In a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, the defence counsel for Marta Herda, a 29‑year‑old Polish waitress, argued that if she had deliberately driven her car into the harbour at South Quay, Arklow, it would have constituted suicide rather than murder. Herda is charged with the death of 31‑year‑old Csaba Orsos, who drowned after the vehicle entered the water on 26 March 2013. The defence highlighted that the prosecution's case was unsustainable, noting that the handbrake may have been pulled by Orsos and that the evidence did not prove intent to kill. The counsel suggested that any verdict should consider whether Herda's actions were reckless or intentional, and urged the jury to consider a not‑guilty outcome. The trial was scheduled to continue with the jury hearing on Friday.
During the murder trial of three men accused of killing 64‑year‑old Thomas "Toddy" Dooley, Matthew Cummins, aged 22, testified that he and co‑accused Sean Davy and James Davy had been drinking and using cocaine at a house party on 11 February 2014. Cummins said James Davy had a baseball bat and that after the party they decided to break into Dooley's house through a window. Cummins entered first, then let the others in. While inside, Cummins claimed he and the others drank with Dooley, who refused vodka but drank Budweiser. Cummins alleged that Sean Davy struck Dooley on the back of the head with the bat, then again on the chest, and that James Davy attempted to stab Dooley with a knife that broke. Cummins said he shouted at Davy and that the trio left the house with a plastic bag, the bat and prescription sleeping pills. Matthew Cummins pleaded not guilty. Sean Davy pleaded not guilty. James Davy pleaded not guilty.
A book of evidence was served on Larry McCarthy, 37, of Tower Lodge, Crossgalla, who is accused of threatening to kill Noel Moore and damage Moore's house on 28 July 2015. He also faces separate charges of threatening unlawful violence with two others and assaulting David Foran on 25 November 2014. At the Special Criminal Court, State Solicitor Michael O'Donovan confirmed the evidence was ready, while McCarthy's counsel Patrick O'Neill BL said the case would likely take two weeks. Mr Justice Paul Butler remanded McCarthy in custody until 26 July for a further mention.
In a 2016 Central Criminal Court trial, the prosecution argued that Marta Herda, a 29‑year‑old Polish waitress, deliberately drove her car into the sea at Arklow harbour on 26 March 2013, resulting in the drowning of 31‑year‑old Csaba Orsos. Herda, who was in the car with Orsos that morning, escaped the harbour while Orsos' body was found later that day on a nearby beach. The prosecution's case relied on circumstantial evidence, including CCTV footage showing Herda's car moving from her home toward Orsos' residence around 5.30 am, a brake‑mark of 13 ft 6 in at the scene, and phone records indicating she called Orsos three times that morning, the last at 5.37 am. Herda had previously claimed that Orsos had been stalking her and that she could not stand his anger, but she also stated she knew he could not swim.
The trial of Sean Davy, Matthew Cummins, and James Davy, all accused of the murder of Thomas Dooley, continued before Justice Margaret Heneghan. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty to the alleged killing of the 64-year-old man at his home in Edenderry on February 12, 2014. The court heard testimony from Chloe McBride, the deceased's granddaughter, who exchanged text messages with James Davy on the night of the alleged incident. She stated that Davy told her he was drinking and heading to a "session" with Sean Davy. Later, they discussed meeting at her grandfather's house, but Davy claimed he was busy with "stuff" and heading to Sean Davy's father's house. Four days later, upon learning of her grandfather's death, Davy expressed shock and hoped the perpetrators would be caught. He later inquired about arrests and whether a sock was found in Mr. Dooley's mouth. Prosecution also presented CCTV footage from the early hours of February 12, showing three men, one carrying a white bag, near Sweeney's Topaz and subsequently at Granary Court, where they lingered near bins. Garda Joseph Bradley identified one man as Matthew Cummins entering Granary Court. Other footage traced James Davy and Sean Davy walking together until 7am. The matter was adjourned, with the trial set to continue the following day.
In a 2016 trial, Marta Herda, a 29‑year‑old Polish waitress, was charged with the murder of 31‑year‑old Csaba Orsos, who drowned after being driven into a harbour on 26 March 2013. Herda and Orsos had been in her car when it entered the water that morning; she escaped, but Orsos' body was recovered later that day on a nearby beach. The prosecution alleged that Herda had lured Orsos out of his house, citing phone records showing she called him at 5.30 am and that he had been in love with her, though she did not reciprocate. Detective Sergeant Fergus O'Brien testified about interviews conducted after Herda's arrest, and portions of those interviews were played to the jury. The prosecution closed its case, with closing speeches scheduled before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of eight men and four women.
A book of evidence was served on Owen McCann, a 36‑year‑old from Annaloughan, Jenkinstown, Dundalk, who appeared at a brief sitting of the Special Criminal Court on 20 July 2016. McCann was arrested in December 2015 by the Special Detective Unit as part of an operation targeting dissident republican activity. He faces three charges: membership of the unlawful organisation Oglaigh na hEireann (the IRA) on 18 December 2015; possession of firearms, including a .22 calibre rifle, a pistol conversion kit and two ammunition magazines on 17 December 2015; and possession of one round of .22 calibre ammunition on the same date. State Solicitor Michael O'Donovan informed the three‑judge, non‑jury court that the book of evidence was ready to be served. Detective Garda Enda Gannon handed the book to McCann. McCann's counsel, Conan Fegan BL, requested an extension of the legal aid certificate to include a second counsel, citing the seriousness of the charges.
Marta Herda, 29, of Arklow, is on trial for the murder of 31‑year‑old Csaba Orsos, who drowned after their car entered a harbour on 26 March 2013. She pleaded not guilty. During the trial, excerpts of her garda interviews were played. In them, she described a struggle in the car as they approached the harbour, saying she had to "fight for my life" in the water. She recounted losing her shoes and sweater, hearing waves, and being unable to swim or say goodbye. She claimed she had been pursued by Orsos for two years, receiving calls and texts. The court heard her statement that she wanted the situation to stop when she drove into the water. The trial is before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy with a jury of eight men and four women.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that Thomas Dooley, aged 64, died from blunt‑force trauma after being struck eight times on the head, with fractures to his skull and internal brain injuries. She noted additional blows to his body that fractured three ribs, contributing to his death. Cassidy examined Dooley's body on 17 February, five days after the alleged murder on 12 February, and observed scorch marks indicating an attempted fire. She identified a baseball bat, which the prosecution claims was the murder weapon, as consistent with the injuries. Under cross‑examination, Cassidy suggested the head injuries were likely inflicted by a single implement, though she could not confirm whether one or more assailants were involved. The defendants—Matthew Cummins (22), Sean Davy (21) and James Davy (25)—remain not guilty pleas. The trial continues before Justice Margaret Heneghan.
During the tenth day of her trial, the Central Criminal Court heard portions of video interviews conducted by Garda Detective Sergeant Fergus O'Brien with Marta Herda, a 29‑year‑old Polish woman charged with the murder of 31‑year‑old Csaba Orsos. The interviews, taken a few months after Herda's arrest in August 2013, were played to the court. Herda was accused of driving Orsos into a harbour where he drowned. She pleaded not guilty. In the interviews she stated that she had wanted the situation to stop, referring to the phone calls and text messages she had been receiving from Orsos, who had been following her for two years. The defence cross‑examined O'Brien about the context of her statement, and the barrister for Herda suggested that the statement might describe the events in the car that morning rather than an admission of intent. The trial continues.
Ms Marta Herda, 29, of Pairc Na Saile, Arklow, is charged with the murder of 31‑year‑old Csaba Orsos, who drowned after being driven into a harbour on 26 March 2013. Both were in Herda's car when it entered the water; she escaped, but Orsos's body was found later that day. During her trial, video of Herda's garda interviews was shown. She stated she had hoped to save him if she had seen him in the water, but a friend told her not to think of it, fearing they would die together. She described Orsos as a good‑hearted person who had fallen "in love with me badly" and admitted she was afraid of him. The court heard that she had no sexual relationship with him and that she had never been with someone who would "lock me somewhere." The trial continues.
Evidence is still being presented in the trial of Eamon Shield, 45, who is accused of running a fake motor business to defraud 12 people out of €178,000. Prosecutor Shane Costelloe SC told the jury that Shield fabricated the business and that no legitimate operation existed. Shield, of Weston Meadows, has pleaded not guilty to 15 theft counts and 12 deception counts covering June 2011 to February 2012. On the fifth day, several alleged victims gave further testimony about meeting Shield and investing in his scheme. The trial continues before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.
During a murder trial, the prosecution presented CCTV footage that showed three men acting suspiciously near a clothes bank at Granary Court apartments in Edenderry on the morning after the alleged murder of Thomas Dooley. The footage, captured at about 6:30 am on February 21 , 2014, was reviewed by Sergeant Carlo Griffin and Garda Alan Melia, who testified that the men were seen around the bin area. The men, Matthew Cummins (22), Sean Davy (21) and James Davy (25), are charged with murdering Dooley, who was found dead in his home on February 16 , 2014. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan, continues with a jury of eight men and four women. The defendants have pleaded not guilty. The prosecution maintains that Dooley died from instrumental trauma to the head and chest. The case remains in the early stages of the trial.
In the Central Criminal Court, Marta Herda, 29, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 31‑year‑old Csaba Orsos, who drowned after the car she drove entered a harbour on 26 March 2013. Herda, a Polish waitress from Arklow, claimed she was not in love with Orsos and that the incident was accidental. She said she had been arguing with him in the car and that she did not want to drive fast. Garda testimony revealed that she had called Orsos at 5.20 am and again at 5.35 am, and that the handbrake had been applied before the car entered the water. Forensic evidence showed a skid mark consistent with handbrake use and a shattered driver's side window. The trial was set to continue on Monday before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of eight men and four women.
During a trial at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a witness named Mark Hilliard testified that he had met Eamon Shield, a 45‑year‑old accused of running a fraudulent motor business, after responding to a newspaper advert seeking investors. Shield allegedly promised to buy repossessed cars from banks at low prices and sell them at a profit. Hilliard agreed to invest €20,000, signing a contract that the money would be repaid in full after 60 days. He claimed to have made repeated attempts to meet Shield to view the motor stock, but no cars were ever shown, and the list provided did not include registration numbers. Hilliard said he had not received any repayment after two months and felt he had been duped. The trial, presided over by Judge Patricia Ryan, continues with a jury. Eamon Shield pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 14 July 2016, an elderly woman, Jenny Lynch, denied that she had wrongly accused her neighbours, Paul Smith (49) and Stephen Smith (41), of assaulting her. Lynch, who is in her eighties, claimed that both men had attacked her and that she had believed they were responsible for the death of her son, Eddie, who died of a ruptured spleen after being struck by a car. She rejected the defence's suggestion that she had misinterpreted Andrew Smith's assault as an opportunity to target Paul and Stephen. Lynch also denied that she had sent a mass card to the Smiths or that she had asked Paul to intervene for her son. The Smiths pleaded not guilty to the assault charge. The hearing focused on Lynch's allegations and the defendants' denials, with no verdict reached in the article.
In the trial at Sister Senan Court, three men in their twenties—Matthew Cummins (22), Sean Davy (21), and James Davy (25)—have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Thomas 'Toddy' Dooly, a 64‑year‑old who was found dead in his Edenderry home on 16 February 2014. The prosecution alleges Dooly died from instrumental trauma to the head and chest and that the accused were present in his house on the day of the death, acting as a joint enterprise. A baseball bat, believed to have been used in the alleged murder, was recovered from a clothes bank in Edenderry on 21 February and later presented to the jury. Garda Trevor Shore described the bat as having marks and indentations; forensic scientist John Hoade examined it, noting missing wood pieces and dents that contained DNA matching Dooly, and reported blood staining indicating repeated swings of the weapon. The case remains at the jury stage.
The Central Criminal Court heard evidence on the eighth day of the 29‑year‑old Marta Herda's trial for the murder of 31‑year‑old Csaba Orsos. Herda, a Polish waitress, is charged with driving Orsos into a harbour where he drowned on 26 March 2013. She pleaded not guilty and claimed the victim had been in love with her, a feeling she did not share, and that she could no longer tolerate the situation. Forensic Collision Investigator Garda Cliff Harding testified that a skid mark on the quay indicated the handbrake had been applied before the car entered the water, as the mark was consistent with a locked tyre caused by emergency braking. He noted that ABS would prevent such a mark, implying the handbrake was used.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 14 July 2016, the defence of 38‑year‑old Polish man Andrzej Wawrzyniak argued that he killed his housemate Jacek Kozakiewicz (44) in a "life and death struggle". Wawrzyniak, who has no fixed address, pleaded not guilty to the murder and had pleaded guilty to a second count of assault causing harm to Filip Talaj (31) at the same derelict pub on 26 February 2014. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC described the squat where five homeless Poles lived as "dark and unpleasant" and said Wawrzyniak was attacked first, feeling he might die. He cited Kozakiewicz's violent past and alleged that Wawrzyniak was panicking and terrified. Prosecution counsel Dominic McGinn SC countered that the evidence showed Kozakiewicz was drunk and asleep, that Wawrzyniak stabbed him 22 times in cold blood, and that the motive may have been bitterness or drunken rage.
During a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, a Garda witness testified that a fire may have been set at the armchair where 64‑year‑old Thomas 'Toddy' Dooley was found dead in his Edenderry home on 16 February 2014. The body, covered with a cushion, was in a sitting position in the armchair, which was burned in three places. Seven footwear marks were found on the floor, and no implement was recovered. The fire caused burns to Dooley's head, upper body, and both legs of his nylon tracksuit. The prosecution also presented witnesses who described the presence of a baseball bat in the scene, but no weapon was found. The case involves three men—Matthew Cummins (22), Sean Davy (21), and James Davy (25)—who are charged with murder and have pleaded not guilty. The trial is set to continue tomorrow before Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 13 July 2016, two men, Paul Smith (49) of Oranmore Road, Ballyfermot, and Stephen Smith (41) of Gate Lodge, Dundalk, Co. Louth, pleaded not guilty to assaulting an elderly woman, Jenny Lynch, on 7 March 2015 in Ballyfermot. Lynch testified that she was attacked while walking home from mass, describing severe injuries: blood from her nose and mouth, a busted nose, two black eyes, a lump on the side of her head, a sore shoulder, and the need for stitches to her lip. She claimed the attackers pushed, thumped, and dug her, and identified the Smiths as the assailants. Lynch also mentioned that Andrew Smith, the accused's brother, had previously pleaded guilty to assault in another court. The trial focused on Lynch's account of the assault and the defendants' denial of guilt. No verdict or sentencing was reported in the article.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a jury deliberating the case of Sean Carraher, 55, was sent home overnight after declaring a deadlock. Carraher, of Stradbrook Hill, Blackrock, has pleaded not guilty to harassing Garda Sergeant Conor Gilmartin between March 2009 and May 2011. He is accused of posting around 50 messages on Rate‑Your‑Solicitor and Victims of the Legal Profession, alleging that the sergeant withheld evidence in a prior case, and of making harassing phone calls. At his arrest, Carraher claimed to be a whistle‑blower exposing Garda corruption via the internet.
The murder trial of Andrzej Wawrzyniak (38) is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Wawrzyniak, who has no fixed address, has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Jacek Kozakiewicz (44) at a derelict pub on Dublin's North Wall Quay on February 26, 2014. He also pleaded guilty to a second count of assault causing harm to Filip Talaj (31) at the same location and date. The prosecution presented evidence that Kozakiewicz, who was found dead with more than 20 stab wounds, had a history of drink-related and public order offences, including a suspended sentence for carrying knives and a prison term for possessing a crowbar. Detective Sergeant John Brady testified that Kozakiewicz lived a chaotic lifestyle in a squat occupied by five Polish men, where he was described as the "boss" and a "gentleman." Gardaí were aware of the squat but faced ownership disputes that prevented official eviction. The prosecution concluded its case today, and the closing speech to the jury of nine men and three women is scheduled for tomorrow morning. The matter remains at the trial stage, with no final verdict or sentence yet delivered.
During the seventh day of the 29‑year‑old Marta Herda's murder trial, the jury viewed a video of the deceased, 31‑year‑old Csaba Orsos, celebrating his birthday with Herda. The footage, shown in the Central Criminal Court, shows Herda seated beside Orsos as he blew out candles on a cake. Herda is charged with murdering Orsos by driving him into a harbour where he drowned on 26 March 2013. Orsos's brother, Zoltan Sandor, testified that the family had celebrated Orsos's birthday at his home in July 2012 and that the video was part of that celebration. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, continues with a jury of eight men and four women. The court heard additional testimony from witnesses about Herda's relationship with Orsos and alleged prior conflicts, but no verdict has yet been reached.
During a murder trial, witness Ms. April Murray testified that on 11 February 2014 she and her daughter were at Mangan's pub in Edenderry, where they met James Davy, Sean Davy and Jade Mooney. After the pub, they returned to Murray's house, where the men drank beer and used cocaine from a key. Murray described a chaotic scene the next morning, with damage to the living room and kitchen, and noted a light‑brown wooden baseball bat on the kitchen table. She claimed the bat had been used and was later left in a taxi. Courtleigh Maloney, an 18‑year‑old, confirmed that James Davy had brought the bat to the pub and left it in the taxi. Jade Mooney also stated that Davy had shown her the bat and said it was to "protect himself." The accused men, Matthew Cummins, Sean Davy and James Davy, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Thomas Dooley.
Sean Carraher, 55, stands trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for harassing Sgt Conor Gilmartin between March 2009 and May 2011. The State alleges Carraher posted about 50 messages on Rate‑Your‑Solicitor and Victims of the Legal Profession, accusing the sergeant of withholding evidence in a prior case and of other misconduct, and made harassing phone calls. Carraher claims he was a whistle‑blower exposing garda corruption and that the internet was his only means to retaliate against alleged conspiracies. He admitted making four phone calls, arguing they were a response to the sergeant's repeated hang‑ups. Carraher also admitted posting unverified claims about the sergeant's personal life, stating he did so because he heard them. The prosecution maintains that regardless of any alleged corruption, the repetitive nature of the calls and posts constitutes harassment. The jury will deliberate after a judge's address. Sean Carraher pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, two Kerry men testified that Eamon Shield, 45, had promised them a 100% return on their investments within 60 days by flipping repossessed cars at a significant markup. The prosecution, led by Shane Costelloe SC, described Shield's scheme as a pyramid scheme, arguing that he merely attracted new investors to pay off earlier ones. Shield, who pleaded not guilty to 15 theft counts and 12 deception counts, allegedly stole €178,000 from 12 people between June 2011 and February 2012. The trial, which began on Monday, was delayed due to a juror issue and will continue before Judge Patricia Ryan and a new jury. The case is expected to run for two weeks. The defendants, David O'Grady and Malcolm Griffin, each invested €3,000, received only partial payments, and later complained to Gardaí in Listowel. The court has not yet delivered a verdict.
During the trial of 29‑year‑old Marta Herda, a jury was shown a Valentine's card she had received from the 31‑year‑old Csaba Orsas, the man she is accused of murdering by driving him into a harbour where he drowned. The card, held up by Garda Anthony Crehan, had pink roses on the front and the words "Thinking of you" inside a love heart. Inside, handwritten notes declared love, promised to change habits, and offered a phone number. The card was dated 21/5/12 at 22.54. Herda denied deliberately driving into the water and claimed she had not proposed that she drive into the water. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, continues with a jury of eight men and four women. The defence has not yet presented a verdict.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 12 July 2016, Andrzej Wawrzyniak, aged 38, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jacek Kozakiewicz, aged 44, who was stabbed at a derelict pub on Dublin's North Wall Quay on 26 February 2014. Wawrzyniak also pleaded guilty to a second count of assault causing harm to Filip Talaj, aged 31, at the same location and date. Garda interviews revealed that Wawrzyniak described a fight with Kozakiewicz, who he said was aggressive and often threatened to kill him when drunk. Wawrzyniak claimed he was terrified and stabbed Kozakiewicz four times in self‑defence, though post‑mortem results later showed 22 stab wounds. He expressed remorse and said he would live with the incident for the rest of his life. The trial was set to continue the following day before Justice Robert Eagar and a jury of nine men and three women.
During a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, a Meals on Wheels volunteer, Ms Patricia Maguire, testified that a 64‑year‑old Offaly man, Thomas 'Toddy' Dooley, appeared to be in "OK" form the day before his death. Ms Maguire, who has volunteered for 18 years, delivered a meal to Dooley's home at Sister Senan Court on Tuesday, February 11, 2014. She described a brief conversation with Dooley, who seemed fine and paid her €2 or €2.50 for the meal. Dooley was later found dead in his living room on February 16, 2014, with injuries to his upper body and head. The trial involves three men—Matthew Cummins (22), Sean Davy (21) and James Davy (25)—who were charged with murdering Dooley on February 12, 2014, and who pleaded not guilty. The case continues.
Marta Herda, 29, of Arklow, was charged with the murder of 31‑year‑old Csaba Orsas on 26 March 2013 after he was driven into a harbour and drowned. In her first Garda statements, read to the Central Criminal Court on the fifth day of the trial, Herda said she could no longer tolerate Orsas, who had followed her for two years, texted her, and claimed to love her. She described how he had followed her to work, to her friends' homes, and even to a playground, and how she had felt threatened and depressed. Herda claimed that she drove the car into the water to stop the situation, stating she knew he could not swim. The trial heard testimony from Garda Anthony Crehan, Dr Donal Bailey, and Nurse Claire Best, and continues before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Eamon Shield, aged 45, faced 15 theft counts and 12 deception counts for allegedly running a pyramid scheme that claimed to double investors' money by selling repossessed cars. Shield, from Lucan, was accused of soliciting €178,000 from 12 people, promising a two‑month profit, but no cars existed and no business was carried out. Prosecutor Shane Costelloe argued that Shield took money from one investor and redistributed it to others, offering a partial repayment of €55,000 while the remaining investors received nothing. Shield pleaded not guilty. The trial, set to continue before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury, was expected to last two weeks. The case highlighted Shield's alleged deception and the absence of any legitimate vehicle sales.
During a murder trial, witness Filip Talaj testified that he had kicked the accused, Andrzej Wawrzyniak, in the chest, causing him to become unconscious. Talaj escaped and hid, hearing Wawrzyniak searching for him. The prosecution claims that while Talaj was hiding, Wawrzyniak used a knife to murder Jacek Kozakiewicz, a 44‑year‑old electrician, who was sleeping in a makeshift squat on Dublin's North Wall Quay on 26 February 2014. Wawrzyniak, 38, has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge but has pleaded guilty to a second count of assault causing harm to Talaj at the same location and date. The trial also heard statements from other squat residents, including Dariusz Wantura and Bernadetta Dang, about the living conditions and the night of the incident. The proceedings will continue before Justice Robert Eagar and a jury of nine men and three women.
A jury was sworn in for the trial of three men accused of murdering a 64‑year‑old man in Offaly. Sean Davy, 21, of Edenderry; James Davy, 25, of Celbridge; and Matthew Cummins, 22, of Edenderry, were charged with the murder of Thomas Dooley at Sister Senan Court on 12 February 2014. The men pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. Justice Patrick McCarthy told the jury that the trial was expected to last three weeks, though it could extend beyond that. The trial began in evidence before Justice Margaret Heneghan.
In a murder trial on 8 July 2016, the court heard that 38‑year‑old Andrzej Wawrzyniak, a homeless Polish man with no fixed address, was accused of stabbing 44‑year‑old Jacek Kozakiewicz to death at an abandoned pub on Dublin's North Wall Quay on 26 February 2014. Wawrzyniak pleaded not guilty to the murder charge but pleaded guilty to a second count of assault causing harm to Filip Talaj, who was also present. State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy identified 23 stab wounds on Kozakiewicz, including 20 to the head and neck, one of which severed his spinal cord, leaving him paralysed on the left side and unable to feel his right side. Two major neck vessels were also severed, causing fatal bleeding. The trial, presided over by Justice Robert Eagar, continues with a jury of nine men and three women. The case also involves a separate assault on Talaj, who sustained multiple knife wounds but survived.
A man charged with harassing a garda sergeant considers himself a whistleblower exposing police corruption, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard. Sean Carraher, aged 55, of Stradbrook Hill, Blackrock, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to harassing Garda Sergeant Conor Gilmartin between March 2009 and May 2011. The prosecution alleges Mr Carraher posted approximately 50 messages on websites including Rate-Your-Solicitor and Victims of the Legal Profession, accusing Sergeant Gilmartin of corruption and evidence tampering. He is also accused of making between ten and twenty calls to the sergeant. The defendant claims the contact followed a complaint he made to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission regarding alleged assaults on his sons. No findings of wrongdoing have been established against Sergeant Gilmartin. Mr Carraher stated he was exercising freedom of expression rights and invoked comparison with the McBrearty family case in Donegal. The trial continues before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury.
In a murder trial on 7 July 2016, Andrzej Wawrzyniak, 38, a former Polish paratrooper, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jacek Kozakiewicz, 44, at a derelict pub on Dublin's North Wall Quay on 26 February 2014. Wawrzyniak admitted to stabbing Kozakiewicz after a fight, claiming he had killed a man. He also pleaded guilty to a second charge of assault causing harm to Filip Talaj at the same location and date. Garda Seamus Kelly, responding to a Luas driver's call about a blood‑stained tram passenger, met Wawrzyniak who led the officers to a manhole that opened into the abandoned pub, where the body was found. The trial, presided over by Justice Robert Eagar with a jury of nine men and three women, was set to continue the following day.
The trial of Marta Herda, 29, for the murder of 31‑year‑old Csaba Orsas began on the second day at the Central Criminal Court. Herda, a Polish waitress from Arklow, is charged with driving Orsas into a deep harbour on 26 March 2013 and has pleaded not guilty. Defence counsel Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC argued that the State's case is that Herda lured Orsas to his death through phone calls. Garda Michael Hall presented records of calls and texts between Herda, Orsas and colleagues at the Brook Lodge Hotel, noting several between 5.20 am and 5.21 am that day. The prosecution suggested these communications were suspicious and instrumental in luring Orsas. State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that Orsas's injuries were consistent with drowning, citing abundant blood‑stained froth in his airways and overinflated lungs. The jury, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, heard these arguments and evidence before continuing the trial later that day.
During the murder trial of Marta Herda, a 29‑year‑old Polish waitress, the court heard that a witness, Paul Hickey, saw Herda arguing on the phone in a car early that morning. Hickey described seeing a Volkswagen Passat with a driver who appeared animated and engaged in a heated conversation. He noted the car's slow movement and that it did not overtake a cyclist, suggesting the driver was still on the phone. Hickey also reported that the car had later been pulled from the harbour where the victim, 31‑year‑old Csaba Orsas, was found drowned. The jury also heard that a postman discovered Orsas's front door open about two hours after the car entered the water. Garda Michael Hall testified that Herda had two mobile phones; the first was used for most contact with Orsas, including a final call at 5.35 am lasting two minutes.
The High Court refused to grant a summary judgment of almost €6 million against Peter Lavelle, an Irish‑based trader in the City of London. Justice Marie Baker found that Lavelle had an arguable defence and was entitled to a full hearing. The claim, brought by Stapleford Finance Ltd, concerned loans of €5.934 million that Lavelle had drawn between June 2006 and December 2007 from Anglo Irish Bank, later transferred to IBRC and then acquired by Stapleford. Lavelle, who returned to live in Ireland in 2005 and continued trading online, argued that the loans were consumer credit and that the plaintiff had failed to comply with consumer legislation, making the loans unenforceable. He also contested the interest calculation, claimed the claim was statute‑barred, and questioned Stapleford's proof of assignment.
Sean Carraher, 55, of Stradbrook Hill, Blackrock, Dublin, is on trial in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for harassing Garda Sergeant Conor Gilmartin. Carraher is accused of repeatedly calling the sergeant between March 2009 and May 2011 and posting online messages that called him "lying" and "corrupt" over nearly two years. He pleaded not guilty. The prosecution, led by barrister James Dwyer, presented evidence that Carraher admitted to posting the messages and claimed he was exposing what he believed to be Garda corruption. Dwyer argued that while free expression allows opinions, the content and intent of Carraher's posts crossed into harassment, requiring proof of intent or reckless conduct to cause alarm or distress. Sergeant Gilmartin testified that he first encountered Carraher in 2007, that Carraher had made a complaint to the Garda Ombudsman, and that he received harassing calls and defamatory posts from Carraher.
During a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution presented evidence that Andrzej Wawrzyniak, 38, who has no fixed address, was involved in a fatal stabbing at a derelict pub on Dublin's North Wall Quay on 26 February 2014. Wawrzyniak pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jacek Kozakiewicz, 44, but pleaded guilty to a second count of assault causing harm to Filip Talaj at the same location and date. The case was opened by Dominic McGinn SC, who described the setting: five Polish residents, including Wawrzyniak, were drinking in a squat that had formerly been a pub. An argument erupted between Talaj and Wawrzyniak, leading Talaj to claim that Wawrzyniak had grabbed a knife and attacked him. Talaj fled, hiding in a dark corner, while Wawrzyniak remained concealed. After some time, Talaj emerged, armed with a knife for protection, and returned to his hiding place.
During the trial of Marta Herda, a 29‑year‑old Polish waitress charged with murdering her 31‑year‑old Hungarian colleague Csaba Orsas, a postman named Stephen Mitchell testified. He was delivering mail to Brookview Court at 8.15 am on 26 March 2013 when he noticed the front door of the house at Pairc Na Saile, Emoclew Road, Arklow, open. He described the door as a couple of feet ajar and reported it to a Garda car that had pulled up. The case is before Justice Patrick McCarthy with a jury of eight men and four women.
In the Special Criminal Court, William Burns, 40, of Ardoyne, Belfast, pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of PETN and RDX, a 50‑litre Guinness keg bomb, 50 kg of homemade ammonium nitrate, an improvised detonation cord, a steel booster tube and a time‑and‑power unit. Prosecutor Paul Greene opened the trial by describing the 2014 incident at Kilcurry Church, Co. Louth, where two men drove a white transit van and a red Volkswagen Passat into a carpark off the N1. The van's IED was allegedly moved into Burns' boot. Gardaí later found the keg, plastic tubing with white powder, and an electric timer set for a thirty‑minute delay. The court will hear video evidence of the events and the subsequent search of Burns' vehicle. The trial continues.
In a Wicklow harbour murder trial, a 29‑year‑old Polish waitress, Marta Herda, was charged with killing her 31‑year‑old Hungarian colleague, Csaba Orsas, by driving her car through harbour barriers into the sea. Prosecutor Brendan Grehan presented evidence that the car entered the water at high speed, that Herda was the driver, and that Orsas was a front‑seat passenger. He noted that Herda could swim while Orsas could not, and that the body was found drowned on a beach two miles away. Testimony from a security guard described a high‑speed vehicle and a woman screaming near the quay, later identified as Herda. Garda Fiona Furlong recounted finding Herda wet and distressed, pointing to the harbour. The case was opened to the Central Criminal Court, with a three‑week trial before Mr Justice McCarthy and a jury of eight men and four women. The unnamed 29-year-old pleaded not guilty.
The trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean Fitzpatrick is scheduled to begin in September at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Fitzpatrick, 66, of Greystones, Co Wicklow, has pleaded not guilty to 27 alleged offences under the 1990 Companies Act. These charges include 21 counts of making misleading, false, or deceptive statements to auditors and six counts of furnishing false information between 2002 and 2007. Judge John Aylmer set September 21 for the swearing-in of a specially enlarged jury of 15 members. The court noted that jury swearing will occupy a full day, followed by two days of legal issues to be addressed in the jury's absence. Evidence is expected to commence on Monday, September 26. The trial is estimated to last twelve weeks. The matter is currently at the trial stage, with the proceedings formally set for the upcoming month.
A 29‑year‑old woman, Marta Herda of Arklow, was arraigned in the Central Criminal Court on 4 July 2016 for the murder of Hungarian Csaba Orsas at South Quay, Arklow, on 26 March 2013. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy informed the court that the trial would last three weeks and had sworn in a jury of seven men and five women. When the jury returned, the judge addressed one juror who confirmed she had been a member of An Garda Siochana. He explained that while there was no principle objection to a former Garda serving, the case might present a difficulty because of her insider knowledge. The judge, acknowledging her eligibility, discharged her with some embarrassment, stating it was best for the jury to remain impartial. He informed the remaining 11 jurors that the panel would leave for the day and that a replacement would be sworn in the following day, when the trial was expected to commence.
The jury in the trial of Krzystof Grzegorski (22) will return tomorrow to continue deliberating on its verdict. Grzegorski is accused of murdering fellow Polish man Bogdan Michalkiewicz (41) at Westside Apartments in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, on May 13, 2013. The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder. Although he offered a plea of guilty to manslaughter, the State did not accept this plea. Following a trial that lasted almost three weeks at the Central Criminal Court, Justice Patrick McCarthy instructed the eight men and four women on the jury that they could return a verdict of guilty of murder, or not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. The jury spent nearly three hours deliberating today before being adjourned until tomorrow morning to continue their consideration. The matter remains at the trial stage, with no final verdict or sentence yet determined.
A jury was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the trial of Polish man Andrzej Wawrzyniak, aged 38, who is accused of murdering Jacek Kozakiewicz at Valence & McGrath's, North Wall Quay, Dublin 1, on 26 February 2014. Wawrzyniak pleaded not guilty. Justice Patrick McCarthy informed the nine‑man, three‑woman jury that the case would be ready to proceed on Wednesday and would take two weeks to complete.
A judge discharged a jury of twelve sworn to hear the trial of 29‑year‑old Marta Herda, accused of murdering Hungarian Csaba Orsas in Arklow on 26 March 2013. Herda pleaded not guilty at her arraignment. The judge explained that a difficulty had arisen and the estimated trial time had been revised from seven or eight days to three weeks, making it impossible to start until Monday. He discharged the jury, noting they had agreed to a shorter estimate, and said the system would seek them again. Herda will return to court on Monday for a new jury.