A 49‑year‑old man, Patrick McDonagh, accused of murdering 77‑year‑old pensioner Peter McDonald in Clonsilla, Dublin, was found fit to stand trial by Ms Justice Karen O'Connor at the Central Criminal Court. The judge noted a strong conflict between two psychiatrists' reports on McDonagh's understanding of guilty and not‑guilty pleas. A defence psychiatrist, Prof Patricia Casey, testified that McDonagh believed pleading guilty meant pleading not guilty, citing his schizophrenia, learning disability, and paranoid behaviour. She argued he was unfit for trial under Section 4 of the Criminal Law Insanity Act. In contrast, State psychiatrist Dr Mary Davoren said McDonagh was fit, could instruct his solicitor, and that his answers appeared evasive rather than a true lack of understanding. McDonagh was remanded in custody pending trial dates.
Stephen Silver, aged 45, of Aughaward, Foxford, County Mayo, is charged with the murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan on Main Street, Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. The charge alleges the accused acted knowing or being reckless as to whether the garda was a member of An Garda Síochána acting in the course of his duty. Silver's trial at the Central Criminal Court has been postponed from its scheduled date of 15 June to 4 October. The adjournment was granted after the court heard that a psychiatric assessment of the accused, being compiled by Dr Harry Kennedy, Clinical Director of the Central Mental Hospital, would not be completed in time. Mr Justice Paul McDermott acceded to the delay reluctantly but noted the importance of the trial proceeding "with a clear run" when it resumes. The case is next mentioned on 20 May.
Kelli Kilpatrick, a 34‑year‑old freelance travel agent from St Aongus Estate, Tallaght, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a fully suspended three‑year prison term for stealing nearly €29,000 from 31 holiday makers between April 2017 and August 2018. Kilpatrick had offered discounted holidays after returning to Ireland from a "toxic relationship" in the UK, using her experience in corporate travel to secure cut‑price packages. She failed to keep track of payments, using customer deposits to fund other bookings, and in some cases falsified receipts. The court heard she had previously been convicted in 2016 of stealing £239,000 worth of mobile phones in Reading, England. Kilpatrick pleaded guilty to eight counts, expressed remorse, and agreed to hand over €25,000 and pay an additional €3,000 in compensation within a year, conditions under which the judge suspended the custodial sentence.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 14 April 2022, Declan Brady (56) and Martin Aylmer (36) were charged with aiding a criminal gang in the murder of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan, a father of four who was shot six times on 22 December 2016 in Clondalkin, Dublin. The charges allege that between 20 October and 22 December 2016, Brady and Aylmer, knowing a criminal organisation existed, participated in or facilitated the gang's activities that led to Kirwan's death. Both men were present when the charges were read. Aylmer had previously been charged by Gardaí, and Brady had been handed a copy of the charge sheet before the hearing. Both were remanded in custody until 23 May, with legal aid applications pending for Brady and granted for Aylmer. The case is being tried under the Offences Against the State Act because the Director of Public Prosecutions deemed normal courts inadequate for effective justice.
Two men charged with the murder of Keane Mulready Woods will not stand trial next month as gardaí continue their investigation into the teenager's death and dismemberment. The Special Criminal Court heard on Thursday that the prosecution has already disclosed some information to the defence but substantial additional disclosure would be necessary before the trial could proceed. The hearing was originally scheduled for 25 April this year. Paul Crosby, aged 25, of Rathmullan Park, Drogheda, County Louth, and Gerard Cruise, aged 47, with addresses in Dublin 1 and Rathmullan Park, face charges relating to a death alleged to have occurred at a house in Rathmullan Park on 12 or 13 January 2020. Neither man's legal representatives objected to the trial delay. The court will hear further submissions regarding timing on the originally scheduled trial date.
Patrick Dowdall, 64, of Navan Road, Dublin, is accused of facilitating the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in 2016. He is alleged to have made a room available to a criminal organisation on 4 February 2016, thereby contributing to or enabling the murder. Dowdall has been granted bail by the High Court, but the surety of €10,000 was entered at the Special Criminal Court where he is due to stand trial in October. The independent surety's identity is protected by court order. The surety's bank account will be frozen to ensure the bond remains above €10,000; forfeiture is possible if Dowdall fails to meet bail conditions. His son, Jonathan Dowdall, 44, a former Sinn Féin councillor, is also charged with Byrne's murder and has been granted bail with sureties of €20,000 and €10,000. The case remains pending before the Special Criminal Court.
Two firefighters, Sub‑Station Officers Robert Bible and Michael Malone, received €1,000 each in compensation and back‑pay for being under‑paid on public holidays. The cases were decided by the Workplace Relations Commission after the firefighters, who work an eight‑day roster with two daytime and two overnight shifts, argued that their public‑holiday pay should be calculated as a fraction of their weekly pay. The commission ruled that the council had breached the Organisation of Working Time Act by excluding overtime, meal allowance, Saturday premium and night premiums from the public‑holiday calculation, but that Sunday and night premiums should have been included. The council was ordered to pay the firefighters €181.76 and €162.41 respectively for losses on Christmas, St Patrick's Day and the May Bank Holiday in the six months before the complaints. A third firefighter, Ross Skelly, is still awaiting a decision.
A Garda, whose name is withheld for legal reasons, has filed a High Court action to halt an internal Garda disciplinary inquiry into an allegation that he groped a waitress's breasts in August 2014. The Garda claims the probe, set up in August 2021, is flawed and should be dismissed. He argues that the investigation was delayed, that no admissible evidence supports the allegation, and that the inquiry breached his rights to fair procedures and natural justice. The allegation arose when the waitress, who has declined to testify, told a Garda Inspector in 2020 that the Garda had approached her from behind, put his arms around her and grabbed her breasts. An inspector interviewed other witnesses, including the Garda's then fiancée, who said she saw nothing untoward.
During the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 24 March 2022, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, faced 21 counts of theft involving approximately €27 million taken from seven financial institutions. The court heard evidence that Lynn's firm, Michael Lynn & Co, consistently paid only a five‑per‑cent deposit when purchasing properties, whereas the standard required was ten per cent. The firm also delayed returning signed contracts, missed sale closing dates, and failed to pay interest on outstanding balances. Several solicitors testified that Lynn repeatedly failed to meet agreed closing dates, prompting 28‑day notices and claims for interest. The State alleged that Lynn obtained multiple mortgages on the same properties without banks' knowledge of other lenders. Lynn pleaded not guilty to all counts. The hearing also noted that a former personal assistant, Liz Doyle, was scheduled to give evidence the following day.
The Special Criminal Court has decided to consider verdicts in the case of former soldier Lisa Smith, who is charged with membership of the Islamic State and financing terrorism. The court found that there is sufficient evidence to assess whether Ms Smith was a member of Isis and whether she funded the organisation. Her lawyers had requested not‑guilty verdicts on the basis that the prosecution case lacked evidence and that a verdict would be unfair. Mr Justice Tony Hunt rejected this request, stating that the prosecution case could support a conviction without a miscarriage of justice and that the evidence should be weighed during deliberations. He also noted that withdrawing the case at this stage would be an exceptional measure. Regarding the financing charge, the court found enough evidence to consider Ms Smith's intent or knowledge when she sent €800 to a man alleged to be an Isis member. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
The Workplace Relations Commission ruled that bus driver Simon Logue was unfairly dismissed by Boyce Coach Travel Ltd after pruning tree branches at a client's home. Logue, who represented himself, alleged he obtained permission from the service user's mother to clear the obstruction. He filed complaints under Section 8 of the Unfair Dismissals Act and Section 7 of the Terms of Employment Act. Logue stated that the client's father complained to the HSE about him "interfering" with property, leading to his dismissal. Adjudication officer Shay Henry found that disciplinary procedures were not at the required standard, noting no written notice was given and Logue was denied the opportunity to represent himself. The officer accepted Logue's evidence that he spoke with the mother before pruning, describing his actions as ensuring health and safety. The officer ruled the dismissal unfair, awarding Logue €15,600 in compensation, equivalent to a year's salary. Additionally, the company was ordered to pay €200 for failing to provide a written contract. Peter Boyce, the company owner, was identified as the applicant in the case records, though the adjudication focused on the employer's liability for the unfair dismissal.
In the Special Criminal Court, former Irish soldier Lisa Smith, aged 40, pleaded not guilty to membership of the Islamic State and to financing terrorism. The court heard private Facebook messages exchanged by Smith with other Muslims before her 2015 travel to Syria. The messages included discussions on Islam, marriage, the role of women, and the mass executions of Iraqi soldiers by ISIS. Smith's interlocutor claimed it was acceptable to execute enemies and that Shia victims deserved punishment. Smith also referenced a YouTube video depicting ISIS killings and a news article condemning Abu Bakr al‑Baghdadi's caliphate. The court also considered exchanges with an American jihadist, John Georgelas, and Smith's husband, a Tunisian. The proceedings will continue with further review of the Facebook exchanges.
Anthony Dunne, 61, secretly recorded a work colleague, Paula Jordan, while she showered at the factory where he worked, using a phone camera hidden behind boxes. He also captured intimate images of his partner's daughter‑in‑law, Leanne Daly, in her home bathroom. Dunne pleaded guilty to harassment at an address in Clondalkin, Dublin, between February and April 2020, and to recording an intimate image without consent at O'Neills Factory, Walkinstown, on 23 March 2021. He has no prior convictions. The court heard that Jordan's victim impact statement described the incident as pre‑meditated and extremely distressing, affecting her trust, sleep and use of the shower facilities. Daly reported nightmares and lasting stress. Gardaí recovered the phone, analysed the footage, and found the images of Daly. Dunne resigned from the factory and was remanded on continuing bail, with the matter to be finalised on 5 April.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 4 March 2022, Tara Gibson, mother of 28‑year‑old John Gibson, wept as she recounted the loss of her son, who was shot five times by rival drug gang members at Citywest Shopping Centre. John Gibson, a father of two, was killed on 18 September 2017. Matthew Bell, 25, pleaded guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder, admitting he had driven a Volkswagen Caddy to the scene and later used a black Opel Corsa, which was traced to Bell's mother. Bell claimed his involvement was due to stupidity and drug use, and expressed remorse. The court adjourned the hearing to 14 March, with no sentencing or further proceedings reported in the article. The mother described her son as a kind, loving man and expressed that his death was a living nightmare, a part of her dying that day. The article does not mention any sentencing or further legal outcomes.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Feri Anghel, a 42‑year‑old cleaner with Dublin addresses, pleaded "one hundred percent not guilty" to the murder of Ioan Artene Bob, a 49‑year‑old Romanian national who was found dead on 13 April 2018. Anghel was charged with the killing at a location in County Dublin on the same date. The trial, scheduled to last six to seven weeks, was adjourned to 8 March after a juror fell ill and a new member had to be empaneled. The case is before Mr Justice Paul Burns.
Ross Hutch, aged 29, was denied bail after being charged with slashing the face of his ex‑partner's boyfriend with a knife and later assaulting his then girlfriend. He is also accused of making phone calls to his ex‑partner in which he allegedly threatened to kill her or cause her serious harm. Hutch appeared before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 18 February 2022, where he was remanded in custody. The court considered the seriousness of the allegations, including assault causing harm, threats to kill or cause serious harm, and possession of a knife between 22 and 24 August 2021. The judge refused bail, adjourned the arraignment to 29 April, and noted that a treatment bed previously available in a residential treatment centre was no longer accessible due to security concerns. The case remains pending for arraignment.
A former Irish rugby international, Brendan Mullin, 58, has been scheduled for a trial on May 7, 2024, after appearing before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on a new mention date. Mullin faces nine theft charges, five false accounting charges and one deception charge, all linked to Bank of Ireland between July 2011 and March 2013. He was remanded on continuing bail. Mullin, who earned 55 caps for Ireland from 1984 to 1995 and played in three Rugby World Cups, is represented by Brendan Grehan SC.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, a man charged with unlawful possession for sale or supply of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on 31 May 2019 is seeking dismissal of the charge. His counsel, Keith Spencer BL, argues that the Irish prohibition on cannabidiol (CBD) oil conflicts with EU free‑trade law. The defendant claims he used CBD oil for health benefits, stating it calmed him, helped his partner with alopecia, and was purchased online from Northern Ireland with a THC content below 0.2 per cent, which he believes makes it legal in both the UK and Ireland. Spencer cites an EU court ruling that allowed the sale of hemp‑derived CBD oil produced in the Czech Republic, asserting that low‑THC CBD is not a narcotic or psychoactive substance and that blanket prohibition lacks health justification.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing on 7 February 2022, a 20‑year‑old accused of murdering 25‑year‑old Jack Power was described as clutching a bottle of holy water moments after telling his cousin he was "after stabbing him." The accused, Dean Kerrie of St Brigid's Square, Portarlington, pleaded not guilty. Witness Shane Fitzgerald, a cousin of Kerrie, recounted that the day before the alleged offence the three men had swum at Badger's Cove and spent the day together, with Fitzgerald returning home at about 11 pm to watch Netflix. At around 3 am the next morning, Fitzgerald heard a loud bang and saw Christopher Lee, Power's best friend, shouting that he was going to kill him. Fitzgerald tried to call Kerrie but received no answer. He then walked to Kerrie's house, where he found Power lying on the ground.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, two 19‑year‑old teenagers, Andrew Hillick and Michael Matthews, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and robbery after attacking a 31‑year‑old taxi driver outside a Garda station on 17 November 2020. The court heard that the teenagers broke the taxi's glass partition, punched and kicked the driver, and stole €60 in cash and his mobile phone. The driver sustained a broken nose, blood on his shirt, and damage to his glasses. Both accused were arrested shortly after the incident; Matthews was found with a broken bottle. The judge noted their lack of prior convictions and significant adversity in their lives, and remanded them on continuing bail until 10 February. The case remains at the pleading stage, with no sentencing yet announced.
Trevor Keyes, 48, was sentenced for transporting almost €100,000 of cannabis, but the sentencing was adjourned to allow him to undergo brain surgery. Keyes had borrowed money from a group and tried to repay it, only to be told the group wanted him to do a job instead. He had previously helped apprehend a man who stabbed a 60‑year‑old woman in 2010, an act for which he was commended by the Circuit Court judge. Keyes suffered a brain aneurysm that has left him unable to work, and he is scheduled for surgery in February. The court heard that the drugs were hidden in the boot of a red Toyota Avensis taxi on Harold's Cross Road, where 10 vacuum‑packed bags of cannabis worth €99,200 were found. The judge ordered a report from the Probation Service and remanded Keyes on continuing bail until 27 July. Trevor Keyes pleaded guilty.
In a High Court hearing on 24 January 2022, Galway Sightseeing Tour Company Ltd, trading as Galway Tour Company, argued that Galway City Council had effectively created a monopoly by refusing to allow the company to operate a roadside bus stop outside the city's coach station. The company, which has run sightseeing and private hire buses for years, claims it was forced in 2009 to relocate its collection and drop‑off points to the newly built Galway Coach Station, a facility on public land but operated by private entities. After leaving the station in 2020 over alleged unfair and astronomical licence fees, the company sought a licence from the National Transport Authority (NTA) to operate a stop on Merchants Road. The NTA said council approval was required, and the council objected on traffic congestion grounds, ultimately refusing the licence. The company contends the council's refusal and the NTA's acceptance of that refusal amount to unlawful, arbitrary, and unconstitutional actions.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, four men—Rabah Rabai (20), Ibrahim Ouadria (21), Ishak Djebbari (22) and Hamen Guernane (21)—were found to have attacked a 16‑year‑old teenager who had witnessed the unlawful killing of their friend in May 2019. The victim was kicked and stamped on the head while on the ground, resulting in unconsciousness and injuries treated in an ambulance. The court noted that the teenager had previously testified as a witness in the 2020 trial of the unlawful killing and that three of the four accused were also witnesses to that death. All four pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Sandyford Luas Stop on 22 June 2019. None had prior convictions. The judge remanded them on continuing bail, adjourned the case for finalisation on 28 April, and suggested the accused pay the victim a compensation of around €10,000.
An elderly retired Catholic priest, aged in his late eighties, has filed a High Court action to stop his trial in the Circuit Criminal Court over allegations of sexually assaulting a boy more than 50 years ago. He claims that dementia and other cognitive difficulties prevent him from receiving a fair trial, as he cannot understand proceedings or give evidence. The priest denies the allegations. A treating physician reports that his condition prevents him from instructing his legal team or understanding the trial. He faces over 40 counts of indecent assault against a young male between 1967 and 1972, alleged to have occurred at various sites in south Dublin, including a room in the priest's residence, a nearby shed and wasteland. The complainant first reported the abuse to Gardai two years ago, and the priest was charged last year. The High Court granted permission to bring the challenge ex‑parte, and the matter was adjourned to a March hearing.
The High Court heard that a settlement between developer Pat Ryan and the financial fund Dengrove Designated Activity Company over a €12m loan for a commercial property site on Dublin's south city quays has collapsed. The dispute centres on whether Ryan can redeem the mortgage on the property, valued at about €22m, or whether redemption is contingent on all sums due to Dengrove being discharged by Ryan and his partners. Dengrove claims the borrowings are subject to an 'all sums due' mortgage and that the partnerships owe the fund approximately €430m. Ryan has amended his claim and applied for discovery of material he says is relevant to his case, alleging that Dengrove and its agents inflated indebtedness and altered interest rates to avoid tax. Dengrove denies these allegations and argues the discovery request is a fishing expedition that would breach confidentiality.
A man who pleaded guilty to manslaughter following the death of his uncle in a house fire at Derrylurgan, Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan in August 2018 appeared before the Central Criminal Court. Daniel Murray (40) admitted setting fire to sheets with a lighter, causing the blaze that killed Patrick Oliver Murray through smoke inhalation. The court heard Murray had 48 previous convictions, including multiple arson offences. When informed of his uncle's death, Murray reportedly enquired about the family dog rather than expressing concern about the fatality. Murray subsequently told gardai he had intended only to frighten his uncle and sought to take revenge over past grievances, stating the fire "went the wrong way". A victim impact statement described the deceased as a quiet, good-humoured man who had cared for their elderly mother. The defence submitted Murray had acted recklessly but unintentionally, with heavy alcohol consumption contributing to his actions. Justice Paul McDermott adjourned sentencing to January 25.
A man and a woman were brought before the Special Criminal Court on charges of money laundering, a development the Gardaí described as significant in their ongoing operation against organised crime in County Limerick. Dermot McManus, aged 51, and Terese Halpin, aged 49, were arrested at their home in Keating Park, Killalee, after Gardaí executed a warrant. McManus faces charges for handling €28,550 and £17,240 in cash, allegedly proceeds of criminal conduct on 17 June 2020, and for using a Limerick and District Credit Union account for those proceeds. He is also charged with possession of a stolen Ford Transit van and a Mercedes Sprinter during specified periods. Halpin is charged with possession of the same cash sums on 17 June 2020 and for allowing a Permanent TSB account to be used for handling proceeds of crime between 17 January 2019 and 10 June 2020.
In a court hearing on 21 December 2021, solicitor Sinead Nolan spoke for Kevin Sheehy's family, expressing relief that the case had concluded after two years of grief and a two‑week court session. She highlighted Kevin's life as a respected gentleman and promising boxer, noting his loss of future potential and his daughter Kevaeh's inability to meet him. The family thanked emergency services and others who supported them. The court delivered a life sentence to the accused, which the family accepted as a form of justice. Victim impact statements were read by Tracey Tully, her daughter Cassidy, cousin Thomas Lysaght, and partner Emma Colbert, each describing the profound personal loss, ongoing trauma, and the enduring memory of Kevin as a kind, talented, and devoted individual. The statements underscored the deep emotional impact on the family and community, while the court's decision marked the end of the legal proceedings.
The High Court at Letterkenny has ordered the extradition of a 36-year-old man to face serious charges in the United Kingdom. Oliver Lown, formerly residing in Ipswich, Suffolk, is wanted by UK authorities on twelve counts, including alleged sexual activity with animals, making child abuse material, perverting the course of justice, and drugs offences. Mr Justice Paul Burns dismissed legal arguments against the extradition warrant, rejecting submissions that the European Arrest Warrant system was flawed following Brexit arrangements. The judge found the warrant and supporting documentation from UK prosecutors sufficiently clear and reliable. Mr Lown will be surrendered on all charges except one count of possessing extreme pornographic material, which has no equivalent Irish offence. He was remanded in custody for a minimum of fifteen days before his surrender within a subsequent ten-day period. A pending drugs-driving charge at Letterkenny District Court was deemed insufficient grounds to delay the extradition process.
Two men who arrived in Ireland on fake passports and are now seeking asylum were held in a Dublin hotel after being released from prison. They claim they were unlawfully detained there, while the State says they were placed in quarantine due to Covid‑19 and that the stay exceeded five days because of a lack of space at asylum accommodation centres. The men, aged in their thirties, were detained at Dublin airport in September after attempting to enter the country on fake Israeli passports. They were remanded in custody, then applied for asylum, fearing persecution if returned to their native country. On 30 November they pleaded guilty to charges related to the fake passports and received one‑month prison sentences suspended on conditions, including engagement with the State's International Protection Offices.
A 37‑year‑old London native, Mark Nolan, appeared before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs at the High Court on 2 December 2021 and consented to surrender to the United Kingdom on two separate warrants. The first warrant, issued by Westminster Magistrates Court on 16 June 2021, accuses Nolan of eight terrorism offences, two child‑pornography offences and two further possession charges, with maximum sentences ranging from 10 to 15 years. The second warrant, issued by London Crown Court on 12 November 2021, alleges an assault causing actual bodily harm in London in April 2019, carrying a maximum term of five years. Garda Extradition Unit Detective Eoin Kane presented evidence that Nolan was arrested on 2 pm that day, was escorted to court in handcuffs, and had been remanded in custody for 10 days before being surrendered to a UK‑authorised person for an additional 10‑day period.
A 52-year-old man from Rathmullan Park, Drogheda, has pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to cleaning up and removing evidence from a murder scene. Gerard McKenna admitted to obstructing the apprehension or prosecution of another person in connection with the death of 17-year-old Kean Mulready Woods, who was killed in January 2020. The teenager's dismembered remains were discovered across Dublin in the days following his disappearance on 12 January. McKenna's guilty plea relates to actions taken between 12 and 14 January 2020 at or near his Drogheda address, with intent to impede the investigation. The offence is contrary to the Criminal Law Act 1997. Mr Justice Paul McDermott ordered psychological and probation reports before sentencing. McKenna was remanded in custody and the case listed for mention on 28 February 2022.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 34‑year‑old mother of two pleaded guilty to two child‑neglect charges under the Children Act 2001 and one refusal‑to‑give‑sample charge under the Road Traffic Act 2010. The case stemmed from an incident on 1 September 2019 when Garda Lee Kelly pulled her car over at about 4 a.m. after noticing it swerved and was driven on the wrong side of the road. The mother, who had been drinking, was found to be slurring and smelled of alcohol. She became abusive toward the Garda, screamed at her four‑ and six‑year‑old children, calling them "your fucking fault," and refused a breathalyser. The Garda waited until the mother's father arrived to take the children, then took her into custody. A Tusla investigation later classified the incident as neglect but found no other child‑welfare issues, and the children remain with the mother.
Anthony Byrne, aged 40, was remanded on bail pending sentencing for a rental scam that cost victims €12,000. Byrne, who worked as a contractor, advertised a property on daft.ie under the fictitious name Stephen Cummings and used a doctored lease agreement from a real letting agency. He persuaded at least four women to pay €3,000 each in cash for rent and deposit, claiming it secured the property. Gardaí discovered the fraud after a victim reported the scheme; a search of Byrne's home uncovered the forged contract and other evidence linking him to the false persona. Byrne pleaded guilty to four charges of deception and false instrument use at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He has no prior convictions, has resigned from his job, and has expressed remorse. Judge Melanie Greally remanded him on continuing bail, adjourned the case to 28 February, and ordered a probation report, noting the victims' financial and psychological harm.
The High Court adjourned the trial of a remand prisoner because the accused would have to appear in full personal protective equipment (PPE). Judge Paul McDermott expressed concern that wearing a hazmat suit during proceedings would compromise the man's constitutional right to a fair trial. The prisoner is held at Cloverhill Prison, where an outbreak has forced most of the facility to close and staff and inmates to undergo repeated testing. Prison governor Anthony Harris explained that bringing the accused to court would risk re‑infection and that the prison's staff were the primary danger. McDermott noted that the court must avoid creating an environment that isolates the accused in a white suit surrounded by others in PPE, as that would not be conducive to a fair trial. The case was postponed until December 6, with the judge awaiting confirmation that a safe trial could proceed.
In a High Court hearing on 17 November 2021, Governor Anthony Harris of Cloverhill Prison explained that the prison was in a "silo mentality" due to a serious Covid‑19 outbreak. He said the majority of the remand wing was closed, with prisoners confined to small pods for essential services and no showers or exercise. Mass testing was underway, and staff who were asymptomatic contacts were considered the main risk. Harris reported that Cloverhill, Midlands Prison in Portlaoise and one element of Mountjoy Prison were affected, while Wheatfield Prison was "sterile". He stated that the prison could not produce the named prisoner for trial without endangering him or the population, and that inter‑prison transfers were not occurring. The judge declined to order the prisoner's production, noting the difficulty of ensuring safe transport and the potential for reinfection. The case was scheduled for mention on Friday.
Joseph Connor, 34, from Drogheda, claims he was wrongfully imprisoned for ten days after Gardaí mistakenly merged his PULSE profile with that of another person named Joseph O'Connor. Connor was arrested on 19 July 2021 for an alleged public order offence and told by Gardaí that a live bench warrant existed for him. He denied any such warrant. The District Court, misinformed, remanded him in custody with a €250 surety requirement he could not meet, leading to his detention at Cloverhill Prison until 29 July 2021 when he secured the surety. Connor's High Court counsel, Micheál O'Higgins SC, argued the warrant belonged to the other Joseph O'Connor, and that Gardaí admitted the error when his case returned in September. Connor has filed judicial review proceedings against the Garda Commissioner and the Governor of Cloverhill, seeking damages, declarations of rights breaches, an apology, and the quashing of the remand order.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 16 November 2021, a senior counsel requested that a representative of the Irish Prison Service attend to explain why his client could not be produced for trial. The counsel argued that the client, remanded at Cloverhill Prison, could not be brought to court or via video link because the prison had been locked down for Covid testing. He said that communications through media and informal channels were insufficient for a client entitled to a trial. Justice Paul McDermott agreed to invite a senior Prison Service member to clarify the lockdown situation and the inability to produce prisoners. The court registrar was instructed to forward the request to the Prison Service before adjournment. The judge noted that Covid‑19 outbreaks in the prison network were causing ongoing disruption to criminal cases. The matter was adjourned to the next day.
Outbreaks of Covid‑19 across the prison network caused disruption to criminal cases in the High Court. A prisoner from Cloverhill was not produced, with the barrister citing a 'lockdown' at the prison. A prison officer reported that outbreaks had occurred in every prison, noting that Wheatfield was the only site still accepting inmates and that officials were meeting to decide further action. The judge, after inquiries, adjourned the matter and later remanded the prisoner back to Mountjoy, stating that a usual order could be made once more information was obtained.
The High Court quashed the June 2020 planning permission for 30 houses and a guesthouse in the Ráth Chairn Gaeltacht, Co. Meath. Justice Bronagh O'Hanlon found the decision did not satisfy the requirement that the development would enhance the use of Irish in the area. The challenge, brought by the local development co‑operative Comharchumann Ráth Chairn, argued that An Bord Pleanála had erred by accepting a language impact statement (LIS) that was inadequate, citing the author's lack of qualifications and an underestimation of Irish speakers. The co‑operative also claimed the board had delegated its powers by imposing a 70 % Irish‑speaker provision on the houses. The court rejected the board's defence, ordered the permission quashed, and awarded the applicants their legal costs.
In a burglary case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, 22‑year‑old Eddie Cawley pleaded guilty to breaking into a house in Portmarnock on 9 March 2020. He and a co‑accused rang the doorbell and knocked on the front door at lunchtime. When no one answered, they damaged the door to gain entry. The homeowner's son, who was in the bathroom upstairs, heard the noise, ran out, and confronted one of the burglars on the stairs. The intruder fled after a brief confrontation. Cawley and the other man then fled in a Nissan Almera, which was later stopped by Gardaí. No items were taken from the house, though the front door was damaged. Cawley stated he would not have entered had he known someone was home and claimed he had no weapon. He has 27 prior convictions, including six burglaries. The judge adjourned sentencing to 31 January 2022 to allow reports to be prepared.
Daniel Murray, aged 39 and of no fixed abode, appeared at the Central Criminal Court on charges relating to a house fire in Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan in August 2018. He had been charged with murdering Patrick Oliver Murray in the incident at Derrylurgan. Murray pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. He also entered a guilty plea to arson, with the charge alleging he acted with intent to endanger life or with recklessness as to whether life would be endangered. The defence indicated that psychological and probation reports would be submitted before sentencing. Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded Murray in custody and fixed sentencing for January 17th 2022.
A 15‑year‑old boy, whose identity is withheld because he is a minor, is charged with the murder of Urantsetseg Tserendorj, a Mongolian national who lived in Dublin. Ms Tserendorj was stabbed on her walk home from work at 9:30 pm on 20 January 2021 at the Custom House Quay building and died two weeks later at Mater Hospital. The boy also faces charges of possession of a knife and robbery arising from the same incident. Judge Paul McDermott set a trial date of 14 March 2022 and urged a swift, appropriate proceeding.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Noel Shannon, a 40‑year‑old electrician from Finglas, admitted to taking photographs of a Garda intelligence board that listed personal details of 108 individuals involved in ongoing investigations. The board, located at Kilmainham Garda Station, was accessed by Shannon on 13 March 2019 while he was contracted to check emergency lighting. He later sent the images to two other electricians, and the pictures were subsequently shared on social media under the caption "never let an electrician into a garda station." The case is noted as the first criminal breach of the Data Protection Act 2018 to be prosecuted on indictment. Shannon, who has four prior convictions including theft and a public order offence, pleaded guilty to disclosing personal data without authorisation. He was remanded on bail, with the matter scheduled for finalisation on 17 December.
In a Dublin family home, a 25‑year‑old son, Conor Dreelan, stabbed his step‑father, David Dignam, and attempted to kill his mother, Phyllis Dreelan, on 13 June 2020. The mother awoke to the attack, describing seeing a knife in the son's hand and the son's blank expression. The step‑father was stabbed in the eye and fled to a neighbour's house, where an alarm was raised. The son later went to his girlfriend's house and confessed to the assault, claiming he was in a distressed state after taking 2 g of cocaine the previous day. Both parents were hospitalized for weeks; the mother suffered knife wounds to her neck, chest and arm, while the step‑father required intensive care. The Central Criminal Court heard the son had since been diagnosed with an acute psychotic episode secondary to drug consumption. The case is set for sentencing in September.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Alan Cloake, 47, pleaded guilty to impersonating an immigration officer and defrauding ten people of €71,000 between 2015 and 2017. Cloake, who used the aliases Michael Madden and Michael Walsh, convinced victims—Malawian and Filipino nationals working illegally—to pay him for a promised citizenship process. The money was spent on gambling and hotels. Cloake had no prior convictions and earned only about €371 a week from welfare during the period. He admitted to using the funds for betting, losing €70,678 in an online gambling account. The court ordered a probation report and adjourned the case for finalisation on 26 October, with the judge allowing time for Cloake to repay the victims.
In a High Court hearing on 13 July 2021, Mr. Ryan Moran, a Dundalk resident, sought information about a forcible search of his home by over a dozen Gardaí accompanied by sniffer dogs on 21 April. He was not questioned or charged, and the search, lasting about 25 minutes, damaged his property and led to the theft of €5,500 worth of items, including a laptop, TV and guitar. Moran claims the raid may have been a case of mistaken identity and that the search left him distraught, feeling unsafe and damaging his reputation. He has repeatedly requested a copy of the warrant and the grounds for the search, but has received no response. In judicial review proceedings against the Garda Commissioner and the Attorney General, he seeks an order to obtain the warrant, declarations that the refusal breaches his constitutional and ECHR rights, and damages for the breach.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, John Doran, aged 35, was found guilty of assault causing harm and production of an article after he attacked an off‑duty Garda, Craig Shields, on Aungier Street on 15 August 2020. Doran, who had previously offered a "fake drug packet" to people, approached Shields while he was socialising with his girlfriend and asked if he wanted cocaine. When Shields identified himself as a Garda, Doran and a co‑accused assaulted him, knocking him unconscious. Witnesses reported Doran threw punches and used a fork to stab Shields in the head and face, causing lacerations, a fractured nose, a concussion and permanent scarring. Shields' official Garda identification card was taken but later recovered. Doran was arrested after CCTV footage identified him. The court adjourned the case for finalisation on 22 October, with a report from Probation Services ordered.
The trial of an unnamed woman accused of murdering a two‑year‑old child in the south of Ireland has been postponed for a second time. Originally scheduled for February 2021, the case was delayed to September 2021 because of Covid restrictions. Mr Justice Michael White now believes there will not be enough judges to hold the trial in September and has set a new date of 25 April 2022, with the trial expected to last up to four weeks. In February, the court ordered the accused to be anonymised following a defence application.
Patrick Doyle, 35, was remanded in prison pending sentence after a violent incident involving a 72‑year‑old retired GP. While the woman was unlocking her car and removing a cone, Doyle, who had been hiding behind the vehicle, reached into the front seat to seize the keys. The victim wrestled with him and, fearing she might be run over, ran to get help. Doyle drove a short distance before stopping, getting out and attempting to take the woman's handbag. CCTV footage showed him dragging her along the ground near the car while she held onto the bag. He then tried to drive away, but the woman released the bag and escaped. The incident left her with minor bruising; she did not file a victim impact statement. Doyle pleaded guilty to seizing a vehicle by force or threat and robbery of a handbag and its contents. The case was adjourned to November 3, with Doyle remaining in custody.