Stephen Little, 46, of Kilbarron Avenue, Dublin 5, and Edward McDonnell, 55, of Waterside Apartments, New Ross, Co. Wexford, were accused of unlawful possession of a semi‑automatic pistol and of having the weapon with intent to endanger life at Lein Park, Harmonstown, Dublin 5 on 14 September 2019. They appeared by video link before the Special Criminal Court, where Mr Justice Tony Hunt set a trial date for 6 July. The court also ordered witnesses and exhibits for that date, and the case will be mentioned again on 25 May for disclosure matters.
Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding over the Special Criminal Court, stated that there is no reason to halt non‑jury trials amid the Covid‑19 crisis. He referred to the upcoming trial of David Hunter, a 41‑year‑old UK national charged with the murder of Michael Barr, which is scheduled for 10 June and expected to last four weeks. Mr Barr, a father of five from County Tyrone, was shot seven times while managing the Sunset House pub in Dublin's north inner city. The defence received legal aid for an additional junior counsel following a disclosure of voluminous evidence.
Mark Capper, 31, of Cappagh Green, Finglas, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to aiding a Criminal Organisation in a plot to murder Patrick "Patsy" Hutch between 1 February and 10 March 2018. Capper admitted knowledge of the organisation and participation in activities that would facilitate the murder, including providing or moving motor vehicles, repairing vehicles, conducting reconnaissance, and planning the shooting. He entered a guilty plea on a full facts basis, which the court accepted as sufficient to meet the case. Justice Tony Hunt remanded Capper to appear again on 11 May for sentencing. Five other men—Michael Burns, Ciaran O'Driscoll, Patrick Curtis, Stephen Curtis, and Mohammed Smew—were also charged with conspiracy to murder Hutch and other offences, and their cases were adjourned for seven weeks, with custody production orders for their next appearance on 18 May. The court allowed each accused to apply for an earlier date if needed.
The jury in the trial of Paula Farrell, 47, accused of murdering her boyfriend Wayne McQuillan, 30, at her Drogheda home on New Year's Day 2014, has paused deliberations for the weekend and will return to the Central Criminal Court on Monday. The jury spent 2 hours 39 minutes considering a verdict when Judge Paul McDermott instructed them to suspend deliberations. The prosecution has called the sexual assault allegation an "outrageous lie" and maintains that Farrell intended to cause serious injury by stabbing McQuillan four times with a knife. Farrell pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. She testified that McQuillan had tried to have sex with her and had strangled her before she stabbed him, claiming she only remembered two of the four stabs.
Helen Jones, aged 52, of Cahergal Avenue, Mayfield, Cork, is charged with aggravated burglary and the murder of her brother Paul Jones, aged 55, at his Bandon Road home on 4 September last year. She was denied bail by the High Court after objections from Gardaí. Her brother Liam Jones, who travelled from Cork to Dublin despite ill health, testified that he feared his sister would "come after me next" and that she had threatened to petrol‑bomb his girlfriend's house – allegations she denied. Helen Jones, who has emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, said she had not seen Liam for three and a half years and would have no contact if released. The judge, Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty, expressed sympathy for her medical conditions but found no bail conditions could assure safety. The case remains at the High Court stage, with a book of evidence to be served next week.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the jury must decide whether 47‑year‑old Paula Farrell was provoked when she stabbed her partner, Wayne 'Quilly' McQuillan, to death on New Year's Day 2014. Mr Justice Paul McDermott explained that provocation is a partial defence that can reduce a murder charge to manslaughter if the accused lost self‑control in a sudden, temporary way. He said the alleged sexual assault by McQuillan on a sofa in Farrell's home could be the provoking act, but the jury must assess whether the evidence of that assault is credible. Farrell, who pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, admitted stabbing McQuillan four times, remembering only two. The judge also noted her high alcohol level that night and her statements to Gardaí that she intended to hurt, not kill, him. The jury will consider all these facts before delivering a verdict.
In a High Court hearing on 25 March 2020, a 22‑year‑old man from north County Dublin was denied bail while he appeared via video‑link from prison. He faces 11 charges, including two burglaries and several thefts involving a wallet and contactless ATM card payments of less than €30. His barrister argued that the defendant's mother, who is recovering from cancer and is classified as "high risk" for Covid‑19, and his partner, who is pregnant, were present in the courtroom and ready to give evidence. The defendant claimed he had become "genuinely" concerned about his life after learning of the pregnancy and pledged to comply with any bail conditions. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Coffey, rejected the plea that the defendant had changed, citing his history of offending and the seriousness of the charges, and refused bail.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, prosecution counsel Gerard Clarke SC argued that Paula Farrell, 47, intended to cause serious injury when she stabbed her partner Wayne McQuillan, 30, four times with the largest knife from a block. Clarke said the prosecution need not prove intent to kill, only to cause serious injury, and that Farrell's claim of a sexual assault that night was an "outrageous lie." He noted Farrell's history of childhood sexual abuse, PTSD, and alcohol dependence, but said these were used to create sympathy rather than explain the killing. Defence counsel Caroline Biggs SC contended that Farrell, classified as borderline intellectually disabled, may have been provoked and therefore guilty of manslaughter. The jury was instructed to consider provocation and Farrell's mental state when deciding between murder and manslaughter. The case remains at the jury stage. Paula Farrell pleaded not guilty.
A jury in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court could not reach verdicts on 18 of the 23 sexual assault counts against a 29‑year‑old childcare worker accused of assaulting four girls aged five to eight between August 2014 and December 2016. The jury delivered five not‑guilty verdicts on two of the four complainants, acquitted the man on three charges relating to the first girl, and acquitted him on both charges relating to the fourth girl. After 21 hours and 41 minutes of deliberation, the jury asked Judge Elma Sheahan for more time to consider the remaining counts. Judge Sheahan thanked the jury, remanded the man on continuing bail, and adjourned the case to 16 June. The trial continued during the coronavirus outbreak with social‑distance measures for jurors. The unnamed 29-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In the Louth murder trial, Dr Sally Linehan testified for the prosecution that Paula Farrell's behaviour on New Year's Day 2014 was influenced by intoxication rather than a dissociative reaction. She explained that Farrell, aged 47, had PTSD and alcohol dependence, and that she had not experienced a flashback or psychotic symptoms that night. Linehan reviewed two reports she prepared in 2015 and 2019, noting Farrell's long history of heavy drinking and childhood sexual abuse. She agreed with defence counsel that Farrell's PTSD could have played some role but concluded that intoxication was the primary influence. The testimony was part of the prosecution's case against Farrell, who pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the killing of Wayne McQuillan, aged 30, at her home. The jury heard closing speeches the following day.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, three men in their early twenties were accused of raping an 18‑year‑old woman at Dollymount Strand on 5 January 2016. The defendants pleaded not guilty and claimed the woman had consented to all sexual activity. The woman testified that she met the men in an internet café, was taken to a remote location, and was raped by the men in succession. She described feeling shocked and trapped, noting that she could not exit the car. The trial lasted 29 days; on day 29 the jury could not reach a verdict on any count after deliberating five and a half hours. Judge Alexander Owens granted the jury a 15‑year exemption from future service, remanded the men on bail, and adjourned the case to 15 June. The trial ended without a verdict.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 29‑year‑old childcare worker was found not guilty of sexually assaulting one of four child complainants in a crèche. The jury delivered verdicts on five of 23 charges after 22 days of trial. The defendant had pleaded not guilty to 23 counts of assaulting girls aged five to eight between August 2014 and December 2016. Allegations arose when a girl reported kissing the man's privates, leading to CCTV review and child interviews in January 2017. The jury acquitted the defendant on three counts for one child and on two counts for a fourth child, leaving seven and two charges outstanding respectively. The trial highlighted the use of video‑link cross‑examination and the prosecution's claim of "quick, furtive, audacious" assaults outside CCTV view. The defense cited suggestibility among the children. The verdicts were reached by majority after one juror was discharged.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 47‑year‑old woman, Paula Farrell, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the 2014 killing of Wayne McQuillan, aged 30. A psychiatrist for the defence, Dr Brenda Wright, testified that Farrell had post‑traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and an alcohol‑dependency disorder at the time of the stabbing. She described Farrell's history of sexual abuse between ages seven and fourteen and noted that Farrell began heavy drinking at 20. Dr Wright said Farrell's PTSD was severe and manifested mainly through alcohol use, affecting her relationships. The defence argued the PTSD did not play a significant role in the killing, a view echoed by the prosecution's counsel. The jury heard that Farrell stabbed McQuillan four times, recalling two, and that forensic evidence confirmed four wounds. The trial proceeded under Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of seven men and four women.
The jury has begun deliberating in a trial at the Central Criminal Court involving three young men, all teenagers at the time of the alleged offences, who are charged with raping an 18‑year‑old woman on Bull Island, Dollymount, Dublin, on 5 January 2016. The accused, now in their early 20s and unnamed for legal reasons, pleaded not guilty. Their lawyers argued that the woman had initiated sex and consented. Mr Justice Alexander Owens finished his charge, and the jury is deliberating in an empty courtroom, with proceedings to resume tomorrow.
The jury in the trial of a 29‑year‑old childcare worker accused of sexually assaulting four girls in a Leinster creche has reached verdicts on nine of the 23 counts presented. The jury foreman informed Judge Elma Sheahan that the verdicts were not yet delivered to the court and that deliberations would resume on Monday. The jury has been deliberating for over 12 hours in an empty courtroom to observe social distancing, having been in session for nearly six weeks. The accused pleaded not guilty to all 23 counts, which cover alleged assaults between August 2014 and December 2016 when the girls were aged five to eight. The case protects the identities of the complainants, and no parties are named.
In the Louth murder trial, 47‑year‑old Paula Farrell pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for killing 30‑year‑old Wayne 'Quilly' McQuillan on New Year's Day 2014. She claimed he had tried to have sex with her and strangled her before she stabbed him four times, remembering only two. Psychologist Dr Kevin Lambe testified that Farrell had an IQ of 70, indicating borderline mild intellectual disability, and suffered from PTSD due to childhood sexual abuse. He argued that her low cognitive resources and PTSD influenced her actions that night, though he clarified low IQ does not cause murder. Dr Brenda Wright also reported Farrell's history of abuse, heavy drinking from age 20, and use of Olanzapine for mood disorder. Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis confirmed four stab wounds on McQuillan, noting potential survival with prompt medical care. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, three young men in their early 20s are charged with raping a woman at Bull Island, Dollymount, Dublin, on 5 January 2016. The accused, all teenagers at the time, pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleged the 18‑year‑old woman was driven to Dollymount Strand, raped by the men in succession, and then abandoned in a remote area. The defense argued the woman had initiated sex and consented. The judge, Mr Justice Alexander Owens, will finish charging the jury on Monday, after which deliberations will begin.
A 40‑year‑old Dublin prisoner, whose name is withheld for legal reasons, has been denied bail while awaiting trial for a sexual assault charge. He is accused of assaulting his former partner on 17 March 2019, an allegation he denies. The trial was scheduled for Monday but could not proceed. The prisoner was present via video link rather than in court. Garda Donal Tully relayed the victim's claims that the man beat her, grabbed her neck, and forced his fingers into her vagina while asserting he knew what she wanted and that she liked it. In an interview with Gardaí, the prisoner admitted assault but denied sexual assault. Barry White SC, the defence solicitor, noted the prisoner has been in custody since March 2018, suffered pneumonia, and has a compromised immune system, raising health concerns. Judge Karen O'Connor refused bail, citing reasons that cannot be disclosed, and adjourned the case to 12 June for mention.
The trial of Edmundas Dauksa, a 50‑year‑old fishmonger from Dundalk, for the murder of his partner Ingrida Maciokaite, aged 31, has been postponed. The murder occurred on 18 September 2018 at Bridgewater Mews, Linenhall Street, Dundalk. Dauksa had pleaded not guilty. Judge Eileen Creedon announced that no new jury trials would start in the criminal courts until 10 June because of coronavirus concerns. She moved Dauksa's case to the next fixed‑date list at the Central Criminal Court, scheduled for 30 March. The prosecution, represented by Elva Duffy BL, and the defence, represented by Michael Bowman SC, agreed. Bowman noted that Dauksa had been remanded in custody until the new date. Creedon informed the 12‑member jury that they were no longer required, as the trial was adjourned for health reasons. The case involves Lithuanian‑born parties living in Dundalk, with witnesses expected from that community. The trial will resume on 30 March.
The jury in the trial of a 29‑year‑old child‑care worker accused of sexually assaulting four girls at a Leinster crèche will continue deliberations tomorrow. The defendant has pleaded not guilty to 23 counts of assaulting the girls, who were aged five to eight, between August 2014 and December 2016. Allegations state he touched the children's genitals over their clothes on several occasions in the crèche building and on the crèche bus. The jury, composed of seven men and five women, began deliberations on Wednesday afternoon and continued on Thursday, having deliberated for a little over seven hours. Judge Elma Sheahan instructed jurors to suspend deliberations and return tomorrow morning. During the trial, which began last month at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the jury viewed DVD recordings of interviews with the four child complainants from January 2017 and cross‑examined the children via video‑link.
In a Central Criminal Court murder trial, 47‑year‑old Paula Farrell of Drogheda pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the death of her partner, Wayne 'Quilly' McQuillan, 30, on New Year's Day 2014. She testified that the couple had argued over alcohol and that McQuillan had attempted to have sex with her on the night, an allegation she had not disclosed to Gardaí. During cross‑examination, Farrell admitted she had stabbed McQuillan four times, remembering two, and that she had taken a knife from a kitchen block after he strangled her. She denied calling an ambulance and denied that she had consciously decided not to seek help. The prosecution presented evidence of four stab wounds, including one to the upper right arm, one to the front of the chest and two to the left shoulder. The trial was set to continue before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of seven men and four women.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, three men in their early twenties were accused of raping an 18‑year‑old woman on January 5, 2016, at Bull Island, Dollymount, Dublin. The defendants, all teenagers at the time, pleaded not guilty. They claim the sexual acts were consensual, with one defendant testifying that he and his "gentleman friends" treated the complainant with respect. During the trial, Paul Greene SC defended the third accused, arguing that the defendants believed they had consent and that the presence of a condom and lubricant suggested no intent to rape. Judge Alex Owens instructed the jury not to make moral judgments or engage in victim‑blaming, emphasizing that consent must be proven and that lack of resistance does not equate to consent. The judge's charge to the jury was to be completed the following day, after which deliberations would begin.
A jury has begun deliberating the trial of a 29‑year‑old child‑care worker accused of sexually assaulting four girls aged five to eight at a Leinster crèche between August 2014 and December 2016. The accused pleaded not guilty to 23 counts. Judge Elma Sheahan delivered her charge on day 19 of the trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, emphasizing that jurors must remain unbiased and that the accused is presumed innocent until the prosecution proves guilt beyond reasonable doubt. She noted that the allegations from each child are uncorroborated by independent evidence, though the fact that four children made similar claims could provide strong support if the jury is satisfied that they were not influenced or contaminated. The defence argued that Gardaí failed to assess the children's suggestibility, did not inform them of the importance of truth‑telling, and that the girls' allegations may stem from jealousy, competition for attention, or suggestibility.
In March 2020, Mr Justice Paul McDermott called the 11 jurors of Paula Farrell's murder trial to the Central Criminal Court, noting that the 12th juror was absent due to a head‑cold. He explained that three witnesses had not yet testified and asked the jurors whether they wished to continue. The jury agreed to proceed, and the judge thanked them for serving under difficult circumstances. The trial will continue without the missing juror, with the jury expected to retire for a verdict next Tuesday. Ms Farrell, 47, of Drogheda, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the unlawful killing of Wayne 'Quilly' McQuillan, 30, on New Year's Day 2014. She admitted stabbing him four times, though she only remembered two. The trial continues tomorrow.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, three early‑20s men pleaded not guilty to raping an 18‑year‑old woman on Bull Island, Dollymount, Dublin, on 5 January 2016. The defence counsel described the alleged victim as a "fantasist" and a person who "does not value the truth," while the prosecution highlighted her history of care, drug addiction and homelessness, suggesting she was a target. The prosecution argued that the woman did not know Dollymount and spent time on the phone to the Dublin Fire Brigade asking for directions. The defence countered that the woman was under the influence of drugs, could not reliably identify her location, and that the accused were angry and wrongly accused. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Alexander Owens, continues with a jury hearing the evidence and arguments.
The High Court has approved a settlement of €35,000 to the family of Brian McElhinney, a retired building contractor from Glenties, County Donegal, who died in December 2014 months after undergoing a medical procedure at Letterkenny University Hospital. Mr McElhinney's widow, Rosaleen, sued the HSE on behalf of herself and her late husband's dependents, alleging negligence in connection with a lumbar puncture performed in July 2014. Following the procedure, Mr McElhinney allegedly experienced severe pain and paralysis from the waist down, requiring extended hospitalisation. He was discharged in late August 2014 but died four months later. While his death was attributed to underlying conditions including myelofibrosis, the family claimed the procedure and alleged failure in its management significantly accelerated his death and caused them mental distress. The HSE had denied negligence. Mr Justice Kevin Cross approved the settlement on Wednesday, with the payment to be divided among family members.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court has been halted after three jurors notified the court they could not attend proceedings. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon discharged the 12-member jury on 18 March, noting that one juror would likely be unable to participate further, while the availability of the other two remained uncertain for at least one week. Rafal Karaczyn, aged 34, of Crozon Park, Sligo, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in connection with the death of his wife Natalia, aged 30, at their home between 29 April and 1 May 2018. The closing speeches from prosecution and defence had been scheduled for the trial's final stage. Both the Director of Public Prosecutions and the defence counsel consented to the jury's discharge, citing the unfairness of reassembling jurors at an unknown future date. Ms Justice Creedon agreed, acknowledging the trial had nearly concluded but prioritising the accused's fair trial rights. Mr Karaczyn was remanded in custody on bail pending 30 March.
The prosecution presented evidence that a 29‑year‑old childcare worker sexually assaulted four girls aged five to eight between August 2014 and December 2016 at a Leinster crèche. The accused faced 23 counts, including touching the girls' vaginas, licking a girl's vagina, and pressing a phone against a girl's vagina. He denied all charges. The prosecution argued that the assaults were carried out in a "quick, furtive, audacious" manner, often in blind spots of the crèche such as a book corner, a toilet cubicle, a windowsill and the crèche bus. The defence portrayed the worker as a sincere, responsible carer who sought help to manage physical contact and claimed the allegations were false or fabricated by the children. The jury heard closing arguments from both sides before the trial resumed on Wednesday before Judge Elma Sheahan.
In the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Paul McDermott announced new seating arrangements for the 12 jurors in the Paula Farrell murder trial to maintain social distancing amid the coronavirus outbreak. Six jurors now sit on individual cushions in the courtroom, while the remaining six sit in the jury box with a seat between them. The judge said these arrangements would remain for the rest of the trial and that two jury minders would be present. Mr McDermott invited jurors to raise any concerns. Ms Farrell, aged 47, continues to give evidence. She admits stabbing her partner, Wayne 'Quilly' McQuillan, 30, during a drunken argument on New Year's Day 2014. She pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. She described the events, her lack of intent to kill, and her subsequent actions, including not calling an ambulance.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Mr Justice Tony Hunt remanded Thomas McGuinness, 33, on bail until 25 May after McGuinness was unable to attend the hearing due to ill health. McGuinness is charged with falsely imprisoning, assaulting and robbing Edward McAndrew at a Co Louth farmhouse on 2 December 2017, and with demanding £50,000 from McAndrew. The charges include detaining McAndrew without consent, assault causing harm, theft of car keys, money, travel bag, wallet, briefcase, two mobile phones and an Irish passport, and making an unwarranted demand with menaces. Two other men, William Twomey, 56, and Anthony Finglas, 49, are also charged with the same offences. Twomey was granted bail on 25 February, while Finglas' bail application was denied. Mr Justice Hunt expressed hope that the world would be a different place by the end of May.
The jury has retired from the trial of Patrick Harte, a 78‑year‑old retired Dublin school teacher, who is accused of fondling school boys at the Sancta Maria Christian Brothers on Synge Street between September 1968 and September 1970. Harte faces 11 counts of indecent assault involving seven complainants, all of whom were around ten years old at the time. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The prosecution, led by Anne Rowland SC, presented testimony that Harte allegedly called boys to the top of the class and then fondled them, including placing his hand down a boy's trousers while sitting on his knee. A complainant, now in his 60s, recounted a similar incident and noted prior physical assault by Harte. Harte denied the allegations, arguing that the classroom's busy environment and the presence of other teachers and inspectors would have made such actions unlikely.
Ms Paula Farrell, 47, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the unlawful killing of Wayne 'Quilly' McQuillan, 30, on New Year's Day 2014. She told the Central Criminal Court jury that she began drinking heavily in her teens to "block out" problems, later describing a history of sexual abuse by a named man from age seven to fourteen. She said the abuse began at thirteen and continued daily, and that she confronted the abuser at age 28 or 29, after which she stopped counselling. Farrell also admitted using alcohol, cocaine, speed and a white powder called "wildcat." She met McQuillan on the night of her 40th birthday in 2013; he was ten years younger.
During a Central Criminal Court trial, one of three young men accused of raping an 18‑year‑old woman at Dollymount Strand on 5 January 2016 claimed he and his two "gentlemen friends" treated the alleged victim with "nothing but respect." The accused, in his early 20s, pleaded not guilty and stated he had never met the woman before the alleged incidents. He described the woman as enthusiastic and confident, and denied that she was raped, arguing that her claims of being "addicted to sex" did not preclude rape. He said he would never mistreat a woman and that the complainant was "trying to ruin his life." The accused also mentioned a phone call from an acquaintance after the alleged events, refusing to name the person for fear of threat to his life. The trial continues before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury.
The jury in the trial of a 29‑year‑old childcare worker accused of sexually assaulting four girls in a Leinster crèche has been urged by Judge Elma Sheahan to continue with the case despite the coronavirus outbreak. She informed the jury that no new criminal trials will start for two weeks, but ongoing trials will proceed to conclusion. She acknowledged the stress the jurors may be experiencing and asked them to remain focused for the next week. She noted that court attendance would be much lower from Monday, with fewer crowds, and offered assistance if needed. The trial, which has run for five weeks, is set to finish next week with closing speeches on Monday. No evidence was heard today. The accused denies the 23 counts of sexual assault against girls aged five to eight between February 2015 and December 2016.
A jury was asked to return to the Central Criminal Court on March 30th for the murder trial of fishmonger Edmundas Dauksa, aged 50, who has pleaded not guilty to the killing of his partner Ingrida Maciokaite, aged 31, at Bridgewater Mews, Linenhall Street, Dundalk, on 18 September 2018. Judge Eileen Creedon explained that due to health concerns in the community, the trial was postponed to avoid close contact, and she requested the jury to reconvene on Monday, March 30th. She noted that the trial is expected to last no longer than two weeks and that any changes would be communicated to the jurors. On the rescheduled date, Mr Justice Paul McDermott empanelled the jury and outlined the alleged facts: Dauksa and Maciokaite were a Lithuanian couple living in Dundalk, with Dauksa running a shellfish business.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 17‑year‑old accused of rape, who is one of three young men, told the judge that the alleged victim was lying and trying to ruin his life. He said he had never met the woman before the incident, which took place on 5 January 2016 at Dollymount Strand, Dublin. According to him, the woman entered a car with the accused men, suggested they go to Dollymount, and asked who wanted to have sex first. He claimed he left the car with one co‑accused and stood at a nearby hut, while the other men returned later. He denied having sex with the woman and said she asked for his phone number, which he refused to give. He also said he did not inform Gardaí of the events, citing his father's advice and his solicitors' counsel. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
At the Central Criminal Court, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon instructed a jury on 12 March 2020 to return on Wednesday to conclude closing speeches in the trial of Rafal Karaczyn, aged 34, of Crozon Park, Sligo. The judge relayed directions from the President of the High Court that existing trials should be completed where possible amid emerging public health concerns. Mr Karaczyn has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in relation to the death of his wife at their Sligo home between 29 April and 1 May 2018. The jury of seven women and five men was informed that closing arguments, the judicial charge, and their deliberations remained outstanding. The court indicated the registrar would remain available to assist jurors between the adjournment and the scheduled resumption.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Garda Sergeant Diarmuid O'Donovan explained that the four children who had alleged sexual assault by a 29‑year‑old child‑care worker were not re‑interviewed after initial interviews conducted within five weeks of the allegations being reported on 12 December 2016. The children, aged six to eight at the time of the first interviews in January 2017, were interviewed by child‑specialist interviewers and their recordings were used as evidence. O'Donovan said the decision not to re‑interview was taken on welfare grounds, citing the traumatic nature of the process for the children and their families. He noted that while the investigation team considered re‑interviews, the final decision was that it would not be in the children's best interest, and that efforts were made to corroborate the complaints through other means. The unnamed 29-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin court, three men in their early twenties, who cannot be named, pleaded not guilty to raping an 18‑year‑old woman on Bull Island, Dollymount, on 5 January 2016. The prosecution alleged the woman was driven to Dollymount Strand, raped by the men in succession, and then abandoned in a remote area. During the trial, a jury viewed CCTV footage showing the woman and the three men leaving an internet café in Dublin city centre and boarding a car. The hearing continues before Mr Justice Owens and a jury.
In the Central Criminal Court, Paula Farrell, 47, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the unlawful killing of Wayne 'Quilly' McQuillan, 30, on New Year's Day 2014 at her home in Rathmullen Park, Drogheda. She admitted that she and McQuillan had been drinking since 3:00 pm, that a fight began, and that she was "hysterical" when the Garda arrived. She said she and McQuillan had been "bitching" and that a struggle ensued in the kitchen. She claimed she was "not wanting him to get the better of me" and that she stabbed him twice, once near the top of his chest and a second time lower down, using a medium‑sized black knife from her kitchen. After the stabbing, McQuillan walked out the front door, collapsed, and was taken to hospital in a patrol car after an ambulance was delayed by 20‑30 minutes.
At the Central Criminal Court, the trial of Rafal Karaczyn, 34, of Crozon Park, Sligo, continued. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his 30-year-old wife, Natalia Karaczyn, but guilty to her manslaughter at their family home between April 29th and May 1st, 2018. Witness Piotr Korsak, a friend of the accused, testified that he perceived Karaczyn as "mentally devastated," "depressed," and potentially suicidal in the months preceding the death. Korsak stated he offered Karaczyn a place to stay to help him "stay away from trouble," though Karaczyn declined until after his son's First Holy Communion. Korsak denied observing violence and expressed shock upon learning of the death. The court also heard new translations of Karaczyn's eighth Garda interview, where he admitted strangling his wife. The prosecution clarified that his statement about being "under big stress" translates from Polish to "uncontrolled," "in a rage," or similar to "amok." Additionally, his remark "I don't know what was with me this time" was translated as "I don't know what got inside me." Justice Eileen Creedon adjourned the proceedings, directing the jury to return the following day at 11am to hear closing speeches from the prosecution and defence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a childcare worker accused of sexually assaulting four girls at a Leinster crèche from February 2015 to December 2016 denied all 23 charges. He said he was shocked and appalled by the allegations, claiming he had only read to children in the after‑school book corner and never been alone with any of them in a bathroom. Gardaí interviewed him in June 2017, and the transcript of those interviews was read to the jury. CCTV footage from the crèche, showing the worker at the entrance, at a table, and in the book corner, was also presented, along with expert testimony about blind spots in the crèche's cameras. Former colleagues and nine crèche staff members gave evidence, some praising his work and describing the children's behaviour as innocent. The trial is ongoing before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury of seven men and five women.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has viewed video evidence from Ballymote Garda Station in which a man described to detectives how he killed his wife. Rafal Karaczyn, aged 34, from Crozon Park in Sligo, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The footage, recorded on 2 May 2018, showed Mr Karaczyn explaining to gardaí that he strangled his 30-year-old wife Natalia at their home between 29 April and 1 May 2018. During the interview, he demonstrated the actions using a toilet roll held in both hands. The court heard that Mr Karaczyn was placed on suicide watch by District Court order the day after his admission. Earlier interviews were also shown to the jury, in which Mr Karaczyn had denied involvement and alleged that an unknown man had threatened him. The trial continues before Justice Eileen Creedon.
At the Central Criminal Court, a jury heard text and Facebook messages exchanged between a Sligo couple in the months preceding the woman's death. Rafal Karaczyn, aged 34, of Crozon Park, Sligo, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in relation to the death of his wife Natalia Karaczyn, aged 30, at their family home between 29 April and 1 May 2018. The prosecution presented communications spanning from March 2017 onwards, depicting deteriorating relations and the accused's repeated attempts at reconciliation despite the complainant's explicit requests to be left alone. The court heard that the accused told the complainant she was "not free" and would not do as she wished. In the weeks before her death, the complainant told the accused to leave their home immediately and that he could no longer enter the house. The trial was continuing.
The cross‑examination of a woman who was alleged to have been raped by three Dublin teenagers ended after eight days of questioning. The men, all in their early twenties and unnamed for legal reasons, pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to raping a woman at Bull Island, Dollymount, Dublin, on 5 January 2016. The trial has heard that the 18‑year‑old woman was allegedly driven to Dollymount Strand, raped by the three men in turn, and then left in the middle of nowhere. The cross‑examination began after lunch each afternoon and lasted about two hours a day. During the session the woman agreed with defence counsel that she had planned to stay overnight in an internet café because no hostels were available. She said she had enough money to pay the one‑euro‑per‑hour rate and that homeless people could stay there.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, the mother of one of four girls alleged to have been sexually assaulted by a childcare worker testified that her daughter repeatedly expressed discomfort about attending the crèche. The mother said the child visibly did not want to go and had spoken on several occasions that she did not want to go, but did not explain why. She also noted that the alleged perpetrator's behaviour towards her had changed in the six months before the allegations surfaced, including a lack of eye contact. The mother recounted that the girl first made the allegation to her father in November 2016, and that she learned of the allegations when the crèche contacted them on 12 December 2016. She described the girl as very upset and defensive when she first told her mother that the man had touched her privates.
At the Central Criminal Court, a jury has convicted two men of the rape of a woman in County Donegal in February 2015. Boakye Osei, aged 29, of Twoban, Burnfoot, and Kelvin Opoku, aged 33, of Cill Graine, Letterkenny, had both pleaded not guilty. Following a five-week trial in late 2019, the jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts after deliberating for just over two hours. The complainant delivered a victim impact statement describing the profound effect the assault and subsequent criminal proceedings had on her life over the previous five years. She detailed the trauma of forensic examination, precautionary medical treatment, and the emotional toll of three separate trial preparations. Justice Alex Owens remanded both men in custody pending sentencing submissions scheduled for 16 March 2020.
At the Central Criminal Court, a jury has heard evidence from the eighth garda interview with a 34-year-old man charged with the murder of his wife. The accused, from Crozon Park in Ballymote, Sligo, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. During questioning at Ballymote Garda Station on May 2nd, 2018, he admitted to strangling his wife following her return from a night out on April 29th, 2018. He told detectives he woke when she arrived home and, after she pushed and slapped him during an argument, he strangled her. He described feeling "very big regret and grief" afterwards. The accused also told gardai he subsequently moved her body to a car boot but dropped it on the kitchen floor as it was too heavy. In earlier interviews, he had provided an account involving threats from an unknown man, but later admitted these claims were false. The trial at the Central Criminal Court is continuing.
Edmundas Dauksa, a 50‑year‑old fishmonger from Dundalk, denies murdering his 31‑year‑old partner Ingrida Maciokaite at Bridgewater Mews on 18 September 2018. He pleaded not guilty and will stand trial at the Central Criminal Court. Judge Paul McDermott empanelled a jury of seven men and five women, noting the alleged facts that Dauksa and Maciokaite were a Lithuanian couple living in Dundalk and that the case stemmed from disagreements between them. The trial is expected to last three weeks.
During a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, a former colleague of a man accused of sexually assaulting four girls in a Leinster crèche described him as "devastated" after the allegations surfaced. She recalled that he had become very upset and noticeably thinner since she last saw him. The colleague, who had worked closely with him, said she had sent him a text after the allegations emerged, to which he replied, "I'm devastated." She described him as generous with the children and inventive with activities, noting that he was well-liked by staff and parents. She denied ever suspecting him of wrongdoing and stated that the four complainants would have had limited interaction with him, especially the younger ones. The trial, which continues before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury, focuses on the 23 counts of sexual assault alleged to have occurred between February 2015 and December 2016. The accused denies the charges. The complainants' identities remain protected.