Sean McGovern, 39, previously of Kildare Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12, appeared before the Special Criminal Court to address his legal aid application. The accused is charged with the murder of Noel Kirwan on December 22, 2016, at St Ronan's Drive, Clondalkin, Dublin. Additional allegations include directing a criminal organisation in connection with that murder, facilitating a criminal organisation in the conspiracy to murder James Gately, and directing surveillance of Mr. Gately. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, sitting with Judges Sarah Berkeley and David McHugh, stated the court was not satisfied with the statement of means provided, describing it as containing "at best, scant detail." The judge noted the document offered no information on how McGovern funded his lifestyle in Dubai over the past eight years. Defence counsel Seán Guerin SC stated he could provide no further assistance beyond the instructions received. The prosecution, represented by Maddie Grant BL, indicated the State had no observations. The court adjourned the matter for mention next week to allow the defence to provide further answers regarding the defendant's financial position. McGovern was previously extradited from the United Arab Emirates, where his lawyers had raised concerns about the legality of his return.
The High Court trial of a civil action brought by John Bowe against Supt Rory Sheriff, the Garda Commissioner, the Attorney General, and Ireland continues before Mr Justice Micheál Ó Higgins. Sgt Mick Dee, an applicant in the proceedings, testified regarding an incident outside Bunclody, Co Wexford, on December 5, 2014, following a high-speed pursuit. Sgt Dee stated he believed Mr Bowe was carrying a knife and behaving in a threatening manner, prompting him to alert Supt Sheriff. Supt Sheriff subsequently struck Mr Bowe on the head with a baton. Under cross-examination, Sgt Dee accepted that Mr Bowe did not have a knife, attributing his initial belief to a gut reaction. Mr Bowe claims wrongful and violent assault, alleging he was diagnosed with functional neurological disorder, claims which are denied by the defendants. Witness Det Sgt Noel McSweeney testified that he observed the officers and Mr Bowe walking together without dragging, and noted a cut on Mr Bowe's head. Mr Bowe was previously convicted of dangerous driving arising from the chase but acquitted of a cannabis possession charge. The matter is at the trial stage and has not been finalised; the proceedings continue.
The jury in the trial of Ruth Lawrence, accused of shooting drug dealer Eoin O'Connor and working with her boyfriend Neville van der Westhuizen to murder him and Anthony Keegan, has paused deliberations for the weekend and will resume on Monday. The trial, which began five weeks ago, has heard that Lawrence, 46, was extradited from South Africa and pleaded not guilty to the two murder charges. Two protected witnesses, Jason and Stacey Symes, testified that Lawrence told Stacey she had shot O'Connor but that Neville finished the killing, and that they were asked to move the bodies. The judge explained that the jury can return three verdicts for each murder: guilty, not guilty but guilty of assisting an offender, or not guilty. He emphasized that a conviction requires proof beyond reasonable doubt that Lawrence was part of a joint enterprise to kill the men.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury of 12 deliberated for 1 hour 22 minutes on the second day of the trial of Ruth Lawrence, aged 46, accused of murdering drug dealer Eoin O'Connor (32) and drug dealer Anthony Keegan (33) between 22 April and 26 May 2014. Lawrence, extradited from South Africa in 2023, pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleged that Lawrence and her boyfriend Neville van der Westhuizen acted as a "unit" and "tag team", luring O'Connor to their home and shooting him, and that van der Westhuizen also shot Keegan. Two protected witnesses, Jason and Stacey Symes, testified that Lawrence told Stacey she had shot O'Connor but that Neville "took over", and that they were asked to move the bodies.
The trial of five school bus operators accused of anti-competition practices is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Andrew Walsh, Raymond Heney, Noel Browne, Larry Hickey, and Anthony Flynn, all from County Tipperary, have pleaded not guilty to a single charge under the Competition Act 2002. The prosecution alleges that between November 1, 2014, and December 31, 2016, the defendants engaged in a concerted practice to prevent, restrict, or distort competition in school transport services across Limerick, Tipperary, Clare, South Galway, and Waterford. Prosecution counsel Dominic McGinn told the jury that the accused allegedly coordinated their bidding behavior, including holding meetings to discuss route allocation and pricing, and submitting non-genuine bids to elevate tender prices. He stated that this alleged collusion removed true competitiveness from the process, which affects the public. The case is being brought by the Competition Authority, with evidence including documents, text messages, and expert testimony expected. The jury must determine if a concerted practice occurred and if each defendant was involved. The trial is presided over by Mr Justice David Keane and is expected to last up to six weeks. The matter continues before the court.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 6 November 2025, doctors described the injuries of a four‑year‑old boy alleged to have been murdered by his stepmother. Consultant paediatrician Dr Stephen O'Riordan testified that the boy had 17 bruises or injuries, including black eyes, bruises around both ears, and extensive bruising on the back of the head, all consistent with physical abuse or non‑accidental injury. He noted that the pattern of bruises, including different colours and ages, raised significant concern for intentional harm. A consultant intensive‑care doctor said the injuries would normally be associated with a severe crash or a fall from a very high height. The stepmother, a woman in her 30s, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of four women and eight men.
In a tragic incident at Kildare Chilling Company on 14 May 2020, 54‑year‑old Binak Cokaj, an Albanian national, was inspecting a vacuum‑packing machine when it crushed his head, causing fatal skull fractures and brain injuries. His wife, Shkurte Cokaj, filed a personal injury claim under the Civil Liability Act on behalf of herself and their two 11‑year‑old twin children. The claim alleged negligence, breach of duty and breach of contract by Kildare Chilling Company, Momentum Capital Projects Ltd and Sealed Air Limited, the machine supplier. After mediation, the parties agreed to a €700 000 settlement, including €17.5 k earmarked for each child. The High Court, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Coffey, approved the settlement without admitting liability and approved costs incurred by the plaintiff. The judge described the case as "very tragic.".
The jury has begun deliberations in the trial of Ruth Lawrence, 46, accused of shooting drug dealer Eoin O'Connor and killing drug dealer Anthony Keegan with her boyfriend Neville van der Westhuizen. The case, heard at the Central Criminal Court after a five‑week trial, relies on statements from protected witnesses Jason and Stacey Symes, who claim Lawrence told them she shot O'Connor but that Neville finished the act, and that they were asked to move the bodies. The judge explained that Lawrence could be found guilty of murder on the basis of joint enterprise only if she assisted in a concrete way and had a purpose to help the killings. The jury may return a verdict of guilty of murder, guilty of assisting an offender, or not guilty for each murder charge, and must decide unanimously.
In the trial of Ruth Lawrence, Mr Justice Tony Hunt explained that the jury may return an alternative verdict of assisting an offender if they are not satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that she participated in a joint enterprise to murder drug dealer Anthony Keegan and his friend Eoin O'Connor between 22 April and 26 May 2014. He clarified that for a murder conviction on joint enterprise, the accused must have assisted in a concrete way and had a purpose to deliberately assist in the killings. The judge noted that the two murder counts must be considered separately and that a conviction on one does not automatically imply a conviction on the other. He warned the jury to assess the reliability of the Symes witnesses, who are in the Witness Protection Programme, and to consider the impact of any benefits they receive on their testimony. Ruth Lawrence pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, a woman in her 30s from the southwest of Ireland is accused of killing a four‑year‑old boy. The accused told Gardaí that the boy was a "bold cheeky child" and that she had kept him in his room, on the floor, for several days to hide bruising. On 13 March 2021, after the boy fell from a bunk bed, emergency services found him unconscious with multiple bruises of different colours. The prosecution argues that the boy's brain injury was caused by shaking and blunt force, not a fall. The accused pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. She had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting the child in January and March 2021. The trial is before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of four women and eight men.
Five bus and taxi operators from Limerick, Tipperary, Clare, South Galway and Waterford have gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court. They pleaded not guilty to a single charge under the Competition Act 2002, alleging that between 1 November 2014 and 31 December 2016 they engaged in a concerted practice that prevented, restricted or distorted competition in school transport services. The prosecution is by the Competition Authority. Mr Justice David Keane empanelled a jury of seven men and five women; the trial is expected to last up to six weeks.
The Central Criminal Court trial of seven men accused of sexually abusing a deaf family member is proceeding with extensive sign language interpretation support. The complainant, giving evidence via videolink, is assisted by an Irish Sign Language interpreter, a deaf relay, and an intermediary linguistics expert. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs informed the jury that the court is in "new territory," noting that monitoring interpreter teams will alert the court to translation errors. The trial, expected to last four months, involves 98 counts of abuse alleged to have occurred between 1996 and 2013. All defendants deny the charges. Accused A, a 55-year-old uncle, faces one count of rape. Accused B, another uncle, is accused of eight counts of rape, oral rape, and anal rape. Accused C, a 34-year-old brother, faces 45 counts of rape and anal rape against the complainant, plus additional charges of sexual assault, rape, and anal rape against two other sisters. Accused D, 33, pleaded not guilty to 19 counts of rape and three of anal rape. Accused E, 32, denied nine counts of anal rape and seven of rape. Accused F, also 32, denied five counts of rape and anal rape. Accused G, 45, denied one count of rape. The matter is currently at the trial stage.
In a Workplace Relations Commission hearing, Thayane Sousa, a meatpacking worker at Asba Meats Ltd in Shannon, was awarded €20,000 after she claimed maternity discrimination. Sousa, who had worked intermittently at the halal plant since 2022, told her line manager she was pregnant about two weeks after returning from a break in July 2024. She said the manager then reassigned her to tasks outside her job description that were "significantly more physically demanding," such as boning meat, and reduced her working hours from 35 to as few as two days a week. Sousa's contract stipulated a 40‑hour week for €508, but she was paid at the national minimum wage. The tribunal found the evidence of reassignment and reduced hours uncontested, and concluded that Asba Meats had discriminated against her on the basis of gender. The decision was published on 4 November 2025 and marked the third ruling against the company in 18 months.
In a double‑murder trial, defence counsel Patrick Gageby SC argued that the State's case against 46‑year‑old Ruth Lawrence was weak, relying mainly on two protected witnesses, father and daughter Jason and Stacey Symes. Gageby said the Symes had downplayed their own roles and could not be trusted to convict Lawrence, who was extradited from South Africa in 2023 after the bodies of Anthony Keegan (33) and Eoin O'Connor (32) were found on a lake island in 2014. He claimed the Symes' statements about Lawrence shooting O'Connor and her boyfriend Neville van der Westhuizen taking over were unreliable, and that phone evidence did not link Lawrence to the killings. Gageby urged jurors not to convict Lawrence, describing the prosecution's case as "slim" and "shaky.". Ruth Lawrence pleaded not guilty.
A 32‑year‑old woman from the south west has pleaded guilty to killing a four‑year‑old boy but denies that the death was murder. She is to stand trial at the Central Criminal Court, where Mr Justice Paul McDermott swore in a jury of eight men and four women. The judge told the jury that the allegation is murder and that the child was aged four‑and‑a‑half when he died on 16 March 2021. The trial, expected to last up to five weeks, is set to begin tomorrow.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, prosecution barrister Michael O'Higgins SC argued that Ruth Lawrence (46) and her South African boyfriend Neville van der Westhuizen acted as a "unit and tag team" to lure drug dealer Eoin O'Connor (32) to their home at Patricks Cottage, Ross, Mountnugent, and murder him. O'Higgins said Lawrence shot O'Connor in the stomach with intent to kill, but she did not act alone; van der Westhuizen allegedly finished him off, possibly by grappling and shooting him in the head. The prosecution also claimed that the couple killed Anthony Keegan (33) and that both bodies were later found bound and covered on Inchicup Island, Lough Sheelin. Witnesses Jason and Stacey Symes testified that Lawrence told them she had shot O'Connor but it "went wrong" and that van der Westhuizen took over. The case presented evidence of a planned, highly calculated double murder, with Lawrence and van der Westhuizen equally liable under the law. Ruth Lawrence pleaded not guilty.
A Workplace Relations Commission adjudicator has ordered a Cavan takeaway business to pay €154,828 in compensation to a Chinese national for serious employment rights violations sustained over two years. The worker, employed at Lam's Asian Cuisine and Eskimo Pizza in Ballyjamesduff, was found to have worked between 68 and 73 hours weekly while earning as little as €3 per hour. The adjudicator upheld all 14 complaints filed, including breaches of working time legislation, minimum wage requirements, and equality law. The employer had required repayment of approximately €31,000 in recruitment fees through wage deductions. Adjudicator Shay Henry found the complainant's vulnerable immigration status rendered him susceptible to exploitation and determined no legitimate loans existed. The largest award of €60,000 addressed discrimination on racial grounds. The respondent business director failed to attend hearings, citing stress.
In a Dublin murder case, Josip Strok and his friend David Druzinec were attacked after a 17‑year‑old boy at a bus stop was denied a lighter. The boy later warned other teenagers, who then boarded a bus and were followed by Mark Lee (44) and Anthony Delappe (19). Lee and Delappe, who had been in Lee's house smoking cannabis, pursued Strok and Druzinec, striking them with a pickaxe handle and a half‑crutch. Strok suffered a fatal brain injury after falling and was pronounced dead four days later. Lee and Delappe pleaded not guilty to murder but were found guilty by an 11‑to‑1 majority. Connor Rafferty (21) was acquitted of murder after claiming he only delivered light smacks. The case was heard in the Central Criminal Court on 30 March 2024. The verdicts were delivered on 30 October 2025.
Two men, Mark Lee (44) and Anthony Delappe (19), were found guilty by a majority verdict of 11–1 of the murder of Josip Strok (31) in Dublin. Both had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Connor Rafferty (21) was found not guilty of murder after pleading not guilty. All three pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Strok's friend, David Druzinec (29). The jury heard that on 30 March 2024 Lee had been told of an alleged assault on a teenage boy at a bus stop near his home in Clondalkin and alerted Delappe and Rafferty. The prosecution alleged that Lee and Delappe followed Strok and Druzinec and assaulted them in the street; Strok died four days later from blunt‑force injuries.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Kevin O'Riordan, 40, of Rathcoole, Moone, Co Kildare, was found guilty of failing to stop at the scene of a collision and of careless driving. The incident occurred on 21 September 2023 when O'Riordan, while turning left onto Meath Street, struck an elderly man who was crossing the road. O'Riordan stopped his car and remained for four minutes before driving away, later telling the gardai that he did not realise he had hit the victim. The court noted that the driver had ample time to see the pedestrian but did not. O'Riordan received a suspended prison sentence of 18 months, was banned from driving for two years, and was required to keep the peace. The victim, who suffered a fractured hip and now requires assistance to walk, has expressed that the incident has severely impacted his independence and mental health.
At the Central Criminal Court, a jury heard that drug dealer Eoin O'Connor sent a text message on April 22, 2014, stating "have to go to country… if anything happens to me" before he and Anthony Keegan disappeared. Ruth Lawrence (45), with an address in Co Meath, has pleaded not guilty to murdering both men at an unknown location between April 22 and May 26, 2014. A senior garda intelligence analyst told the court she examined phone records for twelve numbers in the investigation. Cell site data indicated the men travelled from Dublin to Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan that evening. Ms Lawrence's phone showed activity consistent with travel towards Cavan town after 6.25pm, with her last connection at 7.36pm. The prosecution alleges Ms Lawrence and her boyfriend killed Mr O'Connor over a €70,000 drug debt, with both bodies later discovered bound and wrapped on Inchicup Island, Lough Sheelin. The trial continues.
In a Central Criminal Court case, a jury has begun deliberations over the murder of Croatian national Josip Strok, who died four days after an assault in Dublin. The accused are Mark Lee (44), Anthony Delappe (19) and Connor Rafferty (21). Lee and Delappe have pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, while Rafferty has not entered a plea. All three pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Strok's friend, David Druzinec. The prosecution alleges the trio followed Strok and Druzinec and attacked them, with Lee using kicks and punches, Delappe striking with a plastic pickaxe handle, and Rafferty striking with a crutch. The judge instructed the jury to consider each accused individually, noting that verdicts may differ and must be unanimous. The jury will continue tomorrow.
In a Dublin murder trial, Justice Mary Ellen Ring instructed a jury that to secure murder convictions against Mark Lee (44), Anthony Delappe (19) and Connor Rafferty (21), the jury must be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that each intended to cause serious injury to Josip Strok (31). The judge explained that mere presence at the scene is insufficient; the accused must have acted concretely in the killing and intended serious harm. If intent is not proven, the jury may consider manslaughter, where the accused caused death with intent to cause more than trivial harm. The prosecution alleges the trio assaulted Strok and his friend David Druzinec (29) on Grangeview Way, Clondalkin, on 3 April 2024, with Strok dying four days later from blunt‑force injuries. All three pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter and assault. The judge will give a final charge tomorrow before deliberations begin.
In October 2025, Johnson & Johnson appealed a €944,000 award granted to former Limerick hurler Mark Keane by the High Court for injuries sustained in a 2018 workplace incident. Keane, who was injured while freeing a colleague trapped in a machine at the company's Plassey plant, claimed nerve damage to his right hand and injury to his right shoulder. The High Court had awarded compensation for the hand injury and accepted the shoulder injury as caused by the incident. Johnson & Johnson accepted responsibility for the hand injury but denied the shoulder injury, arguing no substantial complaint was made during treatment and that the first mention of the shoulder problem appeared six years later. The company also challenged the pension, health insurance and future earnings awards as excessive. Keane's counsel maintained that the trial judge's findings were based on cogent evidence and were not reviewable.
A witness at the Central Criminal Court has testified that a fire was burning at a house in Mountnugent, County Meath, the day after two men went missing in April 2014. Vytautis Bitaris told the court he was present at Patricks Cottage on the morning of April 23, 2014, when he observed the fire near the property's outbuildings. Later that evening, the witness said he assisted in loading four large blocks into a vehicle belonging to Neville van der Westhuizen, the boyfriend of Ruth Lawrence, who denies murdering Anthony Keegan and Eoin O'Connor. The trial heard that the two men were last seen on April 22, 2014. A second witness, Marzena Miduchoska, testified that van der Westhuizen asked her to store two tool boxes at her home around midnight in April 2014, stating the items would only remain for one day. When Ms Miduchoska opened one box the following day, she observed foil-wrapped items and a device resembling a tattoo implement. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt. Anthony Keegan pleaded not guilty. Eoin O'Connor pleaded not guilty. Ruth Lawrence pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, barrister Michael Bowman SC warned a jury that comments made by murder accused Mark Lee (44) about "illegal immigrants" and "invaders" to gardai should not prejudice their verdict. Bowman said Lee's remarks, though "objectionable and unsavoury", must not influence the jury's assessment of the evidence. He noted that the prosecution had alleged Lee and co‑accused Anthony Delappe and Connor Rafferty had known the deceased, Josip Strok, was a foreigner, yet there was no evidence Lee or the others had spoken about foreigners before the assault. Bowman challenged the prosecution's claim that the nature of the assault proved intent to cause serious injury, pointing out that Strok's fatal skull fracture was likely caused by a fall. He urged the jury to consider Lee's guilty plea to manslaughter and to avoid prejudice based on his views, concluding that a manslaughter verdict was appropriate. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring will charge the jury next Tuesday. Mark Lee pleaded not guilty. Connor Rafferty pleaded not guilty. Anthony Delappe pleaded not guilty.
A key witness has told the Central Criminal Court that he feared Ruth Lawrence, who is accused of murdering two men in April or May 2014. The 45-year-old from Mountnugent in Co Meath has pleaded not guilty to killing Anthony Keegan and Eoin O'Connor. Jason Symes gave evidence via video-link, stating he witnessed Lawrence carrying a firearm on multiple occasions. He recalled that on Good Friday 2014, Lawrence and her boyfriend Neville van der Westhuizen borrowed his daughter's car while he waited in Dublin. Upon their return to Patrick's Cottage in Meath, Symes said the couple removed numerous bags from the vehicle. He testified that he later heard Lawrence mention a headlock and a twist in connection with the deceased men. Symes said he fled Ireland fearing for his family's safety but returned to provide testimony. The trial continues before Justice Tony Hunt and a jury.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the Director of Public Prosecutions asked a jury to consider whether a statement made by accused Mark Lee to Gardaí—claiming it was "terrible the way the homeless are treated" while illegal immigrants "run amok"—constituted a motive or justification for the attack on Croatian national Josip Strok. The prosecution alleged that Lee, Anthony Delappe and Connor Rafferty jointly assaulted Strok on 3 April 2024, using a pickaxe handle, a crutch and kicks, causing fatal blunt‑force injuries. Lee and Delappe pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter; Rafferty pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to assault. Defence counsel argued that the evidence did not prove intent to cause serious injury and urged a manslaughter verdict for each accused. The case remains at the jury stage, with the prosecution's closing speech pending.
In a Workplace Relations Commission ruling, William Gallagher, a tenant in County Kildare, was awarded €23,000 after landlords Jenny Brennan and Matthew Hannigan unlawfully refused to sign the State housing assistance payment (HAP) form. Gallagher had been denied HAP, which the council had approved in December 2023, and had paid €15,000 of rent out of pocket. He sent a formal discrimination notice under the Equal Status Act, after receiving eviction notices eight days later. The tribunal found the landlords' refusal and delay constituted serious housing‑assistance discrimination, awarding Gallagher €15,000 for loss and €8,000 for penalisation, totaling €23,000. Gallagher's evidence was deemed credible, and the landlords were ordered to pay the compensation. The case highlights the legal protection against discrimination in housing assistance.
A 19‑year‑old teenager received a 12‑month suspended prison sentence for threatening to kill a former partner. The conviction followed an earlier acquittal of rape at the Central Criminal Court. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Burns, noted the victim's significant fear and set a headline sentence of two years for an adult, reduced to 12 months because the offender was 16 at the time of the offence. The sentence was suspended for three years under strict conditions, and the offender was directed to place himself under Probation Services supervision. The court could only sentence on the count where a guilty verdict was returned and could not consider other alleged offences. The victim's impact statement described fear, illness, and isolation, while the defence counsel accepted the verdict and offered an apology. The offender had no prior convictions and was a first‑time offender.
During a Central Criminal Court trial on 22 October 2025, key witness Stacey Symes (32) testified that Ruth Lawrence (45) claimed she had shot drug dealer Eoin O'Connor (32) but that the attempt failed, and that her boyfriend Neville van der Westhuizen "took over" and killed O'Connor and Anthony Keegan (33). Symes said she and her father visited Patrick's Cottage on 22 April, where Lawrence allegedly said she had shot O'Connor. Cross‑examination by Patrick Gageby SC challenged Symes, who insisted Lawrence had spoken of shooting. Gageby suggested Neville was the one who shot, but Symes maintained Lawrence's statement. Lawrence, originally from Clontarf, Dublin, pleaded not guilty to the murders of Keegan and O'Connor, which occurred between 22 April and 26 May 2014. The case proceeds before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with a jury of four men and eight women, and Symes' father Jason is scheduled to give direct evidence.
A man suffered life-threatening injuries when stabbed multiple times during an assault on Austin Friars Street in Mullingar on August 2nd, 2024, arising from an ongoing feud between Traveller families. The Central Criminal Court heard that Anthony Dinnegan Jnr sustained serious wounds to his head, chest and leg, with doctors confirming a perforated liver that required immediate surgery and transfusions. He spent twenty-four hours in critical condition at Midlands Regional Hospital. Christopher Nevin, aged 31, and Michael Nevin, aged 41, both from Mullingar, faced charges of attempted murder. Michael Nevin pleaded guilty to causing serious harm, whilst Christopher Nevin pleaded guilty to violent disorder. The Director of Public Prosecutions accepted both pleas. Detective Gardaí presented evidence of prior threatening incidents between the families and CCTV footage showing Michael Nevin carrying a knife during the assault. Both families have since engaged with the Traveller Mediation Service to resolve their differences. Mr Justice David Keane adjourned sentencing to October 31st.
A witness has told the Central Criminal Court that Ruth Lawrence, the accused in a double murder trial, admitted to shooting drug dealer Eoin O'Connor but said the killing "went wrong" and her boyfriend "took over". Stacey Symes testified that Lawrence said Anthony Keegan died for O'Connor "because they were friends". Ms Symes, who grew up in Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan, said she and her father were asked to help move the bodies of both men. Lawrence, aged 45, with an address at Patricks Cottage, Ross, Mountnugent, Co Meath, has pleaded not guilty to murdering O'Connor and Keegan between 22 April and 26 May 2014. The court heard the bodies were later discovered on Inchicup Island on Lough Sheelin. The trial before Mr Justice Tony Hunt continues, with the defence due to cross-examine the witness.
A man from Enniscrone has brought a complaint before the Workplace Relations Commission alleging religious discrimination after being issued a lifetime ban from a yoga studio in Ballina. Peter McKeon enrolled at Roots Wellness in September 2024 and attended classes twice weekly until December 2024, when he engaged in a conversation with the studio's owner, Niamh Glackin, regarding his objections to Christmas on religious grounds. Following this exchange, Mr McKeon received written notice that the studio was not an appropriate environment for him, and was subsequently informed of a permanent ban in January 2025. Mr McKeon contends the ban constitutes unlawful discrimination under the Equal Status Act 2000. Ms Glackin disputed aspects of Mr McKeon's account and testified that her decision to ban him was based solely on his allegedly aggressive behaviour during the incident, not on religious considerations. She stated the conduct created an unsafe environment for herself and other clients. Adjudication officer Brian Dolan has concluded the hearing and will deliver his written decision at a later date.
Ruth Lawrence, 45, is on trial for the alleged murder of Anthony Keegan, 33, and Eoin O'Connor, 32, at an unknown location in the State between April 22 and May 26, 2014. Ms Lawrence has pleaded not guilty to both charges. The trial is currently ongoing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury. In evidence, former Chief State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified regarding the post-mortem examination of Mr O'Connor, whose remains were found wrapped in nylon on May 27, 2014. She identified three gunshot wounds: one to the head, one to the abdomen, and one to the left hand. Cassidy stated the head wound was the cause of death, while the abdominal injury was potentially fatal. She opined it was likely the abdominal shot occurred before the fatal headshot. Separately, retired Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that Mr Keegan died from two gunshot wounds to the head and neck. The prosecution alleges Ms Lawrence shot Mr O'Connor and acted with her boyfriend, Neville van der Westhuizen, to kill both men. The trial continues.
The Central Criminal Court trial of seven men accused of familial sexual abuse continues before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs. The defendants, comprising three uncles and four brothers aged 32 to 55, face a total of 98 counts regarding a deaf woman, Complainant 1, alleged to have been abused between 1996 and 2013. All accused deny the charges. Accused C (34) has pleaded not guilty to 46 counts against two other sisters, including Complainant 2. During cross-examination, Complainant 2, now 26, addressed allegations that Accused C sexually assaulted her at age six and raped her at ages 16 and 19. She withdrew a previous complaint against a non-trial brother, describing it as a "bad dream that felt real." A garda testified that Complainant 2 was under the influence of medication when initially reporting an incident but later refused to provide a formal statement. Accused A (55) faces one count of rape; Accused B (48) faces eight counts of rape, oral rape, and anal rape; Accused D (33) has pleaded not guilty to 19 counts of rape and three of anal rape; Accused E (32) denies nine counts of anal rape and seven of rape; Accused F (32) denies five counts of anal rape and rape; and Accused G (45) denies one count of rape. The trial is ongoing.
Four men – Miljan Koprivica (45) of Manchester, UK, and three Filipino men, Hanz Pangahin (36), Christopher Ampo (44) and Feljon Lao (62) – pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to conspiring to import drugs worth over €13,000 between 18 December 2024 and 15 January 2025, both inside and outside the State. The offence contravenes section 71 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. Two other co‑accused, Conor Costello (31) of Derry and Ryan Watson (32) of Glasgow, had already pleaded guilty to the same charge. All defendants remain in custody awaiting the court hearing on 3 November.
A retired Deputy State Pathologist has testified at the Central Criminal Court that a Dublin man whose remains were discovered on an island in Lough Sheelin, County Cavan, died from two gunshot wounds to the head and neck. Dr Michael Curtis conducted a post-mortem examination on Anthony Keegan's decomposed remains in May 2014, found concealed beneath coal sacks and tarpaulin on Inchicup Island. He told the court that one gunshot wound to the right temporal region of the head proved instantaneously fatal, with the bullet traversing the skull and exiting the left jaw, while a second wound to the back of the neck caused catastrophic fractures to vertebrae. Ruth Lawrence, aged 45, with an address in County Meath, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Keegan and Eoin O'Connor between April and May 2014. The prosecution alleges Ms Lawrence and her boyfriend shot the two men and concealed their bodies. The trial before Mr Justice Tony Hunt continues.
During the murder trial of three men accused of killing Jozip Strok, a jury was presented with a blue and black hard‑plastic handle found by Garda Alan Lagrue near the site where Strok was beaten to death in Grange View, Clondalkin. The handle, described as possibly belonging to a lump hammer or similar tool, was handed to the jury after Lagrue climbed a high wall to retrieve it. Dr Alan McGhee of Forensic Science Ireland confirmed that DNA from the handle matched Strok's profile. The accused—Mark Lee, Anthony Delappe, and Connor Rafferty—have pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter and assault causing harm to Strok and another victim, Mr Druzinec. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, continues with a jury of six men and six women. The prosecution maintains that the assault occurred on March 30, 2024, and that Strok died four days later from blunt‑force injuries.
At the Central Criminal Court, a dog handler has testified in the double murder trial of Ruth Lawrence that his specially trained German Shepherd gave an indication at a tarpaulin-covered area on Inchicup Island in Lough Sheelin, where two decomposing bodies were subsequently discovered. Garda Paul Conroy said the dog immediately went into dense undergrowth upon landing on the island on 26 May 2014 and stared at a particular spot. When a scenes of crime officer cut open the tarpaulin, an arm with clothing fell out. A fisherman also told the trial he had noticed a strong smell he associated with decomposing flesh coming from the island approximately one month after the men went missing. Lawrence, with an address in Mountnugent, County Meath, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Anthony Keegan and Eoin O'Connor between 22 April and 26 May 2014. The trial continues before Justice Tony Hunt and a jury.
The Central Criminal Court trial of seven men accused of familial sexual abuse continues before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs. Complainant 2, a 26-year-old woman, testified that her older brother, Accused C (34), allegedly raped her when she was 16 and 19. Accused C has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting her between 2005 and 2006, and to two counts of rape and one count of anal rape between 2016 and 2019. He also faces 46 further counts against two other sisters. His six co-accused, aged 32 to 55, deny a total of 98 counts regarding Complainant 1, a deaf woman, alleged to have occurred between 1996 and 2013. Accused A (55) denies one count of rape; Accused B (48) denies eight counts of rape, oral rape, and anal rape; Accused D (33) denies 19 counts of rape and three of anal rape; Accused E (32) denies nine counts of anal rape and seven of rape; Accused F (32) denies three counts of anal rape and two of rape; and Accused G (45) denies one count of rape. All accused deny the charges. The matter is at the trial stage and has not been finalised.
At the Central Criminal Court, families of two men missing since 2014 provided testimony in the murder trial of Ruth Lawrence. The 45-year-old, from Mountnugent in County Meath, has pleaded not guilty to the murders of Anthony Keegan and Eoin O'Connor, whose remains were discovered on an island in May 2014. Karen Roche, Mr O'Connor's former partner, told the court that he received an unsettling phone call on 22 April 2014 and departed their home shortly after, never to return. Rory O'Connor, the victim's brother, spoke to Eoin by telephone that evening but received no further contact after 8.45pm. The prosecution alleges Mr O'Connor was a drug dealer and that financial disputes over approximately €70,000 provided motive. The trial, before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and jury, continues. The State argues the accused woman and her boyfriend acted together in the killings.
The trial of Mark Lee, Anthony Delappe, and Connor Rafferty continues before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury. The three men are accused of the murder of Josip Strok, who died on April 3, 2024, from blunt force injuries sustained in an alleged assault on March 30, 2024, at Grangeview Way in Clondalkin. Lee and Delappe have pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, while Rafferty has pleaded not guilty to murder. All three have pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to witness David Druzinec. During cross-examination, Druzinec denied fabricating a story about racial abuse on a bus, stating he was in shock and told gardai what he remembered. Defense counsel suggested he invented the account to ensure someone was held responsible for his friend's death. The prosecution alleges the accused assaulted the two Croatian men after being told they had attacked a 17-year-old boy at a nearby bus stop. The trial is ongoing, with no final verdict or sentencing recorded at this procedural stage.
The trial of seven men accused of familial sexual abuse continues before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury. Complainant 3, now 24, testified that she awoke at age 12 to find her brother, Accused C, anally raping her. Accused C, 34, has pleaded not guilty to this count and 49 other charges against Complainants 1 and 2. During cross-examination, he denied being influenced by his sisters' allegations, stating he identified his brother as the perpetrator. He accepted the incident may have occurred when he was ten, though he initially stated he was 12. He denied requiring medical treatment for bleeding discovered in the bathroom. Accused C also faces 45 counts against Complainant 1, including 22 rape and 23 anal rape charges, and four counts against Complainant 2. His six co-accused, aged 32 to 55, face 98 counts regarding Complainant 1, a deaf woman, alleged to have occurred between 1996 and 2013. Accused A, 55, is accused of one rape count. Accused B, 48, faces eight counts including rape, oral rape, and anal rape. Accused D, 33, pleaded not guilty to 19 rape and three anal rape counts. Accused E, 32, denied nine anal rape and seven rape counts. Accused F, 32, denied three anal rape and two rape counts. Accused G, 45, denied one rape count. All accused deny the charges. The trial is ongoing.
In a murder trial, 29‑year‑old David Druzinec, a Croatian immigrant, testified that he suffered memory loss after an assault that left his childhood friend Josip Strok, 31, dead. Druzinec said he felt a "strange feeling" of being followed after he and Strok disembarked from a bus near his Clondalkin home. He recalled telling Strok to "hurry up" when he saw more than three men behind them, but could not identify the attackers or their ages. Druzinec was attacked, received stitches above both eyes and on the top of his head, and could say nothing about the incident. The trial involves Mark Lee (44), Anthony Delappe (19) and Connor Rafferty (21), who have pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter and assault causing harm to Druzinec. The case is before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury of twelve.
The trial of seven men accused of familial sexual abuse is ongoing before the Central Criminal Court. Complainant 3, a 24-year-old woman, testified via videolink that her brother, Accused C, anally raped her when she was 12. Accused C, 34, has pleaded not guilty to this count, as well as 45 counts against Complainant 1 and four counts against Complainant 2. The other six accused men, aged 32 to 55, face a total of 98 counts relating to Complainant 1, a deaf woman. Accused A, 55, is accused of one count of rape. Accused B, 48, faces eight counts of rape, oral rape, and anal rape. Accused D, 33, has pleaded not guilty to 19 counts of rape and three counts of anal rape. Accused E, 32, has denied nine counts of anal rape and seven counts of rape. Accused F, 32, has denied three counts of anal rape and two counts of rape. Accused G, 45, has denied one count of rape. All accused deny the charges. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Biggs with a 15-member jury, is set down for four months.
During the murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Seoirse Ó Dúnlaing SC argued that the fact the victim, 31‑year‑old Josip Strok, was a foreign national was relevant to the case. He cited statements from accused Mark Lee (44), who told Gardaí two days after the assault that he had been walking "up and down with two dogs" outside an International Protection Accommodation Service centre, and that he had sent a voice note to a friend saying he had "just smashed Polish lads up and left them for dead." The prosecution contended these remarks showed the accused were aware of Strok's status as a foreigner. The trial also heard that Strok and his friend David Druzinec (29) were assaulted on 30 March 2024, with Strok dying four days later from blunt‑force injuries. Mark Lee, Anthony Delappe (19) and Connor Rafferty (21) have pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter and assault causing harm.
In a double‑murder trial, the jury was sent home until Thursday morning after the judge learned that a key witness was in a medical situation. The case involves Ruth Lawrence, 45, who is accused of killing Anthony Keegan, 33, and Eoin O'Connor, 32, between 22 April and 26 May 2014. Mr Justice Tony Hunt told the 12 jurors that the witness's condition was significant to both sides and that the parties would need to decide whether the trial could proceed without the witness. He said he would return with further information on Thursday. The prosecution, led by Michael O'Higgins SC, argued that Lawrence shot O'Connor and that she and her boyfriend, South African national Neville van der Westhuizen, worked together to kill the men and dispose of their bodies, which were later found bound and covered on Inchicup Island. The judge urged the jury not to speculate until more details were available. Ruth Lawrence pleaded not guilty.
A woman accused of murdering two men inquired about borrowing a boat on Lough Sheelin the day before the deceased were last seen alive, the Central Criminal Court has heard. Ruth Lawrence, 45, of Patricks Cottage, Ross, Mountnugent, Co Meath, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Anthony Keegan and Eoin O'Connor between April 22 and May 26, 2014. A landlord told the court that Ms Lawrence asked about taking a boat out on April 21, 2014, and subsequently borrowed an electric engine, which she said was needed because her boyfriend had a bad back and could not manage rowing. The witness stated the engine was returned the following day with minimal battery usage. The prosecution alleges Ms Lawrence and her boyfriend worked together to kill the two men, whose bodies were discovered bound and wrapped on Inchicup Island on May 26, 2014. The trial, before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury, continues.
Seven men, aged 32 to 55, are on trial at the Central Criminal Court, accused of sexually abusing a deaf woman over a 17-year period from 1996 to 2013. The accused, comprising three uncles and four brothers of the complainant, have all pleaded not guilty to a total of 98 counts. Prosecuting counsel Gerardine Small SC outlined that the allegations are being tried together for convenience but must be considered separately. The complainant, who will be assisted by interpreters and an intermediary, reportedly disclosed the abuse to a social worker in 2017. Accused A (55) faces one count of rape; Accused B (48) faces eight counts including oral and anal rape; Accused C (34) faces 45 counts of rape and anal rape, plus additional charges of sexual assault and rape against two other sisters; Accused D (33) faces 22 counts; Accused E (32) faces 16 counts; Accused F (32) faces five counts; and Accused G (45) faces one count of rape. All defendants deny the allegations. The trial is set down for four months, and the jury was directed to return on Monday to commence evidence.