In a Dublin murder trial, a 30‑year‑old man from Crumlin, Eugene Cullen, pleaded not guilty to the 2009 killing of Seamus O'Byrne, a 27‑year‑old father of two. The court heard that O'Byrne was shot in front of his girlfriend and child at Tymon Park North, Tallaght, at 8:15 pm. Prosecutor Alex Owens SC stated that Cullen was not the gunman but one of four conspirators. Garret O'Brien, a Bray man now convicted, was identified as the shooter. Detective Garda Mary Moore testified she arrested Cullen at 11 pm after spotting a silver Nissan Primera with three occupants, one being Cullen, and brought him to Tallaght Garda Station. Garda Alan Young reported seizing a silver Ford Transit van on Derry Road, taking fingerprint lifts. Detective Sergeant John Schley described the van's chassis and licence plates, noting it was stolen in 2008 with false tax and insurance discs.
Andrzej Benko, 42, of Mulhuddert, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court, charged with the attempted murder of his wife, Joanna Benko, at their home on July 5, 2010. Mr Benko has pleaded not guilty to the charge. Prosecutors allege that on Mrs Benko's 32nd birthday, the accused returned to the residence with a lump hammer and struck her over the head at least three times while she slept. The court heard a recording of an emergency call made by Mr Benko as he drove to Blanchardstown Garda Station, in which he stated, "The problem is that probably I killed my wife and now I'm on my way to you to be jailed." He also told Garda Rosanna Coll that he intended to kill his wife. Medical evidence from Dr Niamh Collins and Dr Edward Mulligan detailed severe head injuries, including a depressed skull fracture and brain contusions. A clinical neuropsychologist testified that Mrs Benko, who is now wheelchair-bound, uses one and two-word sentences and requires full-time care. The trial continues before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury.
In 2014 the Central Criminal Court heard that Eugene Cullen, aged 30, pleaded not guilty to the 2009 murder of Seamus O'Byrne, 27, in Tymon Park North, Tallaght. The prosecution said Cullen was not the gunman but one of four men who plotted and executed the killing. A man from Bray, Garret O'Brien, was identified as the shooter. Garda Kevin O'Shaughnessy testified that three years earlier he had stopped a Volkswagen with no tax, seized it, and that Cullen was the driver while O'Brien was the passenger. Garda Clifford Cullen described CCTV footage from the Leisureplex in Coolock showing three men entering at 8:50 pm, with movements until 9:47 pm. Detective Garda Camon Ryan recounted driving routes to establish timings, noting a 26‑minute trip from the shooting scene to the Leisureplex. Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that O'Byrne died from five gunshot wounds, including chest, head and left leg injuries.
In the trial of a 30‑year‑old man accused of murdering a father of two in Dublin, the jury has been reviewing additional CCTV footage. The defendant, Eugene Cullen of Derry Road, Crumlin, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Seamus O'Byrne, aged 27, who was shot dead at Tymon Park North, Tallaght, on 13 March 2009. The prosecution argues that Cullen was not the gunman but one of four men who plotted and executed the killing. The jury has examined footage from several city locations, including M50 toll bridge cameras that captured a silver Nissan Primera moving northbound at 8.25 pm and southbound at 10.43 pm on the night of the murder. Additional evidence from the Topaz garage on Fortfield Road in Kimmage, where a silver Nissan entered at 6.27 pm, was also presented.
In a Tipperary murder trial, John Hannigan, aged 46, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Anthony Fallon and to assault causing harm. The trial, held in the Central Criminal Court, began on Friday with a jury of seven men and four women. Hannigan, who lives in River House, New Quay, Clonmel, claimed he had lost his temper when Fallon would not stop talking and punched him "hard and fast" like Bruce Lee. He said they had been drinking with another man, Joseph O'Riordan, who had also beaten Fallon earlier that night. O'Riordan is now in jail after pleading guilty to assault. A post‑mortem found 31 rib fractures and blunt force trauma to Fallon's head and trunk as the cause of death. Hannigan later told gardai he was "just panicking" when he attacked Fallon on a walk through town.
A man has been sentenced to life imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court following his conviction for murder in County Cavan. Przemyslaw Trebacz, aged 35, was found guilty of murdering Costel Catalin Cretu at Connolly Court, Cavan between October 13 and 14, 2012. The jury returned a majority verdict of 10-2 after deliberations. Mr Cretu sustained stab wounds to the chest and back and died at the scene. Trebacz had pleaded not guilty to the murder charge but guilty to criminal damage. Mr Justice Michael White imposed the mandatory life sentence, noting the significant impact of the death on the victim's family. A three-year sentence relating to the criminal damage conviction was suspended. The judge referenced a victim impact statement provided by the deceased's brother during sentencing.
The Central Criminal Court heard on 17 February 2014 that a jury of seven women and five men had been discharged after five hours of deliberation and could not reach a verdict in the murder trial of 21‑year‑old Michael Kinsella. Kinsella had pleaded not guilty to the killing of 31‑year‑old Adil Essalhi at Tyrrelstown on 6 January 2011. The State alleged that Kinsella and his uncle, Wayne Kinsella, carried out the murder because they believed Essalhi was involved in the killing of their relative Lee Kinsella. The court heard that Essalhi's body was found in a ditch behind Tyrrelstown Plaza, that an attempt had been made to burn the body, and that the post‑mortem examination revealed 58 injuries, 19 chop wounds to the skull and facial bones, and evidence of post‑mortem burning. Two weapons were said to have been used, a machete and a sharp instrument such as a knife. Michael Kinsella was convicted.
The Central Criminal Court heard the trial of 21‑year‑old Michael Kinsella, accused of murdering 31‑year‑old Adil Essalhi in Tyrrelstown, Dublin, on 6 January 2011. Kinsella pleaded not guilty. The jury has been deliberating for almost two hours and has paused for the weekend. The court noted that Kinsella's uncle, Wayne Kinsella, was convicted of the murder in 2012. Witnesses testified that Essalhi met Wayne and another woman in a Dublin pub, then returned to their Tyrrelstown apartment where a group drank. Essalhi's body was found in a ditch behind Tyrrelstown Plaza, with attempts to burn it. Judge Paul Carney highlighted that key witnesses were alleged liars, and the prosecution, led by Alex Owens SC, argued that a machete and another knife were used, describing the killing as a "Goodfellas‑style execution." The defense, represented by Patrick Marrinan SC, contested the evidence of two weapons and the alleged motive. The jury will resume deliberations on Monday.
The Central Criminal Court heard that 21‑year‑old Michael Kinsella of Swiftbrook Close, Tallaght, denied murdering 31‑year‑old Adil Essalhi at Tyrrelstown on 6 January 2011. Essalhi's body was found in a ditch behind Tyrrelstown Plaza, with attempts to burn it. Kinsella, who was arrested for the murder, said he had never met Essalhi and denied killing or burning him, claiming Essalhi was still alive when left in the living room. He also denied any connection to his uncle Wayne Kinsella, who was convicted of the murder in 2012. Garda interviews and cross‑examinations confirmed Kinsella's denials and that he voluntarily went to Blanchardstown Garda Station on 15 and 16 January 2011. A machete‑type weapon was found beside the body, but no knives were linked to the crime. The trial continues.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Michael Kinsella, aged 21, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Adil Essalhi, 31, in Tyrrelstown on 6 January 2011. The court heard that Kinsella's uncle, Wayne Kinsella, was convicted of the murder in 2012. Donna Mangan, who lived in Tallaght on 16 January 2011, testified that Kinsella visited her apartment with his girlfriend and, according to her, pointed to his chest and whispered, "It was me, I done it." She also claimed he later said, "You should check what we done to that Paki fella – we beat the lungs out of him." Mangan described feeling threatened by Wayne for money, but denied that she fabricated the confession. Another cousin, Jamie Lee Kinsella, recounted that Kinsella had smoked a joint with her and claimed he had killed the victim because he had murdered his uncle Lee Kinsella.
A 21‑year‑old man, Michael Kinsella of Swiftbrook Close, Tallaght, is on trial for the murder of Adil Essalhi, whose body was found in a ditch in north Dublin three years ago. Kinsella pleaded not guilty. The Central Criminal Court was told that Kinsella and another person killed Essalhi somewhere in fields behind Tyrrelstown Plaza between 9 pm and shortly after 9:30 pm on 6 January 2011. Prosecutor Mr Alex Owens SC described how Essalhi had gone drinking with Kinsella's uncle Wayne and a partner, then returned to the duplex apartment where they drank with others, including Kinsella. Owens said the Kinsellas believed Essalhi had murdered Wayne's brother Lee. At about 9 pm Essalhi was asked to leave the apartment and was then "done to death" in the fields. Two weapons were used, a machete and a sharp instrument such as a knife; a machete was found next to the body but no other knife was recovered.
A jury has begun deliberating the trial of 19‑year‑old Daniel McDonnell, charged with murdering 16‑year‑old Melanie McCarthy McNamara on 8 February 2012. McDonnell's barrister argued that the only evidence against him was two letters he wrote while in prison, described as "rants to his friend and girlfriend." One letter contained violent language, including "Close‑range head shots… Two in the head. The bitch is dead," and references to a loaded 12‑gauge. The other letter suggested a motive tied to a car incident. McDonnell pleaded not guilty. Defending counsel Patrick Marrinan SC noted the absence of any role for McDonnell in the murder, the lack of forensic evidence such as fingerprints on the vehicle or gun, and the lack of corroboration for the letters. He warned of the dangers of relying on uncorroborated confessions, citing cases where Irish men had falsely confessed.
Siobhan Whitaker, 25, of Meadow Vale, London, pleaded guilty to impeding the apprehension of a person she believed to be guilty of Maurice Martin's murder in Finglas on 12 June 2009. She admitted that she cleaned up the scene after the murder, which was carried out by Daniel Gaynor, a known violent offender who stabbed Martin to death. Whitaker had no involvement in the murder itself and had previously been described as having good character. The court noted her early guilty plea and her 21 prior convictions, mainly for traffic offences, and imposed an 18‑month prison term. Whitaker's statement to the court was that she did not ask for the events to happen and that she felt guilty for her actions. The sentence was handed down by Mr Justice Paul Carney at the Central Criminal Court.
A 32‑year‑old man from Kilkenny, Niall Stapleton, was committed to the Central Mental Hospital after a jury found him not guilty of murdering his mother by reason of insanity. The trial, held earlier that week, heard that Stapleton had schizophrenia and had been diagnosed five years earlier, after a head injury a month before. He had pleaded not guilty to the murder of his 51‑year‑old mother, Siobhan Stapleton, who died from blunt force trauma to the head. Forensic psychiatrists for both sides agreed he met the special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. Following the verdict, Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan committed Stapleton to the Central Mental Hospital for preparation of a report by Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist Damian Mohan. Mohan reported that Stapleton had been an inpatient for the past year, had suffered a head injury in 2008, and had been admitted to the hospital in June 2012 with severe auditory hallucinations.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has convicted Przemyslaw Trebacz of the murder of Costel Catalin Cretu in Co. Cavan. Trebacz, a 35-year-old Polish national from Killynebber, Cavan, had pleaded not guilty to the charge. The offence occurred between October 13 and 14, 2012, at Connolly Court, Connolly Street, Cavan. The jury returned a majority verdict of ten to two after nearly ten hours of deliberation. Mr Justice Barry White adjourned sentencing until January 20, 2013, when a victim impact statement will be presented. Trebacz had also pleaded guilty to criminal damage. The prosecution case alleged he attended the premises to commit robbery with a weapon. The defence raised provocation and self-defence. Evidence indicated the deceased, a 38-year-old Romanian man, sustained two fatal stab wounds to the chest and back while protecting workers at the location.
A jury has begun deliberating the trial of a 32‑year‑old man with schizophrenia, Niall Stapleton, who is charged with murdering his mother, Siobhan Stapleton, 51, at their Co Kilkenny home on 25 May 2012. The victim died from blunt‑force trauma to the head after being beaten with the handle of a garden implement. Stapleton pleaded not guilty, claiming he was not guilty by reason of insanity. He told doctors that he believed his mother had been replaced by an impostor when he killed her. An expert witness for the prosecution testified that Stapleton met the requirement for a special verdict of not guilty of murder by reason of insanity. The jury must decide whether his mental disorder meant he did not know the nature and quality of his action, that it was wrong, or that he was unable to refrain from the act. They will resume deliberations tomorrow.
In a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, a 32‑year‑old man named Niall Stapleton pleaded not guilty to the killing of his 51‑year‑old mother, Siobhan Stapleton, who died on 25 May 2012 from blunt force trauma to the head after being beaten with a garden fork handle. Stapleton, a college graduate with schizophrenia, claimed he believed his mother had been replaced by an impostor. Dr Stephen Monks, a forensic psychiatrist, testified for the defence, stating that Stapleton was suffering from a mental disorder at the time of the killing, had active symptoms of schizophrenia, and did not understand the nature or wrongness of his act. Monks argued that Stapleton met the criteria for a not‑guilty‑by‑reason‑of‑insanity verdict and recommended he remain at the Central Mental Hospital. The trial continues before Mr Justice Garret Sheehan. Niall Stapleton was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
A 32‑year‑old man with schizophrenia, Niall Stapleton, is on trial in the Central Criminal Court for the murder of his 51‑year‑old mother, Siobhan Stapleton, who died on 25 May 2012 from blunt‑force trauma to the head inflicted with a garden‑fork handle. Stapleton pleaded not guilty, claiming he was not guilty by reason of insanity. He initially told gardai he saw a man leave the scene but later admitted he had snapped and attacked his mother. His 22‑year‑old sister, Sinead Stapleton, testified that he had been on medication for years but was not taking it at the time and that he had been restless and talking to himself the night before the death. The post‑mortem found 28 injuries, including skull fractures and bruising to brain tissue, and the garden‑fork handle was found with blood matching the mother's DNA.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has begun deliberations in the trial of a man accused of murder in County Cavan. Przemyslaw Trebacz, aged 35, of Bramble Rise, Killynebber, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Costel Catalin Cretu, aged 38, at Connolly Court, Cavan between October 13 and 14, 2012. Mr Trebacz has admitted guilty to criminal damage. The prosecution alleged the accused went to the apartment to commit robbery and stabbed the deceased twice. The defence contended there was no evidence of fingerprints at the scene and questioned whether the accused was armed. Mr Justice Barry White directed the jury on the potential defences of self-defence and provocation. He explained that self-defence could result in acquittal if only necessary force was used, whilst provocation could reduce the charge to manslaughter. The jury of nine men and three women will continue hearing the judge's directions before reaching their verdict.
In a Limerick murder case, Seán Flanagan (28) and his uncle Paul Colbert (46) were sentenced to life imprisonment for the January 18, 2012 stabbing of Gerard McMahon (43) near their home on Lenihan Avenue. The trial, lasting four weeks, found the pair guilty after evidence showed McMahon was attacked from behind while climbing the steps to his cousin's house. Flanagan admitted to stabbing McMahon with a knife, while Colbert claimed to have used a hatchet. Both denied premeditation, citing fear and provocation. A third nephew, Ian Flanagan (24), was convicted of assisting the offenders by hiding their CCTV device, which had been removed from the house and later recovered in a neighbour's property. The jury, after nearly 11 hours of deliberation over three days, returned unanimous guilty verdicts. The sentencing judge imposed a mandatory life sentence on both men, and Ian Flanagan was remanded in custody pending his own sentencing. Seán Flanagan pleaded not guilty. Ian Flanagan pleaded not guilty.
Tadhg Costello, 18, of Richmond Hill, Monkstown, pleaded not guilty to attempted murder of Josh Leahy, 18, at Johnson's Court on 31 May 2012. He also pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm and unlawful possession of a knife on the same date. Judge Paul Butler adjourned the trial to the next day after a juror fell ill.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Seán Flanagan, Paul Colbert, and Ian Flanagan continues before Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan. Seán Flanagan and Paul Colbert, both of Lenihan Avenue, Limerick, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of 43-year-old Gerard McMahon, who was stabbed on January 18, 2012. Ian Flanagan, also of Lenihan Avenue, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of assisting an offender, allegedly by removing a CCTV recorder. Evidence presented by neurologist Dr Peter Boers addressed Seán Flanagan's fitness for a garda interview following an epileptic seizure on January 25, 2012. Dr Boers testified that while Flanagan was fit for discharge into custody, he may have had some impairment the next morning. However, the doctor agreed he was not unfit to be interviewed, noting that Flanagan responded normally by the evening of that day. The court heard that Flanagan made admissions during the interview. Prosecution counsel Michael O'Higgins SC cross-examined the witness, highlighting that Flanagan's mother had lied to gardai about the location of the CCTV device, which was later recovered from a neighbour's house. The jury has viewed video footage of the seizure and the subsequent interview. The trial is ongoing and was adjourned to continue on Wednesday.
Tadhg Costello, 18, of Richmond Hill, Monkstown, is on trial for the attempted murder of Josh Leahy, 18, at Johnson's Court on 31 May 2012. He has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, assault causing harm, and unlawful possession of a knife. Judge Paul Butler informed the jury that the court had been dealing with the matter in their absence and instructed them to return tomorrow.
In a Limerick murder trial, a jury was shown a video of suspect Seán Flanagan having an epileptic seizure during a Garda interview. The case concerns the January 18, 2012 stabbing death of Gerard McMahon, 43, at Lenihan Avenue. Flanagan (28) and his uncle Paul Colbert (46) plead not guilty to the murder. Flanagan's brother Ian (24) is charged with removing a CCTV recorder that could be evidence. The video shows Flanagan's seizure on January 25, when a Garda asked if he was okay and noted he seemed drowsy. The Garda called for help; Flanagan was taken to hospital and returned to the station two hours later. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, continues with a jury of eight women and four men. The court also heard Ian Flanagan's statements about the CCTV device and his uncle's alleged actions. The trial remains ongoing.
The trial of 18‑year‑old Tadhg Costello, accused of attempting to murder fellow teenager Josh Leahy, is ongoing at Johnson's Court and the Central Criminal Court. Costello pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, assault causing harm, and unlawful possession of a knife. Evidence presented by consultant cardio‑thoracic surgeon Paul Burns SC described Leahy's injuries: six stab wounds to the back, a chest drain inserted and removed within a day, and discharge from St James's Hospital on 2 June 2012. Gardaí accounts detail a fight on Grafton Street on 31 May 2012, with Garda Michael O'Shea and others observing a group of men, a knife thrown behind railings, and subsequent recovery by Garda Mark Eccles. Witnesses, including Emmanuel Mihaylov, identified Costello as the knife‑holder. The case remains in legal argument before Justice Paul Butler.
The Central Criminal Court is currently hearing the trial of Seán Flanagan (28) and Paul Colbert (46), both of Limerick, who have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Gerard McMahon. Ian Flanagan (24), also of Limerick, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of assisting an offender, allegedly by removing a CCTV recorder. The court heard evidence from Detective Garda Michael Murphy regarding interviews conducted with Seán Flanagan following his arrest. Flanagan alleged that he stabbed Mr McMahon three or four times after the deceased threatened him, claiming he did not intend to kill him. He stated that a third individual, who he said was armed with a hatchet and knife, was present. Flanagan told detectives that Mr McMahon was still alive when he left the scene. The trial continues before Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan and a jury of eight women and four men.
In a Dublin court, 18‑year‑old Tadhg Costello pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, assault causing harm and unlawful knife possession after stabbing Josh Leahy, also 18, at Johnson's Court on 31 May 2012. CCTV of the altercation was shown to the jury. Prosecutor Paul Burns argued that Costello, aged 17 at the time, stabbed Leahy in the back during a confrontation that began after a nightclub visit on 30 May. Leahy testified he was attacked by a group, stabbed seven times, and suffered a punctured lung. Witnesses, including Emmanuel Mihaylov and Garda Philip Gleeson, identified Costello as the knife‑bearing assailant. Costello denied involvement, claiming he had swapped clothing and did not throw the knife. The trial proceeded before a jury of eight women and four men under Mr Justice Paul Butler.
Patrick McCann, aged 20, received a 20‑year sentence, with the final three years suspended, for the attempted murder of his friend Luke Wilson, aged 19, at Liffey Gaels GAA club in Inchicore on 13 January 2013. McCann pleaded guilty to attempted murder and to possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. The court heard that Wilson was shot in the arm, neck and face, but the gun jammed twice and McCann fled. Wilson suffered serious injuries, including loss of an eye, cerebral stroke, and permanent arm palsy. McCann had prior convictions for drug possession, sale, theft and burglary, and was on bail at the time of the shooting. The judge noted McCann's long‑term drug and alcohol dependence and a dysfunctional family background as mitigating factors. The sentencing was described by the judge as reminiscent of a "Love/Hate" script.
In a Wexford murder trial, the Central Criminal Court heard evidence concerning the death of Patrick Connors at Carraig Túr apartments, Enniscorthy, on 28–29 April 2011. The accused, 36‑year‑old Michael Furlong, pleaded not guilty. Garda Brian Phillips and Garda Antoinette Byrne arrived at the apartments at about 11.40 pm on 28 April, following a report of a man covered in blood. They found no one outside, no buzzer, and no response to knocks. Phillips claimed he shouted for the door to open, heard voices, and eventually forced the door after a loud bang. Inside, he met two men: one identified as Furlong, who appeared intoxicated and confused, and another as Paddy Connors, who refused medical help and asked the officers to leave. After a 15‑minute attempt to persuade them, the officers left. A shopkeeper, Mary Murphy, later testified that Furlong entered her shop after 8 am the next morning, saying "Paddy's dead.
A 36‑year‑old Wexford man, Michael Furlong, is on trial for the murder of his 37‑year‑old friend Patrick Connors, who died between 28 and 29 April 2011 at the Carraig Túr apartments in Enniscorthy. Furlong pleaded not guilty. In his opening statement, the prosecutor, Mr John O'Kelly SC, described how police received two calls on the morning of 29 April: first from a neighbour who said a man was dead, then from Furlong himself. Police entered the apartments, found Connors' body on the second flight of stairs, and noted blood on walls and floor. Furlong admitted that Connors had fallen after a night of drinking, but claimed he had given him clothing to soak up blood and covered him with a fleece. He said he woke the next morning to find Connors on the stairs, naked from the waist up.
A 46‑year‑old Polish welder and mechanic, Waldemar Solowiow, was found guilty of murdering his 37‑year‑old girlfriend, Mary Ryan, who was discovered unconscious in his Dublin bedsit on 18 May 2012. Ryan died from neck compression and blunt force trauma to the head. Solowiow pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, claiming a physical fight the night before and that he did not intend to kill her. He admitted slapping, pushing and grabbing her, and that she fell onto a coffee table and hit her head. Gardaí had been called to the flat on several occasions due to the couple's drunken behaviour. The Central Criminal Court heard that Solowiow had initially told authorities that Ryan had been assaulted by three men the previous night, a story he later abandoned. The jury, after four and a half hours of deliberation, returned a majority verdict of 11 to 1, finding him guilty of murder.
In the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution argued that the injuries sustained by Mary Ryan were inconsistent with her boyfriend Waldemar Solowiow's account of a brief struggle. An autopsy revealed death by neck compression and blunt force trauma to the head. Solowiow, a 46‑year‑old unemployed welder and mechanic, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. He claimed a physical fight the night before, stating he did not intend to kill her. The prosecution highlighted the severity of the injuries and evidence of a prior alcohol problem, questioning whether a slap could cause such harm. The defense contended that Solowiow's intent was absent, citing provocation and the possibility of a manslaughter verdict. Judge Patrick McCarthy instructed a jury of eight men and four women to deliberate on the case.