Petru Pinto, a 50‑year‑old former professional footballer from Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to reckless assault causing harm after a five‑a‑side match on 16 November 2012. The incident occurred at Ellenfield Park, Santry, when Pinto, during a heated verbal exchange with Paul Ceusan, ran toward him and jumped with his knees raised. Pinto's knees struck the side of Ceusan's torso, causing Ceusan to fall and suffer a Grade 4 renal injury, commonly called a "split kidney". Ceusan required a stent and has since lost 25 % of kidney function, suffers high blood pressure, incurred €1,350 in medical costs and was unable to work for about 20 weeks. The court heard that the original charge of intentional assault failed to reach a verdict, leading to the amended reckless assault indictment. Pinto, who works as a painter and decorator and has sole custody of his 17‑year‑old son, has prior minor traffic convictions.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 28‑year‑old Robbie Walsh of Island View, Kilrush, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 25‑year‑old Karl Haugh, nicknamed Gobble, who was killed on 6 August 2017 at the Marian Estate in Kilkee. Prosecutor Patrick Gageby SC presented a narrative that on the Saturday of the August Bank Holiday, Walsh and his cousins Mitchell and Clinton were socialising in Kilkee. Phone calls recorded between the cousins and Haugh suggested a hostile encounter. Gageby alleged that after a brief altercation involving a vandalised Passat, Walsh stabbed Haugh in the back with a knife, causing a single penetrating wound that sliced a rib and lung, leading to Haugh's death at University Hospital Limerick. Walsh was arrested the next day, freely admitted the stabbing and expressed remorse. The trial, before Justice Carmel Stewart, continues with a jury of five women and seven men.
At the Central Criminal Court, the son of Bobby Ryan told how he encountered Mary Lowry at her farm on the morning his father vanished in June 2011. Robert Ryan Junior said Ms Lowry appeared visibly shaken and upset, and he sensed immediately that something was wrong. He noted her behaviour seemed designed to hurry him away from the property. Patrick Quirke, aged 50 from Breanshamore, County Tipperary, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Ryan between June 2011 and April 2013. Mr Ryan's body was discovered in a waste tank on a farm at Fawnagown that Ms Lowry owned and Mr Quirke leased. The deceased's daughter, Michelle Ryan, a DJ herself, described finding her father's Citroen van in Breansha Wood after he failed to appear for work. She noted the vehicle's condition suggested her father had not been the last person to drive it. The trial before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon continues before a jury.
At the Special Criminal Court in Dublin, evidence was heard regarding booster tubes discovered in separate locations linked to an IRA trial. James Joseph Cassidy, aged 55, from Castleblayney, County Monaghan, has pleaded not guilty to charges of IRA membership on 21 September 2016. A garda ballistics expert provided a statement detailing similarities between a booster tube found in a Monaghan shed in 2016 and one recovered from a homemade explosive device discovered in a County Louth church car park in May 2014. Both tubes were identical in length and diameter, painted black, and featured rows of drilled holes. Colonel David Hathaway, an explosives ordnance disposal specialist with two decades of experience, gave evidence describing the construction and function of the Louth device, which contained ammonium nitrate, semtex explosive, and a timing mechanism. The defence challenged the relevance of this evidence, arguing it pertained to device possession rather than the membership charge. Justice Tony Hunt ruled the evidence admissible as circumstantial. The trial continues.
In the murder trial of Gary Watson, Richard Grant, a witness, testified that he and his friend Warren O'Connor were at a party on 15 January 2010 when they entered Philip Woodcock's apartment. Grant described seeing knives and a red‑haired man, and he says he grabbed knives in a reflexive act, later giving one to a friend. He recounts a chaotic scene involving a Honda Civic and a Ford Focus, a fight with Woodcock, and a black‑haired driver. Grant claims he saw O'Connor lying on his left side with a snapped knife between neck and collarbone, and that he wrapped his top around the knife to stop the bleeding. He says he tried to keep O'Connor awake by reassuring him and holding his hand, but O'Connor had no pulse. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury. Gary Watson pleaded not guilty. Warren O'Connor pleaded not guilty.
During the fourth day of her testimony at the Central Criminal Court, Mary Lowry, aged 52, explained that she felt accused of involvement in the disappearance of her boyfriend, Bobby Ryan, a DJ known as Mr Moonlight. Lowry said she had complained in June 2012 to the Gardaí about missing‑person posters placed around her home, which she found intimidating and upsetting to her children. She insisted she wanted to find Ryan "as much as anybody else" and had put up posters elsewhere. Lowry confirmed spending a night in a Killiney hotel with the accused after Ryan's disappearance, but could not recall staying at the Cliff Hotel in Waterford in September 2011, despite a bank receipt. She denied any intimacy with Patrick Quirke after Ryan's disappearance and said she had called him from Austria in 2012 to avoid his anger. The trial, with Patrick Quirke, 50, remains ongoing before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of twelve. Mary Lowry pleaded not guilty. Patrick Quirke pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution's case has closed in the trial of retired surgeon Michael Shine, 86, who is accused of groping boys during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda and two private clinics. He pleaded not guilty to thirteen charges of indecent assault. The trial will continue tomorrow before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
During the murder trial of Gary Watson for the 2010 killing of Warren O'Connor, witness Philip Woodcock testified that he had intended to "beat the bollocks out" of the driver of a Honda Civic that rammed his Ford Focus. Woodcock, aged 34, said he had cut the power fuse in his apartment building to end a noisy party and then drove to a garage. He later returned with four friends, including O'Connor, and a fight broke out when the Honda Civic attempted to overtake the Focus. Woodcock claimed he was not trying to cause serious trouble, denied firing bottles, and admitted he had lied to Gardaí about a knife in the car, calling himself a "scumbag" for that night. He also denied assaulting Watson and producing a knife to intimidate others. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury. Gary Watson pleaded not guilty.
In the third day of the murder trial, 52‑year‑old Mary Lowry denied asking a relative of the deceased whether Gardaí could detect a body in a car boot. She said she is a "kind, decent person" and wants to "solve this murder mystery". Lowry was questioned about a phone call she made to Ann Stapleton on 5 June 2011, after Bobby Ryan's disappearance, in which Stapleton asked if Gardaí could tell if a body had been in a car. Lowry said she never mentioned a body in the boot. She also denied telling "devious" lies or trying to portray Patrick Quirke in a bad light. During cross‑examination she reiterated that she told the truth to the best of her memory and that she was a young widow with three small children when she began an affair with Quirke. The judge adjourned the trial for the next day. Patrick Quirke pleaded not guilty.
During the trial of retired surgeon Michael Shine, who pleaded not guilty to thirteen charges of indecent assault at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital and two private clinics in Drogheda, a medical expert, former consultant surgeon Richard Stevens, testified. Stevens, who now teaches at the Royal College of Surgeons, had examined the medical records of all seven complainants and was aware of their allegations. He told the court that there was no reasonable reason for Shine to examine the genitals of a patient who had undergone finger surgery, as alleged. Stevens described the allegations that Shine masturbated a 13‑year‑old to ejaculation as "incredible" and said he was "quite shocked" by the whole thing. He explained that normal practice involves examining testicles after surgery for testicular torsion, but there is no medical basis for a surgeon to masturbate a patient's penis, nor to examine a child's genitals in the absence of a parent.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, 35‑year‑old Gary Watson is accused of killing 24‑year‑old Warren O'Connor on 16 January 2010. Watson, who lives on Millbrook Avenue, Kilbarrack, pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. He also denies assaulting 34‑year‑old Philip Woodcock and using a knife to intimidate another person. Woodcock, an apprentice electrician and former soldier, gave evidence describing the events on the night of 15 January. He said he heard shouting and music from a neighbour's apartment, cut the building's power, and later met with friends who were allegedly waiting for him. Woodcock claimed that a man in a Russell Athletic hoodie struck him, and that he and his friends were attacked by men in a Honda Civic who tried to run him over. Woodcock testified that Warren O'Connor was stabbed, bleeding from the chest, and died after failing to respond to attempts to make him blink.
A 55-year-old mechanic from Castleblayney, County Monaghan, is standing trial at the Special Criminal Court on a charge of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself as the Irish Republican Army. James Joseph Cassidy of Tullycollive has pleaded not guilty to the allegation relating to September 21, 2016. During evidence, Detective Sergeant Padraig Boyce told the court that republican posters were discovered in a television unit during a search of the accused's premises. The posters carried a slogan referencing the Police Service of Northern Ireland and a website address for Republican Unity. Under cross-examination, the detective agreed that Republican Unity is not a proscribed organisation. A black metal pipe approximately 40 centimetres long, featuring drilled holes, was also recovered from a shed on the property. Detective Inspector William Hanrahan testified he had previously encountered similar tubing in relation to other IRA operations, describing it as a booster tube. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Gary Watson, aged 35, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Warren O'Connor, 24, which occurred on 16 January 2010 at Hole in the Wall Road, Donaghmede. Prosecutor James Dwyer SC presented evidence that a noise dispute at a neighbouring apartment led to an altercation involving Watson, the Coyles, and O'Connor. The confrontation escalated in the car park, where Watson allegedly brandished a knife. Witnesses, including a neighbour named Mr Foy, testified that Watson shouted "get that into you" as he stabbed O'Connor. Pathology confirmed a fatal stab wound to the neck. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael White, is expected to continue for over two weeks with a jury of twelve. The prosecution seeks to prove Watson's guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The case remains in the early trial stage.
In the Central Criminal Court, Patrick Quirke, aged 50, denies murdering Bobby Ryan, a DJ known as Mr Moonlight, who was found dead in a run‑off tank on Fawnagowan farm in April 2013. Witness Mary Lowry, 52, testified that Quirke wrote a letter to an agony aunt, published in the Sunday Independent in 2011, admitting he had fallen in love with a woman who later cheated on him. Lowry also claimed Quirke stole underwear from her clothes line and that CCTV footage from December 2012 showed him on her property. She said she confronted him, he admitted writing the letter, and that he had no one else to turn to. Lowry's testimony also covered her relationship with Quirke, her feelings of being manipulated, and her statements to Gardaí in 2011. The trial continues with cross‑examination scheduled for the next day.
The trial of retired surgeon Michael Shine, aged 86, is in legal argument before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. Shine has 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 at two private clinics in Drogheda. The jury is set to return tomorrow.
A 55-year-old mechanic from Castleblayney, County Monaghan, has pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself as the Irish Republican Army at the Special Criminal Court. James Joseph Cassidy of Tullycollive faces the charge relating to September 2016. The prosecution outlined that gardaí discovered a metal tube during a search of his property in the remote border area, which they allege forms part of an improvised explosive device. The tube was located in a cow shed on the gated property, which featured extensive security measures. Prosecutors indicated evidence would include three mobile phones and items of Republican material recovered at the scene, alongside alleged associations with convicted IRA members. A garda witness testified to photographing the cylindrical metal object at the property. The defence suggested the item was visible rather than hidden and queried whether other metal found at the location could be definitively identified. The trial continues before Justices Tony Hunt, Patricia Ryan, and Ann Ryan.
Mary Lowry, aged 50, is testifying in the trial of Patrick Quirke, who is accused of murdering 52‑year‑old Bobby Ryan between June 2011 and April 2013. Lowry describes her relationship with Quirke as a "seedy affair" that began after her husband's death in 2007. She says Quirke, a farmer married to her late husband's sister, helped her with farm work and finances, and they became intimate in early 2008. Lowry claims Quirke was controlling, demanding money, and physically aggressive when she refused. She says she ended the affair in summer 2010 to focus on her children. In 2010 she began a relationship with Ryan, who was later reported missing. Lowry states she has no knowledge of Ryan's disappearance and that Quirke has no involvement. She will continue to give evidence before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury tomorrow. Patrick Quirke pleaded not guilty. Mary Lowry pleaded not guilty.
A man charged with murder in County Sligo will face trial for a third time in November 2019 after his previous trial collapsed at the Central Criminal Court. Keith Brady, of Cartron Estate in Sligo, was tried in connection with the death of Martin Matt Kivlehan at New Apartments, Holborn Street, Sligo in August 2015. Mr Brady pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Justice Carmel Stewart discharged the jury after an RTE Prime Time segment aired while jurors were deliberating. The defence barrister argued the programme had undermined the provocation defence, and five jurors subsequently watched the broadcast. Justice Stewart criticised what she termed a "parallel justice system in the court of public opinion" operating without regard to trial proceedings. The new trial is scheduled to commence on 4 November 2019 and is expected to last approximately two weeks.
Patrick Quirke, 50, of Breanshamore, Co. Tipperary, is on trial for the murder of 52‑year‑old Bobby Ryan, who was found dead in a disused waste tank on a farm at Fawnagowan between June 2011 and April 2013. Quirke has pleaded not guilty. The Central Criminal Court will hear evidence tomorrow, after a day of no evidence, following a jury visit to the farm last Friday. The trial is expected to last up to eight weeks.
The trial of retired surgeon Michael Shine, aged 86, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court involves thirteen charges of indecent assault allegedly committed during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda and two private clinics. Shine pleaded not guilty. On the seventh day of the trial, Detective Garda Seamus Nolan informed the court that he had no dealings with the support group Dignity 4 Patients, but was aware that the group had referred people to Gardaí. He explained that Dignity 4 Patients is a support group for victims of medical abuse and that any campaign it ran was a matter of the group's own initiative. Nolan noted that Gardaí did not attend the group's meetings and that he had not examined the group's website. He met with Shine after the complainants had made statements to Gardaí, and Shine had prepared a statement denying all allegations.
During the trial of retired surgeon Michael Shine, a man testified that he experiences flashbacks of being masturbated by Shine during a 1975 examination when he was 13. The man, who had never disclosed the incident except to his wife, said the memory resurfaced after he filed a complaint with the Gardaí. He described the examination as occurring after Shine performed surgery on his testicles, with the man's father present but not in the room. The witness claimed the incident had never left his memory and that it was traumatic to recount. He denied any objection to the examination of his testicles, stating it was the area Shine had operated on. The testimony was delivered to Hugh Hartnett SC, with the trial continuing before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. Michael Shine pleaded not guilty.
In a 2019 trial, Patrick Quirke, aged 50, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 52‑year‑old Bobby Ryan, a DJ known as Mr Moonlight, who was found dead in a slurry pit on a farm in Fawnagowan, Tipperary, in April 2013. The jury, composed of six men and six women, was instructed by Justice Eileen Creedon to visit the farm to observe the relevant buildings and surrounding land, but not to conduct investigations or take photographs. They were shown photographs of a run‑off tank, a slurry tank, and various farm buildings, as well as a broken hair clip, springs, and cable ties recovered from the pit. Det. Sergeant Larry Stapleton reported that bone fragments and hair were also recovered. The prosecution alleged that Quirke had a prior relationship with Ryan's girlfriend and murdered Ryan to rekindle that affair, relying on circumstantial evidence to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, retired surgeon Michael Shine, aged 86, pleaded not guilty to thirteen charges of indecent assault. Witnesses testified that Shine groped and stroked the privates of teenage patients during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda and at two private clinics. One witness, aged 13 in 1971, described how Shine asked him to pull up his shirt and trousers, pressed around a wound, then fondled his testicles and stroked his penis while claiming to check for damage. A second witness, also 13 in 1975, recounted a similar incident at Lourdes hospital, where Shine examined his testicles, then masturbated his penis for 10–15 minutes. Both witnesses said they felt embarrassed and left the rooms quickly. The trial is set to continue tomorrow before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
Patrick Quirke, aged 50, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 52‑year‑old Bobby Ryan, a local DJ known as Mr Moonlight, between June 2011 and April 2013. Quirke, who had been in a secret affair with Mary Lowry since 2008, claimed that his relationship with Lowry ended in 2010 when she began dating Ryan. Quirke allegedly killed Ryan to regain his former relationship with Lowry. On 13 April 2013, Quirke discovered Ryan's naked body in a slurry tank, where it had been buried in a concrete sarcophagus. The post‑mortem revealed blunt‑force trauma and fractures to the skull, ribs and one leg. The prosecution, led by Michael Bowman SC, argued that Quirke had motive, opportunity and access to the tank, and that the discovery of the body was carefully staged. The trial is proceeding before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of twelve.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, an 86‑year‑old surgeon, Michael Shine, faced thirteen indecent assault charges linked to examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital and two private Drogheda clinics. A male witness, aged 10 when first examined, recounted that Shine asked him to undress to his underpants, examined his throat, torso and abdomen, then groped his genitals, describing the act as a prolonged, painful experience. The witness claimed Shine also performed a rectal examination, inserting a gloved finger and again touching his genitals. He reported that after a later surgery for a wound, Shine repeatedly examined the wound while touching his genitals. The witness said he was 19 in 1982 when he woke to find Shine's hand on his penis, describing it as "masturbating me." The trial, with a jury, continued under Judge Martin Nolan. The witness had previously pursued civil action, concluding in 2012. The surgeon 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 against seven teenage boys. The allegations stem from medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda and two private clinics. One complainant, aged 14 in 1972, recounted that Shine, who had been his consultant for a knee operation, would visit his room in the evening to play chess and then groped and fondled his genitals, pulling down his trousers and stroking his penis. The boy said Shine justified the conduct by claiming it was a way to "tell a lot." Another complainant, aged 15, alleged that during an examination for a torn foreskin, Shine masturbated him for five to ten minutes and squeezed his penis, after which the boy felt shocked and did not return for a recommended circumcision. Both complainants are also involved in civil actions against Shine.
A teenager convicted of manslaughter following the fatal stabbing of a 17-year-old boy in Claremorris in December 2015 has had his sentencing adjourned at the Central Criminal Court. The defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty of the manslaughter of Dovydas Jenkas in 2017 after a jury rejected a murder charge. Justice Eileen Creedon adjourned sentencing until October to allow the teenager time to recover from recent brain surgery performed to address severe epileptic seizures. Medical evidence presented to the court indicated the defendant suffers from localised epilepsy caused by a brain lesion and has undergone an anterior temporal lobectomy. The judge acknowledged the health grounds for the adjournment whilst noting her concern to finalise proceedings in consideration of the victim's family.
The trial of retired surgeon Michael Shine, 86, accused of indecently assaulting seven boys during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda and two private clinics, has been adjourned because a juror is unavailable. Shine pleaded not guilty to thirteen charges. The case will resume next Monday before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
The trial of Dr Michael Shine, 86, began at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 17 January 2019. He faces thirteen charges of indecent assault alleged to have occurred during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and two private clinics. The first complainant, a 15‑year‑old patient, testified that after a finger surgery in 1988 he was asked to stand in the examination room, where Shine groped his genitals while resting his head on the boy's chest. The boy described feeling terrified and confused, and that Shine's breathing became "creepy." A second complainant, 13 at the time of a testicular surgery in 1985, recounted that Shine examined a scar on his scrotum, then touched his penis and moved the foreskin, leaving him confused. Both complainants said they later brought a third party to subsequent appointments. The case is set to continue before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. Michael Shine pleaded not guilty.
A jury of twelve will travel to Tipperary on 25 January to view the farm where Patrick Quirke, aged 50, is accused of murdering 52‑year‑old Bobby Ryan between 3 June 2011 and 13 April 2013. Justice Eileen Creedon explained that the prosecution and defence believe the visit will aid the trial. The jury will depart from the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin by coach, and will return to the Central Criminal Court on Friday for the trial's opening. No further legal actions are mentioned in the article. Patrick Quirke pleaded not guilty.
Patrick Quirke, 50, of Breanshamore, Co. Tipperary, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of 52‑year‑old Bobby Ryan, whose death occurred at an unknown location between 3 June 2011 and 13 April 2013. The case is before the Central Criminal Court, where a jury of six men and six women will hear the proceedings. Mr Justice Michael White has indicated the trial may last up to eight weeks.
In a 2019 court hearing, Gardaí investigated alleged Facebook threats made by a 38‑year‑old UK businessman, who was convicted in March 2019 of three counts of rape and eight counts of sexual assault against two girls aged 10 and 12, committed between December 2010 and March 2011. The businessman, who groomed the children in the UK and later brought them to Ireland, was found to have sexually assaulted the older girl in a Dublin hotel room in December 2010. At the Central Criminal Court sentence hearing in July, the defendant maintained his innocence and disputed the verdicts. Prosecutor Pauline Walley presented evidence that the defendant had created false Facebook accounts to claim innocence and allegedly threatened a complainant via Facebook in April. Gardaí, assisted by US and UK authorities, were conducting a detailed investigation. The judge adjourned the matter to 12 April.
A 19‑year‑old man, Eoin Morrissey, appeared before the Special Criminal Court on 21 January 2018 charged in connection with the murder of Aidan "The Beast" O'Driscoll, a senior Real IRA figure who was shot dead in Cork on 7 December 2016. Morrissey is charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Daniel Hegarty by providing a firelighter to burn a red Opel Astra used by the alleged killers and by following Hegarty to a site where a red Opel Astra was burnt to facilitate transport after the burning. The offences are alleged to have occurred between 8 and 19 December 2016. The Director of Public Prosecutions applied for a Section 49 order and the court directed that Morrissey be tried before the Special Criminal Court. The case was set for mention on 21 January. Earlier, Colin Casey (32) and Daniel Hegarty (24) pleaded guilty to related charges and were remanded on continuing bail until 11 March.
During the trial of 40‑year‑old Keith Connorton for the murder of Graham McKeever, a jury asked Judge Tony Hunt to re‑read the evidence of Deputy State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan and the original Garda statements of key witness Claire McGrath. The case involved a love triangle in which Connorton, who had lived with McGrath for about three years, allegedly invited McKeever to stay after an argument. A fight ensued, resulting in McKeever's death by a knife wound that pierced his heart. Judge Hunt read the evidence, and the jury resumed deliberations. Keith Connorton pleaded not guilty.
In a south Dublin case, Maha Al Adheem, a 43‑year‑old Kuwaiti national, was found not guilty by reason of insanity after she stabbed her three‑year‑old autistic son, Omar Omran, to death. The trial revealed that Al Adheem admitted to the act, stating she had stabbed her son and then herself, and that a "power" compelled her to take a knife from a drawer. Omran was stabbed 20 times, with wounds to his chest, abdomen, trunk, lungs, heart and right thigh, and was found lying in the middle of a bed in a one‑bedroom apartment. A jury of nine men and three women returned a unanimous verdict after 1 hour 46 minutes of deliberation. Following the verdict, the court ordered Al Adheem to be committed to the Central Mental Hospital for inpatient care, where she will receive ongoing psychiatric treatment for her schizophrenia.
In the Central Criminal Court, Michael O'Higgins SC defended Keith Connorton, 40, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of 32‑year‑old Graham McKeever on 18 February 2017. O'Higgins argued that Connorton was attacked by McKeever's partner, Claire McGrath, who had entered the home at 4 a.m. and threatened him with a knife. He claimed Connorton was forced to defend himself after McKeever "barrelled in" and inflicted a fractured eye socket on Connorton. O'Higgins questioned the reliability of McGrath's statements, noting inconsistencies and her drug‑related vulnerability. He urged the jury to consider Connorton's right to self‑defence under the suddenness and ferocity of the attack, and to assess whether the force used was proportionate. The prosecution maintained that McKeever had no knife and that Connorton's account was a "pack of lies," seeking a guilty verdict for murder. The case was set for jury deliberation the following day.
In a High Court hearing on 20 December 2018, Mr Justice Tony O'Connor ruled that sections of Ireland's 2011 Communications (Retention of Data) Act contravene EU law and the European Convention on Human Rights. The judge found the Act creates an indiscriminate retention regime, violating Articles 7 and 8 of the EU Charter, and that the State's procedures for accessing retained telephone data lack sufficient judicial review. The ruling applies to the case of Graham Dwyer, who seeks to overturn his murder conviction for the death of childcare worker Elaine O'Hara. Dwyer argues that data from his work phone, used at his 2015 trial, was unlawfully obtained and breached his privacy rights. The State maintains that access to retained data is essential for serious crime investigations. The court will consider the State's submissions and adjourn the matter to January, while Dwyer's lawyers will reply in due course.
Michael Jones, a 24‑year‑old roofer from Whitestown Drive, was found guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of Hong Qing Qu, a father of two, at Blanchardstown Road South on 17 November 2015. Jones drove an Audi A3 that broke a red light at a speed estimated between 115 km/h and 137 km/h, well above the 60 km/h limit, and collided with Qu's Mitsubishi Colt. The collision occurred around 1 am near the top of a slip road close to Blanchardstown shopping centre. Witnesses described the Audi's occupants being dragged from the vehicle and placed in a Volkswagen Passat after the crash. Qu was found in the passenger seat of his own car, choking on his blood, and later died. The jury returned a guilty verdict after just over two and a half hours of deliberation. Judge Patricia Ryan remanded Jones to custody and set a sentencing date for 14 January of the following year. Michael Jones pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, Brendan Grehan SC argued that Keith Connorton's claim of a self‑defence struggle was false. Connorton, 40, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 32‑year‑old Graham McKeever on 18 February 2017 at Connorton's Tallaght home. Grehan said McKeever was a guest, not an intruder, and that Connorton's account of a knife‑wielding attack was a "pack of lies." The prosecution's case relied on Claire McGrath's statements that Connorton found her with McKeever, armed himself, threatened her, and stabbed McKeever, and on Deputy State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan's report of four stab wounds, one penetrating the heart. Grehan urged the jury to convict Connorton of murder, noting that a reasonable‑force defence would not absolve him if the evidence contradicted his story. The trial continued before Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
A 37-year-old man from Caltragh in Sligo has been granted temporary bail over Christmas by the Special Criminal Court pending a verdict in his case. Julian Flohr is charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. His trial commenced in November, with judgment expected on 25 January. Evidence presented during the trial indicated that Mr Flohr and another man were travelling in a car from which gardaí recovered a mortar round in a backpack. The three-judge court granted him compassionate bail from 24 to 28 December on his own bond of €100 and an independent surety of €1,000. The presiding judge noted Mr Flohr's previous voluntary surrender of bail and emphasised strict compliance with bail conditions.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, 40‑year‑old Keith Connorton pleaded not guilty to the murder of 32‑year‑old Graham McKeever, who was stabbed to death at Connorton's home on 18 February 2017. Connorton told Gardaí that his dream of a happy family with his son and his partner had been ruined. He claimed he had met his partner, Claire McGrath, at a Luas stop, comforted her after a breakup, and described her as "beautiful" and "nice sweet young one". Connorton said he loved her "to bits" and that he wanted to be free of heroin and have a happy family. He had been on a methadone programme, reducing his daily dose from 115mls to 55mls. The trial, presided over by Justice Tony Hunt, continues with a jury of nine men and three women. The case involves a fight between Connorton and McKeever, during which McKeever received a fatal stab wound to the heart.
The trial of 24‑year‑old Michael Jones, a professional roofer, is hearing allegations that he was driving an Audi A3 at more than double the speed limit when it collided with a Mitsubishi Colt driven by Hong Qing Qu. The fatal collision occurred at about 1 a.m. on 17 November 2015 near Blanchardstown shopping centre, on a slip road where the speed limit is 60 km/h. Garda Patrick McIlroy presented evidence that the Audi was travelling between 115 km/h and 137 km/h before impact, based on the angle of collision and damage patterns. He noted that the front of the Audi struck the side of the Colt, with the Audi's front heavily damaged while the rest of the car remained relatively intact. Garda Alex McDermott‑Roe reported that Jones confirmed ownership of the Audi but denied driving it at the time. The case is proceeding before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury. Michael Jones pleaded not guilty.
A jury convicted Garda Warren Farrell, 35, of careless driving causing the death of 75‑year‑old Elizabeth Core in August 2014. Farrell, a patrol officer in Clondalkin, was driving a marked car responding to a panic button call at a Topaz garage when it struck Core on Fonthill Road South. He pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing death. Judge Cormac Quinn explained that careless driving is below the standard of care expected of a competent driver, creating a risk of harm. After four hours of deliberation, the jury of six men and six women returned a majority verdict of guilty on careless driving. Farrell was remanded on continuing bail until February 22 for sentencing. The Core family attended the trial and accepted the court's schedule. The prosecution sought time to prepare victim impact statements, which the judge granted.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 43‑year‑old Maha Al Adheem, a doctor, was accused of murdering her three‑year‑old autistic son, Omar Omran, by stabbing him 20 times on 10 July 2017 at their Riverside, Poddle Park home. She admitted the act, claiming a "power" compelled her to take a knife from a drawer. The prosecution argued that the defence of insanity was being raised, with psychiatrists agreeing she met the criteria for not guilty by reason of insanity. Neighbours testified that Al Adheem was a caring mother who never raised her voice, but also described her as paranoid, believing a black cat was an evil spirit and that a man forced her to have sex with him when the cat was present. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, was set to resume the following day with a jury of nine men and three women.
During a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Keith Connorton (40) pleaded not guilty to the February 18, 2017 stabbing death of 32‑year‑old Graham McKeever. Connorton told gardai that he had returned home, argued with his partner Claire McGrath, and that McKeever had come into the house with a knife. He claimed he grabbed the knife, cut his own hand, and then stabbed McKeever a few times. Connorton said he tried to keep McKeever alive, called 999, and that he did not intend to kill him. McGrath's statements to the jury and to gardai differed, and she admitted she was on painkillers and Xanax when she gave them. The trial is proceeding before Justice Tony Hunt with a jury of nine men and three women.
A jury has begun deliberations in the trial of Garda Warren Farrell, 35, charged with dangerous driving causing the death of 75‑year‑old Elizabeth Core. Farrell, a patrol officer in Clondalkin, was driving a marked Garda car responding to a panic button call at a Topaz garage when it struck Core on Fonthill Road South on 28 August 2014. He pleaded not guilty. Judge Cormac Quinn told the jury they could convict on either dangerous driving causing death or careless driving causing death and that a unanimous verdict was required. On day six, the jury deliberated for an hour before leaving for the night. Prosecutor James Dwyer argued that Farrell had seen Core from 200 m away, failed to brake until 10–13 m before impact, and continued at 56–58 km/h on a 50 km/h road, constituting dangerous driving.
Michael Jones, 25, was accused of causing a fatal collision on 17 November 2015 near Blanchardstown. He was driving an Audi A3 that allegedly ran a red light and struck a Mitsubishi Colt driven by Hong Qing Qu. Jones pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing death. After the crash, he was admitted to James Connolly Hospital where he gave a false name, Michael McDonagh, and claimed he had injured his leg in a fall. A nurse attempted to lift him but his ankle was limp. Jones told investigators he had not left the scene, had collapsed, and was carried to the hospital by friends. He also said he had worn an orange jacket that was removed by his friends. The trial is ongoing before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.
A 44‑year‑old man, Ciprian Grozavu, has been charged with the murder of 27‑year‑old Jonathan Duke, who was killed at Bridge House, Sean Hales Place, Bandon on 13 November 2011. He appeared before the Central Criminal Court to receive a trial date, which Judge Michael White set for 4 November 2019 in Dublin. The trial is expected to last two weeks.
Claire McGrath, aged 30, gave evidence in the Central Criminal Court trial of Keith Connorton, who is charged with the murder of Graham McKeever, 32, on 18 February 2017. McGrath said she had been in a relationship with Connorton for three years and that she had invited McKeever to stay at their home that night. She told the court that she had exchanged texts and Facebook messages with McKeever in the days before his death, in which she expressed love, insecurity and a desire for his affection. McGrath admitted that her drug use might have affected her memory and that she was not a reliable witness. She denied that she had lied to Gardaí or that Connorton had pressured her to do so, and she said she had told the truth about the events. She will continue her cross‑examination before Justice Tony Hunt and a jury. Keith Connorton pleaded not guilty.
A 43‑year‑old Kuwaiti woman, Maha Al Adheem, will be tried for the murder of her three‑year‑old son, Omar Omran, who died on 10 July 2017 at their south Dublin home. She was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court, where she pleaded not guilty. A jury of nine men and three women was sworn in, and the trial is scheduled to last three days before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon. Evidence will be presented by Gardaí from Crumlin, two civilian witnesses from the Kimmage apartment complex, and two forensic psychiatrists from the Central Mental Hospital.