In a Dublin trial, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 55, denies allegations of stealing about €27 million from seven banks between October 2006 and April 2007. He rejects the prosecution's claim that bank employees conspired to ignore normal lending practice and disputes that he misled the banks. Lynn says he obtained multiple mortgages on the same properties with the banks' knowledge and that he had "off‑the‑book understandings" with former INBS CEO Michael Fingleton. He argues the banks were aware of the purpose of the loans and consented. Prosecuting counsel, Karl Finnegan, accuses Lynn of blaming others, naming names, and maligning their characters to protect himself. Lynn maintains he had no intention to deceive or steal and that he planned to repay the loans through overseas property development. The case proceeds before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In the Dublin District Coroner's Court, a jury was shown extremely graphic footage of the night the Stardust nightclub fire killed 48 people. The court explained that the material, already heard in evidence, would help the jury understand the case. Dr Myra Cullinane warned that the footage was graphic and requested that those not directly involved leave the courtroom. The clips included television recordings, an interview with manager Eamon Butterly who claimed all doors were open, and testimony from witnesses who said doors were chained and locked. Pauline Murray, a survivor, recounted seeing smoke, being pulled by Niall Campbell, and the chaos as the fire spread. She described being burnt, the thick smoke, and the last moments before Josephine Glen died. The inquest will resume on 9 January 2024.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has begun deliberating in the trial of a woman charged with murdering her former lover in Ballyconnell, County Cavan. Nicola Brennan, aged 33, denies the charge of murdering Juris Viktorovs, a 36-year-old Latvian national, by stabbing him on 10 February 2022. The prosecution case relies on eyewitness testimony and forensic evidence, including blood found on the accused's clothing. The defence has challenged the reliability of the primary witness and questioned whether the evidence proves guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The jury of eight men and four women spent nearly two hours considering their verdict before adjourning. They are scheduled to return to court tomorrow. Justice Paul McDermott instructed the jury that the prosecution must prove its case to the standard of beyond reasonable doubt, and that murder requires proof of intent to kill or cause serious harm.
During his multi‑million euro theft trial, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 55, explained that a High Court order on 15 October 2007 froze his accounts and suspended him as a solicitor. He said he was asked to relocate abroad to "batten down the hatches" amid the 2008 financial crisis. Lynn moved first to London, then Portugal, and later to Brazil in 2011, where he taught English and sought opportunities. He denied evading Gardaí between 2008 and 2011, claiming he had followed legal advice and informed authorities of his whereabouts. Lynn was arrested in August 2013 and spent four and a half years in Brazilian prison before returning to Ireland in March 2018. He is on trial for 21 counts of theft, accused of stealing about €27 million from seven Irish financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. The trial is before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 59‑year‑old former teacher pleaded not guilty to one count of attempted anal rape and eight counts of sexual assault involving six complainants aged 17 to 24 between March 1991 and November 1997. A former colleague testified that he was shocked when a student arrived at the accused's home after a staff night out and that he later walked in on the accused, a woman, and the student in bed together. The colleague described how he avoided speaking to the student and later found the three of them in bed, with the accused in the middle. A former principal recounted receiving a call about a "sexual contact" incident involving a teacher and a student, and that the accused had been called to the student's home after an allegation of sexual assault. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury.
During the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire, survivor James Feery described flames advancing along walls and ceilings like a flamethrower, causing smoke to fill the hallway to an exit. He recalled hearing a shout of "Fire" and seeing people panic toward the main door while bouncers fought the blaze with extinguishers. Feery reported that exit doors three, four, five and six were chained and locked, as told by former doorman Noel Quigley, and that furniture was stacked against some doors. He described the front door being shut, the hall filling with fumes, and people collapsing. When the doors finally opened, a surge of smoke was sucked out, and Feery was pushed out into the street, where he saw others with burnt clothing and cars passing by. The inquest heard additional witness statements describing the fire's spread and the chaos inside the club. The hearing continues tomorrow at the Rotunda Hospital.
At the Central Criminal Court, defence counsel has urged a jury to acquit Nicola Brennan of murdering Juris Viktorovs in Ballyconnell, County Wicklow, on 10 February 2022. Colman Cody SC submitted that the evidence against his client does not establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt and that she had no motive to kill the deceased. He highlighted inconsistencies in the prosecution's main witness, noting that Brenda Kane made no mention of seeing Ms Brennan stab Mr Viktorovs during three initial interviews, only describing this during a later cognitive interview. Mr Cody also contended that forensic evidence, including blood on Ms Brennan's clothing, could be explained by her assisting in moving the body. He submitted that the level of intoxication present, together with the chaos of the circumstances, meant the jury could not be satisfied that Ms Brennan possessed the necessary intent for murder. Mr Justice Paul McDermott will continue his charge to the jury. Ms Brennan, aged 33, has pleaded not guilty to murder.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 59‑year‑old former teacher faces one count of attempted anal rape and eight counts of sexual assault involving six complainants aged 17 to 24 between March 1991 and November 1997. A friend of the accused, who worked on school musical productions in the 1990s, testified that she was present at a dinner in 1997 with the accused and a student, after which the three returned to the accused's apartment. She claimed the accused told her he had "made a pass" at the student, who had left the house. The witness also disclosed a brief sexual relationship with a 17‑year‑old student in 1995, which the accused reportedly found displeasing. The accused's employment as a teacher at the school from 1987 to 1997 and his role as musical director were confirmed by the school principal. The case is proceeding before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury. The unnamed 17-year-old pleaded not guilty.
During a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 12 December 2023, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 55, explained that he had engaged in "off‑the‑book" loan arrangements with bankers, including former Irish Nationwide chief Michael Fingleton. Lynn said he met Fingleton in 2006 to sign a "memo of understanding" that would give Fingleton a stake in the third stage of Lynn's Portuguese apartment development, Cabanas 3. He claimed the memo was drafted by an English lawyer and that other bankers received discounts on apartment purchases, naming Ciaran Farrell of Permanent TSB as one who allegedly benefited from an "artificial deposit" on a Portuguese apartment. Lynn said the off‑book documents were mainly emails sent to bankers' addresses linked to his property companies, Kendar Holdings and Kendar Global. He denied that any other banker agreed to a stake in a development and said the Portuguese project never proceeded after 2007. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
The inquest heard that Illingsworth and Company Limited supplied Stateroom carpet tiles used on the Stardust nightclub walls, but the company never advertised or recommended them for wall use. The tiles were sold as a "job lot" because they were being discontinued, with the price reduced from £1.28 to 75p. Mr Graham Whitehead, the company secretary, confirmed that the tiles were intended for floor use and that the company had no fire certificate authority. He stated that the tiles were not suitable for walls and that any display of them on walls was purely for show. The tribunal also noted that the tiles were Class 4 in flammability tests, not Class 1 as required, and were a major contributor to the fire's spread. The inquest continues tomorrow.
The Central Criminal Court heard closing arguments on Tuesday in the trial of a woman accused of fatally stabbing her housemate in Ballyconnell, County Cavan, in February 2022. Nicola Brennan, aged 33, denies murdering Juris Viktorovs during an incident at a shared residence. The defence argued that the sole eyewitness to the alleged stabbing gave inconsistent accounts across multiple garda interviews and court testimony, and therefore cannot be relied upon to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Prosecution counsel countered that independent evidence supports the eyewitness version and highlighted contradictory statements made by the accused in emergency calls and police interviews as indicative of culpability. The jury of twelve was instructed to consider the effect of alcohol intoxication on the accused's state of mind. Closing arguments continue. Nicola Brennan pleaded not guilty.
Michael Lynn, a former solicitor from County Wicklow, has begun giving evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in his trial on charges relating to approximately €27 million in alleged theft from seven financial institutions. Mr Lynn, aged 55, outlined his professional background to the jury, describing his career path from qualification in 1994 through to establishing his own practice in 1997, which eventually expanded to 15 staff members. He also detailed his involvement in property investment and development, including projects in Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim, and Portugal. The prosecution alleges Mr Lynn obtained multiple mortgages on identical properties without the knowledge of participating banks. Mr Lynn has pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of theft occurring between October 2006 and April 2007. The trial, before Judge Martin Nolan and jury, continues with Mr Lynn's evidence ongoing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 9 December 2023, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 55, faced 21 counts of theft involving about €27 million from seven banks between October 2006 and April 2007. Retired Inspector Patrick Linehan, who led the investigation, explained that Gardaí had arranged interviews with Lynn in 2011, first in Portugal and later in London, but the meetings were cancelled because Lynn's solicitors were not all available. Lynn had moved to Brazil before the October 2011 interview, a fact Gardaí only learned after the interview was postponed. Linehan noted that Gardaí had monitored Lynn's movements via Interpol and had no extradition treaty with Brazil. He also said Gardaí had not received a direction from the Director of Public Prosecutions to charge Lynn while he was in Portugal. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
A 48‑year‑old man who claims his teacher tried to rape him during a sleepover gave evidence at the Central Criminal Court, saying he has been "waiting for over 30 years" to appear. He said he had a close friendship with the teacher in transition year and stayed overnight in the teacher's spare room. The complainant described waking to the teacher's head on his crotch and receiving a blowjob. He explained that he suppressed the memory, later opening it and seeking therapy. He told the jury he had not reported the incident to Gardaí until recently, after contacting the Garda Confidential Line. The accused faces one count of attempted anal rape and one count of sexual assault relating to this complainant, and has pleaded not guilty. The trial continues before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury.
A garda on duty during the Stardust fire described the event as unprecedented, stating that the scale of the situation was brought home to him when a colleague told him 'whatever you can get' in terms of ambulances. Former garda sergeant Thomas Vennard testified that the incident was something they had never experienced before. The inquest also heard that Stardust manager Eamon Butterly and bar manager Brian Peel remained on site after the fire was extinguished. Garda Sergeant Bernard McMahon, who was tasked with preserving the scene, stated that he saw Butterly and Peel in the foyer of the Silver Swan and expressed his unhappiness with people being on the premises. McMahon also mentioned that he had previously observed fire exit doors locked with chains, a practice he understood was in place to keep 'gougers' out.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, 55‑year‑old Michael Lynn stands trial for 21 counts of theft, accused of siphoning roughly €27 million from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. Lynn maintains that the mortgages he secured on the same properties were "undertaking‑only" mortgages, not first legal charges, and that banks were unaware of overlapping financing. Suzanne Bainton, a practising solicitor and member of the Law Society's conveyancing committee, testified that she has never encountered a solicitor's undertaking‑only mortgage where a bank could claim against a solicitor's professional indemnity insurance. She explained that such undertakings are intended to reduce lending costs and rely on implicit trust in solicitors, noting that insurance coverage for solicitor fraud does not exist. Bainton also clarified that the undertaking is not meant for commercial lending, though banks may accept it. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
During a trial on 7 December 2023, a 48‑year‑old complainant testified that a teacher he had trusted and befriended attempted to rape him during a sleep‑over at the teacher's home. The teacher, in his 30s at the time, was accused of one count of attempted anal rape and one count of sexual assault relating to this complainant. The witness described how the teacher invited him into the bedroom, where the teacher allegedly performed a forced oral act and then tried to penetrate his anus while the complainant was asleep. The complainant said he was terrified, did not consent, and tried to lie on his stomach to stop the assault. He could not recall the duration of the incident. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Alexander Owens, continues with the jury hearing the evidence. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
An inquest jury heard harrowing accounts from former firefighters who described finding bodies in the Stardust nightclub so badly burnt they could not determine their gender, with some corpses discovered in pieces within the 'completely gutted' building. Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane acknowledged these were 'difficult details' for the families of the 48 victims of the 1981 fire. Noel Keegan testified about finding multiple bodies in the toilets, some still on fire, and described one body with exposed intestines. John Lehan noted the presence of 16 bodies near exit doors and suggested the fire spread rapidly. Garda Matthew Quinn described the severe burns on victims, with some having burst blisters. Other firefighters, including Frank Matthews and James Rowan, recounted finding unrecognisable bodies, some in pieces, and described the extensive damage to the building. The inquest continues tomorrow.
An ACC Bank fraud officer has given evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the ongoing theft trial of Michael Lynn, a former solicitor. Mr Lynn, aged 55 and resident in County Wicklow, faces 21 counts of theft relating to alleged offences between October 2006 and April 2007, with a total value of approximately €27 million across seven financial institutions. The prosecution alleges Mr Lynn obtained multiple mortgages on identical properties without the lenders' knowledge. The witness confirmed that a €3.7 million loan provided by ACC to Mr Lynn in 2007 for the purchase of Glenlion House in Howth was classified as a private residential mortgage and not a commercial facility. He stated the bank would not have advanced funds had it been aware that the Irish Nationwide Building Society and Bank of Scotland Ireland had simultaneously provided loans totalling over €8 million for the same property. The trial, before Judge Martin Nolan, continues. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
In a trial in Dublin, a 59‑year‑old man accused of sexually assaulting a student in 1995 pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual assault. The fifth complainant, now 47, testified that he was 18 when the alleged assault occurred in a pub toilet. He described the accused as masturbating into his hand, then pinning him against a wall and possibly kissing his neck or cheek. The complainant said he told a friend that night about the incident, after drinking whiskey with two other teenagers. He added that he had never met the accused again and that he had not reported the assault to Gardaí at the time, citing embarrassment and a sense of being in the wrong place. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury.
During the 2023 inquest into the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire, retired Dublin Fire Brigade senior firefighter William McQuaid described the blaze as an "accelerated fire" that spread rapidly due to an unknown combustible material in the building. He recounted receiving a call that a major accident plan was in force and that the entire state's resources were mobilised. McQuaid reported that the roof collapsed and the fire's temperature was unusually high, causing the fire to spread faster than normal. He supported the view that the fire's speed made it impossible for hoses to be laid effectively. McQuaid also noted that the fire brigade's assessment of a fire's extent is based on experience and visual judgement upon arrival. The inquest heard additional testimony from former firefighters and ambulance staff, but the focus remained on the fire's rapid spread and the lack of prior similar incidents. The hearing continues tomorrow at the Rotunda Hospital.
The Workplace Relations Commission has awarded Milka Alves-Da Rocha €13,000 in a trial against her former employer, O'Meara Aspect Design Limited. The adjudicator upheld complaints under the Unfair Dismissals Act, the Minimum Notice and Terms Employment Act, and the Payment of Wages Act, while rejecting a fourth complaint brought under equality legislation. Ms Alves-Da Rocha alleged she was dismissed after a "bizarre" investigation meeting where she was insinuated to be connected to a potential €100,000 liability to Revenue, threatening the company's financial viability. The adjudicator found the worker had no knowledge of these speculative questions and that the dismissal process breached fair procedures, describing the disciplinary hearing as a "star chamber" process. The company determined she committed gross misconduct for failing to attend a later hearing, a decision the adjudicator criticized as an attempt to ambush her with unpublished information. The tribunal awarded €10,500 for losses from the unfair dismissal and €731 for one week's notice pay. Additionally, an order was made for €1,000 in unlawful wage deductions related to sponsorship costs. The adjudicator noted the equality complaint was lodged under the wrong legislation but found no prima facie breach, stating the incident should have been processed under the company's dignity at work policy.
During the Stardust inquest, a fireman recounted finding two young victims whose bodies were "fused together" with their arms around each other, suggesting they were trying to comfort one another before dying. He described the chaotic rescue, noting that the operation was largely a "free for all" focused on getting people out. He reported discovering a pile of bodies in a room behind the stage, believing the top three or four were still alive when he assisted them out, and that these were the last people rescued alive that night. He also found a torso behind exit five and brought it to an ambulance. The testimony highlighted the urgency, the difficulty of removing bodies from the burning building, and the lack of formal communication, with crews relying on word of mouth. The account was given in the context of the 1981 fire that claimed 48 lives.
During the trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former solicitor and property developer Michael Lynn (55) pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of theft, accused of stealing about €27 million from seven banks between October 2006 and April 2007. The prosecution argued that Lynn secured multiple mortgages on the same properties, with banks unaware that other institutions were also financing the same assets. John Kinsella, a partner at Kinsella Mitchell & Associates and former auditor for Lynn's company Kendar Holdings Limited, was cross‑examined. Kinsella admitted that Lynn had a favourable relationship with banks and was never denied a loan. He also confirmed that Lynn's financial affairs were "an open book" and that he had access to Lynn's accounts. The trial continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, truck driver Zahir Boudahane (50) pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious injury to 32‑year‑old William Burke on O'Connell Bridge on 10 June 2022. Boudahane, unfamiliar with the city centre, was driving in the bus lane on Bachelor's Walk when he broke a red light and made an illegal right‑hand turn onto O'Connell Bridge. Burke, crossing from the Eden Quay direction, was struck head‑on. He was dragged under the front of the vehicle, with the front wheel passing over his left leg and the rear wheel over his foot. Burke later reported seeing bones exposed and blood everywhere; Garda Cathal Keon described the injury as effectively "de‑gloved." Burke was treated at Mater Hospital, underwent urgent surgery, and ultimately had a below‑knee amputation. He now uses a wheelchair. Boudahane's dashcam showed a speed of 17 km/h; breath tests found no drugs or alcohol.
In a trial held on 4 December 2023, a 59‑year‑old accused man pleaded not guilty to a single count of sexual assault. The complainant, who was not named for legal reasons, testified that he had been awakened by the accused performing oral sex on him after drinking eight or nine pints with the teacher. He said he did not block out the incident but kept it at the back of his mind. The defence counsel, Michael O'Higgins SC, questioned whether the accused had left a class unattended and whether the complainant had been intoxicated during the alleged events. The complainant confirmed he had been drunk and that he had not remembered a later alleged sexual encounter in Kilkenny. The case remains before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury.
During a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, former Michael Lynn solicitor Fiona McAleenan denied any knowledge of Mr Lynn's bank borrowings and claimed she had never been a partner in the practice. Mr Lynn, aged 55, faces 21 theft counts for allegedly stealing about €27 million from seven banks between October 2006 and April 2007. McAleenan said she had only been appointed partner in October 2006 and that she had never been a partner before or after leaving the firm. She denied involvement in any bank transfers or money movements, stating she was unaware of the lending or the amounts. The prosecution's case alleges Mr Lynn secured multiple mortgages on the same properties while banks were unaware of other lenders. McAleenan's testimony concluded after the judge thanked her for her attendance, and the trial continues before Judge Nolan and a jury. Fiona McAleenan pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 45‑year‑old complainant testified that he had known a now‑59‑year‑old teacher, who is unnamed for legal reasons, from his school. The complainant said they had socialised, often drinking alcohol, and that on one occasion in late 1995 they drank eight or nine pints together. He then went to the teacher's house, where both slept in boxer shorts and t‑shirts. The next morning the complainant woke to find his boxer shorts pulled down and the teacher performing oral sex on him. He described shock and delirium, and that he later performed oral sex on the teacher after being told "It's your turn now." The complainant denied giving consent and said the act was non‑consensual. He also admitted to smoking cannabis and other drugs that night. He had not reported the incident until a statement to the Gardaí in April 2019, after therapy. The unnamed 59-year-old pleaded not guilty.
The first emergency responder, Dermot Dowdall, described arriving at the Stardust nightclub at about 1.49 am, after a call from John Fitzsimons warned of a potential loss of up to 200 people. He found a circle of victims huddled together on the dancefloor, their heads down, and noted the fire had already been intense, venting through the roof and largely extinguished by the time he and a colleague reached the scene. Dowdall and his team focused on rescuing those in the toilets, transporting eight severely burned girls and a boy to St James Hospital. He later assisted in searching for bodies, describing the scene as gruesome and noting that many victims were already deceased when he arrived. The fire's rapid spread and high heat were highlighted as key factors in the tragedy.
In a trial before Mr Justice Alexander Owens, a 59‑year‑old complainant described feeling helpless and unable to react when he woke to find the accused man, who is unnamed for legal reasons, sexually assaulting him. The complainant said he had gone to a friend's house in early 1994 for a drink, where he unexpectedly met the accused. He later went to bed in a double bed with the accused, both in boxer shorts, and slept on the right side of the bed. He claimed he woke to his face and neck being licked, with the accused's hard penis against his bottom and a foot grappling his boxer shorts. He said the accused was gyrating against him. The complainant also stated he did not confront the accused the next morning and that he was in a state of semi‑freeze, looking down on himself and unable to react. The unnamed 59-year-old pleaded not guilty.
During the inquest into the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire, a patron named Stephen Keogh testified that he saw about six male youths scuffling near the area where the blaze began. He described a small flame appearing a few minutes later, followed by the ceiling engulfing in flames. Keogh recounted seeing a girl running toward exit two in a ball of flame, and his attempt to open an exit door that failed. He later heard a youth, described as about 16‑17 years old, 5‑3 inches tall, well‑built with reddish blond hair, say, "It's alright, I know who started it." Keogh also noted that the youths and two others moved toward the main entrance searching for the person who had started the fire. The testimony was read into the record at the Dublin District Coroner's Court as part of the inquest into the fatal blaze that killed 48 people.
In a trial for sexual assault, a 54‑year‑old complainant, the third to give evidence, explained that he did not report the alleged incident to the Gardaí until 2021, citing a lack of courage and a belief that the matter might not warrant police involvement. He recounted that in early 1994 he and the accused, a 59‑year‑old man, were in a double bed after a night of drinking. While asleep, the complainant says the accused licked his face and neck, pressed a hard penis against his lower body, and performed repetitive thrusting. The complainant described feeling frozen and later giving the accused physical resistance. He said the incident was humiliating and that he chose to keep it to himself until making a formal statement in 2021. The case is proceeding before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury. The unnamed 59-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A witness at the Central Criminal Court murder trial testified that the accused woman told him the death of Juris Viktorovs resulted from a heart attack rather than stabbing. Paul Troy recounted that Nicola Brennan, aged 33, of no fixed abode, characterised the fatal wound as shallow when he questioned her about the incident. Brennan has pleaded not guilty to murdering Viktorovs, a 36-year-old Latvian national, at Shillelagh, Ballyconnell, County Cavan, on 10 February 2022. During cross-examination, the defence challenged Troy's account of the conversation, with counsel suggesting the accused did not make the statements attributed to her. Troy maintained that his statement to gardaí at the time was truthful. Another witness, Macislavs Obruzcovs, described finding Viktorovs on the floor with a small mark on his chest and no visible bleeding. The trial before Mr Justice Paul McDermott continues.
Marie Hogan, a survivor of the Stardust nightclub fire, testified at an inquest about the moment she realised her husband Eugene 'Hughie' Hogan (24) was dead. She described the fire's rapid spread, the smell of burning, and the collapse of the roof where they had been seated. Hogan recounted being pushed through blocked exits, the smoke filling the room, and a young man pulling her out while others were trapped. She noted that the roof collapsed over the spot where Hughie had been, confirming his death. Hogan also mentioned finding Eugene's brother Bernard in hospital with burns. The inquest heard additional accounts from Doreen Desmond and Joan Melia, detailing the fire's speed, the blocked exits, and the chaotic escape. The hearing continues tomorrow at the Rotunda Hospital.
During the Stardust inquest, David Browne, a 19‑year‑old DJ, recounted being trapped in the club's toilets with his girlfriend when a wall suddenly cracked open, revealing a corridor and flames. He described hearing "things crashing on top of us" as the fire closed in, and the pair hearing water from outside, likely fire‑men's hoses. They struggled through the corridor, saw light, heard ambulances, and collapsed at exit three, which was open. They were pulled over a wall onto grass, taken in a blue van, and brought to Mater Hospital. Browne's testimony, read into the record, details the sequence of events from the fire's onset to their escape and medical treatment. The inquest also heard other survivors' accounts of locked exits, falling ceiling tiles, and the chaotic escape from the blaze. The proceedings continue tomorrow.
In a trial before Mr Justice Alexander Owens, a 59‑year‑old man accused of sexually assaulting six young men pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault. A second complainant, who turned 18 in 1991 and attended college in Dublin, testified that he was asleep in a shared house when the accused performed oral sex on him. The complainant said he woke to the act, froze for a few seconds, and did not react or speak, fearing a scene. He denied consenting, stating he was asleep. The accused's defence argued the complainant's body language indicated consent, but the complainant rejected this claim. The complainant also stated he had no memory of the next day and never returned to the house. The trial continues with the jury hearing the case.
James Kilroy, 50, will face a third trial for the alleged murder of his wife, Valerie French Kilroy, 41, at the Central Criminal Court. Mr Justice Paul McDermott set the new trial date for May 29, 2024, following the collapse of the second trial last week. The previous proceedings, which had heard two weeks of evidence, were halted because an expert witness was unable to complete their testimony. The defence is currently seeking a replacement for that witness. Mr Kilroy had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the killing of Ms French Kilroy at their rural home in Kilbree Lower, Westport, Co Mayo, between June 13 and June 14, 2019. The jury in the collapsed trial heard evidence that Ms French Kilroy died from strangulation with a ligature, blunt force trauma to the head, and a stab wound to the neck. As the matter is at the trial stage and has been adjourned for a future date, it has not been concluded or finalised. No sentence or finding has been recorded for this procedural stage.
During the Stardust inquest, Patricia O'Connor recounted how her friend Caroline Carey, who was pregnant, was initially not allowed to attend the club but was permitted after her mother's appeal, on condition she return home after the dance competition. O'Connor described the chaos as the lights went out, flames and smoke engulfed the club, and she struggled to escape, sustaining third‑degree burns over 52% of her body. She recalled hearing frantic cries for help, the doors being locked and chained, and the eventual opening from the outside. Witnesses testified to the thick smoke, the collapse of the ceiling, and the desperate attempts to rescue trapped patrons. The testimony highlighted the terrifying conditions and the tragic loss of 48 young lives on Valentine's Day 1981.
A witness at the Central Criminal Court has acknowledged a significant shift in her account of events surrounding the death of Juris Viktorovs in Ballyconnell, County Cavan on February 10, 2022. The woman told the court she initially omitted key details from three statements to gardaí but later described seeing the accused stab the deceased. Under cross-examination, she conceded this represented a "dramatic change" in her recollection, attributing the earlier omissions to difficulty processing the traumatic events and her grief. The witness denied allegations that she had been violent towards the deceased during previous disputes. Nicola Brennan, aged 33 and of no fixed abode, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of her housemate, a 36-year-old Latvian national. The trial before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury continues.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, counsel for a 59‑year‑old man accused of attempted rape and eight sexual assaults between 1991 and 1997 argued that no assault occurred against the first complainant, who was 18 in November 1997. The complainant testified that he slept in the accused's bed and that the accused's mouth made contact with his penis. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC cross‑examined the witness, asserting that any wrongdoing was denied by the accused and that if anything happened it was "something someone was doing while asleep." The complainant disputed this, stating he had run home after the incident and later told his mother he had been raped, though he now acknowledges that his memory of the event was altered over time. The case remains before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury. The unnamed 59-year-old pleaded not guilty.
During the trial of former Michael Lynn solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 55, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Ms Fiona McAleenan repeatedly denied any involvement in conveyancing within the firm. She was called to the stand for a third day and cross‑examined by defence counsel Paul Comiskey O'Keeffe BL. The prosecution presented internal emails and office documents suggesting Ms McAleenan received weekly conveyancing reports, which she denied remembering. She claimed she had no staff and that Mr Lynn was the principal solicitor, stating she performed her work properly and that no issues were raised with her litigation files. Defence counsel highlighted a memo from Mr Lynn in March 2007 requesting her to manage all files and a May 2007 email indicating she would take control of litigation matters. Ms McAleenan maintained she was not involved in conveyancing, offering to call witnesses who could confirm this. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, continues with the jury hearing the evidence. Fiona McAleenan pleaded not guilty.
In a trial held on 24 November 2023, Michael Lynn, aged 55, faced 21 counts of theft for allegedly stealing about €27 million from seven banks between October 2006 and April 2007. The prosecution argued that Lynn secured multiple mortgages on the same properties without banks knowing other institutions were financing them, and that he stole €2.7 million from Bank of Ireland in December 2006. Witness Arthur King, a Bank of Ireland employee, was cross‑examined about internal emails from March 2004 in which a head‑office official suggested Lynn should be referred to the Law Society. Lynn denied knowledge of the emails. The trial also examined testimony from former solicitor Fiona McAleenan, who resigned in 2007 and later sought advice from the Law Society after receiving letters from banks about shared property charges. The case continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
A woman has testified at the Central Criminal Court describing how her partner was fatally stabbed in their bedroom at Shillelagh, Ballyconnell, County Wicklow, on February 10, 2022. Nicola Brennan, aged 33, of no fixed abode, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Juris Viktorovs, aged 36, a Latvian national. The witness, Brenda Kane, told the jury she observed Ms Brennan enter the bedroom and stab Mr Viktorovs while he sat on the side of the bed. She said Mr Viktorovs attempted to rise but collapsed at the end of the bed. Emergency services were contacted immediately. The prosecution alleges forensic evidence supports their case, including DNA of the deceased found on the knife discovered in a mattress and blood of the deceased on clothing seized from Ms Brennan. The trial before Mr Justice Paul McDermott continues and is expected to last approximately three weeks.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Gerry Daly, 57, was found not guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of Jacqueline Griffin, 39, in a fatal M50 collision on 24 January 2019. The jury, after six hours and fifty minutes of deliberation, accepted the defence's argument that Daly's type‑one diabetes had severely impaired his judgment, preventing a conscious decision to drive. Expert testimony from a consultant endocrinologist who had supervised Daly for over a decade confirmed that his blood glucose was well below normal, likely causing confusion and a loss of consciousness. Evidence indicated Daly's vehicle was travelling between 138 and 151 km/h at the time of the crash, which involved a high‑speed collision with a truck and a subsequent roll‑over of Griffin's car, resulting in catastrophic head injuries and her instant death.
A man appeared at the doorway of Bray Boxing Club in County Donegal on the morning of 5 June 2018, dressed in high-visibility clothing and a balaclava, armed with a firearm. During a strength and conditioning class, he discharged multiple shots into the gym. Bobby Messett, a 50-year-old father of three, was fatally wounded. Boxing coach Pete Taylor was also shot but survived his injuries, which included a bullet wound to his chest and bicep. Witnesses described the gunman scanning the room between shots and firing in a sweeping motion across the gym. Several class participants, including a 16-year-old student and other regular attendees, were present during the incident. Taylor was taken to hospital for surgery and required extended medical recovery. The case has proceeded through the Central Criminal Court, with Gerard Cervi facing trial in connection with the shooting. The incident left multiple witnesses traumatised and the local boxing community devastated by Messett's death.
A 59‑year‑old man, who cannot be named, pleaded not guilty to one count of attempted anal rape and eight counts of sexual assault, alleged to have occurred between March 1991 and November 1997 in County Dublin. He testified that in November 1997 he stayed at his teacher's home, was told to sleep on the bedroom floor, and later woke to find the teacher touching him. He described feeling "like an out‑of‑body experience" and freezing, then attempting to flee and physically confronting the teacher. He claimed he had not consented. He reported the incident to his mother, who contacted the school principal, who later asked him to write a statement. He did not give a police statement until 2019, saying he was not mature enough earlier. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury, expected to last about four weeks.
During the multi‑million euro theft trial of Michael Lynn, a solicitor who had worked in his practice testified that Ms Fiona McAleenan was never a partner in the firm. McAleenan denied that another legal executive had been authorised to sign her name and claimed she had not consented to such action. She said she had been involved in negotiations about becoming a partner but was ultimately advised not to proceed. McAleenan also stated that she had not signed the solicitor's letters of undertaking that were presented as her work, and that any signatures on those documents were made by former executive Liz Doyle. She maintained that she had not sent an email to a bank manager claiming partnership status and suggested that someone else may have used her account. The prosecution alleges that Lynn obtained multiple mortgages on the same properties, with several banks unaware of the other institutions' financing. Fiona McAleenan pleaded not guilty.
The inquest into the 1981 Stardust fire, held at the Rotunda Hospital, was adjourned early because some attendees may have witnessed a knife attack on three children and a woman that afternoon. Dr Myra Cullinane told the jury that a "tragic event" had occurred near the hospital grounds and a major Garda investigation was ongoing, so it was not appropriate to proceed. The inquest had been scheduled to continue, but was postponed until 1 pm the next day. The adjournment was made to protect witnesses who might have seen the incident. The hearing will resume tomorrow in the Pillar Room of the Rotunda Hospital. The article does not report any further developments or outcomes of the inquest.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Gerard Cervi, 36, has reached the jury deliberation stage. Cervi, from Dublin 3, pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Robert 'Bobby' Messett and the alleged attempted murders of Pete Taylor and Ian Britton at Bray Boxing Club on June 5, 2018. The prosecution alleged that Cervi was the gunman who fired nine shots, citing CCTV footage of his movements and his DNA and fingerprints found in a Volkswagen Caddy van allegedly used in the attack. Defence counsel argued that a garda's retracted statements indicated investigative irregularities and asserted that there was no evidence linking Cervi to the shooting. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor charged the jury last Friday, instructing them to consider each count separately and reach unanimous verdicts. The jury, comprising six men and six women, began deliberations on Wednesday afternoon. After spending five hours and 51 minutes in discussion, the judge adjourned the proceedings for the evening. The jury was instructed to resume deliberations at the Central Criminal Court at 10.30am the following day. They were reminded not to discuss the case, conduct online research, or engage with social media regarding the trial. The matter remains ongoing as the jury continues to consider their verdicts.
During the multi‑million euro trial of Michael Lynn, former INBS senior manager Brian Fitzgibbon testified that he had never met or spoken to Lynn in any capacity, contradicting Lynn's earlier claim of repeated meetings. Fitzgibbon, who had the discretion to approve loan facilities when chief executive Michael Fingleton was unavailable, denied approving Lynn's €4.1 million mortgage for the Glenlion property in Howth. He said the loan was ultimately presented to Fingleton, who signed minimal documentation. Lynn, aged 55, faces 21 counts of theft for €27 million stolen from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, continues with the jury hearing evidence from INBS, Danske Bank, Ulster Bank, Rabobank and others regarding Lynn's alleged fraudulent loans. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.