At the Central Criminal Court, a jury has been presented with a bloodied and severely bent knife in connection with the death of Valerie French Kilroy at her rural home near Westport, County Mayo, in June 2019. Park Kilroy, aged fifty, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the charge of murder. The prosecution has indicated that psychiatric evidence will feature prominently in proceedings. The court heard that following the discovery of the deceased's body in a camper van on the property at Kilbree Lower, the accused identified the knife as the instrument he had used. A post-mortem examination determined the cause of death to be ligature strangulation, blunt force trauma, and a stab wound to the neck. The defence's insanity plea requires the jury to consider whether the accused was suffering from a mental disorder at the time that prevented him from understanding the nature or wrongfulness of his actions. The trial, overseen by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, is expected to continue for approximately three weeks.
The jury, consisting of eight men and four women, is set to deliberate for a third day on Friday in the trial of Martin Hayes, a grave digger accused of murdering his partner, Amadea McDermott, at her home in Coolock on or about 20 July 2017. Hayes, aged 34, has pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleges that Hayes told emergency services that McDermott had self‑harmed, but evidence from a former partner and a garda witness suggests he may have forced her to stab herself. Defence counsel Sean Gillane SC argued that the narrative of self‑harm was fabricated and that the post‑mortem indicated the single stab wound could be consistent with self‑harm. Ronan Munro SC noted no DNA from Hayes on the knife. The jury can return a verdict of guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. Judge Paul McDermott reminded the jurors that they must be unanimous.
In the Central Criminal Court, Judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt addressed a jury hearing the trial of Jozef Puska, who denies murdering 23‑year‑old school teacher Ashling Murphy. The judge reiterated the legal principles and guided the jury through the evidence presented, including an alleged confession by Puska, DNA found under Murphy's fingernails, interview evidence from Gardaí after his arrest, and eye‑witness testimony at the scene. Puska, 33, has pleaded not guilty to the murder that occurred on 12 January 2022 in Cappincur, Tullamore. The defence has questioned the reliability of Puska's alleged confession, recorded on 14 January when he was in St James's Hospital. The judge noted that while the words spoken were recorded, the defence raised concerns about their truth, accuracy and reliability, citing an expert who suggested Puska may have been confused or experiencing "subtle delirium" due to surgery, pain relief medication, the unfamiliar hospital environment and a language barrier.
The Workplace Relations Commission adjourned the trial of Abdulah Al Jaber's complaint against Dawn Meats Ltd to a future date, yet to be confirmed, when the company's final witness, a training officer, is expected to give evidence and closing submissions will be heard. Adjudicator Gaye Cunningham reversed a prior decision to hold the hearing in private, admitting the press after reviewing correspondence regarding protected disclosures. Al Jaber, appearing through an Arabic interpreter, alleged that hygiene procedures were neglected at the plant in winter 2020 due to pandemic pressures, claiming burgers were picked up from the floor and put back on the line. He also claimed a back injury from carrying heavy meat containers in subzero conditions. Dawn Meats denied these allegations as false and defamatory, with former health and safety manager Richie Phelan testifying that fallen product was never returned to the line. The company argued the protected disclosure was an attempt to embarrass them, while Al Jaber's solicitor argued the privacy decision was a volte-face. Ms Cunningham stated her focus remained on whether Al Jaber was discriminatorily dismissed under the Employment Equality Act 1998, noting she would not compel the CEO to attend. The matter was adjourned, not concluded.
During a multi‑million euro theft trial, former Ulster Bank manager Stephen McCarthy testified that there was no covert or side arrangement between the bank and former solicitor Michael Lynn. McCarthy, who was involved in a €3.65 million loan application for Lynn's purchase of 11 residential investment properties, described a meeting in September 2006 where Lynn requested an undertaking from the bank's solicitor firm. McCarthy said the bank complied only after a different partner would provide the undertaking. He denied any knowledge of hidden information or regulatory inquiries and stated he was unaware of any "flexible lending" or dual approach. McCarthy also clarified that the bank's interest was not in Lynn's €55 million European development plan, which was unrelated to the loan for the apartments. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, continues with a jury. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury of eight men and four women is in its second day of deliberations over the murder trial of Martin Hayes, 34, accused of killing his partner Amadea McDermott, 27, at her home in Coolock on or about 20 July 2017. The jury has spent 2 hours 35 minutes on the verdict so far and will return tomorrow at 10:30 am to continue. Hayes pleaded not guilty. Defence counsel Sean Gillane SC argued that the narrative of self‑harm was fabricated, citing a post‑mortem that the single stab wound could be consistent with self‑harm and that no DNA from Hayes was found on the knife. The prosecution, represented by Mr Hayes' counsel, maintained that the evidence pointed to a fatal injury inflicted by Hayes, describing his contempt for McDermott.
Christina Smyth, whose husband Jimmy Buckley died in the Stardust blaze, described the night of the fire as a "furnace" when she returned to the club after escaping through a fire exit. She last saw Jimmy sitting at their table while she was on the dancefloor, and later tried to find him again but could not. The inquest heard that the couple had attended the club to watch Jimmy's brother Errol win a disco competition, an event that also marked their daughter Julieann's first birthday. Smyth recalled seeing grey and black clouds roll across the ceiling and the frantic attempts to open doors. She testified that she and her brother‑in‑law Albert were pulled toward exit five, and that the doors were closed and people shouted they could not open them.
A jury of seven women and five men has been sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the trial of a man charged with the murder of his wife in County Mayo. James Kilroy, aged 49, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the charge of murdering Valerie French Kilroy at their home in Kilbree Lower, Westport, between 13 and 14 June 2019. Mr Kilroy, a park ranger, faces the single count of murder. Justice Caroline Biggs informed the jury that proceedings are expected to continue for approximately three weeks, with the trial commencing before Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court.
In her closing speech to the jury, Anne-Marie Lawlor SC for the Director of Public Prosecutions described Jozef Puska as an 'inveterate liar' and said that his account of trying to save Ashling Murphy was a 'structure of lies and mistruths' that were 'foul and contemptible in their nature'. She pointed to evidence, including DNA found under Ms Murphy's fingernails and Mr Puska's admission to gardai that he killed her, to argue that the only rational conclusion is that he murdered her. Mr Puska's defence, led by Michael Bowman SC, urged the jury to be cautious in interpreting the evidence and suggested that the alleged confession made by Mr Puska may not be reliable due to medical factors. The trial continues with the jury considering the evidence presented by both sides. Jozef Puska pleaded not guilty.
During the €27m theft trial of solicitor Michael Lynn, a witness, former Dun Laoghaire INBS branch manager Mark Mulcahy, testified that he was unaware of any relationship between Lynn and former INBS boss Michael Fingleton, and that he had never seen them together. Mulcahy said he had not been instructed by Fingleton to handle Lynn's loans differently and that all loans were processed normally. He recalled being introduced to Lynn in the early 2000s as a potential business partner and handling several mortgage applications for Lynn, but denied any knowledge of a private banker arrangement. The prosecution alleges Lynn secured multiple mortgages on the same properties from several banks without the institutions knowing each other. The case is before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial heard on 6 November 2023, a 40‑year‑old man who died after a fatal stabbing was still conscious when Garda Colm McMenamin arrived and was able to point to his alleged attacker. The accused, Andrew 'Andy' Cash of Highrath, Clara, Co Kilkenny, is charged with the murder of John Cash at Hebron Road, Kilkenny City, on 3 May 2022. Cash, 30, is also charged with assault causing harm to his sister, Elizabeth Cash, and with producing a knife during a dispute at about 12.30 pm on the same day. He has pleaded not guilty to all three charges. Garda McMenamin described how he witnessed John Cash lying on the ground, still able to turn and point at Cash, and how Cash was arrested at 12.38 pm after shouting abuse. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, is expected to last two weeks.
In a Central Criminal Court sentencing hearing, the families of Michael Mulvey, a 55‑year‑old victim who died 13 days after being attacked, said the two brothers, Ian (34) and Daniel (43), had shown no remorse. The brothers, from Cabra, Dublin, had denied murder of Mulvey in a 2019 Navan Road attack. A July trial found them not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter (Ian) and of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm (Daniel). The court heard that Ian stepped onto a pedestrian crossing, shouted threats, and struck Mulvey with blows and kicks, while Daniel joined, wrapped his arms around Mulvey's neck, and punched him repeatedly. Witnesses described the assault as violent, with Mulvey sustaining facial fractures, rib fractures, and a hemopneumothorax that contributed to his death. The brothers' prior convictions and lack of remorse were highlighted by the prosecution, and the case was remanded for sentencing on 4 December.
In the trial of Jozef Puska, who denies murdering 23‑year‑old teacher Ashling Murphy, the defence has finished its evidence. Dr Johann Grundlingh, an accident and emergency specialist, testified that Puska's alleged confession may have been unreliable because he was in a post‑operative state, receiving opioid painkillers, and possibly experiencing subtle delirium. He also raised concerns about language barriers and the unfamiliar hospital environment. Dr Grundlingh noted that no formal assessment of Puska's fitness to be interviewed was carried out. Judge Tony Hunt told the jury that they would hear the prosecution's closing speech on Tuesday, followed by the defence and the judge's charge, and that the case would be handed over to the jury on Wednesday afternoon. Puska, aged 33, remains not guilty of the murder of Ms Murphy, which occurred on 12 January 2022 in Tullamore, Co. Offaly. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Hunt and a jury of nine men and three women.
The Workplace Relations Commission ordered Ascot Catering Ltd, operator of Ciao Bella Roma, to pay more than €62,000 to five former staff for multiple labour law breaches. The tribunal found the restaurant had a chronic failure to honour shift breaks and other statutory rights under the Organisation of Working Time Act while it was still trading before its March 2020 closure. The staff – chefs Daniele Vito Antonetti and Ioan Cosmin Maties, kitchen assistant Darius Radu Peicu, barman Antonio Fillipo Santoiemma and bookkeeper Sandra Maties – complained of unfair dismissal, unlawful pay deductions and working‑time breaches. The employer did not appear at the joint hearing. The tribunal awarded each worker compensation ranging from €720 to €7,500, and ordered the company to pay €4,772 in unpaid wages, €9,706 in notice pay and €31,371.80 for breaches of the Act. The total orders against Ascot Catering Ltd amounted to €62,600.
During a multi‑million theft trial, Michael Lynn's defence team argued that the €4.1 million mortgage for Glenlion House in Howth was never a home loan but a development loan, citing a survey that identified potential development sites. Lynn, 55, pleaded not guilty to 21 theft counts involving €27 million stolen from seven financial institutions. Witnesses, including former INBS manager Mark Mulcahy and former National Irish Bank assistant Orla Deignan, testified about Lynn's mortgage applications between 2000 and 2002 and the 2007 application for Glenlion House, which was initially declined but later approved and subsequently written off as unrecoverable debt. Defence counsel highlighted that Lynn had been making repayments until accounts were frozen in October 2007. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, continues before a jury.
In the trial of Martin Hayes, 34, charged with murdering his partner Amadea McDermott, 27, the prosecution argued that Hayes had inflicted the fatal stab wound and that the narrative of self‑harm was fabricated. Prosecutor Sean Gillane SC presented evidence of a single abdominal stab that could be consistent with self‑harm, but claimed the overall evidence pointed to Hayes as the perpetrator. He highlighted the absence of Hayes' DNA on the knife and the lack of any forensic link to the wound. Hayes, who pleaded not guilty, had told emergency services that McDermott had stabbed herself. Defence counsel Ronan Munro SC countered that the post‑mortem and toxicology reports were consistent with self‑harm and that Hayes' presence at the scene was evidence of innocence. The case remains at the jury stage, with no verdict yet reached.
The liquidator of Protim Abrasives Ltd, Kieran Wallace, argues that Irish legislation obliges the State to pay a €6.1 million deficit into the company's insolvent defined‑benefit pension scheme. Wallace, who admitted a preferential claim of €7 million based on actuarial advice, says the figure was reached through professional consultation, not arbitrary calculation. The State, represented by a barrister, contends the claim is untimely, having been made after the company entered liquidation in November 2009, and that the €7 million figure was an "extraordinary" number not scientifically derived. The Workplace Relations Commission has rejected the claim, citing the timing and the lack of a statutory limit on such deficits. Wallace is appealing the decision under the Protection of Employees (Employer's Insolvency) Act 1984, and the tribunal remains open to further legal argument.
In a murder trial in Kilkenny, Andrew 'Andy' Cash, 30, is accused of stabbing his brother‑in‑law, John Cash, 40, to death on 3 May 2022 at Hebron Road. The prosecution alleges that Cash, who shouted "he had it coming for 20 years" and "you have been riding other women," attacked John in broad daylight, causing two stab wounds that penetrated the heart. Cash is also charged with assault causing harm to John's wife, Elizabeth Cash, and with producing a knife during the dispute. He pleaded not guilty to all three charges. The court heard witness testimony of a physical altercation, the discovery of a small steak knife, and that Cash was intoxicated and deemed unfit for interview for six hours after his arrest. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, is expected to last two weeks.
Jozef Puska, aged 33, gave evidence at the Ashling Murphy trial claiming he was a witness to her murder. He testified that he was stabbed three times by the same attacker who killed the 23‑year‑old teacher. Puska described being pushed off his bike, stabbed in the stomach, and later seeing the attacker assault a woman before fleeing. He said he tried to help Murphy, using her shawl to cover injuries, but left after a few moments. Puska admitted lying to Gardaí about being stabbed in Blanchardstown and apologized, citing fear for his family. He denied confessing to murder in St James's Hospital and said he could not recall such admissions. The trial continues with further witnesses to be called. Jozef Puska pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 2 November 2023, 34‑year‑old grave digger Martin Hayes, accused of murdering his 27‑year‑old partner Amadea McDermott, took the stand to deny stabbing her. He claimed the relationship was "toxic" but that he had done everything to save her. Hayes said he had thrown her onto a sofa when she wouldn't let him go to work and that he had no right to hit back if someone hit him. He denied confessing to girlfriend Niamh Higgins that he had stabbed McDermott, calling her a liar. Hayes also denied that McDermott had self‑harmed, stating he had called emergency services three times and held a towel over a wound. The trial heard witnesses describing bruises on McDermott's body and alleged physical abuse. The case remains in progress before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of eight men and four women. Martin Hayes pleaded not guilty.
Michael Lynn, 55, is on trial in Dublin accused of stealing approximately €27 million from seven financial institutions. He has pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of theft alleged to have occurred between October 23, 2006, and April 20, 2007. The prosecution contends that Lynn obtained multiple mortgages on the same properties while banks were unaware of other institutions' finance. Defence counsel Mark Lynam SC suggested that former Irish Nationwide Building Society chairman Michael Fingleton acted as Lynn's "personal banker," facilitating loans through Bank of Scotland Ireland. Witness Tom Brennan, a Bank of Scotland Ireland worker, testified that an offer letter for €3.5 million was issued to Proper T Capital Ltd, a company directed by Lynn and his wife, Brid Murphy. Brennan stated he was unaware of other finance and that the bank obtained first legal charges on nine of ten properties. Retired National Irish Bank worker Nicholas Robert Hamilton denied meeting Lynn or knowing about offshore property use, contradicting defence suggestions. Arthur King, of ICS Building Society, testified that Bank of Ireland issued a €2.74 million cheque to Michael Lynn and Co Solicitors in December 2006. King noted that the bank discovered the first legal charge had not been registered and that letters of undertaking to other institutions could not be fulfilled. The defence suggested banks relied on solicitors' professional indemnity insurance rather than property security. The trial is ongoing.
Jozef Puska, aged 33, took the stand in his own defence at the Ashling Murphy murder trial. He denied any intent to harm the 23‑year‑old teacher, stating he had "no bad intention whatsoever" when he was cycling behind Annemarie Kelly, a witness who claimed Puska was following her. Puska explained that he had left his home in Mucklagh at 11:30 a.m. on a push bike, travelled to Tullamore, and moved around the town, looking for his brother. He described the bike he rode—a black Falcon Storm push bike with a green needle—as the one found near the murder site. Puska also said he would not comment on questions about his DNA found under Murphy's fingernails or his presence at the scene, after being interviewed by Gardaí under the Criminal Justice Act 1984. The prosecution closed its case, and Puska's testimony will continue tomorrow. Jozef Puska pleaded not guilty.
A jury was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the trial of Andrew 'Andy' Cash, 30, of Highrath, Clara, Co Kilkenny. He is accused of murdering his brother‑in‑law, John Cash, 40, on 3 May 2022 at Hebron Road, Kilkenny City. Cash is also charged with assaulting Elizabeth Cash, John's wife, and with producing a knife during a dispute at the same time and place. He pleaded not guilty to all three charges. The trial, set to last two weeks, will begin tomorrow with opening remarks by prosecuting counsel Michael Delaney SC.
During a trial for the murder of school teacher Ashling Murphy, the accused, Jozef Puska, told Gardaí that he had never seen her. He repeated this denial when questioned by detectives six days after the stabbing. Puska, 33, had earlier admitted to the murder in a hospital bed, stating "I did it, I murdered, I am the murderer" and that he had "cut" Murphy. He has pleaded not guilty. Garda detectives interviewed him five times over two days following his arrest on suspicion of the murder. In the current hearing, the prosecution presented an email from a different individual claiming responsibility for the murder, but Gardaí found no link to Puska. The trial proceeds before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of nine men and three women.
Former 2FM DJ Nikki Hayes, aged 44 and known as Eimear Black O'Keeffe, had her sentencing hearing adjourned after a fall that left her with a concussion. She pleaded guilty to possessing €10,000, €2,600 and €2,400 as proceeds of crime in a Permanent TSB account on 5 and 6 November 2020. The €15,000 was withdrawn from a victim's account and deposited into hers, then withdrawn via Revolut and ATMs in Liffey Valley. Gardaí said the money was later blocked and returned, leaving the bank a loss of about €2,000. Hayes had six prior minor traffic convictions and was in debt of €53,000 at the time. She has been diagnosed with bipolar and borderline personality disorder, and her defence argued she was vulnerable and pressured into the transactions. Judge Martina Baxter adjourned the case to 10 November and remanded Hayes on continuing bail.
The Workplace Relations Commission ordered An Garda Siochána to pay €65,000 to Sergeant David Haughney, who claimed disability discrimination after a new superintendent, Adrian Gamble, confined him to station duties and barred him from driving, wearing a uniform, and training. Haughney, who had lost 70% of sight in his left eye in 2015, had been a roads policing sergeant, public order trainer and tactical advisor under three superintendents until 2019. After medical leave for a detached retina, Gamble blocked his return to training and driving, citing a medical report. Haughney was transferred to a traffic office where he was denied training and advisory work, leading him to describe the situation as "sit and rot." The tribunal upheld his claim, noting that Gamble had withdrawn reasonable accommodations previously granted, and awarded the compensation. The tribunal found no well‑founded harassment claim from the 2020 meeting.
In the €27 million theft trial of Michael Lynn, solicitor Fiona McAleenan testified that she did not sign the letter of undertaking containing her signature. McAleenan, who joined Lynn's firm in 2004 as a litigation solicitor, explained that she had been asked to sign documents from conveyancing files but had no involvement beyond signing the letter of undertaking. She recalled that the document was prepared by staff, with Liz Doyle completing the pages before she signed, and that she could not remember signing the Bank of Ireland Mortgages letter. McAleenan confirmed she was never a partner in the practice and that any other lines on the documents were added by someone else. The jury was informed that McAleenan would be recalled for further evidence later in the trial. The case remains before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court trial of grave digger Martin Hayes, a toxicologist testified that Amadea McDermott, aged 27, had a post‑mortem blood concentration of 0.34 micrograms per milliliter of cocaine and an alcohol level roughly three times the drink‑driving limit. The expert explained that cocaine can be taken in various forms and that its effects depend on individual tolerance, noting that combined use with alcohol can produce unpredictable behaviour. Hayes, aged 34, denies murdering McDermott, claiming she stabbed herself and that he had left her after a fight. A woman in a later relationship with Hayes testified that he had helped her stab McDermott, while a Garda witness reported past physical abuse. The trial is set to continue before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury. Martin Hayes pleaded not guilty.
During a multi‑million‑euro theft trial, defence counsel for Michael Lynn presented internal National Irish Bank documents that suggested senior management kept information "off the official record." Lynn, aged 55, is accused of stealing about €27 million from seven banks between October 2006 and April 2007, and has pleaded not guilty to 21 theft counts. The prosecution argues Lynn obtained multiple mortgages on the same properties without banks knowing other institutions were financing them. Defence highlighted a phrase "solicitors undertaking / 4 properties" in a bank document, claiming it supported Lynn's claim that the mortgages were undertaking‑only. A retired bank manager denied knowledge of such mortgages and said he had provided all relevant information. The trial continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
Nathan Kinsella (44) and his partner Jennifer Dunne (38) of Richmond, Blackrock, Co Dublin, are due to go to trial at the Special Criminal Court over alleged money laundering offences. They have been re‑charged with the six original money‑laundering offences under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing) Act 2010. In addition, they face three new counts under the Finance Act 2008 for failing to file tax returns. The charges relate to converting, transferring, handling, acquiring, possessing or using property—specifically funds deposited into an AIB account between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2019—while knowing or recklessly believing the property was the proceeds of criminal conduct. They are also charged with failing to submit full and true capital acquisitions tax returns for the periods ending 31 October 2018, 31 October 2019 and 31 October 2020, with addresses at Tasaggart House, Alpine Heights and Richmond, Newtownpark respectively.
In the Central Criminal Court, a grave digger, Martin Hayes, 34, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his partner, Amadea McDermott, 27, who was found dead at her home in Coolock on 20 July 2017. The jury heard that Hayes claimed Amadea had stabbed herself, but evidence from a woman who later dated Hayes suggested he had helped her insert a knife into her stomach. A social worker, Ciara Lumsden, testified that Hayes told her he had found evidence on Amadea's phone that she was in an incestuous relationship with a relative. Garda emails and screenshots from Amadea's phone were presented, showing text messages in which she accused Hayes of abuse and denied being abused. Witnesses described a history of physical conflict, alcohol use, and bruises on Amadea's body. The trial also covered Hayes' statement to Gardaí, his work as a grave digger, and his relationship with Amadea, including their children and use of drugs.
In the Stardust inquest, witnesses recounted the desperate attempts to escape the February 14, 1981 fire that killed 48 people. A 19‑year‑old survivor, Anthony Byrne, described trying to open exit four, feeling his skin burn off, and eventually being pulled out through exit five by a bouncer. Peter Burke, also 19, recounted smashing a window and steel frames to rescue two girls, noting the fire's rapid spread and the black tar‑like drips from the ceiling. Brian Baitson, 18, testified about failed attempts to open exit four, the chain and padlock that hindered the door, and the chaotic scene with melted plastic droplets falling from the ceiling. Siobhan McConalogue, 16, described seeing the chain and padlock on exit four and later helping a deceased person outside. Catherine Murphy, on the dance floor, recalled her friend's panic and her own fall before being pulled out through exit five. The inquest will resume on November 7.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, Dr Lorna Flanagan presented DNA evidence linking Jozef Puska to Ashling Murphy's murder. Swabs taken from under Murphy's fingernails yielded a Y‑chromosome profile that matched the Y‑STR profile from Puska's blood and swabs collected when he was in custody at Tullamore Garda Station on 18 January. The probability of an unrelated match was estimated at about one in 14,000. Puska, aged 33, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Murphy, who was killed on 12 January 2022 in Cappincur, Tullamore. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with a jury of nine men and three women. The court has not yet reached a verdict.
In a trial held on 26 October 2023, retired National Irish Bank (NIB) business manager Noel McCole testified that the bank discovered other financial institutions had interests in four apartments that solicitor Michael Lynn (55) had purchased with a €1.38 million loan from NIB. McCole, who managed the Blanchardstown branch in the 1990s, explained that Lynn's solicitors had business accounts there, which were later closed. He described the loan application process, noting that Lynn initially proposed an 85 % loan‑to‑value ratio, which was rejected because NIB's guideline was 80 %. Lynn's assistant, Liz Doyle, emailed the bank in December 2006 seeking lending criteria, and an application was submitted in early 2007. NIB issued a facility letter on 13 February 2007, and Lynn signed it on 2 February. The bank drew down €1.38 million electronically on 16 March 2007, with a €5 000 charge deducted. Repayments were made between April and September 2007. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
During the Stardust nightclub inquest, Benny Murphy, who was 18 when the fire on 14 February 1981 killed 48 people, recounted that for 42 years he has been haunted by the image of a girl burning in exit four. He described seeing the roof ignite, lights go out, thick black smoke, and a crowd jammed at the exit door that suddenly opened. Murphy said he could see a girl burning and that no one could help her because the exit door was on fire. He added that the fire caused white tiles to melt and drip onto people and tables, and that he heard screams from inside the toilets as people sought cover. He concluded that the tragedy has left lasting trauma for survivors and families, and he called for counselling support.
During the Central Criminal Court trial of Jozef Puska, an interpreter, Miroslav Sedlacek, testified that Puska was emotional and spoke with a trembling voice after confessing to the murder of Ashling Murphy. Sedlacek described the conversation that took place on the evening of 14 January 2022, two days after Murphy was stabbed near the Grand Canal in Tullamore. Puska admitted to the killing, stating he did not intend it and expressed remorse. He also asked about the safety of his family and whether Murphy's relatives would seek revenge. The interpreter noted that Puska's voice changed during the interview, becoming more disjointed and low‑spirited. The testimony was cross‑examined by defence counsel, who confirmed that the interpreter had described the police interaction as an interview rather than interrogation. The trial continues before a jury. Jozef Puska pleaded not guilty.
Michael Lynn, a 55‑year‑old former solicitor, is accused of using his professional knowledge to deceive several banks and building societies between 2006 and 2007. He allegedly obtained multiple mortgages on the same properties, securing loans from Ulster Bank, Irish Nationwide, ACC Bank, Bank of Scotland Ireland and others, while presenting false documents and solicitor's undertakings. The prosecution claims he stole over €27 million, including €11 million for a single property, Glenlion in Howth, and €1.2 million for a €390,000 property, and received more than €500,000 for a property he did not purchase. He has pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of stealing property. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, is expected to last up to eight weeks.
During the Stardust inquest, Christine Carr, a 16‑year‑old survivor, described the fire as "looking into hell," noting a "rainbow of colours" that mesmerised her as flames spread across the ceiling. She said she was traumatised, having lost her friend Marie Kennedy, one of 48 victims. Carr recounted seeing a wall of fire when a partition rose, then a backdraft that vanished, leaving her in darkness. She described the smoke as hot, like burning tyres, and her struggle to breathe, feeling she would die. She was taken to hospital with her father and Kennedy's father, and a nurse brought Kennedy's jewellery. Carr also recalled panic, voices shouting "Open the door," and being carried out by the crowd. The inquest also heard testimony from Raymond English about opening exit five and the lack of visible locks or chains, conflicting with other witnesses' accounts. The hearing continues tomorrow.
Obasanjo Olajubu, who was dismissed from Wasdell Europe Ltd in July 2022, claimed unfair dismissal under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. He returned to the medicines‑packaging plant in September 2022, after the manager was on holiday, and worked for ten days before being told he had been fired. Olajubu argued that his dismissal was due to a traffic accident and a back injury that caused absences, and that the company had failed to send him a dismissal letter because of an administrative error. The Workplace Relations Commission found that Olajubu had been dismissed verbally in July, had insufficient service to bring an unfair dismissal claim, and that his re‑appearance in September was a deliberate attempt to "slip back under the radar." The tribunal rejected his unfair dismissal claim but ordered the company to pay €450 for notice pay under the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act 1973. The decision was issued on 25 October 2023.
During the Ashling Murphy murder trial, Garda Detective Sergeant Brian Jennings recorded that accused Jozef Puska admitted he committed the murder, saying "I did it, I murdered, I am the murderer" and expressed regret, stating "I feel guilty and I say I regret it." Puska, aged 33, was a person of interest and had been questioned at St James's Hospital after the victim's death on 12 January 2022. He claimed he had been attacked by two men in Blanchardstown, sustaining stomach injuries, and that he had no memory of the murder. Puska also said he had been planning to meet a woman in Dublin and that he had been told he was a suspect. The trial has not yet reached a verdict. Jozef Puska pleaded not guilty.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, Martin Hayes, aged 34, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Amadea McDermott, aged 27, who died on or about 20 July 2017. Hayes testified that he had helped McDermott, who was holding a knife, to insert it into her stomach by placing his hands on hers. He claimed the knife was used by McDermott to defend herself after a heated argument. Hayes also alleged that he had confronted McDermott about messages on her daughter's phone and chased her to retrieve it. Niamh Higgins, a former partner of Hayes, testified that Hayes had admitted to holding the knife on Christmas Eve 2018 and that he had been abusive that night. The jury heard evidence from Garda Jason Flynn and the case continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
Antoinette Keegan, 18 at the time of the Stardust fire, gave evidence at the Dublin District Coroner's Court. She recalled holding her sisters Martina (16) and Mary (19) as the blaze spread, saying, "We said we'll all hold onto each other and then we'll all get out together." Keegan described the fireball falling from the ceiling, the locked exits (Exit 5 and Exit 4), and the panic that ensued. She was pulled out by Thomas Larkin, who later told her family he had saved her. Keegan's testimony included her memory of the fire's intensity, her own burns, and the loss of at least seven close friends or relatives. She also spoke of the guilt she felt after surviving while her sisters perished, her subsequent hospitalisation, and her long‑term post‑traumatic stress. The inquest heard other survivors' accounts, but the focus remained on Keegan's detailed recollection of the night.
The trial of Jozef Puska, 33, who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Ashling Murphy at Cappincur, Tullamore, Co Offaly, on January 12, 2022, continued before Mr Justice Tony Hunt. Prosecution evidence included Fitbit data from Ms Murphy's watch, which recorded erratic or violent movements at 3.21pm before her heart rate ceased. Witness Rostislav Pokuta testified that Puska visited his home around 9pm on the night of the alleged incident, appearing wet, frightened, and covered in scratches. Pokuta stated he initially withheld this information from gardai due to fear for his family's safety amid an "ugly atmosphere" in Tullamore, but later reported the meeting. Puska was driven to Mucklagh and identified on CCTV. Defence counsel suggested Puska had suffered stab wounds to his stomach. Det Gda Ciaran Byrne presented the Fitbit data, while Det Sgt Paul McDonnell described interviewing Puska at St James's Hospital, where Puska alleged he was stabbed in Blanchardstown by two men. The trial is ongoing.
In the trial of Jozef Puska, a 33‑year‑old accused of murdering 23‑year‑old schoolteacher Ashling Murphy, Annemarie Kelly testified that she felt uncomfortable when Puska cycled behind her very slowly and stared at her. She described the stare as intimidating and noted his physical appearance: about five feet seven or eight inches tall, slim build, shaved head, black stubble, dark eyebrows, sallow skin and dark eyes. Kelly said she tried to avoid him by walking fast, jogging past him, and eventually crossing a canal bridge to escape. She also reported contacting gardai after the incident. Puska denies the murder charge. The trial is before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with a jury of nine men and three women. The case remains at the trial stage.
An Irish celebrity, aged 40, was acquitted by a jury of three counts of engaging in sexual acts with a 16‑year‑old girl between August and December 2010. The trial, held at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, lasted eight days and the jury deliberated for just under six hours before returning not‑guilty verdicts on all counts. The accused, who could not be named, appeared anxious and emotional during the proceedings. The complainant, aged 29, testified that she met the man at the Oxegen festival in July 2010, that she initially claimed to be 18 but later revealed she was 16, and that alleged incidents of oral sex and masturbation occurred at the accused's workplace and home. The prosecution's case relied on the complainant's testimony and text‑message evidence, while the defence argued the incidents did not occur before the complainant's 17th birthday. Judge Pauline Codd thanked the jurors for their time and noted the case's historic nature. The unnamed 16-year-old pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court heard that Ashling Murphy died before paramedics could attempt resuscitation after she was found with 12 sharp force wounds to her neck in the undergrowth by the Grand Canal in Tullamore. CCTV footage showed a garda believing he could see the accused, Jozef Puska, moving in the same direction as two women, reaching into his pockets and appearing to have something in his hand before returning it to his pocket. The prosecution presented footage of Ashling's movements from leaving work at Scoil Naomh Colmcille at 2.37 pm to arriving at the Daingean Road car park at 2.50 pm and walking to the towpath. Puska, aged 33, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ms Murphy on 12 January 2022. The trial continues next week before Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court will resume deliberations tomorrow in the trial of a teacher accused of indecently assaulting a male student decades ago. Jacintha McSherry O'Connor, aged 63 and from The Mullins in Donegal Town, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecent assault on a child allegedly occurring between June and September 1985. The alleged victim was 13 years old at the time, while Ms McSherry O'Connor was aged 24 or 25 and working as a student teacher at a Dublin school. The prosecution alleges the assaults took place in the boy's home during private tuition sessions. The court also heard evidence regarding alleged sexual contact between the parties during a family holiday in Spain prior to the period covered by the charges. The jury had deliberated for over seven hours when Judge Elma Sheahan adjourned proceedings for the evening.
In a trial of a 40‑year‑old Irish celebrity accused of defiling a 16‑year‑old girl, Judge Pauline Codd told the jury that the case relied solely on the complainant's word, as no corroborating evidence existed. She warned that, over time, such cases often hinge on "one person's word against another." The judge explained that the jury must assess the truth and reliability of the complainant's testimony. The defendant, aged 27 at the time, pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual acts with a child under 17, alleged to have occurred in Dublin between August and December 2010. The State's case claimed he inserted his penis into the girl's mouth on three occasions, once at his workplace and twice at his home. The jury had deliberated for just over three hours on the eighth day before the judge paused proceedings for the evening, with a return the next day to continue deliberations.
During the 1981 Stardust fire, a survivor, Mark Swaine, testified that he tried to use his hands to extinguish flames on people escaping the nightclub. He described being trapped against a van at exit three, pushing his girlfriend off a wall, and attempting to break windows to allow people to escape. Swaine said he saw people's hands pressed against the windows and that he was trying to put out the fire. He confirmed that a chain on the main door was preventing people from exiting. Other witnesses described a van obstructing the exit and a brass padlock on the door. The inquest heard that the chain and lock were indeed in place, and that Swaine's actions were an attempt to help those on fire. The hearing continues next Tuesday.
The Central Criminal Court heard that Ashling Murphy died from 12 stab wounds to the right side of her neck, with injuries extending from under the right ear to above the collar bone. The wounds severed her voice box, damaged nerves controlling speech and swallowing, and damaged the carotid artery and jugular vein, causing severe blood loss and cardio‑respiratory arrest. Small defensive injuries were noted on her hands, suggesting she tried to protect herself. The pathologist stated no contributory factors and could not exclude strangulation, but no obvious signs were present. The case involves Jozef Puska, 33, who pleaded not guilty to her murder. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with a jury of twelve. The court heard police accounts of the discovery of Murphy's body in a ditch near Cappincur, Tullamore, and the subsequent resuscitation attempts that were ultimately abandoned.