Michelle Murray, a client services manager at Cagney Maintenance Service Ltd, was dismissed in August 2024 after an investigation found her training record fraudulent. The investigation was triggered when a cleaner, Sylvia Sanchez, arrived at a Dublin site with blue dye in her hair, contrary to a dress‑code policy. Murray had warned Sanchez that the dye was not allowed, leading to Sanchez's resignation. Murray claimed she had not falsified any documents and that the alleged training record had been forged. An HR officer's investigation revealed "clear fraudulent information" in Sanchez's record. The Workplace Relations Commission found the dismissal reasonable but unfair because Murray was denied the right to cross‑examine her accusers. The tribunal awarded her €10,000 in compensation, including €5,580 for unfair dismissal and €4,500 for a breach of the Terms of Employment (Information) Act 1994. No further claims were upheld.
The former Ireland hockey international Catriona Carey, aged 47, faces a money‑laundering trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court scheduled for 27 January 2027. She is charged with three offences under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010, one each in 2019, 2020 and 2021, for allegedly converting, transferring, handling, acquiring, possessing or using proceeds of crime. The alleged proceeds were held in a bank account in the name of Careysfort Asset Estates Ltd at Wise Europe SA. Carey's barrister, Kevin Roche BL, requested a trial date and indicated the trial would last four to six weeks. Judge Orla Crowe set the trial date and bailed Carey to that date. Two co‑accused, John Steadmond (48) and Paddy Maher (57), were also before the court, each charged with 17 related offences, including unlawful solicitor activity and false representation to induce deposits.
Bewley's Café and a company owned by property developer Johnny Ronan have taken a dispute over the €747,000 per year rent for the Grafton Street outlet to the High Court. RGRE Grafton Limited, which owns the building, claims the rent should be €1 million, while a valuer hired by Bewley's says it should be €518,000. Bewley's had previously paid €1.46 million for the premises before a Circuit Court ruling cut the rent in half to €747 k. Both parties are appealing the Circuit Court decision. The case focuses on valuation methods, with Bewley's expert Fergus Crosse arguing that improvements to the building justify a lower rent, and RGRE's valuer David Potter contesting the zoning approach used by Crosse, claiming it undervalues the restaurant space. The matter is now before Ms Justice Sara Phelan.
In a Tallaght District Court hearing, a man in his 30s was denied bail after being charged with breaching a protection order by allegedly making threatening phone calls to his ex‑partner on 23 June. The court heard that the woman, who shares a young child with the accused, received four calls from a private number within three minutes that evening. She answered the fourth call, identified the caller's voice, and reported that he threatened her, saying he would "dance her head into the ground" and that his cousins would "smash it up." She also claimed the man had used private numbers and had access to two phones, though he denied this. The accused denied all allegations, asserting he had never threatened or shouted at her. Judge Patricia McNamara found the woman's evidence more credible, refused bail, and remanded the accused in custody to appear via video link from Cloverhill Prison on 27 June.
In a Belfast murder case, the Central Criminal Court heard that Ahmed Abdirahman, a 31‑year‑old Somalian national, faces a serious mental health issue. He is accused of killing his former partner, Mary Ward, on 25 September 2024 at her Melrose Street home. Abdirahman is still awaiting admission to the Central Mental Hospital, where a diagnostic clarification is required before an external psychiatrist can assess his fitness to plead. The court noted that he has not yet been properly diagnosed and remains on the hospital's waiting list. Defence counsel Oisin Clarke highlighted difficulties in engaging with the accused and raised a jurisdictional issue, as the offence occurred in Northern Ireland, requiring the option of trial there. The matter was adjourned to 23 July 2025.
A psychiatric report on Riad Bouchaker, 51, who is charged with assaulting a care worker and attempting to murder three children on Parnell Square, has now been completed, the court heard. Bouchaker, of no fixed abode, faces charges of attempted murder of two girls and one boy, assault causing serious harm to a care worker, and possession or production of a knife. The incident occurred on the afternoon of 23 November 2023. The Central Criminal Court heard that a psychiatrist had requested further work by a neuropsychologist and that the treating doctor had faced delays in accessing the defendant and in securing an interpreter. The report was made available in April, but the psychiatrist asked for an additional four weeks to review it. The court noted that the case must be given priority once the psychiatric issue is resolved and that the trial process should be completed within one year if a child is involved.
Gardai failed to revoke a man's bail after a judge heard he strongly denies breaching a protection order. The man, whose identity is withheld to protect the injured party, is accused of appearing at the building where his former partner works and where their child's crèche is located on June 6, the same day he had appeared before Tallaght District Court on a breach of a protection order and was granted bail. Garda Catherine Conroy alleged the man was captured on CCTV entering the building at 1 pm and was escorted out by another man, and that the injured party saw him and fled in fear, though no verbal exchange occurred. Conroy applied to revoke bail under the O'Callaghan principles, citing concerns that the man might continue to intimidate or interfere with the injured party. The court heard that Gardaí had tried to contact the accused in the two weeks after the alleged breach but received no response.
Two men previously charged with the attempted murder of Anthony Dinnegan in Mullingar have pleaded guilty to lesser offences at the Central Criminal Court. Christopher Nevin (31) and Michael Nevin (40) appeared before Mr Justice David Keane regarding incidents on August 2, 2024, at Austin Friars Street. Michael Nevin entered a guilty plea to causing serious harm, while Christopher Nevin pleaded guilty to violent disorder. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Fiona Murphy SC, indicated that nolle prosequi could be entered for the original attempted murder charges. Defence counsel Dominic McGinn SC requested governor's, educational, and counsellor reports for Michael Nevin, while Christina Burke BL asked for a probation report for Christopher Nevin. The court directed the preparation of these reports and set a sentence hearing for October 13. Both men were remanded on continuing bail to that date.
Sean McGovern, 39, previously of Kildare Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12, appeared via video link at the Special Criminal Court to change his legal representation. His solicitors, Michael Staines, applied to withdraw from the case, with the accused to be represented by Wayne Kenny solicitors. McGovern confirmed his consent to the application. The matter was adjourned for mention to July 28, when the accused is to be produced in court. McGovern, who was extradited from the United Arab Emirates, faces multiple charges. He is alleged to have murdered Noel Kirwan on December 22, 2016, at St Ronan's Drive, Clondalkin. He is also charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation in connection with that murder between October 20 and December 22, 2016. Additional charges allege he directed a criminal organisation in surveilling James Gately between October 17, 2015, and April 6, 2017, in preparation for an indictable offence. He further faces charges of facilitating a criminal organisation in the murder of Kirwan and in a conspiracy to murder Gately. In June, his lawyers raised concerns regarding the legality and propriety of his extradition process to Ireland. No plea was entered, and no findings or sentences were recorded at this pretrial stage.
Maynooth University was ordered by a Workplace Relations Commission adjudication officer to issue a music tutor, Janyce Condon, a banded‑hours contract after her union alleged the college was operating a de‑facto zero‑hours contract. The decision, made under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, as amended, found that the university had failed to provide a contract setting out minimum guaranteed hours. Condon, a performance tutor since 2013, had been paid €831 per student per academic year and was expected to conduct 20 one‑to‑one tutorials of 45 minutes each, including preparation, scheduling, feedback and professional development. The university had previously issued her a contract that the union described as essentially a zero‑hours contract, which Condon rejected. The adjudication officer directed the university to place Condon on an appropriate band of hours and awarded her €2,494 in compensation for a separate breach of the Terms of Employment (Information) Act 1994.
A man in his 20s was denied bail after a court heard that armed Gardaí had to break into his mother's Dublin home to remove him, who is accused of breaching a barring order issued in August 2024 to protect his mother, a woman in her 60s. The order, under Section 33(1) of the Domestic Violence Act 2018, prohibits the man from being at the residence. Gardaí responded to a midnight call from the mother, who reported her son was present despite the order. The man refused to engage, barricaded himself, and Gardaí forced the back door to gain entry. The mother, who was at a relative's home, later testified that she feared her son, describing him as aggressive when drinking or using drugs, and that he had threatened to kill her and her family. The man's solicitor denied the threat allegations and argued the man believed he had the mother's consent.
Three Spanish men—Pedro Pablo Ojeda Ortega (36), Raul Tabares Garcia (48) and Angel Serran Padilla (40)—were denied a bid to have their charges dismissed in the Special Criminal Court. Their lawyers had applied under Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act 1999 to prevent disclosure of evidence and arguments. Justice Karen O'Connor, with Judges Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Marie Keane, rejected the applications. The men face conspiracy charges for importing controlled drugs worth over €13,000 between 27 February and 14 March 2024, and the case was adjourned to 18 June.
Sarah Jane Byrne, a 27‑year‑old mother from Drimnagh, appeared before the Special Criminal Court and pleaded guilty to five offences involving firearms. She admitted possession of a 9mm Makarov pistol and ammunition, 27 rounds of Luger 9mm ammo, a sawn‑off Beretta shotgun, and a Tokarev submachine gun, with the items located at Old Navan Road and her home. Byrne, who has been attending a rehabilitation programme for addiction, was released on continuing bail. The court set a sentencing hearing for 20 October and ordered a probation report.
Ms X, a scientist with stage‑2 endometriosis, was hired by Abbott Ireland Ltd in spring 2024 and worked on site for just under six months. She claimed the company's policy of denying probationary staff the option to work from home was implicitly discriminatory, as it withheld accommodation for her disability for six months. Ms X said she had been promised a hybrid role and had turned down other jobs that required a five‑day on‑site commitment. After a sudden department‑wide meeting, a senior manager announced that no more work‑from‑home would be allowed beyond one day a week. Ms X was later found to have failed her probation for "conduct and performance" after eight late arrivals and three uncertified absences, and was terminated with a letter stating her performance did not meet company expectations. The case is adjourned for further witness evidence.
The Special Criminal Court heard a sentencing hearing for eight defendants who pleaded guilty to offences arising from the seizure of 2.25 tonnes of cocaine on the MV Matthew. Mykhailo Gavryk, Vitaliy Vlasoi, Soheil Jelveh, Saeid Hassani, Harold Estoesta, and Cumali Ozgen pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine for sale or supply between September 24 and 26, 2023. Vitaliy Lapa pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cocaine for supply within the State between September 21 and 25, 2023. Jamie Harbron pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply during the same period. Detective Superintendent Keith Halley testified that an organised crime group in Dubai instructed the crew to evade capture, with one individual allegedly ordering the drugs be destroyed by fire. Army Rangers boarded the vessel in treacherous weather, risking their lives to prevent the destruction of the cocaine. The investigation into the wider criminal network remains ongoing. The matter was adjourned to Wednesday for the continuation of the sentencing hearing before Ms Justice Melanie Greally, Judge Sarah Berkeley, and Judge Grainne Malone.
In a 2007 murder case, Darragh Quinlivan, aged 41 and originally from Limerick City but residing in Manchester, UK, is charged with killing Noel Campion, aged 35, on 26 April 2007. Campion was shot while riding as a back passenger on a motorbike in Thomondgate, Limerick City. Quinlivan allegedly stepped out of a phone box and fired multiple shots from a handgun as the motorbike passed. The prosecution successfully moved the case from Limerick to Dublin, and the trial is scheduled for 12 January 2026 at the Central Criminal Court.
Rosie Ward, 33, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty to multiple thefts after being stopped by security at The Square Shopping Centre on 4 May. She admitted taking €30 worth of clothing from Dunnes Stores, €292.40 of groceries from Tesco and €740 of items from Easons. While in custody at Tallaght Garda Station, she threw a can of Monster energy drink at a table with electrical equipment. She was remanded on bail and will appear again on 1 July 2025 for finalisation.
The Central Criminal Court has ordered that the trial of Riad Bouchaker, aged 50, be prioritised because some of the alleged victims are children. Bouchaker faces charges of attempting to murder two girls and a boy, assault causing serious harm to a care worker, and possession or production of a knife. The case arose from an incident on 23 November 2023 at Parnell Square, Dublin, where Bouchaker allegedly assaulted a care worker and attempted to kill three children. Lawyers for Bouchaker have informed Judge Paul McDermott that they are awaiting a psychiatric report. The psychiatrist, who had requested a neuropsychologist's report, has received it and will complete her assessment within three weeks. Judge McDermott has urged all parties to expedite the matter, noting that the trial will be revisited on 15 June. The Department of Justice has introduced a protocol to fast‑track trials involving children, aiming to conclude the process within one year where possible.
Jemima Burke appeared before the High Court to challenge a public order conviction obtained at Ballina District Court. Ms Burke alleged that her constitutional rights were breached due to the excessive haste of the original proceedings, claiming she was detained for two hours and tried within 55 minutes of release without legal representation or disclosure. She stated she was filming an inquest in Swinford, Co Mayo, when arrested, and argued that the garda's confiscation of her phone deprived her of probative evidence. The District Court judge had convicted her of one public order offence, with the other taken into consideration, and fined her €350. Ms Burke described the process as resembling something from the Middle Ages. The Director of Public Prosecutions, represented by Kieran Kelly BL, did not oppose the quashing of the conviction but argued the matter should be remitted to the District Court for a new hearing before a different judge to ensure a fair trial. Ms Justice Sara Phelan reserved judgment in the matter, meaning the case was adjourned and not concluded.
A 48‑year‑old woman, Olesja Hertova of Hastings Lawn, Balbriggan, admitted to unlawfully killing her partner, James Ryan, in North County Dublin last year. She pleaded guilty to manslaughter on 11 August 2024 and was arraigned today at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. She began crying when the charge was read and pleaded guilty. Her barrister, Bernard Condon SC, requested the earliest sentencing date. Judge Orla Crowe remanded her in custody for sentencing on 3 July 2025.
A District Court judge in Tallaght refused jurisdiction over a case involving Abbie Kinsella, a 20‑year‑old from The Green, Earl's Court, Kill, Co. Kildare, who was charged with a phone scam that allegedly defrauded a man of more than €16,000. Kinsella was living in Dublin at the time of the alleged offence and was arrested and charged there. Garda O'Connor explained that the victim received a text message purporting to be from the Eir mobile network, warning that his phone service would be cancelled unless he paid an outstanding bill. Believing the message to be genuine, the man provided his banking details, and later discovered that more than €16,400 had been withdrawn from his account. Garda O'Connor stated that €4,900 was allegedly transferred into Ms Kinsella's Revolut account. Ms Kinsella is charged with an offence under Section 7(1) of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010.
A long‑serving Aer Lingus pilot, Declan McCabe, was demoted from captain to first officer after the airline said he tried to cover up an alleged error during a training flight on 8 June 2023. McCabe claims the demotion was whistleblower penalisation and is challenging the sanction under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the Payment of Wages Act 1997. He alleges that the airline's operating procedures did not require a mandatory safety report to Air Nav Ireland for the incident, which involved a non‑intercept between aircraft and ground navigation systems. McCabe's lawyers argue that any disclosure he made was protected, while Aer Lingus contends the matter is still under investigation. The Workplace Relations Commission will hold hearings in autumn, with a preliminary hearing convened today and a possible resumption in September or October. The case remains at the disciplinary stage, with no final outcome yet.
The High Court has granted leave for judicial review to an unnamed 18-year-old accused of violent disorder and assault causing harm in Dublin. The applicant, represented by James B Dwyer SC, seeks an injunction against his prosecution at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, alleging a three-year delay that prevented his access to juvenile diversion. The alleged offences occurred in February 2022 on Henry Street, Dublin 1, where the teen, then 15, is accused of participating in an altercation with a Polish man who rebuked a group of teenagers for allegedly throwing eggs at a homeless man. The applicant denied the allegations during a voluntary interview, admitting only to his presence at the scene. In April 2024, he was deemed unsuitable for juvenile diversion because he had turned 17, resulting in his referral for trial. Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty granted the application, stating there were "certainly arguable grounds" for review. The matter remains at the pre-trial stage, with the applicant due for arraignment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court later this month. No plea, finding, or sentence has been recorded, and the prosecution has not been concluded.
In a case heard by the Workplace Relations Commission, Omar Mohammed Osman, a night manager at Cantarini Limited's City Quay aparthotel, was dismissed after allegations that he bullied a gay colleague, Mr D, for his sexuality. Mr D claimed Osman called him "a big homosexual" and "princess", whistled at him and mocked his accent. Osman denied the allegations, stating he had no issue with homosexuals and that the nickname referred to a female colleague. The tribunal found Osman had been "bullying and harassing a colleague in relation to their sexual orientation and race" and dismissed him. Osman later emailed the HR manager to appeal the dismissal, but the email was not responded to because the recipient had left the company. The WRC ruled that while the dismissal was reasonable, the failure to allow Osman to appeal made it an unfair dismissal, awarding him €3,000 in compensation. The case did not find any protected disclosure or safety‑related claims.
A 22-year-old woman from Athlone with a history of 19 bench warrants has been refused bail at Tallaght District Court. Janelle Quinn, currently of no fixed abode, faces charges including theft, public order offences and criminal damage. She was arrested on foot of two active warrants and made no reply when cautioned. During the hearing, Judge Catherine Ghent expressed concern about the accused's presentation and condition, noting apparent withdrawal symptoms. Her barrister submitted that Ms Quinn was undergoing detoxification and willing to engage with the process, including daily signing at Athlone Garda Station. However, gardaí objected, citing her pattern of failing to appear. The judge stated serious reservations about whether Ms Quinn would return to court if released, despite acknowledging the charges were not of the most serious nature. She noted the accused required medical attention. Ms Quinn was remanded in custody for one week to reappear on 13 May. Legal aid was granted.
A 35‑year‑old man accused of two attacks on his former partner was refused bail by Judge Catherine Ghent at Tallaght District Court. The man is charged with two counts of assault causing harm, alleged to have bitten the woman's forehead, strangled her, pulled her hair and head‑butted her nose in separate incidents in April and July 2024. The victim sustained a broken nose; hospital records and photographs were presented as evidence. She reported the assaults after receiving support from counselling services and Women's Aid, citing a controlling relationship as a reason for the delay. Garda Sarah Cullinane objected to bail on grounds of the seriousness of the offences and potential witness interference. Defence solicitor Michael Hennessey denied the allegations and offered strict bail conditions, but the judge cited grave concerns for the victim's safety and refused bail under Section 2 of the Bail Act.
In a Tallaght District Court hearing on 6 May 2025, a 24‑year‑old woman faced a charge of breaching a protection order that prohibited her from contacting her former partner. The complainant, a 25‑year‑old man, alleged that the woman sent him an abusive WhatsApp message on 3 January, which he had shown to Gardaí and printed as evidence. The woman's solicitor, Michael Hennessy, argued that the message was fabricated using Photoshop, noting that no digital record of the message existed on the defendant's phone and that the phone was water‑damaged and not examined. The prosecution, represented by Dr Seán Smith, maintained that the printed screenshot matched the complainant's phone and that no expert analysis was required. The case collapsed when Judge Patricia Cronin discovered that the charge sheet listed a different name and address, violating Order 38 of the District Court Rules, and dismissed the proceedings for lack of admissible evidence.
Space commentator David Moore abandoned a Workplace Relations Commission hearing into claims that a former manager at Astronomy Ireland breached workplace rights by "pocketing" money meant for the society. The tribunal had adjourned the case repeatedly since June 2024, and an adjudicator had criticised Moore's approach as "delay, delay, delay" and said the matter would "never be heard". Moore and a solicitor for Astronomy Ireland walked out of the hearing room after the adjudicator said he would press on, despite objections from the respondents. The claimant, Sonya Martin, had worked at the society's Ballycoolin office from 2021 to July 2023, resigned under stress, and filed complaints under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 and the Terms of Employment (Information) Act 1995. Martin alleged that Moore and other committee members were personally attached to the case and that he had taken speaking‑fee revenue for himself.
Joseph Rafferty, 45, was remanded in custody after appearing in Tallaght District Court on charges related to a car hijacking in Dublin and two robberies in Wicklow over the weekend. He was arrested at 6.15pm on Sunday at Tallaght Garda Station and formally charged by Sergeant Michael Martin. Rafferty was cautioned and made no reply to the charges. The incidents occurred on Saturday, 26 April. At about 7.45pm, a woman was allegedly threatened and forced out of her black Nissan Qashqai at a commercial premises on St Peter's Road in Walkinstown, Dublin 12; Rafferty is charged with hijacking under Section 10 of the Criminal Law Act 1997 and unlawful use of a vehicle under Section 112 of the Road Traffic Act 1961. Later that evening, he allegedly attempted to rob a store on the Dublin Road in Bray, threatening cashiers as he left, and is charged with attempted robbery.
A 32‑year‑old man, Clinton Martin, was fined €250 for stealing a €15 bottle of Jameson from a Centra shop in Tallaght on 15 March 2022. CCTV captured him removing the bottle and leaving without paying. Gardaí identified him the next day, and he pleaded guilty, admitting the theft and apologising. The case was heard at Tallaght District Court where Judge Deirdre Gearty noted the theft occurred over three years ago, remarking that the whiskey was likely long gone. The judge recorded a conviction and imposed the fine, giving Martin five months to pay.
Cian Kavanagh, a 22‑year‑old apprentice electrician from Clondalkin, pleaded guilty in Dún Laoghaire District Court to a money‑laundering offence under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice Act for allowing his An Post account to be used in a €38,000 scam that took place on 22 July 2023. The court found that the victim remains out of pocket by €5,000, the amount Kavanagh is held accountable for. He admitted his role after Gardaí searched his home under warrant. Judge Peter White accepted jurisdiction, noted the seriousness of the offence, and gave Kavanagh 12 months to repay the €5,000 before a final decision. He is due back in court on 13 April 2026, with bail set on a €100 bond. Kavanagh is currently working as an apprentice electrician, earning about €300 per week, and lives with his grandfather.
Jonathan Leonard, 48, was brought before Dún Laoghaire District Court on Wednesday for an alleged armed robbery at Ballybrack Medical Hall on 8 April. He is accused of entering the pharmacy at about 5:30 pm, wearing dark clothing, a black snood, gloves and a black puffer jacket, and of demanding money from staff with a flick knife. CCTV footage shows him leaving the pharmacy, walking through Ballybrack village and into Daleview Park, where he was seen removing the snood, and later returning to a nearby hostel. Gardaí recovered a black puffer jacket but the gloves, snood and knife remain missing. They also found €420 in cash, three bags of crack cocaine and a crack pipe on Leonard. He faces robbery charges under Section 14 of the Criminal Justice Act and drug offences under Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.
In April 2025 a safety manager at an unnamed cross‑border slaughterhouse won €48,000 compensation after the Workplace Relations Commission found the company had penalised her for making a complaint. The manager, who began work in 2018, said she was subjected to sexist remarks and demeaning behaviour, including being called a "prostitute" and "doll" and being filmed making sexual gestures by a male colleague at a Christmas party in 2021. She also reported that a government employee, identified only as "XY", threatened her, used aggressive language, and insisted on controlling access to the women's bathroom. The company's internal investigation was deemed biased, and the manager was disciplined and pressured to attend meetings while on sick leave. The adjudicator ruled the firm breached the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and awarded her a year's salary in compensation for the penalisation.
Aidan Fitzgibbon, a 15‑year‑old social care worker at Autism Initiatives, was dismissed in January 2022 after an alleged "not my monkey, not my circus" remark and leaving work when an alarm sounded. The company cited gross misconduct for "unprofessional, discriminatory, de‑humanising, and flippant" language, including a comment that service users were "still autistic." Fitzgibbon denied the remarks, claiming they were taken out of context and made in jest. The disciplinary officer found the remarks credible and that Fitzgibbon's departure during an alarm indicated disrespect. Fitzgibbon represented himself before the Workplace Relations Commission, arguing the investigation lacked procedural rigour and that the employer failed to interview key witnesses. The adjudicator, Conor Stokes, upheld the complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, finding the dismissal procedurally unfair and awarding €12,500 for loss of earnings. The decision rejected Fitzgibbon's request for reinstatement.
In a Tallaght District Court hearing, Judge Patricia McNamara refused jurisdiction over a violent disorder case involving five men after viewing CCTV footage of a 15‑year‑old being repeatedly beaten with metal bars on the top deck of a bus at The Square Shopping Centre on 29 February 2024. The footage showed two accused men boarding the bus at 9:30 pm, one initiating the assault and the other also striking the teenager, while a third remained outside. The men—Rasel Chowdhury (42), Gao Jiansheng (44), Shafiulla Shafiulla (40), Kamrul Islam (43) and Md Imrul Mahamud (27)—were charged under the Public Order Act for violent disorder. Judge McNamara described the attack as "relentless" and ruled it too serious for the District Court, granting prosecutors 12 weeks to prepare the Book of Evidence. The accused remain remanded on bail until 19 June, and Mr Gao Jiansheng will require a Mandarin interpreter for future proceedings.
In Tallaght District Court, a father whose weekly child‑support payments are €80 had his bail revoked after alleged breaches of a protection order. The court heard that on 13 March he used the Revolut payment app to send a love‑heart emoji with a payment, a white‑flag emoji a week later, and a text praising the complainant as a "great mother" and offering help. The complainant said the messages were not innocent but an attempt to emotionally manipulate her, describing feeling unsafe and having to change her home locks. She claimed that any contact from the accused caused significant distress and that she feared for her safety. The prosecution argued that even emoji contact violated the protection order. The accused, who had no prior convictions, admitted an "error of judgment" but denied intent to intimidate.
Barry Horan, 55, of De Selby Green, Tallaght, was stopped by Garda Aaron Murphy at an Applegreen petrol station on 6 April 2024 over a public order matter. When asked if he possessed a firearm or offensive weapon, Horan said he had an object in his pocket for "self‑defence". He was arrested, cautioned and taken to Tallaght Garda Station under Sections 9(1) and (7) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act. In court, a sharp, green steel object in a clear plastic bag was presented to Judge Patricia McNamara, who noted it resembled a key ring. Horan's counsel, Ms Lauren Flanagan, instructed Horan to say the object was used for "sexual purposes", prompting laughter. During cross‑examination, Garda Murphy admitted he had not cited the legal power under which the search was conducted.
In a Workplace Relations Commission hearing, Umarjon Muradov, a former security guard for BGS Security Ltd (trading as BGSS), argued that the firm had a persistent practice of not paying workers their wages, thereby gaining an unfair advantage in the Dublin security market. Muradov, represented by the Independent Workers' Union, claimed he worked long hours alone at Centra, Spar, and Supervalu stores, faced threats, and was paid only €500 for June, July, and August, far below the €14.50 hourly rate set by the Employment Regulation Order (ERO). The adjudicator, David James Murphy, found BGSS had failed to pay the new ERO rate, premium rates, and annual leave, and had admitted the debt but not paid.
Annette Ryan, a former catering supervisor at Waterford Hospital, was summarily dismissed in September 2023 after a WRC investigation found gross misconduct. She claimed that her ex‑boss, Marcin Skrzypczak, orchestrated bullying complaints that painted her as a racist, including a fabricated allegation that she told a junior colleague "You're not Irish, you're black." Ryan said she had worked with colleagues from Nigeria, China and elsewhere for 13 years and denied the accusations. She alleged that Skrzypczak had suspended her without warning, confiscated her access cards, and prevented her from speaking to staff. The WRC hearing revealed that four junior catering staff had lodged formal complaints in July 2023, leading to her suspension and eventual dismissal. Ryan's appeal was upheld by the WRC in December 2023, and she was offered no mitigating explanations during the disciplinary process. She has since sought compensation for the period she was out of work, having found a new job in March 2024.
A 30‑year‑old man, Adam Corcoran of John Barry House, Connolly Street, Midleton, has been charged with the murder of his 27‑year‑old partner, Daena Walsh, who was pronounced dead at her Midleton apartment on 2 August 2024. The Central Criminal Court has set a trial date for 12 January 2026, with case management scheduled for 11 July 2025.
A neuropsychological report on Riad Bouchaker, charged with assaulting a care worker and attempting to murder three school children at Parnell Square, is due by the end of March. Mr Bouchaker, who has no fixed abode, faces charges of attempted murder of two female children and one male child, assault causing serious harm to a care worker, and possession or production of a knife. The incident took place outside a school on 23 November 2023. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring adjourned the matter to 30 April, with the report expected before 31 March.
In a High Court hearing on 20 March 2025, Web Summit founder Paddy Cosgrave is accused of heavily editing a 2021 call recording with former director David Kelly and distributing it to staff to damage Kelly. The recording, played in court, shows Kelly calling Cosgrave a "scumbag" and accusing him of "making shit up." Cosgrave is suing Kelly for breach of director duties, while Kelly and Daire Hickey sue Cosgrave for minority shareholder oppression and breach of a profit‑sharing agreement. Both parties deny the allegations. The case, described as a "bitter" multi‑million‑euro dispute, is listed for nine weeks before Mr Justice Michael Twomey. No judgment has been issued, and the proceedings remain at the hearing stage.
Former Ireland hockey international Catriona Carey, 46, of Co Carlow, was granted an arraignment date before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on money laundering charges. She is charged with three offences contrary to Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010, alleged to have occurred in 2019, 2020, and 2021. It is alleged that she converted, transferred, or handled proceeds of criminal conduct involving funds in a Wise Europe SA account under Careysfort Asset Estates Ltd. Judge Sarah Berkeley listed the case for 30 June, when Ms Carey will be formally asked to plead. Her co-accused, John Steadmond, 48, of Co Wexford, and Paddy Maher, 57, of Co Wicklow, also appeared before the court. Each man faces 17 related charges, including allegations that they unlawfully acted as solicitors without qualification. The majority of these charges allege they induced individuals to pay deposits by falsely representing that Careysfort Asset Estates Ltd could secure finance for distressed mortgage holders, with the intent to gain for themselves or cause loss to others. Mr Steadmond and Mr Maher were also assigned the same arraignment date of 30 June. The matter remains at the pre-trial stage, with no pleas entered or findings made.
Two men in their seventies will be extradited to Northern Ireland to face charges relating to the 1975 murder of an RUC officer, the High Court has ruled. John Edward McNicholl, aged 73, of Newmills, Letterkenny, County Donegal, and Seamus Christopher O'Kane, aged 74, of County Meath, had argued their surrender would constitute an abuse of process due to the substantial delay in seeking their extradition. Mr Justice Patrick McGrath rejected both applications, finding no evidence to suggest either man would be denied a fair trial in Northern Ireland. McNicholl and O'Kane face charges arising from the investigation into the death of Constable Robert John McPherson, shot dead in County Derry on 26 July 1975. Both men escaped from the Maze Prison in May 1976 before trial proceedings commenced. The matter was adjourned to 3 April, with both men remanded on continuing bail pending their surrender.
Biyi Jacob Abiola, a father, was banned from his children's school after an incident on 29 September 2023 in which he entered the premises unannounced, shouted at staff, kicked doors and filmed the disruption. He claimed the principal had told him his children did not want to leave with him, and he allegedly remarked that "people like you make people bring guns into school." The school, under an Education and Training Board, subsequently issued a permanent ban. Abiola's claim of racial profiling and discrimination under the Equal Status Act 2000 was rejected by the tribunal. The adjudicator found his behaviour threatening and aggressive, and that the ban was a lawful, objectively legitimate response to his breach of school rules. The tribunal concluded he had failed to establish unlawful treatment or discrimination. The decision was made by Ms McElduff.
RTÉ faced criticism for sending legal representatives to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to counter a rights claim by video editor Maeve Keary di Lucia. Keary di Lucia, employed at RTÉ since 2004, filed ten statutory complaints alleging breaches of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, the Terms of Employment Information Act 1994, and a 2012 EU regulation on working time in road transport. During the hearing, no evidence was presented; the tribunal's jurisdiction was contested. Adjudicator Christina Ryan noted that Keary di Lucia had not demonstrated the WRC's jurisdiction and required written responses to preliminary matters before substantive evidence could be heard. RTÉ's solicitors argued the claims were statute‑barred, citing the period 2004‑2011. Ryan granted Keary di Lucia 12 weeks to submit a legal response and an additional six weeks for RTÉ to reply, setting a deadline of 31 July. The hearing was attended by over 20 observers, including press and members of the public.
Paul Byrne, 52, faces a trial set for 10 June 2026 in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after a defence application. He has not yet entered a plea. Byrne was charged in the District Court with three counts of assault causing harm to a woman, alleged to have occurred between September 2017 and May 2022. The court expects the trial to last four days.
Two women, aged 33 and younger, testified that they were sexually abused by an older cousin and a second cousin, and that their families did not believe them. The 33‑year‑old accused pleaded guilty to rape, oral rape and sexual assault of the older girl and sexual assault of the younger girl between 2004 and 2008 at their grandparents' home. His older brother, aged 34, pleaded guilty to one count of rape and sexual assault of the older girl in 2005. The second cousin, aged 14 at the time of the offence, was charged only for one incident. The court heard the women described lifelong trauma, PTSD and loss of family support. Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned sentencing to 31 March, remanded the men in custody and praised the women's strength. The accused men read apology letters and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
Liam Howlin, a recruiter at Indeed Ireland Operations Ltd, claimed constructive dismissal after resigning in February 2023, alleging threatening behaviour, defamation and denial of rights. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) found he had not shown the resignation was reasonable. The case centred on a series of Slack message incidents, a formal grievance over an October 2022 quarterly review, and a subsequent investigation that upheld his grievance but recommended formal communication training. The WRC noted Howlin's strong sense of grievance and lack of acceptance of any wrongdoing. His appeal largely upheld the original findings. The WRC concluded that Howlin's resignation was not a constructive dismissal, attributing fault to him rather than Indeed. The hearing ran from October 2023 to February 2024. The parties were represented by Cillian McGovern BL for Howlin and Des Ryan BL for Indeed.
A solicitor for Fadeside Ltd, a subsidiary of the Connacht Hospitality Group, told the Workplace Relations Commission that it was a substantial stretch for a manager who was dismissed 11 days after a miscarriage to claim protection under maternity law. The company's lawyer, Pat Mullins, argued that at the time of dismissal the employee was not pregnant and that the law's 12‑month service requirement could not be waived for a miscarriage. He said the dismissal was performance‑related and that the employee's pregnancy had not been disclosed. The employee's counsel, Ian FitzHarris, contended that the manager had not realized she was pregnant, had returned to work after a brief sick leave, and was dismissed within five days. The tribunal heard legal submissions but did not proceed to evidence, and the matter was adjourned for further submissions by 18 March.