Court archive
His Central Criminal Court
2021-05-19 · Sligo
A man from Sligo has been found guilty of murdering his wife at the Central Criminal Court. Rafal Karaczyn, aged thirty-five, of Crozon Park in Sligo, pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not guilty to murder for the unlawful killing of his wife Natalia on 29 April 2018. A jury of eleven members returned a guilty verdict for murder following a two-day deliberation, with ten jurors in agreement. The trial heard that Natalia had sought to leave her husband and have him removed from their home. When she returned to the family residence in the early hours of a Sunday morning, Karaczyn demanded to know where she had been. He subsequently strangled her. Karaczyn claimed provocation, asserting that his wife's slap and refusal to disclose her whereabouts caused him to lose self-control. The jury rejected this defence. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon imposed the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment. Following sentencing, Superintendent Mandy Gaynor commended the garda investigation and thanked the community in Sligo for their cooperation.
2020-10-27 · Limerick
A 39-year-old man, Alan Hanley, has appealed his rape conviction, arguing that the trial judge's inadvertent use of the word 'guilt' rather than 'innocence' should result in the conviction being quashed. Hanley, of no fixed abode, was convicted in the Central Criminal Court following three trials. The first jury failed to reach a verdict, the second convicted him, and the third returned a guilty verdict on one of three rape counts but failed to agree on the other two. Mr Justice Alex Owens sentenced him to 12 years in custody. During the appeal, Hanley's barrister, Seamus Clarke SC, submitted that the trial judge had erred in refusing to warn the jury that evidence of a complainant's distress amounted to weak corroboration, and that the judge had inadvertently used the word 'guilt' instead of 'innocence' when explaining the standard of proof and presumption of innocence. The judge had attempted to clarify the matter with the jury, but Mr Clarke argued that this only confused the jurors further. The appeal was heard by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, Justice George Birmingham, and Justice Aileen Donnelly, who reserved judgment.
2018-02-26 · Mayo
A 40-year-old man from Ballyhaunis, County Mayo has entered a not guilty plea to the charge of murdering his infant son at the Central Criminal Court. John Tighe of Lavallyroe was arraigned on the allegation that he killed his son on 1 June 2013 at his home. Justice Patrick McCarthy informed the jury, comprising eight men and four women, that proceedings would commence the following day due to the judge's involvement in another trial. The case is anticipated to run for approximately two weeks.
2017-10-09 · Westmeath
The jury has resumed deliberations in the Central Criminal Court trial of Danny Keena, a 55‑year‑old farmer from Empor, Ballynacargy, who is charged with murdering his former partner, 43‑year‑old Brigid Maguire, by strangulation on 14 November 2015. Keena pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. He had previously strangled Maguire to the point of dizziness, and she and their two children left him only two months before her death. The defence seeks a manslaughter verdict on the grounds of provocation, citing that Maguire accused him of being a bad father. The prosecution argues that provocation is inappropriate, noting his prior strangulation and threats to kill her. Judge Patrick McCarthy reminded the jury that the only options were guilty of murder or not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, and that the accused's remorse was irrelevant.
2017-10-06 · Westmeath
The jury will resume deliberations on Monday in the Central Criminal Court trial of Danny Keena, a 55‑year‑old farmer from Empor, Ballynacargy, Co. Westmeath, who is charged with murdering his 43‑year‑old mother‑in‑law, Brigid Maguire, by strangulation on 14 November 2015. Keena pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter at her home on Main Street, Ballynacargy. He had previously strangled her to the point of dizziness, and she and her two children had left him only two months before her death. The defence seeks a manslaughter verdict on the basis of provocation, citing an alleged remark by Ms Maguire that he was a bad father to their son. The prosecution argues that the case is not suitable for a provocation defence, noting testimony that Keena had previously strangled her and threatened to kill her.
2017-07-25 · Mayo
A 30-year-old man from Ballina has been convicted of the murder of two elderly brothers at the Central Criminal Court. Alan Cawley was found guilty of killing Thomas Blaine, aged 69, and John Blaine, aged 76, at their home on New Antrim Street in Castlebar on 10 July 2013. Both men had learning difficulties and were receiving HSE care. Cawley had admitted the killings but pleaded not guilty to murder, arguing diminished responsibility due to mental health conditions. A jury rejected this defence after hearing evidence from psychiatric experts. Justice Paul Coffey imposed a mandatory life sentence, describing the attacks as "wanton" and "savage". A victim impact statement was read by a family member, who recalled the brothers as gentle men who had cared for each other and were valued members of their community.
2016-06-17 · Laois
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Deivydas Zigelis, aged 38, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter after stabbing 26‑year‑old Alexander Karpov, a Latvian, with a kitchen knife on 15 February 2014. Zigelis claimed he and Karpov had spent the day drinking with a friend in Laois, then returned to Portarlington where he stabbed Karpov after an argument. He said he had called Gardaí 30 minutes later. Zigelis described a history of drinking together, arguing rarely, and that Karpov had annoyed him while intoxicated. He asserted that if Karpov had brought food home with the cider, he would still be alive. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Butler, continues on Monday.
2014-05-23 · Laois
In May 2014 a man from Portlaoise, Robert Corbet, aged 25, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 30‑year‑old nanny Aoife Phelan. Corbet pleaded not guilty but admitted to strangling Phelan in his garage between 25 October and 7 November 2012. He claimed he had doubts about her pregnancy, that she threatened him, and that these threats caused him to lose control. He strangled her, covered her head with a plastic bag, tied her neck with cable ties, and placed her body in a barrel. He later buried the barrel in a pit on his property. Gardaí found the body and Corbet was convicted of murder. The jury found no provocation and the State described his actions as deliberate and calculated. Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan imposed a mandatory life sentence. The Phelan family left the courthouse without comment.