The jury in the trial of retired army private Jimmy Devaney, aged 67, is set to resume deliberations after an hour and fifteen minutes of discussion. Devaney, who pleaded not guilty, is accused of murdering prostitute Marie Greene on 13 February 2011 in Westmeath. Greene was last seen alive that evening and her body was found nine days later in Anagorta Bog. The State alleges Devaney killed Greene after she blackmailed him for money and threatened to inform his wife. Devaney claims he met Greene at Anagorta Bog, that she threatened to involve her brothers, and that he stabbed her in a struggle, losing control. He also says he had given her up to €40,000 over six months. Evidence includes a videolink testimony from Devaney's brother‑in‑law, Peter Boardman, who supplied knives used in his butcher trade. Judge Margaret Heneghan explained that provocation could reduce murder to manslaughter if the jury believes Devaney was provoked.
Wayne Kennedy, aged 33, was charged with the murder of 26‑year‑old David Spain and the serious injury of 24‑year‑old Sean Turner on 26 December 2013 at his Shankill home. In a Garda interview, Kennedy claimed he believed he was meeting Spain for a one‑on‑one fight. He described a chaotic encounter in which multiple men, including Turner, attacked him, and that Spain threw a jacket over his head. Kennedy admitted striking the men but denied killing Spain. He also admitted lending Turner €50, which Turner never returned. During cross‑examination, a detective confirmed Kennedy's statements about the fight and his lack of a weapon were false. Witness Adam McMahon testified that Kennedy had been in a bad state, had a facial cut, and had stabbed Turner and Spain. The trial is ongoing. Wayne Kennedy pleaded not guilty.
Kevin Coughlan, a 32‑year‑old Limerick man, had his murder conviction quashed after a successful appeal. The Court of Appeal found his original trial unsatisfactory, citing the late presentation of crucial evidence from Deputy State Pathologist Dr Khalid Jaber, who had stated that Francis Greene was strangled before drowning. The court concluded that Coughlan could have been found guilty of manslaughter and therefore quashed the murder conviction, finding him guilty of manslaughter under section 3(1)(d) of the Criminal Procedure Act 1993. Although the court could have imposed a sentence immediately, it decided the sentence should be delivered in the Central Criminal Court. Coughlan was not present for the sentencing hearing, and the judge scheduled the sentence for 5 October, noting that Coughlan will serve a portion of his new sentence in the meantime. Kevin Coughlan pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, retired defence forces member Jimmy Devaney, aged 67, pleaded not guilty to the murder of prostitute Marie Greene on 13 February 2011. The prosecution argued Devaney planned the killing, bringing a knife to Anagorta Bog where Greene was found. Defence counsel contended Greene regularly visited the bog and the knife might have been stolen from Devaney's jeep. Prosecutor Alex Owens highlighted Devaney's "cock and bull story" to Gardaí about the knife, suggesting an attempt to distance himself from the weapon. Owens urged the jury to consider whether Devaney's alleged provocation could have caused a sudden loss of self‑control, potentially leading to a manslaughter verdict. Defence lawyer Giollaiosa O'Lideadha denied any planning, emphasizing the seriousness of manslaughter and questioning the knife's role in the alleged plan. The jury, composed of six men and six women, was instructed to remain impartial and was later informed that one juror had been discharged.
A 66‑year‑old man, previously imprisoned in the United States for child abuse, had his 1993 conviction for raping his nine‑year‑old niece in Galway quashed on appeal. He had pleaded not guilty to rape, oral rape and three counts of sexual assault. A jury at the Central Criminal Court found him guilty and he was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan on 21 October 2013. Mr Patrick Gageby SC argued that major inconsistencies existed in the charges and evidence presented at trial. Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with Mr Justice Alan Mahon and Mr Justice John Edwards, agreed that the cumulative effect of these inconsistencies meant the conviction could not stand. The Court of Appeal quashed the conviction without ordering a retrial.
A 44‑year‑old Dublin man was convicted at the Central Criminal Court of eight counts of rape and 18 counts of sexual assault. The offences were committed against the former partner's daughter and her older sister between 1992 and 1997 while the man was in a relationship with their mother. He first sexually assaulted the eldest sister in her bed when she was 12, then raped the younger sister eight times and sexually assaulted her 16 times from June 1993 to 1997 after moving into the family home. The assaults took place in the mother's bed, other downstairs rooms and the kitchen, sometimes with the brother asleep beside them. The victims learned of the abuse only in 2010, and a formal complaint was made in 2012. The man was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment. The article reports the trial, the victims' impact statements and the man's subsequent registration as a sex offender. No further legal outcomes are mentioned.
In a Dublin murder trial, the State Pathologist testified that a 26‑year‑old man died from stab wounds to his chest and abdomen. Wayne Kennedy, 33, of Rathsallagh Park, Shankill, is charged with murdering David Spain on 26 December 2013 and with causing serious harm to Sean Turner, 24, on the same date. Kennedy pleaded not guilty. Professor Marie Cassidy identified six stab wounds on Spain's body, including a left‑side chest wound that penetrated the rib cage, lung and heart, and a right‑side abdominal wound that sliced major pelvic vessels. She concluded the cause of death was the chest and abdominal injuries. Witnesses described the night's events, noting a knife in Kennedy's hand and a fight that had ended by the time a friend arrived. The trial continues.
In the ongoing trial at the Central Criminal Court, a juror was discharged after a review by Justice Margaret Heneghan. The case concerns retired army private Jimmy Devaney, aged 67, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of prostitute Marie Greene in Westmeath on 13 February 2011. The jury, originally composed of six men and six women, confirmed they had not discussed the case with each other or any third parties. Following the discharge, the trial proceeds with the remaining six women and five men, who will deliver closing speeches this afternoon.
During the murder trial of Wayne Kennedy, a 33‑year‑old from Rathsallagh Park, Shankill, a witness, Mark McGovern, testified that Kennedy had sent him a text message on the morning of December 26, 2013, saying, "I think I murdered someone last night." McGovern said he received the message at 5:34 am and, being drunk, ignored it, later turning his phone off and sleeping. He recalled additional messages the next morning, including pleas for help. McGovern also described learning of a dispute between Kennedy and Sean Turner, the 24‑year‑old victim, through his wife's Facebook page. The prosecution also called Ian Messitt, who claimed to have heard shouting from the estate and seen Turner's blood, and Garda Neil Dunne, who found a knife handle in a grassy verge. Kennedy pleaded not guilty to murder and serious harm charges, and the trial continues.
The trial of Jimmy Devaney, a 66‑year‑old retired army private, is concluding after the prosecution finished presenting evidence. Devaney, who pleaded not guilty, is accused of murdering Marie Greene, a prostitute, on 13 February 2011. The court heard that Greene was last seen alive that evening and her body was found in Anagorta Bog nine days later. Devaney claimed he was blackmailed by Greene for up to €40,000 and that she threatened to expose him and his family. He denied bringing a knife but admitted he stabbed her after losing control. The prosecution presented interviews, video footage, and financial records suggesting a blackmail motive. The defence highlighted Devaney's family background and alleged prior client interactions. Closing speeches will be delivered before the judge gives directions to the jury.
A 25‑year‑old Clare man was sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment, with five years suspended, for anal rape and sexual assault of his partner's nine‑year‑old daughter between 2009 and 2012. He pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. The abuse, described by the judge as "almost beyond belief," began when the man moved in with the victim's mother and continued until the victim's aunt returned from overseas. The girl, now 12, was described as extremely traumatised, quiet, withdrawn and suffering from post‑traumatic stress disorder. She reported that the man forced her to perform sexual acts, threatened to kill her if she disclosed the abuse, and caused her to bleed. The judge added the man to the sex offender register for life. The case was heard with the parties' identities protected.
A Lithuanian man, Deivydas Zigelis, aged 37, will stand trial in 2016 for the murder of a 26‑year‑old Latvian man in County Laois. Zigelis, who lives on Spa Street, Portarlington, was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court and pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of Alexander Karpov on 15 February 2014. The prosecution's counsel confirmed that a jury would still be required. A jury of seven men and five women was sworn in, but the trial was postponed to the next list, with a new date set for 28 November 2016.
A 47‑year‑old Tipperary man was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for raping and sexually assaulting his daughter between 2004 and 2008 when she was aged six to ten. He pleaded guilty to one count of rape, one count of oral rape and six counts of sexual assault. The judge described the acts as "vile and terrible" and noted the breach of trust and the victim's vulnerability. The sentence, back‑dated to 18 May 2015, combined a seven‑year term for the rape counts with a five‑year term for the assault counts, to run concurrently. The court took into account the child's age, the abuser's early guilty plea and his background. The victim, now 16, had previously expressed a desire for her father not to go to prison, despite acknowledging his wrongdoing. The case highlighted the profound impact on the victim and her family.
A jury was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the trial of Saverio Bellante, 36, an Italian national charged with murdering Thomas O'Gorman in Castleknock between 11 and 12 January 2014. Bellante pleaded not guilty. Judge Patrick McCarthy informed the jury of seven men and five women that the trial would last two days and could not begin before Thursday morning, with Judge Margaret Heneghan presiding. The proceedings will include medical evidence and testimony from a civilian witness, Mr Brendan Gallagher.
In the Central Criminal Court, 66‑year‑old Jimmy Devaney pleaded not guilty to the murder of Marie Greene, a prostitute, on 13 February 2011. Devaney told Gardaí he had been blackmailed by Greene for up to €40,000, claiming she threatened to inform his wife. He admitted to stabbing Greene after a confrontation in a bog near Ballykieran, stating he had previously given her €20,000–€40,000 over six months and had not repaid it. Devaney denied bringing a knife that night, but described wrestling with Greene, grabbing a knife from her, and stabbing her before burying the body. He recalled meeting Greene a decade earlier, developing a relationship that involved sexual favors for money. The trial continues with a jury of twelve, presided over by Justice Margaret Heneghan.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, Wayne Kennedy, 33, pleaded not guilty to murder and serious harm charges. The prosecution presented evidence that Kennedy threw a rock at the head of Sean Turner, 24, an amateur boxer, during a confrontation at David Spain's house on 26 December 2013. Turner had previously given Gardaí statements about his alcohol and drug consumption, which the defence highlighted. Witness testimony described Turner's claim that Kennedy had approached him alone, that Turner had no intention of a "straightener" (fight), and that he had thrown a rock at Kennedy's head. Kennedy allegedly responded by using a knife. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, was scheduled to continue on Monday at 2 pm. The court heard no further developments beyond the rock‑throwing incident.
In a 2015 trial, Jimmy Devaney, 66, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Marie Greene, 37, a prostitute who disappeared on 13 February 2011 and whose body was found nine days later in a bog near Ballykieran. The court heard that a knife with a green handle, recovered under the boot cover of Devaney's car, bore blood that DNA testing matched to Greene. Detective Garda Lynn Johnson presented evidence of items recovered from the bog, including Greene's social services card and a rosary bracelet. Phone records showed 60 contacts between Devaney and Greene from January to February 2011. Forensic scientist John Hoade confirmed the DNA match, and State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy described the fatal stab wounds, noting multiple injuries to the chest, ribs, and heart that caused death. The case proceeded before Justice Margaret Heneghan and a jury.
During a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution presented evidence that a knife was missing from a knife block in the home of Wayne Kennedy, a 33‑year‑old Dublin man charged with murdering David Spain and seriously harming Sean Turner on 26 December 2013. Garda Patrick Black photographed the kitchen and noted the absence of one knife from the block. A knife handle, about 12 cm long with the blade missing, and a black iPhone were later found in the green area of the Shankill estate where the alleged altercation took place. Garda Paul Byrne recounted arriving at the scene after a call about two men stabbed outside Rathsallagh Park, describing chaos and the presence of Wayne Kennedy. Mrs. Kennedy testified she was asleep when the incident occurred and heard a banging noise. Garda Brian Hall was also called to testify about a man named Ian Messitt who mentioned Wayne Kennedy. Wayne Kennedy pleaded not guilty.
The Court of Criminal Appeal has dismissed the conviction appeals of two men, aged 22 and 24, who were previously jailed for the attempted rape of a woman in a van. The appellants, who were 16 and 18 at the time of the 2009 incident, had been found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury in November 2012. The 22-year-old was convicted of attempted rape, sexual assault, and oral rape, while the 24-year-old was convicted of attempted rape and sexual assault. A third accused was acquitted on all counts. Mr Justice Paul Carney sentenced both men to ten years' imprisonment in January 2013. The 22-year-old also pleaded guilty to stealing the victim's car at the outset of the trial. In today's ruling, Mr Justice Alan Mahon, sitting with Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, stated that the original trial was conducted in an "exemplary fashion" and that the convictions should stand. The court rejected the appellants' argument that the trial judge erred in law, rendering the convictions unsafe. The men are due to appeal their sentences at a later date.
Wayne Kennedy, 34, of Rathsallagh Park, Shankill, Dublin, stands trial in the Central Criminal Court for two offences committed on 26 December 2013. He is charged with murdering 26‑year‑old David Spain and with intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to 24‑year‑old professional boxer Sean Turner. Kennedy pleaded not guilty. The prosecution, led by Mr Paddy McCarthy SC, presented a narrative that Kennedy and Turner had a dispute over a €50 debt. Kennedy allegedly sent a text to Turner demanding payment, and the men met at a green area in the estate. Kennedy is said to have brought a knife, and a struggle ensued. Turner received two knife wounds that broke ribs and entered his abdomen, while Spain was stabbed six times and died at St Vincent's Hospital. Kennedy was arrested at a Garda station later that morning. The trial is scheduled to last five days.
The trial of Deivydas Zigelis, a 37‑year‑old Lithuanian, charged with murdering a 26‑year‑old Latvian in County Laois, was postponed. Zigelis was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of Alexander Karpov. The prosecution confirmed a jury would still be required. Judge Patrick McCarthy said the case will be rescheduled for a future hearing.
In the Westmeath murder trial, retired Defence Forces member Jimmy Devaney, aged 66, has pleaded not guilty to the killing of Marie Greene on 13 February 2011. The case is in its third day of legal argument before the Central Criminal Court, with a jury of six men and six women and Justice Margaret Heneghan presiding. The proceedings will continue tomorrow.
Maura Thornton, 33, from Inverin, Connemara, was convicted of manslaughter for stabbing 59‑year‑old Kevin Joyce to death outside her Salthill apartment on 31 July 2011. A jury at the Central Criminal Court found her not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter and imposed a 10‑year sentence, with the final three years suspended by Mr Justice Barry White on 13 March 2013. In the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan upheld the sentence, noting that Thornton and Joyce had a shared interest in Celtic studies and had met at University College Galway in 2011, where a relationship developed that involved excessive alcohol consumption. Thornton had been sober for six weeks before the incident, but Joyce's repeated attempts to contact her led to her ending her sobriety and drinking heavily on the night of the murder.
John Flaherty, 29, of Ferrybank, Waterford, was convicted of manslaughter for killing Patrick Murphy, 27, on 20 June 2010. The Central Criminal Court found him not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, sentencing him to 10 years' imprisonment with the final 2½ years suspended. The Court of Appeal heard that Flaherty had entered the house of his former girlfriend, the mother of his child, at 5 am, found her in bed with a naked heroin addict, and that a child and €500 worth of heroin were present. He had recently been released from custody for slitting another man's face. Flaherty's appeal, arguing that the judge failed to credit 17 months spent in custody, was dismissed by Mr Justice Alan Mahon, who upheld the 10‑year sentence and the suspended portion. The appeal was heard by a three‑judge panel.
The trial of Jimmy Devaney, a 66‑year‑old retired member of the Defence Forces, continues in legal argument. Devaney pleaded not guilty to the murder of Marie Greene in Westmeath on 13 February 2011. The case is set to proceed to evidence tomorrow before a jury of six men and six women, presided over by Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan.
Stephen Cahoon, aged 42, was convicted of murdering his pregnant ex‑girlfriend Jean Teresa Quigley, aged 30, in 2012 and sentenced to life imprisonment. His conviction was quashed in March 2015 by the Court of Appeal after a judge misdirected the jury on the defence of provocation. The Court ordered a retrial, and Cahoon's lawyers appealed to avoid a third trial. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Seán Ryan, upheld the quashing, citing the seriousness of the alleged murder and the need to determine whether Quigley was murdered or the victim of manslaughter. Cahoon had served nearly ten years in prison before the quashing. The retrial was scheduled for October 27, 2015, with Cahoon remaining in custody. The case is notable for being the first under the 1976 Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act to be tried before a jury in the Republic of Ireland.
A jury was sworn in for the trial of 34‑year‑old Wayne Kennedy, a Dublin man accused of murdering 26‑year‑old David Spain on 26 December 2013 at Rathsallagh Park, Shankill, and of causing serious harm to 24‑year‑old Sean Turner on the same day. Kennedy pleaded not guilty to both charges. Judge Patrick McCarthy told the ten‑man jury that the five‑day trial would not begin before Thursday and would start with evidence.
A Lithuanian man, Deivydas Zigelis, 37, will stand trial this Thursday in the Central Criminal Court for the murder of a 26‑year‑old Latvian man in County Laois. Zigelis, who lives on Spa Street, Portarlington, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of Alexander Karpov on 15 February 2014. The prosecution has requested a jury, which has been sworn in and is expected to hear the case for four to five days.
The Central Criminal Court heard evidence that retired defence forces member Jimmy Devaney, 66, had blood‑shot eyes and scratches on his hands on the night he is accused of murdering Marie Greene, a prostitute, on 13 February 2011. Devaney pleaded not guilty. Witnesses said he was playing cards at the Lighthouse Casino in Custume Place that evening, arriving around 8 pm and returning around 9 pm. He was described as flustered, with a torn shirt and cuts on his knuckles, which he claimed were from falling in a ditch while helping someone out of a car. The prosecution alleges he stabbed Greene six times and killed her because she threatened to expose him as a client. The trial is now in the legal argument stage before a jury presided by Justice Margaret Heneghan.
A 42‑year‑old woman from Louth, Paula Farrell, was sentenced to life imprisonment after a jury found her guilty of murdering her partner, Wayne McQuillan, 30, on 1 January 2014. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court, lasted three hours and 27 minutes. Farrell pleaded not guilty but was found guilty by a jury of four men and seven women. The prosecution presented evidence that Farrell stabbed McQuillan four times with a large kitchen knife during an argument at her home in Rathmullen Park, Drogheda. Witnesses, including Garda Tomas Leonard and Deputy State Pathologist Michael Curtis, confirmed the stabbing and the fatal wound. Farrell's defence cited a history of sexual abuse and schizophrenia, but the jury accepted the prosecution's case and imposed a life sentence. The judge exempted the jury from service for ten years. The verdict was announced on 17 July 2015.
In the Central Criminal Court, Jimmy Devaney, 66, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Marie Greene, a prostitute who vanished on 13 February 2011 and whose body was found nine days later in a bog near Ballykieran, Athlone. Devaney, a retired defence forces member, was seen playing cards at the Lighthouse Casino that night and later returned to the club. Alan Kavanagh, the casino owner, testified that Devaney claimed a woman was blackmailing him and that he killed her to protect his family. Kavanagh also noted Devaney's request to remove CCTV cameras. Witnesses, including Greene's sisters and mother, described phone calls and the victim's last known movements. Prosecutor Alex Owens argued that Devaney's motive was the alleged blackmail and that he had recently obtained money from friends and relatives. The trial proceeded with a jury of twelve.
The jury in the trial of 42‑year‑old Paula Farrell, charged with murdering her partner Wayne McQuillan (30) at her Drogheda home on 1 January 2014, will resume deliberations tomorrow. Farrell pleaded not guilty three weeks ago. The jury began deliberating this afternoon, spent 1 hour 52 minutes, and then left. Judge Patrick McCarthy reminded the eleven jurors that a unanimous verdict is required. They will return at 10 a.m. tomorrow.
A retired member of the Defence Forces has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court accused of murdering a woman in Westmeath in February 2011. Jimmy Devaney, aged 66, from Monksland, Athlone, has pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering Marie Greene on 13 February 2011 at Annagorta bog near Ballykieran. The prosecution alleges that Mr Devaney killed Ms Greene, who had worked as a prostitute in Athlone, because she was blackmailing him. The court heard that Ms Greene's body was discovered nine days after she went missing. According to the prosecution, evidence will show Mr Devaney had been seeking money from various sources in the months preceding the alleged killing. The State Pathologist is expected to give evidence that death resulted from multiple stab wounds to the chest. The trial continues before Justice Margaret Heneghan and a jury of twelve.
The jury will begin deliberations today in the trial of 42‑year‑old Paula Farrell of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, who is charged with murdering her partner, 30‑year‑old Wayne McQuillan, at her home on 1 January 2014. Farrell pleaded not guilty three weeks ago at the Central Criminal Court. Judge Patrick McCarthy explained the possible verdicts—acquittal, murder, manslaughter, or diminished responsibility—and that the jury may take as long as needed, with deliberations starting after lunch once the issue paper is received.
The judge in the trial of 42‑year‑old Paula Farrell, charged with murdering her partner Wayne McQuillan, 30, at her home on 1 January 2014, will continue charging the jury in the morning. Farrell pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. Judge Patrick McCarthy told the eleven jurors that two hours of evidence remain and that he will resume at 11 am.
The Central Criminal Court adjourned the trial of Jimmy Devaney, a 66‑year‑old retired defence forces member, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of Marie Greene in Westmeath on 13 February 2011. A jury of six men and six women was sworn in, but Justice Margaret Heneghan postponed the start because another trial was scheduled. The court set the trial to begin the following day and last about two weeks.
In the trial of 42‑year‑old Paula Farrell, charged with murdering her partner Wayne McQuillan, defence counsel Derek Kenneally SC urged the jury to consider the "ample scope for doubt" in the case. He highlighted Farrell's testimony that she was sexually abused from age seven and began drinking at fourteen to cope, and argued that these facts should be weighed against the prosecution's claim that the murder was an "outburst of temper." The prosecution, represented by Gerard Clarke SC, maintained that Farrell's alleged abuse was unrelated to the killing, that she had no history of self‑defence, and that any claim of diminished responsibility was unfounded. Kenneally urged jurors to acquit if they found any gaps, stressing that Farrell denied any intent to kill and that the prosecution's narrative was unsubstantiated. The judge outlined the possible verdicts, including guilty of murder, guilty of manslaughter on the basis of self‑defence, diminished responsibility or no intent to kill. Paula Farrell pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 42‑year‑old Louth woman, Paula Farrell, was charged with murdering her partner, Wayne McQuillan, on 1 January 2014. She pleaded not guilty. During the trial, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, Dr Sally Linehan, testified that Farrell had the capacity to form intent and was not impaired by her mental disorder on the night of the offence. Dr Linehan stated that Farrell had post‑traumatic stress disorder but that her intoxication with alcohol—she had consumed 12 cans of Bulmers—was the overriding factor. She also confirmed that Farrell understood the nature of the act and that her mental disorder did not diminish her responsibility. The court heard that the next stage would involve counsel's speeches, with the judge's charge scheduled for Wednesday. The trial continues.
In July 2015, a Laois father of seven was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for raping and sexually abusing his daughter over a 30‑year period. The defendant pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault committed between July 1981 and July 1987, when the victim was aged nine to 15. Judge Margaret Heneghan imposed a nine‑year sentence, suspended the final three years, and ordered the defendant's addition to the register of sex offenders. The victim, now 43, first reported the abuse to Gardaí in May 2013, after confronting her father months earlier. She described repeated molestation, forced sexual acts, and threats of violence, and stated that the abuse had profoundly damaged her life. The defendant showed remorse and accepted early guilty plea, which the judge considered in sentencing. The case was prosecuted by Will Fennelly BL.
A jury of six men and six women was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the trial of Jimmy Devaney, a 66‑year‑old retired member of the defence forces, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Marie Greene in Westmeath on 13 February 2011. The trial is set to begin on Wednesday and is expected to last two weeks.
Magnus Meyer Hustveit, 25, received a suspended seven‑year prison sentence for raping and sexually assaulting his 28‑year‑old Irish girlfriend while she slept between 2011 and 2012. He pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. The judge, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, noted the case was exceptional, citing the repeated offences, deceit, and the victim's impact. Hustveit's admissions in emails, where he claimed up to ten rapes and multiple weekly assaults, formed the basis of the prosecution. The victim, who had endured PTSD, eating disorders and anxiety, waived anonymity to name him. The court considered his guilty plea, admissions, and a favourable reference from his employer in Oslo before suspending the sentence. No custodial term was imposed; the sentence remains suspended.
In a 2015 murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, 42‑year‑old Paula Farrell of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, was charged with stabbing her partner Wayne McQuillan, 30, to death on 1 January 2014. She pleaded not guilty. The defence presented forensic psychiatrist Dr Brenda Wright, who had met Farrell twice in June 2015. Dr Wright testified that Farrell had suffered sexual abuse from age seven, did not disclose it until fourteen, and began drinking at fourteen to cope. She described Farrell as displaying post‑traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, including distress and avoidance when exposed to reminders of abuse. Dr Wright concluded that Farrell's PTSD impaired her self‑control and substantially diminished her responsibility for the stabbing, though she was fit to stand trial. The prosecution cross‑examined her on the lack of post‑mortem statements and the link between PTSD and violence. The trial proceeded under Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy.
In July 2015, a 25‑year‑old Norwegian man was set to be sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for raping and sexually assaulting a 28‑year‑old Irish woman while she slept between 2011 and 2012. The couple met in a Dublin bar in 2011, moved in together in December, and the victim reported that the man had repeatedly raped her in her sleep, often while she was under medication. She discovered the abuse when she woke up wet and later found him masturbating beside her. Emails from the relationship, in which he admitted to up to ten rapes and multiple assaults per week, formed the basis of a Garda investigation. The victim's impact statement described severe psychological harm, loss of employment, and attempts at suicide. The defendant pleaded guilty and was remanded in custody for sentencing on 13 July 2015.
A 42‑year‑old woman from Louth, Paula Farrell, is accused of murdering her partner, Wayne McQuillan, aged 30, on 1 January 2014 at their home. She pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court two weeks ago. The judge, Justice Patrick McCarthy, granted the defence's request to postpone the trial to the next day because Farrell will give evidence and the hearing will take more than half a day. The trial is scheduled to resume tomorrow at 11 a.m. with a jury of five men and seven women.
A 53‑year‑old Tipperary man was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment for sexually abusing his younger sister in the 1970s and his niece between 2005 and 2007. He pleaded guilty to one count of rape and six counts of sexual assault of his sister, and to five counts of child defilement, one count of oral rape and three counts of sexual assault of his niece. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy imposed consecutive seven‑year terms for the offences against each victim, suspended the final two years, and ordered the man to serve the remaining ten years in custody. The court heard that the man's sister suffered psychological problems and trust issues, while his niece reported severe anxiety, a near‑suicidal episode and ongoing trust difficulties. The judge noted the man's acceptance of wrongdoing but limited insight into his motivations. The sentence was intended to encourage rehabilitation.
In a Dublin murder trial, forensic scientist Dr. Thomas Hannigan testified that ballistics tests fired at tea towels suggested the accused, David Cully, shot his uncle Edward O'Connor from about eight feet, not the 30 feet he claimed. The tests used cotton sheets and a pistol and ammunition similar to those used in the killing, as the original firearm was not recovered. Lead residue was stronger on the tea towel shot from eight feet and on the victim's jumper, supporting the shorter distance. Cully, 41, admitted killing O'Connor, who died from two gunshot wounds to the back, but pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Carroll Moran, continues with a jury of twelve.
A 29‑year‑old fisherman was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment for aggravated sexual assault of a 58‑year‑old intellectually disabled woman in Kerry on 29 July 2011. He forced entry to her home, grabbed her throat, punched her, banged her head against a door and radiator, and pushed her into her bedroom. During the assault he called her a "bitch" and a "cunt" and burned her face with a cigarette. The victim suffered bruising, abrasions, carpet burns and a loss of independence, as reported in a victim impact statement. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, suspended the last four years of the sentence on strict conditions, including two years of probation and a 12‑year restriction from the victim. The court noted the victim's severe physical and psychological injuries and the impact on her family. The defendant pleaded guilty and has shown remorse and a desire for rehabilitation. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 3 July 2015, a 42‑year‑old Louth woman, Paula Farrell, was charged with the murder of her 30‑year‑old partner, Wayne McQuillan, who was killed on 1 January 2014 at their home. Farrell pleaded not guilty. The prosecution presented four Garda interviews taken on 1 and 2 January 2014. In the first interview, Farrell described a fight that escalated after alcohol consumption, during which she said she grabbed a knife from a block and stabbed McQuillan twice, once under his shoulder and once in the front of his chest. She also claimed he had strangled and beaten her, and that she had washed her blood‑stained hands afterward. The second interview confirmed blood on her hands and that she had tried to wash them. In the third interview, she recounted stabbing McQuillan in the chest and side while he was walking out of the kitchen, and again in the hallway.
The trial of Paula Farrell, 42, accused of murdering her partner Wayne McQuillan, 30, at her Drogheda home on January 1, 2014, continued at the Central Criminal Court. Ms Farrell, who pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, faces Justice Patrick McCarthy. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that Mr McQuillan sustained four stab wounds, with the fatal injury being an 18cm deep wound to the left shoulder that penetrated the lung. Dr Curtis opined that the second, third, and fourth wounds were likely caused by a single-edged knife over 31cm long. He noted high alcohol levels in the deceased and the absence of defensive wounds. In cross-examination, he acknowledged the stabbings occurred in rapid succession and that intoxication could have affected the victim's ability to defend himself or increased aggression. Forensic scientist Dr Hilary Clarke confirmed DNA from Mr McQuillan was found on Ms Farrell's clothing. Gardaí Andrew Corbett and Lisa Finglas testified regarding injuries observed on Ms Farrell, including a bump to her forehead, a bite mark on her cheek, and marks on her neck. The prosecution is scheduled to finish calling evidence tomorrow.
In a Dublin murder trial, David Cully, 24, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for killing his 41‑year‑old nephew, Edward O'Connor, on 15 December 2013. Cully claimed he shot O'Connor "in the heat of the moment" after O'Connor mentioned a sexual‑abuse allegation that had been investigated but not prosecuted. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that O'Connor died from two gun‑shot wounds to the back, one entering between the 10th and 11th ribs, damaging the aorta, oesophagus and lung, and the other entering between the 11th and 12th ribs, fracturing the rib and injuring the adrenal gland, pancreas and stomach. The wounds caused massive internal bleeding and collapsed lung, leading to rapid death. The trial was adjourned to resume before Mr Justice Carroll Moran and a jury.