A 27‑year‑old man, Tyler 'Tiggy' Jackson, who was convicted of murdering 24‑year‑old Conor Quinn in Mallow, County Cork, has appealed his life sentence. His counsel, Dean Kelly SC, argues that the trial judge erred by admitting a statement given by 16‑year‑old Christina Kearney three days after the death. The statement, taken by Detective Garda Sean Buckley, was allegedly altered—words such as "running" were crossed out and replaced with "walking"—without Kearney's initial. Kelly contends the court could not have been satisfied that the statement was a true account of what Kearney said on the day it was taken. He also claims the trial judge failed to discharge the jury when a civilian witness, Stephen Quinn, suggested Jackson had assaulted him, thereby creating an unfair trial. The Court of Appeal will decide the appeal at a later date.
A 70‑year‑old man, John Sheridan, was given a fully suspended sentence for assaulting his wife, Ann Sheridan, over a ten‑year marriage. Sheridan pleaded not guilty to four counts of assault occasioning bodily harm and three counts of assault causing harm, committed between 1994 and 2002. The court found that the abuse began with verbal insults from the first day of marriage and escalated to physical violence, including repeated hits with an open hand, a closed fist, and kicks with a steel‑capped boot. Sheridan admitted to hitting his wife but denied kicking her. He had no prior convictions. The judge, citing Sheridan's transfer of his interest in the family home to the victim, imposed a headline sentence of three years, reduced to 18 months, and suspended it entirely. Sheridan was also ordered to stay away from the victim and his children and to hand over his interest in the family home.
Aaron Barwell, aged 29, was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with a two‑year suspended portion, for a series of violent sexual offences committed against three escort victims between January and August 2021. He pleaded guilty to one count of oral rape, one of rape and one of attempted rape. The court described the offences as "abysmal" and noted that Barwell had arranged for each victim to come to his residence, where he used violence, threats and a screwdriver to coerce sexual acts. He also faced a separate charge of possession of cocaine for sale or supply, for which he received a suspended sentence. The judge imposed four years of post‑release supervision, prohibited contact with the victims and required him to commit no further sexual offences. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the crimes and the need for rehabilitation.
Matthew Fadeyi, 34, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison, with the final year suspended, after a re‑trial in May 2024. He was convicted of one count of rape for assaulting a 20‑year‑old woman he had given a lift to in August 2018. The court heard that Fadeyi, who had previously been convicted of a minor road traffic offence, offered to drop the woman home, became flirtatious, and after she declined to have sex, forced himself on her in the back seat of his car. The victim, who described the experience as traumatic, had previously made a formal complaint to Gardaí in January 2019. Fadeyi, a father of three, was found to have no additional violence beyond the act itself, and the judge noted the victim's relative youth and lack of experience. The suspended year is subject to a number of conditions.
A 22‑year‑old serial sex offender, who was on bail for defilement of a 15‑year‑old, was sentenced to seven years and four months in prison for raping a 13‑year‑old girl and falsely imprisoning her 16‑year‑old friend. The offence occurred on 22 June 2023 in County Tipperary when the offender drove the girls to buy cannabis, then took the younger girl out of the car, locked the older girl inside, and forced the rape. He had previously admitted the defilement charge and pleaded guilty to the rape. The judge noted the large age disparity, the pre‑meditated nature of the crime, and the impact on the victim's mental health. A psychological report placed him at high risk of reoffending; he must serve about two years of a prior suspended sentence before the new term, remain drug‑free, attend mental health and probation services, and be listed on the Sex Offenders' Register.
The Central Criminal Court has convicted all six defendants of the murder of Thomas Dooley, a 42-year-old father of seven, who was killed during a funeral at Rath Cemetery in Tralee, Co Kerry, on October 5, 2022. The jury, comprising ten men and two women, returned guilty verdicts after five days of deliberation. Daniel Dooley (42), the final defendant to be dealt with, was convicted by a majority verdict of 11-1 after pleading not guilty. He protested his innocence upon hearing the verdict. The other five defendants—Michael Dooley (29), Patrick Dooley (36), Thomas Dooley Senior (43), Thomas Dooley Junior (21), and a male teenager—were previously convicted unanimously, having also pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleged the group acted in a joint enterprise to commit an "honour killing" using bladed weapons. Thomas Dooley Junior was additionally convicted of assault causing harm to the victim's wife, Siobhán Dooley, who sustained a shoulder wound requiring stitches. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring remanded the five adult defendants in custody until July 30, when she is expected to impose the mandatory life sentence for murder. The male teenager will not be sentenced on that date, as he is seeking a judicial review, and will appear for a mention on October 29. The judge exempted the jurors from service for 15 years.
At the Central Criminal Court, a jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts against five of six defendants charged with the murder of Thomas Dooley at Rath Cemetery, Tralee, on October 5, 2022. Michael Dooley, 29, of Cork, was found guilty of murder after pleading not guilty; he publicly declared his innocence in the courtroom. The jury also convicted Patrick Dooley, 36, of Killarney; Thomas Dooley Senior, 43, of Cork; and Thomas Dooley Junior, 21, of Cork, all of whom had pleaded not guilty. Thomas Dooley Junior was additionally convicted of assault causing harm to Siobhán Dooley, a charge he also denied. The prosecution alleged the group acted with "medieval violence" using bladed weapons, causing fatal injuries including a severed femoral artery. The matter regarding the sixth defendant, Daniel Dooley, 42, of Tralee, who pleaded not guilty to murder, remains pending. The jury was adjourned to continue deliberations on Thursday, as the court could not sit the following day. No sentences have been imposed, and the trial is not concluded.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Sandra Sandaraite, 39, pleaded guilty to manslaughter for stabbing her partner, Zbigniew Czech, 47, to death on 10 December 2022 at their Academy Street apartment. She claimed that if she had not taken a knife, she would have been "battered" and that she felt free after the killing. The court heard that the couple's relationship, lasting about three years, was marked by excessive alcohol consumption and 24 complaints of violent behaviour from both sides. Sandaraite said Czech had become aggressive after drinking vodka, grabbed her arms, and she armed herself with a knife, cutting him before he fled. A pathology report identified a stab wound to the upper left chest causing a major pulmonary injury, leading to his death. The prosecution accepted her plea of manslaughter, and the case was adjourned for sentencing.
A Central Criminal Court jury has returned guilty verdicts against three defendants in the murder of Thomas 'Tom' Dooley, a father-of-seven, at Rath Cemetery in Tralee, Co Kerry, on October 5, 2022. The unanimous jury found Thomas Dooley Senior (43) and his son, Thomas Dooley Junior (21), both of Cork, guilty of murder. All three convicted individuals had previously pleaded not guilty. Thomas Dooley Junior was additionally convicted of assault causing harm to the deceased's wife, Siobhán Dooley, who sustained a shoulder wound requiring 45 stitches and 30 staples. The prosecution alleged the victim was attacked by a group armed with bladed weapons, resulting in fatal injuries including a severed femoral artery. The jury's deliberations took over eight hours across two days. The matter remains ongoing as the jury is scheduled to return to court to consider verdicts for the remaining three defendants: Patrick Dooley (36), Michael Dooley (29), and Daniel Dooley (42). These three men, who are also charged with murder and have pleaded not guilty, await their findings. The trial is currently at the finding stage for the first group of defendants, with sentencing yet to be determined.
A psychiatrist has testified at the Central Criminal Court that a Westport man accused of murdering his wife was not suffering from a mental disorder at the time of her death. James Kilroy, aged 51, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the charge of murdering Valerie French Kilroy at their home in Kilbree Lower between June 13 and 14, 2019. The court heard that the accused accepts responsibility for killing his wife, who died from strangulation, blunt force trauma, and a stab wound to the neck. Consultant psychiatrist Dr Camilla Curtis assessed Mr Kilroy shortly after his arrest and concluded he did not meet the criteria for detention under the Mental Health Act. The trial before Mr Justice Tony Hunt continues, with the prosecution indicating that conflicting psychiatric evidence will be presented. The defence accepts the defendant killed his wife.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has viewed the bloodied knife and hatchet used in the killing of a woman at her home in Westport, County Mayo. James Kilroy, aged fifty-one, a park ranger, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to murdering his wife Valerie French Kilroy at Kilbree Lower between June thirteenth and fourteenth, 2019. During the trial, gardaí gave evidence that a twenty-centimetre knife, bent at nearly ninety degrees, was discovered at the scene with the victim's blood upon it. Detective Garda Sergeant Michael Doherty of Castlebar Garda Station outlined how the accused demonstrated to gardaí how the killing occurred and sketched the weapon. The defence has accepted that the accused killed his wife. A pathology report established that Mrs French Kilroy died from ligature strangulation, blunt force trauma to the head, and a stab wound to the neck. The trial, before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, continues.
Raymond Shorten, a 50‑year‑old Dublin taxi driver, was convicted in May of two counts of rape and one of sexual assault against a seven‑year‑old girl. The offences occurred after the child's mother's funeral, in a bathroom at her family home where Shorten covered her mouth, and later on a bed and in a car. The girl, now 20, had left a handwritten note in 2020 alleging abuse and was interviewed by specialist gardai in early 2021. Shorten denied all allegations during voluntary interviews in 2020 and 2021, calling them "110% lies" and a "wind‑up." He was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court and is due to be sentenced later this month. The case is part of a broader pattern of sexual offences by Shorten, who has eight prior convictions, including five for road traffic offences. Raymond Shorten pleaded not guilty.
Owen Maughan, 22, was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of 65-year-old Christopher Hall. Maughan, of Dun Saithne Avenue, Balbriggan, pleaded guilty to the sole count of murder during a pre-trial hearing last month. The court heard that Maughan murdered Mr Hall at his home in Dun Saithne Green, Balbriggan, Co Dublin, between November 23 and 24, 2021. The sentence was backdated to July 4, 2022, when Maughan entered custody. Mr Justice Paul McDermott noted the focus rightly fell on the victim and his family. Prosecution evidence indicated Maughan had harassed and tormented the vulnerable victim, who had a brain injury, including directing him to ATMs to withdraw cash. A postmortem identified seven stab wounds to the neck and blunt force trauma to the head. Maughan has 39 previous convictions. Defence counsel stated Maughan was under the influence of alcohol and drugs at the time and expressed remorse. The victim's daughter, Rebecca Hall, described the actions as "nothing but evil" and "senseless."
Moire Bergin, aged 47, was found not guilty by reason of insanity after stabbing her 76‑year‑old mother, Mary Bergin, to death on 13 April 2022. The jury, after one hour and seven minutes of deliberation, accepted expert testimony from two forensic psychiatrists who diagnosed Moire with bipolar affective disorder, noting symptoms of mania, depression and psychosis at the time of the killing. They confirmed she did not understand the nature or moral wrongness of her act and could not refrain from it. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court, concluded with a one‑day hearing. Judge Paul McDermott ordered Moire to be committed to the Central Mental Hospital for up to 14 days, with a psychiatric assessment to be prepared. The case highlighted her history of 16 detentions under the Mental Health Act and six admissions between March 2021 and April 2022. The verdict was delivered unanimously by a jury of six men and six women.
The Central Criminal Court heard psychiatric evidence in the trial of Moire Bergin, 47, who is accused of murdering her 76-year-old mother, Mary Bergin, in Dublin 1 on April 13, 2022. Ms Bergin pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Both prosecution and defence psychiatrists, Dr Paul O'Connell and Dr Stephen Monks, testified that the accused met the criteria for this special verdict. They agreed she suffered from bipolar affective disorder with psychotic symptoms, including religious delusions, and did not know the nature and quality of the act, could not appreciate it was morally wrong, or refrain from it. The court noted her history of 16 detentions under the Mental Health Act between 2005 and 2022. Prosecution counsel James Dwyer SC and defence counsel Fiona Murphy SC both submitted that the appropriate verdict was not guilty by reason of insanity. Justice Paul McDermott charged the jury, describing the case as tragic but instructing them to rely solely on the evidence. The jury was sent out to deliberate and the matter was adjourned to return tomorrow for a verdict.
In the Central Criminal Court, two young women testified that they were raped by Dublin taxi driver Raymond Shorten, who had previously been convicted of serious sexual offences. Both victims had taken taxis after nights out, believing it was the safest option, but were assaulted by Shorten. One victim, who had been drinking five pints of cider, was taken to the back seat where he raped her anally and vaginally, leaving her with a sore, disorienting experience. The second victim fell asleep in the taxi and was raped upon waking, after which Shorten demanded a €70 fare. Shorten denied the assaults, claiming the encounters were consensual. DNA evidence linked him to both incidents. The court adjourned the case to July 22 for finalisation. The victims described lasting impacts on their confidence, intimate life, and mental health, including anxiety, flashbacks, and nightmares. The case highlighted the vulnerability of taxi passengers and the alleged breach of trust by a licensed driver. Raymond Shorten pleaded not guilty.
Stephen Lane, aged 52, was convicted of repeatedly sexually abusing a girl aged five to seven between February 1986 and June 1988. He pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault, with eighteen additional counts considered at sentencing. The abuse occurred at several locations, including the victim's home, and stopped after her father discovered it. The victim, who remains anonymous, filed a complaint in June 2019 and later gave a victim impact statement describing the long‑term trauma and the way Lane had manipulated her into believing the abuse was normal. Judge Eileen Creedon, noting Lane's juvenile status, imposed a headline sentence of six years but reduced it to a final term of two and a half years, with the last six months suspended on strict conditions. Lane was also placed on the sex offenders' register for three years. The court considered his guilty plea, psychological reports, and work history in determining the sentence.
A 65‑year‑old man was jailed for seven years after sexually assaulting and raping a 25‑year‑old housemate who had recently arrived in Ireland and spoke no English. The assault began on 19 October 2022 when the man touched the woman, forced her to touch him, and pulled her trousers down. She fled to her room and stayed there for two days, fearing the man. On 21 October he forced his way into her room, took her to his bedroom, and raped her. She escaped, used Google Translate to type "I was raped," and was rescued by Gardaí. DNA from a swab matched the accused. The court heard the victim was physically unwell for three months, homeless, and deeply affected. The judge set a headline sentence of eight years and six months for the rape, imposed concurrent sentences totalling seven years back‑dated to October 2022, and ordered three years of post‑release supervision. The unnamed 65-year-old pleaded guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 11 June 2024, a 50‑year‑old taxi driver accused of raping two young women denied the allegations. He claimed the 20‑year‑old woman was smiling and kissing him while they had consensual sex and that she asked, "was this off the bill?" He said he replied jokingly that it was not. The driver said he had been working that night, the woman had asked to be taken home, and that they engaged in consensual sex after she kissed him. He stated he had no reason to doubt her willingness. The court heard CCTV footage, location data and DNA evidence linking the driver to the woman, and a forensic examiner described bruises and an internal vaginal injury, but the trial remains ongoing. The unnamed 20-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A 35‑year‑old chronic drug abuser with 153 prior convictions was sentenced to four years in prison, with the final year suspended for three years, for a degrading sexual assault and robbery at a Luas stop in Dublin 12 on 26 January 2023. The court heard that the victim was forced to undress, had her legs held open, and was searched inside her vagina by a female co‑accused while the defendant held her down. The victim's €200 was taken, she suffered injuries, and a local man intervened with a golf club. The defendant, who has no prior sexual convictions, was described as having mental health problems and schizophrenia. The judge noted the assault was part of a robbery and set the headline sentence at six years, but ultimately imposed the suspended term. The victim remains in treatment and has experienced severe trauma and relapse into drug use. The unnamed 35-year-old pleaded guilty.
The Central Criminal Court has adjourned the trial of Diarmuid Phelan, a senior barrister accused of the murder of Keith Conlon. Phelan, 55, is charged with killing Conlon, 36, at Hazelgrove Farm in Tallaght on February 22, 2022. Conlon died two days later at Tallaght University Hospital. The trial, originally scheduled to begin before Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford, was delayed until October 7. Defence counsel Sean Guerin SC requested the adjournment, stating the case was not ready to proceed from the defence perspective. The prosecution, represented by Sean Gillane SC, expressed disappointment at the late application but did not oppose it. Ms Justice Lankford expressed considerable reluctance to delay the matter, noting the case had been listed for 18 months. She ordered a progress report on July 22 to ensure the trial proceeds in October. Phelan, who was present in court, was remanded on continuing bail until October. His bail was previously granted by the Court of Appeal after the High Court initially refused it, requiring two bonds of €50,000 each from Phelan and his sister.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 15‑year‑old boy pleaded guilty to raping his younger cousin, aged seven to eight, on 10 to 13 occasions between June 2021 and November 2022. The offences were committed while both children were staying at their grandparents' house. The victim's parents described the impact of discovering the abuse, noting the family's fractured relationships and the child's ongoing therapy. The defendant, who has no prior convictions, admitted he had been abused as a child and was living with his father at the time of sentencing. Justice Caroline Biggs imposed 18 months' detention under Section 151 of the Children Act, with the remaining 18 months under supervision, and ordered the defendant to be placed on the sex offender register for ten years. The court also prohibited any further contact between the defendant and the victim.
Gearoid Coughlan, diagnosed with schizophrenia, beat and repeatedly stabbed his mother Mary Coughlan, leaving her with catastrophic, life‑long injuries. He pleaded guilty to attempted murder on 4 June 2021 and was sentenced by the Central Criminal Court to ten years' imprisonment, followed by six years of supervision by probation and psychiatric services. The judge noted Gearoid's high risk of reoffending, lack of insight into his illness, and history of aggression. Mary Coughlan, aged 32, criticised Ireland's community mental‑health services as inadequate for complex mental illness, arguing that better care might have prevented the assault. She expressed hope that families in similar situations receive timely help before it becomes too late. The case highlighted the challenges of managing severe schizophrenia in the community. The unnamed woman was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
Gerard Lawless, a 61‑year‑old retired Irish Defence Forces member, pleaded guilty to four counts of oral rape and seven counts of sexual assault against his adopted daughter, Danielle Lawless, between 1991 and 1998. The abuse began when Danielle was about five, with the most intense period occurring between October 1995 and April 1997 when she was around ten. The final two assaults took place between November 1997 and August 1998, when she was about twelve. Danielle, who waived anonymity, described how her father exploited her trust, manipulated her sense of love, and inflicted lasting shame and guilt. Lawless had no prior convictions and was in custody since his plea. Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced him to a global prison term of ten years, imposed three years of post‑release supervision, and ordered no contact with the victim. The court noted the abuse's escalation, the breach of paternal trust, and Lawless's ill health and lack of remorse.
Karl Ronan, aged 55, was sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment for raping and indecently assaulting his younger sister Lynn Ronan, aged 51, over a four‑year period from 1982 to 1986. The abuse, which began in their Dublin home and continued in Laois and Galway, involved forced sexual acts and physical bullying. Lynn reported the abuse as an adult in 2018, after it had been discovered by their mother in 1986 and the siblings had seen a child psychologist. Mr Justice Paul McDermott noted the prolonged silence and the pressure on the victim to keep the secret. He sentenced Ronan to six years for rape and a concurrent three‑year term for indecent assault, suspending the final six months on strict conditions, including probation and no contact with Lynn. The judge praised Lynn's courage and highlighted the devastating impact of the abuse on her life. Karl Ronan pleaded guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Mohamed Mohamud Mohamed, 26, was sentenced for a 90‑second attempted rape and sexual assault that occurred on 12 November 2022 at a Dublin city‑centre bar. He followed a woman to the bar's isolated toilets, where he tried to rape her and asked her why she was screaming, saying "I am saying please." The victim's impact statement described how the attack left her unable to scream or use a high‑pitched voice for months, and how the fear of using a toilet has persisted. Mohamed pleaded guilty and had no prior convictions. Judge Paul McDermott imposed a headline sentence of seven years for attempted rape and four years for sexual assault, with the two sentences running concurrently for a total of five years and six months. He also ordered four years of post‑release supervision to protect the public.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Robert Fennell, then 50, was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment for raping a 16‑year‑old girl who had approached him for advice. The victim had been led to Fennell by a person she believed to be a 17‑year‑old boy, who provided Fennell's contact details. Fennell, who lives in Woodview Cottages, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, gave the girl alcohol and raped her at his home on 11 June 2018. He pleaded guilty, a plea entered late in the process. The judge noted the victim's vulnerability and the breach of trust. The sentence was reduced from 12 to 11 years, with the final year suspended for two years on strict conditions, including offence‑focused work, addiction treatment, drug monitoring and no unsupervised access to children. Fennell was also ordered to undergo assessment for offence‑focused work, addiction treatment and drug monitoring.
A 59‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment for raping and sexually abusing his grandniece, aged eight to ten, between 2019 and 2022. He recorded the abuse on his phone and forced the child to record it, producing 19 videos and 1,191 images, of which 377 were unique. The abuse began when the family experienced homelessness and the man became a father‑figure, collecting the girl from school and giving her money. He initially told Gardaí that the girl had "come onto" him and that he was trying to stop her from doing it with someone else. He pleaded guilty to 11 sample counts, including vaginal rape, oral rape, sexual assault, sexual exploitation of a child, possession and production of child pornography, and invitation of a child to sexual touching. The judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, described the offending as "appalling" and the recordings as "shocking".
A 59-year-old man has been sentenced to twelve years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the rape and sexual abuse of two girls during the 1990s and 2000s. The man pleaded guilty to twelve counts relating to sexual offences against the victims when they were young teenagers. The first victim, aged between twelve and seventeen, was abused from 1992 to 1997 by a trusted family employee. The second victim, aged between eleven and seventeen, was abused between 2000 and 2006 by her sister's then-partner. The offences occurred primarily in Dublin and Kildare, with one incident occurring on the road between Sligo and Dublin. Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed nine-and-a-half years for offences against the first complainant and four consecutive years for the second, suspending the final eighteen months on condition of no contact with either victim and probation supervision.
Iollan Tynan Kelleher, aged 22, was sentenced to six years in prison for raping a 15‑year‑old friend and sexually assaulting a second victim. He pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault before trial. The rape occurred in July 2017 when he was 16, and the assault on the second victim happened in August 2017. The court noted the victim's trauma, including depression, suicidal thoughts, flashbacks and anxiety. Kelleher was found guilty of one rape and two sexual assault charges. He received three years and nine months for the rape, 11 months for the assault of the first victim (concurrent), and two years and three months for the assault of the second victim (consecutive). The final 12 months of the sentence were suspended for one year, and he will be supervised by probation for three years and placed on the sex offenders register for five years.
The Central Criminal Court sentenced a 51‑year‑old Irish citizen to six years' imprisonment for eight counts of child cruelty committed between September 2009 and December 2015. The victim, aged four to eleven at the time, endured sustained, systematic abuse that included physical assault, neglect of heating, food and accommodation, bullying, and forcing her siblings to assault her. The defendant repeatedly described the girl as a "vindictive, spiteful bitch", "mentally retarded" and "sexualised", and claimed she had tried to burn the house down and poison the family. He also alleged that he had killed people and would have killed a hundred more if he had a gun. The court noted the child's mother's devotion to the defendant and the family's neglect of basic hygiene and clothing. The judge imposed a six‑year sentence, refusing to suspend any portion, and highlighted the defendant's lack of remorse and the extreme cruelty of the offences. The unnamed 51-year-old pleaded guilty.
The Central Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Lounes Ouachek, 54, of Tallaght, Dublin 24, after he allegedly breached release conditions by attempting to contact his victim. Det Sgt Mary Fitzpatrick informed the court that Ouachek failed to appear despite notification. Mr Justice Paul McDermott ordered the warrant. Ouachek pleaded guilty in 2014 to the attempted murder of his wife, Ruta Ouachek, at their home on August 23, 2012. He was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment with the final three suspended by Mr Justice Paul Carney on July 21, 2014. The Court of Appeal later reduced his sentence to 15 years with the final four suspended. Garret McCormack BL, for the DPP, stated a condition required no contact with his wife in perpetuity. The court heard Ouachek, an Algerian national, developed resentment toward his wife's independence after she entered full-time education. He allegedly attacked her with a kettle-bell, causing skull and facial fractures. After the incident, he left the house, drove to Dublin airport, and flew to Tunisia via Paris. He was subsequently arrested in Germany on an extradition warrant. The matter was adjourned.
Philip Cox, 39, was tried for attempted murder after he stabbed his former partner, Cristal O'Brien, twice in the leg on 1 December 2022 at a York Street flat. He claimed he had no intention to hurt her and that the incident was a blur. O'Brien said Cox had threatened to stab her "to pieces", broke two knives, then retrieved a third, describing the attack as terrifying. A neighbour, Alice McGrath, testified that Cox said he would kill O'Brien and that he did not care if he went to prison. Cox pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder charge. He also faced separate charges of assault causing harm, aggravated burglary and producing a knife during a dispute, for which he had pleaded guilty. The trial was heard in the Central Criminal Court, with the jury hearing the evidence and the defendant's statements. The case is ongoing.
Diego Costa Silva, 35, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his wife, De Campos Silva, 33, at their home in Charlestown Place, Finglas, on November 4, 2021. The Central Criminal Court jury is being asked to return a special verdict under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006. Detective Garda Carl Smith testified that Mr Costa Silva told gardai he heard voices and believed his wife was possessed, stating, "sometimes you have to behead somebody." He alleged he felt unsafe after confessing to infidelity and feared his wife would kill him. He described striking her with a cup, choking her, stabbing her, and cutting off her head with a knife. Det Sgt Louise McHugh stated that following interviews, Mr Costa Silva was released from detention before she arrested and charged him with murder. Garda Colin Miley testified that two days prior, he found Mr Costa Silva distressed and disorientated while running barefoot in Dublin city centre. Mr Costa Silva was detained under the Mental Health Act and taken to the Mater Hospital, where he expressed suicidal thoughts. A urine analysis was positive for cannabis. The accused has only previous convictions for minor road traffic matters. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath.
A 59-year-old man has pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to twelve counts including rape, oral rape, and sexual assault committed against two victims over separate periods. The charges relate to offences occurring primarily in Dublin and Kildare, with one incident on the road between Sligo and Dublin. The first victim was between twelve and seventeen years old when abused from 1992 to 1997 by a family friend employed in her parents' business. The second victim, the niece of his former partner, was aged eleven to seventeen when assaulted between 2000 and 2006. Both complainants provided impact statements describing lasting psychological harm and the abuse of trust. The defendant acknowledged the serious aggravating factors, including the age disparity and exploitation of familial relationships. Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned sentencing to 8 April, noting the man will likely face community release following imprisonment and stating sex offenders require careful judicial scrutiny. The defendant remains in custody.
During a stand‑off at a Dublin house, Detective Garda Michael Hughes sprinkled himself and armed officers with holy water after the accused, Patrick McDonagh, claimed he was speaking to God and accused the Garda of being the devil. McDonagh, 52, had a history of mental health issues and was surrounded by armed Gardaí and negotiators. He was later subdued and arrested. The Central Criminal Court heard that McDonagh had murdered his neighbour, 73‑year‑old Peter McDonald, on 25 July 2020, using a machete. Forensic evidence from blood stains on the victim's home matched McDonald's DNA, indicating a violent assault. McDonagh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter; the State has not accepted the plea. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath with a jury of nine men and three women.
In a Central Criminal Court murder trial, the accused Patrick McDonagh (52) is charged with the death of his neighbour Peter McDonald (73) on Whitechapel Road, Clonsilla, Dublin 15, on 25 July 2020. McDonagh is alleged to have swung a machete at Garda armed support units who had forced entry to his home before being tasered and restrained. McDonagh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the State has not accepted. The trial heard that McDonald was found face‑down on his driveway, surrounded by blood, with a deep laceration from under his left ear to the Adam's apple and a deep cut on his left forearm. The injuries were described as incompatible with life. The case is proceeding before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and a jury of nine men and three women.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster described the body of 78‑year‑old widower John O'Neill, found on his kitchen floor with a heavily blood‑stained, flattened face. She reported severe blunt‑force trauma, multiple fractures of facial bones, a traumatic brain injury, and extensive bruising and lacerations consistent with repeated kicks, blows and stamping. The deceased's heart was normal, and a toxicology report showed an alcohol level of 97 mg, equivalent to three pints. Dr Bolster concluded that respiratory compromise from inhalation of blood, caused by the severe facial and neck trauma, was the cause of death. The prosecution alleges that Thomas Lorigan, 34, the victim's nephew, repeatedly kicked O'Neill while wearing steel‑capped boots, leading to the fatal injuries. Lorigan has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
In a sentencing hearing, a 23‑year‑old man, Camden Konopka, pleaded guilty to attempting to murder his mother, Fiona Konopka, and to criminal damage. He set fire to their home on 19 September 2019, then locked his mother in and discarded her keys. The fire caused €60,289.47 in damage, mainly to a couch in the living room. Konopka had a history of mental illness, including schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder, and had been under psychiatric care. He claimed he had consumed opium, antidepressants and wine the day before the fire, feeling suicidal. He also admitted to using his mother's keys to lock the door and throwing them away. The court remanded him in custody and scheduled a probation report for 1 March next year. The mother was not present at the hearing and has since been rehoused.
A 77‑year‑old man, whose name is withheld for legal reasons, faces trial next year for historic sexual offences. He is accused of one count of rape and nine counts of indecent assault. The Central Criminal Court, hearing the case, set a trial date of 8 July 2024, expecting it to last about two weeks.
Dermott Brett, 56, was found guilty of raping a 20‑year‑old university student in a Dublin hotel on 11 January 2019. The victim, described as vulnerable and intoxicated, was taken from a pub to Brett's hotel room where she was raped and offered cocaine. CCTV footage showed Brett's arrival, the victim's drunken state, and the taxi incidents. Brett pleaded not guilty but was convicted in May 2023 and maintains his innocence. He has one prior traffic conviction. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon sentenced him to nine years' imprisonment, suspending the final year on strict conditions, including probation and a sex‑offender treatment programme. He was placed on the sex‑offender register. The victim suffered PTSD and academic disruption, and her impact statement highlighted profound loss of independence and trust.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 16 November 2023, a 33‑year‑old man was sentenced to an additional 13 years for raping his sister and sexually assaulting his niece, offences committed in June 2020. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, described the case as "particularly sad" and noted a probation report indicating a "very worrying disposition" towards women. The man had previously been convicted of possession of child pornography and was serving a seven‑year sentence for false imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. Mr Justice Hunt imposed a headline sentence of 13 years for the rape, reduced by one year to avoid a "crushing length" of total imprisonment, and a concurrent five‑year sentence for the sexual assault. The sentences run consecutively to the existing term, with the final two years of the rape sentence suspended on strict conditions. The unnamed 33-year-old pleaded guilty.
In November 2023, a 17‑year‑old who stabbed 20‑year‑old Cameron Blair at a Cork house party appealed his life sentence, arguing the judge failed to weigh his immaturity and dysfunctional background. The Central Criminal Court had sentenced him to life detention in 2020, with a review after 13 years and an earliest release date of January 2023. The appeal court noted that a juvenile can only be sentenced to detention, not imprisonment, and that once the offender turns 18 he is transferred to an adult prison. Counsel for the appellant claimed the judge focused on age rather than maturity, and that the offence lacked aggravating factors such as premeditation or a callous attitude. The DPP countered that the judge had considered mitigating factors, including the offender's early guilty plea and lack of prior convictions. The Court of Appeal reserved judgment, with a hearing scheduled for December 5, and parties were invited to discuss the appellant's anonymity.
Adam Roche, aged 27, was sentenced to ten and a half years in prison, with an 18‑month suspended portion, for a series of sexual offences committed between August 2015 and January 2018. He used 125,000 messages to pose as victims of online blackmail, threatening a young woman with harm to her pet or the release of intimate images unless she performed non‑consensual sexual acts with him. Roche also threatened to disseminate her photographs and coerced her into sending video proof of sexual acts. He pleaded guilty to rape, anal rape, oral rape, aggravated sexual assault and possession of child pornography. The judge noted the manipulation, the victim's trust in Roche, and the profound impact on her life, and imposed a sentence that reflected the seriousness and repetition of the offences while taking into account his guilty plea and remorse. The woman was ordered to be kept away from Roche and his associates permanently.
At the Central Criminal Court, a jury has been presented with a bloodied and severely bent knife in connection with the death of Valerie French Kilroy at her rural home near Westport, County Mayo, in June 2019. Park Kilroy, aged fifty, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the charge of murder. The prosecution has indicated that psychiatric evidence will feature prominently in proceedings. The court heard that following the discovery of the deceased's body in a camper van on the property at Kilbree Lower, the accused identified the knife as the instrument he had used. A post-mortem examination determined the cause of death to be ligature strangulation, blunt force trauma, and a stab wound to the neck. The defence's insanity plea requires the jury to consider whether the accused was suffering from a mental disorder at the time that prevented him from understanding the nature or wrongfulness of his actions. The trial, overseen by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, is expected to continue for approximately three weeks.
In the Central Criminal Court trial of grave digger Martin Hayes, a toxicologist testified that Amadea McDermott, aged 27, had a post‑mortem blood concentration of 0.34 micrograms per milliliter of cocaine and an alcohol level roughly three times the drink‑driving limit. The expert explained that cocaine can be taken in various forms and that its effects depend on individual tolerance, noting that combined use with alcohol can produce unpredictable behaviour. Hayes, aged 34, denies murdering McDermott, claiming she stabbed herself and that he had left her after a fight. A woman in a later relationship with Hayes testified that he had helped her stab McDermott, while a Garda witness reported past physical abuse. The trial is set to continue before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury. Martin Hayes pleaded not guilty.
Amadea McDermott, 27, was found dead from a stab wound at her home in Coolock on 20 July 2017. A week before her death she had a black eye and a make‑up artist, Jade Deacon, who had worked with her, testified that McDermott described her relationship with the accused, Martin Hayes, as "toxic". Deacon also said McDermott had told her she loved Hayes but wished he would leave her. A forensic scientist, Dr Ciara Kelly, matched McDermott's DNA to a swab taken from the murder weapon, but found no DNA from Hayes. Hayes, 34, pleaded not guilty to the murder. He was arrested on 8 October 2020 and charged on 4 April 2022. The trial is before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of eight men and four women. The case remains an ongoing murder trial.
In the Central Criminal Court, a grave digger, Martin Hayes, 34, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his partner, Amadea McDermott, 27, who was found dead at her home in Coolock on 20 July 2017. The jury heard that Hayes claimed Amadea had stabbed herself, but evidence from a woman who later dated Hayes suggested he had helped her insert a knife into her stomach. A social worker, Ciara Lumsden, testified that Hayes told her he had found evidence on Amadea's phone that she was in an incestuous relationship with a relative. Garda emails and screenshots from Amadea's phone were presented, showing text messages in which she accused Hayes of abuse and denied being abused. Witnesses described a history of physical conflict, alcohol use, and bruises on Amadea's body. The trial also covered Hayes' statement to Gardaí, his work as a grave digger, and his relationship with Amadea, including their children and use of drugs.
In a case heard in the Central Criminal Court, a 41‑year‑old man was convicted of raping his then‑partner in County Galway on 17 November 2019. The assault occurred while the woman's eight‑month‑old baby slept beside her in the bed. The victim, who suffered significant mental health issues, reported the crime to emergency services after the defendant, who had been drinking vodka, entered the bed and forced himself upon her. Three audio recordings of the incident were presented to the jury. The defendant denied the offence and continued to deny it after conviction. Justice Karen O'Connor sentenced him to six years' imprisonment, noting the victim's vulnerability and the presence of a child as aggravating factors. The case was prosecuted by Gerardine Small, SC, and the defendant's defence counsel highlighted his religious background and language difficulties. The victim's impact statement described the lasting emotional trauma of the night.
Thomas Neville, 59, of Railway Avenue, Inchicore, Dublin 8, was found guilty by a jury of one count of rape, one count of child exploitation and 20 counts of sexual assault against a girl aged 14 to 20 between 2010 and 2020. He was sentenced to eleven and a half years in prison, with a headline sentence of thirteen years reduced for minimal mitigation, and three years of post‑release supervision. Neville, who has 35 prior convictions, denied all allegations. The victim, who was 14 when the abuse began, described the sexual acts, including forced oral sex, forced touching, and the showing of pornography, and stated she still suffers from nightmares and mental health issues. The court heard that Neville had been arrested and interviewed in November 2020 and that the victim's impact statement highlighted her need for justice.