Two men have gone on trial at the Special Criminal Court, where they deny possessing 2.2 tonnes of cocaine for sale or supply on board the Panamanian cargo ship MV Matthew. Iranian Saeid Hassani (39) and Filipino Harold Estoesta (31) were arraigned and pleaded not guilty to all charges. They are alleged to have possessed controlled drugs, namely cocaine, for the purpose of selling or supplying them in contravention of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations, 2017 to 2023, on September 24, 2023, within the State's territorial sea. They are further charged with possessing cocaine for sale or supply to a value of €13,000 or more between September 24 and 26, 2023, at locations outside the State. Each man also faces a charge of participating in or contributing to the activity of a criminal organisation with knowledge of its existence, intending to facilitate a serious offence. The trial is due to begin before the non-jury Special Criminal Court, with Ms Justice Melanie Greally presiding over the three-judge court. Four co-accused – Ukrainians Mykhailo Gavryk (32) and Vitaliy Vlasoi (32), Iranian Soheil Jelveh (51), and Dutch national Cumali Ozgen (49) – last week pleaded guilty to similar offences connected to the seizure. The 2.25 tonnes of cocaine seized from the MV Matthew has an estimated value of more than €157 million. The ship was boarded in a dramatic operation by the Army Rangers in September 2023.
Nathan McDonnell, a former chief executive of Ballyseedy Garden Centre, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to importing methylamphetamine and directing a criminal organisation. The trial heard that McDonnell was to be paid €150,000 to store a machine containing 564kg of crystal meth, valued at €32.4 million, before its export to Australia. Prosecutors alleged the drugs were imported from Mexico via the Sinaloa Cartel. While the State asserted McDonnell facilitated the operation, it was noted that a different individual was charged with directing the criminal organisation. McDonnell admitted to storing the machine and arranging its shipment but claimed he was unaware of its contents. He has no previous convictions. Ms Justice Melanie Greally, presiding with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Grainne Malone, remanded McDonnell in custody. The court stated it hoped to finalise the case by the end of the month. Co-accused James Leen was also present. The matter was adjourned for sentencing.
Four men were remanded in custody until February 24 after pleading guilty to possessing 2.25 tonnes of cocaine for supply on the Panamanian-registered vessel MV Matthew. The defendants, Mykhailo Gavryk, Vitaliy Vlasoi, Soheil Jelveh, and Cumali Ozgen, appeared before the Special Criminal Court following the refusal of their application to dismiss charges. The seized cocaine, valued at over €157 million, represents the largest such seizure in Irish history. The court listed the case for mention on February 24 to fix a sentencing date. Separately, Vitaliy Lapa pleaded guilty to attempted possession of cocaine for supply and participation in a criminal organisation. He is scheduled to appear for sentencing later this year. UK national Jamie Harbron also pleaded guilty to attempted possession of cocaine for sale or supply and will appear for a sentencing hearing later this year. Two other defendants, Saeid Hassani and Harold Estoesta, are set to stand trial on Monday before the Special Criminal Court. The court noted that the guilty pleas were acceptable to the Director of Public Prosecutions on a full facts basis.
The Special Criminal Court has refused an application by six men to dismiss charges related to the seizure of 2.25 tonnes of cocaine from the MV Matthew, the largest such seizure in Irish history. The defendants, including Ukrainians Mykhailo Gavryk and Vitaliy Vlasoi, Iranians Soheil Jelveh and Saeid Hassani, Dutch national Cumali Ozgen, and Filipino Harold Estoesta, are charged with drug trafficking offences at sea. The court, presided over by Ms Justice Melanie Greally, delivered its judgment under Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act 1999, which prohibits reporting of the evidence and arguments. Following the decision, Ms Justice Greally adjourned the matter until tomorrow to allow time for the defence to assimilate the ruling. Separately, Ukrainian national Vitaliy Lapa pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply, with a market value of at least €13,000. He also faces a charge of participating in a criminal organisation, though his status regarding this specific allegation remains contested. UK national Jamie Harbron previously pleaded guilty to an offence arising from the seizure and is scheduled to appear for sentencing later this year. The source text does not specify sentences or finalisations for Lapa or Harbron, nor does it detail the outcome for the six men beyond the refusal of their dismissal application and the subsequent adjournment.
Alan Harte, who is serving a 30-year sentence for the false imprisonment and assault of Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney in County Cavan in September 2019, has been ordered to pay the State's costs following the dismissal of his appeal at the Court of Appeal. Harte had challenged the High Court's refusal to judicially review the Director of Public Prosecutions' decision to prosecute him in the non-jury Special Criminal Court. The three-judge panel found that the legal issues raised were moot and declined to depart from the standard procedure against hearing moot cases. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy delivered the costs order, noting that the appellant had been unsuccessful and there was no reason to depart from normal procedure. Harte's legal team had acknowledged that even without the time restriction issue, the case would have failed on its merits. Alan Harte was convicted. Kevin Lunney was convicted.
Ukrainian national Vitaliy Lapa pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to attempting to possess cocaine for supply, an offence committed between September 21 and 25, 2023. The court accepted the plea on a full facts basis. Lapa also faces a separate charge of facilitating a serious offence by a criminal organisation, which the prosecution stated would be dealt with in the usual way. Ms Justice Melanie Greally, presiding with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Grainne Malone, remanded Lapa in custody until February 24 for a case mention. She declined to order a probation report at this stage but indicated it might be considered later. Lapa was one of seven men linked to the seizure of 2.25 tonnes of cocaine from the MV Matthew, the largest such seizure in Irish history. The other six accused—Mykhailo Gavryk, Vitaliy Vlasoi, Soheil Jelveh, Saeid Hassani, Cumali Ozgen, and Harold Estoesta—applied to have their drug trafficking charges dismissed. The court is scheduled to rule on these applications this week. Separately, UK national Jamie Harbron previously pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply arising from the same incident. He is awaiting a sentencing hearing later this year.
During a sentencing hearing at the Special Criminal Court, Vera Hutch, mother of Gareth Hutch, recounted the impact of her son's murder in an ambush outside his home on 24 May 2016. She described the loss as "senseless and cruel", noting the profound grief and ongoing pain that has altered her family's life. The court had earlier found Thomas 'Nicky' McConnell guilty of the murder, sentencing him to a mandatory life term backdated to 20 July 2020, when he was extradited from Turkey. McConnell was identified as the second gunman in the attack, alongside Jonathan Keogh, who shot Gareth. The court relied on mobile‑phone data, CCTV footage and other evidence to establish McConnell's role, despite his gun's safety catch being on. The hearing highlighted the enduring emotional scars left by the crime and the family's plea for justice.
Four men accused of conspiring to import more than €13,000 of controlled drugs into Ireland between 27 February and 14 March 2024 have had their cases transferred to the non‑jury Special Criminal Court. The transfer was granted by Ms Justice Melanie Greally, sitting with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Grainne Malone, after an ex‑parte application by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The defendants – Pedro Pablo Ojeda Ortega (36) of Cadiz, Aleksandar Milic (27) of Belgrade, Juan Antonio Gallardo Barroso (56) of Spain, and Anuar Rahui Chairi (42) of Malaga – are charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 with conspiring to import controlled drugs in excess of the statutory threshold. The decision follows the earlier transfer of six other men, including one from Northern Ireland, to the Special Criminal Court. The men were arrested in March during operations near Skibbereen, where vehicles and a rigid inflatable boat were seized as part of the suspected smuggling operation.
Three men—Noah Musueni, David Amah, and Michael Andrecut—will be judged next month on whether they murdered Tristan Sherry, who fatally shot Jason Hennessy Snr in Browne's Steakhouse on Christmas Eve 2023. The Special Criminal Court adjourned the case to 17 February, stating it cannot yet deliver a judgment. The trial heard that Sherry entered the restaurant on 24 December, shot Hennessy, and was then dragged to the ground and beaten to death. The prosecution claims Sherry died from blunt force injuries and stab wounds delivered while he lay on the ground after being disarmed. Defence lawyers argue the accused acted out of fear, self‑defence, or provocation, citing Sherry's opening fire on a group that included children. All three men have pleaded not guilty. Additionally, Jonas Kabangu, Diarmuid O'Brien, and Brandon Hennessy are charged with violent disorder at the same event, and have also pleaded not guilty. The court will decide the outcome on 17 February.
A man serving a 30-year sentence for the kidnapping and torture of a Quinn Industrial Holdings director has failed in his Court of Appeal challenge against a refusal to extend time for seeking judicial review of his non-jury trial. Alan Harte was convicted in the Special Criminal Court of falsely imprisoning and causing serious harm to Kevin Lunney at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, County Cavan on 17 September 2019. Harte had sought to challenge the Director of Public Prosecutions' decision to prosecute him before the Special Criminal Court rather than the ordinary courts, arguing the court's continued existence exceeded statutory powers. The High Court dismissed his application on the grounds it was brought outside the three-month time limit. Ms Justice Tara Burns dismissed the appeal today, finding the legal issues raised were "moot" and that no practical benefit would arise from determining them, as Harte's trial had concluded and the Special Criminal Court's validity had been upheld by the Supreme Court.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, lawyers for Eric O'Driscoll, aged 22, requested maximum leniency in sentencing for a firearms offence. O'Driscoll was filmed on a phone video taking a .223 calibre Remington AR‑15 semi‑automatic rifle from another man and firing it from the rear of a Dublin home in Finglas. The rifle, seized in February 2022, was in good condition and had been successfully fired by a garda ballistics examiner. O'Driscoll pleaded guilty in January 2022 to possession of the rifle at that address, with circumstances suggesting unlawful possession. He also faces charges of reckless discharge of a firearm and possession of a .380 ACP calibre Ingram M11 sub‑machine gun. The court will consider a probation and governor's report before deciding the sentence. The maximum penalty for the offence is 14 years, but the counsel argued for a lower, rehabilitative sentence.
Thomas 'Nicky' McConnell, aged 38, was found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of murdering Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch's nephew Gareth Hutch in a Dublin ambush eight years earlier. The court, led by Mr Justice Alexander Owens, concluded that McConnell was the second gunman alongside Jonathan Keogh, who fired the fatal shots. McConnell's firearm was later discovered with the safety engaged and did not discharge, yet the court determined his preparatory actions and intent linked him to the murder. Evidence included mobile phone data, CCTV footage, and McConnell's own false statements to Gardaí. McConnell had previously pleaded not guilty. He now faces a mandatory life sentence, to be imposed on January 27, 2025. The verdict follows earlier convictions of Regina Keogh, Jonathan Keogh, and Thomas Fox for the same murder. The trial, delayed for 16 months, relied heavily on digital and forensic evidence to establish McConnell's role.
Jamie Harbron, 31, of Billingham, UK, pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court to a drugs offence for attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply between 21 and 25 September 2023, under the Misuse of Drugs Act. He also faces a further charge of contributing to an activity that could facilitate an organised crime group. The offence relates to the seizure of 2.25 tonnes of cocaine, valued at over €157 million, from the Panamanian‑registered bulk carrier MV Matthew in Irish waters. Eight men, including Harbron, were charged after the raid. Harbron's counsel, Michael O'Higgins SC, argued that the early guilty plea should mitigate the sentence, typically allowing a 25 % reduction from the headline sentence. The remaining seven defendants are scheduled for trial in January, and Harbron will also appear to set a sentencing date. He remains in custody awaiting sentencing.
Three men convicted of the kidnapping and torture of Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney have appealed their sentences at the Court of Appeal, arguing that crucial DNA evidence from a Renault Kangoo van should not have been admitted at trial. Alan Harte, Alan O'Brien, and Darren Redmond were convicted in December 2022 of false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm to Mr Lunney at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, County Cavan on 17 September 2019. Harte received a 30-year sentence, O'Brien 25 years, and Redmond 18 years with the final three suspended. Their legal representatives argued the van, which was destroyed by fire while in garda custody, was not properly preserved, depriving the defence of independent forensic examination. DNA matching Mr Lunney was found inside the vehicle, whilst DNA matching Redmond was discovered on bars behind the front seats. The prosecution contended the evidence remained admissible and highly probative. The appeal hearing continues.
Three men convicted of the kidnapping and torture of Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney have appealed their convictions at the Court of Appeal. Alan Harte (43), Alan O'Brien (43), and Darren Redmond (30), all from East Wall, Dublin, were sentenced in December 2022 following trial at the Special Criminal Court. Harte received 30 years imprisonment, O'Brien 25 years, and Redmond 18 years with the final three suspended. The men were convicted of false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm following an incident at Ballinagh, County Cavan, on 17 September 2019. Their counsel argue that phone records and CCTV evidence were improperly admitted without witnesses taking fresh oaths during trial proceedings. They contend the gardaí obtained phone data through procedures not designed for that purpose, constituting an invasion of privacy. The State's counsel maintains the evidence was properly presented to the trial judges and that no deprivation of fair trial rights occurred. The appeal continues before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy.
The Special Criminal Court concluded its six‑week trial of six men charged in the killing of gunman Tristan Sherry on Christmas Eve 2023. Sherry and a second gunman entered Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown on 24 December, where Jason Hennessy Snr and about 30 others were celebrating. Sherry shot and fatally wounded Hennessy Snr before being dragged to the ground and beaten to death. The three men charged with Sherry's murder are Noah Musueni (18), David Amah (18) and Michael Andrecut (23). Jonas Kabangu (18) and Diarmuid O'Brien (18) are charged with violent disorder, as is Brandon Hennessy (21). All pleaded not guilty. The prosecution argued that Sherry was subjected to a sustained, controlled and continuous attack, beaten to death, spat on, photographed and left to die in a pool of blood, constituting murder. The court adjourned the matter until 20 January 2025.
The Special Criminal Court trial of six men accused of murder and violent disorder arising from a shooting at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown on December 24 last year is ongoing. David Amah, Noah Musueni, and Michael Andrecut, all of whom pleaded not guilty to the murder of Tristan Sherry, face charges following the fatal wounding of Jason Hennessy Snr by Sherry. Counsel for Amah argued he lost self-control in reaction to the horror of seeing his friend shot, rejecting prosecution claims his actions were calm. She urged the court to consider his age and lack of prior convictions. In closing submissions for Jonas Kabangu, who pleaded not guilty to violent disorder, counsel argued he returned to the scene fearing a live threat from a second gunman and could not have known Sherry was no longer a danger. The court heard pathologist evidence that Sherry died from blunt force trauma to the head. The trial was adjourned and will resume on Monday when lawyers for Brandon Hennessy and Diarmuid O'Brien, both of whom deny violent disorder, deliver their closing speeches. All accused remain on trial, with no verdicts or sentences recorded at this procedural stage.
A 26-year-old Dublin man will become the fourth accused to face trial for the alleged murder of Tristan Sherry at a Dublin steakhouse on Christmas Eve. Wayne Deegan, of Linnetsfield Avenue, Phibblestown, Dublin 15, pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder. His trial was previously delayed while he awaited specialist reports. Michael O'Higgins SC, representing Mr Deegan, informed the Special Criminal Court that his client is ready to proceed. Justice Kerida Naidoo set a trial date for April 28 next year and ordered that a transcript of the current trial be made available to Mr Deegan's legal team. Currently, three other men are on trial for the alleged murder of Mr Sherry: Noah Musueni, David Amah, and Michael Andrecut. Additionally, three others are accused of violent disorder arising from the same incident: Jonas Kabangu, Diarmuid O'Brien, and Brandon Hennessy. All accused have pleaded not guilty. Closing speeches are being heard this week in relation to the six individuals currently before the court. The matter regarding Mr Deegan is not yet concluded, as his trial is scheduled for next year.
The Special Criminal Court trial concerning the Christmas Eve shooting at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown continues, with counsel for Noah Musueni arguing his client acted in shock and fear. Mr. Musueni, 18, is accused of murdering Tristan Sherry, who fatally shot Jason Hennessy Snr. Defence barrister Seamus Clarke SC contended that Musueni's actions, lasting 41 seconds, were an instinctive reaction to the 'unimaginable scene,' suggesting a total loss of self-control. He urged the court to find a verdict of manslaughter due to provocation, stating the prosecution failed to disprove this defence. The trial, ongoing for over a month, involves three men accused of Sherry's murder: Musueni, David Amah, and Michael Andrecut. All have pleaded not guilty. Additionally, three others, including Brandon Hennessy, are charged with violent disorder arising from the incident; they have also pleaded not guilty. Closing speeches for David Amah and the defendants charged with violent disorder are scheduled for Friday and Monday. The matter remains at the trial stage, with no final verdict or sentence delivered.
Four men have been sent forward for trial before the Special Criminal Court on charges relating to a large-scale drug importation conspiracy. The accused are Kiumaars Ghabiri and Ali Ghasemi, both from the Netherlands; Mario Angel Del Rio Sans, originally from Spain; and Sean Curran of Clones, County Monaghan. They are charged with conspiring to import controlled drugs valued in excess of €13,000 between late February and mid-March 2024, contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo ordered the matter be tried before the three-judge, non-jury court following an application by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The transfer means the case will proceed without a jury panel.
A trial is ongoing in the Special Criminal Court regarding the death of Tristan Sherry, who was allegedly beaten to death, spat on, and photographed by his attackers following a vigilante revenge attack at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown on Christmas Eve. Prosecution counsel Fiona Murphy SC described the attack as a 'sustained, controlled and continuous attack' on Sherry, who was disarmed and left in a 'foetal position' on the ground. She called for the conviction of three men for murder and three others for violent disorder. The accused include Noah Musueni, David Amah, and Michael Andrecut, who are charged with murder, and Jonas Kabangu, Diarmuid O'Brien, and Brandon Hennessy, who are charged with violent disorder. All accused have pleaded not guilty. Defence speeches are continuing, with the three judges to consider their verdicts after the closing speeches. The trial has heard that Sherry shot and fatally wounded Jason Hennessy Snr before being dragged to the ground and beaten to death. The accused charged with murder may argue that provocation by Sherry's actions led to a sudden and total loss of self-control, which could result in a manslaughter conviction rather than murder. The trial is expected to continue with closing speeches from the remaining accused over the coming days.
Judges at the Special Criminal Court granted legal aid to James Leen, a 41‑year‑old from Listowel, who is accused of importing over €30 million worth of crystal meth. Leen filed a statement of means claiming zero income and zero assets, but the Director of Public Prosecutions, John Berry SC, presented evidence that Leen owns a property and has bank accounts, indicating a lifestyle inconsistent with his claim. Berry asked the court to consider this evidence before deciding on legal aid. Morgan Shelley BL argued that the money involved is alleged proceeds of crime and cannot be used to pay lawyers. Justice Kerida Naidoo noted that the State could address any special circumstances through other means and, finding no evidence that Leen could fund his own trial, approved legal aid.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, three men—Noah Musueni, David Amah, and Michael Andrecut—are on trial for the murder of gunman Tristan Sherry, who fatally shot Jason Hennessy Snr at a Christmas Eve party in Browne's Steakhouse, Blanchardstown, on 24 December. The court will hear closing speeches next Wednesday, with the Director of Public Prosecutions presenting her case and the defence arguing that the accused were provoked by Sherry's shooting, potentially reducing the charge to manslaughter under provocation law. The trial is adjourned until then. Separately, Jonas Kabangu, Diarmuid O'Brien, and Brandon Hennessy are charged with violent disorder for the same event. The proceedings remain at the pleading stage, with no verdict yet announced.
The Special Criminal Court heard an application by counsel for Michael Andrecut (23) to argue provocation as a partial defence to the murder charge against him. Andrecut, along with Noah Musueni (18) and David Amah (18), is on trial accused of murdering Tristan Sherry. The defence submitted that Andrecut suffered a total loss of control after Sherry allegedly shot Jason Hennessy Snr, described by Andrecut as a father figure, during a Christmas Eve party at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown. Counsel argued that the alleged "cold-blooded" assassination provoked Andrecut into the violent actions attributed to him, potentially reducing the charge to manslaughter. The court has heard that Sherry was disarmed and beaten to death following the shooting. Andrecut, Musueni, and Amah deny the murder charges. Counsel for the other two accused indicated they will make similar applications when the trial continues. Separately, Jonas Kabangu (18), Diarmuid O'Brien (18), and Brandon Hennessy (21), the son of the deceased, are on trial accused of violent disorder at the same location and date. All three deny these charges. The matter is currently at the trial stage before a three-judge, non-jury court.
A court ruled that the State may stop paying the €100,000‑per‑week cost of maintaining the MV Matthew, a cargo ship seized in September 2023 by the Army Rangers. The ship was used in a major drug haul that yielded 2.2 tonnes of cocaine worth about €157 million. Eight men are to be tried next year at the Special Criminal Court. The judge ordered the State to dispose of the ship, allowing a two‑week stay before the disposal process begins. No defence team objected, but they may raise issues at the next hearing.
Eric O'Driscoll, 22, admitted to possessing a .223 calibre Remington AR‑15 rifle in a Dublin residential area and pleaded guilty earlier this year. He now requests a prison transfer after claiming he witnessed a murder in a cell. The Special Criminal Court heard his request, and the judge adjourned the hearing for logistical reasons. O'Driscoll is expected to be moved to another prison after sentencing. He is also scheduled for trial later this year, along with his brother Glen Ward, who faces related charges.
In a trial before the Special Criminal Court, Brandon Hennessy, aged 21, denies a charge of violent disorder linked to the December 24, 2023, shooting at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown. Hennessy, who was present at the restaurant with his father, claims he acted in self‑defence and was provoked by the gunman, Tristan Sherry, who fatally shot his father and was later beaten to death. Hennessy criticises Gardaí for their delayed response and alleges they failed to protect his family. He also accuses the police of not arresting the second gunman. The court heard CCTV footage and Hennessy's statements, but he maintains his innocence and has pleaded not guilty. The trial continues with other accused individuals also pleading not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, 18‑year‑old David Amah denied murdering Tristan Sherry, claiming he was frightened when Sherry entered a restaurant on Christmas Eve, pointed a gun at him and shot James Hennessy Senior. Amah said he still felt Sherry was a threat several minutes after being disarmed, describing his head as "f**ked" and noting that women and children were crying. He recorded Sherry lying on the ground with his phone, insisting the threat remained. 18‑year‑old Noah Musueni also denied the murder, stating he struck Sherry with a chair in self‑defence after seeing a gun pointed at him and that he feared Sherry could still harm him. Both men have no prior convictions and have pleaded not guilty. The trial continues tomorrow before three judges.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the trial of six men accused of offences arising from an incident at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown on December 24. Michael Andrecut, Noah Musueni, and David Amah are charged with the murder of Tristan Sherry, while Jonas Kabangu, Diarmuid O'Brien, and Brandon Hennessy face charges of violent disorder. All accused have pleaded not guilty. Prosecution witness Detective Sergeant Mark Murphy detailed Andrecut's arrest and his statements to gardai, in which he described Jason Hennessy Senior, who was fatally shot during the incident, as a father figure. Andrecut told detectives he reacted out of a "fight or flight" instinct when he saw Hennessy Senior wounded. The court also heard that gardai attempted to use a special provision to draw inferences from Andrecut's failure to answer questions regarding a black metal bar, a wooden chair, and knives allegedly used in the assault. Andrecut's counsel, Dominic McGinn SC, is expected to argue tomorrow that these inference interviews should not be admitted into evidence. The matter is currently at the charge or pre-trial stage, with the trial overseen by Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo, Judge Elma Sheahan, and Judge James Faughnan. No finalisation or sentencing has occurred, and the proceedings remain ongoing.
David McCullagh, an IT manager dismissed by Ballyseedy Restaurant Ltd, has been awarded €77,848 by the Workplace Relations Commission for unfair dismissal and employment rights breaches. The company, linked to the Ballyseedy Garden Centre, ceased trading in February following the arrest of its chief executive, Nathan McDonnell. Mr McDonnell pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court in September to drug importation and facilitating an organised crime gang, and is due to be sentenced in December. McCullagh alleged he was forced out after raising a grievance over unconsented pay cuts and short-time working. The adjudicator found his dismissal unfair, noting that his job search may have been curtailed by the company's collapse and the association with the criminal case. The award includes €50,000 for unfair dismissal, €24,000 for unpaid leave and wages, and €3,848 for the absence of a written contract. Ballyseedy Restaurant Ltd was placed into liquidation by the High Court this month. The court report confirms the procedural stage for McDonnell is sentence, with his guilty plea to the specified charges admitted.
During a party at Browne's Steakhouse on Main Street, Blanchardstown, on Christmas Eve 2023, gunman Tristan Sherry was shot in the shoulder and stabbed 16 times before being beaten to death. State Pathologist Dr. Heidi Okkers testified that Sherry's death was caused by traumatic blunt‑force injuries combined with 27 sharp‑force injuries, including 16 stab wounds and 11 incised wounds. The single gunshot entered his left shoulder and exited the back, causing only superficial damage and not contributing to his death. Sherry had recently used cocaine and cannabis, but drug use did not contribute to his death. Three men—Noah Musueni, David Amah and Michael Andrecut—are charged with Sherry's murder, while Jonas Kabangu, Diarmuid O'Brien and Brandon Hennessy are charged with violent disorder. All accused plead not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence regarding the December 24, 2023, shooting of Tristan Sherry at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown. Three men—Noah Musueni, David Amah, and Michael Andrecut—are on trial for his alleged murder, while Jonas Kabangu, Diarmuid O'Brien, and Brandon Hennessy face charges of violent disorder. All accused have pleaded not guilty. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo and two other judges, continues. Prosecution witness Det Gda Dermot Sloan testified that CCTV footage showed O'Brien hiding under a table during the initial gunfire before emerging to strike in Sherry's direction. Hennessy, the victim's son, was also described as using a dustpan and brush to strike at Sherry after the gunman was disarmed. Defense lawyers indicated they would challenge the accuracy of this evidence. The matter remains at the trial stage with no final determination reached.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence from Detective Garda Dermot Sloan regarding the murder of Tristan Sherry at Browne's Steakhouse on December 24, 2023. Sloan presented CCTV footage detailing alleged attacks by Michael Andrecut (22), David Amah (18), and Noah Musueni (18), all of whom deny the murder charge. The detective described Andrecut stamping on Sherry, striking him with glasses, a bar, and a chair, and holding a phone over his head before a final kick. Amah was alleged to have stamped, kicked, and struck Sherry with a chair. Musueni was described as stamping on Sherry's head, delivering jabbing motions, and throwing a chair that hit him. Jonas Kabangu (18), charged with violent disorder, allegedly ran to the carpark, returned to kick Sherry twice, and helped remove the victim's body. Brandon Hennessy (21) and Diarmuid O'Brien (18) are also charged with violent disorder. All accused have pleaded not guilty. The trial is ongoing before Justice Kerida Naidoo, Judge Elma Sheahan, and Judge James Faughnan, with Sloan's evidence scheduled to continue.
The Special Criminal Court heard eyewitness testimony from two sisters regarding the fatal shooting of Tristan Sherry at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown on Christmas Eve 2023. Adisa Ajredini and Amanda Ajredini described the terror as a masked attacker, whom they identified as holding a long firearm, entered the busy restaurant. Adisa stated she dragged her mother under a table after hearing what sounded like machine-gun fire, while Amanda fled to the kitchen believing the gunman intended to shoot everyone. The sisters testified that the restaurant was left wrecked and the attacker was found lying in blood. This evidence forms part of the ongoing trial of three men accused of murdering Sherry: Noah Musueni, David Amah, and Michael Andrecut. All three have pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. Additionally, Jonas Kabangu, Diarmuid O'Brien, and Brandon Hennessy are charged with violent disorder arising from the same incident; all have also pleaded not guilty. Prosecution counsel previously alleged that a group attacked the disarmed Sherry with savage violence. The trial continues before Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo, Judge Elma Sheahan, and Judge James Faughnan. No verdicts or sentences have been delivered, and the matter remains at the trial stage.
Eric O'Driscoll, aged 22, pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court to possession of a .223 calibre Remington AR‑15 semi‑automatic rifle at Ratoath Drive, Finglas, on 9 January 2022. The court found the circumstances reasonably inferred that the rifle was not held for a lawful purpose. O'Driscoll also faced four other firearms offences, but the Director of Public Prosecutions said the plea satisfied the case. The matter was adjourned for a later hearing, with trial scheduled later in the year.
Alan Harte, a career criminal serving a 30-year sentence for the kidnap and torture of Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney, appealed to the Court of Appeal regarding a refusal to grant him more time to seek a review of the State's decision to try him in the non-jury Special Criminal Court. Harte was convicted of falsely imprisoning and causing serious harm to Mr. Lunney at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co. Cavan, on 17 September 2019, contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. The High Court had previously refused an extension of time for Harte's judicial review application, holding it was brought outside the three-month limit. Harte's counsel, Michael O'Higgins SC, acknowledged that Harte would have lost the case had it proceeded but argued that access to court is a constitutional cornerstone, stating, "You're entitled to go to court and lose your case." Counsel for the State, David Fennelly SC, countered that the issue was moot and that access to courts is not an absolute right. The Court of Appeal, including Ms Justice Tara Burns and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, indicated it would first decide on the issue of mootness and reserved judgement, meaning the matter was adjourned.
The Special Criminal Court heard that Tristan Sherry was subjected to 'savage levels of violence' at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown on December 24, 2023. Prosecution counsel Fiona Murphy SC alleged that after Sherry fatally shot Jason Hennessy Snr, he was disarmed and attacked by a group using chairs and kicks. Sherry died from blunt force trauma, while Hennessy died from gunshot injuries. Noah Musueni, David Amah, and Michael Andrecut, all charged with murder, entered not guilty pleas. Their lawyers admitted their clients were present, that Sherry died from the violence, and that they were correctly identified on CCTV. Wayne Deegan, also charged with murder, is awaiting a neuro-psychologist report and will be tried later. Jonas Kabangu, Diarmuid O'Brien, and Brandon Hennessy, charged with violent disorder, also pleaded not guilty. Their counsel accepted Sherry's death resulted from the incident's violence. Jaures Kumbu previously pleaded guilty to removing the sub-machine gun used to kill Hennessy, which remains unretrieved. The trial, presided over by Justice Kerida Naidoo, Judge Elma Sheahand, and Judge James Faughnan, was adjourned to continue tomorrow.
The trial of six men accused of offences relating to the murder of Tristan Sherry was adjourned at the Special Criminal Court. The proceedings, presided over by Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo, were originally scheduled to begin on Monday but were postponed to allow the prosecution time to consider a series of admissions prepared by defence counsel. Prosecution counsel Fiona Murphy SC informed the court that these admissions would shorten the trial process, and she stated she would prepare her opening speech accordingly. The court agreed to adjourn the opening until the following day. Four defendants are charged with the murder of Mr Sherry, who allegedly shot a man dead at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown on 24 December 2023. The accused are Noah Musueni, Wayne Deegan, David Amah, and Michael Andrecut. Jonas Kabangu is charged with violent disorder at the same location and date. A sixth defendant, a minor from Blanchardstown, is also charged with violent disorder but has not been identified in the media. All charges remain alleged or contested, and no pleas, findings, or sentences have been recorded. The matter was adjourned and is not concluded.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, 18‑year‑old Jaures Kumbu pleaded guilty to removing a sub‑machine gun from a Christmas Eve party at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown, where Tristan Sherry shot Jason Hennessy Senior. Kumbu was holding a toddler in his arms when the shooting occurred. CCTV showed Hennessy placing the child in a booth before a struggle with Sherry, after which Hennessy was shot. The firearm fell to the ground and was later taken by another man. Kumbu, who had not brought the gun to the scene, picked it up and hid it in his tracksuit. The court considered a headline sentence of seven to ten years, with a presumptive minimum of five years, and adjourned sentencing to 2 December. The gun remains missing. Six men are to be tried tomorrow for Sherry's death. The case highlights the chaotic nature of the incident and Kumbu's lack of intent to use the weapon.
David McCullagh, a former IT manager at Ballyseedy Restaurant Ltd, claims he was dismissed on 13 January after the company's CEO, Nathan McDonnell, was arrested for a multi‑million euro drug seizure. McCullagh says he was paid €50,000 for a three‑day week while studying, and that his hours and pay were cut unilaterally in August 2023 without explanation. He alleges the company failed to update contracts, denied him annual leave, and cut his email access in October 2023. McCullagh filed a grievance and was told he was being made redundant, with a severance package based only on statutory entitlements. He estimates he is owed over €21,000 in unpaid wages and leave, plus a statutory redundancy payment of about €3,000. The Workplace Relations Commission will decide on his claims by the end of the week, while the Revenue Commissioners plan to wind up the company next Monday. Nathan McDonnell pleaded guilty.
Diarmuid O'Brien, 18, pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court to three charges: possession of a side‑by‑side double‑barrel shotgun, possession of cannabis for the purpose of unlawful sale, and possession of 630 g of phenacetin linked to drug trafficking. The offences occurred on 7 May 2024 at Tolka Valley Park, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo, was instructed by Fiona Murphy SC to arraign O'Brien on these three counts and to seek a trial date for the remaining 12 charges, which include possession of various controlled drugs for sale, possession of 15 rounds of 9 × 18 mm Makarov ammunition and ten 12‑Gauge ELEY Olympic shotgun cartridges, and further possession of cannabis, diamorphine, cocaine and ketamine for sale. O'Brien was remanded in custody pending the later trial. The case is set to proceed in the Special Criminal Court.
In the Special Criminal Court, Thomas 'Nicky' McConnell, aged 38, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Gareth Hutch, 36, on 24 May 2016. Barrister Mark Lynam SC argued that McConnell does not match the description of the gunman given by witnesses. Key witness Mary McDonnell, who spent hours in the gunmen's apartment, could not identify McConnell from photographs and described the gunman as having a blonde hair‑lock from the forehead, whereas McConnell has closely cropped black or dark hair. Another witness also described the alleged gunman as blonde. CCTV footage cited by the prosecution, showing McConnell with the second gunman, Jonathan Keogh, was said by Lynam to depict a man of smaller build with different facial features. Lynam acknowledged that McConnell was involved in criminal activity before the shooting and was in possession of a BMW intended as a getaway vehicle, but he stressed that this does not prove McConnell was a shooter. Nicky' McConnell was acquitted.
In the Special Criminal Court, the prosecution presented DNA, CCTV and mobile phone evidence linking Thomas 'Nicky' McConnell to the 2016 murder of 36‑year‑old Gareth Hutch. Fiona Murphy SC argued that McConnell was involved in both planning and execution alongside Jonathan Keogh, who was already convicted. Evidence included CCTV of McConnell parking a BMW in front of Hutch's home, the car's use as a getaway vehicle, and a Skoda Octavia parked nearby. DNA from the BMW matched McConnell, and a Blackberry phone showed extensive contact with other suspects and instructions to flee to the UK. McConnell denied the charge, pleading not guilty. The court heard that McConnell's movements were misrepresented to Gardaí, and that he was "at least very similar" to the man identified by a witness. The case remains pending, with the defence scheduled to present its closing argument on Friday.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Thomas 'Nicky' McConnell, who denies murdering Gareth Hutch, resumed after a more than one‑year adjournment. McConnell, aged 38, is accused of shooting Hutch, 36, outside his home in 2016. The trial had been paused in June 2023 when a judge could not continue, and was further delayed by a year while awaiting a Supreme Court ruling on the admissibility of mobile‑phone data. On resumption, Judge Alex Owens rejected arguments that McConnell's arrest was unlawful and that the Gardaí had exceeded their authority in seizing mobile phones found beside his bed. McConnell has pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleges he and Jonathan Keogh used an apartment opposite Hutch's home as a lookout, followed Hutch from his front door, and shot him dead. The final evidence will be heard tomorrow before the court's closing speech. The case follows earlier convictions of Regina Keogh, Jonathan Keogh and Thomas Fox for the same murder.
The Special Criminal Court heard that the State is paying €100,000 a week to maintain the MV Matthew, the cargo ship seized by Army Rangers in September 2023. The ship was boarded in a dramatic operation that resulted in the seizure of 2.2 tonnes of cocaine, valued at about €157 million. The State will apply next month for a declaration that the preservation of the MV Matthew is no longer required. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions explained that the ship has been preserved to protect the fair‑trial rights of eight men accused of offences related to the drug seizure. Each legal team has been told they can visit and inspect the ship, and Revenue agents will continue to make it available for the next four weeks. The State does not wish to incur the €100,000 per‑week maintenance cost beyond that.
Two men from County Cavan have received suspended sentences at the Special Criminal Court for assisting the Continuity IRA in connection with a purported attack on Enniskillen police station in March 2021. Desmond Smith, aged 65, of Kilnavara Crescent, and Stephen Hamill, aged 52, of Gortnakesh, both pleaded guilty to knowingly rendering assistance to an organisation styling itself the IRA in furtherance of an unlawful object. The attack went unnoticed until media calls prompted a search near the station, which recovered an improvised "slam gun" device. Justice Tony Hunt noted the defendants were "surprising candidates" for such involvement, both lacking relevant previous convictions. He imposed a four-year sentence on Hamill, suspended for four years on condition of a €100 bond, and sentenced Smith to two years nine months, suspended for three years. Both men undertook to disassociate themselves from criminal and paramilitary organisations.
Jason 'Jay' O'Connor, 46, of Whitestown Grove, Dublin, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to 11 years' imprisonment for conspiracy to murder Charlie Cooper, a victim of a revenge attack linked to the death of O'Connor's friend Keith Walker. O'Connor pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of conspiracy to murder and to a facilitation offence involving the Kinahan crime group. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, set a headline sentence of 15 years for the facilitation charge, suspended the final four years, and imposed a concurrent seven‑year sentence for the conspiracy charge, resulting in an overall 11‑year term. O'Connor had 70 prior convictions, including assault, burglary and road‑traffic offences, and had pleaded guilty to the facilitation charge. The court noted his guilty plea and earlier steps toward rehabilitation in determining the sentence.
Nathan McDonnell, a 44-year-old businessman from Ballyroe, Tralee, pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court to two charges related to the largest crystal methamphetamine seizure in Irish history. He admitted to importing methylamphetamine at Cork Port on October 16, 2023, and facilitating a criminal organisation between October 2023 and February 2024. The State alleges the 564kg haul, valued at €32.8 million, was imported from Mexico and destined for Australia. Roisin Lacey SC, for the DPP, requested a sentencing hearing for the week of December 16, a date accepted by defence counsel Caroline O'Connell BL. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Elma Sheahan and Marie Keane, remanded McDonnell in custody until December 17 for sentencing. Co-accused James Leen, 41, of Listowel, also appeared. Facing five charges, including directing a criminal organisation and possession of drugs, Leen's defence, led by Brendan Grehan SC, requested a trial date. Mr Justice Hunt allocated a trial date of October 6, 2025, and adjourned the matter to November 11 for mention.
In the Special Criminal Court, Jaures Kumbu, 18, pleaded guilty to a firearms offence arising from the Christmas Eve 2023 shooting at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown. Kumbu was charged with possessing a sub-machine gun in circumstances giving rise to the reasonable inference that he did not have it for a lawful purpose. The State's case, presented during a previous bail hearing at the Court of Appeal, alleges Kumbu removed the weapon from the scene where Tristan Sherry was killed after fatally shooting Jason Hennessy Senior. Gardaí stated they currently have no idea where the firearm is. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo, presiding in the three-judge court, adjourned sentencing until November 4. Kumbu was originally scheduled to stand trial with six others accused of various offences related to the incident. Those trials are expected to begin later this year. Among the co-accused, five individuals are charged with Sherry's murder. Additionally, Jonas Kabangu and an unnamed young man who turned 18 after being charged are accused of violent disorder at the same location on that date. The matter regarding Kumbu's sentence remains pending due to the adjournment.
A man charged in connection with the disposal of body parts of murdered teenager Keane Mulready-Woods has been granted legal aid by the Special Criminal Court. Stephen Carberry, 46, of Sandymount Avenue, Dublin 4, appeared before the court on Friday to receive formal notice that he will be tried before the three-judge, non-jury tribunal. He faces three charges relating to the death of the 17-year-old, who was killed in a house in Drogheda, County Louth, in January 2020. The charges allege that Mr Carberry transported and disposed of body parts between January 13 and 15, 2020, potentially to benefit a criminal organisation. He is further accused of obstructing the apprehension or prosecution of the teenager's murderer and of setting fire to a vehicle. Remains were subsequently discovered at various locations, including Rathmullan Park in Drogheda. Mr Carberry will return to court in October.