In the trial of Andrew Gibney, 21, the court heard that he was seen with a knife before the stabbing of Gerard Burnett, 28, on 21 August 2012. A statement from Lee Dalton, who was drinking with a group of five men that night, was read by Mr Tom O'Connell SC. Dalton said the men had gone to Burnett's house to buy alcohol and that Gibney had taken a knife with a silver blade and silver handle to use if Burnett "got smart". Dalton also said he did not want to go with them and that he had been told by Gibney that he had no bad feelings toward Burnett. During cross‑examination, Detective Garda Tom Cooney confirmed that Dalton had seen a thick silver‑bladed knife and that he had seen four knives, one of which looked like the knife in Gibney's kitchen. Andrew Gibney pleaded not guilty.
The jury has begun deliberating the case of Christopher McNamara, a 21‑year‑old Limerick man, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of 71‑year‑old James Boyce. The trial, held at St Munchins Street, St Mary's Park, concerns Boyce's death between 6 and 7 March 2011. Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan explained that the defence has raised the question of whether the offence should be classified as murder or manslaughter. The prosecution, represented by Micheál P. O'Higgins SC, has argued that Boyce was a defenseless victim and that no help was called. The defence, also represented by Michael O'Higgins SC, has asked the jury to consider whether McNamara intended to kill or cause serious injury, citing Professor Marie Cassidy's evidence on the uncertainty of the cause of death. Mr Justice Sheehan noted that McNamara's statements to the Gardaí did not match the CCTV footage, and that people may lie for various reasons.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 23 January 2014, Detective Inspector Anthony Lenihan of the Special Detective Unit denied having received a document that offered an alternative explanation for the arrest of Corey Mulhall, a 43‑year‑old man from Dublin. Mulhall had been arrested in September 2012 after detectives observed suspicious activity at the Harcourt Hotel near the garda complex on Harcourt Square. Mulhall pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styled the Irish Republican Army. The court, following a defence application, allowed the trial to proceed despite the non‑disclosure of the document. The document, a 10‑page account by Mulhall, alleged that he had paid €200 to a man he believed to be a dissident republican to book a room at the Harcourt Hotel and take photographs of the garda complex. Mulhall claimed the man was a garda informer who set him up on a fake charge.
A 50‑year‑old woman from County Louth, Paula Reid, is accused of stealing €19,604 from Hugh Burrows & Sons Ltd over a four‑year period between November 2008 and December 2012. She faces 65 theft offences and has been sent forward for trial by judge and jury in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Reid appeared at Balbriggan District Court, where a State solicitor confirmed the evidence was ready and served. Judge Dermot Dempsey assigned senior and junior counsel, gave her an alibi caution, and remanded her on continuing bail to appear on 14 February.
In a 2014 Central Criminal Court hearing, 19‑year‑old Daniel McDonnell, charged with the murder of 16‑year‑old Melanie McCarthy McNamara, admitted writing two letters from his St Patrick's Institution cell in March 2012. The letters, which he had asked prison staff to send to two recipients, contain boastful remarks about shooting McCarthy McNamara. One letter includes the lines "Close‑range head shots… Two in the head. The bitch is dead… Best night of my poxy life." The second letter references a "smell bag" and a "bullying my Ma" comment. McDonnell pleaded not guilty to the murder. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Carney, has already heard the letters and related statements from prison staff and Garda investigators. The case remains at the trial stage, with no verdict yet reached.
In a 2014 Limerick murder case, Christopher McNamara, aged 21, pleaded not guilty to the killing of 71‑year‑old James Boyce. The prosecution urged the jury to consider the severe injuries inflicted on Boyce, who was beaten and strangled with a stick, including a fractured Adam's apple that could have caused death even in a healthy person. The State Pathologist, Marie Cassidy, confirmed the neck injuries were fatal. The prosecutor also highlighted a confession made by McNamara to his mother, Pauline Whelan, and the lack of any attempt to call for help after the assault. McNamara's defense counsel requested a verdict of manslaughter, arguing the case resembled a robbery gone wrong and that the accused was not in a state of mind to commit murder. Judge Garrett Sheehan was to address the jury before deliberation.
Corey Mulhall, 43, was arrested in September 2012 after detectives observed suspicious activity at the Harcourt Hotel near the Garda complex. He booked a room under the false name "Jason Egan" and admitted taking photographs of the Dublin headquarters of several specialist Garda units. Mulhall denied being a member of the IRA and repeatedly denied any IRA membership during Garda interviews. He claimed he was at the hotel to "meet a bird" and that the woman he mentioned never appeared. Mulhall admitted he had a Sony Cybershot camera and that a man had offered him money to take photos of a specified Garda on behalf of an unnamed client. The trial continues, with Mulhall pleading not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation under the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998. The court heard evidence of his denial of IRA membership and his admission of photographing the Garda complex. The case remains ongoing.
In the murder trial of Daniel McDonnell, a 19‑year‑old charged with killing 16‑year‑old Melanie McCarthy McNamara, the court heard that McDonnell, a protected prisoner at St Patrick's Institution, had written two letters while in Cell 17 on the B3 landing. Prison officer Richard Pielow testified that McDonnell had no contact with other inmates and that the letters were unsealed and read by officers as part of routine procedure. The letters, addressed to Lee McDonnell and Stephanie Tuite, contained violent and vulgar language, including the phrase "Two in the head. The bitch is dead." Assistant Chief Officer Tony Redmond read the letters aloud to the jury. McDonnell pleaded not guilty, and the trial continued before Mr Justice Paul Carney with a jury of six men and six women. The case remains pending.
In the Central Criminal Court, Christopher McNamara, aged 21, pleaded not guilty to the murder of James Boyce, aged 71, which occurred between 6 and 7 March 2011. The jury heard that on 24 March 2011 Garda Brian Begley had searched McNamara's home and seized items including a pair of white gloves and a 42‑inch LG television. The television had been given to McNamara's mother, Pauline Whelan, on 7 March, and McNamara claimed he had obtained the money for it by robbing two building sites. A statement by Garda Patrick Hogan detailed the seizure of car keys from Michael Larkin McNamara on 8 March. McNamara's own statement, read to the jury, described how he bought a Toyota Corolla from Larkin McNamara on the night of the murder, paying €1,100 in fifty‑euro notes. The trial continues before Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan and a jury of seven men and five women.
The Special Criminal Court adjourned the trial of Corey Mulhall, 41, who admitted taking photographs of the Special Detective Unit's Harcourt Square headquarters in September 2012 after booking a room at the Harcourt Hotel under a false name. Mulhall said a man offered him money to photograph a specified Garda for an unnamed client who was in dispute with the police. He claimed the man was a Garda informer who would set him up on a fake charge. The court heard evidence from Gardaí involved in the hotel search and from a Garda Chief Superintendent who said Mulhall was a member of the IRA on 26 September 2012. The trial will resume tomorrow, with the defence having requested that the court proceed despite a document offering an alternative explanation for Mulhall's arrest not being disclosed to the defence. The trial continues. Corey Mulhall pleaded not guilty.
Joe O'Connor, a 53‑year‑old Garda stationed at a city‑centre station, was returned to court on 21 January 2014 after being accused of possessing 655 child‑abuse images and movies at his west Dublin home between 30 July and 2 August 2011. The charges, brought under section 6(1) of the Child Trafficking Act 1998, include 92 images of child explicit sex, 136 images of child exposure, 85 movies of child explicit sex, one movie of child exposure and 341 other computer‑graphic images. O'Connor denies the charges and has chosen to plead not guilty, meaning he will be tried by jury in the Circuit Court. He was served with a book of evidence at Blanchardstown District Court, where Judge David McHugh ordered him to notify the prosecution within 14 days if he intends to use an alibi.
Martin Maloney, a 30-year-old actor from Swinford, County Mayo, appeared at Dublin District Court to contest assault charges arising from an incident at a public house in October 2012. Maloney is accused of two counts of assault causing harm to two security staff members during an altercation over a toilet queuing system. One assault charge was struck out as statute barred. Judge Patricia McNamara declined to send the remaining charges to Circuit Court, accepting jurisdiction at district court level. Maloney was remanded on continuing bail. The judge determined he remains presumed innocent. A trial date is to be set at a further mention next week. The defence indicated the case will be contested, with evidence expected to include up to eight prosecution witnesses and significant CCTV footage, with trial anticipated to last a full day.
A 22-year-old man from Castlebar is to stand trial at the Central Criminal Court following the death of his mother in March 2011. The defendant pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in connection with the death of a 46-year-old woman at an address in Islandeady. The Director of Public Prosecutions rejected the manslaughter plea. A jury of twelve was sworn in to hear the case, with trial proceedings due to commence on Thursday. The trial will determine whether the charge of murder is sustained.
In a 2014 Limerick murder case, 21‑year‑old Christopher McNamara pleaded not guilty to the killing of 71‑year‑old James Boyce. McNamara's mother, Pauline Whelan, testified that her son admitted to choking Boyce with a sweeping brush handle, though he denied harming the man. She recounted overhearing him on the phone with Boyce and later claiming to have robbed building sites for a new television. Pathologist Marie Therese Cassidy described Boyce's fatal neck injuries as resulting from an assault with a long striking edge, noting tramline bruises and multiple laryngeal fractures. The trial was proceeding before Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan with a jury of seven men and five women, and McNamara remained not guilty at the time of the report.
The Special Criminal Court ruled that Corey Mulhall's trial can proceed despite a non‑disclosed document offering an alternative explanation for his arrest. Mulhall, 41, was arrested in September 2012 after detectives observed suspicious activity near Harcourt Square, home to the Special Detective Unit. He pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styled the Irish Republican Army. The State's counsel noted that a document sent under the pseudonym "John Kenny" was received by the defence in November 2013, but the State had not disclosed it. The document, 10 pages long, alleges that Mulhall paid €200 to a man he believed to be a garda informer to book a room at the Harcourt Hotel and take photographs of Harcourt Square. The court found the document contained hearsay but did not prejudice the trial, and ordered that the matter be investigated while the trial continues.
In a 2014 Limerick murder trial, Christopher McNamara, aged 21, pleaded not guilty to the killing of James Boyce, 71, which occurred between 6 and 7 March 2011. Witnesses testified that on the night of the murder McNamara was seen carrying a large sum of money in fifty‑euro notes, with one witness estimating the amount at €3,325. McNamara was also observed carrying a bandage on his wrist and later described Boyce as "like a granddad" to him, claiming the death would affect him badly. He allegedly bought a car for €1,100 the following day, though he did not disclose the source of the funds. CCTV footage showed McNamara holding fifty‑euro notes at an electrical store and attaching licence plates to a Toyota Corolla. The case proceeded before Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan and a jury of twelve.
In the trial of Andrew Gibney, 21, of Drumheath Avenue, Mulhuddart, the jury was shown four knives found at his home after a warrant was executed on 27 August 2012. Gibney pleaded not guilty to the murder of Gerard Burnett, 28, who was stabbed 30 times and died in hospital on 21 August 2012. Gibney claimed he had been stabbed by Burnett four years earlier and that he had stabbed Burnett three times without intent to kill. The prosecution alleged a joint enterprise involving five men. Evidence included a knife on the kitchen worktop and three in a cutlery drawer, one with a damaged tip. Witness Gareth Mellett described a group of five men, one holding a knife, near Burnett's house that night. Dr Derek Hayden testified that Burnett was pronounced dead at 00.57 am after failed resuscitation attempts. The case proceeded before a jury of nine men and three women under Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy.
In a murder trial, the jury heard that 16‑year‑old Melanie McCarthy McNamara was severely wounded when she arrived at Tallaght Hospital after being shot in the head. The court was shown a shotgun found by Gardaí near Brookview Way, where the shooting occurred. Daniel McDonnell, 19, was on trial for the murder and had pleaded not guilty. A hospital statement described the extent of her injuries, including a large wound to the temple, brain matter, and a protruding eyeball, and noted that resuscitation was stopped at 1 am after her condition deteriorated. A boy who witnessed the shooting described a black jeep and gunfire, and Sergeant John Schlay presented the shotgun, noting it had been altered for concealment. The trial proceeded before Mr Justice Paul Carney with a jury of twelve.
In a 2014 hearing, a Limerick court heard that fingerprints belonging to Christopher McNamara, aged 21, matched those found in the bedroom of the deceased pensioner James Boyce, aged 71, who was murdered between 6 and 7 March 2011. McNamara, residing at Good Shepherd Villas, Pennywell Road, pleaded not guilty to the murder. Detective Wall presented evidence that marks on a wardrobe and a Department of Social and Family Affairs receipt in Boyce's bedroom were made by McNamara's right thumb and left middle finger. CCTV footage showed McNamara's movements between 6 and 7 March. Detective Garda Louise O'Loughlin reported blood‑stained items seized from Boyce's house, including jeans, a broom handle, a brush head, a green jacket, a shirt, and a mattress, all with blood evidence. The trial was proceeding before Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan with a jury of seven men and five women.
The Central Criminal Court heard that Andrew Gibney, aged 21, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Gerard Burnett, aged 28, who was stabbed 30 times and died in hospital. Gibney claimed he was stabbed by Burnett with a screwdriver four years earlier. Prosecutor Tom O'Connell said Gibney and others went to Burnett's house at Castlecurragh Avenue shortly before midnight, armed with knives. Gibney admitted to using a knife on Burnett three times, saying he was drunk and that the incident was triggered by alcohol. He claimed he had no intention to murder. Denise Farrell, Burnett's partner, testified that she saw three men at the door and that Burnett was dragged outside. The court heard that the cause of death was multiple stab wounds to the heart, right lung and liver. The trial continues before a jury with Justice Patrick McCarthy presiding.
In a hearing before the Special Criminal Court, a 10‑page document sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions was presented as an alternative explanation for the events that led to the arrest of Corey Mulhall, a 41‑year‑old from Daletree Court, Ballycullen. Mulhall was arrested in September 2012 after detectives observed suspicious activity at a hotel near Harcourt Square, the location of the Special Detective Unit that monitors dissident republicans. He has pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation, the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The State counsel, Vincent Heneghan, informed the court that the anonymous document had been identified and that the Gardaí had learned the author's identity. Defence counsel, Deirdre Murphy, requested additional time to decide how to proceed. Judge Paul Butler postponed the trial, which was scheduled to last eight days, to Thursday, allowing further consideration of the new evidence.
In a 2014 trial at the Central Criminal Court, Daniel McDonnell, aged 19, was charged with the murder of 16‑year‑old Melanie McCarthy McNamara. The prosecution presented evidence that McDonnell had written boastful graffiti on his cell wall, including the lines 'Two in the head. Your bitch is dead', and had sent two letters to a prison officer that contained references to the shooting. The letters, addressed to Lee McDonnell and Stephanie Tuite, described the intent to shoot and the use of a loaded 12‑gauge shotgun. McDonnell's defence pleaded not guilty. The jury was told that the victim was shot in the head while seated in the back seat of a car on Brookview Way, Tallaght, and that she was pronounced dead at Tallaght Hospital. The case was heard by Mr Justice Paul Carney with a jury of twelve.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the court heard that Garda Enda Moroney discovered the body of 71‑year‑old James Boyce at his home on St Munchins Street, St Mary's Park, Limerick, on 7 March 2011. Moroney reported finding blood on the sitting‑room floor and later the lifeless body in the bedroom, with a piece of wood on Boyce's chest and a cut below his right ear. Scratch marks were noted on his shoulder, blood on his right cheek and below his nostrils, and a brush handle and brush head were found near the bed. The scene was declared a crime scene at 19.45. Christopher Stewart McNamara, a neighbour, testified that he saw the accused, Christopher McNamara, enter Boyce's house around midnight. CCTV footage of the accused's movements was shown to the jury. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, is expected to last two weeks. Christopher McNamara pleaded not guilty.
An anonymous document sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions has postponed the Special Criminal Court trial of Corey Mulhall, a 41‑year‑old Dublin man charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, the Irish Republican Army. Mulhall was arrested in September 2012 after detectives observed suspicious activity at a hotel near Harcourt Square Garda Station, home to the Special Detective Unit. The trial, scheduled to begin on 14 January 2014, was delayed by the court after counsel for the State, Vincent Heneghan, noted that the document, which may contain matters of importance to the defendant, required investigation. The prosecution learned of the document only today, though the defence had sent a letter to the DPP on 21 October last year. The judge, Justice Paul Butler, ordered the trial to be postponed until the following day, with an expected duration of eight days. Corey Mulhall pleaded not guilty.
A 21‑year‑old Limerick man, Christopher McNamara, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of 71‑year‑old James Boyce, who lived on St Munchins Street. The prosecution alleges that McNamara visited Boyce on the night of 6 March 2011 and again after midnight, and that he killed him by striking him repeatedly with a sweeping brush, delivering a fatal blow to the neck. A post‑mortem confirmed multiple blows to the neck. Boyce had kept a large amount of cash in his bedroom, which the prosecutor says McNamara stole. The jury heard a neighbour's testimony that Boyce's curtains were drawn the morning after his death, and that CCTV footage will be shown. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Gareth Sheehan, is expected to last two weeks. The accused has pleaded not guilty.
A jury was sworn in for the trial of Andrew Gibney, 21, who is accused of murdering Gerard Burnett, 28, at Castlecurragh Vale, Mulhuddart, on 21 August 2012. Gibney appeared before Mr Justice Paul Carney at the Central Criminal Court and pleaded not guilty to the single count of murder. The trial is set to begin on Tuesday before a jury of six men and six women and is expected to last two weeks.
A 19‑year‑old Dublin teenager, Daniel McDonnell, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 16‑year‑old Melanie McCarthy McNamara, who was killed in Tallaght on 8 February 2012. He was charged at the Central Criminal Court and arraigned before a jury of six men and six women. The trial is set to begin the following morning and is expected to last a week.
A 32‑year‑old man from Kilkenny, Niall Stapleton, was committed to the Central Mental Hospital after a jury found him not guilty of murdering his mother by reason of insanity. The trial, held earlier that week, heard that Stapleton had schizophrenia and had been diagnosed five years earlier, after a head injury a month before. He had pleaded not guilty to the murder of his 51‑year‑old mother, Siobhan Stapleton, who died from blunt force trauma to the head. Forensic psychiatrists for both sides agreed he met the special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. Following the verdict, Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan committed Stapleton to the Central Mental Hospital for preparation of a report by Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist Damian Mohan. Mohan reported that Stapleton had been an inpatient for the past year, had suffered a head injury in 2008, and had been admitted to the hospital in June 2012 with severe auditory hallucinations.
Three former senior officials from two financial services institutions are to stand trial for conspiring to mislead Anglo Irish Bank investors about €7.2 billion transactions between March and September 2008. The defendants are John Bowe (50), former head of capital markets at Anglo Irish Bank; Denis Casey (54), former chief executive of Irish Life and Permanent; and Peter Fitzpatrick (61), former director of finance at Irish Life and Permanent. They are accused of transferring €7.2 billion to Anglo Irish Bank to create a false impression that the bank had larger deposits, thereby inducing investors to make decisions on that premise. Bowe also faces an additional charge of falsifying accounts on 3 December 2008 under the Theft and Fraud Act. The men were arrested, charged, and remanded on bail with conditions, and are scheduled to appear again on 12 March for trial. The case is unrelated to the trial of former Anglo executives set for January 2014.
A 32‑year‑old man with schizophrenia, Niall Stapleton, was found not guilty of murdering his 51‑year‑old mother, Siobhan Stapleton, by reason of insanity. The murder took place on 25 May 2012 at their home in Kilfane, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, when the mother was struck on the head with the handle of a garden implement, resulting in blunt‑force trauma. Stapleton admitted causing the death but claimed he believed his mother had been replaced by an impostor. Forensic psychiatrists for both sides agreed he met the legal requirement for a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. A jury of seven men and five women deliberated for over two hours before reaching that verdict. The case is scheduled to return to the judge for a further committal order.
In a Central Criminal Court case, the prosecution urged the jury to apply logic when deciding the murder of a 25‑year‑old man who was stabbed over 100 times. Paul Burns SC presented evidence that the accused, Criostoir MacCarthaigh, 36, of An Gleann, Baile Phamar, was responsible for the killing of David Whyte in September 2008. He highlighted DNA linking MacCarthaigh to Whyte's trousers, which were reportedly pulled down, and questioned the credibility of witness Simon Griffin, suggesting an unblemished person would not witness a killing on Mill Lane. Burns argued that the evidence proved MacCarthaigh stabbed Whyte to death. Defending counsel Hugh Hartnett countered, asking the jury to consider the lack of motive for MacCarthaigh. The trial was set to conclude the following day before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury. Criostoir MacCarthaigh pleaded not guilty.
A jury has begun deliberating the trial of a 32‑year‑old man with schizophrenia, Niall Stapleton, who is charged with murdering his mother, Siobhan Stapleton, 51, at their Co Kilkenny home on 25 May 2012. The victim died from blunt‑force trauma to the head after being beaten with the handle of a garden implement. Stapleton pleaded not guilty, claiming he was not guilty by reason of insanity. He told doctors that he believed his mother had been replaced by an impostor when he killed her. An expert witness for the prosecution testified that Stapleton met the requirement for a special verdict of not guilty of murder by reason of insanity. The jury must decide whether his mental disorder meant he did not know the nature and quality of his action, that it was wrong, or that he was unable to refrain from the act. They will resume deliberations tomorrow.
The jury at the Central Criminal Court has adjourned deliberations for a third consecutive evening in the trial of a man charged with murder in County Cavan. Przemyslaw Trebacz, aged 35, of Bramble Rise, Killynebber, Cavan denies the murder of Costel Catalin Cretu, aged 38, which is alleged to have occurred at Connolly Court, Connolly Street, Cavan between October 13 and 14, 2012. Mr Trebacz has pleaded guilty to a separate charge of criminal damage relating to a door at the same address on October 13, 2012. The jury has spent almost nine hours deliberating. When asked by Mr Justice Barry White whether further time would assist their consideration, the jury foreman indicated the panel required additional time and was not yet deadlocked. Deliberations are to resume on Wednesday. Przemyslaw Trebacz pleaded not guilty.
In December 2013, Detective Inspector Paul O'Brien, a senior Garda, was summoned to Dublin District Court to face a charge of attempting to frustrate a drink‑drive prosecution under Section 4 of the Road Traffic Act 2010. The allegation is that he consumed alcohol at his home on 6 May with the intention of undermining the prosecution. O'Brien pleaded not guilty, and the judge, Bryan Smyth, scheduled a non‑jury trial for February, noting that seven witnesses would be called and the hearing would last about two hours. No evidence had been presented at the initial hearing.
The jury at the Central Criminal Court has adjourned deliberations in the trial of Przemyslaw Trebacz, a 35-year-old Polish national accused of murdering Costel Catalin Cretu, a 38-year-old Romanian man, in Co. Cavan in October 2012. Trebacz, of Bramble Rise, Killynebber, has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge relating to the incident at Connolly Court, Connolly Street, Cavan on October 13 to 14, 2012. He has pleaded guilty to criminal damage to a door at the same location on October 13, 2012. The jury spent approximately five hours examining the evidence before retiring for the evening and will resume consideration of its verdict tomorrow.
A 32‑year‑old man with schizophrenia, Niall Stapleton, is on trial in the Central Criminal Court for the murder of his 51‑year‑old mother, Siobhan Stapleton, who died on 25 May 2012 from blunt‑force trauma to the head inflicted with a garden‑fork handle. Stapleton pleaded not guilty, claiming he was not guilty by reason of insanity. He initially told gardai he saw a man leave the scene but later admitted he had snapped and attacked his mother. His 22‑year‑old sister, Sinead Stapleton, testified that he had been on medication for years but was not taking it at the time and that he had been restless and talking to himself the night before the death. The post‑mortem found 28 injuries, including skull fractures and bruising to brain tissue, and the garden‑fork handle was found with blood matching the mother's DNA.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has paused deliberations in the trial of a man accused of murder in County Cavan. Przemyslaw Trebacz, aged 35, of Bramble Rise, Killynebber, Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Costel Catalin Cretu, aged 38, which is alleged to have occurred at Connolly Court, Connolly Street, Cavan between October 13 and 14, 2012. Trebacz has entered a guilty plea to a separate charge of criminal damage to a door at the same location on October 13, 2012. The jury spent one hour and thirty minutes considering its verdict before breaking for the weekend. Deliberations are scheduled to resume on Monday.
In December 2012, Sean Connolly, aged 34, was charged before the Special Criminal Court with murdering veteran criminal Eamon Kelly on Furry Park Road, Killester, and also faced charges of IRA membership and firearm possession. Connolly declined to meet his counsel, Ms Siobhan Ni Chulachain, and requested a different solicitor. The court, presided over by Justice Paul Butler, postponed the case until the New Year, stating it would be listed again on January 21 for a video‑link hearing.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has begun deliberations in the trial of a man accused of murder in County Cavan. Przemyslaw Trebacz, aged 35, of Bramble Rise, Killynebber, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Costel Catalin Cretu, aged 38, at Connolly Court, Cavan between October 13 and 14, 2012. Mr Trebacz has admitted guilty to criminal damage. The prosecution alleged the accused went to the apartment to commit robbery and stabbed the deceased twice. The defence contended there was no evidence of fingerprints at the scene and questioned whether the accused was armed. Mr Justice Barry White directed the jury on the potential defences of self-defence and provocation. He explained that self-defence could result in acquittal if only necessary force was used, whilst provocation could reduce the charge to manslaughter. The jury of nine men and three women will continue hearing the judge's directions before reaching their verdict.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, Sgt Jim Quinn reported that the 36‑year‑old accused, Criostoir MacCarthaigh of An Gleann, Baile Phamar, insisted that all communication with the Gardaí be conducted in Irish. He stated that the suspect requested to speak in Irish in the hours and days after his arrest. The trial concerns the murder of David Whyte, 35, who was found dead on 26 September 2008 in an old graveyard in Mill Lane, Palmerstown. A post‑mortem revealed over 100 stab wounds, the most serious to the jugular. MacCarthaigh pleaded not guilty. Sgt David Russell presented a technical report detailing fingerprinting, photography and saliva sampling, noting that the accused would not sign any documents. The case is before Justice Patrick McCarthy with a jury of seven men and five women. The prosecution is led by Senior Counsel Paul Burns. The trial is ongoing.
A 47‑year‑old Gerald Vollrath of Tramore Heights pleaded guilty to attempting to murder his 83‑year‑old mother, Veronica Vollrath, in a Waterford nursing home on 9 January 2012. The original murder charge was dropped and replaced with the attempted murder charge. He was re‑arraigned on a substituted indictment. The judge ordered a victim impact report and relaxed his bail conditions, allowing him to sign in at a Garda station once a week and no longer surrender his passport when in Austria. He remains on continuing bail pending sentencing on 17 February. The unnamed 47-year-old pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Christopher McNamara, a 21‑year‑old from Good Shepherd Villas, Limerick, accused of murdering 71‑year‑old pensioner James Boyce on St Munchin's Street between 6 and 7 March 2011, was set to begin at the Central Criminal Court. A jury of seven women and five men had been sworn in, but Judge Garrett Sheehan adjourned the proceedings, stating the case could not be completed within the allotted seven days. He apologized for the inconvenience, discharged the jury, and announced the trial would resume with a new jury in the New Year. Christopher McNamara pleaded not guilty.
A man charged with membership of an unlawful organisation has denied the allegation at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin. Michael Kiely, aged 43, of Abbeyvale, Corbally in Limerick, has pleaded not guilty to membership of the IRA following an incident in January 2013. Evidence was heard that Kiely read a Continuity IRA statement at a graveside commemoration in Limerick containing threats against members of the British Army. His wife testified that during a garda interview, she was told gardai acknowledged her husband was not a member of the IRA. The defence counsel contended Kiely had been manipulated by others into reading the statement without prior knowledge of its contents. Kiely maintained he has never been an IRA member and was a member of Republican Sinn Féin with interest in history and politics. The prosecution presented expert evidence and the recording of the statement being read. The three-judge court, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Butler, adjourned judgment to 20 December.
In a murder trial in Dublin, a 36‑year‑old man, Criostoir MacCarthaigh, pleaded not guilty to the killing of 35‑year‑old David Whyte. The body was found in a ruined church on Mill Lane, Palmerstown, on 26 September 2008. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that Whyte had suffered about 100 stab wounds, the most serious to the left of the neck, injuring the left internal jugular vein. The wounds were inflicted with a single‑edged blade, were relatively small, and included defensive injuries on the upper limbs and hands. Dr Curtis gave the cause of death as multiple stab wounds. A ballistics officer confirmed a violent stabbing assault at the scene, with no blood trail. A forensic scientist used fly‑larvae dating to place the time of death around 25 September 2008. The State alleges MacCarthaigh first stabbed Whyte on Ulster Street, Phibsborough, before driving him to Palmerstown where the attack continued.
The Special Criminal Court granted limited Christmas bail to Declan Phelan and John Brock, who are accused of membership of an unlawful organisation, specifically the IRA, on July 3, 2013. Both men were arrested while already on bail for a previous IRA membership charge, which Detective Inspector Michael Gibbons stated they breached by associating with persons charged with scheduled offences. Despite garda objections, Justice Paul Butler granted Phelan bail from December 23 to January 2, 2014, requiring a €20,000 independent surety and conditions prohibiting association with those charged or convicted of scheduled offences. Brock was granted bail from December 23 to 28 on a full curfew, supported by a €7,000 surety. The court noted neither man would stand trial before 2015. The trial for Phelan, Brock, and co-accused Peter Burns and Michael Barr, all charged with the same offence on July 3, 2013, was set for June 9, 2015. Co-accused Kevin Braney, Brian Nick McBennett, and Desmond Christie, also charged with IRA membership, were remanded to appear before the court on January 21.
A 35-year-old Polish national has pleaded not guilty to the murder of a Romanian man at an apartment in Cavan in October 2012. Przemyslaw Trebacz of Killynebber, Cavan faces a charge relating to the death of Costel Catalin Cretu at Connolly Court, Cavan. He has admitted guilty to criminal damage at the same location. During proceedings at the Central Criminal Court, evidence was heard that Mr Trebacz told gardai he stabbed Mr Cretu in self-defence, though he denied bringing a knife to the scene. He also stated he was to receive €74,000 from his mother's will. The State Pathologist found the deceased had two stab wounds, one to the chest proving fatal. Forensic examination of two knives recovered from the apartment found no blood transfer and no fingerprints. The trial continues.
Paula Whyte, sister of David Whyte, learned of her brother's murder on television news on 29 September 2008. She described seeing a description of a man who matched her brother's appearance and clothing, which shocked her. She called her brother's phone, found it out of service, and then called 999. Paula and her sister went to Ballyfermot Garda Station, where she identified David's remains. While in the witness box, the court showed footage of a man at a shop doorway on 24 September 2009, which Paula identified as her brother, the last recorded sighting. The trial also heard from Ivan Ennis, who said the accused, Criostoir MacCarthaigh, threatened him that night, saying "I will cut you." The State alleges MacCarthaigh stabbed David on Ulster Street and then drove him to the derelict churchyard in Palmerstown where he was killed. The trial is before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of seven men and five women. Criostoir MacCarthaigh pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court has heard evidence in the trial of Przemyslaw Trebacz, a Polish national accused of the murder of Costel Catalin Cretu (38) at Connolly Court, Cavan, between October 13 and 14, 2012. Mr Trebacz has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge but pleaded guilty to criminal damage to a door belonging to Brendan Cosgrove at the same location on October 13, 2012. During a garda interview, the accused admitted stabbing Mr Cretu but alleged he was acting in self-defence, claiming the deceased attacked him with a knife. He stated that Mr Cretu was still standing when he left the apartment and denied bringing a knife to the scene. State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that the deceased sustained two stab wounds, one fatal to the chest and one shallow to the back, noting the injuries could have been caused by a large knife. The trial continues.
Christopher McNamara, a 21-year-old defendant from Good Shepherd Villas, Pennywell Road, Limerick, is due to stand trial at the Central Criminal Court. He has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of James Boyce, aged 71, which is said to have occurred at St Munchin's Street, St Mary's Park, Limerick, between March 6 and 7, 2011. The matter is currently at the trial stage, with a jury of seven women and five men sworn in for the proceedings. The trial is scheduled to commence on Thursday and is expected to continue until the end of the following week. No findings, sentences, or final disposals have been recorded for this case subject at this procedural stage. The report attributes the charge of murder to the defendant, who contests the allegation. There are no suspended portions, effective custody periods, conditions, or adjournments noted in the available information. The summary reflects the validated facts that McNamara is accused of the killing and has entered a not guilty plea, without asserting a conviction or final outcome.
A 32‑year‑old man, Niall Stapleton of Glebe Lodge, Kilfane, Thomastown, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Siobhan Stapleton, aged 51, who was killed at that address on 25 May 2012. The Central Criminal Court will hear the case, with a jury of seven men and five women sworn in, starting Friday and expected to run until the end of next week.