A witness at the Central Criminal Court has denied allegations that he and the deceased, Irish boxing champion Kevin Sheehy, goaded or threatened the accused. Thomas Lysaght testified that interactions at a party on Hyde Road in Limerick city in the early hours of 1 July 2019 were lighthearted. He rejected suggestions from defence counsel Michael Bowman SC that he and friends provoked Logan Jackson, aged 31, of Longford Road, Coventry. Jackson has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in connection with Mr Sheehy's death following a vehicle strike. Other witnesses gave accounts of shouting outside the premises and events leading to the incident. The trial before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and jury continues, with proceedings examining the circumstances preceding Mr Sheehy's fatal injuries.
A witness at the Central Criminal Court has testified about the fatal incident involving Irish boxing champion Kevin Sheehy in Limerick city on July 1, 2019. Thomas Lysaght described attempting to prevent his cousin from being struck by a jeep at Hyde Road, stating he tried to grab and pull Mr Sheehy from the vehicle after the initial impact. According to Mr Lysaght's evidence, the jeep returned twice more, striking Mr Sheehy a second and third time before the driver fled the scene. Logan Jackson, aged 31 and with an address at Longford Road, Coventry, England, is charged with murder in connection with Mr Sheehy's death. Mr Jackson has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The 20-year-old Mr Sheehy, a five-time Irish boxing champion, was pronounced dead following the incident.
A witness has described how a five-time Irish boxing champion fought unsuccessfully to rise from the ground before being struck by a vehicle for a second time at speed. Derek Hanlon gave evidence at the Central Criminal Court on the morning of the incident on Hyde Road in Limerick on 1 July 2019. Logan Jackson (31), with an address at Longford Road, Coventry, England, is charged with murder. He has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of Kevin Sheehy (20). Mr Jackson also faces a charge of endangerment contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. Mr Hanlon testified that he witnessed an earlier verbal altercation between Mr Sheehy and a man with an English accent before a UK-registered Mitsubishi jeep drove towards the group at high speed on the inside road. The vehicle struck Mr Sheehy twice. Mr Hanlon told the court that Mr Sheehy attempted to get up after the first impact but was unable to escape before being hit again.
Logan Jackson, a 31-year-old British man from Coventry, is standing trial at the Central Criminal Court for the death of Irish boxing champion Kevin Sheehy. Jackson has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, with the alleged incident occurring on Hyde Road in Limerick City on July 1, 2019. Prosecution counsel Dean Kelly SC outlined the State's case, alleging that after a brief exchange following a house party celebrating Limerick's Munster hurling victory, Jackson drove a Mitsubishi jeep into Sheehy and his cousin. The prosecution contends that Jackson then reversed and drove over Sheehy's body twice more at speed. Sheehy, a five-time Irish champion, died from serious injuries sustained in the collision. Jackson also faces a separate charge of endangerment under Section 13 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997, which he denies. The trial is currently ongoing before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of twelve. The matter was adjourned to continue on Thursday, meaning the proceedings have not yet concluded.
Logan Jackson, a 31-year-old British man from Coventry, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the death of boxer Kevin Sheehy. Jackson is charged with the murder of Mr. Sheehy, a five-time Irish boxing champion, who was struck by a vehicle on Hyde Road in Limerick City on July 1, 2019. He is also accused of endangerment under Section 13 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997, allegedly for driving a Mitsubishi jeep dangerously at high speed near pedestrians. When arraigned, Jackson pleaded not guilty to the murder charge but admitted to manslaughter. The Director of Public Prosecutions did not accept the manslaughter plea, and the court proceeded to trial. Jackson also pleaded not guilty to the endangerment charge. Mr Justice Paul McDermott swore in a jury of six men and six women to hear the case. The judge noted that Mr Sheehy was a well-known national championship boxer and that most civilian witnesses are from Limerick. The trial is scheduled to begin before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and is expected to last between two and three weeks.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Judge Elma Sheahan directed a not guilty verdict for Andrew Finni, 22, accused of sexually assaulting a shop worker in February 2018. The case collapsed after defence counsel Simon Matthews argued that missing CCTV footage, which could have supported Finni's defence, was lost because the shop's system overwrote recordings after eight weeks. The court found that the absence of this evidence denied Finni a fair trial. The judge emphasized that the ruling was not a judgment on the allegations or the complainant's evidence but on the importance of preserving evidence. The decision followed a similar ruling earlier that week where a different case was also dismissed due to lost CCTV footage. The judge noted that investigators had acted honestly and sought to preserve evidence as it became relevant. The complainant denied any prior conversation about gender or an invitation for Finni to "check if he liked.".
Alan Wilson, aged 42, is on trial for the attempted murder of three men outside the Player's Lounge pub in Dublin. He is alleged to be a member of the Kinahan organised crime gang. Retired Detective Superintendent William Johnson, former head of the National Surveillance Unit, testified that on 13 October 2017 he authorised the placement of an audio listening device in a Volkswagen Caddy believed to be used by Wilson and other gang members. Johnson said the device was needed to monitor conversations to prevent further crimes. The prosecution presented recordings from 2017 in which Wilson allegedly admitted to shooting the three men in 2010 and expressed amazement at one survivor's resilience. Wilson has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murders and to possession of firearms and ammunition. The trial is before the Special Criminal Court, presided by Ms Justice Tara Burns, with Judges James Faughnan and Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin.
An apprentice film studio electrician, Martin Cunningham, 27, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and producing a machete near Finglas Garda Station. The assault, which took place on April 10, 2019, was originally charged as attempted murder of Kenneth Fitzsimons, 41, at Liam Mellows Road, Finglas. The Director of Public Prosecutions agreed to drop the attempted murder charge following Cunningham's guilty plea. Justice Eileen Creedon dismissed the jury, ordered a probation report and victim impact statement, and scheduled a sentencing hearing for January 31, when a nolle prosequi will be entered to formally drop the attempted murder charge.
In the murder trial of Damien Singleton, a 31‑year‑old homeless man, the judge instructed the jury to focus on the question of intent. Singleton pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of Peter Donnelly, a 39‑year‑old homeless man from Kilkenny, who was stabbed twice on O'Connell Street on 11 June 2019. The defence argued that Singleton's mind was "polluted" by alcohol and drugs, preventing him from forming intent to kill. The prosecution countered that intoxication is not a defence unless it renders the defendant incapable of understanding his actions or their consequences. The judge emphasized that the jury must decide whether Singleton intended to kill or cause serious harm, and that any doubt about his capacity to form intent would lead to a manslaughter verdict, otherwise a murder verdict.
In a murder case, Damien Singleton, 30, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for stabbing friend Peter Donnelly, 39, to death on O'Connell Street on 11 June 2019. The State reminded the jury that Singleton had sent Donnelly a threatening message before the stabbing, saying he would "slaughter" him. The prosecution argued that the intent to kill was clear, citing the message, CCTV footage of Singleton's movements, and the fact that Donnelly was stabbed twice in the jugular vein and aorta with a knife Singleton carried. The defence contended that Singleton's intoxication with alcohol and drugs, and the absence of self‑defence or provocation, negated murder intent. The judge adjourned the case to allow the jury to receive the charge and begin deliberations.
An apprentice film studio electrician, Martin Cunningham, 27, will go on trial for attempting to murder Kenneth Fitzsimons, 41, on 10 April 2019 near Finglas Garda Station. Cunningham is charged with three counts: attempted murder, assault causing harm, and possession of a machete capable of serious injury. He pleaded not guilty at arraignment before the Central Criminal Court. The case, arising from a single incident, will be heard by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and is expected to last three weeks.
David Ward, 36, of The Beeches, Clonshaugh, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and reckless discharge of a firearm after shots were fired into his cousin John Ward's home at 2 am on 17 September 2016, wounding a dog that later died. Ward pleaded not guilty. The trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the shots were fired, but Ward's defence lawyer, Keith Spencer BL, argued that Ward was not involved. Judge Elma Sheahan, after considering the defence's claim that Gardaí failed to secure CCTV footage that could corroborate Ward's alibi, directed the jury to acquit Ward of both charges. The judge noted that the Garda evidence was fair and that the prosecution had no ballistics expert, and that inconsistencies in the complainant's testimony could lead to an unfair trial. The jury was discharged and Ward was found not guilty by direction.
David Ward, 36, of The Beeches, Clonshaugh Woods, Coolock, is on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for the reckless discharge of a firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm. The incident occurred on 17 September 2016 at Belcamp Lane, Dublin 17, when Ward allegedly fired a shotgun into his cousin John Ward's home, fatally wounding the cousin's dog. Ward pleaded not guilty to both charges. His defence lawyer, Keith Spencer BL, argued that while shots were fired, Ward was not involved. John Ward testified that Ward had come to his house to complain about children playing "nick nacks" and that a brief altercation followed, during which Ward allegedly threatened to shoot. Witnesses reported hearing a bang, seeing sparks on the back door, and observing Ward standing on the back wall. The witness also claimed that Ward fired a fourth shot that killed a dog, describing the dog as being struck in the back of the head.
In the Special Criminal Court, Garda National Surveillance Unit members testified that they observed Alan Wilson, 42, at several Dublin locations in September and October 2017, including in a white Nissan Primastar van. The evidence, presented by prosecution counsel John Byrne SC, includes a recording in which Wilson allegedly says, "Remember the shooting at the Player's Lounge, I done that." Wilson is charged with attempting to murder Brian Masterson, Wayne Barrett and Austin Purcell at The Player's Lounge pub on 26 July 2010, and with possession of firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The trial is proceeding before Justice Tara Burns, with Judges James Faughnan and Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin presiding.
In the Dublin trial of Damien Singleton, a 30‑year‑old man of no fixed abode originally from Cork, the prosecution presented a case that the killing of 39‑year‑old Peter Donnelly on O'Connell Street was "murder pure and simple." Singleton pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The prosecution described the two men as friends who had spent three nights together. On the night of the killing, Donnelly had returned to Dublin from Kilkenny and was "hanging around" the area. Garda Nicola Torsney had a 30‑minute conversation with Singleton earlier that night. CCTV footage later showed Singleton grabbing Donnelly, stabbing him three times, striking him with a bottle, and then fleeing. Blood droplets and a recovered knife were presented as evidence. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy, is expected to last eight days.
A jury of six women and six men was sworn in on 15 November 2021 to try Damien Singleton, 31, for the murder of 39‑year‑old Peter Donnelly on Dublin's O'Connell Street Upper West on 11 June 2019. Singleton, who has no fixed abode and is originally from Cork, pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter. He appeared in the Central Criminal Court in Dublin wearing a black button‑down shirt, black jeans and black and orange trainers. The trial will open before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy at 11.30am tomorrow at the Criminal Courts of Justice.
The jury in the Stephen Penrose murder trial, which concerns the death of 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan whose decapitated body was found in a Kildare woods, has paused its deliberations for the weekend and will return to the Central Criminal Court on Monday. The panel of eight men and four women spent 3 hours and 36 minutes considering their verdict. Judge Alexander Owens instructed them to suspend deliberations at 4 pm and resume on Monday morning to decide whether Penrose, aged 38, should be found guilty of murdering Finnegan. The jury was told to ignore Penrose's choice to represent himself, his outburst in court, and his repeated hiring and firing of lawyers, and to focus solely on the evidence presented. The case has heard that Finnegan's remains were found buried in a shallow grave, that a DNA profile from a bloodied glove matched Penrose, and that the death was caused by multiple stab wounds. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court has ordered that the public be excluded from an attempted murder trial while evidence is heard from members of the National Surveillance Unit (NSU), a covert unit that targets terrorists and organised crime gangs. Justice Tara Burns granted the order after Detective Superintendent Ciaran Hoey explained that revealing the identities of NSU officers would endanger their lives, compromise ongoing investigations, and jeopardise future covert operations. The court will allow media members to attend, but the names, physical characteristics or any identifying details of the NSU officers will not be published. The NSU officers will give evidence in the trial of 42‑year‑old Alan Wilson, who has pleaded not guilty to attempted murders and possession of firearms and ammunition. The trial will resume on Monday, 15 November.
The trial of Stephen Penrose, 38, for the alleged murder of Philip Finnegan, 24, at Rahin Woods, Edenderry, Co Kildare, on August 10, 2016, is ongoing. Penrose, of Coolock, Dublin 17, pleaded not guilty. The Central Criminal Court jury has heard that Finnegan's decapitated remains were found buried in September 2016, with forensic evidence indicating death by multiple stab wounds. A DNA profile from a bloodied glove matched Penrose. The prosecution alleges Penrose brought Finnegan to the woods between 4.10pm and 5.13pm, a period supported by CCTV footage of his Alfa Romeo. Penrose claimed he was attacked by men in a black car while testing firearms, but the State argues his changing accounts were an attempt to conceal the body's location. Mr Justice Alexander Owens charged the jury to ignore Penrose's unrepresented status, courtroom outbursts, and character, focusing solely on the evidence. The judge noted Penrose declined to give a closing speech or call witnesses. The jury was instructed to decide if Penrose was the perpetrator. The judge will complete his charge tomorrow morning, after which the jury will begin deliberations.
In a Special Criminal Court session on 10 November 2021, Judge Tara Burns welcomed a group of transition year students and cautioned them that the court would soon show "graphic" CCTV footage of a shooting involving three men. She advised the students to be prepared to leave if they felt upset. The footage, which the students viewed, depicted the attempted murders of Brian Masterson, Wayne Barrett and Austin Purcell at The Player's Lounge Public House on 26 July 2010. Mr Alan Wilson, aged 42, pleaded not guilty to the attempted murders and to possession of firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life. Detective Garda David Dunne presented CCTV evidence from Mount Street, St Stephen's Lane, St Stephen's Place and the pub, showing a van and a Volkswagen Golf at the time of the shooting, the arrival of a man who discharged two firearms, and the subsequent departure of two vehicles.
During the murder trial of Lorcan Merriman, the jury was informed that Gardaí conducted a warrant‑driven search of Merriman's home on 4 May 2016. Detective Garda Sharon Duncan, who participated in the search, located a JD Sports bag in a small wardrobe in a corner of a box bedroom at the front of the house. Inside the bag she found an empty box for a white Nokia mobile phone. She also discovered two black, woollen gloves in a green area at the rear of the house. All seized items were handed to the exhibits officer, Garda Paul Dolan, who transported them to Clondalkin Garda Station. Additionally, Garda Eamon O'Brien examined mobile phones received by Gardaí as part of the investigation into Thomas Farnan's death. Lorcan Merriman pleaded not guilty.
Gerry "The Monk" Hutch has been granted permission to file a High Court challenge to the jurisdiction of the Special Criminal Court (SCC) over his murder trial. Hutch, charged with the 2016 Regency Hotel murder of David Byrne, argues that the SCC's use of temporary emergency legislation from 1972 infringes his rights, including a fair trial and the right to a jury. He claims the 1939 Offences Against the State Act does not authorize the SCC and that the State's failure to enact permanent legislation breaches his constitutional and ECHR rights. Hutch seeks an order to halt his SCC trial, declarations that the trial is unlawful, and a stay pending the High Court decision. The judge, Mr Justice Anthony Barr, granted him permission on an ex‑parte basis, with the matter to be mentioned next month. A similar challenge has been filed by former SF councillor Jonathan Dowdall, also charged with Byrne's murder, and is scheduled for early next year.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, a bullet removed from the buttocks of a man shot at the Player's Lounge in 2010 was linked to a weapon found in the back of a burning Volkswagen Golf minutes after the attack. Detective Garda Ursula Cummins, a ballistics expert, testified that the bullet matched a .32 Auto Calibre Zastava semi‑automatic pistol recovered from the car. She also noted that cartridges matching a .38 Special Calibre Smith & Wesson revolver were found in the vehicle, though the revolver's serial number had been erased. Mr. Alan Wilson, 42, denies the attempted murders of Brian Masterson, Wayne Barrett and Austin Purcell, as well as possession of firearms and ammunition. The court heard that the pistol could hold nine rounds and the revolver five, and that the pistol's magazine had exploded due to the fire but the rounds were not fired. The prosecution's case also included audio evidence of Mr. Alan Wilson pleaded not guilty. Player's Lounge pleaded not guilty.
Alan Wilson, 42, is on trial at the Special Criminal Court, where he has pleaded not guilty to the alleged attempted murders of Brian Masterson, Wayne Barrett, and Austin Purcell at The Player's Lounge Public House in Dublin 3 on July 26, 2010. He also pleads not guilty to possessing a .38 Special Smith & Wesson revolver and a .32 Auto Zastava pistol with intent to endanger life. Prosecutors presented secret Garda recordings allegedly capturing Wilson admitting to the shooting, stating, "I done that," and expressing surprise that victims survived. The State's case relies on these unprompted admissions and evidence that Wilson and another male planned a separate crime using a route identical to the 2010 incident's getaway. Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with one off-duty detective witnessing the shooter flee with two handguns. The prosecution argues that surveillance of a Volkswagen Caddy and a Nissan Primastar revealed reconnaissance trips matching the original attack's modus operandi. The trial, scheduled for five weeks before Ms Justice Tara Burns and two colleagues, continues tomorrow. At his arraignment, Wilson attempted to deliver a prepared speech alleging a State show-trial before being interrupted by the presiding judge, who requested only his plea.
In a murder trial, a pathologist testified that the decapitated, skeletonised remains of a 24‑year‑old Dublin man, Philip Finnegan, were found curled in a foetal position in a shallow grave in Rahin Woods, Kildare, after he had been missing for 30 days. The remains were partially burned and evidence of multiple stab wounds, including two fatal ones to the liver and aorta, was presented. Fingerprints recovered from a finger that had slipped away from the soil confirmed Finnegan's identity. The accused, Stephen Penrose, 38, pleaded not guilty. The trial also discussed a blood‑stained glove that matched Penrose's DNA and his phone's proximity to the site. The case is ongoing before Mr Justice Owens and a jury.
The murder trial of Lorcan Merriman, 25, of Lealand Close, Clondalkin, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice David Keane and a jury. Merriman has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Thomas Farnan at Kilcronan Close, Clondalkin, on April 25 or 26, 2016. Chief State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan testified that Mr Farnan sustained nine gunshot injuries from at least five bullets. She identified a bullet that traversed the victim's arm, chest, and heart as the fatal injury, while wounds to the abdomen, elbow, and pelvis contributed to death. Toxicology revealed high levels of methadone, alcohol, and Zopiclone, though these did not contribute to the death. Detective Garda Lynn Johnson reported finding five discharged 9mm cartridges outside the home and one inside, along with three recovered bullets. Tool markings suggested the rounds were fired from the same weapon, though the firearm was never located. Gardaí also found three air rifles in the residence; one was classified as a firearm under the Firearms Act due to its muzzle energy. The trial continues.
During a murder trial, a dog walker recounted discovering what he believed to be a body in Rahin Woods, Kildare, on 2 September 2016. He found two dogs barking near a buried object that appeared to be flesh. He later informed two men, Ivan Pollard and Pat McGrath, who called 112. Garda inspectors Aiden Hannon and Padraig Nolan examined the site, noting almost skeletal remains protruding from a shallow grave, a stab‑proof vest, a garden fork, a shovel, a knife blade, a mobile phone, a fire‑damaged glove, and a black funnel. The remains were taken to Naas mortuary. The trial heard that the accused, Stephen Penrose, 38, pleaded not guilty to murdering 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan, whose body was found decapitated in the woods. The case is ongoing before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury.
During the Central Criminal Court trial of Lorcan Merriman, a witness, Bernadette Hanlon, testified that she heard a series of loud bangs at 11:35 pm on 25 April 2016 while watching television in her apartment overlooking Thomas Farnan's garden. She said she jumped to the window, heard about four more bangs, and saw a tall, thin man in a dark silver or grey hoodie running out of Farnan's driveway, "like a hare", crossing the street and heading toward the Grand Canal. Hanlon identified the man as young and presumed he was fleeing the scene. Another witness, Kyle Shorten, reported hearing bangs and seeing a person in dark clothing leave the area with a gun in his left hand. Garda Keith Cleary, who was on patrol that night, described arriving at Kilcronan Close after a call and speaking to people outside Farnan's home. Lorcan Merriman pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, the defence of former Defence Forces member Lisa Smith faced a massive volume of evidence. Ms Smith, 39, is charged under the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005 for membership in ISIS from 28 October 2015 to 1 December 2019 and for financing terrorism by sending €800 via Western Union to a named man on 6 May 2015. Her barrister, Michael O'Higgins SC, informed the court that the State had prepared a verbatim transcript of interviews that exceeded 100 pages each, in addition to an "absolutely enormous" amount of disclosure. The defence struggled to download and print the material, with printers frequently crashing. O'Higgins applied for an adjournment to review the documents, which were given to the defence that morning. The court adjourned the matter to 15 November, with the 12‑week trial scheduled to begin in January. Ms Smith was excused from the brief hearing and from the 15 November hearing.
A High Court pretrial motion in a personal injury claim brought by a young woman against mixed‑martial‑arts fighter Conor McGregor has been adjourned to March 2022. The motion, a common‑law request for discovery of documents that the plaintiff says will support her claim, was listed before Mr Justice Mark Heslin on Monday. McGregor, 32, denies all wrongdoing. The case is one of two initiated against the sportsman over alleged incidents in 2018; the woman has also sued an associate of McGregor and her mother has lodged a separate personal‑injury action. All allegations in both actions are fully denied. The incident was investigated by An Garda Síochána, but the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution decided no criminal charges would be brought. The women are represented by Coleman Legal Partners, while McGregor is represented by Michael J Staines & Company.
Stephen Penrose, 38, accused of murdering 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan in Kildare woods, has re‑engaged solicitor Michael French while junior counsel Eoghan Weldon may return to represent him. He has not retained senior counsel Anthony Sammon. Penrose has repeatedly declined to attend his trial, which is in its fourth week at the Central Criminal Court. He previously represented himself, cross‑examining witnesses and accusing a Garda inspector of lying. The judge warned him that continued abuse of witnesses could lead to his removal from the courtroom. Penrose's trial continues with jurors hearing his multiple Garda interviews, where he gave conflicting accounts of the victim's movements and the location of the body. The prosecution has presented evidence of a bloodied glove DNA‑matched to Penrose and phone data linking him to the area where Finnegan's body was found. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty.
Alan Wilson, aged 42, denied attempting to murder three men in a 2010 shooting at the Player's Lounge pub in Fairview, Dublin. He claimed before the Special Criminal Court that evidence against him had been "doctored to facilitate a State show‑trial". At the arraignment, Wilson attempted to give a prepared statement but was interrupted by Judge Tara Burns, who asked whether he pleaded guilty or not. Wilson pleaded not guilty to the attempted murders of Brian Masterson, Wayne Barrett and Austin Purcell, and to possession of a .38 Special Smith & Wesson revolver, .38 ammunition, a .32 Auto Zastava pistol and .32 ammunition with intent to endanger life. Defence barrister Padraig Dwyer requested full access to CCTV footage and disclosure, citing an "enormous" amount of material. Judge Burns agreed to provide the defendant with the necessary facilities and scheduled the opening prosecution speech for Thursday, with the trial expected to conclude within five weeks before Christmas.
In a single‑punch manslaughter case, a judge discharged the jury after a five‑day trial. Vincent Kelly, 45, died from a catastrophic brain injury one day after being punched by Paul O'Carroll, 46, outside the Royal Hotel in Bray on 9 June 2018. O'Carroll, who had pleaded not guilty, claimed he struck Kelly only to remove him from the situation, stating he did not intend to kill or seriously injure him. The trial heard that Kelly had suffered a transient ischemic attack two years earlier and was on blood‑thinning medication, which Dr. Michael Curtis said could worsen head‑injury outcomes. Kelly was taken to St Vincent's Hospital, then Beaumont Hospital, where he underwent surgery, suffered cardiac arrest, was revived, but later died. O'Carroll was remanded on continuing bail until 2 November to set a new trial date.
During a late‑night visit to her dentist, Elaine Heffernan was awakened by three gentle taps on the letterbox. She thought a neighbour was knocking, but as Thomas Farnan opened the front door a gunman fired a single shot that killed him before he could even open the door. He fell slowly, and Heffernan tried to stop him, but he was already dead. Neighbours arrived, one checked his pulse and confirmed he was gone. The shooting took place at Kilcronan Close, Clondak in the early hours of 25 or 26 April 2016. Lorcan Merriman, 25, of Lealand Close, Clondak, is on trial for the murder and has pleaded not guilty. The trial is being heard by Mr Justice David Keane with a jury of nine men and three women. The case remains at the murder‑trial stage.
Stephen Penrose, 38, of Coolock, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Philip Finnegan, 24, who was found decapitated in a shallow grave in Kildare woods. During the trial, Penrose told Gardaí that he had heard rumours that Finnegan was "sitting in Jamaica eating a Big Mac" and that he had been "chopped up" in the Dublin mountains. He also claimed he had no knowledge of Finnegan's disappearance and that he had been stabbed in the arm during an alleged altercation on August 10. Penrose represented himself but has since hired new lawyers and declined to attend further court sessions. Gardaí have noted that a blood‑stained glove found at the scene matched Penrose's DNA and that his phone was linked to a cell site near the burial site. The trial continues before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury of 12.
During the Central Criminal Court trial of Stephen Penrose, a 38‑year‑old from Coolock, evidence was presented that his phone made a data connection at a cell site near Rahin, where the body of 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan was found. The phone also connected to several other sites in Edenderry and surrounding areas on the afternoon of 10 August 2016, including Liffey Valley fitness centre, Edenderry water tower, Monasteroris, Russellswood, Moyvalley and Enfield. The last outgoing call from Penrose's phone was at 6:09 pm, connecting to a cell site in Enfield. The prosecution also noted that Finnegan's phone was last used in Edenderry at 3:44 pm, and that his mother's call at 4:40 pm was unanswered. Additional testimony included a text sent from Penrose's phone at 4:07 pm and a call at 4:53 pm to a site covering Rahin Woods. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty.
A jury has begun deliberating in the trial of a 39‑year‑old man and his 36‑year‑old wife, accused of neglect and cruelty toward their nine‑year‑old daughter who sustained life‑changing brain injuries. The parents pleaded not guilty to two charges of assault causing serious harm and three charges of child cruelty, alleged to have occurred at their Dublin family home between 28 June and 2 July 2019. The child was found unconscious on 2 July, later hospitalised with multiple bruises, cuts, bite marks, burns and brain bleeding, and now requires carers for basic daily needs. The accused are originally from North Africa and are not identified to protect the complainant's identity. On day twelve of the trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a jury of six men and five women began deliberations after Judge Martin Nolan directed them on the relevant law.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 37‑year‑old man known to the gardai was shot dead while speaking to his mother on the phone at the front door of his home. The case concerns 25‑year‑old Lorcan Merriman of Lealand Close, Clondalkin, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Thomas Farnan at Kilcronan Close, Clondalkin, on the evening of 25 or 26 April 2016. According to the Director of Public Prosecutions, Farnan was at home talking to his mother when, at 23:43, he heard a knock and opened the door. He was shot at least five times and died almost immediately. Neighbours reported seeing a lone male running from the scene with a gun, wearing a balaclava or ski mask.
In a Dublin trial, a 39‑year‑old man and his 36‑year‑old wife, both of North African origin, pleaded not guilty to two assault‑causing‑serious‑harm charges and three child‑cruelty charges. The case concerns a nine‑year‑old daughter who suffered catastrophic brain injuries on 2 July 2019 and remains fully dependent on carers. The prosecution alleged that the parents, acting in joint enterprise, inflicted violence on the child, including choking, burning, and forcing her hand onto a hot oven, and that they lied to paramedics and Gardaí. The defence argued that the father was not present during the injuries, had found the child unconscious, and faced a "Hobson's choice" between calling 999 and losing everything. The trial is in its closing stages, with jurors set to deliberate tomorrow. The child's identity is protected. The case remains ongoing.
In a child cruelty trial in Dublin, a 39‑year‑old man and his 36‑year‑old wife, who are not named to protect the child's identity, pleaded not guilty to two assault‑causing‑serious‑harm charges and three child cruelty charges for incidents at their home between 28 June and 2 July 2019. The child was hospitalised on 2 July with life‑changing head injuries. On day 12 of the trial, consultant neurosurgeon Kieron Sweeney examined all medical records and photographs. He told the court that the parents' explanations – a bike fall two days earlier and a shower fall on the day of hospitalisation – were inconsistent with the injuries. He described the injuries as low‑velocity blunt force trauma with a symmetrical pattern, unlikely to be self‑harm, and noted a secondary injury from reduced oxygen supply to the brain, possibly indicating excessive shaking.
Paul Penrose gave evidence at the Central Criminal Court in a murder trial concerning his son, Stephen Penrose, aged 38, of Coolock, Dublin. Stephen Penrose has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Phillip Finnegan, aged 24, at Rahin Woods, County Kildare on August 10, 2016. The father described meeting Mr Finnegan on August 8, two days before the alleged killing, and stated that the two men appeared friendly towards each other. Paul Penrose testified about subsequent events, including his son's hospitalisation with stab wounds, the discovery of bloodstains on a vehicle, and an attempt to purchase cleaning products. The trial heard that Mr Finnegan's decapitated remains were discovered in a shallow grave in Kildare woodland. The prosecution has indicated that a bloodied glove found at the scene matched DNA belonging to the accused. The trial continues before Justice Alexander Owens and jury.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Vincent Kelly, aged 45, died from a catastrophic brain injury after being punched in the face by Paul O'Carroll, aged 46, outside the Royal Hotel in Bray on 9 June 2018. O'Carroll, who pleaded not guilty, claimed he struck Kelly only to remove him from a verbal altercation. Kelly was on blood‑thinning medication, including aspirin, following a transient ischemic attack two years earlier, which a pathologist said likely worsened his injuries. Post‑mortem findings showed a single blow to Kelly's left face causing him to fall and hit his head on the ground, with skull fracture, brain bleeding and bruising. CCTV footage corroborated the sequence of events. Kelly was taken to St Vincent's Hospital, then Beaumont, where he underwent surgery, suffered cardiac arrest, was revived, but died early on 10 June. Traces of cocaine were found in Kelly, suggesting recent use. The case remains before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury.
The jury in the trial of Stephen Penrose, 38, accused of murdering 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan, watched a montage of CCTV footage showing a blue saloon car's movements on the day of the killing. The footage, presented by Garda Shauna Nolan, shows Finnegan leaving a filling station in Edenderry at 3.46 pm, entering the car with Penrose, and the vehicle driving toward Rahin Woods. The car is seen passing Kinnefad at 4.05 pm, arriving at Grange West at 4.10 pm, and later at a house in Balrinnet at 5.13 pm. At 6.21 pm the car stops at Browne's filling station in Kilcock, where a man in dark clothing is seen with a bleeding left wrist. The final clip shows an ambulance outside Connolly Hospital at 7.39 pm, with a paramedic treating a patient's left forearm injury. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court announced that a judgement in the murder trial of Eamon Kelly will be delivered on 15 November. Kenneth Donohoe, 43, of Hazelgrove Estate, and Darren Murphy, 51, of Rory O'Connor House, are charged with the 2012 killing of gangland figure Eamon Kelly on Furry Park Road, Killester. They also face a firearms charge for unlawful possession of a Glock pistol with intent to endanger life. Both men pleaded not guilty to both charges. The court heard the case this morning, with Justice Alex Owens presiding.
The jury in the trial of Stephen Penrose, 38, who is accused of murdering 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan, watched a montage of CCTV footage from August 8 to 10, 2016. The footage shows Finnegan leaving a blue saloon at Sweeney's filling station in Edenderry at 3.46 pm, entering a shop wearing a grey hoodie and a blue top, and Penrose entering the shop wearing a dark‑coloured top and trousers. The prosecution argues Finnegan was killed shortly after the footage. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Alexander Owens, continues with 12 jurors. Penrose, who has pleaded not guilty and represented himself, has hired new lawyers but declined to attend the trial. The prosecution also presented a bloodied glove found in the woods that DNA matched Penrose.
A 30‑year‑old creche worker was acquitted of all 18 counts of sexual assault against three girls after two trials. The first trial in spring 2020 ended with a hung jury on 18 counts and not‑guilty verdicts on five others. The second trial, lasting four weeks, concluded with a jury finding the accused not guilty on 17 counts; one count was withdrawn by the judge. The case involved allegations of assault in various creche locations, including a toilet cubicle, and was based on statements from the children and their parents. The prosecution also sought a charge of possession of child pornography, which was dropped by the Director of Public Prosecutions in June 2020. The defence highlighted alleged investigative failures and suggestibility concerns in the children's testimonies. The jury was thanked by Judge Karen O'Connor and released after a deliberation of one hour and 14 minutes.
In the Central Criminal Court, Stephen Penrose, aged 38, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Philip Finnegan, 24, who was found decapitated in a Kildare woods on 10 August 2016. A Garda officer reported finding a blue Alfa Romeo car in Kilcock on 13 August, with extensive blood splatter on the gearstick and driver's door. The vehicle, registered in Portarlington, was seized as it was believed to contain evidence of the assault. Paramedic Terry Devine treated Penrose for a stab wound to his left arm, noting blood-soaked socks. Penrose claimed five men were involved in an incident where Finnegan was stabbed and he fled in the car. Inspector Aidan Hannon recounted that Penrose was stabbed through a window while driving the Alfa Romeo, after which he stopped, removed his sock, and left the vehicle. The trial continues before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and 12 jurors.
The Special Criminal Court has been informed of an "absolutely gigantic" amount of disclosure for the trial of former Defence Forces member Lisa Smith, charged with membership of the Islamic State and financing terrorism. Ms Smith, 39, from Dundalk, is on bail and was not required to attend the court hearing. Her barrister, Michael O'Higgins SC, noted the difficulty of handling the large volume of prosecution material. The case was scheduled for a video‑link hearing on Monday, 1 November, with the trial set for 11 January 2022 and expected to last 12 weeks.
Stephen Penrose, aged 38, accused of murdering 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan in Kildare woods, has declined to attend his murder trial in person. The Central Criminal Court jury was informed that proceedings would continue without him. Penrose had previously represented himself after dismissing his legal team, but has now hired new counsel: solicitor Michael French and barristers Anthony Sammon SC and Eoghan Weldon BL. Judge Alexander Owens warned Penrose that continued disruptive behaviour could lead to his removal from the courtroom. Penrose had previously shouted at a Garda Inspector in the witness box, accusing him of lying. The trial, which began on 13 October, will proceed with the jury hearing CCTV footage and evidence, including a bloodied glove DNA‑matched to Penrose, while the body of Finnegan was found decapitated in a shallow grave in Kildare woods. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty.
Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch, 58, was further remanded in custody by the Special Criminal Court during a mention hearing where no application was made. Justice Tony Hunt ordered the remand, noting that a further date could be set if the accused wished to make an application. Mr. Hutch, who pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in February 2016, is scheduled to go on trial on October 3, 2022, alongside four other co-accused. He was extradited from Spain after his final appeal was rejected. The trial will also involve Jonathan Dowdall, 43, who was charged with the murder of Mr. Byrne. Patrick Hutch, 28, previously pleaded not guilty to the same alleged murder, but charges against him were dropped in 2019. The court proceedings remain at the trial stage, with the current procedural step being a remand in custody rather than a finalised disposal.