During a Central Criminal Court hearing, Wayne Kennedy, 33, pleaded not guilty to murder and serious harm charges. The prosecution presented evidence that Kennedy threw a rock at the head of Sean Turner, 24, an amateur boxer, during a confrontation at David Spain's house on 26 December 2013. Turner had previously given Gardaí statements about his alcohol and drug consumption, which the defence highlighted. Witness testimony described Turner's claim that Kennedy had approached him alone, that Turner had no intention of a "straightener" (fight), and that he had thrown a rock at Kennedy's head. Kennedy allegedly responded by using a knife. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, was scheduled to continue on Monday at 2 pm. The court heard no further developments beyond the rock‑throwing incident.
In a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, three former Anglo Irish Bank officials—Tiarnan O'Mahoney, Bernard Daly, and Aoife Maguire—were accused of hiding or altering accounts linked to chairman Sean FitzPatrick to avoid tax liability. The prosecution argued that the officials deleted or archived six accounts and altered details on two others to conceal them from Revenue during an investigation into bogus non-resident accounts potentially liable for Deposit Interest Retention Tax. Evidence included emails and testimony that the officials were motivated by their connection to FitzPatrick and the desire to protect his interests, particularly concerning an account belonging to his brother‑in‑law, John Peter O'Toole. The jury was told the case involved conspiracy to conceal financial records, but no verdict was reached on FitzPatrick's guilt or innocence. The prosecution's closing statement was delivered by Dominic McGinn SC, after which counsel for O'Mahoney addressed the jury. Bernard Daly pleaded not guilty. Aoife Maguire pleaded not guilty.
In a 2015 trial, Jimmy Devaney, 66, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Marie Greene, 37, a prostitute who disappeared on 13 February 2011 and whose body was found nine days later in a bog near Ballykieran. The court heard that a knife with a green handle, recovered under the boot cover of Devaney's car, bore blood that DNA testing matched to Greene. Detective Garda Lynn Johnson presented evidence of items recovered from the bog, including Greene's social services card and a rosary bracelet. Phone records showed 60 contacts between Devaney and Greene from January to February 2011. Forensic scientist John Hoade confirmed the DNA match, and State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy described the fatal stab wounds, noting multiple injuries to the chest, ribs, and heart that caused death. The case proceeded before Justice Margaret Heneghan and a jury.
During a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution presented evidence that a knife was missing from a knife block in the home of Wayne Kennedy, a 33‑year‑old Dublin man charged with murdering David Spain and seriously harming Sean Turner on 26 December 2013. Garda Patrick Black photographed the kitchen and noted the absence of one knife from the block. A knife handle, about 12 cm long with the blade missing, and a black iPhone were later found in the green area of the Shankill estate where the alleged altercation took place. Garda Paul Byrne recounted arriving at the scene after a call about two men stabbed outside Rathsallagh Park, describing chaos and the presence of Wayne Kennedy. Mrs. Kennedy testified she was asleep when the incident occurred and heard a banging noise. Garda Brian Hall was also called to testify about a man named Ian Messitt who mentioned Wayne Kennedy. Wayne Kennedy pleaded not guilty.
Wayne Kennedy, 34, of Rathsallagh Park, Shankill, Dublin, stands trial in the Central Criminal Court for two offences committed on 26 December 2013. He is charged with murdering 26‑year‑old David Spain and with intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to 24‑year‑old professional boxer Sean Turner. Kennedy pleaded not guilty. The prosecution, led by Mr Paddy McCarthy SC, presented a narrative that Kennedy and Turner had a dispute over a €50 debt. Kennedy allegedly sent a text to Turner demanding payment, and the men met at a green area in the estate. Kennedy is said to have brought a knife, and a struggle ensued. Turner received two knife wounds that broke ribs and entered his abdomen, while Spain was stabbed six times and died at St Vincent's Hospital. Kennedy was arrested at a Garda station later that morning. The trial is scheduled to last five days.
The trial of Deivydas Zigelis, a 37‑year‑old Lithuanian, charged with murdering a 26‑year‑old Latvian in County Laois, was postponed. Zigelis was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of Alexander Karpov. The prosecution confirmed a jury would still be required. Judge Patrick McCarthy said the case will be rescheduled for a future hearing.
The trial of three former Anglo Irish Bank officials—Aoife Maguire, Tiarnan O'Mahoney and Bernard Daly—reached its closing stages after 23 days of prosecution evidence. They are accused of hiding or omitting accounts linked to former chairman Sean FitzPatrick from the bank's Core Banking System and from documents supplied to Revenue between 2003 and 2004. One account was in the name of FitzPatrick's brother‑in‑law, John Peter O'Toole. The defendants pleaded not guilty to seven counts and the court will hear closing speeches and a judge's address tomorrow.
In a non‑jury hearing before the Special Criminal Court, Gareth Mulley, 45, of Aisling Park, Dundalk, pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of explosives. The prosecution alleged that Mulley had assembled a large homemade bomb intended for Northern Ireland. The device comprised a 50‑litre Guinness beer keg that had been modified, 50 kg of ammonium nitrate, PETN and RDX, an improvised steel booster tube, and a time‑and‑power unit with a thirty‑minute delay. The Special Criminal Court was informed that the Special Detective Unit had observed Mulley on 20 May and 25 May 2014, around his home and at Kilcurry Church, and that he was arrested by the Emergency Response Unit after a transfer of material from a van to a northern‑registered Volkswagen Passat. Forensic evidence was to be presented showing the components of the keg bomb, a device that had been used previously. The trial is ongoing.
In the Westmeath murder trial, retired Defence Forces member Jimmy Devaney, aged 66, has pleaded not guilty to the killing of Marie Greene on 13 February 2011. The case is in its third day of legal argument before the Central Criminal Court, with a jury of six men and six women and Justice Margaret Heneghan presiding. The proceedings will continue tomorrow.
Folajimmy Awode, 31, was found guilty of sexually assaulting a female patient at the Mater Private Hospital in Dublin. He had been working part‑time as a care assistant and had cleaned the patient's toilet that evening. The victim, who was on muscle relaxants and Valium, reported feeling a rubbing sensation on her right breast after she fell asleep. She later described Awode standing by her bed, moving his hand away, and then leaving the room. Witnesses confirmed he entered the ward twice, left, and then returned to the patient's bedside for a few minutes. The judge noted pre‑meditation and breach of trust, suspended six months of a two‑year sentence, and placed Awode on the Sex Offenders' Register. He had prior convictions for dangerous driving and no insurance. The case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Folajimmy Awode pleaded not guilty.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the prosecution concluded its evidence in the trial of three former Anglo Irish Bank officials accused of concealing accounts from the Revenue as part of a tax‑evasion scheme. The accused—Tiarnan O'Mahoney (56), Bernard Daly (67) and Aoife Maguire (62)—have pleaded not guilty to seven counts. O'Mahoney denied ever instructing a subordinate to remove a name from a list of accounts supplied to the Revenue, and denied that he had asked team leader Zita Madden to do so. He also denied telling former head of compliance Brian Gillespie to omit the account of John Peter O'Toole, Mr FitzPatrick's brother‑in‑law, from a list. The prosecution's evidence, which has lasted 23 days, included interviews, emails and a loan facility letter. The jury will hear later this week whether the defence intends to call witnesses. The trial continues before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury of twelve.
The trial of Jimmy Devaney, a 66‑year‑old retired member of the Defence Forces, continues in legal argument. Devaney pleaded not guilty to the murder of Marie Greene in Westmeath on 13 February 2011. The case is set to proceed to evidence tomorrow before a jury of six men and six women, presided over by Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan.
The trial of former Anglo Irish Bank officials Bernard Daly, Tiarnan O'Mahoney, and Aoife Maguire continues before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The three defendants, who have pleaded not guilty to seven counts, are alleged to have hid or omitted accounts connected to former chairman Sean FitzPatrick from the bank's Core Banking System or documentation provided to Revenue between 2003 and 2004. On day 22, former company secretary Bernard Daly testified that he was appointed to handle the Revenue audit due to his public service background. Daly stated he had no memory of asking subordinate Brian Gillespie to delete an account and was unaware that the account of FitzPatrick's brother-in-law, John Peter O'Toole, was omitted from the list of non-resident accounts handed to Revenue. He described the bank's attitude toward the audit as focused on settling a financial liability rather than investigating individual accounts, noting a €2.9 million settlement was reached. Daly also characterized former Chief Operations Officer Tiarnan O'Mahoney as a bully with whom he had a difficult relationship. The prosecution presented evidence that the O'Toole account, holding nearly Ir£140,000 in 1995, fell under the audit remit but was missing from the submitted list. Daly acknowledged the omission but stated he did not compile the list. The matter remains at the trial stage and has not been finalised.
A jury was sworn in for the trial of 34‑year‑old Wayne Kennedy, a Dublin man accused of murdering 26‑year‑old David Spain on 26 December 2013 at Rathsallagh Park, Shankill, and of causing serious harm to 24‑year‑old Sean Turner on the same day. Kennedy pleaded not guilty to both charges. Judge Patrick McCarthy told the ten‑man jury that the five‑day trial would not begin before Thursday and would start with evidence.
A Lithuanian man, Deivydas Zigelis, 37, will stand trial this Thursday in the Central Criminal Court for the murder of a 26‑year‑old Latvian man in County Laois. Zigelis, who lives on Spa Street, Portarlington, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of Alexander Karpov on 15 February 2014. The prosecution has requested a jury, which has been sworn in and is expected to hear the case for four to five days.
The Central Criminal Court heard evidence that retired defence forces member Jimmy Devaney, 66, had blood‑shot eyes and scratches on his hands on the night he is accused of murdering Marie Greene, a prostitute, on 13 February 2011. Devaney pleaded not guilty. Witnesses said he was playing cards at the Lighthouse Casino in Custume Place that evening, arriving around 8 pm and returning around 9 pm. He was described as flustered, with a torn shirt and cuts on his knuckles, which he claimed were from falling in a ditch while helping someone out of a car. The prosecution alleges he stabbed Greene six times and killed her because she threatened to expose him as a client. The trial is now in the legal argument stage before a jury presided by Justice Margaret Heneghan.
Aoife Maguire, 62, a former Anglo Irish Bank employee, denied to Gardaí that she was part of a conspiracy to conceal offshore bank accounts linked to former chairman Sean FitzPatrick from Revenue. She and two former senior Anglo managers—Tiarnan O'Mahoney, 56, and Bernard Daly, 67—have pleaded not guilty to seven counts at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The allegations claim they hid or omitted accounts from Anglo's Core Banking System between 2003 and 2004 and attempted to delete records from the bank's computer system. In October 2013, Gardaí interviewed Maguire, who said she began at Anglo in 1987 as a typist and later worked on the IT help desk. She admitted being asked to provide a list of accounts to Revenue in 2003 but denied any role in deleting accounts or instructing staff to do so. The case is set to continue before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury of twelve.
A 42‑year‑old woman from Louth, Paula Farrell, was sentenced to life imprisonment after a jury found her guilty of murdering her partner, Wayne McQuillan, 30, on 1 January 2014. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court, lasted three hours and 27 minutes. Farrell pleaded not guilty but was found guilty by a jury of four men and seven women. The prosecution presented evidence that Farrell stabbed McQuillan four times with a large kitchen knife during an argument at her home in Rathmullen Park, Drogheda. Witnesses, including Garda Tomas Leonard and Deputy State Pathologist Michael Curtis, confirmed the stabbing and the fatal wound. Farrell's defence cited a history of sexual abuse and schizophrenia, but the jury accepted the prosecution's case and imposed a life sentence. The judge exempted the jury from service for ten years. The verdict was announced on 17 July 2015.
In the Central Criminal Court, Jimmy Devaney, 66, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Marie Greene, a prostitute who vanished on 13 February 2011 and whose body was found nine days later in a bog near Ballykieran, Athlone. Devaney, a retired defence forces member, was seen playing cards at the Lighthouse Casino that night and later returned to the club. Alan Kavanagh, the casino owner, testified that Devaney claimed a woman was blackmailing him and that he killed her to protect his family. Kavanagh also noted Devaney's request to remove CCTV cameras. Witnesses, including Greene's sisters and mother, described phone calls and the victim's last known movements. Prosecutor Alex Owens argued that Devaney's motive was the alleged blackmail and that he had recently obtained money from friends and relatives. The trial proceeded with a jury of twelve.
During a 2015 trial, a senior Revenue official testified that he had serious concerns in 2003 about Anglo Irish Bank's disclosure of non‑resident accounts, noting that earlier statements about no DIRT‑liable accounts were inaccurate. The case involved three former bank officials—Tiarnan O'Mahoney, Bernard Daly, and Aoife Maguire—who pleaded not guilty to seven counts of hiding or omitting accounts linked to former chairman Sean FitzPatrick between 2003 and 2004. Anglo had reached a DIRT settlement with Revenue in 2004 after discovering many non‑resident accounts. The trial also heard that Revenue had offered amnesty to bogus account holders, leading to customers coming forward. Evidence from Revenue auditors highlighted discrepancies in the bank's records, including a missing account for John Peter O'Toole, a relative of FitzPatrick. The trial proceeded before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury of twelve.
The jury in the trial of 42‑year‑old Paula Farrell, charged with murdering her partner Wayne McQuillan (30) at her Drogheda home on 1 January 2014, will resume deliberations tomorrow. Farrell pleaded not guilty three weeks ago. The jury began deliberating this afternoon, spent 1 hour 52 minutes, and then left. Judge Patrick McCarthy reminded the eleven jurors that a unanimous verdict is required. They will return at 10 a.m. tomorrow.
A retired member of the Defence Forces has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court accused of murdering a woman in Westmeath in February 2011. Jimmy Devaney, aged 66, from Monksland, Athlone, has pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering Marie Greene on 13 February 2011 at Annagorta bog near Ballykieran. The prosecution alleges that Mr Devaney killed Ms Greene, who had worked as a prostitute in Athlone, because she was blackmailing him. The court heard that Ms Greene's body was discovered nine days after she went missing. According to the prosecution, evidence will show Mr Devaney had been seeking money from various sources in the months preceding the alleged killing. The State Pathologist is expected to give evidence that death resulted from multiple stab wounds to the chest. The trial continues before Justice Margaret Heneghan and a jury of twelve.
The jury will begin deliberations today in the trial of 42‑year‑old Paula Farrell of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, who is charged with murdering her partner, 30‑year‑old Wayne McQuillan, at her home on 1 January 2014. Farrell pleaded not guilty three weeks ago at the Central Criminal Court. Judge Patrick McCarthy explained the possible verdicts—acquittal, murder, manslaughter, or diminished responsibility—and that the jury may take as long as needed, with deliberations starting after lunch once the issue paper is received.
The judge in the trial of 42‑year‑old Paula Farrell, charged with murdering her partner Wayne McQuillan, 30, at her home on 1 January 2014, will continue charging the jury in the morning. Farrell pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. Judge Patrick McCarthy told the eleven jurors that two hours of evidence remain and that he will resume at 11 am.
The trial of three former Anglo Irish Bank officials – Aoife Maguire, Tiarnan O'Mahoney and Bernard Daly – was adjourned until tomorrow. They are accused of hiding accounts linked to former chairman Sean FitzPatrick by deleting or omitting records from the bank's Core Banking System or from documents supplied to Revenue between 2003 and 2004. All three pleaded not guilty to seven counts. The case is before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury of six men and six women at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the prosecution expected to finish its case next week.
The Central Criminal Court adjourned the trial of Jimmy Devaney, a 66‑year‑old retired defence forces member, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of Marie Greene in Westmeath on 13 February 2011. A jury of six men and six women was sworn in, but Justice Margaret Heneghan postponed the start because another trial was scheduled. The court set the trial to begin the following day and last about two weeks.
In the trial of 42‑year‑old Paula Farrell, charged with murdering her partner Wayne McQuillan, defence counsel Derek Kenneally SC urged the jury to consider the "ample scope for doubt" in the case. He highlighted Farrell's testimony that she was sexually abused from age seven and began drinking at fourteen to cope, and argued that these facts should be weighed against the prosecution's claim that the murder was an "outburst of temper." The prosecution, represented by Gerard Clarke SC, maintained that Farrell's alleged abuse was unrelated to the killing, that she had no history of self‑defence, and that any claim of diminished responsibility was unfounded. Kenneally urged jurors to acquit if they found any gaps, stressing that Farrell denied any intent to kill and that the prosecution's narrative was unsubstantiated. The judge outlined the possible verdicts, including guilty of murder, guilty of manslaughter on the basis of self‑defence, diminished responsibility or no intent to kill. Paula Farrell pleaded not guilty.
During a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, it was heard that the computer login "mc9" used to alter bank accounts linked to former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick was intended solely for use by the bank's IT department. Former IT head Michael Campbell testified that the login was employed in November 1999 to change the address on John Peter O'Toole's account, and that no non‑IT staff should have accessed it. He also stated that the login should not have been used for address changes. The trial also covered the alleged deletion or omission of accounts connected to FitzPatrick from Anglo's Core Banking System between 2003 and 2004. Accused Aoife Maguire, Tiarnan O'Mahoney and Bernard Daly, aged 62, 56 and 67 respectively, pleaded not guilty to seven counts. The case remains before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury of twelve.
The trial of Bernard Daly, Aoife Maguire, and Tiarnan O'Mahoney continued at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where all three defendants have pleaded not guilty to seven counts. They are alleged to have deleted or omitted accounts connected to former Anglo Irish Chairman Sean FitzPatrick from the bank's Core Banking System or documentation provided to Revenue between 2003 and 2004. Witness Crohan O'Shea, a friend and business partner of FitzPatrick, testified that he was unaware of transfers from their joint trust account to an internal Anglo account called SRLADV, nor was he aware of name changes to the account that removed FitzPatrick's name. O'Shea stated he paid tax on the account and considered it above board. Deputy IT head James Shaw testified that he was asked by Maguire to remove accounts from the bank's record system. Shaw stated he archived the accounts instead of deleting them to ensure they remained retrievable, a distinction he believed Maguire did not understand. The matter was adjourned and is not concluded.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 42‑year‑old Louth woman, Paula Farrell, was charged with murdering her partner, Wayne McQuillan, on 1 January 2014. She pleaded not guilty. During the trial, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, Dr Sally Linehan, testified that Farrell had the capacity to form intent and was not impaired by her mental disorder on the night of the offence. Dr Linehan stated that Farrell had post‑traumatic stress disorder but that her intoxication with alcohol—she had consumed 12 cans of Bulmers—was the overriding factor. She also confirmed that Farrell understood the nature of the act and that her mental disorder did not diminish her responsibility. The court heard that the next stage would involve counsel's speeches, with the judge's charge scheduled for Wednesday. The trial continues.
A jury of six men and six women was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the trial of Jimmy Devaney, a 66‑year‑old retired member of the defence forces, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Marie Greene in Westmeath on 13 February 2011. The trial is set to begin on Wednesday and is expected to last two weeks.
In a 2015 murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, 42‑year‑old Paula Farrell of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, was charged with stabbing her partner Wayne McQuillan, 30, to death on 1 January 2014. She pleaded not guilty. The defence presented forensic psychiatrist Dr Brenda Wright, who had met Farrell twice in June 2015. Dr Wright testified that Farrell had suffered sexual abuse from age seven, did not disclose it until fourteen, and began drinking at fourteen to cope. She described Farrell as displaying post‑traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, including distress and avoidance when exposed to reminders of abuse. Dr Wright concluded that Farrell's PTSD impaired her self‑control and substantially diminished her responsibility for the stabbing, though she was fit to stand trial. The prosecution cross‑examined her on the lack of post‑mortem statements and the link between PTSD and violence. The trial proceeded under Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy.
The trial of former Anglo Irish Bank officials Tiarnan O'Mahoney, Bernard Daly, and Aoife Maguire continues at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The three defendants have pleaded not guilty to seven counts alleging they deleted or omitted accounts connected to former chairman Sean FitzPatrick from the bank's Core Banking System or documentation provided to Revenue between 2003 and 2004. On day 16 of evidence, senior manager Zita Vance testified that she was asked by O'Mahoney to remove a name from documents requested by Revenue. Vance stated she was removed from the project team after refusing the instruction. She later told Anglo's fraud prevention officer that O'Mahoney was the individual who asked her to delete an account. Defence counsel for O'Mahoney noted that his client has no recollection of the conversations and denies making such requests. The court also heard from Monica Kearney, a former personal assistant to FitzPatrick, who identified an email sent to O'Mahoney in November 2003 detailing four account numbers. The matter is currently before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury, with the trial ongoing.
The jury is still deliberating on the case of David Cully, a 41‑year‑old from Finglas West, who shot his uncle, Edward O'Connor, to death. Cully admits the killing but denies murder, pleading not guilty to that charge while accepting a manslaughter conviction from December 2013. He says he fired in the heat of the moment after O'Connor mentioned an allegation of sexual abuse. The jury has spent over five hours on the verdict and will resume after lunch.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury heard the case of David Cully, 41, who shot his uncle, Edward O'Connor, dead. Cully pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. He claimed he fired in the heat of the moment after O'Connor made a comment about a sexual‑abuse allegation that had been investigated but not prosecuted. The jury was told that Cully shot O'Connor in the back after a fight at a "straightener" event. Judge Carroll Moran explained that murder could be reduced to manslaughter if provocation existed. After about five hours of deliberation, the jury asked the judge to repeat the legal definition of provocation and to show part of a Garda interview with Cully. The jury then retired for the evening, to resume deliberations after the judge's response.
The jury is deliberating a trial in Dublin where David Cully, 41, is accused of murdering his uncle, Edward O'Connor, who died from two gun‑shot wounds to the back. Cully has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea he entered on 15 December 2013. He claims he shot O'Connor in the heat of the moment after O'Connor commented on a sexual‑abuse allegation that had been investigated but not prosecuted by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The Central Criminal Court heard that both men had attended a "straightener" that day and that Cully fired after a fight. Judge Carroll Moran explained that provocation could reduce murder to manslaughter, but the burden of proof lies with the prosecution. The jury, composed of seven women and five men, has spent under an hour on its deliberations and will resume tomorrow.
Gareth Mulley, 45, of Aisling Park, Dundalk, was granted temporary bail by the Special Criminal Court after being charged with IRA membership and possession of explosives. The charges include unlawful possession of PETN and RDX, a 50‑litre adapted beer keg, 50 kg of homemade ammonium nitrate explosive, an improvised detonation cord, a steel booster tube and a time‑and‑power unit found at Kilcurry Church on 25 May 2014. He and two co‑accused are alleged to have had the items in circumstances that raised reasonable suspicion of unlawful intent. Mulley was arrested in May 2014 by the Special Detective Unit during investigations into dissident republicans. The three‑judge court set bail from 9 July until 15 July, with conditions including a €13 000 surety, a €1 000 personal bond, curfew, no contact with witnesses or co‑accused, and mandatory daily reporting to a Garda station. He must appear again on 22 July for trial.
In the Central Criminal Court trial of David Cully, a 41‑year‑old from Finglas West, the defence argued for a manslaughter verdict on the basis of provocation. Cully had admitted killing his uncle, Edward O'Connor, who died from two gun‑shot wounds to the back. He claimed he shot O'Connor in the heat of the moment after O'Connor made a comment about a person who had alleged sexual abuse against him. The prosecution maintained that the killing was pre‑planned, citing evidence that Cully had threatened O'Connor a week earlier and had organised a 'straightener' that day. Cully pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The jury, composed of seven women and five men, was instructed by Mr Justice Carroll Moran to deliberate on the case the following day. The trial focused on whether Cully's actions were a result of provocation or pre‑meditated aggression.
In a Dublin murder trial, 41‑year‑old David Cully, accused of killing his uncle Edward O'Connor, testified that he shot him in the heat of the moment after a sexual‑abuse allegation was investigated but not prosecuted. The trial also heard from Claire McKiernan, who claimed to have witnessed an attack by Cully's uncles with sewer rods about six months before the shooting. McKiernan said she lived across the road from Cully's aunt, Gráinne Brannigan, in summer 2013 and saw an argument in the garden involving Cully, his brother Niall, and Brannigan's husband Paul. She described a jeep arriving at speed, men with sewer rods approaching, and a brief confrontation lasting four to five minutes before the men fled. McKiernan had never reported the incident to Gardaí and said she did not want to get involved. The case is proceeding before Mr Justice Carroll Moran and a jury of twelve. The unnamed 41-year-old pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court has set a trial for March 8, 2016, for Kevin Power, 38, of Railway Street, Passage West, who is charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styled the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Vincent Heneghan BL, informed the three‑judge court that 32 witnesses would be called and the trial is expected to last two weeks. The judges—Tony Hunt, Alison Lindsay and Cormac Dunne—issued witness and exhibit orders for the hearing, and Power remains on continuing bail until the trial date.
In the lead‑up to Prince Charles' State visit, Donal O Coisdealbha, aged 23, was arrested on May 13, 2015 on charges of membership in the Irish Republican Army and possession of a component of an improvised explosive device – a time and power unit – allegedly stored in a locker at Protector Life Sciences, National University of Ireland, Maynooth. Counsel Dean Kelly BL informed the non‑jury Special Criminal Court that his client intends to file a renewed bail application on July 21. Bail had previously been refused in May, a decision upheld on appeal to the High Court. Mr Kelly argued that the material used to deny bail – a transcription of a telephone call – may have been mis‑transcribed and that circumstances had changed significantly. Vincent Heneghan BL, counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said the transcription issue was not the central reason for the refusal. The court will consider the new application on the scheduled date.
During a 2015 trial, former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick was heard to have instructed an employee not to submit accounts belonging to his brother‑in‑law, John Peter O'Toole, to the Revenue while the bank was under investigation for alleged tax evasion. Witness Brian Gillespie, the former head of compliance, testified that FitzPatrick had asked him to withhold the O'Toole account and that FitzPatrick had also told him that a family member's account should not be returned to the Revenue. Gillespie said he reported these instructions to his superior, Director of Finance Willie McAteer, who was uninterested. The trial also heard that other Anglo officials, Bernard Daly, Tiarnan O'Mahoney and Aoife Maguire, were accused of attempting to delete references to the O'Toole account and other accounts from the bank's Core Banking System and from a list of non‑resident accounts over €100,000 that was to be supplied to the Revenue. Aoife Maguire pleaded not guilty.
A 42‑year‑old woman from Louth, Paula Farrell, is accused of murdering her partner, Wayne McQuillan, aged 30, on 1 January 2014 at their home. She pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court two weeks ago. The judge, Justice Patrick McCarthy, granted the defence's request to postpone the trial to the next day because Farrell will give evidence and the hearing will take more than half a day. The trial is scheduled to resume tomorrow at 11 a.m. with a jury of five men and seven women.
In a Dublin murder trial, forensic scientist Dr. Thomas Hannigan testified that ballistics tests fired at tea towels suggested the accused, David Cully, shot his uncle Edward O'Connor from about eight feet, not the 30 feet he claimed. The tests used cotton sheets and a pistol and ammunition similar to those used in the killing, as the original firearm was not recovered. Lead residue was stronger on the tea towel shot from eight feet and on the victim's jumper, supporting the shorter distance. Cully, 41, admitted killing O'Connor, who died from two gunshot wounds to the back, but pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Carroll Moran, continues with a jury of twelve.
Three former Anglo Irish Bank officials – Tiarnan O'Mahoney, Bernard Daly and Aoife Maguire – are on trial for alleged tax‑evasion offences in 2003 and 2004. The prosecution claims they hid offshore accounts linked to former chairman Sean FitzPatrick and deleted references to these accounts from the bank's Core Banking System. The accused deny removing names from lists supplied to Revenue and deny deleting accounts. The trial heard that O'Mahoney had set up a team to assist Revenue's audit of the bank's compliance with Deposit Interest Retention Tax. Patrick Peake, a former fraud‑prevention officer, testified that the team gathered documents and searched for emails containing key names, including those of the accused. He also described a series of changes to FitzPatrick's account records, including name and address alterations, and the removal and re‑addition of FitzPatrick's name in 2004. The case is being heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury of twelve. Aoife Maguire pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 3 July 2015, a 42‑year‑old Louth woman, Paula Farrell, was charged with the murder of her 30‑year‑old partner, Wayne McQuillan, who was killed on 1 January 2014 at their home. Farrell pleaded not guilty. The prosecution presented four Garda interviews taken on 1 and 2 January 2014. In the first interview, Farrell described a fight that escalated after alcohol consumption, during which she said she grabbed a knife from a block and stabbed McQuillan twice, once under his shoulder and once in the front of his chest. She also claimed he had strangled and beaten her, and that she had washed her blood‑stained hands afterward. The second interview confirmed blood on her hands and that she had tried to wash them. In the third interview, she recounted stabbing McQuillan in the chest and side while he was walking out of the kitchen, and again in the hallway.
During a 2015 trial, it was revealed that several changes were made to the name and address details on former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick's account in the bank's internal record system after the account was closed. The trial involved three Anglo officials—former company secretary Bernard Daly (65), former Chief Operations Officer Tiarnan O'Mahoney (54), and Aoife Maguire (60)—who pleaded not guilty to seven alleged offences committed in 2003 and 2004. They were accused of attempting to delete references to two accounts in the name of John Peter O'Toole, FitzPatrick's brother‑in‑law, from Anglo's Core Banking System (CBS) and of omitting O'Toole's name from a list provided to the Revenue Commissioners of people who held non‑resident accounts worth more than €100,000 in 1995. O'Mahoney and Maguire also denied trying to delete six other accounts connected to FitzPatrick from the CBS.
During a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, three former Anglo Irish Bank officials—Bernard Daly, Tiarnan O'Mahoney, and Aoife Maguire—were accused of temporarily repaying loans to former chairman Sean FitzPatrick to make the bank's year‑end accounts appear healthier. Evidence showed that in September 1998 an IR£196,000 loan from the Sean FitzPatrick/Crohan O'Shea Trust was moved into an internal Anglo staff‑loan account called SRLADV, and similar amounts were later returned to the original accounts on 6 October. The same pattern was alleged to have occurred in September 1999 and 2000. The defendants denied deleting references to accounts linked to FitzPatrick's brother‑in‑law, John Peter O'Toole, from the bank's Core Banking System and from a list of non‑resident accounts over €100,000 in 1995. The case remains before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury of twelve. Aoife Maguire pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Paula Farrell, 42, accused of murdering her partner Wayne McQuillan, 30, at her Drogheda home on January 1, 2014, continued at the Central Criminal Court. Ms Farrell, who pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, faces Justice Patrick McCarthy. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that Mr McQuillan sustained four stab wounds, with the fatal injury being an 18cm deep wound to the left shoulder that penetrated the lung. Dr Curtis opined that the second, third, and fourth wounds were likely caused by a single-edged knife over 31cm long. He noted high alcohol levels in the deceased and the absence of defensive wounds. In cross-examination, he acknowledged the stabbings occurred in rapid succession and that intoxication could have affected the victim's ability to defend himself or increased aggression. Forensic scientist Dr Hilary Clarke confirmed DNA from Mr McQuillan was found on Ms Farrell's clothing. Gardaí Andrew Corbett and Lisa Finglas testified regarding injuries observed on Ms Farrell, including a bump to her forehead, a bite mark on her cheek, and marks on her neck. The prosecution is scheduled to finish calling evidence tomorrow.
In a Dublin murder trial, David Cully, 24, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for killing his 41‑year‑old nephew, Edward O'Connor, on 15 December 2013. Cully claimed he shot O'Connor "in the heat of the moment" after O'Connor mentioned a sexual‑abuse allegation that had been investigated but not prosecuted. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that O'Connor died from two gun‑shot wounds to the back, one entering between the 10th and 11th ribs, damaging the aorta, oesophagus and lung, and the other entering between the 11th and 12th ribs, fracturing the rib and injuring the adrenal gland, pancreas and stomach. The wounds caused massive internal bleeding and collapsed lung, leading to rapid death. The trial was adjourned to resume before Mr Justice Carroll Moran and a jury.