During a Central Criminal Court hearing on 29 February 2016, Gary Flynn, aged 31, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne, which occurred on 13 March 2009 at Tymon Park North, Tallaght. An expert, Liam Fleury of the Forensic Science Laboratory, testified that he found firearms residue on Flynn's right hand and on the cuffs of a grey hoodie that Gardaí said belonged to him. No residue was found on Flynn's face or left hand. Fleury explained that such residue is emitted when a gun is fired and can adhere to the shooter's skin and clothing. He had not examined any evidence relating to Garrett O'Brien, who the prosecution claims was the actual shooter and has already been convicted of the murder. Detective Garda Shane Farrell reported finding fingerprints on a Nissan Primera bonnet, one belonging to Eugene Cullen and another to Flynn.
A 59‑year‑old Laois man was sentenced to seven and a half years' imprisonment for anally raping a 34‑year‑old pregnant woman at her home on 10 October 2010. The Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty after a five‑day trial in December 2010. The victim, who was 16 weeks pregnant, reported that the assault left her devastated, with ongoing flashbacks, anxiety, depression and nightmares. She had been treated in a sexual assault unit and had made a complaint to Gardaí. The judge, Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy, noted the victim's pregnancy had been "blighted" by the assault and imposed the sentence back‑dated to the man's December 2010 arrest. The defendant, who has no prior convictions, has not accepted the verdict.
A 22‑year‑old asylum seeker from Nigeria, Kenneth Udeh, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for raping a woman in Waterford on 14 September 2014. The victim was out for a night in the city when Udeh offered her a lift after she had left a pub. He raped her in his car, and a passer‑by shouted at them, causing Udeh to flee. The victim's victim impact statement described the assault as a "complete violation" that left her feeling she had nothing to live for and that it severely damaged her relationship with her partner. Udeh pleaded guilty on the day of his trial at the Central Criminal Court, where Judge Patrick McCarthy imposed a five‑year sentence back‑dated to reflect time already spent in custody. He is appealing his asylum status to the Refugee Appeals Tribunal.
A 40‑year‑old man, Terence Connors of Drumcairn Drive, Tallaght, is accused of murdering Peter Conroy in the Palmerstown area of Dublin on 9 June 2015. His trial, originally set for May 2017, has been moved forward to 12 December 2016 at the Central Criminal Court.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that a young Kildare man was struck twice with a baseball bat by a man identified as Zoltan Almasi (44) of Harbour View, Naas, Co Kildare. Almasi is charged with murdering Joseph Dunne at the same address on May 16, 2014. On Monday, Almasi pleaded not guilty to the charge. The prosecution called Alana Piercy, who testified that she witnessed the incident. She described seeing a man with a baseball bat strike Joseph Dunne on the back and then on the side of his head. The witness also described the man as small, skinny, baldy-haired, and wearing glasses. Richard Conway testified that he encountered two youths who attempted to provoke him and heard the sound of someone kicking or thumping a car more than twice. Anita Ryan, a nurse, stated she saw a man holding a baseball bat and heard him say, 'I've seen what you have done to my car.' She administered first aid to Joseph Dunne before making a 999 call. Derek Ryan, a member of the Naas Fire Service, testified that he observed a large lump on the deceased's head. Detective Garda Niall Lennon provided evidence regarding finger and palm marks found at the scene and on the deceased, as well as a baseball bat recovered from a house in the Harbour View area. The trial continues.
Kevin Carroll, 56, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for raping a girl who was about seven when the offence occurred in an Offaly school between 1996 and 1998. He pleaded not guilty to rape and anal rape, was convicted on both counts, and the judge noted that the victim was a defenseless child and that Carroll held a position of authority. The court imposed a ten‑year term, ordered two years of post‑release supervision, and required Carroll to register as a sex offender. The victim gave a victim impact statement, describing the lasting emotional effects and the difficulty of attending school exams in similar halls. Carroll intends to appeal, citing alleged juror misconduct during the trial. No mitigation was offered by the defence. The sentencing took place in the Central Criminal Court.
A 21-year-old man has been acquitted at the Central Criminal Court of rape allegations arising from an incident in Donegal Town in July 2012. The accused had pleaded not guilty to the charge. The trial heard evidence that the complainant and the accused, both aged 18 at the time, engaged in consensual sexual contact in an alleyway before the allegation arose. The defence case centred on the position that the accused ceased sexual contact immediately when the woman expressed her wishes. The jury was shown footage of the accused's garda interview, during which issues relating to the interviewing garda's conduct were raised. Mr Justice Tony Hunt addressed the jury following the verdict, acknowledging the difficulty inherent in cases where consensual activity is alleged to have become non-consensual. The woman wept as the acquittal was delivered. The judge noted that both parties had likely endured considerable hardship pending trial conclusion.
The jury in a rape trial at the Central Criminal Court is to resume deliberations tomorrow following over two hours of consideration today. The accused, now aged 21, has pleaded not guilty to the charge of raping a woman in an alleyway in Donegal Town in July 2012, when both parties were 18 years old. The trial before Mr Justice Tony Hunt concluded after six days of evidence.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that a young Kildare man was 'smacked' at the back of his head by a man wielding a baseball bat after the deceased hit a parked van 'a thump'. Zoltan Almasi (44), of Harbour View, Naas, Co Kildare, is charged with murdering Joseph Dunne at the same address on May 16, 2014. On Monday, Mr Almasi pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Dunne. Today, prosecution counsel Bernard Condon SC called witness Mikey McDonagh, a 20-year-old from Kildare, who testified that he met Mr Dunne and another friend, Gavin Breen, on the night in question. The group met three girls at the harbour in Naas before walking home. Mikey McDonagh stated that Mr Dunne hit the van once with his fist, making 'a noise', and then ran as a man with a baseball bat chased him. The witness described the man as bald and wearing glasses. Mr Dunne was struck at the back of his head and fell to the ground. In cross-examination, Mikey McDonagh agreed that Mr Dunne struck the van more than once. Gavin Breen, 21, also testified, stating that he saw the man strike Mr Dunne with a baseball bat at the side of his head. A teenage girl from Naas testified that she saw the man hit Mr Dunne once on the head, causing him to fall to the ground. The trial continues.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has been told that prior consensual sexual contact does not permit subsequent forced intercourse. The trial concerns a 22-year-old Donegal man charged with rape alleged to have occurred in an alleyway in Donegal Town in July 2012. The accused has pleaded not guilty. Prosecution counsel submitted that prior agreement to sexual contact did not constitute permission for further acts without consent, referencing established judicial guidance on such matters. Defence counsel argued the accused stopped immediately upon protest and questioned the prosecution's account of events. The jury of twelve was instructed to begin deliberations following the judge's address. The case remains before the court pending verdict.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution presented evidence that Zoltan Almasi, a 44‑year‑old Hungarian national living in Harbour View, Naas, attacked 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne with a baseball bat after Dunne hit a van. The jury heard that on 16 May 2014 Dunne, who lived in Athy with his family, had gone out with friends to Naas, where they met girls and drank near the harbour. While returning to Kildare, Dunne struck a parked van, prompting Almasi to pursue him with a bat. Almasi struck Dunne on the head, causing blunt‑force trauma that led to his death. CCTV footage showed Almasi raising his arm and later running away with the bat. Almasi was arrested, the bat seized, and he pleaded not guilty. The trial continues.
A man from Donegal Town is on trial at the Central Criminal Court on a charge of rape alleged to have occurred in July 2012. During garda interviews following the incident, the accused stated he was "very very sorry" and acknowledged attempting sexual contact without consent. He told investigators he had initially provided false accounts because he feared his parents would believe him to be a rapist. The accused claimed he ceased his actions when the woman objected and that the pair subsequently sat together before parting ways. He acknowledged awareness that the woman had sustained an injury during the encounter. When questioned by gardaí regarding why he did not contact her afterwards, he suggested concern about her potential embarrassment. The accused has entered a not guilty plea. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury comprised of twelve members.
In 2016, a 56‑year‑old drama teacher was convicted of raping a 7‑year‑old student at an Offaly school between 1996 and 1998. He pleaded not guilty to rape and anal rape, but was found guilty on both counts. The sentencing hearing was adjourned to Friday, and he was remanded on continuing bail. The victim, now 25, gave an emotional impact statement, describing the trauma and its lasting effects. Defence counsel Colm Smyth SC said he would appeal, citing alleged misconduct by a juror who was "smiling and winking" at Gardaí during the trial. The juror was present at the sentencing hearing and had been seen consulting with Gardaí all morning. The case highlighted the teacher's position of trust and the seriousness of the offence. The trial also included testimony from a caretaker and a statement from a local priest. The judge, Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan, adjourned the sentencing.
A 44‑year‑old Hungarian man, Zoltan Almasi, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne, who was killed at Almasi's Harbour View, Naas address on 16 May 2014. The plea was entered at the Central Criminal Court. Judge Patrick McCarthy informed the jury that the trial could not commence until Wednesday and would be presided over by Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan. He added that the case should be concluded by the end of the following week, though the jury might be required for the first few days of the week after that.
A trial at the Central Criminal Court has heard evidence concerning an alleged rape in a Donegal town alleyway in July 2012. The accused has pleaded not guilty to the charge. The complainant, then eighteen years old, attended hospital that night with severe bleeding. During cross-examination, the defence counsel suggested the woman had fabricated the allegation in response to being questioned about a blood stain on her clothing by friends. The woman denied this assertion. The defence also contended she had sought to withdraw her statement because the allegation was untrue. The complainant explained she initially wished to withdraw because she felt frightened and wished to move past the incident, but later recognised the seriousness of the matter and chose to proceed. She described the accused's conduct and stated he disregarded her refusal of consent. The trial, before a jury of seven men and five women, continues.
A trial at the Central Criminal Court has heard evidence from a woman who alleges she was raped in an alleyway in Donegal Town in July 2012 when she was eighteen years old. The complainant told the jury that the medical examination conducted afterwards was deeply distressing. She described meeting the accused, a man she knew, at a nightclub. She said that when they went outside, he led her to an unlit alley where he subjected her to a serious sexual assault against her will, causing her severe injuries requiring hospital treatment. The accused has pleaded not guilty to rape. The woman said she disclosed what had occurred to friends, who brought her to hospital and alerted gardaí. The trial, before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury, continues.
Paul Henry, 29, of Roscommon, was committed to the Central Mental Hospital following a trial at the Central Criminal Court. He was charged with murdering his mother, Ann Henry, at Abbeystown, Ballyphesan, in Roscommon town on September 17, 2011. Mr Henry pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder by reason of insanity. During the trial, defence counsel called Professor Tom Fahey, who diagnosed a delusional disorder, while the prosecution called Dr Brenda Wright, who diagnosed paranoid schizophrenia. The jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty of murder by reason of insanity after one hour and 36 minutes of deliberation. At the sentencing stage, Dr Damian Mohan, an approved medical officer at the Central Mental Hospital, testified that Mr Henry continues to suffer from paranoid schizophrenia and requires inpatient care to prevent deterioration and risk to others. Mr Justice Tony Hunt accepted the evidence, stating that Mr Henry must be treated as an unwell person rather than a criminal. The judge ordered that Mr Henry be committed to the Central Mental Hospital under the supervision of Dr Mohan and his staff, noting that this inpatient care is necessary until he is no longer a danger to himself or others.
A 29-year-old man from Roscommon has been found not guilty of murdering his mother by reason of insanity at the Central Criminal Court. Paul Henry was charged with killing Ann Henry at Abbeystown, Ballyphesan on 17 September 2011. The defence conceded that Henry killed his mother but argued he was legally insane at the time. Two psychiatrists gave evidence: the defence called a consultant psychiatrist who diagnosed a delusional disorder, whilst the prosecution's forensic psychiatrist diagnosed paranoid schizophrenia. Both experts testified that Henry lacked capacity to form criminal intent due to his mental condition. The jury deliberated for one hour and 36 minutes before returning a unanimous verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The judge ordered Henry's detention at the Central Mental Hospital and praised the jury for their careful consideration of the evidence.
A man from Roscommon has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his mother by reason of insanity at the Central Criminal Court. Paul Henry, aged 29, is charged with stabbing Ann Henry to death at Abbeystown, Ballyphesan in Roscommon town on 17 September 2011. During the trial, forensic psychiatrist Dr Brenda Wright gave evidence that she had diagnosed Mr Henry with paranoid schizophrenia, characterised by delusions that his mother and others were conspiring to harm him. Dr Wright told the court that Mr Henry believed his mother intended to have him killed and that he would be killed if he did not kill her first. Both prosecution and defence counsels submitted to the jury that the evidence supported a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The prosecution noted that medical staff at the Central Mental Hospital supported this assessment. The jury commenced deliberations following the judge's charge.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, Faisal Ellahi, aged 34, was convicted of raping a young woman with Down syndrome after luring her to his home. The court had repeatedly adjourned sentencing to allow the defence to prepare a psychological report claiming Ellahi had a very low IQ. The report was not ready, and counsel for Ellahi, Padraig Dwyer SC, informed the court that no further psychological evidence would be presented. Judge Tony Hunt adjourned the case until 14 March for sentencing, allowing the victim to observe the proceedings via video link. Ellahi, originally from Haripur in Pakistan, had pleaded not guilty to rape, sexual assault and having sex with a mentally impaired person, and was convicted of rape and sexual assault. The defence had argued that Ellahi's IQ was 73, below the threshold of 70 for mental disability, but the psychologist's assessment could not be used for mitigation because it lacked a lie‑scale test.
A forensic psychiatrist has told the Central Criminal Court that a 29-year-old Roscommon man lacked the capacity to form intent when he stabbed his mother to death due to mental disorder. Paul Henry, of Ardsallagh, Athlone Road, Roscommon, pleaded not guilty to murdering Ann Henry at Abbeystown, Ballyphesan on 17 September 2011 by reason of insanity. Dr Brenda Wright, a prosecution psychiatrist, testified that Mr Henry suffered from paranoid schizophrenia characterised by delusions concerning his mother. The court heard Mr Henry believed his mother intended to have him killed and that he would himself be killed if he did not act. Dr Wright stated that Mr Henry did not understand the nature of his actions and was unable to refrain from them. The trial at the Central Criminal Court continues.
A 22-year-old man who admitted to manslaughter in connection with a fatal stabbing will be sentenced in April at the Central Criminal Court. Michael Kinsella, with addresses in Tallaght and Cavan, pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of Adil Essalhi, who died on January 6, 2011, following an attack in which he sustained over 50 stab and chop wounds. The Director of Public Prosecutions accepted the plea to the lesser charge of manslaughter. At a hearing on February 16, 2016, the court ordered that psychological reports prepared by the defence be disclosed to the prosecution, and granted permission for a prosecution psychiatrist to assess Mr Kinsella prior to sentencing. The defence indicated its client would cooperate with this evaluation. Justice Deirdre Murphy adjourned the sentencing hearing to April 11, 2016. Mr Kinsella's uncle, Wayne Kinsella, was previously convicted of Mr Essalhi's murder in 2012.
A Roscommon man pleaded not guilty to murdering his mother by reason of insanity at the Central Criminal Court on 15 February 2016. Paul Henry, aged 29, is charged with stabbing his mother Ann Henry to death at Abbeystown, Ballyphesan on 17 September 2011, approximately one month after his release from psychiatric hospital. The accused has admitted killing his mother. The court heard that Ms Henry sustained ten stab wounds, including injuries to her thoracic aorta and right lung. Evidence indicated Mr Henry had been involuntarily committed to hospital in July 2011 but was released after a Mental Health Tribunal determined he did not meet detention criteria. Defence and prosecution psychiatrists are expected to testify that the accused was suffering from a mental disorder at the time, with the defence consultant suggesting delusional disorder or schizophrenia. The trial continues.
In 2016 the Court of Appeal dismissed Timothy Rattigan's application to have his 2005 conviction for the murder of 65‑year‑old Joan Casey declared a miscarriage of justice. Rattigan, 36, had been found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court and sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment by Mr Justice Paul Carney. He argued that evidence obtained from a search of his house and his arrest would be inadmissible under the 2012 Supreme Court decision 'Damache', which declared section 29 search warrants unconstitutional. His counsel, Ken Fogarty SC, claimed the new ruling should render the evidence inadmissible. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Tara Burns SC, said the application was bound to fail. Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with Mr Justice Alan Mahon and Mr Justice John Edwards, agreed with the DPP, citing the 2014 McKevitt case and the 2014 'JC' judgment, and ruled that the appeal should be dismissed. Timothy Rattigan pleaded not guilty.
The Sunday World was ordered to pay a €75,000 fine for contempt of court by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy at the Central Criminal Court. The penalty follows the newspaper's pre-trial coverage of Mark Nash, who was convicted of the 1997 double murders of Mary Callanan and Sylvia Shiels in Grangegorman. The court found that the newspaper published articles labeling Nash a "psycho" and a "Pulp Fiction-style killer" before his trial, despite knowing proceedings had begun. Counsel for the State, Mr Brendan Grehan SC, argued that such language prejudiced the fairness of the trial. The newspaper's counsel, Mr Shane English BL, contended that the impact was mitigated by Nash's notoriety and previous media attention, including the Dean Lyons inquiry. Mr Justice McCarthy deemed the contempt extremely serious and considered a six-figure fine. However, considering the newspaper's handling of the proceedings and the lack of previous adverse findings against editor Colm McGinty, the judge imposed the €75,000 fine on the publication. No order was made against Mr McGinty personally. The newspaper was given one month to pay the fine.
In Waterford, a 22‑year‑old asylum seeker from Nigeria, Kenneth Udeh, pleaded guilty to raping a woman on 14 September 2014. The victim, who cannot be named, told the court she felt she had no reason to live after the assault and that it severely damaged her relationship with her partner. She said she now feared black men and would not take a taxi from a black driver, adding that Udeh should not be allowed to remain in the country. Udeh had arrived in Ireland in 2009, applied for asylum twice and was refused both times; he is appealing to the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. He was remanded in custody until 29 February for sentencing. The court heard a victim impact report in which the woman described Udeh as having "violated" her and taken "complete advantage" of her.
In February 2016, Shane Smyth, aged 29, was committed to the Central Mental Hospital after a trial found him not guilty of murdering shop worker Mairead Moran by reason of insanity. The case, heard at the Central Criminal Court, involved Smyth's belief that Moran had stolen a "vile of his blood," installed hidden cameras, and placed black widow spiders in his house. Forensic psychiatrists Dr Brenda Wright and Dr Paul O'Connell testified that Smyth suffered from severe paranoid schizophrenia and was not capable of forming a specific intent. Dr Sally Linehan, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, reported that Smyth had been admitted to the CMH on 16 May 2014, had received Clozapine and a second psychotic medication, yet continued to exhibit psychosis and delusional beliefs. She recommended his continued inpatient care, which Justice Margaret Heneghan ordered. The decision was based on Smyth's mental disorder and the need for treatment in a designated centre. Mairead Moran was acquitted.
Dragos Nica, 30, of Skerries, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of 55‑year‑old Michael Gannon on 14 November 2013. The jury heard that Gannon was babysitting children when Nica stabbed him after a child reported a man looking in the living‑room window. Nica claimed he had been deliberately poisoned by Gannon's daughter, Jade. Dr Sally Linehan, a psychiatrist, testified that Nica suffers from paranoid schizophrenia characterised by delusions and hallucinations, and that he is polite and well‑kempt during interviews. Mr Nica denied feeling depressed but continued to express abnormal beliefs. Justice Tony Hunt ordered Nica's commitment to the Central Mental Hospital, noting that treatment must be supervised and that the verdict was the only available option for the jury. The decision was made without impact evidence from the victim's family.
William Coster, aged 45, was convicted of sexually assaulting his step‑daughter, who believed him to be her father. The victim, now in her mid‑twenties, was aged 12‑16 during the abuse, which began in 2002 and ended after her sixteenth birthday. A jury at the Central Criminal Court acquitted him of all rape charges but convicted him of all sexual assault charges, sentencing him to 10 years imprisonment on 20 January 2014. Coster had pleaded guilty to five representative counts of sexual assault and denied the remaining counts and 35 rape charges. On appeal, the Court of Appeal found the 10‑year sentence "out of line" with comparable cases and reduced it to seven years, to run concurrently. Coster accepted the conviction and did not pursue further appeal. The judge noted the prolonged, intensive nature of the abuse and its profound impact on the victim.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, an 83‑year‑old US citizen was acquitted of two counts of rape and two counts of sexual assault against a 17‑year‑old American relative. The accused testified that the sexual acts were consensual, claiming the girl performed oral sex on him after she confided in him about her weight problem. He said she never objected and could have stopped the interactions. The girl testified that she was held down, forced to perform oral sex, and that attempts at penetrative sex were painful and stopped because he was physically unable. A jury of twelve deliberated for just under five hours and returned unanimous not‑guilty verdicts on all charges. The case ended with the accused's acquittal.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing on 10 February 2016, it was revealed that Gary Flynn, aged 31, was in possession of drugs and two mobile phones when he was arrested by the Gardaí four days after the fatal shooting of Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne on 13 March 2009. The arrest also uncovered €1,000 in cash. Flynn, who lives on Rossfield Drive in Tallaght, pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The trial also discussed the arrest of another suspect, Garrett O'Brien, who was apprehended on 17 March 2009 at a house on Oldcourt Avenue in Bray, Co. Wicklow, under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. Gardaí Det. Sgt. Tom McManus and Det. Gda Gary Corrigan testified that O'Brien was alone in the sitting room when seized, and that the items—two mobile phones, blue tablets, Valium, hash, methadone, and €1,000—belonged to him.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, scientists reported that firearms residue was found inside a Volkswagen Passat but not in a Nissan Primera, both vehicles suspected of being used in the alleged gang murder of Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne at Tymon Park North, Tallaght, on 13 March 2009. Dr Thomas Hannigan of the Forensic Science Laboratory explained that samples from the Passat's seatbelt, driver's cockpit and driver's door tested positive for residue, while the Primera's samples were negative. He agreed with the defence that the shooter likely left the scene in the Passat. Garda Terence Toal presented fingerprints linking Gary Flynn (31) and Eugene Cullen to items from the vehicles, matching Flynn's right thumb print to a sample from the Primera's interior passenger door. Gary Flynn pleaded not guilty.
In a 2016 Central Criminal Court hearing, Garda Detective Michael McGrath presented CCTV evidence linking 31‑year‑old Gary Flynn of Rossfield Drive, Tallaght, to the scene of the fatal shooting of Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne at Tymon Park North on 13 March 2009. The footage showed a Nissan Primera with a defective headlight stopping at a Topaz garage on Forfield Road about 90 minutes before the shooting. A man matching Flynn's description exited the vehicle, wearing a grey tracksuit and white runners, and entered the garage. Further CCTV from a homeowner's system in Tymon Park displayed a saloon‑type car, possibly a Nissan Primera, arriving before five shots were fired and then leaving the estate. Flynn pleaded not guilty, and the trial was set to continue before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of nine men and three women. The prosecution argued that the same case was being made against Flynn as for another suspect, Eugene Cullen.
A 28-year-old man from Sligo has been sentenced to seven and a half years' imprisonment following his guilty plea to sexually assaulting his young cousin while babysitting. The offence occurred between 2007 and 2010. The Central Criminal Court heard that the victim and accused came from extremely dysfunctional backgrounds. The child was later removed to the care of a relative due to neglect. When that relative became concerned following a conversation with the child, gardai were contacted. The victim disclosed the abuse to specialist gardai. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy acknowledged the man's alcoholism and difficult upbringing but noted his late guilty plea warranted only modest credit. A victim impact statement detailed the lasting psychological harm, including nightmares and difficulties in relationships. The defence argued the accused, who has never worked and struggles with severe addiction, was capable of remorse having chosen to face his actions.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Shane Smyth, aged 29, was found not guilty of murdering shop worker Mairead Moran, aged 26, by reason of insanity. The jury was told the facts were not disputed and heard forensic psychiatrists Dr Brenda Wright and Dr Paul O'Connell testify that Smyth suffered from severe paranoid schizophrenia and was not capable of forming a specific intent. The judge explained that a verdict other than not guilty by reason of insanity would reject the psychiatric evidence. After 55 minutes of deliberation, the jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The judge ordered Smyth to be detained in the Central Mental Hospital and excused the jurors from future service. No other charges or outcomes were reported in the article.
A 48‑year‑old Kilkenny man was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for 15 counts of rape, one count of oral rape and one count of sexual assault of a 14‑year‑old boy who lived with his 30‑year‑old cousin. The abuse began when the victim was 14 and continued for over three years, with the man claiming a consensual relationship after the victim turned 16. He admitted forcing the boy to perform oral sex and that he had used cooking oil as a lubricant. The jury heard that the man was often drunk, physically violent and had a history of alcohol problems. The judge ordered the man to undergo alcohol treatment upon release and prohibited any contact with the victim for life. The case was heard in the Central Criminal Court. The unnamed 14-year-old was convicted.
In the Central Criminal Court, Shane Smyth, 29, stood accused of murdering 26‑year‑old Mairead Moran on 8 May 2014 at Kilkenny's Market Cross Shopping Centre. He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Forensic psychiatrists Dr Brenda Wright and Dr Paul O'Connell testified that Smyth suffered from severe paranoid schizophrenia and was incapable of forming the intent required for murder. The prosecution, led by Mr John O'Kelly SC, highlighted the extensive evidence, including eyewitness testimony and long‑term medical records, to support the insanity defence. Defence counsel, Mr Colman Cody SC, emphasised the tragic nature of the case and argued that the only appropriate verdict was not guilty by reason of insanity, ensuring Smyth receives proper treatment while protecting society. The court was instructed to follow the judge's legal directions on all matters. The case remains at the trial stage.
Stephen Cahoon, aged 43, was given an extension to file an appeal against his most recent murder conviction. He had been convicted twice for the murder of his pregnant ex‑girlfriend Jean Teresa Quigley, who was strangled at Cornshell Fields in Derry on 26 July 2008. The first trial ended with no verdict, the second trial on 30 April 2012 resulted in a unanimous guilty verdict by a jury of seven women and five men, and he was sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice Barry White. Cahoon successfully appealed that conviction, arguing the trial judge had misdirected the jury on the defence of provocation. He was tried a third time, found guilty again, and sentenced to life imprisonment by Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy on 3 December.
A 46‑year‑old man, whose identity is withheld, was convicted in the Central Criminal Court of two counts of assault, harassment and theft against his former partner between November and December 2009. He was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy on 19 June 2012. He appealed the conviction and the sentence. The Court of Criminal Appeal dismissed his appeal against conviction but allowed his appeal against the sentence, suspending the unserved portion of the sentence. Mr Justice Alan Mahon explained that the victim was a Mauritian woman who had begun a relationship with the man, also Mauritian, and that the assaults involved beatings, slapping, a hair‑straightener and a lamp, causing superficial injuries. The judge noted the sentence was excessive for a first‑time offender and that the suspended period commenced from the date of the appeal hearing. The unnamed 46-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 5 February 2016, Detective Garda Michael McGrath presented CCTV footage that linked three suspects to the March 2009 murder of Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne in Tallaght. The footage showed Gary Flynn (31) entering the Leisureplex in Coolock with Eugene Cullen and another suspect at 8.50 pm, after the fatal shooting at 8.14 pm. McGrath identified Flynn's Nissan Primera, missing a headlight and wing mirror, and Garrett O'Brien's white Micra, both seen near the Red Cow roundabout. He also described a saloon with a defective headlight entering Tymon Park minutes before the shooting, though the exact make was disputed by defence counsel, who cited teenage witnesses claiming a Volkswagen Passat. Dr Michael Burrington testified that DNA from a mobile phone matched O'Brien's profile, with a one‑in‑two‑million chance of coincidence. The case proceeded to trial before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of nine men and three women. Gary Flynn pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, a second forensic psychiatrist, Dr. Paul O'Connell, testified that Shane Smyth, 29, suffered from severe paranoid schizophrenia and was not capable of forming a specific intent at the time of the murder of Mairead Moran, 26, on 8 May 2014. Dr. O'Connell reviewed Dr. Brenda Wright's earlier report and agreed that Smyth was mentally disordered, unable to appreciate the nature of his actions, and lacked moral judgment. He was deemed fit to plead and stand trial after a January 2016 review. The jury was also presented with a post‑mortem report by Professor Marie Cassidy, detailing eight stab wounds and multiple organ injuries that caused Moran's death. The trial remains ongoing. Shane Smyth pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, a forensic psychiatrist testified that Shane Smyth, 29, suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and lacked the capacity to form intent during the murder of Mairead Moran, 26, on 8 May 2014. Dr. Brenda Wright, called by the prosecution, presented a psychiatric report prepared at the request of the Director of Public Prosecutions. She described Smyth's long history of psychosis, including auditory hallucinations, delusions of persecution, and a belief that Moran was part of a conspiracy. She noted that Smyth did not understand the nature or moral wrongness of his actions at the time of the offence. The court was informed that Smyth's mental illness required long‑term treatment at the Central Mental Hospital to manage the risk he posed to others. The trial continues. Shane Smyth pleaded not guilty. Mairead Moran pleaded not guilty.
In a 2016 murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, 29‑year‑old Shane Smyth pleaded not guilty to the stabbing death of 26‑year‑old Mairead Moran on 8 May 2014 at Kilkenny's Market Cross Shopping Centre. The jury was told that the facts were undisputed and that two consultant psychiatrists had reported Smyth was suffering from psychosis at the time. During three interviews conducted on 9 May 2014, Smyth claimed he had not taken medication since he was 19, that he bought a knife with a wooden bronze handle for €20, and that he did not believe Moran was dead. He admitted to causing the fatal wound but denied planning the attack, stating he did not think he had murdered her. The trial continued with these statements as evidence.
Magnus Meyer Hustveit, 25, pleaded guilty to one count of rape and one count of sexual assault against his 28‑year‑old girlfriend between 2011 and 2012. He received a wholly suspended seven‑year sentence from Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy on 13 July 2015. Prosecutors, led by Mary Rose Gearty SC, appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient, citing the repeated rapes, the victim's sleeping state, and the alleged betrayal of trust. They highlighted the victim's trauma and Hustveit's attempts to cross‑examine her medical information. Hustveit's counsel, Caroline Biggs SC, defended the suspended sentence, noting his email admission, good character, youth, low re‑offending risk, cooperation with authorities, and guilty plea. Mr Justice George Birmingham, with two other judges, reserved judgment, noting the hearing's stress but leaving Hustveit's status unchanged. The appeal's outcome remains pending.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 29‑year‑old Shane Smyth pleaded not guilty to the murder of 26‑year‑old Mairead Moran on 8 May 2014 at Kilkenny's Market Cross Shopping Centre. The jury was told the facts were undisputed and that two consultant psychiatrists reported Smyth was suffering from psychosis at the time. Witnesses, including his cousin Rosemary Grogan, his partner Christy Fahy, and others, testified that Smyth claimed Moran had stolen a "vile of his blood," installed hidden cameras, and placed black‑widow spiders in his house. He also alleged that he had been bitten by spiders and that he was forced into a gang war. Smyth was arrested at his cousin's home at 10:05 pm that night, and the trial continues. The prosecution presented evidence of a blood sample taken while Smyth was in custody, which showed no detectable substances. The case remains in progress.
Gary Flynn, of Rossfield Drive, Tallaght, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court, having pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne at Tymon North Park on March 13, 2009. Prosecuting counsel Alex Owens SC stated it is the prosecution's case that Flynn was part of a "murder gang" that plotted the killing. Detective Garda Michael McGrath testified that gardai trawled through days of CCTV footage from south and west Dublin to investigate the incident. He presented footage tracking a Ford Transit Van, a red Honda Accord, and a white Nissan on March 12. The evidence showed Eugene Cullen arriving in the Ford Transit to purchase petrol, while Garret O'Brien arrived in the Honda Accord wearing a New York Yankees cap and blue hoodie. A second man in a grey Nike jumper was also observed. Footage from the Red Cow Hotel area indicated an interaction between the vehicles. On the day of the alleged murder, a speed camera captured the Nissan Micra with a driver wearing similar attire to O'Brien. The trial continues before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of nine men and three women.
In a Kilkenny murder trial, the jury heard that Shane Smyth, aged 29, was accused of stabbing Mairead Moran, aged 26, to death on 8 May 2014 at Market Cross Shopping Centre. The court was told that weeks before the murder, security staff reported that Smyth was "hanging around" the centre and "freaking" Moran out. On 3 April 2014, security guard John O'Donoghue received a call from Moran, who said her ex‑boyfriend was present and unsettling. O'Donoghue saw Smyth, informed colleague Liam Dwyer, and asked him to leave. A second guard, Richard O'Donoghue, reported that on 10 March 2014, Moran had requested Smyth's removal and described him as walking up and down outside the shop. The trial continues with Smyth pleading not guilty on grounds of insanity, supported by psychiatric reports of psychosis. The jury has been told the facts are not disputed. The case remains in progress.
During the trial, a jury heard that on 8 May 2014, Shane Smyth, aged 29, stabbed Mairead Moran, aged 26, to death at the Market Cross Shopping Centre in Kilkenny. Witnesses described a chaotic scene in the Holland and Barrett shop where Moran was crying and upset. Security guard James Coffey confronted Smyth, who was calm and emotionless, and attempted to remove a blood‑stained knife from his hand. Smyth resisted, kicked Coffey, and fled while Moran was being attended to. Coffey later handed the knife to Gardaí. Witnesses also reported that Moran had previously been admitted to St. Luke's Acute Psychiatric Unit. Smyth pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The trial continues.
A 28‑year‑old army private, Bernard Fleming, was convicted of attempted rape, oral rape and sexual assault of a woman in Dublin on 24 September 2011. The incident began after the victim and Fleming's friend had been drinking outside an early house; the victim later went to Fleming's home where they continued drinking. Fleming, drunk and wearing only a towel, attempted to kiss and have sex with the victim, who fled the room and was helped by others. He was arrested and denied the allegations, claiming he was fully clothed. The victim, who declined a victim impact statement, was found to have bruises consistent with being held down. The court noted no predatory element but that Fleming had taken advantage of a drunken woman. He was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended, and ordered 18 months of post‑release supervision and probation service engagement. Bernard Fleming pleaded not guilty.
In a Kilkenny murder trial, a 29‑year‑old man, Shane Smyth, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity after stabbing Mairead Moran, 26, at the Market Cross Shopping Centre on 8 May 2014. The prosecution presented evidence that Smyth had been diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2005, had received treatment in a psychiatric hospital, and had remained untreated since 2006. Two consultant psychiatrists reported that he suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and was experiencing active psychotic symptoms at the time of the killing, impairing his capacity to form intent and understand the nature of his act. The court heard that Smyth had previously confronted Moran, spat at her, and that on the day of the murder he entered the Holland and Barrett shop, attacked her with a knife, and fled to a cousin's house before being arrested. The trial continues.