In a case heard at Tullamore Circuit Criminal Court, Polish national Dariusz Alchimionek, aged 44, was found guilty of manslaughter and assault causing harm after a vehicle he drove collided with the Gorman brothers' car. The incident occurred on 29 December 2015 near Ballycrystal, Offaly. Alchimionek had claimed he believed the Islamic State would invade Europe and trigger a world war. Both prosecution and defence psychiatrists, employed at the Central Mental Hospital, agreed he met the criteria for not guilty by reason of insanity. The jury, after 2 hours 50 minutes, returned a 11‑1 guilty verdict on both counts. He was sentenced to nine years, with three years suspended. The Court of Appeal later quashed the verdict, describing it as "perverse" and ordered Alchimionek's commitment to the Central Mental Hospital as an inpatient. The decision was based on a recent assessment by Dr Paul O'Connell, who confirmed Alchimionek's continued need for detention.
The jury at the Central Criminal Court has begun deliberations on the case of 28‑year‑old Ross Outram, who is accused of murdering 90‑year‑old retired farmer Paddy Lyons in his Waterford home between 23 and 26 February 2017. Outram, of Ferryland, has pleaded not guilty. The judge explained that the jury could return one of four verdicts: guilty of murder; not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter; not guilty of murder but guilty of assault causing harm; or not guilty. The jury has spent over an hour and a quarter considering the case and will report in the afternoon. Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster described Lyons' death as caused by blunt‑force trauma, a traumatic brain injury and shock from fractures of the hip, jawbone and ribs. Evidence was presented that Lyons had a stiff right shoulder and that Outram claimed he had fought back after Lyons struck him with a walking stick and shovel.
Charlie Magaharan, 25, of Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to Lorcan Travers, Peter Hardy, and Marcus Thomas at Custom House Quay on February 6, 2016. The incident occurred after the victims approached Magaharan and an accomplice, who were allegedly damaging a rental bike. CCTV footage played in court captured the assaults, during which the victims sustained injuries including a fractured cheekbone, dislocated shoulder, and fractured eye socket. Magaharan, who has 19 previous convictions, including a two-year suspended sentence for criminal damage in July 2013, accepted that a fight occurred and expressed remorse. The prosecution noted that the victims accepted a letter of apology and €1,000 compensation. Judge Melanie Greally placed Magaharan on a 12-month probation bond, ordering him to engage with Probation Services and undertake recommended courses. The matter was adjourned for a year.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury is set to begin deliberations on the murder trial of Ross Outram, 28, accused of killing 90‑year‑old retired farmer Paddy Lyons in his Lismore home between 23 and 26 February 2017. Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster described Lyons' death as caused by blunt‑force trauma, a traumatic brain injury, and shock from fractures of his hip, jawbone and ribs. Lyons' body was found blood‑stained in his armchair. Outram claimed he fought back after Lyons struck him with a walking stick and shovel, and that he had taken up to 100 Xanax that day, though a pharmaceutical expert found no proof of this. The defence argued self‑defence, while the prosecution highlighted inconsistencies in Outram's statements. Ross Outram pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court trial of Ross Outram, a 28‑year‑old from Clonmel, the defence argued that the 90‑year‑old retired farmer Paddy Lyons was alive and mobile when Outram left his home. The defence presented evidence that Lyons suffered multiple blows to his head and neck, but that his death was caused by a second event – a fall that broke his hip. The defence claimed that the fall was likely due to a head injury or concussion, not the initial assault. They also highlighted that Outram had taken up to 100 Xanax that day, though a pharmaceutical expert found no proof of this. The defence urged the jury to consider that Outram's force may have been necessary and that he could be found not guilty of murder but possibly guilty of manslaughter. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Coffey, continued to charge the jury of eight men and four women.
In the Central Criminal Court, Dr Ivor Hanrahan testified that he prescribed anti‑depressants to Patrick Quirke, a 50‑year‑old farmer, to aid sleep after Quirke complained of stress over an affair with Mary Lowry, who was 52. Quirke, charged with the murder of part‑time DJ Bobby Ryan, was described by the doctor as "upset and quite hurt" about Lowry's relationship with Ryan. Hanrahan explained that he initially offered medication for sleep disturbance, later prescribing Mirtazapine after a counsellor's referral. He noted Quirke's ongoing distress and that Quirke had stopped taking the medication. The doctor also discussed Quirke's admission of an affair with Lowry, which he believed had ended when Lowry began a relationship with another man. The testimony was presented to prosecution counsel Michael Bowman SC. Patrick Quirke pleaded not guilty.
John Downey, 67, appeared before the High Court to seek leave to appeal a recent order for his extradition to Northern Ireland. He is alleged to be involved in the 1972 murder of two British Army Infantrymen, Lance Corporal Alfred Johnston and Private James Eames, in Enniskillen, as well as aiding and abetting the causing of an explosion. Downey's counsel, Garnet Orange SC, argued the case was unique, citing questions regarding the historic role of gardaí in obtaining and preserving critical evidence. Counsel also referenced "catastrophic failures" by Northern Irish authorities concerning Downey's aborted 2014 trial for the 1982 Hyde Park bombing, which collapsed due to "comfort letters" issued by the Tony Blair government. Justice Aileen Donnelly, presiding over the extradition matter, was scheduled to deliver a decision on the application for leave to appeal. The report notes that Downey is wanted to face prosecution for the alleged offences, but no final judgment on the appeal application was recorded in the text provided.
In the Central Criminal Court, Ross Outram, 28, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 90‑year‑old Paddy Lyons, who died after a violent attack at his home between 23 and 26 February 2017. The prosecution, led by John O'Kelly SC, argued that Outram inflicted multiple blows with a blunt weapon, describing the assault as vicious and sustained, and that the victim's death was caused by these injuries. They highlighted that Outram had no evidence of taking Xanax and that the victim's hip injury was unrelated to the attack. Outram's defence, represented by Michael O'Higgins SC, contended that the fatal hip fracture was a separate event, arguing that if causation was doubtful, the client could not be guilty of murder. The case remains at the trial stage, with the jury to hear further arguments tomorrow.
Ben Merriman, aged 20, pleaded guilty to assault, trespass and criminal damage after helping a friend break into a house in Balbriggan on 27 March 2018. The pair searched for the couple's daughter, Chloe, shouting "Where's Chloe? We're going to kill her". They struck the front door with a metal bar, smashed a living‑room window and kicked the door down. They confronted the parents, demanded the daughter's location, and when she was not found, Merriman spat in the mother's face. The other man threatened to slice her from ear to ear, struck the father on the head with the metal bar and continued to hit him while Merriman kicked him. The court accepted that the other man was the main aggressor and that Merriman acted out of "blind loyalty" and fear. Merriman had no prior convictions and had cut off all contact with the other man.
Chico Makamda, 36, of Viking House, Waterford, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to sexual assault, false imprisonment and robbery committed on April 16, 2018, in Adare Lane, Dublin. He attacked a woman in her early fifties who was relieving herself behind bins, punching her three times, attempting to pull her jeans down, and masturbating in front of her. The victim fell, hit her head, and later discovered her wallet and phone missing. Makamda fled when another man arrived. He was sentenced to seven and a half years for false imprisonment and robbery, with the final two and a half years suspended for two and a half years on the condition he leave the country within 14 days of release. He received a concurrent four‑year sentence for sexual assault, backdated to the day of his first custody. The judge noted the victim's severe trauma and the aggravated nature of the offences.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Ross Outram, 28, of Clonmel, Co Tipperary, has heard evidence from a defence pathologist regarding the death of Paddy Lyons. Mr Outram has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Lyons at Loughleagh, Ballysaggart, Lismore, Co Waterford, between February 23 and 26, 2017. Former Northern Ireland State Pathologist Professor Jack Crane testified that he favours the possibility that Mr Lyons' hip fracture resulted from a fall rather than a blunt weapon blow. Professor Crane noted that Mr Lyons suffered from osteoporosis, making his bones more susceptible to fracture, and stated that the scalp lacerations were not associated with underlying skull injury. He added that the brain injury was slight and that any suggestion of concussion was speculative. While the prosecution's pathologist previously attributed the death to blunt force trauma, Professor Crane agreed that the deceased could have been assaulted and subsequently fallen. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and a jury.
The trial of Patrick Quirke, 50, of Breanshamore, Co Tipperary, who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Bobby 'Mr Moonlight' Ryan, continued at the Central Criminal Court. Prosecution witness Gary Cunningham testified that in 2013, after Ryan's body was discovered in a tank on land leased by the accused, Quirke asked him if he had heard any rumours. Cunningham stated Quirke then mentioned a rumour that a 'Polish group' was involved. Under cross-examination, Cunningham acknowledged a general rumour existed but could not recall hearing it from anyone other than Quirke. Another witness, Emmett Kenny, who worked on Quirke's farm from 2009, testified that he knew of the tank where the body was found, believing it to be an old septic tank. Kenny noted that cattle walked on the concrete slabs covering it without issue. He also recalled Quirke leaving for the bank holiday weekend when Ryan went missing in June 2011. The prosecution alleges Quirke murdered Ryan to rekindle an affair with Ryan's girlfriend, Mary Lowry. The trial is ongoing before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
A 37‑year‑old woman, Laura Kenna, was found guilty of attempting to murder civil servant Fionnuala Burke on Lower Drumcondra Road on 3 January 2017. Kenna, who had no fixed abode, attacked Burke while she was walking home from work, slashing her neck with a knife. The wound penetrated muscle and the thyroid gland, requiring surgery and intensive care. Kenna pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to both the attempted murder and assault causing serious harm charges. During the trial, two psychiatrists presented conflicting views: the defence psychiatrist, Dr Stephen Monks, testified that Kenna suffered from schizoaffective disorder and was delusional, while the State psychiatrist, Professor Harry Kennedy, argued she was not delusional and acted out of anger. After 2 hours and 23 minutes of deliberation, the jury returned a unanimous verdict of guilty on both counts. The case was sent to sentencing, with a victim impact statement to be considered on 25 March.
In March 2019, a 65‑year‑old man from Westmeath was sentenced to eight years in prison by the Central Criminal Court for a series of sexual offences against his niece. The woman, now 40, reported that the abuse began when she was eight and continued until she was 14, including repeated indecent assault, sexual assault and a rape that she estimated occurred when she was 12. She described the uncle's behaviour as controlling and grooming, noting that he would often touch her, masturbate in her presence and force oral sex. The court heard her victim impact report, in which she spoke of lasting trauma, depression and suicidal thoughts. Mr Justice Paul McDermott highlighted the aggravating factor of her age and the abuse's dominance over her childhood. The sentence included three years of post‑release supervision and a prohibition on any contact with the woman or her family. The unnamed 12 year-old pleaded guilty.
Wayne O'Dwyer, aged 30, pleaded guilty to robbery at the Eurogiant store in Carrick‑on‑Suir on 31 March 2016. He threatened a female shop assistant, demanding €250 and the till, and was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment with the final three years suspended by Judge Thomas Teehan on 15 December 2017. O'Dwyer's lawyers argued the judge sought to make an example of him because of the perceived rise in violent crime in the town. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice John Edwards, rejected this claim, stating the judge was entitled to consider general deterrence as a sentencing objective and that the sentence was not disproportionate. The appeal was dismissed, confirming the seven‑year headline sentence with a three‑year suspended portion and the effective custody term as imposed.
A jury has begun deliberating the trial of 37‑year‑old Laura Kenna, who is charged with attempting to murder civil servant Fionnuala Burke and assault causing serious harm. The incident occurred on 3 January 2017 on Lower Drumcondra Road when Kenna, who has no fixed abode, approached Burke, pushed her onto grass, and stabbed her, slashing her neck. Kenna pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to both counts. The jury's main task is to assess Kenna's state of mind at the time of the attack. Defence psychiatrist Dr Stephen Monks testified that Kenna suffered a mental disorder, while State psychiatrist Professor Harry Kennedy disagreed, stating she was not delusional and acted out of anger and entitlement. The jury will resume deliberations tomorrow morning, with Justice Tara Burns warning them not to discuss the case with anyone in the meantime.
Philip Daly, 23, was jailed after he attacked his friend David O'Rourke, who lived with him in a hostel, on 15 December 2017. Daly had repeatedly asked O'Rourke for money, claiming the friend had taken items from his room. He threatened to "kick the shite" out of him if the money was not paid. On the night of the assault, Daly struck O'Rourke with an object, causing a large cut above the eye that required 30 stitches. Daly pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to three‑and‑a‑half years, suspended the last 12 months on condition of offence and victim awareness programmes, and credited him for 10 months already spent in custody. She noted evidence of remorse and efforts to address risk factors.
Former Republican paramilitary Declan "Whacker" Duffy, aged 44, is to be extradited back to Northern Ireland to continue serving a life sentence for the 1992 murder of British army sergeant Michael Newman. Duffy had previously been released on license by a Northern Irish parole board in March 2013 after serving part of his life sentence. He was arrested in December 2015 and, in 2018, sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to six years for falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne and assaulting John Roche. The Under Secretary of State for Northern Ireland revoked his license on 6 June 2016, and a European Arrest Warrant was issued. His lawyers argued that returning him would amount to "double punishment" and cited the Good Friday Agreement, but Justice Aileen Donnelly rejected these claims and ordered his extradition, noting that a licensee remains subject to the original sentence and its conditions.
In the Central Criminal Court, Dr Harry Kennedy, a psychiatrist, was cross‑examined by counsel for Laura Kenna, a 37‑year‑old woman charged with attempted murder and assault causing serious harm. Kenna pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Kennedy had previously stated that Kenna met the criteria for schizoaffective disorder but was not delusional at the time of the offence, acting in anger. During the hearing, counsel Mr Barry White SC questioned Kennedy about Kenna's claim that she was recording an album with a known record studio owner, asking whether this was evidence of delusion. Kennedy confirmed the studio owner was real and that Kenna's statements were true, describing them as fabrications rather than delusions. The confrontation escalated when White asked Kennedy to "take that smirk off your face," to which Kennedy replied he was not smirking. The trial continued with Justice Tara Burns presiding and a jury of twelve.
A man arrested in County Donegal is to be extradited to Northern Ireland to face charges relating to a 1972 bombing in Enniskillen. The High Court has rejected John Downey's objections to extradition on multiple grounds, including claims of delay, alleged amnesty protections, and assertions that surrender would be oppressive. Two UDR soldiers, Lance Corporal Alfred Johnston and Private James Eames, were killed when an explosive device detonated in a vehicle on the Irvinestown Road in August 1972. Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly found the public interest in extradition extremely high despite the passage of time. Downey's legal team indicated they will seek leave to appeal the decision to the Court of Appeal. The ruling addresses numerous technical and procedural arguments raised in defence, including challenges to fingerprint evidence and concerns about deceased witnesses.
In the Central Criminal Court, Ross Outram, 28, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 90‑year‑old Paddy Lyons. The jury heard that Outram claimed to have suffered lumps on his head after being struck by Lyons with a walking stick and shovel, and that he had taken up to 100 Xanax tablets that day. Gardaí at Dungarvan station did not photograph the head lumps, nor did they take a urine sample, as four days had passed. The defence argued the investigation was "tunnel‑visioned" and did not examine the head injuries. The prosecution presented evidence that Lyons suffered multiple blows to the head and neck, and that his body was found slumped in his armchair. DNA from Lyons was found on the shovel, but no DNA from Outram was found in Lyons' house. The trial was set to continue the next day.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Dr Harry Kennedy, a consultant psychiatrist, testified that Laura Kenna (37), who is homeless, did not carry out a severe knife attack on Fionnuala Burke on 3 January 2017 because of delusional impulses but rather because of anger and a sense of entitlement. Kenna, charged with attempted murder and assault causing serious harm, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to both counts. Dr Kennedy described Kenna as an inconsistent historian with callous, unemotional traits, noting that she fabricated stories to her advantage, such as claiming she had walked to Belfast after the attack. He argued that Kenna's actions were deliberate and not the result of a psychotic episode, though she meets criteria for schizoaffective disorder and is more stable on medication. The trial continues tomorrow before Ms Justice Tara Burns.
Patrick Quirke, 50, of Breanshamore, Co. Tipperary, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Bobby Ryan, a part‑time DJ known as Mr Moonlight, who disappeared on 3 June 2011 after leaving his girlfriend Mary Lowry's home. Quirke told Gardaí he feared Lowry, describing her as "vicious" and "verbally abusive", and claimed his only crime was an affair with her. He said he did not kill Ryan and that someone else was responsible. Quirke gave voluntary cautioned statements at Tipperary Garda Station on 16 May and 21 May 2013, detailing his movements on the day Ryan vanished and when he discovered Ryan's body in a tank on Lowry's farm. He explained he avoided Lowry because he feared her, and that he had been shocked when he saw the body. The court heard Quirke's statements and his account of his relationship with Lowry, including an affair that began in 2008 and ended after Lowry's husband died in 2007.
In a Dublin trial, 37‑year‑old Laura Kenna, who has no fixed abode, is charged with attempted murder and assault causing serious harm after attacking Fionnuala Burke on Lower Drumcondra Road on 3 January 2017. Kenna pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The Central Criminal Court heard that the key issue is Kenna's mental state. Consultant psychiatrist Dr Stephen Monks testified that Kenna suffers from schizoaffective disorder, a chronic illness related to schizophrenia, and had been homeless since 2013. He described a pattern of violent assaults on homeless service users in Belfast, including two attempted eye‑gouges, and an attack on a woman at a Luas stop a few weeks before the alleged murder. Monks argued that Kenna's attack on Burke was driven by delusions of death, vampires and cannibalism, not robbery, and that she could not control her actions. The jury will consider these conflicting psychiatric opinions before deciding on the verdict.
In the trial of Ross Outram, a 28‑year‑old from Clonmel, the jury heard that he claimed to have "fought back" after a 90‑year‑old retired farmer, Paddy Lyons, was found beaten to death in his home. Outram told Gardaí that he had gone to Lyons' house looking for money, but denied any intent to murder or seriously harm Lyons. He said Lyons had struck him with a walking stick and shovel, and that he had not killed Lyons, who he claimed was still alive when he left the house. A pathologist testified that Lyons suffered multiple blows to his head and neck, and his body was found slumped in his armchair. The case was presented to the Central Criminal Court on the sixth day of the trial, with the jury hearing medical evidence and Outram's statements from several Garda interviews. The unnamed 90-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In the Patrick Quirke murder trial, Detective Garda Kieran Keane, the exhibits officer, testified that he does not recall being told about a lady's hair clip taken from the underground tank where DJ Bobby "Mr Moonlight" Ryan's body was found. Keane, appointed in 2011 after Ryan's disappearance, explained his role in securing exhibits and tracking them via an exhibits chart. Item 33 on the chart originally listed a bag of cable ties and pipe covers, later updated after a forensic examination to include the hair clip. Garda Larry Stapleton claimed he had bagged the clip and handed it to Keane, but did not write the contents on the bag. The defense argued that the chart shown to them omitted the clip, while the prosecution noted the chart was amended in January 2019 to reflect the clip's presence. Patrick Quirke pleaded not guilty.
In a High Court damages action, sound technician Andrew Walsh (35) claimed he suffered severe foot injuries after being struck by a white Nissan driven by Maria Byrne, sister of Regency Hotel murder victim David Byrne. Walsh alleged the vehicle was driven dangerously, with a lack of proper lookout and failure to brake, causing him to be knocked off his bike on Meath Street, Dublin 8, on 19 May 2011. He reported fractures to two metatarsals, ongoing pain, involuntary twitching, use of a walking stick, and the need for future surgery. Byrne denied the allegations, represented by Vincent Foley SC. On the second day of the hearing, Diarmuid Murphy BL announced that the parties had reached a settlement, which was confidential, and the case could be struck out. Judge Bronagh O'Hanlon welcomed the settlement and noted the case raised issues concerning cyclists' rights.
A farmer from near Strokestown in County Roscommon has initiated High Court proceedings against KBC Bank and several related parties following an attempted eviction of his family home in December 2018. David McGann, represented by solicitor and counsel, is seeking various declarations and orders, including preventing any party from taking possession of the property. The eviction attempt attracted significant national attention after security operatives were forced from the property by masked individuals. That incident, which resulted in alleged assault on security personnel, vehicle fires, and the death of a dog, remains under Garda investigation. The McGanns subsequently regained access to their home. Mr McGann's action names KBC Bank, Trinity Asset Managerial Services Ltd, GS Agencies Ltd, Local Authority Services Ltd, and Aidan Devlin, whom he alleges are bank agents, alongside the County Registrar of Roscommon. He seeks declarations that the defendants acted unlawfully and breached his constitutional rights and European Convention protections during the December execution attempt, and claims damages for trespass and defamation.
The State has dropped the sexual assault charges against Cork GP Kevin Mulcahy, 61, after a jury failed to reach a verdict in a trial earlier this month. Mulcahy had pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of sexual assault – one alleged in his Mallow surgery in February 1995 and a second between 8 May and 31 December 1996. Prosecutor Maddie Grant BL informed Judge Melanie Greally that the State would not pursue a third trial and requested a nolle prosequi. The judge granted the request, discharging Mulcahy from the indictment.
The Central Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Ross Outram, who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Paddy Lyons at Loughleagh, Ballysaggart, Lismore, Co Waterford, between February 23 and 26, 2017. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster testified that she found the 90-year-old victim slumped in an armchair with blood smeared on his face. Her post-mortem examination revealed ten blunt force wounds to the head and neck, fractured ribs, and a fractured right hip. She concluded the cause of death was blunt force trauma resulting in traumatic brain injury and shock. Under cross-examination, Dr Bolster stated it was impossible to determine the sequence of blows and that the brain injury alone would not have caused death, though untreated scalp lacerations likely would have. Pharmaceutical expert Michael Lyons testified that there was no physical evidence proving Outram consumed the 60 xanax tablets he claimed to have taken, noting the absence of withdrawal symptoms after his arrest. However, the expert acknowledged that high doses of xanax could cause a paradoxical effect. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and a jury.
The case of Dariusz Alchimionek (44), a Polish national from Portarlington, Co Laois, has been adjourned to March 7 for mention following a ruling by the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal found the jury verdict of guilty on charges of manslaughter and assault causing harm to be 'perverse' and against the weight of the evidence. Alchimionek had previously been found not guilty by reason of insanity by the jury, but the verdict was overturned. Consultant psychiatrists from both the prosecution and defence agreed that Alchimionek met the criteria for not guilty by reason of insanity. The trial judge had instructed the jury to consider this option, but the jury returned a majority guilty verdict of 11-1 on both counts. Alchimionek was sentenced to nine years imprisonment with the final three suspended by Judge Keenan Johnson in October 2017. The Court of Appeal quashed the verdict and considered the possibility of a retrial or substituting the appropriate verdict. However, the court decided against a retrial, citing the public interest and the likelihood of the same outcome. Alchimionek was committed to the Central Mental Hospital for assessment, with the most recent medical report from July 2017. The matter was adjourned to March 7 for mention.
The trial of Patrick Quirke (50) and Hilary Clarke, both accused of the murder of Bobby Ryan, a part-time DJ known as Mr Moonlight, continued before Justice Eileen Creedon. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder. Forensic scientist Dr Martina McBride testified that she found no evidence of a serious assault in Mary Lowry's home, the last location where Mr Ryan was seen alive. Although initial tests indicated presumptive positive results for blood, further analysis revealed these were likely fly faeces or other non-human substances. McBride noted that while she expected significant blood loss given the injuries to Mr Ryan, the absence of evidence may be due to the passage of time and the house being painted. A small DNA spot was found but could not be identified as blood or attributed to a specific individual. Dr Hilary Clarke confirmed the identity of the body found in a farm tank by matching DNA from a tooth with that of Mr Ryan's children. She also examined two lump hammers, finding male DNA on one handle, but successfully eliminated Mr Ryan, his son, and Quirke as the source. The trial is ongoing, with the matter not yet finalised.
In a Dublin court on 26 February 2019, a jury heard that Laura Kenna, 37, who has no fixed address, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to attempted murder and assault with intent to cause serious harm against Fionnuala Burke on 3 January 2017. Kenna allegedly wielded a knife and severely cut Burke's neck and face in an "out of the blue" attack. The prosecution, led by Anthony Sammon SC, emphasized Kenna's state of mind at 5.30 pm on the day of the incident as a central issue. Two consultant psychiatrists with conflicting views would be heard. Kenna's past conviction for an attempted stabbing at a Luas stop on 19 December 2016, also by reason of insanity, was permitted to be mentioned. The trial proceeded before Justice Tara Burns.
Michael Shine, an 86‑year‑old retired surgeon, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four years' imprisonment for one count of indecent assault and 18 months for the remaining 11 counts, all to run concurrently. The charges cover 12 indecent assault offences and one sexual assault committed during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and two private clinics in Drogheda between 1971 and 1992. A jury found him guilty after just over six hours of deliberation. Judge Martin Nolan noted the seriousness of the pattern of misbehaviour, the victims' vulnerability and Shine's position of trust as aggravating factors, while his age and health were mitigating. Shine denied any improper conduct and claimed no memory of the incidents. The sentence reflects the court's decision to impose the headline term of four years, with the remaining terms running concurrently. The case remains under appeal for previous convictions. Michael Shine pleaded not guilty.
In the trial of Patrick Quirke, the Central Criminal Court heard that Gardai had found blood stains in the sitting room and bedroom of Mary Lowry's home. Retired detective John Grant testified that the stains were sent to forensic laboratories for analysis. The evidence was presented as part of the case against Quirke, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of DJ Bobby Ryan. The prosecution alleges that Quirke killed Ryan to rekindle an affair with Lowry. Grant described the layout of Lowry's house and the forensic work that identified blood on a light fitting, the ceiling, bed frame, mattress, floor and inside a wardrobe. He also noted that no positive results were found on the accused's vehicle or on eight out-buildings on the farm. The trial continues tomorrow before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of twelve.
A DNA profile from blood on a hoodie belonging to a murder suspect matched that of 90‑year‑old retired farmer Paddy Lyons. The jury heard that pieces of broken glass recovered from Lyons' gateway fit perfectly into the headlamp of Ross Outram's car. Outram, 28, of Ferryland, has pleaded not guilty to Lyons' murder, which occurred at Loughleagh, Ballysaggart, Lismore, between 23 and 26 February 2017. Garda Eugene O'Neill testified that he searched Outram's house on 27 February and seized a grey hoodie. Forensic scientist John Hoade confirmed that blood on the hoodie's right sleeve and hood matched Lyons' DNA. Other evidence included broken glass from a car light, a damaged lock, and a Volkswagen Passat with missing front lights and registration plates. The trial is before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and a jury of eight men and four women.
A jury of six men and six women was sworn in by Mr Justice Michael White for the trial of Laura Kenna, 37, who is accused of attempting to murder Fionnuala Burke on Lower Drumcondra Road in Dublin on 3 January 2017. Kenna pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to both the attempted murder charge and an assault charge with intent to cause serious harm. The jury was told the trial would last about six days, and it will begin tomorrow before Ms Justice Tara Burns.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, retired surgeon Michael Shine, aged 86, was found guilty of 12 indecent assault charges and one sexual assault charge committed during medical examinations between 1971 and 1992. The jury, after just over six hours of deliberation, returned guilty verdicts. Victim Patrick Cusack, who waived anonymity, described the abuse as a "life sentence of pain, hurt, anguish and shame," noting he had not slept properly for 45 years until the verdict. Two other victims also testified that Shine showed no understanding of his actions and that the abuse had eroded their trust in people. The court adjourned sentencing to the following Monday, with Shine remanded on continuing bail. No sentencing outcome was provided in the article.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Michael Rooney Dignam, 38, pleaded guilty to robbery at a Centra shop on 7 May 2017. He entered the shop, threatened a worker with a syringe filled with red liquid, claiming he had "the virus" and demanded the till be opened. The worker saw the syringe, which she believed contained his blood. Rooney Dignam stole €600. He admitted no memory of the incident but later identified himself on CCTV. He has 47 prior convictions, including 18 for robbery and one for manslaughter. He is serving a six‑year sentence, with the final 18 months suspended for three robberies in May 2017, and is scheduled for release on 29 September 2020. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to 18 months' imprisonment, to start today.
The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment in an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) regarding the sentence of Donal O'Hara. O'Hara, 26, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to assaulting John Roche and falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at The Towers, Saggart, on June 9, 2015. He was sentenced to four years imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. The DPP argues this sentence is "unduly lenient," with counsel Shane Costelloe SC describing the incident as a "gang of thugs accosting" the victim and characterizing O'Hara as "muscle." Defense counsel Michael O'Higgins SC argued that O'Hara's prompt guilty plea warranted elevated status and distinguished his role from other participants. Those included Dessie O'Hare, who pleaded guilty to the same offences and is awaiting sentence; Declan Duffy, who pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six years imprisonment; and Daniel Kane, who pleaded guilty and received five years imprisonment with the final year suspended. The court, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, heard that Duffy's sentence was "capped" at six years. The matter remains adjourned pending the court's decision on whether to increase O'Hara's term.
Bobby 'Mr Moonlight' Ryan, a part‑time DJ, was found dead in a disused waste water tank on a farm in Fawnagown, Tipperary, in April 2013 after he had gone missing in June 2011. A post‑mortem by former Deputy State Pathologist Dr Khalid Jaber, conducted shortly after the body was discovered, identified multiple injuries that could have resulted from an accident, traffic collision or serious assault. Dr Jaber was not available to testify at the Central Criminal Court trial of Patrick Quirke, who is charged with Ryan's murder. Superintendent Patrick O'Callaghan, present at the post‑mortem, noted that the body was removed from the tank without a pathologist on site, and that the deceased's arm had detached at some point before or during removal. The trial continues with Quirke pleading not guilty. The prosecution alleges Quirke killed Ryan to rekindle an affair with the farm's owner, Mary Lowry.
Brian Kavanagh, 33, was jailed after attempting to mug US military policeman Christian Escobar in Dublin using a roll of tin foil that he claimed was a silver bar. Kavanagh, under the influence of drugs, tried to seize Escobar's backpack, leading to a scuffle that caused both men to crash through a shop window, damaging about €2,000 worth of goods. Escobar suffered severe tendon damage to his wrist. Garda Theresa Brady observed Kavanagh behaving violently, head‑butting security guards and a glass partition, and deemed him unfit for interview for six hours. Kavanagh pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, assault causing harm and violent behaviour in a police station. Judge Karen O'Connor, noting 147 prior convictions and failed attempts to address his addictions, sentenced him to two years and nine months' imprisonment, rejecting his offer to engage with Probation Services.
A man convicted of murdering a guardian at a brothel in Cavan seven years ago has had his appeal against conviction dismissed by the Court of Appeal. Przemyslaw Trebacz, a Polish national formerly of Bramble Rise, Killynebber, Co Cavan, was sentenced to life imprisonment in February 2014 following his conviction for the murder of Costel Catalin Cretu at Connolly Court, Cavan in October 2012. Trebacz had pleaded not guilty to murder but admitted criminal damage. The Central Criminal Court jury returned a majority guilty verdict after hearing evidence that Mr Cretu was fatally stabbed twice. The appeal challenged the reliability of witness testimony, particularly regarding the layout of the apartment and what could have been observed. The Court of Appeal found no inadequacy in the trial judge's conduct or evidence summary, and determined the verdict was safe. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy stated there was no reason to believe the trial was unsatisfactory.
Lawrence Doyle, a 51‑year‑old taxi driver, was sentenced by Judge Melanie Greally to 180 hours of community service within 12 months instead of an 18‑month prison term for a drink‑fuelled assault on Christopher Darcy. The incident occurred on 15 May 2017 at Mullets Bar, Amiens Street, when Doyle bit off a 3‑cm portion of Darcy's ear after a quarrel. CCTV showed Doyle attacking Darcy, who was struck repeatedly in the chest and attempted to defend himself. Darcy was taken to Mater Hospital, treated for a permanent ear injury, and received a tetanus shot and antibiotics. Doyle pleaded guilty, had no prior convictions, cooperated with Gardaí, and paid €1,000 in compensation. The judge noted the assault was out of character for Doyle and described it as vicious and violent.
In a swift 43‑minute jury deliberation, Paul Crosby, aged 23, was acquitted of all three charges relating to an attempted murder of Gerard Boyle, aged 33, that occurred on 10 November 2016. The charges were: attempting to murder by stabbing Boyle 28 times, attempting to murder by pushing a car into a canal, and false imprisonment with serious harm. The jury, composed of nine men and three women, returned unanimous not‑guilty verdicts on each count. This was Crosby's second trial for the same offences; the first trial in February 2018 resulted in a not‑guilty verdict on the canal charge but no verdict on the other charges. Justice Carmel Stewart thanked the jury and exempted them from service for five years. Crosby was formally discharged by the judge after the verdicts were announced. The article does not state any subsequent legal actions or outcomes. Paul Crosby pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury of nine men and three women will start deliberations on the case of Paul Crosby, aged 23, who has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and related charges. The alleged crime occurred on 10 November 2016 at Knockcommon, Beauparc, Slane, when Crosby is accused of stabbing Gerard Boyle, aged 33, 28 times. Boyle claims he survived a car that was pushed into a canal after the stabbings. The judge, Ms Justice Carmel Stewart, emphasized that the attempted murder charge requires proof of intent to kill and that the jury must consider each charge separately. She noted that the car incident was addressed in a prior trial and that the main issue is whether Crosby was present and participated in the injuries. The jury will now consider their verdicts.
In a 2016 incident on Marigold Avenue, Darndale, Dublin, 36‑year‑old Paul Evans attempted to rob taxi driver Frank Rowan. Evans brandished a 6mm air pistol, claiming it was a "practical joke," and threatened Rowan with the gun. Rowan, fearing a real shot, managed to overpower Evans, who repeatedly ran at him and demanded the gun back. Rowan struck Evans on the head with the gun, causing a small forehead injury. A passerby called the Gardaí, who later arrested Evans, who was wearing a black ski mask. Evans pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and unlawful possession of a realistic imitation firearm. He claimed the pistol belonged to his son and was used for shooting cans. The court noted Evans had no prior violent convictions and adjourned sentencing to 16 May, remanding him in custody until then.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the accused, Paul Crosby, was alleged to have stabbed Mr Boyle 28 times on 10 November 2016. The jury heard that Crosby, who was under a curfew from 9 pm to 8 am, was not at home when the alleged incident occurred, despite a call to his residence just before 10 pm. Mr Boyle, aged 33, claimed he escaped a car that was pushed into a canal after the stabbing. Crosby, aged 23, pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, false imprisonment and causing serious harm. The prosecution presented evidence that Crosby was not at home and that a radio communication suggested a car heading toward Drogheda from Slane. Crosby's defence argued he was either at home or at his aunt's house that night, a claim the prosecution could not refute. The case was heard by Justice Carmel Stewart with a jury of ten.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, Ross Outram, 28, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 90‑year‑old retired farmer Paddy Lyons, who died between 23 and 26 February 2017 at his Loughleagh home. Detective Garda Joe Wyse testified that he visited the scene on 25 February after learning of suspicious circumstances. He described a damaged padlock, skid marks, fingermarks on the front door, and a blood‑like substance around these marks. He also noted a deep laceration on Lyons' head and an elderly man slumped in a chair. Wyse observed a phone and kitchen windows with similar blood‑like residue. He also reported injuries on Outram's hands and thigh, photographed at the Garda station. Other Garda evidence included a fingerprint in blood on the door handle, blood on a plate, and a blue Volkswagen Passat with damage and no number plates. The case continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and a jury.
Patrick Hutch, aged 26, was released from the Special Criminal Court after the State dropped the murder charge for David Byrne's death at the Regency Hotel on 5 February 2016. The court heard that the shooting occurred during a boxing weigh‑in, with armed men in disguise and tactical garda uniforms entering the hotel. The prosecution alleged Hutch was the man in a wig, part of a shared intent to commit the offence, though he denied owning assault rifles. The Director of Public Prosecutions entered a nolle prosequi, and Judge Tony Hunt discharged Hutch. Hutch's counsel maintained his client's not‑guilty plea and contested the case. Family members of Byrne condemned the outcome as disgraceful. The case was further complicated by the death of Detective Superintendent Colm Fox, whose death was treated as a personal tragedy and not suspected foul play. The court had also considered evidence of emails between four gardai and notes from the late superintendent. Patrick Hutch pleaded not guilty.