In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, the trial of taxi driver Sinead Roche (43) collapsed after Judge Elma Sheahan ruled that evidence was insufficient to convict her of careless driving causing serious bodily harm to 77‑year‑old Margaret Rooney. Roche had pleaded not guilty to the careless driving charge and three related offences – failing to offer assistance, failing to stay at the scene and failing to report to gardaí – after her car struck Rooney on Sundrive Road, Crumlin, on 4 December 2016. Rooney suffered serious head and ankle injuries, was hospitalised, and now has dementia, preventing her from giving evidence. Roche's lawyer argued that no evidence showed she was driving carelessly, that she had her eyes on the road, and that circumstances of the collision were unclear. Judge Sheahan found no evidence of carelessness, directed the jury to find Roche not guilty, and later declared the return for trial invalid, ending the case.
A jury has been empanelled ahead of the trial of former solicitor Michael Lynn at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, which opens tomorrow. Mr Lynn, aged 53 and with an address in County Wicklow, faces 21 charges relating to the alleged theft of approximately €27 million from seven financial institutions between 2006 and 2007. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The accused is a native of County Mayo who previously practised as a solicitor. The prosecution alleges the thefts relate to 21 different mortgage applications on properties during the specified period. A jury panel of 15 has been sworn in, with the trial expected to last up to 14 weeks and hear evidence from over 70 witnesses. Judge Martin Nolan instructed jurors that the case must be decided solely on evidence presented in court and warned against any external research.
Lisa Smith, a former Irish soldier aged 39 from Dundalk, denies membership in the Islamic State and denies extremist views. She told Gardaí that a prosecution witness, Carol Karimah Duffy, taught her false information about Islam, including Osama bin Laden and Sharia law, and that Duffy called her a "selfish jihadi." Smith said she was initially taught that Islam was "spread by the sword" and that nationalism was forbidden, but later learned the opposite from an American convert, John Georgelas. Smith also denied a prosecution witness, Tania Joya, who claimed she wanted to become a martyr. She explained that she had received €25,000 in compensation after a car crash and withdrew money for home improvements and a flight to Turkey, and that she had no extremist views now. The trial is before Mr Justice Tony Hunt in a non‑jury court. Lisa Smith pleaded not guilty.
Michael Lynn, aged 53, pleaded not guilty to 21 charges of stealing approximately €27 million from seven banks between 2005 and 2007. The banks named are Ulster Bank, Bank of Ireland Mortgages Bank Ltd, Bank of Scotland Ireland Ltd, Danske Bank trading as National Irish Bank, ACC, Irish Life and Permanent trading as PTSB, and Anglo Irish Bank. Lynn also pleaded not guilty to a single count of stealing €2,742,000 from Bank of Ireland Mortgages Bank Ltd on 13 December 2006. Prosecutor Patrick McGrath SC told the jury that the alleged thefts involved Lynn applying for multiple mortgages on the same properties. The trial, set to last 12–14 weeks, will hear from 70 witnesses and requires a 15‑member jury; 11 jurors were empanelled today. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the case to allow the remaining jurors to be empanelled and warned that jurors must not seek information about the case online.
In February 2022, a tribunal heard retired Garda Sergeant William Hughes claim that Garda management ignored his protected disclosures about policing failures in the unsolved murder of Baiba Saulite, a mother of two shot dead in Swords in 2006. Hughes said he had warned colleagues in 2006 about Saulite's domestic abuse history and later alleged mishandling of the case. After raising concerns, he was investigated for "failure to take appropriate action" and denied the charge. Hughes then went on sick leave from 2006 to 2009, suffered work‑related stress, and was paid half his salary during an investigation into his health. He alleged harassment, bullying and isolation by superiors, naming Assistant Commissioners Michael Feehan and Al McHugh. The disciplinary action against him was dropped in 2009, and Hughes retired in 2013 on medical grounds. The tribunal continues to examine his allegations.
An eye witness, Christopher Lee, 29, broke down while giving evidence in the murder trial of Dean Kerrie, 20, charged with killing 25‑year‑old Jack Power on 26 July 2018. Lee described seeing Power and another man at the entrance of the Shanakiel estate early that morning. He recalled Power running toward Kerrie's house, where a long knife was held. Lee said Power turned to walk toward him, and Kerrie stabbed Power with the knife. Lee, who was shouting at Power, could not see the exact moment of the stabbing but noted Power's back to him and that Power was injured. After the incident, Lee ran to his father's house, called the gardai and ambulance, and used a golf club to break three windows in Kerrie's house. The trial is ongoing before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury. Dean Kerrie pleaded not guilty.
A 43‑year‑old taxi driver, Sinead Roche, denies careless driving after her car struck an elderly woman on December 4, 2016, at Sundrive Road, Crumlin. She is charged with careless driving causing serious bodily harm, failing to offer assistance, failing to remain at the scene and failing to report to Gardaí. Roche pleaded not guilty to all four counts. The trial heard that at about 7.15 am she was carrying a passenger when a bang was heard; she claimed to have slowed, looked in the rear‑view mirror and saw nothing. She continued to the passenger's destination, then returned to the scene, where she found a woman lying on the road and other people nearby. Roche later approached Gardaí, stating she panicked and did not know what had happened. The prosecution argued she drove without due care and failed to stop after causing injury.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a jury may have to consider self‑defence in the trial of Dean Kerrie, then 17, accused of murdering 25‑year‑old Jack Power in his home in Shanakiel, Dunmore East, on 26 July 2018. Kerrie pleaded not guilty. The prosecution, led by Michael Delaney SC, presented evidence that Power, intoxicated after a night out at a local pub, drove to a cul‑de‑sac near Kerrie's house, where he was allegedly agitated over damage to his car's wing mirror. Witness Christopher Lee testified that Power entered Kerrie's house, a scuffle ensued, and Kerrie stabbed Power in the chest with a knife. Power collapsed outside, was taken to hospital, and died from a 13‑cm stab wound. A post‑mortem found blunt‑force trauma to Power's head and a high alcohol level.
A 20‑year‑old man, Dean Kerrie of Portarlington, faces trial for the murder of 25‑year‑old Jack Power in Waterford. The alleged killing occurred on 26 July 2018 at Shanakiel, Dunmore East. Kerrie was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court, pleaded not guilty, and a jury of nine men and three women was sworn in. The trial, before Justice Eileen Creedon, is set to start Thursday morning and is expected to last two weeks.
Lisa Smith, a 39‑year‑old former Irish soldier from Dundalk, pleaded not guilty to membership of the Islamic State and to financing terrorism. She told the Special Criminal Court that she travelled to Syria in 2015 because she feared eternal damnation if she did not join the caliphate, believing it would be a peaceful state where she could raise a family and teach her children the Quran. Smith said she was misled by propaganda, never owned a weapon, and did not support terrorism or brutality. She described life in a women's camp, being robbed of €7,000, forced into a marriage with a Pakistani/British Muslim, and enduring abuse and bombings. Smith claimed she escaped by walking 15 kilometres with her daughter, later returning to Ireland. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Cormac Dunne.
The Workplace Relations Commission has found that a Co Cork hotel discriminated against three Traveller women by enforcing a credit card requirement to secure accommodation. Annalise Power, Ann Stokes, and Bridget Power, who travelled from Longford to attend a birthday celebration in September 2019, were refused rooms at the Charleville Park Hotel and Leisure Club despite offering alternative payment methods. The hotel maintained the policy applied uniformly to all guests following incidents of room damage and unpaid bills. Adjudication officer Janet Hughes ruled the requirement had a disproportionate impact on the Travelling community, citing Census 2016 data showing approximately eighty percent unemployment in that demographic, making credit card access substantially less available than for the general population. Ms Hughes ordered the hotel to pay €3,500 to Annalise Power, €8,000 to Ann Stokes, and €4,500 to Bridget Power. The officer noted the awards reflected the discriminatory nature of the policy, though Ms Power's conduct during the incident reduced her individual compensation.
Lisa Smith, a 39‑year‑old former Irish soldier from Dundalk, was arrested in December 2019 on suspicion of membership in the Islamic State and of financing terrorism. She told Gardaí that she had moved to Syria to help build a caliphate, believing that Muslims should live under Islam and that the return of the caliphate would precede the return of Jesus and the day of judgement. Smith said she had travelled to Syria with doctors, lawyers, engineers and brain surgeons, all working to build the caliphate. She 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 to a named man on 6 May 2015. The case is being heard by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Cormac Dunne in a non‑jury court.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 31 January 2022, lawyers for former Irish soldier Lisa Smith, who denies membership of Islamic State, challenged the legality of her 2019 arrest. Michael O'Higgins SC argued that Smith was detained under the Offences Against the State Act 1939, which does not cover offences alleged to have occurred outside Ireland, and that she should have been charged under the 2005 Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act instead. Sean Gillane SC, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, noted that Detective Sergeant Gareth Kane had testified that he suspected Smith of membership in an illegal organisation at the time of arrest, an offence under the 1939 Act, and that prosecutors may have altered their suspicions later. Judge Tony Hunt was to deliver a judgment the following day. Smith, aged 39 from Dundalk, Co. Louth, remains in the Special Criminal Court, having pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful terrorist group and to financing terrorism.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, witness Tania Joya testified about former Irish soldier Lisa Smith's journey into radicalisation. Joya, who met Smith in 2013 when Smith travelled to Turkey and Syria, described Smith's decision to abandon her life and join an extremist ideology as driven by rejection and a desire for acceptance within a Muslim community. Joya said Smith was influenced by her husband, an American convert to Islam named John Georgelas, who she claimed taught her about Islam and encouraged her to fight for rebels in Syria. Joya also recounted Smith's experiences in Syria, including marriage to a Tunisian man, two pregnancies, and alleged pressure to obey her husband. She further spoke about her own path out of radicalisation, noting the influence of Georgelas and the lack of exposure to criticism of Islam. The testimony was presented to a three‑judge, non‑jury court, with the trial scheduled to continue on Monday. Tania Joya pleaded not guilty.
Lisa Smith, a former Defence Forces member aged 39 from Dundalk, Co. Louth, denies membership in the Islamic State. In 2013, she exchanged messages with American Islamic scholar John Georgelas, who was living in Egypt at the time. Georgelas invited her to travel to Egypt to study under him and offered to pay her to care for his wife, Tania Joya's children. Smith replied that she would not accept money for childcare, stating that learning from him would be sufficient. Georgelas later left Egypt with Joya and arranged to meet Smith in Turkey. Joya testified that Georgelas was a respected scholar who could "overwhelm" people with his knowledge of scripture and that he wrote for Isis propaganda magazines Dabiq and Rumiyah. Lisa Smith pleaded not guilty.
A 31-year-old man from County Armagh has pleaded not guilty to charges relating to a series of ATM thefts across the Border region. The accused faced the Special Criminal Court on allegations of involvement in the attempted theft of an ATM at the Riverfront Hotel in Virginia, County Cavan, in August 2019, and the theft and criminal damage of an ATM in Castleblayney, County Monaghan, in April 2019. Both alleged offences are said to have been committed for the benefit of a criminal organisation. The prosecution concluded its case, presenting evidence including DNA findings and CCTV footage of thefts at multiple locations in Cavan and Monaghan. Defence counsel indicated an intention to apply for the charges to be dismissed when proceedings resume. The trial continues before three judges at the Special Criminal Court.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Tania Joya, a UK national radicalised in her teens, testified that former Defence Forces member Lisa Smith, aged 39, was indoctrinated into a false belief in a fake god and travelled to Syria in 2013 to join the rebellion against the Assad regime. Joya described Smith as excited, optimistic, and eager to die as a martyr. Smith, who had a military background, was respected by Arab men and married a Tunisian Al Qaeda member. Joya claimed Smith was influenced by John Georgelas, an American convert to Islam, who she said was charismatic and knowledgeable of the Koran. Smith pleaded not guilty to membership of the Islamic State between 28 October 2015 and 1 December 2019 and to financing terrorism by sending €800 in May 2015. The trial is proceeding before a three‑judge panel.
The Special Criminal Court is hearing the trial of Daniel O'Callaghan, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges. He is accused of the attempted theft of an ATM at the Riverfront Hotel in Virginia, Co Cavan, on August 14, 2019, allegedly for the benefit of a criminal organisation. O'Callaghan faces multiple other allegations, including possessing a stolen Toyota Landcruiser, a stolen 14-tonne digger, and bolt-cutters with intent to steal, as well as possessing large sums of cash to facilitate serious offences. Co-accused Ciaran Duffy, who pleaded guilty to three offences connected to the same investigation, was found hiding in a hotel toilet after fleeing from gardaí. Detective Superintendent James O'Leary testified that the incident was part of an intelligence-led investigation into organised ATM thefts. The court heard that O'Callaghan is the fifth male to appear in relation to this case. The trial continues before Justice Tara Burns, sitting with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Michael Walsh.
Lisa Smith, a 39‑year‑old former Defence Forces member from Dundalk, is on trial before the Special Criminal Court for membership of the Islamic State and for sending €800 to a man via Western Union. Witness Carol Karimah Duffy, a Muslim teacher who converted in 2001, testified that Smith spoke about jihad, suicide bombings and the "harsh end of Islam," and that she sought a husband who would die a martyr. Duffy said Smith was "naive" and "blindly followed what was said on the internet," never reading books or attending classes. She described how Smith made other mosque women uncomfortable, who suspected her of being a "plant." Duffy denied encouraging Smith to leave the army or to wear a hijab, and said she had never supported suicide bombings. The trial is set to continue tomorrow before a three‑judge panel. Lisa Smith pleaded not guilty.
Lisa Smith, a 39‑year‑old former Irish Defence Forces member, pleaded not guilty to membership of the Islamic State and to financing terrorism. She travelled to Syria in 2015, claiming to have "made hijrah" and to have expressed a desire to live under Sharia law and to die a martyr. Smith married a UK national in Syria, who had served on the Iraq border, and she remained in ISIS‑controlled territory until the fall of Baghouz in 2019. She returned to Ireland, was arrested and interviewed eleven times, and denied any membership or support for the terrorist organisation. The Special Criminal Court will consider her statements, conduct and alleged allegiance to ISIS as evidence of membership. The trial continues tomorrow before a three‑judge panel.
Jacek Dziaczek, a 38‑year‑old former windscreen fitter, brought a High Court challenge against the Personal Injuries Assessment Board's €5,000 award for shoulder injuries sustained in a 2019 workplace accident. He argues the board failed to consider all medical evidence, specifically a third report submitted by his lawyers that contained additional details not present in the two reports the board reviewed. The board had deemed the injury minor and noted substantial recovery within six months to a year. Dziaczek's lawyers claim the board's decision lacks proportionality and does not comply with Personal Injuries Guidelines, and that the board did not provide adequate reasons for its award. He seeks judicial review to quash the award, remand the case for fresh consideration, and declarations that the board improperly exercised its discretion. The case was heard ex‑parte by Mr Justice Charles Meenan, who allowed the challenge to proceed, with a full hearing scheduled for March.
The Special Criminal Court rejected Lisa Smith's application to dismiss the charges of membership in the Islamic State. Judge Tony Hunt, hearing the case under the Criminal Justice Act 1999, ruled that the trial would proceed. Smith, 39, of Dundalk, faces charges under the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005 for being a member of ISIS from 28 October 2015 to 1 December 2019, and for financing terrorism by sending €800 to a named man on 6 May 2015 via Western Union. The trial is set to open tomorrow.
The High Court has set a date for a preliminary hearing in the lead challenge against new personal injury guidelines. Mr Justice Charles Meenan determined that a fundamental issue must be resolved first: whether a judge who participated in the 2021 judicial council vote to adopt the guidelines should recuse themselves from hearing the case. This motion, brought by applicant Bridget Delaney, is scheduled for a two-day hearing starting February 9. Ms Delaney, represented by Feichin McDonagh SC, seeks the recusal of any judge who voted on the guidelines. The State, represented by Catherine Donnelly SC, opposes this motion and has raised concerns about the Delaney action serving as the lead case, suggesting a more advanced challenge should take precedence. However, the judge prioritized the recusal issue. All other preliminary issues in Ms Delaney's case and the other challenges were adjourned to February 16. Ms Delaney's judicial review proceedings against the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB), the Judicial Council, Ireland, and the Attorney General seek to quash PIAB's assessment of her claim and the Council's decision to adopt the guidelines. She alleges PIAB acted outside its powers and breached her rights to natural and constitutional justice. The claims are denied by the respondents.
Lisa Smith, a 39‑year‑old former Defence Forces member from Dundalk, faces charges under the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005 for alleged membership of Islamic State between 28 October 2015 and 1 December 2019, and for financing terrorism by sending €800 via Western Union to a named recipient on 6 May 2015. Her lawyers argue insufficient evidence and seek dismissal under the Criminal Justice Act 1999, while the Director of Public Prosecutions opposes the application. Justice Tony Hunt will deliver a judgment on Monday; if the case proceeds, it is expected to last 12 weeks.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 17 January 2022, defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC criticised a statement released by former Minister of State Lucinda Creighton. Creighton had said that Lisa Smith's attempt to have ISIS membership charges dismissed posed a "significant threat to European security" and that the courts must proceed with the trial. O'Higgins called the statement "very detrimental" and a "blatant contempt of court", arguing it interfered with the course of justice. Smith, 39, from Dundalk, faces charges under the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005 for ISIS membership from 28 October 2015 to 1 December 2019 and for financing terrorism by sending €800 via Western Union in May 2015. Smith's defence applied under Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act 1999 to dismiss the charges on the basis of insufficient evidence.
A former All-Ireland club football champion has pleaded not guilty to 17 charges arising from a series of ATM thefts across the Meath and Cavan region. Daniel O'Callaghan (31), with an address in Co Armagh, denies involvement in the alleged criminal enterprise. His trial began at the Special Criminal Court, a three-judge non-jury forum. The prosecution alleges that Mr O'Callaghan was part of a gang that stole ATMs using consistent methods between December 2018 and August 2019. A planned theft at Virginia in Co Cavan was disrupted by gardaí on 14 August 2019. The prosecution claims gardaí observed Mr O'Callaghan emerge from a stolen vehicle near the Riverfront Bar and flee into a field. Charges include the attempted theft at Virginia, possession of stolen vehicles and equipment, and handling cash totalling over €400,000 recovered at a premises in Co Meath. Mr O'Callaghan also faces allegations of facilitating criminal organisation activity. The trial continues before Justice Tara Burns, Judge Sarah Berkeley, and Judge Michael Walsh.
At the Special Criminal Court, Dermot McManus and co-accused Terese Halpin faced trial-stage proceedings regarding alleged money laundering and vehicle offences. McManus is charged with handling €28,550 and £17,240, knowing or being reckless as to whether they were proceeds of criminal conduct on 17 June 2020, and allowing a Limerick and District Credit Union account to be used for such purposes. He is further accused of possessing a stolen blue Ford Transit van and handling a white Mercedes Sprinter. Halpin is charged with possessing the same cash sums and allowing a Permanent TSB account to be used for handling proceeds of crime between January 2019 and June 2020. Prosecution counsel alleged the cash was found in socks and a jacket pocket during a search at Keating Park, Killalee, part of Operation Coronation. Defence counsel argued McManus was not a flight risk, citing family ties and a personal injury payment explanation for bank lodgements. Presiding Judge Tony Hunt granted bail to McManus, contingent on a €10,000 surety from a legitimate person, daily sign-on at a Limerick garda station, and non-association with named persons. The judge remanded McManus in custody with consent to bail and adjourned the matter with liberty to re-enter for surety approval. Halpin, who had previously entered a bond and surrendered her passport, was scheduled to appear again on 18 February.
Lisa Smith, aged 39 and from Dundalk, Co Louth, faces charges under the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005 for alleged membership of the Islamic State (ISIS) between 28 October 2015 and 1 December 2019, and for financing terrorism by sending €800 via Western Union to a named man on 6 May 2015. Her lawyers, represented by Michael O'Higgins SC, have applied to the Special Criminal Court under Section 9 of the Criminal Justice Act 1999 to have the charges dismissed due to insufficient evidence. Judge Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Gerard Griffin and Cormac Dunne, has granted permission for the application but will review the submitted documents over several days. The court will hear the application next Monday, and any evidence presented during this stage cannot be published or broadcast. If the trial proceeds, it is expected to last 12 weeks.
A 27-year-old man from Castleblayney, County Monaghan has pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to three offences arising from his involvement with a cross-border criminal organisation in 2019. Ciaran Duffy admitted attempting to steal an ATM and its contents from a restaurant on Main Street, Virginia, County Cavan on 14 August 2019. He also pleaded guilty to participating in the movement of cash on behalf of the criminal organisation at Tullypole, Moynalty, County Meath on 20 August 2019, and to contributing to the possession of cash at the same location on 14 August with intent to facilitate further offences. The three-judge, non-jury court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, scheduled sentencing for 1 February 2022. Duffy remains on bail pending sentence.
Lisa Smith, a 39‑year‑old former Defence Forces member from Dundalk, Co. Louth, is set to stand trial at the Special Criminal Court on 11 January 2022. She denies being a member of the Islamic State. The court will hear two charges under the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005: membership of ISIS from 28 October 2015 to 1 December 2019, and financing terrorism by sending €800 via Western Union to a named man on 6 May 2015. The trial is expected to last 12 weeks. Ms Smith is on bail and did not attend the court hearing today.
In a High Court trial-stage proceeding, Mr Justice Charles Meenan granted ex-parte leave to three applicants to challenge their exclusion from the State compensation scheme. The applicants, Anthony Duff, Ian Dunne, and Mark McNevin, are alleged to have been victims of serious assaults in 2004, 2008, and 2018, respectively. They claim the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal unlawfully refused their applications because they were submitted outside the allowed time limit. The applicants argue that changes to the scheme in April 2021, which introduced an absolute two-year limit, constitute a retrospective and unlawful interference with their rights. They seek orders quashing the refusals and declarations that the Tribunal breached fair procedures and natural justice. The judge requested that counsel identify one or two lead actions to determine all issues and save court time. Counsel agreed that hearing a lead action was the best approach. The matters were all adjourned to a date in early February.
A jury will resume deliberations on Monday in the trial of Alan Ward, 54, who stabbed his wife Catherine Ward, 41, to death on 1 March 2019 at their Clondalkin home. Ward has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and to an offence of threatening to kill or seriously harm his son Adam Ward, as well as to an attempt to stab Adam on the same date. The jury, composed of eight men and three women, has spent about five hours considering their verdicts and will return to the Central Criminal Court on Monday. Mr Justice Tony Hunt explained that the jury has two logical verdicts: guilty of murder, or not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. He instructed them to first assess whether the prosecution has proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Ward intended to cause death or serious injury when he stabbed his wife.
During a trial that had lasted just over a week, Judge Tony Hunt instructed a jury of eight men and three women on how to decide the case of Alan Ward, 54, who was charged with murdering his wife, Catherine Ward, 41, on 1 March 2019. He explained that the jury could only find Ward guilty of murder, not guilty of murder, or guilty of manslaughter. The judge said the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Ward intended to kill or seriously injure his wife. If that intent is not proven, the jury must return a manslaughter verdict. If intent is proven but Ward's responsibility is "substantially diminished" by a mental disorder caused by a 2017 stroke, the jury should also find him guilty of manslaughter. Ward had pleaded not guilty to the murder, to a threat to kill his son Adam, and to an attempt to stab Adam.
In the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution's barrister Bernard Condon SC delivered a closing speech urging the jury to convict Alan Ward, 54, for the murder of his wife Catherine Ward, 41, on 1 March 2019. Condon argued that Ward's intent to kill or cause serious injury was clear from the nature of the stab wounds, the history of violence dating back to 2002, and the circumstances of the attack. He highlighted that Ward had previously threatened and attempted to stab his son Adam, and that Ward's post‑incident statements to Gardaí, including a "I'm fucked" remark, indicated awareness of his wrongdoing. Condon dismissed the defence of diminished responsibility on the grounds of a 2017 stroke, noting that intoxication, not a mental disorder, better explained Ward's behaviour. He urged the jury to consider whether Ward was an honest narrator, concluding that the evidence supported a conviction beyond reasonable doubt. The judge's charge was to be delivered the following day. Alan Ward pleaded not guilty.
The BBC is seeking discovery of documents relating to former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams's alleged association with the IRA in defending a defamation claim brought by Mr Adams in the High Court. The BBC also seeks materials concerning Mr Adams's alleged knowledge of IRA discipline and a 1987 press conference statement. Mr Adams is suing the corporation over a 2016 BBC Spotlight broadcast and subsequent website article, which he alleges falsely claimed he sanctioned the 2006 killing of former Sinn Féin official Denis Donaldson near Glenties, County Donegal. Mr Adams denies involvement in Mr Donaldson's death. The BBC denies defamation, arguing the broadcast and article constituted responsible journalism on a matter of public interest. Mr Adams's counsel sought to strike certain defences from the BBC's pleading, arguing they are bound to fail given subsequent information about alternative suspects. Justice Emily Egan heard pre-trial motions on the matter, with proceedings continuing.
The Central Criminal Court heard that Alan Ward, aged 54, denies murdering his wife Catherine Ward, aged 41, who died on 1 March 2019 after being stabbed in their home. Ward has pleaded not guilty to the murder, to a threat to kill his son Adam, and to an attempted stabbing of Adam. He was previously charged in 2002 with assaulting his wife after heavy drinking and tablets, and again in 2010 when he assaulted her, causing a head injury that required hospital treatment. In 2011 he allegedly injured a neighbour with a sword. Psychiatrist Dr Damien Smith, called by the prosecution, said Ward's actions were better explained by acute intoxication and that his 2017 stroke did not produce a significant personality change. Dr Paul O'Connell, called by the defence, argued that the stroke, combined with long‑term alcohol abuse and childhood trauma, contributed to a mental disorder that may have impaired Ward's responsibility.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the state pathologist, Dr Michael Curtis, testified that Catherine Ward, aged 41, died from a fatal stab wound to her neck that severed two arteries, sliced her windpipe, and entered her lungs, causing the left lung to collapse. The wound entered at a 45‑degree angle and travelled about 10 centimetres downward. Additional stab wounds were found on her face, left ear, scalp, left arm, and left hand, with one through‑and‑through wound on the back of her left hand and a deep cut on her left index finger that nearly severed the finger. The injuries to the hand and forearm were described as defensive wounds. A toxicology report showed high alcohol levels in her blood. Alan Ward, 54, husband of the deceased, pleaded not guilty to murder, to a threat to kill his son, and to an attempted stabbing of his son.
Two weeks before the murder of his wife, Alan Ward, 54, visited neighbour Siobhan Byrne's home in Clondalkin, where he was visibly agitated and smelled of alcohol. Byrne, who had known the Ward family since they moved in, reported that Ward stood at her door, then, after being brought inside, told her, "You're a lovely lady but brain's telling me to stab you." He also mentioned wanting to stab his doctor and complained that no one was listening. Byrne's daughter Stacey recalled Ward saying voices in his head told him to hurt people, though she was unsure if he meant people in general or specifically his wife. Ward was taken by ambulance after the incident. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his wife, a threat to kill his son, and an attempt to stab his son, all of which are still pending before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury.
The trial of Logan Jackson, 31, of Coventry, England, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Jackson, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of Irish boxing champion Kevin Sheehy but guilty to his manslaughter, is also charged with endangerment under Section 13 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. The incident occurred on July 1, 2019, at Hyde Road in Limerick city, where Jackson allegedly repeatedly ran over Sheehy in a Mitsubishi jeep. The jury, comprising five men and five women, began deliberations on Friday afternoon but had not reached a unanimous verdict by 4pm. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon adjourned the deliberations for the weekend, with the jury scheduled to return to Court 19 on Monday at 11:30am to determine their verdict. In her charge, the judge instructed the jury to consider whether Jackson was provoked, a partial defence that could reduce a murder conviction to manslaughter. The prosecution argued Jackson acted with murderous intent, while the defence contended he suffered a sudden loss of self-control due to provocation. The matter remains at the trial stage, with the final verdict pending.
At the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution closing argument in the trial of Logan Jackson concluded on December 9th. Mr Jackson, aged 31, of Coventry, England, denies murdering Kevin Sheehy, a five-time Irish boxing champion aged 20, but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter. The death occurred on July 1st, 2019, on Hyde Road in Limerick city, when Mr Sheehy was struck repeatedly by a Mitsubishi Shogun jeep, sustaining fatal injuries including a catastrophic skull fracture. The prosecution barrister contended that CCTV evidence contradicted the defendant's account to gardaí, describing his statements as fabricated. The defence counsel argued the case lacked conclusive detail and that manslaughter remained the appropriate verdict. Mr Jackson also faces a charge of dangerous driving contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. Justice Eileen Creedon is expected to charge the jury of five men and six women before deliberations commence. Logan Jackson pleaded not guilty.
A senior garda has brought judicial review proceedings in the High Court challenging a decision not to backdate his promotion to inspector. Inspector Tom Quinn, stationed in Mullingar, County Westmeath, was scheduled for promotion in January 2019 but the advancement was delayed following allegations made against him in connection with a firearms incident near Granard, County Longford, in December 2018. Following investigation by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, Inspector Quinn was fully exonerated. His promotion ultimately proceeded in August 2019. The inspector seeks to have his promotion backdated to January, arguing the seven-month delay caused financial and reputational harm. The Garda Commissioner opposes the application, maintaining he exercised proper discretion by awaiting the investigation outcome before recommending promotion. Mr Justice Charles Meenan reserved judgment following the High Court hearing, with a decision expected in the new year.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Alan Ward, 54, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his wife Catherine, 41, who was found dead on March 1, 2019, at their Clondalkin home. Ward told Gardaí that after a bickering episode, his wife hit him, he grabbed a lock‑knife, and went upstairs where she lay in blood. When asked if he stabbed her, he said he could not remember and when asked if he killed her, he said, "I'm not sure." He added that he had been drinking vodka, taken five or six prescription tablets, and had no intention to harm her. Ward also denied an offence of threatening his son Adam and of attempting to stab Adam on the same date. The case is proceeding before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with a jury of nine men and three women.
The High Court heard that several challenges to new personal injury guidelines are creating real difficulties in processing claims. The challenges, aimed at setting aside guidelines adopted by the judicial council in March 2021, are opposed by the State and the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB). The lead case, brought by Ms Bridget Delaney, was deemed the first to be heard. Eoin McCullough SC for the State argued that the challenges affect thousands of claims and called for an early trial date. Douglas Clarke SC for PIAB supported the State's request, while Feichin McDonagh SC for Ms Delaney said a date would be premature given outstanding pre‑trial matters. Justice Charles Meenan noted a mismatch between judges and workload, adjourned the cases to January, and directed an exchange of pleadings to expedite matters. Ms Delaney seeks to quash PIAB's assessment and the judicial council's adoption of the guidelines, alleging procedural and constitutional violations.
At the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, a murder trial has heard evidence regarding the death of Kevin Sheehy, a five-time Irish boxing champion killed in Limerick city on July 1, 2019. Logan Jackson, a 31-year-old from Coventry, England, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Detective Garda Pat Whelan gave evidence of interviews conducted after Jackson presented himself at Tullamore Garda Station on the evening of the incident. Jackson initially claimed he faced threats from "three big fellas" near his black Mitsubishi Shogun jeep on Hyde Road, but in his fifth interview acknowledged he was angry and drinking when he pulled out the vehicle and that there was no threat present at that time. The 20-year-old was struck repeatedly by the jeep and sustained fatal injuries including a catastrophic skull fracture. Forensic evidence placed Mr Sheehy's DNA on the vehicle's front grill and bumper trim. The trial continues before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
In the Central Criminal Court, Adam Ward, 23, son of the accused Alan Ward, testified that his father had previously used a Samurai sword to stab a neighbour, forcing the family to leave Tallaght. Adam described a household marked by frequent arguments, physical altercations, and his father's refusal to allow his mother to pursue her own interests. He recounted the night of his mother Catherine's death, stating he heard a bang, saw his father brandish a blade, and was forced to flee to the street where neighbours called the Gardaí. Adam reported that Alan admitted to stabbing his wife, citing a quarrel, and claimed he did not intend to kill her. Alan Ward, 54, has pleaded not guilty to the murder, to threatening Adam, and to attempting to stab him. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with a jury of nine men and three women.
At the Central Criminal Court, a forensic pathologist gave evidence concerning the death of Kevin Sheehy, a five-time Irish boxing champion, who died on July 1, 2019, following a fatal road traffic collision in Limerick city. Dr Allan Cala, testifying via video link from Australia, detailed multiple severe injuries sustained by the twenty-year-old, including a catastrophic skull fracture, extensive skeletal fractures, and profuse internal bleeding. Logan Jackson, aged thirty-one, of Longford Road, Coventry, England, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denies murder. Evidence presented included witness testimony describing the vehicle striking Mr Sheehy repeatedly, and forensic findings consistent with the deceased being struck and dragged. The trial, before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury, continues at the Central Criminal Court.
A 54‑year‑old man, Alan Ward, is charged with the murder of his wife, Catherine Ward, 41, who was ten years his junior. The incident occurred on 1 March 2019 at their home on Greenfort Drive, Clondalkin. Ward told Gardaí that he had "snapped" after his wife struck him with a bottle and that he had stabbed her, but later said it was "possible he did" and claimed no memory of the act. He also faces charges of threatening and attempting to stab their son, Adam Ward, on the same day. The prosecution will present medical evidence of Ward's mental state, including a prior stroke, and testimony from his sons, who describe a marriage marked by arguments and drinking. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, is expected to last two weeks. The jury will hear evidence of the stabbing wounds, the post‑mortem findings, and Ward's alleged threat to his son. Alan Ward pleaded not guilty.
A soccer coach, aged in his seventies and suffering ill health, has filed a High Court application to halt his prosecution for two counts of indecent assault alleged to have occurred in the mid‑1970s. The alleged assaults took place at a Dublin club house and a location outside Dublin while the accused, then in his twenties, was the coach of an under‑age football team. The complainant, aged 12‑13 at the time, first gave a statement to Gardai in 2017, followed by a second in 2020. A decision to prosecute was not made until 2021. The coach, represented by Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC, claims that delays by the Director of Public Prosecutions, failure to disclose material and the passage of time have breached his right to an expeditious trial. He alleges that the DPP has not provided a statement explaining why the charges were not brought earlier.
A 54‑year‑old man, Alan Ward, will go on trial tomorrow for the murder of his wife, Catherine Ward, 41, who was killed on 1 March 2019 at their home on Greenfort Drive, Clondalkin. Ward is charged with the murder and two further offences: threatening to kill or seriously harm their son Adam Ward and attempting to stab Adam on the same day. He pleaded not guilty to all three counts. The case will be heard by Mr Justice Tony Hunt in the Central Criminal Court and is expected to last two weeks.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court has heard evidence concerning the death of Kevin Sheehy, a five-time Irish boxing champion, who died after being struck by a vehicle in Limerick city on 1 July 2019. Logan Jackson (31), of Longford Road, Coventry, England has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Forensic evidence presented to the jury indicated the black Mitsubishi jeep did not stop as it struck the 20-year-old on Hyde Road. Sergeant Kevin Burke, a forensic investigator, testified that drag marks approximately eleven metres long were found at the scene, consistent with the deceased being dragged beneath the vehicle. No brake marks were detected. Evidence of multiple strikes was identified on the jeep's front, with blood located on both the driver and passenger sides. The court heard that Mr Sheehy's cousin attempted to assist him before the vehicle struck him a third time and fled. The trial continues before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and jury.