At the Central Criminal Court, a jury convicted Jozef Puska's brothers, Lubomir Puska Jnr and Marek Puska, of withholding information from An Garda Síochána regarding the murder of Ashling Murphy. The brothers were found guilty of failing to disclose that Jozef Puska returned home on the night of January 12, 2022, with visible injuries and admitted to cutting a female with a knife. Their wives, Viera Gaziova and Jozefina Grundzova, were convicted of burning Jozef's bloodstained clothes to impede his prosecution. Gaziova was convicted by an 11-1 majority, while Grundzova was found guilty by a 10-2 majority. All four defendants had pleaded not guilty. Jozef Puska's wife, Lucia Istokova, had previously pleaded guilty to withholding information. Ms Justice Biggs ordered probation reports for all five defendants. The matter was adjourned to July 7 for sentencing, with the defendants remanded on continuing bail until that date. Jozef Puska is currently serving a life sentence for the murder, having been convicted in November 2023.
Bernard Brennan, aged 67 and formerly of Rathfarnham, was sentenced by the Central Criminal Court to four and a half years' imprisonment for 11 counts of indecent assault against his younger sisters, Yvonne Crist and Paula Fay, committed between 1972 and 1975. The sisters, aged 13 and seven at the time, waived anonymity and gave moving statements describing horrific abuse, including forced removal of clothing, inappropriate touching, oral rape, and forced viewing of pornography. Brennan pleaded guilty to four counts against Crist and seven against Fay. The judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, imposed a headline sentence of 21 months per count, reduced to 15 months, resulting in four consecutive 15‑month terms (five years) before being reduced to four and a half years and backdated to his earlier custody. Brennan had no prior convictions and pleaded guilty before trial. The court noted his age at the time of the offences and the mitigating factors in the final sentence.
The Central Criminal Court has convicted four men of offences arising from the murder of Mahamud Ilyas. Viorel Doroscan and Otniel Richardo Clejan, who pleaded not guilty, were unanimously convicted of murder and remanded in custody. They face a mandatory term of life imprisonment at a sentencing hearing scheduled for June 23. Lorenzo Cantaragiu, who also pleaded not guilty, was convicted of impeding the prosecution or apprehension of Doroscan and Clejan and cleaning his car to impede the prosecution. The jury rejected his defence that he acted under intimidation. Cantaragiu was remanded in custody until June 23, with a probation report directed. Robert Burns, who pleaded guilty to one count of cleaning the apartment where the assault occurred, had his remaining charges indicated for dismissal at a later hearing. The court described the disposal of the victim as grotesquely inhumane. The matter for all defendants is adjourned to June 23 for sentencing or further proceedings.
The trial of four accused persons regarding the murder of Ashling Murphy continues before the Central Criminal Court. Jozefina Grundzova and Viera Gaziova, who have pleaded not guilty to charges under the Criminal Law Act 1997, are alleged to have assisted in burning clothing to impede the prosecution of Jozef Puska. Marek Puska and Lubomir Puska Jnr, also pleading not guilty, face charges under the Offences Against the State, Amendment Act 1988 and the Criminal Law Act 1997 for allegedly withholding information about Puska's return home with injuries and his subsequent travel to Dublin. Evidence presented includes testimony from Detective Sergeant Anthony Quinn, who described sifting fireplace ashes at the family home in Mucklagh, Co Offaly, for forensic evidence of burned clothing, though nothing of note was found. Witness Jenna Stack testified to seeing Murphy struggling with a man near Cappincur Bridge on January 12, 2022, describing her as "kicking out really hard" while the man appeared angry at being interrupted. The matter is currently at the trial stage and has not been finalised; it remains ongoing before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury.
During the Richard Satchwell murder trial, Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster explained that Tina Satchwell's cause of death could not be determined because her remains were skeletal. The remains were found buried beneath the couple's Cork home, in a grave under the stairs, after an invasive search in October 2023. Dr Bolster described the body's condition: a dressing‑gown belt knotted over the front of the chest, a gold purse labelled 'Playboy' removed from the left pocket, and skeletal remains with no fractures or bruising. She noted the belt's unusual position, often used to move a body, and that the body had been wrapped in a soiled sheet. No evidence of trauma to the hyoid bone or other bones was found, and the post‑mortem interval was very long, preventing determination of the cause of death. Tina Satchwell pleaded not guilty.
Richard Satchwell, aged 58, told detectives he would not look at photographs of his wife Tina's body, saying he wanted to remember her as she was, not as he had made her. He claimed his wife, aged 45, had attacked him with a chisel, that he had fallen backwards, and that he had held her bathrobe belt at her neck until she became heavier. Gardaí questioned him about marks on plasterboard he said were left by a chisel, but he could not confirm their location. He also said the marks were not visible. Gardaí noted inconsistencies in his story and that his second account was starting to fall apart. The trial heard that Tina's body was found in a grave under the stairs of the couple's home in October 2023, after she had been reported missing in May 2017. Satchwell pleaded not guilty to her murder, which is alleged to have occurred between 19 and 20 March 2017.
Richard Satchwell, aged 58, told Gardaí that he buried his wife Tina's body under the stairs of their Cork home to keep her with him. He said he wanted her to know the hand that killed her was also the hand that loved her. Satchwell claimed the incident occurred on or about 19 March 2017, after a dispute at a car boot sale. He described a sudden violent episode in which Tina "flew" at him, leading to her death. He said he then placed her in a chest freezer, later dug a hole under the stairs, wrapped her in black plastic, added flowers, and covered her with cement. A forensic anthropologist testified that no injuries were found on Tina's bones, including her hyoid bone. Satchwell pleaded not guilty to her murder. The trial is set to continue.
Richard Satchwell, aged 58, was re‑arrested on 12 October 2023 on suspicion of murdering his wife Tina Satchwell, aged 45, at their home on Grattan Street, Youghal, between 19 and 20 March 2017. In a statement to Gardaí he claimed that after Tina tried to stab him with a chisel, he fell and held her weight with the belt of her bathrobe until she became heavier, after which she died in his arms. He also said he buried her under the stairs because the area was not concreted and he was panicked. Gardaí discovered her decomposed remains in a grave dug beneath the stairs during an invasive search in October 2023. The trial is proceeding in the Central Criminal Court, with Mr Satchwell pleading not guilty to the murder charge.
Kieran Meaney, aged 59, was convicted by a jury of 14 counts of indecent assault on two sisters aged six to eleven between August 1979 and August 1983, and of one count of rape of the older sister. The Central Criminal Court heard that the abuse began with inappropriate touching and escalated to forced removal of clothing and rape. The older sister's victim impact statement described the loss of innocence and lifelong fear, while the younger sister described a chaotic childhood but no fear of Meaney. Defending counsel argued that Meaney was a minor at the time of the offences and had no prior convictions. Judge Kerida Naidoo reduced the headline sentence from 10 years and 3 months to 5 years and 6 months, and imposed an effective global sentence of 4 years and 3 months. The court noted the age disparity and breach of trust in its decision.
Damien Long, aged 26, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for raping a 17‑year‑old girl in 2018. The Central Criminal Court heard that Long forced the girl to lie on the floor, raped her, and repeatedly told her that "a boy has got to do what a boy has got to do when he is horny." He also threatened her, saying he would not stop because he was enjoying it, and later locked her in his bedroom before leaving. The victim, who wishes to remain unnamed, suffered severe emotional distress, began drinking, fought with her family, and engaged in self‑harm, resulting in 23 hospital admissions. Long had no prior convictions at the time of the rape but had 24 convictions for drug dealing, road traffic and public order offences. The unnamed 17-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In the trial of Richard Satchwell, the jury heard how gardai uncovered the body of his wife, Tina, in a grave dug almost one metre deep beneath the stairs of their home, more than six years after she was reported missing. The prosecution described how forensic archaeologists, led by Dr Niamh McCullagh, excavated the site after a detective noticed a different pour of concrete under the stairs. The body, wrapped in black plastic, was exposed at 8.35 pm on 11 October 2023 and fully excavated the next day, with the remains placed in a body bag at 2.40 pm on 12 October. Detective Garda Brian Barry and builders had broken the concrete, revealing the burial. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott, with Mr Satchwell, aged 58, pleading not guilty to the murder of his 45‑year‑old wife, Tina Satchwell, between 19 and 20 March 2017.
In the trial of Richard Satchwell, the jury was shown photographs and a video of a shallow grave discovered beneath the stairs of his Cork home, where his wife Tina's remains were found six years after her disappearance. Gardaí used a cadaver dog named Fern to locate the body, and the excavation revealed a black plastic container holding the remains. The prosecution presented evidence that Satchwell had kept "bits and pieces" under the stairs and had been interviewed by Gardaí about the location of the body. Satchwell, aged 58, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his 45‑year‑old wife, Tina Satchwell, who died between 19 and 20 March 2017. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of five men and seven women.
A man accused of murdering his mother at her home in County Sligo in May 2023 told gardaí during interviews that he delayed contacting emergency services for approximately 20 minutes after discovering her body. Nigel Canavan, aged 39, of Erris Gardens, Crossmolina, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Angela Canavan at St John's Terrace, Sligo on 1 May 2023. The Central Criminal Court trial heard that Mr Canavan said he initially telephoned a friend before calling an ambulance, claiming he panicked and was unsure what to do. Gardaí arrested him six days after her death. Detective Garda Brian McMahon testified that during questioning at Sligo Garda Station, Mr Canavan described an altercation with his mother, who he said was intoxicated and agitated. He stated he removed a knife from her possession and subsequently heard sounds from downstairs, where he found her unconscious. Mr Canavan denied involvement in her death. State Pathologist Dr SallyAnne Collis determined the deceased died from asphyxia. The trial continues before Justice Kerdia Naidoo and jury.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, Richard Satchwell, aged 58, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his 45‑year‑old wife, Tina Satchwell, who was found dead in a shallow grave beneath their Cork home in October 2023. The jury heard that Satchwell told a detective in 2015 he believed his wife was still alive, and that he had previously attempted suicide because of her violence. He also claimed that on the night of her disappearance, March 19, 2017, she tried to stab him with a chisel, and that he had held her weight with a belt before she died. Satchwell's statements were taken under an enhanced cognitive interview, a witness‑led technique used by Gardaí. The case is set to continue before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of five men and seven women.
The appeal of Richard Satchwell, who is accused of murdering his wife Tina Satchwell – nee Dingivan – at their home in Youghal, Co Cork, between March 19 and March 20, 2017, has proceeded before the Central Criminal Court. The jury has viewed 14 open sourced media clips of interviews given by the accused to various television and radio outlets, including statements made to 'TV3 News', 'RTE's Crimecall', 'Prime Time Investigates', and 'Red FM'. In these interviews, Mr Satchwell expressed his belief that his wife was still alive and made appeals for her to return home. He also stated that he had never harmed his wife and that he would take a lie detector test if necessary. The accused has pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering his wife. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of five men and seven women.
The appeal of Richard Satchwell, who is accused of murdering his wife Tina Satchwell – nee Dingivan – at their home in Youghal, Co Cork, between March 19 and March 20, 2017, has been ongoing. Tina Satchwell is also an appellant, having pleaded not guilty to the same charge. The trial has heard that gardai were suspicious 'something untoward' had happened to Tina over six years before her body was discovered. Evidence was presented that gardai conducted a thorough search of the Satchwell home in June 2017, during which they found signs of recent renovations, including new plasterboard on the stairs and a new red bricked wall underneath the stairway. The body of Tina Satchwell was discovered in a grave dug beneath the stairs of the home. The trial has also heard that Mr Satchwell made media appeals for his wife's return, including a statement to RTE in June 2017. The matter is currently before the Central Criminal Court, with the trial continuing tomorrow before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of five men and seven women.
A 42‑year‑old man was sentenced to nine‑and‑a‑half years in prison for ten counts of rape and four counts of sexual assault against an unknown victim between May 2018 and December 2021, and for two counts of sexual assault against a second complainant in the same period. The judge, Mary Ellen Ring, imposed a headline sentence of 13 years, but the final sentence was 11 years for the rape counts and seven years for the assault of the first victim, with two years for each assault of the second victim. All sentences run concurrently. The judge suspended the last 18 months of the sentence for 18 months and ordered the defendant to be supervised by Probation Services for 12 months after release. He was also prohibited from any contact with the first victim for five years after release. The unnamed 42 year-old was convicted.
A 44‑year‑old man was found guilty of sexually abusing his stepdaughter from age 13 to 16, including oral rape, attempted rape and sexual assault. The victim, who was 13–16 at the time, said her mother emotionally blackmailed her not to report the abuse to the Gardaí, urging her to think of the family and her younger siblings. The mother claimed the stepfather had attended church and sought forgiveness. The man pleaded guilty to eight charges and was sentenced by the Circuit Criminal Court to nine years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended. The victim's impact statement described her as vulnerable and innocent, detailing how she was forced to stay silent for five years. The court noted the mother's pressure and the victim's courage in ultimately reporting the abuse. The sentence included strict conditions, a five‑year post‑release supervision order, and a prohibition on contact with the victim.
A 54‑year‑old man was sentenced to eight years in prison, with the final twelve months suspended, for attempted rape, sexual assault and threatening to kill his step‑daughter in County Limerick between 2011 and 2019. The victim, aged eight to sixteen at the times of the incidents, described repeated sexual advances, an attempted rape while lying on a bed, a sexual assault while she was on a couch, and a threat to kill her with a knife after she warned him she would tell her mother. The man pleaded not guilty and claimed he had cooperated with the investigation and complied with a 2020 barring order. The judge, Justice Melanie Greally, imposed post‑release supervision for two years, forbidding the defendant from any occupation that could bring him into contact with children and from any contact with the victim, her mother or family. The sentence was delivered in the Central Criminal Court. The unnamed 54-year-old was convicted.
A 25‑year‑old man was sentenced to 12½ years in prison for raping and smothering his wife during an armed attack in Dublin in September 2023. The Central Criminal Court heard that the victim, who now raises her children alone, had been isolated from her Travelling community after bringing her former husband to court. The court noted the man had 35 prior convictions, including theft, burglary, robbery and breach of a protection order. He denied the rape and assault, claiming the victim fabricated the allegations. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo set a 13‑year sentence, suspended the final six months, and imposed conditions including engagement with the Probation Service. The sentence was handed down after the man's supporters shouted at the victim and were removed by Gardaí. The case was placed in the 10‑15‑year headline sentencing category by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Brian Ibe, aged 23, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of Peter Kennedy, 65, who had taken his mother, Martha Ibe, into his home after she was living in a car. Ibe was diagnosed with schizophrenia by consultant psychiatrist Dr Gauruv Malhan, who said the mental disorder prevented him from restraining himself. Kennedy was stabbed repeatedly in the neck on 28 April 2020 and died on 12 May 2020. The prosecution, represented by Paul Carroll SC, argued that Ibe did not meet the legal criteria for a not‑guilty‑by‑reason‑of‑insanity verdict. Martha Ibe testified that Ibe had become aggressive after smoking cannabis, had delusions of "devil worshippers", and had threatened to kill Kennedy.
In the murder trial of Daniel Blanaru, the Central Criminal Court heard that emergency services received two 999 calls from a phone linked to Larisa Serban before she was found dead at her home in Co Meath. The first call, at 1.41 am, lasted nine seconds, had no dialogue, and was traced to a cell site in Rathmore. The second call, at 1.46 am, lasted eight seconds and included a female voice speaking in a foreign dialect, though the words were not discernible. Detective Garda Conor Carolan explained the cell site and Advanced Mobile Location data used to locate the calls. The jury also heard from interpreter Stanislav Olaru, who confirmed he had translated Mr Blanaru's statements in real time during Garda interviews, noting that the defence's translator used recorded tapes. The trial continues before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and an enlarged jury. Daniel Blanaru pleaded not guilty.
A 28‑year‑old man, John Glynn, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment by the Central Criminal Court for six counts of sexual assault against a girl aged between eight and thirteen who was being minded by his mother at his family home in Co. Kildare. The victim, who chose to waive anonymity, described ongoing fear, trust issues and psychological distress in her impact statement. Glynn pleaded guilty to the assaults, which occurred between 2013 and 2018, and was also charged with possession of child sexual abuse material, a charge pending sentencing in May. The judge noted Glynn's high risk of re‑offending, his admission of shame, and his ongoing cannabis use, and imposed a two‑year post‑release supervision order and a requirement to engage in a sex‑offender treatment programme. The sentence was reduced from a potential seven years to five years and six months, reflecting that Glynn was a juvenile for part of the offending period.
A jury in the Central Criminal Court found Christopher O'Grady, 33, guilty of raping a 19‑year‑old Spanish tourist on New Year's Eve 2019 in Dublin's Castle area. The victim, who was intoxicated and unable to consent, was led by O'Grady to a car‑park area where the assault occurred. She described the assault as forceful and non‑consensual, noting a lack of memory and physical pain. O'Grady was homeless at the time and remains in custody. The trial also considered a separate sexual encounter the victim had with another man that night, but the jury's verdict focused solely on the charge against O'Grady. The case is scheduled for sentencing on 19 June. The court heard CCTV footage of the assault and the victim's subsequent medical examination. The prosecution highlighted the victim's honest account and urged a guilty verdict. The defense questioned the similarity of the two encounters and the victim's capacity to consent.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Peter Doyle, aged 68, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for indecent assault and rape of two girls aged six to nine between 1977 and 1991. The victims, who wish to remain anonymous, recounted how they were ignored when they tried to alert adults, with one told the abuser was "just experimenting." Doyle pleaded guilty to all charges. The judge, Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo, set a headline sentence of 15 years but, citing mitigating factors such as Doyle's guilty plea, lack of prior convictions, good work history and remorse, imposed consecutive sentences totalling eight years. The court noted the deep and lasting harm suffered by the victims and the breach of trust involved. The case was classified as "more serious" by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
A 50-year-old woman, November Phelan, was sentenced to six years imprisonment with the final year suspended for a period of three years, on the condition that she remain under the supervision of the probation services and engage with counselling and addiction services. The sentence was passed by Mr Justice Paul Burns at the Central Criminal Court following a validated procedural stage of sentence. Phelan had pleaded guilty to manslaughter when she was arraigned before the court. The court heard that Phelan had been in a relationship with the deceased, David Ennis, and that both had significant problems involving long-term substance abuse. Mr Justice Burns noted that Phelan had acted in self-defence in response to an anticipated attack from Ennis. The judge acknowledged Phelan's guilty plea, her expression of remorse, and her long-term struggle with drug addiction and depression. The matter was not adjourned and was finalised with the sentence being backdated to October 27, 2023, when Phelan went into custody.
The Minister for Justice announced a protocol to fast‑track rape and murder cases involving children, aiming to resolve them within one year. Seventeen agencies signed up, acknowledging that delays harm child victims and defendants. The protocol activates when a child under 18 reports rape or when a defendant under 18 is named in such an investigation. Courts will notify judges of protocol cases and, where practicable, expedite them. Expert reports, including psychological and psychiatric assessments, will be sought early. The Central Criminal Court will set a trial date within eight weeks of a case's first appearance, though complexity may extend this. The Director of Public Prosecutions must inform the court of pre‑trial applications within seven days, and lawyers must do so within 14 days. If a child is convicted, a sentencing hearing will occur within 28 days of the verdict, where practicable.
A 53‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment for raping and sexually abusing his younger sister between January 1987 and August 1991. The court heard that the victim was about seven when the defendant, then 15, began forcing her to perform oral sex and touch him inappropriately in their family home, a laneway and a field in County Dublin. He pleaded guilty to nine counts, including indecent assault and two oral rapes. The judge imposed a global sentence of six years and six months, with the final 12 months suspended for two years on strict conditions. The victim, whose name is withheld, said the abuse destroyed her childhood, caused ongoing shame, nightmares and mental health problems, and that she had finally come forward after years of silence. The court noted the defendant's young age at the time of the offences, his health issues and his willingness to engage in therapeutic programmes.
A 39-year-old man accused of murder has testified at the Central Criminal Court that his co-accused struck the alleged victim with a rock, causing the pensioner's death. Alan Vial, of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, County Donegal, told the court he was physically struggling with Robert Robin Wilkin when Nikita Burns hit Mr Wilkin on the back of the head with a rock. Mr Vial admitted he subsequently drove to Sliabh Liag to dispose of the body, which he and Ms Burns then placed over a cliff. He stated he had lied in garda interviews to protect Ms Burns, with whom he was in a relationship. The 66-year-old's body was recovered from the waters below Sliabh Liag eight days after his death on 25 June 2023. A post-mortem examination identified skull fractures inconsistent with injuries from a fall. Both Mr Vial and Ms Burns, of Carrick, County Donegal, have pleaded not guilty to murder. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
At the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, the State Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster gave evidence in the trial of Nikita Burns, aged 23, of Carrick, County Donegal, and Alan Vial, aged 39, of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, County Donegal. Both are charged with the murder of a 66-year-old man on 25 June 2023 in Donegal. Dr Bolster told the court that the deceased's body, recovered from the sea near Sliabh Liag eight days after the alleged incident, bore two depressed fractures to the rear of the skull inconsistent with injuries caused by a cliff fall. She stated these injuries appeared consistent with a blunt-force weapon strike and were likely inflicted before death. Additional evidence heard included testimony from gardaí at the scene of a car crash later that day in the Fintown area and from emergency responders. Both accused have pleaded not guilty to the charge.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 41‑year‑old father was sentenced to 13 years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. He pleaded guilty to 11 counts, including nine of sexual assault, one rape and one oral rape, for offences committed between 2016 and 2018 when his daughter was aged nine to 11. The abuse began with inappropriate touching and forced masturbation, escalated after the family moved to Portugal, and continued after their return to Ireland. The father posted online in 2023 describing sexual acts with the victim as consensual, breaching court orders. He also drafted a letter to Tusla acknowledging some abuse and referencing classical literature. The judge noted the victim's impact statement and the aggravating factors of the child's age and the parent‑child relationship. The sentence includes a seven‑year post‑release supervision order and a prohibition on contact with the victim and any child under 18.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Philip Griffin, 37, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Anthony O'Brien, 30, and his five‑year‑old daughter Nadine after a house fire in Tralee on 12 May 2012. Griffin, who had no fixed abode and was originally from Tralee, had previously been convicted of 41 offences. He voluntarily approached Gardaí in May 2022, admitting that he and another man had entered the O'Brien home, set fire to a couch with a lighter, and fled. The fire caused the deaths of Anthony and Nadine; Kelly O'Brien survived but fractured her heel. Griffin, who appeared by video link from prison, said he could not live with the guilt and wants to be locked up. The court heard that the case had been closed after a 2013 inquest that found no evidence of a criminal act.
A jury of eight men and four women has deliberated for a third day in the trial of Philip Cox, a 40‑year‑old man accused of attempting to murder his former partner, Cristal O'Brien, at the York Street Flats in Dublin 2 on 1 December 2022. Cox has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder charge. He is also charged with producing a knife, aggravated burglary and assault causing harm, for which he has previously pleaded guilty. O'Brien testified that Cox threatened to stab her "to pieces", kicked her twice, broke a knife, and tried to stab her again after she fled to a neighbour's flat. She said he also stabbed her twice in the leg. Neighbour Alice McGrath gave evidence that Cox threatened to kill her.
A man has been convicted of manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court following a ten-week trial in connection with the death of a drug dealer in Dublin. Dean Caffrey, aged 38, of Beaucort, Achill Road, Drumcondra, was acquitted of murder but found guilty of the unlawful killing of Sean McCarthy, 28, on August 2, 2022. The jury reached their majority verdict after more than twelve hours of deliberation. The court heard that Caffrey, a cocaine and cannabis user with accumulated drug debts, allowed McCarthy to use his apartment to store drugs as part payment. On the day in question, Caffrey told gardai that McCarthy arrived agitated and armed, accusing him of theft and making threats. During a struggle, Caffrey claimed the gun discharged fatally. Following McCarthy's death, Caffrey placed the body in a wardrobe, where it remained for four days whilst he continued his daily routine. He attended work and visited his ex-girlfriend before presenting himself at Ashbourne Garda Station and directing gardai to the remains. Dean Caffrey pleaded not guilty.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has paused deliberations after approximately eleven hours of consideration in the trial of Dean Caffrey, who denies murdering Sean McCarthy. The twelve jurors will resume their discussions on Monday after being unavailable tomorrow. Mr Caffrey, aged 38 and from Achill Road in Dublin, faces charges of murder in connection with the death of Mr McCarthy, a 28-year-old drug dealer. Mr McCarthy died from a single gunshot wound to the head sustained at Mr Caffrey's residence. The defence maintains Mr Caffrey acted in self-defence during a struggle, while the prosecution contends he intentionally killed his victim. Mr McCarthy's body was discovered four days after he went missing on 2 August 2022, concealed in a wardrobe at the accused's home. Mr Justice Paul McDermott has instructed the jury they must determine guilt on the charge of murder, manslaughter, or acquittal. Mr Caffrey presented himself to gardaí days after the incident and disclosed the location of the deceased's remains. Dean Caffrey pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court heard on 9 December 2024 that Damian Szatkowski (38) pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Marcel Kusenda (48) on 8 March 2023. Kusenda, a Slovakian man who had lived in Ireland for 20 years, was found in his Newbridge home with severe head injuries after being repeatedly kicked and punched by Szatkowski, who had recently moved in. A post‑mortem revealed a displaced nasal fracture and a 15 mm subdural hematoma, with death caused by complications of blunt‑force head injury. Szatkowski, with 61 prior convictions, was arrested and denied intent to kill, claiming he had only punched once. The court adjourned sentencing to 17 February, noting the offence's high culpability and the defendant's remorse. The case remains pending.
During a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, jurors were instructed to disregard any personal impressions of Conor McGregor after the accused, Maurice Boland, claimed he had struck a 26‑year‑old man "like the mixed martial arts star" during an altercation. Boland, aged 37, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of Cian Gallagher, who died eight days after being punched on November 2‑3, 2022. The State's case, presented by Bernard Condon SC, outlined that Gallagher was walking home from a night of drinking when Boland, who had been drinking earlier that evening, approached and punched him. CCTV footage would show the encounter, including the punch that caused fatal injuries. Condon urged the jury to focus on Boland's intent and the manner of the strike, rather than the comparison to McGregor, and to weigh any such remarks at their discretion.
A 29‑year‑old man was jailed for seven years after pleading guilty to two counts of assault causing harm and one count of rape. The assaults took place in October 2017 and May 2018 at a home in the southeast of the country. The victim, whose name is withheld, described repeated head‑butts, throat‑grabs and threats to kill before the rape. She reported the violence to the gardai in October 2017 and again in May 2018, but did not press charges until the court heard her statements. The man had a history of violent convictions and mental health difficulties, including paranoid schizophrenia and substance misuse. The judge imposed a sentence of five years and three months for the rape, three years and four months for each assault, and suspended the final 12 months of the total eight‑year and seven‑month term on strict conditions. The man has 19 prior convictions. The unnamed 29-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Geunter Lohse, aged 63, has been sentenced to twelve years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for unlawfully killing his mother Ruth by arson. The offence occurred on April 12, 2022, at their shared residence in Coolvoy, Doochary, County Donegal. Lohse pleaded guilty to manslaughter after the State accepted his plea on a charge of murder. Ms Justice Melanie Greally imposed a headline sentence of eighteen years, reduced to thirteen years with the final twelve months suspended, taking into account mitigating factors including his early guilty plea and lack of previous convictions. The court heard that Ruth Lohse, aged 88, died from smoke inhalation after Lohse set three fires in the house using matches. The judge noted the victim, who had dedicated her life to caring for her son, was elderly, vulnerable, and had no opportunity to escape. Lohse claimed he intended only to destroy the property, not to harm his mother, but evidence indicated he made no credible effort to assist her.
Robert Murphy, 42, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of Jamie Kavanagh, 24, at a Dublin 8 hostel on 19 April 2023. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan argued that Murphy entered Kavanagh's room wearing a balaclava and armed only with a butter knife to frighten, not kill. They claimed Murphy admitted stabbing Kavanagh but that the fatal wound was caused by one of Kavanagh's own longer knives. Grehan highlighted that Murphy had no intention to kill, citing his statements about wanting to clean the hostel and that he would have used more lethal weapons if he had intended to kill. The prosecution, led by Paul Greene, countered that Murphy's admissions to Gardaí and the removal of blood‑stained clothing indicated intent to kill. The trial is ongoing before Justice Melanie Greally and a jury of twelve.
A 41‑year‑old Nigerian man was sentenced by the Central Criminal Court to 13 years' imprisonment for eight counts of rape, four counts of assault and two counts of threatening to kill or cause serious harm. The court heard that the defendant repeatedly raped and beat his wife, causing her to miscarry a child. He also applied chilli powder to her genitals after a rape. The man threatened to kill the woman and her sister when they tried to recover her bride price, and he planned to put the victim's brother's name on the birth certificate of a child she had with him to secure residency. He later came to Ireland to live with the woman and her baby. The judge noted the defendant denied all allegations and ordered post‑release supervision for two years. The sentence was imposed concurrently with four‑year terms for the assault and threat charges. The unnamed 41-year-old was found guilty.
During a trial, Robert Murphy (42) told a garda that he wanted to kill Jamie Kavanagh (24) and that Kavanagh deserved to die. Murphy pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. He admitted stabbing Kavanagh, who lived in a bedsit on Harrington Street, Dublin 8, a hostel run by Crosscare. Garda Matthew O'Connor, on duty at Kevin Street Garda Station, heard Murphy say he had taken all the knives from Kavanagh's room and that he wanted to kill him. Murphy was found carrying a bag with two large knives, a balaclava, blood‑stained clothing and drug paraphernalia. State pathologist Dr Sally Anne Collis identified seven sharp‑object injuries on Kavanagh, with one stab wound to the trunk causing death. The case is before Justice Melanie Greally and a jury.
The court heard that 22‑year‑old Brandon Gavin's phone was used 24 hours before he stabbed 19‑year‑old Marius Mamaliga to death. The phone searched for "prison sentence for murder in Ireland" and engaged with a woman on Tinder 20 minutes before the fatal stabbing. Texts show Mamaliga demanded money for drugs from Gavin, warning that "boys looking for that money" would be at his door. Gavin claimed he stabbed Mamaliga in self‑defence, fearing for his life because he owed money for drugs. The prosecution argued Gavin entered the back seat of a car behind Mamaliga and stabbed him in the neck with a knife. The case is set to close on Monday before Justice Eileen Creedon and the jury. Brandon Gavin pleaded not guilty.
During a trial, Robert Murphy (42) pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Jamie Kavanagh (24) at a hostel on Harrington Street, Dublin 8, on 19 April 2023. The Central Criminal Court heard that Kavanagh lived in a bedsit run by a hostel and charity Crosscare, and that he was found with four stab wounds. Murphy, who lived next door, was stopped by Garda officers after the incident. He was discovered carrying a bag with two large knives, a balaclava and blood‑stained clothing, and he told the Garda that he had stabbed Kavanagh with his own weapons, hoping the victim was "taken out in coroners' bags." He also admitted that Kavanagh and his friends were using drugs in his room. The trial, set to continue before Ms Justice Melanie Greally, is expected to last six to seven days.
John Curtin, aged 59, was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with the final year suspended for one year, after a jury convicted him on 78 counts of rape and sexual assault against eight boys between 1995 and 2007. The Central Criminal Court heard that Curtin, a former hospital porter, lured boys around the age of 11 with cigarettes, then abused them in his home and other rural locations, encouraging them to touch him and, in some cases, to sit on his lap in his car. Victims described lasting psychological damage, including depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and difficulties in education, relationships and employment. Curtin denies the charges and has never apologized. The judge imposed a 20‑year sentence, a one‑year suspended term, and conditions of probation, a sexual offenders treatment programme and no contact with children.
During the murder trial of Brandon Gavin, an eyewitness described a brief, seconds‑long episode in which Gavin, described as "calm and collected," entered the back seat of a black Audi, slowly drew a knife and stabbed Marius Mamaliga on the left side of his neck before fleeing. The witness, David Octavian, testified that he saw Mamaliga's hand on his throat, that he called an ambulance, and that Mamaliga was unconscious for about ten minutes. Octavian also confirmed that Gavin and Mamaliga had previously met over drug matters, with Gavin owing Mamaliga €2,000 for cocaine. The prosecution argued that Gavin intended to kill or seriously injure Mamaliga, while Gavin claimed self‑defence, stating that Mamaliga had attacked him. The trial is ongoing before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury. Brandon Gavin pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court sentenced a 54‑year‑old man to ten and a half years' imprisonment for a series of violent offences committed at his family home in County Tipperary. He raped his stepdaughter and forced her to watch while he raped his wife, using an axe during the assault. Earlier that year he was convicted of sexual assault, sexual exploitation of a child, oral rape, assault causing harm and threats to kill against his stepdaughter, and of rape, oral rape, assault causing harm, assault causing serious harm and a threat against his wife. The court noted that both victims were afraid to speak and that the man had threatened to kill the stepdaughter if she disclosed the abuse. He denied the allegations and claimed a conspiracy.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, a 27‑year‑old man, who was on probation, attacked his former partner in her home shortly after she ended their two‑year relationship. The victim, who was present at home alone after meeting friends, was assaulted inside the house, sustaining bruises on her face, neck, arm, abdomen and back, as well as marks on her leg caused by a knife handle. Her iPhone and a flowerpot were also damaged. The man, who has nine prior convictions, was convicted last July of assault causing harm and criminal damage. He was found not guilty of false imprisonment and production of an article capable of causing serious harm, and the jury could not reach verdicts on rape and threats to kill or cause serious harm. The Director of Public Prosecutions entered nolle prosequi on those two charges, dropping them.
A 26-year-old man, who cannot be named, has appealed his conviction for raping a vulnerable 17-year-old girl at a house party on New Year's Eve 2018. The appellant, a repeat offender, was found guilty by a 10-2 majority verdict of one count of rape and one count of sexual assault. He does not accept the verdict, arguing that the trial judge pressured the jury by suggesting shorter lunch breaks and refusing to inform them of their right to disagree, leaving them in "hurry up mode." Defence counsel also contended the judge erred by failing to recharge the jury on legal principles regarding reasonable doubt after a question about a doctor's report. The State rejected these arguments, noting the judge had emphatically explained the standard of proof. The three-judge Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment on the matter. At sentencing, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor described the man's conduct as predatory, noting he took advantage of the victim's intoxication and vulnerability. She handed him a sentence of eight years and three months, with the final nine months suspended on strict conditions, including 12 months of Probation Service supervision. The man has six previous convictions, including a 2019 guilty plea for sexual assault, which resulted in a five-month prison sentence later reduced on appeal to 120 hours of community service in lieu of a two-month prison term.
A 73‑year‑old man, John Dempsey Senior, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, with one year suspended, for repeatedly raping his partner's niece, Lillian Byrne, over an eleven‑year period between 1980 and 1991. Dempsey, who was 33 when the abuse began, groomed Byrne from the age of 12 and abused her throughout her teenage years, claiming to be her boyfriend and telling her they would run away together. Byrne, who was 12 at the time of the first rape, described the abuse as excruciating and said she did not realise it was sexual abuse until later. She made a victim impact statement in 2021, detailing the lasting effects on her life and family. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Burns, noted Dempsey's breach of trust and the repeated nature of the abuse, and set a headline sentence of 14 years, reduced to 10 years, with the final year suspended on strict conditions including probation supervision for three years. The unnamed 73-year-old pleaded guilty.