In a 2014 incident at Show Nightclub, Tallaght, a 19‑year‑old named Ciaran Meleady stabbed a stranger in the buttock with a knife, claiming the victim had also been stabbed. No prior interaction existed. Meleady, who had eight prior road‑traffic convictions and was taking medication for depression, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. The victim required steri‑strips and antibiotics. Judge Melanie Greally described the act as occurring "for absolutely no apparent reason," citing possible alcohol‑medication interaction and the recent death of Meleady's grandmother. She sentenced him to 18 months, suspended in full for two years. The knife was not recovered and the assault was not captured on CCTV, though footage showed Meleady standing behind the victim before the attack. Meleady left the premises when Gardaí arrived and was later identified via CCTV. The case was prosecuted by Rosin Lacey BL and defended by Kieran Kelly BL.
Ajibola Ajala, 22, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after an unprovoked attack on Gary Doran at the Wright Venue nightclub in Swords on 17 December 2011. Doran suffered head injuries and a fractured jaw, with nine staples inserted into his skull. Ajala, who had never been in trouble before and had come to Ireland from Nigeria at age 15, was found by Judge Patrick McCartan to have no reason for the assault. The judge, citing that everyone is entitled to one mistake, suspended a two‑year jail term on the condition that Ajala pay €5,000 to Doran within six months. Failure to pay or any further trouble within two years could result in imprisonment. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with counsel for both parties present. The judge emphasised the lack of evidence that Ajala was involved in any groping or that a drink had been thrown at him.
Kieran Conway, a former IRA member who served over twenty years and now works as a solicitor in Dublin, has agreed to be interviewed by the Special Detective Unit (SDU) as part of a new British police investigation into the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings that killed 21 people. Conway's book, "Southside Provisional," claims he was told about the bombings by IRA Chief of Staff Daithi O'Conaill (Dave O'Connell). The SDU will ask questions prepared by Birmingham police, focusing on Conway's accounts of the bombings and the IRA's alleged warning system failures. Conway, who joined the IRA in 1970 and left in 1993, has expressed personal shame over the attacks and stated that he believed the IRA had deliberately targeted civilians. The investigation is part of a mutual assistance programme between the Gardai and British police forces. The Birmingham Six, six Irishmen convicted and later cleared of the bombings, were released after fifteen years in prison.
The trial of 27‑year‑old footballer Anthony Stokes, accused of assaulting 42‑year‑old Anthony Bradley at Buck Whaleys nightclub in June 2013, has been adjourned again to later in the year. The adjournment follows the unavailability of an essential witness who is immobilised due to back problems. The case, originally set for last year, was postponed because no judges were available. Judge Melanie Greally scheduled a new trial date for 22 November and remanded Stokes on continuing bail.
Seamus Morgan, 49, of Athy, Co Kildare, was sentenced to life imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Laurence Keane, 56. A jury of three men and nine women returned a unanimous guilty verdict after deliberating for three hours and six minutes. Mr Justice Robert Eagar imposed the life sentence, backdating it to April 23, 2014, the date Morgan entered custody. Morgan had previously pleaded not guilty to the charge. The court heard that Keane was beaten in a lane-way in Athy on July 18, 2013, suffering severe blunt force trauma to the head, and died the following day. Evidence included witness testimony of a scuffle and forensic analysis of blood stains on the accused's runners, which matched Keane's DNA profile. Morgan has eight previous convictions, including a 2005 manslaughter conviction for the stabbing death of James Hand outside a Dublin pub, for which he received an eight-year sentence. The victim's family read a statement describing Keane as a disabled man and expressing the lasting impact of his death. The judge exempted the jury from service for four years.
An unemployed plumber, Derek McCann, 51, pleaded guilty to assaulting Glen Riordan, 35, in a pub on 10 September 2011. McCann, who had moved from Millbrook Road to a caravan park, struck Riordan with a broken glass and then with his fists, causing a facial wound that required ten stitches and a 2‑cm hairline scar. Riordan said the attack strained his relationship with McCann's ex‑wife and made him lose confidence, staying home more. McCann, who had been drinking heavily that night and had no memory of the assault, had lost his plumbing job and was taking medication for stress after his marriage ended in 2008. He offered to sell his car to cover Riordan's €900 financial loss. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to next April to allow Probation Services to assess suitability for community service.
A man from County Donegal has been found guilty of raping a 14-year-old girl during a youth disco in December 2010, when he was aged 15. The 20-year-old defendant, whose identity is protected to safeguard the victim's anonymity, was convicted at the Central Criminal Court following a jury trial. The jury unanimously found him guilty of rape and sexual assault at a nightclub in a Donegal town. During proceedings, Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan instructed the jury that a person under 15 cannot legally consent to sexual activity. The defendant had pleaded not guilty and his defence contended the encounter was consensual and escalated unintentionally. The victim gave evidence that the accused pushed her into a toilet cubicle without consent. The defendant has been remanded in custody pending sentencing in March, when the court will receive a victim impact report and a probation assessment.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has begun deliberating in a rape trial involving two teenagers at a nightclub in County Donegal on 23 December 2010. The accused, now 20 years old, pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl. Justice Margaret Heneghan instructed the jury that a person under 15 cannot legally consent to sexual activity, regardless of apparent willingness. The complainant testified she was pushed into a toilet cubicle where the accused restrained her against a wall and raped her. She stated she did not consent and asked him to stop and release her. The defence suggested consensual contact that escalated, which the complainant denied. The accused told gardaí he had no recollection of being in the female toilet. The jury of seven men and five women commenced deliberations following the judge's charge.
A man from County Donegal has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with rape and sexual assault. He is accused of attacking a younger girl in a nightclub toilet in Donegal Town on December 23, 2010, when he was aged 15. The complainant was 14 at the time. The defendant, who is entitled to anonymity, has pleaded not guilty to both charges. During evidence, the woman testified that the accused pushed her into the female toilets and assaulted her in a cubicle without consent. She told the court she reported the matter to gardaí seven months later, and that her life was significantly affected afterwards, including leaving school and self-harm. The defence contested her account, suggesting the encounter was consensual and escalated beyond the pair's intentions. The accused told gardaí he had no recollection of being in the toilet. The trial, before Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan and a jury, continues.
Jonathan Douglas, aged 30, was convicted of murder after shooting Aidan Bryne, 31, 10 times in Dublin on 20 February 2010. The jury found him guilty after an 11‑day trial and he received a mandatory life sentence on 23 July 2012. Douglas had been hired to kill Bryne, who was a front‑seat passenger in a Toyota Corolla driven by another man. Douglas waited for the car, walked up to it and fired 10 bullets into the passenger window, killing Bryne. The prosecution alleged Douglas had left a pub shortly before the shooting. In October the Court of Appeal heard Douglas's appeal, which centred on the admissibility of statements made by his step‑niece Stacey Douglas and her boyfriend Andrew Sheridan. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice Alan Mahon, dismissed all grounds of appeal, ruling that the judge had correctly admitted the evidence and that the jury had been properly directed. Jonathan Douglas pleaded not guilty.
Jason Bowers, 31, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after a night out at Lillie's Bordello nightclub on Grafton Street on 22 December 2014. He claimed he had been drinking and a "red mist" descended after a verbal interaction. The judge described the attack as a short but savage assault, noting Bowers had become enraged and infuriated. Bowers was given a three‑year suspended sentence and ordered to pay €35,000 within six months, with €10,000 to be paid within seven days. The victim, a prison officer, suffered a broken eye socket bone and a tongue laceration, and reported feeling nervous and self‑doubting after the incident. Bowers had no prior convictions and now lives and works in Dubai.
In a 2014 incident at Show Nightclub in Tallaght, Alan Gilsenan, aged 26, struck Adam Morris, breaking his jaw and causing a week of hospital treatment and surgery with permanent metal plates. Gilsenan pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The prosecution noted that Morris had arrived at the club at 12 am, was speaking with friends, and was struck by Gilsenan, who was later identified through publicity photographs of nightclub visitors. Gilsenan, who has a few prior minor traffic convictions, was undergoing anger‑management therapy and had written a remorse letter to Morris. Judge Martin Nolan, considering Gilsenan's guilty plea, cooperation with Gardaí and good record, suspended a three‑year jail term. He ordered Gilsenan to pay €7,500 to Morris and to post a €100 bond to keep the peace for three years, with the payment due within 18 months.
In a murder trial held at the Central Criminal Court, the jury heard that 29‑year‑old Adil Essalhi was killed on 6 January 2011 by Michael Kinsella (22) and his uncle Wayne Kinsella. The prosecution, led by Mr Kerida Naidoo SC, presented evidence that the killing took place in a field outside a block of apartments in Tyrrellstown. Mr Essalhi had met Wayne and another person at a pub that evening, and the three later went to an apartment where they drank before leaving together for the field. Mr Naidoo stated that medical evidence showed Mr Essalhi died from more than 50 wounds, including stabbing and chopping injuries, mainly to the head and neck. After the killing, the body was reportedly burnt with petrol. The jury, composed of five women and seven men, was to view CCTV footage during the trial, which was expected to last one week. Michael Kinsella pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court manslaughter trial, Paul Brannigan, aged 24, pleaded not guilty to the death of Jason Saunders, who died on 18 March 2014 after a confrontation at Fassaugh Avenue. Brannigan was accused of striking Saunders with a golf club, causing a fatal blow to the chest, and of assaulting him. Witnesses, including a shopkeeper and Spar store manager Kevin Coffey, described a scuffle where Brannigan head‑butted Saunders before repeatedly swinging a golf club. Brannigan allegedly asked the shopkeeper to "delete that camera for us?" after Saunders was described as "in a bad way." CCTV footage from the shop, pub, Garda station and a bus was shown to the jury. Nurses Melissa Lanigan and Lorna Nangle testified that Saunders received CPR but never regained consciousness, and an ambulance crew later took over resuscitation. The case continues before Judge Patrick McCartan and a twelve‑person jury.
Timothy Fogarty, 55, of Gurtnaskeha, Tour, Co Tipperary, was found guilty of possession of an electric‑powered air rifle with intent to unlawfully intimidate Fiona Ryan, the female owner of a local pub, on 20 June 2011. He had pleaded not guilty. The jury sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, on 27 June 2014. Fogarty appealed on the basis that the sentencing judge had placed the offence at the most serious end of the range. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, agreed that the incident was momentary and that Fogarty's reduced cognitive functions warranted mitigation. The appeal was successful and the sentence was reduced to three years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended for two years post‑release, on condition that he keep the peace, be of good behaviour and have no dealings with the injured party or her family.
In a High Court hearing on 5 November 2015, Richard Butler, aged 48, resolved a damages action against McSuils pub owners Noel and Ken Walker and his assailant Joseph Phillips. Butler had lost his left eye when Phillips struck him with a pool ball during an altercation at the pub on 17 July 2012. Butler, a former tiler, now wears a prosthetic eye. He alleged that the pub owners should have evicted Phillips after learning of his intoxication and violent propensity, and that the pub had served alcohol to him when it was dangerous, showing reckless disregard for Butler's safety. The owners denied the claims and the assault was not deemed foreseeable. The court entered judgment against Phillips in default of a defence and asked for damages. No settlement details were disclosed in open court. The pub is now closed. The hearing was presided over by Mr Justice Kevin Cross.
In a High Court hearing on 4 November 2015, a 48‑year‑old man named Richard Butler sued Joseph Phillips, the pub owner Noel Walker and his son Ken Walker after Butler lost his left eye when struck by a pool ball during an altercation at McSuils public house in Castlehill, Carlow on 17 July 2012. Butler, a former ceramic tiler, was injured after he tried to hold back Phillips, who had been drinking for several hours and was described by Butler as "loud, aggressive and a troublemaker." Butler claims Phillips had threatened to "escape from Shelton Abbey prison" and called himself a member of the IRA. Butler alleges the pub failed to control Phillips, served him alcohol when it was dangerous, and should have evicted him. The pub owners deny the claims, arguing the assault was unforeseeable. Phillips is currently serving a prison sentence for the assault and is representing himself in the action.
Patrick Davis, a 30‑year‑old unemployed butcher, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to Garda Ciaran Byrne and Desmond Dunphy on Thomas Street on 9 February 2014. The offence involved Davis punching Byrne twice, fracturing his eye socket, and also striking Dunphy. Davis was intoxicated and "out of control" and claimed he did not realise Byrne was a garda. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Davis may not have known Byrne's identity but found his behaviour reprehensible. The court imposed a suspended jail sentence of two and a half years, conditioned on Davis paying €2,000 to Dunphy within a year. The sentence was suspended, and no custodial term was imposed. The case stemmed from a confrontation that began after a christening celebration and a pub visit on Thomas Street. The court noted that Davis had no prior convictions and that the incident occurred during a period of personal tragedy for him.
Sarah Eastwood, aged 34, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of knowingly making a false report after alleging she had been raped in a pub toilet in Dublin's city centre. The allegation was made during a brief relationship that ended in June 2013. Gardaí interviewed Eastwood at Store Street and Pearse Street stations, and CCTV footage proved she had not been in the city that night, disproving the claim. Eastwood had no prior convictions. Judge Desmond Hogan imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended for three years, and ordered 18 months of post‑release probation supervision. He also required her to continue receiving mental health treatment. The case highlighted that the man was never arrested and that the false allegation was linked to a dispute over the end of their relationship.
The owners of Kennedy's pub in Dublin's Westland Row, Trinity Taverns Ltd, have brought a legal action to challenge a sale of the licensed premises that the receiver, Mr Sean McNamara, and Vesta Mortgages Ltd claim has been agreed. The Commercial Court heard that the receiver was appointed in May after Trinity Taverns allegedly failed to repay €2.4 million borrowed from EBS building society, later acquired by Vesta. A buyer was found in late September, but Trinity Taverns has registered a lis pendens and disputes the sale, arguing the receiver and lender's claims are vexatious. The court, presided by Mr Justice Brian McGovern, admitted the case to the fast‑track Commercial Court list and directed the receiver's counsel to serve a statement of claim within a week. The matter was adjourned to mid‑November. The case remains in the early stages of dispute over the sale of the pub.
UK national Daniel Rains has lost his appeal against a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for assaults committed at Club Lapello in Dublin. Rains, a 31-year-old electrician from Manchester, had previously pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting a 21-year-old Mauritian national causing him harm, assault causing harm to another customer, and common assault on two security men on January 26, 2014. Judge Martin Nolan originally sentenced him to two-and-a-half years imprisonment on February 20, 2015. In dismissing the appeal, Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, sitting with Mr Justice John Edwards and Mr Justice Alan Mahon, stated the sentence was not excessive. The court noted the victim suffered a fractured cheekbone requiring permanent plates and a scar. Although Rains apologized and cited intoxication, the Court of Appeal upheld the trial judge's decision to place the offence on the higher end of the scale and to refuse suspension of any part of the sentence. The court also affirmed the trial judge's refusal to order compensation, as the victim had rejected the offer. Counsel for Rains argued the nightclub breached its duty of care by continuing to serve him alcohol, but the prosecution countered that Rains voluntarily consumed the drinks. The appeal was dismissed, leaving the original custodial sentence intact.
In a High Court personal injuries case, Gerald Grimes, a 25‑year‑old from Balbriggan Street, Skerries, lost his claim after slipping in the toilets of Shenanigans Nightclub on 4 March 2012. Mr Justice Anthony Barr ruled that Grimes fell because he was "engaged in horseplay" with a friend, Mr Michael Caldwell, when a jump‑kick caused him to lose balance and fall on a wet floor. The judge found no negligence on the part of the nightclub, Highview Inns Ltd, which is in receivership, and dismissed the claim. Grimes had alleged a dislocated knee, severe pain, and loss of sporting ability, supported by Caldwell's testimony. Evidence from the nightclub's toilet attendant, Mr Elijah Fatiroti, who described the incident as horseplay and noted no liquid on the floor, was preferred by the judge.
In the murder trial of Kenneth Cummins (28) and Sabrina Cummins (37) for the killing of Thomas Horan (63) at Cambridge Court, Ringsend, a witness testified that he heard a woman's voice say "where's the wallet" early on the morning of January 6th. The witness described CCTV footage showing the Cummins siblings near the pub Sally's and later at Horan's bedsit, with Kenneth allegedly running out of the court and hiding behind a car. He also identified the Cummins as being present at the back door of the bedsit around 4.45am, when a commotion was heard. The witness, a neighbour, reported hearing the exchange and the disturbance that followed. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, is scheduled to continue next week with a jury of twelve. The defendants have pleaded not guilty. The case is expected to last three weeks.
Christopher Morrissey, aged 29, was jailed for 21 months after a drunken driving incident on 4 October 2014. He had been driving a taxi back from a pub with a woman he met online, then attempted to turn his car around, colliding with three parked cars. While being taken to a squad car, he head‑butted Garda Kevin Gaynor, causing a cut to the officer's mouth and damage to his teeth. Morrissey resisted arrest, refused to provide a blood or urine sample, and was found intoxicated in a public place. He also faced charges of assaulting a Garda, resisting arrest, refusing a sample, intoxication, breach of the peace, and driving without insurance. With 60 prior convictions and recent disqualifications for 12 and 15 years, the court imposed a 21‑month custodial sentence and a five‑year driving disqualification. The judge noted his cavalier attitude towards road rules and the seriousness of the offences. Christopher Morrissey pleaded guilty.
Craig Boothman, 23, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a total of three years for a series of offences. He pleaded guilty to robbery at Shay's Pharmacy, a robbery of a Spar shop, criminal damage and burglary of an off‑license in Irishtown, and assault causing harm and criminal damage to a taxi. Each offence was committed while he was on bail for the previous one. Boothman had 27 prior convictions, including burglary, theft, assault and drug possession, dealt with at District Court level. The judge noted Boothman's violent behaviour when intoxicated but also his prospects if he remained clean. Boothman was arrested less than a week after the pharmacy robbery, where he used a knife to threaten a cashier and fled with the tills. He has been clean of drink and drugs since entering prison in March and has a job waiting for him in his grandfather's pub upon release.
Darren Rafferty, aged 40, was sentenced to three‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment on 5 June 2014 for setting fire to his former fiancée's house in Navan on 14 January 2013. The arson caused about €79,000 of damage to the conservatory, kitchen and house, and four units of the Navan fire brigade attended the scene. Rafferty was arrested at 3.20 a.m. the same day, was intoxicated and could not be interviewed, but later confirmed he started the fire, left the house and returned to the pub, citing frustration over the breakup. He pleaded guilty at Trim Circuit Criminal Court. On 10 July 2015 the Court of Appeal, hearing Mr Justice George Birmingham, upheld the sentence but suspended the balance from 31 July, allowing Rafferty to pursue a job offer in the UK. He was ordered not to contact his former fiancée again.
Michael Coleman, 34, a convicted robber, was sentenced to 18 months in custody for an unprovoked assault on two Louth brothers, Christopher and Joseph Lennon, on 26 June 2014. The attack occurred on Camden Street, Dublin, while Coleman was on bail for a prior robbery. He called Christopher a "culchie," punched him, and then joined in attacking Joseph, punching and kicking him while he was on the ground, causing Joseph to lose consciousness. The brothers had been drinking at Flannery's pub and were heading home when the incident happened. Joseph Lennon suffered a broken jaw on both sides, requiring metal plates and still cannot fully open his mouth; he also experiences flashbacks. Coleman had 25 prior convictions, including robbery and firearms offences. He pleaded guilty, and the judge noted his cooperation and attempts to address drug issues. The 18‑month sentence will commence after his current five‑year term ends.
In a case heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Michael Mongan, then 15, was found guilty of violent disorder and three counts of assault causing serious harm after a pub brawl at The Castle Inn Pub, Rathfarnham, on 16 October 2012. CCTV captured Mongan picking up a glass or bottle and striking John Mongan, 25, repeatedly, causing deep cuts that required 24 staples. Mongan also threw a bottle at Simon Reilly, 28, which struck Reilly's head and shattered, sending shards toward a nearby Garda. Mongan pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a suspended prison term of two and a half years, conditional on completing 240 hours of community service. The judge, Martin Nolan, rejected a request for anonymity under the Children Act, stating Mongan was not a child in the eyes of the law and that proceedings should be public.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Ronan Gormley, aged 30, received a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to assault causing harm, producing an instrument and obstructing a peace officer at Wrights Café Bar in Swords on 11 November 2013. The incident involved Gormley taking off his belt and striking Mark Rogers, who was socialising in the smoking area. Rogers sustained a 1.5‑cm wound on his left eyebrow that required stitches. Security restrained Gormley until Gardaí arrived. Gormley was described as abusive and aggressive while intoxicated, but later calm. He has paid €2,000 in compensation to Rogers and has taken steps to address his alcohol use. Judge Mary Ellen Ring, after considering Gormley's guilty plea, compensation, lack of prior convictions and his adult responsibility, imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence with the entire term suspended, directing him to engage with probation services for eighteen months.
In the Central Criminal Court, Patrick O'Connor, the brother of the deceased, testified that a week before the murder, David Cully had threatened him with a gun. O'Connor said the deceased had called him from a pub on 8 December 2013, claiming Cully was walking around with a gun. O'Connor offered to bring the deceased to his house, where Cully allegedly told his nephew he intended to shoot him. O'Connor described feeling frightened and worried. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Carroll Moran, continues with a jury of seven women and five men. Cully, 24, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for killing 41‑year‑old Edward O'Connor in his back on 15 December 2013. The DPP had decided not to prosecute the earlier allegation of sexual abuse. The case remains in court.
In the Central Criminal Court, the widow of Edward O'Connor, the 41‑year‑old victim, testified that her husband, David Cully, returned from a pub on 8 December 2013 visibly upset and frightened after Cully claimed the accused had threatened him. She recounted that Cully had entered the pub and warned her that he had a gun and intended to kill him. Cully, aged 24, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his uncle, who was shot on 15 December 2013. The trial also heard from other witnesses describing the events leading up to the shooting, including a confrontation at a yard and the subsequent gunfire that killed O'Connor. The case is proceeding before Mr Justice Carroll Moran with a jury of twelve.
An Italian man, Viorel Postolahce (32), has lost his appeal against a conviction for sexually assaulting a woman at Crosse's Green Quay on July 17, 2012. Postolahce had pleaded not guilty to the charge and was found guilty by a jury at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. He was sentenced to two-and-a-half years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, by Judge David Riordan on November 28, 2014. During the appeal, Postolahce argued that a 'cross-racial identification' parade should have been conducted and that the jury should have been discharged following the victim's evidence. The victim testified that the incident lasted ten seconds and that her car was parked halfway up a road. Mr Justice George Birmingham dismissed the appeal, stating that the victim's description was in everyday language and did not require a specific direction from the trial judge. The judge also noted that no identification parade took place, and the victim did not attempt to identify Postolahce. The appeal was dismissed by Mr Justice Birmingham, who was joined by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan and Mr Justice John Edwards.
Vasilica Stan, a 21‑year‑old Romanian who had lived in Dublin since age 14, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Haseeb Ghous and Majid Khan on 7 December 2013 at the Alchemy nightclub. He claimed he had been motivated by a text that the men had harassed a female friend, describing his actions as "misguided chivalry". The court found no physical provocation and accepted that Stan was remorseful. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence and ordered Stan to pay €2,000 to Ghous and €1,000 to Khan within a year. The assault occurred at 2:10 am; Ghous was knocked unconscious, suffered dental and facial injuries, and was treated at Mater Hospital, while Khan was hit twice, later experiencing dizziness and neck pain. Stan admitted the assault but denied kicking Khan when he was on the ground. The court received reference letters from his employer, girlfriend and landlord.
Anthony Ryan, aged 33, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and sexual assault of an 18‑year‑old woman in a Dublin suburb on 13 July 2012. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, by Ms Justice Carmel Stewart on 4 February 2014. Ryan had voluntarily paid €1,000 in compensation. On 12 June 2015, Mr Justice George Birmingham dismissed Ryan's appeal against the sentence, ruling that the four‑year custodial term was not unduly severe. The case involved Ryan following a group of women from a nightclub in Coolock, driving them to a suburb, and then assaulting the victim after she had been knocked out. Ryan was later arrested by Gardaí and found unfit for interview due to intoxication. The appeal was heard with Mr Justice John Edwards and Mr Justice Alan Mahon.
During the third day of a rape trial, Defence barrister Feargal Kavanagh SC apologized to the alleged victim after questioning her about her "promiscuity." The 27‑year‑old accused, a Dublin man, is alleged to have raped the woman in a hotel room on 27 March 2012, while a 40‑year‑old co‑accused allegedly watched and threatened her. Both men plead not guilty. Kavanagh asked the victim about her early sexual history and about decorating her private parts with glitter stickers, then apologized for using the word "promiscuity." The victim testified that she had helped the men secure a hotel room after meeting them in a pub, that she did not intend to stay or have sex, and that the first man raped her while the second laughed. She denied that any consensual sex occurred and denied learning the accused was married. The trial continues before Justice Margaret Heneghan and a jury of eight men and four women.
John Collins, 23, has filed a High Court challenge against a lower court order that bars him from all licensed premises in Dublin for six months. The order stems from a public order case in Blanchardstown District Court where Collins pleaded guilty to intoxication and threatening, abusive behaviour on 8 March at Cardiffsbridge, Finglas West. Judge Alan Mitchell fined him €200 for the behaviour and €100 for intoxication, then imposed an exclusion order under Section 3 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 2003. Collins, who had no prior convictions, argued the order is vague, disproportionate, and infringes his constitutional rights. He seeks to quash the exclusion order and other related orders. Justice Seamus Noonan granted permission for the appeal and stayed the district court order pending the High Court decision. The case remains pending.
A trial is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court involving two Dublin men, aged 27 and 40, who have pleaded not guilty to raping a woman in a room at the George Frederic Handel Hotel, Fishamble Street, in the early hours of March 27, 2012. The complainant, a homeless woman who was 22 at the time, testified that one accused physically raped her while the other looked on, laughing and smirking. She alleged the second man threatened to throw her out of a window if she reported the incident to gardaí. Prosecuting counsel Pauline Walley SC argued that the second accused was as much a perpetrator as the man who physically penetrated her. The complainant described how she met the men in a pub, helped them find a hotel room, and was subsequently pushed onto a bed and held down. Under cross-examination by Feargal Kavanagh SC, she acknowledged a history of substance use, including benzodiazepam, and admitted to hugging one accused in CCTV footage while searching for accommodation. The court heard that the first accused told gardaí the woman had consented, a claim she denied. The matter is currently before Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan and a jury of eight men and four women, with the trial continuing.
A 21‑year‑old woman, Jazmyn Draper, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to recklessly causing serious harm to Fintan Buckley and assault causing harm to Joyce Mullins after throwing a glass at Buckley's girlfriend in a nightclub. Buckley suffered partial blindness in one eye, describing a life of darkness and PTSD symptoms. Draper was identified on CCTV by her bright pink trousers and was said to have been close to the couple when she threw the glass. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted the reckless nature of the act and the remote chance of such serious injury, and, considering Draper's lack of prior convictions and cooperation, imposed a four‑year suspended sentence. The suspension lasted five years, with a €2,000 annual payment to the victim and an additional €1,500 transferred to Buckley. No further custodial term was imposed.
The trial of 26‑year‑old Celtic footballer Anthony Stokes, accused of assaulting 42‑year‑old Anthony Bradley at Buck Whaleys nightclub in June 2013, has been adjourned to 20 January 2016. Judge Patricia Ryan cited a lack of available judges and higher‑priority cases as the reason for the delay. The case was originally expected to last two days.
Richard Comerford, aged 55 and without a fixed address, had pleaded guilty in 2009 to robbery and possession of an imitation firearm at Boylesports bookmakers on Capel Street, Dublin. He was originally sentenced in February 2014 to five years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, by Judge Mary Ellen Ring. The Director of Public Prosecutions had previously argued that the sentence was unduly lenient, citing that Comerford was arrested shortly after the robbery while sitting in a pub on Capel Street with his co‑accused, drinking pints. On appeal, the three‑judge Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, found the sentence too lenient in light of his 66 prior convictions. The court therefore increased his sentence by two years, setting aside the original term and imposing a new five‑year imprisonment from the original start date, with the same suspended portion.
In a Dublin nightclub incident on 15 May 2012, mechanic Bryan Dunne, aged 34, struck former rugby player Andrew Culhane in the jaw with a single punch, fracturing it in two places. Culhane, who had been socialising with his former rugby team after a tournament win, later described the attack in court, noting the need for two metal plates, the disruption to his final master's exams, loss of confidence, and inability to play contact sports. Dunne claimed he felt threatened after being mocked in the club's toilets and pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. He had 12 prior convictions for minor road traffic offences. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan described the assault as "cowardly" and imposed a three‑year sentence, two years suspended, effectively a one‑year custodial term. The judge acknowledged the offence as a one‑off but stressed the need for punishment.
Sarah Nolan, a 22‑year‑old science student from Blackrock, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after she threw a glass at student nurse Hannah Foster at a Temple Bar nightclub on 23 September 2011. Nolan claimed she intended only to splash water over Foster, who was speaking to Nolan's late boyfriend, Ciaran Carr, but the glass struck Foster's mouth, damaging her teeth and causing nerve injury. Foster was treated at Dublin Dental University Hospital and requires costly ongoing care. Nolan, who was in her final year at Tallaght IT and had earned an An Gaisce President's Award, paid €5,000 in compensation and was sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for two years, with an additional €3,000 compensation order. The judge noted the reckless nature of the act and the pain inflicted on Foster.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 1 May 2015, five men—Brian Mongan (30), Martin Mongan (39), Simon Reilly (28), Anthony Reilly (25) and Patrick Reilly (23)—pleaded guilty to violent disorder at The Castle Inn pub in Rathfarnham on 16 October 2012. The incident began when Brian Mongan spilled a drink over Simon Reilly, leading to a confrontation that escalated into a riot involving 40 to 50 men and women. CCTV captured the men throwing glasses, chairs, fire extinguishers and other furniture, causing over €26,000 of damage. Judge Martin Nolan described the event as "12 minutes of mayhem, violence, aggression and anarchy." He imposed three‑year suspended sentences on each defendant, ordered them to pay €8,700 in restitution to the pub owners, and gave them 12 months to raise an additional €5,400. The men were otherwise described as of good character but acted "grossly reprehensibly.".
James Hogan, 39, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after a dispute over a drink at the Concorde Pub, Coolock, on 8 August 2011. Hogan had been drinking since about 12:30 and was mocked by Anthony Donegan when he did not buy a round. Hogan claimed he had done many favours for Donegan and had always repaid him. After a heated argument outside, Hogan punched Donegan in the face. Donegan fell, hit his head on steps, and was hospitalized for two months with head injuries. Hogan had no prior convictions and was unemployed at the time. He offered €5,000 in compensation and was given a four‑year suspended sentence, with the court noting the serious impact of a single punch. The sentence was imposed by Judge Martin Nolan.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, a 29‑year‑old fisherman pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault of a 58‑year‑old woman with mild intellectual disabilities and schizophrenia. The assault, which took place at the victim's home in Kerry on 29 July 2011, involved physical violence, forced sexual intercourse, and the victim's throat being held. The attacker forced his way into the house after a brief encounter at a pub, punched the victim, and used a cigarette to burn her face. DNA and a fingerprint matched the accused, and the victim's DNA was found on a memoriam card. The victim suffered bruising, abrasions, carpet burns, and difficulty swallowing. She has since lost her independence and her role in the community centre, and she feels frightened and guilty about the incident. The court remanded the accused in continuing custody for sentencing in July, after a guilty plea was entered and a victim impact report was presented.
Bernard Foran, 41, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three and a half years' imprisonment for a series of burglaries, including the theft of €27,000 from Bad Bobs Nightclub's safe in 2013. Foran had 157 prior convictions, 60 of which were burglaries, and was on bail for five years during which he committed two additional burglaries. He pleaded guilty to trespass and theft at O'Neill's Pub in 2009, Bad Bobs Nightclub in 2013, and Lynams Hotel in 2014. Gardaí recovered no cash from the burglaries, despite searching three addresses linked to Foran. The judge noted his severe addiction problems and expressed hope for reform, while his defence counsel highlighted his attempts at rehabilitation and the offer of residential treatment. The court imposed consecutive terms totalling three and a half years, with the possibility of future rehabilitation support.
Craig O'Halloran, 22, was found not guilty of murdering Kevin Kenny, 32, outside Ruby Finnegans pub in Inchicore on 31 July 2011. The trial, lasting one and a half weeks, examined CCTV footage of a struggle and a subsequent gathering around Kenny after he collapsed. Forensic evidence identified a stab wound to the heart as the cause of death. The jury, composed of five men and seven women, returned a not‑guilty verdict after more than three hours of deliberation. Justice Patrick McCarthy discharged O'Halloran and exempted the jury from service for ten years.
Four Dublin men—Graham Farrell (32), Christopher Waldron (33), David Waldron (38) and Mark Buckley (33)—were jailed for two years each after pleading guilty to violent disorder at Cabra House on 16 August 2013. The incident involved the men arriving in two cars, armed with a wheel brace and a hand saw, and attacking a victim inside the pub. CCTV footage showed them beating the victim, using a pint glass, a bar stool and the wheel brace, and continuing the assault outside after forcing the victim out. The victim sustained serious injuries but did not cooperate with Gardaí. Judge Martin Nolan described the attack as intentional, pre‑meditated and organised. The prosecution relied on the CCTV evidence, and the men's guilty pleas secured the sentences. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
During the murder trial of Craig O'Halloran, the jury heard that Garda Lynn Johnson examined a "trail of blood" outside Ruby Finnegan's pub, where the victim, Kevin Kenny, had been drinking before his death. The report, read by prosecuting counsel, described evidence bags along the footpath and a concentrated blood stain in the carpark. Johnson also recovered a SIM card at the scene. The jury saw the shirt worn by Kenny on the day of the fatal stabbing. A medical report from Dr. Nigel Salter, read by counsel, stated that Kenny arrived at St James' Hospital's Accident and Emergency at 21:25 with a lower chest wound, was unresponsive, and was resuscitated for 45 minutes without success before being pronounced dead. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court, continues before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of five men and seven women. Craig O'Halloran pleaded not guilty.
During the trial of Craig O'Halloran, a 21‑year‑old from Portlaoise, a witness, Stephen Kenny, testified that he saw his brother Kevin Kenny, aged 32, stabbed four times by O'Halloran on 31 July 2011 at the Sarsfield Road in Ballyfermot. Kenny described a confrontation that began in the Old Dubliner pub, involving a man named Robert Ellis who allegedly threatened to use a shotgun. Kenny claimed that O'Halloran, armed with a knife about six to seven inches long, approached and stabbed Kevin in the upper left area of the body, an act that lasted five to ten seconds. Kenny said he attempted to help Kevin, who collapsed and was later taken to hospital. CCTV footage was shown to the jury, and the trial continues before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy. Craig O'Halloran pleaded not guilty.