In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Noel O'Doherty, aged 28, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and possession of a large kitchen knife with intent to injure Gardaí. The offence occurred on 23 October 2016 when O'Doherty, after punching his girlfriend unconscious, ran at Gardaí while wielding a knife. Gardaí pursued him into his home, where he was found sitting on his hands in a narrow wardrobe. Judge Gerard Griffin sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, suspending the final six months provided he keep the peace, behave well and engage with probation services for three years. The court noted O'Doherty's 11 prior convictions, the injuries inflicted, and his refusal to drop the knife when directed, while also recognising his guilty plea, lack of recent convictions, employment history and remorse. The judge praised the accused's father for allowing Gardaí entry and informing them of children inside the house. The case was heard in Hartstown, Hartstown Road, Hartstown.
Ger Hehir, 58, of Drumcavan, Ruan, Co. Clare, was convicted after a seven‑day retrial in November of four sexual assaults and one rape of a teenage girl between 2010 and 2013. The offences occurred at his home and at horse events across the country. Hehir pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. Mr Justice Robert Eagar sentenced him to seven years' imprisonment for the rape, suspending the final 18 months on condition of participation in a sexual offender programme and good behaviour for three years after release. He also received five years' imprisonment for each sexual assault, all concurrent and back‑dated to 21 November when Hehir entered custody. The court heard the victim was 16 at the time of the first assault and that she endured repeated sexual contact, including rape, over the period. Hehir had no prior convictions.
Paul Keating, aged 50, was sentenced to six years in prison for the manslaughter of his life‑long friend Mark Richardson, aged 49, who was stabbed on 16 March 2017. The stabbing occurred after an argument while both men were drinking. Keating's single stab wound severed Richardson's main pulmonary artery, causing fatal bleeding. Keating had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter, a factor the judge considered mitigating. He had a history of alcohol and benzodiazepine dependence, stemming from injuries sustained in his early twenties. The court noted the impact on Richardson's partner, Aisling Kenny, and their children, who suffered emotional distress. Keating expressed remorse and will be required to engage in rehabilitation courses before release. The sentence was back‑dated to the date of the offence.
Sean Ruth, 29, of Rathangan, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing a .38 Special Rossi revolver and a 9mm round of ammunition. The court heard that DNA evidence linked Ruth to the revolver found in a blood-stained bag at Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, Co Dublin, on January 24, 2017. Prosecution counsel Paul Burns SC stated the maximum sentence for each count is seven years. In mitigation, defense counsel Dominic McGinn SC highlighted Ruth's early guilty plea, which saved the court significant time, and noted that the weapon was not loaded. Mr McGinn also cited support from Ruth's family and courses completed in custody. Mr Justice Paul Coffey, presiding with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, remanded Ruth in custody until February 8, when he will be sentenced. The matter was adjourned. Jonathan Harding, 45, of Sallins, Co Kildare, and James Walsh, 33, of Clondalkin, Dublin 22, previously 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 in prison with one year suspended, and Walsh was sentenced to nine years in prison with one year suspended.
In a 2019 case, Polish driver Dariusz Alchimionek, aged 44, was found guilty of manslaughter and assault after a December 2015 incident in which he collided with the Gorman brothers, killing 19‑year‑old John Gorman and injuring Adam. The jury, after 2 h 50 min deliberation, returned a 11‑1 guilty verdict on both counts, despite psychiatrists agreeing he met the criteria for not guilty by reason of insanity. Alchimionek was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended. His defence counsel appealed, arguing the verdict was "perverse" and that the jury's decision contradicted expert evidence. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on the appeal. The case remains at the appeal stage.
In a 2019 trial, Patrick Quirke, aged 50, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 52‑year‑old Bobby Ryan, a DJ known as Mr Moonlight, who was found dead in a slurry pit on a farm in Fawnagowan, Tipperary, in April 2013. The jury, composed of six men and six women, was instructed by Justice Eileen Creedon to visit the farm to observe the relevant buildings and surrounding land, but not to conduct investigations or take photographs. They were shown photographs of a run‑off tank, a slurry tank, and various farm buildings, as well as a broken hair clip, springs, and cable ties recovered from the pit. Det. Sergeant Larry Stapleton reported that bone fragments and hair were also recovered. The prosecution alleged that Quirke had a prior relationship with Ryan's girlfriend and murdered Ryan to rekindle that affair, relying on circumstantial evidence to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court.
Brian Rattigan, 38, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for the manslaughter of 21‑year‑old Declan Gavin, who was stabbed to death outside an Abrakebabra fast‑food restaurant on Crumlin Road in Dublin on 25 August 2001. Rattigan had previously pleaded guilty to murder in 2009, but that conviction was quashed by the Supreme Court in 2017. He entered a plea to manslaughter on 22 October 2018, and the court accepted the plea, citing the case's frailties and the passage of time. The judge noted aggravating factors, including Rattigan's drug‑ and alcohol‑related state and the fatal nature of the wound, and mitigating factors such as his guilty plea, completion of drug‑awareness courses, and a letter of apology to the Gavin family, which was deemed "too late" to mitigate. The sentence was back‑dated to 1 October 2018.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, retired surgeon Michael Shine, aged 86, pleaded not guilty to thirteen charges of indecent assault. Witnesses testified that Shine groped and stroked the privates of teenage patients during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda and at two private clinics. One witness, aged 13 in 1971, described how Shine asked him to pull up his shirt and trousers, pressed around a wound, then fondled his testicles and stroked his penis while claiming to check for damage. A second witness, also 13 in 1975, recounted a similar incident at Lourdes hospital, where Shine examined his testicles, then masturbated his penis for 10–15 minutes. Both witnesses said they felt embarrassed and left the rooms quickly. The trial is set to continue tomorrow before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
A 55‑year‑old man pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal to ten indecent assault charges for sexually abusing his younger brother between 1982 and 1985. The abuse involved oral rape, touching the brother's penis and forcing him to masturbate. The accused was aged 18‑21 while the victim was 11‑14. The victim recalled the abuse occurring mainly on Sunday nights, sometimes twice a week, and that it ended in September 1985 when the brother left Ireland. The accused has lived abroad for over 30 years, is married with two children and has no prior convictions. He read a victim impact statement in court, expressing shame and acknowledging the harm caused. A forensic psychologist assessed him as low risk of re‑offending. Judge Melanie Greally remanded him on continuing bail until sentencing in February. The case is set for sentencing next month.
Patrick Quirke, aged 50, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 52‑year‑old Bobby Ryan, a local DJ known as Mr Moonlight, between June 2011 and April 2013. Quirke, who had been in a secret affair with Mary Lowry since 2008, claimed that his relationship with Lowry ended in 2010 when she began dating Ryan. Quirke allegedly killed Ryan to regain his former relationship with Lowry. On 13 April 2013, Quirke discovered Ryan's naked body in a slurry tank, where it had been buried in a concrete sarcophagus. The post‑mortem revealed blunt‑force trauma and fractures to the skull, ribs and one leg. The prosecution, led by Michael Bowman SC, argued that Quirke had motive, opportunity and access to the tank, and that the discovery of the body was carefully staged. The trial is proceeding before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of twelve.
Gary Walsh, aged 32, was jailed for four years after a burglary and assault at a house in Rialto, south Dublin, on 1 July 2018. He admitted to breaking into the home, punching the homeowner Gerry Godley eight times, biting him twice, and assaulting Godley's partner Elish Bul when she tried to stop him. Walsh claimed he had been invited to play Playstation and was intoxicated, but the court found him disoriented and guilty. He was found with a bank card and a bag of the householder's property, though no significant items were taken. The homeowners, including a young daughter, reported nightmares and fear. Judge Melanie Greally noted the lack of premeditation and Walsh's remorse, suspending the final two years of a six‑year sentence on the condition of good behaviour and engagement with probation services for substance abuse and mental health issues.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, an 86‑year‑old surgeon, Michael Shine, faced thirteen indecent assault charges linked to examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital and two private Drogheda clinics. A male witness, aged 10 when first examined, recounted that Shine asked him to undress to his underpants, examined his throat, torso and abdomen, then groped his genitals, describing the act as a prolonged, painful experience. The witness claimed Shine also performed a rectal examination, inserting a gloved finger and again touching his genitals. He reported that after a later surgery for a wound, Shine repeatedly examined the wound while touching his genitals. The witness said he was 19 in 1982 when he woke to find Shine's hand on his penis, describing it as "masturbating me." The trial, with a jury, continued under Judge Martin Nolan. The witness had previously pursued civil action, concluding in 2012. The surgeon pleaded not guilty.
A 45‑year‑old man was jailed for seven years after pleading guilty to defilement, sexual exploitation of a child and three sexual assault charges involving a 13‑year‑old girl between September 2014 and August 2015. He had been in a relationship with the girl's mother at the time and had six prior convictions, including a 1993 sexual assault. A relative discovered an inappropriate app on the girl's phone in 2015, containing disturbing pictures and texts, and notified Gardaí. The girl reported that the man initially acted as a father figure but later kissed and touched her, claiming the contact was due to her "hormonal urges." He denied sending sexualised texts, but phone analysis confirmed he had sent such messages, including "Hi, how are you, I'm horny." He admitted the girl performed oral sex on him once but could not detail other incidents because of his alcohol consumption.
A 37‑year‑old man was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the last two years suspended, for raping his wife in their Dublin home on 30 August 2015. He was convicted in July 2016 after a trial at the Central Criminal Court. The court found him not guilty of assault causing harm to the woman. He denied all charges but later accepted the jury verdict and apologised to his wife. During the assault he ripped her clothes and covered her face to stop her from screaming. The wife, who lives with their two children and her mother‑in‑law, has repeatedly stated that she forgives her husband and does not want him to go to prison. She has written several statements to the court and Gardaí, expressing forgiveness and regret for bringing the case, and describing her husband as a good father with a good heart. The unnamed man was acquitted.
Andrei Negura, a 36‑year‑old Moldovan, was sentenced to a three‑year prison term that was fully suspended on strict conditions after pleading guilty to assaulting Bohuslav Kalias with a claw hammer and causing criminal damage to a car. Negura claimed a fight with Kalias and denied attacking him, but evidence showed he struck Kalias's arm repeatedly, leaving the victim with a broken arm, 38 stitches, and lasting pain that limits arm movement and affects daily activities. The assault also damaged the victim's car, costing €1,900. Negura had six prior convictions and had addressed heavy drinking. The judge noted his remorse, lack of prior violent convictions, and low re‑offending risk, and accepted the victim's willingness to accept the €1,900 compensation. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the judge's decision announced on the day of the hearing.
Francis Lanigan, 53, is to be extradited to Northern Ireland on murder and firearm charges following the Supreme Court's refusal to hear an appeal against his surrender. The High Court formally lifted the stay on his extradition, clearing the way for his return. Mr. Lanigan is wanted in connection with the alleged 1998 killing of John Knocker in Dungannon, Co Tyrone. He had contested extradition, arguing his life was at risk from paramilitaries. His legal battle spanned multiple High Court judges, the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court, and the European Court of Justice. He also challenged the constitutionality of the European Arrest Warrant Act and filed two Habeas Corpus applications. In 2015, the High Court ordered his surrender, a decision upheld on appeal. Last year, the Court of Appeal dismissed his application to refer the case to the ECJ. Mr. Lanigan had been on bail pending the Supreme Court's decision. He was arrested in 2013 under a European Arrest Warrant while working as a barber in Dublin, where he had lived under the alias Ciaran McCrory for 15 years. In an affidavit, he stated he joined the INLA around age 19 and was jailed for membership in the 1980s. He claimed he fled south after an attack in 1998 that resulted in Mr. Knocker's death, disputing the authorities' account of the incident.
In a High Court ruling on 21 January 2019, the mother of Nicola Vonkova, a 19‑year‑old murder victim, was permitted to amend her legal challenge against the State's refusal to pay compensation. Magdalena Vonkova, from Prague, had previously argued that the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal's exclusion rule – which bars payment when the offender and victim live together – was inapplicable because she and the offender, Jakub Fidler, were not members of a household in the strict sense. The judge, Mr Justice Senan Allen, allowed an additional ground for the claim, contending that the scheme violated Article 47 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and breached EU law by failing to provide fair compensation for victims of violent international crimes. The amendment was proposed in June 2018, after the action began in April 2017, and the respondents – the Tribunal, the Minister for Justice and the State – opposed it on time‑limit grounds.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, 86‑year‑old retired surgeon Michael Shine pleaded not guilty to thirteen charges of indecent assault against seven teenage boys. The allegations stem from medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda and two private clinics. One complainant, aged 14 in 1972, recounted that Shine, who had been his consultant for a knee operation, would visit his room in the evening to play chess and then groped and fondled his genitals, pulling down his trousers and stroking his penis. The boy said Shine justified the conduct by claiming it was a way to "tell a lot." Another complainant, aged 15, alleged that during an examination for a torn foreskin, Shine masturbated him for five to ten minutes and squeezed his penis, after which the boy felt shocked and did not return for a recommended circumcision. Both complainants are also involved in civil actions against Shine.
The High Court ordered the extradition of 23‑year‑old Samuel Joseph Tucker, who was arrested in Mayfield, Cork in August 2018 after a US extradition request. Tucker is wanted in Florida for a 2017 high‑speed crash that killed 22‑year‑old Alyssa Kay Vice. The crash involved a 2017 Maserati Ghibli travelling up to 140 mph, with Tucker's blood alcohol level reported at 0.162 g/dL, double the Florida limit. US charges include two counts of driving under the influence with property damage (maximum one year each) and one count of DUI manslaughter (minimum four years, maximum fifteen). Irish counsel argued the lack of mens rea in the US offence made extradition inappropriate, but Justice McDermott rejected this, stating the offence corresponds to Irish manslaughter. Tucker also claimed threats to his life, but the judge found the evidence insufficient to refuse extradition. The formal order will be made at 4 pm.
Sean Ruth, 29, of Rathangan, Co Kildare, pleaded not guilty at the Special Criminal Court to charges of unlawful possession of a .38 Special Rossi revolver and a 9mm round of ammunition. Prosecutors allege these items were linked to a search at Greenogue Business Park on January 24, 2017, where Jonathan Harding and James Walsh were found. Harding and Walsh previously pleaded guilty to possessing nine revolvers, four pistols, a sub-machine gun, an assault rifle, and ammunition at the site. In January 2018, Harding was sentenced to ten years in prison with one year suspended, while Walsh received nine years with one year suspended. The prosecution contends that DNA evidence recovered from a blood-stained bag containing the revolver, a glove with a 9mm round, and a Ford Focus with a secret ammunition compartment matches Ruth. Counsel stated that Ruth's DNA also matched bloodstains on the car and a radio transmitter. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Coffey, Judge Gerard Griffin, and Judge David McHugh, is ongoing and was adjourned to resume the following day.
Michael Lynch, aged 34, was given a fresh three‑year prison sentence, with no suspended portion, for burglary of a house on Newbridge Avenue, Dublin 4, where a medical surgery was located in the basement. The burglary took place on 26 February 2017 while Lynch was on temporary release for other charges. He entered the house, confronted the occupants, stole a handbag, and locked the injured party inside her bedroom. The husband, a doctor, pursued Lynch and called the Gardaí, who later identified him after he discarded a wallet taken from the house. Lynch had already completed the custodial part of his previous sentence and had 27 charges pending appeal. The Court of Appeal, hearing an application from the Director of Public Prosecutions, imposed the new sentence, citing Lynch's extensive criminal record of 121 convictions, including 16 burglaries, seven thefts, two robberies, one assault and 56 traffic offences. Michael Lynch pleaded guilty.
A 60‑year‑old Limerick man, Desmond Coyle, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter after stabbing a 58‑year‑old Romanian beggar, Calo Carpaci, to death on 24 May 2017. Coyle stabbed Carpaci in the heart with a single wound while at the beggar's home. He told those who restrained him that he hoped the victim was dead and that he deserved it, and later said that if the beggar had stopped "f***ing annoying me" the incident would not have happened. Coyle had been drinking in pubs before going to the beggar's house, armed with a knife, and entered through an open front door, reemerging within 13 seconds with the fatal wound. He had no prior convictions, had been treated in a psychiatric unit after setting his home on fire, and was a single man living alone.
A teenager convicted of manslaughter following the fatal stabbing of a 17-year-old boy in Claremorris in December 2015 has had his sentencing adjourned at the Central Criminal Court. The defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty of the manslaughter of Dovydas Jenkas in 2017 after a jury rejected a murder charge. Justice Eileen Creedon adjourned sentencing until October to allow the teenager time to recover from recent brain surgery performed to address severe epileptic seizures. Medical evidence presented to the court indicated the defendant suffers from localised epilepsy caused by a brain lesion and has undergone an anterior temporal lobectomy. The judge acknowledged the health grounds for the adjournment whilst noting her concern to finalise proceedings in consideration of the victim's family.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Tony Carrick, aged 41, received a partially suspended sentence for robbing Aoife O'Reilly at a Finglas petrol station. Carrick demanded the time, seized her wallet, and fled in a car. O'Reilly chased him, ending half inside and half outside the vehicle. The driver shouted threats and punched her, while Carrick threatened to kill her if she left. The driver drove 200 yards with O'Reilly's legs dangling, then forced her out and left. Carrick, already serving a five‑and‑a‑half‑year term for burglaries and an attempted car‑jacking, pleaded guilty to robbery and endangerment on 13 December 2016. Judge Karen O'Connor added the new sentence to run consecutively, bringing his total to eight years, with the final two‑and‑a‑half years suspended. The driver involved in both incidents is now deceased. Carrick's 110 prior convictions include assault, burglary, robbery and unlawful possession of ammunition.
The trial of retired surgeon Michael Shine, 86, accused of indecently assaulting seven boys during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda and two private clinics, has been adjourned because a juror is unavailable. Shine pleaded not guilty to thirteen charges. The case will resume next Monday before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
A man convicted of murdering two elderly brothers in Castlebar in July 2013 has had his appeal held up pending legal submissions, which is now delaying an inquest into the deaths. Alan Cawley, aged 31, was found guilty by jury at the Central Criminal Court in 2017 of killing Thomas Blaine, aged 69, and John Blaine, aged 76, at New Antrim Street. He received a mandatory life sentence. Cawley had admitted the killings but denied murder, arguing diminished responsibility due to mental health conditions. The jury rejected this claim. The Court of Appeal has requested that Cawley's legal representatives provide the Coroner for Mayo with an update on the appeal's progress, as the inquest cannot proceed until the appeal concludes. The coroner's delay is causing concern to the deceased's family, according to the court.
A man has been sentenced to eight years in prison at the Central Criminal Court for the attempted murder of his ex-girlfriend in County Roscommon. Gerard Mooney, aged thirty-nine and formerly of Castlerea, pleaded guilty to attempting to shoot the woman in the head on 12th February 2017 at Cartron. He also admitted possessing a sawn-off shotgun, making threats to kill, criminal damage, harassment, and burglary. Justice Michael White imposed a twelve-year sentence on the attempted murder charge, suspending the final four years. The judge noted that Mooney came "within a hair's breadth" of a murder conviction and that his victim survived only due to mechanical failure when the weapon jammed repeatedly. The court heard the accused had made over 250 calls to the victim between 7th and 12th February and had breached court bail conditions prohibiting contact. Justice White identified the case as exemplifying how intimate relationships can become dangerous, citing psychological difficulties and substance abuse as contributing factors. All sentences will run concurrently and were backdated to February 2017.
An Irish man, Kenneth Brunell of Palmerstown, Dublin, has agreed to be extradited to the Netherlands where he is appealing convictions related to the killing of 29‑year‑old Keith Ennis. Ennis was stabbed to death in 2009, his body chopped up and dumped in a canal on the northern outskirts of Amsterdam. Brunell was previously found not guilty of manslaughter but guilty of concealing Ennis's corpse by a Dutch court. An appeals court in Amsterdam overturned the acquittal in May and upheld the conviction for concealing the body, sentencing him in absentia to 13 years' imprisonment. The Dutch authorities issued a European Arrest Warrant in July of last year. Brunell's lawyers have appealed the conviction, and he is now wanted in the Netherlands for detention pending that appeal. Brunell has consented to extradition, and the High Court judge has endorsed the warrant and ordered his surrender to Dutch authorities.
The trial of Dr Michael Shine, 86, began at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 17 January 2019. He faces thirteen charges of indecent assault alleged to have occurred during medical examinations at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and two private clinics. The first complainant, a 15‑year‑old patient, testified that after a finger surgery in 1988 he was asked to stand in the examination room, where Shine groped his genitals while resting his head on the boy's chest. The boy described feeling terrified and confused, and that Shine's breathing became "creepy." A second complainant, 13 at the time of a testicular surgery in 1985, recounted that Shine examined a scar on his scrotum, then touched his penis and moved the foreskin, leaving him confused. Both complainants said they later brought a third party to subsequent appointments. The case is set to continue before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. Michael Shine pleaded not guilty.
In a 2019 assault case, 21‑year‑old Aaron Nolan of The Glen Woodpark, Ballinteer, was charged with assaulting his then‑19‑year‑old girlfriend on 5 November 2017. Garda Ronan Goggin described how Nolan punched, kicked, and dragged the woman across a green area and down laneways, pulling clumps of hair and destroying her handbag. He allegedly acted on a "baseless" belief that she was texting another man, and became increasingly violent when she denied it. The attack left her with a burst eardrum, swollen face, blood‑matted hair, and severe pain, leading to vomiting for a night. The victim, who suffered post‑traumatic stress, depression, neck pain, and hearing loss, did not speak about the incident. Nolan admitted intoxication, expressed remorse, and claimed love for the woman. He was remanded in custody, with the case adjourned to April for a defence plea in mitigation. Aaron Nolan pleaded guilty.
Geoffrey Cotter, 48, received a suspended two‑year prison sentence after he punched taxi driver David Carey unconscious during a parking dispute in Dublin. Cotter, who was on a lunch break delivering oil, parked in a taxi rank and, when Carey asked him to move, told him to "fuck off" and threatened to punch any taxi driver who clamped him. He then entered Carey's car, removed his top, and began punching the driver, causing bruising and unconsciousness. CCTV footage showed the assault. Cotter admitted assault causing harm and was ordered to pay €3,000 to his solicitor as a token of remorse, to be given to charity if Carey declined. The court noted Carey's recovery and ongoing anxiety, and Cotter's prior convictions for dangerous driving and assault. Judge Martin Nolan described the attack as unprovoked and suspended the sentence on the condition of good behaviour.
The High Court heard an application for the surrender of Samuel Joseph Tucker, a 23-year-old US citizen arrested in Cork in August 2018. US authorities seek his extradition to face charges arising from a June 2017 crash in Florida that allegedly killed passenger Alyssa Kay Vice. The warrant charges Tucker with driving under the influence with a blood alcohol level of 0.15 grams/dL or more resulting in property damage on two counts, each carrying a maximum penalty of one year imprisonment. Count three charges him with driving under the influence manslaughter, carrying a maximum sentence of 15 years. Counsel for the Minister for Justice, Elva Duffy BL, stated the primary charge is count three. Tucker's counsel, Simon Donagh BL, objected, arguing that the US offence lacks the 'mens rea' required for corresponding Irish offences, breaching constitutional rights, and that no formal request was made for count three. Tucker also alleged his life was at risk if extradited. The court heard that Tucker was remanded in continuing custody until the judge delivers his ruling on Monday.
A jury of twelve will travel to Tipperary on 25 January to view the farm where Patrick Quirke, aged 50, is accused of murdering 52‑year‑old Bobby Ryan between 3 June 2011 and 13 April 2013. Justice Eileen Creedon explained that the prosecution and defence believe the visit will aid the trial. The jury will depart from the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin by coach, and will return to the Central Criminal Court on Friday for the trial's opening. No further legal actions are mentioned in the article. Patrick Quirke pleaded not guilty.
Matthew Kelly, 26, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to his ex‑partner in Roundwood, Co Wicklow, on 17 November 2017. He was originally given a wholly suspended two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence by Judge Michael O'Shea at Bray Circuit Criminal Court on 26 July 2018. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was "unduly lenient". The Court of Appeal agreed and, on 15 January 2019, imposed a new two‑and‑a‑half‑year term with all but the final 12 months suspended, effectively sentencing Kelly to 12 months in custody. The appeal judge noted the assault occurred near a creche where the victim's two‑year‑old daughter was being collected, that Kelly had a safety order in force at the time, and that the attack was described as "cowardly, vicious and violent". The court highlighted the seriousness of breaching a safety order and the presence of the victim's child during the assault.
In a High Court hearing on 15 January 2019, Assistant Garda Commissioner John Fintan Fanning's challenge to his suspension pending a Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission investigation was adjourned for a week. Fanning, who has served nearly 39 years and is due to retire in August, claims the suspension is unlawful and unfair, seeks orders lifting it, restraining the Commissioner from communicating "false" information, and directing cooperation with the GSOC investigation, and also seeks damages. He alleges that GSOC received a protected disclosure from a rank‑and‑file Garda on 3 December, and that he was asked to provide information within 30 days, which he did by 20 December. GSOC then served a notice of a complaint under the Protected Disclosures Act, involving allegations that a Garda was removed from a firearms course after Fanning's intervention and that the same Garda was later involved in an assault.
Patrick Lynch, 38, was found guilty of assaulting his partner and abducting her two‑year‑old son on 7 November 2016. He was originally sentenced to two years' imprisonment with six months suspended. The Director of Public Prosecutions applied for a review, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal, in a three‑judge panel, increased the sentence to three years' imprisonment with nine months suspended. Lynch had spent much of the day drinking outside a dwelling while his partner and the infant were inside. He attacked the partner with a brush handle, punched her in the face, rammed a toilet door with his shoulder and assaulted her while she sat on the toilet. He later drove away with the infant, who was handed over to Gardaí at or near Naas Courthouse. Lynch has 148 previous convictions, including violent disorder, burglary and robbery, and more than 100 road‑traffic convictions. Patrick Lynch pleaded not guilty.
Joseph O'Connor, a 58‑year‑old former Garda from west Dublin, was convicted in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of four counts of possession of child pornography. The evidence came from a laptop seized in August 2011 during an investigation of an alleged assault. The laptop's recycle bin contained videos of boys under ten and under 17 being sexually abused, and 16 images of children in sexual situations. A jury acquitted him of a fifth count involving 56 duplicate images. O'Connor, who had served 25 years as a Garda before his 2012 suspension, denied knowing the material and claimed it was corrupted by a visitor. The case was delayed by an unrelated assault investigation. He has been added to the register of sex offenders, and sentencing was adjourned to 15 February to allow a psychologist's report to be considered. The maximum penalty is a €5,000 fine or five years' imprisonment. Joseph O'Connor pleaded not guilty.
Warren Nolan, 22, was sentenced today by Mr Justice Paul McDermott to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for the murder of Alan O'Neill. Nolan was found guilty of this charge by a majority jury verdict in December. He was also found guilty by unanimous verdict of setting fire to the car used in the attack. For the arson, the judge imposed a six-year sentence, noting that while an appropriate range was seven to ten years, he considered Nolan's young age and mitigating factors. Both sentences were backdated to September 2017. The court heard from Doris O'Neill, the victim's mother, who described her son as a "gentle giant" and stated she would never understand his murder. Counsel for Nolan highlighted his difficult background and low intellectual ability, while the prosecution noted his 24 previous convictions, including a recent firearms offense. Evidence indicated the shooting was planned, with the stolen vehicle stalking the victim prior to the attack. Nolan was arrested near a burning car and denied involvement in the murder during interviews, claiming he only set the vehicle alight. The judge's sentencing concluded the procedural stage for these proven charges.
Patrick Quirke, 50, of Breanshamore, Co. Tipperary, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of 52‑year‑old Bobby Ryan, whose death occurred at an unknown location between 3 June 2011 and 13 April 2013. The case is before the Central Criminal Court, where a jury of six men and six women will hear the proceedings. Mr Justice Michael White has indicated the trial may last up to eight weeks.
A 24‑year‑old man, Gareth Brophy, has been ordered to appear before the Special Criminal Court for a non‑jury trial. The court, composed of Judges Tony Hunt, Patricia Ryan and Ann Ryan, granted the Director of Public Prosecutions' application under Section 49 of the Offences Against the State Act, stating that ordinary courts were inadequate to secure effective justice. Brophy is accused of murdering 55‑year‑old David Douglas, who was shot six times on July 1, 2016, while taking a meal break at his partner's shop in Shoestown, Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 8. The case follows two other men who have already faced court over the killing: Frederick "Freddie" Thompson, found guilty and sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment in August, and Nathan Foley, who admitted in November to driving one of the four cars used in the murder and will be sentenced on January 25. Brophy was excused from the brief hearing held today.
Former INLA member Dessie O'Hare, known as 'The Border Fox', has pleaded guilty at the non-jury Special Criminal Court to charges of assault and false imprisonment in Dublin. O'Hare, 62, of Slate Rock Road, Newtownhamilton, County Armagh, admitted to assaulting John Roche, causing him harm, at The Towers, Garter Lane, Saggart, County Dublin on June 9th, 2015. He also pleaded guilty to falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at Rathcoole and Saggart on the same date. The charges were admitted by O'Hare, who responded 'guilty' to both counts when asked by the registrar. Sean Guerin SC, defending, stated that a trial would not be required and that O'Hare could be arraigned on two of the counts. The defence indicated a desire to take two other counts into consideration at the appropriate time. The defence also mentioned that O'Hare has engaged with 'professionals' and requested up-to-date professional assistance for the sentence hearing. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding, sitting with Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge Ann Ryan, remanded the defendant on continuing bail with the same terms and conditions until April 3, when he will be sentenced.
In a 2019 court hearing, Gardaí investigated alleged Facebook threats made by a 38‑year‑old UK businessman, who was convicted in March 2019 of three counts of rape and eight counts of sexual assault against two girls aged 10 and 12, committed between December 2010 and March 2011. The businessman, who groomed the children in the UK and later brought them to Ireland, was found to have sexually assaulted the older girl in a Dublin hotel room in December 2010. At the Central Criminal Court sentence hearing in July, the defendant maintained his innocence and disputed the verdicts. Prosecutor Pauline Walley presented evidence that the defendant had created false Facebook accounts to claim innocence and allegedly threatened a complainant via Facebook in April. Gardaí, assisted by US and UK authorities, were conducting a detailed investigation. The judge adjourned the matter to 12 April.
A Dublin man, Keith Connorton, aged 40, was found guilty of murder after stabbing his love rival, Graham McKeever, 32, to death. The incident occurred on 18 February 2017 at Connorton's home on Deerpark Avenue, Tallaght. Connorton lived with his long‑term partner, Claire McGrath, who had invited McKeever to stay the night. When Connorton returned at 4 a.m., he discovered McKeever and McGrath together and a fight ensued. McKeever suffered four stab wounds, one penetrating his heart, which caused his death. Connorton claimed he acted in self‑defence after McKeever punched him, breaking his eye socket, and then attacked him with a knife. The jury deliberated for 2 hours and 51 minutes, returning a guilty verdict by a 10‑to‑2 majority. Connorton will be sentenced to life imprisonment at a later hearing. The article reports no further details about the sentencing or the victim's family statement.
A 17‑year‑old, who cannot be named under the Children Act, was sentenced to two years' detention for firing a stolen Winchester Super Grade 12‑gauge double‑barrel shotgun into bushes along the Grand Canal in Dublin. The youth, who had pleaded guilty to possessing the stolen firearm and 39 cartridges on 31 August, admitted he fired the gun because he was "bored and 17 years of age." Gardaí had observed him raising the gun in front of CCTV cameras, pursued him, and seized the weapon and ammunition. The gun had been stolen from its owner's unlocked car a month earlier. The defendant has 40 prior convictions, including assault, robbery, drug misuse, theft and criminal damage. The judge, noting his young age, immaturity and difficult upbringing, set a headline sentence of six years but, under the Children Act, imposed a two‑year detention followed by two years of probation with conditions on addiction, training and employment.
An English national, Simon Cummins, aged 49, was convicted in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stabbing Thomas McCarthy in the neck with a Leatherman multi‑tool on 22 April 2018. Cummins claimed he had been robbed and was experiencing a psychotic episode while under the influence of alcohol and drugs. He pleaded guilty, citing a previous public‑order conviction in Ireland (2007) and 64 convictions in the UK, ten of which were assault‑related. The court noted that McCarthy was taken to hospital, sutured, and made no victim impact statement. Judge Martin Nolan, after considering Cummins' early guilty plea, remorse, and the need for treatment, imposed a three‑year sentence suspended in full. The sentence is conditional on Cummins leaving Ireland immediately and not returning for five years. Cummins' family, present in court, expressed a desire to take him back to England for community‑based care.
James Jack, aged 20, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after an incident on Custom House Quay on 6 February 2016. He was 17 at the time of the assault, which involved three men who were trying to stop vandalism of public rental bikes. Jack joined the attack after a phone call and was seen on CCTV throwing punches and kicks. One victim, Markus Thomas, suffered a fractured left eye socket and a tear to his right shoulder, though the article does not state who inflicted the injuries. Jack had no prior convictions and had not been involved with Gardaí since. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed an 18‑month probation bond, noting aggravating factors such as the vandalism and Jack's violent behaviour, and mitigating factors including his guilty plea, youth and cooperation with CCTV evidence. The judge urged Jack to learn from the incident and move on.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 21 December 2018, a 29‑year‑old Latvian national, Olgerts Romanovs, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm outside a synagogue on Rathfarnham Road, Terenure, Dublin, on 1 September 2018. Romanovs, who had no fixed abode and was living in a tent in St Stephen's Green, had cycled down the footpath and spat at a security guard. After the guard challenged him verbally, Romanovs threw his bike, approached the guard aggressively, spat in his face, threatened to kill him with a spanner, and then pulled a silver kitchen fork from his bag and hurled it at the guard. The fork lodged in the side of the guard's head, causing a deep wound that required stitches. Garda Brian Greally later arrested Romanovs after witnesses were interviewed. The judge, Cormac Quinn, sentenced Romanovs to fourteen months' imprisonment, backdating the term to the day he first entered custody in September 2018.
A 24‑year‑old man charged with the murder of David Douglas in Dublin in 2016 was refused bail by the Central Criminal Court. Douglas, 55, was shot six times while taking a meal break in his partner's shop on Bridgefoot Street on 1 July 2016. The court described Freddie Thompson, 37, as the main organiser and noted he was already serving a life sentence. Nathan Foley, 20, admitted a lesser offence of facilitating the crime between 1 and 4 July 2016 and will be sentenced next month. Gareth Brophy, of no fixed abode, was charged with the murder, served a book of evidence on Thursday and was sent forward for trial to the Special Criminal Court. He applied for bail, but the State objected under the O'Callaghan rules, citing the gravity of the charge and the likelihood of a lengthy sentence. The court, citing the seriousness of the offence and the possibility of absconding, refused bail. Freddie Thompson was convicted.
A 19‑year‑old man, Eoin Morrissey, appeared before the Special Criminal Court on 21 January 2018 charged in connection with the murder of Aidan "The Beast" O'Driscoll, a senior Real IRA figure who was shot dead in Cork on 7 December 2016. Morrissey is charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Daniel Hegarty by providing a firelighter to burn a red Opel Astra used by the alleged killers and by following Hegarty to a site where a red Opel Astra was burnt to facilitate transport after the burning. The offences are alleged to have occurred between 8 and 19 December 2016. The Director of Public Prosecutions applied for a Section 49 order and the court directed that Morrissey be tried before the Special Criminal Court. The case was set for mention on 21 January. Earlier, Colin Casey (32) and Daniel Hegarty (24) pleaded guilty to related charges and were remanded on continuing bail until 11 March.
During the trial of 40‑year‑old Keith Connorton for the murder of Graham McKeever, a jury asked Judge Tony Hunt to re‑read the evidence of Deputy State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan and the original Garda statements of key witness Claire McGrath. The case involved a love triangle in which Connorton, who had lived with McGrath for about three years, allegedly invited McKeever to stay after an argument. A fight ensued, resulting in McKeever's death by a knife wound that pierced his heart. Judge Hunt read the evidence, and the jury resumed deliberations. Keith Connorton pleaded not guilty.