A childminder from Cavan is to stand trial for a second time at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court next May on a charge of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to a ten-month-old baby in March 2012. Sandra Higgins, aged 34, of The Beeches, Drumgola Wood, Cavan town, denies the allegation. A previous jury trial concluded last month without reaching a verdict. The Director of Public Prosecutions has directed that a new trial proceed. The court heard that scheduling expert medical witnesses presented difficulties, and May was agreed as a suitable timeframe by all parties. Judge Martin Nolan fixed the trial date for 25 May 2016, with liberty reserved to re-mention the matter should witness issues arise. Ms Higgins, who remains on bail, attended the hearing.
In the Central Criminal Court, Patrick O'Connor, the brother of the deceased, testified that a week before the murder, David Cully had threatened him with a gun. O'Connor said the deceased had called him from a pub on 8 December 2013, claiming Cully was walking around with a gun. O'Connor offered to bring the deceased to his house, where Cully allegedly told his nephew he intended to shoot him. O'Connor described feeling frightened and worried. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Carroll Moran, continues with a jury of seven women and five men. Cully, 24, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for killing 41‑year‑old Edward O'Connor in his back on 15 December 2013. The DPP had decided not to prosecute the earlier allegation of sexual abuse. The case remains in court.
In a murder trial in Louth, a 42‑year‑old woman, Paula Farrell, is accused of killing her 30‑year‑old partner, Wayne McQuillan, on 1 January 2014. The jury heard that a Drogheda Garda, Tomas Leonard, reported that Farrell told him she had stabbed McQuillan after an argument. He described blood in the hallway and kitchen, two knives, and a bread knife. The prosecution read a statement from Farrell in which she said she stabbed McQuillan twice with a medium‑sized knife, that he walked out the front door and collapsed outside. Defence counsel questioned whether the Garda had noticed injuries on Farrell's head or face. Dr Maria Marillo testified that Farrell was anxious, had a scrape on her face, smelled of alcohol, and had been drinking nine cans of cider the previous afternoon. She was deemed intoxicated and not fit for questioning. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, is expected to last two weeks. Paula Farrell pleaded not guilty.
The trial of former Anglo Irish Bank officials Bernard Daly, Tiarnan O'Mahoney and Aoife Maguire was adjourned to allow the defence to examine newly discovered documents. Judge Patrick McCartan informed the jury that the prosecution had only just found the documents and granted the defence the rest of the day to review them. The case, originally set to resume that morning, involves the three pleading not guilty to seven alleged offences from 2003 and 2004, including attempts to delete references to accounts linked to John Peter O'Toole and others from the bank's Core Banking System.
In the murder trial of David Cully, a 24‑year‑old from Finglas West, the jury was shown a video of his first Garda interview in which he cried while explaining the shooting of his uncle, Edward O'Connor, who was 41. Cully admitted that he shot O'Connor in the back during a confrontation that escalated after O'Connor made a comment about a person who had alleged sexual abuse against him. The DPP had decided not to prosecute the allegation. Cully has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the killing. He apologized to O'Connor's family and to the Gardaí in tears. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Carroll Moran, continues before a jury of seven women and five men. The court heard that the alleged abuse was investigated but not prosecuted. The case is being heard at the Central Criminal Court. The video was shown to the jury this morning. The trial continues this afternoon.
The trial of former Anglo Irish Bank officials Tiarnan O'Mahoney, Bernard Daly, and Aoife Maguire continues before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury. The three accused, who have all pleaded not guilty to seven alleged offences committed in 2003 and 2004, are charged with attempting to hide bank accounts from the Revenue in an alleged tax evasion scheme. Specifically, Mr. Daly and Mr. O'Mahoney deny omitting the name of John Peter O'Toole from a list provided to the Revenue Commissioners, while Mr. O'Mahoney and Ms. Maguire deny attempting to delete six other accounts connected to former chairman Sean FitzPatrick from the bank's Core Banking System. On day ten, former fraud officer Patrick Peake testified that Mr. O'Mahoney and Mr. FitzPatrick jointly received a US$1.2 million bridging loan in 1997 to fund a share deal. Mr. Peake also presented evidence that details on several closed accounts, including Lock Ltd/Susie Ltd and Carnahalla Ltd, were altered on the internal computer system years after closure. He noted that Mr. FitzPatrick's name was removed from a Triumvirate Properties Ltd account record between 2003 and 2012. The trial is ongoing, with Mr. Peake's evidence continuing before the court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Mark Sheridan, aged 25, was convicted of threatening to kill Mark Jones on 20 October 2013. Sheridan denied the charge and also denied having a firearm and harassing Jones between 1 July and 19 October 2013, but the jury acquitted him of those offences. The jury heard that Jones was stopped at traffic lights, with Sheridan behind him in a blue Honda Accord. Jones described Sheridan kicking the driver's door, punching the window, and shouting "You're dead. You're a rat." He also recalled a shout of "You're dead. Get out of the car" and a mention of a pipe bomb. After the verdict, Judge Mary Ellen Ring remanded Sheridan on continuing bail, adjourned sentencing to 24 July, and ordered a victim impact report. The case was heard over four days and concluded with Sheridan's conviction for the threat of death.
David Cully, 24, was tried for the murder of his uncle, Edward O'Connor, 41, who was shot in the back after a fist fight. Cully initially told Gardaí that a gunman had appeared "out of nowhere" and shot his uncle, but later admitted he had brought a gun to the fight and shot O'Connor himself. He claimed he fired in the heat of the moment after O'Connor made a comment about a sexual‑abuse allegation against him. Cully denied premeditation, stating he had never held a firearm before and had only watched shooting films. Gardaí argued the act was pre‑orchestrated and intended to kill. The case is before Mr Justice Carroll Moran with a jury of seven women and five men. The trial is ongoing. The unnamed 24-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, David Cully, aged 24, admitted shooting his uncle, Edward O'Connor, dead in what he described as the heat of the moment. Cully claimed that after a fist fight at a yard on Ballycoolin Road, O'Connor made a comment about a sexual‑abuse allegation against him, which provoked Cully. He said he had found a handgun two days earlier, was unsure if it worked, and fired at O'Connor when the uncle's remark "riled him up." Cully stated he had no intention to kill and that the act was unplanned. He apologized to O'Connor's family. The trial, set to continue before Mr Justice Carroll Moran, involves a jury of seven women and five men. The case remains at the manslaughter stage, with Cully pleading not guilty.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, an 18‑year‑old witness recounted the instant his father, Edward O'Connor, was shot by David Cully, the accused. The teenager described a pre‑arranged fist fight between two men, during which Cully, after a comment about a sexual‑abuse allegation, lost his temper. He allegedly fired a black handgun, shooting O'Connor's father and then firing four or five additional shots. The witness said the fight paused briefly, then resumed, and that the parties shook hands afterward. Cully, 24, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of the 41‑year‑old O'Connor, who died on 15 December 2013. The trial is proceeding before Justice Carroll Moran with a jury of seven women and five men.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has failed to reach a verdict in the trial of a registered childminder charged with causing serious harm to a ten-month-old infant. Sandra Higgins, aged 34, of Cavan town, had pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to the child on 28 March 2012. The trial heard that the baby presented at Cavan General Hospital with a brain bleed, detached retina and fractured ribs after being in Ms Higgins's care. Prosecution medical experts testified the injuries were consistent with violent shaking and non-accidental trauma. Defence experts suggested the evidence indicated head trauma and possible reactivation of an earlier injury. After deliberating for just under six hours on day eight of proceedings, the jury of twelve informed Judge Patricia Ryan they could reach neither unanimous nor majority verdict. Ms Higgins was remanded on continuing bail. The case has been listed for mention on 2 July before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has been instructed that it may return a majority verdict in the trial of a registered childminder charged with causing serious harm to a ten-month-old child. Sandra Higgins of Cavan town has pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to the baby on 28 March 2012. The twelve-member jury, which had deliberated for almost five hours, was initially directed to reach unanimity but was advised by Judge Patricia Ryan that a verdict supported by at least ten jurors would be acceptable. The jury requested clarification on the legal definition of recklessness and sought to rehear evidence from expert witnesses, including a consultant paediatrician and a neuropathologist. The prosecution contends the child's injuries, including a brain bleed, detached retina and fractured ribs, resulted from violent shaking whilst in the accused's care. The defence maintains the evidence suggests head trauma or reactivation of an existing injury. The accused has denied the allegations.
During a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Patrick Peake, a former fraud officer, testified that an Anglo Irish Bank employee had created a computer programme to delete records of Susie Ltd from the bank's Dublin Investment System. Peake described an email sent to consultant Shane Crowley about a programme intended to remove the company's records. Susie Ltd, sharing an address with Anglo's Isle of Man branch, had directors and staff linked to that operation. Peake also revealed 275 cash withdrawals totalling €173,800 from John Peter O'Toole's account, with only four transactions supported by documentation. He presented evidence of monthly €410 payments from an account in the name of Sean and Triona Fitzpatrick, signed by "Mary O'Toole," and transfers of IRL£71,000 and US$22,460 to Susie Ltd. The case involves former officials Bernard Daly, Tiarnan O'Mahoney, and Aoife Maguire, who plead not guilty to seven alleged offences related to account deletions and omissions.
In the Central Criminal Court, the widow of Edward O'Connor, the 41‑year‑old victim, testified that her husband, David Cully, returned from a pub on 8 December 2013 visibly upset and frightened after Cully claimed the accused had threatened him. She recounted that Cully had entered the pub and warned her that he had a gun and intended to kill him. Cully, aged 24, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his uncle, who was shot on 15 December 2013. The trial also heard from other witnesses describing the events leading up to the shooting, including a confrontation at a yard and the subsequent gunfire that killed O'Connor. The case is proceeding before Mr Justice Carroll Moran with a jury of twelve.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 42‑year‑old Louth woman, Paula Farrell, was charged with murdering her 30‑year‑old partner, Wayne McQuillan, on New Year's Eve 2013. The prosecution alleged that Farrell stabbed McQuillan four times with a large kitchen knife, one wound being fatal. Witnesses testified that the couple had argued after drinking, that McQuillan was brought to a Garda car in cardiac arrest, revived briefly, then died after a second arrest during a CT scan. Garda evidence included two knives found in the sink and a blue‑and‑white striped shirt with stab marks. Witnesses, including a teenage boy and a schoolgirl, described seeing McQuillan bleeding and calling for an ambulance, while Farrell allegedly told them not to call. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, is expected to last two‑and‑a‑half weeks. Paula Farrell pleaded not guilty.
During the sixth day of his nephew's murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Eugene O'Connor, the brother of the deceased, gave evidence describing the shooting and the moment after. He said he had visited his brother, Edward O'Connor, at home in Barn Lodge that afternoon and heard him speak to his son, Darren, about a "straightener" to settle a row. Eugene explained that the fight took place at Cappagh Cross, involving Darren and another man, and that David Cully, the accused, fired a gun in the air when another person joined. He recalled hearing a shot, seeing his brother's back, and then seeing two holes in his brother's back after lifting his shirt. Eugene said his brother was taken to hospital, pronounced dead about an hour later. The trial continues before Mr Justice Carroll Moran and a jury. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court adjourned its deliberations in the trial of a Cavan childminder accused of assaulting a ten-month-old baby. Sandra Higgins, aged 34, of The Beeches, Drumgola Wood, Cavan town, has pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to the child on 28 March 2012. The jury of eight men and four women suspended their deliberations after four hours and will resume tomorrow. The trial heard evidence that the child presented at Cavan General Hospital around 5pm on the date in question with a brain bleed, detached retina and fractured ribs, subsequently suffering seizures. The prosecution contends the injuries resulted from violent shaking while the child was in Ms Higgins's care. Medical experts called by the prosecution stated the injuries were non-accidental and likely sustained in her custody. Defence experts suggested the evidence indicated head trauma potentially from reactivation of an earlier injury. Ms Higgins denied the allegations to gardai.
During the trial of three former Anglo Irish Bank officials accused of hiding accounts linked to former chairman Sean FitzPatrick, evidence was presented showing connections between FitzPatrick's account and that of his brother‑in‑law, John Peter O'Toole. The accused—Bernard Daly, Tiarnan O'Mahoney and Aoife Maguire—were alleged to have archived and concealed offshore accounts to evade Deposit Interest Retention Tax. They faced seven offences from 2003 and 2004 and denied removing references to O'Toole's accounts from the bank's Core Banking System or omitting his name from a 1995 list of non‑resident account holders. Patrick Peake, former fraud prevention officer, testified that he began an investigation after learning of account deletions in April 2010, and that the bank was required to file a suspicious transaction report. He presented records from 1986 onward, showing address changes for O'Toole's accounts and transactions linking them to FitzPatrick and an Isle of Man entity. Aoife Maguire pleaded not guilty.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court will begin deliberating tomorrow in the trial of a childminder charged with assaulting a ten-month-old baby. Sandra Higgins, aged 34, of Cavan town, Co Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to the infant on 28 March 2012. The prosecution alleges Ms Higgins caused injuries consistent with violent shaking, including a brain bleed, detached retina and fractured ribs, while the child was in her care. Medical experts who treated the child stated the injuries were non-accidental and likely occurred during Ms Higgins' supervision. The defence presented expert witnesses suggesting the injuries could result from earlier trauma. Judge Patricia Ryan instructed the jury to base their verdict solely on evidence and common sense, disregarding sympathy for any party. Closing arguments focused on medical evidence, the timing of injuries, and competing expert interpretations regarding the cause of the child's condition.
On the fifth day of the nephew's murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Charlotte O'Connor, the widow of the deceased, gave emotional testimony. She recounted that her husband, David Cully, 24, had been shot twice by his nephew, Edward O'Connor, 41, on 15 December 2013. Cully admitted manslaughter, claiming he "lost it" after a comment about a sexual‑abuse allegation against the deceased. He pleaded not guilty to murder. O'Connor said she received a call from Cully after 4 p.m. that day, who told her Mr Cully wanted to arrange a fist fight to settle a dispute involving their son, Darren. She described rushing to the scene, finding Edward lying and unresponsive, and following the ambulance to the hospital where she learned her husband had died before 6 p.m. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Carroll Moran, continues with a jury of twelve.
The murder trial of David Cully, 24, continued at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Carroll Moran and a jury. Cully, of Kilshane Road, Finglas West, is charged with murdering his uncle, Edward O'Connor, 41, by shooting him twice at Ballycoolin Road, Finglas West, on December 15, 2013. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, although he admitted manslaughter to gardai, claiming he 'lost it' after a comment regarding a sexual abuse allegation against the deceased. During cross-examination on the fifth day of the trial, witness Darren O'Connor, 24, testified that he saw his cousin shoot their father in the back following an arranged fist fight at the family's grandparents' property. Mr O'Connor denied that there was a 'history of firearms' in the family and stated he was unaware of previous weapons found near their home or in Dunsink. However, he agreed that he is allegedly facing a charge of being in possession of a firearm in the course of a robbery in July 2013. The trial continues this afternoon.
Closing speeches have been heard in the trial of a childminder charged with assaulting a baby at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Sandra Higgins, aged 34, of Cavan town, County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to a ten-month-old child on 28 March 2012. The prosecution alleges the child presented with seizures, brain injuries and fractured ribs after being brought to Cavan General Hospital, having been normal earlier that day. The defence contends the prosecution cannot conclusively establish when the injuries occurred. Prosecuting counsel argued the evidence demonstrates non-accidental injury inflicted through violence. Defence counsel submitted that expert evidence confirmed injuries cannot be timed conclusively, and questioned why his client should account for older injuries when she was not the sole caregiver in preceding weeks. The jury of eight men and four women is expected to begin deliberations tomorrow. Judge Patricia Ryan presides.
A defence witness at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has testified that shaken baby syndrome lacks scientific validation. The neuropathologist told the trial that she formerly supported the diagnosis but changed her view after research overturned key elements underpinning it. Sandra Higgins, a registered childminder from Drumgola Wood, Cavan town, has pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to a ten-month-old child in her care on 28 March 2012. The defence witness told the court there was evidence of pre-existing subdural haemorrhage in the child and of older injuries. She also noted that babies can experience a lucid interval following head injury. The witness cautioned against assuming the timing of injury based solely on when a child collapsed. Closing speeches were to follow, with proceedings before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury continuing.
A 24‑year‑old Dublin man, Darren O'Connor, gave evidence at the Central Criminal Court on the fourth day of his cousin David Cully's murder trial. Cully, also 24, is charged with murdering his uncle, 41‑year‑old Edward O'Connor, by shooting him twice on 15 December 2013. O'Connor described how he and his father were at their grandparents' property when Cully, after a prior altercation, suggested a "straightener" or fist fight. O'Connor says he and his father entered the yard, where Cully and his opponent were waiting. During the fight, Cully shot Edward in the back, firing about six shots. O'Connor testified that his father was left lying on his back, breathing heavily, and was later pronounced dead. The trial is before Mr Justice Carroll Moran with a jury of seven women and five men. David Cully pleaded not guilty.
A garda handwriting expert has given evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the trial of a childminder accused of assaulting a baby. Sandra Higgins, aged 34, of The Beeches, Drumgola Wood, Cavan town, County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to a ten-month-old child in her care on 28 March 2012. Detective Garda John Leonard examined a notebook used as a diary and handover book between Ms Higgins and the child's mother. He identified that a time entry of 12.50pm on the date in question had been altered, denoting the end of the child's morning sleep. However, Mr Leonard acknowledged under cross-examination that he could not determine when the original entry had been amended. The trial before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury continues.
A jury of five men and seven women was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court on 22 June 2015 for the trial of 42‑year‑old Paula Farrell of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, who is accused of murdering 32‑year‑old Wayne McQuillan on 1 January 2014. Ms Farrell pleaded not guilty. Judge Patrick McCarthy told the jury the trial would last about two and a half weeks and would begin with evidence on Wednesday morning.
A consultant paediatrician has given evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the trial of a childminder charged with assaulting a baby. Sandra Higgins, aged 34, of The Beeches, Drumgola Wood, Cavan town, has pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to a ten-month-old child in her care on 28 March 2012. Dr Christopher James Hobbs told the court that bruising to the infant's back and ear represented a "classic textbook picture" consistent with violent shaking. He noted that bruising in such locations is unusual in accidental injury but common in non-accidental cases. A defence witness, Dr Julie Mack, a paediatric radiologist, countered that bleeding identified on brain scans resulted from rupture of a smaller blood vessel rather than the larger vessels typically associated with shaken baby syndrome. The trial before Judge Patricia Ryan continues with a jury of twelve.
The Special Criminal Court will decide next week whether evidence from a search warrant and the arrest of seven Dublin men can be admitted. The men, accused of IRA membership, were found in a Tallaght house where police discovered two packages of tightly folded paper wrapped in clingfilm, allegedly communications from prisoners at Portlaoise Prison. The prosecution argued that the men were holding an IRA meeting to discuss these communications. The seven accused—Brian Nick Mc Bennett, Peter Burns, Kevin Braney, Michael Barr, John Brock, Declan Phelan and Desmond Christie—have pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation. The court is conducting a voir dire to determine the admissibility of the search warrant evidence and the arrests, with a ruling expected next Tuesday at 2 pm before a full six‑week hearing begins.
A US paediatric radiologist gave evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the trial of a childminder accused of assaulting a baby. Sandra Higgins, aged 34, of The Beeches, Drumgola Wood, Cavan town, County Cavan has pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to a ten-month-old child in her care on 28 March 2012. Dr Julie Mack, testifying by video-link for the defence, stated that bleeding identified on the child's brain scans was too limited to indicate the rupture of larger blood vessels typically associated with abusive head trauma. She suggested the bleeding on the brain membranes could have resulted from bruising caused by impact. Under cross-examination, Dr Mack acknowledged disagreeing with standard medical consensus on the mechanisms of injury in shaking cases and admitted unfamiliarity with certain clinical findings and medical reports concerning the child's injuries. The trial before Judge Patricia Ryan and jury continues.
The trial of David Cully, 24, will resume on Monday after a break. Cully is charged with murdering his uncle, Edward O'Connor, 41, by shooting him twice in the back on 15 December 2013. He admitted killing O'Connor, saying he 'lost it' after O'Connor made a remark about a person who had alleged sexual abuse against him. Cully pleaded not guilty to murder and his guilty plea to manslaughter was rejected by the State. The case is being heard at the Central Criminal Court. In the opening, the State's counsel, Pauline Walley SC, argued that Cully had no intention to kill or seriously injure O'Connor and that the prosecution must prove intent and lack of provocation. She noted family tension after the abuse allegation and a fight the night before the killing, during which Cully brought a gun. The trial is expected to last three weeks before Mr Justice Carroll Moran.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a consultant paediatrician has testified that brain injuries sustained by a ten-month-old infant could not reasonably have been inflicted before the child was left with a childminder on 28 March 2012. Sandra Higgins, aged 34, of Cavan town, County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to the child. Dr Alan Finan stated the infant presented with active seizures, brain injuries and fractured ribs when brought to hospital at approximately 5pm, having been normal that morning. He told the court it would be unreasonable to suggest such injuries occurred seven hours earlier. Under cross-examination, the consultant acknowledged changing the certainty of his conclusions between reports dated 4 April and 11 April, attributing this to further consideration rather than new evidence. The trial before Judge Patricia Ryan continues, with additional evidence heard from a consultant ophthalmologist regarding extensive retinal haemorrhaging observed in the infant.
The trial of 24‑year‑old David Cully, charged with murdering his 41‑year‑old uncle Edward O'Connor, will resume on Friday morning. Cully, of Kilshane Road, Finglas West, admitted shooting O'Connor twice in the back on 15 December 2013 but pleaded not guilty to murder. He had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter, a plea rejected by the State, and is now on trial at the Central Criminal Court. The State's case, presented by Pauline Walley SC, argues that Cully had intent to kill, citing family tensions after an allegation against O'Connor and a physical row the night before the shooting. Walley noted that Cully had brought a gun to a "fair fight" and that he claimed hatred toward O'Connor. The trial, with a jury of seven women and five men, is expected to last three weeks under Mr Justice Carroll Moran.
A childminder has pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to a ten-month-old baby at her home in Cavan town on 28 March 2012. Sandra Higgins, aged 34, of The Beeches, Drumgola Wood, Cavan told gardai during interview in April 2012 that the infant was not assaulted in her care and that she treated the child as one of her own. She described witnessing a seizure that day after the baby awoke from an afternoon sleep. Medical evidence presented to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court included consultant paediatrician Dr Alan Finan's testimony regarding extensive bruising across the child's body and haemorrhaging at the back of both eyes. The registered childminder acknowledged failing to keep some records properly but denied deliberately creating documentation to cover up any incident. The trial before Judge Patricia Ryan is scheduled for six days with a jury of eight men and four women.
The trial of three former Anglo Irish Bank officials accused of hiding accounts connected to former chairman Sean FitzPatrick in an alleged tax evasion scheme has been adjourned. Judge Patrick McCartan excused the jury until next Monday to allow for legal argument, stating they were removed to avoid being 'infected' with material that does not constitute evidence. The accused are Bernard Daly, 65, of Whitehall, Dublin; Tiarnan O'Mahoney, 54, of Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow; and Aoife Maguire, 60, of Kilmainham, Dublin. All three pleaded not guilty to seven alleged offences committed in 2003 and 2004. They are accused of archiving and hiding off-shore accounts that may have had Deposit Interest Retention Tax owed on them. Specifically, the three are accused of trying to delete references to two accounts in the name of John Peter O'Toole, Mr FitzPatrick's brother-in-law, from Anglo's Core Banking System. Mr Daly and Mr O'Mahoney also deny omitting Mr O'Toole's name from a list provided to the Revenue Commissioners regarding non-resident accounts worth more than €100,000 in 1995. Additionally, Mr O'Mahoney and Ms Maguire deny attempting to delete six other accounts connected to Mr FitzPatrick from the system. The matter was adjourned, with evidence to continue next week.
David Cully, 24, of Kilshane Road, Finglas West, Dublin, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of his uncle, Edward O'Connor, 41, who died at Ballycoolin Road, Finglas West, on 15 December 2013. Cully pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter, a plea rejected by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The prosecution, represented by Ms Pauline Walley SC, argued that the burden of proof lies with them to show that Cully intended to kill O'Connor, not merely to cause serious injury. Walley urged the jury to remain impartial and not be swayed by sympathy. The trial, which began with a jury of seven women and five men, is scheduled to continue until 2 p.m. and is expected to last up to three weeks.
A childminder charged with causing serious harm to a baby in her care appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Tuesday. Sandra Higgins, aged 34, from Drumgola Wood in Cavan town, has pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to the infant at her home on 28 March 2012. The child's uncle gave evidence that the baby was "bright and bubbly" on the morning of the alleged assault but became seriously ill later that day and was hospitalised. He described a pattern of injuries sustained while in the defendant's care in the weeks preceding the incident. A social worker told the court she received notification of concerns that the baby's injuries might be non-accidental and met with the parents, who co-operated fully and requested gardaí involvement. The trial is expected to run for six days before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury. A court order protects the child's identity.
The trial of three former Anglo Irish Bank officials—Bernard Daly, Tiarnan O'Mahoney and Aoife Maguire—has focused on alleged attempts to hide offshore accounts linked to former chairman Sean FitzPatrick. The prosecution claims the trio tried to delete references to two accounts in the name of FitzPatrick's brother‑in‑law, John Peter O'Toole, from the bank's Core Banking System, and also omitted O'Toole's name from a list of non‑resident account holders for the Revenue. O'Mahoney and Maguire deny deleting six other FitzPatrick‑related accounts. Walter Tyrell, former Head of Group Internal Audit, testified that he was asked to investigate director loans and later became aware of the archiving issue, raising it with the new chairman in 2010. He noted that the bank's fraud officer, Patrick Peak, led the investigation, raising concerns about a potential conflict of interest. The case remains in legal argument, with the judge urging the jury to focus on the facts presented. Aoife Maguire pleaded not guilty.
Sandra Higgins, a registered child-minder from Cavan town, is currently on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where she has pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to a ten-month-old infant at her home on March 28, 2012. The prosecution alleges the child suffered active seizures, extensive bruising, and retinal haemorrhaging consistent with violent shaking. During the first day of the six-day trial before Judge Patricia Ryan, the infant's mother testified that the child appeared healthy when dropped off that morning but was found unconscious with a swelling between the eyebrows when collected. The mother also raised concerns regarding the child-minding diary, alleging that entries describing bumps and bruises were added or changed after the incident. The defence is expected to call an expert witness to argue that the injuries were accidental and that there is no evidence supporting a diagnosis of violent shaking. A court order prohibits the publication of any details that would identify the child. The trial is ongoing, with the jury tasked with evaluating the conflicting medical and testimonial evidence presented by both sides.
Three former Anglo Irish Bank officials – Bernard Daly (65), Tiarnan O'Mahoney (54) and Aoife Maguire (60) – are on trial for allegedly hiding accounts linked to former chairman Sean FitzPatrick in a tax‑evasion scheme. They pleaded not guilty to seven offences committed in 2003 and 2004. The prosecution says the case centres on non‑resident bank accounts held by Anglo that were investigated by Revenue for possible Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) liability. O'Mahoney and Daly are accused of supplying Revenue with a list of non‑resident accounts that omitted an account held by John Peter O'Toole, a brother‑in‑law of FitzPatrick. Maguire, Daly and O'Mahoney are also alleged to have asked Anglo's IT department to delete records of two O'Toole accounts from the Core Banking System and to conceal records of six other accounts connected to FitzPatrick or O'Mahoney.
The trial of three former Anglo Irish Bank officials – Aoife Maguire (60), Bernard Daly (65) and Tiarnan O'Mahoney (54) – is set to begin in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. They face charges of deceiving the Revenue and destroying or falsifying bank records related to a named account, allegedly committed in 2003 and 2004. All three plead not guilty. The trial, expected to run until the end of July, was adjourned last week after a shortage of jurors. A female juror was discharged due to a family medical condition, and another withdrew after revealing a professional connection to a firm that shares clients with Anglo Irish Bank. The court has imposed strict restrictions on jurors, excluding those with strong feelings about Anglo, connections to the bank, the Revenue, Ernst & Young or the auditing sector. The trial will open this afternoon before Judge Patrick McCartan with a jury of six women and six men.
The trial of two Dublin men accused of raping a homeless woman in a hotel room collapsed after a legal issue. A 27‑year‑old man is alleged to have raped the woman in the George Frederic Handel Hotel on 27 March 2012, while a 40‑year‑old co‑accused allegedly watched and threatened her about reporting the crime. Both pleaded not guilty. Judge Margaret Heneghan dismissed the jury, citing the legal problem, and remanded the men to appear later in the month for a new trial date.
The trial of former Anglo Irish Bank officials Aoife Maguire, Bernard Daly and Tiarnan O'Mahoney has been adjourned to Monday because the court ran out of jurors. The three, aged 60, 65 and 54 respectively, face charges of deceiving the Revenue and destroying or falsifying bank records from 2003 and 2004. They have pleaded not guilty to all charges. The allegations include conspiring to destroy, mutilate or falsify documents relating to a named account, furnishing a list of accounts that omitted the named account, and defrauding the Revenue by deleting or concealing accounts held by Anglo in the name of the named person. The trial, expected to run until the end of July, was scheduled to begin at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Patrick McCartan. Only seven jurors were sworn in before the court ran out of potential jurors, so jury swearing will resume on Monday with a fresh panel.
During a rape trial, a hotel receptionist testified that a homeless woman, allegedly raped by a 27‑year‑old Dublin man in a hotel room on 27 March 2012, was on the verge of crying when she emerged from the room. The receptionist, Emmet O'Shaughnessy, said he had checked the accused and the victim into a room at about 1.40 a.m. and that the woman appeared upset and near tears when she came down to the lobby after two o'clock. She reportedly told him, "you've got two filthy scumbags up there," and later went outside, where he watched her walk down the street. He also described how the accused men interacted, with the younger man allegedly threatening the older man and both signing each other's names when signing out. The trial, presided over by Justice Margaret Heneghan, continues with a jury of eight men and four women. The unnamed 27-year-old pleaded not guilty.
The trial of three former Anglo Irish Bank officials – Aoife Maguire, Bernard Daly and Tiarnan O'Mahoney – is set to start tomorrow at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. They face charges of deceiving the Revenue and hiding bank accounts, allegedly committed in 2003 and 2004. The defendants deny the allegations. A jury will be sworn in the morning, and the trial will commence at 2 pm before Judge Patrick McCartan. It is expected to last five to six weeks, with no need for an enhanced jury panel.
During the third day of a rape trial, Defence barrister Feargal Kavanagh SC apologized to the alleged victim after questioning her about her "promiscuity." The 27‑year‑old accused, a Dublin man, is alleged to have raped the woman in a hotel room on 27 March 2012, while a 40‑year‑old co‑accused allegedly watched and threatened her. Both men plead not guilty. Kavanagh asked the victim about her early sexual history and about decorating her private parts with glitter stickers, then apologized for using the word "promiscuity." The victim testified that she had helped the men secure a hotel room after meeting them in a pub, that she did not intend to stay or have sex, and that the first man raped her while the second laughed. She denied that any consensual sex occurred and denied learning the accused was married. The trial continues before Justice Margaret Heneghan and a jury of eight men and four women.
A trial is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court involving two Dublin men, aged 27 and 40, who have pleaded not guilty to raping a woman in a room at the George Frederic Handel Hotel, Fishamble Street, in the early hours of March 27, 2012. The complainant, a homeless woman who was 22 at the time, testified that one accused physically raped her while the other looked on, laughing and smirking. She alleged the second man threatened to throw her out of a window if she reported the incident to gardaí. Prosecuting counsel Pauline Walley SC argued that the second accused was as much a perpetrator as the man who physically penetrated her. The complainant described how she met the men in a pub, helped them find a hotel room, and was subsequently pushed onto a bed and held down. Under cross-examination by Feargal Kavanagh SC, she acknowledged a history of substance use, including benzodiazepam, and admitted to hugging one accused in CCTV footage while searching for accommodation. The court heard that the first accused told gardaí the woman had consented, a claim she denied. The matter is currently before Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan and a jury of eight men and four women, with the trial continuing.
The jury was discharged in the trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick, who was charged with 27 offences under the 1990 Companies Act for allegedly failing to disclose millions of euros in loans to the bank's auditors. The trial, held at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, had been delayed for seven weeks due to legal arguments and a witness illness, and no evidence had been presented to the jury. Judge Mary Ellen Ring explained that the trial could not continue and would be rescheduled for 5 October 2015, with a new jury to be empanelled. FitzPatrick, aged 66, had pleaded not guilty to charges including making misleading statements to auditors and furnishing false information between 2002 and 2007. The prosecution's case was based on an investigation by the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement into alleged "warehousing" of loans and arrangements that concealed the true loan balances from auditors.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 21 May 2015, Judge Mary Ellen Ring informed the jury of former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick that legal arguments were still ongoing and that the jury would need to return on 2 June to resume the trial. The judge had previously excused the jury foreman due to work difficulties and had also addressed an unemployed juror whose job prospects were affected by the trial's delays. The trial, which began legal argument on 16 April, has been repeatedly adjourned, with the opening of evidence postponed four times. FitzPatrick, aged 66, pleaded not guilty to 27 offences under the Companies Act, including 21 counts of misleading auditors and six counts of furnishing false information, relating to alleged loans from Irish Nationwide Building Society between 2002 and 2007. The jury, composed of six men and six women, was empanelled on 14 April and has been notified of the delays by telephone.
At a Special Criminal Court sitting on 20 May 2015, Donal O Coisdealbha, aged 23, was charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and possession of a time‑and‑power unit (TPU) for an improvised explosive device. He was arrested by the Special Detective Unit on 13 May 2015. The court, after hearing objections to bail from the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Special Detective Unit, and considering the strength of the evidence and the potential for non‑appearance, refused bail under Section 2 of the Bail Act. Judge Paul Butler noted the lengthy delay to trial and the possibility of a future bail application, but ultimately remanded O Coisdealbha in custody until 7 July. On the same day, Séamus McGrane, aged 60, was also charged with directing and membership of the IRA, but no bail application was made; he too was remanded until 7 July, when his case will be heard by video link.
The jury has begun deliberating in the trial of Keith O'Neill, 39, of Lissadell Drive, Drimnagh, who is accused of murdering John Wilson, 35, at Wilson's home on Cloverhill Road, Ballyfermot, on 28 September 2012. O'Neill pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleges his participation in the death. Judge Tony Hunt called for a unanimous verdict. The jury, composed of five women and seven men, was excused after 1 hour 29 minutes and will return tomorrow.