Larry McCarthy, 37, of Limerick, was denied compassionate bail by the Special Criminal Court to attend his grandmother's funeral. McCarthy faces multiple charges: threatening to kill Noel Moore and to damage Moore's house on 28 July 2015, and threatening unlawful violence with two others and assaulting David Foran on 25 November 2014. The court had previously set trial dates for these offences. The State objected to the bail application, citing McCarthy as a serious flight risk and the potential to interfere with witnesses. Detective Sergeant John Cleary and defence counsel Mark Thompson BL argued for bail, but no conditions were offered to satisfy the court's concerns. Judge Paul Butler, with Judges Robert Eagar and Sinead Ni Chulachain, upheld the refusal, noting no change in circumstances since the prior denial under Section 2A of the Bail Act. The decision was made on Friday, 30 December 2016.
Patrick Hutch, 24, from Champions Avenue, was denied bail by the Central Criminal Court after being charged with the murder of David Byrne, 34, at the Regency Hotel in Dublin. Byrne was shot dead during a boxing weigh‑in on 5 February by a gang of heavily armed raiders. Hutch also faces two Firearms Act charges for unlawfully possessing three assault rifles. The court, citing Section 2A of the Bail Act, remanded him in custody pending a trial in the Special Criminal Court expected to last three to four weeks.
A jury will return to the Central Criminal Court tomorrow to decide the verdict in the trial of Terence 'Terry' Connors, 42, of Drumcairn Avenue, Tallaght, Dublin 24. Connors has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Peter Conroy, 27, at Palmerstown Lodge B&B on 9 June 2015. His manslaughter plea was not accepted by the State. He also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Elaine Blunt on the same date at the same location. Justice Paul Butler explained that the jury has three possible verdicts: not guilty if he acted in self‑defence with no more force than necessary; not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter if he used more force than necessary; or guilty of murder if the prosecution proves beyond reasonable doubt that he was not acting in self‑defence and intended to kill or cause serious injury.
Terence 'Terry' Connors, aged 42, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of Peter Conroy, 27, at Palmerstown Lodge B&B on 9 June 2015. He also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Elaine Blunt on the same day. Defence argued Connors was defending his partner Brigid when he used a knife after being provoked by a vodka bottle thrown at him or his son. The barrister highlighted CCTV showing a fight in the hallway and Connors' involvement only after the provocation. Prosecutor Paul Carroll countered that Connors brought a concealed knife, used it to stab Conroy, and that the natural consequence of such an act is death. He urged the jury to consider Connors' claim of self‑defence and to decide on the appropriate charge. The case was presented to a jury of twelve at the Central Criminal Court, with the judge to charge them tomorrow.
The trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick, who is accused of misleading auditors about multi‑million euro loans, is set to resume in evidence on 11 January after a bereavement of Judge John Aymler. The case, which began in September with a 15‑member jury, has been delayed by extensive legal argument, with over 50 days spent on proceedings and the trial now expected to run until the end of February. FitzPatrick, aged 68, has pleaded not guilty to 21 charges of making misleading statements to auditors and six charges of furnishing false information between 2002 and 2007. Prosecutor Dominic McGinn SC has argued that loans taken by FitzPatrick and his family rose from about €10 million in 2002 to roughly €100 million in 2007, and that the bank's auditors were not informed of short‑term loans that artificially reduced the loan amounts for a two‑week period around the bank's financial year‑end.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, Terence 'Terry' Connors, aged 42, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of Peter Conroy, 27, at Palmerstown Lodge B&B on 9 June 2015. The State did not accept the manslaughter plea. Connors also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Elaine Blunt on the same day. He testified that he had been at the B&B with his partner Brigid, had taken a small amount of cocaine and been drinking, and that men were "roaring and shouting" at his children. He claimed he "blanked" when he heard his boys and took a knife he had bought a week earlier, saying he did not intend to kill anyone and was sorry the incident occurred. CCTV footage was cited by both sides, with defence arguing it showed Connors only intervening after a glass was thrown at his children. The trial continues before a jury of twelve.
Bernadette Scully, after being found not guilty of the manslaughter of her 11‑year‑old daughter Emily Barut, used her post‑verdict statement to highlight the lack of services for people with disabilities. She said that she had been in a very dark place four years ago, feeling she had no reason to live after Emily's death, but with the help of family, friends and professional support she found the strength to go on. Scully urged anyone with mental health difficulties or who has considered self‑harm to reach out for help. She thanked her partner, her daughter, her mother, siblings, the judge, jury, court officials, gardai, her legal team and medical staff for their support. She also thanked the kindness of family, friends, neighbours, colleagues, the people of Tullamore and Edenderry, and strangers who sent messages, cards, flowers and Mass bouquets.
An Offaly GP, Bernadette Scully, was tried for the manslaughter of her 11‑year‑old daughter, Emily Barut, who had severe epilepsy and microcephaly. The prosecution alleged that Scully had given Emily an excessive dose of chloral hydrate on 15 September 2012, leading to intoxication and death. Scully claimed she had administered the drug when Emily became upset at 2 am and 6 am, and again after a seizure at 11 am, stating she had given more than double the usual amount in nine hours. Laboratory tests found Emily's blood contained ten times the therapeutic level of the drug's metabolite, and a post‑mortem confirmed death by chloral hydrate intoxication. The jury deliberated for four hours and two minutes and returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty. The judge discharged the jury and the case concluded with Scully's release.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Terence 'Terry' Connors, aged 42, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of Peter Conroy, 27, who was stabbed at Palmerstown Lodge B&B on 9 June 2015. Professor Marie Cassidy testified that Conroy suffered four knife wounds, including one to the neck that severed a major artery. Connors also faced a not‑guilty plea for assaulting Elaine Blunt at the same address. During the trial, Blunt was warned by Judge Paul Butler that she could be removed and held if she did not behave after a confrontation with defence counsel Garnet Orange SC. Blunt testified that she had been at a wedding that night, that she had a fight with Connors' partner Brigid over stolen jeans, and that she saw Connors stab Conroy with a knife. The trial continues before Justice Butler and a jury.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, the prosecution presented evidence that Philip McKevitt, aged 62, was accused of possessing an improvised explosive device in his shed at Aghaboys, Mount Pleasant, Dundalk, on 22 May 2010. Gardai had entered the shed after a surveillance operation and found a trailer containing two gas cylinders adapted to cause an explosion. McKevitt had pleaded not guilty to possession of explosive substances. The court heard that on 20 May McKevitt was seen with Conan Murphy in the yard, and that a garda heard an angle‑grinder in the shed that day. Two days later, at 7 pm, gardai entered the shed and saw McKevitt coming from the trailer. In interviews, McKevitt denied knowing the trailer or cylinders, claiming he had never seen them. The prosecution described his statements as "an incredible series of denials" and argued that the shed's size made it unlikely he could have missed the devices.
The jury will resume deliberations on Friday morning in the trial of a 58‑year‑old Offaly GP charged with the manslaughter of her 11‑year‑old daughter, Emily Barut, who was profoundly disabled with microcephaly, severe epilepsy and was unable to speak or move. The GP is accused of unlawfully killing Emily by giving her an excessive quantity of chloral hydrate on 15 September 2012. She pleaded not guilty and the case is being heard at the Central Criminal Court. The judge explained that the jury must be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the GP's conduct was a substantial cause of death and that she had a duty of care to the deceased. He also explained the legal test for manslaughter, noting that a doctor may be found negligent only if her conduct deviates from accepted medical practice. The jury must reach a unanimous verdict.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 14 December 2016, Terry (Terence) Connors, aged 42, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of Peter Conroy, 27, who was stabbed at Palmerstown Lodge B&B on 9 June 2015. Connors also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Elaine Blunt, Conroy's partner, at the same address. The prosecution presented mainly oral evidence and CCTV footage from the B&B, showing the early‑morning events, a fight between two women, and Connors' presence on the premises. The court heard from Garda Sharon Hanly, who described the scene with Conroy lying on the footpath and a male holding a towel to his neck, and from Chief State Pathologist Marie Cassidy, who attributed Conroy's death to hemorrhage and shock from a knife wound to the neck and stab wounds to the head and neck. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Butler, was expected to last three to four days.
In the Special Criminal Court, the prosecution presented DNA evidence linking Philip McKevitt, 62, to a bomb device in his shed. In May 2010, after Gardaí entered the shed, they discovered an improvised trailer containing two gas cylinders adapted for an explosion. McKevitt pleaded not guilty to possession of explosive substances. Dr. Clara Boland compared DNA profiles from McKevitt and items in the shed, finding a match on one gas cylinder, a pair of gloves, and a mixed profile on a Dunnes Stores bag handle. Earlier evidence showed 52,500g of Shamrock‑brand glucose in four Dunnes Stores bags in a car outside the shed. Amanda Lennon reported light‑green paint from a spray‑can, McKevitt's left shoe, and a bell‑wire reel, suggesting the paint was used on the command wire of a fully‑formed IED. The trial continues before Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and James Faughnan presiding.
A 24‑year‑old, William Gilsenan, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for killing drug dealer Edward Fitzgerald (29) during a €100 debt dispute. The trial, lasting ten days at the Central Criminal Court, ended with a unanimous verdict after 2 h 35 min of jury deliberation. Gilsenan had pleaded not guilty to murder; defence counsel sought bail, but Justice Paul Butler ruled that bail would only be granted under extraordinary circumstances following a manslaughter conviction. He remanded Gilsenan in custody until a sentencing hearing on 12 January. The case involved an argument in a car park where Fitzgerald demanded money; Gilsenan claimed self‑defence after being struck, but the jury concluded he used excessive force. The verdict was delivered after the judge explained the possible outcomes and the conditions for each. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for 12 January.
Bernadette Scully, a 58-year-old Offaly GP, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the alleged manslaughter of her profoundly disabled 11-year-old daughter, Emily Barut. The prosecution alleges that Scully unlawfully killed Barut at their home in Tullamore on September 15, 2012, through an act of gross negligence involving the administration of an excessive quantity of chloral hydrate. Scully has pleaded not guilty. The case centers on allegations that she administered the sedative multiple times after Barut, who suffered from microcephaly and severe epilepsy, experienced distress and a seizure following a medical procedure. During closing speeches, both the prosecution and defence acknowledged the emotional nature of the case. Judge Patrick McCarthy charged the jury to set aside all emotion and apply the law objectively. He explained that the State must prove beyond reasonable doubt that Scully's conduct was a substantial cause of death and that she failed to observe the ordinary and necessary care expected of a professional, resulting in negligence to a very high degree. The judge clarified that while the test is objective, a doctor following approved medical practice is generally protected from negligence findings unless the practice is obviously defective. The jury, comprising seven women and five men, was instructed that their verdict must be unanimous and that they may take as long as necessary to deliberate. The matter is currently at the trial stage, with the jury set to begin deliberations.
A jury has begun deliberations in the trial of William Gilsenan, 24, accused of murdering drug dealer Edward Fitzgerald, 29, during a dispute over a €100 debt. The incident occurred on 17 October 2014 in a car park outside Gilsenan's home. Gilsenan pleaded not guilty. Justice Paul Butler instructed the jury that they could return a verdict of guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. He stated that the prosecution had accepted that Gilsenan stabbed Fitzgerald in the heart, causing death, but that a not‑guilty verdict could be reached if the jury believed Gilsenan acted in self‑defence and used only necessary force. He also noted that the defence claimed Gilsenan was provoked and lost self‑control after Fitzgerald threatened him and his family. The jury began deliberations shortly after 11 a.m. this morning.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 58‑year‑old GP Bernadette Scully stands accused of unlawfully killing her 11‑year‑old daughter, Emily Barut, who was profoundly disabled. The prosecution alleges Scully's gross negligence in administering excessive chloral hydrate on 15 September 2012, with toxic levels found in Emily's system. Scully, who pleaded not guilty, claims she gave the drug in response to seizures and that medical conditions could have caused death. The defence argues she acted under extreme stress, had no alternative medication, and that the post‑mortem indicated a possible terminal seizure. The trial has focused on whether Scully breached her duty of care, with the jury instructed to consider the evidence of drug dosage, medical history, and the circumstances surrounding the night of Emily's death. The case remains at the trial stage, with no verdict yet reached.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Philip McKevitt, 62, of Aghaboys, Mount Pleasant, Dundalk, denied knowledge of a trailer and two gas cylinders found in his shed during a 2010 Garda search. The prosecution alleged that the improvised trailer, containing the cylinders, was intended to cause an explosion. McKevitt, who pleaded not guilty to possession of explosive substances, claimed he had never seen the trailer or cylinders and had no knowledge of their presence. He stated that on the evening in question he had gone to the shed to collect logs for another man, Conan Murphy, and that they were discussing football when Gardaí entered. The court heard that Gardaí had interviewed McKevitt six times, invoking sections of the Criminal Justice Act to draw inferences from his failure to account for the items. The trial continues before Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and James Faughnan.
In the 2016 Central Criminal Court trial, the prosecution argued that Offaly GP Bernadette Scully unlawfully killed her 11‑year‑old daughter, Emily Barut, by administering excessive chloral hydrate. Scully, 58, faced manslaughter charges for gross negligence on 15 September 2012. The prosecution, led by Tara Burns SC, highlighted that Scully had exceeded her own dosing rules—giving 17 ml by 6 am and 34 ml by 11 am—while the therapeutic limit was 15 ml in 24 hours and an absolute limit of 20 ml. The State Pathologist cited chloral hydrate intoxication as the cause of death, and Professor Marie Cassidy acknowledged it as a substantial cause despite Emily's pre‑existing conditions. Burns urged the jury to consider that Scully's actions were not the sole cause but constituted gross negligence, and to return a guilty verdict. The case remains pending before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a 12‑person jury. Bernadette Scully pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, William Gilsenan, 24, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 29‑year‑old Edward Fitzgerald, who was stabbed in a car park outside Gilsenan's home on 17 October 2014. Prosecutor Orla Crowe SC argued that Gilsenan was the aggressor, having entered the scene with a knife and choosing to confront Fitzgerald after the latter shouted at him. Crowe said Gilsenan could have retreated but did not, and that he stabbed Fitzgerald twice, killing him. Defence counsel Caroline Biggs SC urged the jury to consider Gilsenan's state of mind, noting that Fitzgerald, a drug dealer, had threatened Gilsenan's home and family and that Gilsenan had expressed fear to the Gardaí.
A 34‑year‑old man from Clare, Raymond Kilmartin, voluntarily surrendered himself to British authorities after being sought on a European Arrest Warrant for allegedly defrauding a Bristol school of about £10,000 while employed as a finance officer in 2013. Kilmartin was arrested in Ennis on 31 October 2016, following a warrant issued by a Circuit judge at Bristol Crown Court on 25 July 2016. In the High Court, his counsel, Mr Conor McKenna BL, confirmed that Kilmartin consented to the surrender. The court noted the charge carries a maximum sentence of seven years' imprisonment. Justice Aileen Donnelly ordered that Kilmartin be handed over to the UK, where he will be taken to Cloverhill Prison and then transferred to the UK for prosecution. The case remains at the extradition stage, with no trial or conviction yet reported.
A jury of five men and seven women was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the trial of Terry (Terence) Connors, 42, of Drumcairn Avenue, Tallaght, Dublin 24. Connors pleaded not guilty to the murder of Peter Conroy, 25, at Palmerstown Lodge B&B on 9 June 2015. The trial is set to begin Wednesday afternoon and is expected to last three to four days.
The High Court approved a €4 million settlement for 27‑year‑old Rachel McCarthy, who had sued the HSE for medical negligence after her birth at St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny, on 9 December 1989. Rachel's mother, Noreen, brought the action on her behalf, alleging that the HSE failed to provide adequate care during the delivery, that a lack of oxygen caused permanent brain injury, and that Rachel should have been delivered by caesarean section earlier that day. The HSE denied all allegations and the settlement was reached without admission of liability. Counsel Jeremy Maher SC described the settlement as a good one, representing 75 % of the claim's full value. Mr Justice Raymond Fullam approved the settlement on Friday evening, wishing the McCarthy family well. The settlement was reached without any admission of fault by the HSE.
A doctor charged with the manslaughter of her disabled daughter provided her with '100 per cent plus' care, but was finding it difficult to keep going, a leading consultant nurse testified at her trial. Offaly GP Bernadette Scully (58) is accused of unlawfully killing her 11-year-old daughter Emily Barut, who was profoundly disabled, by administering an excessive quantity of the sedative chloral hydrate on September 15th, 2012. She has pleaded not guilty and is on trial at the Central Criminal Court. Noreen Roche, a nurse with 40 years of experience, stated that Emily's care was exemplary and that her survival was due to the high level of care provided by her mother. Roche noted that Ms Scully, who was 51 at the time, was working long hours and had no help with administration or paperwork, which contributed to her difficulty in maintaining the care level.
In a High Court case, the O'Reilly family, who bought a three‑bedroom duplex in Saggart in 2005, claim that the property was defective, with condensation, mould and poor ventilation causing respiratory infections in their seven‑ and nine‑year‑old sons. After medical tests in 2010 revealed a lung mass in one son, the family left the house and have lived in rented accommodation since. They sued the builders and developers, alleging negligence and breach of duty for failing to ensure the property was defect‑free. The defendants, based in Co. Wexford, deny the claims and say they offered repairs, which the O'Reillys refused. The court heard evidence of leaks, mould, water ingress and a collapsed bath, and that the mould was deemed toxic by experts. The case is pending before Mr Justice Donald Binchy.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 8 December 2016, the court rejected a defence application to exclude evidence from the arrest and search of Philip McKevitt, a 62‑year‑old accused of possessing explosives. McKevitt had claimed that during the raid on his shed at Aghaboys, Mount Pleasant, Dundalk, a Garda struck him on the head with the butt of a gun and later kicked him as he fell. Defence counsel Diarmaid McGuinness argued that such alleged assault violated McKevitt's constitutional rights and should render the evidence inadmissible. The court considered testimony from a Special Detective Unit member who said McKevitt had slipped on plastic sheeting, causing his injury. Justice Isobel Kennedy found the injury was not caused by the alleged assault and therefore allowed the evidence to be admitted. The trial continues. Philip McKevitt pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution has finished giving evidence in the trial of William Gilsenan, 24, accused of stabbing 29‑year‑old Edward Fitzgerald in a car park outside Gilsenan's home on 17 October 2014. Gilsenan pleaded not guilty. Prosecution counsel Orla Crowe SC announced the evidence was complete, and Vincent Heneghan SC said the defence would not call witnesses. Justice Paul Butler informed the jury that the trial was moving into legal argument, instructed them to return on Tuesday for closing statements and the judge's charge, and warned them not to discuss the case with anyone.
The 58‑year‑old GP, Bernadette Scully, is on trial for the manslaughter of her 11‑year‑old profoundly disabled daughter, Emily Barut, who died after an excessive dose of chloral hydrate on 15 September 2012. Scully denies that a suicide note she wrote after Emily's death acknowledges her responsibility for the death, saying she had lost her reason for living. She claims she gave the drug in an attempt to stop a seizure, citing medical literature that documents its use in children with epilepsy. During cross‑examination, she explained that she had administered the drug while the child was in a fit and that she had not normally given two doses at once. She also described her emotional state after Emily's passing, stating she had tried to take her own life twice and that she could not bear the pain of watching Emily suffer. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of twelve. Bernadette Scully pleaded not guilty.
Bernadette Scully, a 58‑year‑old GP from Offaly, is on trial for the manslaughter of her 11‑year‑old profoundly disabled daughter, Emily Barut, who died on 15 September 2012 after receiving an excessive dose of chloral hydrate. Scully denies writing a suicide note before Emily's death, saying she wrote it only after the child passed. She testified that she had been off work for six months but had returned to work the Friday before Emily's death. Scully described the night of the death, stating she gave Emily a 10‑ml dose of chloral hydrate, then later an additional 5‑ml dose, and that Emily's seizures continued. She claimed she was overwhelmed and could not help her daughter, and that she had attempted suicide twice after Emily's death. The trial is being heard at the Central Criminal Court, with Tara Burns SC cross‑examining her.
The High Court awarded €110,000 in damages to the father of a man who died in late 1994 after contracting Hepatitis C and HIV from contaminated blood products. The father had previously had his claim for nervous shock and distress rejected by the Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal, which found he had not proven a psychiatric injury beyond normal grief. In the High Court, Mr Justice Michael Hanna accepted that the father, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, suffered moderate post‑traumatic stress after witnessing his son's death in a hospital waiting area. The judge noted the father's life had been seriously affected by sleeplessness, irritability and a loss of quality of life. The award was reduced from €125,000 to €110,000 because the father had not undergone therapy, a factor the judge considered in mitigating the loss.
Bernadette Scully, a 58‑year‑old GP from Offaly, is on trial for the manslaughter of her 11‑year‑old daughter Emily Barut, who was profoundly disabled. Scully was charged with unlawfully killing Emily by giving her an excessive dose of chloral hydrate on 15 September 2012. She pleaded not guilty and is being tried at the Central Criminal Court. In her testimony, Scully described the emotional impact of learning that her baby had severe mental retardation after IVF treatment and two miscarriages. She recounted that Emily was born without crying, had feeding difficulties, fell asleep at two weeks old, and was taken to a Dublin hospital where doctors warned of severe mental retardation, possible epilepsy, and other developmental problems. Scully expressed that her world fell apart after receiving these diagnoses. She will continue her evidence before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of seven women and five men.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, William Gilsenan, aged 24, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 29‑year‑old Edward Fitzgerald. Gilsenan told Garda Fiona Divilly that he had taken a knife from his home to scare Fitzgerald, who had threatened to smash his house and had been calling him for a debt of €100. Gilsenan claimed he was terrified and had no intention of using the knife. He said he had tried to resolve the debt but Fitzgerald demanded payment immediately and threatened violence. On 17 October 2014, Gilsenan met Fitzgerald outside his home; a scuffle ensued, and Gilsenan struck Fitzgerald in the legs with the knife. Deputy state pathologist Dr Michael Curtis confirmed Fitzgerald died from a knife wound to the heart. The trial continues tomorrow before Justice Paul Butler and a jury.
The jury for the trial of Thomas O'Connor, a 29‑year‑old from Greystones, Wicklow, accused of murdering 22‑year‑old John O'Brien on 4 June 2010, was discharged. O'Connor pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea rejected by the State. Justice Carmel Stewart informed the jurors that one member was absent and could not return, and therefore discharged the jury. The case will resume on 20 February 2017.
In the trial of 58‑year‑old GP Bernadette Scully, the inspector, Ger Glavin, confirmed that the Gardaí had not been "blinkered" to the possibility that the excessive administration of chloral hydrate was the sole cause of death of her 11‑year‑old daughter, Emily Barut. Scully, charged with unlawful killing, had admitted giving her daughter too much sedative after a procedure to replace a tube into her stomach. The inspector noted that investigators considered other potential causes, including Emily's severe epilepsy, microcephaly, cerebral palsy and lung inflammation, but that the post‑mortem revealed 220 micrograms of the drug's metabolite, trichloroethanol, in her bloodstream. The trial also heard from a neuropathologist who found brain damage consistent with a recent event. The prosecution has closed its case, and the trial continues before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In a High Court hearing on 6 December 2016, Ms Helen Lawless, Hillwalking, Access and Conservation Officer of Mountaineering Ireland, testified that hillwalkers must take personal responsibility for their footing on varied surfaces, including boardwalks. She argued that the 130‑km Wicklow Way boardwalk, laid over a decade ago, was solid, fit for purpose and had not failed, and that it was safe for hillwalkers after 15 years of use. Ms Lawless cited the 1995 Occupiers Liability Act, stating that the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) had a duty to maintain the boardwalk in a safe condition. She noted that the NPWS's counsel claimed the boardwalk was not safe on the day of Mrs Teresa Wall's fall. Mrs Wall, aged 60, had sued the NPWS for €40,000 damages and legal costs after tripping on a hole in the boardwalk on 6 August 2013, sustaining a gash to her right knee that required seven stitches.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Thomas O'Connor, aged 29, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of John O'Brien on 4 June 2010. Prosecutors presented evidence that O'Brien and O'Connor were drinking in an underground carpark of Superquinn in Greystones, then driving around with O'Brien's brother, Jimmy O'Brien. O'Brien struck two younger men and was restrained by Jimmy. O'Connor allegedly struck O'Brien on the head with a 1.6‑kg rock, which was heavily blood‑stained. The prosecution argued the rock caused a catastrophic head injury leading to O'Brien's death. Witnesses described O'Connor, wearing a grey hoody, standing over O'Brien and striking him repeatedly. O'Connor was arrested on 5 June 2010 and told Gardaí he did not intend to kill O'Brien. The trial continues before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, William Gilsenan, aged 24, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Edward Fitzgerald, aged 29, who died from a stab wound to the heart after an altercation in a car park outside Gilsenan's home on 17 October 2014. Gilsenan told Garda Sgt Aidan Delaney that he had been threatened by Fitzgerald, who allegedly threatened to harm his mother and others, prompting Gilsenan to take a small kitchen knife from his apartment. Gilsenan claimed he stabbed Fitzgerald in the legs and that the force used was moderate. He stated he acted in self‑defence and had no intention to kill. The trial, presided over by Justice Paul Butler, will continue tomorrow with a jury of twelve.
The trial of Bernadette Scully, 58, a GP accused of unlawfully killing her profoundly disabled daughter, Emily Barut, continued at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy. Ms Scully, who has pleaded not guilty, is alleged to have caused Emily's death on September 15, 2012, through gross negligence by administering an excessive quantity of chloral hydrate at their home in Tullamore. On the fifth day of the trial, her interviews with gardai were read into evidence. Ms Scully stated she did not make a conscious decision to take Emily "out of this world," claiming she was panicked and exhausted after Emily suffered an unprecedented seizure. She admitted giving approximately 32ml of sedative, double her usual maximum, to stop the fit, but denied premeditation. She acknowledged that Professor Cassidy, the applicant for the post-mortem, had suggested her actions led to the death. The court heard that Ms Scully made two suicide attempts that day and wrote a note at the scene, which she denied writing before Emily died. The matter was adjourned and continues tomorrow morning.
The trial of Thomas O'Connor, aged 29, of Burnaby Court, Greystones, Co Wicklow, will commence this week. He is accused of murdering 22‑year‑old John O'Brien on 4 June 2010 at Farrankelly Road, Delgany, Co Wicklow. O'Connor pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not guilty to murder; the State did not accept the plea. A jury of eight men and four women was sworn in by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, who said the trial could start tomorrow or on Wednesday, depending on a judge's availability, and expected to last two weeks.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, William Gilsenan, aged 24, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 29‑year‑old Edward Fitzgerald, who was stabbed in a car park outside Gilsenan's home on 17 October 2014. Gilsenan was described by a neighbour, John Curry, as "distraught and upset" when he was taken to the scene by Garda Emily Carr. Curry, who had spoken to Gilsenan's father, William Kinsella, about the incident, reported that Gilsenan had accepted that he must hand himself over to the gardai. Garda Carr found a knife blade and a black handle near the driver's side door of the car, which were presented as evidence. Dillon Mahady, a friend of the deceased, testified that Gilsenan owed him €100 for cannabis and that a fight over the money led to the stabbing. The trial will continue the following day before Justice Paul Butler and a jury of seven women and five men.
A jury heard that Fionn Braidwood, aged 32, stabbed his retired psychiatrist mother, Jane Braidwood, to death with a kitchen knife on 20 January 2015 at their Dun Laoghaire home. He also punched his sister Ceili Braidwood and assaulted Anthony Maguire on the same day. Mr Braidwood pleaded not guilty to murder and the assault charges. The prosecution, led by Alex Owens SC, presented evidence that the accused had long‑standing mental health problems, had stopped his medication in November 2014, and had been experiencing severe psychiatric symptoms for years. Witnesses, including Ceili Braidwood via video link, described the brother's tense behaviour, his decision to take a knife from the drawer, the stabbing of his mother, and subsequent assault on Ceili. The court heard that the accused was under care at Cluain Mhuire but was not receiving assistance at the time. The trial is proceeding before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart.
On the fourth day of the trial, 58‑year‑old GP Bernadette Scully, charged with the manslaughter of her 11‑year‑old daughter Emily Barut, gave a voluntary statement to the court. She described the daily hardships of caring for a severely disabled child with epilepsy, microcephaly and cerebral palsy, and explained that she had administered chloral hydrate to relieve pain and stop seizures on the night of Emily's death. Scully admitted she had given more than the normal dose, noting that Emily stopped breathing after a fit. She also recounted two failed suicide attempts that day and expressed that she had never intended to harm her daughter. The statement was read into evidence, and the case remains in the Central Criminal Court. Bernadette Scully pleaded not guilty.
The trial of 58‑year‑old Offaly GP Bernadette Scully, charged with the manslaughter of her 11‑year‑old profoundly disabled daughter Emily Barut, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Scully is accused of unlawfully killing Emily on 15 September 2012 by administering an excessive quantity of chloral hydrate. She has pleaded not guilty. Pharmacist Paddy Carragher of Quirke's Medical Hall testified that Emily received chloral hydrate from the pharmacy on 27 July and 13 August 2010, with a dosage of 5 ml at night, expected to last 40 nights. Carragher described Scully's care of Emily as "superb" and "phenomenal", noting that it was a frequent topic of conversation in the pharmacy. The trial continues before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of twelve.
A barrister for Darren Weldon, 45, has applied to the Special Criminal Court to direct a verdict of not guilty in his IRA membership trial. Weldon pleaded not guilty on 14 October 2014. The prosecution alleges DNA links him to a number plate found in debris from a car bomb that exploded outside Newry courthouse on 22 February 2010. Mr Hartnett argues significant frailties and gaps in the evidence, including the chain of DNA evidence and the fairness of a chief superintendent's belief evidence. The court will rule on the application on Monday.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, William Gilsenan, aged 24, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 29‑year‑old Edward Fitzgerald, who was stabbed in a car park outside Gilsenan's home on 17 October 2014. Gilsenan's mother, Marie Gilsenan, testified that she received a call from her son that afternoon, in which he admitted to a fight over a €100 debt and that he had stabbed Fitzgerald in the leg before turning himself in to the gardai. She described how she had offered to pay €50 of the debt, but he could not afford the balance. Gilsenan's father, William Kinsella, also testified that his son appeared panicked and confused after the stabbing. The trial, presided over by Justice Paul Butler, will continue on Monday with a jury of twelve.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, a Garda chief superintendent testified that he believed Darren Weldon, 45, of Drinadaly, Trim, was a member of the Irish Republican Army. Weldon pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation on 14 October 2014. The prosecution argued that DNA evidence linked Weldon to a number plate found in the debris of a car bomb that exploded outside Newry courthouse on 22 February 2010. The case was closed by the prosecution, and the trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Martin Nolan and Cormac Dunne.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, witness Charlie Brodigan recounted a confrontation that led to the murder of Edward Fitzgerald (29) on 17 October 2014. Brodigan, a college friend of William Gilsenan (24), described how Gilsenan and Fitzgerald argued over a €100 drug debt. Gilsenan left the scene, later returning to the accused's home where a fight erupted. Brodigan claimed Fitzgerald threatened to burn down Gilsenan's house and his mother's house, and that Gilsenan was "shaken" and "white in the face" after the first altercation. He also said he heard Fitzgerald threaten Gilsenan. Shane Cullen testified that he witnessed the fight from his balcony and that Gilsenan had been punched and kicked repeatedly. The trial, with Justice Paul Butler and a jury, continues tomorrow. The article does not state any verdict or sentencing. William Gilsenan pleaded not guilty.
The trial of 58‑year‑old Offaly GP Bernadette Scully, charged with the manslaughter of her 11‑year‑old profoundly disabled daughter Emily Barut, heard evidence on the third day of proceedings. The jury listened to a 999 call made by Scully's partner, Andrius Kozlovskis, after finding Emily cold in her bed and her mother unconscious. They also heard a call from the National Poisons Information Centre in which a woman identifying herself as Dr Scully asked for the lethal dose of Prothiaden tablets for an adult female who had taken 15 75‑mg tablets. The call was recorded and played in court. Scully has pleaded not guilty. The case is before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of seven women and five men at the Central Criminal Court.
The partner of GP Bernadette Scully, charged with the manslaughter of her 11‑year‑old profoundly disabled daughter Emily Barut, gave evidence at the Central Criminal Court. He described the horror of finding Emily cold in bed and his inability to wake Scully. He said there was never any suggestion of suicide or that their lives would be better without Emily. He recounted living with Scully and caring for Emily, noting the child's pain and the mother's severe pressure and burnout in the months before the death. He detailed the events of the Saturday night of 15 September 2012, including Scully's attempts to administer medicine, her exhaustion, and his attempts to keep watch over both. He also described the bag of stones he later gave to the Gardaí. The trial continues before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury. Bernadette Scully pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial, William Gilsenan, aged 24, pleaded not guilty to the killing of 29‑year‑old Edward Fitzgerald, who was described by Gilsenan's friend as a "big brother." The incident occurred on 17 October 2014 in a carpark outside Fitzgerald's home. Prosecutor Dillon Mahady alleged that Gilsenan owed Fitzgerald €100 for marijuana. The parties were in a car when a verbal dispute escalated. Gilsenan allegedly approached the vehicle, and Fitzgerald claimed Gilsenan swung a kitchen knife with a black handle, striking him. Fitzgerald was unable to escape and was later taken to the hospital, where he died. Gilsenan was seen wiping the knife and discarding it. The trial is set to continue before Justice Paul Butler and a jury.