The State must pay a couple's costs in their successful application to have their wrongful conviction for female genital mutilation (FGM) of their one-year-old daughter declared a miscarriage of justice. The couple, who were the first in Ireland to be convicted of FGM, spent two years in prison before their convictions were quashed on appeal in 2021. A miscarriage of justice certificate was granted by the Court of Appeal, and the case was put back for a costs hearing. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy noted that newly discovered facts in expert reports showed a miscarriage of justice. The court ruled that costs should follow the event, and the couple's legal teams had facilitated the efficient progress of the case. The couple had been convicted in 2019 but their convictions were overturned due to serious inaccuracies in the translation of their testimony to the jury.
The Court of Appeal has overturned a Special Criminal Court (SCC) decision granting a miscarriage of justice certificate to Michael Connolly, a man in his 50s from Dundalk, Co Louth. Connolly was originally convicted of IRA membership in 2017 and sentenced to three years' imprisonment, a conviction later quashed by the Court of Appeal in 2018. Following a retrial in 2019, he was acquitted after the court found that belief evidence from a senior Garda breached the "double-counting" rule. In June 2024, the SCC deemed his original conviction a miscarriage of justice, citing a "grave defect" in the administration of justice. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) sought judicial review, which the High Court dismissed in December 2023. On appeal, Mr Justice Brian O'Moore held that the SCC committed a fundamental error of law by granting the certificate, as it was not a properly available option. The judge stated that while the senior Garda's "careless" evidence was regrettable, it did not justify the certificate. Consequently, the Court of Appeal granted the DPP's order, quashing the SCC's decision under section 9(1)(a)(ii) of the Criminal Procedure Act 1993. This ruling represents a legal first in overturning such a certificate.
The Court of Appeal has increased Aaron Brady's sentence for perverting the course of justice from three years to five years following a successful appeal by the State. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy described the offending as an "affront to the administration of justice," noting it was pre-meditated and insidious. Brady, who is serving a life sentence for the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, was convicted by the Special Criminal Court of video-recording a witness interview with Ronan Flynn and conspiring with Dean Byrne to persuade witness Daniel Cahill not to testify. The court found the original sentence unduly lenient, failing to adequately weight general deterrence. Although the new five-year term will not alter Brady's effective custody due to his existing life sentence, the ruling establishes a significant precedent. Dean Byrne, who was found guilty of conspiring with Brady to interfere with witness Cahill, was sentenced to two years. Byrne's conviction was upheld by the Court of Appeal, but he is currently challenging that decision before the Supreme Court, which has agreed to hear his case on a question of public importance regarding the lawfulness of persuading witnesses not to give evidence.
A now-21-year-old man who orally raped, sexually assaulted and attempted to rape a girl when they were both 17 has had his conviction upheld by the Court of Appeal. The man had argued that his conviction was unsafe because the victim did not convey to him that she was not consenting. His barristers submitted that because the girl said she would not have sex as the man did not have a condom, this suggested that if he did have one, she may have had sex. The Court of Appeal has upheld the conviction, finding that the trial judge had adequately charged the jury on the issue of consent. In dismissing the appeal, Mr Justice Anthony M Collins said the judge gave "clear and detailed" directions to assist the jury in its assessment of the facts relevant to the appellant's mens rea as well as regards consent and the defence of honest belief. The offences took place in January 2022, when both the man and the victim were 17.
The Court of Appeal has ruled that a six-month prison sentence for Ben Lawlor for the defilement of a 12-year-old girl was appropriate, as the victim factually, albeit not legally, consented and the defendant genuinely believed she was 16. However, the court found that a 14-month sentence was more suitable for a subsequent sexual assault charge, as Lawlor knew the girl was 14 at the time. The appeal court suspended the unserved portion of this sentence. The victim had reported missing in 2023 and was found at Heuston Station. Lawlor had met the girl on a dating app and had sexual contact with her. He later contacted her via social media and met her again, where they engaged in kissing and touching. Lawlor was sentenced to six months for defilement and 12 months suspended for sexual assault. The DPP appealed, arguing the sentences were too lenient. The court acknowledged the victim's harm but noted the defendant's genuine belief in the girl's age and his vulnerabilities. The unnamed 21-year-old pleaded guilty.
The Court of Appeal has upheld the conviction of Kielan Mooney for the repeated rape of a fellow soldier at a Dublin hotel in 2021. Mooney was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison. He had appealed his conviction, arguing that a recording of the victim's distressed 999 call should not have been admitted at trial. The court rejected this argument, stating that the call was relevant and probative evidence. The victim, a serving soldier, had indicated she did not wish to be identified. The trial heard that Mooney had anal and oral raped the woman, and that she had to call for help after the incident. The court noted that the victim's distress was a matter before the jury, and that the reason for her distress was relevant to the case. The appeal was dismissed, and the conviction was upheld. The court emphasized that the probative value of the evidence outweighed its prejudicial effect. Kielan Mooney pleaded not guilty.
Maurice Boland, convicted of murdering Cian Gallagher (26) in Tallow, Co Waterford, is appealing his life sentence imposed by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon in December 2024. Boland, who pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, was found guilty following two Central Criminal Court trials. His counsel, Michael Bowman, argued before the Court of Appeal that the trial judge erred in admitting evidence of Boland bragging he punched the victim "like Conor McGregor." Bowman contended that McGregor's name carried "toxic masculinity" baggage due to concurrent civil proceedings where he was found liable for rape, potentially biasing the jury. The State, represented by Bernard Condon SC, countered that the evidence was "eminently admissible" to demonstrate Boland's intent to cause serious harm and his aggressive state of mind. The court also considered challenges to evidence of Boland's threatening behavior earlier that night. The Court of Appeal, comprising Mr Justice John Edwards, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, and Ms Justice Tara Burns, viewed CCTV footage and heard submissions. The matter was adjourned, with the court reserving judgment to be delivered at a later date.
A 52-year-old man who repeatedly raped his wife by inserting various objects into her while she was unconscious has argued that a video showing what he says is consensual sexual behaviour during a "date night" should be submitted in support of a conviction appeal. The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the injured party, was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court in December 2023 of 11 counts of raping his wife between 2006 to 2014. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison with the final year suspended. His legal team submitted that a video found on a laptop he purchased after his other devices had been seized by the gardaí during the investigation in 2019 showed the complainant on all fours in her underwear while the appellant was filming her buttocks. The defence argued that the video could have made a material difference to the defence, as the complainant had given evidence that photos and videos were not a normal part of their sex life.
A convicted sex offender who violently raped his niece and abused her sister has had his 15-year sentence upheld by the Court of Appeal. The man, who cannot be named to protect the victims, pleaded guilty to rape and sexual assault charges. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison with 15 months suspended by Ms Justice Karen O'Connor. The sentence was to be served after a six-year term for offenses against the complainant's younger sister. The man had a previous conviction for sexual assault in 2000. His barristers appealed the sentence, arguing it was too harsh and that more of the term should have been suspended. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, stating the judge acted within his discretion. The court noted the seriousness of the offenses, including the brutality of the attack on a young girl. The judge considered the defendant's personal circumstances, including his separation from his wife and the care of a disabled child. The court ruled that the original sentence was appropriate and upheld the 15-year term.
Andrew Delaney, a violent criminal who fired an improvised 'slam bang' gun at another man, had his sentence increased but the balance suspended by the Court of Appeal. Delaney, who wore a balaclava and shouted 'I will kill you' before firing the gun, was initially sentenced to five years with two suspended. The State appealed, arguing the sentence was too lenient. The Court of Appeal ruled the sentence had a frailty in principle and increased it to six years and six months, with the remainder suspended. Delaney had pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition, and was also sentenced for possessing benzocaine and being a passenger in a stolen vehicle. The court noted the premeditated nature of the attack and the lack of cooperation with gardaí. Delaney's previous convictions for assault and criminal damage were also considered. The court emphasized the seriousness of the offense and the need for a higher sentence. However, as Delaney secured a place in a residential treatment center, the court suspended the remaining portion of the sentence to allow him to complete the program.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal of an unnamed 81-year-old man, upholding his conviction for sexually assaulting his grandson. The appellant, who pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexually assaulting his 15-year-old grandson at various locations in Leinster between June and September 2015, was convicted following a second trial after the first jury failed to reach a verdict. On December 9, 2024, Judge Martina Baxter at Naas Circuit Court sentenced him to five and a half years imprisonment. The appeal centered on the trial judge's decision to exclude a prepared statement the appellant gave to gardaí in October 2017. His counsel argued the statement contained mixed elements and should have been admitted. However, Mr Justice Alexander Owens ruled the statement was self-serving, wholly exculpatory, and inadmissible hearsay. The judge noted the document was produced for trial use rather than to assist the investigation, and the trial judge was correct to refuse its admission. The Court of Appeal found the appellant failed to establish that the guilty verdicts were unsafe, thereby rejecting his claim that the exclusion of the statement rendered the trial unfair.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal by Patrick Killally, a 49-year-old man from Edenderry, Co Offaly, who was convicted of sexually abusing two young boys. Killally's legal team argued that evidence regarding a third child, whom a witness described as being confronted by the appellant, was more prejudicial than probative and should have been excluded. However, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy ruled that the trial judge was correct to admit the evidence, finding it highly probative and relevant to the factual matrix, particularly as it contradicted Killally's claim that he was never alone with the complainants. The court noted that while the evidence was prejudicial, its probative value outweighed that effect. Killally had previously been convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of three counts of sexual assault against one boy aged six to nine between 1992 and 1996, and 40 counts of sexual assault, attempted anal rape, oral rape, and anal rape against another boy aged 12 to 14 between 2005 and 2007. He does not accept the verdicts. At sentencing, Mr Justice Paul Burns imposed an 11-year prison term, citing the breach of trust and the protracted nature of the abuse. The appeal was rejected, leaving the conviction and sentence intact.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the conviction appeal of Paul Kelly, a 47-year-old man from Killarney, Co. Kerry, who was convicted of sexually abusing his younger brother. Kelly, who denied all charges, was found guilty in November 2024 of 12 counts of sexual assault, two counts of oral rape, and 12 counts of anal rape committed between 1995 and 1999. He was sentenced to seven and a half years' imprisonment by Ms Justice Melanie Greally. The appellant's counsel argued that evidence from a witness, who stated the complainant said, "Paul has been raping me for years," should have been excluded or required a corroboration warning because the present perfect continuous tense implied ongoing abuse, despite the abuse ending seven years prior. Mr Justice Charles Meenan rejected this argument, stating that people making statements may not prioritize correct grammar. The court found no material inconsistencies in the evidence and ruled that the trial judge's decision not to issue a corroboration warning was reasonable. The appeal was dismissed, upholding the original conviction and sentence.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal against sentence by three unnamed appellants, upholding their convictions for gang rape. The court ruled that the sentences imposed by Mr Justice David Keane were not excessive and, given the circumstances, were lenient. The appellants, two of whom were 17 and one 18 at the time of the January 2016 offence, lured a vulnerable teenager to a beach in Dublin where they took turns raping her before abandoning her in an isolated location. Following a second trial in March 2022, the jury convicted all three of rape after the first trial resulted in a hung jury. The sentencing judge identified a notional adult headline sentence of 15 years but reduced it to ten years, accounting for the youth of two appellants and the mild intellectual disability of the third. Appellant A was sentenced to nine years, Appellant B to nine and a half years, and Appellant C to ten years. Senior counsel for the appellants argued the sentences were too high given their youth and mitigating factors, while the DPP urged the court to refuse the appeal, highlighting the significant planning and targeting of the victim. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, delivering the judgment, stated that gang rape falls into the highest category of offending where youth does not diminish moral culpability. He affirmed that the refusal to reduce the headline sentence was not open to criticism and that the sentences must be considered lenient. The court also ordered that the appellants remain anonymised in reporting due to their ages at the time of the offence.
The Court of Appeal has reduced the prison sentence of Mihail Stingu, who burgled a house, stole a car, and dragged the owner along the ground. The original sentence of 14 years was deemed too high by the Court of Appeal, which imposed a global sentence of ten years and nine months, with the last six months suspended. Stingu, who was on bail for previous criminal damage offences, entered a home in Drogheda, stole items, and stole a car, dragging the owner for ten metres. The homeowner suffered serious road rash burns. The Court of Appeal found that the sentencing judge had erred in setting the headline sentence for burglary at 14 years before considering mitigating factors. The judge noted that the offence was not at the most extreme end and warranted a headline sentence of 11 years. Stingu was also sentenced for four years and nine months for the criminal damage offences. Mihail Stingu pleaded guilty.
Patrick Fishy' Fitzgerald, 49, withdrew his appeal against a seven-year prison sentence at the Court of Appeal after judges warned him of the full range of their powers. The appeal concerned a sentence handed down in July 2025 by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon at the Central Criminal Court. Fitzgerald had pleaded guilty to facilitating a serious offence for a criminal organisation, specifically providing getaway vehicles for the attempted murder of Gary Carey in November 2021. The court found his assistance crucial to the gang's actions. Ms Justice Creedon set a headline sentence of 12 years, reduced to nine years after mitigation, with the final two years suspended subject to conditions. This term was ordered to run consecutively to a separate seven-and-a-half-year sentence Fitzgerald was already serving for aggravated burglary, in which he was part of a gang that terrorised a family, including a six-year-old child. During the appeal hearing, Mr Justice McCarthy, sitting with Ms Justice Tara Burns and Mr Justice Alexander Owens, noted the panel believed a sufficient reduction had already been given and highlighted the risk regarding the suspended portion. Following advice from senior counsel Bernard Condon, Fitzgerald instructed his lawyer to seek permission to withdraw the appeal. The court granted the application, describing Fitzgerald's decision as prudent given the possibility of an unfavourable intervention. The matter was adjourned to allow for the withdrawal process, and the original sentence remains in effect.
The Court of Appeal has quashed the defilement conviction of a 34-year-old man, directing a retrial after finding the trial judge "crossed a line" in his jury charge. The appellant, who was 28 at the time of the alleged 2020 offence in Westport, had been convicted by majority verdict of defilement of a 16-year-old girl, while being acquitted of sexual assault. He maintained that he believed the complainant was over 18. Ms Justice Nuala Butler ruled that the trial judge improperly suggested the jury might take a "jaundiced" view of the appellant's age defence if they rejected his claim that no sexual intercourse occurred. This misdirection deprived the appellant of the benefit of his alternative defence. The court rejected a secondary appeal ground regarding the prosecution's use of the term "Bart Simpson defence," deeming it unhelpful but not sufficiently disparaging to render the trial unfair. In November 2025, Judge Eoin Garavan had sentenced the man to two years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended and the custodial element deferred, granting him bail pending appeal. Following the appeal decision, Eilis Brennan, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, requested the matter be remanded to the Western Circuit in early October. The judge granted this application, remanding the appellant on continuing bail until that date.
Jozef Puska has failed in his attempt to have his life sentence for the murder of Ashling Murphy commence from the date of his arrest in January 2022, rather than the date of the trial jury's verdict in November 2023. Puska's legal team argued that the judge did not provide a valid reason for not backdating the sentence. However, the trial judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, stated that the backdate was academic and that the parole board would consider the time served in custody, not the date of arrest. The Court of Appeal upheld the judge's decision, noting that the judge had considered the seriousness of the case and the impact on the victim's family. The appeal was dismissed, and Puska remains in custody.
The State has dropped the charges against a man whose conviction for rape was quashed by the Court of Appeal. The man (27), who cannot legally be identified, was previously convicted of two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault at an apartment on Middle Abbey Street, Dublin 1, on February 15, 2018. Trial judge Mr Justice David Keane sentenced him to eight and a half years in prison. The Court of Appeal however quashed that conviction, finding that the trial judge had failed to warn the jury of the dangers of convicting after the complainant initially nominated another party as having sex with her and did not refer to the accused. On Wednesday, the case was listed for mention before the Central Criminal Court when lawyers for the Director of Public Prosecutions informed Mr Justice Paul McDermott that the State were entering a nolle prosequi on all counts. Mr Justice McDermott then ordered that the defendant be discharged from all counts. The man has a statutory right to anonymity.
Gavin Hanway, of Limekiln Green, Walkinstown, Dublin, launched an appeal against his convictions for assault causing serious harm and aggravated burglary. He was previously found guilty by a jury at Portlaoise Courthouse of stabbing Kevin Kenny at a house in The Hermitage, Portlaoise, Co Laois, on July 26, 2016. Following the trial, Judge Keenan Johnson sentenced Hanway to 12 years in prison. In the current appeal, counsel James Dwyer SC argued that the seizure of Hanway's car breached his constitutional rights because the search warrant was issued in another garda's name. He also challenged the admission of evidence regarding Hanway's testosterone use, claiming it was prejudicial, and argued the jury verdict was not properly delivered under section 35(2) of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. The State's counsel, Aoife O'Leary BL, countered that the trial judge had correctly ruled the car evidence admissible in the interests of justice despite the procedural irregularity. She further noted that the testosterone evidence was probative and that the jury was merely polled on their numbers after returning the verdict. The Court of Appeal, comprising Mr Justice John Edwards, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, and Mr Justice Alexander Owens, heard the arguments. The court reserved judgment in the case to a later date, meaning the matter was adjourned and not concluded.
A "deviant father figure" who was jailed for life after he "coldly engaged in a remorseless campaign of rape" against his granddaughter and nephew has had his sentence upheld by the Court of Appeal. The court found the sentence of life imprisonment was within the discretion of the sentencing judge, noting the man ruled the family "with an iron fist" and "brutally sexually assaulted these young and vulnerable children" in what it described as an "egregious breach of trust". The 69-year-old patriarch of the family was convicted of 24 charges including two charges of anally raping his granddaughter and 22 charges against his nephew. He had pleaded not guilty to all of the charges. The man's granddaughter was aged between nine and eleven when the abuse occurred, while his nephew was aged between 7 and eleven. The abuser's sentencing hearing was told he did not accept the verdicts of the jury and continues to maintain his innocence.
The Court of Appeal has set a date in December to hear an application by a Polish cage fighter who is seeking to have his conviction for the murder of a 23-year-old man who was beaten unconscious and left to drown in the River Shannon declared a miscarriage of justice. Leszek Sychulec's legal team told the court today that they had written to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) seeking disclosure regarding an article published about a garda allegedly involved in organised crime who is connected to the case. Sychulec, now in his 40s, and his co-accused, Andrzej Gruchacz, had pleaded not guilty to murdering Patryk Krupa at Bogganfin, Athlone, Co Roscommon on June 20th, 2014. Mr Krupa drowned in the Shannon outside Athlone while incapacitated with a head injury from a violent assault. A Central Criminal Court jury deliberated for five hours before reaching unanimous guilty verdicts. The defendants were accordingly given mandatory life sentences by Mr Justice Tony Hunt on June 13, 2016.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeals against the sentences of Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, who were convicted of facilitating the Hutch Criminal Organisation in the murder of David Byrne. Both men, who pleaded not guilty, acted as getaway drivers during the 2016 Regency Hotel attack. Mr Justice John Edwards found their roles "far from peripheral" and upheld the Special Criminal Court's 10-year headline sentences. Bonney, who has no previous convictions, received an 18-month mitigation discount, resulting in an effective sentence of eight-and-a-half years. Murphy, who has 67 previous convictions, received a one-year discount, resulting in a nine-year sentence. The judge rejected arguments that their culpability was lower than that of Jonathan Dowdall, who was sentenced to four years for facilitating the gang by providing a room. Dowdall had originally faced murder charges but admitted to the lesser offence. The Court of Appeal noted that the primary sentencing rationales were retribution and deterrence, given the high level of criminality and the threat posed by the Hutch organisation to the rule of law.
Lawyers representing Jozef Puska, who is serving a life sentence for the murder of schoolteacher Ashling Murphy, have told the court that the scope of his conviction appeal may change. Puska's appeal was originally due to be heard on April 23, but was vacated after his barristers withdrew from the case. Senior Counsel John Berry confirmed he would represent Puska, and the Court of Appeal set a new hearing date of July 15. During a case management hearing, Mr Berry indicated that an instruction received in the last two days may change the scope of the appeal. The matter was adjourned to July 10. Puska, who had pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Murphy, was found by the jury to have stabbed her 11 times in the neck and slashed her once with a blade. A monument now stands where she died. Puska was placed at the scene by the presence of his distinctive green and black bicycle, which was captured on CCTV. His DNA was found on the bike and under Ms Murphy's fingernails.
A truck driver who caused the death of former Garryowen rugby player Mark McMullen three years ago has lost an appeal against his ten-month prison sentence. The Court of Appeal ruled that the driver, Gabor Mihalecz, was speeding and driving a defective lorry with a faulty braking system, which led to the vehicle jackknifing. Mihalecz had pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death and was sentenced to ten months in prison and disqualified from driving for four years. His legal team argued that the initial sentence of 20 months was too high, but the court dismissed the appeal, noting that the braking system defect was the main cause of the accident. The judge acknowledged that the driver's culpability might not be at the highest level, but the sentence was upheld as appropriate.
Jason Bonney and Paul Murphy, convicted of facilitating the murder of David Byrne during the 2016 Regency Hotel attack, are appealing their prison sentences at the Court of Appeal. Both men, who pleaded not guilty and were convicted by the Special Criminal Court, argued their sentences were excessive. Bonney, sentenced to eight-and-a-half years, and Murphy, jailed for nine years, had their bids to overturn convictions dismissed in November. Counsel for Bonney highlighted his unblemished record and argued his involvement was less significant than that of Jonathan Dowdall, who received a headline sentence of eight years for facilitating the Hutch gang. Dowdall was later sentenced to four years imprisonment in October 2022. Counsel for Murphy contended his role was peripheral and he lacked knowledge of the attack's seriousness. The State argued the appellants were integral to a serious criminal endeavour. Appeal judge Mr Justice John Edwards noted that prosocial contributions offer only modest mitigation and that the gravity of the offense mandated significant custody. He stated the court would deliver its judgment on July 3. The matter remains at the appeal stage, with the final decision pending.
The Court of Appeal has ruled that the privacy rights of Kevin Braney, a former leader of the New IRA in Dublin, were not breached when gardaí used a surveillance device to listen in on him conversing with members of a criminal gang at a KFC restaurant. Braney was found guilty of murder in February 2019 by the Special Criminal Court for the killing of dissident republican Peter Butterly in 2013. The court dismissed Braney's appeal, with Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy stating that the grounds raised were not proven. Braney's legal team had argued that gardaí did not obtain proper authorisation before using the listening device and that the recording should not have been admitted as evidence. However, the court upheld the use of the device under the Criminal Law (Surveillance) Act 2009, noting that the superintendent believed an emergency justified the action. The court also rejected arguments that the audio evidence was of insufficient quality and that the testimony of David Cullen, a former accomplice who became a witness, should have been excluded.
A couple's convictions for female genital mutilation (FGM) of their one-year-old daughter were declared a miscarriage of justice by the Court of Appeal. The couple, who were the first in Ireland to be convicted of FGM, spent two years in prison before their convictions were overturned due to an unfair trial. New evidence from a Swedish FGM expert, Prof Birgitta Essen, showed that the child had not undergone FGM. The Court of Appeal found that the trial was unfair due to inaccuracies in the translation of the parents' testimony. The DPP dropped the charges after the new report agreed with Prof Essen's findings. The judge ruled that the couple was factually innocent and granted a certificate of miscarriage of justice. The case highlighted the importance of expert medical testimony and the need for accurate translation in legal proceedings. The couple's conviction was overturned, and the court emphasized the need for medical professionals to report concerns without fear.
The Court of Appeal has rejected Patrick Murphy's claim that his murder conviction was unsafe due to the jury's 'extremely brief' deliberation. Murphy, who stabbed his daughter's neighbour to death in a 'drunken rage', was sentenced to life in prison in December 2024. He had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The Central Criminal Court jury unanimously convicted him of murder after rejecting the defence's argument of provocation. Murphy's counsel argued that the jury's quick decision raised concerns about the safety of the conviction and the right to full deliberation. However, the court dismissed the appeal, stating the jury deliberated for over three hours and reached a verdict based on the evidence. The judge noted that the issue of provocation was straightforward and that the jury's decision was sound. The trial revealed that Murphy had a history of 15 previous convictions, mostly for traffic and public order offences.
A violent criminal, Gerard Stokes, who carried out a three-hour hammer attack on a 'Good Samaritan' grandmother, leaving her blind in one eye after tying her up and threatening to kill her, had his jail sentence increased by two years following a successful appeal by the State. Stokes and his co-accused, Samantha Campbell, were convicted of inflicting what a judge described as a 'punishment beating' on the woman over alleged missing drugs. The Court of Appeal found that Stokes' 13-and-a-half-year jail term, with two years suspended, was unduly lenient and resentenced him to 14-and-a-half-years, with one year suspended. However, the court ruled that Campbell's ten-year sentence was not too lenient. The court heard the victim lost an eye in the attack and now uses a prosthesis. The judge noted that both defendants 'participated willingly' in the attack and the jury accepted that this was joint enterprise.
The Court of Appeal granted the Irish Times access to character references for Daniel Ramamoorthy, a convicted sex offender, including one from former TD Jim Glennon. Ramamoorthy was convicted of sexually exploiting a 13-year-old boy at a Christian children's camp. Glennon later apologized for his involvement, calling the crime 'vile and of the most egregious nature'. The Irish Times applied for access to the references, arguing that public interest and open justice required their disclosure. The court agreed, noting that the references were part of the administration of justice. Ramamoorthy, a motivational speaker and entrepreneur, was jailed for two years and four months for the sexual exploitation offence. He pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual abuse material. The court criticized the character references for not addressing the victim or the nature of the crime. Glennon's apology and disavowal of the reference were highlighted, with the court emphasizing the importance of transparency in the justice process.
An eight-year prison sentence for Aaron Babbington, who attacked a man with a broken bottle, was upheld by the Court of Appeal. Babbington, who has 146 previous convictions, was found guilty of attempted murder after an unprovoked attack on Jason Butler, who died two days later. The sentencing judge had imposed a 10-year sentence with the final two years suspended, considering Babbington's plea and potential for rehabilitation. The Director of Public Prosecutions argued the sentence was unduly lenient, but the Court of Appeal rejected this, noting that the judge had considered both aggravating and mitigating factors. Babbington's defense argued that the incident was out of character for him and that the reduction from the headline sentence was within the court's discretion. The court concluded that the sentence was not a gross departure from the norm and dismissed the appeal.
David Hunter, a British national, has failed in his appeal to overturn his conviction for the murder of Michael Barr in a Dublin pub in 2016. The Court of Appeal upheld the Special Criminal Court's decision to dismiss the evidence of a witness regarding the height of one of the shooters. Hunter had argued that the trial court erred in rejecting the testimony of a witness who claimed the gunman was over six feet tall, while Hunter is five foot ten. The court found that the trial court's assessment of the eye-witness evidence was both cogent and rigorous. The DNA evidence linking Hunter to the crime was also upheld, as was the court's decision to admit the mobile phone evidence despite concerns about privacy rights. The appeal was dismissed, and Hunter's conviction remains in place.
A 28-year-old man's rape conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal due to the trial judge failing to warn the jury about conflicting evidence. The complainant initially told friends that a different man had sex with her, but the trial judge did not address this in his instructions to the jury. The defendant was found guilty of two counts of rape and one of sexual assault, but the appeal court ruled that the conviction should be overturned. The court noted that the complainant's evidence was inconsistent and that the jury should have been warned about the conflicting accounts. The appeal court emphasized the importance of ensuring that juries are properly instructed on the need for corroboration in cases with conflicting evidence. The defendant was remanded in custody to appear before the Central Criminal Court.
The Court of Appeal has ordered the retrial of Aaron Connolly, whose murder conviction for Cameron Reilly was quashed due to remarks by the trial judge that may have been perceived as mocking the defence case. The trial judge's charge to the jury was found to lack balance and may have been seen as advocacy for the prosecution case and disparaging of the defence case. Connolly, who was 26 at the time of the murder, initially denied any sexual contact with Reilly but later admitted to performing oral sex on him. The trial heard that Reilly was bisexual and had confided in friends about this. Connolly was found guilty in December 2022 and received a mandatory life sentence. His appeal argued that the trial judge's comments were denigrating of the defence case. The Court of Appeal ruled that the trial judge's remarks were capable of being perceived as disparaging and mocking the defence case. The conviction was quashed, and the Director of Public Prosecutions will decide whether to apply for a retrial. Aaron Connolly pleaded not guilty.
An 80-year-old former Scout leader, Noel Sheehan, has had his appeal against his conviction for indecently assaulting five young boys rejected by the Court of Appeal. Sheehan had argued that the trial should have been split into two due to the severity of the attack on one of the victims. However, the court ruled that the connection between Sheehan and all the complainants through his leadership of a scout troop was of particular relevance. Sheehan was found guilty of 16 counts of indecent assault and sentenced to four and a half years, with the final six months suspended. The court dismissed the appeal, noting that the alleged offence against the victim in the woods was more serious but still of a similar nature to the other counts. The court found that the trial judge was correct to refuse the defense application for a separate trial, as all the incidents occurred at scouting events involving sleepover elements. The unnamed 80-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Daniel Dooley, one of six family members convicted of the murder of Thomas Dooley in an honour killing during a funeral in Co Kerry, has failed to convince the Court of Appeal that his identification by the victim's widow was unfair and should have resulted in the case being withdrawn from the jury. Dooley was convicted by a majority jury verdict in July 2024 and was one of six defendants, including a teenage boy, who were found guilty of murder. The court ruled that the evidence against Dooley, including CCTV footage showing him entering a van with an implement, was sufficient for the jury to draw inferences that he was part of a joint enterprise of a pre-planned violent attack. The court rejected the appeal, noting that the evidence was not tenuous, weak, or vague and that the credibility of the widow's identification was a matter for the jury. Daniel Dooley pleaded not guilty.
The Court of Appeal upheld a six-and-a-half-year jail sentence for Declan Donaghey, who set a garda car alight and damaged a migrant centre during a riot described as one of the gravest examples of public disorder in the State's history. Donaghey had pleaded guilty to arson, violent disorder, and criminal damage. The court heard that his actions were part of a targeted attack on gardaí who were investigating a serious criminal offence earlier that day. CCTV footage showed Donaghey igniting a garda car and damaging another, as well as throwing objects at a migrant centre. The sentencing judge had imposed a seven-and-a-half-year sentence, with the final year suspended. Donaghey appealed, arguing the headline sentence was too high and that mitigating factors were not adequately considered. The Court of Appeal rejected the appeal, noting that the arson was the first act of the night and significantly escalated the situation. The court emphasized that an attack on gardaí is an attack on society and that the headline sentence was appropriate given the unprecedented nature of the event.
A 21-year-old man, who was convicted of oral rape, attempted rape, and sexual assault when he was 17, has appealed his conviction, arguing that the victim did not clearly express a lack of consent. The appeal claims that the victim's statement about not having sex without a condom suggests she may have consented if one had been used. The victim had kissed the appellant before the incident, and the case hinges on the interpretation of consent. The trial judge had emphasized that consent must be active and that silence does not imply consent. The appeal also challenges the admissibility of a statement the appellant made during a garda interview and the lack of CCTV footage. The court has reserved judgment on the appeal, with the case awaiting a decision from the Court of Appeal.
Aaron Connolly, who was serving a life sentence for the murder of Cameron Reilly, had his conviction quashed on appeal. The Court of Appeal found that the trial judge's instructions to the jury were imbalanced and may have been perceived as advocacy for the prosecution. Mr Justice John Edwards noted that the trial judge's comments were overly emphatic and could have influenced the jury's perception. Connolly initially denied any sexual contact with Reilly but later admitted to performing oral sex on him. The trial jury heard that Reilly was bisexual and that Connolly had a history of sexual relations with others. Connolly claimed he left Reilly alive, but the prosecution argued that he was the murderer. The appeal highlighted concerns about the trial judge's comments and their potential impact on the jury. The Director of Public Prosecutions will now decide whether to seek a retrial. Aaron Connolly pleaded not guilty.
A double murderer's conviction has been upheld by the Court of Appeal, despite his claim that expert testimony lacked 'scientific validity'. Jason O'Driscoll, who was convicted of murdering Anthony Burnett and Joseph Redmond in Co Louth in 2012, had his appeal rejected. The court ruled that Andrew Wooller of Acuity Forensics was appropriately qualified to give evidence on vehicle identification. O'Driscoll's lawyers argued that Wooller's expertise lacked scientific validity and that his public tweet after the conviction showed a lack of independence. However, the court found that Wooller's evidence was necessary for the jury to interpret the CCTV footage and that the tweet did not establish a lack of independence. O'Driscoll was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2018 for the murders, which were described as 'callous' and 'brutal'. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, including CCTV footage and the identification of a stolen Mercedes S Class as the getaway car.
A violent abuser who raped his former partner and subjected her to extreme domestic violence, including urinating on her, pouring bleach over her, and flushing her head down a toilet, has failed in his appeal to overturn his conviction. The man, who cannot be named to protect his ex-partner's identity, was convicted of 32 counts of assault causing harm, including 18 counts of assault causing harm, two counts of rape, and two counts of making threats to kill. The appeal was dismissed by Mr Justice John Edwards, who noted the victim's testimony about the degrading nature of the assaults. The defense argued that the prosecution's closing speech contained inappropriate expressions of personal opinion, but the court found that the trial judge adequately addressed these concerns. The appeal was dismissed, and the man was sentenced to 12 years in prison, with six months suspended. The victim's impact statement highlighted the lasting trauma and fear experienced during the abuse. The unnamed 53-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A 67-year-old man who sexually abused his daughter for nearly ten years has lost an appeal in which he claimed the defence was unfairly surprised by her testimony about using a teddy bear to wipe his semen from her leg. His legal team argued that the detail emerged during the trial and the defence were not on notice of it. However, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, with Mr Justice Alexander Owens stating that the trial judge had adequately explained to the jury why the defence counsel incorrectly suggested the complainant first mentioned the teddy bear in the witness box. The judge noted that the detail did not prejudice the defence and was a common occurrence during trials. The garda who failed to record the statement was said to have made an oversight, not a deliberate omission. The man was convicted of 71 counts of rape, oral rape, indecent assault, and sexual assault in 2023 and received an 11-year prison sentence in 2024. The unnamed 67-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A former scout leader who raped his cousin and abused her two sisters has failed to overturn his rape convictions after a secret letter, allegedly from a juror, claimed jury bias. The letter, which was not investigated, alleged that some jurors had prior knowledge of the case and were biased. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, stating that no material from a juror is admissible after a trial. The 63-year-old man was convicted of five of six charges, including indecent assault and rape, and received a seven-and-a-half-year sentence. The court rejected the appeal, emphasizing that the jury verdicts were unanimous and no issues were raised during the trial. The man's legal team argued that the letter should have been investigated, but the court ruled that such actions would be a contempt of court and breach jury confidentiality. The unnamed 63-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A 24-year-old man, Gavin Lawlor, who repeatedly assaulted and coercively controlled his teenage girlfriend, including punching her for 'liking' a TikTok video, has had his original sentence tripled by the Court of Appeal. Lawlor, from Wexford, pleaded guilty to eight counts of assault causing harm and one count of coercive and controlling behaviour between March 2021 and March 2022. In April 2025, he was sentenced to two years in prison with the final 12 months suspended. However, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) argued the sentence was unduly lenient. At the appeal hearing, the Court of Appeal agreed, overturning the original sentence and imposing a new jail term of four years with the final 12 months suspended. The court also directed Lawlor to pay €2,000 to his victim. The judge noted the repeat nature of the offending, the escalation in seriousness, and the coercive control, including removing the victim's phone SIM card and monitoring her movements. The court highlighted that Lawlor committed the second set of offences while on bail, which is an aggravating factor.
The Court of Appeal has criticized the failure of gardai to interview the wife of an octogenarian child abuser but ruled that her husband's trial was not rendered unfair as a result. The man, now 87, had argued that his wife would have supported his claim that the girl did not spend the night at their home on the night of the attacks. He was convicted of two counts of sexual assault in 1991 and sentenced to two years in prison. His appeal focused on the absence of his wife's statement, which his lawyers claimed would have challenged the victim's credibility. However, the court noted that his wife had died before the trial and that her potential evidence was not certain to be admitted. The judge also pointed out that the victim's evidence was not challenged on the issue of her staying at the abuser's home. The court concluded that the trial, while imperfect, did not result in unfairness for the appellant. The unnamed 87-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A permanent ban will remain in place restraining a Tipperary farmer from entering lands that had been in his family for decades but were sold by receivers in 2022 for €1.5M to US-based businessman Maurice Regan. Farmer Patrick Heffernan had his application dismissed after he asked for an extension of time to appeal a ruling by the Circuit Court in Tipperary barring him from attending or trespassing on the 83 hectares of land. The application came before the Civil Court of Appeal after Mr Heffernan challenged an order of the Deputy Master made in October 2025 refusing to extend time for a notice of appeal. Ms Justice Eileen Roberts said the Circuit Court order in January 2025 was made on an unopposed basis in the absence of Mr Heffernan, who resides next to the lands near Fethard, Co Tipperary. Ms Justice Roberts said Mr Heffernan had mortgaged the land to AIB Bank and ACC Bank to secure borrowings.
The Court of Appeal has fixed November 5 as the hearing date for Alan Wilson's application to change his guilty plea to not guilty and to extend the time to lodge an appeal against his conviction. Wilson, who is representing himself, confirmed under oath that his handwritten affidavits were true. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy ordered Wilson to file submissions by June 25, while the Director of Public Prosecutions has been granted three months to respond. Wilson was originally jailed for six years by the Special Criminal Court in July 2019 for conspiring with others to murder Gary Hanley between September 15 and November 6, 2017. He pleaded guilty to this charge, as did co-accused Joseph Kelly. Kelly, who was recorded instructing the plot, was sentenced to six years for the conspiracy and 12 years for possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. The matter remains at the procedural stage of an appeal hearing date being set, and the case has not been concluded or finalised. Wilson had previously submitted a letter of apology to the court, expressing regret for aiding a gang and his actions in the alleged murder plot.
An appeal brought by Jozef Puska against his conviction for the murder of schoolteacher Ashling Murphy has been rescheduled for July. Puska is serving a life sentence for stabbing Ms Murphy 11 times in the neck and slashing her once with a blade in January 2022. The appeal was delayed after Puska changed his barristers shortly before the original hearing date. The new date for the appeal was set for July 15, with a case management hearing scheduled for May 15. Puska, who was identified by CCTV footage and DNA evidence, had pleaded not guilty to the murder. The court heard that Puska's DNA was found on the murder weapon and under Ms Murphy's fingernails, indicating she had fought back. The appeal will be heard by the Court of Appeal, with the judge noting the need for an early hearing date.
A youth who was 16 when he murdered his friend, Glen 'Ossie' Osborne, is appealing his life sentence. The Court of Appeal heard that since his incarceration, the youth has assaulted a prison officer and sold heroin to fellow inmates. The defendant, who admitted to the murder, was sentenced to life with a review after ten years by Mr Justice Paul McDermott. However, the Supreme Court ruled that life sentences for child offenders should only be imposed in exceptional cases. The youth's defense argued that the murder was impulsive and not premeditated, and that the defendant showed genuine remorse. The court noted that the youth had a history of drug abuse and a turbulent upbringing, and that his transfer to an adult prison had a significant impact on his behavior. The defense requested that a significant portion of the sentence be suspended, emphasizing the need for rehabilitation and support upon release. The court reserved judgment and directed that a governor's and education report be prepared, acknowledging the desire of both families for closure in the legal process. The unnamed 22-year-old pleaded guilty.