In September 2020, Michael Quinn (30) of Louth attacked Ruth O'Rourke, known as Izzy Kamikaze (58), during an anti‑lockdown protest on Kildare Street, Dublin. Quinn swung a wooden plank with a tricolour nailed to it, striking O'Rourke's head and knocking her to the ground. After the assault, a crowd of masked men and unmasked protesters shouted homophobic slurs and threatened the victims. Video of the attack and the mob's behaviour was released online, prompting O'Rourke to say it made many people realise the danger of ignoring far‑right protests. Quinn pleaded guilty in June 2021 to assault causing harm and was sentenced to a three‑year prison term, with the final year suspended on conditions. The case highlighted the violent conduct of the attackers and the hostile environment faced by O'Rourke and her friends.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 39‑year‑old father denied gardaí that he tortured his nine‑year‑old daughter, who sustained 40 injuries, including eleven burns and bites, on 2 July 2019. He and his 36‑year‑old wife pleaded not guilty to two assault‑causing‑serious‑harm charges and three child‑cruelty charges. The couple, originally from North Africa, moved to Ireland in 2011 and the daughter joined them in March 2019. The father was arrested on 7 August 2019. During the trial, detectives presented evidence of the arrest and transcripts of the father's interviews. He repeatedly answered "I don't know" when asked how the injuries occurred, and said he had no idea how his daughter was hurt. He claimed he performed CPR on her after finding her lying in his bedroom and called 999. The case remains before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
A jury was sworn in to hear the trial of Anthony Casserly, 25, and Christopher Moran, 51, both from Rowlagh Park, Clondalkin, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of Wayne Whelan at Mount Andrew Court, Lucan, on 18 November 2019. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, is expected to last four weeks.
During a child cruelty trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, expert Dr. Shirley Potter, a consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon, testified that the nine‑year‑old victim suffered burn marks and bruising that occurred within seven days of her July 2, 2019 hospitalisation. Potter examined the child on July 3, 2019, and again in July 2021, identifying 28 scars on her hands, arms, thighs, lower legs, ankles, feet and back, linking them to injuries sustained in 2019. The parents, a 39‑year‑old man and a 36‑year‑old woman of North African origin, pleaded not guilty to two assault‑causing‑serious‑harm charges and three child‑cruelty charges for incidents between June 28 and July 2, 2019. Dr. Lisa Oakley, a UK‑based professor and expert in faith‑based abuse, explained that beliefs in spirit possession can lead to violence, citing examples of beating, burning, cutting, semi‑strangulation and starving.
In the Central Criminal Court, 38‑year‑old Stephen Penrose, accused of murdering Philip Finnegan, is representing himself in his trial. During cross‑examination of Inspector Aidan Hannon, Penrose repeatedly accused the witness of lying under oath, shouting "you're a liar" and demanding Hannon be dismissed. Judge Alexander Owens warned Penrose that if he continued to "abuse" and "ballyrag" witnesses he would be taken to the cells and barred from participating in his own trial. Owens also cautioned that barristers may not call witnesses liars under oath. Penrose's outbursts included shouting at the jury and threatening to have the witness's statement taken. The judge called the behaviour contempt of court and ordered Penrose to sit down or face removal. The trial, expected to last five to six weeks, continues with the judge and 12 jurors present. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
During the trial of a 39‑year‑old man and his 36‑year‑old wife, both accused of assault causing serious harm and child cruelty, a medical expert confirmed that the nine‑year‑old girl's injuries were consistent with child abuse and non‑accidental injury. The parents pleaded not guilty to two assault charges and three child cruelty charges relating to incidents at their Dublin home between 28 June and 2 July 2019. The jury heard that the girl suffered a brain injury that will require 24‑hour care for life. Dr Louise Kyne, a paediatrician, stated that the parents' medical history did not explain the injuries. Professor Jack Crane examined photographs and described burn marks, bruising, bite‑like marks, purple bruises suggesting several days old, and evidence of blunt‑force trauma, including a subdural haematoma and bleeding in both eyes. The trial is ongoing before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
At the Central Criminal Court on 14 October 2021, Angela Finnegan, mother of the missing 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan, was cross‑examined by Stephen Penrose, the man accused of murdering her son. Ms Finnegan confirmed that Philip had been in contact with Penrose on the morning of 10 August 2016, the day he disappeared, and that he had been "in good form" when she last saw him. She stated that Philip had been looking for directions to Cloverhill Courthouse and that she had tried to reach him again at 4.40 pm, but his phone was off. Ms Finnegan also agreed with the prosecution that a named man in Portlaoise Prison had threatened Philip and that this man was present in the prison at the time of Philip's disappearance. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty. Angela Finnegan pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, a 39‑year‑old father and his 36‑year‑old wife pleaded not guilty to two assault‑causing‑serious‑harm charges and three child‑cruelty charges for their nine‑year‑old daughter. The daughter, who now requires 24‑hour care after a brain injury, was admitted to Temple St children's hospital with head, facial injuries and extensive bruising. The father told Detective Inspector David McInerney that he had performed a ritual to remove a "djinn" from his daughter's body, describing the djinn as a devil. He claimed he consulted a Moroccan ruqyah practitioner, who advised prayers and holy water, and that he placed a towel over the child's head while reciting Koranic prayers. The father also said he opened a bedroom window and told the djinn to leave, after which the child allegedly hit her head on the wall. The trial continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
The trial of Stephen Penrose, 38, for the murder of 24‑year‑old Philip Finnegan, began on 13 October 2021. The prosecution, led by Brendan Grehan SC, presented evidence that Finnegan's decapitated body was found buried in a shallow grave in Rahin Woods, Kildare, after attempts to cut and burn it. A bloodied glove recovered from the woods matched Penrose's DNA. Penrose had been seen in a blue Alfa Romeo on CCTV near a fast‑food restaurant in Kilcock on the day of the murder and had claimed to have been attacked by men, a story the court said was inconsistent with the evidence. The prosecution argued that Penrose had killed Finnegan in the woods, disposed of the body, and then lied to Gardaí to conceal the location. The trial is scheduled to continue for five to six weeks. Stephen Penrose pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a nine‑year‑old brother of a girl alleged to have suffered serious assault by her parents described how his father used "some evil thing" to scare him and his sister. The parents, 39‑year‑old man and 36‑year‑old woman, pleaded not guilty to two charges of assault causing serious harm and three charges of child cruelty. The boy testified that his mother used a leather belt, a phone charger, a hot knife, a spray and pliers to inflict injuries, and that his father choked his sister while she was pinned to a wall. He also said his father told him the "demon" talk was planned to frighten them. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, continues with a jury hearing the allegations.
A 38‑year‑old man named Stephen Penrose, who lives on Newtown Court, Malahide Road, Coolock, Dublin 17, is set to go on trial for the murder of Philip Finnegan, a 24‑year‑old man, in Rahin Woods, Rahin, Co Kildare, on 10 August 2016. Penrose was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court and pleaded not guilty. The judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, noted that Penrose is from west Kildare and Finnegan was from the south inner city of Dublin, and that most of the Gardaí involved are from the Leixlip area of Co Kildare. He mentioned that there is substantial CCTV footage, telecommunication experts and technical witnesses. A jury of eight men and four women was sworn in, and the trial, to be heard by Mr Justice Alexander Owens, is expected to last between five and six weeks.
During a trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a 14‑year‑old sister of a girl alleged to have been seriously assaulted by her parents gave testimony about the abuse. She said the mother, a 36‑year‑old, had threatened to kill her sister and had physically abused both sisters with a belt, a stick, a hot knife, and by pulling hair. The mother also allegedly used tape to bind the sisters' hands and feet and forced one sister to touch a hot hob. The father was described as choking the sister, punching and kicking her, and locking her in a dark attic. The sisters were reportedly not taken to an ambulance immediately, and the mother claimed she would go to jail. The parents, originally from North Africa, pleaded not guilty to charges of assault causing serious harm and child cruelty. The case is ongoing.
During a trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a 39‑year‑old man and a 36‑year‑old woman, who pleaded not guilty, faced two assault‑causing‑serious‑harm charges and three child‑cruelty charges for the alleged abuse of their young daughter between 28 June and 2 July 2019. The prosecution, represented by Anne Rowland SC, argued that the child suffered a brain injury that will likely require 24‑hour care for life. Neighbours testified that they heard frequent screaming and shouting from the defendants' home, with the noise reportedly increasing in intensity and frequency in the weeks leading up to 2 July. Fire‑brigade officers and a nursing staff member from Temple Street Children's Hospital also provided evidence of the child's injuries and the parents' distressed state. The case remains before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
The State has applied to have the trial of Bernard Fogarty, 33, accused of attempting to murder Mark Ivers on September 6, 2019, heard before the non‑jury Special Criminal Court. The application, made by State solicitor Ms Ciara Vibien, was successful when Mr Justice Tony Hunt granted a certificate under Section 49 of the Offences Against the State Act. The court has set a mention date for October 18, 2021, to consider the case in the three‑judge Special Criminal Court.
In a trial held on 6 October 2021, Mark Whelan, aged 48, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Noel Thomas Whelan, the partner of his daughter, on 30 March 2019. The prosecution suggested that Whelan might be found not guilty by reason of insanity or diminished responsibility. A defence psychiatrist, Dr Francis Kelly, testified that at the time of the offence Whelan was voluntarily intoxicated with cocaine, cannabis and benzodiazepines, and that his psychosis was caused by intoxication rather than a pre‑existing mental disorder. He argued that Whelan did not know the nature or wrongness of his act and could not refrain from stabbing Noel Whelan. The state rebuttal psychiatrist, Prof Harry Kennedy, maintained that Whelan's symptoms were fully explained by substance misuse and that he had no underlying mental disorder. The case was set to continue before Justice Tara Burns and a jury.
The trial of a Dublin couple accused of child cruelty and serious harm to their nine‑year‑old daughter has heard that medical staff observed burns and bruising on the girl's body. The 39‑year‑old man and 36‑year‑old woman, from North Africa, told paramedics that their daughter had slipped in the shower a few hours before they called 999. Witnesses testified that after the child was hospitalised, both parents said they had not previously seen the injuries. The couple, whose identities are protected, pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm, to child cruelty for failing to provide medical aid, to intentionally or recklessly causing serious disfigurement, and to two further counts of child cruelty between 28 June and 2 July 2019.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, 31‑year‑old Ronan Byrne was acquitted of manslaughter, assault and possession of a bat after a dispute with his mother's partner, James Marren, who died on 31 October 2013. Byrne testified that he feared Marren and had never struck back. He claimed Marren had repeatedly abused him and that the altercation began when Marren called him a "scumbag" and threatened his daughter. Byrne said he used a wooden bat to try to stop Marren from attacking, striking him a few times, but not with intent to kill. Marren was taken to hospital with a fractured leg, casted, and died days later from a pulmonary embolism caused by a deep vein thrombosis in the injured leg. The jury found Byrne not guilty on all charges after deliberating over three and a half hours. The case highlighted the alleged abuse and the medical chain of causation presented by the pathologist.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, 31‑year‑old Ronan Byrne pleaded not guilty to the unlawful killing of 57‑year‑old James Marren, who died on 31 October 2013. Byrne is accused of fracturing Marren's leg with a bat during an altercation on 26 October 2013. The defence argued that Marren's death resulted from a "freak event" – a blood clot that formed after the leg was cast and travelled to his heart – rather than Byrne's actions. The defence counsel, Padraig Dwyer SC, emphasised that the clot was a rare complication of deep vein thrombosis and that Byrne's strike was "reasonable and proportionate" to stop Marren from rising. Dwyer also highlighted the long relationship between Byrne's mother and Marren, and that Byrne had never retaliated before. The jury was instructed to consider these points before delivering a verdict. The trial continues before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.
The trial began for a 39‑year‑old man and a 36‑year‑old woman, whose identities are withheld to protect their nine‑year‑old daughter, who sustained life‑changing injuries on 2 July 2019 at their Dublin home. They pleaded not guilty to charges of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm, child cruelty for failing to provide medical aid, and causing serious disfigurement, as well as two further child cruelty counts between 28 June and 2 July 2019. Prosecutor Anne Rowland presented evidence that the daughter suffered a brain injury preventing normal functioning, was hospitalized on life support, and now requires 24‑hour care. She described extensive cuts, bruises, burns on the soles, palms, and vaginal area, and that the father claimed the injuries were self‑harm. The jury heard a 999 call recording and the case is proceeding before Judge Martin Nolan, expected to last three to four weeks.
Valerijs Leitons, aged 25, was arrested on 26 June 2019 after stabbing to death Skaidrite Valdgeima, aged 34, at the Binary Hub aparthotel in Dublin 8. Leitons pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The Central Criminal Court heard that the couple had begun a sexual relationship after meeting at a concert in May 2019. A post‑mortem report described multiple penetrating slash and stab wounds to Valdgeima's face, head, neck, arms, chest and right eye, with defence‑type injuries on both arms suggesting attempts to block the knife. A psychiatrist testified that Leitons had a psychotic disorder since February 2018 and may have stopped medication by February 2019, but was not sufficiently impaired to meet the insanity threshold. Witnesses, including a night porter and Garda officers, described Leitons as aggressive, holding a knife and resisting arrest.
Mark Whelan, aged 48, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Noel Thomas Whelan on 30 March 2019. He claimed a vision of his daughter's partner killing and eating her unborn baby prompted him to stab Noel to bits. Whelan left the scene, turned himself in at Finglas Garda Station, and was held overnight. During the trial, he described hearing his mother's voice and a vision of Noel murdering his daughter, leading him to stab Noel with two knives. He also admitted cutting himself while stabbing and later fighting two men in Blanchardstown Village. Gardaí noted Whelan's self‑harm behaviors in custody, including attempts to gouge his eye and eat toilet paper. The prosecution presented evidence of psychosis medication, painkillers, and an empty methodone bottle found at the scene. The case was concluded by the State, with the defence planning to call medical evidence at the next hearing.
During a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, the prosecution argued that the alleged victim, James Marren, was "unlucky" to die from injuries sustained in an altercation with Ronan Byrne, but that this does not absolve Byrne of liability. Byrne, 31, is accused of fracturing Marren's leg with a baseball bat on 26 October 2013, an act that the prosecution says was intended to cause serious harm. The jury heard that a blood clot formed after Marren's leg was cast, travelled to his heart and proved fatal. Byrne denies both the use of the bat and the assault. The prosecution, led by Philipp Rahn BL, emphasized that the causal chain from Byrne's actions to Marren's death is clear and that any medical treatment or Marren's refusal to seek further care does not mitigate Byrne's responsibility. The case remains before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury. Ronan Byrne pleaded not guilty.
During a Central Criminal Court murder trial, Chief State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan testified that the deceased, Noel Thomas Whelan, suffered 18 knife wounds to his head, neck and trunk, including a fatal neck wound that severed the carotid artery and a lung‑penetrating wound that collapsed the lung. She identified nine additional stab wounds and seven incised wounds that contributed to his death, concluding the cause was multiple stab wounds with no other factors. The accused, Mark Whelan, 48, pleaded not guilty to the murder. The trial noted that the victim and accused were not related but the victim was the partner of one of Mark Whelan's daughters. Dr Mulligan arrived at the scene at 21:41, found the body at the bottom of a narrow staircase, and observed bloodstains, finger prints and two blood‑stained knives in the kitchen. Toxicology revealed cocaine but no alcohol.
In a Dublin murder trial, 25‑year‑old Valerijs Leitons, charged with killing his partner Skaidrite Valdegeima, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. A psychiatrist testified that Leitons suffered a psychotic disorder but was not impaired enough to meet the legal criteria for an insanity verdict. Leitons had been prescribed antipsychotic medication since February 2018, but may have stopped taking it by February 2019. He claimed to be targeted by intelligence agents and believed Valdegeima was an agent who threatened him. Leitons carried two knives, which he said were for self‑protection, and stabbed Valdegeima at the Binary Hub aparthotels on 26 June 2019. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of twelve.
An American tourist, Debbie Halley, described seeing a blood‑covered woman in a Dublin apartment complex as "like the movie Carrie" and hearing her cry for help. Another American tourist, Sean Miller, recounted waking at 3 am to a screaming, a woman bleeding on the floor and a man with a knife. Miller and his friend Tyler Chen used a chair and a fire extinguisher to repel the man, then carried the woman to the corridor where they attempted first aid. The woman, Skaidrite Valdgeima, was later found dead. Valdgeima's friend Grita Steine testified that Valdgeima and the accused, Valerijs Leitons (25), had begun a sexual relationship after meeting at a concert in May 2019. Leitons, who was booked at St Kevin's Gardens, is on trial for her murder at the Central Criminal Court.
A manslaughter trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard evidence regarding the character of the deceased man in the case. Ronan Byrne, aged 31, of Lohunda Downs, Clonsilla, Blanchardstown, Dublin, pleads not guilty to the unlawful killing of James Marren, aged 57, at that address on 31 October 2013. He also denies producing a baseball bat during a dispute and assaulting Mr Marren on 26 October 2013. The prosecution alleges Mr Byrne fractured the victim's leg with a bat, leading to complications including a fatal blood clot. During the sixth day of trial, the court heard a statement from the deceased man's son describing the victim as heavily drinking and abusive towards the accused and his family members. The witness stated he had not seen his father for four years prior to his death due to the pattern of abusive behaviour. The prosecution formally closed its case before the jury. Judge Patricia Ryan presides over the trial, which continues.
Gerard Hutch, 58, appeared before the Special Criminal Court following his extradition from Spain, where he was charged with the alleged murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in 2016. The court, presided over by Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Berkeley and McHugh, fixed a trial date for October 3, 2022, where Hutch will stand trial alongside four other co-accused. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC reserved Hutch's position regarding the lawfulness of his arrest, the charge, and the court's jurisdiction. The court remanded Hutch in custody until October 15, 2022. This proceeding is distinct from the 2019 case of Patrick Hutch, who pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Mr Byrne but was acquitted after charges were dropped. Additionally, Jonathan Dowdall was previously charged with the alleged murder of Mr Byrne and is scheduled to go on trial alongside other co-accused on the same date. The trial date represents a procedural step in the ongoing prosecution, with ancillary matters such as bail and potential applications for separate trials to be addressed in the coming weeks.
During a manslaughter trial, 31‑year‑old Ronan Byrne pleaded not guilty to the unlawful killing of 57‑year‑old James Marren on 31 October 2013. Byrne claimed he feared for himself and his child after Marren, who had returned home drunk, shouted abuse, pushed him and threatened him. Byrne said he grabbed a baseball bat from the hallway, struck Marren a few times—once or twice to the head and once or twice to the legs—then fled the house, later returning to bring his child to her mother. He denied that he had used the bat in a full swing or that he had previously hit Marren with a bat. The court heard that Marren's leg was cast after the assault, a blood clot formed, travelled to his heart and proved fatal. The trial continues before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Mark Whelan, 48, pleaded not guilty to the killing of Noel Thomas Whelan, a man in his twenties, who was the partner of Whelan's daughter. The prosecution presented evidence that on 30 March 2019, neighbours heard noise from the apartment at Castlecurragh Heath and later saw a topless male, covered in blood, leaving the building around 6 pm. An eyewitness identified the man as Whelan, who was then seen walking toward his sister's home in Mulhuddart. Gardaí found Whelan's body in the hallway, covered with two heavy tool trolleys, with 11 stab wounds to the head, neck and chest, including a severed carotid artery and a perforated lung. Two blood‑stained knives with handprints matching Whelan's DNA were recovered from the kitchen sink, and similar prints were found on a wall and a toolbox.
In the murder trial of Renato Gehlen, the jury requested a re‑hear of pathology evidence and to view three knives recovered from the scene. The judge agreed to read the full evidence from Chief State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan and allowed the jurors to examine a yellow‑handled knife found on Gehlen's chest, a Stanley knife near the bedroom skirting board, and a red knife on a duvet cover. Dr Mulligan testified that Ms Anne Colomines had four stab wounds, a 22 cm throat wound, and six hand incisions, with one 20 cm deep wound passing through the heart, and stated it was "highly unlikely" she had stabbed herself. Gehlen, 39, pleaded not guilty to murdering his 37‑year‑old wife, who worked for PayPal, at their Dublin home on 25 October 2017. The jury, composed of seven men and five women, deliberated for 2 h 40 min and must decide unanimously between guilty or not guilty.
During a manslaughter trial, the court heard that a direct chain of causation links a leg injury to a fatal blood clot. Ronan Byrne, 31, is accused of fracturing James Marren's leg with a bat on 26 October 2013. Marren, 57, was later found dead on 31 October 2013. Byrne pleaded not guilty to unlawful killing and denies using a baseball bat or assaulting Marren. Dr Stuart Hamilton, a forensic pathologist, testified that Marren's right leg was fractured, immobilised in a cast, and developed a deep vein thrombosis that led to a pulmonary embolism. Hamilton stated that the clot travelled from the leg to the heart and then to the lungs, causing death. He described this as a rare medical condition that can cause sudden death. The trial continues before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.
Valerijs Leitons, 25, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of Skaidrite Valdgeima on 26 June 2019 at Binary Hub, Bonham Street, Dublin 8. He appeared in the Central Criminal Court wearing a dark grey suit and a white respirator mask, with a Russian interpreter beside him. The court registrar asked how he was pleading; Leitons answered, "Not guilty, by reason of insanity." A jury of five women and seven men was sworn in, and the trial is scheduled to begin before Mr Justice Paul Burns on 30 September, expected to last three or four days.
A 48‑year‑old man named Mark Whelan, who lives in Castlecurragh Heath, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15, is set to stand trial for the murder of Noel Thomas Whelan at the latter's home on 30 March 2019. Whelan was arrested and appeared in the Central Criminal Court in a light grey tracksuit and a disposable blue face mask. He pleaded not guilty to the charge. A jury of nine men and three women was sworn in, and the trial is scheduled to begin before Justice Tara Burns tomorrow.
A 53‑year‑old Kenyan woman, Grace Miano, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity in the murder of 27‑year‑old Malawian man Limbani 'Robert' Mzoma at Tudor Lawns, Foxrock, on 1 November 2018. She told the court that she killed Mzoma to "protect Prince William" and cut off his genitals after death "to protect women". The prosecution presented evidence that Mzoma died from blunt‑force and stabbing injuries, with post‑mortem wounds to the head, neck and genital area. Human remains were found in the kitchen sink. Miano's defence argued she suffered a schizoaffective disorder and did not know her actions were wrong. The trial is before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of five women and seven men, and the prosecution seeks a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity under Section 5 of the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act. The case remains at the opening‑speech stage.
A jury of seven men and five women is continuing deliberations in the murder trial of Renato Gehlen, a 39‑year‑old Brazilian, accused of stabbing his 37‑year‑old French wife, Anne Colomines, to death in their Dublin apartment on 25 October 2017. The jury began deliberating at noon on Tuesday and had spent 1 hour 40 minutes before the registrar asked if a verdict had been reached; the answer was no. Judge Michael MacGrath adjourned the proceedings to the next morning, instructing the jury to avoid media and external inquiries. Prosecution counsel Shane Costelloe argued that Gehlen's act was an attempt to regain control of the marriage, describing it as "the ultimate in toxic masculinity." Defence counsel Seamus Clarke contended that the prosecution had not ruled out the possibility that the injuries were self‑inflicted, urging the jury to acquit if reasonable doubt existed. Renato Gehlen pleaded not guilty.
A manslaughter trial is ongoing with medical witnesses and emergency personnel providing evidence regarding the death of James Marren. Ronan Byrne (31) is accused of fracturing Mr Marren's leg with a bat during an altercation. The jury heard that a blood clot developed in Mr Marren's leg after it was placed in a cast, leading to his death. Byrne has pleaded not guilty to the unlawful killing of Mr Marren on October 31, 2013, and to assault and the use of a bat on October 26, 2013. Medical evidence showed Mr Marren had a fractured leg, excessive bruising, and alcohol in his system. Doctors testified that immobility can lead to deep vein thrombosis, but no issues with the cast were noted. Mr Marren was found unresponsive at home, and paramedics performed CPR before he was pronounced dead at the hospital. The trial continues before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.
Grace Miano, 53, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of Malawian man Limbani 'Robert' Mzoma, 27, at Tudor Lawns in Foxrock, Co Dublin, on 1 November 2018. The charge was read to her at the Central Criminal Court, where she confirmed her identity and answered the registrar. She is also known as 'Margaret Sloane'. Judge Paul McDermott informed the jury that the trial would last two to three days and begin the following day. Miano first arrived in Ireland in 1989 and had stayed in hostels around Finglas and Harcourt Street in Dublin.
In a Dublin murder trial, prosecution counsel Shane Costelloe SC argued that Renato Gehlen, a 39‑year‑old Brazilian, stabbed his 37‑year‑old French wife Anne Colomines to death on 25 October 2017 to end their marriage. Costelloe described the act as "the ultimate in toxic masculinity," claiming Gehlen lost control and could not handle the marriage's end. He cited evidence of four stab wounds, a 22‑centimetre throat wound, and six defensive injuries, concluding it was highly unlikely the wounds were self‑inflicted. Costelloe also highlighted Gehlen's Facebook activity, including a message expressing a desire to stab, as evidence of intent. He urged the jury to find Gehlen guilty of murder, emphasizing that a man cannot kill his wife simply because she is unfaithful. The defense maintained that the wounds could have been self‑inflicted and called for an acquittal. The jury was instructed to deliberate on the case. Renato Gehlen pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, 31‑year‑old Ronan Byrne pleaded not guilty to the unlawful killing of James Marren, 57, who died on 31 October 2013 after a blood clot from a fractured leg travelled to his heart. Byrne is alleged to have fractured Marren's leg with a bat on 26 October 2013, days before the fatal clot. He denies both the assault and the use of a baseball bat. Byrne's mother, Mairead, testified that Marren had been in a relationship with her for at least 13 years and that Marren had verbally abused her son, but she did not witness the fight. Neighbour Hugh Kenny described a commotion at the house on 26 October, noting Marren was lying on the bathroom floor with a large forehead wound and that an ambulance was called. The trial continues before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.
The murder trial of Damien Singleton, 30, accused of killing Peter Donnelly on Dublin's O'Connell Street in June 2019, collapsed after a juror claimed to have overheard Gardaí discussing witness statements in the courtroom. The trial, held in Court 9 of the Central Criminal Court before Ms Justice Tara Burns, began with Singleton pleading not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. During the proceedings, a juror noted that he believed he heard partial conversations between Gardaí about witness statements, a claim the prosecution denied, stating the Gardaí present were only there for logistical reasons and did not discuss witness statements. The judge, concerned about the jurors' seating and potential distractions, decided to discharge the jury. The case was re‑listed for mention for the following Monday. The trial had been conducted under Covid‑19 health and safety guidelines, with only five jurors seated in the jury box and seven in the body of the court.
Renato Gehlen, a 39‑year‑old Brazilian, denied murdering his 37‑year‑old French wife, Anne Colomines, and told Gardaí that she stabbed herself after a heated argument. He claimed that after trying to persuade her to speak and asking if she was seeing anyone else, she took a Stanley knife and began cutting her neck, but the cut was shallow and did not bleed. He said they fought over her computer, during which she allegedly said, "If I'm going to fuck me up I'm going to be sure to fuck you up very well." Gehlen reported that he tried to grab the knife, fell, and that Colomines then stabbed herself in the abdomen. He further alleged that she had a second cut on her torso, possibly from the struggle. Gehlen also claimed he panicked, called a friend, and attempted suicide with a knife, cutting his arms and legs before being taken to hospital. Renato Gehlen pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster testified that Peter Donnelly, a 39‑year‑old homeless man from Kilkenny, was killed on Dublin's O'Connell Street on the early hours of 11 June 2019. Dr Bolster described two fatal stab wounds inflicted by a single‑blade knife: a 4 cm‑deep wound to Donnelly's jugular vein and a branch of the aorta, and a V‑shaped wound near his backbone that missed the spine. The left lung had collapsed, with 500 ml of fresh blood in the cavity. Donnelly's blood alcohol level was 241 mg ml⁻¹, and cocaine, heroin and antidepressants were present. The knife recovered by Gardaí was 14 cm and matched the wounds. The case is before a jury of eight men and four women, with Mr Damien Singleton, 30, pleading not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of Donnelly. The trial continues tomorrow.
Paulina Galantkiewicz, 34, of Belmount Park, Raheny, has gone on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to cyclist Thames Aline Taveres. The incident occurred on 1 June 2018 at Oak Road, Clondalkin, when Galantkiewicz, a learner driver, was unaccompanied while driving to a job interview. Taveres, returning home from work at about 3.25 pm, was cycling without a helmet or high‑visibility jacket in the rain. Galantkiewicz was turning left at a T‑junction and failed to bring her vehicle to a complete stop, colliding with Taveres' bike. The collision sent the cyclist toward the front of the car, where she was struck and knocked from her bike, and the car then drove over her before stopping. Taveres was taken to Tallaght Hospital for serious injuries. Galantkiewicz admitted she was the driver, passed a roadside breathalyser test, and remained at the scene. Paulina Galantkiewicz pleaded not guilty.
Renato Gehlen, 39, a Brazilian national, denies murdering his 37‑year‑old French wife Anne Colomines. He told a Garda that they were arguing over "another man" when he tried to take a knife from her hand and she was stabbed. Gehlen claimed the blame was 50/50 and that he tried to make her stop, describing the incident as an accident. He also said he attempted suicide because she was his family. The Central Criminal Court heard that Colomines had four stab wounds to her torso, a 22‑cm neck incision and a 20‑cm wound that passed through her heart. Gehlen was treated for injuries after the night of her death, was discharged on 10 November, and was arrested that day. The trial is before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath with a jury of five women and seven men.
In the trial of Damien Singleton, a 30‑year‑old man with no fixed abode, the prosecution presented a case that the killing of Peter Donnelly, a 39‑year‑old from Kilkenny who had been living rough in Dublin, was murder and nothing else. Singleton had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The prosecution argued that CCTV footage showed Singleton stabbing Donnelly three times with a knife and then striking him with a bottle before fleeing. They also claimed that Singleton had approached a young girl on O'Connell Street, engaged in a heated exchange with Donnelly, and that the incident occurred around 12.25 am on 11 June 2019. The prosecution's evidence included testimony from Garda Nicola Tornsey, who described the confrontation, the subsequent CPR by witnesses, and the recovery of a blood‑stained knife near the arrest site.
During the Central Criminal Court trial, Chief State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan testified that it is highly unlikely Anne Colomines stabbed herself to death. She described four stab wounds, a 22‑centimetre throat incision, and six defensive injuries on her hands, noting the fatal chest wound entered the right side between the fourth and fifth ribs and penetrated the heart. The throat wound was jagged, suggesting multiple passes, and would have caused severe pain and bleeding. Dr Mulligan argued that the pattern of wounds, the right‑handedness of the victim, and the absence of tentative wounds made self‑infliction improbable, though she could not rule it out entirely. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, continues with a jury of twelve. The accused, Renato Gehlen, remains not guilty of murdering his 37‑year‑old French wife. The case also involves evidence from laptops and a knife found at the scene. The trial is ongoing.
During a murder trial, the Central Criminal Court heard that Renato Gehlen, a 39‑year‑old Brazilian, told his 37‑year‑old French wife, Anne Colomines, that "when someone loves so much, it is the worst thing in the world" two days before she was killed by knife wounds at their Dublin apartment. Detective Garda Niamh Coates presented Facebook messages from Gehlen's phone in which he repeatedly expressed love and said, "A marriage is two imperfect people who do not give up on each other." Two days before her death he wished her a "happy wedding anniversary" and urged her not to give up on him. The court also heard that on the night of her death she exchanged 296 messages with a new French boyfriend, ending at 23:06, and that emergency responders found her lifeless body in her bedroom less than 30 minutes later. Renato Gehlen pleaded not guilty.
A 30‑year‑old man, Damien Singleton, who has no fixed abode, appeared at the Central Criminal Court on 20 September 2021. He is charged with the murder of 39‑year‑old Peter Donnelly, a father‑of‑one from Kilkenny, who was killed on O'Connell Street in Dublin on 11 June 2019. Singleton denies the murder charge but pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Justice Tara Burns informed the jury that the trial is expected to finish by the following Friday, with opening speeches scheduled for the next day before a jury of eight men and four women.
At 11.30pm the Dublin Fire Brigade entered the bedroom of the apartment on Dorset Square, Gardiner Street, where Anne Colomines, 37, lay dead on a blood‑stained floor beside her husband Renato Gehlen, 39. Fire officers observed a large amount of blood on the bed and floor, a white‑handled knife protruding from Gehlen's chest, and multiple stab wounds, a throat slash and a cut on his palm. Paramedics attempted resuscitation for 30 minutes but she had no pulse. The knife lodged in Gehlen's chest was not deep and fell out as he was moved downstairs. Officers found a black and yellow Stanley knife near the skirting board and blood spatter on the wall. The case is being heard by the Central Criminal Court, with Gehlen pleading not guilty to the murder of his French wife. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and a jury.
The Central Criminal Court heard that Renato Gehlen, a 39‑year‑old Brazilian, sent a text to Anne Colomines' new boyfriend warning him "not to ever go near" her. Colomines, a 37‑year‑old French national who worked for Pay‑Pal, had begun a relationship with a younger man she met on a holiday in France and had told Gehlen she wanted a divorce. She was found dead on 25 October 2017 in the apartment she shared with Gehlen in Dublin. Gehlen has pleaded not guilty to her murder. Witnesses, including former Pay‑Pal colleagues, described Colomines' desire for a fresh start and her attempts to help Gehlen with visa documents before her death. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath with a jury of five women and seven men.