In the murder trial of Kenneth Cummins (28) and Sabrina Cummins (37) for the killing of Thomas Horan (63) at Cambridge Court, Ringsend, Judge Tony Hunt halted proceedings because Sabrina Cummins was reported unwell. The judge asked the jury to retire for half an hour, then instructed them to return the next day at 9:30 am and to monitor their phones for any changes. The trial will resume tomorrow, with the jury advised to be prepared for a possible continuation of the hearing. Kenneth Cummins pleaded not guilty. Sabrina Cummins pleaded not guilty.
In the murder trial of Stephen Cahoon, a 43‑year‑old Derry man, the jury heard that a witness, Mr Peter Barr, claimed to have seen a kitchen knife on a dresser in the room where Jean Teresa Quigley, a 30‑year‑old pregnant woman, was found dead on 26 July 2008. Mr Barr described arriving at the house with Quigley's sister, seeing the victim's leg hanging from the bed, her body partially clothed, and her head facing the wall. He noted a length of brown tape on the floor and a chrome‑handled knife on a dresser, which he left untouched. The court also heard testimony from a taxi driver who had taken Quigley to a shop that day, a friend who confirmed Quigley's pregnancy and normal routine, and a police constable who observed the victim's body, bruising, and the knife at the scene. The case remains before the Central Criminal Court. Stephen Cahoon pleaded not guilty.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, Deirdre Holton testified that on 7 September 2012 she saw Anthony Locke, aged 38, moving kitchen furniture from the deceased Christopher Jackson's flat into the yard at about 9 am. Locke told her he had been up all night and was merely helping the deceased's partner, Barbara Staunton, on a "mad cleaning buzz". Holton also noted Staunton was unusually quiet at a gathering that evening. Locke, who lives on Ramillies Road, Ballyfermot, has pleaded not guilty to the murder.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Thomas Murphy, 66, of Ballybinaby, Co Louth, continued with cross-examination of a forensic accountant. Mr Murphy, a prominent republican, has pleaded not guilty to nine charges alleging he failed to furnish returns of income, profits, or gains to the Collector General or Inspector of Taxes for the years 1996/97 to 2004. The prosecution alleges that despite significant dealings in cattle and land and receiving farming grants, he did not make returns to Revenue. The case stems from a Criminal Assets Bureau investigation following a 2006 search of a shed on the Northern Ireland border, where ledgers and cheques were seized. Defence counsel John Kearney QC suggested that Mr Murphy's brother, Patrick Murphy, managed the cattle herd, citing documents linking Patrick to the shed and diary entries indicating Patrick contacted Portlaoise regarding Thomas Murphy's payments. The forensic accountant disagreed, stating the documents related to the entire Murphy family and suggested centralized management and an organized bookkeeping system for the enterprise. The accountant clarified that diary entries referred specifically to Thomas Murphy's claims. The matter was adjourned, with the trial set to continue tomorrow morning with further cross-examination.
During the trial of Anthony Locke, 38, accused of murdering Christopher Jackson in 2012, witness Barbara Staunton denied fabricating her testimony. She confirmed she had not told Gardaí about seeing Locke with a penis in his hand, but admitted she had claimed to see him with a pen knife and later with up to three steak knives, though the court exhibited different knives. Staunton acknowledged giving inconsistent accounts of the night but said she did not do so to protect herself. She was suspected of concealing the body but never charged. Staunton also stated she could not recall hearing Bernard Locke threaten to stab the accused. The case remains before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of twelve. Anthony Locke pleaded not guilty.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, Stephen Cahoon, 43, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jean Teresa Quigley, 30, who was found dead at Cornshell Fields on 26 July 2008. Witnesses described a volatile relationship, with Quigley allegedly drinking heavily and having frequent arguments with Cahoon. Colm Quinn, father of Quigley's children, testified that the couple had fought but reconciled, and that Quigley had informed him she was pregnant. Christopher Coyle, who babysat Quigley, recounted an evening when Cahoon entered the house, spoke to Quigley in a raised voice, and left after drinking a bottle of WKD. Sandra Wilson noted that Cahoon had threatened to jump off a bridge the week before the murder. The case proceeds before Justice Deirdre Murphy and a jury.
During the trial at the Central Criminal Court, Sabrina Cummins, aged 37, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Thomas Horan, 63, who died on 6 January at Cambridge Court, Ringsend. Cummins admitted she had punched and kicked Horan but denied any involvement with the plastic bag, belt, or knife used in the killing. She claimed her brother, Kenneth Cummins, 28, was responsible for the death. Cummins also stated she had called the Gardaí that night rather than leaving Horan unattended. In cross‑examination, she denied attempting to extort money from Horan and admitted lying about needing to pay a taxi driver. She maintained that she only struck Horan once and that she had no part in the use of the belt or knife. The hearing continued into the next day.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Georgian man Badri Khvedelidze, aged 33, was acquitted of murdering fellow asylum seeker George Tkeshelashvili at a Tralee hostel on 15 October 2005. After 6 hours 44 minutes of deliberation, a jury of six men and six women returned an eleven‑to‑one majority verdict of not guilty. The prosecution alleged Khvedelidze stabbed Tkeshelashvili following a backgammon dispute; pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster testified the victim died from a lung stab wound severing a major artery. Justice Isobel Kennedy thanked the jurors and released Khvedelidze from custody.
In the trial of Stephen Cahoon, a 43‑year‑old from Derry, the jury heard that he had sought money from the victim, Jean Teresa Quigley, in the days before her murder. Cahoon pleaded not guilty to the killing of Quigley, a 30‑year‑old, at Cornshell Fields on 26 July 2008. Christopher Coyle, who babysat Quigley on 23 July, testified that he found the front door open when he arrived and that Quigley had left in a taxi and returned at 2.40 a.m. He described a knock on the front window and a shadowed hand. Coyle said he saw Cahoon enter, speak to Quigley in a "slightly raised voice," and take a bottle of WKD from the kitchen. Quigley asked him to leave, but Cahoon claimed he was leaving after drinking. Coyle heard Cahoon say he was looking for £50 back from Quigley. After Cahoon left, Coyle noted Quigley had locked all doors behind him.
Kenneth Cummins (28) and Sabrina Cummins (37), both of Ringsend Park, Dublin 4, are on trial at the Central Criminal Court, having pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Thomas Horan (63) at Cambridge Court, Ringsend, on January 6th last year. During the trial, Sabrina Cummins gave evidence for the defence, describing the deceased as a "very nice man" who was "like a Dad" to her. She detailed her childhood background, including her father's alcoholism and domestic violence, which led to her placement in foster care. Ms Cummins also recounted a violent relationship with an Albanian man that resulted in a near-fatal injury. She stated she met Mr Horan through her sister, Breda, and maintained a long friendship with him. The court heard that Breda was murdered by her ex-partner in May 2013. Two weeks after Breda's burial, Sabrina Cummins alleged that five detectives held her and her partner at gunpoint, claiming Kenneth Cummins had reported they possessed a firearm intended to kill Breda's murderer. She denied these claims, stating her vehicle and home were searched. The trial continues.
During the murder trial of Anthony Locke, Barbara Staunton, the partner of the deceased, testified that police had suspected her of concealing Christopher Jackson's body but she was never charged. She denied knowing the body was in their bedroom wardrobe, saying she thought it had been placed outside but sensed it was inside. Staunton also stated her sister had stayed overnight with a child in her bedroom, while she believed the accused and his brother had put the body in the hall. The trial proceeds before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury. Anthony Locke pleaded not guilty.
Peter Jackson, 41, of Kerryhall Road, Fairhill, Cork, faces trial at the Central Criminal Court for the 2012 murder of a 31‑year‑old. He pleaded not guilty to the murder but guilty to the manslaughter of David Hamilton, 31, who died on May 4, 2012. Justice Isobel Kennedy thanked the jury for arriving promptly, noted an unavoidable delay, and said the trial would resume Thursday at 11 a.m. The trial is expected to last about five days.
The jury in the trial of Badri Khvedelidze, a 33‑year‑old Georgian accused of murdering fellow Georgian George Tkeshelashvili in Tralee on 15 October 2005, was sent home after two hours of deliberations at the Central Criminal Court. The six men and six women will return the next day to consider the evidence. Justice Isobel Kennedy told them they could return a verdict of murder, manslaughter or not guilty, and that they must assess the credibility of witnesses who offered contradictory evidence.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Thomas "Slab" Murphy, 66, of Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth, continued today with cross-examination of a forensic accountant working with the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB). Mr Murphy has pleaded not guilty to nine charges alleging that he failed to furnish a return of his income, profits or gains, or the source of such income, to the Collector General or Inspector of Taxes for the years 1996/97 to 2004. The prosecution alleges that despite conducting significant dealings in cattle and land and receiving farming grants, Mr Murphy failed to make any returns to revenue. The accountant, who examined documents seized by CAB in 2006 from a shed on the border with Northern Ireland, described the contents as "extremely unusual." He stated that analysis indicated a centralised system for managing the finances of the Murphy family and an associated oil business. While defence counsel John Kearney QC suggested the documents showed a centralised operation by Patrick Murphy, the accountant disagreed, noting that proceeds went into Thomas Murphy's bank account. The accountant also highlighted uninterpretable codes in the ledgers and explained that simultaneous invoices for three family members reflected economies of scale rather than a single herd management structure. The trial continues.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Stephen Cahoon, aged 43, pleaded not guilty to the death of Jean Teresa Quigley, aged 30, who was found strangled at Cornshell Fields, Derry, on 26 July 2008. State Pathologist Professor Jack Crane testified that Quigley's body lay on her left side, naked except for socks, with extensive bruising and bloodstained fluid around the mouth and face. He described multiple bruises on the head, neck, chest, abdomen and arms, noting that the neck injuries were consistent with manual strangulation. Crane also examined the uterus, finding an enlarged uterus containing a male embryo of about 10 weeks' gestation, weighing four grams. Forensic Scientist Matthew James Greenhalgh performed a paternity test, concluding it was 6000 times more likely that Cahoon was the father of the unborn child. The trial, with a jury of eight men and four women, is scheduled to continue for two weeks.
Kenneth Cummins, aged 28, and Sabrina Cummins, aged 37, both from Ringsend Park, Dublin 4, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Thomas Horan, 63, at Cambridge Court, Ringsend, on 6 January last year. Dr Alan Byrne, consultant psychiatrist at Lakeview Unit, Naas General Hospital, testified that Kenneth Cummins was voluntarily admitted to a mental health unit from 24 December 2013 to 3 January 2014 because he expressed suicidal thoughts and was agitated. He had previously been homeless and had been admitted for stabilisation. On 3 January 2014, an arrangement was made for him to leave the psychiatric unit to a homeless accommodation. The prosecution's case was concluded by counsel Mr Garret Baker BL. Judge Tony Hunt informed the jury that the trial would continue the following day, noting that Sabrina Cummins would not attend due to illness. The case remains at the stage where the jury will consider the evidence presented.
During the murder trial of Anthony Locke, 38, the partner of the deceased, Barbara Staunton, testified that Locke claimed he had cut off Christopher Jackson's penis and placed it in the victim's pocket. Staunton, who admitted using heroin that night, said Locke asked her what she was doing with someone with a "little penis." She also recounted hearing Locke and Bernard Locke discuss the murder, with one remarking, "Remember the Scissor Sisters? We can be the Scissor Brothers." Staunton described the scene where Jackson fell back into the flat with a knife in his chest after answering the door to the accused and Bernard. She also noted that Bernard had ordered her to clean up a severely cut hand while Locke was in the kitchen. The testimony was given before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of twelve. The trial continues. Anthony Locke pleaded not guilty.
The jury in the trial of Badri Khvedelidze, aged 33, will begin deliberations on Tuesday at the Central Criminal Court. Khvedelidze has pleaded not guilty to the murder of fellow Georgian George Tkeshelashvili, who died on 15 October 2005 at Westward Court in Tralee. The prosecution's case, presented by Mr Tim O'Leary SC, relies on the testimony of chief witness Givi Verdzeuli, who claimed to have seen an argument over a game of backgammon, a punch to the chest, blood, and a knife in Khvedelidze's hand. Defence counsel Mr Kerida Naidoo SC challenged Verdzeuli's reliability, noting that he had changed his story after initially telling Gardaí he saw nothing, and that he had been deported to Georgia in 2010. Naidoo also cited a 45‑year‑old Nigerian witness, Sow Unmi, who failed to identify Khvedelidze when shown a photograph.
Anthony Locke, 38, of Ballyfermot, has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court accused of the murder of Christopher Jackson. The prosecution alleges that Jackson was killed at his apartment on Prussia Street between September 6th and 7th, 2012. Locke has pleaded not guilty to the charge. His brother, Bernard Locke, has pleaded guilty to a related offence, though specific details of his plea were not elaborated in the opening address. Prosecuting counsel Conor Devally SC told the jury that Jackson's body was found wrapped in a duvet and plastic bag in a wardrobe on the ground floor on September 8th. Evidence is expected from Barbara Staunton, Jackson's partner, who allegedly witnessed Jackson fall backward with a knife embedded in him. She stated that Bernard and Anthony Locke moved the injured man to the kitchen before she was taken to a bedroom by Bernard, where she later learned Jackson had died. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of six men and six women. The matter is currently at the trial stage and has not been concluded.
A 41‑year‑old Cork resident, Peter Jackson, was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court on 2 November 2015. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the 2012 killing of David Hamilton, a Wexford native who had been living in Cork. The court heard that Jackson stabbed Hamilton on 4 May 2012 at Kerryhall Road, Fairhill. A jury of ten men and two women was sworn in, and Justice Patrick McCarthy announced the trial would start on Wednesday or Thursday and last six days.
A 34‑year‑old Dublin man, Eoghan O'Mahoney, was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court on Friday for the attempted murder of Catherine McGillion on 19 December 2013 at the same address. He pleaded not guilty. A jury of ten women and two men was sworn in, and Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy said the trial would last one day.
A man charged with murder at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin has admitted killing the victim, though he maintains the killing does not constitute murder. Stephen Cahoon, aged 42 and with an address in Derry, Northern Ireland, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jean Teresa Quigley at Cornshell Fields in Derry on 26 July 2008. Ms Quigley, aged 30, was pregnant with Mr Cahoon's child at the time. The prosecution outlined that the couple met in March 2008 and their relationship deteriorated by July. The court heard evidence regarding text messages between them, witness accounts of disturbances on the night in question, and forensic findings including bloodstains matching Ms Quigley on a T-shirt recovered from Mr Cahoon's flat. Post mortem evidence indicated Ms Quigley died from manual strangulation. Mr Cahoon was located in Donegal Town on 5 August, where he told gardaí he was the person being sought. The defence acknowledged the killing but disputed the murder charge. The trial continues.
Three men—Conor Hughes (38), Darren Fox (26) and Jamie Smithers (36)—appeared before the Special Criminal Court on 2 November 2015. They were charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army, an unlawful organisation, and with possession of a Winchester 12‑gauge shotgun and two 12‑gauge cartridges. The arrests were made early on 31 October 2015 by the Special Detective Unit in County Limerick. The court heard that the men did not reply to their arrest or caution. No bail applications were made. The judge remanded the men to custody to appear again on Friday. The proceedings were conducted in the non‑jury Special Criminal Court, with each accused represented by counsel. No further details of the case were disclosed in the article.
Kenneth Cummins (28) and Sabrina Cummins (37), both of Ringsend Park, Dublin 4, are on trial at the Central Criminal Court, having pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Thomas Horan (63) at Cambridge Court, Ringsend, on January 6th last year. The trial is currently ongoing. Prosecution counsel Mr Garret Baker BL called Detective Garda David Wogan to testify regarding five interviews conducted with Sabrina Cummins between January 8 and 9, 2014. In these statements, the co-accused alleged that her brother Kenneth could be "extremely violent" and "very evil" at times. She described an incident where she and her brother visited Mr Horan to request money, claiming the situation escalated into a violent confrontation lasting up to an hour and a half. Sabrina Cummins told gardai that she used a belt, a plastic bag, and a bottle, and that she punched and kicked the deceased. She stated, "We killed Tom," and admitted to holding a belt while Kenneth used it. Defence counsel Mr Blaise O'Carroll SC cross-examined the garda, suggesting the accused initially portrayed herself as an injured party. The garda noted she provided specific details about Kenneth's actions. The trial continues.
During a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, an asylum seeker, Mr Givi Verdzeuli, 66, requested assurances from the Gardaí that he would not be deported before testifying. Verdzeuli, the main prosecution witness against Georgian defendant Badri Khvedelidze, 33, who pleaded not guilty to the 2005 murder of fellow Georgian George Tkeshelashvili in Tralee, had been deported from Ireland prior to the trial. Garda witnesses confirmed attempts to lift the deportation order so Verdzeuli could return to Ireland to give evidence. Verdzeuli had previously stated he would return to Georgia after testifying and had received no assurances of remaining in Ireland post-trial. Georgian interpreter Lashka Trapaidze testified about a conversation on 19 October, where Verdzeuli expressed anxiety about being sent back and sought proof of non‑deportation. The trial continues before Justice Isobel Kennedy on 2 November.
In 2015 the High Court, by Mr Justice Bernard Barton, raised a compensation award for a woman who had contracted hepatitis C from a contaminated anti‑D blood product in 1977. The Tribunal had originally awarded €180,000, which the woman appealed as insufficient. The Court increased the award to €250,000, citing the woman's life‑destroying complications, including liver cirrhosis and encephalopathy, and the pain and suffering she endured. The Court noted that the woman had undergone interferon/ribavirin therapy in 2013 after medical advice, which cleared the virus but triggered decompensated cirrhosis and a brain injury. The judge affirmed that the treatment was a medical necessity and that the woman's mental anguish and loss of independence justified the higher compensation. The award was made under the Tribunal's jurisdiction for the woman's suffering.
Kenneth Cummins (28) and Sabrina Cummins (37), both of Ringsend Park, Dublin 4, are on trial at the Central Criminal Court, having pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Thomas Horan (63) at Cambridge Court, Ringsend, on January 6, 2014. The matter is currently at the trial stage before Mr Justice Tony Hunt. Prosecution counsel Mr Remy Farrell SC called Detective Sergeant Barry Walsh to testify regarding a recorded prison call made by Kenneth Cummins from Cloverhill prison on January 22, 2014. The call, intercepted by prison officer Pat Murphy, was obtained via search warrant. In the transcript read to the jury, Cummins allegedly told his friend, Carl Cullen, that he beat, strangled, and smothered the victim to death. Cummins allegedly stated he acted after the victim admitted to past abuse of his sister, Breda, and claimed he only intended to hospitalize the victim. When asked about the possibility of a manslaughter charge, Cummins allegedly replied it did not look likely, noting he could be 36 when released. He denied his sister's involvement. The prosecution concluded its evidence for Kenneth Cummins, and the trial continues.
Belfast man Sean Hannaway, 47, was granted a bail variation by the Special Criminal Court in Dublin to attend an NFL match in the UK this weekend. He had previously been granted bail in August pending his trial for IRA membership. The court heard that he was seeking permission to travel to the UK for a football match. The Director of Public Prosecutions did not object to the application. Mr Hannaway will continue signing on at his local police station when he returns.
The trial of Thomas Murphy, 66, at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin for alleged tax evasion has heard evidence from a forensic accountant. The prosecution alleges that Murphy failed to furnish returns of his income, profits, or gains to the Collector General or Inspector of Taxes for the years 1996/97 to 2004, despite conducting significant dealings in cattle and land and receiving farming grants. Murphy has pleaded not guilty to nine charges arising from a Criminal Assets Bureau investigation known as Operation Achilles. The unnamed forensic accountant testified regarding ledgers, cheques, and cheque books seized during a 2006 search of a shed on the border with Northern Ireland. He stated that specific letters in the ledgers, such as "T" and "under Tom," referred to Thomas Murphy, while other entries related to family members, including his brother Patrick. The accountant cross-referenced these entries with invoices from cattle marts and a bank account in Murphy's name. Under cross-examination, the accountant maintained his objectivity and independence, rejecting the defence suggestion that the operation aimed solely to target Murphy. He also disagreed with the assertion that the family operated as a single farm, noting that each member took their share of the money. The defence argued that Patrick Murphy paid the tax due for the herd. The trial continues.
Kenneth Cummins (28) and Sabrina Cummins (37), both of Ringsend Park, Dublin 4, are on trial at the Central Criminal Court, having pleaded not guilty to the murder of Thomas Horan (63) at Cambridge Court, Ringsend, on January 6th last year. During cross-examination of Detective Garda Brian Hunt, the court heard from statements given by Kenneth Cummins at Irishtown garda station in January 2014. The accused alleged that he and Sabrina Cummins intended to rob Mr Horan of €2,000. When asked if he was prepared to kill for the money, Cummins stated he was not, claiming his intention was simply to take the cash and leave. However, he admitted he was prepared to use violence to secure the funds. Cummins told gardai that he returned to the property a second time determined to get the money, stating, "you weren't leaving without it?" He confirmed his sole intention was to rob Mr Horan. When he could not find the money, Cummins said he became angry and asked if giving Mr Horan "a bit of a hiding" would reveal its location, to which he replied, "Yes." The trial continues.
Eamon McNamee, 34, of Larkfield Square, Lucan, County Dublin, appeared at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin, where he was charged with possession of a firearm with the intent to commit an indictable offence, namely assault causing harm. The alleged incident is said to have occurred at Fairgreen, Saggart, Co Dublin, on January 19, 2013. Detective Garda Graham Dunne of the Special Detective Unit informed the court that he arrested Mr McNamee under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act at 7:21 am. The court heard that Mr McNamee made no reply when cautioned and also made no reply when shown a copy of the original charge sheet at the Special Criminal Court. Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding at the three-judge, non-jury court, remanded Mr McNamee in custody until tomorrow morning, when a bail application is expected to be made. The matter was adjourned and has not been concluded or finalised.
Stephen Cahoon, aged 42 and formerly of Harvey Street, Derry, has been arraigned in the Central Criminal Court on a charge of murdering Jean Teresa Quigley, aged 30, at Cornshell Fields on 26 July 2008. He pleaded not guilty. A jury of eight men and four women was sworn in, and the trial is scheduled to start next Monday or Tuesday and is expected to last two weeks.
The jury in the murder trial of 33‑year‑old Georgian Badri Khvedelidze was sent home on Wednesday while the court considers legal arguments. Khvedelidze, formerly of Westward Court, Tralee, has pleaded not guilty to the 2005 murder of compatriot George Tkeshelashvili. The jury will return on Friday to hear further evidence, as Justice Isobel Kennedy explained that the delays are common and the matters to be discussed are legal in nature and for the judge's consideration.
Kenneth Cummins (28) and Sabrina Cummins (37) pleaded not guilty to the murder of Thomas Horan (63) at Cambridge Court, Ringsend, on 6 January. In court, Dr Alan McGee confirmed the Cummins were identified as suspects. Witness Jim Muldoon, Horan's brother‑in‑law, described Horan as mentally challenged and noted his past residence in Ranelagh. A social worker, Ms Sarah O'Carroll, confirmed that neither Sabrina nor her sister Breda were fostered by Horan. The prosecution read statements from Kenneth Cummins to Garda Brian Hunt, detailing the robbery of €2,000 and the subsequent violence: he struck Horan with a stick, stabbed him with a fork, strangled him with a belt, and forced him to drink white spirits, toilet cleaner and washing‑up liquid. Cummins also admitted that Sabrina kicked Horan's face and that they struck his head on a shelf. The trial is ongoing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Jenzsoph Ltd was convicted on two counts under the Environmental Protection Act for causing pollution and nuisance odours at a landfill near Naas, Kildare. The first offence involved holding or disposing of waste that produced nuisance odours between 1 February 2007 and 25 November 2008, and the second involved a large mound of waste likely to cause pollution between 22 October 2003 and 25 November 2008. The company, which controls the 30‑hectare site, had granted licences to Neiphin Trading and the Environmental Protection Agency, but no defence was presented. Judge Patrick McCartan fined the company €10 million for each count, directing payment within one month. The trial lasted two weeks, with the jury deliberating for one hour before delivering guilty verdicts.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, the death of asylum seeker George Tkeshelashvili, aged 57, was examined. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster testified that Tkeshelashvili died from a single stab wound that was 4 centimetres wide and 8 centimetres deep, penetrating his left lung and severing a major thoracic artery. The wound also caused the left lung to collapse. Dr Bolster described the injury as consistent with a thrusting motion while both parties were standing, with the knife entering near the top of the left lung. Georgian national Badri Khvedelidze, aged 33, who formerly lived at Westward Court, Tralee, Co Kerry, pleaded not guilty to the murder. The trial was scheduled to continue on Wednesday, October 28.
During the Special Criminal Court trial of Thomas "Slab" Murphy for alleged tax evasion, the prosecution presented evidence that the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) discovered €256,235 in cash and £111,185 sterling in cheques in an outhouse at Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, County Louth, on March 9 2006. The outhouse, which faced a road in Northern Ireland and had been sold to Patrick Murphy, was searched by CAB detectives who also found documentation related to the oil industry and farming. A chartered accountant, who works with CAB, testified that a bank account opened in Thomas Murphy's name had a total debit of €624,807.49 and a total credit of €668,182.45 between 1996 and 2006, with activity levels varying in line with Murphy's sales. Murphy, aged 66, has pleaded not guilty to nine charges of failing to file income, profit or gain returns for the years 1996/97 to 2004. The trial continues.
In a trial held in Dublin, brothers Kenneth Cummins (28) and Sabrina Cummins (37) were accused of murdering 63‑year‑old Thomas Horan at Cambridge Court, Ringsend, on 6 January. Both pleaded not guilty. The jury heard that fingerprints linked to the accused were found in the victim's home. Detective Garda Conor Lawlor, from the Garda Technical Bureau's fingerprint section, testified that a lift from the bathroom door handle matched Kenneth's left forefinger, and another from the sitting‑room door frame matched his left finger. A lift from the bathroom door's left handle matched Sabrina's left thumb. Additionally, Budweiser cans in Horan's kitchen bin bore fingerprints attributed to Kenneth's left thumb and middle finger. The judge noted the case was a single trial for convenience, though it involved two separate defendants. The trial continues.
The trial of Thomas Murphy, 66, of Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth, for alleged tax evasion is ongoing at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin. The defendant has pleaded not guilty to nine charges alleging that he failed to furnish returns of his income, profits, or gains to the Collector General or Inspector of Taxes for the years 1996/97 to 2004. The prosecution, acting on an investigation by the Criminal Assets Bureau, contends that although Murphy conducted significant dealings in cattle and land and received farming grants, he did not report this income to Revenue. During proceedings, the court heard evidence from Vincent Murray, a former procurement manager at Newgrange Meats in Slane, County Meath. Murray provided records indicating that a man named Thomas Murphy supplied cattle to the factory. Specifically, the court was shown records stating that on October 18, 2004, twenty-two cattle were slaughtered, supplied by Thomas Murphy of Ballybinaby. Two cheques totaling over €15,000, made payable to Thomas Murphy, were exhibited to the three-judge court. Defense counsel John Kearney QC suggested to the witness that the signatures on the back of these cheques were clearly different from the defendant's signature, a point Murray agreed with. The trial, which was adjourned before lunch, will resume on Tuesday.
During the trial of Badri Khvedelidze, a 33‑year‑old Georgian national accused of murdering his compatriot George Tkeshelashvili in a Tralee direct provision hostel in October 2005, a witness named Adeyenka Sow Unmi, a 45‑year‑old Nigerian also living in the hostel, failed to identify Khvedelidze when shown his photograph. Unmi, who had been at the hostel on the day of the alleged incident, had reported hearing loud voices and seeing a fight in a corridor. He later told Gardaí that he saw a man with a knife walking toward him and that he could identify the man with the knife. When Gardaí presented him with eight photographs of people thought to be involved, he identified three men but did not identify Khvedelidze as having been at the scene. Badri Khvedelidze pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Thomas "Slab" Murphy at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin heard evidence that between December 2000 and August 2004, a man of the same name sold cattle worth over €160,000 for slaughter. The prosecution alleges that although the accused, aged 66 and resident at Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, County Louth, engaged in substantial cattle and land dealings and received farming grants, he failed to submit any tax returns. Mr Murphy has pleaded not guilty to nine charges of failing to furnish income returns to the revenue authorities for the years 1996/97 to 2004. Evidence from the financial controller of Donegal Meat Processors detailed cheques issued to Thomas Murphy during the period in question. The prosecution's case is being advanced by the Criminal Assets Bureau. The trial continues.
During a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, witness Givi Verdzeuli, 66, recounted that an argument over a game of backgammon at Westward Court hostel in Tralee led to the stabbing death of George Tkeshelashvili, 57. Verdzeuli described finding an overturned table with a backgammon board and dice on the floor after Tkeshelashvili had died. He said the conflict had started from that point. Badri Khvedelidze, 33, has pleaded not guilty to the murder. The defence is cross‑examining Verdzeuli.
During the murder trial of Badri Khvedelidze, witness Givi Verdzeuli (66) testified that on 15 October 2005 at Westward Court, Tralee, a dispute erupted when George Tkeshelashvili (57) insulted Khvedelidze's mother. Verdzeuli described seeing Tkeshelashvili thrust an open hand at Khvedelidze's mother, prompting Khvedelidze to ask why he was cursed. Khvedelidze then struck Tkeshelashvili in the chest, after which Verdzeuli observed blood gush and a knife appear in Khvedelidze's hand. Verdzeuli ran to fetch a towel, and when he returned Tkeshelashvili was on the ground, unable to stand. An ambulance was called but the parties opted for a taxi to the hospital, where Tkeshelashvili was still in distress. The trial proceeds before Justice Isobel Kennedy and a jury of twelve. Givi Verdzeuli pleaded not guilty.
A trial at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin has heard evidence concerning banking transactions linked to a man named Thomas Murphy with an address in County Louth. The accused, aged 66 and from Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, has pleaded not guilty to nine charges of failing to furnish tax returns to revenue authorities for the years 1996 to 2004. The prosecution alleges he conducted substantial cattle and land dealings whilst receiving farming grants but made no income declarations. Evidence was presented regarding cheques drawn from an account at Permanent TSB in Dundalk, with payments made to livestock marts in Elphin, Ballyjamesduff and Kingscourt. The defence contends the accused did not control the account and that his brother Patrick Murphy was responsible for its operation. The case, brought following a Criminal Assets Bureau investigation, continues.
The trial of Thomas Murphy at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin has heard evidence regarding substantial cattle transactions spanning several years. A former project manager at Kepak Meat Processors testified that between August 1999 and August 2001, cattle valued at over €30,000 were supplied to the company by a man named Thomas Murphy. Additional evidence was presented concerning cattle purchases made in May 2004, including transactions at livestock marts in County Galway and Kingscourt, County Cavan. Mr Murphy, aged 66 and resident in County Louth, has pleaded not guilty to nine charges of failing to furnish income returns to revenue authorities for the years 1996/97 to 2004. The prosecution alleges that despite significant dealings in cattle and land and receipt of farming grants, the accused made no tax returns. The investigation was conducted by the Criminal Assets Bureau. The trial before the three-judge court continues.
The murder trial of 33‑year‑old Badri Khvedelidze, a Georgian national, was halted after the jury was dismissed on the first day without hearing evidence. The case, involving the killing of fellow Georgian George Tkeshelashvili in Kerry on 15 October 2005, is set to resume at the Central Criminal Court on Wednesday. Khvedelidze has pleaded not guilty, and Justice Isobel Kennedy explained that such delays are not uncommon and thanked the jury for their punctuality.
The trial of Kenneth Cummins, 28, and Sabrina Cummins, 37, who are accused of murdering Thomas Horan, 63, at Cambridge Court, Ringsend, Dublin 4, on 6 January 2014, will continue in legal argument this week. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty. The jury is instructed to return to court next Tuesday morning for the resumption of evidence.
A jury was sworn in on 19 October 2015 for the trial of 33‑year‑old Georgian Badri Khvedelidze, charged with murdering fellow Georgian George Tkeshelashvili in Kerry on 15 October 2005. Khvedelidze pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. The case will be heard by Justice Isobel Kennedy, with a jury of six men and six women, and is expected to last between seven and ten days.
The trial of Thomas Murphy at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin heard evidence regarding substantial cattle trading activity spanning several years. Prosecution witnesses, employed at livestock marts in counties Meath, Cavan, and Roscommon, provided documentation to gardaí detailing transactions in the name of a man named Thomas Murphy with an address at Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, County Louth. Evidence indicated cattle purchases totalling approximately €370,000 between 1999 and 2005, transacted through Carnaross Mart, Ballyjamesduff Cattle Mart, and Elphin Co-op Livestock Mart. The prosecution alleges that despite conducting significant dealings in cattle and land, and receiving farming grants, Mr Murphy failed to make returns to revenue. Mr Murphy, aged 66, has pleaded not guilty to nine charges relating to failure to furnish income returns for the years 1996/97 to 2004. The trial, conducted by the Criminal Assets Bureau, continues before a three-judge bench.
A 32‑year‑old man, Gary Walsh, was tried for the murder of former Dublin rugby captain Cathal Sweeney, aged 62, who died on 8 February 2014 at a flat in Terenure. The jury, after five hours and 27 minutes of deliberation, could not agree on a verdict, with at least ten jurors dissenting. Judge Patrick McCarthy accepted the lack of consensus, thanked the eight men and four women, and excused them from service for ten years. The case will be retried by a new jury on 24 April 2017, with Walsh remanded in custody on the same terms. The prosecution presented evidence of intoxication, a fight, and blunt‑force trauma as the cause of death, while the defence had pleaded not guilty and later a plea of manslaughter that was not accepted by the State. The trial highlighted the presence of two other men in the flat, including witness Colm Campbell.