Ionut Potop, a 26‑year‑old Romanian, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Pakistani shop employee Tariq Mohammed on 4 June 2014. Potop head‑butted and bit Mohammed, shouting "F**k off, you Paki bastard" twice. The victim suffered nose, torso and wrist injuries, requiring hospital treatment. Judge Patrick McCartan warned Potop that failure to pay €3,000 within six months would result in prison. Potop, remanded on continuing bail, later paid the amount and was dismissed under the Probation of Offenders Act. The court noted Potop's lack of prior convictions and his remorse, and the judge exercised leniency. The case involved a single assault charge, with no further convictions reported. The incident occurred at a Londis shop on Westmoreland Street, Dublin.
Michael Finlay, 36, was granted temporary bail by the Special Criminal Court from 24 to 31 December. He faces charges of IRA membership and unlawful possession of a 9x18mm Makarov pistol and ammunition. The court imposed conditions including a daily curfew, daily sign‑in at Crumlin Garda Station, surrender of his passport, prohibition from associating with convicted or charged persons, and restriction on contacting witnesses. He must also provide a mobile number and is secured by a €6,000 surety.
The Special Criminal Court has reserved judgment in the trial of Thomas Murphy, 66, of Ballybinaby, Co Louth, who is charged with alleged tax evasion. Mr Murphy, who pleaded not guilty to nine charges, is accused of failing to furnish returns of income, profits, or gains to the Collector General or Inspector of Taxes for the years 1996/97 to 2004. The prosecution, acting on a Criminal Assets Bureau investigation, alleges that despite conducting significant cattle and land dealings and receiving farming grants, he made no tax returns. In his closing speech, defence counsel John Kearney QC argued that reasonable doubt exists regarding who was the chargeable person, asserting that Mr Murphy's brother, Patrick, managed the farming activities. Kearney criticised the Revenue Officer's evidence as a superficial, face-value analysis that presumed Thomas Murphy signed documents without considering the alternate theory of Patrick Murphy's involvement. The defence also cited handwriting expert evidence suggesting Thomas Murphy did not sign certain documents. Presiding Judge Paul Butler, alongside Judges John O'Hagan and Ann Ryan, indicated the court may deliver its verdict on December 17th, though he noted it was not certain. Mr Justice Butler remanded Mr Murphy on continuing bail until that date.
The Special Criminal Court has heard the defence closing speech in the trial of Thomas Murphy, 66, of Ballybinaby, Co Louth. The defendant, a prominent republican, has pleaded not guilty to nine charges alleging that he failed to furnish a return of his income, profits or gains to the Collector General or the Inspector of Taxes for the years 1996/97 to 2004. Prosecutors, acting on a Criminal Assets Bureau investigation, allege that despite conducting significant cattle and land dealings and receiving farming grants, Murphy made no returns to revenue. Defence counsel John Kearney QC argued that Murphy's brother, Patrick, managed the farming activities and controlled the relevant bank accounts. Kearney contended that the prosecution cannot prove Murphy personally attended livestock marts or meat factories, nor that he was the chargeable person in charge of the farm. He further submitted that the forensic accountant's evidence was discredited by unanalysed materials, including Patrick Murphy's bank account. The defence requested the court to find reasonable doubt regarding the viability of the prosecution's evidence. The matter is currently at the pre-trial stage, with the closing speech expected to conclude the following day.
In a 2014 incident at Show Nightclub in Tallaght, Alan Gilsenan, aged 26, struck Adam Morris, breaking his jaw and causing a week of hospital treatment and surgery with permanent metal plates. Gilsenan pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The prosecution noted that Morris had arrived at the club at 12 am, was speaking with friends, and was struck by Gilsenan, who was later identified through publicity photographs of nightclub visitors. Gilsenan, who has a few prior minor traffic convictions, was undergoing anger‑management therapy and had written a remorse letter to Morris. Judge Martin Nolan, considering Gilsenan's guilty plea, cooperation with Gardaí and good record, suspended a three‑year jail term. He ordered Gilsenan to pay €7,500 to Morris and to post a €100 bond to keep the peace for three years, with the payment due within 18 months.
During the second day of the Special Criminal Court hearing, Thomas "Slab" Murphy (66) pleaded not guilty to nine tax‑evasion charges covering 1996/97 to 2004. The prosecution alleges that, although he was involved in cattle and land dealings and received farming grants, he failed to file income, profit or gain returns to the Collector General or Inspector of Taxes. The defence, led by John Kearney QC, argues reasonable doubt exists over whether Thomas Murphy was the chargeable person. Kearney suggests his brother Patrick Murphy, who managed the cattle herd and farming activities, may have been the actual farmer and the one who applied for the herd number in 1991. He also questions whether Thomas Murphy lived in Ballybinaby, noting he was not present during the 2006 CAB search. The trial will resume on Tuesday for the defence's closing speech.
In a hearing before the Central Criminal Court, grieving mother Audrey Mahon, aged 44, pleaded with Justice Margaret Heneghan for her husband David Mahon's permission to travel to Portugal with her for two weeks. David Mahon, also 44, is charged with the murder of his 23‑year‑old son, Dean Fitzpatrick, who was killed on 26 May 2013 at Northern Cross on Dublin's Malahide Road. The trial is scheduled to begin in April 2016. Mahon's wife, who has suffered mental health problems since her daughter Amy disappeared in Spain eight years ago, said a psychiatrist had recommended a trip to Portugal to rest and relax. She explained that she has been drinking heavily and self‑harming while searching for Amy, and that she is on anti‑depressants, Xanax, and sleeping tablets. She also has chronic liver disease.
Aisha Ahmed, 49, also known as Gloria Anwulika Aro, was arrested in Tallaght, Dublin, under a European Arrest Warrant issued by Italy. The warrant accuses her of acting as promoter, leader and organiser of an association that imported, sold, distributed and traded large quantities of cocaine in Italy between September 1999 and June 2000. She was sentenced in absentia to 20 years' imprisonment. At her bail hearing, Ahmed denied being known as Aisha Ahmed or by the alias Linda, and denied using a 1965 birth date, although she had supplied an Irish passport with a December 1967 birth date. Her counsel, John Noonan BL, argued that she had not been notified of a scheduled trial and that the Italian authorities had released her without further proceedings. The Irish judge, Aileen Donnelly, will decide whether to surrender her to Italy. The case remains pending.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 2 December 2015, Séamus McGrane, 60, of Little Road, Domiskin, Co. Louth, was denied bail. McGrane faces charges of directing the activities of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and of membership in the IRA, both offences committed between 23 December 2009 and 13 May 2015. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Butler with Judges John O'Hagan and Anne Ryan, rejected both his application and that of his solicitor, Tony McGillicuddy BL, for temporary bail.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 2 December 2015, a woman in her 20s pleaded guilty to abducting a two‑year‑old child from an early years school in south County Dublin on 22 September. The offence contravened section 17 of the Non‑fatal Offences against the Persons Act, 1997. The court noted the defendant's schizophrenia diagnosis and poly‑substance abuse history, but also that her condition had markedly improved following treatment at the Central Mental Hospital. Judge Martin Nolan released her on bail under strict conditions: she must avoid crèches, schools and any places where children gather, live at her mother's home in south Dublin, remain sober, observe a curfew from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., and sign in daily at a Garda station. The court set a sentencing date for the following Tuesday, while the prosecution expressed concern that the defendant might commit further offences.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Thomas Murphy, 66, of Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth, has heard expert evidence regarding documents allegedly signed in his name. Murphy, who has pleaded not guilty to nine charges alleging he failed to furnish income returns to the Collector General or Inspector of Taxes for the years 1996/97 to 2004, is being prosecuted following a Criminal Assets Bureau investigation. The prosecution alleges that despite conducting significant cattle and land dealings and receiving farming grants, Murphy made no returns to revenue. Defence witness and handwriting expert Stephen Cosslett testified that his first report found "strong evidence" that Murphy did not sign a number of questioned documents. He further stated there was "conclusive evidence" that three documents from 2007 to 2009 were signed by Patrick Murphy, the accused's brother. Regarding a second report examining cheques, Cosslett noted "limited evidence" that Murphy did not sign the reverse of the cheques, though he acknowledged the examination circumstances were "not ideal" as a magnifying glass was used instead of a microscope. Under cross-examination, Cosslett agreed it was "more than likely" Murphy signed certain land rental declarations and EU Area Aid Applications from 1994 to 2004. The defence has closed its case, and closing speeches are expected to be heard tomorrow.
The extradition case of James Anthony Oliver Albert Corry, 46, suspected of involvement in a 1996 Provisional IRA mortar attack on a British army barracks in Osnabruck, Germany, was adjourned by Justice Aileen Donnelly until 11 January. Corry was arrested in Killorglin, Co Kerry, on a European Arrest Warrant issued by German authorities. His counsel, Anne‑Marie Lawlor BL, requested time to submit affidavits focusing on Corry's personal circumstances, while Minister for Justice Ronan Kennedy BL asked for time to review the grounds advanced. Corry remains remanded on continuing bail.
A 40‑year‑old man, Terence Connors of Drumcairn Drive, Tallaght, is accused of murdering Peter Conroy in the Palmerstown area of Dublin on 9 June 2015. The Central Criminal Court has set the trial for 8 May 2017.
Jim Smyth, a 43-year-old man from County Monaghan, appeared at an out-of-hours sitting of the Special Criminal Court in Dublin to face charges related to alleged dissident republican activity. He was arrested by the Special Detective Unit on Main Street, Carrickmacross, outside the local garda station, as part of ongoing investigations. The court heard that Mr Smyth was charged with membership of an unlawful organization, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, on November 25th, 2015. Detective Garda Colm Finnerty testified that he arrested Mr Smyth under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, explaining the reason for the arrest and cautioning him, to which Mr Smyth made no reply. The accused was subsequently detained in Carrickmacross Garda Station before being transported to the Special Criminal Court, where he was shown the charge sheet without responding. Defense counsel Breffni Gordon BL noted that Mr Smyth had been in custody since the previous Wednesday night. Presiding judge Mr Justice Paul Butler, sitting with Judge John O'Hagan and Judge William Hamill, remanded Mr Smyth in custody until Wednesday morning, when a bail application is expected to be heard. The matter remains at the pretrial stage, with no plea entered or finding made.
A High Court judge has dismissed an action by senior HSE executive Helen Earley challenging her temporary reassignment during investigations into mental health services in County Roscommon. Mr Justice Tony O'Connor ruled that the HSE was entitled to temporarily redeploy Ms Earley, Area Director of Nursing for the Galway/Roscommon Mental Health Service, while reviews were conducted into allegations of sexual abuse and alleged failures of reporting at HSE mental health facilities in the county. Ms Earley had sought to remain in her position, fearing reputational damage. The judge found no evidence of bad faith or conspiracy and rejected her claim that the transfer was motivated by union concerns. However, Mr Justice O'Connor stated that mental health services in Roscommon are "in a crisis situation," citing reports of poor governance, significant relationship difficulties, and dysfunctional provision of care. He was critical of Ms Earley's conduct following notification of the reassignment, describing her as overly focused on asserting her rights while neglecting her responsibility for good governance during a time of serious service concerns.
David Mahon, 44, charged with murdering 23‑year‑old Dean Fitzpatrick on 26 May 2013, was denied a bail variation that would have let him travel to Spain for two weeks. He had previously been allowed to travel in September, but the court refused the new request. The judge cited concerns from Detective Sergeant Eddie Carroll that Mahon is a flight risk, especially as his trial is set to begin in April 2016. Mahon may apply again for bail.
A 30‑year‑old man named Damien Metcalfe appeared at an out‑of‑hours sitting of the Special Criminal Court in Dublin on 26 November 2015. He was charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Metcalfe was arrested the previous day by the Special Detective Unit during investigations into dissident republican activity. He was taken to Irishtown Garda Station and then to the court, where he was cautioned and informed of the charge. The judge remanded him in custody until the following Tuesday.
Brian Kenna, a 54‑year‑old man from Crumlin Park, Crumlin, appeared before the Special Criminal Court on a Sunday hearing. He was charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), an unlawful organisation, following his arrest by the Special Detective Unit on 21 November 2015 in the car‑park of Portlaoise Garda Station at 12:08 pm. Detective Sergeant Padraig Boyce explained the arrest to Kenna in ordinary language and warned him. Kenna, wearing a black jumper, did not stand when the charge was read. The State Solicitor, Ms Una Duggan, sought a remand in custody of at least 48 hours. Kenna's counsel, Mr Dean Kelly BL, requested a hearing next Thursday and a bail application, and confirmed a statement of means had been submitted for legal aid. Judge Paul Butler, with Judges William Hamill and Cormac Dunne, remanded Kenna in custody, allowing him to apply for bail until 26 November.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, 27‑year‑old Dean Moran of Emmet Square, Blackrock, pleaded guilty to possession of a realistic imitation firearm after threatening Irish Water workers with a plastic handgun model hidden in his tracksuit. The court found Moran had deliberately frightened the workers, who were installing water meters nearby, and had shouted threats such as "If you come near my house you will get this." Judge Martin Nolan, noting Moran's guilty plea and the seriousness of the threat, imposed a suspended sentence of two and a half years. The sentence was suspended, and Moran was ordered to raise €1,000 for a charity chosen by Garda Gordon Woulfe within 12 months. No custodial term was imposed, and the case was closed with the suspended sentence and community service requirement.
The trial of Thomas Murphy, 66, of Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth, at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin has been adjourned until Friday. The defence applied for the postponement to furnish a report from a handwriting expert. Mr Murphy, a prominent republican, has pleaded not guilty to nine charges alleging that he failed to furnish a return of his income, profits or gains, or the source of such income, to the Collector General or the Inspector of Taxes for the years 1996/97 to 2004. The prosecution alleges that despite conducting significant dealings in cattle and land and receiving farming grants from the Department of Agriculture, Mr Murphy failed to make any returns to revenue. The defence contends that Mr Murphy's brother managed the accused man's cattle herd and farming activities. The case is being prosecuted on foot of an investigation by the Criminal Assets Bureau. As the matter was adjourned, it has not been concluded or finalised.
The trial of Stephen Cahoon, 43, of Harvey Street, Derry, continues with legal argument. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jean Teresa Quigley, 30, who was found dead at Cornshell Fields on 26 July 2008. The court will resume with evidence tomorrow.
The High Court has opened an inquiry into the legality of the detention of professional boxer Jamie Kavanagh, who is charged with violent disorder following his father's funeral in Dublin last year. The alleged incident occurred outside a Hotel at Harcourt Street in Dublin city‑centre on 23 September 2014 when it is alleged door staff at a hotel allegedly refused entry to a group of people including Mr Kavanagh. The 25‑year‑old lightweight, from Mourne Road, Drimnagh, in Dublin but who is now living in London, had been in Ireland for a fight that took place last Saturday. He was arrested at Dublin Airport on Monday evening before he was due to return to London. Mr Kavanagh appeared before Dublin District Court on Tuesday. He was refused bail by Judge Michael Walsh.
The High Court adjourned the extradition hearing of James Anthony Oliver Albert Corry, a 46‑year‑old from Killorglin, for three weeks to allow the State to raise objections. Corry was arrested last month on a European Arrest Warrant issued by German authorities for his suspected involvement in a 1996 Provisional IRA mortar attack on a British army barracks in Osnabruck, where three mortar shells were fired. He is currently on bail and has agreed to attend court whenever his case is mentioned. An affidavit detailing his circumstances will be compiled before the next hearing.
Farhad Khorang, 38, received a 21‑month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to assaulting his wife on 18 November 2014. The incident involved Khorang punching and biting his wife, who was later locked in their apartment for four days before escaping to a refuge. Garda Neil Canny reported that the woman later wished to drop the assault allegation and returned to Khorang. The Director of Public Prosecutions pursued the case despite her recantation. Khorang, of Kurdish‑Iranian origin and naturalised Irish, had no prior convictions. A passerby alerted Gardaí to a woman on a balcony seeking help; translations from French to English allowed Gardaí to break down the door. The woman, with bruises and a bite mark on her knee, testified that she and her baby had been locked in the premises overnight. The judge described the attack as "reprehensible" but found no useful purpose in imprisoning Khorang, noting it would be his first and last chance.
The Special Criminal Court in Dublin formally disposed of an IRA membership charge against Adrian Crevan Mackin, who killed Garda Tony Golden and later committed suicide. The court marked Mackin's indictment as "accused deceased" and ordered the return of his €100 bail and €5,000 independent surety. Mackin, 25, had been complying with bail conditions when he shot Garda Golden and seriously injured his partner Siobhan Phillips at their home in Omeath, Co. Louth. His counsel, Tony McGillicuddy BL, requested the hearing be treated as a trial day, which the judge agreed to.
The High Court heard an update in the extradition proceedings concerning Eric Eoin Marques, a 30-year-old Dublin resident with an address at Mountjoy Square. Marques is alleged to be the owner and administrator of an anonymous hosting site known as Freedom Hosting, and US authorities claim he is the largest facilitator of child pornography in the world. He faces charges relating to conspiring to distribute and advertise child pornography, as well as advertising and distributing such material. The State seeks to surrender him to US authorities, while Marques is seeking a judicial review of the Director of Public Prosecutions' decision not to prosecute him in Ireland. During the hearing, Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly referenced a letter written to her by a US prisoner regarding the treatment of mentally ill inmates in American prisons. Although Marques' lawyers had previously raised concerns about the risk of sexual violence in US prisons, the judge stated that her judgment would not be influenced by the inmate's letter. However, she allowed legal representatives the opportunity to make submissions relating to the letter's contents. The matter was adjourned until December 16th, with the case to be mentioned again next week. Marques remains in custody, having been remanded after his arrest in August 2013, when bail was refused due to concerns he represented a flight risk and might interfere with evidence.
In a High Court challenge, a man accused of fathering children with his daughters seeks legal costs that were denied by District Court judges in childcare proceedings. The case stems from allegations by one daughter that he is the father of her child, and he is also accused of fathering two other children with two other daughters. The man disputes the allegations. The District Court refused to grant him legal costs, citing that he should have acted earlier and providing no reasons in one instance. He argues the refusals breach his rights to fair procedures and court access, and that the complexity of the paternity claims warrants cost coverage. Represented by John Rogers SC, he requests the High Court to quash the District Court decisions and declare that awarding him costs is in the best interests of the children in care. Mr Justice Richard Humphreys allowed the challenge to proceed and set a January hearing.
Terrence Mulhall, 39, a crack cocaine addict, was remanded in custody pending sentencing in January after robbing five pharmacies near his home in Finglas, Dublin. He was already on bail for one robbery when he carried out the other four, stealing €2,135 from the tills by threatening staff with scissors, a screwdriver or a blade. Mulhall pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery of Hickey's Pharmacy on December 19, 2014, Llyods Pharmacy, and Hickey's Pharmacy on Main Street on March 11 and April 1, 2015. Two additional robbery charges were considered. He was first arrested after the first robbery when fingerprints from a perfume bottle and CCTV footage linked him to the crime; his home was searched and the clothes he wore during the robbery were found in his bedroom. Mulhall made full admissions and was released on bail, then committed the next four robberies within three weeks.
During the Special Criminal Court trial of Thomas "Slab" Murphy, a forensic accountant from the Criminal Assets Bureau testified that a ledger seized from a shed on the Northern Ireland border is a record of Murphy's expenditure. The accountant, who cannot be named, had previously examined the ledger, cheques and cheque books seized in 2006. He described the ledger as "not the normal type of records one would encounter" and referred to it as the "loan book." The accountant cross‑referenced entries with a bank account opened in Murphy's name and agreed that an entry labelled "milk bill" was a payment of a milk bill, not a loan of milk. He denied that the ledger recorded loans from Patrick Murphy to Thomas Murphy and rejected the suggestion that the bank account was used for such loans. The trial will resume on Tuesday. Thomas Murphy pleaded not guilty.
Eamon McNamee, 34, of Larkfield Square, Lucan, County Dublin, was granted bail at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin. He is charged with possession of a firearm with the intent to commit an indictable offence, namely assault causing harm, allegedly at Fairgreen, Saggart, Co Dublin on January 19th, 2013. The three-judge court approved his application for bail, releasing him on his own bond of €1,000 and an independent surety of €20,000. McNamee must surrender his passport and refrain from travelling outside Ireland or to Northern Ireland. He is required to sign on daily at Lucan garda station between 9am and 9pm and observe a curfew from 12am to 7am. Additionally, he must not associate with anyone convicted or charged with a scheduled offence, maintain good behaviour, and provide a mobile phone number to gardai. The matter remains at the pre-trial stage, with the charges alleged and contested.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, the charge of IRA membership against Adrian Crevan Mackin, who killed Garda Tony Golden and wounded his partner before taking his own life, was struck out. Prosecutor Michael O'Donovan instructed the court to withdraw the single charge. Mackin, 25, had been granted bail on a €100 bond with a €5,000 surety and was complying with bail conditions at the time of the murder. Judge Paul Butler noted that the deceased could not defend himself against bail breach allegations, and the matter was scheduled for re‑mention on November 5th.
A 38‑year‑old man named Noor Khan, who was wanted in Northern Ireland for alleged fraud offences, appeared before the High Court in Dublin on 19 October 2015. He was arrested by Gardaí at the British Embassy on Merrion Road under a European Arrest Warrant issued by the UK on 15 October 2015 and endorsed by Justice Aileen Donnelly. Sergeant Sean Fallon, on duty at the embassy, identified Khan, arrested him at 2.25 pm, cautioned him and presented the original warrant. Khan was taken to Donnybrook Garda Station, processed as an arrested person, and later collected a passport from the embassy. The State's counsel, Ms Anne‑Marie Lawlor, requested that Khan be remanded in custody until 3 November 2015. Judge Hunt agreed, stating it was appropriate to keep Khan in custody for Section 16 purposes until that date, and instructed the respondent's counsel to pursue bail thereafter.
The trial of Leroy Roche, accused of making threats to kill, was postponed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court because a key Garda witness had departed for Spain. The prosecution and defence were prepared to proceed, but the Director of Public Prosecutions informed Judge Patricia Ryan that the witness had left the jurisdiction the previous night. Judge Ryan questioned Detective Garda Daniel Tracy, who explained that the Garda had flown to Spain to attend a show and would return the following week. The court adjourned the case to Friday, 23 October, requiring the absent Garda to appear and explain his absence.
James Anthony Oliver Albert Corry, 46, was arrested in Killorglin, Co Kerry, on a European Arrest Warrant issued by German authorities for alleged involvement in a 1996 Provisional IRA mortar attack on a British army barracks in Osnabruck, Germany, in which three mortar shells were fired. The High Court granted him bail on conditions set by the Minister of Justice and Equality and the court. Conditions include an independent surety of €3,000, residence at a specified address, signing on at a local Garda station, and compliance with standard bail terms. He must not apply for a passport or travel documents, remain within the jurisdiction, maintain good behaviour, keep the peace, and sign on three days per week. The court will closely monitor compliance, and any breach will be brought before the court. Corry is due to appear again on 10 November.
A 46‑year‑old Belfast man, James Anthony Oliver Albert Corry, appeared before the High Court in Dublin on the day of a European Arrest Warrant issued by German authorities. Corry was arrested in Killorglin, Co Kerry, at about 9 a.m. by Detective Sergeant Seán Fallon, who identified him and showed him the warrant. Corry confirmed his name, birth date (December 1968) and birthplace (Belfast) and admitted a tattoo of a 'J' on his right arm. The warrant seeks his extradition for terrorism‑type offences related to a 1996 Provisional IRA mortar attack on a British army barracks in Osnabruck, Germany, in which three mortar shells were fired. Justice Aileen Donnelly confirmed the identity of the person before the court and remanded Corry in custody until a bail application is expected on Tuesday. The State's counsel noted that a surety would be required if bail were granted.
In September 2015 the High Court in Dublin ordered the surrender of Francis Lanigan, 49, to Northern Irish authorities. Lanigan, who had been living in Dublin under the alias Kieran McCrory, was arrested in January 2013 on an extradition warrant for the 1998 murder of John Knocker, who was shot in a hotel car park in Dungannon, County Tyrone. Lanigan had claimed that his life would be at risk from loyalist and republican paramilitaries if handed over to UK authorities. He had previously been denied bail in February 2013 as a flight risk, but secured a fresh bail in December 2013 despite Garda objections. The High Court, after an unsuccessful appeal by Lanigan's lawyers, issued the surrender order, and he was remanded in custody pending transfer to the North. The decision was made by Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy.
A 51-year-old man charged with 50 counts of sexual abuse against two young girls has had his trial rescheduled to June 2016 at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The accused faces 40 counts of child exploitation, three counts of sexual assault, and seven counts of defilement of a child under 17. The alleged offences occurred between 2007 and 2011 at locations in Dublin and Donegal. The trial, expected to last a fortnight, was originally fixed for May 2016 but was adjourned following a prosecution application citing the unavailability of a State witness. Judge Martin Nolan rescheduled the proceedings to begin on 13 June 2016 and remanded the accused on continuing bail.
Ivor Callely, a former politician, won a High Court ruling that the State must pay his legal costs for a challenge against the Minister for Justice's refusal to grant him enhanced remission and temporary release from a five‑month sentence for fraudulently claiming €4,207.45 in Oireachtas expenses. Justice Anthony Barr quashed the Minister's decision, finding the Minister had not considered all relevant matters and had exercised her discretion reasonably. Callely had argued he deserved a one‑third remission, rather than the usual one‑quarter, because of good behaviour and participation in prison activities, and that the refusal was unfair. The court held that Callely was entitled to have his costs paid, despite his earlier unsuccessful bid for temporary release. The application for enhanced remission will now be reconsidered by the Prison Services on behalf of the Minister. The State parties denied the claims and opposed the action.
On 3 July 2014, 83‑year‑old Maureen Burke of Malahide Road, Clontarf, was awakened at 11 pm by the sound of a window breaking and a man speaking to himself. She left her bed, went to the upstairs landing and saw David Mantle, 37, of Crumlin, who had entered her home through the same window. Mantle, smelling of alcohol, apologized and left, claiming he had no memory of the incident. Burke struck him with a belt of her walking stick as he exited. Garda Manus Keane investigated the next day, found fingerprints on the broken window, and identified Mantle as the suspect. He was arrested and charged in January 2015 with one count of attempted burglary. At trial, Mantle pleaded guilty; he has 43 prior convictions and was described as extremely remorseful. Judge Patricia Ryan remanded him in custody until 9 November for sentencing.
Ryan Glennon, aged 24, appeared before the Special Criminal Court in a late‑night sitting on 29 July 2015. He was charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on 13 May 2015. Glennon was arrested at 5:16 pm on Londonbridge Road, Dublin 4, by the Special Detective Unit during an operation targeting dissident republican activity. He was present in court wearing a pink t‑shirt and jeans, made no reply to his arrest or caution, and did not stand when requested. The court remanded him in custody to appear via video link on Friday, 31 July.
The Special Criminal Court heard that Gareth Mulley, 45, of Aisling Park, Dundalk, pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of explosives, including PETN, RDX, a 50‑litre beer keg, 50 kg of ammonium nitrate, an improvised steel booster tube and a time‑and‑power unit. He was arrested on 25 May 2014 after a Garda operation targeting dissident republicans in County Louth. Garda ballistics evidence showed the improvised unit had a thirty‑minute delay. The prosecution alleged the components were for a large beer‑keg bomb intended for Northern Ireland and presented CCTV footage of a "dry run" and a boot closed by Mulley, suggesting concealment. Counsel for the prosecution, Mr Paul Greene SC, argued the evidence proved guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Judge Paul Butler said a judgment would be delivered next Friday. The case remains at the trial stage.
The High Court has adjourned the extradition hearing of Eric Eoin Marques, a 30-year-old Dublin man residing at Mountjoy Square, until October 6th. The United States seeks his surrender to face charges of conspiring to distribute and advertise child pornography, alleging he is the owner and administrator of the anonymous hosting site Freedom Hosting. The US authorities claim the charges relate to images on over 100 websites depicting the rape and torture of pre-pubescent children. Mr. Marques, who has been in custody since his arrest in August 2013, is simultaneously seeking a judicial review of the Director of Public Prosecutions' decision not to prosecute him in Ireland. Counsel for Mr. Marques argued that extradition poses a significant risk to his health, citing his Asperger's syndrome and the potential for sexual violence and inadequate medical care in US prisons. Conversely, State counsel noted that Mr. Marques has sought no specific treatment for his condition since 2013 and has shown no mental health deterioration while in Irish custody. Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly remanded Mr. Marques in custody, with the hearing set to resume on October 6th.
A man aged 51 has been remanded on continuing bail ahead of trial on charges relating to the alleged sexual abuse of two young girls. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard he faces 50 counts in total, comprising 40 counts of child exploitation, three of sexual assault, and seven of defilement of a child under 17. The alleged offences are said to have occurred between 2007 and 2011 at locations in Dublin and Donegal. Judge Martin Nolan scheduled the trial to commence on 25 May 2016, with proceedings expected to last approximately two weeks. The accused was sent forward from the District Court previously.
In a High Court ruling on 21 July 2015, Mr Justice Anthony Barr quashed the Minister for Justice's refusal to grant former TD Ivor Calle Calley enhanced remission from his five‑month prison sentence for fraudulently claiming €4,207.45 in Oireachtas expenses. The judge found the Minister had failed to consider all relevant factors, including Calle Calley's good behaviour, participation in structured prison activities, low re‑offending risk, and the fact he was a first‑time offender. The decision to deny temporary release was also upheld as reasonable, and the Minister's delegation of decision‑making to prison officials was deemed appropriate. The case was remitted to the Minister for reconsideration, and Calle Calley was to return to prison for six days if the challenge had been dismissed. The State parties opposed the challenge. The judgment was adjourned for further consideration.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has decided not to pursue the case against 63‑year‑old Philomena Coton, who was charged in 1988 with intent to murder her husband Christopher Payne. Payne was severely injured when men struck his head with a hammer, axe and hatchet, and he died six months later. After a 2010 cold‑case review and extradition from England in 2013, Coton had been awaiting trial when a High Court halt was issued in June. The DPP's counsel entered a nolle prosequi at the Central Criminal Court, ending the prosecution.
A 53‑year‑old Louth man, Joseph Finnegan, was arrested on 11 July 2015 by the Special Detective Unit and charged with possession of an 8mm Valtro Model 85 pistol and seven rounds of ammunition, and a 12‑gauge Eibar shotgun with three cartridges. The Special Criminal Court granted him bail on a €100 personal bond and a €10,000 independent surety. He must sign daily at Dundalk Garda Station, observe a 11 pm‑6 am curfew, surrender his passport, avoid contact with convicted or charged persons, and remain within the jurisdiction until 23 October 2015.
A man aged 51, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faced Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on a trial date that could not proceed. He is charged with 50 counts of sexual offences alleged to have occurred between 2007 and 2011 at locations in Dublin and Donegal. The charges comprise 40 counts of child exploitation, three of sexual assault, and seven of defilement of a child under 17. The trial was expected to last approximately two weeks. Judge Desmond Hogan adjourned the case due to lack of judicial availability, remanding the accused on continuing bail. The matter was listed before Judge Martin Nolan for Tuesday, 21 July, when a new trial date will be set.
A 53‑year‑old Louth man, Joseph Finnegan, appeared before an out‑of‑hours Special Criminal Court on 13 July 2015. He was charged with possession of an 8mm Valtro Model 85 combat pistol, seven rounds of 8mm ammunition, a 12‑gauge Eibar shotgun and three shotgun cartridges, all seized at his home in Cuillenstown, Readypenny, Dundalk. Finnegan made no reply to his arrest or caution. His counsel requested the matter be listed for 16 July, when a bail and legal aid application is expected. The judge remanded him in custody for that hearing.
A trial involving charges of 50 sexual offences against two young girls has been adjourned until Wednesday at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The 51-year-old defendant, whose identity is protected by court order, was forwarded for trial from the District Court in relation to allegations dating between 2007 and 2011 at locations in Dublin and Donegal. The charges comprise 40 counts of child exploitation, including the production of child pornography, three counts of sexual assault, and seven counts of defilement of a child under 17 years of age. Defence counsel indicated the trial would likely require two weeks. The court heard the trial was not ready to proceed immediately. Judge Desmond Hogan remanded the accused on continuing bail pending the adjournment to Wednesday.
The High Court quashed the dismissal of Detective Brian Culbert, a Limerick-based Garda, after he admitted breaching Garda rules on handling informants. Justice Iseult O'Malley ordered that the case be reheard by a new Garda board of inquiry, as the original board had failed to conduct a proper hearing and had not provided reasons for its recommendation. Culbert had been involved in a serious crime investigation and had acted as an informant handler. He ignored orders to stop, was charged with disciplinary breaches, and the board recommended dismissal in September 2013. The Commissioner ordered dismissal in October 2013, but the decision was appealed on grounds of unfairness and lack of reasons. The High Court ruled the dismissal void and remitted the matter to a newly constituted inquiry board, rejecting a blanket prohibition of the disciplinary process. The judge noted Culbert's admission of guilt and the need for a fresh, independent review.