Tomas Gajowniczek, 37, of The Ice Rink Apartments, pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of his partner, Alicja Kalinowska, 30, on 16 June 2016. He also pleaded not guilty to causing serious harm to her on the same date. Garda Peter Mullins arrested him in the car park of Kevin St Garda Station after reports of an assault. During the arrest, Gajowniczek told the Garda that he did not care whether his two‑year‑old daughter was alive or dead. He also asked how Alicja would fare. After the assault, Alicja was treated for a fractured nose and injuries to her eyes, limbs and torso. Gajowniczek had been previously arrested under the Mental Health Act after a separate incident involving his partner and their daughter. The trial is proceeding before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of twelve.
Sean Dunne, a businessman, testified in the Irish High Court that he had cooperated with the official assignee in his bankruptcy case. He explained that his wife and family left their former home in the United States in 2013 because they were being "hounded by the media" after he was declared bankrupt. Dunne alleged that private investigators working for his creditors had leaked the address to the press. He said he believed his bankruptcy would be handled in the United States, but the Irish High Court adjudicated him bankrupt in July 2013. Dunne claimed that the U.S. trustee and his lawyer acted "behind his back" and changed the rules without informing him. He denied that he had failed to cooperate with the process and said he had provided his address and appeared when required. The case is before Ms Justice Caroline Costello, and the extension of his bankruptcy, which was due to expire in July 2016, is still pending.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former Irish Life and Permanent chief dealer David Gantly testified about a 2008 Central Bank meeting where senior treasury heads from six major Irish banks were advised to issue bonds that would be purchased by each other to boost market confidence. Gantly said the Central Bank and the Financial Regulator encouraged this practice, noting it was not unusual for banks to support one another on bonds, but the level of support was unusually high. He confirmed that the arrangement was not disclosed to the market. The testimony was part of the trial of David Drumm, 51, who faces charges of conspiracy to defraud Anglo Irish Bank by falsely claiming deposits were €7.2 billion larger than they were. The trial is in its eleventh week before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury of ten men and four women. David Drumm pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin 8 trial, Tomas Gajowniczek, aged 37, pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and serious harm charges against his partner, Alicja Kalinowska, aged 30, following an incident on 16 June 2016. Kalinowska testified that Gajowniczek punched her, stuffed clothes in her mouth, gouged her eyes and beat her with a claw‑hammer while their baby slept in the next room. She described feeling that he intended to kill her. The prosecution, led by Paul Burns SC, highlighted the Criminal Law Insanity Act 2006 but argued Gajowniczek was not mentally ill. Kalinowska recounted their relationship history, her work, and prior domestic tensions, including a 2013 raid on Gajowniczek's garage and his subsequent withdrawal. The case was set to continue before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of twelve.
In a Central Criminal Court case, a 46‑year‑old Galway man, whose name is withheld for legal reasons, is on trial for orally raping a 20‑year‑old woman. The alleged offence occurred on the night of 5 November 2015, when the man allegedly gave the woman a lift home. According to the victim, she fell asleep during the journey and woke to find the man standing in the van with his right leg on the seat beside her and his penis in her mouth. She later ran to a nearby house and shouted the van's registration number. The accused claims the encounter was consensual, describing it as "very tender" and "chemical," and says the woman gave him oral sex for a few seconds before she said she had a boyfriend. He denies the charge and has no prior convictions.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Tadhg Butler, formerly known as Thomas O'Grady, is at the stage of the judge's charge to the jury. Butler, 37, of Tramore, Co Waterford, is charged with the murder of Michael O'Dwyer, who died in January 2014 after sustaining a stab wound at a party in Butler's home. Butler has pleaded not guilty, alleging he accidentally stabbed O'Dwyer while attempting to disarm his nephew, Anthony (Tony) O'Grady, to prevent self-harm. Tony O'Grady, who suffers from personality disorders, initially told gardai that Butler deliberately stabbed O'Dwyer with a butcher's knife but later claimed he could not remember the incident. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC argued the death was a tragic accident in a confined space, urging the jury to return a verdict of not guilty or, alternatively, manslaughter if they found the actions reckless. Prosecution counsel Denis Vaughan Buckley countered that there was ample evidence to convict, highlighting that Butler did not provide his accidental stabbing account to gardai during his interview. The judge has begun his charge, and the jury is expected to begin deliberations on Wednesday.
David Drumm, former CEO of Anglo Irish Bank, is currently on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where he has pleaded not guilty to two charges. He is alleged to have conspired with former bank officials Denis Casey, William McAteer, John Bowe, and others to defraud depositors and investors by dishonestly creating the impression that 2008 deposits were €7.2 billion larger than they were. Additionally, he faces a charge of false accounting for allegedly furnishing the market with this inflated deposit figure on December 3, 2008. On day 55 of the trial, David Gantly, chief dealer at Irish Life and Permanent (ILP), testified that the Financial Regulator was unhappy that ILP received funding from the European Central Bank during the 2008 crisis. Gantly stated that the regulator was uncomfortable with ILP's reliance on this safety net and did not want the bank openly disclosing its borrowings to the market. He further testified that ILP officials, including Casey, were encouraged by the Regulator to engage in transactions with Anglo, which Gantly described as not a normal type of transaction. The trial is in its eleventh week before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury. The matter is ongoing and has not been finalised.
During the fifth day of his murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Tadhg Butler, 37, pleaded not guilty to the killing of Michael O'Dwyer, 25, who died on 10 January 2014 after a stab wound at a party in Butler's house in Seafield, Tramore. Butler told the court that he had taken a knife from his nephew, Anthony O'Grady, to prevent the nephew from self‑harm. He claimed that the nephew had become upset over a brother's death and, while holding the knife, said he was "sick of this f*cking life." Butler said he tried to remove the knife, pinning the nephew against a wall, and that he did not realise the knife was in O'Dwyer's chest until the victim collapsed. The prosecution cross‑examined Butler about his earlier statements to Gardaí and his religious beliefs. The trial continues with further cross‑examination scheduled for the next day.
A pensioner in his late seventies has filed a High Court application to halt his criminal trial for alleged sexual assault of an eight‑year‑old girl in 1962‑63. He claims that the passage of more than five decades has prejudiced his right to a fair trial. The case is set to be heard by a judge and jury at the Circuit Criminal Court next year. The accused denies all charges and says he rarely visited the victim's Dublin home, contrary to the complainant's allegation that he and his family were regular visitors. He also asserts that he was working overseas at the time of some alleged incidents. His mother and sister, who might have supported his account, have died. The High Court, after hearing barrister Patrick Gageby SC, granted a stay on the prosecution, making the matter returnable to a June hearing.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 46‑year‑old Galway man pleaded not guilty to a single charge of oral rape at a Galway location in the early hours of 5 November 2015. He told Gardaí that the alleged encounter began with a consensual, "passionate" kiss while looking over the city from a viewpoint. He claimed they hugged, kissed, and that the woman performed oral sex on him for a few seconds before she said she had a boyfriend and became unresponsive. He said she then shouted at him, demanded her phone, and wanted him to drive her to a Garda station. He described feeling panicked when she left the van and later went home very shaken. The trial is in its closing stages before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury. The case is still ongoing.
In the Central Criminal Court, Tadhg Butler, 37, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 25‑year‑old Michael O'Dwyer, who died after a stab wound at a party in Butler's house on 10 January 2014. Butler, a father of five, told Gardaí that he had strong religious beliefs, attending Mass, saying the rosary, and prayer meetings. He denied any involvement in the stabbing, stating it had nothing to do with him. Garda Jennifer Ryan reported that Butler was asked if he was sorry for O'Dwyer's death and how he felt about being arrested; he responded that he was saddened by the death and that "these things happen." He was also asked about his religious convictions, to which he affirmed his adherence to the commandment "Thou shalt not kill." The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Paul Butler with a jury of six men and six women.
A 37‑year‑old man, Tomas Gajowniczek of The Ice Rink Apartments, Dolphin's Barn, Dublin 8, pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of Alicja Kalinowska at his home on 16 June 2016. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy has sworn a jury of six women and six men to hear the trial at the Central Criminal Court. The trial, expected to last four days, will begin tomorrow.
During the 54th day of David Drumm's trial, a jury heard that senior Irish Life and Permanent (ILP) bankers were "scared shitless" as €7.2 bn transactions with Anglo Irish Bank were carried out in September 2008. Paul Kane, former Head of Liquidity at ILP, testified that he personally supervised the deals and that the senior ILP officers, including Denis Casey and Peter Fitzpatrick, were reluctant to proceed. Kane described phone calls with former ILP treasury head David Gantley, who said the men were "scared stiff" and that the arrangement was not a proper business practice. Kane also noted that Anglo had previously increased ILP's credit limit to €820 m and was disappointed that the favour could not be reciprocated. Drumm, former CEO of Anglo, admits the transactions occurred but denies they were fraudulent or dishonest. The trial continues before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury. David Drumm pleaded not guilty.
During the Charleton Tribunal, Andrew McLindon, the civilian Director of Communications for An Garda Síochána, testified about alleged attempts by senior Gardaí to smear whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe. McLindon, appointed in 2013, said he had never received instructions to brief negatively on McCabe and would have been "appalled" if such a campaign had occurred. He noted that the 2006 sexual‑abuse allegation against McCabe had been investigated by the Gardaí and the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed no prosecution, finding no evidence of a crime. McLindon acknowledged that some Gardaí, including former press officer Superintendent David Taylor, claimed they were instructed by Commissioner Martin Callinan to brief negatively on McCabe. McLindon also mentioned a note titled "Start Sgt McCabe 2006" from a meeting preparing for Callinan's Public Account Committee appearance, indicating the allegations were discussed.
In a Waterford murder trial, the accused, 37‑year‑old Tadhg Butler, was found crouched behind a wall near his home shortly after a stabbing. The arresting officer, Detective Sergeant Shay Keevans, testified that he arrived at the Seafield holiday homes that night and found a man on the ground with a chest wound, pale and needing medical attention. After knocking on Butler's locked door, he and colleagues entered the house, finding no one inside but a pool of blood in the hall and an open window. Keevans later saw Butler crouched at the end of the wall and arrested him on suspicion of assault causing harm to Michael O'Dwyer. Butler pleaded not guilty. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a jury of twelve.
A 46‑year‑old man was accused of oral rape in Galway on the night of 5 November 2015. The complainant, a 20‑year‑old woman, said she was given a lift home after a night out and was taken into the front passenger seat of the van. She claimed that while the van was moving she woke to find the man thrusting his penis into her mouth. She pushed him off, screamed, and fled to a nearby house where she rang the doorbell and told the occupants what had happened. The occupants called the Gardaí. The complainant described herself as distressed, having had several drinks earlier, and denied any consensual contact or prior interaction with the accused. The case is before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury. The accused has pleaded not guilty to the charge of oral rape.
In a 2018 trial, a senior banker at Irish Life and Permanent (ILP), Peter Fitzpatrick, instructed that the €7.2 billion transaction with Anglo Irish Bank be formally documented to protect ILP from potential exposure. Fitzpatrick, during a 2008 phone call with former ILP liquidity manager Paul Kane, emphasized the need for standard banking language to avoid confusion and ensure a binding agreement. The call, recorded on Kane's line, highlighted concerns that without documentation ILP could be "massively exposed" if the deal were questioned. Evidence included an email approving a €1 billion transaction in March 2008, with Fitzpatrick noting Central Bank encouragement. The case involved David Drumm, former Anglo CEO, who pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and false accounting charges related to the alleged overstatement of Anglo's 2008 deposits. The trial continued in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court under Judge Karen O'Connor.
The Central Criminal Court saw the collapse of a trial involving a 40‑year‑old man accused of raping his partner's sister. He had pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape at his Dublin home between September 2009 and July 2013, and to additional charges of oral rape and sexual assault involving contact with the complainant's thigh and vagina between August 2009 and August 2010. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy discharged the jury after a procedural issue arose, and remanded the accused on continuing bail until a new trial date is set.
In the Central Criminal Court, a 37‑year‑old man, Tadhg Butler, is charged with murdering his 25‑year‑old nephew's friend, Michael O'Dwyer, on 10 January 2014. Butler pleaded not guilty. The prosecution presented a statement from Butler's nephew, Tony O'Grady, who claimed Butler had walked up to O'Dwyer and stabbed him with a butcher's knife during a party at Butler's home. O'Grady said he had no memory of the statement or the events, citing medication for mental disorders and drug use. During cross‑examination, O'Grady admitted that Butler had previously wrestled knives from him to prevent self‑harm and that Butler might have struggled to remove a knife from O'Dwyer's hand. The jury heard that O'Dwyer died from a single stab wound to the chest, with the pathologist noting a penetrating injury between the ribs that damaged the heart and left lung. The trial will continue tomorrow before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a 12‑person jury.
During the 52nd day of David Drumm's trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former Anglo Irish Bank non‑executive director Michael Jacob testified that the bank sourced "excellent people" to conduct "healthy checks and balances" amid the 2008 financial crisis. Jacob explained that Anglo's financial reporting had evolved and that the bank had engaged the firm PWC to review its audit and risk committees, ensuring no overlaps or gaps. He described the period as an "exceptional time" in international finance, noting the disappearance of major companies and the resulting funding challenges. Jacob also recounted attending a board meeting on 24 October 2008, where he could not recall any discussion of the Anglo‑Irish Life & Permanent transaction, which was first documented in a PWC report circulated to directors. The trial, now in its tenth week, continues before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury of ten men and four women. David Drumm pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a woman accused her sister's partner of rape and testified that she had blocked some of the abuse but retained vivid memories of other incidents. She stated she suffers from PTSD and experiences flashbacks of alleged sexual abuse that occurred when she was aged 13 to 16. She confirmed that she gave details of five separate sex abuse allegations to the jury. The accused man, 40, pleaded not guilty to seven charges of raping the then‑teenager at his Dublin address on dates from September 2009 to July 2013. He also pleaded not guilty to oral rape and sexually assaulting the complainant by rubbing his penis on her thigh and touching her vagina at the same location on a date between August 2009 and August 2010.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing of 37‑year‑old Tadhg Butler, accused of murdering 25‑year‑old Michael O'Dwyer on 10 January 2014, his nephew Tony O'Grady testified that he has no memory of the night of the murder or of any statement he may have given to Gardaí. O'Grady, who lives in The New Houses, Bishop's Birch, said he was a drug addict at the time and had been in and out of mental hospitals, taking heavy medication and being sectioned several times. He claimed he could not remember the past six years, including the night of the stabbing, and that he was "always blanking out" due to his drug and alcohol addiction. The judge excused the jury to return later that afternoon for the remainder of the trial. Tadhg Butler pleaded not guilty.
The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial of former Anglo Irish Bank CEO David Drumm, who faces conspiracy to defraud charges, has been ongoing since January. Judge Karen O'Connor informed the jury that she is very hopeful the proceedings will conclude at the beginning of June. The jury began hearing evidence on February 9 after initial legal arguments. Drumm's barrister, Tessa White, acknowledged that multi‑million euro transactions occurred between Anglo and Irish Life & Permanent in 2008 but denied they were fraudulent. On day 51, former Anglo treasury director Peter Geisel testified that Credit Suisse had rejected a "back‑to‑back deal" proposal in the summer of 2008. The trial, now in its tenth week, continues before Judge O'Connor and the jury. Drumm, aged 51, has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to defraud and false accounting for the 2008 deposit figures. The case remains in the trial stage.
A 21‑year‑old woman testified in Central Criminal Court that she was raped by a man described as a "father figure" who had been her sister's partner. She said the assault began when she was 13, with the accused's children present in the bedroom. The victim claimed she was forced to perform oral sex on him weeks later. The accused, 40, pleaded not guilty to seven rape charges covering dates from September 2009 to July 2013, when the victim was aged 13 to 16. He also faced not‑guilty pleas for oral rape and sexual assault involving rubbing his penis on the victim's thigh and touching her vagina between August 2009 and August 2010. The prosecution argued the accused claimed consensual sex, while the defense contested the allegations. The trial continues with cross‑examination before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury.
In a Waterford murder trial, evidence was presented that emergency services discovered a blood‑soaked man outside the accused's house, which was also covered in blood and littered with alcohol cans. The trial concerns a 37‑year‑old man, Tadhg Butler, who is charged with murdering 25‑year‑old Michael O'Dwyer on 10 January 2014. Butler pleaded not guilty. The prosecution, led by Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, argued that O'Dwyer was stabbed in the chest at Butler's address, with his heart and left lung injured, leading to death in hospital a few hours later. Butler had previously been known as Thomas O'Grady but changed his name by deed poll. Garda and paramedic witnesses described the crime scene, noting forced entry, blood on the floor, numerous empty cans, and a recent alcohol purchase. The trial is set to continue before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a jury of twelve.
A new jury of six men and six women was sworn in by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy to hear the trial of a 37‑year‑old Waterford man accused of murdering 25‑year‑old Michael O'Dwyer on 10 January 2014. The accused, Tadhg Butler of Seafield in Tramore, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment before the Central Criminal Court. The jury, the second to be sworn for this case, will hear the trial, which is expected to last two weeks, before Mr Justice Paul Butler later that day.
In a criminal hearing at Dublin Circuit Court, former Anglo Irish Bank CEO David Drumm was accused of conspiring to defraud depositors and investors by misrepresenting the bank's deposit levels. Drumm, who signed a statement to the Irish Stock Exchange on 3 December 2008, claimed that customer funding had risen to €51.5 bn, a figure that was later alleged to be inflated by €7.2 bn. He admitted that multi‑million‑euro transactions occurred between Anglo and Irish Life & Permanent (ILP) in 2008 but denied any fraud or dishonesty. Dermot Kieran, a former finance manager, testified that he learned of the transactions after they happened and that Drumm had asked him to sketch the balance sheet and forecast it for September 2008. Michael Casey, ILP's treasury manager, confirmed that a £978 m sterling transaction with Anglo on 25 September 2008 was authorised by temporarily overriding the credit limit. David Drumm pleaded not guilty.
A 37‑year‑old Waterford man, Tadhg Butler, is on trial for the murder of 25‑year‑old Michael O'Dwyer, who died of a single stab wound to the chest on 10 January 2014. Butler, originally known as Thomas O'Grady, changed his name by deed poll. The prosecution, led by Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, argued that the knife used was held by Butler and that the wound was a single forward thrust, with no defensive injuries on O'Dwyer's hands or arms. Butler pleaded not guilty. Witness Tony Walsh, a caretaker, testified that he saw Butler "scampering" back into his home as Gardaí arrived and that a body lay on the ground. The trial, held before the Central Criminal Court, will continue the following day before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a jury of five women and seven men, and is expected to last two weeks.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, two men, Kevin Braney (43) and Ciaran Maguire (29), pleaded not guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army. Prosecutor Fiona Murphy presented belief evidence from Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Maguire that the accused were IRA members on the day in question. She also introduced evidence that on 13 July 2016 Braney and Maguire travelled to Longwood, County Meath, where they confronted a man involved in a dispute with a former employer. The men allegedly told the man that if he did not drop a claim against his former employer, the next time they saw him they would shoot him. The prosecution also cited the men's arrest on 2 August 2017 and subsequent Garda interview, arguing that their failure to answer investigative questions should be inferred. The case is before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Gerard Griffin and Flann Brennan presiding.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Robert Day, 56, of Cabra, Dublin 7, pleaded not guilty to a charge of membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Day refused to stand when arraigned and responded "totally not guilty" to the charge of belonging to an unlawful organisation. The prosecution, represented by Anne‑Marie Lawlor SC, presented evidence from a Garda Chief Superintendent who asserted that Day was a member of the IRA on the relevant date. This belief was to be supported by audio recordings of conversations at a private residence in Castleknock, captured by the National Surveillance Unit. Lawlor noted that the device was deployed on 7 August 2015 at Riverwood Park and that the conversations could only suggest that those present were involved in IRA‑related activity.
A 37‑year‑old Waterford man, Tadhg Butler of Seafield in Tramore, is set to go on trial for the murder of 25‑year‑old Michael O'Dwyer on 10 January 2014 in County Waterford. Butler was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court and pleaded not guilty. A jury of five women and seven men will hear the case before Mr Justice Paul Butler, with the trial expected to last two weeks.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Mr David Drumm, 51, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and false accounting charges related to Anglo Irish Bank's 2008 deposits. He claimed that external auditors Ernst & Young issued a clean opinion on the bank's year‑end accounts, though he suggested a qualified opinion could have been issued. Drumm admitted that multi‑million euro transactions occurred between Anglo and Irish Life & Permanent (ILP) in 2008 but denied they were fraudulent or dishonest. Witness Kevin Kelly, an accountant, testified that Ernst & Young auditors entered Anglo's headquarters in November 2008 and that the audit team had been briefed beforehand. Kelly also noted that the transaction with ILP was described as "technically sound" and that he was only informed of its details in 2009. The trial, now on day 43, is proceeding before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury of ten men and four women.
At the Central Criminal Court, the jury in the trial of a man accused of murdering his infant son has been permitted to return a majority verdict. John Tighe, aged 40, of Lavallyroe, Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, pleads not guilty to the murder of his six-and-a-half-month-old son, Joshua Sussbier Tighe, who died at the family home on 1 June 2013. After six hours and 38 minutes of deliberation, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy instructed the nine women and three men that ten jurors need agree on their verdict. The judge outlined three possible verdicts: guilty of murder, not guilty, or not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. The prosecution contends the child choked on tissue deliberately placed in his throat. The accused maintains he discovered the baby choking on tissue after returning from the toilet while changing his nappy. The judge explained the legal thresholds for each verdict to the jury.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court is to resume deliberations on Friday in the trial of John Tighe, aged 40, of Lavallyroe, Ballyhaunis, County Mayo. Mr Tighe has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his infant son on 1 June 2013. The prosecution alleges that the child choked on tissue deliberately placed in his throat, while the defence maintains the accused discovered the child choking after stepping away briefly. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy instructed the jury that three verdicts are available: guilty of murder, not guilty of murder, or not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. The jury must reach a unanimous decision and has already deliberated for four hours and 25 minutes.
During a trial at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former Anglo Irish Bank executive Declan Quilligan testified that he witnessed a banker crying at a foreign investment meeting in Amsterdam in September 2008 after Lehman Brothers collapsed. Quilligan, who was present at the meeting, described the banker's distress as a result of having invested in Lehman Brothers a few days earlier, leading to a "corporate run" on Anglo. He also explained that Anglo's funding initiatives had fallen away and that the market had worsened due to Lehman's demise, causing the bank's balance sheet to appear weaker at year‑end. Quilligan agreed with the defense that Anglo had been a successful bank up to 2007 and that actions taken during the credit crisis could be misinterpreted. He further discussed the bank's interactions with Irish Life & Permanent and the Central Bank's role in the crisis.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has heard closing arguments in the trial of a man accused of murdering his infant son in Co Mayo. John Tighe, aged 40, of Lavallyroe, Ballyhaunis, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his six-and-a-half-month-old son on 1 June 2013. The prosecution alleges the child choked on tissue deliberately placed in his throat. The defence maintained the boy choked on tissue he reached while unattended during nappy changing. Defence counsel Mícheál P O'Higgins SC stressed to jurors they must be certain of guilt beyond reasonable doubt and cannot convict on suspicion. He argued inconsistencies in the accused's account were inevitable given the distressed circumstances and questioned whether expert evidence supported an innocent explanation. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy outlined three possible verdicts: guilty of murder, guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. The jury will begin deliberations following the judge's charge completion tomorrow.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in a trial concerning alleged IRA membership and assistance. Edward O'Brien, 42, of Finglas, Dublin, is pleading not guilty to membership of an unlawful organization, namely the IRA, on August 8, 2015. The prosecution alleges gardai used surveillance to record interviews regarding failed IRA operations at a house in Castleknock. O'Brien's counsel objected to the admissibility of his interview under Section 2 of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act, 1998, which permits inferences from a refusal to answer questions. Evidence was heard in a voir dire. Detective Garda Michael Morris testified that O'Brien stated he was not an IRA member but made no comment regarding his movements on August 7 and 8, or involvement in interviewing another man. Four co-accused are also arraigned. Kevin Hannaway, 69, and Eva Shannon, 60, both of Belfast, are pleading not guilty to knowingly rendering assistance to the IRA by assisting in interviews at Riverwood Park on August 7 and 8, 2015. David Nooney, 53, of Ballymun, and Seán Hannaway, 48, of Belfast, are pleading not guilty to IRA membership on August 8, 2015. The trial continues before Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, sitting with Judges Gerard Griffin and Gerard Haughton.
At the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy has begun his charge to the jury in the trial of a Ballyhaunis man accused of murdering his infant son. John Tighe, aged 40, of Lavallyroe, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of six-and-a-half-month-old Joshua Sussbier Tighe at his home on 1 June 2013. The judge instructed the jury that they may return an alternative verdict of manslaughter if they are satisfied the child was unlawfully killed but are not convinced beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Tighe intended to kill or cause serious injury. The prosecution alleges the infant choked on tissue deliberately placed in his throat. Mr Tighe maintains he was changing the child's nappy when the choking occurred. The judge's charge to the jury continues this afternoon.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former Anglo Irish Bank executive David Drumm, aged 51, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and false accounting charges. He is accused of colluding with ex‑bank officials to defraud depositors by falsely claiming Anglo's 2008 deposits were €7.2 billion larger than they were. Drumm also faces a false accounting charge for providing misleading information on December 3 2008. The trial, now in its seventh week, focuses on evidence that Anglo's €7.2 billion transactions with Irish Life & Permanent (ILP) were not fraudulent, as Drumm's former chief executive admits. Key evidence includes recorded phone calls from September 2008 where former liquidity head Ciaran McArdle discusses the back‑to‑back loan with ILP, noting that other funding options had failed and that ILP was the only viable source. The case is before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of David Nooney, 53, of Ballymun, Dublin, who is pleading not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation, namely the IRA, on August 8, 2015. Prosecution counsel Tara Burns SC presented testimony from Detective Garda Ronan Judge, who stated that Nooney failed to answer questions during an interview at Irishtown Garda Station on August 9, 2015. The detectives invoked Section 2 of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act, 1998, allowing the court to draw inferences from his refusal to respond to allegations regarding a trusted role with senior IRA members and securing a safe-house in Blanchardstown. In a subsequent interview, Nooney stated he was not an IRA member. The prosecution alleges gardai used surveillance devices to record interviews at Riverwood Park, Castleknock, conducted to further an unlawful objective. Four co-accused are also arraigned: Kevin Hannaway, 69, and Eva Shannon, 60, both of Belfast, plead not guilty to knowingly rendering assistance to the IRA on August 7 and 8, 2015. Edward O'Brien, 42, of Finglas, and Seán Hannaway, 48, of Belfast, plead not guilty to IRA membership on August 8, 2015. The trial continues before Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, sitting with Judges Gerard Griffin and Gerard Haughton.
A 31‑year‑old man from Cork, David O'Loughlin, is set to stand trial on 30 April for the murder of 59‑year‑old Liam Manley, who was killed on 12 May 2013 at Garden City Apartments on North Main Street. The case is being heard by a Central Criminal Court judge and jury.
Rihards Lavickis, aged 25 and resident of Annaly Court in Longford, has been charged with the murder of Akadiusz Czajkowski on 1st November 2016 at Rue Noyal Chatillon, Townspark in Longford. At the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Michael White fixed the trial date for 11th March 2019. The trial will proceed before a judge and jury.
A father accused of murdering his six-and-a-half-month-old son at his home in Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, faces closing arguments at the Central Criminal Court. John Tighe, aged 40, has pleaded not guilty to the charge relating to an incident on 1 June 2013. The prosecution alleges the infant died after a tissue wad was placed in his throat, while the defence maintains the death was accidental. During closing speeches, the prosecution highlighted alleged inconsistencies in the accused's successive accounts to gardaí and emergency services regarding how the child came to choke, the timeline of events, and his attempts at intervention. The defence countered that such variations are natural given the traumatic circumstances, and emphasised the accused's immediate call for emergency assistance and his previously unblemished character. Medical evidence from both prosecution and defence paediatricians was contested regarding whether the child could have self-ingested the obstruction. The jury will hear the completion of closing arguments before Justice Patrick McCarthy.
John Tighe, 40, of Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court, where he has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of his six-month-old son, Joshua Sussbier Tighe. The prosecution alleges that on June 1, 2013, Tighe murdered the infant by placing a wad of tissue paper in the child's throat. Tighe maintains he was changing the baby's nappy and left the child to use the toilet, returning to find the infant choking. He stated he did not see the baby put the tissue in its mouth and suggested it must have been pushed further down by his attempts to remove it. During cross-examination, Detective Garda Ken Waldron testified that Tighe and the deceased's mother, Natasha Sussbier, had a second child, a baby girl, in October 2015, though they are no longer together. The jury heard transcripts of Tighe's interviews with gardai, in which he expressed love for his son and denied ever trying to hurt him. He explained that he had a medical condition causing severe pain during urination, which prompted him to leave the baby briefly. He also addressed the presence of blood on the baby's clothes, his pyjamas, and the home, attributing it to his efforts to clear the obstruction. The pathologist removed an egg-shaped tissue wad measuring 5.5cm by 3.5cm by 2.5cm from the infant's throat. The prosecution has completed its evidence, and the trial will continue on Tuesday before Justice Patrick McCarthy.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has heard interview transcripts involving a man accused of murdering his infant son. John Tighe, aged 40, from Lavallyroe in Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering six-month-old Joshua Sussbier Tighe at his home on 1 June 2013. The prosecution, represented by Patrick Reynolds BL, presented transcripts of interviews conducted with the accused by gardaí both before and after his arrest. The trial is being heard before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury comprising nine women and three men. Proceedings continued on the afternoon of the hearing.
In a High Court hearing on 15 March 2018, the State argued that Graham Dwyer's constitutional right to privacy was not breached when Gardai accessed data from his mobile phone during the investigation of childcare worker Elaine O'Hara's murder. Sean Guerin SC, representing the State and the Garda Commissioner, explained that under the 2011 Communications (Retention of Data) Act, telecommunication data from Dwyer's personal phone was lawfully retained and accessed. The prosecution had presented this data at Dwyer's 2015 trial, showing his presence at certain locations. Guerin contended that the right of the Gardaí to investigate the relationship between Dwyer and O'Hara outweighed any privacy claim, as the data was relevant to the missing person case. He noted that Dwyer's challenge to the Act on constitutional grounds was ongoing, but the State maintained that the data retention and access did not infringe his privacy rights.
A 40-year-old man accused of murdering his six-month-old son told gardai "I did all I could" as the child died in his arms. The Central Criminal Court jury heard statements made by John Tighe of Lavallyroe, Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, during interviews at Claremorris Garda Station in 2013 and 2014. Mr Tighe has pleaded not guilty to murdering Joshua Sussbier Tighe on 1 June 2013. According to his account, the infant became unresponsive while being changed and appeared to be choking on a baby wipe or tissue. He called emergency services and attempted resuscitation following their instructions. A retired paediatric consultant told the court that a tissue would not naturally lodge in a young child's throat and would require deliberate force to reach that location. The trial before Justice Patrick McCarthy continues.
David Drumm, the former head of liquidity at Anglo Irish Bank, is currently on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where he has pleaded not guilty to two charges. He is accused of conspiring with former bank officials Denis Casey, William McAteer, John Bowe, and others to defraud depositors and investors by dishonestly creating the impression that 2008 deposits were €7.2 billion larger than they actually were. Additionally, he faces a charge of false accounting on December 3, 2008, for allegedly furnishing the market with this inflated deposit figure. The trial, presided over by Judge Karen O'Connor, is in its sixth week. On day 40, the jury heard evidence from Ciaran McArdle, who told the financial regulator in a recorded October 2008 call that a €7.2 billion transaction with Irish Life and Permanent was not a real number and that the bank was manipulating its balance sheet for year-end accounts. Prosecutors presented McArdle's statements regarding the nature of the transaction as a repo deal. The matter remains ongoing before the jury, with no final verdict or sentence recorded at this procedural stage.
A forensic pathologist has testified at the Central Criminal Court that a tear inside a six-month-old child's throat would typically result from punches, blows, or severe struggle. Dr Roger Malcolmson described as "fanciful" the defence suggestion that the infant could have caused his own death by swallowing tissue. John Tighe, aged 40, from Lavallyroe, Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of six-month-old Joshua Sussbier Tighe on June 1, 2013, at his home. Dr Malcolmson reviewed pathology findings and told prosecution counsel Paul Murray SC that it was not credible a six-month-old could ingest the two pieces of tissue found in the child's throat. He stated the injury was "highly suspicious" of inflicted trauma. Under cross-examination by defence counsel Mícheál P O'Higgins, Dr Malcolmson agreed the injury could have resulted from efforts to remove a blockage. Paediatrician Dr Hilary Stokes earlier testified that choking is the leading accidental cause of death in infants under one year. The trial continues before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury.
A paediatrician has testified at the Central Criminal Court that choking represents the most frequent cause of accidental death in infants under one year old. Dr Hilary Stokes was cross-examined in the trial of John Tighe, aged 40, from Lavallyroe, Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his six-month-old son Joshua Sussbier Tighe on June 1st, 2013. The prosecution alleges tissue was placed in the child's throat. During examination-in-chief, Dr Stokes told the court she did not believe the infant could have formed, chewed or swallowed the tissue later recovered by a pathologist. Defence counsel drew agreement from the witness that accidental choking remained the leading cause of death in babies under twelve months. Justice Patrick McCarthy presided over proceedings, with the trial continuing before a jury of twelve.