In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Gail O'Rorke, 43, pleaded not guilty to aiding and abetting the suicide of Bernadette Forde, 51, who died in June 2011 after taking pentobarbital. O'Rorke admitted that she helped Forde obtain the drug from Mexico and that a courier delivered the pills to Forde's home, where Forde allegedly cried with relief upon receiving them. She denied arranging travel to Zurich for a euthanasia clinic and denied making funeral arrangements in advance of Forde's death. O'Rorke also claimed that Mary Lundy, a friend, had contacted an exit‑international organisation and that Lundy was present when Forde took the pills. The trial, presided over by Judge Patrick McCartan, continues with a jury of twelve. The prosecution has finished presenting its evidence. The case remains at the trial stage.
The Central Criminal Court heard evidence in the murder trial of Marius Gaizutis (52), who is charged with murdering Audrius Butkus (44) at Marsh Road, Drogheda, on September 9 or 10, 2013. Gaizutis pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter; the State rejected this plea, and a jury was sworn in. Co-accused Aivers Sonders (53) faces three counts of assisting an offender by impeding Gaizutis's apprehension, to which he pleaded not guilty. State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy testified that Butkus died from blunt force trauma to the head, consistent with strikes from an object with a rectangular surface. She noted extensive skull damage, over forty fresh injuries, and chronic alcohol use, concluding the assault was sustained and violent. Detective Sergeant Liam Archbold presented Gaizutis's statements, in which he alleged a struggle involving a broken bottle and claimed he used an axe in self-defense before ordering Sonders to dispose of the body. The trial is ongoing, with the judge adjourning proceedings to Monday at 2 pm.
The jury has begun deliberations in the Central Criminal Court trial of 39‑year‑old Jooda Akanbi, charged with murdering 45‑year‑old Taiwo Jamani on Main Street, Swords, on 10 October 2013. Akanbi claims he acted in self‑defence when he struck Jamani with a baseball bat, but the prosecution argues it was a fight and that he had the intent to kill or seriously injure. Judge Tony Hunt explained that the jury could find Akanbi guilty of murder, not guilty of murder, or not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter if they believed he used excessive force in self‑defence. The judge emphasised that a unanimous verdict was required and that the jury would review evidence including the bats and gloves. The jury deliberated for an hour and four minutes before returning home, with deliberations to resume the next morning.
In 2015 a trial heard that Gail O'Rorke, 43, was accused of aiding Bernadette Forde, 51, in taking her own life in 2011. O'Rorke claimed that another friend, Mary Lundy, had contacted the euthanasia organisation Exit International on Forde's behalf and that Lundy had used Forde's credit card to buy a book on suicide methods and set up a private email account. O'Rorke said that on 5 June 2011 she visited Forde's house, washed her, and spoke about "important things." She alleged that Lundy was present when Forde took a lethal dose of pentobarbital, that Forde had said she was "doing well," and that Lundy later claimed the drug was a dud. O'Rorke denied that anyone else was charged and stated that Tom Curran, a representative of Exit International, had advised Forde. The case was before Judge Patrick McCartan with a jury of twelve. Gail O'Rorke pleaded not guilty.
The judge has begun charging the jury in the Central Criminal Court trial of 39‑year‑old Jooda Akanbi, who is charged with murdering 45‑year‑old Taiwo Jamani with a baseball bat on Main Street, Swords, on 10 October 2013. Akanbi claims he acted in self‑defence during a fight that broke out shortly before lunchtime. He was found dead on 13 November 2013 from a severe brain injury. Akanbi pleaded not guilty, the evidence finished today, and the judge has now begun summarising the case for the jury of five women and seven men.
In a 2015 trial, Gail O'Rorke, a 43‑year‑old taxi driver, pleaded not guilty to aiding and abetting the suicide of her friend Bernadette Forde, 51, who died in June 2011 by taking pentobarbital ordered online from Mexico. O'Rorke denied knowingly paying for the lethal drug, saying she had no knowledge of its purpose and that she had only transferred money for errands. She claimed she had supported Forde's decision to seek assisted suicide in Switzerland, but that Gardaí had intervened after a tip‑off. O'Rorke also denied arranging travel to Zurich or making funeral arrangements. The court heard that Forde left O'Rorke 30 % of her estate and that her solicitor confirmed she was of sound mind and not under undue influence. The case was heard by Judge Patrick McCartan with a jury of twelve.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 39‑year‑old Nigerian man, Jooda Akanbi, is charged with murder after striking 45‑year‑old Taiwo Jamani with a baseball bat on Main Street, Swords, on 10 October 2013. The prosecution, led by Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, argued that Akanbi's claim of self‑defence was unsupported, describing the force used as "unreasonable and excessive" and asserting that evidence indicated Jamani was not the initial aggressor. Witnesses testified to a brief fight outside a bank around 12.20 pm, with Akanbi admitting to hitting Jamani but denying it in Garda interviews. Buckley urged the jury to consider the evidence sufficient for a murder conviction, noting that the incident was a flash‑in‑the‑pan event on a busy street. The trial remains ongoing. Jooda Akanbi pleaded not guilty.
During a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the defence presented Garda Damien Rogers as a witness. Rogers recounted a 2011 search of an apartment at The Bakery, George's Hill, Balbriggan, where the deceased, Taiwo Jamani, was present. He noted that Jamani's address was Dublin Street and that the premises was a computer business named Data Links owned by Jamani. Rogers claimed he entered a Garda Pulse system entry stating that Jamani and two others should be made suspects of computer and credit card fraud, but he also said no prosecution followed and Jamani had no prior convictions. The trial concerned the 2013 murder of Jamani by 39‑year‑old Jooda Akanbi, who was charged with killing Jamani with a baseball bat on Main Street, Swords. The defence argued that the alleged fraud allegations were unrelated to the murder case. The trial continued into the afternoon. Jooda Akanbi pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court is currently hearing the trial of Marius Gaizutis (52) and co-accused Aivers Sonders (53) under Justice Margaret Heneghan. Gaizutis, of Marsh Road, Drogheda, is charged with murdering Audrius Butkus (44) at that address on September 9 or 10, 2013. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter; the State rejected this plea, resulting in a jury trial. Sonders, of Termon Abbey, faces three counts of assisting an offender by impeding Gaizutis's apprehension, including moving the body to Mornington Beach and cleaning the scene. He pleaded not guilty to all counts. Prosecution counsel Patrick Gagey SC told the jury that Butkus died from a sharp, heavy implement, possibly an axe, to the back of the head. Evidence presented includes blood staining on a mop, bucket, and a red Suzuki Swift, as well as a blood-covered bag found near the body. Witnesses included Brian McAreavey, who discovered the body, and Garda Deirdre Semple, who noted drag marks. Gaizutis allegedly admitted to a fight with Butkus and instructed Sonders to dispose of the body. The trial is ongoing and expected to last five to six days.
The trial of Gail O'Rorke, accused of aiding and abetting the suicide of Bernadette Forde, is ongoing before Judge Patrick McCartan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. O'Rorke, a 43-year-old taxi driver, has pleaded not guilty to charges alleging she helped Forde procure and administer a toxic substance between April 20 and June 6, 2011. She also denies attempting to aid suicide by arranging travel to a Swiss euthanasia clinic and procuring suicide by making funeral arrangements. Evidence heard includes testimony from Forde's nephew, Bernard Forde Monaghan, who stated he had no problem helping his aunt travel to Dignitas, believing he was assisting with logistics. The trip was interrupted when gardaí were alerted. Another witness, Catherine Campbell, testified that O'Rorke tried to dissuade Forde from ending her life. Dr Muna Sabah confirmed Forde died from a lethal concentration of pentobarbital. The trial, expected to last two weeks, continues with a jury of twelve.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, 39‑year‑old Jooda Akanbi pleaded not guilty to the killing of 45‑year‑old Taiwo Jamani on 10 October 2013 on Main Street, Swords. The prosecution closed its case after the defence presented evidence that the fatal blow was delivered in self‑defence. Akanbi testified that he had been threatened by Jamani, who had allegedly tried to coerce him into fraud and had threatened to involve the Gardaí. Akanbi claimed he struck Jamani with a baseball bat after being punched and that the death was caused by the accused's actions. The judge struck the second count of serious harm from the issue paper, stating the death was caused by the accused's own actions. No conviction or sentencing was reported in the article.
The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Bernadette Forde, aged 51, died from a lethal dose of the barbiturate pentobarbital, which she had ordered online from Mexico. The drug is used in capital punishment in the United States and for euthanasia where legal. Gail O'Rorke, 43, a taxi driver from Kilclare Gardens, Tallaght, is accused of assisting Forde's suicide by helping her obtain and take the drug between 20 April 2011 and 6 June 2011 at a Dublin location. O'Rorke denies aiding the suicide by arranging travel to Zurich, arranging funeral arrangements, or procuring the drug. Dr Muna Sabah testified that a lethal concentration of 53 micrograms per millilitre of pentobarbital was found in Forde's system. The trial, expected to last about two weeks, is before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury of twelve. Bernadette Forde pleaded not guilty. Gail O'Rorke pleaded not guilty.
During a trial at the Central Criminal Court, Jooda Akanbi, aged 39, faced charges of murdering 45‑year‑old Taiwo Jamani with a baseball bat on 13 November 2013, the day of Jamani's death at Beaumont Hospital. The case also included a separate charge of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Jamani on 10 October 2013, when the two men fought on Main Street, Swords. Akanbi pleaded not guilty to both charges, claiming self‑defence. Judge Tony Hunt announced that the second charge would be struck from the indictment, describing it as a precautionary, non‑fatal allegation that was now superfluous because the death was attributed to the accused's actions. The trial continued with the remaining murder charge. The article reports only the procedural decision to drop the second count and does not state any verdict or sentencing. The trial was ongoing at the time of reporting.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, a 43‑year‑old taxi driver, Gail O'Rorke, is accused of aiding the suicide of her 51‑year‑old friend, Bernadette Forde, by helping procure and administer phenobarbital between April and June 2011. O'Rorke denies assisting the suicide, arranging travel to Zurich for Dignitas, or making funeral arrangements. The prosecution presented a recorded last‑words message from Forde, found on a Dictaphone beside her body in Donnybrook, in which she expresses frustration at being forced to act alone and her desire to end her life without implicating others. The trial, presided over by Judge Patrick McCartan, is expected to last about two weeks and involves witnesses including Forde's housing association head and a Garda who found medication and correspondence related to Dignitas. The case remains at the trial stage, with no verdict yet. Bernadette Forde pleaded not guilty. Gail O'Rorke pleaded not guilty.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, a 29‑year‑old fisherman pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault of a 58‑year‑old woman with mild intellectual disabilities and schizophrenia. The assault, which took place at the victim's home in Kerry on 29 July 2011, involved physical violence, forced sexual intercourse, and the victim's throat being held. The attacker forced his way into the house after a brief encounter at a pub, punched the victim, and used a cigarette to burn her face. DNA and a fingerprint matched the accused, and the victim's DNA was found on a memoriam card. The victim suffered bruising, abrasions, carpet burns, and difficulty swallowing. She has since lost her independence and her role in the community centre, and she feels frightened and guilty about the incident. The court remanded the accused in continuing custody for sentencing in July, after a guilty plea was entered and a victim impact report was presented.
In a Dublin trial, 43‑year‑old taxi driver Gail O'Rorke pleaded not guilty to aiding and abetting the suicide of 51‑year‑old Bernadette Forde. O'Rorke denies helping Forde procure a toxic substance, arranging travel to Zurich, or making funeral arrangements before Forde's death. The prosecution, led by Remy Farrell SC, presented evidence that Forde, suffering from advanced primary progressive multiple sclerosis, had considered assisted suicide after a car crash and the death of her sister. Farrell alleged O'Rorke assisted with travel plans to Zurich and later helped obtain phenobarbital from Mexico, which Forde took. Witnesses, including a resident who found Forde's body and a Garda who discovered medication and a Dictaphone note, testified. The jury was instructed that the trial is not a forum for debating the legality of assisted suicide. The case is scheduled to last two weeks before Judge Patrick McCartan.
The jury in the trial of Mark Nash, aged 42, who is accused of murdering Sylvia Sheils (59) and Mary Callanan (61) in March 1997, had deliberated for a total of two hours and fifty minutes at the Central Criminal Court before being instructed by Mr Justice Carroll Moran to take a lunch break and resume at 2 pm. Nash had pleaded not guilty. The case involves two murders that occurred 18 years ago.
Gail O'Rorke, aged 43, pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to aiding and abetting the suicide of Bernadette Forde, 51, by helping procure and administer a toxic substance between 20 April and 6 June 2011. She also entered not guilty pleas to two further charges: that she tried to arrange travel to Zurich, Switzerland, between 10 March and 20 April 2011, and that she arranged funeral arrangements for Forde between 4 and 6 June 2011. The trial, expected to last two weeks, began with an opening speech by prosecuting counsel Remy Farrell SC.
During a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, the jury heard that on 10 October 2013, a fight involving two baseball bats broke out on Main Street, Swords. Jooda Akanbi, aged 39, was charged with intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to 45‑year‑old Taiwo Jamani and with murdering him on 13 November 2013. Akanbi pleaded not guilty, claiming self‑defence. Detective Garda James Tracey testified that Jamani was lying on the ground when Akanbi arrived, that Jamani had grabbed a bat from Akanbi's boot, and that Akanbi then struck Jamani's head with another bat. Akanbi was arrested at 12.40pm on suspicion of assault causing harm. The court heard from Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis, who described Jamani's skull fractures as caused by severe blunt force trauma. Two baseball bats recovered from Akanbi's car were shown to the jury. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with a jury of five women and seven men.
In a 2015 High Court decision, Mr Justice Paul Gilligan allowed Dublin resident James Walsh to pursue a civil claim against the State for malicious prosecution. Walsh, who was acquitted in 2007 of charges that he had threatened journalist Paul Williams, argues that the prosecution was based on false allegations known to be untrue. He has sued the Garda Commissioner and the Attorney General for punitive and exemplary damages. The State and the Garda Commissioner sought to dismiss the claim on grounds of inordinate delay and lack of progress, citing Walsh's late filing of the claim in 2009 and his failure to attend court. The judge rejected the dismissal, noting that no prejudice had been shown and that the delay did not justify striking out the case. He ordered the matter to proceed to hearing as soon as possible, emphasizing fairness to both parties. The case remains pending before a judge and jury.
A jury in the Central Criminal Court, hearing the case of Mark Nash, 42, accused of murdering Sylvia Sheils, 59, and Mary Callanan, 61, in March 1997, spent a total of one hour deliberating before being sent home. Nash pleaded not guilty. The judge recharged the jury on issues such as Nash's Caterpillar boots, Palmarian pictures found on Dean Lyons, and suspect Martin Stafford. He told the jury they could decide when to resume, and they chose to reconvene on Monday at 11 am.
Evidence in the trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick, accused of failing to disclose the true value of multi‑million euro loans, will not begin until next Wednesday. A jury of six men and six women was formed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Tuesday. Judge Mary Ellen Ring told the jurors to return to court next Monday when the trial was due to begin in evidence, but lawyers for both sides said that legal discussions in the absence of the jury are likely to continue into Tuesday. Judge Ring asked the Courts Service to contact the jurors and inform them they should return now on Wednesday. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury resumed deliberations on the murder trial of Mark Nash, 42, who is accused of killing Sylvia Sheils, 59, and Mary Callanan, 61, between 6 and 7 March 1997. The victims were living in sheltered accommodation attached to St Brendan's Psychiatric Hospital in Grangegorman at the time of their deaths. The jury sought the initial statement of the late Dean Lyons, who had previously admitted to the murders and was charged with Callanan's murder on 27 July 1997, a charge later withdrawn in April 1998. Judge Carroll Moran reminded the jury that only evidence presented in court could be considered. The jury requested highlighters and drawing pens, viewed a video of the crime scene, and then paused for lunch before returning to continue deliberations. The trial remains ongoing. Mark Nash pleaded not guilty.
The High Court has ruled that an engineer and two related construction companies must indemnify the operators of a DIY and garden centre in County Longford following a fatal wall collapse in 2013. Two men died and several others sustained serious injuries when an internal wall at Connacht Gold Co-Op Society's premises on Athlone Road, Longford collapsed on 29 January 2013. The widow of one deceased man, Sean Mulleady, settled a negligence action for €750,000 against the shop's tenant, the property owners Vincent Ruane Builders Ltd and Vincent Ruane Construction Ltd, and project manager Simon Beale. Mr Justice Michael Peart found that Mr Beale must fully indemnify Aurivo cooperative society, the current tenant. Both construction companies were ordered to each contribute 20 per cent indemnity to Mr Beale. The judge determined the wall was constructed without adequate support, creating an obvious danger. The court also awarded €210,000 for property damage sustained in the collapse.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has adjourned deliberations in the trial of Mark Nash, who stands accused of murdering two women in 1997. The 42-year-old, with addresses in Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to charges relating to the deaths of two residents of sheltered accommodation at Grangegorman in March that year. Following a 48-day trial, Mr Justice Carroll Moran addressed the jury on legal principles and evidence, including admissions allegedly made by the accused, forensic findings, and DNA analysis. The judge also referenced incidents in Ballintubber, County Roscommon, noting these carried no probative value in the case. He instructed jurors to set aside sympathy and reach unanimous verdicts on the two counts. The jury deliberated for less than forty minutes on Thursday before being released until Friday morning, when they will resume their considerations.
During a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, a taxi driver named John Clarke testified that on 10 October 2013 he witnessed a violent altercation on Main Street, Swords, involving two men and baseball bats. Clarke described one man pulling a bat from a car boot and striking the other, then the second man retrieving another bat and swinging it. He likened the scene to "something out of Star Wars." Another witness, Pearse Fagan, recounted hearing the fight from his phone call, seeing both men swing bats, and noting the victim's head bleeding. Fagan, a first aider, removed his t-shirt to stop the bleeding and photographed the assailant. The accused, Jooda Akanbi, is charged with murdering Taiwo Jamani and with causing serious harm to another man on the same day. Akanbi pleaded not guilty, claiming self‑defence. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with a jury of twelve.
Gail O'Rorke, aged 43, of Kilclare Gardens, Tallaght, has gone on trial in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for allegedly assisting Bernadette Ford, aged 51, in suicide by helping her obtain and administer a toxic substance between 20 April and 6 June 2011 at a Dublin location. O'Rorke pleaded not guilty to charges of aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the suicide. A jury of six men and six women was empanelled after Judge Patricia Ryan warned potential jurors to remain unbiased and to ignore media coverage and internet material. The trial, to be heard by Judge Patrick McCartan, is expected to last up to two weeks. Witnesses include Gardaí, a coroner's doctor, a travel agent, a FedEx employee and a professor. Remy Farrell SC represents the prosecution, while Dermott McGuinness SC defends Ms O'Rorke.
In a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, a witness testified that the accused, Jooda Akanbi, told Taiwo Jamani he was going to beat him just moments before striking him twice in the head with a baseball bat on Main Street, Swords, in October 2013. The witness, Abayoni Oluvole, described the exchange in both English and Yoruba, noting that Akanbi repeated the threat three times before Jamani told him to leave. He also recounted that Akanbi took a bat from his BMW's boot and hit Jamani, who fell and did not rise. The witness denied any fabrication and was cross‑examined by Patrick Marrinan SC, who questioned the timing of the threat. CCTV footage showed the build‑up but not the actual strike. The case remains before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury, with a two‑week trial expected. Jooda Akanbi pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin murder trial, a 39‑year‑old man, Jooda Akanbi, is charged with killing 45‑year‑old Taiwo Jamani with a baseball bat on November 13, 2013, and with causing serious harm to another Nigerian on October 10, 2013. Akanbi pleaded not guilty to both charges, claiming self‑defence. The incident occurred on Main Street, Swords, during daylight, but none of the 12 local CCTV cameras captured it. However, footage of the build‑up was shown to the jury, including the movements of Akanbi's BMW 5 Series, a witness speaking to the injured party, and cyclist Adam Ounch. Ounch testified that he was cycling behind the BMW, heard the driver shouting, and later saw two men near the car, one lying on the street and the other speaking to Gardaí. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, is expected to last two weeks.
In the Central Criminal Court, Mark Nash, aged 42, pleaded not guilty to the murders of Sylvia Shields (60) and Mary Callanan (61) committed between 6 and 7 March 1997. The prosecution, led by Mr Brendan Grehan SC, concluded his closing speech by arguing that if Nash is not the person who carried out the killings, he is a "most unfortunate person." He cited Nash's residence on Prussia Street, his lack of an accomplice, his unsolicited admissions to Gardaí, and the presence of DNA from both victims on a black velvet jacket Nash allegedly wore. Grehan also mentioned that Nash's letter of retraction introduced new material about mutilation and the use of five knives, and that Nash owned caterpillar boots matching prints found at the scene. Mr Hugh Hartnett SC, counsel for Nash, began his closing remarks by stating he would focus on the scientific facts of the case.
The jury was sworn in for the trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick, who pleaded not guilty to 27 offences under the Companies Act 1990. The charges centre on allegations that he failed to disclose the true value of multi‑million euro loans to the bank's auditors, Ernst & Young, from 2002 to 2007. Prosecutors claim he authorised arrangements to make the loan balances appear reduced at year‑end and did not inform auditors of these arrangements or of related transactions with Irish Nationwide Building Society. The trial is set to begin next Monday and could last until 28 May. The jury, composed of six men and six women, was carefully empanelled after the judge excluded those with potential bias or professional ties to banking or auditing. FitzPatrick, aged 66, is charged with 21 counts of making misleading statements and six counts of furnishing false information.
A 39‑year‑old Nigerian man, Jooda Akanbi, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of 45‑year‑old Taiwo Jamani on 13 November 2013. The alleged killing occurred on Main Street, Swords, in broad daylight at about 12.15pm on 10 October 2013, when Akanbi allegedly struck Jamani with a baseball bat, causing fatal head injuries. Akanbi pleaded not guilty to both the murder charge and a separate charge of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm. He claims the act was in self‑defence. The prosecution, led by Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, presented eyewitness testimony, photographs of the scene, and post‑mortem evidence indicating blunt‑force trauma to the head as the cause of death. The trial is expected to last two weeks.
The trial of Mark Nash, 42, accused of murdering Sylvia Shields, 60, and Mary Callanan, 61, in March 1997, has entered its closing speeches. Nash, who lives on Prussia Street and Clonliffe Road in Dublin, pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. The victims were residents of a sheltered accommodation attached to St Brendan's Psychiatric Hospital in Grangegorman. Judge Carroll Moran informed the jury that the case's final chapter remains, and counsel for the State, Brendan Grehan SC, began his closing speech before midday, with the remainder of the day to follow.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick, aged 66, pleaded not guilty to 27 counts under the Companies Act 1990 for failing to disclose the true value of loans from Irish Nationwide Building Society between 2002 and 2007 while he was an officer of Anglo Irish Bank. The court has instructed potential jurors that they should not serve if they directly held shares in any Irish bank. Judge Mary Ellen Ring has begun swearing in a jury for a trial that is scheduled to run until the end of May.
Stephen Hendrick, 47, of Ballymun, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possession of 59 rounds of ammunition in suspicious circumstances. He was arrested in July 2013 at a yard in Cloghran by the Special Detective Unit and the Crime and Security Section during investigations into dissident republican activity. Hendrick was also charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, the Irish Republican Army (Oglaigh na hEireann). The court scheduled sentencing for Wednesday, 22 April, and the State anticipated a nolle prosequi on the membership charge.
In a North Dublin town, a 39‑year‑old man named Jooda Akanbi, of Ashton Avenue, Applewood, Swords, pleaded not guilty to two charges before the Central Criminal Court. He is accused of murdering 45‑year‑old Taiwo Jamani on 13 November 2013 on Main Street, Swords, and of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Jamani on 10 October 2013. Akanbi, wearing a black suit and cream shirt, was arraigned and a jury of five women and seven men was sworn in. The trial is set to begin the following day and is expected to last two weeks.
Craig O'Halloran, 22, was found not guilty of murdering Kevin Kenny, 32, outside Ruby Finnegans pub in Inchicore on 31 July 2011. The trial, lasting one and a half weeks, examined CCTV footage of a struggle and a subsequent gathering around Kenny after he collapsed. Forensic evidence identified a stab wound to the heart as the cause of death. The jury, composed of five men and seven women, returned a not‑guilty verdict after more than three hours of deliberation. Justice Patrick McCarthy discharged O'Halloran and exempted the jury from service for ten years.
On 31 March 2015, the Special Criminal Court granted bail to David Murray, a 54‑year‑old Dublin resident of Cappogue Cottages, Finglas, who was charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The court set a €100 personal bond and required an independent surety of €20,000. Conditions of bail included residence in Finglas, signing in twice daily at Finglas Garda Station, observing a curfew from midnight to 8 a.m., surrendering his passport and travel documents, providing a mobile phone number to the Gardaí and keeping the phone on at all times, and refraining from associating with anyone charged with a scheduled offence or contacting any prosecution witnesses. Murray was remanded in custody with consent to bail until 19 May, when a book of evidence is expected to be served. The bail decision was made by Judges Paul Butler, Martin Nolan and Anthony Hamill, with legal aid granted.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, forensic scientist Dr Philip Avenell testified that DNA profiles of two victims, Sylvia Shields and Mary Callanan, found on a black velvet jacket belonging to the accused, Mark Nash, could have arisen from contamination in the forensic laboratory. Avenell compared two hypotheses: DNA obtained when the jacket was present at the murders or when it was seized. He could not determine which was more likely. He cited possible contamination from packaging, lack of bag wiping, examination of blood‑stained items six weeks apart, and file‑to‑file transfer. Avenell concluded that the scientific findings might have resulted from lab contamination. The judge ended the evidence, resuming the case on 14 April 2025. Mark Nash pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, prosecutors cross‑examined Dr Philip Avenell, a forensic scientist, as the last witness in the trial of Mark Nash, a 42‑year‑old defendant. Nash, who lives on Prussia Street and Clonliffe Road in Dublin, pleaded not guilty to the murders of Sylvia Shields, 60, and Mary Callanan, 61, which occurred between 6 and 7 March 1997. The victims were residents of a sheltered accommodation attached to St Brendan's Psychiatric Hospital in Grangegorman. Dr Avenell, who has worked on high‑profile cases such as the Stephen Lawrence murder and the Coastal Path murders, had previously testified that contamination became a concern when two examinations were conducted in room 3.6 of Forensic Science Ireland. He explained that a jacket belonging to Nash and heavily blood‑stained clothing and bedding found at the scene were examined in the same laboratory room six weeks apart.
During a murder trial in Dublin, forensic scientist Dr Philip Avenell testified that DNA could have been deposited on a jacket belonging to accused Mark Nash in numerous ways. Avenell, who had reviewed the case files and examined the jacket in 2015, explained that the jacket and other heavily blood‑stained items were processed at Forensic Science Ireland in 1997–1998, a period when formal cleaning documentation was not yet established. He noted that the lab's cleaning procedures at the time were different from modern standards and that the absence of records made it difficult to assess potential contamination. Avenell stated he could not determine whether the DNA was deposited shortly after the murders or later when the jacket was seized, and he refrained from speculating on the exact mechanism of contamination. The state counsel will continue cross‑examination of Dr Avenell on Monday. Mark Nash pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin murder trial, prosecutors argued that 21‑year‑old Craig O'Halloran attacked 32‑year‑old Kevin Kenny with a knife on 31 July 2011 at Sarsfield Road, Ballyfermot, intending to kill or seriously injure him. O'Halloran, who pleaded not guilty, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court. Prosecutor Paul Greene presented evidence that Kenny died from a knife wound, one of six inflicted, and that the attack was deliberate. He cited testimony from Sara Burke and Stephen Kenny, who claimed O'Halloran was the assailant and threatened him with a knife afterward. Greene highlighted the lack of CCTV and questioned alternative suspects, concluding the case strongly supported O'Halloran's guilt. The trial proceeded with closing speeches before Justice Patrick cMcCarthy and a jury of five men and seven women.
The jury in the Graham Dwyer trial resumed deliberations at the Central Criminal Court after a full day of discussion. Mr Justice Tony Hunt sent them back to the jury room, allowing them to continue late if desired. By lunch they had deliberated six hours and 25 minutes and would resume in the afternoon. Dwyer, charged with murdering childcare worker Elaine O'Hara, is accused of taking her to Killakee, stabbing her for sexual gratification, and the case remains in deliberation.
In a 2015 murder trial, a chartered scientist testified that a jacket belonging to the accused, Mark Nash, and blood‑stained clothing found at the crime scene were examined in the same laboratory room six weeks apart, creating a high risk of contamination. Dr. Denise Syndercombe Court, who had visited Forensic Science Ireland in 2011, initially reported no risk of cross‑contamination, stating the items were examined in different rooms. After the prosecution highlighted an error, she amended her report to acknowledge the risk and noted DNA from several individuals on the jacket, suggesting possible contamination. She explained that debris in the lab could have transferred to the jacket during examination. The trial continues with these findings presented to the jury. Mark Nash pleaded not guilty.
In the trial of Graham Dwyer for the alleged murder of Elaine O'Hara, the jury of five women and seven men was assured that their identities would not be published. The foreman had requested privacy after a query about the publication of his name. Judge Tony Hunt confirmed that no publication of any juror information would occur, despite the Juries Act lacking a specific provision. The jury had requested various exhibits, including knives found at Dwyer's workplace, a rusty blade at Killakee, and items near O'Hara's remains, which were provided. They deliberated for almost five hours on the 45th day of the trial, failing to reach a verdict. Dwyer, charged with murdering the 36‑year‑old childcare worker on 22 August 2012, has pleaded not guilty. The case remains in the Central Criminal Court.
The Central Criminal Court judge, Mr Justice Carroll Moran, informed the jury that the trial of Mark Nash, aged 42, accused of the 1997 double murder of Sylvia Shields (60) and Mary Callanan (61), is now ready to proceed with evidence. Nash, who last lived on Prussia Street and Clonliffe Road in Dublin, pleaded not guilty. The victims were living in sheltered accommodation attached to St Brendan's Psychiatric Hospital in Grangegorman when they were killed between 6 and 7 March 1997. The judge noted the case had exceeded the expected six‑to‑eight‑week duration and would not finish by Easter. He offered the jury a two‑week break for Easter or to continue immediately. The jury, after discussion, agreed to return next week. Mr Hartnett SC, Nash's counsel, called his first witness, Dr Denise Syndercombe Court, a chartered scientist and forensic genetics reader, who explained her involvement in reviewing evidence and continuity of forensic items. The trial continues.
During the 45th day of the Central Criminal Court trial of Graham Dwyer, the jury requested that certain items be made available in the jury room. The foreman asked for all knives in the case, a runner found near Ms O'Hara's remains, a spade found elsewhere at Killakee, and a backpack found in Vartry Reservoir. The trial had previously established that two knives were found in Dwyer's workplace basement in February 2014, a rusty blade was found at Killakee when Ms O'Hara's remains were discovered in September, and knives were also found at Vartry Reservoir. After the note was read, the judge acknowledged the request but explained that a letter found in Dwyer's home could not be provided because it had not been shown to the witness. The jury then requested a hoodie, white vest, bondage mask, and tracksuit bottoms found in the reservoir and near Ms O'Hara's remains. These items were provided, but the letter was denied.
In the murder trial of Craig O'Halloran, a 21‑year‑old from Portlaoise, the jury heard that a top worn by O'Halloran on the day of Kevin Kenny's killing was found at Sara Burke's address with a mark that appeared to be a bloodstain. O'Halloran, who pleaded not guilty, was interviewed by Garda Ronan Coffey on 1 August 2011. He claimed the mark could only have come from a scuffle with Robert Ellis, whom he said he was trying to protect. O'Halloran also explained his presence outside Ruby Finnegans, seen on CCTV, as being on the phone with his girlfriend and that he had chased Ellis to prevent him from being jumped. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court, continues before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of five men and seven women.
In the Graham Dwyer murder trial, the jury resumed deliberations after Judge Tony Hunt clarified that only two verdicts were available: guilty or not guilty of murder. The judge emphasized the importance of considering suicide as a possible hypothesis; if the jury believes suicide is reasonably possible, they must acquit. He reviewed evidence, including psychiatric testimony on Ms O'Hara's mental health, forensic findings, and text messages suggesting threat. The prosecution argued Dwyer stabbed Ms O'Hara, citing a "Killing Darci" document and threatening texts. The defense focused on suicide and alleged innocence. Judge Hunt instructed the jury to base their decision solely on the evidence and reasonable inference, without considering intermediate verdicts. The jury spent 1 hour 28 minutes deliberating before resuming the next day. The case involved Ms O'Hara's disappearance on 22 August 2012 and her skeletal remains found in Killakee in September 2013.
Declan Phelan, 32, of Tallaght, Dublin, was granted bail by the Special Criminal Court on charges of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. The court imposed strict conditions, including surrendering his passport, signing daily at Naas Garda Station between 2 pm and 11 pm, observing a curfew from midnight to 6:30 am, and refraining from leaving the jurisdiction or associating with persons charged or convicted of scheduled offences. He must also maintain a single mobile phone with the Gardaí. Bail was set on an independent surety of €10,000 and his own bond of €100. Phelan is scheduled to appear again on June 9, 2015. This case stems from a special sitting in July 2013, where Phelan and six other men were charged with the same offence on July 3, 2013. The co-accused are Peter Burns, Kevin Braney, Michael Barr, Brian Nick McBennett, John Brock, and Desmond Christie. All seven men face allegations of IRA membership, but no pleas, findings, or sentences have been recorded for the group at this procedural stage. The report confirms only Phelan's bail grant and upcoming court date, while the status of the other accused remains pending further proceedings.