During a brief court appearance, Brendan Grehan SC, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), expressed concern that the identification of the two 14‑year‑old boys convicted of murdering Anastasia Kriegel could "flare up" again at the upcoming sentencing hearing later this month. The boys, known only as Boy A and Boy B in the media, were convicted in June of the murder of Ana Kriegel at Glenwood House, Laraghcon, Clonee Road, Lucan on 14 May last year, and Boy A was also convicted of Ana's aggravated sexual assault involving serious violence. The DPP noted that it remains "real concerned" despite a recent period of stability following the removal of identifying images from Facebook and Twitter. On 20 June, Mr Justice Michael White imposed an injunction requiring Facebook and Twitter to remove any photos or other material identifying the boys.
Paul Barry, 37, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assaulting his former partner, Kim Fox, causing her harm at her home in Loughlinstown on December 9, 2018. Barry pleaded guilty to the charge. Judge Martin Nolan described the incident as a serious, unprovoked assault, noting that Barry had been under the voluntary influence of alcohol and cocaine. Ms Fox sustained significant injuries, including a fractured eye socket, three fractured ribs, and two missing teeth, and reported ongoing mental trauma. The court heard that Barry initially told gardai the injuries resulted from a fall, a claim the prosecution rejected as untrue. Judge Nolan cited Barry's 17 previous convictions, including a robbery, and his callous attitude toward the victim as aggravating factors. Mitigation included his early guilty plea, good work record, and expression of remorse. The judge imposed a 32-month prison sentence, backdated to when Barry first went into custody. The maximum penalty for the offence is five years. Barry's counsel apologized on his behalf, stating he was regretful and had not contacted Ms Fox since the incident.
A meat factory worker was convicted of manslaughter but acquitted of murder at the Central Criminal Court following a trial in July 2019. Tomasz Paszkiewicz had pleaded guilty to manslaughter and not guilty to murder in connection with the death of Marek Swider on Dublin Street, Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan on 1 January 2018. The court heard that Paszkiewicz stabbed the 40-year-old Polish man twice with a boning knife after a dispute during a New Year's Eve poker game at their shared home. The accused had lost several hundred euros and attempted to reclaim the money. A witness testified that Swider returned to the living room holding his stomach, stating he had been stabbed. Swider died following surgery. The defence argued that Paszkiewicz's statements to gardaí indicated lack of intent, while the prosecution characterised the killing as deliberate and brutal. The jury deliberated for almost five hours before reaching a majority verdict. Justice Tara Burns remanded Paszkiewicz in custody pending sentencing on 15 July.
Associated News (Ireland) Ltd, owners of the Daily Mail, pleaded guilty to contempt of court regarding a headline published on May 3 during the Ana Kriegel murder trial. The headline, "CCTV shows Ana being lured to her death," was deemed by Mr Justice Paul McDermott as calculated to incite public outrage. The company accepted responsibility, with CEO Paul Henderson apologising and stating the error occurred because changes were made to journalist Helen Bruce's copy without her consultation. The DPP's counsel, Brendan Grehan, described the publication as an error and noted the company offered to pay costs. Defence counsel Eoin McCullough SC argued for a nominal penalty, citing the company's clean record and the fact that the trial was not aborted. Regarding Daily Mail Editor Mr Sebastian Hamilton, counsel argued he should not face a criminal conviction as he had left the office before the copy was altered and had established a consultation system that was not followed. Mr Grehan countered that editorial responsibility must rest with the editor. Mr Justice McDermott reserved his decision on the sentence for Monday, meaning the matter was adjourned and not yet finalised.
During the murder trial of Paul O'Beirne and Jeffrey Morrow, Dr Rebecca Weld presented DNA evidence linking a bulldog to a car seat cover found at the accused's home. Dr Weld, a PhD in animal identification and former director of Weatherbys DNA laboratories, had examined DNA from a black cocker‑spaniel named Lily and an English bulldog named Bailey in 2016. She matched a partial DNA profile from a white hair on the cover to Bailey, noting the probability of a match with another dog was one in a billion. The cover, recovered from a bin in O'Beirne's garden, was similar to a canvas sheet from Joseph Cogan's stolen Volkswagen Golf GTI, which he claimed was used to protect his car from dog hairs. Cogan had provided hair samples from his fawn bulldog and black cocker‑spaniel. The prosecution argues the fatal shots were fired from the Golf. Paul O'Beirne pleaded not guilty. Jeffrey Morrow pleaded not guilty.
Aaron Colton, 24, of Mount Olive Grove, Kilbarrack, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to demanding money with menace for an alleged drug debt at a teenager's home on November 23, 2017. Judge Martin Nolan jailed Colton for five years. The court heard that Colton threatened the 16-year-old victim, stating he would break him and kill him if he did not pay. Colton, who has 40 previous convictions, had been on remand since January this year after a warrant was issued for his failure to appear at a prior hearing. This sentence follows the May 2018 sentencing of co-accused Alan Long, 28, of Briarfield, Kilbarrack, who was also jailed for five years after pleading guilty to trespass, theft, assault, and demanding money with menaces at the victim's home in October 2017. Long had allegedly inflated a small drug debt to €8,000, stolen household items, and assaulted the teenager. The judge noted a pattern of abuse against the family, including threats to the victim's mother, and accepted that Colton's threats were convincing and believed to be carried out. Defense counsel John Moher BL argued Colton's behavior was a radical departure from his previous minor offenses, which the judge acknowledged.
An 86‑year‑old retired doctor, whose name is protected by the Court of Appeal, lost an appeal against the severity of his sentence for abusing two teenage boys in the mid‑1970s. He had pleaded not guilty to eight charges of indecent assault on six patients between 1964 and 1991. A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found him guilty of indecent assault on two 15‑year‑old patients; one complainant was directed not guilty and the remaining counts were acquitted. Judge Cormac Quinn imposed two consecutive 10‑month sentences, totalling 20 months imprisonment, a sentence within the maximum two‑year range for the offence at the time. The Court of Appeal, in a three‑judge panel, upheld the 20‑month custodial term, noting the serious betrayal of trust inherent in the doctor's position and the deliberate nature of the acts. The appeal was dismissed with no error found in principle.
A man convicted of indecently assaulting a young teenager in 1980 has had his appeal dismissed by the Court of Appeal. Patrick Patton, aged 65, of Cashelard, Ballyshannon, County Donegal, was sentenced to fourteen months imprisonment in April 2019 following a trial at Donegal Circuit Criminal Court. A jury returned a ten-to-two majority guilty verdict on one count of indecent assault against a fourteen-year-old girl, while unanimously acquitting him on two further counts involving another young female. Patton's legal team argued the jury had been pressured into their guilty verdict due to adverse weather conditions and the late Friday timing of deliberations. They contended the jury, observed returning with coats on, had been influenced by the judge's instruction to persevere on the disputed count. President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice George Birmingham found little merit in these submissions, noting either party could have raised concerns about the timing or sought adjournment. The court upheld the conviction, finding the judge's instructions fair and the procedure appropriate. Patrick Patton pleaded not guilty.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has begun deliberations in the murder trial of a meat factory worker from Cavan. The accused, a 39-year-old, admits killing his housemate with a boning knife from his workplace but denies murder, instead pleading guilty to manslaughter. The victim, a 40-year-old Polish man, died from two stab wounds to his upper body following a New Year's Eve poker game at their home on Dublin Street, Ballyjamesduff on 1 January 2018. Prosecution counsel argued the case was straightforward, characterising it as an angry response to losing money at cards, followed by an armed assault. The defence maintained there was insufficient evidence of intent to kill or cause serious injury. The jury of seven men and five women retired to consider their verdict on the afternoon of 3 July 2019 and adjourned for the night, set to resume deliberations the following morning. The unnamed 39-year-old pleaded not guilty.
During a search of Paul O'Beirne's home on 16 March 2016, Gardai discovered a partially burnt mobile phone inside a barbecue in the back garden. The find was reported by Sergeant Patrick Traynor to the Central Criminal Court. O'Beirne, aged 36, and Jeffrey Morrow, aged 37, are on trial for the murder of 25‑year‑old Vincent Ryan, who was killed on 29 February 2016 at McKee Road in Finglas. The case is proceeding before Justice Michael White with a jury of eight men and four women. Paul O'Beirne pleaded not guilty. Jeffrey Morrow pleaded not guilty.
John Downey has lost a Court of Appeal challenge seeking to prevent his extradition to Northern Ireland in connection with the 1972 Enniskillen bombing. The 67-year-old, arrested in November 2018 at his home in Creeslough, Co Donegal, faces charges relating to the deaths of two British Army soldiers, Lance Corporal Alfred Johnston and Private James Eames, who were killed on 25 August 1972 when an explosive device detonated near Enniskillen. The High Court in Dublin ordered his extradition in March. The Court of Appeal upheld that decision today, with Mr Justice Michael Peart ruling that challenges based on an alleged "comfort letter" issued by the UK Government should be determined by Northern Irish courts rather than in extradition proceedings. Mr Downey's legal representatives indicated they intend to appeal to the Supreme Court. He remains on bail pending that application.
In July 2014, Bogdan Hainal (28), a Romanian national, participated in a violent robbery at the home of Paul and Patrick Kenny, both in their sixties, in Prosperous, Co Kildare. The raiders arrived in a black BMW, entered Patrick's bedsit, tied him with neckties, threatened him, and demanded money. They beat him, stabbed his hand and arm, and tied him to a sink with a rubber inner tube while covering his eyes with a woolly hat. The ordeal lasted one hour and six minutes. Hainal pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary on 8 July 2014. Judge Patricia Ryan set a headline sentence of 11 years, suspending the final two years on the condition that Hainal stay away from the victims for 30 years and engage with Probation Services. The victims described fear for their lives, and Paul Kenny was hospitalised for six weeks, while Patrick Kenny has suffered high blood pressure and will require lifelong medication.
Alice Byrne, 44, of Dublin 15, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Sarah Comer outside James Connolly Hospital on 13 August 2017. She also pleaded guilty to trespass and criminal damage on 1 October 2015 when she directed the smashing of a domestic dwelling with baseball bats. Byrne was sentenced to four years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, by Judge Pauline Codd on 17 December 2018 for the assault. The sentence was consecutive to nine months imprisonment for the trespass and criminal damage. She lost an appeal against the severity of her sentence on 2 July 2019. The Court of Appeal, in a three‑judge panel, found no error in principle and dismissed the appeal. The judge noted Byrne's 21 previous convictions and the seriousness of the victim's injuries, including permanent facial disfigurement and nerve damage.
Derek Murphy, 49, of Coolock, pleaded guilty to threatening a doctor with a gun gesture after she reduced his methadone dosage. The threat was made on 30 October 2013 while he was at a drug treatment centre. Murphy had been on bail for a 12‑year robbery and firearms conviction from 2015 and had 42 prior convictions, including manslaughter, robbery and a tiger kidnapping. In 2018 he was convicted of robbery again and received a nine‑year sentence, with a release date of 13 June 2025. The court found it "unjust" to extend his custody and sentenced him to one year imprisonment to run concurrently with his existing nine‑year term. No additional time was imposed. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Peter Bradshaw, 55, of Glin Court, Coolock, Dublin, pleaded guilty to arson at his apartment on 24 January 2018. The fire spread to neighbouring flats, causing €782,027 in damage and forcing residents into emergency accommodation. He was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to 11 years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended on strict conditions. After the fire, Bradshaw went to Clontarf Garda Station and confessed to a fictitious murder, claiming he had assaulted a man, set a mattress on fire, and attempted to fake his own death. He later admitted he had not murdered anyone. Bradshaw has 40 prior convictions, including arson, burglary and theft, and had a five‑year sentence for arson in 2009. The judge noted his propensity for setting fires and the danger he posed to society.
A 39-year-old meat factory worker has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter following the death of his housemate in Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan, on New Year's Day 2018. The Central Criminal Court heard that Tomasz Paszkiewicz stabbed his poker opponent twice in the upper body after losing hundreds of euro in a game on New Year's Eve. The accused told gardai he obtained the knife from his kitchen, though he claimed to have no clear recollection of the incident or his actions. A witness testified that the deceased came inside holding his stomach, stating he had been stabbed and requesting an ambulance. Paszkiewicz said he took responsibility for the killing but did not decide to stab the man. The prosecution closed its case on Tuesday, with the defence indicating it would not call evidence. Closing speeches are scheduled for Wednesday morning before Justice Tara Burns and the jury.
Sarah Doran, aged 66, was convicted of assault causing serious harm and false imprisonment against an 84‑year‑old woman she was caring for. The incident occurred at Violet Hill, Bray on 28 December 2015. Judge Michael O'Shea sentenced her to eight‑and‑a‑half years, suspending the final three‑and‑a‑half years. Doran, with no prior convictions, appealed the severity of the sentence after the normal 28‑day period had passed. The Court of Appeal granted her an extension of time to lodge the appeal. Her barrister, Mark Lynam, described the offence as "inexplicable" and argued that mental health issues may have influenced her behaviour. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, acknowledged the seriousness of the assault and the unusual circumstances, and agreed to allow the extended appeal period. The case remains at the appeal stage. Sarah Doran pleaded guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 1 July 2019, Mr Justice Paul McDermott considered whether mental health professionals could interview the parents of the two boys convicted of murdering 14‑year‑old Ana Kriegel. The boys, referred to as Boy A and Boy B, were found guilty of the murder and, in Boy A's case, of aggravated sexual assault. Mr Justice McDermott had ordered probation and psychiatric reports from child forensic psychiatrists. Brendan Grehan SC, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, presented Professor Harry Kennedy's suggestions, which included joint assessments by consultant child and forensic psychiatrists, assessments by clinical psychologists, and interviews with the boys' parents to access prior reports. Patrick Gageby SC, for Boy A, noted uncertainty about the availability of a specialist child forensic psychiatrist in Ireland, while Damien Colgan SC, for Boy B, expressed no objection to the proposals.
Leroy Dumbrell, 32, of Carriglea Gardens, Dun Laoghaire, withdrew a sentence appeal after a senior judge warned that the Court of Appeal could increase his sentence. Dumbrell had pleaded guilty to violent disorder in 2013 and to threatening a detective in 2015. He had over 70 prior convictions, including arson and a prison brawl. He was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment with the final year suspended in 2016. The appeal was to challenge the severity of the six‑year term, but the judge noted Dumbrell's extensive criminal record and the Court of Appeal's power to increase sentences. Dumbrell's lawyers requested withdrawal, and the judge described him as "very wise." The case was dismissed before hearing.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that the accused man handed himself in to gardaí in Cork on 3 January 2018, three days after the fatal stabbing of his housemate in Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan. Garda Razvan Ghetau testified that when the man entered Anglesea Garda Station stating he had killed his friend, the officer initially believed it was a jest. The witness said the accused repeated his statement and appeared serious, with his hands positioned as though requesting arrest. Inspector John Callinan outlined the subsequent interviews conducted in Cavan. The accused, Tomasz Paszkiewicz (39), explained he had worked at a meat processing facility since 2009, boning cattle heads. When shown a knife recovered from the scene bearing his employee number, he identified it as his work knife, which he had brought home a year prior. Questioned about his knife proficiency, he acknowledged developing considerable skill over nine years. Mr Paszkiewicz has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in relation to the death of Marek Swider (40).
In a Central Criminal Court ruling, Mr Justice Paul McDermott fined journalist Niall O'Connor €2,500 after he inadvertently named one of the boys convicted of Ana Kriegel's murder during a live Red FM interview. The station was fined €10,000. O'Connor, who was a guest on the Neil Prendeville show the morning after the convictions, apologized unreservedly, stating the slip was a mistake and not intentional. The DPP's Brendan Grehan noted that the boys, aged 14, could not be identified, and the court had taken care to refer to them as Boy A and Boy B. The judge imposed the fine or a three‑month prison term if unpaid, and the broadcaster was ordered to pay within three months. The case highlighted the court's protection of minors and the broadcaster's subsequent implementation of a seven‑second delay to prevent future incidents.
David Cully, 28, of Kilshane Road, Finglas West, was convicted of murder for shooting his uncle, Edward O'Connor, 41, at Ballycoolin Road on 15 December 2013. Cully admitted the shooting but denied it was murder, claiming it occurred in the heat of the moment after a comment about a sexual‑abuse allegation against O'Connor. The case involved an organised 'straightener' attended by both men and two others. A jury of seven women and five men deliberated over eight hours and returned a unanimous guilty verdict. Cully received a mandatory life sentence on 29 July 2015. He has now lodged an appeal, arguing that family testimony was wrongly excluded and that the evidence of a prior threat was crucial. The Court of Appeal will consider the appeal.
In a 2019 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Jack Hall Ellis, 21, pleaded guilty to unlawfully killing his friend Luke O'Reilly, 20, in a drunken "one punch" assault on Halloween night 2017. Ellis admitted he was acting in drunkenness and anger, having consumed seven to ten double shots of Captain Morgan rum, and punched O'Reilly from behind as they left a pub. O'Reilly fell, hit his head, suffered traumatic brain injuries and died in hospital two weeks later. Ellis was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. The judge noted the unprovoked nature of the assault, Ellis's early guilty plea, lack of prior violent convictions, remorse, and supportive family as mitigating factors, while emphasizing the seriousness of one‑punch attacks and the need for deterrence. The sentence reflected the low‑middle range of offending for the offence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Karl McDonnell, 27, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after an incident at the Generator Hostel's toilet on 15 April 2018. The accused claimed the Swiss tourist had made advances, while the tourist alleged McDonnell followed him into a cubicle with his penis exposed and then punched him. Gardaí interviewed the tourist, who had bruises and two black eyes, and CCTV showed McDonnell leaving the toilet and looking at his fist. McDonnell denied the claim, saying he only reacted when the tourist "commented on his manhood" and tried to grab his penis. He expressed remorse but maintained the tourist had "made advances." The court noted McDonnell's 19 prior convictions and adjourned sentencing to 18 July to allow the prosecution to decide if the tourist would testify from Switzerland.
In a murder case, Gardai collected DNA and hair samples from two dogs owned by Paul O'Beirne (36) and Jeffrey Morrow (37), whose car was stolen in October 2015. The defendants, who pleaded not guilty, were involved in the February 2016 shooting of Vincent Ryan (25) on McKee Road, Finglas. Joseph Cogan, the car owner, described how his silver Volkswagen Golf GTI was taken and how a grey canvas sheet in the boot, used to protect the car from dog hair, was likely covered in hair. He confirmed giving permission for DNA and hair sampling on April 14, 2016. Additional testimony included Gary Tai's observation of a burning car on Red Lane and John Shaughnessy's fire‑fighting efforts, with Garda Niall Geoghan photographing the scene. The trial proceeds before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of eight men and four women.
In a High Court case, Mr Justice Michael White announced he would issue a written judgment on July 11 regarding a rape victim's request to waive her anonymity. The case involves a 41‑year‑old Wicklow man who was convicted last month of repeated sexual attacks on a child who was about nine at the time. He pleaded not guilty to four counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault between 1987 and 1989. Mr Justice White had imposed a seven‑year sentence and, at the trial, ordered that the identities of both parties remain unpublished at the DPP's request. The DPP now seeks to lift that order so the victim's name can be disclosed, while the defence argues there is no legal basis to remove the anonymity. The judge noted the seriousness of the issue and the need for a written decision, though he may be delayed by a busy docket.
A takeaway worker from Cavan was commended by Justice Tara Burns at the Central Criminal Court for providing first aid to a fatally injured man on New Year's Eve 2018. Alannah Sheridan, who was employed at a takeaway in Ballyjamesduff, was leaving work when she learned of a man in distress on Dublin Street. Drawing on her First Aid training with the Order of Malta, she applied pressure to a chest wound using her scarf while awaiting emergency services. The injured man, Marek Swider, a 40-year-old Polish national, was subsequently taken to Cavan General Hospital but died on New Year's morning. The trial concerns Tomasz Paszkiewicz, aged 39, charged with Mr Swider's murder. Mr Paszkiewicz has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Acting State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan testified that Mr Swider died following two stab wounds to his chest and abdomen. The trial continues before a jury of seven men and five women.
A man has admitted fatally stabbing his housemate following a dispute over a poker game on New Year's Eve at their home in Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan. Tomasz Paszkiewicz, aged 39, is charged with the murder of Marek Swider, aged 40, on January 1, 2018, at Dublin Street. He has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The Central Criminal Court heard that both men, originally from Poland, were playing cards for money when a row erupted over winnings approaching €500. Paszkiewicz subsequently invited Swider outside and stabbed him twice with a knife used at his workplace in a meat processing facility. The prosecution must prove the accused's intention to kill or cause serious injury. A witness present that evening testified the men had been good friends with no previous conflict. The trial before Ms Justice Tara Burns continues.
Barry McArdle, 33, of Drimnagh, faced a 13‑year sentence in the Netherlands for manslaughter after a Dutch court overturned his earlier acquittal. He had previously been convicted of concealing a body, receiving a two‑year term that he had already served while on remand. After being arrested under a European Arrest Warrant on 3 May, he was remanded in Dublin and later released. McArdle intends to challenge his surrender to the Netherlands in the High Court. In May, the High Court refused him bail, and the Court of Appeal upheld that decision today. Justice John Edwards noted that McArdle, as a convicted person, does not enjoy the presumption of innocence at this time, citing his movements between Dublin and Galway and failure to collect social welfare as evidence of his flight risk. The appeal was dismissed with no error found in the High Court's approach. Barry McArdle was acquitted.
Petronel Pal, 36, was arrested in Dublin on May 3 after a second attempt to secure bail was denied. He is wanted in Romania for aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder and aggravated robbery committed on April 10, 2014, when he and others allegedly broke into the apartment of Virgil Busa, 37, at Academy Square, Navan. Busa was violently assaulted and died three days later. The alleged crime group, headed by a relative of Pal, is said to have used extreme violence and stolen a laptop, tablet, mobile phone and rucksack. Pal has eight prior convictions in Ireland, including possession of equipment for making false instruments and handling stolen property, which the Gardaí cited as evidence of a flight risk. The High Court refused bail, and the Court of Appeal upheld that decision, citing Pal's record and potential for absconding. Pal's lawyer noted that extradition proceedings will involve significant legal issues, including extra‑territoriality. The case remains pending.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, Acting State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan testified that 25‑year‑old Vincent Ryan died from a gunshot wound that entered his head on the right side of the forehead, measuring 2.5 cm in diameter, and exited on the left side. A second bullet entered his right hand, and a third entered the back of his right shoulder, with an exit wound at the base of his neck. Toxicology showed no alcohol or drugs in his system. Dr Mulligan described complex skull fractures, brain swelling, and bleeding as the cause of death, with blood loss from the hand and shoulder wounds contributing. The trial also heard that Paul O'Beirne (36) and Jeffrey Morrow (37) pleaded not guilty to Ryan's murder. Detective Garda Ursula Cummins reported twelve 9mm cartridge cases and bullets at the scene, all from the same gun, though the specific firearm type could not be identified.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a contempt of court motion was authorised after journalist Niall O'Connor allegedly named one of the two boys convicted of Ana Kriegel's murder on a Cork radio show. Brendan Grehan SC, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, informed Mr Justice Michael White that the matter arose from an interview on the Neil Prendeville show on Red FM on the morning of June 19, the day after the jury's verdicts. The boys, aged 14, were found guilty of murdering 14‑year‑old Ana Kriegel at an abandoned farmhouse in Lucan on 14 May last year, and one was also convicted of aggravated sexual assault. The identities of the boys are protected under the Children Act and a court order by Mr Justice Paul McDermott. Mr Grehan presented a redacted transcript showing the journalist naming one boy twice before being cut off.
A man convicted of manslaughter in connection with a 2013 killing has been found guilty of criminal damage and production of a weapon at the Central Criminal Court. Quentin Monaghan, aged 25 and from Tullamoy, Stradbally, County Laois, received an eight-year sentence in 2015 with two years suspended for his role in the death of Jamie Lindsay, who was fatally shot during an altercation over drugs in Athy, County Kildare. The court heard uncertainty regarding the duration of the suspension period. Prosecutors sought clarification by requesting trial transcripts from the original sentencing. Monaghan faces a potential two-year custodial term if the offences occurred within the suspended sentence period. He is scheduled for sentencing at Limerick Circuit Court later in the year. The trial judge previously accepted Monaghan did not intend death or serious injury but characterised his conduct as reckless.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Paul O'Beirne and Jeffrey Morrow, who are charged with murdering Vincent Ryan, continued before Mr Justice Michael White. Both defendants, aged 36 and 37 respectively, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of the 25-year-old victim at McKee Road in Finglas on February 29, 2016. Prosecution counsel Paul Burns SC called Kelly Smyth, the victim's partner, who testified that she heard five loud bangs after taking their five-week-old daughter inside her home. She discovered Mr Ryan seriously injured in his car with smashed windows. Her brother, Keith Smyth, corroborated the account, describing the sounds as gunshots and noting a grey car fleeing the scene. Dr Edmund Carton stated that Mr Ryan was pronounced dead at the Mater Hospital at 21:10. Neighbour Lorcan Buckley reported hearing approximately 12 or 13 gunshots, while Dublin Fire Brigade officer Stephen O'Reilly described finding bullet holes in the vehicle and multiple wounds on the victim. The trial is ongoing with a jury of four women and eight men, and no verdict or sentence has been recorded.
Derek Heavey, aged 32, of Moeran Road, Walkinstown, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm and criminal damage following an incident on Ballyfermot Road on May 23, 2018. An off-duty garda sounded his horn at Heavey, who was operating a horse-drawn sulky on the wrong side of the road. Heavey subsequently attacked the garda, striking him through the car window, damaging the vehicle's wing mirror, and punching him in the face, resulting in a chipped tooth. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two-year custodial sentence, fully suspended on condition Heavey maintain the peace and good behaviour for two years. The court ordered Heavey to pay €1,000 in compensation immediately and raise a further €1,000 within twelve months. The judge characterised the incident as "a gross act of petulance.
Michael Corbett, 29, pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of a 17‑year‑old camper at the Hellfire Club on 27 June 2016. He had attacked several campers with a knife and struck one teenager with a piece of timber. While awaiting sentencing, Corbett assaulted psychiatric nurse Declan Curtin at the Central Mental Hospital on 6 October 2016. During an exercise session, he tried to strangle the nurse with a sock; Curtin escaped unharmed but now suffers flashbacks and heightened anxiety. Corbett pleaded guilty to assaulting Curtin. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a five‑year sentence, suspending the final two and a half years, and ordered 15 years of supervision under strict conditions, including residence approval, pre‑release planning, medication adherence, appointment attendance, and abstinence from illicit substances. The sentence was back‑dated to September 2018. Corbett's mental health, including paranoid schizophrenia and prior non‑compliance with medication, was noted by the court.
A new jury was sworn in to hear the trial of Paul O'Beirne (36) and Jeffrey Morrow (37), two Dublin men charged with murdering Vincent Ryan, a 25‑year‑old father, on McKee Road in Finglas on 29 February 2016. The men had been arraigned before the Central Criminal Court and pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. Their trial had begun with a jury, but Justice Michael White called the panel in again after one juror was unable to continue, necessitating a new jury. The defendants were re‑arraigned, with O'Beirne of Colepark Drive, Ballyfermot, and Morrow of Burnell Court, Coolock, both stating "Not guilty, your honour." Justice White informed the jury that the trial was expected to last five or six weeks and described the circumstances of the shooting, noting that the shots were fired from a vehicle later found burnt‑out in the Naas area.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Michael Reilly Senior (49) and his son Michael Reilly Junior (22) were sentenced for an assault on Martin Maughan. The incident, part of a feud, involved the Reillys attacking Maughan with a hammer and pick handle while his wife and five‑year‑old granddaughter witnessed. Reilly Senior also bit Maughan's ear and repeatedly rammed his jeep with his van. Both pleaded guilty to assault causing harm; Reilly Senior also pleaded guilty to endangerment. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a headline sentence of five and a half years for Reilly Senior on the endangerment charge and a three‑year sentence for Reilly Junior on assault. Mitigating factors cited included guilty pleas, remorse, and the defendants' tragic backgrounds. Maughan suffered bruising and soft‑tissue injuries; the child was uninjured but distressed. The court noted prior convictions and mental‑health issues for both defendants.
Anthony Moynihan, 54, of Croccane, Rostellan, Midleton, was sentenced in his absence to seven years in prison for raping and sexually assaulting an 11‑year‑old boy, Dylan Higgins, over a period from September 2006 to June 2008. Moynihan pleaded guilty to two counts of anal rape and two counts of sexual assault. Higgins, who was 11 and 12 at the time of the assaults, had previously waived his anonymity and delivered a victim impact statement in court, urging other abuse victims to come forward. The court noted Higgins had attempted suicide twice and had lost his mother in 2016. Moynihan had earlier convictions for assaulting two young girls in 2008 and 2009, for which he received suspended sentences. He was brought into court after a warrant was executed and was remanded to prison by Mr Justice Michael White, who also mentioned Moynihan's throat cancer as a mitigating factor.
A Kildare man known as "Mr Nobody" pleaded guilty to possessing 15 lethal firearms and 1,355 rounds of ammunition at a Dublin business park. The Special Criminal Court heard that the weapons were supplied by senior criminals abroad. Gardaí recovered four loaded revolvers ready for imminent use, a sub‑machine gun, an assault rifle, four semi‑automatic pistols, two silencers and ten spare magazines. The defendant, Declan Brady, 53, was arrested on 24 January 2017 after a surveillance operation. He had seven prior convictions for road traffic offences and had received instructions from overseas figures. Brady's co‑accused, Jonathan Harding and James Walsh, had previously been sentenced to ten and nine years' imprisonment with one year suspended. The court noted the seriousness of the firearms and the lack of any innocent use. Brady was remanded in custody until 15 July, when he will be sentenced.
Two Dublin men, Paul O'Beirne (36) and Jeffrey Morrow (37), are on trial for the murder of 25‑year‑old Vincent Ryan on 29 February 2016. The prosecution relies on circumstantial evidence, including CCTV footage from O'Beirne's home and mobile phone traffic, to argue that the men planned and executed the shooting. Ryan was shot in broad daylight while seated in his car on McKee Road, Finglas, after dropping his partner and baby at her home. A silver Volkswagen Golf fired the fatal shots; the vehicle was later found burning near Naas. The court heard that the men attempted to conceal their involvement, including disposing of a car seat cover from the vehicle. The trial, heard by the Central Criminal Court, is expected to last five to six weeks. Paul O'Beirne pleaded not guilty. Jeffrey Morrow pleaded not guilty.
Patrick Nevin, 37, was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment for raping two women in Meath after meeting them on Tinder. He pleaded guilty to the July 12, 2014 rape in Bellewstown and to a second sexual assault four days later. Nevin had previously been convicted of a sexual assault on a Brazilian woman at UCD in 2014 and had a 5½‑year sentence for that offence. The judge, Ms Justice Creedon, found the attacks pre‑meditated and callous, noting Nevin's predatory conduct and hostility toward women. He received a 14‑year term with the final two years suspended, and a five‑year post‑release supervision order that includes restrictions on physical performance, internet use and contact with others. The sentence was back‑dated to June 2015. Nevin has been in custody since September 2014.
A 54‑year‑old Corkman, Anthony Moynihan, was sentenced in his absence to seven years' imprisonment for raping and sexually assaulting an 11‑year‑old boy, Dylan Higgins, over a two‑year period. Moynihan pleaded guilty to two counts of anal rape and two counts of sexual assault between September 2006 and June 2008. He failed to attend the sentencing hearing at the Central Criminal Court, prompting a bench warrant for his arrest. The court noted Moynihan's prior convictions for sexual assault of two young girls in 2008 and 2009, for which he received suspended sentences. Moynihan's counsel highlighted his throat cancer and the fact that he had made full admissions early on. The judge praised Higgins for his victim impact statement and urged other abuse victims to come forward. The sentencing hearing took place on 21 June 2019.
A 22‑year‑old Cork man was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, for repeatedly raping and sexually assaulting his cousin from the ages of five to nine. The offences, committed between 1 November 2011 and 26 June 2016, included rape, oral rape, anal rape and sexual assault. The judge described the abuse as "particularly severe and horrendous" and noted its devastating impact on the girl and her family. The man pleaded guilty to six charges and received credit for his plea, though the judge set a headline sentence of fourteen years before reducing it. He has no prior convictions. The court ordered him to participate in the Better Lives sex offenders' programme while in prison and to comply with Probation Service directions for two years after release. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court.
Alan Cawley (32) of Four Winds, Corrinbla, Ballina, has appealed his conviction for the murder of two elderly brothers with special needs at the Court of Appeal in Dublin. Cawley was unanimously found guilty by jury in 2017 and received a mandatory life sentence for killing Thomas Blaine (69) and John Blaine (76) at New Antrim Street in Castlebar on 10 July 2013. He admitted the killings but denied murder, claiming diminished responsibility on grounds of mental disorder. The appeal focused on the trial judge's directions to the jury regarding intoxication and its interaction with the diminished responsibility defence. The defence argued the jury may have been directed to exclude intoxication before considering mental disorder, whereas both issues could operate simultaneously. The prosecution maintained the trial judge's instructions were legally sound and that evidence of the crime was overwhelming. A three-judge panel reserved judgment.
Simon Whelan, 32, of Ashtown, Dublin, was sentenced to a global term of three and a half years for a series of burglaries, including four student apartments in Gateway Student Village on 4 October 2018, and several shop and restaurant break‑ins between 2017 and 2018. The judge suspended the final 12 months, so the effective custodial term is two and a half years. Whelan admitted all offences and pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He had a long history of offending, 105 prior convictions, and a longstanding drug addiction. The judge noted no violence was used and that some burglaries were committed while he was on bail for earlier offences. He was offered residential treatment and was committed to rehabilitation services. The sentence was back‑dated to 4 October 2018.
In a contempt of court hearing on 20 June 2019, Mr Justice Michael White addressed the wrongful online identification of an innocent boy as one of the convicted murderers of 14‑year‑old Ana Kriegel. The judge urged Gardaí to pursue those who shared the identities of the two boys, Boy A and Boy B, who were convicted of the murder and an aggravated sexual assault. Under the Children Act, it is an offence to identify minors, and the court upheld an injunction requiring Facebook and Twitter to remove any material that identified the boys. Lawyers for the boys expressed concerns about threats and the safety of their families. The judge emphasised the importance of respecting the law and the integrity of the trial process, noting that the Central Criminal Court is not the forum for broader social media responsibility.
The sentencing of a 16‑year‑old who attempted to murder a 25‑year‑old woman he met on the Whisper app has been postponed because he has not yet met the forensic psychiatrist required to produce a court‑ordered report. The Central Criminal Court had ordered that a consultant psychiatrist and a clinical psychologist prepare reports on the boy, who pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Stephanie Ng on 23 December 2017 at Sea Front, Queen's Road, Dun Laoghaire. He had tried to kill her during their first face‑to‑face meeting by choking and slashing her neck with a knife. Gardai found a book of drawings in his bedroom, including a sketch of a person being cut up and the words "serial killer." Mr Justice Michael White directed Professor Kennedy of the Central Mental Hospital to assign a consultant psychiatrist and clinical psychologist to assess the boy's future risk.
A 62‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to two and a half years for sexually assaulting a 13‑year‑old babysitter of his grandchild. The jury found him guilty after a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. At the sentencing hearing, Fionnuala O'Sullivan BL noted that the complainant had asked to waive anonymity, but a pending High Court decision on whether she may do so means no identifying details can be published until a ruling is made. Judge Micheal White will decide later this month. Garda Michelle Nolan recounted that the investigation began in March 2016 after the victim, then in her 20s, complained of an August 2001 assault by the defendant, who had lived with her family. She described being babysitting the defendant's three‑year‑old granddaughter, sleeping in the same bed, and the defendant leaning over and attempting to kiss her before touching her genital area. He later denied the allegation and the apology he offered.
A 50‑year‑old Kenyan woman, Grace Miano, was committed to the Central Mental Hospital after a Central Criminal Court judge ruled she was unfit to stand trial for the murder of 27‑year‑old Malawian national Limbani "Robert" Mzoma on 1 November 2018. Miano, who lives at Tudor Lawns in Foxrock, claimed she had been poisoned at the time of the alleged offence and that she was not responsible because she had consumed a cigarette containing intoxicants. She denied having a major mental illness, although she occasionally suffered panic attacks. A forensic psychiatrist, Dr Ronan Mullaney, examined her and concluded she had schizo‑affective disorder, was receiving antipsychotic injections, and still held entrenched religious and persecutory delusions. Under the Criminal Law Insanity Act, the judge ordered her unfit to be tried, adjourned proceedings, and committed her to the CMH, where she has remained an inpatient since November 2018.