A 46‑year‑old former journalist from Sierra Leone, Mercy Peters, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of her 42‑year‑old flatmate Tyrone McKenna on 17 July 2014 in Marlay Court, Rathfarnham. Peters claimed voices in her head compelled her to stab McKenna. Both had a history of mental health problems and had met in a psychiatric ward in 2010. McKenna was discovered dead on the stairs by his father, Tom McKenna, who called an ambulance. A post‑mortem found a stab wound to the trunk that collapsed his left lung and injured his left kidney, with a contributory left forearm wound. In court, Peters behaved erratically, spoke of spirits and claimed self‑defence. Two psychiatrists testified that she was suffering from schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and did not understand the wrongfulness of her act. The prosecution argued she had killed McKenna, while the defence highlighted her mental illness and medication lapse.
In the Patrick Quirke trial, the jury was not allowed to hear certain audio recordings that the prosecution had found on Quirke's computer. The recordings included conversations between Quirke and his wife Imelda, between Quirke and Mary Lowry, and a conversation between Lowry and her boyfriend Flor Cantillon. The defence argued that the recordings would prejudice the jury by suggesting Quirke had "strange sexual proclivities," and Justice Eileen Creedon agreed, ruling them inadmissible. Only the conversation with Cantillon was played to the jury. Quirke's computer had also been used to search for articles about notorious Irish murders, including those of Joe O'Reilly, Siobhan Kearney, and Jo Jo Dollard. The defence said these searches were common and not relevant, and Justice Creedon ruled them inadmissible for being potentially prejudicial. A reenactment of a tank inspection that Quirke claimed to have seen was also ruled inadmissible as "frail.".
Barry O'Donoghue, 38, was found guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of assault causing harm and threat to kill or cause serious harm. The offence took place at his home on 20‑21 October 2016, when he confronted his former partner, knocked her to the ground, punched her, kicked her in the face, and continued to hit her in the kitchen. He threatened her with a bread knife, saying "tonight was her execution" and asking if she wanted to be shot. The victim, who had to undergo eye surgery and suffered facial nerve damage, described nightmares of her death and fear of revenge. O'Donoghue had no prior convictions and was remanded in custody, with the case to be finalised on 12 April. The court noted his lack of previous offences and his age as factors in the sentencing decision.
In a swift 43‑minute jury deliberation, Paul Crosby, aged 23, was acquitted of all three charges relating to an attempted murder of Gerard Boyle, aged 33, that occurred on 10 November 2016. The charges were: attempting to murder by stabbing Boyle 28 times, attempting to murder by pushing a car into a canal, and false imprisonment with serious harm. The jury, composed of nine men and three women, returned unanimous not‑guilty verdicts on each count. This was Crosby's second trial for the same offences; the first trial in February 2018 resulted in a not‑guilty verdict on the canal charge but no verdict on the other charges. Justice Carmel Stewart thanked the jury and exempted them from service for five years. Crosby was formally discharged by the judge after the verdicts were announced. The article does not state any subsequent legal actions or outcomes. Paul Crosby pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin trial, Gary Watson, aged 35, was acquitted of murdering former soldier Warren O'Connor, aged 24, who died from a single stab wound to the neck on 16 January 2010. The jury, after four hours and eleven minutes, found Watson not guilty of the murder charge. However, they convicted him of assaulting Philip Woodcock, aged 34, and of producing a knife on the same occasion. Watson denied these charges. The case involved a fight between two groups of men at a noisy house party on Hole in the Wall Road, with witnesses describing a white‑hoodie wearer stabbing O'Connor. No forensic evidence linked Watson to the knife or to O'Connor's body. The trial concluded with Watson remanded in custody pending sentencing for the assault and knife charges, scheduled for 7 March. The judge thanked the jury and expressed condolences to O'Connor's family.
The High Court heard that Peter Conlon, the 64‑year‑old boss of the charity‑fundraising platform Pembroke Dynamic, is in France and too ill to travel to Dublin. Conlon is willing to meet liquidator Myles Kirby in France to discuss resolving proceedings. Kirby, appointed liquidator in January 2018, has obtained injunctions freezing Conlon's assets, including bank accounts, valued at €3.8 million, and seeks an order making Conlon personally liable for the company's debts. Conlon's firm is under investigation for alleged misappropriation of €3.8 million in donations, with claims that charities have not received the money. Kirby's application was delayed last month because he did not know Conlon's exact whereabouts or whether Conlon had been served. The judge adjourned the case for three weeks, requiring evidence of Conlon's health at the next hearing. The Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement has supplied Conlon's contact details to Kirby's lawyers. Peter Conlon was convicted.
The High Court has adjourned proceedings involving Md Peter Conlon, the applicant and former MD of charity fundraising platform Pembroke Dynamic. The liquidator, Myles Kirby, sought various reliefs against Mr. Conlon, including a declaration of liability for the company's debts, but could not proceed because the court was informed that Mr. Conlon's current whereabouts are unknown and he has not been served with the relevant documentation. Mr. Conlon was previously convicted of embezzlement in Switzerland, where he was imprisoned before being released in December. The Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement is currently investigating him regarding the alleged misappropriation of approximately €3.8m in donations. Although it was indicated that Mr. Conlon had engaged a solicitor to contest the application, that solicitor stated they knew nothing of the case, and no legal representative has come on record. Counsel for Mr. Kirby argued that the hearing should be vacated due to the inability to contact the applicant. Justice Leonie Reynolds agreed, noting that the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement was prepared to provide contact details. The matter was adjourned to allow for further attempts to contact Mr. Conlon, with the temporary injunction freezing his assets remaining in place.
In a south Dublin case, Kuwaiti‑born doctor Maha Al Adheem, aged 43, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of her three‑year‑old autistic son, Omar Omran. On 10 July 2017, Al Adheem stabbed Omar 20 times, mainly to the trunk, and also stabbed herself. The boy's body lay in the middle of a bed, surrounded by blood. Al Adheem admitted to the act, saying a "power" compelled her to take a knife from a drawer. Two consultant psychiatrists testified that she suffered from paranoid schizophrenia in July 2017 and could not appreciate the moral wrongness of her actions. The Central Criminal Court delivered a unanimous verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity after a 1 hour 46‑minute deliberation. The judge ordered her to be committed to the Central Mental Hospital and to appear again the next day for a psychiatric assessment.
The jury at the Central Criminal Court has begun deliberations in the trial of Maha Al Adheem, 43, who is accused of murdering her three‑year‑old autistic son, Omar Omran, in their south Dublin home on 10 July 2017. Al Adheem admitted stabbing her son and claimed a "power" compelled her to take a knife from a drawer. The boy was stabbed 20 times, with wounds to the chest, abdomen, trunk and right thigh, including penetration of lungs and heart. She pleaded not guilty. Two psychiatrists testified that she suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and was not aware of the moral wrongness of her actions, supporting a potential not‑guilty‑by‑reason‑of‑insanity verdict. The judge explained that if the jury is satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt of unlawful killing, they must then consider the insanity defence, with possible verdicts of not guilty, guilty of murder or not guilty by reason of insanity.
In a December 2018 trial, psychiatrists testified that Maha Al Adheem, a 43‑year‑old Kuwaiti doctor, suffered from paranoid schizophrenia at the time of the July 2017 murder of her three‑year‑old autistic son, Omar Omran. The witnesses agreed she could not appreciate that her actions were morally wrong and could not refrain from them. Al Adheem admitted stabbing her son 20 times, including wounds to his lungs, heart and a vital artery, and claimed a "power" compelled her to use a knife she had bought from Lidl. She had previously been admitted to St James's Hospital in March 2017 for suicidal thoughts and had a history of depression and psychosis. The court heard that Al Adheem met two of the criteria for a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, and the trial was set to resume before a jury and Ms Justice Eileen Creedon.
In a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, a doctor, Maha Al Adheem, admitted stabbing her three‑year‑old autistic son, Omar Omran, in their south Dublin home on 10 July 2017. She claimed a "power" compelled her to take a knife from a drawer and stab him. The boy was stabbed 20 times, mainly to the trunk, with four wounds penetrating his lungs and heart, severing a vital artery. The court heard that the child's death was caused by massive blood loss. Al Adheem also admitted stabbing herself and reported the incident to Gardaí at 6:40 pm. She was arrested after being discharged from St James's Hospital, where she had been treated for a psychiatric "adjustment reaction." The prosecution and defence psychiatrists agree she meets the criteria for not guilty by reason of insanity. The trial will continue before a jury.
In a Dublin trial, 35‑year‑old Laura Kenna was charged with attempted murder and assault for slitting the throat of civil servant Fionnuala Bourke on Lower Drumcondra Road on 3 January 2017. Kenna pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The jury heard conflicting psychiatric reports: one psychiatrist said Kenna was in a psychotic state and could not control her actions, while the other argued she knew what she was doing and was motivated by robbery. The jury deliberated for about four hours and forty minutes but could not reach a verdict. Judge Robert Eagar discharged the jury after a disagreement was recorded, and the case was remitted for a possible retrial in November. Kenna made no reaction to the announcement of the jury's failure to decide.
In the trial of Laura Kenna, a 35‑year‑old woman with no fixed abode, the jury paused its deliberations for the night. Kenna is charged with attempted murder and assault of civil servant Fionnuala Bourke, who was walking home from work on Lower Drumcondra Road on 3 January 2017. Bourke was attacked with a knife, her throat slit and she suffered severe facial scarring. Kenna pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to both charges. The court heard conflicting opinions from two Central Mental Hospital consultant psychiatrists regarding Kenna's state of mind. Mr Justice Robert Eagar explained that if the jury, on the balance of probabilities, found Kenna suffering from a mental disorder, the special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity would be appropriate. If not, the jury must consider the prosecution's case beyond a reasonable doubt.
In the trial of Laura Kenna, a 35‑year‑old woman of no fixed abode, a jury will resume deliberations tomorrow morning. Kenna has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the attempted murder of civil servant Fionnuala Bourke, who was walking home from work on Lower Drumcondra Road in Dublin on 3 January 2017. The prosecution alleges that Kenna attacked Bourke with a knife, slitting her throat and causing severe facial scarring. The central issue is Kenna's state of mind at the time. Two Central Mental Hospital consultant psychiatrists gave conflicting opinions. Prosecutor Anthony Sammon SC emphasized that the prosecution must prove that Kenna acted with a knowing mind, citing statements she made after the attack.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury heard closing arguments in the trial of 35‑year‑old Laura Kenna, who pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the attempted murder of civil servant Fionnuala Bourke. Kenna allegedly attacked Bourke on Lower Drumcondra Road on 3 January 2017, slitting her throat and causing severe facial scarring. The prosecution, led by Anthony Sammon SC, argued that Kenna's mental state was a key issue and that she had a knowing mind when she acted, citing her own statements about using a knife to rob someone. The defence, represented by Barry White SC, urged the jury to consider whether Kenna was legally insane, relying on conflicting psychiatric opinions. Judge Robert Eagar outlined possible verdicts, noting that a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity would be appropriate if the jury found Kenna suffered from a mental disorder on the balance of probabilities.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 35‑year‑old Laura Kenna, who has no fixed abode, faced charges of attempted murder and assault with intent to cause serious harm after stabbing civil servant Fionnuala Bourke on Lower Drumcondra Road on 3 January 2017. Kenna pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Prosecutor Anthony Sammon SC presented evidence that Bourke's throat was slit and she suffered severe facial scarring, and that Kenna admitted guilt to Gardaí the following day. Defence psychiatrist Dr Stephen Monks testified that Kenna, diagnosed with schizophrenic affective disorder, did not understand her actions and was influenced by hallucinations and delusions. Professor Harry Kennedy countered, arguing Kenna knew her actions were wrong and had a motive to rob Bourke's handbag. Kenna had previously stabbed a woman at a Luas stop two weeks earlier, an incident that had led to a prior verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.
Laura Kenna, aged 34 and without a fixed abode, was arrested on suspicion of slicing the throat of civil servant Fionnuala Burke on Lower Drumcondra Road on 3 January 2017. Kenna pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to attempted murder and assault intending serious harm. The prosecution argued that Kenna attacked Burke, who was walking home from work, by pushing her onto a grassy area and stabbing her with a knife. Burke suffered a deep cut across her neck, penetrating muscle and the thyroid gland, and was treated in intensive care. Kenna was later arrested in Tallaght, where she was found with blood on her clothing, a knife and items belonging to Burke. She admitted to the attack, describing it as "slicing her like you would a goat." The case was opened at the Central Criminal Court, with the jury instructed to consider Kenna's state of mind. The trial was scheduled to continue before Mr Justice Robert Eagar.
In a Dublin Circuit Court trial, a 37‑year‑old man was convicted of sexually assaulting his 15‑year‑old daughter after he mistakenly believed she was his partner while groggy in bed. The case had previously gone to trial in July 2015, where the defendant pleaded not guilty. During the trial, the daughter recounted that she and her younger sister had slept in a double bed with the defendant and his partner, and that the defendant groped her while she slept. She described feeling dirty, unable to sleep, and distrusting others after the assault. The judge noted the defendant's remorse as self‑serving and remanded him in custody, ordering a probation report on his risk of re‑offending and future involvement with his daughters. The sentencing was adjourned to December 17. The defendant had no prior convictions.
Stephen Harnett, a man in his 30s from Wicklow, pleaded guilty to four attempted murder charges involving young children. On 3 June 2016, he tried to strangle two children, leaving them when he believed they were dead, and then attacked two more who fought back and escaped through a window. One child was unconscious and air‑lifted to hospital; the others had purple faces and bulging eyes. Harnett admitted guilt to each charge and was remanded in custody after a brief hearing before Mr Justice Michael White at the Central Criminal Court. His counsel, Patrick Gageby SC, noted a history of depression that might reduce responsibility but not to the extent of insanity, and requested bail to allow a psychiatrist to complete a report. The judge denied bail, citing the seriousness of the offences, and remanded Harnett in custody. Family members were present and tearfully hugged him before he was taken away by prison officers. Stephen Harnett was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
A jury will return tomorrow to the Central Criminal Court to continue considering their verdicts in the trials of two brothers and their father accused of murdering a gunman after he fired at their home. Paul Bradley (54) and his sons Jason (20), and Dean (24) of Liscarne Gardens, Dublin 22, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Neil Reilly (36) at Esker Glebe in Lucan, Dublin on January 18, 2017. A third brother, 18-year old Ryan Bradley, was acquitted of murder on Monday by direction of the judge. The six women and five men have spent more than four hours considering their verdicts today. After less than two hours, they returned to court with a number of questions.
In a High Court hearing on 6 June 2018, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy refused to order Google and Microsoft to remove online references to a man who had been convicted of an unconnected sexual assault earlier that year and was facing a second trial for sexual offences. The judge noted that the courts must adapt to the modern world and that jurors can be trusted to remain impartial even if they encounter online material. Lawyers for the accused had sought temporary removal of the man's name from search results, citing concerns that published reports could prejudice the upcoming trial. The DPP argued that even if search engines removed the name, the material would still be available online. Mr Justice McCarthy concluded that it was unnecessary to remove any online content and that jurors should be instructed to disclose any prior knowledge of the case.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 41‑year‑old woman testified that she was repeatedly raped by her older brother, a 47‑year‑old man who pleaded not guilty to 56 counts of rape and 15 counts of sexual assault. She said the abuse began when she was four and continued until she was between ten and twelve. During cross‑examination, she described feeling terrified of the accused until recently and asserted that only she and the accused know the truth. She described him as a "sexual tyrant" who acted with impunity inside and outside the home. She denied that the alleged offences were fabricated, noting that the accused had denied the allegations in police interviews and threatened to kill their mother. The trial is proceeding before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon with a jury of five women and six men. The unnamed 47-year-old was found guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Tomas Gajowniczek, 37, pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and serious harm against his partner, Alicja Kalinowska, 30, after an assault on 16 June 2016. The jury, after nearly nine hours, found him not guilty by reason of insanity on both counts. Mr Gajowniczek was committed to the Central Mental Hospital for assessment. The trial recounted that he repeatedly punched Ms Kalinowska, forced her to swallow a bottle, stuffed underwear in her mouth, held her nose to stop breathing, beat her with a hammer and gouged her eyes. Ms Kalinowska testified she passed out during the assault. Defence counsel noted psychiatrists had previously assessed Mr Gajowniczek as no longer suffering a mental disorder, but the court ordered further evaluation. The case highlighted the jury's requirement to be satisfied on the balance of probabilities that a mental disorder prevented him from controlling his actions.
In a High Court case, the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection seeks to overturn a District Court decision that struck out charges against Deidre Foley, Mark Redmond, and OCS Operations Ltd. The charges related to alleged breaches of the Protection of Employment Act following Clerys' closure in June 2015, which left 460 employees, including 134 from OCS Operations, redundant. Judge John Brennan dismissed the charges, citing the prosecution's failure to comply with a disclosure order and the risk of delaying the defendants' right to a fair and expeditious trial. The Minister argues that the District Judge failed to balance public interest with the risk of an unfair trial, that the striking‑out order was disproportionate and unjust, and that the Minister had fully complied with disclosure duties. Mr. Padraig O'Dwyer and Breffni Gordon‑Blachly have applied to Mr.
In a victim impact statement before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, a 28‑year‑old woman who was sexually abused by her teenage cousin 15 years earlier told the court that the burden of the abuse was now the man's responsibility. She recalled that the 30‑year‑old accused, who was convicted earlier this year of two counts of sexual assault when she was 13 and he was 15, had denied the allegations and claimed she was "prone to invention". The accused had later admitted to fondling her breasts and performing oral sex, asserting that the relationship had developed during her visit to Ireland and that she had been the "forward person". The court noted that the accused had not pleaded guilty, which had reduced mitigation. The woman described the lasting impact of the abuse, her treatment for PTSD and depression, and her fear of not being believed by her family. The unnamed 28-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Maguire testified that he believed Kevin Braney, aged 44, and Ciaran Maguire, aged 30, were members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on the day in question. He based this belief on confidential information. Detective Sergeant Padraig Boyce provided evidence of Braney's association with individuals previously convicted by the Special Criminal Court, noting Braney's presence outside the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin on 3 February, conversing with Ciaran Burke, a 2012 firearms conviction. Boyce also mentioned Braney's attendance at an "anti-supergrass protest." The defendants pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation. The case is being heard by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Gerard Griffin and Flann Brennan presiding. The trial continues.
Rihards Lavickis, 25, of Longford, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Akadiusz 'Arek' Czajkowski, 31. Lavickis pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter; the plea was not accepted. The trial is currently at the finding stage before Justice Una Ni Raifeartaigh. State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that the deceased died from a stab wound to the heart, with toxicology revealing valium, amphetamines, and alcohol in his system. She noted evidence of chronic alcohol use. Forensic Science Ireland confirmed blood on the accused's jacket matched the deceased. Detective Sergeant Eric Godfrey presented CCTV showing Lavickis chasing the deceased with a raised arm. The prosecution alleges Lavickis stabbed Czajkowski moments later. Both men had prior convictions: Lavickis has 20, including drug possession, while Czajkowski had 15, including driving with excess alcohol and burglary. The trial continues.
A 49‑year‑old man from Meath was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury of four counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault against his teenage sister between 1983 and 1990. He was acquitted of one count of sexual assault that occurred in their father's car in 1982. The jury delivered a unanimous verdict after six hours of deliberation following a week‑long trial. The sister, who was aged between about 14 and 20 during the offences, described the abuse as beginning with touching and tickling, progressing to rape, and occurring in fields, wooded areas, a shed and the family home. She said the brother always ejaculated on her stomach and claimed a local priest had advised him to do so to prevent pregnancy. The trial was emotionally taxing for the sister, who took several breaks and was supported by Justice Deirdre Murphy. The man was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on 19 February. The unnamed 49-year-old pleaded not guilty.
The sentencing of a 36‑year‑old Dublin man convicted of sexually assaulting a woman on UCD campus on 23 July 2014 has been adjourned to allow the prosecution to obtain formal records of his previous convictions from another European country where he was a minor. The jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found him guilty on a single count after a 90‑minute deliberation. Prosecutor Paul Burns SC requested the court obtain the man's earlier convictions and seek advice from a criminal lawyer in that country on whether those convictions are "spent" or expunged under that country's law. Defence lawyer Paul Flannery SC asked for a psychiatric report and for the court to consider whether the earlier convictions could be taken into account. Judge Cormac Quinn adjourned sentencing to 2 March and remanded the man in continuing custody. The case will return next week for further legal argument on the issue of previous convictions. The unnamed 36-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a 2017 trial, retired consultant surgeon Michael Shine, aged 85, was found guilty by a jury of indecent assault on two teenage male patients during the 1970s. The convictions concerned incidents between 1974 and 1976 at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and Shine's private clinic in Drogheda. Shine admitted attending to the patients but denied any inappropriate conduct. Testimony from one victim described being restrained on a bed, having a blanket and rubber bungee straps applied, and the doctor's hand slipping under the blanket to massage his testicles. A second victim recounted that during follow‑up examinations for undescended testes, Shine massaged the base of his penis. The jury acquitted Shine of several other charges, including four counts of groping other teenage boys and one count of assault between 1988 and 1991. Judge Cormac Quinn remanded Shine on continuing bail until December 1 for sentencing.
Gerard Dowling, 40, of Kilkenny, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to attempted murder, assault and knife possession against 60‑year‑old Simon Burke at Market Cross Shopping Centre on 13 July 2016. The Central Criminal Court trial opened with Denis Vaughan Buckley SC presenting forensic psychiatric reports that both prosecution and defence psychiatrists agreed Dowling suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and was not taking medication at the time of the alleged assault. Buckley described Dowling's belief that voices in his head directed him to act, and that he could not refrain from striking Burke with a knife. Burke's partner tried to defend him with a handbag; Burke sustained knife injuries to his head but has fully recovered. If the jury finds Dowling insane, he will be committed to the Central Mental Hospital for assessment and treatment. The trial continues before Justice Paul McDermott.
An autistic 33‑year‑old man from Kilkenny, Daniel O'Connell, was found not guilty by reason of insanity after attempting to murder his pregnant sister, Olivia O'Connell, in Dublin. The Central Criminal Court judge, Mr Justice Paul Butler, ordered his commitment to the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) for 14 days under the Insanity Act. The order followed a jury's special verdict and a forensic psychiatric report by Dr Anthony Kearns, who confirmed that O'Connell's autism constituted a mental disorder that negated his capacity to form the necessary intent. The judge noted a bed was available at CMH and, after reviewing the report, made the commitment. O'Connell was taken to CMH by staff, accompanied by his family, and will receive inpatient care for his disorder. The case was heard in 2017, with the trial detailing O'Connell's preparation, motive, and the violent attack on his sister, who survived after a struggle.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the defence argued that the deceased, James Banville, had provoked the accused, Juraci Da Silva, by assaulting and verbally abusing him. Da Silva, 36, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The defence presented CCTV footage showing two assaults on Da Silva by Banville and Conor Hogan, who were intoxicated and had previously been convicted of assault. The accused was described as smaller, highly intoxicated, and unsteady, and the assaults were characterised as cowardly, gratuitous and unprovoked. The defence claimed Da Silva acted in self‑defence, not with intent to kill, and therefore should be found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. The judge instructed the jury to consider the provocation and excessive self‑defence defences in light of the evidence presented.
Daniel O'Connell, a 33‑year‑old autistic man from Kilkenny, was found not guilty by reason of insanity after attempting to murder his pregnant sister, Olivia O'Connell, in Dublin. The Central Criminal Court heard that Daniel had developed homicidal feelings toward his sister when she moved to Dublin, fearing she would raise a child there. He had a history of an "unnatural dislike of Dublin" stemming from a school trip incident. He admitted to stabbing Olivia three to four times in her home on 25 April 2016, motivated by a belief that she was carrying a Dublin baby and his own suicidal thoughts. Both prosecution and defence psychiatrists agreed that his autism constituted a mental disorder that negated his intent. The jury, after two hours and six minutes, returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.
The jury has begun deliberating in the trial of Daniel O'Connell, a 33‑year‑old autistic man from Kilkenny, who is charged with attempting to murder his pregnant sister, Olivia O'Connell, in Dublin. O'Connell pleaded not guilty. He admitted during Garda interviews that on 25 April 2016 he stabbed Olivia several times in her home at Scholarstown Park, Knocklyon, Dublin, claiming he wanted to prevent her from raising her child in Dublin. The Central Criminal Court heard closing speeches from the prosecution and defence. Prosecutor Michael Bowman SC argued that the facts admitted by O'Connell made the defendant's state of mind the key issue, and that both sides' doctors agreed he suffered a mental disorder, supporting a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. Defence counsel Vincent Heneghan SC agreed and urged the same verdict. Judge Paul Butler expressed sympathy for the victim and told the jury that a unanimous verdict should be achievable.
In the Central Criminal Court, Daniel O'Connell, 33, pleaded not guilty to an attempted murder charge after stabbing his pregnant sister, Olivia O'Connell, in Dublin on 25 April 2016. O'Connell, an autistic man from Kilkenny, admitted to planning the attack and having intended to kill himself 12 days later. The prosecution presented evidence of his computer searches for terms such as 'murder suicide' and 'not guilty by reason of insanity' and testimony from Garda Niall Russell. Defence counsel Vincent Heneghan SC called Dr Paul O'Connell, a consultant psychiatrist, who argued that O'Connell's autism constituted a mental disorder under the Insanity Act and that his impaired judgment negated intent. Dr Anthony Kearns, also a forensic psychiatrist, concurred that the special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity was appropriate. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a jury of twelve. Daniel O'Connell was acquitted.
Daniel O'Connell, 33, an autistic man, is charged with attempting to murder his pregnant sister, Olivia O'Connell. He pleaded not guilty and the jury may find him 'not guilty by reason of insanity'. O'Connell admitted during Garda interviews that he stabbed Olivia on 25 April 2016 in her Dublin home, claiming he wanted her to avoid raising her child in Dublin. Garda Niall Russell informed the Central Criminal Court that O'Connell's computer was searched during the investigation. Russell reported 17 searches for 'murder suicide' between January and 13 April 2016, a February 29 search for a case where a man was found not guilty by reason of insanity, 12 searches for general killings between 9 January and April, and searches for 'jugular vein' and 'wrist' three days before the incident. The prosecution has closed its case; the defence has called a consultant psychiatrist. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a jury of six men and six women.
The charge against Dublin man Jason Keating, 26, for the murder of Noel Kirwan, 62, outside Kirwan's house on St Ronan's Drive, Clondalkin, on 22 December 2016, has been struck out by the Special Criminal Court. The Director of Public Prosecutions applied for the strike‑out, and the presiding judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, told Keating he was "free to go". Keating's counsel, Mr Giollaiosa O Lideadha SC, noted difficulties with the original certificate and charge sheet and that the prosecution intends to restart proceedings against him.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Larry McCarthy Jnr, aged 37, was found not guilty of two charges: threatening to kill Noel Moore, aged 74, and threatening to damage Moore's property at Windsor House, Donoughmore, Limerick. McCarthy Jnr denied the allegations, claiming he did not threaten anyone and that CCTV footage would show he did nothing to anyone. The prosecution alleged that on 28 July 2015 McCarthy Jnr visited Moore's house and said, "I'm going to fucking shoot you" and "I'm going to get my buddies to burn your house to the ground." The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, noted that while McCarthy Jnr had initiated an aggressive confrontation and was an unwelcome visitor, the court could not be satisfied that the threat to shoot constituted a threat to kill. He also found insufficient evidence that the threat included a specific intent to burn Moore's house. Consequently, McCarthy Jnr was acquitted of both charges.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, State solicitor Eve Doherty, aged 49, denied harassing DPP directing officer Elizabeth Howlin between September 2011 and March 2013 and refuting claims that Howlin was perverting justice. Doherty said she had no idea how a "disgruntled" person could know Howlin's personal details, noting that Howlin's role involved deciding on prosecutions. Howlin testified that letters and emails sent to her home, workplace and GP called her a "corrupt bitch" and "incompetent useless hobbit," alleging she was a political appointee who would "pull" files to protect government associates. She denied the allegations, stating they were untrue but contained true personal details. Doherty's counsel, Michael O'Higgins SC, insisted the accusations were unfounded and that the system was often "rigged" against those not prosecuted. The case remains before Judge Melanie Greally and a jury. The unnamed accused pleaded guilty and had the case struck out.
A 34-year-old man from Boyle, County Roscommon, has been found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity at the Central Criminal Court. The accused was charged with the death of a 23-year-old woman in Sligo on 28 October 2015. During the two-day trial, evidence was presented that he had strangled the deceased, whom he believed he needed to kill to save her from what he perceived as an alternate reality. Two consultant forensic psychiatrists testified that the accused was suffering from schizophrenia at the time and would have been unable to refrain from his actions. The jury delivered a unanimous verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity after 24 minutes of deliberation. Mr Justice Tony Hunt committed the accused to the Central Mental Hospital pending a further court appearance on 17 July, when victim impact statements are scheduled to be read and a psychiatric assessment will be considered.
In a 2017 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 69‑year‑old John Farrell was found not guilty by reason of insanity on all 14 counts of criminal damage, endangerment, dangerous driving and failing to stop after a collision. The case stemmed from an April 2014 incident in which Farrell's Mercedes smashed through Trinity College's 18th‑century wooden gates, causing over €33,000 in damage. He drove through the gates, struck security guards, a college van and a student, and then drove aggressively through Grafton Street, Nassau Street and Dawson Street, forcing Gardaí to restrain him. Dr Paul O'Connor testified that Farrell suffered from hyper‑mania and bipolar disorder, lacking moral awareness and the capacity to understand the consequences of his actions. The jury, after 42 minutes, returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The judge noted Farrell's history of aggression and hospitalisations, and the court committed him to a psychiatric unit.
Glen Conroy, 27, was found guilty by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury of assaulting a prison officer at Mountjoy Prison on 20 March 2013. Conroy claimed the officer, Paul Brady, had moved him to a new cell without a television and that he had been attacked unprovoked. Conroy said he head‑butted Brady and punched him, but Brady testified that Conroy was the aggressor. Conroy also alleged that officer Patrick Laverty had grabbed his testicles and forced him to the ground, a claim Laverty denied. Conroy admitted no complaint had been made about the alleged assault. Assistant‑Governor Malcolm O'Sullivan reported a disciplinary hearing on 23 March 2013, after which Conroy signed a report and lost privileges for 56 days. The hearing was later disputed by Conroy, who said it never occurred. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the case for sentencing on 26 July and remanded Conroy in custody.
A Central Criminal Court jury found a 55‑year‑old man, Aivars Sondors, not guilty of three counts of impeding a murder investigation. The case involved the killing of 44‑year‑old Audrius Butkus, who was allegedly murdered by Marius Gaizutis on 9 September 2013. Sondors was accused of moving the body from a house on Marsh Road, Drogheda, dumping it in the sea at Mornington Beach, cleaning the scene, and disposing of items at Burke House on Mathew's Lane. He admitted the allegations but pleaded not guilty, claiming duress. The jury deliberated for two hours and three minutes and returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty on all counts. The trial lasted six days, with evidence from witnesses, forensic experts, and Gardaí, and concluded with the judge thanking the jury and exempting them from service for six years. Audrius Butkus was convicted.
A 55‑year‑old man, Aivars Sondors, stands trial in the Central Criminal Court for three counts of assisting an offender by impeding the investigation of a homicide. The alleged offence involved the murder of 44‑year‑old Audrius Butkus, who died from a violent and bloody assault before his body was dumped on Mornington Beach. Sondors is accused of moving the body from a house on Marsh Road, cleaning the basement, and disposing of carpet, clothing, a nail brush, a bin bag, bottles and tins at Burke House. He pleaded not guilty, and his defence argues that he acted under duress. The jury, sworn in on 19 June 2017, will decide whether duress applies to the alleged acts. The trial is scheduled to last seven days under Mr Justice Paul Coffey. Audrius Butkus was convicted. Aivars Sondors was convicted.
A Medical Council fitness to practice inquiry has found Dr Salah Aziz Ahmed, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, guilty of one count of poor professional performance. The finding relates to his care of Patient C, specifically his failure to decide that immediate delivery by emergency caesarean section was required. Dr Aziz was found not guilty of poor professional performance regarding six other allegations that were proven as to fact, and he was cleared of professional misconduct on two counts. The inquiry examined his care of three women at Cavan General Hospital between 2012 and 2014. In relation to Patient A, the committee found he increased syntocinon administration despite evidence of hyperstimulation, performed an unjustified episiotomy, and failed to catheterise her before surgery. Regarding Deirdre Clarke, who waived anonymity, the committee found he directed syntocinon increases and maintained infusion levels while she was in labour, increasing the risk of uterine rupture. For Patient C, the committee found he failed to decide on immediate surgery and failed to attend the hospital within an adequate timeframe to assess her. Dr Aziz admitted as to fact the single allegation found to amount to poor professional performance. His legal counsel argued for a sanction on the lower end of the scale, noting he demonstrated insight and that no allegation claimed the outcome for Patient C's baby would have differed with earlier delivery. Sanctions will be determined at a later date by the Medical Council.
A 44-year-old man from Dundalk in County Louth has been convicted of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army by the Special Criminal Court. Michael Connolly, of Grange Drive, was found guilty following a trial before three judges. The court heard evidence that Connolly was observed driving in convoy with another man in the Ardee area on December 16th, 2014. Both vehicles travelled together to Mullingar, where the other man was found in possession of two improvised explosive devices. The judges accepted belief evidence from a Garda assistant commissioner regarding Connolly's membership and found he was a willing and knowing participant in the enterprise. The court drew inferences from Connolly's silence when questioned on specific matters, finding this corroborated other evidence. Connolly had pleaded not guilty to the charge. He was remanded in custody pending sentencing on July 10th.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence regarding a secret communiqué allegedly smuggled out of Portlaoise prison by Brian Kenna. Kenna, who pleaded not guilty to membership of the IRA, was found with the document in his pocket during a search. Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Maguire testified that the message, written on cigarette paper, was a debriefing of three men involved in an intercepted IRA operation, intended for the group's leadership in Northern Ireland. The debriefing concerned Conor Hughes and Darren Fox, who admitted to the unlawful possession of a sawn-off shotgun and two shotgun cartridges in County Limerick, and James Smithers, who was found guilty of IRA membership. Maguire stated the debriefing was conducted by the IRA's commanding officer in Portlaoise prison and referenced three other leading members in Northern Ireland. Kenna was interviewed under Section 2 of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act, 1998, allowing inferences to be drawn from his silence. He denied travelling to the prison for IRA activities, claiming he visited in his capacity with the Irish Prisoners' Welfare Association to raise welfare concerns. Kenna stated he was unaware of the note, suggesting it may have been hidden among Christmas cards handed to him. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges John O'Hagan and Flann Brennan.
In a court‑martial held at the Military Justice Centre in Dublin, Sergeant Martin Dougan was found not guilty of assaulting Corporal Niall McShane during a night out in Lebanon. The incident was alleged to have taken place in a pub on the morning of 9 March 2014, after the men had visited Naqoura the previous evening. McShane claimed he was struck in the left eye by Dougan, while Dougan denied the assault. The board of officers, acting like a jury, deliberated for 90 minutes and returned a verdict of not guilty on both the civil and Defence Forces Act charges. A separate charge that Dougan was intoxicated on the day of the alleged assault was dismissed due to lack of evidence. Dougan had denied all accusations during the hearing. The trial concluded with Dougan acquitted of the assault allegations.
In a Meath case, a 39‑year‑old man sexually abused three daughters of a woman after moving into their home. One victim, 15, was raped while ill; the next day she told her mother. The accused and his partner left for Gardaí, but the mother later claimed the man falsely said the daughter had touched him first and she chose not to report. She then washed the bedclothes and the rape scene, and the next day took her daughter to a GP for the morning‑after pill, claiming consensual sex with a 17‑year‑old. Gardaí were alerted when the girls' school notified HSE. The children were placed in care; the accused moved out. The mother supported him during the trial, alleging intimidation by her daughters and feeling "under duress." The accused was convicted of one rape and 12 sexual assault counts, but he does not accept the verdict. He was remanded for sentencing.