Miriam O'Callaghan, a broadcaster, has filed a High Court claim against Facebook and Instagram for defamation. She alleges that false adverts appeared on social media in May 2018, using her image and name to promote a skincare range she did not endorse. The ads falsely claimed she had left her RTE position to focus on the product, described as a scam. Users who clicked were offered free trials that allegedly debited their bank accounts without authorization. O'Callaghan seeks a permanent injunction to stop the adverts and damages for malicious falsehood, unlawful appropriation of personality, breaches of constitutional rights and defamation. Her lawyers have obtained a Norwich Pharmacal‑style order from Facebook Ireland to disclose the identities of the advertisers, as Facebook has not removed the ads despite prior requests. The case is set to return to court next week.
Jorgen Sorensen, a 65-year-old Danish bus driver, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after entering signed guilty pleas to importing and possessing cocaine for sale or supply. The offence occurred on November 1, 2018, at Dublin Airport T2, where customs officers discovered two wrapped packages of cocaine valued at €66,871 in his luggage. Sorensen alleged he had been deceived into transporting what he believed were inheritance documents for a woman he met on Facebook, claiming he was to be paid €800 to deliver them from Brazil to London. He stated he had never inspected the bag and trusted the individuals who organised his travel. Judge Melanie Greally described Sorensen's actions as showing a "huge level of naivety" and "significant level of recklessness," noting the enterprise "reeked of scam." The court accepted that his trusting nature had been exploited, though he remained criminally liable. Judge Greally imposed a three-year sentence, with the final 18 months suspended, resulting in an effective custody period of 18 months. The sentence was backdated to the date Sorensen entered custody. Additionally, the court ordered that he leave the jurisdiction within seven days of his release.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Ross Outram, 28, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 90‑year‑old Paddy Lyons in Lismore, Waterford, between 23 and 26 February 2017. During the trial, Sandra Walsh, a relative of Outram's nephew, testified that Outram had called her on Facebook Messenger on 26 February, claiming he had hit Lyons because Lyons would not give him money. She confirmed that Outram identified the deceased as Lyons and that he had spoken of travelling to the UK. Walsh also recounted that Outram was arrested the following day when she was driving him back to Ferryland. Sergeant Ger Falvey described the scene at Lyons' house, noting the victim's lack of trousers, a trail of urine, soot, and possible blood marks. The case proceeds before Mr Justice Paul Coffey with a jury of eight men and four women.
Robbie Walsh, aged 23, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Karl 'Gobble' Haugh, aged 25, in Kilkee on 6 August 2017. In his fourth Garda interview, Walsh admitted killing Haugh after a confrontation that began with vandalising Haugh's car. He described using a metal bar to smash the car's windows, then being grabbed by Haugh, dropping the bar but retaining a knife, and stabbing Haugh in the back. Walsh claimed he had no intention to kill and that the incident escalated unexpectedly. He also recounted that his house was attacked hours later and that he had sent a Facebook message to a friend saying Haugh had been stabbed in the lung. The case is before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart with a jury of seven men and four women. The trial is ongoing.
In a 2019 trial, 23‑year‑old Robbie Walsh of Kilrush, Co. Clare, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 25‑year‑old Karl Haugh in Kilkee. The Central Criminal Court heard that the alleged killing followed a confrontation at Haugh's house after a phone argument. Gardaí reported that Walsh and his cousins had vandalised a Volkswagen Passat, then went to Haugh's house to buy cocaine. Walsh claimed Haugh had a knife, was attacked, and that he stabbed Haugh in the back after Haugh dropped the knife. Walsh told the garda he had no intention to kill and that he had not brought a knife. He later surrendered after seeing a Facebook post about Haugh's death. The trial was set to continue before Justice Marie Baker and a jury.
A man with serious psychological issues has agreed to High Court orders that prohibit him from harassing, watching, pestering or communicating with a woman who alleges he stalked her online for almost a decade. The woman, who feared for her safety because of frightening online messages, brought the case after the unwanted communications—emails and social media messages—began when they were both students at the same Third Level College. She says she only had one personal interaction with the man, during a group presentation. After she asked him to stop, he continued to contact her, causing her anxiety and sleep difficulties. She has complained to Gardai and the college. The court granted the orders, noting the woman had pursued the action as a last resort due to the Gardai's handling of the matter. The man's lawyers confirmed his serious psychological issues.
Diarmuid O'Donovan, a senior administrator for the Cork GAA County Board, secured a temporary High Court injunction that stops the board from terminating his employment. O'Donovan, who has worked in the €55,000 a year role since 2013 to support the board while the Pairc Ui Chaoimh stadium was rebuilt, was told in a brief meeting last week that his position would be discontinued and he would be made redundant. He claims the decision is linked to the controversial cost overrun on the stadium project and that he has been marginalised and excluded from meetings. O'Donovan also says he was offered a redundancy payment of about €20,000 and that a WhatsApp message was sent to board members announcing the termination. The injunction was granted ex‑parte by Justice Leonie Reynolds and the case is set to return next week.
A woman told the High Court that she fears for her safety after receiving frightening online messages from a male "stalker" who had been a fellow student at the same Third Level College almost a decade ago. She says she only had one personal interaction with him during college and that the unwanted e‑mails and social media messages began then and continued for several years, intensifying in recent weeks. The man has claimed he has "very strong feelings" for her, that he is entitled to further contact, and that he loves her. He has threatened her, accused her of ignoring his feelings, and called her a monster. The woman has asked the court for an injunction to prevent the man from intimidating, harassing, watching, besetting and communicating with her. The judge has directed that the Gardai and members of the defendant's family be made aware of the proceedings and adjourned the matter for a week.
A man convicted of raping his daughter between 2006 and 2010 in County Mayo and abroad has appealed his conviction at the Court of Appeal. The 47-year-old was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, following his conviction at the Central Criminal Court in February 2018. The appeal centres on events after the trial, when the victim visited her father in prison and subsequently sent a Facebook message to his relatives indicating willingness to sign an affidavit and withdraw charges. Defence counsel argued the prison visit undermined her trial evidence that she was in grave danger from him, and claimed she had recanted her testimony. The victim told the court she was manipulated by her father's relatives, who pressured her by stating he was starving himself and would die, placing responsibility on her shoulders. She clarified in a sworn affidavit that she had not recanted her allegations. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel argued the victim, a vulnerable person in State care, had been subjected to invidious manipulation. The unnamed 47-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a 2019 court hearing, Gardaí investigated alleged Facebook threats made by a 38‑year‑old UK businessman, who was convicted in March 2019 of three counts of rape and eight counts of sexual assault against two girls aged 10 and 12, committed between December 2010 and March 2011. The businessman, who groomed the children in the UK and later brought them to Ireland, was found to have sexually assaulted the older girl in a Dublin hotel room in December 2010. At the Central Criminal Court sentence hearing in July, the defendant maintained his innocence and disputed the verdicts. Prosecutor Pauline Walley presented evidence that the defendant had created false Facebook accounts to claim innocence and allegedly threatened a complainant via Facebook in April. Gardaí, assisted by US and UK authorities, were conducting a detailed investigation. The judge adjourned the matter to 12 April.
Claire McGrath, aged 30, gave evidence in the Central Criminal Court trial of Keith Connorton, who is charged with the murder of Graham McKeever, 32, on 18 February 2017. McGrath said she had been in a relationship with Connorton for three years and that she had invited McKeever to stay at their home that night. She told the court that she had exchanged texts and Facebook messages with McKeever in the days before his death, in which she expressed love, insecurity and a desire for his affection. McGrath admitted that her drug use might have affected her memory and that she was not a reliable witness. She denied that she had lied to Gardaí or that Connorton had pressured her to do so, and she said she had told the truth about the events. She will continue her cross‑examination before Justice Tony Hunt and a jury. Keith Connorton pleaded not guilty.
John Kelly, 51, was found guilty of arson for setting fire to his family home in Bruhenny, Churchtown, Mallow, Co Cork, on 18 December 2016. At the time, four children aged 11, eight, six and two were inside. He was sentenced by Cork Circuit Criminal Court to seven years imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. The Court of Appeal upheld this sentence. The judge noted that Kelly had returned home for Christmas holidays, an argument with his wife had escalated, and he felt "a fool was being made of him" on her Facebook page. He set two fires upstairs, removed the children, locked the door, and set a third fire downstairs. The house was destroyed, and the family relied on HSE accommodation. Kelly pleaded guilty, had no prior convictions, and was described as a good supporter for his family.
In November 2015 a 46‑year‑old Limerick man, who had molested a girl aged six to nine over three years, contacted her again on Instagram. The girl, now 16, screamed that he was back, prompting her parents to notify Gardaí. The man had pleaded not guilty to 19 counts of sexual assault between 2009 and 2012. At the Central Criminal Court he was convicted of six counts of sexual assault and two of sexual exploitation. Justice Tara Burns described the abuse as extremely serious, noting the man had gained the victim's trust through domestic help and teaching her to ride a bicycle. She imposed a seven‑year prison term for the most serious assault, concurrent six‑year and four‑year sentences for other assaults, and a two‑year sentence for exploitation. The judge praised the victim's courage and highlighted the lasting impact on her trust and innocence.
John Lyons, 50, pleaded guilty to demanding money with menace after a breakup, threatening to post intimate photos of his ex‑partner on Facebook if she did not pay him €5,000. He admitted sending a topless photograph to her mobile phone and threatened to upload it. The court found the threat a vile offence breaching privacy and bodily integrity. Judge Pauline Codd noted the victim felt intimidated and had reported the matter to gardaí. Lyons, described by references as respectful, honest, hard‑working and a good father, had no prior convictions. The judge suspended a five‑month prison term, emphasising the need for deterrence. No further contact between the parties was reported. The case was dealt with summarily on a guilty plea, with a maximum penalty of 12 months.
A 26‑year‑old Limerick man pleaded guilty to raping a 19‑year‑old woman on 5 November 2015. The victim had ended a brief relationship with the defendant's brother a few weeks earlier and had agreed to go to the defendant's house, where she was raped. The defendant also faces charges of intimidation and perverting the course of justice. After the rape, the defendant sent threatening Facebook messages to the victim's sisters, demanding they drop charges. The victim's sister reported the messages to Gardaí. In a victim impact statement, the woman said the rape altered her life, eroding her trust and leaving her fearful. Mr Justice White adjourned sentencing to 22 February, ordered a probation report, and imposed a condition that the defendant keep away from the victim's residence and have no contact with her by any means.
Tony Rochford, 50, of Trim, was sentenced to six months in prison for damaging an M50 toll gantry with an angle‑grinder on 30 May and threatening Gardaí. He pleaded guilty to criminal damage and possession of an angle‑grinder. The judge set a headline sentence of four years, suspended the final two years, and imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year term for a prior offence, making the sentences consecutive. Rochford had previously damaged the gantry in June 2017, causing over €500,000 in damage and a 26‑hour outage. He posted videos on social media explaining his motives and was described by a security guard as "hyper." The court noted his history of PTSD, prior convictions, and a claim of political motivation for the earlier offence. The damage to the gantry was estimated at €500‑€1,000.
In a High Court hearing on 15 November 2018, Mr Justice Seamus Noonan expressed surprise that a dispute over the alleged expulsion of two schoolboys had not been referred to mediation. The boys, who were in their Leaving Cert year, had posted videos on social media showing a classmate snorting a white powder during a lesson. The school, after being alerted by one of the boys' mothers, had suspended the students pending a board decision scheduled for 23 November. Counsel for the board argued the students should be expelled, citing the Education Act, while the students' lawyers claimed the process was unfair and that the school had misled them about the consequences of their statements. Mr Justice Noonan set a hearing for the students' application to be readmitted, to take place next Tuesday, pending the full hearing. The students seek to quash the expulsion decision and to be readmitted to the school.
Two teenage boys have filed High Court challenges against their expulsions from a secondary school after they posted videos on social media showing a classmate snorting a white powder during a lesson. The videos, which were reportedly seen by only a few people, were discovered by one of the boy's mothers and brought to the school's attention. The school's board of management decided to exclude the boys, citing that their behaviour posed a serious threat to the school's order and discipline. The boys' lawyers argue that the board's decision breached fair procedures, was disproportionate, and ignored the principal's recommendation not to expel them. They also claim the boys were not warned that their statements could be used against them. The boys seek orders to quash the expulsion decision, to be readmitted, and to have the school provide appropriate educational provisions. The case will return to the court on Thursday.
A 22‑year‑old Dublin man, Ben Mooney, used the alias "Nicole Heffernon" to catfish teenage boys on Facebook, sending them explicit images and videos of themselves in underwear or naked. He admitted to contacting up to 15 boys over two years. Mooney pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to knowingly possessing child pornography, including 4,000 images and 300 videos on a Samsung phone. Garda Daniel Tracey noted that the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children had alerted authorities to two email addresses linked to child porn; one was the "Nicole Heffernon" address traced to Mooney's home. During a search, officers seized two mobile phones and a computer hard drive, finding 6,000 images, 70 % of which were child pornographic. Mooney's parents were present at the search, and he admitted his actions before forensic analysis. Judge Melanie Greally ordered a Probation Service report and adjourned sentencing to January, where a plea in mitigation will be heard.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, Anthony Walsh, 31, admitted killing but denied murdering 54‑year‑old Dermot Byrne. He told a friend via Facebook Messenger that he had killed someone and that Byrne "kept coming at me" after three warnings. Walsh also sent messages to a woman who had recently added him on Facebook, describing her as "fit" and claiming he was "too much of a bad boy for you." He sent photos of Byrne's bank card and a newspaper article about Byrne's death. Walsh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, and also pleaded guilty to stealing a bank card, keys and a Zippo lighter from Byrne on the same day and location. The trial is before Justice Eileen Creedon with a jury of twelve.
A trial has begun at the Central Criminal Court concerning allegations of rape and sexual assault following an incident in Co Donegal on St Patrick's Day 2016. The accused teenager, now aged 19, has denied one charge of rape and one of sexual assault against a 16-year-old girl. The court heard the pair met at a takeaway premises in a Co Donegal town after the complainant had socialised with friends earlier that evening. According to the prosecution opening, the alleged assault occurred behind a nearby building. The State's case will rely on CCTV footage, forensic evidence including DNA recovered from clothing and a condom, and testimony from the complainant and witnesses. The jury was cautioned against conducting independent online research or discussing the case on social media. The trial is expected to conclude mid-week.
During the Special Criminal Court trial of three Dubliners accused of murdering 36‑year‑old Gareth Hutch, it was reported that Gardaí executed a search warrant at Facebook Ireland and received armed support from the Emergency Response Unit during a high‑risk entry at a suspect's home. Hutch, nephew of Gerry "the Monk" Hutch, was shot dead on 24 May 2016 outside Avondale House flats on North Cumberland Street, Dublin, after four gunshot wounds from a single weapon. The accused—Thomas Fox (31), Regina Keogh (41), and Jonathan Keogh (32)—have pleaded not guilty. Garda Gareth Norton testified that he entered Fox's home on 24 May, seized clothing, ashtrays, glasses, memory cards, SIM packs, USB sticks, a Samsung tablet, and an iPhone 5. He also reported a high‑risk entry at a fourth suspect's house on 11 June, where the suspect was arrested and handcuffed.
Peter Hilliard, 54, of Tallaght, was convicted of sexually assaulting two vulnerable residents in a nursing home in Rathfarnham between February 2013 and June 2016. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. In June 2016 a colleague saw a Facebook video of Hilliard assaulting an elderly resident; Hilliard had recorded the assault with a mobile phone and uploaded the video, claiming he had only a few hours of sleep and had "mistakenly" posted it. He received an 18‑month suspended sentence from Judge Karen O'Connor on 24 October 2017. The Court of Appeal, hearing the case before Justices John Hedigan, George Birmingham and Alan Mahon, found the sentence "unduly lenient" and re‑sentenced him to 12 months imprisonment, with the final six months suspended. The victims were patients with profound intellectual disabilities, one with advanced dementia and the other with limited awareness of the assault.
A 30‑year‑old man accused of raping a woman he met on the dating app Badoo was interviewed by Gardaí after the complainant alleged he entered her Dublin home on 14 August 2015, raped her, and stole her phone. In his first interview he claimed he had stolen the phone to sell it for money, but later admitted he had taken it in a moment of panic because his contact details were on it. He denied the rape, stating the woman was aware he had no condom and that they had sex after she asked for one. He said he ejaculated quickly, told her she might become pregnant, and that he had no money for the morning‑after pill. Garda Rossa Smith presented evidence that the accused's WhatsApp contact matched the seller's number on DoneDeal.ie and that CCTV showed him entering the house at 3.15 am and leaving at 3.38 am. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin rape trial, a 30‑year‑old man accused of raping a 27‑year‑old Chinese woman on 14 August 2015 pleaded not guilty. The complainant testified that she met the accused through the dating app Badoo, agreed to a chat, and later found herself kissing and touching him in her bedroom. She repeatedly said "no" and "stop" as the encounter escalated to oral and penetrative sex, but the accused continued until he ejaculated. She claimed he refused to provide a condom and later stole her phone when leaving. Garda Rossa Smith described a sting operation that linked the accused to a phone sale on DoneDeal.ie, confirming his identity via WhatsApp contact numbers. The case is ongoing before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy.
Ben Gilroy, an anti‑eviction campaigner, received a one‑month suspended prison sentence for criminal contempt of court after he posted a video on social media in which he described the judge presiding over a contempt case involving a Dublin couple as a "satanic cult member" and claimed the Irish Constitution was "redundant." In the clip, Gilroy also suggested that the judge had "vacated his oath of office," urged people to use the Defence of the Dwelling Act, and said they should "just wait for anyone coming through the door and blow their heads off with a gun." The High Court judge, Tony O'Connor, found the remarks to be contempt and adjourned the matter to allow Gilroy to respond. When the case returned, Gilroy apologized and said the remarks were "out of character." The judge imposed the suspended sentence, which will remain in force for 30 months on the condition that Gilroy does not repeat such statements.
David Hoban, aged 28, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to two charges of defilement of a child by having intercourse and oral sex with a 14‑year‑old girl he met on a social media site. The girl, who was found missing and later reported by her mother, claimed she had been raped by Hoban on three occasions. Detective Garda Paul O'Hara confirmed that Hoban was aware the girl was underage, though he did not realise her exact age until the day of his arrest. Hoban, who had 10 previous convictions, pleaded guilty and expressed remorse. Judge Martin Nolan noted the substantial age difference and that Hoban should have ceased contact when he became aware of the girl's youth. The court accepted his plea and imposed the three‑year sentence.
Matthew Horan, 26, was sentenced in January to nine‑and‑a‑half years for possession of child pornography and coercing girls to send sexual images. The final two‑and‑a‑half years were suspended. Judge Martin Nolan, after a probation report, ordered that Horan not enrol in a computer programming course and that he enter a bond of good behaviour for two years, undergo two years of post‑release supervision and access all available services. The court heard that Horan used Skype, Snapchat, Instagram and Kik to exchange child porn and to coerce girls, including a nine‑year‑old, into sending graphic material. He threatened to post an 11‑year‑old's nude images if she did not comply. Horan pleaded guilty to multiple counts of sexual exploitation and child‑pornography possession, with no prior convictions. The judge described his sexual interest as unhealthy, insidious and debased, noting that Horan understood the harm yet continued his actions.
Prince Ajibola, a 50‑year‑old father of four from Castlegate Place, Adamstown, Lucan, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing a child‑pornography clip that showed a child under five being raped. The clip, sent to his phone via WhatsApp on 20 July 2016, was discovered when his two mobile phones were seized after his arrest at Dublin Airport on 1 September 2016. Ajibola admitted he had only viewed the clip once, then shut it down, and claimed he had forgotten it was on his phone. He denied forwarding it to anyone. The judge, citing his early guilty plea, remorse and cooperation, imposed a one‑year suspended sentence and ordered that he be entered on the sex offenders register. The sender of the clip has pleaded guilty to distribution and will be sentenced next month.
A 25‑year‑old Dublin man, Darragh Meehan, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for the online sexual exploitation and defilement of a 13‑year‑old girl. Meehan met the girl when she was 13 and he was 19, and they communicated regularly via Skype, Facebook and text. He exposed himself, masturbated on camera, and invited the girl to masturbate or penetrate herself. In person, he asked her to masturbate him and performed sexual acts. The girl's mother reported concerning messages, leading to Gardaí involvement. Meehan pleaded guilty to one count of defilement and three counts of sexual exploitation between December 2011 and May 2012. He had no prior convictions. The judge noted the victim's lack of true consent and the grooming that occurred, and sentenced him to six and a half years for defilement and a concurrent five years for exploitation.
Garda whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe gave evidence at the Charleton tribunal, describing the 2011 response to his complaints as "a kick in the teeth." Chief Superintendent Colm Rooney, now retired, admitted his 2011 circular letter congratulating Bailieboro station was inappropriate, stating his vindication of the station's standards was not warranted. McCabe testified that he felt forced out of his position as Sergeant in Charge in March 2008 and described a culture in An Garda Síochána that made it "extremely hard to speak out." He noted that his revelations regarding penalty points "really hit hard in the force." The tribunal also examined a 2006 allegation by Miss D against McCabe, where the DPP recommended against prosecution, finding no basis for an assault or sexual assault. McCabe stated he was exonerated and received support from colleagues. He also referenced a 2009 Facebook comment calling a puppet "Maurice the rat," which the O'Higgins commission later described as "vile and offensive." The proceedings are part of a trial-stage inquiry into whether unjustified grounds were used to discredit McCabe, including serious allegations against former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan. The matter remains ongoing as the tribunal continues to hear evidence.
Darragh Newman, 23, received a two‑year suspended sentence for his role in a theft scam organised by a well‑known Dublin criminal group. He provided the gang with his bank account details, allowing them to defraud businessman Joe Carey of €7,995 after Carey responded to a fake online ad for a teleporter. Gardaí tracked Newman via Facebook and obtained CCTV footage of him withdrawing the money over two days. Newman, a former DIT student, had pleaded guilty to theft in 2016 and had four prior minor traffic convictions. The court found Newman knowingly acted dishonestly, but noted his remorse and potential for reform. Judge Martin Nolan suspended the sentence for two years and ordered the €7,000 to be handed over to the Gardaí for restitution to Carey. The case remains an ongoing investigation into the broader criminal enterprise.
A 25‑year‑old Dublin man is set to be sentenced for the online sexual exploitation of a 13‑year‑old girl. The offence took place between December 2011 and May 2012. At 19, the man met the girl and they communicated regularly via Skype, Facebook and text. He exposed himself, masturbated on camera, and invited the girl to masturbate or penetrate herself. In person, he asked her to masturbate him and performed sexual acts. The girl's mother reported concerning messages, leading to Garda involvement. The man pleaded guilty to one count of defilement and three counts of sexual exploitation. He has no prior convictions. The victim's impact statement described her vulnerability, anger, and a desire to move on. The defence highlighted the man's youth, personal difficulties, and an apology letter. The case was adjourned to March 5, 2013 for judgment.
Matthew Horan, aged 26, was sentenced to nine and a half years in prison for sexually exploiting children and distributing child pornography. He used platforms such as Skype, Snapchat, Instagram and the anonymous messaging app Kik to coerce girls as young as nine into sending graphic images and videos. Forensic examination of his computer revealed recorded Skype calls with two nine‑year‑old girls, including footage of them engaging in sexual acts, and text exchanges where he threatened to post an 11‑year‑old girl's nude images unless she sent more photos. Horan pleaded guilty to multiple counts of sexual exploitation, distribution of child porn and possession of child porn between 2014 and 2016. Judge Martin Nolan suspended the last two years of the sentence, noting Horan's "very unhealthy, insidious and debased" interest in children and ordered a probation service report on potential interventions.
In a Court of Appeal hearing, William Moran's lawyers argued that Facebook messages alleged to be from his account were not sufficiently proven to have come from him. Moran, 23, was convicted of murdering Martin Brophy, 22, at the Waterford Institute of Technology in 2012 and received a mandatory life sentence in 2015. The prosecution's key evidence was a Facebook post sent after the murder but before the body was found, claiming the victim was dead. Moran's counsel, Colman Cody SC, contended that the evidence's provenance was unclear, that the State had sought a Mutual Assistance request in January 2014, and that no witnesses from Facebook had been produced to confirm the message's authenticity. He highlighted that Facebook evidence requires human input and authoritative proof, unlike CCTV or photographs. The court noted it would reserve judgment on the matter. William Moran pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Matthew Horan, aged 26, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of sexually exploiting children and distributing child pornography. He used platforms such as Skype, Snapchat, Instagram, and Kik to coerce six identified Irish girls and nine unknown users worldwide into sending sexually graphic pictures and videos. Forensic examination of his computer revealed recorded Skype calls with two nine‑year‑old girls, including footage of them engaging in graphic sexual acts, and text conversations where he threatened to post an 11‑year‑old girl's nude images if she did not comply. Horan also threatened an 11‑year‑old girl with self‑harm, prompting her to repeat that she would kill herself. He pleaded guilty to 12 counts of sexual exploitation, one count of distributing child porn, and possession of child porn on multiple dates between 2014 and 2016. No prior convictions were recorded. The judge adjourned the case to Friday for sentencing.
A 55‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for a series of sexual offences against his sister and niece. He pleaded guilty to one count of indecent assault on his niece between 1978 and 1980. A jury had earlier convicted him of further indecent assaults on his sister and niece, and of two counts of rape of his niece between 1976 and 1984. The court noted that the abuse began when the man was 14, when his sister was 7 to 10, and continued when he was 16 to 22, while the niece was 5 to 11. The judge highlighted the profound impact on the victims, the secrecy of the crimes, and the delay before they were reported in 2012. He imposed concurrent sentences totalling six years, with two years of post‑release supervision and a prohibition on any contact with the victims, directly or indirectly, including through social media.
The jury for former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm, aged 51, was sent home until the end of January because of extensive legal argument in the case. Drumm, who lives in Skerries, Co. Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to conspiring with former bank officials Denis Casey, William McAteer, John Bowe and others to defraud depositors and investors by "dishonestly" creating the impression that Anglo's 2008 deposits were €7.2 billion larger than they actually were. He also pleaded not guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to using an account on 3 December 2008 to provide false information to the market about the bank's deposits. Judge Karen O'Connor warned the 15 jurors not to consult social media or conduct independent research, and to avoid electronic communication such as text, Twitter or Facebook. She told them they could leave until 29 January, when the trial would begin.
A 22‑year‑old university student, Hakim Mansour, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after striking a stranger with a bottle at Krystle nightclub on 21 February 2016. The victim suffered facial lacerations and nerve damage to his hand. Mansour, who had no prior convictions, was identified by the victim through Facebook photos. Judge Martin Nolan, noting the lack of provocation and Mansour's cooperation, imposed a two‑year custodial sentence suspended in full on the condition of good behaviour and payment of €12,500 to the victim within two years. The court considered Mansour's background, education, and employment prospects, and the financial penalty was intended to punish and compensate. Mansour's defence highlighted his early guilty plea and low risk of re‑offending, while the prosecution maintained the assault was a serious, unprovoked act. The case concluded with a suspended sentence and a financial penalty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 36‑year‑old man accused of sexually assaulting a 35‑year‑old woman on UCD campus pleaded not guilty. The defendant claimed he and the complainant had arranged to meet via Tinder and WhatsApp, and that he believed they were meeting to "hook up" and have sex. He said he had told her he was a porn star and asked if she wanted to star in a film with him, to which she replied positively. He alleged that after driving her to a field on campus, he leaned over to kiss her, she pushed him away, and then "freaked out" and became hysterical, crying and saying she was lost. He said he tried to calm her and that she jumped out of the car. Gardaí questioned him about his behaviour, to which he denied anger and said he was nervous.
Jadesola Agbalade, 51, pleaded guilty on 20 July 2016 to knowingly distributing child pornography after forwarding a clip that showed a child aged between two and five being raped. She claimed she sent the video via WhatsApp to warn a friend about the dangers of leaving her children with her boyfriend. The clip was discovered during an investigation of a man arrested for credit card fraud at Dublin Airport in July 2017; the phone used to send the clip was traced back to Agbalade. She admitted to receiving and sending the clip, and also sent it to a female friend with three children, who has not been identified. Agbalade has no prior convictions, lives in temporary accommodation, and has one teenage child and two adult sons. Judge Karen O'Connor adjourned the case to 1 March 2018 to obtain a psychological report, citing that Agbalade did not understand the gravity of her actions.
Jadesola Agbalade, 51, pleaded guilty on 20 July 2016 to knowingly distributing child pornography after forwarding a clip via WhatsApp to warn a friend about leaving her children with her boyfriend. The clip showed a child aged two to five being raped by a man and had circulated internationally since about 2014. Gardaí traced the phone number to Agbalade, who admitted receiving and sending the clip. She is currently in temporary homeless accommodation and has no prior convictions. The court heard that she had one teenage child and two adult sons at university. Judge Karen O'Connor received a detailed probation report and adjourned finalisation of the case to 21 November 2017. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
A 21‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in a sexual act with a 14‑year‑old girl at an address in Dublin on 17 July 2015. The girl was taken from a teenage disco in Donnybrook, where she had drunk vodka and felt ill. She asked the man, a Facebook acquaintance, to pick her up because she was too afraid to call her mother. He drove her, she fell asleep, and he forced oral sex and later had her masturbate him. After driving to McDonald's, he dropped her home. The girl was found crying on her stairs, and her parents were informed. The man was arrested a few days later, admitted the offence, and apologized via text. He has no prior convictions, has intellectual difficulties and a borderline learning disability, and has attempted suicide after the offence. He is receiving counselling and anti‑depressants.
A 51‑year‑old mother of three, Jadesola Agbalade, pleaded guilty on 20 July 2016 to knowingly distributing child pornography after she forwarded a clip of a child being raped to a friend via WhatsApp. The clip, showing a child aged between two and five, was an international recording that had circulated since about 2014. Gardaí discovered the clip when investigating a man arrested for credit‑card fraud at Dublin Airport in July 2017; the man's phone contained the clip and the sender's number traced back to Agbalade. She admitted to sending the clip to a female friend with three young children to warn her against leaving her children with her boyfriend. Agbalade has no prior convictions, lives in temporary accommodation, and will be sentenced on 9 November. The court ordered a probation report and remanded her on continuing bail.
Peter Hilliard, 54, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of sexual assault against vulnerable residents at Bloomfield nursing home between February 2013 and June 2016. The first assault was discovered when a colleague saw a video of Hilliard touching an elderly resident's breasts on his Facebook page. Garda Shane Whelan reported that the video also showed a male present during the assault. Following a search of Hilliard's devices, investigators found a second video of a similar attack on another resident. Hilliard had no prior convictions. After his arrest he expressed remorse and mentioned suicidal thoughts. The judge noted Hilliard's loss of employment and his engagement with counselling. A suspended sentence of 18 months was imposed, conditioned on Hilliard keeping the peace, attending weekly therapy, and remaining under Probation Service supervision for 18 months.
An 18‑year‑old man was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, after a jury found him guilty of raping a 15‑year‑old girl at a house party in Co. Wexford on 24 July 2014. The defendant, who was 16 at the time of the offence, had pleaded not guilty. He had met the girl, a secondary school student, through a mutual friend and taken her to a party where she was given vodka and became incapacitated. While she was unable to consent, the defendant raped her and later bragged to friends that he had "bagged her". The victim, now 17, described lasting emotional trauma and self‑harm thoughts. The judge noted the defendant's lack of prior convictions, his remorse, and the 18‑month delay between charge and trial, and ordered that he not contact the victim or approach her on social media.
During a hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Melanie Greally criticised existing contempt of court laws as "hopelessly inadequate" for curbing social media commentary that could interfere with trials. She spoke ahead of a trial set for 3 October involving six defendants charged with violent disorder and false imprisonment following a 2014 protest in Jobstown, Tallaght. Greally had considered imposing a bail condition preventing defendants from making social media comments aimed at influencing the trial, but after defence submissions she decided no change was needed, citing the usual condition to keep the peace and good behaviour. She warned that any such commentary would be evidence of contempt. The judge also cautioned mainstream media against linking the upcoming defendants to the previous trial and noted the DPP's sensitivity to recent broadcast comments. The hearing highlighted the tension between freedom of expression and the need to protect the integrity of ongoing trials.
The trial of Detective Sergeant Eve Doherty, who denies harassing Elizabeth Howlin between September 2011 and March 2013 and making false statements in March 2013, continued at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Doherty faces charges related to letters, emails, and posters sent to Ms Howlin, then a DPP solicitor, containing defamatory claims. On day 13, defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC questioned Chief Superintendent John O'Driscoll regarding a separate man under investigation for harassment and facing trial for threatening a garda via Facebook. The court heard this man's previous District Court convictions for harassment and assault were overturned on appeal. Chief Supt O'Driscoll testified that the man's modus operandi differed from the case against Doherty, noting the man used his own name without anonymity and did not use emails, posters, or letters. The superintendent stated the Facebook posts dated to August 2015 and confirmed that any new lines of inquiry would not be ignored. The trial continues before Judge Melanie Greally and a jury.
During a pre‑trial hearing at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 25 July 2017, Judge Melanie Greally addressed the defendants remanded on bail in the 2014 Jobstown water protest case. She explained that she was considering changing their bail conditions to prohibit them from commenting on the trials online, citing the need to protect the integrity of the proceedings. The judge noted that the first trial, which concluded in May with the acquittal of all six accused, had seen non‑trials participants post remarks on social media, and that a defendant's commentary near the end of that trial had almost derailed the process. She warned that any attempt to influence the jury selection or public opinion could be treated as contempt of court and lead to prosecution. Lawyers for some defendants objected to linking bail conditions to commentary, but the judge agreed to hear the matter in full on Friday.
Neven Vukovic, 40, received a suspended three‑year sentence for assault causing harm to his ex‑partner Fionnuala Ní Mhartín after a September 2015 attack at her Dublin home. Vukovic had previously pleaded guilty to assault and had a prior conviction for cannabis possession in Croatia. The assault involved punches and kicks, including a full‑force punch to the eye, resulting in a fractured eye socket and other injuries. Following the attack, Vukovic repeatedly threatened and harassed Ní Mhartín via text and Facebook, sending messages that included threats of violence and death. The court imposed a 30‑year prohibition on any contact with Ní Mhartín and ordered Vukovic to stay away from her. He has since completed anger‑management and counselling courses. The judge noted his remorse and lack of prior violent convictions. The sentence was suspended for three years.