Dessie O'Hare, 61, of Slate Rock Road, Newtownhamilton, County Armagh, was charged with assault, false imprisonment and threatening to kill. The assault charge involves John Roche, whom O'Hare allegedly assaulted at The Towers, Garter Lane, Saggart, County Dublin, causing him harm and committing violent disorder. The false imprisonment charges involve Martin Byrne at Rathcoole and Saggart, and Lisa Byrne and Brandon Byrne at The Towers. O'Hare also faces a charge of threatening to kill Martin Byrne or cause him serious harm. All alleged offences date from 9 June 2015. O'Hare had been granted bail and a trial date of 29 April next year. On 8 June 2018 the Special Criminal Court varied his bail to allow him to travel to Lourdes with his wife from 6 to 12 July, provided he supplies travel documents and continues to sign in at a Garda station twice a week and obey a curfew from midnight to 5 a.m.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 5 June 2018, Thomas Fox (31), Regina Keogh (41) and Jonathan Keogh (32) pleaded not guilty to the murder of 36‑year‑old Gareth Hutch, nephew of Gerry "the Monk" Hutch. The prosecution, represented by Paul Burns SC, described the killing as pre‑planned and brutal, with all three accused allegedly participating in the attack. Burns alleged that the men, who were known to each other, had planned the shooting at Avondale House flats on North Cumberland Street. He presented evidence that the men approached Hutch in a car park, each carrying a handgun, and fired four shots that killed Hutch. The prosecution also claimed forensic links between the accused and vehicles, petrol cans, and other items recovered at the scene. The trial was scheduled to continue before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges, with a duration expected to exceed four weeks.
A Dublin man, Robert Day, aged 55, was found guilty of membership in an unlawful organisation, the Irish Republican Army (IRA), after Gardaí used bugging devices to listen to conversations in a private house in Castleknock where they believed an IRA meeting was taking place. Day had pleaded not guilty to the charge on 9 October 2015. In the non‑jury, three‑judge Special Criminal Court, the prosecution presented evidence that Gardaí had planted a bug in the house on 8 August 2015 to record conversations between alleged IRA members, including Day. The court accepted the chief superintendent's belief that Day was a member on that day, supported by Day's refusal to answer Gardaí's questions about his activities in the house and by the recorded conversations. The judges upheld the Gardaí's claim of privilege over the nature and deployment of the listening devices. Day was remanded on continuing bail until 11 June for a sentence hearing.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, the prosecution argued that all evidence should lead to a guilty verdict for Frederick 'Freddie' Thompson in the 2016 murder of David Douglas. Thompson, 37, pleaded not guilty. The prosecution highlighted DNA found in two alleged 'spotter' cars, CCTV footage identifying Thompson as a driver, and fingerprints linking him to a Ford Fiesta and a Mitsubishi Mirage. They also cited his history of breaking mobile phones. The defence contended that without proof Thompson was in the Fiesta at the time of the shooting, there was no case. The court rejected a defence application for a not‑guilty verdict, noting the CCTV evidence met the minimum admissibility standard. The judge remanded Thompson in custody until a judgment is delivered on 24 July. The case remains at the trial stage.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, the defence of Frederick 'Freddie' Thompson, aged 37, applied for a not‑guilty verdict in the murder of David Douglas. The court rejected the application. Thompson, who pleaded not guilty on 1 July 2016, was accused of being involved in a shooting that killed Douglas on Bridgefoot Street. The prosecution presented evidence that Thompson's DNA was found in two cars used in the shooting and that CCTV footage identified him as a driver. Thompson's counsel argued that the evidence was scant, that there was no forensic link to the vehicles, and that the CCTV footage was blurred and flawed. The court upheld the admissibility of the CCTV evidence and declined to alter its earlier decision, with both sides expected to present closing arguments later that day.
Larry McCarthy, aged 37, was convicted by a non‑jury Special Criminal Court of assaulting cyclist David Foran, aged 33, on 25 November 2014 at Cornmarket Villas, Limerick. McCarthy pleaded not guilty but was found guilty of assault and threatening to use unlawful violence. He was sentenced to six years' imprisonment on 31 July 2017. McCarthy appealed in April 2018, challenging the admission of Foran's initial statement under section 16 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. The appeal argued that Foran's identification of McCarthy was unreliable and that the statement should not have been admitted. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice Alan Mahon, rejected the appeal, affirming that the admission of the statement was correct and that McCarthy's conviction remained upheld. No further procedural developments were reported in the article.
A 26-year-old Dublin man has been remanded in custody pending sentencing at the Special Criminal Court following his guilty pleas to assault and false imprisonment offences. Donal O'Hara, of Glin Park, Coolock, Dublin 17, admitted assaulting John Roche at The Towers, Saggart, County Dublin on June 9, 2015, and falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at Rathcoole and Saggart. False imprisonment charges against two other individuals were taken into consideration. The court heard that Mr Byrne, a security worker, was brought to an office meeting where multiple men entered and told him he would be removed from his residence by day's end. He was subsequently driven to The Towers in a three-vehicle convoy, where Mr Roche was located and assaulted by five men including O'Hara. Gardaí attended following a resident's emergency call. Forensic evidence linked O'Hara to the assault. The defendant has previous convictions for assault causing harm and aggravated burglary. The three-judge court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, ordered a probation report and remanded O'Hara in custody until July 24.
The Special Criminal Court will hold a non‑jury trial next week for Thomas Fox, Regina Keogh and Jonathan Keogh, who are accused of murdering 35‑year‑old Gareth Hutch. Hutch was shot outside his Dublin home on 24 May 2016. The trial, originally scheduled for this afternoon, was adjourned to Tuesday morning after additional evidence was presented. The accused remain remanded in custody. The hearing will be presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Patricia Ryan and Michael Walsh.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Kevin Braney (44) and Ciaran Maguire (30) were found guilty of membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The court considered evidence that on 13 July 2017 the men travelled from Dublin to Longwood, County Meath, where they threatened an accident victim, saying they were the IRA and would shoot him if he did not withdraw a claim against a former employer. The victim, who had suffered injuries after falling from a roof, had filed a claim for unpaid wages and hospital bills. The court accepted belief evidence from Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Maguire that the men were IRA members, and corroborated this with CCTV and National Surveillance Unit testimony. The judge concluded beyond reasonable doubt that the men were IRA members and that their threats were deliberate intimidation. The defendants remain in custody until sentencing on 24 July.
The prosecution has closed its case in the Special Criminal Court murder trial of 37‑year‑old Frederick "Freddie" Thompson, who pleaded not guilty to the July 2016 killing of 55‑year‑old David Douglas on Bridgefoot Street. The 10‑day trial heard that Douglas was shot six times shortly after 4 pm while taking a break at his partner's shop, Shoestown. A semi‑automatic pistol with its serial number removed was found beside Douglas's head. The prosecution did not argue that Thompson fired the shots, but the judges heard that his DNA was found in two alleged "spotter" cars used in the shooting and that CCTV footage identified him as the driver of one of those cars. Witness testimony described a silver Mercedes and a silver Suzuki involved in the escape, and CCTV footage showed Thompson leaving a Ford Fiesta on Meath Street and handing a key to a woman at a stall.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Robert Day, 55, of Cabra, Dublin, pleaded not guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on 9 October 2015. The prosecution alleged that Gardaí had planted a listening device in a private house in Castleknock on 8 August 2015 to record conversations between alleged IRA members, including Day. Defence counsel Padraig Dwyer argued that the evidence was insufficient, citing the reliance on a chief superintendent's belief, interview tactics that allow inferences from non‑answers, and Day's visit to the house. Dwyer also challenged the credibility of a detective who claimed to have identified Day's voice on the recording, urging the court to give that evidence zero weight. He noted no evidence of Day's involvement in ongoing unlawful activity and suggested that Day might have been a former IRA member or merely attended a meeting.
A 67-year-old man from Drumlish, County Longford, has sought to have his appeal heard in Irish at the Court of Appeal. Donall Billings was convicted by the Special Criminal Court of possessing an explosive substance at Longford railway station car park in May 2011, and of making false bomb reports during Queen Elizabeth's State visit to Ireland that same month. He was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years imprisonment. The charges included placing a device on a Dublin-bound bus and making hoax threats targeting Busáras, Sinn Féin headquarters, Dublin Castle, and Cork airport. Mr Justice George Birmingham indicated the case would return to a management list to facilitate proceedings conducted in Irish. Billings was not present at the hearing to fix dates for his appeal.
Frederick 'Freddie' Thompson, aged 37, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of shoe shop manager David Douglas, who was shot six times on Bridgefoot Street on 1 July 2016. The Special Criminal Court heard that Thompson's DNA was found in two alleged 'spotter' cars used in the shooting and that he was identified in CCTV footage as the driver of one of those cars. Thompson's barrister, Michael O'Higgins SC, argued that the private CCTV footage used by the State was unlawfully created by property owners who had not registered their systems with the Data Protection Commissioner and had no warning signs. He claimed the footage breached Thompson's right to privacy and should be deemed inadmissible. Prosecutor Sean Gillane SC countered that no legal authority supports such an argument and that there is no reasonable expectation of privacy in the circumstances. The judges will decide tomorrow.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Robert Day, 47, of Cabra, Dublin, pleaded not guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Defence counsel Padraig Dwyer SC applied for the judges to discharge themselves from the trial, citing prejudicial material presented by the prosecution in a separate matter. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Robert Eagar with Judges Patricia Ryan and James Faughnan, will decide the application on Monday. The case involves alleged IRA activity, including a bug planted by gardai in a Castleknock house to record conversations among suspected members.
During the non‑jury Special Criminal Court hearing on the murder of David Douglas, Detective Sergeant Adrian Whitelaw identified Frederick 'Freddie' Thompson, 37, as the man in one of four alleged 'spotter' cars used in the shooting. Whitelaw testified that he had seen a photograph of himself with Thompson a few months earlier and that Thompson's DNA had been found in two of the cars. He also identified Thompson in CCTV footage from Little Caesar's Restaurant and from a stall on Meath Street, describing him as wearing a dark top and a black baseball cap. Whitelaw could not identify the two females in the footage. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Flannan Brennan and Gerard Griffin presiding. Thompson has pleaded not guilty to the murder.
Gary Gleeson (34) and Stephen Dunne (39) pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court to possessing a 9mm Luger semi‑automatic pistol and 10 rounds of 9mm Sellier and Bellot ammunition with intent to endanger life. The offence occurred at Naas Road, Crumlin on 7 August. Dunne, who lives on Meile an Ri Drive, Lucan, and Gleeson, of Muskerry Road, Ballyfermot, had earlier faced conspiracy to murder charges involving Michael Frazer. Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges Gerard Griffin and Flann Brennan, remanded them in custody for a sentence hearing on 22 June, allowing time for report preparation.
During the fifth day of the 37‑year‑old Frederick 'Freddie' Thompson's trial in the Special Criminal Court, the judges were shown CCTV footage of the shooting that killed 55‑year‑old David Douglas on Bridgefoot Street. The footage captured Douglas moving toward the shop entrance at 4.11 pm, a dark figure approaching, and Douglas being shot. It also showed Douglas's daughter arriving to help. Additional footage displayed a man leaving a Ford Fiesta on Meath Street, speaking to a woman at a stall, and breaking a mobile phone to hand parts to her. Garda Ciaran Byrne presented the clips, while the prosecution argued that Thompson was a spotter in the vehicles used in the shooting, with DNA found in two cars. The defense did not contest Thompson's identification in the footage. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges. The unnamed 37-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In the 'Freddie' Thompson murder trial, forensic evidence showed Thompson's DNA on a hand sanitiser and an air freshener recovered from alleged spotter cars used in the shooting of Dublin shoe shop manager David Douglas. Douglas, 55, was shot six times while eating at the shop counter and died from concussion, brain haemorrhage, facial injuries and obstructed breathing. The prosecution argues Thompson was in one of the spotter cars, not the shooter, and that four vehicles operated together that day. Professor Marie Cassidy testified to Douglas's injuries and cause of death, noting half the shots came from different directions, indicating movement by one or both parties. Forensic scientist Sarah Fleming matched Thompson's DNA to items in a Mitsubishi and a Ford Fiesta, estimating the chance of a coincidental match as less than one in a billion. No DNA was found on the gun or cartridges. The trial continues with a legal issue on admissibility of evidence. The unnamed 37-year-old pleaded not guilty.
During a Special Criminal Court hearing, Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard testified that the Irish Republican Army remains "very active" in both northern and southern jurisdictions of Ireland. He stated that Robert Day, 55, is charged with membership in the IRA, a claim he believes holds on the date of the charge. Howard claimed privilege over the evidence supporting his opinion, citing protection of lives, public interest and State security, and offered the material to the judges while noting that even the Director of Public Prosecutions lacks access. The trial is scheduled to continue the following day.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, a detective confirmed that the voice on an audio recording of alleged dissident interviews belonged to Robert Day, a 55‑year‑old from Cabra, Dublin 7, who is charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styled as the Irish Republican Army. The court had previously heard that Gardaí had planted a bug in a private house to record conversations among alleged IRA members. Mr Justice Robert Eagar ruled that the evidence identifying Day's voice, which the defence had objected to, was admissible. Detective Sergeant Padraig Boyce, of the Special Detective Unit, testified that on 8 August 2015 he had seen Day arriving at and leaving the house in Castleknock, and that photographs in court showed him outside the house. Boyce, who has known Day for over 13 years, listened to the recording and recognised Day as the last man interviewed on that day, stating he was 100% certain.
The trial of Freddie Thompson, 37, for the alleged murder of David Douglas on July 1, 2016, continued before the Special Criminal Court. Mr Thompson, of Maryland, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to the killing of the 55-year-old shoe shop manager on Bridgefoot Street. Prosecutors allege that four vehicles operated in concert during the incident, which resulted in Mr Douglas being shot six times. While the prosecution does not argue that Mr Thompson physically fired the weapon, they seek to infer he was one of the 'many fingers on the trigger.' On the third day of the trial, witnesses Deivydas Kukanavza and Iveta Sutkote testified regarding a separate incident on Strand Road on July 4, 2016. They described a Mitsubishi repeatedly crashing into a parked silver Suzuki Swift before an occupant poured petrol over the vehicle and set it alight. Ms Sutkote identified the Mitsubishi's registration number, which was later provided to gardai. The court heard that the Mitsubishi was subsequently stopped by police, with a smell of petrol detected inside. Mr Thompson's fingerprints were found within the vehicle. The prosecution characterised the silver Suzuki as the 'ultimate getaway car,' noting it had been stolen from Greystones. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Flannan Brennan, and Judge Gerard Griffin, with proceedings scheduled to continue on Tuesday.
During the second day of the 37‑year‑old Frederick "Freddie" Thompson's murder trial, a fingerprint expert presented evidence that Thompson's prints were found on two cars the prosecution says were linked to the killing of Dublin shoe shop manager David Douglas. Thompson, who lives on Loreto Road, Maryland, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Douglas on 1 July 2016. Douglas was shot six times in the head, neck and throat while eating a curry in his partner's shop, Shoestown, on Bridgefoot Street. A semi‑automatic pistol with its serial number removed was found next to Douglas's head. The court heard that four vehicles and their occupants, including Thompson, were operating in concert that day. Detective Garda Raymond Kane testified that fingerprints from a blue Mitsubishi Mirage and a silver Ford Fiesta matched Thompson, and that a finger mark on the Mirage's rear‑view mirror was his.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Robert Day, aged 55, pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation, claiming to be part of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The court heard that Garda detectives had planted a bug in a private house in Castleknock to record conversations between alleged IRA members. Detective Garda Leanna Cruise, of the Special Detective Unit, interviewed Day on 9 and 10 October 2015. She noted that Day refused to answer questions about suspected dissident activity, and when asked about his alleged 27‑year service with the IRA and his presence at the Castleknock house on 8 August, he made no response. The court held a voir‑dite to determine a legal issue, and the case will continue tomorrow before Mr Justice Robert Eagar, Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge James Faughnan.
Dessie O'Hare, 61, of Newtownhamilton, County Armagh, appeared at the Special Criminal Court where his trial was scheduled for April 29 next year. He is accused of assaulting John Roche, causing him harm, and committing violent disorder by threatening to use unlawful violence at The Towers, Garter Lane, Saggart, County Dublin. O'Hare also faces three charges of false imprisonment involving Martin Byrne, Lisa Byrne, and Brandon Byrne, as well as a charge of threatening to kill Martin Byrne or cause him serious harm. All alleged offences date from June 9, 2015. Justice Robert Eagar, sitting with Judges Patricia Ryan and James Faughnan, set the trial date. O'Hare is currently on bail. His co-accused, Donal O'Hara, 26, of Coolock, Dublin, pleaded guilty to assaulting John Roche, causing him harm, at the same address on the same date. O'Hara will be sentenced on May 30 next at the Special Criminal Court. The matter regarding O'Hare was adjourned for trial, while O'Hara's case was adjourned for sentencing.
During the Special Criminal Court hearing, Detective Garda Leanna Cruise testified that she had been briefed in October 2015 about IRA activities in Dublin. She was told that in August, IRA members from Belfast had interviewed members of the Dublin brigade in a house in Castleknock, and that Robert Day, 55, had been seen entering that house. Cruise also noted that Day was arrested in Cabra on 9 October 2015. The court allowed audio recordings from the Castleknock house as evidence, and the trial continues before Justice Eagar, Patricia Ryan and James Faughnan.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, two men, Kevin Braney, 44, and Ciaran Maguire, 30, pleaded not guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The prosecution alleged that on 13 July 2017 the accused travelled from Dublin to Longwood, County Meath, where Braney threatened a man, saying they were the IRA and that if he did not drop a claim against a former employer they would shoot him. The prosecution relied on Chief Superintendent Tom Maguire's opinion that the men were IRA members, CCTV evidence, and testimony from the National Surveillance Unit. Defence counsel argued that the chief superintendent's opinion was unsubstantiated, that there was no reliable evidence of the threat, and that the likelihood of two men threatening a victim in a built‑up area was low. Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges Gerard Griffin and Flann Brennan, announced that a verdict would be delivered on 30 May.
Daniel Kane, 29, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to five years' imprisonment, with one year suspended, for false imprisonment, and three years for assault, the sentences running concurrently. Kane admitted assaulting John Roche on 9 June 2015, striking him twice on the left side of the face, and falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne on the same day. The court described a "mob" that had been recruited to intimidate and evict Byrne and his family from their townhouse, The Towers, owned by Byrne's employer. Kane was said to have played a leading part in the pursuit and assault of Roche, forcibly removing him from the house and restraining him while he received multiple punches and kicks. The judge noted the event was permeated by serious intimidation and violence, and that Kane's guilty plea and lack of disguise were mitigating factors.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, a National Surveillance Unit garda reported seeing Kevin Braney (44) and Ciaran Maguire (30) walk up the driveway of a house in Longwood, County Meath, where a man had claimed the men threatened to shoot him. The garda, whose identity is protected, stated that he was in Longwood on the evening of 13 July 2017 and observed a Ford Mondeo parked opposite the alleged victim's house. He then saw Braney and Maguire approach the house. The prosecution alleges that one of the men told the victim they were IRA members and threatened to shoot him if he did not drop a claim against a former employer. Braney and Maguire pleaded not guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army. The court ruled that an interview conducted with Maguire under a section allowing inferences from refusal to answer questions was inadmissible. The trial will continue with closing speeches tomorrow.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, two Dublin men, Kevin Braney, 44, and Ciaran Maguire, 30, both pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styled the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The prosecution alleged that on 2 August 2017, one accused told another man in Longwood, County Meath that they were the IRA and threatened to shoot him if he did not drop a claim against a former employer. The defence challenged the admissibility of the interviews. Detective Garda Brian Power and Detective Sergeant Carrie O'Connor each interviewed the accused on that date, invoking Section 2 of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act, 1998, which allows inferences from a suspect's refusal to answer questions. Both men answered no questions. Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges Gerard Griffin and Flann Brennan, scheduled a ruling on the admissibility issue for the following morning. The trial continues.
Four men—Alan Wilson (39), Liam Brannigan (37), Joseph Kelly (35) and Luke Wilson (23)—are charged with conspiracy to murder Gary Hanley at a State location between 15 September and 6 November last year. Wilson and Kelly also face conspiracy to murder an unknown person at Talbot Street between 11 and 15 September. Kelly and Luke are charged with possession of a Beretta handgun and fifteen rounds of ammunition with intent to endanger life on 6 November. The court ordered the case to be tried before the Special Criminal Court.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Kevin Braney (44) and Ciaran Maguire (30) pleaded not guilty to IRA membership. They told a witness that they would shoot him if he did not drop a claim against a former employer. The witness, who was at home in Longwood on 13 July, heard heavy knocking, saw the two men, and was told they were IRA members. They claimed the witness had a claim against his former employer, who allegedly did work for republicans in Portlaoise prison, and urged him to drop the claim, calling it fraudulent. The witness said he was shocked and that he had indeed a claim for hospital bills after a fall on a roof. The court also heard that the men were seen driving from Dublin to Longwood that day. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
The Court of Appeal has reduced the prison sentences of Jonathan Dowdall and Patrick Dowdall, who pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to falsely imprisoning Alexander Hurley and threatening to kill him at their family home on January 15, 2015. The Court of Appeal found that the Special Criminal Court's criticisms regarding a Newton Hearing and the timing of their guilty pleas were not justified. Consequently, Jonathan Dowdall, a former Sinn Féin councillor, was re-sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, with the final 25 months suspended. His father, Patrick Dowdall, was re-sentenced to seven years imprisonment, with the final three years suspended. Both defendants were required to enter into good behaviour bonds for the suspended periods. The original sentences, handed down on June 1, 2017, were 12 years for Jonathan and eight years for Patrick. The appeal court noted that the offending was out of character for both men, who had no significant previous convictions, and accepted their expressions of remorse as genuine. The matter was concluded with these revised sentences.
Larry McCarthy, 37, of Limerick, is appealing a conviction for assaulting cyclist David Foran, 33, on 25 November 2014. The Special Criminal Court found McCarthy guilty of assault and threatening unlawful violence, sentencing him to six years' imprisonment on 31 July 2017. The case centred on Foran's claim that McCarthy struck him with a baseball bat and stabbed his leg with a knife after a confrontation at Cornmarket Villas. McCarthy's appeal focuses on the admission of Foran's initial Garda statement, which identified McCarthy, under section 16 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. McCarthy's counsel argues the statement was unreliable and that Foran later withdrew the complaint. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on the appeal. Larry McCarthy pleaded not guilty.
Daniel Kane, 29, pleaded guilty to assaulting John Roche and false imprisonment of Martin Byrne on 9 June 2015. The incidents occurred at The Towers, Garter Lane, Saggart, where Byrne, a security employee, was forced to vacate his residence. Kane and other men drove Byrne to a Honda Accord, struck him twice on the left side of the face, and threatened further harm. They then entered the complex, assaulted Roche, who was later found with blood on Kane's trousers. CCTV footage showed Kane holding Roche in a headlock before other men punched and kicked him. Byrne was later struck on the head and pushed to a chair. Kane was remanded in custody and will be sentenced by the Special Criminal Court next week.
A man charged with the murder of Peter Butterly appeared at the Special Criminal Court after his arrest in Spain. Dean Evans, aged 25, from Raheny in Dublin, failed to appear for trial in January 2017 for the alleged murder of Butterly, who was shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanstown, Co Meath in March 2013. Evans was arrested on April 5th in Spain pursuant to a European Arrest Warrant and consented to his return to Ireland. He was arrested again at Dublin Airport on Monday night. The court heard that Evans made no reply when cautioned. Mr Justice Tony Hunt indicated that Evans would be included in an October trial alongside three other men facing charges relating to the same alleged murder. Evans was remanded in custody pending a mention hearing on April 24th.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, judges ruled that the extensions to the detentions of Kevin Braney, 44, and Ciaran Maguire, 30, were lawful. Both men had pleaded not guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Defence counsel had objected to the extensions, and Rosario Boyle SC for Braney challenged the use of CCTV evidence. The court heard the arguments and, with Justice Tony Hunt presiding alongside Judges Gerard Griffin and Flann Brennan, announced that a ruling would be made the following day.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, two men, Kevin Braney, 44, and Ciaran Maguire, 30, who live in Dublin, have pleaded not guilty to charges of membership in the Irish Republican Army. The prosecution alleges that Braney told a man in Longwood, County Meath, that they were "the IRA" and threatened to shoot him if he did not drop a claim against a former employer. Defence counsel objected to the legality of the arrests. Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges Gerard Griffin and Flann Brennan, announced that the court will decide the legal dispute tomorrow.
Seán Hannaway, 48, of Belfast, is on trial for alleged IRA membership. He pleaded not guilty on 8 August 2015. His trial began in January and will resume on 5 June. The Chief State Solicitor's Office did not oppose his request to change bail conditions and return his passport. Judge Robert Eagar, with Judges Patricia Ryan and James Faughnan, granted the request. Hannaway may travel to Gran Canaria for five days, but must hand the passport to his solicitor within 24 hours of his return.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Maguire testified that he believed Kevin Braney, aged 44, and Ciaran Maguire, aged 30, were members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on the day in question. He based this belief on confidential information. Detective Sergeant Padraig Boyce provided evidence of Braney's association with individuals previously convicted by the Special Criminal Court, noting Braney's presence outside the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin on 3 February, conversing with Ciaran Burke, a 2012 firearms conviction. Boyce also mentioned Braney's attendance at an "anti-supergrass protest." The defendants pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation. The case is being heard by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Gerard Griffin and Flann Brennan presiding. The trial continues.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, two men, Kevin Braney (43) and Ciaran Maguire (29), pleaded not guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army. Prosecutor Fiona Murphy presented belief evidence from Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Maguire that the accused were IRA members on the day in question. She also introduced evidence that on 13 July 2016 Braney and Maguire travelled to Longwood, County Meath, where they confronted a man involved in a dispute with a former employer. The men allegedly told the man that if he did not drop a claim against his former employer, the next time they saw him they would shoot him. The prosecution also cited the men's arrest on 2 August 2017 and subsequent Garda interview, arguing that their failure to answer investigative questions should be inferred. The case is before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Gerard Griffin and Flann Brennan presiding.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Robert Day, 56, of Cabra, Dublin 7, pleaded not guilty to a charge of membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Day refused to stand when arraigned and responded "totally not guilty" to the charge of belonging to an unlawful organisation. The prosecution, represented by Anne‑Marie Lawlor SC, presented evidence from a Garda Chief Superintendent who asserted that Day was a member of the IRA on the relevant date. This belief was to be supported by audio recordings of conversations at a private residence in Castleknock, captured by the National Surveillance Unit. Lawlor noted that the device was deployed on 7 August 2015 at Riverwood Park and that the conversations could only suggest that those present were involved in IRA‑related activity.
Jonathan Dowdall, aged 39, and his father Patrick Dowdall, aged 62, were sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to 12 and 8 years respectively for the false imprisonment and torture of Alexander Hurley on 15 January 2015. Video evidence showed Jonathan wearing a balaclava, holding a tea‑towel over Hurley's face and pouring water on him, while Patrick threatened to pull off Hurley's fingers with pliers. Both pleaded guilty. The Dowdalls have lodged appeals in the Court of Appeal, where judgment has been reserved. The court's decision was based on the video footage and the defendants' admissions, with counsel for the Dowdalls arguing mitigating circumstances such as financial distress and mental health issues. The appeal will be heard in April, with the court's judgment pending.
Patrick Hutch, aged 25, pleaded not guilty to the murder of David Byrne, 34, at the Regency Hotel on 5 February 2016, and denied possession of three AK47 assault rifles linked to the shooting. The Special Criminal Court adjourned the trial for a further three months to allow an enquiry into the death of Detective Superintendent Colm Fox, who had led the investigation into the fatal shooting. Senior prosecuting counsel Sean Gillane SC reported "considerable progress" in the enquiry, noting separate themes covering documentary material, electronic data and witness statements. Michael O'Higgins SC, representing Hutch, said the adjournment was inevitable and that the defence would apply for liberty if the matter did not proceed quickly enough. The court remanded Hutch in custody until 9 July, when the case will be listed for mention again.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in a trial concerning alleged IRA membership and assistance. Edward O'Brien, 42, of Finglas, Dublin, is pleading not guilty to membership of an unlawful organization, namely the IRA, on August 8, 2015. The prosecution alleges gardai used surveillance to record interviews regarding failed IRA operations at a house in Castleknock. O'Brien's counsel objected to the admissibility of his interview under Section 2 of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act, 1998, which permits inferences from a refusal to answer questions. Evidence was heard in a voir dire. Detective Garda Michael Morris testified that O'Brien stated he was not an IRA member but made no comment regarding his movements on August 7 and 8, or involvement in interviewing another man. Four co-accused are also arraigned. Kevin Hannaway, 69, and Eva Shannon, 60, both of Belfast, are pleading not guilty to knowingly rendering assistance to the IRA by assisting in interviews at Riverwood Park on August 7 and 8, 2015. David Nooney, 53, of Ballymun, and Seán Hannaway, 48, of Belfast, are pleading not guilty to IRA membership on August 8, 2015. The trial continues before Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, sitting with Judges Gerard Griffin and Gerard Haughton.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of David Nooney, 53, of Ballymun, Dublin, who is pleading not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation, namely the IRA, on August 8, 2015. Prosecution counsel Tara Burns SC presented testimony from Detective Garda Ronan Judge, who stated that Nooney failed to answer questions during an interview at Irishtown Garda Station on August 9, 2015. The detectives invoked Section 2 of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act, 1998, allowing the court to draw inferences from his refusal to respond to allegations regarding a trusted role with senior IRA members and securing a safe-house in Blanchardstown. In a subsequent interview, Nooney stated he was not an IRA member. The prosecution alleges gardai used surveillance devices to record interviews at Riverwood Park, Castleknock, conducted to further an unlawful objective. Four co-accused are also arraigned: Kevin Hannaway, 69, and Eva Shannon, 60, both of Belfast, plead not guilty to knowingly rendering assistance to the IRA on August 7 and 8, 2015. Edward O'Brien, 42, of Finglas, and Seán Hannaway, 48, of Belfast, plead not guilty to IRA membership on August 8, 2015. The trial continues before Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, sitting with Judges Gerard Griffin and Gerard Haughton.
Sean Walsh, 51, of St John's Well, Fair Hill, Co Cork, was found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and sentenced to three and a half years in prison, backdated to his arrest on 14 December 2016. The court heard that in November and December 2016 Walsh met with three other men at a house on Old Commons Road, Blackrock, where a fourth man was shot dead on 7 December. Gardaí searched the house's attic and found a bag containing two firearms, 14 rounds of ammunition, latex gloves and a black woolly hat that matched Walsh's DNA. Later that evening, Walsh was found in a house in Cobh with two other men, carrying a sawn‑off shotgun, a Walther pistol and loose ammunition.
Daniel Kane, 29, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to assaulting John Roche on 9 June 2015, causing him harm, and to falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne on the same day. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Patricia Ryan and Ann Ryan, remanded Kane in custody until 18 April, when sentencing will occur.
Two Dublin men, Garry Gleeson, 34, of Ballyfermot, and Stephen Dunne, 38, of South Lucan, are charged with conspiring to murder Michael Frazer between 28 July and 7 August 2017. The State Solicitor, Michael O'Donovan, informed the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions had applied for an order to have the men tried before the Special Criminal Court. Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges Patricia Ryan and Ann Ryan, granted the order, allowing the case to proceed in the non‑jury Special Criminal Court.
Dessie O'Hare, aged 61 and resident of Slate Rock Road, Newtownhamilton, County Armagh, will be tried at the Special Criminal Court on 22 March 2018. He faces charges of assaulting John Roche, causing him harm, and committing violent disorder at The Towers, Garter Lane, Saggart, County Dublin, as well as threatening to use unlawful violence. O'Hare is also charged with three counts of false imprisonment involving Martin Byrne, Lisa Byrne and Brandon Byrne, and with threatening to kill or seriously harm Martin Byrne. All alleged offences date from 9 June 2015. He is currently on bail.
A Cork man has been granted a date to appeal his conviction for membership of an unlawful organisation. Martin McHale, aged 54, was found guilty by the Special Criminal Court in 2017 following an incident in Monaghan in November 2013. He had claimed to gardaí that he travelled to the county for a social occasion and was unaware of fertiliser in the van he was driving. The court rejected his account, finding he had full knowledge of the contents and was a trusted transporter of the material. McHale was sentenced to four-and-a-half years imprisonment in February 2017. His appeal hearing has been scheduled for 19 July and is expected to last approximately half a day. McHale was not present at the Court of Appeal procedural hearing in Dublin.