Wayne Kelly, 32, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to endangerment at Ninth Lock Road, Clondalkin, on May 24, 2017. The prosecution alleged that Kelly drove his truck directly at pedestrian Peter Adams following a verbal exchange, exposing him to danger on a path and later chasing him into traffic. Kelly admitted the charge but maintained he intended to return to speak with Adams, denying any attempt to strike him. Judge Melanie Greally described the driving as "an absolute outrage," noting that Adams was fortunate not to be struck by Kelly or another vehicle. While acknowledging defense counsel's suggestion that medication withdrawal may have contributed to Kelly's anger, the judge cited his nine previous convictions, including assault and criminal damage, as mitigating factors against that explanation. Kelly presented a €500 apology, which the judge deemed "somewhat derisory," suggesting he should multiply that figure by ten. The matter was adjourned to April 28 for sentencing. Judge Greally ordered a probation report to assess Kelly's suitability for the restorative justice programme and remanded him on continuing bail pending that date.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the jury must decide whether Mark Tims, 48, was provoked when he killed his father Anthony 'Tony' Tims. Tims pleaded to manslaughter but not guilty to murder. The defence argues that his father's remarks – calling him a "disappointment", a "bollocks" and a "waster", and wishing he had never been born – provoked him. Mr Justice Tony Hunt explained that provocation can reduce a murder charge to manslaughter if the accused had a sudden, temporary loss of control. The jury, composed of seven women and five men, spent a day reviewing evidence, including testimony from Tims's former girlfriend Elizabeth McDonagh and a pathologist, and will return tomorrow for a verdict.
The Central Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Kieran Greene, 34, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Patricia O'Connor, 61, at her home in Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, on May 29, 2017. The jury listened to garda interviews in which Mr Greene alleged that the deceased had attempted to kill her husband by pushing him down the stairs and expressed a desire for the family to die. He claimed he let her die to protect his children and subsequently dismembered her body, scattering the remains across Dublin and Wicklow. Mr Greene also alleged his partner, Louise O'Connor, 41, had been diagnosed with Graves' disease and that the deceased had threatened to sign over the house if Louise killed her father. Louise O'Connor, her daughter Stephanie O'Connor, 22, and Louise's ex-partner Keith Johnston, 43, are all charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Mr Greene. Louise O'Connor has pleaded not guilty to agreeing to Stephanie disguising herself as the deceased to conceal her death. Stephanie O'Connor has pleaded not guilty to disguising herself as the deceased. Mr Johnston has pleaded not guilty to assisting Mr Greene in purchasing implements for concealment and to refurbishing the bathroom to destroy evidence. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
During the Beatyard music festival in Dun Laoghaire on 4 August 2018, 30‑year‑old Jason Hodgkins was caught by Garda Desmond Molloy carrying a drug tablet. Hodgkins complied with a search but became agitated and argued with the officer. A scuffle broke out, and Hodgkins climbed onto the Garda, punching him six times in the head and attempting to bite him. The officer was pepper‑sprayed in the process. Hodgkins was later subdued and pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm and three counts of possession of small amounts of drugs, including cannabis and a 2CB tablet. He paid €1,500 as a token of remorse, and the Garda suggested the payment go to Down Syndrome Ireland. Judge Melanie Greally ruled that Hodgkins should be assessed for community service, with the matter to be finalized on 24 March.
Florin Ciurariu (31), of Forest Fields Road, Swords Dublin, has been sentenced to three years in custody for one count of assault causing harm to Ms Anete Senere and one count of breaching a safety order. The assault occurred on June 2 last year at Ms Senere's apartment in Clontarf, Dublin, where she was found unconscious in a pool of blood with severe facial injuries, including two black eyes, broken teeth, and bruising. Ciurariu pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The safety order had been issued following a previous assault by Ciurariu on Ms Senere. Judge Melanie Greally noted the violence of the attack and Ciurariu's history of multiple convictions, including breaches of domestic barring orders and assault. A four-year sentence was imposed, with the final 12 months suspended on conditions. The sentence was backdated to June last year when Ciurariu entered custody. The judge ordered Ciurariu to have no contact with Ms Senere for five years. Garda Clodagh Sharkey detailed the incident, including Ciurariu's uninvited visit, the assault during a football match, and his subsequent flight from the scene. Ciurariu was later found by gardaí with dried blood on his hands. Ms Senere was hospitalized and remains shaken from the attack. She did not attend court or make a victim impact statement. Ciurariu's defense apologized on his behalf, noting the relationship had ended. The Department of Justice is seeking his deportation due to his criminal history, which could have significant consequences for him.
In a 2020 Court of Appeal decision, a 20‑year‑old charged with sexually assaulting a six‑year‑old neighbour in 2014 was allowed to proceed to trial after the High Court refused his request for a stay or injunction. The accused, whose identity is withheld, was charged 2½ years after the alleged offence and faces a Circuit Criminal Court trial next year. His lawyers argued that prosecutorial delay had prejudiced him, citing loss of anonymity, non‑application of children's sentencing principles and a mandatory sentencing report. The High Court acknowledged the delay but denied relief. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, described the delay as "quite unacceptable" and noted that the Garda Youth Division had sent eight reminders between late 2015 and early 2016, yet the skeleton file was not received until summer 2016.
The trial of a 29‑year‑old man accused of raping a woman he met at Copper Face Jacks nightclub ended after his death. He had pleaded not guilty to raping and sexually assaulting a woman at his Dublin home on 23 December 2016. On the sixth day of the trial, Mr Justice Alex Owens informed the jury that the defendant had not appeared in court the previous day and that enquiries had been made. He announced the accused was deceased and that the jury need not continue or reach a verdict. The complainant, a woman in her 20s, testified that after leaving the nightclub she and the accused went to his home, where they began consensual sex that turned violent. She described being choked, forced to continue, spitting on her, and being kicked. She reported the incident to Gardaí on 29 December 2016, and the accused denied the offences during police interview. The identities of the parties remain undisclosed.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Kieran Greene, 34, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Patricia O'Connor, 61, at her home in Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, on May 29, 2017, continued with evidence of his voluntary statements to gardai. The jury heard that Greene alleged he killed Ms O'Connor after a physical altercation involving a hurl, subsequently burying her in a shallow grave in Wexford. He later claimed he returned to dismember the body to make it lighter, scattering the remains across the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. The court also heard allegations that Louise O'Connor, Stephanie O'Connor, and Keith Johnston, all of whom have pleaded not guilty, agreed to or acquiesced in Stephanie O'Connor disguising herself as the deceased to conceal her death. These defendants are further alleged to have assisted Greene in purchasing implements in Tallaght, Dublin 24, for the concealment of remains. The trial is ongoing, with no findings, sentences, or finalisations recorded for any accused.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, defence counsel Vincent Heneghan SC argued that 48‑year‑old Mark Tims was provoked by his 74‑year‑old father, Anthony 'Tony' Tims, and should be convicted of manslaughter rather than murder. Heneghan cited a history of the father's controlling, domineering behaviour, including verbal abuse and threats to call the guards, and described an incident on 13 July 2018 when the father returned from a pub, insulted Mark, and threatened him. Mark allegedly responded by striking his father with a teacup, then kicking him, causing fatal injuries. Heneghan maintained that Mark's loss of self‑control was sudden and that the father's conduct provoked him. The prosecution, represented by Michael Delaney SC, countered that Mark's actions were deliberate and that the father's behaviour did not justify a manslaughter verdict. The jury was instructed to consider the evidence and decide whether provocation applies. The case remains at the jury deliberation stage.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Mr Justice Michael White praised the courage of Elizabeth Williams, who reported sexual abuse by her second cousin John Moran, a 66‑year‑old former resident of Cannakill, Croghan, Co Offaly. Williams, aged 5 to 11 when abused, said the incidents were frequent and normalised in her childhood, and that no action was taken by family or authorities until after her father's death. She had been denied medical care, faced family hostility, and considered suicide. Moran, who was 14 to 21 at the time of the offences, pleaded guilty to one count of rape and seven counts of indecent assault. The judge imposed an eight‑year sentence with the final two years suspended, citing mitigating factors such as his ill health and lack of prior convictions, and aggravating factors including the prolonged nature of the abuse and the victim's innocence.
Dean Howe, 34, of Dublin 8, pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to murder Gary Hanley between September 15 and November 6, 2017. At a sentence hearing in the Special Criminal Court, the prosecution detailed Howe's alleged role in surveillance, supervising vehicles, collecting fuel, and instructing co-accused. Evidence included secret recordings where Howe scolded Joseph Kelly for "fucking up" and instructions to cover his face while buying petrol. The court heard that tracking devices were moved to Phoenix Park on September 15, 2017, where Howe was observed with others. On November 6, 2017, Kelly and Luke Wilson were arrested near Hanley's home with a loaded pistol and silencer. Luke Wilson, 24, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and unlawful possession of a Beretta, receiving an 11-year sentence. Alan Wilson, 39, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and was jailed for six years. Joseph Kelly, 35, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and a weapons charge, receiving a 12-year sentence. Howe, who has 37 previous convictions, has been in custody since May 2019. Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned Howe's sentencing to March 3 at 10.30am.
The trial of Kieran Greene, Louise O'Connor, Stephanie O'Connor, and Keith Johnston continues before the Central Criminal Court. All four accused have pleaded not guilty to charges relating to the alleged murder of Patricia O'Connor (61) at her Rathfarnham home on May 29, 2017. Greene faces a charge of murder, while the others are accused of impeding the investigation, including disguising themselves as the deceased and assisting in the purchase of implements to conceal remains. The jury heard a voluntary statement from Louise O'Connor, who alleged that Greene told her he was sorry for hurting her mother and intended to surrender. Evidence presented includes the discovery of the deceased's dismembered remains in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains, with her head and hands found in a black plastic bag on the Military Road. Garda Andrew Quinn testified to the missing person report filed on June 1, 2017, and subsequent inquiries. The prosecution alleges the victim suffered a violent death and that her body was dismembered using hacksaws and a hatchet. The trial is ongoing, with no final verdict or sentence recorded at this procedural stage.
A 22‑year‑old Dubliner who sexually assaulted a female friend when both were 16 will not receive an additional prison sentence. He had already spent nine months in custody after failing to appear before the Children's Court in 2018. The judge, Mr Justice Michael White, said no further custodial term would be imposed beyond the nine months already served. The case was adjourned to February 3 to structure a sentence that would include supervision orders. The assault occurred on 1 August 2014 at a Dublin address while the victim was asleep after a drinks party. She reported that her jeans had been pulled down and the boy had penetrated her with his finger. She later described depression, anxiety and panic attacks as a result of the incident. The defendant pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault and expressed remorse.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 19‑year‑old Jabari Crichlow was given a four‑year suspended sentence for violently attacking and robbing a 66‑year‑old retired delivery man on Deerhaven Avenue, Clonee, in November 2017. The victim suffered a broken nose, concussion, chipped teeth, and ongoing headaches and fear of further attacks. Crichlow pleaded guilty to robbery and was previously placed on a 12‑month probation bond. After a favourable probation report showing no significant attention and re‑establishment of a good relationship with his mother, Judge Melanie Greally suspended the sentence on strict conditions: cessation of association with negative peers and 240 hours of community service within 12 months. The court noted the victim's loss of over €1,000 in income and the physical and psychological impact of the assault. The case was adjourned twice before the final suspended sentence was imposed.
A 28‑year‑old man, Caolan Smyth, has been charged with the attempted murder of James Gately, a 31‑year‑old father of two from north inner‑city Dublin, following a drive‑by shooting on 10 May 2017. Gately was shot five times at a Topaz garage in Clonshaugh, sustaining injuries to his neck and upper chest while seated in a car, but survived. Smyth was arrested at Coolock Garda station in October 2019 and appeared before Judge Geraldine Carthy at Dublin District Court. The State solicitor, Michael O'Donovan, requested that the case be heard in the Special Criminal Court, a request that Judge Tony Hunt approved. The trial is scheduled to commence on 5 October 2024 at 11 a.m. and is expected to last three weeks. The court also set a mention date of 28 May 2024 to ensure the proceedings proceed smoothly, noting that Smyth will not need to appear on that date.
In the murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution has finished presenting its evidence against Mark Tims, 48, who admitted to killing his father but denies murder. Mr Justice Tony Hunt informed the jury that the next phase would involve closing speeches from both sides. Tims pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not guilty to murder of his father, Anthony 'Tony' Tims, 74, who died on 13 July 2018 at their home in Rowlagh Green, Clondalkin. The State rejected his plea. Witnesses described a heated argument after Anthony returned from the pub on his birthday, during which Tims allegedly put his father in a headlock, struck him twice in the head and kicked him. Tims claimed he "lost it" after his father "kept at" him for drinking. The jury also heard a 999 call made by Tims's then‑girlfriend, Elizabeth 'Lil' McDonagh, immediately after the assault that caused the death.
In a High Court hearing scheduled for February 10, 2020, lawyers for Ian Bailey will argue that the proposed extradition to France for the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier violates his fundamental rights. Bailey, 62, was convicted in absentia by a Paris court and sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment. He denies any involvement in the death of the French filmmaker, whose body was found beaten outside her holiday home in Schull in 1996. Bailey's counsel, Ronan Munro SC, will reference the two prior extradition attempts, which were dismissed by Irish courts, including a 2017 ruling that the case was an abuse of process. The Supreme Court's 2012 refusal to extradite Bailey was based on the offence occurring outside French territory and Irish law's prohibition of double prosecution for the same offence abroad. The court has remanded Bailey on continuing bail and adjourned the case for three weeks.
Mark Tims, 48, admitted striking his father Anthony 'Tony' Tims with a cup and kicking him after a heated argument over drinking. He claimed he was enraged and had a history of conflict with his father, describing him as harsh and often blaming him. Tims said he had previously harmed himself when his father was abusive. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not guilty to murder. The incident occurred on 13 July 2018 at their home in Rowlagh Green, Clondalkin, Dublin 22. Tims told Gardaí he loved his father, who he compared to Kenny Rogers, and that he would carry the guilt for life. He left the house after the assault and spent the next 24 hours in a park before being arrested. The trial has heard that the father returned home from the pub on his 74th birthday and the dispute escalated. The case is still pending.
A 66‑year‑old man named Alan Clarke, who worked as a security guard, was found to possess child sex abuse images and videos on his laptop when it was brought to a repair centre in 2009. The material, depicting boys and girls aged five to fifteen, was downloaded between March and May 2009. The laptop was not analysed until 2015 because of a lack of Garda resources. Clarke pleaded guilty in June 2009 and admitted a curiosity about child pornography, claiming he had lost interest the previous month. He denied paying for the material or profiting from it, and there was no evidence he shared it. He had a prior assault conviction from 1987. Judge Melanie Greally, noting the offence's seriousness and a significant time lapse, imposed an 18‑month suspended sentence with conditions including continued therapy under the Probation Service. Clarke is retired, lives in sheltered accommodation, and has not been in contact with Gardaí since the incident.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Kieran Greene, Louise O'Connor, Stephanie O'Connor, and Keith Johnston continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott. All four defendants have pleaded not guilty to charges including the murder of Patricia O'Connor on May 29, 2017, and impeding her apprehension or prosecution. The prosecution alleges Mrs O'Connor suffered a violent death at her Rathfarnham home, with her remains subsequently dismembered and dispersed across the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. Evidence presented by Detective Garda Janette O'Neill detailed the recovery of 15 body parts from nine locations, describing the sites as a "dumping ground." Forensic scientist John Hoade testified that DNA analysis confirmed the remains belonged to Louise O'Connor's mother. He reported finding a low-level male DNA profile in the bathroom where the alleged attack occurred, while no blood was found on seized hacksaws or the deceased's vehicle. The court heard that the defendants allegedly purchased implements to conceal the remains and that Stephanie O'Connor disguised herself as her mother to hide the death. The matter is ongoing, with the trial set to continue on Monday.
Boy B, a 15‑year‑old, will appeal his murder conviction on 24 April. He was found guilty of killing 14‑year‑old Ana Kriégel in May 2018, when he was 13. The Central Criminal Court, applying children's court procedures, sentenced him to 15 years' detention, reviewable after eight years. Boy B's appeal concerns only the conviction, not the sentence. The Court of Appeal set an early hearing date; counsel expects the hearing to last a day. Boy B is currently detained at Oberstown Children Detention Campus, with a possible release in June 2027. The case attracted significant media interest, leading the trial judge to restrict coverage. No appeal has been lodged on Boy A's behalf, who was also convicted of murder and aggravated sexual assault and sentenced to life imprisonment with a review after 12 years and eight years for the assault. The court will consider the boys' conduct in custody when reviewing their sentences.
Anthony Rossitter, a 32‑year‑old drug addict from Co. Wexford, pleaded guilty to three attempted robbery charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. On 15 May 2019, he entered a Gala shop on Abbey Street at about 9 a.m., placed a plastic bag on the counter, and threatened a cashier with a large stainless‑steel pair of scissors, demanding cash. When a staff member said no cash was available, Rossitter left. He then went to a Spar shop in Temple Bar and demanded money, but again departed empty‑handed. Finally, he entered a Gala shop on Dorset Street, showed the scissors, and asked for €20 after staff explained their boss had taken all the cash. He left without any money and was arrested shortly thereafter. Rossitter has prior convictions for assault, drug dealing and two robberies, and 46 traffic offences. He is homeless and has a young child.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Kieran Greene, 34, has heard evidence regarding the discovery of human remains in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. Prosecutors allege that 61-year-old Patricia O'Connor was murdered at her Rathfarnham home on May 29, 2017, and her body was subsequently dismembered and dispersed across nine locations. Witnesses described finding a torso near the Military Road in Enniskerry on June 10, 2017, while picnicking. Medical evidence confirmed the remains belonged to Mrs O'Connor via dental records. Mr Greene, of Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. Louise O'Connor, 41, and Stephanie O'Connor, 22, have both pleaded not guilty to charges including disguising themselves as the deceased to conceal her death and assisting in the purchase of implements for concealment. Keith Johnston, 43, has pleaded not guilty to assisting Mr Greene in purchasing items and refurbishing a bathroom to destroy evidence. The prosecution alleges the body was buried in Co Wexford before being dismembered. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury, with an expected duration of five to seven weeks.
In the Central Criminal Court, 48‑year‑old Mark Tims admitted killing his father, Anthony Tims, but denied murder. He told Garda Colm Harrington that he had a heated argument over a burnt breakfast and that his father's repeated complaints about drinking had provoked him. Tims claimed he struck his father with a cup, then kicked him when he fell. He said he felt his head "boiling" and "freaked" during the incident. Garda Aine O'Sullivan recorded that Tims described his father's death as a result of blunt‑force trauma, noting that the body had multiple fractures and bruises. The trial heard that Tims had pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not guilty to murder. The case is proceeding before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with a jury of twelve. The court has not yet delivered a verdict.
The trial heard that 61‑year‑old Patricia O'Connor was murdered on 29 May 2017 at her Rathfarnham home. She was struck on the head with a solid implement, then her body was placed in the boot of her Toyota Corolla and taken to Wexford where it was buried in a shallow grave. After the body was exhumed, it was dismembered over three to four hours using hacksaws and a hatchet. Fifteen body parts were found at nine separate locations in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains between 10 and 14 June 2017, including Glencree, Glenmacnass Waterfall and Sally Gap. The prosecution alleged that Kieran Greene, Louise O'Connor, Stephanie O'Connor and Keith Johnston impeded the apprehension or prosecution of Greene, who pleaded not guilty to the murder. The case was presented to a jury by Roisin Lacey SC. The trial is scheduled to continue before Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
A 71‑year‑old retired Dublin council worker was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for repeatedly sexually abusing his granddaughter. The abuse began when she was about nine and continued for four years, with the perpetrator bringing her to his bedroom to play cards before molesting her. When she tried to escape, he threatened her, forced her to strip, pinned her down, and in one incident threw her across the bed, causing her to hit her head on the headboard. He then assaulted her again. The attacks occurred roughly once a week, with Judge Martin Nolan estimating more than 150 incidents. The abuse ceased after the victim's aunt discovered him with her. The man pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault covering June 2010 to May 2014, part of a total of 48 charges. Judge Nolan refused to suspend any portion of the sentence, citing a severe breach of trust and the victim's trauma.
In the Central Criminal Court, Mark Tims (48) pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not guilty to murder in the death of his father Anthony 'Tony' Tims (74) on 13 July 2018. The trial heard that a row erupted when Anthony returned from the pub on his birthday and Mark told him he had "cremated" his breakfast. Mark then put his father in a headlock, punched him twice in the head and kicked him when he fell. Sandra O'Donnell, Anthony's younger sister, described their relationship as a love/hate one, noting that they had lived together for most of Mark's life and had frequent arguments. She said Mark was not a bad person and that he was in shock after the incident. The case is being heard by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with a jury of twelve.
A retired salesman, Gordon Black, aged 70, received a suspended two‑year prison sentence for indecent assault of a boy while both were members of the Boys Brigade in the 1960s. Black was between 16 and 20 when he molested a victim aged 12 to 16. He pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent assault between 1965 and 1969. The judge noted Black's remorse, lack of prior convictions and the absence of a prison sentence, but suspended the term on the condition that he keep the peace. The court heard that one assault occurred after a youth group trip, when Black drove the boy home, forced him into the back seat, and attempted to have him kiss his penis. The victim, now 66, still feels anger and distress when recalling the abuse. Black admitted that he had been abused as a child by three different people.
The trial of Kieran Greene, 34, accused of murdering Patricia O'Connor, 61, at Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, on May 29, 2017, was delayed at the Central Criminal Court due to juror issues. Mr Justice Paul McDermott discharged one juror for health reasons and investigated another regarding a potential conflict of interest. The accused suggested the juror was a delivery man to Lower Gardiner Street, where Louise and Stephanie O'Connor had resided. The juror denied this, and the judge dismissed the inquiry. The trial, expected to last five to seven weeks, was scheduled to open later that day. Greene pleaded not guilty to murder. Louise O'Connor, 41, and Stephanie O'Connor, 22, both pleaded not guilty to agreeing to or acquiescing in Stephanie disguising herself as Patricia to conceal her death, and to assisting Greene in purchasing implements for concealment. Keith Johnston, 43, pleaded not guilty to assisting Greene in purchasing implements and to refurbishing a bathroom to destroy evidence. All defendants are charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Greene. The matter remains at the trial stage with no findings or sentences recorded.
Ms Elizabeth McDonagh, former partner of Mark Tims, gave evidence in his trial for the manslaughter of his father Anthony Tims. She described a day in July 2018 when Anthony returned home after a birthday celebration and a heated argument over a burnt breakfast. Mark allegedly put Anthony in a headlock, punched him twice in the head, kicked him in the chest and head, and continued to strike him after Anthony fell. McDonagh said she tried to intervene but could not stop the assault and called the Gardaí. An ambulance arrived but Anthony was already dead. McDonagh noted that the father and son had a rocky, drinking‑heavy relationship and that Anthony had often threatened Mark with the Gardaí. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with a jury. Mark Tims pleaded guilty. Elizabeth McDonagh pleaded guilty.
John Shaw, aged 73 and Ireland's longest-serving prisoner, brought an appeal before the Court of Appeal challenging the Minister for Justice's refusal to grant him two days of temporary release annually. Shaw has been in custody since September 1976 following his conviction at the Central Criminal Court in February 1978 for offences including abduction, rape, torture and murder. The Parole Board had recommended limited escorted outings, a recommendation the Minister declined without providing written reasons. Shaw's counsel argued the Minister's discretion was exercised arbitrarily and that Shaw had no clarity on what might satisfy the Minister's requirements. The Director of Public Prosecutions' representative contended the refusal was grounded in a dynamic risk assessment determining Shaw posed a high risk of reoffending. The three-judge panel reserved judgement. Shaw was not present during the hearing at the Court of Appeal.
In a Central Criminal Court murder trial, 48‑year‑old Mark Tims pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of his 74‑year‑old father, Anthony 'Tony' Tims. The prosecution, led by Michael Delaney SC, argued that on 13 July 2018, after a drunken argument on the father's birthday, Tims violently assaulted his father at their Rowlagh Green home. Tims allegedly punched his father, used a mug, kicked him in the head and trunk, and repeatedly struck him with a coat. The father was found on the kitchen floor in distress and later died at Tallaght Hospital after a post‑mortem revealed fractured ribs that caused lung collapse. Tims, who had been drinking heavily, remained in the area for nearly 24 hours before being found by Gardaí. He admitted assaulting his father in four Garda interviews, though details varied. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, continues with a jury of twelve.
A Dublin man, Kieran Greene, 34, is set to stand trial for the murder of 61‑year‑old Patricia O'Connor on 29 May 2017. Greene pleaded not guilty. His daughter, Louise O'Connor, 41, and her ex‑partner, Keith Johnston, 43, along with Louise's daughter, Stephanie O'Connor, 22, were also arraigned. They face charges of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Greene, knowing or believing he committed the murder. Louise pleaded not guilty to agreeing to or acquiescing in her daughter's disguise as Patricia O'Connor to conceal the death. Johnston pleaded not guilty to assisting Greene in purchasing implements for concealing remains and to refurbishing a bathroom to destroy evidence. Stephanie pleaded not guilty to disguising herself as Patricia after the murder. The body was dismembered and parts were found scattered across the Wicklow mountains. The trial will begin tomorrow before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and is expected to last five to seven weeks.
A 41‑year‑old UK national, David Hunter, is accused of murdering Michael Barr, a 35‑year‑old manager from Co Tyrone, who was shot seven times at the Sunset House pub on 25 April 2016. Mr Justice Tony Hunt set the trial for the non‑jury Special Criminal Court to begin on 10 June 2020, with an expected duration of four weeks. The court also scheduled a mention on 3 April 2020 to ensure all matters are in order, and ruled that Mr Hunter need not appear on that date.
Gareth Brophy, aged 25, of Reuben Walk, Dublin 8, pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder of David Douglas at the Special Criminal Court. Mr Douglas, 55, was shot six times in Shoestown on Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 8, on 1 July 2016. Evidence showed Brophy drove the getaway Mercedes, which he subsequently attempted to set alight near Tandy Court Apartments. While burning the vehicle, his trousers caught fire before he extinguished the flames and fled to a waiting Suzuki Swift. CCTV analysis of 1,500 hours of footage, DNA evidence from the Suzuki's passenger area, and a palm print from the vehicle door linked Brophy to the crime. The court heard his involvement was assessed as more serious than that of Nathan Foley, who received a six-year sentence for the same offence. Brophy was arrested in November 2018. Sentencing was scheduled for 17 February.
Damien Mitchell, 32, was arrested after striking John Walsh with a pint glass during a domestic dispute. Mitchell admitted the fight but claimed limited memory due to alcohol. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm in Dublin. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a three‑year sentence, fully suspended on conditions of sobriety and other requirements. Mitchell's apology letter, €3,000 payment to Walsh, and counselling attendance were noted as evidence of remorse. Walsh, who suffered eye and facial scarring, expressed a desire for Mitchell not to serve custodial time, describing him as "extremely magnanimous." The judge highlighted alcohol's role and the seriousness of the injuries, noting that a slightly more severe outcome would have led to imprisonment. Mitchell has no prior convictions.
In a Dublin court case, a 29‑year‑old Italian man was sentenced to two and a half years in jail for sexually assaulting his flatmate while she slept on a couch. The victim, whose identity is protected, had become friends with the defendant after moving in together and had a brief intimate relationship with him. After the relationship ended, she began dating another man. One night she returned home, fell asleep beside the defendant, and woke to find him sexually penetrating her without consent. He ejaculated on the couch and later apologized. The victim later texted him expressing shock, and he replied with remorse. He claimed the act was consensual in a police statement but later admitted it was not. The court accepted his expressions of shame and remorse, noted his lack of prior convictions, but imposed a custodial sentence due to the severity of the assault and the victim's traumatic impact. The unnamed 29-year-old pleaded guilty.
A 28‑year‑old man, Caolan Smyth, is charged with the attempted murder of 31‑year‑old James Gately, who was shot five times in a drive‑by shooting at a Topaz garage in Clonshaugh, north Dublin, on 10 May 2017. Gately was injured in the neck and upper chest but survived. Smyth was arrested in October 2019 and appeared before Judge Geraldine Carthy at Dublin District Court. The State solicitor requested that the case be transferred to the Special Criminal Court, and Judge Tony Hunt granted the order.
A 48‑year‑old Dublin man, Mark Tims, admitted to killing his 74‑year‑old father, Anthony Tims, on 13 July 2018, but denied that the act was murder. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter, a plea rejected by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The case will be heard by a jury of five men and seven women before Mr Justice Tony Hunt at the Central Criminal Court, with the trial expected to last two weeks.
Vincent Banks, a convicted member of the IRA, has lost his appeal against his conviction. Banks, 49, of Dublin 7, was found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of membership of an unlawful organisation. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment in October 2017 for purchasing a Toyota Camry linked to the 2012 murder of prison officer David Black. Although Banks was previously acquitted of withholding information regarding the killing, the court found he acted as a trusted member of the organisation to obtain the vehicle used in the crime. In the Court of Appeal, Banks challenged the admissibility of his garda interviews, arguing that inferences drawn from his silence were not properly explained. He also contested the lawfulness of his arrest and the handling of belief evidence. Mr Justice John Edwards, sitting with President George Birmingham and Ms Justice Marie Baker, dismissed these arguments. The court ruled that Banks had adequate legal advice and that the Special Criminal Court correctly applied the law regarding his arrest. The judges noted that arguments concerning belief evidence had been repeatedly litigated and found no basis to overturn the lower court's decision. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed, and Banks' conviction stands.
David Hunter, a 41‑year‑old UK national, faces trial in the Special Criminal Court for the murder of Michael Barr, a 35‑year‑old Dublin bar manager. Barr, a father of five from County Tyrone, was shot seven times at the Sunset House pub on Summerhill Parade on 25 April 2016. Hunter was arrested at Baldonnel Aerodrome, charged at Dublin District Court, and appeared before Judge John Hughes. On 16 October, State solicitor Ciara Vibien requested that he be tried in the Special Criminal Court, a request that Judge Paul Coffey granted.
In December 2019 the Court of Appeal upheld the conviction of Roy Webster for the 2015 murder of Anne Shortall, a 47‑year‑old mother of three. Webster, aged 42, had been found guilty of murder by a jury at the Central Criminal Court and sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy in March 2017. He appealed, arguing that the trial judge had not properly explained the partial defence of provocation and the required intent. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, rejected the appeal, stating the judge's charge was careful and focused. The decision means Webster will continue to serve his life sentence. The case involved Webster's admission that he had used a hammer to strike Shortall nine times on the head after she threatened to expose his affair with her.
Yusif Ali Abdi, the appellant, was committed to the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) for inpatient care following a retrial at the Central Criminal Court. Abdi, who pleaded not guilty to the 2001 murder of his 20-month-old son, Nathan, was found not guilty by reason of insanity. This verdict followed the Court of Appeal quashing his 2003 murder conviction after he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 2013. During the retrial, four consultant psychiatrists testified that Abdi suffered from schizophrenia at the time of the incident. Judge Alexander Owens accepted the evidence that Abdi suffers from a mental disorder and ordered his commitment to the CMH, where his condition will be reviewed by the Mental Health Review Board. Abdi's wife, Amanda Bailey, delivered a victim impact statement, stating she always believed her husband could not have known what he was doing. She described the profound grief of losing their son and expressed a sense of peace with the verdict. The court heard that Abdi had previously spent 16 years in prison for the offense. The matter was concluded with the judge's order committing Abdi to the CMH, rather than an adjournment.
Dean Howe, 34, of Oakfield, Dublin 8, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to conspiring with others to murder Gary Hanley between September 15 and November 6, 2017. The charge, contrary to Section 71 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, was admitted during arraignment. Mr Justice Paul Coffey noted that Howe's trial was originally scheduled for January 13, 2020, but he directed that the case be put up for mention on that date to fix a sentencing date. Three other men had previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder Mr Hanley. Luke Wilson, 24, of Ballyfermot, who also admitted unlawful possession of a Beretta, was jailed for 11 years. Alan Wilson, 39, of Dublin 8, received a six-year sentence. Joseph Kelly, 35, of Drimnagh, who also admitted a weapons charge, was jailed for 12 years. The court proceedings for Howe are at the sentencing stage, with the specific disposal to be determined at the upcoming mention.
In a High Court hearing on 20 December 2019, a fresh translation of the French court judgment that found Ian Bailey guilty of Sophie Toscan du Plantier's murder in absentia was returned to the State after the judge noted it was still difficult to understand. Mr Bailey, who was not present, had been previously convicted in Paris and sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment. The court endorsed a European Arrest Warrant for him, marking the third French request for his surrender. Mr Ronan Munro SC argued that the extradition should be challenged on the basis of a better translation of the judgment, citing "difficult to follow" passages. Mr Justice Donald Binchy agreed that a clearer translation was needed, and the court scheduled Mr Bailey's next appearance for 20 January 2020. The hearing was a notional one, with Mr Bailey not required to attend. The State's counsel, Leo Mulrooney BL, indicated that a new translation would be prepared.
An asylum seeker, Mohamed Morei, aged 21 and originally from Egypt, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of 24‑year‑old Yosuke Sasaki, whom he stabbed on 3 January 2018 in Dundalk. Morei also assaulted two men that morning, causing a head wound that required stitches, and was charged with criminal damage to a car and robbery by trespassing. A jury returned the same not‑guilty‑by‑reason‑of‑insanity verdict on those charges. During the trial, Morei claimed he was "fighting for Isis" and stabbed Sasaki "for God", but a detective inspector described his statements as incoherent and found no evidence of terrorist links. Two consultant psychiatrists diagnosed him with schizophrenia, stating he was unaware his actions were wrong and could not refrain from them. He was committed to the Central Mental Hospital, where his detention will be reviewed every six months under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act.
In a 2018 incident on Phibsborough Road, 28‑year‑old Gary Gibson attempted to steal a bicycle and, when confronted by retired RTÉ broadcaster Cathal Mac Coille, struck him on the head with a bolt cutter. Gibson fled, jumping into a canal to evade capture, and was later apprehended after a ten‑minute standoff. He pleaded guilty to assault and attempted theft, and to possession of a Stanley knife. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to two and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended. Gibson's prior convictions include burglary, firearms offences and public order matters. The assault left Mac Coille with a lump and bruise on his forehead, forcing a three‑week break from a programme about the Pope's visit and a €125 expense for new bicycle wheels and a lock. The case highlighted the impact of the assault on Mac Coille's broadcasting work.
Martin Clarke, 35, a former soldier, was sentenced to three years in prison for a random knife attack on Welsh tourist Antoni Vitti on the Liffey boardwalk on 13 June 2017. Clarke was intoxicated on unprescribed tablets when he lunged at Vitti with a knife. Vitti and his husband fled, but Clarke chased them through traffic and was eventually stopped at the Arlington Hotel, where staff removed him and raised the alarm. The court described the assault as "random, unprovoked and menacing." Vitti sustained a 3.5‑cm scar on his hand and reported that the incident has made him feel unsafe around strangers, affecting his work in the tourist industry. Clarke pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and possession of a knife, and had prior convictions for theft, knife possession and traffic offences. He has detoxed in custody and expressed remorse, hoping to return to his family in a sober state.
A 55‑year‑old Dublin man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has appealed his conviction for raping his heavily‑pregnant girlfriend. He was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury of three counts of sexual assault in November 2014 and two counts of rape in December 2014, just before the victim was due to give birth to their second child. He denied all charges during both trials. Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy described his actions as "sneaky, underhand and clandestine" and noted the victim's humiliation when videos of the assault were shown in court. Mr Justice Paul Butler imposed a concurrent sentence of 10 years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended. The appeal was lodged on grounds that the trial judge erred in instructing the jury about corroboration and consistency of the complainant's account, and that adverse publicity and procedural issues may have affected the trial. The Court of Appeal reserved its judgment.
Roy Webster, 42, of Ashbree, Ashford, Co Wicklow, was convicted of murder for bludgeoning Anne Shortall, 47, to death with a hammer on 3 April 2015. Webster claimed he was provoked after Shortall threatened to inform his wife of their affair. He was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court and sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy on 24 March 2017. On 17 December 2019, Webster lodged an appeal in the Court of Appeal, challenging the trial judge's instructions on the defence of provocation. His barrister, Michael Bowman SC, argued that the test for provocation should be subjective, based on Webster's state of mind, rather than the objective standard used by the judge. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, is expected to deliver a decision on 20 December 2019. The appeal focuses solely on the provocation defence and does not address any other aspects of the case.