In a County Limerick case, a book of evidence was served on three men—Conor Hughes (38), Darren Fox (26), and Jamie Smithers (36)—accused of IRA membership and firearms offences. The men were arrested on Halloween 2015 by the Special Detective Unit. They face charges of membership in the Irish Republican Army and unlawful possession of a Winchester 12‑gauge shotgun and cartridges. A three‑judge, non‑jury court heard the evidence, and the men were remanded on continuing bail until a further mention on 28 June.
In the longest criminal trial in Irish history, jurors at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court acquitted former ILP Finance Director Peter Fitzpatrick of conspiring to mislead investors. The verdict followed nearly 47 hours of deliberations, the longest in the State's history. Judge Martin Nolan discharged Fitzpatrick from the indictment. This leaves former ILP CEO Denis Casey as the sole remaining defendant in the trial, which began in mid-January. Casey is accused of conspiring with others to mislead investors by establishing a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between March 1 and September 30, 2008, intended to bolster Anglo Irish Bank's balance sheet. He pleaded not guilty to these charges. Earlier in the trial, Anglo's former head of capital markets, John Bowe, and then finance director Willie McAteer were convicted of the same offence. Both men, who also pleaded not guilty, have been remanded on bail pending sentence until July 25. The prosecution alleged the scheme artificially inflated Anglo's customer deposits from €44 billion to €51 billion. Defence counsel for Casey and Fitzpatrick argued their clients had no control over Anglo's accounting and no intention to mislead the public. The jury will continue considering a verdict on Casey's case.
The jury has begun deliberations in the trial of Aivars Sondors, a 54‑year‑old Latvian, charged with three counts of assisting an offender without reasonable excuse. The charges relate to the disposal of the body of 44‑year‑old Lithuanian Audrius Butkus, who was murdered by Marius Gaizutis. Sondors is accused of moving the body from the house he shared with Gaizutis on Marsh Road in Drogheda to the sea at Mornington Beach, cleaning up the scene at Marsh Road, and disposing of carpet, clothing, a nail brush, bin bag, bottles and tins from the scene at the Burke House on Mathew's Lane. He has pleaded not guilty to all three counts, claiming duress and that he acted under the killer's orders. The Central Criminal Court has heard that Gaizutis has already been convicted of the murder. The jury, consisting of nine men and three women, began deliberating in the afternoon and will resume on Tuesday.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former Irish Life and Permanent finance director Peter Fitzpatrick, aged 63, was acquitted of conspiracy charges relating to a €7.2 billion scheme that allegedly defrauded Anglo Irish Bank in 2008. The jury, after nearly 47 hours of deliberation, returned a not‑guilty verdict. Fitzpatrick, who had pleaded not guilty, was discharged from the indictment by Judge Martin Nolan. The case involved allegations that Fitzpatrick, along with former ILP CEO Denis Casey (56), Anglo's former head of capital markets John Bowe (52), and Anglo's former finance director Willie McAteer (65), conspired to mislead investors, depositors and lenders by creating a circular transaction scheme between March 1 and September 30 2008. The scheme purportedly inflated Anglo's customer deposits from €44 billion to €51 billion, a 16 % increase. Fitzpatrick's lawyers argued that the deposits were genuine and properly accounted for, while the prosecution alleged intent to deceive. The other accused, Casey, remains on trial.
The jury in the trial of former Irish Life & Permanent executives has been informed that it may return a majority verdict. After 44 hours and 26 minutes of deliberation over eleven days, Judge Martin Nolan announced that a verdict agreed to by ten of the eleven jurors would be acceptable, a change from the previous requirement for unanimity. The jury had already convicted Anglo's former head of capital markets, John Bowe (52), and the bank's former finance director, Willie McAteer (65), for conspiring to mislead investors, depositors and lenders about Anglo's financial health. They were remanded on bail pending sentencing until 25 July. The jury has not yet returned verdicts in the cases of former ILP chief executive Denis Casey (56) and finance director Peter Fitzpatrick (63), who are accused of conspiring to mislead investors through a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme in 2008. The trial, now on day 86, remains the longest criminal trial in Irish history. Denis Casey pleaded not guilty. Peter Fitzpatrick pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Aivars Sondors, 54, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. He faces three counts of assisting an offender without reasonable excuse by allegedly impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Marius Gaizutis, who has already been convicted of unlawfully killing 44-year-old Lithuanian Audrius Butkus. Sondors, of Sycamore Close, Termon Abbey, Drogheda, pleaded not guilty to all three counts, claiming he acted under duress. The charges relate to incidents on September 9th or 10th, 2013, including moving Butkus's body from Marsh Road to Mornington Beach and cleaning the scene. Defence counsel Colman Fitzgerald SC argued the core issue was why Sondors acted, emphasizing duress and reasonable excuse, noting that threats need not be expressed. Prosecution counsel Patrick Gageby SC countered that obedience to orders is not a defence and highlighted that Sondors had the opportunity to contact gardai. The jury is expected to begin deliberations after being charged by Ms Justice Carmel Stewart. The matter remains at the trial stage, with no final verdict or sentence recorded in this report.
The jury in the trial of former Irish Life & Permanent executives Denis Casey (56) and Peter Fitzpatrick (63) has been sent home after nine days of deliberations, with no verdict yet. Judge Martin Nolan of the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court ordered the jury to return the next day to continue. The case concerns a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme in 2008 that allegedly misled investors, depositors and lenders about Anglo's financial health. The jury had previously convicted Anglo's former head of capital markets John Bowe (52) and finance director Willie McAteer (65). Denis Casey pleaded not guilty. Peter Fitzpatrick pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Aivars Sondors, 54, at the Central Criminal Court has concluded its evidentiary phase. Sondors is charged with three counts of assisting an offender by impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Marius Gaizutis, who has already been convicted of unlawfully killing 44-year-old Lithuanian Audrius Butkus. The allegations, dated September 9th or 10th, 2013, include moving Butkus's body from Marsh Road, Drogheda, to Mornington Beach; cleaning the scene; and disposing of items from Burke House, Mathew's Lane. Although Sondors admitted the underlying acts, he pleaded not guilty to all three counts, claiming he acted under duress. During cross-examination, he stated his basement was "red with blood" when his flatmate ordered him to help move the body. He explained omissions in his garda interviews as fatigue and attributed sand in his car to frequent family visits to the beach. Ms Justice Carmel Stewart informed the jury that evidence has finished. The matter is not adjourned; the trial proceeds to closing speeches, expected to begin this afternoon.
The trial of Aivars Sondors, 54, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. He faces three counts of assisting an offender by allegedly impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Marius Gaizutis, who has already been convicted of unlawfully killing 44-year-old Lithuanian Audrius Butkus. Sondors, of Sycamore Close, Termon Abbey, Drogheda, pleaded not guilty to all three counts, claiming he acted under duress. The allegations include moving Butkus's body from a shared residence on Marsh Road to Mornington Beach, cleaning the scene, and disposing of items from Burke House, Mathew's Lane. In his defence evidence on the fifth day of the trial, Sondors testified that Gaizutis, whom he had known for 40 years, woke him in the night and demanded his car keys. He stated he was threatened with violence and subsequently helped move a body from a blood-covered basement, describing the scene as resembling a slaughter house. Sondors claimed he believed Gaizutis would kill him if he refused. Cross-examination by Patrick Gageby SC began this afternoon and is scheduled to continue tomorrow morning before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart and a jury. The matter remains at the trial stage with no finalisation or sentence recorded.
At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a jury returned majority verdicts finding former Anglo Irish Bank executives John Bowe and Willie McAteer guilty of conspiring to mislead investors. The trial, which marked the longest criminal trial in the State's history, concluded on day 84 after 38 hours of deliberations. The prosecution alleged that Bowe and McAteer, along with others, set up a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between March 1 and September 30, 2008, to artificially bolster Anglo's balance sheet. The scheme allegedly involved Anglo lending money to Irish Life and Permanent (ILP), which was then returned to Anglo via Irish Life Assurance to be recorded as customer deposits. This inflated the reported customer deposits from €44 billion to €51 billion. Both Bowe and McAteer had pleaded not guilty to the charges. Judge Martin Nolan remanded the two men on continuing bail until Friday, noting there was no objection to bail. The jury is still considering charges against former ILP chief executive Denis Casey and his 2008 finance director, Peter Fitzpatrick. Casey and Fitzpatrick also pleaded not guilty to the same conspiracy charges. The matter regarding Casey and Fitzpatrick remains under deliberation and has not been finalised.
The Central Criminal Court heard that 44‑year‑old Audrius Butkus was 'battered to death' in a Louth house before his body was dumped at Mornington Beach. Aivars Sondors, 54, is charged with three counts of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Marius Gaizutis, who had unlawfully killed Butkus. The charges include moving the body from the house on Marsh Road, placing it in the sea, cleaning the scene, and disposing of carpet, clothing, a nail brush, bin bag, bottles and tins from the Burke House. Sondors admitted the three allegations but pleaded not guilty, claiming duress. He denied involvement when interviewed by gardai but could not explain how his fingerprint was found in blood at the scene. Detective Sergeant Liam Archbold testified that Sondors was told to seek legal advice and return to Garda Station. The trial continues before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 44‑year‑old Audrius Butkus was found 'battered to death' in a Louth house before his body was dumped at Mornington Beach. 54‑year‑old Aivars Sondors is charged with three counts of assisting an offender by impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Marius Gaizutis, who is alleged to have unlawfully killed Mr Butkus. Sondors admitted the allegations but pleaded not guilty, arguing possible duress. He gave four Garda interviews starting 13 September 2013, describing a tense night on 9 September when Gaizutis allegedly threatened him after a dispute over money. Sondors claimed he slept in the house that night, was awakened by Gaizutis asking for car keys, and later returned to bed. He stated he had never met Mr Butkus and offered no explanation for a fingerprint found on a handrail. The trial is set to continue tomorrow before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart.
The jury in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial of four former Anglo Irish Bank bankers—John Bowe, Willie McAteer, Denis Casey and Peter Fitzpatrick—has been sent home after 33 hours of deliberation over seven days. The case, the longest criminal trial in Irish history, alleges the men conspired to mislead investors by creating a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between 1 March and 30 September 2008 to strengthen Anglo's balance sheet. All four pleaded not guilty. Judge Martin Nolan ordered the jury to resume tomorrow for an eighth day of deliberation.
A book of evidence was served on Brian Kenna, 54, of Crumlin Park, Crumlin, Dublin, who is accused of membership in the Irish Republican Army. Kenna was arrested in County Laois in November by the Special Detective Unit during an operation against dissident republican activity. He was charged at the Special Criminal Court on 21 November 2015 with membership of an unlawful organisation, namely Oglaigh na hEireann. The three‑judge, non‑jury court heard the evidence today and remanded Kenna on continuing bail until 14 June, when his case will be mentioned again.
The Central Criminal Court heard evidence in the trial of Aivars Sondors and Professor Marie Cassidy, both accused of three counts of assisting an offender by impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Marius Gaizutis, allegedly knowing he had unlawfully killed Audrius Butkus. Both defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges. State Pathologist Dr. Cassidy testified that Butkus died from blunt force trauma to the head, likely caused by the blunt end of an axe, with injuries clustered to the back of his head. She noted he was intoxicated and showed no signs of drowning despite being found on Mornington Beach. Detective Sergeant Fergal O'Toole stated an axe was found at the Marsh Road house, while forensic expert Brian Barry indicated bloodstains suggested a serious assault and cleanup occurred. DNA from the axe, car boot, and a carpet matched Butkus. Sondors' counsel indicated the jury must decide if duress was present. The matter was adjourned and continues before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart.
In the longest criminal trial in Irish history, a juror has been hospitalised and will not be able to finish deliberations. The jury has been debating for about 28 hours over six days in the case against four former Anglo Irish Bank executives who are accused of conspiring to mislead investors about the bank's financial health. The trial is being held at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and is now on day 82. Judge Martin Nolan received a note from the jury foreman that a female juror is in hospital and will be unavailable for at least a week. The judge agreed to allow the remaining 11 jurors to continue deliberating. The accused—John Bowe (52), Willie McAteer (65), Denis Casey (56) and Peter Fitzpatrick (63)—have all pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges involving a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme from 1 March to 30 September 2008. The case will resume tomorrow for a seventh day of deliberation.
During the trial of Aivars Sondors, charged with three counts of impeding a homicide investigation, the court heard that the killer's partner and children sought refuge in a neighbour's house before the killing, fearing the killer. Sondors, 54, claimed he was under duress when he helped move the body of 44‑year‑old Audrius Butkus from a house on Marsh Road in Drogheda to Mornington Beach and cleaned the scene. He admitted the allegations but pleaded not guilty to all three counts. The jury was asked to decide whether duress applied. Carmen Canales testified that the partner knocked on her door on the evening of 9 September, claiming her husband would beat her, and that she let the woman and her five children stay overnight. The trial was set to continue on Monday before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 27 May 2016, a 25‑year‑old man was denied compassionate bail to attend his eight‑year‑old son's First Communion. The defendant, who faces charges of assaulting three gardaí and robbing a petrol station, has 22 bench warrants dating back to 2005 and has breached High Court bail twice. He has 101 previous convictions and is currently in custody. His barrister, Luigi Rea BL, requested a brief release on Sunday, arguing the defendant would be returned to prison after the ceremony. A garda opposed the release, citing the defendant's history and the seriousness of the charges. Judge Patricia Ryan refused the temporary bail, citing the defendant's record, and adjourned the case until the end of July. The defendant stated he was drug‑free and blamed himself for the bench warrants. The court's decision was based solely on the charges and the defendant's past breaches. The case remains pending.
An autistic 23‑year‑old, Bijan Afshar, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of his 50‑year‑old mother, Lynn Cassidy, who died on 26 or 27 June 2014 at their home in Deepdales, Bray, Co Wicklow. Afshar beat his mother to death after she told him she could not prevent the sale of the house he shared with his father. He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity and the jury of six men and six women delivered a unanimous verdict after less than an hour of deliberations at the Central Criminal Court. Afshar was committed to the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum. Justice Isobel Kennedy ordered that he be examined by an approved medical officer who will report to the court on his condition and ongoing treatment on 8 June.
In the longest criminal trial in Irish history, four former bankers—John Bowe, Willie McAteer, Denis Casey and Peter Fitzpatrick—were accused of conspiring to defraud the public by orchestrating a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between 1 March and 30 September 2008. The jury, which had been deliberating for over 23 hours after a 78‑day trial, was suspended when a juror was hospitalised. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the proceedings until Monday morning, expecting the juror to recover by the following week. Peter Fitzpatrick pleaded not guilty.
A 54‑year‑old man, Aivars Sondors of Termon Abbey, was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court on 26 May 2016. He faced three counts of assisting an offender by impeding the investigation of a homicide that occurred on 9 or 10 September 2013. The alleged victim was 44‑year‑old Audrius Butkus, who was reportedly beaten to death in the basement of a house on Marsh Road, Drogheda, and whose body was moved to Mornington Beach. Sondors is accused of moving the body, cleaning the scene, and disposing of evidence such as carpet, clothing, a nail brush, a bin bag, bottles and tins. He pleaded not guilty to all counts. His barrister admitted the allegations but argued that the jury should decide whether duress was involved. The trial was set to continue on Friday morning before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart.
In a 2016 hearing at the Central Criminal Court, Bijan Afshar, aged 23, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of his mother, Lynn Cassidy, at their Deepdales home in Bray on 26 or 27 June 2014. Dr Brenda Wright, a forensic psychiatrist, testified that Afshar, who has autism with depression, had no control over his actions when he beat his mother to death. She explained that the impending sale of the family house, following his parents' separation, caused him extreme distress and that he believed his only options were to stop the sale or kill himself. Dr Wright described his late‑diagnosed autism, his obsessive behaviours, and his poor emotional regulation, concluding that he was unable to refrain from the assault due to his mental disorder. The prosecution, represented by Dr Ronan Mullaney, agreed with this assessment. The case was set to continue before Justice Isobel Kennedy and a jury of twelve.
The jury in the trial of four former Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life & Permanent executives, accused of conspiracy to defraud the public in 2008, was sent home after six days of deliberations. The defendants—John Bowe, Willie McAteer, Denis Casey and Peter Fitzpatrick—were charged with conspiring to mislead investors by creating a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between 1 March and 30 September 2008 to strengthen Anglo's balance sheet. Judge Martin Nolan reminded jurors to base their verdict solely on evidence presented in court. The jury will resume tomorrow morning. Peter Fitzpatrick pleaded not guilty.
In a 2016 case, Bijan Afshar, aged 23, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his mother, Lynn Cassidy, 50, by reason of insanity. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court, was expected to last three days. Afshar was charged with killing his mother on 26 or 27 June 2014 at her home in Deepdales, Bray. Prosecutor Paul Burns SC informed the jury that two psychiatrists would testify about Afshar's mental condition, specifically his Asperger's Syndrome diagnosis in 2008, and whether it made him unable to refrain from the act. Afshar, the eldest of four sons, had a strained relationship with his mother and had been living with his father and one brother after his parents split. He claimed he was worried about losing the family house, which had been sold, and that his mother's responses were "robotic." Afshar described grabbing his mother by the neck, hitting her with a white mug, and then leaving the scene.
The jury in the Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life & Permanent trial has finished its fifth day of deliberations after an 80‑day hearing, the longest criminal trial in Irish history. Four former executives—John Bowe, Willie McAteer, Denis Casey and Peter Fitzpatrick—are accused of conspiring to mislead investors by creating a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between 1 March and 30 September 2008 to strengthen Anglo's balance sheet. All four pleaded not guilty. The jury will resume deliberations tomorrow morning.
The jury in the Anglo Irish Bank conspiracy trial, which has been in session for 79 days, was sent home for the day after a juror fell ill. The four former executives—John Bowe, Willie McAteer, Denis Casey and Peter Fitzpatrick—are accused of conspiring to mislead investors about Anglo's financial health by creating a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between March and September 2008. The scheme allegedly involved Anglo lending money to Irish Life & Permanent (ILP), which then returned the money through its assurance arm, Irish Life Assurance, to Anglo. The prosecution claims the deposits were treated as customer deposits to inflate Anglo's balance sheet from €44 billion to €51 billion, a 16 % increase. The defendants maintain the deposits were legitimate and were correctly recorded, and that they had no intention to defraud the public. The jury will resume deliberations tomorrow at 10 am. Peter Fitzpatrick pleaded not guilty.
The jury in the trial of four former Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life & Permanent executives has been sent home after a third day of deliberations. The defendants – John Bowe, Willie McAteer, Denis Casey and Peter Fitzpatrick – are accused of conspiring to mislead investors about Anglo's financial health by setting up a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between 1 March and 30 September 2008. The scheme allegedly involved Anglo lending money to ILP, which then returned the money via Irish Life Assurance, treating the deposits as customer deposits rather than inter‑bank loans. The prosecution claims this inflated Anglo's customer deposits from €44 bn to €51 bn, a 16 % increase, thereby misleading readers of the bank's accounts. The defendants have pleaded not guilty, and their lawyers argue the deposits were legitimate and correctly accounted for, with no intent to defraud the public. The trial, the longest criminal case in Irish history, will resume on Monday.
The jury in the trial of four former Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life & Permanent executives, accused of conspiracy to defraud in 2008, was sent home after a second full day of deliberations. The defendants—Denis Casey (56), John Bowe (52), Willie McAteer (65) and Peter Fitzpatrick (63)—had pleaded not guilty to charges that they conspired to mislead investors by setting up a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between 1 March and 30 September 2008. The scheme allegedly involved Anglo lending money to ILP, which then returned the money via Irish Life Assurance, treating the deposits as customer deposits to inflate Anglo's balance sheet from €44 billion to €51 billion. The prosecution argued the scheme was designed to mislead readers of Anglo's accounts, while the defence maintained the deposits were real, correctly accounted for, and that the defendants had no intention to mislead the public.
The jury in the trial of four former Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life & Permanent executives, accused of conspiracy to defraud in 2008, was sent home after just over three hours of deliberation and will resume on Thursday. The defendants—Peter Fitzpatrick (63), Denis Casey (56), John Bowe (52) and Willie McAteer (65)—all pleaded not guilty to conspiring to mislead investors by creating a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between March 1 and September 30, 2008. The scheme involved Anglo lending money to ILP, which returned it via Irish Life Assurance, making the deposits appear as customer deposits and inflating Anglo's balance sheet from €44 bn to €51 bn. The prosecution presented 545 exhibits, including transcripts of telephone calls, and the jury received a laptop and USB keys with searchable indexes. The trial, now the longest criminal trial in Irish history, will continue with a 12‑member jury after a ballot reduced the enlarged jury of 13.
The jury in the trial of four former Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life & Permanent executives accused of conspiracy to defraud has resumed deliberations after receiving an index of 545 exhibits. The accused—Peter Fitzpatrick (63), Denis Casey (56), John Bowe (52) and Willie McAteer (65)—had pleaded not guilty to conspiring to mislead investors by creating a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between March and September 2008. The scheme involved Anglo lending money to ILP, which returned it via Irish Life Assurance, making the deposits appear as customer deposits and inflating Anglo's balance sheet from €44 bn to €51 bn. The prosecution argued the scheme's sole purpose was to mislead the public. Judge Martin Nolan asked the jury to resume deliberations, and the jury received a searchable index on USB keys and hard‑copy folders from all five legal teams.
In the longest‑running Irish trial, four former Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life & Permanent executives—Peter Fitzpatrick (63), Denis Casey (56), John Bowe (52) and Willie McAteer (65)—are accused of conspiring to mislead investors by creating a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between March and September 2008. The scheme allegedly involved Anglo lending money to ILP, which returned it via Irish Life Assurance, with the deposits treated as customer deposits to inflate Anglo's balance sheet from €44 bn to €51 bn. The prosecution argues the scheme was dishonest and intended to mislead the public, while the defence claims the defendants authorised the transactions in good faith and were not personally profiting. Judge Martin Nolan outlined the legal issues, emphasising that the jury must be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the scheme was dishonest and that each defendant was involved before any conviction can be made. The trial is ongoing. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In a 2016 trial in Waterford, a jury heard that social workers failed to inform Gardaí that a boy had withdrawn allegations of sexual abuse by his parents. The boy had told a social worker in February 2015 that the claims—he was raped with a poker and forced to have sex with his mother—were "not real." Defence counsel Colman Cody SC argued that the retractions only reached Gardaí and the defence after a barrister discovered them in the child protection agency's files. Gardaí re‑interviewed the boy in February 2016 after learning of the retraction, and he then admitted the abuse had occurred. The parents faced 22 counts, with the father charged with nine counts of rape, nine counts of rape with a poker and one count of cruelty, and the mother charged with two counts of sexual assault and one count of cruelty. Both pleaded not guilty.
Judge Martin Nolan addressed a jury in the longest-running Irish trial, stating that four former Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life & Permanent executives—Peter Fitzpatrick (63), Denis Casey (56), John Bowe (52) and Willie McAteer (65)—are entitled to a fair hearing and that prejudice must be avoided. The defendants are charged with conspiring to mislead investors by arranging a €7.2 billion circular transaction between March 1 and September 30, 2008 to strengthen Anglo's balance sheet. At the end of day 74, Nolan began his charge, emphasizing the need for impartiality. Defenders Brendan Grehan SC and Michael O'Higgin SC argued that the prosecution failed to prove intent or personal gain, citing the absence of evidence of fraud or stolen funds and the lack of a "smoking gun." They contended that the defendants were unaware of any wrongdoing and that the alleged scheme was a misguided attempt to support Anglo during a period of financial distress. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty. Peter Fitzpatrick pleaded not guilty. Denis Casey pleaded not guilty. John Bowe pleaded not guilty. Willie McAteer pleaded not guilty.
At the trial of a Waterford father and mother accused of sexually abusing their son, 60 of the original 82 charges were withdrawn, leaving 22 counts. The father now faces nine counts of raping the boy, nine counts of raping the boy with a poker, and one count of cruelty. The mother faces two counts of sexual assault and one count of cruelty. Both parents have pleaded not guilty to the allegations, which are alleged to have occurred between 2007 and 2011 in their Waterford home when the child was six. Mr Justice Robert Eagar stated the withdrawals resulted from legal issues and should not be viewed as a judgment on the veracity of the claims. Prosecuting counsel Pauline Walley SC delivered her closing speech, urging the jury to evaluate the evidence objectively despite the child's inconsistent testimony. She argued that the boy's detailed accounts and subsequent behavioral issues in care supported his credibility. The trial is in its final stages, with defence counsel scheduled to close their case tomorrow before the judge instructs the jury on the relevant legal issues.
In a closing‑stage criminal trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, four former executives from Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life & Permanent (ILP) were accused of conspiring to defraud investors by misrepresenting Anglo's financial health through a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between 1 March and 30 September 2008. The defendants – Denis Casey (56), Peter Fitzpatrick (63), John Bowe (52) and Willie McAteer (65) – pleaded not guilty. Defence counsel argued that the Financial Regulator's actions, while not approving the deal in advance, were consistent with approving it after 30 September, and that the transactions were not dishonest or criminal. The prosecution presented evidence that the Regulator was aware of the deal in detail by October, before Anglo's balance sheet was published in December.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, former Anglo Irish Bank executive John Bowe, aged 52, was described by his defence counsel as "open and frank" with the Financial Regulator, claiming he believed no wrongdoing had occurred. The case involves Bowe and three other ex‑executives—Willie McAteer (65), Denis Casey (56) and Peter Fitzpatrick (63)—who are charged with conspiring to mislead investors through a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme from 1 March to 30 September 2008. Defence lawyer Diarmaid McGuinness SC presented evidence that Bowe discussed the scheme with regulator Mary Elizabeth Donoghue in October 2008, describing the arrangement as "balance sheet dressing" or "window dressing" and stating it was not about liquidity. Denis Casey pleaded not guilty. Peter Fitzpatrick pleaded not guilty.
In a conspiracy‑to‑defraud trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, four former Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life & Permanent executives—John Bowe, Willie McAteer, Denis Casey and Peter Fitzpatrick—were charged with conspiring to mislead investors about Anglo Irish Bank's financial health. The prosecution alleged that between 1 March and 30 September 2008 the accused authorised a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme to inflate Anglo's customer deposits. The State's case centred on the claim that the ILP executives were aware of Anglo's intent to misrepresent the deal on its balance sheet and that they knowingly participated in a scheme that did not provide real liquidity. The defence argued that the executives believed the transactions were legitimate collateralised deals and that they had no control over Anglo's accounting. The trial was ongoing, with the jury instructed to consider whether the accused intended to mislead the public. The case was still pending at the time of reporting. Denis Casey pleaded not guilty. Peter Fitzpatrick pleaded not guilty.
A High Court jury in Co. Westmeath awarded €13,000 in damages to Fergal O'Rourke, 62, after finding he was assaulted during an arrest on 12 July 2009 at a checkpoint in Ballymore. O'Rourke alleged that Garda Darren Murphy kicked, grabbed his throat, punched him, and struck him with an implement while he was on the ground and handcuffed. He also claimed Garda Joanne McGhee did not assault or injure him. The jury, after more than three hours of deliberation, concluded that Murphy had negligently inflicted injuries and intentionally caused emotional distress, and that reasonable force was not used. McGhee was found not to have assaulted or injured O'Rourke. The award was made by Mr Justice Colm MacEochaidh. O'Rourke had previously pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to provide a specimen after his arrest. The case involved a three‑day trial with photographic evidence of his injuries.
In a Waterford abuse trial, a jury heard that a sex tape featuring the accused parents and another woman was found in the house. The father claimed the allegations were a result of "brainwashing" by the health board, stating the boy's accusations were implanted. The boy had previously alleged that his father raped him, sexually abused him with a hot poker, and forced him to have sex with his mother over several years from about age six. He also claimed his father filmed some incidents, held a gun to his head, and locked him in a box. The parents face 82 abuse charges from 2007 to 2011. Both pleaded not guilty to 16 counts of sexual exploitation and one child cruelty charge each, while the mother denied 16 sexual assault counts and the father denied 16 anal rape and 16 sexual assault with a poker.
In the trial of Ross Allen, a 25‑year‑old from Carrickmines, the jury was informed that a majority verdict could be accepted if unanimity could not be reached. Justice Patrick McCarthy instructed the panel of five women and six men that a ten‑to‑one majority would suffice. The jury had deliberated for five hours and 35 minutes before requesting to return the next day. One juror had been discharged earlier due to bereavement. The judge outlined that the verdict could be guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty.
A 52-year-old man from Cork has been served with a book of evidence at the Special Criminal Court following his arrest in December as part of an investigation into dissident republican activity. Martin McHale stands charged with possession of an explosive substance, namely ten sealed bags containing white prills of ammonium nitrate and calcium carbonate, allegedly found at Mall Road, Tirkeenan, County Monaghan on November 1st, 2013. He is also charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. The State Solicitor confirmed the book of evidence had been served on the accused. Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding with Judge Alison Lindsay and Judge Flann Brennan, remanded Mr McHale on continuing bail. The case is scheduled for mention on June 10th.
The trial of four former Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life & Permanent executives for conspiracy to defraud has entered its final phase. John Bowe, Willie McAteer, Denis Casey and Peter Fitzpatrick, all pleading not guilty, are accused of orchestrating a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between 1 March and 30 September 2008 to inflate Anglo's year‑end balance sheet. The scheme involved moving money through a series of corporate deposits that were presented as legitimate bank deposits, thereby misleading investors, depositors and lenders who relied on the published accounts. The prosecution, led by DPP counsel Una Ní Raifeartaigh, argued that the executives knowingly implemented the transactions with the intent to deceive. The jury, after hearing the state's case, will deliberate on the evidence presented by the defendants' lawyers. The trial is scheduled to conclude with closing speeches and a final verdict.
Sean FitzPatrick, former chairman of Anglo Irish Bank, has been scheduled for a new trial on 27 offences under the 1990 Companies Act, including 21 charges of misleading auditors and six of providing false information between 2002 and 2007. The trial, set for Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, will last two to three months and require a 15‑member jury. Judge Rory McCabe adjourned the original May start after concerns that the trial could not finish before the court's summer recess, and set a new start date of 4 October 2016. Sean FitzPatrick pleaded not guilty.
During the sixth week of the trial, the court heard that a Garda search of the Waterford home, conducted 15 months after the child was taken into care, yielded no poker or blood‑stained material. The search, authorised by a warrant issued in August 2012, uncovered a camcorder, DVDs and tapes, most of which were family‑related. The father, who is accused of raping his son with a hot poker and forcing the boy to have sex with his mother, is alleged to have filmed some incidents and shown them to others. He is also alleged to have held a gun to the child's head and left him locked in a box. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on May 9, 2016, Justice Patrick McCarthy instructed a jury of five women and six men to consider the state of mind of Ross Allen, 25, accused of murdering 47‑year‑old Christy Daly on December 29, 2013, at Bog Lane, Kilbride, Clara, Co Offaly. Allen pleaded not guilty. The judge explained that the jury could convict him of murder, find him not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or acquit him. He emphasized that the prosecution's case hinges on Allen's intent, based largely on statements he made while in custody in February 2014, where he said he expected to "give Mr Daly a few clouts" and "give him a beating." McCarthy warned that if Allen intended only to cause less than serious injury but the victim died, the charge would be manslaughter.
Dubliner David Mahon, 45, was found guilty of manslaughter for the death of his stepson, Dean Fitzpatrick, 23, who was stabbed outside the apartment shared with Mahon's partner, Audrey Fitzpatrick, on 26 May 2013. The jury returned a majority verdict of 10 to 2 after eight hours and 16 minutes of deliberation, concluding that Mahon was not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. The prosecution argued that Mahon, who was drunk, angry and agitated, thrust a knife into Fitzpatrick with deadly intent. Mahon claimed the death was accidental or a possible suicide, stating that Fitzpatrick had walked into the knife while they were arguing. The case was remanded for sentencing on 30 May 2016. The trial did not address any subsequent appeals or sentencing outcomes.
In the Central Criminal Court, 22‑year‑old Ross Allen was accused of murdering 47‑year‑old Christy Daly on 29 December 2013 at Bog Lane, Clara, Offaly. Prosecutor Patrick Marrinan argued that Allen, who had recently been released from prison and lived alone in a caravan, had hidden drugs and, after failing to retrieve them, set in motion a plan that involved a gang of armed men. Allen allegedly travelled with a Volvo, met with Dublin gang members, purchased tracksuits and a semi‑automatic machine gun, and later retrieved a hammer and a shotgun. The prosecution claimed Allen knew a serious assault would occur and that the use of a hammer and gun constituted intent to cause serious injury, sufficient for murder. Defence counsel Blaise O'Carroll counter‑argued that Allen's statements to Gardaí were made under duress, that he was not a hardened criminal, and that he had no intention to kill. Ross Allen pleaded not guilty.
The jury in the David Mahon murder trial resumed deliberations on whether the 45‑year‑old accused killed his stepson, Dean Fitzpatrick, who was 23. The case centers on a stab wound to Fitzpatrick's abdomen outside the apartment shared by Mahon and Fitzpatrick's mother, Audrey, at Burnell Square, Dublin. Mahon pleaded not guilty on 26 May 2013, claiming the death was accidental or a possible suicide. He said he and Fitzpatrick had argued after the latter took a water bottle from his bicycle, that Fitzpatrick had brandished a knife, which Mahon wrestled away and put in his pocket, then later displayed it to Fitzpatrick who allegedly walked onto it. The trial heard that Fitzpatrick ran downstairs, collapsed outside, and bled to death internally. The jury, composed of six men and six women, had spent seven and a half hours deliberating before lunch and will resume this afternoon.
In a 2016 case, Fergal O'Rourke, aged 62, sued the State and the Gardai Commissioner for assault and battery after an arrest on 12 July 2009 at a Ballymore checkpoint. He alleged injuries, a lame leg, and nervousness following the incident. The Gardai denied excessive force, stating O'Rourke was arrested after his jeep performed a u‑turn at the checkpoint, left the vehicle, and attempted to escape. Garda Darren Murphy, one of the arresting officers, testified that he used his baton three times to secure O'Rourke, who was described as dishevelled, aggressive, and intoxicated. O'Rourke denied losing his temper or that the force was unreasonable. The trial before a jury and Mr Justice Colm MacEochaidh was ongoing.
The State has finished presenting its evidence in the Anglo‑ILP conspiracy trial, where four former bank executives—Peter Fitzpatrick (63), Denis Casey (56), John Bowe (52) and Willie McAteer (65)—were accused of conspiring to mislead investors by arranging a seven‑billion‑euro circular transaction scheme to inflate Anglo Irish Bank's balance sheet. The defendants pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges relating to financial transactions between 1 March and 30 September 2008. On day 67, the Director of Public Prosecutions informed Judge Martin Nolan that the State's case was complete, and the trial moved to the legal argument stage. The prosecution's case centred on back‑to‑back deals between Anglo and Irish Life & Permanent (ILP) aimed at boosting Anglo's deposits figure for its year‑end accounts.