The trial of Aaron Brady, who denies the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, resumed after a nine‑week break. The jury, now six men and seven women, viewed CCTV footage of a car's movements three nights before the January 2013 robbery that killed Donohoe. Brady, 28, pleaded not guilty to the murder and to a charge of robbing about €7,000 in cash and cheques at the same location. The court addressed Covid‑19 precautions, allowing remote viewing and limiting courtroom numbers. Brendan Grehan SC outlined that evidence from May 18 will include witnesses in New York via live video. Edward McGoey, a civilian crime analyst, testified about phone records, while Detective Garda Gareth Kenna presented CCTV montages showing a dark‑toned saloon car near the crime scene. The trial continues under Mr Justice Michael White.
Joseph McGrane, a 60‑year‑old fruit and veg wholesaler, was convicted in March 2019 of 11 counts of indecent assault and seven of sexual assault against three boys and a young woman, with offences occurring between 1985 and 1993. He was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment, the final year suspended, after a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. McGrane denied all charges. The Court of Appeal heard an appeal filed by counsel Paul Greene SC, who argued that the conviction was unsafe due to delays in prosecution, a failure to sever the indictment, and improper jury instructions. Greene cited the differing nature of the case involving the young woman and the judge's refusal to discharge the jury on acquitted counts. Counsel for the DPP, Eilis Brennan SC, countered that the offences were part of a single series and that the judge's decisions were within discretion. The Court of Appeal reserved judgment.
Inga Ozolina, aged 48, was convicted of manslaughter for killing her violent alcoholic boyfriend, Audrius Pukas, 40, in Roscrea on 20 November 2016. Ozolina claimed she acted in self‑defence after Pukas had pulled her hair, pushed her to the floor, and began hitting and biting her. She had previously obtained two safety orders against him, which had lapsed. During the Central Criminal Court trial, photographs of her injuries, including bite marks, were shown to the jury. Ozolina was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, and was sentenced to four years' imprisonment. The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction, rejecting her appeal that the Garda interview evidence was unreliable. The appeal court dismissed the appeal, confirming the trial judge's decision that the evidence was admissible and reliable. The case remains at the manslaughter conviction stage.
Derek Hearns, 35, was sentenced by Judge Patricia Ryan in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after a February trial on eight counts related to an attack on David O'Sullivan's home in Baldoyle in February 2016. He was found guilty of producing a knife, robbing €10 and stealing a mobile phone, while the jury could not agree on the remaining charges, which were struck out. Hearns maintains his innocence on all counts. The judge, noting the night‑time assault occurred when O'Sullivan's partner and child were present, imposed a three‑year sentence with the final year suspended under conditions. Hearns, a father of four with 46 prior convictions, is now confined under strict Covid‑19 prison rules, spending 22 hours and 40 minutes a day in his cell and unable to see his family. He had hoped to represent Ireland in bodybuilding before the pandemic and has recently completed drug rehabilitation. Derek Hearns was acquitted.
A Mayo man has appealed his conviction for sexually abusing three sisters over an extended period. He was found guilty in October 2017 on 19 counts of indecent assault against one girl and one count each against her two sisters. The Circuit Criminal Court jury heard evidence of offences occurring between 1976 and 1994, when the victims were aged between nine and twelve years old. The man received concurrent sentences totalling seven years. His appeal, heard remotely at the Court of Appeal, centres on whether the trial judge erred in refusing to sever the indictment, allowing all three complaints to be heard simultaneously. The appellant's counsel argued the cases lacked the striking similarities required for joint trial. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel contended substantial similarities existed, including the victims' ages, family connection, and consistent methods of abuse. The three-judge panel reserved its decision.
The Court of Appeal granted leave to appeal to Eamon Ronald Harrison, who is pending extradition to the UK to face 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. UK authorities have withdrawn a separate charge of conspiracy to commit human trafficking against Harrison, which is expected to shorten his appeal hearing scheduled for May 7. In a related development, Maurice Robinson, 25, of Craigavon, Co Armagh, admitted 39 counts of manslaughter at the Old Bailey in London. He had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and acquiring criminal property, while denying a further charge of transferring criminal property. Robinson will be sentenced at a later date. These proceedings follow the discovery of 39 migrants dead in a lorry container in Essex. Ronan Hughes, alleged to be the ringleader, was refused bail by the High Court and remanded in custody until May 15 for his full extradition hearing. The court found him a probable flight risk, noting his international haulage business and access to funds. The High Court judge stated that the prosecution met the burden of proof regarding the risk of absconding, despite Hughes' ties to the jurisdiction.
A man convicted of sexually abusing a child in County Mayo during the 1970s has appealed his conviction at the Court of Appeal. The defendant was found guilty in October 2018 by majority verdict on five counts of indecent assault alleged to have occurred between May and August 1978. He received a sentence of eight years and nine months, with the final 21 months suspended, in February 2019. The appeal centres on grounds of substantial delay in prosecution and its impact on fair trial rights. Defence counsel argued that the complainant's delay in reporting and gardaí's delay in charging the defendant, combined with the deaths of potential defence witnesses, prejudiced the accused's ability to mount a proper defence. The Director of Public Prosecutions submitted that a delay warning was appropriately issued at trial and that corroborative evidence was heard. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, reserved judgment and indicated a decision would be delivered as soon as possible.
A Monaghan man, Ronan Hughes, is alleged to be the 'ringleader' and 'chief organiser' of an organised criminal group involved in the trafficking of 39 Vietnamese migrants found dead in a lorry container in Essex in October 2019. The High Court heard that Hughes is alleged to have organised, paid for the travel, and controlled the drivers who collected the migrants. Evidence presented during the bail hearing included the freezing of €200,000 in 33 bank accounts linked to Hughes and his family, as well as the seizure of a 2019 BMW X5 valued at €108,000. Mr Justice Paul Burns will deliver a decision tomorrow on whether Hughes will be granted bail ahead of his extradition hearing. Hughes, who is wanted by UK authorities on 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration, was arrested in Co Monaghan following the endorsement of a European Arrest Warrant. Maurice Robinson, Hughes' younger brother, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and acquiring criminal property. The case is currently at the appeal stage, with no finalisation of the matter yet.
The State has secured an early hearing date to appeal the 11‑year sentence imposed on a 17‑year‑old who attempted to murder a 25‑year‑old woman he met on the Whisper app. The teenager, who cannot be named, was in custody since December 2017 after luring the victim to an isolated area on the Sea Front, Queen's Road, Dun Laoghaire. He pleaded guilty to attempted murder and was sentenced in November 2019, with a review set for 1 January 2023. The State argues the sentence is "unduly lenient." The case was heard remotely by the Court of Appeal, where the Director of Public Prosecutions applied for an early hearing. The court scheduled the appeal for 14 May, and the teenager's counsel indicated that a video link could be arranged from Oberstown Children Detention Campus, where the defendant is held.
Sean Keenan, a 24‑year‑old homeless man, pleaded guilty to robbery at Red Cow Luas Stop on 4 November 2017. Garda Christopher Hogan described how Keenan and two other men followed Andrew O'Sullivan, who had just disembarked from a bus carrying a duty‑free bag with two bottles of spirits and 400 cigarettes. The men attacked O'Sullivan, with Keenan punching and kicking him, and the third man striking him in the head with a bottle. They threatened to kill him before leaving. Cigarettes taken from O'Sullivan were found in Keenan's possession and his clothes bore the victim's blood. Keenan had 99 prior convictions, including robbery, attempted robbery, criminal damage, burglary and car theft, and was highly intoxicated during the offence. He had no recollection of the attack. The judge noted the assault was "extremely violent and vicious" and sentenced Keenan to five years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years on strict conditions, including 12 months of probation after release.
In April 2020 the Court of Appeal quashed a 2017 conviction for two counts of rape against a Dublin man aged 55, who had previously been convicted of three sexual assaults against the same heavily‑pregnant partner. The appeal was based on a misdirection by the trial judge who had told the jury that the consistency of the complainant's account could be "supportive or corroborative" of the prosecution case. The Court of Appeal held that such consistency was not independent evidence and that the judge's instruction could have misled the jury. All other grounds of appeal, including a claim of adverse publicity, were rejected. The court therefore overturned the rape convictions without ordering a retrial, leaving the earlier sexual‑assault convictions and the 10‑year sentence with a two‑year‑six‑month suspended portion intact. The case highlights the importance of precise jury instructions regarding corroboration.
During a sentencing hearing in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a 64‑year‑old man was convicted of sexually assaulting his seven‑year‑old son in 1989. The victim, who was a child sexual assault survivor himself, gave a victim impact statement in which he described how his father had taken him swimming, hypnotised him, and then sexually assaulted him. He recalled being told by his father that he was "washing him, cuddling him, sucking him" and that he was "just playing around with his penis" to bond with him. The defendant, who was a victim of abuse at Letterfrack Industrial School as a teenager, denied the offence and claimed it was false. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to four and a half years' imprisonment, suspending the last six months on the condition that he engage with the Probation Service.
Ruzmond Muwaniri, 32, was sentenced to four years in prison for a series of unprovoked assaults that took place between April 29 and June 12, 2019. He admitted attacking two men in April, a woman in June, and head‑butting Garda Barry Ryan while the Garda was taking his details at Bridewell Garda Station. Muwaniri pleaded guilty to three charges of assault causing harm and one charge of assault. He has 71 previous convictions, including seven for assault. The judge noted his diagnosed schizophrenia, cannabis use, and mental health difficulties, and suspended the final 12 months of the sentence on strict conditions, including engagement with the Probation Service for a year after release. The court emphasised the need to protect society while acknowledging the possibility of future re‑offending. The sentencing took place at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Marius Gaizutis, 55, was convicted of murder for the axe killing of Audrius Butkus, 44, whose body was found on Mornington beach in 2013. Gaizutis admitted killing Butkus but denied murder, claiming provocation after the victim allegedly insulted him and struck him with a bottle. Forensic evidence suggested an attempt to clean the scene, and Gaizutis had wounds consistent with a bottle attack. A jury found him guilty of murder on 1 May 2015 and he was sentenced to life imprisonment. Gaizutis appealed, arguing insufficient evidence for a murder conviction and that the trial judge should have directed an acquittal on murder, leaving only a manslaughter charge. The Court of Appeal, in an electronic judgment, rejected the appeal, stating there was no basis to deem the trial unsatisfactory or the verdict unsafe, and upheld the jury's decision to convict of murder. The appeal was dismissed.
Patrick Byrnes, aged 80, was convicted in 2018 by a Central Criminal Court jury of 58 indecent assault charges and two rapes committed between 1975 and 1985. The abuse began when his daughters were about seven, the year of their First Communion, and continued for ten years, occurring mainly in the family home, a coal shed, and his car. Byrnes encouraged the family dog to participate in sexual acts with one daughter on three occasions. He was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment with two years suspended. Byrnes, a retired taxi driver, pleaded not guilty and maintains his innocence. He has now lodged an appeal, arguing that the trial judge failed to properly address alleged fabrication and collusion by the complainants and that the jury was not given adequate directions on how to use their evidence. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment.
Mr Justice Paul Burns is scheduled to deliver a decision tomorrow at 10:30 am on bail applications for Luke O'Reilly (66) and Darren Redmond (25), who are charged with false imprisonment and assault causing serious harm to Quinn Industrial Holdings Director Kevin Lunney. The alleged offences occurred on September 17, 2019, at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan. The State opposed bail, citing risks of interference with justice and flight, while defence counsel argued there was no evidential basis for refusal. Both men were sent forward for trial to the Special Criminal Court on March 26, with proceedings potentially beginning in January 2021. Separately, Alan O'Brien (39), of East Wall, is also charged with false imprisonment and assault causing serious harm to Mr Lunney on the same occasion. A fourth accused, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faces similar charges. All four men are to be tried at the non-jury Special Criminal Court. Last week, Mr Justice Tony Hunt indicated the trial could last eight to 12 weeks and transferred the case to Court 2 for a mention on June 10. The current procedural stage involves the pending bail determination for O'Reilly and Redmond, while the broader case remains in pre-trial preparation.
A 19‑year‑old Dubliner was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for stabbing his uncle in the chest with a kitchen knife on 27 August 2018. The teenager, who had threatened the uncle earlier that day, stabbed him once in the chest, causing a collapsed lung and serious injury. He had followed the uncle after the attack and attempted to finish him off, and had also beaten the victim with his crutch. The court noted the defendant's history of carrying knives, drug addiction, alcohol use, ADHD, dyslexia and being on the autism spectrum. He pleaded guilty in January 2020 and had a prior conviction for assault. The judge reduced the headline sentence from six to four years, citing the early guilty plea and remorse, and imposed a suspended year on conditions of abstaining from drugs, attending education and addressing anger management. The victim fully recovered and forgave the nephew.
The Central Criminal Court could not set a trial date for Daniel Murtagh, 32, accused of murdering his former partner Nadine Lott, because the coronavirus pandemic was still affecting court operations. Murtagh appeared via video link for a trial date to be set, but Judge Paul McDermott said the court could not fix a date at that time. He adjourned the matter to June 29, hoping a trial date could then be scheduled. The court noted difficulties in assigning trial dates under the current circumstances. Lott, a beauty therapist and mother, suffered serious injuries at her home in St Mary's Court, Arklow, on December 14 and died on December 17 at St Vincent's Hospital after being admitted on December 16. Murtagh had previously been charged with a serious assault against Lott at Bray District Court. The murder trial dates were postponed until June 29.
In 2018, 13‑year‑old Boy B lured 14‑year‑old Ana Kriegel from her home to a derelict house in St Catherine's Park, Lucan, where he and Boy A attacked her. Boy B later admitted seeing Boy A assault Ana. In June 2019, a Central Criminal Court jury found Boy B, now 15, guilty of murder; he received a 15‑year sentence, reviewable after eight years. Boy A was also convicted of aggravated sexual assault and sentenced to life with a 12‑year review and eight years for the assault. Boy B's appeal, originally scheduled for April 24, 2020, was postponed because he changed counsel and will be heard later. The DPP will file its own submissions by April 3. The appeal concerns only the conviction, not the sentence. Boy B remains detained at Oberstown Children Detention Campus, with an earliest possible release in June 2027.
Anthony Rossitter, a 32‑year‑old drug addict from County Wexford, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three attempted robbery charges after threatening staff in three city‑centre shops on 15 May 2019 with a large pair of stainless‑steel scissors. He entered a Gala shop on Abbey Street, placed a plastic bag on the counter and demanded cash, threatening to cut a staff member if he did not comply. After leaving without money, he went to a Spar shop in Temple Bar and then to a Gala shop on Dorset Street, again demanding cash and showing the scissors, but left empty‑handed and was arrested shortly thereafter. Rossitter has 85 prior convictions, including 46 for traffic offences, and a history of assault and drug dealing. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to four‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, suspending the final 12 months on strict conditions, including 12 months of probation after release.
The Court of Appeal heard that UK authorities have withdrawn a human trafficking charge against Eamon Ronald Harrison, a Northern Irishman facing extradition for 39 counts of manslaughter and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. Harrison, who is challenging his pending extradition, was alleged to have delivered the trailer in which 39 migrants died in Essex. The withdrawal of the trafficking charge will shorten his appeal hearing, scheduled for May 7. In related proceedings, Maurice Robinson, of Craigavon, Co Armagh, admitted 39 counts of manslaughter at the Old Bailey. He had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and acquiring criminal property, specifically cash, while denying a further charge of transferring criminal property. Robinson will be sentenced at a later date. Additionally, Ronan Hughes, of Co Monaghan, appeared before the High Court in Dublin, where he is wanted by UK authorities for 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. His extradition hearing is set for May 1, with a provisional bail hearing fixed for April 29. Four other men are scheduled to stand trial at the Old Bailey on October 5 in connection with the investigation.
Liam Brannigan, 37, was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years' imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for conspiring to murder Gary Hanley. Mr Justice Paul Coffey described Brannigan as having a central role in the Kinahan Cartel plot, noting his culpability was high due to his management and oversight of the plan. The sentence includes a suspension of the final six months, conditional on Brannigan completing his degree at UCD or a vocational course in prison. The sentence was backdated to November 6, 2017. Brannigan was the fifth person jailed for this conspiracy. Previously, Luke Wilson pleaded guilty to conspiracy and unlawful possession of a Beretta, receiving 11 years; Alan Wilson pleaded guilty to conspiracy, receiving six years; Joseph Kelly pleaded guilty to conspiracy and a weapons charge, receiving 12 years; and Dean Howe pleaded guilty to conspiracy, receiving six years. The court found that Brannigan was at the centre of the plot, which was foiled when gardai intercepted a vehicle containing a loaded pistol near Hanley's home. The judge highlighted the elaborate nature of the plan and the imminent danger to Hanley. Detective Superintendent David Gallagher praised the convictions as significant successes against organised crime.
Myles Byrne, 28, was sentenced to ten months' imprisonment after a shop robbery in Dublin's city centre. He entered a Tesco at about 9 am, attempted to purchase four cans of cider, and when staff refused to sell him alcohol he threatened a staff member with a syringe, saying "get away or I'll stab you" and that he was lucky he didn't rob the tills. Garda Aine Hogan reported that staff feared for their lives, and the deputy manager described Byrne as "out of it" and "swaying". Byrne pleaded guilty to robbery and to making a threat to kill or cause serious harm. He has 79 prior convictions, including assault, robbery and traffic offences, and was on bail when the offence occurred. His defence counsel, Rebecca Smith BL, noted his ongoing alcohol problems and lack of memory of the incident, and that he wished to address his addiction but was unable to access residential treatment due to pandemic restrictions.
Barry Callan, acting as solicitor for a special needs teenager, brought two High Court judicial review actions challenging the teen's expulsion from an ETB-run secondary school for allegedly assaulting a teacher. The teen, who cannot be named, is represented by his mother and claims the school failed to provide necessary supports, a view shared by the HSE and the National Council for Special Education. The expulsion was upheld by the ETB and a Section 29 Committee. Counsel Derek Shortall BL argued the ETB breached fair procedures by limiting its appeal review rather than conducting a full rehearing and failing to consider the student's specific needs. The first action seeks to quash the ETB's decision and declare a breach of fair procedures. The second action challenges the Section 29 Committee's decision as flawed and disproportionate. Mr Justice Michael Twomey granted permission to bring the challenge against the Minister and the ETB on an ex-parte basis. He also deemed the second judicial review action opened and adjourned it generally. Both cases were adjourned to a date next month. The matter was adjourned and not concluded.
In a remote Court of Appeal hearing, an 86‑year‑old paedophile, whose name is withheld to protect his victim's identity, appealed a conviction for three counts of indecent assault against his son committed between 1977 and 1979. The Central Criminal Court had found him guilty and imposed consecutive sentences totalling four years, a maximum penalty of two years at the time of the offences. The appellant's barrister argued that the trial judge failed to give a required corroboration warning, citing inconsistencies in the complainant's evidence and the judge's refusal to engage with it. The DPP countered that the judge's stance was consistent with judicial practice and that section 7 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act 1990 left discretion to the judge. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice Birmingham, reserved its judgment.
Gareth Levins, aged 33, was sentenced to two‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment for stealing €10,549 from a woman who lived in a care home and has since died. The thefts took place over a three‑week period in late January and early February 2017, when Levins used a bank card that had been obtained by a relative who had worked as a carer for the victim. None of the money was recovered. Levins pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and the court noted that the victim's daughter had discovered suspicious transactions and alerted the bank. Levins had been on bail for an assault conviction that was due to expire in April 2021. Judge Martin Nolan described the offence as "pretty cunning" and sentenced Levins to two‑and‑a‑half years, suspending the final 14 months on strict conditions and ordering that the sentence run consecutively to the three‑year sentence Levins is currently serving.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a man in his 50s, already serving a prison term for repeated sexual abuse of a teenage boy from 2009 to 2015, pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual assault against two victims. He admitted forcibly kissing and grabbing the bottom of an underage girl in mid‑2014, and similarly assaulting a second victim by grabbing her bottom, placing a hand on her bottom and kissing her neck between July 2011 and July 2012. Judge Karen O'Connor remanded him in continuing custody until 29 June 2020.
A Monaghan man, Ronan Hughes, has appeared before the High Court in Dublin as part of an ongoing appeal related to his alleged involvement in the Essex migrant tragedy. Hughes, who is wanted in the UK on 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration, admitted to the charges during the hearing. He was remanded in custody until a later date. Maurice Robinson, who previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and acquiring criminal property, admitted 39 counts of manslaughter at the Old Bailey and will be sentenced at a later date. The case is currently in the appeal stage, with the court provisionally fixing April 29 for a bail application and May 1 for the full extradition hearing. The matter was adjourned and not finalised. The court heard that the sealed refrigeration unit was not turned on, leading to the deaths of 39 migrants due to oxygen starvation. Four other men are set to stand trial at the Old Bailey in connection with the investigation.
Petronel Pal, a 36‑year‑old Romanian, was arrested in Dublin in 2019 and faces extradition to Romania for alleged involvement in the murder of fellow Romanian Virgil Busa, who was violently assaulted on 10 April 2014 at Academy Square, Navan, and died three days later. Pal and other identified individuals are accused of forming an organised crime group, allegedly headed by a relative of Pal, and of breaking into Busa's apartment in the early hours of the murder date. The High Court, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, granted Pal a certificate to appeal the proposed surrender to Romanian authorities but refused a bail application. Pal's lawyers argued that the case raises a point of law of exceptional public importance, questioning whether the High Court correctly applied extraterritoriality principles and whether it is permissible to prosecute individuals for crimes committed in other EU Member States. The appeal will be heard by the Court of Appeal.
A 17‑year‑old boy was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 13 years for the murder of 20‑year‑old Cameron Blair, a college student, outside a house party in Cork city. The boy stabbed Blair in the neck with a kitchen knife on 16 January 2020. He pleaded guilty and the judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, described the killing as deliberate, extreme violence and "shocking". The sentence will be reviewed in November 2032, with the earliest possible release in January 2033, subject to the boy's behaviour in custody. The boy will be detained at Oberstown Children Detention Campus until he turns 18, when he will be transferred to an adult prison. The sentence was back‑dated to 24 January 2020. The judge emphasised that the use of knives by young people must be deterred and the public protected. The sentence was delivered at the Central Criminal Court on 20 April 2020.
Four men appeared before the Special Criminal Court charged with false imprisonment and assault causing serious harm to Kevin Lunney, a director of Quinn Industrial Holdings. Luke O'Reilly, aged 66, from Mullahoran Lower, Kilcogy, County Cavan, Darren Redmond, aged 25, from East Wall, Dublin, and Alan O'Brien, aged 39, also from East Wall, are accused of offences relating to an alleged incident at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, County Cavan on 17 September 2019. A fourth accused cannot be identified for legal reasons. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding over the three-judge court, indicated the trial is likely to last between eight and twelve weeks. The case was transferred to a different courtroom and adjourned for mention on 10 June. A trial is anticipated to commence in January 2021. All four accused were remanded in custody.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 20‑year‑old Cameron Blair, a biochemistry student at Cork Institute of Technology, was stabbed in the neck by a 17‑year‑old teenager at a house party on Bandon Road, Cork, on 16 January 2020. Blair, who had been monitoring the party's entry, was not aware of the knife until he collapsed. The defendant, who pleaded guilty to murder, had earlier that night invited Blair and his friends into the party and had acted as a peacemaker, according to witnesses. Blair's mother, father and younger brother read victim impact statements describing the loss as "unnatural" and "unbearable grief." The court heard that the knife was 21 cm long, and that the defendant had no prior convictions. The defendant was remanded in custody at Oberstown Children Detention Centre pending sentencing.
In a High Court hearing on 2 April 2020, Mr Justice Tony Hunt refused to grant bail to a Dublin man convicted of raping his 10‑year‑old daughter in 2010. The defendant, whose name is withheld to protect the victim, had been remanded into custody after a jury found him guilty on multiple counts of sexual assault and rape following a two‑week trial at the Central Criminal Court. His lawyers argued that his Crohn's disease and concerns for his asthmatic children's health amid the Covid‑19 pandemic warranted release. The judge rejected the application, stating that the concerns were hypothetical and that the prison service had not demonstrated an inability to manage the defendant's health. He noted that rapists and murderers can have difficult family circumstances, but the defendant was facing a significant prison term. The case was adjourned to 11 May for sentencing, with no interference of witnesses reported.
Claire Burke, a 30‑year‑old mother of two from Kilkenny, pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm after stabbing a man in the arm with scissors on Temple Lane South, Dublin 2, on 12 November 2018. The incident followed an attempt to sell the man "grass" for €15, during which Burke stabbed him in the left wrist and attempted a second stab to his right leg. The man was later assisted by a third party who was arrested and the stolen bicycle recovered. Burke, who has 13 prior convictions and was living on the streets at the time, was released on bail pending sentencing. Judge Melanie Greally described the offence as "very nasty" and adjourned the case for finalisation on 13 October, noting the possibility of a custodial sentence and a probation report. The sentencing hearing was postponed due to the prosecuting Garda's self‑isolation. The case remains pending.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, an 18‑year‑old Dubliner pleaded guilty to intentionally causing serious harm to his uncle after a dispute over heroin. The nephew stabbed the uncle once in the chest with a kitchen knife on 27 August 2018 in Tallaght. The uncle survived, made a full recovery, forgave the nephew and declined to give a victim impact statement. During treatment for the stabbing, doctors discovered a tumour in the uncle's chest that required medical attention. The court noted the nephew's prior convictions for assault and knife possession, his troubled upbringing, and his expressed remorse. The judge was instructed to consider the nephew's age, remorse, and the uncle's recovery when determining the sentence, which was to be delivered on 27 April. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding over the Special Criminal Court, stated that there is no reason to halt non‑jury trials amid the Covid‑19 crisis. He referred to the upcoming trial of David Hunter, a 41‑year‑old UK national charged with the murder of Michael Barr, which is scheduled for 10 June and expected to last four weeks. Mr Barr, a father of five from County Tyrone, was shot seven times while managing the Sunset House pub in Dublin's north inner city. The defence received legal aid for an additional junior counsel following a disclosure of voluminous evidence.
Four men are to appear before the Special Criminal Court on Friday following their committal for trial over allegations relating to the assault and false imprisonment of a Quinn Industrial Holdings director in September 2019. Luke O'Reilly, aged 66, from Mullahoran Lower, Kilcogy, County Cavan, Darren Redmond, aged 25, from East Wall, Dublin, and Alan O'Brien, aged 39, also from East Wall, have been charged with false imprisonment and assault causing serious harm. The alleged incident occurred at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, County Cavan on September 17, 2019. A fourth accused cannot be identified for legal reasons. The three-judge court, presided over by Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Gerard Griffin, ordered that the accused appear before the court to receive formal notice of the charges. None of the four were present at the earlier legal formality.
Paula Farrell, 47, was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for the murder of Wayne McQuillan, 30, at her Drogheda home on New Year's Day 2014. This marks her second conviction for the offence following an appeal that quashed her initial 2015 conviction due to the exclusion of the partial defence of provocation. A subsequent retrial in 2019 resulted in a hung jury. In this final trial, Farrell pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The Central Criminal Court jury unanimously rejected her defence of provocation, finding her guilty of murder. Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced Farrell to life imprisonment, backdating the sentence to July 1, 2015, to account for time already served in custody. The judge excused the jurors from future service. The court heard a victim impact statement from the deceased's sister, Audrey McQuillan, who described the family's enduring pain. Farrell's legal team had argued she acted under provocation and suffered from PTSD and alcohol dependency, while the prosecution contended she intended to cause serious injury. The matter was concluded with the imposition of the mandatory life sentence.
Mark Capper, 31, of Cappagh Green, Finglas, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to aiding a Criminal Organisation in a plot to murder Patrick "Patsy" Hutch between 1 February and 10 March 2018. Capper admitted knowledge of the organisation and participation in activities that would facilitate the murder, including providing or moving motor vehicles, repairing vehicles, conducting reconnaissance, and planning the shooting. He entered a guilty plea on a full facts basis, which the court accepted as sufficient to meet the case. Justice Tony Hunt remanded Capper to appear again on 11 May for sentencing. Five other men—Michael Burns, Ciaran O'Driscoll, Patrick Curtis, Stephen Curtis, and Mohammed Smew—were also charged with conspiracy to murder Hutch and other offences, and their cases were adjourned for seven weeks, with custody production orders for their next appearance on 18 May. The court allowed each accused to apply for an earlier date if needed.
Paula Farrell, convicted of the murder of Wayne McQuillan, is currently at the appeal stage of her legal proceedings. The Central Criminal Court trial heard that Farrell stabbed McQuillan four times on New Year's Day 2014 in Drogheda. McQuillan, who was six times over the drink-driving limit, suffered a fatal cardiac arrest after a 30-minute ambulance delay. Farrell, who had no previous convictions, claimed she acted in self-defense after McQuillan allegedly attempted to sexually assault and strangle her. She testified that she stabbed him to stop the abuse, though she admitted to washing her hands and leaving the knife in the sink. Defense experts attributed her actions to PTSD stemming from childhood sexual abuse and alcohol dependency, while prosecution experts argued her behavior was primarily driven by intoxication. Farrell was found guilty of murder, rejecting the defense argument for a manslaughter conviction based on provocation. The current procedural stage is an appeal against this conviction.
The High Court heard that a 16‑year‑old boy was being used by older peers to fight other youngsters in an illegal fight club. The Child and Family Agency (CFA) sought orders to place the boy in a secure special care unit for his welfare and safety. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Mark Sanfey, extended the boy's placement for an additional three months. Counsel for the CFA, David Leahy BL, explained that the boy had previously been detained under a temporary order due to his "very disturbing behaviour." Investigations revealed that he had been found in the boot of a car, placed there by older peers, and had been involved in violent fights. The boy has also reported drug and alcohol use, and is accused of sexual assault, hijacking a car, assault, criminal damage, and arson. He has had several voluntary placements, including foster care, but these ended in homelessness.
The jury in the trial of Paula Farrell, 47, accused of murdering her boyfriend Wayne McQuillan, 30, at her Drogheda home on New Year's Day 2014, has paused deliberations for the weekend and will return to the Central Criminal Court on Monday. The jury spent 2 hours 39 minutes considering a verdict when Judge Paul McDermott instructed them to suspend deliberations. The prosecution has called the sexual assault allegation an "outrageous lie" and maintains that Farrell intended to cause serious injury by stabbing McQuillan four times with a knife. Farrell pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. She testified that McQuillan had tried to have sex with her and had strangled her before she stabbed him, claiming she only remembered two of the four stabs.
Amy Cully, 26, a recovering drug addict, was arrested after punching Kathleen O'Neill on Usher's Quay on 26 July 2019 while under the influence of crack cocaine, heroin and alcohol. The punch left O'Neill with bruising to her nose, eye and cheek. Cully then grabbed O'Neill's bag and fled, but was caught by a garda a short time later. O'Neill's sister joined the struggle and Cully also attempted to take her bag. Local residents helped the women before Cully was arrested. Cully pleaded guilty to robbery and assault of O'Neill and to attempted robbery of Megan O'Neill. She has 80 previous convictions, including assault and thefts, and had a one‑year sentence for a 2019 theft. The court, after a psychological assessment, imposed a four‑year sentence, suspending the final two years on the condition that Cully comply with probation, drug treatment, mental health services and victim awareness programmes. The sentence reflects her remorse and progress in confronting her issues.
Helen Jones, aged 52, of Cahergal Avenue, Mayfield, Cork, is charged with aggravated burglary and the murder of her brother Paul Jones, aged 55, at his Bandon Road home on 4 September last year. She was denied bail by the High Court after objections from Gardaí. Her brother Liam Jones, who travelled from Cork to Dublin despite ill health, testified that he feared his sister would "come after me next" and that she had threatened to petrol‑bomb his girlfriend's house – allegations she denied. Helen Jones, who has emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, said she had not seen Liam for three and a half years and would have no contact if released. The judge, Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty, expressed sympathy for her medical conditions but found no bail conditions could assure safety. The case remains at the High Court stage, with a book of evidence to be served next week.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the jury must decide whether 47‑year‑old Paula Farrell was provoked when she stabbed her partner, Wayne 'Quilly' McQuillan, to death on New Year's Day 2014. Mr Justice Paul McDermott explained that provocation is a partial defence that can reduce a murder charge to manslaughter if the accused lost self‑control in a sudden, temporary way. He said the alleged sexual assault by McQuillan on a sofa in Farrell's home could be the provoking act, but the jury must assess whether the evidence of that assault is credible. Farrell, who pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, admitted stabbing McQuillan four times, remembering only two. The judge also noted her high alcohol level that night and her statements to Gardaí that she intended to hurt, not kill, him. The jury will consider all these facts before delivering a verdict.
Caolan Smyth, a 28‑year‑old prisoner remanded for attempted murder, has filed a High Court challenge against his confinement in the Midlands Prison's segregation unit. He alleges that since his transfer a few months ago he has been locked in his cell for 23 hours a day, denied regular exercise, educational and vocational opportunities, and limited to screened visits. Smyth argues that the prison authorities claim he is isolated for his own safety, but he disputes that his life is in danger from other inmates. He contends that the conditions amount to punishment without disciplinary hearings, breach his constitutional rights to bodily integrity and to prepare for trial, and prevent him from meeting his Dublin‑based lawyers after 5:30 pm on weekdays.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, prosecution counsel Gerard Clarke SC argued that Paula Farrell, 47, intended to cause serious injury when she stabbed her partner Wayne McQuillan, 30, four times with the largest knife from a block. Clarke said the prosecution need not prove intent to kill, only to cause serious injury, and that Farrell's claim of a sexual assault that night was an "outrageous lie." He noted Farrell's history of childhood sexual abuse, PTSD, and alcohol dependence, but said these were used to create sympathy rather than explain the killing. Defence counsel Caroline Biggs SC contended that Farrell, classified as borderline intellectually disabled, may have been provoked and therefore guilty of manslaughter. The jury was instructed to consider provocation and Farrell's mental state when deciding between murder and manslaughter. The case remains at the jury stage. Paula Farrell pleaded not guilty.
A jury in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court could not reach verdicts on 18 of the 23 sexual assault counts against a 29‑year‑old childcare worker accused of assaulting four girls aged five to eight between August 2014 and December 2016. The jury delivered five not‑guilty verdicts on two of the four complainants, acquitted the man on three charges relating to the first girl, and acquitted him on both charges relating to the fourth girl. After 21 hours and 41 minutes of deliberation, the jury asked Judge Elma Sheahan for more time to consider the remaining counts. Judge Sheahan thanked the jury, remanded the man on continuing bail, and adjourned the case to 16 June. The trial continued during the coronavirus outbreak with social‑distance measures for jurors. The unnamed 29-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Two men, Nathan Benson (22) and Harry Walsh (19), were sentenced to four years each in prison for a violent robbery that took place on Wellington Quay on 22 October 2017. The robbery involved the victim's Rolex watch, valued at €7,500, which the men seized after spotting the watch in a Dublin nightclub. During the assault, the victim was kicked, punched and left with physical injuries and lasting psychological impact. Judge Melanie Greally described the robbery as "extremely violent and vicious" and noted the defendants' histories of violent offending and drug addiction. Benson's case was influenced by his upbringing and mental health struggles, while Walsh's record included numerous prior convictions for extreme violence. Both men pleaded guilty and were given sentences with the final 12 months suspended. The court also considered their behaviour in custody and potential for rehabilitation. The sentencing highlighted the seriousness of the offence and the defendants' personal circumstances.
In a High Court hearing on 24 March 2020, Dean Thornton, aged 22 and from Moneymore, Drogheda, had his bail forfeited after evidence that he had packed his bags and sought a replacement passport, indicating an intention to leave the jurisdiction. Thornton, charged with false imprisonment and assault causing harm on 11 November 2018, had previously been granted bail on a €1,000 bond with €500 lodged under conditions, including surrendering his passport. In January he applied for a new passport, which was recovered from him in early February. Judge Paul Coffey described the application as "particularly egregious" and, citing the packed bags, ordered the forfeiture of the entire bail amount. The court left Thornton's independent surety of €4,000, with €2,000 lodged by his aunt, untouched, as no evidence linked her to the alleged actions. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel noted that forfeiture was not deemed harsh in this case.