Ruth Lawrence, a Dublin woman with an address in County Meath, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of two men whose bodies were discovered on Inchicup Island in Lough Sheelin in May 2014. The island straddles the borders of Meath, Westmeath and Cavan. At the opening of the trial at the Central Criminal Court, the State outlined its case that Lawrence and her boyfriend worked "as a unit" to kill Anthony Keegan and Eoin O'Connor between April 22 and May 26, 2014. The prosecution contends Lawrence shot one man, with a follow-up shot delivered by her boyfriend. Both men died from gunshot wounds. The State alleges the accused and her boyfriend discussed the murders and disposal of the bodies openly. Evidence will address a debt owed by one defendant to one of the deceased, and activities at the cottage near the lake following the alleged killings. The trial, before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury, is expected to conclude on November 14.
A 45-year-old woman with an address in County Meath has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder at the Central Criminal Court. Ruth Lawrence is charged with the murder of Anthony Keegan and Eoin O'Connor, alleged to have occurred at an unknown location within the State between April and May 2014. The trial commenced before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with a jury of twelve members. The prosecution is led by senior counsel Michael O'Higgins, with the defence represented by Patrick Gageby SC. The trial is expected to conclude by mid-November. Evidence will be heard from members of both deceased's families, forensic specialists, pathologists and mobile phone analysts. The investigation was principally conducted by officers from Kells Garda Station in County Meath, with the missing persons aspect handled by Santry gardaí. Locations of relevance include Ballyjamesduff in County Cavan and an area adjoining Lough Sheelin spanning three counties.
Seven men, aged between 32 and 55, pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to a combined total of 103 charges of sexually abusing a deaf complainant over a 17-year period. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and an extended jury panel of 15, is estimated to last four months. None of the parties can be named for legal reasons. Accused A (55) pleaded not guilty to one count of rape alleged to have occurred between December 2009 and April 2011. Accused B (48) pleaded not guilty to eight charges, including five counts of rape, one count of oral rape, and two counts of anal rape, alleged between December 2008 and December 2010. Accused C (34) pleaded not guilty to 50 charges, comprising 45 counts against the main complainant (22 rape, 23 anal rape) between February 2001 and December 2013, plus five additional charges against two other complainants. Accused D (33) pleaded not guilty to 22 counts (19 rape, 3 anal rape) between January 2002 and December 2013. Accused E (32) pleaded not guilty to 16 counts (7 rape, 9 anal rape) between April 2003 and December 2011. Accused F (32) pleaded not guilty to five counts (3 rape, 2 anal rape) between December 2007 and April 2010. Accused G (45) pleaded not guilty to one count of rape between December 1996 and December 1997. The jury was informed the complainant requires two interpreters and an intermediary.
Ms Justice Caroline Biggs adjourned the sentencing of five defendants to October 22, warning them to prepare for the real risk of imprisonment. Lucia Istokova, who pleaded guilty to withholding information regarding the murder of Ashling Murphy, faces a maximum five-year sentence. Her counsel requested a fully suspended sentence, citing her motivation to protect her children, though the judge noted a probation report stating she initially denied wrongdoing to avoid prison. Prosecution counsel Anne-Marie Lawlor SC confirmed Istokova, along with Marek Puska and Lubomir Puska, faces a maximum five-year penalty for withholding information. The other three defendants, including Jozefina Grundzova and Viera Gaziova, who pleaded not guilty to burning clothes to impede prosecution, face a maximum ten-year sentence. Counsel for the not-guilty defendants highlighted the impact of imprisoning six parents with 14 children and difficulties faced by foreigners in Irish prisons. The court will also hear statements from the Murphy family on the adjournment date. Jozef Puska, convicted of murder, is serving a life sentence.
In a County Galway housing estate, a 16‑year‑old was convicted of sexual assault and rape of a 13‑year‑old girl he had been dating for weeks. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court, saw the accused plead not guilty to three charges of oral rape and one of rape. The jury, after three‑and‑a‑half hours of deliberation, found him guilty on all counts. The judge remanded him on continuing bail and adjourned sentencing to 3 November. The case included a video interview with the girl, who described being forced into sexual acts and later realizing the incidents were rape. Forensic evidence noted bruises on her body, including the genital area, and the examiner highlighted the unusual persistence of such bruising. The prosecution presented a Snapchat message from the girl to her mother, confirming the assault.
Joseph Campbell (63), of Castle Court, Daingean, Co Offaly, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court to eight and a half years in prison for rape and sexual assault. Campbell, who maintains his innocence and does not accept the jury's verdict, was convicted last June of raping an 11-year-old boy, identified as Devin O'Donnell, in October 2017. Additional charges of sexual assault in December 2021 were taken into account. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring imposed a headline sentence of 11 years, reduced to 10 years, with the final 18 months suspended. Concurrent six-year terms were imposed for the sexual assault offences. Campbell was ordered to have no contact with Mr O'Donnell during his imprisonment and for five years post-release, and must engage with the Probation Service for 12 months upon release. The judge noted aggravating factors, including Campbell's breach of trust as a grandfather figure and his lack of insight, while accepting his lack of previous convictions as mitigation. The sentence hearing had previously been adjourned to allow for the preparation of a Probation Services report.
A 55‑year‑old man, George Turner of Fairview, pleaded guilty to the murder of Emma McCrory, a mother‑of‑two and fashion wholesale manager in her 40s, who was fatally injured when a blaze broke out in her Howth Road home on 15 December 2022. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court, with sentencing scheduled for 10 October 2025 and Turner remanded in custody until that date.
Seven men, aged between 32 and 55, have gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court, each pleading not guilty to charges of raping a deaf woman. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Caroline Biggs, is expected to last four months, with a break at Christmas. The judge noted that the complainant requires interpreters and an intermediary, which will slow the proceedings. An extended jury panel of 15 was empanelled, and the trial is set to open next week. Accused A (55) pleaded not guilty to raping the woman between December 2009 and April 2011. Accused B (48) pleaded not guilty to a count spanning December 2008 to December 2010. Accused C (34) pleaded not guilty to raping the woman between February and December 2001, as well as to anally raping another woman between September 2013 and September 2014, and sexually assaulting a third woman between September 2005 and September 2006. Accused D (33) pleaded not guilty to a count from December 2006 to December 2007. Accused E (32) pleaded not guilty to a count from April to December 2003. Accused F (32) pleaded not guilty to a count from December 2007 to April 2010. Accused G (45) pleaded not guilty to a count from December 1996 to December 1997. Some accused face further charges next week. No parties can be named for legal reasons.
In a County Galway housing estate, a 16‑year‑old boy pleaded not guilty to three charges of oral rape and one of rape of a 13‑year‑old girl. He was interviewed by gardai in February 2024 when he was 15, with his mother and solicitor present. In the interview he denied all allegations, calling them the "biggest lie" and "bullshit", and said he had never asked the girl for sex. He admitted only lightly pinching her. A forensic examiner testified that the girl had more than 20 bruises, some on her breasts, inner thighs and genital area, and that a bruise in the genital area was "consistent" with painful penetration. The court heard the forensic findings and cross‑examination of the girl's statements, and the trial continues before Mr Justice Patrick McGrath and a jury.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 16‑year‑old girl denied that she fabricated a rape story to attract attention. She testified that the 14‑year‑old boy she dated had raped her on four occasions between June and July 2023, including three instances of oral rape and one of rape when she was 13. The incidents allegedly took place in a County Galway housing estate. The girl gave evidence via video‑link, assisted by an intermediary who read her written responses. She described the assault, stating the boy forced her to give oral sex and then raped her, leaving her traumatized. She also explained that she had informed her mother through a Snapchat message on 7 July 2023, claiming the boy had raped her, and that she had told friends about the events. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McGrath, continues with the accused pleading not guilty to the four charges.
In a County Galway court, a 16‑year‑old boy was tried for four charges of sexual assault and rape against a 13‑year‑old girl he had been dating for a few weeks. The boy pleaded not guilty. The prosecution, led by Anne Rowland SC, presented a Snapchat message from the girl to her mother dated 7 July 2023, in which she claimed the boy had raped her and threatened to hit her. She also sent photographs of bruises on her legs and left breast, which she said were caused by the boy. A video of her interview with specialist Gardaí was shown, where she described being forced into sexual acts, including oral rape, and a forced vaginal penetration on a Tuesday. The girl reported bruising, bleeding, and a burning sensation after the alleged assault. The boy admitted to seeing the girl but denied any sexual contact. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Patrick McGrath and a jury.
Darius Langas, 37, of Ballinasloe, was convicted after a week‑long trial at the Central Criminal Court for raping a woman in a bathroom. He denied the charge on 13 August 2022 but was found guilty. Mr Justice Tony Hunt sentenced him to ten years, with the final twelve months suspended on strict conditions for five years. The victim, who was drinking with Langas and another man before the assault, was pushed into a bathtub and raped from behind. She reported extensive injuries and later provided a victim impact statement detailing anxiety, depression, nightmares, panic attacks, and the loss of her children. Langas admitted the act but claimed it was consensual. The judge noted the seriousness of the offence and imposed the suspended sentence, placing Langas under probation supervision for three years post‑release. The court expressed hope for the victim's recovery.
In a Dublin court, a 17‑year‑old man was sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment for raping a 16‑year‑old girl and for engaging in a sexual act with a 12‑year‑old. The judge, Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo, noted the defendant's youth and immaturity, and imposed consecutive sentences for the two victims. The total sentence was six and a half years, with the final year suspended for two years on strict conditions aimed at rehabilitation and victim awareness. The court heard that the defendant had communicated with the 12‑year‑old via Snapchat, sent her pictures, and met her at an abandoned house where the sexual act occurred. The 16‑year‑old was raped after the defendant entered her home, and the defendant's brother allegedly threw a condom during the incident. The judge highlighted the defendant's lack of awareness of consent and the significant age disparity with the 12‑year‑old. The unnamed 12-year-old pleaded guilty and was convicted.
The Central Criminal Court will decide in September whether the State should pay the legal costs of Diarmuid Phelan, a law lecturer and farmer who was acquitted of murdering a trespasser on his farm. Phelan, who has assets in the millions, did not apply for legal aid and instructed four counsel and expert witnesses during his 10‑week trial that ended in January. He maintained that he fired three warning shots in self‑defence and that the fatal shot was accidental. The jury agreed with his defence, finding he was entitled to defend himself when threatened on his land. Sean Guerin SC, one of Phelan's senior counsel, argued that the verdict should entitle Phelan to his costs and that the State's suggestion that even those of means should apply for legal aid misrepresents the scheme. John Byrne SC for the DPP countered that an acquittal does not automatically create a presumption in favour of costs. Diarmuid Phelan pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Joseph Cahill, 46, pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of 43‑year‑old Gerard Curtin. Cahill admitted striking Curtin four times with a shovel after the victim had repeatedly smashed a window of Cahill's house, threatened to burn it, and demanded money. Cahill claimed he believed he was protecting himself, his property and his children, but the force used was excessive. He called emergency services after the blows, then waited over eight minutes before requesting an ambulance, stating he thought Curtin was dead. The court noted Cahill's history of mental illness, substance abuse and gambling, and that he had no prior convictions. The sentencing hearing was adjourned to 24 November. The article does not disclose the final sentence.
American Kevin Yungman, 32, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for raping a 19-year-old woman in June 2018 in an Airbnb on Usher's Quay, Dublin city centre. Yungman pleaded guilty to the single charge of rape, which involved causing the victim to pass out by squeezing her neck. Mr Justice Hunt imposed a six-year prison sentence, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. The sentence was backdated to August 2024, when Yungman entered custody in the United States following his arrest and extradition to Ireland. The judge noted that the headline sentence was eight years, reduced due to mitigation including the guilty plea and the difficulty of serving time in a foreign jurisdiction. Aggravating factors included the asphyxiation of the victim. Conditions of the suspended portion include a perpetual ban on direct or indirect contact with the victim. Additionally, Yungman is ordered to leave the jurisdiction upon release and is prohibited from returning for 10 years. The court acknowledged the victim's recovery and the support provided by Yungman's family, who expressed remorse and accountability during the proceedings.
Christopher O'Grady, 34, formerly of Dundalk, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for raping a 19-year-old Spanish tourist on January 1, 2019. Following a trial last March, the jury found him guilty of one count of rape. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs imposed a seven-year sentence, with the final six months suspended. The court noted aggravating factors, including the victim's intoxication and the predatory nature of the offence, which left her with PTSD and depression. Although the hearing was initially adjourned to explore restorative justice, the Probation Service advised the court that such measures were not feasible due to O'Grady's conduct during an interview. O'Grady, who has 65 previous convictions and was homeless at the time of the offence, accepted the verdict and expressed remorse. He had been in custody since August 2024 after breaching bail conditions. The judge acknowledged his chaotic upbringing but emphasized the severe impact on the victim, who described feeling 'like a doll' during the incident. The suspended portion of the sentence is intended to encourage rehabilitation, with O'Grady agreeing to work with the Probation Service.
Ryan Kearney, 39, was sentenced to ten years in prison with one year suspended for three years, following a nine‑year custodial term that was reduced by mitigation. The sentence was imposed after a jury found him guilty of manslaughter, not murder, for stabbing Jeffrey Jackson, 50, 16 times in a "frenzied knife" attack on 8 February 2024. Kearney claimed he acted in self‑defence, citing a dispute over alcohol and Jackson's intoxication. The judge described the violence as extreme and sustained, noting Kearney's 152 prior convictions, including a 10‑year drug‑supply sentence with three years suspended. Victim impact statements highlighted the brutality of the attack and the lasting pain felt by Jackson's family. The court emphasised that the defendant's alcohol‑related history and lack of remorse were factors in the sentencing decision. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty and was acquitted.
Christopher Ryan, 33, pleaded guilty to rape, sexual assault, assault causing harm and criminal damage at the Central Criminal Court. He was sentenced to 11½ years for rape, five years for sexual assault, four years for assault causing harm and two years for criminal damage, all concurrent. A 12‑month portion of the total term was suspended on the condition that he engage with the Probation Service. He was ordered to have no contact with Kerrie Keane for the duration of his imprisonment and the suspended period. Keane, who was raped and assaulted by Ryan in her Galway home on 11 November 2023, moved into emergency accommodation with her daughter after the attack. She gave a victim impact statement describing ongoing fear, anxiety, nightmares and depression, and expressed gratitude for police support. Ryan's previous conviction was for theft. The case was prosecuted by Marc Thompson BL and heard by Justice Mary Ellen Ring.
Matthew O'Connell, aged 75, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for 42 counts of rape committed between July 1979 and June 1987. The victim, who was 13 when the first assault occurred, described how O'Connell groomed her from age ten and raped her repeatedly, often twice a week, in various locations including his home, a mobile home and a vehicle. She kept the abuse secret for decades, only disclosing it to family in the 1990s and to Gardaí in 2021. O'Connell denied the charges and was remanded after conviction. The judge noted the serious impact on the victim, the breach of trust, and the age disparity, setting a headline sentence of 15 years but ultimately imposing a 12‑year term. The case highlighted the prolonged nature of the abuse and the victim's struggle to come forward.
The 24‑year‑old man was convicted of attempted oral rape, sexual assault and engaging in a sexual act with a child under 15 after a Central Criminal Court trial. He met the 14‑year‑old victim on social media, arranged a meeting in Dublin, and the next day engaged in sex at his apartment, where he also attempted to rape her orally. The judge sentenced him to six‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended on strict conditions. The man had no prior convictions. He pleaded no‑guilty, was not allowed to claim the most significant mitigating factor, and was found guilty. The judge noted the age disparity and the victim's intellectual difficulties as aggravating factors. The sentence was imposed at the trial, with no further outcome reported.
Two men, Robert Burns (59) and Lorenzo Cantaragiu (22), were sentenced by Mr Justice Tony Hunt at the Central Criminal Court for aiding the murder of Mahamud Ilyas (22). Burns provided a house for drug dealing and allowed the killers to use it; he also cleaned blood from the premises. Cantaragiu drove the killers from the scene to Belgree Lane in Co Meath, where Ilyas was left to die, and later cleaned the car. Both were given four‑year prison terms with the entirety suspended, meaning they walk free today but must remain of good behaviour for four years or risk serving the term. They also face a one‑year probation bond and must attend programmes recommended by the probation service. The judge warned them to avoid further criminal activity and to address Burns' cannabis use, which he said had drawn the killers into his life. Lorenzo Cantaragiu was convicted.
A 42‑year‑old man named Matthias Kelly, who has an acquired brain injury, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to attempting to murder Fiona Timmermans on 7 September 2024 at Newbury Lawns, Clonshaugh. He also admitted trespassing on the same day, committing an arrestable offence, and producing a serrated kitchen knife in a manner likely to intimidate. Kelly further confessed to threatening Ms Timmermans on 1 September 2024 at an unknown location, intending the threat to be carried out. He pleaded guilty to damaging property, specifically the sitting‑room and front‑bedroom windows of Jennifer Barror on 6 September 2024. Defence counsel informed the judge that Kelly's brain injury was operative at the time of the offences and requested legal aid for a medical report. The court adjourned the case to 10 November for a sentence hearing, with victim impact evidence to be presented then.
A 43‑year‑old man, Jineesh John, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for an attempted murder of a former colleague. He was ordered by a judge to continue treatment at the Central Mental Hospital (CMH). Dr Dearbhla Duffy, a consultant psychiatrist at CMH, described John as having a treatment‑resistant delusional disorder, believing he had HIV despite repeated negative tests. She noted he lacks insight into his illness and cannot make informed decisions about his treatment. The judge, in accordance with the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006, directed that John return to CMH where his treatment will be reviewed regularly by the mental health review board. John's address is The Crescent Building, Park West, Dublin 12. The case involved multiple charges of attempted murder, false imprisonment and threat of violence, all of which were dismissed on the basis of insanity.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 37‑year‑old Pedro Cifali, a Brazilian, was charged with attempting to murder his former partner, Lucia Nezbalova, 43. After their breakup in April 2024, Cifali placed an electronic tag on Nezbalova's car, enabling him to track her movements. On the day of the attack, CCTV captured him arriving at a Blanchardstown garage, disguising himself with a baseball cap, blonde wig, and lighter beard, and then following Nezbalova to a McDonald's. He approached her at her home in Garnish Square, claiming to "just want to talk," before pulling a knife and stabbing her in the neck, back of the head, abdomen, and arms. The abdominal wound exposed organs; doctors at the scene and in hospital saved her life. Nezbalova suffered life‑threatening injuries, ongoing treatment, and permanent scars. Cifali surrendered the next day and admitted the assault. Pedro Cifali pleaded guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the brother of cancer‑survivor Jeffrey Jackson said the defendant, 39‑year‑old Ryan Kearney, showed no respect or remorse for the family when the verdict was read. Kearney, who had 152 prior convictions, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter after a jury rejected the prosecution's claim that he had intentionally stabbed Jackson from head to toe. Kearney claimed he acted in self‑defence during a "frenzied knife" attack that left Jackson with 16 stab wounds, two fatal chest wounds, and a death caused by alcohol‑related impairment. The court heard that Kearney had previously been convicted of drug possession, theft, and other offences, and that he had been on bail for several matters at the time of the incident. The sentencing hearing was scheduled for Thursday, with Kearney remanded in custody. The victim impact statements highlighted the family's grief and the brutality of the attack.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 24 July 2025, Judge Mary Ellen Ring sentenced tattoo artist Henrique Pereira, 34, to a headline term of three years and six months for sexual assault committed on 19 October 2016. The judge noted that Pereira had no prior convictions and was a small‑business owner with family responsibilities, and therefore imposed a suspended sentence of two and a half years, with full suspension for that period. He was also placed under Probation Services supervision for 18 months and ordered to comply with all probation officer directions. The victim, who suffered vivid flashbacks and described the assault as making her feel unsafe, was told the judge hoped the outcome would bring her closure. Pereira apologized, acknowledged the impact of his actions, and expressed willingness to undertake any required courses. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court, with the judge emphasising that a woman is entitled to change her mind. Henrique Pereira was found guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on July 24, 2025, the court considered whether restorative justice could be applied to Christopher O'Grady, 33, who was convicted of raping a 19‑year‑old Spanish tourist in 2019. The Probation Service's updated report, presented by prosecutor Tony McGillicuddy SC, concluded that restorative justice was "not feasible" because O'Grady does not accept full responsibility. The victim's impact statement, read by McGillicuddy, expressed a desire to confront O'Grady and to see him acknowledge his wrongdoing. O'Grady, who had been homeless at the time of the offence, had previously accepted the jury's verdict and expressed remorse, but the probation officer noted he may still be in early stages of contemplation. Justice Caroline Biggs noted that the door to restorative justice was closed, that the probation report would not be treated as an aggravating or mitigating factor, and that O'Grady's acceptance of the verdict was acknowledged.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 23 July 2025, Mr Justice Paul McDermott criticised the delay in preparing a psychiatric assessment for Ahmed Abdirahman, a 31‑year‑old Somalian national accused of murdering his former partner Mary Ward in Belfast on 25 September 2024. The judge urged both the prosecution and defence to set a timeframe for resolving the issue, noting that the Central Mental Hospital's resource constraints could not justify the continued impasse. Counsel for the State, Antonia Boyle BL, explained that the book of evidence had not yet been served on the accused because of mental health concerns. The defence team reported that Mr Abdirahman is awaiting admission to the Central Mental Hospital and has not engaged with a psychiatrist who attempted to see him. They also raised a jurisdictional issue, arguing that the alleged offence occurred in Northern Ireland and therefore the accused should be given the option to be tried there.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 23 July 2025, Mr Justice Paul McDermott urged that additional resources be allocated to the case of Riad Bouchaker, 51, who is charged with assaulting a care worker and attempting to murder three children on Parnell Square. The prosecution noted that the defence had supplied a psychiatric report on Bouchaker, while the prosecution is preparing its own report due by mid‑October. The judge highlighted "serious difficulties" caused by delays, including the need for further neuropsychological work, delays in accessing the defendant in prison, and interpreter availability. He set the next hearing for 22 October and called on all parties—lawyers, psychiatrists, and other professionals—to expedite the case once the psychiatric issues are resolved. The court reiterated its commitment to fast‑track trials involving children, aiming to complete the process within one year where possible.
Martin Hayes, aged 36, was convicted of manslaughter for the death of Amadea McDermott, aged 27, in a home in Coolock on 20 July 2017. He was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by a majority verdict in the Central Criminal Court in November 2023. Hayes had pleaded not guilty to murder and claimed that McDermott had stabbed herself, a claim the court rejected. He admitted using violence against her. Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced him to 12 years and six months, citing domestic violence and a history of aggressive behaviour. Hayes appealed, arguing the judge over‑weighted aggravating factors and under‑weighted mitigating ones. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy dismissed the appeal, affirming the 12‑year‑six‑month sentence and noting limited mitigating factors and significant aggravating domestic violence evidence. The appeal was rejected on the basis that the judge's factual findings were correct and the sentence was appropriate.
A 24‑year‑old Moldovan national, Valeriu Melnic, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by a Central Criminal Court jury after he stabbed his sister's partner, Ion Daghi, to death with a kitchen knife on 12 May 2024. Melnic told Gardaí he was "so drunk" that he could not remember the stabbing, and he had earlier said "I will kill you" to Daghi. The jury rejected the prosecution's murder case, accepting the defence of intoxication and provocation. The judge, Mr Justice David Keane, noted the graphic evidence and the jury's service, and remanded Melnic in custody until a sentencing hearing on 3 November. The Daghi family will be able to give a statement at that hearing. The case was listed for mention on 20 October. The trial detailed the night's events, including multiple bottles of whiskey, a dispute, and the fatal stab wound to Daghi's chest.
James O'Reilly, aged 63, was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of oral rape, five counts of sexual assault and three counts of sexual exploitation of his daughter Bridget, who was between six and ten years old when the abuse occurred. The offences took place at the family home in Waterford between 2010 and 2014. O'Reilly was found guilty on all nine charges in the fourth trial after earlier trials were aborted or inconclusive. He received a headline sentence of 13 years, with the final year suspended for 12 months on strict conditions, including probation supervision after release. The judge described the conduct as an egregious breach of trust, noting violence, threats and a lack of remorse. O'Reilly's son Thomas gave a character reference, and the daughter waived anonymity to name her father. No prior sexual convictions were recorded, though he had three unrelated convictions.
A jury of eight men and four women is set to return to the Central Criminal Court to continue deliberating the verdict in the murder trial of Moldovan national Valeriu Melnic, aged 24, who is accused of fatally stabbing Ion Daghi, aged 39, with a kitchen knife on 12 May 2024. Melnic pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The jury has spent five hours and 52 minutes over two days considering the case and has not yet reached a unanimous verdict. Judge David Keane has advised that they may seek a majority verdict, requiring at least ten jurors to agree, and has asked them to return tomorrow for further guidance on the defence of provocation. The jury is also instructed to consider whether intoxication could negate intent, and whether provocation could reduce the charge to manslaughter. The case remains at the deliberation stage, with no verdict yet announced.
Stephen Mooney, aged 53, was sentenced to a mandatory life term at the Central Criminal Court for murdering his 43‑year‑old wife, Anna Mooney. He admitted to stabbing her after discovering evidence of an affair on her phone. Mooney recorded the act and later called emergency services at 1.09 am on 15 June 2023, stating he had killed her. Gardaí accessed his phone, finding a 90‑minute video and audio of the murder and the events leading up to it. The pathologist reported a 13.3 cm stab wound that pierced the heart, diaphragm and abdominal cavity, with additional wounds to her back, arm and hand. Mooney apologized to the family and children, and the judge imposed the mandatory life sentence, noting the severe harm caused. The case remains under the jurisdiction of a parole board. Stephen Mooney pleaded guilty.
Darren Dowling, 48, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court following a July 2024 trial in which he was found guilty of eight counts of oral rape and three counts of indecent assault. The offences, which occurred at a Clondalkin address between 1990 and 1993, were committed against his cousin, Alan Murphy, who was aged between three and six at the time. Dowling, who was a juvenile during the offending period, had previously served a nine-month sentence in Jersey for a separate offence involving an undercover officer. Justice Paul Burns imposed concurrent sentences of five years and three years, reducing headline sentences of 13 years and eight years respectively due to Dowling's age at the time of the crimes. The final 12 months of the five-year term were suspended on strict conditions, requiring Dowling to engage with Probation Supervision upon release. The court noted the severe impact on the victim, who suffered behavioural problems and substance abuse issues as a teenager. Although the sentencing was completed, the matter was adjourned for mention to allow for the hearing of a Supreme Court case regarding the naming of juvenile accused persons who reach adulthood. Consequently, the report could not be published until now. Dowling waived his anonymity, and the victim has also waived his anonymity to have Dowling named.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 17 July 2025, the prosecution presented evidence that Jineesh John, 43, was suffering from a delusional disorder when he allegedly falsely imprisoned a former work colleague in his car, sealed the door handles with tape, threw hot chilli powder into her eyes, and threatened to kill her. John also threatened her with a hammer and demanded she record on a mobile phone that she had given him a sexually transmitted disease in 2021, despite no sexual contact. The defence sought a not‑guilty by reason of insanity verdict under the Criminal Law Insanity Act 2006. Two consultant psychiatrists, one for each side, agreed that John was mentally ill at the time of the offence. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, is set to continue tomorrow. Jineesh John pleaded not guilty and was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
A 37‑year‑old man was sentenced to seven years in prison at the Central Criminal Court for raping a woman while she slept and then raping her again after she escaped the first assault. He pleaded guilty to two rape charges on 29 September 2019. The victim, whose identity is protected, described feeling like a "rag doll" during the attacks and suffering anxiety, PTSD, panic attacks and a loss of time with her children. She said she now locks herself in her bedroom and feels like a prisoner. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Burns, imposed an eight‑year sentence with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions for three years, directed the defendant to be supervised by the Probation Service for three years post‑release, and gave credit for time served. The court praised the victim's courage and hoped she would continue to recover with support from family and friends.
A man convicted of rape at the Central Criminal Court has appealed his conviction before the Court of Appeal on grounds relating to the trial judge's handling of prosecution submissions and expert evidence. Thomas Wymbs, aged 68, was found guilty in February 2024 of raping a guest at Atlantic Haven B&B near Mount Temple, County Sligo, in February 2020. He received a sentence of seven and a half years, with the final eighteen months suspended, in July 2024. His counsel argued that the trial judge erred in declining to address the jury on comments made during prosecution closing speeches and on evidence concerning alcohol consumption and its effects. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel disputed both contentions, stating the judge's refusal was appropriate given the context of the evidence and submissions. Mr Justice John Edwards reserved judgment, to be delivered at a later date.
The sister of Valeriu Melnic, accused of murdering Ion Daghi, testified that her evidence to the jury last week was the opposite of what she had said in her Garda statement. In the statement, she described her brother as the aggressor who had a knife and threatened to kill her husband. In court, she denied that she was trying to protect him and said she had not seen the earlier part of the fight. She admitted that she had described her husband as the one armed and that her brother had wanted to leave the house. She also said she had only seen the leg of a chair in his hand and did not see them fighting. The trial continues tomorrow before Mr Justice David Keane and a jury of eight men and four women. Valeriu Melnic pleaded not guilty.
Marcus Duggan, aged 53, appealed his conviction for two indecent assaults and one rape committed between 1983 and 1991 against his younger sister, Yvonne Ratcliffe, aged 52. He argued that evidence of alleged prior sexual misconduct, including pornographic videos viewed in the family home and claims that he had sex with his sister at about eight or nine, should not have been admitted to the jury. His counsel contended that such evidence was prejudicial and irrelevant, and that a hearsay statement from Ratcliffe's father that "Marcus was sorry for what he did" was improperly admitted. The Director of Public Prosecutions defended the admissibility of the background evidence and the father's statement, stating it was not an admission of guilt. The appeal was lodged at the Court of Appeal, with the court reserving judgment. The original trial resulted in a five‑year sentence, with the final year suspended on strict conditions. The case remains at the appeal stage. Marcus Duggan pleaded not guilty.
A 39‑year‑old man who raped his pregnant partner in their bed six years ago was still employed by a local authority until he was taken into custody earlier this month. The partner, who was five months pregnant, recorded the assault and could be heard saying she was not consenting. She testified at the trial in Tullamore, where the man pleaded guilty to one count of rape on 13 October 2019. He was sentenced to eight years in prison, with the final year suspended, and is now in custody. The judge described the recording as "distressing" and praised the victim's courage. The man has one prior drug‑related conviction and was granted visitation rights to his child, which the victim says has caused her ongoing anxiety and nightmares. The case was delayed twice before the hearing. The man's defence cited heavy alcohol consumption and lack of memory of the incident.
Richard Brennan, 64, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court after pleading guilty to 24 counts of sexual abuse against his three sisters. He admitted to 18 counts of indecent assault and six counts of rape. The charges included four indecent assaults and four rapes against Paula Faye (aged 13-17) between 1978 and 1981; 13 indecent assaults and two rapes against Catherine Wrightstone (aged 9-14) between 1980 and 1984; and indecent assaults against Yvonne Crist (aged 20) between 1979 and 1980. Mr Justice David Keane imposed a global sentence of nine years, backdated to March 18. The judge suspended the final 12 months of the term on condition that Brennan engages with the Probation Service for one year upon release. No post-release supervision order was imposed. Earlier this month, his brother Bernard Brennan, 67, was jailed for four and a half years after admitting to 11 counts of indecent assault against Yvonne Crist and Paula Faye between 1972 and 1975. Bernard's global sentence of nine years was also backdated to March 18. Both men have no previous convictions.
Patrick Ward, 36, was jailed for 10 years after pleading guilty to raping his partner, Patricia McLaughlin, 41, in her apartment between 28 April and 4 May 2024. Gardaí arrested him on 21 May 2024 when he was found strangling her. McLaughlin, who wishes to remain unnamed, had previously reported fear of Ward and had lost her home and job due to the abuse. Ward, a registered sex offender with 98 prior convictions, had failed to notify authorities of his address change and had recently been released from prison. The judge reduced the headline sentence to 11½ years, suspended 18 months, and imposed strict conditions, including no contact with McLaughlin or her family for 40 years. Ward's plea of remorse and a positive prison report were considered mitigating factors. The case highlights the severity of intimate partner violence and the court's focus on rehabilitation and protection of the victim.
A 38‑year‑old man was sentenced to two‑and‑a‑half years in prison, with the final six months suspended, for defiling his employer's 15‑year‑old daughter in Co. Westmeath in October 2017. He was convicted of one count of defilement; he was acquitted of alleged rape and a separate count of sexual assault against the girl's sister. The court heard that he had made repeated phone calls and text exchanges with the girl, and that he entered her home through a side window and had sex with her in her bedroom before leaving. The judge noted the significant age difference, the groom‑ing and abuse of a position of trust, and the profound impact on the girl's mental and physical health. The sentence was back‑dated to the man's entry into custody in January 2018. The man has prior convictions for assault and two traffic offences.
A pensioner was so severely beaten during an alleged home invasion that neighbours did not recognise him as he walked along the road covered in blood with swollen eyes, the Central Criminal Court has heard. Witnesses described the victim as "crying blood" with multiple traumatic injuries following the incident at Doonflynn, Skreen, County Sligo on 18 January 2022. A surgeon from Sligo University Hospital testified that the injuries were serious and life-threatening, requiring the patient to be placed on life support. John Irving, aged 31, of Shanwar, Foxford, County Mayo faces four charges including unlawful killing, assault causing serious harm, intentional or reckless harm, and false imprisonment. The prosecution alleges Mr Irving, along with two other men, broke into the property and assaulted the occupant, who died more than 20 months later on 30 September 2023. Mr Irving has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The trial before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon continues.
The Central Criminal Court jury convicted an unnamed woman in her 50s of one count of rape, specifically facilitating the rape of her daughter by her brother between 2003 and 2004, and two counts of sexual assault at a family holiday home. Her brother, in his 40s, was convicted of one count of raping the girl between 2003 and 2004. Both defendants had pleaded not guilty to a total of 21 charges. The jury acquitted the woman of two further sexual assault counts and was unable to reach a verdict on two others. Regarding the brother, the jury failed to reach a verdict on a further rape count and an oral rape charge. A third accused, a man in his 50s, was unable to be convicted or acquitted on one count of oral rape alleged between 2008 and 2009. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon remanded the woman and her brother in custody. The matter was adjourned, with a sentence date set for next October. The third accused was remanded on continuing bail to the same date for the prosecution to seek instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
On 14 July 2025, a 24‑year‑old man named Conor O'Brien pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to possession of a knife in a public place in Carlow. He admitted having a knife on 21 October 2024 at Market View, New Oak Estate, with the intent to unlawfully cause injury, incapacitate or intimidate. O'Brien, who has been in custody since last October, was remanded until a sentence hearing set for 3 November. The court also ordered a probation report for his hearing.
Ryan Craig, 25, of Shancastle Drive, Clondalkin, appeared at the Central Criminal Court where he entered guilty pleas to the lesser offences of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm and endangerment. These pleas replaced a previous attempted murder charge relating to an incident on October 20, 2024, at Cloverhill Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22. Craig admitted to driving a vehicle in a dangerous manner that caused serious bodily harm to Dillon Gilligan, and to intentionally engaging in conduct that created a substantial risk of death or serious injury to Mr Gilligan. The Director of Public Prosecutions confirmed that Craig could be arraigned on the remaining counts on a full facts basis, allowing the previously set trial date for the attempted murder charge to be vacated. Defense counsel Dominic McGinn SC requested an education report and a probation report, the latter specifically to examine restorative justice options. Mr Justice Paul McDermott directed that an education report, probation report, victim impact statement, and any other relevant reports be prepared. The matter was adjourned to October 28 for sentencing.
A 42‑year‑old man was sentenced to 11 years and six months in prison, with the final six months suspended for one year on strict conditions, after being convicted of two counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault against his goddaughter, who was aged six to nine when the offences occurred between 2009 and 2012 in County Clare. The man, who was in his late twenties at the time, was also married to the victim's aunt and had acted as her godfather. He maintains his innocence. The victim, whose identity is protected, gave a victim impact statement describing the abuse as having stolen her childhood, left her with fear, pain, depression and anxiety, and said she may "never be able to be normal." The judge noted the seriousness of the offences, the victim's age and the multiple incidents, and reduced a headline sentence of 13 years to 11½ years after considering mitigating factors and testimonials about the.