In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 58‑year‑old Garda Joseph O'Connor pleaded not guilty to five counts of possessing child pornography. The prosecution presented videos seized from his home on 2 August 2011, showing boys under ten and between ten and seventeen in explicit sexual acts, including two files depicting a male adult with a child. O'Connor claimed he had contacted a man via the gay website Manhunt, exchanged texts about sexual activity, and the man stayed overnight at his home. The next morning O'Connor reported the front door slamming, his laptop closed, €20 and his Garda ID missing. He later found the man, who was wearing his badge and handcuffs, and recovered the money. A complaint of a sexual nature was made against O'Connor, but the complainant withdrew it after the Garda Ombudsman's involvement. The case is proceeding before Judge Sheahan with a jury of ten men and two women.
A man from Cootehill, County Cavan, has died by suicide since his arrest on the morning of a tiger kidnapping, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard. Paschal Kelly, aged 52, has pleaded not guilty to charges including false imprisonment of a postmistress and her daughter at a property in Malahide on 25 September 2014, as well as robbery from Bayside Post Office in Sutton and threats to kill. He also denies unlawful possession of a vehicle. During the sixteenth day of the trial, gardaí gave evidence that Kelly was arrested while fleeing a suspect vehicle at traffic lights in north Dublin that morning. A garda subsequently attended his death at a city-centre premises in June 2016, an inquest finding nothing of suspect nature. The trial heard how the postmistress and her daughter were discovered bound with ties at the post office, visibly distressed. The case continues before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that Paul Wells Senior (50) of Barnamore Park, Finglas, has admitted shooting dead fellow Dubliner Kenneth O'Brien and dismembering his body. However, he has pleaded not guilty to murdering the 33-year-old at his home in Barnamore Park on 15th or 16th January, 2016. Mr Wells claims that Mr O'Brien had wanted him to murder Mr O'Brien's partner so that he could take their child back to Australia. He told gardai that Mr O'Brien had brought a gun to his house for this purpose on the evening of the 15th but that he didn't want to do it. He said this resulted in a scuffle between them, that the gun fell, they both tried to get it, but that he got to it first and shot his friend in the back of the head. He said that he then panicked, 'chopped him into pieces' with a chainsaw Mr O'Brien had lent him, put the torso into Mr O'Brien's suitcase and dumped it in the Grand Canal. Mr Justice Paul McDermott told the jury that the 'horror' shouldn't determine its verdict, with the main issue to decide being how his death was brought about. He explained that the jury must consider whether Mr Wells intended to cause death or serious injury when discharging the firearm into the back of Mr O'Brien's head. The matter was adjourned and will continue on Monday.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Thomas Fox, aged 31, was found guilty of contributing to the murder of Gareth Hutch, aged 36, who was shot dead on 24 May 2016 outside Avondale House flats. The court accepted the prosecution's case that Fox, a subordinate of Jonathan Keogh, acted under Keogh's influence and direction. Fox denied the murder but was convicted of unlawfully possessing a Makarov 9 mm handgun on the day of the shooting. The court rejected Fox's defence of withdrawal and coercion, stating there was no evidence of a clear intention to leave the criminal enterprise. Additionally, Regina Keogh, aged 41, was found guilty of colluding with her brother to cause serious injury to Hutch, based largely on testimony from Mary McDonnell. Both convictions were delivered by a three‑judge panel led by Justice Tony Hunt.
Jonathan Keogh, 33, was found guilty of the murder of Gareth Hutch at the Special Criminal Court. The non-jury court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, determined that Keogh fired the fatal shots in a "cold-blooded manner" and played a central role in planning the killing. The court rejected Keogh's denial, finding that the evidence pointed "firmly and unequivocally" to his involvement. The verdict relied on circumstantial evidence, including DNA links to a black BMW used in the attack and CCTV footage of Keogh purchasing cleaning supplies, which corroborated the testimony of protected witness Mary McDonnell. The court noted that the plan was in place by May 2016, when mobile phones were acquired. While Keogh was convicted, the court has yet to deliver verdicts for co-accused Thomas Fox and Regina Keogh, both of whom have also denied the murder charge. The matter regarding Fox and Regina Keogh remains pending, with the court still to determine their findings. The trial concluded with Keogh's conviction, but the overall case is not fully finalised until the remaining verdicts are delivered.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a garda detective testified on the fifteenth day of trial that he discharged two shots at a suspect during an armed chase because he feared for his life. The officer said he believed he saw a firearm in the suspect's hand as the man turned towards him in a field near Malahide on September 25, 2014. Paschal Kelly, aged 52 and from Cootehill, County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to charges including falsely imprisoning a postmistress and her daughter, along with an Italian student, at a property in Dublin. He also denies robbery at Bayside Post Office and threats to kill, as well as unlawful possession of a vehicle. The detective told the court he identified the suspect after pursuing him on foot for approximately 500 metres. During cross-examination, the defence suggested the officer's description relied on information from other agencies and CCTV footage, a claim he rejected. The trial before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury remains ongoing.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury heard CCTV footage of a dark‑coloured hatchback with one headlight and one taillight out of service, moving through Tallaght on the night Andrew Guerrine was stabbed. The car was first seen at 11.51pm in Killinarden, then tracked along Blessington Road until just before 1am. At about 5am it was captured outside a pharmacy, then moved to a garage where it stalled, after which the driver and passenger pushed it to a petrol pump. The vehicle was later seen on Cushlawn Way, last at 5.28am, and again leaving the same spot at 2.42am the following night. Stephen Tynan (41) and Raymond Fitzgerald (37) pleaded not guilty to Guerrine's murder, which involved 20 stab wounds, two penetrating the skull and cervical spine. The trial continues before Justice Michael McDermott with a jury of seven men and five women.
In a High Court trial, Mr Justice Denis McDonald awarded €66,300 in damages to applicant Colie Conneely following a workplace accident. Conneely, who worked for Thermo King Ireland Ltd for over 30 years, tripped at the factory entrance in Galway on February 17, 2014, suffering injuries to his shoulder, hip, and knee. He alleged his employer was negligent for failing to maintain a safe workplace, conduct risk assessments, or warn of tripping hazards, breaching the 2005 Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act. The defendant denied liability, claiming Conneely contributed to his own injuries and did not report the incident until the next day. The judge found no contributory negligence, determining that a 10mm differential between a paving slab and a concrete channel caused the fall. He noted that proper maintenance would have revealed the hazard. Conneely was out of work for 17 weeks, required surgery, and experienced difficulties with hobbies such as darts and gardening. The judge described Conneely as a frank and honest witness who downplayed the severity of his injury. The court held the company 100% liable for the damages. Ros Greal is identified as the applicant's address in the proceedings.
In the murder trial of Paul Wells Senior, the prosecution argued that Kenneth O'Brien was not merely killed but executed in a premeditated act. Wells, aged 50, admitted shooting O'Brien, a 33‑year‑old, and dismembering his body. He claimed O'Brien had brought a gun to his home to force him to murder O'Brien's partner so he could take their child to Australia. Wells said a scuffle over the gun led to him shooting O'Brien in the back of the head, after which he panicked and used a chainsaw to chop the body, placing the torso in a suitcase and dumping it in the Grand Canal. The prosecutor presented evidence of a contact entry wound and other forensic findings to support the claim of premeditation, urging a guilty verdict. The defence questioned the plausibility of the alleged plan and the involvement of Wells's family in the disposal of the remains.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Paul Wells Senior, 50, of Barnamore Park, Finglas, heard evidence regarding a laptop seized from his home. Wells has admitted shooting dead Kenneth O'Brien and dismembering his body but pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of the 33-year-old at his home on 15th or 16th January 2016. Wells claims O'Brien brought a gun to his house to kill O'Brien's partner, leading to a scuffle where Wells allegedly shot O'Brien in the head before disposing of the remains in the Grand Canal. A cyber crime expert testified that the laptop, which had a user profile named 'Paul', was used to search for Irish Ferries timetables around 4pm on 15th January 2016. The searches included routes from Rosslare to Cherbourg and Dublin to Holyhead. Additionally, evidence indicated that the CCTV system in the home shared by O'Brien, his partner, and child stopped recording at 4.32am on 13th January, with only a brief recording on 14th January. The prosecution case is expected to close tomorrow morning, and the trial continues.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 31 October 2018, Conor Metcalfe, aged 28, was arraigned on a charge of membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). He remained seated, did not stand, and gave no answer when the registrar asked him to plead. The presiding judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, accepted the silence as a not guilty plea. Metcalfe was wearing a white jumper and had a book with him, which he read during the court's discussion of a trial issue. The prosecution, represented by Annemarie Lawlor SC, opened its case by stating that Detective Chief Superintendent Tony Howard would testify that Metcalfe was an IRA member on the relevant date. The State's case also included two Section 2 interviews of Metcalfe under the Offences Against the State Act, allowing the court to draw inferences from his failure to answer questions about alleged IRA membership.
Joseph O'Connor, 58, from west Dublin, pleaded not guilty to five counts of possession of child pornography at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. In August 2011, Garda Janette Walsh seized a Dell laptop from his home and used specialised software to analyse its hard drive. She found 43 movie files in the recycle bin, 15 of which depicted boys under ten in sexual acts, including three involving anal and oral penetration. Additional files showed boys aged ten to seventeen and a 15‑year‑old boy with an adult male. Walsh also recovered 92 images of child explicit sex and 136 images of child exposure, many duplicates, from the unallocated memory area. She reported over 300,000 adult pornographic images and 8,000 adult porn movies on the laptop, with 225,000 images in an inaccessible area. The trial, presided over by Judge Elma Sheahan, continues before a jury of ten men and two women.
The trial of a man charged in connection with a tiger kidnapping in 2014 has continued at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court with technical evidence relating to phone records. Paschal Kelly, aged 52 and resident in Cootehill, County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to charges of trespass and false imprisonment arising from an incident at a residential address in Malahide on September 25, 2014. He has also denied robbing a post office in Dublin on the same date and making threats to kill. Additional charges of unlawful possession of a vehicle have been denied. The trial, which is proceeding before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury, continues to hear evidence as the defence contests the allegations.
In a murder trial, Paul Wells Snr, aged 50, admitted shooting and dismembering Kenneth O'Brien, aged 33, at his home in Barnamore Park, Dublin, on 15 or 16 January 2016. Wells claimed a scuffle over a gun led to the shooting, after which he panicked and used a chainsaw to dismember the body. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that the dismemberment was performed with a high‑speed mechanical saw, and that a bullet entered the back of O'Brien's head, causing catastrophic brain injury and instant death. The bullet's entry wound was described as a contact entry with the muzzle pressed against the head. Witnesses from O'Brien's family described his recent return from Australia and his private nature. The trial entered the legal argument stage and will continue before the jury tomorrow.
The trial of a man charged in connection with a tiger kidnapping in 2014 has continued with legal argument held in the jury's absence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Paschal Kelly, aged 52 and from Cootehill, Co. Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to charges including false imprisonment of a postmistress and two other individuals at a property in Malahide on 25 September 2014. He also denies robbery of cash from a post office in Sutton and making threats to kill the three parties at an unknown location within the State. Mr Kelly has further denied unlawful possession of a vehicle in relation to the same date. The prosecution alleges three men were involved in the incident, which lasted approximately seven hours and resulted in the taking of approximately €90,000. Proceedings before Judge Karen O'Connor continue in legal argument, with the jury expected to return on the following Tuesday.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Paul Wells Senior, aged 50, admitted shooting and dismembering fellow Dubliner Kenneth O'Brien, 33, at O'Brien's Barnamore Park home on 15‑16 January 2016. Wells claimed he had been offered €20,000 by O'Brien to kill O'Brien's partner, Eimear Dunne, so he could take their child back to Australia. He said O'Brien had brought a gun to the house, which fell during a scuffle; Wells contended he grabbed the gun first and shot O'Brien in the back of the head. Wells also alleged that O'Brien had transferred more than €50,000 into his account while in Australia and that he had hidden the money for O'Brien. The trial heard Wells' statements and the evidence of the single bullet recovered from O'Brien's head. The case continues on Tuesday. The unnamed 50-year-old pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court has adjourned the delivery of its judgment in the trial of three Dubliners accused of murdering Gareth Hutch. Presiding Judge Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Patricia Ryan and Michael Walsh, announced at 4.20pm that the verdicts would continue next Friday at 10.30am, as he had spent five hours reviewing evidence against Jonathan Keogh with approximately 40 pages remaining. The court had previously indicated the judgment would take four to five hours. The prosecution contends that Jonathan Keogh threatened to kill Mr Hutch the evening before the shooting, while Thomas Fox and Regina Keogh were instrumental in planning the murder. It is alleged that Mr Keogh and another man, identified as Mr AB, were the shooters. All three co-accused—Mr Fox, Ms Keogh, and Mr Keogh—have pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering Mr Hutch. Additionally, Mr Fox has denied unlawfully possessing a Makarov 9mm handgun on May 23, 2016. The trial concerns the shooting death of Mr Hutch, who died from four gunshot injuries outside Avondale House flats on May 24, 2016. Prosecution counsel Paul Burns SC described the killing as a premeditated act involving considerable thought and preparation. The matter was adjourned and is not yet concluded.
During a murder trial, witness Graham Egan testified that he saw a dark‑coloured SUV parked at a field entrance on Steelstown Lane just before the body of Andrew Guerrine was discovered. Egan, who left his home at 11.10 pm on 22 May to drive a friend to Wicklow, passed the gateway at about 12.20 am and saw the vehicle with its lights off, noting only a brief glimpse and no movement. He confirmed the car was not there when he left at 11.10 pm. The trial concerns Stephen Tynan (41) and Raymond Fitzgerald (37), both pleading not guilty to Guerrine's murder, which occurred between 22 and 23 May 2015. The body, found early on 23 May, had 20 stab wounds, including two that penetrated the skull and cervical spine.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has found Osborn Irabor, a Dublin Bus driver aged 58 from Tyrrelstown, Dublin, guilty of careless driving causing the death of cyclist Mary White on November 17th, 2014. The collision occurred at approximately 9.40pm at a T-junction on Burlington Road when the bus turned right into the path of Ms White, who was cycling towards the junction. She sustained serious head injuries and died two days later. The jury returned a unanimous verdict after two hours of deliberation. A garda crash investigator testified that the bus had begun its turn prematurely and crossed a solid white line onto the wrong side of the road. The defence argued the incident resulted from visibility issues on a dark winter's night rather than careless driving. Judge Francis Comerford remanded Irabor on continuing bail and adjourned sentencing to November 12th to allow time for character testimonials and victim impact reports to be prepared. Osborn Irabor pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin city‑centre pub, taxi driver Lawrence Doyle (51) bit off part of Christopher Darcy's ear during a violent altercation that began after the two men met at a bar. Garda Fergus Grant reported that Doyle struck Darcy with a blow to the side of the head, then bit the ear, causing a 3 cm loss of tissue that could not be stitched. Darcy was also struck dozens of times in the chest and attempted to defend himself, but was ultimately taken to Mater Hospital where he received a tetanus shot and antibiotics. Doyle pleaded guilty to assaulting Darcy at Mulletts Bar on Amiens Street on 15 May 2017. He has no prior convictions. The case was adjourned to 21 February 2024, with Judge Melanie Greally ordering a probation report and noting Doyle's €500 restitution offer. The judge described the assault as vicious, violent and out of character for Doyle. The court will hear the case next month.
In the murder trial of Paul Wells Sr., the Central Criminal Court heard evidence about his shooting and dismemberment of Kenneth O'Brien. Wells, 50, admitted shooting O'Brien dead and dismembering his body but pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. He claimed he had no desire to hurt O'Brien and that the act was forced by pressure. During a six‑hour Garda interview, Wells denied involvement in earlier interviews and stated he had no plan to harm anyone. He also asked to speak with O'Brien's partner or her sister so he could tell them "the truth." The court heard a DVD of the interview, and the trial was scheduled to continue the following afternoon. The proceedings focused on the circumstances of the shooting and Wells' statements to the police.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Stephen Tynan (41) and Raymond Fitzgerald (37) continues before Mr Justice Michael White. Both defendants, from Tallaght, Dublin 24, have pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Andrew Guerrine (37) at an unknown location between May 22 and May 23, 2015. The matter is currently at the trial stage, with no findings, sentences, or finalisations recorded. Witness Shane Traynor testified that he discovered Mr Guerrine's body in a gateway on Steelstown Lane, Rathcoole, in the early hours of May 23, initially mistaking the scene for a hit-and-run. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster reported that Mr Guerrine died from hemorrhage and shock caused by multiple stab wounds. She identified 20 stab wounds, including injuries to the skull, cervical spine, and a major blood vessel in the chest, indicating substantial force was used. Toxicology revealed cocaine, sedatives, diazepam, and methadone in the deceased's blood. The court heard that all wounds could have been inflicted by a single knife, though a second weapon could not be ruled out. The trial continues tomorrow.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a forensic collision investigator gave evidence that at least three Dublin Bus vehicles were observed cutting the corner at a junction where a fatal collision occurred in 2014. Osborn Irabor, aged 58, of French Park, Tyrrelstown, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to careless driving causing the death of Mary White on November 17, 2014. The cyclist was struck by a bus at a T-junction on Burlington Road when the vehicle turned right. Ms White suffered serious head injuries and died two days later. Expert witnesses disagreed on whether the corner-cutting constituted a breach of traffic regulations. A defence expert testified that the road layout required any bus stopped at the yield line to cut across the centre line. A Garda sergeant maintained that no junction should be cut and disputed the findings. The trial continues.
Osborn Irabor, a Dublin Bus driver aged 58 from Tyrrelstown, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to careless driving causing the death of cyclist Mary White at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The collision occurred on 17 November 2014 at a T-junction on Burlington Road at approximately 9.40pm. Ms White sustained serious head injuries when her bicycle and the bus collided and was pronounced dead two days later at St Vincent's Hospital. The prosecution contends that Mr Irabor failed to exercise sufficient care while turning right onto Burlington Road, where Ms White was approaching from the right. Evidence indicated Ms White wore reflective clothing, operated functioning bicycle lights, and was visible to other road users. Mr Irabor passed a breathalyser test at the scene. The defence suggested that visibility conditions at that time of year may affect cyclist safety equipment effectiveness. The trial was ongoing at the time of reporting.
In the Central Criminal Court, a prosecution barrister told the court that the case against Stephen Tynan (41) and Raymond Fitzgerald (37) centred on who killed 37‑year‑old Andrew Guerrine, not whether he was murdered. The State's case relied on circumstantial evidence, including CCTV of a black Peugeot 307, DNA linking a child's jacket to the car, and the presence of a child's coat under Guerrine's foot at the discovery site. The prosecution argued the car was driven by Tynan with Fitzgerald as passenger, and that the vehicle was used to transport Guerrine to the location where his body was found on Steelstown Lane. The jury was to hear that Guerrine died from multiple stab wounds, including to the skull, cervical spine, heart and throat, and that the accused were responsible for his death. Stephen Tynan pleaded not guilty. Raymond Fitzgerald pleaded not guilty.
The murder trial of Paul Well Snr, accused of killing and dismembering Kenneth O'Brien, was adjourned after jurors received a suspected scam call from a number claiming to be the Courts Service. The 50‑year‑old, who had admitted shooting O'Brien but pleaded not guilty to the murder, had been hearing evidence of his own interviews. The call, which included a distorted voicemail mentioning the Courts Service, was investigated by Sergeant Gerard Moore and deemed a scam unrelated to the case. Judge Paul McDermott ordered the trial to resume the next day once the investigation was complete, and the jurors were sent home to await further instructions. The case continues with the next portion of interviews to be played on DVD.
Paul Well Snr, a 50‑year‑old father of five from Barnamore Park, Finglas, has admitted shooting and dismembering 33‑year‑old Kenneth O'Brien at his home on 15 or 16 January 2016. He pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. In his first Garda interviews he denied any involvement and could not explain why O'Brien had transferred more than €50,000 into his account. Well claimed that O'Brien had wanted him to murder O'Brien's partner so he could take their child back to Australia, where he had previously lived. Garda Sergeant Martin Long noted that Well had been receiving €320 a week in Jobseeker's Benefit and that the €14,500 he withdrew in January was not in his possession. He also acknowledged that €52,925 had been transferred into his account over 18 months. The trial continues this afternoon.
In the trial of Anthony Walsh, who admitted beating Dermot Byrne to death during a drunken altercation, the jury asked the judge to clarify the legal definitions of murder and provocation. Walsh, 31, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, theft of a bank card, keys and a Zippo lighter from Byrne on 16 July 2017. The jury spent about 90 minutes deliberating before requesting Justice Eileen Creedon to explain that murder requires intent to kill or cause serious injury and that provocation could negate that intent, potentially leading to a manslaughter verdict.
Paul Well Sr, a 50‑year‑old former butcher, was arrested for shooting and dismembering his friend Kenneth O'Brien, a 33‑year‑old truck driver. Well told Gardaí he had not seen O'Brien for several days before the victim went missing. He was charged with murder at O'Brien's home in Barnamore Park on 15 or 16 January 2016. Well pleaded not guilty, claiming O'Brien had wanted him to murder O'Brien's partner so he could take their child to Australia. Garda Declan O'Brien testified that Well had met O'Brien in 2007 and that O'Brien had been involved in an affair. O'Brien's partner had been betrayed, and O'Brien was described as reckless and devious. Well said he had worked as a butcher about 30 years earlier, leaving after cutting his finger. The trial is being heard in the Central Criminal Court.
The trial of Paschal Kelly (52), from Cootehill, County Cavan, has continued at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court with legal argument conducted in the jury's absence. Mr Kelly has pleaded not guilty to charges of trespass, false imprisonment, robbery and threatening behaviour arising from an incident at Malahide and Sutton in Dublin on 25 September 2014. He is accused of involvement in a tiger kidnapping in which approximately €90,000 was allegedly taken during an incident lasting seven hours. The prosecution has alleged that three men were involved in the offence. The trial is proceeding before Judge Karen O'Connor and is expected to last six weeks. The jury is anticipated to return to court within the coming days as legal argument continues.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, 31‑year‑old Anthony Walsh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter and theft of a bank card, keys and a Zippo lighter from Dermot Byrne on 16 July 2017. The prosecution, led by Vincent Heneghan SC, described Byrne's death as "savagery," urging a murder conviction. Defence counsel Remy Farrell SC argued that Walsh was provoked by Byrne, who had earlier attacked him and attempted to take a cigarette. Farrell presented CCTV from the Harp Bar showing a confrontation and highlighted Byrne's aggressive behaviour, including a prior incident at an Applegreen garage. He urged the jury to consider Walsh's lack of aggression and the injuries inflicted on Byrne, suggesting a manslaughter verdict. The jury was set to deliberate tomorrow.
Two men, Stephen Tynan, 41, and Raymond Fitzgerald, 37, are set to stand trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Andrew Guerrine, 37, which occurred between 22 and 23 May 2015. Both pleaded not guilty. Mr Justice Michael White has sworn in a jury of eight men and four women, and the trial is expected to last up to four weeks.
During the murder trial of 31‑year‑old Anthony Walsh, Deputy State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster described the severe injuries to 54‑year‑old Dermot Byrne's face. She said the bones were broken into little fragments and that his brain had "swirled around" his skull after he was punched and kicked. Glass fragments were found in his face and neck. The body lay in blood at the top of seven steps leading to Fingal Community College. Dr Bolster noted multiple fractures to the jaw, nasal bones, ribs and lacerations to the scalp. Toxicology revealed 350 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood, indicating heavy intoxication. She concluded the cause of death was traumatic brain injury from blunt force trauma to the head, neck and chest, with fractured ribs and high alcohol levels complicating the condition. The jury heard this evidence before the trial proceeded to the next phase. Deputy State Pathologist Dr pleaded guilty.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, Anthony Walsh, 31, admitted killing but denied murdering 54‑year‑old Dermot Byrne. He told a friend via Facebook Messenger that he had killed someone and that Byrne "kept coming at me" after three warnings. Walsh also sent messages to a woman who had recently added him on Facebook, describing her as "fit" and claiming he was "too much of a bad boy for you." He sent photos of Byrne's bank card and a newspaper article about Byrne's death. Walsh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, and also pleaded guilty to stealing a bank card, keys and a Zippo lighter from Byrne on the same day and location. The trial is before Justice Eileen Creedon with a jury of twelve.
The trial of 50‑year‑old Paul Wells Senior, charged with the murder of 33‑year‑old Kenneth O'Brien, was adjourned after a juror became ill. Wells, of Barnamore Park, Finglas, admitted shooting O'Brien and dismembering his body but pleaded not guilty to the murder. The case, heard before Mr Justice Paul McDermott, had begun last week with a jury of twelve. One juror was discharged after recognizing a person mentioned in evidence, and the judge deemed it unrealistic for her to return the next day, so the court was adjourned to Monday.
Anthony Walsh, 31, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Dermot Byrne, 54, but guilty to manslaughter and theft of Byrne's bank card, keys and a Zippo lighter on 16 July 2017. Garda Jason McDonnell arrested Walsh after listening to phone calls with his mother, Marie Walsh, during which Walsh claimed he was attacked and warned Byrne to "get away from me or I would murder you." In the garden of the Walsh home, Walsh told his mother he didn't mean to kill Byrne, describing a fight where Byrne "came at me swinging punches and kicks" and that Walsh "kicked Byrne in the head" causing Byrne to fall unconscious. Walsh later said he had no intention to kill Byrne and was sorry. He was released after arrest and charged two days later. The trial continues before Justice Eileen Creedon with a jury of twelve.
In a Dublin court, 35‑year‑old Laura Kenna, who has no fixed abode, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to attempted murder and assault charges after she sliced the throat of civil servant Fionnuala Bourke on Lower Drumcondra Road on 3 January 2017. Kenna told Gardaí that she wanted to see Bourke die and had a fascination with watching people's life drain away. She claimed she had been "picking a victim" on Drumcondra Road, had let another woman go, and that Bourke was simply an opportunistic target. Kenna admitted she intended to kill Bourke, described her knife as "a great fucking knife," and said she was "tired of lots of people." The trial, presided over by Justice Robert Eagar, will continue tomorrow.
Anthony Walsh, 31, was arrested at his parents' home in Glencullen after the death of 54‑year‑old Dermot Byrne. Walsh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, and also admitted stealing a bank card, keys and a Zippo lighter from Byrne on 16 July 2017 at North St, Swords. During the arrest, Walsh told Garda Jason McDonnell that he had not intended to kill Byrne, saying "I didn't mean to kill him. He kept coming at me. It was just a couple of straighteners." The trial is proceeding before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of twelve.
In the Central Criminal Court, Marie and Hugh Walsh testified that they met their son Anthony the morning after he beat 54‑year‑old Dermot Byrne to death outside a school in Swords on 16 July 2017. Anthony, 31, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter and to theft of Byrne's bank card, keys and lighter. He told his mother, in tears, that he had not meant to kill Byrne. The court heard that Anthony had been in a fight, had called his father's phone, and had been arrested after a taxi ride to his mother's house. Witnesses described his physical state and the circumstances of the incident, and the trial continues before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
A Central Criminal Court jury found 51‑year‑old Paul Keating not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter after he stabbed his lifelong friend, 47‑year‑old Mark Richardson, in the chest during a fight over a beer can. The single stab wound severed Richardson's main pulmonary artery, causing heavy bleeding. Keating, who lived on Harmonstown Road, had pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter on 16 March 2017. He died an hour after the stabbing. The jury, composed of six men and six women, deliberated for 3 hours 28 minutes over two days and reached a unanimous verdict. The court adjourned sentencing to 14 December, remanded Keating in custody, and exempted the jury from service for five years. The trial included testimony from Richardson's partner, children, and forensic experts who confirmed the knife's DNA match to Richardson. The case highlighted the sudden escalation of a drinking dispute into a fatal act.
Paschal Kelly, aged 52, from Cootehill, County Cavan, stands trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for charges arising from an alleged tiger kidnapping in September 2014. He has pleaded not guilty to trespassing and falsely imprisoning a postmistress, her daughter, and an Italian student at a property in Malahide, Dublin. Mr Kelly also denies robbing approximately €90,000 from Bayside Post Office in Sutton and making threats to kill the three individuals. A further charge of unlawful vehicle possession is denied. Prosecution counsel indicated three men were allegedly involved in the incident, which lasted approximately seven hours. During evidence, the postmistress described being cable-tied and placed in her vehicle by two men in black, with a third raider joining them later at a field north of Dublin. She recounted deliberately leaving physical evidence at the scene. The trial, proceeding before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury, is expected to last six weeks.
During a murder trial, retired Garda Niall Jones recounted his horror upon discovering a naked, bloody body on North Street, Swords, at about 2.50 am. While searching for a taxi, he mistook a lifelike inflatable dummy for a person and, upon closer inspection, found the body of a man who had been beaten to death. Jones called 999 and attempted resuscitation, but paramedic William Howard found no pulse and declared the victim dead. The case is being heard at the Central Criminal Court, with the accused Anthony Walsh pleading not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter and theft.
During a search of Jason Keating's family home on Lissadell Road, Drimnagh, Dublin 12, Gardaí discovered an envelope containing €3,200 in cash, three empty mobile phone boxes, a car key, a Ford Focus, and a blue‑grey McKenzie hoodie. The search, executed on 2 May 2017 after a warrant issued on 1 May, was carried out by a team led by Detective Sergeant Maeve O'Sullivan. Keating, aged 27, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan, who was shot six times on 22 December 2016 in a Ford Mondeo at St Ronan's Drive, Clondalkin. The murder is linked to a feud between two criminal factions, though Kirwan had no ties to either side. The Special Criminal Court heard the evidence and the case will continue before the three‑judge panel.
During the trial of Paul Wells Senior, a 50‑year‑old from Barnamore Park, the son, Gary Wells, testified that his father repeatedly told him not to return home on the night of the murder of Kenneth O'Brien, which occurred on 15 or 16 January 2016. Gary, then 21, was driving to work in Clondalkin when his father called him to warn him against going home that night. He later returned the next morning to find his father power‑washing the ground behind the house, where the body had been dismembered and found in a canal. Gary also described seeing a chainsaw in a bag his father had moved from the shed, and that his father had asked him to bring it to another man's house. The trial, held in the Central Criminal Court, continues with a jury of eleven. The accused has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.
In the murder case of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan, forensic expert Shelina Jilani testified that she could not definitively exclude Jason Keating (27) from being the unknown subject in CCTV footage from Neilstown Shopping Centre taken shortly after the December 22 shooting. Jilani, working for Acume Forensic Ltd, compared three images of Keating taken while he was in Garda custody with the limited facial portion visible in the CCTV. She identified three matching features—a narrow nasal bridge, a full oval face, and abdominal fullness—but concluded that the evidence provided only limited support for identifying Keating. She acknowledged that clothing and lack of unique features made the identification highly subjective and that the CCTV quality was poor. Judge Tony Hunt noted that the footage does not eliminate Keating but also does not implicate him. Jason Keating pleaded not guilty.
During a night in Swords on 16 July 2017, 54‑year‑old Dermot Byrne was involved in a scuffle with 31‑year‑old Anthony Walsh, who later pleaded not guilty to Byrne's murder but guilty to manslaughter and theft of a bank card, keys and a Zippo lighter. Door staff at the Harp Bar intervened when Byrne and Walsh argued around 2.11 am. Byrne, who had been drinking, asked the staff, "Why did you do that? I can look after myself," before walking away. Witnesses, including Vincent McCarthy, Krystzof Laszowski, Darren Kelly and Rory Robinson, described the confrontation, the presence of alcohol, and the attempts to calm the situation. The case is being heard at the Central Criminal Court before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of twelve.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a detective gave evidence in the trial of a man accused of tiger kidnapping. Detective Garda Eamon Keane described observing a Volkswagen car driven by a man wearing a ski mask near the home of postmistress Susan Lawlor in the early hours following her alleged abduction on September 25, 2014. The vehicle braked sharply before turning onto her street in Malahide, Dublin, and departed within thirty seconds. Det Gda Keane noted the house displayed activated alarm lights and open upstairs curtains with lights on. Paschal Kelly, aged 52, from Cootehill, County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to charges of false imprisonment, robbery at Bayside Post Office in Sutton, threats to kill, and unlawful vehicle possession. During cross-examination, the defence highlighted that the detective did not record his observations for approximately five days and that a colleague had recorded an incorrect registration number. Evidence was also heard from a Chubb Ireland monitoring centre employee and an An Post crime prevention manager regarding emergency calls received on the tiger kidnapping helpline.
In the trial of Paul Wells Senior, a 50‑year‑old from Barnamore Park, Finglas, who has admitted shooting and dismembering Kenneth O'Brien, a 33‑year‑old Dublin father‑of‑one, a juror was discharged. Wells pleaded not guilty to the murder of O'Brien, who was found dismembered in a canal. The trial, scheduled to enter its fourth day of evidence, was delayed when a juror informed Judge Paul McDermott that she had known a person mentioned in court about seven years earlier. The judge considered the matter in the jury's absence, then returned the remaining 12 jurors to court and addressed the individual juror. He thanked her for bringing the information to the court's attention, explained that her dismissal was to preserve the integrity of the process, and noted it was not a reflection on her future participation. The trial resumed with an 11‑member jury comprising five women and six men.
During a murder trial, a 24‑hour shop worker, Tayyeb Hasan, testified that the deceased, 54‑year‑old Dermot Byrne, told him, "I'm going to kill you," after refusing to sell him cigarettes. Hasan, who works at an Applegreen shop in Swords, said Byrne was drunk and had tried to use his bank card but could not remember his PIN. Hasan called the Gardaí after the threat but later said he did not take it personally and did not believe Byrne would act on it. Byrne was also accused of stealing a bank card, keys and a Zippo lighter from the same shop on 16 July 2017. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court, continues with 31‑year‑old Anthony Walsh on trial for the murder and manslaughter of Byrne. The case is before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of twelve. Anthony Walsh pleaded not guilty.
An Italian language student giving evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has described the moment armed raiders entered the bedroom where she was sleeping during an alleged kidnapping in 2014. The witness, who was staying in the north Dublin area while studying English, told the court she felt terrified when a man dressed in black appeared at her bedside and restrained her with cable ties. She stated that during a subsequent car journey in the early hours, she believed the raiders intended to cause her serious harm. The witness further described being taken to a post office in the company of two other captives, where she said raiders removed approximately ninety thousand euros from a safe. Paschal Kelly, aged 52 and from Cootehill, County Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to charges of false imprisonment, robbery, threatening behaviour, and unlawful vehicle possession relating to the incident on 25 September 2014. The trial before Judge Karen O'Connor continues.