In a trial for a gang‑rape case, four men aged 17‑19 are accused of sexually assaulting a 17‑year‑old girl in a car on 27 December 2016. The defendants deny all charges. Lawyers urged jurors not to make moral judgments, arguing that the defendants believed the girl was consenting. The prosecution alleged the girl was forced into sexual acts, including rape, at a remote location and again in the town. The defence highlighted inconsistencies in the girl's statements, her attempts to leave the car, and the defendants' claims of consent. The case is still pending; Justice Tara Burns will charge the jury on Monday. No verdict or sentencing has been announced.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Garda David O'Callaghan recounted how he visited the home of a teenage accused of murdering Urantsetseg Tserendorj. While on a search warrant for a stolen e‑bike, he called the boy's grandmother, who said the boy had "done something terrible" and would turn himself in. O'Callaghan found the boy in his bedroom, who admitted stabbing the woman and robbing her. The boy, a minor, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, and the State has not accepted his plea. He also pleaded guilty to producing a knife and attempting to rob Ms Tserendorj. The victim died nine days later from a single stab wound that severed a major brain artery. Garda Maria Harmon and Garda Karl Bolger provided further statements and evidence, including a knife found in the boy's home and CCTV footage of the incident. The jury will hear the prosecution's evidence before the next trial phase.
Jonathan Dowdall, a former Sinn Fein councillor aged 44, was granted bail by the High Court ahead of his trial for the alleged murder of 33‑year‑old David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in Whitehall, Dublin, on 5 February 2016. The trial is scheduled for 3 October before the Special Criminal Court, a three‑judge, non‑jury court. Two independent sureties—one €20,000, the other €10,000—were entered on Dowdall's behalf, with conditions that their bank accounts remain above those amounts and that Dowdall appear in court. Dowdall remains in custody awaiting the trial.
During a multi‑million‑euro theft trial, Fiona McAleenan, a former solicitor at Michael Lynn & Co, testified that she was unaware of the details of Mr Lynn's borrowings. She explained that she had made several statements to Gardaí after receiving legal advice not to make further statements until certain proceedings were resolved, and that she had made up to eight additional statements once those proceedings were concluded. McAleenan said she had been involved in conveyancing in March 2007 and that she had been aware of Mr Lynn's general property portfolio but not the specifics of his borrowings. She denied signing any undertakings that would have made her aware of the details and claimed she had not been contacted by the Law Society about such matters. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, continues with Mr Lynn pleading not guilty to 21 theft counts involving seven financial institutions.
During a murder trial, Ulumbayer Surenkhor, the husband of the late Urantsetseg Tserendorj, testified that he was still wearing slippers when he rushed to meet his wife near Connolly Station after she called in distress. He described how she was holding her neck with visible blood and how an ambulance attempted to treat her but she could not swallow tablets. Due to COVID restrictions, he could not accompany her to the Mater Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead nine days later. Surenkhor, a Mongolian immigrant who had lived in Ireland for 16 years, also explained that his wife worked at State Street and that they had two children in Irish schools. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, continues with a jury of twelve. The accused, a 16‑year‑old boy, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, and the State has rejected that plea.
In the Central Criminal Court, four men aged 17 to 19 plead not guilty to raping a 17‑year‑old girl on 27 December 2016. The prosecution alleges the men sexually assaulted her while driving a car out of a midlands town to a remote location, where three of them raped her and another forced his penis into her mouth. The girl said she asked to leave the car but was ignored, and one man raped her a second time while another forced his penis into her mouth. The defendants deny all charges. Ms Justice Tara Burns directed the jury to find one man not guilty of rape at the remote location, though he faces a separate charge of oral rape later that night. The trial continues under her direction. The father of one defendant gave evidence about the day's events, and a paediatric consultant testified about a penile skin condition that could make erections painful.
During the Central Criminal Court trial, pathologist Dr Heidi Okkers explained that a stab wound partially severed Urantsetseg Tserendorj's internal carotid artery, cutting off blood flow to her brain and causing her death. She noted that injuries to the internal carotid artery are less common than to the external artery, which supplies the face. Dr Okkers agreed with defence counsel that the wound was not directly on the artery and did not fully dissect it, and that there was an "element of misfortune" in the injury. She also said the wound does not cause immediate collapse, allowing a person to remain conscious for up to two hours, which could explain how Ms Tserendorj walked to Connolly Station, met her husband, and entered an ambulance before collapsing. The trial continues before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring with a jury of seven women and five men. The unnamed 16-year-old pleaded not guilty.
The trial of four men accused of raping a teenage girl at the Central Criminal Court has heard forensic evidence regarding semen found on their clothing. The defendants, aged 17 to 19 at the time, have pleaded not guilty to charges including rape and sexual assault alleged to have occurred on December 27, 2016. A fifth man is not before the court. On day 14, forensic scientist Dr Laura Flanagan testified that underwear belonging to the driver contained semen from two individuals: the driver and a third defendant. During garda interviews, the driver denied penetrative sex, claiming he did not ejaculate, while the third defendant initially stated he was the first to have sex with the complainant. The driver later admitted lying in earlier statements but maintained his denial of intercourse. Another defendant, whose semen was found on his underpants and the complainant's top, told gardai he masturbated away from the car and denied any sexual contact with the victim. The garda witness confirmed the driver was charged in April 2018 and remanded on bail, with permission to travel for medical purposes. The matter is ongoing before Ms Justice Tara Burns and a jury.
An appeal by Ms Bridget Delaney of Dungarvan, Co Waterford, has been lodged before the High Court to challenge new personal injury guidelines introduced in April 2022. The case, heard by Mr Justice Charles Meenan, seeks to set aside the guidelines adopted by the judicial council in March 2021, arguing they unfairly reduce awards by 40% and are unconstitutional. Ms Delaney claims the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) delayed her assessment until the guidelines were in force, breached fair procedures, and acted outside its powers. She alleges a fractured ankle from a fall on a public footpath in April 2019, sustained while Waterford City and Council were negligent, and that the PIAB's €3,000 award is insufficient. The action requests quashing of the PIAB assessment, declaration of unlawful guideline adoption, and other declarations, while the State and PIAB seek dismissal. The hearing is ongoing.
During his trial for the alleged theft of about €27 million from seven banks, Michael Lynn's former solicitor, Fiona McAleenan, testified that she first became aware of the scheme in August 2007 when she received two separate faxes from different law firms representing two banks, both referring to the same properties. She said the second fax alarmed her and she immediately sought advice from a friend who recommended a solicitor. Following that advice, she contacted the Law Society, which asked her questions suggesting a possible mistake or misunderstanding. The Society advised her to leave the practice, and she resigned on 10 September 2007. McAleenan also admitted signing undertakings for properties without having carried out the conveyancing work, relying on colleagues and trusting Michael Lynn and Liz Doyle. She claimed she had not questioned the documents because she trusted them. The trial, before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury, continues with 21 counts of theft.
A 16‑year‑old boy, whose identity is protected, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of 49‑year‑old Mongolian woman Urantsetseg Tserendorj. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter on 29 January 2021, a plea the State did not accept. He also pleaded guilty to producing a knife and attempting to rob Ms Tserendorj on 20 January 2021. The boy told Gardaí that he stabbed the woman, robbed her and that it was him. CCTV footage from the IFSC House shows the boy on a pedal bike confronting Ms Tserendorj around 9.30 pm, stabbing her in the neck. The wound cut the carotid artery; she was taken to Mater Hospital, placed on life support, and died nine days later. The trial will focus on the boy's state of mind and his age. The jury is instructed to avoid prejudice and not to research the case online. The proceedings are ongoing.
The Central Criminal Court has opened a trial for a 38‑year‑old man, who cannot be named, who has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and one count of sexual assault. The alleged offences took place at an unknown residence in south Dublin on the early hours of 13 May 2018. Prosecutor Michael Delaney SC presented the case that the accused met the victim at a city‑centre pub on 12 May, where they later went to another bar, kissed and then the accused invited the victim to his home. The victim, who was sleeping, allegedly woke to find the accused on top of her, groping her breasts, and later again on top of her engaging in sexual activity. She claimed she resisted, pushed him off, and said the act amounted to rape. The accused allegedly apologized, claimed drunkenness, and said he was ashamed.
The Special Criminal Court heard the closing speech of Lisa Smith's defence barrister, Michael O'Higgins SC, on 30 March 2022. O'Higgins argued that the prosecution's evidence was insufficient to prove Smith's membership in the Islamic State. He criticised Dr Florence Gaub's expert report, claiming it relied on flawed methodology and made unsupported claims that all travellers to ISIS territory were members and that westerners received preferential treatment. O'Higgins highlighted that Smith had travelled to Syria in 2015 after the call for Muslims to join the caliphate, but she pleaded not guilty to membership and to financing terrorism for €800 sent in 2015. He contended that the €800 was intended for personal use, not for a terrorist organisation, and that Smith had no intent to assist ISIS. The judges had not yet delivered a verdict, and the case would be revisited next Thursday. The defence maintained that Smith's actions did not meet the legal threshold for membership or financing terrorism.
The trial of four men accused of raping a 17-year-old girl on December 27, 2016, continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns and a jury at the Central Criminal Court. The defendants, aged 17 to 19 at the time, have pleaded not guilty to charges including rape, sexual assault, and false imprisonment. A fifth man is not before the court. On day 13, the jury heard evidence from the arrest and interview of a third defendant, now 24. During questioning, he alleged the complainant consented, stating she initiated sex and did not resist. However, he later admitted to gardaí that he and the others "took advantage" of the teenager and acknowledged it was "wrong." He expressed regret, stating he would tell the complainant, "sorry, try to forgive us." The defendant also admitted to lying about how the complainant entered the vehicle, claiming he was afraid. He stated that the group had agreed to tell the truth to gardaí. Evidence included a Snapchat message sent at 5am, whose contents could not be retrieved. The trial is ongoing, with no final verdict or sentence recorded.
During a multi‑million euro theft trial, solicitor Fiona McAleenan testified that she never represented Michael Lynn in the purchase of a €5.5 million Howth property known as Glenlion. She denied signing an application for a €3.85 million loan for the property and claimed her signature on a March 2007 letter to Bank of Scotland Ireland was forged. McAleenan said she had never seen the letter until it was shown to her in court and that she had never sent an email to National Irish Bank in February 2007 that purportedly stated she was acting independently of Lynn. She also denied any conversation with former National Irish Bank lawyer Michael O'Malley and denied that she had authorized any signatures on documents. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, continues with Lynn pleading not guilty to 21 theft counts involving several financial institutions.
Martin Feehan, 42, was convicted of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm after his Citroen Berlingo collided with on‑coming traffic during an overtaking manoeuvre on the Mallow‑to‑Cork road at Granagh on 16 February 2015. The crash left his passenger, 40‑year‑old Brid Hallihan, with a broken pelvis and months of hospital treatment. Prosecutors alleged Feehan was driving too fast and lost control when the overtaking lane merged with a slower lane, causing his vehicle to cross the carriageway. A jury found him guilty and Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin imposed a three‑year suspended sentence and a 20‑year driving ban. Feehan appealed, arguing the judge erred in law and fact, but the appeal was dismissed. The appellate court noted the judge's explanations were "plainly attempting to further explain the level of fault required to prove the charge" and rejected the claim that the judge had erred in summarising facts.
In a three‑judge, non‑jury court, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Sean Gillane SC, argued that Lisa Smith, a former soldier aged 40 from Dundalk, travelled to Syria in 2015 to join the Islamic State, a terrorist organisation under Irish law. He described her journey as an "ultimate act of allegiance" and cited her viewing of violent ISIS videos, her online contact with a named fighter, and her pledge of loyalty to the caliphate. Smith's defence, led by Michael O'Higgins SC, contended that she was a vulnerable, depressed convert who did not intend to fight, and that she had not been a combatant or supporter of ISIS. The prosecution focused on her membership charge and a separate charge of financing terrorism by sending €800 to a named individual in May 2015. The court heard evidence of Smith's social media activity, her travel to Turkey and Syria, and her marriage to a Tunisian fighter. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a solicitor from Michael Lynn's firm, Ms Fiona McAleenan, testified that her signature was forged on several loan documents without her permission. She confirmed that a loan document purporting to be from a firm called 'Fiona McAleenan Solicitors' was an entire forgery, noting that no such firm ever existed. Ms McAleenan, who joined the firm in 2004 and left in 2007, said she had little knowledge of conveyancing and was not involved in the property purchases that formed the basis of the alleged theft. She also denied giving permission for her name to be used on documents, including family home protection papers and solicitor undertakings for mortgage applications. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, continues with 21 counts of theft against Mr Lynn, who has pleaded not guilty. The case involves seven financial institutions, including Bank of Ireland, Danske Bank, and Irish Nationwide.
Professor Hugh Kennedy, a medieval historian, testified at Lisa Smith's trial, arguing that belief in a caliphate can exist independently of belief in ISIS ideology. He explained that ISIS, led by Abu Bakr al‑Baghdadi, presented itself as a legitimate Islamic state, citing selective historical references to justify its actions. Kennedy noted that while many scholars denounced al‑Baghdadi, some respected voices considered his caliphate legitimate, using the Quran and Hadiths as foundations. He highlighted the ambiguity of caliphate criteria, differences between Shia and Sunni views, and the historical variability of caliphates, including Ottoman and 20th‑century examples. Kennedy emphasized that ISIS's propaganda, such as the magazine Dabiq, distorted early texts to appeal to those seeking simple answers, and that the caliphate concept remains contested within Islam. The testimony was delivered to a three‑judge non‑jury court presided over by Justice Tony Hunt. Professor Hugh Kennedy pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, faced 21 counts of theft alleging he stole about €27 million from seven banks between October 2006 and April 2007. Lynn, who denies the allegations, was accused of securing multiple mortgages on the same properties while banks were unaware of other lenders. Elizabeth Doyle, a former legal executive at Lynn's firm, testified that she often signed documents on his behalf, sometimes under his instruction, and that she had signed signatures that appeared to be Lynn's, Fiona McAleenan's, and his wife Bríd Murphy's. Doyle admitted she had signed some documents in his name and that she had not recalled the exact method of instruction. She also revealed that she and her husband had taken a €240,000 mortgage through Lynn's firm and that compensation from the Law Society was used to repay that loan. Lynn pleaded not guilty.
A High Court judge has ordered Gerry Adams to pay the legal costs incurred by the BBC in two pre-trial motions relating to his defamation action against the broadcaster. The case concerns the BBC's 2016 Spotlight programme and subsequent article reporting allegations that Mr Adams sanctioned the killing of former Sinn Féin official Denis Donaldson in County Donegal in 2006. Mr Adams denies involvement in the death and claims the allegations are false and defamatory. The BBC denies the defamation claim. Ms Justice Emily Egan dismissed Mr Adams' application to strike out sections of the BBC's defence and ruled that the broadcaster was entitled to discovery of certain documents relating to Mr Adams' alleged IRA membership and involvement with its army council. However, the judge rejected the BBC's application for discovery of materials relating to a 1987 press conference. Justice Egan stayed the costs order pending the outcome of the full defamation trial.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, Feri Anghel, a 42‑year‑old Romanian office cleaner, denied murdering Ioan Artene Bob, a 49‑year‑old construction worker. Anghel, who had no fixed abode, was arrested five days after Bob's body was found in Sean Walsh Park, Tallaght, on 13 April 2018. In a police interview on 18 April, Anghel described Bob as a "good guy" who often shook hands and saluted people, noting he was a heavy drinker. Anghel claimed he last saw Bob the week before the murder, at a group meal near the GPO where Bob had been handing out free food. Anghel said he had never spoken to Bob personally and that he and Bob had never gone out together. He also explained that he earned €550‑€600 a week cleaning offices and sent most of his wages back to his family in Romania. Feri Anghel pleaded not guilty.
During a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Romanian witness Garofita Selin collapsed while giving evidence. She was cross‑examined by defence counsel Padraig Dwyer SC about statements she had made to Irish and Romanian authorities regarding alleged behaviour by accused Mr Feri Anghel (42). Selin, who was working as a cleaner in Slane, Co. Meath at the time of the alleged incident, was testifying about Anghel's alleged "scary" pass at her. While answering questions through an interpreter, Selin suddenly became unconscious, fell from her chair and remained on the ground for 35 minutes. Gardaí, security staff and court personnel attended to her, providing oxygen and moving her to a wheelchair. Mr Justice Paul Burns sent the jury home and adjourned the case to the following day. The trial concerns the murder of Romanian national Ioan Artene Bob (49), who was found dead in a Dublin park on 13 April 2018. Feri Anghel pleaded not guilty. Ioan Artene Bob pleaded not guilty.
In the Special Criminal Court, Lisa Smith, a 40-year-old former soldier from Dundalk, Co Louth, is on trial for alleged membership of the Islamic State (IS) between October 28, 2015, and December 1, 2019, and financing terrorism. She has pleaded not guilty to both charges. The financing allegation involves sending €800 via Western Union to John Georgelas on May 6, 2015. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC applied to dismiss the charges, arguing there is no evidence Smith knowingly joined IS or intended the funds to benefit the group. He contended that Irish law requires awareness of committing an offence and noted Georgelas was not in IS-controlled territory at the time of the transfer. Prosecution counsel Sean Gillane SC countered that Smith answered IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's specific call to travel, thereby becoming an integral part of the organisation and serving as propaganda. He argued she knew Georgelas was an IS member and sent the money to help him recover from injuries sustained fighting for the group. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding over the non-jury court, will rule on the defence application to dismiss the charges on Thursday. If the application fails, the defence indicated it will call one witness before closing speeches.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a mother of 28‑year‑old Jonathan Reid, who stabbed her partner Greg Shiels in the neck during a drug‑induced psychosis, urged the court to grant her son a second chance. Reid, from Newhall, Naas, pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Shiels on 6 March 2020, and also pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and cannabis that night. The mother described her son as deserving a second chance and pledged full support for both her and Shiels, who suffered a serious neck injury but made a good recovery. Reid had a prior drink‑driving conviction and had spent time in Lakeview Mental Health Unit. The court adjourned to 25 April to consider post‑release programmes, and a nolle prosequi will be entered on the attempted murder charge later.
In March 2022 the Special Criminal Court heard that former Irish soldier Lisa Smith, aged 40, had warned her family to become Muslims before it was too late. Smith, who denies membership of ISIS, sent Facebook Messenger messages to her sister Lorna in December 2015 while she was in the Islamic State in Syria. She told Lorna that she would never return home and that she would meet her family in heaven if they converted. Smith has pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful terrorist group, Islamic State, between 28 October 2015 and 1 December 2019, and to financing terrorism by sending €800 to a named man on 6 May 2015. The court considered thousands of messages exchanged via Telegram and Facebook Messenger between 2013 and late 2015, and the prosecution presented evidence of Smith's contact with jihadists and her view of ISIS atrocities. The prosecution was expected to finish its evidence the following day.
Diarmuid Rossa Phelan, a senior counsel and law lecturer aged 53, is accused of murdering Keith Conlon, a 36‑year‑old father of four, in a fatal shooting on farmland in Tallaght on 22 February. The High Court heard that Phelan allegedly shot Conlon in the back of the head after a verbal altercation, following an earlier incident in which he fired at Conlon's dog with a rifle. Phelan claims the shooting was accidental, describing it as an "arc" that left him stunned. He has stated he will not leave the jurisdiction and that his career and reputation depend on clearing the matter. Phelan's defence argues that denying bail would "utterly ruin" him, citing his assets, family ties, and professional standing. The court will decide on bail on Monday.
The Central Criminal Court will resume the trial of Feri Anghel, 42, who denies murdering fellow Romanian Ioan Artene Bob, 49, found severely beaten in Sean Walsh Memorial Park, Tallaght, on 13 April 2018. Bob was discovered by a woman walking her dog, had severe bruising and "raccoon eyes", and died that afternoon after treatment at Tallaght Hospital. The shortened sitting focused on chain‑of‑evidence witnesses and gardaí who secured the scene and photographed items. Prosecution witnesses were absent and will attend next week. Bob had won €2‑3,000 at a city‑centre casino before sending the money to Romania; he had been attacked, suffered multiple rib fractures, collapsed lungs, and global brain damage. Witness Marzana Jurzak reported Bob's attempt to communicate that four attackers had struck him. The case will be heard by Mr Justice Paul Burns with a jury of eight men and four women at Court 22. Feri Anghel pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Feri Anghel, who is charged with the alleged murder of Ioan Artene Bob, continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns. Anghel denies the charge. Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster testified that Bob, found beaten in Sean Walsh Park in 2018, died from very severe blunt-force trauma, global brain damage, and bilateral lung collapse. She stated injuries were consistent with kicking and stamping, noting nine separated ribs and extensive bruising. Cross-examination suggested some injuries could result from punches, though Dr Bolster maintained the widespread nature indicated greater force. Witness Pavel Stegarescu, a supervisor, stated Anghel appeared unharmed and quiet during work trips on April 12 and 13, 2018. Another witness, Marzana Jurzak, who found Bob, reported he held up four fingers, which she interpreted as indicating four attackers. The trial is ongoing.
During a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former Permanent TSB commercial head Sean Alger denied that the bank had ignored a repayment condition on a €1.9 million loan to Michael Lynn. Alger said the bank had robust credit procedures and that any delay in repayment would normally raise a red flag, but he was not aware of any error. He rejected claims that the bank had turned a blind eye, stating there was no culture of ignoring conditions. Alger also noted that the borrower was primarily responsible for meeting loan conditions, with the bank's role being to ensure compliance. The trial, which continues next week, involves 21 counts of theft against Lynn, who has pleaded not guilty. The case is before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
In March 2022 the Special Criminal Court accepted jurisdiction to hear the cases of Bernard Fogarty, 34, and Robert Redmond, 33, who were originally charged with attempted murder of Barry Wolverston. Wolverston died in hospital on 21 February 2021 after a long illness. The State solicitor applied for the charges to be upgraded to murder under Section 49 of the Offences Against the State Act, and the court agreed. The attempted murder charges were withdrawn and replaced by murder charges. Both men were also charged with assault causing harm to Gerard Wildman, and with possession of a .38/.357 calibre firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury. The original trial date of 15 June 2022 was retained. Both defendants confirmed their names in court and were served with the Book of Evidence. The case is now set to proceed under the new murder charges.
The High Court in Dublin has ruled that the BBC is entitled to discover documents former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams may hold concerning his alleged IRA membership and involvement with the organisation's Army Council. Ms Justice Emily Egan rejected Mr Adams' argument that such discovery would be unduly burdensome, noting she doubted a clandestine organisation would retain formal documentation. However, the court dismissed the BBC's application for discovery of materials relating to comments Mr Adams allegedly made at a 1987 press conference regarding consequences for informers. The ruling came in Mr Adams' defamation action against the broadcaster over a 2016 Spotlight programme claiming he sanctioned the 2006 killing of Denis Donaldson near Glenties, County Donegal. Mr Adams denies the allegation. The judge also rejected his bid to strike out the BBC's defences of qualified privilege and fair publication on matters of public interest, determining these issues should proceed to jury trial.
In the Special Criminal Court, Mr Justice Tony Hunt decided to admit the evidence of Dr Florence Gaub, a social scientist and director at the European Union Institute for Security Studies, regarding Lisa Smith's alleged membership in the Islamic State. Dr Gaub argued that anyone who travelled to Syria in support of the Islamic State, including those who sent money, joined its territory, or carried out attacks, became a member of the terrorist group. She also claimed that such travellers received preferential treatment such as better housing, food, and internet access. Mr Justice Hunt noted that while the court would consider Dr Gaub's testimony, it would weigh it against the claim that her sources were limited. Lisa Smith, aged 40, from Dundalk, has pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful terrorist group between 28 October 2015 and 1 December 2019, and to financing terrorism by sending €800 in May 2015.
In a Dublin murder trial, paramedics testified that Romanian man Ioan Artene Bob, aged 49, was severely beaten in Sean Walsh Park on 13 April 2018, suffering "racoon eyes" and extensive bruising. He was taken to Tallaght Hospital where he died at 4.37 pm after respiratory and cardiac arrest. Witnesses described Bob's swollen face, blood from his mouth and nose, and a cracked jaw, fractured ribs, and punctured lungs. The prosecution alleges that after the attack, Bob's phone and bank card were used in Dublin and Meath, implicating Feri Anghel, 42, who denies the murder. Bob had recently won €2‑3,000 at a Dublin casino and had sent much of it to Romania. The case is heard before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury.
The murder trial of Trevor Rowe, 30, of Abbey Street, Kilkenny, continued before Justice Karen O'Connor and a jury. Rowe, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of 71-year-old Ann Butler at her Maudlin Street home on March 20, 2020, is alleged to have beaten, stabbed, and mutilated the victim. Chief State Pathologist Linda Mulligan testified that Butler's cause of death was asphyxia associated with blunt force trauma to the head, a fatal incised wound to the neck, and stab wounds to the trunk. She noted a 25cm piece of cardboard obstructing the airways and an incised wound to the ear. Forensic evidence presented included a male DNA profile from a cider can matching Rowe and female DNA from Butler found on blood-stained gloves in Rowe's apartment. Rowe allegedly admitted to gardai that he killed Butler, stating he slit her throat. The court heard that Rowe was arrested on March 26, 2020, following 999 calls. The trial is ongoing, with closing speeches expected next, and the matter has not been finalised.
The Special Criminal Court will decide tomorrow whether to admit the opinion evidence of Dr Florence Gaub, a political scientist, in the trial of Lisa Smith. Ms Smith, 40, from Dundalk, has pleaded not guilty to membership in the Islamic State between 28 October 2015 and 1 December 2019, and to financing terrorism by sending €800 to a named man on 6 May 2015. Dr Gaub, a director at the European Union Institute for Security Studies, told the court that the Islamic State or caliphate announced by Abu Bakr al‑Baghdadi was the same as the terrorist organisation Isis, and that a person became a member of Isis when they joined the state "actively with any type of act of support". Such support could be a tweet, sending money, joining Isis‑controlled territory or carrying out a terrorist attack.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Lisa Smith, 40, who denies charges of membership of Islamic State and funding terrorism, heard expert testimony from political scientist Dr Florence Gaub. Dr Gaub testified that individuals who travelled to Isis-controlled Syria and engaged in any act of support, such as sending money or joining territory, became members of the terrorist organisation. She described the Islamic State as a proto-state that provided preferential treatment, including better housing and food, to those who heeded Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's call, creating a relationship of reciprocity. Under cross-examination by defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC, Dr Gaub maintained that non-combatants, such as engineers and teachers, who reinforced the group's capacity to carry out its aims have been convicted across Europe. The defence argued that the court should not accept the opinion that engaging with the state's machinery equates to membership, distinguishing such acts from direct terrorist offences. The three-judge, non-jury court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Gerard Griffin and Cormac Dunne, will hear submissions on this legal issue tomorrow. The matter remains at the trial stage, with no finalisation or sentence recorded.
Trevor Rowe, aged 71, was accused of murdering 71‑year‑old Ann Butler in her Kilkenny home on 20 March 2020. In a Central Criminal Court interview, Rowe admitted to killing Butler but refused to explain why, saying it was "disgusting" to discuss. He claimed he had called Gardaí anonymously to help locate the body, stating he intended to dismember her but ultimately did not. Rowe also alleged he had committed five other murders and was linked to the Kinahan Cartel, receiving €5,500 for a murder. Forensic evidence included a timber cross and a "Jesus figure" found in Rowe's apartment, which were linked to a crucifix unit recovered from Butler's house. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, continues with a jury of twelve. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
During the trial of Michael Lynn, a solicitor claimed that a signature on a €3.7 million loan undertaking was not hers. Lynn, aged 53, faces 21 counts of theft involving about €27 million from seven banks. Prosecutor Cathal MacCarthy, a former Permanent TSB legal officer, explained that Lynn applied for a €3,725,625 loan in May 2007 to buy 12 properties, offering a first legal charge as security. Lynn signed a letter of approval in June 2007, and a letter of undertaking was supposedly signed by solicitor Fiona McAleenan, granting Lynn's irrevocable authority. MacCarthy later discovered that the signature on the undertaking was not McAleenan's, an issue that raised alarm in October 2007. Lynn denies wrongdoing, arguing that McAleenan routinely allowed her signature to be used on various documents. The case proceeds before a jury. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution presented evidence that Romanian man Ioan Artene Bob, aged 49, was found beaten in a "very, very bad state" in Tallaght's Sean Walsh Memorial Park on 13 April 2018. A Polish woman, Marzana Jurzak, discovered him early in the morning, noting bruises, swelling and blood on his face, and that he could not stand. She reported that Bob had shown her four fingers, which she interpreted as indicating four attackers. The prosecution alleged that Bob had recently won €2‑3 000 at a Dublin casino, sent much of it to Romania, and that he and accused Feri Anghel, 42 and homeless, had travelled together from the city centre to Tallaght on Luas. CCTV and mobile phone evidence were said to link Anghel to the attack and subsequent use of Bob's phone and bank card. Bob died of cardiac arrest at Tallaght Hospital later that day.
During a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 53, is accused of stealing about €27 million from seven financial institutions. The prosecution alleges that Lynn secured multiple mortgages on the same properties while banks were unaware of each other's financing. Evidence was presented that Lynn had a €1.9 million borrowing with a bank when he applied for a €4.9 million loan in 2007 to buy eight residential investment properties. A bank manager, Ciaran Farrell, emailed that the outstanding €1.9 million was cleared only a week later due to a "clerical" error, and that Lynn was "embarrassed and annoyed" by the delay. Documents relating to Lynn's overseas investment company, Kendar Global Properties, were shown, and a €3.7 million loan was drawn down, though a subsequent €5.5 million refinancing offer was not pursued. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Mr Justice Tony Hunt ruled that Facebook messages exchanged between Lisa Smith and known jihadists in Syria and Australia could be admitted as evidence in her trial for membership of the Islamic State and financing terrorism. Smith's lawyers had sought to exclude the messages, arguing that their use violated her privacy rights and that the material was obtained without proper protocols. The judge rejected these arguments, stating that the right to privacy must be balanced against society's right to investigate and prosecute serious crime. He noted that Smith's use of Facebook implied consent to data retention and that the warrants used by the gardai were valid. The decision also addressed the admissibility of expert testimony from Dr Florence Gaub regarding ISIS's operations and recruitment tactics. The case remains ongoing. Lisa Smith pleaded not guilty.
Trevor Rowe, 29, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 71‑year‑old Ann Butler in her Kilkenny home on 20 March 2020. In Central Criminal Court, he told officers he could not explain what happened, saying the truth would not help her family and that he could not even close his eyes. Rowe admitted making anonymous calls to Gardaí, claiming he wanted the woman found and was ashamed. He also claimed to have committed five other murders, worked for the Kinahan Cartel, and received €5,500 for a murder. Gardaí presented CCTV showing him walking to Maudlin Street that night. Rowe described taking large amounts of drugs and alcohol before the incident. The trial continues before Ms Justice Karen O'Connor and a jury.
A jury has begun deliberating the trial of Declan McGowan, a 33‑year‑old builder from Branswood, Athy, who is accused of attempting to coerce Andra Calauz into his car on the night of 18 September. McGowan pleaded not guilty to the charge of attempting to coerce Calauz, to assaulting her by kissing and hugging her, to impersonating a Garda, and to assaulting her husband Daniel Ion. Calauz testified that she was walking alone on Kimmage Road Lower at about 2.30 a.m., arguing with her husband on a video call when McGowan's car pulled up beside her. He told her he was a Garda, praised her beauty, kissed her hand, and hugged her. She claimed he urged her to get into his car. Her husband, Daniel Ion, said McGowan choked him, claimed to have a gun, and that McGowan only restrained him after Ion struck Calauz. Both Calauz and Ion denied this version of events.
In a Kilkenny murder trial, 29‑year‑old Trevor Rowe pleaded not guilty to killing 71‑year‑old Ann Butler on 20 March 2020. A Garda witness presented CCTV footage showing Rowe walking toward Butler's home on Maudlin Street at 9:30 pm, then moving away from the house later that night. The footage also captured Rowe leaving Abbey Street, walking along Parliament Street, passing a library on John's Quay with a bag, and later walking down Market Yard car park. Butler's sister, Margo Neary, testified that she last saw her sister on the evening of 20 March and had no contact with her until 25 March, when she attempted to call Butler's house without success. A detective described Butler's body as having neck lacerations, a head injury and a missing left ear. Rowe admitted to having committed "five other murders" and claimed he was paid €5,500 for a murder.
During a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former solicitor Michael Lynn (53) denied 21 theft counts, claiming he intended to stay in Ireland to address the allegations. Prosecutor John Berry presented evidence that Lynn had secured multiple mortgages on the same properties from seven banks without their knowledge of other lenders. Thomas Brennan, a senior manager at Bank of Scotland Ireland, testified that Lynn had approached the bank in 2006 with a proposal to purchase ten investment properties, seeking 70% financing. Over a three‑month period in 2007, Lynn obtained ten loans. In October 2007, newspaper reports about Lynn's business prompted a meeting where Lynn asserted his intention to remain available to bankers to resolve the issues. The bank subsequently reviewed Lynn's affairs, discovering that nine of the ten properties were already secured by other banks, including Bank of Ireland, Permanent TSB and Ulster Bank. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 33‑year‑old builder, Declan McGowan, was accused of assaulting a man and attempting to coerce a woman into his car while claiming to be a Garda. The prosecution described McGowan's account as "fantastical," asserting that when the woman's husband, Daniel Ion, intervened, McGowan "flew into a rage" and assaulted him. McGowan denied assaulting the woman, stating he never touched her and that he had only tried to protect her from the husband. He also denied impersonating a Garda, claiming any reference to being a Garda was a misunderstanding due to a language barrier. McGowan pleaded not guilty to attempted coercion, assault, impersonation of a Garda, and assault of Mr. Ion. The case remains at the trial stage, with jurors set to deliberate after the judge's instructions.
During the 15th day of Michael Lynn's trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a witness, former senior underwriter Olivia Greene, testified that former Irish Nationwide boss Michael Fingleton had denied signing off on a €4,125,000 loan for a Howth house. Greene said Fingleton had asked her who approved the loan, and she claimed he had agreed it in his office. Fingleton allegedly wanted someone else to "take the flak" for the loan, which was later written off at a loss of over €4 million. Greene noted that Fingleton had special powers from the board to alter loan terms and offer preferential rates. She could not confirm any secret profit deals. The trial, which continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury, involves 21 counts of theft against Lynn, who has pleaded not guilty. The case covers seven financial institutions, including Irish Nationwide Building Society. The proceedings remain ongoing.
Two brothers, Gavin Quinn (27) and Lee Quinn (26), were re‑arraigned on lesser charges after a trial for the attempted murder of Garda Alan Murphy. Gavin pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder and to assaulting a peace officer, but later pleaded guilty to assaulting a peace officer in the execution of duty under Section 19(1) of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994. Lee pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder but guilty to assault causing harm and to attempting to cause serious harm to the Garda, and also pleaded not guilty to a Section 185 assault and to possession of an offensive weapon. Both men were remanded in custody by Justice Eileen Creedon until May 23 for sentencing, pending background reports. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court.
Dean Kerrie, a 20‑year‑old from St Brigid's Square, Portarlington, was accused of murdering 25‑year‑old fisherman Jack Power during an early‑morning altercation at Kerrie's mother's home. The original trial at the Central Criminal Court ended with a hung jury after two weeks, and Kerrie was released on continuing bail. At a hearing today, Mr Justice Paul McDermott set a new trial date for 27 June and ordered that transcripts from the previous trial be made available to both prosecution and defence before the new proceedings. Dean Kerrie pleaded not guilty.