In a High Court hearing on 27 January 2017, counsel for the Minister for Justice argued that Dutch citizen Naoufal Fassih, aged 36 and of Moroccan origin, should be extradited to the Netherlands to face three European Arrest Warrants. The first charge concerns an attempted murder and assault at a Dutch nightclub on 5 October 2012, where Fassih allegedly participated in a fight that left several injured. The second charge involves possession of over €10,000 in cash found on him in 2012, which Dutch prosecutors say could constitute money‑laundering under Dutch law. The third charge alleges possession of a false passport.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Anna Kavanagh (48) and Christine Byrne (30) were sentenced to community service for fraudulently applying for loans at Provident Personal Credit between August 2009 and January 2011. Kavanagh, employed in a position of responsibility, used other people's names to obtain €49,000, repaying €26,218 before the company discovered the scheme in September 2012, resulting in a €23,500 loss. She pleaded guilty to four counts of making a gain by deception and three counts of forgery. Byrne, also from Crannoge Close, pleaded guilty to six counts of forgery. Both were given three‑year sentences suspended in full and ordered to complete 240 hours of community service. The judge noted their financial difficulties and expressed remorse, and the court considered the defendants unlikely to re‑offend. The case highlighted the use of personal networks to secure high‑interest loans.
Gary Fitzgerald, aged 19, received a three‑year sentence for arson at Green Hills Court Apartments, Tallaght, on 26 March 2015. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and had seven prior convictions, including road traffic and assault. The fire, which caused €45,000 in damage, occurred in an unoccupied bedroom; Gardaí could not determine the cause. Gary lived next door to the burning apartment with his cousin Graham Fitzgerald, who also pleaded guilty to arson on the same occasion and to attempted robbery in February 2016. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned Graham's case for two weeks and imposed a suspended six‑month portion on Gary's sentence, ordering one year of post‑release supervision. The court noted Gary's extreme youth and drug use but accepted his early plea. No residents were in immediate danger, and the complex was evacuated. The case was heard with evidence from CCTV and police reports.
Two men from County Sligo have been sent forward for trial at the Special Criminal Court on charges of membership of an unlawful organisation. Damhan McFadden, aged 27, of Kilmacowen, Ballysodare, and Julian Flohr, aged 35, of Rusheen Ard, Caltra, face allegations relating to events on 14 August. The State's counsel confirmed that the book of evidence had been furnished to the accused. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judge John O'Hagan and Judge Ann Ryan, scheduled the trial to commence on 12 February 2018, with proceedings expected to span two weeks. Both men were remanded in custody pending trial.
The High Court has ordered the extradition of Hughie Patrick McGinley to the UK on alleged charges of blackmail, conspiracy to commit blackmail, and possession of criminal property. Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly granted the State's application, rejecting arguments regarding the respondent's family rights. The court noted the offences were of considerable gravity, citing custodial sentences of 54 to 88 months imposed on co-accused in the UK. In Teeside Crown Court, Dennis McGinley and Bernard McGinley pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit blackmail and possessing criminal property. Christy Stokes pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit blackmail. Bianca McGinley initially pleaded not guilty but later pleaded guilty to possessing criminal property. The allegations involve a complainant, Gerald Richardson, who allegedly paid £196,000 to Dennis McGinley after being threatened with violence. Hughie Patrick McGinley, a father of seven, was arrested in Sligo in August 2016 and admitted to bail. The High Court directed that he be surrendered to UK authorities to face trial.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, James Smithers, 38, of St Patrick's Park, Tullow, Co. Carlow, pleaded not guilty to an indictment of membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The prosecution, represented by Anne‑Marie Lawlor BL, argued that Smithers supplied a stolen car for an IRA operation in County Limerick on 31 October 2015. Central to the case was the belief evidence of Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan, who claimed to be "absolutely satisfied" that the information supporting his belief was reliable and accurate. Kirwan's testimony was supplemented by the fact that Smithers failed to answer material questions after Section 2 of the Offences Against the State Act was invoked, which the prosecution said provided sufficient supporting evidence of guilt. Smithers' defence, led by Mark Nicholas SC, challenged the depth of Kirwan's file and the inference that the suspicious activity on the night in question proved membership.
Edward Hanrahan faced the Court of Appeal in January 2017 following the dismissal of his judicial review proceedings in the High Court. Originally charged with three burglaries in Galway District Court in December 2009, Hanrahan absconded before his scheduled March 2010 hearing. He evaded gardaí for several years across multiple counties before being apprehended in a Donegal village in November 2014 whilst allegedly attempting to cross the border. Upon his recapture, two charges were withdrawn but one remained. The Director of Public Prosecutions subsequently directed trial in the Circuit Court rather than summarily. Hanrahan contested this decision as unfair and sought judicial review. The High Court rejected his application, finding no procedural breach. The Court of Appeal unanimously upheld this judgment, with Mr Justice George Birmingham stating the uncertainty surrounding the original District Court proceedings could not benefit Hanrahan, who bore sole responsibility for his flight and consequent circumstances.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Owen McCann, 36, admitted to purchasing a .22 calibre sporting pistol, a conversion kit, two ammunition magazines and a single round of ammunition online via eBay and PayPal. He claimed he bought the firearm to remove it from circulation for public safety and subsequently showed the police the hidden gun and ammunition on family land in Co. Louth. McCann had previously pleaded guilty in November 2015 to possession of the pistol, conversion kit, magazines and the single round at Jenkinstown. Gardaí had searched the McCann family land in December 2015, uncovering a large quantity of firearms, ammunition and explosive components, which were deemed background to the case. The court remanded McCann in custody for sentencing on 30 January 2017.
In a bail hearing before the Central Criminal Court, Judge Paul Coffey refused bail for Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan Dowdall (38) and his father Patrick Dowdall (59). Both men were charged with falsely imprisoning, assaulting and threatening to kill Alexander Hurley on 15 January 2015 at Navan Road, Dublin. They also face charges of possessing a firearm or imitation firearm and a handgun with intent to imprison Mr Hurley. The Dowdalls had applied for bail before Christmas, with Chief Superintendent Finbar O'Brien suggesting electronic tagging might satisfy security concerns. The judge examined the legislation and concluded that electronic tagging is not permitted for persons seeking bail. Consequently, the court adjourned the hearing to the new year and denied the bail applications, despite the defendants' willingness to increase surety from €10,000 to €20,000. The defendants are scheduled to go on trial in May.
Eamon McNamee, a 34-year-old man from Larkfield Square, Lucan, County Dublin, appeared in court facing a charge of possessing a firearm with the intent to commit an indictable offence, specifically assault causing harm. The alleged incident occurred at Fairgreen, Saggart, Co. Dublin, on January 19, 2013. The matter is currently at the pre-trial stage, with the court fixing a trial date for December 12 at the Special Criminal Court. The trial is expected to last six days. Presiding Judge Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy remanded Mr McNamee on continuing bail until October 23, when his case is listed for mention again. The court did not record a plea, finding, or sentence at this stage, as the proceedings remain in the pre-trial phase. The accused is alleged to have committed the offence, but no conviction has been established. The next procedural step is the mention hearing scheduled for October 23, after which the trial will proceed in December. No other case subjects, pleas, or disposals were recorded in this report.
William Gilsenan, aged 24, appeared for sentencing at the Central Criminal Court following his December conviction for manslaughter in the death of Edward Fitzgerald. The incident occurred on 17 October 2014 in a car park at The Green, Larch Hill, Oscar Traynor Road, Santry, Dublin. Mr Gilsenan was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. A dispute over a €100 debt preceded the stabbing, during which Mr Gilsenan inflicted two knife wounds, one of which proved fatal. The defence counsel sought a sentence not exceeding four years, citing Mr Gilsenan's previously good character, lack of violence history, and evidence that the attack was provoked and reactionary rather than premeditated. A psychological report indicated depression and cannabis use for self-medication. The victim's family provided an impact statement describing ongoing trauma. Justice Paul Butler adjourned sentencing to 19 January, remanding Mr Gilsenan in custody pending that date.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing in Dublin, three men—Dean Evans (26), Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (46)—were scheduled to stand trial for the murder of Peter Butterly, a 35‑year‑old father of two, who was shot dead in the car park of the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co. Meath, on 6 March 2013. McGrath and Kelly appeared in court and were remanded on continuing bail until Friday. Evans, however, failed to attend the hearing. The court noted that Evans had not been seen since Sunday and that his family were "concerned" about his whereabouts. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges John O'Hagan and Anne Ryan, issued a warrant for Evans's arrest and remanded Kelly and McGrath on continuing bail until the following day. The case remains at the trial stage, with no further outcomes reported in the article.
Sean Walsh, 50, of St John's Well, Fair Hill, and Joseph Walsh, 36, of Glengarriff Road, Fair Hill, Co Cork, were arrested last week in Cork with Michael Gilmartin, 46, of Chestnut Drive, Cluain Ard, Newtown in Cobh. All three men were charged on 14 December 2016 with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh Na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA. Gilmartin was also charged with possession of a semi‑automatic 9 mm Walter pistol, a sawn‑off shotgun and 22 rounds of ammunition. At the Special Criminal Court in Dublin, the State objected to the men's bail applications, citing the seriousness of the charges. Detective Sergeant Patrick Murphy and Chief Superintendent Barry McPolin gave evidence that the refusal of bail was necessary to prevent the commission of a serious offence under Section 2A of the Bail Act.
Jonathan Dowdall (38) and his father Patrick Dowdall (59) are awaiting trial for charges of falsely imprisoning, assaulting and threatening to kill Alexander Hurley on 15 January last year. They also face charges of possessing a sawn‑off shotgun and a handgun with intent to imprison Hurley. Both men applied for bail at the Central Criminal Court, but the court, citing Section 2A of the Bail Act, refused bail to prevent a serious offence. The Dowdalls offered to accept electronic tagging and other conditions. Judge Paul Coffey noted that such measures could reduce risk and adjourned the matter to the new year to explore tagging. Both men remain in custody until 13 January. The case is set for trial next May.
An Irishman, Liam Campbell, aged 54, was arrested in Upper Faughart, Dundalk, County Louth, on 2 December 2016 under a European Arrest Warrant issued by Lithuanian authorities for alleged terrorism offences and weapons trafficking to Ireland. He was brought before the High Court in Dublin the same day and remanded in custody. The court was informed that a director of a County Louth company had agreed to pay a €60,000 bail, and Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly remanded Campbell in custody with consent to bail until 30 January. The warrant alleged that between the end of 2006 and the beginning of 2007 Campbell had organised the preparation for smuggling in support of the "terrorist grouping" the RIRA, arranging for illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, explosive devices and substances.
Paul Wells Jnr, aged 30, faces trial for impeding a murder investigation by disposing of a chainsaw. He is charged with obstructing the apprehension or prosecution of his father, Paul Wells Snr, 48, who is alleged to have killed Kenneth O'Brien, 33, in Finglas on 15 or 16 January 2016. The Central Criminal Court set the trial for 19 February 2018.
A 35‑year‑old man, Juraci Da Silva, originally from Brazil, has been charged with the murder of 28‑year‑old James Banville on 8 October 2016 at New Street, Waterford. The Central Criminal Court has set his trial for 2 October 2017.
Robert Day, 54, of Cabra, Dublin, faces trial at the Special Criminal Court for alleged membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). He was charged on 9 October 2015 with belonging to an unlawful organisation. The court, presided over by Justice Isobel Kennedy with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and James Faughnan, set the trial for 27 November 2017, expected to last three weeks. Day remains on continuing bail until 3 November 2018.
A 43‑year‑old woman, Mercy Peters, originally from Sierra Leone, faces trial for the murder of her former partner, Tyrone McKenna, aged 42, who was killed on 17 July 2014 at their shared home in Marlay Court, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14. The Central Criminal Court, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, has set the trial for 3 July 2017.
A 65‑year‑old man, Donal Colgan, has been charged with the murder of David Sheridan, 45, who was killed outside a chip shop on North Strand Road, Dublin 1, on 17 or 18 August 2014. The Central Criminal Court, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, has set the trial for 31 October 2017.
Kevin Hannaway, 68, a Belfast resident and member of the "Hooded Men", will be tried in the Special Criminal Court on 11 January 2018 for allegedly assisting the Irish Republican Army (IRA). He and four co‑accused were arrested in August 2017 during a Garda operation targeting dissident republican activity in Dublin. Hannaway is charged with knowingly rendering assistance to the IRA by helping interview persons involved in IRA‑organised criminal activities at Riverwood Park, Castleknock, on 7 and 8 August 2015. His co‑accused, Eva Shannon (59), Edward O'Brien (41), David Nooney (52) and Seán Hannaway (47), are charged with the same offence and with membership of an unlawful organisation. All accused were remanded on continuing bail. The trial, expected to last eight weeks, is presided over by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain and Judge James Faughnan.
Three men were charged at the Special Criminal Court on 14 December 2016 with membership of the Irish Republican Army, an unlawful organisation. Sean Walsh, aged 50, was arrested at 7.47pm in Cobh under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act and brought to Cobh Garda Station. Joseph Walsh, aged 36, was arrested at 7.46pm in Cobh by Detective Garda Oisin Cotter and charged with the same offence. Michael Gilmartin, aged 46, was arrested at 7.41pm in Midleton by Detective Garda Geraldine Daly under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act and for possession of firearms in suspicious circumstances. Gilmartin was also charged with possession of a semi‑automatic 9mm Walter pistol, a sawn‑off shotgun, and 22 rounds of ammunition under Section 27a of the Firearms Act. All three men were remanded in custody until the next Wednesday for bail hearings and legal aid applications.
Conor Clarke, 24, was released on bail after pleading guilty to burglary, theft and criminal damage at Tessa House, a homeless shelter in Dublin. He admitted breaking into the shelter on 21 November 2015, smashing a cash register and causing damage costing just over €2,600, including €2,122 for repairs and a €500 new register. Clarke, who has 47 prior convictions, was in custody since February and has undergone drug counselling in prison. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned finalisation to March 28, allowing Clarke to remain on bail for several months to see if he can maintain the progress he has made in prison, citing his recent fatherhood as motivation. The case will return to court for finalisation on 28 March.
A judge has been appointed to preside over the upcoming trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm. Mr Drumm, 49, was excused from appearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court when Judge Melanie Greally informed the legal teams that Judge Karen O'Connor had been appointed by the President of the Circuit Court, Judge Raymond Groarke, to hear the case. Drumm, who lives in Skerries, Co Dublin, faces 33 counts under two separate bills concerning alleged offences committed at the now-defunct bank. He has not yet entered a plea. Two trials are scheduled: the first on 24 April next year, where he faces two charges of conspiring to defraud depositors and investors by "dishonestly" creating the impression that deposits in 2008 were €7.2 billion larger than they were, and one additional charge relating to the EU transparency directive; the second on 12 January 2018, where he faces 16 counts of offering unlawful financial assistance to members of businessman.
The High Court ordered the extradition of a 72‑year‑old man to Britain on a sexual assault charge that carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison. The alleged assault took place at The Royal Liverpool University Hospital on 9 August 2014. A second charge concerns his failure to appear at Liverpool Crown Court on 5 November 2014. The man was arrested following a European Arrest Warrant issued by British authorities on 7 October 2016. Counsel for the Minister for Justice and Equality argued that the man had no reasonable excuse for missing the court date and that there were no grounds to refuse surrender. Defence counsel raised concerns about the man's significant heart problems and the risk to his health if incarcerated in the UK.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Philip McKevitt, 62, of Aghaboys, Mount Pleasant, Dundalk, pleaded not guilty to possessing explosive substances. The prosecution alleges that after Gardaí entered his shed on 22 May 2010, they found an improvised trailer with two gas cylinders adapted to cause an explosion. The trial will resume tomorrow before Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and James Faughnan presiding.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Philip McKevitt, aged 62, pleaded not guilty to possessing explosive substances after Gardaí discovered a trailer and two gas cylinders in his shed in Louth on 22 May 2010. The prosecution argued that the trailer, which advertised the website 'flogthelot.ie', had been adapted to conceal a bomb. Detective Garda Shane Curran presented evidence that the cylinders had been cut and strapped to a wooden frame within the trailer, and that a 26‑kg quantity of glucose and a 377‑metre roll of green‑spray‑painted wire were also found. Curran identified the wire as a command wire typically used to detonate improvised explosive devices from a distance. Sergeant Brendan Keane noted the discovery of a green‑spray‑painted cable in the shed's boot, describing it as a "significant find." The trial was scheduled to resume on Monday.
Jamie Shorthall, a 30‑year‑old plumber from Monkstown Farm, Dún Laoghaire, carried out an armed raid on an Applegreen petrol station in Dublin on 17 June 2015 to pay off drug and gambling debts. He wore a white boiler suit and a black balaclava, pointed a realistic replica of a Glock pistol at shop worker Phil Collins, and demanded the cash tills be opened. Collins, frightened, handed over €1,100. Shorthall escaped on a push bike left outside the shop. He pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of an offensive weapon. The court noted his 20 prior convictions, including burglary, criminal damage and theft, and that he had relapsed into cocaine and gambling problems. His father had previously paid up to €14,000 to menacing individuals demanding money for his son's debts. A psychological report said Shorthall was under duress and threatened with harm to his family. Judge John Aylmer adjourned sentencing to the following Monday.
Liam Campbell, aged 54, was arrested in Upper Faughart, Dundalk, on a European Arrest Warrant issued by Lithuanian authorities for alleged terrorism and weapons trafficking. The warrant, endorsed by the High Court, accuses him of organising smuggling operations to supply the RIRA between late 2006 and early 2007, including arranging illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, explosives and related substances. Detective Sergeant Jim Kirwan presented the warrant and a photograph to Campbell, who confirmed the identity. Campbell was taken to Dundalk Garda station and processed as an arrested person. Counsel for the State, Ronan Kennedy BL, raised an objection to bail. Justice Aileen Donnelly confirmed the identity of the accused, remanded him in custody until Thursday, 8 December, when a bail application is expected, and informed him of his rights to surrender and legal advice. Brian Gageby BL represented Campbell in court.
In a court hearing on 28 November 2016, Justice Aileen Donnelly was informed that Raymond O'Neill, 37, who is wanted in Northern Ireland for the murder and arson connected with the death of Jennifer Dornan, 30, remains in critical condition in prison. Dornan was found stabbed to death in her burning house in Hazel View, west Belfast, in August 2015. O'Neill was arrested in Dublin in February on a European Arrest Warrant and had previously been held in a Midlands prison where he overdosed on drugs, leading to an adjournment of an extradition hearing at the High Court. The court was told that O'Neill could not attend in person due to health reasons, and his solicitor, Caroline Cummings BL, confirmed his critical state but had not received any medical evidence. Judge Donnelly expressed frustration at the lack of a medical report, which she had ordered to assess O'Neill's capacity to give instructions.
A 16‑year‑old, who cannot be named, admitted stabbing 21‑year‑old Lorcan O'Reilly to death after a Halloween bonfire. At an arraignment in the Central Criminal Court, the accused pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The plea was accepted by the prosecution. The boy was 14 when the killing occurred.
A 23‑year‑old Dublin man, Donal O Coisdealbha of Abbeyfield, Killester, pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court to membership in the dissident republican terrorist organisation known as the Irish Republican Army (IRA) or Oglaigh na hÉireann. He was charged with belonging to an unlawful organisation on 13 May 2015 and was remanded in custody pending sentencing on 28 November.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, 25‑year‑old Ryan Glennon of Macken Villas, Dublin, pleaded not guilty to alleged IRA membership. Prosecutor Tara Burns SC presented evidence mainly from Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan, who claimed, based on confidential information, that Glennon was an IRA member. Burns cited Glennon's failure to answer questions during Garda interviews and alleged forensic links: fingerprints on a handcart and DNA in gloves from a kitchen, alongside a large array of explosive materials found in a house in Courttown on 13 May 2015. Glennon's defence, led by Hugh Hartnett SC, challenged the reliance on opinion evidence and the absence of any prior statements from a chief superintendent, arguing that the evidence was "bare opinion" and that no explosives were found on the day Glennon was observed. Judge Robert Eagar, with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and James Faughnan, postponed the verdict until Friday afternoon.
James Joseph Cassidy, aged 53, from Tullycollive in Castleblaney, County Monaghan, has been granted bail at the Special Criminal Court following his charge with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. He was charged on 21 September this year. The State consented to his release, and he was ordered to sign on twice daily at Castleblaney garda station and observe a night-time curfew between 11pm and 7am. Mr Cassidy must not apply for travel documents, leave the jurisdiction or travel to Northern Ireland. He is also prohibited from engaging in political activity, associating with persons convicted or charged at the Special Criminal Court, and contacting proposed prosecution witnesses. Released on his own bond of €5,000, the case was remanded until 13 December for mention.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 8 November 2016, DNA evidence linked Ryan Glennon, a 25‑year‑old of Macken Villas, Dublin, to a pair of gloves seized from a Courttown house in Wexford. Glennon, who pleaded not guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), was alleged by the prosecution to have been connected to the property where a large amount of explosives had been found. Forensic scientist Dr. Hilary Clarke compared Glennon's DNA profile to a sample taken from the gloves and found that elements of his profile could not be excluded as a major contributor. The glove sample contained DNA from two main contributors: Glennon and another man. Dr. Clarke acknowledged the possibility of DNA transfer between individuals. The prosecution closed its case, and the trial was scheduled to continue with closing speeches from both sides.
Paul Mason, 28, of Ballygarra Park, Garristown, pleaded guilty this morning in the Special Criminal Court to assault causing harm to Keith Lynch on 16 February 2014 at The Saltings, Annagassan, Co Louth, contrary to the Non‑Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Martin Nolan and Cormac Dunne, adjourned sentencing to 25 November pending a victim impact report. Mason remains in custody and was remanded by Justice Hunt until the sentencing hearing.
In a High Court hearing on 4 November 2016, a father was granted permission to challenge the level of access and information he receives about his 12‑year‑old son who is in care. The father, who is separated from the mother, claims the son has absconded from several placements and has been found wandering the streets with "undesirables". He also alleges the son has a history of self‑harm and that the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) has failed to inform him when the boy was missing. The father seeks orders directing Tusla to disclose the son's location, to provide psychological assessment, and to give him copies of case records. He also requests immediate access for himself and his solicitor to speak privately with the boy. The case will be heard next month after a brief hearing where Tusla opposed the application and argued the matter should be before the District Court that originally made the care orders.
In a High Court decision dated 28 October 2016, Justice Aileen Donnelly ruled that Britain's exit from the EU does not provide a basis for appealing extradition orders. She upheld the presumption that the UK will comply with the 2002 Framework Decision on European Arrest Warrants, stating that no evidence had been presented to contradict this. The judgment concerned two individuals: Robert Donovan, a 57‑year‑old London‑born man with a life sentence for a 1974 murder, and an unnamed 78‑year‑old Irishman facing ten child‑sex‑assault charges. Donnelly rejected both men's applications for certificates to appeal, ordered their surrender to UK authorities within 25 days, and scheduled a costs hearing for the unnamed respondent on 14 November. The decision reaffirmed that the UK's obligations under the Framework Decision remain in force despite its withdrawal from the EU.
During a Special Criminal Court hearing, Ryan Glennon, 25, of Dublin, pleaded not guilty to IRA membership. The prosecution presented evidence that a house in Courttown, Co. Wexford contained a large quantity of explosives linked to Glennon. Detective Garda Shane Curran examined items found on 13 May 2015, including a green water butt holding four improvised steel rockets, 75 g of Semtex, 4.8 kg of pyrotechnic powder, electric switches, detonators, battery clips, and circuit boards, all deemed components for an improvised explosive device. In a kitchen crate, fertilizer, gardening gloves, and a steel tube with holes were also found, again suggested for I.E.D. construction. Sergeant Eamon Ryan reported seeing Glennon and two others at Violet Hill park on 14 March 2015, an unusual gathering. The trial was set to resume on Tuesday morning.
A 52-year-old man from Cork will stand trial at the Special Criminal Court in 2017 on charges relating to membership of an unlawful organisation and possession of an explosive substance. Martin McHale, of Blackwater Grove, Togher, is alleged to have been a member of the Irish Republican Army on November 1st, 2013. He is also charged with possessing an explosive substance—ten sealed bags containing ammonium nitrate and calcium carbonate—discovered at Mall Road, Tirkeenan, County Monaghan, on the same date. The Special Criminal Court set a trial date of February 13th, 2017, with proceedings expected to span two weeks. McHale was remanded to face trial on the charges brought against him.
Two men, Conor Hughes (38) and Darren Fox (26), are set to be tried at the Special Criminal Court on firearms offences on 11 January next year. They are charged with unlawful possession of a Winchester 12‑gauge sawn‑off double‑barrel shotgun and two 12‑gauge cartridges at Kyletaun, Rathkeale, County Limerick on 31 October 2015. The trial is expected to last two weeks. A third man, Jamie Smithers (36), will be tried on charges of IRA membership on 25 January, also expected to last two weeks.
Paul Wells, 48, of Barnamore Park, Finglas, Dublin, is charged with the murder of 33‑year‑old Kenneth O'Brien, whose dismembered body was found in a suitcase in a canal. Justice Patrick McCarthy of the Central Criminal Court set the trial date for Wells for 2 October 2017.
In September 2015, Neven Vukovic, a 40‑year‑old Croatian man, attacked his ex‑partner Fionnuala Ní Mhartín at her Dublin home. After the couple had split two days earlier, Vukovic entered the house, attempted to hug her, and when she refused, he slapped her on the head and then repeatedly punched and kicked her. The assault left her with a fractured eye socket and other injuries. Vukovic later sent harassing text and Facebook messages, including threats, for weeks. Gardaí arrested him and he pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He was charged with assault and harassment, placed on bail with strict conditions, and a sentencing hearing was adjourned to April. He has since attended anger‑management and counselling courses.
A 65-year-old man from Drumlish in County Longford has pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of an explosive substance at Longford railway station car park on 16 May 2011. The prosecution alleges he placed an improvised explosive device in the baggage compartment of a Dublin-bound passenger bus on the eve of a State visit. He is also charged with four offences under the Criminal Law Act 1976, relating to false reports made to gardaí on separate dates claiming bombs were placed at various locations including Busáras, Sinn Féin headquarters, Dublin Castle, and Cork airport. Before the Special Criminal Court, defence counsel submitted that evidence for the explosives charge was "highly doubtful" and argued there was no connection between the accused and the device found on the bus. Prosecution counsel contended the charges must be viewed together. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with two other judges, indicated the court would deliberate on the defence application to have the charge dismissed. The trial resumes the following morning.
Donal Billings, aged 65, of St Bridget's Court, Drumlish, County Longford, has pleaded not guilty to five charges before the Special Criminal Court. He is accused of unlawful possession of an explosive substance at Longford railway station car park on May 16th, 2011, and of making four false reports under the Criminal Law Act 1976 alleging bombs at multiple locations during the state visit of Queen Elizabeth in May 2011. An improvised explosive device was discovered on a Dublin-bound passenger bus during the visit. Sergeant Adrian O'Neill told the court that during gardai interviews, Mr Billings denied being at the railway station that evening, stating he had driven to Mullingar to meet his brother. He also disputed allegations regarding a SIM card found after his arrest in a Longford supermarket car park on May 20th, claiming he had found a purse containing it. The court heard Mr Billings expressed political objections to the British monarch's association with Northern Ireland security forces, though he denied involvement in any disruption. He characterised the allegations as "nonsense".
The High Court ordered the extradition of Robert Donovan, a 57‑year‑old convicted murderer, to the United Kingdom. Donovan had been serving a life sentence for the 1974 murder of Mr. Thornley on a London bridge and had been temporarily released from a UK prison in June 2010 with a duty to return by 19.30 hours. He failed to return, was considered unlawfully at large, and was believed to be residing in Waterford. Gardai arrested him on the basis of a European Arrest Warrant issued by UK authorities in November 2014. The judge, Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly, found no basis for concern that his rights would be violated if surrendered and dismissed the claim that the UK's exit from the EU posed a threat to his ECHR rights. Donovan was remanded in custody until the expected surrender date of 21 October.
The High Court dismissed a bid to halt a rape trial for a man in his sixties accused of raping a seven‑year‑old girl in a field near her home over 40 years ago. The man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, denies the allegation. He had previously filed a challenge to prevent his trial at the Central Criminal Court, claiming that three key witnesses had died and that there was a real risk of an unfair trial. The Director of Public Prosecutions opposed the application, arguing the case should proceed. Mr Justice Paul McDermott ruled that the man had not established any grounds to discontinue the prosecution and cleared the way for the trial to continue. The judge noted that the prosecution intends to proceed on the basis that the single charge represents multiple alleged rapes over a five‑month period in the early 1970s.
A 65-year-old man from Drumlish in County Longford has pleaded not guilty to charges of making false bomb threat reports during Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Ireland in May 2011. Donal Billings faces four counts under the Criminal Law Act relating to alleged threats made on three separate dates, and one count of unlawful possession of an explosive substance. The Special Criminal Court in Dublin heard evidence concerning a mobile phone number allegedly used to make calls to Longford garda station threatening attacks on locations including Dublin Castle and Cork Airport. An O2 shop employee testified that a customer purchased a SIM card on 16 May using the disputed phone number, providing the name Paul Brennan. CCTV footage from the shopping centre was examined by gardaí to track the individual's movements. The trial continues.
Three Dublin men—Jonathan Hawthorn, 44, of Ballintyre Downs; James Geraghty, 60, of Dolphin House; and Donal O'Ceallaigh, 32, of Beach Road—were released on bail by the Special Criminal Court after being charged on 14 September with membership of the Irish Republican Army. The State, represented by Solicitor Michael O'Donovan, consented to the bail applications. Conditions include surrendering passports, obeying a nightly curfew from 11 pm to 7 am, staying within the jurisdiction, avoiding travel to Northern Ireland, refraining from attending republican commemorations or gatherings, not associating with each other or with anyone charged or convicted of a scheduled offence, not contacting proposed prosecution witnesses, and providing a phone number to the Gardaí. Geraghty and Hawthorn must sign daily at Kevin St Garda Station; O'Ceallaigh at Ballyfermot Garda Station. All three were released on independent sureties (€15,000 for O'Ceallaigh and Hawthorn, €6,000 for Geraghty).
Three Dublin men were brought before the Special Criminal Court on 16 September 2016, charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Jonathan Hawthorn, aged 44, of Ballintyre Downs, Ballinteer, was arrested on Irishtown Road the previous evening; Detective Garda Rory Geelon testified that he was informed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) that he would be charged with IRA membership and that Hawthorn made no reply to caution. Donal O Ceallaigh, aged 32, of Beach Road, Sandymount, was similarly arrested on Irishtown Road; Detective Sergeant Eamon Hoey gave evidence that he was informed of the DPP's direction and also made no reply to caution. James Geraghty, aged 60, of Dolphin House, Dolphin's Barn, was arrested on Kevin Street; Detective Sergeant Alan McDevitt testified that Geraghty replied, "I'm not a member of any group," when informed of the DPP's direction.