In a claim under the Employment Equality Act 1998, solicitor Orla Howe alleges that her former firm, Healy Crowley Ahern, terminated her employment in a sham redundancy after she disclosed her pregnancy. Howe says the firm's principal solicitor, Colm Kelly, stopped assigning her new files and excluded her from meetings before giving her redundancy notice, and that the firm's financial difficulties were overstated. She testified that she had not been compelled to work from the office during her pregnancy and that she had concerns about pandemic safety. During cross‑examination, Howe admitted attending a 50‑person wedding in Galway on 20 August 2021, where she danced, but she said the venue observed Covid guidelines and she was not mingling. The firm maintains the redundancy was genuine, citing a drop in conveyancing work and profits. The adjudicating officer is considering a decision, which will be issued in writing before being made public.
Darren Gilligan, 47, son of convicted drug dealer John Gilligan, was granted bail by the High Court on 2 May 2023 despite objections from the Gardaí and a pending extradition request from Spain for drug‑trafficking matters. The court heard that Detective Sergeant Adrian Murray had arrested Gilligan in west Dublin on 12 April, and that Gilligan had acknowledged the allegations when questioned. Gilligan had previously purchased tickets to Spain, where he was due to appear before a Spanish court on another matter. The bail conditions set by Judge Kerida Naidoo include a €500 surety, daily reporting to a Garda station, surrender of travel documents, prohibition from leaving the jurisdiction, and provision of a mobile phone number. Gilligan was remanded in custody with bail pending his extradition hearing on 21 June 2023. The judge noted the Gardaí's concerns but accepted the bail terms.
A 22-year-old man charged with two murders and an attempted murder in Sligo has received a psychiatric assessment, the Central Criminal Court heard this week. Yousef Palani, of Markievicz Heights, Sligo, faces charges relating to incidents in April 2022. He is accused of murdering Aidan Moffitt on April 10 and Michael Snee on April 12, and of attempting to murder another man on April 9. Palani, who is remanded in custody at Castlerea Prison in Roscommon, is due to stand trial on November 13, with proceedings expected to last approximately four weeks. Defence counsel informed Mr Justice Paul McDermott that the assessment had only recently been received and that outstanding evidentiary matters and records from the Central Mental Hospital require attention before trial. The case was adjourned to June 13 for further mention.
In a High Court extradition case, Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo ruled that possession of images depicting sexual acts between an adult woman and a dog is not an offence under Irish law. The 72‑year‑old defendant, whose name is protected by court order, was to be extradited to the UK to face charges of possessing two photographs of bestiality and 15 charges of alleged indecent images of children. The judge agreed to surrender the man for the child‑image allegations but found no Irish offence corresponding to possession of extreme pornography. He rejected the State's argument that the images constituted offensive sexual conduct, noting that possession alone is not inherently sexual or offensive. The defendant remains in custody awaiting surrender to UK authorities, where he may be tried only for the child‑image allegations, not for the bestiality images. The case highlights the distinction between possession and other forms of sexual offence under Irish law.
A 38‑year‑old man, Brian McHugh, has been charged with the murder of 52‑year‑old youth worker Lisa Thompson, who was found dead with multiple stab wounds in her Dublin home on 10 May 2022. A co‑accused, Deirdre Arnold, 40, faces a charge of impeding the prosecution or apprehension of the alleged murderer between 9 May and 11 July 2022. Mr Justice Paul McDermott set a trial date for 26 February 2024, with case management to finish by 21 July 2023, and the trial is expected to last four weeks.
In a 2023 decision by the Workplace Relations Commission, a security guard's claim of racial abuse against a shopping centre manager was dismissed. The guard, Younis Sarwari, alleged that the manager told him, "you look like a monkey," while asking him to remove his hands from his pockets. The manager, who has a 39‑year career, maintained that his words were simply a reminder of security policy and that he had never been accused of misconduct. Evidence from a fellow worker, who also heard the remark, was deemed unreliable, and CCTV footage was cited as lacking audio and clarity. The tribunal found the guard's evidence unpersuasive and concluded that no direct discrimination had been established, thereby rejecting the complaint. The decision was upheld on appeal.
Diarmuid Phelan, a 53-year-old senior barrister and law professor from Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, County Dublin, is charged with the alleged murder of Keith Conlon at Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, on February 22, 2022. The matter was adjourned at the Central Criminal Court to allow the Director of Public Prosecution time to respond to detailed disclosure requests from the defence. Defence counsel Karl Monahan BL applied for Arthur McClean Solicitors to come on record, noting substantial prior correspondence regarding disclosure. He stated that the accused's previous solicitors had sought detailed records on March 21, while new solicitors recently requested "further and better" disclosure. Prosecution lawyers indicated they required considerable time to respond to these requests and asked for the matter to be put back for six weeks. Mr Justice Paul McDermott acknowledged that the defence letter set out significant detail regarding the information sought, noting that providing a comprehensive reply would require time. He suggested that readily available materials could potentially be addressed within four weeks. The judge adjourned the case to May 25 to review the matter again. Phelan is due to go on trial at the Central Criminal Court on May 29, 2024. Keith Conlon, a father-of-four from Kiltalown Park, was seriously injured in a shooting incident and died at Tallaght University Hospital two days later.
Businessman Frank Gleeson secured a temporary High Court injunction preventing a receiver appointed by the UK financial fund Onate UK LLP from selling lands he owns in Mulhuddart, West County Dublin. Gleeson, represented by Keith Rooney BL of MacCarthy Johnston solicitors, argues that the receiver, Mr Colin Gaynor, has no right to sell or market the property, which was listed on the BidX1 online auction platform for a sale next month. Gleeson claims the receiver was appointed only to enforce a floating charge over Taleta Capital Limited's assets, not over the lands, and that he has a purchaser ready to pay Onate in full. The court granted the injunction, restraining Onate and Mr Gaynor from offering the property for sale via any platform or medium and preventing them from representing the sale to third parties without Gleeson's consent. The order remains until the case returns to court, with the matter adjourned for a week.
A trial date has been set for an Irish celebrity, aged in his 40s and unnamed for legal reasons, who faces three charges of sexual acts with a child under 17 in Dublin in 2010 and early 2011. He denies all allegations. The complainant is now in her late 20s. The case was adjourned to July 24 for a hearing on outstanding disclosure, and the trial is scheduled to begin on October 9, expected to last four or five days. Judge Orla Crowe noted the case's impact on the defendant's travel‑heavy work.
The former governor of Portlaoise Prison, Ethel Gavin, has accused the Irish Prison Service of a sexist demotion, claiming it was at the behest of 14 male prison officers who staged a walkout in 2018. The incidents leading to the walkout included a senior gangland criminal being allowed a phone call before transfer and the withdrawal of barrier control of a prisoner, who later seriously assaulted an officer. The Workplace Relations Commission heard that the Prison Service denied allegations that a senior civil servant gave the officers Gavin's head 'on a plate', insisting that urgent action was taken to expedite management restructuring following a series of incidents. Gavin alleges she was demoted from an acting-up position as governor of the Portlaoise and Midlands Prisons to only oversee the Midlands Prison, losing two grades of seniority. The Prison Service maintains her acting-up role was temporary and that restructuring was necessary due to incidents at Portlaoise.
Gerard Maunsell, a worker at Richard Boyle & Sons (2004) Ltd, claimed unfair dismissal after a canteen row on 12 November 2021. The dispute began when Maunsell threw a soap bottle at a colleague, identified only as "RR", after an exchange of racial slurs. Maunsell admitted to saying "F*** you, you f***ing prick" but denied using the word "foreign c***". He was called to a disciplinary meeting without prior notice and faced a process described by the employer as "serious misconduct". The Workplace Relations Commission found the disciplinary procedure "fundamentally flawed" and the dismissal "entirely disproportionate", noting that Maunsell had been interrogated and that the employer failed to consider his own complaints. The tribunal awarded Maunsell €11,340 in compensation for financial loss and loss of redundancy entitlements, while rejecting a secondary claim under the Payment of Wages Act. The case remains at the WRC stage.
John Herd, a Tesco deputy manager, lost his unfair dismissal claim after the supermarket sacked him for failing to pay for three Red Bull cans worth €9.45 in October 2021. The loss‑prevention system flagged the incidents, and the store manager, Emma Doyle, raised the matter on 29 October. Herd argued he was under severe personal stress, "on the verge of being made homeless," and claimed the company had shown favoritism toward other staff. He said he had previously complained about a colleague who had given out free spirits and Clubcard points. The tribunal found the three unpaid drinks constituted gross misconduct, upheld the dismissal as effective immediately, and rejected Herd's appeal that the sanction was excessive. The decision was supported by the Workplace Relations Commission. The case highlights the company's stance on trust and the seriousness of repeated theft allegations.
Jagannadha Muttumula, director of The Square Dental Services Ltd, denied forging a signature on a work visa contract during a Workplace Relations Commission hearing. Former employee Dr Min Li, a Canadian national, accused Muttumula and his wife, Dr Hima Bindu Meda, of penalising her under the Employment Permits Act 2006 by dismissing her for refusing to sign a contract reducing her salary from the €64,000 stipulated by the Department of Enterprise to €55,000. Dr Li alleged she was in Taiwan when the disputed contract was purportedly signed and that she was terminated shortly after refusing the pay cut. The employer countered that Dr Li was dismissed during her probationary period due to poor performance and interpersonal conflicts, not the contract dispute. The adjudicating officer denied the company's application for an adjournment to call staff witnesses, stating the hearing was proceeding as scheduled. Dr Li also alleged an illegal €1,000 deduction for visa fees and breaches of the Payment of Wages Act and Organisation of Working Time Act, all of which the firm denied. The matter remains at the charge or pretrial stage, with the adjudicator closing the hearing to consider a decision.
A 28‑year‑old man, Robert Broughan of St Patrick's Park, Rathangan, Co Kildare, has been charged with the murder of Roy Hopkins, 34, who died on 31 July 2020 after an assault with a blunt instrument believed to be a baseball bat. Broughan was charged at Naas District Court on 2 August 2020. The trial, originally scheduled for last July, was postponed pending a report. Justice Mary Ellen Ring set a new trial date for 5 February 2024, with a case‑management adjournment to 21 July, and the trial is expected to last no more than two weeks.
A 48‑year‑old woman, Lynn Eagar of Winetown, Rathowen, County Westmeath, faces trial on 15 January 2024 for the murders of her two children, Thelma (5) and Michael Dennany (2). The children died when the car they were in caught fire on 9 September 2022 at Lackan, Multyfarnham. The Central Criminal Court heard the case on 21 July, with a two‑week trial expected. Eagar's counsel, Sean Gillane SC, hopes many facts will be agreed, and the court has set witness and exhibit orders for the trial date.
Eoghan Harris, a former Sunday Independent columnist, has appealed a Circuit Court ruling that transferred his defamation claim against journalist Aoife Moore to the High Court. Harris alleges that Moore defamed him in a May 2021 tweet accusing him of sending her sexualised messages. In response, Moore and fellow journalist Allison Morris have filed separate High Court actions claiming defamation over tweets from an account called "Barbara J. Pym," which they say was operated by Harris and others and portrayed them as partisan and sexualised. Harris's appeal, presented by Remy Farrell SC, argues that his claim should remain in the Circuit Court as a distinct matter, despite similarities with Moore's case. The judge has reserved judgment and will rule later. The case remains pending in the Circuit Court, with no decision yet on the transfer to the High Court.
A manager at Donegal Council who dismissed the county lifeguard supervisor over alleged failures to complete ring buoy safety inspections relied solely on hearsay evidence, the Workplace Relations Commission has found. Lisa Dalton's unfair dismissal claim was upheld on 23 March 2023 following her termination in November 2021. A senior council engineer cited concerns that inspections were not appearing in an app database and that lifeguards had been given the impression the work "didn't matter". Ms Dalton disputed these allegations and stated her own inspections were completed. The adjudicating officer noted the council could not produce the complainant's line manager or officials directly involved in the dismissal process to give evidence. The council also failed to establish a procedural basis for dismissal, having not properly notified Ms Dalton that her probation period remained active. Ms Daly ordered Donegal Council to pay €10,000 compensation, finding the employer had not proven poor work performance contributed to the dismissal. The complainant's claim for over €30,000 in lost earnings was reduced due to insufficient mitigation efforts.
Adam Schuster, 21, pleaded guilty to demanding €3,500 from a woman in Lucan in June 2020 and to armed burglary in September 2020. He was arrested on the victim's property after a short chase and admitted to carrying a knife. The victim, who had to move homes due to fear, said the incidents caused her family to break up. Schuster's mother testified that he was under pressure from drug debt and had been receiving threatening calls. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to a four‑year term, suspended in full on strict conditions, including two years of probation. The court noted his lack of prior convictions, his efforts to rehabilitate, and his moderate risk of re‑offending. The judge described the crimes as an appalling start to his adult life and a huge violation of the homeowner's safety.
In a High Court hearing, lawyers for 72‑year‑old Thomas Donaldson argued that possession of images depicting a woman and a dog engaging in sexual acts would not constitute a criminal offence under Irish law. Donaldson, who was arrested in Dublin in January after a Northern Irish warrant alleged that hundreds of indecent images of children were found on his computer, faces 15 charges of making indecent images and two counts of possessing extreme pornography. The court considered whether the images, which show a female's mouth and vagina being penetrated by a dog's penis, fall under Irish legislation that criminalises sexual conduct likely to cause fear or alarm. The judge noted ambiguity in the law, particularly whether possession alone is an offence, and postponed judgment to 25 April, remanding Donaldson in custody until then.
In March 2023, former JTI Ireland brand manager Caroline McGarry filed a complaint with the Workplace Relations Commission alleging constructive dismissal after being placed on a performance improvement plan (PIP). McGarry, who had worked for the company for 13 years, said she had been advised by her GP to take sick leave for anxiety triggered by workplace stress. She claimed the company's annual review rated her as "needs improvement" without considering her sick leave and that her concerns about workload and morale were dismissed. McGarry described a gradual build‑up of anxiety symptoms, including sleeplessness and chest pressure, and said she was pressured to remain "steady" despite feeling unsupported. She resigned in September 2023 after the PIP was imposed, stating she had no alternative. The WRC has adjourned the case to a future hearing, with the tribunal expected to consider evidence from her last line manager, Rebecca Crotty.
In a Dublin case, a 31‑year‑old man named Gareth Sheeran, who has schizophrenia, was charged with murdering his father, Harry Sheeran, on Father's Day, 20 June 2021. Psychiatric assessments in 2021 had found him unfit to stand trial, but further evaluations between June and October 2022 indicated that he was now fit to enter a plea. At the Central Criminal Court, defence psychiatrist Dr Ronan Mullaney and prosecution expert Dr Patrick McLoughlin both testified that Gareth had shown improvement, adhered to a medication programme, and understood the court process and his charges. Judge Paul McDermott accepted the evidence, declared Gareth fit to be tried, gave the case priority status, and adjourned the matter to 29 March for a trial date. The court did not alter the charge or the alleged offence. The decision was based solely on the psychiatric evidence presented.
The Central Criminal Court has set a trial for 32‑year‑old Jozef Puska, accused of murdering 23‑year‑old school teacher Ashling Murphy in Offaly. The alleged killing occurred on 12 January 2022 when Ms Murphy was fatally assaulted while jogging along Fiona's Way, a stretch of the Grand Canal near Tullamore. Puska, who lives at Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, is charged with murder and will stand trial on 6 June. The court will reconvene on 31 March for a progress update. The case is expected to last up to four weeks.
Keith Kerley, former general manager at Arralis's Limerick factory, claimed the company discriminated against him by giving UK staff double the stock options he received. He alleged anti‑Irish bias and constructive dismissal after being told to "take it or leave it" by CEO Mike Gleaves. Kerley expected 3,000 shares following a 2019 management meeting but was allocated only 750. He pointed to an engineer with a UK passport who received 1,500 shares and a Swindon colleague who also received 1,500. Arralis denied discrimination, stating the higher allocation was for an Irish‑passport holder and that stock options were based on service. The Workplace Relations Commission, applying the Employment Equality Act 2000, rejected Kerley's claim, concluding there was no evidence of discrimination. The decision was made by adjudicating officer Conor Stokes.
Christopher Coakley, aged 31, pleaded guilty to a single charge of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm for a stabbing with scissors in Dublin's north inner city on 28 January 2021. The plea was entered at the Central Criminal Court. Judge Michael MacGrath adjourned the sentencing to 7 June and remanded Coakley in custody until that date.
In August 2021, 17‑year‑old Sean Squires stabbed a young man in the cheek and leg after the victim tried to intervene in an argument between Squires and his girlfriend on a Dublin bus. The incident began when the victim and his girlfriend noticed Squires and his girlfriend arguing; the girlfriend became emotional and threatened the victim's girlfriend, who slapped her. The victim and his girlfriend left the bus and called the police. Squires followed them, produced a knife and stabbed the victim. He was arrested shortly thereafter while attempting to board another bus. Squires, now 19, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and producing a knife. He has no prior convictions. The case is set for sentencing next week, with the court remanding him in custody pending finalisation on March 13.
Lisa Dalton, a former lifeguard supervisor dismissed by Donegal County Council in November 2021, brought a complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 before the Workplace Relations Commission. The council alleged she failed to ensure regular ring-buoy inspections were logged in a mobile app, citing broken trust over safety-critical duties. Dalton disputed this, stating her personal inspections were 100% completed and that she lacked adequate digital access to monitor lifeguard logs. She also noted she was absent with Covid-19 during key summer months. The council admitted it could not produce her line manager, David Friel, or the decision-makers to give evidence. Adjudicator Emile Daly stated she was not persuaded by the council's argument that Dalton was still on probation and thus unprotected by the Act. The matter has been adjourned for Ms Daly to consider her decision.
A trial date of 24 June 2024 has been set at the Central Criminal Court for Andrei Dobra, 33, accused of murdering 30‑year‑old Ioana Mihaela Pacala on 12 November 2022 at River Walk Court, Ratoath. Dobra, who lives at River Walk Court, Fairyhouse Road, Ratoath, is charged with the murder. His defence, represented by Shane Michael Kelly BL, has requested an interpreter. Psychiatric reports are still pending, with updates expected in March. The judge has scheduled case management for 5 July, requiring all disclosure by that date.
Dr Bruno Seigle-Murandi, a former Roche drug safety manager, is currently undergoing cross-examination at the Workplace Relations Commission regarding statutory complaints under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 and the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. Roche's counsel, Mark Connaughton SC, accused the applicant of making false allegations against former colleagues, specifically former general manager Pierre-Alain Delley, claiming Dr Seigle-Murandi was pressured to sign off on an alternative storyline regarding a marketing literature recall. The applicant denied these accusations, maintaining that he allowed a notification letter to go to the HPRA without realizing his recommendation for a recall was omitted. Roche also challenged the applicant's claim of a second HPRA notification in July 2020, asserting the regulator had closed its file. During the hearing, Dr Seigle-Murandi stated he struggled with the complexity of questions as a non-native English speaker. Adjudicating officer David James Murphy noted the applicant could request an interpreter. The matter was adjourned, with the applicant indicating he would seek to have the case set down for three more days of hearing. Dr Seigle-Murandi must continue to attend in person until cross-examination concludes, after which he may participate via video-link.
Dr Bruno Seigle‑Murandi, a pharmacovigilance manager at Roche Products Ireland, alleged to the Workplace Relations Commission that Roche's Irish arm had distributed non‑compliant marketing literature with a commercial purpose. He claimed that after a 2019 review, some oncologists received letters instructing them to discard all Roche literature and to advise patients to visit the practice. Seigle‑Murandi said Roche retaliated against him when he raised the issue, alleging a cover‑up to protect marketing and medical departments. Roche denies retaliation and says it acted immediately, notifying the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), which closed its file in February 2020. Seigle‑Murandi was dismissed for gross misconduct after refusing to comply with an internal audit and sending confidential emails from a personal account. The case was adjourned to Friday.
Two men from County Cavan appeared before the Special Criminal Court on 14 February 2023 following their arrest by members of the Special Detective Unit. Desmond Smith, aged 63, of Kilnavara Crescent, Cavan, and Stephen Hamill, aged 50, of Willow Ridge, Gortnakesh, Cavan, have each been charged with knowingly rendering assistance to an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, contrary to the Offences against the State Act 1939. Mr Smith faces a single charge relating to the period between 13 and 19 March 2021. Mr Hamill is charged with offences on 16 February and 13 March 2021. Both men were remanded in custody with consent to bail pending their next appearance on 13 March 2023. Books of evidence were served. Their legal representative indicated an application for legal aid would be made at the next sitting.
A former Macra na Feirme employee, Brian Ó Góilín, claims the organisation breached an October 2021 termination agreement by withholding pension contributions to Aviva, alleging a "side deal" on pensions. He filed a statutory pay claim under the Payment of Wages Act 1991 with the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). The WRC hearing opened with adjudicating officer Breiffní O'Neill stating that Ó Góilín had signed a compromise agreement waiving his right to a Payment of Wages claim. O'Neill noted that Ó Góilín had signed the settlement with legal advice and without duress, and that he had provided no evidence that Macra failed to meet its obligations. Macra's solicitor, Johanne Duignan, denied any pension side agreement, asserting the document was executed in the presence of a solicitor on 28 October 2021. O'Neill said he would issue a written decision in due course.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence from victims of "creeper" burglaries in the ongoing trial of two men accused of conspiring to commit such break-ins across the border region. Brendan Treanor and James Flynn, both charged with conspiracy to steal car keys from residential properties between September 2012 and January 2013, have pleaded not guilty. They face additional charges relating to a seven-thousand-euro robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Co Louth on 25 January 2013. Detective Garda Neil Brady outlined gardaí investigations into overnight burglaries in Cavan, Monaghan, Louth and Westmeath where door locks were forced to access vehicles. Five witnesses gave accounts of thefts from their homes, including a vehicle stolen from Virginia, Co Cavan in October 2012 whose engine was later recovered on the M1 motorway. Other victims described vehicles taken from properties in Westmeath following forced entry during January 2013. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
In February 2023, the Workplace Relations Commission ruled that Blue Line Coaches Ltd, trading as Nolan Coaches, had unfairly dismissed bus driver Martin Cormican after falsely accusing him of using a racial slur. The company's statements, produced in 2022, alleged that Cormican had called a passenger a "fat Chinese c***" on 13 September 2020 and that he admitted the remark at a meeting the next day. Cormican denied the allegation, claiming he had misread his work docket and missed passengers due to a route change. The tribunal found the slur claim to be false and unsubstantiated, rejected the company's claim of gross misconduct, and awarded Cormican €8,928 in compensation, including €1,200 for lost earnings and €7,728 for loss of accrued service. The decision highlighted that the statements were likely prepared in 2022, not 2020, and were used to add documentary ballast. The case was heard in May and June 2022.
Mr Justice Paul McDermott, a senior judge at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, criticised the persistent delays affecting criminal trials. He noted that only three of the ten trials scheduled for the day were ready to proceed, while seven were adjourned. McDermott highlighted that some of these cases had been listed since 2020, and that the courts have been offering case‑management support to lawyers. He accused barristers of presenting "tales of woe" about predictable issues, such as difficulties in obtaining reports from government agencies, late disclosure by the Director of Public Prosecutions, and unready expert reports. The judge also mentioned the challenges faced by complainants, especially in murder cases, and the impact on families of the bereaved. His remarks underscored the need for accountability to address the systemic causes of trial delays.
A 34‑year‑old man, Charles McClean of St Mark's Grove, Clondalkin, has been charged with the murder of gangland figure Mark 'Guinea Pig' Desmond, who was shot at least three times at Griffeen Valley Park, Lucan, on 2 December 2016. Mr Justice Paul McDermott set the trial for 29 January 2024, with all disclosure to be finished by 22 May 2023. Desmond, aged 41 at death, had links to dissident republicans and the drug trade in west Dublin. He had earlier faced, but had those charges dropped, the murder of two men in 1999.
Patrick Murphy, a Coca‑Cola sales rep, claimed unfair dismissal under the Unfair Dismissals Act. The Workplace Relations Commission upheld his complaint but found he was 80 % responsible for his own dismissal. Murphy, who denied falsifying records, said he was punished for supporting a colleague's bullying complaint. The tribunal heard that Murphy's role involved scanning Coca‑Cola cooler units to monitor stock. In early 2020, an internal audit flagged 38 anomalous records worth €138,000 across 19 sites, which the company deemed gross misconduct. Murphy argued the geographic codes were incorrect, a claim the company found highly improbable. The adjudicating officer ruled out reinstatement, citing a breach of trust, and ordered Coca‑Cola to pay €10,000 for the unfair dismissal.
Two men have been charged with conspiracy to commit a series of burglaries known as "creeper burglaries" across Ireland between September 2012 and January 2013. The Special Criminal Court heard that the offences involved late-night break-ins at residential properties, where car keys were stolen and vehicles removed. A Volkswagen Passat taken during a creeper burglary in Clogherhead, County Louth in January 2013 was subsequently used in a robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan on 25 January 2013, during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead. Brendan Treanor, 34, formerly of Dundalk, and James Flynn, 32, from South Armagh are charged with conspiracy and with the credit union robbery. The prosecution indicated it would rely on circumstantial evidence including phone records, cell-site data, and CCTV footage. Aaron Brady, previously convicted of murdering Detective Garda Donohoe, is serving a 40-year sentence. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges.
A man accused of murdering his mother in a house fire in Donegal has had his trial date set for April 8, 2024 at the Central Criminal Court. Geunter Lohse, aged 61, is charged with the murder of Ruth Lohse at Coolvoy, Doochary on April 12, 2022. The defendant appeared before Mr Justice Paul McDermott via videolink on January 31, 2023, when the trial date was fixed. The trial is expected to last approximately one and a half weeks. The court heard that psychiatric evidence will be necessary, with a preliminary report already received and a full report anticipated within several months. Mr Justice McDermott remanded Mr Lohse in custody and scheduled case management for May 5, 2023, directing that all disclosure be completed by that date.
A car parts manufacturer in Sligo Town has been ordered to pay €10,000 to a worker with an anxiety disorder following a discrimination finding by the Workplace Relations Commission. The adjudicating officer found that G. Bruss Gmbh Dichtungstechnik, which employs around two hundred people on the Finiskiln Road, failed to reasonably accommodate the complainant when it implemented a mandatory face mask policy during the Covid-19 pandemic. The complainant provided a medical certificate confirming she could not wear face coverings due to her condition, but the company declined to accept it or forward it to its occupational health doctor. The adjudicator described the case as unprecedented, noting that unlike other mask-policy discrimination cases, medical evidence of disability was established and the employer's failure to provide reasonable accommodation was clearly demonstrated. The company had maintained its position was grounded in public health concerns and denied discrimination. The order includes compensation for loss of earnings.
The High Court ordered the extradition of a 38‑year‑old Irish man to Denmark on a rape charge. The offence was alleged to have occurred in Odense on 17 October 2022. A European arrest warrant was issued by a deputy judge at the Odense court on the same day, and the man was arrested by Gardaí at Dublin Airport after being identified on the Schengen Information System. Mr John Ferry BL, representing the Minister for Justice, confirmed that the Danish prosecution warrant was valid and that there was no issue with identity or certification. Judge Kerida Naidoo was satisfied that the minimum gravity of the charge was met and that the warrant was correct. He ordered the surrender of the respondent to Denmark, allowing him to remain on bail for up to 15 days with a €15,000 surety, and required him to surrender to Gardaí within 48 hours of the surrender date.
During a remote hearing before the Workplace Relations Commission, Jason Gallagher, owner of WFD Food Delivery Galway Ltd, denied any employment relationship with William McDonagh, who had filed statutory complaints alleging discriminatory dismissal and other breaches. Gallagher claimed his company had no employees, was merely a marketing and publishing venture involving only him and his wife, and that he had never met McDonagh. He disputed the complaint's stated start date of November 2020 and argued that the company had never traded. The complainant's solicitor, Ciarán Tansey, noted that the respondent had not filed any submissions despite the complainant's 200‑page submission. The adjudicating officer, Brian Dolan, allowed the complainant to amend the complaint form and adjourned the matter, instructing Gallagher to submit full responses within ten working days and the complainant to reply within two weeks. The next hearing will address the amendment request and proceed to a full hearing of the complaints.
At the Special Criminal Court on 24 January 2023, a defence witness testified that Jason Bonney, accused of participating in the murder of Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne at the Regency Hotel on 5 February 2016, was working north of the hotel approximately 15 minutes after the attack. The witness also gave evidence that she observed Bonney's deceased father driving a BMW X5 jeep, which the prosecution alleges was used to transport a raider from the scene. Under cross-examination, the State contended that Bonney's father had not driven the vehicle that day. A second defence witness corroborated seeing the father operating the jeep. Bonney, aged 52, of Drumnigh Wood, Portmarnock, Dublin, pleads not guilty to participating in the murder by providing access to motor vehicles. His co-accused Gerard Hutch and Paul Murphy likewise deny involvement. The prosecution concluded its case after 13 weeks of evidence.
Patricia Kelly, 61, widow of the late Paul Kelly, former chief executive of the suicide‑prevention charity Console, has been given a trial date of 11 January 2024 by Justice Patricia Ryan at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. She faces two counts of fraudulent trading and one count of money laundering. The first fraudulent trading charge covers the period from 6 December 2006 to 31 May 2015, alleging that she knowingly participated in running Console Suicide Bereavement Counselling Ltd for a fraudulent purpose, misusing the company's property that was meant for its charitable objectives. The second fraudulent trading charge concerns 1 June 2015 to 14 July 2016, alleging the same wrongdoing. The money‑laundering charge covers 1 September 2010 to 1 July 2016, alleging that she concealed the true nature, source, location, disposition, movement or ownership of property of Console Ltd or acted recklessly about whether that property was the proceeds of criminal conduct.
A 27-year-old Donegal man has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a teenager as she slept at his home on 4 June 2017. The Central Criminal Court heard that the then-19-year-old was staying at the accused's apartment when the assault occurred. The woman provided a victim impact statement describing the profound effects of the offence over the subsequent five and a half years, including flashbacks, nightmares, and lost family support. She expressed how the ordeal had been life-changing but stated she now views herself as a survivor rather than a victim. The accused initially claimed the contact was consensual but now accepts he caused harm to a woman who did nothing to provoke the assault. Defence counsel noted the accused had been drinking, which does not excuse the crime. Mr Justice McDermott adjourned finalisation of the case to April 2023 to allow completion of a probation report and full mitigation hearing. The judge remarked that the five and a half year delay had compounded the complainant's suffering.
In a High Court hearing on 11 January 2023, Mr Justice Paul McDermott criticised the Central Mental Hospital for its delayed preparation of a psychiatric report concerning Bahaalddin Alshwawrah, a 43‑year‑old man charged with murdering his partner Zeinat Bashabsheh, aged 42, on 24 December 2021 at their shared residence in Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow. The judge described the delay as "intolerable" and warned that reports unavailable for months hinder proper court business. He urged the State to ensure the hospital has adequate resources and to set a definitive date for the report's completion. The judge noted that several trials were scheduled but none were ready to proceed, and that the case had been pending for a year. The matter was rescheduled for 7 February 2023. The judge's remarks highlighted the need for timely psychiatric assessments in criminal proceedings.
ESB Networks, the applicant, lost ten test cases at the Workplace Relations Commission regarding allegations that it unlawfully withheld overtime from Independent Workers' Union members who refused to use the MyTime app. The tribunal, presided over by adjudicating officer Jim Dolan, rejected all claims under the Payment of Wages Act, Terms of Employment (Information) Act, and Industrial Relations Act. Dolan found that the introduction of the app was a minor change to work practices, not a unilateral alteration of terms and conditions, and that no written individual consent was required given existing collective agreements. He determined there was no causal link between payment delays and union membership, noting that non-IWU staff also experienced delays. While Dolan acknowledged that sums ranging from €250 to €4,567 were due at the time complaints were submitted on 2 January 2022, he ruled these were paid late between February and June 2022, prior to the July hearing. Consequently, he found the complaints not well-founded, stating that delayed payment did not amount to an unlawful deduction. He also rejected all victimisation claims. The ten complainants were Stephen Darling, Sean Meyler, Liam O'Grady, Gerard Tuohy, Oisin Mahon, Greg Victory, Des Summerville, Michael Dolan, Brian Baitson, and Shane Flynn. ESB Networks argued it was up to date on payments and that the app was the only available system for processing overtime.
Matthew Coward, a 31‑year‑old swimming coach from Dublin, faces 12 offences under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act. He is charged with three counts of sexual exploitation of three teenage girls and seven counts of producing child pornography between 1 September 2021 and 26 February 2022 at a swimming pool, plus two counts of possession of child abuse material at another location. Coward is on bail. The prosecution requested an early trial; Judge Martin Nolan set the trial for 14 October 2023 at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Chelsea Dooley, a 23‑year‑old childcare worker from Blanchardstown, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of the proceeds of criminal crime after her bank account was used to launder nearly €25,000 stolen from an AIB account. Gardaí were alerted on 5 January 2021 when a man reported money missing from his account. Between 21 December 2020 and 4 January 2021, nine transactions totalling €24,900 were taken, with €23,899 transferred to Dooley's account and €1 to another account. The theft was linked to a smishing fraud. Dooley was arrested, interviewed, and admitted she had lost her bank card; CCTV showed an unknown male using it. Her defence argued she did not profit and had no prior convictions. The court accepted her guilty plea, noted her good character, and ordered a probation report before sentencing on 31 March 2023.
In a High Court case at the charge_or_pretrial stage, Mr Justice Brian Cregan ruled on claims brought by applicant Marie Gibson against her daughter Pauline Gibson, solicitor Kevin O'Gorman, and receiver Paul McCleary. The judge found that Pauline Gibson defrauded her parents of their family home in 2003, a transfer that was set aside due to fraud and undue influence. Although Pauline Gibson did not participate in the proceedings, the court accepted Marie Gibson's evidence over that of Mr O'Gorman, who was found to have acted with gross negligence but was not accused of fraud. The judge described the situation as a "lamentable tale," noting that the elderly widow discovered the fraud only after her husband's death in 2017. While the judge set aside the 2003 transfer, he did not conclude the litigation. Instead, after handing down his judgement, Mr Justice Cregan adjourned the matter to a date in January. Several issues remain outstanding, including the quantification of damages to which the plaintiff is entitled. The court noted that Marie Gibson has since disinherited Pauline Gibson in a new will, and the family has been unable to contact her since the discovery of the fraud.
Stephen McInerney, 29, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and the production of pepper spray after confronting a stranger in Saggart on 14 July 2020. McInerney had read false social‑media claims that the victim was a paedophile and, acting as a vigilante, confronted him while he was walking to the shops. He showed the victim a photo, accused him of paedophilia, threatened to kill him, and sprayed him with pepper spray. The victim fled to a shop, was helped by security staff, and later recorded the incident. CCTV footage and a search of McInerney's home revealed pepper spray and clothes. McInerney admitted he found the spray on a bus and claimed he was sorry. The court adjourned the case to March 2023 for a probation report and ordered McInerney to keep away from the victim.