In a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Phillip Kavanagh (34) pleaded not guilty to assault charges against Garda Theresa Moore and Garda Conor Mohan. The incident occurred on 7 January 2017 at a Focus Ireland housing complex. Kavanagh, described as drunk and without a top, allegedly resisted officers' entry and became aggressive. Garda Moore recounted that after Kavanagh was arrested and cuffed, she attempted to restrain him in a patrol car. Kavanagh reportedly lunged, striking her hand, causing a sprain, broken knuckles, and a fractured wrist. He claimed the officers "battered" him, while Garda Moore denied any injury caused by her. The case is set to continue before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
In a Munster child‑abuse trial at Croke Park, the prosecution has closed its case against six relatives—parents, aunts, uncles—who are accused of abusing three children between 2014 and 2016. The accused, aged 27 to 56, live in various Munster locations. They are charged with a range of offences, including rape, anal rape, oral rape, sexual assault, sexual exploitation and wilfully neglecting children. All defendants have pleaded not guilty. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, continues with legal arguments until Thursday. Reporting restrictions protect the children's welfare and identities. The case remains in the courtroom, with no verdict yet announced. The prosecution's case is now complete, leaving the defendants to face the court's forthcoming decisions.
In the Bray Boxing Club murder trial, witnesses described a grey or silver Caddy van seen on the morning of the shooting. A Dublin Bus driver reported the van nearly colliding with his bus at speed, while a milkman noted a silver Volkswagen Caddy passing his truck and later returning with yellow registration plates. A witness from Willow Grove observed a silver van approaching her estate, noting the driver's high‑vis jacket and sunglasses. Garda reports linked a van with non‑Irish plates parked on Pigeon House Road, where a man and a bicycle were seen. The prosecution alleges the van was used in the fatal attack on Bobby Messett, with Gerard Cervi (34) pleading not guilty to murder and attempted murder charges. The trial continues with the judge noting a period of absence for the jury until late July.
Ms Bridget Delaney, aged 25, fell on a public footpath in Dungarvan on 12 April 2019, fracturing a bone in her right ankle. She received medical treatment, physiotherapy and a walker boot for about four weeks. Ms Delaney sued Waterford City and County Council, claiming negligence. In June 2019 she filed a claim with the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB). PIAB assessed her entitlement to €3,000 in general damages, citing new personal injury guidelines that came into force in April 2020. Ms Delaney rejected the assessment, arguing it was insufficient, delayed, and breached fair procedures. She alleges PIAB acted outside its powers and that the Judicial Council's adoption of the guidelines violated her constitutional rights. In March 2021 the Judicial Council voted to adopt the new guidelines.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, 33‑year‑old Lisa O'Hara pleaded guilty to a single Section 7 money‑laundering charge for concealing or disguising the nature, source, location, disposition, movement or ownership of money deposited into a Bank of Ireland account in her and James Walsh's names between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2015. The court also recorded 44 related charges against O'Hara and Walsh, all under Section 7, covering non‑scheduled offences such as converting, transferring, handling, acquiring, possessing and using money credited to the Bank of Ireland and Palmerstown Credit Union accounts, and for concealing or disguising the true nature or source of that money. O'Hara was granted bail on a €10 000 bond with conditions including surrendering her passport and providing a contact number to the Gardaí. The case was adjourned to 19 July 2021 for further proceedings.
The trial of Gerard Cervi, 34, who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Bobby Messett, 50, at Pete Taylor's Bray Boxing Club in Bray, Co Wicklow, on June 5, 2018, continued before Mr Justice Michael White. Cervi also denies the alleged attempted murders of Pete Taylor and Ian Britton. Witness Elizabeth Petcu testified that she heard an "explosion" and saw a man in a yellow hard hat and high-vis vest run from the club, jump a barrier, and drive off in a van. She described the vehicle as silver or white with a yellow plate containing "AZ". Another witness, Anne-Marie Holland, stated she was nearly struck by a reversing silver car in the car park and later learned of a shooting. Prosecution counsel Paul Murray SC presented evidence linking a silver Volkswagen Caddy with registration DFZ to the scene, noting it was found near the East Link toll bridge. The prosecution alleges Cervi was seen on a bicycle near the van earlier that morning. The matter was adjourned to Tuesday.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 34‑year‑old mother admitted to gardaí that she had abused three of her children between 2014 and 2016, describing the incidents as occurring "maybe once a week or two times a week." She said the abuse began in 2015, that she felt "disgusting" and "ashamed," and that she had been "encouraged" to carry out part of it. The mother also claimed she had witnessed her own mother abusing her daughter once, and that she had told one son not to disclose the abuse. She apologized to the gardaí, saying she had been truthful. The case involves six family members, including parents, aunts and uncles, all of whom have pleaded not guilty to various charges of sexual assault, exploitation and wilful neglect. The trial continues, with the court noting that statements made about co‑accused persons in gardaí interviews cannot be used as evidence against those persons.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, retired State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy testified that Bobby Messett, aged 50, died from a single gunshot wound to the head during a fitness class at Bray Boxing Club on 5 June 2018. The bullet entered through the left side of the nose, travelled diagonally through the upper jaw, nose, left eye and into the skull cavity, exiting at the back of the head. Dr Cassidy described extensive fractures, brain swelling, haemorrhage into the brain stem and blood‑stained clothing, concluding that death was caused by the gunshot. She noted the absence of secondary projectiles, indicating a distance of at least one metre between victim and shooter. The trial also covers Gerard Cervi's charges of murder and attempted murder, but the evidence presented focuses solely on Messett's fatal injury. The hearing continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury. Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty.
During a Garda interview, a 35‑year‑old woman accused of abusing her niece and nephew said she was being blamed for things she did not do. The trial involves six extended family members, all unnamed for legal reasons, who are accused of abusing three children between 2014 and 2016. The accused include the children's parents, aunts and uncles, aged 27 to 56, and live in various parts of Munster. All defendants have denied the charges. The woman, who pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual assault, claimed she had no knowledge of any inappropriate behaviour in her home and that the children's parents had laughed at her when she raised concerns. She stated she could not accept allegations she had not witnessed or committed. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
The trial of Gerard Cervi and Peter Taylor for the murder of Bobby Messett (50) at Bray Boxing Club on June 5, 2018, continued at the Central Criminal Court. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the murder charge; Cervi also denies the attempted murder of Taylor and Ian Britton. Garda Glenn McLoughlin, the first responder to the scene, testified that he seized a grey sports top and trainers from Taylor to preserve forensic evidence, placing them in plastic bags before transferring them to evidence bags. McLoughlin stated he never saw or took any cash belonging to Taylor, contradicting Taylor's earlier testimony that his tracksuit bottoms, containing between €200 and €400, were removed and never returned. Taylor's partner, Karen Brown, previously identified a garda holding a blue bag with Taylor's clothing. McLoughlin confirmed Taylor was not wearing tracksuit bottoms in the ambulance or hospital, suggesting they may have been cut off by paramedics. He noted that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) dismissed Taylor's complaint regarding the missing items. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of three men and nine women.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, witness Viorica Ciocirla testified that Ioan Artene Bob, a 49‑year‑old construction worker, had sent €2,600 from a casino jackpot win to her to deliver to his brother in Romania the day before his death. Ciocirla said Bob gave her the money on 12 April 2018, and she flew to Romania the next day. She reported that Bob appeared agitated and tired when she handed over the cash. Bob was found dead in a Tallaght park on 13 April 2018, with extensive blunt‑force injuries. Feri Anghel, charged with Bob's murder, pleaded not guilty. The trial, presided over by Justice Eileen Creedon, is expected to last five weeks. The court has heard details of Bob's injuries and the circumstances surrounding the money transfer.
During a June 5, 2018 early‑morning fitness session at Bray Boxing Club, a lone gunman fired nine shots from a semi‑automatic pistol. Witnesses reported the shooter was calm and wore a black helmet, gloves and jacket. The gunman fired at trainer Pete Taylor, who was struck and fell, after which the shooting stopped. The gunman also shot Bobby Messett, who died, and Ian Britton, who was injured. Gerard Cervi, 34, is accused of murder and two attempted murders. He pleaded not guilty. The trial, held in the Central Criminal Court, heard eyewitness accounts from Polish gym‑goer Wojciech Bak, gym‑partner Alan Hunter, and others, describing the rapid, chaotic scene and the gunman's sudden cessation of fire after Taylor was hit. The case continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury.
During a murder trial, witness Marian Dumitru recounted that two days before his death, his friend Ioan Artene Bob, a 49‑year‑old Romanian construction worker, claimed to have won over €2,500 at a casino after finding a €2 coin. Dumitru said Bob had been drunk and had asked him for a knife the night before he was found badly beaten in Tallaght. Bob was discovered in Sean Walsh Park on 13 April 2018, suffered extensive blunt‑force trauma, multiple fractures, bruising to his lungs and heart, and later died in hospital. Feri Anghel, charged with Bob's murder, pleaded not guilty. The court heard that Bob's injuries suggested repeated blows from fists, kicks and stamping‑type strikes, some inflicted while he was curled up or lying down. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, is expected to last five weeks.
During a trial in the Central Criminal Court, boxing trainer Pete Taylor recounted being shot while conducting a morning fitness class at his Bray Boxing Club on 5 June 2018. He said he was within a foot of the gunman, a man named Gerard Cervi, when a bullet struck him, causing him to spin and fall. Taylor described the gunman as about five feet eight inches tall, wearing a black jacket and high‑visibility vest, and reported hearing seven or eight shots over 15 to 20 seconds. He also complained that his runners and tracksuit bottoms, containing €200‑€400, were removed by paramedics and never returned, a claim he later lodged with the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission. The case involves Cervi's plea of not guilty to the murder of Bobby Messett and the attempted murder of Taylor and Ian Britton. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Michael White with a jury of twelve.
During the trial in the Central Criminal Court, a witness named Andy Williams recounted the fatal shooting that occurred on 5 June 2018 at Bray Boxing Club. He said he initially thought the gunman was joking, as the gun appeared fake and did not look real. After a few seconds he saw the gun turn and shoot Bobby Messett in the face, causing Messett to fall. Williams then heard more shots and saw trainer Pete Taylor lying on the ground with a sulphur smell. He later found that Messett was gone and Taylor was being tended to by a classmate. Ian Britton was also hit in the foot. Williams called the Gardaí, but they could not say how long it took to arrive. The accused, Gerard Cervi, 34, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Messett, the attempted murder of Taylor, and the assault on Britton.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, James Walsh, 37, pleaded guilty to laundering €62,000 in crime cash. He and his former partner, Lisa O'Hara, 32, face 44 money‑laundering charges, including using the cash as a house deposit and hiding €19,000 in a wardrobe. The court heard that Walsh admitted knowing or being reckless about the criminal origin of the money, which was used in transactions between June 2016 and January 2017. Both accused are also charged with converting, transferring, and handling money credited to a Bank of Ireland account and a Palmerstown Credit Union account in 2015, and with using €60,000 as a house deposit. The case was adjourned to 19 July, with Walsh receiving free legal aid. The hearing lasted over an hour.
In a trial of six extended family members accused of abusing three children between 2014 and 2016, the 49‑year‑old uncle repeatedly denied all allegations. He told Gardaí he was "not guilty" and that he only looked after and fed the children. He claimed he had not spoken to the children's parents since 2017 and that he was "happy in one way" that the children were removed from their parents. When questioned about discipline he said he would ground them and might "tip them a little bit." He denied any abuse of his daughter or eldest son, stating "never happened, all lies." The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury, with the uncle pleading not guilty to ten counts including rape, oral rape, anal rape, sexual assault and sexual exploitation. The case also involves other family members who have pleaded not guilty to various counts of sexual assault, exploitation and wilfully neglecting children.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, a Romanian cleaner, Garofina Selin, testified that on 13 April 2018 she was working with Feri Anghel, a 40‑year‑old co‑worker, at a premises in Slane, Co. Meath. Selin said Anghel made a "nasty smile" and suggested following her into a men's bathroom, which frightened her. She claimed Anghel told her, "Don't be scared, I'm not going to do anything to you." Selin also stated that Anghel had offered to accompany her to the bathroom, but she declined and left. She told Gardaí that she had not considered Anghel a threat. Anghel is charged with the murder of Romanian national Ioan Artene Bob, 49, who was found beaten and suffering extensive blunt‑force trauma in Tallaght, Dublin 24, on the same morning. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, continues with a jury of eight men and four women and is expected to last five weeks. Feri Anghel pleaded not guilty. Ioan Artene Bob pleaded not guilty.
The High Court quashed a Circuit Court judge's decision to direct the acquittal of an unnamed man accused of indecently assaulting his niece between 1968 and 1970 when she was seven to nine years old. The case had been heard in 2019, but the prosecution sought an adjournment after the complainant fell ill and could not testify. The trial judge declined the adjournment and directed the jury to acquit. The Director of Public Prosecution applied for judicial review, arguing the judge's decision was an impermissible preliminary application that breached Supreme Court principles. Mr Justice Heslin ruled in favour of the DPP, stating the judge had no jurisdiction to halt the trial on the basis of time and missing witnesses, and ordered the case to be remitted back to the Circuit Criminal Court for a proper hearing. The decision was made to ensure due process and a fair trial.
During a fitness class at Bray Boxing Club on 5 June 2018, a gunman entered the gym and fired nine shots from a semi‑automatic pistol. The attacker killed boxing coach Bobby Messett in the head and wounded trainer Pete Taylor and gym‑goer Ian Britton. Witness Stephen Kearns described the gunman as wearing a high‑vis jacket and a hard hat, holding a handgun with both hands. Taylor ran toward the gunman, put his elbow up, fell over a bench and was hit. Britton, who was on the first floor with his brothers, was shot in the hip and later described the gunman as a slender, slightly built man who seemed unsure of what he was doing. The trial is ongoing, with the State alleging that Gerard Cervi was the gunman and that he intended to commit murder. The case is before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury. Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty.
In a Munster abuse trial, a jury heard that medical examinations of three children, who had been alleged to have been abused by family members, were normal 18 months after the children entered care. A paediatrician explained that studies show most relevant examinations are normal and that children heal quickly, often within two weeks. The jury also heard garda interviews with a 32‑year‑old aunt who pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual exploitation and assault. She denied the allegations, calling them "disgusting," and said she would clear her name. The trial involves six family members, all of whom have denied the charges. The proceedings are before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury. The case covers alleged abuse between 2014 and 2016.
An eyewitness, Eddie McCann, gave evidence in the trial of Gerard Cervi for the shooting at Bray Boxing Club on 5 June 2018. McCann, a fireman, described the moment he saw a gunman in builder's clothing, wearing a black balaclava and sunglasses, walk into the gym and fire a semi‑automatic pistol. He recalled the gunman's first shot killing Bobby Messett in the head, and the subsequent shots that wounded boxing coach Pete Taylor and participant Ian Britton. McCann detailed his own actions: he applied pressure to Taylor's gunshot wound, called emergency services, and helped other victims. He also described the gunman's appearance and the chaotic scene, including the sounds of gunfire and screams. The evidence was presented to a jury in the Central Criminal Court, with the prosecution arguing that Cervi was the lone gunman who intended to commit murder. The trial continued the following day. Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty.
During a Munster child‑abuse trial, a junior infants teacher testified that the family's eldest boy appeared to lack joy in his life. She described him as obedient, loving praise, yet never speaking much about home and seeming responsible for himself. The teacher, who also assisted him in senior infants and first class, said she felt sorry for him and noted he was happy at school but not at home. She reported that the boy had run away from school in 2014 after being left in the yard by his mother, and that the school principal had found the house in a "horrific" and "chaotic" state with filthy conditions, heavy stains, and a strong odour. The principal reported the situation to Tusla, and the parents were told of the official complaint. The trial involves six family members accused of abusing three children between 2014 and 2016, all of whom deny the charges.
The jury in the trial of Zoltan Almasi, a 49‑year‑old Serbian man, has been sent home after three days of deliberations. Almasi has pleaded not guilty to the murder of 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne but guilty to manslaughter. The case concerns an incident on 16 May 2014 at Harbour View, Naas, where Dunne was struck on the back of the head with a baseball bat, shattering his skull and causing death. Almasi claims he did not realise he had struck Dunne until later, when he saw an ambulance and Garda car. The judge, Michael White, initially required a unanimous verdict but later allowed a majority verdict of at least ten jurors. The jury has requested additional witness testimony and legal definitions, and will resume deliberations tomorrow. The trial is being heard in the Central Criminal Court.
The trial of Gerard Cervi, 34, accused of murdering Bobby Messett and attempting to murder Peter Taylor and Ian Britton at Bray Boxing Club on 5 June 2018, will hear that a van used in the attack was found close to Cervi's family home. Prosecutor Paul Murray described the case as one of circumstantial evidence, noting that a white or silver van with a yellow registration plate was seen leaving Bray Harbour that morning, then spotted in Cabinteely and later at Pigeon House Road. A witness reported a man on a bicycle near the van, whom the prosecution links to Cervi and to the family home on Russell Avenue East. The evidence will also cover the van's movements in May and early June, and the alleged link to a Volkswagen Polo. The court will hear that Cervi allegedly fired nine shots from a semi‑automatic pistol before 7 am, killing Messett and injuring Taylor and Britton. Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 56‑year‑old father accused of abusing and neglecting his children told Gardaí that his children "had everything they wanted". He said he did not work because of a medical condition and that he would "nearly go without fags to get the kids what they wanted". When asked about the children's hygiene, he said they were bathed twice a week and that the house was "as clean as it could be with five kids". He denied the abuse allegations made by one of his sons, calling the son a liar and describing the child as "unbelievable wild". The father also claimed he was unaware of his wife's pregnancy with their sixth child, saying she never told him she was pregnant. The trial heard that 66 devices seized from the accused's homes contained no evidential value.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Gerard Cervi, aged 34, is accused of firing nine shots from a semi‑automatic pistol inside Bray Boxing Club on 5 June 2018. The shooting occurred during a 12‑person exercise class organised by trainer Peter Taylor. The prosecution alleges that Cervi killed 50‑year‑old Bobby Messett and attempted to murder trainer Peter Taylor and participant Ian Britton, who were injured. A prosecution barrister presented evidence that the gunman entered the club just before 7 a.m., fired rapidly in varying directions, and escaped. The case is framed as three separate charges—one murder and two attempted murders—each to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael White, is expected to last eight weeks. Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty.
A retired senior Garda detective, Kevin Dolan, denied that his team was "waiting for more calls" before arresting Michael Murray, a convicted rapist, for questioning. Murray, aged 50, is on trial at Dublin Circuit Court for making death threats in late 2014 and early 2015 against the barristers who prosecuted him for rape, Dominic McGinn SC and Tony McGillicuddy BL, and for harassing the woman he raped by advertising her online as a prostitute in early 2015, as well as harassing his defence solicitor and Mr McGinn. He denies these charges but pleaded guilty to possessing a mobile phone that fell out of his rectum during a strip‑search on 11 February 2015. Dolan said he applied to Portlaoise District Court for an arrest warrant in May 2015 after learning of the threat on Mr McGinn in mid‑November 2014.
A 34‑year‑old man named Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to three charges: the murder of Bobby Messett, aged 50, at Bray Boxing Club on 5 June 2018, and the attempted murder of boxing coach Pete Taylor and Ian Britton on the same day and place. Cervi, from Dublin's East Wall, was seen in a navy jumper, tie and dark jeans. He was arraigned, identified himself, and the court is preparing a jury for a trial set to begin tomorrow before Mr Justice Michael White, expected to last eight weeks.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, Zoltan Almasi, 49, faced charges of murdering 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne with a single blow from a baseball bat. Almasi pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The case centred on whether Almasi's use of the bat was provoked. Evidence showed Dunne had jostled Almasi's van, after which Almasi chased him with a bat. Dunne died when the bat struck the back of his head, fracturing his skull and driving bone into his brain. Almasi's counsel argued that the force used indicated loss of control, a partial defence of provocation. The prosecution contended that Dunne was retreating and posed no threat, and that Almasi struck him in anger. Judge Michael White instructed the jury to seek a unanimous verdict and to keep deliberations confidential.
In a 2021 trial, Michael Murray, 50, faces charges of harassment and death threats from prison. The accused, formerly of Seafield Road, Killiney, is alleged to have advertised a woman as a prostitute online in 2015 and to have threatened Dominic McGinn SC and his co‑counsel during a 2013 rape trial. He denies the harassment claims but admits to possessing an unauthorised mobile phone while incarcerated. The woman, whose name is withheld, testified that she received numerous unknown male‑voiced phone calls and texts beginning in January 2015, describing the experience as terrifying. She could not recall the exact number of calls but confirmed that her contact number had been used. Her husband also reported receiving a threatening call from a withheld number on 9 February 2015, claiming knowledge of the woman's location and warning of future trouble. The trial, presided over by Judge Karen O'Connor, continues with a jury hearing the evidence. Michael Murray pleaded guilty.
In a Munster abuse trial, a GP reported that the youngest child in a family of five was at the 0.4th percentile for weight, suggesting inadequate food intake. Over a year, the boy's weight percentile rose to the 10th before falling back to the 0.4th, and his height moved from the 2nd to the 9th percentile. The doctor noted the boy was the most underweight and that his height was also below average, attributing height to genetics. The trial also heard from a pharmacist who said the family collected melatonin at half the expected frequency, implying possible over‑ or under‑medication. A family support worker described the mother as defensive and unwilling to engage with children, and the father as lacking warmth. The case involves six accused family members, all pleading not guilty to multiple counts of sexual assault, exploitation and neglect, with the trial set to continue next week.
During a trial, a former prison officer, David McDonald, testified that Michael Murray, a 50‑year‑old former Killiney resident, had claimed he possessed a phone that he would only hand over to Gardaí. McDonald recounted a lengthy conversation with Murray on 11 May 2015, in which Murray said he had a phone in his anus that had been given to him by his solicitor. Murray was upset over money he alleged had disappeared from a German bank account and admitted using the phone to contact the barristers who had prosecuted him for rape in 2013. McDonald noted that Murray was adamant he would not surrender the phone to prison officers, fearing the evidence would be wiped, and that he would only give it to Gardaí or under a Section 42 warrant. The trial, presided over by Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury, continues tomorrow. Michael Murray pleaded not guilty.
During the Munster abuse trial, a family support worker testified about her visits to a home where children were alleged to have been abused by parents, aunts, and uncles between 2014 and 2016. She described the parents as showing little affection, praise or encouragement, and noted that the mother was passive and unresponsive to the children's needs. The worker observed chaotic living conditions, with children eating biscuits and lollipops before and after meals, homework done on a dirty table, and a toddler climbing on furniture. She reported that the mother often ignored the children's tantrums and that the father was rough in his interactions. The worker made a social work referral in February 2016 due to concerns about the children's physical and emotional well‑being. The children were taken into care in 2016. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
A jury of seven men and five women will start deliberating on Monday at 10.30am in the trial of Zoltan Almasi, a 49‑year‑old Serbian man, charged with murdering a 20‑year‑old man named Joseph Dunne. Almasi pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for an incident that occurred on 16 May 2014 at Harbour View, Naas, Co. Kildare. The case involved a single blow with a baseball bat that shattered Dunne's skull and caused his death. The trial, which lasted more than four weeks, focused on the issue of provocation. Almasi's barrister argued that the force used might show loss of control, while the prosecution maintained that Dunne was running for his life and was not a threat. Judge Michael White instructed the jury to reach a unanimous verdict and explained that deliberations would take place in a converted courtroom due to pandemic restrictions.
In a Munster abuse trial, a social worker testified that she had concerns about the intellectual capacity of the parents of three children accused of abuse between 2014 and 2016. She had noted a learning disability in the parents after several meetings and had referred them for assessment, finding the mother had a mild intellectual disability. The worker said she had provided extensive support to enable the parents to care for the children, but that the support was withdrawn after the children were taken into state care following a District Court hearing in April 2016. She described the parents as struggling to cope and said she had exhausted all other options before recommending the children be removed. The accused parents, aunts, uncles and their spouses have all pleaded not guilty to the charges presented in the case.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Michael White instructed a jury that the key issue was provocation. The accused, Zoltan Almasi, 49, of Serbian origin, was charged with murdering 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne after a confrontation involving Almasi's van. Almasi claimed he did not realise he had struck Dunne with a baseball bat until later. His defence argued that the force used indicated loss of control, a potential element of provocation. Prosecutor Caroline Biggs countered that Dunne was fleeing and posed no threat, suggesting the bat was struck in anger. The judge explained that provocation must cause a complete loss of self‑control, beyond ordinary restraint, and that the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that this defence was rebutted. If not, the verdict would be guilty of manslaughter rather than murder. The judge's charge continued the following day. Zoltan Almasi pleaded not guilty.
In a Munster abuse trial, concerns were raised about two children up to five years before they entered care. A medical social worker referred the case in 2011 after the children had third‑degree burns at a neonatal appointment. The children were taken into care in 2016. The father admitted giving the children melatonin to help them settle, giving more to his daughter. The six accused family members—parents, aunts and uncles—range in age from 27 to 56 and live across Munster. They are charged with abusing three children between 2014 and 2016 and neglecting five children. All deny the charges. The social worker, assigned in 2014, noted earlier referrals and described the family's filthy home, lack of hygiene, and inconsistent statements. She reported that by 2016 the children's well‑being was deemed detrimentally affected, leading to their removal from the family. The trial continues before a jury.
In a murder trial, the defence counsel for Zoltan Almasi, a 49‑year‑old Serbian truck driver, argued that the force with which Almasi wielded a baseball bat could indicate a sudden loss of control, potentially supporting a partial defence of provocation. Almasi, who pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, killed 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne in 2014 after Dunne allegedly jostled Almasi's van. Almasi chased Dunne away with the bat, striking him on the back of the head, causing a fatal skull fracture. The prosecution claimed Almasi struck Dunne in anger, while the defence highlighted that the bat's tip hit the head, a 4‑cm margin that could have missed if Almasi had been slightly farther back. The counsel urged the jury to consider Almasi's perception of the van's attack, his background, the Harbour View area's reputation, and the possibility of a sudden loss of self‑control. The judge, Michael White, would charge the jury tomorrow.
In a trial in the Central Criminal Court, a 49‑year‑old Serbian truck driver, Zoltan Almasi, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the death of a 20‑year‑old Kildare man, Joseph Dunne, on 16 May 2014. Prosecutor Caroline Biggs argued that Dunne was running for his life and was not a threat when Almasi struck him with a baseball bat in anger, causing a blow to the back of his head that shattered his skull. She urged the jury to consider CCTV footage showing Almasi raising the bat and to infer intent to cause serious injury. Biggs explained that provocation would reduce murder to manslaughter, but she said Almasi's anger was insufficient for that defence. The jury was asked to decide whether Almasi intended to kill or seriously injure Dunne and whether he was provoked. Barra McGrory QC began his defence speech later in the proceedings.
Michael Murray, 50, a convicted rapist, faces trial for threatening to kill senior counsel Dominic McGinn and barrister Tony McGillicuddy. He is also accused of creating online ads in 2014‑2015 that advertised McGinn, the woman he raped, and his former solicitor as prostitutes. Murray denies the allegations. In a Garda interview, he admitted wanting to kill McGinn because McGinn secured his 2013 rape conviction, and claimed he had planned a hit that night but cancelled it to "do it myself." He also said he had arranged for his former defence solicitor to be abducted by a "foreign gang," a plan he also cancelled. Murray has pleaded guilty to possessing a Samsung phone seized in 2015. The judge announced that he has engaged a new legal team, and the trial will resume on Wednesday morning.
During the murder trial of Zoltan Almasi, a 49‑year‑old Serbian truck driver, the jury heard that cobwebs and dust were found on the baseball bat used to kill 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne on 16 May 2014. Almasi, who pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, claimed he had not realised he had struck Dunne until he saw an ambulance and Garda car. He said the bat had been left in the house he rented, and that he had not lifted it in the three years he lived there. The defence's barrister, Barra McGrory QC, questioned Almasi about the bat's condition, and Almasi answered that he had not used it before. The trial also considered forensic evidence about sounds from Basin Street and CCTV timings, but the defence has closed its case and the judge will explain the defence of provocation tomorrow. The trial continues before a jury of seven men and four women.
The trial of six Munster family members accused of abusing three children between 2014 and 2016 was adjourned to install a new sound system in the Croke Park courtroom. Judge Paul McDermott explained that sound problems had made it difficult for court participants to hear proceedings, and the adjournment would not affect the trial's length. The jury, consisting of eight men and seven women, was told the trial should finish around the end of July. The accused, aged 27 to 56, include parents, aunts and uncles, all of whom deny the charges. A seventh person, the children's 57‑year‑old grandmother, had her charges withdrawn earlier in the week. The trial will resume tomorrow. The unnamed 57-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A neighbour gave evidence in a Central Criminal Court child‑abuse trial in Munster, describing constant screaming, roaring and crying from children in the accused parents' house. She said she heard the children fall down the stairs several times and that the noise persisted day and night. The neighbour kept diaries after contacting authorities, noting incidents such as a boy dangling from a window, another urinating on a garden shed, and children playing unsupervised on the street. She reported the father administering medicine from a syringe to lined‑up children in the garden, usually in the early evening. The trial involves six family members accused of abuse and neglect between 2014 and 2016; all defendants have denied the charges. The case is ongoing, with the trial set to resume on Monday.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Feri Anghel (40), who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Romanian national Ioan Artene Bob (49) in Co Dublin on April 13, 2018, heard evidence from Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster. Dr Bolster testified that Mr Bob died from extensive blunt force trauma, including multiple rib fractures, bruising to the lungs and heart, and fractures to the hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage. She stated the injuries suggested multiple blows, kicks, and stamping-type impacts, some inflicted while the deceased was curled up. Toxicology indicated a blood ethanol level of 166 milligrams. Paramedic Tony Donnelly described finding Mr Bob in distress in Sean Walsh Park, Tallaght, before he lost consciousness at Tallaght Hospital. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, is ongoing and expected to last five weeks. The matter was adjourned until next Wednesday.
Zoltan Almasi, 49, a Serbian truck driver, denies that training in the Yugoslav army taught him how to hurt people. He is on trial in the Central Criminal Court for the murder of 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne, who died after a single blow to the back of his head with a baseball bat on 16 May 2014. Almasi pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. He claims he did not realise he had struck Dunne until he saw an ambulance and Garda car, and that he had no memory of the incident. During cross‑examination, the counsel questioned his alleged army training, to which Almasi replied that he was never taught to hurt others. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of seven men and four women.
Paul Crosby and Gerard Cruise, accused of murdering 17-year-old Keane Mulready-Woods, appeared at the Special Criminal Court where they were formally served with a notice confirming their trials will proceed in the non-jury court. The men are charged with the murder of Mr. Mulready-Woods at a house in Rathmullan Park, Drogheda, on 12 or 13 January 2020. Mr. Crosby, 25, of Rathmullan Park, is currently in custody, while Mr. Cruise, 47, remains on bail under terms previously set by the High Court. Mr. Justice Tony Hunt directed the accused to return to court on July 19, when a trial date may be set. The matter is at the procedural stage of trial preparation, with no plea, finding, or sentence recorded. Allegations state that Mr. Mulready-Woods was last seen alive in Drogheda on 12 January 2020. The following day, dismembered body parts were found in a sports bag in Coolock, Dublin, and two days later, further remains were discovered in a burning car in Drumcondra. The torso was located 14 months later in March 2021 during a search of waste ground at Rathmullan Park. The court proceedings described are limited to the service of the trial notice and the scheduling of a future hearing; the case has not been concluded or finalised.
In a Munster abuse trial, foster parents testified about children who arrived in their care with severe neglect and behavioural issues. One foster mother described a boy who became "hysterical" when she tried to bathe him, noting his yellow, small teeth, shyness, and lack of knowledge of hugging or kissing. Another foster parent reported a child with very little hair, thin, extremely dirty, and a wound on his leg that appeared to have been gouged. The foster parents also described difficulties with food, hidden food, and the children's unsettled behaviour after access visits. Gardaí who had interacted with the family before the children were taken into care made referrals to TUSLA. The trial involves six accused parents, aunts, and uncles, with the father and mother of the three main complainants pleading not guilty to multiple counts of sexual assault, exploitation, and wilfully neglecting a child. The case remains under reporting restrictions.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Mr Justice Michael White ruled that Zoltan Almasi, a 49‑year‑old Serbian truck driver, need not hold the baseball bat used to kill 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne in Harbour View on 16 May 2014. Almasi pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The prosecution, represented by Caroline Biggs SC, had requested the bat be presented to Almasi during cross‑examination. Almasi claimed he did not remember the impact and refused to touch the bat, stating he did not want to handle it. Justice White confirmed that Almasi was not required to touch the bat if he chose not to. The case continues with further cross‑examination scheduled for the next day.
A 40‑year‑old man, Feri Anghel, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Romanian construction worker Ioan Artene Bob, who was found in physical distress in Sean Walsh Park, Tallaght, on 13 April 2018. Anghel pleaded not guilty. The prosecution, led by Paul Greene SC, will present evidence that the Gardaí first became aware of the incident in the early hours of 13 April, that Bob was seriously assaulted and suffered extensive blunt‑force trauma, including fractured ribs and internal lacerations, and that he died later that day in hospital. Witnesses will testify to the movements of both men on 12 and 13 April, their interactions on public transport, and Anghel's contact with Gardaí and use of Bob's bank card. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, is expected to last five weeks.