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2026-04-13
Antoin Duffy, a 49-year-old man charged with murdering former Sinn Fein official Denis Donaldson, has been remanded in custody until June. He appeared by video link before the Special Criminal Court, which directed that two books of evidence be served on his solicitors on June 8. Duffy also faces charges connected with an alleged attempted murder and firearms possession in Donegal.
2026-04-10
Computer engineer Cian Ó Laoi told the Workplace Relations Commission that Edgescan reprimanded him after he raised concerns about a tech firm with Israeli links having high-level access to its servers. He is pursuing claims of whistleblower penalisation and constructive dismissal against BCC Risk Advisory Ltd, trading as Edgescan. The company is contesting the complaints, and the hearing before adjudication officer Penelope McGrath was adjourned until Monday.
2026-04-09
The Workplace Relations Commission ordered Nical Engineering Ltd to pay refrigeration technician Nathan Collins €1,650 in unpaid wages. Nical said it had a counter-debt claim after a company van was recovered from outside Collins's address under garda supervision, but adjudicator Penelope McGrath ruled that wages could not be withheld. McGrath said the use of garda resources to recover the vehicle was unacceptable.
2026-04-08
Law Society director Antoinette Moriarty says legal professionals’ approach to counselling and wellbeing support has undergone a sea change, but the profession’s structure still needs review. She said heavy workloads, difficult case material and corporate demands can contribute to burnout and vicarious trauma. Moriarty also said around 90 per cent of trainees using the Law Society counselling service are psychologically, emotionally and mentally well.
2026-04-03
The Workplace Relations Commission dismissed former Wilson’s Hospital School head of facilities Siobhan Rogers’ complaint of whistleblower penalisation. Rogers said she reported alleged financial and governance irregularities, including suspected fraudulent timesheets, use of a fuel card and weak data controls. Adjudicator Brian Dolan found that she had made numerous protected disclosures but had not shown that she suffered a detriment.
2026-04-03
A Workplace Relations Commission adjudicator rejected cleaner Donna Ash’s unfair dismissal complaint against Skerries Golf Club after finding the redundancy was genuine. The decision said honorary secretary Donnacha Neary’s credibility was somewhat undermined when he initially tried to swear an oath using a work diary instead of a Bible. Despite shortcomings in the process, the club showed a sizeable saving from outsourcing its cleaning function.
2026-04-03
Courts News Ireland announced that the Higher Courts had begun their scheduled Easter Vacation. Reporting from the Workplace Relations Commission and the District Courts would continue, with full coverage due to resume when the Higher Courts returned on April 13th.
2026-04-02
Deloitte senior partner Brian Jackson denied allegations about toxic masculinity and said he had been completely and utterly misquoted while giving evidence to the Workplace Relations Commission. He was responding to Viviana Jakomin's constructive dismissal complaint. The case was adjourned for four further hearing days in September, when Jackson's cross-examination is due to continue.
2026-04-02
The Workplace Relations Commission directed Madhu Foods Limited, trading as Guru Indian Cuisine, to pay Vasantkumar Barot €79,213.72 after his employer entered no defence to his employment-rights complaints. Barot said he paid €15,000 for a work permit and worked more than 90 hours a week, with average hourly pay of €1.61 in 2024. Adjudicator Brian Dalton made awards for wage arrears and working-time breaches, and found that an inference of racial harassment had been raised and not rebutted.
2026-04-02
Diarmuid Aherne was fined €100 after pleading guilty to possessing a Stanley knife, while Judge Anne Watkin dealt with his separate resisting-a-garda charge by placing him on a one-year peace bond. The court heard that Aherne ran from gardaí and was found with the knife in his backpack. The judge warned that he could be jailed if he appeared before the courts again for similar conduct.
2026-04-02
Dún Laoghaire District Court dismissed a €200 keg-theft charge against Niall Kelly after Judge Anne Watkin found a gap in the CCTV chain of custody. Kelly was separately placed on a €500 peace bond for 12 months after being accused of abusive behaviour towards a hospital worker. His defence said symptoms of Huntington’s disease could be mistaken for intoxication, while the judge accepted the medical circumstances as mitigation but not an excuse for abuse.
2026-04-02
The Workplace Relations Commission rejected Alan O’Connor's discriminatory-dismissal complaint against Byrne and King Meats Ltd, trading as Dempsey and Byrne Craft Butchers, after finding that no dismissal took place. The adjudicator accepted that the employer had genuine safety and insurance concerns and was seeking a safe and insurable pathway back to work. It nevertheless directed payment of €9,711.15 for unlawful deduction of wages and other employment-rights breaches.
2026-04-02
The Workplace Relations Commission awarded Xerotech founder and chief executive Dr Barry Flannery €420,172 after upholding his complaint of constructive dismissal. Flannery said the company cut off his systems and physical access before he resigned in December 2024. Adjudication officer Breiffni O’Neill found the actions completely undermined the employment relationship and ordered loss-of-earnings compensation through June 2027; Xerotech entered voluntary liquidation in February 2025.
2026-03-31
The Workplace Relations Commission heard that Aer Lingus pilot Tom O’Riordan said he would go on hunger strike unless the airline disclosed fume-related issues to staff and met demands that included payments exceeding €3 million. Human resources legal case manager Carmel Byrne said gardaí were called during the February 2024 stand-off. Aer Lingus denies his allegations and says no passengers or crew were exposed to any safety risk. The evidence forms part of the airline's defence of O’Riordan's whistleblower penalisation complaint.
2026-03-30
Antoin Duffy, who was extradited from Scotland, appeared before the Special Criminal Court charged with the murder of former Provisional IRA and Sinn Féin official Denis Donaldson. He also faces a separate attempted-murder charge involving Liam McGinley and four firearms-related charges. The three-judge, non-jury court ordered that all six charges be tried there after the Director of Public Prosecutions certified that the ordinary courts were not adequate.
2026-03-30
Fashion design tutor Sharon Darcy alleged that safety concerns at Project Fashion included children tripping over extension leads and needles going through their fingers. She says she was constructively dismissed after workplace grievances were not resolved and a promised pay rise was disputed. Project Fashion disputes her complaint. The adjudication officer closed the hearing and will issue a written decision.
2026-03-27
Christopher O’Sullivan appealed the life sentence imposed for his manslaughter role in the killing of Timothy Hourihane. At the Court of Appeal, his counsel argued that the offence did not fall into the most serious sentencing category and that the disparity with James Brady’s sentence was unjustified. The prosecution said the sentencing judge was entitled to consider O’Sullivan’s previous convictions. Judgment was reserved.
2026-03-27
A Central Criminal Court jury found Derek Mulligan not guilty by reason of insanity of murdering his grandfather Derek Burns in the Donegal Gaeltacht. The majority verdict followed psychiatric evidence that Mulligan was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and met the criteria for the special verdict. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon committed him to the Central Mental Hospital in Portrane and ordered a psychiatric assessment.
2026-03-27
Tomasz Rozpeda, who had originally been charged with murdering Maciej Nowak, pleaded guilty to manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court. The charge concerns the unlawful killing of Nowak at Ballycranna, Kilross in Co Tipperary on or about December 26 or 27, 2023. Ms Justice Karen O’Connor adjourned the matter to May 18, directed a victim impact report and remanded Rozpeda in custody. The State will not proceed with the murder count after sentencing.
2026-03-27
The High Court awarded legal costs against X Internet Unlimited Company after it failed to secure a stay on Coimisiún na Meán's investigation into complaints from platform users. X is seeking to quash the commission's decision to refer complaint information to its supervisory team, while the commission says that referral is within its powers. Mr Justice Cian Ferriter stayed the costs order pending the substantive proceedings scheduled for July 2-3.
2026-03-27
Mr Justice Tony Hunt ruled that Riad Bouchaker is fit to stand trial over charges arising from the Parnell Square East incident, including the attempted murder of two girls and one boy and assault causing serious harm to a care worker. The judge said Bouchaker has cognitive limitations but can understand the charges and mount a defence with accommodations. A three-week Central Criminal Court trial was set for June 8, with fitness to remain under review.
2026-03-27
Christopher Judge was sentenced to life in prison for murdering 27-year-old Steven Ring, whose body was tied up and dumped in Carrigfoyle Quarry, Wexford. The Central Criminal Court heard that Judge had taken Ring's phone and offered it for sale while the search was under way. Judge pleaded guilty, while co-accused Jane Corcoran was jailed for six years after admitting she helped move the body. Linda Ring told the court her family would never forgive the murderer.
2026-03-27
A Central Criminal Court trial heard an uncle deny an allegation that he raped his deaf niece, while describing her as truthful and honest. Seven men, including four brothers and three uncles, deny wrongdoing on a combined 103 charges alleging sexual abuse between 1996 and 2013. Garda interview transcripts were read for Accused B, who faces eight counts comprising rape, oral rape and anal rape. The trial continues.
2026-03-27
A 55-year-old man who repeatedly sexually assaulted a four-year-old girl when he was aged between 12 and 13 pleaded guilty to three sample counts at the Central Criminal Court. The offending occurred at a house in Co. Offaly between September 1983 and October 1984, with 11 other sexual-assault charges taken into consideration. Justice Patrick McGrath set a 15-month sentence and suspended the final nine months, taking account of the defendant’s youth at the time, guilty plea, remorse, health and low likelihood of reoffending.
2026-03-27
Judge John Brennan described as a very sad situation the case of a long-term couple heard at Tallaght District Court after a woman said her partner breached a protection order and insulted her. The judge accepted her evidence that she was followed into a kitchen and called vicious and a bitch. Taking account of the accused’s age, health and lack of previous convictions, he applied section 1(1) of the Probation of Offenders Act and said he was satisfied the accused had learned his lesson.
2026-03-26
John English pleaded guilty after stealing €25 of Smirnoff vodka from Tesco in Dún Laoghaire days after leaving prison. Judge Anne Watkin remanded him on bail with strict reporting, probation and treatment conditions, warning that a breach would lead to jail; the case was adjourned for a probation report.
2026-03-26
Michael McDonagh admitted stealing €17,000 from Cadell bar after entering through a rear door, with CCTV and a subsequent search linking him to the burglary. He received a four-year sentence with the final year suspended, alongside probation supervision and a five-year exclusion from the premises; insurance covered the unrecovered cash.
2026-03-26
Former prison officer Aaron Sheridan received a fully suspended sentence after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of prescription drugs for sale or supply and having proceeds of criminal conduct. Gardaí found more than 900 Alprazolam tablets and cash at his Ballymun home. A separate allegation concerning €118,000 in allegedly unexplained bank-account movements was taken into consideration without a plea. Judge Orla Crowe imposed two years, suspended for four years on strict conditions, and called it a chance of a lifetime.
2026-03-26
Cloverhill Prison agreed to facilitate a 90-minute virtual appointment between a psychiatrist and Ahmed Abdirahman, who is accused of murdering Mary Ward. The Central Criminal Court adjourned the case to April 22 for an update on the psychiatric report.
2026-03-26
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Michael Kelly ran at an umpire swinging punches during an underage hurling match in Irishtown. Kelly pleaded guilty to a section 2 assault after causing Paul Keane to fear he would be struck, although the court heard he did not strike him. Unidentified people later assaulted Keane, causing concussion; the court heard those injuries were not attributable to Kelly. Judge Orla Crowe continued Kelly’s bail and adjourned sentence to April 13 while an apology and €1,000 payment are considered.
2026-03-26
Karl Phipps pleaded guilty to possessing €260,000 of cannabis for sale or supply after helping move boxes intercepted during a surveillance operation. The court heard he had a lesser role in a transnational organisation’s importation effort; a five-year sentence was imposed with the final year suspended and backdated to his custody date.
2026-03-26
Kestutis Buivydas pleaded guilty after more than 52,000 cigarettes with no excise-duty stamp were seized from his Carnmore home and a Tuam Road storage unit. The court heard he bought them online and sold them through a network; his one-year prison sentence was suspended in full, with €1,050 directed to Jigsaw Galway.
2026-03-26
Gary Riordan’s three-month sentence for stealing a backpack containing medication from the Mater Hospital emergency room was reduced on appeal. The court also took other theft, bicycle and drug matters into consideration, while noting his treatment and education in custody; the two-month term will run concurrently with another sentence.
2026-03-26
Dean Whittaker appealed a ten-month prison sentence after Garda Pierce O’Dwyer said he was carrying crack cocaine and diamorphine worth €1,976 in 2023. Whittaker made admissions that he was dropping off drugs for sale and supply; Judge Cephas Power sought urine analysis and a Star Project letter before listing the case again in the new court term.
2026-03-26
Michael O’Reilly admitted setting fire to a van outside VP Motors after a dispute with the business owner, in an attack the sentencing judge described as premeditated spite. He received six years with the final three suspended, plus probation supervision and extensive no-contact and exclusion conditions.
2026-03-26
Solicitor Joseph McNally told the Workplace Relations Commission that staff shortages after a law-firm merger left him dealing with upset clients instead of business development. Ferrys partner Barry O’Donoghue disputed McNally’s account, while Ferrys Solicitors LLP denies the alleged sham redundancy; the complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 was adjourned to May.
2026-03-26
The Court of Appeal rejected Keith O’Hara’s conviction appeal after finding no basis to exclude DNA samples or evidence recovered under search warrants. O’Hara was convicted of Paul Jones’ murder in Cork in 2021 and sentenced to life in prison.
2026-03-26
A Galway man who sexually abused his three sisters when they were children pleaded guilty to rape and two indecent assaults. The victims described decades of trauma after the abuse became known, while Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a global two-year sentence with the final six months suspended and post-release supervision.
2026-03-26
Defence counsel told a Central Criminal Court jury that a just and humane society should treat people who are unwell rather than punish them, in the trial of Derek Mulligan. Mulligan has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to murdering his grandfather Derek Burns at Carrickcoyle, Derrybeg, and to other charges. Two psychiatrists told the trial he was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and met the criteria for the special verdict. The jury was expected to begin deliberations the following day.
2026-03-26
Galway athlete Richard Kamson was remanded in custody after pleading guilty to possessing cocaine and cannabis for sale or supply worth more than €80,000. The drugs were recovered from his home in Doughiska and from gear bags in Merlin Park Woods after a September 2021 search. Judge Brian O’Callaghan said Kamson had come to Garda attention despite a restorative-justice programme and adjourned finalisation of the case until June 10.
2026-03-26
A 16-year-old boy who sexually assaulted a care worker and threatened staff with a screwdriver and knife at a care home pleaded guilty to false imprisonment, sexual assault, attempted oral rape and making threats to kill or cause serious harm. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed four years’ detention and suspended the final 18 months for two years. Conditions include continued engagement with the Probation Service and no direct or indirect contact with the victims. The boy cannot be identified because of his age.
2026-03-26
David Doyle admitted theft, criminal damage, public intoxication, threatening behaviour, resisting arrest and two counts of failing to appear in court. Despite a negative probation report, Judge Derek Cooney deferred custody, imposed a probation bond and ordered full engagement with probation, warning that further offending would mean prison.
2026-03-25
The High Court dismissed Anne Birkinshaw’s claim concerning the delay in holding an inquest into the 1975 killing of her sister Kathleen Cashin in Tipperary. The judge said the case could not be saved despite the egregious delay, citing the loss of witnesses and a clear disadvantage to the defence.
2026-03-25
Madison Jenkins was jailed for two-and-a-half years after pleading guilty to possessing cannabis worth €520,000 for sale or supply. The court heard that, although she claimed pressure and features of duress, messages on her phone discussed the use, purchase and sale of ketamine and indicated she had free movement in Bangkok.
2026-03-25
Matthias Kelly was given a 12-year sentence, with the final two years suspended, after pleading guilty to attempting to murder Fiona Timmermans during a knife attack in Dublin. Concurrent sentences were also imposed for burglary, threats to kill, criminal damage and producing a knife.
2026-03-25
An unnamed Somalian refugee was sentenced to two years, with the final year suspended, after admitting he used false documents to bring his sister and six-year-old son into Ireland through a family re-unification visa. The court found the planned scheme was a once-off offence and was not carried out for profit.
2026-03-25
The Workplace Relations Commission directed Dehac Retail Ltd to pay Amanda Butler €40,000 after finding she was dismissed without cause or procedural fairness. Adjudication officer Patricia Owens found ample evidence supporting a view that the company was unhappy with Butler’s witness evidence and sought to retaliate when she returned to work.
2026-03-25
James Greengrass pleaded guilty to attempting to cause serious harm to a fellow psychiatric patient at University Hospital Waterford. His barrister said Greengrass believed the victim was a ‘shapeshifting demon’; Ms Justice Karen O’Connor adjourned finalising sentence to April 27.
2026-03-25
The Central Criminal Court fixed November 2 as a notional trial date for a Somali national accused of murdering 17-year-old Vadym Davydenko. The accused cannot be identified while the case proceeds on the basis that he is a minor, and legal issues around his age continue.
2026-03-25
Two psychiatrists told the Central Criminal Court that Derek Mulligan was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia when he caused fatal injuries to his grandfather Derek Burns. Mulligan has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to murder, while the court also heard evidence that the release of Michael Ferry had caused him to ‘spiral’; the trial continues.