Court archive
Galway District Court
2019-03-29 · Galway
In March 2019, Midnight Entertainment Limited, operator of the 4 Aces Club in Galway, secured a court order quashing Judge Mary Fahy's refusal to recuse herself from a prosecution alleging the casino sold alcoholic beverages without a licence on 28 November 2015. The casino, which claims to be a private members club and therefore not required to hold a liquor licence, argued that Judge Fahy had previously made remarks in a 2015 case involving a company director, where she found the director guilty, imposed a six‑month suspended sentence, and stated that a "genuine casino" must have a licence. The casino contended that these remarks created a reasonable apprehension of bias, warranting the judge's recusal.
2017-01-17 · Galway
Edward Hanrahan faced the Court of Appeal in January 2017 following the dismissal of his judicial review proceedings in the High Court. Originally charged with three burglaries in Galway District Court in December 2009, Hanrahan absconded before his scheduled March 2010 hearing. He evaded gardaí for several years across multiple counties before being apprehended in a Donegal village in November 2014 whilst allegedly attempting to cross the border. Upon his recapture, two charges were withdrawn but one remained. The Director of Public Prosecutions subsequently directed trial in the Circuit Court rather than summarily. Hanrahan contested this decision as unfair and sought judicial review. The High Court rejected his application, finding no procedural breach. The Court of Appeal unanimously upheld this judgment, with Mr Justice George Birmingham stating the uncertainty surrounding the original District Court proceedings could not benefit Hanrahan, who bore sole responsibility for his flight and consequent circumstances.