A jury has begun deliberating the trial of Jonathan Dargan, a 49‑year‑old martial arts teacher from Dublin, who is accused of manslaughter in the death of 56‑year‑old Patrick Mullally on March 6, 2016. Dargan denies unlawfully killing Mullally and denies assaulting Lauren Mullally and Shane Cunningham during the same incident. The jury heard that Dargan, a former doorman at Lillie's Bordello, had an argument with his girlfriend after Mullally and Cunningham left a pub before 4 a.m. Dargan claimed he threw the first punch, striking Mullally, who later died from a subdural haemorrhage and brain trauma. Judge Pauline Codd charged the jury that the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that Dargan intentionally struck Mullally without justification, that the death resulted from the assault, and that Dargan was not acting in self‑defence. The defence argues Dargan struck in a pre‑emptive manner because he believed he was under attack.
Lewis Larkin (33) was sentenced to seven years with the final 18 months suspended for his role in robbing, falsely imprisoning, and attacking three 15-year-old boys at Fairview Park on June 27, 2018. Judge Martin Nolan described the incident as 'terrifying' for the victims and noted Larkin's 111 previous convictions and intoxication at the time. Craig Douglas (18) was sentenced to three years with the final 20 months suspended. Judge Nolan called the case 'lamentable' and expressed regret over the custodial sentence for Douglas, citing his youth, but noted the 'particularly vicious' nature of the attacks. Both Larkin and Douglas pleaded guilty to three charges of robbery, three charges of false imprisonment, and two charges of assault causing harm to the teenagers. Larkin also admitted to the theft of eight bicycles valued at €6,285. Garda Kevin Murphy stated that the boys were threatened, forced to walk with the accused, and subjected to intimidation and physical violence. The victims were walked around the area to withdraw cash from their bank accounts and were later attacked in a laneway. Victim impact reports were submitted but not read out. The case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
The trial of 35‑year‑old Robert Lawlor, who denies threatening to murder his ex‑girlfriend's partner and attempting to murder Fiona Mitchell's mother, is in its final day of evidence. Lawlor, of the Rise, Laytown, Co Meath, pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of Ms Mitchell at Moatview Avenue, Priorswood, Dublin on 26 May 2018. Ms Mitchell returned to the stand for the third time and denied that Kane McCormack, who was shot dead in 2017, had slept in her garden shed, a claim the prosecution had previously alleged. She described the night of the shooting, noting she heard two men in black, saw a gun, fled to her front door and heard shots, and that her German shepherd was found dead on the back decking. The prosecution also heard from Lawlor's former girlfriend, Rachel Kirwan, who initially claimed he threatened to kill Derek Mitchell's mother but later retracted that statement and said she had lied.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 3 December 2019, the three‑judge panel, led by Mr Justice Paul Coffey, rejected a motion to exclude surveillance evidence on the basis that officers had not taken notes during the Kinahan cartel conspiracy‑to‑murder investigation. The court found that the lack of notes did not breach minimal standards of fairness and admissibility, and that the observations were made for intelligence gathering rather than for investigating a crime already committed. The judge also considered the evidence linking accused Liam Brannigan (aged 37) to a mobile phone (PB3) allegedly used by conspirators. After reviewing the prosecution's case, the court concluded that sufficient evidence existed to convict Brannigan of conspiracy to murder Gary Hanley, and therefore denied a direction of acquittal. Brannigan remains in custody until a judgment is delivered on 3 February. Liam Brannigan pleaded not guilty.
During the Special Criminal Court trial of Laurence Murphy and Ray Kennedy for the murder of Peter Butterly, Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard testified that his belief that the accused were members of the IRA was not affected by information that a key witness, David Cullen, had said he would deny IRA membership if called to testify. Howard, head of the Special Detective Unit, had formed his belief based on material he claimed privilege over, gathered in December 2017. He confirmed that no one in the investigation, including the DPP, had informed him of Cullen's statement, and he insisted the statement had no impact on his belief. Howard also denied any formal protocol or coaching on how to express such beliefs, and the defence will apply to exclude his evidence tomorrow. The trial continues. Laurence Murphy pleaded not guilty. Ray Kennedy pleaded not guilty.
Iain Macnab, 27, was sentenced by Judge Martina Baxter in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a fully suspended two‑and‑a‑half‑year term for assault causing harm to his then‑girlfriend and a suspended 12‑month term for criminal damage at Poolbeg Quay. The judge described the assault as "menacing and terrifying" and noted it occurred over a prolonged period within the family home. Macnab pleaded guilty to both charges and admitted abusing cannabis at the time. He has no prior convictions, has ceased drug use, and is employed as an HR manager. The court imposed conditions including attendance at a domestic‑abuse perpetrators' programme. Macnab was described as remorseful, having engaged in counselling and shown a willingness to manage his emotions without violence. The probation report indicated he was unlikely to re‑offend.
In a court hearing on 2 December 2019, Robert Lawlor, aged 35, pleaded not guilty to several charges, including attempted murder of Fiona Mitchell, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, and a threat to kill or cause serious harm to Fiona Mitchell and her son Derek Mitchell. Lawlor denied threatening to kill Derek Mitchell or shooting at Fiona Mitchell's kitchen. He claimed that Derek Mitchell had allowed Kane McCormack, whom he alleged was linked to the Hutch‑Kinahan feud, to hide in his garden shed before McCormack was shot dead in December 2017. Lawlor also accused his former partner Rachel Kirwan of being a "dirty, smelly knacker" and described her as a "sick woman." He said he had no involvement in the shooting and that the allegations were "crazy." The case was before Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of seven men and five women.
The High Court will decide later this month whether to endorse a French warrant for the extradition of Ian Bailey to France for the murder of filmmaker Sophie Toscan du Plantier. This is the third French attempt to secure Bailey's surrender. Bailey, 62, lives in Schull, Cork, and was convicted in absentia by a Paris court earlier this year, receiving a 25‑year prison sentence. He denies any involvement, did not attend the French trial, and has called the proceedings a "farce." Lawyers for the Minister for Justice presented a third European Arrest Warrant and noted that previous extradition attempts failed because the Supreme Court had ruled in 2012 that extradition was prohibited on extraterritoriality grounds. The Minister argued that new provisions in the Criminal Law (Extraterritorial Jurisdiction) Act 2019 might allow a different interpretation. Bailey's counsel, Ronan Munro SC, urged the court not to endorse the warrant, citing potential liberty loss.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Oliver Callely (27) of Clontarf, Dublin, pleaded guilty to igniting fireworks at Copper Face Jacks nightclub on Harcourt Street on July 6, 2015. A firework lit on a balcony overlooking a crowded smoking area became lodged against a man, causing burn injuries requiring multiple attendances at a burns unit. The victim reported ongoing discomfort but did not seek a custodial sentence. Callely's legal team described the act as "moronically stupid and dangerous," attributing it to excessive alcohol consumption following a Dublin-Mayo football replay. He had previously received the Probation Act for assault at the same venue and was on bail when this incident occurred. Callely had fled to the United States before being charged, subsequently arrested under an extradition warrant. Judge Karen O'Connor adjourned sentencing to February 7, requesting a Probation Service report assessing suitability for community service. The maximum penalty is five years imprisonment.
In a manslaughter trial, the prosecution argued that Jonathan Dargan, 49, was desperately trying to justify his actions by claiming he felt threatened and acted in self‑defence. Dargan, a martial arts instructor who had worked as a doorman at Lillie's Bordello, denied unlawfully killing 56‑year‑old Patrick Mullally on Harold's Cross Road on 6 March 2016 and denied assaulting Lauren Mullally and Shane Cunningham in the same incident. The jury heard that Dargan had thrown the first punch at Mullally, who suffered a subdural haemorrhage and brain trauma and died the next day. Dargan admitted to "lashing out" but said he felt threatened by the men. The prosecution contended that the CCTV did not show a threat and that Dargan's response was not reasonable. The trial will continue with Judge Pauline Codd's charge on the law.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 29 November 2019, a 35‑year‑old man was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for sexually assaulting a seven‑year‑old boy, a victim whose identity was protected. The defendant, who denied the assault, had written a letter to the court containing disparaging remarks about the victim's mother. He was found guilty on one count of assaulting the older boy, but acquitted on charges relating to the younger brother. The judge, citing the defendant's lack of remorse and the letter's content, imposed a headline sentence of four years, reduced to three years after considering mitigating factors such as his prior good character and employment. The sentence was back‑dated to 18 October 2019. The victim's 14‑year‑old brother, in his impact statement, described ongoing sleep disturbances and fear, while the mother characterised the family as victims of the defendant's cruel actions.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, a 33‑year‑old African man, who cannot be named to protect his child's identity, was convicted of assaulting Garda Barry Purcell on 16 June 2016. The assault occurred after social workers visited the man's home to remove his son from his care; the visit became heated and the man threw glasses and punched the garda, causing swelling and bruising to the garda's hand and forearm. The garda, who has served 12 years, said the injuries had cleared but the incident left him hesitant and fearful in certain situations. The accused, who has 23 previous convictions and a five‑month sentence for a prior sexual assault, does not accept the jury verdict. Judge Karen O'Connor remanded him in custody and adjourned sentencing to 6 December. The garda also reported that the accused tried to "blacken his reputation" by calling him a racist during the trial. The case remains pending.
Martin Aylmer, 32, of Casino Park, was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison for supplying six pre‑paid mobile phones to the Kinahan crime group, which were used in the 2016 murder of Michael Barr. The Special Criminal Court found that one phone was found beside the getaway car used in the killing, and CCTV footage showed Aylmer buying the phone two days before the shooting. He pleaded guilty to aiding a criminal organisation, but the judge could not prove he knew a murder would occur and found no evidence he moved firearms. Aylmer, who had two prior minor convictions, is now appealing on the grounds that the sentence was unduly lenient. The Director of Public Prosecutions argued that Aylmer's provision of "vital tools" and delivery of the phones to a lock‑up that later contained firearms and bleach demonstrated his assistance in a well‑planned, cold‑blooded assassination. The Court of Appeal will review the sentence.
In the Central Criminal Court trial, 35‑year‑old Robert Lawlor denies attempting to murder Fiona Mitchell on 26 May 2018 and denies threatening her son Derek. Mitchell, who confirmed her son's childhood friend Kane McCormack was shot dead 18 months earlier, says she does not know if McCormack was involved in the Hutch‑Kinahan feud. She also denies claims that her home is a "half‑way house" of partying and drug use. Witnesses include a taxi driver who met Lawlor on the night of the alleged shooting and a Garda who observed Lawlor's agitation at his home. Lawlor has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, a threat to Rachel Kirwan, and shooting a dog. The trial proceeds before Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of twelve.
A 74-year-old man from Crolly, County Donegal, appeared before the Court of Appeal on 28 November to challenge his conviction for sexually abusing a teenage boy over three decades ago. John Barrow had been found guilty by jury of six counts of indecent assault against the then 14-year-old between August 1989 and September 1990. He was sentenced to six years imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, in June 2017. During today's appeal hearing, Barrow's legal counsel argued that a significant inconsistency in the prosecution case concerning when the complainant was in sixth class undermined the indictment's timeframe. The Director of Public Prosecutions' representative maintained there was sufficient evidence for the jury to assess credibility. The three-judge panel reserved judgement, with the court expected to deliver its decision on 10 December.
The Court of Appeal dismissed Michael McDonald's appeal, which argued that his alcoholism or Alcohol Dependence Syndrome had diminished his responsibility for the murder of Breda Cummins. McDonald, 56, had admitted killing Cummins, 31, in 2010 but denied murder, and was convicted of murder in 2012 with a mandatory life sentence. His defence at trial claimed diminished responsibility due to schizoaffective disorder; the jury rejected this and found him guilty. In the appeal, his barrister Michael Lynn SC presented psychiatric experts who agreed McDonald suffered from alcoholism but also agreed it did not fall within the Criminal Justice (Insanity) Act 2006 definition of diminished responsibility. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, held that the argument was raised too late, was not raised at trial, and could not be pursued at appellate level. The appeal was dismissed, with the court affirming the trial judge's rulings and the verdict as safe and proper.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Judge Tara Burns considered whether the court should review sensitive material that Gardaí have refused to hand over to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The material concerns two men charged in connection with the 2013 murder of Peter Butterly. Gardaí cited security concerns for senior and junior counsel, claiming that disclosure could expose them to danger. Defence counsel for Laurence Murphy and Ray Kennedy objected to the court viewing the material, arguing it could create a conflict of interest. Judge Burns noted that the DPP was unable and unwilling to provide the material, but the court retains a supervisory role over disclosure. She ruled that the prosecution must ensure proper disclosure, but the court would not compel Gardaí to release the material. The trial is set to resume tomorrow at 10:30 am. Laurence Murphy pleaded not guilty. Ray Kennedy pleaded not guilty.
During the attempted‑murder trial of Robert Lawlor, the Central Criminal Court heard that Garda Cathal Hickey recovered four bullets from the Mitchell residence after the shooting on 26 May 2018. One bullet lay on the kitchen floor, another in the hallway, a third was found in the dog basket of the shed, and a fourth was on the decking outside the back patio. Hickey also traced a line of blood from a bullet in the dog shed to a decking area where a dead German Shepherd, Chopper, was found. He reported bullet holes in the front door at 79 inches and in the kitchen‑hallway door at 64 inches. Sergeant Noel Smith admitted moving a bullet from outside the house to inside the property at about 8 am, citing concern that it might be removed by someone else. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, continues with a jury of seven men and five women. Robert Lawlor pleaded not guilty.
Jonathan Dargan, 49, pleaded not guilty to the unlawful killing of Patrick Mullally, 56, on 6 March 2016, and to two assault charges involving Lauren Mullally and Shane Cunningham on 5 March 2016. During the trial, Dargan told Gardaí that he and his girlfriend had been at a concert and were involved in a "fist fight" when three men joined the altercation. He claimed he threw punches, was hit, and that one man grabbed his neck. He said he left the scene in his car, thinking it was a simple fight. Gardaí later located his silver Mercedes at a Texaco forecourt, where he admitted involvement. Lauren Mullally testified that she had been celebrating with her uncle, the deceased, and that she struck Dargan with a shoe after seeing him near the deceased. The trial is proceeding before Judge Pauline Codd and a jury of five women and seven men.
In the Central Criminal Court, Robert Lawlor, 35, pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, firearm possession, a threat to Rachel Kirwan, and shooting a dog. Detective Sergeant Noel Smith testified that Lawlor was seen in black clothing, agitated and aggressive on the evening of the shooting. Smith described Lawlor's erratic behaviour, his confrontation with Gardaí, and his departure from home, prompting Smith to contact Kirwan and the Armed Support Unit. Kirwan, who had been in a relationship with Lawlor and later with Fiona Mitchell's son Derek, broke down during questioning about photographs of Derek. She refused to answer questions about the photos, stating her life was worth more than the images. The trial remains before a jury.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 27 November 2019, Ms Justice Tara Burns ruled that prosecution counsel must view sensitive material relating to two men charged with the murder of a dissident republican. The material, held by An Garda Siochana, concerns Peter Butterly, a 35‑year‑old father of two, who was shot dead on 6 March 2013 at the Huntsman Inn car park in Gormanston, Co. Meath. Laurence Murphy (62) and Ray Kennedy (40) are charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, the IRA, and Kennedy with destroying a SIM card. Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard, head of the Special Detective Unit, claimed the material was essential to his belief that the men were IRA members, citing security concerns. Garda Siochana cited fears for the safety of prosecution counsel as the reason for withholding the material, but the court found no legal basis for that claim. Laurence Murphy pleaded not guilty. Ray Kennedy pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin manslaughter trial, a witness testified that he and the deceased, Patrick Mullally, approached Jonathan Dargan because Dargan was aggressively confronting a nervous woman. The witness, who was drunk, could not recall the exact words exchanged but said he was struck in the face and later treated for a broken finger. He claimed he had tried to stop Dargan from beating the woman, though the prosecution argued it was merely an argument. Dargan, aged 49, pleaded not guilty to unlawfully killing Mullally on 6 March 2016 and to two assault charges on 5 March 2016. The trial is proceeding before Judge Pauline Codd and a jury of five women and seven men. The witness, aged 19 at the time, expressed regret for his involvement. The case remains in court.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 26 November 2019, defence counsel for Liam Brannigan, a 37‑year‑old from Bride Street, Dublin, argued that the Garda surveillance officers' policy of not taking notes during the Kinahan cartel conspiracy‑to‑murder investigation was unacceptable and should not be allowed to slide. He contended that officers had claimed to have made identifications in the witness box that were not previously recorded, and that some had referred to other sources before asserting an identification. Brannigan is charged with conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between 15 September and 6 November 2017 and has pleaded not guilty. The defence sought to exclude evidence from surveillance officers and phone charts that linked secretly recorded conversations in bugged cars to specific individuals, arguing that the lack of notes undermined the fairness of the evidence.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, 19‑year‑old David O'Neill pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after he mistakenly believed a 23‑year‑old passerby had stabbed his brother. O'Neill struck the victim with one punch, causing the victim to fall, hit his head, and lose consciousness for about six minutes. The victim suffered a fractured skull and a minor brain injury but has since fully recovered physically, though he experienced psychological effects. O'Neill, who had already been serving a separate prison sentence with a release date of 26 February 2021, was given a one‑year sentence to run consecutively to that term. Judge Martin Nolan noted O'Neill's good work record, family support, apology, and expressions of remorse, and said he would have imposed a three‑year sentence had those mitigating factors not been present.
Anthony Walsh, 32, was convicted of murder for the killing of Dermot Byrne, 54, in Swords on 16 July 2017. Walsh admitted killing Byrne but denied it was murder. He claimed Byrne attacked him during a drunken altercation over a cigarette, but prosecutors argued his account was unrealistic given Walsh's height and Byrne's intoxication. Walsh sent social‑media messages after the killing, describing the attack with laughing emojis and a voice message stating he was "going to fucking jail." The Court of Appeal upheld his conviction, ruling the messages were not overly prejudicial and that Walsh's admission of wrongdoing was clear. A second appeal ground, the partial defence of provocation, was also dismissed. Walsh's conviction was affirmed, and he remains sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment.
In a Dublin manslaughter trial, witness Shaun O'Donoghue testified that he saw Jonathan Dargan, aged 49, throw several powerful punches at an older man, Patrick Mullally, aged 57, while shouting "bang, bang" on Harold's Cross Road. O'Donoghue described the assault as involving quick, forceful blows directed at the head, and he later observed Mullally lying on the ground with blood from the back of his head. Mullally was found dead the next day, and a post‑mortem revealed a fractured jaw, cheekbone, and a subdural haemorrhage caused by blunt trauma to the back of the head. Dargan pleaded not guilty to unlawful killing and related assault charges. The case is proceeding before Judge Pauline Codd with a jury of five women and seven men.
Joseph Hillen, aged 25, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, after the Court of Appeal found his original six‑year term too lenient. Hillen admitted stabbing taxi driver Martin Mulligan, aged 53, in a rural area near Dundalk on 28 September 2015, but denied murder. He was found guilty of manslaughter by a jury and originally sentenced to seven years, with one year suspended. The appeal, brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions, led to a new sentence of nine years, again with the final year suspended. Hillen's case involved two serious stab wounds, a 22.5‑cm abdominal wound and a through‑and‑through thigh wound. He had previously been convicted of dangerous driving while on bail for the killing and had 15 prior convictions, none for violence. The court noted his role as a father of two children and the impact on the Mulligan family.
Rachel Kirwan, a mother of two, testified that she had lied to Gardaí about former partner Robert Lawlor's threats to kill Fiona Mitchell's mother and harm Derek Mitchell. She claimed she fabricated the story to portray Lawlor negatively after learning he was the gunman who fired two shots at Mitchell's home on 26 May 2018. Kirwan said she changed her statement after discovering she had been misled. She also denied that Lawlor had threatened her regarding Mitchell's mother and that he had shown interest in her children only after she began dating Derek Mitchell. Kirwan's testimony, which includes details of her relationship with Lawlor and Mitchell, was presented to the jury on the day of the trial. The case remains at the trial stage with no verdict yet. Robert Lawlor pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 25 November 2019, defence counsel Giollaiosa Ó Lideadha argued that surveillance evidence presented by Gardaí in the conspiracy‑to‑murder case against 37‑year‑old Liam Brannigan of Bride Street, Dublin 8, was unreliable and should be excluded. Brannigan, charged with conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between 15 September and 6 November 2017, pleaded not guilty. The defence highlighted that the prosecution had not shown any phone linked to Brannigan was actually used by him, and that surveillance officers had failed to take notes, undermining the integrity of the evidence. The court had previously heard that six vehicles were bugged and that conversations recorded in those vehicles were attributed to Brannigan, Joseph Kelly, Luke Wilson and Alan Wilson based on phone data.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Wayne Keogh, aged 28, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for stabbing his mother, Carol Keogh, on 28 January. The attack, which began as a verbal dispute over a pair of tracksuit bottoms, escalated when Keogh repeatedly stabbed his mother in the back and neck. Carol suffered four stab wounds, a punctured lung and a laceration to her liver, and a knife blade became embedded in her back, requiring surgical removal at Mater Hospital. She remained in hospital for four days and has fully recovered. Keogh, who had been in custody since the incident and has 102 prior convictions, was apprehended after leaving the house. He pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm, and the judge noted the seriousness of the assault and considered a psychological report in sentencing.
A 69‑year‑old man was sentenced by a Central Criminal Court jury to 20 years' imprisonment for indecent assault and rape of his grandson between 2004 and 2015, and for indecent assault, rape and attempted rape of three daughters between 1981 and 1987. The sentences were consecutive, giving a headline term of 20 years. The Court of Appeal, after hearing the case, suspended the final two‑and‑a‑half years of the sentence, citing the defendant's age and the likelihood that he would die in custody. The court kept the 20‑year term but removed the last 2½ years from the period to be served. The barrister for the defendant argued that a 20‑year sentence would effectively mean the man would serve the rest of his life in prison, while the Director of Public Prosecutions noted that 69 was not "very old" and that no medical evidence suggested ill‑health. The unnamed 69-year-old pleaded guilty and was convicted.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 25 November 2019, Noel Lenihan, a 67‑year‑old martial arts instructor from Galway, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for the manslaughter of Christopher McGrath, aged 38. The court found that Lenihan and McGrath had a long‑standing, "intimate" and "dysfunctional" relationship, complicated by alcohol and drug use. McGrath had been staying at Lenihan's home and, on the night of 12 March 2017, entered the house after scaling a wall and threatening Lenihan. A struggle ensued; Lenihan stabbed McGrath with a steak knife, claiming self‑defence. Pathology revealed five knife wounds, including a fatal heart wound. Lenihan pleaded guilty to manslaughter, and the judge noted his remorse, guilty plea, and lack of prior convictions as mitigating factors, reducing the headline sentence from seven to four years, back‑dated to 1 November 2019.
Terence Gavin, 27, was given a two‑year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to stealing €320 from taxi driver Imram Shahzad on 4 August 2016. Gavin was driven home by Shahzad that night and was asked to pay his fare before a group of teenage boys attacked the driver. While the assault was underway, Gavin took the driver's wallet and fled. CCTV footage identified him at the pub where Shahzad had been picked up. The teenagers were never identified. Gavin, a flooring contractor, paid €5,620 to Shahzad as a token of remorse and to cover the stolen money and windscreen damage. He has 12 prior convictions, including theft, traffic offences and threatening to cause serious harm. The judge, Martin Nolan, sentenced Gavin on the theft charge, not the assault, and suspended the sentence on conditions including restitution to Shahzad.
Richard Bourke, aged 36, was sentenced to eight years in prison for arson after setting fire to the front door of Detective Garda John Griffin's house in Finglas. The incident occurred on 26 February 2019, when Bourke first lit a small flame and then threw petrol, creating a fireball that forced the Griffins to call 999. The attack caused smoke damage to the hall and required the front door to be replaced. Bourke pleaded guilty to two counts of arson at two Finglas locations and to stealing petrol from a Circle K station. He also admitted setting fire to a derelict building near the airport. The court noted premeditation, the occupied nature of the house, and Bourke's history of bipolar disorder and drug abuse. The sentence was 11 years with the final three years suspended, resulting in an eight‑year custodial term. The Griffins suffered an "indelible scar" and increased security measures following the attack.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 22 November 2019, evidence was presented that a phone attributed to Liam Brannigan, a 37‑year‑old accused of conspiring to murder Gary Hanley, was used to contact Kinahan cartel gunmen eight times on the day of Brannigan's arrest. The court heard that Brannigan's phone also communicated with Alan Wilson seven times that same night. Brannigan, who pleaded not guilty, was arrested on 6 November 2017 near Hanley's home, where police seized a Beretta. The prosecution claimed Brannigan had thrown the phone into church grounds before his arrest, a claim contested by his defence. The case also involved three other men—Joseph Kelly, Luke Wilson and Alan Wilson—who had previously pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy and received sentences ranging from six to twelve years for murder conspiracy and weapons offences. The trial remains ongoing.
Paul Wells Junior (33) was found guilty at the Central Criminal Court of impeding the prosecution of his father, Paul Wells Senior (51), by disposing of a blood-stained chainsaw. The court heard the weapon had a piece of "brown meat" embedded in its motor. Wells Junior had pleaded not guilty to disposing of the chainsaw motor between January 19 and 20, 2016, in Co Kildare, and not guilty to disposing of the blade and chain on January 20, 2016. A jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict on both counts after three hours and 55 minutes of deliberation. The judge directed a probation report and remanded Wells Junior on continuing bail until February 10, when his sentence hearing will take place. This follows the life sentence handed to Wells Senior last year for the murder of Kenneth O'Brien at his home in Finglas on January 15 or 16, 2016. Ms Justice Carmel Stewart extended sympathies to the O'Brien family, noting they had to listen to harrowing details again during this second trial. The matter was adjourned for sentencing.
Ciaran Maguire and Sean Paul Farrell, Dublin men wanted in Northern Ireland for the alleged attempted murder of a PSNI officer and possession of explosive substances, raised constitutional concerns regarding their potential extradition. Both face life imprisonment if convicted. Maguire's counsel argued that evidence gathered during their arrest in Donegal, including DNA and interview transcripts, must be scrutinized in Ireland to ensure it was not obtained unlawfully, as Irish constitutional protections cannot be challenged in Northern Ireland. Farrell's counsel contended that his client was informed of a right to silence that does not exist in Northern Ireland, where inferences can be drawn from silence. The Minister for Justice's counsel dismissed these as fishing expeditions, noting that inferences are trial issues. The Court of Appeal previously rejected a judicial review concerning the Gardaí's refusal to provide this information. In the High Court, Mr Justice Donald Binchy stated the applications deserved a written judgment, aiming to deliver it by November 26. He also granted each man senior counsel to argue their extradition case in December. The matter remains at the pre-extradition procedural stage, with no final determination on the extradition request yet made.
The Special Criminal Court heard audio evidence regarding the alleged conspiracy to murder Gary Hanley between September 15th and November 6th, 2017. Liam Brannigan, 37, of Bride Street, Dublin 8, is charged with this offence and has pleaded not guilty. The court examined a recording from a bugged Volkswagen caddy on November 6th, 2017, where unidentified men discussed a Beretta handgun with a silencer and the target. One man loaded the clip, stating, "we're laughing with this," before armed gardai intercepted the vehicle. Surveillance evidence linked the vehicle to Alan Wilson and Joseph Kelly, who were arrested that night along with Luke Wilson. Brannigan was also arrested. The prosecution presented a phone attributed to Brannigan, allegedly discarded before his arrest, containing contacts for Wilson and Kelly. While Luke Wilson, Joseph Kelly, and Alan Wilson have previously pleaded guilty to the plot and been jailed, Brannigan's trial continues. The matter is currently at the sentence stage for the co-accused, but Brannigan's case remains ongoing with no finalisation recorded for him.
A Detective Chief Superintendent has given evidence at the Special Criminal Court regarding two men charged in connection with the fatal shooting of Peter Butterly in March 2013. The victim, aged 35, was killed in a car park at Gormanston, Co Meath. Laurence Murphy, aged 62, of Bettystown, Co Meath, and Ray Kennedy, aged 40, of Blanchardstown, Dublin, have pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. Mr Kennedy faces an additional charge of perverting the course of justice. Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard, head of the Special Detective Unit, told the three-judge court of his belief that both men were members of the IRA. He declined to disclose the material upon which his belief rested, citing security concerns and the protection of life and property. Evidence was also heard of items recovered from the scene. Four men have previously received life sentences for Mr Butterly's murder, with two others also imprisoned for roles in the killing.
Kerrie Fitzpatrick, 41, of Loughnamona Park, Leixlip, Co Kildare, was sentenced to 16 months in prison for attempting to smuggle 63 grams of heroin, worth €9,575, into Mountjoy Prison on 14 January 2017. She pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and had a prior conviction for a similar offence at Portlaoise Prison. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, upheld the sentence after an appeal. Birmingham noted evidence that Fitzpatrick had been coerced and that her relationship with her former partner was violent and abusive, factors that may have influenced her decision to bring the drugs. He also remarked that the heroin was a "very significant quantity of hard drugs" likely intended for general supply within the prison, and that a custodial sentence was necessary given the seriousness of the offence. The appeal was dismissed by the panel of judges.
In a High Court hearing on 21 November 2019, it was revealed that Eamon Harrison, a 22‑year‑old from Mayobridge, Co Down, was travelling on an Irish passport when he allegedly delivered a refrigerated trailer that contained the bodies of 39 migrants found dead in Britain. British authorities seek his surrender under a European Arrest Warrant, charging him with 39 counts of manslaughter, conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and conspiracy to commit human trafficking under the UK's Modern Slavery Act. The warrant refers to Harrison as a "British Citizen", a point contested by his counsel, who argued that his Irish nationality could affect extradition. The court noted ambiguities about where the alleged offences occurred and requested further information from UK authorities. A resumed hearing was scheduled for 12 December, with Harrison remanded in custody.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Paul Wells Junior, aged 33, faces charges of impeding his father's apprehension by disposing of the chainsaw used to dismember murder victim Kenneth O'Brien. The jury, after two and a half hours of deliberation, was instructed by Judge Stewart to consider each count separately: disposing of the chainsaw motor and disposing of the chain and blade. The prosecution alleged that Wells Junior knowingly removed the equipment, while the defence argued he acted under a reasonable excuse, citing a history of abuse and fear of his father. Judge Stewart emphasized that the burden remained on the prosecution to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that no reasonable excuse existed. The jury was required to reach a unanimous verdict on both counts before proceeding with further deliberations. The case remains pending, with no verdict announced yet. Paul Wells Junior pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Liam Brannigan, who is charged with conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between September 15th and November 6th, 2017. Brannigan has pleaded not guilty. The court examined audio from a secret listening device placed on a Volkswagen caddy on November 3rd, 2017, during an investigation into the Kinahan cartel. Surveillance officers previously identified Joseph Kelly driving the vehicle and later walking with Alan Wilson. Both Kelly and Wilson, along with Luke Wilson, have already pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder Mr. Hanley and have been jailed. The recording captured two men discussing plans to purchase vodka, Red Bull, cocaine, and Viagra. One man complained that cocaine was negating the effect of the Viagra and making him paranoid. The court also heard testimony regarding a previous incident where a man was hospitalized after a binge involving whiskey and cocaine. Luke Wilson and Joseph Kelly were arrested on November 6th, 2017, when the vehicle was stopped in Dublin 3, leading to the seizure of a 9mm Beretta pistol. The trial continues.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Laurence Murphy and Ray Kennedy, who have pleaded not guilty to IRA membership charges dated March 6, 2013, and April 2010. Mr. Kennedy also faces a charge of perverting the course of justice by destroying a SIM card. Prosecution witnesses described a meeting at Bewleys Hotel, Dublin Airport, on May 22, 2010, where Mr. Murphy was observed with Marian Price, Alan Ryan, and Anthony Ryan. The group entered a private function room, though the Ryans did not. Other testimony detailed Mr. Kennedy's presence at a 2011 meeting in Mulhuddert and at a 2012 bail hearing. The court also heard about a 2012 funeral for Alan Ryan, where three shots were fired over the coffin. While four men have already received life sentences for the murder of Peter Butterly, and Michael McDermott and Frank Murphy have been jailed for their roles in the killing, the current proceedings against Murphy and Kennedy remain at the trial stage. The matter was adjourned and continues before Justice Tara Burns, Judge Sarah Berkeley, and Judge Michael Walsh.
A man charged in connection with the 2013 murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly was observed on multiple occasions with slain Real IRA leader Alan Ryan, the Special Criminal Court heard. Laurence Murphy, aged 62, of Bettystown, Co Meath and Ray Kennedy, aged 40, of Blanchardstown, Dublin have pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the IRA on 6 March 2013. Mr Kennedy faces an additional charge of perverting the course of justice. Detective gardaí gave evidence they saw Mr Ryan and Mr Kennedy together in Donaghmede, Dublin on separate occasions in 2011 and 2012. The court heard garda interviews wherein Mr Kennedy stated he and Mr Butterly had arranged to meet at the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co Meath at 2.30pm on the day of the shooting. Mr Murphy was interviewed and denied IRA membership. Four men have already received life sentences following convictions for Mr Butterly's murder, with two others imprisoned for roles in the killing. The trial before Ms Justice Tara Burns continues.
Anthony Walsh, 32, of no fixed abode, appeared in the Court of Appeal to challenge his conviction for the murder of Dermot Byrne, 54, at North St, Swords, Co Dublin, on July 16, 2017. Walsh had admitted killing Mr Byrne but denied the charge of murder, claiming self-defence and provocation. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty, and Ms Justice Eileen Creedon imposed the mandatory life sentence on October 22, 2018. In the appeal, Walsh's counsel, Brendan Grehan SC, argued that the trial judge erred by admitting a voice recording sent by Walsh to a friend shortly after the incident. The recording contained statements such as "I'm going to fucking jail" and references to a "poor old fella being kicked to death," followed by laughter. Grehan SC contended this evidence was highly prejudicial and not probative, while the Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel, Vincent Heneghan SC, maintained it was admissible as an admission of how the victim died. The appeal panel, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham with Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly, reserved its judgement. Consequently, the matter was adjourned, and Walsh must wait to hear the outcome of the appeal against his conviction.
Joseph Hillen, aged 25, was found guilty of manslaughter for stabbing taxi driver Martin Mulligan, aged 53, near Dundalk on 28 September 2015. Hillen admitted stabbing Mulligan after an altercation but denied murder. He was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon on 28 January 2019. The sentencing judge noted the jury's view that Hillen believed he was acting in self‑defence. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient, citing the brutality of the attack, Hillen's prior convictions, and his lack of honesty. The Court of Appeal will consider the appeal, with no decision yet announced. The case remains at the appeal stage. Joseph Hillen pleaded not guilty.
Paul Wells Junior, aged 33, stands trial for disposing of a chainsaw motor, blade and chain that were used to dismember Kenneth O'Brien. He is charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of his father, Paul Wells Senior, who was later convicted of O'Brien's murder. The defence argues that Wells Junior acted in panic, was physically abused by his father, and did not intend to obstruct the investigation. He voluntarily gave a statement to Gardaí on 5 February 2016 and was arrested the next day on suspicion of murder. The prosecution maintains that Wells Junior knew his father had committed the offence when he disposed of the chainsaw and fully understood the consequences. The case is before the Central Criminal Court, with the jury to deliberate on the charges of impeding the investigation. The trial is ongoing and no verdict has yet been reached. Paul Wells Junior pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, audio from a covert listening device in a white Volkswagen caddy van revealed two men, Luke Wilson and Joseph Kelly, discussing a planned murder of Gary Hanley. The clip, recorded on 2 November 2017, shows the men frustrated by navigation issues and planning how to approach Hanley's home, including the possibility of shooting a woman and child if they obstructed them. One man repeatedly stated, "Baby or no baby, I don't give a fuck," and expressed willingness to shoot police if present. The court heard that the men had been arrested on 6 November 2017, with a 9mm Beretta pistol seized. The accused, Liam Brannigan, pleaded not guilty, while Wilson, Kelly and Alan Wilson had already pleaded guilty and been jailed for the conspiracy. The hearing focused on the audio evidence and the men's intent to carry out the attack.
In the trial of Robert Lawlor, accused of attempting to murder Fiona Mitchell on 26 May 2018, Mitchell denies that she misidentified Lawlor. She says she saw him through her kitchen window holding a gun, ran out, locked the door, and heard two loud bangs before her dog was later found dead. Lawlor's counsel, Patrick McGrath, argued that Mitchell was "obsessed" with him and had stalked him online, but Mitchell insists she never messaged him and that she did see him that night. Rachel Kirwan, a former partner of Lawlor, recounts their relationship, their children, and a 2018 garden incident where she told Lawlor to leave. Kirwan also recalls a phone call from Mitchell before the shooting. Lawlor has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, a threat to Kirwan, and shooting a dog. The judge will not require the jury until Thursday.