The Court of Appeal has scheduled a hearing on 18 November to resentence two men who were teenagers when convicted of murder. Both were sentenced to life with a 13‑year review. The first, a 14‑year‑old who killed Mongolian national Urantsetseg Tserendorj in January 2021, was convicted of murder and is now an adult. The second, a 17‑year‑old who killed Cork student Cameron Blair in January 2020, was also convicted of murder and is now an adult. The resentencing follows a Supreme Court ruling on 13 March that trial courts lack jurisdiction to review sentences for child offenders. The Supreme Court held that life sentences for children should only be imposed in exceptional cases and that a court may impose a part‑suspended sentence. The Court of Appeal will consider the Supreme Court's principles and determine new sentences for each offender. The hearing will also address anonymity issues for the second offender. The unnamed teenager pleaded guilty.
In the Court of Appeal on 2 May 2025, Conor McGregor's lawyers presented new evidence from a woman who claimed to have witnessed Nikita Hand being assaulted by her former partner at Hand's home. The woman swore an affidavit that she saw Hand being pushed and, judging from the man's body movements, believed he had kicked her after pushing her to the ground. She had come forward after reading about the civil trial in the media and had also sent McGregor an Instagram message, though the timing was not specified. Hand, who had been awarded €248,000 in damages after a civil jury found McGregor had raped and battered her, disputed the woman's claims in her own affidavit. The Court of Appeal will cross‑examine the two proposed witnesses before allowing their evidence into McGregor's appeal, with a hearing scheduled for 1 July. The case remains focused on the credibility of the new witnesses and the alleged new evidence.
In a High Court case, Mr. James Buckley was warned by Judge Liam Kennedy that he was "perilously close" to being jailed for contempt if he failed to return the racehorse 'Big Time Louie' to Ms. Caroline Teltsch by 5 pm. The court had ordered the Buckleys to pay over €800,000 in damages after they were found to have unjustly enriched themselves with money loaned by Ms. Teltsch, who co‑owns the horse. The horse was to be placed in Ms. Teltsch's care, but Mr. Buckley removed it from the Emerald Equestrian Centre in Glenamaddy, claiming its feet were "rotting" and it could not walk. Judge Brian Cregan adjourned the matter to the following week, emphasizing that continued breach of the order could lead to imprisonment. The Buckleys' appeal of the original ruling was dismissed by the Court of Appeal. The case highlights the court's insistence on compliance with its orders regarding the horse's custody.
In a bid to overturn a conviction, a 55‑year‑old man who raped and sexually assaulted a seven‑year‑old girl in a shared rented house has appealed on the basis that the trial judge failed to give the jury a corroboration warning. The trial, held in the Central Criminal Court in May 2023, found the man guilty of one count of rape and twelve counts of sexual assault committed between September 2022 and September 2023. He was sentenced to 10 years and six months for the rape and a concurrent 7 years and six months for the sexual assault. Defence counsel Maurice Coffey SC argued that the judge erred by not warning the jury about the dangers of convicting on uncorroborated evidence, a warning that the court had declined to issue. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on the appeal. The unnamed 55-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a High Court case, Nicolae and Florin Mazarache, residents of Lealand Meadows, Clondalkin, appealed a ruling that allowed their prosecution for allegedly breaching Covid‑19 travel restrictions by travelling to Dublin Airport on 17 April 2021. The pair were stopped by a Garda and issued fixed‑payment notices under the Health Act, 1947, which offered a €2,000 fine to avoid prosecution or risk prosecution if unpaid. The notices failed to specify the exact regulation breached, a point the High Court found violated statutory requirements. The Mazaraches chose not to pay the fines and instead sought judicial review, which was dismissed by Ms Justice Nuala Jackson on 17 January 2023. They now appeal to the Court of Appeal, arguing that the District Court lacks jurisdiction to prosecute because the notices were unlawful. Counsel for the State countered that the error does not remove the District Court's authority. The Court of Appeal will reserve judgment.
The appeal of Richard Satchwell, who is accused of murdering his wife Tina Satchwell – nee Dingivan – at their home in Youghal, Co Cork, between March 19 and March 20, 2017, has proceeded before the Central Criminal Court. The jury has viewed 14 open sourced media clips of interviews given by the accused to various television and radio outlets, including statements made to 'TV3 News', 'RTE's Crimecall', 'Prime Time Investigates', and 'Red FM'. In these interviews, Mr Satchwell expressed his belief that his wife was still alive and made appeals for her to return home. He also stated that he had never harmed his wife and that he would take a lie detector test if necessary. The accused has pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering his wife. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of five men and seven women.
The appeal of Richard Satchwell, who is accused of murdering his wife Tina Satchwell – nee Dingivan – at their home in Youghal, Co Cork, between March 19 and March 20, 2017, has been ongoing. Tina Satchwell is also an appellant, having pleaded not guilty to the same charge. The trial has heard that gardai were suspicious 'something untoward' had happened to Tina over six years before her body was discovered. Evidence was presented that gardai conducted a thorough search of the Satchwell home in June 2017, during which they found signs of recent renovations, including new plasterboard on the stairs and a new red bricked wall underneath the stairway. The body of Tina Satchwell was discovered in a grave dug beneath the stairs of the home. The trial has also heard that Mr Satchwell made media appeals for his wife's return, including a statement to RTE in June 2017. The matter is currently before the Central Criminal Court, with the trial continuing tomorrow before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of five men and seven women.
A 42-year-old Donegal man with 33 previous convictions, including multiple road traffic offences, appeared before the Court of Appeal on 29 April regarding his sentence for dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm. Kevin McMenamin, from Letterkenny, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the offence and was sentenced in January 2024 to 21 months imprisonment and a five-year driving ban. The incident occurred in July 2021 when McMenamin, who was disqualified from driving at the time, broke a red light at Ballsbridge in Dublin and collided with a cyclist in her late sixties. The woman sustained severe injuries including a broken pelvis and leg trauma, requiring nearly five months of hospitalisation. McMenamin was released from open prison in October 2024 after serving nine months. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed for an increased sentence, arguing the original term was inappropriately lenient and characterising McMenamin as someone who drives with disregard for road users' safety. The court reserved judgement, with delivery scheduled for 6 May.
A man accused of conspiring to steal vehicles with garda killer Aaron Brady has been refused bail ahead of his retrial at the Special Criminal Court. James Flynn, aged 43, with an address in Newry, County Down, faced objections from gardaí who contended he poses a flight risk. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, presiding over the three-judge, non-jury court, noted that Mr Flynn holds citizenship of the United Kingdom and the United States and has established businesses in both jurisdictions. The judge cited evidence of his financial capacity to evade justice and rejected submissions that his ties to the Republic of Ireland are sufficiently substantial. Proposed bail conditions, including residence with his mother-in-law in Monaghan, did not allay the court's concerns regarding the seriousness of the charges and the probable sentence upon conviction. The Court of Appeal previously quashed Mr Flynn's conviction on the conspiracy charge and ordered a retrial, finding the Special Criminal Court had breached his constitutional right to natural justice by amending the indictment without consulting legal representatives.
The DPP has appealed against the sentences imposed on Keith McCormack Smith, Jason Ryle, and PJ Lyons following their guilty pleas for arson and other offences in May 2022. The prosecution argues the sentences were unduly lenient for a targeted, pre-meditated attack where a stolen Toyota was rammed into Tip Top Tanning Studio in Carlow, causing over €250,000 in damage while residents slept above. McCormack Smith, who had 24 previous convictions, was sentenced to six years with the final two suspended. Ryle and Lyons, who had 29 and 17 previous convictions respectively, each received five and a half years with the final two suspended. The DPP contends the headline sentence of eight years was too low, citing aggravating factors including the use of accelerant and the defendants being on bail. Defence counsel argued the sentences were appropriate, noting the men were acting on instructions to clear a drug debt and had made full admissions. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, viewed video footage of the incident and reserved its judgment to be delivered at a later date.
A 42‑year‑old man, James Quigley, was convicted in July 2023 of 12 counts of sexual offences against a girl aged 7 to 11, including rape, anal rape and oral rape, and was sentenced to 13 years with six months suspended. He appealed, claiming the trial judge erred on two counts of vaginal rape. The Court of Appeal rejected his appeal but substituted one conviction of vaginal rape with a verdict of attempted rape. The court found ample evidence for the first count and insufficient evidence for the second, quashing that conviction and allowing the substitution. Quigley denies wrongdoing. The court noted the abuse began when the victim was seven, involved repeated exposure, touching, threats to kill her dog, recorded rapes, choking attempts, and a final incident where he slapped her and threatened her. The victim reported the abuse to Gardaí in 2020 after learning of it from her mother. The unnamed 42-year-old was acquitted.
At the Special Criminal Court, Det Inspector Mark Phillips raised concerns about potential witness intimidation if James Flynn (34) is released on bail. He detailed incidents during Aaron Brady's trial for the murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe in 2020, including alleged attempts by James Flynn's father, Eugene Flynn Snr, to intimidate witnesses and jurors. Det Insp Phillips also highlighted alleged intimidation by Tony Brady, Aaron Brady's father, and an associate who sent a Snapchat message to a witness. Aaron Brady has pleaded guilty to conspiring with another man to dissuade a vital prosecution witness from giving evidence at his trial. The court heard that James Flynn was extradited from the UK in 2022 and has access to significant funds. He was originally charged with conspiracy to steal cars and participation in the robbery of the Lordship Credit Union, where Aaron Brady killed Det Gda Donohoe. The Special Criminal Court acquitted Flynn of the robbery charge but found him guilty of conspiring to steal a Volkswagen Passat used as a getaway car. The Court of Appeal previously ruled that the amendment of the indictment against Flynn was a breach of his right to natural justice. Defence counsel Bernard Condon argued that there is no evidence linking Flynn to witness interference or flight risk and that Flynn has no connection to Tony Brady. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor adjourned the decision to tomorrow morning.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 11 April 2025, Lisa Smith's lawyers argued that living in an area where ISIS operated could not prove membership in an unlawful organisation. Defence Senior Counsel Michael O'Higgins contended that the Special Criminal Court's conviction of Smith in 2022, based on her travel to Syria in 2015 and a Facebook messenger statement, lacked evidence of active membership such as organising, recruiting or receiving benefits. He highlighted that Smith had claimed she never joined ISIS, stating she was there to live under Sharia law in compliance with her Muslim beliefs. Tony McGillicuddy SC for the DPP countered that the court had considered her travel and social media activity as evidence of intent to participate. The appeal hearing was adjourned to 28 April for a final decision. The unnamed 42-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Two Dublin men, Stephen Tynan (46) and Raymond Fitzgerald (41), were convicted of murdering Andrew Guerrine, who was found with 20 stab wounds on a roadside. They pleaded not guilty and were sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice Michael White in December 2018. In a Court of Appeal hearing on 11 April 2025, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy rejected all grounds of appeal. The appeal argued that the men were accessories after the fact and that evidence such as CCTV footage, ANPR data and a voluntary caution statement were inadmissible or unreliable. The judge found the evidence admissible and the defendants' statements lawful, and concluded that the trial judge had properly instructed the jury on the possible verdicts. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed and the convictions remain in force.
Lisa Smith, aged 43, appeals her conviction for membership of the Islamic State, arguing that her only role was that of a housewife—cooking, cleaning, and caring for her husband—an act the State used to prove membership. She travelled to Syria in 2015 under a "religious obligation" and has denied any active participation in the organisation. Her legal team, led by Michael O'Higgins SC, contended that membership requires a formal application and acceptance, not merely a shared belief or support. The Court of Appeal, hearing the case on 10 April 2025, noted that Smith had not performed any overt acts of wrongdoing beyond domestic duties. The appeal, which continues tomorrow, seeks to overturn the 15‑month sentence imposed by the Special Criminal Court in 2022, where the judges found her to have joined the group during her stay in Syria. The court had previously rejected her earlier appeal against the sentence in March 2023. Lisa Smith pleaded not guilty.
PJ Sweeney has lost his appeal against a 15-year prison sentence for his role in a violent attack on security workers at a repossessed farmhouse in Strokestown, Co Roscommon. In the Court of Appeal, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, speaking for the three-judge court, dismissed the appeal, finding no error in principle in the original sentence imposed by Judge Martina Baxter. Sweeney, of High Cairn, Ramelton, Co Donegal, was convicted in June 2023 of 15 charges, including aggravated burglary, violent disorder, criminal damage, false imprisonment, assault, arson, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC argued the sentence was excessive and disproportionate, citing Sweeney's good character and lack of prior convictions, and requested a suspended element. However, the Appeal Court rejected these arguments, noting there was no evidence of insight, remorse, or apology from Sweeney. The court emphasized the brutal nature of the attack, which aimed to inflict fear and terror, and upheld the maximum penalty for several offences. Sweeney's co-accused, Martin O'Toole and Paul Beirne, had previously dismissed their legal teams ahead of their own appeals. The Appeal Court confirmed that the trial judge was entitled to impose a custodial sentence without suspension given the circumstances.
The Court of Appeal has ordered a retrial for James Flynn, 34, who successfully appealed his conviction for conspiring to steal the getaway car used in a 2013 credit union robbery in which Aaron Brady shot and killed Det Gda Adrian Donohoe. Ms Justice Tara Burns rejected Flynn's argument that a retrial would be unfair given his custody since July 2021, noting he had not fully served his original eight-year sentence. The court quashed his conviction because the Special Criminal Court unlawfully amended the indictment after his trial concluded, breaching his right to natural justice. Although Flynn was acquitted of the robbery charge, the DPP sought a retrial on the original conspiracy count. The court dismissed arguments regarding witness memory and prosecution delay, citing the public interest in a valid final verdict. Flynn, who was in custody pending extradition from the UK, was remanded by Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo for a bail hearing scheduled for April 28th. The matter is adjourned for this bail application, and the retrial has been ordered on the original charges.
Derek Smith, 43, of Donnycarney, Dublin, had his drug‑driving conviction overturned after an appeal court found no evidence he had been driving within three hours of a blood sample. Smith was found asleep over the wheel of a van that crashed into a tree on 15 January 2021. Garda Sandip Shrestha reported that Smith was unable to walk out of the vehicle, was unstable, had slurred speech and blood‑shot eyes. He was arrested and a blood sample was taken at 4.36 pm. The sample, analysed at 1435.0 ng/ml of Benzoylecgonine, exceeded the 50 ng/ml legal limit. Smith's counsel, Gregory Murphy BL, argued that the prosecution had "zero evidence" that Smith was driving when the sample was taken and that the sample could not be linked to him. Judge Fiona O'Sullivan agreed that the three‑hour rule was not satisfied and that the blood certificate could not be admitted, and allowed Smith's appeal. Derek Smith pleaded not guilty.
Daniel Mofiyinfoluwa Kotun-Akinbode, a 24-year-old from Balbriggan, Co Dublin, appeared before the District Court Appeals Court to challenge a one-year driving disqualification. He had been convicted in his absence at Balbriggan District Court for holding a phone while driving, contrary to section 3(1) of the Road Traffic Act 2006, and was sentenced to a one-year ban and a €300 fine. The appeal arose after Kotun-Akinbode was stopped by Garda Cian O'Connor in Balbriggan on April 13, 2024, for an unrelated matter. While the vehicle was parked with the engine running, the appellant allegedly took out his phone to record the interaction. Garda O'Connor stated he informed the driver twice that using a phone was an offence even if the car was not in motion. Defence counsel Richard Brady BL accepted that the vehicle did not need to be in motion for the law to be breached but appealed on the severity of the sentence alone, arguing the punishment was disproportionate. Judge Fiona O'Sullivan affirmed the District Court's conviction and the €300 fine but lifted the one-year disqualification from driving.
Luke McKee, aged 23, had a six‑month jail sentence overturned on appeal after he pleaded guilty to producing a knife contrary to section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990. McKee, who had completed his Leaving Certificate while living in a homeless hostel and was due to start an apprenticeship, was found with an unopened Stanley blade on a Centra shop floor in Dublin 2 on 1 December 2022. He entered the shop to break up a fight between two men, briefly produced the blade, but did not use it or wave it. The District Court Appeals Court, hearing the case, fully suspended the nine‑month sentence (three months suspended) for 18 months, requiring good behaviour and an anger‑management course. A €300 payment was made to the injured party. The case was heard in the District Court Appeals Court.
A 63‑year‑old man who sexually abused and coerced his two daughters over ten years was originally sentenced to four and a half years in prison. The State appealed, arguing the sentence was too lenient. The Court of Appeal quashed the original term and re‑sentenced him to a global term of 12 years. The man pleaded guilty to 20 of 74 counts of sexual assault. The younger daughter was abused from age six to thirteen; the older from age ten to around sixteen, with abuse escalating to oral sex and physical coercion. The court found the original judge had imposed disproportionate sentences of three years and 18 months, respectively, and that the judge had failed to impose a proportionate sentence. The new sentence of 12 years is to run consecutively for both victims, with each victim's portion reduced to six years after mitigation and totality considerations.
A 36-year-old man has been sentenced to two years in prison for sexually assaulting his daughter's 13-year-old friend. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury convicted the appellant last November after he pleaded not guilty to a charge of sexual assault committed at his Dublin home on April 10, 2021. Although the man does not accept the victim's evidence, he has stated he will not appeal the conviction. Judge Dara Hayes described the conduct as a serious breach of trust with a considerable impact on the teenager. The judge set a headline sentence of four years, reduced it to three years and three months, and suspended the final 15 months on strict conditions, including engaging with the Probation Service for two years upon release. The sentence was backdated to when the man was first remanded in custody last November. He was registered as a sex offender. The court heard the victim reported the incident to gardaí the same day, alleging the man touched her buttocks, hips, waist, and chest while asking if she had a crush on him. The man claimed he only spoke to her about her clothing. A victim impact statement detailed the teenager's ongoing trauma, including paranoia and trust issues. The Probation Service assessed the man as low risk and willing to work with the service.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal by Shane Noonan against his sentence for the rape of Ciara Mangan. The offence occurred at an address in Castlebar, Co Mayo, on May 11, 2013. Noonan, who was 18 at the time, pleaded guilty to the charge. At his sentencing in July 2023, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon imposed a headline sentence of eight years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended, resulting in an effective custody period of seven years. In his appeal, counsel for Noonan argued that the sentence was too high given his lack of prior convictions and the late entry of his guilty plea. However, the Director of Public Prosecutions contended that the plea was entered on the day of the trial and that the suspension period appropriately reflected mitigating factors. Mr Justice Michael McGrath, delivering the judgment, stated that Noonan's culpability was high and the harm to the victim was great. Consequently, the court ruled that the sentence was appropriate in the circumstances and dismissed the appeal. Ms Mangan, who waived her anonymity, stated that the 22-month wait for the appeal decision had delayed her healing, but she expressed relief that the process had finally concluded.
A 43‑year‑old learner driver, Jijo George, was found guilty of dangerous driving after he ran a stop sign on Drogheda Street, Balbriggan, on 29 January 2023. Garda Joanne McGinn, who was on patrol at the time, observed the vehicle fail to stop, nearly colliding with her patrol car and a child on a bicycle. She noted a strong smell of alcohol and performed a breath test that returned clear. George was driving on a learner's permit without L plates or an accompanying driver. He was charged under Section 53 of the Road Traffic Act 1961 and Section 69 for failure to produce insurance. The court upheld the conviction, imposing a two‑year disqualification and a €250 fine. The judge accepted all evidence presented by the Garda. Jijo George pleaded not guilty.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 7 April 2025, Judge John Edwards upheld the six‑year‑ten‑month jail sentence imposed on Harry Cassidy, former Custom House Capital boss, for a €61 million conspiracy to defraud investors. The court rejected Cassidy's claim that his motive was to borrow "from Peter to pay Paul" and found no credibility in his argument that the offence was not solely for personal gain. The offences, committed between 1 October 2008 and 15 July 2011, involved misleading investors and clients about the placement of their assets, contrary to common law. The court described the conduct as "truly egregious" and an abuse of trust, especially towards elderly clients. Harry Cassidy pleaded guilty.
The Court of Appeal will decide whether the High Court or the Circuit Court should re‑hear a Traveller family's discrimination case. The family, Bridget O'Reilly and Philip O'Neill, received €22,000 from the Workplace Relations Commission in 2022 after the Charleville Park Hotel, owned by Atlantic Troy Ltd, refused them accommodation in 2020 because they could not provide a credit card matching their ID. The WRC found the hotel's refusal discriminated against them as Travellers and as recipients of a Housing Assistance Payment. The Circuit Court overturned the award in July 2022, but the High Court quashed that ruling in September 2023, citing unfairness and inappropriate language used by the Circuit Court judge. The hotel now appeals the High Court's decision, arguing an adequate alternative remedy existed at the Circuit Court level. Ms O'Reilly's counsel seeks to keep the case in the High Court, while the hotel's counsel argues the Circuit Court route was available and was abandoned.
In the case of the Director of Public Prosecutions versus Emmett Rigney, a 22‑year‑old from Shinrone, Co Offaly, the Court of Appeal upheld a two‑year suspended sentence. Rigney was convicted of dangerous driving causing serious bodily injury after a head‑on collision with a vehicle in Ballingarry, Co Tipperary, on 14 August 2021. The crash left a five‑year‑old daughter with a severe traumatic brain injury and caused significant financial and emotional hardship for her family, including a pregnant mother who testified that the incident had a destructive impact. The original headline sentence of three and a half years was reduced to two years, suspended for two years on the condition of €10,000 compensation, and Rigney was disqualified from driving for six years.
Cosmin Stana, 49, of Castlecurragh Heath, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm after his bin truck struck a pedestrian on Shackleton Road, Celbridge, Co Kildare, on 22 September 2022. The victim was trapped under the wheel, suffered serious injuries, and required six months of hospital treatment before release. Stana was originally sentenced to four months in jail and a two‑year driving disqualification. On appeal, the District Court Appeals Court suspended the custodial sentence entirely, replacing it with a €1,500 fine payable over 12 months, while upholding the two‑year driving disqualification. The judge noted Stana's remorse and lack of prior penalty points but deemed his failure to see the victim a serious lapse warranting a custodial sentence, though it was ultimately suspended. The decision was made despite defence counsel's argument that the disqualification would jeopardise his employment. The case remains at the appeal stage.
Muhammad Butt, a 44-year-old taxi driver from Blanchardstown, Dublin 12, has lost his appeal against a conviction for careless driving under section 52 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961. Butt had pleaded not guilty to the charge, which alleged he struck a pregnant woman on Queen Street, Smithfield, on August 19, 2023. The District Court Appeals Court heard that the injured party, Mary Collins, was five months pregnant at the time and suffered a large bruise to her stomach. Collins testified that the vehicle hit her as she crossed the road, while Butt claimed she appeared suddenly and threw herself onto his car after he attempted to avoid her. Garda Stephen Lacey reported visible injuries to Collins and damage to Butt's vehicle. Judge Fiona O'Sullivan affirmed the lower court's findings, accepting the prosecution's evidence that Butt pulled out of his lane without indicating and accelerated. The judge found that Butt was driving with a lack of care and attention. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed, and the original District Court order was upheld, requiring Butt to pay a fine of 110 euro within 12 months.
John McClean, former Terenure College rugby coach, admitted abusing four additional teenagers but will not receive extra jail time because his sentences run concurrently with a 10½‑year global term for 45 earlier victims. The court, following a Court of Appeal direction, capped his total term at ten and a half years for his overall misconduct. McClean, 80, pleaded guilty to seven counts of indecent assault between 1973 and 1990. He had previously received an 11‑year sentence with the last three years suspended in 2021 for sexual abuse of 22 boys, and a 4‑year sentence reduced to two and a half years in 2023. The judge noted McClean's position of trust and that the new two‑year sentence will run concurrently with the earlier suspended portion, so he will not serve additional custody. Victim impact statements highlighted shame, anger, and the lasting effects of the abuse.
Christopher Slator, aged 40, was convicted of the 2016 murder of Michael Barr at Dublin's Sunset House pub and is appealing that conviction. He argues that DNA evidence from a mask and runners found in the car used by the murderers should not have been admitted because the items were not fully examined and the defence was disadvantaged. Slator's counsel claims the DNA was taken from the tongue of a shoe and from a contaminated mask, and that further swabs could have been taken. The prosecution maintains that a DNA profile matching Slator was found on the shoes and mask, giving the evidence significant probative value. The appeal is heard at the Court of Appeal, where the defence seeks to exclude the DNA evidence and challenge the weight given to it by the Special Criminal Court. The case remains at the appeal stage, with no new outcome announced. Christopher Slator pleaded not guilty.
The Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal by a 67-year-old man from Arva, County Cavan, against an extradition order to Northern Ireland. James Donegan is wanted to stand trial for the murder of Joseph James Porter, a member of the Ulster Defence Regiment, at Mountnorris in County Armagh on a date between 22 and 25 June 1979. Mr Donegan faces additional charges relating to possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life, and membership of a proscribed organisation. His legal representatives argued the extradition warrant lacked sufficient specification of his alleged degree of involvement. The Supreme Court determined the case raised no issue of general public importance meeting the threshold for appeal, characterising the complaint as one of insufficient warrant detail rather than a substantive legal question concerning the correspondence between alleged conduct and Irish murder law.
A 27‑year‑old man who attacked his ex‑partner by choking her and striking her with a plank of timber in her own home had his nine‑month custodial sentence overturned. He had pleaded guilty to assault causing harm under the Non‑Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997, and was originally sentenced in the District Court to nine months with four months suspended. In the appeal, Sergeant Paul O'Sullivan described the assault, noting the man's hands around the woman's neck, the use of a plank, and punches that injured her wrists. The victim's impact statement detailed bruises, a near loss of consciousness, and lasting mental distress that made everyday tasks feel impossible. The defendant's solicitor said the man had relapsed, was not taking medication, and had since sought mental health treatment.
In a 2025 Central Criminal Court hearing, Mr Justice Paul McDermott expressed concern that a 23‑year‑old offender, who was 15 when he attempted to murder Stephanie Ng in 2017, might be released from prison without supervision following a Supreme Court ruling. The defendant, who used a dating app and pretended to be 19, lured Ng to an isolated spot on the Sea Front, Queen's Road, Dun Laoghaire, where he choked her and slashed her neck. He pleaded guilty in 2019 and was sentenced to eleven years with a review after five years. The Court of Appeal later increased the review period by two years. However, the Supreme Court held that a sentencing court lacks jurisdiction to review its own sentences, leaving the judge unable to impose post‑release supervision.
Kevin Braney, aged 49, is appealing his conviction for the murder of Peter Butterly at the Special Criminal Court. The appeal, heard before a three-judge panel, centres on two main issues: the lawfulness of surveillance authorisation and the admissibility of evidence from an accomplice-turned-State's witness. Braney's counsel argues that gardai breached his privacy rights by deploying a listening device at a KFC restaurant in Charlestown Shopping Centre, Finglas without proper district court authorisation. The defence contends a superintendent in County Meath could have sought judicial approval at nearby Balbriggan District Court rather than relying on emergency powers under the Criminal Law (Surveillance) Act 2009. The Director of Public Prosecutions argues the superintendent acted appropriately given time constraints when the criminal meeting emerged. The prosecution also disputes whether private conversation expectations apply in a public restaurant setting. Additionally, Braney's legal team challenges the trial court's reliance on evidence from David Cullen, who pleaded guilty to firearms offences and entered witness protection. The defence characterises Cullen as unreliable and willing to lie in his interests.
Conor McGregor and James Lawrence are appealing the civil jury verdict that found McGregor raped Nikita Hand in 2018. At a Court of Appeal hearing before Mr Justice Seamus Noonan, McGregor's counsel sought permission to introduce fresh evidence from two individuals. The judge directed that a formal motion and affidavits must be filed to address the admissibility of this new evidence, with a case management hearing scheduled for May 2 to fix the date for that application. The judge ruled the appeal cannot proceed until the court decides on the new evidence. McGregor's team alleges the trial judge made legal and factual errors, specifically regarding the jury question on whether he "assaulted" rather than "sexually assaulted" Ms Hand. Lawrence, who was found not to have assaulted Ms Hand, is appealing his costs, despite McGregor paying his legal fees. In January, Mr Justice Owens ordered McGregor to pay €1.3 million in costs, with a stay granted conditional on immediate payments of €100,000 towards the damages award and €200,000 towards costs, which the Court of Appeal heard has been completed. The matter remains at the procedural stage of determining the admissibility of fresh evidence before the substantive appeal can be heard.
The Court of Appeal is hearing an appeal by Kevin Braney, who was convicted by the Special Criminal Court of the 2013 murder of Peter Butterly. Counsel for Braney argued that the conviction should be overturned because the trial relied on the evidence of David Cullen, a State's witness described as a perjurer and accomplice. Cullen had previously pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol, receiving a seven-year sentence with half suspended, in exchange for dropping a murder charge. The defence contended that Cullen's credibility was undermined by his admitted dishonesty and personal animus toward Braney. The Director of Public Prosecutions countered that the circumstantial evidence, including observed movements of gang members, was compelling and supported Cullen's testimony that Braney instructed the killing. Braney, who was previously sentenced in 2018 to four years and six months for IRA membership, was found guilty of premeditated murder in February 2019. Co-defendants Edward McGrath, Sharif Kelly, and Dean Evans also received life sentences for the murder, with Evans identified as the shooter. The three-judge Court of Appeal will hear further submissions from both parties before making a decision.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has sought a retrial for James Flynn, a 34-year-old appellant, following the Court of Appeal's decision to quash his conviction for conspiring to steal the getaway car used in the 2013 Lordship Credit Union robbery, where Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was killed. The appeal court found that the Special Criminal Court breached Flynn's right to natural justice by amending the indictment to secure a guilty verdict on the conspiracy charge without consulting legal teams. While the DPP argues this results in no verdict and requires a return to the Special Criminal Court, Flynn's counsel, Bernard Condon SC, contended that a retrial would be unfair given he has served 44 months in custody since his 2021 extradition from the UK. Condon also argued the court lacks jurisdiction to order a retrial on the original conspiracy charge, as Flynn was acquitted of that specific count. The three-judge panel, comprising Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, Mr Justice John Edwards, and Ms Justice Tara Burns, reserved their judgment on the proposed disposal. Flynn was originally sentenced to eight years' imprisonment in December 2023 for the conspiracy to steal the Volkswagen Passat, a sentence that remains subject to the current appeal proceedings.
A 33‑year‑old man who violated a protection order by sending abusive voice notes to his ex‑partner had his six‑month custodial sentence overturned on appeal. The judge, after hearing the recordings, described them as "the worst he'd ever heard" and found the messages "shocking beyond belief." The court noted that the victim remained distressed and that the man's behaviour was linked to substance abuse. The judge allowed the man to apologise in court and ordered him to pay €5,000 to the victim, with €1,000 due within a week and the balance within nine months. He also imposed 240 hours of community service to be completed within 12 months, replacing the custodial sentence. The appeal was heard in the District Court. The unnamed 33-year-old pleaded guilty.
A 19‑year‑old pleaded guilty to murdering Aaron Keating on 13 June 2023 in Dublin. The defendant, who was a child when the offence was committed, is no longer subject to a mandatory life sentence because a Supreme Court ruling last year removed the mandatory life rule for those who were under 18 at the time of the crime, regardless of their current age. A further Supreme Court decision yesterday overturned a Court of Appeal ruling that a child could be identified if they turned 18 during proceedings, so the defendant's name cannot be released. The defendant had previously sought to halt the proceedings after turning 18, fearing a mandatory life sentence. After the guilty plea, senior counsel James Dwyer said the mandatory regime does not apply and a full sentencing hearing is required. Seamus Clarke SC represented the defendant, who had no prior convictions.
The Court of Appeal heard submissions on whether to uphold convictions against three men jailed for the kidnap and torture of Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney. Sean Guerin SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, argued that the case rested on sound circumstantial evidence assessed in its totality, and urged the court to maintain the verdicts. Defence counsel disputed this approach, contending that errors in the trial judgment would not self-correct through broader analysis. Alan Harte, Alan O'Brien, and Darren Redmond were convicted in December 2022 of false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm to Mr Lunney at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, County Cavan on 17 September 2019. Harte received a 30-year sentence, O'Brien 25 years, and Redmond 18 years with the final three suspended. The appellants have challenged the admissibility of DNA evidence from a van destroyed in garda custody and phone records used at trial, among other matters. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, sitting with two fellow judges, reserved judgment to be delivered at a later date.
Brian McHugh, 40, was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of 52-year-old Lisa Thompson. The sentence was backdated to July 11, 2022, when he entered custody. McHugh had pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Thompson at Sandyhill Gardens, Ballymun, Dublin 11, on May 9, 2022. A jury unanimously found him guilty after rejecting his defence that she was a "woman of secrets." The court heard three emotional victim impact statements from Ms Thompson's teenage daughter, son, and sister, Ashley Duckett. The daughter described the injuries as resembling "horror movies" and stated McHugh's face would haunt her. The judge, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, noted the "horrific and brutal circumstances" of the death. Prior to sentencing, the Court of Appeal overturned a pre-trial ruling that had excluded CCTV identification evidence, restoring it for the trial. Evidence included McHugh's DNA on a blind cord used to strangle the victim and text messages from a named woman referencing the killing. McHugh has 50 previous convictions, including theft, robbery, and drug offences. The matter was concluded with the imposition of the life sentence.
The Court of Appeal quashed the conviction of a 34‑year‑old man who had been jailed for eight years for conspiring to steal the getaway car used in the credit union robbery that killed Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. The appeal court held that the Special Criminal Court had breached the defendant's right to natural justice by amending the indictment after the three‑month trial had finished and without consulting the prosecution or defence. The amendment added a charge of conspiring to steal a Volkswagen Passat from a property in Clogherhead, a charge that had not been presented to the defendant during the trial. The Court of Appeal did not consider other arguments raised by the defence and will hear whether the defendant should face a retrial on 18 March. The court also dismissed mobile‑phone evidence used to link the defendant to a series of burglaries, finding it insufficient to prove conspiracy beyond a reasonable doubt.
Christopher Doyle, a 34‑year‑old aircraft technician at Dublin Aerospace Ltd, was suspended from his airport identity card after a failed security intelligence check in November 2024. He claims the check was linked to a video he recorded in December 2023, in which another employee praised Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch during the 2024 General Election. Doyle says he shared the clip privately via WhatsApp but did not post it publicly; the video later appeared on Instagram, X and TikTok. He has no criminal convictions and asserts no family or associates have links to criminality. Doyle appealed the suspension on December 5, 2024, but received no reasons for the failure and was placed on unpaid leave. He is seeking a judicial review and a mandamus order to compel the Dublin Airport Authority, the Minister for Justice and Garda Síochána to complete his appeal. The High Court has adjourned the case to April 1, 2025, after refusing an ex‑parte hearing.
Brian McHugh, 40, of Ballymun, Dublin 11, was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of murdering Lisa Thompson, 52, at Sandyhill Gardens on May 9, 2022. McHugh had pleaded not guilty to the charge. The jury, which deliberated for three hours and 24 minutes, unanimously rejected the defence argument that the killing involved "overkill" and that Thompson was a "woman of secrets." The prosecution presented circumstantial evidence, including CCTV footage placing McHugh near the victim's home, DNA on a blind cord used to strangle her, and jewellery found at his address matching items linked to Thompson. The court also heard evidence regarding text messages sent by a named woman to McHugh referencing the method of killing. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor thanked the jury and excused them from service for five years. She offered condolences to the Thompson family. The matter was adjourned; Ms Justice O'Connor will hand down the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment to McHugh on March 10. McHugh has been remanded in custody until that date, when the family will have the opportunity to make a statement. A prior pre-trial ruling excluding recognition evidence was overturned by the Court of Appeal, allowing that evidence to be considered at trial.
In February 2025, X Corp's Irish subsidiary appealed a €550,000 award ordered by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to pay former Twitter executive Gary Rooney. Rooney, dismissed after Elon Musk's takeover, had sued under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. The WRC had awarded him the sum, the largest under the Act, after finding his dismissal stemmed from his refusal to click "yes" on Musk's November 2022 email demanding "extremely hardcore" work. Rooney's lawyers, led by Arthur Cush, sought to have Musk testify remotely, but the WRC decided not to summon him. The appeal, set for March 7th before the Labour Court, may allow the court to increase the award. Rooney's case highlights the dispute over Musk's email and the dismissal process.
In a Court of Appeal hearing, the lawyers for former Army Captain Ross O'Shea argued that his sexual assault of a female non‑commissioned officer was an aberration in a glittering 17‑year career and that his dismissal from the Defence Forces was a disproportionate punishment. O'Shea was convicted in October 2022 by a General Court Martial of sexually assaulting the officer at the Officer's Mess on 25 June 2020, moving his palms up and down her back and saying "come on, come on," and of assaulting her under Section 2 of the Non‑Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. The court imposed a six‑month custodial sentence suspended for one year and ordered his dismissal. O'Shea's appeal was dismissed in October 2023. The prosecution highlighted the disparity in rank, the victim's inability to defend herself due to military training, and the appellant's use of his rank to intimidate other officers. Ross O'Shea pleaded guilty.
Tyler "Tiggy" Jackson, a 27‑year‑old from Ballydaheen West, Mallow, was convicted of murdering 24‑year‑old Conor Quinn on 12 July 2018 and sentenced to a mandatory life term by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon in October 2023. Jackson fled to the UK after the stabbing, was located in Cambridge, and returned to Ireland on a European arrest warrant in February 2022. He appealed in October 2023, arguing that the trial judge erred by admitting a statement from 16‑year‑old witness Christina Kearney, taken three days after Quinn's death, and that a jury should have been discharged after a civilian witness suggested Jackson had assaulted him. The Court of Appeal dismissed all grounds, holding that the judge had correctly assessed the admissibility of the statement and that no error justified interfering with the jury's findings. Jackson's appeal was rejected, leaving his conviction and life sentence intact.
Michael Scott, a 60‑year‑old farmer from Gortanumera, Portumna, was convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence after he drove an agricultural teleporter over his 76‑year‑old aunt, Chrissie Treacy, on 27 April 2018. The trial judge, Ms Justice Caroline Biggs, imposed a headline sentence of eight years, later reduced to six years after mitigating factors. Scott's counsel, Michael Bowman SC, argued the sentence was too high, citing the defendant's "blemish‑free" life and the circumstances of the incident. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Dean Kelly SC, defended the judge's discretion, noting the jury's finding that Scott's blind reversal for ten seconds across the yard posed a high risk to his aunt. The case was distinguished from dangerous driving causing death, and the judge highlighted Scott's lack of remorse at the time, though recent remorse was acknowledged. The appeal is pending. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
In the Court of Appeal, Dean Byrne, aged 31, claimed he had a "benign" motive for attempting to persuade witness Daniel Cahill not to give evidence in the trial of garda murderer Aaron Brady. Lawyers for Byrne argued that Byrne honestly believed Cahill would give false evidence and that his actions were not intended to pervert the course of justice. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Lorcan Staines SC, countered that Byrne's conduct was an attempt to pervert the course of justice, citing a recorded exchange in which Byrne insulted Cahill. The Court was asked to decide whether any attempt to persuade a witness not to give evidence constitutes an attempt to pervert the course of justice. Byrne's appeal concerns the conviction and two‑year sentence imposed by the Special Criminal Court for conspiring with Brady to dissuade Cahill, a conviction that followed his earlier 18‑year sentence with four years suspended for a 2013 burglary.