David O'Brien, aged 67, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four counts of indecent assault on three boys under 15 between January 1972 and December 1978, including incidents in Larch Hill, Roundwood, Co Wicklow, and an unknown location. He also pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent assault on two of the same boys in Powerscourt, Co Wicklow, and two unknown locations between January 1976 and December 1978, involving fondling of the boys' penises. O'Brien, who is currently in custody and appeared frail, was previously jailed for four-and-a-half years in October 2015 for sexually abusing six boys on camping trips in the late 1970s and 1980s. Reporting restrictions were lifted today by Judge Karen O'Connor. The case remains pending sentencing, with the judge adjourned the matter for a hearing on Thursday. The prosecution noted the sentence could take up to a day.
A former soldier has withdrawn an appeal against a €150,000 damages award in the Court of Appeal following an assault on his former partner. Jonathan McSherry, formerly of Dublin, had challenged the High Court's assessment of damages for assault and battery. The attack occurred in December 2015 when McSherry assaulted the mother of his two children at her home, causing fractures to her skull, eye sockets and cheekbones. He subsequently served 22 months of a three-and-a-half-year custodial sentence imposed in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. In the civil proceedings, McSherry accepted responsibility for causing extensive facial injuries to his former partner. The three-judge panel, comprising Mr Justice John Edwards, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy and Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly, was informed of the withdrawal before the hearing commenced. Legal costs were awarded against McSherry following an application by counsel for the plaintiff.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Erick Mukoko, aged 32, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for a violent forceful rape that occurred in May 2017 at a flat in Limerick. The victim, a woman who had been socialising with a friend, refused a kiss from Mukoko and was subsequently raped. Mukoko pleaded guilty, citing alcohol consumption and a possible misreading of signals as mitigating factors. The judge, Michael White, described the offence as very serious and noted the victim's devastating impact, including anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and a suicide attempt. Mukoko's guilty plea was taken into account, and no portion of the sentence was suspended. He was ordered to undergo two years of post‑release supervision if he remains in Ireland. The victim's impact statement detailed her ongoing psychological distress and her determination to regain control of her life. The case was supported by DNA evidence linking Mukoko to the assault.
A 27-year-old man from Letterkenny, County Donegal, has had his suspended sentence for violent disorder doubled by the Court of Appeal. Johnny McDonagh was convicted in Castlebar Circuit Court following a trial relating to an incident at his grandfather's funeral in Ballyhaunis, County Mayo on 16 June 2016. The court heard he had been sentenced to three years suspended in February 2019, but the trial judge had been mistaken about the sentence imposed on a co-accused. The Court of Appeal found this error had resulted in a manifestly inadequate sentence. The court quashed the original three-year suspended sentence and imposed a new six-year sentence, suspended for five years. The president of the Court of Appeal remarked that McDonagh now has a substantial suspended sentence and must avoid further trouble.
A teenager convicted of the manslaughter of a 17-year-old boy in Claremorris, County Mayo in 2015 has had his sentencing further delayed to allow for additional brain surgery. The defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty of killing Dovydas Jenkas on 19 December 2015 following a jury trial at the Central Criminal Court in Castlebar in 2017. He had previously undergone surgical procedures to address epileptic seizures, including a left temporal lesionectomy in July 2018. Defence counsel informed the Central Criminal Court that the defendant now requires a cranioplasty, a surgical repair of a skull defect, with no confirmed date yet available. Justice Eileen Creedon acknowledged the distress of the deceased's family, noting two years had passed since conviction without sentencing finalisation. The case was adjourned to 14 February 2020, with the defendant remanded on continuing bail pending further medical evidence or completion of surgery.
The High Court has ordered the extradition of Gerard Lagan, 35, to Northern Ireland in connection with the 2007 double murder of Edward Burns and Joseph Jones in Belfast. Lagan, of Dunleer, Co Louth, faces charges alleging he lured the victims from their homes via telephone calls to be killed. The prosecution case, based on circumstantial evidence including cell site data, suggests Lagan was an organiser of the events and enlisted the assistance of Declan Smith and Gerard Mackin. Mackin was previously convicted for Burns' murder in 2008, a conviction later quashed on appeal, while Smith was murdered in Dublin in 2014. Lagan opposed extradition citing delay, previous non-prosecution decisions, and alleged rights breaches regarding mobile phone data analysis. Mr Justice Tony Hunt rejected all grounds, finding that fresh PSNI investigations and telephone data superseded earlier decisions. The judge determined there was no evidence of inappropriate data retention or examination, though he noted it remained unclear why such evidence was not analysed before 2015. Despite Lagan's family circumstances, including children in Irish schools and his role as a registered carer, the court found the public interest in extradition outweighed these factors. Lagan's legal team indicated they would consider the judgment to determine next steps.
Eddie Farnan, 37, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, threatening to kill Lisa Power and criminal damage on 2 June 2017. He dragged her by the hair, swung her, threw her across a room, and placed his hands around her throat. The attack ended when he began hitting himself in the face and Power grabbed her baby and fled. A medical report found bruising on her neck and whiplash. Power still suffers daily headaches, nightmares and panic attacks. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a suspended sentence of two years and nine months, suspended entirely on conditions. She noted Farnan had no prior violence history and had made significant rehabilitation efforts. The judge warned that any future violence would trigger the full custodial term. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, a 35‑year‑old man was found guilty of sexually assaulting a seven‑year‑old boy who was the son of a friend. The man, whose name is withheld to protect the victim's anonymity, had pleaded not guilty to three sexual assault charges. The jury convicted him on the count involving the seven‑year‑old, but acquitted him on one of the other two charges and was directed to find him not guilty on the remaining charge. The boy, now 14, testified that the assault caused him ongoing sleep difficulties, fear, and other life problems. His mother also spoke about the impact, describing the family as victims of the man's cruel actions. The judge remanded the defendant in custody and set a finalisation date for November 29.
John McClean, 74, former rugby coach and teacher at Terenure College, faces trial for indecent assault on nine males between 1973 and 1989. He was sent forward from the District Court earlier this year. Judge Martin Nolan set a trial date of 2 November 2020, with a pre‑trial hearing on 29 July 2020.
Paul Flaherty, 30, will await the Court of Appeal's decision on his five-year sentence for sexually assaulting a woman he met via Tinder. Flaherty was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court last December of sexually assaulting the victim at his home in Tallaght, Dublin, on August 31, 2015. During the appeal hearing, Michael O'Higgins SC argued that the trial judge should have assessed which specific offence was proved beyond reasonable doubt, noting that the prosecution failed to break down the acts into separate charges. Counsel stated that if Flaherty was only guilty of forcibly removing clothing, it would be a lower-end offence, whereas attempted strangulation would be more serious. He highlighted a "serious issue" regarding the jury's findings on attempted strangulation and genital touching. Conversely, Eilis Brennan SC for the DPP argued the trial judge was clear in sentencing, citing bruising on the victim's neck and her distressed state as evidence of a violent assault at the higher end of the scale. The trial judge, Mr Justice Michael White, had previously noted the victim clearly rejected sexual contact. President of the Court of Appeal Justice George Birmingham stated he would deliver the judgement on October 24. Consequently, the matter was adjourned until that date.
Christopher Gannon, 36, of Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm at Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, on 6 October 2018. He attacked his former partner, who was there with their son, twice, punching her numerous times and causing a fractured nose and temporary double vision. The assault occurred while the child was in the hospital. Gannon had a prior conviction for assault and public intoxication. Justice Patricia Ryan noted the seriousness of the injuries, the hospital setting, the repeated attacks and the victim's repeated blows, but also cited Gannon's guilty plea, admissions to Gardaí, apology, good work record and lack of prior Garda attention as mitigating factors. She sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions. The case was heard in the criminal court on 18 October 2019.
A nurse has described a female student as appearing upset and in a state of shock following alleged rapes by two men in Co Donegal in February 2015. Giving evidence on day seven of the trial at the Central Criminal Court, the witness said she was approached by two extremely distressed young women who were crying. She noted the complainant spoke more than her companion, who remained very quiet and seemed in complete shock. The nurse observed the complainant appeared intoxicated and contacted gardaí, who arrived promptly. A second witness, a Sexual Assault Treatment Unit examiner, identified five areas of bruising in the genital region but stated under cross-examination that bruising cannot be aged to determine when it occurred. The two defendants, aged 29 and 33 and both resident in Donegal, have pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape. The trial continues with legal argument, with the jury to resume hearing evidence on Monday.
An accused man was observed meeting two individuals convicted in connection with the fatal shooting of dissident republican Peter Butterly one day after the killing, the Special Criminal Court heard today. Surveillance officers told the non-jury court that on March 7, 2013, Laurence Murphy was seen at a fast-food outlet in Charlestown Shopping Centre in Dublin alongside Kevin Braney and Frank Murphy. Butterly, aged 35, was shot dead on March 6, 2013, outside a public house in Gormanston, County Meath. Braney was sentenced to life imprisonment earlier this year following conviction for the premeditated murder. The prosecution contends the group gathered for a debrief regarding the previous day's events. Murphy, of Bettystown, County Meath, and Ray Kennedy, of Blanchardstown, Dublin, have pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the IRA on that date. Kennedy faces an additional charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice. The trial continues.
The Special Criminal Court adjourned the trial of Liam Brannigan, 37, accused of conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between 15 September and 6 November 2017, until next Monday. Brannigan pleaded not guilty. Judge Paul Coffey announced the adjournment after learning his father had died the previous night, stating he could not resume the trial until the following week. The case will resume before Judge Coffey, Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Judge James Faughnan at 11 am next Monday. Seán Gillane SC and Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC, representing the State and Brannigan respectively, offered condolences to the judge.
David Weafer, 33, was jailed for 16 months after breaking into his former family home, threatening his ex‑partner Jennifer Staunton with a knife, kneeing her in the face and head‑butting her. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and threatening her on 10 February 2018. The court, hearing that the couple's five children, aged 1 to 14, hid in another room and called 999, described the attack as "serious" and noted that the older child tried to intervene. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended the final 20 months, and imposed conditions including staying away from Staunton and the family home. Weafer admitted he was intoxicated that night and expressed remorse, hoping to regain his ex‑partner's trust.
Anthony Goodman, aged 74, was convicted of indecent exposure at a Malahide restaurant on 13 August 2018 and on a bus on 20 August 2018, and of sexual assault on 20 August 2018. He pleaded guilty to all three offences. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to nine months imprisonment for each indecent exposure, to run consecutively, and to two and a half years imprisonment for the sexual assault, also to run consecutively, giving a total of four years. The final 18 months of the sentence were suspended for five years on conditions of good behaviour, engagement with Probation Services, and restriction to public transport only with Garda permission. The sentence was back‑dated to 23 August 2018, the day he first entered custody. Goodman has 201 previous convictions, including sexual assault, indecency, arson, threats to kill and firearms possession, and had breached a sex‑offender order that prohibited him from riding a bus without Garda notification.
Steven McGivern, 42, of Belfast, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for possessing 9,595 images and 178 videos of child pornography. The material, found in his apartment after a search warrant issued following Canadian police information, showed preteen boys and girls with exposed genitals, engaging in sexual activity with each other and with adult males. McGivern admitted downloading the content for sexual gratification and acknowledged the illegality of his actions. He also provided a credit card used to pay for some of the videos. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúalacháin noted his three prior convictions for indecent assault and attempts to take indecent photos of children, and cited the volume of material, the duration of the offence, and the ages of the children involved as aggravating factors. The judge highlighted that the offence was not a victimless crime, as real children were exploited, and that financial gain was involved. Steven McGivern pleaded guilty.
Swiatoslaw Jaroszynski, 34, was jailed for 20 months after a violent attack in Clondalkin, Dublin, on 26 May 2018. He assaulted a woman jogging on the outer ring road, tried to bite her, and then attacked a passerby, Robert Keogh, during the struggle. Jaroszynski forced a woman driving with her 11‑ and 9‑year‑old children to stop, jumped onto her car's bonnet, headbutted the windscreen, smashed the rear passenger window, and tried to bite the woman's throat. He also grabbed the children and struck them. He had previously been involved in a head‑on collision and fled the scene. Jaroszynski pleaded guilty to three assault‑causing‑harm charges and unlawful interference with a car. He had a history of a suspended drug sentence and a robbery conviction. The judge noted his PTSD and drug use, but imposed a 20‑month sentence, citing the case's violent and unusual nature.
In October 2019 the Court of Appeal upheld a 15‑year prison sentence that had been imposed on Joseph Hogan, a 66‑year‑old resident of Rose Court, Keyes Park, Limerick city, for the rape and sexual assault of his niece. Hogan had been convicted in 2015 on three counts of rape and one count of attempted rape, with an additional ten‑year term for three counts of sexual assault, all of which were to run concurrently. The offences occurred between 1984 and 1988 when the victim, Ms Sonya Stokes, was aged between seven and eleven. Hogan had pleaded not guilty to all counts. The appeal court found no error in the original sentencing and confirmed that the 15‑year term was within the appropriate range for the seriousness of the offences, given the victim's age and the breach of trust involved.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 19‑year‑old woman confronted her 41‑year‑old foster father, who had raped her on 16 July 2016 after giving her alcohol. She told the court she had seen him as a father figure and that his abuse had taken her family, her sense of self and her future. The court heard that the victim was alone with him that night, was forced to give oral sex, then raped. She had attempted suicide, suffered anxiety and PTSD, and could not sit her Leaving Cert. The jury had found him guilty of rape, oral rape and sexual assault, but not of anal rape. He will be sentenced on 13 November. The woman said facing him made her feel empowered and urged him to make a positive impact on others. The unnamed 41-year-old was acquitted.
Liam Brannigan, 37, of Dublin 8, is on trial at the Special Criminal Court, having pleaded not guilty to conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between September 15th and November 6th, 2017. The court heard evidence from Detective Superintendent William Johnson regarding the deployment of listening devices on five vehicles, including a Seat and a Volkswagen caddy, allegedly used by Brannigan and associates. Johnson stated the surveillance was part of an investigation into the Kinahan Organised Crime Gang. The prosecution alleges the Nissan Primastar and Renault Laguna were used for surveillance and transport in the plot. The court also heard that Luke Wilson, 24, and Joseph Kelly, 35, were arrested after their vehicle was stopped on November 6th, 2017, during which a 9mm Beretta pistol and silencer were seized. Wilson and Kelly have previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder Hanley and unlawful possession of the handgun. Wilson was sentenced to 11 years, Kelly to 12 years, and Alan Wilson, 39, who also pleaded guilty to the conspiracy and weapons charges, was sentenced to six years. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey.
Edward Stokes, aged 25, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for endangerment and dangerous driving after a high‑speed chase in Clondalkin and Ballyfermot. On 3 October 2016, Stokes drove through a red light, over a Luas line, and attempted to ram a Garda patrol car, forcing the officers to take evasive action. He then drove into a traveller's site, crashed into a bollard, and fled into an attic where he was arrested. Stokes had 23 prior convictions, including violent disorder and driving offences, and was disqualified from driving at the time of the offence. The court noted his medical condition (necrotising pancreatitis) and his expressed remorse. Judge Cormac Quinn imposed a three‑year sentence, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions. Edward Stokes pleaded guilty.
Gavin Sheehan, aged 31, was convicted on 15 May 2016 of possessing a firearm and ammunition, recklessly discharging a firearm, and assault causing serious harm to Ciara Sheehan, a woman who was not related to him. The offence involved firing a handgun through a house window in Cork city, striking Ciara in the neck. Sheehan received a 14‑year prison sentence, with the final three years suspended, imposed by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin on 14 February 2017. He has now applied to appeal the sentence. In the appeal, Patrick McGrath SC argued that the case relied on circumstantial evidence and that forensic evidence linking the bullet to the firearm was lacking. He highlighted that the bullet casing was found several houses away, that CCTV and 999 call times conflicted, and that some video evidence was of poor quality. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice John Edwards, has reserved its judgment.
Patrick Ward, 41, was sentenced to three years in prison after stabbing Edel Delahunty, his neighbour, three times with scissors. The attack occurred after a quarrel at Delahunty's home while they were watching the World Cup. Ward punched Delahunty before stabbing her, and she discovered the wounds when she heard blood on the floor. She was treated in hospital for three stab wounds and required surgery after a lung puncture, staying six nights. Ward pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and possession of a weapon at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 16 June 2018. He had prior convictions for affray, assault, breach of a barring order, production of an article, criminal damage, theft and drugs. The judge noted Ward was very drunk but not excused, and accepted his remorse. Gardaí arrested Ward after he threatened to kill anyone entering his home. He later expressed regret and apologized to the victim.
A man was sentenced to eight years in prison for repeatedly raping his niece between 1 November 2018 and 15 January 2019. He pleaded guilty to counts of rape, oral rape, sexual assault and sexual exploitation of a child. The judge, Mr Justice Michael White, described the case as a "huge tragedy" and noted the aggravating factors of grooming, exploitation and breach of trust. He imposed a ten‑year term for each count of rape and oral rape, to run concurrently, and considered the sexual assault and exploitation counts. Two years of the sentence were suspended on the condition that the defendant engage with the Probation Service and therapeutic services. The victim, an eight‑year‑old, was the niece of the accused and the abuse largely occurred in the accused's home while he and his wife cared for her and her siblings. The defendant had no prior convictions and expressed remorse, apologising unreservedly in court.
Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned the sentencing of Blake Sweeney until November 11 at the Central Criminal Court. Sweeney, 21, was convicted in July of the manslaughter of Robert Elston, 33, who was stabbed to death in May 2018. The judge noted that Sweeney should have listened to his mother's advice to stay home after Elston set fire to a car in the Sweeney driveway. Evidence indicated Sweeney pursued Elston with a knife, while the jury found it reasonably possible Elston was armed with an axe, a factor that distinguished the charge from murder. Sweeney's counsel highlighted his early offer to plead guilty to manslaughter and his genuine remorse, noting his 22 previous District Court convictions were not aggravating. The judge stated he would consider the David Mahon case, where Mahon received a seven-year sentence for the 2013 manslaughter of Dean Fitzpatrick, as a comparable precedent. The matter was adjourned and not concluded.
In a 2019 Disclosures Tribunal hearing, Garda whistleblower Nicholas Keogh alleged harassment and bullying by Garda management after he made a protected disclosure in 2014 about colleagues in Athlone. Keogh, who served in the drug unit from 2009 to 2011, claimed that a drug‑unit colleague, referred to as Garda A, had aided and abetted a woman named Miss B in heroin trade, with a weekly turnover of about €2,500. He recorded this in a Pulse entry. Keogh also reported that a mother's complaint of assault against Miss B was dismissed, though the mother's daughter gave a separate statement. The tribunal examined 22 matters, including allegations that Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan had instructed Keogh's superior to isolate him, and that Keogh faced harassment over car tax, sick leave, back pay, and other workplace issues. The hearing focused on whether these actions constituted targeting or discrediting of Keogh.
Dean Heapes, 34, of Swords, Co Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to 10 burglaries of premises on South William Street, Dublin 2, committed on December 13, 2016. He also admitted to three further burglaries in the city between January 2017 and April 2018, as well as using a false instrument when attempting to cash a stolen cheque on Grafton Street in November 2016. The court heard that Heapes, who has ten previous burglary convictions, was captured on CCTV stealing 13 laptops during the initial incident, five of which were later recovered. Judge Karen O'Connor noted that while the offences were serious, Heapes had no history of violent offending. The judge considered his chronic drug addiction, difficult upbringing, and periods of homelessness, alongside his cooperation with gardai and expressed remorse. Judge O'Connor imposed consecutive sentences totalling five and a half years but suspended the final 18 months. She stated that Heapes has much to be hopeful for, including a supportive partner and young child, but warned that if he does not take this opportunity, he will spend the remainder of the sentence in prison.
In 2017, Mark O'Sullivan, 29, struck David Kirwan with a single punch to the back of the head near James Everett Park, Bray. Kirwan suffered catastrophic injuries, including brain damage, seizures, memory loss and hearing loss, and was in a medically‑induced coma for days. O'Sullivan pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm. The Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to seven years' imprisonment, suspending the final two‑and‑a‑half years, after describing the assault as unprovoked, cowardly, vicious and violent. The Court of Appeal later reduced the net term to two years and three months, citing mitigating factors such as O'Sullivan's community service and the fact that he had no prior convictions. The appeal judge noted O'Sullivan's remorse and his actions after the assault, including calling an ambulance and keeping Kirwan in the recovery position.
Slawomir Gierlowski, 34, of Drimnagh, Dublin, has a partially suspended 22.5‑year prison term for random attacks on women in Clondalkin between 2015 and 2011. He is appealing those convictions and the severity of the sentence. In May 2018 he was convicted of sexual assault, attempted rape and assault causing harm for a 2010 attack in the city centre. At a July hearing, Judge Micheal White noted that the appeal was still pending and that any sentence for the 2010 attack would be consecutive to the term he is currently serving, subject to the principle of totality. The court adjourned finalising the 2010 sentence to March 2 next year, pending the outcome of the appeal. The 2010 case involved a woman who was assaulted and attempted to be raped in the courtyard of her apartment block at 3 am. DNA evidence linked Gierlowski to the attack.
The trial of Liam Brannigan, accused of conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between September 15 and November 6, 2017, continued before a non-jury court. Brannigan, who has pleaded not guilty, faces charges of conspiracy and unlawful possession of a firearm. The court reviewed CCTV footage allegedly showing a white Nissan Primastar van and a black Renault Laguna surveilling Hanley's home in late October 2017. Prosecution counsel Seán Gillane SC stated these vehicles were used as "spotter cars" for surveillance and to ferry co-conspirators. Footage from November 6, 2017, depicted Brannigan's arrest at Hanover Court, where he allegedly discarded a phone and an illuminated item before being apprehended. The court also heard evidence regarding the arrest of Luke Wilson and Joseph Kelly on the same night, during which a 9mm Beretta pistol, silencer, and ammunition were seized. Wilson and Kelly have previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder Hanley. Luke Wilson, who also admitted to unlawful possession of the handgun with intent to endanger life, was jailed for 11 years. Alan Wilson, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy, received a six-year sentence. Joseph Kelly, who also admitted a weapons charge, was jailed for a total of 12 years. The trial continues.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence regarding the harvesting of 3,500 hours of CCTV footage during the trial of Liam Brannigan, who is charged with conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between September 15th and November 6th, 2017. Mr Brannigan has pleaded not guilty. Detective Sergeant Declan O'Connell, who directed the collection of footage from various Dublin premises, admitted to the court that he did not consider the Data Protection Act or the privacy of the public during the operation. The defence, represented by John Berry BL, is taking issue with the admissibility of a proposed 48-minute montage of this footage. The court also heard that Mr Hanley initially declined permission for gardai to access his home CCTV, leading to a warrant being obtained for its seizure. Although the drive was later wiped, material was eventually retrieved. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey. Separately, three men previously convicted of conspiring to murder Mr Hanley have been sentenced. Luke Wilson, who pleaded guilty to the conspiracy and unlawful possession of a Beretta handgun with intent to endanger life, was jailed for 11 years. Alan Wilson, who pleaded guilty to the conspiracy, received a six-year sentence. Joseph Kelly, who admitted the conspiracy and a weapons charge, was jailed for a total of 12 years.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the trial of Ray Kennedy (39) and Laurence Murphy (62), who have pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the IRA on March 6, 2013. Kennedy is also charged with perverting the course of justice by destroying a mobile SIM card. The prosecution presented the statement of Eithne Butterly, widow of dissident republican Peter Butterly, who was shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, Co Meath, on that date. Mrs Butterly told gardai that Kennedy was a "good friend" to both of them and that her husband had received five death threats, including one from Alan Ryan. She stated her husband told her he was meeting Kennedy at 2pm on March 6, 2013, though Kennedy maintains the meeting was scheduled for 2.30pm. The court heard that four men—Kevin Braney, Edward McGrath, Sharif Kelly, and Dean Evans—have already received life sentences for the murder, while Michael McDermott and Frank Murphy have also been jailed for their roles in the killing. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Tara Burns, Judge Sarah Berkeley, and Judge Michael Walsh, resumes tomorrow.
Two Dublin men sought by Northern Irish authorities for the alleged attempted murder of a PSNI officer and possession of explosives with intent to endanger life have brought legal challenges regarding access to detention records. Ciaran Maguire, aged 29, and Sean Paul Farrell, aged 32, were arrested in County Donegal in 2015 in connection with an improvised explosive device discovered beneath a police officer's vehicle in County Derry on June 18, 2015. Both face potential life imprisonment if convicted. Their legal representatives sought judicial review at the Court of Appeal in Dublin, challenging the High Court's earlier refusal to grant access to custody records, statements, and samples obtained during their detention at Letterkenny Garda Station. Counsel argued their clients required such material to resist extradition proceedings. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, reserved judgment on the matter.
Ray Kennedy (39) and Laurence Murphy (62) are on trial at the Special Criminal Court, having pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh Na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA on March 6, 2013. Mr Kennedy is also charged with carrying out an act intending to pervert the course of justice by destroying a mobile telephone SIM card. The prosecution alleges the pair were involved in the "meticulously planned killing" of dissident republican Peter Butterly (35), who was shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, Co Meath, on that date. Testimony from Detective Garda Alan Waters indicated that Mr Kennedy arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting, claiming he was meeting his "friend" Mr Butterly. The prosecution suggests Mr Kennedy destroyed the SIM card to destroy evidence. While the current trial is ongoing, four other men—Kevin Braney, Edward McGrath, Sharif Kelly, and Dean Evans—have already received life sentences for Mr Butterly's murder. Additionally, Michael McDermott (60) and Frank Murphy (59), who played roles in the murder, have also been jailed. The trial resumes before Justice Tara Burns, sitting with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Michael Walsh.
During a trial for Liam Brannigan, a 37‑year‑old from Dublin, a detective explained how two tracking devices were found on a white Range Rover belonging to the partner of the intended murder victim, Gary Hanley. The devices were discovered under the vehicle's centre beam after the car was stopped on Beaumont Road. Brannigan is charged with conspiring to murder Hanley between 15 September and 6 November 2017 and has pleaded not guilty. The court also heard about the arrests of Luke Wilson, Alan Wilson and Joseph Kelly on 6 November, who were convicted of conspiring to murder Hanley and received sentences ranging from six to twelve years. The trial will continue the following day.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 44‑year‑old Muhamet Gashi pleaded guilty to assault causing harm for stabbing Anton Donca on 14 April 2016. Gashi claimed Donca had threatened his children with remarks such as "I fuck your wife, I fuck your kids". Gashi, who lives in North Clarence Street Flats, said he was warned not to touch his kids and that Donca had a knife. The victim was walking to meet a friend when Gashi approached, and Gashi stabbed him, perforating his colon and requiring 11 days in hospital. Gashi had no prior convictions and was described by his defence as a man of very good character. Judge Martin Nolan accepted Gashi's account, noted the seriousness of the knife assault, and sentenced him to 28 months imprisonment. The case involved a relationship that had since broken down between Donca and Gashi's former wife.
Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds adjourned a defamation action between Rosala Uvbi Mku-Atu and Ester Esabod Aboderin to a date later this month. The plaintiff, a London-based businesswoman, alleged that the defendant, who resides in Leixlip, Co Kildare, breached a previous High Court order by publishing a social media post in mid-August wishing her "a sudden death." Counsel for the defendant contested the alleged breach, noting that Facebook had frozen the client's account, preventing the removal of the post. The defendant also reported an ongoing Garda investigation into an assault she suffered at the Four Courts in July, where she claimed to have sustained cuts and bruises. While the plaintiff's legal team stated their client did not condone the violence, the judge expressed concern over the potential injunction breach. She directed the defendant's lawyers to immediately contact Facebook to unfreeze the account and remove the material. The judge accepted an undertaking from the defendant not to post further material about the plaintiff and warned of the serious consequences of breaching court orders. The matter was adjourned, with the judge thanking Gardaí for their attendance during the hearing.
Anthony Cassidy, 34, was convicted of raping and seriously assaulting a woman in her 50s in Carlow on 25 June 2017. CCTV captured his movements to and from the site where the victim was found unconscious 12 hours later, but did not record the assault itself, which is said to have lasted about 30 minutes. Cassidy pleaded guilty to rape and assault causing serious harm, and had 34 prior convictions, including soliciting sex in the UK and two assaults in Ireland. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy sentenced him to 18 years' imprisonment, noting that a life sentence would have been imposed had Cassidy not pleaded guilty and shown "genuine remorse". The Court of Appeal upheld the sentence, with Mr Justice Michael Peart affirming that the offence was of the most serious type and that the judge's decision to reduce a potential life sentence to 18 years was correct. The appeal was dismissed.
The Special Criminal Court heard the opening of the prosecution case against Ray Kennedy and Laurence Murphy, who have pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh Na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA. Kennedy, 39, is additionally charged with carrying out an act intending to pervert the course of justice by destroying a mobile telephone SIM card. The trial concerns the killing of dissident republican Peter Butterly in March 2013. Prosecution counsel alleged that Kennedy arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting, having arranged a meeting with the victim, and subsequently destroyed a SIM card. It was further alleged that Murphy's vehicle passed the location two days prior to the incident and that he attended a debriefing meeting afterwards. The court heard that four other men have already received life sentences for the murder, while Michael McDermott and Frank Murphy, the latter being Laurence Murphy's brother, have also been jailed for their roles in the killing. David Cullen, whose plea to a lesser charge was accepted in 2014, turned State's witness. The trial is ongoing before a three-judge panel and resumes tomorrow.
Petru Pinto, 50, pleaded guilty to reckless assault causing harm after a five‑a‑side football match in Santry, Dublin, on 16 November 2012. He was sentenced by Judge Pauline Codd to a two‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term, suspended in full on the condition that he pay €5,000 to Paul Ceusan within three years. Ceusan suffered a Grade 4 renal injury, a split kidney, requiring a stent and resulting in 25 % loss of kidney function, high blood pressure, €1,350 in medical costs and about 20 weeks of work absence. The court noted that Pinto had no prior convictions in the six years since the assault, had expressed remorse, and was a founding member of the local football club. The judge described Pinto's tackle as a dangerous, conscious disregard for the victim's safety, and highlighted that the injury was not anticipated in a normal game. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
James Leddy, 55, of Blanchardstown, was convicted in December 2019 of three counts of indecent assault on 13‑year‑old Colm Bracken, aged 51, at Leddy's former home in Artane between May and September 1981. Leddy pleaded not guilty but was found guilty by majority verdict. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to eight months' imprisonment, suspending the final five months on strict conditions, including engagement with the Probation Service. The sentence was the maximum of two years allowed for offences committed in 1981. Leddy admitted guilt, expressed remorse, and has since led a pro‑social life, never re‑offending. He is now on the Sex Offenders' Register. The case highlighted the long‑lasting impact on Bracken, who described the abuse as a living nightmare and reported suicidal thoughts and hospitalisation. The trial was conducted at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge noted Leddy's lack of recollection but acceptance of the verdict and his mental health history.
A High Court judge criticised the prison service for failing to bring Liam Brannigan, a 37‑year‑old from Bride Street, Dublin 8, to a Special Criminal Court hearing where he was charged with conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between 15 September and 6 November 2017. Brannigan, who pleaded not guilty and is remanded at Mountjoy Prison, was absent when the trial was set to begin at 11 a.m. The court had issued a production order for his appearance, but the prison service did not comply, creating a misunderstanding. Judge Paul Coffey, joined by Judges Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and James Faughnan, described the failure as "baffling" and "patently obvious" that the court had ordered his presence. Coffey warned the prison service that such an omission should not recur and noted the absence of any phone call to the court before the scheduled start. The trial was rescheduled to resume at 2 p.m. on the same day.
During a sentencing hearing on 7 October 2019, the mother of a 17‑year‑old boy who attempted to murder 25‑year‑old Stephanie Ng spoke to Mr Justice Michael White. She said her son is remorseful and takes full responsibility. The boy met Ng on the Whisper app, pretending to be 19, and tried to kill her on 23 December 2017 at Sea Front, Queen's Road, Dun Laoghaire. He grabbed her, choked her, and slashed her neck. The mother explained that the boy had been hearing voices since secondary school, had attempted suicide at 14, and had been denied a bed at Linn Dara and Pieta House. He later hanged himself at home but was saved by his father. He has since been prescribed anti‑psychotic medication and has completed his Junior Certificate and written over 30 short stories. The defence requested a period of detention followed by supervision after he turns 18, citing uncertain diagnosis. The unnamed teenager pleaded guilty.
A 15‑person jury will be sworn to hear the trial of Aaron Brady, 27, of New Road, Crossmaglen, charged with the murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe, who was killed in the line of duty at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co. Louth, on 25 January 2013. Mr Justice Michael White scheduled the trial to begin on 21 October, agreeing to a 15‑person jury after the prosecution suggested the case could extend into January 2020.
A court has heard that secretly recorded conversations involving Liam Brannigan (37) from Bride Street, Dublin 8, will be presented as evidence in his trial for conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between September 15th and November 6th, 2017. Brannigan entered a 'not guilty' plea during his arraignment in the Special Criminal Court. Three men who previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder Mr Hanley have already been jailed: Luke Wilson (24), Alan Wilson (39), and Joseph Kelly (35). Luke Wilson was jailed for 11 years for unlawful possession of a Beretta handgun with intent to endanger life, Alan Wilson received six years, and Joseph Kelly was jailed for 12 years. The prosecution will rely on seized phones, vehicles, and audio recordings from a Garda surveillance operation to prove Brannigan's involvement in the plot. The trial will include evidence of detailed discussions about how Mr Hanley was to be shot, how they would react to resistance, and how they would escape. The court will also hear about the arrest of Joseph Kelly and Luke Wilson, during which a semi-automatic pistol, a sound suppressor, and petrol were found. The trial continues tomorrow.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, an unnamed man pleaded guilty to rape, oral rape, sexual assault and sexual exploitation of a child, offences committed between 1 November 2018 and 15 January 2019. The victim, an eight‑year‑old niece, was abused mainly at the accused's home while his wife and she were present. Gardaí reports detail the child's testimony that the uncle performed sexual acts on her, describing them as "gross" and "sore," and that he claimed she had "nice white skin." The accused admitted to having sexual feelings toward her and stated he "only likes children with white skin." He apologized in court, placing himself "at the mercy of this court" and praying for forgiveness. The victim's father declined a victim impact statement, citing the family's desire not to relive the events. Mr Justice Michael White remanded the accused in custody and adjourned sentencing to 14 October 2020.
A trial date has not yet been set for Alan Wilson, a 40‑year‑old Dublin man charged with three counts of attempted murder in the 2010 shooting at the Players Lounge pub in Fairview, Dublin 3. Wilson is accused of attempting to kill Brian Masterson, Wayne Barrett and Austin Purcell on 26 July 2010. He is also charged with possession of a .38 Special Smith & Wesson revolver, a .32 Auto Zastava semi‑automatic pistol, and ammunition for both firearms, all with intent to endanger life. In a hearing before a three‑judge panel, Wilson told the gardai he had "absolutely nothing to do with these allegations." Defence counsel James Dwyer SC said his side were not ready for trial, noting the case involved an extensive investigation and ongoing disclosure of material. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel, Seán Gillane SC, said much material had already been disclosed.
The Special Criminal Court will open a trial tomorrow for Laurence Murphy, 62, and Ray Kennedy, 39, who were charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, the Irish Republican Army, in connection with the murder of Peter Butterly, a 35‑year‑old father of two, who was shot dead on 6 March 2013 outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, Co. Meath. Both men pleaded not guilty to the membership charges. Justice Tara Burns, Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Michael Walsh remanded them on continuing bail until the trial opens.
Dean Howe, aged 34, was granted a new trial date after he complained that the original date of 7 October 2019 was too soon. He had been returned to the non‑jury Special Criminal Court after being charged in May 2019 with conspiring to murder Mr Hanley at a location within the State between 15 September and 6 November 2017. Howe had previously been given a trial date of 7 October, but his counsel, Paul Carroll SC, argued that the case was substantial and that Howe could not be ready for that date. Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges Ann Ryan and Michael Walsh, adjourned the trial to 13 January 2020, a date expected to last up to six weeks. Howe will be remanded in custody to appear before the court again on that date. Liam Brannigan, aged 37, is also charged with conspiring to murder Mr Hanley and his trial will take place on 7 October.