In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Mr Justice Paul McDermott informed a jury that the 74‑year‑old Noel Long's trial could be the oldest murder prosecution in the State, noting the difficulty of proving an old case. The jury, after 35 minutes of deliberation, will return tomorrow. Long, who lives in Maulbawn, Passage West, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of 54‑year‑old Nora Sheehan, who disappeared between 6 and 12 June 1981 and whose body was found at The Viewing Point, Shippool Woods. The prosecution's case rests on circumstantial evidence, including the victim's movements, the discovery of her body, and a DNA match between a sample from her body and a beanie hat taken from Long in 2021. Mr McDermott reminded jurors that no statute of limitations applies to murder, that over 280 exhibits were lost, and that the defence had concerns about a missing vaginal swab.
At the Central Criminal Court, prosecutors have submitted that forensic evidence in a cold case murder trial points inescapably to the guilt of the accused. Senior counsel Brendan Grehan closed the State's case against Noel Long, aged 74, of Maulbawn, Passage West, County Cork, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Nora Sheehan between 6 and 12 June 1981. Ms Sheehan's body was discovered at Shippool Woods, Cork, six days after she went missing. Mr Grehan told the jury that fibres from the victim's clothing and paint fragments matched those from the accused's Opel Kadett motor vehicle. A DNA profile recovered from semen found on the deceased matched that from a beanie hat belonging to Mr Long, with odds of one in 23,000 against it being unrelated. Defence counsel Michael Delaney SC argued the 42-year delay was unprecedented and that critical exhibits had been lost, preventing independent verification of the prosecution's forensic findings. The jury's verdict is now pending.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, brothers Ian (34) and Daniel (43) Connaghan were found not guilty of murder after a jury deliberated 14 hours. The jury, however, convicted Ian of manslaughter and Daniel of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to 55‑year‑old Michael 'Mick' Mulvey, who died 13 days after the November 14, 2019 assault. The brothers had pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and to the serious harm charges. The State's case alleged that Ian attacked Mulvey near The Halfway House Pub, leaving him on the ground, and that Daniel joined him in a subsequent beating on a traffic island. The jury accepted that the brothers' actions substantially contributed to Mulvey's death but did not find the intent required for murder. No verdicts were recorded for the two assault‑causing‑harm charges, and Daniel was granted bail pending a probation report.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 1 August 2023, a jury found 55‑year‑old Michael Connolly guilty of manslaughter by diminished responsibility for the death of 37‑year‑old Mark Lawlor in Cloverhill Prison in 2019. Connolly, originally from Louth, had scalded Lawlor with hot water before strangling him. He had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The jury considered conflicting psychiatric evidence: Dr Stephen Monks and Dr Sally Linehan both diagnosed paranoid schizophrenia but disagreed on whether Connolly was entitled to a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The jury reached a 10‑2 majority verdict of manslaughter. The case was adjourned to 2 October for sentencing and victim impact statements. No murder conviction was secured. The trial highlighted the dispute over psychiatric testimony and the application of diminished responsibility.
The cold case murder trial of Noel Long, 74, who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of 54-year-old Nora Sheehan between June 6 and June 12, 1981, continued before Mr Justice Paul McDermott. Former State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy, called by the defence, testified that the cause of Mrs Sheehan's death remains unascertained. While she agreed with the prosecution that death by asphyxia via two specific methods could not be proved or disproved, she stated there was no evidence of strangulation. Dr Cassidy noted the absence of petechial haemorrhage and ligature marks, suggesting the victim may have died elsewhere before her body was transported to Shippool Woods in Cork. She indicated that injuries to the head and face were consistent with an assault but unlikely to be fatal on their own. The prosecution argued the death resulted from foul play, citing the victim's naked and bruised state. Dr Cassidy acknowledged that while smothering is difficult to sustain, it could not be excluded. The matter was adjourned, with the trial set to continue before the jury.
In a Dublin murder trial, brothers Ian Connaghan (34) and Daniel Connaghan (43) plead not guilty to the killing of 55‑year‑old builder Michael 'Mick' Mulvey, who died 13 days after a November 2019 assault near The Halfway House Pub. The State alleges the brothers beat Mulvey at a roundabout, causing injuries that contributed to his death, though not the sole cause. The brothers also face charges of serious harm and assault. Judge Paul Burns instructed the jury to determine the dominant cause of death and the accused's intent, noting that intent to cause serious injury suffices for murder. Prosecutor Anne Rowland argued the beatings were severe enough to imply intent to cause serious harm. Defence counsel Garnet Orange contended no serious injury occurred and the death was likely natural. Post‑mortem findings identified blunt‑force chest trauma and underlying ischemic heart disease as contributory. The jury will resume deliberations tomorrow.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Vicky Hehir (30) and Warren Hehir (33) pleaded guilty to money‑laundering offences linked to €59,000 spent on renovations at Kilmurry Court, Garryowen, Limerick, between 8 August 2019 and 17 June 2020. Warren was charged with possessing, using, converting, transferring or handling cash of that value, knowing or recklessly believing it to be proceeds of crime, and with handling a Rolex watch on 17 June 2020 under similar circumstances. He pleaded guilty to both charges. Vicky pleaded guilty to the single charge concerning the €59,000. The court adjourned the case to 2 October for report production before sentencing. A third person, Warren's mother Sandra Hehir (54), is also charged with multiple money‑laundering offences; her barrister has requested the court to revisit her case on 19 September.
A 32‑year‑old man named Gareth Sheeran, who suffered from schizophrenia, was found not guilty by reason of insanity after killing his 65‑year‑old father, Harry Sheeran, with a World War II bayonet on Father's Day. The jury reached the verdict in 42 minutes after hearing from two psychiatrists who agreed that Sheeran's mental condition qualified him for the special verdict. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, hearing a report from a psychiatrist and statements from prosecution counsel James Dwyer SC, ordered Sheeran's committal to the Central Mental Hospital in Portrane for continued treatment. He will be subject to ongoing reviews by healthcare professionals. The judge expressed sympathy for the Sheeran family and described the case as a tragedy for all concerned.
The trial of Ian Connaghan (34) and Daniel Connaghan (43) for the murder of 55‑year‑old Michael 'Mick' Mulvey is set to resume after the jury was excused early due to a family issue with one juror. The State alleges the brothers assaulted Mulvey near The Halfway House Pub on 14 November 2019, leaving him on the ground and later delivering a severe beating at a roundabout. Mulvey died two weeks later, with the prosecution arguing the injuries contributed to his death but were not the sole cause. The brothers pleaded not guilty to murder, intentional or reckless serious harm, and assault causing harm. Mr Justice Paul Burns explained that if the jury finds the brothers caused the death but lack intent for murder, a manslaughter verdict is appropriate; if intent is proven, a murder verdict is required. The jury will return tomorrow for the judge to continue his charge.
A 55‑year‑old man, Michael Connolly, will stand trial for the murder of Mark Lawlor inside Cloverhill prison four years ago. Connolly pleaded not guilty before a jury of seven men and five women. Justice Tony Hunt told the jurors the trial is expected to be short and finish by Monday.
In a Central Criminal Court murder trial, defence counsel Garnet Orange SC argued that the death of builder Michael Mulvey was not a natural consequence of an assault he suffered on 14 November 2019. Orange highlighted that Mulvey, aged 55, was not in good health, had been released from hospital with painkillers, and had gone back to the pub to drink that night. He questioned the prosecution's evidence, noting that pathologists Dr. Heidi Okkers and Dr. Stuart Hamilton had differing views on the cause of death, with Hamilton suggesting heart disease and rib fractures contributed, while the defence's Professor Jack Crane concluded a heart attack. Orange urged the jury to consider whether the injuries inflicted by accused Ian and Daniel Connaghan contributed substantially to Mulvey's death, noting that causation could be sufficient for murder or manslaughter. The trial was set to resume with further jury directions from Judge Paul Burns. The unnamed 55-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Daniel Sheehan, a 23-year-old man from Cork, appeared before the Special Criminal Court on a trial basis. He is charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, at a location within the State on June 3, 2022. Additionally, he is accused of possessing 263 rounds of ammunition in a shed at Churchfield Avenue, Cork City, on the same date, in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference that he did not have it for a lawful purpose. Detective Garda Geraldine Daly provided evidence regarding the arrest, charge, and caution, stating she identified herself to Mr Sheehan at 10.41am on Anglesea Street, Cork. She arrested him under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act and Section 27(A) of the Firearms Act. The DPP's solicitor, Michael O'Donovan, indicated consent to bail subject to conditions. Defence counsel Patrick McCullough BL applied for legal aid, which was granted. Mr Justice Alexander Owens remanded Mr Sheehan in custody with consent to bail. The matter was adjourned, with Mr Sheehan ordered to appear again before the court on October 9.
In a Dublin murder trial, brothers Ian (34) and Daniel (43) Connaghan pleaded not guilty to the killing of Michael 'Mick' Mulvey (55) on 27 November 2019. Prosecutor Anne Rowland SC presented evidence that the brothers beat Mulvey so severely that the intent could only have been to cause serious harm. She cited pathologist Dr Heidi Okkers' finding of 800 ml of blood in Mulvey's chest cavity and described the sustained assaults at the Darling estate and a traffic island near Halfway House. Witnesses, including Pauline Matthews and Mary Kelly, testified to the brutality and the brothers' presence at both attacks. Text messages from the Connaghans suggested a motive rooted in resentment. Rowland urged the jury to consider the evidence as ample proof of the brothers' guilt in the murder. The trial was set to continue the following day.
In the Central Criminal Court, forensic scientist Dr Jonathan Paul Whitaker testified that a partial DNA profile from material preserved 42 years ago matched DNA found on a black beanie hat belonging to Noel Long, the accused. Whitaker explained that the probability of the recovered DNA originating from someone unrelated to the hat wearer was one in 23,000, and that a database of the Irish population made it at least 20,000 times more likely that the DNA matched the hat rather than an unrelated person. He described using Low Copy Number (LCN) techniques to obtain a profile from a microscopic slide of a vaginal swab taken from the victim, Nora Sheehan, and how the male partial profile from the slide matched the hat's DNA. Dr Dorothy Ramsbottom corroborated the match, and the trial continues with a jury of seven men and four women. The accused, Noel Long, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Sheehan.
The cold‑case murder trial of Noel Long, accused of killing 54‑year‑old Nora Sheehan in 1981, was adjourned to Monday because a juror fell ill. Judge Paul McDermott informed the remaining eleven jurors that the case would continue with a reduced jury. Long, 74, lives in Passage West, Cork, and has pleaded not guilty. The trial has focused on DNA evidence: UK forensic scientist Dr Jonathan Paul Whitaker presented a DNA profile from semen recovered from Sheehan's body, matched to material from Long's belongings, with a one‑in‑20,000 chance of a different source. The prosecution highlighted bruising and spermatozoa found in Sheehan's vagina, and the post‑mortem was conducted by Dr Robert Dermot Coakley in 1981. The hearing will resume on Monday with the same jury composition.
Andrew Lacey, 35, of Riverside, Loughlinstown, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for the death of Derek Reddin, 31, on Loughlinstown Drive. The case stemmed from a feud between their associates. Witness David Howard claimed Reddin attacked Lacey with a metal baseball bat, but Lacey said he had a knife in his pocket and used it to defend himself after Reddin lunged again. Howard denied Reddin had a bat and said Lacey produced the knife. The jury heard conflicting accounts and that Lacey had been drinking cider for about five hours. Lacey was remanded in custody pending sentencing. The trial lasted three weeks and the jury reached a unanimous verdict after just over three hours of deliberation. The verdict was announced on 21 July 2023.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 32‑year‑old man named Gareth Sheeran was charged with murdering his 65‑year‑old father, Harry Sheeran, on Father's Day 2021 by stabbing him with a World War II bayonet. The defendant pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, claiming a relapse of schizophrenia. Dr Patrick McLaughlin, a forensic psychiatrist, testified that Sheeran had a long history of persecutory delusions, disorganised thinking and untreated schizophrenia for three years before the killing. He described Sheeran's incoherent account of being told to kill his father at Phoenix Park and noted that the defendant did not understand the nature or wrongness of his act. The prosecution and defence both agreed the defendant was entitled to raise the insanity defence. The case was set to continue before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury the following day.
A jury will return to the Central Criminal Court tomorrow to begin deliberations in the trial of Andrew Lacey (35) of Riverside, Loughlinstown, Co Dublin, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Derek Reddin (31) at Loughlinstown Drive on a date between 14 and 15 October 2019. Justice Mary Ellen Ring is presenting the evidence to a jury of six men and four women, explaining that there are three possible verdicts: guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. The trial has established that a feud existed between associates of the deceased and the accused. On the night in question, Reddin and his cousin David Howard were waiting for Lacey as he returned home from a pub. Lacey produced a knife, claiming it was a work tool he had inadvertently brought, and used it after Reddin attacked him with a baseball bat.
In a cold‑case murder trial, the prosecution explained that DNA material recovered from the body of 54‑year‑old Nora Sheehan, who was killed in 1981, had to be sent to the UK in 2008 because Ireland lacked the technology to interpret low amounts of DNA at that time. The material, a vaginal swab taken from Sheehan's body, was sent to Dr Jonathan Whitaker of Forensic Science Services in the UK, who generated a DNA profile. The profile was later matched to DNA recovered from the accused, Noel Long (74), who has pleaded not guilty. The trial, held before Mr Justice Paul McDermott, continues with a jury of seven men and four women, and the State's case is expected to conclude tomorrow. The proceedings remain at the evidential stage, with no verdict yet announced.
In a cold‑case trial, forensic scientists presented evidence that Nora Sheehan, who vanished in 1981 and was later found dead in Shippool Woods, had been in a car driven by Noel Long. Fibres from Sheehan's clothing matched those from the carpet of a blue Opel Kadett linked to Long, and paint fragments from her garments corresponded to paint on the vehicle. Dr Maureen Smith, Dr Sheila Willis, and Dr Amanda Lennon all confirmed the strong support for the view that Sheehan was in the Kadett. The trial also heard that Long, aged 74, has pleaded not guilty to her murder. The proceedings are ongoing before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury. The case remains at the evidence‑presentation stage.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing on 19 July 2023, the jury heard that Ian Connaghan, aged 34, sent a WhatsApp message on 14 November 2019 in which he claimed he was "after opening Mulvey's face up" after a confrontation with Michael Mulvey, aged 55, near a Dublin public house. Connaghan alleged that Mulvey had almost struck him with his car while he was crossing the road, that Mulvey had screamed at him, and that later that day Mulvey "came running at me from behind." Connaghan said he dropped his bag, "caught him a dig," and "opened up his face." He also claimed Mulvey had spat on his leg in the pub and that Mulvey "had it coming." Daniel Connaghan, aged 43, sent a separate message claiming Mulvey had "tried to knock down Iano" and that the brothers left Mulvey in an awful state. Ian Connaghan pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin murder trial, Judge Mary Ellen Ring instructed a jury that Andrew Lacey, 35, could be found not guilty if he used reasonable force in self‑defence after being attacked by Derek Reddin, 31, with a baseball bat. The judge explained that if Lacey used more force than necessary, the jury must decide whether he honestly believed it was required; if so, manslaughter could result, otherwise murder. Lacey claimed he stabbed Reddin in a scuffle, unaware of the fatal wound, while the prosecution alleged excessive force. The judge noted that the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Lacey's force was unnecessary and that he did not honestly believe it was needed. The jury was also told to consider Lacey's intoxication, the threat's imminence, and the possibility of retreat. The judge's charge was to be delivered the following day.
In a tribunal decision dated 19 July 2023, the Workplace Relations Commission found that Bus Éireann's refusal to allow Galway man Robert Cantwell to travel with his support dog, Osho, was discriminatory under the Equal Status Act 2000. Cantwell, who suffers partial paralysis from a childhood brain injury and relies on the dog for mental health support, had repeatedly sought permission from a local manager, Peter Melia, who cited the company's policy that only fully trained guide or assistance dogs may travel free of charge. Cantwell's attempts to comply, including offering to train the dog or purchase a certified service dog, were rejected. The adjudicator, Louise Boyle, ruled that the company's failure to provide reasonable accommodation constituted a prohibited act, awarding Cantwell €1,500 in compensation and ordering Bus Éireann to urgently review its disability access policies. The decision emphasised that the policy's restrictions on dogs, cats, or other animals were not justified by the circumstances presented.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the jury was instructed not to let the adage "live by the sword, die by the sword" influence their judgment. Prosecutor Roisin Lacey SC explained that Derek Reddin had waited for Andrew Lacey and attacked him after Lacey returned from a pub. She argued that Lacey's use of a knife, his awareness of Reddin's presence, and the manner in which he stabbed Reddin proved intent for murder and negated self‑defence. Defence counsel Dominic McGinn SC challenged the reliability of the prosecution's key witness, David Howard, and presented alternative witness accounts suggesting a baseball bat was involved, not a knife. He urged the jury to consider whether Lacey's actions were reasonable or whether a self‑defence claim could be sustained. The prosecution maintained that Lacey's knife was deliberate and that the depth and multiplicity of cuts proved murder beyond reasonable doubt. Andrew Lacey pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, Noel Long, aged 74, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 54‑year‑old Nora Sheehan, who disappeared between 6 and 12 June 1981. Sheehan's body was found six days later at The Viewing Point, Shippool Woods, Cork. Dr Timothy Creedon, a former forensic scientist, testified that he was on holiday in Inishannon, Co Cork, when the body was discovered. He later met a detective and received swabs from the body, including a vaginal swab that contained semen. Creedon created a microscopic slide from the swab, which was later archived. The slide's preservation became crucial when a 2008 review of cold cases examined the evidence with modern DNA techniques. The trial, presided over by Justice Paul McDermott, continues with a jury of seven men and four women. The case remains at the trial stage.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing on 18 July 2023, a witness testified that Ian Connaghan, aged 34, admitted to punching and kicking Michael Mulvey, aged 55, after a confrontation near the Halfway House Pub on 14 November 2019. The witness, Stephen Kelly, who had been in a relationship with Mulvey's daughter, said Connaghan told him he had "lost it" and that the assault occurred while crossing the traffic lights on Navan Road. Connaghan also claimed he was alone at the time. The prosecution, represented by Ms Anne Rowland SC, argued that the brothers had a history of "bad blood" with Mulvey and that the severe beating left Mulvey in a "bad way" with black and blue marks on his right side. The jury viewed CCTV footage from the pub and surrounding areas to corroborate the timeline of the alleged assault. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
The Department of Justice was ordered to pay a senior immigration official, Martin Switzer, more than €33,000 in back pay for an on‑call allowance that was promised to him when he accepted a transfer to the Border Management Unit at Dublin Airport. The Workplace Relations Commission found that the state was bound by verbal assurances that Switzer would receive an annual allowance of €18,023 for extra hours and weekend work. Switzer's application for the allowance was delayed by the department's HR section, and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform ultimately sanctioned only €2,874 per year, with a pro‑rata payment of €1,197 for six months. The adjudicator confirmed that Switzer's salary from May 2018 to March 2020 should have included the full allowance, amounting to €34,544.41, and directed the department to pay €33,346.91 to Switzer.
In a hearing on 18 July 2023, a senior Department of Health official, Paddy Barrett, described the claim that 900 consultant doctor posts were vacant as an "extreme view". Lawyers for a group of senior doctors, represented by the Irish Hospital Consultants' Association, argued that new entrants to the health service are paid 30% less than those hired before October 2012, a difference they say is ageist pay discrimination. The doctors, including Solomon Asgedom, David Bradley, Gabrielle Colleran, and others, have filed complaints under the Employment Equality Act 1998 against the Minister for Health, the Minister for Finance, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, the Health Service Executive and a group of voluntary hospitals. The case, which has been adjourned to the autumn, focuses on the alleged pay cut for new entrants and the number of vacant consultant posts, with the State maintaining that there are several hundred vacancies but not as many as 900.
A teacher has received €20,000 in compensation after alleging that her bosses at Farnham National School displayed 'subconscious bias' against her during a deputy principal application following a dispute over parental leave. Paulette Leonard, a primary school teacher with 28 years of service, secured the compensation through a complaint under the Parental Leave Act 1998. Ms Leonard requested six periods of parental leave in September and October 2020, but her application was denied by the school, citing the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on children's education. However, six periods of leave were later approved between November 2020 and May 2021, but only if Ms Leonard surrendered her statutory leave entitlement for that academic year. The Irish National Teachers' Association (INTO) raised concerns with the school in July 2020, leading to a notice in the staff room requiring parental leave longer than three weeks to be taken as a single block.
In a cold‑case murder trial, the accused, Noel Long, 74, pleaded not guilty to the killing of 54‑year‑old Nora Sheehan, whose body was found in Shippool Woods, Cork, in 1981. The pathologist, Dr Robert Dermot Coakley, who performed the post‑mortem, died on 5 August 1981, weeks after the examination. Coakley testified that he visited the woods on 12 June 1981, saw the body, and began the post‑mortem that evening. He described the body's condition, including bruising, scratches, and the presence of spermatozoa. Witnesses, including Joan Holland and retired Garda officers, gave testimony about Sheehan's movements and the alleged involvement of Long. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, continues with a jury of eight men and four women. The case remains at the trial stage.
A 31‑year‑old man, Gareth Sheeran, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of his father, Harry Sheeran, at Carriglea View on Father's Day, 20 June 2021. The trial, set to last two days, will be heard by a jury of seven men and five women. Judge Tony Hunt noted little factual dispute but emphasized the need for a jury verdict and instructed the jury not to discuss the case.
In the Central Criminal Court trial of Noel Long, retired Garda sergeant John B O'Sullivan, aged 83, recounted the discovery of a woman's body in Shippool Woods, Cork, on 12 June 1981. O'Sullivan was the sole Garda on duty at Inishannon station when forestry workers John Collins and Denis McSweeney arrived in a tractor at about 3 pm, reporting a suspicious find that turned out to be a body. He deputised his wife to accompany him to the scene, where they found a 54‑year‑old woman, later identified as Nora Sheehan, lying on her right side with her head covered by a blue floral dress. O'Sullivan noted a stench, blue bottles, a cut to the neck, a bandage on the left hand, and nylon tights on the left foot. He used a hurley to clear briars, avoided disturbing potential evidence, and later contacted Bandon Gardaí. Noel Long pleaded not guilty.
In a cold‑case murder trial, a jury heard evidence that a 74‑year‑old man, Noel Long, is alleged to have had sex with and murdered 54‑year‑old Nora Sheehan in 1981. The prosecution presented forensic DNA evidence linking semen recovered from Sheehan's vagina to Long's DNA, and trace evidence from Long's car that matched items found at the scene. Witnesses described Sheehan as a vulnerable, eccentric woman who was last seen alive on 6 June 1981 and whose naked, bruised body was discovered by forestry workers in Shippool Woods six days later. The State argued that the forensic findings and witness testimony together lead to an "irresistible conclusion" that Long committed the murder. Long has pleaded not guilty. The trial is scheduled to continue before Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
In a murder trial, defence witness Mark Roe denied fabricating his account of the 2019 fatal stabbing of Derek Reddin by Andrew Lacey. Roe, who was drunk and confused, claimed he saw two men, one with a balaclava and baseball bat, attack Lacey and later struck him with the bat. He said he tried to help Lacey but was hit by the balaclava man, who struck him about ten times before leaving. Roe testified that he did not realise the seriousness of Reddin's injury and that he had never been in a fight or arrested before. He admitted taking photos and videos at the scene and that his clothes were covered in blood, which he attributed to Reddin bleeding out. Roe was released without charge after five Garda interviews. The cross‑examination will continue tomorrow before a jury. Andrew Lacey pleaded not guilty.
During the Stardust nightclub inquest, former deputy head doorman Leo Doyle testified that he cannot confirm whether the exit doors were unlocked on the night of the February 14, 1981 fire that killed 48 people. Doyle said he had no recollection of stating that exits one and six were locked and chained while the club was open, nor of being told to keep those exits closed. He admitted he did not remember the existence of exit one. Doyle also explained that the club practiced "mock locking" by chaining two chains together and flipping the chain over to give the appearance of a lock, but he could not say if the locks were actually off the doors. He denied accepting that this practice was inherently dangerous and claimed he had no idea who devised the draping of chains. The inquest continues tomorrow in the Pillar Room of the Rotunda Hospital.
A 74‑year‑old man, Noel Long of Passage West, has been arraigned in the Central Criminal Court on charges of murdering 54‑year‑old Nora Sheehan between 6 and 12 June 1981. Sheehan's body was discovered by forestry workers at The Viewing Point, Shippool Woods, six days after she was reported missing. Long pleaded not guilty. Judge Paul McDermott swore in a jury of eight men and four women, who will hear the case beginning Thursday morning and is expected to last four weeks. The prosecution is led by senior counsel Brendan Grehan; the defence is headed by Michael Delaney SC. Witnesses will include local Cork and Munster residents, forensic scientists from Dublin, and several Gardaí, including retired members. The judge reminded the jury to focus solely on evidence presented in court and to remain independent of any external media coverage. The trial will take place in the Central Criminal Court in Cork.
During the Central Criminal Court trial, Ms Anne Rowland SC presented evidence that Ian Connaghan, aged 34, threatened a 55‑year‑old man, Michael Mulvey, with the words "I'm gonna f**kin kill ya" at a pedestrian crossing on the Navan Road. The witness, Ms Pauline Matthews, described how the man was approached by a medium‑built individual who shouted aggressively and walked out in front of her car. She recounted that Mulvey was later severely beaten by Ian and his older brother Daniel Connaghan, who arrived in a car. The brothers have pleaded not guilty to murder, to causing serious harm, and to assault. The trial continues with further cross‑examination of Ms Matthews by the defence counsel, Mr Garnet Orange SC, and the prosecution will focus on medical evidence regarding Mulvey's injuries and death.
In a murder trial, Andrew Lacey, aged 35, denies using a phone to film the fatal stabbing of Derek Reddin, 31, to show others what he had done. He also denies targeting Reddin's left side or deliberately stabbing him through the chest. Lacey claims he only produced a knife after Reddin lunged at him with a baseball bat and that the stabbing was accidental. He says he does not remember stabbing Reddin and describes the incident as a slight scuffle. Lacey admits he initially lied to Gardaí about the attackers' weapons but says he told the truth the following day. The prosecution alleges Lacey used excessive force and that the knife was a work tool he carried from his job with the parks department. The trial continues before a jury and Justice Mary Ellen Ring. Andrew Lacey pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial, the State presented the case that Michael Mulvey, a 55‑year‑old builder, died two weeks after a severe beating by brothers Ian (34) and Daniel (43) Connaghan. The prosecution argued that the injuries sustained on 14 November 2019, including fractured ribs and a severe chest trauma, substantially contributed to his death, though not the sole cause, citing medical evidence from pathologists and doctors. The brothers were charged with murder, intentional or reckless causing serious harm, and assault causing harm. The State highlighted a history of conflict between Mulvey and Ian Connaghan, a confrontation at a pedestrian crossing, and CCTV showing the brothers' movements. Text messages sent by the Connaghans after the assault were presented as evidence of intent to cause serious harm. The trial, before Mr Justice Paul Burns, is set to continue for up to three weeks.
During his own murder trial, Andrew Lacey, 35, of Riverside, Loughlinstown, admitted he had initially lied to emergency services about being attacked by two men with knives. He claimed he was heading home to his wife and five children when he was confronted by Derek Reddin, 31, who he said was "nearly possessed" and struck him with a metal bat. Lacey said he tried to repel Reddin with a folding knife from his jacket, hoping to scare him away. He described a brief scuffle lasting five to ten seconds, after which both fell to the ground. Lacey denied knowing Reddin was dead at the time and denied that he had asked his friend what to say to the Gardaí. The trial is set to continue before Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury of eight men and four women. Andrew Lacey pleaded not guilty.
During the 1981 Stardust inquiry, assistant manager Jack Walsh testified that he knew emergency exits were being locked between 10 pm and 12:30 am in the weeks before the fire that killed 48 people. He admitted he was aware of the practice and that it contravened bylaws, but denied authorising it and said he did nothing to stop it. Walsh also said he was not aware of chains wrapped around door bars, did not know a doorman could keep the keys, and believed the head doorman would handle emergency procedures. He claimed he had no role in ensuring safety and that he thought patrons were already being looked after. Walsh's statements were read to the jury in the Rotunda Hospital. The inquest will resume next Tuesday.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 6 July 2023, Gardaí presented evidence recovered from the home of Conor Dolan, 33, accused of murdering his friend Neil Fitzgerald, 36, in Tallaght on 5 June 2016. The evidence included a partially burned yellow rubber glove and a partially burned Samsung mobile phone found smouldering in a fireplace at Dolan's apartment on Ashbrook Apartments, Navan Road, Dublin 7. Garda Christopher O'Leary, who executed a search warrant issued on 6 June 2016, described the fire‑log remnants and the subsequent extinguishing of the fire. A search team seized 28 items, including phones, clothes and a SIM card pack. Garda Conor Harrison reported that Dolan and a passenger were stopped in a BMW on Fortunestown Road the night before the body was discovered; the passenger was later identified as Fitzgerald. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon with a jury of twelve, continues with Dolan pleading not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury was sworn in for the trial of brothers Ian (34) and Daniel (43) Connaghan, who are accused of murdering builder Michael 'Mick' Mulvey. Mulvey, aged 55, died two weeks after a serious assault on November 14, 2019, when he was walking home. The brothers pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and to assault causing serious harm. The trial, set to begin before Mr Justice Paul Burns, is expected to last up to three weeks.
During the inquest into the Stardust nightclub fire, former doorman John Furley testified that he did not kick the padlock off exit door five. He described seeing smoke and fire, hearing people push and kick the door, and feeling the bar rise after two attempts. Furley said he had no recollection of kicking the door and that the push bars may have been faulty. He denied seeing a chain or lock on the door and said he did not see any staff at exit five. Witnesses had claimed a bouncer had kicked the padlock, but Furley insisted they were wrong. He also stated he had never seen anyone let friends in for free through an exit door and that the manager did not like being bested. The inquest continues tomorrow.
In the second day of the murder trial of Conor Dolan, the jury was discharged by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon after an issue arose just before lunchtime. Dolan, aged 33, denies murdering Neil Fitzpatrick, aged 36, who was found dead on a country lane outside Dublin on 5 June 2016. Prosecutor Lorcan Staines SC argued that Dolan lured Fitzpatrick to the lane and that Fitzpatrick was "riddled" with bullets in an execution‑style killing. Staines said the prosecution would use circumstantial evidence to show that Dolan arranged to pick up Fitzpatrick from a pub in Tallaght before driving to the remote area where the body was discovered the following day. The trial, scheduled for a maximum of three weeks, will resume tomorrow with a new jury of six men and six women, and Staines will again give his opening speech. The case remains at the trial stage, with no verdict or sentencing announced. Conor Dolan pleaded not guilty.
The Workplace Relations Commission upheld a constructive dismissal complaint by boxer Roy Sheahan against Kendra Civil Engineering (Ireland) Ltd pursuant to the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. Adjudicating officer Valerie Murtagh found that Sheahan raised issues regarding heavy duties that exacerbated his hand injury and felt he had no option but to resign. The tribunal awarded Sheahan €6,000 in compensation, reducing the amount because his efforts to mitigate losses did not meet the standard of spending a reasonable amount of time each weekday seeking new work. Sheahan alleged his professional boxing career ended after his left hand was crushed by a digger bucket in January 2020. He claimed that upon returning to work in September 2020, he was assigned heavy duties despite a doctor's note recommending light duties as an initial lead-in. Kendra Civil Engineering's managing director, Dan Curtis, testified that he believed Sheahan was certified for unrestricted work and intended to provide lighter duties at a future site. The company's safety manager, Trevor Murtagh, stated that Sheahan never raised injury concerns during safety audits, though the firm failed to produce audit sheets for December 2020 and January 2021. A separate personal injury claim was noted as ongoing at the time of the hearing.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, the prosecution, led by Lorcan Staines SC, argued that Conor Dolan lured 36‑year‑old Neil Fitzgerald to a country lane outside Dublin, where Fitzgerald was shot six times in an execution‑style killing. Staines presented circumstantial evidence: Fitzgerald was picked up from Madison's Bar in Tallaght by Dolan, who drove in a purple BMW 3‑series that was later found washed at a Topaz garage with palm prints matching Fitzgerald. CCTV and mobile‑phone data showed Dolan's movements, including a stop by an unmarked garda car and an automatic number‑plate recognition ping of Dolan's vehicle. A "bin phone" linked to Dolan sent a message about a white van, and both men used dual‑SIM phones. The jury was told the evidence suggested Dolan arranged the meeting and that Fitzgerald was executed, but the jury would decide whether Dolan committed the murder. The trial continues before Justice Eileen Creedon. Conor Dolan pleaded not guilty.
A teacher at a County Donegal school has brought a discrimination complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission in Letterkenny, alleging she was passed over for a permanent contract on grounds related to her religion. The complainant claims colleagues repeatedly addressed her by her Protestant husband's surname despite her use of her maiden name, made remarks suggesting she would be better suited to working at a neighbouring Church of Ireland school, and questioned her about her children's First Holy Communion while knowing they attended a Protestant school. She further alleges that the school's board chairman, a local priest, shouted at her for seeking union advice on employment matters and subsequently banned her from discussing prospects with staff. The teacher states she should have been appointed without interview to a vacant post in line with Department of Education policy, but instead was required to compete in open competition, which she did not win. The school denies the claims.
A 33‑year‑old man, Conor Dolan, was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Neil Fitzgerald, 36, in Tallaght on 5 June 2016. Dolan pleaded not guilty. Justice Eileen Creedon swore in a jury of seven men and five women. The trial will start on Tuesday morning and is expected to last three weeks.
David Howard, a 54‑year‑old firefighter and paramedic, testified at the murder trial of Andrew Lacey that he and Lacey's cousin Derek Reddin went to Loughlinstown in 2019 for a "straightener." Howard said that when they met Lacey, the accused began waving a knife and a fight ensued. Reddin fell, and Lacey allegedly "straddled" the deceased and "dove the knife into him." Howard denied that Reddin had a steel baton at the scene, stating he only saw it in the car before the encounter. He claimed he was shocked at the time and could not recall describing the baton to Gardaí. Howard also denied deliberately leaving his phone at home or taking a route to avoid cameras. Lacey, 35, remains not guilty‑pleading in the murder of Reddin, 31, which occurred between 14 and 15 October 2019. The trial continues tomorrow before Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury of eight men and four women.