During the second day of Andresj Krauze's murder trial, the jury heard that his brother, Sergejs Krauze, had been convicted of manslaughter in the death of Juris Buls. Garda Cormac Bane presented CCTV footage from Glenamaddy showing a maroon‑coloured Honda Accord, similar to Sergejs's car, arriving an hour after Buls' girlfriend left his home. The footage also suggested a black Audi, Buls' vehicle, was seen driving around four hours after Buls was last seen alive. The prosecution alleged that Buls was killed in his home by Andresj Krauze shortly after the Honda arrived, and that his body was taken to a wooded area 7 km outside Glenamaddy. The case was heard by a jury of six men and six women, and the trial continues before Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan. Andresj Krauze pleaded not guilty.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, Wayne Cluskey, aged 25, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for the death of Christopher Nevin, who was killed with an axe during a dispute over a pedigree chihuahua. Josh Turner, aged 24, was convicted of murder for the same incident. The jury, composed of nine men and three women, reached both verdicts by a 10‑to‑2 majority after more than two days of deliberation. Cluskey and Turner were remanded in custody until a sentencing hearing on 27 February. The trial included CCTV footage of the assault, testimony from Wayne Casserly about the dog dispute, and accounts of how Cluskey and Turner entered the scene, used an axe, and struck Nevin, leading to his death. The families of the deceased and the accused were kept inside the court by Gardaí during the proceedings.
The jury in the trial of Wayne Cluskey (25) and Josh Turner (24) of Mooretown, Ratoath, Co Meath, who are accused of murdering Christopher Nevin on 19 November 2015, will return tomorrow to continue deliberations. Both men pleaded not guilty. The jury has been instructed that for Cluskey there are three possible verdicts: not guilty if he was defending Turner and used reasonable force; manslaughter if he was defending Turner but used unreasonable force; or murder if the prosecution proved he was not defending Turner and intended to kill or seriously injure Nevin. For Turner there are two possible verdicts: manslaughter if he was provoked to the point of losing self‑control or if he acted in self‑defence but used unreasonable force; or murder if the prosecution proved he intended to kill or seriously injure Nevin. The case arose from a dispute over a male chihuahua loaned to Nevin for breeding, which led to a fight. Josh Turner was acquitted.
In a 2017 trial in Offaly, a 53‑year‑old man was found guilty of sexually abusing his 10‑year‑old daughter on six occasions between 1994 and 1996. He pleaded not guilty to three counts of assault and three counts of oral rape, but a jury convicted him on all six charges. The abuse occurred while the mother was away for work; the father would wake his daughter at night, take her to his bed, and force her to undress before abusing her. He left a £50 note after each incident, which the daughter later returned. The daughter, now 32, testified that she had remained silent for 20 years and only came forward in 2014 after learning her father had a new partner with young daughters. She said she had to break her silence to protect others and that the abuse had a profound effect on her trust in people.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 21 December 2016, Terence 'Terry' Connors, aged 42, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for the death of Peter Conroy, aged 25, at Palmerstown Lodge B&B on 9 June 2015. Connors had pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter, but the prosecution rejected his plea. The jury, composed of seven women and five men, deliberated over five hours and returned a verdict by a 10‑to‑two majority. Connors was also convicted of a second count of assaulting Elaine Blunt on the same night. The court experienced violent scenes as family and friends of the deceased shouted and surged toward Connors; police and Gardaí in stab vests contained the crowd. The case was adjourned for mention on 17 January. The prosecution's case relied on CCTV footage and a witness statement from Blunt, who claimed to have seen Connors stab Conroy.
A 32‑year‑old man, Fionn Braidwood, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for stabbing his retired psychiatrist mother, Jane Braidwood, to death with a kitchen knife on 20 January 2015 at their Clarinda Park East home. He was also charged with assault causing harm to Ceili Braidwood and Anthony Maguire on the same day. After a 32‑minute deliberation, a jury returned the special verdict on all three counts. The Central Criminal Court, hearing evidence from Dr Sally Linehan, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, noted that Mr Braidwood has been under care at the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) since January 2015 and suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and depression. Dr Linehan reported partial improvement but ongoing low mood, social withdrawal and lack of motivation, and recommended continued inpatient treatment. Justice Carmel Stewart ordered Mr Braidwood to be committed to the CMH for ongoing care.
A 32‑year‑old man, Fionn Braidwood, was found not guilty of murder and assault by reason of insanity after stabbing his 65‑year‑old mother, Jane Braidwood, with a kitchen knife on 20 January 2015. He also attacked his sister Ceili Braidwood and passer‑by Anthony Maguire at the same address. Two consultant psychiatrists testified that Braidwood suffered from schizophrenia and could not control his actions. The jury returned a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity after 32 minutes of deliberation. Justice Carmel Stewart ordered Braidwood to be committed to the Central Mental Hospital and to appear again on 16 December. The judge exempted the jury from further service for ten years and expressed sympathy to the Braidwood family. The prosecution had argued that Braidwood's non‑compliance with medication and severe psychiatric symptoms made him incapable of restraint at the time of the offence.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, a second psychiatrist testified that 32‑year‑old Fionn Braidwood, who stabbed his 65‑year‑old mother Jane Braidwood to death on 20 January 2015, was suffering from schizophrenia and would have been unable to control his actions at the time. The psychiatrist, Dr Ronan Mullaney, had assessed Braidwood in October and November of the same year and found evidence of a long‑standing illness, first manifesting in 2006, with symptoms including persecutory delusions, hallucinations and disorganised speech. He noted that Braidwood had not taken strong anti‑psychotic medication from autumn 2014 until the offence and had refused depot injections for several months. Dr Mullaney agreed that Braidwood was "very very unwell" on the day of the murder and would have needed ongoing treatment at the Central Mental Hospital. Fionn Braidwood pleaded not guilty and was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
A forensic psychiatrist testified that 32‑year‑old Fionn Braidwood, charged with stabbing his 65‑year‑old mother Jane Braidwood to death on 20 January 2015, suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and would have been unable to refrain from his actions at the time. Braidwood pleaded not guilty to the murder and to assault charges against Ceili Braidwood and Anthony Maguire. The prosecution argued for a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. Witness Anthony Maguire described hearing Ceili call for help, seeing Braidwood standing passively, and later being punched and attacked. The court heard a post‑mortem showing three stab wounds to Jane Braidwood's chest. Dr Brenda Wright, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, presented a report detailing Braidwood's history of psychiatric admissions, medication non‑compliance, and a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, concluding he was acutely mentally unwell at the time of the offence. The trial proceeded before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a bar manager was acquitted of rape and sexual assault after a woman claimed she was incapacitated by ketamine she mistakenly took at a party. The accused, who denied the allegations, testified that the encounter was consensual and that he did not strike the woman with his penis. The woman, who had snorted a line of ketamine thinking it was cocaine, described being unable to speak or move and later being sexually assaulted for about twenty seconds. She reported that the accused pulled down her jeans and that she was left in a comatose state. The jury deliberated for just over two hours before finding the accused not guilty of both charges. The judge thanked the jurors and released them from future service for ten years. The case had originally involved a plea of not guilty to rape and sexual assault in a Dublin apartment in November 2013.
Musuala Lombe, a 34‑year‑old Congolese father of four who has lived in Ireland since 2000, was found guilty by a jury of unlawful possession of a controlled drug and possession of cannabis for the purpose of sale or supply on 27 April 2009. The cannabis, worth €20,000, was seized from a suspicious package that customs and excise officers in Portlaoise intercepted on 22 April 2009. Lombe signed for the package at a Ballycullen address, was arrested five minutes later, and was not charged until 2014. He has no prior convictions and has not been involved with Gardaí since the offence. The court noted the seriousness of the offence, ordered a probation report and adjourned sentencing to 23 January next year. The case also raised questions about the renewal of his green card, which has been subject to frequent renewal and may be affected by the criminal proceedings.
The family of Maria O'Brien, a 55‑year‑old patient at St Otteran's Hospital, expressed shock at her death after she was stabbed more than 100 times by Paul Cuddihy, a 38‑year‑old man with paranoid schizophrenia. Cuddihy, who had been found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of O'Brien on 5 September 2014, was committed to the Central Mental Hospital for ongoing treatment. O'Brien's son, Patrick Halley, described her as a bubbly, kind‑hearted person who loved her children and whose last words to Cuddihy were "remember the children." O'Brien's brother, Joe O'Mahony, spoke of the trauma of learning she had cried out for help and pleaded with her killer to stop. Dr Damian Mohan, a forensic psychiatrist, confirmed that Cuddihy remains ill, shows little remorse, and has not accepted his need for help. Justice Patrick McCarthy committed Cuddihy to the Central Mental Hospital under Section 5(2) of the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act.
In the first trial at the new Special Criminal Court in Dublin, 25‑year‑old Ryan Glennon of Macken Villas was found guilty of membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Glennon had pleaded not guilty on 13 May 2015. The three‑judge panel, led by Justice Robert Eagar with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and James Faughnan, heard evidence from Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan who claimed confidential information indicated Glennon was an IRA member. The court noted that Glennon's refusal to answer questions during Garda interviews—about his membership, involvement in IRA activity, and the presence of his fingerprints and DNA in a Courtown house containing Semtex, rockets and other explosive materials—was "supportive and corroborative" of the superintendent's claims. Testimony from the National Surveillance Unit placed Glennon at the house four days before the Garda raid on 13 May 2015.
A 35-year-old Dublin man has been found not guilty by reason of insanity of assaulting two women in Dublin city centre on 14 April 2015. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the defendant pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to two counts of assault causing harm. The court heard he was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and had discontinued his anti-psychotic medication prior to the offences. Both prosecution and defence counsel submitted that he met the criteria under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006, as he did not know his actions were wrong and was unable to control himself. Forensic psychiatrists for both sides concurred on these grounds. The jury returned the special verdict within minutes. Judge Martin Nolan ordered that the defendant be brought to the Central Mental Hospital for assessment of his treatment needs. The case was adjourned to 17 November.
In a case heard in 2016, Paul Cuddihy, aged 38, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of Maria O'Brien, aged 55, who was stabbed more than 100 times at St Otteran's Hospital on 5 September 2014. Cuddihy also faced charges of assault causing harm to nurses Breda Fennelly, Mary Grant, Terry Hayes, and fellow resident Mary Nugent, and he pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to those charges as well. Prosecution counsel John O'Kelly SC presented evidence that Cuddihy killed O'Brien and attacked the others, stating that the facts were clear beyond reasonable doubt. He urged the jury to decide whether Cuddihy was sane or insane under the Mental Health Act, noting that forensic psychiatrists agreed he knew what he was doing but could not recognise it as wrong or stop himself.
A 60‑year‑old man, James Redmond, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for murdering Mary Dargan and attempting to murder her daughter Karina in Killinarden Estate, Tallaght, on 15 March 2014. After a four‑hour deliberation, a jury returned majority verdicts of not guilty on both counts. Mr Justice Eagar ordered Redmond to be committed to the Central Mental Hospital (CMH). Dr Damian Mohan, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, testified that Redmond was admitted to the CMH on 26 March 2014, presented with delusional beliefs and auditory hallucinations, and had been receiving antipsychotic and antidepressant treatment. He noted that Redmond's condition had improved but he remained depressed, with Parkinson's disease diagnosed in 2015. Dr Mohan recommended continued inpatient care at the CMH, which the court accepted. The prosecution had argued that Redmond's delusions were unfounded and that he was unable to control his actions.
James Redmond, 60, of Killinarden Estate, Tallaght, Dublin 24, was found not guilty by reason of insanity of murdering Mary Dargan and attempting to murder Karina Dargan at their home on March 15, 2014. Redmond pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to both charges at the Central Criminal Court. The jury returned majority verdicts of not guilty on both counts after four hours and five minutes of deliberation. The court heard that Redmond allegedly jumped over a back wall with a shotgun, shooting Mary Dargan dead and Karina Dargan in the head. Two consultant forensic psychiatrists testified that Redmond was suffering from severe depressive episodes with psychotic symptoms, rendering him unable to refrain from his actions. Justice Robert Eagar committed Redmond to the Central Mental Hospital and ordered him to be brought back before the court at 9am the following day for a psychiatric assessment. The matter was adjourned for this purpose. Redmond expressed his sorrow for his actions and the devastating consequences for the Dargan family. Victim impact statements were read on behalf of the Dargan children and Karina Dargan, who described her ongoing fear and trauma. The judge exempted the jury from further service for five years.
In a 2016 trial, forensic psychiatrist Dr Conor O'Neill testified that James Redmond, 60, suffered from severe depressive episodes with psychotic symptoms and would have been unable to refrain from his actions. Redmond, charged with murdering Mary Dargan and attempting to murder Karina Dargan on 15 March 2014, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Dr O'Neill described Redmond's history of hearing voices, weight loss, and persecutory delusions, noting that he had been admitted to the Central Mental Hospital after a transfer from Cloverhill Prison. He diagnosed Redmond with psychotic depression, stating that Redmond was fit to be tried but would remain under treatment. The case was set to continue before Mr Justice Robert Eagar.
A 38‑year‑old Polish man, Andrzej Wawrzyniak, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for stabbing fellow Polish national Jacek Kozakiewicz to death in an abandoned pub squat on Dublin's North Wall Quay on 26 February 2014. Wawrzyniak also pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to another occupant, Filip Talaj. The jury, after a little over four hours, delivered a unanimous verdict. Wawrzyniak was remanded in custody until 10 October for a sentencing hearing. The trial revealed that the squat was a makeshift living space where the occupants, including Kozakiewicz who was described as "the boss", were required to stay indoors during daylight to avoid attention. On the night of the incident, an argument erupted; Wawrzyniak stabbed Talaj several times and later fled the squat, boarding a tram.
Sean Carraher, aged 55, is on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for harassing Sergeant Conor Gilmartin by posting about 50 messages on Rate-Your-Solicitor and Victims of the Legal Profession, alleging that Gilmartin had withheld evidence in a prior case. He is also accused of making between ten and twenty calls to the sergeant. Carraher claims he was being harassed by Gardaí who subjected him to unwarranted arrests and that he was a whistle‑blower exposing Garda corruption. On the third day of his trial, Garda Rosemary Clancy told defence counsel that she had arrested Carraher at least five times over allegations that he had harassed his wife and breached court orders, and that he had been convicted six times in relation to these allegations, five of which were later overturned on appeal. Clancy also confirmed that she called Carraher on 24 December 2008 to inform him of his next court appearance, a call Carraher denies was harassment. Sean Carraher pleaded not guilty.
A harassment charge against a garda from Bundoran, County Donegal has been withdrawn at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Garda Donal Maguire, aged 40, had previously been found not guilty by reason of insanity on two counts of harassment following a trial last month. The jury returned that verdict after hearing evidence that he had sent a Valentine's card, emails and a social media friend request to a married female sergeant despite being instructed by superiors to cease contact. Mr Maguire, who suffers from early onset dementia, was committed to the Central Mental Hospital following the trial. The Director of Public Prosecutions entered a nolle prosequi on the additional harassment charge, relating to conduct between February and March 2014, resulting in its withdrawal.
The trial of Krzystof Grzegorski and Dariusz Weckowicz for the murder of Bogdan Michalkiewicz (41) in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, has heard evidence regarding the accused's background. Grzegorski, who pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, was described as having started drinking at age 14 after moving from Poland. His co-accused, Weckowicz, pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The State did not accept Grzegorski's manslaughter plea. Detective Garda Alfie McHale testified that Grzegorski had a history of public drunkenness, including a 2010 conviction at age 16. On the weekend of the killing, Grzegorski was seen on CCTV stealing vodka from supermarkets in Letterkenny, including an incident after 6pm on May 13, 2013, when the prosecution states Michalkiewicz was already deceased. Grzegorski was arrested with Weckowicz after security guards called gardai. The trial continues before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of eight men and four women.
A garda from Bundoran, County Donegal, has been committed to the Central Mental Hospital following a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The officer was found not guilty on two counts of harassment against a married female sergeant after a jury determined he was suffering from a mental disorder at the time of the offences, which occurred between February 2012 and February 2013. Medical evidence established that the garda had frontotemporal dementia, diagnosed as early onset, which impaired his judgment and impulse control. The court heard the harassment caused significant distress to the complainant and affected her work and family life. Judge Elma Sheahan ordered the garda's detention at the Central Mental Hospital for inpatient care and treatment, following a clinical assessment indicating he required ongoing treatment at a designated centre.
In 2016 a man who was sexually abused by Garda Jack Dunne when he was 12 years old in the late 1950s and early 1960s settled a High Court action against the Garda Commissioner and the State. The abuse took place at Pearse Street Garda Station in Dublin, where Dunne was stationed. The claimant sought damages for personal injury, distress and upset caused by the abuse and alleged negligence and breach of duty of care by the Garda Commissioner, the Minister for Justice and the Attorney General. The defendants were found vicariously liable for Dunne's conduct. The case was settled before trial, with a statement read by the defendants acknowledging the abuse and committing to prevent and prosecute such offenders. No further settlement details were disclosed. The claimant expressed satisfaction with the outcome. Jack Dunne was convicted.
A man from Carndonagh, County Donegal, has been found not guilty by reason of insanity of the murder of his parents at their home on October 22, 2014. Julian Cuddihy (43) faced two charges at the Central Criminal Court following the deaths of his mother Kathleen (73) and father James (77). The trial heard expert evidence from two consultant forensic psychiatrists who testified that Mr Cuddihy's severe mental illness prevented him from knowing his actions were wrong and rendered him unable to stop himself. The jury deliberated for forty minutes before returning unanimous verdicts on both counts. Justice Margaret Heneghan committed Mr Cuddihy to the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum for ongoing assessment and treatment. His family released a statement expressing their grief and urging other families to seek timely professional help for relatives experiencing mental health concerns. A follow-up court hearing was scheduled for June 20.
Ross Allen, 25, was found guilty of manslaughter for his role in the killing of Christy Daly, a father of eight who lived alone on Bog Lane, Kilbride, Clara, Co Offaly. The Central Criminal Court jury, after nearly nine hours, returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. Allen acted as a lookout on 29 December 2013 while two Dublin gang members beat and shot Daly. The judge noted that Allen's intent was to cause injury, not death, and that the state of mind of the accused was central to the case. Allen had previously admitted to hiding a €30,000 bag of drugs near Daly's caravan and had been questioned by Gardaí about his intentions. He was remanded in custody pending sentencing on 18 July. The trial highlighted the gang's belief that Daly had taken the drugs and the subsequent violent confrontation that led to his death.
A 41‑year‑old man, Declan O'Cualain, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for strangling his brother Adrian Folan with a bungee cord on 4 July 2014. In the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution argued that O'Cualain was fixated on paedophilia and believed his brother had abused him, but two forensic psychiatrists testified that he was in a delusional state and should not be held responsible. The jury returned a not‑guilty verdict after 21 minutes of deliberation. Judge Margaret Heneghan ordered O'Cualain to be committed to the Central Mental Hospital (CMH). Dr Sally Linehan, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, reported that O'Cualain had been admitted to the CMH in December 2014, was under her care since February 2015, and had improved insight into his bipolar disorder. She confirmed he was receiving antipsychotic and mood‑stabilising medication and had responded well to treatment. The judge, satisfied with the psychiatric evidence, committed him to the CMH for inpatient care.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 3 May 2016, Justice Deirdre Murphy adjourned sentencing for Michael Kinsella, 24, who admitted his part in the 2011 stabbing that killed 29‑year‑old Adil Essalhi. Kinsella pleaded guilty to manslaughter in December 2015. The court reviewed details of the incident: Kinsella and his uncle, Wayne Kinsella, took Essalhi from a party to a field in Tallaght where the fatal attack occurred. Wayne Kinsella, already convicted of murder for the same death, was described by defence counsel as a "dominant" force that Kinsella feared. Prosecutor Kerida Naidoo confirmed that Kinsella admitted his role, including bringing a weapon, using it, and later attempting to set Essalhi's body on fire. The State accepted the guilty plea on the basis of these admissions, and Justice Murphy agreed the case constituted an "assault to manslaughter" verdict. Sentencing was postponed until 31 May 2016.
RTE has filed a pre‑trial motion with the High Court to have Sean Gallagher's lawsuit dismissed, arguing that he has not complied with orders to provide material the broadcaster says is relevant to the case. The disputed material includes e‑mails from Gallagher's campaign to become president. RTE's counsel, Paul Gallagher SC, described Gallagher's approach to discovery as "alarming" and cited serious negligence, while Gallagher's counsel, Niall Buckley BL, acknowledged initial deficiencies but said they were rectified. Gallagher's claim seeks a declaration that an October 2011 RTE Frontline debate was unfairly edited to damage his electoral prospects, and he also seeks damages for alleged breach of statutory duty, negligence, misfeasance, and exemplary damages related to comments by Pat Kenny. RTE denies all allegations, stating Gallagher's actions harmed his prospects. The motion is before Mr Justice David Keane, with the hearing expected to conclude on Friday. Gallagher was not present at the hearing. Sean Gallagher had the case struck out.
A 41‑year‑old Declan O'Cualain was found not guilty by reason of insanity for strangling his brother Adrian Folan with a bungee cord on 4 July 2014. O'Cualain, who lived in An Caoran Beag, An Cheathru Rua, Co Galway, was charged with murder after the body was discovered concealed under rocks near the Cliffs of Moher, Co Clare. He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, and after 21 minutes of deliberation a jury of nine men and three women returned that verdict. The judge, Justice Margaret Heneghan, exempted the jury from further service for 15 years and ordered O'Cualain to be committed to the Central Mental Hospital. The court heard forensic psychiatrists confirmed he was in an acute manic psychosis state, unable to appreciate the nature of his actions. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court on 22 April 2016.
Julian Myerscough, 54, a former law lecturer, was found guilty by a jury of 13 counts of possession of indecent images of a child and of breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order at Ipswich Crown Court on 30 September 2015. He was convicted in his absence after failing to return to court after lunch, and a warrant was issued. He fled to Ireland, was arrested on 2 October in Dublin under a European Arrest Warrant, and was brought before the High Court. His solicitor, Kieran Kelly, argued that Myerscough had not received a fair trial, citing the unavailability of a key police witness for cross‑examination and alleged procedural errors in the warrant. Justice Aileen Donnelly rejected these arguments, stating the British court had already examined the case, found no injustice, and ordered his surrender to British authorities, remanding him in custody until the order is executed.
A man from Roscommon has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his mother by reason of insanity at the Central Criminal Court. Paul Henry, aged 29, is charged with stabbing Ann Henry to death at Abbeystown, Ballyphesan in Roscommon town on 17 September 2011. During the trial, forensic psychiatrist Dr Brenda Wright gave evidence that she had diagnosed Mr Henry with paranoid schizophrenia, characterised by delusions that his mother and others were conspiring to harm him. Dr Wright told the court that Mr Henry believed his mother intended to have him killed and that he would be killed if he did not kill her first. Both prosecution and defence counsels submitted to the jury that the evidence supported a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The prosecution noted that medical staff at the Central Mental Hospital supported this assessment. The jury commenced deliberations following the judge's charge.
In February 2016, Shane Smyth, aged 29, was committed to the Central Mental Hospital after a trial found him not guilty of murdering shop worker Mairead Moran by reason of insanity. The case, heard at the Central Criminal Court, involved Smyth's belief that Moran had stolen a "vile of his blood," installed hidden cameras, and placed black widow spiders in his house. Forensic psychiatrists Dr Brenda Wright and Dr Paul O'Connell testified that Smyth suffered from severe paranoid schizophrenia and was not capable of forming a specific intent. Dr Sally Linehan, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, reported that Smyth had been admitted to the CMH on 16 May 2014, had received Clozapine and a second psychotic medication, yet continued to exhibit psychosis and delusional beliefs. She recommended his continued inpatient care, which Justice Margaret Heneghan ordered. The decision was based on Smyth's mental disorder and the need for treatment in a designated centre. Mairead Moran was acquitted.
Dragos Nica, 30, of Skerries, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of 55‑year‑old Michael Gannon on 14 November 2013. The jury heard that Gannon was babysitting children when Nica stabbed him after a child reported a man looking in the living‑room window. Nica claimed he had been deliberately poisoned by Gannon's daughter, Jade. Dr Sally Linehan, a psychiatrist, testified that Nica suffers from paranoid schizophrenia characterised by delusions and hallucinations, and that he is polite and well‑kempt during interviews. Mr Nica denied feeling depressed but continued to express abnormal beliefs. Justice Tony Hunt ordered Nica's commitment to the Central Mental Hospital, noting that treatment must be supervised and that the verdict was the only available option for the jury. The decision was made without impact evidence from the victim's family.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, 56‑year‑old Colm Lawless was found not guilty by reason of insanity after he pointed a realistic imitation gun at Garda Gary Farrell and his partner. Lawless, suffering from bipolar disorder and in a manic phase, had stopped his medication and was experiencing severe delusions, believing he was the head of a "Jerusalem secret service" and on a mission from God. He threatened to shoot himself if the gardaí did not return his keys. The jury, instructed by Judge Sarah Berkeley, returned a special verdict after 46 minutes. Lawless will be sent to the Central Mental Hospital for a 14‑day assessment, with a doctor to report a treatment plan on February 22. The incident involved two pepper‑sprays that had no effect, and Lawless was later arrested and taken to hospital. He later admitted to buying the gun as a curiosity item and apologized to the officers.
The article discusses how, since the start of the legal term, two murder trials resulted in defendants pleading not guilty by reason of insanity, with juries finding them not guilty after brief deliberations. Both cases involved young men with delusions of persecution who stabbed victims, and the prosecution and defence agreed the men were legally insane. Judges had effectively instructed juries on the verdict. The piece explains that Section 5 of the Criminal Justice (Insanity) Act 2006 allows such pleas and requires psychiatric testimony. It notes that when both sides agree on insanity, the trial still proceeds, which the author finds absurd. The article cites additional cases, including a 2012 trial involving a former MEP's son, to illustrate the system's inefficiencies and potential for miscarriages of justice. It concludes by suggesting a non‑criminal proceeding could better protect vulnerable individuals while reducing the burden on the court system. The unnamed accused was acquitted.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Shane Smyth, aged 29, was found not guilty of murdering shop worker Mairead Moran, aged 26, by reason of insanity. The jury was told the facts were not disputed and heard forensic psychiatrists Dr Brenda Wright and Dr Paul O'Connell testify that Smyth suffered from severe paranoid schizophrenia and was not capable of forming a specific intent. The judge explained that a verdict other than not guilty by reason of insanity would reject the psychiatric evidence. After 55 minutes of deliberation, the jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The judge ordered Smyth to be detained in the Central Mental Hospital and excused the jurors from future service. No other charges or outcomes were reported in the article.
In the Central Criminal Court, Shane Smyth, 29, stood accused of murdering 26‑year‑old Mairead Moran on 8 May 2014 at Kilkenny's Market Cross Shopping Centre. He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Forensic psychiatrists Dr Brenda Wright and Dr Paul O'Connell testified that Smyth suffered from severe paranoid schizophrenia and was incapable of forming the intent required for murder. The prosecution, led by Mr John O'Kelly SC, highlighted the extensive evidence, including eyewitness testimony and long‑term medical records, to support the insanity defence. Defence counsel, Mr Colman Cody SC, emphasised the tragic nature of the case and argued that the only appropriate verdict was not guilty by reason of insanity, ensuring Smyth receives proper treatment while protecting society. The court was instructed to follow the judge's legal directions on all matters. The case remains at the trial stage.
In a 2016 trial, a 30‑year‑old man from Skerries, Dragos Nica, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for stabbing a 55‑year‑old neighbour, Michael Gannon, to death on 14 November 2013. The jury heard that Nica had previously considered killing Gannon's young grandchildren and that he had a history of chronic paranoid schizophrenia, with delusions and hallucinations. He had been admitted to psychiatric facilities on several occasions, often involuntarily, and had a long record of drug use, including cannabis, heroin and ecstasy. On the night of the murder, Nica claimed he believed he had been poisoned by Gannon's daughter and that he was in an agitated state, grabbing a larger knife after a smaller one. He called emergency services after the stabbing, claiming he had stabbed someone. The trial was set to continue with closing speeches before a judge and jury.
At the Central Criminal Court, a resident of an apartment complex in Tyrellstown, Dublin 15 has given evidence in the trial of Michael Kinsella (22), who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Adil Essalhi (29) on January 6, 2011. The witness told the jury she was approached by a man at the building on January 7, 2011 and asked if she had a saw. The prosecution contends that the killing was carried out by two people. Kinsella, with addresses in Tallaght and Ardkeen, County Cavan, has maintained his not guilty plea. His uncle, Wayne Kinsella, was convicted of the same killing in 2012. Evidence from another witness, the former partner of Wayne Kinsella, was also heard. The cross-examination continued before the jury, with one member becoming unwell. Proceedings are ongoing.
At the Central Criminal Court, a jury heard evidence on Tuesday in the trial of Michael Kinsella (22), of Swiftbrook Close, Tallaght and Ardkeen, Cavan, who has pleaded not guilty to murdering Adil Essalhi (29) on January 6, 2011. The prosecution alleges the killing was committed by two people. Gardaí located Mr Essalhi's body partially submerged in a ditch near Tyrellstown, Dublin 15, on January 13, 2011 during an investigation into a missing person. A knife was recovered from the ditch the following day. Evidence was heard from gardaí who conducted the search and from a witness who was present when the deceased left a party with both Michael Kinsella and his uncle Wayne Kinsella, who was convicted of the murder in 2012. The trial continues.
A prosecution witness told the Central Criminal Court that she wrote to the late Mr Justice Paul Carney claiming a convicted killer had pressured her into making false allegations against the accused, the jury heard. Michael Kinsella, aged 22, with addresses in Tallaght and Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Adil Essalhi on 6 January 2011. His uncle Wayne Kinsella was convicted of the killing in 2012. The prosecution contends that two people carried out the murder. The witness said Michael Kinsella was present with Wayne Kinsella when the latter returned to their shared Tyrrellstown apartment on 7 January carrying petrol. Under cross-examination, the defence highlighted that the witness had previously written to the judge stating Wayne Kinsella had forced residents to provide false evidence against Michael Kinsella as revenge. The defence suggested this indicated she would not fabricate testimony against the accused. The trial continues at the Central Criminal Court.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has been discharged in the trial of a Dublin man accused of murdering Adil Essalhi in 2011. Michael Kinsella, aged 22 and with addresses at Swiftbrook Close in Tallaght and Ardkeen in Cavan, had pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering Mr Essalhi at Tyrrelstown, Dublin on 6 January 2011. Justice Deirdre Murphy discharged the twelve-member jury after one juror became unable to continue proceedings due to illness. The judge stated the court was reluctant to proceed with an incomplete jury. Mr Essalhi's death was previously investigated resulting in the conviction of Wayne Kinsella, the accused man's uncle, in 2012 for the same killing.
In a murder trial held at the Central Criminal Court, the jury heard that 29‑year‑old Adil Essalhi was killed on 6 January 2011 by Michael Kinsella (22) and his uncle Wayne Kinsella. The prosecution, led by Mr Kerida Naidoo SC, presented evidence that the killing took place in a field outside a block of apartments in Tyrrellstown. Mr Essalhi had met Wayne and another person at a pub that evening, and the three later went to an apartment where they drank before leaving together for the field. Mr Naidoo stated that medical evidence showed Mr Essalhi died from more than 50 wounds, including stabbing and chopping injuries, mainly to the head and neck. After the killing, the body was reportedly burnt with petrol. The jury, composed of five women and seven men, was to view CCTV footage during the trial, which was expected to last one week. Michael Kinsella pleaded not guilty.
Two Romanian men, Vasile Bizau (24) and Ioan Bizau (31), were convicted in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a scheme that involved attaching a card‑trapping device to ATMs and using an iPod Nano to record customers' PINs. The trial, which lasted four weeks and heard 80 witnesses, resulted in seven counts of possession of stolen ATM cards for each defendant and additional counts of theft and possession of a card‑trapping device. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Ioan to four and a half years and Vasile to three and a half years, suspending the final year of each term on the condition that they leave Ireland and do not return for ten years. The case was built on extensive CCTV footage, recovered devices, and forensic evidence collected by Gardaí, who praised the police work in the investigation. Ioan Bizau pleaded guilty.
A jury will start deliberations on the trial of Anthony Locke, 38, accused of murdering neighbour Christopher Jackson, 53, whose body was found in a wardrobe after his death on Prussia Street. Locke pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. The trial is in its ninth day. Judge Patrick McCarthy instructed the jury that if they find Locke not guilty of murder, they may consider a conviction for impeding the apprehension of a person they believed to be guilty of murder. He warned that the jury must first decide on the murder charge before considering any alternative verdict. Anthony Locke was acquitted.
Eoghan O'Mahoney, aged 34, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for attempting to murder his 91‑year‑old grandmother, Catherine McGillion, on 19 December 2013. During the attack he cut her with a knife and repeatedly kicked her body and head. The Central Criminal Court heard that O'Mahoney was in a psychotic episode and that the grandmother was "the person he loves most in the world." Two psychiatrists testified he suffered psychotic delusions, supporting the insanity plea. Justice Patrick McCarthy will finish charging the jury this afternoon.
The court heard that Tom O'Gorman, a 39‑year‑old Dublin man, was killed by his tenant, Saverio Bellante, in Castleknock between 11 and 12 January 2014. Bellante, aged 36, admitted the killing and that he had eaten what he believed to be part of O'Gorman's heart. A jury found him not guilty of murder by reason of insanity after deliberating 1 hour 36 minutes. The judge, after hearing from psychiatrists, ordered Bellante to be committed to the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum. Bellante has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and has shown improvement but remains at risk. The order will keep him under treatment and supervision, with his plan reviewed every six months. The case ends with Bellante's commitment rather than a custodial sentence. Saverio Bellante was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the jury heard that Saverio Bellante, 36, admitted killing his landlord Thomas O'Gorman in Castleknock between 11 and 12 January 2014. Two consultant psychiatrists testified that Bellante's mental state met the criteria for a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. Bellante had a history of schizophrenia, had been on anti‑psychotic medication Olanzapine, which was gradually reduced and stopped on 9 January 2014, two days before the murder. He claimed he saw O'Gorman as a devil and believed killing him and eating his heart would end evil. The defense also presented evidence of his long‑term psychiatric treatment and medication regime, supporting the insanity claim. The trial continues.
In a 2015 Dublin Circuit Court hearing, the State's sole mental health facility, the Central Mental Hospital (CMH), was found to have only one‑fifth of the inpatient capacity required for a 50‑year‑old man who had been acquitted of harassment by reason of insanity. Prosecutor Fergal Foley argued that the man, who had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to six counts of harassment between 2012 and 2014, should remain in the community because he had made every effort to cooperate and take his medication, and that his underlying delusional disorder was now under control. Defence counsel Feargal Kavanagh agreed that outpatient treatment was sensible given the lack of inpatient capacity. A consultant forensic psychiatrist, Dr Conor O'Neill, confirmed that the man posed no immediate risk to himself or others and should not be committed to the CMH if he could manage treatment in the community.