In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Ross Outram, 28, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 90‑year‑old Paddy Lyons in Lismore, Waterford, between 23 and 26 February 2017. During the trial, Sandra Walsh, a relative of Outram's nephew, testified that Outram had called her on Facebook Messenger on 26 February, claiming he had hit Lyons because Lyons would not give him money. She confirmed that Outram identified the deceased as Lyons and that he had spoken of travelling to the UK. Walsh also recounted that Outram was arrested the following day when she was driving him back to Ferryland. Sergeant Ger Falvey described the scene at Lyons' house, noting the victim's lack of trousers, a trail of urine, soot, and possible blood marks. The case proceeds before Mr Justice Paul Coffey with a jury of eight men and four women.
In the Central Criminal Court, Patrick Quirke (50) pleaded not guilty to the murder of Bobby "Mr Moonlight" Ryan, a part‑time DJ who vanished on 3 June 2011. Ryan's body was discovered in an underground run‑off tank on Quirke's farm at Fawnagown, Tipperary, in April 2013. Garda Gerry Canty, a crime scene examiner, testified that he visited the site the day after the body was found and photographed items removed from the tank, including bone fragments, a lady's hair clip, cable ties, tubing, buttons and pipe covers. He placed these items in a tamper‑evident bag and marked them as exhibits. Canty admitted he had not mentioned the hair clip in his initial statement or notes, and that the exhibit chart for the defence listed only cable ties and pipe covers. He also confirmed he had no role in retrieving, bagging, marking or charting the bag's contents.
In 2019, a court heard that Roy Norman Kenyon, aged 64, who had been living in Ireland under the alias Alan McPherson for 15 years, was facing a return to the United Kingdom to continue serving a life sentence for the 1972 murder of Margaret Potts. Kenyon had escaped from HMP Leyhill in 2003 after 31 years of imprisonment, failing to return from a home leave on 29 May 2003. He was arrested in Eyeries, Co Cork, on 2 May 2018. The court was informed that Kenyon had killed Potts on 15 December 1972 after an argument, striking her twice in the head with a poker while she sat in an armchair. Mr Ronan Kennedy, representing the Minister for Justice & Equality, presented evidence of Kenyon's escape and the European Arrest Warrant issued for his return.
Mark O'Sullivan, 29, of Old Connaught View, Bray, was convicted of assault causing serious harm after striking David Kirwan with a single blow to the head on 15 January 2017 near James Everett Park. 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 and was sentenced on 28 April 2018 to seven years' imprisonment, with the final two‑and‑a‑half years suspended. He had no prior convictions. O'Sullivan has now lodged an appeal against the severity of the sentence, arguing that the seven‑year term was too high given his lack of intent and remorse. His barrister, Michael O'Higgins SC, contends the sentence is disproportionate, while the Director of Public Prosecutions, Eoghan Cole BL, maintains the attack was unprovoked and the seven‑year term appropriate. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment.
Gary Murphy, 38, of Church Road, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting a taxi driver, Mohammed Naseem, on 28 May 2016. Murphy entered Naseem's taxi early in the morning, distracted him with the horn, verbally abused him and threatened to shoot him, reaching into his trousers as if he had a weapon. Naseem sprayed Murphy with body spray; Murphy then struck him six or seven times, causing cuts and swelling. Murphy was heavily intoxicated at the time and had many prior convictions, none involving assault or violence. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to three and a half years' imprisonment, suspending the final 12 months on the condition that he keep the peace, behave well and comply with the Probation Service for 12 months after release.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Ross Outram (28) is accused of killing 90‑year‑old Paddy Lyons in Waterford. Cathleen Kiely, a witness who has sold second‑hand clothes for over 30 years, testified that she visited Lyons' home on 24 February 2017, arriving with her husband around 4 p.m. She found the gate closed but without a bolt, entered the house, and saw Lyons sitting in his chair, looking at the door. Kiely claimed she thought Lyons was unconscious and swollen, and that there was black on the ground, but she did not realise he was dead. She left after a few seconds, told her husband, and later reported the situation to neighbours. The prosecution alleges Outram told Gardaí that he struck Lyons, who had only one arm, in self‑defence. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and a jury of eight men and four women. Ross Outram pleaded not guilty.
In a 2019 case, the Court of Appeal quashed a jury verdict that convicted Polish driver Dariusz Alchimionek, 44, of manslaughter and assault after he allegedly caused the death of 19‑year‑old John Gorman and injured Gorman's brother Adam on 29 December 2015. The incident occurred when Alchimionek's vehicle crossed the road into the path of the brothers' car near Ballycrystal, Offaly. Both prosecution and defence psychiatrists, working at the Central Mental Hospital, agreed that Alchimionek met the criteria for not‑guilty by reason of insanity. The jury, after 2 hours 50 minutes of deliberation, returned a 11‑to‑1 guilty verdict, leading to a nine‑year sentence with a three‑year suspended portion. Alchimionek's lawyers appealed on the ground that the verdict was "perverse" and contrary to the evidence. Dariusz Alchimionek was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
During the murder trial of 50‑year‑old farmer Patrick Quirke, forensic entomologist Dr John Manlove testified that the tank containing the remains of DJ Bobby Ryan was opened weeks before Quirke claimed to have found the body on 30 April 2013. Dr Manlove identified common blow fly larvae in Ryan's chest cavity and on his back, all at the same developmental stage, indicating infestation at least 11 days before discovery. He noted that the small number of larvae and absence of other insects suggested the body was not exposed for long. An engineer's report, shown to him, stated the tank would be sealed by two concrete slabs, and that muck and cow waste placed over the slabs would prevent flies from entering or exiting. Dr Manlove concluded that the tank was opened earlier than Quirke's stated date, contradicting the accused's account. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
A 31-year-old man from County Sligo has been sentenced at the Central Criminal Court to three years imprisonment, with the final year suspended for twelve months, following his guilty plea to the defilement of a child under 15. The offence occurred at an apartment in September 2012. The court heard that the girl, aged 14 at the time, was met by the man by chance and subsequently assaulted sexually against her will. She had informed him of her age and falsely claimed pregnancy in an attempt to discourage him. The man denied knowledge of her age, claiming he believed her to be approximately 18. Justice Tara Burns identified the significant age disparity and the victim's vulnerability as aggravating factors, whilst acknowledging the defendant's guilty plea and admissions to gardaí as mitigation. The suspended portion is conditional on the man maintaining the peace, remaining substance-free, and avoiding contact with minors. He is currently serving a separate sentence for assault causing harm.
A former Christian Brothers teacher, John Gibson (71) of Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, has been found guilty of indecent assault against a 12-year-old girl at a Christian Brother's School in Co. Wexford, between May and September 1983. Gibson pleaded not guilty to the charges, but a jury returned majority guilty verdicts on all three charges after deliberating for just over four hours. The trial, which lasted five days, heard testimony from two complainants who alleged that Gibson molested them while washing them after they had carried out manual work around the school. Judge Elma Sheahan thanked the jurors for their care and attention to the case. She remanded Gibson on continuing bail until his sentence hearing on March 19th, next. She further ordered victim impact reports for that date. Gibson was also ordered to sign on at Dun Laoghaire Garda Station once a week, surrender his passport, and notify authorities of any change in his address. The matter was adjourned and will be finalised at the sentence hearing on March 19th.
In the Central Criminal Court, Superintendent Patrick O'Callaghan testified that upon inspecting the underground run‑off tank at Fawnagown, Tipperary, he believed the body found there was that of Bobby Ryan, a part‑time DJ known as Mr Moonlight. He described how he first saw the outline of a body, then knelt and used a torch to confirm it was Ryan, concluding the man had been murdered or severely assaulted before being placed in the tank. O'Callaghan stated he had visited the site on 30 April 2013 after reports of a body and declared the area a crime scene. The accused, 50‑year‑old farmer Patrick Quirke, has pleaded not guilty to Ryan's murder, alleged to have been committed to rekindle an affair with Ryan's girlfriend, Mary Lowry. The trial proceeds before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of twelve.
In a Dublin trial, Gary Watson, aged 35, was acquitted of murdering former soldier Warren O'Connor, aged 24, who died from a single stab wound to the neck on 16 January 2010. The jury, after four hours and eleven minutes, found Watson not guilty of the murder charge. However, they convicted him of assaulting Philip Woodcock, aged 34, and of producing a knife on the same occasion. Watson denied these charges. The case involved a fight between two groups of men at a noisy house party on Hole in the Wall Road, with witnesses describing a white‑hoodie wearer stabbing O'Connor. No forensic evidence linked Watson to the knife or to O'Connor's body. The trial concluded with Watson remanded in custody pending sentencing for the assault and knife charges, scheduled for 7 March. The judge thanked the jury and expressed condolences to O'Connor's family.
Ross Outram, 28, of Clonmel, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 90‑year‑old Paddy Lyons at Lismore, Waterford, between 23 and 26 February 2017. The trial began at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and a jury of eight men and four women, and is expected to last two weeks. Prosecutor John O'Kelly SC presented evidence that Lyons was found dead in his home with blunt‑force injuries, a traumatic brain injury, haemorrhage and shock, and that his hip joint and ribs were fractured. A blood‑stained hoodie found in Outram's bedroom contained Lyons's DNA. Outram told investigators he had been in Lyons's house, had asked for money, and that Lyons attacked him with a stick. Outram claimed he struck Lyons repeatedly in self‑defence, and that Lyons was still alive when he left the house, after which Lyons was locked out.
Paul Crosby, 23, of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, is on trial in the Central Criminal Court for the attempted murder of Gerard Boyle, 33, at Knockcommon, Beauparc, Slane, on 10 November 2016. He was charged with attempting to murder, false imprisonment and causing serious harm. Crosby pleaded not guilty to all counts. Prosecutor Patrick Gageby SC presented evidence that Crosby stabbed Boyle 28 times while seated in the back of a Volkswagen Passat, after which Boyle was left on the ground and later placed in the boot of the car, which was pushed into a canal near the Battle of the Boyne site. Boyle was later taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. During cross‑examination, Brendan Grehan SC questioned Boyle about inconsistencies in his statements regarding threats and phone notes, noting that phone records showed a threat on the day of the attack, contrary to Boyle's earlier claim to Gardaí.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, Patrick Quirke, aged 50, told Garda Conor Ryan that his farm at Fawnagowan had only two slurry tanks. Ryan, who visited the farm in June 2011, observed Quirke emptying a slatted‑floor cattle shed tank and an open tank containing a small quantity of slurry. Quirke confirmed there were no other tanks. The court heard that Quirke is charged with the murder of DJ Bobby 'Mr Moonlight' Ryan, who was found in an underground run‑off tank on the farm in April 2013. Quirke pleaded not guilty. Garda Ryan described the scene on the day the body was discovered, noting a vacuum tanker with a neutral handle and a heavily crusted slurry tank. He also recounted moving the tanker and emptying about 100 litres of soiled water onto the ground. The trial continued with Justice Eileen Creedon presiding and a jury of twelve.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, an 18‑year‑old teenager was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for assault causing harm after he threw a stone at a fellow teen's head during an incident on 17 July 2016. The victim, a young actor, sustained a permanent facial scar above his right eye, requiring 11 stitches, and has since lost acting opportunities in Belgium because of the injury. The judge described the assault as "extremely nasty" with "undertones of homophobia," noting that the accused denied the homophobic aspect but the victim heard slurs such as "a fag." The sentence was suspended for two years, with the first year to be served, citing the defendant's remorse and the fact that he was 15 at the time of the offence. The court highlighted the defendant's unstable upbringing, multiple prior convictions, and ongoing issues with cannabis and ADHD. The unnamed 18-year-old pleaded guilty.
In the trial of 50‑year‑old farmer Patrick Quirke, the defence presented the account of retired Garda Tony Chearnley, who operated an excavator to remove a concrete slab from the underground tank where DJ Bobby 'Mr Moonlight' Ryan's body was discovered on 30 April 2013. Chearnley explained that the slab had a pre‑existing crack and that, when pulled, it broke into many small pieces that fell into the tank. He reported no loud noises, no dust, and no pandemonium or panic among the Gardaí present. Chearnley admitted the concrete breaking up was "not ideal" but said it was the best he could do. Quirke, who pleaded not guilty to Ryan's murder, is on trial before Justice Eileen Creedon with a jury of twelve. The prosecution alleges the murder was committed to rekindle an affair with Ryan's girlfriend, Mary Lowry, aged 52. The trial continues this afternoon.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court returned on Monday to consider a verdict in the trial of Gary Watson, 35, who is accused of murdering former soldier Warren O'Connor, 24, on 16 January 2010. Watson pleaded not guilty to the murder, to assaulting Philip Woodcock, 34, on the same occasion, and to producing a knife to intimidate another person. The two‑week trial included evidence that a fight broke out after Woodcock cut power to a neighbour's apartment to end a noisy house party. The jury asked to view CCTV footage again in the courtroom, and the judge allowed it. They also asked whether fingerprints were found on the knives; the judge confirmed that no fingerprints belonging to Watson were found on the blade removed from O'Connor's body or on other knives recovered by Garda Damien Carroll. The jury deliberated for less than an hour before deciding to suspend deliberations for the day and return on Monday morning.
Joseph O'Connor, a 58‑year‑old former Garda from west Dublin, was convicted in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of possessing child pornography. He pleaded not guilty to five counts of possession of images and videos of children in sexual acts. Evidence seized from his home in August 2011 included a laptop with videos in the recycle bin depicting boys under ten and under 17 in sexual acts, and 16 different images of children exposed or involved in sexual acts. A jury convicted him of four counts and acquitted him of one count involving duplicate images. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, citing the severity of the material and his Garda position. The maximum custodial sentence for the offences is five years. O'Connor's conviction was upheld despite his denial of responsibility and claims of bad faith prosecution. The case highlighted the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission's involvement in a related assault complaint.
Patrick Quirke, 50, of Breanshamore, Co. Tipperary, pleaded not guilty to the murder of DJ Bobby 'Mr Moonlight' Ryan, who disappeared between June 2011 and April 2013. Ryan's body was found in a run‑off tank on a farm leased by Quirke and owned by his former lover, Mary Lowry, 52. Quirke told gardai that he discovered the body while trying to empty the tank, describing it as a "body" with a pelvis and private area face‑down. He denied any jealousy or animosity toward Ryan, claimed he had no role in the body's placement, and said he only knew of Ryan's disappearance from Lowry's statements. Quirke also expressed that Lowry had a "couldn't care less attitude" about Ryan's disappearance. The trial is proceeding before Justice Eileen Creedon with a jury of twelve.
Paul Crosby, 23, of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, stands trial for the attempted murder of Gerard Boyle, 33, at Knockcommon, Beauparc, Slane, Co Meath, on 10 November 2016. The prosecution alleges that on that day Crosby, initially driving a Ford, later switched to a Volkswagen Passat with Boyle and a third person. Boyle claims Crosby stabbed him 28 times, including in the neck, shoulder, back of the neck and head, while he was in the car. Boyle was then forced into the boot, where he was held for about 15 minutes, unable to breathe, before escaping and swimming to the bank of the River Boyne. He sustained 28 stab wounds, two punctured lungs and nerve damage to his left leg and foot. Crosby pleaded not guilty to all counts, including attempted murder, false imprisonment and serious harm. The case is before a Central Criminal Court jury presided by Ms Justice Carmel Stewart.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Gary Watson, 35, was charged with murdering former soldier Warren O'Connor, 24, in 2010. O'Connor died from a single stab wound to the neck, with the knife blade partially impaled in his body. Watson also faced charges of assault causing harm to Philip Woodcock, 34, and of producing a knife to intimidate another person. The judge, Mr Justice Michael White, instructed the jury to treat each charge separately and warned that a verdict of guilty on the assault or intimidation charges would not automatically imply guilt for murder. He emphasized the need for caution regarding identification evidence, noting that the sole witness, Gary Foy, saw a man in a white hoodie make a stabbing motion. The judge also cautioned that the nine‑year delay could affect witness memory, urging the jury to give the accused the benefit of doubt. Gary Watson pleaded not guilty.
In the trial for the murder of DJ Bobby Ryan, the accused farmer Patrick Quirke, aged 50, pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleged Quirke killed Ryan to regain the attention of Ryan's girlfriend, Mary Lowry, with whom Quirke had previously had an affair. Inspector Padraic Powell, the first garda on the scene, noted that Quirke was "extremely clean" despite having worked with slurry that morning, and that Quirke's hands and clothes were clean. Quirke's wife, Imelda, had called the garda on the day the body was found, and Quirke was instructed not to touch anything. Quirke had previously given statements to the garda about his lease on Lowry's land and his relationship with her. The trial is proceeding before Justice Eileen Creedon with a jury of twelve.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, the prosecution, led by James Dwyer SC, argued that all evidence points to Gary Watson (35) as the murderer of Warren O'Connor (24) in 2010. Watson, who lives in Dublin 13, pleaded not guilty to the murder, an assault on Philip Woodcock (34), and intimidation with a knife. The prosecution presented a narrative of a fight at a Dublin apartment where Watson was one of four men. Witnesses, including Gary Foy, claimed to have seen a man in a white hoodie stab O'Connor, and other testimony linked Watson to that hoodie. Watson denied the allegations. The case was set for jury deliberation, with no forensic or CCTV evidence presented. The judge would continue charging the jury the following day.
In a Court of Appeal decision on 13 February 2019, a 45‑year‑old man was upheld as having received a six‑year jail term for sexual abuse of a primary school pupil over a period of about six years. The man pleaded guilty to sexual assault, indecent assault and one count of oral rape of his nephew at two locations in Limerick between 1989 and 1996. The Central Criminal Court had found that the victim, aged six to 12, suffered repeated abuse while the uncle was aged 16 to 23. The victim's impact statement described the abuse as having haunted him, torn his family apart and left him feeling shunned. The original sentence of eight years, with the final two years suspended, was imposed by Justice Isobel Kennedy on 27 October 2015 and was upheld by the Court of Appeal.
A Clare man, Robbie Walsh, 23, was acquitted of murder but found guilty of manslaughter after stabbing Karl "Gobbo" Haugh, 25, at Marian Estate, Kilkee, on 6 August 2017. The jury, after more than three hours, returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty of murder and guilty of manslaughter. Judge Carmel Stewart explained that a guilty verdict requires proof beyond reasonable doubt that the accused intended to kill or cause serious harm, and that if the intention was primarily self‑defence, the killing would be manslaughter. Walsh admitted to stabbing Haugh in the back, claiming he had no intention to kill and that he had only wanted to smash a few windows. He was remanded in custody pending sentencing. The trial included testimony from Walsh's Garda interviews, witness accounts of the fight, and medical evidence that Haugh died from a single stab wound puncturing his lung and causing massive bleeding.
A jury could not reach a verdict in the trial of Dr Kevin Mulcahy, 61, of Creggane, Lombardstown, Mallow, Co Cork, who was accused of sexually assaulting a teenage patient in his surgery in Mallow in February 1995 and again in 1996. Mulcahy pleaded not guilty to both counts. The complainant's brother had taken her to the doctor in early 1995, where the doctor allegedly touched her breasts and the incident "didn't feel right". In the summer of 1996 the complainant returned to the doctor, who allegedly exposed his penis and placed her hand on it. The jury deliberated for over five hours but failed to reach a verdict. Judge Pauline Codd thanked the jurors for their care and attention and adjourned the case for mention on 26 February.
During the trial of Patrick Quirke for the murder of DJ Bobby Ryan, Garda Tom Finnane testified that he had become "unhappy" with his earlier belief about where Ryan's body was found after watching a television news broadcast. Finnane, who had participated in the 2011 search at Fawnagowan farm, had originally thought the body was located in an open slurry pit behind a shed. The broadcast showed the body had been recovered from an underground waste‑water tank in a different area. Finnane confirmed that he had seen an aerial photograph of the farm that clarified the correct location, noting the presence of ten to fifteen round hay bales covered in black plastic. He stated he had not discussed his evidence with anyone else and that the photograph had helped him reassess his recollection. The trial, presided over by Justice Eileen Creedon, continues with a jury of twelve. Patrick Quirke pleaded not guilty. Tom Finnane pleaded not guilty.
In the murder trial of Robbie Walsh, a 23‑year‑old Clare man, the jury was instructed by Ms Justice Carmel Stewart to consider the case from Walsh's perspective, assessing whether he believed he was under threat and whether his use of force was justified. The judge reminded jurors that a person in self‑defence may act impulsively and that excessive force would not be reasonable. Walsh, who pleaded not guilty, admitted in a garda interview that he had killed Karl "Gobbo" Haugh, a 25‑year‑old, after a confrontation at Marian Estate. He described picking up a dropped knife and stabbing Haugh in the back, which caused a fatal lung puncture. The jury was sent home for the night and was to resume deliberations the following day. The trial is ongoing.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Gary Watson (35), who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of former soldier Warren O'Connor (24) in north Dublin, heard evidence from former Deputy State Pathologist Dr Khalid Jaber. Dr Jaber stated that a stainless steel kitchen knife was found partially impaled in Mr O'Connor's neck during the post-mortem examination conducted on January 17, 2010. The blade, measuring 22.5cms, had penetrated 13cms into the body, perforating the left ventricle artery and left internal jugular vein. Dr Jaber concluded that the cause of death was a single stab wound to the lower anterior of the left neck, noting the blade was bent toward the anterior midline. He indicated the perpetrator likely held a height advantage and that the victim was probably taken by surprise. No defence-type wounds were found on Mr O'Connor's hands. Prosecution counsel James Dwyer SC confirmed Dr Jaber was the final witness, closing the State's case. Earlier, Garda Damien Carroll testified to recovering a black-handled knife near Grattan Wood apartments and three knives from a Honda Civic, though no fingerprints belonging to Mr Watson were found on them. Mr Watson also denies assaulting Philip Woodcock and producing a knife to intimidate another person. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury.
The jury has begun deliberations in the trial of Dr Kevin Mulcahy, 61, of Creggane, Lombardstown, Mallow, Co Cork, who has pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault. The first alleged assault occurred in February 1995 when the complainant's brother brought her to Mulcahy's surgery; the complainant says Mulcahy touched her breasts and it "didn't feel right." The second alleged assault took place between 8 May 1996 and 31 December 1996, when the complainant says Mulcahy exposed his penis and placed her hand on it. Judge Pauline Codd sent the jury home at 4 pm to resume deliberations the next day. In closing speeches, the prosecution's counsel, Maddie Grant BL, urged jurors to assess the complainant's truthfulness and reliability, noting her bipolar disorder and that she has never relented from her allegations since 2005.
In February 2019, the Central Criminal Court heard that farmer Patrick Quirke, aged 50, pleaded not guilty to the murder of DJ Bobby Ryan, known as Mr Moonlight, who disappeared in June 2011 and whose body was found in April 2013 in a disused wastewater tank on a farm at Fawnagowan. The trial recounted that days after Ryan's disappearance, Gardaí searched the farmland where he would later be found, but found no evidence of what happened to him. Sergeant Cathal Godfrey, who led the search, explained that the investigation covered a quarry, fields, tanks, ditches, hedges, farm buildings and sheds, and that nothing of evidential value was discovered. The search also included a slurry tank and a Toyota Corolla found in a shed, but no body or relevant material was located. The trial continued before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of twelve.
In a Dublin case, Liam Byrne, aged 37, chased a former partner into a community centre with a broken brush handle and attacked her in front of children. He had earlier pulled a knife from a kitchen drawer and threatened to kill her after inviting her to his home. Garda Louise Moran reported that Byrne's mother intervened twice, causing him to leave the scene. The victim escaped to a nearby community centre dressing room where Byrne struck her and threatened her again. Byrne pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and threats to kill on 16 May 2018. He was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment, fully suspended for 21 months on the condition of keeping the peace, good behaviour and engaging with probation services. The victim declined a victim impact statement and expressed willingness to forgive Byrne if he stays on the right path. The judge noted Byrne's mental health difficulties and drug use as factors but upheld the suspended sentence.
In a murder case heard at the Central Criminal Court, Robbie Walsh, aged 23, pleaded not guilty to the killing of Karl 'Gobble' Haugh, aged 25, who died after being stabbed on August 6, 2017, at the Marian Estate in Kilkee. The prosecution, led by Patrick Gageby SC, argued that the Walsh men, including Robbie's cousins Mitchell and Clinton, had intended to vandalise Haugh's car and that the stabbing was not justified. They cited evidence of a prior altercation, video of Robbie claiming he was dragged and then stabbed Haugh in self‑defence, and witness statements suggesting a hostile environment. The defence, represented by Brendan Grehan SC, contended that Robbie was not an aggressor but was pulled into the confrontation, acting in a life‑or‑death situation. The jury was instructed on the case by Ms Justice Carmel Stewart, with the trial to resume the following day.
A 52‑year‑old man from Co Kildare, Declan Brady, pleaded guilty to possessing fifteen lethal firearms and over 3,000 rounds of ammunition at a Dublin business park in 2017. The firearms included nine revolvers, four semi‑automatic pistols, a sub‑machine gun and an assault rifle. Brady admitted to holding a .357 Magnum Zastava M83/02, two .38 Smith & Wesson Model 37s, a Rossi revolver, an Ingram M11 sub‑machine gun, a 9mm Smith & Wesson semi‑automatic pistol, a Ruger revolver, a Taurus revolver, a Remington Taurus, a Beretta Model 70, a VZ 58 assault rifle, an Amadeo Rossi revolver, a Glock Model 26, a Colt semi‑automatic pistol and a Kaleshnikov pattern magazine.
Robbie Walsh, aged 23, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Karl 'Gobble' Haugh, aged 25, in Kilkee on 6 August 2017. In his fourth Garda interview, Walsh admitted killing Haugh after a confrontation that began with vandalising Haugh's car. He described using a metal bar to smash the car's windows, then being grabbed by Haugh, dropping the bar but retaining a knife, and stabbing Haugh in the back. Walsh claimed he had no intention to kill and that the incident escalated unexpectedly. He also recounted that his house was attacked hours later and that he had sent a Facebook message to a friend saying Haugh had been stabbed in the lung. The case is before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart with a jury of seven men and four women. The trial is ongoing.
The trial of Dr Kevin Mulcahy, 61, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court involves his plea of not guilty to two counts of sexual assault against a teenage patient in Mallow, Co Cork, in 1995 and 1996. On the third day of the hearing, Dr Bobby Burns, an adult psychiatrist at St Stephen's Hospital, testified that he first met the complainant in August 2005 when she was transferred from the UK with acute delusional psychotic disorder. Burns said the woman later alleged assault by Mulcahy and that he advised her to discuss the allegations with another team member. Burns continued to treat her, diagnosing bipolar disorder and noting that her condition is now managed with medication. Burns stated that her illness did not influence her allegations, and under cross‑examination, the defendant acknowledged that the complainant once had delusions of being the mother of the baby Jesus, which disappeared when she became well.
A 21‑year‑old man who endured repeated rape and sexual assault by his half‑brother, who was ten years older, was praised by Mr Justice Michael White at a Central Criminal Court sentencing hearing. The victim was first abused at age seven or eight and was assaulted weekly for seven years until he moved at age eleven. The half‑brother, aged 31, pleaded guilty to 18 counts covering 63 offences of rape and sexual assault between September 2005 and September 2012, and to one count of possessing child pornography. The judge imposed a nine‑year sentence, suspending the last two years, and ordered the defendant to attend sex‑offender treatment programmes. The judge expressed hope that the court's words would comfort the victim, who had only recently attended his first counselling session at the Rape Crisis Centre. The case was brought to light when a work colleague reported the defendant's viewing of child pornography on a work computer.
Gerard O'Grady, aged 54, pleaded guilty to sexually abusing two boys while babysitting them in the mid‑1980s. The victims, aged about 10 at the time, reported the abuse in 2016. O'Grady was sentenced on 6 March 2018 to six years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. The Court of Appeal upheld the sentence. In the appeal hearing, Mr Justice George Birmingham noted the offences occurred when O'Grady was 16‑18 and that the victims were six and eight years younger. He described the single offence involving one boy as the most serious form of sexual assault, likely to be tried in the Central Criminal Court today. O'Grady entered the witness box to apologise, claiming he did not understand his actions then and only gained insight after having his first child. The appeal was dismissed.
Michael Shine, an 86‑year‑old retired surgeon from Ballsbridge, Dublin, was found guilty by a jury of thirteen charges of indecent assault against seven boys he examined over a thirty‑year period. The offences occurred during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and two private clinics between 1971 and 1992. The trial, held in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, concluded on day 17 with a guilty verdict after just over six hours of deliberation. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned sentencing to 22 February and remanded Shine on bail. During the trial, each complainant described how Shine groped or masturbated on them during examinations, with incidents ranging from 1971 to 1988. Shine denied any improper conduct and claimed no memory of the alleged acts. The judge thanked the jury for their service. Michael Shine pleaded not guilty.
In 2016, an English tourist and a Finnish woman were attacked at Dublin's Generator Hostel when a man struck them with a pool cue. The tourist, Paul Maguire, suffered a deep 4‑cm wound to his chin, while the woman received a scar on her forehead. Both were taken to Mater Hospital; the tourist required stitches and endured pain for days. Maguire, aged 32, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm. He had 26 prior convictions. The court accepted his offer of €5,000, to be donated to Temple Street Children's Hospital, as a mitigating factor, though the victims declined the money. The case was adjourned to May 9 for sentencing pending a probation report. The judge described the assault as an "outrageous outburst of impatience and anger" toward unsuspecting tourists. The incident left the tourist's view of Ireland tainted and made him apprehensive about returning. The woman's scar caused her embarrassment.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a woman, who remains unnamed to protect her anonymity, stated that she had forgiven her former partner, a 59‑year‑old Wicklow man, for raping her while she slept. The man, convicted by a jury in December of a single rape charge that occurred on 5 November 2015, had denied the allegation and had no prior convictions. Justice Carmel Stewart imposed a seven‑year sentence, suspending the final 18 months. The court noted the woman's "heartfelt" victim impact statement and her brave admission of forgiveness. The judge wished her well and a full recovery. The case involved a brief relationship that ended in 2015, a subsequent new relationship, and an alleged assault that the man claimed was consensual. The woman described the assault, the medical examination, and her ongoing mental‑health struggles. The defense highlighted the man's good character and parenting record.
Sean Ruth, 29, of Rathangan, Co Kildare, was sentenced at the Special Criminal Court for possession of a .38 Special Rossi revolver and a 9mm round. He pleaded guilty to charges under the Firearms Act, 1925. Presiding Judge Paul Coffey, sitting with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, accepted that these items were unconnected to the larger arsenal recovered from Greenogue Business Park on January 24, 2017. The court noted the firearm and ammunition were incompatible and unused. Considering Ruth's 29 previous convictions as an aggravating factor, the headline sentence was set at four and a half years. This was reduced to three and a half years due to his guilty plea. The final six months of the sentence were suspended on the condition that Ruth enter a peace bond. The sentence was backdated to May 17, 2017, when he entered custody. The court also referenced the convictions of Jonathan Harding and James Walsh, who pleaded guilty to possessing nine revolvers, four pistols, a sub-machine gun, an assault rifle, and ammunition magazines at the same location. In January 2018, Harding was sentenced to ten years with one year suspended, while Walsh received nine years with one year suspended.
Kevin Braney, the Dublin leader of the New IRA, was convicted of murder for the killing of dissident republican Peter Butterly. The New IRA, formed in 2012 from remnants of the Real IRA, Republican Action Against Drugs, former Provisional IRA activists and criminal elements, is regarded by the gardai and PSNI as the biggest terrorist threat in Ireland. Braney's conviction followed extensive garda operations involving the Special Detective Unit, Garda Security and Intelligence and the National Surveillance Unit (NSU). NSU members observed Braney's movements before, during and after the murder, and provided evidence in court, though the public were excluded from the proceedings. Braney was also convicted of IRA membership in 2022 and is serving a four‑year sentence in Portlaoise Prison. The New IRA remains a primary target of Garda Security and Intelligence, with about 50 active members and several hundred sympathisers across the island.
The leader of the so-called New IRA in Dublin, Kevin Braney (44), was today jailed for life for the murder of Peter Butterly (35) almost six years ago. Braney was found guilty by the Special Criminal Court last Monday of the 'premeditated' murder of Mr Butterly, who was chased and shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co Meath, on March 6, 2013. Braney had pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Butterly. Mr Justice Paul Coffey, presiding, said the court was driven 'irresistibly' to the conclusion that Braney was involved in the organisation and planning of Mr Butterly's murder beyond a reasonable doubt. In 2018, Braney was sentenced to four years and six months after he was found guilty of IRA membership by the Special Criminal Court. Mr Justice Coffey, sitting with Judge Martin Nolan and Judge James Faughnan, then sentenced Braney to the mandatory term of life imprisonment, backdated to when he first went into custody for this matter on September 14, 2017. Ms Caroline Cummings BL asked the court that a 'nolle prosequi' be entered on the outstanding count of membership, meaning the State will not be proceeding with the prosecution in relation to this count. Edward McGrath (37), Sharif Kelly (49), and Dean Evans (27) have all received life sentences at the Special Criminal Court after they were convicted of Mr Butterly's murder. The court found that Braney had been involved and participated in Mr Butterly's murder.
In a 2019 trial, 23‑year‑old Robbie Walsh of Kilrush, Co. Clare, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 25‑year‑old Karl Haugh in Kilkee. The Central Criminal Court heard that the alleged killing followed a confrontation at Haugh's house after a phone argument. Gardaí reported that Walsh and his cousins had vandalised a Volkswagen Passat, then went to Haugh's house to buy cocaine. Walsh claimed Haugh had a knife, was attacked, and that he stabbed Haugh in the back after Haugh dropped the knife. Walsh told the garda he had no intention to kill and that he had not brought a knife. He later surrendered after seeing a Facebook post about Haugh's death. The trial was set to continue before Justice Marie Baker and a jury.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, retired surgeon Michael Shine, 86, faced thirteen indecent assault charges linked to medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital and two private clinics in Drogheda. Defending counsel Hugh Hartnett SC argued that the complainants' memories could be shaped by media exposure and the prospect of financial compensation, noting that each had pursued civil actions. Hartnett highlighted that one complainant had testified that, in hindsight, he believed the incidents were abuse. He questioned whether televised coverage could influence recollections. Judge Martin Nolan instructed jurors to consider each charge separately and to weigh counsel's submissions on the evidence. He noted that a medical expert had testified the alleged actions were medically inappropriate and could constitute indecent assault if accepted beyond a reasonable doubt. The jury was to resume deliberations the following day. Michael Shine pleaded not guilty.
During a 2010 altercation on Hole in the Wall Road, a man named Warren O'Connor was stabbed. A nurse, Alison Boyd, who lived in Newgrove Estate and worked nearby, heard a loud bang and saw a Ford Focus and a dark car involved. She observed about ten people gathered and heard shouting, including the name 'Warren' and a phrase that sounded like 'get it into him.' Boyd ran outside, found O'Connor lying on his back with a knife embedded in his chest, the handle snapped off. She attempted to check his pulse and called an ambulance. Another witness, Rachel Foy, also heard the commotion and saw a gang of people on the footpath. The incident is part of a murder trial against Gary Watson, who denies the charges. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Michael White.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 86‑year‑old retired surgeon Michael Shine pleaded not guilty to thirteen indecent assault charges alleged to have occurred during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital and two private clinics in Drogheda. On the fifteenth day of the trial, the prosecution presented a witness who claimed that in 1971, when Shine was 13, a patient's appendix surgery was followed by Shine fondling the patient's genitals. Shine denied the allegation, stating there were no medical records and arguing that it was unfair to bring events from decades ago to trial. He also denied claims that he masturbated a 13‑year‑old patient after a testicular torsion operation, describing the allegation as "unbelievable" and "shocking". The prosecution noted that all complainants had similar accounts and had pursued civil action through Dignity 4 Patients. The trial was set to continue before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Gary Watson (35), who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of former soldier Warren O'Connor (24) in January 2010, continued with witness testimony. Gary Foy (32) testified that he observed a man in a white hoodie make a stabbing motion toward another man's chest while saying, "get that into you." Foy stated the incident occurred on Hole in the Wall Road, Donaghmede, Dublin 13. Under cross-examination, Foy maintained his recollection of the initial incident was accurate despite acknowledging some haziness regarding the aftermath. Emma Cooney, a witness at a nearby house party, reported hearing a bang and someone shout, "Smiley I think you killed him," though she agreed this specific phrase was not in her previous statements. Susan Ford, who was walking home from a party, described seeing a man in a black leather jacket grab railings, claim he had been stabbed, and fall forward with a rusty object protruding from his chest. The court previously heard that the fatal altercation followed a dispute over a noisy house party. Watson also denies assaulting Philip Woodcock and producing a knife to intimidate. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury.