In a tribunal hearing, the complaint that a Bank of Ireland teller refused service to Janson Kelebeng on race grounds was rejected. Kelebeng alleged that the teller said the bank "didn't serve black people" after he explained that he spoke loudly because he was African. He also claimed the teller told him he could not use a debit card on his savings account and that he was "ordered from the building" by the branch security guard. The teller denied making any reference to Kelebeng's race or refusing him service, and a colleague corroborated that Kelebeng was "very rude" to both the teller and the guard. The guard said Kelebeng was "aggressive" and called him an "old man". The adjudicator found the bank's evidence more credible, concluded no prohibited conduct occurred, and dismissed the complaint under the Equal Status Act 2000. The case was represented by Beibhinn Murphy BL for Kelebeng and Barry Walsh of Fieldfisher LLP for the bank.
A man from Ballinamore, Co Leitrim has been acquitted of dangerous driving following an incident at the Russian Embassy in Dublin two years ago. Desmond Wisley, aged 51, faced trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on charges of dangerous driving and criminal damage after reversing a truck into the embassy gates on Orwell Road, Rathgar on 7 March 2022. The jury returned a unanimous not guilty verdict on the dangerous driving charge. However, jurors were unable to reach agreement on the criminal damage count. Judge Elva Duffy adjourned proceedings on the criminal damage charge until 16 May and remanded Mr Wisley on continuing bail. During the five-day trial, the court heard evidence that the gates required reconstruction at a cost of €13,250. Mr Wisley had acted in protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Gerard Foy, an agency nurse at an HSE-run care home for people with intellectual disabilities, claimed that he witnessed a colleague, Ms A, pour water over a resident's head and that he reported the incident to management. He said he was later told he had breached GDPR by discussing the event with other colleagues and was required to complete data‑protection training and apologise to Ms A. Foy alleged that the HSE's handling of the matter, including a meeting with regional director Eva Hayes, led to his isolation, reduced hours, and failure to secure a permanent staff nurse position. He filed whistleblower complaints under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 in May 2022.
In the trial of Dean Byrne, a 30‑year‑old from Cabra Park, Phibsborough, the prosecution is set to finish its evidence tomorrow. Byrne, who was in Mountjoy Prison when arrested on 8 October 2020, is accused of conspiring with Aaron Brady to persuade witness Daniel Cahill not to testify at Brady's 2020 murder trial. Byrne denied owning a mobile phone found in his cell and denied knowing Brady or Cahill. He claimed the phone belonged to a former inmate and that any video or audio messages on it were not made by him. Byrne also denied that a threat to harm Cahill was an attempt to pervert the course of justice. The prosecution alleges Byrne's actions were intended to influence Cahill's testimony. The case is before a three‑judge court, and the prosecution's evidence will conclude tomorrow. The trial remains ongoing. Dean Byrne pleaded guilty.
During a trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 59‑year‑old Kilkenny man faced 121 counts of historic sex abuse, including anal and oral rape and sexual assault against eight male complainants aged 10 to 11 between 1995 and 2007. The defendant pleaded not guilty. One complainant, aged 38, testified that the accused raped him anally once, threatened him to "keep his mouth shut" or his family would be killed, and repeatedly touched him and his younger brother in the accused's car. He said the abuse began when he was 11 or 12 and stopped around age 15, though he could not recall the final incident. The complainant also reported that he had spoken to Gardaí and social workers in 2000, but no action was taken. The trial is proceeding before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
Jennifer Clancy, a former part‑time Spanish teacher at Templeogue College, has given evidence to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) alleging that principal Niamh Quinn retaliated against her after she and 10 colleagues lodged a collective grievance in spring 2022. Clancy claims she was penalised through timetable changes that forced her to teach afternoons, disrupting childcare arrangements she had made with the former principal. She also says the school altered her reappointment form to make her a fixed‑term employee again. The school denies the allegations, stating the changes were administrative errors and that Clancy was not granted a permanent contract. Clancy's testimony, delivered on the third day of her WRC hearing, describes the principal as "a corridor angel and an office devil," and recounts a heated meeting on 26 August 2022 where Clancy felt victimised. The WRC has scheduled further cross‑examination and additional hearings to resolve the dispute.
A man has been brought before the Central Criminal Court on 121 charges of sexual abuse against eight boys, alleged to have occurred between 1995 and 2007. He pleaded not guilty. The prosecution, led by Dominic McGinn SC, presented evidence that the victims, all aged ten to eleven at the time of the alleged abuse, were subjected to sexual assault, anal rape and oral rape over a period of twelve years. The accused is said to have lured the boys with cigarettes and then taken them into his home, where he allegedly preyed on their innocence. Testimony is expected from two families of three brothers each, who claim daily or frequent abuse, with some victims reporting the incidents to their mother in 2000 and the Gardaí being alerted without further action. The trial is proceeding before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
A Dutch economics professor, Dr Wim Naude, was dismissed by University College Cork (UCC) in August 2023 after failing to relocate to Cork within the time frame set by the university. Naude had been appointed in January 2021 and taught online until he arrived in Ireland in June–July 2021, during which he struggled to secure housing amid Ireland's housing crisis. He cited his wife's diabetes and his son's autism as additional challenges. UCC's HR head, Barry O'Brien, claimed Naude had not moved by the second half of the previous academic year and deemed his contract null, citing a lack of "physical presence" required for his duties. Naude argued the university's decision was unfair and that relocation issues could have been resolved through discussion. The Workplace Relations Commission upheld his complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 and awarded him €300,000, the third‑highest award ever made to an individual employee.
A Central Criminal Court jury could not reach a verdict in the murder trial of Maurice 'Mossie' Boland, who was accused of "flooring" 26‑year‑old Cian Gallagher in a rural town. The State alleged Boland intended to kill or seriously injure Gallagher, who fell and hit the back of his head after a punch. Both men had been drinking. The prosecution presented CCTV footage of a punch and claimed the victim's hand injuries were caused by the blow. Defence counsel argued that the pathologist's evidence showed the fall, not the punch, caused the fatal injury, and that intent could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. After 13 hours of deliberation over four days, the jury declared disagreement and the case was scheduled for retrial on 25 November. The judge exempted the jury from service for five years. The trial remains at the murder‑versus‑manslaughter stage. Mossie' Boland pleaded not guilty.
A tribunal found that Trevor Shaw, a former ministerial driver for Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue, was unfairly dismissed on Christmas Day 2022 when the Department of Agriculture replaced civilian drivers with Garda personnel for security reasons. Shaw had been notified of redundancy in November 2022 and was offered a clerical role at the Department of Social Protection, a position he deemed unsuitable due to lack of computer skills. The tribunal ruled that the Department acted unreasonably and without consultation, and that the dismissal was peremptory. It awarded Shaw €30,000 in compensation, in addition to his statutory redundancy entitlements and an undisclosed ex‑gratia payment. The decision highlighted the lack of a voluntary redundancy option and the absence of an appeal process for Shaw. The tribunal's findings were based solely on the evidence presented in the hearing.
The jury of eight men and four women will return to the Central Criminal Court on Monday to continue deliberations in the trial of Maurice 'Mossie' Boland, 36, who denies murdering construction worker Cian Gallagher, 26, in Tallow on 10 November 2022. Boland pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The prosecution has alleged that a punch from Boland caused Gallagher to fall and hit the back of his head, leading to a fatal brain bleed eight days later. The defence has argued that the pathologist's evidence shows the fall, not the punch, caused the damage, and that the phrase "a Conor McGregor knockout" was a drunken, off‑hand remark. The jury has spent more than 11 hours over three days debating the case and has requested additional time to reach a verdict. The trial is ongoing and no verdict has yet been delivered.
On the day the inquest jury declared that all 48 young people who died in the Stardust nightclub fire were unlawfully killed, families gathered to express relief and demand an apology from the Irish State. Alison Croker, sister of 18‑year‑old Jacqueline, said the verdict gave her family vindication and called for a formal apology for the systematic abuse endured. Other relatives, including Louise McDermott, Antoinette Keegan, Samantha Curran, Susan Behan, Pat Dunne, Siobhán Kearney, Lisa Lawlor, Selina McDermott, Margaret Nangle, Phyllis McHugh and Maurice Frazer, shared personal grief and praised the coroner and jury for their work. Solicitor Darragh Mackin noted that the record had been corrected, affirming that the 48 were unlawfully killed and that families had not given up over four decades.
The High Court and coroner's court have examined competing legal arguments regarding the scope of verdicts available to the jury in the resumed inquest into the 48 deaths at the Stardust nightclub fire. The new inquests, which commenced in April 2023 at the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin, followed a 2019 direction by the then Attorney General that fresh proceedings were necessary due to insufficient examination of the fire's circumstances at the original 1982 inquiry. Former Stardust manager Eamon Butterly challenged the coroner's decision to permit a potential unlawful killing verdict, arguing it would identify him as subject to censure. In November 2022, Mr Justice Charles Meenan rejected this challenge, confirming such a verdict could lawfully be available provided no individual remained identifiable as censurable. Following the conclusion of evidence, Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane received further submissions from interested parties. She ultimately ruled that an unlawful killing verdict could be placed before the jury, applying a beyond-reasonable-doubt standard of proof. The available verdicts were determined as accidental death, misadventure, unlawful killing, narrative, and open verdict.
In the trial of Maurice 'Mossie' Boland, a 36‑year‑old from Waterford, the jury of eight men and four women was given the option of a majority verdict after deliberating for nearly seven hours. Boland pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of 26‑year‑old Cian Gallagher, who died on 10 November 2022 after a fall that caused a traumatic brain injury. The prosecution alleged Boland punched Gallagher, who was drinking, and that the blow caused the fatal fall. The defence argued the fall, not the punch, caused the injury, citing the pathologist's testimony. The jury was instructed that a murder verdict requires proof beyond reasonable doubt of intent to kill or cause serious injury; otherwise a manslaughter verdict is appropriate. Boland claimed he was defending himself and that the incident happened quickly. The case remains at the deliberation stage.
The Stardust fire of 1981, which claimed the lives of 48 young people, was the subject of a lengthy inquest that examined the events leading up to the tragedy. Survivors and witnesses described the chaos and confusion as the fire broke out, with many trapped by locked exit doors and unable to escape the rapidly spreading flames. The inquest revealed that the Stardust nightclub had serious fire safety issues, including locked exits, inadequate fire training for staff, and the use of highly flammable materials. Survivors recounted the horror of the fire, with some describing the intense heat, the collapse of the ceiling, and the suffocating smoke. The inquest also heard evidence about the practice of 'mock locking' exit doors, which gave the appearance of being locked when they were not. This practice, along with the failure to follow fire safety regulations, was a major factor in the high death toll.
Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane presided over the conclusion of the longest inquest in Irish history, where a jury found that all 48 victims of the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire were unlawfully killed. After deliberating for 11 days, the panel returned majority verdicts to the Dublin District Coroner's Court, determining that the fire was caused by an electrical fault in the hot press of the dispense bar. The jury established that the victims' escape was impeded by locked or obstructed emergency exits, lack of staff preparedness, and the rapid spread of fire and toxic smoke. They found that these factors contributed to the deaths, with the majority dying from rapid incapacitation due to fumes and heat. The jury also recommended frequent revision of building regulations and improved inspection targets for places of public resort. Dr Cullinane thanked the jury for their service and acknowledged the persistence of the victims' families, who campaigned for decades to secure these fresh inquests. The proceedings, which began in April last year, heard evidence from 373 witnesses over 95 days. The coroner noted that the unlawful killing verdict indicated the law had been broken in a serious fashion, a finding distinct from accidental death or misadventure. The families expressed profound appreciation for the meticulous work of the coroner and the dedication of the jury, who delivered the verdicts that vindicated the lives of the 48 young people who lost their lives on Valentine's Day, 1981.
Gary Prendergast, a groundskeeper at Park West Utilities Management Ltd, was awarded €15,000 by the Workplace Relations Commission for ageist discrimination after his employer replaced his electric litter cart with a manual cart that he had to push 15km daily. Prendergast, who had worked at the site for over 15 years and was nearing retirement, claimed that the replacement of the cart and the monitoring of his work by the operations manager, who allegedly remarked that he was "slowing down," were intended to encourage him to quit. He had taken medical leave for stress in October 2022, citing the manager's surveillance as a contributing factor. The adjudicator accepted that the company's failure to provide a motorised cart was not economically justified but concluded that the lack of a suitable replacement discriminated against Prendergast on the basis of his age, and ordered the company to pay the compensation.
The High Court President discharged orders that had allowed a hospital to give a blood transfusion to a Jehovah's Witness patient after the patient's condition improved. The orders were originally made because the patient, whose identity is protected, lacked capacity to consent and no signed Advance Care Directive was available. The hospital had sought the orders after the patient's family would not consent to any blood or blood products for religious reasons, and doctors warned that a transfusion might be needed to save his life. The patient was in intensive care after a serious road traffic accident, on a ventilator and unable to communicate. After recovery of mental capacity and no need for transfusion, the court agreed to strike the orders, while orders preventing media identification remain in force.
Almost a year after the inquests into the deaths of the 48 victims of the Stardust nightclub fire began, the jury in the Dublin District Coroner's Court told coroner Dr Myra Cullinane that they had reached a majority verdict, which will be delivered tomorrow. The jury, composed of seven women and five men, had been unable to reach a unanimous verdict after 11 days of deliberations into the circumstances of the deaths that occurred when fire swept through the Stardust nightclub on the early hours of 14 February 1981. Dr Cullinane explained that the law allows a majority verdict when at least seven jurors agree, and she confirmed that the jury had indeed reached such a verdict. She deferred the announcement of the verdicts and findings to allow administrative matters to be addressed and to give interested parties and family members the opportunity to attend court or observe the proceedings online.
In the trial of Maurice 'Mossie' Boland, who pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, the jury was asked whether the deceased Cian Gallagher's intoxication could legally excuse his inability to break a fall. The judge ruled it was not a defence. The prosecution argued that a punch from Boland caused Gallagher to fall and hit his head, leading to a traumatic brain injury. The defence contended that the fall itself caused the fatal injury, not the punch. The jury deliberated for 2 hours and 53 minutes, considering whether Boland intended to kill or cause serious injury. The judge explained that if intent was proven, the verdict would be murder; otherwise, manslaughter. The case remains at the jury's verdict stage.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the prosecution described Maurice "Mossie" Boland (36) as having "targeted" and "relentlessly pursued" Cian Gallagher (26), a Dublin construction worker, before striking him with a punch that the accused claimed was a "Conor McGregor knockout." The State presented CCTV footage showing Boland punching Gallagher while the latter was retreating with his hands up, and a pathologist testified that a fall caused a brain bleed, though deep bruising on Gallagher's right temporalis was linked to the punch. Boland pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The prosecution argued that Boland's intent to cause serious injury, combined with intoxication, met the legal definition of murder, while the defence contended that the fall, not the punch, caused the fatal injury and that Boland had not targeted Gallagher. The trial was set to continue before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of eight men and four women.
During the tenth day of deliberations on the Stardust inquest, the jury told Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane they were "very close" to a verdict and were finalising wording. The coroner clarified that the jury must answer time questions precisely, or give a range if evidence is uncertain, and explained the two‑stage test for unlawful killing: a failure of very high degree that is a substantial cause of death, proven beyond reasonable doubt. She emphasised that no verdict is automatic and that the jury may return unlawful killing only if satisfied beyond reasonable doubt of at least one such failure. The jury also asked about applying unlawful killing to each death when multiple failures were involved; the coroner confirmed each death could be judged separately if the test is met. The jury, after about 40 hours of deliberation, was discharged before 4 pm and will resume tomorrow. The inquest covers 48 deaths from the 1981 fire at the Stardust.
Dean Byrne, aged 30, is on trial in the Special Criminal Court for conspiring to pervert the course of justice by persuading prosecution witness Daniel Cahill not to testify at Aaron Brady's murder trial. The trial, originally set for 14 weeks, may be shortened to two or three weeks if Byrne makes a number of admissions tomorrow. Padraig Dwyer SC is considering a "shopping list" of 35 proposals from the Director of Public Prosecutions that the defence may not need to prove formally. Some proposals relate to searches of Byrne's cell in Mountjoy prison and the obtaining of warrants. Mr Dwyer said some issues are already resolved, some cannot be admitted, and others could be admitted if reworded. Mr Justice Paul Burns adjourned the trial to allow the parties to work on the outstanding admissions. Byrne pleaded not guilty to the charge. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns, Judge Elma Sheahan and Judge Marie Keane.
Maurice Boland, 36, of Bridgeview Close, Tallow, Co Waterford, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of 26‑year‑old Cian Gallagher, a construction worker, who died on 10 November 2022 after a fall on 2 November. Boland told detectives he was defending himself when he struck Gallagher, who had his hands up and was backing away, as shown by CCTV. He claimed he hit Gallagher once, that the man was intoxicated, and that the fall caused a traumatic brain injury leading to death. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster testified that Gallagher's blood alcohol level was high and that the injuries were consistent with a fall onto the back of the head. The trial is set to continue before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of eight men and four women.
The jury at the Stardust inquest, now in its third week of deliberations, will continue to consider their verdicts on the causes of death of the 48 victims of the 1981 fire at the Artane venue. After about four hours of discussion today, the panel of seven women and five men returned to court at 4 pm. Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane told them she would address their progress the next day, noting that further matters might arise. The inquest, which has been in session for almost a year, has heard 95 days of evidence from 373 witnesses. Dr Cullinane has instructed the jury to determine the identity, date and place of death and the circumstances surrounding each death, and to record a verdict. The possible verdicts are accidental death, death by misadventure, an open verdict, a narrative verdict and unlawful killing.
Matthew O'Connell (20) and Evan Vella (19) pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm and violent disorder, respectively, for a mob attack on a 16‑year‑old Italian student in Blackrock Park on 27 November 2021. The attack began after a bottle was mistakenly blamed on the victim's group, leading to a confrontation that escalated into a group assault by up to ten young men. O'Connell was described as a main antagonist and Vella admitted punching the student once. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year suspended sentence on O'Connell, ordering him to pay €5,000 and raise an additional €5,000 within a year, and a 16‑month suspended sentence on Vella, ordering him to pay €1,500 to the victim within six months or donate it to charity. Both sentences were suspended, with no custodial terms imposed. The judge highlighted the defendants' young age, lack of prior convictions, and potential for rehabilitation.
In the Central Criminal Court, Maurice 'Mossie' Boland, aged 36, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Cian Gallagher, 26, who died from a brain bleed after an alleged altercation on Barrack Street, Tallow, on 10 November 2022. Boland told arresting gardai that Gallagher had struck him first, that he had "ducked" and then hit Gallagher back, and that Gallagher had made comments about Russians. He described the incident as a "pure accident" and said the fight resembled a "Conor McGregor knockout". Boland's partner, Marian O'Brien, testified that she had left him with their children on 1 November, that he had called her from Lismore saying he was going for drinks, and that she had seen him and Gallagher run out in front of her car. She also said she had taken his mobile phone at the scene to contact his relatives.
The jury for the Stardust inquest, consisting of seven women and five men, has taken a break for the weekend after eight days of deliberation on the causes of death of the 48 victims of the fire. Since beginning on 3 April, they have spent over 30 hours discussing their verdicts. Earlier today, Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane provided legal guidance, clarifying that answers to the general questionnaire are meant to establish facts and do not automatically imply blame. She explained that a verdict of unlawful killing requires a high standard of proof, with a failure by a person or persons being a substantial cause of death, and must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Other possible verdicts—accidental death, death by misadventure, an open verdict, or a narrative verdict—are decided on the balance of probabilities. The jury will reconvene next Monday for a third week of deliberations.
Maurice 'Mossy' Boland, 36, of Tallow, Waterford, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of Cian Gallagher, 26, a Dublin construction worker, who died from a brain bleed eight days after being punched and knocked to the ground on 2 November 2022. Witness Patrick Fennessy, 17 at the time, described seeing Boland on his feet and Gallagher on the ground outside Clancy's Bar. Fennessy said Boland claimed Gallagher had struck him first and that he was merely defending himself. Boland allegedly boasted that he had knocked Gallagher out "like Conor McGregor" and that Gallagher should have been in the UFC, expressing pride in the act. Boland also told witnesses he did not want an ambulance for Gallagher, insisting he would be fine. The trial, before Mr Justice Paul McDermott, continues tomorrow with a jury of eight men and four women.
During the seventh day of deliberations in the Stardust inquests, the jury asked the coroner for clarification on the questionnaire they received at the start of the proceedings. They wanted to know whether a particular answer could imply a failure on someone's part, despite being told they could not assign blame to any individual. Dr Myra Cullinane said she would address the question when the court reconvened on the eighth day. Earlier, the jury was reminded that they could not attribute wrongdoing to any identified person. They also asked how to interpret "standards" at the time of the 1981 fire, and Dr Cullinane explained that standards meant the laws, byelaws and regulations in force then, and that if no standards existed, norms and behaviours could be considered but only if they were the approved practice or carried obvious risks.
In a Workplace Relations Commission hearing, adjudicator David James Murphy ruled that a complaint by nurse Vanessa Rodrigues-Linhan against Carechoice Swords 2 Ltd was well founded, ordering the employer to pay €30,000 in compensation. The adjudicator found the employer failed to establish adequate risk management for two patients. Regarding Patient A, the adjudicator noted the employer failed to prove efforts were in place to manage the risk he presented prior to incidents where he allegedly racially abused the complainant and pushed a decoration into her chest. Although action was taken after reports, the adjudicator found no prior process to manage his aggressive behavior. Regarding Patient B, a dementia patient, the adjudicator found that despite known issues with sexual behavior, there was no process to ensure information cascaded to night-shift carers. The adjudicator determined the complainant was subjected to serious racial and sexual harassment, making her legitimately fear for her safety. He criticized the employer for relying on senior staff support after the fact rather than having immediate supervisors on hand to react to risks. The adjudicator noted the director and assistant director of nursing appeared professional but failed in their immediate supervisory duties. The employer's defense was rejected, resulting in the compensation award.
During a murder trial, a barman testified that on the night of the killing he had conversations with the deceased about Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine. The jury heard that the accused, Maurice Boland, 36, had replied to a Garda's caution that he was "onto" the deceased about Russians. Boland pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of Cian Gallagher, 26, who died from a brain bleed eight days after being punched by Boland in early November 2022. Prosecutor Roisin Lacey SC described how Boland boasted of knocking Gallagher out and compared himself to UFC fighter Conor McGregor. Witnesses, including the pub owner Ann O'Brien and barmaid Maggie O'Leary, confirmed that the deceased had been drinking and that Boland was highly intoxicated when he entered the pub. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of eight men and four women.
On its sixth day of deliberations, the 12‑person jury in the Stardust inquest asked Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane for further legal guidance. The questions focused on the meaning of "standards" at the time of the 1981 fire that killed 48 people at the Stardust nightclub in Artane. The jury sought clarification on whether standards referred to normal behaviour or to codified laws, regulations or byelaws. Dr Cullinane said she would answer the questions the following day, after which the jury would resume its deliberations in the Pillar Room of the Rotunda Hospital.
In a Workplace Relations Commission hearing, a witness alleged that senior Unite officials sought to negotiate an exit package with Brendan Ogle to prevent his promotion to regional secretary for the Republic of Ireland. The witness claimed that Peter Hughes, Unite's Welsh secretary, suggested a deal after Ogle applied for the position, and that Ogle was told the role was no longer needed. Ogle had previously complained of being sidelined after returning from cancer treatment in 2022. He also alleged that the union's former chairman, Tony Woodhouse, was excluded from an interview panel due to a defamatory speech. The case was scheduled to proceed but the dates were vacated, and the witness noted that Ogle's concerns included losing a death-in-service policy worth five times his salary. The hearing focused on the alleged internal negotiations and Ogle's grievances.
The jury at the Stardust inquest will continue deliberating into the causes of death of the 48 victims of the 1981 fire for a sixth day tomorrow. The 12 jurors resumed considering their verdicts shortly after 11 am this morning. Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane told the panel she would be available throughout the day should they have any questions. The jury returned to the Pillar Room at the Rotunda Hospital at 4 pm, where they were discharged for the day having completed a fifth day of deliberations. The inquest, which has been sitting for almost a year, has heard 95 days of evidence from 373 witnesses. Dr Cullinane has previously told the jury that they must determine the identity, date and place of death and the circumstances surrounding the death of each of the 48 young people who lost their lives when a fire swept through the Artane venue in the early hours of Valentine's Day, 1981.
During the opening of Maurice Boland's trial at the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution presented evidence that Boland, 36, admitted to causing the death of construction worker Cian Gallagher, 26, but denied murder. CCTV footage showed Boland punching Gallagher, who had his hands up and was backing away, leading to a fall and a brain bleed that caused death eight days later. Boland claimed the incident was a "pure accident" and that Gallagher had tried to hit him first. Witnesses, including three young men and Gardaí, testified about Boland's intoxication, his statements comparing himself to UFC fighter Conor McGregor, and his attempts to lift Gallagher after the punch. The prosecution emphasized the focus on Boland's intent that night, distinguishing between murder and manslaughter. The trial is set to continue for two weeks before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury. Maurice Boland pleaded not guilty.
A senior manager at One Complete Solutions Ltd, a security firm accused by Siptu of fostering a "culture of racism," denied a former colleague's claim that he told a subordinate, "Shut the fuck up you foreign c***." The allegation was part of an Employment Equality Act complaint by former contract manager Sayed Baqur‑Hussein, who said he and an Indian security guard were sanctioned after an incident involving a shoplifter, while a Polish colleague was not. The company argues Baqur‑Hussein failed to follow procedures and de‑escalate the situation, whereas the complainant insists he feared a "life threat" and acted in self‑defence. The tribunal heard evidence of racial abuse during the incident, the company's denial of such remarks, and the differing disciplinary outcomes for the three staff involved. The case is adjourned for further hearings.
Maurice Boland, 36, of Tallow, Waterford, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of mechanic Cian Gallagher, who was killed on Barrack Street in Tallow on 10 November 2022. The Central Criminal Court will hear the case tomorrow, with a jury of four women and eight men sworn in by Ms Justice Karen O'Connor. The trial is expected to last two weeks and will rely solely on the evidence presented in court, with no independent research or social media engagement permitted.
During the fourth day of deliberations in the Dublin District Coroner's Court, the jury investigating the Stardust nightclub fire was informed by coroner Dr Myra Cullinane that they could not formally add an unborn baby as a 49th victim. Dr Cullinane explained that the inquest's remit, directed by the attorney general, covers only the 48 individuals who died in the 1981 blaze. She noted that if any deceased was in early pregnancy, the jury could record this fact on the individual questionnaire, possibly as an addendum to question three regarding cause of death, but this would not change the number of victims. The jury's role remains to determine identity, date, place, and circumstances of each of the 48 deaths and to record a verdict such as accidental death, misadventure, open, narrative, or unlawful killing. The jury will resume deliberations the following day in the Pillar Room of Rotunda Hospital.
An Applegreen service station manager, Graham Price, was dismissed for gross misconduct after an audit revealed a Polish woman had worked four months without wages and was not registered on payroll. The audit, conducted by Applegreen's regional manager Keith Ennis in February 2022, found discrepancies between point‑of‑sale records and payroll, indicating a possible ghost employee. Ennis questioned the assistant manager about the worker's status, noting she had not been paid for 16 weeks. Price's lawyers argued the delay in onboarding was due to the worker's lack of a PPS number and a backlog following the HSE cyber‑attack. They claimed Price had made best efforts to assist her and that the dismissal was unfair under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 and the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act 1973. The tribunal adjourned the case for a later hearing.
The jury at the Stardust inquest paused their deliberations for the weekend after completing a third day of considering the causes of death of the 48 victims of the 1981 fire. Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane answered questions the jury had raised about the general questionnaire they received at the start of their deliberations. She had postponed answering these questions until the current sitting. After speaking with the jury before lunch, they returned to the room to resume their work. The jury's role is to determine the identity, date and place of death and the circumstances surrounding each death, and to record a verdict. They can return one of five verdicts: accidental death, death by misadventure, an open verdict, a narrative verdict or unlawful killing. Dr Cullinane explained that the unlawful killing verdict is distinct from the others, requiring proof beyond reasonable doubt, whereas the other verdicts are based on the balance of probabilities.
On the second day of the Stardust inquest, the jury finished deliberations and sought legal guidance on several issues before returning verdicts on the 48 deaths. In Dublin District Coroner's Court, coroner Dr Myra Cullinane noted that the jury had asked a number of questions. The first concerned question four of the general questionnaire, which referenced factors contributing to the fire's spread. The jurors asked whether they were expected to answer "yes" even if a factor was minor, and whether the question focused on a design flaw. Dr Cullinane explained that the jury was highlighting that a building's ceiling is always a factor in a fire, and that the questionnaire was meant to assess such factors. Evidence had shown the Stardust's west alcove ceiling was lower than statutory height, and fire investigator Dr Will Hutchinson had testified that the low ceiling intensified downward heat, contributing to the spread.
The jury of the Stardust Inquest, after a year‑long hearing with testimony from more than 370 witnesses, began deliberations on 3 April 2024. They will return to the Rotunda Hospital's Pillar Room tomorrow to continue considering verdicts for the 48 young people who died in the 1981 fire at the Stardust Ballroom. The jury has heard 95 days of direct evidence from 373 witnesses. They asked Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane for clarification on the standard of proof for each verdict. She explained that accidental death, death by misadventure, and narrative verdicts require proof "on the balance of probabilities, more likely than not," while unlawful killing requires the "beyond a reasonable doubt" test. She also outlined examples of each verdict and reminded the jury that an inquest is a fact‑finding exercise, not a trial, and that a verdict can only be returned when all jurors agree.
A former ice‑cream parlour worker, Anita Popa, told the Workplace Relations Commission that she worked up to 90 hours a week, so long that her one‑year‑old son did not recognise her when she finished her employment. She claimed she was underpaid, denied breaks, denied maternity leave, discriminated against and was unfairly dismissed after an alleged assault by a colleague. Popa said the employer produced fabricated rosters and payroll records, which she said were fake and signed by "A.P.", not her. She alleged the company monitored her via CCTV and threatened to replace her after she announced her pregnancy. The employer denied all allegations, stating she was paid for the hours she worked and that the complaints were incorrect. The hearing is ongoing and a further date has not yet been set.
The jury for the Stardust inquests received legal guidance on the five verdicts they may return for the 48 victims of the 1981 fire. Dr Myra Cullinane explained that an inquest is a fact‑finding exercise, not a trial, and that no verdict may apportion blame or identify any person. The available verdicts are accidental death, death by misadventure, an open verdict, a narrative verdict and unlawful killing. Unlawful killing requires a very high degree of failure to observe a necessary course of action, a substantial cause of death, and a standard of beyond‑reasonable‑doubt, but it may not name any individual. The jury must record a verdict for each deceased, may make recommendations to prevent future deaths, but cannot include censure or exoneration. The jury will begin deliberations on 3 April in the Rotunda Hospital.
Jess Quinn, a temporary employee at SSL Ltd, claimed she was told a manual‑handling vacancy at Merlin Park University Hospital was "only for men" because of the weight of the boxes. She applied for the role after being told her contract would not be renewed. Quinn said she was told at a meeting that the job was unsuitable for her due to her gender and the weight of the boxes, and that only men would be considered. She was not called for an interview and two men were hired instead. The Workplace Relations Commission found the company's statement discriminatory, noting it failed to assess Quinn's physical capability. The commission awarded Quinn €7,500 in compensation under the Employment Equality Act 1998. The decision was made by adjudicator Niamh O'Carroll.
The Stardust inquest jury has been instructed to carefully examine evidence regarding where and when the fire was first noticed, to determine if it was seen outside the venue before being observed inside the ballroom. Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane highlighted that the fire was first seen in the west alcove by patrons inside the club, but also observed from outside by nearby residents. Fire expert Dr Will Hutchinson noted that if residents' timings were accurate, the fire may have already developed in the roof space before becoming visible inside. The jury heard that the fire was seen outside between 1.15am and 1.38am, while it was first observed inside the ballroom at around 1.40am. Dr Hutchinson suggested the fire may have originated in the immersion heater in the hot press or the seating area in the west alcove, with a poorly wired connection at the immersion heater being a possible cause.
A young woman has filed a civil damages claim against mixed‑martial‑arts star Conor McGregor for alleged assault, and the case has been scheduled for trial in the High Court next month. The action, which will be heard before a jury and presided over by a judge, was set for the week beginning 23 April after the judge, Mr Justice Alexander Owens, heard from Siún Leonowicz BL, the woman's counsel, who confirmed the case was ready to proceed. McGregor, originally from Crumlin, denies all wrongdoing. The claim is one of two initiated against the celebrity sportsman over incidents alleged to have occurred in 2018. The woman's action was filed in 2021, but no details of the claim have been disclosed in open court. A second personal‑injuries action, brought by the woman's mother, is not scheduled for jury trial.
In the final stage of the Stardust inquest, Dr Myra Cullinane summarised the pathological evidence presented by pathologists Dr Richard Shepherd, Dr Nat Cary and Dr Benjamin Swift. She reviewed each of the 48 victims alphabetically, noting their birth dates, last movements on the night of the February 14, 1981 fire, dates of death and the methods used to identify them. Identification methods included visual recognition, property such as clothing or jewellery, dental records and, for five victims—Eamon Loughman, Paul Wade, Michael Ffrench, Richard Bennett and Murtagh Kavanagh—DNA analysis in 2007. Cullinane detailed that most deaths were caused by rapid incapacitation from inhalation of fire fumes and heat. She concluded the day's proceedings out of respect for the families and announced that the next part of the inquest would involve a summary of evidence from fire experts, with the inquest continuing tomorrow in the Rotunda Hospital's Pillar Room.
A man convicted of killing his wife in Finglas, Dublin in 2021 has been returned to the Central Mental Hospital for continued treatment. Diego Costa Silva, aged 35, was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity following his trial at the Central Criminal Court earlier this month. He had pleaded not guilty to the charge relating to the death of his wife on November 4, 2021 at their home in Charlestown Place. Evidence presented to the jury established that Mr Costa Silva was suffering from cannabis-induced psychosis at the time, causing him to believe his wife was possessed and posed a threat to him. Two forensic psychiatrists confirmed he met the criteria for a finding of insanity under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006. At today's hearing, Mr Justice Michael MacGrath ordered his return to the Central Mental Hospital, where a consultant psychiatrist confirmed he continues to require in-patient treatment. His case will be reviewed again on July 29.