In the Central Criminal Court, Feri Anghel, a 42‑year‑old Romanian gypsy, stands accused of murdering fellow Romanian Ioan Artene Bob, a 49‑year‑old homeless construction worker, in Sean Walsh Memorial Park, Tallaght, on 13 April 2018. Anghel has pleaded not guilty. The prosecution's case relies on circumstantial evidence: CCTV footage of Anghel and Bob entering the park at 1.11 am, Anghel's alleged attempt to use Bob's bank card at a Tallaght shopping centre at 3 am, and the presence of Bob's phone near a Tallaght ESB tower at 3.20 am. Witnesses include Garofita Selin, a cleaner who worked with Anghel, who testified to seeing blood on his hands and a "pass" she received from him. The defence, led by Padraig Dwyer SC, argues that the evidence is weak, lacks DNA, fingerprints or motive, and that prejudice against Anghel's background may influence the jury.
A 34-year-old mother, Sinead Connolly, described how her neighbor Dean McCarthy, 33, shot her three times in her home, leaving her permanently paralysed. McCarthy, who had a history of abusive behavior towards her and her daughter, entered her home with a gun and fired multiple shots. The court heard that McCarthy had previously called Ms Connolly a 'whore' and threatened to leave her in a 'body bag'. CCTV footage showed four masked men outside McCarthy's flat before the shooting. McCarthy was accidentally shot during the incident and later pleaded guilty to attempted murder and possession of a firearm. Ms Connolly's victim impact statement detailed the severe physical and emotional consequences of the attack, including her reliance on medical care and the impact on her daughter. McCarthy's defense argued that the incident was not premeditated and that he had no intention to harm Ms Connolly, but the court noted the severity of her injuries and the long-term impact on her life.
The Central Criminal Court will resume the trial of Feri Anghel, 42, who denies murdering fellow Romanian Ioan Artene Bob, 49, found severely beaten in Sean Walsh Memorial Park, Tallaght, on 13 April 2018. Bob was discovered by a woman walking her dog, had severe bruising and "raccoon eyes", and died that afternoon after treatment at Tallaght Hospital. The shortened sitting focused on chain‑of‑evidence witnesses and gardaí who secured the scene and photographed items. Prosecution witnesses were absent and will attend next week. Bob had won €2‑3,000 at a city‑centre casino before sending the money to Romania; he had been attacked, suffered multiple rib fractures, collapsed lungs, and global brain damage. Witness Marzana Jurzak reported Bob's attempt to communicate that four attackers had struck him. The case will be heard by Mr Justice Paul Burns with a jury of eight men and four women at Court 22. Feri Anghel pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Feri Anghel, who is charged with the alleged murder of Ioan Artene Bob, continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns. Anghel denies the charge. Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster testified that Bob, found beaten in Sean Walsh Park in 2018, died from very severe blunt-force trauma, global brain damage, and bilateral lung collapse. She stated injuries were consistent with kicking and stamping, noting nine separated ribs and extensive bruising. Cross-examination suggested some injuries could result from punches, though Dr Bolster maintained the widespread nature indicated greater force. Witness Pavel Stegarescu, a supervisor, stated Anghel appeared unharmed and quiet during work trips on April 12 and 13, 2018. Another witness, Marzana Jurzak, who found Bob, reported he held up four fingers, which she interpreted as indicating four attackers. The trial is ongoing.
In March 2022, a 28‑year‑old man was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for forcibly entering a flat, raping a 16‑year‑old girl and threatening to kill her if she reported the assault. The Central Criminal Court heard that the defendant had previously called the victim's older sister's home in Waterford in January 2019, found the teenager alone, and forced his way into the flat. He carried her into a bedroom, raped her, and ignored her pleas to stop. He threatened her with death if she told anyone. The victim later called her sister, who alerted Gardaí, who arrested the man. He denied any contact, claiming the victim had "come on to him." Forensic evidence found his semen on the victim's clothing. The defendant pleaded guilty to rape on 12 January 2019. He was sentenced to ten years, reduced by six months and a year suspended, after a guilty plea and apology.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a jury found Trevor Rowe, 30, guilty of murdering 71‑year‑old Ann Butler on 20 March 2020. The jury deliberated for 1 hour 19 minutes, rejecting Rowe's intoxication defence. Evidence included three anonymous 999 calls from 25 March 2020 in which Rowe admitted the murder and identified the body's location on Maudlin Street, Kilkenny. Gardaí discovered Rowe at his Abbey Street apartment, where he confessed to killing Butler, slitting her throat and stabbing her head. Forensic evidence linked a Linden Village cider can and a wooden crucifix fragment to Rowe, and a large piece of cardboard was found in Butler's mouth. The judge will impose a mandatory life sentence on 1 April and remand Rowe until then. The Butler family will be allowed to address the court on the impact of the death. Trevor Rowe pleaded not guilty.
A 53‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment for raping and sexually abusing girls in the 1980s. He pleaded guilty to one count of rape and six counts of indecent assault committed between 1980 and 1988 at a Dublin town address. The Central Criminal Court noted the victims were aged between 12 and 20 at the time of the offences and that the man was aged between 12 and 20 when the offending began. Mr Justice Paul McDermott considered the man's borderline intellectual functioning, his age at the time of the offences, the repeated nature of the conduct and his guilty plea. He imposed consecutive terms totalling six and a half years, suspended the final year for three years, and imposed strict conditions including no contact with the victims and no contact with anyone under 18 unless accompanied by an adult.
In a case heard on 7 February 2022, Mr Justice Tony Hunt sentenced a 22‑year‑old man to six years and nine months' imprisonment for raping a sleeping woman. The offence occurred in a friend's flat after a night out; the victim woke to find the accused raping her while another man kissed her and told her it was "OK". The judge noted the prevalence of such cases "defies belief" and highlighted the aggravating factors of the victim's sleep, the presence of a third party, and the impact on the victim. He imposed a conditional suspension of the final 15 months, requiring the offender to comply with Probation Service directions for 12 months and to avoid contact with the victim. The victim's impact statement described profound trauma, PTSD, and loss of relationships, and she expressed fear of public disclosure of the incident. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
Anthony Casserly, aged 25, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended, after pleading guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder of gangster Wayne Whelan, 42, who was shot and left in a burning car on 18 November 2019. Casserly had lured Whelan to a pub under the pretense of watching a soccer match, using their friendship to lower Whelan's guard. The Central Criminal Court heard that Whelan had survived a previous shooting attempt in September 2019 and was cautious about his movements. Casserly's admission of guilt, lack of prior serious convictions and remorse were considered mitigating factors. The judge noted that Casserly's role was an aggravating factor because he used a trusted friendship to facilitate the murder. The sentence was back‑dated to 12 December 2019. The case also involved Christopher Moran, who pleaded guilty to being the getaway driver. The court did not consider any further appeals or subsequent proceedings.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 49‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for sexually abusing his younger sister from 1984 to 1991. The abuse, which began when the sister was about seven or eight and continued until she was 14, included indecent assault, sexual assault, rape, oral rape and anal rape, often occurring in the family home when parents were absent. The victim, now 45, described her brother as a "monster" who threatened to destroy the family if she disclosed the abuse. She said the abuse caused profound loss of confidence, dignity and autonomy, and led to depression, anxiety and PTSD. The judge noted the offender's age at the time of the offences (13‑19) and imposed a nine‑year sentence without suspension, citing his lack of rehabilitation efforts. The victim's husband supported her throughout the proceedings. The offender had no prior convictions and was employed as a painter, decorator and bus driver. The unnamed 49-year-old pleaded guilty.
In January 2022, a 32‑year‑old man was sentenced to 30 months in prison for defiling his 16‑year‑old cousin on a church grounds in Galway in May 2018. He pleaded guilty to a sexual act with a child under 17, an offence that carries a maximum penalty of five years. At the time of the offence he was 29. The victim, who was intoxicated and unable to keep her eyes open, described how the man kissed and groped her after she refused to go to the bushes. He denied any wrongdoing during questioning. The court noted his 140 prior convictions, including assault, robbery, burglary, knife possession, theft, public order offences and four Covid‑related convictions. The judge, citing the victim's vulnerability and the lack of grooming or violence, set a headline sentence of three and a half years, reduced by one year for mitigating factors, and imposed a two‑year post‑release supervision period.
Ioan Lingurar, 35, was sentenced to 17½ years' imprisonment for two separate rape and false‑imprisonment offences that occurred three years apart. In 2016 he raped a woman who woke up in his car, was locked inside and could not escape until later that night. In 2019 he again assaulted a woman in a car, who managed to escape after grabbing the wheel and punching him. DNA from both incidents matched Lingurar's pre‑existing profile from Austria. He had previously been convicted of sexual assault in France (2011) and had other convictions in Ireland. The judge, Ms Justice Tara Burns, noted the offences were aggravated by the victims' isolation, the taking of their phones, and Lingurar's prior convictions. The sentences run consecutively, giving an effective custodial term of 17½ years. The victims' impact statements described lasting psychological harm and fear of strangers. The court did not consider any future outcomes beyond the sentencing. The unnamed woman pleaded guilty.
Michael O'Donoghue, aged 43, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, for raping and sexually abusing his 19‑year‑old daughter, Aimee Foley, over a six‑year period. The Central Criminal Court heard that O'Donoghue supplied Foley with alcohol and drugs, including cannabis and cocaine, before sexually assaulting her during access visits to his home. He pleaded guilty to 31 counts of sexual assault, one count of rape and one count of producing child pornography. Foley, who was aged between 12 and 17 at the time of the abuse, gave a victim impact statement in which she described the emotional and physical abuse she endured. The judge noted mitigating factors such as O'Donoghue's early admission to Gardaí and his current low risk of re‑offending. The sentence was back‑dated to his arrest in April 2019.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has convicted a UK man of the murder of Kevin Sheehy, a five-time Irish boxing champion, who was struck and run over multiple times by a jeep on Hyde Road in Limerick city on 1 July 2019. Logan Jackson, aged 31, of Longford Road, Coventry, England, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The jury unanimously rejected his defence of provocation after deliberating for two hours and thirty minutes. Jackson was also found guilty of endangerment. The court heard that Sheehy, aged 20, attempted to rise from the ground after the initial impact but was run over twice more at speed. Jackson claimed he felt intimidated after an altercation outside a house party, though he admitted to gardaí he was not under threat when he drove the vehicle and was angry and drinking. The judge will impose a mandatory life sentence next Tuesday. Sheehy's family will have the opportunity to address the court regarding the impact of his death.
A witness at the Central Criminal Court has testified about the fatal incident involving Irish boxing champion Kevin Sheehy in Limerick city on July 1, 2019. Thomas Lysaght described attempting to prevent his cousin from being struck by a jeep at Hyde Road, stating he tried to grab and pull Mr Sheehy from the vehicle after the initial impact. According to Mr Lysaght's evidence, the jeep returned twice more, striking Mr Sheehy a second and third time before the driver fled the scene. Logan Jackson, aged 31 and with an address at Longford Road, Coventry, England, is charged with murder in connection with Mr Sheehy's death. Mr Jackson has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The 20-year-old Mr Sheehy, a five-time Irish boxing champion, was pronounced dead following the incident.
A 77‑year‑old pensioner was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended, for a decade of sexual abuse of his partner's daughter. The court heard that the victim, who was aged eight or nine when the abuse began, was repeatedly raped, orally raped, anal raped and assaulted while the perpetrator was in a relationship with her mother. The trial judge directed not‑guilty verdicts on three counts of anal rape. The judge imposed a headline sentence of 15 years for each rape offence, but reduced the sentence to ten years, citing the man's age, lack of prior convictions, and his otherwise blameless life as mitigating factors. The suspended portion was imposed on strict conditions, including no contact with the victim and no unsupervised access to children. The victim's impact statement described lasting trauma and loss of trust in her childhood and family. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
Logan Jackson, a 31-year-old British man from Coventry, is standing trial at the Central Criminal Court for the death of Irish boxing champion Kevin Sheehy. Jackson has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, with the alleged incident occurring on Hyde Road in Limerick City on July 1, 2019. Prosecution counsel Dean Kelly SC outlined the State's case, alleging that after a brief exchange following a house party celebrating Limerick's Munster hurling victory, Jackson drove a Mitsubishi jeep into Sheehy and his cousin. The prosecution contends that Jackson then reversed and drove over Sheehy's body twice more at speed. Sheehy, a five-time Irish champion, died from serious injuries sustained in the collision. Jackson also faces a separate charge of endangerment under Section 13 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997, which he denies. The trial is currently ongoing before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of twelve. The matter was adjourned to continue on Thursday, meaning the proceedings have not yet concluded.
The trial of Stephen Penrose, 38, for the alleged murder of Philip Finnegan, 24, at Rahin Woods, Edenderry, Co Kildare, on August 10, 2016, is ongoing. Penrose, of Coolock, Dublin 17, pleaded not guilty. The Central Criminal Court jury has heard that Finnegan's decapitated remains were found buried in September 2016, with forensic evidence indicating death by multiple stab wounds. A DNA profile from a bloodied glove matched Penrose. The prosecution alleges Penrose brought Finnegan to the woods between 4.10pm and 5.13pm, a period supported by CCTV footage of his Alfa Romeo. Penrose claimed he was attacked by men in a black car while testing firearms, but the State argues his changing accounts were an attempt to conceal the body's location. Mr Justice Alexander Owens charged the jury to ignore Penrose's unrepresented status, courtroom outbursts, and character, focusing solely on the evidence. The judge noted Penrose declined to give a closing speech or call witnesses. The jury was instructed to decide if Penrose was the perpetrator. The judge will complete his charge tomorrow morning, after which the jury will begin deliberations.
Gardai questioned Stephen Penrose, accused of murdering 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan, about the location of the attack that led to Finnegan's death in Rahin Woods, Kildare. Penrose gave multiple, conflicting accounts of where he and Finnegan were attacked by a group of men on 10 August 2016, initially saying it occurred on the outskirts of Kilcock, then near Clonuff, then near Edenderry, and finally near a caravan beside a woods. He claimed they were there to collect firearms, but later denied any knowledge of the attack. Penrose admitted to lying about the location out of fear for his life. Evidence presented included a blood‑stained glove matching Penrose's DNA found near Finnegan's remains, a garden fork, shovel, and knife blade, and a fire‑damaged glove. The trial continues before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury, with Penrose remaining in custody and refusing to attend. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty. Philip Finnegan pleaded not guilty.
A blood‑stained glove found near the skeletonised remains of Philip Finnegan in Rahin Woods matched DNA from Stephen Penrose, a forensic scientist who is on trial for Finnegan's murder. The glove, heavily charred and bearing blood on five internal sites, was recovered by Gardaí on 8 September 2016 and later analysed by Dr Alan McGee of Forensic Science Ireland. McGee compared the glove's DNA with a buccal swab taken from Penrose on 16 November 2016 and reported a match, estimating the probability of a different source as less than one in a billion. Penrose, 38, pleaded not guilty to the murder of the 24‑year‑old, who was found buried in a shallow grave after being missing for just over three weeks.
In a murder trial, a pathologist testified that the decapitated, skeletonised remains of a 24‑year‑old Dublin man, Philip Finnegan, were found curled in a foetal position in a shallow grave in Rahin Woods, Kildare, after he had been missing for 30 days. The remains were partially burned and evidence of multiple stab wounds, including two fatal ones to the liver and aorta, was presented. Fingerprints recovered from a finger that had slipped away from the soil confirmed Finnegan's identity. The accused, Stephen Penrose, 38, pleaded not guilty. The trial also discussed a blood‑stained glove that matched Penrose's DNA and his phone's proximity to the site. The case is ongoing before Mr Justice Owens and a jury.
During a murder trial, a dog walker recounted discovering what he believed to be a body in Rahin Woods, Kildare, on 2 September 2016. He found two dogs barking near a buried object that appeared to be flesh. He later informed two men, Ivan Pollard and Pat McGrath, who called 112. Garda inspectors Aiden Hannon and Padraig Nolan examined the site, noting almost skeletal remains protruding from a shallow grave, a stab‑proof vest, a garden fork, a shovel, a knife blade, a mobile phone, a fire‑damaged glove, and a black funnel. The remains were taken to Naas mortuary. The trial heard that the accused, Stephen Penrose, 38, pleaded not guilty to murdering 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan, whose body was found decapitated in the woods. The case is ongoing before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury.
In 2021 the Court of Appeal heard the appeal of a 60‑year‑old Dublin man convicted of sexually assaulting 14 girls between 1994 and 2001. He had pleaded guilty in 2002 to ten attacks and received a nine‑year sentence with two years suspended. In March 2020 a jury convicted him of 30 counts of assault on four girls aged 11 to 17, and he was jailed for seven years. The appeal, presented by his barrister Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC, argued that the first COVID‑19 lockdown in March 2020 may have pressured the jury, citing the Taoiseach's statement on school closures and the short two‑hour deliberation. The appeal also raised concerns about the handling of evidence, potential contamination of complainants' statements, and the adequacy of the judge's instructions on identification. The Court of Appeal said a judgment would be issued "some time" due to the multiplicity of arguments.
During the Central Criminal Court trial of Stephen Penrose, a 38‑year‑old from Coolock, evidence was presented that his phone made a data connection at a cell site near Rahin, where the body of 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan was found. The phone also connected to several other sites in Edenderry and surrounding areas on the afternoon of 10 August 2016, including Liffey Valley fitness centre, Edenderry water tower, Monasteroris, Russellswood, Moyvalley and Enfield. The last outgoing call from Penrose's phone was at 6:09 pm, connecting to a cell site in Enfield. The prosecution also noted that Finnegan's phone was last used in Edenderry at 3:44 pm, and that his mother's call at 4:40 pm was unanswered. Additional testimony included a text sent from Penrose's phone at 4:07 pm and a call at 4:53 pm to a site covering Rahin Woods. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty.
Stephen Penrose, aged 38, accused of murdering 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan in Kildare woods, has declined to attend his murder trial in person. The Central Criminal Court jury was informed that proceedings would continue without him. Penrose had previously represented himself after dismissing his legal team, but has now hired new counsel: solicitor Michael French and barristers Anthony Sammon SC and Eoghan Weldon BL. Judge Alexander Owens warned Penrose that continued disruptive behaviour could lead to his removal from the courtroom. Penrose had previously shouted at a Garda Inspector in the witness box, accusing him of lying. The trial, which began on 13 October, will proceed with the jury hearing CCTV footage and evidence, including a bloodied glove DNA‑matched to Penrose, while the body of Finnegan was found decapitated in a shallow grave in Kildare woods. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty.
A 54‑year‑old Laois man was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment for four counts of rape and one count of sexual assault against his 15‑year‑old niece, who babysat his children. The offences occurred between 1 June 2004 and 31 March 2005. The victim became pregnant and gave birth to a child. The man, who has no prior convictions, denied the allegations and claimed a consensual relationship. Justice Eileen Creedon noted the breach of trust and the profound impact on the victim, who reported the abuse in September 2015 after a long period of fear. The judge imposed 11 years' imprisonment, suspended the final year on strict conditions, and highlighted the lack of remorse and the man's continued denial. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court.
A jury will decide whether Valerijs Leitons, a 25‑year‑old Latvian national, should be found not guilty by reason of insanity or guilty of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility for the murder of Skaidrite Valdgeima, 34, on 26 June 2019. Leitons stabbed Valdgeima at the Binary Hub aparthotel after believing she was an undercover agent. The prosecution, led by Conor Devally SC, argued that Leitons' paranoid schizophrenia, diagnosed by Dr Ronan Mullaney, met all three criteria for an insanity verdict, while the defence, represented by Michael Bowman SC, contended that Dr Damien Smith's assessment showed Leitons did not meet those criteria. The judge explained that the jury could return four verdicts, but the parties were focused on the two options of not guilty by reason of insanity or guilty of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. The jury will deliberate tomorrow.
In a trial held on 6 October 2021, Mark Whelan, aged 48, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Noel Thomas Whelan, the partner of his daughter, on 30 March 2019. The prosecution suggested that Whelan might be found not guilty by reason of insanity or diminished responsibility. A defence psychiatrist, Dr Francis Kelly, testified that at the time of the offence Whelan was voluntarily intoxicated with cocaine, cannabis and benzodiazepines, and that his psychosis was caused by intoxication rather than a pre‑existing mental disorder. He argued that Whelan did not know the nature or wrongness of his act and could not refrain from stabbing Noel Whelan. The state rebuttal psychiatrist, Prof Harry Kennedy, maintained that Whelan's symptoms were fully explained by substance misuse and that he had no underlying mental disorder. The case was set to continue before Justice Tara Burns and a jury.
Valerijs Leitons, aged 25, was arrested on 26 June 2019 after stabbing to death Skaidrite Valdgeima, aged 34, at the Binary Hub aparthotel in Dublin 8. Leitons pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The Central Criminal Court heard that the couple had begun a sexual relationship after meeting at a concert in May 2019. A post‑mortem report described multiple penetrating slash and stab wounds to Valdgeima's face, head, neck, arms, chest and right eye, with defence‑type injuries on both arms suggesting attempts to block the knife. A psychiatrist testified that Leitons had a psychotic disorder since February 2018 and may have stopped medication by February 2019, but was not sufficiently impaired to meet the insanity threshold. Witnesses, including a night porter and Garda officers, described Leitons as aggressive, holding a knife and resisting arrest.
A man has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his conviction for a four-day assault on a teenager in County Cavan in October 2019. The 27-year-old pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault, false imprisonment, assault causing serious harm, making threats to kill, assault causing harm and robbery. He subjected the victim, then aged 19, to violence based on an unfounded belief that the victim had informed on him. Two co-accused, twin siblings aged 23, pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and assault causing harm. The male twin received five years imprisonment with the final two-and-a-half years suspended, while the female twin, previously sentenced in May, received four years with the final three years and three months suspended. The assault came to an end after material posted to social media alerted the victim's family, who located him using a phone tracking device. Mr Justice Michael White imposed strict conditions including probation service supervision and therapeutic intervention on the suspended sentences.
A 19-year-old was subjected to a four-day ordeal of assault, false imprisonment and sexual abuse at a house in County Cavan between October 17th and 20th, 2019, the Central Criminal Court heard. The main male accused, aged 27, developed an irrational belief that the victim had informed gardaí about him following their joint arrest for drug possession in Dublin. Based on this misconception, he subjected the victim to sustained violence, stabbing him with knives, cutting a crescent shape into his face, and sexually assaulting him. A female co-accused carved the numbers 666 into the victim's forehead, while her twin brother struck the victim with a wrench and dumbbell. Material from the incident was uploaded to Snapchat, enabling the victim's family to locate and rescue him. The main accused pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault, assault causing serious harm, false imprisonment, threats to kill, assault causing harm and robbery. He was sentenced to eleven years imprisonment with the final two years suspended. His female co-accused received four years imprisonment with three years and three months suspended.
In a Central Criminal Court case, a 69‑year‑old man was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. He was convicted of two counts of rape of a niece, one when she was a child in 1977 and another when she was in her twenties in 1986, and of seven counts of indecent assault against the same victim between 1971 and 1974. He also faced three further counts of indecent assault against other child victims between 1982 and 1986. The judge noted the offences were committed when the victims were young, vulnerable and isolated, and that the man had a history of six prior convictions. The sentencing reflected the judge's view that the man's culpability was high and that the crimes caused great harm to the victims. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
In the murder trial of Daniel Murtagh, Chief State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan testified that beauty therapist Nadine Lott died from severe blunt‑force and stab injuries sustained in a sustained assault at her Arklow home on 17 December 2019. She described 64 individual injuries, including facial bone fractures, a 5 cm stab wound above the thyroid cartilage, an incised wound from the left earlobe to the neck, rib fractures, and extensive bruising to the head, face and neck. Lott's brain was diffusely swollen, and neuropathology confirmed hypoxic/ischaemic encephalopathy caused by cardiac arrests following the injuries. Mulligan was sceptical that Lott could have moved after the assault, noting the severity of the head and neck trauma. She stated the blunt‑force injuries were consistent with hands, fists or feet and could not rule out a blunt weapon. The trial will continue before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and a jury. Daniel Murtagh pleaded not guilty.
David Masterson, aged 56, was sentenced to 17 years in prison for a series of sexual offences against his daughter, Charlene Masterson, who was 32 at the time of the statement. Masterson used anonymous text messages to blackmail her into sexual acts with men, claiming his job was at risk. He also sexually abused her over a seven‑and‑a‑half‑year period, including oral rape and sexual assault, and had sexual encounters with three other girls. Masterson was already serving a seven‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for defilement offences and had 17 prior convictions, including child pornography. The court imposed 18 years for each of the four counts of oral rape, suspending the final year and ordering one year of post‑release supervision, and five years for two sexual assault offences, running concurrently for an effective operative sentence of 18 years with the final year suspended. The sentences were back‑dated to 26 June 2019. David Masterson pleaded guilty.
Noel McKeon, a former security guard, appealed to the Court of Appeal against his 14-year effective jail term for the rape and violent assault of two sex workers. The Central Criminal Court previously heard that McKeon contacted the victims via an escorts website, leading to attacks in June 2016 and February 2018. In the first incident, he assaulted the victim, who escaped by jumping from a window, and then raped her. In the second, he assaulted and raped another woman after she refused condomless sex. McKeon pleaded guilty to sexual assault, assault, robbery, and rape of both women, as well as false imprisonment of the first victim. Justice Tony Hunt imposed consecutive headline sentences of ten years for each victim, applying a four-year discount for the guilty pleas to result in a 16-year term. He suspended the final two years on condition that McKeon engage in sex offender treatment and anger management, specifically regarding violence towards women. McKeon's counsel, Barry White SC, argued that a "crushing sentence" had been imposed and that the totality principle was insufficiently applied. The DPP, represented by John Fitzgerald SC, countered that the effective 14-year sentence was within the margin of appreciation and incentivised rehabilitation. The Court of Appeal, comprising Justices Birmingham, Edwards, and Donnelly, reserved judgment on the appeal.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 34‑year‑old mother accused of abusing her children denied that her admissions were "dangerously unreliable." The mother, who pleaded not guilty to 25 charges including sexual assault and wilful neglect, was interviewed six times over two days in 2018, after her children had been taken into care. The detective who conducted the interviews said she was aware of the mother's mild intellectual disability and adapted the questioning accordingly, ensuring the mother understood that her statements could be used as evidence. The detective confirmed that a solicitor was present at each interview and that the mother had no complaints about her treatment. The trial continues with the mother and other family members still pleading not guilty to various charges.
A man has been sentenced to eight years and nine months imprisonment by the Central Criminal Court following his conviction for the rape of his then partner's teenage sister. Stephen Lynch, with an address in Offaly, was found guilty in May 2021 of rape committed at a property in Athlone, County Roscommon, in October 2015. He was also convicted of sexual assault and assault causing harm arising from an incident in December 2015 at the same address. The court heard that Lynch had drugged and raped the first victim, then subjected a second woman to sexual assault while also attacking her friend who attempted to intervene. Justice David Keane imposed concurrent sentences, noting the offences were aggravated by the victim's age and the use of drugs. Lynch pleaded not guilty throughout. The sentences were backdated to May 2021 when he first entered custody following conviction.
The jury in the trial of Zoltan Almasi, a 49‑year‑old Serbian man, has been sent home after three days of deliberations. Almasi has pleaded not guilty to the murder of 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne but guilty to manslaughter. The case concerns an incident on 16 May 2014 at Harbour View, Naas, where Dunne was struck on the back of the head with a baseball bat, shattering his skull and causing death. Almasi claims he did not realise he had struck Dunne until later, when he saw an ambulance and Garda car. The judge, Michael White, initially required a unanimous verdict but later allowed a majority verdict of at least ten jurors. The jury has requested additional witness testimony and legal definitions, and will resume deliberations tomorrow. The trial is being heard in the Central Criminal Court.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Amanda Hamilton, aged 29, addressed her father, Paul Hamilton, 55, after he pleaded guilty to two counts of oral rape and four counts of sexual assault. Hamilton first abused Amanda when she was eight, orally raping her after showing her a magazine and telling her it was normal. The abuse continued for about two years, ending in 2002 when Amanda informed her mother, who then forced Hamilton to leave the family home. The case was investigated in 2019 after Amanda, now an adult, made a complaint. Justice Michael White sentenced Hamilton to eight years' imprisonment, suspending the final year on strict conditions. Amanda's victim impact statement described lifelong guilt, health problems, and her father's lack of remorse, while the court noted Hamilton's cooperation and lack of prior convictions as mitigating factors.
In a murder trial, the defence counsel for Zoltan Almasi, a 49‑year‑old Serbian truck driver, argued that the force with which Almasi wielded a baseball bat could indicate a sudden loss of control, potentially supporting a partial defence of provocation. Almasi, who pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, killed 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne in 2014 after Dunne allegedly jostled Almasi's van. Almasi chased Dunne away with the bat, striking him on the back of the head, causing a fatal skull fracture. The prosecution claimed Almasi struck Dunne in anger, while the defence highlighted that the bat's tip hit the head, a 4‑cm margin that could have missed if Almasi had been slightly farther back. The counsel urged the jury to consider Almasi's perception of the van's attack, his background, the Harbour View area's reputation, and the possibility of a sudden loss of self‑control. The judge, Michael White, would charge the jury tomorrow.
In a trial in the Central Criminal Court, a 49‑year‑old Serbian truck driver, Zoltan Almasi, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the death of a 20‑year‑old Kildare man, Joseph Dunne, on 16 May 2014. Prosecutor Caroline Biggs argued that Dunne was running for his life and was not a threat when Almasi struck him with a baseball bat in anger, causing a blow to the back of his head that shattered his skull. She urged the jury to consider CCTV footage showing Almasi raising the bat and to infer intent to cause serious injury. Biggs explained that provocation would reduce murder to manslaughter, but she said Almasi's anger was insufficient for that defence. The jury was asked to decide whether Almasi intended to kill or seriously injure Dunne and whether he was provoked. Barra McGrory QC began his defence speech later in the proceedings.
During the murder trial of Zoltan Almasi, a 49‑year‑old Serbian truck driver, the jury heard that cobwebs and dust were found on the baseball bat used to kill 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne on 16 May 2014. Almasi, who pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, claimed he had not realised he had struck Dunne until he saw an ambulance and Garda car. He said the bat had been left in the house he rented, and that he had not lifted it in the three years he lived there. The defence's barrister, Barra McGrory QC, questioned Almasi about the bat's condition, and Almasi answered that he had not used it before. The trial also considered forensic evidence about sounds from Basin Street and CCTV timings, but the defence has closed its case and the judge will explain the defence of provocation tomorrow. The trial continues before a jury of seven men and four women.
In the Central Criminal Court, a child abuse trial involving six extended family members is ongoing before Mr Justice McDermott and a jury. The accused, aged 27 to 57, include the parents, aunts, and uncles of three main child complainants. During the proceedings, the court heard evidence from foster parents describing the physical and emotional state of the children upon entering their care, including poor hygiene, missing teeth, and anxiety. A specialist garda interviewer testified regarding the interview process with a female complainant, acknowledging she was not present when the child wrote notes used during questioning. Defense counsel argued this impacted the reliability of the account. In a significant procedural development, the trial judge directed that the case against the children's grandmother, a 57-year-old woman accused of three counts of sexually assaulting her granddaughter, be withdrawn. Following legal argument, the judge ordered that she be found not guilty by direction. The remaining six accused face charges including sexual assault and wilful neglect. The trial continues with further evidence expected.
A jury was sworn in on 27 May 2021 for the trial of seven relatives accused of sexually abusing three children in Munster. The accused, ranging in age from 27 to 57, include the children's parents, grandmother, and several aunts and uncles. All seven deny the allegations. The Central Criminal Court heard that the parents were also accused of wilfully neglecting two additional child complainants. The judge, Justice Paul McDermott, explained that the allegations stem from repeated sexual assault or abuse by close relations between 2014 and 2016. He noted the case would likely take more than eight weeks, advising the jury to budget for eight to ten weeks. The trial is scheduled to open in evidence before the jury at Croke Park on 31 May. The accused pleaded not guilty to a range of counts including rape, anal rape, oral rape, sexual assault, sexual exploitation and wilfully neglecting children. The trial will determine the outcome of these charges.
Patrick Shiels, aged 64, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment by the Central Criminal Court for sexually assaulting and orally raping his daughter, Marlene Prakash‑Shiels, who was between four and eight years old during the offences. Shiels pleaded not guilty to all charges, including four counts of sexual assault, oral rape, child cruelty, forced alcohol consumption and forced viewing of pornography. He had no prior convictions. The trial, held in Croke Park, included a victim impact statement in which Ms Prakash‑Shiels described the lasting trauma and lack of remorse from her father. Justice David Keane noted aggravating factors such as abuse of trust, age disparity and the pattern of assault, and imposed a ten‑year sentence with no credit for a guilty plea. He also ordered three years of post‑release supervision by the Probation Service. The court heard that the victim was in foster care during the period of the offences.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the jury heard that 44‑year‑old nurse Deirdre Morley attempted to poison her three children on 23 January 2021 and then suffocated them on 24 January 2021. She used thick brown tape and plastic bags to smother the children, two of whom were killed in a play tent. Morley's husband, Andrew McGinley, discovered the bodies: two upstairs in his bedroom and one downstairs in the play tent. Two notes left by Morley warned anyone entering the house not to go into the front room or upstairs and to call 911. Prosecutors said Morley was suffering from a mental disorder and pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murders of her sons Conor (9), Darragh (7) and daughter Carla (3). The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and a jury.
Peter Loughran, 36, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for rape and oral rape committed at a Dublin address on January 5, 2018. Loughran pleaded guilty to the charges, which involved an assault on a woman he met via Tinder. Justice Paul McDermott sentenced Loughran to nine years imprisonment, but suspended the final 18 months on strict conditions. These conditions require him to refrain from using any online dating apps and to not contact the victim or her family in any way. The court noted that Loughran had expressed genuine regret and remorse, and was assessed as a low to moderate risk of sexual reoffending. Aggravating factors included the offences being committed in the victim's home by a trusted guest, the degrading manner of the assault, and the fact that Loughran recorded part of the attack. The victim, who suffered physical injuries and a new genital herpes infection, stated in her impact statement that the incident drastically changed her future. Loughran, originally from Co Monaghan, has four previous convictions for unrelated offences including possession of drugs and drink driving. He had previously denied the offences to gardaí, claiming the contact was consensual, but later apologized in a letter read by his counsel.
In a historic first, the Central Criminal Court opened a trial at Croke Park, the GAA headquarters, to accommodate Covid‑19 safety measures. Justice David Keane welcomed the jury of eight men and four women, noting the venue's unique role and the need for physical distancing and mask‑wearing. The trial, conducted in camera, concerns a woman in her 20s who alleges her father, aged 64, sexually abused her between 2000 and 2007. She claims he forced her to watch pornographic tapes, perform oral sex, and molest her while living in a dilapidated cottage with no toilet. The defendant denies all allegations, admitting only an alcohol problem monitored by the HSE and foster parents. The case proceeds with the presumption of innocence until proven beyond reasonable doubt. The trial continues.
In a Dublin case, a 36‑year‑old man accused of orally raping his 11‑year‑old brother and repeatedly beating him until the brother left the home at 16 has pleaded not guilty to ten counts of oral rape, seven counts of assault causing harm and one count of unlawful intimidation. During Garda interviews, the accused admitted it was "a possibility" he had forced his brother to give him oral sex and claimed he was "out of his head" or drunk at the time. He also said his brother "probably gave me a bit of head." The prosecution argues these admissions confirm the complainant's allegations, while the defence highlights the lack of explanation for the long delay in reporting and the accused's prior false statements to Gardaí. The trial is set to continue before Mr Justice Michael White with jury deliberations expected to begin tomorrow.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 54‑year‑old man accused of raping a 36‑year‑old woman, who had sought asylum in Ireland to escape an arranged marriage, pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, one of sexual assault and one of attempted rape. The accused claimed the woman had lied about her motives, suggesting she alleged rape to remain in Ireland while the case was investigated. He argued that a ceremony called Nikah, which he described as a non‑binding religious agreement, had taken place before any sexual activity. The woman testified that after a ceremony the accused took her to his flat and raped her repeatedly over three days. The trial is in its closing stages, with the judge and jury hearing final arguments from both sides.