Michael Maughan, 40, was found guilty of murder and assault in Ennis, County Clare, after stabbing Piotr Nowakowski, 31, twice and striking him again in the head. The jury, after a two‑hour and 23‑minute trial, returned a unanimous verdict. Mr. Maughan had pleaded not guilty to both charges, but the prosecution rejected his manslaughter plea. Mr. Maughan, who had a history of alcohol‑related offences, claimed he was out of control and had no memory of the motive. Mr. Nowakowski was a Polish immigrant who had come to Ireland for a better life. Mr. Maughan was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment for the murder, concurrent with a four‑year sentence for the assault, both back‑dated to 24 July 2013 for time already spent in custody. The court heard that Mr. Maughan had 68 prior convictions dating back to 1991, including public order, burglary and theft.
During a murder trial, a paramedic testified that he saw the deceased, Piotr Nowakowski, being kicked in the head. The accused, Michael Maughan, 40, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The paramedic, Ralph O'Neill, arrived at 1:05 am after a call about a stabbing at Sandfield Mews. He described a scene where several men were present, the victim lying on the floor with multiple wounds, and a third man repeatedly kicking him. Maughan's brother, Darren, and the third man were also present. The paramedics left the scene at 1:57 am, hoping to transport the patient by helicopter, but he died at Shannon Airport. The trial continues with a jury hearing the case.
Noel Maher, aged 42, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for raping and sexually assaulting his step‑daughter Amy Kenna over an eight‑year period. The abuse began when Kenna was ten and escalated to rape when she was thirteen, continuing until 2009. A seven‑day trial in July found Maher guilty of three counts of sexual assault between 2001 and 2007 and 34 counts of rape between 2005 and 2009, all at various locations in County Laois. The judge, Justice Garrett Sheehan, noted the victim's suffering and praised her courage, imposing a 14‑year sentence with the last two years suspended on the condition that Maher participate in a sex‑offender programme while incarcerated. The case highlighted the persistent, threatening nature of the abuse and the victim's ongoing recovery efforts.
The trial of Greta Dudko, a 36-year-old nurse accused of killing her mother, Anna Butautiene, in their Dublin home on Christmas Eve 2010, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Ms. Dudko has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of the 55-year-old but maintains a not guilty plea to her murder. During closing submissions, defence counsel Caroline Biggs SC argued that the accused lacked the specific intent required for murder due to severe intoxication and the paradoxical effects of her medications. She urged the jury to consider this partial defence or, alternatively, provocation, citing the accused's claim that the incident was spontaneous. Prosecuting counsel Pauline Walley SC countered that the scene, described as a 'silent witness,' showed no signs of a struggle, such as scuff marks or overturned furniture. Mr Justice Paul Carney instructed the jury that their verdict options were guilty of murder or not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. After deliberating for more than two hours, the jury has not reached a decision. The matter was adjourned, with the jury scheduled to resume deliberations the following morning.
The trial of Greta Dudko, a 36-year-old nurse, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Dudko has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of her mother, 55-year-old Anna Butautiene, but pleaded not guilty to her murder at their Clonsilla home on December 24, 2010. The prosecution, led by Pauline Walley SC, argued that the accused possessed the necessary intent for murder, describing her as an ordinary person who made bad decisions. Ms. Walley highlighted evidence suggesting the accused wanted her mother "exterminated from her life," citing the destruction of the deceased's phone, passport, and glasses. She noted the absence of scuff marks on the wall, challenging the accused's account of a physical struggle. The court heard that Butautiene died of blunt force trauma to the head. The defence, represented by Caroline Biggs SC, has begun her closing speech. The matter was adjourned, with the defence continuing its address before Mr Justice Paul Carney and the jury on Tuesday morning.
In a Dublin trial, a 36‑year‑old nurse, Greta Dudko, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of her 55‑year‑old mother, Anna Butautiene, who died on Christmas Eve 2010. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that Butautiene's death was caused by blunt force trauma to the head, with five wounds from multiple blows, including a fractured skull. Dudko claimed she struck her mother's head against a wall twice and then struck her with a glass bottle. The jury heard that Dudko had been a reliable nurse at New Park Care Centre until December 2010, when she left work early citing a winter vomiting bug, later admitted to taking Tramadol. She was suspended for three months and advised to seek GP treatment. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Carney, will continue on Monday with a jury of seven men and five women.
In a 2014 murder trial, a jury in the Central Criminal Court saw photographs of the body of Anna Butautiene, a 55‑year‑old Lithuanian mother, who was killed by her daughter, 36‑year‑old nurse Greta Dudko, on Christmas Eve 2010. Detective Sergeant Paul Curran testified that he photographed the remains in the bed, noting the deceased's hands over her chest, redness on her head, blood, and smearing on the wall. He also photographed burnt passport fragments found in a rubbish bin. An exhibits officer showed the charred remains to each juror. Dr Haroon Khan examined Dudko at Blanchardstown Garda Station after 10 pm, noting she was not under the influence of alcohol at that time, though a later blood sample showed a level of 151 mg, equivalent to about six glasses of vodka. Dudko had been taking several medications that could interact with alcohol. Greta Dudko pleaded guilty.
In a 2014 trial, a jury was shown a bloodstained Irish Knights bottle, a key piece of evidence in the case of 36‑year‑old Greta Dudko, who is charged with murdering her 55‑year‑old mother, Anna Butautiene, on Christmas Eve 2010. Forensic scientist John Hoade presented the bottle, noting blood stains on its label and matching DNA from the blood to the deceased. He also showed blood with the same DNA profile on a sleeveless jacket and mentioned two light‑coloured hairs found on Ms. Butautiene's left hand, though their origin could not be determined. The jury also viewed a blood‑soaked pillow, a bloodstained duvet, and the deceased's passport, which had been cut and burnt. Detective Sergeant Thomas Carey testified about the scene, describing the victim's heavily blood‑stained face and wounds, and the discovery of bank cards in her daughter's name. Greta Dudko pleaded guilty.
The Central Criminal Court heard that six months of CCTV footage are available in the murder case of Graham Dwyer, a 41‑year‑old south Dublin architect charged with killing childcare worker Elaine O'Hara, 37, on 22 August 2012. Mr Dwyer was present in court. Defence counsel Ronan Kennedy BL applied for a second junior counsel; the judge agreed. The case contains 540 witness statements, 408 witnesses, seven volumes of evidence, 925 exhibits and five terabytes of computer data. The trial is scheduled to start 19 January next year and is expected to last six weeks.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Alan Wilson, 35, charged with the murder of 18‑year‑old Romanian teenager Marioara Rostas, is paused until the jury returns next week. The jury was expected to come back on Tuesday but is delayed by a legal issue. The case concerns the disappearance of Rostas on 6 January 2008 and the discovery of her body in a shallow grave on the Wicklow border four years later, with four bullet wounds to her head. Testimony included a phone call from Rostas to her brother in Romania, where she asked for her father to come get her. Prosecutor Fergus O'Hanlon testified that Wilson had shown him the corpse and assisted in burying it. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, will resume next week with a jury of ten men and two women. Alan Wilson pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial in Dublin, Vesel Jahiri, a Kosovo-born man from Louth Village, Dundalk, is accused of stabbing his former partner, Anna Finnegan, on 21 September 2012 at Allendale Glen, Clonsilla. He pleaded not guilty to both the murder of Finnegan and the assault causing harm to her brother, Karl. The Central Criminal Court had earlier noted that Jahiri and Finnegan had a ten‑year relationship that deteriorated dramatically, with two children and access issues. Mr Justice Paul McDermott instructed the jury that Jahiri's absence should not influence their decision and that verdicts must be based solely on the evidence presented. Prosecutor Patrick Marrinan urged the jury to focus on the events of that day, the physical evidence of Karl's injuries, and the fact that Finnegan was stabbed by Jahiri.
In a trial for the murder of Anna Finnegan, the jury was instructed not to infer anything from the accused's absence. Vesel Jahiri, a Louth Village resident originally from Kosovo, pleaded not guilty to both the murder of Finnegan and an assault on her brother Karl. The Central Criminal Court had previously noted their ten‑year relationship and the deterioration that led to the fatal incident. Judge Paul McDermott announced that the trial could not proceed that day, as Jahiri was not present, and would resume the next day after all evidence had been heard.
In a trial for the murder of Anna Finnegan, the jury heard that Vesel Jahiri first learned of her death on the radio the day after the incident. Jahiri, who pleaded not guilty to both the murder and an assault on Finnegan's brother Karl, explained that he was upset and entered the house to confront Karl, who he said had a knife. He claimed he had taken a knife from Karl after an altercation and that he had stabbed Finnegan in a fit of anger, though he denied doing so. The prosecution presented evidence that Finnegan was stabbed in the chest and head while she fled, and that Jahiri had moved her body to the back of a car. Jahiri also testified that he had spoken to Helga Duffy the night of the incident, saying something bad had happened. The trial continues before a jury and Judge Paul McDermott.
In the trial of Vesel Jahiri, a man from Louth Village, Dundalk, accused of murdering his former partner Anna Finnegan in Dublin on 21 September 2012, the jury was informed that the evidence he gave the previous day had been 'whitewashed'. Jahiri, who pleaded not guilty to both the murder and an assault on Finnegan's brother Karl, was cross‑examined by Mr Patrick Marrinan SC. The prosecution read to the jury excerpts from Garda interviews in which Jahiri admitted to hitting Finnegan, pushing her back, and that she had tried to hit him with a pan. He also admitted to threatening her with a gun and saying he would kill her and her sister Lisa if he did not see his children. The prosecution also questioned Jahiri about smashing the door at Finnegan's house, his claim that Karl was a gangster, and the knife used in the alleged stabbing.
In a 2014 trial, Vesel Jahiri, a Louth Village resident originally from Kosovo, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Anna Finnegan and to assault causing harm to her brother Karl. The case centred on a ten‑year relationship that had deteriorated, with Finnegan and Jahiri having two children. On 21 September 2012, Finnegan was stabbed in the chest and head after Jahiri allegedly burst into the house with a knife. Jahiri claimed Karl produced the knives and that Finnegan was injured while trying to stop her brother. Witnesses, including Anna's cousin Brian Conlon, testified about text messages and alleged threats, but Conlon denied any plot to "wipe out" Jahiri. DNA and fingerprint evidence linked the knife to Jahiri, and a post‑mortem confirmed a fatal single stab wound. The case proceeded before a jury under Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
In a murder trial held on 5 June 2014, Vesel Jahiri pleaded not guilty to the killing of Anna Finnegan and to assaulting her brother Karl. The court heard that Jahiri and Finnegan had a ten‑year relationship that had deteriorated, and that they had two children. According to Karl, after putting the children to bed, he and Finnegan were having tea when Jahiri burst in with a knife. An altercation ensued, during which Finnegan was stabbed in the chest and head; she fled, ran to a neighbour, and collapsed on the roadside. Dr Hilary Clarke testified that Finnegan's DNA was found on a knife's tip, which was slightly bent and had a broken piece. The knife's blood matched Karl's. Detective James O'Hora confirmed that two knives found in the kitchen sink were not fingerprint‑examined. Detective James Cunningham examined the knife with Finnegan's blood and found a left‑hand fingerprint on the blade but none on the handle.
In a murder trial, the accused, Vesel Jahiri, pleaded not guilty to killing Anna Finnegan and assaulting her brother Karl. The court heard that a fingerprint from Jahiri's left forefinger was found on the blade of the knife that caused Finnegan's fatal wounds, but no smudge was found on the handle. Detective Garda James Cunningham confirmed the mark was about one‑and‑a‑half to two inches from the handle's edge, pointing toward the sharp end. No fingerprints were found on black‑handled knives at Jahiri's residence, and the detective had not examined knives from the kitchen sink. Dr Arun Khan noted abrasions on Jahiri's left thumb and face. The case was set to continue before a jury presided by Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
John Biggins, a 35-year-old man from Claremorris, County Mayo, was ordered by the Central Criminal Court to return to the Central Mental Hospital following his acquittal. Biggins had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of his father, Thomas Biggins, who was shot twice with a shotgun at their home in May 2012. The jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity after a two-day trial. Consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Sally Lenihan testified that Biggins, who has chronic schizophrenia, has made good progress in rehabilitation but requires ongoing specialist care. She recommended his return to the hospital, a recommendation accepted by Mr Justice Paul Carney. Defence expert Dr Paul O'Connell had previously stated that Biggins suffered from psychotic symptoms and paranoid delusions, fulfilling criteria under the Mental Insanity Act. The court noted that Biggins was diagnosed with severe schizophrenia and mild intellectual disability. The judge issued the order based on the psychiatric recommendations, ensuring the defendant continues to receive the necessary specialist treatment for his condition.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 3 June 2014, Vesel Jahiri pleaded not guilty to the murder of Anna Finnegan and to assault causing harm to her brother Karl. The case centred on a 10‑year relationship that had deteriorated, with two children involved. According to Karl Finnegan, Anna and he were having tea when Jahiri burst in with a knife, stabbing Anna in the chest and head. Jahiri claimed Karl produced the knives and that Anna was injured while trying to stop him. Gardaí interviews revealed Jahiri denied using the knife that killed Finnegan and insisted the knives found at his address were not from the same set. He also denied stabbing Finnegan, stating "about 30% of the case was not true." The trial was adjourned for a week, and the case was set to continue with a jury of ten.
John Biggins, 35, of Ballynalty, Cross, Claremorris, was found not guilty by reason of insanity of murdering his father, Thomas Biggins, 70, at their home on May 6, 2012. The Central Criminal Court jury returned a unanimous verdict after 27 minutes of deliberation. Biggins had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The court heard that Biggins was diagnosed with severe schizophrenia and mild intellectual disability. Defence psychiatrists testified that he met the criteria under the Mental Insanity Act, citing psychotic symptoms and paranoid delusions. Prosecution counsel Bernard Condon SC requested an order to commit Biggins to the Central Mental Hospital, with a return date set for the following Wednesday to appear before the court. Mr Justice Paul Carney thanked the jury and exempted them from further service for life. Evidence indicated Biggins shot his father twice with a legally held shotgun. After the incident, Biggins rang 999, told Garda Mark Kilbride he was turning himself in, and drove to Ballinrobe Garda Station, where he was cooperative. Detective Sergeant James Carroll described the post-event behavior as "quite bizarre," noting Biggins stated, "I just shot the aul lad…I'll be going to jail now." The matter was adjourned for the proposed disposal hearing.
Darren Murphy, 37, pleaded not guilty to murder of his girlfriend Olivia Dunlea, 36, and guilty to arson of her house on 17 February 2013. The jury heard that the couple had been together for about three months and had a heated argument the night before the death. Prosecutor Thomas Creed argued that Murphy, described as possessive, had checked Dunlea's texts, drove past her home at 3 am, and then set the house on fire while she was inside. He claimed Murphy watched the blaze from Church Hill "like Nero" and left her in a situation where she could have been saved. Defence counsel Michael Delaney presented a narrative of provocation, citing a prior relationship with another man, Fás, and alleged that Murphy's loss of self‑control was sudden. The jury deliberated for 2 hours 17 minutes before returning the next day. The case remains at the trial stage.
In the murder trial of Vesel Jahiri, the jury was asked to leave for a week while Judge Paul McDermott dealt with complex legal matters. Jahiri, a Louth Village resident originally from Kosovo, pleaded not guilty to murdering his former partner Anna Finnegan and to assaulting her brother Karl on 21 September 2012. The court heard that Jahiri and Finnegan had a ten‑year relationship that deteriorated, and that they had two children. Karl testified that after putting the children to bed, he and Finnegan were having tea when Jahiri burst in with a knife, stabbing Karl in the chest and head while Finnegan fled and later collapsed. Jahiri claimed Karl produced the knives and that Finnegan was injured while trying to stop him. The jury also heard from a friend of Jahiri who said the accused claimed he had defended himself after an attack.
In a murder trial, the court heard that text messages exchanged between the deceased, Olivia Dunlea, and the accused, Darren Murphy, were of a friendly nature in the days leading up to her death. Murphy, 37, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, and also pleaded guilty to arson on Dunlea's home. The court noted that for about three months prior to the incident, the pair were "an item." On the night before her death, they were at the Rochestown Inn, then had a quarrel at home. Murphy claimed he "just snapped" after a confrontation, describing a rapid escalation to a knife attack. Garda testimony indicated extensive texting of a good nature, no evidence of conflict, and that Dunlea's phone was destroyed by Murphy. The case proceeded to a jury hearing on Monday.
The jury has begun deliberating the trial of Robert Corbet, 25, of Capoley, who is charged with murdering 30‑year‑old Nanny Aoife Phelan in his garage. Corbet pleaded not guilty to murder but admitted manslaughter between 25 October and 7 November, when Phelan's body was found in a barrel buried 10 feet below ground. He claimed they had met a few months earlier and that Phelan had told him she was pregnant with his child, a claim disproved by an autopsy. Corbet testified that he lost self‑control, strangled her, put her body in a barrel, buried it behind his house the next day, and then flew to New York. His barrister urged the jury to ignore the desecration of the body and focus on the moment of death, suggesting a verdict of manslaughter on the grounds of provocation.
In a 2014 case, a 33‑year‑old man, Vesel Jahiri, was arrested on suspicion of murdering Anna Finnegan in Dublin on 21 September 2012. He pleaded not guilty to both murder and assault causing harm to Anna's brother Karl. The Central Criminal Court heard that Jahiri and Finnegan had a ten‑year relationship that had deteriorated, with two children and access issues. Karl testified that after putting the children to bed, he and Anna were in the kitchen when Jahiri burst in with a knife, stabbing Anna in the chest and head while she fled. Jahiri claimed he did not stab Anna, arguing he fought Karl, and blamed multiple parties for the incident. Gardaí interviews showed Jahiri denying responsibility and expressing love for Anna. The case was set to continue before a jury with Justice Paul McDermott presiding.
Vesel Jahiri, 33, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court, where he has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Anna Finnegan at Allendale Glen, Clonsilla, Dublin 15, on September 21, 2012. He also faces a charge of assault causing harm on Anna Finnegan's brother, Karl, on the same date. The jury heard evidence that Jahiri allegedly told Anna's sister, Lisa Finnegan, over the phone that he was "coming for her next." Witness Connie Farrelly testified to hearing this statement on loudspeaker while driving to Blanchardstown Hospital. Under cross-examination, Farrelly acknowledged previous convictions that resulted in substantial jail time. Another witness, Paul Callen, stated that Jahiri phoned him shortly after taking Anna to hospital, claiming he had turned a knife back on them after being hit with a chair. The court heard that Jahiri and Anna Finnegan had a ten-year relationship that had deteriorated, with access to their two children becoming a contentious issue. Karl Finnegan previously testified that Jahiri allegedly burst into the home with a knife, leading to an altercation in which Karl was stabbed in the chest and head. Jahiri maintains that Karl produced the knives and that Anna was fatally injured while trying to stop her brother from stabbing him. The trial continues before a jury of six men and five women, with Mr Justice Paul McDermott presiding.
In a Dublin 15 murder case, 33‑year‑old Vesel Jahiri, a Louth Village resident originally from Kosovo, pleaded not guilty to the killing of Anna Finnegan on 21 September 2012. He also pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm to Finnegan's brother Karl on the same day. The court heard that Jahiri and Finnegan had a ten‑year relationship that had deteriorated, with two children and access issues. On the night of the incident, Jahiri allegedly burst into Finnegan's kitchen with a knife, an altercation ensued, and Finnegan was stabbed in the chest and head. Jahiri claimed Karl produced the knives and that Finnegan was injured while trying to stop him. An electrician, Damian Lynch, testified that Jahiri told him Finnegan was "OK" and that Karl had been badly hurt. The case is set to continue before a jury.
In a 2014 Central Criminal Court hearing, Robert Corbet, a 25‑year‑old from Sheffield Cross, Laois, was charged with the murder of 30‑year‑old nanny Aoife Phelan. Corbet pleaded not guilty but admitted manslaughter. He told Gardaí that he had snapped after Phelan threatened to ruin him if he walked away from her and her pregnancy. He claimed he had met her in his jeep on 25 October, that she had been "pushy" about not being in a relationship, and that he struck her on the head several times. Corbet said he then drove to Dublin, left her body on a bridge, and tried to dispose of it. He denied any recent phone contact about a pregnancy, but phone records and deleted WhatsApp messages were presented. The case was heard before Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan.
In a 2014 trial, a jury viewed CCTV footage of a 25‑year‑old mother of two, Anna Finnegan, being driven to hospital by Vesel Jahiri, who is accused of her murder. The footage shows Jahiri, a 33‑year‑old man originally from Kosovo, arriving at the hospital at 20:49 on 21 September 2012 in a white Ford Focus. He allegedly lifted Finnegan from the back seat, and witnesses describe her appearing to slip from his grasp. Finnegan was later found unconscious with a wound on her chest. Jahiri also faces a charge of assault causing harm against Finnegan's brother, Karl, on the same day. The case is set to continue before a jury with Mr Justice Paul McDermott presiding. The trial focuses on the events of that night and the alleged actions of Jahiri. Vesel Jahiri pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Vesel Jahiri, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Anna Finnegan and the assault causing harm to her brother, Karl, at Allendale Glen, Clonsilla, Dublin 15, on September 21, 2012. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that Ms Finnegan died from a single, non-survivable stab wound to the left chest. He stated the knife penetrated between the seventh and eighth ribs, slicing through the pancreas and stomach before terminating at the abdominal aorta. Dr Curtis noted there were no defensive wounds on the deceased, though he agreed with defence counsel that he could not exclude the possibility she was injured while intervening in a fight. Witness Ms Joan Broe described seeing Jahiri advance aggressively toward the Finnegan siblings, alleging he punched Karl and then attacked Anna, causing her to flee. Jahiri is alleged to have pursued her, jumping on her and punching her before she collapsed. The defence contends that Karl Finnegan produced the knives and that Anna was fatally injured while trying to stop her brother from stabbing Jahiri. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of six men and five women.
In a 2014 Central Criminal Court hearing, Vesel Jahiri, 33, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Anna Finnegan and to assault causing harm to her brother Karl. The case involved a ten‑year relationship that had deteriorated, with two children. Witness Karl Finnegan testified that Jahiri entered Finnegan's home with a knife, leading to an altercation in which Finnegan was stabbed in the chest and head. Finnegan fled, collapsed on the roadside, and later died. Finnegan's brother claimed he had no memory of the fight, attributing his amnesia to refusing to recall the incident. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan presented Jahiri's version, denying the presence of a knife and arguing Finnegan's injuries were a result of her attempt to stop an attack. The trial proceeded to a jury hearing on the following day.
In a Dublin court on 12 May 2014, Thomas Ryan, aged 32, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for the attempted murder of Patrick Charles O'Neill, a 51‑year‑old cyclist, on 26 August 2013. Ryan admitted shooting O'Neill in the stomach with a double‑barrel sawn‑off shotgun, an act that left O'Neill with a bowel section removed and in intensive care until 11 September. Ryan also shot himself in the leg while handling the weapon, an accidental self‑injury that was noted by the court. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Carney, suspended the final two years of the sentence, citing Ryan's early guilty plea and admissions. The sentence was back‑dated to 28 August 2013 to account for time already spent in custody. The court heard that Ryan had 13 prior convictions and that the incident was linked to a drug‑related debt.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has suspended deliberations in the trial of a 30-year-old man charged with murdering a pensioner in Sligo. Simon McGinley, of Connaughton Road Car Park, Sligo, has pleaded not guilty to murder but admitted manslaughter in the death of Eugene Gillespie, aged 67, on September 22nd, 2012. Mr McGinley has also pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and trespass to commit robbery at Mr Gillespie's home on Old Market Street on September 19th, 2012. The State did not accept the manslaughter plea. Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan directed the jury that the central question was whether the accused intended to cause serious injury. The prosecution argued intention can form instantaneously, while the defence submitted that pathological evidence showed injuries consistent with punches rather than a weapon. After deliberating for one-and-a-half hours, the jury will resume tomorrow.
The Central Criminal Court heard evidence from Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis in the ongoing trial of Simon McGinley, a 30-year-old Sligo man. McGinley, of Connaughton Road, Sligo, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Eugene Gillespie (67) but admitted to the manslaughter of the pensioner in Co. Sligo on September 22, 2012. He also pleaded guilty to the false imprisonment of Mr Gillespie and trespass to commit robbery at his home in Old Market Street on September 19, 2012. The State did not accept the manslaughter plea, and the trial commenced last Tuesday. Dr Curtis testified that he performed a post-mortem at Galway University Hospital on September 23, 2012, and visited the deceased's home. He reported severe blunt force trauma to the head, face, and neck, including fractures to the skull base, jaw, and ribs, as well as ligature marks on the wrists and neck. The pathologist stated the cause of death was bronchial pneumonia due to coma resulting from the trauma, with hand ischemia from binding as a contributory factor. Detective Sergeant Con Lee also gave evidence regarding McGinley's demeanor during interviews. The matter was adjourned, and the trial continues.
At the Central Criminal Court, a 30-year-old man from Sligo has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in connection with the death of a 67-year-old pensioner in September 2012. Simon McGinley of Connaughton Road faces charges of false imprisonment and robbery related to an incident at the victim's home on Old Market Street. The State rejected his manslaughter plea and the trial proceeded. Forensic evidence presented to the court indicated that blood matching the deceased's DNA profile was recovered from a wooden candlestick holder and a drawer at the property. A mixed DNA profile recovered from bloodstained cord found around the victim's wrists showed the accused as the major contributor. Medical testimony outlined the accused's emotional state when interviewed, during which he stated the incident was a robbery that escalated. The trial at the Central Criminal Court is ongoing.
A 30-year-old man from Sligo has pleaded not guilty to murder but admitted manslaughter following the death of a 67-year-old pensioner in September 2012. Simon McGinley, of Connaughton Road, has also pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and trespass to commit robbery at a property on Old Market Street. The Central Criminal Court heard that the State rejected the manslaughter plea, and a jury was sworn for trial. During interviews at Sligo Garda Station, the accused told gardai he struck the victim once or twice, tied his hands, and placed a blanket under his head before leaving the scene. He stated he searched the house, obtained a small sum of money, burned his clothing that night, and made a 999 call the following day. The accused maintained he did not intend for the victim to die. The trial continues.
A 42‑year‑old Dutch man, Jacky Lumi, was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering his flatmate, Kamal El Habsati, in a Dublin apartment after a dispute over a €4 internet bill. Lumi stabbed El Habsati 21 times, leaving a knife in his heart, and fled across Europe before surrendering in Rome. He had previously complained that El Habsati was slow to pay bills, did not clean, and cooked at night. Lumi had also threatened to kill him if he stayed. During the trial, Lumi pleaded not guilty, seeking a manslaughter verdict on the basis of provocation, citing a brief argument and his own mental health diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder. The Central Criminal Court found him guilty of murder by a 11‑to‑one majority, and Judge Patrick McCarthy imposed a mandatory life sentence. The case ended with Lumi acknowledging his guilt and expressing a desire for the death penalty.
A 30-year-old man from Sligo has pleaded not guilty to murder but admitted manslaughter in connection with the death of a 67-year-old pensioner in September 2012. Simon McGinley of Connaughton Road has also admitted false imprisonment and trespass to commit robbery at the victim's home on Old Market Street. The Central Criminal Court heard that the State rejected the manslaughter plea and a jury trial commenced. Medical evidence described severe head injuries including skull fracture, brain swelling, and extensive bruising. The deceased died following cardiac arrest at Sligo General Hospital. Detectives told the court that McGinley appeared distressed during interview, expressing remorse and stating the victim "wasn't meant to die." He indicated he had attempted to alert gardaí to the man's location but they attended the wrong address. The trial was ongoing at reporting.
Simon McGinley, 30, of Sligo, is standing trial at the Central Criminal Court for the death of Eugene Gillespie, 67. McGinley pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The State did not accept the manslaughter plea, and a jury was sworn in for the two-week trial. He also pleaded guilty to the false imprisonment of Mr Gillespie and trespass to commit robbery at his home in Old Market Street on September 19, 2012. The prosecution alleges McGinley made a 999 call from an acquaintance's phone, stating a man was tied up in a house across from the Garda station. Garda Sergeant Terry Coleman received the brief call, which was disconnected before details could be clarified. Garda Michael Twyford checked the described property but found nothing untoward. Detective Garda Seamus O'Donnell testified that Mr Gillespie's home was ransacked, with broken furniture and a large blood stain. Paramedic Aidan Duggan found Mr Gillespie unconscious on the floor. The court heard evidence that McGinley placed a bet at 1:35 pm on September 20, 2012, and was seen in a Sligo newsagent on September 23. CCTV footage showed a man believed to be McGinley discarding a SIM card on September 19. The trial continues.
Simon McGinley, 30, of Connaughton Road, Sligo, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the death of Eugene Gillespie, 67. McGinley pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Mr Gillespie in September 2012. He also pleaded guilty to the false imprisonment of Mr Gillespie and trespass to commit robbery at his home in Old Market Street on September 19, 2012. The State did not accept the manslaughter plea, and a jury was sworn in for the trial. Prosecutors alleged that Mr Gillespie was subjected to violence, found unconscious with his hands tied, and died of bronchial pneumonia resulting from blunt force trauma. Evidence included an anonymous 999 call reporting a tied-up man, which led gardai to the wrong address. The court heard that Mr Gillespie was last seen on September 19 and found by relatives on September 21. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan.
The jury in the Tallaght murder trial has paused its deliberations after hearing that 30‑year‑old Eugene Cullen of Derry Road, Crumlin, is accused of being part of a joint enterprise that killed Seamus O'Byrne, 27, at Tymon Park North on 13 March 2009. O'Byrne was shot outside his home in front of his girlfriend and child, who was also shot in the leg when she tackled the gunman. The prosecution claims Cullen was not the gunman but one of four men who plotted and executed the murder, relying on circumstantial evidence. Judge Barry White told the jury that the evidence must point to Cullen's guilt and asked whether the State had eliminated any other reasonable explanation. Defence counsel Sean Gillane argued that the prosecution's theory was forced, citing 480 hours of CCTV footage that did not show Cullen and urging a not‑guilty verdict. Eugene Cullen pleaded not guilty.
In the trial of a 30‑year‑old man accused of murdering a father‑of‑two, the prosecution told the jury that the case was based on circumstantial evidence. The defendant, Eugene Cullen, pleaded not guilty to the killing of Seamus O'Byrne, 27, at Tymon Park North, Tallaght, on 13 March 2009. The Central Criminal Court heard that O'Byrne was shot outside his home in front of his girlfriend and child, and that the girlfriend, Sharon Rattigan, tackled the assassin and was shot in the leg while seizing the gun. The prosecution alleged that Cullen was not the gunman but one of four men involved in planning and executing the murder.
In a 2014 hearing, 30‑year‑old Eugene Cullen of Derry Road, Crumlin pleaded not guilty to the 2009 murder of Seamus O'Byrne, 27, in Tallaght. The Central Criminal Court heard that O'Byrne was shot outside his home in front of his girlfriend, Sharon Rattigan, who tackled the gunman and was shot in the leg. The prosecution said Cullen was not the gunman but one of four men involved in planning the murder. In interviews after his arrest, Cullen admitted he knew Rattigan and had hung out with her little brother, but denied knowing the assassin or participating in the shooting. He also denied placing a petrol can in a stolen Volkswagen Passat, though he admitted buying a can of petrol the day before the shooting for a friend. The trial was before Mr Justice Barry White and a jury of five men and seven women.
In a Dublin murder trial, forensic scientist Liam Fleury testified that no firearms residue was found on Eugene Cullen, who is 30 and accused of murdering Seamus O'Byrne, 27, in 2009. Cullen pleaded not guilty. The prosecution maintains that Cullen was not the gunman but one of four men involved in planning the murder. Fleury explained that residue appears on a gun, the hands, clothing, and face of the shooter, and can remain on hands for three to four hours and on clothing for 20 hours. He tested Cullen's clothing on 14 March 2009 and a residue kit on his hands and face, finding no residue. The jury also heard technical evidence about mobile phones linked to the case. The trial is before Justice Barry White and a jury of five men and seven women.
In the murder trial of Eugene Cullen, a 30‑year‑old from Derry Road, Crumlin, the jury has heard evidence from a radio frequency engineer, Eamon O' Gairbhith, who worked for Meteor. O' Gairbhith testified that on 16 February 2011 he visited several mobile cell sites with Gardaí, producing maps that show cell site locations, coverage directions and the best server coverage. He explained that when a cell is full of traffic the handset is assigned to a different server, and that signal strength weakens the further one moves from a site, causing hand‑over to other cells. The prosecution, represented by Alex Owens SC, maintains that Cullen was not the gunman but one of four men involved in planning the murder of Seamus O' Byrne, who was shot dead on 13 March 2009 in Tymon Park North, Tallaght. The trial is proceeding before Justice Barry White and a jury of five men and seven women. The case remains ongoing. Eugene Cullen pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court is currently hearing the trial of Eugene Cullen, a 30-year-old man from Derry Road, Crumlin, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Seamus O' Byrne (27). The prosecution alleges that Mr. O'Byrne was shot dead by a hooded gunman in the driveway of his home at Tymon Park North, Tallaght, on March 13, 2009, in front of his girlfriend and child. While the accused is not alleged to have been the gunman, the state contends he was one of four men involved in plotting, planning, and executing the killing. The prosecution asserts that Garret O'Brien, a man from Bray who has since been convicted, was recruited to carry out the shooting. During the ongoing proceedings, the jury has been presented with technical evidence regarding mobile phone calls connected to the incident. In his opening address, Mr. Alex Owens SC clarified that the case against Mr. Cullen centers on his role in the conspiracy rather than the act of firing the weapon. The trial is presided over by Mr. Justice Barry White and a jury of five men and seven women. The matter is at the trial stage, with the defendant's plea remaining not guilty. No findings, sentences, or final dispositions have been recorded at this procedural stage. The trial continues tomorrow.
Andrzej Benko, 42, of Mulhuddert, was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of attempting to murder his wife, Joanna Benko, on July 5, 2010. Benko admitted hitting his sleeping wife with a lump hammer three times but had pleaded not guilty to the charge of attempted murder. The trial heard that Mrs Benko is now confined to a wheelchair and requires full-time care. Benko told Gardaí he intended to kill her, citing marital difficulties and her alleged drug use. After the assault, he drove to Blanchardstown Garda station, calling emergency services en route. The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict after two hours and 40 minutes. Defence counsel Remy Farrell SC applied for continuing bail to allow Benko to arrange care for his seven-year-old son and settle affairs regarding their home. The State opposed the application. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy refused bail, noting that a custodial sentence was inevitable and the child was already being cared for. The judge stated Benko could put other affairs in order through a solicitor. Benko was remanded in custody, and the matter was adjourned for sentencing on April 7th.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 30‑year‑old Eugene Cullen of Derry Road, Crumlin, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Seamus O'Byrne, 27, who was shot dead in front of his girlfriend and child at Tymon Park North, Tallaght, on 13 March 2009. The prosecution says Cullen was not the gunman but one of four men who plotted, planned and executed the killing. Today the jury heard technical evidence concerning mobile phones in the case. The trial will resume on Monday before Mr Justice Barry White with a jury of five men and seven women.
In a Dublin murder trial, a jury watched CCTV footage of suspects and vehicles. Eugene Cullen of Derry Road, Crumlin pleaded not guilty to the murder of Seamus O'Byrne, 27, at Tymon Park North, Tallaght, on 13 March 2009. The prosecution said Cullen was not the gunman but one of four men who plotted and executed the killing. The gunman was identified as Garret O'Brien from Bray, who had been convicted. The court heard that on 12 March 2009 Cullen entered a service station, filled a green canister with petrol, and placed it in a silver Ford Transit van. Witnesses described two men on the green the day before the shooting. Forensic evidence included DNA from a mobile phone and swabs from O'Brien and Cullen. The deceased had five gunshot wounds, with the chest wounds causing death, and head and leg wounds contributing. The trial continues before Justice Barry White and a jury of five men and seven women.
In a 2014 trial, 42‑year‑old Andrzej Benko of Mulhuddert pleaded not guilty to an attempted murder charge against his wife, Joanna Benko, on her birthday. He claimed he feared their toddler would die after discovering the wife's drugs, citing 100 ecstasy tablets found in the house. Benko said he rang Garda that morning, stating he had hit her over the head with a lump hammer. The jury was shown the hammer, which had blood matching Mrs Benko's DNA, and a photograph of 10 red roses he had bought for her. Garda Patrick Traynor presented interviews where Benko alleged his wife had been drug‑using, spending all his money, and had left him twice with their child. He said he considered killing her to protect their son and to end his "hell." The trial proceeded before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy with a jury of two women and ten men.