, and when the stash disappeared he feared the drug dealer might blame Daly. He was told to drive a Volvo to a location outside Clara, where two Dublin gang members and a driver planned the attack. Allen collected a sawn‑off shotgun and a semi‑automatic pistol, stood at the gate as a lookout, and the men shot Daly eight times.
In a 2016 trial, forensic psychiatrist Dr Conor O'Neill testified that James Redmond, 60, suffered from severe depressive episodes with psychotic symptoms and would have been unable to refrain from his actions. Redmond, charged with murdering Mary Dargan and attempting to murder Karina Dargan on 15 March 2014, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Dr O'Neill described Redmond's history of hearing voices, weight loss, and persecutory delusions, noting that he had been admitted to the Central Mental Hospital after a transfer from Cloverhill Prison. He diagnosed Redmond with psychotic depression, stating that Redmond was fit to be tried but would remain under treatment. The case was set to continue before Mr Justice Robert Eagar.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing set for 24 October, Deivydas Zigelis, a 38‑year‑old Lithuanian, will receive a sentence for manslaughter. Zigelis was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter in June for the death of his housemate, Alexander Karpovs, who died from a single stab wound to the heart on 15 February 2014. Justice Paul Butler also ordered a prison governor's report to be sent to Zigelis's legal representatives.
A 41‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to eight years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended, for raping his nephew's wife while she slept beside her husband and toddler in a caravan park on 7 March 2014. The victim, who was half‑asleep and on medication, was assaulted by the defendant, who claimed he was looking for money for a taxi fare at about 3 a.m. He entered the caravan intoxicated and, after the victim's husband was asleep, the defendant raped the woman. The victim woke the next morning, discovered the assault, and went to the Rape Crisis Centre. During the four‑day trial, the defendant pleaded not guilty. The jury found him guilty, and the judge ordered him to stay away from the victim and her family for five years post‑release and to be supervised by Probation Services for 12 months. The unnamed 41-year-old was convicted.
In a victim impact report, a 12‑year‑old boy whose mother was convicted of child cruelty told the Central Criminal Court that he does not believe she did anything wrong. He blamed his 64‑year‑old father, who was convicted of nine counts of raping him when he was six and seven, and of putting him in a wooden box and nailing it shut in their Waterford home. The boy, now in specialised residential care in the UK, said he wished his mother had taken him away or placed him in care when the abuse started. He remains angry that she stayed with his father but says she was manipulated by him. The boy is two years behind in school, still shows aggression, and his long‑term mental and physical health is likely to be affected by the abuse. The unnamed 37 year old pleaded not guilty and was acquitted.
James Redmond, aged 60, was charged with murdering Mary Dargan and attempting to murder her daughter Karina Dargan at their Killinarden Estate home on 15 March 2014. He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity at the Central Criminal Court. The prosecution presented three interviews from Tallaght Garda Station on 16 March 2014. In the first interview Redmond claimed that Karina had been "chanting" he was a paedophile for nearly three months before the incident, describing it as a game and mind‑games that drove him to shoot. He said he had been sleepless, had taken cartridges from a shotgun he owned for 20 years, and fired at the house. In the second interview he said he felt "rotten" and that the chanting had made his head "fit to burst," prompting him to go to the Dargan house. The trial continues.
Martin Stokes, 25, of Corkhill, Kinnegad, was convicted in 2015 of defilement of a child under 15 and rape of a 14‑year‑old girl in a field in Westmeath on 3 June 2011. A 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 has lodged an appeal against conviction and a separate appeal against sentence. The conviction appeal was adjourned to 5 October 2016 after a late submission from the Director of Public Prosecutions. Martin Stokes pleaded not guilty.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, a murder accused admitted to the Garda that he struck the deceased once with a baseball bat, but claimed the blow did not kill him. The accused, Matthew Cummins (22), Sean Davy (21) and James Davy (25), all pleaded not guilty to the murder of 64‑year‑old Thomas "Toddy" Dooley, who was found dead at his home in Sr Senan Court, Edenderry, on 12 February 2014. The trial is ongoing before a jury and Justice Margaret Heneghan.
A 34‑year‑old woman, Monika Matracka of The Pines, Briarfield, Castletroy, Limerick, is charged with murdering her housemate, Michal Rejmer, aged 38, on 30‑31 December last year. Her case was called before the Central Criminal Court and a trial date of 6 February 2017 was set by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy.
The Central Criminal Court has set a trial date for the re-trial of Thomas O'Connor, a 35-year-old man from Burnaby Court, Greystones, Co Wicklow. O'Connor is the appellant in this matter, having previously been convicted of the murder of John O'Brien at Farrankelly Road, Delgany, Co Wicklow, on June 5, 2010. In 2011, he was sentenced to life imprisonment following his conviction at the Central Criminal Court. However, in November 2014, the Court of Criminal Appeal quashed his murder conviction and ordered a retrial. Today, the case was called before the Central Criminal Court, where Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy scheduled the re-trial to commence on December 5, 2016. This procedural step marks the next stage in the legal proceedings following the appellate court's decision to overturn the original finding. The report confirms that the matter is currently at the pre-trial stage, with the specific date for the new trial now established by the presiding judge. No new charges, pleas, or sentences were recorded in this specific court appearance, which focused solely on fixing the timeline for the upcoming re-trial of the accused.
In a 2016 murder trial, 60‑year‑old James Redmond pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for killing Mary Dargan and attempting to kill her daughter Karina in their Killinarden Estate home on 15 March 2014. Redmond, who owned and licensed a shotgun, shot Dargan in the kitchen while she was drinking tea, severing an artery and killing her. He then fired at Karina's head as she fled, but she survived after a neighbour took her to hospital. Redmond claimed he was being called a paedophile by the Dargans and that he had been depressed and had sought medical help in January 2014. The prosecution presented evidence that the families had lived peacefully together for years and that Redmond had been under psychiatric care since the incident. The case was set to continue before Mr Justice Robert Eagar.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury will resume deliberations on Tuesday morning in the trial of Marta Herda, a 29‑year‑old Polish waitress from Arklow, charged with the murder of 31‑year‑old Csaba Orsos. The case concerns an incident on 26 March 2013 when Herda drove her car into a harbour at South Quay, Arklow, causing Orsos to drown. Herda escaped the water, but Orsos could not swim and his body was recovered from a nearby beach later that day. The trial established that the two had worked together and that Orsos had been in love with Herda, who denied feeling the same way. She claimed he had followed her for two years, phoned and sent messages, and that they were arguing in the car when she drove into the water.
A 15‑year‑old boy, whose name cannot be disclosed because he is a minor, has been set to appear at the Central Criminal Court on 21 November to face charges of murdering Lorcan O'Reilly, a 21‑year‑old from Robert Emmet Close. O'Reilly was stabbed in the Oliver Bond flat complex on 1 November. The Director of Public Prosecutions sought an early trial date, which Justice Patrick McCarthy confirmed.
Anthony Hussey, aged 26, was convicted of raping a 73‑year‑old woman in her home on 20 September 2014. He entered the house wearing a balaclava, claimed his boss forced him, and sexually assaulted the victim both vaginally and anally. Hussey pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. Judge Patrick McCarthy sentenced him to 13 years' imprisonment, back‑dated to his 2014 custody, and imposed a five‑year post‑release supervision order. The judge noted the victim's courage and the seriousness of the offence, while considering Hussey's apology, good character and guilty plea in determining the sentence. The case was heard in the Central Criminal Court, with the judge's remarks and the victim's impact statement recorded in the proceedings.
James Redmond, aged 60, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of Mary Dargan and the attempted murder of her daughter Karina Dargan, both of whom lived with him at the Killinarden Estate in Tallaght. The alleged offences occurred on 15 March 2014. The Central Criminal Court has sworn in a jury of seven men and five women for a trial expected to last two to three days. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy instructed the prosecution to provide brief information, noting that the Redmond and Dargan families had lived side by side for many years.
A 16‑year‑old boy was sentenced to four years detention, with the final year suspended, for sexually abusing his half‑sister over a six‑month period in 2014. He pleaded guilty to 13 counts, including rape, anal rape, oral rape and sexual abuse. The court heard the boy was 14 and the sister was aged eight to nine at the time of the abuse, which took place in their family home in a midlands town. The prosecution described the boy's acts as raping, anally penetrating and forcing oral sex on the girl. The abuse ceased when the sister confided in her parents, who confronted the boy and reported him to the Gardaí. The judge noted the abuse was frequent, extensive and serious, and imposed the sentence on strict conditions. The court heard the sister's victim impact statement, describing her ongoing distress and confusion about family life. The defence highlighted the family's support and the boy's remorse and counselling.
The trial of Marta Herda, a 29‑year‑old Polish waitress, is set to begin jury deliberations on Monday. She is charged with the murder of 31‑year‑old Csaba Orsos, who drowned after the car she was in drove into a harbour on 26 March 2013. Herda escaped the water, but Orsos could not swim and his body was recovered later that day. The prosecution presented evidence that the couple had been arguing in the car and that Orsos had been following Herda for two years, calling and texting him. Herda pleaded not guilty. Judge Patrick McCarthy explained to the jury that they could find her guilty of murder, acquitted, or not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, noting that intent to kill could arise on the spot and that motive need not be proven. He also clarified that gross negligence would be required for a manslaughter verdict. The jury must reach a unanimous verdict.
David Shanley, 47, of Courtown Harbour, Gorey, Co. Wexford, admitted to killing a 42‑year‑old man on Christmas Eve 2014 and pleaded guilty to manslaughter. He has been on bail since the High Court charged him, with conditions that he reside at his parents' address. However, he has been living with the deceased's widow and daughter at the widow's house, a situation that has caused concern for the family. Shanley is a carer for his partner, who has serious health problems and is receiving ongoing treatment in hospital. The court heard that a probation report was not yet completed, so sentencing was deferred. The case was adjourned to next Thursday morning to consider a variation of the bail conditions. The judge expressed dissatisfaction with the current bail arrangement but deferred to the bail judge's decision. The matter remains pending. David Shanley pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 22 July 2016, Judge Patrick McCarthy began charging the jury in the trial of Marta Herda, a 29‑year‑old Polish waitress from Arklow, with the murder of 31‑year‑old Csaba Orsos. The case concerns an incident on 26 March 2013 when Herda drove her car into a harbour at South Quay, Arklow, causing Orsos to drown. Herda had pleaded not guilty. The trial established that both were in the car when it entered the water shortly before 6 a.m., that Herda escaped while Orsos could not swim and his body was recovered later that day. Herda had told police that Orsos was in love with her and had followed her for two years, but she did not reciprocate. She also claimed they were arguing in the car when she drove into the water.
In a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, the defence counsel for Marta Herda, a 29‑year‑old Polish waitress, argued that if she had deliberately driven her car into the harbour at South Quay, Arklow, it would have constituted suicide rather than murder. Herda is charged with the death of 31‑year‑old Csaba Orsos, who drowned after the vehicle entered the water on 26 March 2013. The defence highlighted that the prosecution's case was unsustainable, noting that the handbrake may have been pulled by Orsos and that the evidence did not prove intent to kill. The counsel suggested that any verdict should consider whether Herda's actions were reckless or intentional, and urged the jury to consider a not‑guilty outcome. The trial was scheduled to continue with the jury hearing on Friday.
A 50‑year‑old man, Denis Leahy, was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment for attempting to murder his former partner, Rose Kenny, on 23 September 2014 at School Street Flats, Dublin 8. Leahy had pleaded guilty to the attempted murder charge and to a separate charge of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Ms Kenny at the same address on the same date. The attack occurred in the stairwell of her apartment complex while she was heading to work at a local creche. Ms Kenny sustained three stab wounds to her neck and three to her chest, one of which pierced the front of her larynx. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Butler, noted the ferocity of the assault, the lack of remorse shown by Leahy, and the severe injuries sustained by Ms Kenny. He imposed the 14‑year term, back‑dated to the date of the offence, and declined to suspend any portion of the sentence.
In a 2016 Central Criminal Court trial, the prosecution argued that Marta Herda, a 29‑year‑old Polish waitress, deliberately drove her car into the sea at Arklow harbour on 26 March 2013, resulting in the drowning of 31‑year‑old Csaba Orsos. Herda, who was in the car with Orsos that morning, escaped the harbour while Orsos' body was found later that day on a nearby beach. The prosecution's case relied on circumstantial evidence, including CCTV footage showing Herda's car moving from her home toward Orsos' residence around 5.30 am, a brake‑mark of 13 ft 6 in at the scene, and phone records indicating she called Orsos three times that morning, the last at 5.37 am. Herda had previously claimed that Orsos had been stalking her and that she could not stand his anger, but she also stated she knew he could not swim.
Gary Howard, 28, of Dublin's North Inner City, was convicted of murdering Patrick Mooney (58) and Brendan Molyneux (46) on 10 January 2010. He was found guilty after a six‑week trial and received two life sentences on 25 May 2012. Howard appealed on grounds that his arrest, extended detention, and Garda interviews were oppressive and that he was denied access to a solicitor. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, rejected all appeal grounds. The court noted that Howard's 26 Garda interviews were recorded and reviewed, that he was aware of his rights, and that the Gardaí had a legitimate concern for safety. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed and Howard's convictions and sentences remain in force. Gary Howard pleaded not guilty.
In a 2016 trial, Marta Herda, a 29‑year‑old Polish waitress, was charged with the murder of 31‑year‑old Csaba Orsos, who drowned after being driven into a harbour on 26 March 2013. Herda and Orsos had been in her car when it entered the water that morning; she escaped, but Orsos' body was recovered later that day on a nearby beach. The prosecution alleged that Herda had lured Orsos out of his house, citing phone records showing she called him at 5.30 am and that he had been in love with her, though she did not reciprocate. Detective Sergeant Fergus O'Brien testified about interviews conducted after Herda's arrest, and portions of those interviews were played to the jury. The prosecution closed its case, with closing speeches scheduled before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of eight men and four women.
Marta Herda, 29, of Arklow, is on trial for the murder of 31‑year‑old Csaba Orsos, who drowned after their car entered a harbour on 26 March 2013. She pleaded not guilty. During the trial, excerpts of her garda interviews were played. In them, she described a struggle in the car as they approached the harbour, saying she had to "fight for my life" in the water. She recounted losing her shoes and sweater, hearing waves, and being unable to swim or say goodbye. She claimed she had been pursued by Orsos for two years, receiving calls and texts. The court heard her statement that she wanted the situation to stop when she drove into the water. The trial is before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy with a jury of eight men and four women.