The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has filed a High Court challenge against a circuit court judge's direction to send a hard drive, allegedly containing thousands of child abuse images, abroad for expert analysis. The DPP argues that once the drive leaves Ireland, Gardaí would lose effective control over the images, potentially allowing further circulation beyond what is strictly necessary. The accused, who denies the charges and claims the images are not his, has requested forensic examination of the seized drive by an expert. The judge had previously allowed the defence to provide the expert with a copy of the drive, to be couriered to the UK, but the DPP contends that the judge lacked jurisdiction to order such disclosure. The High Court case seeks to quash the judge's direction and declare that Gardaí and the DPP cannot be directed to disclose a copy of the drive in a manner that would allow the material to leave the country.
David Savage, 29, attempted to rob three premises in Dublin in late 2019 and early 2020. He first tried to rob Paddy Powers on Manor Street while wearing a skeleton mask and holding a toy gun, but fled after staff triggered a panic alarm. Fifteen minutes later he tried to extort money from an An Post cashier on Ushers Quay, again without success. On January 14, 2020, he robbed a Lidl shop in Rathmines, pointing the toy gun at a cashier's rib cage, demanding €1,765, and then fled. Later that day he also robbed a Burger King, threatening a cashier with a knife and taking money. Savage presented himself at a Garda station, pleaded guilty to the attempted robberies and the robbery, admitted heroin use and a drug debt, and was remanded in custody with sentencing postponed to October 11, 2021.
James Kilroy, 47, of Kilbree Lower, Westport, Co Mayo, is accused of the murder of his wife, Valerie French Kilroy, 41, at their home in June 2019. The matter is currently at the pre-trial stage, with no plea entered, finding made, or sentence imposed. Mr Justice Michael White fixed a trial date of October 11 at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. The trial is expected to last three to four days. The report does not specify any suspended portions, effective custody, conditions, or adjournments beyond the scheduling of the trial. All allegations remain unproven pending the outcome of the trial.
A trial date has been set at the Central Criminal Court for a British man accused of murdering an Irish boxing champion. Logan Jackson, aged 31 and with an address in Coventry, England, faces a charge of murder in connection with the death of Kevin Sheehy, a five-time Irish boxing champion, who died after being struck by a vehicle on Hyde Road in Limerick City on July 1st, 2019. Mr Sheehy's body was discovered in the road at approximately 4.40am. Mr Justice Michael White has scheduled the trial to commence on November 29th, 2021, at the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin. The proceedings are anticipated to extend over approximately three weeks.
In September, a woman, whose name is withheld for legal reasons, will stand trial at the Central Criminal Court in Waterford for the murder of a two‑year‑old child on 5 July 2019. The case, originally scheduled for February, was postponed due to Covid‑19 restrictions that halted jury swearing‑in. The court has indicated the trial could last up to four weeks. At the February hearing, an order was imposed to anonymise the accused following a defence application.
The High Court heard that a former remand prisoner, who was mentally ill and lacked capacity, had given birth by caesarean section after the HSE obtained court orders permitting medical staff to deliver the baby. The woman, whose identity is withheld, had previously refused ultrasounds and a c‑section, preferring a natural birth, and had not cooperated with her doctors. She had undergone a c‑section years earlier for another child. The HSE's application was supported by medical experts, the treating doctors and the woman's guardian ad litem. The court confirmed the child was safely delivered and that the woman is no longer a remand prisoner, having been granted bail. She is now an involuntary psychiatric patient, and the HSE seeks further orders to allow medical treatment if needed. The matter will return to the court later this month.
In a brief hearing at the Central Criminal Court, Alexandru Iordache, a 46‑year‑old Romanian, pleaded guilty to the murder of 78‑year‑old pensioner Rose Hanrahan, who was found dead in her Limerick home on 15 December 2017. Iordache, who had been extradited from Sussex, England, confirmed his guilt and expressed remorse. His family attended the hearing. Judge Michael White set a sentencing date for 5 July 2021 and invited the family to give evidence of the impact of Ms Hanrahan's death.
The Central Criminal Court will hold a trial in 2022 for Michael Scott, a 55‑year‑old from Gortanumera, Portumna, charged with the murder of 75‑year‑old Chrissie Treacy, also of Portumna. Treacy was found dead on 27 April 2018 at her farm in Boula, where she lived alone. The trial, originally scheduled for January 2021, was postponed due to Covid‑19 restrictions that halted jury swearing‑in. Judge Michael White set the trial date for 11 January 2022, with a potential duration of up to eight weeks.
In the Central Criminal Court, witnesses described a "stand‑off" involving a group of young people and a man carrying a baseball bat on the night of May 16 2014, when 20‑year‑old Joseph 'Jo Jo' Dunne was killed in Naas. Zoltan Almasi, 49, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Witnesses Natasha Kelly, Kristina Augonaiskene, Catherine Fisher, Maureen O'Neill, Ronan Flood, Maria Flood, and Michael Leonard all reported hearing shouting, seeing a man with a bat, and observing a man lying on the ground. Several described the scene as a brief confrontation that ended quickly, with the bat‑bearing man chased away. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael White, continues on Tuesday.
A man from Longford has admitted attempting to murder gangland figure Wayne Whelan in a shooting in west Dublin in September 2019. Wayne Ryan, aged 41 and with an address in St Michael's Road, Longford, pleaded guilty to the attempted murder at Griffeen Glen Park, Lucan on September 4, 2019. Three co-accused, including Darren Henderson of Dublin, also entered guilty pleas to conspiracy to murder Whelan within the State between May and November 2019. The men were arraigned before the Central Criminal Court on May 24, 2021. Whelan survived the initial attack but was fatally shot two months later in November 2019. The four defendants were remanded in custody pending a sentence hearing scheduled for July 12.
Darren McDonnell, 38, was caught at a rehabilitation centre after attempting to bring a stolen shotgun concealed in his trousers. He had been at the centre for two days before disappearing from the grounds and burglarising a home in Curraheenduff, Thurles, on 4 November 2020. An employee noticed the shotgun when he returned, and McDonnell admitted the burglary and surrendered the weapon, its cartridges and a stolen tablet. He was later arrested in Dublin for a knife‑point robbery at a Spar shop in Coolock on 9 November 2020, where he stole €280 before being apprehended. McDonnell has over 40 prior convictions, including robbery and unauthorised vehicle taking. He was remanded in continuing custody, with the case scheduled for finalisation on 14 June. The court heard that he was declared unfit for interview due to drug use and that his rehabilitation stay had been largely unsuccessful. The matter remains pending. Darren McDonnell pleaded guilty.
In a High Court hearing on 13 May 2021, Ms Sinead Connolly, owner of Sin E Hair and Beauty Salon, withdrew her injunction case against landlord Mr Peter McLaughlin. Connolly had claimed that McLaughlin had re‑entered the salon without warning, changed the locks, and locked her and staff out, alleging this was due to a rent arrears dispute. She sought temporary access to serve customers and an order for her equipment to be returned. McLaughlin's lawyers argued he was entitled to re‑enter peacefully and lawfully, and that Connolly owed over €90,000 in arrears. The court noted McLaughlin had not charged rent for ten months in 2020‑21 when the salon was closed for Covid‑19. Connolly, who represented herself, had engaged a builder to remove her equipment and no longer sought temporary access.
In the public foyer of the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin, a man in his mid‑20s was attacked and suffered head injuries. Gardaí responded at lunchtime and transported him to Mater Hospital around 2:30 pm for treatment. No arrests have been made. The area was secured by police, and blood was found on the floor of the CCJ atrium. CCTV footage of the assault is believed to exist, and neither party is an accused in any case currently heard at the CCJ.
In May 2021, Oliver Kane, 41, who was homeless and suffering from mental health issues, voluntarily appeared at a Garda station to confess that he had attempted to rape a 21‑year‑old woman in Ardee on 16 November 2020. Kane explained that he had approached the woman with the intention of forcing her into a secluded area, but she resisted and escaped. He admitted the assault and expressed regret. The victim, who has suffered ongoing mental health problems, stated that the incident had caused nightmares, sleep difficulties, and depression, and that she had taken time off work and begun counselling. Kane has a prior conviction for a public order offence. At the Central Criminal Court, the case was adjourned to 14 June to allow for a psychiatric assessment, and Kane was remanded in continuing custody. The prosecution noted that the victim's anonymity was maintained, while the defence highlighted Kane's untreated depression and psychosis. Oliver Kane pleaded guilty.
David McConnell, aged 76, was sentenced to a two‑year suspended term for dishonestly claiming disability benefits for his son, Thomas 'Nicky' McConnell, after the son left the jurisdiction. McConnell collected €203 weekly from April 10, 2019 to January 8, 2020, defrauding the State of just over €8,700. He pleaded guilty to four counts of dishonest inducement. The court noted Thomas could not leave the house due to a criminal feud, which the court deemed a psychological condition and a fear of other persons. McConnell claimed he continued to collect the money to support his granddaughter. He had 11 prior convictions dating from 1962 to 1989. The judge, citing McConnell's age and lack of re‑offending risk, imposed a suspended sentence rather than imprisonment.
A Dublin woman charged with dangerous driving following an alleged chase involving Garda vehicles on the M50 motorway has launched a second High Court judicial review action challenging bail conditions imposed by the District Court. Gemma Greene, aged 24, of Coolock, Dublin, contests conditions including a curfew, requirement to sign on daily with gardaí, and a prohibition on driving mechanically propelled vehicles. She argues the District Court lacked jurisdiction to impose or vary these conditions and claims they breach her presumption of innocence. Ms Greene's legal representatives submitted she had previously complied with initial bail requirements and that gardaí did not seek the driving prohibition. Ms Justice Niamh Hyland granted permission to bring the action on Friday and placed a stay on the contested bail conditions, subject to Ms Greene remaining in the jurisdiction. The Director of Public Prosecutions neither opposed nor consented to the application. This represents Ms Greene's second such action; a separate judicial review concerning earlier bail conditions is also ongoing. Both matters will return before the High Court in June.
Michael Leonard, 63, of Hillcrest, Glenosheen, Kilmallock, Co Limerick, was denied bail by the High Court after being accused of murdering 72‑year‑old Mary O'Keeffe in Doneraile, Co Cork, on 4 February 2021. Leonard appeared at the hearing by video‑link. Detective Sergeant James O'Shea, of Fermoy Garda Station, argued that the evidence was strong, the charge serious, and that Leonard might interfere with witnesses. He described the scene where a burning vehicle was found at 2.20 pm on 4 February, containing Ms O'Keeffe's body. Leonard's defence, led by Mr Marc Thompson Grolimund BL, highlighted his client's 41‑year work record with Coillte and his recent retirement, and offered a €10,000 bond and a vacant property address for bail if granted. Mr Leonard pledged not to approach witnesses. Judge Robert Eager cited the "appalling" death and the seriousness of the murder charge in denying bail.
Elvis Chiriac, 35, pleaded guilty to 15 counts of theft after stealing over €8,500 by tampering with 22 ATMs in Dublin between 8 and 10 January 2020. He used a "Transaction Reversal Fraud" technique, inserting a card, withdrawing a small amount, then using a metal or plastic clip to prevent the ATM door from closing, allowing him to remove cash while the machine recorded no withdrawal. AIB identified the cards, including those from Macedonia, Abu Dhabi, and a Revolut card linked to Chiriac's niece. CCTV from a Centra shop and GPS from a rented GoCar traced his movements. The theft caused damage to the machines and the total loss to AIB was €8,520. None of the stolen funds have been recovered. Judge Melanie Greally remanded Chiriac on continuing bail, with a mitigation hearing scheduled for 8 June.
In a case that unfolded in Dublin, a mother‑of‑four named Julie McMahon, aged 47, was apprehended by Garda Darrgh Frewen after the officer noticed suspiciously inexpensive clothing being advertised online. The Garda traced the adverts to McMahon's account and obtained a warrant to search her residence at O'Brien Hall, Gardiner Street. The search uncovered a large quantity of stolen apparel from retailers such as Zara, River Island and H&M, some still bearing their security tags. McMahon could not produce receipts, and store managers confirmed the items had been stolen. She pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of stolen property valued between €1,142 and €2,000. The court remanded her on continuing bail, with the case adjourned to May 7 to address a pending District Court offence. During the proceedings, McMahon admitted to the offence, and a small amount of cash and cannabis were also seized.
In a case heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, 64‑year‑old Colm Dowling pleaded guilty to arson at Whitechurch Shopping Centre, Ballyboden, on 27 July 2020. He set fire to an empty commercial unit he believed belonged to a woman he knew, thinking that damaging the property would help her with her inheritance. Dowling admitted he had been drinking and taking medication that night, citing an alcohol problem that had resurfaced after his brother's death in 2018. Garda John Dalton reported that the fire spread from the empty unit to an adjoining Centra shop, causing about €200 in damage to the unit and €2,500 to the shop. Dowling, who has three prior convictions, was identified on CCTV and arrested the following day. The judge, Elma Sheahan, noted his remorse and his efforts to address his alcohol dependence, but required further proof of sobriety.
Wenzi Wang, 38, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to charges including providing a false birth certificate for a passport application in Co Donegal in May 2009, six counts of deception in Co Dublin and Co Meath between 2010 and 2017, two counts of giving false information to a registrar in Co Dublin, and possession of an air rifle, ammunition, and Garda Síochána-resembling apparel at his address in November 2017. Prosecution evidence alleged Wang lived under the false name Sau Kee Lee for eight years after purchasing another person's Northern Irish birth certificate to obtain an Irish passport and other documents. Defence counsel submitted that Wang was a model citizen who paid taxes and committed no other offences while using the alias. The court heard that an investigation began after Wang registered his second child's birth under his real name, leading to a search of his home where false documentation and the disputed items were found. Wang admitted to gardaí that he bought the apparel for a Halloween costume and the air rifle from a friend, never using it. Judge Pauline Codd ordered a report from the Probation Service and adjourned the matter for finalisation to July 5. The matter was adjourned and not concluded.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 20 April 2021, Judge Martin Nolan announced that he would begin issuing indicative sentences, to be formally imposed at a later date, because prison officers were on industrial action and had not arrived at court by the scheduled time. The Prison Officers' Association had directed staff to focus on prison duties amid a dispute over Covid‑19 vaccination timing, leading to delays in escorting prisoners for court appearances. Eight sentences originally scheduled for the morning were adjourned to later in the month. Judge Nolan said he would first address bail cases and then hand down indicative sentences in cases where the Prison Service was unavailable, noting that the situation was unlikely to improve and might worsen. He postponed the formal sentencing for several weeks, citing the ongoing strike and the absence of prison officers.
The Special Criminal Court heard the prosecution's closing arguments against Trevor Byrne, 41, of Finglas West, who is charged with the 2010 armed robbery of BoyleSports in Swords and the hijacking of a woman's car at gunpoint. The State presented "overwhelming" evidence, including CCTV footage that identified Byrne and a second man, both wearing masks and brandishing handguns, who entered the bookies and robbed the tills. Byrne allegedly dropped his phone at the scene, which was later found to contain a contact for 'Ma', a number linked to his mother Maureen Byrne. The prosecution argued that the phone and its contents tied Byrne to the robbery. Byrne denied all charges. The case was adjourned to May 20 for judgment.
A mother, whose name cannot be published for legal reasons, faces trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of her three young children on 24 January 2020 at their family home. The case is scheduled for a two‑day trial, with the judge setting the date for 17 May 2021. The accused was absent from the court during the brief hearing. The Children Act 2001 prohibits identifying child victims, and it is an offence to publish any identifying information about a child alleged to have been a victim, including a deceased child.
The owners of two trans‑Atlantic communication cables, GTT Communications Inc and its affiliates Hibernia Express Ireland Ltd and Hibernia Atlantic Cable System Limited, have applied to the High Court for injunctions to stop fishermen from trawling within one kilometre of their cables. The cables, which link Ireland, the UK and Canada, carry data for major financial, telecommunications and cloud firms, and one cable transmits information vital to global stock traders. The companies allege that vessels owned by Brendan, Denis, James and John O'Flaherty, operating out of Kilmore Quay, Co. Wexford, have been trawling near the cables, posing a high risk of damage and endangering crews because the cables are charged and have previously caused vessels to sink when fishing gear became entangled. The applicants seek orders restraining the respondents from trawling, dropping anchor or interfering with the seabed until the dispute is resolved.
A 44-year-old man charged with the murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan has been scheduled for trial at the Central Criminal Court in June 2022. Stephen Silver of Aughaward, Foxford, County Mayo is accused of murdering the garda while he was acting in the course of his duty on Main Street, Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. Detective Garda Horkan, aged 49 and based at Castlerea Garda Station, died following a shooting incident in the town. The trial is expected to last five weeks. Mr Silver is currently in custody at the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum. The court was informed of significant psychiatric treatment background in the case. Justice Michael White approved legal representation comprising two senior counsel and one research documentary junior for the defence. Mr Silver was sent forward for trial following presentation of the book of evidence in February.
A 45‑year‑old Romanian man, Vasile Jelecuteam, was stopped at a Garda checkpoint in Wicklow at about 12:05 a.m. on 22 March 2021. Garda Margaret Fennelly of Bray Garda Station checked his ID and driver's licence against the Garda Pulse and the newly‑activated Schengen Information System (SIS II). The search revealed that Germany had issued a European Arrest Warrant for Jelecuteam. The High Court heard that the details of the alleged offence had not yet been supplied. Mr Justice Paul Burns remanded Jelecuteam in custody until 31 March, with a bail hearing scheduled for the following Thursday. The case illustrates how SIS II allows instant alerts across 30 countries, enabling authorities to act swiftly on cross‑border warrants. The court did not receive further information on the offence at the time of the hearing.
A Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that 26‑year‑old Eoram Dobnam De Lima, a university student, stole €6,936 in cash from his employer, a Centra newsagent in Charlemont Street, between 1 November 2019 and 15 January 2020. He regularly voided transactions while working the till, then totalling the voided amounts at the end of his shift and taking the money in cash. CCTV footage and a till security system revealed the irregularities, and the store owner, Robert O'Leary, investigated the times of the voids and matched them with the footage. De Lima admitted the theft when confronted, also admitting a prior incident in September 2019 for which no evidence existed. He pleaded guilty to three counts of stealing property. Defending counsel said he used the money to pay for his Masters in Dispute Resolution and expressed remorse, wishing to repay the loss.
A 60‑year‑old Scottish man living in Ireland is wanted for six sexual offence charges covering a period from 1975 to 2020. He was arrested in Ireland on 16 December and brought before the High Court where a European Arrest Warrant issued by Scottish authorities was endorsed. Mr Justice Paul Burns heard that the man's lawyers are awaiting a decision by Mr Justice Paul Coffey in another UK extradition case, which could influence this case, and therefore requested an adjournment. Mr Justice Paul Burns said he expects a judgement within two weeks and adjourned the matter until 22 March.
Kenneth Lynch, 32, a special needs assistant, was found with over €4,000 of cocaine and €10,000 in cash in his home in Clondalkin. He pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply at his address on 23 August 2018. Gardaí had been surveilling him and obtained a search warrant. During the search, they discovered cocaine worth €4,816 and €10,400 in cash in a safe. Lynch admitted he had paid €1,500 for the cocaine and intended to sell it to "locals" to double his money, a scheme he had run for a year and a half. He claimed the cash came from people who owed him money and that he feared them after being threatened. Judge Pauline Codd described the activity as "a very nefarious trade" and ordered a report from the Probation Service, with the matter adjourned for finalisation on 6 May.
Edel Doherty, of Rory O'Connor House, Hardwick Street, Dublin 1, has brought a High Court judicial review challenging a District Court decision regarding her prosecution. Ms Doherty is one of ten individuals accused under the 2001 Children's Act of publishing images identifying two teenagers convicted of murder. The alleged breach involves a hybrid offence, prosecutable in either the District Court or Circuit Court. In October, a Dublin District Court judge accepted jurisdiction and directed the DPP to disclose evidence, adjourning the matter to January. Ms Doherty claims that when the case returned, a different judge reheard the facts, determined the offences were not minor and unfit for summary trial, and adjourned the matter for the service of the book of evidence. She argues this decision was procedurally flawed, made without proper reasons, and in breach of fair procedures. Represented by Kathleen Leader SC, instructed by David Thompson, Ms Doherty seeks orders quashing the decision that her offences were not minor and declarations that the District Court acted in excess of jurisdiction. The matter was heard by Mr Justice Charles Meenan, who granted ex-parte permission to bring the challenge. Noting that several similar actions are pending or imminent, the judge indicated it would be preferable for all cases to be heard together. The actions are scheduled to be mentioned before the court later this month.
A man wanted by United Kingdom authorities to face multiple charges including sexual activity with animals and possession of extreme pornographic material has challenged an extradition warrant in the High Court on grounds relating to Brexit and procedural defects. Oliver Lown, aged 35, was arrested by gardaí at Gortnaskea near Letterkenny, County Donegal, in February following endorsement of a European Arrest Warrant issued by Suffolk police. He faces twelve offences arising from material discovered during a search in April 2019. His barrister argued before Mr Justice Paul Burns that the warrant is "fatally flawed" because it was endorsed by Irish courts after December 31, 2020, when the UK-EU extradition framework changed to an opt-in system which Ireland had not yet adopted. Additional arguments were raised regarding the issuing authority and completion of the warrant documentation. Mr Justice Burns requested written submissions and adjourned the matter to April 11th for further hearing.
A 48‑year‑old serial burglar, Bernard Foran, was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that he used a stolen master key to break into a dozen rooms at the Dean Hotel on 17 October 2020 while he was on bail for earlier burglary offences. Foran, who lives on Cloonlara Road, Finglas, had already pleaded guilty to two further burglaries on 18 October 2020 at Cedar Tree Restaurant and The Globe Bar, both in Dublin city centre. He admitted to forcing entry into a storage area, acquiring the master key, and then using it to enter 12 hotel rooms, stealing cash, jewellery and an Apple watch. The next night he was caught by a staff member at The Globe Bar, where he was found with a silver knife he claimed was for protection but had been stolen from Cedar Tree Restaurant.
In February 2021, Wicklow County Council argued that Pete Taylor and Bray Boxing Club had no proprietary interest in the Harbour Shed premises, claiming only a bare licence existed. Taylor, father of boxer Katie Taylor, sought an injunction to prevent the council from terminating their legal interest, citing a 2007 lease and subsequent licence agreements. The council, after changing the locks in June 2018 following a shooting that killed club member Bobby Messert, asserted it had no rent paid and that the licence could be terminated at any time. Taylor's counsel highlighted the club's use of the shed since 2005, its enhancement with a sports capital grant, and a 2017 rent increase to €15,000. The court reserved judgment, noting the injunction would remain pending until the dispute's outcome. The council maintained it acted lawfully and had no obligation to mediate.
A 39-year-old man facing trial on charges of deception and theft had a bail surety of €100,000 incorrectly refunded in full instead of the reduced amount of €50,000, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard on Friday. The defendant, from Limerick, had the money distributed amongst family members who had contributed to the surety. His legal team told the court he is currently reliant on Covid-19 welfare payments following redundancy. During an application to vary bail conditions, Judge Melanie Greally expressed concern about evidence that the accused had been travelling in a newly acquired van with power tools, questioning how this aligned with his stated financial circumstances. A detective garda objected to any variation, citing flight risk concerns and the seriousness of potential penalties if convicted. The matter was adjourned to March 5th to allow gardaí to establish whether the defendant's stated need to travel to Wexford for care duties was necessary. The accused faces 18 theft counts involving over €85,000 in County Mayo.
Sean Everitt, a 20‑year‑old from Hill View, Drogheda, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a one‑year suspended term for laundering €10,000 in criminal proceeds. He pleaded guilty to allowing his bank account to be used by criminals to hold money he knew or was reckless about being illicit, an offence under section seven of the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act 2010. Everitt had previously been convicted of drug dealing and aggravated burglary, and was on bail for a drug offence when the laundering occurred. He was offered €100 for using his account but never received it. The €10,000 was later reimbursed to the victim, who declined to prepare a victim impact report. The suspended sentence is to run consecutively with his existing prison term.
Dr Ronan Keogan, 48, of College Square, Terenure, Dublin 6W, faces trial on 8 November 2022 in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He is charged with five counts of possessing child pornography images at his clinic and three counts of knowingly distributing such images in 2017. The offences relate to section 6(1) and 5(1) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998. He was remanded on continuing bail and a no‑publicity order was lifted after media inquiries.
John McClean, aged 76, a former rugby coach and teacher at Terenure College, pleaded guilty to 27 charges of indecent assault against 23 male students between 1973 and 1990. The court heard that McClean abused boys during costume fittings for school plays, after disciplinary incidents, and in his office, using rulers and sexual conduct. Victims ranged from about 12 to 16 years old. McClean offered them a choice between being hit or having their parents informed of misbehaviour. He also threatened to withhold rugby team selection as punishment. The first complaint to Gardaí was made in 2016; McClean left the school in 1996 following allegations and later coached rugby at UCD. The sentencing hearing continues before Judge Pauline Codd.
Michael Small, a 54‑year‑old former solicitor from Renville, Oranmore, Co. Galway, faces a trial set for 9 January 2023 in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He is charged with multiple counts of theft, deception, failure to keep accounting records and the use of false accounting documents, alleged to have occurred over a two‑year period while he was practising in Limerick. Earlier, in 2008 and 2009, he appeared before the Dublin District Court on similar charges. The case involves allegations of €1.2 million in fraud, and free legal aid was granted for the circuit court proceedings.
The sentencing hearing for former Terenure College rugby coach and teacher John McClean, aged 75, began at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 10 February 2021. McClean, who pleaded guilty to 27 charges of indecent assault against 23 boys between 1973 and 1990, is remanded on bail. The hearing will span two days, with the possibility of extending into Friday, and will include victim impact statements from some of the adult complainants. The case involves three separate books of evidence.
A man has appeared before the High Court in Dublin following his arrest on a European Arrest Warrant issued by Suffolk police. Oliver Lown, aged 35, with an address in Kesgrave, Suffolk, was arrested by gardaí from the Extradition Unit on Monday at Gortnaskea near Letterkenny, County Donegal. He faces twelve charges in the United Kingdom, including sexual activity with animals, possession of extreme pornographic material, and making indecent images of children. According to the warrant, over 1,000 extreme pornographic images and thousands of videos were recovered from a laptop seized during a police search in April 2019. Mr Justice Paul Burns remanded Mr Lown in custody and fixed 26 February for the full extradition hearing, when an application for bail is anticipated to be made.
Kevin Brosnan, 40, pleaded guilty to a robbery at Centra, Old Bawn Shopping Centre, Tallaght, on 2 April 2020. He entered the shop armed with a knife, removed his mask and shouted "Coronavirus" at a security guard, using a racial slur and threatening to kill the guard. He demanded the till be opened, claiming to be HIV positive, and repeatedly threatened the guard as the guard tried to block him. A public witness reported the incident, leading to Brosnan's arrest. He was found with €630, which was returned to the shop. Brosnan had 82 prior convictions, including burglary, theft, knife possession and affray. The court ordered a Probation Service report and adjourned the matter for finalisation on 23 March. The judge noted Brosnan's remorse and the contrast between his sober demeanor and his actions during the offence.
A trial at the Central Criminal Court concerning the death of a five-time Irish boxing champion has been adjourned due to Covid-19 restrictions. Logan Jackson, aged 30 and with an address in Coventry, England, is charged with the murder of Kevin Sheehy, who died after being struck by a vehicle on Hyde Road in Limerick on July 1, 2019. Mr Sheehy's body was discovered in the road at approximately 4.40am. Mr Justice Michael White adjourned the proceedings to February 9, when a trial date will be set. The court indicated that Mr Jackson's trial would be afforded priority status.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 53‑year‑old French father, Franck Lamour, was apprehended by an off‑duty Garda after threatening his partner with a knife on 7 April 2020. Lamour, diagnosed with bipolar depression 15 years earlier, had been unable to obtain his medication during the April 2020 lockdown. He had been drinking for about 12 hours that day, told his partner Cecille Doussinault that she was to blame for bringing him to Ireland, and demanded she buy him vodka. When she refused, he threatened her with a kitchen knife, warned her not to call for help, and tried to force her to go to a shop. He then returned to the home, where the off‑duty Garda followed and restrained him, leading to his arrest. The court described the incident as isolated, linked to Lamour's mental disorder and pandemic‑related restrictions, and noted he had no prior convictions. Franck Lamour pleaded guilty.
During the sentencing of a 16‑year‑old who admitted raping his cousin between December 2017 and May 2019, the victim's father spoke about the chronic lack of government funding for the CARI foundation, which supports victims of child sexual abuse. He said the foundation's long waiting list meant his daughter had to wait 15 months for an appointment. The father described the abuse, noting the boy had shown her adult pornography and forced her into sexual acts, and that she suffered panic attacks. He thanked Gardaí and the foundation for their support, but criticised the government for not providing more assistance. The father also reflected on the erosion of his daughter's confidence and the emotional impact on his family. The sentencing was adjourned to February 23. The unnamed girl pleaded guilty.
Four men are to stand trial at the Central Criminal Court in June 2021 on charges of attempting to murder Wayne Whelan in a shooting at Griffeen Glen Park, Lucan, Co Dublin on September 4, 2019. Darren Henderson, Cailean Crawford, and Charles McClean, all with Dublin addresses, face the charge alongside Wayne Ryan of Longford. The four are also accused of arson relating to a Ford Focus set alight at the Old Bog Road in Kilcock, Co Kildare on the same date. At a hearing before Mr Justice Michael White, the Director of Public Prosecutions applied to consolidate the trials, which was granted. The trial, expected to last six weeks, is scheduled to commence on June 21, 2021. Whelan survived the initial shooting but was killed in a separate incident two months later.
Anthony McDonald, 22, was arrested after customs officials intercepted a €24,000 package of cannabis that he had ordered online from the United States under the alias "Mr Smith." The package was delivered to his former address in Kilmore, where a Garda posed as a delivery man and set up a controlled delivery. McDonald signed for the package, was arrested, and later pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis for sale or supply. He had no prior convictions. During the court hearing, McDonald admitted he intended to break down the cannabis to sell it, hoping to earn €7,000. His mother expelled him from their home following the offence, leaving him homeless and now living in hostel-type accommodation. The judge remanded him on continuing bail, with the matter to be finalized on May 4. The case was prosecuted by Maurice Coffey SC, with defence counsel Dean Kelly SC.
In a 2018 incident at Rathmines, Stephen McNamee (26), his partner Natalie Mulligan (34) and her cousin Mark Connolly (26) chased and assaulted Paul O'Kelly after he made a derogatory remark about Mulligan's weight. The trio, all intoxicated, punched and kicked O'Kelly as he lay on the ground in a car park. CCTV footage showed the violence, prompting the court to describe it as "very disturbing". All three pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and were placed on bond to keep the peace until January 15, 2021. Judge Karen O'Connor discharged them under section 11 of the 2006 Criminal Justice Act, noting their remorse, lack of prior convictions, and young age. Each defendant paid €1,500 to O'Kelly as a practical expression of remorse. O'Kelly suffered nerve damage, dental surgery and ongoing anxiety as a result of the attack. The court recorded the defendants' expressions of regret and the impact of the assault on the victim.
A social worker, Ms Claire Looney, has initiated a High Court action to prevent her employer, Waterford Intellectual Disabilities Association (WIDA), from dismissing her following a two-year suspension. The action is aimed at halting her dismissal from her role as Head of Clinical Services with an association that supports people with intellectual disabilities in the South East. Ms Looney alleges that her dismissal followed an extremely flawed process and that she was penalised by the HSE due to protected disclosures she made regarding the alleged abuse of a woman with intellectual disabilities, known as 'Grace', while she was in care. She claims she made protected disclosures to the Department of Health, the HSE, and the Dail Public Accounts Committee about the care of 'Grace' and others in the same placement in 2009. These disclosures led to the establishment of the Farrelly Commission in 2017. Ms Looney was suspended in 2018 and, despite being exonerated of an allegation regarding HIQA, was informed in August that she would be dismissed, a decision upheld on appeal in November. Counsel for Ms Looney argued that the investigation into the allegations against her was flawed and that the terms of reference changed, leading to new allegations. The matter was adjourned to a date in mid-January, with the defendant directed to produce a replying sworn-statement in reply to Ms Looney's claims before then.
Joanne Hayes, who was wrongly accused of murdering an infant in 1984, seeks a High Court declaration that all findings of wrongdoing against her and her siblings by the Kerry Babies Tribunal were unfounded and incorrect. The family was arrested after a newborn with stab wounds was found in Cahersiveen. Hayes was accused of being the mother of the child, baby John, and of murdering him, but a blood test later proved she was not the mother. The charges were dropped in October 1984. Hayes claims the Gardaí forced her and her family into false confessions, which they later withdrew. The Tribunal, led by Justice Kevin Lynch, made numerous unsubstantiated findings, including allegations of assault and lying, and was alleged to have shown bias by allowing inappropriate statements about Hayes' character and private health. Hayes and her siblings now seek declarations that the investigation, arrest, charge and Tribunal findings breached her constitutional rights.