During the murder trial of George Gonzaga Bento, a 29‑year‑old witness with a history of drug possession and criminal damage denied that he carried out a "vicious attack" on a food‑delivery cyclist on the night Josh Dunne was killed. He said he had only stopped after being stabbed in the back by another person. The witness also denied that he had told the gardai he wanted to calm the situation and that he had "ended up getting stabbed in the back for my troubles." He claimed he had not seen who stabbed him and that he had been on his own when he joined the commotion. The defence counsel highlighted his previous convictions and the witness's contradictory statements, while the prosecution maintained that Bento produced a knife during a confrontation over a stolen bicycle. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury of five men and seven women.
During his trial for 21 counts of theft, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, denied stealing any money from Irish banks. He claimed the alleged €27 million theft was incorrect and that he had not forged or misrepresented any undertakings. Lynn said he had a long history of lending with the banks and that they were aware of his intended use of the loans. He argued that the banks' different system of undertakings was not a factor in any alleged fraud. Lynn also stated he had served five years in prison in Brazil and was fighting the charges because he believed the banks knew what was happening. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Lynn was not legally obliged to remain in Ireland when he travelled abroad. The trial continues. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing on 18 May 2022, witness Jose Pedroso, a Brazilian delivery cyclist, testified that George Gonzaga Bento, a 36‑year‑old Brazilian national, was "terrified, sad and scared" after the fatal stabbing of 16‑year‑old Josh Dunne on 26 January 2021. Pedroso described Bento as a "calm, peaceful person" and a "good guy in general" who worked hard. He said Bento did not eat that evening and wanted to see a lawyer, but the lawyer could not meet until the next morning. Pedroso also noted that Bento feared retaliation or attacks in Dublin 3. Bento is charged with murdering Dunne, producing a utility knife in a manner likely to intimidate, and assault causing harm to two other young men. He has pleaded not guilty to all four counts. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury of five men and seven women.
The murder trial of George Gonzaga Bento, 36, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. The accused, a Brazilian national and delivery cyclist, has pleaded not guilty to four counts: murdering Josh Dunne, 16, on East Wall Road on January 26, 2021; producing a utility knife in a manner likely to intimidate; and assaulting two other young men. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Heidi Okkers testified that Dunne sustained two chest stab wounds, with the fatal injury penetrating the ascending aorta. She stated that while one sweeping movement could theoretically cause both wounds, it would be very difficult, noting the wounds' differing directions suggested two separate movements. Dunne was found to be Covid-positive at the time of death. Defence counsel cross-examined witnesses, including two unnamed 17-year-old boys, arguing their statements contradicted CCTV footage and that the man on the moped was the initial aggressor in a dispute over a stolen bicycle. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury.
During a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, admitted that he moved to Brazil on 13 June 2011 without informing Gardaí, despite prior arrangements for interviews between 2008 and 2011. The court heard that Lynn had agreed to several Garda interviews, all of which were cancelled or did not occur, and that he had not notified Gardaí of his relocation to Brazil. Lynn also denied that he had instructed former legal executive Liz Doyle to forge accountant signatures on statements of affairs used in loan applications. He claimed he was unaware of forged signatures or stamps on documents submitted to banks, and that any omissions were due to oversight by others. The trial continues with these allegations and denials in focus. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
A High Court judge, Mr Justice Charles Meenan, ruled that a challenge brought by former Stardust manager Eamon Butterly, which seeks to prevent a new inquest from potentially finding unlawful killing, is not yet ready for hearing. The judge noted that pre‑trial exchanges of legal documents and submissions have not yet taken place, and that once these are completed a hearing date will be set. Butterly, who owned the Artane nightclub that burned on 13/14 February 1981, causing 48 deaths and 128 injuries, has applied for judicial review against the coroner, Dr Myra Cullinane, and the Minister for Justice. He seeks orders to prohibit the coroner from considering an unlawful‑killing verdict, to quash the coroner's refusal to rule it out, and to declare that such a verdict is not permissible under the Coroners Acts. The coroner and the families of the deceased oppose the application, arguing it is premature.
During the murder trial of George Gonzaga Bento, a 17‑year‑old witness recounted her attempt to find a pulse on the stabbed schoolboy Josh Dunne. She described seeing Josh on the ground, taking a deep breath, and her eyes rolling back before the ambulance arrived. She could not locate a pulse despite repeated attempts. The witness also recalled calling 999 at 9.22 pm, the dispatcher asking what the emergency was, and her subsequent crossing to the other side of East Wall Road. She noted Josh's jacket had a rip under the rib but no visible blood. The testimony was given in court, with the prosecution and defence discussing the circumstances of the fatal stabbing and the alleged involvement of a delivery cyclist wearing blue. The trial was set to continue before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury of five men and seven women.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 16 May 2022, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, denied that he had lied to the jury about alleged secret deals with senior Irish bankers. He was on trial for 21 counts of theft, accused of stealing about €27 million from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. Lynn claimed the banks knew he had taken multiple mortgages on the same properties and that this was "custom and practice" in Celtic Tiger Ireland. He said he had a "secret profit deal" with former Irish Nationwide chief executive Michael Fingleton, who allegedly would profit from a property development in Portugal. Lynn also alleged that bank officials from Irish Life and Permanent, Bank of Ireland, Bank of Scotland Ireland, Ulster Bank and National Irish Bank had met with him or his company to facilitate these arrangements. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
A High Court judicial review action brought by Dominic 'Og' McGlinchey against the Coroner for Co Louth, Ronan McGuire, was adjourned to a date in July. The applicant, son of the late INLA leader Dominic McGlinchey, sought documents preserved by the coroner regarding the 1996 inquest into his father's 1994 murder in Drogheda. Mr. McGlinchey alleged that the coroner failed to furnish these records, including depositions from the late State Pathologist Dr. John Harbison and the applicant himself, despite requests made under the 1962 Coroner's Act. Counsel for the applicant, Ronan Munroe SC, stated that the coroner had indicated in correspondence that he would provide all material in his possession, which may resolve the matter. However, it remained unclear how much of the sought material the coroner actually held. Mr. Justice Charles Meenan stated he was not prepared to grant permission for the judicial review challenge given the coroner's position. Instead, the judge said he was prepared to put the coroner on notice of the application. The proceedings were adjourned to a date in July. The applicant had sought declarations that the coroner failed to comply with statutory obligations to furnish documents and provide reasons for any non-compliance, as well as orders directing the coroner to comply or explain the failure. The underlying murder of Dominic McGlinchey Snr remains unsolved.
Michael Lynn, a 53‑year‑old former solicitor, is on trial for the alleged theft of about €27 million from seven banks between 2006 and 2007. He has pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of theft. In court he defended his decision not to disclose alleged secret deals with senior bankers, claiming he had been prevented from meeting Gardaí in Portugal in 2008 and that translation issues delayed his extradition from Brazil, where he lived from 2011 to 2018. Lynn said he had given senior bankers "spending money" or bonuses of €5,000–€10,000 while travelling abroad, and that he had paid for flights and hotels for bankers such as Michael Fingleton and Maurice Ahern. He maintains he repaid banks monthly from 1997 and that he and his wife now rely on welfare and family support. The trial will resume next week before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
The trial of George Gonzaga Bento, 36, accused of murdering 16-year-old Josh Dunne at East Wall Road, East Wall, on January 26, 2021, continued before Mr Justice Paul Burns. Mr Bento, a Brazilian national, has pleaded not guilty to all four counts, which include murder, producing a utility knife in a manner likely to intimidate, and assault causing harm to two other young men. A 17-year-old witness testified that he initially believed he had been punched during a confrontation involving two delivery riders and a man on a moped, only realizing later that he had sustained three stab wounds to his chest, back, and abdomen. Under cross-examination by Padraig Dwyer SC, the witness agreed that the Brazilian riders were outnumbered and that the situation was not a fair fight. He acknowledged throwing five to six punches and admitted his memory of the sequence of events was inaccurate. The prosecution alleges Mr Bento produced a knife during a stand-off. The matter was adjourned and the trial continues on Monday.
During his trial for a €27 million theft case, 53‑year‑old former solicitor Michael Lynn described his experience in a Brazilian prison where he was held awaiting extradition. He said the jail was next to a large dump, that inmates ran the facility, and that there were 1,800 prisoners and only 10 guards. Lynn recounted being moved to a section for educated inmates, where some were given guns and large swords. He claimed to have witnessed violence, including the beheading of a young man who was gay, and described the environment as "like something from Game of Thrones." Lynn also explained that he had been arrested in Recife in August 2013, had resisted extradition to allow his wife to give birth, and that conjugal visits were permitted in the prison. The trial continues. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
During the night of 26 January 2021, two Brazilian food‑delivery cyclists, including George Gonzaga Bento, were present at East Wall Road when a confrontation erupted involving a moped rider and a group of teenagers. Witness Tiago da Silva, a Deliveroo cyclist, testified that the two Brazilians were protecting themselves, standing against a wall with their hands up in defence, and that they were surrounded by about ten youths. He described seeing a Deliveroo rider lying on the floor being kicked by several people. The incident escalated with punches thrown and a man on a moped shouting at the cyclists. The trial heard that Bento was charged with murdering 16‑year‑old Josh Dunne, producing a knife during the confrontation, and assaulting two other young men. Bento pleaded not guilty to all four counts. The case is being heard before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury.
Michael Lynn, aged 53, is on trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for 21 counts of theft involving about €27 million from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. He has pleaded not guilty. During the third day of evidence, Lynn described himself as greedy and driven but not a thief, claiming that banks were "confederates" and that they had lent him money for a property called Glenlion in Howth, which he says was actually used for a development in Portugal. He alleged that loans were rolled over verbally and that banks were aware of the practice. Lynn also recounted that in 2007 his accounts were frozen by the High Court and that he sought "breathing space" from senior bankers, including Michael Fingleton and Sean FitzPatrick, to repay the debts. The trial is proceeding before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing on 11 May 2022, a witness named Guilherme Quieroz testified that the accused, George Gonzaga Bento, saved him from serious injury or death when a gang of youths attacked them on a Dublin street. Quieroz, a food‑delivery cyclist, described how Bento used a knife to defend him twice: once when Quieroz was backed against a wall and punched, and again when he was dragged to the road and struck. Quieroz confirmed, after viewing CCTV footage, that Bento's actions prevented further harm, noting his own injuries of broken teeth, a broken nose, cuts, bruises and knee damage. Bento, 36, is charged with murdering 16‑year‑old Josh Dunne and with producing a knife in a threatening manner, as well as assaulting two other young men. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Burns, continues with a jury of five men and seven women. The witness pleaded not guilty to all four counts.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, food‑delivery rider George Gonzaga Bento, 36, is on trial for the murder of 16‑year‑old Josh Dunne, who was stabbed on 26 January 2021 in East Wall, Dublin. Witness Guilherme Quieroz, a fellow delivery rider, testified that he was attacked by up to three men that night, sustaining broken teeth, a broken nose and a knee injury, and that he feared for his life. Quieroz described the Dublin 3 area as "very dangerous" for riders and said they used a WhatsApp group to share information about trouble spots, noting that riders wore North Face clothing to identify danger. He said he had seen Bento holding a knife during the confrontation, but did not witness the knife being used. The prosecution alleges Bento produced the knife in response to a threat from a man on a moped, and that the knife was used to stab Dunne.
During the murder trial of George Gonzaga Bento, a 36‑year‑old Brazilian delivery rider, witness Mr Guilherme Quieroz testified that it is common for Deliveroo riders to have their bikes stolen. Quieroz, who had moved to Ireland in early 2020 and worked for Uber Eats, described how he and Bento were on their bikes near a McDonald's on East Wall Road on 26 January 2021 when they saw a man on a moped carrying a bicycle that appeared to be a stolen Deliveroo bike. Quieroz followed the moped rider with Bento, who confronted the rider and told him to leave the bike. The rider shouted and kicked the bike, but did not take it. Quieroz said the incident led to a confrontation that later involved the murder of 16‑year‑old Josh Dunne. Bento is charged with murder, assault, intimidation and assault causing harm, and has pleaded not guilty to all four counts.
During a multi‑million euro theft trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, testified that he had obtained permission from banks to use mortgage loan money for property developments abroad. He claimed the banks understood the funds were to purchase specific sites and repay the loans, and that similar arrangements dated back to 2003 with the Bank of Ireland. Lynn said he had emailed bankers about these arrangements, but no copies of the emails remain. He was accused of stealing about €27 million from seven financial institutions and pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of theft between October 2006 and April 2007. The prosecution alleges he secured multiple mortgages on the same properties without the banks' knowledge of other lenders. Lynn maintained that he conducted all business via a Kendar email address and that the banks facilitated his transactions. The trial is ongoing before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
Michael Lynn, a former solicitor aged 53 from Red Cross, County Wicklow, gave evidence in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the thirteenth week of his trial on charges of theft. Mr Lynn pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of theft totalling approximately €27 million from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. The prosecution alleges he obtained multiple mortgages on identical properties without the knowledge of lending institutions. Under questioning from his defence barrister, Mr Lynn outlined his career progression from a Mayo farming background through Trinity College education to establishing his own legal practice in 1997. He described expanding his Blanchardstown-based firm and concurrent involvement in property development and overseas ventures through his company Kendar Holdings Limited. Mr Lynn testified that between late 2005 and October 2007, he was not involved in day-to-day management of his legal practice, stating he was travelling constantly during this period. The trial, which resumed following Mr Lynn's Covid-related absence, continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
In the Central Criminal Court, the State informed a jury that the accused, George Gonzaga Bento, a 36‑year‑old Brazilian delivery cyclist, may have to consider self‑defence. The prosecution case alleges Bento stabbed schoolboy Josh Dunne, 16, to death after a confrontation over a stolen bicycle on East Wall Road, January 26, 2021. The jury was told that Bento also stabbed two other young men that night and that the events unfolded in a surprisingly short period. The State's case is that Bento used a knife during a stand‑off with a man on a moped, then stabbed Dunne twice in the chest and once in the left hand within five seconds of Dunne's contact. The prosecution claims the force was excessive and unlawful, and that Bento's fear invoked during Garda interviews must be weighed against the alleged intent to kill. The trial will continue before Justice Paul Burns and a jury of five men and seven women.
George Gonzaga Bento, a 36-year-old Brazilian national and Deliveroo rider residing in East Wall, Dublin 3, is set to stand trial at the Central Criminal Court accused of murdering 16-year-old schoolboy Josh Dunne. The alleged incident occurred on East Wall Road, East Wall, on January 26, 2021. Mr. Bento faces four charges in total, including the murder allegation, producing a utility knife in a manner likely to intimidate another during a dispute, and assaulting two other young men causing harm on the same occasion. During his arraignment, Mr. Bento pleaded not guilty to all four counts. The proceedings were conducted with the assistance of an interpreter. Mr. Justice Paul Burns addressed the jury panel, noting that the accused was a delivery person who resided in the area and made deliveries locally. A jury of five men and seven women was sworn in to hear the case. The trial is scheduled to begin before Mr. Justice Burns and is expected to last between three and four weeks. The matter is currently at the trial stage, with the accused's guilt or innocence yet to be determined by the court.
Two US army veterans, Ken Mayers (85) and Tarak Kauff (80), were tried at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for actions taken during an anti‑war protest at Shannon Airport in 2019. The jury acquitted them of criminal damage to the perimeter fence and of trespassing with intent to commit an offence, but found them guilty of interfering with the operation, safety or management of the airport by entering the runway area and causing the airport to close. The verdict was 10‑to‑2. The men had cut a hole in the fence with bolt cutters, walked onto airport land, and were stopped by an airport officer. Their protest was aimed at inspecting US military aircraft and protesting the use of Shannon as a staging point for Middle East operations. The judge ordered them to return passports and set a sentencing date for the following day. Ken Mayers pleaded not guilty. Tarak Kauff pleaded not guilty.
The jury in the multi‑million euro theft trial of former solicitor Michael Lynn was sent home again after Judge Martin Nolan informed them that Lynn, who is 53 and lives in Millbrook Court, Red Cross, Co Wicklow, remains ill. The trial, now in its 13th week, had been paused last week when Lynn tested positive for Covid. The judge adjourned the proceedings to tomorrow, noting that the jury would be contacted later to determine the next steps. Lynn faces 21 counts of theft for €27 million stolen from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, octogenarians Ken Mayers (85) and Tarak Kauff (80) faced six counts of trespass, criminal damage and interference with Shannon Airport's operation after cutting a hole in the fence and walking onto the airfield on 17 March 2019. Both men, former U.S. Army veterans and members of Veterans for Peace, pleaded not guilty and claimed they acted to protest U.S. military use of the airport as a staging point for Middle‑East operations. The prosecution, led by Tony McGillicuddy, argued the defendants had no lawful excuse, citing no evidence of weapons on board or a need to protect anyone, and urged a guilty verdict on all counts. Defendants' counsel, Michael Hourigan and Carol Doherty, emphasised the defendants' sincere, honourable motives and the possibility of a lawful defence under the Criminal Damage Act. The jury deliberated for two hours and twenty minutes before resuming on Tuesday.
The trial of Ken Mayers, 85, and Tarak Kauff, 80, two former U.S. Army veterans and anti‑war activists, is in its closing stages at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. They are charged with criminal damage to a perimeter fence at Shannon Airport on 17 March 2019, trespassing with intent to commit an offence or unlawfully damage property, and interfering with the operation, safety or management of the airport by entering a runway area and causing it to be closed. Both pleaded not guilty to all charges. In their own defence, the men admitted cutting a hole in the fence and walking onto the airport to protest the U.S. military's use of Shannon as a stop‑over for operations in the Middle East, claiming it breached Irish neutrality and that they were acting to defend international law. The prosecution case concluded on Wednesday, and the defendants gave evidence in their own defence.
Two American octogenarians, Ken Mayers (85) and Tarak Kauff (80), are on trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for trespassing and criminal damage at Shannon Airport on 17 March 2019. They pleaded not guilty to causing damage to a perimeter fence, trespassing the curtilage of a building, and interfering with airport operations by entering a runway area. During the trial, Mr Kauff admitted to damaging the fence, stating he acted on moral beliefs and that the US and Irish governments had broken the law. Both defendants claimed that the Irish Government was in breach of international law by allowing US military aircraft to use Shannon, and that their actions were mandated by God and aimed at preventing greater harm. They argued that inspecting US planes was necessary to uphold Irish neutrality. The trial continues.
Michael Scott, 57, of Gortanumera, Portumna, Co. Galway, faces trial for the murder of 75‑year‑old pensioner Chrissie Treacy, who was found dead in her farmhouse at Boula, Portumna, on 27 April 2018. The Central Criminal Court, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, set the trial date for 11 January 2023. The proceedings are expected to last between six and eight weeks. This is the third time a trial date has been scheduled for Scott; earlier dates in January 2021 and January 2022 were postponed due to pandemic‑related court restrictions.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former Shannon Airport fire officer Richard Moloney described Ken Mayers (85) and Tarak Kauff (80) as the most courteous protesters he had met. The men, both U.S. residents, were arrested in March 2019 after allegedly cutting a hole in a perimeter fence and trespassing on airport land. They claimed to be peace protesters checking an American aircraft, holding a banner that read 'US veterans say respect Irish neutrality. American war machine out of Shannon Airport'. The court heard that the airport was shut for 30–40 minutes, delaying two departing planes and a Turkish Airlines cargo aircraft. Both men pleaded not guilty to criminal damage, trespassing and interfering with airport operations. The case remains before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.
Two American octogenarians, Ken Mayers (85) and Tarak Kauff (80), have gone on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, accused of criminal damage and trespass at Shannon Airport on March 17, 2019. Both men, residing in New Mexico and New York respectively, pleaded not guilty to three counts each: criminal damage to a perimeter fence valued at €590, trespassing with intent to commit an offence or damage property, and interfering with airport operations by entering a runway area and causing its closure. Prosecuting counsel Tony McGillicuddy BL alleged the pair, wearing 'Veterans for Peace' vests, broke through the fence using bolt cutters and walked onto a taxiway, forcing a runway closure that delayed an incoming flight. He stated the prosecution case is that both men were involved in the damage and unlawful interference. Defending counsel Michael Hourigan BL and Carol Doherty BL noted their clients admitted to making an opening in the fence and entering the airport lands but maintained they were treated respectfully. The trial is ongoing before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.
A Garda inspector stationed in Mullingar has succeeded in his High Court challenge against the Commissioner's refusal to backdate his promotion following a seven-month investigative delay. Inspector Tom Quinn was due for promotion to inspector rank in January 2019 but the advancement was suspended while the Garda Ombudsman investigated allegations arising from a shooting incident at Ferriskill near Granard, County Longford, in December 2018. GSOC subsequently determined that all complaints against the inspector were baseless and that he had acted lawfully. Mr Justice Charles Meenan ruled that denying the backdating amounted to wrongful penalisation over false accusations and breached constitutional rights to equality. The court quashed the Commissioner's refusal and ordered the promotion be backdated to January 2019, with legal costs awarded to the inspector. The judgment noted that failing to backdate would have allowed a private complainant to effectively determine promotion timelines contrary to established disciplinary procedures.
Two men have been given a provisional trial date of January 23, 2023 at the Special Criminal Court in connection with the death of a Drogheda teenager. Paul Crosby, aged 25, of Rathmullan Park, Drogheda, County Louth, and Gerard Cruise, aged 47, with addresses in Dublin 1 and Rathmullan Park, face charges relating to an alleged murder at a house in Rathmullan Park on January 12 or 13, 2020. The trial had been scheduled to commence on April 25, but the court heard that substantial additional disclosure to the defence would be necessary before proceedings could advance. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions informed the three-judge court of this requirement, and legal representatives for both defendants did not oppose the adjournment. Presiding Justice Tony Hunt fixed the new provisional date during proceedings at the non-jury court.
A 16‑year‑old boy, whose identity is withheld because he is a minor, faces a second trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Urantsetseg Tserendorj, a Mongolian national who lived in Dublin. Ms Tserendorj was stabbed on a walkway between George's Dock and Custom House Quay in the IFSC on 20 January 2021 while she was walking home from work at 9:30 pm. She died two weeks later at Mater Hospital. The boy had previously pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter on 29 January 2021; the State rejected his plea. He also pleaded guilty to producing a knife and attempting to rob Ms Tserendorj. A jury failed to reach a verdict in the first trial, and the case was scheduled for retrial on 24 October 2022. Defence counsel Mark Lynam BL highlighted the urgency of a retrial due to the boy's juvenile status and the need for a publicity fade factor.
A 31‑year‑old man, Jozef Puska of Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly, is charged with the murder of 23‑year‑old primary school teacher Ashling Murphy, who was fatally assaulted while jogging along the Grand Canal in Tullamore on 12 January 2022. Puska is accused of murdering Murphy at Cappincur, Tullamore. His defence counsel, Rebecca Smith BL, informed Judge Paul McDermott that Puska will appear by video‑link and that a Slovakian interpreter is required for all court dates. The judge set 6 June 2023 as the trial date before a jury at the Central Criminal Court, with the case expected to last three to four weeks and all disclosure to be made within four months of that date. Puska was remanded in custody after a brief hearing and was sent forward for trial on 6 April after being served with the book of evidence. Free legal aid was granted for the trial.
A driving range in Douglas, Co Cork, has been forced to downsize due to stray golf balls caused by 'young bulls' – strong, physically powerful players – leading to damage to neighboring properties. The owners, Colman and Michael Ryan, along with their mother Margaret Ryan, trading as Frankfield House, are defending a complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act by their former employee, Gary O'Sullivan, who was made redundant in August 2020. Michael Ryan testified that the golf range had to reduce its size significantly, leading to the redundancy of Mr O'Sullivan, as the family could manage the outdoor work themselves. He claimed the redundancy was due to safety concerns and the high cost of fencing the property. Mr O'Sullivan, however, alleges that his redundancy was not genuine, citing a row with Colman Ryan during a thunderstorm in July 2020, which led to tension and his eventual dismissal. The adjudicating officer, Michael McEntee, adjourned the hearing to consider his decision, which is expected to be delivered in the next seven to eight weeks.
A jury in Dublin found 42‑year‑old Feri Anghel guilty of murdering fellow Romanian Ioan Artene Bob, 49, in Sean Walsh Memorial Park, Tallaght, on 13 April 2018. Anghel, a Romanian gypsy with no fixed abode, had pleaded not guilty. The trial, opened at the Central Criminal Court seven weeks earlier, lasted three hours and 44 minutes. Evidence included CCTV footage of Anghel and Bob together, a broken nose, extensive bruising, broken jaw and fractured ribs on Bob, and a cause of death of blunt‑force trauma with bilateral lung collapse. Anghel had been seen on CCTV attempting to use Bob's bank card at a shopping centre that night. The jury found the case against Anghel to be strong enough to convict, despite the defence's claims of prejudice and lack of direct evidence. Anghel was remanded in custody pending sentencing.
In the Central Criminal Court, the jury is hearing the case of Feri Anghel, 42, a Romanian gypsy with no fixed abode, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of fellow Romanian Ioan Artene Bob, 49, found beaten in Sean Walsh Memorial Park, Tallaght on 13 April 2018. The prosecution presents circumstantial evidence: CCTV footage of Anghel and Bob together, Anghel's attempt to use Bob's bank card at The Square Tallaght, and the fact that Bob's phone pinged a tower after the attack. Witnesses claim blood on Anghel's hands and boots and that Anghel had complained of pain after a night of drinking. The defence argues the evidence is weak, lacking DNA, fingerprints or motive, and that the prosecution has not proven the time of the alleged murder. Judge Paul Burns instructs the jury that if they find Anghel caused Bob's death but are not satisfied he intended to kill, they may return a verdict of manslaughter.
In the Central Criminal Court, Feri Anghel, a 42‑year‑old Romanian gypsy, stands accused of murdering fellow Romanian Ioan Artene Bob, a 49‑year‑old homeless construction worker, in Sean Walsh Memorial Park, Tallaght, on 13 April 2018. Anghel has pleaded not guilty. The prosecution's case relies on circumstantial evidence: CCTV footage of Anghel and Bob entering the park at 1.11 am, Anghel's alleged attempt to use Bob's bank card at a Tallaght shopping centre at 3 am, and the presence of Bob's phone near a Tallaght ESB tower at 3.20 am. Witnesses include Garofita Selin, a cleaner who worked with Anghel, who testified to seeing blood on his hands and a "pass" she received from him. The defence, led by Padraig Dwyer SC, argues that the evidence is weak, lacks DNA, fingerprints or motive, and that prejudice against Anghel's background may influence the jury.
A man, Michael Crotty, 40, was charged before the Special Criminal Court on 11 April 2022 with helping a criminal gang murder Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan, a father of four who was shot dead in Dublin on 22 December 2016. Crotty is charged under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act for participating in or contributing to the murder of Christopher (Noel) Kirwan between 20 October 2016 and 22 December 2016, with knowledge of a criminal organisation. Detective Sergeant Ronan Dunne informed Crotty of the charge at 7 am, read the charge in full, identified him to the court and served him with the Book of Evidence. State Solicitor Ciara Vivien applied for trial at the Special Criminal Court, and Defence Solicitor Claire Finnegan obtained a six‑week adjournment. Judge Alex Owens remanded Crotty in custody and adjourned the case to 23 May.
Former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, stands trial for 21 counts of theft involving approximately €27 million taken from seven financial institutions between 23 October 2006 and 20 April 2007. The prosecution alleges that Lynn secured multiple mortgages on the same properties while banks were unaware that other institutions were also financing those properties. Inspector Patrick Linehan, the lead investigator, reported that Lynn was arrested on the day of 21 warrants and charged at a Garda station, where he made no reply to any of the charges. Lynn has pleaded not guilty. He was remanded and later granted bail. The case is scheduled to resume before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury on Monday. The trial is ongoing and no verdict has been reached.
The jury in the Central Criminal Court trial of four men accused of raping and sexually assaulting a 17‑year‑old girl in a car will continue deliberating into a fourth day. The alleged assault began on 27 December 2016 when the girl, separated from friends after a night‑out, entered a car with five men. The car travelled along backroads to a remote location where three defendants, and a fifth man not on trial, allegedly raped her one after another. The girl said she asked to be let out of the car but was ignored, and that one man raped her again while a fourth man forced his penis into her mouth. The defendants, aged between 17 and 19 at the time, deny all charges. The jury has deliberated for a little over eight hours since Monday afternoon, after 19 days of trial.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court could not reach a verdict in the case of a 14‑year‑old boy accused of murdering Urantsetseg Tserendorj during the 2021 winter lockdown. The teenager admitted stabbing Ms Tserendorj in the neck but his lawyers argued he was attempting a robbery and did not intend to kill or seriously harm her, seeking a manslaughter conviction. The jury spent over eight hours deliberating and, after multiple reviews of evidence, was unable to agree on a verdict. The judge, Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, noted that ten votes were required for a verdict. The case will return to the Central Criminal Court list. The accused had 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.
In the trial of a minor accused of murdering Urantsetseg Tserendorj, Judge Mary Ellen Ring announced that the jury could deliver a majority verdict if at least ten of the twelve jurors agreed. The jury had been deliberating for nearly five hours and had paused for lunch before resuming at 2 pm. The accused pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, knife‑production and attempted robbery. The judge instructed that a guilty verdict for murder requires proof of intent to kill or cause serious injury, otherwise manslaughter applies.
During the sixth day of Michael Lynn's multi‑million euro theft trial, former solicitor Fiona McAleenan testified that she was "horrified and disgusted" by defence counsel Paul Comiskey O'Keeffe's suggestion that she had knowingly facilitated multiple mortgages on the same properties between 2006 and 2007. McAleenan denied any partnership or conveyancing role at Michael Lynn & Co Solicitors, stating she had never been involved in the signing of undertakings. The prosecution argued that Lynn obtained the mortgages while banks were unaware of other institutions' involvement. Court documents revealed text messages from Lynn's legal executive, Elizabeth Doyle, to McAleenan, which the defence used to imply conveyancing activity. McAleenan said she was not involved and questioned why Doyle sent the messages. Judge Martin Nolan clarified the defence's line of questioning, and the prosecution noted that the Law Society's 2008 investigation found no complaint against McAleenan, only against Lynn, who was struck off as a solicitor in May 2008.
The jury in the Central Criminal Court trial of four men accused of raping and sexually assaulting a 17‑year‑old girl will continue deliberations tomorrow. The alleged offence occurred on 27 December 2016 when the girl, separated from friends after a night‑out in a midlands town, entered a car with five men. The car travelled along backroads to a remote location where the defendants allegedly sexually assaulted her. Three of the defendants, and a fifth man not on trial, allegedly raped her at the remote site, one after another. The car was then driven to another location where the girl was dropped off at a house and later the car was driven again. The girl said she asked to be let out of the car but was ignored; one man raped her a second time while a fourth man forced his penis into her mouth.
The jury in the trial of a 16‑year‑old boy accused of murdering Urantsetseg Tserendorj is set to return to the Central Criminal Court to continue deliberations. The jury, composed of five men and seven women, began discussing late on Monday and, in the morning, asked for the relative heights of the accused and the deceased. Justice Mary Ellen Ring informed them that Assistant State Pathologist Dr Heidi Okkers had recorded Ms Tserendorj's height as 1.64 metres (five feet, five inches). The only evidence regarding the accused's height came from a security guard who described him as "skinny" and about 1.7 metres (five feet, seven inches). The jury also requested definitions of murder and manslaughter. The unnamed 16-year-old pleaded not guilty.
During the fifth day of Michael Lynn's multi‑million euro theft trial, solicitor Fiona McAleenan, who worked for Lynn's firm, denied that Lynn had paid her €50,000 toward the purchase of her family home. She said she did not recall any such contribution and was "completely taken aback" by the allegation. McAleenan confirmed she had received a bonus from Lynn but could not recall the €50,000 figure. She also denied being a partner in the firm, although documents were presented showing an email from Lynn announcing her appointment as partner and a memo she sent requesting the use of the title. The defence cross‑examined her on weekly reports, mortgage applications, and the alleged profit‑share agreement. Lynn, aged 53, remains on trial for 21 counts of theft involving approximately €27 million from seven financial institutions, with the case proceeding before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
In the gang‑rape trial of four men charged with assaulting a 17‑year‑old girl in December 2016, the jury began deliberations after a three‑week evidence period. The defendants, aged 17 to 19 at the time, deny the charges but admit some sexual acts occurred, claiming the victim consented. The prosecution alleges the girl was taken in a car, forced into sexual acts at a remote location, and repeatedly raped, with one man also forcing his penis into her mouth. The jury was instructed to consider each alleged offence separately, determine whether the prosecution proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the acts occurred and that the victim did not consent, and assess the defendants' knowledge or recklessness regarding consent. The jury was sent home at 4 pm to resume deliberations the next day. The trial is ongoing.
In a High Court hearing, Garda Orlaith Fahy, who had successfully challenged her dismissal in 2021, remains without duty. Fahy, a probationary Garda from Finglas and Blanchardstown, failed a fitness test after an injury and was dismissed by the Garda Commissioner in February 2020. Mr Justice Max Barrett ruled the dismissal unlawful, but Fahy has not been reinstated. Her counsel, Mark Harty SC, informed Mr Justice Charles Meenan that despite the July ruling, the Commissioner has not acted, and that the only response received is a letter stating the matter is "with the legal department". Fahy has been out of work for two years and seeks fresh judicial review to order immediate reinstatement, salary, allowances, pension contributions, arrears and other benefits, and declarations that the Commissioner unlawfully interfered with her career and breached her employment and constitutional rights. Mr Justice Meenan agreed to allow new proceedings and noted Fahy's situation as "left in limbo.".
The Central Criminal Court heard the case of a 14‑year‑old boy who stabbed Urantsetseg Tserendorj to death in Dublin on 20 January 2021. His defence counsel argued that the boy intended only to rob her, not to kill, and should be convicted of manslaughter. The prosecution maintained that a neck stabbing can only be intended to cause serious harm, and therefore the appropriate verdict was murder. The boy had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, and also pleaded guilty to producing a knife and attempting to rob Ms Tserendorj. Witnesses for the defence included the boy's aunt and grandmother, who described his drug habit and lack of intent to kill. The jury was instructed to decide whether the boy intended to cause serious injury or death, and to return tomorrow for deliberation.
In a High Court hearing on 1 April 2022, Collen Construction Limited sought an injunction against residents of Castleforbes Square and Liffey Trust/North Bank Apartments who had blocked access to its new 270‑bed hotel and office development at Castleforbes Business Park, Dublin 1. Collen claimed the blockade had caused it to lose €350,000 per week, citing 16 lost working days and ongoing financial harm. The company offered €75,000 to community projects, which was rejected, and the protest resumed on 23 March. The court, hearing a sworn statement from Collen's counsel, granted an ex‑parte injunction preventing five named residents and unknown persons from obstructing entry or exit of the site. The judge noted the protest was peaceful, allowed for talks, and warned residents that they could pursue their own legal action if they had concerns about dust, noise or nuisance. The injunction was adjourned for a week.