A 40‑year‑old man was sentenced to twelve and a half years in prison for repeatedly raping a girl who was a friend of his daughter. The victim, now 17, was first abused when she was seven and was recorded by the offender during the assaults. He threatened to kill her pet dog if she disclosed the abuse. The court found him guilty on 12 counts, including sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, rape, anal rape and oral rape, and not guilty on one count of sexual assault. He continues to deny wrongdoing. The judge imposed concurrent sentences of 13 years, noting the rape offences warranted a headline sentence of 14 years, and suspended the final six months of the 13‑year term on strict conditions. The victim gave a victim impact statement describing ongoing fear, anxiety, depression and PTSD, and the judge praised her dignity and courage. The sentencing hearing took place in the Central Criminal Court. The unnamed 17-year-old was acquitted.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 20 October 2023, a 30‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to five years for reckless endangerment and child cruelty after being accused of raping his partner's toddler. He pleaded guilty to one count of reckless endangerment of the 23‑month‑old girl between 29 March and 5 April 2018, and to two counts of child cruelty towards her and two counts towards her brother on 5 April 2018. The boy was aged two to three at the time. The court accepted the guilty pleas and dismissed the rape and sexual assault charges. The judge noted the children's vulnerability, the serious injuries sustained, and the man's history of offending and substance abuse. The sentence was back‑dated to the man's September 2021 custody entry. The children, now seven and eight, were placed in foster care and are receiving support for their recovery.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 9 October 2023, a 17‑year‑old girl who had been repeatedly raped and sexually assaulted by a family friend over six years, starting when she was seven, read her victim impact statement. The defendant, a 40‑year‑old man whose name is withheld, was found guilty of 12 counts including rape, anal rape and oral rape, and not guilty of one count of sexual assault. He continues to deny wrongdoing. The victim described the man as a predator, said she lives in constant fear, suffers severe anxiety, depression and PTSD, and that the court process made her feel more on trial than he was. She said her schoolwork suffered, she isolated herself, and she fears future effects of the abuse. The judge thanked her for her report and hoped she would continue her studies. The case was adjourned to 23 October for finalisation. The unnamed 17-year-old was acquitted.
A 15‑year‑old boy pleaded guilty to assault, false imprisonment and theft of a phone after violently attacking his former girlfriend during a crisis period. The victim, who suffered 32 bruises and abrasions, was held in a shed outside the boy's home town, then forced to leave the town after the boy refused to return her phone. She fled to a shop where Gardaí were alerted and she was taken to hospital. The boy's mother explained that the boy had been referred to child mental health services, but the service never started due to Covid lockdowns, and that he had experienced self‑harm and bereavement. The court adjourned sentencing to 9 October, noting the boy's lack of prior convictions, his age, and the need for anger‑management support. The victim's impact statement described ongoing emotional, physical and mental strain and her desire to move on.
The Central Criminal Court sentenced Sam Archbold, 37, to 12 years in prison with two years suspended for the attempted murder of Andrew O'Brien on 8 April 2022. Archbold, who had failed to repay a €2,000 debt, shot O'Brien twice in the head while he was in his car, leaving O'Brien with shattered teeth, a throat hole and lasting speech difficulties. Archbold was homeless at the time of arrest and had a history of crack cocaine addiction. He pleaded guilty in March 2023, a factor the judge cited as mitigating. The judge described the offence as "organised and deliberate" and placed it in the egregious category, imposing a headline sentence of 16 years before reducing it to the final 12‑year term. A one‑year supervision order was also imposed. The case highlighted the severe consequences of drug‑related criminality.
A 51‑year‑old man from Galway was sentenced to nine years and a half in prison, with the final six months suspended, for the sexual exploitation and rape of his teenage nephew between 2016 and 2017. He pleaded guilty to one count of anal rape, one count of sexual assault and one count of sexual exploitation. The victim, aged 14 or 15, was abused at several locations including the defendant's home, car, a horsebox and the victim's home. The abuse involved inappropriate touching, masturbation, oral and anal rape, and a threat to report the abuse. The victim's behaviour changed from "happy‑go‑lucky" to misbehaving, and he eventually reported the abuse after his sister's encouragement. The court heard the victim's impact statement, noting mental health and family relationship effects. The judge, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, acknowledged the victim's reaction and the support of family members.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Robert Dunne, 27, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault against a 24‑year‑old woman in Dublin. The assault occurred on 7 May 2018 at Island Bridge, when Dunne and the victim had alcohol and cocaine, followed by consensual sex that turned violent. Dunne repeatedly penetrated the victim while she pretended to be asleep, and she fled to a hotel where Gardaí were called. The victim's impact statement described lasting trauma, including thoughts of self‑harm and ongoing emotional distress. Dunne had no prior convictions and had shown remorse, including apologies and a letter to the victim. The judge, Justice Paul McDermott, imposed a headline sentence of four years, sentencing Dunne to three years on each count to run concurrently and suspending the final 18 months for two years under strict conditions. The sentence reflected the seriousness of the assaults and the victim's impact.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Thomas Neville, 59, was found guilty of one count of rape, one count of child exploitation and 20 counts of sexual assault against a girl who was 14 at the time of the first offence. The offences occurred in Dublin between 2010 and 2020. Neville, who has 35 prior convictions, including 34 for traffic offences and one for sexual assault, denied the allegations. The court heard that Neville gave the victim cocaine and took cocaine in her presence, and that he performed a range of sexual acts including placing his finger in her anus, touching her breasts, humping her, blindfolding her, forcing her to guess a food item, and making her mouth contact his penis and tongue. The victim, who has struggled with mental health issues, gave a victim impact statement. The case was adjourned for finalisation on 23 October.
Michael O'Reilly, aged 29, was sentenced by the Central Criminal Court to nine years' imprisonment, with an 18‑month suspended portion, for raping a 13‑year‑old girl in Dublin on 11 April 2021. He pleaded guilty and claimed he "honestly did not know" the victim's age. The judge noted the victim's prior self‑harm and trauma, her refusal to consent, and the defendant's lack of prior sexual convictions. O'Reilly's early guilty plea, apology letter, and absence of a pattern of offending were considered mitigating factors. He was also registered as a sex offender and his sentence was back‑dated to the time he entered custody. The court ordered him to remain under Probation Services supervision for 18 months following release. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court on 24 July 2023.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 32‑year‑old man named Gareth Sheeran was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of his 65‑year‑old father, Harry Sheeran, who was killed on Father's Day, 20 June 2021, with a World War II bayonet. The jury, after 42 minutes of deliberation, returned a unanimous verdict. Two psychiatrists testified that Gareth suffered from schizophrenia and did not understand the nature or wrongness of his act. Evidence included a post‑mortem showing multiple stab wounds, including one to the heart, and testimony that police found the father lying in a pool of blood. The judge thanked the jury and exempted them from service for seven years. The case was adjourned to 25 August for further proceedings.
In a cold‑case trial, forensic scientists presented evidence that Nora Sheehan, who vanished in 1981 and was later found dead in Shippool Woods, had been in a car driven by Noel Long. Fibres from Sheehan's clothing matched those from the carpet of a blue Opel Kadett linked to Long, and paint fragments from her garments corresponded to paint on the vehicle. Dr Maureen Smith, Dr Sheila Willis, and Dr Amanda Lennon all confirmed the strong support for the view that Sheehan was in the Kadett. The trial also heard that Long, aged 74, has pleaded not guilty to her murder. The proceedings are ongoing before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury. The case remains at the evidence‑presentation stage.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 23‑year‑old man was sentenced to three and a half years for sexually assaulting his six‑year‑old cousin between 2013 and 2018. The accused, who was 13 at the time of the offences, had taken intimate videos and photographs of the child and threatened to post them on social media to coerce her compliance. He pleaded guilty on the trial date and had no prior convictions. The assaults involved sexual touching and were carried out at both the accused's and the complainant's homes over a five‑year period. The judge noted the abuse violated the child's bodily integrity and left her feeling helpless, powerless and alone. The final 12 months of the sentence were suspended on strict conditions, with the accused cooperating with Gardaí and meeting bail conditions. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the breach of trust and the impact on the victim and her family.
In a murder trial, the State presented the case that Michael Mulvey, a 55‑year‑old builder, died two weeks after a severe beating by brothers Ian (34) and Daniel (43) Connaghan. The prosecution argued that the injuries sustained on 14 November 2019, including fractured ribs and a severe chest trauma, substantially contributed to his death, though not the sole cause, citing medical evidence from pathologists and doctors. The brothers were charged with murder, intentional or reckless causing serious harm, and assault causing harm. The State highlighted a history of conflict between Mulvey and Ian Connaghan, a confrontation at a pedestrian crossing, and CCTV showing the brothers' movements. Text messages sent by the Connaghans after the assault were presented as evidence of intent to cause serious harm. The trial, before Mr Justice Paul Burns, is set to continue for up to three weeks.
A Leaving Certificate student, aged 18, was jailed for one year after being convicted by a jury of five counts of sexual assault against his half‑sister, who was aged between eight and eleven at the time of the offences. The assaults occurred between July 2016 and August 2018 at the victim's home in Dublin and on 2 November 2019 at a restaurant. The jury found him not guilty of one count of rape and one count of sexual assault. He denied any wrongdoing. A sentencing hearing in February allowed him to sit his Leaving Certificate exams. Justice Mary Ellen Ring imposed a two‑year sentence, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions, including probation supervision for two years post‑release. The sentence was reduced because of his young age and cooperation with Gardaí. The victim's father was informed after she handed him a note in tears describing the abuse.
A 26‑year‑old convicted sex offender was sentenced to eight years and three months in prison, with nine months suspended, for raping a 17‑year‑old girl at a house party. The Central Criminal Court heard that the victim was intoxicated and vulnerable, and that the defendant had taken advantage of her in a predatory manner. The judge noted the defendant's prior convictions, including a 2019 District Court sexual assault conviction, and that he had never served time before. The sentence was back‑dated to 29 May 2023. The defendant does not accept the jury's verdict. The victim's impact statement described her feelings of guilt, loss of self‑esteem and the effect on her studies and family. The judge encouraged her to resume her studies and praised her resilience. The defendant will be a registered sex offender and subject to three years of post‑release supervision. The unnamed 17-year-old pleaded guilty.
A 51‑year‑old Galway man pleaded guilty to one count of anal rape, one count of sexual assault and one count of sexual exploitation of his teenage nephew, aged 14‑15, between June 2016 and June 2017. The offences occurred at the defendant's home, a horsebox, his car and the victim's home. The abuse began with inappropriate touching and masturbation, escalating to oral and anal rape. The nephew's behaviour changed from "happy‑go‑lucky" to misbehaving, prompting his family to notice the abuse in 2017. The man voluntarily admitted to the Gardaí and was arrested in November 2018. He pleaded guilty in March 2024 after a jury was empanelled. He has no prior convictions. The court heard a victim impact statement describing the abuse's effect on the nephew's mental health and family relationships. The judge thanked the victim for his statement and noted the nephew's support network.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, Martin Burke, aged 26, was convicted of three counts of sexual assault and acquitted on one. The offences occurred on the night of 26 August 2018 in a Kerry town. Burke first assaulted a woman who had known him from a previous encounter; after a party involving alcohol and cannabis, he entered her spare room, bit her cheek and sexually assaulted her. She escaped to a shed, kicked him, and he fled. He later entered the bedroom of a second woman who was sleeping with her boyfriend. He asked if she was alright, grabbed her breast, left, returned, and touched her thigh under the sheets. The second victim kicked him and he left. Burke pleaded not guilty. Judge Paul McDermott sentenced him to five and a half years, suspending the final 12 months on the condition of probation for three years, and ordered him to stay away from both victims.
The Central Criminal Court trial of 32‑year‑old Jozef Puska, accused of murdering 23‑year‑old teacher Ashling Murphy in Offaly, has been postponed to the autumn. Puska, who lives in Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, was charged with the fatal assault that occurred on 12 January 2022 while Murphy was jogging along the Grand Canal near Tullamore. The trial, originally scheduled for 7 June, was delayed after the State received an expert report from the defence and the prosecution needed time to respond and obtain a further report. Prosecutor Ms Anne Marie Lawlor SC requested the June date be vacated and the case be listed for the first day of the Michaelmas term on 2 October. The judge set a new trial date of 2 October 2023 and agreed to renew an application for a Slovakian interpreter. The case will be mentioned again on 21 July for a pre‑trial management hearing.
Richard O'Brien, aged 61, was convicted by a jury of 63 counts of rape, sexual assault and indecent assault against five victims, including his sisters, niece and two daughters, with offences spanning 1975 to 2011. The Central Criminal Court heard that the abuse began in his family home on O'Moore Road, Ballyfermot, and continued until the three women fled as teenagers. He also strangled a puppy and a kitten during their childhood. O'Brien denied all allegations. The court imposed a life sentence for the rape of his daughters and concurrent sentences totalling 11 years for the other offences, with the sentences commencing from his March 2024 custody. The judge noted O'Brien's lack of remorse and the severe impact on the victims, who had waived anonymity to name him.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 2 May 2023, 29‑year‑old Michael O'Reilly pleaded guilty to raping a 13‑year‑old girl in Dublin on 11 April 2021. He claimed in a letter to the victim that he "honestly did not know" her age and expressed shame and disgust. The court heard that the victim had been sexually assaulted after a teenage boy had finished consensual sex with her. O'Reilly allegedly forced the girl to the ground, removed her clothing and raped her. CCTV footage of the victim's upset reaction was shown to O'Reilly, who denied any involvement. He was remanded in custody until 10 July for finalisation of the case. The teenage boy was charged with engaging in a sexual act with a child but the charge was later withdrawn. No prior sexual convictions were recorded for O'Reilly, though he had convictions for assault, theft and burglary.
The Central Criminal Court in Monaghan heard testimony on 22 March from two psychiatrists who both concluded that Richard Burke was suffering from a mental disorder that substantially diminished his responsibility at the time of the alleged killing. Mr Burke, aged 32, of Killygordon, County Donegal, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in relation to the death of Jasmine McMonagle at Forest Park, Killygordon on 4 January 2019. Forensic psychiatrist Dr Anthony Kearns told the jury that Mr Burke reported persistent delusional beliefs about Ms McMonagle's infidelity and claims she had given drugs to her children, beliefs found to be entirely false and without foundation. Dr Kearns also noted Mr Burke's history of substance abuse beginning in adolescence and periods of homelessness. Consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Dearbhála Duffy stated Mr Burke was acutely psychotic at the time of the alleged offences and shortly thereafter. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns and jury.
At the Central Criminal Court, a murder trial heard that James Kilroy, aged 49, a park ranger from Kilbree Lower, Westport, County Mayo, described to gardai how he "waited in the long grass" before attacking his wife at their rural home. The Chief State Pathologist testified that Valerie French Kilroy, aged 41, an occupational therapist and mother of three, died from ligature strangulation, blunt force trauma to the head, and a stab wound to the neck. Mr Kilroy has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to her murder on a date between 13 and 14 June 2019. His legal team has made formal admissions that he killed his wife. During garda interviews, he described the assault as "dark and frenzied" and claimed she was alive when he left her. The trial before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring continues.
At the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, the Chief State Pathologist provided evidence that a woman from Westport, County Mayo, died from ligature strangulation, blunt force trauma to the head, and a stab wound to the neck. Valerie French Kilroy, aged 41, was found in a campervan at her home on Kilbree Lower, Westport, on June 15th, 2019. Park ranger James Kilroy, aged 49, is charged with her murder between June 13th and 14th, 2019. He has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, though his defence counsel has made formal admissions that the accused killed his wife. A witness told the court he observed a naked man walking in circles in a nearby field on the morning of June 14th, heading towards Croagh Patrick. The pathologist detailed multiple injuries including defensive wounds to the deceased's hands and a stab wound measuring 4.7 centimetres in length. The trial continues before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring.
A 35-year-old man from Baldoyle who was found not guilty of attempted murder by reason of insanity has been assessed as not requiring inpatient care at the Central Mental Hospital. The Central Criminal Court heard on Wednesday that the man, charged with stabbing his former employer at The Elphin Pub on the Baldoyle Road in Sutton in January 2021, currently displays no symptoms of mental disorder. Consultant psychiatrist Dr Servaise Winkel told the court that inpatient treatment is not presently necessary, a view supported by Dr Stephen Monks, a consultant forensic psychiatrist engaged by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The court made no further order. The accused had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the attempted murder charge and faced additional charges of assault causing harm and production of knives. The jury's verdict was delivered following evidence that the man had been experiencing paranoid delusions in the weeks prior to the incident.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, witness Ms Regina Donohue testified that she had urged 76‑year‑old Chrissie Treacy to move into a retirement home in Portumna for her safety, a suggestion she said Treacy declined. Donohue described a series of deteriorating conditions on Treacy's farm, including damaged fencing, a switched‑off oil heater, and the disappearance of her dog Bradley. She also recounted an incident where Michael Scott, Treacy's nephew, entered her home and demanded her whereabouts after she had left to celebrate her birthday. Donohue further alleged that a letter from an agricultural consultant had informed Scott that Treacy was applying for a single farm payment on land she owned but had previously leased to him, a development that upset him. The prosecution maintains that Scott deliberately ran over Treacy with a teleporter on 27 April 2018, an act he denies, claiming the death was a tragic accident. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 62‑year‑old man from County Kilkenny was sentenced to ten years and ten months in prison, with four and a half years suspended, for indecent assault and rape of his sisters between 1973 and 1979. The younger sister, aged five‑half to twelve at the time of abuse, was assaulted and raped, while the older sister, aged twelve to fifteen, was assaulted and raped in 1978‑79. The defendant admitted indecent assault of both sisters but denied rape of the younger sister. He had prior convictions for sexual assault in the mid‑1990s, receiving a two‑year suspended sentence in 2005. The judge imposed consecutive sentences, citing the family's poverty, dysfunction and the victim impact statements. The defendant was ordered to have no contact with the sisters. The case highlighted the sisters' survival and the defendant's alleged history of abuse and bipolar disorder. The unnamed accused pleaded guilty.
The Central Criminal Court heard evidence on Thursday that Stephen Silver, a forty-six-year-old mechanic from Foxford in County Mayo, was shouting in a Castlerea street on the night Garda Colm Horkan was fatally shot, daring armed gardaí to confront him. Witness testimony established that Mr Silver had visited Castlerea Garda Station earlier that day to lodge an angry complaint about a garda raid on a neighbouring property. Several residents of Knockroe estate told the court they observed Mr Silver riding a motorbike recklessly around the area at approximately ten-thirty that evening, engaging in erratic behaviour including aggressive shouting. One witness stated she heard him challenge the armed squad to come down. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Garda Horkan on June seventeenth, twenty twenty, but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter. His defence team has indicated that Mr Silver's state of mind at the material time remains the central issue in the trial before Ms Justice Tara Burns. The case continues.
A 62‑year‑old man was sentenced to two‑and‑a‑half years in prison for two counts of sexual assault committed against his girlfriend in Waterford in 2001. The assaults, which involved vaginal and anal penetration without consent, occurred over a five‑week period during a relationship that had lasted 20 years. The victim, who has intellectual and memory difficulties, described the experience as the worst of her life and expressed a loss of self‑belief. The court noted that the defendant had pleaded guilty, expressed regret, and had lived a productive life since the offences, with no further convictions. The sentence was back‑dated to February of the previous year when the defendant entered custody after his guilty plea. The judge highlighted the serious breach of trust and the violent, targeted nature of the acts. The case was delayed largely because of the victim's learning difficulties.
A 39‑year‑old Dublin security guard was sentenced to nine years in prison for grooming, molesting and raping his partner's daughter, aged eight to ten, between 2018 and 2019. He threatened the girl with violence if she disclosed the abuse and was found guilty of sexual assault and one count of rape at several Dublin locations, including his home. The judge noted the defendant's admission of wrongdoing, his attempts to blame the victim, and his ambiguous moral stance. The victim, now a mid‑teen, described her childhood as a period of terror and expressed fear and guilt. The judge praised her courage for coming forward. The sentence includes a suspended final year, conditions for psychiatric and drug‑abuse treatment, and a post‑release supervision order to protect the victim and other children.
The 71‑year‑old man, whose name is withheld to protect victims, was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment for a series of child sexual offences spanning 28 years. He first abused his daughter between 1979 and 1985, then a babysitter between 1996 and 1998, and finally his stepdaughter between 2003 and 2007. The court heard he had attended counselling after his daughter disclosed the abuse, but he continued to offend. He pleaded guilty to 37 counts of indecent assault and was convicted of oral, anal and vaginal rape of his stepdaughter. The judge noted the persistent nature of the abuse and the breach of trust involved. Consecutive sentences totalling 15 years were imposed, with the final two years suspended under strict conditions, including post‑release supervision. The court wished the victims well for the future.
In a trial at Kincora Court, Dublin 3, Brendan Murray, aged 63, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of his 88‑year‑old mother, Neasa Murray. He told Gardaí that the Holy Spirit commanded him to punch, choke and sexually assault her, though no evidence of assault was found. The Central Criminal Court heard that the prosecution had no dispute over the facts of the incident, only over whether Murray met the criteria for insanity. Defence counsel Anne‑Marie Lawlor SC will present psychiatric evidence from Dr Brenda Wright, who will argue that Murray suffered from schizoaffective disorder and did not understand the wrongfulness of his actions. The case is set to continue before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of eight men and four women. The trial focuses on Murray's mental state at the time of the killing.
Aaron Connolly, 23, of Willistown, Drumcar, was found guilty by a unanimous jury at the Central Criminal Court of the murder of Cameron Reilly, 18, at Shamrock Hill, Dunleer, on May 26, 2018. Connolly had pleaded not guilty to the charge. The jury, comprising seven women and five men, reached their verdict after 10 hours and 39 minutes of deliberation. Mr Justice Tony Hunt thanked the jury and exempted them from jury duty for 15 years. The court heard that Mr Reilly's cause of death was asphyxia due to external pressure on the neck. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC made a formal admission that sexual contact occurred between the two men, with Connolly performing oral sex on Reilly, and that Reilly was alive when Connolly left. Prosecution counsel Dean Kelly SC argued that Connolly's inconsistent statements and DNA evidence linked him to the crime. Mr Justice Hunt remanded Connolly on continuing bail with strict conditions until December 20, when he will be sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment.
An 18‑year‑old who received a suspended five‑year prison sentence for orally raping a minor in 2018 is now under investigation for sexual assault of a teenage girl in a West of Ireland town. The court heard that since moving there three months ago he has had 12 interactions with gardai, including incidents involving vulnerable teenage girls. He was found with two girls who had been reported missing – a 16‑year‑old in September and a 13‑year‑old in October – and was again found with a 16‑year‑old who later alleged physical assault. He has also been arrested for public order offences, theft of alcohol and breach of the Sex Offenders Act for failing to notify gardai of a change of address. The judge adjourned the case to 31 January, stating he would require evidence of genuine engagement with probation and therapeutic services before considering the suspended sentence again. The unnamed 18-year-old pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin murder trial, the Central Criminal Court heard that Vincent Parsons, 34, died on 26 August 2019 from hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy caused by internal bleeding and a heart attack following blunt‑force trauma. The prosecution alleged that Philip Disney (27) and Sean Carlyle (30) beat Parsons to death after a confrontation at the Killinarden Inn. Parsons suffered 12 facial injuries, a broken nose, and no defensive wounds on his hands or forearms. Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan testified that Parsons had no pulse upon admission, was resuscitated with adrenaline, but ultimately died at 7.20 pm. She noted cocaine and alcohol in his system but said they were not contributory. Forensic evidence included DNA from blood on shorts and a T‑shirt linked to Carlyle, and a watch identified by Parsons' mother. The accused pleaded not guilty. The case was scheduled to close the following day.
In December 2022, a 50‑year‑old man was sentenced to 11½ years in prison for a series of violent assaults and two counts of rape against his former partner. The Central Criminal Court heard that between August and September 2016 he subjected her to repeated physical abuse, including kicking, dragging by the hair, strangulation attempts, urination, bleach burns, and forced sexual acts. He also threatened to brand her with an iron. He pleaded guilty to 32 assault‑related charges and was convicted of 15 additional assault counts, two rapes and a threat to kill. The judge set a headline sentence of 14 years, reduced to 12 years due to the absence of prior convictions, and noted limited remorse. The victim, who fled with her children to a women's refuge, described severe fear and psychological trauma. The case involved three prior convictions, one in the UK and one for breaching a barring order. The unnamed 50-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A man accused of murdering his wife at their Westport home in June 2019 will stand trial in March 2023 instead of December this year. James Kilroy, aged 48, of Kilbree Lower, Westport, Co Mayo, faces a charge in connection with the death of Valerie French Kilroy, aged 41, a mother of three. The trial was originally scheduled to begin on 12 December at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin and was expected to last three to four days. At a hearing before Mr Justice Paul McDermott today, the trial date was postponed to 6 March 2023. The defence indicated the proceedings would now require two to three weeks.
In a case heard in the Central Criminal Court, a 17‑year‑old boy was found guilty by a jury of oral rape and four counts of sexual assault against his 7‑year‑old cousin. The offences occurred in the victim's home in 2018 when the boy was 13. The victim reported that the boy inserted a finger into her vagina on four occasions and also orally raped her, threatening her not to tell anyone. She told her mother in July 2019, who then contacted the gardai. The boy's mother and sister were also involved in the investigation. The boy's defence team did not allow cross‑examination of the victim and did not give a closing speech. The boy accepted the jury verdict but did not appeal. The case was adjourned to 6 December for finalisation.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Stephen Silver, who denies murdering Detective Garda Colm Horkan, heard closing arguments are immencing. A prosecution psychiatrist told the jury that Mr Silver, aged 46, a motorbike mechanic from Aughaward, Foxford, County Mayo, was not psychotic and not suffering from delusions when he shot and killed the detective at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. Professor Harry Kennedy said Mr Silver's execution of a complex sequence of actions, including gaining control of the weapon, firing multiple times, and aiming deliberately at the victim's trunk, demonstrated his capacity to form intent. Mr Silver accepts killing Garda Horkan but has pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. The defence called a psychiatrist who argued Mr Silver suffered from a mental disorder affecting his responsibility. Mr Justice Paul McDermott advised the jury that closing submissions and his legal charge would follow over several days.
A 30-year-old man from Donegal has been sentenced to five years imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, for the rape and sexual abuse of his niece when he was a teenager. The man pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to two counts of oral rape and five counts of sexual assault of a child between January 2005 and January 2009. He was aged between 12 and 16 when committing the offences. Justice Karen O'Connor found the abuse had a considerable and continuous impact on the victim and noted the defendant's attempts to normalise the conduct by describing it as a boyfriend and girlfriend relationship. In mitigation, the judge considered that he was a minor at the time, had fully accepted the victim's account, and demonstrated remorse. The suspended portion is conditional on supervision by the Probation Service for two years post-release and participation in sex offender programmes. The victim, now in her twenties and living abroad, did not attend sentencing.
A witness told the Central Criminal Court murder trial that he heard the accused man say "If I didn't kill him, he would have killed me" at the scene in Castlerea, County Roscommon. Marcus Silvera, a resident of Main Street in the town, testified that he heard gunshots shortly before midnight on 17 June 2020 and observed a man with long hair and a black leather jacket walking in the street and shouting. Garda Enda Rowley also gave evidence, describing how the accused, Stephen Silver, was found handcuffed at the scene and later questioned at Castlerea Garda Station. Mr Silver, aged 46, a motorbike mechanic from Foxford, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Detective Garda Colm Horkan but has admitted manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. The trial before Mr Justice Paul McDermott continues at the Central Criminal Court.
Patrick Shiels, 66, was sentenced to 10 years in prison at the Central Criminal Court following a retrial. He was found guilty of oral rape and four counts of sexual assault committed against his daughter, Marlene Prakash-Shiels, between September 2000 and December 2004 at his address in Togher, Portlaoise, Co Laois. Shiels was also found guilty of two charges of child cruelty. Although convicted and jailed in a previous trial, he was released in July 2021 after the Court of Appeal ordered a re-trial. Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed a headline sentence of 12 years for the oral rape count, reducing it to 10 years after considering minor mitigating factors, including Shiels' age and lack of prior convictions. Sentences of four years for the remaining counts were imposed to run concurrently, with credit for time served. The judge noted limited scope for mitigation as Shiels does not accept the verdict and has expressed no remorse. The victim, who waived anonymity, described the lasting trauma in her impact statement. The court highlighted that the case fell within the more serious category of sexual offences.
Daryl McCarthy, 29, was sentenced to ten years in prison for raping a 19‑year‑old woman twice after breaking into her home and threatening her with a crowbar. He pleaded guilty to rape, oral rape and aggravated burglary on 2 December 2019. The Central Criminal Court heard that the victim remains deeply affected, having moved from her home to feel safe. Justice Tara Burn, hearing the case via video link, noted McCarthy's intoxication and lack of recall but described the offences as "absolutely and utterly dreadful." She set a headline sentence of 14 years, reduced to 12 years for his guilty plea and remorse, and suspended an additional two years on the condition that he comply with probation recommendations and avoid contact with the victim. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the sexual acts and the burglary with a crowbar. The victim's impact statement detailed ongoing trauma, including flashbacks, nightmares and PTSD.
A 17-year-old accused admitted to one count of oral rape and one count of attempted oral rape of his younger cousin on a date unknown. The Central Criminal Court heard the offences occurred when the accused was aged between 12 and 14 and the victim was between eight and ten. The accused pleaded guilty, stating he was experimenting, though his narrative changed during a second interview in December 2021. A probation report indicated he was at low risk of reoffending but should not have unsupervised access to pre-pubescent children. Mr Justice McGrath, who had previously adjourned sentencing to allow the accused to prepare for his Leaving Certificate exams, stated that a period of detention was necessary. He sentenced the accused to two years in detention on each count, to run concurrently. However, the judge deferred the sentence for one year to allow the accused to engage with probation and other services. The accused must not offend during this period and must comply with directed services. Mr Justice McGrath noted that if the accused remains of good character and complies with the services, there is a likelihood that the detention period will be suspended. Conversely, failure to comply could result in detention of up to two years. The accused is currently awaiting his Leaving Certificate results.
Patrick Shiels, 66, was found guilty of oral rape and four counts of sexual assault against his daughter, Marlene Prakash-Shiels, who was aged between four and eight at the time. The offences occurred between September 2000 and December 2004 at his address in Togher, Portlaoise, Co Laois. Shiels was also found guilty of two charges of child cruelty for forcing the victim to drink alcohol and watch pornography. This verdict followed a retrial earlier this year; Shiels had previously been convicted and jailed but was released in July 2021 after the Court of Appeal ordered a re-trial. The victim, who waived her anonymity, stated that Shiels caused "so much destruction" and showed no remorse. Prosecutors noted that the victim was placed in foster care in 2001 and that alcohol was a consistent feature of her visits to her father. Defence counsel highlighted Shiels' anxiety, depression, and alcoholism, noting he has no previous convictions. However, Mr Justice Tony Hunt stated there was little room for mitigation because Shiels does not accept the jury's verdict. The matter was adjourned to July 22 for sentencing.
A woman who met a man on a dating website was subjected to coercive control, choking, repeated rape and threats of death by the man, Dean Ward, aged 36. He sprayed Mace in her face, tied her up, removed her contraceptive device, moved money in her accounts and sent hundreds of messages daily, including pretending to be her on Facebook. He also blocked and deleted many of her friends and demanded photographs to prove she was at work. The abuse lasted six weeks from May to July 2019, during which Ward threatened to kill her and forced her to have sex. He was arrested by armed Gardaí when he tried to flee. The woman testified that the ordeal left her with lasting fear, anxiety and paranoia. Ward, who has nine prior convictions, maintains his innocence and has not accepted the jury verdict.
In a Waterford murder trial, the Central Criminal Court heard that Jack Power, 25, died from a 13‑centimetre stab wound to his chest, inflicted by Dean Kerrie, 21, when Power entered Kerrie's house in Shanakiel, Dunmore East, on 26 July 2018. Former Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that the knife entered between the third and fourth ribs, pierced the heart and two ribs, and caused a massive haemothorax, with about 3.5 litres of blood pooled in Power's chest cavity. CPR and chest drains were attempted but failed. Power's blood alcohol level was 187 mg per 100 ml, three times the driving limit, and there was evidence of recent cocaine use. Dr Curtis concluded the cause of death was the single stab wound; blunt‑force trauma to the head was not contributory. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury. Dean Kerrie pleaded not guilty.
A man has been convicted and sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for the rape of a teenage girl at a rural gathering in County Leitrim in July 2020. The 27-year-old, whose identity is protected to safeguard the victim, was found guilty by jury verdict following trial in February 2022 of rape and oral rape charges dating to between 11 and 12 July 2020. He had pleaded not guilty to both counts. The court heard the girl, then 16 years old, was asleep in a tent when the accused carried her to another location where the offences occurred. She was examined at a sexual assault treatment unit and found to have extensive injuries. Mr Justice Michael MacGrath imposed a sentence of six and a half years, with the final fifteen months suspended on conditions including that the accused have no contact with the victim through any means.
In 2022, the Central Criminal Court sentenced Ian Ryan to three years' imprisonment for raping a 13‑year‑old girl in 1986. The case was brought to court after a 2021 anonymous letter prompted a Garda investigation. Ryan, then 18, had begun a relationship with the girl, who was 13, after meeting her at a disco in a rugby club. The court heard that the couple met at the victim's family home while her parents were away, and that Ryan asked her to use a condom, which she declined. He then forced sexual intercourse, which she described as painful and non‑consensual. The victim later became pregnant in December 1986. Ryan pleaded guilty in December 2021 to a separate rape charge. The judge, citing Ryan's age and background, imposed a four‑year sentence with the final year suspended, requiring participation in alcohol and violence‑prevention programmes and no contact with the victim. The victim, aged 50, waived her anonymity.
Dean McCarthy, aged 33, was sentenced to 16 years in prison with the final year suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to attempted murder of neighbour Sinead Connolly, 34, on 6 March 2021. He also received concurrent sentences of eight years for possession of a firearm and six years for possession of ammunition. The court heard that McCarthy burst into Connolly's flat with a loaded G9A Grand Power handgun, shot her five times, and that the incident occurred while her eight‑year‑old daughter was hidden under a kitchen table. Connolly sustained a burst fracture of the T3 vertebra, became paraplegic, and remains in a rehabilitation hospital. McCarthy had a history of abuse toward Connolly, including verbal insults and physical aggression, and had previously been convicted of knife possession, criminal damage and traffic offences.
In the Central Criminal Court, the jury is hearing the case of Feri Anghel, 42, a Romanian gypsy with no fixed abode, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of fellow Romanian Ioan Artene Bob, 49, found beaten in Sean Walsh Memorial Park, Tallaght on 13 April 2018. The prosecution presents circumstantial evidence: CCTV footage of Anghel and Bob together, Anghel's attempt to use Bob's bank card at The Square Tallaght, and the fact that Bob's phone pinged a tower after the attack. Witnesses claim blood on Anghel's hands and boots and that Anghel had complained of pain after a night of drinking. The defence argues the evidence is weak, lacking DNA, fingerprints or motive, and that the prosecution has not proven the time of the alleged murder. Judge Paul Burns instructs the jury that if they find Anghel caused Bob's death but are not satisfied he intended to kill, they may return a verdict of manslaughter.