The jury in the murder trial of 24‑year‑old Calvin Dunne, accused of killing Dylan McCarthy during a melee outside a pub in Kildare on 22 August 2022, will begin deliberations next week. The State alleges Mr McCarthy died after receiving punches and a "vicious kick" to the head from Mr Dunne while he was trying to rise. Mr Dunne claims he acted in self‑defence, stating he was drawn into the fight when Dylan and his party were "out of control and extremely violent." He says he only struck Dylan after Dylan attempted to hit Sean Kavanagh, and that he "lightly kicked" Dylan in what he believed to be the chest area. The jury has heard that a state pathologist could not determine whether a punch or kick caused the fatal injury. Sean Kavanagh pleaded guilty. Calvin Dunne pleaded not guilty.
The jury in the trial of three men accused of raping and sexually assaulting a woman they met at a Dublin nightclub has been instructed to pause deliberations for the bank holiday weekend. The men, aged 39, 42 and 34, have pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape, oral rape and sexual assault, involving a car and a Dublin house on 31 August 2019. After about four hours of discussion, Mr Justice Paul Burns directed the jury to resume on the following Tuesday.
The jury in the trial of three men accused of raping and sexually assaulting a woman at a Dublin nightclub remains in deliberation. The defendants, aged 39, 42 and 34, have pleaded not guilty to seven counts, including rape, oral rape and sexual assault at an unknown location, a car and a Dublin house on 31 August 2019. Jurors spent about four and a half hours today considering their verdicts. Judge Paul Burns instructed them to pause for the day and resume tomorrow to continue their deliberations.
The trial of Calvin Dunne, 24, accused of the murder of Dylan McCarthy, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Dunne, of Monasterevin, Co Kildare, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr McCarthy on or about August 22, 2022, and to violent disorder on August 21, 2022, at Dublin Road, Monasterevin. His co-accused, Sean Kavanagh, 26, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on Eamon McCarthy, the deceased's father, on the same date and location; a charge of violent disorder was taken into consideration. The judge directed the jury to find Kavanagh not guilty of the murder charge he had denied. Defence counsel argued that Dunne acted in self-defence and that the jury must acquit if there is any doubt regarding whether Dunne kicked the deceased in the face or chest. The State alleges the kick to the head caused death, while the defence cites pathologist evidence that the cause of fatal injury is indistinguishable. The judge outlined three possible verdicts: guilty of murder, guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. The matter is currently at the trial stage, with the judge's legal charge to the jury continuing.
The jury has begun deliberations in a trial involving three men accused of raping and sexually assaulting a woman they met at a Dublin nightclub nearly six years ago. The defendants, aged 39, 42, and 34, each pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of rape, oral rape, and sexual assault, with alleged incidents occurring in a car and a Dublin house on 31 August 2019. Mr Justice Paul Burns delivered his charge to the jury at the Central Criminal Court and, after about an hour of discussion, instructed the jurors to pause for the day and resume tomorrow.
Sean Kavanagh (26) was found not guilty of murder by direction of the trial judge, but remains in the case until the jury gives a verdict. He and co‑accused Calvin Dunne (24) pleaded not guilty to the murder of Dylan McCarthy (29) and to violent disorder on 21 August 2022. Kavanagh pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Eamon McCarthy. He claimed he was defending himself after a fight spilled onto the street from the Bellyard pub, stating a large man in his 50s had attacked him and he responded to protect a friend. The prosecution argued that McCarthy died after punches and a "vicious kick" from Dunne, citing CCTV and a pathologist's report of a tear to the vertebral artery. The trial continues tomorrow.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a woman alleged she was raped and sexually assaulted by three men she met at a nightclub. The prosecution presented her testimony as "dignified and credible," emphasizing that she did not consent. Defence counsel argued her memory was unreliable and that the men's accounts were more consistent with the evidence. The three accused, aged 34 to 42, pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape, oral rape and sexual assault, involving incidents in a car and a Dublin house on 31 August 2019. The trial examined CCTV footage, WhatsApp messages, and video clips recorded by the accused, with counsel from each side questioning the reliability of the woman's statements and the interpretation of the evidence. The case remains ongoing.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, DNA profiles matching two of the three men accused of raping a woman at a Dublin nightclub were found on her clothing. The forensic examiner reported saliva and seminal fluid on the bra and underwear, with DNA from the first and third accused identified, while the second's DNA was not found. Whatsapp exchanges showed the men arranged to meet the day before their September 2020 Garda interviews. The accused, aged 34 to 42, pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape, oral rape and sexual assault at an unknown location, a car and a Dublin house on 31 August 2019. The prosecution's case has rested; the trial continues before Mr Justice Burns and a jury.
In a Central Criminal Court jury hearing, State pathologist Dr Heidi Okkers confirmed that 29‑year‑old Dylan McCarthy died from a traumatic head and spinal injury caused by blunt force trauma, but she could not identify whether a punch or a kick caused the fatal blow. The State alleges McCarthy was assaulted outside a pub in Kildare by Sean Kavanagh (26) and Calvin Dunne (24), who claim self‑defence, and that McCarthy was also involved in the violence that night. Both men pleaded not guilty to murder, violent disorder and, in Kavanagh's case, assault causing harm to McCarthy's father. Dr Okkers described extensive haemorrhaging, brain swelling, and spinal cord damage, noting that CCTV made it impossible to determine the specific blow that caused the fatal injury. The trial will resume next Monday before Justice Caroline Biggs and a 12‑person jury.
A trial heard that gardai reviewed approximately 160 hours of CCTV footage during the investigation into the alleged rape and sexual assault of a woman by three men she met in a Dublin nightclub. The three accused men, aged 34 to 42 with addresses in Dublin and Wicklow, have pleaded not guilty to a total of seven counts of rape, oral rape, and sexual assault alleged to have occurred on August 31, 2019, in a car and a Dublin house. The first accused, aged 39, pleaded not guilty to one count of raping the woman in his home address, one count of oral rape, and one count of sexually assaulting her in a car. The second accused, aged 42, pleaded not guilty to one count of raping the woman in the car and one count of raping her in the house. The third accused, aged 34, pleaded not guilty to orally raping the woman in the house and sexually assaulting her in the car. Evidence indicated that CCTV was used to identify the vehicle, a Volkswagen SUV registered to the second accused, and to trace its journey. A 15-minute compilation was shown to the jury. The complainant alleged she may have been drugged, though no evidence of this was found in the footage. The matter was adjourned, and the trial continues.
The trial heard that the housemate of a woman who claims she was raped and sexually assaulted by three men at a nightclub had no concerns for her friend's safety when she left the club. The housemate testified that she and the complainant had drinks and socialised on 30 August 2019 before the complainant went to the nightclub. She recalled the club was busy and that they danced near others but not with them. The housemate said the complainant called her the next morning, saying she had been raped, and that she had sent a location pin. She described the complainant's accounts of being taken to a car and a house where the men allegedly raped her, and of the complainant's attempts to fight back. The housemate's statements were cross‑examined by counsel for each of the three accused men, who all pleaded not guilty to the seven counts of rape, oral rape and sexual assault.
A woman denied that any consensual sexual contact occurred with the three men accused of raping and sexually assaulting her. The men, aged 34 to 42, have pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape, oral rape and sexual assault at an unknown location in a car and in a Dublin house on 31 August 2019. In her direct evidence, the woman said she was out socialising with a friend when she met the men at a Dublin nightclub, that she believed she had been drugged, and that she was raped twice in a vehicle she thought was a taxi and once in a bed in a house with a man on top of her. She woke the next morning in bed with a man sleeping beside her before leaving the house. She stated she had no recollection of any consensual sexual activity with any of the accused and that she did not remember any conversation with them.
In a Central Criminal Court case, two men, Sean Kavanagh (26) and Calvin Dunne (24), charged with the murder of Dylan McCarthy (29) in Monasterevin on 22 August 2022, claim they acted in self‑defence. The prosecution contends McCarthy died after receiving punches from Kavanagh and a kick to the head from Dunne while he was on the ground. McCarthy was taken to hospital the next day and pronounced dead. The State presented CCTV footage and testimony that Kavanagh and Dunne were present at the pub, that McCarthy was involved in a fight, and that Dunne delivered a "running kick" to McCarthy's exposed head. The jury heard that McCarthy suffered a subdural haemorrhage, and the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused intended to kill or cause serious injury. The trial continues before Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury of ten men and two women. Sean Kavanagh pleaded not guilty. Calvin Dunne pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a woman accused three men of rape and sexual assault. She testified that she believed she was drugged after leaving a pub with a housemate on 30 August 2019, and that she was subsequently raped in a vehicle and again in a house. She described feeling "faded and hazy" and that a "bag of white powder" was nearby. The men, aged 34 to 42 and residing in Dublin and Wicklow, pleaded not guilty to seven counts including rape, oral rape and sexual assault in a car and a house. The case is before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury, with the trial ongoing. The woman made a complaint at a Garda station and was examined at the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit. The trial continues.
Three men aged 34 to 42, living in Dublin and Wicklow, have pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape, oral rape and sexual assault against a woman they met in a Dublin nightclub. The alleged assaults took place on 31 August 2019 at an unknown location in a car and in a Dublin house. The first defendant, 39, is accused of raping the woman in his home, orally raping her and assaulting her in a car. The second, 42, is accused of raping her in the car and in the house. The third, 34, is accused of orally raping her in the house and assaulting her in the car. The prosecution says the woman's recollection is fragmented and that she was highly intoxicated. CCTV from the nightclub shows the woman entering a car with the three men, and the car is registered to the 42‑year‑old.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Sharon Hickey, 45, pleaded guilty to possessing 2.9 kg of heroin for sale or supply outside the Lamplighter pub on 12 April 2022. The heroin, worth €417,480, was found in a green Aldi bag given to her by co‑accused Gregory Dunne, who also handed her €500 in cash. Hickey had been told to hide the drugs to reduce a debt from bills, credit cards and drugs, and was promised the cash in exchange. She admitted the offence, expressed regret and remorse, and has since become drug‑free, is fully employed and her risk of reoffending has fallen from moderate to low. Judge Elma Sheahan, after a year's adjournment, imposed a headline sentence of five years, but suspended a three‑year term in full for four years, citing her progress and rehabilitation. The case remains adjourned for finalisation.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the State presented Maurice Boland (37) as a drunken aggressor who pursued and struck Cian Gallagher (26) after Gallagher left a pub in Tallow. Prosecutor Bernard Condon SC argued that Boland's intent was to inflict serious injury, citing Boland's remarks about wanting to "be like Conor McGregor" and his aggressive behaviour earlier that evening. He described the incident as a pursuit rather than a fight, noting that Gallagher was "set upon" and knocked down by a "killer punch" that caused him to hit his head. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC contended that Boland was guilty of unlawful killing, not murder, because there was no evidence of intent to kill or cause serious harm. The judge instructed the jury that a verdict of murder requires proof of intent to kill or serious injury, and the jury will deliberate tomorrow. Maurice Boland pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin pub incident, 23‑year‑old Raul Poama, intoxicated, was denied entry to Fibber Magees around 11.40 pm. He punched a manager, causing swelling, then fled. A security guard attempted to apprehend him; Poama screamed, bit the guard on the chest and stomach, leaving bite marks. Neither victim required medical treatment and both declined victim impact statements. Poama pleaded guilty to two counts of common assault on 3 December 2023. Judge Orla Crowe, noting the incident was "unedifying" and "very sorry", imposed a three‑month sentence suspended on strict conditions for two years. Poama had no prior convictions, had brought €2,000 to court as a gesture of remorse, and the judge directed €1,000 to the manager and the remainder to charity. No medical or further legal actions were reported beyond the suspended sentence.
A pregnant bar supervisor in Cavan has been awarded €18,000 by the Workplace Relations Commission after successfully claiming discrimination following her dismissal. The worker was let go by Brandon Taverns Ltd, operator of the Imperial nightclub in Cavan Town, in November 2023, just five days after informing her line manager of her pregnancy. The company later cited unproven allegations of sexual misconduct by a male colleague as justification for the termination, allegations that had never been raised during the worker's employment. The WRC adjudicator found the allegations constituted an attempt to retrospectively justify the dismissal and determined the worker had been discriminated against on grounds of pregnancy in breach of the Employment Equality Act 1998. The adjudicator also found the employer had breached statutory obligations regarding provision of written employment terms. Brandon Taverns Ltd was ordered to pay €17,500 compensation for the equality breach and a further €500 for the statutory breach.
Alan Ecock, a banker who had worked part‑time as a barman at Kavanagh's Pub in Stoneybatter, was dismissed by Allied Irish Banks (AIB) in December 2023 after a senior manager read a news report about his earlier unfair dismissal from the pub. The WRC found that the pub dismissal was "heartless" and "completely unlawful." Ecock has now lodged further complaints under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 and the Redundancy Payments Act 1967. AIB lawyers argued that Ecock had denied working at the pub when questioned, but later recanted when confronted with evidence. Ecock's solicitor said he had been honest about his pub work, which had not breached his banking contract. The tribunal heard that Ecock's dismissal followed an internal investigation that found he had provided false information about his pub involvement and bank‑system access. The case was adjourned for further testimony.
A plumber, Gavin Dennan, 39, was given a three‑year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to assault causing harm for head‑butting a man in a pub toilet on St Patrick's Day. The victim suffered a mild brain bleed after being knocked to the ground outside the Grange pub in Deansgrange. Judge Pauline Codd ordered Dennan to pay €1,000 to the victim as a token of remorse, with the money going to a charity if the victim declined. Dennan, who had no prior convictions and was described as a family man, expressed remorse and said he acted out of character after a heated argument about Irish traditional music. The court heard that the victim was heavily intoxicated, was hospitalized, and later recovered, but did not file a victim impact report. Ten testimonials supporting Dennan's good character were presented. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 10 June 2024, George Murray, aged 55, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for possessing a realistic imitation firearm with intent to threaten. The incident occurred on 16 December 2020 at Maye's Public House, a long‑standing pub on Dorset Street, when Murray brandished a replica Glock handgun at proprietor Tom Maye, 70, and threatened to "blow his head off." Maye, who had run the pub for 31 years, was forced to close the business after the event. Murray, who has 57 prior convictions and a history of schizoaffective disorder and substance abuse, pleaded guilty to the charge. Gardaí arrested him after a panic button was pressed and the replica gun was confiscated. The judge, Pauline Codd, reduced an initial headline sentence of seven years to four, back‑dating it to November 2023. Murray acknowledged the incident and expressed "fair play" to the judge.".
The Workplace Relations Commission ruled it had no authority to decide a discrimination claim lodged by Emily Brady, a hearing‑impaired patron, against the Dublin restaurant 777 on George's Street. Brady alleged that the venue's sound system was "obscenely loud" and that staff refused to lower the volume when she requested it, claiming the music was part of the restaurant's vibe. She filed a complaint under the Equal Status Act 2000, stating she could not converse with friends and had to hand over orders. The restaurant's management, represented by JFR Ltd., denied the allegations, asserting the sound system automatically adjusted to the premises' busyness and would not interfere with conversation. The manager, Pepé Rodriguez, and waitress Christine Noguera denied that Brady had disclosed her disability, contrary to Brady's testimony. The adjudicator, David James Murphy, noted that the Equal Status Act's jurisdiction does not extend to licensed premises, and therefore the WRC could not rule on the matter.
Eamon Larkin, a 69‑year‑old man from Kilcock, was found guilty of possession of cocaine for sale or supply on 12 June 2023. Gardaí stopped a Skoda in Ashbourne, discovering six kilos of cocaine in the boot, valued at €420,000. Larkin admitted he was approached in a pub and offered €200 to transport the drugs, though he claimed he did not know the type of drug. CCTV showed him swapping vehicles with another man at a petrol station an hour before the Skoda was seized. He has six prior road‑traffic convictions and has been living in Portugal. The court noted his poor physical and mental health, financial pressure, and long work history. Judge Martin Nolan accepted the guilty plea and mitigation, sentencing Larkin to two years' imprisonment. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence while considering his health and cooperation.
Paul Dundon, 39, received a fully suspended sentence of three years and three months for biting part of Dean Kelly's ear off during a vicious fight outside a Waterford nightclub on 27 June 2018. The Court of Appeal upheld the judge's decision to suspend the entire sentence, noting Dundon's nine prior convictions and a later fully suspended sentence for a separate incident. The appeal argued the sentence was unduly lenient, citing the permanent disfigurement of Kelly's ear and Dundon's late guilty plea. The court found the judge had correctly weighed mitigation factors such as Dundon's remorse, apology letter, fatherhood, good work history, low reoffending risk and counselling attendance. The appeal was dismissed, with the court affirming the suspended sentence was not unduly lenient despite the brutal nature of the assault.
In a High Court hearing, Kevin McCarthy and Wealth Options Trustees Ltd claim that a Tallaght pub was "completely stripped bare" of equipment, fixtures and fittings worth €250,000 after the departure of a previous tenant. The plaintiffs allege that MPK Bars Limited and its director Kevin O'Shea, who leased the premises from the former tenant in 2018, removed the items without consent. The pub, located at Tuansgate, Begard Square East, covers 1,450 square metres over two floors and a basement, and holds a seven‑day publican's licence. The removal allegedly occurred in late 2023, after the parties could not agree on a new lease. McCarthy says the loss of the equipment will cost €250,000 to replace and could jeopardise licence renewal in September. He seeks an injunction to restore the property and a return of the licence. The case was adjourned to a later date this month.
Richard Green, former operations manager at Tramline Taverns Limited, won €35,645 after a tribunal found his dismissal was not a genuine redundancy but a guise to remove him following a triple heart bypass. Green, who earned €1,000 a week, had informed the director of his upcoming surgery in early 2022. He claimed the director's behaviour changed abruptly, using his illness as a pretext to keep him out of work. Green's evidence included text messages and a lack of a promised review report. In December 2022, he was told his role would be made redundant and was escorted off the premises. The tribunal, hearing only Green's uncontested evidence, concluded that he was still fit to work and that the dismissal was unlawful. Mr McGrath awarded €27,645 for unfair dismissal and €8,000 for disability discrimination, totaling €35,645.
On the day the inquest jury declared that all 48 young people who died in the Stardust nightclub fire were unlawfully killed, families gathered to express relief and demand an apology from the Irish State. Alison Croker, sister of 18‑year‑old Jacqueline, said the verdict gave her family vindication and called for a formal apology for the systematic abuse endured. Other relatives, including Louise McDermott, Antoinette Keegan, Samantha Curran, Susan Behan, Pat Dunne, Siobhán Kearney, Lisa Lawlor, Selina McDermott, Margaret Nangle, Phyllis McHugh and Maurice Frazer, shared personal grief and praised the coroner and jury for their work. Solicitor Darragh Mackin noted that the record had been corrected, affirming that the 48 were unlawfully killed and that families had not given up over four decades.
The High Court and coroner's court have examined competing legal arguments regarding the scope of verdicts available to the jury in the resumed inquest into the 48 deaths at the Stardust nightclub fire. The new inquests, which commenced in April 2023 at the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin, followed a 2019 direction by the then Attorney General that fresh proceedings were necessary due to insufficient examination of the fire's circumstances at the original 1982 inquiry. Former Stardust manager Eamon Butterly challenged the coroner's decision to permit a potential unlawful killing verdict, arguing it would identify him as subject to censure. In November 2022, Mr Justice Charles Meenan rejected this challenge, confirming such a verdict could lawfully be available provided no individual remained identifiable as censurable. Following the conclusion of evidence, Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane received further submissions from interested parties. She ultimately ruled that an unlawful killing verdict could be placed before the jury, applying a beyond-reasonable-doubt standard of proof. The available verdicts were determined as accidental death, misadventure, unlawful killing, narrative, and open verdict.
The Stardust fire of 1981, which claimed the lives of 48 young people, was the subject of a lengthy inquest that examined the events leading up to the tragedy. Survivors and witnesses described the chaos and confusion as the fire broke out, with many trapped by locked exit doors and unable to escape the rapidly spreading flames. The inquest revealed that the Stardust nightclub had serious fire safety issues, including locked exits, inadequate fire training for staff, and the use of highly flammable materials. Survivors recounted the horror of the fire, with some describing the intense heat, the collapse of the ceiling, and the suffocating smoke. The inquest also heard evidence about the practice of 'mock locking' exit doors, which gave the appearance of being locked when they were not. This practice, along with the failure to follow fire safety regulations, was a major factor in the high death toll.
Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane presided over the conclusion of the longest inquest in Irish history, where a jury found that all 48 victims of the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire were unlawfully killed. After deliberating for 11 days, the panel returned majority verdicts to the Dublin District Coroner's Court, determining that the fire was caused by an electrical fault in the hot press of the dispense bar. The jury established that the victims' escape was impeded by locked or obstructed emergency exits, lack of staff preparedness, and the rapid spread of fire and toxic smoke. They found that these factors contributed to the deaths, with the majority dying from rapid incapacitation due to fumes and heat. The jury also recommended frequent revision of building regulations and improved inspection targets for places of public resort. Dr Cullinane thanked the jury for their service and acknowledged the persistence of the victims' families, who campaigned for decades to secure these fresh inquests. The proceedings, which began in April last year, heard evidence from 373 witnesses over 95 days. The coroner noted that the unlawful killing verdict indicated the law had been broken in a serious fashion, a finding distinct from accidental death or misadventure. The families expressed profound appreciation for the meticulous work of the coroner and the dedication of the jury, who delivered the verdicts that vindicated the lives of the 48 young people who lost their lives on Valentine's Day, 1981.
Almost a year after the inquests into the deaths of the 48 victims of the Stardust nightclub fire began, the jury in the Dublin District Coroner's Court told coroner Dr Myra Cullinane that they had reached a majority verdict, which will be delivered tomorrow. The jury, composed of seven women and five men, had been unable to reach a unanimous verdict after 11 days of deliberations into the circumstances of the deaths that occurred when fire swept through the Stardust nightclub on the early hours of 14 February 1981. Dr Cullinane explained that the law allows a majority verdict when at least seven jurors agree, and she confirmed that the jury had indeed reached such a verdict. She deferred the announcement of the verdicts and findings to allow administrative matters to be addressed and to give interested parties and family members the opportunity to attend court or observe the proceedings online.
During a murder trial, a barman testified that on the night of the killing he had conversations with the deceased about Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine. The jury heard that the accused, Maurice Boland, 36, had replied to a Garda's caution that he was "onto" the deceased about Russians. Boland pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of Cian Gallagher, 26, who died from a brain bleed eight days after being punched by Boland in early November 2022. Prosecutor Roisin Lacey SC described how Boland boasted of knocking Gallagher out and compared himself to UFC fighter Conor McGregor. Witnesses, including the pub owner Ann O'Brien and barmaid Maggie O'Leary, confirmed that the deceased had been drinking and that Boland was highly intoxicated when he entered the pub. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of eight men and four women.
On its sixth day of deliberations, the 12‑person jury in the Stardust inquest asked Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane for further legal guidance. The questions focused on the meaning of "standards" at the time of the 1981 fire that killed 48 people at the Stardust nightclub in Artane. The jury sought clarification on whether standards referred to normal behaviour or to codified laws, regulations or byelaws. Dr Cullinane said she would answer the questions the following day, after which the jury would resume its deliberations in the Pillar Room of the Rotunda Hospital.
Jason Owens, a 34‑year‑old former Irish taekwondo international, pleaded guilty in June 2023 to assaulting Conor Kelly in a pub toilet on New Year's Day 2020, causing life‑threatening injuries. The trial judge sentenced him to 2½ years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, after a pre‑mitigation headline of seven years. The State appealed, arguing the sentence was too lenient, citing a 50 % global reduction and the late guilty plea. The Court of Appeal, hearing the case in April 2024, dismissed the appeal. Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh upheld the 2½‑year term, noting mitigating factors such as Owens' first‑time offender status, late plea, apology, compensation and psychological issues. The court also recorded that Owens had paid €10 000 to Kelly, which was donated to Acquired Brain Injury Ireland. No further sentence adjustments were made.
During the fourth day of deliberations in the Dublin District Coroner's Court, the jury investigating the Stardust nightclub fire was informed by coroner Dr Myra Cullinane that they could not formally add an unborn baby as a 49th victim. Dr Cullinane explained that the inquest's remit, directed by the attorney general, covers only the 48 individuals who died in the 1981 blaze. She noted that if any deceased was in early pregnancy, the jury could record this fact on the individual questionnaire, possibly as an addendum to question three regarding cause of death, but this would not change the number of victims. The jury's role remains to determine identity, date, place, and circumstances of each of the 48 deaths and to record a verdict such as accidental death, misadventure, open, narrative, or unlawful killing. The jury will resume deliberations the following day in the Pillar Room of Rotunda Hospital.
The coroner in the Stardust fire inquest has informed the jury that firefighters described encountering an 'inferno' at the scene. The first fire engine arrived at the Stardust nightclub in Artane at 1.50am on February 14, 1981. One firefighter stated that the Stardust fire was the worst tragedy he had ever encountered in his 15 years of service. Another firefighter described seeing an inferno at exit door four, while another noted that the roof was gone and flames were visible. The fire was reportedly out of control before the firefighters arrived, with the inside of the building evenly burned. It was not until 2.54am that the fire was brought under control. Evidence indicated that many of the deceased were found near exit door five and the centre of the dance floor. Assistant station officer evidence suggested that only those in sheltered areas, such as the toilets, could be rescued.
The State has applied to the Court of Appeal to increase the 2½‑year jail sentence imposed on Jason Owens, a former Irish taekwondo international, for striking Conor Kelly in a pub toilet on New Year's Day 2020. Owens pleaded guilty in June 2023, and Judge Martin Nolan had sentenced him to 3½ years with the final 12 months suspended. The State argues the headline sentence of seven years was too low and that the 50 % reduction for mitigating factors was unduly lenient, citing Owens' late guilty plea, lack of prior convictions and a letter of apology. The Court of Appeal, hearing evidence of the assault, the serious head injury sustained by Kelly, and mitigating circumstances such as Owens' remorse and psychological issues, has adjourned the decision to 9 April 2024. The case remains at the appeal stage, with no final judgment yet issued.
In the final stage of the Stardust nightclub inquest, lawyers for the bereaved families urged the jury to return a verdict of unlawful killing. Michael O'Higgins SC highlighted the credibility of club manager Eamon Butterly as "shredded beyond redemption," citing contradictory evidence about exit‑door locking and the lack of fire‑safety supervision. He argued that the verdict should focus on how the victims died rather than assigning blame. Des Fahy KC stressed that a culture of door‑locking had existed for years, with doormen trained only to simulate locked exits, and that this failure, along with unsuitable carpet tiles and inadequate staff preparation, contributed to the deaths. Both counsel called for the jury to acknowledge the unlawful nature of the deaths and restore dignity to the 48 victims. The inquest will continue tomorrow at the Rotunda Hospital.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 6 March 2024, Niall Brooks, aged 26, was sentenced to three years and three months' imprisonment for his role in an unprovoked mob attack on a nightclub bouncer at Buzz nightclub, Red Cow Moran Hotel, on 9 November 2019. Brooks pleaded guilty to an amended charge of assault with intent to commit violent disorder after initially denying assault causing harm. He received a two‑year sentence for the nightclub assault and a consecutive 15‑month sentence for possessing 150 g of crack cocaine for sale or supply, found in an air vent in his kitchen. The court noted that the security guard suffered a punctured lung, three stab wounds to his back, two fractured ribs and a fractured elbow, and that the attack involved a group of six to ten men, including Brandon Brooks, who had previously been sentenced for assault in the same incident.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Shane Byrne (35) and his brother Luke (28) pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and criminal damage after a St Stephen's Day incident at Boomers Bar, Woodford Walk, Clondalkin. The brothers, who had been refused further drinks, entered the pub, damaged the exterior and several parked cars, and then attempted to re‑enter after the pub was closed. A customer tried to stop Luke, who pushed him to the ground, causing a 90‑degree ankle twist and a bad fracture that required surgery. Both brothers then kicked and punched the victim, who was off work for three and a half months. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Shane to 16 months in prison, describing him as the "initiator" of the "obstreperous behaviour", while Luke received a fully suspended 16‑month sentence and was ordered to pay €4,000 to the victim or a charity of the victim's choice.
During the Stardust inquest, Chief Fire Officer Dennis Keeley testified that the increase in Dublin Fire Brigade stations and personnel since 1981 was largely a response to the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire that killed 48 people. He explained that the brigade now collects detailed building information—maps, hydrant locations, high‑risk facilities—from owners before incidents, and that this data is available to crews en route, shortening the "get to work" phase. Keeley noted that the brigade conducts unannounced inspections on about 70% of licence applications each year, visiting premises at least once every two years, and that 80‑90% of inspections are unannounced. He said the Dublin major emergency plan is rarely declared, recalling the 1987 Raglan House explosion as the last instance. Keeley also discussed the impact of the Building Control Act Regulations, the benefits of third‑party sign‑off, and the need for more frequent regulatory reviews.
Fergal McGrath, a carpet salesman, was dismissed by Lynfrae Trading Company Ltd (trading as Kashan Carpets) after his former boss accused him of misusing a company credit card for cigarettes, lotto tickets and pub expenses. The Workplace Relations Commission found the disciplinary process fundamentally flawed: no written notice of allegations, no notes taken, no appeal provision, and the same person who made the charges acted as the disciplinary officer. McGrath claimed the pub expenses were for missed lunches during delivery runs and that the cigarette and lotto purchase was a one‑off mistake he would have reimbursed. He also argued that the company's van was damaged while he was driving and that he had no knowledge of the damage until later. The tribunal awarded him €18,000 for unfair dismissal, covering almost six months of losses. The decision highlighted the employer's procedural failures and the lack of a proper disciplinary procedure.
An expert witness has stated that the architects of the Stardust nightclub had 'little or no knowledge of fire safety', which, combined with the lack of a functioning fire alarm and obstructed exits, contributed to the loss of life during the 1981 fire. Martin Davidson, a fire engineer with 29 years of experience, testified that the layout of the Stardust was 'fundamentally okay' but was undermined by poor fire safety strategy. He explained that the fire alarm only sent a signal to the management office and did not sound for patrons, a decision made at the insistence of Dublin Corporation to avoid panic, but which delayed evacuation. Davidson noted that most patrons did not realize the severity of the situation until screens were raised in the area where the fire was first observed. He also highlighted that the presence of carpet tiles on the walls rendered the means of escape redundant and that staff had no fire safety training.
The Stardust management only complied with ten of 26 by-laws set down as terms of the nightclub's planning permission, an inquest jury has heard, with a lack of fire drills, lack of staff training, and the locking and obstructing of exits all showing non-compliance. Martin Davidson, a fire engineer with 29 years of experience, gave evidence in the Dublin District Coroner's Court during the inquest into the fire that killed 48 people in 1981. He stated that no revised drawings were submitted showing the use of carpet tiles on the walls instead of plastered walls. Doors were fitted with metal shutters that were fully down and locked, and temporary barriers were used, reducing exit width. Chains and padlocks were used on exit doors, which were not secured by automatic fastenings as required. Stardust manager Eamon Butterly confirmed that exits one, five and six were locked until between 11.30pm and midnight.
Charlie Lawlor, 21, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to a woman and assaulting her partner during an incident on 11 August 2022 in Church Street, Dun Laoghaire. The attack followed a dispute with his girlfriend after they had been chatting with a gay couple in a local pub. Lawlor threw homophobic slurs such as "fuck the gays" and "dirty gays" and punched one woman, causing a facial laceration that required surgery and numerous stitches in her mouth. The other woman suffered bruising to her face. The court heard the victims were emotionally scarred and that one woman was left with a permanent facial scar. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Lawlor to two and a half years, fully suspended, and ordered him to pay €7,000 to the more seriously injured woman and €1,000 to the other within nine months, with compensation to a charity if declined. Lawlor expressed remorse and is studying for a PLC course.
During the Stardust inquest, expert witness Dr Will Hutchinson, a fire investigator with 23 years of experience, stated that an electrical fault in a hot press was a likely cause of the 1981 nightclub fire that killed 48 people. He explained that defects in the electrical installation, including overloading of circuits and a removed plastic cover on the hot press's upper immersion unit, could have produced excess heat and ignited the wiring. The presence of combustible carpet tiles on the walls, combined with a low ceiling, contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. Dr Hutchinson confirmed that PVC-coated seats could ignite from flaming droplets, and that the carpet tiles' ignition increased heat output, leading to the uncontrolled blaze. The inquest will continue tomorrow in the Rotunda Hospital's Pillar Room.
During the Dublin District Coroner's Court inquest into the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire, expert witness Dr Will Hutchinson testified that no accelerant was found and there was no evidence the fire in the west alcove was caused by arson. He explained that the Gardaí investigation had focused on the alcove, where the fire was first seen, and that samples taken over three days revealed no arson‑related substances. Hutchinson noted that witnesses who reported seeing a fire outside the club were observing a separate blaze, likely in the roof space, and that the timing of calls to emergency services supported this. He also discussed the possibility of expanded polystyrene insulation (Polyzote) on heating ducts as a potential fuel source, but confirmed no evidence of deliberate ignition in the alcove. The inquest will resume next Monday.
During the inquest into the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire, expert witness Dr Will Hutchinson explained that the blaze would have been less likely to spread if carpet tiles had not been present on the walls. He noted that a low ceiling, foam on the seats, burning droplets, and the presence of carpet tiles all contributed to the rapid spread of the fire, which killed 48 people. Dr Hutchinson described how the fire may have originated in the west alcove or the hot press, and how heat from the low ceiling intensified the blaze. He also discussed the role of the hot press's immersion heater, the potential for electrical faults, and the impact of the ceiling's height on heat radiation. The inquest will continue tomorrow in the Pillar Room of the Rotunda Hospital.
During the Stardust inquest, Dr Will Hutchinson, a fire investigator with 23 years of experience, presented expert testimony on possible origins of the nightclub fire. He suggested the fire could have started in a hot press, where electrical connections to immersion heaters may have had issues, or in the West alcove, where carpet tiles on the walls were a critical factor in rapid spread. He noted no evidence of resistive heating at a West alcove socket and no fuel in the ceiling void, making a fire there unlikely. The expert reviewed video recreations and expert reports, highlighting the role of carpet tiles in spontaneous ignition of seats and the rapid development of thick black smoke. He concluded that, due to severe damage and conflicting witness evidence, the exact area of origin could not be determined with certainty. The inquest will continue tomorrow.