The trial of Thomas Fox, Regina Keogh, and Jonathan Keogh, who are accused of murdering Gareth Hutch, continues at the Special Criminal Court. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty to the murder charge; Mr Fox has additionally denied unlawfully possessing a Makarov 9mm handgun. The prosecution alleges the killing was premeditated, with the accused using a flat as a base to wait for the victim. State witness Mary McDonnell, who identified Mr Keogh as one of the shooters, is currently being cross-examined. She testified that she has repeatedly requested to return to her home in the Avondale House complex where the shooting occurred, stating she expects to do so once the trial concludes. Counsel for Mr Keogh questioned her regarding Gardaí statements that she could not return until the investigation was complete, suggesting she was pressured to answer questions to ensure her protection. The witness denied recollection of specific offensive comments attributed to detectives but agreed such statements were hurtful. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Patricia Ryan and Michael Walsh, and is scheduled to continue tomorrow.
During a Central Criminal Court trial, Detective Garda Ronan Lawlor presented plastic fragments recovered from the road near the alleged murder site of Neil Reilly, showing a match to the broken headlight of a Mercedes jeep seized at Paul Bradley's home. Bradley (54) and his sons Jason (20), Dean (24), and Ryan (18) all pleaded not guilty to Reilly's murder. The prosecution argued that Reilly fired shots at the Bradley residence, prompting a car chase that ended with Reilly suffering severe crush injuries and multiple chop wounds. Garda Lawlor also examined a black BMW seized from the Bradley property, noting blood‑like stains and swipe marks, but found no relevant evidence. The trial focused on whether the Bradleys acted in a joint enterprise to murder Reilly, with the jury hearing forensic evidence and the prosecution's case before a judge's instructions were given.
In a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Michael Lowry TD pleaded not guilty to charges of filing incorrect tax returns and failing to keep proper accounts between 2002 and 2007. The case centres on a €372,000 commission from a Finnish refrigeration company, which Lowry claimed should have been recorded in 2002 rather than 2006. Neale O'Hanlon, a chartered accountant who audited Garuda Ltd, testified that Lowry instructed him in 2013 to adjust the 2006 accounts to reflect the commission as a director's loan. O'Hanlon admitted the adjustment was made but argued the company would have paid less corporation tax if the payment had been recorded in 2002. Revenue later reassessed Garuda, issuing a €30,000 bill, which was paid. The trial continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, accountant Kevin Burke testified that he audited Garuda Ltd's books in 2007 and was unaware of a January 2007 letter from Michael Lowry requesting the inclusion of €372,000 in the company's accounts. Burke, who worked for BBT accounts from 2001 to 2007, said he had no knowledge of the letter, had not seen any backup for the transaction, and had not raised it as a query. He explained that the letter, signed by Lowry on a Streamline Enterprises letterhead, claimed an invoice to Norpe OY for €372,000 and that the amount should be reflected in the accounts as a director's loan. Burke noted that the journal entry showing a prepayment and sales of €372,000 was not his handwriting and that the total balance on the lead schedule was not fully written by him.
A consultant paediatrician has told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that medical evidence points to serious non-accidental injury in a case involving a ten-month-old infant. Dr Christopher Hobbs, a UK expert in physical signs of child abuse, testified on the second day of the trial that hospital records documented brain haemorrhages, facial bruising, detached retinas and rib fractures in the child. Dr Hobbs stated the pattern of injuries, including the characteristic triad of brain bleeding, retinal haemorrhage and brain dysfunction, indicated non-accidental trauma. Sandra Higgins, aged 37, of Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to charges of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to the infant at her home on 28 March 2012. The defence counsel put alternative explanations to the medical expert, including that the child had fallen whilst in the care of the baby's parents. The trial before Judge Pauline Codd and jury is scheduled to continue for three weeks.
The trial of Thomas Fox, Regina Keogh, and Jonathan Keogh, all accused of murdering Gareth Hutch, continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt. The defendants have pleaded not guilty to the murder charges. Fox has also denied unlawfully possessing a Makarov 9mm handgun. A protected witness, Mary McDonnell, identified Jonathan Keogh from CCTV footage as one of the men involved in the gun attack on Mr Hutch, who was shot dead outside Avondale House flats on May 24, 2016. Ms McDonnell testified that Keogh, wearing a black balaclava, visited her flat the night before the shooting to clean two guns. She identified Keogh and Fox on CCTV arriving at her home at 10:45 pm on May 23. The prosecution alleges the murder was premeditated, with Keogh and an unidentified man acting as shooters, while Fox and Regina Keogh played instrumental roles in planning. Ms McDonnell, who was previously charged with withholding information but received immunity, stated she was afraid for her life. The matter is currently at the trial stage and has not been finalised.
A protected witness, Ms. Mary McDonnell, testified in a non‑jury trial in Dublin about the events leading to the murder of Gareth Hutch. She described how, on the evening before Hutch's shooting, two accused men—Jonathan Keogh and Thomas Fox—visited her flat and wiped down handguns. McDonnell said she was shaking when she saw the men cleaning the guns with baby wipes and that they left the weapons in a bag. She also recounted hearing Keogh threaten Hutch the day before the shooting and that the men had planned the attack. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, is part of a case in which Keogh, Fox and Regina Keogh are charged with murder and other offences. The prosecution argues the killing was pre‑meditated and planned. The case remains ongoing. Thomas Fox pleaded not guilty. Regina Keogh pleaded not guilty. Jonathan Keogh pleaded not guilty.
During the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, barristers for Michael Lowry's company argued that a corporation tax (CT1) form submitted on behalf of Garuda Ltd was unsigned and therefore not actionable. The court reviewed several tax returns: an income tax return for 2002 showing Lowry's total income of €151,050, a CT1 for 2002 indicating a loss of almost €100,000 and a refund of €3,500, and a CT1 for 2006 showing an income of €915,000 with a tax liability of €114,000. Revenue had issued letters in 2013 claiming that £248,624 received by Garuda in 2002 constituted taxable income, amounting to €516,000 in tax, penalties and fines for Lowry and €510,000 for the company. Lowry, aged 64, pleaded not guilty to four charges of filing incorrect tax returns between 2002 and 2007 and one charge of failing to keep proper accounts for the same period.
A retrial opened at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 12 June 2018 concerning a Cavan childminder accused of causing serious harm to a ten-month-old infant. Sandra Higgins, aged 37 of Drumgola Wood, Cavan, has pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly inflicting serious harm on the child at her home on 28 March 2012. The prosecution outlined that the baby was admitted to hospital with seizures and displaying significant injuries including head and facial bruising, brain bleeding, and detached retinas in both eyes. The State alleges these injuries were inflicted by Ms Higgins and posed substantial risk of death or bodily impairment. The defence accepted the severity of injuries but disputed causation. The court heard the baby had been in Ms Higgins's care full-time since November 2011, and that parents reported concerns about bumps and bruises approximately one month before the incident. The trial was scheduled to run for three weeks, with the jury instructed to base verdicts solely on courtroom evidence.
During the Special Criminal Court trial of three Dubliners accused of murdering 36‑year‑old Gareth Hutch, it was reported that Gardaí executed a search warrant at Facebook Ireland and received armed support from the Emergency Response Unit during a high‑risk entry at a suspect's home. Hutch, nephew of Gerry "the Monk" Hutch, was shot dead on 24 May 2016 outside Avondale House flats on North Cumberland Street, Dublin, after four gunshot wounds from a single weapon. The accused—Thomas Fox (31), Regina Keogh (41), and Jonathan Keogh (32)—have pleaded not guilty. Garda Gareth Norton testified that he entered Fox's home on 24 May, seized clothing, ashtrays, glasses, memory cards, SIM packs, USB sticks, a Samsung tablet, and an iPhone 5. He also reported a high‑risk entry at a fourth suspect's house on 11 June, where the suspect was arrested and handcuffed.
The trial of Independent TD Michael Lowry is ongoing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Martin Nolan. Mr Lowry, 61, of Glenreigh, Holycross, Co. Tipperary, pleaded not guilty to four charges of filing incorrect tax returns between August 2002 and August 2007 regarding a sum of Stg £248,624 received by his company, Garuda Ltd. He also pleaded not guilty to one charge of failing to keep proper accounts during the same period. Additionally, he pleaded not guilty on behalf of Garuda Ltd to three similar tax charges and one charge of failing to keep proper accounts. The State prosecutor, Remy Farrell SC, alleged that Mr Lowry and his company were "cooking the books" by keeping the sum off the books in 2002 and later attempting to account for it in 2006 to benefit from a more favourable tax rate. Counsel stated the State's case is that the money, which would have amounted to 88% of the company's certified gross profits for the year, was directed to a third party in the Isle of Man for Mr Lowry's own use. Evidence was heard from former Norpe Oy CEO Fred Ramberg, who testified via video-link regarding agency agreements and commission payments. The trial continues.
The Special Criminal Court heard that State witness Mary McDonnell is not in the Witness Protection Programme, despite an estimated €40,000 spent since March 2017 on her safe accommodation. A family liaison officer testified that McDonnell declined the programme because a family member did not wish to change their name. She is currently managed at a local district level, with costs initially covered by An Garda Síochana and later by the North Central Division local fund. Prosecution counsel Paul Burns SC stated that the State alleges Regina Keogh and Jonathan Keogh encouraged McDonnell to allow Thomas Fox to use her flat as a base to wait for Gareth Hutch prior to his shooting on May 24, 2016. McDonnell, who has been granted immunity from prosecution, is willingly giving evidence. The three accused—Fox, Regina Keogh, and Jonathan Keogh—have all pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Hutch. Fox has additionally denied unlawfully possessing a Makarov 9mm handgun. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, continues.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Independent TD Michael Lowry, aged 61, pleaded not guilty to five charges of filing incorrect tax returns for the period August 2002 to August 2007, relating to a sum of £248,624 received by Garuda Ltd while he served as director, manager, secretary or other officer. He also pleaded not guilty on behalf of Garuda Ltd to four similar charges for the same dates. Judge Cormac Quinn instructed the jury to remain impartial, noting Lowry's role as a TD for County Tipperary and the nature of the case as a "tax type offence." He advised jurors to focus on the evidence presented on the screen. Eight men and four women were sworn in, and the trial is expected to resume shortly before Judge Martin Nolan, with the case scheduled for a two‑week period.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 8 June 2018, Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard testified that he believes three men—David Nooney (53), Seán Hannaway (48), and Edward O'Brien (42)—are members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The men are charged with membership of an unlawful organisation. Two other defendants, Kevin Hannaway (69) and Eva Shannon (60), are pleading not guilty to assisting the IRA by interviewing persons involved in IRA‑related criminal activities on 7 and 8 August 2015 at Riverwood Park, Castleknock. Howard explained that he had reviewed Garda material on the three men and was satisfied that they were members of the IRA at that time. He stated he would claim privilege over the material, citing protection of life and state security, and would hand it over only if directed by the court. The trial is presided over by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy with Judges Gerard Griffin and Gerard Haughton.
The murder trial of Paul Bradley, 54, and his sons Jason, Dean, and Ryan, has heard evidence regarding the alleged killing of Neil Reilly, 36, at Esker Glebe in Lucan, Dublin, on January 18, 2017. All four defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charge. Prosecution counsel Paul Murray SC presented testimony from Detective Sergeant Gordon Woulfe, who described Ryan Bradley, then 17, as pale and showing signs of anguish during a police interview hours after the incident. The prosecution alleges the family chased a shooter who had fired two shots at their home, resulting in Reilly's death. Dean Bradley testified to hearing gunshots and driving with Ryan, while Ryan stated he was shaking and did not know who shot at the house. Garda Rachel O'Malley identified Reilly's fingerprint in a Mazda car found near the scene. Mr Justice Paul Coffey directed the jury to return on Tuesday to address a legal issue in their absence, meaning the matter was adjourned.
The trial of Thomas Fox, Regina Keogh, and Jonathan Keogh, who are accused of murdering Gareth Hutch, continues before a non-jury court in Dublin. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. Mr Fox has additionally denied unlawfully possessing a Makarov 9 mm handgun. Prosecution counsel Paul Burns SC alleged that the killing was premeditated and that the co-accused played distinct roles in the fatal shooting of Mr Hutch outside Avondale House flats on May 24, 2016. Evidence presented by Det Sgt Enda O'Sullivan indicated that a confidential informant, who had pursued the attackers, recognised Jonathan Keogh. This led to a search warrant for Keogh's father's home, where mobile phone items were recovered. Regina Keogh was present during this search and was subsequently searched at her own flat, though no items were recovered there. The court also heard evidence regarding a search of a third party's flat, where gloves and wipes were seized, which the prosecution alleges were used to clean weapons. Defence counsel Sean Guerin SC challenged the validity of the search warrant for Keogh's home, but the court ruled it valid. The matter is ongoing, with the trial continuing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges.
During the trial, a witness testified that Jonathan Keogh, one of three Dubliners accused of murdering 36‑year‑old Gareth Hutch, appeared "panicked" as he ran up a street on the morning of May 24, 2016. Keogh, aged 32, is alleged to have been involved in the shooting that killed Hutch outside Avondale House flats on North Cumberland Street. The witness, Colette Geoghegan, said she saw Keogh running fast enough to look panicked and that he might have been wearing dark shorts. She left her home at 9.50 am with her partner, Maurice Farrell, and later that day heard about the shooting. The court also heard from other witnesses and Garda officers who described the scene at Avondale House, noting large crowds and the presence of Hutch's relatives. All three accused—Thomas Fox, Regina Keogh, and Jonathan Keogh—have pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The trial continues with the prosecution presenting evidence of the alleged crime.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, the court ruled that the identification of two defendants accused of IRA offences was not 'dock identification'. Detective Sergeant Padraig Boyce, of the Special Detective Unit, had identified several individuals, including the accused, in more than a dozen photographs for Tara Burns SC. The defendants – Kevin Hannaway (69) and Eva Shannon (60) – pleaded not guilty to assisting an unlawful organisation, the IRA, during interviews at Riverwood Park, Castleknock, on 7 and 8 August 2015. Other co‑accused – David Nooney (53), Seán Hannaway (48) and Edward O'Brien (42) – also pleaded not guilty to membership of the IRA on 8 August 2015. The prosecution argued that Gardaí used surveillance devices to listen to conversations in the house, which were related to failed IRA operations. Det. Sgt. Boyce testified that the photographs showed the defendants and that he had spoken to Ms. Shannon on the day, confirming her name.
Paul Bradley, aged 54, denies murdering Neil Reilly, 36, who was found dead at Esker Glebe after a shotgun attack on 18 January 2017. Bradley claims a masked man fired a shot that "whizzed" past his head while he slept. He says he tried to pursue the shooter but failed to locate him. Bradley and his sons Jason (20), Dean (24) and Ryan (18) have pleaded not guilty. Garda testimony notes Bradley's jeep was damaged and had blood on the driver's side panel and front wheel; Bradley attributes the damage to an earlier, unreported accident. Sgt Maeve Ward reports a broken sitting‑room window and glass on the floor at Bradley's home. Jason Bradley was found with a deep cut on his hand and dried blood on his feet; he was taken to Tallaght Hospital. The trial is before Justice Paul Coffey with a jury of twelve.
The Special Criminal Court heard that Gareth Hutch, 36, died of multiple gunshot wounds after being shot in the carpark of Avondale House flats on North Cumberland Street, Dublin, on 24 May 2016. He suffered four gunshot injuries: two to the back of the neck, one to the lower back and one to the right of the upper chest. The post‑mortem, conducted by Professor Marie Cassidy, confirmed the injuries and noted that all bullets were recovered. Three bullets travelled from back to front, the fourth lodged in his left arm. Hutch lost over 2.5 litres of blood and was not intoxicated. Three men—Thomas Fox (31), Regina Keogh (41) and Jonathan Keogh (32)—are on trial for his murder, all pleading not guilty. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, continues with the prosecution alleging pre‑meditated planning and involvement of the accused in the shooting.
David Drumm, former CEO of Anglo Irish Bank, authorised €7.2 billion of back‑to‑back transactions with Irish Life & Permanent in September 2008 that inflated the bank's customer deposits from €44 billion to €51 billion. The scheme, described by the prosecution as a "massive con", involved circular routes through the assurance arm of ILP and was presented as legitimate funding. Drumm pleaded not guilty but admitted the transactions occurred, disputing they were fraudulent. He did not call witnesses. The trial, one of the longest in Irish criminal history, concluded with a unanimous guilty verdict. The prosecution alleged Drumm conspired with former Anglo executives, including Denis Casey, Willie McAteer and John Bowe, to falsify the balance sheet and mislead investors. The case highlighted the bank's desperate liquidity situation amid global financial turmoil and the role of the Financial Regulator in overseeing the transactions. The court found Drumm's actions constituted fraud and conspiracy to defraud.
During a murder trial, a witness described how he wrapped the body of Gareth Hutch, 36, in a sheet after Hutch was shot dead in the carpark of Avondale House flats on North Cumberland Street, Dublin, on 24 May 2016. The witness, Neville Mills, said he heard a commotion that morning, saw Ross Hutch holding his hands to his head and screaming hysterically, and later saw two men running out of the gate. Mills went down to the carpark, found Hutch lying on the ground, and wrapped him in a sheet. He also reported seeing a handgun in the carpark and another weapon beside a car, with spent cartridges on the ground. The trial also heard other witnesses describing the scene, the movements of the attackers, and CCTV footage of the incident. The accused—Thomas Fox, 31; Regina Keogh, 41; and Jonathan Keogh, 32—have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Gareth Hutch.
During a murder trial, Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis presented evidence that the victim, Neil Reilly, suffered more than 40 injuries. He described chop wounds to Reilly's head causing brain lacerations, multiple fractured ribs, extensive pelvic fractures, and scrapes consistent with being dragged across a rough surface. Curtis argued that the crushed pelvis and chest injuries could indicate that Reilly was run over, though the chest wounds might also result from resuscitation attempts. He noted seven blows with a chopping implement, including two to the head, and similar injuries to arms, back, and shoulder, all life‑threatening. Toxicology revealed cocaine, heroin, methadone, and codeine in Reilly's system. The trial, involving Paul Bradley and his sons, continues before Justice Paul Coffey and a jury. Paul Bradley pleaded not guilty. Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis pleaded not guilty.
The jury in the trial of former Anglo Irish Bank CEO David Drumm was sent home after a third day of deliberations, marking day 81 of proceedings in a 16‑week trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Karen O'Connor had instructed jurors that a unanimous verdict was required for both counts against Drumm, but that each count could be considered separately, allowing an acquittal or conviction on either or both. Drumm, aged 51, had pleaded not guilty and was presumed innocent. The State alleged that he conspired with former Anglo executives to carry out €7.2 billion in fraudulent transactions to inflate the bank's deposit figures. Drumm's lawyers acknowledged the transactions occurred in 2008 but disputed their fraudulent nature. The jury had deliberated for just over seven hours before being sent home for the night.
When Gardaí and paramedics arrived at the alleged murder scene at Esker Glebe, Lucan, they found Neil Reilly, 36, lying face‑down on the kerb with multiple stab wounds and broken ribs. The Central Criminal Court heard that Reilly had been beaten to death after he fired shots at a house in Dublin. The paramedics attempted to revive him, puncturing his lung and inserting a tube in his throat, but he went into cardiac arrest en route to James Connolly Memorial Hospital. Garda Niall Glackin, one of the first responders, described Reilly's clothes torn and deep lacerations on his back, shoulder and arm, while Garda Conor Mallon and Garda Orlene Corrigan noted that Reilly's arm appeared almost severed. The trial, involving Paul Bradley, 54, and his sons Jason (20), Dean (24) and Ryan (18), continues before Justice Paul Coffey and a jury of twelve. The prosecution alleges the men are guilty of murder. The defence maintains their innocence. Paul Bradley pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Patrick James (PJ) Mansfield, a 41‑year‑old former billionaire's son, collapsed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 5 June 2018. Judge Cormac Quinn directed the jury to return a not guilty verdict after the prosecution failed to prove how many rounds of ammunition Mansfield was entitled to possess. The case alleged that Mansfield unlawfully possessed 1,252 rounds of .22 calibre ammunition at his former home in Coldwater Lakes, Saggart, on 29 January 2015. Mansfield denied the allegation and claimed he was unaware of the quantity of ammunition in the house. The judge noted that Mansfield had a firearms certificate authorising him to hold a Walther .22 pistol and a certain number of .22 rounds, which Gardaí believed to be 300 bullets, but the certificate's other side, showing the exact number, was not produced. The judge also pointed out that the person who authorised the certificate had not been called as a witness.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 5 June 2018, Thomas Fox (31), Regina Keogh (41) and Jonathan Keogh (32) pleaded not guilty to the murder of 36‑year‑old Gareth Hutch, nephew of Gerry "the Monk" Hutch. The prosecution, represented by Paul Burns SC, described the killing as pre‑planned and brutal, with all three accused allegedly participating in the attack. Burns alleged that the men, who were known to each other, had planned the shooting at Avondale House flats on North Cumberland Street. He presented evidence that the men approached Hutch in a car park, each carrying a handgun, and fired four shots that killed Hutch. The prosecution also claimed forensic links between the accused and vehicles, petrol cans, and other items recovered at the scene. The trial was scheduled to continue before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges, with a duration expected to exceed four weeks.
The trial of Patrick James Mansfield, son of the late billionaire Jim Mansfield, is hearing that he is an authorised member of a gun club. Mansfield, 41, denies possessing 1,252 rounds of .22 calibre ammunition without a licence at his former home in Coldwater Lakes, Saggart, Co Dublin, on 29 January 2015. The jury has already heard that a legally-held Walther .22 pistol with a bullet in the chamber was found behind a picture frame in the master bedroom, and a 12‑gauge shotgun, also licensed, was recovered from a locked gun‑safe in a dressing‑room wardrobe, along with a large quantity of ammunition in various locations. On day two, evidence was presented about Mansfield's licence applications, one of which stated he was a person of good character, had a genuine reason for the application, and was a member of an authorised pistol club.
The trial of Adam Marlowe, 23, of Walkinstown, is ongoing in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He has pleaded not guilty to aggravated burglary and assault of 81‑year‑old Malachy Turley, who was injured during a burglary at Kettles Lane, Kinsealy, on 29 July 2016. Marlowe also pleaded not guilty to robbing €50 from Turley on the same date. On the third day of the trial, Dr Yvonne O'Dowd presented DNA evidence. She swabbed a piece of blue latex material found on Turley's bed, believed to be the tip of a glove, and generated a DNA profile that matched Marlowe 93 %. The remaining 7 % matched two other unidentified profiles. A pair of combat trousers with a mixed DNA profile of three people was also examined; the profiles did not belong to Marlowe or Turley.
During a murder trial, a mother of five, Sabrina Church, testified that she was shocked when Gardaí investigating the alleged murder of Neil Reilly showed her a gun left in her garden. Church, who was at home with her husband and children on the night of the incident, described the gun as appearing to be a toy and expressed that whoever had left it there had no concern for her family. The trial concerns Paul Bradley (54) and his sons Jason (20), Dean (24) and Ryan (18), who have all pleaded not guilty to Reilly's murder. The prosecution alleges that Reilly fired a shotgun at the Bradley residence, leading to a car chase and his death. The jury has reviewed CCTV footage and forensic evidence linking the gun to the crime. The trial continues before Justice Paul Coffey and a 12‑person jury.
The trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm, aged 51, has been delayed for a second consecutive day because a juror was unavailable. Drumm is on trial for conspiracy to defraud and false accounting, having been in court for 17 weeks. Judge Karen O'Connor informed the jury that the case had reached a critical stage and that a unanimous verdict was required on both counts, though each count could be considered separately. She reminded jurors that Drumm had pleaded not guilty and was presumed innocent until proven otherwise. The State alleges that Drumm conspired with former Anglo executives to carry out €7.2 billion in fraudulent transactions to inflate deposit figures. Drumm's lawyers acknowledged the transactions occurred but denied they were fraudulent or dishonest. The jury had deliberated for three hours and nine minutes over two days before the interruption.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, the prosecution argued that all evidence should lead to a guilty verdict for Frederick 'Freddie' Thompson in the 2016 murder of David Douglas. Thompson, 37, pleaded not guilty. The prosecution highlighted DNA found in two alleged 'spotter' cars, CCTV footage identifying Thompson as a driver, and fingerprints linking him to a Ford Fiesta and a Mitsubishi Mirage. They also cited his history of breaking mobile phones. The defence contended that without proof Thompson was in the Fiesta at the time of the shooting, there was no case. The court rejected a defence application for a not‑guilty verdict, noting the CCTV evidence met the minimum admissibility standard. The judge remanded Thompson in custody until a judgment is delivered on 24 July. The case remains at the trial stage.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, the defence of Frederick 'Freddie' Thompson, aged 37, applied for a not‑guilty verdict in the murder of David Douglas. The court rejected the application. Thompson, who pleaded not guilty on 1 July 2016, was accused of being involved in a shooting that killed Douglas on Bridgefoot Street. The prosecution presented evidence that Thompson's DNA was found in two cars used in the shooting and that CCTV footage identified him as a driver. Thompson's counsel argued that the evidence was scant, that there was no forensic link to the vehicles, and that the CCTV footage was blurred and flawed. The court upheld the admissibility of the CCTV evidence and declined to alter its earlier decision, with both sides expected to present closing arguments later that day.
Patrick James Mansfield, 41, son of the late billionaire Jim Mansfield, faced trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for unlawful possession of over 1,200 .22 calibre bullets. He denied holding 1,252 rounds without a licence at his former home in Coldwater Lakes, Saggart, on 29 January 2015. Gardaí searched the house, finding a legally-held Walther .22 pistol with a bullet in the chamber behind a picture frame in the master bedroom, and a licensed 12‑gauge shotgun in a locked gunsafe in a dressing‑room wardrobe, along with ammunition in various locations. In total, 1,557 rounds of .22 ammunition were seized, exceeding the 300‑round licence limit by 1,257 bullets, which were confiscated. An additional 98 rounds for the shotgun were licence‑permitted. The trial opened with Judge Cormac Quinn instructing jurors to rely solely on court evidence. The proceedings continue.
The jury in the conspiracy to defraud and false accounting trial of former Anglo Irish Bank CEO David Drumm paused their deliberations because one juror was "indisposed" and could not attend court. Judge Karen O'Connor informed the jury that they had no alternative but to send them home for the day, with courts services in contact with the juror and expected to provide further information later. The jury, composed of nine men and three women, had begun considering a verdict on Tuesday, day 81 of proceedings, after a 16‑week trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. They had deliberated for a total of three hours and nine minutes. Judge O'Connor reminded the jurors that a unanimous verdict was required for both counts against Mr Drumm (51), but that each count could be considered separately, allowing for acquittal or conviction on either or both. David Drumm pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin trial, Adam Marlowe, aged 23, pleaded not guilty to aggravated burglary and assault of an elderly farmer, Malachy Turley, at Kettles Lane, Kinsealy, on 29 July 2016. He also pleaded not guilty to robbing €50 from the 81‑year‑old complainant on the same date. On the second day of the hearing, evidence of a blue latex glove fragment was presented. Garda Kevin Hynes testified that the material was found under clothing on the victim's bed. Vincent Heneghan SC argued that the fragment appeared to be the tip of a glove, suggesting a cut could expose a finger. Hynes could not recall the exact condition of the bed when first entered, and Garda Warren O'Sullivan noted photographs were taken before the search. Garda Thomas Tighe reported finding the material after moving clothing, placing it in a bag, but the evidence was mistakenly labeled under Hynes's name.
In the Central Criminal Court, Paul Bradley (54) and his sons Jason (20), Dean (24) and Ryan (18) are on trial for the murder of Neil Reilly (36) at Esker Glebe, Lucan, on 18 January 2017. The defendants plead not guilty. The prosecution alleges that Reilly fired a shotgun at the Bradley home shortly before 4 a.m., leading to a car chase that ended with Reilly being beaten to death by the Bradleys. On the day after the alleged attack, Garda Sergeant Maeve Ward found a shotgun in the garden of a house on Rowlagh Crescent, close to an unlocked white van containing a balaclava. The weapon was identified in court and shown to the jury. The jury also watched CCTV footage of a white van arriving at Liscarne Gardens at 3.51 a.m., leaving, and a second car following. An emergency call at 3.56 a.m.
The jury in the Anglo Irish Bank CEO David Drumm trial was sent home for a second night after deliberating for just under two hours today, bringing their total deliberation time to three hours and nine minutes. The case, which has been one of the longest in the State, involves two separate counts of conspiracy to defraud and false accounting. Judge Karen O'Connor required a unanimous verdict on each count, reminding jurors that Drumm, aged 51, had pleaded not guilty and was presumed innocent. The State alleges that Drumm conspired with former Anglo officials to carry out €7.2 billion in fraudulent transactions to inflate deposit figures. Drumm's lawyers admit the transactions occurred but dispute their fraudulent nature. The jury was told they could not listen to recorded phone evidence in the jury room but could return to court to do so. The trial is ongoing.
A Dublin man, Adam Marlowe, 23, is on trial for aggravated burglary and assault of an 81‑year‑old farmer, Malachy Turley, on 29 July 2016. Marlowe pleaded not guilty. Turley, who had retired from farming and allowed horses on his land for €100 a month, was living alone at his family home since 1986. He described how three men in homemade balaclavas entered his house, beat him with bats, a small blade and an imitation gun, and demanded money. Turley was pushed onto his bed, beaten, and left unconscious for up to 30 minutes. He later found €50 missing from his wallet and two small bags of coins taken from his bookshelf. He received five stitches to his hand, bruising, and painkillers. The trial is before Judge Melanie Greally and a jury of eight men and four women.
In a trial opened on 30 May 2018, Paul Bradley (54) and his sons Jason (20), Dean (24) and Ryan (18) of Liscarne Gardens, Dublin 22, denied murdering Neil Reilly (36) at Esker Glebe, Lucan, on 18 January 2017. Prosecutor Paul Murray SC presented evidence that Reilly fired a shotgun at the Bradley home around 4 a.m. The accused were present and allegedly chased Reilly in a jeep and a BMW. Gardai were alerted and later found the vehicles returning to the house. Reilly was pursued to Esker Glebe, where a Mazda crashed and he was left for dead. A pathologist's report recorded seven blows with a chopping implement, two to the head and five to the body, plus severe crush injuries to the pelvis. The prosecution argued the accused were willing, knowing participants in a joint enterprise to murder Reilly. The jury was instructed to decide solely on the evidence presented in court. Paul Bradley pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court will hold a non‑jury trial next week for Thomas Fox, Regina Keogh and Jonathan Keogh, who are accused of murdering 35‑year‑old Gareth Hutch. Hutch was shot outside his Dublin home on 24 May 2016. The trial, originally scheduled for this afternoon, was adjourned to Tuesday morning after additional evidence was presented. The accused remain remanded in custody. The hearing will be presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Patricia Ryan and Michael Walsh.
The Dublin Circuit Court jury in the trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm was sent home after deliberating for just over an hour. The jury, consisting of nine men and three women, returned to court later that day to hear a recorded phone call between Drumm and former Anglo treasury director John Bowe from late September 2008. Bowe is named as an alleged co‑conspirator in Drumm's indictment. The State alleges that Drumm conspired with former Irish Life & Permanent CEO Denis Casey, former Anglo financial director Willie McAteer, Bowe and others to carry out €7.2 bn in fraudulent transactions to inflate the bank's deposit figures. Drumm's lawyers admit the transactions occurred but dispute their fraudulent nature. Judge Karen O'Connor reminded the jury that Drumm pleaded not guilty and is presumed innocent, and that they must consider each count separately. The jury will return tomorrow at 2 pm for further deliberations.
Former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan denied allegations that he disparaged whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe to three individuals, including two TDs. The tribunal heard that Callinan was accused by former Garda press officer Superintendent David Taylor of directing him to brief the media negatively on McCabe. Callinan testified that he met with Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee chairman John McGuinness in a Dublin hotel car park to discuss data‑protection concerns over penalty‑points evidence, not to criticize McCabe. He said McGuinness's notes did not reflect the conversation and that he had not made any disparaging remarks. Callinan also clarified that McCabe had been invited to cooperate with an internal inquiry led by Assistant Commissioner John O'Mahoney and that McCabe's actions were not misconduct. The tribunal will resume next week when former commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan gives evidence.
Martin Sherlock, a 30‑year‑old business analyst from Athlumney Wood, Navan, was convicted by the Central Criminal Court of raping a woman he met on the dating app Badoo. The alleged offence occurred on 14 August 2015 at the victim's Dublin home. Sherlock had pleaded not guilty. The jury, after more than five hours of deliberation, found him guilty. The court remanded him on continuing bail until 18 June. The victim, aged 27, testified that she had met another man on Badoo and had sex with him because Sherlock had not confirmed their meeting. She then agreed to meet Sherlock for a chat, but when he arrived she refused sex without a condom. She reported that he ignored her repeated "no" and "stop" requests, continued to have oral and penetrative sex, and ejaculated. She also claimed he stole her phone after the assault.
The prosecution has closed its case in the Special Criminal Court murder trial of 37‑year‑old Frederick "Freddie" Thompson, who pleaded not guilty to the July 2016 killing of 55‑year‑old David Douglas on Bridgefoot Street. The 10‑day trial heard that Douglas was shot six times shortly after 4 pm while taking a break at his partner's shop, Shoestown. A semi‑automatic pistol with its serial number removed was found beside Douglas's head. The prosecution did not argue that Thompson fired the shots, but the judges heard that his DNA was found in two alleged "spotter" cars used in the shooting and that CCTV footage identified him as the driver of one of those cars. Witness testimony described a silver Mercedes and a silver Suzuki involved in the escape, and CCTV footage showed Thompson leaving a Ford Fiesta on Meath Street and handing a key to a woman at a stall.
In the Special Criminal Court, Frederick 'Freddie' Thompson, 37, pleaded not guilty to the 2016 murder of David Douglas. The court heard that Thompson had been warned that his refusal to explain his presence in two alleged 'spotter' cars could lead to inferences used as corroboration. He gave a 'no comment' reply to questions about his possession of a silver Ford Fiesta, a key, a mobile phone, DNA evidence on an air freshener and hand sanitiser, and his presence in a blue Mitsubishi Mirage. The judges rejected a defence application to exclude private CCTV footage, stating that the cameras did not breach his constitutional right to privacy. The trial continues before Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Flann Brennan and Judge Gerard Griffin.
In a Charleton tribunal hearing, former Garda press officer Superintendent David Taylor denied that he was directed by former Commissioner Martin Callinan to brief journalists negatively about Sgt Maurice McCabe's 2006 sexual‑assault allegation. Taylor said he had been instructed to mention that McCabe was motivated by revenge and that the allegation was a "smear campaign." He claimed he had clarified to reporters that the DPP had not prosecuted the case and that the narrative was "there was no smoke without fire." Taylor also testified that the campaign ended when Callinan left office and that he had been moved from the press office to the traffic division, a transfer he described as a "fall from grace." He argued that he should not have been placed in a police cell after an inquiry into Garda leaks, stating he was not a flight risk and that custody was unnecessary. No other Garda officials confirmed Callinan's alleged direction.
The Special Criminal Court ruled that Frederick 'Freddie' Thompson's claim of a constitutional right to privacy over CCTV footage was "bordering on the absurd." The court was hearing a defence application to exclude private CCTV footage that the State said linked Thompson to the murder of shoe shop manager David Douglas on 1 July 2016. Thompson, 37, pleaded not guilty. The prosecution presented evidence that Thompson's DNA was found in two alleged 'spotter' cars used in the shooting and that CCTV footage identified him as a driver and as walking across Meath Street that afternoon. The court rejected the argument that the footage breached Thompson's privacy, noting that the cameras merely recorded eye‑witness activity and that the State's interest outweighed any expectation of privacy. The judges declined to rule the evidence inadmissible, and the trial continues before Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Flannan Brennan and Judge Gerard Griffin.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 30‑year‑old man accused of raping a woman he met on the dating app Badoo told the jury he believed the sexual activity was consensual. He explained that they had matched on the app and that a text about bringing a condom was received, but he claimed he did not have one when he arrived. He said the woman appeared disappointed but did not give a negative response when they began sex, and that she seemed "quite into it and quite happy." He stated he stopped when she asked him not to use his fingers and that he had no intention of continuing without her consent. The accused denied any admission of non‑consensual sex, claimed he had no prior convictions, and argued that the police had misinterpreted his statements. The case remains in the closing stages before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of eight men and four women. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
The State's case against former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court closed after 74 days of evidence. Prosecutor Paul O'Higgins SC informed the jury that the DPP's evidence was complete and the prosecution case had closed. Judge Karen O'Connor sent the jury home for the day, noting that Mr Drumm's lawyers would make an application to the court which she would consider in their absence. Drumm, 51, of Skerries, Co Dublin, pleaded not guilty to conspiring with former bank officials to defraud depositors and investors by dishonestly creating the impression that Anglo's 2008 deposits were €7.2 billion larger than they were. He also pleaded not guilty to false accounting on 3 December 2008. Drumm accepts that the multi‑million euro transactions took place between Anglo and ILP in 2008 but disputes that they were fraudulent or dishonest.