Nathan McDonnell, a former chief executive of Ballyseedy Garden Centre, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to importing methylamphetamine and directing a criminal organisation. The trial heard that McDonnell was to be paid €150,000 to store a machine containing 564kg of crystal meth, valued at €32.4 million, before its export to Australia. Prosecutors alleged the drugs were imported from Mexico via the Sinaloa Cartel. While the State asserted McDonnell facilitated the operation, it was noted that a different individual was charged with directing the criminal organisation. McDonnell admitted to storing the machine and arranging its shipment but claimed he was unaware of its contents. He has no previous convictions. Ms Justice Melanie Greally, presiding with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Grainne Malone, remanded McDonnell in custody. The court stated it hoped to finalise the case by the end of the month. Co-accused James Leen was also present. The matter was adjourned for sentencing.
A geologist has given evidence at the Central Criminal Court that a bloodied rock allegedly used in the murder of a pensioner near Sliabh Liag in Donegal was most likely transported to the scene by human activity rather than occurring naturally there. Dr Sophie O'Connor of the Geological Survey Ireland told the trial she used Google Street View to trace a rock matching the alleged murder weapon to a wall on Roshin Road between Sliabh Liag and Killybegs. The 3.5-kilogramme quartzite rock bore strong similarities in shape, size and lichen staining to the rock recovered by gardaí, she said. DNA evidence previously heard matched the rock to the deceased, Robert Robin' Wilkin, aged 66. Alan Vial of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs and Nikita Burns of Carrick both deny his murder on 25 June 2023. The prosecution case has now concluded, with closing speeches to begin on Monday. Alan Vial pleaded not guilty. Nikita Burns pleaded not guilty.
The jury that had been sworn to hear the murder trial of Brian McHugh, a 40‑year‑old accused of killing Lisa Thompson, was discharged by Justice Karen O'Connor after an issue arose. The jury, composed of eight men and four women, had been sworn in earlier this week and the case had opened the following day. Justice O'Connor thanked the jurors for their service and announced that a new panel would be sworn in at the Central Criminal Court on Monday. The trial remains ongoing. Brian McHugh pleaded not guilty.
Calvin Dunne, 24, was convicted of the manslaughter of Dylan McCarthy and violent disorder following a trial at the Central Criminal Court. The jury returned a 10-2 majority verdict for manslaughter and a unanimous guilty verdict for violent disorder, acquitting Dunne of murder. Dunne had pleaded not guilty to all charges, alleging self-defence during a melee outside a pub in Monasterevin on August 21-22, 2022. Co-accused Sean Kavanagh, 26, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on Eamon McCarthy, with a charge of violent disorder taken into consideration. Following a defence application, Ms Justice Biggs directed the jury to find Kavanagh not guilty of murder, a charge he had denied. After the verdicts, Ms Justice Biggs remanded Dunne in custody, rejecting his request to remain on bail. Kavanagh was permitted to continue on bail. The matter was adjourned to May 12 to allow time for the preparation of probation reports for both defendants, a Governor's report for Dunne, and Victim Impact Statements from the McCarthy family.
Eamon McCarthy, father of the deceased, testified that he and his son Dylan went to Monasterevin to celebrate a grandchild's birth. After leaving a pub, a melee outside the Bellyard pub escalated. The prosecution alleged that Sean Kavanagh punched Dylan and Calvin Dunne kicked Dylan's exposed head, causing Dylan's death. Both accused denied kicking Dylan and claimed they were defending themselves, asserting that Dylan and his father were the aggressors. The court heard Eamon's account of the fight, his injuries, and the subsequent ambulance transport. Witnesses described a chaotic scene with multiple punches and a kick. The prosecution's case focused on the alleged kick by Dunne as the fatal blow, while the defence argued uncertainty over which blow caused the fatal injury and the legitimacy of self‑defence. The trial concluded with the jury given options of murder, manslaughter or acquittal, but the article reports no verdict.
The murder trial of Brian McHugh, 40, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court before Justice Karen O'Connor and a jury. McHugh, of Ballymun, Dublin 11, has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Lisa Thompson, 52, at Sandyhill Gardens on May 9, 2022. Prosecution counsel Fiona Murphy SC outlined that Ms Thompson's body was found with multiple chest stab wounds and a window blind cord around her neck. A mixed DNA profile on the cord could not exclude McHugh as a minor contributor. Witness Sandra McMahon testified that Ms Thompson dealt prescription drugs, including Zimovane, from her home and had given a neighbour €20,000 to hold in case of a Garda raid. Chief State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan stated the cause of death was a combination of ligature strangulation and eleven stab wounds to the left chest, including six penetrating the heart. She noted it was impossible to determine which injury occurred first or if both were inflicted by the same person. Detective Garda Janette O'Neill reported the property was ransacked with no signs of forced entry. The trial continues tomorrow.
At the Central Criminal Court, a witness told how he harboured growing concerns about his sister's wellbeing in the period preceding an alleged murder in Donegal. The brother of Nikita Burns said he was worried that she had ceased taking prescribed medication for her bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety, and that she appeared to be consuming alcohol during daylight hours. Burns and Alan Vial, both of Co Donegal, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Robert Wilkin, a 66-year-old whose body was recovered from the sea beneath Sliabh Liag in June 2023. State Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster informed the jury that whilst the fall down the cliff complicated her assessment, she identified two depressed fractures to the back of the deceased's skull inconsistent with cliff-fall injuries and consistent with blunt force trauma. A rock recovered from the cliff top bearing blood and hair matching the deceased was presented as evidence. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
The jury in the trial of 24‑year‑old Calvin Dunne, charged with the murder of 29‑year‑old Dylan McCarthy outside the Bellyard pub in Monasterevin, has been informed that a majority verdict is now permissible. The case, heard at the Central Criminal Court, involves an incident on 22 August 2022 in which McCarthy was struck on the head by Dunne, who claims he was acting in self‑defence. Witnesses described a "loud thud" when McCarthy was hit, and the State alleges that Dunne delivered a punch and a "vicious kick" to the head. Dunne denies the murder charge and has pleaded not guilty to violent disorder on 21 August 2022. Justice Caroline Burns explained that the jury can now return a ten‑to‑two majority verdict if unanimity cannot be achieved, and the deliberations will continue for a further 30 minutes before the next day's session. The jury remains at its fourth day of deliberation.
Four men were remanded in custody until February 24 after pleading guilty to possessing 2.25 tonnes of cocaine for supply on the Panamanian-registered vessel MV Matthew. The defendants, Mykhailo Gavryk, Vitaliy Vlasoi, Soheil Jelveh, and Cumali Ozgen, appeared before the Special Criminal Court following the refusal of their application to dismiss charges. The seized cocaine, valued at over €157 million, represents the largest such seizure in Irish history. The court listed the case for mention on February 24 to fix a sentencing date. Separately, Vitaliy Lapa pleaded guilty to attempted possession of cocaine for supply and participation in a criminal organisation. He is scheduled to appear for sentencing later this year. UK national Jamie Harbron also pleaded guilty to attempted possession of cocaine for sale or supply and will appear for a sentencing hearing later this year. Two other defendants, Saeid Hassani and Harold Estoesta, are set to stand trial on Monday before the Special Criminal Court. The court noted that the guilty pleas were acceptable to the Director of Public Prosecutions on a full facts basis.
The body of Lisa Thompson, aged 52, was discovered inside her home in Sandyhill Gardens, Ballymun, with multiple stab wounds to the chest and a window blind cord wrapped around her neck. A mixed DNA profile was found on the cord, indicating that Thompson could not be excluded as a major contributor and the accused, Brian McHugh, could not be excluded as a minor contributor. Gardai recovered jewellery linked to Thompson from McHugh's home and found her medication and house keys during a search of the wasteland. CCTV footage shows a Hyundai Tucson, owned by a named woman, arriving at the scene, with McHugh exiting the vehicle and later returning to refuel it. The prosecution will present evidence of a neighbour's testimony, CCTV, DNA, and forensic findings, while McHugh has pleaded not guilty to Thompson's murder. The trial is set to continue before Justice Karen O'Connor and a jury.
The jury in the Central Criminal Court trial of Calvin Dunne, 24, has continued its deliberations for a third day. Dunne, of Monasterevin, Co Kildare, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Dylan McCarthy, 29, on or about August 22, 2022, and to violent disorder on August 21, 2022, at Dublin Road, Monasterevin. The State alleges Dunne punched and kicked McCarthy in the head while he was on the ground. Dunne maintains he acted in self-defence, claiming he lightly kicked McCarthy in the chest. Eyewitness David O'Neill testified that he heard a loud thud and saw McCarthy's eyes roll back after being struck in the head, though he admitted being highly intoxicated and acknowledged it was possible Dunne hit the chest. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs directed the jury that they could find Dunne guilty of murder, guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. In a separate matter, co-accused Sean Kavanagh, 26, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on Eamon McCarthy, the deceased's father, at the same location and date. A charge of violent disorder was taken into consideration. Kavanagh had previously denied a charge of murder, to which Ms Justice Biggs directed the jury to find him not guilty. The jury, comprising ten men and two women, was requested to review the transcript of O'Neill's evidence and will continue deliberating tomorrow.
A migrant chef employed at a takeaway in Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan, worked up to 73 hours weekly for approximately €25 daily while servicing an illegal recruitment debt of €30,000, the Workplace Relations Commission heard on Tuesday. Xiaofeng Gao, who held a valid employment permit stipulating €16.76 hourly as chef de partie, received only €150 per week. His passport was retained by the employer from November 2023 until gardaí intervened. Mr Gao seeks nearly €200,000 in back pay and compensation for alleged breaches spanning August 2022 to August 2024 at Eskimo Pizza, Main Street. Claims include minimum wage violations, unlawful wage deductions, unpaid leave entitlements, and alleged racial discrimination under employment equality legislation. The company operator and its director did not appear before adjudicator Shay Henry, who directed the respondent be afforded opportunity to respond before determination.
The jury in the trial of three men accused of raping and sexually assaulting a woman they met at a Dublin nightclub is set to continue deliberations for a fourth day. The defendants, aged 39, 42 and 34, have pleaded not guilty to a total of seven counts, including rape, oral rape and sexual assault at an unknown location, in a car and in a Dublin house on 31 August 2019. After about three and a half hours of discussion, Justice Paul Burns instructed the jury to pause and resume the next day. He also read evidence from a Garda to whom the victim first reported the incident and clarified the legal definitions of rape and consent. The case remains at the deliberation stage, with no verdict yet reached.
Brian McHugh, aged 40, is set to stand trial for the murder of Lisa Thompson, aged 52, who was found dead in Sandyhill Gardens, Ballymun, Dublin 11, on 9 May 2022. He was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court and pleaded not guilty. Mr Justice Paul Burns has convened a jury of eight men and four women, and the trial is scheduled to commence tomorrow and is expected to last three weeks.
Alan Vial, aged 39, of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, County Donegal, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Robert Robin Wilkin, a 66-year-old pensioner, on 25 June 2023 in Donegal. Mr Wilkin's body was recovered eight days later in the sea below Sliabh Liag cliffs. During interview at Ballyshannon Garda Station, Mr Vial acknowledged a physical altercation at the cliff-top location but maintained that Mr Wilkin was alive and breathing when he last saw him. He denied striking the deceased with a rock or throwing him from the cliff, though he acknowledged placing Mr Wilkin over a fence approximately four metres from the cliff edge. Nikita Burns, aged 23, of Carrick, County Donegal, has also pleaded not guilty to the charge. The trial is proceeding before the Central Criminal Court.
The Special Criminal Court has refused an application by six men to dismiss charges related to the seizure of 2.25 tonnes of cocaine from the MV Matthew, the largest such seizure in Irish history. The defendants, including Ukrainians Mykhailo Gavryk and Vitaliy Vlasoi, Iranians Soheil Jelveh and Saeid Hassani, Dutch national Cumali Ozgen, and Filipino Harold Estoesta, are charged with drug trafficking offences at sea. The court, presided over by Ms Justice Melanie Greally, delivered its judgment under Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act 1999, which prohibits reporting of the evidence and arguments. Following the decision, Ms Justice Greally adjourned the matter until tomorrow to allow time for the defence to assimilate the ruling. Separately, Ukrainian national Vitaliy Lapa pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply, with a market value of at least €13,000. He also faces a charge of participating in a criminal organisation, though his status regarding this specific allegation remains contested. UK national Jamie Harbron previously pleaded guilty to an offence arising from the seizure and is scheduled to appear for sentencing later this year. The source text does not specify sentences or finalisations for Lapa or Harbron, nor does it detail the outcome for the six men beyond the refusal of their dismissal application and the subsequent adjournment.
The jury in the murder trial of 24‑year‑old Calvin Dunne, accused of killing Dylan McCarthy during a melee outside a pub in Kildare on 22 August 2022, will begin deliberations next week. The State alleges Mr McCarthy died after receiving punches and a "vicious kick" to the head from Mr Dunne while he was trying to rise. Mr Dunne claims he acted in self‑defence, stating he was drawn into the fight when Dylan and his party were "out of control and extremely violent." He says he only struck Dylan after Dylan attempted to hit Sean Kavanagh, and that he "lightly kicked" Dylan in what he believed to be the chest area. The jury has heard that a state pathologist could not determine whether a punch or kick caused the fatal injury. Sean Kavanagh pleaded guilty. Calvin Dunne pleaded not guilty.
The jury in the trial of three men accused of raping and sexually assaulting a woman they met at a Dublin nightclub has been instructed to pause deliberations for the bank holiday weekend. The men, aged 39, 42 and 34, have pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape, oral rape and sexual assault, involving a car and a Dublin house on 31 August 2019. After about four hours of discussion, Mr Justice Paul Burns directed the jury to resume on the following Tuesday.
The jury in the trial of three men accused of raping and sexually assaulting a woman at a Dublin nightclub remains in deliberation. The defendants, aged 39, 42 and 34, have pleaded not guilty to seven counts, including rape, oral rape and sexual assault at an unknown location, a car and a Dublin house on 31 August 2019. Jurors spent about four and a half hours today considering their verdicts. Judge Paul Burns instructed them to pause for the day and resume tomorrow to continue their deliberations.
The trial of Calvin Dunne, 24, accused of the murder of Dylan McCarthy, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Dunne, of Monasterevin, Co Kildare, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr McCarthy on or about August 22, 2022, and to violent disorder on August 21, 2022, at Dublin Road, Monasterevin. His co-accused, Sean Kavanagh, 26, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on Eamon McCarthy, the deceased's father, on the same date and location; a charge of violent disorder was taken into consideration. The judge directed the jury to find Kavanagh not guilty of the murder charge he had denied. Defence counsel argued that Dunne acted in self-defence and that the jury must acquit if there is any doubt regarding whether Dunne kicked the deceased in the face or chest. The State alleges the kick to the head caused death, while the defence cites pathologist evidence that the cause of fatal injury is indistinguishable. The judge outlined three possible verdicts: guilty of murder, guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. The matter is currently at the trial stage, with the judge's legal charge to the jury continuing.
The jury has begun deliberations in a trial involving three men accused of raping and sexually assaulting a woman they met at a Dublin nightclub nearly six years ago. The defendants, aged 39, 42, and 34, each pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of rape, oral rape, and sexual assault, with alleged incidents occurring in a car and a Dublin house on 31 August 2019. Mr Justice Paul Burns delivered his charge to the jury at the Central Criminal Court and, after about an hour of discussion, instructed the jurors to pause for the day and resume tomorrow.
A woman charged with murdering a pensioner told gardaí she had exaggerated claims made to a friend about involvement in his death, the Central Criminal Court heard on Wednesday. Nikita Burns, of Carrick, County Donegal, and Alan Vial, of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, County Donegal, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Robert Robin Wilkin on 25 June 2023 in Donegal. Mr Wilkin's body was discovered in waters below Sliabh Liag cliffs eight days later. Detective Garda Patrick Farrell outlined Ms Burns' account to gardaí during interviews at Ballyshannon Garda Station, in which she initially denied knowledge of events before providing a detailed statement in her third interview. Ms Burns alleged that Mr Vial struck the deceased multiple times with a rock at Roshine in Fintown and subsequently pushed his body from the cliff. Following gardaí playing a recorded conversation with a witness in which Ms Burns referenced violent acts, she stated she had been intoxicated and had overstated her involvement to protect Mr Vial.
Dundalk FC sacked former football director Brian Gartland after he raised health and safety concerns about players playing three consecutive days a week after injury. Gartland filed protected disclosures with the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) on 19 and 22 April 2024, shortly after a new manager was appointed. The WRC tribunal, led by Conor Stokes, found that the club had been notified of the claims since July 2024 and that the dismissal was a whistleblower penalty. The tribunal awarded Gartland €64,433.90 in compensation, including €52,629.62 for loss of employment and €3,727.36 for breach of the Terms of Employment (Information) Act 1994, and found the club in breach of the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 and the Payment of Wages Act 1991. The decision was based solely on the information in the article.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a woman alleged she was raped and sexually assaulted by three men she met at a nightclub. The prosecution presented her testimony as "dignified and credible," emphasizing that she did not consent. Defence counsel argued her memory was unreliable and that the men's accounts were more consistent with the evidence. The three accused, aged 34 to 42, pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape, oral rape and sexual assault, involving incidents in a car and a Dublin house on 31 August 2019. The trial examined CCTV footage, WhatsApp messages, and video clips recorded by the accused, with counsel from each side questioning the reliability of the woman's statements and the interpretation of the evidence. The case remains ongoing.
During a murder trial, a witness named David O'Neill testified that he saw Dylan McCarthy lying on the ground after being punched by Sean Kavanagh and Calvin Dunne. O'Neill, who was walking toward Dublin Street, claimed he tried to help McCarthy up but was struck by a kick to the head from Dunne. He described McCarthy falling onto his back with his eyes rolling back. O'Neill said he heard a noise like a car door after the kick and called an ambulance while a girl nearby screamed. He was highly intoxicated that day. The jury heard that Dunne had told Gardaí he lightly kicked McCarthy in the chest area. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Caroline Biggs, is proceeding to closing speeches. The accused, Kavanagh and Dunne, have pleaded not guilty to murder, violent disorder, and assault causing harm to McCarthy's father. The State's case is that McCarthy died after the assault. The trial continues tomorrow.
A 3.5-kilogramme rock recovered from the Sliabh Liag cliffs near Killybegs contained hundreds of hairs and extensive bloodstaining consistent with a pensioner's injuries, the Central Criminal Court has heard. Forensic Science Ireland expert Dr Conor Young told the trial that DNA from blood on the rock matched Robert Robin Wilkin, whose body was recovered from the sea in July 2023, eight days after the alleged incident. Detective Garda Jeanette O'Neill of the Garda Technical Bureau testified that she found the rock near a tourist viewing point on the cliff edge, alongside reading glasses, a chain, and a coin. Blood spatter analysis of a Volkswagen Passat indicated the assault occurred within the vehicle. Dr Young also identified DNA matching Mr Wilkin on blue leggings and Timberland boots allegedly belonging to the accused. Alan Vial of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, and Nikita Burns of Carrick, both in County Donegal, have pleaded not guilty to Mr Wilkin's murder on 25 June 2023. The trial before Mr Justice Paul McDermott continues.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, DNA profiles matching two of the three men accused of raping a woman at a Dublin nightclub were found on her clothing. The forensic examiner reported saliva and seminal fluid on the bra and underwear, with DNA from the first and third accused identified, while the second's DNA was not found. Whatsapp exchanges showed the men arranged to meet the day before their September 2020 Garda interviews. The accused, aged 34 to 42, pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape, oral rape and sexual assault at an unknown location, a car and a Dublin house on 31 August 2019. The prosecution's case has rested; the trial continues before Mr Justice Burns and a jury.
At the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, the State Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster gave evidence in the trial of Nikita Burns, aged 23, of Carrick, County Donegal, and Alan Vial, aged 39, of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, County Donegal. Both are charged with the murder of a 66-year-old man on 25 June 2023 in Donegal. Dr Bolster told the court that the deceased's body, recovered from the sea near Sliabh Liag eight days after the alleged incident, bore two depressed fractures to the rear of the skull inconsistent with injuries caused by a cliff fall. She stated these injuries appeared consistent with a blunt-force weapon strike and were likely inflicted before death. Additional evidence heard included testimony from gardaí at the scene of a car crash later that day in the Fintown area and from emergency responders. Both accused have pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Ukrainian national Vitaliy Lapa pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to attempting to possess cocaine for supply, an offence committed between September 21 and 25, 2023. The court accepted the plea on a full facts basis. Lapa also faces a separate charge of facilitating a serious offence by a criminal organisation, which the prosecution stated would be dealt with in the usual way. Ms Justice Melanie Greally, presiding with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Grainne Malone, remanded Lapa in custody until February 24 for a case mention. She declined to order a probation report at this stage but indicated it might be considered later. Lapa was one of seven men linked to the seizure of 2.25 tonnes of cocaine from the MV Matthew, the largest such seizure in Irish history. The other six accused—Mykhailo Gavryk, Vitaliy Vlasoi, Soheil Jelveh, Saeid Hassani, Cumali Ozgen, and Harold Estoesta—applied to have their drug trafficking charges dismissed. The court is scheduled to rule on these applications this week. Separately, UK national Jamie Harbron previously pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply arising from the same incident. He is awaiting a sentencing hearing later this year.
In a Central Criminal Court jury hearing, State pathologist Dr Heidi Okkers confirmed that 29‑year‑old Dylan McCarthy died from a traumatic head and spinal injury caused by blunt force trauma, but she could not identify whether a punch or a kick caused the fatal blow. The State alleges McCarthy was assaulted outside a pub in Kildare by Sean Kavanagh (26) and Calvin Dunne (24), who claim self‑defence, and that McCarthy was also involved in the violence that night. Both men pleaded not guilty to murder, violent disorder and, in Kavanagh's case, assault causing harm to McCarthy's father. Dr Okkers described extensive haemorrhaging, brain swelling, and spinal cord damage, noting that CCTV made it impossible to determine the specific blow that caused the fatal injury. The trial will resume next Monday before Justice Caroline Biggs and a 12‑person jury.
Three men aged 34 to 42, with addresses in Dublin and Wicklow, are on trial for seven counts of rape, oral rape and sexual assault against a woman at an unknown location in a car and a Dublin house on 31 August 2019. The defendants have pleaded not guilty. One defendant, 34, admitted to recording two videos of the incident – one 30 seconds long and one six seconds – and sharing them in a group chat he described as a "locker room chat" for a laugh. He claimed the videos were taken in darkness and that he did not see any rough play or force. He denied giving the woman cocaine and insisted she consented throughout. The court has seen the videos, which contain only a female voice saying "No" and a male voice allegedly saying "Stick it up her arse." Forensic evidence showed bruising on the woman's arms and legs but no genital injuries.
At the Central Criminal Court, a jury has viewed CCTV footage documenting the alleged movements of two defendants on the night of a pensioner's death in County Donegal. Nikita Burns, aged 22, of Carrick, and Alan Vial, aged 39, of Killybegs, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Robert Robin Wilkin on 25 June 2023. Mr Wilkin's remains were recovered from waters below Sliabh Liag cliffs a week later. The prosecution alleges the three men left a public house in Dunkineely at approximately 1.30am and travelled by Volkswagen Passat towards Roshine, where an assault is believed to have occurred. CCTV evidence presented to the jury showed the vehicle at Sliabh Liag ranger's hut at 2.20am, proceeding towards the clifftop before returning approximately 38 minutes later. The State contends Mr Wilkin was thereafter thrown from the cliffs. Sergeant Ronan Gallagher detailed the vehicle's movements across multiple locations and timestamps. Witness testimony included observations of Mr Vial's appearance later that day. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and jury.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, an eyewitness described a violent incident in Kildare where 29‑year‑old Dylan McCarthy was struck in the head, leading to his death. The State alleged that McCarthy was punched by Sean Kavanagh (26) and Calvin Dunne (24) before Dunne delivered a "vicious kick" to McCarthy's head while he was attempting to rise. Both men claim self‑defence and that McCarthy was involved in the violence that night. They have pleaded not guilty to murder and to violent disorder, and Kavanagh also pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm to McCarthy's father. The witness recounted hearing a "loud thud" like a football kick and observed McCarthy lying flat on the ground when struck. The trial continues before Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury of ten men and two women.
The trial of three men accused of raping a woman in Dublin and Wicklow in August 2019 continues at the Central Criminal Court. The accused, aged 34, 39, and 42, have all pleaded not guilty to a total of seven counts of rape, oral rape, and sexual assault. The 42-year-old second accused, with a Wicklow address, faces two counts of rape, allegedly occurring in his car and a house. The 39-year-old first accused, from Dublin, is charged with one count of rape at his home, one count of oral rape, and one count of sexual assault in a car. The 34-year-old third accused, also from Dublin, faces one count of oral rape in the house and one count of sexual assault in a car. During testimony, the second accused told gardai the complainant was 'in control' and that the group 'had a laugh.' He denied the woman was intoxicated or forced, stating she was 'conscious and allowing.' The court heard video clips where a female voice says 'no,' which the accused claimed were refusals of specific acts rather than rape. The men deny all wrongdoing, and the trial is ongoing.
A pensioner had engaged in an aggressive altercation with the man accused of his murder just three days before he was allegedly beaten with a rock and thrown from Ireland's highest cliffs, the Central Criminal Court heard today. Bruce Vial, brother of the accused Alan Vial, testified that on 22 June 2023 the defendant and his co-accused Nikita Burns visited his home with the deceased Robert Robin' Wilkin. During that visit, an altercation occurred between Vial and Wilkin, with both men shouting aggressively at each other. The following Sunday, after Wilkin's alleged death at Sliabh Liag in County Donegal, Vial and Burns returned to clean Vial's car using his vacuum cleaner. The vacuum was later found to contain what the witness believed was "red wine vomit". The trial also heard evidence from the manager of Mac's Bar in Dunkineely, who witnessed Wilkin strike Burns on the arm during a minor argument on the night in question. Alan Vial pleaded not guilty.
The trial of three men, aged 34 to 42, accused of raping and sexually assaulting a woman in Dublin and Wicklow on August 31, 2019, has heard evidence regarding WhatsApp messages and video clips. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty to a total of seven counts of rape, oral rape, and sexual assault, denying any wrongdoing. The jury viewed two video clips shared between the first and third accused; one 30-second clip featured a female voice saying 'No' repeatedly, while the other was six seconds long with no audible words. An investigating garda stated he believed a male voice was heard in the first clip but agreed with defense counsel that no allegations of anal rape exist in this case. The court noted that the clips were not found on phones seized from the second or third accused, and gardai could not determine the exact recording times or order. The first accused, aged 39, provided a detailed account to gardai, claiming the woman consented to sexual activity and that she later refused anal sex. He described the interactions as consensual and stated he was '100% shocked' by the accusations. The second accused, aged 42, and the third accused, aged 34, also maintain their innocence. The trial continues.
Four men accused of conspiring to import more than €13,000 of controlled drugs into Ireland between 27 February and 14 March 2024 have had their cases transferred to the non‑jury Special Criminal Court. The transfer was granted by Ms Justice Melanie Greally, sitting with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Grainne Malone, after an ex‑parte application by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The defendants – Pedro Pablo Ojeda Ortega (36) of Cadiz, Aleksandar Milic (27) of Belgrade, Juan Antonio Gallardo Barroso (56) of Spain, and Anuar Rahui Chairi (42) of Malaga – are charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 with conspiring to import controlled drugs in excess of the statutory threshold. The decision follows the earlier transfer of six other men, including one from Northern Ireland, to the Special Criminal Court. The men were arrested in March during operations near Skibbereen, where vehicles and a rigid inflatable boat were seized as part of the suspected smuggling operation.
At the Central Criminal Court, a witness has testified that a woman accused of murdering a 66-year-old man told him she had "battered" the victim with a rock and "liked it". Chris Quinn recalled that Nikita Burns, aged 23 of Carrick, County Donegal, arrived at his home around midnight on the night after the alleged offence in June 2023. She told him and others present that she was a "murderer" and recounted an incident involving an argument with the deceased, Robert Robin Wilkin. A separate recording of a phone conversation with another witness captured Ms Burns stating that she and her co-accused Alan Vial, aged 39 of Killybegs, had driven until 3am before pushing Mr Wilkin off Sliabh Liag cliffs. She also mentioned blood on the car roof. Both Ms Burns and Mr Vial have pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. Ms Burns pleaded guilty to impeding prosecution but the prosecution did not accept this plea. The trial before Mr Justice Paul McDermott continues.
A trial heard that gardai reviewed approximately 160 hours of CCTV footage during the investigation into the alleged rape and sexual assault of a woman by three men she met in a Dublin nightclub. The three accused men, aged 34 to 42 with addresses in Dublin and Wicklow, have pleaded not guilty to a total of seven counts of rape, oral rape, and sexual assault alleged to have occurred on August 31, 2019, in a car and a Dublin house. The first accused, aged 39, pleaded not guilty to one count of raping the woman in his home address, one count of oral rape, and one count of sexually assaulting her in a car. The second accused, aged 42, pleaded not guilty to one count of raping the woman in the car and one count of raping her in the house. The third accused, aged 34, pleaded not guilty to orally raping the woman in the house and sexually assaulting her in the car. Evidence indicated that CCTV was used to identify the vehicle, a Volkswagen SUV registered to the second accused, and to trace its journey. A 15-minute compilation was shown to the jury. The complainant alleged she may have been drugged, though no evidence of this was found in the footage. The matter was adjourned, and the trial continues.
Three men—Noah Musueni, David Amah, and Michael Andrecut—will be judged next month on whether they murdered Tristan Sherry, who fatally shot Jason Hennessy Snr in Browne's Steakhouse on Christmas Eve 2023. The Special Criminal Court adjourned the case to 17 February, stating it cannot yet deliver a judgment. The trial heard that Sherry entered the restaurant on 24 December, shot Hennessy, and was then dragged to the ground and beaten to death. The prosecution claims Sherry died from blunt force injuries and stab wounds delivered while he lay on the ground after being disarmed. Defence lawyers argue the accused acted out of fear, self‑defence, or provocation, citing Sherry's opening fire on a group that included children. All three men have pleaded not guilty. Additionally, Jonas Kabangu, Diarmuid O'Brien, and Brandon Hennessy are charged with violent disorder at the same event, and have also pleaded not guilty. The court will decide the outcome on 17 February.
In a decision by the Workplace Relations Commission, Edco was ordered to pay €64,000 to Mary Tracy after dismissing her in June 2023 for failing to meet the weight requirements of her sales role. Tracy, who suffers from systemic lupus erythematosus, had a medical limit of 3 kg for manual handling. Edco's books, each weighing 2.7 kg, required her to carry multiple volumes to schools, a task the company deemed impossible for her. The commission found that Edco failed to provide reasonable accommodation and discriminated against Tracy under the Employment Equality Act 1998. The award comprised €29,000 for lack of accommodation and €35,000 for unlawful dismissal, totaling €64,000. The case highlights the employer's obligation to adapt duties for employees with disabilities.
The trial heard that the housemate of a woman who claims she was raped and sexually assaulted by three men at a nightclub had no concerns for her friend's safety when she left the club. The housemate testified that she and the complainant had drinks and socialised on 30 August 2019 before the complainant went to the nightclub. She recalled the club was busy and that they danced near others but not with them. The housemate said the complainant called her the next morning, saying she had been raped, and that she had sent a location pin. She described the complainant's accounts of being taken to a car and a house where the men allegedly raped her, and of the complainant's attempts to fight back. The housemate's statements were cross‑examined by counsel for each of the three accused men, who all pleaded not guilty to the seven counts of rape, oral rape and sexual assault.
David White, business development manager at Gormanston Park sports campus, was dismissed after admitting he took two bottles of wine from storage, returned them later, and denied involving teenage workers in a conspiracy. He filed an unfair dismissal claim seeking reinstatement, though he accepted it was unlikely. The complex's general manager, Aislinn Creamer, testified that a 16‑year‑old kitchen worker approached her with evidence that White had taken the wine and instructed the workers not to disclose it. White countered that he had no intention to deceive and that the remark was light‑hearted. He expressed regret and argued the dismissal was drastic, suggesting a written warning would have sufficed. The case was heard by adjudicator Davnet O'Driscoll, who will issue a decision later.
During a murder trial in Monasterevin, father Eamon McCarthy testified that he saw his son Dylan, aged 29, gurgling and with eyes rolling after a violent assault. McCarthy described how Dylan was punched by Sean Kavanagh (26) and Calvin Dunne (24), then kicked in the head by Dunne while Dylan tried to rise. McCarthy claimed he intervened, pulling Kavanagh's hand from Dylan, but was struck and knocked to the ground. He later recalled a man striking him with a belt. McCarthy's injuries included a fractured jaw, broken nose and a hairline fracture near an eye socket, all attributed to the assault. The case remains at the trial stage, with the jury hearing the State's account of the incident and the defendants' self‑defence claims. Sean Kavanagh pleaded not guilty. Calvin Dunne pleaded not guilty.
In a High Court hearing on 17 January 2025, a vulnerable man in his fifties who has long‑term health needs settled a personal injury action against a care facility, a Dublin hospital and the Health Service Executive for €325,000. The claim arose from a broken femur sustained after the man was transferred from the care unit to an emergency department on 27 October 2018, admitted until 2 November 2018, and then returned to the care unit where bruising was noted. He was subsequently readmitted to the hospital, where a femur fracture requiring surgery was discovered. The plaintiff alleged that the care unit, the hospital and the HSE failed to exercise reasonable care, skill and diligence in diagnosing, treating and managing his condition, and that they ignored his history of falls, poor balance and communication difficulties. The settlement comprised €200,000 in general damages and €125,000 in special damages, and was approved by Mr Justice Paul Coffey.
In a High Court decision on 17 January 2025, James Thomas Maher, a motorcyclist, was awarded €122,000 in reduced damages for a collision at a Co Kerry junction that left him with complete amnesia. The collision, which occurred on 1 August 2017 between Maher's Suzuki Bandit and a Ford Transit van driven by Keith Moriarty, was deemed to have been caused by equal fault. The judge found that while Moriarty was likely cutting the corner, Maher also contributed by failing to stop at the junction's stop sign. The court awarded general damages of €232,500, reduced by 50% for contributory negligence, and special damages of €11,823, totaling €122,000. The van's owner, Patrick Moriarty, was awarded costs for a counterclaim. The decision was based on evidence of both parties' negligence and the resulting injuries to Maher, including head injury, amnesia, wrist fractures, and soft‑tissue damage. The judgment was delivered by Mr Justice Liam Kennedy.
The Central Criminal Court trial has heard that it remains unknown whether a 66-year-old man was deceased when he was allegedly thrown from Sliabh Liag cliffs in Donegal in June 2023. Nikita Burns, aged 22, of Carrick, County Donegal, and Alan Vial, aged 39, of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, County Donegal, deny murder. Burns has pleaded guilty to impeding the apprehension of another person, a plea the prosecution has rejected. Vial has pleaded not guilty. Opening the prosecution case, Bernard Condon SC outlined evidence including CCTV footage placing both accused with the deceased in a Volkswagen Passat on the night of 24 June 2023 and early hours of 25 June. The deceased was allegedly assaulted in an area known as Roshine before being driven to Sliabh Liag. Counsel outlined forensic evidence including the deceased's blood found in the vehicle, on Burns's clothing, on Vial's boots, and on a rock discovered at the cliff top. The State Pathologist identified two depressed fractures to the deceased's head consistent with blows from a blunt object administered while alive.
A woman denied that any consensual sexual contact occurred with the three men accused of raping and sexually assaulting her. The men, aged 34 to 42, have pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape, oral rape and sexual assault at an unknown location in a car and in a Dublin house on 31 August 2019. In her direct evidence, the woman said she was out socialising with a friend when she met the men at a Dublin nightclub, that she believed she had been drugged, and that she was raped twice in a vehicle she thought was a taxi and once in a bed in a house with a man on top of her. She woke the next morning in bed with a man sleeping beside her before leaving the house. She stated she had no recollection of any consensual sexual activity with any of the accused and that she did not remember any conversation with them.
In a Central Criminal Court case, two men, Sean Kavanagh (26) and Calvin Dunne (24), charged with the murder of Dylan McCarthy (29) in Monasterevin on 22 August 2022, claim they acted in self‑defence. The prosecution contends McCarthy died after receiving punches from Kavanagh and a kick to the head from Dunne while he was on the ground. McCarthy was taken to hospital the next day and pronounced dead. The State presented CCTV footage and testimony that Kavanagh and Dunne were present at the pub, that McCarthy was involved in a fight, and that Dunne delivered a "running kick" to McCarthy's exposed head. The jury heard that McCarthy suffered a subdural haemorrhage, and the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused intended to kill or cause serious injury. The trial continues before Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury of ten men and two women. Sean Kavanagh pleaded not guilty. Calvin Dunne pleaded not guilty.
In the High Court, Mr Justice Alexander Owens addressed post-trial applications in the civil case involving defendant Conor McGregor and applicant Nikita Hand. Following a jury finding that Mr McGregor was liable for the assault of Ms Hand in December 2018, while co-accused James Lawrence was found not liable, the judge issued orders regarding trial materials and damages. Mr Justice Owens ordered Mr McGregor to destroy or return all case materials, including CCTV footage, to his solicitor, citing a real risk of dissemination. He warned Mr McGregor that he does not get another run at the case by throwing out allegations on social media or using surrogates. The judge refused to find Mr McGregor in contempt for his social media posts, stating it would be a distraction. Regarding financial obligations, the court ordered an interim payment of €100,000 in damages and €200,000 towards Ms Hand's costs, with the remainder stayed pending a potential appeal. The matter was adjourned to February 12.