Two Dublin men, Robert Redmond, 32, and Bernard Fogarty, 33, were charged with attempting to murder Barry Wolverson on 17 January 2020 at Madigans Yard, Swords, Co. Dublin. The Special Criminal Court has served them with Books of Evidence for the attempted murder charge. Mr. Wolverson died on 21 February 2021 after a prolonged hospital stay. The prosecution, represented by Ms. Maddie Grant BL, noted that the trial could last up to four weeks and that a six‑week adjournment was requested because the deceased's long hospitalisation complicated matters. A pathology report is being prepared by Dr. Heidi Okkers. In addition to attempted murder, Redmond and Fogarty face assault charges against Gerard Wildman on the same day, and possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life.
A serving Garda, aged 56, was acquitted by a jury of three counts of indecent assault on a boy aged 6 or 7 between 1979 and 1982. The complainant, now 46, alleged the Garda had assaulted him in a Dublin address and in a green area, including touching his penis and a third incident involving a bike ride and chocolate. The Garda denied all allegations, claiming they never occurred. The defence highlighted inconsistencies, such as the bedroom layout and the presence of childminders, and argued that memory could have faded over the decades. The prosecution presented the complainant's testimony as clear and compelling. After a two‑week trial at Croke Park, the jury returned not‑guilty verdicts on all three counts following a four‑hour deliberation. Judge Karen O'Connor thanked the jury for their service. The unnamed 56-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Dundalk murder trial, the jury was shown CCTV footage of Edmundas Dauksa, 51, meeting his former partner, Ingrida Maciokaite, 31, moments before he stabbed her to death in front of their six‑year‑old daughter. The footage captured Dauksa walking onto Linenhall Street at 2.45 pm on 18 September 2018, entering an alleyway from Bridgewater Mews, and later being seen sitting on a wall with a knife on the ground. Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with a child distressed and a black Audi arriving. Dauksa pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, continues with 12 jurors hearing the evidence.
The jury in the trial of Edmundas Dauksa, a 51‑year‑old fishmonger from Dundalk, was discharged after a legal application was made in their absence. Dauksa was charged with the murder of Ingrida Maciokaite, a 31‑year‑old Lithuanian national, who was killed on 18 September 2018 at Bridgewater Mews, Linenhall Street, Dundalk. The judge, Justice Paul McDermott, thanked the jurors and exempted them from duty for five years, and a new jury will be sworn in for the case at the Central Criminal Court later that day. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
Jonathan Dowdall, 43, a former Sinn Fein councillor, was charged with the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in Dublin 9 on February 5, 2016. The Special Criminal Court heard that Mr Byrne was shot dead after five men, three disguised as armed gardaí, stormed the building. The Director of Public Prosecutions instructed that Dowdall be tried in the non-jury court. Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Justices Sarah Berkeley and David McHugh, remanded Dowdall in custody until June 14 for the service of the Book of Evidence. He is represented by solicitor Jenny McGeever. Dowdall's father, Patrick Dowdall, 64, is already before the court, accused of facilitating a serious offence by making a hotel room available to a criminal organisation on February 4, 2016. Co-accused Paul Murphy, 59, is charged with supplying logistical support to a six-man team suspected of carrying out the murder on February 15, 2016, and providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. Jason Bonney, 50, is also charged with providing access to motor vehicles to facilitate the murder on February 5, 2016. All four defendants are due to appear before the three-judge court on June 14 for the service of their respective Books of Evidence.
A Dublin man accused of facilitating the 2016 murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel has been granted bail by the Special Criminal Court. Jason Bonney, aged fifty, of Portmarnock, faces charges of participating in activity that could facilitate a serious offence by a criminal organisation. The court accepted a bail proposal comprising a personal bond of one hundred euro, fifteen thousand euro from his own account, thirty thousand euro from his wife's account, and a further two thousand euro from an independent surety. Standard bail conditions were imposed and the case was adjourned to June. A second accused, Paul Murphy, aged fifty-nine, of Cabra, Dublin, remains in custody with consent to bail pending identification of an independent surety. He is similarly charged with providing logistical support to those involved in the killing. A third defendant, Patrick Dowdall, also of Cabra, did not apply for bail at this hearing. All three cases were adjourned to June for service of the Books of Evidence before the non-jury court.
Anthony Paget, 46, of Cabra, Dublin, is on trial for the death of Aidan McMenamy, 45, who was stabbed at Clinch's Court on 19 July 2019. Paget has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The jury is instructed to consider whether Paget was provoked to the point of losing self‑control, or whether he believed he was acting in self‑defence, or was so intoxicated that he could not form intent. If any of these scenarios is reasonably possible, the verdict must be manslaughter; otherwise, the jury must find him guilty of murder.
Fishmonger Edmundas Dauksa (51), of Castletown Road, Dundalk, Co Louth, is on trial for the alleged murder of Ingrida Maciokaite (31) at Bridgewater Mews, Linenhall Street, Dundalk, on September 18, 2018. The accused has pleaded not guilty to the charge. Prosecution barrister Conor Devally SC outlined that Dauksa and Maciokaite, both Lithuanian nationals, had a relationship and shared parenthood, with their six-year-old daughter present at the scene. The prosecution alleges Dauksa stabbed Maciokaite multiple times in an arch passage, with witnesses describing hearing screams and seeing the accused make striking motions before discarding a knife across the street. Garda David O'Leary identified the alleged weapon, described as a boning knife, found near the scene. Witnesses Yetunde Awosanya, Paul Ruane, and Cyril Loughran testified to seeing the incident, with Loughran describing five or six striking motions and blood on the accused's hands. The trial is currently ongoing before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury, with proceedings continuing on Tuesday.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Anthony Paget, 46, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the July 19, 2019 killing of Aidan McMenamy. Paget's defence counsel argued that he was highly intoxicated, having smoked crack cocaine, and that he used a knife as a last resort when faced with serious injury. The defence also claimed self‑defence, intoxication and provocation. Prosecutor Bernard Condon countered that the evidence, including CCTV showing deliberate knife handling and six deep stab wounds to McMenamy's back, negated self‑defence and provocation. Paget's wife Candice testified that McMenamy had threatened to cut Paget's throat and that the fatal stabbing occurred after a confrontation. The jury was instructed to consider the facts and the defence arguments before delivering a verdict.
During the Central Criminal Court trial, Candice Paget, the estranged wife of Anthony Paget, testified that her boyfriend, Aidan McMenamy, was a jealous man who threatened to cut Paget's throat and then used a knife to slash him. She said the fight escalated outside, where McMenamy inflicted stab wounds that caused his death. Paget, 46, pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denied murder. She described the night of July 19, 2019, at Clinch's Court, where all three men were drinking and taking drugs. She admitted seeing Paget stab McMenamy once, though she could not recall the exact number of wounds. The trial continues before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
Three men appeared before the Special Criminal Court at an out-of-hours sitting charged in connection with the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in Dublin in February 2016. Patrick Dowdall, Paul Murphy, and Jason Bonney, all from the Dublin area, faced charges under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act relating to alleged participation in activity intended to facilitate a serious offence by a criminal organisation. Dowdall is accused of making a room available at the hotel, whilst Murphy and Bonney are alleged to have provided access to motor vehicles. Gardaí objected to bail for Bonney, indicating he was part of a well-organised crime gang, citing strong evidence including CCTV tracking and mobile phone data. The court granted Bonney bail pending further financial inquiries. Murphy and Dowdall were remanded in custody with bail applications to follow.
In the Central Criminal Court trial of Alan Harte, 40, who is charged with murdering wheelchair user Anthony Rogers, 61, a neighbour, Sharon Farrell, gave evidence describing how she found Rogers lying on the floor of his own apartment with blood everywhere after hearing him scream for help. Farrell said she was walking to her flat at Robinson's Court at 2.30pm on 6 November 2016 when a man approached her, calling her "Maureen" and accusing her of being a child molester. She later heard Rogers screaming, went to his flat, and found him with extensive blood on the floor. She called another neighbour, David McGuinness, and an ambulance. McGuinness also reported seeing Rogers with blood all over the place and unable to speak. Garda Sergeant Brian Hawkins and paramedic Tom McCrory also testified about the scene, noting puncture wounds and a pool of blood. Alan Harte pleaded not guilty.
A jury of seven women and five men was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the trial of Edmundas Dauksa, a 51‑year‑old Lithuanian fishmonger from Dundalk, who is accused of murdering his partner, 31‑year‑old Ingrida Maciokaite, in September 2018. Dauksa pleaded not guilty. The court noted that both he and Maciokaite were Lithuanian nationals and that they had a six‑year‑old daughter together. Mr Justice Michael White mentioned a prior custody issue before the death. The trial is set to begin this Thursday before Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
A jury convicted a 54‑year‑old man of sexually assaulting a woman who had come to Ireland seeking asylum, but could not reach a verdict on four other counts of rape and attempted rape. The man pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, one of sexual assault and one of attempted rape for incidents that occurred in his Dublin home between 1 and 3 December 2017. After eight and a half hours of deliberation on day 10 of the trial at the Central Criminal Court, the jury delivered a majority verdict on the sexual assault charge. Judge Alex Owens accepted the verdict, discharged the jury, and remanded the man in custody, revoking his bail and postponing sentencing to 12 July 2021. He was ordered to submit a victim impact statement and a Probation Service report before being certified as a sex offender.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Anthony Paget, aged 46, faced a murder charge for stabbing his ex‑wife's partner, Aidan McMenamy, 45, to death during an argument on 19 July 2019. The prosecution, represented by Bernard Condon SC, presented CCTV footage showing Paget and his ex‑wife together in Dublin, including a McDonald's visit and a subsequent return to Clinch's Court where McMenamy stayed. At about 3.39 am, a dispute erupted; Paget allegedly wielded a knife and struck McMenamy, who was later pronounced dead after being rushed to hospital. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster identified seven stab wounds to McMenamy's neck and back, with no defensive wounds. Paget pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the killing. The jury was instructed to determine whether the killing constituted murder, requiring proof beyond reasonable doubt that Paget intended to kill or cause serious injury. The case remains at the trial stage.
In the trial of a 54‑year‑old man accused of raping a 36‑year‑old asylum seeker, a jury was informed that it could reach a majority verdict. The complainant, who fled an arranged marriage in her home country, claimed that after a ceremony at a local mosque the accused took her to his flat and raped her repeatedly over three days. He denied the allegations, calling them lies, and said the ceremony, a Nikah, was not a legally binding marriage but a blessing for a sexual relationship. He asserted that they had sex during that weekend and that the complainant sometimes initiated it. He also suggested that her accusation might be motivated by a desire to remain in Ireland while the case was investigated. The accused has pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, one of sexual assault and one of attempted rape.
A 36‑year‑old Dublin man was found guilty by a jury of repeatedly assaulting and orally raping his younger brother, who was 11 at the time of the first offence. The jury, after deliberating for three hours and 39 minutes, returned unanimous guilty verdicts on all counts of assault causing harm and on two sample counts of oral rape dated between 28 March 2001 and 27 March 2002. The jury found the accused not guilty on the remaining eight counts of oral rape and on the charge of producing an article to unlawfully intimidate, which involved an alleged attempt to place a loaded shotgun barrel in the brother's mouth. The accused was remanded in custody and the case was adjourned to 24 May for sentencing. The trial included testimony from the complainant describing daily beatings, forced sexual acts, and intimidation with weapons, as well as the accused's own admissions during police questioning.
In a Dublin murder trial, a 61‑year‑old wheelchair‑bound man named Anthony Rogers was stabbed multiple times in the head, neck and other areas at his flat in Robinson's Court, Cork Street, on 6 November 2016. The prosecution, led by Sean Gillane SC, presented evidence that a 40‑year‑old man, Alan Harte, was seen leaving the complex that afternoon and had told a resident that he was a child molester. The resident, Ms Farrell, heard Rogers screaming "help me I'm dying here" from the hallway and found him bleeding heavily, lying in a pool of blood. Emergency services arrived, but Rogers was pronounced dead at 3:18 pm. A post‑mortem revealed 11 stab wounds to the left side of his head and neck, a puncture of the jugular vein, and a wound above the Adam's apple. The unnamed 61-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a closed trial at Croke Park, a 64‑year‑old man pleaded not guilty to allegations of oral rape and sexual assault against his daughter between 2000 and 2007, when she was aged four to eleven. He also faced two child‑neglect charges for forcing her to drink alcohol and watch pornography. The daughter, now in her 20s, testified that she spent most of her childhood in foster care but had visits with her father, who was often drunk and allegedly forced her to watch pornography while masturbating, and sexually molested her, demanding oral sex. During the second day of the trial, the defendant denied all accusations, telling Gardaí he loved his daughter and would not harm her. He confirmed he was circumcised, a fact the daughter had claimed he had told her. The case is proceeding in camera before Justice David Keane.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 15 April 2021, a Dublin man, James Walsh, aged 37, and his former partner, Lisa O'Hara, aged 32, were charged with 44 money‑laundering offences under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice Act 2010. The charges cover the period 1 January 2015 to 28 February 2017 and involve amounts up to €62,000. They include concealing or disguising the source of cash used to pay a house deposit on Wheatfield Avenue, Clondalkin, and the conversion, transfer, and use of money credited to a Bank of Ireland account and a Palmerstown Credit Union account. Walsh is also charged with hiding €19,000 in a wardrobe on 24 January 2017. Both were served with books of evidence; O'Hara was remanded in custody until 27 May with a €10,000 bail bond and conditions, while Walsh was remanded to the same date. The judge awaited the defendants' decision on a trial date.
David Duffy, 33, of Clondalkin, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to having knowledge of a criminal organisation and contributing to activities connected with the attempted murder of James Gately. The court heard that Mr Gately was shot multiple times in his car on Clonshaugh Road in May 2017. Duffy admitted to participating in these activities with the intention of enhancing the organisation's ability to commit serious offences between December 2016 and April 2017. Presiding Judge Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Sarah Berkeley and David McHugh, remanded Duffy on continuing bail until June 21 for a sentence hearing. Three other men remain charged with involvement in the attempted murder: Peter 'Peadar' Keating, 39, of Clondalkin; Stephen Fowler, 61, of Clonsilla; and Douglas Glynn, 35, of Dublin 1. Mr Keating is additionally alleged to have directed the activities of a criminal organisation between December 2016 and April 2017. All four defendants face charges under Section 72(1A) of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, with Mr Keating also facing a charge under Section 71. The matter regarding Duffy was adjourned for sentencing, while the cases of the co-accused remain ongoing.
The Central Criminal Court is now in the final stages of a trial involving a 54‑year‑old man accused of raping a 36‑year‑old woman who had sought asylum in Ireland to escape an arranged marriage. The complainant testified that after a ceremony between them, the accused took her to his flat and raped her repeatedly over three days. He denied the allegations, claiming they were lies, and said they had performed a Nikah ceremony, which he described as a blessing for a sexual relationship but not a legally binding marriage. He also alleged that the complainant had initiated sex on several occasions and that she had told him she came to Ireland because immigration laws were weak. The accused pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, one count of sexual assault and one count of attempted rape. The jury, addressed by barristers for both sides, is expected to retire tomorrow to consider their verdict.
In a historic first, the Central Criminal Court opened a trial at Croke Park, the GAA headquarters, to accommodate Covid‑19 safety measures. Justice David Keane welcomed the jury of eight men and four women, noting the venue's unique role and the need for physical distancing and mask‑wearing. The trial, conducted in camera, concerns a woman in her 20s who alleges her father, aged 64, sexually abused her between 2000 and 2007. She claims he forced her to watch pornographic tapes, perform oral sex, and molest her while living in a dilapidated cottage with no toilet. The defendant denies all allegations, admitting only an alcohol problem monitored by the HSE and foster parents. The case proceeds with the presumption of innocence until proven beyond reasonable doubt. The trial continues.
In a Dublin case, a 36‑year‑old man accused of orally raping his 11‑year‑old brother and repeatedly beating him until the brother left the home at 16 has pleaded not guilty to ten counts of oral rape, seven counts of assault causing harm and one count of unlawful intimidation. During Garda interviews, the accused admitted it was "a possibility" he had forced his brother to give him oral sex and claimed he was "out of his head" or drunk at the time. He also said his brother "probably gave me a bit of head." The prosecution argues these admissions confirm the complainant's allegations, while the defence highlights the lack of explanation for the long delay in reporting and the accused's prior false statements to Gardaí. The trial is set to continue before Mr Justice Michael White with jury deliberations expected to begin tomorrow.
Ms Helen Leigh gave evidence in the Special Criminal Court that on 19 March 2010 she was hijacked at gunpoint near Applewood Village, Swords. Two masked men forced her into a car, demanded proof of her address, threatened to kill her if she reported the incident, and asked if she had children. Leigh described the men as wearing dark clothing and a balaclava, one holding a small silver gun. They took a business letter containing her address, tore it, and left her with a phone that had 15 missed calls. The ordeal lasted about 20–25 minutes. The testimony is part of the trial of Trevor Byrne, 41, charged with armed robbery, possession of a firearm, vehicle seizure, false imprisonment, and threatening to kill Leigh. Byrne denies all charges. The trial is ongoing in the non‑jury court.
A 40‑year‑old man, Alan Harte, will stand trial for the murder of Anthony Rogers, 61, who was killed at Rogers' Dublin 8 home on 6 November 2016. Harte, who lives at Island Quay Apartments, East Wall, was charged with the killing at Robinson's Court, Cork Street. He appeared before the Central Criminal Court on 14 April 2021, wearing a blue shirt and black trousers, and pleaded not guilty. The judge, Michael White, explained that trial dates are uncertain because the courtroom must be free and jury deliberations must finish. The trial is scheduled to begin on Friday morning before Justice Alexander Owens and is expected to last seven days. A jury of seven men and five women was sworn in, and the judge instructed them to consider only the evidence presented in court, avoiding external research. The case will be heard in the Central Criminal Court.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 54‑year‑old man accused of raping a 36‑year‑old woman, who had sought asylum in Ireland to escape an arranged marriage, pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, one of sexual assault and one of attempted rape. The accused claimed the woman had lied about her motives, suggesting she alleged rape to remain in Ireland while the case was investigated. He argued that a ceremony called Nikah, which he described as a non‑binding religious agreement, had taken place before any sexual activity. The woman testified that after a ceremony the accused took her to his flat and raped her repeatedly over three days. The trial is in its closing stages, with the judge and jury hearing final arguments from both sides.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 36‑year‑old man accused of orally raping his 11‑year‑old brother and assaulting him daily until the brother left the family home at 16 pleaded not guilty to ten counts of oral rape, seven counts of assault causing harm and one count of unlawful intimidation. He admitted during a 2018 Garda interview that he had hit his brother and that their father had also inflicted violence. The accused claimed he might have forced his brother to give him oral sex, stating it was a possibility and that he was "out of his head" or drunk at the time. He denied that the act occurred in the upstairs bedroom and said it happened only once or twice. The trial, presided over by Justice Michael White, continues tomorrow before a jury.
A 46‑year‑old man, Anthony Paget of Carnlough Road, Cabra, Dublin 7, will be tried for the murder of Aidan McMenamy, 45, who was killed at Clinches Court, North Strand, Dublin 3 on 19 July 2019. Paget admits he killed McMenamy but denies murder, pleading guilty to manslaughter. The Central Criminal Court will hear the case tomorrow at 2.30 pm before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon. The trial will last six days and will involve civilian witnesses from Clinches Court, garda and Dublin Fire Brigade witnesses, with a jury of twelve.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Dubliner Trevor Byrne, 41, of Finglas West, continues before a three-judge panel. Mr Byrne, who has denied all charges, faces five offences alleged to have occurred in 2010 and charged in 2011. He is accused of robbing BoyleSports in Swords of €1,490 at gunpoint, possessing a firearm with intent to commit robbery, seizing a vehicle by threat of force, falsely imprisoning a woman, and threatening to kill her. Prosecution evidence presented by Mr Shane Costelloe SC included testimony from manager James Robertson, who stated he believed he was going to die when a gun was pointed at his head. Deputy manager Emma O'Reilly and cashier David Coleman also testified that they were threatened with firearms. The State's case alleges that Mr Byrne and an accomplice hid in the shop's bathroom for 35 minutes before emerging with guns. They allegedly fled to Thornleigh Avenue, where they seized a vehicle driven by Helen Leigh, threatening her before abandoning her. The trial, transferred from the Circuit Criminal Court last September, is expected to last up to two weeks. Mr Byrne is represented by Mr John D Fitzgerald SC. The matter is currently ongoing and has not been finalised.
During a rape trial, a witness testified that the accused, a 54‑year‑old man, told her he could not have raped the complainant because "there is no rape within marriage." The 36‑year‑old complainant had already testified that after a ceremony in a mosque, the accused took her to his flat and raped her over three days. The witness explained that she had introduced the complainant and the accused through a mosque, and that the complainant had emailed her in December 2017 asking whether the ceremony had constituted a legal marriage. She told the jury that the accused had insisted he could not rape her because she was his wife, and that she had warned him that Irish law allows rape within marriage. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Alex Owens. The unnamed 36-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin court, a 36‑year‑old asylum seeker testified that she did not consent to any sexual activity with a man accused of rape. She explained that she had come to Ireland in November 2017 to avoid an arranged marriage in her home country and had applied for asylum at the International Protection Office. She was introduced to the accused through a mosque that facilitated meetings for the Muslim community. After a ceremony in a smaller mosque, the accused allegedly took her to his flat and raped her over three days. During cross‑examination, the defense lawyer questioned her about alleged sexual contact, to which she denied any initiation or consent, stating she had never touched him and that she was a virgin who was forced. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Alex Owens. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 36‑year‑old asylum seeker accused of rape, sexual assault and attempted rape of a woman in her Dublin home over the weekend of 1–3 December 2017 has pleaded not guilty. The woman, who arrived in Ireland in November 2017 to attend a conference and later sought asylum to escape an arranged marriage, testified that she met the defendant through a mosque that offered a Muslim community service arranging meetings for those interested in marriage. She denied that her asylum application was a "string to your bow" to secure residency, and insisted she had no knowledge of a Nikah ceremony in her culture. The defendant's counsel suggested her objective was to obtain residency, a claim the woman rejected. The court heard that after the alleged assaults the defendant drove her back to her accommodation, and that they continued to communicate via text and phone.
During a Central Criminal Court trial, a 36‑year‑old Dublin man, whose name is withheld, pleaded not guilty to ten counts of oral rape and seven counts of assault against his younger brother, who was 11 at the time of the alleged abuse. The accused is also charged with one count of intimidation. Witnesses testified that the accused repeatedly beat his brother, used a shotgun barrel in his mouth, and forced him to play "dartboard" with his body, leaving blackened feet. Another brother recounted seeing the accused in a bedroom with a blanket over him, laughing, and later pulling a pillow over the complainant's face. A sister described the accused using a stick with nails and glass to beat her brother, and a handgun to hit him in the eye. The accused denied all allegations, claiming the sexual abuse never occurred. The trial is set to continue before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 36‑year‑old woman seeking asylum in Ireland testified that a man raped her in his Dublin flat between 1 and 3 December 2017. She said she had come to Ireland in November 2017 to attend a conference, then sought asylum and was introduced to the accused through a mosque. The man allegedly arranged a "ceremony" at a mosque, asked her how much money she wanted for a marriage, and gave her €20, claiming he would pay the rest. She denied any marriage and later travelled to the man's flat where he allegedly tried to kiss her, pushed her into a bedroom, and attempted to take her clothes off. She said he forced his penis into her vagina, used a pillow on her face, and told her to stay quiet. The man pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, one count of sexual assault and one of attempted rape.
A 36‑year‑old Dublin man is on trial for ten counts of oral rape and seven counts of assault with a baton or other weapons, all alleged to have occurred at a family home between 2001 and 2006. The complainant, who was 11 to 15 during the incidents, says he was repeatedly beaten with baseball bats, a nail‑laden baton, and darts, and that the accused forced him to perform sexual acts, including oral rape, on two occasions. He also claims the accused placed a loaded shotgun barrel in his mouth and threatened him with robbery. The accused pleaded not guilty to all charges. The trial is proceeding before Justice Michael White and a jury of five women and seven men, with the prosecution presenting the allegations as occurring while the brothers lived together after their parents separated and their father left the home.
A 36‑year‑old woman who sought asylum in Ireland after her family tried to force her into marriage is on trial for rape. She was introduced to the accused through a mosque in Dublin. The accused, who pleaded not guilty, is charged with three counts of rape, one of sexual assault and one of attempted rape, all alleged to have occurred at his Dublin home between 1 and 3 December 2017. The woman gave evidence via video link, describing how she met the accused, how he pressured her about marriage, and how he allegedly forced sexual acts on her, including an attempted rape that she resisted. The trial is being heard at the Central Criminal Court, with the prosecution presenting evidence of the accused's contact with the mosque's Imam and the alleged sexual conduct. The case is scheduled to continue before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Graham Whelan, a 38‑year‑old father of four, was charged with ten non‑scheduled offences, including drug trafficking and money‑laundering. Gardaí alleged that he had received €1,275 in cash from "up his Swiss roll" and €2,140 for a hotel stay, both allegedly proceeds of criminal conduct. They also seized an Audemers Piguet watch valued at €28,000, a tick list with drug code names, several mobile phones, and cocaine and cannabis. Whelan was arrested on a warrant in Walkinstown and later released without charge. The court granted bail with conditions: an independent surety of €20,000, surrender of his passport, curfew, daily reporting, and a requirement to remain at his family home. The judge noted his flight risk but cited the recent death of his partner and his responsibility for four children as mitigating factors. The case is scheduled for trial by September.
Graham Whelan, 38, father of four, appeared before the Special Criminal Court in Dublin charged with ten non‑scheduled offences. He is accused of laundering €1,275 and €2,140 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Ballsbridge on 31 January 2019, and of converting a Piguet watch and possessing a BQ Aquarius phone, all allegedly linked to drug trafficking. Whelan is also charged with possession of cocaine and cannabis at the hotel, and cannabis at his Walkinstown home on 1 May 2019. Additionally, he is accused of concealing the source of money used to renovate his Walkinstown property between 21 August 2018 and 1 May 2019, and of using that money for the same purpose. Garda Donal Donoghue presented evidence of Whelan's arrest and the charges, noting the defendant's refusal to engage with the officer. The court, presided over by Justice Michael MacGrath, remanded Whelan in custody until a bail application on Wednesday morning.
A teenager has brought a High Court challenge against the Director of Public Prosecutions, seeking to quash a District Court decision to send his case forward for trial. The accused is charged with sexually assaulting another male in a school bathroom in April 2018, when both parties were 12 years old. He also faces a charge under the 1990 Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act for allegedly producing an implement capable of inflicting serious injury during the incident. Following a Garda investigation, the accused appeared in the Children's Court, where a District Judge refused jurisdiction in October 2019 and sent the matter forward for trial before the Circuit Criminal Court. The teen, suing through his mother, claims he was denied a mandatory hearing under Section 75 of the 2001 Children's Act. This provision requires a district court judge to consider the minor's age and maturity before deciding whether to send a child forward for trial or deal with the matter summarily. The accused argues that the absence of this hearing deprived him of legislative protections. In judicial review proceedings, he seeks an order quashing the October 2019 decision. The matter came before Mr Justice Charles Meenan, who granted the accused permission to bring the challenge on an ex-parte basis. The case was adjourned and will return before the High Court in May.
In a first for Irish courts, Mr Justice Tony Hunt granted an accused the right to attend a criminal trial remotely via video‑link. Ray Kennedy, charged with perverting the course of justice in the murder of Peter Butterly, will be allowed to participate in his Special Criminal Court hearing from March 1, 2021. Kennedy, 40, is accused of destroying a SIM card on the day of Butterly's shooting. The court found Kennedy had exceptional family circumstances: his 35‑year‑old father of two, Peter Butterly, was killed in a car‑park in Gormanston on 6 March 2013, and Kennedy's daughter has a serious congenital condition requiring regular hospital visits. Imelda Kelly, Kennedy's counsel, argued that travel would heighten risk to the child. The three‑judge panel, including Judges Griffin and Brennan, accepted the application, noting no substantive objection from the State. The trial, expected to last four to five weeks, will begin on Monday.
Inita Romanovska, 34, from Latvia, is charged with attempted murder after an incident at a Limerick apartment complex on 11 March 2020. She met the alleged victim on Tinder and they had several dates but were not in a relationship. Romanovska did not attend the Central Criminal Court in Dublin where Mr Justice Michael White had scheduled her trial for 6 March 2023. The trial is delayed for over two years because of a pandemic‑related backlog, with the court prioritising cases where the accused is in custody. She was granted bail last March.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Declan Brady (54), his wife Deirdre Brady (53), and Erika Lukacs (37) were charged with 68 cash‑laundering offences under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice Act 2010. The charges cover a five‑year period from 1 January 2012 to 24 January 2017 and involve amounts ranging from €2,000 to €269,000. Brady faces 16 non‑scheduled offences, Deirdre 36, and Lukacs 16. Allegations include concealing €2,000 and £10,000 in a breadbin and €268,940 in an attic at The Dairy, Naas, on 24 January 2017, and manipulating funds in Ulster Bank, Allied Irish Bank and Permanent TSB accounts between 2012 and 2016. Detectives from the National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau presented evidence of arrests, warrants and the charge sheets. All three accused were remanded in custody until 24 March, with bail conditions for Deirdre and Erika, and Brady also remanded until that date.
A special needs school in County Meath has initiated High Court judicial review proceedings challenging a Department of Education directive to readmit a pupil who was expelled in September 2020. The board of management at Stepping Stones Special School, Harristown, Kilcoon contests the decision following allegations that the student engaged in multiple violent incidents towards staff and other pupils, causing injury and property damage. The school argued the pupil presented a health and safety risk. Following the parents' appeal, a departmental committee allowed the appeal and recommended readmission after a suspension period to enable support measures. The school contends the committee's findings were irrational, focusing inappropriately on the school's response rather than the pupil's violent conduct, and that the department's subsequent readmission direction contradicted the committee's own recommendation. The board seeks orders quashing both the committee's findings and the departmental direction, and requests constitution of a new committee. Mr Justice Charles Meenan granted permission to proceed on an ex-parte basis and imposed a stay on the readmission directive pending further hearing in mid-March.
Mr Daryle Singh, aged 52, faces three charges under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act for allegedly possessing nearly 300 child‑abuse images on two hard drives and in print at a Dublin property on 8 November 2011. He denies the allegations and argues that the protracted investigation and prosecution have denied him a fair trial. The images were seized by Gardai during a search unrelated to the case, but the computers were not forwarded to the Garda's National Cyber Crime Unit until early 2014, with an analysis report received only in June 2019. Singh was arrested in late 2019, returned for trial in November 2020, and is not expected to appear before a judge and jury until mid‑2022. In a High Court judicial review, he seeks to halt further prosecution steps, declares the delay unfair and a breach of his constitutional and human‑rights guarantees, and requests damages.
Two Dublin men, Robert Redmond (32) and Bernard Fogarty (33), are charged with attempting to murder Barry Wolverson in a January 2020 shooting at Madigans Yard, Swords, Co Dublin. They are also accused of assaulting Gerard Wildman on the same day, possessing a firearm and ammunition (.38/.357 calibre) with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury. The Director of Public Prosecutions applied on 5 January 2021 for the cases to be tried before the Special Criminal Court under Section 49 of the Offences Against the State Act, citing that ordinary courts were inadequate for effective justice. Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges Gerard Griffin and Flann Brennan, granted the order.
In a 20‑month abusive relationship, a 52‑year‑old woman testified that she did not understand domestic violence until it was inflicted piece by piece, leaving her with tears. She described repeated physical assaults by a 52‑year‑old man, including burning her foot, cutting her with a pizza slicer, head‑butting her after nasal surgery, stamping on her arm causing fractures, and strangling her with finger marks on her throat. The man threatened to send explicit images to her family if she withdrew charges. In November, a jury convicted him of coercive control, intimidation, assault and 12 counts of assault causing harm, with acquittals on one assault‑causing‑harm and one endangerment charge. He pleaded guilty to a separate charge of intending to pervert the course of justice for attempts to get her to withdraw statements. The unnamed 52-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A High Court challenge has been brought by Emma Kelly against the Attorney General regarding the refusal to order a fresh inquest into the 2008 drowning death of her brother, John Kelly, at Britain Quay in Dublin Docklands. The case, heard before Mr Justice Charles Meenan, concerns the AG's October decision to decline the family's request under the 1962 Coroner's Act for a new inquest. The applicants allege the original 2009 inquest, which found the death a misadventure, was flawed by procedural irregularities, including a failure to call eyewitnesses and a denial of the option for a jury trial. They further claim the decision to refuse a new inquest is unfair, irrational, and contrary to public interest, citing a 2018 report by retired Mr Justice Daniel Herbert that criticized the Garda response as "confused, inappropriate, and inadequate." Emma Kelly, from Athy, Co Kildare, seeks orders quashing the AG's decision, directing a new inquest, and declaring the refusal unlawful and in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights. The application was made on an ex-parte basis. Mr Justice Meenan directed that the application for permission to bring the challenge be heard on notice to the respondents. The matter was adjourned to a date in March.
The Central Criminal Court could not proceed with the murder trial of 55‑year‑old Michael Scott, accused of killing 75‑year‑old Chrissie Treacy of Portumna on 27 April 2018. The trial was scheduled for 11 January 2021 but was postponed because the courts were not swearing in new juries amid Covid‑19 restrictions. Judge Michael White announced that jury panels are suspended for three weeks, with a review on 26 January and a new trial date expected on 2 February. Brendan Grehan SC requested a later court term for the case due to its anticipated length.
During the capital murder trial of Aaron Brady, a video of a witness telling Gardaí that he heard Brady admit to shooting a cop was circulated on social media. The judge, Mr Justice Michael White, described the dissemination as "the most outrageous contempt of court" he had ever seen and noted he was powerless to prevent it. The video was posted on WhatsApp, YouTube and Facebook, with the latter two platforms deleting it after it was shared. The case was marked by intimidation and interference: witnesses and their families received threats, including a death threat to Molly Staunton via Snapchat after her testimony. Five witnesses who had given Gardaí statements failed to appear in court or claimed their statements were inaccurate. The prosecution counsel, Brendan Grehan SC, warned that the WhatsApp message was part of a campaign to disrupt the trial and prevent witnesses from testifying.