A jury of six men and six women was sworn in by Mr Justice Michael White for the trial of Laura Kenna, 37, who is accused of attempting to murder Fionnuala Burke on Lower Drumcondra Road in Dublin on 3 January 2017. Kenna pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to both the attempted murder charge and an assault charge with intent to cause serious harm. The jury was told the trial would last about six days, and it will begin tomorrow before Ms Justice Tara Burns.
In a court hearing on 22 February 2019, Garda Warren Farrell, aged 33 and serving in Ballyfermot, Co Dublin, expressed remorse to the family of Elizabeth Core, a 75‑year‑old pedestrian who died after being struck by his patrol car on 28 August 2014. The court heard that Farrell had pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing death, but was convicted on an alternative charge of careless driving causing death by a jury majority. The judge, Cormac Quinn, adjourned the case to 12 March to consider evidence and testimonials. Farrell's son, Thomas Core, delivered a victim impact statement describing his mother as healthy and full of life, noting his father's health decline after her death. Farrell has a 12‑year Garda career, an unblemished disciplinary record, and has led a specialist CCTV unit that contributed to serious convictions. He offered a charitable contribution to the Core family as a token of remorse.
Bobby 'Mr Moonlight' Ryan, a part‑time DJ, was found dead in a disused waste water tank on a farm in Fawnagown, Tipperary, in April 2013 after he had gone missing in June 2011. A post‑mortem by former Deputy State Pathologist Dr Khalid Jaber, conducted shortly after the body was discovered, identified multiple injuries that could have resulted from an accident, traffic collision or serious assault. Dr Jaber was not available to testify at the Central Criminal Court trial of Patrick Quirke, who is charged with Ryan's murder. Superintendent Patrick O'Callaghan, present at the post‑mortem, noted that the body was removed from the tank without a pathologist on site, and that the deceased's arm had detached at some point before or during removal. The trial continues with Quirke pleading not guilty. The prosecution alleges Quirke killed Ryan to rekindle an affair with the farm's owner, Mary Lowry.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury of nine men and three women will start deliberations on the case of Paul Crosby, aged 23, who has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and related charges. The alleged crime occurred on 10 November 2016 at Knockcommon, Beauparc, Slane, when Crosby is accused of stabbing Gerard Boyle, aged 33, 28 times. Boyle claims he survived a car that was pushed into a canal after the stabbings. The judge, Ms Justice Carmel Stewart, emphasized that the attempted murder charge requires proof of intent to kill and that the jury must consider each charge separately. She noted that the car incident was addressed in a prior trial and that the main issue is whether Crosby was present and participated in the injuries. The jury will now consider their verdicts.
A Dublin man, Damien Metcalfe, was tried at the Special Criminal Court for alleged membership of the Irish Republican Army on 24 November 2015. Metcalfe, who lives in Monastery Park, Clondalkin, denied the charge, initially refusing to answer when asked how he pleaded. After consulting his defence team, he declared himself "not guilty" but did not stand before the judges. The trial was set to continue the following Tuesday.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the accused, Paul Crosby, was alleged to have stabbed Mr Boyle 28 times on 10 November 2016. The jury heard that Crosby, who was under a curfew from 9 pm to 8 am, was not at home when the alleged incident occurred, despite a call to his residence just before 10 pm. Mr Boyle, aged 33, claimed he escaped a car that was pushed into a canal after the stabbing. Crosby, aged 23, pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, false imprisonment and causing serious harm. The prosecution presented evidence that Crosby was not at home and that a radio communication suggested a car heading toward Drogheda from Slane. Crosby's defence argued he was either at home or at his aunt's house that night, a claim the prosecution could not refute. The case was heard by Justice Carmel Stewart with a jury of ten.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, Ross Outram, 28, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 90‑year‑old retired farmer Paddy Lyons, who died between 23 and 26 February 2017 at his Loughleagh home. Detective Garda Joe Wyse testified that he visited the scene on 25 February after learning of suspicious circumstances. He described a damaged padlock, skid marks, fingermarks on the front door, and a blood‑like substance around these marks. He also noted a deep laceration on Lyons' head and an elderly man slumped in a chair. Wyse observed a phone and kitchen windows with similar blood‑like residue. He also reported injuries on Outram's hands and thigh, photographed at the Garda station. Other Garda evidence included a fingerprint in blood on the door handle, blood on a plate, and a blue Volkswagen Passat with damage and no number plates. The case continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and a jury.
Patrick Hutch, aged 26, was released from the Special Criminal Court after the State dropped the murder charge for David Byrne's death at the Regency Hotel on 5 February 2016. The court heard that the shooting occurred during a boxing weigh‑in, with armed men in disguise and tactical garda uniforms entering the hotel. The prosecution alleged Hutch was the man in a wig, part of a shared intent to commit the offence, though he denied owning assault rifles. The Director of Public Prosecutions entered a nolle prosequi, and Judge Tony Hunt discharged Hutch. Hutch's counsel maintained his client's not‑guilty plea and contested the case. Family members of Byrne condemned the outcome as disgraceful. The case was further complicated by the death of Detective Superintendent Colm Fox, whose death was treated as a personal tragedy and not suspected foul play. The court had also considered evidence of emails between four gardai and notes from the late superintendent. Patrick Hutch pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Ross Outram, 28, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 90‑year‑old Paddy Lyons in Lismore, Waterford, between 23 and 26 February 2017. During the trial, Sandra Walsh, a relative of Outram's nephew, testified that Outram had called her on Facebook Messenger on 26 February, claiming he had hit Lyons because Lyons would not give him money. She confirmed that Outram identified the deceased as Lyons and that he had spoken of travelling to the UK. Walsh also recounted that Outram was arrested the following day when she was driving him back to Ferryland. Sergeant Ger Falvey described the scene at Lyons' house, noting the victim's lack of trousers, a trail of urine, soot, and possible blood marks. The case proceeds before Mr Justice Paul Coffey with a jury of eight men and four women.
In the Central Criminal Court, Patrick Quirke (50) pleaded not guilty to the murder of Bobby "Mr Moonlight" Ryan, a part‑time DJ who vanished on 3 June 2011. Ryan's body was discovered in an underground run‑off tank on Quirke's farm at Fawnagown, Tipperary, in April 2013. Garda Gerry Canty, a crime scene examiner, testified that he visited the site the day after the body was found and photographed items removed from the tank, including bone fragments, a lady's hair clip, cable ties, tubing, buttons and pipe covers. He placed these items in a tamper‑evident bag and marked them as exhibits. Canty admitted he had not mentioned the hair clip in his initial statement or notes, and that the exhibit chart for the defence listed only cable ties and pipe covers. He also confirmed he had no role in retrieving, bagging, marking or charting the bag's contents.
In the trial of Paul Crosby, 23, the emergency consultant Dr Asim Rafeeque described the treatment of Gerard Boyle, who suffered 28 stab wounds after escaping from a car that was pushed into a canal. Dr Rafeeque explained that Boyle was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, where he had chest, neck, back and shoulder wounds. He had to drain air from Boyle's chest cavity to prevent pressure on the heart, which could have caused cardiac arrest. The forensic scientist Crystal O'Connor examined swabs from a knife, its handle and a vehicle, finding Boyle's DNA but no blood on a pair of runners belonging to Crosby. She found no evidence linking Crosby to the items she tested. Detective Garda Shane Curran reported taking a statement from Boyle at the hospital and later searching for a Ford Fiesta, but found no forensic evidence such as fingerprints. The trial is ongoing before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart and a jury. Paul Crosby pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Ross Outram (28) is accused of killing 90‑year‑old Paddy Lyons in Waterford. Cathleen Kiely, a witness who has sold second‑hand clothes for over 30 years, testified that she visited Lyons' home on 24 February 2017, arriving with her husband around 4 p.m. She found the gate closed but without a bolt, entered the house, and saw Lyons sitting in his chair, looking at the door. Kiely claimed she thought Lyons was unconscious and swollen, and that there was black on the ground, but she did not realise he was dead. She left after a few seconds, told her husband, and later reported the situation to neighbours. The prosecution alleges Outram told Gardaí that he struck Lyons, who had only one arm, in self‑defence. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and a jury of eight men and four women. Ross Outram pleaded not guilty.
During the murder trial of 50‑year‑old farmer Patrick Quirke, forensic entomologist Dr John Manlove testified that the tank containing the remains of DJ Bobby Ryan was opened weeks before Quirke claimed to have found the body on 30 April 2013. Dr Manlove identified common blow fly larvae in Ryan's chest cavity and on his back, all at the same developmental stage, indicating infestation at least 11 days before discovery. He noted that the small number of larvae and absence of other insects suggested the body was not exposed for long. An engineer's report, shown to him, stated the tank would be sealed by two concrete slabs, and that muck and cow waste placed over the slabs would prevent flies from entering or exiting. Dr Manlove concluded that the tank was opened earlier than Quirke's stated date, contradicting the accused's account. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, Superintendent Patrick O'Callaghan testified that upon inspecting the underground run‑off tank at Fawnagown, Tipperary, he believed the body found there was that of Bobby Ryan, a part‑time DJ known as Mr Moonlight. He described how he first saw the outline of a body, then knelt and used a torch to confirm it was Ryan, concluding the man had been murdered or severely assaulted before being placed in the tank. O'Callaghan stated he had visited the site on 30 April 2013 after reports of a body and declared the area a crime scene. The accused, 50‑year‑old farmer Patrick Quirke, has pleaded not guilty to Ryan's murder, alleged to have been committed to rekindle an affair with Ryan's girlfriend, Mary Lowry. The trial proceeds before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of twelve.
Ross Outram, 28, of Clonmel, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 90‑year‑old Paddy Lyons at Lismore, Waterford, between 23 and 26 February 2017. The trial began at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and a jury of eight men and four women, and is expected to last two weeks. Prosecutor John O'Kelly SC presented evidence that Lyons was found dead in his home with blunt‑force injuries, a traumatic brain injury, haemorrhage and shock, and that his hip joint and ribs were fractured. A blood‑stained hoodie found in Outram's bedroom contained Lyons's DNA. Outram told investigators he had been in Lyons's house, had asked for money, and that Lyons attacked him with a stick. Outram claimed he struck Lyons repeatedly in self‑defence, and that Lyons was still alive when he left the house, after which Lyons was locked out.
Paul Crosby, 23, of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, is on trial in the Central Criminal Court for the attempted murder of Gerard Boyle, 33, at Knockcommon, Beauparc, Slane, on 10 November 2016. He was charged with attempting to murder, false imprisonment and causing serious harm. Crosby pleaded not guilty to all counts. Prosecutor Patrick Gageby SC presented evidence that Crosby stabbed Boyle 28 times while seated in the back of a Volkswagen Passat, after which Boyle was left on the ground and later placed in the boot of the car, which was pushed into a canal near the Battle of the Boyne site. Boyle was later taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. During cross‑examination, Brendan Grehan SC questioned Boyle about inconsistencies in his statements regarding threats and phone notes, noting that phone records showed a threat on the day of the attack, contrary to Boyle's earlier claim to Gardaí.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, Patrick Quirke, aged 50, told Garda Conor Ryan that his farm at Fawnagowan had only two slurry tanks. Ryan, who visited the farm in June 2011, observed Quirke emptying a slatted‑floor cattle shed tank and an open tank containing a small quantity of slurry. Quirke confirmed there were no other tanks. The court heard that Quirke is charged with the murder of DJ Bobby 'Mr Moonlight' Ryan, who was found in an underground run‑off tank on the farm in April 2013. Quirke pleaded not guilty. Garda Ryan described the scene on the day the body was discovered, noting a vacuum tanker with a neutral handle and a heavily crusted slurry tank. He also recounted moving the tanker and emptying about 100 litres of soiled water onto the ground. The trial continued with Justice Eileen Creedon presiding and a jury of twelve.
In the trial of 50‑year‑old farmer Patrick Quirke, the defence presented the account of retired Garda Tony Chearnley, who operated an excavator to remove a concrete slab from the underground tank where DJ Bobby 'Mr Moonlight' Ryan's body was discovered on 30 April 2013. Chearnley explained that the slab had a pre‑existing crack and that, when pulled, it broke into many small pieces that fell into the tank. He reported no loud noises, no dust, and no pandemonium or panic among the Gardaí present. Chearnley admitted the concrete breaking up was "not ideal" but said it was the best he could do. Quirke, who pleaded not guilty to Ryan's murder, is on trial before Justice Eileen Creedon with a jury of twelve. The prosecution alleges the murder was committed to rekindle an affair with Ryan's girlfriend, Mary Lowry, aged 52. The trial continues this afternoon.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court returned on Monday to consider a verdict in the trial of Gary Watson, 35, who is accused of murdering former soldier Warren O'Connor, 24, on 16 January 2010. Watson pleaded not guilty to the murder, to assaulting Philip Woodcock, 34, on the same occasion, and to producing a knife to intimidate another person. The two‑week trial included evidence that a fight broke out after Woodcock cut power to a neighbour's apartment to end a noisy house party. The jury asked to view CCTV footage again in the courtroom, and the judge allowed it. They also asked whether fingerprints were found on the knives; the judge confirmed that no fingerprints belonging to Watson were found on the blade removed from O'Connor's body or on other knives recovered by Garda Damien Carroll. The jury deliberated for less than an hour before deciding to suspend deliberations for the day and return on Monday morning.
Patrick Quirke, 50, of Breanshamore, Co. Tipperary, pleaded not guilty to the murder of DJ Bobby 'Mr Moonlight' Ryan, who disappeared between June 2011 and April 2013. Ryan's body was found in a run‑off tank on a farm leased by Quirke and owned by his former lover, Mary Lowry, 52. Quirke told gardai that he discovered the body while trying to empty the tank, describing it as a "body" with a pelvis and private area face‑down. He denied any jealousy or animosity toward Ryan, claimed he had no role in the body's placement, and said he only knew of Ryan's disappearance from Lowry's statements. Quirke also expressed that Lowry had a "couldn't care less attitude" about Ryan's disappearance. The trial is proceeding before Justice Eileen Creedon with a jury of twelve.
Paul Crosby, 23, of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, stands trial for the attempted murder of Gerard Boyle, 33, at Knockcommon, Beauparc, Slane, Co Meath, on 10 November 2016. The prosecution alleges that on that day Crosby, initially driving a Ford, later switched to a Volkswagen Passat with Boyle and a third person. Boyle claims Crosby stabbed him 28 times, including in the neck, shoulder, back of the neck and head, while he was in the car. Boyle was then forced into the boot, where he was held for about 15 minutes, unable to breathe, before escaping and swimming to the bank of the River Boyne. He sustained 28 stab wounds, two punctured lungs and nerve damage to his left leg and foot. Crosby pleaded not guilty to all counts, including attempted murder, false imprisonment and serious harm. The case is before a Central Criminal Court jury presided by Ms Justice Carmel Stewart.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Gary Watson, 35, was charged with murdering former soldier Warren O'Connor, 24, in 2010. O'Connor died from a single stab wound to the neck, with the knife blade partially impaled in his body. Watson also faced charges of assault causing harm to Philip Woodcock, 34, and of producing a knife to intimidate another person. The judge, Mr Justice Michael White, instructed the jury to treat each charge separately and warned that a verdict of guilty on the assault or intimidation charges would not automatically imply guilt for murder. He emphasized the need for caution regarding identification evidence, noting that the sole witness, Gary Foy, saw a man in a white hoodie make a stabbing motion. The judge also cautioned that the nine‑year delay could affect witness memory, urging the jury to give the accused the benefit of doubt. Gary Watson pleaded not guilty.
In the trial for the murder of DJ Bobby Ryan, the accused farmer Patrick Quirke, aged 50, pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleged Quirke killed Ryan to regain the attention of Ryan's girlfriend, Mary Lowry, with whom Quirke had previously had an affair. Inspector Padraic Powell, the first garda on the scene, noted that Quirke was "extremely clean" despite having worked with slurry that morning, and that Quirke's hands and clothes were clean. Quirke's wife, Imelda, had called the garda on the day the body was found, and Quirke was instructed not to touch anything. Quirke had previously given statements to the garda about his lease on Lowry's land and his relationship with her. The trial is proceeding before Justice Eileen Creedon with a jury of twelve.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, the prosecution, led by James Dwyer SC, argued that all evidence points to Gary Watson (35) as the murderer of Warren O'Connor (24) in 2010. Watson, who lives in Dublin 13, pleaded not guilty to the murder, an assault on Philip Woodcock (34), and intimidation with a knife. The prosecution presented a narrative of a fight at a Dublin apartment where Watson was one of four men. Witnesses, including Gary Foy, claimed to have seen a man in a white hoodie stab O'Connor, and other testimony linked Watson to that hoodie. Watson denied the allegations. The case was set for jury deliberation, with no forensic or CCTV evidence presented. The judge would continue charging the jury the following day.
A jury could not reach a verdict in the trial of Dr Kevin Mulcahy, 61, of Creggane, Lombardstown, Mallow, Co Cork, who was accused of sexually assaulting a teenage patient in his surgery in Mallow in February 1995 and again in 1996. Mulcahy pleaded not guilty to both counts. The complainant's brother had taken her to the doctor in early 1995, where the doctor allegedly touched her breasts and the incident "didn't feel right". In the summer of 1996 the complainant returned to the doctor, who allegedly exposed his penis and placed her hand on it. The jury deliberated for over five hours but failed to reach a verdict. Judge Pauline Codd thanked the jurors for their care and attention and adjourned the case for mention on 26 February.
The trial of a man accused of coercing a woman into marriage has been discontinued at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Yasir Ali, aged 31, of Lighthouse Apartments, East Wall, Dublin, had pleaded not guilty to coercion at apartments in Ballinrobe and Hollymount, County Mayo, between January and July 2015. The jury was discharged on the opening day of the trial after the State prosecutor received instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions to enter a nolle prosequi, ending the case. The prosecution had alleged Mr Ali played a significant role in intimidating the complainant. Evidence heard from the complainant described arriving in Ireland from Lithuania with promises of employment, having her travel documents withheld, and being pressured into marrying a stranger she had never met. The case proceeded no further.
During the trial of Patrick Quirke for the murder of DJ Bobby Ryan, Garda Tom Finnane testified that he had become "unhappy" with his earlier belief about where Ryan's body was found after watching a television news broadcast. Finnane, who had participated in the 2011 search at Fawnagowan farm, had originally thought the body was located in an open slurry pit behind a shed. The broadcast showed the body had been recovered from an underground waste‑water tank in a different area. Finnane confirmed that he had seen an aerial photograph of the farm that clarified the correct location, noting the presence of ten to fifteen round hay bales covered in black plastic. He stated he had not discussed his evidence with anyone else and that the photograph had helped him reassess his recollection. The trial, presided over by Justice Eileen Creedon, continues with a jury of twelve. Patrick Quirke pleaded not guilty. Tom Finnane pleaded not guilty.
In the murder trial of Robbie Walsh, a 23‑year‑old Clare man, the jury was instructed by Ms Justice Carmel Stewart to consider the case from Walsh's perspective, assessing whether he believed he was under threat and whether his use of force was justified. The judge reminded jurors that a person in self‑defence may act impulsively and that excessive force would not be reasonable. Walsh, who pleaded not guilty, admitted in a garda interview that he had killed Karl "Gobbo" Haugh, a 25‑year‑old, after a confrontation at Marian Estate. He described picking up a dropped knife and stabbing Haugh in the back, which caused a fatal lung puncture. The jury was sent home for the night and was to resume deliberations the following day. The trial is ongoing.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Gary Watson (35), who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of former soldier Warren O'Connor (24) in north Dublin, heard evidence from former Deputy State Pathologist Dr Khalid Jaber. Dr Jaber stated that a stainless steel kitchen knife was found partially impaled in Mr O'Connor's neck during the post-mortem examination conducted on January 17, 2010. The blade, measuring 22.5cms, had penetrated 13cms into the body, perforating the left ventricle artery and left internal jugular vein. Dr Jaber concluded that the cause of death was a single stab wound to the lower anterior of the left neck, noting the blade was bent toward the anterior midline. He indicated the perpetrator likely held a height advantage and that the victim was probably taken by surprise. No defence-type wounds were found on Mr O'Connor's hands. Prosecution counsel James Dwyer SC confirmed Dr Jaber was the final witness, closing the State's case. Earlier, Garda Damien Carroll testified to recovering a black-handled knife near Grattan Wood apartments and three knives from a Honda Civic, though no fingerprints belonging to Mr Watson were found on them. Mr Watson also denies assaulting Philip Woodcock and producing a knife to intimidate another person. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury.
The jury has begun deliberations in the trial of Dr Kevin Mulcahy, 61, of Creggane, Lombardstown, Mallow, Co Cork, who has pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault. The first alleged assault occurred in February 1995 when the complainant's brother brought her to Mulcahy's surgery; the complainant says Mulcahy touched her breasts and it "didn't feel right." The second alleged assault took place between 8 May 1996 and 31 December 1996, when the complainant says Mulcahy exposed his penis and placed her hand on it. Judge Pauline Codd sent the jury home at 4 pm to resume deliberations the next day. In closing speeches, the prosecution's counsel, Maddie Grant BL, urged jurors to assess the complainant's truthfulness and reliability, noting her bipolar disorder and that she has never relented from her allegations since 2005.
In February 2019, the Central Criminal Court heard that farmer Patrick Quirke, aged 50, pleaded not guilty to the murder of DJ Bobby Ryan, known as Mr Moonlight, who disappeared in June 2011 and whose body was found in April 2013 in a disused wastewater tank on a farm at Fawnagowan. The trial recounted that days after Ryan's disappearance, Gardaí searched the farmland where he would later be found, but found no evidence of what happened to him. Sergeant Cathal Godfrey, who led the search, explained that the investigation covered a quarry, fields, tanks, ditches, hedges, farm buildings and sheds, and that nothing of evidential value was discovered. The search also included a slurry tank and a Toyota Corolla found in a shed, but no body or relevant material was located. The trial continued before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of twelve.
In a murder case heard at the Central Criminal Court, Robbie Walsh, aged 23, pleaded not guilty to the killing of Karl 'Gobble' Haugh, aged 25, who died after being stabbed on August 6, 2017, at the Marian Estate in Kilkee. The prosecution, led by Patrick Gageby SC, argued that the Walsh men, including Robbie's cousins Mitchell and Clinton, had intended to vandalise Haugh's car and that the stabbing was not justified. They cited evidence of a prior altercation, video of Robbie claiming he was dragged and then stabbed Haugh in self‑defence, and witness statements suggesting a hostile environment. The defence, represented by Brendan Grehan SC, contended that Robbie was not an aggressor but was pulled into the confrontation, acting in a life‑or‑death situation. The jury was instructed on the case by Ms Justice Carmel Stewart, with the trial to resume the following day.
Robbie Walsh, aged 23, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Karl 'Gobble' Haugh, aged 25, in Kilkee on 6 August 2017. In his fourth Garda interview, Walsh admitted killing Haugh after a confrontation that began with vandalising Haugh's car. He described using a metal bar to smash the car's windows, then being grabbed by Haugh, dropping the bar but retaining a knife, and stabbing Haugh in the back. Walsh claimed he had no intention to kill and that the incident escalated unexpectedly. He also recounted that his house was attacked hours later and that he had sent a Facebook message to a friend saying Haugh had been stabbed in the lung. The case is before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart with a jury of seven men and four women. The trial is ongoing.
The trial of Dr Kevin Mulcahy, 61, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court involves his plea of not guilty to two counts of sexual assault against a teenage patient in Mallow, Co Cork, in 1995 and 1996. On the third day of the hearing, Dr Bobby Burns, an adult psychiatrist at St Stephen's Hospital, testified that he first met the complainant in August 2005 when she was transferred from the UK with acute delusional psychotic disorder. Burns said the woman later alleged assault by Mulcahy and that he advised her to discuss the allegations with another team member. Burns continued to treat her, diagnosing bipolar disorder and noting that her condition is now managed with medication. Burns stated that her illness did not influence her allegations, and under cross‑examination, the defendant acknowledged that the complainant once had delusions of being the mother of the baby Jesus, which disappeared when she became well.
Michael Shine, an 86‑year‑old retired surgeon from Ballsbridge, Dublin, was found guilty by a jury of thirteen charges of indecent assault against seven boys he examined over a thirty‑year period. The offences occurred during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and two private clinics between 1971 and 1992. The trial, held in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, concluded on day 17 with a guilty verdict after just over six hours of deliberation. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned sentencing to 22 February and remanded Shine on bail. During the trial, each complainant described how Shine groped or masturbated on them during examinations, with incidents ranging from 1971 to 1988. Shine denied any improper conduct and claimed no memory of the alleged acts. The judge thanked the jury for their service. Michael Shine pleaded not guilty.
In Limerick, John O'Donoghue (29) and Paul Whelan (25) were charged with possession of a loaded 9mm Colt semi‑automatic pistol and eight rounds of ammunition, with intent to endanger life, after the weapon was found in a car park on 30 July 2018. The District Court referred them to the Special Criminal Court, where a three‑judge panel—Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge Ann Ryan—ordered a non‑jury trial under section 49(e) of the Offences Against the State Act 1939. The men are scheduled to appear again on 21 February.
In a 2019 trial, 23‑year‑old Robbie Walsh of Kilrush, Co. Clare, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 25‑year‑old Karl Haugh in Kilkee. The Central Criminal Court heard that the alleged killing followed a confrontation at Haugh's house after a phone argument. Gardaí reported that Walsh and his cousins had vandalised a Volkswagen Passat, then went to Haugh's house to buy cocaine. Walsh claimed Haugh had a knife, was attacked, and that he stabbed Haugh in the back after Haugh dropped the knife. Walsh told the garda he had no intention to kill and that he had not brought a knife. He later surrendered after seeing a Facebook post about Haugh's death. The trial was set to continue before Justice Marie Baker and a jury.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, retired surgeon Michael Shine, 86, faced thirteen indecent assault charges linked to medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital and two private clinics in Drogheda. Defending counsel Hugh Hartnett SC argued that the complainants' memories could be shaped by media exposure and the prospect of financial compensation, noting that each had pursued civil actions. Hartnett highlighted that one complainant had testified that, in hindsight, he believed the incidents were abuse. He questioned whether televised coverage could influence recollections. Judge Martin Nolan instructed jurors to consider each charge separately and to weigh counsel's submissions on the evidence. He noted that a medical expert had testified the alleged actions were medically inappropriate and could constitute indecent assault if accepted beyond a reasonable doubt. The jury was to resume deliberations the following day. Michael Shine pleaded not guilty.
During a 2010 altercation on Hole in the Wall Road, a man named Warren O'Connor was stabbed. A nurse, Alison Boyd, who lived in Newgrove Estate and worked nearby, heard a loud bang and saw a Ford Focus and a dark car involved. She observed about ten people gathered and heard shouting, including the name 'Warren' and a phrase that sounded like 'get it into him.' Boyd ran outside, found O'Connor lying on his back with a knife embedded in his chest, the handle snapped off. She attempted to check his pulse and called an ambulance. Another witness, Rachel Foy, also heard the commotion and saw a gang of people on the footpath. The incident is part of a murder trial against Gary Watson, who denies the charges. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Michael White.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 86‑year‑old retired surgeon Michael Shine pleaded not guilty to thirteen indecent assault charges alleged to have occurred during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital and two private clinics in Drogheda. On the fifteenth day of the trial, the prosecution presented a witness who claimed that in 1971, when Shine was 13, a patient's appendix surgery was followed by Shine fondling the patient's genitals. Shine denied the allegation, stating there were no medical records and arguing that it was unfair to bring events from decades ago to trial. He also denied claims that he masturbated a 13‑year‑old patient after a testicular torsion operation, describing the allegation as "unbelievable" and "shocking". The prosecution noted that all complainants had similar accounts and had pursued civil action through Dignity 4 Patients. The trial was set to continue before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Gary Watson (35), who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of former soldier Warren O'Connor (24) in January 2010, continued with witness testimony. Gary Foy (32) testified that he observed a man in a white hoodie make a stabbing motion toward another man's chest while saying, "get that into you." Foy stated the incident occurred on Hole in the Wall Road, Donaghmede, Dublin 13. Under cross-examination, Foy maintained his recollection of the initial incident was accurate despite acknowledging some haziness regarding the aftermath. Emma Cooney, a witness at a nearby house party, reported hearing a bang and someone shout, "Smiley I think you killed him," though she agreed this specific phrase was not in her previous statements. Susan Ford, who was walking home from a party, described seeing a man in a black leather jacket grab railings, claim he had been stabbed, and fall forward with a rusty object protruding from his chest. The court previously heard that the fatal altercation followed a dispute over a noisy house party. Watson also denies assaulting Philip Woodcock and producing a knife to intimidate. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury.
Farmer Patrick Quirke, 50, of Breanshamore, Co Tipperary, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court, having pleaded not guilty to the murder of DJ Bobby Ryan, known as Mr Moonlight. The prosecution alleges Quirke killed Ryan between June 3, 2011, and April 2013, to reunite with Ryan's girlfriend, Mary Lowry, with whom Quirke had previously had an affair. Ryan's body was found in a run-off tank on a farm leased by the accused in April 2013. During the trial, witness Siobhán Kinnane testified she was "80 per cent sure" a man she saw walking near her home on the morning of Ryan's disappearance matched a photo of the deceased. Another witness, bus driver Jim Cully, stated he was "almost certain" he saw Ryan's van driving away from the area where it was later found. Other witnesses reported seeing a van similar to Ryan's at Kilshane Woods car park. The trial continues before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
In a murder trial in Kilkee, Kilkee, County Clare, Robbie Walsh, aged 23, pleaded not guilty to the killing of Karl Haugh, aged 25, on 6 August 2017. Witness Sam Lucey, Haugh's cousin, testified that he and Haugh confronted Walsh and two cousins near Haugh's house after a heated phone argument. Lucey claimed he had taken a golf club each and a knife from his kitchen, which fell out of his pocket when a Walsh approached with a metal bar. He denied that Haugh had a knife or that the knife came from the same set of knives seized by Gardaí. Under cross‑examination, Lucey admitted the fatal knife was from his kitchen and that he did not know who stabbed Haugh. Conor Murphy, a member of the group, said he saw the Walshs approaching "roaring and shouting" and that he did not see Walsh with a knife.
During a murder trial, bus driver Jim Cully testified that he almost certainly saw the van of the missing DJ known as Mr Moonlight driving away from the site where it was later found on the morning of June 3, 2011, the day Bobby Ryan went missing. Cully, who had given a Garda statement on June 5, described seeing the van moving at a normal speed from the direction of Annacarty toward Dundrum Village around 8.40 a.m. He could not identify the driver but noted a salute exchange that he believed was from Ryan. The van bore the Mr Moonlight sticker on its windscreen. Patrick Quirke, aged 50, is on trial for Ryan's murder, alleged to have been committed to regain Ryan's girlfriend. The case is before Justice Eileen Creedon with a 12‑person jury. The trial continues. Patrick Quirke pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, 86‑year‑old retired surgeon Michael Shine pleaded not guilty to thirteen charges of indecent assault alleged to have occurred during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda and two private clinics. Shine claimed he had "some senile dementia" and insisted that a nurse was always present during patient appointments, stating he saw about 18,000 patients a year. When questioned about a complainant's testimony that he groped a patient's genitals after a finger surgery, Shine denied the allegation, saying he had no memory of it and that he would never grope a patient. He also dismissed allegations of inappropriate examinations, such as masturbating a patient's penis during a rectal exam, calling them "nonsensical" and "crazy." The trial was set to continue the following day before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
A man accused of murdering a disc jockey known as Mr Moonlight knew of the existence of a tank where the victim's remains were discovered, the Central Criminal Court has heard. Patrick Quirke, aged 50, of Breanshamore in County Tipperary, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Bobby Ryan, aged 52, between June 2011 and April 2013. Mr Ryan disappeared in June 2011 and his body was found in a run-off tank on a farm at Fawnagowan, Tipperary, in April 2013. Prosecution evidence suggests Mr Quirke killed Mr Ryan to resume a relationship with the deceased's girlfriend. Witness testimony established that Mr Quirke was familiar with the tank's location, built in the late 1970s on the farm. A neighbour recalled seeing an unusual silver van—matching the type driven by Mr Ryan—parked on a nearby laneway the morning he went missing. The trial before Justice Eileen Creedon and jury continues at the Central Criminal Court.
During the murder trial of Robbie Walsh, a 23‑year‑old, the court heard that Karl Haugh, 25, had been admitted to Limerick University Hospital with a chest stab wound and was initially stable, sitting up and reassuring his family that he would be fine. An "unexpected chain of events" led to his condition deteriorating; he became unstable, required surgery, and was pronounced dead at 5.20 am after about an hour of resuscitation. The surgeon explained that Haugh had a leak of air into his left chest cavity and was in shock; a blood clot may have formed, causing a sudden bleed that could not be controlled. Witnesses described a brief fight at the Walsh estate, during which Haugh was stabbed, and the accused's cousins were present. The trial continues before Justice Carmel Stewart and a jury. Robbie Walsh pleaded not guilty. Karl Haugh pleaded not guilty.
In February 2019, Dr. Kevin Mulcahy, 61, stood trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for alleged sexual assault of a teenage patient in Mallow, County Cork, in 1995. He pleaded not guilty to the first charge and denied a second charge of assault between May and December 1996. The complainant, now 41, testified that she was 17 when she visited Dr. Mulcahy after a family death. She described being asked to undress, feeling uncomfortable as the doctor examined her breasts and pressed on them. She claimed he later sat with his legs apart, rocked her, and attempted to kiss her, saying he was "what a loving dad does to a child." The final alleged assault occurred in summer 1996 when the doctor exposed himself and touched her hand, offering to "teach" her. The case was heard by Judge Pauline Codd with a jury of twelve. The trial was scheduled to last a week.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 86‑year‑old retired surgeon Michael Shine pleaded not guilty to thirteen indecent assault charges linked to medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda and two private clinics. On the thirteenth day of the trial, Shine told the jury he had no memory of any of the seven complainants and denied any improper conduct during examinations. He explained that he began working at Lourdes in March 1964 and continued until 1995, and that he had written a paper on misdiagnosis of testicular torsion. Shine argued that touching testicles is necessary during such exams, that touching the penis is unavoidable, and that he could not have masturbated a young patient in a hospital bed. He also dismissed Bernadette Sullivan's campaign as "over, over the top." The trial was set to continue the next day before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
During the murder trial of Gary Watson, a witness, Emma Cooney, testified that she heard a shout of "Smiley I think you killed him" the night a former soldier, Warren O'Connor, was stabbed to death on Hole in the Wall Road, Donaghmede. Cooney, who was at a restaurant in Swords on the evening of January 15, 2010, later drove to Louise Kinsella's apartment on the same street. She described a gathering that was not chaotic and had no loud music. Cooney observed that Mr. Woodcock, his partner Suzanne Martin, and their son entered the apartment with a take‑away. She reported a scuffle between two groups of men, knives being waved, and a "bang" heard a few minutes later. The witness stated she had spoken to the Gardaí before returning home that night. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael White, continues on Wednesday. Gary Watson pleaded not guilty.