In the Special Criminal Court, the trial of Eamonn Cumberton, aged 30, for the murder of 35‑year‑old Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub, has progressed to the hearing of DNA evidence. The prosecution presented a full DNA profile from a cigarette butt seized at Bridewell Garda Station, where Cumberton had been taken after his arrest at Dublin Airport on a bench warrant. Forensic Science Ireland's Rodney Lakes also analysed a rubber mask recovered from the alleged getaway car, finding a mixed DNA profile of two men. The DNA from the cigarette butt could not be excluded as a contributor to the mask's mixed profile. The court is hearing legal arguments on the admissibility of this evidence, with the trial continuing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge James Faughnan. The defence is challenging the legality of Cumberton's arrest. The case remains in the voir dire stage. Eamonn Cumberton pleaded not guilty. Sunset House pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court heard that the butt of a cigarette smoked by Eamonn Cumberton, 30, in a garda station was seized and sent to a forensic science laboratory for analysis. Cumberton, who is accused of murdering 35‑year‑old Michael Barr in the Sunset House pub on 25 April 2016, pleaded not guilty. The prosecution argues that Cumberton is "inextricably linked" to items recovered from a partially burnt‑out car near the scene, and that those items are "inextricably linked" to the shooting. The defence is contesting the legality of Cumberton's arrest. Evidence is being heard in a voir dire to determine its admissibility. The court noted that before being taken from the station, Cumberton smoked a cigarette in the back yard and discarded the butt, which Sergeant Michael Donnellan recovered along with a plastic cup from his cell. Both items were sent to the forensic lab for DNA analysis.
The Special Criminal Court heard that Inspector Brian Delaney was "fairly satisfied" that 30‑year‑old Eamonn Cumberton had a "significant role" in the murder of 35‑year‑old Michael Barr, the manager of the Sunset House pub, on 25 April 2016. Delaney said items recovered from a partially burnt Audi near the scene – masks, hats, firearms and ammunition – linked the car to the shooting and that Cumberton was listed as a suspect early in the investigation. On 26 May, the inspector received information that Cumberton had a baseball cap and a rubber mask from the getaway car, which further convinced him of Cumberton's involvement. Cumberton had tried to leave for Bangkok after the shooting, but his passport had expired; he later obtained an emergency passport and flew to Bangkok, returning to Dublin on 25 May. Eamonn Cumberton pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court has adjourned the trial of Eamonn Cumberton, 30, who is accused of murdering Michael Barr, 35, the manager of the Sunset House pub in Dublin, on 25 April 2016. Cumberton pleaded not guilty. The prosecution argues that Cumberton is "inextricably linked" to items recovered from a partially burnt-out car near the scene, and that those items are "inextricably linked" to the shooting. The court announced that the trial will resume on Monday before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Patricia Ryan and James Faughnan presiding.
During the Special Criminal Court hearing on 23 November 2017, evidence was presented linking a bullet and a mobile phone found beside a partially burnt-out car to the 2016 murder of Michael Barr, 35, at the Sunset House pub. The prosecution argued that Eamonn Cumberton, 30, was "inextricably linked" to the items recovered from the car, which was allegedly used as a getaway vehicle. Witness James Fogarty testified that a car appeared on Walsh Road, with flames on the passenger side, and that a silver car was approached by three individuals. Detective Garda Michael Harkin described finding a 9mm bullet and a ringing phone near a grey Audi, noting the bullet had not moved. Garda Emmett O'Byrne reported a single 9mm round near the Audi's rear passenger wheel. Stephen Clifford, present at the pub, described seeing masked men with a gun at Barr's head. Eamonn Cumberton pleaded not guilty. Sunset House pleaded not guilty.
During the Special Criminal Court trial of Eamonn Cumberton, 30, accused of murdering 35‑year‑old Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub on 25 April 2016, the court heard further witness statements. Stephen Clifford, who was organising a raffle in the pub that night, testified that he saw two men in rubbery Halloween masks approach Barr and place a gun to his head. Clifford described the men as standing "on top of him" and noted that the masks resembled an old man's face. James Fogarty also gave evidence, recalling a car that drove onto a path on Walsh Road, with three people exiting and flames appearing on the passenger side. Fogarty said one of the individuals may have dropped a shiny object near the car, and that the group ran toward a silver car. The trial continues. Eamonn Cumberton pleaded not guilty.
Two men wearing "Freddie Kruger" masks entered the Sunset House pub in Dublin on the night of a shooting. Eamonn Cumberton, aged 30, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 35‑year‑old Michael Barr, who was shot dead in the pub on 25 April 2016. The prosecution argued that Cumberton was "inextricably linked" to items seized from a partially burnt‑out car near the scene, and that those items were "inextricably linked" to the shooting. Witnesses, including Theresa Smyth, described the masked men as "Freddie Kruger" or "Halloween" masks and said they entered the bar, after which a shooting occurred. Smyth said she saw Barr on the ground with blood from his head and that she "crawled over and blessed him." James Dunne, who was organising a raffle that night, recounted seeing a man with a weapon and fleeing with his daughter.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Eamonn Cumberton, aged 30, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Barr, 35, the manager of the Sunset House pub in Dublin. Barr was shot on 25 April 2016 after two masked men in boiler suits entered the pub between 8:30 and 9:33 pm. Barr was shot seven times – five to the head, one to the shoulder and one to the neck – and died at 10:12 pm. Evidence will show that the shooters used a firearm found in a silver Audi, which was set on fire by three people on Walsh Road. The Audi contained loaded firearms, masks, balaclavas and boiler suits. Cumberton and another man flew to Thailand the day after the shooting. The defence will challenge all prosecution evidence, and the case will be heard in a voir dire to determine admissibility. The trial will resume tomorrow with Mr Justice Tony Hunt presiding.
Real IRA leader Seamus McGrane was bugged by the Gardai as he plotted in a well-known Dublin pub with another man to carry out an operation involving explosives during the run-up to the State visit of Prince Charles two years ago. The Garda National Surveillance Unit planted a sophisticated listening device in the snug of the Coachman's Inn on the Airport Road, which recorded conversations between McGrane – a founder of the Real IRA – and engineering graduate Donal O'Coisdealbha. McGrane (63), from Dromisikin in Co Louth, is only the second person to be convicted of directing a terrorist organisation in the State. His former colleague and fellow founder of the Real IRA Michael McKevitt was jailed for 20 years in 2003 for directing terrorism between August 1999 and October 2000. He was released from prison in 2016. During McGrane's trial at the Special Criminal Court, during which there was no cross-examination of prosecution witnesses, the court heard recordings of the conversations between McGrane and O'Coisdealbha in April, 2015. McGrane told O'Coisdealbha: 'Go with whatever plan you wish. I think he's coming on the 19th (a reference to Prince Charles). I don't like an embarrassment.' McGrane then mentioned 'military significance.' 'Symbolic,' O'Coisdealbha replied. 'Symbolic is right,' replied McGrane. The two men were heard in the recording of April 19th discussing a location 'around 400 metres from the target.' Detective Sergeant Padraig Boyce said that the location being discussed was approximately 400 metres from the Cross of Sacrifice, a monument in Glasnevin Cemetery commemorating British and Irish soldiers who fought in World War 1. The two men were also recorded discussing a bomb found on a train line in Northern Ireland in February 2015 and an attack on MI5 Headquarters in London in April, 2010. The court also heard that gardai found bomb making components in a field adjacent to McGrane's house. McGrane was jailed for four years by the Special Criminal Court in 2001 after he pleaded guilty to training others in the use of firearms.
Jerry O'Keefe, 69, of Oakhill, Youghal, Cork, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to three charges of rape, five of indecent assault and one of sexual assault. The nine sample charges represent a subset of 78 offences covering January 1980 to March 1987. The rape and indecent assault charges involved his eldest daughter, who was aged eight when the abuse began and twelve when it ended in 1985. The elder daughter was repeatedly asked to sit on O'Keefe's lap, sexually assaulted in the sitting room, then taken to his bedroom where he removed his clothes and raped her. The remaining charges concerned the younger daughter, abused at the family's new home on Catherine's Street. O'Keefe would enter her bedroom late at night after returning from the pub, climb into bed beside her and molest her.
Judges at the Special Criminal Court have remanded Seamus McGrane in custody until October 31st, when judgement will be delivered in his trial. The 63-year-old from Dromiskin, County Louth, pleaded not guilty to directing the activities of an unlawful organization, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, between April 19th and May 13th, 2015. He also denies being a member of the IRA between January 18th, 2010, and May 13th, 2015. The prosecution alleged that McGrane discussed an operation involving explosives in the run-up to the State visit of Prince Charles. Tara Burns SC argued that audio recordings of McGrane and Donal O'Coisdealbha in a Dublin pub, along with explosive materials found on McGrane's property, established that McGrane was acting as an authority in the IRA. She stated the evidence indicated he issued instructions regarding meeting people and providing bomb-making material. Michael O'Higgins SC, for the defence, contended that the recordings showed O'Coisdealbha was developing explosives independently of McGrane, describing their relationship as symbiotic rather than one of direction. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, presiding with Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain and Judge Cormac Dunne, remanded McGrane in custody pending the delivery of judgement on October 31st.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Seamus McGrane, 63, of Dromiskin, County Louth, pleaded not guilty to charges of IRA membership from 18 January 2010 to 13 May 2015 and of directing the activities of an unlawful organization styled the Irish Republican Army between 19 April and 13 May 2015. McGrane denied being an IRA member and denied purchasing Shamrock glucose in that capacity. The court heard that he was interviewed under Section 2 of the Offences Against the State Act on 15 April 2015, and that he refused to answer questions about IRA membership. An audio recording of a conversation in a Dublin pub, bugged by detectives, was presented, in which McGrane spoke of using Shamrock glucose to manufacture explosives. Chief Superintendent Sean Ward provided belief evidence that McGrane was an IRA member during the relevant period.
Vincent Maher, 45, was sentenced to seven years in prison for possession of a loaded Smith & Weston revolver found in a laneway beside a Dublin pub. He was arrested after a surveillance operation and pleaded guilty to the firearm offence on 6 December 2016. The revolver, fully loaded with six bullets and wrapped in a black scarf, was recovered in a plastic bag by workmen; Maher's DNA was found on the butt. He claimed he kept the gun for personal protection, citing threats to his life, but no Garda Information Message had been issued to him. Maher also pleaded guilty to possession of heroin for personal use (22 November 2015) and possession of heroin for sale or supply (15 March 2016). All three offences occurred while he was serving a suspended sentence for possession of €20,000 worth of heroin.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Seamus McGrane, 63, of Dromiskin, County Louth, pleaded not guilty to directing the activities of an unlawful organisation styled the Irish Republican Army (IRA) between 19 April and 13 May 2015. The court listened to an audio recording from a surveillance device placed in the Coachman's Inn pub in Dublin on 19 April 2015. In the recording, McGrane described mixing fertiliser, glucose and corn syrup, grinding the fertiliser, adding sugar and corn syrup, and testing the resulting compound. He also spoke of boiling the materials, discussing chemical ratios, and a timer device. McGrane mentioned a "science graduate" who could assist, and talked about strategies for England and other areas. He questioned the relevance of the IRA in 2016 and criticised police and Sinn Féin. The trial continues before Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain and Judge Cormac Dunne.
During the trial of Juraci Da Silva, a 36‑year‑old Brazilian resident of Park Lane Apartments, a witness named Melanie Byrne testified that on the night of 8 October 2016, Da Silva was racially abused and assaulted by two Irish men, Conor Hogan and James Banville, who were also the alleged perpetrators of the murder of 28‑year‑old James Banville on New Street. Byrne described seeing the men shout racial slurs, punch Da Silva for no reason, and later threaten him with the words "Go back to your own country." She also recalled seeing the men earlier that evening in Sinnott's nightclub, appearing aggressive and "on something," and later witnessing them taking drugs in an alley before the assault. Additional witnesses, including Emily Keogh, Susan Foley, Emma Balfe, and Evan Russell, corroborated that Da Silva was attacked by the two Irish men, who were later identified as the murder suspects. Juraci Da Silva pleaded not guilty.
Jonathan Doran, a 26‑year‑old barber from Artane, was convicted of violent disorder after a row outside Krystal nightclub in Dublin in 2013. He claimed he acted out of "misguided loyalty" because he mistakenly believed his friend, Republic of Ireland footballer Jeff Hendrick, had been struck. Doran admitted chasing Darren McDermott down a laneway and sitting on him, but denied any assault. The jury found Hendrick not guilty and convicted Doran. Judge Martin Nolan, noting no evidence of assault and Doran's good record, imposed a two‑year suspended sentence and ordered him to pay €6,000 within a year, to be given to charity if McDermott declined. Doran had no prior convictions and had cooperated with the investigation. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the trial lasting 29 minutes before the verdict. Jonathan Doran was acquitted.
A Louth man (29), who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to sexual intercourse with a minor at a hotel in Co. Dublin between November 28 and December 6, 2013. The man told the 15-year-old schoolgirl he could get her a fake passport if she wanted to come away with him to Northern Ireland, warning her she would have to dye her hair and live as the name on the fake passport. The girl later told gardaí that she had consensual sex once with the man while staying at various hotel accommodations over a few nights while waiting for the passport. The man has 38 previous convictions, including assault, burglary, criminal damage, and theft. Sergeant Louise McHugh testified that the girl had met the man outside a pub the previous summer and had kept in phone contact with him. They met twice to play pool together, and on another date, the girl stayed with the man in a hotel after spending a night out drinking with him. The girl had a half day from school when she met the man at a shopping centre on November 28, still in her uniform. The man bought her a €60 phone and they spent the day drinking together at the centre before she agreed to stay with him when she missed her bus home. Over the next few nights, the man booked them into hotel and B&B accommodation and organised a change of clothing for the schoolgirl from his female friend. He told the 15-year-old that they would stay at the final hotel a bit longer while they waited for the passport. The girl told gardaí that the man had sex with her once and that she had been happy to run away with him. She said that another couple joined them in the hotel room for the last few nights and she described spending the daytime with the female while the males went out to work. Gardaí tracked the girl down to an internet cafe on December 6, after stopping the man and his male friend on a different street. The girl told officers that the ten-year age gap between her and the man didn't bother either of them and that while he never said he loved her, she felt there was something there. She declined to make a Victim Impact Statement. Dominic McGinn SC, defending, agreed with Sergeant McHugh that his client had had a history of self-harm and had made serious attempts to take his own life. He further agreed that the man had co-operated with gardaí fully. Mc McGinn submitted to Judge Cormac Quinn that it was the disparity in age that made the case against his client as there was no evidence of coercion or violence. Referring to a psychologist's report, Mr McGinn submitted that some of the tragic elements of his client's background had been the catalyst for drug abuse and antisocial behaviour. Counsel said the man had tried to take his own life three weeks before the incident with the girl and that he was at a place in his life where he was looking for support. Mr McGinn said being in prison awaiting sentence had given his client stability and structure and that he wants to deal with his drugs issue. Judge Quinn ordered a probation services report and put the matter back to October for sentence.
Jamie Kavanagh, a professional boxer, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assaulting a doorman and engaging in threatening or abusive behaviour on Harcourt Street on September 23, 2014. Kavanagh pleaded guilty to these summary offences, which were sent to the Circuit Court alongside co-accused Paul Rice and Mark Carlyle, who pleaded guilty to the more serious charge of violent disorder. The court heard that Kavanagh played a peripheral role in the incident, which prosecutors described as an "explosion of violence" outside Copper Face Jacks nightclub. Judge Elma Sheahan applied section 1(1) of the Probation Offenders Act, ordering Kavanagh to be of good behaviour and keep the peace for 12 months, leaving him without a conviction. This disposal was granted to prevent a recorded conviction from interfering with a significant US fight contract. In contrast, co-accused Mark Carlyle, who has multiple serious previous convictions and was identified as an instigator of the brawl, received a sentence of five years in December 2015, with the final 18 months suspended. Paul Rice, also an instigator with 11 previous convictions, was sentenced in April 2016 to three years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended. The court noted that Kavanagh had no previous convictions and had complied with a prior order to provide 20 hours of coaching to his local amateur boxing club.
A man is on trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with the murder of two elderly brothers found beaten to death in their Castlebar home in July 2013. The accused, aged 30 and from Ballina, Co Mayo, has admitted killing the brothers but pleaded not guilty to murder. Evidence heard during the trial revealed that hours before the deaths, the defendant claimed to be a medical student and told people in a local public house that he worked in the mortuary and would conduct post-mortems on any bodies discovered that night. He also made allegations against another man present in the establishment, suggesting he posed a threat to his wife. Witnesses testified that the brothers were known as harmless and quiet members of the Castlebar community. One barman recalled regularly delivering tea to the brothers and witnessing the defendant in their company on the night in question. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and a jury.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court acquitted Republic of Ireland footballer Jeff Hendrick of violent disorder after a four‑day trial. The case stemmed from a 2013 incident at Krystal nightclub where Darren McDermott alleged Hendrick pulled him from a taxi and was later chased into a laneway, where McDermott claimed he was assaulted and suffered multiple jaw fractures. Hendrick's lawyers argued he could not have run due to a leg injury and that McDermott had a civil case against him. Hendrick (25) and co‑accused Jonathan Doran (26) pleaded not guilty. The jury found Hendrick not guilty but convicted Doran of violent disorder, while Judge Martin Nolan withdrew an assault charge against Doran. Hendrick remains free pending further proceedings.
In the violent disorder trial of Republic of Ireland footballer Jeff Hendrick, the jury was instructed to disregard his football career. Hendrick, 25, denies committing violent disorder at Harcourt Street on 12 October 2013, as does co‑accused Jonathan Doran, 26. Doran also denies assaulting Darren McDermott, who testified that Hendrick dragged him from a taxi after a verbal row at Krystle nightclub, resulting in kicks to his head, face, chest and back. In closing, Hendrick's solicitor Sean Gillane urged the jury to set aside any bias from his football background, noting that Hendrick's success stems from application and diligence rather than talent. Judge Martin Nolan also asked the jury to apply common sense and ensure a fair trial. Witnesses, including Shannon Farrell, described seeing McDermott beaten and bleeding, while Doran's statements about the incident were heard by the court. The judge will resume his charge the following morning before the jury deliberates. Jonathan Doran pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Shannon Farrell, a bystander, was praised by Judge Martin Nolan for her bravery after she and a friend witnessed a violent assault on Darren McDermott on Harcourt Street on 12 October 2013. Farrell described seeing McDermott on the ground, heavily bloodied, and helped him up before speaking to Gardaí. The alleged assault involved professional footballer Jeff Hendrick (25) and co-accused Jonathan Doran (26), both of whom pleaded not guilty to violent disorder. McDermott testified that Hendrick dragged him from a taxi outside a nightclub, after a verbal altercation, and that he was subsequently kicked and punched. Doran denied striking McDermott but admitted to chasing him and sitting on him. The trial is ongoing before Judge Nolan and a jury of twelve.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 5 July 2017, Jeff Hendrick (25) and Jonathan Doran (26) denied charges of violent disorder at Harcourt Street on 12 October 2013. Darren McDermott testified that Hendrick dragged him from a taxi outside Krystal nightclub, where he was kicked and struck. McDermott could not recall any "slagging" of Hendrick's teammates or family, and denied shouting threats. He said Hendrick had asked him to leave the group and that he had been aggressive. McDermott also denied any intent to harm Hendrick's career, though he admitted sending hostile messages online a month later. The court heard that bouncers had tackled Hendrick and escorted him out, and that McDermott left the club after further verbal altercations outside. No verdict was reached in the article.
A Dublin man, Darren McDermott, told a jury that he suffered three fractures to his jaw and several broken teeth after an assault by a group of men led by professional footballer Jeff Hendrick. The incident occurred on 12 October 2013 at Harcourt Street, when McDermott was in a nightclub and later in a taxi that stopped at traffic lights. McDermott claimed Hendrick and his associates forced him out of the taxi, threatened him, and then attacked him, delivering kicks to his head, face, chest and back. McDermott fled, was struck by the attackers, and was later rescued by bystanders. He received emergency surgery at James's Hospital and remains under medical care. Hendrick pleaded not guilty to violent disorder and assault causing harm, while co‑accused Jonathan Doran also pleaded not guilty to the same charges. The trial is ongoing before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
Jamie Kavanagh, a professional boxer, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting a doorman and engaging in threatening or abusive behaviour on Harcourt Street on September 23, 2014. Prosecutors alleged Kavanagh was part of a group that attacked staff at Copper Face Jacks nightclub, though his defence argued he played a minimal role and made no physical contact. Kavanagh's lawyers requested the court strike out the indictment to avoid a conviction that could jeopardise a significant three-year US contract. Judge Elma Sheahan adjourned the case to July 21 to allow the DPP to provide instructions on whether the Circuit Court has jurisdiction to strike out the charges, a power typically associated with the District Court. The judge also suggested Kavanagh provide 20 hours of coaching to a local amateur boxing club. Background persons Paul Rice and Mark Carlyle, identified as the instigators of the violence, were previously jailed after pleading guilty to violent disorder. Rice received a three-year sentence with the final year suspended, while Carlyle received five years with the final 18 months suspended. The matter remains adjourned pending further legal instructions.
Mei Hui Chen, 37, was convicted by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury of assaulting his brother, Michael Chen, on 8 June 2016. Chen stabbed his brother five times in the back and thighs after a brief encounter outside a pub on Westmoreland Street. The jury found him guilty of assault causing serious harm and assault causing harm. He was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended, and the sentence backdated to the date of the offence. Chen was arrested shortly after the attack and has remained in custody. The court noted that Michael Chen suffered a punctured kidney, spent 14 days in hospital, and had to sell his restaurant and faced marital difficulties as a result of the incident. Chen had no fixed address at the time of the assault and had recently come to Dublin to seek work. The judge ordered him to stay away from his brother and his family upon release. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
Georgia Saunders, the partner of the murdered gangster Eamon Dunne, has filed a High Court claim against Irish Life Assurance Plc seeking €250,000 from a life insurance policy the couple took out in 2008. Dunne was killed in April 2010 while attending a birthday party in a Cabra pub; at the time of his death he was on bail awaiting trial for armed robbery and had been linked to about a dozen gangland murders. Saunders, who lives in the Netherlands, requests an order that Irish Life pay the policy amount and to enforce the contract. Irish Life contests the claim, arguing that the couple failed to disclose relevant medical information when applying online. The court heard that Irish Life had asked Saunders for details about Dunne's medical visits and alleged substance use, which Saunders had not provided.
In December 2015, Damien Klasinski, a 29‑year‑old Polish driver, struck and killed Kildare councillor Willie Crowley, 56, while walking home from a pub. Klasinski fled the scene, later confessing to Gardaí and pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing death. He was arrested after passengers reported him. The court found him had no licence or insurance, had previously been convicted for driving offences, and had driven at speeds up to 80 km/h on a wet, poorly lit street. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to five and a half years, suspended the last 18 months, and imposed a ten‑year driving disqualification. The sentence reflected the seriousness of his failure to remain at the scene and the lack of insurance, while acknowledging his guilty plea and remorse. The ruling was delivered at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Irish international footballer Anthony Stokes was found to have not paid the €30,000 "practical expression of remorse" he had pledged to Anthony Bradley, the victim of a head‑butt at Buck Whaleys nightclub in 2013. Stokes, who had pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, received a two‑year suspended sentence in February 2017. The judge, Patricia Ryan, clarified that the payment was not a condition of the sentence and that compensation matters fall under civil courts. The prosecution, represented by Diarmuid Collins, requested the court to revisit the sentence because the payment had not been made. Judge Ryan made no order, noting that the suspended sentence remained in place and that the case could be re‑entered if payment issues arose. The hearing reiterated that Stokes had expressed remorse and that the victim, Anthony Bradley, had suffered significant physical and psychological harm, including extensive dental work and chronic neck pain.
Commercial Court proceedings involving publican Frank Gleeson and EMI-MR Investment LLC have been resolved. Mr. Gleeson, the applicant in one set of proceedings, had alleged shareholder oppression in Ardan Advisory Ltd, a company formed from the merger of the Mercantile and Capital pub chains. The other shareholders denied these claims. In a second set of related proceedings, USA-based EMI-MR Investment LLC sought a €4.6m judgment against Mr. Gleeson over 2016 loans used to refinance or purchase the Bottom of the Hill pub in Finglas and his Mulhuddart pub, as well as to buy shares and pay creditors. Mr. Gleeson opposed this action. On Friday, counsel Stephen Dowling BL informed Mr Justice Robert Haughton that both sets of proceedings had been resolved. The matters were adjourned to May 29 for mention only to allow for the implementation of a settlement agreement. Mr. Gleeson's counsel, Padraic Lyons BL, confirmed his client consented to this proposal. No settlement details were disclosed in open court. Separate High Court proceedings brought by Mr. Gleeson to prevent his dismissal as CEO of Mercantile Entertainment Group Ltd remain pending. Last month, he secured a temporary injunction blocking his dismissal or further disciplinary action. Mr. Gleeson holds a 30% shareholding in Ardan Advisory, while the remaining 70% is owned by JT Magen (Capital Bars) LLC and Danu Advisory Partners Ltd.
In a court‑martial held at the Military Justice Centre in Dublin, Sergeant Martin Dougan was found not guilty of assaulting Corporal Niall McShane during a night out in Lebanon. The incident was alleged to have taken place in a pub on the morning of 9 March 2014, after the men had visited Naqoura the previous evening. McShane claimed he was struck in the left eye by Dougan, while Dougan denied the assault. The board of officers, acting like a jury, deliberated for 90 minutes and returned a verdict of not guilty on both the civil and Defence Forces Act charges. A separate charge that Dougan was intoxicated on the day of the alleged assault was dismissed due to lack of evidence. Dougan had denied all accusations during the hearing. The trial concluded with Dougan acquitted of the assault allegations.
A military court at the Military Justice Centre in McKee Barracks, Dublin, has begun deliberations in the trial of Sergeant Martin Dougan, who is accused of assaulting Corporal Niall McShane. The alleged incident occurred on 9 March 2014 in a pub in Naqoura, Lebanon, while both men were serving with the Irish Defence Forces. Sgt Dougan, represented by Gerard Humphreys BL and Patricia McKenna BL, pleaded not guilty to the charges. The prosecution, led by Colonel Gerry Lane, argued that the board could trust Cpl McShane's evidence, noting that his memory of the assault was recovered after sessions with a Defence Forces psychologist, despite the complaint being made a year later. In closing remarks, the defence counsel highlighted gaps in the prosecution's case, asserting that reasonable doubt remained regarding whether Sgt Dougan was the assailant. A separate charge alleging Sgt Dougan was under the influence of an intoxicant was previously thrown out by military judge Colonel Michael Campion due to a lack of evidence. The board of officers is now set to determine the outcome of the trial.
Robert Jones, 27, of Glenview Park, Tallaght, was convicted in 2016 of assault causing harm to medical student Brian Murphy after striking him with a pint glass at Palace Nightclub on 20 July 2014. The original 18‑month sentence was wholly suspended. In 2017 the Court of Appeal reviewed the sentence, finding it unduly lenient, but did not impose jail time because the review was delayed and Jones had no prior convictions, was employed, married and had a child. The judge noted that the glass hit Murphy's left eye, causing permanent blindness, scarring and psychological trauma, and that Murphy had resumed medical studies. Jones admitted the assault, expressed remorse and claimed he was unaware he was holding a glass. The appeal was dismissed, leaving the suspended sentence in place. Robert Jones pleaded guilty.
Craig Maloney, aged 21, and an accomplice stole bikes from two barmen at the George Bernard Shaw pub in Dublin. When confronted, Maloney kicked one barman in the eye and fled back to the bar, where they smashed glass bottles and he attacked a barman with a barstool. He pleaded guilty to theft and assault causing harm to Kevin Mangan in 2011. The court noted his prior convictions for minor offences, his epilepsy‑related withdrawal from football, and his involvement in drug and alcohol problems. Maloney also pleaded guilty to a robbery at Spar on Clogher Road, where he and an accomplice stole €358 and were confronted by Gardaí who used pepper spray. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced him to 18 months for the assault and 2½ years for the robbery, suspending both terms on the condition that he remain out of trouble and maintain good behaviour. She highlighted his charity work and cooperation with probation services.
A 17‑year‑old was sentenced to five years' detention, three of which were suspended, after a drunken rampage on 10 July 2016 in Dublin. He had consumed half a litre of vodka at home and spent €90 on vodka and mixers at a local pub. CCTV showed him assaulting three women who had returned from a Beyoncé concert, pushing one to the ground, kicking her, and throwing another to the pavement. He also smashed a chipper's glass window and door and damaged a nearby car's windscreen. The boy pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to four people and criminal damage. The judge described the incident as "terror and violence" and ordered him to engage fully with Probation Services to address his anger and alcohol issues. The women reported acute psychological distress. The boy's family were described as well regarded in the area. The judge noted that the boy's problems were partly due to alcohol and an overburdened mother.
During a Special Criminal Court hearing on 4 April 2017, a Dublin man named David Murray, aged 56, was questioned by Gardaí about his alleged friendship with Stephen Hendrick, a 48‑year‑old convicted of possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives. Murray, who lives in Cappogue Cottages, Finglas, denied IRA membership and made no reply when asked if he was a friend of Hendrick. Gardaí had previously observed the two men together outside Lloyd's pub on Amiens Street on 12 September 2014. In March 2015, a search of Murray's bedroom uncovered a shopping list for chemicals used in making explosives, which the prosecution said was "remarkably similar" to a list found in Hendrick's van. The case is being heard by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges John O'Hagan and Ann Ryan presiding. David Murray pleaded not guilty.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing on 4 April 2017, Ann Walsh, former sister‑in‑law of John Joseph Malone, testified that she had reported Malone's alleged confession to Gardaí about twenty years earlier. Walsh, who had been married to Malone's brother Bernard, said she had heard Malone admit to killing 69‑year‑old Ann 'Nancy' Smyth on three separate occasions. The first confession was in a pub in 1991, where Malone allegedly said he had killed Smyth; Walsh's husband told him to leave. The second confession occurred in 1996 while Malone was walking Walsh home from a pub; he threatened to burn her house and harm her children, and Walsh reported this to Sergeant Eddie Geraghty. Walsh confirmed she had told the Sergeant everything Malone said that night. The court also heard statements from two lodgers who had stayed with Smyth in 1987, but the focus of the testimony was Walsh's reports of Malone's confessions and threats. John Joseph Malone pleaded not guilty.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing on 3 April 2017, the former sister‑in‑law of John Joseph Malone, a 53‑year‑old man charged with the 1987 murder of 69‑year‑old Ann 'Nancy' Smyth, testified that Malone had confessed to her that he had killed Smyth. Ms. Malone, who had been married to Malone's brother Bernard 'Barney' Malone, recounted that she and Barney had been walking home from Pat Carroll's pub when Malone allegedly threatened to kill her and burn her house, mirroring the earlier murder. She said he repeated the confession at her home in Newpark Close and claimed he had "gotten away with it." The prosecution asked her to detail what he had said, and she confirmed the confession. The defence will cross‑examine her tomorrow, while her ex‑husband was cross‑examined today, confirming that his brother had made a similar confession to him. The trial proceeds before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury. John Joseph Malone pleaded not guilty.
Helen Hourigan, aged 34, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for stealing a Mercedes‑Benz and causing criminal damage to Ross Kelly's Volkswagen Beetle. On 9 January 2015, she stole the Mercedes when its owner left it unlocked and drove it at speed into Mr Kelly's vehicle, then reversed it into the smoking area of the Dropping Well Pub in Milltown, Dublin. She smashed a glass partition and pinned Mr Kelly against a wall before driving off. Mr Kelly was injured and taken to hospital. Hourigan pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan suspended the final year of her sentence, citing her dangerous driving and the injuries sustained by Mr Kelly and his wife, and noted that she had taken steps to address her addiction. She is due for release in August.
In a cold‑case murder trial, John Joseph Malone, 53, is charged with strangling 69‑year‑old Ann (Nancy) Smyth on 11 September 1987 at her Wolfe Tone Street home in Kilkenny. The prosecution, led by Sean Gillane SC, argues that after a night at a local pub, Malone entered Smyth's house, strangled her, and set it on fire. Evidence includes a neighbour's account of a shouting altercation, a witness who heard a man with a speech impediment ask for a cigarette, and testimony from a bible‑study group member who claims Malone admitted the crime. The case notes that Smyth's death was caused by asphyxia from neck compression, not the fire. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy with a jury of five women and seven men, expected to last over three weeks. John Joseph Malone pleaded not guilty.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Dubliner Patrick Anderson, a former Ireland ice hockey player, to two years' imprisonment for assaulting his cousins, Graham Dunne and Paul Dunne. Anderson pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at the Wright Venue nightclub in Swords on February 15, 2015. The court heard that Anderson punched and kicked both victims inside the venue and continued the assault outside after security ejected them. Graham Dunne suffered a broken kneecap, which affected his equestrian career and left him at risk of arthritis, while Paul Dunne sustained a broken jaw and psychological trauma. Judge Melanie Greally noted Anderson was a first-time offender with an excellent employment record and sporting history. However, she emphasized the seriousness of the two offences committed in one night and the lasting effects on Graham Dunne. The judge imposed a three-year sentence but suspended the final year on conditions, resulting in an effective custody period of two years. Prosecution counsel Maurice Coffey BL presented evidence that Anderson initiated the violence by punching Graham Dunne after a perceived bump. Defense counsel Ray Boland BL highlighted Anderson's intoxication and lack of prior convictions. An offer of compensation by Anderson was reportedly refused by the victims.
A woman sought €5,000 from the man now accused of her murder for an abortion, the Central Criminal Court heard today. The prosecution alleges that Anne Shortall was killed by Roy Webster following a dispute over a pregnancy and a prior sexual encounter. Webster, aged 40 from Ashbree, Ashford, Co Wicklow, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter on April 3, 2015 at The Murrough, Co Wicklow. His plea was not accepted by the State. During evidence, a witness testified that he received a message in late March 2015 requesting €5,000 for an abortion, intended for another man named Steven Armstrong who knew both Ms Shortall and the accused. Ms Shortall's daughters told the court she left her home without her phone or cigarettes on Good Friday, which they found unusual. Text messages indicated she was to meet someone associated with Ashwood Kitchens at a local pub, but she did not return.
In a Central Criminal Court case, 40‑year‑old Roy Webster of Ashbree, Ashford, Co Wicklow pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of Anne Shortall, 47, on 3 April 2015. Prosecutor Paul Greene SC argued that Webster and Shortall had a sexual encounter after meeting at a pub on 20 December 2014. Shortall later contacted Webster, claiming she was pregnant and demanding money for an abortion. When she threatened to expose their prior encounter, Webster struck her on the head with a hammer, then transported her body to his workshop, securing her hands with duct tape. He was found to have hidden the body behind wood panels until 7 April, when he informed the Gardaí. Webster admitted to assault, binding, and lying to police, and his defence acknowledged his responsibility for Shortall's death. The jury was instructed to decide whether the offence was murder or manslaughter.
In a High Court case on 16 February 2017, Anthony Stokes, a 28‑year‑old former Blackburn Rovers footballer, was ordered to pay €230,000 in damages to Anthony Bradley, a 53‑year‑old Elvis impersonator, after Stokes head‑butted Bradley in the VIP lounge of Buck Whaleys Nightclub on 8 June 2013. The jury, after about 90 minutes of deliberation, found that Stokes had assaulted Bradley, who sustained a broken nose, dental damage, and aggravated neck problems. Bradley also suffered psychological injury and sleepless nights. The court awarded Bradley general and aggravated damages, plus costs for medical expenses already paid, and required Stokes to cover Bradley's legal costs. Stokes did not attend the hearing, citing his partner's impending childbirth, and had previously dismissed his legal team. The judge declined to award costs against Stokes on a solicitor‑client basis. The judgment was delivered by Justice Colm Mac Eochaidh.
James Preston, 36, was caught attempting to rob the Seabank House pub in East Wall, Dublin, after a Garda surveillance operation. He approached the manager armed with a wheel brace and a Stanley knife while the manager was carrying the pub's takings. Garda officers intervened, ordering him to drop his weapons, and he was arrested. Preston had previously pleaded guilty to attempted robbery in 2014 and to dangerous driving and unlawful use of a car in 2015. He was sentenced by Judge John Aylmer to three years, with the final 18 months suspended, citing his efforts to reform while in prison. The judge noted that the robbery could have been completed without Garda intervention and that Preston's 2015 driving endangered adults and children. The case highlighted the role of Garda surveillance in preventing the robbery.
Adam McCarthy, a 24‑year‑old college student, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after he punched and kicked Niall McHale during a taxi dispute outside the White Sands Hotel nightclub in Portmarnock on 27 December 2014. McHale, who had returned from London for Christmas holidays, was knocked unconscious, suffered a brief loss of consciousness, and received seven stitches to the head along with bruising and lacerations. McCarthy was restrained by nightclub bouncers until Gardaí arrived. At a sentence hearing in November, Judge Melanie Greally considered a probation report and ordered McCarthy to complete 240 hours of community service within 12 months in lieu of a one‑year jail term. The judge noted McCarthy's remorse, background, completion of an anger‑management course, and his efforts to curb drinking. McHale's family was requested to receive €5,000 from McCarthy's court‑ordered funds to support Headway Ireland. The court accepted McCarthy's apology and the financial restitution he offered.
Jonathan Conway, 35, a disqualified driver with 112 convictions, stole a BMW after its owner mistakenly left the keys inside. While driving under the influence of heroin, alcohol and tablets, Conway lost control at a roundabout, briefly became airborne, and crashed into a lamp‑post and the wall of The Graduate pub. Two female passengers sustained minor injuries. Conway, who had no valid licence or insurance, pleaded guilty to taking possession of the car, dangerous driving, driving without insurance and refusing a sample. The court adjourned sentencing to May, ordered a urine analysis, and will hear a plea in mitigation. Conway was taken to St Vincent's Hospital where he refused to provide a blood or urine sample. The case highlights the ongoing legal proceedings and the court's consideration of mitigation arguments.
Irish international footballer Anthony Stokes, aged 28, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm after head‑butting Anthony Bradley, aged 53, in the VIP lounge of Buck Whaleys nightclub on 8 June 2013. The court heard Bradley was bleeding from a fractured nose and two broken teeth, and that he had suffered chronic neck pain and required extensive dental work costing €13,500. Stokes was fined €30,000 for Bradley's medical costs and was given a two‑year suspended sentence, with strict conditions. The judge noted the seriousness of the assault and accepted Stokes' apology and the fine as a practical expression of remorse. Civil proceedings are continuing in the High Court. The case was set down for trial twice before Stokes pleaded guilty in November 2016.
In a High Court hearing on 27 January 2017, counsel for the Minister for Justice argued that Dutch citizen Naoufal Fassih, aged 36 and of Moroccan origin, should be extradited to the Netherlands to face three European Arrest Warrants. The first charge concerns an attempted murder and assault at a Dutch nightclub on 5 October 2012, where Fassih allegedly participated in a fight that left several injured. The second charge involves possession of over €10,000 in cash found on him in 2012, which Dutch prosecutors say could constitute money‑laundering under Dutch law. The third charge alleges possession of a false passport.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Dubliner Patrick Anderson, 22, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to cousins Graham and Paul Dunne at the Wright venue in Swords on February 15, 2015. Prosecution evidence alleged that Anderson punched Graham Dunne in the mouth and head, then struck Paul Dunne multiple times in the head inside the nightclub. Security staff reportedly restrained and ejected all three men, describing them as aggressive. Outside the venue, Anderson allegedly continued the attack, kicking Graham Dunne to the ground and punching Paul Dunne, who suffered a fractured jaw. Graham Dunne sustained a broken knee cap from his fall and requires further treatment. The court heard that all three men had consumed alcohol, and security staff noted Graham Dunne was highly aggressive towards Anderson. Defence counsel Ray Boland BL stated Anderson has no previous convictions and that an offer of compensation was refused by the victims. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the case to March, when she will hear a plea of mitigation on behalf of Anderson. The matter was adjourned and not concluded.