In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 47‑year‑old woman, Ms. Moire Bergin, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of her 76‑year‑old mother, Mary Bergin, who was stabbed to death on 13 April 2022. The jury accepted evidence from two consultant forensic psychiatrists that Ms. Bergin suffered from bipolar affective disorder with mania, depression and psychosis at the time of the killing, meeting the three criteria for the special verdict under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006. Ms. Bergin had been admitted to hospital six times between March 2021 and April 2022 and was released five days before the murder. A Central Criminal Court judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, ordered that she remain in the Central Mental Hospital for ongoing treatment, following a report by Dr Ronan Mullaney that she continues to suffer from a mental disorder. The case was prosecuted by James Dwyer SC and defended by Fiona Murphy SC.
A Central Criminal Court jury has heard that psychiatric evidence is disputed in the trial of James Kilroy (51), charged with murdering his wife Valerie French Kilroy (41) at their rural home near Westport and Castlebar in County Mayo in June 2019. Anne-Marie Lawlor SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, told the court that the accused is expected to accept he caused his wife's death by blunt force trauma, strangulation, and stabbing. A defence psychiatrist will testify that Mr Kilroy was experiencing cannabis-induced psychosis at the time and meets the legal criteria for a not guilty verdict by reason of insanity. A prosecution psychiatrist will contradict this assessment. The jury will also hear from toxicologists regarding intoxication, which cannot constitute a legal defence to murder. The court has been informed that four possible verdicts are available: guilty of murder, not guilty by reason of insanity, guilty of manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility, or acquittal. Mr Kilroy has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
A 51‑year‑old man was convicted at the Central Criminal Court of 12 counts of sexual assault and five counts of oral rape of his daughter between 2010 and 2015. The daughter, aged between 10 and 14 at the time of the abuse, was a survivor who had been unable to access therapy as a teenager. She said the abuse had caused severe physical and mental health problems, including complex PTSD, and that she had felt like she was on trial for six years. She criticised the use of her counselling notes in the trial, describing them as "surreal" and fearing they would be used to portray her as a liar. The court adjourned sentencing until 14 October. The defendant denied the allegations and his defence counsel presented two character references, arguing that incarceration would have a deep effect on his family and health. The case was heard by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon.
Andrei Dobra, 36, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for strangling his fiancée, Ioana Mihaela Pacala, on 12 November 2022. The jury, after 1 hour 44 minutes, accepted that Dobra suffered a psychotic episode that made him believe Pacala threatened him and that he did not know his act was wrong. Two consultant psychiatrists, Dr Brenda Wright and Prof Patricia Casey, diagnosed Dobra with schizoaffective psychosis and a major depressive episode with psychotic symptoms. Dobra had no prior mental‑health or criminal history and had lived a stable, normal life, working as a security guard and administrator. He was remanded to the National Forensic Mental Health Services Hospital in Portrane for assessment. The case highlighted the tragic loss of a young life and the impact of untreated mental illness.
Moire Bergin, aged 47, was found not guilty by reason of insanity after stabbing her 76‑year‑old mother, Mary Bergin, to death on 13 April 2022. The jury, after one hour and seven minutes of deliberation, accepted expert testimony from two forensic psychiatrists who diagnosed Moire with bipolar affective disorder, noting symptoms of mania, depression and psychosis at the time of the killing. They confirmed she did not understand the nature or moral wrongness of her act and could not refrain from it. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court, concluded with a one‑day hearing. Judge Paul McDermott ordered Moire to be committed to the Central Mental Hospital for up to 14 days, with a psychiatric assessment to be prepared. The case highlighted her history of 16 detentions under the Mental Health Act and six admissions between March 2021 and April 2022. The verdict was delivered unanimously by a jury of six men and six women.
The Central Criminal Court heard psychiatric evidence in the trial of Moire Bergin, 47, who is accused of murdering her 76-year-old mother, Mary Bergin, in Dublin 1 on April 13, 2022. Ms Bergin pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Both prosecution and defence psychiatrists, Dr Paul O'Connell and Dr Stephen Monks, testified that the accused met the criteria for this special verdict. They agreed she suffered from bipolar affective disorder with psychotic symptoms, including religious delusions, and did not know the nature and quality of the act, could not appreciate it was morally wrong, or refrain from it. The court noted her history of 16 detentions under the Mental Health Act between 2005 and 2022. Prosecution counsel James Dwyer SC and defence counsel Fiona Murphy SC both submitted that the appropriate verdict was not guilty by reason of insanity. Justice Paul McDermott charged the jury, describing the case as tragic but instructing them to rely solely on the evidence. The jury was sent out to deliberate and the matter was adjourned to return tomorrow for a verdict.
In the Central Criminal Court, two young women testified that they were raped by Dublin taxi driver Raymond Shorten, who had previously been convicted of serious sexual offences. Both victims had taken taxis after nights out, believing it was the safest option, but were assaulted by Shorten. One victim, who had been drinking five pints of cider, was taken to the back seat where he raped her anally and vaginally, leaving her with a sore, disorienting experience. The second victim fell asleep in the taxi and was raped upon waking, after which Shorten demanded a €70 fare. Shorten denied the assaults, claiming the encounters were consensual. DNA evidence linked him to both incidents. The court adjourned the case to July 22 for finalisation. The victims described lasting impacts on their confidence, intimate life, and mental health, including anxiety, flashbacks, and nightmares. The case highlighted the vulnerability of taxi passengers and the alleged breach of trust by a licensed driver. Raymond Shorten pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court adjourned the sentencing hearing for Aaron Brady, who murdered Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, and the related proceedings concerning Brady's alleged campaign of witness intimidation during his 2020 trial. The court was also scheduled to hear evidence on Dean Byrne, who denies conspiring with Brady to pervert the course of justice. Mr Justice Paul Burns announced that the verdict on Byrne is not yet ready and adjourned both matters to 14 June. Byrne, aged 30, is accused of conspiring with Brady in Mountjoy Prison between 8 April and 22 June 2020 to persuade prosecution witness Daniel Cahill not to testify at Brady's murder trial, an act intended to pervert the course of justice. Byrne pleaded not guilty. Brady, aged 33, was previously convicted of Donohoe's murder in 2013 and has pleaded guilty to a 2020 charge of recording a witness interview to pervert the course of justice.
Michael Lynn, a former solicitor now serving a five‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for €17.9 million fraud, has filed a High Court judicial review against the Department of Justice. The department refused to pay for his lawyers' review of the thousands of pages of documents disclosed during his retrial, arguing that, as a qualified solicitor, Lynn could review the material himself. Lynn's counsel, Mark Lynam SC, argues that the refusal breaches his constitutional right to a fair trial and the European Convention on Human Rights. He seeks an order quashing the refusal, a remittance for fresh consideration, and declarations that the department acted irrationally and in error. The case was granted ex‑parte permission by Justice Niamh Hyland and will return next month. The review involved roughly 150,000 hours of work and included over 9,000 additional pages not seen in the first trial. Michael Lynn was found guilty.
The Special Criminal Court rejected arguments that the charge against Dean Byrne should be dismissed. Byrne, 30, from Cabra Park, Phibsborough, Dublin, is accused of conspiring with Aaron Brady, the convicted garda killer, to persuade prosecution witness Daniel Cahill not to give evidence at Brady's murder trial. The court found that, at its highest, the prosecution case could prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Byrne conspired with Brady between April 8, 2020 and June 22, 2020 while both were in Mountjoy Prison's D‑wing. Byrne allegedly used a smartphone to disseminate Cahill's garda statement and recruited members of Cahill's family to discourage him from testifying. The court will hear closing arguments tomorrow before delivering a verdict. The case remains ongoing.
The Special Criminal Court will decide next week whether to direct the acquittal of Dean Byrne, a 30‑year‑old from Cabra Park, Phibsborough, Dublin, who is accused of conspiring with Aaron Brady to persuade witness Daniel Cahill not to give evidence at Brady's murder trial. Byrne's lawyers argue that he genuinely believed Cahill would perjure himself and that his motive was to prevent an injustice, requesting the court to direct an acquittal. The Director of Public Prosecutions, represented by Lorcan Staines SC, counters that any attempt to persuade a witness not to give evidence is an attempt to pervert the course of justice, and that such concerns can be addressed by providing information to the Gardaí or the DPP. The case, which has been heard for two days, will be judged by the three‑judge panel on Tuesday.
Aaron Brady, who killed Garda Adrian Donohoe, was an enhanced prisoner in Mountjoy with special privileges, including a laptop for reviewing evidence. He was housed on the D‑wing basement floor, a level reserved for inmates with good behaviour, and had more freedom to move, attend education, and receive extra phone calls and money. Brady, a 33‑year‑old former resident of New Road, Crossmaglen, was convicted in 2020 of Donohoe's murder and later pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice for recording a video of witness Ronan Flynn. Dean Byrne, a 30‑year‑old from Cabra Park, was tried for conspiring with Brady between April and June 2020 to persuade witness Daniel Cahill not to testify at Brady's trial. Byrne pleaded not guilty to the single charge. The Special Criminal Court heard these facts during the trial.
During the Special Criminal Court hearing on 17 April 2024, Dean Byrne, aged 30, admitted that he had used a mobile phone found in his Mountjoy prison cell to send photographs of Daniel Cahill's statement to a relative of Cahill. Byrne also admitted that he had sent a message to the relative asking him to persuade Cahill not to testify and that he had called Cahill a "rat", "dirtbag" and "filthbag" in an exchange with another man, offering to "do damage" to Cahill. The prosecution alleges that Byrne was part of a campaign of intimidation against witnesses in Aaron Brady's 2020 murder trial. Byrne's admissions, made under Section 22 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, are said to be significant and could substantially shorten the trial, which was originally estimated to last 14 weeks. The case concerns Byrne's alleged conspiracy with Brady to pervert the course of justice between 8 April 2020 and 22 June 2020. Dean Byrne pleaded guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 69‑year‑old man was found guilty of 48 counts of sexual offences against his daughter, including 25 counts of rape and 23 of indecent assault. The abuse began when the daughter was about three and a half years old and continued until she was 16, spanning the years 1977 to 1989. The court heard that the father repeatedly raped her, forced digital penetration, kissed her, performed oral sex, and touched her breasts when she developed. The daughter reported the abuse to the Gardaí in 2019; the father was arrested in July 2020, denied the allegations, and was later convicted. He does not accept the verdicts and maintains his innocence. The case was adjourned to 26 April for finalisation. The daughter's victim impact statement described how the abuse stole her childhood and urged other victims to come forward.
In a High Court murder trial, Mr Justice Paul McDermott addressed jurors after Thomas Lorigan was found guilty of killing his 78‑year‑old uncle, John O'Neill, by stamping him to death outside his home in Lisdoonvarna. Lorigan, aged 34 and without a fixed abode, had denied the murder. The jury had seen graphic CCTV footage of the assault, which caused one juror to become very emotional. Mr Justice McDermott explained that the courts could not provide any "time out post‑verdict" or additional support beyond what is already available through the Courts Service, which offers debriefing for jurors and support for court staff. He thanked the 12 jurors for their dedication and noted that they would be exempt from jury service for the next ten years. The judge also acknowledged the increasing impact of traumatic digital evidence on all involved parties.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 30‑year‑old Dublin man was convicted of one count of rape on 9 February 2018. The victim, who remains unnamed, described how the defendant, who claimed to suffer from a sleep disorder called sexsomnia, had carried out the assault while supposedly asleep. The incident occurred after a night out on 8 February, when the couple had been socialising in a group. The man invited the group back to his apartment, where the victim was invited into his bedroom to sleep. She woke to find him having sex with her. DNA evidence linked his semen to her clothing. The victim's impact statement expressed feelings of weakness and humiliation, questioning the belittling nature of the defendant's claim. The court heard that the defendant had made sexual comments to the victim before the assault. The case was adjourned for finalisation on 25 January.
Paul Dudgeon, a 14‑year‑old An Post postman, was dismissed after a criminal case involving a theft and assault charge. He was convicted of theft and assault in December 2020, appealed, and the Circuit Court quashed the theft conviction and reduced the assault conviction to a probation order under the Probation Act, requiring six months abstinence from alcohol and no contact with his ex‑partner. Dudgeon claimed he had paid the €6,000 fine, had no prior convictions, and believed he had a clean record. An Post dismissed him in September 2021, citing "serious shortcomings in your behaviour" and alleging he had brought the service "into disrepute." The Workplace Relations Commission found the dismissal unrelated to the criminal conduct, awarded Dudgeon €5,000 compensation, and upheld his complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. The decision emphasized that the dismissal was not justified by the court outcome or the alleged conduct.
Michael Olohan, a former European figure‑skating gold‑medallist, was described as a "gentle soul" by his sister after a jury found Sean Murphy not guilty of murder by reason of insanity. Murphy, 29, stabbed Olohan to death in August 2020 while they shared an apartment in a low‑support step‑down centre run by St Vincent's Hospital Mental Health Services in Clontarf. The jury heard that Murphy suffered from a severe obsessive‑compulsive disorder (OCD) with psychotic features, which led him to believe that killing would prevent him from going to hell and avert a catastrophe. Two psychiatrists testified that Murphy's OCD was acute and that he could not resist the urge to kill. The jury accepted this evidence and returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. Justice Mary Ellen Ring remanded Murphy to the Central Mental Hospital for further psychiatric assessment.
A jury will return to the Central Criminal Court tomorrow to consider their verdict in the trial of a man with obsessive compulsive disorder who stabbed his housemate to death because he believed he would go to hell if he did not. Sean Murphy (29) with an address at Bradóg Court, St Lawrence Road, Clontarf, Dublin 3, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Olohan (35) at the apartment they shared on St Lawrence Road on August 13, 2020. Mr Olohan is originally from Poppintree in Ballymun, north Dublin. The jury of six men and six women began their deliberations this morning, having begun hearing evidence last week. The trial heard that at the time of the stabbing the accused and deceased lived together at Bradóg Court in a "step-down independent living facility" run by St Vincent's Hospital Psychiatric Services. Sean Murphy was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
In the trial of Sean Murphy, 29, who stabbed his housemate Michael Olohan, 35, to death, the prosecution argues a not‑guilty‑by‑reason‑of‑insanity verdict, citing two psychiatrists who say Murphy was psychotic and unable to resist. The defence, however, maintains that Murphy has some criminal responsibility and should be found guilty of manslaughter due to diminished responsibility. Both sides agree Murphy suffered a severe mental illness, diagnosed as obsessive‑compulsive disorder with psychotic symptoms. The jury is instructed to consider whether Murphy's mental state negated all responsibility or merely reduced it. The case is set to be heard by a jury of twelve, with deliberations to begin the following day. The trial is ongoing and no verdict has yet been reached. Sean Murphy pleaded not guilty and was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
In a Central Criminal Court murder trial, the jury was instructed that the core issue was the differing conclusions of two psychiatrists regarding Michael Connolly, a 55‑year‑old from Louth. Connolly, who scalded and strangled cellmate Mark Lawlor, 37, in Cloverhill Prison on 23 November 2019, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Dr Stephen Monks testified that Connolly did not understand the nature or wrongness of his actions, supporting a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. Dr Sally Linehan, however, found that Connolly understood he had killed another person, suggesting a verdict of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. Both doctors agreed Connolly suffered paranoid schizophrenia, but disagreed on the applicability of the special verdict. The jury was told to decide which psychiatrist's evidence they preferred, as this was the "nub of the case.".
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Michael Connolly, 55, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mark Lawlor, 37, in Cloverhill Prison. Connolly, who had been remanded for unrelated matters, allegedly scalded Lawlor with hot water before strangling him on the night of 22‑23 November 2019. Witnesses described Connolly as calm and unresponsive when officers entered the cell. Forensic evidence showed multiple superficial burns, lacerations, and asphyxiation as the cause of death. Connolly claimed he believed Lawlor was a "kingpin" and that a "homosexual conspiracy" existed between prisoners and officers. Two psychiatrists testified that Connolly was suffering from an active mental disorder, diagnosed as schizoaffective disorder in 2019. The jury will decide whether to apply a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity or a manslaughter conviction. The trial continues tomorrow before Justice Siobhan Lankford.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 32‑year‑old man named Gareth Sheeran was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of his 65‑year‑old father, Harry Sheeran, who was killed on Father's Day, 20 June 2021, with a World War II bayonet. The jury, after 42 minutes of deliberation, returned a unanimous verdict. Two psychiatrists testified that Gareth suffered from schizophrenia and did not understand the nature or wrongness of his act. Evidence included a post‑mortem showing multiple stab wounds, including one to the heart, and testimony that police found the father lying in a pool of blood. The judge thanked the jury and exempted them from service for seven years. The case was adjourned to 25 August for further proceedings.
The Special Criminal Court is hearing the trial of Thomas McConnell, 37, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Gareth Hutch, 36, on May 24, 2016, at Avondale House, North Cumberland Street, Dublin 1. Prosecution alleges McConnell and Jonathan Keogh planned the killing and used protected witness Mary McDonnell's apartment to surveil the victim. Defence counsel Pat McGrath SC challenged McDonnell's identification of McConnell, noting she told gardai she was "not really one hundred per cent" sure, describing her certainty as "half and half." She identified a second man in CCTV footage as the shooter based on his "square face" but did not know his name. The court is now examining the procedures used by gardai to obtain her statement. In a related November 2018 finding, the Special Criminal Court convicted Regina Keogh, Jonathan Keogh, and Thomas Fox of the murder. Fox was also convicted of unlawfully possessing a Makarov 9 mm handgun on May 23, 2016. The trial continues before Mr Justice Alex Owens, Judge Elma Sheahan, and Judge David McHugh.
In a High Court decision on 12 May 2023, Mr Justice Garrett Simons dismissed Regina Fitzpatrick's appeal against a Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) ruling that a Galway landlord, Sinead Brett, could lawfully terminate her tenancy. Fitzpatrick argued that the RTB should not have upheld the termination notice because Brett had later refused to accept rent via Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). The judge noted that Brett's refusal was communicated months after the tenancy had already ended in September 2021, and that the RTB's tribunal had not considered this point of law. Fitzpatrick's appeal was rejected on the basis that it raised a new legal issue not before the RTB tribunal, and her request for a three‑month adjournment on medical grounds was also denied. The case remains at the RTB level, with no further action taken by the High Court.
A 51‑year‑old woman, Julie Flood, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, was committed to the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) in Portrane after a Central Criminal Court judge ordered her placement following a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. Flood had pleaded not guilty to the murder of her 94‑year‑old father, Patrick Flood, on his birthday in 2019. A jury, after 48 minutes of deliberation, accepted evidence from two forensic psychiatrists that she was in a psychotic state and did not understand that her actions were wrong. The psychiatrists agreed she believed a voice of God told her her father was an imposter. Flood's father died two days after being stabbed, with a post‑mortem attributing death to congestive cardiac failure and a recent stab wound. The judge directed that Flood be treated at CMH in accordance with the relevant legislation.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, 51‑year‑old Julie Flood was found not guilty of murdering her 94‑year‑old father, Patrick Flood, by reason of insanity. The trial, which lasted 48 minutes of deliberation, focused on Flood's paranoid schizophrenia and psychotic state at the time of the stabbing. She claimed a voice of God told her her father was an imposter, and she had a history of persecutory delusions, including a belief that U2's voices accused her of rape. The jury accepted psychiatric evidence that she met the criteria for a not‑guilty‑by‑reason‑of‑insanity verdict. Judge Paul McDermott remanded Flood to the Central Mental Hospital in Portrane, with a new court appearance scheduled for 4 May. The court thanked counsel and nursing staff for their assistance during the proceedings. Julie Flood was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
A 51‑year‑old woman, Julie Flood, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for stabbing her 94‑year‑old father, Patrick Flood, on his birthday. The Central Criminal Court jury deliberated 48 minutes before delivering a unanimous verdict. Flood, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, claimed she heard God instructing her to stab her father, whom she believed was an imposter. Two psychiatrists testified that she did not understand the nature or wrongness of her actions at the time of the stabbing. Witness Alan Somers described seeing Flood in a hysterical state before the incident. Patrick Flood died two days later from a combination of a stab wound and underlying heart disease. The judge thanked the jury and adjourned the case for arrangements concerning Flood's care.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 51‑year‑old woman, Julie Flood, was tried for murdering her 94‑year‑old father on his birthday. Two psychiatrists testified that Flood suffered from persecutory delusions and auditory hallucinations, including voices of U2 and God, which led her to believe her father had been replaced and that she must stab him to rid him of evil. They argued she did not understand the wrongfulness of her act and therefore met the criteria for a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The prosecution urged the jury to accept this expert evidence, while the defence prepared to argue otherwise. The trial was set to continue with the jury's deliberation the following day.
During a sentencing hearing in the Central Criminal Court, a nine‑year‑old boy, who has an acquired brain injury and autism, read a victim impact statement about his father, Isaac Horgan, who died from a stab wound to the leg in his Dublin home. The boy, who calls his foster parents Mam and Dad, said he is very sad that he will never see his Daddy again and asked if his Daddy's soul lives in the teddy bear named Blue that his father gave him. The statement, prepared with a social worker, noted the boy's loss will have a lasting impact and that he has never met his birth mother. The hearing also covered the sentencing of Noel Lennon, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter, and Lisa Lee, who was convicted of discarding the knife used in the stabbing. The court adjourned the matter to June 19 for sentencing.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Gerard "The Monk" Hutch was acquitted of murder in the 2016 Regency Hotel shooting that killed David Byrne. The court found it could not rely on former Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan Dowdall's evidence, noting that audio recordings did not confirm Dowdall's claim that Hutch confessed to being a gunman. Justice Tara Burns said the evidence only raised the possibility that Hutch may have authorised the attack, but did not prove his presence or direct involvement. Hutch, who turned 60, walked free after the verdict. Two co‑accused, Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, were found guilty of aiding the murder by providing vehicles. The court's decision was based solely on the lack of reliable evidence linking Hutch to the Regency shooting.
At the Central Criminal Court, closing arguments concluded in the trial of Matusz Batiuk, who denies murdering Michael McDonagh at a housing estate in Swinford, County Mayo, on 16 November 2020. The defence contended that Mr Batiuk, aged 33, acted lawfully in self-defence when he inflicted a fatal knife wound in his own home. Defence counsel emphasised that the accused's initial statement to emergency services was that he acted in self-defence, a position maintained throughout garda interviews. The prosecution argued that the accused deliberately used lethal force with intent to kill or cause serious injury. Justice Ellen Ring instructed the jury to consider whether Mr Batiuk honestly believed self-defence was necessary and whether any force used was objectively reasonable. The jury was also directed to consider evidence from two psychiatrists regarding the accused's mental health. The trial continues with further direction to the jury of nine men and three women. Matusz Batiuk pleaded not guilty and was acquitted.
A 35-year-old man from Baldoyle who was found not guilty of attempted murder by reason of insanity has been assessed as not requiring inpatient care at the Central Mental Hospital. The Central Criminal Court heard on Wednesday that the man, charged with stabbing his former employer at The Elphin Pub on the Baldoyle Road in Sutton in January 2021, currently displays no symptoms of mental disorder. Consultant psychiatrist Dr Servaise Winkel told the court that inpatient treatment is not presently necessary, a view supported by Dr Stephen Monks, a consultant forensic psychiatrist engaged by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The court made no further order. The accused had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the attempted murder charge and faced additional charges of assault causing harm and production of knives. The jury's verdict was delivered following evidence that the man had been experiencing paranoid delusions in the weeks prior to the incident.
A man has been found not guilty of attempted murder by reason of insanity following a trial at the Central Criminal Court. The jury returned the special verdict in the case of Neil O'Dowd, who was charged with stabbing his former employer 19 times at The Elphin Pub on the Baldoyle Road in Sutton on January 28, 2021. The victim sustained serious injuries including a pseudoaneurysm requiring surgical intervention. Medical evidence presented to the court indicated that O'Dowd was experiencing a psychotic episode at the time, consistent with paranoid schizophrenia, and did not know the nature or wrongfulness of his actions. Two forensic psychiatrists agreed on his mental state. The jury deliberated for 28 minutes before returning a unanimous verdict. The matter has been adjourned to February 15 for assessment of O'Dowd's current mental health status, with O'Dowd remanded on continuing bail.
A 35-year-old man charged with the attempted murder of a pub manager in Baldoyle has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity at the Central Criminal Court. The accused is alleged to have stabbed the victim 19 times at The Elphin Pub on Baldoyle Road on 28 January 2021. Two forensic psychiatrists giving evidence for the prosecution and defence have told the jury that the accused was experiencing profound psychosis at the time of the alleged incident. Both experts diagnosed the man with a psychotic disorder and testified that severe delusions—including false beliefs about the victim's involvement in an unsolved murder—had severely impaired his judgement. The psychiatrists stated that his condition would have prevented him from understanding the nature of his actions. Both doctors recommended that a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity should be considered. The prosecution and defence have agreed on the facts of the case, with the jury to determine whether the requisite intent was present. The unnamed 35-year-old was acquitted.
Michael Molumby, a lab analyst at Pinewood Healthcare Laboratories, claimed that investigators, including former Garda detective Kevin Sweeney and former regulator Stan O'Neill, ambushed him during a data audit in summer 2020, alleging intimidation and blackmail. He said the interview was hostile, that he was offered an amnesty that felt like blackmail, and that he left without signing a notepad. Molumby argued the investigation was humiliating and an assault on his good name. The Workplace Relations Commission found no evidence of intimidation or harassment, no threat to his job, and that his resignation in September 2020 was within his rights. The tribunal rejected his constructive dismissal claim under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, concluding the investigation was normal and that Molumby had not exhausted internal grievance procedures before resigning. The decision was published on 14 December 2022. Michael Molumby had the case dismissed.
A 38-year-old man has been sentenced to three years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for assaulting his partner at their Co Leitrim home on 5 July 2020. The man pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. He was acquitted of two counts of rape following trial. During sentencing, the court heard that after the assault, the man told his ten-year-old son "Mammy fell on daddy's fist many times" when the child asked about his mother's injuries. The investigating garda described this comment as deeply disturbing. The woman sustained serious injuries including a fractured nose, head injury, and facial bruising. She told gardaí she was repeatedly choked during the assault and feared for her life. The man has 29 previous convictions. Justice Karen O'Connor noted the violation occurred in what should have been a safe home environment, with aggravating factors including the child's presence in the house and the false explanation given to him. The sentence has been backdated to July 2020 when the man entered custody.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 5 December 2022, Robert Redmond (34) and Bernard Fogarty (34) were convicted of murdering Barry Wolverson, who was shot at Madigan's Yard, Swords, on 17 January 2020 and later died after a 13‑month coma. The court found both men guilty of the murder, of assault causing harm to Gerard Wildman (who was also shot), and of possession of a lethal firearm and ammunition at the scene. Forensic evidence showed gunshot residue on Redmond's jacket, supporting his role as the shooter, while no residue was found on Fogarty's clothing, indicating he was not the shooter. CCTV captured the pair moving together on the day of the shooting and later burning a Citroën C4 in Greenwood Estate. The judge concluded that both men were jointly responsible for the murder and the subsequent arson, with no reasonable possibility of another person's involvement. The verdict was delivered by Justice Michael MacGrath.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has been unable to reach a verdict in the trial of Stephen Silver concerning the death of Detective Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. Mr Silver accepts that he discharged the detective's own firearm eleven times but denies the charge of murder. The defence argued that Mr Silver should be found guilty of manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility, citing evidence that he was suffering from bipolar affective disorder at the time. The jury of seven men and five women deliberated for just under nine hours over three days before reporting they could not reach agreement. Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded Mr Silver in custody pending a retrial, with the case listed for 9 December at the Central Criminal Court. The judge thanked the jury for their careful consideration of what he described as a deeply difficult and disturbing case. Stephen Silver was acquitted.
Tony Dean, aged 70, former director of Nephin Trading Ltd, was found guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of three counts of operating an illegal landfill at Kerdiffstown, Naas, between 2003 and 2008. The charges concerned disposing of or recovering waste in breach of the Waste Management Act 1996, using a facility without the proper licence, and handling waste likely to cause environmental pollution. Dean pleaded not guilty to the first two charges and denied the third. The jury deliberated for 58 minutes before returning guilty verdicts on all counts. The case was adjourned to 12 December for sentencing. The trial lasted four weeks, with the Director of Public Prosecutions arguing that a "mountain of waste" had been deposited on a 25‑acre site, breaching two licences issued by the EPA, and that the site functioned as an active landfill producing significant leachate.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 28 October 2022, Declan McGowan, aged 33, admitted acceptance of a jury verdict after being found guilty in March 2023 of attempted coercion, impersonating a Garda, assault and assault causing harm. The offences stemmed from an incident on 18 September 2021 at Kimmage Road Lower, where McGowan approached a woman, Andra Calauz, claiming to be a Garda, showed her what he said was official ID, and pressured her to get into his car. He also threatened to involve Tusla to remove her children. McGowan's husband, Daniel Ion, testified that McGowan choked him and threatened to call Tusla if the couple did not comply. McGowan had previously been convicted of impersonating a Garda in July 2019 and had 31 other convictions, including threats to kill and assault causing harm. The court heard that the incident lasted about 15 minutes on a public road near housing. Declan McGowan pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court jury has begun deliberations on the case of Patrick Dunne, 28, who denies murdering his mother, Susan Dunne, 62, with a hatchet in 2013. The jury paused to inspect the hatchet and received expert testimony that Dunne, an autistic man with an intellectual disability, was legally insane at the time of the killing. Both prosecution and defence psychiatrists agree he could not understand or control his actions. Dunne admits to killing his mother but claims he had no lawful justification. He has pleaded not guilty. The judge instructed the jury to consider a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity if they find him legally insane. The jury will continue deliberations tomorrow. The unnamed 28-year-old was acquitted.
A cinema projectionist in Sligo has failed in his unfair dismissal claim following his sack in 2020. Joseph Callaghan, who worked at an Omniplex cinema since 1992, was dismissed after the wrong film was screened to patrons. The Workplace Relations Commission heard that tickets sold for The Matrix were instead fulfilled by The Matrix Reloaded on 12 July 2019, leaving customers significantly dissatisfied. Mr Callaghan denied responsibility for deleting the correct film from the server, contending other staff possessed access to the projection room. However, adjudicating officer Shay Henry found CCTV footage, when accounting for a time delay, showed Mr Callaghan in the server room when the file was deleted. The officer determined the company had reasonable grounds to believe the complainant committed misconduct and that dismissal fell within proportionate responses. The unfair dismissal claim was dismissed, as was a separate claim under the Payment of Wages Act, given the dismissal related to gross misconduct.
During the trial of food‑delivery cyclist Mr Bento, who is accused of murdering 16‑year‑old Josh Dunne, the jury questioned why the man on a moped, described by the prosecution as the "instigator" of the fatal row, was not called as a witness. The jury had been sent out to deliberate and returned with a list of questions, noting that they had heard from "everyone" except the moped rider and a cyclist who had his bike stolen. Mr Bento, 36, was charged with murder, possession of a knife in a threatening manner, and assault causing harm to two other young men. He pleaded not guilty to all four counts. Mr Justice Paul Burns instructed the jury to base their verdict solely on the evidence presented, to avoid speculation, and to consider each charge separately. He explained the legal definitions of self‑defence, reasonable force, and the possible verdicts for the murder charge. The unnamed accused was acquitted.
George Gonzaga Bento, a 36-year-old Brazilian national from East Wall, Dublin 3, was acquitted by the Central Criminal Court of murdering 16-year-old Josh Dunne. The defendant, a delivery cyclist, had pleaded not guilty to four counts, including murder, producing a knife to intimidate, and assault causing harm to two other young men. The incident occurred on January 26, 2021, at East Wall Road, following a confrontation over a stolen bicycle. Defence counsel argued that Bento used reasonable force to defend himself and his friend from a violent group assault, while the prosecution alleged he exaggerated the threat and used lethal force against Dunne, who was merely reacting to protect his friend. The jury accepted the defence's position, resulting in a full acquittal on all charges. This finding concludes the criminal proceedings against Bento, who was found not guilty of the serious allegations brought by the state.
Five men were convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of sexually assaulting and raping a 17-year-old Leaving Cert student in December 2016. The defendants are Gabriel Gomes Da Rocha, Eduardo Dias Ferreira Filho, Ethan Nikolaou, Marcos De Silva Umbelino, and Conor Byrne. Byrne entered a guilty plea to rape, while the other four men denied all charges but were found guilty of various counts of sexual assault, rape, and false imprisonment. The jury reached unanimous verdicts after a four-week trial. During the proceedings, the victim addressed the court, expressing her trauma and PTSD. She specifically addressed Byrne, acknowledging his admission of guilt and asking him not to let this be the defining moment of his life. She stated she would not forgive the other four men, who she said showed no remorse. The defence lawyers for all five men stated they accepted the jury verdicts and highlighted their clients' remorse. Ms Justice Tara Burns adjourned the case to 2pm on Thursday for finalisation. The five men were remanded in custody pending that finalisation.
Former Irish soldier Lisa Smith, aged 39, was found not guilty by the Special Criminal Court of financing terrorism. The court, a three‑judge panel, delivered its judgment on the charge that she sent €800 via Western Union to a named man on 6 May 2015, an act alleged to have supported the Islamic State. Judge Tony Hunt noted it was reasonably possible that Ms Smith intended the money for humanitarian purposes rather than for the benefit of a terrorist organisation. Ms Smith had pleaded not guilty to membership of the Islamic State, a charge relating to her presence in Syria between 28 October 2015 and 1 December 2019. She denied joining the organisation, claiming she travelled to Syria out of a religious obligation to live within the Islamic State announced by Abu Bakr al‑Baghdadi in 2014. The court is still delivering its verdict on the membership charge.
In the trial, the 17‑year‑old victim recounted a night of repeated sexual assault by six men. She was lured into a car after a taxi wait, where she was forced into the back seat and subjected to molestation and rape by Gabriel Gomes Da Rocha, Marcos Vinicius De Silva Umbelino, Conor Byrne, Ethan Nikolaou, Eduardo Dias Ferreira Filho, and a fifth unnamed man. The victim described being coerced into touching a man's genitals, forced oral sex, and being prevented from leaving the vehicle. She reported feeling shocked, paralyzed, and crying throughout the assaults. The court heard CCTV footage of her running to a friend's house after the final assault. The defendants were convicted of various sexual assault and rape charges, with one defendant pleading guilty before trial. The case highlighted the victim's lack of escape options and the men's coordinated abuse.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a jury convicted four men of multiple sexual assaults during a gang rape of a 17‑year‑old girl on 27 December 2016. The girl was taken in a car by five men after she was separated from friends. While traveling, she was repeatedly groped and molested. The car was parked at a remote spot where two men raped her consecutively, then the car returned to town and was parked again. The girl attempted to leave; two men prevented her, one raped her again, and another orally raped her. After nine hours of deliberation, the jury found Marcos Vinicius De Silva Umbelino (22), Eduardo Dias Ferreira Filho (24), Gabriel Gomes Da Rocha (24) and Ethan Nikolaou (23) guilty of various charges, including rape and sexual assault. A fifth man, Conor Byrne (24), pleaded guilty to rape. All verdicts were unanimous.
A 41‑year‑old man from Co Offaly was convicted at the Central Criminal Court of four counts of oral rape of a child between May 1995 and December 1998, when the victim was aged 11 to 14. He was also found guilty of eight counts of sexual assault of the same child and four counts of sexual assault of the victim's older brother, who was aged 12 to 13 in 1995 and 1996. The two boys were placed in foster care with the defendant's family in 1995. The defendant claimed he felt resentful about sharing his home, was bullied at school and identified with the younger boy, grooming him and turning what began as wrestling into sexual acts. The victim reported that the abuse started with kissing and escalated to repeated oral sex, which he described as "consensual" at the time.