The trial of four former senior bankers accused of conspiring to mislead investors continued at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Martin Nolan. John Bowe, Willie McAteer, Peter Fitzpatrick, and Denis Casey, all from Dublin or Tipperary, have pleaded not guilty to charges alleging they used interbank loans between March and September 2008 to make Anglo Irish Bank appear €7.2 billion more valuable than it was. Prosecutors Una Ni Raifeartaigh SC and Paul O'Higgins SC presented evidence regarding circular transactions involving Irish Life and Permanent (ILP) and Anglo Irish Bank. Witness Paul Kane, a former ILP liquidity manager, testified that he was instructed to transfer funds from Anglo to Irish Life Assurance and back, a structure he initially did not understand. He stated that Peter Fitzpatrick approved the €1 billion transaction via email. Another witness, Stephen Fox, a former Anglo banker testifying via video link from London, explained that such transactions were used to report larger customer funding at year-end. He noted that while he was aware of transactions between Anglo and ILP, he assumed they were wholesale deposits. The defense, represented by Diarmaid McGuinness SC for Mr Bowe, cross-examined Fox on the commonality of short-term deposits in banking. The trial is ongoing, with no final verdict or sentence recorded at this procedural stage.
The trial of Gary Flynn, 31, of Tallaght, continued at the Central Criminal Court before Justice Patrick McCarthy. Mr Flynn has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne on March 13, 2009, at Tymon Park North in Tallaght. Prosecution evidence presented by Alex Owens SC focused on mobile phone tracing conducted by gardai. Senior crime analyst Sarah Skedd testified that investigators traced calls, texts, and locations of 13 mobile phones believed to be used by a gang. She detailed communications between these devices in the days leading up to the shooting, including a text sent by a phone linked to Eugene Cullen to a device found at the crime scene, which is associated with Garrett O'Brien. The prosecution alleges Mr O'Brien was the shooter. Skedd's evidence, which includes charts of phone interactions, is ongoing. Additionally, Brendan McKenna of Vilicom Engineering provided analysis of mobile mast locations, tracing a phone seized from Mr O'Brien to areas from Bray to Ballymount, and another phone found in a Nissan Primera to Coolock. The trial previously heard from Forensic Science Laboratory analyst Liam Fleury, who stated that fingerprints lifted from the Nissan Primera matched Mr Flynn's. The matter is currently at the trial stage and will continue on Thursday.
In the Central Criminal Court, 44‑year‑old Zoltan Almasi pleaded not guilty to the murder of Joseph Dunne, who died at their shared Harbour View address on 16 May 2014. Almasi told Gardaí that he had lived there for three years and owned a white Mercedes van, which he parked in front of his garage that night. He claimed to have heard a banging noise from outside his bedroom window and saw several men, including two males, shouting at him. Almasi said he grabbed a baseball bat to scare them away, chased two men down the street, and that one fell to the ground. He denied striking Dunne with the bat, stating he was "not capable" of doing so. Garda evidence noted only general wear on the van and a baseball bat found behind a hallway door. The trial continues.
In a 2016 case, Zoltan Almasi, 44, of Harbour View, Naas, was charged with the murder of Joseph Dunne, also at Harbour View, on 16 May 2014. Almasi pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. Prosecutor Bernard Condon SC called Garda Stephen Flaherty to testify. Flaherty reported arriving at the scene at 10:20 pm, seeing a man lying on the ground and a group of people nearby. He described the alleged offender's appearance and was directed to a house by a friend of the deceased. Flaherty approached the house but received no response, then returned to preserve the scene outside the Vie de Châteaux restaurant. At 11:20 pm, a male approached, matching the offender's description. The man gave his name as Zoltan Almasi and an address in Naas.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, the State announced that all charges against Edward Charles O'Reilly were dropped. O'Reilly, who had pleaded not guilty to burglary at Deansrath Avenue and to assaulting his uncle and brother‑in‑law, was cleared after the Director of Public Prosecution entered a nolle prosequi on every charge. Judge Karen O'Connor informed the jury that the case was closed and that O'Reilly was free to leave. The judge expressed regret over the family's involvement and urged the relatives to consider the children affected. Earlier in the trial, witnesses described an assault involving a slash hook and an iron bar, but the prosecution's decision to drop the case ended the proceedings. No further action will be taken against O'Reilly.
The trial of four senior bankers accused of manipulating Anglo Irish Bank's balance sheets continued in legal argument at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The accused are William McAteer, Denis Casey, Peter Fitzpatrick, and John Bowe. They are alleged to have conspired together and with others to mislead investors through financial transactions, specifically using interbank loans to make the bank appear €7.2 billion more valuable than it was between March 1st and September 30th, 2008. All four men have pleaded not guilty to the charges. The defendants include former Irish Life and Permanent (ILP) CEO Denis Casey, Anglo Irish Bank's former Head of Finance Willie McAteer, former ILP director of finance Peter Fitzpatrick, and former Anglo head of capital markets John Bowe. The matter is currently at the trial stage before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. No findings, sentences, or finalisations have been recorded. The trial was adjourned and will resume in evidence the following day.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 1 March 2016, 31‑year‑old Gary Flynn of Rossfield Drive, Tallaght, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne, who was shot at Tymon Park North on 13 March 2009. The court heard that Flynn had been nicknamed "Damien Duff" by Garda John O'Connell because of his resemblance to the former Irish soccer player. Evidence was presented by Garda Damien McGarry concerning several mobile phones linked to suspects. One phone found at the shooting scene had a contact named "Damien Duff" matching a number belonging to Eugene Cullen, another phone given to Garda by Cullen's former girlfriend, Louise Lawlor, had a number saved as Gary Flynn, though Lawlor could not confirm the identity.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that a young Kildare man, Joseph Dunne, died from severe traumatic head injury consistent with a blow from the tip of a baseball bat. Zoltan Almasi (44), of Harbour View, Naas, Co Kildare, is charged with murdering Mr Dunne at the same address on May 16, 2014. Mr Almasi pleaded not guilty to the charge. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that the post mortem examination revealed thirteen injuries to the deceased's head and neck, including a large area of bruising and a significant bleed in the skull. The cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma to the head. A toxicology report indicated that Mr Dunne was intoxicated with alcohol at the time of his death, but no drugs were detected. Dr Curtis stated that the injury was consistent with a blow from a baseball bat. Witness Donal Dockery described seeing two men agitated around a vehicle and a man with a baseball bat. Ms Mary Bergin O'Connor testified that she heard someone shout 'drop the baseball bat' and saw a man running away. The trial continues.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Sarah McDonagh, whose maiden name is O'Reilly, denies being the woman who made an emergency 999 call hours before the alleged slash‑hook assault. She says she was drinking with her brother, Edward Charles O'Reilly, and her husband, Michael McDonagh, at the house and cannot recall the incident. McDonagh claims she woke up to find people in the room, naming Edward Charles O'Reilly as one of them, but she does not remember the details of the alleged assault. She also denies knowing who made the recorded emergency call played by the defence. The trial, presided over by Judge Karen O'Connor, continues with a jury of eight women and four men. The accused, Edward Charles O'Reilly, 29, has pleaded not guilty to burglary and assault charges.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing on 29 February 2016, Gary Flynn, aged 31, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne, which occurred on 13 March 2009 at Tymon Park North, Tallaght. An expert, Liam Fleury of the Forensic Science Laboratory, testified that he found firearms residue on Flynn's right hand and on the cuffs of a grey hoodie that Gardaí said belonged to him. No residue was found on Flynn's face or left hand. Fleury explained that such residue is emitted when a gun is fired and can adhere to the shooter's skin and clothing. He had not examined any evidence relating to Garrett O'Brien, who the prosecution claims was the actual shooter and has already been convicted of the murder. Detective Garda Shane Farrell reported finding fingerprints on a Nissan Primera bonnet, one belonging to Eugene Cullen and another to Flynn.
During a trial of four banking executives, a senior banker from Irish Life and Permanent (ILP) testified that he felt "discomfort" with alleged inter‑bank transfers of €7.2 bn involving Anglo Irish Bank. The transfers, which allegedly moved money from Anglo to ILP and back via ILP's life assurance division, were said to appear as corporate deposits rather than inter‑bank loans, inflating Anglo's year‑end funding figures for 30 September 2008. The four men on trial – Anglo's former Head of Finance Willie McAteer (65), former head of capital markets John Bowe (52), ILP's former director of finance Peter Fitzpatrick (63) and former CEO Denis Casey (56) – have all pleaded not guilty. The evidence presented by ILP's former treasury head, David Gantly, highlighted his discomfort with the non‑standard nature of the transactions and his awareness of regulatory reporting requirements. The trial is proceeding before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
During a burglary trial, Edward O'Reilly, the alleged victim, recounted that on 11 May 2013, he, his sister and Michael McDonagh were asleep in a house on Deansrath Avenue, Clondalkin, when a group of men broke in. He claimed the accused, Edward Charles O'Reilly (29), struck him twice on the head with a slash hook, and another man hit him on the back of the legs with an iron bar. McDonagh said he was slapped in the face and told to "stay awake." O'Reilly said he fell unconscious after the hook blows. He also denied the accused's two assault charges. The accused pleaded not guilty to burglary and the assault charges. The case is before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury of eight women and four men. The trial continues.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that a young Kildare man was struck twice with a baseball bat by a man identified as Zoltan Almasi (44) of Harbour View, Naas, Co Kildare. Almasi is charged with murdering Joseph Dunne at the same address on May 16, 2014. On Monday, Almasi pleaded not guilty to the charge. The prosecution called Alana Piercy, who testified that she witnessed the incident. She described seeing a man with a baseball bat strike Joseph Dunne on the back and then on the side of his head. The witness also described the man as small, skinny, baldy-haired, and wearing glasses. Richard Conway testified that he encountered two youths who attempted to provoke him and heard the sound of someone kicking or thumping a car more than twice. Anita Ryan, a nurse, stated she saw a man holding a baseball bat and heard him say, 'I've seen what you have done to my car.' She administered first aid to Joseph Dunne before making a 999 call. Derek Ryan, a member of the Naas Fire Service, testified that he observed a large lump on the deceased's head. Detective Garda Niall Lennon provided evidence regarding finger and palm marks found at the scene and on the deceased, as well as a baseball bat recovered from a house in the Harbour View area. The trial continues.
A 21-year-old man has been acquitted at the Central Criminal Court of rape allegations arising from an incident in Donegal Town in July 2012. The accused had pleaded not guilty to the charge. The trial heard evidence that the complainant and the accused, both aged 18 at the time, engaged in consensual sexual contact in an alleyway before the allegation arose. The defence case centred on the position that the accused ceased sexual contact immediately when the woman expressed her wishes. The jury was shown footage of the accused's garda interview, during which issues relating to the interviewing garda's conduct were raised. Mr Justice Tony Hunt addressed the jury following the verdict, acknowledging the difficulty inherent in cases where consensual activity is alleged to have become non-consensual. The woman wept as the acquittal was delivered. The judge noted that both parties had likely endured considerable hardship pending trial conclusion.
Tom "Slab" Murphy, born August 1949 in Ballybinaby, Co. Louth, is alleged to have been a former Chief of Staff of the Provisional IRA and to have run a cross‑border smuggling operation from his family farm that straddled the Republic‑Northern Ireland border. Court documents and affidavits from the Criminal Assets Bureau, Gardaí, customs and PSNI describe how the farm, which Murphy inherited in 1968, was used to smuggle pigs, cattle, fuel and oil between the two jurisdictions. The operation involved large storage tanks, underground tanks, and concealed dispensing machines that allowed fuel to be moved across the border. Affidavits also report the discovery of €256,245 and £111,185 in cash and cheques during a 2006 raid. Murphy has pursued libel actions against the Sunday Times, but the court found against him in both 1990 and 1998 trials. The case highlights the alleged scale of the smuggling enterprise and the legal challenges faced by authorities.
Edward Charles O'Reilly of Wheatfield Grove, Clondalkin, Dublin, pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to an aggravated burglary at Deansrath Avenue, Clondalkin, on 11 May 2013. He is accused of using a slash hook as a weapon during the burglary. O'Reilly also denied two assault charges against Edward O'Reilly and Michael McDonagh that occurred in the same incident. The trial will open tomorrow before Judge Karen O'Connor and a jury of five men and seven women.
The jury in a rape trial at the Central Criminal Court is to resume deliberations tomorrow following over two hours of consideration today. The accused, now aged 21, has pleaded not guilty to the charge of raping a woman in an alleyway in Donegal Town in July 2012, when both parties were 18 years old. The trial before Mr Justice Tony Hunt concluded after six days of evidence.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that a young Kildare man was 'smacked' at the back of his head by a man wielding a baseball bat after the deceased hit a parked van 'a thump'. Zoltan Almasi (44), of Harbour View, Naas, Co Kildare, is charged with murdering Joseph Dunne at the same address on May 16, 2014. On Monday, Mr Almasi pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Dunne. Today, prosecution counsel Bernard Condon SC called witness Mikey McDonagh, a 20-year-old from Kildare, who testified that he met Mr Dunne and another friend, Gavin Breen, on the night in question. The group met three girls at the harbour in Naas before walking home. Mikey McDonagh stated that Mr Dunne hit the van once with his fist, making 'a noise', and then ran as a man with a baseball bat chased him. The witness described the man as bald and wearing glasses. Mr Dunne was struck at the back of his head and fell to the ground. In cross-examination, Mikey McDonagh agreed that Mr Dunne struck the van more than once. Gavin Breen, 21, also testified, stating that he saw the man strike Mr Dunne with a baseball bat at the side of his head. A teenage girl from Naas testified that she saw the man hit Mr Dunne once on the head, causing him to fall to the ground. The trial continues.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has been told that prior consensual sexual contact does not permit subsequent forced intercourse. The trial concerns a 22-year-old Donegal man charged with rape alleged to have occurred in an alleyway in Donegal Town in July 2012. The accused has pleaded not guilty. Prosecution counsel submitted that prior agreement to sexual contact did not constitute permission for further acts without consent, referencing established judicial guidance on such matters. Defence counsel argued the accused stopped immediately upon protest and questioned the prosecution's account of events. The jury of twelve was instructed to begin deliberations following the judge's address. The case remains before the court pending verdict.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution presented evidence that Zoltan Almasi, a 44‑year‑old Hungarian national living in Harbour View, Naas, attacked 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne with a baseball bat after Dunne hit a van. The jury heard that on 16 May 2014 Dunne, who lived in Athy with his family, had gone out with friends to Naas, where they met girls and drank near the harbour. While returning to Kildare, Dunne struck a parked van, prompting Almasi to pursue him with a bat. Almasi struck Dunne on the head, causing blunt‑force trauma that led to his death. CCTV footage showed Almasi raising his arm and later running away with the bat. Almasi was arrested, the bat seized, and he pleaded not guilty. The trial continues.
The trial of four senior bankers accused of conspiring to mislead investors is ongoing before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Willie McAteer, John Bowe, Peter Fitzpatrick, and Denis Casey have all pleaded not guilty to charges alleging they conspired to mislead investors through financial transactions between March 1 and September 30, 2008. The prosecution alleges the defendants used interbank loans to make Anglo Irish Bank appear €7.2 billion more valuable than it was, specifically by transferring funds to Irish Life and Permanent (ILP) and depositing them back as corporate deposits to inflate year-end figures. Prosecution witness Ciaran McArdle, a former Anglo dealer, testified that the bank could not rely on State pillar banks for aid during the liquidity crisis. He stated that Anglo could not depend on domestic institutions like Bank of Ireland or AIB, nor international banks, to increase its balance sheet. Mr. McArdle described the high stress within the bank, including concerns about potential 'rent-a-crowd' tactics by hedge funds. During cross-examination, counsel for Mr. Fitzpatrick highlighted the 'green jersey agenda' preference for domestic support. The witness also acknowledged using uncharitable language regarding Bank of Ireland in a phone call. The matter remains at the trial stage, with no findings, sentences, or finalisations recorded.
A man from Donegal Town is on trial at the Central Criminal Court on a charge of rape alleged to have occurred in July 2012. During garda interviews following the incident, the accused stated he was "very very sorry" and acknowledged attempting sexual contact without consent. He told investigators he had initially provided false accounts because he feared his parents would believe him to be a rapist. The accused claimed he ceased his actions when the woman objected and that the pair subsequently sat together before parting ways. He acknowledged awareness that the woman had sustained an injury during the encounter. When questioned by gardaí regarding why he did not contact her afterwards, he suggested concern about her potential embarrassment. The accused has entered a not guilty plea. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury comprised of twelve members.
The trial of four senior bankers accused of conspiring to mislead investors is ongoing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. John Bowe, Willie McAteer, Peter Fitzpatrick, and Denis Casey have all pleaded not guilty to allegations that they used interbank loans to make Anglo Irish Bank appear €7.2 billion more valuable than it was between March 1 and September 30, 2008. The prosecution alleges funds were transferred to Irish Life and Permanent (ILP) and returned as corporate deposits to inflate year-end figures. On day 23, the jury heard testimony from Anglo dealer Ciaran McArdle regarding a call to Financial Regulator Claire Taylor. McArdle stated the bank was "trying to manipulate our balance sheet" and that the boosted customer funding number was "not a real number." He clarified he meant the bank was managing its balance sheet to look its best. McArdle described six transfers of €1 billion to ILP on September 29 and 30, noting the round figure was chosen for operational convenience. He admitted using the phrase "six yards of the funny stuff" in a call to an ILP dealer, describing it as flippant. The jury learned that by the close of business on September 30, Anglo forecast it lacked sufficient funds for next-day payments, prompting a call to the Central Bank. Emergency funding was subsequently received. The matter remains at the trial stage with no finalisation or sentence recorded.
A 44‑year‑old Hungarian man, Zoltan Almasi, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 20‑year‑old Joseph Dunne, who was killed at Almasi's Harbour View, Naas address on 16 May 2014. The plea was entered at the Central Criminal Court. Judge Patrick McCarthy informed the jury that the trial could not commence until Wednesday and would be presided over by Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan. He added that the case should be concluded by the end of the following week, though the jury might be required for the first few days of the week after that.
The trial of four senior bankers accused of conspiring to mislead investors through financial transactions between March 1st and September 30th, 2008, continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Peter Fitzpatrick, Denis Casey, William McAteer, and John Bowe have all pleaded not guilty to the charges. Evidence presented to the jury included a transcript of a September 2008 phone call in which Anglo Irish Bank's senior portfolio manager, Peter Geissel, proposed a "back to back" transaction to Credit Suisse to enhance the bank's year-end corporate deposit figures. Geissel suggested Anglo would place funds with a Credit Suisse entity and receive a deposit from a non-bank entity, such as Credit Suisse Asset Management, potentially involving a broader set-off arrangement. He indicated the deposit term would be very short, ideally a couple of days or overnight. The trial heard that Credit Suisse's representative, Jerome Henry, raised concerns about net risk and later stated that the bank was not prepared to proceed with the deal. Geissel testified that the conversation was exploratory and that he did not believe there was anything inherently wrong with the type of transaction. The matter remains ongoing, with the trial continuing.
A trial at the Central Criminal Court has heard evidence concerning an alleged rape in a Donegal town alleyway in July 2012. The accused has pleaded not guilty to the charge. The complainant, then eighteen years old, attended hospital that night with severe bleeding. During cross-examination, the defence counsel suggested the woman had fabricated the allegation in response to being questioned about a blood stain on her clothing by friends. The woman denied this assertion. The defence also contended she had sought to withdraw her statement because the allegation was untrue. The complainant explained she initially wished to withdraw because she felt frightened and wished to move past the incident, but later recognised the seriousness of the matter and chose to proceed. She described the accused's conduct and stated he disregarded her refusal of consent. The trial, before a jury of seven men and five women, continues.
The High Court has allowed a man, whose name cannot be disclosed, to be tried for sexually abusing three teenagers at a children's home run by a religious order more than 40 years ago. He had previously sought to halt his prosecution on the charges brought by two female complainants, but the High Court rejected his application to prohibit the trial. The man had been charged with offences alleged to have occurred between the late 1960s and 1974 for one complainant, and between 1974 and 1977 for another, but the dates were later changed to 1974‑1975 and 1977 respectively. No changes were made for the third complainant. During the trial, his lawyers applied for rulings that the female complainants' evidence be excluded or that the indictment be amended to match the evidence, but the judge refused. The jury was discharged and a new trial date was set.
A trial at the Central Criminal Court has heard evidence from a woman who alleges she was raped in an alleyway in Donegal Town in July 2012 when she was eighteen years old. The complainant told the jury that the medical examination conducted afterwards was deeply distressing. She described meeting the accused, a man she knew, at a nightclub. She said that when they went outside, he led her to an unlit alley where he subjected her to a serious sexual assault against her will, causing her severe injuries requiring hospital treatment. The accused has pleaded not guilty to rape. The woman said she disclosed what had occurred to friends, who brought her to hospital and alerted gardaí. The trial, before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury, continues.
During a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Peter Fitzpatrick, a former director of finance at Irish Life and Permanent, denied that the Anglo Irish Bank covered bonds issued in 2008 were worthless. Fitzpatrick, along with former ILP CEO Denis Casey, former Anglo Head of Finance Willie McAteer, and former Anglo head of capital markets John Bowe, were accused of conspiring to mislead investors by using interbank loans to inflate the bank's value by €7.2 billion between 1 March and 30 September 2008. All four pleaded not guilty. Senior portfolio manager Peter Geissel, who managed Anglo's €5 billion covered bonds programme in 2007, testified that the bonds were fully paid and rated 'AAA'. He insisted that Anglo itself paid off the bonds and that they were not the reason for the government bailout. The case is still before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
In a Special Criminal Court case, 55‑year‑old Samuel Devlin of Dublin pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of PETN, an explosive substance, allegedly found in a laptop bag at a Finnstown House Hotel room he booked under a false name. The prosecution presented forensic evidence linking Devlin's fingerprints and DNA to the laptop and to a detonating cord marked 'explosives'. They also cited a National Surveillance Unit officer who claimed to have seen Devlin near the hotel and a bin containing detonating cord and gloves. Devlin's counsel argued that the prosecution had not proven his knowledge or control of the substance, noting the absence of DNA on the cord and questioning the reliability of the surveillance testimony. The court remanded Devlin in custody until the judgment, scheduled for March 1, will be delivered.
Paul Henry, 29, of Roscommon, was committed to the Central Mental Hospital following a trial at the Central Criminal Court. He was charged with murdering his mother, Ann Henry, at Abbeystown, Ballyphesan, in Roscommon town on September 17, 2011. Mr Henry pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder by reason of insanity. During the trial, defence counsel called Professor Tom Fahey, who diagnosed a delusional disorder, while the prosecution called Dr Brenda Wright, who diagnosed paranoid schizophrenia. The jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty of murder by reason of insanity after one hour and 36 minutes of deliberation. At the sentencing stage, Dr Damian Mohan, an approved medical officer at the Central Mental Hospital, testified that Mr Henry continues to suffer from paranoid schizophrenia and requires inpatient care to prevent deterioration and risk to others. Mr Justice Tony Hunt accepted the evidence, stating that Mr Henry must be treated as an unwell person rather than a criminal. The judge ordered that Mr Henry be committed to the Central Mental Hospital under the supervision of Dr Mohan and his staff, noting that this inpatient care is necessary until he is no longer a danger to himself or others.
During a trial at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, former Anglo Irish Bank executive Peter Fitzpatrick, aged 63, testified that he does not recall any "jubilation" within the bank after March 30, 2008, when Anglo increased its customer deposits. Fitzpatrick, who had been the director of finance at Irish Life and Permanent (ILP), was questioned by his lawyer Michael Bowman SC about the bank's actions. The case involves allegations that Anglo, ILP, and other senior bankers conspired to mislead investors by using interbank loans to inflate Anglo's value by €7.2 billion between March 1 and September 30, 2008. The alleged scheme involved back‑to‑back deposits of €750 million and €1 billion between Anglo and ILP, with money transferred by Anglo to ILP and then deposited back into Anglo through ILP's life insurance division, Irish Life Assurance. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
A 29-year-old man from Roscommon has been found not guilty of murdering his mother by reason of insanity at the Central Criminal Court. Paul Henry was charged with killing Ann Henry at Abbeystown, Ballyphesan on 17 September 2011. The defence conceded that Henry killed his mother but argued he was legally insane at the time. Two psychiatrists gave evidence: the defence called a consultant psychiatrist who diagnosed a delusional disorder, whilst the prosecution's forensic psychiatrist diagnosed paranoid schizophrenia. Both experts testified that Henry lacked capacity to form criminal intent due to his mental condition. The jury deliberated for one hour and 36 minutes before returning a unanimous verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The judge ordered Henry's detention at the Central Mental Hospital and praised the jury for their careful consideration of the evidence.
The Special Criminal Court is hearing a case against Samuel Devlin, 55, who is accused of unlawfully possessing the explosive substance PETN at Finnstown House Hotel, Lucan, Co. Dublin. Devlin pleaded not guilty to the charge. Prosecutors argue that he booked the hotel under the false name Joe Murphy and that an explosive substance was found in the chalet he occupied. Detective Garda Ronan Judge presented a key card signed by J Murphy, showing the stay from 31 March to 30 April 2014. The prosecution is expected to close its case tomorrow, after the trial was adjourned to that day.
A Roscommon man pleaded not guilty to murdering his mother by reason of insanity at the Central Criminal Court on 15 February 2016. Paul Henry, aged 29, is charged with stabbing his mother Ann Henry to death at Abbeystown, Ballyphesan on 17 September 2011, approximately one month after his release from psychiatric hospital. The accused has admitted killing his mother. The court heard that Ms Henry sustained ten stab wounds, including injuries to her thoracic aorta and right lung. Evidence indicated Mr Henry had been involuntarily committed to hospital in July 2011 but was released after a Mental Health Tribunal determined he did not meet detention criteria. Defence and prosecution psychiatrists are expected to testify that the accused was suffering from a mental disorder at the time, with the defence consultant suggesting delusional disorder or schizophrenia. The trial continues.
The trial of four former bankers accused of conspiring to mislead investors continues into its fourth week of evidence. Former Irish Life and Permanent CEO Denis Casey (56), Anglo's former Head of Finance Willie McAteer (65), former ILP director of finance Peter Fitzpatrick (63) and former Anglo head of capital markets John Bowe (52) are on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. They have pleaded not guilty to conspiring to mislead investors by using interbank loans to make Anglo appear €7.2 billion more valuable than it was between 1 March and 30 September 2008. On day 18, defence counsel Michael Bowman SC questioned former Anglo market risk analyst Steven Hiles about a September 26, 2008 phone call with colleague Ciaran McArdle, in which Hiles discussed classifying transactions between ILP and Anglo as customer or bank deposits. The trial is before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
The Sunday World was ordered to pay a €75,000 fine for contempt of court by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy at the Central Criminal Court. The penalty follows the newspaper's pre-trial coverage of Mark Nash, who was convicted of the 1997 double murders of Mary Callanan and Sylvia Shiels in Grangegorman. The court found that the newspaper published articles labeling Nash a "psycho" and a "Pulp Fiction-style killer" before his trial, despite knowing proceedings had begun. Counsel for the State, Mr Brendan Grehan SC, argued that such language prejudiced the fairness of the trial. The newspaper's counsel, Mr Shane English BL, contended that the impact was mitigated by Nash's notoriety and previous media attention, including the Dean Lyons inquiry. Mr Justice McCarthy deemed the contempt extremely serious and considered a six-figure fine. However, considering the newspaper's handling of the proceedings and the lack of previous adverse findings against editor Colm McGinty, the judge imposed the €75,000 fine on the publication. No order was made against Mr McGinty personally. The newspaper was given one month to pay the fine.
In a 2016 trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, four former Anglo Irish Bank executives—Peter Fitzpatrick, John Bowe, Denis Casey, and Willie McAteer—were charged with conspiring to mislead investors by orchestrating a €7.2 billion "circular" cash transaction between Anglo and Irish Life & Permanent (ILP) during 2008. Witness Brian Lynch testified that while banks often manage balance sheets to appear strong at year‑end, the 2008 deal was atypical, matching the same amount, period, and rate, and was significantly larger than normal. Lynch described the transaction as a reciprocal loan that treated ILA as a corporate deposit to inflate deposit figures. He claimed no instruction to conceal the deal and that the meetings focused on balance‑sheet appearance amid global financial panic. The defendants pleaded not guilty; the trial continued under Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
During a 2016 trial in Dublin, former Anglo Irish Bank director Matt Cullen testified that Irish banks, including Anglo and Irish Life and Permanent (ILP), had coordinated a "green jersey agenda" to support each other during the 2008 financial crisis. Cullen described an email from former Anglo CEO David Drumm to Anglo executives on 16 March 2008, in which the Governor of the Central Bank suggested Irish banks help one another. He claimed this was a case of "pulling on the green jersey" and that the aim was to protect the Irish banking system. The four men on trial—Denis Casey, Willie McAteer, Peter Fitzpatrick, and John Bowe—were accused of conspiring to mislead investors by using interbank loans to make Anglo appear €7.2 billion more valuable between 1 March and 30 September 2008. All pleaded not guilty. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, continues before a jury.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, an 83‑year‑old US citizen was acquitted of two counts of rape and two counts of sexual assault against a 17‑year‑old American relative. The accused testified that the sexual acts were consensual, claiming the girl performed oral sex on him after she confided in him about her weight problem. He said she never objected and could have stopped the interactions. The girl testified that she was held down, forced to perform oral sex, and that attempts at penetrative sex were painful and stopped because he was physically unable. A jury of twelve deliberated for just under five hours and returned unanimous not‑guilty verdicts on all charges. The case ended with the accused's acquittal.
During a Special Criminal Court hearing, fingerprints lifted from a Lucan hotel room were found to match those of Samuel Devlin, a 55‑year‑old Northern Irish man accused of unlawful possession of an explosive substance (PETN). The court had previously reported that a detonator cord containing PETN was discovered in the same hotel room. Devlin, who had booked the chalet at Finnstown House Hotel under a false name, pleaded not guilty to the charge on 11 May 2014. Detective Garda Niall Lannon examined fingerprints on a Dell laptop seized during the search of the chalet and confirmed a match with Devlin's prints. Detective Garda Ernie Fraser lifted fingerprints from a door in the chalet, also matching Devlin's left little finger. The trial continues.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing on 10 February 2016, it was revealed that Gary Flynn, aged 31, was in possession of drugs and two mobile phones when he was arrested by the Gardaí four days after the fatal shooting of Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne on 13 March 2009. The arrest also uncovered €1,000 in cash. Flynn, who lives on Rossfield Drive in Tallaght, pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The trial also discussed the arrest of another suspect, Garrett O'Brien, who was apprehended on 17 March 2009 at a house on Oldcourt Avenue in Bray, Co. Wicklow, under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. Gardaí Det. Sgt. Tom McManus and Det. Gda Gary Corrigan testified that O'Brien was alone in the sitting room when seized, and that the items—two mobile phones, blue tablets, Valium, hash, methadone, and €1,000—belonged to him.
During the trial of four former senior bankers accused of conspiring to mislead investors, former Anglo director Matt Cullen testified that he acted under the direction of former Anglo CEO David Drumm when he approached Irish Life about an interbank loan of €7bn. Cullen said Drumm asked him to approach Irish Life to request €6‑7bn in September 2008, specifically to approach David Gantley, Irish Life's counterpart. Cullen confirmed he was acting under Drumm's direction. He explained that the scheme involved transferring money from Anglo to Irish Life Assurance (ILA), a non‑banking entity owned by Irish Life, which would then deposit it back into Anglo's accounts as a corporate deposit. This would make Anglo appear €7.2bn more valuable. The four men—Denis Casey, Willie McAteer, Peter Fitzpatrick and John Bowe—have pleaded not guilty. The trial, held at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, resumed in evidence after six days of legal argument, with the judge being Martin Nolan.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, scientists reported that firearms residue was found inside a Volkswagen Passat but not in a Nissan Primera, both vehicles suspected of being used in the alleged gang murder of Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne at Tymon Park North, Tallaght, on 13 March 2009. Dr Thomas Hannigan of the Forensic Science Laboratory explained that samples from the Passat's seatbelt, driver's cockpit and driver's door tested positive for residue, while the Primera's samples were negative. He agreed with the defence that the shooter likely left the scene in the Passat. Garda Terence Toal presented fingerprints linking Gary Flynn (31) and Eugene Cullen to items from the vehicles, matching Flynn's right thumb print to a sample from the Primera's interior passenger door. Gary Flynn pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Gardai alleged that Samuel Devlin, 55, a Northern Ireland man, was a bomb maker for the IRA and possessed PETN at his address in Finnstown House Hotel, Lucan. The prosecution claimed Devlin used a false name to book a Golf Suite chalet at the hotel, where an explosive substance was found. Detective Sergeant Padraig Boyce reported that on the morning of the alleged offence a car bomb had been abandoned outside the hotel. He entered the chalet with the Emergency Response Unit, saw items he believed were for improvised explosive devices, and arrested Devlin, who was then taken to Lucan Garda station. Devlin denied possession or control of explosives during Garda interviews. The trial continues. Samuel Devlin pleaded not guilty.
The trial of four senior bankers accused of conspiring to mislead investors has heard that former Anglo Irish Bank CEO David Drumm authorised €7.2 billion in allegedly dishonest transactions. The accused include former Irish Life and Permanent (ILP) CEO Denis Casey, Anglo's former group finance director Willie McAteer, ILP's then group finance director Peter Fitzpatrick, and John Bowe, who had been Anglo's head of capital markets. All four have pleaded not guilty to four charges, which allege that they conspired together and with others to mislead investors through financial transactions to make the bank appear €7.2 billion more valuable between March 1st and September 30th, 2008 in Dublin. The trial, which is scheduled to run for up to five months, continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a specially enlarged jury of eight men and seven women.
In a 2016 Central Criminal Court hearing, Garda Detective Michael McGrath presented CCTV evidence linking 31‑year‑old Gary Flynn of Rossfield Drive, Tallaght, to the scene of the fatal shooting of Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne at Tymon Park North on 13 March 2009. The footage showed a Nissan Primera with a defective headlight stopping at a Topaz garage on Forfield Road about 90 minutes before the shooting. A man matching Flynn's description exited the vehicle, wearing a grey tracksuit and white runners, and entered the garage. Further CCTV from a homeowner's system in Tymon Park displayed a saloon‑type car, possibly a Nissan Primera, arriving before five shots were fired and then leaving the estate. Flynn pleaded not guilty, and the trial was set to continue before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of nine men and three women. The prosecution argued that the same case was being made against Flynn as for another suspect, Eugene Cullen.
A jury awarded €132,000 in damages to Catherine Houlihan, a 41‑year‑old wheelchair‑bound woman from Carrick on Suir, after finding that two Gardaí trespassed into her home on 2 August 2011 and falsely imprisoned her while questioning her about a missing iPhone. The Gardaí entered her house without a search warrant, searched her handbag and wheelchair without permission, and threatened to take her to Clonmel Garda Station if she did not admit to taking the phone. Houlihan denied taking the phone, which she claimed was stolen from a fast‑food restaurant earlier that day. The High Court judge, Mr Justice Colm MacEochaidh, heard the case over three days and, after deliberation, the jury concluded that her privacy had been breached, that she had been falsely imprisoned and that the Gardaí had trespassed without lawful authority. The jury awarded her €132,000 in damages, a decision that was stayed pending appeal.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 5 February 2016, Detective Garda Michael McGrath presented CCTV footage that linked three suspects to the March 2009 murder of Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne in Tallaght. The footage showed Gary Flynn (31) entering the Leisureplex in Coolock with Eugene Cullen and another suspect at 8.50 pm, after the fatal shooting at 8.14 pm. McGrath identified Flynn's Nissan Primera, missing a headlight and wing mirror, and Garrett O'Brien's white Micra, both seen near the Red Cow roundabout. He also described a saloon with a defective headlight entering Tymon Park minutes before the shooting, though the exact make was disputed by defence counsel, who cited teenage witnesses claiming a Volkswagen Passat. Dr Michael Burrington testified that DNA from a mobile phone matched O'Brien's profile, with a one‑in‑two‑million chance of coincidence. The case proceeded to trial before Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of nine men and three women. Gary Flynn pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, a second forensic psychiatrist, Dr. Paul O'Connell, testified that Shane Smyth, 29, suffered from severe paranoid schizophrenia and was not capable of forming a specific intent at the time of the murder of Mairead Moran, 26, on 8 May 2014. Dr. O'Connell reviewed Dr. Brenda Wright's earlier report and agreed that Smyth was mentally disordered, unable to appreciate the nature of his actions, and lacked moral judgment. He was deemed fit to plead and stand trial after a January 2016 review. The jury was also presented with a post‑mortem report by Professor Marie Cassidy, detailing eight stab wounds and multiple organ injuries that caused Moran's death. The trial remains ongoing. Shane Smyth pleaded not guilty.