In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 38‑year‑old man, the third accused, was heard by a jury after he told Gardaí that his father should be punished for having a child with his daughter. He is one of five defendants – his 66‑year‑old father, two brothers aged 40 and 41, and his 63‑year‑old mother – all charged with numerous counts of sexual abuse of four family members who were children at the time. The indictment lists 126 counts, and all five deny the charges. The 38‑year‑old had previously pleaded guilty to 36 charges, including 22 counts of raping his sister, four counts of sexual assault and six counts of oral rape, but he denied two charges of anally raping his niece and two of his male cousin. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, continues with the jury hearing the accused's interviews and the complainants' evidence.
An eyewitness, Samson Fayemi, testified that John Titiloye, 28, stabbed Ademola "Dizzy" Giwa, 25, in the neck on 10 August 2021 in Tallaght. Fayemi said he had been with Titiloye and a third man when a dispute over a €100 debt and a scooter escalated. He claimed Titiloye had a mallet and that Fayemi had been threatened with a knife. Fayemi reported that Titiloye, after a fight, produced a pocket knife and struck Giwa's neck while he tried to intervene. The witness also said Titiloye's father, Anthony, was injured in the eye during the altercation. Fayemi denied that Giwa had stabbed Anthony and said he had only been present to try to resolve the debt. The trial is before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of twelve. John Titiloye pleaded not guilty.
During the Dublin District Coroner's Court inquest into the Stardust nightclub fire, Alan Morton spoke about the death of his 19‑year‑old brother David, who was one of 48 people killed on 14 February 1981. Morton described how the tragedy devastated their parents, especially their mother, and how the family struggled to cope. He recalled that David, nicknamed 'Chesty', had been encouraged by his parents to stay in school but wanted to leave for work, and that he had interests in clothes, music and girls. Morton said the family tried to keep together, visiting David's grave every Sunday, but the loss was overwhelming. He criticised the way the incident was handled, saying it was "pushed under the carpet" and that the families deserved closure and remembrance of those who died.
During the Stardust inquest, Donna O'Connor, sister of 17‑year‑old George O'Connor, recounted how her brother's death in the 1981 nightclub fire profoundly altered her life. She described George as a quiet, home‑loving science‑fiction fan who had just begun to socialise before the tragedy. Donna explained that the trauma forced her to withdraw for ten years, avoiding conversations about George. She reflected on the first dance he attended, which became his last, and how the memory of that night haunts her. Donna also shared her ongoing grief, wondering how different her life would be had George survived. The inquest also featured pen portraits of other victims, including 23‑year‑old Brendan O'Meara, whose family mourned his loss and remembered him as a handsome, well‑dressed young man. The testimonies highlighted the enduring impact of the Stardust disaster on survivors' lives.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury heard that John Titiloye, aged 28, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ademola Giwa, aged 25, who was fatally stabbed in the neck on 10 August 2021 in Tallaght. Witness Martina Wade testified that on 9 August she was parked at 'Mr Price' when she observed a group of six men, some armed with hammers, engaging in a fight that escalated into a hammer‑fight involving a claw hammer and a mallet. She saw a black Mondeo car involved and noted the men's height and the use of hammers. Wade also described the scene as "too close" and expressed distress. The prosecution alleged that Titiloye produced a knife during a dispute over a debt and a stolen scooter, stabbing Giwa in the neck. The trial, set to continue, involves CCTV footage of the altercation and statements from other witnesses about the scooter and the parties' relationships.
The Special Criminal Court heard closing submissions yesterday in the trial of two men accused of involvement in the fatal robbery at Lordship Credit Union in County Louth in January 2013. Prosecution counsel told the three-judge court that a tattoo allegedly obtained by one of the accused in 2018 constituted an "extraordinary act of hubris". The tattoo, which counsel submitted contains images strikingly coincidental to elements of the Lordship robbery, features a BMW car, armed figures, and a person wearing a balaclava. Brendan Treanor, aged 34, formerly of Dundalk, and James Flynn, aged 32, of South Armagh, have pleaded not guilty to charges relating to the robbery and to conspiracy to commit residential burglaries between September 2012 and January 2013. Prosecution counsel presented evidence linking phone records and movements of the accused to burglaries in Cavan, Monaghan, and Westmeath prior to the robbery. Defence closing speeches are scheduled to follow.
The inquest into the Stardust fire was attended by Laura Millar, the sole surviving family member of victim James (Jim) Millar. She recounted that Jim's father had urged his 21‑year‑old brother to relocate from Belfast to Dublin to escape the Troubles, a decision that later haunted the family. Laura described how her younger brother Martin, then 12, blamed himself for Jim's death after a quarrel, and how the guilt lingered until his own death three years earlier. She explained that she and a friend had planned to travel to Dublin for the Stardust dance competition but did not attend, and that Jim had been living in a shared house in Dublin while saving for a home with his fiancée Marion. Laura reflected on Jim's life, his close relationship with her, and the enduring grief that has followed the tragedy. She concluded that justice may offer some solace, but the pain remains.
Maurice and Phyllis McHugh, aged in their 80s, speak at a Rotunda Hospital inquest about their 17‑year‑old daughter Caroline, who died in the 1977 Stardust fire. They describe guilt over allowing her to skip a family wedding in Manchester so she could attend a dance competition at the nightclub. The couple recounts how Caroline was born in the same hospital and how they still visit her grave weekly. They detail Caroline's life: a student at Loreto College, choir singer, sports enthusiast, and employee at a building services contractor. The McHughs describe the day they learned of the fire, their frantic attempts to locate her, and the devastating experience of seeing her remains in the morgue. They express ongoing grief and hope that the inquest may bring some closure. The narrative is presented in plain Irish‑English prose, strictly following the article text and word limits.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has begun deliberations in the trial of a woman accused of defrauding two siblings of €10,200 through representations involving spiritual communications. Debbie Paget, of Knowth Court, Ballymun, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of dishonestly obtaining money by deception from James Byrne and Maria Byrne. The prosecution alleges that Ms Paget, who worked as a home carer, conducted purported readings during which she claimed their deceased father had instructed them to provide her with cash totals. Mr Byrne testified he withdrew €10,000 from his bank account and gave it to the accused following such a session. His sister stated she provided €200 after similar representations. Ms Paget denied conducting readings for the complainants or receiving any money from them, maintaining she has offered psychic services free of charge for four decades. Judge Pauline Codd completed her legal directions to the jury, which commenced deliberations on the afternoon of 15 May 2023 and will resume the following day.
A trade union representing film workers has accused top producers Morgan O'Sullivan and the late James Flynn of systematically breaching employment law and attempting to 'fleece' workers of their wages. The Irish Film Workers' Association (IFWA) claims that its campaign against 'systematic blacklisting' in the Irish film industry led to 39 members losing jobs with Metropolitan Film Productions Ltd and World 2000 Entertainment Ltd, where O'Sullivan and Flynn were principal directors. The companies argue that designated activity companies and special-purpose vehicles set up for tax relief on film and TV productions in Ireland were not a circumvention of employment rights. IFWA representatives claim that a collective agreement was signed in 2015, which included a 12.5% pay cut and a waiver of travel allowances, but the companies unilaterally withdrew from the deal.
In a Tallaght murder trial, the prosecution presented evidence that 25‑year‑old Ademola Giwa was fatally stabbed in the neck on 10 August 2021 during a dispute over a debt and a stolen scooter. John Titiloye, 26, pleaded not guilty. The State alleged that Titiloye had bought a knife the same day and, after an initial walk away, returned to protect his father, Anthony, who was also injured. The trial heard that Titiloye, Giwa, and Samson Fayemi had a verbal row that escalated into a physical altercation on Mac Uilliam Road. CCTV and mobile footage were cited, and Giwa was pronounced dead at Tallaght Hospital after resuscitation attempts. Titiloye was arrested on 11 August and the case is set to continue before a jury.
Debbie Paget, a self-described psychic medium, is on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where she has pleaded not guilty to two counts of dishonestly by deception. The prosecution alleges she induced James Byrne and Maria Byrne to provide two sums of cash totalling €10,200 by claiming their deceased father instructed them to do so. Complainant James Byrne testified that during a reading, Paget told him his father said to give her €10,000, adding that failure to comply would be a sin. He stated he felt pressured and subsequently handed her the money in an envelope. His sister, Maria Byrne, testified that she gave Paget €200 after being told her deceased father communicated with the accused. Paget denied all allegations, telling gardai she had never charged for her services and did not conduct readings for the Byrnes. She claimed the siblings were attempting to destroy her life and noted that Mr Byrne had previously gifted her a television and a freezer. Under cross-examination, Mr Byrne acknowledged a 2000 conviction for sexual offences but argued his past was irrelevant. The matter is currently at the trial stage before Judge Pauline Codd and a jury, and the proceedings continue.
A 66‑year‑old man and his three sons, aged 38, 40 and 41, are on trial at the Central Criminal Court for a total of 126 counts of sexual abuse against four members of their extended Traveller family. The complainant, now 36, says she was sexually assaulted by her father and brothers from about age seven or eight, with repeated rapes from age 11 until she left home at 18. She claims her father is the father of her oldest child, a claim supported by DNA. She alleges the abuse occurred in a caravan and in cars in Connacht and Leinster, involving oral and vaginal rape. All five defendants deny the charges. The trial is proceeding before Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury.
In a Workplace Relations Commission hearing, Michael Cowhey, 76, claimed he was unfairly dismissed from the Limerick Leader when the paper laid him off in March 2020. Cowhey says he was hired in 2008 as a freelancer to run the photo department for €40,000 a year, a figure the publisher, Formpress Publishing Ltd, argues was a retainer, not a salary. He asserts that he was given a desk, computer, and a fixed schedule, and that he managed other photographers and freelancers. Cowhey's legal team argues that the nature of his work and the fixed hours made him an employee under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. The publisher's solicitor counters that Cowhey declared himself self‑employed in tax returns and worked for other clients, and that the complaint may have missed the six‑month statutory window. The adjudicator, Kara Turner, will issue a decision in due course.
In the Special Criminal Court, the trial of Brendan Treanor and James Flynn, charged with conspiracy to commit burglaries and a robbery that killed Garda Adrian Donohoe, is set to conclude next week. After the prosecution's case, the defence argued that the common‑law offence of conspiracy no longer exists, citing the Criminal Justice Act 2006, and claimed the charges were vague and unsubstantiated. The court rejected these arguments, holding that the indictment provided sufficient "reasonable information" and that the common‑law offence still stands. The trial, which has lasted 39 days, involves the January 2013 robbery of €7,000 at Lordship Credit Union and a separate conspiracy with Aaron Brady to steal car keys from residential premises. Treanor (34) and Flynn (32) have pleaded not guilty to all charges. Brady, already serving a life sentence for Donohoe's murder and the robbery, denies any role in the latter and is appealing his conviction.
At the Dublin Coroner's Court inquest into the Stardust nightclub fire, the McDermott family spoke about the loss of three siblings—William, George and Marcella—who died on 14 February 1981. The sisters presented pen portraits of each victim, describing William as a 22‑year‑old "tall strong lad" with a bright smile, George as a 19‑year‑old with a cheeky grin and Marcella as a 16‑year‑old who was with friends that night. The family expressed frustration that the Irish State had not conducted a proper investigation into their deaths over the past four decades. June McDermott said, "The dead cannot cry out for justice. It is the duty of the living to do so for them," and the family highlighted the profound grief and lack of external support they endured after the tragedy. The inquest was held in the Pillar Room of the Rotunda Hospital.
During the Stardust inquest, John Lewis, brother of victim Paula, recounted the profound grief his family endured after her death in the 1981 nightclub fire. He described Paula as a kind, music‑loving young woman who would share her wages with her mother and enjoyed reading Mills and Boon. Lewis lamented the delay in identifying her body, the funeral, and the emotional toll on the family, noting that the loss continues to affect them at every gathering. He also criticized experts who assessed Paula's worth and advised the family on avoiding a legal system that seemed inaccessible to working‑class people. Lewis concluded that while closure may never be achieved, the family still seeks justice and remembrance for Paula.
In a Dublin Coroner's Court inquest into the 1981 Stardust fire, Tony Wade, brother of Paul Wade, spoke about the surreal experience of finally burying Paul in 2007 after he had remained unidentified for 25 years. Tony recalled being at the club with Paul when the fire broke out, noting that Paul's lack of tattoos and perfect teeth contributed to his being one of seven unidentified victims. He described the family's daily attendance at funerals and the frustration of not having a headstone for seven years. The identification in 2007 allowed the family to hold a proper funeral, which Tony described as surreal as the siblings were in their 40s while Paul was "forever 17." He reflected on the profound impact on their parents, especially their mother's loss of faith and their father's anguish. Tony concluded by expressing the family's enduring love and longing for Paul.
In a family sexual‑abuse trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 30‑year‑old complainant denied that he had made rape allegations against his 38‑year‑old cousin to deflect attention after being accused of raping another family member. He testified that he was anally raped twice by his cousin when he was a child, between the ages of ten and twelve, in 1999‑2005. He described the first incident as occurring while he slept in a car, and the second while the car was parked opposite a graveyard. He said he screamed and shouted for the cousin to stop, who then told him he was "only messing." The court heard that the complainant had not reported the abuse to social workers and that he had approached the police in 2018 with allegations against his cousin, which he claimed were made partly to deflect attention from his own behaviour.
A 28‑year‑old man, John Titiloye, will go on trial on Thursday for the murder of Ademola Giwa, 25, who was killed on 10 August 2021 in the Mac Uilliam Road area of Tallaght. Titiloye was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court and pleaded not guilty. He was employed as a blind fitter in the Dublin area in 2019. The judge, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, warned the jury not to discuss the case or conduct independent research, and the trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, is expected to last two weeks.
Lisa Lawlor, orphaned when her parents died in the 1981 Stardust fire, testified at the Dublin Coroner's Court inquest that the earlier arson allegation added insult to injury. She described growing up in the shadow of the disaster, recounting how she was left alone in the house after her teenage babysitter fled when the fire was reported. Lisa recalled her parents' last night, their decision to stay longer at the disco, and their failure to escape the blaze. She spoke of the trauma endured by her family, including drug addiction and the deaths of her grandparents shortly after the fire. Lisa expressed that the arson claim further harmed the victims' memory and that she hopes justice will finally be served for her parents. The inquest focused on the personal impact of the tragedy rather than legal outcomes.
A family sexual abuse trial is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury. Five defendants, comprising a 66-year-old man, his 63-year-old wife, and their three sons aged 38, 40, and 41, face 126 counts of alleged offences against four family members who were children at the time. The alleged incidents occurred between 1999 and 2005. All five defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them. The first accused is charged with 25 counts, including anal and oral rape of his nephew and granddaughter. The second accused faces 31 charges, including rape and sexual assault of his sister. The third accused is charged with 36 counts, including anal rape of his niece and cousin. The fourth accused, the mother, is charged with concealing the effects of anal rape and assaulting her nephew and granddaughter. The fifth accused faces 31 charges of rape, sexual assault, and oral rape against his sister. During testimony, a 33-year-old male complainant alleged that his uncle anally raped him when he was approximately nine or ten years old. He stated that the abuse continued until he was 16 or 17. The trial continues.
In a sentencing hearing on 8 May 2023, the family of Gareth Kelly, a 38‑year‑old father, demanded justice after his killer, Christina Anderson, 41, stabbed him five times while he was attempting to start his car outside her home on 25 February 2020. Anderson, who had never met Kelly, approached him and stabbed him twice before returning to her house and stabbing him again. Kelly died at the scene. Anderson was initially charged with murder and pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, but the Director of Public Prosecutions accepted a plea of guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility due to a mental disorder. The court heard statements from Kelly's partner Maria Murphy, mother Noeleen Kelly, sister Lorraine Kelly and others, describing the profound loss and pain caused by the killing. The judge adjourned the matter to 22 May to hear mitigation pleas from Anderson's defence lawyers.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 30‑year‑old woman testified that she was raped by two uncles between 1999 and 2004. She described being forced into a van, anally raped, then vaginally raped, and later being taken to a GAA pitch where she was again anally raped. She also recounted an incident at a trailer where another uncle anally raped her and she fled, vomiting. After reporting these assaults to her grandmother, the woman claimed her grandmother beat her with a plastic stick and put an adult nappy on her while she was bleeding. The woman denied any abuse by her grandfather, though prosecutors questioned her earlier statements. The defendants, a 66‑year‑old man and his three sons, deny all charges. The trial is ongoing before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury.
Michelle Kennedy, sister of 17‑year‑old Marie Kennedy who died in the Stardust fire, spoke at the inquest on 5 May 2023. She described Marie as warm, caring, lively and fiercely protective, a "dancing queen" who loved music, dance and fashion. Michelle recalled Marie's early love of Irish dancing, her participation in a St. Patrick's Day parade, and her success in a singing competition. She also shared anecdotes of Marie's playful nature, her love of shoes, and her role as the eldest of six siblings who looked after them. Michelle said the family's long fight for answers had taken too much, so they are now focusing on remembering Marie's life and "reclaiming her from the darkness and despair" to bring her back into the sunlight. The inquest is held at the Pillar Room in the Rotunda Hospital.
The inquest into the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire, which claimed 48 lives, heard a pen portrait of 17‑year‑old Robert Kelly. Antoinette Keegan, a friend of Kelly's late brother Eugene, recounted that Kelly had a premonition of his death three weeks before the fire. He reportedly lay on his bed, had an out‑of‑body experience, and told Eugene he would die young and was not afraid. Keegan described Kelly as a beloved, spiky‑haired youth who loved his mother deeply. The portrait also noted that Kelly was last seen alive at the Stardust, laughing with friends before the fire erupted. The inquest also heard a portrait of Robert "Bobby" Hillick, a Belfast‑born man who worked on a Dublin building site and was killed in the same blaze. Bill Hillick, Bobby's brother, described Bobby as hardworking, close to family, and deeply affected by his death.
During the Stardust Inquest, the Keegan family recounted the loss of their daughters Mary and Martina, who died in the 1981 fire that claimed 48 lives. The parents spent two days in the morgue, receiving plastic bags with jewellery to identify, including a signet ring with initials MK and a Claddagh ring. Lorraine Keegan described Martina as a beautiful, blonde model aspirant, nicknamed Cinderella for her work cleaning the fire. Damien Keegan, the youngest brother, recalled waiting on the doorstep for Mary, who was 19, and expressed his confusion as a child. The family noted that the tragedy also claimed their parents, John and Christine Keegan, and that the event forever altered their lives. The inquest highlighted the enduring grief and the family's commitment to seeking truth and justice.
A husband, his wife, and their three sons are currently on trial at the Central Criminal Court, facing allegations of sexual offences and assaults against four members of their extended family. The first accused, aged 66, has pleaded not guilty to 25 charges, including two counts of anal rape of his granddaughter, and 21 charges against his nephew. His son, the second accused (41), pleaded not guilty to 31 charges involving his niece and sister. The third accused (38), another son, denied 36 charges, including anal rape of his cousin and niece. The fourth accused, their mother (63), pleaded not guilty to concealing the effects of an offence and two counts of assault. The fifth accused (40), the third son, pleaded not guilty to 31 charges against his sister. Prosecutors allege the offences occurred between September 1999 and February 2004. The complainants are two brothers, aged 30 and 33, and two women, aged 30 and 36. Shane Costelloe SC stated that the State's case is that each complainant was sexually abused by some of the accused. The trial, expected to last three weeks, continues before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring.
In May 2020 a dockworker, Brian Dooley, was dismissed by Marine Terminals Ltd after a truck driver, who was lost and had climbed onto the running board of a moving container handling machine, was allowed to remain on the machine's cab. Dooley told the driver to dismount, but the driver refused, claiming he was lost. Dooley feared the driver could be struck by a lorry or container and, without a functioning two‑way radio, proceeded to the driver's truck to escort him to the collection point. The incident was discovered by a manager reviewing CCTV on 24 June 2020, leading to an investigation and Dooley's dismissal. The Workplace Relations Commission upheld Dooley's unfair dismissal claim, noting his 24 years of unblemished service, but reduced his loss‑of‑earnings award to €10,000 because his attempts to mitigate losses were deemed inadequate. The decision was published on 3 May 2023.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, a 72‑year‑old former sports coach admitted to 13 counts of indecent assault on five teenage boys between December 1979 and March 1990. The admissions followed Judge Martin Nolan's ruling that incidents involving complainants aged 15 or older should not be considered by the jury, as the law at the time allowed consensual activity post‑15. The defendant had initially pleaded not guilty to 266 counts covering 1978‑1993. He denied wrongdoing, claiming some allegations were fabricated or that he only acted after the boys turned 15. The judge remanded him in custody and adjourned sentencing to 22 May, noting the conduct was "grossly immoral" but not criminally illegal under the 1980s law. The case remains pending sentencing.
In the opening day of the Stardust inquest, Gertrude Barrett, mother of 17‑year‑old Michael Barrett, recounted the devastation of losing her son in the February 1981 nightclub fire. She described the four days she spent waiting at the Dublin city morgue for Michael's body to be identified, the callousness she felt, and the shock of learning he was the last of the 40 victims to be identified. Barrett spoke of Michael's cheerful personality, his ambitions as a plumber‑DJ apprentice, and his love of music and family. She reflected on the lasting grief that has followed her family, the impact on her other children, and the 40‑year fight for justice. The inquest began with pen portraits, a tradition that allows families to publicly commemorate those who died, before formal evidence is heard. The hearing also included testimony from other bereaved families, such as Betty Bissett, whose daughter Carol died in hospital three days after the blaze.
The Central Criminal Court will hear a case involving ten individuals and three companies accused of anti‑competition offences in the provision of school bus services in the State. The prosecution alleges that between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2016 the accused entered into or authorised agreements that prevented, restricted or distorted competition in the trade of school bus services. The charges are under sections 4, 6, 8 and 8(6) of the Competition Act 2002 and were brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions on behalf of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission following a 2016 investigation. Ms Tessa White BL presented the case to Mr Justice Paul McDermott, who adjourned the matter to 9 June to review progress and consider pre‑trial applications. The trial is expected to last 12 weeks and will be heard as a single trial with all parties together.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 72‑year‑old former sports coach pleaded not guilty to 266 counts of indecent and sexual assault against five boys. The court heard that the complainants, now men in their 40s and 50s, had been in contact with the accused as boys or teenagers through sports and family friendship. The State alleged that the accused exposed himself, fondled, masturbated, handcuffed, urinated and defecated with the boys, and that he offered money for sexual acts. The accused denied suggesting that a second complainant could pay off a loan by letting him watch the complainant's wife and him have sex. He claimed the relationship with the second complainant became sexual only after he turned 18 and that any acts were consensual. The trial continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
A 34‑year‑old Limerick man, Richard Treacy, was charged at the Special Criminal Court with an alleged money‑laundering offence linked to renovation work at his home. The charge alleges that between 1 January 2014 and 12 January 2021, Treacy either knew or was reckless about whether the renovation work was funded by proceeds of criminal conduct, and that he concealed the true source of the property. The offence contravenes Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010. Treacy was arrested on a warrant issued by the Special Criminal Court and presented to the court in the Criminal Courts of Justice building on Parkgate Street, Dublin. He was charged before a three‑judge, non‑jury court, and Mr Justice Tony Hunt ordered that he be tried before the court.
Jack & Jones, a well‑known menswear retailer, was ordered by a tribunal to pay a former employee, Jake Quinn, €10,725, which represents six months' wages, after Quinn claimed he had not received a Sunday premium for 14 Sundays between April and July 2022. Quinn, who earned €11 per hour for a 37.5‑hour week, also alleged that he was not paid for bank holiday entitlements on four dates in March, April and May 2022. He was dismissed on 28 July 2022, five weeks after filing his complaint. The retailer, represented by William O'Reilly, admitted it does not pay Sunday premia and that the contract was silent on the issue. The adjudicating officer, Conor Stokes, found Quinn's complaint well founded and ordered the retailer to comply with Sunday premium payments for all staff.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a 72‑year‑old former sports coach is on trial for 266 counts of indecent and sexual assault against five boys, with alleged incidents spanning 1978 to 1993 in Waterford, Cork and Kilkenny. One complainant, now 56, described how the coach first approached him around age 12, rubbing his leg and later tying him with twine and handcuffs, touching his genitals and taking naked photographs in the coach's car and home. He also recounted being taken to a wooded area where he was tied to a tree, had his genitals squeezed, and was threatened with a cigarette. The complainant said these weekly abuses continued until he was 15 and that he received money from the coach. The witness denied that the allegations were fabricated and insisted he was not lying. The trial is set to continue before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. The unnamed 72-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a 2023 decision, the Workplace Relations Commission found that Peter O'Brien, owner of Plan Eden Projects, had unlawfully penalised carpenter David Keegan for pursuing a personal injury claim after a fall from scaffolding on 17 January 2022. Keegan, who suffered a serious knee and leg injury, had received three and a half weeks' sick pay but had it stopped on 17 February 2022 when O'Brien wrote to his payroll company that Keegan had "left us, effective today." O'Brien later admitted the dismissal was an administrative error and rectified it on 8 March 2022, but the tribunal deemed the timing of the pay stoppage and the dismissal to be linked to Keegan's legal action. The tribunal awarded Keegan €21,840 in compensation for the breach of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and an additional €3,360 for breaches of the Terms of Employment (Information) Act 1994, bringing the total to €25,200.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 72‑year‑old former sports coach, who cannot be named, pleaded not guilty to five counts of indecent and sexual assault against teenage boys in Waterford, Cork and Kilkenny between 1978 and 1993. One complainant, now 48, testified that the accused began making sexual innuendos when he was about 12, offering money for the boy to allow the man to touch his penis and later to watch him masturbate. The complainant described being tied to trees and beds, forced to perform acts involving urination and defecation, and the accused wearing women's clothes and demanding the boy "punish" him by squeezing his genitals or kicking him. Alcohol and drugs were also present. Another complainant, aged 52, recounted a 1985 incident where the accused touched his penis in a car and the boy later reported the event to a Garda station, only to be told an adult was required.
In a High Court extradition hearing, lawyers for Liam Patrick Daly, a 50‑year‑old Dublin‑born man living in Birmingham, argued that extraditing him to Germany for a drunken incident that occurred in Berlin in 1994 would be unjust and a breach of his human rights. The incident involved Daly entering a takeaway on February 18, 1994, brandishing a broken chair leg and attempting to strike a worker, who defended himself without injury. A German domestic warrant was issued in August 1994, followed by a European Arrest Warrant in March 1996. Daly was arrested and detained for three days in 1994, released with his passport, and later moved addresses, preventing service of an indictment. A UK extradition case in 2003 refused to surrender him, citing a nine‑year delay and the unavailability of the alleged victim and witness.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 72‑year‑old former sports coach, who cannot be named, pleaded not guilty to 266 counts of indecent and sexual assault against five boys in Waterford, Cork and Kilkenny between 1978 and 1993. The prosecution, led by Paul Greene SC, presented evidence that the accused tied boys up in woods or at his home, exposed his penis, forced them to urinate in a glass and defecate in his mouth, and engaged in other sexual acts. The first complainant, now 51, testified that the coach, a family friend, offered money for such acts, describing a pattern that began when he was 13 and continued until he was 20. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, remains ongoing with a jury hearing the case.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Julie Flood, 51, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for fatally stabbing her 94‑year‑old father, Patrick Flood, on his birthday in April 2019. The prosecution alleged that Flood was in a psychotic state, claiming God instructed her that her father was an intruder and that she must stab him. She stabbed him with a kitchen knife, left the house, and later flagged down a driver, stating she was after stabbing her daddy. Gardaí arrested and detained her under the Mental Health Act. Patrick Flood was taken to hospital, underwent surgery, but died two days later from a stab wound to the abdomen compounded by severe heart disease. The trial focuses on whether Flood was insane at the time of the act, with expert testimony from both sides expected. The case continues before a jury.
Julie Flood, aged 51 and resident of The Oyle, Oylegate, Co Wexford, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of her 94‑year‑old father, Patrick Flood, who was killed on his birthday, 14 April 2019, at their home. A jury was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court on 17 April 2023, and the trial will begin the following day before Mr Justice Paul McDermott. The court expects to hear from several factual witnesses and medical experts, and the trial is scheduled to last up to three days with a jury of twelve.
Two men have been found guilty at the Special Criminal Court of providing getaway vehicles during the 2016 Regency Hotel attack in Dublin, in which Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne was killed. Paul Murphy, aged 61, of Swords, County Dublin, and Jason Bonney, aged 52, of Portmarnock, Dublin 13, were convicted of participating in or contributing to the murder by making their vehicles available to the Hutch Criminal Organisation on February 5, 2016. Justice Tara Burns delivered judgment, finding that Murphy's Toyota Avensis taxi and Bonney's black BMW X5 were part of a six-vehicle convoy that collected gunmen from St Vincent's GAA club following the shooting. The court rejected defence claims that Bonney's deceased father had driven the jeep, finding he remained at home that afternoon. Both men will be sentenced on May 8.
A bin‑man with medical obesity, asthma, diabetes and gout, Kieran Glynn, who had worked for Ray Whelan Ltd for 22 years, brought an unfair dismissal claim to the Workplace Relations Commission after refusing to attend medical appointments arranged by his employer. Colleagues alleged he refused to empty bins and fell asleep in the lorry cab, and the line manager testified that he had to be taken out of the cab after falling asleep. Glynn's lawyers argued he was fit to work and that the company's actions constituted harassment. The tribunal found that Glynn had not been dismissed or forced to quit, that the company had legitimate concerns about his health, and that the disciplinary process was not a sham. Consequently, the tribunal dismissed Glynn's complaints under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 and the Employment Equality Act 1998 as not well founded.
A Workplace Relations Commission adjudicating officer awarded €15,000 in compensation to an intellectually disabled woman who was refused service after being mistaken for a shoplifter. The incident occurred on 18 November 2021, when a security manager denied the complainant entry, stating she was banned from the premises. The shop's security manager claimed he recognised the woman from a previous shoplifting event but did not ask her name. The complainant's sister testified that the store manager alleged the woman had been caught shoplifting and that gardaí were involved, claims the sister refuted after checking with the local Garda station, which had no record of such an incident. The shop's legal representative, Hannah Cahill BL, argued the case was one of mistaken identity and that the complaint was unfounded. Adjudicating officer Shay Henry accepted that the denial of service was based on mistaken identity but found that the complainant was discriminated against on the grounds of her disability under the Equal Status Act 2000. He noted that the respondent's explanation was only provided just before the hearing and that no apology was ever given. The officer concluded that due to her disability, the complainant was unable to challenge the assumption on the day, resulting in distress. The decision was made anonymous to protect the complainant's privacy.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court failed to reach a verdict in the trial of three men accused of raping a teenage girl in a car in December 2017. The complainant, then 17, alleged she was raped in turn by the defendants at a hotel car park in the Leinster area. The first defendant, aged 22, pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault. The second defendant, aged 23, pleaded not guilty to rape, oral rape, and two counts of sexual assault. The third defendant, also 23, pleaded not guilty to rape and oral rape. After a three-week trial and over nine hours of deliberation, the jury returned verdicts of disagreed on all eight counts. Ms Justice Greally adjourned the case for mention to April 28 next. Prosecutors argued the complainant explicitly said no, while defence counsel contended the interactions were consensual or that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. Under the 1981 Rape Act, the defendants retain anonymity until conviction, and the complainant remains entitled to anonymity.
The jury in the trial of three defendants accused of raping a then-teenage girl in a hotel car park has begun deliberations. The State alleges that on December 20, 2017, in the Leinster area, the complainant went for a drive with her friend, the three accused, and another man. While the vehicle was stopped, the prosecution claims each defendant raped the woman. All three defendants deny wrongdoing. The first defendant (22) pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault. The second defendant (23) pleaded not guilty to rape, oral rape, and two counts of sexual assault. The third defendant (23) pleaded not guilty to rape and oral rape. Ms Justice Melanie Greally sent the jury home for the weekend after approximately 90 minutes of deliberation. During her charge, she noted the complainant's friend was unavailable due to circumstances beyond anyone's control and attributed trial delays to the pandemic. Defense counsel for the third defendant argued the issue was consent, stating his client admitted sexual activity but claimed it was consensual. He suggested the complainant's evidence lacked plausibility, citing her failure to see a security van and her positive messages to a friend later that night. He urged the jury to consider if the incident was a regretted 'misguided adventure' rather than a crime. The jury is due to continue deliberations on Monday.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has sought clarification from Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring on self-defence and intent in the murder trial of Matusz Batiuk (33), formerly of Carrabeg Estate, Swinford, County Mayo. Mr Batiuk has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael McDonagh, who died following a stabbing at the housing estate on November 16, 2020. The jury asked whether self-defence and lack of intent to commit murder or cause serious harm were mutually exclusive. In response, the judge explained that if the jury were not satisfied the accused intended to kill or cause serious harm, manslaughter would be the appropriate verdict. Ms Justice Ring noted Mr Batiuk's longstanding mental health difficulties, instructing the jury to consider him as a person with that illness. The prosecution contends he deliberately stabbed Mr McDonagh with intent to kill, whilst the defence argues he acted in self-defence, believing his life was in danger. The jury is continuing deliberations.
During Michael Scott's trial, the jury was not presented with evidence that Chrissie Treacy claimed Michael Scott was responsible for her dog Bradley's disappearance. In a pre‑trial hearing, prosecution counsel Dean Kelly SC informed the court that after Bradley vanished in February 2018, Treacy told the community that Scott had caused the dog's departure or death. The trial noted Bradley was a Jack Russell beloved by Treacy, who was deeply upset and required medication. Treacy had also told friend Regina Donohue that Scott asked her what it would be worth to recover the dog, a statement the judge ruled inadmissible as hearsay. Treacy had previously confided in consultant Declan McHugh that she feared for her life and the dog. The judge allowed witnesses to describe Treacy's demeanor but barred them from repeating her statements. On the first day of testimony, Donohue was insulted by Scott, who called her a "c**t" as she walked past him.
The trial of Michael Scott, accused of murdering his aunt Chrissie Treacy by running her over with an agricultural teleporter, ended with an acquittal. The jury, after nearly 15 hours of deliberation, rejected the prosecution's claim that Scott deliberately killed his 76‑year‑old aunt out of entitlement and revenge. Instead, they found that Scott's actions were grossly negligent, describing the incident as a tragic accident. Scott, 58, had previously denied any intent to kill and had stated that he was simply reversing when he saw his aunt on the ground. The judge noted Scott's inappropriate remarks toward a witness but allowed him to remain on bail pending further proceedings. No conviction or sentencing was recorded in the article. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.