In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Martin Nolan imposed a consecutive four‑year sentence on 25‑year‑old Gerard Hughes of Tallaght for a robbery and endangerment that took place on Crumlin Road on 28 July 2019. Hughes left the passenger seat of a white car, seized a woman's handbag, and, after she resisted, dragged her alongside the vehicle for 30 metres. CCTV footage showed the incident, and a medical report recorded grazing scratches and a chipped tooth on the victim. Hughes pleaded guilty, was already serving a two‑and‑a‑half‑year term for earlier offences, and had a history of drug use. The court noted the seriousness of the robbery and the victim's bravery, and, after considering mitigating factors, ordered the four‑year term to run consecutively to his existing sentence.
The jury in the trial of Stephen Silver, a 46-year-old motorbike mechanic from Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, continued deliberations at the Central Criminal Court on Wednesday. Mr Silver stands accused of murdering Detective Garda Colm Horkan, who suffered eleven gunshot wounds during an incident at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to capital murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. The jury must decide between verdicts of capital murder, murder, manslaughter, or manslaughter by diminished responsibility. Central to the case are conflicting expert psychiatric assessments regarding Mr Silver's mental state at the time of the shooting. Justice Paul McDermott instructed the jury to apply common sense in evaluating evidence from two consultant psychiatrists who disagreed on this issue. The panel of seven men and five women will resume deliberations on Thursday morning at eleven o'clock.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has begun deliberating in the trial of Stephen Silver, aged 46, from Aughaward, Foxford, County Mayo, who is charged with the murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan. The accused has pleaded not guilty to capital murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility in relation to the incident at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. During the trial, the defence presented evidence from a psychiatrist who testified the accused was suffering from bipolar affective disorder at the time, which diminished his responsibility. The prosecution's psychiatric expert disputed this assessment, maintaining the accused's mental capacity remained intact. Mr Justice Paul McDermott charged the jury, comprising seven men and five women, on the available verdicts. The jury retired shortly before midday and was sent home in the evening. Deliberations are to resume Wednesday morning at 10.30am.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, George Langan, 37, pleaded guilty to assaulting a 21‑year‑old autistic man on 13 August 2020. Langan and another man had grabbed the victim, questioned him about chasing two 12‑year‑old girls, and restrained him on the ground. A woman at the scene kicked the victim and shouted abuse. Gardaí found no evidence that the victim had acted inappropriately; the accusations were unfounded. Langan expressed remorse and his lawyers requested leniency. Judge Martin Nolan, after hearing the evidence, described the incident as "vigilante justice" and noted the victim's vulnerability. He imposed a two‑year sentence, suspended in full, with conditions including the payment of €3,000 to the victim or a charity within one year. No prison term was imposed. The court recorded the victim's injuries as scrapes to knees and neck, with primary emotional and psychological effects.
In the retrial of a teenage boy convicted of murdering Urantsetseg Tserendorj, Mr Justice Tony Hunt allowed evidence from a prior attempted robbery to be presented to the jury. The evidence, excluded in the original trial by Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, involved the teenager's interaction with Tayo Odelade, who was attacked after a robbery attempt. The judge deemed the testimony relevant to the accused's intention and behaviour, noting its proximity in time and distance to the fatal incident. The court also discussed pathology findings from Dr Heidi Okkers, who described the stab wound and surgical intervention, and addressed cross‑examination questions about wound depth. The judge upheld the admissibility of the evidence, stating it was not speculative and was pertinent to establishing the accused's intent. No new verdict or sentencing was announced in this article. The unnamed accused pleaded guilty.
A 16‑year‑old, who was 14 when the offence occurred, was found guilty of murdering Uransetseg Tserendorj after a retrial at the Central Criminal Court. The jury, a panel of six men and five women, returned a 10‑to‑1 majority verdict after eight hours and 59 minutes of deliberation. The accused had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter on 29 January 2021, but the State rejected that plea. Tserendorj, a Mongolian national, was stabbed in the neck as she walked home from work in Dublin's financial district on 20 January. The fatal wound severed her carotid artery, leading to catastrophic brain damage and her death on 29 January. The trial heard testimony from Gardaí, Tserendorj's husband, forensic pathologists and the accused, who admitted the stabbing when questioned by police. The judge remanded the teenager in custody for mention, with sentencing scheduled for 21 December.
In the night of 9 pm on 11 November 2022, Urantsetseg Tserendorj was stabbed in the neck by a 14‑year‑old boy who had come to rob her. She was taken to the Mater Hospital where doctors attempted to save her, but she died on 29 January 2023 after a severe hypoxic brain injury caused by the wound. The boy, who had been using drugs, was arrested and later pleaded guilty to manslaughter, but the State rejected the plea and he was tried twice for murder. In the second trial, the jury found him guilty of murder by a 10‑1 majority after a three‑day deliberation. The case highlighted the boy's intent to rob and the accidental nature of the stabbing, but the court concluded that the knife was deliberately swung at her neck. The verdict was delivered by Judge Tony Hunt. The unnamed 14-year-old pleaded not guilty.
The jury in the murder trial of the teenager who stabbed Mongolian national Urantsetseg Tserendorj will continue deliberations for a fourth day. The panel now has 11 jurors after one was excused for medical reasons. Mr Justice Tony Hunt considered postponing the case to allow a 12‑person jury but the excused juror declined to return the next day. He told the jury that a guilty verdict should be returned if they were satisfied the prosecution proved the accused intended to kill or cause serious injury, or if the act was likely to result in death or serious injury. Ms Tserendorj, 49, was stabbed in the neck on 20 January 2021 after the accused attempted to rob her. The accused, a minor, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, to producing a knife and to attempting robbery.
At the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Paul McDermott has instructed the jury in the trial of Stephen Silver to apply common sense when evaluating conflicting psychiatric evidence regarding the accused's mental state. Mr Silver, aged 46, a motorbike mechanic from Aughaward in Foxford, County Mayo, denies murdering Detective Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. He has pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. The defence psychiatrist testified that Mr Silver suffered from bipolar affective disorder at the time of the shooting, whilst the prosecution's expert disagreed. The judge clarified that jurors are not bound by expert testimony and may prefer one account over another. He explained that if they find Mr Silver guilty of unlawful killing with the requisite intent, they must then determine whether his responsibility was substantially diminished by mental disorder. The judge emphasised this remains a question of fact for the jury to assess using common sense alongside all evidence presented. Stephen Silver pleaded not guilty.
A senior garda has given evidence to the Special Criminal Court describing the structure and operations of the "Hutch Criminal Organisation" in proceedings arising from the 2016 killing of Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in Dublin. Detective Superintendent David Gallagher, from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, testified that the organisation stems from intergenerational family bonds centred in Dublin city centre and operates on a patriarchal system prioritising monetary gain. He characterised it as less hierarchical than some criminal groups, describing it as fluid, with affiliates working together, independently, or alongside other organisations. The evidence was admitted despite objections from Gerard Hutch's legal team, who argued its admission would damage their client's presumption of innocence, though the court ruled it inadmissible against Hutch himself. Hutch, along with co-accused Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, denies involvement in the murder. The trial continues before a three-judge panel at the Special Criminal Court. Gerard Hutch pleaded not guilty. Paul Murphy pleaded not guilty. Jason Bonney pleaded not guilty.
Kasia Czernik, a former RTÉ newsreader, claims she was sexually harassed by senior colleague Noel Fogarty through texts, emails and phone calls from 18 to 21 June 2021, just ten days before her wedding. She filed a complaint with the Workplace Relations Commission under the Employment Equality Act 1999, alleging RTÉ failed to inform her of the disciplinary sanction against Fogarty, who was dismissed in September 2021. Fogarty was suspended pending investigation, and RTÉ removed his security access. HR head Tanya McNulty testified that Fogarty was instructed not to contact Czernik and that meetings with Czernik were held to discuss security and her concerns. Czernik's solicitor Barry Crushell argued that victims should know the consequences faced by harassers, while RTÉ's counsel defended the broadcaster's privacy obligations. The tribunal has not yet issued a decision. The case is ongoing.
A garda has given evidence at the Special Criminal Court trial of three men accused of involvement in the murder of Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in February 2016. The officer told the court that a BMW X5 belonging to Jason Bonney, seized in Donaghmede on 20 February 2016, appeared to have been recently valeted and cleaned, with a fresh smell detected inside the vehicle. Bonney, aged 51, of Drumnigh Wood, Portmarnock, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder by providing access to motor vehicles. Co-accused Gerard Hutch and Paul Murphy have also denied involvement. Detective Sergeant Patrick O'Toole gave evidence regarding searches of addresses in Dublin, including Champions Avenue and Buckingham Village, during which various items were recovered. The court heard that a Ford key observed during an initial search of Champions Avenue was not seized in error, requiring gardaí to obtain a second warrant. The trial continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns and two other judges.
The jury in the trial of a 16‑year‑old boy charged with the murder of Mongolian national Urantsetseg Tserendorj will continue deliberations for a third day. The jury, composed of six men and six women, has requested transcripts of evidence from Ms Tserendorj's husband, Ulambayer Surenkhor, and from Ms Tayo Odelade, whom the accused attempted to rob on the night of the stabbing. Judge Tony Hunt informed the jury that transcripts of the evidence and the closing statements would be provided, but a transcript of his own directions was not yet available; he would give a verbal recap and supply the written transcript later. He explained two possible routes to a guilty verdict: one requiring proof of intent to kill or cause serious injury, and another where the act could have resulted in death or serious injury. Urantsetseg Tserendorj pleaded not guilty.
At the Central Criminal Court, counsel for Stephen Silver, who denies murdering Detective Garda Colm Horkan, has questioned whether the prosecution has adequately proven the deceased was a member of An Garda Síochána. Roisin Lacey SC submitted to the jury that the prosecution must establish beyond reasonable doubt that Garda Horkan was acting in accordance with his duty. Ms Lacey highlighted discrepancies between the date Garda Horkan's identification card was issued and his attested date as a garda, and noted differences between identification numbers provided to the jury and those on his identity card. She acknowledged evidence from senior gardaí regarding Garda Horkan's duties and presence on the day in question but contended formal proof of his membership had not been presented. Ms Lacey also argued evidence that Mr Silver was experiencing a relapse of bipolar disorder substantially reduced his responsibility for the killing. Mr Silver, aged 46, a motorbike mechanic from Aughaward, Foxford, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.
Stephen Silver, a forty-six-year-old motorbike mechanic from Foxford, County Mayo, stands trial at the Central Criminal Court on a charge of murdering Detective Garda Colm Horkan on 17 June 2020 in Castlerea, County Roscommon. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. The prosecution closing speech, delivered by James Dwyer SC, contended that Mr Silver was filled with significant anger towards An Garda Síochána and that the encounter with Garda Horkan provided an opportunity to act on that anger. The prosecution argued that Mr Silver's mental state was not impaired in any significant way and that his behaviour that day was purposeful and deliberate. The defence claims Mr Silver was suffering from bipolar affective disorder which diminished his responsibility. A consultant psychiatrist for the prosecution disputed this assessment. The jury will hear closing submissions from the defence before Mr Justice Paul McDermott provides further direction.
A jury of six men and six women has begun deliberations in the murder trial of a 16‑year‑old boy accused of killing Uransetseg Tserendorj in Dublin in January 2020. The boy, who cannot be named because he is a minor, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter on 29 January 2021, a plea the State rejected. He also pleaded guilty to producing a knife and attempting to rob Ms Tserendorj on 20 January 2021. The trial heard that Ms Tserendorj was returning home from work at about 9 pm when the accused asked for money, she refused, and he inflicted a fatal stab wound to her neck that severed her carotid artery. She was taken to Connolly Station, called her husband, and later died at Mater Hospital on 29 January. The judge instructed the jury to focus on the evidence, the accused's state of mind, and factors such as age, immaturity, panic and intoxication.
A man accused of murdering Detective Garda Colm Horkan gave inconsistent accounts of the shooting in the immediate aftermath and during garda interviews, a prosecution barrister told the Central Criminal Court on the twenty-first day of trial. James Dwyer SC said the accused's statements at the scene contrasted sharply with evidence he later presented in court, suggesting his account may have been constructed to support his defence rather than reflect accurate recollection. The prosecutor outlined how the accused initially denied the victim was a garda, subsequently claimed the victim identified himself but wore civilian clothing, and later suggested the victim may have been a drug dealer. The accused also provided varying explanations for how the victim sustained injuries. Stephen Silver, aged 46, a motorbike mechanic from Aughaward, Foxford, County Mayo, denies murdering Detective Garda Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. He has pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. Expert psychiatric evidence differed on whether the accused's mental capacity was diminished at the time. Stephen Silver pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the trial of Gerard Hutch, Paul Murphy, and Jason Bonney, all of whom pleaded not guilty to charges related to the murder of David Byrne on February 5, 2016. Hutch is accused of the murder, while Murphy and Bonney are alleged to have participated in or contributed to the killing by providing access to motor vehicles. Prosecution counsel Sean Gillane SC stated that the escape route, involving a silver Ford Transit van and other vehicles, is central to the case against Bonney and Murphy. Detective Sergeant Padraig O'Toole testified that Bonney's BMW X5 was tracked to St Vincent's GAA Club, where it allegedly assisted the raiders' escape. In interviews, Bonney claimed he received an invitation to the boxing weigh-in from former boxer Matthew Macklin and stated his son was also invited. He expressed fear regarding alleged threats to his life, asserting the Kinahan Organised Crime Group did not view him as a threat. Defence counsel John Fitzgerald SC indicated that CCTV evidence identifying Bonney in the vehicle would be challenged. The trial continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns, sitting with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Grainne Malone.
In a murder trial, a 16‑year‑old boy was accused of stabbing Mongolian national Urantsetseg Tserendorj in the neck on 20 January 2021. The State's barrister described the attack as a "callous, unprovoked and vicious act of thuggery" intended to cause injury, citing CCTV footage of two deliberate blows. The defence argued the boy was intoxicated and that the incident was a chaotic episode of pushing and shoving, with the knife used only to intimidate. The prosecution maintained that the boy's intent to rob and to use violence was clear, and that the knife strikes were deliberate. The boy pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, and also pleaded guilty to producing a knife and attempting to rob Ms Tserendorj. The trial will conclude with jury directions from Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Stephen Silver, who denies murdering Detective Garda Colm Horkan, heard closing arguments are immencing. A prosecution psychiatrist told the jury that Mr Silver, aged 46, a motorbike mechanic from Aughaward, Foxford, County Mayo, was not psychotic and not suffering from delusions when he shot and killed the detective at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. Professor Harry Kennedy said Mr Silver's execution of a complex sequence of actions, including gaining control of the weapon, firing multiple times, and aiming deliberately at the victim's trunk, demonstrated his capacity to form intent. Mr Silver accepts killing Garda Horkan but has pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. The defence called a psychiatrist who argued Mr Silver suffered from a mental disorder affecting his responsibility. Mr Justice Paul McDermott advised the jury that closing submissions and his legal charge would follow over several days.
At the Special Criminal Court, garda witnesses detailed their investigation into the February 2016 murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in Dublin. Detective Sergeant Alan McGovern testified that Detective Sergeant Brian Hanley had informed him that Paul Murphy, a taxi driver from Swords, was suspected of transporting participants in the killing to Buckingham Village on the morning of the shooting and subsequently driving away from St Vincent's GAA grounds in Marino. CCTV footage showed Murphy's light green Toyota Avensis arriving at Buckingham Village at multiple times that morning and later joining a convoy including a silver Ford Transit van believed connected to the attack. Gardai found Murphy's phone switched off between 1.20pm and 3pm, described as unusual compared to his normal usage patterns. When officers arrived at Cherry Avenue, Swords, on 19 February to seize the vehicle, Murphy reportedly expressed relief and blessed himself upon learning they were gardai. Gerard Hutch, Paul Murphy, and Jason Bonney deny involvement in Mr Byrne's death. Gerard Hutch pleaded not guilty. Paul Murphy pleaded not guilty. Jason Bonney pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin court hearing, a 16‑year‑old boy who stabbed Mongolian national Urantsetseg Tserendorj on 20 January 2021 was described by a witness, Ms. Tayo Odelade, as having approached her while she walked home from work, tried to steal her mobile phone, and after a struggle, pulled out a knife and warned her that "that could have ended a lot worse for you." Ms. Odelade, an accountant, said she fought back, managed to keep her phone, and the teenager later apologized before leaving on a scooter. The boy, who cannot be named because he is a minor, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the State did not accept, and also pleaded guilty to producing a knife and attempting to rob Ms. Tserendorj. The case was heard in the Central Criminal Court, with evidence from Detective Sergeant Brendan Casey and Ms.
At the Central Criminal Court, a consultant psychiatrist has disputed evidence that a murder accused's responsibility was diminished due to mental illness. Professor Harry Kennedy told Stephen Silver's trial that the accused, aged 46 and from Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, displayed a pattern of self-dramatising behaviour during confrontations with gardaí rather than symptoms typical of bipolar disorder. Professor Kennedy referenced a 2006 incident in which Mr Silver emerged from his apartment with a sword and helmet before eventually complying with gardaí, characterising this as theatrical rather than pathological. He argued that Mr Silver's actions surrounding the death of Detective Garda Horkan—including repeatedly firing a gun and selectively deciding how to cooperate with gardaí afterwards—demonstrated purposeful intent and rational decision-making inconsistent with diminished responsibility. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. The trial, before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury, continues.
A 16‑year‑old boy stood trial in the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Mongolian national Urantsetseg Tserendorj, who was stabbed in the neck on 20 January 2021 while walking home from work. The accused told Gardaí that he had gone out that night with a knife to rob someone. He said he panicked, pulled the knife from his pocket and stabbed Ms Tserendorj, admitting "I did it" and expressing remorse. Garda witnesses described the boy's interaction with his grandmother, who was upset and wanted him to hand himself in, and the discovery of a knife in his home during a search. The boy pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, to producing a knife and to attempting to rob Ms Tserendorj. The case is proceeding before a jury and Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the trial of Gerard Hutch, Paul Murphy, and Jason Bonney, all of whom pleaded not guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder of David Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. Prosecutors alleged that a silver Ford Transit van containing six people, including three in tactical garda clothing, escaped the Regency Hotel using parked vehicles. Detective Garda Alan Crummey testified that Murphy, a taxi driver, admitted to purchasing his Toyota Avensis from Eddie 'Neddie' Hutch and driving into Buckingham Village on the morning of the shooting. A swipe card found in Murphy's car was identified as one of four missing from a box, with its sequence number adjacent to a card recovered at Patsy Hutch Senior's home. Murphy told gardai his vehicle could have been 'cloned' and claimed he was at the location to collect money from Eddie Hutch. The court heard that Murphy identified himself and his taxi in CCTV footage from the Maxol Garage and The Beachcomber Pub. The matter remains at the trial stage, with no findings, sentences, or finalisations recorded.
At the Central Criminal Court trial, consultant psychiatrist Dr Brenda Wright testified that defendant Stephen Silver, 46, suffered from bipolar affective disorder which significantly diminished his responsibility for the killing of Detective Garda Colm Horkan. Dr Wright diagnosed Silver with a severe mental illness characterized by mania, psychotic symptoms, and delusions, stating that his impairment in thinking and judgment contributed significantly to his actions. She supported the defense argument that under Section 6 of the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act, a jury should find him not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. Silver, a motorbike mechanic from Foxford, Co. Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Det Garda Horkan, alleging he was reckless as to whether the victim was acting in accordance with his duty. He has also pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility for the incident in Castlerea, Co. Roscommon, on 17 June 2020. Dr Wright noted that Silver's condition was exacerbated by his repeated failure to take prescribed medication, though she disagreed with the prosecution expert who argued he had intact mental capacity. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury, with cross-examination continuing.
The murder trial of a 16-year-old male, who cannot be named as he is a minor, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Tony Hunt. The defendant has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Urantsetseg Tserendorj but guilty to her manslaughter on 29 January 2021. He also pleaded guilty to producing a knife and attempting to rob Ms Tserendorj on 20 January 2021. The State did not accept the manslaughter plea, and the matter remains at the trial stage. Forensic pathologist Dr Heidi Okkers testified that she conducted the post-mortem on 3 February 2021. She identified a partially healed stab wound below the deceased's earlobe and confirmed that the internal carotid artery had been transected. Dr Okkers stated that the cause of death was global cerebral hypoxia due to the loss of blood supply to the brain. She explained that while a haemorrhage tract of 6cm was identified, it was difficult to estimate the full depth of the injury due to prior surgical intervention. She confirmed that no natural pathology could have caused the death and that a knife could have inflicted the wound. The jury viewed CCTV footage showing the accused approaching Ms Tserendorj on a walkway in the IFSC. The trial continues.
Eugene Hanratty Senior, aged 63, of Castleblayney Road, Crossmaglen, Armagh, was convicted by jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following trial of assault causing harm committed at Castleblayney, County Monaghan on 24 November 2012. The victim, a musician, delivered a detailed impact statement describing severe and ongoing injuries sustained during the assault, including multiple facial fractures, permanent vision loss, and facial nerve damage requiring surgical intervention. He outlined how these injuries have fundamentally impaired his ability to read musical notation and continue causing chronic pain and sensory complications. The victim's wife, who witnessed the incident, has since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. Detective Garda evidence described a sustained attack occurring both within and outside a vehicle. Hanratty had claimed self-defence, which the jury rejected. Sentencing was adjourned to 8 November pending further garda cross-examination and mitigation submissions from the defence. The case reached verdict following two previous trials, the first resulting in disagreement and the second being discharged.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Helen Sheehy, daughter of the victim, said the death of her mother Susan Dunne, who was bludgeoned with a hatchet by her autistic son Patrick Dunne, might have been avoided with better supports. She expressed hope that Patrick knows his mother still loves him and that he deserves help. Patrick Dunne, aged 28, was found not guilty by reason of insanity after a jury heard psychiatric evidence that he had little understanding of the act and was unable to refrain. The court ordered him to continue treatment at the Central Mental Hospital. The case involved six fatal hatchet wounds to Susan's head, with Patrick admitting to striking her without lawful justification. The trial highlighted the son's perception of control and his desire for independence. The court noted the tragic outcome and the need for ongoing support for Patrick.
A consultant psychiatrist told the Central Criminal Court that Stephen Silver's behaviour following the fatal shooting of Detective Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020 displayed possible signs of abnormal or manic mental state. Dr Brenda Wright, giving evidence at the trial of the 46-year-old mechanic from Foxford, County Mayo, described his conduct during garda interviews as bizarre and inappropriate, including grandiose claims about military rank and hostile outbursts. She noted his failure to grasp the gravity of his circumstances contrasted sharply with the professional demeanour of investigating gardaí. Dr Wright referenced Mr Silver's psychiatric history, including bipolar disorder and seventeen prior admissions since 1997. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. Dr Wright's evidence continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and jury.
In a Dublin court, a 16‑year‑old boy, who cannot be named because he is a minor, is on trial for the murder of Mongolian national Urantsetseg Tserendorj, who was 49 when she died. The boy pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter and to producing a knife and attempting to rob Ms Tserendorj on 20 January 2021. The prosecution, led by Sean Guerin SC, argued that the teenager "went for the jugular", taking a knife and stabbing her in the neck, an act that caused a fatal carotid artery injury. CCTV footage and the boy's admission to Gardaí were presented. The case focuses on the boy's state of mind at the time of the attack, with the jury instructed to decide whether the prosecution proved a guilty mind for murder or manslaughter. The trial continues tomorrow.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 48‑year‑old man was found not guilty on four counts of raping his wife with household objects, while the jury could not reach a verdict on the remaining 11 counts. The prosecution alleged that between 2005 and 2014 the husband sexually assaulted his wife by penetrating her vagina with items such as a knife, a cheese grater, a bottle, a carrot, a banana, a cucumber, a tulip, a wooden spatula, a decanter stopper, part of a shoe, a bicycle pump, a deodorant bottle and his finger, and also committed anal rape with his thumb. The jury returned four not guilty verdicts after nearly eight hours of deliberation, but was unable to agree on the other charges. The judge thanked the jury, noted the difficulty of the case, and adjourned the matter for mention on 7 November.
Stephen Silver, a 46-year-old motorbike mechanic from Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Detective Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. He has pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. The Central Criminal Court has heard evidence that Silver assaulted psychiatric staff nine months before fatally shooting the detective eleven times. Psychiatrist Dr Brenda Wright testified that Silver had been admitted to psychiatric units seventeen times since 1997, with diagnoses including bipolar affective disorder and schizoaffective disorder. She stated that Silver stopped taking medication following his release from hospital in September 2019. Dr Wright noted that by April 2021, after ten months on antipsychotic medication whilst in custody, Silver had returned to his normal state. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
The jury has begun deliberating in the trial of a Dublin man accused of repeatedly raping his wife using household objects. The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to 15 counts of raping the woman on unknown dates between January 1, 2005 and September 5, 2014. The charges allege that the accused sexually assaulted the woman by penetrating her vagina with various different objects including a knife, a cheese grater, a bottle, a carrot, a banana, a cucumber, a tulip, a wooden spatula, a decanter stopper, part of a shoe, a bicycle pump, a deodorant bottle and his finger. The charges also include an allegation of anal rape and one of penetration of the woman's anus with his thumb. All 15 offences are contrary to section 4 of the 1990 Rape Amendment Act.
A jury of twelve was sworn in on 27 October 2022 to hear the murder trial of a 16‑year‑old teenage boy accused of killing Urantsetseg Tserendorj, a mother of two, on 29 January 2021. The alleged offence occurred on a walkway between George's Dock and Custom House Quay in Dublin 1, where Ms Tserendorj was walking home from work. The defendant, who cannot be named because he is a minor, pleaded not guilty. Judge Karen O'Connor informed the jury that the case involves a juvenile who was 14 at the time of the alleged offence and is now 16, turning 17 soon. She warned the jury to avoid discussing the case over the weekend, to refrain from researching the accused or the case, and to stay away from internet or social media. The trial will commence next Tuesday, 1 November, before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and is expected to last about a week.
Stephen Silver, aged 46, a motorbike mechanic from Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, has given evidence at the Central Criminal Court regarding the death of Detective Garda Colm Horkan on 17 June 2020 at Castlerea, County Roscommon. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. During his testimony, he described a struggle with the detective during which he obtained the garda's firearm and discharged it eleven times as Garda Horkan fell to the ground. Mr Silver stated he was experiencing confused thoughts and acted in self-defence, believing he faced danger. Under cross-examination, counsel highlighted that Mr Silver had been admitted to psychiatric units seventeen times since 2003 and had discontinued prescribed medication despite medical advice, preferring how he felt without treatment. The trial before Mr Justice Paul McDermott continues.
A 46-year-old motorbike mechanic from Foxford, County Mayo, has testified at the Central Criminal Court that he was living in a shed without running water and had discontinued psychiatric medication in the weeks preceding the fatal shooting of Detective Garda Colm Horkan in June 2020. Stephen Silver, who has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility, told the court he experienced escalating mental distress characterised by delusional thinking, including beliefs that an acquaintance was an MI6 agent and that the SAS had planted explosives. He stated he had considered voluntary psychiatric admission the day before the incident but felt "hyper" and "elated" on the morning in question. Silver, diagnosed with schizo-affective disorder and bipolar disorder, disclosed he had abandoned prescribed medication believing it impaired his functioning, though he has resumed treatment since his arrest and reports feeling stable. His testimony before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and jury continues.
In a rape trial at the Central Criminal Court, a man accused of repeatedly raping his wife with household objects claimed the relationship was consensual and described it as a dominant‑submissive dynamic. He denied that he had taken advantage of her when she was unconscious, stating he had full consent. The prosecution alleged 15 counts of rape between 2005 and 2014, involving penetration with items such as a knife, cheese grater, bottle, carrot, banana, cucumber, tulip, wooden spatula, decanter stopper, part of a shoe, bicycle pump, deodorant bottle and his finger, plus anal rape and thumb penetration. The accused, who pleaded not guilty, said he took photographs of the acts, claiming they were consensual and part of a fetish. He also claimed to have destroyed a hard drive containing evidence, but said it was stolen. The trial is in its closing stages before a jury and Mr Justice Paul Burns.
Detective Garda Colm Horkan, who was fatally shot two years prior, had assisted in admitting the man accused of his murder to a psychiatric unit in 2003, the Central Criminal Court heard on 25 October 2022. A retired garda sergeant gave evidence that he attended the family home of Stephen Silver near Castlerea, County Roscommon, following an incident that year, alongside Garda Horkan and others. Mr Silver was subsequently admitted to the local psychiatric unit due to his behaviour at that time. The accused, aged 46 and from Foxford, County Mayo, denies murdering Garda Horkan but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility. During interview footage viewed by the jury, a garda inspector questioned Mr Silver about the circumstances of the shooting at Castlerea Garda Station. The trial, before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury, continues before the Central Criminal Court. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 25 October 2022, two teenagers, Clayton Mulhall (23) and Daryl Donnery (21), were found guilty of violent disorder and assault after a 2018 attack on a patrol garda. The incident involved the youths blocking a patrol garda's path, punching him, and using pepper spray. Mulhall struck the garda's face, while Donnery was later found in possession of MDMA. Both pleaded guilty to violent disorder; Donnery was acquitted of assault. Mulhall also pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, and Donnery pleaded not guilty to that charge. The court imposed fully suspended prison sentences: Mulhall received a three‑and‑a‑half‑year term suspended on conditions including probation, drug‑free status, and payment of €800 to the passerby whose bike he stole; Donnery received a four‑year term suspended on two years of probation. The judge noted the seriousness of the attack, the garda's injuries, and the defendants' remorse and prior convictions.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, an unnamed man pleaded not guilty to 15 counts of raping his wife between 2005 and 2014. The charges allege that he used household objects—knife, cheese grater, bottle, carrot, banana, cucumber, tulip, wooden spatula, decanter stopper, shoe part, bicycle pump, deodorant bottle, and his finger—to penetrate her vagina, and also that he performed anal rape with his thumb. The State's case is that the 49‑year‑old wife was unconscious or otherwise unable to consent during the assaults. The accused claimed he believed his wife consented to all sexual activity, citing weekly "date nights" and the use of a camera or phone during sex. He denied taking advantage of her, stating that any alcohol involved was not enough to impair her judgment. The trial continues before a jury and Mr Justice Paul Burns.
A psychiatrist assessed Stephen Silver, the accused in Detective Garda Colm Horkan's murder, hours after the shooting at Castlerea Garda Station in County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. Dr Will Monteiro, a consultant psychiatrist with three decades' experience, found no evidence of acute mental illness during his evaluation. The doctor noted that Mr Silver's speech and behaviour appeared within normal limits, though he was reluctant to engage in conversation and demanded his family's presence. Dr Monteiro concluded Mr Silver was fit to be interviewed. Under cross-examination, the defence highlighted that the assessment was incomplete, as Mr Silver had refused full evaluation, and that Dr Monteiro had recommended a formal forensic assessment. Mr Silver, aged 46 and from Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. The Central Criminal Court trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
The trial of Gerry Hutch, Paul Murphy, and Jason Bonney for the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel on February 5, 2016, continued before a three-judge court. All three defendants, who are alleged to have participated in or contributed to the killing, have pleaded not guilty. The prosecution presented CCTV evidence depicting the escape of the assailants, including a black BMW X5. Garda Michelle Purcell detailed footage showing the vehicle's movements from Portmarnock to St Vincent's GAA grounds, where six individuals, including a man in a wig and a man in a flat cap, were seen fleeing. The prosecution alleges the man in the flat cap was the deceased Kevin Murray, who cooperated with the tactical team. Counsel stated that the escape route is central to the cases of Murphy and Bonney, who are accused of providing access to motor vehicles. The defense for Bonney indicated the identification evidence would be challenged. The trial is ongoing and was adjourned to continue on Monday before Ms Justice Tara Burns, sitting with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Grainne Malone.
In a case heard in Dublin, three men aged 24—Dion Genockey, Troy Ryan and Daryl Rooney—were convicted of gang‑raping an 18‑year‑old woman at Dollymount Strand in 2016. The men were 17 and 18 at the time of the offence. Rooney had 225 prior convictions, including violent disorder and drug offences, while Genockey and Ryan had no convictions at the time of the rape. The court heard that after the initial assault, the victim was taken to a second car where two other men raped her before she was left on the beach. Defence counsel argued the men should be treated as minors, citing their ages, Rooney's ADHD and mild intellectual disability, and the men's claims of lack of intent. The judge was urged to consider the defendants' youth in sentencing, with the court scheduled to deliver a sentence on 4 November.
Patrick Dunne, a 28‑year‑old autistic man from Ballingeragh, Lixnaw, was found not guilty of murdering his mother Susan Dunne, aged 62, by reason of insanity. The Central Criminal Court heard that Dunne admitted killing his mother but denied it was murder, claiming he was unable to understand or control his actions on the night of 26–27 November 2013. Psychiatric evidence presented by both prosecution and defence psychiatrists agreed that Dunne was mentally disordered and incapable of appreciating the nature or consequences of his act. He had argued with his mother over an expensive iPhone, lost control, and struck her with a hatchet, causing six wounds to her head. The jury returned a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, and Dunne was remanded to the Central Mental Hospital for a medical update and victim impact statement preparation. The case was described as difficult by the judge.
In a decision by the Workplace Relations Commission, the sacking of duty manager Martin Browne by Egis Road and Tunnel Operation Ireland Ltd. was upheld. The tribunal heard that on 10 January 2018, a junior colleague used the radio to pull a prank on an emergency patroller, falsely reporting a bus collision in the Dublin Port Tunnel. The patroller, identified only as 'AB', drove at high speed to the alleged crash site, increasing the risk of a real accident. Browne, who was ill with asthma that night, did not intervene and was later found to have "lost control" of the tunnel for 93 seconds. The tribunal concluded that Browne had ample opportunity to stop the prank and ruled his dismissal reasonable under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. The complaint was dismissed.
Stephen Silver, aged 46, a motorbike mechanic from Aughavim, Foxford, County Mayo, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan. The incident occurred on 17 June 2020 in Castlerea, County Roscommon. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. During interviews conducted at Castlerea Garda Station on 18 June 2020, Mr Silver claimed he acted in self-defence after being attacked by an armed man he did not initially recognize as a garda. He contended that Detective Garda Horkan was fumbling with his firearm and that he only discharged the weapon in defence. The jury viewed DVD recordings of these interviews with detectives. Mr Silver denied shooting the detective whilst on the ground and maintained he threw the gun away after obtaining possession of it. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
Stephen Silver, a 46-year-old motorbike mechanic from Aughavain, Foxford, County Mayo, appeared before the Central Criminal Court where a video recording of his first garda interview was presented. Mr Silver denies murdering Detective Garda Colm Horkan in June 2020 by shooting him. During his interview at Castlerea Garda Station, Mr Silver told gardaí that Detective Garda Horkan initiated a struggle after approaching him on Patrick Street in Castlerea, and that during the confrontation, Detective Garda Horkan attempted to draw his firearm. Mr Silver claimed he acted in self-defence when the gun discharged during their struggle. He has pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility but maintains his not guilty plea to murder. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of twelve, continues before the Central Criminal Court.
In a Dublin court case, a 49‑year‑old woman testified that she found videos on her husband's computer showing him raping her while she was allegedly passed out. The videos, dated between 1 January 2005 and 5 September 2014, depict the husband penetrating her vagina with a range of objects – a knife, a cheese grater, a bottle, a carrot, a banana, a cucumber, a tulip, a wooden spatula, a decanter stopper, part of a shoe, a bicycle pump, a deodorant bottle and his finger – and also shows anal penetration with his thumb. She said she discovered the videos while searching for a different video he had taken of her drinking, and she deleted them but later tried to transfer them to a memory stick, which failed. She identified many objects in photographs presented to the jury, including a bracelet, cushions, a blanket, her engagement ring, a dress, green shoes, a cheese grater and a red spatula. The unnamed woman pleaded not guilty.
A man has gone on trial in Dublin accused of raping and sexually assaulting his wife over nine years by inserting various objects into her vagina while she was unconscious. He pleaded not guilty to 15 charges, including the use of a knife, cheese grater, bottle, carrot, banana, cucumber, tulip, wooden spatula, decanter stopper, part of a shoe, bicycle pump, deodorant bottle and his finger, between 1 January 2005 and 5 September 2014. The charges also cover anal rape and penetration of the woman's anus with his thumb. A forensic expert recovered 712 thumbnail images from the accused's laptop, showing female genitals and objects such as a high‑heel shoe, large kitchen knife, cheese grater, beer bottle, wine bottle, cucumber, carrot, banana and pencil. The prosecution argued the wife was unconscious and could not consent, citing video evidence found on the family computer. The trial continues before a jury of six men and six women.