Two Dublin men, Robert Day, 44, and Hubert Duffy, 47, pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court. Day admitted unlawful custody of 400 counterfeit €50 notes found at Monck Place, Phibsborough, on 2 February 2014. Duffy admitted handling a stolen BMW motorcycle discovered at Phoenix Park Racecourse Apartments, Navan Road, on 12 November 2013. Both were previously charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styled the Irish Republican Army. The court remanded Day in custody and kept Duffy on bail pending sentencing on 10 February.
The murder trial of Gary Flynn (31) was adjourned because 12 jurors could not be found to sit for the estimated seven weeks of evidence. After a lengthy selection process, 12 jurors were chosen, but two were exempted by their employers who could not be absent from work for that period. Justice Patrick McCarthy then called a new panel to replace them, but most candidates had prior commitments or were too old. No new jurors were added, so the jury was dismissed and the trial was adjourned to Monday, January 18. Gary Flynn pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Seamus Morgan (49) of Athy, Co. Kildare, pleaded not guilty to the killing of Laurence Keane (56) on 19 July 2013. The prosecution presented evidence from Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis, who examined Keane's body at Nass General Hospital. Curtis reported that Keane suffered ten significant blows to the head, with full‑thickness lacerations on the right scalp and fractures on the left side of the skull. He described severe blunt‑force trauma as the cause of death, noting extensive bruising of brain tissue. Witnesses, including Jamie Flynn Quinn, Garda Seamus Muldowney, and Garda Alan Kavanagh, recounted seeing Keane on Barrow Bridge and later in a lane‑way near St John's Lane, where blood was found and a 999 call was made. The case remains in progress.
The Special Criminal Court in Dublin will open a ten‑day trial tomorrow for Hubert Duffy, 47, of George's Place, Temple Street, and Robert Day, 44, of St Attracta Road, Cabra. Both men are charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, the Irish Republican Army (IRA), on 2 February 2014. Prosecutor Vincent Heneghan BL informed the court that supplementary disclosure and additional evidence had been submitted to the defendants' counsel, who require time to review it. Judge Paul Butler, presiding over the three‑judge, non‑jury court, criticised the late disclosure, stating it should not occur.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Seamus Morgan (49) pleaded not guilty to the killing of Laurence Keane (56) on 19 July 2013. The prosecution argued that Keane was badly battered in the head with an iron bar in a lane‑way near St John's Lane, Athy, between 11.30 and 11.45 pm on 18 July 2013, and died the next morning at Naas General Hospital. A post‑mortem found blunt‑force trauma and four skull fractures. Witnesses, including young men on bicycles, testified they saw Morgan assault Keane. DNA evidence linked blood on a pair of Adidas runners found at Morgan's home to Keane's post‑mortem sample. CCTV and other evidence showed Morgan and Keane together that night, and a motive of long‑standing ill‑will was presented. Morgan was arrested on 25 July 2013, rearrested in April 2014, and the trial continues.
The Central Criminal Court will hear the trial of Gary Flynn, 31, of Rossfield Drive, Tallaght, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne at Tymon Park North on 13 March 2009. Justice Patrick McCarthy informed the newly sworn jury that the case is expected to last about seven weeks. Prosecutor Alex Owens SC said the allegation concerns the 2009 shooting of O'Byrne, and witnesses from Tallaght, Bray and Crumlin will be called to testify. The trial opens on Tuesday before Justice McCarthy.
A jury was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the trial of Seamus Morgan, 49, who is accused of murdering Laurence Keane, 56, on 19 July 2013 in Athy. Mr Morgan pleaded not guilty. Judge Patrick McCarthy informed the jury of three men and nine women that the trial would last about two weeks and would begin at 2 pm before Judge Robert Eager.
Jury selection was completed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for the trial of four former financial executives accused of conspiring to mislead investors. William McAteer, John Bowe, Denis Casey, and Peter Fitzpatrick have all pleaded not guilty to allegations that they conspired to make Anglo Irish Bank appear €7.2 billion more valuable than it was between March 1 and September 30, 2008. Judge Martin Nolan described the proceedings as a complex financial fraud trial expected to last 20 weeks. The empanelling process concluded after a potential juror suffered a panic attack, resulting in a 15-member jury of eight men and seven women. Several individuals were excused from service due to conflicts of interest, including employment in financial services, shareholding in Anglo, or holding strong views on the bank. Judge Nolan instructed the sworn jury not to investigate the case online or discuss it with others, emphasizing the need for an open mind. He listed potential witnesses, including Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation members and employees from Morgan Stanley, Royal Bank of Scotland, and RBC Capital Bank. The judge stated that evidence is unlikely to begin until the week after next, with jurors instructed to return to court the following Monday unless contacted by Courts Services regarding any changes.
Owen McCann, a 35‑year‑old from Annaloughan, Jenkinstown, Dundalk, Co. Louth, was arrested on 18 December 2015 on charges of membership in the unlawful organisation Oglaigh na hEireann (the IRA) and possession of firearms, including a rifle, a pistol conversion kit and ammunition. He was taken into custody by the Special Detective Unit last Friday. On 22 December 2015 the Special Criminal Court in Dublin released him on bail. The court, presided over by Justice Paul Butler with Judges John O'Hagan and Anne Ryan, accepted the Department of Public Prosecutions' lack of objection to the bail application. Mr McCann agreed to the conditions set by State Solicitor Michael O'Donovan: he must remain in Dundalk, sign daily at the Dundalk Garda Station, observe a curfew from 11 pm to 7 am, provide a mobile phone number, surrender his passport and all travel documents, stay within the jurisdiction, avoid Northern Ireland, refrain from associating with anyone charged with a scheduled offence.
In the murder trial of Trevor Corr, a 39‑year‑old Dublin man, a juror was discharged after two hours of deliberation. Corr had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of James Humphries, 32, at Kiltalown Way in Tallaght on 22 September 2013. The State did not accept the manslaughter plea. The jury began deliberating at 2.30 pm, but a juror was unavailable for Monday. Justice Patrick McCarthy decided to proceed with eleven jurors on Monday morning, discharging the absent juror and resuming the trial at 9.45 am.
The jury has begun deliberations in the trial of a man accused of raping a woman with Down syndrome after luring her to his Dublin home on 12 June 2013. The accused pleaded not guilty to rape, sexual assault and having sex with a mentally impaired person. He admits some sexual contact but says it was consensual and that he was unaware of her mental impairment. Six men and six women spent about 20 minutes considering a verdict, then listened to a transcript of his cross‑examination before resuming tomorrow.
The trial of Trevor Corr (39) continues at the Central Criminal Court, where he faces a charge of murder. Corr pleaded not guilty to the murder of James Humphries (32) at Kiltalown Way in Tallaght on September 22, 2013, but admitted to manslaughter, a plea the State did not accept. Prosecution counsel Denis Vaughan Buckley SC argued there was ample evidence of guilt, citing a 999 call and interview memos where the accused stated he found someone in his bed and stabbed him. Forensic evidence confirmed DNA from Humphries on the blade tip and Corr's on the handle. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC contended there was a "complete mystery" regarding how Humphries entered the house, asserting Corr did not know the deceased. Grehan highlighted Corr's muscular condition, depression, and recent robberies to contextualize his state of mind, noting the shallow two-inch penetration suggested a lack of intent to cause serious injury. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy charged the jury to reach a unanimous verdict. The matter was adjourned to 2pm tomorrow for jury deliberations.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 17 December 2015, a Dublin man, Donal O'Coisdealbha, aged 23, was denied bail for the third time after being arrested in May on charges of membership in the Irish Republican Army and possession of a component of an improvised explosive device. The court heard that seven independent sureties had been proposed, including three TDs – Mick Wallace, Clare Daly and Maureen O'Sullivan – each willing to offer €5,000. O'Coisdealbha, who has been in custody for seven months, claimed the TDs were "friends of the family". The State objected to the bail application on grounds of the seriousness of the charge, citing Section 2 of the Bail Act, and the court refused the application with great reluctance. The case remains pending in the Special Criminal Court.
Thomas Murphy, aged 66, from Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, County Louth, has been found guilty of nine counts of tax evasion at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin. The three-judge court determined that Murphy failed to furnish returns of income to the Collector General or Inspector of Taxes for the years 1996 to 2004, despite conducting substantial farming operations. Evidence presented during the 32-day trial included testimony from Department of Agriculture staff, managers at cattle marts in Roscommon, Ballyjamesduff, Kingscourt and Elphin, meat factory representatives, and Criminal Assets Bureau investigators. The court heard that Murphy received over €100,000 in farming grants and conducted cattle transactions exceeding €500,000 across various livestock marts. Murphy's defence, that his brother Patrick controlled the farming activities, was rejected by the judges. Forensic analysis of a bank account operated in Murphy's name revealed significant financial activity. Murphy was remanded on continuing bail pending sentencing on 12 February 2016.
In a murder trial, forensic scientist John Hoade testified that DNA from the tip of a knife found in Trevor Corr's bedroom matched the deceased, James Humphries, while blood on the handle matched Corr. Hoade, an expert in blood pattern analysis, examined the scene at Kiltalown Way, Tallaght, on 23 and 24 September 2013, and also analyzed Corr's tracksuit bottoms, finding heavy blood staining and a DNA profile matching Humphries. He estimated the probability of such a match from an unrelated person to be less than one in a thousand million. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan asked if the evidence suggested Humphries was stabbed in the bed by Corr and that the knife used was likely the one found in the bedroom locker; Hoade agreed it would be consistent with that description. The prosecution's case ended, and the defence would not call further evidence. The jury was told they would hear closing speeches the next morning. Trevor Corr pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, jurors were instructed by Mr Justice Tony Hunt to set aside any feelings about the accused's Pakistani nationality or Islamic faith while deliberating a rape case involving a woman with Down syndrome. The 34‑year‑old accused, who pleaded not guilty to rape, sexual assault and having sex with a mentally impaired person, admitted some sexual contact but claimed it was consensual and that he was unaware of her disability. He stated he had never heard of Down syndrome until his arrest and explained that in his country people with mental disabilities were kept at home or in hospitals and wore name badges. Mr Justice Hunt emphasized that jurors must approach the case without prejudice or sympathy, focusing on the charge of rape and, if not proven, an alternative of attempted rape.
The jury in the trial of James Connors, 29, accused of murdering his ex‑girlfriend's partner Jason Ryan, 27, at Hollyville Heights on 25 January 2012, will resume deliberations on Thursday. Connors has pleaded not guilty. The jury has spent 9 hours and 30 minutes considering their verdict and the foreman believes another 30 minutes to an hour may suffice. The court is not sitting on Wednesday, so Justice Margaret Heneghan has asked the jury to return on Thursday.
In a murder trial, the State Pathologist, Professor Marie Cassidy, testified that James Humphries, aged 32, died from a single stab wound to his upper chest, located 1.5 cm below the collarbone. The wound was 2 cm wide, 0.8 cm gaping, and 5 cm deep, puncturing the right subclavian artery and vein but not entering the chest cavity or organs. Humphries had high alcohol levels and therapeutic levels of heroin, methadone, and diazepam, which did not contribute to his death. Cassidy described the knife as having a fairly narrow blade with a short tip, and the injury was deemed a fatal knife assault. Trevor Corr, 39, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter; the State did not accept the plea. The trial continues.
Three TDs, Mick Wallace, Clare Daly, and Maureen O'Sullivan, attended the Special Criminal Court today for a hearing related to the case of Donal O'Coisdealbha, a 23-year-old Dublin man charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on May 13th, 2015. O'Coisdealbha is also alleged to have possessed a component part of an improvised explosive device, a time and power unit (TPU), at a personal storage locker under his control at Protector Life Sciences, National University of Ireland Maynooth, Co Kildare, on the same date. The court was informed that O'Coisdealbha, who has been in custody since May, intends to make a renewed bail application this week. A previous bail application in May was refused, and the decision was upheld by the High Court. The bail application is listed for Thursday, December 17th. The case is currently at the trial stage, with no pleas, findings, sentences, or finalisations recorded for the accused, Donal O'Coisdealbha, or the other accused, Mick Wallace TD, who faces similar charges of IRA membership and explosives offences.
A 52-year-old man from Cork has been charged at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin with membership of an unlawful organisation and possession of an explosive substance. Martin McHale, of Blackwater Grove, Togher, was charged with IRA membership on November 1st, 2013. He was additionally charged with possessing ten sealed bags containing ammonium nitrate and calcium carbonate at Mall Road, Tirkeenan, Monaghan on the same date. Detective Sergeant Gabriel Bell told the three-judge court that Mr McHale was arrested this morning under the Offences Against the State Act. The defendant made no reply when cautioned or when shown the charge sheet. Mr Justice Paul Butler, sitting with Judge John O'Hagan and Judge Ann Ryan, remanded Mr McHale in custody pending a bail application hearing scheduled for Thursday.
During a trial in the Central Criminal Court, a 34‑year‑old Pakistani man was accused of raping a woman with Down syndrome at his Dublin home on 12 June 2013. He pleaded not guilty to rape, sexual assault and having sex with a mentally impaired person. Defence psychologist Dr Rioghnach O'Leary testified that the accused ranks in the bottom three percent of the population in cognitive functioning, with an overall IQ of 73, and that he would have difficulty adapting to social norms. She described him as having an elevated sexual preoccupation and a singular focus on women as potential sexual partners. The accused admitted some sexual contact but claimed it was consensual and that he was unaware of the victim's Down syndrome. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with a jury of twelve.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Trevor Corr, 39, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of James Humphries, 32, at Kiltalown Way, Tallaght, on 22 September 2013. The State's counsel, Mr John Byrne BL, called neighbour Ms Christine Kelly to testify. Ms Kelly, who lived a few doors away, observed Corr and three others outside his garden. She recalled Corr greeting her, claiming he had been "on drink and drugs for the past eight days" and appeared "happy drunk" and unaggressive. Under cross‑examination, Ms Kelly confirmed Corr's statement that he was not hostile. Garda Ivor Wilkinson, who arrived at 18.35, reported Corr standing at the front door, looking intoxicated and unsteady. Wilkinson noted a trail of blood leading to a bedroom where Corr allegedly stabbed Humphries. Corr was arrested at 18.52 and later became highly agitated on the way back to Tallaght Garda Station. The trial continues.
In the Central Criminal Court, the jury heard the case of James Connors, 29, accused of murdering his ex‑girlfriend's partner, Jason Ryan, 27, at Hollyville Heights on 25 January 2012. Connors pleaded not guilty. After five hours of deliberation, Justice Margaret Heneghan informed the jury that they could return a majority verdict of ten to two or eleven to one. She explained that the verdict could be not guilty, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or guilty of murder. The jury finished deliberations at 4 pm Monday and will resume on Tuesday morning.
In a Dublin murder trial, Trevor Corr (39) pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of James Humphries (32) at Kiltalown Way, Tallaght, on 22 September 2013. The jury heard that Corr claimed he stabbed Humphries while the victim lay in his bed. Gardaí arrived at 6.35 pm, questioned Corr who identified himself and admitted stabbing the man in his bedroom. Forensic evidence included bloodstained tracksuit bottoms and a knife with blood from both men, found in the bedroom. The State presented testimony from paramedic Brian Murphy, forensic scientists, Chief State Pathologist Marie Cassidy, and witnesses including Jason Hart, a delivery man at a nearby Chinese take‑away. The trial continued at 2 pm on Monday.
The trial of a 34‑year‑old man accused of raping a woman with Down syndrome will resume evidence on Monday. He admits some sexual contact but says it was consensual and that he was unaware of her mental impairment. He has pleaded not guilty to rape, sexual assault and having sex with a mentally impaired person at his Dublin home on 12 June 2013. The defence was to call witnesses after the accused finished giving evidence on Thursday, but Justice Tony Hunt postponed further evidence until Monday.
The Central Criminal Court jury has begun deliberations on the case of James Connors, 29, who is accused of murdering Jason Ryan, 27, on 25 January 2012. Connors pleaded not guilty. Justice Margaret Heneghan explained that the jury may return a verdict of not guilty, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or guilty of murder, depending on whether they find Connors acted in self‑defence with reasonable or unreasonable force, or intended to kill. The jury spent two hours and 40 minutes deliberating and will report on Monday.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 10 December 2015, a 34‑year‑old Pakistani national was tried for rape, sexual assault and having sex with a mentally impaired person. He denied all charges, claiming the alleged victim, a woman with Down syndrome, lied about the events. He said they had consensual sexual activity but no penetrative sex, and that she had returned to his house willingly after meeting him on the street. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, expressed frustration at the accused's repeated refusal to answer questions. The prosecution maintained that the man lured the woman from the street, brought her to his home and raped her on 12 June 2013. Evidence was presented that the woman was mentally disabled under the Sexual Offences Act 1993. The trial continued with a jury of six men and six women.
The Central Criminal Court will open a murder trial tomorrow. Trevor Corr, 39, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of James Humphries, 32, who was killed on Kiltalown Way, Tallaght, on 22 September 2013. Justice Isobel Kennedy told the jury that the trial was not ready to start and asked them to return tomorrow at 2 pm.
In a Dublin court on 9 December 2015, a 34‑year‑old Pakistani man accused of raping a woman with Down syndrome pleaded not guilty to rape, sexual assault and having sex with a mentally impaired person. He testified that in his home country mentally disabled people are kept at home or in hospitals and that he was unaware the woman was mentally impaired. He claimed the alleged victim enjoyed the sexual activity, describing how they met on the street, went to his house, kissed, undressed and engaged in sexual acts for about twenty minutes before she left. He said he had no limit to the number of women he approached and that he had "success" with many. The jury heard from 16 women who said the accused approached them on the street. The trial will continue tomorrow before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of six men and six women.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 9 December 2015, forensic scientist Dr Stephen Clifford presented evidence that a knife allegedly used to murder 27‑year‑old Jason Ryan on 25 January 2012 contained DNA matching Ryan but not that of accused James Connors, 29, of Rosemount, Drinagh, Co. Wexford. The knife and a baton found at the scene were examined; the baton's handle and middle yielded blood matching Ryan's DNA, possibly from his wounds, while two other incomplete DNA profiles were found but could not be identified. No DNA from Connors was detected on either item. Connors had pleaded not guilty. Justice Margaret Heneghan informed the jury that no further evidence would be presented and the prosecution would commence its summary the following day.
James Connors, aged 29, was accused of murdering Jason Ryan, 27, in Wexford on 25 January 2012. He pleaded not guilty. In the Central Criminal Court, Connors admitted to setting fire to a blood‑stained hoodie he had worn during the fatal fight, claiming he had forgotten to wash it and burned it with a lighter and a stick. He also said he called Ryan's girlfriend, Samantha Hore, at 2.12 am to check on Ryan's condition, but she hung up. Connors denied luring Ryan away from security cameras or intending to kill him. Garda interviews revealed that Connors had called Ryan's home, tried to persuade him to forget their feud, and later claimed he was attacked by Ryan with a baton and a knife. The trial was scheduled to continue before Justice Margaret Heneghan the following day.
Jim Smyth, a 43-year-old man from County Monaghan, was released on bail at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin following a trial-stage hearing. He is charged with membership of an unlawful organization, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, on November 25th, 2015. The charge remains alleged and contested. Smyth was arrested in Carrickmacross by the Special Detective Unit during investigations into dissident republican activity that uncovered a cache of firearms, including AK47 assault rifles, mortars, and IED components. Detective Inspector William Hanrahan and Detective Chief Superintendent John McMahon objected to bail, citing the seriousness of the charge and the need to prevent serious offences under Section 2 of the Bail Act. However, Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding with Judges John O'Hagan and Ann Ryan, granted bail, noting Smyth had no previous convictions and strong community roots. Conditions include signing daily at Monaghan Garda station, observing a curfew from 12pm to 7am, providing a mobile number, surrendering travel documents, not leaving the jurisdiction, and not associating with anyone charged with a scheduled offence. Smyth was released on his own bond of €20,000.
The jury in the trial of James Connors, 29, accused of murdering his ex‑girlfriend's partner, was sent home while the court considered legal arguments. Connors pleaded not guilty to the murder of 27‑year‑old Jason Ryan at Hollyville Heights on 25 January 2012. No evidence was heard; Justice Margaret Heneghan noted a juror's illness and the trial will resume tomorrow.
In a 2015 trial, a 34‑year‑old man accused of raping a woman with Down Syndrome was observed by Garda Fiona Morrison two days after the alleged offence. The man had allegedly lured the woman to his home and raped her after she separated from her mother. He admits some sexual contact but claims it was consensual and that he was unaware of her mental impairment. He pleaded not guilty to rape, sexual assault and having sex with a mentally impaired person at his Dublin home on 12 June 2013. On day 14 of the trial, Morrison, on plain‑clothes duty, saw the accused leave his house and later encounter two 15‑year‑old girls. She positioned herself between the girls and the accused, noting the accused approached them. She heard a scream, saw the girls sprint away, and later took their statements.
Trevor Corr, 39, of Killinarden Estate, Tallaght, was arraigned in the Central Criminal Court on 7 December 2015. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of James Humphries, 32, at Kiltalown Way on 22 September 2013. The prosecution did not accept the plea. A jury of seven men and five women was sworn in by Justice Patrick McCarthy for a trial expected to last one week.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court manslaughter trial, retired pathologist Dr Declan Gilsenan opposed Chief State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy's conclusion that Jason Saunders died from commotio cordis, a rare cardiac arrest caused by a chest blow. Gilsenan argued Saunders' death resulted from a combination of an argument with Paul Brannigan and a cocktail of illegal drugs, noting that cocaine can disturb heart rhythm regardless of dose. He cited the absence of commotio cordis deaths in Ireland and estimated a 1‑in‑50‑000 incidence for cocaine‑related deaths in Cork and Kerry, versus 1‑in‑50‑million for commotio cordis in the US. Brannigan, 24, pleaded not guilty to manslaughter, assault, and possession of a golf club, admitting a verbal row and head‑butting but denying striking Saunders with the club. The trial continues before Judge Patrick McCartan and a twelve‑person jury.
In a Dublin rape trial, a 34‑year‑old man was accused of luring a woman with Down syndrome to his home and raping her on 12 June 2013. He admitted some sexual contact but claimed it was consensual and that he was unaware of her mental impairment. The court heard that it is an offence to have sex with a person who cannot live independently or protect themselves from serious exploitation. Psychologist Fergal Rooney testified that the woman lacked the capacity to consent to sexual intercourse, had a trusting view of others, could not advocate for herself, and had a significant deficit in sexual knowledge, including an inability to understand pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases. Rooney also noted she could not determine appropriate responses to ambiguous situations. Defence counsel Padraig Dwyer acknowledged that people with intellectual disabilities have sexual desires and that the law has a grey area, but no national policy exists. The unnamed 34-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, James Connors (29) of Rosemount, Drinagh, Co. Wexford, pleaded not guilty to the killing of 27‑year‑old James Ryan on 25 January 2012. Connors told Gardaí that he had called Ryan's home at Hollyville Heights after an argument with Ryan's partner, Samantha Hore, who was in prison. He claimed Ryan had a bat and a knife and that, when Connors approached, Ryan struck him. Connors said he pulled a knife from Ryan's waistband and stabbed him, after which Ryan hit him again. Connors admitted taking tablets and drinking spirits before the incident. The case is set to resume on Monday before Justice Margaret Heneghan.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Paul Brannigan, aged 24, pleaded not guilty to manslaughter, assault, and possession of a golf club in the death of Jason Saunders on 18 March 2014. Chief State Pathologist Marie Cassidy testified that Saunders died from commotio cordis, a lethal heart rhythm disruption caused by a blow to the chest over the heart within a 30‑millisecond window of the cardiac cycle. Cassidy described bruising and a rib fracture likely from a golf club strike. She noted that the fatal blow must occur at a precise moment, otherwise it would not be fatal. Defence counsel challenged the consistency of the evidence, arguing that Saunders' movements before collapse were inconsistent with typical commotio cordis cases. The trial continues before Judge Patrick McCartan and a twelve‑person jury.
During the trial of a 34‑year‑old foreign national accused of raping a woman with Down syndrome, the court heard that the facial features associated with the condition are universally recognisable. Pat Clarke, CEO of Down Syndrome Ireland, explained that people with Down syndrome typically have a round face and mouth, a short nose, distinctive ears, a tendency toward obesity and very lax muscle tone. He stated that these features are consistent across all races and countries, including the accused's native country, which has a lower rate of Down syndrome live births. The accused admitted some sexual contact but claimed it was consensual and that he did not know she was mentally impaired. He pleaded not guilty to rape, sexual assault and having sex with a mentally impaired person. The trial also heard testimony from several women who reported uncomfortable encounters with a man matching the accused's description around the time of the alleged rape.
In the Central Criminal Court, James Connors, aged 29, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 27‑year‑old James Ryan, who was stabbed in Hollyville Heights on 25 January 2012. Connors was arrested after he told a friend to wipe the numbers and messages from his mobile phone. Mary Connors, a distant relative, testified that Connors had asked her to delete the phone's contents before she drove home and later retrieved the phone from under the passenger seat. She described a series of calls and visits in the days leading up to the murder, including an incident on John's Road where Connors was reportedly injured and refused medical help. Neighbour Danielle Kelly recounted seeing Connors with blood on his face on the night of 24 January, and that he had been seen climbing a window before police arrived. The trial is set to continue before Justice Margaret Heneghan.
Damien Metcalfe, 30, was charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army and released on bail by the Special Criminal Court. He was arrested by the Special Detective Unit in Dublin last week. The court set conditions: he must report twice daily to Clondalkin Garda station, observe a curfew from 11 pm to 7 am, provide a mobile number, surrender his passport and travel documents, stay within the jurisdiction, avoid contact with charged persons and witnesses. He was released on a €100 bond and a €6,000 surety.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court manslaughter trial, Paul Brannigan, aged 24, pleaded not guilty to the death of Jason Saunders, who died on 18 March 2014 after a confrontation at Fassaugh Avenue. Brannigan was accused of striking Saunders with a golf club, causing a fatal blow to the chest, and of assaulting him. Witnesses, including a shopkeeper and Spar store manager Kevin Coffey, described a scuffle where Brannigan head‑butted Saunders before repeatedly swinging a golf club. Brannigan allegedly asked the shopkeeper to "delete that camera for us?" after Saunders was described as "in a bad way." CCTV footage from the shop, pub, Garda station and a bus was shown to the jury. Nurses Melissa Lanigan and Lorna Nangle testified that Saunders received CPR but never regained consciousness, and an ambulance crew later took over resuscitation. The case continues before Judge Patrick McCartan and a twelve‑person jury.
During the murder trial of James Connors, a 29‑year‑old from Rosemount, Drinagh, witnesses described a fight that preceded the fatal stabbing of 27‑year‑old James Ryan at Hollyville Heights on 25 January 2012. Ms Catriona Purdy, a former neighbour, said she awoke after midnight, heard a loud bang, and saw two men – a taller, well‑built man waving a baton and a smaller man being struck. She confirmed that her statement to the gardai the following day was accurate. Neighbours John Purdy and Tina Grogan also reported hearing a bang and seeing the two men fight, noting that the taller man returned after a brief pause, limping and holding his side. James Connors pleaded not guilty.
Closing speeches are currently being heard at the Special Criminal Court in the trial of Thomas Murphy, 66, of Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth. The defendant has pleaded not guilty to nine charges alleging that he failed to furnish a return of his income, profits, or gains to the Collector General or Inspector of Taxes for the years 1996/97 to 2004. The prosecution, led by Paul Burns SC, contends that Murphy was a chargeable person who received income from cattle and land dealings and farming grants but made no returns to Revenue. Burns argued that the crux of the case is whether Murphy was entitled to receive this income, noting that funds were deposited into his bank account and used for a pension policy. He dismissed the defence suggestion of identity theft as a construct to evade evidence. In response, defence counsel John Kearney QC argued that Murphy's brother, Patrick Murphy, managed the cattle herd and farming activities. Kearney cited a 2009 statement of affairs in which Patrick Murphy admitted to being in charge of the herd. The defence also highlighted expert handwriting evidence suggesting documents bearing Thomas Murphy's signature were forged. Kearney further noted that no cattle dealing cheques appeared in Murphy's bank account for its first three years. The defence closing speech is expected to conclude tomorrow, with the matter remaining at the trial stage.
The jury in the trial of Stephen Cahoon, a 43‑year‑old Derry resident, began deliberations on the murder of his pregnant ex‑girlfriend, Jean Teresa Quigley, aged 30, who was killed at Cornshell Fields on 26 July 2008. Cahoon pleaded not guilty. Judge Deirdre Murphy reminded the jury that a unanimous verdict was required and that if intent was found they must decide whether provocation could reduce the charge to manslaughter. The jury had deliberated for just over two hours and were scheduled to resume at 12.30 a.m. on Thursday.
Michael Kinsella, 22, of Swiftbrook Close, Tallaght, was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court on 2 December 2015. He pleaded not guilty to the murder of Adil Essalhi, who was killed in Tyrrelstown on 6 January 2011. The trial, set to begin that afternoon before Miss Justice Margaret Heneghan, will last one week with a jury of five women and seven men.
A 24‑year‑old Dublin man, Paul Brannigan, is on trial for the manslaughter of Jason Saunders, who died outside a flat on Nassau Avenue, Cabra West, on 18 March 2014. Brannigan has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter, assault causing harm, and possession of a golf club during the dispute. Prosecutor Colm O'Briain told the jury that Saunders arrived at Brannigan's flat in a taxi at about 6 a.m., that the men argued, and that Brannigan head‑butted Saunders before striking him on the left side of the chest with a golf club. CCTV footage and witness statements will show Saunders stumbling, falling face‑down, and being tended by nurses before an ambulance arrived. The Chief State Pathologist will testify that the blow caused fatal interference with Saunders' heart, and the prosecution will argue that Saunders was "extremely unlucky" that the blow was fatal, without alleging intent to kill.
The Central Criminal Court trial of an unnamed accused, who has pleaded not guilty, is ongoing. He faces charges of oral rape and sexual assault of a woman in a Dublin hotel room on March 28, 2010, as well as two counts of threatening or putting in fear a witness between April 29 and May 28, 2010. Prosecuting counsel Sean Gillane SC argued the case centered on the accused's attempts to exercise control, rejecting the defense suggestion that the complainant's allegations stemmed from being underpaid. Gillane stated the texts sent to the complainant were a campaign of intimidation to drop charges. Defending counsel Thomas Creed SC contended the accused believed the encounter was consensual and that the complainant's testimony lacked corroboration of violence. Creed suggested the accused suspected the allegations were a scam to extort money, noting he did not know the complainant's real identity. The trial heard the accused used a pseudonym and unregistered mobile phone, only being identified when Detective Garda Ronan Conway linked an email address to a former employer via IP addresses. The jury is set to begin deliberations following the judge's directions.
The judge in the trial of Stephen Cahoon, a 43‑year‑old Derry resident, continued her charge to the jury, who are to begin deliberations tomorrow morning. Cahoon has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his pregnant ex‑girlfriend, Jean Teresa Quigley, aged 30, who was killed at Cornshell Fields on 26 July 2008. Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy said she would finish the evidence tomorrow morning and then send the jury out to begin deliberating by 12am.