The Central Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Ross Outram, who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Paddy Lyons at Loughleagh, Ballysaggart, Lismore, Co Waterford, between February 23 and 26, 2017. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster testified that she found the 90-year-old victim slumped in an armchair with blood smeared on his face. Her post-mortem examination revealed ten blunt force wounds to the head and neck, fractured ribs, and a fractured right hip. She concluded the cause of death was blunt force trauma resulting in traumatic brain injury and shock. Under cross-examination, Dr Bolster stated it was impossible to determine the sequence of blows and that the brain injury alone would not have caused death, though untreated scalp lacerations likely would have. Pharmaceutical expert Michael Lyons testified that there was no physical evidence proving Outram consumed the 60 xanax tablets he claimed to have taken, noting the absence of withdrawal symptoms after his arrest. However, the expert acknowledged that high doses of xanax could cause a paradoxical effect. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and a jury.
A man convicted of murdering a guardian at a brothel in Cavan seven years ago has had his appeal against conviction dismissed by the Court of Appeal. Przemyslaw Trebacz, a Polish national formerly of Bramble Rise, Killynebber, Co Cavan, was sentenced to life imprisonment in February 2014 following his conviction for the murder of Costel Catalin Cretu at Connolly Court, Cavan in October 2012. Trebacz had pleaded not guilty to murder but admitted criminal damage. The Central Criminal Court jury returned a majority guilty verdict after hearing evidence that Mr Cretu was fatally stabbed twice. The appeal challenged the reliability of witness testimony, particularly regarding the layout of the apartment and what could have been observed. The Court of Appeal found no inadequacy in the trial judge's conduct or evidence summary, and determined the verdict was safe. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy stated there was no reason to believe the trial was unsatisfactory.
A 20‑year‑old man, who was 16 when he raped a 15‑year‑old girl at a house party in Co. Wexford, is awaiting the outcome of two appeals on his three‑year jail term. He was tried as an adult after a two‑year delay between interview and charge. A jury found him guilty and he was sentenced to five years, with the final two suspended, by Mr Justice Paul McDermott on 23 October 2017. In the appeal, his barrister, Paddy McCarthy SC, argued the sentence was too long, citing the defendant's youth and the need to minimise interference with his future education and career. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Pauline Walley SC, welcomed the withdrawal of the defendant's appeal against conviction and argued the sentence was too lenient, noting the seriousness of the offence and the victim's vulnerability. The Court of Appeal will reserve judgement. The unnamed 15-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A 25‑year‑old UK resident was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the last six months suspended, for repeatedly travelling to Dublin to have sex with a 16‑year‑old girl he claimed to love. The court found the relationship was exploitative and pre‑meditated, with the defendant controlling, possessive and manipulative. He pleaded guilty to eleven counts of serial defilement of a minor, two counts of travelling with the purpose of exploitation of a child and one count of production of child pornography. The judge noted the defendant's youth, lack of prior convictions and remorse, and imposed a three‑year post‑release supervision order. The sentence was back‑dated to 15 July 2017. The court also ordered the destruction of the defendant's mobile phone, which had been used to record child‑pornographic material. The victim's impact statement described the defendant as persuasive and demanding, and she expressed difficulty trusting others after the abuse.
In a 2019 trial, 23‑year‑old Robbie Walsh of Kilrush, Co. Clare, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 25‑year‑old Karl Haugh in Kilkee. The Central Criminal Court heard that the alleged killing followed a confrontation at Haugh's house after a phone argument. Gardaí reported that Walsh and his cousins had vandalised a Volkswagen Passat, then went to Haugh's house to buy cocaine. Walsh claimed Haugh had a knife, was attacked, and that he stabbed Haugh in the back after Haugh dropped the knife. Walsh told the garda he had no intention to kill and that he had not brought a knife. He later surrendered after seeing a Facebook post about Haugh's death. The trial was set to continue before Justice Marie Baker and a jury.
During the murder trial of Gary Watson for the 2010 killing of Warren O'Connor, witness Philip Woodcock testified that he had intended to "beat the bollocks out" of the driver of a Honda Civic that rammed his Ford Focus. Woodcock, aged 34, said he had cut the power fuse in his apartment building to end a noisy party and then drove to a garage. He later returned with four friends, including O'Connor, and a fight broke out when the Honda Civic attempted to overtake the Focus. Woodcock claimed he was not trying to cause serious trouble, denied firing bottles, and admitted he had lied to Gardaí about a knife in the car, calling himself a "scumbag" for that night. He also denied assaulting Watson and producing a knife to intimidate others. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury. Gary Watson pleaded not guilty.
A 45‑year‑old man was jailed for seven years after pleading guilty to defilement, sexual exploitation of a child and three sexual assault charges involving a 13‑year‑old girl between September 2014 and August 2015. He had been in a relationship with the girl's mother at the time and had six prior convictions, including a 1993 sexual assault. A relative discovered an inappropriate app on the girl's phone in 2015, containing disturbing pictures and texts, and notified Gardaí. The girl reported that the man initially acted as a father figure but later kissed and touched her, claiming the contact was due to her "hormonal urges." He denied sending sexualised texts, but phone analysis confirmed he had sent such messages, including "Hi, how are you, I'm horny." He admitted the girl performed oral sex on him once but could not detail other incidents because of his alcohol consumption.
A man convicted of murdering two elderly brothers in Castlebar in July 2013 has had his appeal held up pending legal submissions, which is now delaying an inquest into the deaths. Alan Cawley, aged 31, was found guilty by jury at the Central Criminal Court in 2017 of killing Thomas Blaine, aged 69, and John Blaine, aged 76, at New Antrim Street. He received a mandatory life sentence. Cawley had admitted the killings but denied murder, arguing diminished responsibility due to mental health conditions. The jury rejected this claim. The Court of Appeal has requested that Cawley's legal representatives provide the Coroner for Mayo with an update on the appeal's progress, as the inquest cannot proceed until the appeal concludes. The coroner's delay is causing concern to the deceased's family, according to the court.
A 35‑year‑old man was sentenced to nine years in prison, with the final two years suspended, for raping his 14‑year‑old step‑daughter while he was babysitting her and her younger brother. He had given the girl alcohol and later admitted buying it. The court heard that the girl woke to find the man on top of her, that she resisted by scratching his face, and that he forced her to perform oral sex before raping her. He pleaded guilty to rape and oral rape. The judge noted the pre‑calculation and the man's "disgraceful behaviour" in procuring drink, and described the suffocating nature of the assault. The suspended portion of the sentence was conditioned on the man attending the Better Lives Programme, remaining alcohol‑free, and not living in a house with a child under 18 or having unsupervised contact with any child without prior approval.
In a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, a doctor, Maha Al Adheem, admitted stabbing her three‑year‑old autistic son, Omar Omran, in their south Dublin home on 10 July 2017. She claimed a "power" compelled her to take a knife from a drawer and stab him. The boy was stabbed 20 times, mainly to the trunk, with four wounds penetrating his lungs and heart, severing a vital artery. The court heard that the child's death was caused by massive blood loss. Al Adheem also admitted stabbing herself and reported the incident to Gardaí at 6:40 pm. She was arrested after being discharged from St James's Hospital, where she had been treated for a psychiatric "adjustment reaction." The prosecution and defence psychiatrists agree she meets the criteria for not guilty by reason of insanity. The trial will continue before a jury.
Rafael Tiso, 33, was convicted of raping an intoxicated woman in a lane behind Harcourt Street, Dublin, on 18 January 2016. He pleaded guilty to rape, oral rape, aggravated sexual assault and assault causing harm. The victim, 23, suffered a deep tear to her rectum and could not recall the incident. Tiso was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment with the final year suspended on 1 November 2016. On appeal, the Court of Appeal reduced the term to 12‑and‑a‑half years, with the final 12 months suspended, citing the early guilty plea and the circumstances of his non‑national status. The appeal was heard by Mr Justice George Birmingham, Mr Justice John Edwards and Ms Justice Máire Whelan, and the final sentence was 12‑and‑a‑half years imprisonment with 12 months suspended. The case was completed within ten months.
In a sentence hearing at the Central Criminal Court, Kerry farmer Michael Ferris, aged 63, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for the death of neighbour Anthony O'Mahony, aged 73. The case stemmed from a long‑standing dispute over a noisy bird‑scarer. On 4 April 2017 Ferris blocked a small roadway in Rattoo with a New Holland teleporter and drove its prongs into O'Mahony's Peugeot, repeatedly stabbing him. O'Mahony suffered catastrophic injuries, including five penetrating wounds, and died immediately. Ferris admitted to the attack, stating he had been frustrated by the bird‑scarer for 30 years and believed the only solution was to block the road. He had no prior convictions and had been in custody since the incident. The hearing focused on the facts and Ferris's admissions, with no further verdicts announced.
Two Dubliners, Stephen Tynan (41) and Raymond Fitzgerald (37), were found guilty of murdering Andrew Guerrine, a cousin of Tynan, who was discovered with 20 stab wounds on Steelstown Lane in Rathcoole on 23 May 2015. The trial, held in the Central Criminal Court, relied on circumstantial evidence including phone records, CCTV footage of a black Peugeot 307, and testimony from a neighbour and a taxi driver. No murder weapon or DNA evidence linked the accused directly to the killing, but the prosecution argued the evidence proved pre‑planned intent. Both men pleaded not guilty, and their lawyers sought acquittal, arguing they were merely accessories after the fact. The jury, after 10½ hours of deliberation, returned a verdict of guilty by a 10‑to‑two majority. Sentencing was adjourned to 19 December to allow a victim impact statement.
The Central Criminal Court jury has spent two nights deliberating the murder trial of Stephen Tynan (41) and Raymond Fitzgerald (37), both charged with killing Andrew Guerrine, Tynan's cousin, between 22 and 23 May 2015. Guerrine's body was found early on 23 May on Steelstown Lane in Rathcoole, 10 km from where he was last seen alive in Tallaght. He suffered 20 stab wounds, including two that penetrated his skull and spine. The prosecution, led by Brendan Grehan SC, argued that the killing was pre‑planned and that circumstantial evidence proved the accused's guilt, despite the absence of DNA, a murder weapon or eyewitness testimony. Both defendants pleaded not guilty and their barristers argued that any suspicious circumstances could be explained by them being accessories after the fact. Mr Justice Michael White explained that the jury had three verdict options: guilty, not guilty but guilty of assisting an offender, or acquittal.
The Central Criminal Court jury will resume deliberations on Thursday morning in the trial of Stephen Tynan, 41, of Deerpark Lodge, Kiltipper, Tallaght, and Raymond Fitzgerald, 37, of Knockmore Grove, Killinarden, Tallaght. Both men have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Andrew Guerrine, the cousin of Tynan, who was found dead on Steelstown Lane in Rathcoole on 23 May 2015. Guerrine's body had 20 stab wounds, including two that penetrated his skull and spine. The prosecution, represented by Brendan Grehan SC, described the killing as pre‑planned and relied on circumstantial evidence, noting the absence of DNA, a murder weapon or eyewitness testimony. Fitzgerald's barrister argued that the suspicious circumstances could be explained by him being an accessory after the fact, while Tynan's barrister suggested his client might have been involved only in the aftermath. Both lawyers requested an acquittal.
In a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, forensic scientist Dr Stephen Doak testified that the blood‑staining patterns at the scene of Rita Apine's death suggested an assault rather than a simple fall. He described contact‑staining, splatter, airborne blood, swipe patterns and cast‑off blood on the walls and floor beside the stairs, noting a large area of wet blood that had been wiped up and a missing area revealed by luminol. Dr Doak argued that the patterns indicated a forceful event and that the accused, Renars Veigulis, had attempted to clean up the blood. Veigulis, aged 32, pleaded not guilty to murdering Apine, aged 29, at their Freshford home on or about 14 May 2017. The trial continues before a jury presided by Ms Justice Tara Burns.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 61‑year‑old man was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for raping a 39‑year‑old woman, the younger sister of a victim he had previously raped. The court noted that the victim was a vulnerable woman who had endured abuse from multiple family members, including her father, uncle, and grandfather. She had been raped by the defendant in her bedroom when she was either 10 or 12 years old, an act that left her physically injured and emotionally scarred. The defendant had moved into the family home in 1988 and had been in a relationship with the victim's mother for eight years. He pleaded guilty to the charge, and the sentence was back‑dated to the date of his arrest in March 2017. The court highlighted the defendant's guilty plea, age, and expressed remorse as mitigating factors.
A man convicted of murdering a Romanian national at a brothel in Cavan six years ago is awaiting the outcome of his appeal against conviction at the Court of Appeal. Przemyslaw Trebacz, a Polish national aged 39, of Bramble Rise, Killynebber, Cavan, received a mandatory life sentence in February 2014 after a Central Criminal Court jury returned a majority guilty verdict for the killing of Costel Catalin Cretu on 13 or 14 October 2012 at Connolly Court, Cavan. Trebacz maintained his innocence regarding the murder charge, though he admitted criminal damage. His defence argued he sought services as a customer, while the prosecution contended he and another man attended to commit robbery. The appeal challenged the trial's adequacy, questioning the judge's direction to the jury and the reliability of a key female witness. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel cited corroborating evidence from a taxi driver. The Court of Appeal reserved judgment. Przemyslaw Trebacz pleaded not guilty.
During the murder trial of Stephen Tynan and Raymond Fitzgerald, evidence was presented that a child's blue jacket was found under the body of Andrew Guerrine, the deceased, in a car linked to the case. The jacket was discovered at the feet of Guerrine's body, which lay on its back with arms outstretched, and a photo of Guerrine's left foot on the jacket was shown to the jury. Detective Sergeant Tom Power described the scene and held the jacket for the jury. Darren Finnegan testified that he sold a black Peugeot 307 to Tynan and another man on 22 May 2015, and that he had left documents, a baby's car seat and jackets belonging to his own children in the car. He identified the jacket as belonging to his son. The trial continues with the State's case nearly concluded. Stephen Tynan pleaded not guilty. Raymond Fitzgerald pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Stephen Tynan (41) and Raymond Fitzgerald (37) for the murder of Andrew Guerrine, Tynan's cousin, is ongoing in the Central Criminal Court. Guerrine's body was found on Steelstown Lane, Rathcoole, with 20 stab wounds, two penetrating his skull and spine. The jury heard technical evidence about mobile phone use and a burnt car in Tallaght. A Peugeot 307, whose engine number matched one allegedly bought by Tynan, was found burnt in Barley Fields, Killinarden. Mechanic Thomas Menton testified about the car's fire, removal, and subsequent calls from an unknown number. Garda Ronan O'Malley identified the car's registration and engine number, confirming it matched the one photographed by Menton. Darren Finnegan testified that he sold the Peugeot to Tynan and another man on 22 May 2015. The jury heard this evidence in the morning; the trial continues this afternoon. Stephen Tynan pleaded not guilty. Raymond Fitzgerald pleaded not guilty.
A man convicted in February of multiple counts of rape and sexual assault against his daughter has opened an appeal against his conviction in the Court of Appeal. The 47-year-old was sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, following trial at the Central Criminal Court. The offences, which occurred between 2006 and 2010 in County Mayo and abroad, involved the complainant when she was between seven and eleven years old. The accused maintains his innocence and had pleaded not guilty to all charges. His counsel is seeking to adduce new evidence concerning an alleged recantation by the complainant. The appeal also raises grounds including claims of procedural unfairness during trial, cross-examination length, and challenges to certain evidentiary rulings. The Director of Public Prosecutions will respond to these submissions. The hearing continues before three Court of Appeal judges.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury heard CCTV footage of a dark‑coloured hatchback with one headlight and one taillight out of service, moving through Tallaght on the night Andrew Guerrine was stabbed. The car was first seen at 11.51pm in Killinarden, then tracked along Blessington Road until just before 1am. At about 5am it was captured outside a pharmacy, then moved to a garage where it stalled, after which the driver and passenger pushed it to a petrol pump. The vehicle was later seen on Cushlawn Way, last at 5.28am, and again leaving the same spot at 2.42am the following night. Stephen Tynan (41) and Raymond Fitzgerald (37) pleaded not guilty to Guerrine's murder, which involved 20 stab wounds, two penetrating the skull and cervical spine. The trial continues before Justice Michael McDermott with a jury of seven men and five women.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Paul Wells Senior, aged 50, admitted shooting and dismembering fellow Dubliner Kenneth O'Brien, 33, at O'Brien's Barnamore Park home on 15‑16 January 2016. Wells claimed he had been offered €20,000 by O'Brien to kill O'Brien's partner, Eimear Dunne, so he could take their child back to Australia. He said O'Brien had brought a gun to the house, which fell during a scuffle; Wells contended he grabbed the gun first and shot O'Brien in the back of the head. Wells also alleged that O'Brien had transferred more than €50,000 into his account while in Australia and that he had hidden the money for O'Brien. The trial heard Wells' statements and the evidence of the single bullet recovered from O'Brien's head. The case continues on Tuesday. The unnamed 50-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In the murder trial of Paul Wells Sr., the Central Criminal Court heard evidence about his shooting and dismemberment of Kenneth O'Brien. Wells, 50, admitted shooting O'Brien dead and dismembering his body but pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. He claimed he had no desire to hurt O'Brien and that the act was forced by pressure. During a six‑hour Garda interview, Wells denied involvement in earlier interviews and stated he had no plan to harm anyone. He also asked to speak with O'Brien's partner or her sister so he could tell them "the truth." The court heard a DVD of the interview, and the trial was scheduled to continue the following afternoon. The proceedings focused on the circumstances of the shooting and Wells' statements to the police.
In October 2018, a man was sentenced to eight years in prison for attempting to murder his four children. The Central Criminal Court imposed a 12‑year sentence, suspending the final four years on conditions. The judge described the crime as having a narcissistic element, noting the defendant's plan to kill himself after strangling his children and his belief that they would be better off dead. He pleaded guilty to the attempted murders committed at the family home on 3 June 2016. The judge considered victim impact statements, reports from Tusla, a psychotherapist, and the defendant's psychiatric history, including depression, social phobia and substance abuse. The suspended portion required the defendant to have no contact with the children unless requested, attend psychiatric reports, take prescribed medication and remain under probation supervision. The sentence was back‑dated to account for time already spent in custody. The mother attended the hearing but made no further comments.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 2 August 2018, a jury convicted 35‑year‑old Jason O'Driscoll of murdering 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond, two car thieves whose bodies were found fused together in a burned‑out Volkswagen Golf. The jury, after more than seven hours of deliberation, returned a verdict by a ten‑to‑two majority. O'Driscoll, who had pleaded not guilty, reacted angrily, claiming no evidence and calling the verdict a "fucking crook." The judge thanked the jury and exempted them from further duty for 15 years. Mr Justice Michael White was scheduled to impose a mandatory life sentence on 2 October, after the prosecution requested time to read impact statements from the victims' families. The case was based largely on circumstantial evidence, including CCTV footage, mobile phone records, and expert testimony linking O'Driscoll to the crime scene and the vehicles involved.
A 52‑year‑old man was found guilty of attempting to rape his seven‑year‑old cousin in January 1984 and of raping her on a weekly basis between mid‑1985 and mid‑1986. The Central Criminal Court sentenced him to nine years, with the final year suspended if he participates in the Building Better Lives programme for sex offenders. The judge noted the man's youth at the time of the offences and his otherwise "blameless life" when reducing the headline sentence of 13 years to nine. The victim, now 42, gave a victim impact statement describing the lasting physical and psychological harm, including suicidal thoughts, anxiety and depression. She said her health and emotional well‑being improved after the conviction, and she no longer takes medication. The court heard that the man maintains his innocence and that he had no prior convictions.
A 47-year-old man from County Mayo, convicted of multiple sexual offences against his daughter, has been granted an early appeal hearing date by the Court of Appeal. In February, he was found guilty of three counts of rape, five counts of anal rape, and six counts of sexual assault committed between 2006 and 2010 when the victim was aged seven to eleven. Justice Deirdre Murphy imposed a sentence of fifteen years imprisonment with the final year suspended. The man has maintained his innocence and lodged an appeal against conviction. An application for bail pending appeal was considered, with the court fixing an early hearing date for the second of November. A separate gardaí investigation is ongoing into allegations that the victim made statements contradicting her trial evidence. The man's identity is protected to safeguard the victim's anonymity. The unnamed 47-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Wayne Kinsella, 46, has appealed his conviction for the murder of Adil Essalhi, 31, to the Court of Appeal. Kinsella, who pleaded not guilty, was unanimously found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury and sentenced to life by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan on May 21, 2012. The prosecution alleged that Kinsella and a relative lured Mr Essalhi to a field behind the Plaza in Tyrrelstown on January 6, 2011, where he was violently assaulted with a machete-type weapon and a knife. His burnt and bleached body was subsequently discovered in the location. Kinsella's counsel, Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC, argued that the trial witnesses colluded to omit Michael Kinsella from the narrative, thereby falsely placing blame on the appellant. Counsel further submitted that the trial judge erred in identifying CCTV as corroboration and failed to properly articulate the defence case to the jury. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham with Mr Justice John Edwards and Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, considered the appeal and a motion to adduce fresh evidence. The court reserved its judgment, meaning the matter was adjourned and remains pending rather than concluded.
In the trial of 35‑year‑old Jason O'Driscoll, a vehicle‑identification expert, Andy Wooller, testified that the car the State claims O'Driscoll fled in was a very good match for a vehicle seen near the scene. Wooller examined CCTV footage of two vehicles driving in Ravensdale Forest Park at about 10.45 p.m. on 7 March 2012, the night two men were found shot dead in a burnt‑out car. He identified the first vehicle as a large, light‑toned car consistent with a Mercedes, and the second as a dark hatchback consistent with a Volkswagen Golf. Wooller and a colleague ran a CCTV identification parade and described both the Mercedes S Class and the Volkswagen Golf as very good matches for the original footage. The State alleges O'Driscoll drove north to sell the stolen Golf to a victim, and the trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White. Jason O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty.
Walter Morrissey has lost his appeal against the severity of his sentence for aggravated sexual assault and intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to his former partner. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice John Edwards with Mr Justice John Hedigan and Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, dismissed the appeal without hesitation. Morrissey, 74, was found guilty by a jury of assaulting a woman in Kilkenny between December 1 and 8, 2011. Medical evidence indicated he used his fist to cause severe injuries, which a gynaecologist described as comparable to machete rape in sub-Saharan Africa, stating self-infliction was impossible. In 2013, Mr Justice George Birmingham sentenced Morrissey to 13 years imprisonment, describing him as cunning, devious, and manipulative. Counsel Seán Gillane SC argued the sentence was excessive compared to typical rape cases. However, the appellate court found the sentence lenient, noting the case fit within a 15-year-to-life category before a generous four-year reduction for age. The court stated the depravity reached new depths. Morrissey's criminal history includes a 1977 conviction for the double manslaughter of Francis McEnery and his son Marcus, and a 1999 conviction for seven counts of indecent assault. He previously lost an appeal against his conviction for the current sexual assault charges in May.
Daniel McDonnell, aged 23, was convicted of murdering 16‑year‑old Melanie McCarthy McNamara in Tallaght on 8 February 2012. The Central Criminal Court found that a shot from a stolen black Hyundai Santa Fe hit McCarthy in the head while she sat in a car with her boyfriend and a friend. McDonnell was arrested the following week and pleaded not guilty. He was found guilty by a jury after over four hours of deliberation and received a mandatory life sentence on 24 January 2014. McDonnell appealed in April, arguing the reliability of two letters he wrote while in custody. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, ruling the trial was fair and the jury's verdict safe, and upheld the conviction. The appeal also rejected arguments about the letters' admissibility and the lack of other evidence. The case remains at the appeal stage.
In a Dublin case, a 36‑year‑old man was convicted of sexually abusing his eight‑year‑old nephew between 1988 and 1991. He was found guilty of eight counts of indecent assault, one count of rape and one count of sexual assault. The court noted the abuse was frequent, occurring three or four times a week, and that the victim was threatened with violence. The man had denied all charges, including 26 additional counts that the judge directed the jury to acquit. He received a 10‑year prison sentence, imposed on 20 February 2017, for the seriousness of the offences and the child's age. He appealed the conviction, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, stating the investigation was adequate and the conviction was safe. The appeal against the sentence's severity was later withdrawn.
Liam Power, 54, was convicted of murder for killing Latvian national Giants Intembergs in Tullow, County Carlow, after a disputed arm‑wrestling match. Power claimed he was provoked when Intembergs slapped him and that he struck him with a "haymaker" to the chin, then kicked him 10 or 11 times before removing his clothes. He was found not guilty of assault on a second man, Aigar Sildars, who was also attacked. The jury, after 14 hours and 38 minutes of deliberation, returned a 10‑2 verdict of murder and Power was sentenced to life imprisonment by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy on 16 November 2016. Power appealed, arguing that evidence of his statements to Gardaí was inadmissible because he was intoxicated. The Court of Appeal, in a three‑judge panel, rejected the appeal, holding that the trial was satisfactory and the conviction safe.
In 2016, Liam Power, aged 54 and without a fixed abode, was convicted of murder after killing Latvian national Giants Intembergs in Tullow, County Carlow, on 15–16 September 2014. Power claimed Intembergs had beaten him in an arm‑wrestling match and slapped him, prompting Power to strike him with a "haymaker" to the chin, after which he kicked the victim 10–11 times and removed his clothes. Power also attacked another man, Aigar Sildars, on the same night. The jury, after 14 hours and 38 minutes of deliberation, found Power guilty of murder by a 10‑2 majority and he was sentenced to life imprisonment. Power has appealed the conviction; the Court of Appeal has reserved judgment. Liam Power was acquitted.
Raymond Stewart, 31, was sentenced to four years in prison by the Central Criminal Court for threatening to rape and kill a woman he met in a Galway nightclub. On 18 July 2016, Stewart followed the woman from his house, repeatedly kicking and pushing her, and in a laneway threw her to the ground while telling her he would rape and kill her. He also shouted that she was "not worth raping." The woman, who had been told friends would be at Stewart's house, fled the scene after a house‑mate intervened. Stewart pleaded guilty to the threat to kill and sexual assault. He had nine prior convictions and was already serving a two‑year sentence for a separate assault. The court imposed concurrent sentences totalling four years, giving credit for time already spent in custody. The victim's impact statement described lasting distress, nightmares, migraines and a withdrawal from social activities.
A jury will resume deliberations tomorrow morning in the trial of Martin Keenan, a 20‑year‑old Dubliner from Finglas, who is charged with murdering 33‑year‑old Wesley Mooney. The alleged murder occurred at St Joseph's Park halting site on 5 June 2016, when Keenan stabbed Mooney with half a garden shears after claiming the deceased attacked him. Keenan pleaded not guilty. The Central Criminal Court jury was given the shears to examine and had spent four and a half hours considering their verdict before being sent home. They will resume deliberations on Wednesday morning.
A 31‑year‑old man was jailed for three and a half years for raping a woman he was dating. The Central Criminal Court heard that the woman had told him she was not interested in sex without a condom, but he penetrated her after she told him he was raping her. In her victim impact statement she said the rape had "destroyed her spirit" and that she slept with a knife under her pillow for a time afterwards, describing the event as having "effected every branch of my life in a profound way". The man, whose identity is withheld to protect the woman, was convicted by a jury of raping her at her Dublin apartment on 23 November 2014. Mr Justice Paul Butler, who has dealt with rape cases for 18 years, said the case fell into one of the lowest categories he had seen, noting that the only clear rule was no unprotected sex, which was ignored.
A jury has begun deliberating on the trial of Martin Keenan, a Traveller aged 20, who is charged with murdering 33‑year‑old Wesley Mooney in a mobile home in Dublin on 5 June 2016. Keenan claims Mooney attacked him after Keenan asked him to leave, and that he used a garden shears to stab Mooney. The Central Criminal Court jury was given the shears to examine. Judge Paul Butler explained that under the Criminal Law (Defence and the Dwelling) Act 2011, a person may use reasonable force if they believe a trespasser is threatening them, and that the force must be proportionate. He clarified that the accused is not required to retreat and that if the force is not disproportionate, the accused is not guilty of murder; if it is disproportionate, the accused is not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter.
Sean Thackaberry, aged 24, was sentenced to seven‑and‑a‑half years in 2013 for an aggravated sexual assault on Michelle Hennessey, who later took her own life. He was released in June 2017 but failed to attend 12 probation appointments, citing holidays and property viewings, and moved to an unapproved address near Hennessey's family, breaching the Sex Offenders Act. In December 2017 the suspended portion of his sentence was activated, adding three months for an assault committed in custody. Judge Patrick McCarthy noted Thackaberry's drug use and lack of community supervision, deeming further release unsafe. The court therefore imposed the suspended term, effectively extending his custodial period while allowing a chance for rehabilitation. The case highlights the court's decision to protect the community and enforce probation conditions. Sean Thackaberry pleaded guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, Martin Keenan, aged 20, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Wesley Mooney, aged 33, which occurred on 5 June 2016 at St Joseph's Park, Dunsink Lane, Dublin. Ciara Tynan, the deceased's girlfriend, testified that she and Mooney had been traveling to a trailer owned by a man named Davy 'Good-looking' and had been invited to St Joseph's Park by a man in a car who claimed the front door was open. Tynan said they entered a bedroom, the owner returned shouting, and she claimed the accused stabbed Mooney after the owner left. She described herself as shouting for help, but the ambulance arrived an hour later. During cross‑examination, Tynan denied any burglary and said she had no convictions. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a jury of ten men and two women.
At the Central Criminal Court, a jury has been instructed that they may return a majority verdict in the trial of a woman charged with impeding the prosecution of her boyfriend for murder. The 34-year-old defendant is accused of staging the death of her 49-year-old housemate, Antra Ozolina, at their home in Kilnaleck, County Cavan in June 2014. She admits placing a cord around the victim's neck to simulate suicide but has pleaded not guilty to the charge of obstructing justice without reasonable excuse. The defence has submitted that she acted under duress, claiming she feared for her life and was following her boyfriend's orders after witnessing the alleged killing. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy instructed the jury of seven men and five women that they must determine whether the defendant had a reasonable excuse for her actions and whether duress applied. The jury may now reach a verdict by a margin of at least ten to two. Deliberations are continuing.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has begun deliberating in the trial of a 34-year-old Latvian woman charged with impeding the prosecution of her boyfriend in connection with a death at Kilnaleck, County Cavan. The accused is charged with obstructing the apprehension or prosecution of a man she knew or believed had murdered her 49-year-old housemate in June 2014. The prosecution alleges she placed a cord around the victim's neck to simulate suicide and hinder the investigation. The defence argued she acted under duress, having witnessed the alleged killing. The judge instructed the jury to consider whether she had a reasonable excuse for her actions and whether duress applied. The defendant has pleaded not guilty. Deliberations commenced Wednesday and are to resume Thursday morning.
A teenager convicted of manslaughter in connection with a fatal stabbing in County Mayo has had his sentencing adjourned pending brain surgery. The Central Criminal Court in Dublin heard that the defendant, who cannot be identified due to his age, has developed epilepsy causing multiple daily seizures and is currently unfit for custody. The 17-year-old was found guilty of manslaughter, not murder, following a trial at the court sitting in Castlebar. The victim, Dovydas Jenkas of Claremorris, died from a single stab wound on 19 December 2015. Medical evidence from a consultant neurologist indicated the defendant has a localised brain lesion requiring surgery within three to four months, with subsequent observation periods making immediate imprisonment inadvisable. Justice Eileen Creedon adjourned the matter to 24 July for a further update on the defendant's medical situation.
An unnamed 46-year-old man has appealed his conviction at the Central Criminal Court, where the matter was adjourned with the court reserving its judgement. The appellant was found guilty by a jury of eight counts of indecent assault, one count of anal rape, and one count of sexual assault, allegedly committed between 1988 and 1991 against his eight-year-old nephew. At sentencing, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy imposed a ten-year prison term, citing the "appalling regularity" of the abuse and the victim's age. The appellant's barrister, Mary Rose Gearty SC, argued that society is in a time of "great vindication" for victims, but contended that the investigation failed to engage with specific allegations and that the complainant changed his account regarding the most serious charges. She submitted that the trial judge should have intervened to protect the accused's rights. Conversely, DPP counsel Orla Crowe SC noted that 26 of 36 allegations were withdrawn by the trial judge and maintained that the complainant's account remained consistent. The appeal was heard by a bench including Mr Justice Alan Mahon, who stated the court would reserve its judgement.
A 55‑year‑old man from Wicklow was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment for raping his daughter and her young cousin. The Central Criminal Court heard that the man raped his daughter after she had spent two weeks in hospital recovering from serious leg burns. Over a five‑year period from 1988 to 1995, he sexually abused her on a weekly basis, beginning when she was seven. He also pleaded guilty to two rapes and one indecent assault of his niece between June 1986 and May 1988, when she was aged eight to ten. The court described the abuse as involving digital penetration, oral sex and physical violence, and noted the victims' confusion, fear and pain. The judge, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, highlighted the aggravating factors of the victims' young ages, the physical harm inflicted and the breach of trust, and imposed a 13‑year sentence with a four‑year post‑release supervision period.
A jury could not reach a verdict in the trial of 34‑year‑old Jason O'Driscoll, charged with murdering 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond in Co. Louth on 7 March 2012. The case centred on a car that the two men had stolen and were attempting to sell to O'Driscoll for €700. O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, including CCTV footage of the men and a stolen Mercedes S Class W221 that was later found abandoned. The defence argued that the evidence did not prove O'Driscoll's involvement or motive. After 11½ hours of deliberation over four days, the jury was unable to reach a unanimous or majority verdict and was discharged from service. O'Driscoll was remanded in custody pending further court dates.
The jury in the trial of 34‑year‑old Jason O'Driscoll, charged with murdering 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond, will resume deliberations on the fourth day. O'Driscoll, who lives on Richmond Avenue, Fairview, pleaded not guilty. The case alleges the men were killed in a stolen Volkswagen Golf in Ravensdale Forest Park on 7 March 2012, with gunshot wounds to the head. Defence counsel suggested another person may have been responsible or that one victim betrayed the other. The jury, consisting of seven men and five women, must reach a unanimous verdict.
The jury in the trial of 34‑year‑old Jason O'Driscoll, charged with the murders of 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond, will resume deliberations tomorrow morning. The case, heard in the Central Criminal Court, concerns a car‑fire at Ravensdale Forest Park on 7 March 2012, where the two men were found with gunshot wounds to their heads. O'Driscoll denies the charges. The State alleges he participated in the killings, while the defence suggests another person may have been responsible or that one victim betrayed the other. The jury, consisting of seven men and five women, was instructed by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy to reach a unanimous verdict.
The jury will resume deliberations tomorrow morning in the trial of a 34‑year‑old Dubliner, Jason O'Driscoll, who has pleaded not guilty to the murders of 31‑year‑old Anthony Burnett and 25‑year‑old Joseph Redmond. The case concerns a car that was stolen and later sold to O'Driscoll, with the men found dead in a burning vehicle in Ravensdale Forest Park on 7 March 2012. The defence has suggested another person may have been responsible, and the jury is required to reach a unanimous verdict.