In a 2015 trial, a woman in her twenties with Down syndrome was alleged to have been raped at the accused's Dublin home on 12 June 2013. The accused admitted some sexual contact but claimed it was consensual and that he was unaware of her mental impairment. The victim's mother testified that her daughter was "white as a sheet" and "retching" when she returned home, and that she had been taken to the accused's house by the man. She described people with Down syndrome as trusting, gentle, and non‑assertive, and noted her daughter's developmental delays and need for supervision. The mother recounted the day's events, the victim's distress, and the alleged sexual acts. The trial was conducted before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of twelve, with the accused pleading not guilty to rape, sexual assault and sex with a mentally impaired person.
In a rape trial at the Central Criminal Court, jurors heard evidence from a special‑needs woman in her twenties who claimed a man brought her to his Dublin home and had sex with her after she became separated from her mother. The accused, who pleaded not guilty to rape, sexual assault and having sex with a mentally impaired person, denied knowing she was mentally impaired. Two DVDs of the woman speaking to a specialist interviewer were shown to the jury. In the first interview she described being found on the street, taken to a house, and forced into sexual activity, including being locked in a room and threatened with violence. She said the man kissed her and inserted his penis, causing her pain. The prosecution argued that consent was impossible because she lacked the capacity to consent, while the defence could argue the accused had no reason to suspect her impairment. The case remains at the trial stage.
A 77‑year‑old Dublin man, who has previously served a four‑year sentence for sexually assaulting a niece, was found unfit to plead in a fitness‑to‑plead hearing before the Central Criminal Court. He faced nine counts of sexually assaulting and anally raping a young girl between 1989 and 1991, allegations made by a relative who said the man had earned her trust before raping her two or three times a week. Psychiatrists for both prosecution and defence agreed that the accused suffered a severe decline in cognitive function due to vascular impairment syndrome, a type of dementia. He was unable to follow conversation, often got lost when walking alone, and scored 22 out of 30 on a cognitive test, below the normal threshold of 27. Dr. Ronan Mullaney and Dr. Paul O'Connell also noted Parkinson's disease. The unnamed 77-year-old was convicted.
In a Dublin case, Wayne Kennedy, aged 34, is set to be sentenced for the manslaughter of David Spain, 26, who was described by his family as a "gentle giant." The incident occurred on 26 December 2013 at Kennedy's home in Rathsallagh Park, Shankill, Co. Dublin. Kennedy was also charged with intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Sean Turner on the same night. A jury found Kennedy not guilty of the assault charge and guilty of manslaughter after a deliberation of four hours and 48 minutes. Kennedy had pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. He is currently remanded in custody until his sentencing on 7 December. The article details the events leading to Spain's death, including a fight that escalated with a knife and a stone, and provides statements from witnesses and family members. The court heard that Spain was stabbed six times, leading to his death. Wayne Kennedy was acquitted.
A 32‑year‑old man named Gary Walsh, charged with murdering former Dublin rugby club captain Cathal Sweeney (62) at a Terenure house on 8 February 2014, was granted bail despite objections from the State. Walsh pleaded not guilty to the murder but had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter, a plea the State did not accept. A jury failed to reach a verdict after five hours and 27 minutes of deliberation, with at least ten jurors dissenting. Prosecution counsel Mr Patrick McCarthy SC presented eight bail conditions to the court, including residence at a specified address, daily reporting to Terenure Garda Station, submission of a mobile phone number, a midnight‑to‑7 a.m. curfew, prohibition on alcohol, surrender of his passport, and no contact with witnesses. Detective Sergeant Joe Molloy confirmed no concerns regarding the three sureties: €9,000 from Walsh's sister, €3,000 from his mother, and €3,000 from a cousin. Judge Patrick J.
In a sentencing hearing on 23 November 2015, Peter Jackson, aged 41, was given a mandatory life sentence for the murder of David Hamilton, aged 31, on 4 May 2012. Jackson, a former heroin addict, admitted remorse, saying "I'm sorry, I didn't set out to do this." The court heard that the killing occurred during a heroin injection session at a house on Kerryhall Road, where an argument over the drug escalated into a stabbing. Jackson had 73 prior convictions, mainly for traffic, public order, theft and burglary, and a previous three‑year sentence for heroin supply. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not to murder, a plea rejected by the prosecution. The sentence was back‑dated to the day of the murder, 4 May 2012. The hearing included a victim impact statement from Hamilton's uncle, Robert Denby, describing the family's profound grief. The judge, Justice Isobel Kennedy, confirmed the life sentence and the back‑dating. Peter Jackson was found guilty.
Anthony Locke, 38, of Ballyfermot, Dublin, was found not guilty of the murder of his neighbour, Christopher Jackson, 53, by a Central Criminal Court jury. However, the jury returned a majority verdict of 10 to two finding him guilty of impeding the apprehension of a person he knew or believed to be guilty of murder. The trial concluded on day 11, with deliberations lasting six hours and 47 minutes. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy thanked the jury and excused them from civic duty for 10 years. Locke had pleaded not guilty to the murder, which occurred between September 6th and 7th, 2012, at an apartment on Prussia Street. His brother, Bernard Locke, previously pleaded guilty to the murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment in February 2014. Prosecutors alleged Anthony Locke participated in the attack and concealed the body, while defense counsel argued the primary witness, Barbara Staunton, was inconsistent and unreliable. The court heard evidence that Jackson died from multiple stab wounds. Following the verdict, Mr Justice McCarthy remanded Anthony Locke in custody until January 18th for sentencing.
In a Dublin murder case, Sabrina Cummins (37) pleaded not guilty to the killing of Thomas Horan (63) on 6 January 2014 but was found guilty by a jury of six men and six women at the Central Criminal Court. The judge imposed a life sentence, backdated to 8 January 2014. Kenneth Cummins (28), Sabrina's brother, initially pleaded not guilty but changed to guilty after four weeks of trial. He has applied to have his guilty plea vacated, arguing he was not in a fit state to plead on 11 November. The court will consider the application on 7 December. Two victim impact statements were read, detailing Horan's relationship with his wife and the emotional loss felt by family members. The judge noted the case was difficult and the sentence was imposed as a result of the jury's unanimous verdict.
A jury was discharged from the trial of Michael Kinsella, a 22‑year‑old from Tallaght, who was accused of unlawfully murdering Adil Essalhi in Tyrrelstown on 6 January 2011. Kinsella pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in the Central Criminal Court. The jury, composed of five men and seven women, was sworn in to hear the case but was dismissed by Justice Isobel Kennedy, who excused them from service for five years. A new jury will be empanelled on Monday morning.
An elderly 75‑year‑old man, whose name is withheld to protect the victim's anonymity, has pleaded guilty to attempted rape and sexual assault of his niece with special needs. The offences occurred in County Cork between 2005 and 2008 when the victim was aged 11 to 14, and in County Limerick between 2011 and 2012, including a December 23, 2011 assault. He admitted touching her breast and attempting sex, including an incident in a hallway after she returned from school and another in a car en route to her grandparents' home. The victim, who has a mild intellectual disability and was in residential care, reported ongoing fear and life changes in a victim impact statement. The case is set for sentencing next month, with a court adjournment to December and a risk assessment ordered for the Probation Services.
The jury in the trial of Anthony Locke, 38, accused of murdering Christopher Jackson, 53, at Jackson's Prussia Street apartment, has been sent home for the evening and will resume deliberations on Friday. Locke pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. Judge Patrick McCarthy told the jury that if they find Locke not guilty of murder, they may then consider an alternative charge of impeding the apprehension of a person he knew or believed to be guilty of murder. The jury must unanimously find Locke not guilty of murder before considering the alternative verdict.
A jury will start deliberations on the trial of Anthony Locke, 38, accused of murdering neighbour Christopher Jackson, 53, whose body was found in a wardrobe after his death on Prussia Street. Locke pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. The trial is in its ninth day. Judge Patrick McCarthy instructed the jury that if they find Locke not guilty of murder, they may consider a conviction for impeding the apprehension of a person they believed to be guilty of murder. He warned that the jury must first decide on the murder charge before considering any alternative verdict. Anthony Locke was acquitted.
Sabrina Cummins (37) was found guilty by a unanimous jury at the Central Criminal Court of murdering Thomas Horan (63) at Cambridge Court, Ringsend, on January 6, 2014. The prosecution alleged the killing was a "protracted torturing" intended to cover up a robbery. Cummins had pleaded not guilty, while her brother, Kenneth Cummins (28), initially pleaded not guilty but changed his plea to guilty four weeks into the trial. Mr Justice Tony Hunt thanked the jury, stating their verdict was "correct and amply justified," and noted medical evidence indicated Mr Horan died from asphyxia and significant injuries. The judge described the death as "horrific" and exempted the jury from service for 20 years. Both defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on Friday, at which time a victim impact statement will be read. The matter is currently at the sentencing stage, with no final disposal recorded in this report.
The trial of Anothony Locke, 38, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court, where he has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of his neighbour, Christopher Jackson, 53. The prosecution alleges that Mr Jackson was killed at his apartment on Prussia Street between September 6th and 7th, 2012. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy has instructed the jury that they must determine whether the offence was committed through common design, noting that it is not alleged that Mr Locke performed the physical act of killing. The judge explained that common design involves an intention to kill or cause serious injury, which can be formed spontaneously and may be tacit or active. He illustrated this legal concept using examples of accomplices in bank robberies or police obstructions. Mr Justice McCarthy further indicated that he would provide a direction regarding a possible alternative verdict for another offence once the evidence summary is complete. The matter is currently at the trial stage, with the judge's charge proceeding before a jury of six men and six women. No final verdict, sentence, or disposal has been recorded, and the proceedings continue.
A jury of five men and seven women was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court to hear the trial of Michael Kinsella, 22, of Swiftbrook Close, Tallaght, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Adil Essalhi, 41, at Tyrrelstown, Dublin, on 6 January 2011. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy told the jury the trial could last up to three weeks and thanked them for their availability. The trial is set to begin on Thursday, 19 November.
In November 2015, Jimmy Devaney, a 67‑year‑old retired soldier, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for the manslaughter of Marie Greene, a prostitute whose body was found in Anagorta Bog nine days after she disappeared. The Central Criminal Court had earlier acquitted him of murder but found him guilty of manslaughter after a jury deliberated for four hours and 23 minutes. Justice Margaret Heneghan, who had considered an eleven‑year custodial sentence, imposed eight years, back‑dating it to the day the jury returned its verdict. The judge noted aggravating factors such as the use of a knife, multiple wounds, attempts to destroy evidence and lack of cooperation with Gardaí, and mitigating factors including an early plea, an apology, cooperation and Devaney's prior good character. The sentence was announced after evidence of six stab wounds to Greene's trunk and several incised wounds to her head and neck was presented.
In 2013, a 32‑year‑old man lured a nine‑year‑old and a six‑year‑old girl from a children's birthday party in Athlone, threatened to cut their parents' throats, and repeatedly raped them in a flat. He pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court and was sentenced to two life sentences by Mr Justice Paul Carney on 3 March 2014. On 14 November 2015 he moved to appeal the life sentences, arguing they were excessive. His barrister, Sean Gillane SC, acknowledged the "nightmarish aspects" of the case and noted the man's full admissions and early plea. The appeal was filed on the basis that the single set of offences might be viewed differently, but the court was instructed to reserve judgment and deliberate further. The appeal remains pending.
A man serving a 12‑year sentence for raping and sexually assaulting his daughter has filed a constitutional challenge in the High Court against a 2005 law that bars prisoners over 65 from receiving the State pension. The man, now in his seventies and due for release in less than four years, claims that section 249.1 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act breaches the Irish Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights. He seeks a declaration that the provision is unconstitutional, an order to pay the pension, and damages. The State, represented by Eileen Barrington SC, argues the disqualification is a social policy choice, not a punishment, and that the man will receive pension payments upon release. The case is heard before Mr Justice Donald Binchy. The unnamed man was convicted.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Peter Jackson, 41, was found guilty of murder after stabbing David Hamilton, 31, during a heroin dispute on Kerryhall Road, Fairhill, Co Cork, on 4 May 2012. Jackson had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The jury, consisting of ten men and two women, deliberated for nine hours and fifty‑four minutes, reaching a verdict by a majority of 11 to one after four days of evidence. The case involved an argument over heroin use, with both men injecting and attempting to share a second bag of heroin. A friend, Ms Pamela McHale, 26, testified that a fight ensued, leading Jackson to stab Hamilton with a knife. Jackson later admitted his role. The verdict was read at 4.15 p.m., and the sentencing is scheduled for 23 November, when victim impact statements will be heard. The court thanked the jurors and exempted them from further service for 15 years.
In a brutal case, Alan Hanley, aged 34, was sentenced to 12½ years' imprisonment for punching, kicking and repeatedly raping a woman in her own home on 4–5 May 2012. The assault began when Hanley entered the victim's house, beat her, tore her clothes off and raped her on a rug. He dragged her into a shower, turned it on, and raped her again, then dragged her downstairs for a third rape. After the third assault he ejaculated, burned pieces of the rug and her clothing, and threatened to destroy evidence. Hanley pleaded not guilty to three rape charges and an assault charge; a jury found him guilty on all counts. The judge imposed the maximum five‑year sentence for the assault and 12½ years for each rape, with all terms running concurrently from May 2012. Hanley had prior violent convictions, including knife possession and intimidation of a witness.
The jury in the trial of Peter Jackson, a 41‑year‑old heroin addict, will resume deliberations on the third day at the Central Criminal Court. Jackson pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the fatal stabbing of David Hamilton, 31, on 4 May 2012 at a house on Kerryhall Road. The ten‑man jury has spent six hours debating the case and has been instructed not to discuss it with anyone outside the jury.
In the Central Criminal Court, Anthony Locke, 38, of Ballyfermot, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Christopher Jackson, 53, whose body was found in a wardrobe on Prussia Street between 6 and 7 September 2012. Prosecutor Conor Devally argued that all parties involved in a criminal offence are guilty, citing evidence from Jackson's partner, Barbara Staunton, who claimed Locke restrained her. Devally suggested a "division of labour" between Locke and his brother, and urged the jury to consider whether Locke was an active participant. Defence counsel Padraig Dwyer countered that the prosecution relied on inconsistent testimony from Staunton, who he described as lying. He highlighted the lack of motive and the absence of evidence that Locke acted without duress, urging the jury to acquit on murder and the related charge of concealing a body. The trial will resume next Monday before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a 12‑person jury.
The jury was discharged from the trial of Eric Locke, 33, who is accused of murdering Sonia Bount in a Plaza Hotel room in Tallaght on 16 February 2014. Locke pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. Justice Isobel Kennedy granted the defence's request to adjourn the trial, thanked the jury, and exempted them from duty for five years. The case will be heard by Justice Patrick McCarthy next Monday.
Anthony Locke, 38, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Christopher Jackson, 53, at Jackson's Prussia Street apartment between 6 and 7 September 2012. Locke presented himself at a garda station on 9 September 2012, was arrested and interviewed. He told the Garda that his brother, Bernard, had stabbed Jackson and then forced Locke to clean up the scene. Locke described moving the body as weighing a "tonne" and said he "nearly snapped my back". He claimed he used two duvets and four or five plastic bags to wrap the body, that blood covered the kitchen, and that his brother threatened to cut off his fingers. Locke denied using a weapon or having an active part in the killing, but recounted that Jackson's last words were "Babs help". The trial continues with Locke's garda interviews before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of twelve.
In the murder trial of Peter Jackson, a 41‑year‑old drug addict, the jury was instructed to consider his mental state on the day of the incident. Jackson pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the death of 31‑year‑old David Hamilton, who was stabbed on 4 May 2012 at a house on Kerryhall Road. Defence counsel Dominic McGinn SC explained that by pleading guilty to manslaughter, Jackson accepted responsibility for Hamilton's death but denied intent to kill. Justice Isobel Kennedy told the jury that the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Jackson intended to kill or cause serious harm, and that provocation could negate murder if the accused lost control. The prosecution argued that Jackson had tried to inject heroin, an argument escalated, and Jackson then stabbed Hamilton. Witness Pamela McHale confirmed the fight and that Jackson had taken a knife from the table.
A witness has told the Central Criminal Court that Stephen Cahoon appeared notably anxious on the morning a pregnant woman's body was discovered in Derry. Cahoon, aged 43 and from Harvey Street in Derry, Northern Ireland, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jean Teresa Quigley on 26 July 2008 at Cornshell fields. A man who was living in Letterkenny at the time testified by video link from Glasgow that Cahoon called to his home in the early hours of that day. The witness stated that Cahoon seemed "very shaky" and requested water before leaving after approximately thirty minutes. He recalled that Cahoon had mentioned being in town drinking. Justice Deirdre Murphy adjourned proceedings to address a legal matter and directed the jury to return on Thursday. The trial continues before a jury of twelve.
Michael Moran, 78, of Oldtown, Nurney, pleaded guilty in the Central Criminal Court to three charges of raping his grandniece between October 2003 and June 2009 and to seven charges of raping his niece between January 1983 and March 1989. Judge Margaret Heneghan sentenced him to ten years, suspending the final three years on conditions. The court noted that the victims, aged 41 and 23, had suffered repeated sexual assault, with the older victim recalling assaults beginning when she was eight and the younger beginning when she was eleven. Moran admitted to the assaults and claimed the victims had instigated intercourse, but the judge described his actions as causing great suffering and trauma. He had entered an early guilty plea, expressed remorse, and had been of previous good character. The sentence reflected the seriousness of the repeated rapes and the impact on the victims.
In the murder trial of Stephen Cahoon, 43, the jury heard forensic evidence linking the accused to the death of Jean Teresa Quigley, 30, who was found dead at Cornshell Fields on 26 July 2008. A white t‑shirt taken from Cahoon's Harvey Street apartment contained blood spots that matched Quigley's DNA, while other stains on the shirt matched Cahoon's DNA. Semen on vaginal swabs and fingernail swabs also matched Cahoon, indicating recent sexual activity. Cigarette butts showed a majority of Quigley's DNA and a minority of Cahoon's. A damaged black bra was examined, with damage deemed recent. Mobile phone data from both parties were recovered, revealing threatening texts from Cahoon to Quigley. The trial continues with the jury hearing these forensic findings. Stephen Cahoon pleaded not guilty.
Howard Kelly, aged 41, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 48‑year‑old Margot Seery, who was strangled in her Kenilworth Square flat in Dublin on 7–8 October 1994. Kelly walked into a Garda station in Naas in July 2014 and confessed to the killing, claiming he had been threatened by Seery and had acted in a "completely unprovoked" manner. The court heard that Seery's body was found fully clothed, face‑down on her bed, and that a post‑mortem at the time had indicated death by asphyxiation from vomit after alcohol consumption, a conclusion later challenged by Kelly's confession. The prosecution presented statements from Kelly, Garda evidence, and victim impact statements from Seery's daughter and brother. The judge, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, imposed a life sentence back‑dated to 27 March 2015. The case was described as highly unusual by the State prosecutor. Howard Kelly pleaded guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 9 November 2015, Peter Jackson, 41, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for stabbing David Hamilton, 31, on 4 May 2012 at a house on Kerryhall Road, Fairhill, Co Cork. Jackson, a heroin addict, claimed the act was accidental, stating he wanted Hamilton's family to know he was sorry. Prosecutor Thomas O'Connell SC described how Jackson had tried to inject Hamilton after injecting himself, leading to an argument over a vein and resulting in Jackson stabbing Hamilton in the chest with a knife. Garda Donal O'Casey testified that Jackson had been interviewed three times at Gurranabraher Garda Station and had told the officers, "It was a complete accident. I'm sorry." Jackson also admitted knowing Hamilton for about 14 years and that he had never intended harm. The trial proceeded with a jury and Justice Isobel Kennedy scheduled to continue the next day.
A jury was sworn in for the trial of 33‑year‑old Eric Locke of St Johns Park East, Clondalkin, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Sonia Blount in Room 346 of The Plaza Hotel, Tallaght, on 16 February 2014. The trial, expected to last five or six days, will be heard by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy with a jury of four women and eight men.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 6 November 2015, 34‑year‑old Eoghan O'Mahoney of Killester was found not guilty by reason of insanity for an attempted murder of his 91‑year‑old grandmother, Catherine McGillion, on 19 December 2013. O'Mahoney, who suffers from schizophrenia, attacked his grandmother with a knife during a psychotic episode, cutting the left side of her neck and striking her several times. The jury, after about 30 minutes, accepted the defence plea of insanity, noting that the prosecution had not contested it. McGillion, who described O'Mahoney as "the person he loves most in the world," testified that the attack was out of character and that she and her grandson had a close relationship. O'Mahoney's brother, Conor, intervened and called emergency services. The verdict was unanimous, and O'Mahoney is scheduled for further assessment on 16 November.
A man accused of murdering a pregnant woman in Derry in 2008 told gardaí "I'm the man you're looking for" as he was being taken to Ballyshannon Garda Station, the Central Criminal Court has heard. Stephen Cahoon, aged 43, with an address in Derry, has pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering Jean Teresa Quigley on July 26th, 2008. Detective Sergeant Desmond Sheridan testified that he spotted a man matching the accused's description in Donegal town on August 5th, 2008, and approached him at 8.50pm. The man initially provided a false name and address. During the journey to the garda station, the accused made the statement cited, whereupon he was arrested and provided his correct identity. The court heard that while in custody at Ballyshannon, the accused consumed a large quantity of Paracetamol tablets and was subsequently transferred to Sligo General Hospital. The trial, before Justice Deirdre Murphy and a jury, is continuing.
Eoghan O'Mahoney, aged 34, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for attempting to murder his 91‑year‑old grandmother, Catherine McGillion, on 19 December 2013. During the attack he cut her with a knife and repeatedly kicked her body and head. The Central Criminal Court heard that O'Mahoney was in a psychotic episode and that the grandmother was "the person he loves most in the world." Two psychiatrists testified he suffered psychotic delusions, supporting the insanity plea. Justice Patrick McCarthy will finish charging the jury this afternoon.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Peter Jackson (41) pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the death of David Hamilton (31) on 4 May 2012. Jackson and his girlfriend, Pamela McHale (26), had bought two bags of heroin and met Hamilton at a house on Kerryhall Road, Fairhill. After Jackson injected himself and McHale, he struggled to find a vein for Hamilton, sparking an argument. Jackson then seized a knife from the table and stabbed Hamilton in the chest. McHale later called an ambulance under a false name and did not disclose the incident to police until the next day. Hamilton died three days later. The trial continues before a jury and Justice Isobel Kennedy.
The Deputy State Pathologist, Dr Michael Curtis, informed the jury that Christopher Jackson, aged 53, died from multiple stab wounds after his body was found in a wardrobe on Prussia Street. Dr Curtis identified 70 stab wounds, including a large chest wound that cut an artery and punctured the right lung, five back wounds that penetrated to the chest, and several left arm wounds considered defensive. He noted the victim's genitals were intact and that more than one weapon was likely used. Anthony Locke, 38, pleaded not guilty to the murder. Witness Deirdre Holton testified that Locke moved kitchen furniture on 7 September 2012 and claimed he was cleaning. She described Ms Staunton's strange behaviour and Bernard Locke's aggression. Detective Sergeant Kevin Daly reported a warrant search of the flat, discovery of a body-shaped package in the wardrobe, and the arrest of Bernard Locke. The trial proceeded before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a balanced jury.
In the murder trial of Stephen Cahoon, a 43‑year‑old Derry man, the jury heard that a witness, Mr Peter Barr, claimed to have seen a kitchen knife on a dresser in the room where Jean Teresa Quigley, a 30‑year‑old pregnant woman, was found dead on 26 July 2008. Mr Barr described arriving at the house with Quigley's sister, seeing the victim's leg hanging from the bed, her body partially clothed, and her head facing the wall. He noted a length of brown tape on the floor and a chrome‑handled knife on a dresser, which he left untouched. The court also heard testimony from a taxi driver who had taken Quigley to a shop that day, a friend who confirmed Quigley's pregnancy and normal routine, and a police constable who observed the victim's body, bruising, and the knife at the scene. The case remains before the Central Criminal Court. Stephen Cahoon pleaded not guilty.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, Deirdre Holton testified that on 7 September 2012 she saw Anthony Locke, aged 38, moving kitchen furniture from the deceased Christopher Jackson's flat into the yard at about 9 am. Locke told her he had been up all night and was merely helping the deceased's partner, Barbara Staunton, on a "mad cleaning buzz". Holton also noted Staunton was unusually quiet at a gathering that evening. Locke, who lives on Ramillies Road, Ballyfermot, has pleaded not guilty to the murder.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, Stephen Cahoon, 43, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jean Teresa Quigley, 30, who was found dead at Cornshell Fields on 26 July 2008. Witnesses described a volatile relationship, with Quigley allegedly drinking heavily and having frequent arguments with Cahoon. Colm Quinn, father of Quigley's children, testified that the couple had fought but reconciled, and that Quigley had informed him she was pregnant. Christopher Coyle, who babysat Quigley, recounted an evening when Cahoon entered the house, spoke to Quigley in a raised voice, and left after drinking a bottle of WKD. Sandra Wilson noted that Cahoon had threatened to jump off a bridge the week before the murder. The case proceeds before Justice Deirdre Murphy and a jury.
During the trial at the Central Criminal Court, Sabrina Cummins, aged 37, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Thomas Horan, 63, who died on 6 January at Cambridge Court, Ringsend. Cummins admitted she had punched and kicked Horan but denied any involvement with the plastic bag, belt, or knife used in the killing. She claimed her brother, Kenneth Cummins, 28, was responsible for the death. Cummins also stated she had called the Gardaí that night rather than leaving Horan unattended. In cross‑examination, she denied attempting to extort money from Horan and admitted lying about needing to pay a taxi driver. She maintained that she only struck Horan once and that she had no part in the use of the belt or knife. The hearing continued into the next day.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Georgian man Badri Khvedelidze, aged 33, was acquitted of murdering fellow asylum seeker George Tkeshelashvili at a Tralee hostel on 15 October 2005. After 6 hours 44 minutes of deliberation, a jury of six men and six women returned an eleven‑to‑one majority verdict of not guilty. The prosecution alleged Khvedelidze stabbed Tkeshelashvili following a backgammon dispute; pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster testified the victim died from a lung stab wound severing a major artery. Justice Isobel Kennedy thanked the jurors and released Khvedelidze from custody.
Peter Jackson, 41, of Kerryhall Road, Fairhill, Cork, faces trial at the Central Criminal Court for the 2012 murder of a 31‑year‑old. He pleaded not guilty to the murder but guilty to the manslaughter of David Hamilton, 31, who died on May 4, 2012. Justice Isobel Kennedy thanked the jury for arriving promptly, noted an unavoidable delay, and said the trial would resume Thursday at 11 a.m. The trial is expected to last about five days.
The jury in the trial of Badri Khvedelidze, a 33‑year‑old Georgian accused of murdering fellow Georgian George Tkeshelashvili in Tralee on 15 October 2005, was sent home after two hours of deliberations at the Central Criminal Court. The six men and six women will return the next day to consider the evidence. Justice Isobel Kennedy told them they could return a verdict of murder, manslaughter or not guilty, and that they must assess the credibility of witnesses who offered contradictory evidence.
Criostóir MacCárthaigh, 38, of An Gleann, Palmerstown, had been convicted of murdering David Whyte, 35, in Dublin between 24 and 26 September 2008. The murder involved more than 100 stab wounds in the ruins of an old church. A jury at the Central Criminal Court found him guilty and he received a mandatory life sentence on 19 February 2013. MacCárthaigh appealed, arguing that the trial judge erred by allowing certain evidence before the jury. He claimed his answers to Garda questions about his DNA on the victim's trousers and his presence at Mill Lane were not failures or refusals. The appeal was dismissed by a three‑judge court, which held that his answers were deliberate evasions and that the judge's directions and the admissibility of witness statements were correct. The court noted that the prosecution's witness had been robustly questioned on prior convictions, and MacCárthaigh could not challenge the admissibility of those convictions. The appeal was therefore dismissed. Criostóir MacCárthaigh pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Stephen Cahoon, aged 43, pleaded not guilty to the death of Jean Teresa Quigley, aged 30, who was found strangled at Cornshell Fields, Derry, on 26 July 2008. State Pathologist Professor Jack Crane testified that Quigley's body lay on her left side, naked except for socks, with extensive bruising and bloodstained fluid around the mouth and face. He described multiple bruises on the head, neck, chest, abdomen and arms, noting that the neck injuries were consistent with manual strangulation. Crane also examined the uterus, finding an enlarged uterus containing a male embryo of about 10 weeks' gestation, weighing four grams. Forensic Scientist Matthew James Greenhalgh performed a paternity test, concluding it was 6000 times more likely that Cahoon was the father of the unborn child. The trial, with a jury of eight men and four women, is scheduled to continue for two weeks.
During the murder trial of Anthony Locke, 38, the partner of the deceased, Barbara Staunton, testified that Locke claimed he had cut off Christopher Jackson's penis and placed it in the victim's pocket. Staunton, who admitted using heroin that night, said Locke asked her what she was doing with someone with a "little penis." She also recounted hearing Locke and Bernard Locke discuss the murder, with one remarking, "Remember the Scissor Sisters? We can be the Scissor Brothers." Staunton described the scene where Jackson fell back into the flat with a knife in his chest after answering the door to the accused and Bernard. She also noted that Bernard had ordered her to clean up a severely cut hand while Locke was in the kitchen. The testimony was given before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of twelve. The trial continues. Anthony Locke pleaded not guilty.
The jury in the trial of Badri Khvedelidze, aged 33, will begin deliberations on Tuesday at the Central Criminal Court. Khvedelidze has pleaded not guilty to the murder of fellow Georgian George Tkeshelashvili, who died on 15 October 2005 at Westward Court in Tralee. The prosecution's case, presented by Mr Tim O'Leary SC, relies on the testimony of chief witness Givi Verdzeuli, who claimed to have seen an argument over a game of backgammon, a punch to the chest, blood, and a knife in Khvedelidze's hand. Defence counsel Mr Kerida Naidoo SC challenged Verdzeuli's reliability, noting that he had changed his story after initially telling Gardaí he saw nothing, and that he had been deported to Georgia in 2010. Naidoo also cited a 45‑year‑old Nigerian witness, Sow Unmi, who failed to identify Khvedelidze when shown a photograph.
A 41‑year‑old Cork resident, Peter Jackson, was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court on 2 November 2015. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the 2012 killing of David Hamilton, a Wexford native who had been living in Cork. The court heard that Jackson stabbed Hamilton on 4 May 2012 at Kerryhall Road, Fairhill. A jury of ten men and two women was sworn in, and Justice Patrick McCarthy announced the trial would start on Wednesday or Thursday and last six days.
A 34‑year‑old Dublin man, Eoghan O'Mahoney, was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court on Friday for the attempted murder of Catherine McGillion on 19 December 2013 at the same address. He pleaded not guilty. A jury of ten women and two men was sworn in, and Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy said the trial would last one day.
Jonathan Colbert, 27, of Limerick, pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault on a woman in her 40s who was walking home from a night out on 13 October 2013. He grabbed her, dragged her into a nearby estate, pinned her against a wall and struck her head three times. While she screamed for help, he removed his trousers and underwear and attempted to undo her belt. A resident called the Gardaí after hearing the screams; the victim was still struggling when officers arrived. Colbert pretended to make a phone call and fled. He was intoxicated at the time of arrest and later claimed the victim had consented to sexual acts. The court noted the lack of a victim impact statement and the victim's desire to move on. Justice Margaret Heneghan cited the physical harm to the victim's face, Colbert's lack of genuine remorse and a psychologist's report of low empathy as aggravating factors.