The Central Criminal Court jury will start deliberations on Thursday morning in the trial of Alan Wilson, 35, charged with the murder of 18‑year‑old Romanian teenager Marioara Rostas. Wilson pleaded not guilty. The case covers the period between January 7 and 8, 2008, when Rostas was last seen begging at a Dublin City junction and later found dead with four bullet wounds to the head in a shallow grave in the Dublin mountains. Wilson and his friend Fergus O'Hanlon were arrested in October 2008, but progress stalled until late 2011 when O'Hanlon, a convicted criminal with immunity, offered information. He claimed to have found Rostas dead in his house on January 8, helped Wilson bury her, and later cleaned the scene. O'Hanlon's testimony was described by the defence as a "master class in perjury," while the prosecution argued it was unreliable.
In the Central Criminal Court, Michael O'Higgins SC criticised the State's main witness, claiming the jury received a "master class in perjury." He argued that Fergus O'Hanlon, a convicted criminal with immunity, only offered information about the 2008 murder of 18‑year‑old Romanian teenager Marioara Rostas after being questioned about another crime. O'Higgins said O'Hanlon had lied to Gardaí and in court, and that he had benefited from the Witness Protection Programme. He described O'Hanlon as domineering, violent, and uncontainable, and questioned whether he was involved in the murder or merely a conspirator. O'Higgins also noted that O'Hanlon had refused a formal identification parade, claiming fear of Alan Wilson, the accused. Judge Patrick McCarthy has now charged the jury of 10 men and 2 women before deliberations begin. Alan Wilson pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution argued that the murder of 18‑year‑old Romanian teenager Marioara Rostas was a precise, pre‑planned execution rather than a crime of passion. Seán Gillane SC presented evidence that the victim had been taken by a car driver on January 6, 2008, and that the accused, 35‑year‑old Alan Wilson, owned the vehicle. He cited forensic findings of bullets matching the victim's head, the discovery of the body in a pre‑prepared grave on Brabazon Street, and the destruction of personal effects. The prosecution also highlighted testimony from Fergus O'Hanlon, who had assisted in burying the body and had been granted immunity. The defense, led by Michael O'Higgins SC, challenged the reliability of O'Hanlon's statements and the sole reliance on a single witness. The judge instructed the jury to consider the evidence presented before deciding on Wilson's guilt. Alan Wilson pleaded not guilty.
Edward Piotrowski, 48, from Edenderry, Offaly, was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury on 25 November 2007 of three counts of rape, one count of aggravated sexual assault and one count of false imprisonment of a woman. He was sentenced to five concurrent life sentences by Mr Justice Peter Charleton in January 2010. The life sentences were imposed for the rape, aggravated sexual assault and false imprisonment, and he also received concurrent terms of 10, five and 10 years for aggravated burglary, assault and false imprisonment of the man. Piotrowski denied the charges and pleaded guilty only to the assault charge. In April 2014 the Court of Criminal Appeal upheld his conviction, finding no legitimate basis for overturning the jury's decision. Piotrowski's counsel argued that the trial judge had not explained why an extraordinary five life sentences were warranted and that the sentence lacked proportionality. The appeal focused on the life sentences and whether they were appropriate.
A 30‑year‑old man, Gary Flynn, charged with the murder of Seamus (Shay) O'Byrne, was refused bail by Mr Justice Paul Carney at the Central Criminal Court. Flynn was remanded in custody and a trial has been scheduled for 11 January 2016.
In a 2014 decision, the Court of Criminal Appeal quashed the life‑sentence of a 33‑year‑old man who had murdered a man he believed was having an affair with his wife. The appeal court found that the trial judge had incorrectly explained the law on provocation to the jury, creating a "very real risk of injustice." The judge had been asked to recharge the jury on the provocation question, but the court was not satisfied that this was adequately remedied. Consequently, the conviction was overturned and a retrial was ordered. The man, who had previously been sentenced to seven years for serious injury to his wife and two years for assault, was remanded in custody pending the next Central Criminal Court hearing. The case involved the murder of a 32‑year‑old man, Muhammad Arif, on 7 January 2011, and the alleged stabbing of Rashida Bibi Haider, who survived after surgery. The unnamed 33-year-old pleaded not guilty.
During the murder trial of Alan Wilson, the solicitor Bridget Rouse testified that a man who claimed to have helped dispose of the body of 18‑year‑old Marioara Rostas had offered to give a statement against Wilson, even though he could be charged. Rouse explained that she was approached by Gardaí on 3 January 2012 and advised that any immunity would only be considered after a formal statement. She confirmed that she had no memory of details beyond the memo. She also clarified that Gardaí had destroyed notes of meetings with Fergus O'Hanlon, who had requested information about his post‑trial status. The defence concluded its evidence, and the judge instructed the jury to return on Monday. The trial remains at the evidence‑gathering stage. Alan Wilson pleaded not guilty.
During the trial of a Dublin man charged with the murder of 18‑year‑old Marioara Rostas, a Garda involved in the Witness Protection Programme testified that notes of meetings with the main witness were destroyed. The accused, Alan Wilson, 35, pleaded not guilty to the murder that occurred at O'Hanlon's house on Brabazon Street in January 2008. Wilson's former friend, Fergus O'Hanlon, 37, testified that he found Rostas with a hole in her forehead and Wilson holding a gun. O'Hanlon, who was granted immunity, helped bury the body. A detective sergeant, not named due to his WPP role, said he had taken keyword notes of meetings with O'Hanlon in June 2013 and that these notes were destroyed after transcription, replaced by more comprehensive documents. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of ten men and two women.
During the trial of Alan Wilson, charged with the 2008 murder of 18‑year‑old Romanian teenager Maria Rostas, Detective Superintendent JJ Keane denied that the State's main witness, Fergus O'Hanlon, received preferential treatment or immunity in exchange for his statement. Keane testified that O'Hanlon had not been offered any deals and that no immunity was mentioned at any stage. He also confirmed that O'Hanlon had received a suspended sentence for earlier District Court offences after a superintendent informed the judge of his assistance in the murder investigation. Keane's cross‑examination was conducted by Michael O'Higgins SC, and the trial proceeded before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy with a jury of ten men and two women. The case remains at the trial stage. Alan Wilson pleaded not guilty.
Darren Wynne (21) of Ballyroe, Athy, was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Jamie Lindsay (20) at Coney Green, Athy, on April 6, 2013. Wynne, who pleaded not guilty, was found guilty by a unanimous jury after a trial at the Central Criminal Court. He was also convicted of possession of a sawn-off shotgun and ammunition with intent to endanger life. Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan adjourned sentencing for these firearms offences until November, pending probation and psychological reports. Although Wynne pleaded guilty to manslaughter during the trial, the plea was not accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Quentin Monaghan (21) of Stradbally and James Seery (21) of Canal Side, Athy, were tried alongside Wynne. Both men pleaded guilty to manslaughter and possession of a sawn-off shotgun and cartridges in suspicious circumstances. Their pleas were accepted by the DPP. Mr Justice Sheehan remanded Monaghan and Seery in custody, and their sentencing is scheduled for July 31. The court heard evidence that Wynne shot Mr Lindsay in the face with a sawn-off shotgun. Monaghan and Seery were alleged to have been part of a joint enterprise, with Seery texting the victim to approach the scene. A victim impact statement from the deceased's sister described the family's heartbreak.
In the trial of Alan Wilson for the 2008 murder of 18‑year‑old Marioara Rostas, the State's main witness, Fergus O'Hanlon, 37, denied hating Wilson and said he helped dispose of the body because he was "dead if he didn't". O'Hanlon, a convicted criminal, was granted immunity and testified that he arrived home on 8 January 2008 to find Rostas with a hole in her forehead and Wilson holding a gun. He said he had never seen the girl before, felt sick, but followed Wilson's instructions to bury the body in the Dublin Mountains and clean the scene. O'Hanlon denied ever saying he would "f**k him over" and denied making any deal for his immunity. The trial continues before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of ten men and two women. Fergus O'Hanlon pleaded not guilty. Alan Wilson pleaded not guilty.
Darren Wynne, 21, of Ballyroe, Athy, Co. Kildare, was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Jamie Lindsay, 20, at Coney Green, Athy, on April 6, 2013. Wynne had pleaded not guilty to murder but was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court. He was also convicted of possession of a sawn-off shotgun and ammunition with intent to endanger life. Although Wynne pleaded guilty to manslaughter during the trial, the Director of Public Prosecutions did not accept the plea. Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan sentenced Wynne to life for the murder and adjourned sentencing for the firearms offences until November next, pending probation and psychological reports. Two co-accused, Quentin Monaghan, 21, of Stradbally, Co. Laois, and James Seery, 21, of Athy, were rearraigned during the trial. Both pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, and also pleaded guilty to possession of a sawn-off shotgun and cartridges in suspicious circumstances. These pleas were accepted by the DPP. Monaghan and Seery will be sentenced later. The court heard evidence that Wynne shot Mr Lindsay in the right eye at close range. Wynne claimed self-defence, alleging threats over missing cannabis and threats against his grandmother. The State argued the group intended to scare Mr Lindsay. Wynne's defence raised provocation and accidental discharge. The matter regarding the firearms charges remains adjourned.
In the trial of Alan Wilson for the 2008 murder of 18‑year‑old Marioara Rostas, the State's main witness, Fergus O'Hanlon, denied that he resembled a composite photofit of the driver of the Ford Mondeo seen with the victim. O'Hanlon, who has immunity, testified that he arrived at Wilson's home on 8 January 2008 to find Rostas with a hole in her forehead and Wilson holding a gun. He claimed he helped bury her body in the Dublin Mountains and cleaned the scene. During cross‑examination, the defence barrister showed O'Hanlon a composite photograph and a photo of him, suggesting a close resemblance. O'Hanlon rejected the comparison, stating the likeness was poor. He also explained a mark on his cheek, noting it could be due to lack of sleep, and denied picking up the victim. The cross‑examination continued on Tuesday before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of ten men and two women. Fergus O'Hanlon pleaded not guilty. Alan Wilson pleaded not guilty.
In 2009, John Paul Buck, aged 34, was sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice George Birmingham after a Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of fatally stabbing 30‑year‑old Fergus Roche in a vacant house on 1 October 2005. The jury also convicted Buck of arson, for which a concurrent five‑year sentence was imposed. The post‑mortem revealed Roche died from a single chest wound before the fire, indicating he was stabbed while asleep. Buck denied involvement, but Detective Garda Larry Bergin testified that Buck confessed to the murder in August 2006 during a patrol‑car interview, describing Roche as his "best friend". The appeal, presented by Mr Michael Delaney SC, argued that the confession was improperly admitted, that the search of Buck's home was inadmissible, and that media coverage of an alleged escape attempt by Buck's brother had prejudiced the jury. The Court of Criminal Appeal reserved judgement on the appeal.
Lounes Ouachek, 44, of St Dominic's Terrace, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to attempting to murder his wife, Ruta Ouachek, 35, by striking her on the head with a kettle bell on 23 August 2012. The court heard the couple's marriage had deteriorated after he lost his job and she began an engineering degree, and that he resented her independence. The assault left her with skull and facial fractures, motor and sensory deficits, and required surgery at Tallaght and Beaumont Hospitals. Ouachek fled the scene, left the house, and later travelled to Tunisia via Paris, leaving his wife injured for nine hours. He was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment with three years suspended, backdated to 14 February 2013, and ordered to stay away from his wife and undergo 18 months of post‑release supervision. The judge noted his guilty plea, lack of prior convictions, and foreign nationality as mitigating factors. The sentence reflects the callous and brutal nature of the crime.
Fergus O'Hanlon, a former friend of Alan Wilson, gave evidence in the trial of Wilson for the murder of 18‑year‑old Marioara Rostas. O'Hanlon, who has immunity, described how Wilson allegedly "danced" on Rostas' body after dumping it in a hole in the Dublin Mountains. He recounted that Wilson, armed with a rifle, had taken the body from a bedroom, wrapped it in plastic, and transported it in a Ford Mondeo. O'Hanlon said Wilson began digging a hole, placed the body inside, and stood on it several times. He also claimed Wilson had removed the body from a green bag and pushed it into the hole. O'Hanlon's testimony was cross‑examined by Michael O'Higgins SC, who questioned his past convictions, violent conduct, and alleged threats. The trial continues before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of ten men and two women.
A man accused of murdering an elderly patient at Cavan General Hospital has pleaded guilty to manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court. Ian Harman, aged fifty, of Carrickallen, Mountain Lodge, Cootehill, changed his plea during trial proceedings regarding the death of Michael Treanor, an eighty-two-year-old man, on June 27th, 2011 at the hospital's psychiatric unit in Lisdarn. The Director of Public Prosecutions accepted the manslaughter plea under Section 6 of the Criminal Law Insanity Act, which permits a finding of manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility. Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan discharged the jury and remanded Harman in custody pending sentencing scheduled for October 6th. The defence had argued Harman was suffering from a mental illness following the abrupt withdrawal of anti-psychotic medication after his admission as a voluntary patient. Medical evidence was presented regarding whether this withdrawal caused a psychiatric condition affecting his culpability for the killing. Ian Harman pleaded not guilty.
Closing speeches are scheduled to take place in the trial of a man accused of murdering a pensioner at a psychiatric unit in Co. Cavan. Ian Harman, aged 50, of Carrickallen, has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to the murder of Michael Treanor, aged 81, at the Psychiatric Unit of Cavan General Hospital on 27 June 2011. The defence has submitted that the accused accepts he caused the death but argues his responsibility was severely diminished due to akathisia, a condition allegedly resulting from the abrupt withdrawal of anti-psychotic medication while he was an inpatient. Expert witnesses for the defence have testified that this inner restlessness affected his mental state and behaviour. The prosecution's consultant psychiatrist disputed this assertion, stating there is no evidence that the medication's withdrawal causes akathisia. The court heard the trial is now in its final stages, with both legal teams due to present closing arguments.
In the trial of Alan Wilson, 35, charged with the murder of 18‑year‑old Romanian teenager Marioara Rostas, the judge, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, apologised to the jury for a delay that had pushed proceedings beyond the expected four‑week period. The jury had been absent for more than a fortnight while complex legal matters were addressed. Mr Wilson, who pleaded not guilty, was accused of killing Rostas at a house on Brabazon Street, The Coombe, between 7 and 8 January 2008. The teenager had vanished from Dublin city centre on 6 January, and her body was discovered in a shallow grave on the Wicklow border four years later, with four bullet wounds to the head. Mr Justice McCarthy explained that the delay was due to legal issues that required discussion in the jury's absence and that a bill was being considered to prevent such delays in future trials.
In 2014, a Limerick man, Adam Fitzgibbon, aged 20, was sentenced to fifteen years for an unprovoked, sustained, and vicious attack that left a 16‑year‑old schoolboy with permanent brain damage. CCTV showed Fitzgibbon delivering 65 kicks, 26 punches, and multiple stamps to the victim's head, chest, and body, continuing the assault after the boy had stopped moving. The Central Criminal Court accepted a plea of intentionally causing serious harm, and Mr Justice Paul Carney imposed a fifteen‑year sentence with the final three years suspended. On appeal, the Court of Criminal Appeal reduced the sentence to nine‑and‑a‑half years, citing mitigating factors such as Fitzgibbon's young age, difficult background, substance‑abuse history, and attempts to address these issues. The reduction was based on a sentencing analysis that placed the offence at the upper end of the range for similar cases.
At the Central Criminal Court, a defence psychiatrist has testified that a man charged with murdering an elderly patient at Cavan General Hospital was unable to refrain from killing due to the withdrawal of anti-psychotic medication. Ian Harman, aged fifty, from Carrigallen in County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Treanor at the psychiatric unit on 27 June 2011. Consultant psychiatrist Dr Bob Johnson told the court that Mr Harman's olanzapine medication was discontinued upon admission, causing akathisia, a distressing condition characterised by severe restlessness. Dr Johnson stated that Mr Harman's responsibility for the killing was not merely diminished but destroyed. A clinical pharmacologist also gave evidence for the defence, asserting that Mr Harman should not have been prescribed the medication in the first place. The prosecution challenged these assertions during cross-examination. The trial before Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan continues.
At the Central Criminal Court, a psychiatric nurse testified that Ian Harman (50), from Carrickallen, Co Cavan, appeared calm and composed following an incident at Cavan General Hospital's psychiatric unit. Harman has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Treanor on June 27, 2011. Nurse Ciaran Boyle told the court that when he encountered Harman in the smoking room after discovering the elderly patient deceased, Harman stated he had killed Treanor "because he was an easy target". Boyle described Harman's demeanour as "quite nonchalant and relaxed". A second nurse, Laura Owens, testified that Treanor, who suffered from Alzheimer's dementia, was found in his room with a pillow removed from his head, and that CPR proved unsuccessful. The defence has indicated Harman accepts responsibility for Treanor's death but contests his state of mind at the time. The trial before Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan continues.
A psychiatric registrar at Cavan General Hospital told the Central Criminal Court that he had worked 77 hours when he was alerted to a death on the psychiatric unit on 27 June 2011. Dr Akindele Serinmade said his shift, which began on 24 June, was nearing completion when he was informed of the incident. He gave evidence that he had prescribed sleeping medication to the accused over the telephone after nursing staff reported concerns about the patient's distress and insomnia. Dr Serinmade described a brief consultation with the accused at 10.35pm on 26 June, noting that the patient's previously prescribed anti-psychotic medication had been recently discontinued. The doctor said he prescribed an alternative sleeping tablet before returning to rest. He was contacted at 6.44am the following morning to inform him of the alleged killing. Ian Harman, aged 50, of Carrickallen in County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to murder at the Central Criminal Court.
A 44‑year‑old Algerian man, Lounes Ouachek, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to attempting to murder his wife, Ruta Ouachek, by striking her on the head with a kettle bell on 23 August 2012. The court heard that the couple's marriage had deteriorated after he lost his job and she began an engineering degree. After the attack, Ms Ouachek fled the house, drove to Dublin airport and left for Tunisia, leaving her injured. She was found unconscious on the bathroom floor by a neighbour and taken to Tallaght Hospital, where she suffered a complex skull fracture and later transferred to Beaumont Hospital for surgery. Ms Ouachek sustained bruising, motor and sensory deficits, and continues to suffer physical and psychological effects. The court remanded Ouachek in custody and adjourned sentencing to the following Monday.
At the Central Criminal Court, the wife of Ian Harman (50), from Carrickallen, Co Cavan, testified that her husband had been in a "dark place" and drinking heavily before his admission to a psychiatric unit. Harman has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Treanor (82), from Co Monaghan, at the Psychiatric Unit of Cavan General Hospital on 27 June 2011. Mary Harman described her husband as "loveable" and well-liked in the community, though he had previously received treatment for depression and alcohol misuse. The court heard that on the day before the alleged killing, Harman complained of insomnia and paced his ward for twelve hours. CCTV footage showed him continuously walking around the secure unit. State pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy concluded the cause of death was asphyxia by smothering or suffocation. The defence has acknowledged that Harman caused Treanor's death. The trial before Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan continues.
A man charged with murder at Cavan General Hospital has been tried at the Central Criminal Court following allegations that he killed a fellow psychiatric patient in June 2011. Ian Harman, aged 50, of Carrickallen, Co Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Treanor at the hospital's psychiatric unit. During the trial, the court heard evidence from detective gardaí who interviewed the accused following his arrest. Notes from the interviews were read aloud, in which the accused allegedly described prior fantasies about imprisonment and harm to others before his hospital admission. The accused was further reported to have told gardaí that he had contemplated the killing for several days beforehand and that he had chosen the victim deliberately. The defence has indicated acceptance that the accused caused the death, with focus instead directed toward the question of his mental state at the time. The trial before Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan continues before a jury.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has found Darren Wynne guilty of murdering Jamie Lindsay in Athy, Co. Kildare on April 6, 2013. Wynne (21) of Ballyroe, Athy was convicted after the jury deliberated for almost five hours. He was also convicted of possessing a sawn-off shotgun and ammunition with intent to endanger life. Two co-accused, Quentin Monaghan (21) of Stradbally, Co. Laois and James Seery (21) of Athy, pleaded guilty to manslaughter during the trial and to possessing a sawn-off shotgun in suspicious circumstances. All three men will be sentenced on July 22. The court heard evidence that the twenty-year-old victim was shot at close range. Wynne had claimed the shooting was accidental and raised provocation as a defence. Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan thanked the jury and adjourned proceedings for sentencing.
A psychiatric patient has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with the murder of a fellow patient at Cavan General Hospital's psychiatric unit on 27 June 2011. Ian Harman, aged 50, of Cootehill, Co Cavan, pleaded not guilty to the killing of Michael Treanor, an 82-year-old man suffering from dementia. The prosecution told the jury that Harman approached a nurse that morning and stated he had smothered the deceased with a pillow. The nurse subsequently found Treanor without a pulse, and resuscitation attempts proved unsuccessful. The defence indicated that Harman accepts responsibility for causing Treanor's death and does not dispute the identity of the deceased, but submitted that the focus should remain on the accused's state of mind at the time. Evidence from gardaí and a forensic psychiatrist confirmed Harman's admissions and his fitness for interview. The trial, heard before Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan and a jury, is expected to last approximately one week.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has begun deliberations in the trial of a man accused of murdering his best friend in County Kildare in 2013. Darren Wynne, aged 21, of Athy, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, though prosecutors rejected the plea. He also pleaded guilty to possession of a sawn-off shotgun in suspicious circumstances. Two co-accused, Quentin Monaghan and James Seery, both aged 21, had their manslaughter pleas accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions and will not face trial. The prosecution case centres on the fatal shooting on 6 April 2013. The defence relies on provocation, claiming the victim made threats. Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan directed the jury that provocation, if reasonably possible, would reduce murder to manslaughter. The jury comprises eight men and four women.
At the Central Criminal Court, Darren Wynne (21) of Ballyroe, Athy, County Kildare was re-arraigned on charges relating to the death of Jamie Lindsay (20) at Coney Green, Coneyboro, Athy on April 6, 2013. Wynne pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The Director of Public Prosecutions did not accept the plea. Evidence was heard from the deceased's former partner regarding a prior incident in March 2013, and from a witness who testified that Wynne attended his house after the shooting, stating he had fired a weapon and later mentioning he had shot his friend. Wynne also pleaded guilty to possession of a sawn-off shotgun and cartridges in suspicious circumstances. Two co-accused, Quentin Monaghan (21) of Tullamoy, Stradbally, County Laois and James Seery (21) of Canal Side, Athy, were re-arraigned and pleaded guilty to manslaughter and to the same firearms offence; those pleas were accepted by the DPP. The trial continues before Justice Garrett Sheehan.
At the Central Criminal Court, the trial of Darren Wynne, Quentin Monaghan, and James Seery for the alleged murder of Jamie Lindsay in Athy, Co. Kildare, continued before Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan. Wynne, 21, of Ballyroe, Athy, initially pleaded not guilty to murder but changed his plea to guilty for manslaughter. However, the Director of Public Prosecutions did not accept this plea. Wynne also pleaded guilty to possession of a sawn-off shotgun and cartridges in suspicious circumstances. Co-accused Monaghan, 21, of Tullamoy, Stradbally, and Seery, 21, of Canal Side, Athy, were rearraigned and both pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, pleas which were accepted by the DPP. Both men also pleaded guilty to possession of a sawn-off shotgun and cartridges in suspicious circumstances. The State alleged the defendants were part of a joint enterprise and that Lindsay was shot in the right eye at point-blank range. Wynne allegedly told gardai he shot Lindsay in the shoulder to kneecap him after Lindsay threatened him over missing drugs and his grandmother. The trial was adjourned and continues on Monday.
In February 2011, Warren (40) and Jeffrey Dumbrell (34) were sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering 33‑year‑old Christopher Cawley outside his flat on 29 October 2006. The conviction was the second time a Central Criminal Court jury found them guilty after the original conviction was quashed in July 2010. The brothers had pleaded not guilty, and during the trial one of them reportedly told the victim's daughter, "Your Daddy's gone now." In 2014, the Court of Criminal Appeal rejected their appeal. The appeal argued that the judge had failed to properly direct the jury on internet research, the victim's violent history, and joint enterprise. The court held that the judge's directions were clear, the evidence of prior convictions was admissible, and the charge on joint enterprise was adequate. The appeal was dismissed, leaving the life sentences in place.
Two men have changed their pleas at the Central Criminal Court in relation to the death of a man in County Kildare in April 2013. Quentin Monaghan, aged 21, and James Seery, aged 21, initially pleaded not guilty to murder but today pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Both men also pleaded guilty to possession of a sawn-off shotgun and cartridges in suspicious circumstances on 6 April 2013. The Director of Public Prosecutions accepted both pleas. The charges relate to the death of Jamie Lindsay, aged 20, who was shot at Coneyboro estate in Athy. The State's case alleged that Monaghan and Seery provided material assistance to a third accused. A third man, Darren Wynne, remains on trial for murder. The trial is currently in legal argument, with the jury to return on Friday.
In a 2008 murder trial, 18‑year‑old Marioara Rostas was reported missing after a phone call to her brother in Romania, where she pleaded for her father to come get her. Her body was later found in a shallow grave on the Wicklow border, with four bullet wounds to the head. The accused, 35‑year‑old Alan Wilson, pleaded not guilty. Evidence included a description of a man in a silver Ford Mondeo who allegedly took Marioara to a McDonald's, and a lock on a bedroom in Wilson's house. Ballistics expert Detective Garda Shane Curran examined bullets from the house and from Marioara's body, noting they were of the same calibre but could not confirm they came from the same firearm. The trial proceeded to legal argument before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of ten men and two women.
The Court of Criminal Appeal has reserved judgement on an appeal by Thomas O'Connor, 26, who was jailed for life for murdering John O'Brien, 22, in 2010. O'Connor struck O'Brien with a 1.6‑kg rock after a night of drinking, causing catastrophic head injuries. He admitted the killing to Gardaí but pleaded not guilty. In December 2011 a Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty. The appeal argues the trial judge erred in ruling no self‑defence evidence existed; the court will reserve its decision.
Three men were arraigned at the Central Criminal Court, where all pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Jamie Lindsay (20) at Coney Green, Coneyboro, Athy, Co. Kildare, on April 6, 2013. Darren Wynne (21), Quentin Monaghan (21), and James Seery (21) face charges including possession of a sawn-off shotgun and ammunition with intent to endanger life. While Wynne pleaded guilty to possessing a sawn-off shotgun and cartridges in suspicious circumstances, he and the other two defendants maintained not guilty pleas regarding the murder and other firearm offenses. The State alleges Seery and Monaghan were part of a joint enterprise. Prosecution evidence includes garda interview memos in which Monaghan stated Wynne pointed a gun at his head and forced him to drive, claiming he did not know Lindsay was to be shot. Wynne allegedly told gardai he intended only to injure Lindsay, who he described as his best friend, over a dispute involving missing drugs and threats. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that the cause of death was a shotgun wound to the head, with the right eye destroyed and extensive skull fractures, indicating the weapon was discharged from a couple of feet away. The matter is currently in legal argument, with evidence continuing on Wednesday.
In 2008, a 35‑year‑old man, Alan Wilson, was charged with murdering his daughter, Marioara Rostas, who disappeared on 6 January 2008 after a brief stay in Dublin. Wilson, who had moved from Romania to Ireland with his family in late 2007, left his son and daughter at home to get food and returned to find the girl missing. He waited three hours, then went to a Garda station but was not understood. He reported her missing on 9 January, three days after her disappearance. Witnesses saw a young Romanian girl begging at the junction of Pearse Street and Lombard Street that Sunday. Wilson's alleged murder scene was a three‑storey house on Brabazon Street, where a fire had been extinguished on 29 February 2008. Garda Daniel McCarthy investigated the house, noting possible accelerant use and a burnt fuel can. In October 2008, Wilson was investigated again for the disappearance.
The trial of Darren Wynne, Quentin Monaghan, and James Seery continues before the Central Criminal Court, with Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan presiding. All three defendants, aged 21, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jamie Lindsay (20) at Coney Green, Coneyboro, Athy, Co. Kildare, on April 6, 2013. Mr Wynne also pleaded not guilty to possessing a sawn-off shotgun and ammunition with intent to endanger life, though he pleaded guilty to possessing a sawn-off shotgun and cartridges in suspicious circumstances. Mr Monaghan and Mr Seery pleaded not guilty to possessing a sawn-off shotgun and cartridges with intent to endanger life, as well as possessing such items in suspicious circumstances. Prosecution evidence includes garda interview memos where Mr Wynne alleged Mr Lindsay threatened to rape his grandmother and burn his house. Mr Wynne stated he intended only to injure Mr Lindsay over a dispute regarding missing cannabis. The court heard that Mr Lindsay was shot in the right eye at point-blank range. The State alleges Mr Seery and Mr Monaghan were part of a joint enterprise. The matter is ongoing before a jury of eight men and four women.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the body of 18‑year‑old Romanian teenager Marioara Rostas was found in a shallow grave in a foetal position four years after she disappeared. The body, discovered by former Deputy State Pathologist Dr Khalid Jabbar at Kippure woodland on 23 January 2012, was wrapped in dark plastic bags and secured with duct tape. Dr Jabbar's post‑mortem revealed four gunshot entrance wounds to the front half of her head, with metallic fragments recovered from the skull. The 35‑year‑old defendant, Alan Wilson of New Street Gardens, is charged with her murder and has pleaded not guilty. Wilson allegedly showed a corpse to a friend, Fergus O'Hanlon, who testified that Wilson had assisted in burying the body. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, is expected to last three to four weeks.
Three men faced murder charges at the Central Criminal Court following the death of a twenty-year-old in County Kildare in April 2013. Darren Wynne, Quentin Monaghan, and James Seery all pleaded not guilty to murdering Jamie Lindsay at Coneyboro, Athy. Wynne additionally pleaded not guilty to possession of a sawn-off shotgun with intent to endanger life, though he admitted possession of the weapon in suspicious circumstances. Monaghan and Seery pleaded not guilty to related firearms charges. During proceedings, the prosecution presented garda interview notes in which Wynne told officers the deceased had threatened him over missing money and made threats toward his grandmother's home. Wynne stated he obtained a sawn-off shotgun from a graveyard and claimed he only intended to shoot Lindsay in the kneecap. He told gardai he fired a single shot believing it struck the shoulder, and that he did not mean to kill him. The State contends Monaghan and Seery were part of a joint enterprise in the incident. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, continues before a jury.
In a Dublin murder trial, a 35‑year‑old man, Alan Wilson, stands accused of killing 18‑year‑old Romanian Roma teenager Marioara Rostas in January 2008. Prosecutor Seán Gillane presented evidence that Rostas, who had moved to Dublin with her family in late 2007, was last seen with a man in a silver Ford Mondeo. Wilson allegedly drove the car, killed Rostas with four gunshot wounds to the head, and concealed her body in a shallow grave at Kippure forest. Witnesses, including Wilson's friend Fergus O'Hanlon, testified that Wilson transported the corpse in the car's boot, buried it, and burned her belongings. The case is proceeding before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy with a jury of ten men and two women, and is expected to last three to four weeks. Alan Wilson pleaded not guilty.
The trial of James Seery, Quentin Monaghan, and Darren Wynne, all 21, continues before the Central Criminal Court under Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan. The three men are accused of murdering Jamie Lindsay at Coney Green, Coneyboro, Athy, Co. Kildare, on April 6, 2013. All three pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. Mr. Wynne also pleaded not guilty to possessing a sawn-off shotgun with intent to endanger life but pleaded guilty to possessing a sawn-off shotgun and cartridges in suspicious circumstances. Mr. Seery and Mr. Monaghan pleaded not guilty to both possession charges. Deputy State Pathologist Dr. Michael Curtis testified that Mr. Lindsay died from a shotgun wound to the head, specifically a discharge to the right eye at point-blank range. He noted extensive skull fractures and blunt force injuries, while confirming the deceased had a blood alcohol level of 128mg per cent and cannabis in his system. The prosecution alleges Mr. Wynne fired the weapon after luring the victim into the open, with Mr. Seery and Mr. Monaghan participating in a joint enterprise. The trial is ongoing before a jury of eight men and four women.
Three men have pleaded not guilty to the murder of a twenty-year-old man in County Kildare in April 2013. James Seery, Quentin Monaghan, and Darren Wynne appeared before the Central Criminal Court charged with the killing of Jamie Lindsay at Coney Green, Coneyboro, Athy. Wynne also faces a charge of possession of a sawn-off shotgun and ammunition with intent to endanger life, though he has pleaded guilty to possession of a shotgun in suspicious circumstances on the same date. Seery and Monaghan have pleaded not guilty to further counts of weapons possession. During the trial, a witness testified that she observed one of the accused discharge a firearm at close range. She described the events leading to the shooting and stated that the accused subsequently disposed of the weapon and clothing. The trial continues before a jury at the Central Criminal Court with Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan presiding.
A Dublin man, Wesley Kelly (20), has been sentenced to eight years with the final year and a half suspended for the manslaughter of a German student, Thomas Heinrich, in 2012. Another Dublin teenager was sentenced to nine years with the final two suspended for the murder of the student. The incident occurred on St Anthony's Road in Rialto on December 1, 2012, when Thomas Heinrich (22) and Robert Rinker (25) were stabbed. Mr Rinker survived but Mr Heinrich died from injuries sustained. Wesley Kelly had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, which was accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions. He was found guilty of assault causing harm to Mr Rinker by a majority verdict of 11 to 1. The jury failed to reach a verdict on whether he was guilty of murdering Mr Heinrich. The 17-year-old had pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Heinrich and to assault causing harm to Mr Rinker but was found guilty of both charges by unanimous decision in May. The court heard that Mr Rinker suffered post-traumatic stress disorder and physical and psychological scarring. Mr Heinrich sustained three fatal stab wounds and was bleeding heavily from his stomach before being removed from the scene. The court heard that the aggravating factors included the use of knives and premeditation, while mitigating factors included the ages of the guilty parties and their previous good character. The matter was adjourned and never described as concluded or finalised.
The trial of Alan Wilson, 35, charged with murdering 18‑year‑old Marioara Rostas in Dublin in 2008, will open on Wednesday. Wilson pleaded not guilty. He was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court last week and a jury was sworn in. The trial was scheduled to start Monday but was delayed because two jurors could not serve, leading to the jury's discharge. A new jury was then sworn in, with Justice Paul Carney reminding them of their commitment to serve until a verdict. The trial is expected to last three to four weeks.
In a Dublin court, Wesley Kelly, aged 20, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the 2012 stabbing of German student Thomas Heinrich, 22, on St Anthony's Road. Kelly was also found guilty of assault causing harm to Robert Rinker, 25, who survived the attack. The jury could not decide on Kelly's murder charge. A 17‑year‑old, whose name is withheld, pleaded not guilty to both murder and assault but was found guilty of both by unanimous verdict after three days of deliberation. The court heard that Heinrich suffered three fatal stab wounds and died from haemorrhage and shock. Rinker suffered post‑traumatic stress disorder. Character references described Kelly as a quiet young man and a first‑time offender. Sentencing was adjourned to the following morning by Mr Justice Barry White.
The trial of three men accused of murdering a 20-year-old in County Kildare opened at the Central Criminal Court this week. James Seery and Quentin Monaghan, both aged 21, pleaded not guilty to murder, whilst Darren Wynne, also 21, pleaded not guilty to the same charge. Wynne additionally pleaded not guilty to possession of a sawn-off shotgun with intent to endanger life, though he admitted possession of the firearm in suspicious circumstances. Seery and Monaghan denied further counts of possessing a sawn-off shotgun with intent to endanger life. The prosecution alleges that Jamie Lindsay was fatally shot at Coney Green, Athy on 6 April 2013. Opening the State's case, counsel contended that Wynne discharged the weapon, whilst Seery and Monaghan provided material assistance through driving and luring the victim to the scene. Witnesses testified that Lindsay had been shouting on the phone shortly before the fatal shooting occurred. The trial continues before Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan.
In a 2014 murder trial, an 84‑year‑old man died of asphyxia after an attack at his Wexford home in 2012. State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy testified that the victim's death was caused by hypoxia from chest trauma, with fractured ribs and dislocated finger joints. She described injuries to the right eye, mouth, and back of the scalp consistent with punches and a struggle. The accused, Caroline Roche, 52, pleaded not guilty on grounds of insanity. Dr Brenda Wright, a forensic psychiatrist, explained Roche's history of psychiatric admissions, delusions involving the devil, and a belief that the victim had threatened her. Roche had stopped medication a week before the incident and claimed she felt "strong" during the assault, stating she had broken the victim's fingers after death. The trial was set to continue before Mr Justice White and a jury of twelve.
Three men appeared before the Central Criminal Court charged with the murder of a 20-year-old man in County Kildare in April 2013. James Seery, aged 21, of Athy, Quentin Monaghan, aged 21, of Stradbally in County Laois, and Darren Wynne, aged 21, also of Athy, all pleaded not guilty to murdering Jamie Lindsay at Coney Green, Coneyboro. Mr Wynne additionally faced a charge of possession of a sawn-off shotgun and ammunition with intent to endanger life, to which he pleaded not guilty. However, he entered a guilty plea to possession of a sawn-off shotgun and cartridges in suspicious circumstances on the same date. The trial was adjourned after Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan noted that a juror had become unwell. The jury was directed to reconvene on Monday, with proceedings expected to continue for three to four weeks.
The Central Criminal Court jury began deliberations on the murder of Shane Rossiter, a 29‑year‑old Tipperary resident, by Maurice Power, 31, of Dranganbeg. Power pleaded not guilty. Justice Deirdre Murphy explained that the case hinges on Power's 2012 confession to gardai, noting that jurors must assess its reliability and any independent confirmation. She highlighted circumstantial evidence linking Power to the black Audi used in the crime, including CCTV showing him refuelling the vehicle. The defence argued the confession was unreliable due to repeated off‑camera interactions and inconsistencies in Power's account, such as differing distances to the shots fired. Pathologist Marie Cassidy had identified two shotgun wounds at varying ranges. The jury, after over two and a half hours, requested to view the confession interview and CCTV footage before concluding. The trial remains at the deliberation stage.